Wednesday April 18 2018 Edition

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

WEDNESDAY April 1 8, 2018

racle www.oraclenews.ng

ISSN: 2545-5869

Today

VOL.3 No.15 N200

Buhari: A chance to save Nigeria

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari cleared all the doubts and suspicions about him and the 2019 election, when he told the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), his party, that he would be contesting for the presidency again. Like people trained to trail such moments, they jumped on their feet applauding the availability of Buhari to serve again. It is typical; it has been the lot of the country since the Buhari presidency.

A CERTAIN pretence to civility and civil and democratic rule has established itself, bringing along further pretences that the future of Nigeria is too important to be discussed.

THE ORACLE COMMENT

Buhari is the key proponent of that bent position, befuddling national thought in ways that would have been considered impossible until his arrival.

NIGERIA, the Nigerian, have been in doubt since he bestrode the national sphere on 29 May 2015.

Almost everything about him has added to the discomfort of Nigerians. He has failed to harness several opportunities that presented themselves for him to prove that his leadership, whenever he shows it, would benefit all Nigerians.

PRESIDENT Buhari has been decidedly divisive, in words and in deeds.

He threatens Nigerians. He has no soothing words for those who hurt.

He has sided with marauding, who kill with the most bestial methods.

His presidency has inexhaustible reasons that support the attacks that Fulani herdsmen unleash on Nigerians.

IN Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and other States where Fulani herdsmen have unleashed their uncommon

venom on peoples and properties, President Buhari’s attitude has been that the people, the victims, the attacked, the survivors, should accommodate their attackers, who often threaten and execute other attacks.

FEW things have rankled Nigerians more than these attacks that have become routine, and get minimal condemnations from the President. Rather, his officials justify them and blame the victims for not accepting that they should live by dictates of Fulani herdsmen. They

occur so frequently that it s challenging to track them. Lives are lost, villages are pillaged, burnt, agricultural economies are at unending threats from Fulani herdsmen, who have vowed to live by their own rules.

THERE are instances that reveal the nonchalance of the Federal Government and the security agencies while these hoodlums wreak havoc on people and property. Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in Zamfara State said of an attack on the village: “These terrorists are known to us.

Their major hideout is in a village called Kagara, very close to Bafarawa in Sokoto State, and a

Cont’d on page 24

ShocktrailsBuhari’s2019bid

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia, CHUKS EZE, Enugu; CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki; NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt, CHUKS COLLINS, Awka; COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri; THEO RAYS and IBE NWACHUKWU, Onitsha

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to throw his hat in the ring for another shot at the Presidency has generated mixed reactions from across the broad spectrum of the Nigerian public, with many faulting his decision on account of age and ill-health while others insist it is his constitutional right to seek re-election after his first term as President of the Federal Republic.

Buhari, 77 next year, indicated his re-election inter-

• It is his constitutional right • He should consider his age, health • Insecurity, poor economy against him • Ndigbo waiting for him • A sea of heads at OPEC PDP North West zonal rally in Katsina. quota bites See another picture on P41 Nigeria P17

Cont’d on page 2

Where’s Nnamdi Kanu?

• Abaribe’s headache

A

S the resumed trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, comes up again on 26 November, there are indications that the proceedings may still go on without the IPOB leader in Kanu.

Cont’d on page 2

Page 11

Igwe Ojoto: Okafor heads to court

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS Continued from Pg 1 est at a closed-door meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC. The President said he was responding to calls by Nigerians for him to re-contest in 2019.

With the announcement, Buhari has put paid to speculations that he would step aside after one term of office both on account of age and ill-health and in honour of his promise in 2011 that he would, like the late Nelson Mandela, rule for only one term if and when elected President of Nigeria.

But, Buhari’s declaration to re-contest is generating a lot controversy, even heating up the polity.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome said: “I welcome Buhari’s declaration.

But let me remind him that he had set packing a sitting president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in 2015.

And in Sierra Leone, a sitting president Samura Kamarathe of the All Peoples Congress, APC, (note the similarity of names), has just been sent packing by the opposition contestant, Julius Bio,” he said. “So, the rumours that the APC/PMB’s government is banking on massive rigging of the 2019 election to win are illusory. It cannot work. Nigerians are more enlightened today than ever before.

They will use their PVCs to vote

Continued from Pg 1 The question remains, “Where’s Kanu?”

The Oracle Today gathered that the whereabouts of the IPOB leader is still unknown, a situation that may spell trouble for Senator Enyinna Abaribe, the Senator representing Abia South, who as the leader of the South East Caucus in the National Assembly, stood as surety for Kanu’s release from prison on bail on 25 April 25.

Kanu was not in court when the trial resumed on the 17 October prompting the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako of Abuja Federal Court to order Abaribe, as the surety, to produce Kanu on 20 November, failing which he would face the consequences, including loss of the N100 million surety sum.

Sources told The Oracle Today that Abaribe’s lawyers have no clue as to the whereabouts of the IPOB leader. It was not clear at the time of this report how they planned to confront their dilemma before Justice Nyako on Monday.

“It is a matter for the lawyers to handle. They will do their job in court,” a source close to Abaribe said, also noting that the matter was sub-judice, in court, and he would to want to discuss it. “We would hear from the professionals (lawyers) in court on Monday.”

The Nigerian army invaded Kanu’s family home, in Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, on 14 September 14.

IPOB alleged some people were killed and other injured. Bullet marks on the building testify to the invasion. Valuable items were reportedly carted away from the house.

The invasion happened barely a month before the resumed trial of Kanu on treason charges by the Federal Government.

Kanu has not been seen since then.

Lawyers who spoke to The Oracle Today on this matter have faulted Justice Nyako’s order on Abaribe to produce Kanu in court, given the extenuating circumstance that led to Kanu’s disappearance from the public since 14 September.

Human rights activist and Senior

... trails Buhari’s 2019 bid wisely, notwithstanding any acts of intimidation or coercion. 2019 is just 10 months away. I will keep my fingers crossed to see how it all plays out. The months ahead will be very interesting, and quite testing.”

For Kenneth Okonkwo, Nollywood actor and 2019 governorship aspirant in Enugu State, President Buhari’s declaration is an answer to the yearnings and prayers of well-meaning Nigerians. According to him, the President has done well compared to what he met on assumption of office.

“Every country faces challenges from time to time and democracy gives every country the opportunity to choose a man best suited to tackle their challenges. Our greatest challenge in Nigeria today is corruption,” he said, adding that “throughout Nigeria’s history, President Muhammadu Buhari is the only leader I know that has not been found to be corrupt, so he is the man best suited to fight corruption.

“Our foreign reserves have risen, at a time when oil price is low, because nobody takes money illegally from it and all monies due to us are faithfully paid into it. We

were fighting a civil war before Buhari came in, with the insurgents occupying some territories and foisting their flags. Today, the insurgents have been reduced to criminal elements attacking soft targets,” he added.

“We are approaching 10,000 megawatts of electricity which has seen power supply increase dramatically. With Buhari and Osibanjo, the indices can only point upwards and we would not celebrate a better yesterday. I guarantee Nigerians that after Buhari’s second tenure, we will find ourselves in a new Nigeria.”

But, a former Deputy National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Chief Abia Onyike contended that President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term ambition will bring about a mega coalition of Nigerians across the country who will want to stop him and the All Progressives Congress, APC, at all costs, in order to take back their government.

Onyike who spoke to The Oracle Today in Abakaliki argued that Nigerians are already disenchanted with Buhari’s presidency and are anxiously waiting to vote him out.

“The factors that can play in

President Buhari’s favour are difficult to come by. He has ruined the economy. He has ruined his party.

So, there will be a mega coalition against him from all corners of Nigeria. Majority of Nigerians will not be comfortable with him because he has also not done well in the area of security.

“The president destroyed the stability, peace and tranquillity that had existed in the country.

He could not also checkmate Boko Haram. Instead, under him, Fulani militias in form of Fulani herdsmen are terrorizing the country, killing people with impunity.

“Nigeria needs a more discerning, liberal and detribalised person, who will come in to bring peace and tranquillity to this country.

“Buhari’s influence has created tensions in the land. The Middle Belt is threatened. Christians in the North are also threatened. Everybody in Nigeria is feeling threatened. The situation is trying to disintegrate the country. So, there will be a mega gang up against Buhari to make sure Nigerians take back their government.”

“President Buhari has nothing to offer,” Onyike stressed. “His state

Where’s Nnamdi Kanu?

• Gov. of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu after the Nsulu Community honoured at a rally in Agburike, Sunday evening. He is flanked by Hon. Chikwendu Kanu, Speaker Abia State of Assembly, left, and businessman, Eric Opia, a co-sponsor of a football competition that was part of the event.

Advocate of Nigeria Chief Mike Ozekhome who spoke with The Oracle Today on phone had said, “Bail is like a contact between the court and an accused.

“In Nnamdi Kanu’s case, it is a tripartite contract involving the court, Nnamdi Kanu and his surety (Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe). But that bail contract has been frustrated through no fault of Kanu’s surety (forcing) the Senator to apply for discharge of suretyship obligation, as provided in Section 177of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,” he said.

“It was the court that granted bail to Nnamdi Kanu under certain conditions. So, if he had violated the conditions, it is the

same court that should review such conditions. We all witnessed when the Federal Government felt uncomfortable that Kanu had, allegedly, flouted his bail conditions and filed a motion before the same judge handling the case (Justice Binta Nyako), asking the court to revoke Kanu’s bail. But unfortunately, the Federal Government failed to wait for the legal process it had initiated to take its course and allowed the army to invade Kanu’s residence. Since then, his whereabouts have been unknown and nobody has either seen or heard from Kanu.

“Okay, assuming that Kanu has been kidnapped or that something untoward has happened to

him as a result of the invasion of his home, how do you ask the Senator to produce him when the contract has already been frustrated by agents of the Federal Government?,” he asked.

“Nigerians know that the last time they saw or heard from Nnamdi Kanu was when he was resting in his home on 14 September 2017, and the army, via ‘Operation Egwu Eke II’, invaded his home in Abia State. Nigerians also, saw how his home was invaded, how the army gained entrance into the compound, and he has not been seen or heard from since then.”

The questions that the court

Cont’d on page 41

of health is another factor that makes him unfit for re-election.

He will be successfully defeated.

My summary prediction about 2019 presidential election is that APC has failed and will be voted out. Nigerians cannot afford to go through another four years of sufferings that are man-made.”

Joseph Fumbo, a lawyer, in Port Harcourt, argued that Buhari does not have the antecedents to go for a second term.

“What is Buhari coming to do? Is he coming for the second time to finally bury the economy? Those who are propping him are those who are currently benefitting from him,” he told The Oracle Today in an interview. “He should leave governance for younger generation of Nigerians. The economy is on a downward spiral. Buhari has failed to chart a purposeful direction for Nigeria.”

However, leader of a pro-All Progressives Congress, APC, group, “I see you”, Isaac Odum, opined that Buhari deserves a second term because he has done well in fighting insecurity and corruption; in the employment of 500,000 teachers through the N-Power programme and in increasing the foreign reserve from USD12bn to about USD50bn.”

Publicity Secretary of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, Samuel Nwanosike, considers Buhari’s achievements as listed by Odum not good enough to warrant a second term for him.

“Buhari’s lack of achievement, his age and health status have cast doubts in the minds of Nigerians whether he can govern the country beyond 2019. In any case, Buhari is not a threat to the PDP in 2019.

“Who is yearning for Buhari to come back? He should go to Daura, in Kastina State, and rest. Buhari does not have the capacity and capability to move the Nigerian economy forward anymore.

His idea does not fit into the present-day Nigerian economy. Under his watch, over seven million jobs were lost,” Nwanosike lamented.

But, Eyenanya Israel, a political commentator said any political party that did not want Buhari to have a second term should put forward a better candidate that can defeat him in 2019.

“Buhari will campaign on security; the fight against corruption; provision of jobs through N-Power and moving the economy from the fangs of recession,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Rochas Okorocha has celebrated Buhari’s declaration to run for a second term in office, noting that it was a patriotic response to the clamour of Nigerians.

According to a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Okorocha said the President’s “declaration for second term could be adjudged a patriotic response to the clarion call of Nigerians of goodwill for him to lead the Country for another 4 years”.

“The declaration of the President to go for Second tenure would also go a long way to reduce the noise of the opposition and take care of the idiosyncrasies of certain elements in the system.

The President has done well to deserve a second term. Those who had wanted to blackmail him out of going for another term can now find other meaningful things to keep themselves busy.”

The Imo State Governor de-

Cont’d on page 41

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The Oracle today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Sunday Amaechi Hanson celebrates Celebrations for ALGON national Deputy President Sunday Amaechi Hanson, who is also Chairman of Abia ALGON, and Chairman of Obingwa LGA, as he marks birthday, holds a thanksgivings service as he is honoured with a chieftaincy title in Abaiyi Ohanze, Abia State on 1 April 2018...

• Presentation of chieftaincy certificate by body of Traditional Rulers among whom are HRM Eze Dr I.K Nwabiaraije Eñeogwe and HRM Eze Dr Eberechi Dick, Chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers

•Chief Sunday Amaechi Hanson, Chairman Obingwa, and Abia State ALGON Chairman, after HRM Eze Dr I.K Nwabiaraije Eneogwe conferred the title, Ihie (Light) 1 of Ancient Abayi kingdom at Abayi Okoroato on Sunday. On his right is Emmanuel Emeruwa, Chairman, Aba South LGA

• Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe felicitating with Chief Hanson and the people of Abayi Ohanze

• Ihie 1 of Abayi at the thanksgiving service

•The birthday cake

•Chief Hanson with his wife Lolo Theresa, son Obinna Godswill and daughter, Chiziterem Victoria

•Cutting of the birthday cake with his wife

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The Oracle today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Ikpeazu: Abia’s new dawn – Barr Igwe ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF UMUNNEOCHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT. BARR. PHILLIP OKEY IGWE, TO THE GOVERNOR OF ABIA STATE, OKEZIE VICTOR IKPEAZU (PhD), ON THE OCCASION OF UMUNNEOCHI MEGA RALLY AND ENDORSEMENT OF THE GOVERNOR FOR SECOND TERM IN 2019 HELD TODAY, APRIL 3RD 2018, AT CHRISNAK EVENT CENTRE, ALONG AMUDA-MBALA ROAD.

PROTOCOLS: n behalf of the great people of Umunneochi and her enthusiastic stakeholders, I am delighted to welcome back the performing governor of Abia State to Umunneochi Local government. Your leadership has heralded the dawn of a new frontier in Abia State, and we are gathered to receive you and endorse continuity of purposeful leadership for reasons that are both concrete and verifiable.

A little less than a year ago today, you visited Umunneochi on a thank you tour.

At that time, we unanimously cried out to you for help on the most challenging matter of Umunneochi electricity which had been non-existent for over two decades. You listened, committed to come to our aid, and immediately swung into action. Today, thanks in large part to your benevolent support-both financial and other intangible logistics-Umunneochi light is back.

Although, the project is huge and remains a work-in-progress, we would be remiss if we didn’t extend a heavy dose of gratitude to you for staying the course and seeing phase 1 of the project to completion such that Isuochi as whole and its surrounding communities are now enjoying electricity. By way of Oliver Twisting, I must implore you Sir not to relent in funding the project to ensure that phases II and III of are captured as well. That will enable our brothers and sisters from Nneato and Umuchieze respectively to enjoy along with us.

As a wise man once said, “failure is an orphan, but success has many parents.”Too many meddlesome interlopers are interjecting themselves into the success story of Umunneochi electricity and unashamedly appropriating vain glories to themselves, but let the truth be told, the progenitor of today’s Umunneochi electricity is Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu because you swiftly backed rhetoric with action.

What is more, as your visionary leadership delivers for Umunneochi, so has its voracious tentacles spread like wild fire across Abia as a whole. The genius of the Ikpeazu phenomenon becomes glaringly apparent when its essential purposessocio-economic, redemptive, futuristic, and political-are critically deconstructed.

First, for a state that had hitherto been pillaged to political dungeon, your phenomenal leadership is a soothing redemption, a timely balm in Abia

O

•

• 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.

Gilead. We can most assuredly proclaim that our political redeemer has come to redeem us from decayed infrastructures, moral decadence, and forlorn hope. The redemptive purpose is self-evident in the socio-economic recovery of Aba. As the commercial capital of Abia, and indeed Igboland, Aba is critically significant if Abia must move forward. Indeed, the Ikpeazu caterpillar revolution is massively hitting the ground running. It is the fulcrum where the rubber meets the road towards the onerous task of economic recovery of Enyimba City.

Abia’s economic sustenance is only guaranteed when Aba takes back it’s pride of place as our center of commerce, trade, science and technology.

Our governor is making all these happen as well as the heavy PR lift of selling made-in-Aba globally. Nor should the socio imperative of this effort be lost on any attentive mind. Not too long

Barr Igwe greeting traditional rulers during the event

ago, a city once the pride of Ndigbo became infrastructurally so decimated that it quickly transmuted into a den of marauding kidnapers, hoodlums, and wanton gangsters.

The attendant social collapse and criminally morphed into a horde of youths of the Biafra/MASSOB sympathizing coalition. This threatened the security of the state as well shook the Nation along its very fragile core. At the root of the impasse is economic insufficiency occasioned by gross youth unemployment.

Economic recovery of Aba nips this budding socio-economic cancer in the bud.

To be sure, the Ikpeazu socio-economic purpose is pervasive across the state with industrial clusters springing up from the fertile rain forests of Ukwa Ngwaland through the plain fields of Old Bende. We are all once again reminded of the good old days when Dee Sam Onunaka Mbakwe ruled old Imo State.

And to showcase his digital advancement over Dee Sam’s analog period, our governor recently, at a NAN interview, unveiled his grand plan to transform Aba into the premier commercial hub for the South-East/South-South region through upgrading the infrastructure to Dubai/ Singapore levels. This is visionary political leadership at its zenith and a down payment on posterity’s brighter tomorrow.

Second, leadership that safeguards posterity’s future effectively guarantees its security and provides a safe haven for the pursuit of wealth and happiness-the very essence of life on this great planet we all transitionally occupy. That is the futuristic and forward looking purpose of the Ikpeazu revolution. And because the quality of the projects he executes are all in accord with international best standards, our future growth is sure to stay steady and incremental as we are not going to waste scarce resources doing projects done under our governor.

Rather, we shall invest in other needy areas that too many to recount. It is a

crime against our collective future to waste scant resources doing boondoggle projects that are sure to wash away at the first drop of rain-our case is now different in Abia.

Third, for a grateful PDP, Ikpeazu’s giant and purposeful strides are a grand recipe for sustained election victories.

The best campaign tool is performance and perform our governor has.

Any candidate of PDP come 2019 is armed with quantifiable democratic dividends in all nooks and crannies of the state with which to summarily shut down all opposition.

In sum, having constructively weighed the totality of all aforesaid, we, the entire people of Umunneochi and her great and many stakeholders have firmly and unequivocally resolved to endorse our governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD, for a most deserved second term in office come 2019. We shall work tirelessly and leave no stone unturned to deliver a strong and overwhelming mandate so that after the deed is done, Umunneochi shall take its rightful pride of place in your second term administration.

We thank you and your entourage for honouring our invitation, and especially thank the mother of the state, our First Lady, who anchors the ship of your home. I thank the leaders of Umunneochi PDP, especially Chief Chris Igwe (Chrisnak), Chief Sir Ndidi Okereke (Ogbujingidi), Chief Ifeanyi Okechukwu (BOK), Chief Fabian Nwankwo, Chief Matthew Ibe, Barr. Chima Mgbeke among others, for providing steady leadership. It shall be well with Umunneochi.

I equally thank all our royal majesties, highnesses including all our Ichies and indeed all our people for making this event successful.

Long live our performing Governor!

Long live our great party!

Long live Abia State!

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION FG’s borrowings: Nigeria now world’s capital of poverty – Intersociety T he International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has slammed the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, accusing it of reducing Nigeria to the world capital of poverty despite borrowing an unprecedented N10.6 trillion in less than three years of being in power.

The group further berated the National Assembly and organised labour for “dangerously aiding the Executive Arm to sink the country into irreparable and harmful borrowings/debts since mid-2015”.

According to Intersociety in a statement issued, late Thursday, in Onitsha, and signed by Board Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi and Head, Democracy & Good Governance Programme, Barr Chinwe Umeche, “The National Assembly of Nigeria and the organised labour (NLC, TUC, etc) have been dangerously aiding the Executive Arm of central Government in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to sink the country into irreparable and harmful borrowings/debts since mid-2015.

“By the end of this 2018 fiscal year, the central Government of Nigeria headed by President Muhammadu Buhari must have incurred total public debts of N10.6trn or $34bn; thereby surpassing or outborrowing all previous central Administrations in Nigeria, put together, since 1861. Lagos State holds a national dark record as Nigeria’s most indebted sub-national entity with record total debts of N670bn or $2.25bn.

“Statistics at public domain irrefutably showed that the duo of National Assembly and organized labour had consistently connived

Tor Tiv tasks subjects on PVCs, National ID cards

M

akurdi, April 9, 2018 (NAN) The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse has called on local government authorities in Benue State to work with traditional institutions in massive mobilisation of eligible voters to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

The monarch who made the call in a statement, signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Freddie Adamgbe, Monday in Makurdi, said it was imperative for eligible voters to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to avoid being disenfranchised.

Ayatse said it was important for local government authorities to work closely with traditional rulers to encourage eligible voters obtain their PVCs and national identity cards.

The Tor Tiv urged other traditional rulers in Benue to be neutral and non-partisan during the 2019 general elections.

The monarch disclosed that an endowment fund for the Tiv nation, to be known as `Ayatutu Ka Se Foundation’, would be established for the development of the area, just as he urged all Tiv people to donate to the foundation, which would be registered soon.

with Federal Government of Nigeria in securing the obnoxious loans channelled into non-productive sector or for defraying of Government over-bloated recurrent expenditures running into trillions of naira or billions of dollars annually.

“While the National Assembly recklessly approves the loans with little or no oversight measures discouraging such borrowings or curtailing same, the organised labour plays a conspiratorial role by

encouraging the Government to borrow so as to increase and pay their remunerations. It becomes so disturbing and worrying that the organised labour is only interested in its members’ pay rise and its statutory payment; irrespective of social harshness or harmfulness of the borrowings.

“Lip service or little or no attention is also paid by the organized labour in matters of chronic and alarming governance running costs

and profligacy at the central Government so long as workers’ pay rise is approved by the Government through reckless borrowings. The chronic and reckless public borrowings by the central Government in Nigeria in recent years especially since June 2015 has totally returned the country to the globally embarrassing status of “highly indebted poor country” and further earned it a new position as “world capital of poverty”.

The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, commissioning a multi-million Naira Information Technology Building, at The Polytechnic Ibadan, built and fully equipped by his wife, Dr (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi as part of activities marking her 59th birthday

CAN disowns Arewa Pastors over Aso Rock visit

eadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has Ldisowned a group of clergymen

under the aegis of Arewa Pastors Peace Initiative, Nigeria (APPIN), who visited President Muhammadu Buhari, last Thursday, to pledge their support to him and his government.

A statement by CAN President, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, issued, last Friday and signed by his Special Assistant on Media & Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, said the association does not know the group or those they claimed were hired by the opposition to fight President Buhari.

“The group went further to the extent of claiming to the President that they knew some Pastors who are being used by the opposition against his government. Claiming that Islamisation agenda is the idea of the opposition is the least expected of those who claim to be Christians in the country where Christians are becoming endangered species daily.

“CAN does not know any of them and their organisation is even alien to the Association and fortunately enough they did not claim to be part of CAN. We are happy that the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (Northern CAN) has also disowned them.

“We are totally disappointed that a group of people who claimed to be Pastors will be visiting the President without asking

for the freedom of Leah Sharibu and over 100 Chibok girls who are languishing in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists, whose only crime is their religion.

“We wonder why these supporters of our President, who claimed to be Servants of God, would not ask him to stop the unending killings going on under his watch in the Christian predominant communities in the North Central and some states in the South. They were so concern with the 2019 election that they forgot to tell the President that the primary duty of any serious government is to provide security to the governed irrespective of their religious and ethnic affiliations.

“Telling President Buhari that the opposition had hired some pastors against his government speaks volume of where they are coming from and who they are in the body of Christ. We are waiting for the list of the pastors whom they know that are on the pay roll list of the opposition who are allegedly guilty of hate speech. We all know how those who engaged in such an ungodly exercise in the Bible ended up.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria will not be discouraged by the activities of those whose agenda include but not limited to polarisation of the Association and blackmailing its leadership.

We cannot turn the blind eye to the ordeal of our brothers and

sisters anywhere in the country.

Those who are not concerned about the violence in the country are also free to associate and express their views while Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church is on the throne to reward loyalty and judge the betrayals sooner or later.

“CAN as an organisation is apolitical and we always ask our members to pray for President Buhari and other political office holders in the country to rule with the fear of God,” said the CAN leader, Ayokunle.

Looters’ list: Secondus slams N1.5b suit on FG N

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has lived up his threat and dragged Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to court for defamation of character.

The Federal Government had included Secondus in the list of those said to have looted the nation’s treasury, alleging that he collected N200m from detained former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.).

Secondus, through his lawyer Emeka Etiaba SAN, wrote to the Minister who published the list, seeking the immediate retraction of the PDP National Chairman’s name on the list, payment of N1.5 billion damages and a public apology within 48 hours.

Having failed to meet the demand, Prince Secondus, last Friday, made good his threat and filed a suit at the Port Harcourt High Court, Rivers State, claiming, among other things, that the court awards to him the sum of N1.5 billion being damages for humiliation, castigation, vilification attack on his person and integrity as a result of the publication.

According to a statement from Secondus’ media office signed by his Spokesperson, Ike Abonyi, the PDP National Chairman, in the suit no/PHC/1013/2018 is also claiming that Mohammad’s publication is defamatory and is asking the court to direct him to retract the said publication and apologise in writing.

Secondus is also asking the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from further publishing defamatory materials against him.

Joined in the suit are the federal Government of Nigeria through the Attorney General of the Federation and the Vintage Press Ltd, publishers of the Nation Newspapers.

Similarly, media mogul, and aspirant in the PDP National Chairman race, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, has demanded a minimum of N500 million and a retraction from Lai Mohammed, in order to avoid a N5 billion suit for including his name in list of alleged treasury looters published by the government, through the minister.

FRSC records 42 fatalities from 27 road accidents in Osun

Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 42 lives were lost in F27ederal road accidents that occurred in

Osun State in March.

The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Anthony Oko, made this known in Osogbo on Monday.

Oko said that the accidents, which were recorded in different locations in the state, involved 198 persons, out of which 101 victims sustained various degrees of injuries, while others were unhurt.

He said that most of the accidents were due to speeding, poor condition of the roads and sometimes failure by motorists to comply with road traffic rules and regulations.

The official, who blamed the ac-

cidents on human errors, recklessness and impatience on the part of drivers, advised motorists to always operate within the road safety guidelines while driving.

Oko said, however, that the commission issued 1,273 driver’s license to motorists in the month under review, while 173 traffic offenders were educated after they were apprehended.

He warned that the commission continues to apprehend drivers without valid drivers’ licence.

According to him, FRSC personnel had been directed to work round-the-clock to apprehend and prosecute traffic offenders to prevent unnecessary loss of lives and property on the roads.

6

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Taraba leads North East in school feeding programme -- Govt

araba State has fully embraced the National HomeTGrown School Feeding (HGSF),

programme and leads in the area of implementation in the North east geopolitical zone of the country, according to Hon. Beatrice Kitchener, an aide to State Governor, Darius Ishaku.

Speaking to newsmen recently in Jalingo, the state capital, Kitchener stated that ‘Governor Darius Ishaku stepped in and ensured Taraba State was the first in the North East to begin the scheme followed by Gombe and Bauchi States.’

She stated that the Federal Government initiative to offer lunch for primary school pupils across the country commenced in the state in July 2017 with 2,000 vendors as was recommended by the national office.

With full funding provided for the takeoff so far, the State now has 5,000 food vendors spread across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State which are paid directly by the Federal Government into their personal bank accounts.

Speaking on the recruitment of these vendors, she said: “It is the same like in any other state. We met with the traditional rulers, various groups, NGOs, women groups, and I’m sure there are women in the youth groups too, but basically through traditional rulers in the Local Government Areas. So, it was generally an open recruitment. It was free for everyone to apply.

“There was no particular criteria apart from the people be medically fit so that they don’t transfer any disease to the pupils they are cooking for.

“The individuals did not need any academic qualifications so long as they understand the basics of cooking and personal hygiene. In fact, after the shortlisted vendors were brought together, we organized series of training for them and at the same time gave them our manuals to serve as a guide.

“We also embarked on follow up to make sure strict compliance in line with the hygienic conditions of the environment where the meals are prepared just to be sure they abide by what is stated in the manuals we gave them” Hon. Kitchener also disclosed cases of some teachers demanding to be included in the feeding programme.

“We have identified them through feedbacks from the education secretaries in the Local Government Areas. This informed the need to come up with a template whereby they sign an attendance register when they supply meals to their designated schools.

“We did this to checkmate erring vendors and after we warned them, we gave them another opportunity but once we discover that they are not abiding by our instructions, we will have no choice but to erase their names from our register and replace them,” she said.

Oyo Govt to partner investor on livestock farming

T

he Oyo State Government has reiterated its readiness to partner with more foreign and local investors to further promote large scale livestock farming for the economic development of the State.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, representing Governor Abiola Ajimobi, stated this while declaring open the Nigeria Poultry and Livestock Expo held at the International Conference Center, University of Ibadan recently.

He disclosed that the State Government has taken some giant steps in promoting Agriculture, especially in the livestock and fishery industries which indigenous farmers in the State have benefitted from immensely.

Alli, who led a government delegation including Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development and his counterpart in Information, Culture and Tourism as well as the Special Ad-

viser on Agriculture to Governor Ajimobi, said that the present administration in the state has created a conducive environment for farmers and investors to operate without hindrance, saying that this has ensured growth in business and economic development of the state.

According to the SSG, “Our efforts have attracted many investors to the state which include GLOBUS, a major player in the Poultry and fisheries industry, WAMCO/SAHEL, a dairy product processing Plant”.

“The State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government and a private company, WAMCO Friesland, established five milk collection centres in various parts of the State. The centres are at Fasola, Maya, Alaga, Iseyin and Saki. This is in order to improve our cattle farmers and empower the women in the State,” he stressed.

Mr. Alli further revealed that the State Government has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) on a programme tagged CBN/ OYSG Loan Scheme for farmers at 5 percent interest rate to boost Agriculture in the State, noting that interested farmers can source for the loan at the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Cooperatives.

Earlier in his remarks, the Keynote Speaker, Dr. Oyedele Oyediji commended the State Government for improving livestock industry standards in the State, appealing that the State Government should put more efforts into making livestock farming profitable to local farmers.

Also, the LOC Chairperson, Ms. Rike Akinbamo noted that the conference was organized for networking between local livestock Farmers, international organizations and foreign investors in of livestock farming.

Meanwhile The reconstruction of the Eleyele Dam which is one of the major hydrological devices ravaged by the 2011 flood will see a rehabilitation of the spillway weir; rehabilitation of the spillway channel

to Ologuneru Bridge; rehabilitation and raising of the existing embankment by about 1.8 meters; and rehabilitation of the intake tower, scour channel and scour tunnel, according to the state government.

The move follows the handover of the site by the Oyo State government to construction firm, Messrs CGC-CHWE JV, for the reconstruction work on the dam, last week.

The handover ceremony had in attendance the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Isaac Ishola; Coordinator, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), Mr Dayo Ayorinde, among others.

The project upon its expected flag off by Governor Abiola Ajimobi is expected to span 24 months.

The reconstruction work of the Eleyele Dam, which was originally built in 1946, is part of the mandate of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) to address all issues pertaining to flooding in Ibadan.

