Wednesday September 4, 2019 Edition

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WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.4 No.35 N200

•Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum, Engr. Dave Umahi speaks shortly after a meeting of Southeast governors with other stakeholders in Enugu on security in the region

Herdsmen: S’East Governors’ resolutions enforceable – experts • No law empowers herders to move about with weapons – Abiye, Ugwuamah • Resolutions must be backed by law—Obaze • Northern leaders’ mockery of S’East Govs reinforces calls for restructuring From ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU, Awka; NATH OMAME Jr., Port Harcourt; BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia and CHUKS EZE, Enugu

S

ecurity and legal experts have commended the South East Governors for resolving to

Page 9

tackle the challenge of insecurity in the zone headon, saying the resolutions at the end of their meeting in Enugu were timely, legal and implementable.

The expert opinions came against the backdrop of warnings by some northern leaders that the governors do not have such powers

to enforce their resolutions such as banning the movement of herders in their Media reports quoted a northern leader Alhaji Tanko Yakassai as cautioning the South East governors against what he described as self-help.

The media also quoted another northern leader and

Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed as saying that the South East leaders have no powers to ban the movement of herdsmen and cattle in their zone.

But appraising the resolutions of the South East governors, a civil society advocate in Port Harcourt,

Rivers State, Abiye George said in a chat with The Oracle Today saidthat, “the South East Governors have not violated any established law in asking that herdsmen do not move about with AK47 rifles and machetes. It is within their constitutional ambits as the chief security officers of their respective

states to do so.

“There is no established law in Nigeria that says herdsmen should move about with machetes and AK-47 rifles. Therefore, no rational thinking person can, without bias, say that the governors have no right

Cont’d on page 2

Tension, shooting mar PDP governorship primary in Bayelsa

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS

Herdsmen: S’East Governors...

Cont’d from Pg 1

to take the decision they took at their meeting.”

At the end of an enlarged stakeholders meeting, which included President General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, Igbo leaders, representatives of the army, police, clergy and the federal ministry of works, the South East stated in the communiqué that they had to “put measures in place to restrain movement of herdsmen with their cattle, which is a source and point of conflict with the farmers. South East governors have banned herdsmen who move about with AK-47 guns and cutlasses and we want our security agencies to implement same.”

But the question is whether these

resolutions are implementable?

Shouldn’t there be a law backing these resolutions in each state before an anti-open grazing law can then be coordinated in the region.

A former governorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Oseloka Obaze told The Oracle Todayin an interview: “I don’t want to second guess the South East governors since I’m not privy to the premises on which their resolution was predicated.

But I can say with certainty, that you cannot enforce ambiguity. For the resolution to be efficacious, it must be backed by law that defines and delineate the requisite parameters. In circumstances like these, even a resort to Executive Orders could prove futile. There need to be clarity and seriousness

of purpose and that is only possible through legislation.”

However, according to an Enugu-based legal practitioner, Fabian Ugwuamah, northern leaders spoke from an “uninformed perspective” because “they are not up-to-date with the constitution.”

He said: “Although section 35 of Nigeria’s constitution, as amended, provides that every citizen is entitled to freedom of movement and freedom of liberty. That provision can also be restrained under circumstances permitted by law.

If the movement endangers lives of citizens such that it can lead to breakdown of law and order or security of the state, the governor can restrain it.

“In the instant case, where herdsmen move about with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons

• Govs Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State

Tribunal dismisses PDM’s election petition against Umahi

T

he Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki on Monday dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi, Chief Ajah Agha, against the election of Gov. David Umahi.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Umahi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the March 9, 2019 election.

Agha had petitioned the tribunal over unlawful exclusion of his name from the INEC ballot paper, accusing the PDP and its candidate

of masterminding the exclusion.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Abdulrasak Abdulkarim, dismissed the petition on the grounds that the PDM failed to submit the name of its candidate to INEC when it was supposed to do so.

“According to findings, the PDM sent the name three days after the closure of submission of names.

“The party also did not organise its primaries in order to produce a candidate according to INEC guidelines. Your petition, therefore, lacks merit,” he ruled.

The chairman ruled that the petitioner should pay a compensation

of N100, 000 to the second and third respondents.

In his reaction, Umahi thanked God for the tribunal’s judgment and described his victory at the polls as sacrosanct.

Umahi described the petition as a slight distraction, but noted that such would not deter him from offering good governance to the people of Ebonyi.

Counsel to the petitioner, Mr Michael Odo, however, faulted the tribunal’s ruling, saying that it would be challenged at the appellate court.

within a state, it amounts to unlawful possession of firearms, under our law. Therefore, it is within the law for a governor or governors of a geopolitical zone, to come together and take joint measures to protect their people who are being repeatedly trampled upon, harassed, raped, kidnapped, maimed and butchered like cows.

“The step is a kind of palliative measure, a template, an interim, reactionary move, to say that, for now, this remains within your domain until we identify the bad eggs or the source of insecurity in our zone. The governors did not say they were issuing a permanent restriction order.

“It is a matter of extraordinary emergency and the governors do not need to seek recourse to the Houses of Assembly to take measures to protect their citizens. They are saying that, in the prevailing circumstances, there is high level of tension in the zone and that people are dying in their respective states and that there is public outcry. Under extraordinary emergency such as the case in point, a governor can issue certain proclamations, in the interim, so that when the House of Assembly meets and passes a resolution, it becomes law. It is allowed in a democratic setting.”

A highly placed politician in Abia State, who does not want to be named welcomed the resolutions but expressed fears that the Federal Government may hamper its implementation.

His fears stem from the exclusion of the South East zone from the top echelon of the security architecture of the country.

He does not also believe that President Muhammadu Buhari would generously give his nod to the far-reaching resolutions taken by the governors.

“If I want to look at the resolutions from a critical point of view, with the President of the country being the Chief Security Officer of the nation and with the type of federation we have, a federal state that is awkward, these decisions may not be implementable. Peripherally speaking, this looks like a jamboree.

“The decisions are good, let’s hope that with assistance from the Federal Government, they could make some headway. It is my prayer that their dreams will materialize.”

On the mocking stance of Northern leaders that South East governors lacked the power to implement the resolutions, the source added that “it goes to confirm the

imperative of restructuring of the country.

“What Northern leaders are saying in effect is that we are running a lopsided federal structure. In a federal system of government, a state government should be able to say what they want and the security of the citizens of any state is supposed to be the explicit responsibility of the governors.

“But in this case, if the Northern leaders are saying that the state governors in the South East don’t have the power, constitutionally speaking, they are also giving impetus to the clamour for restructuring.”

A public affairs commentator, Chief Chris Nwokocha, said that the resolutions of the governors are commendable but long overdue.

Nwokocha, a former Secretary of Umuahia North Local Government Area in Abia, maintained that if the resolutions were implemented, the insecurity in the region would be checked.

He believes that the governors have the capacity and capalibility to implement their resolutions.

“Before they took the resolutions, they must have weighed the options and realized that they can implement them.

“The governors are the top leaders in the zone and for all of them to agree on these decisions, I believe they are capable of implementing them,” Nwokocha said.

The journalist-turned politician said further that, “these decisions are long overdue. We had expected it long before now. Insecurity crept into the South West and before you know it, it is enveloping the South East, where people can no longer travel safely on the highways. What we hear now is that the bandits use their own vehicles to trail and double cross their victims and march everybody into the bush.

“The governors’ resolutions aimed at checkmating the deteriorating security situation in the zone is a welcome development. I advise that they should also consult with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders like the traditional rulers to sensitize their subjects in the communities.

Just like Enugu has moved on to recruit Forest Guards, they should go ahead and do same in the South East states. This will make the bandits to know that we are serious. I pray that these decisions would be accompanied by commensurate actions.”

Nigeria ceding Bakassi to Cameroon regrettable – Donald Duke

From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

F

ormer Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke has decried the ceding of oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon stressing that contrary to the views held by many people, he did not cede Bakassi to Cameroun and the ceding is regrettable.

Duke a former presidential aspirant made this known in Calabar during the launch of a book, “Cross River State at 50: The People and Events that shaped it,” said he did everything to reverse the ceding but to no avail.

“A few years ago at the heat of the Bakassi loss, I hosted Gen. Gowon in Calabar here. I urged him to write his own story or someone will write it for him and he may not exactly like what would be told. Not

long after, at council of state meeting, where president Obansajo was presiding, one of the members of council, then Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, pointing to the section where the Head of States were, asked that somebody should tell us why Bakassi was sold.

“During the lunch break, I went back to him and said you have to tell us a story. Because the general perception is that Bakassi was sacrificed for the war. That it was exigent to accommodate France and Cameroun interest,” he said.

According to him, he took the matter to then Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Tony Blair who bluntly told him and his entourage that “To undo the agreement will be a terrible precedent,” saying the British PM revealed to them that were other African countries that will be

affected by such a decision.

“Britain and the United States were not sympathetic to our case and China and Russia were not interested. It was France that sympathized with us told us that we could not have gone to court,” he disclosed.

He described the ceding of Bakassi as “an international conspiracy,” noting however that what was supposed to be done during the period was not done by the country, saying he did everything to reverse the ceding but could not.

Duke also decried the ceding of 76 oil wells to neighbouring Akwa Ibom state stating that this amounted to double jeopardy for the people of the state and called for its remediation.

“It was during my time that we

got the oil wells that was lost. That was a painful thing for all of us. I still think is should be remedied. In law, we have what is called double jeopardy; we lost the land and we also lost the assets.

“The asset didn’t go to Cameroun, it was for Nigeria. Today, Akwa Ibom State is the largest oil producing state in Nigeria. It was a political decision. At that time when Akwa Ibom State was having about N5billion, we were having between N225 and N240m. So I think that the political decision that gave them the oil should be used to give us back the 76 oil wells.”

On Tinapa, Duke regretted that the infrastructure has been allowed to waste, saying the non-usage of Tinapa was the greatest disservice his successors have done to

the state.

“Tinapa has not been put to use and we shot ourselves on the foot when we did not put it to use. Government is continuous and the Successor is always smarter than the Predecessor,” he stated.

He said so much was expended on Tinapa and was supposed to be the pride of the state, but said the place has been left to rot because his successors did not understand the concept.

The book which was launched at the Channel View Hotel, Calabar and written by an Elder Statesman, Engr. Ekpe Esien Ita, who also used the occasion to celebrate his 70th birthday, drew personalities from all works of life, including the Obong of Calabar, Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V.

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

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The Oracle Today Tuesday September 3 - 9, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Security situation across I Nigeria stabilized – IGP

By VICTOR NZE

nspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu, has declared that the security situation acros the country has now been stabilized.

This is also as the police chief further underscored the strategic importance of community policing as the most potent strategy for internal security governance.

Speaking at the second South West Geopolitical Zone Security Summit, which held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan, Monday, Adamu noted that the current concerted operations of the Police and other security agencies across the country, particularly, along the Niger-Kogi-FCT-KadunaKatsina and Zamfara areas have engendered a dispersal and re-location of some of the criminals to new localities including the South West.

Adamu also admitted that there still remained isolated cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the South West, particularly, along BeninOre-Lagos Highway and across Ondo State.

According to the police chief, the success recorded by the first security summit necessitated the convening of the second edition by the Nigeria Police Force, adding that that ‘this meeting is being convened within the context of our Community Policing Vision which emphasizes citizens’ engagement in the process of identifying, dissecting and prioritizing threats to communal values, partnering to develop strategies to address the threats, and building trust to undertake actions directed at mitigating them.’

Continued Adamu: “Since the meeting, the rate of these crimes has not only dropped drastically, several bandits have voluntary renounced crime, submitted their weapons and released several victims that had hitherto been kidnapped and held in their camps across the Zone.

“A more significant outcome of the initiative is the enhanced trust between the communities and the Police and a renewed determination to embrace the police as ‘their police’ who are committed to serving them.

In consequence, there has been a remarkable increase in the volume and quality of pieces of criminal information shared by the citizens across the North West geopolitical Zone with the local police and these are being optimally utilised to take the anticrime war to the door steps of the criminals with resounding success.

“It underscores the strategic importance of community policing as the most potent strategy for internal security governance. As attractive as the concepts of intelligence-led policing or technology-driven policing could be, the reality remains that no police agency either in the advanced or developing climes can succeed in its mandate without the consent, support and trust of the citizens they are engaged to serve and protect regardless of how well equipped, trained or motivated they may be.

“The point being emphasized here, Your Excellencies, is that police legitimacy draws from public consent and trust, and lack of effective partnership between the police and the public can only sustain ineffective policing and engender insecurity within the community.

“Generally-speaking, the security situation across the country has been stabilized. However, there are isolated cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the South West, particularly, along Benin-Ore-Lagos Highway and across Ondo State.

“The reality is that the current concerted operations of the Police and other security agencies across the country, particularly, along the Niger-Kogi-FCT-Kaduna-Katsina and

…Set to deploy special operations unit for South West Zamfara areas have engendered a dispersal and re-location of some of the criminals to new localities including the South West.

The IG further reeled out the achievement recorded by the police since inception of the new policing initiative, disclosing that ‘between January – August 2019, a total of 552 murder suspects were arrested with 66 such arrests effected in the South West. Similarly, 2,015 armed robbery suspects were arrested with 363 of the figure arrested in the South West, while 1,154 kidnapping suspects were also apprehended in various operations. 147 of these were arrested in the South West. Furthermore, 1,183 suspected cultists have also been arrested with 425 of this figure apprehended in the South Western States.’

“In relation to recoveries, 1,356 firearms of various calibre and descriptions were recovered in various intelligence-led operations by the Police with 277 of such recoveries made in the South Western part of the country. Similarly, 21,300 ammunition of various descriptions and calibre were recovered in various intelligence-led

operations with the highest number of 5, 270 ammunition recovered from criminal syndicates in the South West including about 2,700 ammunition recovered in June, 2019 from a cross-border arms smuggling syndicate in Oyo State. Furthermore, 1,541 stolen vehicles were recovered with 482 of such recoveries achieved in the South West while a total of 837 kidnapping victim were rescued with 106 of such rescues achieved in the South West.

“The point being highlighted from these statistics is that the Nigeria Police in recent months have developed capacity and demonstrated the requisite professional zeal such that today, we can confidently say that we have the institutional capability not only for preventive actions, but for responding effectively to any crime situation or threat with a view to locating and apprehending the criminal elements and disrupting their criminal enterprises across the country. It is this process that we call on you as strategic security stakeholders in the South West to support us in strengthening and advancing in the interest

of our communal and internal security,” said Adamu.

He, therefore, lauded the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde for supporting the police in hosting the summit.

“It is for this reason that I wish to sincerely appreciate the support of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde for volunteering to partner with us in hosting this Summit. Looking at the rich attendance at this meeting, I am convinced that our aim of convening the Summit can and shall be achieved.”

Adamu also expressed the hope that the summit would achieve its purpose of ‘advancing the principles of community policing in engaging the citizens towards x-raying the dynamics of crime in the South West geopolitical Zone, drawing on the rich experiences and wisdom of our traditional rulers and all citizens across the Zone, and galvanizing our communities to march hand-in-hand with us in reviewing our strategies and jointly evolving new pathways and actions towards restoring security order across our communities.’

“Having succeeded in using ‘Op-

•From right: Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, welcoming the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, to the South West Geopolitical Zone Security Summit which held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Monday

Sanwo-Olu to unveil 110-Bed Maternal and Child Centre in Eti-Osa

agos State Governor, Mr. BabaLSeptember jide Sanwo-Olu will on Tuesday, 3, 2019 launch a specially

designed state-of-art 110-bed maternal and child centre (MCC) built by the State government at Eti-Osa Local Government Area, the State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said.

Abayomi, who stated this at the weekend after an inspection and overall assessment of the facility for quality health service delivery, noted that the facility is the eight in the series of similar facilities constructed by the State government in strategic locations across the State to improve access to maternal and child health services and health outcomes.

“This is a four-floor facility with 110 beds designed to provide integrated

specialist healthcare for the mother and child. It has been adequately staffed with specialist doctors in maternal and childcare, experienced nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and other necessary staff”, he said.

The Commissioner explained that the facility has treatment rooms, intensive care baby unit, first stage labour rooms, recovery room, operating theatre, autoclave room, routine clinics facilities, consulting rooms and emergency resuscitation room.

“The facility also has family planning clinic, scan room, procedure room, pharmacy, laboratory, call room, store, utility room, kitchenette, antenatal ward, a postnatal ward with cots, delivery room, recovery room, nursery, side laboratory,

open ward, reception area and offices”, Abayomi said.

He added that facility has key equipment such as chemistry analyzer for the determination of electrolytes and urea values; Blood-gas Analyzer for immediate estimation of the blood gases of patients on ventilators; suction machines to prevent fluid aspiration and oxygen therapy equipment to prevent asphyxia.

“There are also ventilators to support patients in a coma; defibrillators for keeping the heart functional; baby incubators to support premature babies; phototherapy units to treat jaundice; nebulizers for treating asthmatic patients and microscope for microscopy of urine and cerebrospinal fluids amongst other tests”, the Commissioner said.

eration Puff Adder’ as an operational vehicle to stabilize the public security space, we are currently moving to the next phase of our strategic policing plans which is woven around two key actions. First is the launch of the Community Policing Strategy and the second is the expansion and strengthening of ‘Operation Puff Adder’ with other complementary strategies.

“Within this perspective and in relation to the South West Geopolitical Zone, we shall soon relaunch the ‘Safer Highway’ Motorised Patrol Scheme as well as the ‘Safer City’ Scheme. We have since purchased new fleet of patrol vans to be deployed across our highways and cities. This will also involve the deployment of cutting-edge CCTV technology for surveillance functions across the highways and vulnerable locations in our communities in the Zone and other parts of the country.”

The Inspector General concluded by revealing that a special police operation outfit would e deployed for the South West in the wake of the success of the ‘Operation Puff Adder’ in the north west zone.

“A special operation is underway across the South West geopolitical Zone. The operation will specifically address the threat of kidnapping and armed robbery on the highways and other locations. While for operational reasons, I would not offer the details into the operation. I am in this Summit with the Commissioner of Police who will command the special operation to complement the efforts of the Police Commissioners in the States within the Zone.

“Furthermore, in order to give full effect to our Community Policing Vision as a pathway towards bridging security gaps, we shall soon commence the implementation of the strategy in the South West and other parts of the country. Hopefully, the breakdown of the Community Policing deployment plan will cover the recruitment of a total of forty thousand (40,000) Community Police Officers (CPOs) across the country.

“The CPOs will be recruited from within the communities where the prospective applicants reside and an average of fifty CPOs are to be engaged in each of the 774 Local Government Areas. In addition, one thousand (1,300) CPOs will be drawn from professional bodies like the academics, Road Transport Unions, Artisans, Traders Associations, Religious Bodies, Women Unions, and Youth Organisations among others in order to ensure diverse representation.

“In relation to the South West, the CPOs shall be deployed to complement the Police in law enforcement functions within their localities by performing low-risk and non-sensitive policing functions. They will also act as liaisons between the Police and their communities. This policing architecture will free-up conventional police personnel that hitherto perform such functions and enhance our manpower profile in relation to deployment to frontline, operational duties in the South West and across the country.

“When fully implemented, the Community Policing Strategy will bridge the gap between the Police and the citizens in a manner that will enhance optimal, cost-effective, and sustainable law enforcement service delivery by the Police,” Adamu said.

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The Oracle Today Tuesday September 3 - 9, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Security: 80% of primary, secondary schools in Nigeria not safe – Study A

Safe School Compliant Study shows that 80 per cent of primary and secondary schools in Nigeria are not safe.

The study was conducted by Safe School Academy International with the support of Exam Ethics Marshall International (EEMI) across the country.

Founder of EEMI, who is also the Coordinating Consultant, Safe School Compliance Study Group, Mr Ike Onyechere, made this disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

He said that the study revealed that 80 per cent of primary and secondary schools in the country had little or lack protective, protocols and measures against security risks, threats and vulnerabilities.

The study, he said, noted that most primary and secondary schools lack preventive, precautionary and mitigation policies in terms of security.

According to him, the study involved the administration of a

safe school compliant checklist, which sampled 1,200 schools selected from the six geo-political zones of the country.

“50 safe school factors are considered including: knowledge of safe school best policies, practices and protocols by Proprietors and Heads of Schools; quality of safety and security tools, equipment and infrastructure.

“Others are capacity, fitness and training of security personnel; identification systems for staff, students, parents and visitors; security risk audit of school in relations to location.

“The factors considered also included emergency preparedness plan in relation to peculiar security risk; first responders and emergency response teams.

“The level of non-compliance to safety and security issues is shocking against the background of clear, loud and regular warnings that schools are now targets of choice for terrorists, insurgents, militants, kidnappers, cultists, scammers and other criminals,” he

said.

Onyechere explained that the 2018 UN reports on Children and Armed Conflicts confirmed that attacks on schools registered a rise in comparison to previous years.

He added that a report was also released by UNICEF on Aug. 21, which verified that 396 schools were under attack in African and Middle East countries.

“In Nigeria, terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and robbers regularly target schools threatening, kidnapping and killing students, teachers and other education personnel.

“The question then is why, despite all the warnings and incidences, are schools not taking the issue of safe schools initiative seriously?

“There are two core reasons, proprietors and heads do not appreciate their roles and responsibilities as Chief Security Officers of their institutions.

“They erroneously believe that security of their institutions is sole responsibilities of governments and security agencies.

“The second reason is that parents have not started considering safety and security as important factors for choosing schools.

“Nigerians must commend the efforts of security agencies including the Nigeria Military, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service.

“They should also commend others, which include Federal Road Safety Corps and National Emergency Management Agency; without their work, attacks on schools and consequential casualties would have worsened,” he said.

He, however, commended the security agencies for facilitating the Annual National Safe School Consultative Conferences where education leaders and other stakeholders were brought together to learn from recent attacks on school around the world.

He charged educational institutions to take advantage of all opportunities to update their knowledge and build capacity for safe school best practices.

This, he said, was in view of the

fact that in matters of safe school, preparedness through education is less expensive than learning through tragedies with irreversible consequences.

Onyechere further called on parents to prioritise the factor of safety and security in choosing schools for their children.

He said the Safe School Academy International would therefore commence the free distribution of Safe School Compliant Guide to parents through School PTAs to empower them with the knowledge of what safe school factors to look for in schools.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2019 edition of the Annual National School Conference aimed at addressing stakeholders on school based knowledge would hold between September 10 and September 12.

However, the first phase of the exercise for the free distribution of Safe School Compliant Guide to parents through School PTAs is scheduled to hold between Sept 4 and Sept 5.

Jail term awaits parents of out-of-school children in Ekiti G ov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Monday said parents who keep their school-age children out of school run the risk of being prosecuted.

Speaking in Eporo during an enrolment sensitisation campaign, Fayemi called on all parents and guardians to key into his administration’s free education programme.

The governor, who stressed that the state’s Child Rights Law provided that all children must be given access to education, added that acting contrary to this was unlawful.

The Ekiti government had last week commenced the school enrolment campaign aimed at ensuring that all school-age children register for the forthcoming 2019/2020 academic session.

The governor said that it was an abuse of a child’s right for any parent or guardian to deny school-age children the opportunity to go to school under any guise He said the state government was currently providing free but quality education which parents must embrace to build a solid foundation for their children and wards.

“We have a Child Rights Act in Ekiti which prohibits parents from disallowing children of school age to be out of school during school session.

“If your child is not in school when the school is in session, you have a lot to explain because we will apprehend the child whether he is found hawking on the street or engaging in any illicit activities which prevent him or her from being in school.

“The parents will also have to explain to the government or the relevant institutions why that child is not in school.

“In implementing the law, we have a family court in the state that takes responsibility for children that are not in school and

parents who fail in their responsibility,’’ Fayemi said.

He pledged his administration’s commitment to restoring the state to its pride of place as the fountain of knowledge.

The governor said his administration had provided instructional materials, furniture and a conducive learning environment where teachers could effectively contribute to the growth and development of their pupils.

Fayemi said his administration was opposed to the collection of fees in all public primary and secondary schools in the state, stressing that any teacher or head-teacher caught collecting school fees from pupils would be seen as collecting a bribe.

“For us in Ekiti, it is not enough to say we have free education.

We need to enlighten our people, particularly those in the rural communities on the importance of education and the necessity for their wards to be enrolled.

“This is because education is also compulsory in our state, and we are doing this for basic education level because we have experienced some challenges in the last four years in the state.

“Enrolment figures in the state used to be the highest in the country up till 2014, and then we suffered a decrease in enrolment, according to UBEC’s national figure.

“We have a duty as a government to ensure that we get the figure back to where it used to be in order to build the foundation that is solid for our children.

“I think we have a duty to ensure that we don’t just encourage them to come to school but also provide everything to make sure education is pay-less for them.

“We are providing instructional materials and the school feeding that we now offer in primary school and encouraging teachers to deliver competently.

•Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai (second right) with other senior officials of the State Government at the office of manufacturers of defence equipment and strategic partner for innovative defence, security and related technology solution, Denel Soc Ltd in Pretoria, South Africa on a working visit, Monday

Supreme Court strikes out perjury suit against Buhari

S

upreme Court on Monday struck out the suit seeking the disqualification of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election over alleged perjury.

The suit was filed by Kalu Kalu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris, all legal practitioners.

Delivering judgment, the Justice Mary Odili-led panel of five justices held that the case was statute barred and therefore dismissed.

The justices during the introduction of appearances wondered why Mr Abdullahi Abubakar, State Counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice will be representing a private individual.

Abubakar had announced his appearance for the first respondent (General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd) in the suit.

They warned him to desist from such act of using public office to defend a private litigation.

Muhammad Dattijo, while addressing the counsel sited the President Bill Clinton’s numerous private cases while in the office.

“Clinton in his numerous private

litigation, he never used government organs but rather personally sponsored all his private cases,”.

He warned that his actions contravene the Code of Conduct for public servants which has consequences.

Odili in her judgment said, ‘the court notes the inappropriate appearance of Mr Abdullahi Abubakar state counsel from the Federal Ministry of Justice, representing the first respondent Gen. Muhammad Buhari Rtd in his personal capacity.

“This practice must be discouraged, appeal haven been withdrawn is hereby dismissed,” Odili said.

The appellants grievances had arisen from the dismissal of their suit at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on grounds that it was statute barred and as such could not be heard.

They had approached the apex court to nullify the candidacy of President Buhari in the just concluded presidential poll over allegations of perjury.

The appellants specifically wanted Buhari’s nomination and subsequent victory at the February 23 presidential election nullified on the grounds that President Buhari lied on oath in his form 001 that he submitted to INEC for the purpose of clearance for the presidential election.

They asked the apex court for an Order to set aside the judgment of the court of appeal and hear the matter on merit and grant the reliefs sought in the Originating Summons.

The Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, had on July 12, held that the singular fact that the suit was filed outside the 14 days provided by the law robbed the court of jurisdiction to entertain the it.

The Federal High Court had in May declined to grant the request of the appellants on the grounds that the suit was not filed within the time allowed by law and therefore sustained the preliminary objection raised by Buhari at the hearing.

6

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS Okeke, Professor of African History, delivers Inaugural Lecture on restructuring and related matters Professor Okechukwu Edward Okeke of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, will on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 deliver the 3rd Inaugural Lecture of the University.

The title of the intellectual feast, according to the invitation card sent out by the Vice Chancellor of the pace setting institution, Professor Seth Accra Jaja, on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate and the entire University Community, is “Of Restructuring And Related Matters: The Historian As Moderator. ” The venue of the historic event is University Auditorium, East Campus, Otuoke and the lecture, which is expected to be thought provoking and even explosive starts at 11am.

Professor Okeke, an accomplished Historian, earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) from the University of Nigeria Nsukka; secured his Master of Arts (M.A) from the University of Benin and his Bachelor of Arts (B.A) from University of Port Harcourt.

The question of the restructuring of Nigeria has been the focus of heated discourse in recent times and it is expected that Professor Okeke’s lecture will bring new perspectives to the contentious issue especially also, against the background of the shabby treatment that has been given to History as a subject of study by the country’s authorities.

It is expected that apart from the academic community, that politicians, both those for and against restructuring will attend the lecture as answers to critical national questions are sure to be proffered by the distinguished lecturer.ab

1st Anambra World Summit: Soludo, Ezekwesili, others to address audience in October

By IBE NWACHUKWU

P

rofessional bodies in Anambra state, under the aegis of League of Anambra Professionals, LAP has concluded arrangement to host First Anambra World Summit, as part of an agenda to take the state to the next level.

The summit, with the theme, “One Anambra, One Agenda”, is expected to hold at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Agulu Lake, Anaocha Local Government Area of the state in October, this year, with expectations that certain elites and egg-heads, including the former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Chukwuma

Soludo will deliver the keynote address titled, ‘A First World Anambra… The Future We Want’.

In the same vein, former Minister of Education and one-time Madam Due Process, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili is expected to participate as a discussant on a topics entitled: ‘Social Investments, Policies, Projects, and Programmes for a First World Anambra’, while former Deputy Governor of CBN, Professor Kingsley Moghalu will handle the topic: ‘Infrastructural Imperatives for a First World Anambra’.

Disclosing this to newsmen in a press statement, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, yes-

terday, the LAP Summit Chairman, Chike Nwegbe, noted that the third discussant and the Dean of Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Meschack Umenweke will discuss the topic, ‘Human Rights, Law and Order and Governance in a First World Anambra State’.

According to Nwegbe, Chief Guest of Honour will be Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, Chairman of Chisco Motors Limited, while the Royal Father of the Day will be Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.

Nwegbe Nwegbe further disclosed that Governor Willie Obiano is expected to attend the event as the Chief

Host, adding that the mega event would be graced by elder statesmen from the state and old Eastern Region, former governors of the state and old Eastern Region, present and former national and state assembly members, captains of industry and representatives of major market, youths, women associations from the state.

Nwegbe also explained that the event would provide an opportunity for the elected representatives and political leaders from the state to interact with their constituents and to be accountable to the people of the state in particular and South-eat zone in general.

• Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, Dr Oby Ezekwesili and Prof. Chukwuma Soludo

Sit Up Or Get Beaten By Hungry, Angry Nigerians, Bishop Ezeokafor Tells Greedy Politicians

T

he Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has advised politicians at all levels to sit up or be ready to face the wraths of hungry and angry Nigerians, saying that what happened in Nuremberg, Germany is a pointer to the fact that Nigerians are fed up with the current situation of things in the country.

Bishop Ezeokafor who stated this while delivering a homily at St. James Catholic Church, Neni, in Local Government Area of Anambra State during his maiden Pastoral Visit, stated that Germany’s experience would be a child’s play compare to what he said, was to come in the nearest future, if the current crop of political leaders failed to sit up and work for the collective interest of all Nigerians.

The outspoken prelate said that Nigerians had the right to protest against any perceived injustice, malad-

....Urges Buhari to Respect Secular Nature of Nigeria State ministration, misappropriation of public funds, poor representation, embezzlement and inhuman treatment, provided they were not armed.

Bishop Ezeokafor said there would be serious revolution and more beatings and manhandling of greedy and insensitive politicians, if nothing was done urgently to address the poor state of things in the country, saying that beating of bad leaders were long overdue.

