Wednesday April 11, 2018

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

WEDNESDAY April 1 1, 2018

racle www.oraclenews.ng

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.3 No.14 N200

Corruption war takes dangerous dive

I

T can almost be said that the war against corruption is about to be lost without being fought. If we can to be generous, we can say that the battle has become a slogan, or at best a ping pong game, with the players on both sides determined to sustain long rallies. It is, mildly put, a shame.

FOR the years that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been in office--almost three years--their

THE ORACLE COMMENT

battle charge has been to kill corruption, before it kills Nigeria. The status of the battle can be rated indeterminate, as the government and the party have spent most of that time winning the fight against corruption, by words. The deeds

are few, and mostly illegal.

THE segregated war against corruption has been phased. The judges were arrested, fantastic figures mentioned, their sides of the stories stridently discarded, until their trials were not sustainable in court. Some

of the cases are still in court.

WHEN it was the turn of the military Generals, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), regaled Nigerians with tonnes of money in various currencies that

were found sometimes in cash, in the houses of the suspects. Once the figures were mentioned, the cases disappeared from the public glare.

IT would appear that the interest of the EFCC was to ensure that the public was titillated with the monumental corruption that the present administration inherited. The media

Cont’d on page 24

‘Looters’ list tears Nigeria apart C From VICTOR NZE, Lagos; NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt; THEO RAYS, IBE NWACHUKWU, Onitsha and CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

•Lists akin to pot calling kettle black •Lists based on verifiable facts-Lai Mohammed •Governance is more serious than govt. sees it

ontroversy has trailed the release of lists of alleged looters’ of national treasury, with many critics expressing concerns over the legal implications of the action for the government, while others are miffed at their obvious partisanship.

Government, however, says the lists and the names therein are not frivolous but based on hard, verifiable facts.

The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed recently released a list of persons whom the government dubbed treasure

Cont’d on page 2

•From left: Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Former Governor of Abia state and Senator Rep. Abia Central, Sen. Theodore Orji and Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state during Gov. Fayose’s one-day visit to Abia State to commission some projects.

Nnamdi Kanu: Will Senator Abaribe go to jail F

RIDAY 26 April 2018 could be a defining date in the life of Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, representative of Abia South

Page 3

Senatorial District – he may go to jail. Jewish religious leader High Priest, Emmanu El- Salom Oka Ben Madu and an accountant, Mr. To-

chukwu Uchendu, could share the same fate on the same day, if they are unable to produce Nnamdi Kanu in court.

They would appear in court before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High

Cont’d on page 2

2019: Umunneochi endorses Ikpeazu

2

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

Controversy rages over looters’ list Continued from Pg 1 looters.

Following a deluge of criticisms, especially over the number and political affiliations of the “looters”, Mohammed assured that what he had released was just a “teaser” and that a more comprehensive list was underway.

On Sunday, April 1, Mohammed made good his threat and released an additional list of 23 persons, including former governors of Plateau, Niger and Oyo, all members of the opposition PDP. In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, Mohammed said the new list and the one earlier released were based on verifiable facts.

But critics have come hard on the minister, many of them worried that an issue as weighty as treasure looting has been reduced to a partisan boondoggle, with all the alleged looters, none of whom has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction, belonging to the former ruling but now the

Nnamdi Kanu

opposition party, the PDP. “The presidency erred in publishing the names of some members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) without the court finding them guilty of financial impropriety or corrupt enrichment,” Sotoye Briggs, a lawyer argued in an interview with The Oracle Today in Port Harcourt.

According to Briggs, the APC has shown that its main objective is to score “cheap political point rather than genuinely fight corruption even in the minutest form”.

“Nigerians are no fools. The timing of the publication is deliberate.

It is designed to diminish the Electoral chances of PDP candidates in the 2019 general elections,” he added.

Similarly, a PDP youth leader in Ebonyi State chapter, Elder Sam Igwe has faulted the alleged looters’ lists released by Alhaji Mohammed, describing them as another desperation to silence the opposition.

He described the release of the lists as a joke taken too far, saying

the names of the persons so released were never indicted or convicted by any court of law.

He said the action of the federal government amounted to a high level of carelessness.

Igwe insisted that the federal government should withdraw the publication with an apology as they have no moral right to release such lists, judging by the monumental corruption allegedly plaguing the APC government.

“Those who live in a glass house should not throw stones,” Igwe said. “Rather than these ridiculous lists, the APC should concentrate on governance and stop exposing their incompetence.”

For Chairman of Rojenny hospitality group Oba, Anambra State and Ogilisi Igbo, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, the lists are akin to kettle calling pot black.

“Both the APC and PDP members who are now making accusations and counter accusations against themselves are two sides of a coin. We are not taking them serious because it is a case of a pot calling kettle black,” Ezeonwuka

said.

Ezeonwuka’s position was corroborated by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Reno Omokri who, in a release titled “The real looters list that Buhari and Lai Mohammed do not want you to know about,” stridently criticized the lists for not containing “even one member of the All Progressives Congress”.

“If the list proves anything, it is that President Buhari, Lai Mohammed and their All Progressives Congress (APC) are not fighting corruption. Instead they are fighting anti-corruption,” he said.

“I have taken the pains to produce a ‘teaser’ looters list of APC members who are collectively alleged to have looted over $2 billion (when you convert the dollar value of what they allegedly looted at the time they allegedly looted it),” Omokri decalred. “I challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain why these men (names withheld) did not feature on their list and why they continue to remain in this APC government

Cont’d from Pg 1

Court in Abuja, who last week Wednesday okayed the service of enrolled orders on three persons that stood surety for the ‘missing’ leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu & Abaribe The court said they should be served with the order to enable them to appear before it on June 26 to show cause why they should not be committed to prison over Kanu’s repeated failure to appear for continuation of his trial, or why the N100million they individually deposited to secure his bail should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Alternatively, the court said the sureties were at liberty to produce the IPOB leader on the next adjourned date. Those the court directed should be served with copies of enrolled orders are Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who is representing Abia South Senatorial District.

Justice Nyako made the order after the three sureties who were in court, through their respective lawyers, protested that they only read about the summon the court earlier issued against them, on the pages of newspapers.

Abaribe’s lawyer, Mr. Chukwuma Umeh, SAN, told the court that his client attended the proceeding owing to his respect for the judiciary and the rule of law.

He argued that Order 26 of the Federal High Court Rules made it mandatory that such order should be served on his client before he could be asked to show cause.

“We want to put it on record that the prosecution has till date, not served or made any effort to serve any enrolled order on my client. A court order that is not served cannot be used against a party,” he argued.

Counsel to the two other sureties, Mr. I. F. Chude and Aloy Ejimako adopted Abaribe’s position, adding that Section 36 of the 1999

•Kanu’s sureties: Abaribe, Emmanu El- Salom Oka Ben Madu and Uchendu Constitution required that before anyone’s property is forfeited, such a person must be granted fair hearing.

On his part, government lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Labaran urged the court to ignore Abaribe and his co-defendants, saying, “They have conspired to frustrate the hearing of this matter through technicalities”.

In a short ruling, Justice Nyako who noted that the three sureties raised a valid issue of law, directed that copies of enrolled orders be served on them before the close of work.

It would be recalled that following an application the FG made pursuant to Section 179 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, the court, on October 10, 2017, summoned all the three sureties.

Justice Nyako formally issued an order against the sureties on February 20, saying they should explain Kanu’s whereabouts of risk jail.

Justice Nyako had on April 25, 2016, released Kanu on bail on health grounds after he had spent a year and seven months in detention.

To secure Kanu’s release, Abaribe, El-Shalom and Uchendu, on April 28, signed an undertaking to ensure his attendance in court.

Nevertheless, whereabouts of the IPOB leader has remained unknown since September last year when troops of the Nigerian army invaded his home in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia under an operation code-named Python Dance II. Abaribe had earlier prayed the court to de-list him as one of the sureties in the matter, stressing that Kanu “has not been seen again nor reached on phone by the Applicant, neither is he reported in any news media as seen by any person, nor made any statement on any issue”.

Kanu was hitherto facing fivecount treasonable felony charge alongside four pro-Biafra agitators- Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubug-

wu and David Nwawuisi.

Aside allegation that he imported Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L, which was concealed in a container that was declared as used household items, for the purpose of using same to disseminate information about secession plans by the IPOB., FG also alleged that Kanu “on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did in a broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a pedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

The court had since separated Kanu’s trial from that of his co-de-

Cont’d on page 41

where they wield immense powers and influence, even over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that is meant to prosecute them.

“I further challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain to Nigerians why they failed to reveal to Nigerians that President Buhari himself is a MAJOR beneficiary of the funds that the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, received from the treasury for the security of Nigerians,” Jonathan’s aide further alleged. “I assure Nigerians that Sambo Dasuki is not in jail for a crime he committed in 2015. He is rather being persecuted for a ‘crime’ he committed in 1985.”

Also, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), in a statement signed by its executive director, Emeka Umeagbalasi, called on Nigerians to refuse to be distracted by the country’s two umbrellas of corruption, adding that public governance is too important to be turned into “an arena of diversion, distraction and deceit.”

He said the reactions of Nigerians against the purported looters’ list should convince the federal government that it has goofed as, according to him, the kettle cannot call the pot black.

According to the statement titled ‘Looters on rampage in Nigeria: Over $302b (N66.7t) squandered siphoned by Nigeria’s federal political criminals since 2003 using dishonest party politics & ethno-religious sentiments’ “the Federal Government of Nigeria, representing the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its 389 ethnic nationalities dominated by three major tribes of Igbo, Hausa-Fulani and Yoruba and two dominant religions of Christianity and Islam has been held by the jugular and retrogressively in the past 16 years or since 2003 by federal political criminals masquerading as elected and appointed top public office holders of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The federal political criminals have since 2003 budgeted, squandered and siphoned over $302billion or N66.7trillion using fraudulent or dishonest party politics and promotion of ethno-religious divisions and sentiments.

“Also from our national investigation carried out in February 2016 and updated in this report, all the component units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria comprising the Federal Government, 36 States and the FCT and 774 local government areas have in the past 16 years or since 2003 budgeted and spent a total of $724b or N140.8t without anything concrete to show for it. From 2003 to 2016, the last official exchange rate of N197 per $S was used while the present official exchange of N305 per $S was applied in calculating those of 2017 and 2018.

“Through budget, all expenditures of the Federal Government and its sub-national counterparts are captured including borrowings, federation account receipts, grants, internally-generated revenues, etc. Shockingly, out of the whopping sum of $302b or N66.7t budgeted, squandered and siphoned by said political criminals of the Federal Government since 2003; less than 30% or $90.6b (N19t) was budgeted for capital expenditures or for provision of good governance and public good for the

Cont’d on page 41

The Oracle Today

3

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

Ikpeazu gets Umunneochi endorsement

• Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State, flanked by Chairman of Umunneochi LGA, Barr.

Philip Okey Igwe, and Deputy Gov of Abia Ude Oko Chukwu, right, being welcomed by the people of Umunneochi LGA, as he was endorsed for 2nd term at Prince Chris Igwe Multipurpose Event Centre, Amuda Isuochi.

• 2019

By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

P

EOPLE of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State yesterday unanimously endorsed the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, for a second term in office.

The people who trooped en masse to grace the Umunneochi mega rally for continuity held at the Chrisnak Multipurpose Events Centre, Amuda Isuochi, declared that they do not not want a change in the leadership of the state’s administration in 2019 because the Ikpeazu was delivering in his campaign promises.

Addressing the jubilant crowd, Ikpeazu challenged those wishing to contest against him to show proof of their community service.

He said that those who took him to court after the 2015 governorship election wanted to frustrate him in terms of projects’ execution, so that he would not have anything to show for tenure when 2019 comes.

“We have not done everything express gratitude to God for the grace to have achieved the little we have

done. What Weill speak for me in 2019 is what we have done,”.

The governor assured the people that electricity supply will be extended to other zones of the local government brfore the end of the year to enhance economic development in the area.

He commended the people for investing so much in him and appealed to them to remain steadfast in their support for his administration.

He urged the people to beware of those who have not done things to help their people in their localities but would come to aspire to lead the state.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa who represents Abia North, expressed happiness for the support of Umunneochi people for the governor, added that they are always reliable.

Chairman of the occasion, Prof.

F.E.Eboh, said God sent Ikpeazu to change the face of Abia with his good works.

Eboh, who is the Acting Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Abia, stressed that it was in recognition of the governor’s performance in the face of many odds that Umunneochi people resolved to endorse him for a second term.

In his address, the Executive Chair-

• Prof Ezionye Eboh, Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba (Chairman of the event) in front, Chief Fabian Nwankwo, Commissioner for Science & Technology, Abia State (1st left), Chief Ndidi Okereke, former PDP Chairman, Abia State (2nd left), Hon. Mathew Ibe, PDP Vice Chairman, Abia North (3rd left), Prince Chris Igwe, CEO, Mainland Oil & Gas Ltd & Chief B.O.K. Okechukwu, CEO, B.O.K. Construction (1st right) at the event.

• Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Abia State addressing the people of Umunneochi as he was endorsed for 2nd term man of Umunneochi LGA, Barr.

Philipp Okey Igwe, praised the governor for fulfilling his promise to restore electricity to Umunneochi which has been without power supply for about two decades.

Lassa fever: FMC Umuahia places 30 on surveillance BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

F

OLLOWING the death of Dr Chizorom Ndukwu, a resident doctor, who was barely a month in the employment of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia from Lassa virus, about 30 persons have been placed on surveillance.

The female medical doctor said to have contracted Lassa fever, died at the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Irrua, Edo state, where she was taken for treatment.

Those placed on surveillance are believed to have had contact with the deceased.

Medical Director of FMC, Umuahia, Dr Abali Chuku disclosed this, Tuesday, at a joint press conference with the state Commissioner for Health, Dr John Ahukanna. They, however, assured that the disease would be contained.

“The management of Federal medical Centre Umuahia regrets to an-

nounce the death of her staff. She died of Lassa fever,” Dr Chuku confirmed,” adding that the deceased was initially admitted at FMC in the course of her illness.

He said that the need to place dozens of persons on surveillance arose due to the fact that some members of staff of the medical facility “came in contact with her (the deceased) in the course of her management.”

However, the MD explained that not every person under surveillance has the same level of risk.

“Every possible contact whether patient or person will be identified, defined and put on surveillance,” he said.

Though every doubt about the cause of the death of the resident doctor has been cleared the management of FMC Umuahia has not been able to trace the contact point where the deceased contracted the virus.

The MD said that an 11-month old baby was brought from a private

hospital on March 12 and died the following day after admission at FMC, adding that the death of the baby was being investigated. The baby was said to have been treated by the deceased doctor.

He said that the patient was referred by a pediatrician from a private hospital but the baby was not tested for Lassa virus before she died.

But he noted that it was yet not possible to pinpoint if the baby was the source of the Lassa virus that killed Dr Ndukwu as nobody has manifested any signs of the virus after 21 days incubation period which ended Tuesday starting from the day the baby died.

“We are not looking at one direction so that you don’t put people’s lives at risk,” he said, adding that medical doctors offer their services across various health facilities and not all hospitals fully observe the standard protocol on disease control hence “we may not get to know where the deceased doctor contracted the virus”

Igwe used the occasion to request the governor to ensure that electricity was extended to other zones of the council.

According to Igwe, the people of Umunneochi were impressed by the governor’s performance, hence their decision to endorse and adopt him for 2019.

The rally attracted several traditional rulers and religious leaders from Umunneochias well as support

groups in various zones, comprising; Chief Ndidi Okereke (Zone 1), Prince Odinaka Igwe -Chrisnak- (Zone 2), Chief Ifeanyi Okechukwu -BOK(Zone 3) and Chief Fagin Nwankwo (Zone 4).

Highpoint of the event came when people from the respective zones stepped up to the podium and unanimously adopted, endorsed the Governor Ikpeazu for a second term as they chorused; “Yeah.”

2019: Igboeze North Stakeholders reject 3rd term

By THEO RAYS

A

head of the 2019 general election, stakeholders in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State have tasked political office holders in the area to articulate a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on how to zone and rotate elective offices among Igboeze North 1 Constituency, otherwise called Ozzi Constituency and Igboeze North 2 Constituency known as Umunano Constituency.

The stakeholders who made the call during a function at the Palace of the Grand Patron Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers His Royal Highness Igwe Simeon Osisi Itodo said that it was Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi himself that directed all relevant stakeholders in the area to do an MoU with a view to ensure a

balanced sharing of elective political offices between the two constituencies.

Speaking at the function, Igwe Itodo asked the current member of Enugu State House of Assembly representing Umunano Hon Tony Ogidi and his counterpart in Ozzi Hon Ethel Ugwuanyi if they have forgotten Governor Ugwuanyi’s directive to do the MoU telling them that the best time to do it is now.

According to the Grand Patron, Governor Ugwuanyi aware of the nature of politics in Igboeze North harped on the MoU to ensure equity and fairness among people most especially on how to zone and rotate of Local Government Chairmanship position and the Federal House of Representatives among the two constituencies.

4

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Police recover 188 illegal firearms as grace period expires

By XAVIER NDAH

T

he Nigeria Police, Lagos Command said, Tuesday, it has recovered prohibited 480 assorted firearms and ammunitions as the 21 days of grace expires. This is also it appealed to illegal arms owners to voluntarily return same or face drastic action.

Making this known y in Lagos at a press briefing, State Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal

said the command has embarked on the second phase of mop up of firearms and after expiration of the second phase, “we will go in search and arrest those found with such and prosecute them.

Please take an advantage of the magnanimity of the police to return illegal arms in your possession,“ he pleaded.

Giving the breakdown of the recovery, Edgal said the arms and ammunition recovered include: 38

pump action rifles, six AK 47 rifles, 12 double barrel rifles, 70 single barrel locally made cut to size shot gun, 42 locally made double barrel shot gun, 11 single barrel rifles, 18 locally made revolver pistol and three Berretta pistol.

Edgal said the weapons were recovered across the state between the months of September 2017 till date.

According to him, the efforts of the Police at mopping up prohib-

ited arms and ammunitions from the society have received a huge success stating that the firearms were recovered from bandits and those who voluntarily returned to the police armory by their owners who took advantage of the 21 days grace period given by the Inspector General of Police for anybody in possession of illegal and prohibited firearms to hand them over to the police.

S’West States to understudy Ekiti, Oyo on education

By VICTOR NZE

S

tates in the Southwest geopolitical zone have moved to conduct a study of Ekiti and Oyo states’ successes in education for peer learning and adoption.

This was among decisions reached at the just-concluded Quarterly Meeting of Western Nigeria Governors Forum hosted by Lagos, which also saw the adoption of the state into the Oodua Group.

In a communiqué released at the end of the meeting, in Ikeja, Lagos, the group said the process is to be conducted by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, the agency spearheading regional integration and cooperation among the states.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governors held that peer review in critical areas was necessary for the growth and actualisation of the potential of the region and her people.

Recall that Ekiti State came first in 2016 and 2017 National Examinations Council (NECO)-conducted exams, while it recorded 74 percent success in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) among other educational feats.

Also, the states agreed to jointly bid for the concession of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and turn it to a world class infrastructure. As a way of accelerating rice production and improve agriculture in the region, other states agreed to allocate 1000 hectares each to Lagos for rice production.

This is just as the Southwest governors formally admitted Lagos State into the Oodua Investment Limited.

The meeting was attended by the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga.

Similarly, the governors also agreed to understudy the education reforms of Oyo State government.

The decision followed success of the reforms, particularly the School Governing Boards (SGBs) and Oyo State Education Trust Fund (ETF).

The SGBs of public secondary schools in Oyo State have spent over N2 billion renovating facilities since their establishment. Each secondary school has an SGB comprising representatives of old students, the host community, Parent-Teacher Association, pupils, teachers and the headteacher.

Meeting under the theme: “Consolidating the Legacy of Regional Integration,” the governors agreed

•Barr Clet Obinwanne during the Monthly Sanitation Exercise at Woliwo Layout, Onitsha. Photo Oliver Udeogu . that Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states should bid for the concessioning of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as a regional bloc.

They planned to transform the airport to a world-class infrastructure.

Also on the list of decisions of the Western Governors Forum is the structuring of a programme on the Omoluabi ethos of the Yoruba. This, they believe, will preserve the identity and values of the Yoruba.

Earlier, Tuesday, the host Governor Ambode set the tone for discussion in his welcome address followed by the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga who represented Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun.Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose- the only People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Governor said politics must be set aside in discussing the development agenda of the Regio, while Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun harped on the need for

the Southwest Region to unite.

On his part, Akeredolu, SAN highlighted the potentials in the Region and called for genuine collaboration among the states.

“Rather than Oodua, there are a number of things that we have and can develop together. There’s nothing stopping us from having a Western University. The Cocoa House is enough to house a university. It will in no doubt develop Ibadan more. Because Education is key to our people!

planted in Daura, Zango, Mai’adua, Baure, Mashi, Dutsi and Sandamu Local Government Areas to improve fuel wood balance and prevent desertification.

The official explained that seven motorised boreholes were drilled in each of the seven community nurseries to water the plants, and provide water for human and animal consumption.

He said that the programme has covered 55, 000 farmers and 41, 248 households, adding that 160,000 hectares out of the targeted 97, 072.12 hectares of land had been covered.

The manager added that multipurpose stove production centres were established in the local government areas, which had produced thousands of cooking stoves distributed to local people, to reduce illegal felling of trees.

He said the organisation has organised capacity training workshops for NGOs, porters, marketers, women and youth groups on sustainable tree management.

FUWOBA is a sustainable, impactfilled community driven and income generating rural-based climate change afforestation support initiative.

EU plants 4.5m trees in Katsina

A

bout 4.54 million trees have been planted and maintained in Katsina State under the Improved Fuel Wood Balance project supported by the European Union (EU).

Project Manager, Dr Chris Udokang who disclosed this, Tuesday, in Daura, added that the initial target was to plant 5.5 million trees.

Udokang said that 70 percent of the trees had survived.

According to him, a regeneration of another 1.5 million trees is currently going on while new round of nursery activities have commenced on March 1.

He said that the trees were

Lagos PDP inaugurates non-indigenes council coordinators

By MADUABUCHI KALU

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos State Chapter has formally inaugurated its non-indigenes coordinators in all the local government areas of the state.

The event which held at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja GRA, Thursday, gathered top dignitaries in the state including Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Party, Hon. Akeem Balogun, Ex-official, Mamolo Adelabi, among others.

The council Coordinators were not alone as they came with their ward chairmen and secretaries for the inauguration.

In her opening remarks, State coordinator of Lagos PDP, Lolo Linda Famoroti expressed delight with the way the partymen responded to the invitation for their inauguration saying it is a mark of the desire of non-indigenes in Lagos ‘to see that PDP regains power in 2019 in order to save the country from the hardship and insecurity that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has plunged the country into since taking over the reins of power in 2015.’

She explained that the activities of the current PDP non-indigenes in Lagos State has the recognition and approval of the Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador even as she assured the LG coordinators that it is not going to be business as usual ‘because this is a new dispensation and a new PDP.’ Famoroti assured every member of getting his or her due but charged them to work hard as they must have time for the party because a lot of work has to be done to wrestle power from the APC. In her words: “I am elated with the huge presence of people in today’s event which is the inauguration of the Lagos State nonindigenes coordinators for the various Local Government Areas in the state.

“This new Lagos State Non-indigene coordinators are working with the state chairman of our great party, the PDP, Hon. Moshood Adegoke Salvador. All of our activities are known and recognized by the State chairman of the party, so there is no backroom business here.

“I want to say that there is a problem and that problem is some people are members of our great party in the day and at night they become members of APC. We don’t want such people here. If you are PDP remain PDP and if you want to be an APC member go ahead and become one.

“We are no longer going to tolerate such things. Our great party the PDP is the party for Nigerians and we are going to go into the field to mobilse people to our party for the task ahead. That you are wearing coordinator T-Shirts today does not make you a coordinator for life. If you do not perform, you will be removed and someone who is ready to work will be appointed to replace you.

5

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Kebbi Govt. reaffirms support for farmers

G

overnor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to providing the necessary support to farmers in the state to improve food production.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari quoted the Governor as making the pledge during an inspection visit to Fadama Area in Gotomo, Argungu Local Government aimed at identify suitable land for sugarcane production in readiness for actualizing the MoU with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the production of ethanol biofuel.

He said the state government has already set-up a sensitization committee which has embarked on enlightenment tour to all the local government areas in the state to interact with traditional rulers, farmers, community leaders, politicians and other stakeholders to brief them on the project and ascertain suitable areas for sugarcane cultivation with less descruption to other crops.

On his part, Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero said National Assembly was committed to making laws to ban the importation of foreign rice to encourage local production towards food security.

Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero spoke about the necessity for full agricultural mechanization in Nigeria to replace manual labour.

Some farmers who exchanged views with the Governor, Mallam Yahaya Sani Gotomo, Hussaini Gotomo and the Village Head of Gotomo, Makwashe Gotomo, Alhaji Sa’idu Gotomo expressed willingness to cultivate sugarcane, rice, and cocoayam known as Mankani but solicited for financial assistance in form of loan from the government as well as farm input and implements.

Lekki Deep Sea Port project gets FG backing

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has flagged off the construction of the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, pledging that the Federal Government would give the needed support to the project.

Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the flag-off ceremony, Thursday, said the project would become one of the largest sea ports in the region, and serve as a hub for port operations in the whole of West Africa.

According to him, the project, once completed, is designed to influence the generation of up to 170,000 direct and indirect jobs in the economy. ”It is a landmark project for several reasons — the promoters of this project are targeting, we are told, about 1.5 million TEUs (Twenty Equivalent Units) container capacity annually, which they expect to grow to about 2.7 million and 4.7 million TEUs when the project commences. ”With this feat, this sea port will become one of the largest in our region and serve as a hub for ports

operations in the whole of West Africa. ”There is no question at all that the project will be the largest in SubSaharan Africa and possibly, the largest in Africa. I’m also told that the promoters also plan to dredge the port channel to about 16metres draft, which is not currently obtainable in any sea port or any port for that matter in the country. ”This, in itself, is an indication that ships of larger sizes will now be able to visit the port, and greater efficiency and economies of scale will generate significant revenues for the Nigerian economy, with government earning a significant portion of it,” he said.

According to him, a second reason why it is a landmark event is with respect to the government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and its emphasis on supporting game changing infrastructure projects directed at making major impact on trade and commerce. ”We are developing the Lekki Special Economic Zone as a model special economic zone, specifically targeting exports. The develop-

ment of this deep sea port is mission-critical to the achievement of the important objective of creating this special economic zone. ”So, the third reason is the commitment of our economic philosophy to private sector leadership of our economic development. This project is essentially private sector driven — the Toleram Group and China Harbour are of course the lead private sector participants in this project. ”And like we have heard, their commitment to this project is total. Let me say that we must move ahead to ensure the speedy completion of this project. There would be problems as I’m sure you must have experienced some. But be assured that the Federal Government and the Lagos State government will be with you every step of the way to ensure that we give all the support that is required, ” he said.

Also speaking, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos Sate, represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule said that the Lekki port was a golden egg waiting to positively impact in the economy, adding that the

Plateau State confirms Dakwak as new Chief Judge

G

Kano Govt, World Bank to construct 500 km rural roads

ano State Government has K signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank to

construct 500 kilometres of roads in rural areas of the state.

A statement by Abba Anwar, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, made available to newsmen in Kano on Monday, said the roads would be constructed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

The statement said that the state Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Musa Kwankwaso, indicated during an inspection tour of projects by the governor that each of the 44 local government areas would have 10 kilometres.

It said that the roads were meant to open up rural communities for enhanced social and economic development.

The statement added that the state government had since established Rural Access Mobility Directorate to institutionalize the project and ensure its sustainability in line with global best practices.

“While the World Bank intervention concentrates on both rural roads and mobility of agricultural products from within rural communities to urban areas, the state programme lays emphasis on the rural roads; accessibility to rural communities.

“With the RAAMP intervention, each and every local government in Kano state would get not less than 10 km road, whereas its equivalent could follow as a result of the state government replicated effort,” the statement said.

project was a testimony of government’s commitment to growing the economy and aligning the country with the industrialised countries in the world. ”Data shows that the maritime industry has the potential of becoming a major revenue to the GDP of Nigeria. This port when delivered in 2020 will have modern features that will ease pressure on Apapa and Tincan port as it has capacity to berth larger vessels. This port will impact greatly on the development of the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Ambode who called for more private investment to complement the provision of infrastructure, saying the government could not bear the cost alone, also solicited for the support of the federal government in all ramification to partner in the project.

In his remarks, Mr Navin Nahata, CEO Lekki Sea Port, one of the promoters of the project, said that the project had demonstrated that Nigeria is an investment destination, promising to put in all efforts to deliver the project by 2020.

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); his wife, Bolanle (right); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd left) and Senator Olamilekan Adeola (left) during the commissioning of the newly built Ikola Bridge (Old Odo Obasanjo Bridge) as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government .

Lagos takes development to hinterland, commissions 21 roadss

I

n its determined and relentless effort for an even and sustainable development across Lagos State, the Akinwunmi Ambode-led state government on Monday took development to the hinterland as it commissioned 21 road projects in Alimosho, a boundary council with Ogun State.

The network of roads totalling 27.4km cuts across Ikola, Aiyetoro, Amikanle, Oko Filling, Community, Isoto and Church streets, and includes construction of dual carriage ways, laybys, bridges, provision of street lights and generating sets.

According to the state government, the projects will improve quality of life of both residents and workers alike in both states,

improve connectivity, commerce, mitigate flooding in certain area, among others. Attendees at the event included traditional rulers and chiefs led by the Oba of Lagos, Representative James Faleke, ex-Lagos speaker Ikuforiji and other government officials.

In a goodwill message, senator representing Lagos East, Gbenga Ashafa, commended the governor for his good work especially in the area, urging him not to relent as he would be rewarded.

Hon. Augustine Arogun council chairman of Agbado Okeodo, a neighbouring council area, also hailed Ambode, saying Alimosho was “witnessing a remarkable transformation” after being liber-

ated from a plethora of bad roads, and appealed to the people to repay him for a good job with their votes in 2019. Earlier, former Lagos guber candidate and actor, Aina Gold, who is from Alimosho, expressed shock and excitement at the projects. “Truly Governor Ambode has turned Alimosho into another Magodo. We are grateful and we want to assure him that he has the full support of all Alimosho people.”

In his response, Governor Ambode reiterated that the projects were in furtherance of his APC government’s commitment to providing infrastructural development and other democracy dividends. He pledged to do more if reelected.

overnor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has formally sworn-in Justice Yakubu Gyang Dakwak as the substantive Chief Judge of Plateau.

Dakwak had acted in that capacity since September 2017 when the former Chief Judge, Justice Pius Damulak, retired from service.

Lalong, in a brief speech at the ceremony, Tuesday, reminded the officer of the crucial need to fight against corruption to rid the nation of the menace.

“All forms of maladministration and misappropriation of our commonwealth and corporate patrimony must be stopped through the instrumentality of the law. The judiciary is very crucial to restoring order in our society. With this appointment, your major task is to sanitise our nation and society to rid Nigeria of what is unlawful “The judiciary has been under sustained public scrutiny lately because it represents the hope of the groaning masses. It must punish criminals, seek justice for those injured and enthrone respect for the rule of law,” he charged.

The governor urged Dakwak to heed the advice of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who has urged judicial officers to lead the fight against corruption.

Dakwak, in his remarks, appreciated the governor for confirming his appointment, and promised to adhere to his oath of office.

The Oracle Today

6

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

Basin Authority raises alarm over shrinking River Niger

M

ANAGEMENT of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), Tuesday, expressed worry over the continuous shrinkage of the River Niger, linking it to the impact of climate change.

Executive Secretary, Dr Abderahim Hamid, said this at the opening of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Niger Basin Authority in Abuja.

He said promoting cooperation amongst member countries and contributing to improve the living conditions of the basin population through sustainable management of water resources is key to the development of the region.

Hamid pledged the determination of the authority to work within the confines of regional co-operation in managing and developing the resources of the river Niger basin.

He said the meeting was an avenue to seek out ways for the sustainable development of policies and programmes to address the issues of the basin.

Coordinator, NBA National Focal Structure Nigeria, Dr Paul Adalikwu, while commending the contributions of the Federal Government to support trans-boundary activities, said this signifies the highest priority the county places on cooperation and coexistence.

According to him, the River Niger is of great importance not only to Nigeria but to other member countries that depend on the reality for their livelihood.

Adalikwu said it was saddening that for the first time since 1985, the river Niger completely dried up in Niamey, Niger Republic due to climate change.

“It is on record that for the first time since 1985, the River Niger dried up completely in Niamey, Niger Republic due to climate change.

“The river reduced from two million Square kilometers to about 1.5 square Kilometers.

He said the experts were expected to deliberate on issues affecting the authority and make appropriate recommendations to the council of ministers for their consideration.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, while welcoming all technical and financial partners, said he was optimistic that the leadership of the NBA would lead to the betterment of the people living around the basin.

Adamu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Musa Ibrahim, said the meeting was an opportunity to dialogue with one another towards finding adequate solutions to the problems preventing the full implementation of all policies of the authority.

Adamu said it was saddening to note that the Niger basin area which is rich in its diversity, stresses that its population of more than 130 million were facing many challenges.

He said there is the need for member countries to promote the development of the region by showing commitment through payment of their contributions.

“In fact, we cannot talk about the development of the Niger Basin Authority and her regional institution unless we make available the financial resources needed in a timely manner for the work required. The repeated delays in the payment of member coun-

tries’ contributions have been identified as one of the major constraints in the operation of our institution.”

The minister said the technical and financial partners ought to be encouraged to make adequate funding available, adding that the

By OLIVER UDEOGU, Onitsha

their needs.

According to Obinwanne, who is also the initiator of the Rebirth Initiative, a non-governmental organization dedicated to servicing social amenities, ‘seeing the problems of the people, listening to the people, speaking for the people and bringing the needed solutions to them, are the ingredients required, for quality representation.’

Obinwanne group, the Rebirth Initiative, has helped the Governor Willie Obiano administration in servicing social amenities like roads and drainages, which were often blocked with debris and refuse. The Rebirth Initiative had embarked on this charity work four times in every week, within the Feggae State constituency.

It would be recalled that during the last sanitation exercise held in the State, Barr Obinwanne and his Rebirth Initiative team participated, at the Woliwo Feggae Ward 7 area of the Onitsha commercial city, when they cleared wastes from drainages, while sweeping the streets, to the admiration of residents. The area was also fumigated at the rice market Woliwo.

Speaking during the exercise, the aspirant posited that his team embarks on sanitation exercises every month, while they work on roads within the constituency, four times in every week.

“You know cleanliness is next to Godliness and because health is wealth, we embark on this exercise to keep residences and neighborhoods clean,’’ he said.

According to Obinwanne, the ex-

C

inhabitants, of which 70 per cent are in rural areas, with life expectancy of 50 years.

Due to its ecological and socioeconomic importance, the Niger Basin is an essential asset for the development of the sub-region.

•Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel (l) receiving the Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar at the Hilltop Mansion, Government House, Uyo, yesterday. Air Marshal Abubakar is visiting Akwa Ibom for the 2018 Nigerian Air Force Combat Sports Competition taking place at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium (The Nest Of Champions), Uyo.

Leadership remains people-oriented – Obinwanne

A

n aspirant under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Feggae South 1 State constituency, Barr Clet Chizoba Obinwanne, has maintained that the basis requirement for effective representation of the electorate remains affinity to

Anambra lawmaker tasks ministry on provision of basic amenities hairman, House Committee on Public Utilities and Water Resources in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Uchenna Okafor, has urged the state Ministry to initiate projects to ensure provision of basic amenities.

Okafor, who made the call in in Awka on Tuesday, said that the committee would ensure the ministry discharged its functions through effective oversight functions.

The All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) lawmaker, representing Ayahmelum Constituency, said that the ministry owed the people of the state a great deal of service and promised to ensure that its budget was implemented for their benefit.

He said that the state government was committed to providing the people with electricity,

wellbeing of the people depended on it.

The NBA has nine member countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad.

The overall population of the basin is approximately 130 million

water supply and effective fire service.

Okafor said that the committee had been interfacing with the ministry to ensure that social amenities got to the remotest villages in the state.

According to him, the Commissioner for Public Utilities and Water Resources, Mr Obi Nwankwo has pledged the ministry’s commitment to work with the committee to provide the people with the best service.

Okafor urged the management and staff of the ministry to be alive to their responsibilities to achieve the desired aim of the state government.

He reiterated his commitment in giving quality representation to his constituents and the state at large.

ercise will not be abandoned even when he is elected into office as the Rebirth Initiative has come to stay, adding that ‘leadership requires youth and Vigour,’ even as he charged the youths to ‘take their destiny into their own hands.’

‘As a matter of fact, youths of this country should take over leadership positions,’’ he said.

Commending Obinwanne’s efforts, President General of the Woliwo Community, Hon Thaddeus Ginika Enyiocha charged other political aspirants in the state to emulate him, adding he had no doubt in his mind that he would be of quality representation, if elected.

Speaking in the same vein, Sir Pe-

ter Madueke the APGA Chairman Feggae Ward 7 and Chairman of all Chairmen Onitsha South thanked God and Barr Obinwanne whom he described as God sent, saying the entire Woliwo community is indeed pleased with him.

“On behalf of APGA Ward 7, we say a big thank you to him while praying that God will reward him for his good work. He has been doing this good work in the numerous Wards of this constituency, God will see him through in his endeavors,” said Madueke.

As the exercise progressed, traders and residents of the area joined the aspirant with his team, as they swept clean the entire area.

By CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

her phone was stolen from her by two men operating a taxi, at opposite Jubilee hotel, Kpansia, Yenagoa.

“The victim a female, aged 22 years reported that she contacted one Nathan Ogbara ‘m’ 33 years a taxi driver to drop her at her house at Agudama Epie, after she participated in a dance competition at Bolex car wash.

“The suspect called one Justin Amos ‘m’ 32 years also a taxi driver to join him. Along the road, opposite Jubilee hotel, the suspects parked their cars and dragged the girl to a nearby bush and raped her. They took her GSM phone and zoomed off towards Tombia Roundabout “Consequently, a police patrol team arrested the suspects and recovered the stolen GSM handset. Their taxis have been impounded and investigation is ongoing”.

Taxi drivers in police net for raping female passenger on Easter

P

olice in Bayelsa State have arrested two taxi drivers for allegedly raping a female dancer who boarded a taxi on Easter day in Yenagoa.

Spokesman of the State police command, Asinim Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, who confirmed the arrest of the two suspects on Tuesday in Yenagoa attributed the swift arrest to efforts of the Command Strike Force Team and other Tactical teams introduced by the Commissioner Of Police Don Awunah, to rid Bayelsa of criminal elements.

According to Butswat, under Awunah’s watch, the response time to distress calls has been drastically reduced.

He said, “On 1st April 2018, at about 0200hrs, Police were alerted that a young girl was sexually assaulted and

The Oracle Today

7

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

Embrace culture to strengthen peace – Okowa urges Nigerians

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

ELLTA State Governor Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has urged Nigerians to embrace the culture and customs of their communities to strengthen the peace and unity of the country Speaking at the Organisation For The Advancement Of Anioma Culture (OFAAC) “15th Anioma Cultural Festival,” which held under the theme of; ”Building Bridges,” in Asaba, Governor Okowa said that ‘embracing our culture would help to build bridges across various ethnic groups in the country and strengthen the peace.’

Delta Govt to clamp down on sexual violence

D

elta State government has said it will introduce more measures to curb sexual and gender-based violence in the state.

State Commissioner for Justice, Mr Peter Mrakpor, said this, Thursday during the inauguration of the sexual and gender-based violence response team in Asaba.