We have degraded militants, badoo cult in Lagos – CP

• Representative of Lagos State Governor and Chairman, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Mr. Oye Hassan-Odukale; Special Adviser, Office of Overseas Affairs & Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass; Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and Chairman, Organising Committee, 2018 Lagos State Security Summit, Mr. Opeyemi Agbaje during the State Security Summit with the theme “Securing Lagos State: Towards A Sustainable Framework for a Modern Megacity” at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday,

Council in Kebbi to pay N5,000 monthly allowance to 1,000 youths

Suru Local Government CounTpayhecil1000 in Kebbi, says it will begin to youths in the area N5,000

monthly allowance each, to help them overcome unemployment challenges.

Chairman of the Local Government, Alhaji Usman Maigandi, Tuesday, in Suru that the beneficiaries comprised 600 males and 400 females.

“The youths will be empowered with N5,000 monthly allowance to help them overcome unemployment challenges.

“They can use the allowance for investment and trade; the amount will be beneficial to the youths if used prudently.

“Asides from this, the council is also taking the responsibility of paying medical bills for the less privileged people in the area.

“My council decided to take such steps in order to encourage the

youths and make them become self-reliant,’’ Maigandi said.

The chairman called on the people to be law-abiding and support the efforts of the local government in developing the area.

Buhari’s second term bid ‘dead on arrival’ – Fayose Ekiti State Governor, Chief Ayodele Fayose, has said Nigeria does not need President Muhammadu Buhari as leader in 2019.

According to the governor, the Monday’s declaration for re-election by the President is an ambition that is dead on arrival.

The governor also noted that if Buhari is reelected, he would kill the country.

Fayose, who spoke to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, Monday on the President’s intention, through his said if Buhari was unable to read the handwriting on the wall and know when to call it quit, Nigerians would show

him the exit door in 2019 by voting him out of office.

“That ambition is dead on arrival.

We don’t want grandpa as president anymore. Nigeria does not deserve a Buhari as president in 2019.

Buhari is old and tired. When people don’t know when to take their leave and say bye, Nigerians will show them the exit door.

“He has done more harm to this country. His ambition is a means by which Nigerians will tell him good riddance to bad rubbish when they boot him out of office. He is an easy candidate to defeat in the poll for he has failed woefully.

“He has failed in all fronts. He has failed in his so-called fight against corruption; he has failed on the economic front. He has not done well in term of security. People are being killed in large number daily and Nigerians have no confidence in him.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal has said the activities of the dreaded Badoo Cult Group hitherto prevalent in Ikorodu axis of the state as well as militancy especially along the riverine communities have been degraded in the State.

Speaking at the inaugural edition of the Lagos State Security Summit held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Monday, Edgal said it was also gratifying to report that in view of the massive assistance extended to security forces by the State Government through consistent donation and funding of security equipment, crime rate was now on consistent decline in the State.

Edgal, who gave an overview of crime statistics in the state, said from 2014 till date, a total of 1315 armed robbery attacks, 359 cultrelated cases and 392 kidnapping cases were recorded, with several arrests made and prosecutions ongoing, while based on the community policing and security partnership he put in place upon assumption of office as CP, all militants groups hitherto operating in the State have been degraded and incapacitated from carrying out attacks.

He also said the policy had greatly helped in putting a stop to activities of dreaded cult groups such as Badoo, with all their shrines demolished, while from January till date, no attack had been recorded from the militants.

On his part, Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by Chairman of the State’s Security Trust Fund, Mr Oye Hassan-Odukale, advocated the concept of collective vigilance whereby all stakeholders in security management have properly defined roles and relationships to stay ahead of all form of violent crimes such as terrorism, cyber and transnational organized crimes.

The Oracle Today

7

Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS

Why we endorsed Ikpeazu for 2nd term – Umunneochi stakeholders

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

S

TAKEHOLDERS from Umunneochi local government area of Abia State have maintained that the need to consolidate on the current tempo of development in the state by 2019 informed the decision of the people to adopt and endorse Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as their sole candidate for the 2019 governorship polls in the state.

Some of the stakeholders told The Oracle Today at the Chrisnak Multipurpose Event Center, Amuda Isuochi, venue of the Umunneochi Mega Rally for Continuity where the people declared their endorsement of Ikpeazu for a second term, that the governor has done well to deserve a second term.

A former Commissioner for Information in the state, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, noted that since Ikpeazu has done well, there was no wisdom in changing a winning team.

“What is happening today is momentous,” Chikamnayo said during the April 3, 2018 event, adding: “Our people of Umunneochi, have come together with one accord and decided to adopt Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu as our unopposed candidate for the election of 2019 under PDP.” He said the people were inspired to take the decision by the

performance of the governor.

“It has to do with his (Ikpeazu’s) performance, commitment and excellence in service. We have decided that we don’t need change; we need continuity of the good work of the Governor. We need consistency of development, we need a governor that will, at least, improve on the standards set by his predecessors and since the governor is doing all of these, we believe there is no need to change a winning team. He is doing very well and we want the good work to continue,” Chikamnayo emphasized.

Dr Chikamnayo who is the founder of Ikpeazu Consolidation Network (ICON) dismissed insinuations in some quarters that Umunneochi stakeholders were disunited, describing it as a fabrication of those bearing such a tale.

Also, Permanent Secretary (Finance), Government House, Sir Romanus Madu, hailed Ikpeazu as a performer, saying that the people were happy with the pace and quality of his projects, vowing that they would work hard to ensure that the result of the 2019 polls would reflect their current stand.

“I am actually elated that the event was a success as prominent personalities turned out to receive the governor. The occasion was grand and I feel very happy seeing the governor in Umunneo-

chi.

“When you see the turnout today, you don’t need anybody to tell you what 2019 is going to be like. 2019, for Ikpeazu, will be a walk over. Definitely, Ikpeazu will return to office in 2019 without much trouble of any sort,” Madu

said.

A former Transition Committee Chairman of Umunneochi, Chief Dan Okoli, extolled the governor, saying “he has done very well in agriculture, education, small and medium scale enterprises. He has brought Abia state on the world

map.”

Executive Chairman of Umunneochi local government, Barr Okey Igwe, had earlier in his address at the occasion, explained that the quality of projects Ikpeazu executed made the people to throw their weight behind the governor.

keep, Friday 13th April would take care of church services and others.

He however, declared that as a typical traditional chief, late Achuzia would be buried sitting on Saturday 14th April after his body must have been revealed to those who care to see him in the morning of same Saturday.

According to him, this would follow with the traditional Egwu Ota to mark his final journey to the great beyond.

The Burial Committee also revealed that flags, placards and uniforms depicting any form of groups would not be allowed at the burial ceremony.

Chief Onyia disclosed that the Delta State Government is involved in the burial, as well as the five Eastern Governors, affirming that the burial of the elder statesman is a burial of honour and peace; thereby admonishing every group that would be participating to abide by that rule and not use the occasion to propagate inciting agenda.

Moreover, it is worthy of note to emphasize that while the Col. Achuzia’s burial is a national one, the leadership of Ndi-Igbo had declared it an Igbo burial, as a result would be playing prominent role in honour of the man who entirely stood for the Igbo course.

IVERS State Traditional Rulers have passed a vote of confidence on the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for his outstanding developmental strides that have improved the lives of the people.

Hundreds of the Traditional Rulers under the leadership of the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja trooped to the Government House Port Harcourt on Thursday, where they made their position public.

Moving the motion for a vote of confidence on Governor Wike, Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze Robinson O. Robinson said that the Traditional Rulers are happy with the performance of the Rivers State Governor.

King, Job Williams Okuruket-Nnabiget XIV, Okaan-Ama Ngo, who seconded the motion stated that Governor Wike has entrenched good governance in the state.

In his address, Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja said Governor Wike has rolled out projects in all the 23 Local Government Areas to the appreciation of the people.

He said: “As fathers of the state and custodians of our culture and tradition, we acknowledge your laudable achievements since you emerged Governor of our state.

“Your achievements are legion and for want of space, we cannot enumerate all of them in this address. But suffice it to say, you have

done us proud. For the achievements and the level of development in every sector of our economy. We jointly and severally move a vote of confidence in you and your government.”

Responding, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike assured the Traditional Rulers that his administration will continue to develop all parts of the state.

He said: “This vote of confidence will enable us serve the people of Rivers State better. Our success was made possible because of the synergy between the State Executive Council and the Traditional Rulers “.

The governor thanked the Traditional Rulers for their support for the administration and their com-

mitment to the development of the state.

He stated that he believes in adding value anywhere he works, pointing out that the administration will take the state to the next level.

“I thank our royal fathers for this honour. I urge all Rivers people to work for the development of the state wherever they may find themselves. We will continue to protect the interest of the state”, he said.

The governor noted that Rivers people must never see themselves as second class citizens. He said that if there are first class citizens, it would be Rivers people whose resources feed the nation.

He charged the people of Rivers State never to be party to any plot to negotiate the sale of the state.

ederal Controller of Works in Anambra, Mr Innocent Alumonah, has disclosed that the project work at the Second Niger Bridge linking Asaba in Delta and Onitsha in Anambra is already 44.6 per cent completed.

Alumonah said, Monday that the contracting firm, Julius Berger Nig. Plc. had also accomplished about 85 piles of 914 millimeter in diameter in different axis. “The contract was split into phases. Phases 1 to phase 3 have been successfully accomplished and we are now on early works in phase 4.

Part of this early works phase 4 forms part of the main contract.

“So far, the 1.2 kilometer sand filling of the road at the Asaba end has reached the height of 2.2 meters out of the expected five meters.

“At the Onitsha end, we have done

a lot of sand filling of embankments to a reasonable stage. We have done a lot of culverts as well.

“In all, we have achieved around 44.6 per cent of phase of early work stage 4,” Alumonah said.

He said the contract for the early work stage four was awarded in October 2016 while work commenced in November 2017.

According to him, an advance payment of N2.166 billion was made to the contractor out of the contract sum of N14.466 billion for the early work phase four. Alumonah said the early work stage four project had a life span of nine months starting from November 2017 to July 2018, noting that there would not be any interruption between stage four and the main contract.

• Minister of Power, Works & Housing Babatunde Fashola (4th from left) and Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu (right), at the commissioning of a new 40MVA Mobile Power Transformer, to serve Umuahia, Isukwuato, Bende, Umunneochi, Ikwuano, Obowo, Ohafia and parts of Arochukwu, among other places, Monday.

Achuzia: Family warns against flags, Rivers monarchs score Wike high on projects’ delivery others, as funeral rites kick-off R

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

T

HE final burial rites of the elder statesman and former warlord, High Chief Col. Joe Achuzia, commences from 9th April, 2018.

Briefing journalists in Asaba, the Chairman of late Col. Achuzia’s Burial Committee, Ogbueshi Ojiofor Onyia, announced that the traditional funeral for the former war veteran would commence from the 12th of April, 2018, adding that prior to the date, there will be special night of tributes at Enugu Sports Club 1929 on April 9 at 6:00p.m.

This will be followed by another night of special tributes on April 11 at the Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Centre in Owerri at 12:00 noon.

Grand finale of the tributes will take place on April 12 inside the Nnebisi Hall of Grand Hotel, Asaba, starting from 11am.

Onyia posited that though security is a top priority in the burial arrangement, no form of demonstration or inciting speeches would be allowed anywhere near the burial ground.

The Chairman affirmed that while the proper funeral ceremonies would commence on Thursday 12th April with a wake

2nd Niger Bridge 44.6% completed -- Works Controller F

The Oracle Today

8

Wednesday April 18 2018

NEWS

N1.3t budget, epochal for C’River – Ayade From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

C

ROSS River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has assented to the state’s 1.3 trillion naira budget describing it as epochal for the state stressing that it would certainly bring positive development to the state.

The governor maintained that the budget is epochal as it is marks the first time a state will cross the trillion naira mark in the country and expressed believe that the budget which is tagged; “Budget of Kinetic Crystallization,” will help decouple the state from dependence on the federation.

“This is the first trillion budget in the annals of Nigeria history, and therefore it is unique and ambitious intended to decouple the state from the dependent on federation account.

“The philosophy behind the budget is the spirit of we can do it and create a new vista, thinking and horizon that would take us out of the wood. It is high time we put to an end the civil service statues mentality we have found ourselves by thinking outside the box.”

He expressed appreciation to the legislative arm of the government for standing by his administration and commended them for doing a thorough job with the budget.

He admitted that though there were intricacies that entailed the passage of the budg-

et, the State House of Assembly showed deep understanding of the budget and the leadership of the house have helped stabilize his administration.

Presenting the budget earlier, the Speaker, Hon John GaulLebo, said the house interfaced with various ministries, depart-

Herdsmen/farmers’ clashes: Edo Committee sets registration target for Fulani group

T

he seven-man committee set up by the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki in each of the state’s 18 Local Government Areas to check clashes between herdsmen and farmers, have commenced sitting.

Members of each committee include the council chairman, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), representative of the Directorate of State Security Service, two representatives of the Hausa/Fulani Community, and two representatives among local farmers.

The committee in Owan West Local Government Area convened a meeting at the weekend, presided over by the council chairman, Hon. Frank Ilaboya.

Held at the council secretariat in Sabongida-Ora, the meeting was hailed as a novel avenue to address clashes between the host communities and the Hausa/ Fulani groups in the local council.

Some of the resolutions reached at the meeting include the setting up a mechanism to register new herdsmen into any community within the local government area, the report of which should be submitted to the committee. The report will include information on incidents of clashes between herdsmen and farmers. The report is to be transmitted to a similar committee set up by the governor at the state level.

Representatives of the Fulani community, at the meeting, agreed to commence biometric registration for their members in the local government area.

Recall that Governor Godwin Obaseki in a parley with national leaders of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and heads of security agencies in Benin City, maintained that the ban on night-grazing stands, and approved a 40-day window request by the group to allow new members in their midst register with the state government.

• Governor Okezie Ikpeazu (r) with Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola during the commissioning of a sub power station – the 40 MVA, 132/33 KVA MOBITRA located at Ohiya in Umuahia South LGA built by the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

ment and agencies before the passage of the budget.

“We had extensive engagements with all the MDS to arrive at N1.3tri. The budget is designed in terms of international bench mark of deficit and envelop budget.

“We shall in line with section 122 of the constitution, carry out rigorous oversight functions to ensure that the budget is implemented to deepen the dividends of democracy,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Asuquo Ekpenyong, said the budget is intended to crystallize and implement the visions that have been so far done by the administration.

He said the government is determined to implement the budget and the budget emphasizing that the state will benefit immensely from this year’s budget.

“There is going to be a trickledown effect as we start implementing the budget and Cross Riverians are going to benefit from the multiplier effect if they position themselves well,” Ekpenyong said.

Ikpeazu, Fashola commission 40MVA MOBITRA in Umuahia

Exercise professionalism – Okowa to doctors M

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

D

ELTA State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has called on medical practitioners to exercise high level of professionalism in the healthcare delivery.

The governor said this at the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Delta State Chapter in Asaba.

Governor Okowa explained that as medical practitioners it was imperative that they acted with decorum as well as obey the rules of any government where they work saying that “in every aspect of life and work process you should exhibit discipline because as medical practitioners the way you do your work will either earn you respect or disrespect and I plead with you that you should carry your shoulders high where ever you work, the kind of attitude you put up determines how other professionals will look at you and it will also determine the comments from your patients”.

The governor commended the Chairman and executive Committee of the NMA Delta State Chapter on the achievement and assured them of his support saying: “I know that this project is a tall task but i believe that with the commitment from everyone in this chapter the goal will be achieved; which means that each and every one of us has to do what we can committedly do, not just what we feel like doing, but what we can committedly do to achieve the result that we have set for ourselves”.

In a brief address the Chairman of the state chapter Dr. Cletus Otene commended Governor Okowa for his support as well as the members of the association in achieving the project which he stated was achieved due to the dogged determination of the association.

Meanwhile, issues of dredging the Koko and Warri Ports took centre stage as Delta State Governor, Okowa held town hall meetings with the people of Warri North and Warri South local government areas.

At the town hall meetings which took place at Warri and Koko respectively, Governor Okowa disclosed that his administration was working with relevant authorities to see that Warri and Koko ports are dredged for them to function optimally.

The town hall meetings were in continuation of series of town hall meetings going on in different local government areas of the state.

Governor Okowa stated that his was committed to ensuring a state where facilities are functional, observed that making the sea ports active will bring a lot of benefits to the people, the state and Nigeria as a nation.

“The cost of dredging the Ports is alarming, but, we are exploring different opportunities for the Ports to be functional,” the Governor said.

He commended the people for their support for his administration, disclosing that the town hall meetings provided forums for him to tell the people what his adminis-

tration was doing and also, get reactions from the people about the achievements of his administration and their expectations.

The Governor who was accompanied by his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro and top government officials assured the people that there will be consistent efforts for portable water to be distributed, and urged the people to embrace the compulsory health insurance scheme.

According to him, the health insurance scheme was designed for Deltans to have easy access to health facilities, assuring the people that the health centres in the areas would be made functional because of their importance to the people at the grassroots.

Governor Okowa also, disclosed that his administration was constructing markets despite the fact that it was the function of local government councils because, the Councils do not have the capacity to construct such, “we construct the markets and handover to the Councils to manage.”

He also, explained that due to high cost of scholarship for Deltans who wants to carry out their postgraduate studies outside the country, his administration has worked out a model for such students to be given scholarship to study in the country as it was more cost-effective to do so.

Former Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan stated that it was important for the Ports to be made functional, noting that while Koko has free trade status, “the Koko Port is deep but, the channel is shallow.”

inister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola has joined the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to commission a sub power station in Umuahia area of the state.

The 40 MVA, 132/33 KVA MOBITRA power station is located at Ohiya in Umuahia South Local Government Area and was built by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Fashola who was in Abia for the commission also met with a section of power sector stakeholders in the state.

The power plant is expected to boost power supply to Umuahia and its environs including a greater part of Isiala Ngwa, Isuikwuato and parts of Bende.

The 40MVA MOBITRA is a mobile additional power station that will boost the existing power supply base at the Ohiya power station.

Governor Ikpeazu expressed joy that ‘our people will have access to greater supply of electricity to boost the efforts of his administration to push the frontiers of business in our state.’

The commissioning ceremony gathered top government functionaries including; Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu, Commissioners for Energy, Rt. Hon. Asiforo Okere, Information, John Okiyi Kalu, Rural Development, Hon. Young Onyeike, Petroleum, Chizuru Kanu.

Chairmen of Umuahia South and Isiala Ngwa North council, Obioma Bibi Ogbulafor and Ginger Onwusibe, respectively, were also present at the event.

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

POLITICS

President Buhari’s Process of settling declarationfor a second Amaechi and Abe is on, says term: Matters arising Ngerebara Pg 10 Pg 14

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t is not unusual that presidential hopefuls on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) have been reaching out to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. Understandably, Government House, Port Harcourt, has become a sort of political Mecca for those who are willing to offer themselves to be nominated to contest the PDP’s presidential primary, hoping they can successfully solicit and attain Wike’s expansive support base in the re-invigorated PDP that emerged after its fratricidal skirmish between two former governors: Senator Ali Modu Sheriff of Bornu State and Senator Ahmed Makrafi of Kaduna State for the soul of the PDP. The long-running battle for the control of the power levers of the PDP, which lingered from 2015 through 2016 ended on July 12 last year when the Supreme Court affirmed the Makarfi faction as the authentic PDP. The Supreme Court had held that the decision of the national convention held on May 21, 2016, in Port Harcourt, was right to have removed Senator Modu Sherrif as the national chairman of the PDP, since the national convention remains the party’s highest organ in the realm of decision making. The Supreme Court stated that it was wrong for Senator Modu Sherrif to have called off the PDP’s national convention having earlier submitted himself as an aspirant willing to contest for the position of the national chairmanship of the party at the said convention.

The Supreme Court maintained that Senator Sherrif’s decision to suspend the May 21, 2016 national convention of the PDP in Port Harcourt was an afterthought having been disqualified by the screening committee set up by the party to screen all aspirants seeking to contest for the position of national chairman of the PDP. Consequently, the court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt that had earlier affirmed Senator Modu Sherrif as the national chairman of the PDP. Without doubt, the role played by Wike in getting PDP out of the woods has endeared him to many heavy weights in the party.

Although the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido and the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier visited Governor Wike at Government House, Port Harcourt, ostensibly to solicit his support in furtherance of their presidential ambition, the visit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri Adamawa, to Wike, on March 27 has sparked public debate because he chose to publicly declare his presidential ambition in Rivers State, rather than in Adamawa, his home state, or in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja. Atiku declared that he was offering himself for the presidency because he wants to return Nigeria to the pathway of growth from the serial failure that he claims has become of the current APC-controlled federal government under President Mohammadu Buhari in the past 2 years and 10 months since it assumed the reins of power on May 29, 2015.

Atiku said he chose to declare his presidential ambition in Port Harcourt, Rivers State because Wike has through his supportive efforts to reposition and re-invent the party become the “live wire” of the PDP, reminiscent of the role he, too, played while in the PDP in 1998/1999.

Atiku’s visit raised eyebrows because of the expansive gathering of stakeholders that the state government arranged for Atiku to interact with during his political sojourn in Rivers State.

The former vice president addressed federal and state lawmakers, including caretaker committee chairmen in the state. Instructively, the category of politicians Atiku addressed essentially constitutes the bulk of delegates from Rivers State that will vote during the presidential primary of the PDP that will elect its presidential flag bearer for the 2019 election. He maintained that the problem of Nigeria is the abject lack of leadership and the willpower needed to make conscious decisions required to steer the country forward

• Wike

• Atiku

• Babangida

• Fayose

• Kwakwanso

• Lamido

Atiku’s presidential ambition, Wike’s connection As the shape of next year’s presidential slugfest becomes a little clearer with President Muhammadu’s declaration of intent to contest for a second term, NATH OMAME, in Port Harcourt, writes on the significance of the recent visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to Rivers State, where he declared his intent to contest for the PDP tick for the presidential election next year. and not the lack of resources and skilled manpower which are abundant in Nigeria.

Atiku took a jab at the APC, saying the party has destroyed the foundation of unity and cohesion of the country.

“I have never seen Nigeria so divided along religious, ethnic and regional lines,” he lamented. “This division is as a result of the mismanagement by the APC. Since 2015, the percentage of budget allocation to education has been falling year by year. The allocation to the health sector has also fallen. We

have not seen 100 kilometers of road constructed by the federal government since 2015.”

Mindful that other presidential hopefuls angling to vie for the presidency in 2019 under the aegis of the PDP will still navigate their political compass towards Rivers State to solicit his support, Wike gave Atiku a guarded response to his request aimed at garnering delegates from Rivers State to shore up his chances of emerging the party’s presidential flag-bearer.

Governor Wike in his response said the Atiku was qualified to contest for the Presidency because he has the requisite experience, which is required to govern the country.

“God will make sure that the right candidate emerges. When the right candidate emerges, we will team up and remove this bad government. There is no benefit that Rivers State has gotten from this APC Federal Government. All the APC is doing is plotting to rig

Cont’d on page 13

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

POLITICS

By MIKE OZEKHOME

The Declaration fter waiting for so long to declare his ambition for a second term, perhaps, waiting for Allah’s permission, or for the “Nigerian people” to “push” and “plead with him” to run, PMB has finally declared for the 2019 Presidency. Only political or information neophytes would have doubted that PMB would certainly seek reelection. I had predicted, nay written about this, more than six months ago, using his now, famous “body language”.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is PMB’s undoubted constitutional right to contest for the Nigerian presidency, having run only once. His earlier occupation of the number one seat as a military Dictator is not counted under our constitutional organogram.

However, it is also the constitutional right of Nigerians to roundly reject him at the polls, having performed abysmally and disastrously below average. The evidence is all too glaring, admitting of no ambiguity. Let us look at some of the areas:

A

Economy This is one of his three-legged areas of pact with Nigerians.

The economy is in an all-time low. From an over $500 billion rebased economy (according to World Bank and IMF), which PMB met, he took Nigeria into recession and now claims to have taken it out. He says it calls for celebration. But, the figures don’t tally, nor does the story jell. Nigerians are hungrier today than they were 3 years ago. They have been rendered destitute and impecunious.

Many have resorted to going to Libya and attempting to cross the seas to European countries, to escape from hunger and squalor, thereby dying in the process. More Nigerians have taken to prostitution across European nations more than ever before. Many of them are gang-raped, sodomised, enslaved and bestialized. The youths have taken up arms, committing more heinous crimes, such as robberies and kidnap, more than ever in the history of this country.

Where PMB and APC promised 3 Million new jobs per annum, they have caused Nigerians to, paradoxically, lose about 3.5 Million jobs annually, according to his own Federal Government Bureau of Statistics. Price of fuel alternates between N145 per litre and N400, whenever it is available. He met it at N87 per litre. A bag of rice now sells for between N15,000 and N20,000 per bag. He met it at N7,500. Prices of goods and consumables have gone out of the reach of the common man, with Nigerians literally feeding from dust bins. So, on the economic front, one of his tripodal promises, he has failed Nigeria and Nigerians. Is this why they will vote for him again? I want to see.

Wiping out insecurity The second leg of his campaign mantra was to wipe out insecurity. At campaign rallies across Nigeria, he convinced gullible Nigerians that as a retired military General, he would lead from the front to crush Boko haram. Indeed, he gleefully told a bemused country in December, 2015, that Boko haram had been “technically defeated”, and repeated it in 2016, that it “has been beaten”.

But, Nigerians know that Boko haram is stronger today, more potent and more deadly than it ever was. We are regaled daily (check online, print and electronic media), with tales of Boko haram’s blood-letting exploits, maiming, killing and burning houses across the North East. With apparent government collusion (the military in Dapchi were hurriedly posted out). Chibok was re-enacted in Dapchi, where over 110 secondary school girls were viciously abducted. They were later “released” in a Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood style, in broad daylight, by the same boko haram after mind bungling sums were said to have been

2019: Buhari’s declaration, matters arising

• Mike Ozekhome

paid to them as “ransome”. They were never waylaid and massacred.

Many detained, and even convicted boko haramists have been incredulously released in alleged “prisoners swap”, and money paid to them. With this, they purchased more modern war equipment to emerge with more deadliness. The Sambisa forest that was said to have been cleared is today brimming with the dreaded sect.

If Boko haram regarded as one of the 4 leading terrorist groups in the world were considered deadly enough, the rampaging herdsmen has become more murderous. Day-in-day-out, they kill innocent Nigerians in their homes, their farms, burn others, lay siege on whole communities, rape their wives and daughters, and kidnap their males.

Never has Nigeria witnessed more insecurity than it is today. Whereas Boko haram was limited to the North East, herdsmen menace spreads across all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Government does not even pretend to want to curb the insurgency. Not a single herdsman has been arrested or prosecuted by the government. Kidnappings, murders, suicides and rape cases, have since increased geometrically, rather than arithmetically.

Consequently on the insecurity front, PMB has scored below average. Is this why Nigerians will vote for him?

The fight against corruption Let us look at the 3rd leg of his tripod: Fighting corruption. PMB’s greatest failing is perhaps in this anti-corruption context. He had promised to fight corruption. Three years down the line, he has not secured a single conviction of any high profile, politically exposed person.

Rather, Nigerians have been treated to ludicrous media trial. In desperation, the

government has now released names of opposition members whom they have charged to court, but cannot prove their cases against as “looters”, without any court conviction or judicial pronouncement to that effect. This is in sync with the government’s now infamous disrespect and disregard for due process, rule of law, independence of the judiciary and disobedience to court orders. Impunity reigns supreme. In appointments, cronyism, nepotism, tribalism, clannishness and favouritism triumph over merit and competence.

Transparency International, in its recent corruption perception index, has rated Nigeria as one of the most corrupt countries in Africa, beaten to the second position in West African by only one country. Nigeria placed 148th globally, out of 180 countries freedom of speech, press freedom, NGO’s freedom, and sundry liberties are seriously curbed, leading to a reign of fear and terror.

Where the government fights “corruption” amongst opposition and critics with pesticides, herbicides and insecticides, it caresses and deodorizes its own corrupt officials, ministers, serving military Generals and kitchen cabinet members with sweet smelling sasarabia cologne. Corruption reeks everywhere in the government, with many Pandora boxes of oozing gates: “Mainagate”, “Babachirgate”, “Health sectorgate” and “NNPC gate” (where the Minister of state, Petroleum Resources, revealed to a shocked nation how $23 Billion contracts, were irregularly awarded and signed by PMB on his sick bed abroad, at a time Osibanjo was already the acting president). Note that the Dasukigate’s of $2.1 Billion on which the government has pegged its anti–corruption fight is less than 10% of this “NNPCgate”. Corruption now struts around and about

proudly, unrestrained, walking on its fours, head and even buttocks. Corruption has now assumed a larger-than-life image, with the government not only protecting it, but nurturing and fertilizing it. Some members of this government who have been indicted by Judicial Commissions of Inquiry in their states when they were either governors or chairmen of Boards are shielded from public scrutiny and prosecution.

The government operates opaquely, tyrannically and dictatorially, nuances unknown to a constitutional democracy.

Monies (such as the attempt to take $1 billion out of the Excess Crude Account), are appropriated without approval by the National Assembly, an arm that is, together, with the judiciary, is treated by the PMB government with contempt, disdain and near ostracism.

I welcome PMB’S declaration I therefore welcome Buhari’s declaration. Let me remind him that he had set packing a sitting president, GEJ, in 2015.

In Sierra Leone, a sitting president Samura Kamarathe, the All People’s Congress (APC), (note the similarity of names), that has been sent packing by the opposition contestant, Julius Bio. So, the rumours that the APC/PMB’s government is banking on massive rigging of the 2019 election to win are merely illusory.

It cannot work. Nigerians are more enlightened today than ever before. They will use their PVCs to vote wisely, notwithstanding any acts of intimidation or coercion. 2019 is just 10 months away. I will keep my fingers crossed to see how it all plays out. The months ahead will be very interesting, quite testing.

Chief MIKE AA OZOKHOME, SAN, OFR, FCIArb, Ph.D, LL.D, a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, contributed this piece from Lagos.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

POLITICS

Ojoto Igweship: I will fight to a logical conclusion, vows Chief Okafor

To many, the recognition of Chief Gerald Mbamalu as the traditional ruler of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State by Governor Willie Obiano has brought the fight for the Igweship of Ojoto between Mbamalu and Chief Denis Okafor to an end. But not yet, if the recent step taken by Chief Okafor is anything to go by: Okafor has gone to court to seek redress because, according to him, Mbamalu was allegedly recognized in error and he would prove it in court. It will be recalled that Okafor and Mbamalu were locked in a fight for the vacant throne before Governor Obiano suddenly invited Mbamalu and issued him with the Certificate of recognition as Igwe Ojoto. In this interview with The Oracle Today’s Anambra State Correspondent, THEO RAYS, a few days after the coronation of Mbamalu, Okafor explains how he was selected by the people through the provisions of the constitution of Ojoto. Excerpts With the recognition of your opponent by Governor Willie Obiano and his coronation in Ojoto, it looks like it is all over for you. That means your dream to assume the throne as Igwe Ojoto has been shattered.

What is your reaction to this?

Thank you very much. No, it is not over for me neither has my dream been thrown into the waste basket. My dream is much more alive and by the Grace of God, I am going to realize it in a court of competent jurisdiction.

I have gone to the State High Court sitting in Ogidi and my prayer is that the court should order Governor Obiano to withdraw the certificate issued to Mbamalu and hand it over to me as the Igwe Ojoto. I will fight to a logical conclusion. In the system, we have three legitimate arms of government namely the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. I think from the look of things, we have passed through the Executive and the Legislature as far the Igwe issue is concerned and now the judiciary is our next bus-stop. I addressed a letter to Governor Obiano and also addressed another letter to the Speaker of The State House of Assembly telling them what I feel should be done but I didn’t get any response. That makes me believe that the Executive and the Legislature have failed to do the needful on the issue of Igwe Ojoto.