‘Nigerians are hungry and angry. You cannot beat a child and stop them from crying. It is unacceptable People have the right to protest, provided they are not armed.

‘It is done all over the world. Once something is not going on well you reserve the right to speak up.

People have the right to voice out their grievance.

‘They have right to express displeasure over certain matters. I think what the political class should do to douse the tension is to face governance and law making squarely and work for the common good of the masses.

‘I see more and more greedy politicians being manhandled. Nigerians are dying on daily basis because of bad governance. No good roads, no healthcare, no electricity, cost of living is so high. Yet, these people are busy siphoning our common patrimony.

Speaking on state of economy, the charismatic and influential Cleric accused president Muhammad Buhari led administration of running the country aground, noting that the current spate of insecurity in the country had driven away local and foreign investors, urging the president to respect the sec-

ular nature of Nigeria state.

‘No religion is superior to another and none should be placed above another.

Let everyone worship their God the way they want to worship. Conversion is not by force. It is by persuasion.

Using force people can only make them to see and perceive your religion as crude and violent. Any religion preaches violence is not a good religion,’ Bishop Ezeokafor said.

He said that the killings of Nigerians and raping of women in their farmlands by suspected Fulani herdsmen had adversely affected the economy of the country, accusing Buhari of treating Fulani herdsmen menace with a kid glove.

‘How can these people be going about terrorizing, killing, and maiming innocent and harmless Nigerians and at the end nothing is done

to them. Do you expect Nigeria to move forward with this type of inhuman treatment? That’s not possible.

‘Human life means nothing to this government.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen maim, kill and rape with reckless abandon. After the killings nothing happens.

‘You see them move around gloating after committing all manner of atrocious acts. They are deemed to be untouchables. We all know where they are driving at.

Nigeria economy is really in shambles. Nothing is really working There are tensions here and there.

Bishop Ezeokafor enjoined all to be humble and selfless, describing humility aThe Cleric during his visit administered the sacrament of confirmation to 85 deserving candidates and blessed and commissioned the belfry built by the parish.

Anambra monarch tasks political leaders on exemplary leadership as community celebrates new yam festival

By OGE ONYEANUSI

T

he traditional ruler of Uke community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Charles Agballah has called on Nigeria’s political leaders to see their position as privileged opportunities to lift the standard of life of the people rather than for selfish ends.

The traditional ruler made the call during his celebration of new yam festival as the traditional head of the sleepy community, following the continuous degeneration of standard of life of the citizens with its attendant poverty level among Nigerians.

However, the monarch was optimistic of future infrastructure development of the community as he also expressed his joy at the completion of the community civic centre which took place under his reign.

While welcoming guests who trooped to his palace to pay homage to him on this year’s new yam festival after a holy mass to mark the festival at the palace, Igwe Charles Agballah advised Nigerian leaders to be of exemplary leadership by using their positions to attract development to their people as well as bringing succour to the less privileged in the society.

A political activist from Nkpor community, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Chibuzor Okeke who came to the palace to felicitate with the traditional ruler called on the indigenes of the area to give maximum support and co-operation to the community ruler to move the town forward.

He described new yam festival in Igbo land as a period of thanksgiving to God for his abundant blessings throughout the planting season and called on the people to always identify with their culture wherever they are.

In an interview with newsmen, the immediate past President-General, Uke Development Union (UDU), Surveyor Chukwuemeka Donatus Enendu who spoke on the infrastructural development of the area called on the state government to consider the construction of Appeal/Okpokolo Road as well as Ekeagu/Okaome/ Okpokolo Road, which, according to him, would boost social and economic activities in the area when constructed.

The ceremony witnessed various masquerades, male and female dance troupes, including traditional rulers who came to felicitate with their colleague.

7

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 - TUESDAY 10 September 2019

NEWS

NSCDC lauds Ugwuanyi’s commitment on security •As gov inaugurates Agro Rangers Squad on Herders/ Farmers Issues

T • President Kenyatta (in a cap) and other leaders wave at a ship carrying Kenya’s first crude oil to the international market

Kenya exports first crude cargo, boosting oil ambitions K enya’s exported its maiden crude cargo Monday, marking the East African country’s first foray into oil sales, senior officials said.

The cargo, which consists of 200,000 barrels of crude from the South Lokichar oil basin, was sold to Chinese refiner ChemChina, leaving Kenya’s port of Mombasa late Monday, the country’s petroleum secretary said in a statement.

This was part of the country’s Early Oil Pilot Scheme, though commercial shipments will commerce in four-five years once the oil field development is complete. “[This] marks the beginning of what promises to be a long but fruitful journey towards full developments of Kenya’s oil and gas resources,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said at a ceremony inaugurating the country’s first crude shipment from

the Kipevu oil terminal in Mombasa.

“It showed the global markets that Kenya possesses the knowhow and infrastructure required to facilitate full field development which will be marked by the production and pipeline transportation of first oil from Lokichar to our port of Lamu,” he added.

Tullow Oil and its partners had agreed to sell the first export cargo from Kenya’s maiden oil field development at around $60/b, senior officials said last month.

Kenya’s oil ambitions have faced many setbacks since oil was first discovered in 2012.

Final investment decisions for the Turkana development have been repeatedly delayed due to issues obtaining approval for use of the land and water rights.

The operator of the project, Tullow, has said FID has now been delayed to the

second half of 2020.

Some of these delays have been because disputes with the government, Turkana local government and communities where the oilfields are located.

Tullow and its partners discovered 750 million barrels of recoverable oil to date in the South Lokichar basin following a string of finds since 2012.

The partners expect the Lokichar finds to pump 80,000-120,000 b/d when a $1 billion export line to Lamu is completed by 2023/24.

Tullow has been trucking production from the development to Mombasa since last year.

Trucking operations have been slow, however, with a number of disruptions to the planned 2,000 b/d flows.

Tullow has said that minimum tanker sizes require a consignment of at least 200,000 barrels for exports from Mombasa.

Kenya had said it expects to sell its crude exports mostly to buyers in India and China, with refiners attracted by a $2/b discount for the waxy crude relative to Brent crude.

The Lokichar crude is relatively high quality, classified as light and sweet with an API of 32-38 and sulfur levels below 0.5%, broadly on par with the UK’s Brent Blend.

Light, sweet crudes usually command a premium as they require less processing to produce higher-value, clean products such as gasoline and jet fuel.

But the crude also has a high wax content, of nearly 40%, which means it remains solid at up to 40 degrees Celsius and requires heated pipelines and tankers to transport. As a result, Kenya believes its crude appeals more to large and complex refineries with the ability to import “high pour,” or viscous, crude.

From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN

The forum noted that besides exposing the country to huge financial losses, the families of auditors across the country is being exposed to various degrees of risks in their efforts to enforce the regulations and called for review.

“The Forum noted that organizations are not strictly observing 100% prepayment audit as stipulated in Financial Regulation 601 of 2009.

“Eighty percent (80%) of Internal Auditors in the Federal Tertiary Health Institution have not been given online real time access rights on the electronic platforms of GIFMIS, REMITA and IPPIS. This anomaly has the implication of causing the

federal government huge financial loss because a lot of irregular financial transactions on the platform may go undetected.

“Internal auditors are not exposed to relevant trainings especially as it concerns the operation of the new financial reforms such as GIFMIS, REMITA and IPPIS. “Auditors face various degrees of risks including risks to their lives and that of members of their families in their efforts to enforce adherence to the Rules and Regulations.

“Most often, enforcement of these rules and regulations are left to the auditor alone who is often seen as a wicked fellow because he

wants the right thing to be done”, he said.

The forum said Internal Auditors in the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions should be given online real time access rights to GIFMIS, REMITA and IPPIS platforms and also be well trained in the operations and implementation of these platforms.

They also called for the enforcement of prepayment Audit of all vouchers in tertiary health institutions and also the full implementation of the circular on Establishment of Internal Audit Departments in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in all Tertiary Health Institutions.

Internal auditors decry poor financial practices in tertiary health institutions

T

he Forum of Heads of Internal Audit of Federal Tertiary Health Institutions has decried the poor practices perpetuated in the health institutions in the country saying the anomaly is causing huge financial losses.

This was disclosed by chairman of the Forum, Dr. Okpachuo Jackson in communiqué he signed and made available in Calabar following the 2019 Summit of the Forum with the theme: Internal Auditors Roles and Challenges in Enforcing Adherence to Rules and Regulations in Nigeria Public Sector” which held at Enugu.

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for “his kind disposition and sincere commitment towards security issues in the state”.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Special Squad known as Agro Rangers, which was initiated by the Corps’ Commandant General, CG Abdulahi Gana Muhammadu, for tackling issues between herders and farmers, the Enugu State Commandant, Everestus Obiyo, stated that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s support and encouragement made the occasion possible.

Commandant Obiyo added that “the Agro Rangers Squad was part of Civil Defence response to bringing under control the unfortunate clashes, killings and wanton destruction of lives and property in our beloved country”, disclosing that the officers have been trained to intervene between the farmers/villagers and herdsmen as well as checkmate the activities and excesses of all the parties concerned to ensure peaceful co-existence for rapid growth and development.

The Commandant maintained that the scheme was designed to also give physical protection to Agro Allied Investments, which include farmlands, livestock, silos, ranches and everything that is related to the nation’s agricultural economy as well as protect the citizenry from kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes.

The scheme, according to Commandant Obiyo, was equally initiated “to secure ranches, animals and grazing areas so as to encourage investments in agriculture and boost food security and security of lives and property of the people”.

He pointed out that “this will go a long way to help protect our local and foreign investments in agriculture, thereby giving us more for export earnings and boost local industries for growth as well as offer employment opportunities to our teeming youthful population”.

“Your Excellency, Sir, it is our utmost desire to provide effective and robust security coverage within Enugu State and its environs”, NSCDC boss assured.

Inaugurating the Squad, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who noted that the scheme “provides for the arrest and prosecution of arms bearing herds-

• Ugwuanyi men or farmers and also the protection of the citizenry from kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes”, described it as “a much welcome complement to the efforts and measures his administration has been taking to combat security challenges in state, especially with regards “to protecting our farmlands in order to enhance agricultural output and ensure the safety of farmers and rural dwellers”.

Emphasizing on the above, Gov. Ugwuanyi said that his administration “recently recruited 1,700 able-bodied and experienced youths to serve as Forest Guards with the primary responsibility of policing all our forests and exposing criminal elements using them as their hideouts”.

While maintaining that Enugu remains one of the most peaceful and secure states in the country notwithstanding some security challenges, the governor disclosed that the efforts of the state government have been considerably successful as the state has continued to record a drastic reduction in the number of clashes between farmers and herdsmen as well as other criminal activities.

He therefore applauded “the Federal Government through the NSCDC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for this unprecedented initiative,” saying: “As a government, we want to pledge our full support, cooperation and assistance to ensure the overall success of the Agro Allied Forces initiative in Enugu State”.

8

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS

JTF sensitizes personnel on dangers of drugs From CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

T

he Joint Task Force (JTF) , Operation Delta Safe, has urged personnel under its command to steer clear of hard drugs.

The Commander of the joint force, Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade, who gave the charge during the seminar on the dangers of drugs abuse amongst personnel of security agencies under at the JTF headquarters in Yenagoa said that

the military does not condone drugs abuse as it was a ‘Court Marshal Offence’ with stiff penalties under the military statues.

Akinjide said that drug abuse has become a global menace with adverse consequences on the mental and physical health of the populace as well as security consequences as most criminals find solace in substance abuse to gain courage to perpetrate their acts.

“Thus, nations of the world are painstakingly looking for solutions to this

endless problem. Attempts to understand the nature of illicit drug abuse and addiction can be traced back to centuries; however, the search has been limited by the scientific theories available at any point.

“Dr Benjamin Rush, a founder of the first medical school in the United Stars and a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, a pioneer of US drug abuse research regretted the few scientific resources in the early days.

“Today, much has been

done globally to curtail substance abuse. However, these have not yielded the desired results in Nigeria and other developing nations as the act has been on the increase in recent times. “ Early this year, The President and Commander in Chief, Gen Muhammadu Buhari decried the rising problem of drug abuse and its associated consequences particularly as it affects national security and immediately inaugurated a Presidential Committee on drug abuse to find lasting solu-

tion to the menace, “ Akinrinade said.

The JTF Boss noted that following the presidential directive, the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Gabriel Olonisakin initiated a plan to discourage military personnel from substance abuse to ensure that they are in good health and sound mind to discharge their constitutional responsibility.

Speaking on the topic, “Drug Abuse amongst Military/Paramilitary: Implications on Health and Professional Responsibility, Dr Chia Francis, a Psychologist noted that the demands of military deployment often lead to the temptation to drugs abuse.

According Francis, an official of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,

inability to sleep, need for alertness and combat expose military personnel to pressure to use drugs.

He described drug abuse as intake of substances that alter the chemical and psychological functions of the body outside medical prescription and supervision.

He said that according to recent studies, drug abuse in Nigeria stands at 24.4 per cent amongst this from ages 15 and 64 higher than the global average of 5.6 percent in 2016.

He traced the stages to drug addiction from experimentation, occasional use, regular use, dependence and addiction stage adding that testing services were available to detect drug use while victims can be rehabilitated to lead normal lives.

Bank dragged to court over wrongful dismissal of two members of staff

Form ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

former employees Tbank,wo of a second generation Ebigoni Epurom Ofor

•Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (2nd left) with the State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Everestus Obiyo (3rd left), inspecting the Guard of Honour, during the inauguration of the Command’s Agro Rangers Special Squad on handling of herders/farmers issues in the state, yesterday.

Nigeria will be better when people get closer to God,says Adeboye,Okowa From JONATHAN AWANYAI

T

he General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Sunday said Nigeria would be better when people got closer to God. They spoke at the 50th birthday thanksgiving service of Pastor Emmanuel Emefienim at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Champions Cathedral, Warri.

Adeboye said that the country would be a better place if the citizenry concentrated more in preparing for where they would spend eternity.

He also said that there would be no corruption in the country if everyone had the fear of God. The cleric, therefore, urged Nigerians to focus more on matters concerning God, saying “if we are all focusing on things of God, knowing that sooner or later we will leave, the world will be a better place”.

He said that people should remember that everyone was on a journey in life and must walk in the way of the Lord because one day, there would be a return to the creator.

According to Adeboye, whether we like it or not, we are going on a journey; death is not a respecter of age. We must go on the journey, and we have no choice.

“Some of us do not know the way but, someone has shown the way by saying, I am the way, the truth and the life,’’ he stated.

He remarked that the scriptures said “teach us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

“It did not say teach us to number of our days so that we will be rich; don’t seek great things for yourself, it is about wisdom, not wealth.

“If you prosper and you don’t have wisdom, the prosperity will the destroyed, and know that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

“Jesus said wisdom is do-

ing what I have thought you; wisdom is to listen to Jesus Christ, and do what He says bearing in mind the saying, ‘seek first the kingdom and everything will be added to you’’’.

On his part, Okowa congratulated Emefienim for attaining 50 years of age, noting that it was a major milestone.

He described Emefienim, an Executive Director in Sterling Bank, as a ``humble man who has been blessed

by God and is extending the blessing to people and winning souls for God’’.

According to the governor, beyond winning souls, his church is doing a lot for our people and the government. Pastor Emefienim is showing a lot of love to people. ``Pastors should continue to impact on the less-privileged and attracting the youths to God. There is a time to reap all that you have done,” he said.

In a brief speech, Emefienim expressed gratitude to Adeboye, Okowa and others who attended the

thanksgiving.

To Okowa, he said “Your Excellency, we are so proud of you; you walk your talk.”

and Albert Ekpezu Uyok have dragged the financial institution to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the Calabar Judicial Division over wrongful dismissal.

The claimants want the court to set aside the defendant’s letter dated 24th May 2019, titled dismissal and also grant other prayers deemed necessary to the duo.

The duo in a suit No NICN/ CA/28/2019 and NICN/ CA/27/2019 respectively are praying the court to declare that their conduct in relation to the opening of account for Micheno Multipurpose Co-operative society limited did not constitute a gross misconduct and their dismissal should be declared null and void.

Speaking in Calabar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mba Ekpezu Ukweni

said that from the briefs his chamber had, “the former Bank Manager and his colleague were dismissed by their employers...We felt that the bank did not remove them properly, because they followed the normal procedure in opening the Micheno Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited account. They followed the normal procedure in opening the account and the bank took prepared decision in the circumstance to dismiss them.”

“Dismissal is the highest punishment that an employer can give to an employee. With dismissal, what they qualify to do now is to do the work of the cleaner, bricklayer and other menial jobs; they cannot do any other work that entitles them to be assessed on the basis of their credibility because with the stigma of dismissal, they are worth nothing again in the labour market; we want to redeem their names and images,” he stressed.

Delta State Government Employs 1000 Teachers From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, has said that the present recruitment into the service of the Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) is to bridge the gap in the short fall of teachers in public schools in the state.

The Commissioner made this known when he visited Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, venue for the screening of successful candidates for employment as teachers into the PPEB. Chief Ukah said the State governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is determined to ensure that the education sector of the State was brought to the level where

students from the public schools in the state could compete favourably with their peers academically around the world.

The Commissioner said the recruitment exercise that eventually culminated in the appointment of one thousand teachers went through a transparent process devoid of lobbying and anyone who was employed got the job on merit as only the best candidates that emerged from the exercise were employed.

Chief Ukah admonished the newly recruited teachers to be diligent in their duties and to ensure that the knowledge they have in their various fields of study should be impacted rightly on the students they would be assigned to teach.

He said the ministry would

organise training and induction programmes for the newly recruited teachers from the 16th of September, 2019 to the 21st of September, 2019 for them to know what is required of them as they come into the service of the State government.

The Commissioner also warned them against lobbying for places where they would be posted as their rules of engagement states that they are to be posted to teach in rural areas for a minimum period of 5 years before they can be posted again.

Those recruited are to teach English language, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Basic Science, Biology, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Basic Technology and Physics.

9

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS

Internal auditors decry poor financial practices in tertiary health institutions

From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

T

he Forum of Heads of Internal Audit of Federal Tertiary Health Institutions has decried the poor practices perpetuated in the health institutions in the country saying the anomaly is causing huge financial losses.

This was disclosed by chairman of the Forum, Dr. Okpachuo Jackson in communiqué he signed and made available in Calabar following the 2019 Summit of the Forum with the theme: Internal Auditors Roles and Challenges in Enforcing Adherence to Rules and Regulations in Nigeria Public Sector” which held at Enugu.

The forum noted that besides exposing the country to huge financial losses, the families of auditors across the country is being exposed to various degrees of risks in their efforts to enforce the regulations and called for review.

“The Forum noted that organizations are not strictly observing 100% prepayment audit as stipulated in Financial Regulation 601 of 2009.

“Eighty percent (80%) of Internal Auditors in the Federal Tertiary Health Institution have not been given online real time access rights on the electronic platforms of GIFMIS, REMITA and IPPIS. This anomaly has the implication of causing the federal government huge financial loss because a lot of irregular financial transactions on the platform may go undetected.

“Internal auditors are not exposed to relevant trainings especially as it concerns the operation of the new financial reforms such as GIFMIS, REMITA and IPPIS. “Auditors face various degrees of risks including risks to their lives and that of members of their families in their efforts to enforce adherence to the Rules and Regulations.

“Most often, enforcement of these rules and regulations are left to the auditor alone who is often seen as a wicked fellow because he wants the right thing to be done”, he said.

The forum said Internal Auditors in the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions should be given online real time access rights to GIFMIS, REMITA and IPPIS platforms and also be well trained in the operations and implementation of these platforms.

They also called for the enforcement of prepayment Audit of all vouchers in tertiary health institutions and also the full implementation of the circular on Establishment of Internal Audit Departments in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in all Tertiary Health Institutions.

Bank dragged to court over wrongful dismissal of two members of staff Form ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

T

wo former employees of a second generation bank, Ebigoni Epurom Ofor and Albert Ekpezu Uyok have dragged the financial institution to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the Calabar Judicial Division over wrongful dismissal.

The claimants want the court to set aside the defendant’s letter dated 24th May 2019, titled dismissal and also grant other prayers deemed necessary to the duo.

The duo in a suit No NICN/ CA/28/2019 and NICN/CA/27/2019 respectively are praying the court to de-

clare that their conduct in relation to the opening of account for Micheno Multipurpose Co-operative society limited did not constitute a gross misconduct and their dismissal should be declared null and void.

Speaking in Calabar, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mba Ekpezu Ukweni said that from the briefs his chamber had, “the former Bank Manager and his colleague were dismissed by their employers...We felt that the bank did not remove them properly, because they followed the normal procedure in opening the Micheno Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited account. They followed the

normal procedure in opening the account and the bank took prepared decision in the circumstance to dismiss them.”

“Dismissal is the highest punishment that an employer can give to an employee. With dismissal, what they qualify to do now is to do the work of the cleaner, bricklayer and other menial jobs; they cannot do any other work that entitles them to be assessed on the basis of their credibility because with the stigma of dismissal, they are worth nothing again in the labour market; we want to redeem their names and images,” he stressed.

• The host Prophet Chibundu middle with others prophets during the combined service of Sabbath Churches at Nkpor in Anambra State

Adazi Ani youth carnival ends in grand style * Organisers say it’s geared towards community development * Call on well-to-do indigenes to establish businesses at home for youth empowerment * Emeka Okeke says carnival is a unifying tool in community

By ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU

I

t was carnival as usual in Adazi-Ani, a community in Anaocha Local Government Area Anambra State and the country home of Chief Godwin U. Okeke, owner of GUO Transport Company as the community celebrated the 2019 edition of her annual new yam festival with a youth carnival sponsored by Dr Emeka Okeke and friends.

Celebrated amidst huge cultural displays and entertainment by different masquerades and other notable entertainment groups at the Eke Market square, heart of the Adazi Ani town, it came as a reminder to the indigenes and non-indigenes alike that Igbo culture and tradition still has a prominent role to play in the effort to forge peaceful coexistence in society.

The youth carnival was attended by dignitaries including the Honorable Commissioner for Housing, Member representing Anaocha in the Anambra State House of Assembly, some advisers to the state governor, friends, invitees as well as Dr. Emeka Okeke who sponsored the carnival, along with his friends and like minds.

Addressing newsmen at the occasion, Dr Okeke, Founder/CEO, RISE Clinic Nigeria disclosed that the idea behind the youth carnival was to bring the indigenes of the community together to chart ways of meeting the needs of the community.

He stressed that the festival is the only means of attracting people especially the well-to-do to understand the needs of the community and to invest in the small businesses around the community thereby assisting in the growth of the community through youth empowerment, among other things.

On his giant development effort

and free service to the Adazi-Ani community, Dr. Okeke emphasized that success could never be achieved alone but through adequate team work, adding: “When you make it a one-man business, it will fail. But if I get a few of my friends and show them the need to invest in our local community, the need to invest in our youths and how we could grow our local economy, that changes their mind and encourages them to come on board as some of them are already doing now.

“The carnival is done to bring the people of the community together especially youths. People of Adazi-ani are scattered all over the world and nothing attracts them back to our community. If we fail to come back together like brothers and sisters in a gathering like this, we would not be able to discuss our problems and the ways to develop our community.”

Hallmark of the festival was the triumphant display by the Aspire football club of Adazi-Ani. Barely a year plus in existence, the club which started with a group of youths playing football for fun in a community field, has now grown to become a force to be reckoned with not only in Anambra but in Nigeria.

According to the financier, Dr Okeke, the financier, the journey started sometime in June last year when some young players were spotted in the field playing with passion and enthusiasm.

The youngsters had only been playing for fun and just to keep fit not knowing that success and stardom awaited them at the door.

The boys never imagined that their regular evening soccer could turn to a bigger and stronger football club until Dr Okeke, a cheerful philanthropist, registered the club on the December

12 last year with Nation-Wide League Two and Anambra FA. By virtue of the registration, they were given an automatic ticket to participate in Anambra FA Cup 2019 as well as Nation-wide League One (Amateur Division 2 Tournament 2019). The club has been promoted to Division One and will soon be in NPFL. So far, they have defeated a host of teams including FC Ifeanyi Ubah who had won the cup 4 times in a row to now become the Anambra FA champions.

Speaking to newsmen shortly, Hon. Ejiofor Ebere Leonard who is the House member representing the constituency in the state House of Assembly, thanked Dr Okeke for mobilizing youths in the community, adding that the event was organized to uphold the existing peace, unity and progress in Adazi-Ani through cultural exhibition.

Also speaking, Chief Chinedu Madubuko of Chico Group, Nig. Ltd told our reporter that he considered the festival crucial to the development of the youths, adding: “If we don’t organize this festival, there is a stage the children will reach, they will not know what omenaala (tradition) is. Based on these, we organized our children to teach them our culture and Igbo culture in general.”

In the same vein, Hon. Iyke Gerald Ozoh who is the special assistant to Anambra State Governor on community Liaison said the event will promote the culture and tradition of Adazi-Ani so that the generations to come will know that Adazi has a tradition and culture, in addition to some other communities will come to know what Adazi is known for as an Igbo community situate in Anambra State of Nigeria.

High tension, shooting mar PDP governorship primary in Bayelsa

From Clem Onyemaechi, Yenagoa

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s predicted by some observers, the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Bayelsa State for the November 16 governorship election has begun amidst high tension, shooting and many uncertainties.

There are 21 aspirants vying to become the flag bearer of the party, with Senator Douye Diri, representing Bayelsa Central in the senate emerging as the preferred choice of the out- going governor, Seriake Dickson.

This morning there was uncertainty as to where the primary election would hold as party officials declined to disclose the venue, citing security reasons, even as many roads were blocked by stern looking security operatives.

Journalists also had a hard time to secure accreditation tags as the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Barr. Osom Macbere who came to the NUJ press center to distribute the tags complained of insufficient number of tags provided by the Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso Markson.

It was alleged that the insufficient tags was a deliberate ploy by the state government to tactically reduce the number of journalists who would have access to the venue of the primary election ostensibly to minimize the spread of the ugly scenes that were allegedly programmed to happen at the venue.

At Ijaw House along the Sani Abacha Way in the state capital where the accreditation of delegates was later taken to, the atmosphere there looked like a garrison as the combined presence of police, both regular and mobile force, including men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps literally out- numbered the crowd outside the gigantic edifice.

A Deputy Commissioner of police, and Commander of the State anti crime squad, code named Operation Doo Akpo, DCP Asufie was having hectic time controlling the movement in and out of the venue as some youths were patrolling along the Sani Abacha road chanting war songs.

As the tensed situation around the venue was getting more charged, sporadic gun shots were heard from a distance, and this prompted a riot of clicking sounds as the security men readied their riffles for any eventuality.

Some journalists who already found their way inside the premises rushed out to escape for dear lives, while others yet to be checked in by the police voted with their legs.

The Returning Officer for the primary election, and governor of Taraba State, Mr. Ishaku Dairus had earlier hurriedly left the venue in his convoy.

It was learnt that the desperation by the outgoing governor of the state, Seriake Dickson to foist a successor on the state and the determination by other aspirants not in the governor’s political family, Restoration Caucus to resist the imposition is heightening the tension.

10

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS

Alaibe, Okoya seek delegates support for PDP primaries

From CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa vote with the highest interest of the state in their hearts. wo leading aspirants of the PeoThe former managing director of ples Democratic Party (PDP) Niger Delta Development Commisfor the November 16 governor- sion, (NDDC) said his quest to seek ship election in Bayelsa State, Chief the PDP nomination ticket is prediTimi Alaibe and Arch. Reuben Okoya cated on his desire to address dehave pleaded with the delegates to velopmental challenges facing the choose wisely in today’s make or state. mar primaries of the party.

While expressing optimism that The two aspirants met separately he will clinch the ticket, he urged with correspondents in Yenagoa at delegates to be circumspect as they the week end where they marshaled vote; bearing in mind that he was out their credentials for the coveted on a mission to resolve the human office. and infrastructural deficits in Bayelsa Alaibe warned that the state can- State. not afford to have an accidental He urged delegates to compare leader at its current stage of devel- and contrast those who have clear opment and urged the delegates to visions to help the state grow and

T

Six people die in Anambra auto crash

then those who also are waiting for things to fall on their laps.

“I am not an accidental leader. I prepared myself for leadership, and our state does not need accidental leaders at this time. We have to be deliberate in picking a leader. So I enjoin all delegates to support me in this exercise so that together we can impact and make a new life and we can change our state.”

Alaibe said the next four years will be critical to the state and urged people to be more concerned with how the next government will impact their lives.

“I understand the challenges, the economic challenges, the infrastructural challenges, the socio po-

litical challenges and environmental challenges of this land. I even did research, during the period of Niger Delta Development Master Plan, we were involved in the diagnostic reviews so I know most of the challenges, the detailed challenges I know them,” “In the first six months of our administration, if I’m given opportunity, we will ensure that there is peace and security in our state, so that people will be comfortable to come and do business in the state.

“We will start enumeration of our youths and do demobilization, disarmament and reintegration programme for the youths in order to set a stage for them to be involved in

From PAMELA EBOH, Awka

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ix people have been confirmed dead folĺowing a multitude fatal motor vehicles accident at Agulu Lake, Anaocha LGA of Anambra State.

The accident involved a 911 truck, L300 Mitsubishi Bus, a Toyota sienna Bus and a Toyota camry car.

A statement by the state police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Haruna Mohammed said Police operatives led by the state governor, Willie Obiano visited the scene and casualties were rushed to St.Joseph hospital Adazi where six persons were certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor on duty.

Five others who sustained various degrees of injuries are receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the hospital.

He said the corpses were deposited at the hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.

Mohamned said the traffic jam caused by the accident and the consequent obstructions were cleared to enable free flow of traffic even as investigation is ongoing to ascertain identities of the victims and circumstances surrounding the incident please.

Real Estate Summit holds in Enugu

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one-day summit/exhibition, tagged Akuluouno 2019, organised by the Real Estate Development of Nigeria (REDAN), a housing development agency, will hold in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, on Wednesday, Sept 4, 2019.

Holding under the theme “Promoting & Showcasing Beneficial Strength, Innovations & Incentives of the Industry,” the summit will be graced by the governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the Chief host while Arc Ahmed Dangiwa, MD, Federal Mortgage Bank Ltd., Mr. Femi Adewale (MD Family Home Funds ltd), among others, will be keynote speakers.

The oragnisers said the Akuluouno, as the sub-theme of the summit speaks to the effort under by stakeholders in the South East Nigeria to get Ndigbo elsewhere in Nigeria and the Disapora, to think home by way of investing at home, including their homes and commercial houses in order to meet the housing needs of the people of the zone.

• Women waiting for their turn at a recent free medical outreach organised Hon. Obinna Chris Emeneka of Anambra East State Constituency, Umueri, Anambra State.

NSCDC lauds Ugwuanyi’s commitment on security

• As gov inaugurates Agro Rangers Squad on Herders/Farmers Issues

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State for “his kind disposition and sincere commitment towards security issues in the state”.

Speaking during the inauguration of the Special Squad known as Agro Rangers, which was initiated by the Corps’ Commandant General, CG Abdulahi Gana Muhammadu, for tackling issues between herders and farmers, the Enugu State Commandant, Everestus Obiyo, stated that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s support and encouragement made the occasion possible.