The inauguration was witnessed

by Mr Akingbolahan Adeniran, an advocacy officer from the Office of the Vice-President on sexual and gender-based violence.

Mrakpor said that the state government was concerned about the rising cases of sexual violence among youths in the state and described the visit as “a welcome development’’.

He said that domestic violence was not limited to physical assault, saying it included verbal and emotional assaults.

Adeniran commended the state government for the inauguration of the team. He said it would help to sensitise residents of the state on how they could end sexual and gender-based violence.

Adeniran also the Rule of Law Advisor in the office of the VicePresident said there was the need for concerted efforts to address the high rate of sexual gender violence in the country.

ers of the festival, for building ing point for cultural rebirth and bridges across the various sena- unification of Anioma communitorial districts in the state assur- titis in Delta State. ing them of government’s cooperation and support in their various activities.

Earlier, the President of OFAAC, Engr Kester Ifeadi in an opening address, said that the cultural festival was an epochal event for all sons and daughters of Anioma and served as a rallyommissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Mr Iniobong Essien, said that the Akwa Ibom Government had embarked on various flood control intervention in the state since January.

Essien stated this at Ikot Oku Ikono Junction, Uyo, during the monitoring of the ministry’s flood intervention programme on Thursday.

He said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that the impact of the flood in the state was minimal.

He listed Akpan Andem Market, Ewet Housing, Unity Park and Udo Udoma Avenue as flood prone areas, adding that the flooding was due to blocked drains.

“A lot of these areas are flood prone and we have discovered overtime that the drains have been silted and what we are getting is a backlog of water. Once there is an interruption in the continuous flow of water, it leads to flooding.

“We are trying to ensure that we reduce flooding to the minimum, particularly with the prediction from NIMET recently that the intensity of the rains this year will be •Chief Sunday Amaechi Hanson, Chairman Obingwa, and Abia State ALGON Chairman, after HRM Eze Dr I.K more. So, we are preparing for the Nwabiaraije Eneogwe conferred a title on at Abayi Okoroato on Sunday. On his right is Emmanuel Emeruwa, rains.”

Chairman, Aba South LGA The commissioner stressed the importance of free-flowing drain and expressed the hope that the impact of the rains this year would be minimal in the state.

He advised residents of the state main a PDP state; Deltans ensure to desist from the unwholesome representing Aniocha/Oshimili

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba in the Federal House of Repre- you go and get your permanent practice of dumping refuse into voters cards, it will enable you pre- drainage systems.

MMEDIATE past Governor of sentatives at Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha pare for the 2019 elections. I want He noted that what were de-siltNorth local government area of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Udued from the blocked drains were to urge political office holders not aghan, has endorsed his incum- Delta State. predominantly leftover food, doto give the Governor stress, add “Dr Okowa will be the Goverbent, Ifeanyi Okowa for a second value to the Governor’s activities, mestic waste, metals, sachet nylon nor of Delta State from 2015 to term in office, just as he urged don’t give him stress,” he stated. and bottles. political office holders to unflinch- 2023,” he said, adding, “our GovEssien urged the residents to add Continuing, Dr Uduaghan who ernor, don’t listen to the stories value to what the government was ingly support the Governor to sucyou hear, you know the way peo- was the Chairman of the occasion, doing by indulging in positive activiceed. said: “Every representative should Dr Uduaghan spoke at a grand ple talk, don’t worry, no shaking, please, do your best to add value ties that would lead to cleaner environment and enhance the beautiful reception organised in honour we are here for you.

“Delta Is a PDP state, it will re- to your community, it is important ambience of the state. of Hon. Joan Mrakpor, member “I want to compliment the organisers of this festival for keeping hope alive. Organise our people to come together and create this cultural festival. We have to be proud of our cultural heritage. We must associate with ourselves, think together, encourage our youths to understanding our customs, culture, and we will build a stronger society, he said, emphasising that

when we are united we will remain peaceful and add value to the peace of the state.

“With the bridges we have built and the presence of the traditional rulers from across the state, the hand of fellowship will continue to strengthen the peace in the state’, the governor said.

He commended the organis-

Erosion: A’Ibom Govt begins flood control intervention

C

Uduaghan endorses Okowa for second term

I

Enin LG woos investors to grow Lawmaker donates relief materials to victims Mkpat economy, reduce youth restiveness of boundary clash in Cross River C

M

ember representing Abi/ Yakurr Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Mr Bassey Ewa, has donated food and non-consumable items to victims of the recent boundary clash in Osopong community in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River.

Donating the materials in Obubra, weekend, Ewa advised the affected people to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in settling their conflicts rather than going to war with one another.

The people of Osopong were engaged in an inter-state boundary clash with their Izzi neighbours in Ebonyi, between March 16 and 19.

The conflict led to some deaths and injuries.

He said that his visit to the community was to sympathise with

the people over their loss during the clash which he said was condemnable.

“I came here today to express my sympathy over the tragic incident that happened to Osopong community. I feel the pain because I grew up in this community as a child. I brought 20 bundles of zinc, nails, bags of rice, beans, garri, and the sum of N400, 000 for the community.

“For the love that I have for the Obubra Local Government, I will also pay the hospital bills of those currently hospitalised as a result of the clash,’’ he said.

The lawmaker, who said he was eyeing the position of Cross River Central Senatorial District in 2019 general elections, appealed for people’s support.

“As we gradually approach the

2019 general elections, I wish to inform all sons and daughters of Obubra that I am aspiring for the senate position in Cross River Central.’’

The lawmaker called on the National Boundary Commission to visit the affected area and clearly demarcate the boundary, to forestall future clashes.

Paramount Ruler of Obubra, Ovarr Clement Ewuna, thanked the lawmaker for the relief materials, saying that the people of Osopong had suffered serial attacks in recent time.

“On behalf of the Chiefs and elders of Obubra, I want to greatly thank you for this gesture.

“We are giving you our blessings because we know you will do better if you represent us at the Senate,’’ he said.

hairman of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom, Mr Ekanem Brown, has called on investors to partner with the council to grow the economy and reduce youth restiveness.

Brown made the call in Uyo on Monday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the council had provided some infrastructure such as refurbishing the 40 KVA and 165 KVA transformers, in addition to linking the secretariat with public power supply.

The chairman said the road network within the local government had been graded to attract investors to the area, adding that the council had also resuscitated a shoe factory which had been abandoned by two successive governments.

Brown said the resuscitation of the factory was part of measures to create jobs and reduce youth

restiveness.

The chairman said the shoe factory had started to test run production and was canvassing for prospective buyers to take it to the market.

According to him, the shoes being produced from the factory are of high quality that meet international standard.

He said the shoe factory would, at the moment, concentrate with the production of Cortina shoes for students and military boots.

“Even at test run operation, 70 youths are already out of the labour market working in the factory. ‘We have the best shoe factory in the South-South of the country,” the chairman said.

Brown said that Mkpat Enin soil was fertile for agriculture, adding that he has acquired 150 hectares of land for integrated farming programme.

The Oracle Today

8

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

Umahi running one-man administration – Ebonyi APC T

HE opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has described the resignation of the Secretary to the State Government in the state (SSG), Prof. Bernard Odoh, as a vindication of the party’s position that Governor Dave Umahi was running a oneman administration Odoh resigned his appointment as SSG citing non-conducive environment at the Government House and uncooperative attitude of officials of the Umahi administration as reasons for his action as contained in three-page letter addressed to the governor.

However, reacting to Odoh’s resignation, Tuesday, the Ebonyi State Acting Chairman of the APC, Mr Eze Nwachukwu, commended Odoh’s action, as he described the latter’s decision as ‘a good development ,‘ just as he commended him for

taking ‘a progressive step.’

“The resignation is a good development, a decision taken to demonstrate that there is a disconnect in the administration, we commend the erudite professor for taking the right step in the right direction.

“We commend his courage, his boldness for quitting the administration and this has gone a long way in vindicating the position of APC on Umahi’s administration.

“This is a government that has no feeling for the poor, this is a government that is so undemocratic, this is a government that does not adhere to due process, and has no respect for social contract it entered into with the people.

“We are waiting to welcome back the professor into the fold of the progressives where he belongs,’’ Nwachukwu said.

Another APC chieftain, and

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

ate in such deceptive atmosphere where people live opposite of what/who they are.

“Having assured you on my inception of office and at several times that I owe you the responsibility to be truthful and honest always, I wish to inform you that all is not well in your administration sir. If you observe carefully, almost all your appointees are nearly completely disconnected from your policy direction as they lack genuine sense of purpose, dignity, clear sense of commitment to decision taken in Council because of low morale.

“Once more on behalf of my family, friends and those who worked closely with me for almost three years now, I want to most sincerely again say thank you very much for the rare opportunity you offered me to serve our dear state”.

“My appointment as the Secretary to the State government is hereby resigned in good faith.

I have handed over the status of cabinet office to the most senior staff office, Barrister Ogbonnaya Otta in line with the best practices of service”, the letter read in part.

former Commissioner for Works and Transportation, and Environment in Ebonyi, Dr Paul Okorie, noted that the SSG by his resignation exercised his right to freedom of choice.

“It is the right of any appointee in government to choose when to leave and when not to leave, and Odoh by his action yesterday only exercised this freedom of choice,’’ Okorie said.

Odoh who resigned on Mon-

day, said that the atmosphere within the cabinet of the present administration would not allow him and other members of executive embers to discharge their duties optimally.

“The way our administration has been run in the past two years has not offered conducive atmosphere for members of Executive Council and myself in-

clusive, to sincerely air contrary views on matters in EXCO, and contrary views were instantly perceived as not supporting the administration.

“Because of this, majority of council members resorted to praise singing and dramatisation of council procedures in order to guarantee their daily bread,’’ Odoh wrote in his resignation letter.

...SSG quits over ‘deceptive atmosphere’

S

ECRETARY to Ebonyi state government, Prof Bernard Odoh, has resigned his appointment, the Oracle Today authoritatively gathered.

Odoh’s notice of resignation was contained in a three-page letter he wrote to Governor David Umahi dated April 2, 2018.

He gave reasons for resigning, part of which is that despite his sincere effort in working to move the government and the state forward, ‘Umahi never had trust or confidence in him.’

Odoh also said he took his decision ‘so as to protect his relationship’ with the governor, David Umahi, stressing that he has more to preserve than occupy the position of the secretary to state government.

Odoh said that the way by which Umahi’s administration had remained in the past two years ‘has not offered conducive atmosphere for all members of the state executive council members to sincerely air and express their views on sensitive policy matters.’

“In my opinion, this is the highest level of hypocrisy and the values I live do not allow me to oper-

Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Nweze Umahi accompanied by his wife, Chief (Mrs) Rachel Umahi, cutting the tape to commission 100 brand new SUV cars for all the traditional rulers in the State, 400 tricycles and N300,000 each for agricultural empowerment for Ebonyi farmers.

Umahi invalidates Odoh’s resignation …Odoh’s action shameful – Ezza clan

By VICTOR NZE

T

here is now controversy surrounding the termination of appointment of Prof Bernard Odoh as Secretary to State Government of Ebonyi (SSG) as Governor David Umahi, yesterday, said that the embattled former secretary was indeed sacked as against the earlier claimed resignation.

Umahi who said the former SSG sent in his resignation letter on a public holiday, stated that he has now been formally sacked, adding further that Odoh has since been replaced by Dr. Hygenus Nwokwu as the new SSG. Announcing the sack in the Government House, Abakaliki, during a massive solidarity rally by the people of Ezza Ezekuna, the most

Group decries activities of ‘godfathers’ in Abia

A

group known as the Concerned Citizens for a Better Abia has blamed the developmental setback in Abia State to alleged activities of ‘godfathers’ in the state.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr Dave Agwalla, made this known in Enugu, Monday while briefing newsmen at the end of a special prayer session for God’s intervention in the state.

“We call on our honest, patriotic leaders and the people of Abia to rise and condemn these acts and prevail on the leadership of the state to serve the people instead of godfathers.

“Abia must cease to be haven for godfathers and their cohorts.

We encourage all Abians to be

part of the solution by participating actively in the political process. We also request all Abians living outside the state to transfer their voter registration to the state within the time allowed to be able to vote for change in the state.

“We are determined to carry our good men and women along this time to achieve the desired and enduring change. Abia State must be given the right footing to take off. Enough of the mess and suffering,’’ Agwalla said.

Earlier, an elder statesman from the state, Dr James Onyike, in a speech entitled; `My Message for a Better Abia’, said that the founding fathers of the state were not happy on the “very slow pace’’ of

development in Abia.

Onyike said that all the state’s contemporary especially in the South East were clear ahead of it.

According to him, there should be an avoidance of a system of political patronage that breeds irresponsibility and lack of concern for public interest.

“Political parties should get together and decide on a competent, consensus candidate, a man or woman of high achievement and integrity that can fast-track the economic transformation of the state on assumption of office,’’ he said.

The elder statesman urged the people of the state to ensure that a credible personality was elected in 2019.

populous clan in the state, Governor Umahi said he has invalidated the resignation letter earlier submitted by the sacked SSG because the letter was written on a public holiday and therefore did not hold any valid meaning.

“In my capacity as the Governor of Ebonyi state, I hereby nullify the purported letter of resignation earlier written by Prof Odoh because he wrote the letter on a public holiday and we all know that by law, any letter of resignation done on a public holiday does not hold water.

I also here and now announce his sack as the Secretary to the State Government, SSG” Umahi further lamented that despite the love he showed the former SSG even though he was not a member of his political party, the PDP at the time of his appointment, the young man still stabbed him at the back.

“I appointed him SSG because I felt he was a responsible Ezza man. Many people faulted his appointment because he was not a PDP member but an APGA senatorial candidate in 2015 general election. Since his appointment, I have shown him love and assisted him so many ways. I called him to my country home and told him that case of murder is a very serious one, I asked him to see me but he switched off his phone throughout the Easter period and the next thing I heard was his resignation letter flying up and down in the social media” Nwokwu before his appointment was the Deputy Director General of Divine Mandate, a political platform in which Governor Umahi ran his campaign in 2015 general election and also hails from the same

Ezza North local government area of the state with the sacked SSG. Speaking earlier during the solidarity rally by the Ezza nation, member representing Ikwo/ Ezza South federal constituency, Laz Ogbee said they were in Government House to disassociate themselves and The entire Ezza nation from what he described as ‘a shameful action of the former SSG.’ He said his action did not reflect the character of Ezza man, adding that he took the unilateral decision to embarrass the state government without any recourse to his people, the Ezza nation in whose trust he held the position of Secretary to the State Government.

Mr. Anayo Edwin Nwonu representing Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency described the action of the former SSG as embarrassment to the image of Ezza nation and called on the governor to disregard the action as the entire Ezza nation will give him massive support in 2019 governorship election.

Others who spoke during the rally included the Chairmen of Ezza South and Ezza North local government areas, Sunday Ogodo and Mrs. Nora Alo, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, Chief Geoffery Chukwu, Mrs. Euphemia Nwali, the Commissioner for Water Resources, member representing Ezza North state Constituency, Mr. Victor Chukwu and the State Secretary of PDP, Chief Simbro Nwanyingor as well as Ezeogo Nwite Ngele among others.

They thanked Governor Umahi for appointing many Ezza sons and daughters into positions of trust and assured him that the people of Ezza nation will vote massively for his re-election in 2019.

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

POLITICS

Govt. must check the How I brought peace, activities of herders development to Ishiagu – Aribogha college – Provost Pg 10 Pg 12

2019: Uba brothers, Ukachukwu, Ifeanyi Uba in battle for the soul of Anambra South

F

ollowing the swearing-in of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for a second term in office two weeks ago, the political attention in Anambra the Light of the Nation, has conspicuously shifted to the race for National Assembly positions in the Senate and Federal House of Representatives, available for politicians to grab in next year’s general election.

Expectedly, the ruling party in the State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is clearly holding the ace as the toast of the people as the party appears to be enjoying the bandwagon effect of its victory in 21 local government areas in the State in the governorship election last year. Evidence of this is that politicians aspiring for elective positions in the 2019 general elections on the platform of APGA have started to boldly show face while their counterparts in other parties such as All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are nowhere to be found.

Aspirants for State House of Assembly and National Assembly positions under APGA are already strutting the political space in branded vehicles, armed with posters, billboards and handbills, to indicate their interest to fly the flag of the party in the 2019 polls. Some have held ceremonies with their constituents and addressed press conference to declare their intention to run for Senate, Federal House of Representatives and State House of Assembly posts respectively.

Attention, however, is focused mainly on the race for National Assembly positions where some political heavyweights are set to trade tackles for Senate and Federal House of Representatives seats. Among the heavyweights who have set their eyes on the Senate under APGA are Osumenyi-born business tycoon, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu alias Ikukuoma, the Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Ifeanyi Uba who is also the Proprietor of Ifeanyi Uba Football Club of Nnewi and Hon Ikenna Amechi, the son of Minister of Aviation in the First Republic, Chief Mbazuluike Amechi (the Boy is good).

Ikukuoma, Uba, Amechi and others are set to fight for the ticket of APGA for the race into the seat of Anambra South Senatorial District at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. In Anambra North, a chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief Emejulu Okpalaukwu Okpallaezeukwu, a former Adviser to Governor Obiano Chief Fidel Malinze and others are reported to be interested to see off Princess Stella Odua from the Senate. In Anambra Central it is likely that Senator Victor Umeh will fly the flag of APGA to face others in other parties.

For the Federal House of Representatives it is certain that APGA will make a good outing against APC and PDP. The Oracle Today gathered that APGA is set to field candidates who are strong enough in the estimation of the electorate to wrestle Anambra’s 11 seats in the Federal House of Representatives from their current occupiers, who are mainly in the PDP. In Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, Ifeanyi Ibezi is said to be well prepared to use the platform of APGA to wrestle the seat of Idemili in the Green Chamber from Hon Obinna Chidoka of the PDP. In Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency, Hon Chugbo Enwezor the current member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the State House of Assembly along with Chief Pat Obianwu Nwachi a former governorship aspirant under APGA and Hon Antonia Tabansi Okoye, an ex member of the State House of Assembly are all set to use the platform of APGA to unseat Hon Lynda Ikpeazu of the PDP from House of Representatives.

In Aguata Federal Constituency, Chief Don

APGA is the new bride in Anambra party politics and the State’s big shots/money bags can’t wait to ride to power on its wings.

THEO RAYS, in Onitsha, reports.

•Ukachukwu Okafor and possibly Ikem Uzoezie and Hon Ikechukwu Umeoji both current members representing Aguata Constituency 1&2 in the Anambra State House of Assembly among others are set to fight to unseat Hon Eucharia Azodo from House of Representatives and hoist the flag of APGA thereof. In Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, Obiano’s ex-political adviser Mr Chinedu Obidigwe is said to be unopposed aspirant of APGA and ready enough to fight for the seat currently occupied by Hon. Tony Nwoye.

In Nnewi Federal Constituency comprising Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas, APGA Mellie Onyejiekwu is leading an array of APGA aspirants ready to truncate the third term ambition of Hon Chris Azubuogu of the PDP. In Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Hon Benson Nwawulu, the current member representing Okpoko Constituency along with former Speaker Chinwe Nwebili and Arinze Awogu are said have begun moves in earnest under APGA to unseat Chuchu Onyema of the PDP In places like Awka North and South, Oyi and Ayamelum, Orumba North and South as well as Njikoka, Anaocha and Dunukofia Federal Constituencies, where the incumbent members are of the APGA fold, it may be difficult for other political parties to take the Constituencies away from the ruling party in the State. For instance, the member representing Njikoka, Anaocha, Dunukofia Hon Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo is said to be so well rooted that the Constituency is a no go area to other parties.

In Awka North and South, Hon. Anayo Nebe who decamped from PDP to APGA at the peak of campaign for the governorship election last year is ready to retain the seat for APGA. In Orumba North and South, Ben Nwankwo who also dumped PDP for APGA during the governorship poll is ready to fight for APGA but Nwankwo has Chief Ezenwankwo to contend with for the ticket of APGA. Ezenwankwo, a market leader,

•Ifeanyi Uba declared his interest to run under APGA at a ceremony held recently.

Similarly Gabriel Onyenwuife who represents Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency under APGA is ready to do the party proud by retaining the seat.

In Ihiala Federal Constituency, Obiano’s aide Chido Obidiegwu along side veteran female politician, Edith Ejezie and others have begun moves to deliver Ihiala for APGA by unseating Emeka Anohu The battle for the soul of Anambra South With the impression that the next Governor of Anambra State will come from Anambra South Senatorial District based on zoning arrangement in the State, the National Assembly election is to determine the shape of things to come in the District. As ever, the likes of incumbent Senator Andy Uba of the APC, his brother and godfather of Anambra politics Chris Uba who is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP are strong forces to contend with in the District.

While Senator Uba is allegedly eyeing a third term in the Senate, his brother Chris is reported to be saying that it is his turn to take a shot at the Senate having watched his brothers Ugochukwu and Andy occupy the seat at different points. Senator Ugochukwu Uba represented Anambra South in the Senate from 2003-2007. He was dethroned by Ikechukwu Obiora in the 2007 PDP primary but Andy defeated Obiora in 2011 and retained the seat in 2015 defeating his brother Chris for PDP ticket amid litigation that lingered up to the Supreme Court.

Analysts say victory for the Senate and House of Representatives seats in Anambra South is an advancement for the party involved and that is why the political parties would file out the best for the 2019 polls.

There are four House of Representatives seats in Anambra South. They are Aguata, Ihiala, Orumba North and South and Nnewi Federal Constituencies respectively. As expected Senator Uba is to lead the APC pack

in the District while his brother Chris is in charge of the PDP line up.

APGA line-up depends on who wins the ticket for he Senate poll in the primary election. Observers say Ikukuoma who is an ex member of the Federal House of Representatives and a two-time governorship candidate in the State is the man to beat for the ticket. The Osumenyi-born tycoon who represented Abuja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives 1999-2003 and contested the Governorship under the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in 2007 and under Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in 2011 respectively is the leading contender for the ticket because of his strong political structure in the District.

Soludo and other factors A discussion on the future of Anambra South is incomplete without the mention of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

Some relevant stakeholders in APGA see the former CBN boss as the pride of the South and who is the best choice to take over from Obiano in the next dispensation. To these stakeholders, Soludo for Governor is not negotiable and those eyeing the Senate under APGA have to be told to shelve gubernatorial ambition in 2023.

Other factors that would shape the fate of Anambra South is the interest of Governor Willie Obiano. Obiano is said to have a good relationship with some opposition politicians following the latter’s undercover support for his re-election. Some members of the opposition, it is believed, rallied PDP bigwigs including former Chairman of PDP Prince Emeakai, Senator Odua and others behind Obiano for his re-election. Come 2019, Obiano may be tempted to pay back one way or another.

The battle for the soul of the South will have Obiano at the centre and as the man in charge, his influence will go along way to decide the fate of the district in 2019.

10

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

POLITICS What do you have to say about the increasing activities of Fulani herdsmen who are killing people across the country especially in Benue and other States in the north?

It is true that herdsmen are killing people with impunity, but if I may ask, what name do we give them now beside herdsmen? This is because when it becomes incessant, then, a name should be given to them. But one way out is that we should protect our borders very well because our borders are porous and most of the cattle rearers come from outside the country. It is very unfortunate that most of the herdsmen are not Nigerians, rather, they come from outside the country to kill our people. For instance, can our people go to another country to kill people there? The truth is that our security system should be strengthened People are suggesting that state police is a major step towards solving our security challenges in the country. What is your take on this?

This issue of creation of state police has been discussed on several occasions.

Initially, I was not in support of it but when there are changes in situation, we also have to change with the time. Why I have made a shift in my statement is that, in this country, everybody needs security; even the states need to have their own security within their confined geographical area. Laws should be made to back up the state police policy because without it the system will not be stabilized. Going by the way things are happening in the country, I have endorsed state police.

Don’t you think it could be abused by state governors, other politicians as well as the rich in society?

Yes, that was my initial fear but the way things are going in the country now, we need it. Besides, laws should be made to check misuse of state police by governors and the rest.

Govt. must check the activities of herders -- Aribogha

•Supports creation of state police Dr. Clarkson Aribogha, an Ijaw opinion leader and human rights activist has condemned the activities of herders who are killing people with impunity without the federal government showing concern. He urges President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive steps to end the carnage and condemns moves to introduce cattle colonies across the country while supporting the creation of State Police. In this chat with EMMANUEL OGOIGBE in Warri, he also speaks on other issues of national importance. Excerpts:

What about cattle colonies? Do you support their creation across the country?

A lot of Nigerians wants to know what Mr. President is doing with the money he has retrieved from corrupt Nigerians, what is your reaction to this?

It is a clear thing that the monies now belong to the Federal Government, it is no longer personal; so, the people who are asking have the right to ask and, it is left for the president to respond because I cannot respond for him.

Which do you prefer: parliamentary or presidential system of government?

Well, it is not the name given to it that matters, but the implementation; it is the people’s vision and mind-set that matters a lot. For instance, all the ones we have copied from America and the United Kingdom do not really matter because we are not doing the tenets of both system of government, rather we are doing a different thing entirely.

Sadly, we are not practicing true federalism; we just bear the name. So, if we cannot practice it, we should be honest to ourselves, hence I am in support of restructuring, which is the panacea to the failures we have been experiencing.

I recall when the late Gani Fawehimi said that there is no law backing the office of First Lady, describing it as a waste of public fund because there is no law backing it. It is unfortunate that the matter died naturally. My advice is that we should sit down and think about restructuring, which I believe is the way out of the present quagmire.

What do you have to say about the controversial Maritime University billed to open this April?

It is a welcome idea and we thank God Almighty for touching the hearts of our leaders. If the university kicks off, it will benefit every Nigerian and not only Ijaws.

It is my prayer that even those who opposed it should join hands with others to make the university a huge success.

As a lawyer, would you support calls by some Nigerians on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Inspector General of Police following the upsurge of mindless killings of Nigerians by gunmen?

Politically people may demand the sack of somebody who is not doing well, but to be honest, it is not because of the weakness of the IGP that made crime to be on the increase in the country; also remember too that the IGP alone cannot provide security for everybody; in fact, security should be a team work of all and sundry. It is not possible that one man should provide security for the country that is as large and thickly populated as Nigeria. The truth is that we should all join the police to make this issue of security work.

Comment on Dapchi students that were kidnapped by gunmen few weeks ago?

Yes, this is like the Chibok girls that suffered the same fate a few years ago.

In fact, I call on government to set up security a post in every girls’ school across the country mostly in the North to stem the daily occurrence of kidnapping. Every Nigerian should join hands and fight the scourge. And our attitude is still responsible for what we are experiencing today.

Besides, laws should be made to allow people to own guns for self-defence. I think it is the right thing to do in the light of the way Nigeria is going now. We also need to bring in foreign experts to assists in actualizing this system. However, the IGP should have sent some security agents to the girls schools in order to check the excesses of gunmen killing our people on a daily basis.

many Nigerians.

What advice do you have for Nigerians towards 2019?

Yes, I have said it before that politics should not be taken as a do or die affair.

Politicians should spend their money wisely and not fighting one another. We should play politics without bitterness; there should be no oppression, maiming or killing of persons.

•Aribogha Cattle colony is a new thing to us because in the past, nobody ever thought about it. Creation of cattle colonies is not possible because it will snowball into other untoward events. The issue is a nogo-area because it will give more powers to herders to continue to kill and maim innocent persons. It is likened to a suicide mission who should not be encouraged at all.

Sir, since President Buhari came on board, he has been fighting corruption and insecurity, but is he succeeding?

Corruption is already part of us and it’s very hard for someone to quantify the percentage of the fight against the scourge. In fact, I describe it as a stub-

born sour that has refused to go. One man cannot even solve that problem.

In my view, from the grassroots to the top, everybody is corrupt; nobody is a saint. Who is that person you think is incorruptible that can deliver Nigeria? The only area where corruption can be fought to the extent that people will fear is by attaching death sentence to it and if all Nigerians agree that, if you steal certain amount of money and the court convicts you, there should be no option of fine but death sentence, this will make a whole lot of difference. This is because people are ready in Nigeria to commit corruption and be ready to go to jail so that by the time they come out, they will enjoy their stolen money. That is the thinking of

What do you have to say about the problems pervading the niger delta development commission (NDDC)?

We know that Mr President is doing his best by approving money for projects for the commission, but we still need more funds to go ahead. One of the problems we have is the apathy of the multinational companies to develop the suffering oil producing communities.

Government should provide adequate fund for the commission to perform better. Secondly, the time frame is too short for the managers to perform. What I am saying is that two years’ time frame is too small, rather, it should be extended to four years because NDDC is impacting a lot of communities. Sadly, the core oil-producing communities are not being taken care of.

What is your comment on the overall Niger Delta question?

The new vision we are envisaging is that the area that generates about 80% of the nation’s income should be adequately taken care of. Our people should overlook past ugly issues and have a new heart. On Tompolo, he has really tried for his people and federal government should also pardon him because he does not mean harm to anybody. We should all embrace peace and a lot of things will turn around for the good of the region.

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

INTERVIEW

11

I would die if I stopped teaching – Nwafor, Nigeria’s longest serving teacher At a time when many people say that the teaching profession in Nigeria is not worth dying for, Mr. John Nwafor, Nigeria’s serving teacher who has taught about 6,000 pupils through his career, says he would die if he stopped teaching. In this interview with COLLINS UGHALAA in Owerri, Mr. Nwafor says he has been in the classroom for 60 years and that he was employed as a teacher at the age of 17 but was compelled to defer his service by one year because it was feared that the pupils who were enrolled into primary school in the 50s as adults might not show him some respect, particularly due to his small stature.

Therefore he began his teaching career proper at the age of 18, spending 60 years in his career.

Recently, the news that you have spent 60 years and counting in active teaching went viral. Tell us how it all began.

First and foremost, I thank God for the gift of life and sound health. I am grateful that He made me discover my vocation early.

Well, my journey as a teacher began in 1958 at CMS School, Umuehi, Mgbidi in Oru West LGA of Imo State. I qualified in 1957, having passed the teachers’ recruitment test. However, the recruitment officials postponed my deployment to the classroom because I was quite young and smallish in stature. They insisted that my being under 18 would give me a hard time with the students. They feared that my potential pupils would not accord me due respect because that was a period when primary school pupils enrolled in schools mostly as adults. I accepted their judgement and waited to ‘’grow up’’. After one year of deferment of my deployment, I was eventually posted to CMS School Mgbidi, in 1958. That was the beginning of what I am celebrating today.

How have you managed to sustain your passion for the grunt work of teaching primary school kids?

To be frank, I believe that when one chooses a career he loves so much, he would have little or no difficulty sustaining the passion. My love for teaching is as strong as diamond. I feel that my life is inextricably tied to teaching. I am afraid that I would die if I retire from the classroom. I teach in my dreams. I often have wild imagination of classroom activities in my quiet moments. My first day in classroom is one of my happiest moments in life.

That happiness is renewed each time I teach in the classroom. That was why I couldn’t stop teaching in 1993 when I retired from the public service after 35 years. And today, after six decades of my engagement as a teacher, that enthusiasm has remained intact.

Of all the options available to a young educated boy in the 1950s, why did you choose the teaching profession?

During my childhood days, almost 99% of my town’s people were stack illiterates. Very few people could read and right. The only ones who could

spell their names and write a letter were regarded as rare species. I saw teaching as a way I could spread enlightenment all over my environment. I chose to become a teacher to help liberate the society from the shackles of illiteracy and ignorance.

You are reputed to be the longest serving teacher in Nigeria. Can you substantiate the claim?

I make bold to say that I am the longest serving teacher in Nigeria because there is no living Nigerian who has a verifiable record of long service as a teacher that matches or surpasses mine. I know about Francis Santa Maria, the longest serving teacher in Malaysia, who was honoured in 2015, and listed into the Malaysian book of records with the accolade of “longestserving teacher”.

What prompted you to write in your celebration note that you feel fulfilled looking back at the reason you chose to be a teacher?

I am a fulfilled man because I found my calling and stayed true to it till today. I devoted myself to the cause of propagating knowledge and cultivating young minds. I have taught over 6,000 children of different generations. Many of them have gone on to attain success in different fields of human endeavor.

I feel it is a huge success story that I have spent 60 years of my life moulding the beginning of numerous professionals. I can count medical doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, political leaders that have passed through my potter’s wheel.

What are the changes the teaching profession in Nigeria has un-

I am a fulfilled man because I found my calling and stayed true to it till today. I devoted myself to the cause of propagating knowledge and cultivating young minds. I have taught over 6,000 children of different generations.

dergone since you started out as a teacher 60 years ago?

Teaching has suffered an erosion of its profile in Nigeria over the past five decades. It is no longer a noble profession as we used to know it. It no longer appeals to the youth. It has become the temporary refuge for unemployment rejects. I think the reason is simple: there is little or no investment in the teachers’ welfare. Teachers are owed salaries for months. Whereas they were dignitaries in the past, nowadays, they are objects of misery and suffering.

As a teacher, what suggestions can you proffer to enhance the effectiveness of the teaching profession in Nigeria?

The government should institute a special salary scale for teachers and prioritize the payment of educationists as at when due. It should be a criminal offense for a state government or the proprietor of a private school to deny teachers their hardearned wages. In addition, there should be an attractive reward system. By rewarding excellence and creating incentives for hard work, the glory of the teaching profession would be restored.

12

The Oracle Today Wednesday April , 2018

POLITICS

How I brought peace, development to Ishiagu college – Provost

In this interview with CHINEDU NWAFOR, the Provost Ishiagu Federal College of Agriculture, Ebonyi state, PROF. JUSTINA MGBADA, explains how she tackled many problems ranging from internal and external crises, poor infrastructure, cultism, among others, that hitherto ravaged the college before she assumed office as the Provost.

We observed unlike before that federal college of Agriculture is witnessing high increase in student enrolment in the last 2 years. What is the magic behind it?

That’s a very good question. You know they say, development is like a we-like thing. When I came here, it was just like a glorified secondary school. That’s what they used to call it. A village secondary school. It is not only that it was structurally backward, it was filled with crises.

So, under that condition, no youth: girl or boy, will want to go to school in that kind of environment. When students go to school, they like to boast that they are in federal institution with good environment.

That was the case at that time and it made students especially those outside the catchment area not to enrol into the school. When I came in, I discovered these causes of backwardness. Those things that make students not to like here were addressed. One of those things that made students not to like here was lack of school gate but within six months of my assumption here, I constructed the college gate. At least, when one is passing, the person will know that this is a federal college. The gate gave the college a facelift. Before then, there was no structure or road that led to the school as a federal institution.

As at then, those coming into this school will have to pull off their shoes or trousers to be able to cross the mud on the road and those coming into the school in dry season wear dust as socks. Based on our financial capacity then, we were able to get stone dust from quarry industry to at least make the road accessible to an extent. But after a while, with God on my side, I was able to secure a budget that we used to tare the road. As I’m speaking with you now, every part of the college is tarred even to the farm. All of them asphalted. In front of the gate, it has a well landscaped outfit with flowers. And last year budget, we were able to secure approval for installation of solar energy light. We installed it on all the streets of the college such that if you come here in the night, you won’t believe what you will see. And the a students are happy.

Is just like what is happening in the state. Our governor,David Umahi, is beautifying the state to the status of Las Vegas. That’s what they call it now. Las Vegas of Nigeria. We can now say that our college here is Las Vegas of Ishiagu.

That is another factor. As a parent, you will not like your children to live in school where there is no drinking water. This place before now, had no drinking water and because they have a peculiar topography, it is difficult to get borehole from this place.

What I did was install 400 capacity water treatment plant using the only one perennial river, Ivo River, to supply water to the treatment machine. So, today, our students have their drinking water which is safe and healthy.

We also have light now. It will amaze you that a big town like Ishiagu does not have electricity.

Because of this, we supplied solar panel. Every department/class in this school has 24 hrs light under the solar panel services. So, these are the basic things needed for anybody’s survival.

Now, the face of the school has been lifted and the youths are now happy to be associated with the school. You can see students in front of the gate snapping pictures and posting them on Facebook and other social media platforms. They are now proud to say, yes, this is my college.

Because of the developmental strides, youths from all parts of the country are eager to come to the school. The structure of the school has also been enhanced. You can see our crops, learning facilities, classrooms, hostels, E-library, CBT, and everything you can think of that is obtainable in this school. And we have well equipped and trained personnel. So, why students won’t come to study here? Every unit has

and every semester, once after exams they write their report. Students involved in exam malpractice will face the panel, and those found guilty; some will be expelled, some suspended and some failed and that has been on.

And we have done it consistently such that students have known that we are not here to play. So, it has been reduced to a very minimal level. So, the issue of students violence is no longer obtainable here. When some students tried to do demonstration, they were severely punished because there was no reason for that. So, the whole school is calm and peaceful and the students, staff and host community are enjoying it.

•PROF. JUSTINA MGBADA

PhD holders. And when you graduate here, you can compete favorably with your counterparts from any part of the world. That’s why people see this place as a good place to come and they have been coming. In the past two years, we have been having influx of students from all parts of the country.

How did you raise fund to do all these?

Yes, you know it is said that anybody with the favor of God, will always get anything you planned for or dreamed about. I’m somebody that believes that nothing is impossible. Some people look at the tremendous challenges and problems facing them and they will just be demoralized. But myself as a professor of Agriculture extension, Agriculture extension is all about program development. So, it is our training that no problem is insurmountable.

Because of that and coupled with favor of God upon my life, that’s why when I sit down, I plan, pray, pursue, overtake and get what I wanted.

So, all these funds is from the federal government. I have never collected one kobo loan from anybody. And I have never misused any money given to me. I articulate and carefully craft them in into the budget and I go to Abuja to strongly defend them with strong points that nobody will question it. When it is approved, God helps us in securing some releases, though, we have never had 100 percent release. But we ensure that any one that is released is used for whatever thing it is released for. No diversion of fund, no embezzlement of fund and no greed. I have always told people that I am a woman. What do I need? I need minimal things. So, my aim and objective is to put my name in the sound print that whenever I finish and go out, people will always make reference to my stay here. Whatever money I get from federal government I put it to use and people see it.

What have been your challenges as the college Provost?

My challenges I can say is that most of the projects I planned to execute are not yet executed because of lack of fund. You can see that is the general problem. When budget is

appropriated and approved, release becomes a problem. That brings about end product. We also produce cassava into different product like garri. We also have a specie of cassava we produce for export. We all have produce of high quality cassava floor which is composite of bread making. All those things are produced here and they are all marketable. We also plant palm tree, process the fruits into oil. This year, we had about 18 drums of oil which is well processed and sold. We also have a form of bee farming which we process in Honey processing machine and today, Ishiagu has one of the best honey. We have fish unit starting from hatchery to juvenile which we produce into adult.

And we have special way of processing our fish to any form you want. Some are smoked and others half smoked with some spices that will make them to last for six months. We have pork and other things and all these are finished to end product for sale. We have marketing unit. If you go there you see what we produce.

What is your relationship with your management staff like?

We have a very cordial relationship. Very cordial. You see I came a little bit late today and you saw one of my management staff when he came to my office to say, Prof. this one you came late, I hope there is no problem? That’s to tell you the extent of our cordial relationship.

We live like a family. Since I assumed office, we have not been having any problem with my management and also transcended to other staff and the students; because, without them I cannot do it alone. Sometime ago, my management staff contributed money on their own without my knowledge and gave me award, bought gift items for me. So, that explains the kind of relationship between us.

How have been able to manage cultism and other social vices among students in the school?

Before I came in, the school had a high cases of cultism but we have dealt with that once and for all. I expelled many students and others learnt their lessons. So, you hardly see any cult activity again. For those who indulge in exam malpractice, we have a disciplinary committee

What have been your experiences since you became the Provost of this institution?