So, I have gone to court to seek redress because my opinion or rather my stand is that Mbamalu was recognized in error. I am praying the Court to declare me the duly selected traditional ruler of Ojoto and order the State government to withdraw the certificate issued to Mbamalu and give it to me. My supporters and I are not moved by the so-called coronation because it is a like April fool exercise. God as the Divine Providence made them to fix the so called coronation date on April fool day which means that what they did was mere waste of time and resources. Yes, because he was not selected by the people, according to the constitutional process, he was just anointed and imposed on the people of Ojoto by Governor Obiano courtesy of a few highly placed people and money bags in Ojoto who don’t really represent the mandate of the town traditionally and culturaly.

Yes, Mbamalu was sold to Obiano by a few highly placed people whom some refer to as the cabal in Ojoto who don’t care about the provisions of the constitution, as well as the norms and values of the traditional the traditional institution of the town. But, that won’t stand the test of legal position on the matter because it is the prerogative of the people of a community to select or elect a ruler and present the selected or elected candidate to the government for recognition. Article 7 no 07 of the Chieftaincy Rules and Edict of Anambra State 2007 as amended by Anambra State House of Assembly clearly states that it is the prerogative of the people of a community to select or elect their traditional ruler. We are talking about tradition and it is the people who know the dos and don’ts of their tradition. So, naturally, it is not the duty of government to select a ruler for a community because of the traditional inclinations and rules, order and customary values associated with it. I was selected as the Igwe-

would agree with me that Mbamalu’s recognition was not properly done and I am going to prove it in court.

• Chief Okafor elect through the provisions of the Constitution of Ojoto and in line with the tradition and culture of Ojoto.

The constitution of Ojoto states that the Igweship throne should be rotational between the two quarters of Ojoto North and Ojoto South. Now, it is the turn of Ojoto South following the exit of Igwe Augustine Obidigwe who is from the North. Further more, according to the constitution, the candidate for the throne has to come from the eldest village in Ojoto South which is Enugo village. Again in Enugo, the eldest kindred has the privilege to produce the candidate for the throne. The eldest kindred in Enugo is Umuofor where I come from. Mbamalu is not from Umuofor. The constitution was drafted in line with the traditional rule of breaking and sharing of Cola nut in Ojoto.

In Ojoto, it is the right of the eldest village or kindred to break and take the Cola nut first before others. The selection of Igwe

Obidigwe followed the constitutional provisions. Obidigwe is from Umuonyia kindred which is the eldest kindred in Ezimo. Ezimo is the eldest village in Ojoto North. So, I was selected under a coherent constitutional process. And as the State rules and edict on Chieftaincy matters stipulates, after my selection, I was presented to the Idemili South Local Government Authority and the Local Government Authority forwarded my name to the State Government for recognition. I was thoroughly screened by the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS).

While I was waiting for my certificate, Governor Obiano set up a panel of inquiry headed

by Dr Tim Menakaya and while the panel was sitting and yet to come up with their report and recommendation in line with the mandate given to them, Governor Obiano invited Mbamalu and issued him with a certificate of recognition. I don’t know why Governor Obiano did that. Every right thinking person

Prior to his recognition, Mbamalu also said that he was selected according to the provisions of the constitution of Ojoto. So, there is confusion following the constitutional provisions for the selection of Igwe Ojoto and maybe Mbamalu had a better interpretation or better argument before Obiano or what do you think?

No, there is no confusion and Mbamalu couldn’t have presented a better interpretation or better argument to anybody howsoever. What happened is that in Ojoto we have basically three constitutions. One is the constitution of Ojoto as a community, which is under the custodian of OAU, the town union. Secondly we have the constitution of Ojoto South and then the village constitution. Ojoto North also have their constitution and each village have their constitution respectively. The three constitutions are very relevant in the selection of Igwe Ojoto.

But what happened was that Mbamalu and his money bag supporters who smuggled him into the hands of corrupt government officials refused to use the constitution of Enugo and that of OAU and insisted on using only the constitution of Ojoto South. They didn’t care to know what the constitution of Enugo says about the selection. They didn’t accept all the provisions of the constitution of OAU. And, fortunately for them, they had their way in government quarters. For instance, the OAU constitution has it that the candidate for the throne has to be presented to the General Assembly of Ojoto after selection for people to ask him questions and then endorse him before the Ichies and Okpalas. Ichies are the tilted men while the Okpalas are heads or eldest sons of the villages in Ojoto for coronation by the overall head of the Okpalas whose name is Chief Efoagui for coronation. It is the duty of Efoagui to crown and coronate the king of Ojoto. He was the one who crowned Igwe Obidigwe and he has crowned me following my selection under a genuine process. I don’t know the time when Mbamalu was presented to the General Assembly of Ojoto. I don’t know who crowned him on the day of the coronation. Efoagui is alive; you can do investigative journalism and go and ask him if he was the one who crowned Mbamalu.

What is your hope in the judiciary?. Do you think you can get a favorable judgement considering the way things usually go in Nigeria?

Well, I can understand what you mean by referring to the way things go in Nigeria but like I said, the court is the last hope of the common man. I am the common man here because I was dealt a big blow by the State and I have no choice and no option left for me except going to court. I was motivated to go Court because there are similar cases like mine in other communities in Anambra State. What is going on now is that, some people have decided to use money and con-

Cont’d on page 12

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

POLITICS

OBS participants decry parlous state of economy I

Applause as Hon. Ethel Ugwuanyi empowers her constituents

I

n what is a clear departure from their past experience, students of higher institutions in Ozzi Constituency I in Igbo-Eze North Local Government area of Enugu State receive invaluable bursary awards from their representative in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mrs. Ethel Oyibo Ugwuanyi and they are more than happy about it.

From Enugu, CHUKS EZE reports.

Hon. Ethel Oyibo Ugwuanyi is beautiful, intelligent, warm and kind-hearted. A first-timer in the Enugu State House of Assembly, she is the Deputy Chief Whip of the House and Chairman of the House Committee on Transport. Less than three years in the House, Mrs. Ugwuanyi, who represents Ozzi Constituency 1 in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, is adjudged by people in her constituency to have done so well that many are wondering why she didn’t come earlier.

“Ethel is generous, genuinely loves her constituents and has done much more in three years than her predecessors did in many more years in the House,” a PDP Chieftain in Igbo-Eze North told The Oracle Today in an interview.

“She is a friend of widows and the less privileged for whom she does so much in her constituency. She has a way of reaching out to everybody, including major stakeholders whom she commits time and resources to celebrate. She has done really well.”

The party chieftain was speaking against the backdrop of a ceremony at the Local Government Pavilion at Ogrute, Enugu-Ezike marking the award of bursaries by Mrs. Ugwuanyi’s to 20 lucky indigent

students from her constituency who are in higher institutions of learning. The bursaries of N50,000 each were disbursed amidst pomp and pageantry because the occasion also marked Ozzi Constituency 1’s endorsement of Hon. Ugwuanyi to contest for a second term as the community’s representative in the Enugu State House of Assembly.

“Ethel’s unanimous endorsement was propelled by her quality representation as she has been empowering the people of Ozzi in different areas of human endeavour thereby bettering their lives,” another PDP chieftain who wouldn’t want to be named ‘for political reasons’ told The Oracle Today. “Oyibo is touched by the plights of widows and widowers and tries to provide solutions to their problems. She seeks the inputs of traditional rulers within her constituency into decision-making and works very hard in genuine altruism to maintain good relationship with her co-leaders not only in Ozzi and Igbo-Eze North but also in the State as a whole. She is as energetic and go-getting as she is beautiful.”

Speaking at the occasion, Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze North, Comrade Uwakwe Ezeja (Enyiduru) described Hon. (Mrs.) Ugwuanyi’s performance as a Member of the Enugu House of Assembly as sterling, saying if he were to score her, he would score the mother of eight 85% .

Speaking on her second term ambition, Comrade Ezeja, a close ally of Hon. Ugwuanyi said the fair-complexioned beauty truly deserves a second term in the House and assured her that the people of

her constituency are solidly behind her quest for a “second missionary” journey to the State House of Assembly, if her performance in her three years of representation is any guide.

Comrade Ezeja’s speech was greeted with a loud applause by the audience who shouted, ‘continuity for Ethel’.

In his speech, HRH, Igwe Ogbonna Ekere, on behalf of the traditional rulers in Ozzi Constituency 1, also applauded Hon. Ugwuanyi’s performance, stressing that Comrade Ezeja’s award of 85% to the lawmaker for her performance was very much in order. Igwe Ogbonna, therefore, enjoined anybody within Ozzi, who is nursing the idea of contesting against Ethel come 2019 to have a rethink because the people cannot afford to lose Hon Ethel Ugwuanyi’s quality and transparent leadership, which is the Constituency’s to enjoy for another four years.

Mrs Ugwuanyi, while addressing her people, thanked them for their support and pledged to continue to represent them as best she could if given the opportunity to represent them again the House of Assembly. She said the bursary awards were just her way of giving back to her people who have given her undeserved support and love.

Hon Alex Urama, the PDP party chairman in the LGA, who gave the vote of thanks, prayed that God would continue to direct and lead Hon Ugwuanyi in her sojourn in the House. He, therefore, asked God to grant all the people who came from far and near to witness the colourful event journey mercies.

n this report, IBE NWACHUKWU writes about a breakfast meeting organized by Onitsha Business School (OBS) in Onitsha, the Anambra commercial/industrial city, for members of the organized private sector and where the parlous state of the economy and the solution thereto was the subject of discussion.

PARTICIPANTS at the third national breakfast meeting convened by Onitsha Business School (OBS) have decried dwindling national economy and at the same time predicted an acute shortage of food in the near future. They also proffered solutions.

They said their prediction on the acute food shortage was predicated on the activities of Fulani herdsmen who are invading farm lands in various parts of the country and killing the farmers, thus forcing the surviving farmers out of their farmlands for fear of being slaughtered. Some of the agricultural products, they noted, were required for industrial productions.

Herdsmen attacks were hitting the economy at various levels – insecurity, food scarcity, and scarcity of raw materials for industries.

In the forum which had its theme as, “Nigerian Economy Intelligence Estimate: Current Challenges and Prospects”, Mr. Muda Yusuf, the Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, LCC, painted a picture of the global economy and linked it to Nigeria’s economic outlooks, to the delight of participants, enumerating factors capable of hurting the nation’s economy, if not checked.

For instance, Yusuf, who was represented by LCC’s Director of Research and Advocacy, Dr. Vincent Nwani, stated that with about 60 police check-points/extortion centres from Lagos to Asaba, numerous customs check-points, multiplicity of taxation and about 63 per cent of farmers refusing to go back to farms because of fear of herdsmen menace, Nigeria’s economy was already in doldrums.

He further contended that with N78 million the telecom sector spent last year in generating their own electricity and providing security for their masts, long bureaucracy for entering into contracts in Nigeria, governments owing workers’ salaries, there was an obvious indication that the economy was struggling.

The few indicators of growth, Dr. Nwani noted, were from improvements in oil prices, and higher production levels. Drops in the inflation figure, he said, have been overtaken by population increases.

He however encouraged the Onitsha Business School to form part of the solution by creating a platform

for SMEs to access credit facilities and at the same time fashion out ways to sell these loans to the prospective public.

In his contribution, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Oracle Today Newspapers, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo highlighted the importance of Onitsha inhabitants patronising Made-in-Onitsha products for businesses to grow in Onitsha, adding that it hurts businesses in Onitsha for its residents not to consume what they produce.

Isiguzo also lamented that the Onitsha business community was not media friendly and as such do not utilise the mass media to brand Onitsha to reflect the changes that have taken place in the city and its environs. He called for studies on the uniqueness of Onitsha as a business and economic hub, to enhance the importance of the city as an economic centre.

Also in their discussions of the presentation, a member of board of directors of directors of Premier Breweries Plc, Onitsha, Dr. Emma Oyeka; first and second Vice-Presidents of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ONICCIMA, Sir Chris Ukachukwu and Chief Kelvin Obieri, stressed the need for information sharing by businessmen and division of labour through the engagement of various professionals to assist them in running and promoting their business ventures.

Oyeka, Ukachukwu and Obieri insisted that though businessmen could make money from their various establishments, they still needed information to sustain their businesses. New knowledge would provide better results for businesses.

They also called on the authorities to provide infrastructure that would enhance the prosperity of business.

In his brief remarks, the DirectorGeneral of Onitsha Business School, Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, explained that the School was an initiative to harness appropriate educational resources to develop and train the massive pool of commercial, industrial and entrepreneurial talents in and around the commercial city of Onitsha, adding that its establishment had been triggered by the peculiar and specific needs of the people, and businesses.

Sogbesan noted that the School’s competitive and international management programmes enhance the career prospects of students, adding, “importantly, our strategic objectives encourages students to be broad minded and be globally oriented to confront the challenges of the complex international business environment, as one of the foremost business schools East of the Niger”.

Ojoto Igweship: I will fight to a logical conclusion, vows Chief Okafor Cont’d from page 11 nection to attack and destroy the tradition of Igbo land as set out by our fore fathers.

The traditional stool of every town in Igbo land is being taken over by fire by force by money bags, but I won’t allow that to happen in Ojoto. I will fight to a logical conclusion. It is my intention to lead the crusade against the ugly trend of using money and connections to buy Igweship stool in Igbo land. Some people with ill-gotten riches come from their base outside Igbo land to use money to hijack what they don’t know anything about. Igweship ship stool is not a political position which people can buy with money. Traditional institution is a sacred sanctuary, which has nothing to do with ill-gotten money. These people want to use money and destroy the future of

the people. They want to buy and sell every available land space in the village. They don’t talk about development of Agriculture, they don’t talk about the welfare of the youth, they don’t talk about jobs for the youth, they don’t care about the education of children from the poor families. they don’t talk about health care of the people; their concern is to occupy the igweship stool, grab land and disburse chieftaincy titles like no man’s business. Is that how to run a community? No, in Ojoto I said no and that is why the money bags in Ojoto are after me but I will disgrace them in court.

Certainly your numerous supporters will be disappointed by this development. What are you telling them at the moment?

My happiness is that the good people of

Ojoto are solidly behind me. The town union led by the President General of Ojoto Akanasato Union (OAU) Dr Edwin Umeghalu is behind me. The Umeghalu-led town union and other relevant groups in the community boycotted the so-called coronation. Could you imagine when a traditional ruler is being coronated and the President General of the town is not there? That tells you that it is an April fool coronation. The total boycott by Umeghalu and other stakeholders of the traditional institution in Ojoto of the charade or the April Fool 2018 called coronation of the so-called Igwe Ojoto, has gone down in the history of Ojoto as an attempt by a cabal to desecrate the customs and tradition of Ojoto So, I wish to use this medium to thank the good people of Ojoto for the high level of tolerance and calmness they have so far ex-

hibited in the face of trouble and pollution with impunity of our custom and tradition by a group of people aided by the State Government who are out not only in Ojoto but also in numerous other communities in Anambra State to continually pollute the traditional laws of the land upon which the myth and dignity of Igbo race rest.

The laws of Igbo land land are not politically oriented and it is high time the present administration in Anambra State is advised to amend its style of invading the traditional process of selecting or electing a traditional ruler of a given community. The way the State suddenly issues certificates amounts to deliberately generating confusion, disputes and litigation in the land and it is necessary for the State to seek appeasement to settle the confusion it is creating among

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POLITICS

Atiku’s presidential ambition, Wike’s connection Cont’d from page 9 the 2019 elections.”

Governor Wike counselled: “Every presidential aspirant must see himself as a member of the larger PDP family. We must do everything to ensure that PDP returns to the presidential villa in 2019. Only one aspirant will become a candidate. We will do everything to ensure that the party comes out with a candidate that has a track record to upstage the APC. ” So, it was instructive that Atiku visited Rivers State and declare his intention to vie for the presidency in 2019, at Government House, Port Harcourt, for a number of reasons. On Thursday, December 7, 2017, two days to the PDP’s national convention at the Eagle Square, in Abuja, that produced Prince Uche Secondus as national chairman of the party, Atiku visited former military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, at his Minna hilltop mansion for consultations.

To give the visit the colouration of a topheavy political endorsement by some undeniable power brokers within the PDP in Minna, Niger State, Atiku who flew into Minna in his private jet, T 7 AAA, was received by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso; Niger State Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Tanko Beji; Deputy Chairman, Aminu Yussuf; Senator Zagbayi Nuhu and the Secretary of the party in Niger State, Alhaji Umar Santaliu. In the team that welcomed Atiku at the Minna airport was the former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu. The welcome party left the airport straight to General Babangida’s residence for a closeddoor meeting.

The about 45-minute closed-door meeting had Babangida Aliyu and Atiku in attendance. According to reports, Aliyu left Babangida and Atiku to explore for about 1.45 minutes, the chances of Atiku in clinching the PDP’s presidential ticket for the 2019 election. A source who was privileged to the details of the meeting that was held in Minna, disclosed that “all arrangements for the declaration have been completed”, adding that “Atiku will declare to run for president on the ticket of the PDP after the convention of our party.”

No one knew exactly when and where Atiku would declare, considering the fluid political terrain of the PDP as it emerged from one of its devastating leadership tussle.

Authoritative sources said Atiku pleaded with IBB to speak to Wike and other PDP governors who had refused to acknowledge his defection to the party. Atiku, according sources with privileged insight into the Minna parley, specifically urged Babangida to put a word in his favour to Senator Makarfi to get some of his delegates into the four strategic party positions in the PDP’s National Working Committee.

To elicit attention, Atiku embarked on a scathing criticism of the Buhari’s administration, canvassing the need to restructure the country, even trumpeting at every media opportunity that he will trump Buhari in the 2019 election.

Atiku, a political tactician, chose December 3, 2017, to defect to the PDP, six days to the party’s national convention.

“I will definitely beat him this time. He has wasted a lot of his massive goodwill. A lot of people are disgruntled but they are keeping quiet and lying low. Our youths are suffering terribly. They are even now being sold into

slavery. Everyone knows my track record of inviting and attracting a good team and giving them the opportunity to work professionally. Nigerians are tired of leaders who cannot think big and work big,” Atiku said.

Clearly, Atiku is leaning on IBB and in some ways, former President Goodluck Jonathan to assist him get the endorsement of, specifically, Wike, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and other PDP governors whose influence in the PDP was amply manifested at the December 9, 2017, national convention where they supported Secondus to emerge Chairman of the party On Friday, March 30, four days after Atiku had visited Governor Wike in Rivers State and formally declared his willingness to vie for the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the PDP, the former vice president routed his political consultation, again, to Minna in Niger State, just has he did on December 7, 2017, two days to the national convention of the PDP in Eagle Square, on December 9, 2017. This time, Atiku was represented by thousands of youths from the North Central geo-political zone under the aegis of the “Coalition for Northern and Southern Youths Assembly,” North Central chapter.

To score significant political mileage, the youths who staged a mini carnival of some sort at the Abdulsalami Abubakar Youths Center in Minna, made sure their presence and message was not unnoticed as they “brought both business and government activities to a standstill in Minna.” Their message: Youths in the North Central geo-political zone should massively support Atiku’s presidential ambition in 2019. Convener of the event, Comrade Patricia Ogar, assured the youths in her welcome address that the way forward for the millions of Nigerian who are currently jobless is to support the presidential ambition of Abubakar in 2019.

Ogar declared: “Atiku Abubakar is the only one for now that has identified and share the problem of the Nigerian youths. He is passionate about solving the problems Nigerian youths. As it is today, we the youths account for 80 per cent of the country’s population and that is why any government that ignores the youths does that at its own peril.”

Clearly, Atiku’s presidential ambition is racing towards a very formidable bulwark and the former vice president will need more than the overt support of Babangida and Jonathan to clinch the ticket of the PDP in 2019. This is so because the questions are germane: how many delegates can IBB and Jonathan sway in Atiku’s support during the PDP’s presidential primary? For sure, IBB will snap the delegates from Niger State to vote for Atiku, considering the loyalty of the PDP structure in Niger State to IBB, led by former Governor Babangida Aliyu, and the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Tanko Beji, As it is, the electoral structure of the PDP in Bayelsa State, Jonathan’s home-state is firmly in the hands of Governor Seriaki Dickson. And it is unlikely that Dickson will bow to any pressures from Jonathan to align the delegates from Bayelsa State in support of Atiku’s candidature if the PDP governors, who are now the undisputed power brokers in the PDP, prefer another candidate to fly the party’s flag at the 2019 presidential election. Without doubt, the sitting PDP governors are in-charge of the party’s electoral structures, and consequently, the delegates in their respective states.

The emergence of a “Unity List” at the December 9, 2017, PDP’s national convention, at Eagle Square, Abuja, is a stinging reminder

• Atiku Abubakar

• Nyesom Wike

• Ibrahim Babangida

• Ayo Fayose

that the PDP governors have already zeroed their mind on those they have in mind to lead them into the 2019 presidential election. The outcome of the national convention is a pointer that concessions have been made and political pacts and deals have also been struck by the PDP governors. Is it not surprising that Senator Makarfi who did not hide his willingness to become the national chairman of the PDP, suddenly, cooled his desire for the position just days to the convention?

Some of those who witnessed the horse trading that took place; days to the convention say that some influential figures in the PDP promised Markafi that he would be handed the PDP’s presidential ticket on a gold-platter in 2019. However, the former governor of Kaduna State would not have fallen flat for that, knowing full well that such promises are rarely kept in the slippery terrain that has become the forte of Nigerian politics. Without doubt, the “Unity List” was to attain a futuristic purpose in the 2019 general elections. And having astutely put the structure at the national working committee in place, it is unlikely that the PDP governors will allow Atiku to reap where he has not sown.

Atiku’s most auspicious presidential ambition was in 2003, when he had major control over the PDP governors in the country, considering the fact that former President Olusegun Obasanjo allowed Atiku to play the politics while he concentrated fully on the formulation and implementation of state policy. That faux pas almost cost Oba-

sanjo the second term ticket, and the feud that Atiku’s presidential ambition spewed up between Obasanjo and Atiku has continued to haunt Atiku and will still come to bear in 2019. Obasanjo has not forgiven Atiku. And Atiku will continue to rue the day he magnanimously, after much pressure and pleas from notable traditional rulers and influential figures from the South West, including the heartfelt pleas of late First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, abandoned his willingness to offer himself for nomination at the PDP presidential primary in 2003.

Could Governor Fayose of Ekiti State have worked against the emergence of a South West candidate as the national chairman of the PDP to which the position had been zoned by the party without securing an assurance that he would be handsomely compensated with a juicy political position in 2019? Not likely! Although, Fayose had earlier publicly declared his intention to contest for the 2019 presidential election, his political theatrics was essentially to position himself for the vice presidential slot of the PDP. No one can say for sure what agreement Fayose had entered into with Wike, Secondus, and the PDP governors. Whoever will emerge as the presidential candidate of the PDP in 2019 needs to have the unalloyed support of the governors of the PDP from the South South and the South East where the party appears to have the bulk of its grass-

Cont’d on page 15

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

INTERVIEW

Process of settling Amaechi and Abe is on, says Ngerebara Engr. Samson Ngerebara, a fellow of the Institute of Engineers (IOE), was a former commissioner for works, transport, electricity and water, as the ministry and portfolio was then known in 1992, during the administration of former Governor Rufus Ada-George in Rivers State. Ngerebara who is now the National-Coordinator of the Free Rivers Development Initiative (FRDI), spoke to NATH OMAME, Jr. on a number of issues. that will grow with us.

There is no Senatorial District in Rivers State that does not have an upland/riverine community…?

That is exactly the point that we are making: Let power rotate between the upland and riverine communities.

Do you suspect an Ikwerre agaenda of some sort in the quest for political leadership in Rivers State?

No, not at all! It is coincidental. If there was an Ikwerre agenda, former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi would not have been able to stand up against Nyesom Wike’s gubernatorial ambition in 2015. Amaechi took great risk in standing up against the federal government that propped up Wike.

Amaechi was the most prominent Ikwerre politician in Nigeria in 2015, yet, he spoke out against another Ikwerre son taking over from him. There is no Ikwerre agenda anywhere. I won’t consent that there is or was an Ikwerre agenda. I won’t subscribe to the notion of an Ikwerre agenda. I have heard about the Ikwerre agenda from other persons, but I think it is just a matter of conjecture.

So, why didn’t Amaechi support the governorship ambition of Senator Magnus Abe in 2015, knowing full well that Abe had a more formidable political machinery and grassroots followership than Dr. Dakuku Peterside whom he subtly supported to emerge as the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Cong r e s s (APC), i n

the 2015 election?

I don’t really get what you mean by Abe having more formidable political machinery than Dakuku than Peterside.

In our political parlance, Abe would have given Wike a run for his money. You don’t think so?

It all depends on what you mean by the phrase, “a run for his money.” Are you saying Senator Abe has as much money as Wike in putting together his campaign machinery?

Or, that Abe had more money than Dakuku in 2015 to have defeated Wike?

In 2015, Senator Abe, clearly, had a more formidable and vibrant political machinery than Dr. Peterside. There is this conception, too, that Senator Abe is far more courageous when confronted with the harsh realities in the bramble bush that has become synonymous with the slippery terrain of Nigerian politics?

You are not looking at what played out in 2015 as a politician. We were the ones that were on the field, campaigning and soliciting for votes. So, we as politicians know what transpired far more than you do, even though journalists were also on the field.

As it is, Senator Abe is the most senior politician elected on the platform of the APC in the state and we all know how tedious the journey was and how dogged he fought to attain his electoral victory, which Governor Wike acknowledged at Abe’s Special Thanksgiving reception in February in Port Harcourt. There is widespread perception among political watchers in the state that Senator Abe would have presented a far more rigorous opposition to Governor Wike’s electoral victory in 2015. Don’t you think so?

Hmmm, you are thinking like a journalist and not as a politician. When you are not a politician, you may not know exactly what is at play in the political trenches. Magnus Abe is my friend. I don’t think he had a separate political structure from what APC had on ground in the 2015 general elections. The APC structure in 2015 had always been Rotimi Amaechi. There was no other structure as far as I know. Abe and Dakuku were just foot soldiers. It is a wrong notion to say that Magnus Abe as a single person would have been able to give Wike a run for his money in 2015: that is not correct.

Even if Abe had contested the governorship election in 2015 under the aegis of the APC, he would not have won because the 2015 election was not a normal

Now, what exactly does Amaechi have against Senator Abe that he does not want him to vie for governor on the platform of the APC in Rivers State?

Amaechi does not have anything against Abe. It may just be a difference in opinion. If Amaechi has anything against Abe, he would not appointed him secretary to his government. For Abe to become a Senator in his first tenure, Amaechi played a pivotal role that no one can deny. Amaechi supported Abe against Lee Maeba, an Ogoni man as Abe and Olaka Worgu from Eleme. Amaechi was instrumental to Abe’s emergence. Even this last one, Amaechi put his foot down to ensure that Abe went back to the Senate. It is wrong for the public to paint a picture that Amaechi does not want Abe to aspire to be governor of Rivers State. It is not correct. All Amaechi has said is “my friend, for this period, please let power rotate to the riverine area.”

You have been going round the state launching the FRDI, how are people responding to your message of “power must rotate.”

Oh, they are very happy. Our brothers in the riverine communities are very elated about what we are doing. For all I know, laws were designed originally to protect the weak, no matter how small their population is. The population in the riverine areas may not be as large as those from the upland, but they are equally important. Weakness could be in anything: it could be in population; it could be in physical strength; it could be in location; it could be in size; it could be political. The population of the people in the riverine area is small compared to the upland. But they are part and parcel of the state and they hold very important economic assets for the state. So, they need to be protected also.

Are you encouraged by the response to the message of your movement?

Oh, yes! I am encouraged.

How many local governments areas have you visited?

I have visited 20 local governments; I have three more to cover. We have 4, 430 polling units in Rives State. I was mobilising 10 active members in each local government.

We were told when we launched FRDI in the 10th local council that we should increase our membership drive to 20 from each polling unit. Even as I speak, we have more than 20 members in each polling unit. Rivers people simply love our message of good governance, accountability, transparency and the protection of the rights of our people. Our movement is driven by our unyielding commitment to power rotation. If we have 20

Cont’d on page 15

Our forebears ensured that political power is shared among the different ethnic groups in the state to enthrone a culture of political harmony among the diverse ethnic groups in the state.

“

The Free Rivers Development Initiative (FRDI), has suddenly shot itself into political consciousness in Rivers State. What exactly are the aims of your movement?

The FRDI is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). The major objective of the FRDI is the promotion of good governance, accountability, transparency and the protection of the collective interest of the people of Rivers State and Nigerians. Importantly, as it concerns Rivers State, the promotion of the rotation of power between the upland and riverine communities. Our slogan is: “Power must rotate.” Why should power rotate in Rivers State? Rivers State is a multi-ethnic state, a mini Nigeria. Our forebears ensured that political power is shared among the different ethnic groups in the state to enthrone a culture of political harmony among the diverse ethnic groups in the state. The wealth of Rivers State belongs to all the ethnic groups and the danger of allowing power to domicile within one ethnic group is the risk of absolute power, which portends grave danger to our collective unity and peaceful coexistence.

Are you referring to an upland/ riverine dichotomy, which was said to have been conceptualized by the late Chief Mashall Harry and other imminent sons of the state?

I don’t know what you mean by upland/riverine dichotomy. Rivers State is made up of diverse ethnic groups and this balance has been maintained in all democratic dispensations in Nigeria.

No one can kill the idea or morality that drives ethnic balancing in the leadership structure of Rivers State. Power rotation is the only system that can guarantee peace and tranquility in Rivers State.

Power rotation is an idea

election. The federal might was used in that election. Are you not aware that Amaechi as a sitting governor was closely monitored?

It is an erroneous impression for the public to assume that Senator Abe had a political structure that was different from the APC structure that Amaechi had put in place. If Abe had his own political machinery, how come he did not win the Senatorial election in 2015?

Abe won at the Supreme Court based on his performance at the polls. Is that not what happened?

Well… I presided over the re-run election that you are talking about, so, I know what transpired more than you do. I was the chairman of the APC election planning committee through which Abe emerged victorious during the re-run. So, leave that for me. I won’t talk about that here.

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

POLITICS Atiku’s presidential ambition, Wike’s connection Cont’d from page 13 roots supporters.

There are well-heeled politicians who defected to the APC in November 2014, who are currently considered as tilting heavily towards the PDP: Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal who is a close ally of Governor Wike; former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankaso still in the APC; former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who are PDP members.

Atiku played no role in the emergence of Secondus as the national chairman of the PDP. And so has no political agreement with the current chairman who with the PDP governors, the real power brokers in the PDP, will collectively determine the PDP presidential candidate in 2019. Tambuwal’s chances are truly blurred in the South West having betrayed the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, when he worked against the emergence of Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2015, after Tinubu had sacrificed the Speakership slot zoned to the South West by the PDP. Tinubu had asked the APC members in the House of Representatives to vote for Tambuwal, then of the PDP, against Mulikat Adeola-Akande because he did not want a Speaker that would be controlled by former President Obasanjo.

Tambuwal had gone to Tinubu’s residence in Abuja to apologise for betraying Tinubu’s trust in breaching the 2011 agreement entered into with Tinubu. But a visible enraged Tinubu had told Tambuwal: “By your action, you have finally severed the umbilical cord that joined you and the South West.”

Clearly, Tambuwal would perform poorly in the South West should he emerge as the PDP presidential candidate in 2019. Tambuwal’s unsavory political relationship with the South West will be to the advantage of Atiku, whose wife, Titi, is from Ogun State. But such filial connection failed to work in Atiku’s favour in 2007, when he contested for the presidency on the platform of the defunct Action Congress, AC, against late President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007. Upon his defection from the AC back to the PDP, his filial connection to the South West still did not work in his favour in the 2011 PDP presidential primaries against Jonathan in 2011. And it also

• Kwankwaso

• Sule Lamido

did not work for him in 2014 against Buhari when he decamped to the APC to contest the presidential primary.