Commandant Obiyo added that “the Agro Rangers Squad was part of Civil Defence response to bringing under control the unfortunate clashes, killings and wanton destruction of lives and property in our beloved country”, disclosing that the officers have been trained to intervene between the farmers/villagers and herdsmen as well as checkmate the activities and excesses of all the parties concerned to ensure peaceful co-existence for rapid growth and development.

The Commandant maintained that the scheme was designed to also give physical protection to Agro Allied Investments, which include farmlands, livestock, silos, ranches

and everything that is related to the nation’s agricultural economy as well as protect the citizenry from kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes.

The scheme, according to Commandant Obiyo, was equally initiated “to secure ranches, animals and grazing areas so as to encourage investments in agriculture and boost food security and security of lives and property of the people”.

He pointed out that “this will go a long way to help protect our local and foreign investments in agriculture, thereby giving us more for export earnings and boost local industries for growth as well as offer employment opportunities to our teeming youthful population”.

“Your Excellency, Sir, it is our utmost desire to provide effective and robust security coverage within Enugu State and its environs”, NSCDC boss assured.

Inaugurating the Squad, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who noted that the scheme “provides for the arrest and prosecution of arms bearing herdsmen or farmers and also the protection of the citizenry from kidnapping, robbery and other violent crimes”, described it as “a much welcome complement to the efforts and measures his administration has been taking to combat security challenges in

state, especially with regards “to protecting our farmlands in order to enhance agricultural output and ensure the safety of farmers and rural dwellers”.

Emphasizing on the above, Gov. Ugwuanyi said that his administration “recently recruited 1,700 ablebodied and experienced youths to serve as Forest Guards with the primary responsibility of policing all our forests and exposing criminal elements using them as their hideouts”.

While maintaining that Enugu remains one of the most peaceful and secure states in the country notwithstanding some security challenges, the governor disclosed that the efforts of the state government have been considerably successful as the state has continued to record a drastic reduction in the number of clashes between farmers and herdsmen as well as other criminal activities.

He therefore applauded “the Federal Government through the NSCDC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for this unprecedented initiative,” saying: “As a government, we want to pledge our full support, cooperation and assistance to ensure the overall success of the Agro Allied Forces initiative in Enugu State”.

skills development, which will make them meaningfully engaged.

“We will also develop blue economy for the state and make our graduates employable through skills acquisition, because the bedrock of our economy is human capital development; that is why we are poised to give our children quality education and conducive learning environment.

“I come into the governorship race with a lot of experience; I have knowledge of private sector economy; I also have experience in public sector economy. I will combine both for the development of Bayelsa state when given opportunity.

“I am a team player; I come with strong character and strong leadership skills, over the years, successive administrations in Bayelsa state have created impacts in their own ways in trying to ensure sustainable development for our people, but now is the time to discuss the economy of our state and share our economic prosperity, which we will work out for all Bayelsans,” he said.

He urged all delegates during the PDP governorship primary to see the development of Bayelsa state more than the immediate pecuniary gains.

On his part, Arc. Reuben Okoya, said the state is at cross roads and may be heading for doom, if the right person is not allowed to govern the state at this material time and called on the delegates to choose the right person without attaching any emotion.

Okoya lamented what he described as the “distrust, lies and disunity” among Bayelsans, saying there was the need to unite all Bayelsans in the new dispensation to save the state from the looming doom.

He said, “If we don’t get it right this time, I mean if Bayelsa doesn’t get it right this time, I don’t want to mince my words we are doomed as a state.

“I’m not here to praise anybody, but I must say this, Bayelsa has put forth its first eleven, the people running for the governorship are people of character, people of dignity, people of history, trying to serve the state, but, we are at the cross roads.

“Help pass the messages to the electorate the people, the delegate, the elders that we have no choice than to make it right this time, getting it wrong, will spell disaster and doom for us. That is why I, Reuben Okoya, have decided to put myself forth to serve Bayelsa as Governor because I know how critical these times are and I believe I am best for Bayelsa. With me, you won’t be experimenting.

“My skills lie with infrastructure.

So when it comes to infrastructure, there is no discussing it. I can get it done at any time. First, we must make sure the roads in Ekeremor gets to Agge; we must take the road to Brass; we must take the road to Oporoma, Foropa and Koluama. Infrastructure is key.

“We need a candidate that is a unifier whose background doesn’t show deceit and lies, but shows leadership and love for the izon nation”.

He stated that he was a commissioner for Special Projects for four years during the Alamieyeseigha/ Jonathan administration, Construction Manager, Niger Delta University Project as well as Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, a feat he maintained has prepared him well to also manage the state as a governor.

11

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS

Again Bayelsa PDP launches attack against some governorship aspirants From CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

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he cold war within the fold of the PDP in Bayelsa State ahead of today’s governorship primary appears to be getting hotter as the State chairman of the party, Hon. Cleopas Moses has accused some aspirants of sending fake bank alerts to some delegates to woo their support.

In a statement, Hon. Cleopas said the one million naira fake alert is a desperate move by two of the aspirants (names withheld) to hoodwink the delegates to vote for them.

1,172 cases pending in Anambra Magistrate courts - CJ

According to him, some of the delegates have started receiving the fake alerts with a promise that they can access the money by Wednesday this week after the fate of the two would have been decided by them.

The PDP chairman, who described the action as a political fraud, noted that it is the height of desperation and called on anti-graft agencies to investigate the issue and make those behind it to face the long arm of the law.

He said the issue amounts to blackmail and vote buying, which he pointed out is a serious offence in the

nation’s electoral system with very punitive measures against culprits.

The PDP helmsman wondered why the duo would engage in such massive and outright electoral fraud all because of power, adding that they lack credibility and the requisite morality to govern a state like Bayelsa.

He stressed that all the aspirants have been given the opportunity to interface with the delegates in the various hotels, but the duo rather than convince the delegates decided to use this tactics so as to fraudulently win the party’s ticket.

Cleopas called on Bayelsans, espe-

cially PDP delegates to be wary of “cunning characters” who he said are only interested in converting the commonwealth of the people to theirs.

He maintained that these are not the kinds Bayelsans need and urged the people to use the coming governorship primary to reject and finally retire them from politics.

“We got a very disturbing report of how two aspirants are sending fake bank alerts to some delegates to make them vote for them on Tuesday.

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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o fewer than 1,172 cases are currently pending in all the Magistrate court in Anambra

state.

The state Chief Judge, Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu who disclosed weekend at Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area, while commissioning two magistrates courts.in the area, noted that 666 cases out of this number are from Okpoko community alone.

Flanked by some Administrative Judges of the state High court, Justices M. N. O.Okonkwo and M. N. A. Maduechesi, Onwuamaegbu who stated that the need to have the courts became imperative in view of the large number of cases at the entire Ogbaru Magisterial District, advised litigants and residents of Okpoko to always maintain decorum whenever they were in court.

According to her, “You should conduct yourselves within the ambits of the law and be rest assured that with the calibre of judges and magistrates we have in Anambra State, you will get justice”.

On the plea by one of the lawyers, Tony Chukwu for a high court to also be given to Okpoko Community, she explained that his plea would be looked into adding that cases at the high in Ogbaru presently are about 400 which is less than what we expect for a high court to be granted.

Earlier in his speech, the President General of Okpoko Community, Hon. Edwin Emesinwa, who was full of praises commended Governor Willie Obiano and the Chief Judge for finding it worthy to commission three Magistrates Courts in Okpoko.

Emesinwa recalled that they spent time and money transporting themselves to Atani to get justice adding that, “now the thing has come to our door step”.

“Due to the population of the community and the far distance of the judicial court from Okpoko, some of the people’s right is denied.

Therefore, the existence of these noble courts here today will help in bringing justice to the door step of common man” Emesinwa stated.

Also speaking, the Royal father of the day, B. S. C. Muofunanya commended the Chief Judge, the President General of the community, Hon. Emesinwa and Okpoko residents for making their dream come true.

Dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony were Okpoko lawyers forum led by their Chairman, Barrister P. O. T. Okejah and Secretary, Nduka Nwamba, Chief Zelibe Ezeanuna and Deputy Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Hon. Osigwe Chimezie, who expressed satisfaction with the commissioning of the courts.

• IGWE ENG. NICK OBI (IGWE OMENYILI NNOBI) AND CHAIRMAN IDEMILI SOUTH COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS as he prepares to cut a tuber of roast yam and declare open the new yam festival in his community.

FG commends Delta State Govt. on Asaba airport facilities

From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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he Federal Government has commended Delta State Government for the quality of facilities at the Asaba International Airport, saying the facilities are of international standards.

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika stated this on Sunday in Asaba shortly after he inspected facilities at the airport.

He noted that the state government has done well in developing the airport to meet international standards especially in the area of upgrade of the runway and other ancilalliary works.

He particularly commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for sticking to standards and for ensuring transparency in the concessoning process of the Asaba airport.

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is always a very serious minded person, very focused, principled and always committed to doing the right thing, I have been informed how he ensured transparency in the concessioning of the Asaba Airport, adding some of his friends bidded for the Airport and lost and in the interest of his people he didn’t interfere and didn’t care whether his friends lost but what he wanted was quality and the right people to run the airport and I think this is what will help our

nation.

“The Asaba airport is strategically located, it is right there at the centre of very many good locations in the country, it is good for business, good for civil aviation, and we are delighted that the Delta State Government has taken aviation as one of the catalyst for growth and development and for identifying and also understanding the importance aviation could add to the economy of the region.

“Am here because we believed that the best way to manage our airports is to concession them to private hands to make them better managed and better operated and to get value for our money.

“The Delta State Government took up the challenge and they attended to so many conferences with us, they dialogued with us at the ministry and they decided on their own to concession the Asaba Airport and here we are after three tedious years, and being fully guided by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ICRC to put this to reality.

“The Asaba Airport is on its way to being fully concessioned, they have feeder airlines that will operate as well as a principal airline coming in to Asaba and feeding other stations, they have a hotel, Business park, cargo and they have every-

thing here an international airport needs to operate and all of these are from the private sector and if it works, this is a classical example of partnership with the private sector to develop our infrastructure for the common good of our people”.

“This is a modest example of how things should be, we will carry out more of these inspections, as a ministry we are responsible for civil aviation and air transportation in general and we will not be found wanting in this regard. Coming here excites me, it shows me the courage and determination by the State Government to partner with the private sector to develop this airport.

“From what I have seen here and from what we have on ground and also the planned expansion of the terminal building, the Asaba Airport is indeed an international airport in that regard,” he said.

The Minister who was conducted round by the Delta State Commissioner for Information Mr. Charles Aniagwu and Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor Prof. Sylvester Monye was accompanied by the Acting Permanent Secretary Ministry of Aviation Engr. Hassan Musa; Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Capt. Rabiu Yadudu; and Technical Assistant to the Minister Engr. Ben Tukur.

“This is desperation taken too far.

We feel that if they are popular then that is not the road to travel. Allowing them access to the delegates like others is to sell their manifesto and not engage in what is clearly vote buying.

“We call on the EFCC and ICPC to investigate this issue and bring those behind the fraudulent bank alerts to book. On our part as a party we will not condone such actions that are capable of putting us in bad light” the statement said.

But in a swift reaction, Chief Timi Alaibe deplored the statement from the PDP Chairman, saying what the party leadership is doing in the state is no longer politics.

In a counter statement issued by the Administrative Secretary of Timi Alaibe Campaign Organization, Prof. Brisibe seiyefa titled “This is no longer politics”, he condemned the antics of the party leadership, expressing shock that such could come from him.

The statement read in part, “We have been informed of a damning statement issued today by the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Cleopas Moses, to the effect that our Principal, Chief Ndutimi Alaibe and another aspirant, Kenebi Okoko, were sending fake bank alerts to some delegates in a bid to buy their votes in the forthcoming primary election of the PDP. “As a campaign organization, we find it difficult to believe that this extremely criminal allegation is coming from the chairman of PDP in Bayelsa State. We assume that there is a mistake somewhere. How would any reasonable person wake up to utter this kind of evil allegation against responsible fellow human beings?

“While we allow our lawyers to study the legal implications of this obviously irresponsible and careless allegation, we need to state that there is no truth in it whatsoever.

The burden is on those making the allegation to provide evidence when the time comes.

“We believe this is dirty politics taken too far. Someone does not need to go to this extreme just to win an election. This allegation is an equivalent of bloodshed for the sake of politics and must not be ignored by those whose responsibility it is to ensure that it doesn’t happen”.

Prof Brisibe stated that Alaibe’s Campaign organization had promised from the beginning to run a decent campaign for the governorship race, stressing that they have not deviated from that promise.

“We have been irresponsibly attacked and rubbished. But we choose to keep our sanity by focusing on the campaign and not allowing anybody to distract us. We believe that politics is a game of superior ideas and not ado-or-die affair.

“Our Principal has been called names. His reputation has dragged in the mud by those who are bent on scoring cheap political points. Issues bordering on terrorism have been raised against him. And today, he is being accused of engaging in acts that violate both local and international laws. His silence has been misconstrued as weakness and a victory for those on the offensive.

“Let it be clear to whoever is behind this gutter politics that Timi Alaibe has an impeccable reputation both in private and public service.

Accusing him of a criminal activity as though it were a child’s play is unacceptable and is not going to be ignored. He has a name to protect and will not allow anybody to soil that name. The law must take its course.

This is a deliberate falsehood that must be challenged”.

12

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Abia health workers protest non-payment of 11 months salaries, allowances

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undreds of workers of Abia Hospitals Management Board (HMB), Monday in Umuahia, staged a protest against the nonpayment of their 11 months salaries and leave allowances.

The protesters, who locked the entrance to the headquarters of the board located on Aba Road, said that the inability of the state government to pay them had left many of them in precarious situations.

The placard-carrying protesters barricaded the road as they chanted anti-government songs.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Pay us our 11 months’ salary”, “Our 2017 annual leave allowance not paid”, Stop starving us” and “Our children are out of school”, among others.

The protesters, who came from various HMB offices across the state, paralysed official activities at the board’s headquarters.

Speaking with journalists, Mr Ejike Nwaukwa, Chairman, Medical and Health Workers’ Union, HMB branch, said that they were protesting because government had failed to come to their rescue despite their writing series of letters to express their plight.

“The last time we were paid salaries was in September 2018. We have not been paid our 2017 leave allowances till date.

“Notwithstanding, we have been coming to work, hoping that government will come to our rescue, until last week Monday when we stopped coming to work and had to lock up our offices,” he said.

Nwaukwa, who said that the board had about 18 general hospitals, with over 1,000 workers, claimed that the union had lost some of its members because of the situation.

Chairman, Medical and Health Workers’ Union in Abia, Mr Okoro Ogbonnaya, condemned the situation and assured the workers of the union’s support.

Ogbonnaya called for urgent intervention by the executive and the legislative arms of government to ameliorate the plight of the workers.

One of the protesters, Mrs Chidinma Wokeoma, described the situation as unbearable, saying that she had been relying on charity for survival.

“I am a widow with two children who are in the university. If not for the help I have been getting from people, my children would have dropped out of school by now,” Wokeoma said.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Onyebuchi Ememmanka, was not available to react to the development when NAN visited his office.

However, when a call was put through to him, he said: “I’m not in Umuahia at the moment, but I will come back in two hours’ time. I will react officially to it after consulting with the management of HMB.”

Abia to partner World Bank against flooding in Aba – NEWMAP

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bia State Government has announced collaborative plans with the World Bank to check the flood ravaging Aba, the commercial centre of the state.

Abia State Coordinator, Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Mr Izuchukwu Onwughara made this known in Aba while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.

Onwughara said that the World Bank had mapped out some of the flooding sites that posed the highest danger to the city to tackle.

He said Obohia roads such as Uratta axis, Ngwa road and some parts of Port Harcourt road would be tackled in the first phase, while Omuma road and Ohanku road would feature in the second

phase.

Onwughara said the projects would be substantially funded by the World Bank with Abia government providing counterpart funding to partner in the project to manage flooding in Aba. The coordinator, who said the project whose duration “is 30 months, will commence by October’’.

“We are at very last leg of the preparation of the project in 2019, a lot of consultants came in to do some socioeconomic studies, we did the environmental and social management, we did the resettlement action plan for a project of such magnitude.

“The entire soil investigation has been done; we prepared a design that is of world class standard deploying best practices globally.

“The designs have gone through layers of approval from here to Washington and came out cleared.

“The job is too big so we’ve split it into two units; we will start with Uratta and Umuagbai and this will cover sections of Port Harcourt, Obohia roads and it will be taken down to Ngwa road.

“The advert has been done to pick contractors that will do this project, the valuation of the bids has been concluded and the reports have been forwarded to the World Bank.

“This month, September, we are awaiting their “no objection” response to the report to show it is okay.

“We are using this period to sensitise our people to prepare and get ready for the project.

“Everyone along the corridors of

•The Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. P. C Ezeokafor cutting the new yam for consumption flanked from the left by Very Rev. Msgr. JPC Nzomiwu and from the right by the Awka Diocesan Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Francis Chidume.

Adeboye, Okowa to Nigerians: ‘Come closure to God’ From JONATHAN AWANYAI,

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eneral Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Sunday stated that Nigeria would be better when people got closer to God. They spoke at the 50th birthday thanksgiving service of Pastor Emmanuel Emefienim at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Champions Cathedral, Warri.

Adeboye said that the country would be a better place if the citizenry concentrated more in preparing for where they would spend eternity.

He also said that there would be no corruption in the country if everyone had the fear of God. The cleric, therefore, urged Nigerians to focus more on matters concerning God, saying “if we are all focusing on things of God, knowing that sooner or later we will leave, the world will be a better place”.

He said that people should remember that everyone was on

a journey in life and must walk in the way of the Lord because one day, there would be a return to the creator.

According to Adeboye, whether we like it or not, we are going on a journey; death is not a respecter of age. We must go on the journey, and we have no choice.

“Some of us do not know the way but, someone has shown the way by saying, I am the way, the truth and the life,’’ he stated.

He remarked that the scriptures said “teach us to number our days so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

“It did not say teach us to number of our days so that we will be rich; don’t seek great things for yourself, it is about wisdom, not wealth.

“If you prosper and you don’t have wisdom, the prosperity will the destroyed, and know that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

“Jesus said wisdom is doing what I have thought you; wisdom is to listen to Jesus Christ, and do what He says bearing in mind the

saying, ‘seek first the kingdom and everything will be added to you’’’.

On his part, Okowa congratulated Emefienim for attaining 50 years of age, noting that it was a major milestone.

He described Emefienim, an Executive Director in Sterling Bank, as a ``humble man who has been blessed by God and is extending the blessing to people and winning souls for God’’.

According to the governor, beyond winning souls, his church is doing a lot for our people and the government. Pastor Emefienim is showing a lot of love to people.

“Pastors should continue to impact on the less-privileged and attracting the youths to God. There is a time to reap all that you have done,” he said.

In a brief speech, Emefienim expressed gratitude to Adeboye, Okowa and others who attended the thanksgiving.

To Okowa, he said: “Your Excellency, we are so proud of you; you walk your talk.”

this project have been consulted and we call on everyone to cooperate with us on this,” he said.

Onwughara said that by October the contract for the project would awarded to ensure it took off accordingly.

He called on the residents of Aba to see the project as their own and to give the project handlers their maximum cooperation to ensure its realisation.

He said the project was devoid of political interferences because the World Bank was investing heavily in it and would want not to see its funds “go down the drain’’.

He said the World Bank worked with the procurement team to ensure global best practices were adopted to make the project successful.

He stressed that every step of the project passed through the bank’s approval which resulted in an acceptable bid document after a rigorous process.

“Let me give you some of the contents; for instance, we want a cash flow of up to N3.6 billion for any contractor that will be able to bid for this project.

“We want an annual turnover of eight million dollars for the past five years for any contractor that will bid for the project.

“We want evidence of two similar projects in the past five years executed by such a contractor.

“That advert was on for three months, but only 14 contractors were able to return our bid; about 26 contractors picked our forms and the criteria separated the boys from the men.

“At the day of returning of the bid, we found out that even three were deficient because you have to provide a bid security of seven million naira and people who don’t want to take that risk didn’t come,” he said.

He said the project was being assisted by the Nigeria Society of Engineers and procurement consultants from outside Abia did a thorough evaluation of the bid.

He said that the bid evaluation report had been the World Bank, adding that the bank was not taking the project lightly and could not allow it to be infiltrated by politicians.

‘Ayade has not nominated commissioners’ – Aide

S

pecial Adviser to Cross River State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, has asked members of the public to disregard a purported list of commissioners circulating in the social media.

Ita in a statement issued on Saturday said the so-called list is fake.

“His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade is yet to nominate Commissioners. Whenever he does that, it will be communicated to the people of Cross River through the proper channels.

“The Press Release containing list of nominees purportedly signed by me and currently circulating in the social media is therefore, fake and should be disregarded,” the statement read in parts

POLITICS The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

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pparently tired of being accused, perhaps unjustly, of doing while herdsmen ravaged the South East countryside, killing, maiming and raping women and children, the governors of the South East region last week rose from a meeting in Enugu saying enough is enough. To this end, the governors decided inter-alia: Float joint-air operation against bandits and ban movement of herdsmen with cattle carrying Ak47 rifles.

The governors, in apparent rebuttal of accusations by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that the governors were complicit in the military invasion of the AfaraUkwu, Umuahia, home of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, frowned at military operations in zone without notifying the South East Governors Forum.

But they were also conciliatory in their appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari whom they begged to ensure that quality job was delivered in the repairs of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, which was shut recently to allow for rehabilitation works on the runway and other facilities at the airport. According to CHUKS EZE who covered the governors’ meeting in Enugu, their appeal may have received presidential nod what with Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika promised that the repairs would be completed before Christmas.

At the well-attended meeting, the governors announced plans to commence continuous and sustained joint air operations to flush out bandits from the zone including forests.

This followed an expanded meeting of the South East Governors Forum (SEGF) and other critical stakeholders including the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, at the Government House, Enugu, where they arrived at varied resolutions over security and infrastructure issues concerning the zone.

Governors of Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States attended the meeting in person, while that of Abia was represented by his deputy.

Chairman of the forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, who read the communique of the meeting to journalists, noted that the SEGF also resolved to restrain movement of herdsmen and their cattle from one place to the other, in the zone.

According to Governor Umahi, the forum had discovered that it was such movement that usually caused conflicts between herders and the natives/farmers, adding that the leaders also resolved to restrain the movement of cattle and herdsmen across communities and across farmlands within the South East.

Governor Umahi commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on the recent establishment of Forest Guards in Enugu State, which he said was a decision of South East governors, and urged the rest of the governors to launch theirs accordingly.

On the closure of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, for rehabilitation, Umahi disclosed that the forum was pleased and in agreement with steps being taken by the Minister of Aviation to ensure that the project was carried out diligently.

The communique read, in part: “South East governors have banned herdsmen who move about with AK 47 guns and cutlasses and we want our security agencies to implement same.

“We acknowledge the safety reasons given to us by the honourable minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Abubakar Sirika, over the closure of Enugu Airport, that it is a matter of need to save the lives of our people.

“The deterioration (of facilities at the airport) went on for a long time that the status is in a deplorable situation such that

The IDF is the world’s biggest Jewish organization — but should be for Israelis only Pg 14

How tears of our women touched me, by lawmaker

13

Pg 16

Insecurity: Why South East governors finally took action • Deny working in collusion with the Army to emplace Operation ‘Python Dance’

•The leaders after the meeting

it has to be closed to save the lives of our people.

“We acknowledge his measures and we are very satisfied with it, with his passion and with his readiness to uplift the airport.

“The honourable minister of Aviation has also assured us that the Akanu Ibiam International airport would be constructed to meet the Abuja International Airport standard; and he assured us that the runway shall be reconstructed and extended, and that the landing equipment shall be replaced with a better night light landing installation”.

On the completion schedule, Umahi added that Sirika, “has assured us that work will be going on day and night and that it shall be completed before December 2019.

The governor added that, “other works like the cargo airport, the extension of the tarmac buildings that were damaged by rainstorm and others are also in the package, and he has assured that two sets of contractors - Julius Berger and PW - have been pinned down for the job and that either of them would be used.

“But in the meantime, we are reiterating that Julius Berger is our preferred choice”.

The SEGF also expressed displeasure over the manner at which special military operations are carried out in the zone without the knowledge of the governors who are chief executives of the states.

Umahi further clarified that, “South East governors never invited the army or were South East governors informed on any of the operations of Python Dance until the operations had already started in our states.

“South East governors would like to write to Mr President to request for a meeting with him and all the South East chiefs, on security, to douse tension in the region,” he said.

Responding, Senator Sirika said that all actions being taken by the federal government over Akanu Ibian International Airport were in good fate, and reassured that the facelift project would be completed by December “For us at the centre, in this federating country, we take the city of Enugu extremely important because what Enugu is to the South East is what kaduna is to the North and what Ibadan is to the South West. So, contemplating to close down the runway in the heart of the South Eastern part of the country, with very mobile, very

enterprising people, is not done without complete respect and regard to the activities in this sector.

“It was purely based on safety, to ensure that people flying into this airport do so safely. This one of our five International Airports and we want to assure you that we will take it with all the seriousness it deserves, and we should be able to deliver this project, all things being equal, before Christmas,” Sirika said.

Also present at the meeting were the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Abubakar Maikobi; the Air Officer Commanding, Ground Training Command, Enugu, Air Vice Marshal Idi Amin; and the AIG, Zone 9, Umuahia, Baba Tijani.

Others include, Commissioners of Police and State Directors of DSS of five states of the South East; the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; former Minister of Power and Chairman of SEREDEC, Prof Barth Nnaji; the Director of Highways, South East zone, Henry Udeh; leadership of Vigilante/Neighbourhood Watch groups in the zone; and representatives of FERMA and Nzuko Umunna, among others.

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

BOLD & BLUNT

•IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz speaks with soldiers during a visit to the Netzah Yehuda Battalion near Jenin,

The IDF is the world’s biggest Jewish organization — but should be for Israelis only Extreme weather – including intolerable heat and unexpected cold snaps –could pose extreme dangers for pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia, cautions MIT study. By RUTH SCHUSTER

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llowing the Israeli army to be a draw for young foreign Jews is building the connection between Israel and the Diaspora on very problematic and narrow foundations writes ANSHEL PFEFFER. Ever asked yourselves what the largest Jewish organization in the world is? If you’re Jewish, your first answer to that question will be another question: What do you consider a Jewish organization?

Well, does an organization count that has over 95 percent Jewish membership, maintains thousands of synagogues and kosher kitchens, observes Shabbat and all the festivals, and has thousands of rabbis in its employ? If so, there’s no question that the Israel Defense Forces is the largest Jewish organization the world has ever known.

The IDF is not a state institute. It is a state religion. A new stream of Judaism, with its own Hebrew dialect, rituals and high priests, or generals, whose authority is higher than that of the rabbis (who only perform a clerical function in military rites and don’t call the shots). It has some half a million Jews in either active or part-time service, and millions more beholden to it as former members and in thrall to it as partners, siblings and children of members.

Many of those members may also be members of religious communities and have their own civilian rabbis back home. But their first allegiance is to the IDF. When rabbis told their students in 2005 not to take part in the eviction of settlers from the Gaza Strip, only a tiny handful obeyed while thousands of yeshiva student-soldiers carried

out the IDF’s orders. A third of all young women who graduate from the national-religious schools, where the rabbis tell them to go to nonmilitary national service, still choose the IDF. The IDF is Israel’s true state religion and the largest Jewish organization in the world. And as my colleagues Judy Maltz and Yaniv Kubovich highlighted in their excellent Haaretz investigation last week (“What’s killing Israel’s lone soldiers?”), the IDF is a big draw to nonIsraeli young Jewish men and women as well.

And why shouldn’t it be? An exciting gap year in Israel with no strings and full board, serving in one of the world’s best and most prestigious militaries.

But as Judy and Yaniv point out, the IDF doesn’t really need them; their own needs as lone soldiers place an unnecessary burden on their already

stressed-out commanding officers; and the system isn’t geared up to providing them with the kind of support they need.

What’s worse, while for Israeli soldiers the IDF has a reasonably good apparatus for finding out if its potential recruits are suffering psychological and other personal problems, the 3,500 lone soldiers who are serving at any given time are not properly screened for these issues before joining up.

They comprise barely 2 percent of all IDF soldiers, but in the past five years about 12 percent of all those who committed suicide while in military service were lone soldiers.

The inevitable pressure of getting used to life in a combat unit, their lack of Hebrew and knowledge of Israeli society, coupled with whatever adolescent problems they may have

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

BOLD & BLUNT

•IDF Soldiers

been escaping back home and the absence of a family support structure that their Israeli comrades have to fall back upon, can often be too much. A high percentage drop out. And the suicides (in a period when overall suicide numbers in the IDF are actually dropping) are almost inevitable.

Why is the IDF even prepared to be a “Jewish Foreign Legion” if it doesn’t need these soldiers, who just place an extra burden on the system, serve short periods (which mainly consist of basic training and advanced training, but little active service) and, with the exception of those who later emigrate and become Israeli citizens, won’t continue as reservists?

Strictly off the record, many IDF officers regale you with stories of having to conduct live fire exercises

“

The IDF is Israel’s true state religion and the largest Jewish organization in the world... the IDF is a big draw to non-Israeli young Jewish men and women as well...The army is a place where you work with guns and can get killed.

And yes, it also devotes a major part of its resources and personnel to maintaining a military occupation of another nation.

“

with soldiers who barely comprehend the Hebrew orders and the time spent dealing with their personal issues, and admit that they’d much prefer not to

command foreign lone soldiers.

They will never say so openly, however.

The reasons for their reticence are varied. There is a real appreciation for

the sacrifice these young men and women make, far from their homes — and who would want to look churlish?

Then there’s honor for tradition: The IDF sorely needed the thousands of Jewish volunteers who arrived in 1948 to boost a fledgling army fighting a war of survival. Then, it was they who came with the professionalism and experience, gained on the battlefields of World War II, who were teaching the Israelis how to fight.

But there are less honorable reasons too. The IDF’s professional officers won’t speak out because the politicians love the young foreign Jews who come to serve in the IDF. What better proof of the centrality of Israel and its state religion to Jews everywhere? It’s a hasbara coup, especially when there are so many reports in the media about young American Jews being indifferent or even hostile to Israel. Small wonder that President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both addressed a ceremony for 300 of these new recruits earlier this month.

Unsurprisingly, Jewish philanthropic organizations have also piggybacked on this to create even more organizations.

One of the main ones that bring new recruits over from North America has Miriam Adelson and Sara Netanyahu as its honorary presidents.

This shouldn’t be just about politics, though. And while immediate changes are necessary to improve lone soldiers’ welfare and psychological support, it should be about the role played by the IDF in the connection that Jews have to Israel.

The army is a place where you work with guns and can get killed.

And yes, it also devotes a major part of its resources and personnel to maintaining a military occupation of another nation. Allowing the IDF to be a draw for young Jewish men and women from the Diaspora, whether or not they are planning to become Israeli citizens themselves in the future, not only endangers them personally. It also builds the connection between Israel and the Diaspora on very problematic and narrow foundations.

And what does it say about Israel that the most compelling attraction it offers to young Jews is its army?