Well, as a Provost, I can say I have garnered a lot of experiences: leadership, interactive and community experiences. And by the Grace of God we have been able to surmount some of these experiences. The basic ones we surmounted when I came in newly was crises, lack of love and unity among the students, staff and students, among staff, and the college and host community. But today, there is peace in the college and with external bodies. Some other challenges, we believe that as time goes on, we will sort them out. Well, the crisis was a burning issue then but it was also being discussed but I don’t want to lay more emphasis on it because it has been discussed severally.

What I can tell you is that we were able to surmount it. Because when I saw it as one of the things that could hinder the success of my administration. I initiated dialogue with the staff, students and the host community and appealed to every body to burry the hatchet and join hands with me to move the a school forward. There were about 14 issues raised as the cause of problems in the school but I’m proud to say that we have been able to resolve all of them. The last one was registrarship issue but that has been resolved. The position has been given to the person who is supposed to be there. We have also met with the community and we both agreed to work together and we have been working together. But to God be the Glory who gave me the grace and wisdom to resolve the issues.

Let us digress a bit, what is your assessment of government policies in combatting food insecurity in Nigeria?

In food production, I can say, that they are trying because a lot of interest and attention is being given to agriculture. Even when we go to Abuja for budget defense, priorities are given to agriculture based institutions. That’s why we were able to get much. But you know that policy is a three stage something. You make the policy, you transfer the policy and execute the policy. So, policy wise, agriculture is getting priority interest from the government. And for us, we are making sure that the end users which are the farmers including the youths are being equipped with what they need to go into better production of food. With what is happening I can say, there is increased food production in the country.

People are advocating for a return to the old type of farm settlement, what is your opinion on that?

The old type of farm settlement if revisited with conscious attempt to deliver or achieve its goals, it will be good. But there is one thing we noticed. Because we are the people in the field as an extension personnel, some times when the youths are trained and they get the empowerment, they abandon the program.

We are saying that if adequate attention will be given, farm settlement will help to solve the problem; if not for any other thing, for acquisition of land.

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

POLITICS

Umahi’s reign of empowerment

S

ince Governor David Umahi took over the mantle of leadership in Ebonyi state, a greater percentage of his administration’s policies and programmes has been centred on empowerment of the people.

Unlike the past administrations, which enriched only a few persons while a greater percentage of Ebonyians was allowed to wallow in poverty, Umahi’s administration took a paradigm shift.

Because he seems to understand the level of poverty in the state, he has since jettisoned the old cliché of empowering a few people while the rest of the population languishes in poverty. Perhaps, that’s why his empowerment scheme is designed to cut across all strata. He is an apostle of the belief that any empowerment programme that does not trickle down to all segments of the society may not achieve the desired result, which is mainly to reduce the poverty level among the people.

When Umahi’s government announced the plans to empower over 4000 youths and women with two hundred and fifty thousand naira (#250,000), it was understood in some quarters as the usual gimmicks used by government to launder its image.

And those who reasoned along this line are not to be blamed, because, over time, past administrations/ politicians in the state have made such promises and ended up failing to fulfill them. Even when such promises are fulfilled, they do so to their relations and that of their cronies.

But to the chagrin of Ebonyians, Umahi matched his words with action when over 4000 youths and women were selected including Ebonyians residing in other states and given #250,000 each to start business/trade of their choice. The government successfully bridged the wide gap often seen between government and the masses in selecting beneficiaries of such a program. The governor almost did the selection himself in an attempt to ensure the empowerment got to the deserving people. He also rehabilitation of over 520 indigent street hawkers in Lagos and Onitsha including those that engaged in commercial motorcycle business.

Another greatest strides of Umahi’s empowerment scheme, is the inclusion of a huge number of Ebonyians especially youths in governance. His administration appointed over 1500 persons into different positions of authority.

Also, in order to bring the people nearer to the seat of power and give them sense of belonging, he created a lot of hitherto nonexisting positions through which a lot of persons have been empowered in no small measure.

Before he assumed office, the 64 Development Centres in the state composed of a Coordinator and 6 Management members each, but he came and jacked up the number of the Management members to 8.

Umahi also introduced Technical Assistant (TA) and Senior Technical Assistant (STA) portfolios and appointed over 500 persons most of whom are youths to fill the vacancies. He equally created positions such as Gover-

From Abakaliki, CHINEDU NWAFOR writes that, from his observation, all Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has done since coming to power is empower his people!

•Governor Umahi distributing jeeps to Traditional Rulers, at his immediate left is the Chairman, Ebonyi Traditional Rulers council, HRH Charles Mkpuma

• Hyundai jeeps distributed to Traditional Rulers by Governor Umahi

•Tricycles distributed to Ebonyi youths by Governor Umahi

nor’s Liaison Officers in all the 171 wards, Local government Advisors, among many others in his quest to alleviate poverty in the state. By appointing many people into his government, Umahi dashed the hope of some greedy politicians who had wanted him to appoint few persons like the past administrations, so that the few will be enriched to the detriment of a greater percentage of the populace.

The government through the office of governor’s wife, Chief Mrs Rachel Umahi, has empowered many less privileged women especially the widows. The government has wiped the tears of many widows by placing over three thousand of them drawn from across the 13 local government areas on monthly stipend of #10,000 each, while others were given #100,000 to begin businesses of their choice. This is the first time in the history of the state that widows and the less privileged are being so honored by government. This singular action has truly changed the story of many homes. A visit to the villages would convince any doubting Thomas that the empowerment of these widows has made a lot of impact that cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

The agricultural policies of Governor Umahi have also been applauded among the comity of Governors. He has introduced a lot of Agricultural policies and programmes that empowered Ebonyians including civil/public servants to go into farming. He

introduced interest free loans to interested persons who wish to go into farming. He also purchased agricultural mechanized equipment and distributed to the 13 LGAs where it will be easier for individuals at the grassroot to access. Improved seedlings such as rice, etc, are periodically distributed to farmers by government to ease the difficulty in getting them. In point of fact, the renewed interest in agriculture courtesy of Umahi’s administration has become evident on the increasing food production especially rice in the state. The governor has also earmarked 8 billion naira Bank of Industry loan to empower the people. The loan attracts only 5% interest with six months moratorium.

While Ebonyians are still rejoicing for benefiting in one way or the other from the numerous empowerment programmes of Umahi’s administration, the governor on March 29th 2018, at Pa Ngele Oruta stadium, empowered another set of Ebonyians by distributing over 400 tricycles free of charge to Ebonyi youths. Umahi while distributing the tricycles said the best way to empower youths is to get them into doing something that would sustain and earn them daily bread. He said his intention was to create a millionaire club through empowerment of the youths. The governor at the event also launched the allocation of #300,000 to hundreds of persons as agricultural empowerment grant.

Umahi while distributing the tricycles remarked that he embarked on the project knowing that no amount of money shared to individuals would solve their needs and make them useful, but engaging them positively to be self sustaining. He further added that Ebonyi state government would rehabilitate 100 boys with questionable character from every community of the state to make them self reliant and eliminate crime.

“Individuals should be empowered to become their own managing directors as democratic dividends do not only involve infrastructures but human empowerment. We had to instill confidence in our people through empowerment to erase inferior complex occasioned by several years of criminal marginalization before our state’s creation,” he said.

Another aspect of governor Umahi’s empowerment strides that has excited Ebonyians is the restoration of the prestige and dignity of the state’s traditional institution. Overtime, traditional institution in the state suffered criminal neglect from the past administrations. Traditional Rulers were badly neglected. Stipends of less than #50,000 were being given to very few of them who are in government good book.

But Umahi on assumption of office assured of the readiness of his administration to improve the standard of living of the state’s Traditional Rulers and restore the dignity and prestige of the

institution. That, his government has been able to achieve. The stipends of the Traditional rulers have been increased to #100,000 monthly and paid as at when due.

Umahi’s administration has also given so many Traditional Rulers staff of office who were hitherto not recognized by government as well as new ones.

He also bought jeeps to all of them. The first batch of the distribution of jeeps to the Traditional rulers took place last year while he assured that all of them would get in no distant time. At the stadium, the same day tricycles were distributed, 80 Hyundai jeeps were also distributed to the second batch of the Traditional Rulers. Umahi once noted that aside the fact that Traditional Rulers supposed to be specially taken care of, his major reason of empowering them was to make them be at par with their counterparts from other states of the federation. In the past, Traditional Rulers in the state die in quick succession because so many could not afford their medical bills, but this anomaly is no longer obtainable since Umahi’s intervention through empowerment. The traditional institution vis-à-vis the traditional Rulers has regained its pride of place in Ebonyi under Umahi’s administration. The list of Umahi’s empowerment programmes cannot be exhausted here but one thing that remains unique about them is that they are programmed and designed to benefit all strata of persons in the state.

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

FEATURE

Why literary awareness must be promoted in Nigeria, stakeholders

Undoubtedly, one of the few highpoints of the country’s educational sector was achieved early March, this year, when 40 year-old Nigerian father of three, Bayode Treasure Olawunmi set a new Guinness Record in the ‘Longest Marathon Reading Aloud’ Category as he clocked 120 hours at the YouRead Library Yaba in Lagos, beating the previous record set by Nepal’s Deepak Sharma of 113 hours and fifteen minutes set in 2008.

Up until now, the gloomy scene had only left many shaking their heads wondering what has become of a system that boasts a huge potential. And while those who can afford it have since shipped their kith and kin abroad for better opportunities, the rest rather unfortunate ones have to wade through the sorry state of Nigeria’s educational system hoping to salvage whatever they can to improve their lot.

The problem may be multifaceted, but the root appears to be in the incapacity of the sector to build the future leaders of tomorrow as a consequence of sustained neglect and abandonment by governments at several levels of the larger society.

In December, last year, the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai directed the immediate sack of 21,780 teachers in the state for shockingly failing a Primary Four-level competency test conducted by the state government for them. About 33, 000 sat for that test.

Reacting to the Kaduna teachers’ episode at the State House in Abuja during a special retreat of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the challenges facing the Education sector in Nigeria under the theme ‘Education in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects,’ President Muhammadu Buhari said: “It is a very serious situation when teachers cannot pass the examination that they are supposed to teach the children. It is a very tragic situation we are in, and this our gathering is one of the most important ones in this administration.”

The recently released West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), for private candidates in 2017-First Series recorded a 17.13 per cent pass in English Language and Mathematics.

Head of Nigeria Office of WAEC, Mr Olu Adenipekun, said the percentage of candidates in Mathematics and English Language in the WASSCE for private candidates in 2017 was a mere 26.01 per cent.

The problem is not with Kaduna State alone, it is a national problem. Pupils still study under tree shades; classrooms remain shockingly over-crowded; teacher to pupils’ ratio is embarrassingly in favour of the former. And all that in addition to the new menace of terrorism with its attendant abduction of students from their schools by armed groups who appear bent on crippling whatever little progress may have been achieved in the past!

Nigeria did not attain the sec-

VICTOR NZE writes on the imperative of improving the reading culture as a path to the overall improvement of the education sector.

•Kebbi student

ond of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) launched at the turn of the century, which called for every child in the world, boys and girls alike, to receive a full course of primary school education by 2015.

According to the Guardian UK research, in 2012, the most recent year for which worldwide data is available, 58 million children aged between six and 11 were out of school with the problem being more pronounced in Nigeria and the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, where roughly 30 million children were affected.

In an interview with The Oracle Today, President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mallam Denja Abdullahi, said: “I do not readily have the factual data but I know we are not there yet. There is still widespread illiteracy in our society. There are also some other kinds of illiteracy beyond just the inability to read and write in any language. There is internet illiteracy and other kinds of sub-forms, which altogether affects societal response to general reading, writing and comprehension.”

Such is the dilemma of the Nigerian educational sector that the effort initiated by lawyer and philanthropist, Yusuf Ali that is geared towards driving literary awareness and entrenching it as a culture in the country becomes better appreciated.

In February this year, renowned legal practitioner, author and dedicated philanthropist, Yusuf Ali (SAN) doled out a princely

three million naira to the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) for the 7th year running for the funding of the ANA/Yusuf Ali Nationwide Literary Awareness Campaign.

The grant was first secured by the National Executive Committee of ANA in 2012 and all state chapters of the association received sub-grants of N150,000 at various times between 20122014 for local literary awareness campaigns involving secondary schools across the country.

In 2015, the grant was applied by the then National Executive Council of ANA to host a workshop on fiction writing in Abuja in which about 25 students, drawn from tertiary institutions across the country via a competitive process, participated.

In 2016, the National Executive Council of ANA opted to focus on innovative literary awareness campaign among tertiary institutions across the country through the States’ chapters using the grant, which was awarded to 16 State Chapters that met the requirements.

In 2017, the grant was used to publish three children’s literature titles under the Nigerian Writers Series (NWS) which have been distributed to chapters of ANA Nationwide to power ANA‘s ABook-A-Child nationwide project.

“The project has been on-going since 2012 through a yearly grant received from Yusuf Ali (SAN). Over the years we have executed a number of innovative literary awareness projects in secondary and tertiary institu-

tions across the country through our chapters in 36 States of the Federations and the FCT. The project has given our association a sustained linkage with our educational institutions across the Country and has led to the discovery of new young writers and infused the habit of reading for general purpose in the students that have been encountered,” said Abdullahi.

For Oyo State chapter chairman of ANA, Funso Omotoso, who rated the literary awareness in his state as ‘poor,’ the Yusuf Ali Literary Awareness Campaign ‘has a two-way benefit. One; it helps ANA members whose works are purchased with the grant. Two; it helps the students to whom the books are donated.’

Continuing, Omotoso said: ‘The campaign is anchored on having students read the donated books from questions will be asked.

A date will then be set at which winners will be awarded prizes.

Generally the programme has helped a great deal in promoting the reading culture among secondary school students in the state.’

On ways to improve the campaign, the immediate past Ebonyi State Chapter chairman of ANA, Elder Matthew Odono said: “If a single person, Yusuf Ali, could provide N3m to the association annually, imagine where the Federal, State and Local Governments can provide N50m, N20 and N2m respectively for the association activities, without politising it. I bet you, a lot of transformation will be achieved

in the reading, writing and behavioural lives of the people. Wealthy individuals too, especially serving political leaders can come up to assist in this area.

“They can call it their constituency project, raise fund for ANA to mentor budding artists, give cash prizes to people that excel and so on. This is preferable to drugging the youths and giving them guns to cause mayhem in the society. In our state, Distinguished Senator Chris Nwankwo funded the organisation of training for aspiring creative writers, though not through ANA. The beneficiaries of that training are doing marvelously well in the creative industry today. We need more like him.”

For the current Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter, Mr Richard Inya: “A project of this standing needs partnership with the government of the benefitting states to further take it down to rural areas. We have put plans in place to partner the government of our state in this direction. We as well seek to identify individuals, groups, corporate bodies and organisations that share the ideals and aspirations of the association for the project.”

On his part, Abdullahi said: “I think we have to creatively move the campaign into the larger society. The focus on schools over the years by ANA and other bodies has been overwhelming but the result has not been that overwhelming. So we need to look at what we are yet to do better to achieve better result. We will need the partnership of governments at all levels to help bridge all the gaps and overcome the shortfalls. There are also other sectors of our population we are not capturing in this drive to make reading interesting.

“Sometimes we assume some sectors do not consist of literate individuals particularly the informal sectors which may not be altogether true. What are mechanics and other artisans reading?

What are bankers, lawyers, architects and other professionals reading? Do soldiers, policemen and others read? What kinds of books are they reading and what should they be diverted to reading? We need to start answering these questions with practical activities which governments must support us to answer,” he said.

Summing the position of the scholars and education stakeholders across the country, Inya opined: “It must be stated without fear of contradiction that no project, policy or programme in this nation in the dimension of improving the reading culture or increasing literary awareness can be compared with the Yusuf Ali nationwide literary awareness campaign. Its consistency is astute; its gains are high, and its vision, clear.

“The project has a very high capacity for sustaining the level of literary awareness in the state.

We have benefitted twice, and on each of the occasions embarked on activities that opened avenues for our people to realize what lies ahead and how to be part of it.”

P

The Oracle Today

15

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS Extra

Umahi halts senator’s constituency project, orders arrest of contractor

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

G

OVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State has directed the suspension of Senator Sonni Ogbuorji’s solar system constituency project at Uburu, in Ohaozara local government area which is the Governor’s home town.

This is also as the governor has ordered the arrest of the contractor handling the project.

Ogbuorji who is a two-term time senator is a known political foe of Umahi in spite of the fact that they both hail from the same zone.

Governor Umahi had visited the Senator’s project site while on routine inspection and alleged that the quality of a solar system project being carried out in the area by the contractor was poor and ordered his arrest.

The Governor while addressing Journalists said he was irked by the inferior materials being used by the Contractor to execute Senator Ogbuorji constituency project, adding that he will not allow any part of the state to be a dumping ground for inferior projects.

He chided Senator Ogbuorji for allowing the Contractor to execute such project with poor and inferior materials, noting that the state government has a laid quality standard which projects are executed and warned that his government will not allow any project be it state or federal in any part of the state to be done with inferior materials.

“This is totally unacceptable. I have been monitoring projects in the state being executed by my administration. The idea is to ensure that contractors adhere to the quality control of the state government and today I ran into the contractor who probably was executing a constituency project attracted by Senator Soni Ogbuorji with a very low quality to install solar light in Uburu. I felt bad because such projects could endanger the lives of our people.

“We have declared the contractor arrested and we have called on the Minister of Works, Housing and Power to take note that Ebonyi State is no longer a dumping ground for inferior projects.

We have made it a point of duty that any contractor executing any projects under whatever

Group lauds NASS, others over Nigeria Disability Bill adoption From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

T

he Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has praised the National Assembly for adopting the report of its Joint Conference Committee on the Nigeria Disability Bill.

The Nigeria Disability Bill contains provisions that will ensure people living with disability in Nigeria are protected against discrimination and harmful practices.

The bill had been passed by both chambers of NASS in 2016. At the Senate, it was passed as a Bill for an Act to Ensure Full Integration of Persons with Disabilities into the society and to establish a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and vest with it the responsibilities for their education, healthcare and the protection of the their social, economic and civic rights, while at the House of Representatives, it was passed as a Bill for an Act to Ensure Full Integration of Nigerians with Disabilities into the Society and Eliminate all forms of Discrimination against them.

The bill, therefore, needed harmonization through the Joint Conference Committee of NASS which eventually held recently.

The Joint Conference Committee Report on the bill was presented at the House of Representatives by Hon. E.Y. Orker-Jev on March 15, 2018, and at the Senate, by Senator. Obinna Ogba on March 27, 2018 and christened the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2018.

Reacting to adoption of the Joint Conference Committee Report on the Nigeria Disability Bill, the Executive Director of CCD, David Anyaele, commended stakeholders who have made various sacrifices to ensure that the bill was passed.

“We welcome with gratitude, the adoption of Joint Conference Committee Report on the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2018 (SB. 22),

(the Nigeria Disability Bill) by the National Assembly.

“We are indeed grateful to the Chairman of the National Assembly and Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara for fulfilling their promise of ensuring that this bill is passed by both Chambers of the National Assembly through the adoption of the Joint Conference Committee Report on the Nigeria Disability Bill,” Anyaele said in a statement made available to The Oracle Today in Umuahia.

CCD commended the duo of Senator Francis Alimikhena and Hon. Ochiglegor Idagbo for sponsoring the bill at both chambers of NASS respectively; as well as members and staff of the Joint Conference Committee on the Nigeria Disability Bill, in particular the Clerk of the Joint Conference Committee, Mr. Yakubu Arigungu; the Open Society Initiatives for West Africa (OSIWA), and the media for their consistency in supporting the passage of this bill.

platform must conform with the quality already laid in place in the state.

“Nigerian citizens and Ebonyians have been made to hold their leaders responsible for every job done. They have to reject poor quality job executed by the government and that is why I have stopped this constituency

project because of the poor quality of the solar system.

“I have also directed the contractor upon his release to come to the state capital and see the quality of solar system we have put in place and try to do same as we shall not accept anything of less quality” The Governor lamented that

the person who attracted the constituency project, Senator Ogbuorji could not monitor the project to ensure the quality of the solar light, saying “This is a man that has been in the Senate for almost eight years now and he could not attract quality constituency project to his constituents but inferior and dangerous solar light.”

•Chairman, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Bayo Aderiye; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. ‘Modele Osunkiyesi; Director, Medical Administration, Training & Programs, Dr. Funmilayo Shokunbi and the Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission, Mr. Wale Ashimi at the State Continuing Medical Education Programme held at Ikeja, Friday.

Lassa fever resurfaces in Abia, kills 2

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

A

FRESH outbreak of Lassa Fever in Abia State has claimed the lives of two people.

According to sources, the latest victims are a young female medical doctor who works at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, the index case, and a child.

The doctor, said to have treated the index case, manifested symptoms related to Lassa fever and was referred to the University Teaching Hospital, Enugu. She reportedly died at the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Government has acknowledged the latest outbreak of the disease but advised residents not to panic as ‘there was enough

drugs to treat the disease.’

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Chief Okiyi Kalu, said: “The state government was aware of the reported outbreak of the disease,” adding that ‘serious efforts to contain the deadly disease have been put in place.’

“The state Ministry of health is working with the authorities of FMC to ensure full containment of the disease and prophylactic treatment of others who may have come in contact with the victims.

“We have fully deployed all our emergency medical response systems to instantly ensure full containment and management of the outbreak.

“The government wishes to call on members of the public to be vigilant and report all suspected cases to the nearest

medical facility in the state,” he added.

The Commissioner, however, directed persons who had contact with the child, suspected to be the index case, and the medical practitioner who lost her life, to report to the FMC Umuahia immediately for further review.

“Drugs for treatment of Lassa Fever are available in the state in good quantities and there is no cause for panic as the disease can be successfully treated, especially if diagnosed early,” he disclosed, while urging the public to ensure that they maintain clean and sanitary environment at all times.

The commissioner expressed the sympathy of the state government to the families and friends of the two identified victims over the “sad and unfortunate outbreak.”

wants to become Governor so as to put the State back on track through good governance.

“My mission is to build a free, fair and open society that will place the state on the path of sustainable economic development by giving the people the power to control their lives while extending equal opportunity to all. These will strengthen all of our communities by inspiring our citizens to be part of the governance, using available human and natural resources.

“If I am elected as Imo State Governor my goal would be to serve as a bridge between the leadership and the masses to ensure that the state is pulled out from the clutches of poverty,

while ensuring timely payment of workers’ salaries, pensioners and full restoration of the civil servant’s wages and emolument”, he said.

Also, while declaring for the 2019 governorship election at APGA state secretariat along Egbu Road, Owerri, Hon Uche Onyeagucha noted that the hopeless state of the people in the last seven years of the Okorocha’s administration was the reason for his aspiring to become Governor in 2019.

He added that the state is in trouble, stressing that “In the past 7 years we have seen Imo State brought into a state of hopelessness.

2019: Anyanwu, Onyeagucha join Imo guber race

By COLLINS UGHALAA

S

ENATOR representing Owerri Zone in the Senate, Samuel Anyanwu and former member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Hon Uche Onyeagucha have declared for the 2019 governorship election in Imo State under the platforms of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) respectively.

Declaring his 2019 ambition at the PDP state secretariat along Okigwe Road, Senator Anyanwu promised to build a free society, just as he also demanded a free, fair and credible governorship

primary election in the PDP that would produce an acceptable governorship candidate for the 2019 governorship election.

It is believed by many that the Senator is running for governorship as a bargaining chip, because Ihedioha was said to have prompted Hon Ezenwa Onyewuchi representing Owerri Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives to run for the Senate instead, a position currently occupied

by Senator Anyanwu, even as it was rumoured that the Senator wanted to return to the Senate in 2019.

However, the Senator informed Imo people that he

The Oracle Today

16

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS Extra

Bayelsa’s domestic debt hits N129.46bn – NBS

By CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

T

HE National Bureau of Statistics has revealed that Bayelsa government domestic debt stands at N129.46 bn.

Data obtained from the NBS website also indicated that the state generated a total of N12.52 bn from internal sources in 2017 fiscal year, while it got a total of N105.25 bn from the federation account in the same year.

A/Ibom governor not under-performing INI BILLIE, Uyo

The NBS report which was issued in March 2018 also indicated that Lagos generated the highest revenue from internal sources amounting to N333.96 bn in 2017 as against N302.42 in 2016 while Rivers generated a total of N89.48 in 2017 as against N85.28 in 2016.

The report also stated that Bayelsa’s external debt as at end of N2017 stood at $47.76 million and accounted for one per cent of foreign debts owed by the 36 states of the federation and 0.25 per cent of National foreign debt profile of $18.90 bn.

According to the data, Bayelsa’s domestic debt of N129.46 bn

was 3.87 per cent of local debts owed by the states.

The report went further to show the nation’s debt profile at the end of 2017. “Nigerian States and Federal Debt Stock data as at 31st December 2017 reflected that the country’s foreign and domestic debts stood at $18.9bn and N3.35trn respectively.

“Further disaggregation of Nigeria’s foreign debt showed that $10.24bn of the debt was multilateral; $274.98m was bilateral (AFD) and $2.09bn from the Exim Bank of China credited to the Federal Government while $6.30bn was commercial.

“Total FGN debt accounted for

78.23% of Nigeria’s total foreign debt while all States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) accounted for the remaining 21.77%,” NBS stated.

According to the data, Lagos has the highest foreign debt profile among the 36 states accounting for 35.61% while Kaduna 5.79%), Edo 5.64%, Cross River 4.08% and Enugu (3.23%) followed closely.

Also states’ domestic debt was N3.35 trillion with Lagos accounting for 10.85 % of the total domestic debt stock while Sokoto has the least debt in this category with a contribution 0.78% to the total domestic debt stock.

C

hief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Ekerette Udoh has dismissed insinuations in the state that Governor Mr Udom Emmanuel is under performing due to the debt burden inherited from the immediate past administration.

Udoh said the insinuations were false as the governor has kept to his campaign promise of industrializing the state, and verifiable figures show that the state is not indebted in any way.

Speaking, Tuesday,in Uyo on the achievement of the state governor, Udoh who said that Governor Udom Emmanuel is contesting for a second term in the 2019 elections noted that the notion of underperformance due to indebtedness was based on lies.

He cited the industrialization efforts of the governor to include the syringe manufacturing industry, the metering company, and other achievements like the payment of workers’ salaries as at when due, regular payment of pensions and gratuities; payment of pensions and gratuities backlog from 2001-2011, and a yearly budget of over N600m for the payment of WAEC fees for students across the state.

He said the DAKKADA philosophy of the governor has opened up the frontiers for people in the state to do things differently and not follow conventional wisdom, noting that, “wealth creation is not about doing things the same way, it is about looking at things and proffering different suggestions”.

•Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, presiding over the inaugural National Emergency Management Agency Governing Council meeting, led by DG NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, at the Presidential Villa,Abuja, yesterday.

F

By INI BILLIE, Uyo

T

he Nigerian Air Force has said it will not politicize the security of Nigeria but will be fully committed to the duties of the force as outlined in the constitution of the country.

Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal, Sadiq Abubbakar said in a keynote address yesterday in Uyo during the 3rd Inter Command Combat Sports Competition tagged ‘Uyo 2018’that the NAF will work hard to make sure that the country and its people were secured.

He cautioned personnel of the NAF not to join in the politicizing of security issues in the country on the social media and added that the Nigerian Air Force would continue to train its personnel to be combat ready by ensuring that they were physically fit through sporting activities.

He said that the 3rd edition of the competition was part of measures put in place by the force to ensure that the personnel were in sound mind and body ready to defend the territorial integrity of the nation.

“I urge you to continue the good work and resist the distraction of politicisation of security issues that awash in the social media platforms. I also urge our citizens to resist the call to anarchy. “I wish to reassure all Nigerians that the NAF is fully committed to the successful execution of its constitutional roles and will continue to meet its statutory responsibilities of defending the territorial integrity of the nation. “Your performance in various strata of conflict within and outside Nigeria is a clear testimony to our commitment to ensure that Nigeria and its citizens are secured.

Our gallant men and women have performed creditably well in all strata of operation.

Ojoto community crowns new monarch

By OGE ONYEANUSI

T

he Ojoto community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has coroneted its 3rd traditional ruler, Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu to fill the traditional stool of the town, which became vacant after the transition of Igwe Augustine Obidigwe (Eze Ojoto II) in 2017.

The coronation of Igwe Gerald Mbamalu as Eze Ojoto III and Ezeoranyelu I by the King-makers of the community as well as the inauguration of Igwe-in-Council of the community, which took place at the Boy’s Secondary School Field, Ojoto, on Easter Sunday, attracted government functionaries led by the Deputy Governor of the state,

Obi tasks African leaders on SDGs implementation ormer Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has appealed to African leaders to join the rest of the world in the faithful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that was recently rolled out after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) closed.

Obi made the call at the recently-concluded World Conference Centre, Bonn, Germany, during the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development Goals that ended.

Obi said that a careful perusal of the MDGs and SDGs would show that they were simply a cocktail of measures designed by members of the United Nations to make the world a better place. This, he noted, would be achieved by getting nations of the world to key into development trajectories that would lift nations out of poverty

Air Force will not politicize Nigeria’s security – CAS

into prosperity and development by focusing majorly on human capital development through improvement in education.

Obi regretted that African countries have not taken seriously to those goals. He pointed to its success in countries like China as a clear proof that with hard work and commitment, African leaders could as well succeed. He called on African leaders to work together in positive collaboration towards achieving those goals, insisting that working together achieves more for nations than working in isolation.

Using China’s achievement in the MDGs and her commitment towards the SDGs as an example for African leaders, Obi said: “China’s successful integration of MDGs into its national development planning, with effective and coordinated implementation from

National to Local Governments, helped the country to achieve an unprecedented transformative result, using the three most critical Goals: lifted 439 million people out of poverty; achieved universal basic education ahead of schedule; and made tremendous improvements in health care for women & children, and disease prevention and control.”

“In contrast, within this period in Africa, there was drastic underperformance in the three critical Goals: Poverty rose from 290 million to 414 million persons; Less than 70% was achieved in universal basic education; the number of under-nourished children rose from 27 million to 32 million,” Obi said. The former Governor, who featured at the event as an expert speaker, further called on African leaders to change the narratives through commitment.

Dr. Nkem Okeke; traditional rulers from the state led by the chairman of the state’s traditional rulers council, Igwe Alfred Nnameka Achebe (Agbogidi), Obi of Onitsha.

The event also attracted friends and well-wishers as well as family members of the new monarch.

In an address presented on behalf of the Ojoto Akanasato Union (OAU), the Secretary-General of the town union, Surveyor Gabby Okeke, said that the ceremony was the third time Ojoto as a community was performing a coronation ceremony of its Igwe since 1977 when HRH Igwe A.E Adirika was coroneted as Ezebube I of Ojoto, followed by HRH Igwe Austin Obidiwe as Azeakajiofoana.

He noted that the process leading to the event of the coronation of Igwe Mbamalu as Eze Ojoto III began after the transition of HRH Igwe Augustine Obidiwe, when in accordance with the OAU constitution, Enugo Village was written to select a candidate to fill the vacant Igwe Ojoto stool; which according to him, led to the emergence of the people’s choice, Igwe Gerald Mbamalu.

He commended the government of Anambra State for recognizing the community’s choice candidate and for issuing him with Certificate of Recognition, even as he described the emergence of the new Igwe as ‘divine’; adding that it ‘has united the community and its people more than ever before.’

While addressing his community after his coronation, Igwe Mbamalu thanked his community for the confidence reposed on him, adding further that the task facing him as the traditional ruler of his community ‘is big,’ and expressed optimism that God Almighty, who elevated him to the stool, would give him the wisdom and grace to lead his community.

“I pray that God will give me the wisdom to lead my people to the Promised Land. I can make mistakes as human being but I pray that God would give me the enablement to make amends as soon as possible so that my years on the throne will be a great blessing to my people,” he said.

Earlier, Governor Willie Obiano, represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, commended the people of Ojoto for successfully installing a brand new Igwe, noting that Igwe Mbamalu, ‘based on his track record, is capable of leading the town to the Promised Land and called on the townsfolk to give him every needed support.’

The Oracle Today

17

Wednesday April 11, 2018

BU$IN£SS

•Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

Import monopoly deflates local rice policy

By VICTOR NZE

T

optimism on both sides,” said the envoy.

The envoy’s statement further prompted the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), call on President Muhammadu Buhari to dismiss Ogbeh for ‘lying to the public.’

While local rice consumption is believed to be around 5 million metric tonnes annually, of which 3.2 million metric tonnes is imported mostly from Asia with local production pegged at 2.4million metric tonnes, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), last December, claimed that it produced 15 million metric tonnes of rice in 2017.

RIFAN Deputy National Vice President, Segun Atho, said that the association’s rice production in 2017 was in excess of Nigeria’s population rice requirement of seven million metric tonnes annually.

“We produce 15 million metric tons of rice and Nigerians can only consume six to seven million metric tons; we produce excess and we can export the remaining ones to some African countries.

We have about 85 million hectares

CBN EXCHANGE RATES APRIL 4, 2018 Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

US DOLLAR 304.65 POUNDS STERLING 428.8253 EURO 375.3288

305.15 305.65 429.5291 430.2329 375.9448 376.5608

SWISS FRANC

318.961

319.4836

2.865 0.5668 444.0498 48.5192 81.369 25.7113 50.4305 444.7561

2.8697 0.5768 444.7774 48.5992 81.5023 25.7535 50.5131 445.4849

318.4384

YEN 2.8603 CFA 0.5568 WAUA 443.3222 YUAN/RENMINBI 48.4393 RIYAL 81.2357 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 25.6692 DANISH KRONA 50.3479 SDR 444.0274

of land out of it about six to seven million hectares can be used to cultivate rice that can feed Nigerians.

As farmers we make Nigeria rice available to Nigerians, we urge Nigerians to look inwards and start patronising made in Nigeria rice,” said the RIFAN official.

As the actual figures of rice imports against the locally produced data continue to flounder, the consumers of the product insist the former dominates the market places as they maintain that local producers need to firm their market strategy so as to reach visibility.

“In a rice year Nigeria local farmers produce between 1.8 to 2 million metric tonnes of consumable rice, but even with this huge imbalance we bought rice at N8,500 per 50kg bag in December 2015, so now that you are producing 15 million metric tonnes in a rice calendar year, which is 3 times our annual consumption volume. Why are we still buying a 50kg bag for N14k/15 and in some states as high as N18k and these are the only brands in the market: Mama Gold, Royal Stallion, Original Thai per boiled rice and so on. So where is your 15

HE clear discrepancies over figures surrounding volume of imported rice as against same locally produced volumes creates a yawning gap of doubt over the ability of local producers in the country to meet the growing demand for the commodity. It also challenges the capacity of the government at checking the continued smuggling of the product through the nation’s borders.

While the government claims it hasw significantly curbed the flow of rice from Thailand, the Asian country insists the volume has not changed. The conflicting claims from the governments of Nigeria and that of Thailand further leads many to posit that smuggled rice continues to flow across the country’s borders into Nigeria despite the claims by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to have checked the trend.

Trade analysts argue that the situation is also a major indictment on the ban on rice importation placed by the Federal Government in its bid to improve or grow domestic production. As it, the conflicting rice data put a big doubt over whether the ban itself is achieving its target, as the demand and supply gap is being filled either by smugglers or importers buying out the locally-produced rice.

It would be recalled that early last month, Thailand’s ambassador to Nigeria, Wattana Kunwongse, had cause to issue a public statement faulting a claim reportedly made by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, that his country had accused Nigeria of being responsible for the collapse of its seven rice mills following the drastic fall in rice importation from Nigeria.

“The report is not only misleading but a distortion of the actual conversation between myself and the honourable Minister of Agriculture at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on 30th January 2018, which was nothing short of positivity and

million metric tonnes?” asked Mike Adeniyi, an Igando resident.

The conflicting rice production figures between the local producers and government on one hand and the consumers, on the other, has only now heightened the call for an alternative distribution channel by the local producers for their product, which experts believe will curtail the perceived under-hand dealings of major importers of rice and smugglers.

According to observers, the debate over the actual volume of rice produced by the farmers in the face of the perennial scarcity of the product in the open market also goes to indicate that middlemen may be buying off the product from the source and also rebranding it, in the form of re-bagging.

According to them, this may be the cause of the continued scarcity of local rice from the open market, as the major importers seek to control the price of the product by cutting their losses.

Giving instances with the Ofada rice and LAKE rice brands produced locally, the respondents say the difference in the distribution channels adopted by both producers has so far determined the availability or otherwise scarcity of both products in the open market.

The Ofada brand is a local variety of uniquely processed brown rice that is produced in a town in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. It is popular, though relatively expensive, in both Nigerian and Overseas markets.

The distribution channel for the Ofada rice is unique, which ensures the product is never scarce or hoarded, largely on account of the branding that goes into it.

However, in sharp comparison, the LAKE rice brand, launched in December 2016, as a joint initiative of the Lagos and Kebbi state governments, which has rarely been seen in the open market as the management company has opted to distribute via special sales centres.

•Tourism

Energy

Nigeria leads Africa’s $194bn oil, gas capex by 2025 P20

Travel

Nigerians flay U.S Embassy over visa rip-off P26

Insurance

Unions threaten airspace over N45b N’Airways benefits P28

Cont’d on Page 19

Stock Market Highlights As At 4th APRIL, 2018

Summary ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP S/N

40,855.64 4,173.00 365,719,997.00 N6,269,730,448.30 N14,758,569,261,698.01

Coy (By Volume) Volume

ZENITHBANK TRANSCORP STERLNBANK LASACO ETI YUAN/RENMINBI

Value(N)

88,197,712 N2,636,024,168.45 60,005,528 N101,061,752.96 40,490,412 N70,442,741.28 21,034,272 N7,151,652.48 19,963,571 N339,355,574.55 44.363 44.4364

5 Top Gainers

Symbols Last Close GLAXOSMITH N34 ETI N16.35 ZENITHBANK N29.3 NASCON N21 CAVERTON N2.67

Current Change N34.85 0.85 N17 0.65 N29.8 0.5 N21.5 0.5 N2.91 0.24

%Change 2.50% 3.98% 1.71% 2.38% 8.99%

N251 N43.45 N43.4 N40.8 N128.9

-3.46% -4.08% -2.91% -2.86% -0.85%

Five Tope Losers DANGCEM WAPCO GUARANTY FO NB

N260 N45.3 N44.7 N42 N130

-9 -1.85 -1.3 -1.2 -1.1

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday April 11, 2018

BUSINESS

Afreximbank, OPS differ on AfCFTA Stories by VICTOR NZE

A

S members of the Organised Private Sector in the country continue to criticize the recently-signed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has posited that the deal will lead to Africa’s economic development and bring about a better future for the continent.

President of Afreximbank, Dr. Benedict Oramah, who disclosed this while contributing to a panel discussion on “Financing Intra-African Trade” during the Business Forum held in Kigali, Tuesday to mark the launch of the AfCFTA, said as part of its drive to promote intra-African trade and regional integration, Afreximbank had identified several countries that served as hubs for trade among African countries Those hubs were already playing significant roles in their sub-regions in supporting cross-border trading and were critical in AfCFTA implementation, he said. They included South Africa in southern Africa, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa, Kenya in East Africa and Egypt in North Africa.

Oramah said that Afreximbank was working on the establishment of export trading companies which would aggregate products from small traders for export across the continent and beyond.

The operation of such companies would remove the need for individual small traders, who were not equipped for such trade, to try to export the products by themselves.

He added that the Bank had signed a $1 billion memorandum of understanding with the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa for a South Africa-Africa Trade Promotion Programme aimed at expanding trade between South Africa and other African countries. A similar programme, which the Bank signed with Egypt, in the amount of $500 million, was quickly exhausted and had to be replenished, he stated.