As it is, Atiku’s latest defection to the PDP may turn out to be a political albatross, depicting him as a serial defector whose sole aim is to become the president of Nigeria, unmindful of the programmes, manifesto or political philosophy of the party in question.

His current effort to become the president of Nigeria is anchored on the restructuring of the country; youth empowerment; economic and industrial revolution aimed at redirecting the pathway of Nigeria to growth and development. So, why didn’t he push for these reforms and agenda in the APC where he was an influential member like he was in the PDP and AC, from whose ranks he had also previously defected?

Atiku explained that he made efforts to reach out to Buhari through the office of the

National Chairman of the APC, John OdigieOyegun, but would do nothing unless the president gives his approval. The Waziri Adamawa said he then put together 18 influential members of the APC to brainstorm on ways to reposition the party and work towards fulfilling its electoral promises but President Buhari was uncomfortable with the motive of the group, so most members pulled out for fear of being victimised by the presidency.

Now that Atiku has again defected from the APC to the PDP on whose platform he became vice president in 1999, a party he played a formidable role in its formation in 1998, a party he played the role of a “live wire between 1998/99,” (and even beyond) considering his role as one of the major financial muscles that sustained the PDP at its teething stage, he is at the mercy of Wike, Fayose and the PDP governors who were

ing it for the peace and stability of the state; for the future of our children.

I am where I am on the question of power rotation on principle. My life is a bundle of principle. Everything I do in life is guarded by principle. It’s a matter of justice, equity and fairness. I want Rivers people to understand that power needs to rotate.

Is there any difference between the aims and goals of the FRDI that you promote and the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), launched in 2014 by some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) members?

Of course, yes! Why was GDI formed? What was the motive of GDI? GDI was set up principally to drive Wike’s governorship ambition.

GDI was not an NGO meant for the masses.

No! Our NGO is different. FRDI was not set up to drive anyone’s political ambition. FRDI is a platform set up to protect the interest of the entire Rivers people and Nigerians. So, our focus and scope are different. Members of the GDI are trying to copy me, now. In two weeks’ time, I will add something new to what we are doing.

So, what are you adding to your current menu in two weeks time?

I won’t tell you. In two weeks’ time, you will see for yourself.

working assiduously to ensure the party returns to Brick House, the seat of the Rivers State government. Don’t you think in all honesty that the current spat between Amaechi and Abe can scuttle your efforts and desire to wrest back power from the PDP if the snowballing disagreement is not settled on time?

That is our in-house problem and we will settle it When? How soon? How long will this take?

The process of settling Amaechi and Abe is on. We will settle it

farther down the political ladder when Atiku held sway in the PDP in the past are those who will now determine the course of his presidential ambition in 2019.

The emerging political scenario in the PDP paints the portraiture of a former governor emerging as its presidential candidate in 2019 and mostly likely, a former governor being named as the running mate; or, most shockingly, a sitting governor who now has both hands on the arteries of the PDP, supposedly because of his financial contribution, may become the vice presidential candidate of the PDP, even after winning the governorship primary to contest for a second term of four years. Obasanjo named Atiku his vice presidential candidate after the Waziri Adamawa had won the governorship primary to contest the governor of Adamawa State in 1999. History may turn full circle in the PDP in 2019.

...settling Amaechi and Abe is on, says Ngerebara Cont’d from Page 14 people campaigning for APC in the 2019 general elections, then, we have won the election, technically speaking.

But do you possess the ability and capability to protect your votes?

For sure, we will protect our votes.

How come some prominent politicians who propagated the cause of power rotation between the upland and riverine areas have abandoned the crusade?

I am sure they have their reasons. However, I was one of them and I am still here.

For me, that power should rotate between the upland and riverine areas is a matter of principle and conviction rather than a matter of stomach infrastructure.

Are you truly convinced that highflying politicians from the riverine areas are still committed to the cause of power rotation between the upland and the riverine areas in the state?

Of course, yes! Those who know it know it.

I am committed to the cause of power rotation. Domu Lulu-Briggs is committed. Tonye Princewill is committed. Lulu Ibineye is still committed. Dakuku Peterside is committed. Dagogo Jack is there, also. Senibo Jaja, too, is committed. In fact, many of us are still committed to the cause of the upland/riverine power sharing formula. We are not saying it for the sake of being heard; we are say-

How long have you been on this FRDI journey?

About two years now You and other stakeholders in the APC are

Why is Amaechi against Abe’s governorship ambition?

Amaechi is not against Abe’s governorship ambition. Take that from me. Amaechi as a person has a right to make a choice of his own. Amaechi has the natural and constitutional right to have his own opinion.

That Amaechi has an opinion that is different from Abe’s opinion does not mean hatred.

We are going to conduct primaries for different elective positions.

When are you holding your congress?

It should be on April 7 Will it be elective?

I don’t think it will be an elective congress.

Would the resolve not to conduct nonelective congress further exacerbate the long-running crisis of confidence within the leadership of the party, considering that

what should have been an elective ward, local government and state congress, in August, last year, was unilaterally turned into a non-elective congress by Amaechi, ostensibly to thwart the participation of Abe’s loyalists, thereby shutting out delegates favorably disposed to his governorship ambition?

Not at all! The congress is by affirmation just to find out if any of them had died and the existence of any vacancy. What happened in August was for national delegates.

You mean that the process you just mentioned will not affect delegates that will vote in the governorship primary to elect the party’s candidate for the 2019 election?

No, it won’t.

Are you doing all you are doing now because Amaechi has promised you the ticket for the Rivers South East Senatorial District in 2019?

If a man wants something let him work for it. There is a paradox: if you walk into the home of a man and gives him gold when he is not expecting it, he may throw it away.

To him, the gold is worthless! If you deserve anything, declare your intention. Ngerebara is known: anything I want I go for it. And because I am an engineer, I am systematic in what I do. Before me now is to crave the consciousness of Rivers people to work for the common good of the state. The second is to rebuild APC so that it can do very well in subsequent elections. Whatever impression anybody has is entirely his personal opinion.

16

The Oracle today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Tributes

Nwodo’s speech at Night of Tributes for Achuzia

I

Text (translated) of speech by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo at the Night of Tributes for Chief Col. Joseph Achuzia at Enugu Sports Club on Monday, April 9, 2018.

greet you all and welcome you to this solemn occasion of Night of Tributes in honour of our departed hero, Chief Col. Oseloka Governor Achuzia – Hannibal, Air Raid. You know that we conduct all our proceedings at official Ohanaeze programmes in our Igbo language. But for the purpose of the press and our friends and guests that may not understand Igbo, my speech would be blend of English and Igbo.

First, I thank all of you who honoured our invitation to this programme. It is the phenomenal that make usual topic of discussion in the society. You do not make topic except you do marvels. He made history!

When our late leader Odumegwu Ojukwu was alive, Col. Achuzia usually came around to visit him. I used to help in driving Ojukwu around at the time. Col. Emma Nwobosi was Ojukwu’s Chief of Staff at the time. So, I asked Nwobosi to supply me with the names of their colleagues who were still alive, so that Ohanaeze would always keep in touch with them and carry them along during Achuzia’s burial ceremonies. He gave me the following names: Emma Udeajah, Ben Gbulie, Linus Ohanaehi, Major Ojukwu, Chukwuka, Chris Nguluka, C.Y Azubuogu, Bony Ikejiofor, Goddy Onyekwuru, O.Z Igwuese and himself, Nwobosi.

Nwobosi said to me that he would not be able to come to Enugu due to his age but that he would be at Asaba no matter how brief.

Achuzia, our father and brother lived a fulfilled life. He died at the age of 90. If I live to be as old as Achuzia, and if it is in the power of the human person to ask God to take his life, I would be so glad to go. Life is not about how long but how well one lived. It is given to very

few people to be blessed with old age and Achuzia was one of the few. If we look at the number of children that are born today, they run into millions. If we look at the children who are in primary schools in the world they are in Billions. But if we look at the number of people who are 90, there are many families here who do not have anyone who is 90 years old.

So, Achuzia was blessed, he lived a good life.

Therefore, we celebrate him and not grieve over his death. This is a time to celebrate a man who left significant footprints in the sands of time. At war he was brave and courageous.

He was forthright, he was exemplary. He exuded fear and he earned respect. It is given to very few people to earn all these. He was also controversial! It is said that, he who is not spoken about or made a topic in the society is of no great impact.

For you to become controversial and talked about, you must be something high. Just like me, in the last few days, I have sold many copies of newspaper because some of my children decided to play with me in the pages of newspapers. But if I do not excite such disputation, then it means that I represent nothing.

So, another thing that I am particularly happy about is that I was part of an Ohanaeze delegation that was sent to the palace of the Asagba of Asaba at the end of the war, to say to our kits and kin in Delta that we are extremely sorry, that we have not shown enough sympathy for the carnage in that part of Igboland.

As we knelt down in the palace of the Asagba, apologizing for our delayed condolence visit, I saw Ojukwu in his knees. Two of my sisters live in Asaba, and I know how our brothers

across the Niger feel when we do not understand that when it came to giving sacrifice to Alaigbo, they paid more than many of us did. And so, for me, Achuzie represented an opportunity for us to dramatize our brotherhood, our oneness and our recognition of the tremendous carnage that befell our brothers in the course of the war.

I also led the national executives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to Asaba recently, when they remembered several hundred of our people who were murdered by federal troops, contrary to the rules of engagement; the same kind of things that happened to us not too long ago when we had the Operation Python Dance. I had the opportunity to confront the leadership of the army who gave me assurance that they were going to be a court martial of all soldiers who were identified to have been involved in that behaviour that negated their rules of engagement. I have been following this matter with correspondents and I will continue to follow it until we know those who destroyed our children without a course. So, I welcome you here today, the Achuzias. It is a thing of joy that we are given the opportunity by this great family to celebrate one of our own. The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze is the Chief Executive of the Ohanaeze Secretariat. It is his responsibility to run the office of Ohanaeze on a daily basis. When it was Achuzia’s turn to serve as Secretary General, he did not do it from Asaba, he moved to Enugu and lived in Enugu. For many years, he lived in a hotel, and he could not before that. He sweated, he gave his best.

Quite often, people do not know that serv-

• Achuzia’s first son, Joe Oseloka

•

• President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo

• Navr Cdr James Aneke

Achuzia’s son Simon, who faught as a boy soldier under his father (Achuzia) during the civil war

• Immediate-past Ohanaeze PG, Chief Gary Ighariwey

ing Ohanaeze is a great sacrifice. Nobody in the National Executive of Ohanaeze earns a salary or an allowance. It is something you do free of charge, and yet, you are required to give 24 hours service. I read some of our people in the social media saying all sorts of things – you should have done this, you should have done that - they are unaware that I even ride my own personal car; nobody in Igboland, no government in Igboland has found it worthy to give me a car. I have never taken a business class to travel anywhere domestically in Nigeria, in order to make ends meet. But I take joy in the fact that we have at least, made our people conscious of the fact that they have such an organisation which is ready to stand up for them. This is what Achuzie taught us.

When I look at his service, I cannot but be more altruistic in serving our people. And so are my colleagues, we feel happy to be your sacrificial lamb. We will run the race as far as our breath can take us. I need to remind you, on this occasion that this ceremony is not over today. Every Igboman is invited and urged to join in the rest of the celebrations lined up in honour of our great hero. As our people say, when you mourn your neighbour, you also mourn yourself, for God knows and sees everything.

Our daddy Achuzia! Ikemba! God bless your soul! It shall be well with you! All your efforts, sweats and sacrifices for Ndigbo shall not be in vain. May God give your soul eternal rest in His bosom.

Continued on page: 40

The Oracle Today

•

17

Wednesday April 18, 2018

BU$IN£SS •

Energy

Finance

•

•

Stock

Insurance

•

•

Aviation

e-Platform

OPEC quota bites as Nigeria begins oil output cut

• Operators under cost efficiency test • New field developments may face production control

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

N

• Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum. well as visible impact of oil exports from both nations in the international petroleum exchanges. When the production ceiling, came Nigeria was producing some 1.75 mbd of crude oil and 400,000 barrels per day of condensate. But since January this year the country’s output scaled across 1.90 mbd, and reached 1.95 mbd in February despite the OPEC production ceiling.

However, latest monthly production analysis of OPEC oil supply to the market showed that Nigeria’s crude oil export into the international markets fell by 30,000 barrels per day (30 kbd) in the month of march, marking the first signal of fluctuation in the year as coalition of 24 producing nations maintain a

CBN EXCHANGE RATES APRIL 10, 2018 Currency

Buying(NGN)

US DOLLAR

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

304.6

305.1

305.6

POUNDS STERLING 430.1561

430.8622

431.5683

EURO

374.262

374.8764

375.4907

SWISS FRANC

317.4901

318.0113

318.5324

YEN

2.8449

2.8495

2.8542

CFA

0.549

0.559

WAUA

440.3847

441.1076

YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL

48.2235 81.2202

48.3031 81.3535

strong hold on global supplies.

According to a table of production performance by the 14 member Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) made available to The Oracle Today, Nigeria produced 1.92 million barrels of crude oil per day in the month, the smallest volume of declared output in 2018.

The March production rate came after the country was expected to ramp up production to reflect resumption of production from fields earlier shut in on account of sabotage by militants in the Niger Delta where industry operations are hosted.

According to the table complied

by S&P Global Platts, Nigeria’s

IGERIA may have started applying brakes on crude oil production following advice from the coalition of producing nations for the country to limit its crude oil production to some 1.8 million barrels per day.

The activation of production restrictions on the country holds threat to some $38 billion investments in field development projects by Total, Shell, Eni and ExxonMobil as new production from the fields is expected to escalate production capacity by estimated 1.0 million barrels per day to over 3.5 million barrels per day.

With inevitable scramble for production allocation among operating companies when ongoing and planned new field development projects run to commissioning, government has declared intentions to impose stringent cost efficiency conditions for output volumes that would yield considerable commercial returns for investors.

The production ceiling on Nigeria came as OPEC members led by Saudi Arabia and another set of oil exporters led by Russia agreed on November 30, 2017, to extend their control of market forces into 2018.

The 14 member OPEC and the 10 coalition members had initially exempted Nigeria and Libya from production cuts following strings of internal security and industry challenges that forced the two countries to shut in production in the face of urgent need for revenue needed to confront internal insurgency.

Last November, Libya and Nigeria were given a combined 2.80 million b/d cap, near their presumptive maximum sustained production capacities of 1.00 million b/d and 1.80 million b/d, respectively.

The advice also came in response to improving security and production reports from both countries as

crude oil output moved up from 1.93 mbd in January to 1.95 mbd in February before plunging to 1.92 mbd in March.

The production figures compiled in the table do not include condensate and other natural gas liquids which are not included in output calculation by OPEC whose supplies to the market are being analysed.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had told The Oracle in a separate event that Nigeria currently produces some 400,000 barrels of condensate per day; and when blended with crude oil to achieve premium grades, the country’s output could touch some 2.3 mbd for the month.

Condensate which is majorly produced from gas and gas prone fields also form significant part of export barrels hotly demanded by refiners for production of prime fuel grades for vehicular transportation and light engine firing.

It is not clear whether the Fall in Nigeria’s output includes the 445,000 barrels per day reserved for domestic refining, more effectively the crude for petrol swap arrangements which currently forms the only source of refiner products supply to the domestic market.

Figures for volumes of oil, gas and hydrocarbon liquids produced in Nigeria has been a subject heated debates for decades as political pressure that impinge on official production accounts sustain transparency and corruption questions in the industry. Traditionally, production figures from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) hardly achieve harmony. Industry production figures which build up the national output data are also distorted by losses attributable to sabotage, stealing and facility failures.

•

Tourism

Energy

NNPC accounts unaudited for 6 years Travel

P21

US, Morocco top attractive destinations’ list P26

Insurance

Only one HMO passed validity test for operations – NHIS P28

Cont’d on Page 19

Stock Market Highlights As At 10th APRIL, 2018

Summary ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP S/N

40,499.04 4,222.00 388,277,458.00 N4,208,926,912.17 N14,628,890,504,311.58

Coy (By Volume) Volume

SOVRENINS 0.569 ZENITHBANK 441.8305 SKYEBANK FLOURMILL 48.3828 ACCESS 81.4868 RIYAL

82,457,600 43,984,447 37,458,865 32,230,215 30,040,812 81.1513

Value(N)

N16,533,075.55 N1,161,106,589.65 N24,260,972.90 N1,192,430,325.10 N361,343,444.25 81.2847

5 Top Gainers

Symbols Last Close MOBIL N170 DANGCEM N252 INTBREW N49.15 WAPCO N41 DANGSUGAR N21.45

Current Change N178.5 8.5 N255 3 N51.5 2.35 N42.4 1.4 N22 0.55

%Change 5.00% 1.19% 4.78% 3.41% 2.56%

N233.8 N53.1 N38.6 N26.35 N43

-1.18% -3.45% -3.50% -2.04% -1.15%

Five Tope Losers TOTAL UNILEVER FO ZENITHBANK GUARANTY

N236.6 N55 N40 N26.9 N43.5

-2.8 -1.9 -1.4 -0.55 -0.5

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday April 18, 2018

BUSINESS

Fidelity Bank to release 2017 earnings April 30 Stories by VICTOR NZE

B

OARD of Fidelity Bank Plc, has explained delays in announcing its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ezinwa Unuigboje, the bank said it was due to delays in concluding the audit process.

However, Fidelity Bank expressed optimism that the fi-

nancial documents would be released on or before April 30, 2018.

“Thus is to inform our esteemed shareholders and other stakeholders of the delay by Fidelity Bank Plc to release/publish its annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 by March 31, 2018 as required by extant rules of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

“The delay in filing the annual

audited financial statements for “Consequently, the approval the year ended December 31, of the NSE has been sought for 2017 by March 31, 2018 is due to the delayed release of the auditdelays in concluding the audit ed financial statements. process.

“We are however, hopeful that

the audited financial statements will be made available on or before April 30, 2018,” the statement by Unuigboje disclosed.

MTN, Ecobank sign mobile banking partnership

T

ELECOMMUNICATION firm, MTN has announced its collaboration with Ecobank to offer more value to their respective customers by expanding the scope of their partnership, enabling both companies to leverage each other’s assets.

MTN’s large subscriber base, comprehensive distribution, innovative digital products and drive for mobile financial services are being linked with Ecobank’s digital banking products to provide instant bank accounts and remittances from Africa’s largest bank by network.

The two entities, with an extensive footprint on the continent, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop their partnership agreement, which will allow them to innovate and enhance access to affordable financial services via MTN Mobile Money and Ecobank Banking services.

Ecobank and MTN Mobile Money customers will now be able to transfer money between mobile money wallets and bank accounts.

Ecobank and MTN’s assets to digitize international remittance, foster product innovation in the field of mobile saving and lending, and offer digital payment solutions to consumers, merchants and corporates.

Ade Ayeyemi, CEO of Ecobank said: “Combining Ecobank’s innovative digital banking range with MTN’s enormous subscriber base means that virtually every African can now have an instant bank account, savings accounts, loans and make instant remittances on their mobile phone.”

“Ecobank’s digital strategy has long been committed to providing banking facilities to the mass market. We have already made giant strides in our mission to ensure financial inclusion and today’s agreement with MTN will greatly accelerate the easy availability of banking facilities to the previously unbanked.”

Commenting on the collaboration, MTN Group President and CEO, Rob Shuter said: “Partnerships between banks and mobile money operators are fundamental in the mobile money ecosystem, hence our long-standing partnership with Ecobank in many of our markets, aimed at driving financial inclusion. We are excited to be taking this partnership to the next level as this lat-

est development will spearhead innovative initiatives which will deepen financial access on the continent.”

He added that MTN is open to working with other financial in- • Dignitaries at the launch of a book on “A Decade of ECOWAS Electoral Assistance in West Africa” authored stitutions to bridge the financial by Paul Ejime, an International Media and Communications, and funded by the German Development Agency, GIZ, during the unveiling of the publication in Abuja, recently. divide.

UBA inducts 30 new campus brand ambassadors

U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has launched the second edition of its Campus Ambassador Programme with the induction of 30 new brand ambassadors from 10 different tertiary institutions for the initiative meant to identify young emerging leaders among students of universities and give them a unique and highly rewarding learning experience.

The 30 successful candidates were selected from over 300 students across tertiary institutions in Nigeria through a rigorous screening exercise in line with set criteria.

The colourful inauguration ceremony was held at the UBA house in Lagos, Friday, with Chuks Nweke, Executive Director, Group Chief Operating Officer, and other senior management staff in attendance.

“UBA is pleased to have you all on board as valuable Ambassadors who will help us propagate our goodwill messages, ethos, values and what we stand for as a bank, across your institutions,” Nweke said.

He further noted that the goal is intended to give students a platform to demonstrate leadership as well as build and instill the brand philosophy into the consciousness of youths.

According to Nweke, our bank is a bank with strong affiliation to youths, evident in the Bank’s scholarship and grants schemes through the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition amongst other educational initiatives.

He continued: “We at UBA take youth development and engagement seriously, because we believe they are the future of Nigeria. For this reason, we decided to collaborate for the purpose of building their creative skills, leadership skills. It is the abilities that the students exhibited that influenced their selection.

No doubt, they have the core values of Enterprise, Excellence and Execution that are dear to us. Starting from now, they are expected to try to exhibit the core values of UBA”.

He further said, these days, Life is tough: “We need people in who can exhibit those qualities, beyond what we’ve done; these are people we have seen leadership traits in. We will work with them to develop their leadership traits, creativity for the good of everyone.”

Also speaking, Mr. Tomiwa

Sotiloye, Group Head, Retail & Consumer Banking, explained that the 30 students selected are from 10 universities. The new ones among them are 25. We have five returning ambassadors from the pioneer set. He noted that among the 15 the bank decided to retain a few outstanding students.

He also stated that the programme is for six months – between now and September.

“Starting from next session it will be one year because we have now aligned the programme

to the academic calendar – not from January- December which gave us a lot of problems last year”.

“As part of our plans to bring them on board, from now we will take them on an intensive training. They will have specific projects which they will execute.

Also worthy of note is that they will get an opportunity for a one month paid internship at any of our branches. They will also get paid for this programme. And for them, a pathway has opened for employment in UBA”, he said.

Air Namibia appoints APG Network for Nigeria, Ghana sales

A

IR Namibia has appointed APG Network as General Sales Representation and Services (GSSA) in Ghana and Nigeria, sequel to the partnership agreement signed by both firms and which took effect from March 2018.

In accordance with the GSSA agreement entered into, APG Network will provide full sales and marketing services, as well as call center and customer care services on behalf of Air Namibia in the two countries.

APG Network provides for Airline Distribution and Financial Services.

The appointment follows Air Namibia’s decision to launch the Windhoek-Lagos-Accra route, which will commence on 29 June 2018.

This new route will provide a direct and convenient service connecting Namibia to the two West African countries. The four times weekly operation (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday from Windhoek) will provide smooth and convenient connections inbound and outbound to the airline’s regional flights, connecting West Africa via Windhoek to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Luanda, Harare, Lusaka, Vic Falls, Gaborone Walvis Bay and Durban.

“We are happy for having established this relationship with the APG

Network, as through innovation and utilizing their extensive experience in the field of aviation, and being a key global player in the airline distribution environment, offering outsourced services such as passenger sales and marketing, reservations, Air Namibia is positioned to make its West Africa operations a success”, said Ms Juanita Klassen – Manager for GSA and Offline markets at Air

Namibia.

The airline operates a fleet carefully selected to meet performance dependability and comfort. All its 10 aircraft (2 x Airbus A330-200, 4 x Airbus A319-100, 4 x Embraer ERJ 135) provide immense comfort offered by the generous legroom and modern interiors. Further information is available at www.airnamibia.com

N

from Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission which stopped government institutions from using government budget to pay teachers in their staff schools.

“In adherence to the directive, we handed over the running of the school to a consultancy. We asked the teachers to transmit to being employees of the consultant, and agreement was reached.

“Some of them accepted, and have since continued with the consultancy. Therefore, using the word sack is wrong because they were not sacked.”

He said that a ruling by the National Industrial Court on the case only ordered that such teachers should transfer their services to the Ministry of Education and earn salaries as other teachers in government institutions.

NCAT denies sacking 37 instructors igerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Kaduna State, has denied sacking 37 teachers from its staff school.

Spokesperson for NCAT, Mr Jude Amadi, made the denial, Tuesday, in Lagos.

Some aviation unions recently petitioned the Federal Government, alleging that the NCAT sacked 37 teachers.

The petition was jointly issued by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE).

Amadi told NAN that NCAT management only acted in accordance with a directive from the Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

He said: “There was a circular

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday April 18, 2018

BUSINESS

Fine: MTN pays N165b out of N330b Stories by VICTOR NZE

T

HE Nigerian Communications Commission ( NCC), Monday, announced that telecommunications firm, MTN has paid N165 billion out of the N330 billion fine imposed on it due to its inability to disconnect improperly registered SIM cards.

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said this in Abuja when MTN Group, led by its Chairman in Nigeria, Dr Pascal Dozie, visited the commission.

In October 2015, the telecom regulator imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN Nigeria for not complying with government’s rule on deactivation of unregistered SIM cards.

Also, the fine was imposed on MTN for not disconnecting about 5.1 million improperly registered lines in its network within the stipulated deadline.

After several appeals and negotiations including diplomatic intervention by the South Afri-

can government, the fine was reduced to N330billion.

MTN initially made a commitment payment of N50billion to the government while the remaining balance of N280 billion was to be paid in six tranches in accordance with the agreements between the regulator and MTN. ‘’I am happy to inform you that our agreement with MTN on how and when to pay the fine has been adhered to. Just last month, March, we received a cheque of N55billion from MTN as part of the fine payment plan.

“This brought the total fine paid by MTN Nigeria to N165 billion, that is, more than half of the fine “It is a whopping sum of money and they have not defaulted and these payments they are making is consistent with the terms of agreement we reached with them ‘’ he said.

He said that the installmental payment was in line with the terms of agreement reached

Fidelity Bank flags-off digital banking awareness campaign

F

IDELITY Bank Plc has officially flagged-off a Digital Banking Awareness Campaign Week, as part of concerted efforts to make financial services easy and accessible to its customers.

Organised by the Bank’s SouthWest Directorate, the week-long campaign aptly dubbed “Go Digital” seeks to create awareness on its electronic banking products and services.

Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Corporate Head Office in Lagos, Monday, Regional Bank Head (RBH), Ikeja, Ken Opara said the campaign is aimed primarily at sensitizing customers on the attendant benefits of using the Bank’s e-products.

He harped on the need for banks to leverage digital technologies and platforms to provide greater convenient banking solutions for customers and according to him one bank that is the vanguard of this is Fidelity Bank.

“The Bank has continued to invest significant resources on

technology thus enabling it to digitize and offer easy to use ebanking products and services” he said. Some of the flagship products and services the staff would be creating awareness for include the recently upgraded Fidelity Online Banking platform.

“The new look and more advanced and user-friendly online banking platform comes with additional functionalities thus making financial service activities easier and faster for an unmatched customer experience”, Opara stated.

Motivated by the desire to continuously improve customer experience on its services, Fidelity Bank recently introduced a personalized self-service feedback system on its flagship Instant Banking Service *770#. With all of these significant strides in technology deployment, Opara noted that there was a need to enlighten the Bank’s customers on some of its latest offerings.

CBN: Emefiele deploys new DGs

G

overnor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has assigned responsibilities to the newly appointed Deputy Governors who assumed duty on March 28.

The bank in a statement, signed by the acting Director, Corporate Communications Department of the CBN, Mr Isaac Okoroafor, said Mrs Aishah Ahmad was deployed to the Financial System Stability (FSS) Directorate, while Mr Edward Lemetek Adamu was assigned to Corporate Services.

Emefiele also approved the deployment of Dr Okwu Nnanna from the Financial System Stability (FSS) Directorate to the Economic Policy Directorate.

“Mr Adebayo Adelabu, how-

ever, retains his portfolio as Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate,” Okoroafor said.

According to Okoroafor, the affected principal officers have since assumed duty in their new duties.

Niger State Govt doles out N1bn to SMEs Niger State Government is set to dole out a N1 billion funding package to operators of small and medium scale enterprises in the state to help them grow bigger.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Danjuma Sallau, explained that the fund was mainly to cushion the effect of economic situation in the Niger State.

He enjoined beneficiaries to judiciously make use of the money to

between MTN and the regulatory body.

According to Danbatta, the fine is aimed at ensuring that it is not business as usual but to ensure that the rules of engagement are respected.

“It is also to ensure that the rules governing the telecom sector of the economy is ad-

hered to.

The NCC boss said that the commission would continue to cooperate with the telecom company because of its major contributions to the economic and digital growth of the nation’s economy.

Earlier, Chairman of MTN Nigeria said Nigeria was one of

the largest contributors to its market and the visit was to cement the relationship between MTN and NCC, just as he further appealed to commission to auction more spectrums in order to further open up the ICT space and improve the country’s economy.

• (From left to right): Regional Bank Head (RBH), Yaba-Surulere, Chetachi Ezenagu; RBH (Ikeja), Ken Opara; RBH (Victoria Island), Chinwe Iloghalu all of Fidelity Bank Plc at the flag-off of the Lagos & South West Directorate Digital Banking Campaign held at the Bank’s Head Office in Lagos, Monday.

Access Bank unveils USSD Code *901*11# for PayDay

A

CCESS Bank Plc has launched a special USSD code *901*11#, a strategic tool for the recently-launched

PayDay Loan product by the bank.

Unveiled in partnership with Remita, PayDay Loan requires

Unilever Nigeria to pay shareholders N2.9bn dividend, May 11

B

oard of Directors of Unilever Nigeria Plc has announced that the N2.9 billion approved for payment of dividend to shareholders of the company would be paid on Friday, May 11, this year.

The board had last month proposed the payment of 50 kobo gross per share as dividend for the year ended December 31, 2017.

grow their businesses, which he said should improve economy of the state.

Mr Sallau, during a reception organized in his honour by the Association of Small Scale Businesses Operators in Minna, the state capital, said the role of the sector in an economy cannot be pushed aside.

However, he emphasised that the N1 billion to be disbursed to them by the state government was in form of a loan, which would be given at a low interest rate. “Very soon, another N1 billion will be released to cushion the effect of economic hardship in doing business. The Niger State government will do everything possible to create an enabling environment to enhance businesses, so as to uplift the standard of living of the people,” he said.

This was when the leading Dutch transnational consumer goods company released its 2017 financial figures.

In a statement issued, Monday, the board said it would pay the dividend if approved by shareholders at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

However, the company announced that the closure of register of members for the purpose of preparation of dividend payment would be on Monday, April 16, 2018 to Friday, April 20, 2018 (both dates inclusive).

The statement said the dividend qualification date is Friday, April 13, 2018.

In the financial results, the firm increased its profit for the year by 143 percent, closing at N7.5 billion in 2017 versus N3.1 billion in 2016.

Its profit before tax also saw a broad growth of 173 percent, finishing at N11.2 billion in the period under review compared with N4.1 billion in the corresponding period of 2016.

According to the financial statements, the revenue generated by the company appreciated by 30 percent to N90.8 billion as at December 31, 2017 from N69.8 billion achieved as at December 31, 2016.

no collateral or guarantor, enabling customers to obtain loans instantly without visiting the bank – thereby enabling customers to meet their urgent financial needs before receiving their salaries.

In a statement released by the Bank, Executive Director, Personal Banking, Victor Etuokwu said: “Acquiring loans in Nigeria has always been known to be limiting – either due to access, collateral issues, including the duration of the approval process.

“With our obligations to our customers especially during difficult economic periods, we are emphasizing Access Bank’s position in offering lifestyle products and services that meets their financial needs.”

Access Bank’s PayDay Loan product offers customers and non-customers easy access to a unique platform that gives them access to loans against their next salary payment, and enables customers to obtain a loan instantly by simply dialing a USSD Code *901*11# on their mobile phones.