Emigration is never easy. Certainly when it entails moving from a Western country with a higher standard of living and fewer security concerns. And in some enlightened corners of the West, even having a commitment to Israel can be socially awkward. Beginning one’s new life in Israel as a soldier, or expressing that commitment by coming over to volunteer in the IDF, is simply the wrong way to go about it.

Conditions for new recruits, and the care taken of them, has vastly improved in the last couple of decades.

But military life and combat service in any serious army is positively brutish and inevitably fraught with pressure.

Eighteen-year-old Israelis have at least spent their young lives preparing for it, and are surrounded by friends and relatives who have been through the meat grinder before them.

There are more useful and meaningful ways to show a commitment to Israel.

Membership in the largest Jewish organization in the world should be for Israelis only, and new immigrants must spend a significant period getting used to civilian life in Israel before being subjected to the rigors of military service. This is for their own good, but also because there should be so much more to Israel than just the IDF.

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

POLITICS

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BUOHIA Obi-Ibere became the first community to host the biggest hospital in the Ikwuano local government area, when its health centre was built in 1984.

It became a Mecca for health tourism, as people trooped In from its borders seeking health care.

Unfortunately, after some rather short years of glory, the hospital slipped into neglect and consequent gross dilapidation.

As at 2001, when the United States Ambassador visited the hospital, the incumbent member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives, SamOnuigbo had complained laid bare before the then State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, the sad state of affairs in the health facility. He pleaded for an immediate response to resuscitate the facility. But nothing happened.

Soon, the facility was out of use and the people were subjected to the agonizing experience of looking in the way of their neighbours to access health care services.

The absence of a primary healthcare centre in Obuohia Obi-Ibere community, left residents frustrated and they didn’t disguise their dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to meet their needs.

The situation was made more difficult by their terrain, which got worse during the rainy season. It takes about an hour to get to the nearest medical facility eight kilometres away. The people are left with the option of walking the eight kilometers or the bumpy and stomach churning ride on a motor cycle.

Onuigbo said: “I lived through many agonizing years in Obuohia and witnessed the young who were sick, the elderly, pregnant women, going through severe pains walking and sometimes traveling by motor bikes to seek medical attention miles away. We prayed for divine relief.”

To end the nightmare, Onuigbo rehabilitated the facility and expanded the electricity infrastructure in the community, as part of his constituency projects.

Onuigbo, the only representative of Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency to be re-elected since 1999, noted that electricity plays a very important role in driving economic development.

He added that with the restoration of power to the community, “life will not only be made easier and more enjoyable for our people, but a boost will be given to the economic activities of the young ones.”

The effort to revamp the hospital began in 2016 in Onuigbo’s first term in the House of Reps. But lack of funds slowed down the efforts.

He explained: “In 2016, as part of my constituency projects, we began the process of rehabilitating the hospital.

“Unfortunately, lack of funds delayed the rehabilitation. I am happy that after making enormous financial sacrifices, we have completed the rehabilitation and the hospital is functional again. We have thus addressed the gap in healthcare provision, which the community has faced for decades now.”

The hospital, with state-of-the-art equipment, boasts of more wards, doctors and nurses’ quarters, a pharmacy and theatre, among others.

The proud lawmaker noted that prior to the building of the Ikwuano General Hospital in Olori Oboro, the Obuohia Obi-Ibere Health Centre, was the biggest hospital in Ikwuano.

This makes what has happened now more significant. I thank God for this.

“The cry of my people, especially our wonderful women touched me, and I toiled ceaselessly to ensure that their problem was dismantled.”

The former Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change, enthused: “Today is one of the happiest days of my life. This is primarily because while we are re-opening the Obuohia Obi-Ibere Cottage Hospital, we are also commissioning the community’s expanded electricity project. The projects address important developmental challenges of Obuohia in particular, and the larger Ikwuano community.

“God has answered our prayers with the opening of this hospital. I am happy that I have realized these projects, which I promised our mothers and the great people of Obuohia Obi-Ibere.”

For the hospital to endure, Onuigbo ap-

How tears of our women touched me, by lawmaker For Obuohia Obi-Ibere community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, August 24, 2019 will remain a memorable day. The people bade good bye to the difficulties of accessing health care. Their health center, rehabilitated and upgraded to a cottage hospital by the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency, Sam Onuigbo was inaugurated alongside the expanded electricity project of the community. BONIFACEOKORO reports.

• Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, cutting the tape to inaugurate the hospital. He is flanked to his right, Hon Onuigbo and his wife; and to his left immediate left by the Secrwtary to Abia State Government, SSG, Barr. Chris Ezem and the National President of Obuohia Development Union, Chief Sam Eke

•Some structures in the hospital

pealed to Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, the Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, Hospitals Management Board, Ministry of Health, and donor agencies to actively support and collaborate in providing personnel, equipment, and medical needs for the hospital to function optimally and “not suffer the neglect of the past that led to its dilapidation and eventual disuse.”

He told his people that he had completed another Cottage Hospital at Eke Oloko, Ikwuano, while furnishing and equipping the hospital is pending.

He thanked the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDCC), the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the Abia government and other stakeholders; the national body of the Obuohia Development Union (ODU), the Obuohia ObiIbere Development Union national (women’s wing), the youths and the entire people of the community for their contributions to these two milestones.

He promised that he would continue to attract developmental projects to address the needs of his constituents.

Inaugurating the projects, the Deputy Governor, Ude Oko-Chukwu, who represented the State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, noted that access to health care and electricity in rural communities was essential for achieving even development in the state.

He added that the health facility and electricity project would improve lives in the com-

•Onuigbo

munity and boost the state government’s development efforts.

He charged the leaders of the community to protect the projects against vandalism and directed the Ministry of Health and the State Primary Health Development Agency to urgently post qualified medical personnel and medical supplies to the hospital.

The National President of ODU, Chief Sam Eke was delighted that the projects have been realized, adding that it would improve

the wellbeing of the people while adding his voice to the call of the Deputy Governor for the deployment of personnel and materials to the hospital for efficient medical service delivery.

The President of the Women’s Wing of the union, Princess Chinyere Onuigbo, thanked Onuigbo for being people-oriented, the lifeenhancing projects he has been doing and for attracting the Okwe-Obuohia-Nkari federal road.

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

FOCUS

When Anambra-East constituents enjoyed free medicare...

Health is wealth, they say. A member of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna Chris Emeneka, demonstrated that maxim recently when he organised free medical outreach for members of Anambea-East State Constituency.

From Awka, OZO RAY reports.

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s part of efforts to ensure as well as guarantee access to quality healthcare services to improve on the health indicators of the people of Anambra-East Local Government Area, the nine communities of the council area have been assured of another round of intensive free medical services aimed at identifying ailments and providing medications for the treatment of these ailments .

The official flag-off of the 2019 edition of Hon pharm Obinna Chris Emeneka free medical outreach for Anambra East and beyond took place at the Umueri General Hospital. The first beneficiary after the flag-off was Umueri community. Thereafter, the outreach would head for all the communities in Anambra East namely Igbariam, Umuobanam, Nsugbe, Enuguotu, Eziaguluotu, Ikem,Nando and other neighbouring communities.

The exercise witnessed unprecedented turn-out of old and young people of Umueri town, who trooped in to access medical attention from the combined team of medical experts with expertise in diverse areas of orthodox medicine, attending to the multitudes of patients that thronged the venue .

Some of the patients spoken to attested to the efficacy of the free medical mission, saying that it was not the first time they enjoyed such magnanimous gestures and benevolence from the benefactor. They said Hon. Emeneka placed very high premium on the health of his constituents and has been involved in free medical missions, ensuring that they have unhindered access to improved healthcare services Mrs. Margret Ifediora aged 65 who hails from Adabe-Umueri said she came to access treatments for body pains as well as get medications for them. He expressed profound gratitude to the initiator and sole financier of the free medical exercise Hon. Emeneka .

Also, Ejike Oforkansi from Adabe-Umueri, 64, said he came for the exercise because he wanted diagnosis for general body pains as well as obtain anti-malaria drugs to fight malaria parasites. The patient said it was not the first time the lawmaker organised such free medical missions to alleviate their sufferings in getting quality healthcare services. He further disclosed that apart from the free medical outreach , the lawmaker has equally provided portable drinking water through the sinking of borehole water facilities in the area as well as undertook other humanitarian services single-handedly to improve on the living conditions of his constituents.

Roselyn Emeka of Mgbago-Umueri, 55, described the free medical outreach as a timely response to their health needs, expressing her gratitude to the lawmaker who, he said, was using the free medical mission to save lives in the constituency and beyond.

The patient who complained about typhoid and rheumatic fever, said the free medical outreach was a panacea to her health problems . Moreso, Chief Patrick Udefi ,75, of Adabe-Umueri underscored the significance of the free medical exercise organised by Hon. Emeneka The septuagenarian who said that he often suffers from bad vision and joint pains due to old age, explained that the exercise was of immense benefit to him as it provided veritable alternative for him to receive medical attention at no cost to him to enable him

live healthier and better.

Opeche Odeh of Ikenga-Umueri, 72, who revealed that his major health issues were bad vision and diabetes, said the free medical mission would help him find solutions to his problems. Odeh said that apart from giving priority attention to their health needs, Emeneka has facilitated the construction of rural roads as well as attracted more social amenities to the area, stressing that many lives have been saved through his philanthropy and benevolence.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Mr.Macsmith Ochendo (SAN) whose presence at the venue was a therapy to the patients, described the free medical outreach as a welcome development for Anambra-East State Constituency and the State at large.

Ochendo said it is a social responsibility and that the lawmaker should be given kudos for taking the health needs of his

constituents as a topmost priority. The ace movie actor who hails from Ezinifite in Nnewi South Local Government Area, noted that Hon. Emeneka’s free medical outreach is a clear portrayal of an improved healthcare system in Anambra state .

Be that as it may, the leader of the medical team for the 2019 Round of Free Medical Outreach by Hon.Pharm.Obinna Chris Emeneka for the people of Anambra-East state constituency, Pharm. Ezedei Obinna said the major health issues diagnosed were hypertension , diabetes , ulcer , malaria , body aches and a host of other ailments. He said whatever drugs given in the course of treatment were free of charge even though he pointed out that the equivalent of the treatments in a conventional hospital would be about N30,000 per patient. The leader of the medical team said they gave anti-malaria drugs, albendazole for mass de-worming, paracetamol, dychrophenac, anti-hypertensive drugs and a host of other drugs, stressing that the

•Hon. Obinna Chris Emeneka lawmaker’s efforts in carrying out the free medical exercise could not be quantified in monetary terms because life, according to him, has no duplicate and that any effort made to save and enhance life should be applauded .

The benefactor and member representing Anambra-East State Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly Hon. Pharm . Obinna Chris Emeneka stated that a similar outreach was organised last year but this year , according to him , he decided to make the medical outreach programme more elaborate beyond Anambra-east local government area . He said Umueri General Hospital was the inauguration centre for the 2019 edition of his healthcare programme for the rural populace where the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly Rt.Hon.Uche Victor Okafor , the state commissioner for health Dr.Vincent Okpala as well as other stakeholders were in attendance to grace the official opening of the medical outreach . He said it was a full package healthcare system aimed at empowering the people of AnambraEast Constituency with good health.

Emeneka disclosed that apart from the free medical outreach, he has attracted over five water borehole facilities in Umueri, given out scholarships and individual empowerment schemes, to mention just a few.

The lawmaker, however, stated categorically that the free medical mission was purely on humanitarian grounds and that none of the patients paid for the services as they were mostly peasant rural dwellers.

He also added that last year, about N3m was expended to organize the free medical outreach while the 2019 edition gulped about N5m. He, therefore, emphasised that the free medical outreach and all other constituency development programmes geared towards providing life-line for his constituents would be sustained for the betterment of his people .

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

Focus

I’ll remain a philanthropist all through my life –Igwe Chukwuma, Ezeigbo in Cote d’Ivoire

By IBE NWACHUKWU

F

or eight consecutive years now, the people of Nkpolo village, Nnukwu Clan, Adazi-Nnukwu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State have remained in festive mood each time an illustrious son of the area, Ikechukwu Emmanuel Chukwuma, Igwe Adazi ji di Ebube is celebrating his annual new yam cultural festival in the area.

Chukwuma, fondly called Igwe Nwatayanachiyadinamma and currently the king of Ndigbo in Cote d’Ivoire (Ezeigbo Cote d’Ivoire) where he runs successful chains of businesses, had always made their festive mood a memorable one in each occasion, having embedded his philanthropic gestures into the system.

Though his formal coronation was stalled along the line, Chukwuma is presently in Anambra state High court battling to recover his mandate as the traditional ruler (Adama 4th of Adazi-Nnukwu kingdom), having come tops in the selection process to succeed the former monarch, late Igwe Michael Orjiakor (Adama the 3rd of Adazi Nnukwu).

He headed to the court to challenge what he termed his wrongful disqualification from contesting the Igweship general election with two other candidates in the community who were selected with him at the primary stage from Nnukwu clan whose turn it is to produce late Igwe Orjiakor’s successor.

As usual, eminent personalities, including traditional rulers from different communities, friends, relatives, and business associates from Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and in diaspora converged on his palace at the weekend at Chief Nwata Avenue, Adazi Nnukwu, venue of this year’s new yam festival which kicked off at noon with prayers and the booming of several canon gun shots.

Distribution of material gifts such as yam tubers, wrappers and other forms of empowerment which were embedded in the ceremony for the past 15 years since Chukwuma started his empowerment programmes also took place the next day.

In his previous outings, including Christmas, Easter and New Yam festivities, Igwe Chukwuma had always prayed for God’s blessings and also speak on various issues affecting governance and development both at the state and national levels. He usually call on the people to allow peace reign in the community as according to him, no meaningful development could take place in any community where there was rancour and disagreement.

He often bemoaned the discrimination in the sharing of both material and human resources in the country, saying that the denial of the Igbo of their rights and entitlements in the country could only be stopped when there is unity among the Igbo.

According to him, “There is no peace today in Adazi Nnukwu because few persons who feel they have connection in government circles have refused to speak the truth. They have murdered sleep in the community by submerging the wishes of the majority of the people of this town. I always stand by the truth and will die by truth”.

“Many communities in Anambra State are today enmeshed in chieftaincy tussle because government usually take sides, rather than listening to every sides of the story before taking certain actions and it breeds disharmony, acrimony and rage in the communities. Brothers don’t talk to each other again because some people think they have the ears of the government, but they forget that injustice breeds agitations”.

• Decries chifeftaincy crisis in Anambra communities

•Igwe Chukwuma on his throne sipping a piece of new yam into the oil, shortly after cutting yam at the previous festival, while his elder brother, Kenneth beam in smile

•A cross section of beneficiaries from Chukwuma’s philanthropic cash gifts in the recent past “Anambra is a pacesetter State and Adazi Nnukwu cannot continue to exist in a situation where some people arrogate to themselves the power of owning the town. In times of financial contributions and work, the entire community will be involved but in times of reaping, some selected few will corner the whole thing.

This is injustice and this is the root of the crisis in our town”, he stated.

His elder brother, Chief Kenneth Chukwuma (Ichie Ezeudo) who is the PresidentGeneral of Nigerian Union in Northern Cameroun, described new yam festival as a unification factor in Igbo land.

On the crisis bedeviling the community, he condemned the frivolous manner the rules and regulations of the community were altered at the whims and caprices of a few elite, even as he challenged elders of the community to stand up for the truth with a reminder that if they fail to take the necessary step, the youths may be forced to take up the task of restoring peace.

The Patron of Adazi Nnukwu Progres-

sive Union, APU, Dr. Theo Belonwu, in his own statement, noted that the town union took it as a challenge to fight intimidation and arbitrary imposition of fines in the community.

Belonwu who gave an insight on the chieftaincy tussle tearing the community apart, said: “Our people duly chose Chief Emmanuel Chukwuma as the next Igwe of our community. After we have done that, few people who have connection at the government house felt otherwise and started fighting the collective will of the people thus plunging the community into crisis. My take on this matter is simple; let the governor listen to all the parties involved in this matter, leading to the conduct of proper elections in all positions in the community. This is the only recipe for peace.”.

An illustrious son of the area, Prince Emmanuel Okechukwu Ebunobi, declared: “I salute our people by saying that this year’s new yam festival will bring peace, unity and make our people see the truth and say

it as it is because without saying the truth, development will not come. But if we see the truth and say it, we shall have development, unity and peace”.

Ebunobi therefore urged well meaning citizens of Adazi-Nnukwu to work towards returning to the path of peace and harmony in the area and to channel all efforts towards liberating the town from bad leadership as according to him, using the instrumentality of the town union to hound their perceived opponents will not bring development but if we are .together and in peace, development will surely come.

He lamented that the town, since 2015 has been saddled with hatred, disunity, adding that any community with this type of record will be hard to develop, even as he appealed to the state government to set up a committee which will take a holistic look at the scenario and come out with a lasting solution for peace and harmony.

19

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

PEOPLE

Elumelu challenges Japan, says ‘partner with us in Empowering African Entrepreneurs’

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chim Steiner, UNDP Administrator has praised Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Hers Holdings and founder Tony Elumelu Foundation, an entrepreneurial development group, for his private-sector Led approach to African Development.

The commendation came on the heels of Mr. Eleumelu’s speech at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which held in Yokohama, Japan recently, calling on Japan to partner with African in the effort to create employment and prosperity on the continent.

In the same vein, President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised: “If you want really good returns, as Tony Elumelu said, come to Africa.”

At a breakfast meeting with President of Rwanda and UNICEF Executive Director, Elumelu spoke passionately about job creation in Africa by private-sector investors as well as donor countries and or agencies as a way out of endemic poverty on the continent.

In an impassioned keynote speech, delivered before global leaders, at the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan, African investor and philanthropist Elumelu (CON), challenged the government of Japan to invest 5% of its $50billion commitment to Africa, in empowering African entrepreneurs.

“At TICAD 2016 in Kenya, Japan pledged $30billion for Africa. This year you have generously increased this to $50 billion. If we invested just 5% in Africa’s new generation of entrepreneurs, following my Foundation’s robust, proven model of getting capital directly to those best placed to catalyse growth and create real impact, we could touch 500,000 lives, across the 54 African countries, broadening markets, facilitating job creation, improving income per capita, and laying the key foundation for political and economic stability,” said Mr. Elumelu, who is also Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Mr. Elumelu’s statement captured his vision of a relationship between Japan and Africa, which prioritises economic and shared prosperity. He outlined the three key pillars of a bold and transformative structure: investment in infrastructure, partnership with the African private sector, and investment in Africa’s youth.

He urged Japan to learn from the example of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which champions empowering African entrepreneurs, as the most sustainable means of accelerating the development of Africa.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, in just five years has assisted over 7,500 African entrepreneurs across every African country, with seed capital, capacity building, mentorship and networking opportunities through its

Mr. Tony Elumelu’s statement captures his vision of a relationship between Japan and Africa, which prioritises economic and shared prosperity

$100 million Entrepreneurship Programme.

Elumelu’s advice carried the weight of his track record of business success, founding Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), which has grown its presence to 20 African countries, as well as in the United Kingdom, France and the USA; and Heirs Holdings, Africa’s private investment company which actively invests in key sectors of Africa’s economy and controls millions of dollars in its investment portfolio. Together, they employ over 30,000 people and transform the communities they operate in.

“Africa is one of the world’s viable destinations for investment. Our huge population, of nearly 1.3 billion people, creates one of the most attractive markets anywhere in the world. The world is paying close attention to Africa, but is Japan at the centre of this conversation or is it on the sidelines?” he queried.

Mr. Elumelu’s philosophy has become increasingly popular on the African continent, where he is acknowledged as the pioneer of a private-sector-led approach to accelerating

development. He repeated the message at the Generation Unlimited breakfast meeting with H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, with its focus on job creation in Africa, where he emphasised the role the African youth plays in this narrative.

President of South Africa and Co-Chair, TICAD, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa corroborated Mr. Elumelu’s stance. He said: “If you want really good returns, as Mr. Tony Elumelu said, come to Africa. Africa presents risk-adjusted returns and is a market in which investments are flowing at a hundred billion dollars - that is the new profile of Africa that is being presented to the world.”

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator praised Elumelu’s Private-Sector led approach to development in Africa. He said: “I want to refer to my dear friend and colleague Tony Elumelu because he alluded to the vital role that business can also play in investing in the future of the youth. These are the kinds of partnerships that will drive

business and development agenda to very different heights in the future.”

Speaking on the potential of the African continent, Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan said: “In Africa, some countries have joined top nations in the ranking on the ease of doing business. The scale of the market continues to expand. We can envision a day when the entire continent of Africa becomes an enormous economic zone.”

Organised by the Japanese Government, TICAD is a three-yearly forum for advancing Africa’s development through people, technology and innovation, bringing together government, business leaders, companies and other stakeholders. The event hosted Presidents and private sector leaders including Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan; H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria; H.E. Mr. Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt and Chair of the African Union (AU); H.E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa; and H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and a host of other African Presidents.

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

The

racle www.oraclenews.ng

Today

20

VOX POPULI SACRUM

EDITORIAL South East Governors’ resolutions on security are in order

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ising from an enlarged stakeholders meeting, which held in Enugu, the Enugu State capital, and at which President General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo; Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika, Igbo leaders, representatives of the army, police, clergy and the federal ministry of works were in attendance, the South East governors resolved to “put measures in place to restrain movement of herdsmen and their cattle from one State to the other” in the South East.

According the governors, such movement constitutes the major point of conflict between herdsmen on one hand and the natives and farmers on the other. The governors were specific in their denouncement of herdsmen “who move about with AK 47 guns and cutlasses,” insisting that “we have banned them and want our security agencies to implement same.”

Since the meeting, which held last Thursday in the Enugu State capital, there have been mixed reactions to the resolutions reached there. While many believe that the resolutions are in order, others say that they need the backing of the law to be effective and binding on the objects of those resolutions.

Our take on the meeting and the resolutions

But of greater worry to us is that while the thereof is that it is a step in the right direction. It speaks to a new, concerted effort by Northern leaders are quick to condemn South leaders in the South East to effectively adEast governors for taking steps to protect dress the growing security concerns in the their people from killer herdsmen, the same region.

Northern leaders are unwilling to recognise As is now well known, these concerns have the fact that killer herdsmen who carry illegal arisen mainly as a result of the presence of weapons about and routinely attack their host killer herdsmen in many parts of Igbo land. communities have no powers under the law These killer herdsmen engage in many nefarito carry and or use such weapons. Therefore, ous activities the deleterious effects of which to the extent that the South East governors as may have irretrievably destroyed the age-old chief security officers of their various States cordial relationship that had existed between have only enforced an extant law of the land, the traditional, happy-go-lucky herdsmen and which prohibits unauthorised persons from members of their host communities many of using or wielding dangerous weapons such as who, even as aged people now, grew up to like guns or swords against persons not at war know and mingle with those herdsmen residwith them, what they have done is completely ing peaceful and tending to their cattle in the in order and lawful.

Igbo hinterland. Indeed, the herdsmen that We commend the governors for this initiative many Igbo grew up to know were oft-lanky, and urge them to further move towards more peace-loving, sticking-wielding men and effective implementation of those resolutions children who would humbly ask for water as by making it mandatory for the remaining four they passed by with their cattle (which they of them to, sooner than later, recruit forest properly shepherded and kept out of trouble guards to smoke out bandits from our foror harm’s way) or sold or gave out raw milk ests, as the governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. to the locals through whose communities Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has already done. That way, they passed. the implementation of those worthy resoluNot any more. Today’s herdsmen have become tions reached at the Enugu meet would be aggressive, truculent and dangerous. They complete, thereby ensuring that our people effortlessly wield AK47 rifles, are spared, by at least 80 per cent, the specguns that are superior to the tre of kidnapping, murder, rape and banditry ones that our security agents that herdsmen from outside Igbo land have carry, and sharp, double-edged brought upon our people in Igbo land. swords that can cut off a man’s neck at a strike. And they are Our Vision ever ready to use those weapTO BE among the top five newspapers in Nions—and routinely do—on hapless locals in the Igbo coun- geria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of records that effectivetryside whose ancestral lands ly caters to the information needs of all segthey seem to covet. ments and sections of the Nigerian society What such “herdsmen” as well as all social classes and cultures. Esdo is outrightly lawless and sentially, we want to be a responsible corpounacceptable. No governor rate citizen, a commercially viable, properly or political leader worth that organised media business, which meets its name would see his people obligations to society, government and the constantly slaughtered or workforce. kidnapped by strangers to the land and do nothing. So, the Mission decision to bar rifle-wielding WE INTEND to contribute to the developherdsmen from foraging ment of an inclusive Nigerian society, with a through the South East is not view to getting rid of the dark sides of our only proper but also legal--it is just the right thing to do under national life (slothfulness, greed, corruption, nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continually the prevailing circumstances. engender and sustain national debates that We do not agree with some would ultimately lead to the enthronement Northern leaders who have of healthy national values--hard-work, justice, argued that South East goverequity and fairplay, transparency, good govnors have no powers to ban ernance, resulting, in themselves, the egaliherdsmen from moving about tarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will with their cattle across states give voice to the voiceless and at all times, and farms in Igbo land. Such statement, in our view, smacks strive to be balanced, objective, honest, truthful and fair to all sides; so that through The of insensitivity on their part.

Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian peoIt shows how little, if at all, it ple can see a bright light at the end of what bothers them that in the prohas been a very dark tunnel. And we shall do cess of conducting their own all this in absolute trust in God who blesses private businesses, herdsmen good intentions. destroy other people’s means of livelihood—their farms.

21

The Oracle Today Tuesday September 3 - 9, 2019

OPINION

‘Third parties’ hands in Obaseki-Oshiomhole feud?

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

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he ways of the politician are comparable to those of a magician, whose antics are coined in the axiom, “The more you look, the less you see.” By the way, magic is an advanced trick, which only the adept can discern or decipher.

Lately, prominent Edo sons - Governor Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor in office, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole - have put a seal of approval to this aphorism, to be true of the politician.

Both the “godson” and “godfather,” known to be at daggers-drawn, capable of inducing a bloody confrontation between their loyalists and followers, have spinned the reality: “It’s a hoax!”

They ascribed the “lie” to the handiwork of some meddlesome interlopers, such as “Abuja politicians,” journalists, and unnamed “third parties.”

According to them, the matter that attracted media and national frenzy, was purveyed by “mischief-makers” out to plunge the ‘Heartbeat of The Nation’ into anarchy.

The other day, at momentous events in the state, Obaseki and Oshiomhole proclaimed their “chumminess” as it was when they worked together in Oshiomhole’s eight-year administration.

Actually, polity watchers attribute this “closeness” to the former governor’s choice of Obaseki as his successor, and thus, his labeling of as Governor Obaseki’s political “godfather.”

The duo had lived a life of “you rub my back, I scratch your back” until early 2019 when series of events exposed their “underbelly,” to the surprise, and anger of many within and outside the state.

Governor Obaseki was the first to speak on the issue, in response to the homily delivered by the Archbishop of Benin City, Augustine Akubueze, during a mass in Benin City, to mark the 80th birthday of the first governor of Edo State, Chief John OdigieOyegun.

He said: “I thank you, very much, for the remarkable homily... and I have taken every word in your remark to heart and very seriously. I want to assure you that we are in pursuit of peace and we will have peace in Edo State.

“We have met – me and my predecessor in office – and fortunately, we do not have any fundamental issues. And... I believe that whatever third parties are trying to propagate, I am sure we can talk over it... Very soon, things will return to normalcy in Edo State.”

On the same day at the Iyamoh country home of Mr. Oshiomhole, the governor said his visit to his former boss wasn’t out of place, but as part of the celebration of Edo leaders.

“Today is Sallah, and we have just finished celebrating with the former APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in Benin City, and we decided to come here to celebrate Sallah with my predecessor,” he said.

And Governor Obaseki had a word for people, who thought a rift existed between him and Oshiomhole: “Stop thinking.”

Oshiomhole was to reinforce the governor’s stand, crediting the “alleged rift” to “the creation of people with personal interest,” and the media, which “like creating factions for their own gain.”

He said the visit wasn’t unusual, as “from time to time, we have always been meeting,” and this visit “afforded me the opportunity to meet with my brother, and with people I have worked with.”

Simply put, Obaseki and Oshiomhole’s denial of a gulf between them didn’t reflect the facts on ground, which crescendoed that it was impossible to cover up, as these tell-tale signs indicate: One: Two groups suddenly emerged in the Edo chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC). One camp vowed to stop Obaseki from his second term aspiration in 2020, while the other warned if that happened, there would be no more APC in the state.

The bandied story was Obaseki’s refusal

to open the state treasury to political jobbers; and the governor affirmed this armtwisting, and blackmail, which his traducers couldn’t sufficiently debunk.

Two: The inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly was effected by nine of 24 Members-elect at 10.30 p.m. on June 17 - clear 10 days from the June 7 session, as early earmarked.

The “unique” inauguration erupted in series of protests, and intervention by the APC and National Assembly, which “ordered” a fresh proclamation by Governor Obaseki; and the courts that stayed further actions until the disposal of all judicial processes.

Three: A concerned Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Ukoakpolokpolo, Ewuare II, had to report Obaseki and Oshiomhole to President Muhammadu Buhari, to prevail on them to settle their differences.

On Wednesday, July 3, the Omo N’Oba, at the head of a delegation of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, met President Buhari, and suitably laid out the “concerns” of the established rulers.

His words: “If this crisis is not resolved now, with immediate effect, it may jeopardize the progress of the state. On behalf of the good people of Edo State, we kindly appeal to Mr. President to use your good offices to intervene and stop this crisis.”

Four: President Buhari subsequently invited, and got Obaseki and Oshiomhole talking, not only for the interest of Edo State, but that of the APC, which faces a crucial reelection for Obaseki in 2020.

This is a background sketch to the stage in which Governor Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole surprised the watching public that the “mutual enmity” between them was “imaginary.”

Oh, a figment of the imagination, indeed!

Yet, it prompted His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, to leave the court of the Benin Kingdom on a “Save-Our-Souls” journey to Aso Rock in Abuja, to present the matter before President Buhari.

If there wasn’t a dispute, why didn’t they

American Jewry’s misplaced loyalty Donald Trump is right: The Jews really are disloyal. Donald Trump is wrong: Most of them are loyal to the wrong values. By GIDEON LEVY When the president of the United States describes most American Jews, who vote Democratic, as showing “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty,” it is not clear if he means their loyalty to their country or people, to the United States or to Israel. One can assume he meant to say that those who vote for the party of congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are not loyal to Israel, the Jews and America.

But sadly, only a very few American Jews support the two congresswomen’s positions. This is their lack of loyalty: Disloyalty to the principles of justice and morality, the traditional liberal spirit of the Jews in the United States, and also a lack of loyalty to the interests of their country, which are the opposite of what Trump intended. American Jews, in their support or in their silence, in blindness or ignorance, are more loyal to the Israeli occupation than any other value.

It is easy to accuse minorities of anything – treason or ignorance – in Israel as in America. Israeli Arabs cannot dream of a status like that of the Jews in the United States; there is only one thing they have in common: The accusation of disloyalty is their most sensitive nerve.