Afreximbank had also introduced an African Guarantee Programme to enhance the ability of African businesses to obtain trade

financing.

Earlier, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, said that although the AfCFTA had been long in coming, it offered a lot of hope for the African continent.

He urged all Africans to rally around the effort, saying that it would benefit both big and small countries.

Also participating in the panel were Gabriel Negatu, Director General, East Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office of the African Development Bank; Diane Karusisi, CEO, Bank of

Establishing the AfCFTA, the Protocol on Trade in Goods, the Protocol on Trade in Services and the Protocol on Rules and Procedures for the Settlement of Disputes.

It would be recalled also that the AMOT meeting adopted the Transitional Implementation Work Programme which also includes a built-in agenda for the finalization of some annexes to the Protocol on Trade in Goods and other arrangements for the operationalization of the AfCFTA. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Organised Private

Sector (OPS) including Airline Operators of Nigeria, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) had kicked against AfCFTA. However, President Muhammadu Buhari on March 18, canceled his scheduled visit to Rwanda to attend the Extra-Ordinary Summit of the African Union on March 21, where he was to sign the framework agreement for establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area during the Summit that would host leaders of African countries.

According to a statement from the Presidency, the trip was canceled to allow for more consultations with stakeholders in Nigeria over the trade agreement.

It is reported that up to 11 African countries failed to attend the meeting also to sign the agreement.

Wema Bank secures $35m funding to support SMEs

A

•Managing Director, IEI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited, Glory Etaduovie (left); Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Chairman and the Company Secretary, Mrs Femi Onoru, at the firm’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Heritage Bank partners WATIF on sub-regional integration

H

ERITAGE Bank Limited has announced partnership with the first edition of West Africa Trade and Investment Forum: Conference and Exhibition on subregional integration of economies of West African countries in the areas of agriculture, education and skills, manufacturing and information communication technology (ICT).

UBA to operate wholesome banking services U. K ondon subsidiary of United Bank Managing Director/CEO of UBA, Ltheforpermission Africa (UBA) Plc has been given Mr Kennedy Uzoka, the bank will to operate whole- strengthen its “capabilities in meetsome banking activities in the United Kingdom.

This makes the Africa’s global bank the only Sub-Saharan African lender to conduct banking operations in New York and London, as well as 20 other African countries.

As part of the transformation process, resulting from the authorization, the current name of UBA Capital (Europe) Ltd will change to United Bank for Africa (UK) Ltd. In addition to a full suite of treasury services, cash management, corporate lending and wholesale deposit offerings to professional and eligible counterparties, the operations of United Bank for Africa (UK) Limited now extends to all aspects of trade finance; issuance, acceptance, confirmation and refinancing of Letters of Credit of different variations, including SBLCs. With these, according to the Group

Kigali, Rwanda; and James Mwangi, CEO, Equity Bank, Kenya.

It would be recalled that the fifth meeting of the African Union Ministers of Trade (AMOT), held last month, and incidentally chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, adopted the legal instruments constituting the AfCFTA with some stakeholders in the country raising protests that the agreement if signed may jeopardize the country’s economic growth.

The instruments constituting AfCFTA include the Agreement

ing the growing cross-border financing needs of our customers.”

He said further that the development “enhances our customer coverage and product offerings whilst positioning our group as an optimal conduit for trade and foreign investments into and across Africa as well as export flows to the United Kingdom.”

“Importantly, the licence will enable us to fulfill our aspiration of deepening financial intermediation in Sub-Saharan Africa and providing the much-needed financial support to the broader real sector of the African economy,” he added.

On his part, the chief executive of UBA UK Ltd, Mr Andrew Martin, said: “This enhanced positioning of our business is timely, as it comes at a time when the UK is seeking to expand trade and broaden economic ties with Nigeria and Africa in general.”

Group Head, Agric and Exports of Heritage Bank Mr. Olugbenga Awe, said the bank was involved in the project because, “it speaks to its commitment to the development of Nigeria and its commitment to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as well as its commitment to agriculture.”

He said the bank’s partnership with the organisers of WATIF “is just a continuation of a process it started as part of its commitment to SMEs which are the bedrock of the economy, because they (SMEs) employ labour and in terms of contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) they are the future of the economy.”

Besides this, Awe was also a keynote speaker in a roundtable discussion on agriculture which recommended soil quality and seed quality for improved agricultural output, mechanised farming and cluster blocks to enhance value in terms of pricing of agricultural commodities.

Other recommendations include the use of technology, creation of market hubs, setting up of website for farmers to upload information about their products and standardisation of products across the sub-region among others.

Earlier in her address of welcome, Mrs. Michele Branco-Aiyegbusi, Director of WATIF, “WATIF 2018, themed “Enhancing Collaboration for Regional and Economic

Impact” could not have come at a more auspicious time, as it comes right on the heels of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement signed a few days by 44 African countries in Kigali, Rwanda.

She expressed the hope that they were optimistic that genuine efforts towards integration and economic collaboration would not only bring about a boost in the economic standing of Africa globally, but indeed opportunities for growth and development of the sub-region.

She remarked that with the focus of the maiden edition of WATIF on four sectors, the forum has been able to pool into the discourse industrialists and key drivers from these sectors who they hoped would be open minded in addressing the issues and barriers to trade and development in the sub-region.

The director added that the industrialists would collectively agree on proffering solutions and strategies that would be implementable first within the sectors and hopefully by policy makers.

Also speaking, Mrs. Bukunola David, director special projects, noted that “West Africa agro ecological potential is massively lower than its current output and so are its food requirements, adding that while more than one quarter of the world’s arable land lies in the African continent, it generates only 10 percent of global agricultural output.”

funding package worth $35 million has been secured by Wema Bank Plc from two international banks to support the growth of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Wema Bank signed a Line of Credit Agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB), which has already disbursed the $15 million agreed by both parties.

Similarly, the bank secured a $20 million LOC from the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

The agreement was signed at the 3rd Africa Islamic Finance Forum.

Commenting on the development, Managing Director of Wema Bank Plc, Mr Segun Oloketuyi, explained that the funds will help bolster the bank’s vision of building a sustainable retail sector by supporting micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

SMEs are one of the greatest contributors to Nigeria’s economic growth. Research has shown that the sector has a similar effect worldwide, contributing to over 55 percent of GDP and over 65 percent of total employment in high-income countries.

Also, SMEs account for over 60 percent of GDP and over 70 percent of total employment in low-income countries, while they contribute over 95 percent of total employment and about 70 percent of GDP in middle-income countries.

“We believe efforts like this, ultimately helps to create jobs, accelerate industrialization, redistribute wealth and fight poverty,” Mr. Oloketuyi said.

Wema Bank, through its newlylaunched ALAT, the first fully digital bank in Africa, will deploy the line of credit towards bolstering funding for SMEs in Nigeria.

On his part, Acting CEO and General Manager of ICD, Mr Mohammed Al Ammari, confirmed his excitement about the partnership, stressing that it will further deepen its footprint in Africa, where a significant portion of its investment portfolio is domiciled.

“ICD’s line of investment portfolio has been heavily concentrated in Africa over the years, seeking opportunities to grow funding for SMEs and provide economic-stimulating investments within the region,” he said.

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday April 11, 2018

BUSINESS Stories by VICTOR NZE

U

NITED Bank for Africa has announced its audited results for the financial year ended December 31, 2017, showing significant growth in the contribution and market share from its pan-African subsidiaries, among other positive trends in the financial performance.

The institution’s audited results showed that gross earnings grew substantially to N462 billion, up by 20 percent from N314 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2017.

According to the report released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday, the Group delivered a strong 16 per cent year-on-year growth in profit before tax of N105 billion, compared to N90.6 billion in the 2016 financial year. The Profit After Tax also leaped to N78.6 billion, an 8.8 per cent year-on-year growth compared to N72.3 billion in 2016.

The Bank’s subsidiaries outside Nigeria contributed a third of the Group’s top-line and 45 per cent of the profit for the year, a remarkable improvement from 31 percent contribution made by the ex-Nigeria offices in 2016.

This, according to market analysts affirms the success of the Bank’s expansion strategy, with target of 50 percent contributions by 2020.

The Bank’s Operating Income grew to N326.6 billion, a 20.6 percent increase compared to N270.9 billion recorded in 2016.

This, according to analysts, affirms the capacity of the Group to deliver strong performance through varying economic cycles and challenging business environment.

The audited results also showed that the Bank’s Total Assets peaked at N4.07 trillion, translating into 16.1 percent yearon-year growth from the figure of N3.50 trillion recorded as at 2016 financial year. In the 2017 fi-

UBA declares N105.3b PBT for 2017

nancial year, the Bank’s Net loans achieved a prudent 9.7 percent growth at N1.65 trillion, while the customer deposits grew to N2.73 trillion, representing 10 percent YoY growth on N2.49 trillion recorded in 2016 financial year.

The Bank’s shareholders’ fund also soared 18.2 percent to N529.4 billion in the 2017 financial year.

Subject to the approvals of the shareholders, the Board of UBA Plc proposed a final dividend of 65 kobo per every share of 50 kobo each. This final dividend proposal is in addition to the 20 kobo per share interim dividend paid after the audit of the 2017 half year financial statements, thus putting the total dividend for 2017 financial year at 85 kobo per share.

Commenting on the result, Kennedy Uzoka, the GMD/CEO, said: “the results, underlines the success of our strategy of expanding across Africa, diversifying revenues and capturing the broader business opportunities inherent in Africa’s growth. The results reinforce the sustainability of our business model and the capacity to deliver superior long-term return to shareholders, as the economic and business environment improve.”

“In 2017, we made strong progress in our strategic initiative of dominating transaction banking across all our countries of operation, gaining market share in all lines of our business. Even as the non-oil sectors of our largest country of operation, Nigeria, remained relatively weak, we still grew earnings by 20% to N462 billion, a third of which is attributable to non-funded income,” he further noted.

Also speaking on UBA’s financial performance and posi-

tion, the Group Chief Finance Officer(GCFO), Ugo Nwaghodoh said; “In a period of high interest rates, we achieved a relatively low 3.7% cost of funds. This operational efficiency reflects the

benefit of our rich pool of stable savings and current account deposits. The net interest margin stabilized at 7 per cent, even as yields on treasury assets dropped

•(From left to right): Commercial Director, East and West Africa, Bobby Bryan; Senior Vice President, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India both of Delta Air Lines, Corneel Koster; and Managing Director, Skylogistics, Delta General Sales Agent in Nigeria, Femi Adefope, during the press conference to announce the new Delta Air Lines Lagos to New York route in Lagos.

FMDQ admits N3.2b LAPO Microfinance Bank bond

S

Court suspends new Lagos’ Hotel Occupancy law

eries 1 N3.15 billion 17.75 percent 5-year Fixed Rate Senior Unsecured Bond of LAPO Microfinance Bank Plc has been admitted on the trading platform of FMDQ. This is the first ever microfinance bank bond in Nigeria to be listed on the platform and it comes shortly after the recent listing of the Viathan Funding Plc Power Bond on FMDQ. The listing of the bond allows companies tap into the Nigerian

debt capital markets (DCM) for stable long-term finance to fund key activities that ultimately translate to the development of the economy at large.

The N3.15 billion bond by LAPO Microfinance Bank is under a N20 billion Bond Issuance Programme of the lender.

To commemorate the listing of the bond, a ceremony was held at the FMDQ offices on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, where the OTC Exchange played host to manage-

Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the Lagos State Government from enforcing the provisions of its new Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant (Fiscalisation) Regulations 2017.

The law introduced a five per cent consumption tax in addition to a five per cent Value Added Tax on every purchase or service rendered by hotels, restaurants, fast food outlets, event centres, bars and night clubs.

However, in a ruling on March 21, 2018, Justice Rilwan Aikawa restrained the state from further enforcing the law.

The judge said the law would remain suspended until the final determination of a suit filed against the government by the Registered Trustees of Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos.

The judge also temporarily struck down the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law Cap H8, Laws of Lagos State 2015.

He particularly restrained the state from enforcing or implementing paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 of the Lagos State Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant (Fiscalisation) Regulations 2017.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa stopped the state and its agents from visiting the plaintiffs hotels “for the purpose of installing fiscal electronic device and any other purposes whatsoever in furtherance

produced has now only forced smuggling to thrive across the border to fill the vacuum created by the ban on imported rice, in the same way as the importers have upped the ante in buying out the local rice, rebagging them and distributing same using the already established channels, which cuts their losses on imported ones.

This is as many fear that all the rice that Thailand exports to Benin Republic find their way back into Nigeria via the porous borders in order to supply the gaping demand for the product.

According to data released by the Thailand Rice Exporters Association, the country exported nearly 2 metric tonnes of rice to Benin Republic in 2017 as against the official 0.1 metric tonnes to Nigeria in the same period under review following the ban slammed on imported rice by the Federal Government.

Many imports are smuggled in from Benin, which despite a population of 11 million, barely 5 percent of Nigeria’s population, is now the world’s biggest buyer of rice from Thailand, the number two exporter globally. Official shipments to Nigeria have plummeted by more than 95 percent in the past four years, while those to Benin have surged, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association. “This is Nigeria and people

are cutting corners,” said Fanu, a customs agent, adding: “They bring in the rice through the many unofficial border crossings further north.

They’re everywhere. The government knows it. It’s very difficult to police,” noted a Bloomberg report.

Local producers, therefore, have to find to a way to reach the open market so as to elude the exigencies of major rice importers, and establishing their brands like the Ofada rice, in the same way as the Federal Government needs to stop moving business to Benin Republic as the West African continues to benefit from Nigeria’s ban on rice importation.

“If they repackage their products into smaller and convenient sizes, no importer can control their distribution. It helps to also strengthen their brands in the Nigerian markets.

They need to evolve their own distribution network which is tailored to reach the common man in the open market. Lagos and Kebbi states are not getting it right because they are simply playing into the hands of the major importers with their decision to distribute through sales centres that are open to corruption. They should leave that aspect of business to the traders,” opined Festus Ngwo, another Ikotun-based trader.

Evolving effective distribution channel for local rice

A

Continued from P17

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Food Security, Ganiyu Sanni, said sale of the product would be allowed after payment at designated banks or through POS, while an individual would only be allowed to buy one bag at a time to make the product reach vast majority of the people.

The product is now sold in special sales centres in Ikorodu, Epe and Maryland all in the Lagos East Senatorial District, as well as some centres in Lagos West and Lagos Central districts. However, following complaints of non-availability, Suarau announced the opening of more sales centres at Odogunyan-Ikorodu, Surulere, Ojo, Oko Oba, Agege and Agidingbi-Ikeja.

“Have you seen LAKE rice here in Ikotun market? Me I can’t go and queue for that rice to buy at almost the same price as the imported one costs, plus transportation and all the other wahala,” said Alhaja Bilkis Awoseni, a rice wholesale trader at the Ikotun market. The case of the LAKE rice is similar to that of the Benue and Ebonyi rice brands, with the latter nowhere in sight outside of the state despite the acclaimed huge volume of production.

The relative scarcity of the locally

in the last quarter of 2017. Our core transaction banking offerings gained strong momentum, with income from these business lines growing by double digits.”

ment of LAPO Microfinance Bank led by the Managing Director, Mr Godwin Ehigiamusoe.

Also at the ceremony were cosponsors to the issue on FMDQ, United Capital Plc, represented

by Mr Jude Chiemeka, Managing Director, United Capital Securities Limited and Mr Tolu Osinibi, Executive Director, FCMB Capital Securities Limited. Welcoming guests to the event, Ms Jumoke Olaniyan, Associate Vice President, Market Architecture Division, FMDQ, applauded the issuer for having successfully raised N3.15 billion from the domestic capital markets, and for indubitably setting the pace for other microfinance banks planning to raise capital in the Nigerian DCM. She further commended the issuer for joining the league of corporate entities whose debt profiles have been raised via the valuepacked listings and quotations service offered by FMDQ. Speaking during his special address, Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe highlighted that the demand for capital from micro, small and medium businesses is high, and as a pro-poor financial institution.

He said LAPO Microfinance was committed to the social and economic empowerment of lowincome households through provision of access to responsive financial services on a sustainable basis.

Delivering the Registration Member (Listings) remarks, Mr Jude Chiemeka said:, “We are delighted to have acted as financial adviser and issuing house in the successful execution of the LAPO MFB SPV Series 1 bond issue, which is the first of its kind in the microfinance industry.

“Coming from a successful 2017, United Capital remains committed to making significant contributions to the OTC Exchange and to the success of our esteemed clients

The Oracle Today

20

Wednesday April 11, 2018

ENERGY

•Offshore production platforms

Nigeria leads Africa’s $194b oil, gas capex by 2025 ...Global industry development budget to hit $1.7t

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

N

IGERIA accounts for $48.04 billion out of total $194 billion worth of investments in upstream oil and gas development projects in the next seven years spanning between 2018 and 2025.

The $194 billion capital expenditure (capex) expected for oil and gas industry projects in Africa is only a fraction of the $811 billion to be spent on 615 oil and gas fields across the globe in the eight year period.

The report advanced by GlobalData holds expectation that the 615 upcoming oil and gas projects will require $1,705 billion in capex to produce over 88,033 million barrels of crude and 877,448 billion cubic feet of gas over their lifetime.

Upcoming shallow water projects will have the highest total capex at $497 billion. Onshore projects will require $453 billion over the lifetime, while ultradeepwater and deepwater projects carry a total capex of $429 billion and $325 billion respectively.

In the report, producing projects capital expenditure overview covers many upcoming unconventional oil and gas projects representing new acreage developments within existing or newly acquired positions.

According to Globaldata, a leading data and analytics company, the huge investment budget includes investments that would be made in 93 field development and production projects across Africa.

Out of the money, conventional oil development projects would gulp princely $88.9 billion in capital expenditure. Unconventional oil projects are expected to attract $3.0 billion investments while heavy oil exploitation would command capital expenditure of $1.9 billion.

According to the report obtained from secondary sources, conventional gas projects would require $99.1 billion, while the investments into unconventional gas and coal bed methane (CBM) projects would total $0.7 billion in upstream capital expenditure by 2025.

In breaking the investment across key African petroleum regions, Globaldata declared Nigeria the leading destination for global capital budget for new oil developments in the eight year period. It said Nigeria accounts for $48.04 billion or over 24.8% of total capex into upcoming projects in Africa over 2018 to 2025.

It pointed at 24 planned field development projects whose timelines fall within the space to include the $11 billion ultra-deepwater Zabazaba-Eta; the $8.9 billion deepwater Bonga North; and $3.9 billion deepwater Bonga Southwest/Aparo.

All the three conventional oil projects involving deepwater and ultradeep offshore fields, according to the company, would require the highest capex over the eight-year period.

Elsewhere, Mozambique comes next with 23.8% of capital expenditure in Africa with seven planned and announced fields.

According to Globaldata, three

conventional gas projects in Mozambique will require $30.6 billion for development in the period under focus.

The country’s deepwater Golfinho-Atum Complex, ultradeepwater Mamba Complex, and ultra-deepwater Coral South, would have the highest capex requirements with expenditures estimated at $10.9 billion, $10.2 billion and $9.5 billion, respectively.

Angola comes next with eight planned field projects expected to trap 11.3 percent Africa’s total capex spending by 2025.

The country counts the Kaombo Complex, ultra-deepwater conventional oil field development project with capex of $5.1 billion. It also has the Orca ultradeepwater conventional oil development project with a capex of $3.7 billion; and Lucapa deepwater conventional oil field development with a capex of $3.2 billion.

Tanzania, Senegal, Mauritania, Uganda, Egypt, Algeria, and Kenya, together have a capex $56.6 billion, or about 29.2% of the total capex spending on upcoming projects over the next eight years in Africa.

In Africa, 93 upcoming oil and gas projects will call for $413 billion in capex to produce over 13,416 MMbbl of crude and 184 Tcf of gas.

Upcoming ultra-deepwater projects will have the highest lifetime capex at $233 billion. Deepwater projects will require $86 billion over the lifetime, while onshore and shallow water projects carry a total capex of $64 billion and $30 billion, respectively.

Globaldata did not however capture details of smaller development projects in each country in its report obtained by The Oracle Today weekend.

Across the globe, over $811 billion to be spent on 615 oil and gas fields by 2025, according to company.

The project capex is expected to drive developments in conventional oil, heavy oil, oil sands and unconventional oil terrains. According to the company, development projects in conventional oil would build up to $352 billion.

Investments in heavy oil development are projected to suck up to $44 billion. A budget of $43.4 billion is estimated for development projects oil sands. Another $30 billion is expected to drive developments unconventional oil play.

Conventional gas projects, according to Globaldata, would require $363.2bn, while the investments into coal bed methane (CBM) and unconventional gas projects will total $3.7bn and $1.6bn in upstream capital expenditure by 2025.

Country breakdown for global development investment places Brazil at the top. The South American accounts for $76.7bn or over 9.5 percent of $811bn of capex for the period of 2018 to 2025.

Brazil has 49 announced and planned fields. Among these, top fields in terms of capex for the period are three ultra-deepwater conventional oil fields comprising Lula Central with a budget of $13.3 billion, Lula Oeste with capex outlook of $6.5 billion and Buzios V with capital outlay of $5.6bn.

The United States follows with $75.0 billion or an approximate 9.3 percent share in global planned and announced capex over the forecast period. The country has 37 planned and announced fields.

Ultra-deepwater Mad Dog Phase 2, shallow-water Smith Bay and onshore Horseshoe are the top three fields with capex for the eight-year period. All the three projects are conventional oil developments.

According to G;obaldata, the second phase of Ultra-deepwater Mad Dog carries capex requirement of $13.4 billion; shallowwater Smith Bay commands investment capital of $11.1 billion; while onshore Horseshoe project demands $6.5 billion investment.

Third is Russia with expected investment capital profile of $72.6 billion or around 9.0 percent to the total capex spending between 2018 and 2025. Russia has 49 planned and announced fields.

The top three fields are Sakhalin 3 shallow water conventional gas field with capex of $11.3 billion; Kovyktinskoye conventional gas onshore project with a capex of $9.0 billion and Chayandinskoye conventional gas onshore project with $5.9 billion capital requirement.

Nigeria, Australia, Canada, Mozambique, Norway, Indonesia and UK, together have a capex $298 billion, or about 37 percent of the total capex spending on upcoming projects globally for the period.

The Oracle Today

21

Wednesday April 11, 2018

ENERGY

Royal Dutch Shell investigating OML 42 divestment S

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

HELL authorities in Netherlands are investigating one of the company’s officials after pointers surfaced that he might have been involved in shady asset divestment deals in Nigeria.

The internal enquiry hovers around processes in the sale of OML 42 currently operated by Neconde during the divestment programme by Shell, Total and Eni just before the onset of oil price crash in 2011.

Reports by local Dutch media monitored in Lagos stated that Royal Dutch Shell referred a former vice president for sub-Saharan Africa Peter Robinson to the Dutch authorities, suspecting he may have committed crimes related to an asset sale in Nigeria.

“Based on what we know now from an internal investigation, we suspect a crime may have been committed by our former employee,” Shell said in an emailed statement. “We were stunned and disappointed when we learned about this.”

Mr. Robinson worked in Nigeria for Shell from 2008 to 2011 as vice president for commercial in the sub-Saharan Africa region, part of a more than 20 year tenure with the company.

The oil block OML 42, located in the Niger Delta, was sold by Shell in 2011. It produces about 100,000 bpd according to Neconde Energy.

Mr. Robinson is already fingered in separate investigations in Europe and America over financial flow in

the acquisition of OPL 245 which holds the huge Zabazaba oilfield currently under development plan

by Shell and Eni. In fact, the reports have it that the OPL 245 investigations by Italian authorities unveiled links to the OML 42 backstage deal involving suspected financial flow through a company linked to Mr. Robinson.

The deal came into focus after prosecutors in Milan alleged that in the same year Shell and Italian oil company Eni paid more than $1 billion for OPL 245, knowing that much of the money would go to pay bribes to Nigerian officials.

While investigating those charges it discovered accounts in Switzerland and a company in the Seychelles in Robinson’s name that it suspects were used to take kickbacks from the sale of another block called OML 42, said an anonymous source quoted in the report.

Shell’s integrity in Nigeria is under intense attack as more and more accusations of operational, environmental and transactional misdeeds keep floating to the surface despite spirited denials by local company spokesmen who hardly know what transacts at the management level.

Shell and several former executives, including Robinson, are already facing a criminal trial in Milan over an alleged bribery scheme related to the separate purchase of a Nigerian oil block called OPL 245.

Mr. Robinson’s lawyer in the Milan case, Chiara Padovani, wasn’t immediately able to respond to a request for comment. She said last week that her client denies accusa-

•DSC 3137: GMD NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru (right), shaking hands with Dr. Solomon Nehemiah, one the freed University of Maiduguri Lecturers during the visit to the GMD on Thursday. tions of corruption from the Italian prosecutors.

The criminal referral against Robinson was filed last week, said the person with direct knowledge of the matter. It appears he acted alone and took strong measures to avoid detection within Shell including encrypting emails, and failing to report companies and accounts registered in his name that fell outside the company’s protocols on eliminating conflicts of interest, the person said.

Prosecutors in Milan have been investigating links between Robin-

son and a Seychelles-based company called Energy Venture Partners.

The Italian authorities suspect that part of the payment Shell made to the Nigerian government for OPL 245 was funneled through Swiss bank accounts and into Energy Venture Partners to personally enrich Robinson, said the person.

A bank account linked to Robinson was frozen by the AttorneyGeneral in Switzerland after requests for legal assistance from the Dutch and Italian authorities, people familiar with the matter said last week. Several hundred million

Swiss francs were in the account, the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper reported, citing people it didn’t name.

Shell’s own investigation concluded those accounts weren’t linked to the OPL 245 transaction, but instead may have been used for kickbacks from the sale of OML 42, the person said.

“On OPL 245, we continue to believe, from our review of the prosecutor of Milan’s file and all of the information and facts currently available to us, there is no case to convict Shell or its former employees,” Shell said by email.

tion and appraisal activities on the lease, Lekoil says it has not received a satisfactory explanation of why the consent has not come through.

Meanwhile, Lekoil which has a 62% interest in OPL325 through Ashbert Oil and Gas has taken delivery of a technical evaluation report for the lease. The block which is in the Dahomey basin offshore Nigeria, is 50 kilometres or 31 miles south of OPL310.

Lumina Geophysical, which performed a geophysical evaluation of around 800 sq km of 3D seismic data supplied by Lekoil, identified 11 prospects and leads on the block

with potential for over 5.7 MMbbl of stock tank oil in place (STOIIP).

Lumina focused mainly on the Paleocene section of the block, creating new structural and stratigraphic maps using 3D pre-stack time migration seismic data.

Lekoil is looking to farm-down a portion of its interest in OPL325 following a detailed prospect/lead risking study.

CEO Lekan Akinyanmi said: “This independent report underlines our belief in the prospectivity of this asset that was part of our original Dahomey basin study. The deepwater turbidite fan play is particularly exciting for OPL325.”

be imminent, it would be a process rather than a phenomenon.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lekoil, Mr. Lekan Akinyanmi, argued at the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) in Abuja that rising global population, growing urbanization, increasing fuel consumption and aggregate energy requirement in the next decade would mean that the rising global demand could accommodate all existing energy forms in the next few decades.

OPEC states in its energy outlook that oil and gas would still be in large scale demand in the foreseeable future. The group argues that price crash would lead to investment freeze and consequent acute fuels shortage in the global markets.

It was gathered that Saudi Arabia and Russia are consequently work-

ing on long-term pact that could extend controls over world crude supplies by major exporters for many years to come.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told agency sources that Riyadh and Moscow were considering a longer deal to extend a shortterm alliance on oil curbs that began in January 2017 after a crash in crude prices.

“We have agreement on the big picture, but not yet on the detail.”

“OPEC countries want to find a way to institutionalize this relationship rather than to have it be a oneshot deal,” said an analyst.

The crown prince predicted that world oil demand would not peak until 2040, despite advances in renewable energy technologies and the electric vehicle.

Lekoil in court to validate OPL 310 stake ...Sees 5.7 MMbbls in OPL 325

I

NDIGENOUS crude oil producer, Lekoil, seeks judicial order to move the hands of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to give official approval required to conclude lingering approval of stakes and economic interests acquired by the company in Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 310 offshore Lagos State.

The prospecting asset contains the potentially large Ogo field discovery, a signal that further exploratory scores are still possible in the license area.

The company is seen as taking the judicial angle in a desperate bid to secure official approval to validate its growing interest in exploration drive offshore Dahomey Basin, Nigeria’s new frontier exploration focus.

Lekoil, it was gathered, has already apply to a Federal High Court for a declaration that should speed up the consent process, and preserve the license’s unexpired tenure. The specific court and stages of proceedings are not however available to The Oracle Today.

According to the outcome of our recent company’s operations outlook, Lekoil is yet to secure government’s consent to is investments in stakes in Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 310 offshore Lagos State where commercial discovery has been made.

The company’s anxiety for acquisition approval comes as it takes increasing interest in the Dahomey Basin where small discoveries collectively sparked a new wave of seismic data reviews the results of which confer greater prospectivity in the terrain.

Lekoil which commissioned technical evaluation of data on separate OPL 325 appears to be getting specific about its business decision to pursue further explora-

tion activities in the area. OPL 325 is further deeper south of OPL 310 where it is seeking expedited approval for stake acquisition.

It was gathered that a subsidiary of the company, Mayfair Assets and Trust Ltimied, had early 2013 acquired a 17.14 percent stake from Afren and a 30 percent economic interest to which the Minister for Petroleum Resources was expected to grant consent last June.

Despite progressing explora-

OPEC woos Russia for long term supply control

T

he ongoing coalition between members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 10 other producing nations led by Russia appears to be solidifying into an eternal bond as the leaders in each of the cooperating blocs work towards sustainable grip on market forces.

The Oracle Today learnt that Saudi Arabia which unofficially leads OPEC and Russia which also leads a pack of 10 producers involved in the coalition are in talks on how to prolong the prevailing supply control by as long as 20 years.

If the talks translate to works, the current agreement binding the countries in the coalition to production quotas would continue to rule output and subsequent supply to the market in the next two decades

despite concerns that the resulting strong prices could force industrialized countries to fast track energy transition.

Top OPEC producer Saudi Arabia recruited Russia and other nonOPEC countries to help drain a glut when oil prices collapsed from over $100 a barrel in 2014 to less than $30 in 2016.

Crude has since recovered to $70 but fast-rising output from U.S. shale producers has capped prices.

And major European countries are mounting pressure on the automobile industry to steer into green energy channels in line with global pact on capping green house gas emissions.

Analysts agree that whereas the transition to green energy might

The Oracle Today

22

Wednesday April 11, 2018

e-Platform Feature phones still dominate African market Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

D

ESPITE the successes of telecommunications operators in deploying advanced technologies such as 3G and 4G, larger percentage of mobile users in the African continent still prefer feature phones, latest report by the global technology research and consulting firm, IDC, has indicated. The report which focused on the continent’s mobile record in fourth quarter of 2017, showed a decline in smartphone market but an increase in feature phones shipment and sales.

According to the report, feature shipments for the fourth quarter totaled 33.4 million units, up 3.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter. Year on year, the feature phone market was up 9.9 per cent. “Feature phones continue to account for a majority share (62.2 per cent) of the region’s overall mobile phone market as they adequately address the needs of consumers that have limited purchasing power and require a reliable long-lasting mode of communication, particularly in rural areas” the report said.

This brought to fore one of the challenges presently confronting 4G LTE operators in the continent.

Specifically in Nigeria, Ntel which rolled out its 4G only service in 2016, after successfully acquiring the old NITEL/MTEL, has not been able to break even in the business due to scarcity of 4G-enbaled phones in the country. According to the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ntel moved ahead of the curve by launching 4G service in 2014 when there were limited 4G phones, hence, it has not been able to expand its market the way it should. To reach more Nigerians, the telco has now struck partnerships with other operators to ride

on their networks to provide 2G and 3G services under a national roaming agreement.

Conversely, the region’s smartphone market experienced a quarter-on-quarter decline of 6.4 per cent during Q4 2017. The global technology research and consulting firm’s Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker shows smartphone shipments were down to 20.3 million units for the quarter. Year on year, this represents an 18.0 per cent decline, meaning the YoY improvement seen in the previous quarter did not extend to the year’s final – and traditionally strongest quarter.

Combining smartphones and feature phones together, the overall Africa mobile phone market saw shipments of 53.7 million units in Q4 2017, which represents downturns of 0.7 per cent QoQ and 2.6 per cent YoY. According to IDC, the continent’s two biggest markets, Nigeria and South Africa, saw extremely strong growth, with shipments up 19.9 per QoQ in Nigeria and 27.0 per cent QoQ in South Africa. North Africa also experienced a slight increase, although there were declines across most other markets, which explains the region’s overall decline.

“Major campaigns took place around Black Friday and during the lead up to Christmas, which positively impacted consumer spending in Nigeria and South Africa,” said. Ramazan Yavuz, a research manager at IDC. “While Nigeria continues to recover from recession and consumer spending is on the rise, there are also clear signs of improvement in South Africa.

The end to the political crisis means that challenging economic conditions will be addressed as a priority by the new government, which will

have a positive effect on consumer confidence and spending on mobile phones.”

In terms of the vendor landscape, Transsion brands continued to lead the smartphone category in Q4 2017 with 30.4 per cent share, followed closely by Samsung on 27.0 per cent.The Transsion Group maintains its top position by designing attractively priced devices that address the specific needs of each local market – a strategy the group proudly refers to as its ‘glocal’ approach,” says Nabila Popal, a senior research manager at IDC. “Despite the significant presence of Transsion brands in most African markets, it is important to note the increasing prevalence of

local brands that are gaining considerable share in their home markets and slowly expanding to surrounding countries.” In the feature phone space, Tecno and itel – both of which are Transsion brands – continued to dominate in Q4 2017 with a combined share of 57.2 per cent.

IDC’s research shows that 4G phones are growing in popularity, finally accounting for a majority share of the smartphone market at 56.8%. Shipments of 4G devices were up 3.9% QoQ in Q4 2017, with a drop in prices for entry-level 4G phones and an increase in the number of 4G networks across the continent driving this growth.

“Despite the push of operators towards 4G, the price differential between 3G and 4G devices together with the price sensitivity of African consumers means that many people in Africa still prefer 3G phones,” says Popal.

Looking ahead, IDC said it expects Africa’s overall mobile phone market to grow 0.7 per cent QoQ in Q1 2018, with overall shipments to increase slightly through 2018, leading to YoY growth of 2.0 per cent for the year as a whole. Demand for feature phones is expected to remain strong, although IDC expects vendors to drive smartphone uptake by offering more features in affordable price bands.

bags award for role in Data center, cloud key to Africa’s Airtel HIV/AIDS awareness digital transformation – Opeke T

T

he Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Funke Opeke has highlighted the opportunity for increased investment in shared fiber network infrastructure, data center and cloud computing infrastructure in Africa. This, she said was key to further unlocking the gains in the digital transformation of the continent.

She spoke at the 2018 TMT Finance Africa Conference, a forum driving investment for telecoms, media and technology sector across Africa, held in Cape Town, South Africa recently. Ms. Opeke joined panelists from DLA Piper, Teraco, PAIX and Rack Center to discuss the need for continued investment and growth within the telecom sector and data center market in order to realize the vision for increased ICT adop-

tion in Africa.

She highlighted that MainOne, through its subsidiary, MDXi Data Centre has recently invested an additional N12billion in its Lekki data centre in order to grow its capacity from 300 to 600 racks as the leading data centre in West Africa. She stated that this investment is a part of MainOne’s plan to invest additional $300 million to enhance communication infrastructure across West Africa over ten years.

“MainOne intends to remain at the forefront of the broadband initiative in West Africa with investments in fiber infrastructure and data centres across the region to advance broadband activities. In 8 years, we have established a reputation as the preferred provider of connectivity

and data center services to West African businesses and have facilitated global content providers seeking direct access to subscribers on the sub-continent. The company has continued to extend its network reach and is currently providing services in eight West African countries including Nigeria and Ghana,” she added.

he Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) has given has presented an award to Airtel Nigeria, in recognition of its awareness campaign and provision of toll-free line in response to HIV & AIDS related health cases in Lagos.

The award was given to Airtel at the maiden edition of LSACA Awards & Dinner Night. According to the Chief Executive Officer of LSACA, Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, Airtel was honoured for helping the agency respond swiftly to cases of HIV & AIDS in the State.

“The contributions of Airtel in driving support for HIV & AIDS awareness demonstrates how much the company is committed to touching lives of people in Lagos and across Nigeria,” Temowo said.

She disclosed that Airtel has been a corporate partner of LSACA over the years and have

made significant contributions in the fight against HIV & AIDS, urging other corporate organizations to emulate Airtel in supporting LSACA to end the virus in Lagos State.

Aside its toll free line and awareness campaign initiatives, Airtel Nigeria had, in the past, held a free medical screening for the people in the Ilaje Community in Iponri, Lagos, raising awareness and deepening community engagement through the initiative.

•D.r Isa Pantami, DG NITDA

The Oracle Today

23

Wednesday April 11, 2018

e-Platform

Cisco calls for security measures against cyber attacks Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

G

LOBAL Information Technology leader, Cisco, has urged businesses in Nigeria to adopt stringent security measures as cybercrimes become more rampant and sophisticated. The General Manager of Cisco Nigeria, Mr Olakunle Oloruntimilehin, who gave this advice in Lagos said organizations need to take a comprehensive approach across people, process, technology and policy to protect their businesses from hackers and cyber criminals.

This advice follows the findings reported in the recently released Cisco 2018 Annual Cyber Security Report which identified the evolution of ransomware as one of the most significant threat developments over the past year. According to Oloruntimilehin, the report also highlighted that malware had become more vicious and harder to combat, and that attackers were developing more skill in creating malware that could evade traditional sandboxing. He said that adversaries were increasingly embracing encryption, meant to enhance security, to conceal command-and-control activity, adding that nearly half of the security risks that organisations faced stemmed from having multiple security vendors and products.

“There is the need for businesses and enterprises to adopt advanced methods of cybersecurity as security is getting more complex and the scope of breaches expanding.

“Several companies are hit by cyber breaches and attacks every year, causing losses in millions of naira and stealing highly classified information.

“It is, therefore, imperative that any organisation that desires to stay safe and minimise risks or losses should address cyber security at the top. “Executive leadership

should set the tone and engender a security-first-always-and-everywhere culture that flows throughout the organisation,” he said.

He said that the Cisco 2018 Security Capabilities Benchmark Study revealed that nearly a quarter of organisations in the African region manages more than 21 vendors.

He added that the study cited inadequate security personnel as one of the biggest obstacles to security.

Corroborating the importance of robust cyber security practices, Systems Engineer and Security ex-

pert at Cisco, Mr Tomi Amao, said that Cisco researchers observed a two-fold increase in malicious web traffic volume for over 12 months.

According to him, this alone demonstrates that cyber adversaries continue to evolve. He said that it was time to raise the bar in cyber security. “That is why, at Cisco, we educate and provide businesses with the solutions and best practices required for effective cyber security.

“Our threat researchers have a reputation for timely, accurate and

innovative work and our network of talented teams devoted to driving impactful outcomes for our customers.” Amao said that the Cisco 2018 Annual Cyber Security Report, now in its 11th year, would offer security industry data, analysis and insights about attacker behaviour over the past year.

He said that the report highlighted findings and insights derived from threat intelligence and cyber security trends observed over the past 12-18 months. The official added that the report provided rec-

ommendations designed to help organisations and users to defend against attacks.

“Cisco has an integrated and comprehensive portfolio of security technologies to provide advanced threat protection. “Cisco technologies include next generation firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, secure access systems, security analytics and malware defence, which work together to deliver effective network security and incident response,” he said.