The PayDay loan can also be obtained to fulfill any financial and personal requirement to enhance their quality of life.

The product is unique as recipients only have to be diligent salary earners who will now be able to obtain instant loans without stress or involving a guarantor.

The Oracle Today

20

Wednesday April 18, 2018

ENERGY

OPEC quota bites as Nigeria begins oil output cut

Continued from P17

Socio-political stakeholders targeting greater derivation revenues have consistently called for mandatory wellhead metering as a veritable strategy to determine the actual amount of oil and gas from each production site. However, most operating companies point at cost as the main reason rejecting the process.

The operating companies are not friends of OPEC even though they benefit from strong prices that result from the groups production restrictions. Major discomfort resides in distortions in their commercial projections that determine capital investments and rate of returns.

Dr. Kachikwu had stated that new investments in field developments might be affected in the prevailing 1.8 mbd production limit for Nigeria advised by OPEC. He said Nigeria’s production capacity would certainly exceed the notional output limit for the country, adding that cost efficiency would rule production allocation templates for producing companies in the country.

He said government was pressing for per capita production cost of about $15 per barrel, a significant reduction from about $25 per barrel. And with the country’s rising production capacity amidst OPEC restrictions, he said, the key factor for allocation of production volumes would be cost.

He said it would be more logical for the country which is faced limitations to produce cheaper barrels than costlier barrels, explaining that Nigeria’s current cost of production was far higher than peer economies with similar geo-political operating contexts.

The Oracle Today reports that Nigeria is driving a string of new field developments that would significantly grow the country’s available production capacity from current 2.7 mbd to over 3.0 mbd.

The new barrels are expected to flow from the Egina deepwater field under development by Total, Zabazaba deepwater field under investment decision by Eni, Bonga Southwest/Aparo (BSWA) deepwater field under development consideration by Shell and Erha II deepwater development planned

by ExxonMobil.

Already nameplate production capacity has been determined for Egina and Zabazaba. Whereas the Total operated Egina is to pump at plateau rate of 200,000 barrels per day, Zabazaba is expected to flow at 250,000 barrels per day.

The Shell operated BSWA as well ExxonMobil operated Erha II are estimated to flow at 250,000 barrels per day each if they secure approval for stand-alone developments. The production rates are estimated to be lower if they are planned to tie in to proximate production faciltities.

In all, the four deepwater fields plus production upsides from restreamed facilities in the Niger Delta hold production addition of about a million barrels per day if the operating environment falls under control.

The expected volumes from new field developments would therefore push Nigeria’s daily output to well over 3.0 million barrels per day.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is a key member of OPEC but was exempted from the group’s production restrictions since 2016 when the coalition decided to jointly reduce the volume of daily crude oil flow to the export market by 1.8 mbd in a desperate measure arrest falling oil prices and rekindle investments in exploration and production.

However, the factors that led to exemption of Nigeria from OPEC quota, including production outages attributable to insurgency in the Niger Delta, revenue need for fighting insurgency in the northeast as well as low price cycle have all eased. Nigerian production has also risen significantly in the period to threaten OPEC+10 coalition’s efforts at enforcing production cut compliance.

Last December, the group advised Nigeria to limit its production to 1.8 million barrels per day, but Dr. Kachikwu insists that number is still notional and advisory, adding that the country could still pump a little more crude and a lot of condensate.

“A combination of what we are producing today which is in excess of 1.75 million barrels per day of crude oil and some 400, 000 barrels per day of condensate puts us in the range of 2.3 million barrels per day. So we are slightly below the OPEC limit and we will like to move up a little.

“Challenge will come when we exceed 2.5 million barrels per day. Egi-

OPEC production (in million b/d) Member

March

Change

February

January

Algeria Angola Ecuador Equatorial Guinea Gabon Iran Iraq Kuwait Libya Nigeria Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE Venezuela

1.00 1.55 0.53 0.13 0.19 3.82 4.46 2.70 0.97 1.92 0.60 9.92 2.86 1.49

-0.05 -0.06 0.01 0.00 0.00 -0.01 0.03 0.00 -0.06 -0.03 0.00 -0.06 0.06 -0.08

1.05 1.61 0.52 0.13 0.19 3.83 4.43 2.70 1.03 1.95 0.60 9.98 2.80 1.57

1.04 1.61 0.52 0.14 0.20 3.83 4.41 2.71 0.98 1.93 0.60 9.99 2.86 1.64

Total

32.14

-0.25

32.39

32.46

na has 200,000 barrels per day and that comes up in the last quarter of this year; then Zabazaba potentially come up last quarter of next year with 250, 000 barrels per day. It is then that you begin to struggle with what you do with those volumes.

And that is why I said that it is a signal to oil companies that we are gonna be watching cost.

“I will refuse to take a costly barrel to the market when I have a cheap barrel. What it means is that everybody has to start driving down to that $15 per barrel context that we accept as the ideal cost of production in this country, not $22 or $23. As I said, a lot of companies have met that and we are beginning to push other companies to do that.”

“So it is an incentive in terms of access to the market and our willingness to produce, and also an incentive in terms of what we are gonna do for you as least cost producer. We are gonna work that out,” the minister explained.

But Dr. Kachikwu’s proposed production allocation formula raises concerns about small indigenous independent and marginal producers whose cost efficiency is not supported by economies of scale, as fixed de-

velopment costs for small reserves would inevitably lead to higher per capita production.

Meanwhile Nigeria’s output reduction helped firm up determination of the producers’ group to curb global oil glut as total offering by OPEC to the market in March fell to 32.14 million b/d, its lowest level in 11 months.

Nigeria formed part of the seven out of the 14 member countries that led declines in total OPEC output.

Supply disruptions in Venezuela and Angola along with steady falls in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Algeria and Nigeria dragged March output down by 250,000 b/d from February levels.

The only countries to see a production rise were the UAE, Iraq and Ecuador.

The March output figure is 590,000 b/d below OPEC’s notional ceiling of about 32.73 million b/d, when every country’s quota under its production cut agreement is added up.

The cuts, which began January 2017 and are scheduled to run through the end of this year, are aimed at rebalancing the market by inducing draws of barrels held in storage.

According to Platts, OPEC’s compliance with its cuts has been impressive though recent declines have

Nigeria’s crude grades lead premium prices

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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WO Nigeria crude oil grades, Qua Iboe and Forcados, lead the prices of premium crude oil blends in the international market, even as trade war between the United States and China takes general toll on the commodity markets across the globe.

The Oracle Today gathered from market sources that only Nigeria’s Qua Iboe and Forcados crude oil grades are in the premium race with the offshore production by ExxonMobil leading the price gains with 20 cents per barrel ahead of Shell’s blend of onshore and offshore output.

According to market sources, Qua Iboe strengthened above Forcados, after spending the last month at parity as reduced loadings over May and upcoming maintenance have tightened market fundamentals.

Qua Iboe was assessed at a 20 cents/barrel premium to Forcados at a $1.10 premium to Dated Brent weekend, the widest spread between the two grades since De-

cember 2017.

These two premium grades in West Africa typically track one another closely and Forcados also tends to price above Qua Iboe. But the fates of the two grades have switched this week with Qua Iboe pricing higher.

Next month, no loadings are scheduled until May 8 for Qua Iboe, to make way for scheduled maintenance. Details around the maintenance have yet to be confirmed.

The rise in Qua Iboe prices was the exception among the broader West African market.

Other West African grades continued to decline to three-month lows on slow demand from key Asian markets -- namely India and China.

China buys over half of the Angolan programs each month, which has particularly hurt heavier Angolan grades.

Only half of the Angolan May loading program was heard to have cleared, further aggravating the sluggish demand for crude from the east.

In the open market, oil futures tumbled weekend as tariffs battle between Washington and Beijing sparked a risk-off rally across global financial markets, dragging both equities and commodities lower.

Crude oil for May delivery at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) settled $1.48 lower at $62.06/b. And at the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) of London Brent crude oil for June delivery settled at $67.11/b, down $1.22/b.

President Donald Trump said Thursday evening that the US would impose tariffs on an additional $100 billion of Chinese imports, marking another step in an escalating dispute.

The global commodity markets went jittery weekend after Chinese officials vowed weekend to retaliate “forcefully” against any fresh tariffs slammed on Chinese goods by the United States.

Global trade tension, as well as technical-driven selling, played a role in Friday’s declines in the oil market, said Ryan McKay, commodity strategist at TD Securities.

“Recent short-term indicators triggered liquidation adding to downward momentum,” he said.

Front-month NYMEX crude touched an intraday high of $66.55/b March 26 in electronic trading. That was just 11 cents below the intraday high from January 25, which represented a threeyear high.

Refined product futures also weakened with NYMEX May ULSD settling 1.87 cents lower at $1.9578/gal. NYMEX May RBOB fell 2.69 cents to $1.9547/gal.

NYMEX May crude settled weekend a discount of 4 cents to the June contract, marking a return to contango for the nearby spread.

The nearby spread flipped to backwardation in early January for the first time since late 2014, and stayed there until a five-day stretch in contango ending March 20. One issue weighing on the crude term structure is US production, which has climbed more than 1.2 million b/d over the last year.

Output averaged 10.46 million b/d last week, Energy Information Administration estimates show.

been exacerbated by unplanned supply outages in Venezuela, Angola and Libya.

Angola, Africa’s second largest oil producer, is facing a plethora of fields that are mature and in decline, and production in March plummeted to an 18-month low of 1.55 million b/d. This coupled with a lack of recent upstream investment has dragged output down by 250,000 b/d in the past two years.

Angolan exports in March fell sharply, participants in the survey said, exacerbated by the particularly steep fall in loadings of key grades Girassol and Pazflor, both of which are produced from mature fields.

Saudi Arabia produced 9.92 million b/d in March, a fall of 60,000 b/d from February, reflected in lower exports and some ongoing refinery maintenance. Since the deal with non OPEC members started in 2016, Saudi Arabia has cut an average of 574,000 b/d, achieving 118% compliance, according to Platts survey data.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq and Ecuador were the only OPEC members to post output increases in March. UAE crude oil production rebounded to 2.86 million b/d last month following planned maintenance at fields feeding into the Murban export grade.

Iraq, consistent OPEC compliance back-slider increased output to 4.46 million b/d in March as it resumed production at the disputed Kirkuk fields of Bai Hassan field and the Avana Dome, with a combined output of around 50,000 b/d. Iraq which is currently facing territorial defence against Islamic State has exceeded its OPEC target by about 76,000 b/d since the deal began, posting a compliance level of mere 64 percent.

Meanwhile, Libya and Nigeria which had been exempt from the OPEC production cut agreement until this year when they were given an unofficial combined cap of 2.80 million b/d both posted a dip in March production, the first time their production has declined this year.

With remarkable success at both price recovery and production cut compliance, members of the 24 nation coalition are working on sustainable cooperation in managing market forces in the long term.

Russia has already expressed its willingness to work with the OPEC coalition indefinitely to regulate global oil supplies with energy minister Alexander Novak even advocating the creation of a new global body to monitor crude markets.

The Oracle Today

21

Wednesday April 18, 2018

ENERGY

NNPC accounts unaudited for 6 years

Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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IGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says that it ran its businesses for good six years without out audited financial statements as required by international financial reporting regulations.

The corporation, according to a statement by spokesman Ndu Ughamadu just concluded an expedited audit programme covering the years between 2011 and 2016 to close the gap and secure approval of the board of the corporation’ The statement on audit closure follows a recent meeting summoned by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, in which she stridently demanded accounts of the nation’s oil export revenue from the corporation which has been relentlessly battling corruption image in the past 10 years.

The statement quoted the corporation’s Group Executive Director (Finance & Accounts), Mr. Isiaka AbdulRazaq, as saying that the delivery of the audited financial statements would help foster better relations with stakeholders and further promote transparency and accountability in the corporation.

According to Mr. Ughamadu, NNPC successfully completed outstanding audit of the Group

Financial Statements from the years 2011 to 2016. The audited backlog has since been formally approved by the board of the corporation according to the laws.

AbdulRazaq said the management of the corporations had in August 2015 inherited a total of 65 unaudited financial statements covering 2011 - 2014 for NNPC Group Corporate and its subsidiaries. He blamed the backlog on unstated challenges.

“There were, undoubtedly, challenges that led to the backlog which may have been beyond the control of the previous managements. However, the important factor was not to look to the past. We saw an opportunity to challenge the problem and resolved to clear the arrears in the shortest possible time,” he said.

“With this approach, Management achieved the first step of concluding the audit of the 2011 – 2012 financial positions and presented same to the Board in 2016 and in recognition of that modest achievement, the NNPC Board further mandated Management to clear the remaining outstanding reports for the years 2013 – 2016 and the result today is the delivery and Board approval of the audited Group Financial Statements as at 31 December 2016,’’ he said.

160agentsscrambleforNNPC land acquisition contract

N

o fewer than 160 firms of professional estate surveyors and valuers participated in the bid to provide the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with valuation and land acquisition services.

This was disclosed by the Group General Manager (GGM), Supply Chain Management, Mr. Shehu Liman, during a public bid opening exercise conducted by the corporation in furtherance of its commitment to transparency in its procurement process.

The bid opening came as the corporation announced plans to expand its retail network further deep into remote places of the country.

It is not clear however whether NNPC would need the lands and properties that would be acquired for retail stations and related commercial sites.

The GGM who was represented by the General Manager, Supply Chain Management, Mrs. Sophia Mbakwe, stated that NNPC was desirous of engaging reputable and competent firms of estate surveyors and valuers that could provide unparalleled and exceptional valuation and land acquisition services to the Corporation in order to sustain its drive towards excellence in service delivery.

Speaking in similar vein, the General Manager, Group Administration Services (GAS), who was represented by the Deputy Man-

ager, Valuation and Acquisition, Mr. Chuks Ogbunude, explained that the bid opening was in compliance with the Public Procurement Act. He assured bidders of a level playing field to guarantee the emergence of the best firm.

Representatives of some of the bidding firms who witnessed the exercise expressed satisfaction, describing NNPC as a transparent company.

Meanwhile NNPC stated that it is working assiduously to expand its network of retail stations nationwide in a bid to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the benefits of steady supply and distribution of petroleum products.

Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said talks between the corporation and the Osun State Government have reached advanced stages on collaboration to establish retail stations that would improve the supply and distribution of petroleum products in the State.

According to the GMD, Osun State government has completed a modern 26 nozzle retail station and is planning to lease it out to the corporation. Baru added: “Our strategy for the NNPC Retail is to capture as much of the downstream retail market in the country as possible. A state like Osun is very central to our expansion drive.

Having looked at the possibilities, we are committed to taking the discussions further.”

(R-L) GMD NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru; Legal Adviser, NNPC, Hadisa Coomaisie; and Chairman of OilServe Nigeria Limited, Engr. Emeka Okwuosa; at the signing of contract agreement for Lot 1 of the 614km AKK gas pipeline project in Abuja.

FG moves to repair, expand petroleum pipelines

F

EDERAL government is working to recover the nation’s unreliable network of oil and gas pipelines in addition to a parallel programme to progress with pipeline expansion projects designed for national gas reticulation.

Whereas government intends to drive recovery of the existing pipelines through involvement of private financing partners, the Federal Executive Council had has approved contracts for three lots of the new gas pipeline projects a combined value of over $2.8 billion.

The plan involves running integrity checks on existing 5001 kilometres of pipeline currently operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with a view of restoring sections of the network to use.

The outcome of the project would guide the corporation in arriving at informed decisions and enable appropriate strategies in the planned Private Public Partnership arrangement for the pipelines, it said.

It would be recalled that the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, had in a visit to Enugu restated plans by government to resume petroleum products distribution through the pipelines, arguing it remained the easiest, cheapest and most efficient means of inter-depot flow of petroleum products.

While decrying the innumerable attacks on the crude oil feed and products distribution pipelines across the country, Dr. Baru appealed to the Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to lead other governors in the southeast region of the country in securing the Port Harcout-AbaEnugu-Markurdi-Yola pipeline to enhance petroleum products delivery and reduce pump prices along the route.

He had pointed out that low

pipeline integrity has hampered petroleum products distribution in the region and also caused massive products losses along the flow channels where, according to him, innumerable failures have been spotted on the pipeline.

Weekend, Managing Director of the Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC), Mr. Luke Anele, said his company would embark on comprehensive audit of the over 5001 kilometres of petroleum products and crude oil pipelines under its operations.

He said sister National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), another subsidiary of the NNPC, has been mandated by the group executive management to carry out the integrity checks.

“It covers the conduct of integrity test on crude pipelines, the products pipelines and our depots, with special emphasis on refinery attached depots and refinery evacuation lines,’’ he said.

On the pipeline expansion programme planned by government, NNPC stated that it is working towards groundbreaking ceremony for the hyped 614 kilometre Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project.

The project, according to NNPC, would include building of gas stations along the pipeline route.

NNPC had earlier executed project financing agreement with select credit institutions; and also signed contracts with engineering, procurement, installation, construction, commissioning contractors for Lots 1&3 of the $2.8 billion trans-Nigeria gas pipeline project.

It stated weekend that measures had been activated for the flag-off of the two-year pipeline project expected to enable gas connectivity for industrial, power generation and commercial entities across the East, West and North of the country.

Providing details of the contract awarded to consortium of indigenous and Chinese companies under a 100 per cent contractor financing model, NNPC said Lot 1 consists of 200 kilometres of 40 inch stretching from Ajaokuta to Abuja Terminal Gas Station was awarded to the OilServe/Oando Consortium at a value of $855 million.

Lot 2 contract agreement, NNPC said, is yet to be executed. It covers 193 kilometres of 40 inch pipeline stretching from Abuja to Kaduna with contract value of $835 million.

The NNPC said Lot 3, awarded to the Brentex/China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPP) Consortium, runs from Kaduna Terminal Gas Station (TGS) to Kano TGS and covers 221 kilometres of 40 inch pipeline with a contract value of about $1.2 billion.

Federal government has since 2011 enunciated several policy programmes including Nigerian Gas Masterplan and Gas Revolution respectively, these policies command a string of ambitious gas projects that involve infrastructure development.

Between 2010 and today, almost 500km of pipelines had been completed, commissioned and now delivering gas. Some of the completed pipelines included the Oben-Geregu (196km), Escravos-Warri-Oben (110km), Emuren-Itoki (50km), ItokiOlorunshogo (31km), Imo RiverAlaoji (24km) and Ukanafun-Calabar pipeline (128km).

In addition, there is ongoing construction of the strategic East-West OB3 pipeline (127km), scheduled for completion by Q3 2018 and the expansion of the Escravos-Lagos Gas Pipeline System scheduled for completion later in 2018.

With the growth in infrastructure, gas, hitherto inaccessible and flared, is now being utilized. Nigeria had seen the most aggressive drop in gas flaring from a peak of 2500mmcf/d few years ago to about 700mmcf/d currently and reducing.

The Oracle Today

22

Wednesday April 18, 2018

e-Platform

Stolen phones: PAPDAN, CAPDAN fire back at UK media

• Computer Village, Ikeja Lagos. the United Kingdom was raising false alarm as a result of a paradigm shift, which is taking mobile phone markets’ attention from from Europe to Asia. “The claim that stolen phones from the UK are being sold in Nigerian markets is wrong. The report is unfounded and unacceptable to us,” Ojikutu said. According to him, the Nigerian mobile phone market is populated by what he referred to as the Asian Tiger phones such as Tecno, Infinix and iTel, adding that even the ‘Used’ phones presently sold in the Nigerian markets are mostly from Hong Kong, United States of America and China, and not from the UK as wrongly reported.

The Sun in the report claimed that its investigations revealed that mobile phones are seized by armed men in UK and shipped 4,500 miles to be sold to “Nigeria’s tech-starved middle classes and at a lesser price compared to the western world.

“Britain’s moped yobs have been able to steal thousands of smartphones with many going on to be sold in Nigerian shops and markets where technology is scarce,” it noted. The paper also claimed that this has become a booming business for racketeers “because of soaring demand from the middle classes in a country where hi-tech gadgets are relatively scarce”.

Cambridge Analytica: 87m people affected, says Facebook

and third-party services.

Zuckerberg said that privacy controls would be the same for Facebook users around the world. He rejected an earlier story by Reuters that suggested users in the EU may benefit from stronger controls under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation taking effect next month. “We intend to make all the same controls and settings available everywhere, not just in Europe,” said the CEO. “Is it going to be exactly the same format? Probably not. We need to figure out what makes sense in different markets with the different laws and different places.”

The CEO said he did not see a meaningful impact from the #deletefacebook campaign started after the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke. “I don’t think there has been any meaningful impact we’ve observed,” he said in response to a journalist’s question. “But, look, it’s not good. I don’t want anyone to be unhappy with our services or what we do as a company. So, even if we can’t really measure a change and the usage of a product, or the business or anything like that, it still speaks to people feeling like this is a massive breach of trust and that we have a lot of work to do to repair that.”

Stories by SAMPSON AKINTARO

T

HE umbrella body of mobile phone dealers at the popular Computer Village in Lagos, Phone and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (PAPDAN), has challenged a United Kingdom-based Sun Newspaper to provide verifiable data to prove its allegation of UK stolen phones being sold in the Nigerian market.

The paper had in a recent publication that has gone viral online, claimed that most stolen phones in the UK end up in Nigeria’s Computer Village “where ‘a gang of black marketers are making millions out

F

ACEBOOK has released further details on possible abuse of personal information on the social network, saying most users may have been affected by “malicious actors” scraping public profile information. In addition, the company said some 87 million people had been affected by Cambridge Analytica’s improper use of personal data on Facebook users.

This was disclosed in a statement and conference call by CEO Mark Zuckerberg with the press, where he outlined the company’s continued efforts to protect users of the social network and their data. He also confirmed that he will appear before a US Congress committee on 11 April to discuss the recent data breaches and Facebook’s role, while other top executives from the company will meet with government officials in other countries.

Zuckerberg said that “it’s clear now that we didn’t do enough” to prevent abuse of the platform and how its tools could harm people.

of the misfortunes of UK people”.

The paper said it arrived at this discovery after investigations.

But while speaking with the Oracle Today, PAPDAN President, Mr Godfrey Nwosu dismissed the allegations, noting that dealers in the Computer Village are doing legitimate business and would not trade in stolen phones, be it from UK or elsewhere. Nwosu described the report as a deliberate effort, not only to rubbish the market, but also to tarnish Nigeria’s image. “If indeed they have done their investigations as claimed, they should come out with facts and figures through verifiable data. I can boldly say that stolen phones are not sold

“We didn’t take a broad enough view of what our responsibility is, and that was a huge mistake. It was my mistake.” As a result, “we’re broadening our view of our responsibility, from just giving people tools to recognizing that it’s on us to make sure those tools are used well.”

Facebook said that the 87 million people affected by the improper sharing of data with political campaigner Cambridge Analytica would be informed by the company. The number was previously thought to be 50 million, according to the initial press reports on the breach, and this is the first time Facebook has given its own data. The vast majority, some 70 million, were in the US, while Facebook also gave a breakdown for numbers of affected users in other countries.

Zuckerberg said this information was finalised in the “last couple days”, based on estimates of how many people the original app used to collect the data could have reached. He said the company did

at our market. Every day, our people transfer millions of dollars to order genuine phones, these are people doing legitimate business. For some people to sit down in UK and write reports to destroy a market we have built over the years is not acceptable”. “If they can provide data that can prove their claims beyond reasonable doubt, then we can take steps to challenge it and at that point it is not going to be about Computer Village alone, because the country’s image is also at stake” Godfrey said.

Also reacting, the President of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), Mr Ahmed Ojikutu, said

not have logs going back to when the app was first used. The company further disclosed that it had found that a function to search on a person’s phone number or email address in Facebook search was being abused to collect personal data.

The unnamed “malicious actors” accumulated personal profile information by submitting phone numbers or email addresses they already had through search and account recovery. Facebook said that “most people on Facebook could have had their public profile scraped in this way”, given the level of sophistication of the scheme. As a result, it’s disabled this feature and changed its account recovery methods to reduce the risk of scraping.

Additional changes have been made to the collection of call and text history data of people using Messenger or Facebook Lite on Android. Facebook said it’s “reviewed this feature to confirm that Facebook does not collect the content of messages”, and going forward and will delete all logs older than one

year. In future, clients will only upload to Facebook servers the information needed to offer the service, and not broader data such as the time of calls.

Zuckerberg further confirmed that changes to Facebook Login have started to control better third-party apps’ access to user data. From 09 April, the company will launch the earlier announced link at the top of the News Feed for users to see what apps they use and the information they have shared with those apps.

People will also be able to remove apps that they no longer want.

In addition, the company published its proposed new terms of service and data policy. These will be open to public comment for seven days before being rolled out. The update notably adds information about how Facebook shares data with its other services WhatsApp, Oculus and Instagram, as well as more detailed explanations of how it processes personal and device data and shares this with advertisers

The Oracle Today

23

Wednesday April 18, 2018

e-Platform

NITDA begins ICT training for women Stories by SAMPSON AKINTARO

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HE National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), with the mandate of developing and regulating Information Technology (IT) in Nigeria, has started its first set of Women in ICT training. According to the agency, the training is part of its continuous efforts aimed at supporting the federal government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

Speaking on the training, the Director General of NITDA, Dr. Isa Pantami said the agency had realized that women have unequal access to economic opportunities than men, thus it believes technology can be used to bridge the gap. The first batch of the programme is scheduled to hold in the North West region and is aimed to train 100 women, create 300 hundred direct jobs and over 1000 indirect jobs.

Key objectives of the programme, he said, include boosting digital literacy, creating digital jobs, bridging the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, and using technology to address gender imbalance in economic opportunities.

“Statistics have shown that women’s participation in ICT is less than 24 per cent and we in NITDA are determined to bridge the gap through special training programmes for women in addition to the usual ICT capacity development activities of which both men and women are given equal opportunities” Pantami said.

The four weeks training programme focuses on key ICT skill areas including entrepreneurship development, business management, ICT and

communication. In line with Mr President’s commitment to sustainable human capital development, the programme is fully funded and participants will be provided with first class accommodation, feeding and healthcare services for the duration

of the training. In addition, each participant will also receive customised laptop computer system, stipend and other tools to aid their future pursuits.

“Recall that the ERGP has three broad objectives - restoring growth, investing in the Ni-

gerian people, and building a globally competitive economy.

It is clear from these that for any meaningful growth to take place, consideration must be given to the citizens - the nation’s priceless assets - through increased social inclusion, creating jobs and improving the human capital base of the economy. Towards the realisation of these laudable objectives, we in NITDA, in our efforts at assessing and addressing ICT skills requirements to support sustainable economic growth and development strides, this year, developed this unique training programme targeting women” the DG said.

The National Information Technology Development

Samsung set for strong start to 2018

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AMSUNG forecast record profit for Q1 2018 and a sharp rise in revenue, driven by continued strong demand for its memory chips and a good reception for its latest flagship smartphone. In an earnings guidance statement, the South Korean company predicted consolidated operating profit will hit approximately KRW15.6 trillion ($14.7 billion) up by 58 per cent from Q1 2017 figures, when it hit KRW9.9 trillion. Sales for Q1 2018 were tipped to hit KRW59 trillion to KRW61 trillion, a rise from KRW50.5 trillion in the same quarter year prior.

According to analysts, the company’s strong momentum is expected to continue throughout the year, with memory chips the main driver for the growth. This segment

A

ones to provide logistical and technical support with commercialization as the ultimate goal.

With LG’s backing, startups will take part in international events such as Open Source Summit and OSCON to share their ideas and initiatives with other industry influencers.

Toward its goal of expanding the webOS global footprint, LG developed an open source version of its platform, webOS Open Source Edition, now available to the public at http://webosose. org. Developers can download the source code free as well as taking advantage of related tools, guides and forums on the site to become more familiar with webOS and its inherent benefits as a smart devices platform. And because webOS is a Linux-kernel-

reportedly contributed to about 75 per cent of its total operating profit, with its semiconductor business bringing in around KRW11.6 trillion. The company’s mobile business also reportedly also performed well in the period, due to the success of the Galaxy S9 which launched at Mobile World Congress in February.

Research company Strategy Analytics forecast Samsung sold 9.3 million Galaxy S9 units in Q1, while analysts have also pointed to lower advertising costs which have helped the mobile business. FT added operating profit had, however, been hit by its display unit, in particular its OLED business, because of poor sales of the Apple iPhone X which uses the components.

Smile introduces free 1GB data offer

• Dr. Isa Pantami, DG-NITDA-

LG partners with Korean I Government to expand webOS

S part of a broader effort to make webOS even more accessible to today’s consumers and industries, LG Electronics (LG) entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with South Korean government body, National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), to more actively advance its philosophy of open platform, open partnership and open connectivity.

NIPA is the governmental body within South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) responsible for developing the country’s IT sector. LG said it would solicit webOS business proposals from hundreds of start-ups recommended by NIPA and shortlist the most viable

Agency (NITDA) is an Agency of the Federal Government.

The Agency was created in April 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and coordinate general IT development and regulation in the country. Specifically, Section 6(a & k) of the Act mandates NITDA to create a framework for the planning, research, development, standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of Information Technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria; and determine critical areas in information technology requiring research intervention and facilitate research and development in those areas.

based multitasking OS with support for HTML5 and CSS3, webOS will be quite familiar to even new developers.

“When LG adopted webOS for our popular smart TV lineup in 2013, it did so with the knowledge that webOS had tremendous potential,” said Dr. I.P. Park, Chief Technology Officer at LG Electronics. “webOS has come a long way since then and is now a mature and stable platform ready to move beyond TVs to join the very exclusive group of operating systems that have been successfully commercialization at such a mass level. As we move from an app-based environment to a web-based one, we believe the true potential of webOS has yet to be seen.”

n its continued quest to always delight its teeming subscribers, Smile Nigeria has introduced another attractive value adding service from its rich repertoire of value adding services. This time around, Smile is making it possible for its customers to enjoy FREE 1GB data daily for 365days on a minimum of 500MB daily usage from their paid bundle.

Dubbed “Get 1GB FREE Daily for 365Days” the service is specifically designed for customers that have not used their Smile device in the last 90days. The service ensures that those who use a minimum of 500MB in a day from their paid bundle will get 1GB FREE data for use the next day. The ubiquitous nature of the offer extends to the fact that data can be used for voice, internet, video streaming and SMS. Another attraction of the offer is that data utilization is anytime of the day. The offer

avails the customer of FREE 1GB data that is valid for 1 day.

In a similar development, Smile has given its customers an opportunity to have their faulty devices replaced at no additional cost to them. A statement from the company indicated that effective Monday 3rd April, 2018 customers can swap their faulty Smile devices for FREE. An innovative and multiple award-winning broadband company, Smile launched West Africa’s first true 4G LTE network in Ibadan in 2013 thereby revolutionizing the way people access the Internet. The company has, repeatedly, been applauded for bringing SuperFast, reliable mobile broadband service to Nigeria for Nigerians. It has also received plaudits for innovative services and customer-centric products. One of such is the recent win of Telecoms leadership prize 2018.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

EDITORIAL

www.oraclenews.ng

VOX POPULI SACRUM

Buhari: A chance to save Nigeria Cont’d front page 1

few kilometres from Shinkafi in Zamfara State. But despite several appeals to security agencies to storm the area, our appeals have failed. I need to state here that majority of the weapons used by bad people in this country are brought in from this area. I had reason to personally inform Zamfara State Director of SSS sometimes back of a large cache of weapons being brought into the country, but no concrete action was taken until the containers were moved away.”

“Whatever humanly possible that needed to be done, we as a government have done to mitigate this disaster.

But it does appear that security agencies are failing in their responsibilities,” Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari said in Zurmi.

“As such, I urge you security agencies to up the ante so as not to lose this war. If you let us take issues on our hands, anarchy will reign, which is not what we hope for. On this particular incident, we had intelligence reports 24 hours before it happened that the bandits were grouping and ready to attack. I alerted the security agencies, but unfortunately they sent inadequate personnel to confront these people from where they came from,” Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari said in Zurmi.