There is evidence for this accusation in America. The automatic support of the Jewish establishment for every Israeli govern-

ment and almost every one of its positions is the proof of dual loyalty. The choice of the Jewish establishment is clear and automatic: Israel first, Israel above all. The blind saluting of Israel, except if it involves internal Jewish affairs such as the status of Reform Jews and praying at the Western Wall.

This loyalty, if not worship, is disastrous.

In the end it will harm everyone – Jews in the United States and in Israel, too. And Trump actually wants even more of it. No one expects him to understand the significance of the occupation, its crimes and damage, but it is possible and necessary to expect more from American Jewry, which is considered to be mostly liberal. To understand that Israel is not just what they are selling them on Birthright trips, with the armed escorts, who are meant to strengthen the feeling of danger and the victimization among the youths; and in the charity events of Friends of the IDF with the disabled soldiers who come on stage to the roar of the audience and its tears. Israel is also what congresswomen Tlaib and Omar wanted to see, and be seen. Israel has a very dark and evil side.

Most American Jews support it, or ignore its existence.

All this does not necessarily have to be.

In South Africa, many from the Jewish community took a stand for justice and fought

alongside the blacks, getting injured and arrested with them. In the United States too, many Jews supported the struggle of blacks for equal rights. Only in the struggle for equality in Israel has their voice gone silent. True, there are individuals and organizations among American Jewry, young and old, who are bravely fighting against Israeli apartheid, but they are few in number and they are exposed to harsh delegitimization.

What was permitted and even admired in the identification with Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. is forbidden in standing alongside Marwan Barghouti and Omar Barghouti, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, who are battling for those same principles and the same justice.

The fact that most Jews still vote for the Democrats is encouraging. The fact that the Democratic Party is undergoing changes, for example the election of Tlaib and Omar to Congress, also gives hope. But the loyalty of most American Jews still is chained to the dark side of the moon, to the backyard of the only democracy.

This is a fateful matter: American Jewry has the power to become a “game changing” factor. A Jewish community that makes its voice heard clearly and with determination against the occupation will bring about change. No one can ignore its

stop their acolytes from heating up the Edo polity with a media war, protests and solidarity rallies, even as Governor Obaseki vowed not to succumb to the dictates of a “godfather,” as Oshiomhole had “taught us”?

If “nothing burger,” why the intervention of the APC, and both chambers of the National Assembly, which arrived at the same conclusion of an “improper inauguration” of the Edo Assembly, and called for a fresh proclamation by Governor Obaseki?

And if all was well, Chief Odigie-Oyegun shouldn’t describe the scenario as, “Quite frankly, what is going on is ridiculous. We are beyond this kind. I am ashamed... It is unfortunate that Edo State has been in the news for the very wrong reasons...”

Anyway, the “combatants” have denied ever unsheathing their swords. But as we await their demonstration of amity, they should do the needful. First, appease the piece-loving people of Edo State, for instigating a “quarrel” to “knock their heads together.”

Second, led by Governor Obaseki, and Oshiomhole in tow, pay a homage to Oba Ewuare II, for defying his royal and fatherly entreaties to settle their bickering behind the scenes.

Third, a visit by Governor Obaseki to the national headquarters of the APC, to pledge his continued loyalty and commitment to the party and its ideals, and to its leadership.

And four, a visit, chaperoned by Oshiomhole, and accompanied by Obaseki, to President Buhari, in appreciation for getting them back to renewing their bonds of friendship and association.

With such a holistic reconciliation, Governor Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole could rally the troops ahead of the task of retaining Edo State in the APC column in the 2020 governorship poll.

•Mr. Ezomon, journalist and media consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached on 08033078357 or ehizom@gmail.com.

voice, not in Israel and not in the United States. This is how the Jewish community can truly be loyal: To its country, people and universal values. Values that are the exact opposite of those of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.

•LEVY wrote this article originally for Haaretz, Irael’s English Language newspaper.

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

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION AIICO celebrates Igbiti

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IICO Insurance Plc has celebrated its former Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Edwin Igbiti, who retired from the company, last month, after 27 years of meritorious service, at a gala event.

The event was attended by members of the Board of directors and Executive Management team of AIICO Insurance Plc; top executives of AIICO’s subsidiaries; Mr. Igbiti’s family, friends, colleagues and stakeholders in the industry including; Mr. Tope Smart (Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association, NIA), Mrs. Yetunde Ilori (DG/CEO, NIA), Mr. Eddie Efekoha (President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN), Mr. Richard

Borokini (DG, CIIN), among many other dignitaries.

Chief (Dr.) Oladele Fajemirokun, accompanied by his amiable wife, Chief Mrs. Edith Fajemirokun, who was a special guest at the occasion appreciated Mr. Igbiti for his commitment to excellence while in service at the company and pronounced blessings upon him as he moves on.

AIICO Insurance Plc., a leading composite insurer in Nigeria, commenced operations in 1963. AIICO provides life insurance, health insurance, general insurance, wealth management and pension management services as a means to create and protect wealth for individuals, families and corporate customers.

22

PTAD captures 1,225 pensioners in Anambra verification Stories by VICTOR NZE

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ension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on Sunday announced that a total of 1, 225 pensioners were verified in the justconcluded Parastatal Pensioner Verification in Anambra.

Team Leader for the Anambra verification, Hajiya Amina Katune-Abdullahi, made the disclosure in Awka, the state capital The ongoing nationwide

verification embarked upon by the PTAD was to enhance payment of pensioner’s monthly entitlements and to rid the system of fraud.

In the South-East zone, the exercise started on Aug. 26 and will end on Sept. 4 in selected centres in Enugu, Awka and Owerri.

At Anambra centre, the exercise lasted for only six days, from August 26 to 31.

Katune-Abdullahi said the exercise which was held from 7a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, was able to capture many

pensioners in the state.

“We had planned to attend to about 300 retirees daily but on the first day, due to the rush, we attended to about 304 pensioners. The following day, we verified about 383 people.

“After the first two days, the number stated decreasing. On Wednesday we attended to about 287. On Thursday 137. On Friday 103 and on Saturday which was the last day, we attended to only 11

pensioners.

“During the exercise, we ensured that the pensioners were comfortable. We even served lunch to those who were waiting to be attended to.

“Although, it was not easy but the pensioners cooperated with our officials from PTAD to ensure a seamless and hitch-free verification.”

Katune-Abdullahi said there was no record of next of kin verification in the state.

Cornerstone Insurance GPW rises to N11.5bn

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ornerstone Insurance Plc said its Gross Written Premium (GPW) rose to N11.5 billion in the 2018 financial year.

Chairman of the company, Mr Segun Adebanji disclosed this , Friday, at the company’ s 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos adding that the N11.5 billion represents a 25 per cent increase on the 2017 GPW. He disclosed that life Insurance portfolio recorded a growth of 48 per cent from the

previous year, noting that this growth was driven by regulatory changes to Group Life Insurance pricing limits and the introduction of a new product targeted at retail segments and that the Individual Life.

Insurance portfolio grew by 370 per cent from the previous year (N621 million in 2018 from N132 million in 2017).

Gross claims incurred dropped to N4.53 billion from N7.74 billion in 2017 aligning more with the Industry average.

PenCom to organise conference for directors

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ational Pension C o m m i s s i o n (PenCom) will on Tuesday, 15, and Wednesday 16, October, 2019, hold a Conference for Directors of licensed Pension Operators to promote capacity building and institutional strengthening of Pension Operators in order to foster a sound pension industry anchored on good corporate governance that is consistent with international best practices.

This is contained in a

notice released by the commission that the said conference will take place by 8:30am, at Lagos-Osun Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Maitama, Abuja and with the theme: “Driving Economic Development Through a sustainable Pension Industry.”

The notice further said that attendance is open to all licensed Pension Operators and each Operator is required to nominate four Non-Executive Directors, of which at least one must be an Independent Director, to attend the Conference.

Recapitalisation: NAICOM to reply insurers soon

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has described the financial reports submitted by underwriters on their recapitalisation plans as ‘good,’ even as the regulator disclosed that it is commission is collating the submissions with a view to replying the companies soon.

Acting Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Thomas, said this during the Conference for Directors of Insurance Companies, which held with the theme:

“Corporate Governance: The Panacea for Sustainable Growth and Development of Insurance Business in Nigeria.”

It was co-organised with the College of Insurance and Financial Management (CIFM) in Lagos.

NAICOM also disclosed of plans to engage other relevant regulatory bodies and agencies of government for possible palliatives for the operators, particularly the cost of the recapitalisation agenda.

Chief Dele Fajemirokun & wife, Mr. Edwin Igbiti & wife, members of the Board of AIICO Insurance and Managing Directors of subsidiary companies at the cutting of the cake to celebrate Igbiti, the former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the firm as he retires from the company after 27 years of meritorious service.

Lagos pays N4.25bn accrued pension rights to 1,268 retirees

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agos State Government says it has paid a total of N4.25 billion accrued pension rights to 1268 retirees since the beginning of Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, administration.

Commissioner, Establishment, Training & Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, made this known at the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) 66th retirement benefit bond certificate presentation ceremony held recently in Lagos, that the state has remained committed to

the welfare of workers and retirees.

She said N2.75 billion was paid to 881 retirees in the last three months, N1.50 billion was paid today to 387 retirees, while noting that the Governor had been briefed about the backlog of outstanding pension entitlements and that he had promised that more focus will be given to the payment of accrued pension rights.

She reaffirmed that the Governor is aware that without the payment of

their accrued pension rights, they would not be able to access their retirement savings accounts to draw monthly pension.

She added in a bid to make life comfortable for retirees, the state had commenced the issuance of identification cards to retirees, which they would use to access free medical treatment in the state’s hospitals and ride on the state mass transit buses for free.

Earlier, in her address, the Director-General

LASPEC, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, told the retirees that their pension fund administrators have been directed to ensure that they are quickly granted access to their retirement savings account.

The LASPEC boss further urged them to be careful of fraudsters, who may pose as helpers and financial experts, stressing also that the men should not use their benefits to marry new wives while the women should avoid unnecessary parties.

GNI joins NASD Exchange

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hares of Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc are now being traded on the trading platform of National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Over-The-Counter (OTC) Exchange.

The insurance firm was admitted on the trading platform on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, allowing it to trade its shares at the exchange.

GNI joined NASD after it was delisted on the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The delisting was requested for

by the board of the insurer.

It was gathered that the shares of GNI were introduced to the OTC exchange by Greewhich Trust Limited by way of security admission.

According to NASD, “Shareholders in the company can commence dematerialization through Greenwhich Registrars and Data Solutions.”

NASD is the promoter of a trading network that facilitates secondary market trading of all securities of publicly listed companies primarily in Nigeria.

The agency, while welcoming Great Nigeria Insurance to its market, promised to “continue to lend its support in always creating liquidity… transparently.”

Explaining the rationale behind leaving the NSE, Business Post recalled that the board had said over the last five years, there had been little or no trading activity on the shares held by the minority shareholders, pointing out that there had also been a considerable fall in trading volumes over the last 12 months with an

average daily volume of around 1,200 shares during the period between March 2017 to March 2018.

The board had argued that shareholders were not benefiting from the continued listing as shareholders were not getting any exit opportunity and their investments have been locked up and they found it difficult to dispose of their shareholding, adding that the company has also not benefitted from the continuing listing as its shares continued to trade at a significant discount to the intrinsic value.

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

Travel & Hospitality Lagos, CDCs to collaborate for promotion of greening culture Stories by VICTOR NZE

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agos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) has disclosed its plans to collaborate with Community Development Committees (CDC) to plant an additional one thousand trees to complement those planted earlier in the year as part of efforts to meet the target of planting 10 million trees by year 2020, in consonance with the Millennium Development Goal of ensuring environmental sustainability.

General Manager of LASPARK, Mrs. Bilikiss AdebiyiAbiola, in her remarks during the commencement of the tree planting exercise with the Ikeja CDC, stated that the initiative would involve LASPARK, Community Development Committees of every Local Government Area and LCDA as well as the organised private sector players who have been contributing immensely to the realisation of greening culture in Lagos State.

She added that the initiative was also in line with the State Government’s goal of achieving environmental sustainability through an aggressive treeplanting campaign, not just to beautify the environment but as a deliberate effort to mitigate the negative effect of climate change.

According to her, the involvement of the CDCs in the project became necessary to help sensitise residents of the State to adopt greening as a method of protecting the environment through tree planting and nurturing of planted trees to maturity.

“It is the desire of the Lagos State Government to ensure all support for the laudable initiative by constantly reminding the public of the benefits trees provides in the preservation of planet earth. In line with the responsibility of protecting the environment through tree planting, government plans to continuously engage the grassroots to imbibe the idea as a lifestyle rather than a ceremony”, she enthused.

Governor Seyi Makinde flagging off the migrant e-registration with the commissioning of the center for use by the Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State, Friday.

The General Manager averred that selected communities will plant 1000 trees in the next few days across the five divisions in the State, adding that this will be a regular practice all year round not just to “green up” Lagos State but to preserve and protect our environment.

Ekiti set for Festival of Art, Culture in December

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kiti State Government has promised to prioritise arts and culture, just as it announced setting machinery in motion for the forthcoming festival of art and culture in scheduled to hold in the state, this December.

Speaking during the inaugural Ekiti State Art and Culture Stakeholders’ Forum which held with the theme: ‘Art and culture for economic prosperity,’ in Ado Ekiti, Governor Kayode Fayemi noted that his administration believes in Arts and Culture as a viable tool for socio-economic revival of the society.

The Governor who was represented at the forum by the Head of Service, Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi, said it is on this basis that

the administration organized a well-attended cultural expository and exhibition programme immediately it took over the reins of power in the state.

“It is a known fact that one of the major causes of our current economic woes in Nigeria is that those within the productive age, who also have the capacity to contribute immensely into improving the economy are either doing far less than necessary or directing their energy wrongly into areas that do not impact meaningfully on the economy.

“It is consequent upon the understanding of the immense capacity of the Arts and Culture sector, to impact on the socioeconomic well-being of the generality of the people, that this

administration has continued to ensure adequate commitment, both in budgetary considerations and approval of funds, to the creative sector as symbolized by the Council,” Fayemi said.

The Governor who pointed out that little or no attention was paid by the past administration into productive engagement of its artisans, said the situation had a frustrating effect on the entire creative workforce of Ekiti State.

Remarking, Ekiti State First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi while congratulating the Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture for organizing the forum, said the programme is the type of interface that can bring about timely achievement of transformational agenda of the government.

Sheraton Abuja Hotel celebrates beer, cheese Pizza Day with complimentary deals

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heraton Abuja Hotel has announced plans for all lovers of Beer and Cheese Pizza.

According to the General Manager of the hotel, Nouman Irshad, the occasion would see hotel ‘deliver exceptional experiences to valued customers.’

“Our National food day celebrations provide us with the right forum to deliver exceptional experiences to our valued customers.

“For those Joining us at our Pool Bar & Restaurant on National Beer lovers day; Saturday the 7th of September 2019, from 7pm- 10pm We guarantee you the pleasure of enjoying a complimentary bottle of beer and a delicious plate of sizzling chicken wings for every

two bottles of beer you purchase.

“For us, it is all about seizing opportunities to create unforgettable moments, providing the right ambience for connecting with friends and loved ones while relaxing; these help one achieve life’s balance.

“To add more to our offers, we will equally commemorate National Cheese Pizza Day. This flavorful dish is one of the most reliable comfort foods. Families and friends use it to reconnect and bond during fun outings and on the go activities.

“We are delighted to offer a complimentary box of Pizza to all guests who choose to dine at our Luigi’s Italian Restaurant on National Cheese Pizza day

happening on Thursday the 5th of September 2019, from 12noon10pm “Sheraton Abuja Hotel is excited to celebrate with this special deal for all pizza lovers.

“Last Year’s National Pizza Day saw the introduction of our family sized Pizza with your special crust size and flavor options.

“We encourage all our patrons to come and enjoy our September food & beverage offers. We believe that our compelling packages, our gourmet styled Pizza together with our buy two and get one free offer with the Beer and Chicken will set the pace for an enriching weekend of fun and relaxation with friends and family,” said Irshad.

NIS rectifies enhanced e- passport hitch

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ollowing reported uproar which trailed the alleged deportation of a Nigerian national by authorities of the United Arab Emirates over the new Enhanced e-passport, the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammadu Babandede, says the matter has now been rectified Babandede who was responding to questions at the closing ceremony of the Nigerian Immigration Service 2019 Retreat said the NIS had made samples of the new passports available to all embassies since March and many Nigerians have travelled far and wide with it.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in charge of ensuring a hitch-free delivery of samples to all countries. ”I want Nigerians to appreciate that these passports have been launched for a very long time and Nigerians have travelled everywhere with it. I’ve travelled for hajj with it and I passed through Dubai, I used Emirates. Dubai is not the only country in the world, there was a hitch of delivery probably from foreign affairs because we don’t make contact directly to the embassy. Samples have been issued since March. Passports have been issued through foreign affairs since March we have sent out the samples and specimen to all countries through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“I’m glad we have sorted it out with Abu Dhabi. It’s not Dubai people who take Emirates that have this problem, those that have problems are the aircraft going to Abu Dhabi but that has been sorted out. There is only one country, we don’t have issues with the document and Foreign Affairs have sorted it out with the embassy of the United Arab Emirates. This has been rectified, so it’s not our fault,” he said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the 48hour directive for travel documents to applicants, the CG said it was

a mandate NIS have been given and the agency will do all in its power to comply especially when it surmounts the challenge of booklet unavailability.

“I explained yesterday ( Friday) to the honorable minister, the greatest problem in complying with the 48-hour directive is the lack of booklet. I assure you if they start producing we will do our best, especially in the new places. You know we have started rolling out the passports in Ikoyi, most places have the passport booklets, in two weeks we will roll out in Kano.

“After capturing that is the beginning of the 72 hours and if we cannot deliver we should be able to call in or send a text message stating the particular reason. If there is no booklet we should be able to say it, or if your finger print didn’t capture well or the document you submitted is bad or you have already got another passport, it has been rejected. It is expected of us by order of the Minister and Mr. President that we respond. If there are issues, we should be able to identify this and apologize. There has to be contact between us and the customers,” he said.

On border security and the partial closure, the Immigration boss described it as a welcome step by President Muhammadu Buhari stating that it has given the service the drive to streamline its activities along the border, apprehend wanted suspects and heighten security as entrants are expected to come in through the recognized borders with the right travel document.

“To immigration, the border drain which led to this partial closure is very important. One: it ensures people to pass the recognized entry portals. Even our ECOWAS members have been told to come to Nigeria anytime they wish but they must come through a recognized point of entry, provided you have the right travel document.”

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

AVIATION FG commends Delta Govt. on Asaba Airport facilities Stories by VICTOR NZE

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ederal Government has commended Delta State Government for the quality of facilities at the Asaba International Airport, saying the facilities are of international standards.

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika stated this on Sunday in Asaba shortly after he inspected facilities at the airport.

He noted that the state government has done well in developing the airport to meet international standards especially in the area of upgrade of the runway and other ancilalliary works.

He particularly commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for sticking to standards and for ensuring transparency in the

concessoning process of the Asaba airport.

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is always a very serious minded person, very focused, principled and always committed to doing the right thing, I have been informed how he ensured transparency in the concessioning of the Asaba Airport, adding some of his friends bidded for the Airport and lost and in the interest of his people he didn’t interfere and didn’t care whether his friends lost but what he wanted was quality and the right people to run the airport and I think this is what will help our nation.

“The Asaba airport is strategically located, it is right there at the centre of very many good locations in the country, it is good for business, good for civil aviation, and we are

delighted that the Delta State Government has taken aviation as one of the catalyst for growth and development and for identifying and also understanding the importance aviation could add to the economy of the region.

“Am here because we believed that the best way to manage our airports is to concession them to private hands to make them better managed and better operated and to get value for our money.

“The Delta State Government took up the challenge and they attended to so many conferences with us, they dialogued with us at the ministry and they decided on their own to concession the Asaba Airport and here we are after three tedious years, and being fully guided by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ICRC to put this to reality.

“The Asaba Airport is on its way to being fully concessioned, they have feeder airlines that will operate as well as a principal airline coming in to Asaba and feeding other stations, they have a hotel, Business park, cargo and they have everything here an international airport needs to operate and all of these are from the private sector and if it works, this is a classical example of partnership with the private sector to develop our infrastructure for the common good of our people”.

“This is a modest example of how things should be, we will carry out more of these inspections, as a ministry we are responsible for civil aviation and air transportation in general and we will not be found wanting in this regard. Coming here excites me, it shows me the

courage and determination by the State Government to partner with the private sector to develop this airport.

“From what I have seen here and from what we have on ground and also the planned expansion of the terminal building, the Asaba Airport is indeed an international airport in that regard,” he said.

The Minister who was conducted round by the Delta State Commissioner for Information Mr. Charles Aniagwu and Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor Prof. Sylvester Monye was accompanied by the Acting Permanent Secretary Ministry of Aviation Engr. Hassan Musa; Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Capt. Rabiu Yadudu; and Technical Assistant to the Minister Engr. Ben Tukur.

Enugu Airport closure: Ethiopian Airlines flies into PHIA September 3

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thiopian Airlines has announced that it will continue its operation in Nigeria to/from Port Harcourt (PHC) instead of Enugu (ENU) as the airport is undergoing renovation and temporarily closed.

The airline also revealed through its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr Mesfin Tasew, that it earns at least $80m annually from its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities, which is situated in Addis Ababa.

On the commencement of operations from Port Harcourt International airport, on September 3, 2019, following the closure of Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu Tasew said Ethiopian Airlines was dedicated to serve the South East region, hence the plans to shift the Enugu flight to Port Harcourt airport.

Tasew said the airline would continue operating into Port Harcourt until Enugu airport was ready.

“We have planned to shift the Enugu flight to Port Harcourt and we will start operations on 3rd of September. We will continue operating to this airport until Enugu airport becomes ready.

When Enugu is ready, we will go

back to Enugu,” he said.

Ethiopian airlines in a statement said it will continue to offer the usual service from PHC instead of Enugu starting from September 3, 2019 until 23 November 2019.

Nigeria is the only African country where Ethiopian has opened four destinations. This demonstrates strengthened bilateral relation between Ethiopian and Nigeria. We will make every effort to provide excellent service in Nigeria as well as across the continent to help our customers access our global network.

Meanwhile on its MRO earnings, Tasew said the airline wanted to maximise the facility by developing internal capacity on engines, components and revenue, stressing that its revenue was expected to grow faster.

He further stated that the airline was supporting Nigerian carriers like Med- View and Arik Air with their maintenance.

According to him, an Arik’s Q400 aircraft was currently in Addis-Ababa for C-check, adding that prior to that he said Ethiopian Airline repaired and maintained several aircraft for former Air Nigeria, Chanchangi and Bellview aircraft.

MD FAAN, Capt Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu and his Team of Directors in a meeting with the Airline Operators of Nigeria, towards improving relationship and growth of the industry, Monday.

He said: “First of all, I will like to say that Ethiopian Airlines today has the largest MRO facility in Africa. We repair all Boeing models of aircraft except 747. We also repair the Airbus A350 aircraft, which is the newest Airbus aircraft and the Bombardier Q400 aircraft in Addis Ababa.

“We have six hangars and a very big engine shop. We have several component repair shops.

We have been doing this for

several decades now. Primary, it was developed to support operations of Ethiopian Airlines but we are also supporting other African Airlines from different parts of Africa. Today we support several airlines including Asky in Togo and Arik Air in Nigeria.

“We have been looking for a dependable partner to join and establish an MRO facility in Nigeria. We had some discussions earlier with some companies including Aero

Contractors but unfortunately, so far we have not agreed with any one. However, we are still looking for a partner.”

Ethiopian Airlines is reputed to own the largest MRO facility in Africa with six maintenance hangars. The airline maintains all Boeing models of aircraft except B747.

The MRO also repairs Airbus 350 state-of-the-art aircraft, among other Airbus airplanes.

We have not suspended flight operations –Med-View Airline

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anagement of MedView Airline has informed shareholders, stakeholders, and the general public to disregard media reports claiming that he carrier has suspended operation as a result of its airplanes undergoing maintenance.

The airline described the reports as ‘misleading and tantamount to ‘demarketing’.

In a statement signed by its

COO, Mr. Michael Ajigbotosho, Med-View said it has not at any time informed the regulatory authority (NCAA) or other any agency nor the press that their operations are suspended.

The airline explained that at this time of the year, all those concerned or involved know that Med-View will concentrate her entire operations in inbound airlift of Hajj Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria.

Med-View Airline stated that: “Our B737-500 ( 5N-BQ) aircraft developed a technical fault enroute Abuja a few days ago that requires engine replacement, and of which the engine has been procured and is being mounted to commence operation next week.

Med-View Airline operates 3 B737 aircraft on its domestic route, until recently two of them – 5N-MAB and 5N-MAA were

sent for C- Check at approved MRO in Estonia, Europe and Aero-Contractors here in Nigeria.

“The works are already at advanced stage, up to 85 percent, and expectedly, the aircraft will soon enter service on our domestic route.

In the last 12 years of operation as Hajj carrier and domestic operator, Med-View Airline is profoundly known and widely recognized for its safety

consciousness which cannot be compromised”.

The airline said it is ever committed to its corporate value, which is ability to succeed in providing the desired services for customers satisfaction and return on investment to shareholders.

Med-View Airline added that the on-going rift between the airline and NAHCON is being handled by the Presidency.

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

e-Platform

Global smartphone shipments drops in Q2 2019 Stories by VICTOR NZE

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ccording to the latest report from Gartner Research, worldwide smartphone sales over the April - June period totaled 368 million units. That’s 1.7% lower than the same time last year. Samsung maintained the

Tecno to unveil Camon 12 on Sept 5

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ecno Mobile will unveil its camera smartphone CAMON 12 series on September 5th.

With aim to build reputed camera smartphone, it’s said CAMON 12 series will be not only Selfie, which is the most remarkable feature of previous CAMON series, and is embedded with upgraded camera for any angle photography.

Globally, TECNO portfolio consist of three series: ‘SPARK’ is with AI bright camera (great camera features especially in low light environment) for youth, ‘PHANTOM’ the brand’s flagship series and ‘CAMON’ the popular cameracentric series with outstanding selfie camera features in CAMON 11.

CAMON series is the best voice of TECNO performance. It is designed for social media enthusiast who lead the trend and enjoy life by taking and sharing photos.

With several of our sources and spies working round the clock, we are pretty sure that CAMON 12 series is upgraded with AI Max Triple Camera to enable super wide angle photography, surpassing CAMON series’ DNA of clear selfie, to let you capture the beauty around you from a broader perspective.

Leaked images showcase TECNO’s pursuing the extreme frame with super full view screen and obviously higher edge-toedge ratio than 87.5% of CAMON 11, guess, CAMON 12 series at least with 90% perfect edge-to-

top spot in terms of market share with 20.4% of all smartphone sales for the period, followed by Huawei with 15.8% and Apple with 10.5%. The top five list is complete with Xiaomi and Oppo which held 9 per cent and 7.6 per cent market share respectively.

For Samsung, this was the first quarterly growth after edge ratio. Leaked information reveals that CAMON 12 Air takes the initiative to equip itself with revolutionary Dot-in Display, the first and unprecedented step to apply the latest technology trend at a very sweet price level, while the only other Dot-in Display product is Samsung S10, which is available at much higher price level. With the remarkable 6.55 inch and 90% screen ratio, as well as the well-kept front flash for excellent low light photography, the user would have unimaginably expansive viewing experience. The striking choice brings brand new enjoyment.

Both wide angle photography and the Dot-in Display of CAMON 12 Air deliver TECNO’s commitment to bring best device with latest technology to the consumer to see the world. And news says that in the near future, TECNO will launch Dot-in Display product with front camera, to bring any angle nice photography experience with full view screen.

All these leaked features fit TECNO’s recently announced upgraded philosophy. In early July, TECNO revealed their philosophy of “Expect More” from previous “Experience More”, by underlining the brand’s commitment to provide masses with access to advance technology at attractive price-points, allowing them to reach beyond their current limitations and uncover a world of possibilities.

TECNO’s successful business with two long-term product strategies: focusing on local consumers, and using local innovation to meet local market demand to work hard at solving the user’s pain points and provide value for consumers proved that TECNO is always keeping pursuing mutual benefits in both African and emerging markets. The leaked CAMON 12 series features proved TECNO’s strategy well and reasons to believe that we can expect more from CAMON 12 series.

six consecutive declines as it managed to push out 75 million units in total. The strong quarterly results came thanks to strong demand for the revamped Galaxy A series. Apple on the other hand saw continued dwindling demand for its iPhones and amassed just 38.5 million shipments, down from 44.7

million just a year ago.

Taking a look at per-country basis, China amassed the most smartphone sales for the period with 101 million sales which is a slight 0.5 per cent increase compared to last year. The growth was mainly driven by discounts on high-end 4G phones in light of the recent push for 5G

devices in the country.

Brazil was the only other country where we saw year over year growth at 1.3 per cent.

The new findings go in hand with a previous report from Gartner which predicts that global smartphone shipments will continue to plummet as 2019 comes to an end.

Participants at the August 2019 Hack/Hackers meet-up training organised by the Code-for-Nigeria (C4N) in Lagos.

Code-4-Nigeria deepens data knowledge of journalists

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he Code-4-Nigeria (C4N) says it will continue to drive innovative journalism that entails using credible data sources to tell exciting investigative stories that will bring positive social change to the society.

Civic Technologist, Code for Africa (C4A), Mr John Eromosele, said this during the August edition of Hacks/Hackers meet-up in Lagos.

The Code-4-Nigeria, a chapter of the C4A, is a non-partisan civic data and civic technology ‘change agent’.

It uses civic technologies and open data to build digital democracies that afford citizens timely and unfettered access to actionable information.

Such pieces of information empower citizens to make informed decisions that strengthen civic engagement for improved public governance and accountability.

The August edition of Hacks/ Hackers meet-up training had: “Using Official Statistics for Storytelling in Nigeria’’ as its theme.

Eromosele explained that C4N was collaborating with Brown Institute and UN Data Forum on the training.

He said that they intended to equip journalists with skills that would change the narratives of using official data to tell and illustrate stories better for wider and enhanced audience

engagement.

He said that the training focused on demonstrating how journalists in Lagos, Abuja and Benin could leverage on official statistics and resources provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for storytelling.

“NBS is the official data repository for Nigeria and resources available on its website will be leveraged on by journalists to tell credible and engaging stories,’’ he said.

Eromosele also said that C4A had formed a partnership with various media organisation newsrooms and engaged in training sessions to upgrade the capacities and skills of journalists in data reporting.

NCC, NISER sign MoU on Research, Policy for National Development

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igerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Research and Policy for National Development.

The two organisations signed the MoU when the DirectorGeneral of NISER, Dr Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, led a delegation of the organisation on a courtesy visit to NCC Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

Gbadebo-Smith said the visit was aimed at familiarising NISER

with agencies and to understand their needs better He said the aim would be achieved usings data evidence to make their work impactful and create a network that would boost national development.

According to him, when the two organisations work together,it will also boost their capabilities to compete favourably with a other organisations in developing countries.