From left: Austin Nwaulune, Director Spectrum Administration Department; Usman Malah, Chief of Staff (CoS) to EVC/ CEO; Prof. Danbatta, EVC/ CEO; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs Department and, Reuben Muoka, Head Public Relations, all of NCC at the Commission’s Headquarters after the presentation of the “Outstanding Leadership in Public Sector Governance Award 2017” given to the EVC at the 2nd Edition of DAAR Awards

20 MDAs seek NITDA’s clearance of IT projects Nokia to sack 353

N

o fewer than 20 Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) have submitted requests to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in 2018 for clearance of their information technology projects. Mrs Hadiza Umar, the NITDA Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations, who disclosed this, said some of the MDAs had been fully cleared, while some others had provisional clearance and the rest at various stages of the clearance process.

Umar noted that NITDA recently cleared the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Information Communication Technology (ICT) security and system infrastructure upgrade projects. According to her, the cleared projects include Enterprise Network Security – Gateway Security project – aimed at upgrading the bank’s network appliances and ensures that network appliances are highly available and provides comprehensive real real-time protection against advance threat.

She said that clearing of the projects would enhance ICT performance and protect the country’s cyberspace against threats. She said that potential targets of cyber-attacks were bank, health, power and transportation systems, as well as other critical

national infrastructure.

“The CBN, in its efforts toward mitigating these threats, especially in the country’s financial institutions, initiated the implementation of the projects,” she noted.

NITDA is responsible for implementing the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and coordinating

general information technology development and regulation. Section 6 of the enabling Act mandates NITDA to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardisation, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of information technology practices in Nigeria.

Huawei ships 153m smartphones in 2017

G

lobal vendor and smartphone manufacturer, Huawei has said it shipped a total of 153 million smartphones (including Honor) in 2017, up from 140 million the previous year, and reported CNY 237.2 billion in annual revenue, up 31.9 percent yearon-year. This came as the company posted a total annual revenue of CNY 603.6 billion (USD 92.5 billion) for 2017, which represents an increase of 15.7 percent from 2016. Net profit amounted to CNY 47.5 billion, up 28.1 percent year-on-year.

In 2017, Huawei’s Carrier business group generated CNY 297.8 billion in revenue, an increase of 2.5 percent year-on-year. Huawei also reports that its enterprise business generated CNY 54.9 billion in annual revenue in 2017, up 35.1 percent compared with 2016.

At the Consumer division, Huawei Huawei said that its annual investment in research and development reached CNY 89.7 billion in 2017, up 17.4 percent compared with 2016. The company’s total R&D spend over the past decade exceeded CNY 394 billion.

Huawei invested a total of USD 12 billion in research and development in 2017 and has pledged to continue investing “between USD 10 billion and USD 20 billion” every year from 2018.

Key focus areas include 5G, IoT, video and cloud. Specifically, Ding said over 80 percent of the company’s R&D expenditure was spent on carrier and enterprise technologies, with less than 20 percent spent on devices.

Investments allocated to 5G R&D would rise to USD 800 million this year, he added.

workers this year

T

elecoms equipment maker, Nokia, has announced plans to lay off 353 employees in its domestic market Finland this year as part of a cost-saving strategy and because of a weak global network market, Reuters reported.

The figure is lower than the original plan to reduce around 425 jobs. The vendor plans to cut 283 roles from the Networks business and 70 from its Technologies unit. Nokia wants to save €1.2 billion annually following its 2016 acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent. It currently employs 6,300 people in Finland and around 102,800 around the world.

Nokia slipped to a net loss during Q4 2017, as one-off patent payments during the period barely masked an ongoing struggle in its Networks business. In a statement, CEO Rajeev Suri warned the situation with its Networks business was not likely to improve in the near future, despite signs of improvements in North America, as he pinned his hopes for the division on 5G. In 2016, the company was reported to have sacked between 10,000 to 15, 000 of its employees globally, also as part of its cost-cutting scheme. In Finland, Nokia had slashed thousands of jobs over the past decade as its

once-dominant phone business was eclipsed by the rise of smartphone rivals. The phone business was eventually sold to Microsoft.

From left: Austin Nwaulune, Director Spectrum Administration Department; Usman Malah, Chief of Staff (CoS) to EVC/ CEO; Prof. Danbatta, EVC/ CEO; Tony Ojobo, Director Public Affairs Department and, Reuben Muoka, Head Public Relations, all of NCC at the Commission’s Headquarters after the presentation of the “Outstanding Leadership in Public Sector Governance Award 2017” given to the EVC at the 2nd Edition of DAAR Awards

24

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOX POPULI SACRUM

www.oraclenews.ng

EDITORIAL

Corruption war takes dangerous dive Cont’d front page 1

trial of the accused served the purpose adequately.

THE fight lost its candour with the public’s realisation that opposition party figures were those who were accused, except with the military, which was also treated as part of the immediate past government. They were vilified and called looters, without the courts pronouncing them guilty.

WHAT made the public doubt the sincerity of the government was the fact that members of APC were spared the scourge of being labelled corrupt. The cases that involving some of them have been closed. An example is that of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Slyva, who was arrested, houses seized, and was being prosecuted. He probably committed the alleged offences as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Once he became a member of APC and its governorship candidate, the case was frozen and his numerous houses that EFCC claimed it seized in Abuja were returned to him.

CORRUPTION charges have become a tag on the opposition. Every new criticism of the articulated failures of the APC government gets the standard response that corruption was fighting back. Even when the government was accused of ineptitude in the management of the Fulani herdsmen’s attack, it said that corrupt politicians, who had the searchlight on them, were fighting back.

OUR concerns abound, for there is a determined

fixation with the opposition, its failings, its poor governance that the government never forgets to use them, as the reasons for its own poor performance.

CORRUPTION is well and doing very well, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, and under the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. The report was published last year; it was a study that the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC) put together.

HEAD of Cooperation, EU, Kurt Cornelis said the investigation cost about €30m from the survey and to the publication of the report. According to Cornelis, it was part of the EU, UNODC and other partners’ contribution to help Nigeria overcome the scourge of corruption. The government ignored the report.

THE report was detailed, and showed the expansive reaches of bribe giving and taking.

“Almost a third of Nigerian adults (32.3 per cent) who had contact with a public official between June 2015 and May 2016 had to pay, or were requested to pay, a bribe to that public official,” it said. There are suggestions that the figures could be higher.

AMAZINGLY, the report’s claim that Nigerians gave more than N400b as bribes within the period of its study did not draw any reaction from the government. There has been no policy, major or minor, to check the areas that the report highlighted as the main platforms on which corruption plays.

Some of the summaries of the report: •82.3m bribes were in the 12 months of the study • Nigerians gave average of 6 bribes yearly • Nigerians paid 0.93 bribe per adult, per year •92 per cent of the bribes were paid in cash • Nigerians paid N28, 200 average annually on cash bribe • Bribes were 12.5 per cent of the annual average salary.

• Average cash paid as bribe was N5, 300 • N400b or $4.6 billion (in purchasing power parity, PPP) paid as bribe •The bribe paid in that studied period was 39 per cent of combined federal and state education budgets in 2016 PERCEPTION of the government’s fight against corruptions, varied from region to region, the study discovered, and could possibly align with the political alliances of the regions.

About 90.2 per cent of those living in the North West believe that government is very effective in fighting corruption. In the North East, the figure is 88.4 per cent; it drops to 72.6 per cent in the North Central, 68.9 per cent in the South West. The four regions are effectively under the control of APC. The figures are 41.2 per cent in the South East and 41.3 per cent in the South South region, both major oppositions to the central government.

A COUNTRY that once condemned discrimination in all its known forms, a country that crafted its Constitution and condemned discrimination in all

its ramifications now applauds, justifies, encourages, and identifies with unfairness on its peoples under principles that negate justice and the rule of law. It is dangerous when these practices are signalled as government policy.

VICE President Yemi Osinbajo at a symposium in Lagos found appropriate platform to tell PDP that instead of apologising to Nigerians, it should return what it stole in 16 years of governance. He threw around allegations of corruption against the party. These are allegations that have been bandied since 2015, and worse still, some of them were under prosecution or investigation. Accused persons, suspects, and people who have not been charged to court became looters. He asked the looters to return their loots, so that they could be used in developing the country.

THE Vice President is a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN; he should not be one not to know the difference between a suspect, an accused, and a convict.

PDP then responded that once APC returned former PDP members who were in APC, there would be grounds for discussions. Lists of “corrupt” Nigerians have been flying from both sides since them.

The verdict is that there are corrupt people on both sides.

IT is a damning verdict for both sides. Nobody is denying the allegations loud enough to institute legal action against the accusers. It is seems the balance of terror in allegations, would resolve the matter.

WE find the sanctification of alleged former PDP members who joined APC abhorrent. It closes the fight against corruption, leaving a wide window to entice members of the opposition to the ruling party.

THE media trials of suspects, the targeting of opposition party members, the obfuscations, the disinformation and the opaque accounting of recoveries all point to a lost battle against corruption.

SADDER than these is government’s celebration of its compromised standards for fighting corruption, the basic issue it said it must deal with for Nigeria to survive.

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

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

25

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

OPINION

In defence of a people’s identity

B

ritish Jews are U.S. Jews’ poor kid brother.

But I have never seen my Jewish community so assertive and united against Jeremy Corbyn’s normalization of anti-Semitism; I have also never seen Jews so powerless I joined the Labour Party under Ed Miliband.

I have campaigned in two general elections, in dozens of local elections and leafletting drives and have been active in my university Labour club since I joined the party in 2013. I was confident in my Jewish identity, and my Labour values. But I have handed in my membership card.

I left Labour, not because my values or ideology changed. Rather, my Jewishness is an important part of my identity. It would be intellectually dishonest to encourage strangers to vote in Jeremy Corbyn as Britain’s next prime minister, when I would be deeply uneasy about a Corbyn premiership and its ramifications for the country’s Jews.

British Jewry is a modest community, and it has much to be modest about. It has never been as intellectually creative as American Jewry, nor as assertive as French Jewry. As the poorer kid brother of American Jews, Britain’s Jews’ achievements can be embodied, rather tragically, in Ed Miliband and Oliver Letwin. Rabbi Johnathan Wittenberg, the senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism in Britain, notes with regret that, “Labour has traditionally held socialist values, and these are values that Jews empathize with.”

Yet, in the last two years, as Anglo-Saxon Jewry has been hit by a wave of conspiracy theories, British Jewry has been brave. It has undergone a renaissance of sorts. More assertive, British Jews have united and stood up for themselves in a way that our American cousins have not. The fact that roughly one in every 200 British Jews turned out, with less than 24 hours’ notice, on Monday evening to stand against the rise in anti-Semitism in the Labour Party is perhaps a sign of the changing times.

British Jewry is a modest community, and it has much to be modest about. It has never been as intellectually creative as American Jewry, nor as assertive as French Jewry. As the

Recently, British Jews bravely stood up to Labour Party’s anti-Semitism, but it was a tragic failure, writes JACOB JUDAH poorer kid brother of American Jews, Britain’s Jews’ achievements can be embodied, rather tragically, in Ed Miliband and Oliver Letwin.

Rabbi Johnathan Wittenberg, the senior rabbi of Masorti Judaism in Britain, notes with regret that, “Labour has traditionally held socialist values, and these are values that Jews empathize with.”

Yet, in the last two years, as Anglo-Saxon Jewry has been hit by a wave of conspiracy theories, British Jewry has been brave. It has undergone a renaissance of sorts. More assertive, British Jews have united and stood up for themselves in a way that our American cousins have not. The fact that roughly one in every 200 British Jews turned out, with less than 24 hours’ notice, on Monday evening to stand against the rise in anti-Semitism in the Labour Party is perhaps a sign of the changing times.

The case at issue was a Facebook comment

by Jeremy Corbyn in 2012, opposing the removal of a mural depicting “Protocols of the Elders of Zion”-style Jewish financiers playing chess on the backs of naked workers. However, said one protester on Monday, “There could have been other catalysts. It’s an accumulation of events and events.”

In response, Britain’s largest and most respected Jewish institutions, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, published an open letter, alleging that “again and again, Jeremy Corbyn has sided with antiSemites” and called for a demonstration. Never before have Jewish institutions called for demonstrations against a major political party, never in my, or my parents’ lifetimes has antiSemitism been such a pressing issue for British Jews. Never before have I felt that British Jews have to reassess their place in British society.

There was something tragic about this brav-

ery, tinged with a low-hanging sense of unease. British Jews charged Lancelot-like into the indifference of the British public, accompanied by a pat on the back by some 60 ostensibly virtuous MPs who, having shown their faces crossed the street back to Parliament fully expecting nothing to change.

This collective shrug is what has made me anxious. Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-Semitism has normalized anti-Semitism and discussion of it in British society to the extent that it barely registers. On Sunday, the BBC’s “News at Ten” led with an Australian cricket scandal.

A refrain heard among those on Parliament Square was the degree to which this was perceived as a Jewish-only issue. The perception of the virtue fest by Labour MPs, keen to highlight their moral uprightness, underlines the degree to which the concerns of Labour MPs and the Jewish community have drifted apart.

I don’t need more solidarity. Solidarity without gestures is meaningless.

This demonstration was a sublime failure. I have never seen my Jewish community so assertive and united; I have also never seen Jews so powerless. This protest was an admission of failure – an admission that Jews have failed to influence, not been listened to and failed to make a difference on the left. How had we come to this?

At the small pro-Corbyn counter-protest, one woman told me that the #EnoughisEnough protest was “riddled with Tories,” and that, “this is not a conspiracy theory, but it is no coincidence that this protest is happening just before an election” – notwithstanding the fact that it has been less than 10 months since the last election.

From the inside, I have witnessed the tragedy of some parts of the Corbyn movement

– which has so many positive facets – as they were taken into a leader cult, built on populist rhetoric and conspiracy theories.

Debate is structured around dangerously vague, conspiratorial ideas of “the establishment,” media control and the banking system.

Anti-Semitism is more than just personal, base, a matter of dislike. There is less of a focus on the theory-grounded materialist thinking of previous generations of Labour politicians, which ascribed behaviors and power positions more to the dynamics and dictates of a capitalist system.

It doesn’t have to be like this. In the hour before the protest began, a promising third statement dealing with the mural and its fallout was released. In it, Corbyn addressed and debunked directly some of the old and new antiSemitic conspiracies that have found a seam in some parts of the Labour Party. There is much to be admired in the Corbyn movement, in the engagement that it has created, its breaking of the intellectual mould of the stultified debates, and the revitalization of British politics that it has bought with it.

Corbyn must speak to the Jewish community, he should refine and give the promising statement that was released just before the protest in the form of a speech. Corbyn is respected, and people on all sides will listen to what he has to say.

The bridge between the Jewish community and Labour is on fire. If Labour cares about British Jewry, it must do its best to put it out. Only then will Britain’s Jews consider returning.

•JACOB JUDAH, a freelance journalist and student at the London School of Economics, wrote this article for Haaretz, Israel’s Englishlanguage newspaper.

PDP’s ‘busybody’ in APC’s internal affairs

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

W

hen has it become the business of a political party to tell a rival organisation how to conduct its internal interests, especially in the choice, and extension of tenure of its officials? Well, this was the preoccupation of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the past week.

Masking its own problems, the PDP had crowed about President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged “interference” in the affairs of the All Progressives Congress, which, ironically, is his political platform. That raises the question: How could the president be accused of meddling in the matters of the APC that he leads?

But to the PDP, Mr. Buhari has no right to want to steer the APC away from “illegality” arising from the controversial elongation, by one year, of the tenure of its officials at all levels. And the PDP pulled no punches on the APC, the president and his government.

“We are... not surprised that President Buhari went back to his party’s NEC and ordered members to reverse earlier decisions, which they had claimed conformed with the provisions of their constitution,” said Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP’s spokesperson.

“It is amazing that a party, which boasts of belonging to the progressive bent, does not even understand its own rules or the applications thereof. In one breath, the party sought the elongation of tenure for its officials and then in another breath it reversed itself...

There is no way a party, which cannot conduct its affairs in a democratic norm, will be able to function in government.”

In local parlance, the PDP vitriol is akin to “somebody taking panadol for another’s man’s headache.” But for all practical purposes, it exposes the party’s thinking, and perhaps planning to undo the APC in the pro-

cesses leading up to the 2019 elections.

The background to the PDP venom is the February 27, 2018 decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC to recommend extension of the party officials’ four-year tenure, which ends in June 2018, to June 2019.

Although the NEC action received endorsement of majority of Governors of the APC, and state chapter chairmen, there were pockets of opposition, especially from members aspiring to party positions. Actually, four of such aspirants have taken the party to court, alleging that the NEC decision violates the APC constitution.

Thus, the March 27 NEC meeting came in the heat of agitation to remedy the tenure extension, which the hierarchy of the party maintained was a “done deal” insofar as it was carried out by the highest decision-making organ of the APC. With this line of reasoning, the National Caucus meeting the previous day drew up only two items for the NEC gathering: Review of the APC constitution and deliberation of the report on True Federalism.

However, when the NEC meeting was underway, and the APC Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, spelt out the two items on the agenda, and yielded the floor to Buhari, the president held that the tenure elongation violated the APC constitution, and the amended 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

According to Buhari: “I have taken time to review and seek advice on the (NEC) resolution and what I found is that it contravenes both our party’s constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (citing the relevant article and section, respectively)... I am, therefore, of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk.”

Going by media reports, while Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and APC’s Legal Adviser, Dr. Muiz Banire (both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN)) argued that no political parties (including PDP) could take the APC to court over tenure elongation “because whatever is done by NEC is an internal affairs of the party,” Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) begged to differ.

Prof. Osinbajo reportedly “warned the party against taking unnecessary risks on the caretaker committee because it could invalidate all nominations by the APC for the 2019 general elections at all levels.”

To bring home the import of a legal entanglement that could sink the APC fortunes, Osinbajo alluded to the case of a member of the party in the Kano State House of Assembly, “who was nominated by a caretaker committee.”

“The APC laboured and won the election but when the case got to the Supreme Court, the election was nullified because he was nominated by a caretaker committee, which was illegal,” Osinbajo said, adding, “there is a Supreme Court judgment of 2015, which precisely says parties should obey their constitutions.”

Hence, in supporting the position of President Buhari, Osinbajo advised: “We should abide by Article 13 of the APC constitution, by holding congresses and the National Convention of the party. Any introduction of extraneous clause to our constitution can affect our electoral fortunes.”

As media reports indicate, “Overwhelmed

by Osinbajo’s ‘brilliant’ submission, governors and members of NEC clapped thunderously, such that Odigie-Oyegun had to call the session back to order,” and suggested the “setting up of a very compact committee to revisit the issue,” which the NEC approved.

So, how are these happenings within the

APC the business or prerogative of the PDP if not that it’s a busybody, which cloaks the “impunity and impositions” at its national convention and, indeed, the party, and yet, points to others’ alleged imperfections?

The APC should impress it on the PDP that it’s better to err on the side of expediency, which informed the tenure elongation, than to contravene the law that could throw a spanner in its works in 2019.

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

THE GROUP Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Ikeddy Isiguzo Editor Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Editor/Head, Lagos Bureau Sopuruchi Onwuka Abuja Bureau Chief Tony Ailemen Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Business Manager Kelechi Nze Circulation Manager Felix Oti

The Oracle Today

26

Wednesday April 11, 2018

Travel & Hospitality Nigerians flay US Embassy over visa rip-off Stories by VICTOR NZE

N

IGERIANS have flayed the United States Embassy in the country over allegations of over-charging of visa applicants from Nigeria.

It would be recalled that a national newspaper, last week, blew the lid on high-handedness and outright over charging of visa applicants at the embassy in Abuja which the tabloid had put at N19 billion in one year alone, as it claimed excess gain by the embassy to be at N4.5 billion.

According to investigations, the embassy was exploiting Nigerian visa applicants at its Abuja office by charging N400 to a dollar in excess of the official exchange rate of N305.25 pegged by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

According to the U.S. Department of State, more than 163,000 immigrant and non-immigrant visas were issued to Nigerians between March 2017 and January 2018.The number of applicants denied visa in 2017 were over 130,000, representing 44 per cent of the visas granted in the fiscal year.

Therefore, at the exchange rate of N400 to a dollar, the consulate made nearly N19 billion in 11 months instead of N14.5 billion it would have made at N305.25 to a dollar. The difference of N4.5 billion represents 23 per cent excess gain, the findings revealed.

“Consequently, at the exchange rate of N400 to a dollar, a Nigerian applying for the non-immigrant U.S. visa at $160 fee was made to

pay N64, 000 instead of N48, 840.

The N400-to-a dollar exchange rate allowed the U.S. Consulate to cream off excess gain of N15, 200 per applicant. Even at the black market rate of N370 to a dollar, which was sustained for months, the consulate made an excess gain of N8, 400 on each visa granted Nigerians,” the newspaper said.

However, reacting to the findings, some Nigerians have now called on the Federal government to also tighten rules applying to United States applicants for Nigerian visas, even as others wondered why the visa processing fee in question is not refundable upon denial of the document as obtained in other countries.

“They call it processing fee.

But in Hong Kong, you are only charged if it’s approved. So you pay before you pick up. Plus it’s very cheap. I actually don’t blame the United States, with embassies everywhere, they need funds to run them,” said Hong Kong-based Nigerian, Mr. Chibuzor Nnonyelu.

On his part, Steve Nezianya, CEO of United State-based, Host Media, said: “If you are denied visa, you shouldn’t lose your money. That is very unfair. That is the point the writer should be making. It is their country and they can charge whatever they want for visa. Nigeria can do the same. But if you are denied visa you shouldn’t be charged for it.”

The situation which was not welcomed by those denied the document upon paying the over-priced visa, saw the applicants calling for the introduction of a dollar pay-

•President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd right); Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right); member, House of Representative, Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon. James Faleke (right behind) during the commissioning of the newly built Ikeja Bus Terminal by the Lagos State Government, Thursday. ment regime to avert what they termed as a rip-off by the US embassy.

“I just hope they hear this and our government should please do something about this. i was denied visa 2weeks ago and I was going for a genuine reason, a global programme which the consulate I believe is aware of. The organizers sent the consulate a mail with our info in it and the programme was just for a week. They still denied

me the visa and the visa application fee just went like that. It’s not fair at all. They should stop assuming everyone wants to run away from Nigeria. I love my country Nigeria as they do love theirs,” lamented Ms Inestimable Etsy Ese. Public Affairs Officer U.S. Consulate, Lagos, while reacting, Darcy Fyock Zotter, the justified the exchange rate of N400 to a dollar, saying: “We note that there are multiple exchange rates listed for

According to Akesson, there is a huge demand for a technologybased solution for travelers in Nigeria.

According to him, the demand has helped the travel agency to expand its Nigerian operations to surpass established markets in Namibia and Kenya.

“The industry focuses on meet-

ing customers’ needs within the aspects of price, payment choices, trust and customer service. In order to play our part in developing the industry, Travelstart added a walk-in service to allow customers build human connection with the company.

“This has helped to improve customers’ trust in us,’’ he said.

Nigeria. The U.S. Mission Nigeria uses a market-based exchange rate for the payment of U.S. visa fees.”

However, the diplomat failed to explain how the Consulate arrived at N400 to a dollar rate, even as the foreign mission has already reverted to the N360 to one dollar exchange rate.

Information Officer at the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. embassy in Nigeria, Russell K. Brooks, confirmed the change saying: “U.S. policy requires reciprocity with regard to visa fees. Discussions have been underway to ensure that the fees paid by U.S. citizens match those paid by Nigerians.”

Notwithstanding, more Nigerians are being refused the chance to visit America in the last three years.

The statistics published by the U.S. Department of State show that the refusal rate for B-visa has increased from 32 per cent in 2015 to 44 per cent in 2017, despite the rip-off.

merce.

“The Ikeja Bus Terminal is one of our flagship transport infrastructure under the State Bus Reform Initiative.

The first phase of this programme will see 13 new Bus terminals introduced including major terminals at Oshodi, Yaba, Ojota, Agege and the already completed Tafawa Balewa Bus Terminal.

“We have commenced the introduction of 5,000 new buses into the Lagos economy in the next 3 years. We will inject 820 environmentally-friendly high capacity buses in the first phase of

this reform by September 2018, 300 New Bus Stops, 3 Bus Depots, and Intelligent Transport System which will aid Lagosians to plan their journeys on our public transport system.

“Work is ongoing on the 27-kilometre Blue Line Rail project from Okokomaiko West of Lagos to Marina in Central Lagos. We are in discussions with various investors and stakeholders on our urban rail project, the Red Line from Alagbada to Marina.

The Ikeja Bus Terminal, which is estimated to convey about 200,000 passengers daily across 23 destinations, has been fitted

with all aspects of public transport operations such as buses, passengers’ insurance, 13 ticketing boots, route licensing, terminal bus attendants and operating companies.

Apart from eliminating all the previous chaos and difficulties associated with boarding bus to different locations, the facility which is sitting on 10,000 square metres land space, is equipped with Intelligent Transport System (ITS), food court, shops, rest rooms, ATM Gallery, free Wi-Fi, electronically controlled shades, fully airconditioned terminal, among others.

Travel industry to contribute 2.59m jobs by 2027

N

igeria’s Travel industry’s contribution to employment is expected to rise by 3.6 per cent per annum to 2,598,000 jobs in 2027.

Travelstart Nigeria, an online African travel agency, gave the figure in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.

Country Manager, Travelstart Nigeria, Phillip Akesson, said that the statistics was part of an economic impact assessment of travel and tourism by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

“The expected rise per annum can be attributed to the fact that Nigerians now spend more on domestic travels. The statistics further disclosed that the total contribution of the travel and tourism industry to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was N5,124.3 billion (4.7% of GDP) in 2016.

“It was expected to rise to N7,507.7 billion in 2017,’’ he said.

Akesson said that the travel industry contributed 4.5% of employments in in Nigeria in 2016.

The country manager said that in view of the travel industry’s contribution to employment,

Travelstart Nigeria was focusing on local content that would reshape the industry.

He said that the organisation had catered for more than half a million Nigerians in its six years of existence and grown its affiliate networks.

He added that the organisation had employed about 50 Nigerians.

Ikeja BRT terminal opens for operation

L

agos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has said that the newly-opened, ultra-modern Ikeja Bus Terminal as a travel destination was also designed to redefine public transportation in line with the Bus Reform (BRT) Initiative of the state government.

Ambode who said the Ikeja Bus Terminal signposts the commitment of his administration to reforming public transportation infrastructure and management in the State, said that the vision remained the provision of a functional, efficient and integrated transport system to support the populace and facilitate com-

The Oracle Today

27

Wednesday April 11, 2018

AVIATION

Delta links Abuja as Lagos-New York route commences Stories by VICTOR NZE

U

NITED States-based carrier, Delta Air Lines has officially its new nonstop Lagos-JFK, New York service from Lagos linking Abuja.

The New York-JFK route complements the airline’s existing Lagos to Atlanta, providing a daily departure and more travel choice to the U.S. than ever before.

The New York-JFK flight will operate three times weekly, with Delta’s existing services to Atlanta departing on the other four days. Customers flying to Delta’s New York-JFK hub will benefit from more than XX connections across the U.S. to destinations including: Washington D.C., Baltimore and Chicago.

Delta’s Lagos – New York-JFK

service is scheduled to operate as follows “With the U.S. the largest foreign investor in Nigeria, this new route underscores our commitment to the market by facilitating trade and commerce between our nations,” said Corneel Koster, Delta’s senior vice president – Europe, Middle East, Africa and India, adding: “We’re proud of Delta’s 10-year history in Nigeria and that we are the only airline to offer daily nonstop flights, bringing benefits to Nigerian business travellers while also providing more opportunities to reunite with families and friends across the United States.”

Delta’s New York-JFK and Atlanta flights from Lagos are operated using 234-seat Airbus A330200 aircraft.

Adamawa Govt. to build airport in Mubi – Governor

G

OVERNOR of Adamawa, Mohammed Bindowahs disclosed that his administration plans to build an airport in Mubi area of the state to boost economic activities in the state.

Bindow who said this while conducting officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation round the project’s proposed site, explained that the decision to build the airport is informed by the fact that commercial activities has shifted to Mubi.

“This project will bring multiple socio-economic benefits to the state. It will boost the economy of the state in particular and that of Nigeria in general. We also hope the project will attract an Air Force base for security surveillance within Mubi area and its neighbourhood,’’ the governor said.

He added that the construction of an airport would enhance transportation of goods within and outside Nigeria.

Bindow said that activities of insurgents had impacted negatively on Maiduguri, which was hitherto a commercial nerve centre for the North East geopolitical zone.

He disclosed that two investors had already indicated interest in partnering with the state government on the project, which is to be funded through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

The governor thanked the Federal Ministry of Transportation for approving its technical team’s evaluation of the project site.

In his remark, Capt Talba Alkali, the leader of the team from the federal ministry of transportation, said that they were in the area to assess the site physically.

Alkali said that the site was cleared from all physical encumbrances that could hinder the project.

He said that the technical team would work together with the state government’s consultants on technical evaluation of the project.

Alkali urged the officials of the State Ministry for Land and Survey to furnish the team with more topographical details of the site.

He said that the move by the state government was in line with the Nigerian Aviation Act 2016 which allowed individuals, state governments and the federal government to own airports.

According to the official, the ministry is duty bound to consider the state government’s application by this Act. “This project will add tremendous value to the nation’s aviation industry.’’

Earlier, Alhaji Sulaiman Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary, Adamawa State Ministry of Works, said the project site covered six square kilometers.

Mohammed said that the width of the site was 3.2 kilometers, while the runway measurement was 2.4 kilometers.

He said that the critical aircraft was Boeing 737.

The ministerial technical team comprised representatives of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigeria Airspace Management Authority (NAMA).

•Minister of State Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika unveiling the logo for the 59th ACI (Airports Council International) Conference & Exhibition coming up next month at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos in company of the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Engr. Saleh Dunoma and other important personalities, at a ceremony which held during the 4th Aviation Stakeholders’ Forum holding at the Nigerian Airforce Conference Center and Suites, Kado Abuja.

FG pledges to attract direct investment to aviation sector

M

INISTER of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, has assured that the Federal Government remains committed to attract increased trade and inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigerian aviation sector.

Sirika stated this during the Fourth Aviation Stakeholders’ Forum, Thursday in Abuja.

He said that increased trade and FDI would help to maximise the contribution of the sector to the socioeconomic development of the Nigerian economy.

Sirika said that government remain committed to making air transportation the preferred and safest means of transportation, creating a selfsustaining business model to drive socio-economic growth in Nigeria.

The minister said the vision of the government for the industry was to

FG names Transaction Advisers for airports’ concession, 5 others

F

ederal Government has unveiled Transaction Advisers for the six projects in the Aviation Roadmap in line with the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) guidelines and public procurement act.

This was made known by Minister of State Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika at the 4th Aviation Stakeholders Forum, Thursday, in Abuja where he also unveiled the logo for the 59th Airport Council International Africa (ACI-Africa) Conference and Exhibition next month.

The six projects in the roadmap include the concession of the four major airports, establishment of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Centre and Aviation leasing company, development of Aerotropolis and cargo/ Argo allied terminals, establishment of national

carrier.

For the concession, Sirika announced that Infrata, Dentons, Rebel, WSP Parsons Brinkckerhoff, Proserve as the five Transaction Advisers for the handling of the concession of the Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt Airports.

The consortium of five firms are vastly experienced and are experts in airport management, Public Private Partnership Legal Advice, Finance, Project and Construction Management and Environmental and Social services.

On the establishment of an MRO Centre and Aviation Leasing company, Sirika revealed that govern,Ray approved a consortium of five firms, Arup UK, Catamaran Nigeria Limited, RDC Aviation Economics UK, Aubert Business Consulting UK and Olawoyin &Olawoyin.

develop a hub to take full advantage of Nigeria’s potentials in aviation.

He added that government was also committed to provide the requisite capacity and manpower, especially aviation business managers and scientists to engage in research and development.

Parts of government’s vision, according to him, were establishing a business model that will make the industry self-sustaining through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

“We want to develop an industry that provides all the maintenance needs in the country thereby reducing capital flight. We are also determined to ensure optimum utilisation of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and Multilateral Air Service Agreement (MASA) to the advantage of indigenous airlines.

“Government is committed to developing an industry with improved infrastructure and quality service delivery,’’ he said.

Sirika said that in spite of the progress made, the industry was still faced with some challenges such as high cost of Jet A1 (aviation fuel) and budgetary constraints and slow pace of infrastructural development.

He said that the government had taken measures to address the high rate of equipment /instrument obsolescence and degradation, as well as inadequate technical and Aging Workforce.

The minister said non-optimisation of Bilateral/Multilateral Air Service Agreements (BASA/MASA) was another major challenge confronting the industry. He highlighted the progress made so far in the implementation of the sector roadmap to include improvement in aviation safety and security.

“We achieved the certification of Lagos and Abuja airports by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in line with the guidelines and procedures stipulated by the International

Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) got World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Certification for conforming to the requirements of (ISO 9001 2015). This is for the provision of meteorological services to the aviation industry and other stakeholders and Nigeria is the only country to achieve (ISO 2009 2015) in Africa,’’ he said.

Sirika said transaction advisers had been working on developing the business case in line with Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) regulation for concession of four international airports and establishment of national carrier.

He assured that the process would be transparent, adding that all stakeholders would be carried along.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Sen. Adamu Aliero, said that the National Assembly was committed to ensuring that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act was passed as quickly as possible.

Aliero said the National Assembly would continue to support the development drive of the government towards repositioning the nation’s aviation sector.

He disclosed that the senate would only support the planned concession of airport if it would be done transparently, adding that concession should bring about efficiency of the airports.

Aliero also urged the government to ensure that the proposed national carrier was private-sector driven to avoid the repetition of the defunct Nigerian Airways experience.

“NASS is in support of the establishment of national carrier but it must be private sector driven. We are also in support of the concession of airports provided the process is transparent and I disagree with aviation unions that the concession would lead to job loss. I have seen where concession has led to job creation and efficiency,’’ he said.

The Oracle Today

28

Wednesday April 11, 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION IEI Anchor grows Unions threaten airspace over assets to over N75b N45b N’Airways benefits I Stories by VICTOR NZE

A

VIATION industry unions, comprising; the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN)

have threatened to shut down the airspace in the next two weeks if the Federal Government fails to pay the N45 billion accruing final severance benefits to the almost 6,000 workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL).

The workers who vowed that they would not wait until the entire workers of the former NAL die be-

fore taking step to ensure that they were paid their benefits, further expressed outrage over the seeming insensitivity of the Ministry of Finance to pay the workers over 10 months after the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

These were contained in a petition, dated March 19, 2018 which was made available to journalists and signed by Comrade Ocheme

•Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN; Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; Governor of Lagos, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State at the just-concluded Quarterly Meeting Of Western Nigeria Governors Forum, which held in Lagos, Tuesday.

NCRIB plans to enlist members at Lagos, German chambers

T

HE Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has revealed plans to register all its interested members into the Nigerian/German Business Association (NGBA), and the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

NCRIB President, Shola Tinubu, who disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos, said plans are in motion by the council to strategic institutions with the aim of propagating insurance broking.

He also the NCRIB team would be visiting the high echelon of the Nigeria Police, to leverage on the training avenues for insurance awareness, stressing that same strategy is being contemplated for sister institutions.

The NCRIB boss said based on its in-road into the high profile National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, it has been given another opportunity to deliver a talk at the Institute, adding that the opportunity would boost brokers’ corporate image by enhancing the relevance of the profession.

The broker said: “As part of our agenda, we will open up retailing business, which will increase insurance penetration. The Council will also continually invent ingenious programmes and explore opportu-

nities for our members to enhance their interest and commitment to the NCRIB as their professional body.”

He noted that the Council would ensure institution building by looking holistically into the structure within the purview of the law, aimed at building an enduring framework.

Tinubu added that he was looking forward to the Council being able to relate with other regulatory bodies without interference.

“We shall encourage members to embrace ethical practices, promote self-regulation, and strengthen the investigation and disciplinary committees of the Council to be able to meet the daunting task of entrenching sound discipline and ethics among our members.

Tinubu said the Secretariat has also accelerated its communication with members through fortification of its social media and other information technology platforms, to make them drive better value for the Council.

“It is heart-warming that an officer of the Secretariat has now been designated to attend specifically to enquiries of members. Furthermore, approvals have been given for the Secretariat to produce a robust IT platform for membership

that would enable online interactions between the Secretariat and members as obtainable in progressive institutions,” he said.

Aba for NAAPE, Comrade Frances Akinjole, ATSSSAN and Alayinka Abioye for NUATE and addressed to Sen. Hadi Sirika, the Minister of State for Aviation.

The petitioners also copied the Ministers of Labour and Employment and Finance.

The unions also pointed out that they had commenced the mobilisation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) in a bid to gather wider support for the action.

The petitioner, however, commended Sirika for his concerted efforts to ensure that the workers were paid appropriately, but wondered why Adeosun had failed to pay the sum as approved.

“It is disheartening that the Honourable Minister of Finance has unconsciously and negatively prioritized the President’s directive on this matter. She has equally in a most uncaring manner, refused to heed all entreaties by the hapless ex-workers.

“Not even the cries of the growing list of the avoidable deaths and other afflictions created by their excruciating conditions of existence had pinched the minister’s rock hard hear. Our previous letters to the minister has failed to move her just as earlier letter from the NLC on the matter.

“As we can no longer wait for all the ex-staff of the Nigeria Airways to die before entitlements are paid, we are therefore, compelled to force Adeosun to come to terms with the reality of the situation and be rid of her gross insensitivity.

“In view of the above, we are sad to inform you that all workers in the aviation sector will commence an indefinite industrial action in 14 days should the ex-Nigeria Airways workers fail to receive their entitlements as graciously approved. We have also commenced the mobilisation of NLC, TUC and ULC towards assuring wider support for this objective,” read the petition.

EI Anchor Pension Managers Limited says it has grown its Asset under Management from N47 billion in 2015 to over N75 billion as at March 2018.

Speaking, Managing Director/ CEO Glory Etaduovie said that the company’s investment returns was above this year‘s inflation figures which stood at 16.54 per cent on the average, while overall returns outperformed the MPR rate of 14 per cent all year round.

This he said helped the company to reposition the effects of long tenured previously lower Government bonds yields where most pension fund administrators (PFAs) are overweighted.

He said the company was able to grow its AUM because they were able to overhaul its business.

“We had overhauled our business sense. Consequently, Our Complaints bureau received less and less complaints because of service turnaround time and renewed Customers’sensitivity by training and retraining staff for excellence and bridging knowledge gap. This was also in anticipation of the transfer window. Our Customers will move nowhere if they are satisfied.”

He added that in 2017 the company clinched three Awards for, one of the fastest growing PFAs, Innovative PFA of 2017 and the PFA of 2016.

“We entered the year 2017 with a lot of hopes and enthusiasm.

Thus, we chose the “prism of possibilities”, this he said was to further unlock its collective and individual potential. We had great strides for the Company, all stakeholders, but more so for our contributors – the tangibles and the intangible values,” he said.

On its branch network and clientele Etaduovie said: “We have wider clients outreach in most states. We have many Corporate and Government clients. We enjoy good relationship with them.

On security of Pension fund, the IEI Anchor Pension Managers boss said: “Our customers funds are very secure because the regulator is up and doing in its monitoring exercise and there is a strong check system between PenCom, the PFAs and the Fund Custodians that triggers any anomaly.”

“If the partnership like that of the renovation loan is legislated through certain percentage of the contribution of workers being willingly and legally allocated to the board either quarterly, monthly or yearly nobody will raise an eyebrow.