“I feel let down facing the people of this State whenever I remember the promise I made to them that when they elect President Muhammadu Buhari into power, these killings will end. But unfortunately, things are now getting worse,” Yari lamented.

THE most insensitive part of the responses happened in Benue State in January while the President was receiving governors of the All Pr0gressives Congress (APC) and days after the Zamfara attacks. Politics was placed ahead of the lives of the people. Politics, the elections in 2019, were more important than the lives of Nigerians, which bandits, also cattle rustlers, (the Zamfara narrative) were wasting.

THE South East remains the theatre of high military and security outposts in almost every kilometre of its landscape. Here, the security agents do everything in their powers to intimidate the people. They do all they can to provoke them. Where all these fail, they do not need any reasons to arrest, detain, or beat them up. These torments momentarily cease after money has been extracted from the people.

VILLAGES, moreso, and cities suffer the same fate. People have to explain why they are on the streets, in search of their means of living. In a country that has made a monumental mess of having credible identifications for its citizens, they are asked for identifications, or ringed into any circumstance that is an opportunity to make money. No charges are required to detain anyone. No law operates in the domain of Python Dance. One is guilty until he proves his innocence. The wasteful dispersal of resources that should have been deployed to the fighting of insurgents in the North East is another indication that Nigeria is in the final phases of refusing to search for its challenges and resolve them.

WHAT is the point of the increased military presence in the South East? Is it easier to heighten troops deployment than to address the issues that younger people in the South East are raising? Would more security presence in the South East solve the problems that distort visions, hamper ideas and ultimately militate against the development of Nigeria as a whole?

ROADBLOCKS surface wherever and in numbers the Police, Army, Immigrations, Customs, Civil Defence, NDLEA, NAFDAC, FRSC, determine. Are there no other parts of Nigeria where crimes take place? Where else in Nigeria are there security outlays in the manner that is witnessed in the South East?

THREE things stand out about President Buhari - his infallibility, according to his supporters, his abhorrence of the Constitution, and his abundant promises, as if he is still campaigning. The President is his own Constitution.

Learned men are falling over themselves to justify the constitutional breaches.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, the Senate has rejected Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission but he is still occupying the position, making decisions, executing them, and implementing the budget for EFCC. He requires a Senate confirmation to be on that seat.

WITHOUT recourse to the National Assembly, the President is spending $1 billion on security in the North East. The President cannot spend money that is not appropriated.

Our law says so emphatically in Sections 80, 81 and 162 of the Constitution for the President, and Sections 120, 121 for governors. What is going on reflects the dangers the illegality of the Excess Crude Account embodies. It should be stopped.

TO worsen these, to criticise the President approximates to affinity with corruption. His legions of avid supporters, and those who have been hounded into silence, have learnt to adore him. Images of him as a military Head of State, with powers of life and death, which he did not fail to use, are not really distant memories.

WORSE things happen. President Buhari would not accept responsibility for anything. As Minister of Petroleum, he said this at the height of the fuel scarcity of December 2017, in his January 1 broadcast this year: “Unfortunately, I am saddened to acknowledge that for many, this Christmas and New Year holidays have been anything but merry and happy. Instead of showing love, companionship and charity, some of our compatriots chose this period to inflict severe hardship on us all by creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the country. The consequence was that not many could travel and the few who did had to pay exorbitant transport fares.”

WAS limiting the impact of the scarcity to inconveniences of travellers an admission of the President’s scope of understanding of how fuel scarcity affects the economy? Was it part of the denial that the government hit the people and the economy for more than three weeks with a devastation that could take more money to repair?

WHO are the President’s compatriots who inflicted the pains on Nigerians? Since the President alleged the sabotage, he knew them, and their operations. It was another presidential befuddlement over fuel scarcity.

THE President promised to punish the saboteurs as a deterrent. “This is unacceptable given that NNPC had taken measures to ensure availability at all depots. I am determined to get to the root of this collective blackmail of all Nigerians and ensure that whichever groups are behind this manipulated hardship will be prevented from

doing so again.” The President underlined his seriousness about dealing with those who delight in hurting our people.

HAS the President punished them in four months? Who would he punish? Is it the depot owners or the independent marketers who had told the public that NNPC did not supply them products? Is it NNPC imported fuel at N171 per litre and sold at the approved price range of N143-N145 per litre?

Is it the government that said it had abolished subsidy but has been subsidising the product, without an approved budget for subsidy?

NIGERIANS have the most unapologetically divisive President in our history, yet he insists that he had decided how we could live. What does it say about him that he has no living person with whom he had this great discussion about Nigeria? The absurdity of the narrative as a counter to the agitations about making Nigeria workable is simply morbid.

IN 2016 he hosted NYSC members from the South East, in Daura, and warned them against joining the agitations in the South East. At that time, other parts of Nigeria had agitations over other issues. He picked on the South East.

He was to repeat the routine. The President has proven his deftness in divisiveness.

DID he think of the feelings of millions of other Nigerians, who are not Igbo or Fulani, when he decided to use a discussion that he purported had with Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to seal the non-discussion of the state of Nigeria? “In 2003 after I joined partisan politics, the late Chief Emeka Ojukwu came and stayed as my guest in my hometown Daura. Over two days we discussed in great depth till late into the night and analyzed the problems of Nigeria. We both came to the conclusion that the country must remain one and united,” the President said, six years after Ojukwu’s demise.

WHAT politics permitted the duo to decide on a national question and seal it? Is it an assessment of the comatose state of Nigeria that a decision two men reached, without any legal or political grounding should seal the fate of Nigeria 14 years on? How do we in 2017, 103 years after the amalgamation that birthed Nigeria, decide by presidential convenience that we cannot discuss, interrogate, investigate, determine whether there are ways of improving our circumstances as Nigerians?

THE President places his personal understanding of issues over personal constitutional liberties Nigerians have, including the rights to express themselves. “I was distressed to notice that some of the comments, especially in the social media have crossed our national red lines by daring to question our collective existence as a nation. This is a step too far,” he said, after his long medical vacation in London last year. What are those lines? Who drew them? Why can we not question our collective existence as a nation? Which law forbids the proffering of that question?

BUHARI on the ballot paper again, is the final opportunity for Nigerians to vote for the future or the past of the country.

We think that votes cast with the past in mind, and the future that awaits Nigeria without that past is the redemption that we seek.

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

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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

OPINION W We are watching 2 hoever loves Nigeria should be concerned about the security of life and property within her borders. It affects all of us across party, ethnic and religious lines. It affects the rich and the poor. Unfortunately, it can, and it ought to be said that our political leaders constitute the greatest threat to security in this country, not armed robbers nor kidnappers, not Boko Haram nor herdsmen.

Nigerians are currently forced to watch a show of shame by the ruling party of today and the ruling party of yesterday. Such are accusations and counter-accusations of looting that Nigerians find it difficult to differentiate between the accuser and the accused. Huge sums of money belonging to the people of Nigeria obviously got into wrong hands and for wrong reasons. There are good reasons to suspect that the looting that took place cut across party lines. Nigerians deserve to know how, for example, the two leading parties financed their campaigns in 2015. But instead of honest answers, we are treated by the two big parties to a theatrical display of politically motivated compilation of lists of looters. We are forced to say what Jesus said to the accusers of the adulterous woman in the Gospel: whoever has not sinned let him cast the first stone.

Nigeria is like the man in the Gospel according to Luke who, travelling on the way to Jericho, fell into the hands of armed robbers who attacked him and left him for dead. Nigerians are impoverished by those who are put in charge of her enormous resources while our political leaders live in affluence. The standard of living continues to nosedive. And while politicians display ill-gotten wealth at birthday and wedding parties, there is widespread dilapidation of infrastructure.

Our government got a friendly reminder recently. Counselled to invest resources on the people of Nigeria, its apologists, as usual, insulted the messenger. Has Bill Gates become a wailer and a looter, as critics of this government are often labelled.

Two sectors were singled out in Gates’ discourse—education and health. It was a simple reminder of the saying: healthy minds in healthy bodies. Young Nigerians see how their future flies away from them, while those responsible for its flight buy properties in Dubai and elsewhere. We have enough to revamp the education and health sectors and secure the future of our children and children’s children. But our schools and hospitals are in decay. The money needed to keep them has been stolen while those who corner the money send their children to the best schools in Europe and North America. They even go to those places to treat a common headache at the expense of the ordinary Nigerian.

As a result of the poverty visited on our people, especially our youths, it becomes easy to recruit them into all kinds of militia as another season of elections approaches.So we move from one unending season of insecurity to another. The fire of Boko Haram is yet to be

extinguished. Government officials tell us Boko Haram is “degraded” or “technically defeated”. The same officials tell us they are discussing ceasefire terms with a defeated army. What a contradiction!

This same “degraded” Boko Haram cruised in a convoy into Dapchi, abducted over 100 young schoolgirls without the Nigerian Army firing a shot, cruised back a few days later to return the girls, again, the Nigerian Army was nowhere to be found. If a defeated army can walk in and out of Nigeria with so much ease, like a hot knife through butter, what will an undefeated army do to us!

As we speak, Leah Shabiru, one of the girls is still in captivity because she refused to renounce her Christian faith. A few days after her mates were released, the Inspector General of Police was on television assuring Nigerians she would be released in just a few hours.

In just a few hours, the story changed. The boss of the Nigerian Police said he was misun-

derstood. Do government officials take us for fools? Nigerians of today are no fools!

While the Boko Haram inferno continues, murderous herdsmen emerged, killing innocent Nigerians in a brutal reminder that government is either unable or unwilling to secure this land and its people. Nigerians hear of complaints by state governors accusing some soldiers and policemen of acts prejudicial to security. It is sad to hear such stories because there are young men and young women in the army and in the police in this country who have been sent to their early graves while protecting us. It is sad to hear that they are being betrayed by those who ought to be their comrades. What a Nation!

But we must not generalize. Not all our soldiers and policemen and women are traitors.

Yet, the need to sanitize these two institutions has attained grave urgency. In the same way, while there are peaceful and law-abiding herdsmen in this country, there is a militia of herdsmen terrorizing this country.

The call to self-defence by a retired army general should cause apprehension. The legitimacy of self-defence is not in doubt. But who, in this season of partisanship, will check its modality, the morality of its means. Unchecked, that can open another chapter of bloodshed in this country.

Instead of indecently jostling for positions in 2019, the immoral electioneering propaganda that has replaced good governance, and the vicious fight over whose turn it is to capture the pot of honey that Nigeria’s wealth is, our politicians across party lines should stop and ponder: what type of Nigeria are we handing over to our children and to our children’s children? Whether our political leaders in all the parties will seek wise answers to that question is left to be seen. That is why we are still watching and waiting.

His Eminence, • ANTHONY CARDINAL OLUBUNMI OKOGIE is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

As the battle for Abia Govt House rages...

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By GODWIN ADINDU

ir Winston Churchill, the war-time British Prime minister, is right, very, very right: politics is like war. “Politics are almost as exciting as war and quite as dangerous, although in war you can be killed only once, in politics, many times,” so said the renown speech-maker and veteran of the Second World War (SWW). “Politics are very much like war. We may even have to use poison gas at times.”

For the All Citizens Forum (ACF), the frontline Pro-Group in Abia, the return of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to Government House for a second term in 2019 is a battle that must be won. The ACF is approaching the struggle as a battle but they are not going to use poison gas. They are going to deploy strategy and tactical actions. This is why the group is re-jigging all its structures through the Wards, LGAs, Zones and State levels. They have demonstrated their readiness in their moving parades in all the mega rallies so far held in Abia State.

They stole the show at Okpuala Ngwa, at the Second Ukwa Ngwa Declaration. They repeated the feat at Uzuakoli at the Bende Endorsement and on Easter Monday, at the Ukwa Ngwa Youth Unite for Governor Ikpeazu mega rally held at Ngwa High School, Aba. The ACF is currently embarking on a large-scale mobilisation of men through the 17 local councils of the state as foot soldiers against the opposition and as resource persons for tactical actions that will lead to the victory of the Governor.

But, why is ACF so much committed to this project? Men of the ACF are pointing at equity and justice, insisting that equity demands that Abia South completes its tenure of eight years like the other zones in the past. They are also referring to performance and saying that with over sixty roads completed and commissioned and a

wide array of ongoing construction work in the state, Governor Ikpeazu has done creditably and should GO AGAIN. The ACF recognises that the Governor through his caterpillar revolution has changed the narrative of governance in Abia State. The infrastructural renewal drive has seen to the rehabilitation of many public centres and has created a new face for the state. Aba, the great Enyimba City, has witnessed a new social transformation and has boldly taken a place in the global marketing arena. Impressed by these initiatives that are fast expanding the frontiers of life in Abia, ACF is ready to re-enact the solidarity that led to the victory of Governor Ikpeazu in 2015. The ACF will have taken up the gauntlet for the struggle for the completion of a two-term for Governor Ikpeazu.

As they lead in the battle in conjunction with other pro-groups, the ACF will, among other things, significantly present the Governor’s records in developing the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Abia as a basis for their conviction that the Governor must complete his tenure of 8 years. This effort has produced great results in developing the latent ingenuity and creativity for which Aba is celebrated. It has led to a renewed attention to the artisans of Aba and a review of the future of the fabled Aba Made Goods. In the first year of his administration, 60 shoemakers were mobilised to Turkey to understudy modern technologies in shoe production. And just recently, 30 youths were also mobilised to China as the first batch of 100 ambassadors selected for the training in China.

The ACF is also pointing at the Governor’s achievement in fulfilling the primary obligation of government which is the maintenance of law and order. The Governor has excellently fulfilled this primary obligation of government by ensuring that

there is adequate security in the state. His fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes has yielded maximum result.

The ACF is also calling the attention of the world to the Governor’s far-sighted vision which found expression in his pioneer experiment with rigid, pavement technology (also known as cement technology) in the construction of Aba roads. He raised the bar in quality and innovation in road construction by introducing cement technology into the lexicon of road construction work in Abia. Though the cost of this technology is higher than the conventional construction methods, the Governor experimented on it as a measure to strengthen the load bearing capacity of some roads in Abia and boost the strength and quality of the finished work. This is because roads constructed with this technology have a sustainability guarantee of ten to twenty years.

They will point at major signature projects like the reconstruction of Faulks road and re-channeling of the Ifeobara Water Basin which have enhanced business at the Ariaria International Market; the construction of the first Flyover at Osisioma junction, the construction of the access road linking Umuaro – Ekwereazu to Akwa Ibom and the new bypass linking Ohafia and Arochukwu.

They will point at the Governor’s efforts to link Aba to the sea through the development of the Obuaku City Port. This will give a great boost to Aba as the commercial hub of the South East. They will refer to the effort to revitalise moribund industries. Today, the Aba Glass Industry has started full operation with over 400 staff strength.

The ACF will speak of the One Ward, One Project Initiative being executed by the Abia State Rural Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASTRIDE). This initiative is aimed at providing at least one project in

each of the 184 INEC Wards in the 17 local councils and the idea is to close the gap of infrastructural deficit in the rural areas Indeed, in the battle for the re-election of Governor Ikpeazu, the only arsenal in the disposition of the All Citizens Forum is the scorecard of excellent performance. While the opposition will throw missiles of blackmail and propaganda, ACF will counter with a proof of claim of work done. We will match their capacity for violent lies with our capacity for genuine evidence.

• Adindu is the Publicity Director of the All Citizens Forum (ACF)

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

Wednesday April 18, 2018

Travel & Hospitality

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U.S, Morocco top attractive destinations’ list Stories by VICTOR NZE

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CCORDING to the latest Africa Investment Index 2018

by Quantum Global Research Lab, an independent research arm of Quantum Global, the North African nation of Morocco has a receptive business environment and low risk profile, making it the top destination in Africa.

This is also the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) ranked the United States as the most popular tourist destination in the world. ‘‘Morocco has been consistent in attracting an inward flow of foreign capital, specifically in banking, tourism and energy sectors and through the development of industry,’‘ said Prof. Mthuli Ncube, Managing Director, Quantum Global Research Lab The index which was released on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan measures six major factors: growth, liquidity, risk, business environment, demography and social capital, to determine the investment attractiveness of countries in the medium term.

Ivory Coast which is the fastest growing economy in Africa was ranks 5th on the investment index while Botswana, previously ranked as Africa’s top investment destination in the first edition, ranks 4th scoring well in risk factors as well as the business environment.

With Nigeria conspicuously missing from the rating, the other coun-

tries among the top 10 most attractive investment destination in Africa are: Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya and Senegal.

The bottom 10 African countries in attracting investment are Central African Republic, Liberia, Somalia, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe as well as Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, a recently released WTTC research has indicated that United States remains the largest tourism market in the world, with tourist-related activities generating $1500bn for the economy in 2017.

“Our research shows that travel and tourism directly supports nearly twice as many jobs as the banking sector, eight times more than the mining sector, and six times more than the automotive manufacturing sector,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO, adding: “The tourism sector is the best partner the US can have in creating new jobs.”

The WTCC’s US Economic Impact report found the sector accounted for nearly 14 million jobs and $200bn in exports in 2017.

China and India in particular represent the biggest threats to US tourism supremacy, with China’s tourism and travel sector expected to overtake the US by 2028, according to the WTTC, which also said that by 2028 the US tourism sector is projected to be worth $2000bn, whereas China’s is expected to reach $2700bn. At the same time, India’s tourism sector is expected to grow from $234bn

• (From left to right): Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; former President of Tanzania, President Jakaya Kikwete; and Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai during the Ground Breaking of the Kaduna Hilton Hotel, located on Waff Road/Muhammadu Buhari way, Thursday. (in 2017) to $492bn by 2028, which would make it the world’s third largest tourism and travel market.

The report concludes that the US must enact innovative measures to attract more international visitors and fend off its global competitors.

In particular, Ms Guevara identified the US Visa Waiver programme and the US Global Entry scheme as “the best in the world”. She said: “[The US Global Entry] expansion would encourage visitors, especially high-

spending business and regular travellers.”

From a policy perspective, it is also integral for the US to promote an environment conducive to international visitors, said the report.

“The government is ideally placed to tap into this opportunity, by promoting the country so that visitors know that the US is open and welcoming, while being secure,” said Ms Guevara.

FTAN announces partnership with NTDC, NBS U MBRELLA body of Nigerian travel and tourism operators, the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), has said it is collaborating with Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and others to boost the sector.

National President of FTAN, Mallam Rabo Saleh, made this know when he addressed newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

Saleh said that with his appointment as NTDC board member, he would ensure positive and effective collaborations to move tourism forward.

“It is a good step because government cannot run the tourism sector alone; there is absolute need for the private sector to be carried along.

“We are going to do everything possible to ensure that tourism is given priority and placed in a right position to attract tourists from across the world.

“For example, we have a lot of tourism sites in the Federal Capital Territory. There is need to open them up by providing good infrastructure and facilities for convenience to make them habitable.

“Consequently, it will also benefit the local people through the provision of employment for members of the community,” Saleh said.

He further said that the collaborations with stakeholders would ensure advocacy visits to various communities around tourist sites in the country to educate them on the benefits they stand to gain when they cooperate.

He said that the involvement of

local communities in ensuring the smooth operations of tourist sites was important, adding that tourists were only interested in traditional setting in rural areas not sky-scrapers and modern structures.

Saleh explained further that due to the importance of data in management of tourism, the NBS would in no distant time begin the training of its (FTAN) staff on collation and management of data in tourism industry.

He said plans have reached advance stage that would culminate in signing of Memorandum of Understanding for the data collation and management training.

“This is good for the development of the sector and information for prospective investors in the sector; when information about the sector is handy, investor will be interested.”

On double taxation imposed on operators in the hospitality and travel industry, Saleh said the meeting between FTAN and revenue authorities was ongoing.

Saleh also said FTAN was working hard to ensure that the forthcoming Tourism Investment Forum impact the sector, stakeholders and country in general.

He, however, said the security challenge in the country was not encouraging the growth of tourism, adding that FTAN was doing its best in the sector to ensure the gains trickled down to the people at the grassroots.

“Security had been a serious challenge; when we thought we were getting over the Chibok issue, Dapchi happened; but we

thank God for the immediate and prompt response of the Federal Government.

“Also, President Muhammadu Buhari, has just signed the release

of one billion dollars to address security challenges. I believe this will go a long way to address security challenges and encourage tourism.

Since assuming office, the Trump administration has sought to strengthen US national security by proposing a variety of measures, including fortifications to the US-Mexico border wall and the introduction of an eight-country travel ban. While these policies could have damaging consequences in the future, there is no evidence to suggest that the Trump administration has directly harmed the US tourism sector, as per the report’s findings.

“I believe in a matter of time, insecurity will be a thing of the past.

“We also intend to be in attendance at the meeting of Presidential Council of Tourism to table ideas and strategies that will develop and boost the sector,” Saleh said.

World’s first-ever luxury floating space hotel announced

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he Aurora Station project has announced the Space 2.0 Summit in California’s San Jose that would represent the firstever luxury floating space hotel that was ever introduced on earth.

The unique project would permit six people including two crew members who would be offered the opportunity to enjoy first-class accommodation above earth as part of a 12-day odyssey among the stars.

This one-in-a-lifetime experience would permit guests to experience the excellent energy of zero gravity and stare upon spectacular views of the planet below without the fear of getting lost into space.

Moreover there would be the added perk of being able to witness an average of 16 sunrises and sunsets a day.

Also included on the agenda is the opportunity to participate in research experiments including growing food in orbit and also make efforts to try out state-ofthe-art virtual reality technology on the holodeck while high-speed Internet would let people accumulate some interesting Snapchat stories.

The chief executive officer Frank Bunger and founder of Orion Span, who disclosed this, Thursday, added that the hotel would open in the year 2021 band host its first guests the next year.

He then went on to add that

they had developed Aurora Station to offer a turnkey destination in space. Once it is launched Aurora Station would resume service immediately bringing travellers into space quicker and also at a lower price than ever before.

Mr. Bunger then stated that his

goal was to make sure that space is accessible to all, though a trip to Aurora Station would still require a three-month training regime comprising a stint at a company facility in Houston, Texas and every person would be billed as much as $9.5 million.

Calabar readies for Ushie celebrations

D

estination Calabar will come alive again barely four months after the famous Christmas Carnival, as a group puts finishing touches to arrangements lined up celebrate literary artist, Joseph Akawu Ushie.

Themed; the ‘Joe Ushie @ 60: Otherness, Marginality and Social Justice. The three-day event spanning from April 25 to 28, and organized by the Calabar Study Group, is slated for the University of Calabar, in Cross Rivers State.

“Joe Ushie is one of the strong voices that have, by their consistency and creative industry, established their identities in the canon of Nigerian poetry in the millennium. Along with other poets in his generation, Joe Ushie has provided the creative trough that defines contemporary Nigerian and recent African literature at large.

“Characterised by a peculiar lachrymal tone, definitive of the poetics of his generation, Joe

Ushie poetry is unique for its compelling eco-consciousness and intemperateness with the social injustice of the present day Nigeria. That eco-concentricity is, In turn, steep in the idiom and cultural mores of his Bendi people of South-South Nigeria. Beyond his poetry, Joe Ushie has committed himself to the creative revival of his people’s folk performance and systematizing them for a new world. This can be seen in his patronage and investment in creating two different Bette-Bendi women and men performance troupes- “Litong” and Bendi Traditional Marriage Theatre,” the statement by the group read.

The proposed conference has as confirmed Keynote Speakers and Lead paper presenters, Prof Obododimma Oha (University of Ibadan), Prof Oyeniyi Okunoye (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife) and Prof. A.S Adagboyin (Ambrose Ali University, Delta State).

The Oracle Today

27

Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS Extra

Anambra CAN elects new exco, ex-chairman kicks

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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HE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra state chapter, has elected Rev. Dr. John Ndubisi of the Evangelical Church of West Africa/Tarraya Ekklesiyoyin Christi Nigeria (ECWA/TEKAN) bloc as its new chairman.

The new executive came on board as the defeated chairmanship candidate, Special Senior Apostle Tim Okpala who was the incumbent state chairman before the election, protested and described the election as a kangaroo exercise.

But the election which was supervised by the leaders of Southern and South East zonal CAN, including the chairman of

South East zone, Rt. Rev. Dr. Goddy Okafor; his zonal Secretary, Rev. Dr. Scamb Nwokolo and Secretary of Southern CAN, Apostle Joseph Ajujungwa, Ndubisi polled 45 votes to defeat Okpala of the Organization of African Instituted Churches, OAIC bloc who polled 19 votes only.

Bishop Ezedebego Moses of the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, CPFN/ PFN bloc was returned unopposed as secretary with 60 votes, having been nominated without rival or opposition, while Mr. Nnamdi Okeke of the CCN bloc who was also nominated as treasurer had no rival and he won with 49 votes.

At the end of the exercise, the South East Zonal Secretary, Dr. Nwokolo declared Ndubisi winner of the chairmanship position of the state CAN and Okpala the Vice Chairman, but Okpala declined the position of Vice Chairmanship and insisted that the election was kangaroo.

However, Rev. Moses Echefu who is the leader of OAIC bloc, was appointed the Vice Chairman to replace Okpala who rejected the offer, just as the office of the Assistant Secretary was reserved for the CSN bloc. to be filled on appointment at a later date..

The Zonal Chairman, Bishop

Okafor charged the new executive to pilot the affairs of CAN in the state to a higher height since according to him, their tenure had taken effect from that same day of the election.

He also prayed God to guide and protect them as they carry out their onerous tasks.

Stop raising falsehood against Umahi – PDP chieftain tells ex-SSG

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ebonyi State, Chief Godwin Akaji, has told former Secretary to the State Government, Professor Bernard Odoh, to apologize to Governor Dave Umahi for ‘unimaginable, unfounded, baseless and malicious allegations against the governor.’

Odoh had while resigning his position accused Umahi of running a one-man show and not paying attention to workers’ welfare.

Authors blame social media for poor performance in 2017 WASSCE

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

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ssociation of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Ebonyi state chapter, has said social media influence was the cause of the poor performances of candidates in the last year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) .

He said social media have badly affected reading culture of the people.

WAEC had last week released the result of Nov/Dec 2017 WASSCE result in which only 25% passed.

Chairman of ANA in the state, Mr. Richard Inya regretted that students and exam candidates prefer social media to their books and called for change of attitude to arrest the situation.

“Young people should go back to their books, ICT has negatively influenced them. They know place much emphasis on the social media rather than their books which distract them. With our lineup prgrammes, I hope their performances will improve very well.

“At various levels, we have many launched programmes to reawake students reading culture.

This progarmmes will reinvigorate reading culture in the country”, he said.

On her part, lecturer at Alex Ekwueme Federal University NdufuAlike Ikwo, Ebonyi state, Professor Akachi Ezeigbo said there was need to bring back the reading culture.

Akaji while addressing journalists in Abakaliki wondered what could have made Odoh to churn out such sensitive and baseless allegations against the administration he was part of and in which workers are paid on 15th of every month, even as he faulted him for using malicious allegations to achieve his 2019 selfish political interest.

“Odoh should have known that all those things he raised against the Governor are not in existence. If they existed, he should show evidence and that is the only way he can convince the public. He should desist from raising falsehood against the governor because of his selfish political interest.

“He was a spy at the state government. He has been in this administration for three years only to accuse the government of maladministration. He did not work for the emergence of the administration as he was of APGA where he contested for senatorial election and lost.

“He should have resigned without abusing the Governor. Let him know that Ebonyi South must complete its own 8 years of governorship seat the way North and Central did.

Odoh cannot stop the governor”, he said.

• (From left to right): Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, outgone President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Igwe Achese, flag-off of the construction of the Ultra-Modern International Tanker Park in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

2019: Atiku Group inaugurates South East zonal officers

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

HE Atiku Rescue Nigeria Campaign Mission (ARNCM) has restated that the former Vice President and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, remains the only qualified person who can ‘sincerely restructure and rescue Nigeria without bias.’

According to National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Asuwaju Babafemi, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government has failed on all fronts.

Babafemi said this while briefing journalists, weekend, shortly after inaugurating the southeast zonal officers of the ARNCM drawn from Abia, Enugu, Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi states.

“If you look at the present condition of this country and compare it with what it was before the last general elections.

The change that we wanted is not what we are seeing now.

The youths of this great country has been silenced and kept in the dark.

“This is the right time for us to stand up and take the leadership of this country, but we realize that we cannot do that on our own. We need somebody that knows the political terrain, somebody who can take power out from the cables that are controlling the present government,” he said.

He revealed the readiness of the youths to work for the total victory of the former vice president which according to the group is the only person that has the willingness to restruc-

ture Nigeria without bias.

“This is because the youths of this country love Atiku. The present condition of Nigeria cannot continue to be managed by someone who does not have leadership quality or the intellectual capacity to move the country forward.

“The youths want someone who can see other geopolitical zones of the country as one and equal. We don’t want someone who can tribalize national issues,” he stated.

Earlier, the South East zonal coordinator, Apostle Godwin Obasi called on all Nigerians to support the presidential ambition of Atiku to ensure that Nigeria is rescued. “Nigeria is in dire need of qualified leaders who can move the country forward to the next level and Atiku is one of such leaders”, he said.

they made.

He said the men, in search of cheap popularity, cast aspersions on the person of the President- General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo.

Attamah said that the youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo was dissolved in 2016 by Ime-Obi led National Executive Council, while the tenure of the Women Wing expired in 2017.

He said the so-called Ohaneze youth wing executive does not exist as the new executive council for both the youth and women wings would soon be elected.

He said the National Execu-

tive of Ohaneze Ndigbo existed at the instance of the General Assembly, which had demonstrated confidence on the executive committee led

by Nwodo.

Attamah added that Nwodo had continued to enjoy the confidence of the National Executive Council of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

He said the president-general was the only member among the executive prohibited by the constitution from participating in party politics.

He said it was preposterous to imagine that Nwodo could romance with any political as-

pirant, let alone determine his choice of a running mate.

Attamah said that associating Nwodo with politics could only be the handiwork of some politicians.

T

Ohaneze youth wing does not exist – Attamah

O

haneze Ndigbo has called on Nigerians to disregard statements by one Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Okwu Nnabuike claiming to be president and secretary of the youth wing of the association.

The special adviser to the President-General of Ohaneze, Chief Emeka Attamah, in a release in Enugu dismissed a claim by the two that they were officials of the Ohaneze Youth Wing.

Attamah said the group would not join issues with the two men but needed to clear some misrepresentations that

The Oracle Today

28

Wednesday April 18, 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION Linkage Assurance Only one HMO passed validity soon to launch online motor insurance test for operations – NHIS L Stories by VICTOR NZE

O

NLY one Health Management Organisation (HMO) scaled the validity test in the country as over 20 others have been completely de-registered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for failing to meet the minimum operational standard expected of them.

Chairperson of the Board of NHIS, Mrs Enyantu Ifenne, while addressing newsmen, Thursday, disclosed that out of the 57 currently HMOS operating in the sector, only one scored 100 percent from the validity test conducted by the agency.

According to her, the only HMO that scored 100 percent has been given permission to operate, while the 33 others have been granted provisional accreditation.

She said these HMOs would only receive full accreditation when they meet all the conditions spelt for them.

All HMOs operating in the scheme are expected to renew their accreditation every two years.

Ifenne explained that the HMOs were scored based on aggregation of criteria and at the first cut, only 11 out of the 57 HMOs scored over 70 percent, 40 HMOs scored between 50 and 70 percent while 6 HMOs scored below 50 percent.

“The committee re-examined this and reduce the score further from 70 to 50 percent but only the Defense HMO fulfilled met most of the conditions. But if we apply the law, none of the 57 HMOs fully met all the NHIS requirements for accreditation.

“We have advised that the 11 HMOs that were recommended for provisional re-accreditation should comply with specific critical condition within two to three weeks before they can be fully accredited,” she said.