Gbadebo-Smith,who noted that NCC had been of considerable assistance to NISER over the years, disclosing that the commission

recently gave some laptops to NISER, thanked the sister organisation for the gesture.

“Government is a network and we are trying to bring agencies together, to produce value for the betterment of Nigeria,” GbadeboSmith said.

Responding, the Executive ViceChairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Dantata, assured NISER of corporation,as President Muhammadu directed.

He was represented by the Director, Policy and Planning of the commission, Mr Mohammed Babajika.

He expressed optimism that

Buhari’s directive for synergy among agencies would have a robust understanding and network among them and the drie drive the agencies to the next level agenda of the government.

Danbatta said the idea was a step in the right direction but called for the formation of a committee to identify the needs of the two agencies.

Danbatta identified areas of collaboration between NISER and NCC to include consumer satisfaction index, pull resources on research spectrum, data analysis, research and development.

He stated that NCC required engagement and collaboration, especially with organisations that had similar aims and objectives.

“Let us look at it together and have an MoU so that we can assist each other by creating a small group to identify our needs and advise us accordingly on areas of collaboration.

“NCC will be part and parcel of NISER, this is not far from the directive of Mr President.

“With clear synergy, understanding and network between agencies, the effort will drive the country to the next level.”

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

EQUITY & Capital Market S

ecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday called on shareholders of the defunct Afribank Plc to claim their dividends.

The commission said in a statement that it was part of its investor protection programme and mandate to ensure that shareholders get the benefits of investing in the capital market.

SEC acting Director-General, Ms Mary Uduk, was quoted by the statement as saying the Commission was making concrete efforts to ensure that investors get their dividends to reduce the high profile of unclaimed dividends in the market.

“We have informed shareholders of the defunct AfriBank Plc that unclaimed dividends declared by

SEC urges defunct Afribank shareholders to claim dividends the bank are being held in trust on their behalf.

“This will further help reduce the volume of unclaimed dividends in the market and boost investor confidence.

“Investors that have unclaimed dividends are therefore advised to contact Carnation Registrars to process their dividend payments,” she said.

Uduk said the commission had also directed Carnation Registrars and Meristem Trustees to ensure that all genuine claims of beneficiary

shareholders be addressed forthwith.

“Since the company is no longer in operation, these unclaimed dividends have to be made available to the rightful owners that are the shareholders.

“That will go a long way in boosting investor confidence in the market. That is why we are calling on them to take advantage of this opportunity and claim their dividends,” Uduk said.

Recall that recently, the SEC had directed investors in the

defunct Skye bank Plc to claim all outstanding dividends declared by the bank which were being held in trust on their behalf.

The SEC also went further to direct Cardinalstone Registrars and STL Trustees to ensure that all genuine claims of beneficiary shareholders were addressed forthwith.

This the SEC said was part of its investors’ protection programme to ensure that shareholders got the benefits of investing in the capital market.

• The Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission Mounir Gwarzo (m) and others at a function

Global stocks slip as new U.S.-China tariffs dim global outlook

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lobal stocks dipped on Monday after the United States and China imposed new tariffs on each other’s goods, reinforcing investors’ worries over slowing global growth with no clear end in sight for the trade war.

MSCI’s All-Country World Index, which tracks shares across 47 countries, was down 0.1 per cent.

European shares rose cautiously, driven by a rally in miners, although sentiment remained fragile in the light of the latest round of tit-for-tat tariffs kicked off between the U.S. and China.

Washington’s 15 per cent tariffs on a variety of Chinese goods came into effect on Sunday, while China began to implement new duties on a 75 billion dollars target list.

However, both sides will still meet for talks later this month, U.S. President Donald Trump said.

Trade-sensitive German shares GDAXI were flat to slightly higher and the pan-European stocks benchmark index STOXX 600 was up 0.3 per cent by 0754 GMT, beginning September higher after a 1.6 per cent drop in August as the trade war, which has roiled financial markets and raised global recession fears rages on for more than a year.

“Despite the market’s sanguine take, we believe the ultimate outlook for the trade dispute has become harder to predict with confidence,” said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS

Global Wealth Management.

“Since trade tensions have become the major driving force for stocks, even greater than monetary policy, we advise against adding significantly to equity exposure – particularly for those who have an adequate strategic allocation.”

Haefele added that incomegenerating carry positions such as select emerging market currencies will perform well as central banks ease policy in response to weaker growth.

Euro zone manufacturing activity contracted for a seventh month in August as a continued decline in demand sapped optimism, a survey showed, likely strengthening expectations for monetary easing from the European Central Bank (ECB) next week.

At their July meeting policymakers at the ECB all but promised to ease policy further as the bloc’s growth outlook worsens.

Italian bond yields fell towards recent multi-year lows after Italy’s prime minister said at the weekend he was confident that he could finalise talks on a new government

by Wednesday.

The 5-Star Movement and the Democratic Party (PD) were in intense discussions over the weekend to hammer out a deal on a common agenda and cabinet posts.

In currency markets, the dollar was flat against a basket of peers.

The euro was 0.05 per cent lower at 1.0985 dollar, not far from twoyear low of 1.0963 dollar hit in U.S. trade on Friday.

U.S. markets were shut for a holiday on Monday.

MSCI’s broadest index of AsiaPacific shares outside Japan dropped 0.24 per cent, led by 0.5 per cent drop in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng. HSI after another weekend of violent anti-government protests.

Chinese shares, however, bucked the bearish trend, with the CSI300 index rising 1.1 per cent, despite the trade row escalation. Providing some tailwind to mainland markets was a pledge by China’s State Council to boost support for the economy.

Caixin and Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), a private sector survey on Monday showed factory activity unexpectedly expanded in August, although gains were modest and contrasted with official data that pointed to further contraction.

Washington slapped tariffs on a variety of Chinese goods – including footwear, smart watches and flatpanel televisions – while Beijing imposed new duties on U.S. crude, the latest escalation in a bruising trade war.

Several studies suggest the tariffs will cost U.S. households up to 1,000 dollar a year, with the latest round hitting a significant number of U.S. consumer goods.

Many market players say the market’s reaction was likely exaggerated by algorithm-driven players’ flows in thin trading conditions at start of Asian trade on Monday.

Liquidity could be even more limited than usual because of a U.S. market holiday on Monday. “(The market move) goes to show you how many data mining algos are involved with equity-linked compared to forex-linked. Was anyone surprised by these tariffs that took effect yesterday?” said Takeo Kamai, head of execution at CLSA in Tokyo.

Tension is also running high in Hong Kong, with police and protesters clashing in some of the most intense violence since unrest erupted more than three months ago over concerns Beijing is undermining democratic freedoms in the territory.

Thousands of protesters blocked roads and public transport links to Hong Kong airport and police made several arrests after demonstrators smashed CCTV cameras and lamps with metal poles and dismantled station turnstiles.

China, eager to quell the unrest before the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, has accused foreign powers, particularly the United States and Britain, of fomenting the unrest.

NSE resumes trading for September with 0.14% growth

T

rading resumed for the month of September on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with a marginal growth of 0.14 per cent.

Specifically, the market capitalisation inched N19 billion or 0.14 per cent to close higher at N13.410 trillion against N13.391 trillion on Friday.

Also, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 39.28 points or 0.14 per cent to 27,565.09 compared with 27,525.81 posted on Friday.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, among which are; Nestle Nigeria, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), Unilever Nigeria, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Zenith Bank.

In spite of the marginal growth, analysts at Afrinvest Limited expected the bearish run in the equities market to resurface as the weak macro-economic environment continues to cast a shadow on investor sentiment.

Also, analysts at Imperial Assets Manager said “this week, we expect bargain hunting on stocks that have witnessed significant price depreciation in recent past to still be at fore.

“Overall, we expect developments in the fiscal space to weigh in on sentiments, as investors assess the direction of recent policy pronouncements.”

Market breadth closed positive with 22 stocks recorded gains against 14 losers.

Cement Company of Northern Nigeria recorded the highest price gain of 9.78 per cent to close at N17.40 per share.

Cornerstone Insurance came second with a gain of 9.52 per cent to close at 23k, while UBA appreciated by 5.98 per cent to close at N6.20 per share.

Nestle Nigeria went up by 5.94 per cent to close at N1,319, while GlaxoSmithKline Consumer appreciated by 3.47 per cent to close at N7.45 per share.

Conversely, UACN led the losers’ chart with a loss of 10 per cent, to close at N4.50 per share.

Champion Breweries followed with a decline of 9.80 per cent to close at N1.38, while Africa Prudential shed 9.25 per cent to close at N3.63 per share.

Chams dipped 7.69 per cent to close at 24k, while University Press dropped 7.38 per cent to close at N1.13 per share.

However, the volume of shares traded closed lower at 10.63 per cent to 111.52 million shares valued at N1.56 billion exchanged in 3,122 deals.

This was in contrast with a turnover of 124.78 million shares worth N1.82 billion transacted in 3,089 deals on Friday.

Transactions in the shares of Zenith Bank topped the activity chart with 16.15 million shares valued at N283.9 million.

UBA followed with 13.95 million shares worth N86.04 billion, while FBN Holdings traded 13.64 million shares valued at N64.8 million.

UACN accounted for 7.8 million shares valued at N35.91 million, while Guaranty Trust Bank transacted 5.15 million shares worth N141.08 million.

27

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

MONEY Market

AfDB, Japan to support Africa’s private sector development with $3.5bn Stories By Kayode Ogunwale

J

apan and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have announced a joint target of $3.5 billion under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa initiative (EPSA4).

Both Japan and the Bank have set a target of $1.75 billion each, from 2020-2022, to enhance the fourth phase of EPSA to spur private-sector-led sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa.

“Building on the successful achievements so far, Japan and the Bank have decided to upgrade EPSA in both quality and quantity to meet financial needs for infrastructure development

as well as for the private sector development in Africa,” Japan’s State Minister of Finance,” Mr. Keisuke Suzuki said at the EPSA4 launch ceremony held in Yokohama and attended by government officials and a highlevel delegation from the Bank as well as representations of the business community.

“I wish that the new EPSA initiative will lead to business, investment promotion, and job creation in Africa,” Mr. Suzuki noted.

Electricity, transportation, and health will be key priorities under EPSA4. Projects and programs for the 3 key priorities will be formulated and implemented in

line with the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment and G20 Shared Understanding on the Importance of UHC Financing in Developing Countries. African countries will also be provided with support to improve and create conducive business environments to attract private investments.

“Today marks another day to celebrate the strong and impactful partnership between Japan and the African Development Bank.

The African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are long-term partners for promoting the development of Africa. EPSA helps to deliver much needed to

support the private sector,” Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development, said during his address.

During EPSA1 (2005-2011), Japan set the target of providing $ 1 billion in loans and $ 2 billion under the second phase (2012-2016). The ongoing EPSA3 (2017-2019), Japan and the African Development Bank are cooperating closely to provide the targeted joint amount of $ 3 billion.

As of today, the Bank and JICA under ACFA have co-financed 25 projects to improve key transportation and electricity transmission networks. These include the Construction of Three Intersections in Abidjan in Cote

d’Ivoire and Power Sector Reform Program in Angola.

“Under EPSA 4, JICA and the African Development Bank will provide co-financing of $3.5 billion. This is a significant increase over EPSA-3. Increase is what we need to meet the needs of Africa.

Increase is what we need to raise the level of our ambitions for Africa. Increase is what we need to build upon the solid foundations of co-financing over the last 13 years, and deliver even greater and more impactful development results in the years ahead. Now, let us arise with renewed vigor. Let us deliver even greater impacts for African countries through EPSA 4,” Dr. Adesina concluded.

Leadway seminar lauds benefits of crowdfunding …Advises investors on due diligence

I

nvestors and promoters of agricultural crowdfunding platforms in the country have been advised to embrace a culture of due diligence, self-regulation and transparency to help small-scale farmers and agro-allied businesses deliver what Nigeria needs to rev up food production to meet up with demand and to stimulate the economy by reducing importation At an interactive session themed “Using Crowdfunding Platforms to invest in Agribusiness” recently hosted at Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos

by Leadway Assurance to close information gaps between investors and crowdfunding firms, agribusiness professionals in attendance and the insurance firm posited that with conventional banking institutions increasingly finding it difficult to grant business-friendly credit facilities to agribusinesses, the need for crowdfunding as a strategy of attracting investments to the sector has continued to achieve greater importance.

The session helped participants to see how and why crowdfunding is different from gambling, multimarketing investments entities and money-multiplying networks which have eroded people’s investments over the years.

However, a cross section of speakers at the Seminar observed that not all agricultural crowdfunding firms springing up across the country today are what they claim to be, and not all of them insure all the farms

and profit expected is not insured.

They therefore urged investors not to gullibly part with their resources but rather verify the farms where they invest in before parting with their money.

Crowdfunding, as a result of private sector-led initiatives, appears to be providing a sustainable platform for coordinated and organised funding solution to farmers while minding the protection of investors’ capital and returns on their investments. It is really an innovative intervention that looks very promising if regulated, harnessed and managed transparently.

One of the reasons for this is that agricultural businesses are risky, and banks are wary of lending to operators considered mostly as uneducated and lacking in due diligence. Hence, conditions for loans to the sector are more stringent, and this is complicated by lack of collaterals as required by most of the lending institutions.

Government intervention policies and funds are equally marred with bureaucracy, nepotism and fraudulent practices, while micro-financing and cooperative associations have had limited influence on the levels of farm operations and food production in the country.

While stressing the need for investors to carry out effective due diligence before putting fund in a crowdfunding platform, Executive Director, Leadway Assurance,

• African Development Bank President, Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adeshina with French President, Emmanuel Macron at the recent G7 meeting in France Adetola Adegbayi, advised them not to invest in any crowdfunding platform that does not invest in any physical asset; or which claims it invests in agriculture but has no farm.

“Insurance companies like Leadway only insure the underlined risks on farms that your money has been invested, not the money.

Always ask them of their formal setups, insurance policy numbers for all the farms, locations and owners of the farms, how long they have existed, do they get grants from international organisations, and their books on accounting and repayments

of capital and interest. These are the things you should verify before investing your money in agricultural crowdfunding platforms.”

Head, Agric and Micro Insurance, Leadway Assurance, Mr. Ayoola Fatona, said Leadway is always available to provide insurance covers for the risks associated with farm investments of some of the crowdfunding firms found to be real. He explained that the interactive session was organised to assure the investing public that their investments are protected in some of the crowdfunding firms.

Explaining further, Fatona said

Leadway does not insure individual investors on the crowdfunding platforms directly, but insure farms in which investors’ money is put.

He, however, revealed that it has been discovered that some crowdfunding firms would insure only a few farms and claim they insure all farms in order to avoid paying premiums and to deceive the investors.

He advised both local and international prospective investors to always cross-check and confirm before investing in crowdfunding platforms as some of them are genuine but many of them are not.

FirstBank deepening financial inclusion through 31,000 agent network

I

n its quest to deepen financial inclusion, FirstBank is channelling its resources to reach those at the bottom of the pyramid through its agency banking. The tier-one bank has over 31,000 agents spread across Nigeria with 9,000 assigned to provide financial services to the highly excluded Northern region.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adesola Adeduntan, said the bank took it upon itself as part of their strategic

plan to be the bank that can be the right partner to the CBN and the government by helping to achieve the right social impact.

“If there is that bank on ground to help the country to address the seeming geographical gap in terms of financial inclusion, it is FirstBank, because we are already doing a lot,” Adeduntan said.

With over 125 years of unbroken existence in Nigeria, the lender has the largest branch network in Nigeria with over 750 branches

spread across the country. Nigeria has an exclusion rate of 36.8 percent as at December 2018; this translates to about 36.6 million Nigerian adults who are not included in the formal financial net.

The Central Bank of Nigeria plans to ensure it drive that number to 20 percent by the year 2020. But with less than five months to the deadline, the regulator has about 16.8 percent exclusion gap.

“So with over 31,000 agents and 750 branches spread across

all the LGAs in Nigeria, FirstBank is indeed a frontrunner at not just providing banking to all Nigerians but importantly improving their respective businesses and developing the Nigerian economy,” Adeduntan noted.

According to Emeka Onwuka, CEO, Parkway Project, a Lagosbased Fintech company known for its popular ReadyCash product, when it comes to financial inclusion, the distribution is really “where we have the problem.”

“It is not about wallet rather it is about the touchpoint where people can actually go and have access,” Onwuka added. In January 2019, the central bank unveiled a revised version of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) in which it projected that it will enrol about 500,000 mobile money/bank agents available to serve about 105 million adult Nigerians by the year 2020. The figure translates to about 476 agents per 100,000 adults.

28

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Revealed: Warning signs your husband is ready to have an affair

Y

Name: Omobolanle Tel: 07037197900 If you want to be our next Model of The Week, e-mail or forward your photos/data to: ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714

ODD NEWS

ou might trust your partner implicitly, but in long term relationships everyone is tempted to stray at some point, according to a performance coach, so it pays to know the warning signs.

Dr Amy Iversen, who is launching a new practice in London, provides executive coaching to high-performing individuals from the worlds of business, law, and medicine and has revealed to Femail the six major signs that preceed an affair.

‘No matter how strong you believe your relationship to be, it is likely there will come a day when your partner feels tempted,’ she told Femail.

‘Infidelity can be so painful, we often make ourselves blind to the signs. Whilst we may not always be honest with ourselves, women are intuitive.

‘We instinctively know when something is up. We have a sixth sense, and we should trust that.

‘Every relationship is different, but there are a number of indicators that proceed almost every affair.

With a cool head and a cold hard look at the facts, the truth will reveal itself.

‘If you are smart and informed, you might even be able to avert the affair before it starts. Asking yourself the following six questions will reveal if you genuinely need to worry.’

1. What does his upbringing tell you?

Men that come from broken families with a history of infidelity are statistically more likely to follow suit.

A troubled or abusive childhood, or insecurity as a child can make a man more inclined to stray.

A strict or formal upbringing can increase the attraction of sexual

exploration and delayed rebellion.

None of these criteria in isolation means anything. When found in tandem with other indicators they do make your suspicions more likely to be right.

2. What does his previous behaviour tell you?

Has your partner had a previous affair? Has there been any history during your relationship of him using dating apps, sexting, using masseurs or watching pornography?

Has there been any history of sexually addictive behaviour?

What should you do if your partner is about to cheat?

Once you have complimented gut instinct with clear signs of his imminent affair, you’ve arrived at decision time. Every relationship is different. There is no best way to proceed, but there is one important question every betrayed partner must ask themselves. What is it you really want?

When you weigh up all the factors in this relationship, what are you willing to forgive to survive as a couple? Remember, most people that consider an affair have no intention of leaving their partners. It is rarely about love, and infrequently about the other person.

Often, it’s the idea of an affair that proves so alluring – affairs are risky, dangerous, labile. For your man, it’s often about a desire to feel special. To feel important. Valued.

Confronting your partner before they take the first step, reminding them of what they stand to lose will nearly always stop an affair before it starts.

Assuming your partner admits his mistake and doesn’t want to lose you, this doesn’t need to be the end of your relationship – at this point help from an experienced therapist or coach can be invaluable.

Romantic Joke The Picture

A man walks into a bar and orders a shot, then he looks into his shirt pocket and orders another one. After he finishes, he looks into his pocket again and orders another shot. The bartender is curious and asks the man why he looks into his pocket before ordering each shot. The man replies, “I have a picture of my wife in my pocket, and when she starts to look good, I go home.”

Heart attack threat ‘up 40% after an infection’

P

atients who suffer common infections have a much greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the years to come, a major study has found.

The findings suggest hundreds of thousands should be given statins or other heart pills if they suffer a chest infection or bladder problem.

A project tracking 1.2million patients found those admitted to hospital for pneumonia or urinary tract infections were 40 per cent more likely to have a heart attack within eight years.

They were also 150 per cent more likely to suffer a stroke.

This suggests infections have an even greater impact on heart health than obesity, which raises

the risk of strokes and heart attacks by about 25 per cent.

The research team, from Aston Medical School in Birmingham and the University of Cambridge, believe this is because infections cause long-term inflammation in blood vessels – making them more prone to clotting and clogging.

Patients who suffer an infection should be treated in the same way as someone with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or diabetes, the researchers said. This could involve prescribing statins or aspirin as a preventive measure to cut the risk to their heart.

Nearly 600,000 people are admitted to hospital with chest

infections such as pneumonia in England every year. About 300,000 are admitted with urinary infections.

The study, which will be presented today at the American College of Cardiology conference in Orlando, also found that those who had had infections were more likely to die if they did suffer a heart attack or stroke.

They were three times more likely to die from a heart attack than those who had not had infections, and almost twice as likely to die if they had a stroke.

Cardiologist Dr Rahul Potluri, of Aston University, said: ‘Our figures suggest that those who are admitted to hospital with a respiratory or urinary tract

infection are 40 per cent more likely to suffer a subsequent heart attack, and 2.5 times more likely to have a stroke, than patients who have had no such infection – and are considerably less likely to survive from these conditions.’

Experts have shown greater interest in the role of inflammation in heart disease after a study last year found that treating patients with antiinflammatory canakinumab could cut their risk of having a heart attack by 24 per cent. Doctors say this drug – not yet available for heart patients – could represent the biggest breakthrough in cardiovascular medicine since statins were developed 30 years ago.

Dr Potluri said: ‘Infection appears to confer as much, if not more, of a risk for future heart disease and stroke as very well established risk factors such as high blood pressure and

diabetes.

‘Although inflammation has been linked to atherosclerosis [when plaque builds up in arteries], this is the largest study to show that common infection is such a significant risk factor.’

Lead author Dr Paul Carter, an academic clinical fellow at the University of Cambridge, said: ‘The data illustrate a clear association between infections and life-threatening heart conditions and strokes – and the figures are too huge to ignore.

‘Serious infections are amongst the biggest causes of death in the UK directly, but our research shows infections that are severe enough to lead to hospitalisation may present a delayed risk in the form of atherosclerotic diseases.

‘The sheer number of people who could be affected presents a challenge that needs investigation.’

Daily Mail

29

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

True Confession

M

y darling husband, you mean the world to me.

My name is Rosemary and I’m a twin. My twin sister is Anne, and ever since we were small, she has always been jealous of me. Maybe it was because I was prettier and more brilliant than her.

I remember those days in primary school when I used to come back home at the end of the term with the first position while Anne took average position.

My parents were always very proud of me and I guess this was what engendered the jealousy and envy in the heart of my twin sister.

Even at the university, boys looked in my direction and ignored my twin sister.

I won the contest for the most beautiful girl on campus and acquired all the hot and rich boyfriends on campus while Anne had to make do with those poor guys on campus that can hardly afford to take their babes

I thought it was better for my sister to live with us instead of getting a housegirl because I had heard how house-girls snatched women’s husbands. Little did I know my twin sister would try to snatch my husband. out.

I didn’t need the pocket money my parents gave me since I got a lot of money from men.

But Anne, on the other hand, had to share her little pocket money with her poor boyfriend who found it difficult to even pay his school fee.

I laughed at both Anne and her boyfriend and made a ridicule of the poor boy in public.

I thought it was only a joke but my sister hated me for that and swore to get her own pound of flesh from me later. I thought it was the mere ranting of an ant.

Three years later, after we had both graduated from the university, I met Ike, a rich handsome young man who proposed to me within two weeks of meeting me.

When I announced my marriage plans, Anne did not rejoice with me and my parents. She just kept to herself. I wedded my husband in grand style and got a good job with a bank.

However, my husband usually closed from work before me and whenever he got home there was nobody to cook his dinner for him, since I usually closed late from the bank.

So, in order to find a permanent solution

‘My twin sister slept with my husband’ to the problem, I begged my twin sister to come and live with us.

I thought it was better for my sister to live with us instead of getting a housegirl because I had heard how house-girls snatched women’s husbands. Little did I know my twin sister would try to snatch my husband.

I usually returned home from work around 10pm. My sister Anne had lived with us for a year and six months when one day,

I had to close earlier than usual because my boss traveled that night.

So I arrived home by 7pm and caught my twin sister, Anne, and my husband Ike, on the couch in the sitting room making love.

The three of us had a big fight and my parents had to come from the village to settle the matter. But my sister refused to apologize to me for what she had done and simply moved out of my matrimonial home.

I suspect that she might still be sleeping

with my man elsewhere and I’ve sworn that if I catch her with my husband again, I will surely kill her. I believe blood is thicker than water, but not when adultery is involved.

My mother says it is an abomination for a twin sister to kill her fellow twin, but I don’t care. If my twin sister doesn’t want to die, she should leave my husband alone. Period!

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

30

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

Relationships and Love Advice

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Brave, 30, pretty, chocolate, average height, residing in Anambra, needs a mature, caring man that can assist her.

07086053704.

Jennifer, 38, tall, fair, slim, living and working in Anambra, from Anambra, wants a responsible and working lgbo man from 40years and above for marriage.

08177478807.

Chi baby, 34, based in Lagos, HIV positive, from Imo state, needs a HIV positive man from the Eastern side, from 40 years and above for marriage. 08064177446.

Oluchi, 34, tall, dark, busty, single mother, in Festac Town, Lagos, needs a responsible, working Igbo man from 38-45 years for marriage.

08164007657.

‘My boyfriend wants me to stop hanging out with my best friend’ Dear Love Doctor, I have a best friend (a guy) for eight years now, and we basically grew up together. I met my boyfriend last year and we’ve been together for about a year now. I’ve been a great partner to him and have treated him well to this day.

However, the problem is that he has a huge issue with me hanging out with my best guy friend alone.

I’d like to add that my best guy friend is like family to me. The brother I never had. For the 8 years we’ve been friends I can’t say that I’ve been interested in him in a romantic way.

I can’t say for certain that he has never had any feelings for me but what I know for a fact is that I haven’t made moves on him, and

he hasn’t made moves on me. We also hardly see each other because we live in different cities.

So right now, I don’t understand why my boyfriend is acting this way. What do I do?

From Nneka.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Nneka, Some people may say that “your boyfriend should be your best friend” and that once in a relationship, “you should not be hanging out with a male friend because it is disrespectful to your boyfriend.”

However, the truth is that you have known your best friend most of your life and you’ve only known your boyfriend for only a while. You should not sacrifice your friendship to your best friend over a relationship that may not even work in the long run.

You can’t ‘throw’ your friends away every time you get into a relationship,

especially ones you’ve had since childhood. Imagine if we all did that?

We’d end up friendless every time we broke up with someone and I think some people actually do end up like that, sadly.

Assure your boyfriend of your love for him and tell him to stop being petty. He should open his mind and be mature enough to respect your friendship or platonic relationships with other people.

Being in a relationship will be a challenge for a person who insists on being absolutely free to do anything he/she wants, anytime he/she wants.

If you want to be in a relationship, there are bound to be some sacrifices involved. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Therefore, on your own part, make sure you don’t cross the boundaries in your friendship with your best friend. Do not hang out “too much” with him or overdo things. If you abuse your freedom to hang out with your best friend, your boyfriend will begin to see him as a threat to your relationship and this could result in a breakup. Therefore, do everything in moderation, and your boyfriend will understand.

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08077821830. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com or Visit hooktv.wordpress.com.

Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make? Call 07031028714 now!

Chiommy, very tall, fair, sexy, hippy, busty, needs a sugar daddy who will take good care of her and she will satisfy him very well. 09028379398.

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Men seeking relationship/ marriage Mitchell needs someone to help him in his online business.

08077821830.

Charles, 35, from South-East, living in Maraba, Abuja, and does aluminum roofing work, needs a single mother or matured woman of 40 years and above for a relationship. 08066899458, 08064558484.

Eric, 30, from Ndi in Enugu state, student, tall, lives in Abuja at Maraba, needs a sugar mum from 40 years and above. 08064558484.

Niyi, 37, graduate, based in Abuja, needs a sugar mummy between 35-47 years in Abuja or Lokoja.

09011377891.

E-Mail: ireto007@yahoo.com.

Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08077821830, 08131161840 for Counseling, fertility problems & Direct Hookup.

31

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

It happened to me:

I

married young, and unfortunately realised too late that I had married the wrong person. My husband, who had been sweet and kind while we were going out, didn’t seem to want a wife; he wanted a slave! And every day, that’s what I felt I had become.

The more I did for Ray, the more he demanded, until it seemed that, between the hours of housework he insisted I do every day, and the elaborate meals he wanted me to cook, I didn’t have time for anything else. My social life dwindled, and by our first wedding anniversary, I was absolutely miserable.

I was too afraid to leave as I feared the consequences, for Ray was a very angry man. He hadn’t hit me yet, but his cruel threats and financial imprisonment were just as debilitating. And his family were even worse.

Knowing Ray’s parents, it was easy to see where he got his personality traits from. Nothing he did was ever good enough for them, and nothing I did came even close. They seemed to be at our house all the time, checking up on their son’s wife, and Ray would almost have anxiety attacks over his mother’s pending approval of my cooking and cleaning.

He never seemed to care how I might feel about her constant criticism. If she didn’t like what I had cooked, I was sure to get a serving of his most vicious insults once they had gone. If she did approve, he would claim to have prepared most of it himself.

The worst incident in our marriage was the first Christmas lunch, which I had to prepare. I was a nervous wreck as I basted the turkey, roasted the potatoes and glazed the enormous ham, all without any help, and it showed in the cooking. The food was either overcooked or undercooked as I rushed around in a state of panic, trying to make sure everything was perfect. In front of everyone, Ray said Christmas was ruined, and that it was all my fault. Nobody disagreed.

For 12 months, I awaited the next Christmas with a growing sense of dread.

I pleaded with Ray to ask one of his sisters to help me, or for him to help me himself, but he refused, and sneeringly told me I’d better do a better job than I had last year. Then he told me that he wasn’t going to buy me a present until after Christmas, all based on how I did preparing the Christmas lunch.

I knew that Ray would find fault with whatever I did, and that this was just his way of getting out of spending any money on me — when he wouldn’t even give me two cents to buy the things I needed for myself. Something inside me snapped. For the first time, I knew I was going to leave my husband. But first, I was going to make his whole wretched family pay!

A few days before Christmas, Ray came home with a bag of fresh prawns.

“Cook these for entrée, and make sure they’re tasty!” Ray snapped. I nodded silently, forming my plan. I would make them tasty alright. So tasty with chilli they wouldn’t be able to taste anything else for a week!

The same day, I snuck out to a local delicatessen and asked for the hottest variety of chillies they had, and I bought a

‘I poisoned my husband’s Christmas lunch’ whole bag. I ground them up in blender, seeds and all, to make a fiery red paste.

I would marinate the prawns in this concoction until Christmas, setting some chilli paste aside to add after the cooking as well! I couldn’t wait to see the look on Ray ‘s family’s faces as their tongues were set on fire.

Christmas day arrived, and nothing Ray or his parents said could dampen my spirits, which seemed to make them try even harder because they were ruder and more critical than ever. Beaming with joy, I carried out the steaming plate of chilli prawns, and waited with baited breath. But nothing happened.

“These are actually quite good,” Ray father announced, praise that would

have thrilled me once, but today only sickened me with disappointment.

“A little on the hot side,” his mother agreed, “But overall better than anything else you’ve ever cooked. Was this your idea, Ray?” With a sinking heart, I slunk out to the kitchen to prepare the next course. I was still going to leave Ray, but I would never have the revenge I craved for nearly two years of misery. Or so I thought.