“After all, it is the contribution of public servants and we will be assisting the FMB in solving their challenges because we are both federal government agencies working with different mandates to meet the housing needs of Nigerians,” Fika said.

She noted that the proposed amendment seeks to remove some obsolete provisions in the Act, making the board more efficient to achieve the housing policy of the present administration.

The board also sought amendment to eight areas of the enabling act, namely; sections 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11,13 and 14.

It also outlined willful delay or

obstruction of a diligent inspection or investigation of information supplied for loan approval as an offence.

It, however, stated penalties for anyone who contravenes the provisions of the act to be convicted, fined or dismissed from service depending on the offence.

Earlier, Speaker House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said that the bill had come at a right time to give succor to civil servants.

Dogara, represented by the House Minority Whip, Mr Yakubu Barde, noted that Nigeria had a housing deficit of 17 million.

He added that most civil servants cannot afford houses in Abuja due to high cost of rent, thereby making them live in Niger and Nasarawa states from where they come to work every day.

According to him, the distance from their work place to their houses affects the output of their jobs negatively.

Loans Board calls for transfer of National Housing Fund E xecutive Secretary, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB), Mrs Hannatu Fika, Tuesday, called for the transfer of the monthly National Housing Fund contributed by civil servants to the board.

Fika made the call in Abuja, during the Public Hearing on; “A bill for an Act to amend the Federal Government Staff Housing Board to administer a housing loan scheme for Federal Public officers and related matters.”

She explained that the fact that public servants contributing to NHF are not getting any benefit from the contribution necessitated the call for the transfer.

According to her, public servants were the surest block of workers, who contribute to the NHF. “In order to address the concerns of public servants, the FGSHLB in partnership with the Federal Mortgage Bank, came up with the N1 million renovation loan at most.

The Oracle Today

29

Wednesday April 11, 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION

Management expenses: Shareholders back NAICOM’s directive to insurers Stories by VICTOR NZE

missioner for Insurance (CFI).

ATIONAL President, Constance Shareholders Association of Nigeria (CSAN), Mr Shehu Mikail, has declared support for the National Insurance Commission’s (NAICOM) directive to insurers to cut their huge management expenses.

Mikail said, Monday in Lagos, that the cut would end unnecessary expenditures embarked on by some insurers as well as enhance dividend payment and boost investors’ confidence in the sector.

He said the association was happy with the new directive by Alhaji Mohammed Kari, the Com-

“This means that companies would no longer spend unnecessarily to the extent that they would not be able to attend to claims set-

N

tlement and give good returns on investments,’’ Mikail said He noted that a data recently obtained from the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), revealed that a whopping N264.15 billion was

spent as management expenses in five years.

“The data in 2012 financial year showed that N48. 22 billion was incurred on management expenses.

About N48.59, N53.83, N52.12, and

Custodian & Allied posts N7.32b PAT in 2017

C

ustodian & Allied Plc has proposed a dividend of N0.32 kobo for its investors for the financial year ended 31st December 2017.

The insurer which disclosed this through a notice made through the Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE) added that its profit after tax (PAT) went up by 37.33 percent from N5.33 billion reported in 2016 to N7.32 billion in the year under review.

The firm’s Gross revenue increased to N43.02 billion from N38.55 billion posted in 2016, indicating a growth of 11.59 percent.

Pretax profit was not left out as it appreciated to N89.3 billion from N7.39 billion recorded in 2016, showing an increasing of 20.88 percent.

The notice further said that qualification and closure dates have been scheduled for April 11 and April 13-17, 2018 respectively. While noting that its Annual General Meeting AGM and payment of 32 kobo per share dividend will hold on the same day of April 24, 2018.

• Olatoye Odunsi, Managing Director/CCEO of Custodian.

•(From left to right): Head Research & Strategy Management Department, National Pension Commission, Dr. Farouk Aminu; Acting Director, Aisha Dahir-Umar; Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mohammed Sani and Head, Corporate Communications Department, Peter Aghahowa recently in Abuja.

N61.39 billion in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively, bringing the total amount spent as management expenses to N264.15 billion in five years.

“At a time the industry is targeting one trillion premium income in 2020, and 15 per cent of N350 billion expected premium income annually is being expended on management expenses. These management expenses included underwriting expenses, salaries, rents and others excluding commissions paid to agents and dividend payments within the periods,’’ he said.

The CSAN president further said that it was worrisome that four insurance firms in 2016 financial year had their management expenses higher than the gross premium generated.

According to Mikail, the data showed that Old Mutual Life Assurance Company Limited, which had N1.30 billion as gross premium, spent N1.83 billion, Spring Life Assurance Plc, which had N32 million spent N105,282 million “UNIC Insurance Plc had N38.7 million and spent N244.9 million, and Investment & Allied Insurance Plc had N4.3 million and spent N169.4 million’’ he said Mikail warned operators that NAICOM may still take over more insurance companies if its directive was not heeded

AnchorLoEIS gets Obasanjo endorsement

F

ORMER President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has thrown his weight behind one of the flagship products of Anchor Insurance Company Limited – Anchor Loss of Employment Insurance Scheme (AnchorLoEIS).

This was a fall-out of a courtesy visit by the company’s Management to Obasanjo at the Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, according to a statement made available to journalists.

Anchor General Manager, Retail and Micro Insurance, Uzoma Ofurum, was said to have introduced the innovative product to the former President.

He said the former President was informed that the product was developed to cushion the effects of sudden loss of employment through the payment of salary to the policyholder for 24 months after the loss of job.

Obasanjo was said to have endorsed AnchorLoEIS thereafter, promising to promote the product, and advised all Nigerians and indeed the employed to take this insurance policy in order to enjoy its benefits as a protection in the event of a job loss.

He thanked Anchor Insurance for the innovation, and encouraged the company to develop more, especially policy for the elderly, and unemployed.

Similarly, Anchor Insurance has partnered with the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library on its OOPL Wildlife Park (WLP) “Adopt an Animal” programme, by adopting a Lion tagged “Anchor Lion” in the Wildlife. With this partnership,

the company has created the opportunity to contribute to the conversation of local animal species and encourage their reproduction and preservation of wildlife, which in its stead will further encourage local tourism.

Obasanjo while receiving the delegation, announced to the delegation the plan to insure the animals in the Wildlife Park against the third party liabilities, as it is essential to protect the visitors to the

park from any unanticipated eventualities.

“Just in case somebody puts his hand in a lion cage or a lion breaks out. It is very important to have insurance despite all the barricades and cages we have in the park.”

The leader of the delegation, Executive Director, Business Development & Marketing, Augustine Ebose, thanked the former president for meeting with the team, and most importantly for the

sanity he brought to the financial industry through recapitalisation during his tenure.

“Insurance industry was undertaken by foreign underwriters on behalf of the local insurance companies due to lack of financial capacity before recapitalisation during your administration, but the Local Content Act brought an up rise to the industry; therefore we are now underwriting about 75 per cent of local content,” he declared.

nomic environment. Localised volatility and periodic downturns are an inherent feature of doing business in Africa.

“Our performance reflects resilience deliberately imbued through a determined focus on portfolio diversification that broadens revenue base and ultimately smoothens performance cycles.

“This strategy continues to pay off, and despite the group’s underwriting result being moderated by considerable reserve strengthening for our Eastern operations, and unfavorable loss experience impacting our yet to mature Southern operations, performance fundamentals were maintained at good levels,” explaind Group Managing Director, Continental Re, Dr. Femi Oyetunji.

Profit before tax remained positive at N3.6 billion though lower by 23 per cent than that for 2016, due to the non-recurrence of the substantial foreign currency revaluations that boosted the prior year result.

The group’s results were bolstered by a strong contribution of investment and other income, which

at N6.6billion reflects a healthy 37 per cent increase over 2016.

Within the reporting period, A.M. Best affirmed the group’s rating of B+ (good), and highlights Continental Re’s very strong balance sheet strength, adequate operating performance and neutral business profile as positive factors.

It notes the company’s balance sheet strength recently augmented by a capital injection of $10million late in 2017, supports its strategic initiatives, as having strong riskadjusted capitalisation, which is expected to remain at very strong levels over the medium term.

In 2016, the management introduced new and enhanced strategic proposals to chart the future course all through to 2020.

Oyetunji said: “Our bold transformation initiatives, building on the journey we began in 2011, are aimed at reinforcing the company’s growth and profitability objectives for years to come. We are well prepared to meet the inevitable challenges that are encountered due to the nature of reinsurance business.

Continental Re gross premium hits 32%

C

ontinental Reinsurance Plc has said that the consolidated gross premium for the group rose by 32 per cent from N22.4billion in 2016 to N29.7billion in the 2017 financial year.

The company said the increase was mainly driven by strong aggregated growth from its operations in Africa.

It said the underwriting profit, despite mixed performances at the regional level, rose by 213 per cent to N1.3billion from N414million in 2016, which was buoyed by the group’s increasing focus on underwriting discipline, and benign claims experience in the principal Nigerian market.

Throughout 2017, the firm said the African insurance market continued to experience the residual effects of prior years’ business turbulence, stemming from the sharp slowdown of key economies impacted by the widespread foreign exchange crunch arising from low commodity prices.

“2017 represents yet another year characterised by headwinds emanating from the challenging eco-

30

racleToday

The

www.oraclenews.ng

Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Lagos Bureau Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Hotlines : 08091999222 , 08033580234 08036682255

Advertisement Rate Black & White

Sizes N

Full Page (14 x6 cols) 305,000.00

Half Page (7”x6cols) 185,000.00 14” x 5 cols

333,500.00

14” x 4 cols

266,672.00

14” x 2 cols

133,336.00

10”x 6 cols

285,720.00

10”x5 cols

238,100.00

10”x 4 cols

190,480.00

10”x3 cols

142,860.00

9”x6 cols 257,148.00 9”x5 cols 214,290.00 9”x4 cols 171,432.00 8”x5 cols 190,480.00 cols 114,288.00 8”x3 7”x5 cols 166,670.00 7”x4 cols

133,336.00

Quarter Page (7x3 cols) 100,002.00

6”x3 cols 85,716.00 6”x2 cols

57,144.00

cols 119,050.00 5”x5 4”x3 cols

57,144.00

4”x2 cols 38,096.00 3”x2 cols 28,572.00 2” x2 cols 1”x2cols

19,048.00

9,524.00

1”x1col

4,762.00

Colour

Special Pages (3,4,5,6 &7)

Sizes N

Full Page (14”x6 cols) 520,000.00 Half Page (7”x6 cols) 27o,000.00

14”x 5 cols

433,300.00

14”x 4 cols

346,640.00

14”x2 cols

173,320.00

10”x6 cols

371,400.00

10”x5 cols

309,500.00

10” x4 cols

247,600.00

9”x 6 cols

334,269.00

9”x 3cols 167,130.00 9”x 4cols 222,840.00

N

Full Page (14x cols) surcharge of 30% 676,000 10 x 5 cols surcharge 30% 402,350 Half page (7x6 cols)

surcharge 30% 351,000 Quarter Page (7x3 cols) surcharge of 30%

168,987 Inside Front cover (full page) surchage 30% 780,000 Inside Back cover (full page) surcharge 30% 780,000 Outside Back page (full page) surcharge 30% 1,000,000 (Earpiece

400,000

Special Position

N

8” x3cols 148,560.00

Front Page strip 2 x 6

465,000

Backpage strip

2 x 6

450.000

7”x5 cols 216,650.00

Back Page strip

6 x 2

530,000

7”x4 cols 173,320.00

Front Page solus 6 x 2

500,000

8”x5 cols 247,600.00

Quarter Page

125,000.00

6”x3 cols 111,426.00 6”x2 cols 74,280.00 2” x6 (Strip ROP)

74,280.00

4”x3 cols 74,280.00 4”x2 cols 49,520.00 3”x3cols 55,710.00 2”x2 cols 24,760.00 cols 18,570.00 1”x3 1”x2cols 12,380.00 1”x1 col 6,190.00

Earpiece Window (2 x 2) Front 205,000 Earpiece Window (2 x 2) back 179,000 Centre Spread

1,000,000

Double Spread

850,000

Wrap Around

16,500,000

Half Wrap Around

10,000,000

Classified

3,000

Loose Inserts Rate Per 1000 Copies 43,000.00 Handling Charge 45.000.00

For adverts placements and bookings contact the following number: 08091999222, 08033580234, 08036682255

31

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

Crime

Apprentice slaughters master, wife over non-settlement Stories by XAVIER NDAH

M

en of the Police Ogun state command have arrested one Okwudili Okoro for allegedly stabbing his master who was also his elder brother one Azuibike Okoro and his wife Jacinta Okoro to death.

The suspect was arrested following a report by one Joseph Nwagu who reported at Sango Police Division that Azuibike and his wife have been hacked to death by the suspect and one Kenneth who came all the way from Sappn in Abeokuta to commit the heinous crime.

Police sources said upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer,DPO, Sango Division Superintendent of Police,SP, Nasirudeen Oyedele led detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested but his accomplice escaped.

On interrogation, the Ebonyi state born suspect claimed to have served his deceased elder brother for good three years, and when it was time for him to be settled, his brother kept on posting him from time to time.

He further stated that when he realized that his brother is not ready to settle him, he contracted one Kenneth who is now on the run and they both bought

two cutlasses, sharpened it and headed to his deceased elder brother’s house in Ijako. He said that on getting there, they met the deceased eating with his wife and before he can utter a word, they descended heavily on them and cut them into pieces with the sharp cutlasses.

The two corpses have been taken to the general hospital otta mortuary for post mortem examination.

Meanwhile, the commissioner of police CP Ahmed Iliyasu has ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to homicide section of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.

Police spokesperson of the command, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the CP has equally directed that the escaped accomplice of the suspect be hunted for and brought to book within the shortest possible time. Commenting on the matter the CP caution residents of the state not to take any threat to their lives lightly by reporting such to the police no matter who is involved stating that the killing would have been averted if the deceased and the wife had reported threats by the suspect to the police.

Chinese, arrested for concealing $300,000 dollars Chinese Li Yanping who was arrested by men of the NigeriA an Customs service for concealing

the sum of $300,000 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been arraigned before Justice Babatunde Ouadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja on one-count charge of concealing a sum of $300,000 to the officers of the Nigerian Customs Service while attempting to board a flight en route Dubai, as required by law under Section 2 (3) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012).

Yanping was arrested by the Presidential Task Force on Trans Border Cash Movement on March 15, 2018 for failure to disclose the said sum while attempting to board an Emirate flight, EK 8786 en route Dubai and handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution. He was arraigned on March 28.

The charge reads: “That you, Li Yanping on or about the 15th day of March, 2018 at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, had in your possession cash in the sum of $300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) during your outbound clearance for travel to Dubai and failed to declare the said sum of $300,000 to the officers and men of the Nigerian Customs Service as required under the provision of Section 2 (3) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 ( as amended

by Act No. 1 of 2012) and thereby committed an offence punishable

under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 ( as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012).”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Ene Emonye, asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending trial.

On the other hand, Yanping’s counsel, Chinedu Eze, told the court that he had a pending bail application praying the court to admit the defendant to bail.

While moving the application brought under Section 35(1) & (4) and 36 (5) and (6) of the 1999 constitution and Section 158, 162, 163 & 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Eze urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client by releasing him on bail pending trial.

In response, Emonye said that she was served with the application dated March 28, 2018 whilst in court and expressed desire to respond to it formally.

However, Justice Quadri granted the accused person bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must not below salary GL12 in any of the Federal Ministries or Parastatals and must have traceable addresses. The sureties must comply with a bail bond accompanied with their international passport.

“The defendant is to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC until the perfection of his bail conditions”, the judge added.

The case has been adjourned to April 17, 2018 for hearing.

•Okwudili Okoro

Man shot by police seeks N6.1 m damages A

Ehiosun displaying where he was shot

45 -year-old father of five, David Ehiosun who was shot by a trigger happy mobile policeman in 2003 has cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari to look into his plight and compel the police authority to obey court order and pay him N6.1 million as damages awarded to him by the court.

The man said he was shot by one Inspector Sunday Omoseigho at Kingsway bus-stop close to Mobolaji Bank Anthony way in Lagos because he had declined to cooperate with the policeman to sexually harass a 15- year- old girl.

A medical report issued by a consultant with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LASUTH), Dr. Mustafa I. A. made available to newsmen revealed that the victim who had since lost the use of his left leg sustained open fracture of the left tibia and fibula from which he bled profusely.

In a bid to get justice, the 45- yearold driver, an indigene of Edo State, through the office of the Public Defender had in 2009 sued Inspector Omoseigho, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Lagos State and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Suit No: ID/574/2009.

After years of prolonged adjournments, Justice Bola Ighile of the High Court of Lagos State had on October 15,2014, awarded the claimant the sum of N6.1 million as damages.

Surprisingly, four years after the court judgement, Ehiosun is yet to

be paid the damages.

According to him, life has not been the same since the incident, as he has spent all he had on both orthodox and traditional medicine treatment.

Ehiosun said the injury led to the loss of his job as a driver to a banker, making him a liability to his family.

In his words, “Due to the injury I sustained from the gun shot, I can’t stand for long and can’t even walk well. I have been going in and out of hospital due to complications from the injury.

“I have five children and I cannot even fend for them, some of my children have been forced to drop out of school. I just want the police to do the needful so that I can get my life together and give my children a better life. “ On the attempts made to ensure compliance on the part of the Police, the victim said he had also written to the Lagos State Government to intervene in the matter.

He said, “In 2017, I wrote to the office of the Lagos State Governor to come to my aid. The Governor ordered the Attorney General/ Honorable Commissioner ministry of Justice to act on my case. But till date, nothing has been done.”

Lamenting his ordeal, he said the policeman has robbed him of his happiness and good health.

Narrating how it happened, Ehiosun amidst tears said May 4th, 2003 was one day he wishes he could

erase from his memory. “ A day before the incident, the Inspector asked me to call him a teenage girl whom he wanted to established a relationship with he begged me but I refused, telling him the parents of the girl in question are known to me and as a pastor I cannot betray such trust and respect.

“He was angry and threatened to deal with me and even shoot me, so I walked away. The next day I was going on an appointment, I saw him where he was sitting and drinking with his other police friends at Kingsway bus stop. When he saw me, he stopped me and accused me of disobeying him. When I tried to explain myself he got angry and poured his drink on me.

“I asked him why he went that far and he said he would shoot me if I utter a word and while I was still trying to explain myself, he pull the trigger and shot me on my left leg.

Immediately he ran away, I was left in the pool of my own blood. People around took me to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja.”

Ehiosun, said reported the incident at Area ‘F’ Police Command and the police Inspector was arrested. The matter was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti Yaba.

“During interrogation, Omoseigho denied pulling the trigger at me. The police further arrested the

other policemen who were also at the scene of the incident. They all confessed to the fact that the suspect shot me.

“He went through the orderly room trial as stipulated by the police law and he was found guilty and was demoted to a Sergeant but no form of compensation was given to me. Instead the then Commissioner of Police Lagos, CP, Azeez advised me to take my case to the Police Headquarters in Abuja, “ he said.

At this point, the victim said the office of the public defender intervened in the matter and wrote to the then Inspector General of Police, IGP Mike Okiro, and there was also no response.

“I travelled to Abuja to see the IGP and also to register my plight in person. After spending three weeks in Abuja, I was asked to take my case to the Commissioner of Police Legal where I was referred back to the CP Lagos.

“It was at this point that a good Samaritan who was touched by my plight, advised me to take my case to court. The matter was in court for years before I got judgment and the police was ordered to pay me N6.1 million as damages and nothing has been done since then”.

Ehiosun therefore called on the President President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris to come to his aid and ensure compliance with the court judgement.

32

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

Crime NGO sensitises youths against crime Stories by XAVIER NDAH

C

itizen’s Rights Initiative (CRI) a nongovernmental organisation has commenced a campaign aimed at sensitizing youths against crime and also enabling Lagos residents to know their neighbor for a better secured environment.

In its maiden sensitization programme titled ‘Secured Neighbourhood’ held in an open ground at the Agege area of Lagos state at the weekend President of CRI Comrade Omosileola Akinyemiyu disclosed that the objectives of the group is to contribute its own quota in reducing crime amongst youth in the country.

Akinyemiyu, said crime is gradually becoming a norm in our society

and if nothing is done fast to control it our nation will be doom.” If we keep on looking at it, it will overwhelm us, security is everyone’s concern and if we ignore it, it will boomerang. If we live unsafe we too will become unsafe, so we are embarking on this project aimed at targeting the youth mostly to ensure that crime is reduced at the grass root level, we know we cannot eradicate crime but we can reduce it to a greater level” he stated.

The President further enjoined landlords and community leaders to educate people in their environments to always be at alert and be concern with what is happening in their area in the spirit of the Nigeria police slogan when you see something say something.

He expressed concern with the

way youths are into drugs usage stating that there was need to discourage them by making them realize the dangers associated with drugs “ that is why CRI is dedicated to this project , our youths must be made to live a good life that will be beneficial to them , their family and the society in general”.

Speaking at the occasion Aro Williams a representative of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO)Abattoir Division Agege, took time to educate youths, parents on security tips to live secured in their environment and also the need for parents to monitor their children and to dissuade them from wrong association and assembly.

Bale of old Oko Oba, Agege Chief Josiah Balogun appealed to parents to monitor their children and guide

Customs seizes 407 sacks of Pangolin scales in Lagos T

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ Ikeja, has announced that it intercepted various contraband with a duty paid value (DPV) of N2.55 billion between March 1 to March 19, 2018.

The Controller, FOU, Mohammed Uba Garba said among the seizures include 407 sacks of Pangolin scales weighing 10,263kg which was evacuated from an apartment at 64 Opebi Road, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos Garba disclosed it achieved the feat after an intensive onslaught on dare devil smugglers deploying its tactical operational modalities.

The seized items, according to him, included 16 Exotic vehicles mostly 2017 model, 7,201 bags of foreign parboiled rice (12 trailers), 1,172 cartons of frozen poultry products, 1,352 jerrycans of vegetable oil, 72 bales of used clothing, 464 pieces of used tyres, 407 sacks of Pangolin scales, and 629 pieces of textile Ankara Material among others.

“Remarkably, among the seizures was the interception of eight trucks laden with 3,351 bags of rice and 669 jerrycans of vegetable oil along Iseyin, Oyo/Osun Axis and also the evacuation of 1,253 bags of rice 50kg each from a warehouse in Ogbomosho based on credible intelligence despite resistance. You will recall that the ban on the importation of foreign rice through the land was to encourage efficiency in local production. Therefore, the need to support the federal government policy on rice, encourage local rice farmers, the millers and patronise our own nutritional rice cannot be over emphasised,” he said.

He further added that among the detained vehicles are: two Lexus Jeep (RS350 2016,2017 model); One Rolls Royce; One Lincoln Limousine (2014); three Toyota Camry(2009,2013 and 2017 models); One Toyota Rav 4; One Toyota Avalon (2016); one Toyota Tundra, One Dodge . These 16 exotic Vehicles alone have a duty paid value of (N340.70 million) only.

“While six vehicles were evacuated based on intelligence along Lekki Epe Expressway, the remaining 10 were intercepted while on information patrol at various locations. The vehicles are still under detention

•The seized pangolin shells in sacks

pending the grace period allowed for the owners to bring relevant customs document.

“Also, 407 sacks of Pangolin scales weighing 10,263kg was evacuated from an apartment at 64 Opebi Road, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos within the weeks under review with a duty paid value of N2.094,243,456.69( Two billion,ninety four Million, Two hundred and fourty three thousand, four hundred and fifty six naira, sixty nine kobo only. In the spirit of inter-agency cooperation the pangolin scales and the suspect will be handed over to Nigeria Environment Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for

•The Controller, FOU, Garba

further investigation in collaboration towards protecting our natural habitat and protecting our endangered species Five (5) suspects have been arrested in connection with these 89 seizures.

“Let me still use this opportunity to thank the Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) and the entire management team of the NCS for appreciating us with a commendation letter and providing necessary logistics that brought about this feat. We are very determined to ensure sustenance of this laudable sterling performance by making sure we give economic saboteurs a run for their money,” he added.

them to live a meaningful life. He advised the youths to stay off drugs and crime as it doesn’t pay.

“What happen to us now is that we fear our children, we don’t talk to them , we allow them to do anything they like, in Yoruba land we used to be ashamed if we have wayward children but now we celebrate them, we fear them we cannot tell them the truth on how to live a good life. We see our children with several phones and we do not ask to know how they get it, we see them with big cars and we don’t bother to know the source. In fact these days we hide them when they do wrong things. Please let’s help our society now, show them the right things to do so that our society will be good for all of us Chairman Community Develop-

ment Association, Old Oko-Oba Agege Prince Ayo Efuruga charged landlords to always know the people living around them and always report any intruders to the police to ensure a secured living.

Present at the occasion were member of the police, man,’o’ war, neighbourhood watch, community leaders, landlords, youths who throng the area to receive the lecture organized by CRI. CRI is non-ethnic, non-gender biased, on-religious, non-class biased, nonpartisan and non-governmental organisation aimed at tackling issues towards safeguarding human rights.

It has a zero tolerance to any act that may be detrimental to the social wellbeing and development of our immediate environment, community and Nigeria as a whole.

Man 26, opens fake Greece Embassy in Lagos T he Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a major fraud haven situated at No. 48, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, and operated by a 26-year-old cyber-criminal cum fraud kingpin, Samuel Olowobola Gboyega.

His arrest followed a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Edgal Imohimi, by one Antonio Kaplanis of the Embassy of Greece, Abuja, alleging that the suspect had fraudulently obtained huge sums of money from unsuspecting Nigerians seeking visa to travel to Europe by claiming to be an employee of the Embassy of Greece with a mandate to make visa procurement easy for applicants.

Police source said sequel to the incident, the CP Lagos deployed crack detectives from the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) to fish out the culprit and his partners in crime.

It was gathered that the detectives swung into action immediately the order was given. They located the suspect’s hideout and carried out a sting operation on him.

During the operation, some Nigerian passports, laptops and other visa related documents were recovered from his office.

It was gathered that further scrutiny of the laptop confirmed that there were documents in the notepad that had different embassy visas and their respective price tags.

It was also seen that the said Samuel Olowobola Gboyega made false presentations through publications on his website: www.kukutravels. com, attaching the name of Embassy of Greece to it.

It was gathered that the CP noted

•Samuel Olowobola Gboyega

with sadness that the activities of the young man had dented the image of the nation and greatly embarrassed the Embassy of Greece in Nigeria. He warned people behind this kind of crime to have a rethink or have the law to contend with.

The suspect in his defence the suspect has denied the allegation even as the weight of evidence against him is overwhelming.

Meanwhile, the suspect has been charged to court prosecution.

Businessman in trouble over undisclosed $375,000 T

•Mohammad and the money recovered from him

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna zonal office, have arraigned one Ahmad Rabiu Mohammad, a businessman, before Justice M. S. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna on onecount charge of money laundering.

Mohammad was intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, with an undeclared sum of $375,000 at the international wing of the Kaduna International Airport while travelling

on board ET941 Ethiopian Airline to Dubai on March 3, 2018; and subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Hannafi Sa’ad prayed the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused person in prison custody.

Justice Shuaibu ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending hearing of his bail application on March 21, 2018.

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Mother releases pictures of daughter who died from neurological disease which some experts do not think is real

A

mother has told of her ‘torture’ at watching her beautiful daughter waste away as she battled a disease some medical professionals refuse to believe exists.

Merryn Crofts, from Norden in Rochdale, died on May 23 last year, 10 days after her 21st birthday. She weighed less than six stone and had spent the last three years of her life in pain and completely bed-bound.

She suffered with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis - or ME - a neurological illness which affects up to 17million people worldwide.

But many think the condition is not real, even within the medical profession.

Now, Merryn’s family have decided to speak about her life and death in a bid to raise awareness of the crippling disease.

Merryn’s mother Clare, said: ‘Merryn was passionate about raising awareness and understanding of ME. She wouldn’t want other families to suffer like we have.

‘But she was also ashamed of having ME. Quite often, if asked, she would say she had a neuro-immune disease.

‘That’s because there is a still a stigma around ME, even in the medical community, and there is a lot of misinformation about ME out there.

That has to change.’

The first sign something was wrong came when Merryn, then aged 15, suddenly developed severe swelling around her face, hands and feet.

Doctors thought the Oulder Hill High School pupil might have an infection and prescribed antibiotics, but the symptoms worsened.

Then, the drama-mad schoolgirl began experiencing severe fatigue, a telltale sign of ME. Clare, who quit her job as a counsellor to become Merryn’s full-time carer, said: ‘From being very young she was always a bundle of energy. She was a daredevil, always doing stuff.

‘But she would come home from school, crash on the sofa and sleep for six hours.

‘It was like watching a wind up toy run out of power. And it just kept happening more and more.’

As her symptoms worsened Merryn underwent several mental health assessments as doctors thought the illness might be psychological, a common misdiagnosis among ME sufferers.

Conversion Disorder, a mental condition formerly known as hysteria, was even mentioned.

However, through her own research Clare began to suspect Merryn might have ME, a possibility she admits ‘scared me to death’.

But, despite repeatedly raising her concerns with doctors, she was met with a wall of suspicion.

‘One doctor told us if they could discount everything else, then maybe they would diagnose ME,’ said Clare.

‘Another just said he didn’t believe in it and that was that.’

Name: Bolanle Tel: 07037197900 • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Man claims he cured his type 2 diabetes by eating dark chocolate and grapes for two years

A

grandfather claims to have cured his type 2 diabetes with a strict diet of dark chocolate and grapes.

Terry Kemp, 68, from Bristol, developed the condition after ballooning to 16 stone.

In a desperate attempt to rid himself of the disorder, Mr Kemp began eating just a bar of 85 per cent cocoa chocolate, alongside a 500g punnet of red grapes, every day.

After two years of following the unusual diet, Mr Kemp lost three stone, with doctors claiming his

diabetes has disappeared.

Around 4.6 million people are living with diabetes in the UK, of which approximately 90 per cent suffer from type 2.

Type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight or obese.

WHAT ARE THE FIVE NEW TYPES OF DIABETES? For decades the disease has been considered to be two different forms - type one, an autoimmune disease in which people stop producing insulin, and type two, in which the body becomes

resistant to insulin.

But now a major project in Sweden and Finland has found type two diabetes should actually be categorised as four different diseases.

The researchers, led by experts at Lund University, said the findings should prompt a ‘paradigm shift’ in the way people treat diabetes.

Cluster 1. Severe Autoimmune Diabetes - which until now has been known as ‘type one’ diabetes - is an autoimmune disease in

which people stop producing insulin. Usually strikes in childhood but can emerge in adults. Requires insulin injections for life.

Cluster 2. Severe Insulin-Deficient Diabetes - young people often misdiagnosed as having type one, but whose immune systems are fine. Actually a variant of type two diabetes, but often of a healthy weight. High blood sugar, low insulin production and moderate insulin resistance.

Cluster 3. Severe Insulin-Resistant Diabetes - is predominantly linked to obesity and severe insulin resistance.

Cluster 4. Mild Obesity-Related Diabetes - includes obese patients, but is less serious and includes people who fall ill at a relatively young age.

Cluster 5. Mild Age-Related Diabetes is the largest group, with 40 per cent of all patients, and consists mostly of elderly patients.

‘It worked for me’ Mr Kemp told The Sun: ‘I don’t want to give people false hope but it seems to have worked for me.

‘It could be the chocolate, it

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

True Confession

She put love medicine in my food

M

y story is short but it is quite unique and interesting if you understand. My name is Wale and I live and work in Lagos. I am in my early 40s and I and my wife have four lovely children. I love my wife so much

and she normally shares her secrets with me. From the day that we got married, I understood clearly that communication is all that a couple needs to make their marriage work. Henceforth, I resolved to always maintain a good line of commu-

Revealed: The SIX warning signs your husband is ready to have an affair Continued from page: 33

could be the grapes, or it could be both for all I know.

‘I’ve now started eating other things again.’

Daniel Howarth, head of care at Diabetes UK, urges type 2 diabetes patients contact their doctor if they are trying to lose or manage their weight.

How do chocolate and grapes benefit diabetes patients?

Previous research suggests cocoa contains a compound, known as epicatechin monomers, which enhances the secretion of the hormone insulin. Problems with insulin can lead to type 2 diabetes.

In animal studies, epicatechin monomers also reduce obesity and improve the ability to cope with high blood glucose levels.

Researchers add humans may require large quantities of the compound in order to benefit.

Study author Professor Jeffery Tessem, from Brigham Young University, said: ‘You probably have to eat a lot of cocoa, and you probably don’t want it to have a lot of sugar in it.

‘It’s the compound in cocoa you’re after.’

Dark chocolate contains relatively little sugar compared to milk and white varieties.

Previous research also suggests whole

fruit, as opposed to juice, contains antioxidants, which may help relieve type 2 diabetes.

Fruit, such as grapes, also contain lots of fibre, which may help people feel full for longer and therefore reduce their overall calorie intake, assisting them in losing weight.

Vitamin D in childhood prevents type 1 diabetes This comes after research released in January this year suggested vitamin D in childhood prevents type 1 diabetes.

The sunshine supplement lowers susceptible individuals’ risk by strengthening their immune systems, a study found.

Lead author Dr Jill Norris from the University of Colorado, said: ‘For several years there has been controversy among scientists about whether vitamin D lowers the risk of developing type 1 diabetes.’

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that occurs when a person’s immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin.

The condition is increasing by three-tofive per cent annually, particularly among children.

It is on the rise too quickly to be the fault of genetics, with experts therefore blaming everything from gluten, a growing obsession with cleanliness and obesity for the disorder’s surging numbers.

nication with my wife. And I think that is the secret of the success of our marriage.

You see, I always confide in my wife and she too confides in me. I tell her everything I do in my family and even at the office. And she does likewise. But a few years ago, when our first daughter turned 15, my wife decided that it was time for her to share her most prized secret with me. That morning on my way to the office, she told me that she would like me to return home as early as 6pm so that we could have a romantic and quiet time together. She said that would be a perfect time for her to tell me something she had wanted to tell me all these years.

I dutifully obeyed my wife and returned home by 6pm that day to find that she had prepared my favourite food beside a bottle of wine on the table. Our kids were away on holiday in the homes of our relatives, so we were as free as birds to do whatever we liked in the living room that evening. We sat down to eat and drink the wine and my wife opened up as we ate, drank, and kissed. Guess what my wife told me?

My wife told me that the first day I asked for her friendship while she was still in secondary school (SS2), she fell

head over heels in love with me. And she wished that I would never leave her and marry someone else. So she went to a herbalist living in her area and the man gave her a love potion to put in my food.

My wife said she put the love potion in my food, but that when I returned to school at the UNN three weeks later, I forgot all about her and we lost contact after her family moved out of Lagos, until we met again by accident in Ibadan five years later.

She said she thought the love potion had failed, but that she believed that what will be, will be. So she kept hoping and praying that if God had destined us to marry, I would eventually return to her. My wife said she was afraid of telling me this in the first year of our marriage, because she thought that I would take her for a witch and divorce her. After her revelation, I thanked her for sharing it with me and told her that we are married today because God has destined us together, and not because of any love potion. However, I sternly warned her to stay away from native doctors. Isn’t it funny? *Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

Romantic Joke THE WALL

A funeral service was being held for a young woman who had just passed away.

As the pallbearers carried the casket out, they accidentally bumped into a wall.

They heard a faint moan come from inside the casket. They opened the casket and found that the woman was still alive! She went on to live 10 more years and then died, and they held another funeral for her. While the pallbearers were carrying her out, her husband yelled, “Watch out for that wall!”

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

My wife is refusing to sleep with me

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Ezinne, tall, light-skinned, beautiful and sexy, from Enugu, but willing to come to Lagos, needs a man that can take care of her. 08135416025.

Vivian in Enugu, but willing to come to Lagos, needs someone to care for her and help her in her education. 08160542364.

Uchechukwu, 37, a graduate, tall, needs an evangelist or God fearing, tall, educated, employed and naturally endowed Igbo man for marriage. 08069088945.

Joy, 29, a caterer in Lagos, from Delta Igbo, needs a responsible, matured, working man based in Lagos for marriage and job support. 08158522286.

Sarah from Jos needs a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage.

08090925014.

Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840, 08077821830 for Counseling, infertility & Direct Hookup.

Dear Love Doctor,

P

lease sir, I really need your advice. I’ve been married for the past sixteen years and I and my wife have six children, three boys and three girls. But the problem is that if I now want to have sex with my wife, she will not agree. If she agrees after much pressure from me, she will tell me that we can only do one round of sex. And even that one round is war. Please, I think too much because I love her and I don’t know what to do. I don’t have a girlfriend. Please help me.

From Tim, Lagos.

Dear Tim,

band. It could also be that she is scared of getting pregnant again after having given birth to six children already. Maybe she’s tired of child-bearing.

If that is the case, you might need to assure her that you don’t want to have any more children & will ensure that she

Chris Attah needs a beautiful, educated, working lady for marriage. 08130012572.

Ires needs a working lady in Lagos for a relationship leading to marriage.

08131161840.

Love Doctor’s Advice: This is a delicate matter. However, you need to be patient with her. Have a frank talk with her and find out why she is so much against sex now, after 16 years of marriage. Maybe she is going through so much stress.

It is not easy having to cater for so many children and a hus-

Men seeking relationship/ marriage

doesn’t get pregnant again by practising safe sex. Find out the exact reason for her refusal and assure her of your help & support. If she has your assurance & support, she will get over her fear of sex and your sex life will return to normal.

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make? Call 07031028714 now!

Note: If you have fertility problems like childlessness, inability to conceive or get pregnant, miscarriages, fibroid, low sperm count, STDs, or need a male child or female? Call 07031028714, 08131161840.. Love Doctor can help you succeed in your marriage/relationship.

Mike, tall, living and working in Lagos, needs a tall, fair, Igbo or Yoruba nurse or lawyer between 20-35 years for marriage. 08077821830.

Chigozie, 37, from Ebonyi, fair, 5.6ft, works in Lagos, needs a God-fearing, working class lady for a relationship leading to marriage. 08164630953.

Nathaniel, living in Abuja, huge, works, needs a honest and trustworthy lady who is ready to genuinely love and settle down for marriage. 08124647578.

Francis, 35, from Benue state, in Lagos, businessman, needs a responsible lady between 30-34 years for marriage.

07066418095.

36

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

It happened to me:

I

’ve never felt the need to have someone, a soulmate, a husband, a boyfriend, a lover or even just a close male friend. But when I hit 24 I suddenly felt an urge for company, maybe even love.

I had just packed my suitcase, ready for a trip up the coast when I had a crazy idea. Don’t take anything with you. Have a break from everything, buy new clothes when you get there, act like a different person, take a stash of money out of your bank and forget your identity for the whole two weeks. So I did. I had a fantastic-paying job so I decided to withdraw $15,000 from my savings and spend it on whatever I wanted.

I got to my resort and entered my luxury suite. The first thing I wanted to do was to get completely relaxed so I rang the front desk and booked a massage for that afternoon. Then I realised I needed clothes for the evening — something completely different from what I’d normally wear.

I walked to the street of boutiques and bought $1500 worth of clothes.

Then I passed an adult store and glanced inside. Normally a glance would be all I needed to satisfy my curiosity but now I wasn’t me. I was someone new and exciting and a raunchy sex costume was a neces-

I slept with my sister’s man without knowing sity! I bought red lace panties with a matching silk robe.

I returned to my hotel room just in time for my massage. I opened the door to let in the masseur — but what a masseur! He had a sculpted body, an olive complexion with hazel eyes and a chiselled jaw line.

“Afternoon miss, your full-body massage has arrived.”

I stood in awe of this sexy man. The massage was amazing. And I knew it was not going to be my last one.