Ifenne further explained that the 46 HMOs who score below 70 percent were disaggregated depending on the critical condition they did not fulfil adding that the six HMOs which scored less that 50 percent were removed from evaluation.

“That means they are not being considered for re-accreditation,” she said.

The NHIS chairperson said another score they used as a critical irreducible minimum was the adequacy of payoff shares capital.

“The payoff share capital for National HMOs is N400 million, zonal coverage is N200 million and the state coverage is N100 million.

And this is a critical requirement because the payoff capital share of a company is a requirement for accreditation and evidence of their financial stability,” she explained.

She also said HMOs were required to submit their audited financial report from 2014 to 2016 but with criteria, six did not meet the requirements and one did not submit audited financial report and corporate affairs commission document, therefore removed from further consideration.

Ifenne gave some criteria considered for accreditation as; registration with cooperate affairs

• The Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice: Mrs. FunlolaOdunlami; The Administrator General, Office of the Administrator General and Public Trustee, Mrs. Mariam Olaniyi; Director, Public Prosecutions, Mrs. TitilayoShitta-Bey during a Sensitization and Awareness Campaign WALK with the Theme : “ Access to Inheritance” organised by The Office of the Administrator General and Public Trustee, Ministry of Justice on Thursday. commission, adequacy of payoff share capital, current asset including fix asset, shareholders composition, company reserve, integrity of shareholders, composition of Board of Directors, current tax clearance of companies, current tax clearance of all Directors, appointment of audit fund and submission of audit account to NHIS as and when due, compliance with Pension PENCOM Act among others.

She charged the HMOs to do their business transparently and accountability while making profit, assuring them that the reaccreditation exercise was not meant to cripple any HMOs. “With this shift, the healthcare providers will be held to account not only for the quality care but also for the humanity because from the information we have most in the scheme are treated as second rate patients.

“So, we all NHIS, HMOs and healthcare providers have to work so that the enroll is at the tip of the value chain and the enrollee becomes the first in the universal coverage,” she said.

“We are going to redefine the processes and focus NHIS to stand up to its regulatory function. The failure to meet our regulatory function is the reason why this plague has being spread, not validated and no punitive action taking. We want to change that, we must change that.

“The HMOs as you can see are doing their best but they have not been regulated appropriately, we must apply the tools. They are willingly to subject themselves to regulations if we stand up to our duties.

“I don’t think any of them, except may be a few rascals want to ruin this game. Similarly, the healthcare facilities beam torchlight all the time. I believe that many of them

would rather deliver quality service, they are in position to do just that,” she added.

On his part, Executive Secretary of NHIS, Mr Usman Yusuf, pledged that he will ensure that NHIS does the right thing moving forward and serve the people better.

“For a very long time, we have not being doing the right thing. I pledge as the Chief Executive of this agency, that I will do all I can to put the enrollee at the Centre rather than in the last position.”

He also denied the allegation of investing the fund of the scheme in business without due authorization, saying no Penney of the fund was invested anywhere in the country or outside the country.

Besides, he said the scheme has the right to invest its fund according to the law but it has not done that as the board has put a hold to the idea.

LOBAL Credit Ratings has affirmed the national scale claims paying ability rating assigned to AIICO Insurance Plc of A(NG), with the outlook accorded as Negative.

GCR explained in a statement, Monday, that the rating was affirmed because the insurer’s assets continued to be conservatively managed, with the bulk of investments in risk free Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bonds and treasury bills.

It noted that in this regard, cash and equivalent constituted about 83 percent of the investment portfolio at FY16, translating into a strong coverage of technical provisions (1.2x) and average monthly claims (48 months).

This is supported by sound asset liability matching for the long term business, as confirmed by the actuarial valuation report. Key liquidity measures are likely to reg-

ister within a sound range over the rating horizon.

Capitalisation has moderated over the review period as sustained losses eroded the capital base. In this respect, consolidated capital declined to N7.6 billion at 3QFY17 from N7.9 billion at FY16 compared to N11.6 billion at FY12.

It said while the solvency levels in the short term business remain strong, the long term business evidences material capital shortfalls, especially considering the scale of the book.

However, comfort is derived from the sound asset liability matching, with bulk of the policyholders’ liabilities backed by risk free FGN bonds. Furthermore, statutory solvency on a consolidated basis reflects adequate coverage of assets over liabilities at FY16.

AIICO Insurance has evidenced notable earnings volatility throughout the review period, under-

pinned by a relatively elevated cost structure, coupled with the declining premium base and an increasing claims level.

Although FY16 reported a significant increase in operating profitability (underpinned by reserve releases due to the slow down on annuity uptake), this was eroded by the net losses on available for sale assets during the year. Going forward, the inherent variability in overall cost structure might continue to impact on the insurer’s earnings capacity, albeit, net profitability is expected to be supported by sound investment returns.

Notwithstanding the consistent decline in gross premiums for the short term business, AIICO’s competitive position remains moderate.

In this regard, consolidated premiums registered a compound annual growth rate of 6.3 percent for the five-year review period, albeit with a declining market share of

inkage Assurance Plc has secured the approval of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to distribute its motor insurance policies online through a robust technology platform that makes it more accessible to its customers anywhere in Nigeria.

However the policy can also be bought by anyone outside Nigeria whose vehicle is within Nigeria territory.

The product, which is a major breakthrough in the company’s quest to deepen penetration through more distribution channels, is expected to drive more sales and boost the firm’s premium growth.

The date of the launch will be adequately communicated to the public.

The company during interaction with journalist in Lagos said the platform will enable customers to buy comprehensive motor insurance, Motor Third party, Third Party Plus and Third party Fire and theft policies online for fleet and single cars.

Managing Director/CEO of the Company, Dr Pius Apere, commenting on the product said: “This is a major breakthrough for us because we are committed to ensuring that we deliver seamless service, such that our customers from the comfort of their home or offices can buy insurance and get their certificates without a face to face contact with us”.

Apere said this was a result of hard work, dedication and most importantly commitment to deliver consumer value.

According to him, Linkage will continue to invest in technology, research and its people for more innovative products and services.

“Our customers are our priority and we will continue to meet their needs and expectation, Dr Apere stated.

For Motor Comprehensive and Motor Third Party Plus covers, in addition to personal data and car details, customers are expected to upload picture of the car to be insured.

GCR affirms AIICO Insurance A(NG) rating G

8.1 percent in FY16 (FY15: 11.3 percent).

GCR said going forward, continued focus on long term business, coupled with expanded retail exposure may gradually enhance the business profile.

AIICO’s reinsurance program consist counterparties with a sound aggregated credit profile.

Note is taken of the elevated level (13 percent) of deductibles per risk and event relative to capital at FY16.

The rating agency said an upward movement of the rating or outlook may follow a sustainable strengthening of solvency metrics and business profile, coupled with the maintenance of liquidity metrics at strong levels.

Conversely, downward movement may result from a sustained weakening in capitalisation levels, and a significant loss of market share or sustained poor operating performance.

The Oracle Today

29

Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS

Church collapse: Govt. will liaise with police on indicted culprits – A’Ibom AG

By INI BILLIE, Uyo

A

KWA Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr.

Uwemedimo Nwoko, has said the government will work with the police to ensure that persons indicted in the Reigners Bible Church building collapse are prosecuted.

Nwoko said Monday in Uyo while reacting to criticism in

some quarters that there was an attempt to exonerate the Founder of the Reigners Bible Church, Mr Akan Weeks, who was accused of impunity and the use of quacks in the construction of the church building.

He said the state government would not prosecute anyone based on the report of the commission of enquiry as it was set up to allow parties involved to

testify freely.

He noted that government will however ensure that any found culpable from the investigation to follow, is made to face the full weight of the law.

He promised to liaise with police authorities in the state to ensure a thorough investigation of those indicted by the report of the commission, and ensure that justice is done in line with due process.

The AG appealed to the people of the state to remain calm and patient as the state government would do all within its powers to ensure that everyone indicted is properly investigate and charged to court.

“All those who have been indicted by the report will be subjected to a thorough investigation by the police and any found culpable will be charge to court and made to face the full weight of the law.

“No one has been exonerated, but we have to carry out proper investigation, you cannot just jail anyone, we must follow due process, but trust that justice must be done at the end of the day”.

Meanwhile the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong has disclosed that the

Akwa Ibom State government has taken steps to forestall a repeat of similar crisis in the state with the establishment of Emergency health centres and trained emergency personnel.

He commended Governor Udom Emmanuel, a victim of the Reigners Bible Church building collapse, on his comportment and how he led the rescue team to ensure that victims were immediately rescued, evacuated, and taken to the hospital for treatment.

Ukpong said the state government recently spent a total of N300 million as medical bills for victims of the building collapse, and a total of 168 victims were evacuated from the scene of the incident out of which 30 worshipers had been confirmed dead.

By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

Cross River State Chapter which spoke on the rising level of insecurity in the State and the need to stem the ugly tide.

The clerics maintained that this has become imperative as the level of kidnapping, cultism related death and other forms of violent crimes that have become the order of the day in the state.

In a release signed by His Grace Archbishop J. E. Ukpo and Elder Engineer James E. Ekabua and chairman and secretary of the organization, the Christian body stressed that the rate at which criminal activities is increasing in the state calls for the immediate implementation of relevant laws without further delay.

“CAN has noticed that the spate of kidnappings, cult activities, and others in the state is on the increase. It is the opinion of CAN Cross River State that the government of the state should as a matter of urgency respond positively to end this heinous activities in the state by implementing the extant law(s) passed by the state house of Assembly in respect of this without further delay”.

The body also frowned at the incessant loss of lives due to the activities of herdsmen in the northern part of the state and urged governments at both the National and State levels to be more proactive in curbing this menace.

Enforce anti-kidnapping, cultism laws – CAN berates Ayade

T • (From left to right): Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Amayanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja and State Governor Nyesom Wike, when the former led other monarchs in the state to Government House Port Harcourt to pass a vote of confidence on Wike, last Thursday.

HE Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has been urged to implement to the letter all anti-kidnapping and anti-cultism laws that are subsisting in the state.

The call was made by the Christian Association of Nigeria,

Wike to labour leaders: Defend democracy R IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has called on labour leaders across Nigeria to raise their voices in defense of democracy in the face of the atrocious system of governance being implemented by the APC Federal Government.

Addressing the 4th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Port Harcourt on Friday, Governor Wike said Nigerian Labour Leaders can no longer stand aloof while the APC Federal Government destroys the fabric of governance.

He said: “As patriots and concerned Nigerians, we must all break our silence and protest against the atrocious and brutal system of the Federal Government that daily undermines our rights to democracy, the rule of law and good governance.

“Nigerians want you and I to stand up and raise our voices for unity, for security, for justice, for the rule of law, for democracy and for free and fair elections in 2019.”.

The governor said that the ship of state is now on a wrong direction, while the nation’s economy remains fragile and democracy, wobbly.

He said: “As I have always said, our ship of State is on a wrong direction. And just as our economy remains fragile so is the nation’s democracy wobbling. If things continue this way, then we may

never experience true democracy and good governance in our lifetime”.

On the theme of the conference, “Impact of Technology (Industry 4.0) on Industrial Relations in the Workplace,” Governor Wike said technology is vital for faster development of the oil and gas industry, but noted that employers and labour leaders must find the right balance.

“The fact that the impact of technology may upset labour employer relations makes the management of technological change in the workplace one of the most challenging problems in industrial relations.

“The challenge before this conference is to find suitable solutions that can be adopted to safeguard industrial harmony and prevent the undue disruptions and dislocations in industrial relations that often result from the impact of technology in the workplace”, he said.

Outgoing President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese said that technology remains critical to the development of the oil and gas industry.

He, however, noted that NUPENG will be in the forefront in the protection of the rights of the workers.

Comrade Igwe Achese decried the casualization of workers in the Oil and Gas industry, noting that steps must be taken to address the issue.

He commended the Rivers State

Governor for his outstanding developmental strides, saying that his projects have changed the landscape of the state.

In a goodwill message, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, represented by the Member Representing Obio/ Akpor Federal Constituency, Hon Kingsley Chinda assured that the House will consider the bill to end casualization in the oil and gas industry.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has flagged off the construction of the Ultra-Modern International Tanker Park in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

The Ultra-Modern International Tanker Park which is being constructed by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Flagging off the Project on Friday, Governor Wike thanked the outgoing President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese for attracting the project to Rivers State.

He said: “Igwe Achese remembered his state and has attracted a project of this magnitude to improve the condition of the people of the state.

“This is a legacy for Achese and for the people of Rivers State. Anywhere he goes after now, Igwe Achese will be remembered for this edifice that will improve the economy of this state “.

The governor urged other Rivers leaders in different locations of authority to promote the interest of Rivers State, instead of de-

marketing the state.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, work for the benefit of Rivers State. Attract projects that will create opportunities for the people “, he said.

He assured that his administration will continue to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive. The governor said that he has signed 1000 certificate of occupancy, which are aimed at helping businesses generate funds from banks.

Governor Wike said that the Tanker Park will employ youths in the area and help the state generate revenue through taxes.

“This park will reduce accidents, loss of lives and unnecessary inconvenience caused by the indiscriminate parking of tankers.

We shall support this project”, he said. In his remarks, Outgoing President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese said he is happy that the project initiated by him has come to fruition. He commended Governor Wike for granting the certificate of occupancy to NUPENG for the 700 plots of land where the international tanker park is being constructed.

He said the Tanker Park will be constructed at the cost of N4b, while it will have a fire station, bank, police station, hotel and banquet hall. Comrade Achese called on investors to partner with NUPENG for the successful completion of the project. He said construction will start after the flag off.

30

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Crime Two suspects re -arraigned for cloning ex-Custom’s boss aide’s phone

T

wo suspected fraudster one Usman Baba Yusuf (a.k.a Usman Dakingari) and Balarabe Abdullahi has been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for cloning the phone number of Abdulmumini Bako, a former Special Assistant to the former Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko Inde.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice D. Z. Senchi of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on a 4-count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N2million.

The re-arraignment followed the arrest of the 1st defendant (Yusuf), who had been on the run after the EFCC granted him administrative bail in 2016.

Yusuf was however, arrested on March 24, 2018 in Kaduna after he had been declared wanted by the EFCC, on the order of the court.

When the charge was read to them, Yusuf pleaded guilty and entered a plea bargain deal, while the second defendant (Abdullahi) pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Usman Baba Yusuf (a.k.a Usman Dakingari) and Balarabe Abdullahi sometimes in June 2015 in Abuja within the judicial division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory held out yourselves as Assistant Comptroller of Nigerian Customs Service and in that assumed position directed one Zakari Jibrin (a Comptroller of Nigerian Customs Service) to pay the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) to account number 0049663040 in the name of Balarabe Abdullahi domiciled in Access bank Nigeria plc and thereby committed the offence of cheating by personation contrary to Section 322 of the Penal Code Cap 532 (Abuja).”

The court admitted Abdullahi to bail in the sum of N1million and one surety in like sum, and ordered the remand of Yusuf in the EFCC custody pending sentencing.

• Usman Baba Yusuf

Pastor who buried woman at church altar confesses …says ritual meant for power and massive worshippers

• The deceased member of the church

• The prophets

Stories by XAVIER NDAH

apparel. To my surprise, I saw Raliat Sanni in their midst. Her hands were tied, and she had a mask on her head. Shopeju was holding a knife I knew was not an ordinary one although there was a discussion on the matter to find a way spiritually to increase our members but definitely Raliat was not penciled down for it.

“The next that happened was that, they laid her on the ground like a ram and Shopeju slaughtered her. Each of the seven other people collected Raliat’s blood in the calabash they all held. Shopeju then severed her head and palms. I demanded from him what they would do with the remaining body. At that instance, he told me to go back to my room.

That was how I left them and went back inside.

“The following morning, I went into the church and noticed a portion with fresh sand, removed the surface sand and saw the corpse.

I then covered it back. Three days after, on Sunday, policemen came to arrest me”, Tobiloba revealed. Shopeju, on his own part, said “I got to know Tobiloba in December, 2017, when brought to me by one TK, for prayer.

Then, I didn’t know him as a prophet until February when he invited me to his church anniversary. Since then, I did not set my eyes on him until I was arrested for allegedly leading some people to his church to commit the said abomination”.

J

ust as Police investigations of the two selfacclaimed prophets held for the callous slaughter of a mother of five whose body was buried in a church altar have begun the senior pastor of the church Tobiloba Ipinse has said that the killing was sanctioned by a native doctor.

The randy prophet, whose church the victim was a member, and where she was also killed like a sacrificial lamb, also claimed he was advised to donate a member of the church whose blood will be used for the sacrifice to enable the church grow both in power for healing and a massive congregation.

Tobiloba Ipinse, 37, founder of Holy Garden Christian Evangelical Church, a branch of Cherubim and Seraphim at Elebute area of Ewekoro, and the victim’s lover accused Shopeju Daniel, 42, of Oba Onimajemu, also a Cherubim and Seraphim, at Egbado Junction, Itori, of masterminding the evil act.

Tobiloba, however, affirmed that the killing actually took place in his presence.

Hear him: “”I was in my room on that fateful Wednesday when someone came to call me at about 10:00 pm, saying some people were waiting to see me in the church. On getting there, I saw Shopeju with seven other people, including a woman, all in black and red

Police parade 78 suspected criminals in C’River S

equel to his promise made to the people of Cross River State of making the state crime free when he resumed duty as the state commissioner of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa has paraded 78 suspected criminals before journalists at the state police headquarters.

Among the number of criminals paraded 16 were armed robbery suspects, 27 cultists, 16 people for alleged murder suspects, 2 for defilement, one impersonator, one female suspect was also paraded for unlawful possession of firearms, making a total of 78 suspects with a cash sum of Eighty Thousand Naira (N80, 000.00) Parading the suspects before newsmen at the Diamond Hill Police Headquarters, the state Police Commissioner Hafiz Mohammed Inuawa said the command will stop at nothing in making the Cross River State the most peaceful state in the comity of states in Nigeria. The Commissioner said the success of the commands feat in crime prevention and control within the period under review, shows that 78 suspects were arrested for various offenses while exhibits recovered from them includes

3 locally made guns, 4 locally made pistols, 1 locally made revolver, 1 jack knife, 21 rounds of live cartridges, 1 hunters head light etc.

His words: “Effort is ongoing to arrest the other suspect at large, and all those found liable to the crime would be charge to court as soon as soon as investigation is completed” The Police boss said the command will not stop soliciting the support of traditional Institutions, religious leaders, youths, community leaders, judiciary and the political class to join hands with the police to fight these upsurge that tend to shatter the peace of the state.

The commissioner further stated that, with the command meeker resources, he will personally give financial rewards to any individual who will assists the police as whistle blowers and furnish it with useful information’s that could lead to the arrest and prosecution those culprits that are perpetuating crime in the state. He also called on those who still harbored in their possessions illegal arms and ammunition to bring and surrender same to the police authority without further delay or police will come after • Arms and ammunition recovered from them soon.

criminals in calabar

Efforts to speak with the deceased relation yielded fruit as her elder brother, Saheed Adebola said, “The late Raliat is survived by aged parents, five biological and three adopted children. As the breadwinner of the family, a beautician by profession, who also sell drinks, she adopted her late sister’s three children.

Our mother is 70-years of age.

“When we noticed she was missing, I went to Ewekoro Police Divisional Headquarters to report. After that, our mother went with the deceased’s son to Tobiloba, to enquire of her whereabout. All he could say was that Raliat was not feeling fine, adding that she was owing him N200,000”, Saheed said.

Reacting to the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Iliyasu, said, “This is the height of wickedness that can be meted out to a fellow human being. It will interest you to know that the victim was a secret lover to the pastor who eventually hacked her to death.

“It is the resolve of this Command to ensure that perpetrators of this type of heinous crimes will never go unpunished and we have been consistent in doing that.

“Forensic investigation into the case has commenced and the case will eventually be charged to court.

“I hereby appeal to the good people of Ogun State to always be watchful of those they associate with and always disclose their movements to, at least, one person close to them, no matter how confidential the movement is, in order to prevent occurrences of this type of dastardly act.

“On the 26th of March 2018, the Command received a report of missing person at our Divisional Headquarters in Ewekoro. The case was reported by one Adebola Saheed that his younger sister, One Raliat Sanni 35, left home since 21st March and yet to return.

“On the strength of the report, our operatives at Ewekoro Division, led by SP Oluwarotimi Jeje, the Divisional Police Officer, swung into action and embarked on technical intelligence investigation. Upon discreet analysis of facts surrounding the disappearance of the victim, the last person who was seen with the missing person was uncovered, in person of one Pastor Elijah Ipense Oluwatobiloba in charge of Cherubim & Seraphim white garment church Elebute area of Ewekoro.

“The so called ‘Pastor’ was promptly arrested and thoroughly interrogated. In the course of interrogation, the pastor confessed killing the victim and buried her inside his church after removing her head and two hands for reasons only ‘’known to him and God’’. He also mentioned one Pastor Daniel Sopeju of Iyana Egbado as an accomplice”, CP Iliyasu stated

The Oracle Today

32

Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS

Uturu community dares IGP, sets up vigilante From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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ESPITE the ban on illegal weapons in possession of indivuals rolled out by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, last month, it appears security has been beefed up in the cosmopolitan university town of Uturu in Isuikwuato local government area of Abia State with the inauguration of a 35-man vigilante squad charged with providing grassroots crime surveillance for the Police and the military in their efforts to curb the rising crime wave in the area.

Uturu hosts two universities, 11 secondary schools and about 64 primary schools. It also hosts a petrochemical complex and a giant construction company and

locales say these have brought development to Uturu but not without the attendant increase in criminalities such as armed robbery cultism and rape, among others..

Area Commander of Ohafia who oversees the Police Divisions in Abia North Senatorial zone, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) John Akuche, who inaugurated the Uturu Vigilante at the Ukwu Nwangwu Civic Centre, charged them not to bear prohibited arms or operate detention camps as directed byu the federal government.

“You are to take part in safeguarding the community. The job you have volunteered to do is not an easy one. The task ahead of you is enormous,” Akuche said as he enjoined them to complement the job of the Police.

Special Assistant to the Governor on Trade and Commerce, Jude Udeachara, told the gathering that the Dr Okezie Ikpeazuled administration placed much premium on security to encourage trade and commerce.

“Abia is working hard to become the safest state in Nigeria,” he said, adding, “Abia is an unsafe haven for any criminal at the moment and the governor is investing a lot of money in security because both foreign and local investors only go to places that are secure.”

Udeachara charged members of the Uturu Vigilante to concentrate more on information gathering to be able to nip criminal activities in the bud, adding that

they should effectively police the university communities in order not to allow criminal elements from the institutions to infiltrate Uturu villages to either commit crime or corrupt youths of the area. He appealed to Uturu youths to acquire skills and stay out of crime.

President-General, Uturu Development Association, Hon. Emmanuel Uchenna Akaeme, said the alarming crime rate in Uturu necessitated the setting up of the Vigilante, which would assist the Police and military to flush out bad eggs in the area.

He said the high crime rate was to be expected because Uturu was fast developing, urging the Vigilante to go about their duties

without fear or favour.

Chairman of the occasion, Jerry Azuma, told the vigilante that the security of the town was in their hands and advised them to be united and display high sense of commitment to a crime-free Uturu; warning them against partisanship and using the opportunity to deal with their perceived enemies.

Also, the traditional ruler of Umuanyi Autonomous Community, Uturu, Eze Cletus Uwadiegwu Ogbonnaya, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Idris, to revisit his directive that vigilante groups should be disarmed, wondering how unarmed vigilante could confront armed criminals.

$1bn arms purchase worrisome – APGA

By COLLINS UGHALAA

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mo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has raised alarm over President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent approval and release of $1 billion to Nigerian Defence authorities for the alleged purchase of arms and security equipment to fight insecurity in the country, saying the deal is worrisome.

APGA made this known through the Imo State Publicity Secretary, Dr. George Nkwoji, while speaking with a cross section of journalists on Thursday in Owerri, lamenting that the sudden approval and release of such huge amount of money in the name of arm purchase to fight insecurity in Nigeria is not only suspicious but worrisome.

He said that APGA is not comfortable with the whole exercise and its processes, alleging that the money might equally end up in the hands of some individuals.

He warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari not to follow the path of the previous administration under the PDP and its role in similar arms deal with its attendant diversions when arms funds were used for elections.

The party added that Nigerians would resist any attempt by the

federal government under President Buhari and the APC to divert the funds, stressing that the timing of the arms deal was wrong.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, had Wednesday while speaking with journalists at the end of a security meeting chaired by the President declared that the President had given the approval for the purchase of more equipment for the military, worth $1 billion.

“As usual, we discussed the current activities that affected most of the states in the federation like Taraba, Zamfara and other states”, the Minister said.

The Minister also said that the recent deployment to Zamfara and other neighbouring states of Sokoto and Katsina was expected to take care of the security challenges in those areas.

NLC, TUC fault former Ebonyi SSG on workers’ welfare T

By CHINEDU NWAFOR

HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Ebonyi state chapters, yesterday disagreed with the immediate past Secretary to Ebonyi State Government (SSG), Prof. Bernard Odoh, for citing poor condition

2019: SDP mobilizing in Anambra to unseat Buhari

By THEO RAYS, Onitsha

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head of the 2019 general election, The Oracle Today can report that activities at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is gathering momentum in Anambra State as members in the State are going round the Electoral Wards to mobilize votes against the reelection bid of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

As reliably gathered by The Oracle Today, the leaders of the party at the State and Local Government level in Anambra have unleashed foot soldiers into the 326 Wards in Anambra with the target to mobilize membership and electorates into the party ahead of the 2019 poll.

Addressing the party loyalists during a meeting that involved State Executives members and Local Government Chairmen and Secretaries of the party at the party’s secretariat in Awka the State Capital, the State Chairman of the party

• Winner of the National Mathematics competition, Rishe Gnanasekaran, (2nd right), his mother, his teacher (3rd right) and officials of the NTIC during the presentation of the best prize of the 15th National Mathematics Competition to Gnanasekaran in Lagos (NAN Photo).

Hon Ikechukwu Nwekwe charged the Local Government leaders that the SDP race to remove Buhari from Aso rock has begun and it all depends on the ability to mobilize the electorates into the SDP fold.

Hon Nwekwe disclosed that reports after report from the Local Government indicate that people are scrambling for positions into the SDP structure, thus the party is gathering momentum but the issue is that those who will lead the party are those who are ready and capable to reach out to the electorates and work in-line with vision and mission of the party.

He said “our vision and mission is to remove Buhari from Aso rock and then stop the killing of innocent souls by Herdsmen in the country, enough of killing here and there and the only means left for us is to get people register with SDP, sell the message of SDP to the electorates in the streets, Markets, Churches, villages and everywhere around you”

of workers as part of his reasons for quitting his position.

A statement signed by the NLC state chairman, Comrade Leonard Nkah and the State TUC Secretary, Comrade Mike Nwonu said the purported resignation by the former SSG was received by the council with shock and bewilderment and was more disturbed that he cited workers for resigning.

NLC further said it noted with indignation and disapproval the way the former SSG chose to exit the service; insisting that Odoh was indirectly pandering to cheap sentiment and indictment to have cited poor condition of state workers as part of the reasons he resigned.

NLC noted that despite the fact that state receives the least allocation from the federation account, yet, the State Government had kept the standard of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 15th of every month since 2015, including 13th month salary.

The statement noted that it was surprising that Odoh who was still serving as SSG when Ebony State Government cleared the arrears of leave allowances owed workers and paid promotion arrears could cite workers poor condition as one of his reasons for quitting.

The council further challenged Odoh to inform Ebonyi workers

and the nation at large, any other state in Nigeria that has a better record of workers welfare.

Part of the state read: “That despite the lean resources at the disposal of the Government, the State Government kept the standard of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 15th of every month since 2015, including 13th month salary.

“That Professor Benard Odoh was a serving SSG, when Ebony State Government cleared the arrears of leave allowances owed workers and paid promotion arrears.

“That when Professor Odoh was serving as SSG, His Excellency Engr. David Nweze Umahi, after paying workers 2017 Christmas bonus before the 20th of December went ahead to pay workers 50% of their basic salaries on the 2nd of January, 2018 as palliative for Christmas spending.

“That Ebony workers after observing the progress made so far by the Governor especially in the upliftment of workers welfare and empowerment programmes of Ebony State Government, came together in the month of December last year and honoured the Governor with a Chieftaincy title of “Enyi Ndi Oru” (Friend of workers).

“It is noteworthy that Governor Umahi approved and released the sum of N2 Billion (Two Billion Naira) from the Bank of Industry

to be given as loan to civil servants at 6% interest rate for Agricultural Development.

“That despite all odds, Governor Nweze Umahi paid retirees of the state civil service 30% and has approved additional 10% in the Executive Council of 28/03/2018, which the former SSG was in attendance and recorded.

“It is on record that His Excellency increased workers’ salaries by 5% when other State Governors are owing several months of salaries to their workers; Professor Odoh was the SSG when it happened in Ebony State.

“All these were done while Professor Odoh was the SSG, while the Governor of Ebony State, Engr. (Chief) David Nweze Umahi has assured workers in Ebony State Public Service that he will take their welfare to a higher level.

“We know that we have outstanding discussion with the State Government on how to make workers welfare even better and our hope is that our negotiations will bear fruit soon.

Therefore, the least thing we need now is politicization of the issues concerning workers as experience has shown in labour business, that it is counter-productive as we achieved what we enjoy today through amicable dialogue devoid of any rancor or sentiment”.

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Millionaire landowner, 94, leaves NOTHING to his partner of 42 years • Judge overturns his wishes, gives her a £225,000 cottage, cash

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Name: Comfort Tel: 0706 324 7702.

•

If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

n elderly Pembrokeshire woman who was left nothing in her millionaire partner’s will has been saved from poverty by a senior judge.

Joan Thompson, 79, lived with Amroth landowner Wynford Hodge for 42 years before his death, aged 94, in 2017.

Mr Hodge, who owned Parsonage Farm and Caravan Park, along with land and other properties, was worth over £1.5 million when he died.

But he left Mrs Thompson without a penny, instead bequeathing everything to two of his tenants who had been kind to him in his final years.

In a letter attached to his will, Mr Hodge was adamant that he did not want Joan or her four children to inherit any of his fortune.

Describing Joan as ‘financially comfortable’, he said she had ‘her own finances’ and would have no need of his money.

But Judge Milwyn Jarman said that was a ‘mistake’ and Mrs Thompson had in fact been left with only modest savings of about £2,500.

Reluctantly living on benefits in a nursing home, she wanted to return to the family estate where she had friends on the caravan park.

Now, in an extremely rare decision, Judge Jarman has ruled that Mr Hodge failed to match up to his responsibilities to his long-term partner.And he effectively re-wrote the wealthy businessman’s will by awarding Mrs Thompson a cottage on the estate worth £225,000.

She will also receive almost £190,000 in cash to pay for the cottage’s refurbishment and to provide her with reasonable financial support.

Mr Hodge, who suffered from prostate cancer, made more than 10 wills before his death, the High Court in Cardiff heard.

In hospital shortly before he died, he told Mrs Thompson ‘not to worry as she would be well looked after’, said the judge.

But, in the last will he signed in December 2016, Mr Hodge left everything he had to tenants, Karla Evans and Agon Berisha.

Working as subsistence market gardeners and on the caravan park, the

kindly couple became instant millionaires on Mr Hodge’s death.

Parents of two young children, they rented a house called Penffordd, in Narbeth, from Mr Hodge, doing unpaid errands for him and helping him with his shopping.

But, when asked, Ms Evans said she didn’t want to be a millionaire and would be happy with an annual holiday and enough money to bring up her kids.

Judge Jarman said that, even after his ruling, the couple would receive ‘by far the major part’ of Mr Hodge’s seven-figure estate.

But the landowner’s belief that Mrs Thompson would need no financial support after his death was simply a ‘mistake’, he said.

She and her son, Dean, then a young boy, moved into a caravan at Parsonage Farm in the 1970s and into the farmhouse with Mr Hodge soon afterwards.