For you see, the strong taste of the chillies also masked the fact that the prawns themselves were not quite right.

I’d been concentrating so hard on their marinading, I’d forgotten that they wouldn’t keep in the fridge for quite as long as I’d had them there.

Even before they went home, Ray and his family were racing to the bathroom in what would become two full days of food poisoning. And it was while Ray was in the bathroom that I left, never to return again!

Even though Ray took the credit for the prawns, I’m sure I got the blame for the entire family getting sick, but I wasn’t around to find out. However, it still makes me laugh to think that, though unintentional in the end, I got the best revenge of all by ruining their Christmas lunch for real!

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

How I conquered Dubai

DJ Pappy, comedian

By Douglas Omoyooma

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hen Nigerian-born-Dubai based comedian, DJ Pappy (Paul Ohitime Imanah) an indigene of Edo State first set foot in Dubai in 2014, the goings-on was rough and tough. But due to a tenacity of purpose and sheer dint of hard work, the rib-cracker who started his career in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has carved a niche for himself as one of the most sought after African comedians in the oil rich nation.

In a chat with Oracle Today, DJ Pappy shared his grass to grace story. He began: “On why he moved to Dubai? It was pretty hectic and rough here. I went there because I was looking for a job to keep body and soul together. I wanted to better my life and I was hoping I could be working and doing comedy alongside. I moved to Dubai February, 2014. Initially, there was no African comedian here. I was the first and I really needed to do a lot of Jobs from the church. The RCCG church here really helped me and from there I never stopped.

Dubai is a different society in terms of norms and culture, as a young Nigerian, how was he able to find his feet? “It was a big deal! As I said earlier, the church helped me. I did a free tours across all the RCCG churches in the UAE to create awareness about my brand. At some point I had to stop my Job and become a freelance. Sometimes, I couldn’t pay my rent but God just helped me bro. Gradually, events started coming in. I was willing to do free jobs so that people could get to know me and identify with my brand as the African MC or comedian in town. We started pushing and here we are today.”

“My weekends are very busy, he says opening up on his work schedule.

“Fridays and Saturdays are the climax.

Especially when I have weddings and birthdays back-to-back; it is a blast!

We go for boat cruises or some after parties in the club and we still go to church on Fridays. I have personally organised about four shows. The first was with the youth in my church. I knew that was not what I wanted. I wanted something big and classy.

“Another thing that people need to know is that organising events in Dubai isn’t like Nigeria.

In Nigeria, you can get a hall and decorate it and bingo! Your show is good to go but here, everyone going on stage must be paid. We must do a permit for the show and it costs money.

On every ticket the government gets its own percentage and you must register any ticketed event with the government. If not, you and the hall will get a fine.

“I have also done Komedy Buffet. The idea for Komedy Buffet came because I couldn’t afford to raise sponsors for what I wanted which was to register my brand and name in the minds of people. We did it in a restaurant hence we didn’t need a permit.

“I simply negotiated with the restaurant so they

charged some extra amount above the normal buffet price. My guests laughed and ate. It was a success because I was able to have two editions. But I still wasn’t satisfied because that was not the setting that I wanted. It took me another three years to be able to stand my ground and host The Medicine. I started planning in February and we had the show in June.

Growing up “Growing up was normal. I was born at CAC, Oke Araromi, Oworoshoki, on the 13th of February.

I was raised in Bariga and I studied at the University Of Ibadan. I Studied Library & Archival Science. Was I born with a silver spoon? We no even get bronze spoon for house (laughter) We went through a tough period; glory be to God today.

Recalling how the journey into the world of comedy began he continued: “I was a member of a non interdenominational drama troupe and we embarked on a lot of projects and that motivated me a lot. I was always acting either as the devil

or playing a comedic part but surely, I couldn’t compete with the devil in real life so I said ‘let me kuku become a comedian.

“My influences then were the likes of Gbenga Adeboye, my late dad and my crew on the street. From my Drama Troupe I started the pastor and interpretations thing before I gained admission into the University of Ibadan. I was always performing on Galaxy TV with Alam Bloo, LTV with Sola Kosoko and also a lot of church events. Then we had issues and I followed my dreams as a stand-up comedian and here I am today.”

Entertainment industry in Dubai Compared to Nigeria, how vibrant is the entertainment scene in Dubai? “Not vibrant at all. The Nigerian entertainment scene is established. We are still coming up here. Another thing is that Africans here don’t have time for entertainment. Everyone is trying to hustle to send money back home. You have to work 10 times harder to gain their support. I fact, they won’t come out if you don’t have a personal relationship with them. Hence I have to be nice to you so that you will come to my show (laughter).

Commenting on his most challenging experience in Dubia he cointoinued: “Language, that has been my biggest challenge. You see, as soon as they see your Nigerian Passport, as soon as you introduce yourself as a Nigerian, they raise their eyebrows. And then sponsors and most of the companies here, if they don’t know you or are not familiar with the artiste you are bringing to them, they won’t support. And you know, it is hard to build a foundation on a sandy floor.

Secret to success: “Basically it is God. I don’t want to be too religious but I just tell you I enjoy abundant grace. I don’t want to go into details. God’s Grace and my heart I guess.

Nigerian music in Dubai and advice “Nigerian music is actually going viral.

We have African clubs and even the Arabs love Nigerian vibes. We are doing impressively well globally. My advice is simple. In the process of pursuing your dreams or whatever you want to be, be humble. Character is very important because whatever you put your heart to, you will definitely achieve.”

Dreams “I just want to be happy and make people around me happy. I am also trying to make an impact in my little way and make people know that not all Nigerians are bad. We got plenty legit Nigerians out there.”

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Delta employs 1000 teachers

Ekweremadu assault: Don’t blame IPOB – Group

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From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

elta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, has said that the present recruitment into the service of the Post Primary Education Board (PPEB) is to bridge the gap in the short fall of teachers in public schools in the state.

The Commissioner made this known when he visited Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, venue for the screening of successful candidates for employment as teachers into the PPEB. Chief Ukah said the State governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is determined to ensure that the education sector of the State was brought to the level where students from the public schools in the state could compete favourably with their peers academically around the world.

The Commissioner said the recruitment exercise that eventually culminated in the appointment of one thousand teachers went through a transparent process devoid of lobbying and anyone who was employed got the job on merit as only the best candidates that emerged from the exercise were employed.

Ukah admonished the newly recruited teachers to be diligent in their duties and to ensure that the knowledge they have in their various fields of study should be impacted rightly on the students they would be assigned to teach.

He said the ministry would organise training and induction programmes for the newly recruited teachers from the 16th of September, 2019 to the 21st of September, 2019 for them to know what is required of them as they come into the service of the State government.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as EZE BLESSING IFEYINWA, now wish to be known and addressed as NWEZE BLESSING IFEYINWA (F.C.) FAB-CHUKWUKA All former documents remain valid, Banks and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as IRECHUKWU CYNTHIA OLUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as AHAOTU CYNTHIA OLUCHI All former documents remain valid, Banks and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as NWONU CYNTHIA ODINAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as IGWE CYNTHIA ODINAKA All former documents remain valid, Banks and General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as EMMANUEL NWABUIKE ADOM now wish to be known as EMMANUEL NWABUIKE AHAOTU . All former documents remain valid, Banks and General public take note

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to comfirm that EGBOM ONYEKACHI MARTIN, EGBOM ONYEKACHI MARTINLUTHER, EBERE ONYEKACHI MARTINLUTHER AND EBERE MARTINLUTHER ONYEKACHI is same and one person and now wish to be known and addressed as EBEREONWU ONYEKACHI. All former documents remain valid.

The Management and Staff of Master Petroleum Products Ltd, Banks and general public please take note.

By Oge Onyeanusi, Nnewi

xecutive Secretary, Mandate for Good Governance, (MANGOV) Chief Donatus Enendu has cautioned against blaming members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for assaulting former Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu in Nuremberg, Germany.

Enendu, a former President-General, Uke community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State admitted that though the action of IPOB members was “un-

fortunate” cautioned the nation’s political office holders who live opulence lifestyle to the detriment of the people to learn from Ekweremadu’s experience.

He observed that the action of IPOB members, though condemnable, cautioned the country’s political elites not to take the people for granted as Nigerians are now politically wiser occasioned by the hardship unleashed on them by the nation’s leaders.

The activist also decried the frequent overseas trips of President

Mohammadu Buhari which he argued may not have yielded any positive results from the evidences of hunger, poverty, massive unemployment and insecurity across the country.

He warned of mass revolt against the political elite by the youths if the numerous challenges facing the country were not gradually addressed.

The former President-General observed that most state governments seem to concentrate on development projects mainly in their

state capitals.

He advised the state governments to diversify the development of their states by investing heavily in the rural areas so as to attract growth opportunities to such communities by opening new road networks and sitting of projects that would attract investors to the areas.

Enendu stated that by opening-up rural communities through massive road construction, the indigenes would have a sense of belonging and possibly lead to investing their area.

He further berated the Federal Government for not taking positive steps to end the Fulani herdsmen invasion of people’s farm lands which he noted was gradually destroying the unity of the country and suffocating the poverty –stricken people of the hinterlands.

Anambra monarch tasks politicians on exemplary leadership

By Oge Onyeanusi, Nnewi

T • Former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim (entre) at a recent Rotary award ceremony in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Osun Tribunal sacks PDP Federal, State lawmakers

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lection Petition Tribunal, sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, has nullified the election of Mr Bamidele Salam, who represents Ede Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The three-man panel, headed by Justice Eyo Ita, in their unanimous judgment ordered a rerun in 12 units of the Federal constituency.

Justice Ita, who read the judgment held that there was over-voting in the affected units and there was need for a rerun to know the actual winner of the election.

The panel held that after cancellation of elections in units where overvoting was established, the margin of victory between the winner and the petitioner, was less than the number of registered voters in the affected units.

The tribunal ordered that rerun elections should be held in Ede North (three units), Ede South (four units), Egbedore (three units) and Ejigbo (two units).

Adejare Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the victory of Salam (PDP) as the winner of Feb. 23 National Assembly election

in Ede Federal constituency.

Reacting to the Judgment, Salam said he was not ‘moved’ over the judgment, adding that the mandate that was freely given to him by the people and stamped by God, could not be stolen by any man.

“Our victory at the Feb. 23 House of Representatives poll is sacrosanct and this minor setback will only sweeten the taste of victory in our mouths.

“My legal team will study the details of this judgment and decide the necessary course of action on it”, he said.

Similarly, the tribunal also nullified the election of the PDP House of Assembly member for Obokun State Constituency, Mr Adewumi Adeyemi.

The panel held that the petitioner has established over-voting in four units and cancelled elections in those units.

It subsequently declared the results of the poll inconclusive and ordered rerun in four units in Esa Oke and Ilase .

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye of the APC challenged the election victory of Adewumi in February 23 State Assembly Election in Obokun state constituency.

In his reaction to the Judgment,

Oyintiloye said the victory was a confirmation that the election was manipulated to favour the PDP candidate against the popular wish of the people.

According to him, again, the PDP and its candidate has been exposed and the Judiciary has restored their hope through the judgement.

Also, the tribunal nullified the election of another PDP lawmaker, Kofoworola Babajide, representing Ede North state constituency.

The panel said there was over-voting and non-compliance to electoral act in four units in the constituency.

The tribunal ordered for rerun in the affected units.

Daud Akinloye of the APC challenged the election of Kofoworola of the APC at election petition tribunal.

The panel, however,upheld the election of Mulikat Abiola of APC,who was returned as the lawmaker representing Ifelodun State Constituency.

The panel said the petitioner, Hazzim Abioye of PDP failed to prove allegations that the respondent did not resign her appointment at Michael Opara University, Umudike before contesting the poll.

Minimum wage: NYSC DG assures corps members of increase in allowance

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irector General (DG) of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, on Monday assured corps members that their monthly allowance of N19,800 would be reviewed upward.

In a statement, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, said Ibrahim, who gave the assurance while interacting with corps members during a working visit to Lagos, promised that their allowance would be increased immediately the Federal Government commenced payment of the new

minimum wage.

Adeyemi said the NYSC boss had also promised corps members across the country improved welfare.

“He said efforts are in top gear at all levels to ensure adequate welfare for all corps members.

“He, however, advised them not to embark on unauthorised journeys that may endanger their lives, warning that such journeys would earn them sanctions from the corps.

“He warned that violators of NYSC bye-laws would be dealt with in line with its rules,” Adeyemi stated.

She said that Ibrahim had warned the corps members to avoid issues that would promote political, religious and tribal differences, but instead work to unite the country.

According to her, Ibrahim also admonished the corps members to imbibe good morals and serve as responsible role models in their host communities.

“He warned them to avoid rumour peddling through the Social Media but rather serve as agents of change and national unity.’’

raditional ruler of Uke community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Charles Agballah has called on the country’s political leaders to see their position as privileged opportunities to lift the standard of life of the people, rather than selfish end.

Igwe Agballah who made the call during his celebration of New Yam festival said this has become imperative following the continuous degeneration of standard of life of the citizens with its attendant poverty level among Nigerians.

However, the Monarch was optimistic of future infrastructure development of the community as he also expressed his joy over the completion of the community civic centre which took place under his reign.

While welcoming guests who trooped to his palace to pay homage to him after a holy mass to mark the festival at the palace, Igwe Charles Agballah advised Nigerian leaders to be of exemplary leadership by using their positions to attract development to their people as well as bringing succor to the less privilege in the society.

A political activist from Nkpor community, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Chibuzor Okeke who came to the palace to felicitate with the traditional ruler called on the indigenes of the area to give maximum support and cooperation to the community ruler to move the town forward.

He described new yam festival in Igbo land as a period of thanksgiving to God for his abundant blessings throughout the planting season and called on the people to always identify with their culture whenever they are.

In an interview with the newsmen, the immediate past President-General, Uke Development Union (UDU), Surveyor Chukwuemeka Donatus Enendu who spoke on the infrastructural development of the area called on the state government to consider the construction of Appeal/Okpokolo Road as well as Ekeagu/Okaome/ Okpokolo Road which according to him would boost social and economic activities in the area if constructed.

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

NEWS Extra Onyeama condemns renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

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oreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama on Monday condemned the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, describing the perpetrators as mindless criminals.

The minister made this known on his twitter handle @ GeoffreyOnyeama, after videos of the burning and looting of Nigerian businesses emerged online.

Onyeama who pledged that ‘definitive measures’ would be taken to address the situation said there was need to end the attacks.

He however did not say what those definite measures would be.

Onyeama’s tweet reads “Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in #SouthAfrica by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection.

“Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures”.

The latest attacks on Nigerians are part of wider xenophobic attacks on foreigners in the rainbow nation.

South Africans had on Sunday begun fresh attacks, looting and burning of businesses and properties belonging to foreigners and in the process killed three people, while another is still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.

The attack which was second of it within a week began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set on fire by angry mobs.

Later on Sunday evening, some group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers attacked Jules street in Malvern, Johannesburg, looting and burning shops.

Similar violence had occurred on Aug 28 in Pretoria Business District as indigenes angered by the death of a taxi operator apparently thought to be killed by a Nigerian went on rampage.

The said driver was, however, allegedly killed by a Tanzanian which sparked the violence that resorted to looting of shops owned by Nigerians and some other foreigners in that country.

The government of South Africa had threatened a crackdown but has so far been unable to prevent acts of violence.

On August 28, President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African Counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa met on the sidelines of a Summit in Japan and both leaders agreed to meet in October.

This latest development indicates xenophobia will be top of the agenda when both leaders meet.

Ebonyi Govt. insists on traders’ relocation

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bonyi Government has said that the relocation of traders at the Abakpa Main Market to the international market in Abakaliki is irreversible.

Governor David Umahi stated this on Monday in Abakaliki during a meeting with the traders and other stakeholders, including his predecessor in office, Chief Martin Elechi.

The governor, while commending former governor Elechi for initiating the state’s international market project, insisted that the relocation of the Abakpa main market traders to the international market was irreversible.

“We have extended the one month grace demanded by the traders to six weeks and there would be no more negotiation on the relocation date.

“The traders have the option of

moving to the ‘lots’ in the market and either buying the shops or renting them.

“Those who rent the shops at the first lot would do so free of charge for the next six months, after which they start paying rent.

“Traders are also free to renovate and occupy the second and third lots of the market, free of charge for the next one year, after which they would start paying rent.

“Those who want to buy the shops after the one year grace will be told by the government how much they will pay,” he said.

Umahi said that traders who deal in foodstuff will not relocate with others, until necessary preservative equipment are installed in the international market, to preserve their goods.

“Those whose shops are sealed

might be due to their inability to pay income tax and the shops will remain sealed until I, as the father of the state, determines the cause of the sealing.

“I thank the elders and other stakeholders of the state for attending this meeting as the filthy nature of the present Abakpa main market makes the people vulnerable to diseases,” he said.

Chief Franklin Ogbuewu, Chairman of the state’s Elders Council, thanked the governor for convening the meeting as it will douse all tensions generated by the traders’ relocation.

“I urge the traders to embrace this peace initiative, shun all forms of violence and withdraw all matters concerning this issue that are before various courts,” he said.

Mrs Ijeoma Uche, a representa-

tive of women in the market, however, appealed to the governor to extend the relocation date to three months, to enable traders adequately prepare for it.

“Schools would soon re-open as the traders would face the challenges of paying schools fees and meeting other domestic needs,” she said.

Representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), state Founding Fathers Forums, traders association, among others, made contributions during the meeting.

The traders and the government’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) task-force team recently clashed over disputed claims, leaving scores injured.

Mosque demolition: Wike’s action irresponsible, wicked — Sharia Council

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LG: Enriching Consumer Kitchen Experience with New Gas Cooking Innovation

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n a bid to further enrich the kitchen experience of its customers, the world’s leading electronics giant, LG has announced the launch of its new range of gas cooker, Cancun in Nigeria. The new product builds on the company’s tech innovation which offers auto-off timer and Dual Heating technology with electric grilling heater.

According to Mr Tae-ick Son, Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, the new LG Cancun comes with strong and solid stainless finishing; blue interior that provides an upscale look with premium interior design and state-of-the-art Glass Touch Control which makes it easy to control and clean, free from knob trouble.

It also has a tilted cooktop control that helps intuitive grasp and to turn on & off easily.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new gas cooker – Cancun in Nigeria. The company’s focus is to offer customers gas cookers that will offer everyone a seamless cooking experience. LG Cancun was produced to further make cooking fun.

“The new cooking gas offers excellent culinary performance. It has

Triple UltraHeat Burner with 3.6 KW powerful heating capacity that makes Even Cooking and reduces the cooking time remarkably. It adopts Dual Heating technology with electric grilling heater on the top and gas baking heater at the bottom and has recessed opening for holding the oven handle comfortably”, Mr Son said.

“The new LG Cancun makes cooking and baking more convenient and safe. You can easily present the Auto-Off time of LG New Cooker while it is on. It automatically turns off according to the present time.

So you don’t have to wait any more in front of the cooker until the food is done. The Safe Closing Damper also prevents the glass cover from being suddenly shut. Even if you let go of the glass cover, it will be suspended at 45° degree.

“With EasyClean™, 3 steps, 20 minutes, spotless oven, you won’t have to worry about hazardous chemicals, disgusting fumes and rigorous manual labour to clean your oven. You can easily remove any residue with water water-friendly enamel. Just wipe away any residue after spraying water inside the oven and pressing EasyClean™ but-

ton to activate 20 minutes cleaning course”, Mr Son explained.

Speaking further, on other features of LG Cancun, Mr. Son stated that the beautifully designed exteriors and advanced technology deployed in the production of LG Cancun is to create an inspiring, functional kitchen that will bring out user’s inner chef.

“You can cook foods such as fried eggs, steaks and vegetables on the Cast Iron Griddle at the same time.

You can put the griddle anywhere you want according to the food type. The 3-layered Oven Glass of the new gas cooker is very rigid and maintains 10℃ lower than the conventional one while it is on for the safe cooking. It is equipped with 6 different burners, so it becomes possible to prepare 6 different foods at once and it is easy to put big pots on the cooker at the same time, because the widened space in between the burners”, he added.

LG Cancun Gas Cooker is equipped with 6 different burners, so it becomes possible to prepare 6 different foods at once and it is easy to put big pots on the cooker at the same time, because of the widened space in between the burners.

upreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, on Monday condemned Gov. Nyisom Wike of Rivers for ordering the demolition of a Jumaat mosque in Port Harcourt.

Secretary General of the council, Nafiu Baba-Ahmad said while addressing newsmen in Kaduna that the action was not only irresponsible but also capable of degenerating into serious security problem in the country.

The Sharia council also lampooned Muslim leaders, including governors and legislators for their conspiratorial silence in the face of great injustice against Muslims.

“While we condemn Wike’s desperate wickedness, we also call on all relevant executive, legislative organs of the Federal Government to nip this unnecessary and unwholesome development before it escalates into an avoidable reciprocation, with obvious unpredictable negative consequences,” the council said.

It reminded Wike that what makes Nigeria great is its pluralism and diversity.

The council recalled that recent survey on the number of churches in the country revealed that “there are more churches in Kano city alone than in Bayelsa State and the number of churches in Sokoto out-number those in Ebonyi State.”

“So, if we adopt similar intolerant and irresponsible action by Governor Wike, only God knows what the negative consequence would be for peace and continued corporate existence of the country.”

It added that “Islam means peace and total submission to the will of Allah, so it is because of that you have in the city of the Caliphate more churches than in the whole Bayelsa state.”

The council stressed that Wike was lying when he claimed that he did not demolish any mosque.

It stressed that the mosque had valid approvals of the state government, as such there was no justification for its demolition.

“Clearly he got carried away by the recent declaration of Rivers as a Christian state, therefore, he is trying to show his intolerance of Muslims.”

The Sharia council demanded that “Governor Wike should reverse what he has done and pay compensation for demolishing the mosque and reinstate their title for the land.

“As a responssible political leader he ought to have taken the interest of the larger population than selfish political interest.”

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The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

Crime Police nab 1,154 suspected kidnappers in 8 months

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nspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, says 1,154 suspected kidnappers were arrested across the country between January and August.

Adamu, who made the disclosure on Monday during the Southwest Geopolitical Zone Security Summit held in Ibadan, said that 147 of the arrests were made in the Southwest, said that a total of 837 victims of kidnapping were rescued with 106 of such rescues achieved in the Southwest. ”Between January and August, a total of 552 murder suspects were arrested with 66 such arrests effected in the Southwest. 2,015 armed robbery suspects were arrested with 363 of the figure arrested in the zone. 1,183 suspected cultists were napped, out of which 425 were arrested in the zone. ”In relation to recovery, 1,356 firearms of various calibre and descriptions were recovered in various intelligence-led operations by the Police, with 277 of such recoveries made in the Southwest. ”Similarly, 21,300 ammunition of various descriptions and calibre were recovered with the highest number of 5,270 ammunition recovered from criminal syndicates in the zone. Also, 1,541 stolen vehicles were recovered across the country, with 482 of such recoveries in Southwest,” he stated.

The IGP said the statistics pointed out that the Police in recent months have developed capacity and demonstrated the requisite professional zeal.

He, however, said there were isolated cases of kidnapping and armed robbery in the Southwest, particularly along Benin-Ore-Lagos highway and across Ondo state.

He said the current operations of the Police and other security agencies across the country, particularly along Niger- Kogi- FCT -Kaduna -Katsina and Zamfara state has been successful.

“The operations areas have engendered a dispersal and relocation of some of the criminals to new localities including the Southwest.”

He said a special operation was underway across South west to specifically address the threat of kidnapping and armed robbery on the highways and other locations.

He therefore called on the security stakeholders in the zone to support the Police in strengthening and advancing in the interest of communal and internal security.

The governors of the Southwest states; Oyo – Makinde and Osun – Gboyega Oyetola were present at the occasion while Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti were represented by their deputies.

They were Dr Obafemi HamzatLagos, Noimot Salako- OyedeleOgun, Agboola Ajayi- Ondo and Bisi Egbeyemi-Ekiti.

Traditional rulers across the Southwest geopolitical zone and Chief Gani Adams- the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land also participated in the summit.

Among the monarchs were Ooni of Ife- Oba Enitan Igunwusi, Oba of Lagos- Rilwan Akinolu, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo- Alake of Egba land and Oba Akanmu Adetunji- Olubadan of Ibadan.

IGP orders nationwide deployment of police helicopters to tackle crimes Stories by VICTOR NZE

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nspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has ordered the deployment of Police aerial surveillance helicopters to major cities in the South-West and North-West of the country, as part of efforts aimed at effectively curtailing crimes in the country.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Head-

•Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Mohammed Adamu (right) officially handing over access code to the (INTERPOL) i-24/7 platform to the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS)), Muhammed Babandede, during the just-concluded Nigeria/Interpol Week which held at the International Conference Centre.

NDLEA arrests 49 suspects, seizes 30kg of cannabis

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ederal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 49 suspected drug peddlers and seized 30 kilograms of psychotropic substance and hard drugs in August.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Mr Peter Adegbe, who disclosed this, Monday, in Abuja, said other drugs that were seized included Tramadol, Codeine and large quantities of rubber solution (used for patching tyres).

“The operation called “Operation Shara which means “to sweep”, which aimed at addressing drug sales and uses in the FCT, was a follow up of what we did in 2018.

“The operation which was sponsored by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, was targeted at various individuals who are into drug sales and usage in various strategic locations in the FCT. “It involves NDLEA officers from FCT and Bauchi State command and we also called officers from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to augment the operations.

“60 NDLEA officers and 20 civil defense corps were assigned to

specific locations in FCT and they conducted surveillance during the day and strike any suspected area of drug peddlers.”

Adegbe said that the activities of drug peddlers in Zone 4 and Banex area of Abuja had seized completely, adding that they have extended their operation to Mararaba.

“The operations so far had birth great success and the result is encouraging. However, some of the suspected drug peddlers have been charged to court while some were counseled.

“Some of the arrested suspects were investigated and those who needed counseling were been referred. The command also helped in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts in its facility,” he said.

The PRO said that the “Operation Shara” would continue until September.

He added that an appraisal would be done to decide on the continuity of the operation.

Adegbe said the effective and efficient response to drug problems required institutions of criminal justice, health and social services to work side by side in order to pro-

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agos State Police Command has arrested an armed robbery suspect, Wasiu Kamarudeen, 19, of No. 8, Olaniyi St., Iyalode, Ilogbo in Badagry and recovered one locallydling the South-West.

The police authorities, there- made short gun with one live-carfore, enjoined Nigerians and other tridge from him.

A press statement signed by residents ‘not to panic but to go about their lawful businesses as the Police Public Relations Officer the aerial surveillance is geared (PRO) , DSP Bala Elkana in Lagos on towards improving the security of Sunday, said that the Ilemba Hausa lives and property in the affected Police Station received a distress call from St. Patrick’s Catholic Reareas.’ newal Church, Jakande Open Field, on Saturday evening.

He said that the caller had sighted one motorcycle with registration number, Ogun AKM 749 WP, conveying three passengers into the camp ground in a suspicious manner.

Elkana said, “The passengers mingled with the worshipers who were attending a three-day retreat with intent to dispossess worshippers of their valuables such as handsets and cash.

“On the strength of the information, some patrol teams were deployed to the scene. The ring leader identified as Kamarudeen was apprehended but the other two escaped.”

Elkana said that the Command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had launched a manhunt for the remaining two suspects.

“Investigation is ongoing and the case will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed,” he said.

…Asks Nigerians not to panic

quarters, Abuja, Mr Frank Mba, explained further that while the Police Air-Wing Operational Base in Abuja will cover Abuja – Kaduna highways as well as the adjoining states in the North-West and North-Central, the new base in Ondo State will cater for the adjoining states and highways strad-

Police nabs armed robbery suspect, recover firearms at retreat ground

vide joint solutions.

He commended the Federal Government on the approval of recruitment of 5,000 personnel into the agency, adding that it would go a long way to improve efficiency.

“We do not run shift. Most times, we work 24 hours a week because we do not have enough strength but with the step taken by the federal government, we would be able to run shifts.

“If we have the manpower, we would not have introduced the NSCDC to join us in the operations.

However, with the recruitment of 5,000 officers, it would help us to carry out our mandate.”

Adegbe, however, enjoined stakeholders in criminal justice system to enforce laws that would protect people from “violence and criminal exploitation emanating from illicit drug use and substance abuse”.

He called on residents and spirited individuals to make necessary complains for the safety and peace of the streets and the city at large.

He tasked parents and communities not to stigmatise victims of drug abuse but rehabilitate them to reduce the feeling of ostracism.

EFCCarrests 280 suspects in Kano for cybercrime and Financial Crimes Enoconomic Commission (EFCC) has arrested fewer than 280 suspects for vari-

ous crimes in Kano State between January and August this year.

The Zonal Head of the Commission in Kano, Mr Akaninyene Ezima, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano on Monday.

Ezima said the suspects were apprehended for committing crimes bordering on cybercrimes, money laundering and other forms of crimes like ‘black money, washwash, foxy scheme and MMM’, among others.

He said the commission had also recovered N550 million and 690,000 dollars during the period under review, pointing out that the 690,000 dollars were recovered at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

According to him, the commission is currently pursuing 51 cases of various offences in courts under the zone.

Ezima said investigation into several cases had also attained different stages of completion.

The official advised management of banks operating in the states under the zone to improve their response system in order to protect their customers from being duped by fraudsters.

He noted that most of the crimes were being perpetrated during weekend days when banks were not operating.

36

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

HEALTH

Ovarian cyst, another factor in infertiltity

T

he ovaries are part of the female reproductive system.

They’re located in the lower abdomen on both sides of the uterus. Women have two ovaries that produce eggs as well as the hormones: oestrogen and projesterone.

Sometimes a fluid-filled sac called a cyst will develop on one of the ovaries. Many women will develop at least one cyst during their lifetime. In most cases, cysts are painless and cause no symptoms.

The ovary is one of a pair of reproductive glands in women that are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of a walnut and or gizzard muscle.

The ovaries produce eggs (ova) and the female hormones, which control the development of female body characteristics such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. They also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.

There are various types of ovarian cyst, such as dermoid cysts and endometrioma cyst.

However, functional cyst are the most common type. The two types of functional cysts include follicle and corpus luteum cysts.

During a woman’s menstrual cycle, an egg grows in a sac called a follicle. This sac is located inside the ovaries. In most cases, this follicle or sac breaks open and releases an egg. But if the follicle doesn’t break open, the fluid inside the follicle can form a cyst on the ovary.

Follicle sacs typically dissolve after releasing an egg. But if the sac doesn’t dissolve and the opening of the follicle seals, additional fluid can develop inside the sac, and this accumulation of fluid causes a corpus luteum cyst.

•dermoid cysts: sac-like growths on the ovaries that can contain hair, fat, and other tissues.

•cystadenomas: noncancerous growths that can develop on the outer surface of the ovaries.

•endometriomas: tissues that normally grow inside the uterus can develop outside the uterus and attach to the ovaries, resulting in a cyst.

Some women develop a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome. This condition means the ovaries contain a large number of small cysts. It can cause the ovaries to enlarge. If left untreated, polycystic ovaries can cause infertility.