I went out that night and found a group of people who wanted to party as much as I did. We had a great time but I couldn’t get the sexy masseuse out of my mind. So I booked another massage and specifically asked for the young man I had yesterday.

I heard a knock on the door, and there he was again. Feeling a sudden rush of embarrassment, my face turned red, matching the lace g-string I had on underneath my robe. But I continued with my plan. He asked me

to dress in a towel and make myself comfortable on the massage table.

Instead, I dropped my robe and said “I’d actually be more comfortable without a towel.”

His gorgeous jaw dropped and trying to remain professional, he stumbled across words like “company policies” and his job being “in jeopardy”, but I had gone too far now to accept rejection. I moved closer to him, backing him onto the table.

I’m not proud of how I went about it, but the incredible time I had with this man satisfied me for the rest of my holiday. The rush of being impulsive and completely unlike myself was fantastic! Sadly, the holiday had to end and I had to go back to my life and resume my identity once again.

I thought the holiday would never resurface in my mind once I was back to my routine but I was wrong. All I could think about was that masseur and the thought of him made me blush like a lovesick school girl. I decided I’d contact him in the new year,

which was only a few weeks away.

Fate, however, stepped in before I had a chance. My family was having a Christmas dinner like they usually do. The difference this time was, my younger sister brought a date along.

To my surprise and deep dismay her quite serious partner happened to be my sexy one-night stand masseur. He walked into the family lounge holding my younger sister’s hand. My heart dropped at the exact time his jaw dropped.

To this day we have kept the secret from my sister. They got married and I could never let my impulsive decisions ruin the obvious love she had found.

Recently, at a family do of his, he and my sister approached me with another man. As they drew nearer, I realised he looked incredibly similar to the masseur I had still been having fantasies about — my sister’s husband.

He turned out to be his older brother who had just returned from a two-year world trip. Let me just say, good, strong hands definitely run in the family.

Do you have a story or comment about this true confession? Call 07031028714.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

1999 Constitution: citizen’s right to fair hearing

T

he right to fair hearing is fundamental to the Rule of Law and to democracy itself. This right applies to both criminal and civil cases and is absolute and cannot be limited. It requires a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial Court or tribunal established by Law. The right to a fair hearing, which implies to any criminal charge as well as the determination of civil rights and obligations as in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, includes the following; 1. There must be real and effective access to a Court (although there are limited exceptions in the case of vexation litigants, minors, prisoners Etc.) 2. There must be a hearing before an independent and impartial Court or tribunal established by Law. 3. The hearing must be held within a reasonable time. What is reasonable depends on the complexity of case, its importance, the behavior of both the applicant and competent authorizes, and the length of time between the conduct in question.

4. The applicant must have a real opportunity to present his or her case or challenge the case against them. This will require access to an opponent’s submissions, procedural equality and generally requires access to evidence relied on by the other party and an oral hearing.

5. The court of tribunal must give reasons for its judgment.

6. There must be equality of arms between the parties, so, for example, the defense has the same right to examine witness against them as the prosecution has and both parties have the right to legal representation etc.

7. In criminal cases, there is a right to silence and a privilege against self-incrimination (although it may be possible to draw adverse inferences from suspects remaining silent).

8. An accused person must have the right to effective participation in their criminal trial. Except for strictly limited exceptions, an accused is entitled to be physically present at his or her hearing to give evidence in person and be legally represented.

9. The hearing and judgment must be made public. Hearing can, however, be held in private where in Torri v. National Park Service of Nigeria, the right to fair hearing is described as an extreme fundamental right in the constitution and the breach thereof has its implication on the proceedings. Every person charged with a criminal offence is entitled to be heard. The right is inalienable and an indispensable requirement of any judicial decision. However, fair hearing is not some kind of abstract principle.

Fundamental Human Right probably found its way into the constitution of some countries through the Magna Carta, 1215 AD which was written as a result of the revolution by barons and peasants in England against the Kings on the grounds that their powers were being abused. Before the Magna Carta there was no procedure rules for the trial of accused persons therefore they have no protection. Consequently, this brought about a written guarantee signed by the king of the day which required that proceeding of any adjudication should be in accordance with the “Law of the land” that is according to the principles of natural justice. This requirement became popular and gained so much strength that is now an essential element of any civilized legal system. That is why in Nigeria today, traditional rulers with their council of chiefs are been looked upon by their subjects in adjucating on matters relating to their communities with a view to given them fair hearing or fair trial that every one that comes before them must comply and feel satisfy that justice is actually done. In Yoruba land, the Oba-in-Council is the head while in Igbo land, the Obi-in-Council is the head and in the North, the Emir-in-Council is the head.

The constitution of the United State of America in amendment XIV (1868) provides Inter alia that no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States, nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property without the process of law. The “due to process of law” clause includes the right to fair hearing as a denial could lead to a loss of a person’s life, liberty or property.

The British constitution which is unwritten is backed by International Statutes and the pronouncements of the courts which are bound to follow the natural justice doctrine. For instance, the European Convention on human rights which was drafted under the auspices of the council of Europe (an international organization composed of 21 West European State) formed in 1949 as a result of the first post war attempt at unifying Europe has in its Articles 5-7 provision which are similar to our section 33 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the Nigerian case where the right to fair hearing is provided for in Section 35 and 36, the provision is meant as protection for the minorities. Natural justices compliment the constitutional provision. It is important to point out here however that the provisions of section 35 has not abrogated the common law rule as a litigant may still choose to protect his right either under the common law or under the constitution.

By virtue of section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, a litigant can seek redress in the High Court of any state which has original

jurisdiction. One may ask the question why the constitutional protections of the fundamental Human Right since such rights are hitherto protected at common law. The reason for this is not far-fetched while a common law right is not justiciable against the legislature, a constitutionally protected right is justiciable against any arm of government.

Of importance to criminal law and criminal procedure vis-à-vis the rights to fair hearing are the provision of section 35(4 – 7) of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution. The section which deals with the right to fair hearing will now be examined.

DOCTRINE OF NATURAL JUSTICE Sub-Section 2: This proviso makes provision for the person whose rights and obligations may be affected to make representations to the administering authority before such authority can make its decision and also such decision shall not be conclusive and trial otherwise such law giving power to that authority shall be invalid.

In Nigeria, this has been applied in a number of cases; see for instance an early case, Guri & Another v. Hadejia Native Authority where the appellants were charged and convicted for highway robbery (‘HIRABA’, Maliki law name for trying robbers). The applicants appealed against this conviction on the grounds that under the Maliki law which tried them. Also in the case of Denloye v.

Medical & Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, where the appellant was charged with neglecting a patient who was seriously ill, the appellant was denied a right to be present at the hearing and did not make available the evidence taken against him in his absence to him or his counsel. The court set aside the decision of the panel on the grounds that the procedure adopted was unknown to law.

In an old English case, Dr. Bonham’s case, where a medical doctor was fined by the board of the college of Physicians because he has failed to take out a license to practice from the college. It was held that the board cannot have such power on the grounds that it would amount to the Boards being a judge in its own case, besides the Board has proprietary interest in the matter.

Also in the case of Dimes v. Grand Junction Canal Co, the decision of the Lord Chancellor, Lord Cottenham was set aside on the grounds that he was a substantial shareholder in a company which was one of the parties before the court.

In Nigeria, the maxim was invoked in the case of Dr. Alakija v.

Medical Disciplinary Committee; the appellant who was a medical practitioner contended that the committee did not conduct the enquiry in accordance with the principles of natural justice in that the registrar who was in fact the prosecutor took part in the deliberation of the committee. The Supreme Court held that the Registrar was not by name or by designation a member of the committee and should not have remained during the deliberations of the committee. This can be compared to my earlier scenario of the journalist with the IGP,IRT police head of units commend on his matter with them.

The essence of this provisions is to discourage a likelihood of bias and it has been aptly concluded at page 259 of the decision of the Supreme Court in Dr. Alakija’s case where the judge said; “……………… but his mere presence at the deliberations offends against the principle in frequently enunciated in recent

cases in which a clerk a piety sessions has retired as a matter of course with members of the Bench when they are considering their verdict, that justice must only be done but must be manifestly seen to be done”.

Subsection 2(b) which disallow decisions of such court or authorized body to be final and conclusive makes allowance for an aggrieved party to fell tree to appeal if not satisfied with the decision, it also gives the court power to examine the decisions of the determining body.

In the case of tribunals, the proviso seem to have been thrown overboard by the introduction of Decree 2, State Security Deviation of Personnel Decree 1984, which state that “No suit or other legal proceedings shall be against any person for anything done or intended to be done in pursuance of the decree”. This proviso Bars any judicial review of administrative or executive actions.

Decree No 13, section 1(2) 1984, goes on to say that any such pursuance against the above mentioned decree whether instituted before or after the decree was passed a nullity thereby making the decisions of the various decrees final and conclusive.

PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE Subsection 5 The onus of proving the guilt of the accused is on the prosecution, however following the common law system of justice, the accused is not obliged to prove his innocence; he may just pleads not guilty and refuse thereafter to give any evidence in his own defense as was stated in Orioke Achonu v. Commissioner of Police. The rule of law in criminal cases is that the prosecution is to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. It does not shift.

The prisoner also has a right to remain silent in the dock as the criminal may be acquitted if there is a case of self-incrimination. A case of Ibezeako v. Commissioner of Police, where the appellant was convicted by the Acting chief Magistrate of the Jos Magisterial District on a charge of offering gratification to a public servant. The main issue on appeal was that where the magistrate had framed the charge, the presumption of innocence has been infringed contrary to section 21(4) of the 1999 constitution.

The Supreme Court held per Ademola C.J.F. that the framed of charge under section 160 and 161 of the code does mean that the magistrate has made up his mind that the accused was guilty rather, if he was mere following what seems to him to be the appropriate charge for the offence which appears to have been committed. The appeal was dismissed on the grounds that section 21(4) [now section 35(4 – 5)] of the constitution was not infringed.

This provision has been criticized and some writer are of the opinion that the provision titled more to the side of the accused, which might be detrimental in the interest of ‘justice’ as justice might not been seen to have been done on both sides, that is, the victim and the public. It is my contention that the provision remain as it is so that the victim can be protected to a reasonable extent and the principle that “he who asserts must prove” be upheld.

Another safeguard for fair trial is that of section 36, subsection 6 of the 1999 constitution.

Note you can contact any lawyer around you or text my phone numbers or email for further assistance if need be. Please stay away from crime.

• Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call or send a text message to Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

How I balance career and family – Yewande Adekoya, actress, filmmaker Actress cum moviemaker, Yewande Adekoya has opened up on how she balances the home front and her career as an actress and filmaker. In a rent chat with The Oracle Today, she said that it was sad that people have the wrong impression that actors and actresses marriages often end up in divorce.

S

he said: “We have a lot of people in the industry who are equally married and they’ve been able to manage and balance their homes and careers as well. So, there is nothing so special about that. At least, we have the likes of Aunty Joke Silva and her husband, Olu Jacob, who have been married for so many years. And I think being married to a colleague has actually helped me. It is sad that people have the impression that once you are an actor or an actress, you cant keep your marriage but that impression is false.

“Marriage breakups happens in all sectors of the economy including banking and health. I don’t like it when people say filmmakers’ marriages always break up. No, I don’t like it. The reason is because we are in the limelight.”

Who are her role models in Nollywood?

“I don’t really have role models but I admire a lot of veterans like Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Geneveive Nnaji, Joke Silva, Funke Akindele and Fathia Balogun Williams because they have really tried and proven themselves. I really admire their strengths and all they have achieved for themselves in Nollywood.”

Yewande Adekoya Abiodun aka Kudi Kelepto is a graduate of Mass Communication and to date has produced and featured in several films including Tamara, Omo Elesho and Kudi Kelepto from where she got her nickname.

Recalling how it all started she began: “My name is Yewande Adekoya Abiodun but people call me Kudi Kelepto based on the role I played in the movie of the same title. I am from Ijebu-Ososa in Ogun State. I am a graduate of Mass Communication. I am an

actress and filmmaker. I am happily married with children.

“I am a graduate of Mass Communication but in my final year, I took more interest in filmmaking. My final year project was on filmmaking, Nollywood and all. And you know, film is an aspect of Mass Communication; through films you can pass messages across to the people. So, I am in my comfort zone as a filmmaker.

“I actually ventured into movies in 2002 with Alpha-Bach Music and Theatre Group but we were into stage performance.

From there, I produced my first movie, Life Secret in 2006.

And things started taking good shape until I moved into Yoruba movie making through a friend who suggested that I could win more fans if I joined the Yoruba movie sector.

And since then I started making Yoruba movies. Not that I cannot make English movies. I can but I think I have this flair for Yoruba movies because through them I can connect more with my fans.”

Today, she has shot films like Igbo Dudu, Omo Elemosho, Emere, Kudi Klepto, Kurukuru, Irubo, Tamara and the popular Iyawo Adedigba, which was released recently.

Which of her productions is the most expensive and challenging? “Wow! Iyawo Adedigba is the most challenging and most expensive of all my productions. It cost me millions of naira to produce. It was produced in partnership with IrokoTV and released in cinema in June of 2017 and on IrokoTV in August 2017. It was released on DVD a few weeks ago and doing pretty well in the market.”

“I actually ventured into movies in 2002 with Alpha-Bach Music and Theatre Group but we were into stage performance.

From there, I produced my first movie, Life Secret in 2006. And things started taking good shape until I moved into Yoruba movie making through a friend”

• Yewande Adekoya

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

Entertainment I never liked my body while growing up – Chika Ike

A

ctress Chika Ike has sensationally revealed the psychological trauma she experienced as a kid growing up on account of her slim figure because she never liked her body while growing up.

In a post on social media, she said: “I never liked my body growing up and was constantly bullied about it. I was so skinny and was the tallest in my class. I never looked forward to morning assembly because I was always described as ‘that thin girl.’

According to her, she experimented with everything under the sun but nothing worked out!

“So I started modeling as soon as I graduated from secondary school because modeling agents thought I had ‘the look.’ Today, the reverse is the case, I am on all sorts of diet programs and exercising every other day to keep the weight I’ve always wanted in check, I feel bad after licking ice cream or eating anything with high-calorie content because I’ll have to suffer in the gym. Growing up slim wasn’t cool but now it is cool.”

Mother of all concerts in Warri

By DOUGLAS OMOOYOMA

M

ulti-award winning Nigerian musician, Harrison Tare Okiri popularly known as Harrysong will make history on Sunday, April 29th night when he mounts the stage to perform before a capacity crowd of 40,000 people at Warri City Stadium.

This will be the first time a concert of this magnitude is happening in the Niger Delta region and, according to Harrysong, it promises to be hours of high octane entertainment for his fans in Warri and across the world who would tune in via the Live broadcast.

Harrysong has asserted himself as a trailblazer across the Nigerian and African music scene, he commands a great influence in the African pop and contemporary music space as he continues to dominate with his exceptional talent and creates a massive following on a worldwide scale. In giving back to his numer-

ous fans, Harrysong has put together the Kingmaker concert dubbed ‘The Concert Of The Year’ by music pundits.

Riding on the phenomenally successful and record breaking One Delta concert, multiple award winning and top selling recording artiste, Harrysong is set to re-write history yet again, The ‘Kingmaker concert’ is an annual empowerment and fan appreciation concert, set to hold this April 29th, 2018.

However, for the Warri-born instrumentalist and performer, this feat would go deeper than just another jewel in his crown, in his words: “I Think As Warri We Grew Up In A System Thinking We Were Second Best And Not Worthy. The Reason I Do These Shows Is To Change The Mind Of A Nigerian and Warri Child as I give back to my community.”

This year’s concert is put together by AlterPlate and promises to be a weekend with a bee-hive of events. In the line-up, there will

be performances from chart-topping artistes from D’Banj, Wande Coal, Duncan Mighty, as Harrysong goes back to his neighbourhood where the dream all began. A few lucky fans will be given the cool opportunity to a all expense paid trip via the ‘My Beautiful Delta State’ campaign inclusive of the series of empowerment program that would lead as build up to the final event.

The event would be beamed live to millions via popular urban music channel HipTV and on social media.

Harrysong’s audacity to dream big and take the first steps himself to making his dreams a reality, will forever be written in the history books of Nigeria and Africa as a continent.

• Chika Ike Fans would be entitled to two (2) cans of beer or malt on purchase of their ticket with the option of a VIP experience at the cost of a hundred thousand naira (NGN100,000) which is on sale now on harrysonglive.com.

Jim Iyke, Stella Damasus resurrect in new flick

W

hen last was it you saw Nollywod bad boy, Jim Iyke or Stella Damasus in a movie? Your guess is as good as mine, its been a long time. Now, thanks to moviemaker, Lancelot Imasuen’s latest movie offering, Love Birds, the pair are about to light up cinemas when the six-man-one-location flick premieres April 13.

At a private screening for select journalist recently, Imasuen opened up on the project. He said: “After invasion 1897 I have not done any screening. For two years we have ben working and the outcome is impressive. I must thank those who stood by me because at a point I just to let to go but thank God it came out right. I just want to entertain people and raise critical issues from a very unique perspective about second generation diasporeans.”

Shot in America about a year ago, Love Birds also stars Joseph Benjamin, Felix Omotoshe, Florence Fosan and Sarail Captca and was sot at just one location.

“Love Birds showcases another side of Jim Iyke and he will be meeting his fans, sharing love and gifts this Easter period when the film premieres in Asaba, Owerri, Akure, Ibadan and Lagos.

“Love Birds is a comeback movie for Jim Iyke. He had a swell time while we were shooting. In this film, we were able to bring to rest in-house conflict between the first generation diasporeans that travelled out of Africa and their second generation kids that were born in • Jim Iyke America.”

• Stella Damasus

Script2Screes Africa kicks-off

A

s Script2Screen Africa hits the airwaves, the brains behind the project, Bright Wonder Obinna Obasi has declared that his vision is to empower young filmmakers who want to transform society using film as a tool.

He said: “Script2Screen Africa is all about the transformative power of film, It is a reality TV project designed to train up and coming film makers who desire to use their talents to create positive impact. What makes the reality show different is because we are grooming people who want to use the transformative power of film to impact the nation and Africa positively. We are giving this people a voice; that is what script to screen is all about.”

“We have six teams and by the final week, we will have four groups that will make social impact driven films. The show will climax with an award on April 21. Scripts would be written by the four final groups making four short films that will get global release and we are also making a high end feature film. Best Script gets N.5m, Best Actor gets N.5m while Best Team gets a million and then we will make a feature film.”

Meanwhwile, last week, Saturday, March 24, 60 contestants from Nigeria and across Africa made it to the house and would be camped of four weeks.

Themed: Film as a Catalyst for Revolution with a sub theme: Corruption Free Nigeria, the show will be aired on Silverbird Television, Africa Movie Channel, Wazobia and WazobiaMax TV and AIT. Obasi shot to limelight after he released his debut movie, Broken, about Child Abuse in 2013. The show is produced by High Definition Film

The Oracle Today

40

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

National Health Act will boost healthcare delivery – Okowa

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

ELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has called for the effective implementation of the National Health Act so as to improve health care delivery in the country.

Okowa who stated this when Chairman Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Senator Alkali Jajere, led members of his board on a courtesy visit to Government House, added that proper implementation of the National health Act will also regulate the health care industry and ensure effective health care delivery in the country.

He urged state governments to domesticate the Act in their states and enforce it through effective sensitization and advocacy stressing that “the health of our people is very important in the developmental indices of the country” “I want to thank you for remembering the issue of the National Health Act and its passage into law, ten years after its passage, the Act is still not fully operational in Nigeria, we have less

than ten percent of the population enrolled for the Act there is room for improvement.

I wish to urge state governors to domesticate this Act and enforce it through sensitization and advocacy of their people as the Act will not only moderate the various operators in the health care industry but also ensure effective health care for our people,” he said.

He commended the Board and Management of the Federal Medical Centre for their services to Deltans and people from neighbouring states promising to continue to support the hospital in its developmental activities.

He charged the reconstituted board to ensure that they give effective assistance to the FMC in its annual budgets and projects.

Earlier, Senator Jajere said they were in Asaba for their inaugural meeting and to familiarise themselves with the activities of the centre.

He commended Governor Okowa for the developmental strides in the state and for piloting the passage of the National Health Act describing him as the architect of modern Delta.

Poor upbringing, root of social malaise – PFN scribe

By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

N

ATIONAL Publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong has attributed poor home upbringing as primary cause of the various challenges facing the society.

The PFN scribe said this has also lead to the exponential increase in the rate of insurgency in the country and emphasized that parents should take some of the blame for not living up to expectations.

Bishop Isong stated this during the funeral Thanksgiving in honour of his father, Late Elder Isong Ntuen at the Miracle Parade Ground, Iton Odoro, Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

He said the country would have been a better place to live in today if parents had discharged their duties of raising their children in the fear of God, creditably emphasizing that the pain and trouble which young people had inflicted on members of the public on daily basis in the name of Boko Haram, Niger Delta Militant and herdsmen calls for worry.

“I cannot imagine us inflicting mayhem on one another and we carry our Bibles and Korans on daily basis under the guise of worshipping God or Allah but offending one another killing and maiming in the name of militancy in the Niger Delta, Boko Haram and herdsmen.

“Look at what the country is going through in the name of insurgences like Niger Delta Militants, Boko Haram, and herdsmen attacks. If parents of all those who constitute the groups had done their homework well, do you think that these young people would make themselves available to be recruited into the radical organizations? The answer is capital No”!

“These deviants who parade

•Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, represented by the Esere of Benin Kingdom, Chief Stanley Obamwonyi, Oba Ewuare II, flanked by Odigie Ojiefoh of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, and the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale, cutting the tape to commission the block of six classrooms constructed by NB Plc., inside the Oba of Benin’s Palace in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Make CSR impactful in Edo – Obaseki charges companies

themselves as herdsmen, Boko Haram and Niger Delta Militants can be attributed to failure on the part of parents to bring raise them up with the right value and norms.

Today the society at large is in passing through excruciating pain courtesy of these young persons”, he said Bishop Isong who is the Patron of the Nigerian Union of Journalists said his late father was a disciplinarian who disciplined his siblings whenever necessary and did not spare the rod as far as their training was concerned.

OVERNOR of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called on companies in Edo State to ensure that their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects impact on the lives of Edo people, noting that improvement of livelihoods should be at the heart of such projects.

Obaseki said this when he commissioned a block of six classrooms constructed by Nigerian Breweries Plc. in the Oba of Benin’s Palace in Benin City, the Edo

G

State capital.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale, Obaseki lauded the Nigerian Breweries for its CSR initiatives in the education sector, noting, “This laudable project is in line with the vision of this administration’s reforms in education sector. Education is the pivot to social and economic development. We will remain committed to improving the sector with focus on basic education in the

By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

“The last time we met the Boundary Commission, I and my colleague from Ebonyi, Honourable Sylvester Gbaga, they complained about funding, that there is lack of funds to carry on these activities. What we are fighting for in the budget is to make sure funds are provided for them so that they would not have issues or complains of funds of moving to cite to start boundary demarcation and all that. And we have been able to do that,” said Etaba.

He assured his constituents that the state government is concerned about their plight particularly the challenges occasioned by the boundary dispute with neighbouring Ebonyi State and pledged the commitment of the government alongside representatives from the area to ensure speedy resolution of the conflict.

“The essence of my visitation is also to bring peace to the various communities as His Excellency had advised because he is not a governor that believes in violence. In addition, I am here to access the damage caused by the war as earlier reported and as directed by the state gover-

nor.”

He deplored the scale of violence in the particularly in Obubra where scores have been killed, hundreds injured and properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed.

Responding on behalf of the communities, one of the community leaders Mr Raymond Okenjom expressed appreciation to the representative as well as the government for their commitment to end the dispute emphasizing that the communities are desirous of lasting peace.

Boundary disputes: Reps to enhance capacity of NBC

M

EMBER representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Mike Etaba has assured that the House of Representatives will move to boost capacity of the Nigerian Boundary Commission (NBC) through improved budgetary allocations.

This, he said, has become necessary to ensure that the commission effectively discharges its duties of demarcating interstate boundaries particularly that of Cross River/Ebonyi and other disputed ones across the country.

Hon. Etaba made this known while visiting three communities in his constituency which include Ofonekom, Idoru and Ogurude and distributed relief materials and cash donations to the communities.

He told his constituents that the Boundary Commission has operational challenges and he, alongside his colleague in Ebonyi State Honorable Sylvester Gbaga are working assiduously to ensure the capacity of the commission is substantially enhanced through adequate funding.

•Dogara, Speaker House of Reps.

state.”

Obaseki added, “Other corporate organisations should build on similar initiatives to support governments in contributing to infrastructural development.”

Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, commended the Nigerian Breweries Plc for constructing the classrooms.

Represented by the Esere of Benin Kingdom, Chief Stanley Obamwonyi, Oba Ewuare II, said, “The Palace appreciates the gesture of the Nigerian Breweries for the effort in reclaiming parts of the school building which was dilapidated.”

He said this would not have been possible without the efforts of Governor Godwin Obaseki, noting, “We appreciate the governor for creating a conducive atmosphere for the company to contribute to the development of the educational sector in the state.”

On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Jordi BorrutBel, represented by Odigie Ojiefoh, said the project is part of the initiative of the company to assist governments to address the infrastructural challenges in the educational sector, adding, “This is part of our commitment to the development of education in Nigeria. The company identifies with the efforts of the Obaseki led-administration to improve the quality of learning in the state.”

Similarly, the Principal, Oba Palace School, Mr. Sampson Onaiwu, expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Breweries, noting, “This will go a long way to improve teaching and learning in the school.”

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS Reduce hospital bills, school fees – CLO urges missionaries

By IBE NWACHUKWU

T

he Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Anambra state chapter has made a passionate appeal to church leaders in the state to reduce the cost of hospital bills and school fees in their various missionary schools and hospi-

tals across the state.

CLO lamented that these high cost of medical bills in the missionary hospitals and school in missionary schools had prevented the less privileged ones in the society from having access to medical attention medication and compulsory education for the

Obasanjo’s plot to discredit PDP will fail – Mwolwus

P

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Plateau State, Chief Alexander Mwolwus, Tuesday, took on former President Olusegun Obansanjo whom he accused of plotting to discredit the party to promote his personal interest.

Obasanjo had in a statement on Monday, told Nigerians not to take the apology offered by PDP some weeks ago serious and had described it as a corrupt political party.

However, Mwolwus, said in Pankshin, Jos that Obasanjo’s pronouncement was “very unfortunate and selfish in nature’’.

He described PDP’s apology to Nigerians through its National Chairman as “a right step in the right direction’’, saying, “only great men own up to their mistakes’’.

“If PDP had apologised willfully, having owned up to its mistakes, I shouldn’t be castigated for that because every human organisation has its own limitations.

“Even though OBJ’s plots to discredit PDP for his own political party, he seems to have missed it and not knowing what he is doing. He is the most ungrateful Nigerian leader, who never knew how PDP was formed. But all the same, his party will not be anywhere close to having the confidence of Nigerians if that is the way he

wants to go drumming for support to it.

“Obasandjo was never a member of PDP but out of sheer pity and magnanimity, the party brought him out of prison and made him president on a platter of Gold, ’’ the chieftain alleged.

Mwolwus futher said “we made him who is today, yet he had the guts to spit and shout against us’’.

The PDP chieftain accused the ex-president of introducing corruption and corrutpting the National Assembly with his third term failed ambition.

On the list of looters released by the Federal Government during the weekend, Mwolwus described it as lopsided and unreal since the names of those who jumped from PDP to APC were omitted.

“By that list, President Buhari ended up disappointing his ardent admirers and supporters.

“If people who looted and jumped into APC and those in APC that were caught red handed are not in the list, but only PDP members, then there is question mark on it (list), ’’ Mwolwus alleged.

He called on Nigerians not to be bothered by the game plans of APC and Obasanjo, but should keep faith with PDP, which he said had realised its mistakes and wished to give them a purposeful leadership in 2019.

downtrodden.

In a press statement issued yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra state, state chairman of CLO, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme noted that he was particularly wishing to appeal to Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese to prevail on the management of Catholic Institutions, schools and hostels to reduce the cost of services being rendered to the public.

According to Ezekwueme: “Many parents find it difficult, if not impossible, to afford exorbitant fees stipulated by the schools and hospitals under the Catholic Church. This will help to restore morality and responsible citizenship and future leaders.”

He however commended Archbishop Okeke for his his regular visits to Onitsha prisons on apostolate work, establishment of youth village at Amansea and proposal to establish a Catholic University which according to him, would help to produce students with moral rectitude and core values that has been the bane of social, economic and political development of the nation.

Ezekwueme insisted that unless and until we produce students who are sound in both morals, heart, head and hand, the future, just like the present, will remain very bleak.

“I remain eternally grateful to His Grace, Archbishop Okeke for his numerous selfless and relentless efforts with great effects, his constant celebration of his birthdays, Easter Sundays and Christmas days with prisoners. This is in tandem with the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ and St. Mother Theresa of Calcuta”, the CLO boss stated.

• Families and friends at a Service of Songs on Easter Monday, in Abuja, for Austin Mgbolu, former spokesman of the Nigeria Football Federation

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

A

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr.

Paul Okorie, Monday, lost key members of the party and hundreds of the party supporters in his own community, Okposi Okwu, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Among the stalwarts of APC who decamped to PDP included Onyiba Dandi Omoke, Engr. I O Nweze and APC women Coordinator in Ohaozara LGA declared their supports for governor David Umahi’s administration and the PDP. The Oracle Today gathered that the defection of the party key members from the community is a huge set back for Okorie who is said to be a nursing governorship ambition. He was a governorship aspirant under the PDP in 2015 before defecting to the Labour Party and later to APC.

Ebonyi APC chieftain’s community joins PDP The decampees painted gory pictures of frustration and jealousy in their former party, APC, which informed their decision.

Engr I. O Nweze said they have been living in the past by believing that APC had any demonstrable platform to develop the country and Ebonyi state in particular.

“Having watched all you have achieved within the few years you are in the office, we have come here today to pledge our loyalty and support to your administration and PDP as a party. This is because we have been living in the past by believing that APC has all it takes to develop the country. I have come back to PDP because APC is a fraud and a one chance party,” said Nweze.

On his part, Onyiba Dandi Omoke said governor Umahi has done marvelously well

in all sectors of the state economy and deserved all support and not opposition, adding that the APC ‘can’t match what the governor had achieved in office’ and pledged to work with PDP to ensure that the Umahi was elected for the second term in office.

Also speaking, Mrs Chinyere Okoro who until her defection was the Women Coordinator of APC in Ohaozara local government area of the state said she was forced to join the PDP to support governor David Umahi by her conscience.

Earlier, the Traditional ruler of Okposi Okwu autonomous community, Eze Onyiba Chukwu Agwu said the community has never seen it so good as they are witnessing under the present government and declared that his community will stand with Umahi to complete his second term in office.

PUBLIC NOTICE AND CHANGE OF NAME SAVING GRACE CHAPEL INT’L This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration Under part ‘’C’’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 PAST. BLESSING EMUHOWHO OGBODO 2 PAST. FAITH BLESSING EMUHOWHO OGBODO 3 EBIKESEYE NEWMAN FESTUS 4 ANDREW ATOBREMU 5. VICTOR OGBODO OGBEIDE AIMS & OBJECTIVE 1. To preach the Gospel of Christ to all nations 2. To reach out to the world through crusade and house to house evangelism 3. To win souls for Christ 4. To meet both the spiritual and material needs of the people through the word of God Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission , Plot 420 Tigris Crescent , off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from date of this publication SIGNED PAST BLESSING EMUHOWHO OGBODO

I Formerly known as Miss NGWU FIDELIA KANAYOCHUKWU. Now wish to be known and addressed as, Mrs ONWUBIKO KANAYOCHUKWU CHIDIADI. All documents bearing former name remain valid. General public to note.

I formally known as EMEKA PRAISE EZENWAKA now wish to be known as EMEKA PRAISE NNABUIFE. This change of name involve my family NGOZI CHARITY NNABUIFE, CHUKWUEBUKA DANIEL NNABUIFE. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly known as MISS MBAGWU CHIZOBA JUDY now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIBUIKE CHIZOBA JUDY. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. NYSC, banks, general public, take note.

I, formerly called SHULAMMITE ONUCHI ANYIAM now wish to be addressed as MRS. SHULAMMITE NIABARI ISAAC. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. NYSC, general public, take note

I formerly known as ELUWA STELLA CHINEMEREM, Now wish to be known as OKPALEKE STELLA CHINEMEREM , All former documents remain valid, NYSC, Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as Miss ONYEKWERE EUCHARIA CHIDIMMA, Now wish to be known as Mrs ONYIA EUCHARIA CHIDIMMA , All former documents remain valid, NYSC, Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as AKINREMI DEBORAH BOLANLE, Now wish to be known as AKINREMI BOLANLE NUSIRAT, All former documents remain valid, Banks and General public take note.

I formerly known as MADUABUCHI ROSE CHIDUBEM now wish to be known as KELECHI ROSE CHIDUBEM. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS EZEIGBO CHINWENWA SYLVIA now wish to be known as MRS OBI CHINWENWA SYLVIA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as EHIRIM GIDEON C. now wish to be known as EHIRIM CHIBUIKEM GIDEON. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as NEGEDU BLESSING THERSA now wish to be known as NEGEDU BLESSING OJONUGWA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as ONUH SHIRLEY NDIDIAMAKA now wish to be known as ONUH SHIRLEY NWAMAKA. Former documents remain valid. General public take note

For your change of Names, Public Notice & Announcements Please call: 08037741102, 08036682255, 09078310060 Or Visit our office at: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. Email:oraclenews@oraclenews.ng.

CHANGE OF NAME COSTS N3,000 ONLY.

42

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS 2 die in Mrs Ikpeazu’s convoy crash From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

T

wo women died Tuesday while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries, with some in critical conditions, following a fatal accident involving the convoy of the wife of Abia sate governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu.

The dead victims were Mrs. Nwamaka Maduabuchukwu, a Senior Special Assistant, Media, office of the wife of the governor and Chairman of Ministry of Information Chapel of Abia State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); as well as Mrs. Promise Uche Nwankpa (fondly called Tomato Jos), whose husband was a former member of Abia House of Assembly.

Mrs. Nwankpa was said to have died on the spot while Mrs. Maduabuchkwu was confirmed dead on arrival at the FMC. Some prayer warriors were seen praying fervently around the lifeless body of the SSA, entreating God to bring her back to life.

Sources in the convoy said that the accident involved one of the buses in the convoy, adding that the crash occurred at Ndiolumbe in Isiala Ngwa South local government area when the convoy of the governor’s wife was returning from Obingwa local government.

Crowd of mourners and sympathizers gathered at the emergency unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia when the dead and the injured were brought in from the scene of the crash late in the evening.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade John Emejor, was among the sympathisers that were seen grieving over the death of the accident victims.

Emejor described the chapel chairman’s untimely death as “very unfortunate” and prayed God to banish untimely dead among journalists.

Cont’d from Pg 2 fendants.

Visit Kanu’s home – IPOB, Abaribe SENATOR Enyinnaya Abaribe filed an application last December seeking to move Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court to the residence of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu for inspection in the aftermath of the military invasion in Isiama Afaraukwu Abia State, that led to the disappearance of Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The application was, however, not moved because the trial judge, Justice Nyako did not sit, and the matter was adjourned to 20 February 2018.

Justice Nyako had at a previous sitting asked Senator Abaribe, surety for Kanu, to produce him in court, to which Abaribe responded that the army, which invaded Kanu’s home should bear the responsibility of producing him. He sued the army, in addition to filing an application to lift burden of producing Kanu, and the suretyship from him.

Abaribe’s motion on notice, last year, was brought pursuant to Section 6 (6) a) (b); 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, and Sections 177 (1) & 179 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Dated 4 December 2017, Chukwu-

... rages over looters’ list Cont’d from Pg 2 entire population of 182m (NPC estimates May 2017), while the recurrent expenditures (running costs of government and remunerations of 608, 926 public servants of the Federal Government) incurred the remaining staggering balance of $211.4b (N47t) or over 70% of the entire budgets.

“The 608,926 public servants of the Federal Government merely constitute about 0.35% of the entire population of 182m. In other words, less than 700,000 citizens (in addition to shut out 80,115 so called “ghost police officers”) have consistently accounted for over 70% of the country’s federal budgets since 2003 leaving the re-

maining population of over 180m in penury, acute backwardness and under-development. Use of 2003 for this report clearly indicates the year of escalation of public thievery in the country and consolidation and intensification of its perpetrators in Nigeria’s public governance sector.

“Through the entrenched conspiracy of the federal executives and lawmakers numbering only 941, public funds conventionally meant for the transformation of the country especially its critical sectors, are squandered and siphoned through open source and codified corruption”.

Lending his voice to the controversy surrounding “looters’” list, Chairman of Civil Liberties Orga-

nization (CLO) in Anambra State Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme said there shouldn’t be a sacred cow as the fight against corruption has to be extended to all fronts without regard to tribe, religion or political party affiliations.

Ezekwueme in a chat with The Oracle Today in Onitsha said the fight against corruption, which is the focal point of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, should be made to go round the system and get those found wanting punished with jail terms irrespective where they come from and no matter how highly placed.

He said Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade is not convincing if it is politicized whereby some people viewed as corrupt are spared like

sacred cows due to their political party affiliation, noting that the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot deny that there is no corrupt leader in its fold.

He said: “APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are made up of the same set of politicians and leaders who have been at the helm of Nigeria affairs since the return of democracy in 1999 so it is not convincing to have the list of corrupt leaders with PDP logo alone. So, the list has to include those in APC who are also corrupt.

“It is not proper to say that somebody who is corrupt in PDP is no longer corrupt because he decamped to APC.”

•From left to right): Governors; Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State; Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; and Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, at the Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 66th Birthday and the 10th Colloquium at Eko Hotels, Lagos, Friday

...Will Sen Abaribe be jailed April 26?

ma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, filed it on behalf of Abaribe.

The motion sought an order granting leave of court to visit and make physical inspection of the incidences of the invasion and occupation of Nnamdi Kanu’s residence (at Isiama, Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State) from 11 to 14 September 2017, and the eventual arrest and taking away of Kanu by the Nigerian Army.

Abaribe predicated the motion on the grounds that Kanu was at his residence before and all through 11 to 14 September 2017 at Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, even during the period of invasion.

“Applicant’s agent has been severally prevented by agents of the Nigerian Army (6th respondent) as well as other security agents from accessing the residence of Kanu at (Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku) as to show the court the characters of the invasion and occupation of Kanu and the eventual arrest and taking away of Kanu by the staff and agents of the Army.

“The applicant is desirous of the court seeing and examining Kanu’s residence which has been stated as an evidence before the court.

According to Abaribe, “The application will help the court and indeed the applicant in the deter-

mination of his application before this court.

“The applicants application cannot be determined nor resolved by mere documents as described on the exhibits before the court but physical inspection of the said property.

An affidavit in support of the motion, deposed to by Deborah Warrie, stated that, “That out of patriotic consideration of assisting the judicial process to defuse the high tension already generated in the polity and with full convictions that Kanu was carrying on his activities within the limits and confines of the Constitution, that Abaribe (applicant) offered to stand surety for Kanu and entered into a recognisance and executed the bail bond.

The affidavit averred that since the release of Kanu from prison custody, he was last seen and known to be in his residence at Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State.

It was stated, “That sometimes in 2017 or thereabouts, the Nigerian Army High Command on the instructions of the Chief of Army Staff announced publicly that they were going to commence a military operation exercise code named a operation a python dance in the whole of South East from September 15 to October 14.

“That although the invasion took place three months ago, there are still many physical reminders of the invasion and a site visit is the best and most expedient way to convey to this court the necessary information regarding “the environs, spatial configurations, and physical character of the locations of the invaded property, which information cannot be adequately conveyed through the presentation of oral testimony or topographical maps” alone.