Often times, ovarian cysts do not cause any symptoms. However, symptoms can appear as the cyst grows.

•abdominal bloating or swelling •painful bowel movement •pelvic pain before or during the menstrual cycle • painful intercourse • painful intercourse • pain in the lower back or thighs * breast tenderness.

• nausea and vomiting.

Severe symptoms of an ovar-

ian cyst that require immediate medical attention include: • severe or sharp pelvic pain • fever • faintness or dizziness •rapid breathing These symptoms can indicate a ruptured cyst or an ovarian torsion. Both complications can have serious consequences if not treated early.

Most ovarian cysts are benign and naturally go away on their own without treatment. These cysts cause little, or no symptoms. But in a rare case, your doctor may detect a cancerous cystic ovarian mass during a routine examination.

Ovarian torsion is another rare complication of ovarian cysts.

This is when a large cyst causes an ovary to twist or move from its original position. Blood supply to the ovary is cit off, and if not treated, it can cause damage or death to the ovarian tissue.

Although uncommon, ovarian torsion accounts for nearly 3 percent of emergency gynecologic surgeries.

Ruptured cysts, which are also rare, can cause intense pain and and internal bleeding. This complication increases your risk of an

infection and can be life -threatening if left untreated.

Your doctor can detect an ovarian cyst during a routine pelvic examination. They may notice swelling on one of your ovaries and order an ultrasound test to confirm the presence of a cyst. An ultrasound test(ultrasonography) is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of your internal organs. Ultrasound tests help determine the size, location, shape, and composition (solid or fluid filled) of a cyst.

•Computed tomography (CT scan) : a body imaging device used to create cross-sectional images of internal organs.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) : a test that uses magnetic fields to produce in-depth images of internal organs.

•Ultrasound device: an imaging device used to visualize the ovary.

•Quantum magnetic Resonance Anslyser: used to know the functional level of the ovary and intending debility.

Because the majority of cysts disappear after a few weeks or months, your doctor may not immediately recommend a treat-

HEALTH With Dr. JOHN

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

ment plan. Instead, they may repeat the ultrasound test in a few weeks or months to check your condition.

If there are the changes in your condition or if the cyst increases in size, your doctor will request additional tests to determine other causes of your symptoms.

These include: •pregnancy test to make sure you’re not pregnant • hormone level test to check for hormone-related issues, such as too much oestrogen or progesterone

* CA-125 blood test to screen for ovarian cancer Your doctor may recommend treatment to shrink or remove the cyst if it doesn’t go away on its own or if it grows larger.

I you have recurrent ovarian cysts, your doctor can prescribe oral contraceptives to stop ovulation and prevent the development of new cysts. Oral contraceptives can also reduce your risk of ovarian Cancer. The risk of ovarian cancer is higher in postmenopausal women.

If your cyst is small and results from an imaging test to rule out cancer, your doctor can perform a laparoscopy to surgically remove the cyst. The procedure involves your doctor making a tiny incision near your navel and then inserting a small instrument into your abdomen to remove the cyst. Only professionals- obstetrician - gynecologist can do this, it is not done by any other professionals.

If you have a large cyst, your doctor can surgically remove the cyst through a large incision in your abdomen. They will conduct an immediate biopsy, and if they determine that the cyst is cancerous, they may perform a hysterectomy/oophoectomy to remove your ovaries and uterus.

But, medication using natural complimentary medicines such as Eves comfort and gynapharm can take care of the ovarian cysts.

Ovarian cysts can’t be prevented. However, routine gynaecologic examinations can detect ovarian cysts early. Benign ovarian cysts don’t become cancerous. However, symptoms of ovarian cancer can mimic symptoms of an ovarian cyst. Thus, its important to visit your doctor and receive a correct diagnosis.

Alert your doctor to symptoms that may indicate a problem, such as: • changes in your menstrual cycle • ongoing pelvic pain • loss of appetite • unexplained weight loss •abdominal fullness The Outlook for premenopausal women with ovarian cysts is good. Most cysts disappear within a few months, however, recurrent ovarian cysts can occur in premenopausal women and women hormonal imbalances.

37

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

SPORTS 2019 African Games: Team Nigeria arrive home to rousing …As Dare pledges to break 20-year jinx at Tokyo Olympics

By MADUABUCHI KALU

T

eam Nigeria to the just ended 2019 Africa Games which held in Morocco arrived the nation’s capital on Sunday to a rousing welcome after placing second overall at the 12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco.

The Oracle Today Sports reports that the team arrived on Sunday evening via a chartered flight.

Sunday Dare, the Honourable Minister Sports Development and Youth Development and other officials of the Ministry were on hand at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport to welcome the athletes and officials.

While welcoming the Team Nigeria home after doing the country proud in Rabat Morocco, Hon. Dare heaped praises the contingent for representing the country well and promised them better welfare and preparations for future international competitions.

Team Nigeria capped a memorable outing in Morocco with a second place finish, behind defending champions, Egypt.

Egypt emerged tops on the medals table with 99 gold, 96 silver and 69 bronze medals, while Nigeria won a total of 121 medals.

South Africa, Algeria and hosts Morocco complete the top five respectively, after 15 days of sports activities in the North African country.

It is recalled that the leader of Team Nigeria to the Games, AlhassanYakmut had charged the athletes to do the country proud by ensuring that they do not miss the first three positions at the end of the quadrennial continental sports fiesta and that was exactly what Team Nigeria did.

It is recalled that this is the second consecutive time that the country is placing 2nd behind champions Egypt. It is also noted that that the only time Team Nigeria have won the Africa Games was in 2003 when the country played host to it in Abuja and it was tagged ‘COJA’ 2003, during President Obasanjo’s first tenure as democratically elected President.

Team Nigeria deserve to be celebrated for placing 2nd on the

medals’ table despite the shoddy preparations as usual before the tournament. It is hoped that the Hon. Sunday dare, the new Sheriff in town as far as sports is concerned will have the political will to fulfill his promise to ensure that the welfare of the athletes and their preparations for future tournaments are not the same political talks of leaders for the moment.

It is recalled that the minister while still in Rabbat, just like his predecessors before promised that he was not going to be football minister rather a true sports minister even as he assured that football will not be neglected.

He told his audience in Morocco that he has seen some sports that deserve more attention than they have been getting saying such sports will be paid attention like football.

It is recalled that most of the former ministers of sports and youth development always promise to take Nigeria Sports to greater heights and at the end of the day that pledge will not be fulfilled because of their over concentration on football matters without sparing thoughts on other sports, especially the multi-medal sports such as swimming, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, taekwando, table tennis among others.

It is hoped that Hon. Dare will make good of his promise to be a true sports minister and not a football minister, even as the round leather game should not be neglected as it is the opium of the Nigeria sports fraternity.

Meanwhile, the Sports and Youth Development Minister has pledged to ensure Nigeria wins gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and break the jinx of not winning gold medals since Sydney 2000.

The minister made the pledge in an interview after receiving the Team Nigeria contingent which participated in the 12th African Games at Morocco.

The minister who commended the contingent for a job well done promised to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure Nigeria wins gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“This is a team of champions. Members of the team have been professional and committed. In spite of all odds, they came out tops just behind Egypt on the medals table.

“The result of Morocco signposts what is going to happen at Tokyo Olympics. We will go there and win not just one gold, but gold medals by the grace of God. “This is a team that is very inspiring and we intend to keep them together,” he said.

The Oracle Today Sports reports that Nigeria last won an Olympic gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the men’s 4x400m, though it was formally awarded to Nigeria eight years later due to Team USA’s disqualification on doping grounds.

Nigeria has been participating in the Olympics since 1952, but it only won its first gold medals at Atlanta in 1996 in football and long jump.

The country has won 3 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals since then.

At the last Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Nigeria managed to win just a bronze medal in the football event.

The Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to hold from July 24 to Aug. 9, 2020.

Jin Young Ko breaks Tiger Woods’ record streak

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in Young Ko’s season has been incredible, winning four times, including two majors. But now she can add breaking one of Tiger Woods’ records to her list of accomplishments.

Last Thursday, Ko became the only known person on the planet to have gone more consecutive holes in professional tournament play without making a bogey.

On the ninth hole of the first round of the Cambia Portland Classic, Ko finally made a bogey, ending a remarkable streak of 114 consecutive holes without one. A

bogey had to be a shock to Ko’s system, but what made it even more stunning was how it happened with Ko completely missing the hole from three feet.

“First putt was good, but second putt I decelerated, so I made bogey,” Ko said.

Though it’s tough to see the streak end, Ko can take some solace in the fact that she bested Tiger Woods’ record of 110 consecutive holes without a bogey, a record he set during his historic 2000 season. The World No. 1 said she knew about Tiger’s record, and had it front-of-

mind as she played the fourth hole. “I made a great up and down,” Ko said of the par that tied her with Tiger.

She continued by saying that now that the streak is over, she feels free mentally, and can focus in on her Friday round in Portland. Although she’s proud of the streak, the pressure of keeping it going was weighing on her.

Ko added that as she walked down the 10th hole, she told herself she was starting a new streak. So far, so good: she made eight pars and a birdie on the back nine.

Joshua show signs of disillusionment ahead of Andy Ruiz rematch

By MADUABUCHI KALU with Agency Report

I

n what is shocking and unbecoming of an Olympic champion, Joshua recently confessed to losing some of his “passion” for a sport that has enabled him to reach his ultimate career heights.

As he prepares for his crucial December 7 rematch against Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr, in the historic town of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia, the British champion admitted that he needs to “get the passion back”.

It is recalled that contrary to expectation, Joshua suffered a shock seventh-round knockout to Ruiz at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1, his first career defeat in 23 fights.

That loss cost him the WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO world titles, which he had systematically

and diligently collected during a dominant span between 2016-2019.

Now, as he attempts to rebuild his reputation as a champion and wrest the belts back from Ruiz, the Briton has cut a sorry figure with the comments he has made, particularly in his vitriol towards former world heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis.

Despite Lewis’ long-standing support, Joshua called him a “clown” who he does no respect.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has quickly jumped in to defend his fighter’s negativity towards boxing by telling him to “snap out of it”.

The Matchroom boss has cautioned Joshua and urged him to focus on the upcoming fight against Ruiz and earn back his reputation of a prize fighter.

Speaking to The Independent, Hearn said: “I think he was disillusioned with the sport

because he wanted to fight Deontay Wilder (undefeated WBC heavyweight champion since 2015).

“He couldn’t get that fight and as he said in the interview, he didn’t really want to fight Andy Ruiz. But tough, you fought him and you fought a real hungry guy.”

Joshua and Ruiz Jr will meet face-to-face for the first time on Wednesday, September 4, as part of an extensive road show to promote their Saudi rematch which is promoted as the ‘Clash on the Dunes’.

The three-city tour kicks off in Diriyah before moving to New York the next day and culminating in London on September 6.

“I think the great thing about this promotion is that now, for the first time next week, he looks a man in the eyes who is the only man to beat him as a professional,” said Hearn.

38

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

SPORTS Be worthy ambassadors of Rivers, Wike charges winners

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FIBA World Cup: D’Tigers suffer two straight defeats

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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igeria’s men basketball team, D’Tigers, were yesterday (Tuesday) condemned to a second consecutive defeat at the ongoing FIBA Basketball World Cup in China as they were beaten 94-81 by Argentina.

It is recalled that the former continental champions were equally beaten by Russia in their opening game on Sunday as the Europeans came from behind to snatch victory from the Alex Nwora coach Nigerian men basketball team, D’Tigers.

After the opening day loss to Russia, D’Tigers were hoping they could pull off a win against their South American opponents but that was not to be as the Nigerians suffered yet another defeat in the hands

of their Argentine opponents on Monday bring their defeats to two in two matches of the FIBA World Cup despite giving Nigerians hope of a good outing having been the first team to qualify for the FIBA World Cup. However, that was not to be as they suffered another defeat at the Wuhan Wuhan Sports Center on Monday Having lost the first quarter in Monday’s clash by 11 points (17-28), D’Tigers rallied in the second; wining it 26-15 to head into halftime tied 43-43.

On resumption of the third quarter, the D’Tigers caved in and failed to build on the momentum as they were crushed 29-18 to set up a tensed 4th and final quarter.

Minnesota Timberwolves star, Josh Okogie, scored a game-high 18 points, but it was not enough to help the D’Tigers

stop the rampaging Argentina led by Patricio Garino who poured in 17 points.

The D’Tigers who had earlier lost to Russia 82-77 points on Saturday in their first group game of the Basketball World Cup will have to get it right in their last group game against South Korea if they are to stay in contention at the World Cup. Despite Monday’s loss, D’Tigers coach, UcheNwora, is still very optimistic about his team’s chances at the World Cup. “I’m proud of these guys.

They fought. We’re still one of the best teams in Africa but we haven’t shown it. We will with time. We still have a lot of work to do,” Nwora said.

D’Tigers last group encounter, against South Korea, will be played on Thursday.

Serena Williams’ daughter, Olympia turns two ...As mom pays tribute

By MADUABUCHI KALU with Agency Report

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here is no gain saying that Serena Williams if not the greatest athletes of all time is one of the greatest. The African American has achieved so much as athlete having amassed 23 Grand Slams titles.

However, despite all her accomplishments in life as a super athlete, she considers the arrival of her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., the greatest of her accomplishments in life.

She made this known via a message she post on her official Instagram on Sunday after her precious daughter turned two.

She wrote: “The last 2 years have been my greatest accomplishment.” Yes, I am crying, and no, I will not apologize for that.

On his part, her husband, Alexis Sr. took to Instagram too, with a photo of mother and father holding Olympia’s tiny hand and wrote: “How has it already been two years? Happy cake day @

olympiaohanian,” he wrote (and yes, “happy cake day” is Reddit terminology.)

He used the post to voice his support for paid family leave, continuing, “Thank you for being the greatest thing we’ve ever done. And thank you for teaching me that every parent in the US deserves those first months with their newborn. I’m a better business leader because of it. #PaidFamilyLeave.”

Serena’s been open about the difficulties of navigating motherhood and a champion’s career (currently, she’s seeking a 24th Grand Slam at the US Open) both at the same time. “I actually prefer playing in the day because I get to go home and see my baby,” she told Forbes last week. “I’ve been missing her the last few nights when I play.”

“In the beginning she would really be upset when I left. And now she’s a little bit better. I think I’m a little more upset. But at the same time, she definitely still takes it a little hard. She’s still super young,” Serena continued.

“You know, it’s hard.

Sometimes my heart literally aches when I’m not around her. But, you know, it’s good for me, I guess, to keep working and just to all moms out there, that it’s not easy. It’s really kind of painful sometimes,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.”

ivers State Governor, NyesomWike has charged the players of Banham Model Primary School, Port Harcourt, winners of Channels Television Kids Cup, to be worthy ambassadors of the state and Nigeria during their training tour at the Real Madrid Academy in Spain.

Addressing the players at the Government House, Port Harcourt, during a pre-departure meeting on Sunday, Governor Wike urged them to be disciplined, display their talents and excel as young players.

He said: “When you get to Spain, show that you have talents. I know you will excel. While you are in the Academy, officials of Real Madrid FC will monitor your activities. Be disciplined.

“God knows why he allowed Banham Model Primary School, Port Harcourt to win the Channels Kids Cup. It is for you to excel”.

He said that when the players

return from their training in Spain, they would play a match with a selected U-13 team to commission the Real Madrid Football Academy in Port Harcourt.

“I have told the people in Spain to buy Real Madrid Jerseys and boots for you,” he said.

He reiterated that the players would be the first set of students to be admitted into the Real Madrid Football Academy in Port Harcourt.

The governor said that among the young players of Banham Model Primary School, Port Harcourt, who won the Channels Television Kids Cup, International Stars, will emerge.

“Football today rules the world.

Footballers are billionaires in International currencies. What these stars are, you can be better. “Take this opportunity to be the best.

Target to be a player of Real Madrid in the future. You must use this opportunity to turn around the lives of your families “, he said.

Mkhitaryan joins Roma on season loan deal

By MADUABUCHI KALU with Agency Report

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oma have reached an agreement with Arsenal to sign Midfielder HenrikhMkhitaryan on a season-long loan deal.

The Italian club will pay a loan fee and the 30-year-old’s wages, but there is no option or obligation to buy the Armenia international.

Mkhitaryan joined the Gunners from Manchester United in January 2018 in a swap deal involving Chile forward Alexis Sanchez.

He has scored nine goals in 59 appearances for Arsenal.

Mkhitaryan featured as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s

2-2 north London derby draw with Tottenham, but travelled to the Italian capital yesterday (Monday) to finalise his move, according to BBC report.

His playing time at Emirates Stadium was likely to be limited this season and Arsenal boss,Unai Emery plans to use his departure as a chance to give more minutes to young players.

The Premier League club also remain open to letting defender ShkodranMustafi go before yesterday’s (Monday’s) transfer deadline – but it looks unlikely the 27-year-old German will leave as there was no concrete interest from clubs was on ground.

Guardiola explains why City missed out on Maguire

By MADUABUCHI KALU with Agency Report

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anchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has explained the reason they were unable to bring Harry Maguire to the Etihad Stadium saying the club couldn’t afford a new centre back this summer.

The Premier League champions spent more than £120million on Rodri, Joao Cancelo and Angelino in the off season, but are facing a defensive crisis if AymericLaporte is ruled out with a knee injury.

Manchester City it is recalled tried to replace their former captain, Vincent Kompany with Harry Maguire when he left at the end of the season to rejoin his childhood club, Anderlecht Fc of Belgium where he has become a player coach, but they were outbid by Manchester United.

According to the City Manager, the money was not available to add a centre-back to his summer shopping list hence they were unable to add a centre back and as a result will certainly make use of what is available for them.

“We could not buy like the opponents.

“The club works incredibly

well in all departments and sometimes we cannot afford it like other teams afford it and that is all.

“We pay a lot of money for a lot of players, that is why we have a depth of squad with huge quality but we cannot do, the club tell me, you have a limit, you cannot go forward.

“Maybe in the future but not now, you cannot do it. I say, ok, you cannot do it so we cannot do it so we are going with what we have,” Guardiola said.

39

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

SPORTS Pacquiao launches ‘world’s first’ own Cryptocurrency

By MADUABUCHI KALU with Agency Report

P

Siasia desperate to free mother ...Shops for N75m ransom demand

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ormer national team striker and coach, Samson Siasia, who was recently banned for life in all football activities by the world football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) following his indictment by its investigative panel on his role on a match fixing scandal has intensify moves to facilitate the release of his mother, Madam Ogere from the kidnappers den.

The 76 year old Madam OgereSiasia was abducted mid-July at about 2am in Odoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Siasia disclosed that he had re-opened negotiations with his mother’s kidnappers to ensure his mother is released.

According to him: “It’s a difficult time for me and the family. Mama has since been with the kidnappers and it appears I have been left to carry the cross alone.

“I need help and I hope Nigerians rally round us in this regard. We had re-opened negotiations with them (kidnappers) and we hope we succeed in our quest for her to return home soon.

“She had spent over a month with them and I’m presently sourcing for funds for the ransom as demanded by her abductors.

“A few guys have been of tremendous support to us and we hope we succeed in bring her back soon,” the former international enthused.

Meanwhile, two others were also said to have been abducted alongside the 76-year-old in July. It is noted that Mrs. Siasia was first kidnapped in 2015 and the family parted with millions in ransom to free her.

Tammy Abraham equals Lampard’s9-year Chelsea record

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igerian born-British football player, Tammy Abraham’s brace against Sheffield United in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw on Saturday means he becomes the first Englishman to score at least two goals in consecutive Premier League game for the Blues.

Frank Lampard’s men were heading for victory against the Blades, thanks to Abraham’s first-half goals, but the visitors clawed back through Callum Robinson and Kurt Zouma’s late own goal.

Thanks to his heroics, the Anglo-Nigerian, who had now scored four goals in four Premier League appearances, now took his place in Chelsea history books alongside club legend, Lampard, who achieved the feat in 2010.

He was replaced after 84 minutes for 18-yearold Billy Gilmour, who was making his first senior appearance.

The 21-year-old seemed to have found his rhythm after a shaky start at Stamford Bridge, which led to fans questioning his ability to be Chelsea’s number

nine.

He joined the Blues as a youngster in 2004 and had spent time on loan at Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa.

Lampard’s men are ninth in the English elite division log, with five points from four games and they travel to face Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break.

S

Mike Bryan fined $10,000 for gun gesture at US Open

A

merican doubles player, Mike Bryan, was fined $10,000 by the US Open on Sunday for his using racquet to make a shooting gesture at a line judge.

Mike Bryan Bryan, playing alongside twin brother Bob, held his racquet upside down and pointed it towards the official after successfully challenging an incorrect call.

Chair umpire, Mariana Alves issued a code violation against Mike Bryan for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Bryan brothers, winners of 16 Grand Slam doubles titles as a team, went on to win the second-round match 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 against Roberto CarballesBaena of Spain and Argentina’s Federico Delbonis.

It is the highest fine received by a male player so far at this year’s tournament. “I apologize for any offense I may have caused. We won the point and the gesture was meant to be playful,” Bryan said in a statement cited by the New York Times.

“But given the recent news and political climate I understand how my gesture could be viewed as insensitive.

I promise that I will never do anything like this again.”

Meanwhile, seven people were killed in Texas on Saturday in the latest of several mass shootings to occur in the United States this year. It is important to note that the shooting has nothing to do with tennis or sports.

CAF Champions League: We won’t be complacent –Enyimba Coach

By MADUABUCHI KALU with Agency Report

H

Sevilla sign striker Chicharito on 3-year deal panish side Sevilla have signed Mexican striker, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez from West Ham United on a three-year deal on transfer deadline day,the two clubs announced on Monday.

Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported the La Liga club paid around eight million pounds ($9.82 million) for the 31 year-old who had less than a year left to run on his contract with the London club.

“West Ham United can confirm that striker Chicharito has joined Spanish Primera Division club Sevilla on a permanent basis,” the Premier League club said in a statement.

“The Mexican’s transfer ends a two-year stay in east London, `during which he scored 17 goals in 63 games in Claret and Blue.”

The Mexico international, who also played for Manchester United and Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, is no stranger to La Liga, having played

hilippine boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao, who moved his career on to singing and politics, has in addition launched his own cryptocurrency, known as Pac. According to Reuters, Pacquiao’scryptocurrency will be used by his fans to buy merchandise and to have a chance to chat with him on social media. It’ll be listed on a cryptocurrency exchange called Global Crypto Offering Exchange (GCOX).

The Pac token counts with ex-Liverpool and England soccer star Michael Owen and with Abu Dhabi ruling family member Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed al-Nahyan as investors, and was announced during one of Pacquiao’s concerts, in which he sang songs from his album, which sold millions of copies.

The report states this is the “world’s first celebrity cryptocurrency,” although more are set to come. As CryptoGlobe covered other celebrities are looking to launch their own cryptocurrencies with GCOX. These include singer Jason Derulo and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.

for Real Madrid on a season-long loan in the 2014-15 season.

Hernandez is the 14th recruit of the close season for JulenLopetegui’sSevilla, who are third in the league standings after three games.

ead Coach of two time African champions, Enyimba International Football Club of Aba, UsmanAbd’Allahhas declared that despite their huge victory over their Burkina Faso opponents, RahimoFc in the CAF Champions League, saying such victory will not make them to believe that they have arrived in the competition as they are yet to hit form.

According to the football tactician his team are still a long way from hitting the kind of form that saw them win the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) last season.

It is recalled that Enyimba cruised into the play-off stage of the CAF Champions League after defeating Rahimo of Burkina Faso 5-1 on aggregate at Aba over the weekend but Abd’Allah is refusing to rest on his laurels, writes NPFL. ng.

“I am very relieved because you’ve seen the boys were very prepared having worked very hard to make the win seem easy,” Abd’Allah told the NPFL website.

“I think we should continue this work that we’ve been doing because we can see the profit in it. So the boys have to be super, super fit; that is the only way we can execute our own plans.

With a win over Rahimo, the Nigerian giants have set up another tough clash with Al-Hilal of Sudan and Abd’Allah knows that Enyimba will have to be at its best to beat their opponents.

“I think we still have work to do, we still have a lot. We can’t be perfect. Every time we have to work. Hilal are a very good side but not unbeatable. If we are at our best, we will scale through.”

The Oracle Today WEDNESDAY 4 September 2019

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Sam Okwaraji: Mark’s unkind oversight, Ekweremadu’s silence (2)

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HY didn’t David Mark on his honour as a General in the Nigeria’s Army and Communication Minister offer scholarships to Sam’s younger brothers?

How much was scholarship then? Why didn’t mark get job placements, even, in security circles for the younger brothers? What difficulty would he encounter in submitting their names to the Federal Scholarship Board or whatever it was called? What will it take from him to offer them employment? As I blame Mark for his lack of patriotism to a national commitment and ‘I don’t care about Okwaraji attitude’, I blame Okwaraji’s brothers and sisters (Ndigbo) in government circles like Senator Ike Ekweremadu and former governors for not being sensitive to attract the fulfillment of Federal Government’s promise to Okwaraji’s when they had the opportunities.

Mark goofed and all those who had opportunity to serve him were selfish and unpatriotic. This is because every year the media remind the world about Okwaraji’s sudden death and the promises of the Federal Government to his family, yet the aides of Mark and Ekweremadu as well as all the former governors and political super stars from the South-East remained silent. Is it wickedness or was it because there was no political immediate benefits to them? What does it take to rehabilitate Okwaraji’s mother and family? Assuming but not conceding that Federal Government won’t keep its promises, why can’t these governors or senator and the House of Reps members rally millions and build a duplex for the Okwaraji family and empower the family members with appointments?

Why wouldn’t South East Military Administrators and Governors from 1989 till date not get interested and involved to remedy the ills against Sam Okwaraji in the last 30 years?

They lavish money on frivolities , which to them had political gains, but, left actualizing the remedy of injustice against a man who died in active service to his fatherland, despite their promises. Why couldn’t Ekweremadu who has been in the Senate since 1999 not broker resolutions of this all important gap by mobilizing Igbo senators to actualize the promises Federal Government made to our son. Was Ekweremadu too selfish and unconcerned if there is no political gain?

Mark could have mobilized to ensure the insurance benefits of Sam was actualized.

Ekweremadu too could have. Others in the political class did a great disservice to Sam Okwaraji and his family. How much was starting up a Printing press that Mark wouldn’t do for Sam’s elder brother who was interested in that business. Sam promised to open a Printing Press for him with his Insurance Bond, but, that couldn’t come to reality because Sam died. The insurance company reneged. And nobody in Nigeria spoke. He was plying his trade of football in Europe and had a life assurance cover worth $4million before his death. Why did the insurance firm refuse to pay the family the entitlement, just because he died in Africa? Was that justified? Was it a clause in the agreement? Nobody cared!

How much would it cost Mark to facilitate a dealership for Sam’s younger brother to

CORNUCOPIA

By ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU Telephone number: 08060750240 E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@yahoo.co.uk

•Ike Ekweremadu

•Sam Okwaraji

market Toyota in Nigeria as well as become supplier of Hiace Buses in Nigeria as promised by Sam before his death, since the Insurance Company pulled out? Mark has the capacity to resolve the Insurance Company’s fears and the bond comes to fruition. Was N10,000 then from the Insurance company good enough for bonds worth starting franchise business with Toyota and starting a Printing press.

If the company says the person who held the bond was no more, does it mean there was no benefit for the family for being insured, even, if their claims was that he died outside the country he was insured? Was that part of the insurance company‘s caveat on the document signed? Had there been intervention from Mark, then as a general and in the ruling class or as a Senate President will the outcome be treated with such unconcerned attitude?

If Okwaraji was not iconic star, and a patriot, journalists world over won’t be giving him huge media space every year as their own part of immortalizing his memories since the Federal Government and the Imo State government, have not honoured any of its promises at the graveside of Okwaraji, the late prolific footballer. He remained a talking point in Nigerian sports.

God raised a lone voice two years ago in the wilderness from Kogi State in the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Yusuf. He moved a motion insisting that the Federal Government should fulfil those promises to the Okwaraji family at his graveside. But he was alone. Where were all the lawmakers from South East in the National Assembly? What have they done to support the Okwaraji family get the promises Federal Government promised? Promise of the Federal Government was to Okwaraji’s family, but, that was to Ndigbo and no politician in Igbo land thought of intervening in this Okwaraji’s issue, 30 years after, yet, we kill ourselves over positions due to Ndigbo?

What have we achieved from such positions aside personal and selfish? Why would it take a boy who was 12 years or so in 1989 when Okwaraji died to remind politicians of repute this kind of injustice? Is Federal Government anybody’s property? So, why can’t our people in privileged positions like Ekweremadu and other members of National Assembly and previous governors fight and recover Federal Government’s promises for a member of their state or zone. They allowed the rights and privileges of their citizen to go unrewarded even at death.

Former Governor of Imo State, Chief

Achike Udenwa, made a bold step when he named a stadium after Sam Okwaraji. That was standing out of the crowd. Unfortunately a road displaced the stadium even though, a new stadium has been built in the same area by the immediate past governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Why he did not name the stadium after the late footballer? Will Governor Emeka Ihedioha name the stadium after Okwaraji? What can Ihedioha do more for late Okwaraji especially with a football legend, Kanu Nwankwo as his Adviser? We are waiting!

Now, God is raising another voice from the Imo State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Hon Michael Crown, who reportedly assured that the state government under the leadership of Ihedioha, as a sports lover will address the late Okwaraji’s matter with a view to immortalising him, as he intends to raise a motion in the House on the issue of the late Sam Okwaraji. Can this be for real? Can Ihedioha resolve all the injustices against the Okwaraji family 30 years after? Is Michael Crown God sent to resolve this imbroglio? Is Hon. Paschal Okolie, member representing Orlu Constituency in the Imo Assembly going to join forces with Michael Crown to actualize the remedying of this 30 years injustice? Will Okwaraji be immortalized soon before his 31st commemorative birthday of his demise?

How would Imo state Government immortalize Okwaraji, the enigmatic midfielder player?

The embattled Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), led by President, Amaju Pinnick remembered Okwaraji’s 30th year of demise with a film where he was quoted as saying’, ….we still feel the sacrifice and patriotism that he showed, playing for this great country. And we have learnt great lessons from that patriot, even as we continue to use his attitude to guide young talents”. That was the highest Okwaraji got. Nigerians are watching! Senator Mark, a Peace Ambassador for Benue and Nigeria and Senator Ike Ekweremadu are now on it? Mark will correct his mistake. Ihedioha and South East Governors just woke up on this and soon the unprecedented would happen to the Okwaraji’s family members?

American multinational technology company, Google, has marked the 55th posthumous birthday of Nigerian football star, Sam Okwaraji, with a Google Doodle- just a temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages. Federal Government only did a twit for Okwaraji on their official twitter handle. That was it.

Now, a moral gadfly, Sunday Akin Dare from Oyo State has taken over as Minister, Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, let’s see how he helps actualize this unfulfilled dream of the Okwaraji’s by mobilizing the Federal Government, Mark, Ekweremadu and governors of South East as well as other elected and appointed personalities to wipe off the tears on the faces of the Okwaraji’s particularly their matriarch. The die is cast!

This is the second and final installment of the article. The first part was published last week.

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.