The deponent said that the forceful military invasion of Kanu’s residence resulted in frustrating the bail bond of Abaribe.

She added that a visit to locus quo would enable the court to get evidence surrounding the facts of the suit.

Aside the motion, Abaribe had filed an application earlier praying for an order compelling the Chief of Army Staff to offset all expenses he incurred in the cause of trial of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Also, Abaribe is demanding for an order for payment of damages of ten million Naira (N10m) to him for the psychological trauma he has gone through following the extra-judicial self-help actions of the Army Chief of Staff.

Abaribe is standing as surety for

Kanu, having signed a bail bond of N100million to secure bail for Kanu, who is being prosecuted by the Federal Government.

“An order of the court compelling the Chief of Army Staff to produce 1st defendant/2nd respondent before the court and or to explain to the satisfaction of the court the circumstance surrounding his whereabouts.

“An order of court compelling the Chief of Army Staff to show cause why the Attorney General of the Federation should not be compelled to initiate contempt proceedings against him for his extra-judicial self-help conducts that have obviously frustrated the proceedings and course of administration of justice and which actions have brought the court to some ridicule and its power appears nugatory as well as placing the applicant in a fixed up position.”

On October 17, the trial judge, Justice Binta had ordered that Abaribe and the other sureties should appear on November 20, to show cause why a bench warrant of arrest should not be granted against them.

More so, the court held that Abaribe could only be relieved if he produced Kanu or forfeited the N100m bail bond.

The Oracle Today

43

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

Corruption: Stop playing to gallery – Fayose tells Osinbajo

E

KITI State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has berated the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo over his continuous complaints about alleged corruption in the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the Ekiti governor said: “Nigerians are now more interested in what the government has done to make life more meaningful for them and not what the previous governments did or failed to do.

Today, the most difficult question any student can be asked to answer in an examination is to list just five landmark achievements of the government in which Prof Osinbajo is the Vice President.”

Continuing, Fayoes said: “If the Vice President can look around himself with honest eyes, he will see majority of those who called the shots during the previous PDP governments that he claimed mismanaged the country’s resources holding sensitive positions in the present government.

Today, even prosecution witnesses are suddenly disappearing in corruption cases involving those who have decamped to the APC and properties once seized are being returned to them. Obviously, PDP has purged itself of corrupt elements in its fold and offloaded them to the APC. Fayose who said he was beginning to have a second thought on

the Vice President’s claim to be a pastor, asked; “Is he truly a pastor? A pastor does not go about playing to the gallery and defending falsehood. Isn’t it a disgrace for a pastor of the Redeemed Church in particular to be an agent of falsehood?

He further advised the Osinbajo that instead of going about exposing his hypocrisy, ‘the VP should be telling Nigerians what happened to the report of those probe panels that he headed.

How many of those members of the APC indicted by his Probe Panel have been charged to court? What happened to those involved in the fraudulent reinstatement of wanted ex-Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.?’

“To me, it is time for Prof Osinbajo to say something new and stop playing to the gallery because he is expected to know better. Even if the President does not know, he should know that Nigerians are tired of this directionless government that keeps blaming its predecessors for its inability to prepare even budget.

“Even though I have great respect for the Vice President, but of recent, I am constrained to begin to have a rethink. As a Professor and Pastor, methinks he should be a light in this government of darkness, and the engine room of the government. But shamefully, he goes about saying things that are not true.

“Despite being a Professor

Abia to be financially independent by 2022 – Commissioner From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

A

BIA State government says the current infrastructural revolution in the state was aimed at making the state to attain financial independence by 2022.

Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, made this known while reacting to the rating of the state by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) while interacting with newsmen in Umuahia.

The NBS rated Abia as one of the financial healthy states but Kalu said the yet state was yet to reach “where it wants to be.”

The Commissioner said it was in the quest to locate Abia where it rightly belongs that the Dr Okezie Ikpeazuled administration was putting infrastructure in place to boost the economic development and growth of the state.

Okiyi said that the government was determined to transform the agricultural sector a money spinner, while the “Caterpillar revolution” would lead to building of durable roads that would not only enhance economic and commercial activities, but attract investors.

To achieve this objective, the Commissioner said the State government was doing a total of 132 road projects with 56 already, in addition to planting 7.9million Tenera palm trees which matures in three years.

“We will use palm trees to decorate our roads instead of flowers that do not yield anything,” he said. He said the roads being built in Aba were already attracting investors as over five newly-built highly rated hotels have

opened shop in the last one year in the commercial city.

He also expressed optimism that Crystal Hotel Aba, which was forced out of operation by the bad shape of Port Harcourt Road may bounce back to life with the reconstruction of the road.

According to him, influx of businesses and investors would boost the revenue profile of the state, to the extent that Abia would no longer depend on the revenue from the federation account to pay salaries and meet other government obligations.

Kalu said that the NBS rating was made possible by the financial prudence of Ikpeazu, not that Abia was receiving more revenue as it used to.

“What has happened on our own case is that that report is an acknowledgment of the prudent management of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. “If you look at the ingredients of that report, it contained the debt profile of each of the States, showing how much has been borrowed. “Over the years, especially in the past four to five years we have not been borrowing a lot and we have been managing whatever we get,” he said.

Okiyi dismissed criticisms by the opposition that Ikpeazu awarded the four-kilometer Fualks Road in Aba for N6.8 billion, saying that those criticizing the governor were ignorant of the latest technology Governor Ikpeazu was deploying in handling the perennial flooding in the area, apart from payment of compensation which was considered as part of government obligation before embarking on the project.

of Law, the Vice President defended EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu that was indicted of corruption by the Department of State Service, an agency under the President, by saying that Magu do not need the National Assembly to clear him. He is always jumping to defend what is indefensible in this government.”

He however challenged the Vice President to list the government’s achievements,”It was under three years that PDP government solved communication

problems in Nigeria by providing Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) that has made it possible for Nigerians to use internet, social media and even bank in the comfort of their homes.

“Also, it was under three years that the PDP government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan established nine federal universities, 127 Almajiri schools, 34 new Colleges of Education, among several others. Exchange rate was kept at N197 and petrol was sold at N87

per litre while a bag of rice remained at N7, 000.

“It is almost three years; Prof Osinbajo should tell Nigerians what their government did and stop blame-game please.

“Most importantly, if the Vice President has evidence of corruption against anyone that served in the previous governments and the present, he should be bold enough to present the evidence to the court at a proper trial, not at public functions because alleged corruption cases are not tried at social functions.”

•From right: Hon. (Mrs.) Ethel Oyibo Ugwuanyi, Deputy Chief Whip Enugu State House of Assembly, representing Ozzi State Constituency; Alex Urama, Chairman PDP, Igbo-Eze North Chapter and Comrade Uwakwe Ezeja, Executive Chairman, Igbo-Eze Local Government Area at the bursary awards organised for students of Ozzi State Constituency by Mrs. Ugwuanyi at the local government pavilion, Ogrute, Enugu-Ezike.

Okorocha to Bishop Obinna: You cannot install an APGA governor in Imo I MO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Anthony J.V Obinna, cannot install a governor of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2019 in the state, since he was unable to do that in 2015.

Okorocha alleged that the Catholic prelate has continued his onslaught against his government using his Easter message as a guise.

A statement by the governor’s media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo said: “We have read the latest accusation by Archbishop Anthony Obinna of the Catholic Diocese of Owerri against Governor Okorocha, and we shall continue to show our respect for the Archbishop, but, one fact remains sacrosanct, he cannot install a governor of APGA extraction in 2019, because he could not do that in 2015 when he first tried it.

“The archbishop had hidden under his Easter message to continue his onslaught on the governor and his Rescue Mission Government, making it the tenth time in less than two months he had descended on the governor and the administration.

“Of all the allegations the archbishop made against the governor, the most unfortunate was

the one he said Governor Okorocha is the only voice which everyone has to listen to and obey, otherwise, arrests and imprisonments would follow. That was the height of blackmail.”

Onwuemeodo, who faulted the claims of the Catholic prelate that the people of the state have been living in fear and panic, challenged him to mention anyone who has been arrested in the state for criticising the governor.

“And we humbly wish to challenge the archbishop to mention just one person the governor or government arrested for any reason, including criticising him or anybody, since he came on board as governor in 2011.

“Where the archbishop fails to do this, we ask with every sense of politeness, that he corrects that false claim, and, if he deems it worth-doing, apologise to the governor.”

Onwuemoedo said of all the governors who had governed Imo state, both military and civilian, Okorocha stands out as the most tolerant and accommodating.

“The overwhelming love of Imo people for the governor means more to us than the weak voice of the opposition in

the state made up of few politicians.”

He alleged that Archbishop Obinna has intensified his disdain or hatred for All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Okorocha this time because of the 2019 election.

“And the archbishop should know that most people have become fed up with his repeated unprovoked and unwarranted attacks on the governor and his government, using every platform and every event available to him.”

•Governor Okorocha

The Oracle Today

44

Wednesday April 11, 2018

NEWS

FG commences backward integration policy in poultry, fish production

From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

T

HE Federal government has commenced a backward integration policy in fish production and poultry through training of youths from the oil-bearing states of the country.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani in Calabar dur-

ing the convocation of about 250 youths who were trained in capacity building and empowerment in agriculture (fishery and poultry) and other value chains in the Niger Delta States.

The Minister who was represented by the Deputy Director in the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Ndiomu Ebioghe disclosed that “the effort of the government is one of the laudable initiatives of the present

which include impacting theoretical and practical knowledge on poultry and fishery production and other value chains, income generation for the family/ community as well as skills in effective enterprise development.

He said as part of the ministry’s plans to ensure that the efforts of the ministry in empowering youths in the region do not end in futility, the ministry provided an empowerment package of about half a million for each of the trainees.

He assured other youths in the region that have been agitating for inclusion into the scheme to be rest assured that their voices have been heard. He said more youths will be considered in subsequent batches until every Niger Deltan becomes empowered, self-reliant, self-sustaining and self-dependent.

Also speaking, one of the facilitators of the training and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Agriculture, University of Calabar disclosed that with the successful completion of

the training, the country will witness an exponential increase in fisheries and poultry production.

She disclosed that with this initiative by the government and the expected increase in poultry consumption; the multiplier effect will be seen in the health of the people because their daily requirement for protein intake will be met.

Speaking on behalf of the trainees, one of the graduands Rev. Bright Isaac commended the government for empowering the youths of the Niger Delta region stressing that this singular initiative by the government will remove so many youths in the region out of poverty.

He maintained that the training has a multiplier effect on the stability of the region because the issue of youth restiveness will be drastically reduced, thus creating a better economic atmosphere that will attract investors and as well as an enabling environment for political stability.

erating additional income to the local government area, we have revamped the abandoned shoe factory of the local government and ventured into integrated agricultural development programme.

“The shoe factory was commissioned while the agricultural development programme was inspected by the Executive Governor of the state represented

by Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the Secretary to the State government. The shoe factory has the capacity to feed the canvass/ sandals/covered shoes needs of the state and beyond.

“So far, a lot of Mkpat Enin indigenes have been gainfully employed in these first phase of projects in my administration’s employment generation and wealth creation programme.

kwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, has met with officials of Huawei Technologies from China to explore ways of partnership in Information Communication Technology (ICT) development in the area of Education, Health, Governance and Enterprise.

Speaking during the meeting at Government House in Uyo, Governor Emmanuel thanked them for taking interest in partnering with his administration, assuring that there are various areas available for the partnership.

He said he was especially interested in the area of Information Communication Technology, which is a major driver of development the world over.

Governor Emmanuel recounted that when Huawei came into Nigeria, it focused on the telecommunications sector, and cited his role in the company’s success with major financial institutions in the country.

“I am happy you said you can discuss areas of Education, Health, Governance and Enterprise. Today, once you look at the 10 richest human beings on Planet earth, at least 60-70% of them will be ICT

aries are running.”

Comrade Joseph Ekpe, leader and spokesman of the union who made the feelings of the aggrieved workers known to Oracle Today in Calabar said workers have been expecting their promotion since last year, “but the commission, in connivance with labour leaders, has continued to delay it for whatever reason.” “We the Amalgamated Joint Union are out to protect the interest of workers in the state.

We are members of the NLC but because our leaders have sold us out, we have decided to take our

fate in our hands by warning the Civil Service Commission to henceforth facilitate our promotion.”

“We went on a statewide strike last year as NLC because of this promotion exercise but now, our leaders have connived with the commission to stall our promotion because some of them have received their promotion to level sixteen and their salaries are running.

We see this as a serious betrayal because the essence of trade unionism is to serve the interest of members and not otherwise,” Ekpe said.

related. I am a businessman, I go where money is, so I follow money to where money is, if money is in ICT, I follow money into ICT so that nobody leaves me behind.”

Governor Emmanuel expressed belief that the strategic partnership will be of immense value to the youths who are the major focus of his leadership.

The Governor was of the opinion that young bright people of Akwa Ibom origin can also make it into global limelight with the right technological facilities and instructors in place in the state.

Governor Emmanuel said his government has done a lot in exposing the youths to ICT and urged that the programmes of the Huawei team should gear towards embracing the youths.

He maintained that the state has an E-library with thousands of elearning processes, and the necessary infrastructure to actually develop ICT platform here and for me a launch out to the rest of Africa.

“So if you can make Akwa Ibom an ICT hub, I’m sure you have the right partner where we can actually make that happen. This is an opportunity for me to also see a whole lot because once you give me a fibre, I can do a whole lot, Housing Estate, Education, E-Governance, everything runs on communication and ICT, so it’s a good development.”

Team leader and Managing Director, Partners Business unit of Huawei Technologies Company, Mr Ken Zhao Wenjun said Huawei came to seek strategic partnership with Akwa Ibom State Government, looking into different sectors He maintained that Huawei is already number one in the telecom areas and is ranked the third best in the world in phones and tablets production.

administration aimed at diversifying the economy, increasing food security and generating employment for our teeming youths in the Niger Delta”.

He disclosed that the training which lasted for two weeks and took place in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, University of Calabar covered critical aspects of the business

•Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel (r) with the Team leader and Managing Director, Partners Business unit of Huawei Technologies Company, Mr Ken Zhao Wenjun, when the latter led a delegation of the ICT firm to the Government House in Uyo, Wednesday.

A’Ibom to begin shoe factory for military boots

By INI BILLIE, Uyo

A

shoe factory designed to produce specialized and regular boots for the military, Cortina and other fashion shoes is set to commence operation in Akwa Ibom state.

The factory which is to be located in Mkpat Enin urban, Mkpat Enin local government area, Akwa Ibom State is part of the industrialisation drive of the council chairman designed to empower the people and advertise the area.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Uyo, Chairman of Mkpat Enin local government area, Mr. Ekanem Brown said the factory will initially source for raw materials from Jos and Aba before switching to leathers produced in the State when the ranch/hide and skin factory proposed by the state government commences.

He said military boots and cortina shoes will be the major products of the factory, adding that shoes manufactured in the state would soon flood the market.

Brown also revealed that he acquired 150 hectares of land for integrated farming in tomatoes, pepper, ginger, cucumber, cocoa and plantain, and that the tomatoes and pepper farm currently employs 27 people.

He said the cucumbers which have 45 days cultivation period will generate N12 million for the

council, and added that 12,000 plantain suckers that would be harvested in nine months have been planted and a yield of 100,000 suckers is expected from them.

He said his government was interested in improving the internally generated revenue of the council area through various programmes and praised communities in the area for donating their land while appealing to government agencies, donors and other council are for support.

“In our determination to key into Governor Udom Emmanuel’s industralization drive and agricultural development programmes of the state government for the purpose of creating employment and gen-

Akwa Ibom partners Chinese ICT firm A

C’River workers berate commission over stalled promotion letters From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

W

orkers in Cross River State have chided the state Civil Service Commission as well as the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state over the prolonged non-issuance of promotion letters.

The workers, who spoke under the aegis of Amalgamated Joint Union, criticized the state leadership of the NLC for betraying workers and not fighting for their promotion “because many of them have been promoted and their sal-

45

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

SPORTS Dalung inaugurates MOC for National Sports Festival

By MADUABUCHI KALU

S

ports and Youth development Minister, Hon Solomon Dalung, has inaugurated a 13man Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the National Sports Festival (NSF) billed for November in Abuja.

Inaugurating the MOC last week in Abuja, Dalung said the event marked the beginning of another page in the history of the National Sports Festival and sports development in the country.

It is recalled that the National Sports Festival (NSF) was last held in Lagos in 2012 and the torch for the next edition was immediately handed over to Cross River State when the curtail was drawn signaling the end of the 2012 festival tagged “Eko 2012”. The NSF is a biennial sports meets where sports talents are discovered and nurtured for the good of the country but since 2012, Cross River failed to live up to expectation by not providing the necessary facilities for the sports festival to take place despite the long rope she was granted by stakeholders.

The festival which supposed to take place in 2014 was shifted for the first time in 2015 yet Cross River couldn’t deliver sighting change of government at the centre and security challenges as excuse and they were given yet another opportunity to stage the festival in 2016 and the state was nowhere to be found.

• Dalung The grace was extended for 2017 and yet Cross River did not convince the country that they could deliver on the mandate hence, during the stakeholders meeting in Kaduna earlier in the year, the hosting right was stripped from them and given to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and it will hold in November.

The decision to strip the state the hosting right was taken based on the inability of Cross River state to convince other stakeholders that they are

willing to play host to the festival.

As a matter of fact, Cross River has by its action and inactions on the issue of the National Sports Festival jeopardized the development of sports in the country that is why the decision taken in Kaduna earlier in the year to strip the state the hosting right is a welcome development.

The decision ought to have been taken a long time ago but just like they say it is better late than never and I believe that the national sports council

would have learnt valuable lesson from the Cross River experience.

It is recalled that Cross River State had immediately after the “Eko 2012” boasted that they were going to play host to the best National Sports Festival as they were going to provide quality facilities for the various events to make the festival a memorable one and at the end of the day they couldn’t match words with action. It is really a shame.

No elections for NBBF until new constitution is in place – Asiegbu

• D’Tigers in action he General Secretary of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Chimezie Asiegbu on Thursday declared that there will be no elections into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation as directed by the world governing body FIBA until a new constitution is in place.

Asiegbu said it was proper for the NBBF to fully comply with the directives of International Basketball Federation (FIBA) hence the need to put measures in place that would ensure

T

the guidelines by FIBA are met for the elections.

In a letter to the NBBF on its lingering leadership crisis, the world basketball governing body FIFA directed that fresh elections should conducted and also called for a new constitution which will strictly reflect FIFA’s regulations and it is on the basis of this that Asiegbu is re-emphasizing in order to have credible elections into the board of NBBF. It is noted that there has been lead-

ership crisis at the Nigeria Basketball Federation leading to the Federations’ election held toward the end of last year. The then incumbent President of NBBF, Tijani Umar refused to obtain form for the NBBF elections which was supervised by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) at the Abuja National Stadium.

Umar’s faction had conducted their own elections in few days before the Federation’s Elections in Kaduna while other Federations held their

own elections in Abuja and since then, the two factions have continued to claim to be the authentic board of the NBBF. The crisis has continued to rage to the point that FIBA had to send delegation to actually ascertain what actually happened and the delegation visited the two factions, the NOC and the Ministry.

It was as a result of the findings of the FIBA delegation that the world Basketball governing body (FIBA) directed that new elections be conducted and a new constitution be drafted to be in tandem with its own constitution.

FIBA have continued to distance itself from any of the two factions and in its letter directing that new elections and constitution be promulgated, FIBA made it very clear that it does not recognize any of the factions.

It is hoped that both factions of NBBF will do the needful by complying with the directives of the world basket governing body in order to restore sanity in the board of the federation.

Before now, the Musa Ahmed Kida led faction of NBBF had declared that it was ready for any election as it claimed that he had a valid mandate but with this position of Asiegbu, it’s like Kida has changed his mind on the election saga as Asiegbu belongs to his own faction of the NBBF.

Serbia defeat: Mikel, TroostEkong, Ighalo back Eagles to bounce back

S

uper Eagles and Changchun TEDA skipper, John Obi Mikel, who missed the national team’s two friendly ties against Poland and Serbia, is backing Eagles to bounce back in other friendly games ahead of the Mundial. Mikel gave his backing to the Eagles after the three-time African champions suffered a shock defeat to Serbia in international friendly in Hive Stadium, England penultimate weekend.

Mikel, who is on the same page with defender Williams TroostEkong on the Eagles defeat to Serbia is of the view that Nigeria should put the London defeat behind them and remain focused in the country’s future games.

The Changchun TEDA midfielder who missed the two friendly games due to work permit issues in China said: “You don’t lose, you learn looking forward to being back on the pitch throughout the remaining preparation games, soar the Super Eagles,” Mikel wrote on his twitter page Wednesday.

And on his part, Bursaspor of Turkey defender, William Troost Ekong wrote on twitter: “End of a good camp with the Eagles, we keep working and improving, thanks everyone for your support”.

Meanwhile, former Watford striker, Odion Jude Ighalo is now looking forward to the game against the Three Lions of England. The Eagles’ striker has stressed that the Eagles will not underrate the Three Lions when both teams clash in the preWorld Cup friendly on the 2nd of June.

While the England national team remained undefeated during the international break, defeating the Orange of Holland and drawing against the La Azuri of Italy but the Super Eagles performance at the international break was a mixed bag after they were beaten by Serbia 0-2 last week and secured a slim 1-0 victory against Poland.

According to Ighalo: “In football, anything can happen, it doesn’t matter the kind of support you have; if you do not work well on the field of play, you are going to lose.

“England have very good and fantastic team, we are not going to underrate them. We also have a good team too but at the end of the day, it will be XI players against XI players on the field of play,” Ighalo declared. So on June the 2nd, Nigeria will be up against the Three Lions of England in Wembley.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

SPORTS Give sports pride of place, Prince Oduah charges Obiano

F

ormer member of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Prince Isidoreh Oduah, has called on Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to pay more attention to the development and empowerment of the youth of the state through sports.

According to the former member of Anambra State Sports Council, Governor Obiano did very well in his first term in the areas of Security, Agriculture, Education, Health and infrastructure development but failed woefully in sports development and as a result, should right the wrong by paying more attention on sports development, using it as a means of creating jobs and empowerment of the youth of the state.

Speaking further, the founder of Red Carpet Advertising revealed his pain of Anambra State not having a professional football club saying that the state as the Light of the Nation should be No1 in sports activities but regretted that the reverse is the case. He, therefore, charged the recently inaugurated Governor Obiano to ensure that state returns to it pride of place in sports in the country.

In his words: “I want to start by saying congratulations to Governor Willie Obiano on his recent inauguration for his 2nd term in office as the executive Governor of Anambra State,” Prince Oduah began.

“Having congratulated him on his recent inauguration, I wish to remind him to use this opportunity to right the wrong in Anambra Sports. It is a pity that sports is dead in Anambra and I would want him to use this God’s given opportunity to pay adequate attention to sports development in the state as he did not give sports the pride of place it deserves in his first tenure.

“I am a stakeholder as an Anambrarian, particularly as I have lived all my life being a sports administrator.

My life cannot be complete without sports and football in particular. So when I talk about the poor state of sports in Anambra State, people should listen because I know what I am talking about,” Prince Oduah declared.

“I was shielding tears the other day when I was listening to a sports programme on radio and they reeled out football clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) owned by various states and Anambra was not mentioned. What I am saying clearly is state owned and financed football clubs.

“In course of the programme, Abia State was tops as that state owns two top clubs in Enyimba and Abia Warriors. It is a thing of joy for me to know that it is south east state that has two state owned clubs in the country but my state Anambra which is the Light if the Nation does not have a single club, what a shame.

“In the southeast here, apart from Abia, Imo State owns Heartland FC while Enugu has Rangers International and Anambra has none. Going back to Abia State, I was made to understand that the state equally has a Nigeria Nationwide League (NNL) club called Abia Comet FC and they also have a female football club in the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) the Abia Angels but that is not where my concern lies as far as Anambra is concerned. My pain really is the state’s lack of a team in the NPFL. While others have one or two,

we do not have any. It is difficult to comprehend I must confess.

“Anambra is the Light of the Nation and as a result, should set the pace for others to follow and that was what it used to be in the past. I recalled with nostalgia when Anambra State used to dominate in the Nigerian Division 1 League in the 80s and early 90s.

“Anambra State deserves at least a club and most of the players automatically will certainly come from the state because we have a lot of talented footballers who are scattered in every nooks and crannies of the country and beyond.

“I am talking about the time that Anambra State used to have about three clubs in the Nigerian top flight.

“I mean the time we used to have Udoji United, Jasper FC and Gabros Fc of Nnewi. It is true that you may say that these clubs mentioned above were owned by individuals, but they were being helped then by the state government because they were all representing and doing the state proud.

“But today, Anambra is nowhere to be found in sports in the country and it is quite unfortunate,” Prince Oduah lamented.

“I want to remind the Governor that sports is a veritable means of job creation and empowerment.

With sports, a lot of the army of unemployed youth could be taken off the streets and their energies channeled into positive ventures and by so doing, crime will go into extinct because already, he has done much in the area of security,” Prince Oduah explained.

“See, as we speak, apart from football, the state does not have competing clubs in basketball, handball, swimming, hockey, handball, boxing, Cricket, boxing, gymnastics to mention but a few. That is why I am urging Governor Obiano to brace-up for the task ahead if he must etch his name in the sands of time in sports and the youth of Anambra State will never forget him.

“It is because of lack of opportunities that you see our talented players and other athletes representing other states. Had it been we have conducive environment for them at home, probably they would not have been competing for other states. But all hope is not lost provided that Obiano do the needful by giving sports its pride of place in his scheme of things,” Prince Oduah concluded.

• Governor Obiano

Argentina friendly humiliation: Sampaoli accepts responsibility

• Argentina national team

By MADUABUCHI KALU

A

rgentina coach, Jorge Sampaoli has accepted responsibility for the humiliation of the two time world champions who were thoroughly decimated by La Furi Roger of Spain at Wanda Metropolitano where Argentina were given the beaten of their life as the suffered a 6-1 humiliation in the hands of their European opponents.

Argentina went into the match without their talisman captain, Lionel Messi and were brutalized by the Spanish in front of home fans.

Argentina looked ordinary without Messi and had to succumb to the superior ire powers of La Furi Roger at Wander Metropolitano.

The Argentines were ranked 4th by the world football governing body FIFA and because the heavy defeat suffered in the hands of Spain, their coach, Jorge Sampaoli has come out to own up for the massacre of the Argentine national team.

The Spaniard ran riot on the Argentine courtesy of Isco’s hat trick with Diego Coasta and Thiago Alcántara and Iago Aspas also getting on the score-sheet.

“I take the blame for the goals, don’t question the players,” he accepted in front of the media after the game.

“The difference between the sides in the game was not as large

as the result. We have to learn from this. It cannot happen in the World Cup,” Sampaoli declared.

The question is, are the Argentines who have been tipped as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup in Russia following the armada of stars in their squad ready for the Mundial? It is recalled that Lionel Messi had declared earlier on that the World Cup is indebted to him suggesting that Argentina believe they are going to lift the highest prized football diadem.

The last time Argentina won the World Cup was in 1986 as the Diego Maradona led them to their second World Cup trophy after their first in 1978.

Russia 2018: FIFA honour Africa with 6 refs, 10 assistant

• Snub Nigerian, Ghana, Cameroon refs

T

he International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) last Thursday announced a list of 36 referees that would officiate at this year’s FIFA World Cup tagged “Russia 2018”.

Out of the 36 referees on the list, six are from Africa excluding 10 assistant referees from the continent making the total number of African official that will be on duty in Russia to 16.

Meanwhile, of the 16 officials, none is a Nigerian as the world football governing body continues to shun Nigerian referees. It is recalled that this days, FIFA hardly appoint any Nigerian referee for international duty bring to question the quality of Nigerian referees.

The reason for FIFA’s continued sidelining of Nigerian referees may not be unconnected with the alleged corrupt tendencies of Nigerian referees but Nigeria is not alone in this matter as no official was selected from Great Britain for the Mundial.

FIFA made public the list of referees and their assistants for the Mun-

dial last Thursday.

Below are the names of the referees from Africa and the assistant referees from the continent.

The referees: Abid Medhi (Algeria ), Diedhiou Malang (Senegal), Gassama Bakary (Guinea), Grisha Ghead (Egypt ), Sikawe Janny (Zambia) and Tessema Bamlak (Ethiopia).

The assistant referees: Achik Redouane (Morocco ), Ahmed Waleed

(Sudan ), Birumushahu Claude (Burundi), Camera Djibril (Senegal), Dos Santos Jerson Emiliano (Angola ), Etchiali Abdelhak (Algeria), Hmila Anouar (Tunisia), Range Marwa (Kenya ), Samba Malick (Senegal) Siwela Zakhele Thusi (South Africa).

The Video Assistant Referee, VAR, will be used at the World Cup for the first time.

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 11, 2018

SPORTS Kanu explains why he wants to be President

F

ormer Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu has explained why he wants to become the President of Nigeria probably next year.

According to the former Arsenal forward, the country is being derided by the global community as the home of corruption and would do everything humanly possible to wrestle it.

Continuing he explained that in the last 18 years leadership has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in the country hence the need to get things fixed for the good of the Nigeria people.

Kanu said that he was inspired by the victory of Liberian and world football super star, George Opong Weah, who won election last year and became the President of Liberia.

The former Ajax, Inter-Milan and Arsenal of England leggy forward explained that the victory of Weah in Liberia’s election is a pointer that he too could achieve the same feat in order to better the lives of the greater number of Nigerians.

He explained that his motivation for wanting to throw his hat into the ring is because of the concern he has about the future of the Nigerian state and the happiness of Nigerian people.

In his words: “My presence here today is about the future of our country and the happiness of our people,” Kanu began.

“The last 18 years of leadership has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria, plus general insecurity in the land.

“Also, I’ll do all it takes to wrestle corruption which has become blatant and widespread. The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption,” Kanu added.

“If I get your mandate, I promise to do things differently and restore honour and integrity to public service by keeping the best and attracting the best.

“George Weah’s victory in Liberia is a pointer that this dream is very realistic with you all on my side,” the former Portmouth of England striker said.

The former Eagles’ captain is hoping to unseat President Muhammau Buhari next after the general election.

• Kanu Nwankwo

Wilder accepts Joshua challenge to fight in UK

D

eontay Wilder has accepted Anthony Joshua’s challenge to travel across the Atlantic to face him in a bout to determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, the American’s co-manager said Monday, according to AFP reports.

Joshua called out Wilder immediately after a 12-round points win over New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday that saw him add the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) belt to the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titles he already held.

That win, his first professional success that did not come by way of knockout, saw London 2012 gold medallist Joshua extend his unbeaten record in the paid ranks to 21 wins from as many bouts.

But that still leaves World Boxing Council champion Wilder, unbeaten in 40 professional contests.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, insisted after the Parker fight that Wilder’s camp “don’t want” a unification bout.

But Shelly Finkel, Wilder’s co-manager, told Daily Telegraph newspaper Monday, “We are really glad that Anthony Joshua said for the first time, ‘I will fight Deontay next…’ and we believe he is a man of his word. Deontay accepts the challenge.

“We want to make it public that Deontay wants the fight… Deontay

• Coach Rohr is ready to sign and come to the UK to fight this summer.”

Finkel said he would be prepared for the fight to go ahead at London’s 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium.

“Assuming it will be Wembley Stadium in the summer, we are ready, and if they are ready as they say they are, we want to get it done. We

want the fight, they want the fight, the public wants the fight. There is nothing to stop it going ahead.”

Finkel, a veteran of the boxing scene, added, “When I had (Mike) Tyson and (Evander) Holyfield, I picked up the phone. That’s all we need to do here.

“We are ready. Let’s make the fight.”

Iwobi’s success with Eagles inspired me – Tosin Kehinde

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report Manchester United’s youngster, Tosin Kehinde, has declared his resolve to dump England for Nigeria saying Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi’s success with Eagles inspired him. Already, the Manchester United Under-23 midfield has set his sights on playing for Nigeria and has already made moves to become a Super Eagle in no distant time.

The 19-year-old, an Under-23 squad player at United, was born in Lagos but raised in the UK and is eligible to play for both Nigeria and England.

“Nigeria has always been a part of me. I was born there. I come from a very strong Nigerian background, so the influence has always been around me,” Kehinde told BBC Sport.

The player, who is at home playing in midfield but can also play as a left wing-back, met Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials last weekend to start the process of formalising his Nigerian footballing status.

He was accompanied by his parents to the meeting which took place in London.

Kehinde says he wants to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi who opted to play for the Super Eagles instead of England in 2015.

“When you are growing up, when you see players like Jay Jay

Hearn, speaking after Joshua’s unanimous points defeat of Parker, said, “I will present the deal to Anthony but it has to be the right deal.

“It’s not really about Wilder, it is about us. We will sit down over the next couple of weeks and plan out the rest of 2018. It’s his (Joshua’s) call on how many times he wants to fight this year.”

Omidiji receives late invite for Super Falcons’ friendly

N

• Tosin Kehinde Okocha, how good he was and the current crop of players such as Alex Iwobi and Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, the desire to get the opportunity to play for Nigeria has always been there really,” said Kehinde.

At 13 he joined Man United’s junior ranks, rising through the age groups to play for the Under-23 squad.

He is yet to make an appearance in Jose Mourinho’s first team squad but he has occasionally trained with the team at the invitation of the Portuguese manager.

“I hope to play in the first team,

that’s every player’s dream and my dream also.

“The manager’s continued belief in the youth and giving people opportunity has made me feel that if I keep working hard maybe I can get the opportunity as well,” said Kehinde.

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of other former youth players including Marcus Rashford, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay and Axel Tuanzebe who have all played in United’s first team under Mourinho.

etherlands-based player, Sophia Omidiji, has received a late call-up invite to the Super Falcons for this Friday’s friendly with France in Le Mans.

Omidiji, who plays for Dutch topflight side S.B.V Excelsior, disclosed this on her twitter handle @vegas2nl yesterday (Tuesday).

“I am honoured and delighted to do battle with my deserving and amazing sisters who I have watched over the years and made our country proud.

“Dreams definitely come true.

Truly no words to describe the feeling, but thanks to everyone,” the tweet read.

The US born player was last invited to the camp of Nigeria’s Under-20 side Falconets ahead of a 2016 World Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The forward will join other 17 players invited at the Mercure Le Mans Centre as the team camp opens on Tuesday (today).

WEDNESDAY April 11, 2018

The

www.oraclenews.ng

I

48

racle Today

VOX POPULI SACRUM

ISSN: 2545-5869

Our momentary country lion, other approximate it to $50 million.

I have few challenges with what the final figure was. We are a country with a celebrated inability to count, at least accurately. Even when people die in accidents, we approximate, it is usually “about”. When we cannot count human being correctly, it would surprise a few that we cannot count money, leading to the other suspicion that money is meant to be wrongly counted, so that we are unsure of what it was, and finally what it would be if it was ever in public again.

The celebration of the haul by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, stalled when various versions of the story dented the possibility of the find.

More was loading, as our younger folks would say. Three months after, the ownership of the money is not known, at least officially. The most anti-corruption government in the 21st century, apparently on paper, cannot tell Nigerians who kept such amount of money, which some commentators say is more than the annual budgets of some countries, in a residential apartment.

T is a blessing – some insist it is a curse – to be born and live in Nigeria. There are so many things Nigerian that without the rites and passes of being Nigeria.

Ours is a momentary country with all the consequence of being one. We neither introspect nor retrospect. People who live for the moment have only momentary inclinations.

Complaints about Nigeria are not about how the present rudderless movements of Nigeria affect the future. We are complaining of things cannot be done because of the President’s absence. Once budgets are passed, contracts awarded, appointments made, foreign exchange is within affordable rates, we can got on holidays, we can buy our choice apartments at home and abroad, amass enough for medical attention abroad, and send our children to foreign schools, we are a country.

The drains these are on our abilities to be a people that would make contributions to improving the lives of their people do not count. The only other thing that could have been of interest would be the next president, the next government, and all the next positions that elections would fill soon.

A momentary country is also a seasonal country with its affairs treated like episodes of a badly scripted movie. We tolerate the nothingness if it creates the possibilities that we would be part of the emptiness called greatness in Nigeria. Amazingly, there is a rivalry among Nigerians to be the leaders of the empty promises on which Nigeria is erected.

Others are more entailing in the things they do for their countries because theirs are countries that consider profundities of better value than the profanities that line our landscapes. We are a people in passage, in transit, unfortunately it seems that it is from bad to worse.

Nothing To Learn From Lagos flood MY tears flowed for our peoples whose homes and businesses were swept away by water in the Lekki-Ajah corridor. The woes of that part of Lagos are avoidable.

We are all discussing it with an element of surprise about the flood. Were there not enough warning? Were the environmental and urban planning practices in that place sustainable? For how many years had experts and expatriates warned about the dangers that those areas posed? Did anyone listen?

Were the destructions that the ocean posed at the Bar Beach not enough evidence? Did anyone think it mattered?

When the waters broke the entrance to Lekki Phase I more than 10 years ago, in their search for the sea, nobody thought something was wrong.

Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu was at the site of the incident with a host of his officials. Why then all the surprise, effected really, about Lekki and the flood? Why the pretence about emergence services? Why

•Where is the recovered loot?

are we not thinking that if this could happen to Lagos with its megacity ambitions, anchored on reclaiming parts of the Atlantic Ocean that there would be dangers ahead?

As noted elsewhere, the dangers are not in what has happened. The dangers lie in the absence of data and statistics on what causes these situations, what need to be done, and when they would be done.

Each time I asked when the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research was often submerged with the slightest rain, I am told that the location of the institute permits it to study the ocean.

Where are the results of the studies? The institute, like many others, has failed us.

How do the flooding in Lekki relate to floods in Suleja, 726km away, not on the coast, without abusive environmental practices in the volumes of the Lekki corridor?

There are fundamental issues with our environment that we overlook. Lekki is

only a metaphor of our abuse of the environment. We know that more than 75 per cent of the estates and developments, on that belt that stretches to Epe, have not been developed. How can the belt be rescued/ should be a limit to the number of constructions on the fragile peninsula?

Lekki is an opportunity to query the attention we pay to our environment from flooding to erosions. The moment should be lost in speeches or wish away in platitudes. Those who celebrate the disaster on the Lekki corridor do not know that in similar manners, governments have ruined other sides of our lives.

Where’s Osborne money?

On Wednesday 12 April 2017 news began to filter in that some money were found in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi. In a country doused with rumours of all qualities, many thought it was one of them. Later figures in foreign currencies started emerging.

The money was aggregated as $41.6 mil-

Eight years after Yar’Adua HAVE we forgotten that we had President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, also from Katsina State, who fell ill during the electoral campaigns, and was ill for most of the two years he was on the saddle? Our present situation should not befuddle us, except if we complicate the issue by stating, obviously, that while the present situation is domiciled in London, almost eight years ago, Saudi Arabia (city not certain) was where Yar’Adua spent his concluding days.

Government and governance was tasked. The uncertainties heightened each day with some of today’s patriots at the fore front of the demands that Yar’Adua should handover government. The opposition made a song of how inchoate government was when the state of the President was unknown.

After Yar’Adua we did nothing to prevent situations where the President becomes the Presidency. Under President Muhammadu Buhari the Constitution, the peoples of Nigeria, and power mongers have contested authority in variegated formats. None of the positions have built up the country. Tensions that contestations for being Nigerian generate have flooded like the waves of the sea they ebb, but never go away.

Finally As we wade through the cascading episodes of Nigerian life, there are no linkages. The movie only leaves you confused.

PS: Some compatriots have readied their recording devices awaiting the floods.

They are likely to get the same pictures that maintain the impressions of our seasonal country.

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.