She worked on the farm and on the caravan site without pay and helped care for Mr Hodge’s mother, said the judge.

They were together for over 40 years and, after Mr Hodge’s health began to fail, she acted as his main carer.

Mrs Thompson had a serious stroke about 12 years ago and has suffered heart attacks since then, the court heard.

And, since her husband’s death, her only income has been benefits of little more than £1,000 per month.

Mrs Thompson, who gave evidence from a wheelchair, said she was determined to leave the nursing home and return to the family estate.

Granting her wish, Judge Jarman said that, by disinheriting her, Mr Hodge had failed to meet the ‘obligations and responsibilities’ he owed her.

He ordered that a property called Elidyr Cottage should be transferred to her, where she can be looked after

by Dean and his wife.

Mrs Thompson will also receive almost £30,000 from Mr Hodge’s estate, to pay for the cottage’s refurbishment, and £160,000 to cover future expenses.

DAILY MAIL

ODD NEWS

88,000-year-old finger bone found in Saudi Arabia T he story of mankind’s early history may have to be rewritten, thanks to a fossilised finger bone from an early modern human dating back around 88,000 years.

Experts found the remains in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, suggesting that early migration out of Africa into Eurasia was more expansive than previously thought.

It is the oldest directly dated Homo sapien fossil outside of the continent or the Levant, the area around what is now Israel, Palestine and the Lebanon.

The three centimetre (1.25 inch) long middle finger is around 20,000 years older than the date from which modern humans were thought to have left Africa.

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History made the discovery at Al Wusta, an ancient fresh-water lake located in what is now the hyper-arid Nefud Desert.

Numerous animal fossils, including those of hippopotamus and tiny fresh water snails were found at the site, as well as abundant stone tools made by humans.

Among these finds was the well preserved and small fossil, which was immediately recognized as a human finger bone.

The bone was scanned in three dimensions and its shape compared to various other finger bones, both of recent Homo sapiens individuals, from other species of primates and

other forms of early humans, such as Neanderthals.

The results conclusively showed that the finger bone, the first ancient human fossil found in Arabia, belonged to our own species.

Lead author Dr. Huw Groucutt, of the University of Oxford said: ‘This discovery for the first time conclusively shows that early members of our species colonised an expansive region of southwest Asia and were not just restricted to the Levant.

‘The ability of these early people to widely colonize this region casts doubt on long held views that early dispersals out of Africa were localised and unsuccessful.

‘This finger bone from Al Wusta suggests homo sapiens is moving

out of Africa far earlier than 65,000 years ago, it’s 20,000 years earlier than expected.’

While homo sapiens bones dated to 177,000 years ago have been found in a cave in Israel, evidence is scant for any further expansion anywhere beyond the coasts.

The research suggests that the first homo sapiens may have entered Arabia by crossing the Red Sea at a time when it was ‘little more than a river’.

Experts used a technique called uranium series dating to make the discovery.

A laser was used to make microscopic holes in the fossil and measure the ratio between tiny traces of radioactive elements. These ratios

revealed that the fossil was 88,000 years old.

Other dates obtained from associated animals fossils and sediments converged to a date of approximately 90,000 years ago.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HUMANKIND’S JOURNEY OUT OF AFRICA? The traditional view The traditional ‘Out of Africa’ model suggests that modern humans evolved in Africa and then left in a single wave around 60,000 years ago.

The model often holds once modern humans left the continent, a brief period of interbreeding with Continued on page: 34

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

True Confession P He is impotent, yet he eople always say that wonders will never end in this world. That’s because the world is full of mysteries.

What happened to me is just like a movie.

Indeed, it is just like a film and I’m still trying to recover from the shock of what I went through. Is it a crime to be married to an impotent man and leave him?

What else could I have done after been married to an impotent man for 15 years without a child, if not to leave him for good?

I want readers to judge for themselves in this matter between me and my exhusband, Marcus.

Marcus was short, ugly and fat when I met him years ago in the village during the yuletide period.

I have the habit of traveling home to the village whenever it is Christmas because nothing compares to celebrating christmas in your hometown.

I love traveling home for the holidays and I did just that 16 years ago when I met my husband.

Alhough Marcus was short, ugly and fat, he had the most beautiful smile in the whole wide world and I fell for that most beautiful smile of his.

We became friends and when he learned that I was still in school, he pledged to sponsor my education, which he did. And I am forever grateful to him for that singular act of charity.

Our relationship lasted from my first year in the university till my final year when we decided to settle down.

We got married when I was in my final year because Marcus told me that he was afraid that if he did not marry me now, I would dump him for another man after I had graduated and then all the money he had spent sponsoring my education would have been wasted.

That is in addition to him having a broken heart at the end. So I married him in my final year in order to assure him that I was forever his. I remember our wedding eve.

Marcus took me into his arms and whispered into my ears: “Amaka, I will always love you.

I will cross the seven seas with you and climb the seven mountains until death do us part.” That was one of the sweetest sweet nothings I had ever heard in my life.

However, we got married and as the years progressed, I realized that I was living in hell.

Marcus never told me that he couldn’t father a child before marrying me. And for the next 15 years he hid the truth for me while I grieved every morning of every day for my barrenness, thinking that the fault was mine.

It was my husband’s personal physician

murdered the love of my life who secretly told me the truth. And that was when I decided to leave my husband.

I moved my things out of my husband’s house on the same night he traveled for business.

I moved in with a young man I had taken as my lover and before long, I conceived for him.

I decided to officially divorce my husband, Marcus, and the divorce litigation was still on when strange things began to happen to my young lover.

First, my boyfriend was attacked and beaten up by thugs on his way back from work one night.

He was hospitalized for three days and resumed work only for the same thugs to ambush him again two weeks later and stab him to death with broken bottles.

I heard gossip that it was my husband who organized the thugs.

It was a very trying period for me but I managed to carry my pregnancy for my dead young lover to the end, and I gave birth to a baby boy.

However, immediately my husband heard that I had given birth to a baby boy, he started claiming the child as his own and begging me to return to his house.

Marcus is still begging me to come back to his house. He is begging me to let him hide the shame of his impotence by adopting the boy as his own.

He says that in his culture, when a married woman gives birth, the boy belongs to her husband, irrespective of who impregnated her.

But I’ve told Marcus to go to hell. I’ve told him that he’s lucky that I don’t have evidence to have him arrested and prosecuted for murder. He is impotent, yet he murdered the love of my life. Now I feel so lonely and lost.

Sometimes I feel like committing suicide.

But I have to be strong for my child. I’m ready to raise the boy I had for my late boyfriend on my own. As far as I’m concerned, Marcus is a murderer and I will never return to his house.

Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

88,000-year-old finger bone found in Saudi Arabia Continued from page: 33

Neanderthals occurred.

This explains why individuals of European and Asian heritage today still have ancient human DNA. There are many theories as to what drove the downfall of the Neanderthals.

Experts have suggested that early humans may have carried tropical diseases with them from Africa that wiped out their ape-like cousins.

Others claim that plummeting temperatures due to climate change wiped out the Neanderthals.

The predominant theory is that early humans killed off the Neanderthal through competition for food and habitat.

How the story is changing in light of new research Recent findings suggest that the ‘Out of Africa’ theory does not tell the full story of our ancestors.

Instead, multiple, smaller movements of humans out of Africa beginning 120,000 years ago were then followed by a major migration 60,000 years ago.

Most of our DNA is made up of this latter group, but the earlier migrations, also known as ‘dispersals’, are still evident.

This explains recent studies of early human remains which have been found in the far reaches of Asia dating back further than 60,000 years.

For example, H. sapiens remains have been found at multiple sites in southern and central China that have been dated to between 70,000 and 120,000 years ago.

Other recent finds show that modern humans reached Southeast Asia and Australia prior to 60,000 years ago.

Based on these studies, humans could not have come in a single wave from Africa around this time, studies have found.

Instead, the origin of man suggests that modern humans developed in multiple regions around the world.

The theory claims that groups of a pre-human ancestors made their way out of Africa and spread across parts of Europe and the Middle East.

From here the species developed into modern humans in several places at once.

The argument is by a new analysis of a 260,000-year-old skull found in Dali County in China’s Shaanxi Province.

The skull suggests that early humans migrated to Asia, where they evolved modern human traits and then moved back to Africa.

Further environmental analyses also revealed the site to have been a freshwater lake in an ancient grassland environment far removed from today’s deserts.

Prior to this discovery, it was thought that early dispersals into Eurasia were unsuccessful and remained restricted to the Mediterranean forests of the Levant, on the doorstep of Africa

The fossilised finger demonstrates that rather than just clinging to the coastline as they left Africa, they ventured into the interior of what is now Arabia.

At this time, Arabia was humid and monsoonal crossed with rivers and dotted with hundreds of lakes.

These old watering holes – long since having dried up – are expected to reveal many more insights as the region has not been extensively explored by archaeologists.

Professor Michael Petraglia of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History added: ‘The Arabian Peninsula has long been considered to be far from the main stage of human evolution.

‘This discovery firmly puts Arabia on the map as a key region for understanding our origins and expansion to the rest of the world. As fieldwork carries on, we continue to make remarkable discoveries in Saudi Arabia’.

Donald Henry, professor of Anthropology at Tulsa University said in a commentary that the findings lend support that homo sapiens did not just fan out across the Levant – but also across the Red Sea. WHAT IS URANIUM-THORIUM DATING? Uranium-Thorium dating is a way of determining the age of a rock by the amount of radioactive Thorium it contains.

This method can be used to determine the age of calcium carbonate materials, such as

coral.

Scientists can measure the amount of Thorium-230 in a sample of rock, if the rock contained Uranium originally.

Uranium is often found in trace amounts in certain types of rock and is radioactive.

It has a half-life (the amount of time it takes for the elements radioactivity to decrease by half) of about 245,000 years.

At this point it undergoes alpha decay (it releases an alpha particle, which is also the same as the nucleus of a Helium atom) and forms Thorium-230.

Thorium has a much shorter half-life of 75,000 years.

Unlike other types of radioactive dating, Uranium-Thorium (U-Th) dating doesn’t reach a stable end point.

Instead, the decay of Thorium and the production of Thorium reach a form of balance called secular equilibrium.

He said: ‘The most likely access to Arabia from Africa is near the southern end of the Red Sea over the narrow Bab el Mandeb strait.

‘Interestingly, during many intervals of the Late Pleistocene, lower sea levels would not only have narrowed the crossing to little more than a large river, they also would have exposed extensive areas of a shallow shelf, creating a fertile, lowland zone attractive to colonization by plants, animals and humans.’

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

I get too wet all the time

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Deborah, 35, Igbo, orphan, needs a widower from 35-45 years. He must be educated, humble, tall, educated, comfortable, for marriage. 07065658063.

Nkiru, 31, from Enugu, needs a responsible young man for a serious relationship.

08063677573.

Arin Ola, 42, a divorcée with a kid, wants a honest man for a relationship that can lead to marriage. 07082807656.

Chichi, 28, from Abia, needs a caring, God fearing, loving man for marriage.

08130775977.

Vivian in Enugu, but willing to come to Lagos, needs someone to care for her and help her in her education. 08160542364.

Lora from the middle belt wants a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage.

08090925014.

Dear Love Doctor,

I

’m a 30-year-old woman. I recently got married and have sex regularly with my husband. My husband has a big dick, so small dick size is not an issue here. The problem is that I get very wet all the time. I get so wet that I can’t feel anything during sex. I’m also tired of drying myself during sex because my vagina is always soaked. Even my husband is beginning to complain that he no longer enjoys our lovemaking because my vagina gets too wet and makes an irritating sloppy kind of sound when he is ‘digging it’. What do I do?

Love Doctor’s Advice:

D

oes your vagina have an offensive smell. In some cases, excessive wetness of the vagina is normal because your hormones may be flowing above average. On the other hand, excessive wetness of the vagina could be caused by an infection or sexually transmit-

ted diseases.

You should try your best to always maintain a clean hygiene.

Maintaining a clean hygiene always helps.

However, if a lady gets very wet but can’t feel her man’s

cock during sex, it is usually attributed to small dick size.

But if your husband has a big cock, yet your wetness is so much that you can’t feel his penis during sex, I would advise you to go and see a doctor immediately.

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.

Joy, 29, a caterer in Lagos, from Delta Igbo, needs a responsible, matured, working man based in Lagos for marriage and job support. 08158522286.

Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840, 08077821830 for Counseling, infertility & Direct Hookup.

Men seeking relationship/ marriage Adekunle, 51, living in Republic of Benin, needs a Christian, Yoruba lady of 25-32 years for marriage. 08068739563, +22962404403.

Kunle, 40, widower, fair, tall, medical, wants a caring woman from 28 years and above from any tribe. 08103329049.

Ires needs a working lady in Lagos for a relationship leading to marriage. 08131161840.

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.

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36

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

It happened to me:

My dad caught us having sex in his car M y name is Philip and I live in Lagos. This thing happened to me while I was an undergraduate many years ago.

There was this girl called Gloria that I really admired. We lived in the same compound and she was very beautiful and 19 years old at the time. I told her that I had a crush on her and she agreed to be my girlfriend.

We had dated for three weeks without making love and I decided that I had to do it with her on this particular night.

I could not take her into the house to sleep with her because my parents had seriously warned me that I should concentrate on my studies and not bring girls into the house to have sex with them.

My parents were born again and they didn’t tolerate any nonsense or promiscuous way of life from any of their children. And to make matters worse for me, I didn’t have any money to take her to a hotel.

A hotel would have been the ideal place to go to have fun for a short time. But since I could not afford it, I came up with the idea of doing it in the car.

It was seven-thirty in the night and quite dark, so I figured that no one would see us inside the car in the dark. So I confidently told Gloria to wait for me while I go in and bring the cars to my father’s car.

I went straight into the house and took my father’s car keys from his room. Then I quickly left the house and found Gloria waiting anxiously for me outside.

I took her hand and we headed for the parking lot. I opened my

father’s Mercedes Benz Car and we both got inside covered by the darkness. We sat at the back seat of the car and started kissing and romancing.

In no time I had undressed her and asked her to lie across the seat. We started making love in the car and Gloria was moaning loudly.

We were both carried away in love making when I suddenly heard someone shouting and banging on the door of the right side of the car and ordering me to open the door immediately.

I looked up and saw my father’s angry face through the glass. For some seconds I was paralyzed by fear and couldn’t move.

When I recovered my senses, I opened the door on the other side (left side) of the car instead of opening the door from the right side where my father was standing.

I and my girlfriend ran out of the car from the left side and I didn’t sleep at home that night out of fear of my father’s wrath.

I ran to our pastor’s house that night. It took the intervention of our pastor to make my father forgive me and accept me back into his house three days later.

I don’t know how my father knew that we were in the car. I suspect that a neighbor saw us and reported to my father. The embarrassment was so much for us that Gloria’s parents had to move out of the compound a month later.

I could not take her into the house to sleep with her because my parents had seriously warned me that I should concentrate on my studies and not bring girls into the house to have sex with them.

• Do you have a story or comment about this true confession?

Call 07031028714.

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

The Law and You Police, please stop this illegal attitude!

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

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he Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Part I, Section 6(2b & c) states and I quote; “2b) A suspect has a right to consult a legal practitioner of his choice before making, endorsing or writing any statement or answering any question put to him after arrest, 2c) free legal representations by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria were applicable provided the authority having custody of the suspect shall have the responsibility of notifying the next of kin or relative of the suspect of the arrest at no cost to the suspect.”

Also section 8(1) “A suspect shall; a) Be accorded humane treatment, having regard to the right to the dignity of his person, and b) Not to be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”

These laws are in place but do our policemen keep to it by seizing, confiscating and putting off the phones of suspects so as not to be located by their relatives and loved ones?

It is now a very well-known attitude by some people policemen to seize, confiscate and switch off the phones of “innocent” persons once they are arrested by them without giving the suspects the opportunities and chances of at least informing their loved ones of what has befallen them unexpectedly. Yes, I used the word “innocent” for the suspects because the constitution of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended section 34 and 35 made us to understand that the Constitution is the grand norm and above any other Law in the Country.

It also made us to understand that every suspect is ‘innocent’ not until proven otherwise. And, how can a suspect be convicted or condemned otherwise? The answer is through the conviction sentencing by a competent Court of this country.

Does the power to condemn or sentence an innocent suspect as guilty immediately an arrest by the police right by even denying these suspects their Fundamental Right of expression and freedom of expression correct? The answer is NO. even the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Part I, section 6(2b & c) made it mandatory that the relatives of any suspect should be contacted to inform them of the presence of the arrested suspects with the police in a particular police station or formation at least in obedience to the 1999 Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria section 34 and 35 which gives a suspect access to a lawyer of their choice to defend them in any such circumstances. How then can these suspect who are presumed innocent communicate to their loved ones once been arrested and their phones taken away immediately from them and worse still be put off? If their phones are confiscated but not off to monitor their calls and inform their people or loved ones of what had befallen them it would have been fair but the completely putting it off is to me like “kidnapping” the suspects and no longer on arrest. One of the Fundamental Right being offended by the Act of seizing forcefully the phone of a suspect and putting it off is that of freedom of expression and adequate legal representation for fair trial. It is very funny that some of these policemen who are supposed to be friends of the people and whose main job is the protection and security of the lives and safety of these innocent citizens take joy in doing the contrary.

You can imagine the common occurrence whereby some policemen on patrol will visit a crowded bus-stop and start arresting innocent stranded citizens and confiscate their phones and put them off forcefully without giving them the chance to make calls even in their presence and closely monitored to their loved ones who are desperately awaiting their return from their places of endeavors.

Some of these suspects who cannot play the game expected of them will be dumped in the cells with different trump-up charges with the deceit of compelling them to plead guilty to the charges so as to be freed in time for an offence they were innocent about. Most of these suspects will only be asked on their way to the Court to call their loved ones to come to defend them. One imagines

the rationale behind this kind of act by some of these policemen. Do they expect the relations of these suspects to within the shortest notice to organize a lawyer to defend them or for them to be present in the Court? The result of these acts of some policemen is that the Court will remind them in prison custody. This act is one of the factors of over congestions in our prisons.

Furthermore, when the phones of suspects are confiscated forcefully and put off until after their case it leads to so many announcements on the media houses of missing persons. Some of these suspected or declared missing persons might be in the police custody with no entry made in any police station as was the case of one client a journalist whom the family thought was kidnapped, dead or missing but was only found in a police cell trumpup as armed robber just because of his father’s property matter. The family had lost hope of seeing him after thorough searches at the police stations around them as well as some hospitals and mortuaries around them with no information of hiswhere about if not that they lucky that

I did not delete the number of the policeman that posed as, intended buyer to his mother’s flat and coming from Ogun state while he was in Lagos state. One wonder if that number was not with me, the client would have been taken as missing or kidnapped because no record was entered in any police station about his arrest until he was discovered in their cell.

Finally, it is my humble suggestion that the police authorities should make it as a policy that phones of suspects even though taken away from them should not be put off not until someone who knows them are informed of the police station in which they are arrested and detained to erase the attitude of most people putting up adverts that their relations are missing or been suspected kidnapped. This will enable the police dictate easily the aspect of missing persons, kidnapped person and those in their custody as well as give the loved ones of those arrested suspect adequate time to prepare their defence in court.

QUESTION Police arrested my friend and framed him for a crime he never committed, without informing his family

Dear Lawyer, Please, I need your help. My friend attended the naming ceremony of my new born baby and left my house around 10pm to his house. I and some of our other visitors escorted him to the nearest bus stop to our residence and returned. My friend never got back to his house and his wife started calling in to find out his whereabouts. We became worried and thought he had been kidnapped until a stranger called to inform us that

he was arrested by the police and his phone forcefully collected from him and switched off but at the station he met him and he gave him my number to inform us of his whereabouts and ordeal. That he was charged with an offence that he never committed.

Please, is this attitude of these policemen lawful?

Emma, Lagos State

ANSWER: Dear Emma, Your story is very pathetic and I wish to state that the actions of those set of policemen is contrary to what the Police Act and to the best of my knowledge, the hierarchy of the police condones. The police are not expected to undertake any illegal operations as the one just narrated to me. Policemen are there to protect the innocent and law abiding citizens of this our great nation and not to trump-up charges against them. I am very sure that the police authorities/National Assembly do read this our paper and must correct this act. When they fail to do so, then the law which is not a respecter of persons must take its course.

Thanks.

• Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call or send a text message to Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

Being a mum my biggest role in life – Dakore Egbuson-Akande Highflying actress, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, has come a long way as far as Nollywood is concerned.

Ever since her spectacular return to acting in Mo Abudu’s Fifty, the actress has continued to grow from strength to strength. In this chat with The Oracle Today, the actress who made the cover of the April edition of Blanck Magazine opened up on the journey so far.

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also makes me appreciate my mum a lot more because now I know what she went through raising us. It has made me a much calmer person.

Now, I have to watch out for my kids and give them the very best in life.

I am much more mature and have evolved as a person.”

Despite having kids, Dakore still has an amazing figure. How was she able to achieve this feet? “Sticking to eating right is incredibly hard because I have a chronic sweet tooth.

Why does everything that tastes good have to be bad? However, I stay very mindful of what I eat.

Lots of fruit and veggies, whole grains for sure and when I do fall off the wagon by succumbing to my said sweet tooth I cut back on other days so Motherhood it’s definitely Dakore at the a struggle. I peak of her would also career decided chip in that I’m to get married a Yoga addict. and today she Mainly because it not only strengthis a happy wife and mother. What ens the body but the mind. does being a mum mean to her?

“I used to be very self-conscious “Being a mum is my biggest role in life. It is what gives me the most joy but I’m more accepting of myself at this time. To be a good role-model and my body in general now that I’m older. I will also add that I have more to them and it is dear to my heart to leave the world a better place for confidence now, simply because I chose to work on the areas of my them. body I wasn’t happy about; which However she adds: “Challenges is something I would always tell come with the turf and they are welcome. I must tell you this; these anyone who cares to listen. Do you! challenges make the whole idea of Right now, I do very little work these days; it’s all about maintaining it and motherhood complete. living my best and healthier life.

“Having said that, motherhood ommenting on the secret of her success she says: “There is no magic wand. I have the grace of God. It has not been a walk in the park ever since I returned to Nollywood in 2012. I was a part of Fifty, Mo Abudu’s blockbuster movie. I keep hoping for the best and I do my best whenever the opportunity comes. I just have to do the work and God has been bringing the opportunities my way.”

Has she ever thought of quitting the industry because of marriage and the challenges of taking care of her kids?

“No, I never thought I will quit the industry because of marriage; I thought I will quit the industry if the mediocrity continues.”

“Having said that, motherhood also makes me appreciate my mum a lot more because now I know what she went through raising us.

It has made me a much calmer person.

Now, I have to watch out for my kids and give them the very best in life. I am much more mature and have evolved as a person.”

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Entertainment

The Mina’s Dolls Show births

Wedding bells ring for Olamide

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f what we hear is true, then Assignment singer, Olamide has wrapped up plans to tie the knot to his baby mama, Aisha Suleiman before the end of the month.

“Remember that he only proposed to the love of his life and baby mama, Aisha, recently. I can assure you that plans for marriage has reached advanced stages and before the end of the month, they will tie the knot in a ceremony that will attract the crème de la crème of Nigerian society.

“Olamide was very close to his mum until her death and her exit has left a vacuum in his heart. And his baby mama has always been there for him. In fact, fans may not know it but they have been staying together for quite a long time but Olamide does not like publicizing his private life. I can assure you that before the end of the month, the singer is walking down the aisle and it is going to be an explosive event. His fans shoulod watch out,” the source added.”

• Mina Dollz and her team

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hat 2017 was a remarkable year for Mina’s Dollz (Chistina Bartlet) is not in doubt as she made an impressive Nollywood debut in 2017 with the movie, London Fever, starring the likes of Toyin Abraham, Alexx Akubo and Mike Godson among others.

Now, Minas Dollz is back with a Talk Show, The Mina’s Dollz Show dedicated to women empowerment.

According to the executive producer, The Mina’s Dollz Show will inform and entertain viewers on a range of issues revolving around including

health, relationship, lifestyle and more. “ It is a platform where successful women and men from all works of life are invited as guest to speak about their journey and challenges they had to face before achieving success in their chosen fields of endeavour,” Minas Dolls said.

A one-hour programme, The Mina’s Dollz Show will be hosted by Christina Bartlet with Co-host, Hannah Marie Sang and airs every first Friday between 9 and 10pm on Ben TV, Sky Channel 238.

Meanwhile, following the success-

ful premiere of her debut movie in London last year, Mina’s Dollz has concluded plans to premiere London Fever in Nigeria. London Fever which premiered to wide acclaim last year in London at the Odeon Imax Cinema Greenwich and Go Glasgow was directed by Charles Uwagbai and parades the likes of Juliet Ibrahim, Hafeeze Oyetoro aka Saka, Chiwetala Agu, John Okafor aka Mr Ibu, Etinosa Idemudia , Lilian Eroro , Francis Odega and many more.

Efe Omoregbe releases statement after his arrest

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alent manager and Now Muzik boss, Efe Omorogbe had exclusively confirmed his arrest and detention to Pulse last week as the controversy over the chairmanship position of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) with Tony Okoroji deepens.

According to the statement which was obtained by Pulse, Efe Omorogbe insists that no amount of harassment and intimidation can stop him as COSON chairman.

NO AMOUNT OF HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION CAN STOP #AuditCOSON. ‘Recent orchestrated attacks on the persons and reputation of members of our Board by Chief Tony Okoroji, his acolytes and agents have more than anything else, provided proof of a growing desperation to avoid probe, cover the truth and perpetuate the illusion of his purported reinstatement as chairman of the governing board of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

The statement which is signed by the COSON board also reads, ‘Following receipt of the directive of the industry regulator, Nigerian Copyright Commission in a letter dated February 19, 2017 declaring Okoroji’s reinstatement and sack of elected board members as null and void, the Board proceeded to act in substantive capacity and carried out the following actions: 1. A board meeting was called on March 6, 2018 at the COSON House wherein all 11 directors (including Tony Okoroji, John Uduegbunam, Azeezat Allen and Ras Kimono), management and the Nigeria Copyright Commission were duly notified. Okoroji and co absented themselves from the meeting and directed his agents to lock the other board members out. Having formed a quorum with 6 directors present, we proceeded

Tontoh Dike’s marriage scandal helped my career – Rosaline Muerer

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osaline Meurer, the actress at the centre of the storm that tore actress, Tontoh dike’s marriage apart has sensationally declared that the entire episode gave her a big career boost in a recent interview with an online platform.

According to her: “The scandal which was meant to destroy me only made me more famous as I got a lot of jobs. More jobs came my way as I became popular due to the allegations levelled against me by Tonto Dikeh.

That was why I trended for the better part of 2017.”

Recall that she was constantly the topic of discussion on blogs and social media platforms not for her acting prowess but for her alleged role in the failed marriage between fellow actress, Tonto Dikeh and Olakunle Churchill. However, she had denied the allegations but there was nothing she could do to stop the media buss that followed.

I never believed I could win Miss Africa beauty pageant

•

• Efe Omorogbe with 2baba and Adekunle Ayeni with the meeting at the entrance of that Mr Efe Omorogbe remains chairthe locked office with representatives man of the board of COSON. We will of the commission, an officer from the also like to assure members of the Public Complaint Bureau, Lagos Police society and concerned members of Command and reporters all present. the public that the phantom charges - It is this meeting that has been do not hold any water and that no fraudulently reported to the office of amount of grandstanding, threat, atthe IG as the mobilization of thugs to tacks, intimidation, abuse of power or disrupt an Okoroji meeting with intent abuse of court processes will stop a to cause a breach of public peace and full forensic audit of COSON account threat to life! and operations.’

2. We wrote to COSON bankers to It will be recalled that Efe Omorogformally communicate a directive from be was arrested last week on the the duly elected board to stop honour- grounds of forgery and impersonaing all cheques signed by Okoroji who tion but was later granted bail. The has continued to parade himself as case has however been adjourned chairman along with others who may for May 17th, 2018 in the case file have been fraudulently listed as direc- A/29/2018 between Commissioner tors of COSON and on- boarded as sig- of Police vs Efe Omorogbe and Joel natories to the accounts.

Ajayi.

For the avoidance of doubt we memHow Tony Okoroji’s camp will rebers of Coson Board wish to use this act to this is one that we wait to find medium to reiterate with emphasis out as the crisis continues to sink into that Tony Okoroji remains sacked and muddier waters.

Misker Kassahaun Teka

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isker Kassahaun Teka, the winner of Miss Africa Beauty pageant which was held on saturday, March 30, at the Grand Ball Room of Oriental Hotel Lagos, Lekki, Lagos, has disclosed that she never believed she could win though she came with a wining attitude to the beauty pageant.

She said: “Yes I came with a winning attitude and knew I had what it takes to win but there wee prettier girls in camp which intimidated me.

“However, I thank God that I won. I am dedicating my victory to my wonderful family and friends who have ben very supportive over the years.”

Miss Africa Beauty Queen Spa and Lounge, organisers of the 2018 Miss Africa Beauty Queen pageant which seeks to empower young African ladies while still correcting the narrative about Africa and putting the continent in a positive light is at present one of the most reputable platforms with a good mix of beauty, brains and royalty.

Miss Africa Beauty Queen pageant is an annual beauty competition designed for ladies between the ages of 18 and 27 across Africa. The pageant amongst other things, seeks to and celebrate the talents, stimulate healthy rivalry and engage participants in the unifying spirit of sportsmanship. Other winners are Maimouna Keita from Mali, Diamond Dorcas Adevu and Fahima Kullow who emerged First Runners up, Second runners up and third runners up respectively.

40

The Oracle today Wednesday April 18, 2018

Tributes

• Youth Classic Choir from St Mulumba Cath. Parish, New Haven Enugu performing at the event

• Executive Chairman of Enugu Sports Club, Chief Ben Etiaba with some guests •

A section of Umuadaigbo Global, led by their leader, Lady Kate Ezeofor...

Tenure elongation: Between APC and enemies within

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

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ntrigues, the ingredients that oil the wheels of politics, have been in abundance since the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress recommended the elongation of tenure of elected party officials, at all levels, by 12 months.

The proposal, which would effectively turn the APC leadership into a “caretaker committee,” was the outcome of the February 27, 2018 NEC meeting reportedly conceived by the National Working Committee (NWC), with the backing of some governors and state chairmen of the party.

Initially sold to, and bought “line, hook and sinker” by majority of members of the party, including President Muhammadu Buhari, the tenure extension became intensely contentious when some aggrieved members took the APC to court for alleged breach of its constitution.

Thus, at the NEC gathering of March 27, 2018, President Buhari aligned with that submission: that tenure elongation contravenes the constitutions of the APC and Federal Republic of Nigeria, and called for a rethink on the matter, “rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk.”

Buhari’s “eleventh-hour” counseling literally “poured sand in the garri” that the pro-tenure elongation members were about to “smoke” at the meeting that had only two items on the agenda: review of the APC constitution, and deliberation of the report on true federalism. There’s no word on “tenure elongation.”

Before that Tuesday gathering, ben-

eficiaries at the national headquarters of the APC in Abuja had labeled the termextension as a “done deal,” reportedly a product of the NEC “that cannot be legally challenged by anybody or institution,” they chit-chatted.

Subsequently, the president’s intervention, as did the original NEC recommendation, caused some grievances among members, especially pro-tenure extension, prompting the setting up of a technical committee to look into the issues at stake, and make appropriate recommendations therefrom.

The technical committee, headed by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, submitted its report on Friday to the party Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, for tabling at today’s (March 9) NEC meeting, the second in a fortnight.

So, will the APC be able to put its house in order, and shame the naysayers and doomsayers, who, in the intervening periods from February 27, have pretended to love the party more than its genuine members, followers and sympathizers?

Admitted that the outside purveyors of a possible fictionalization of the APC did not originate the current schism in the party; it’s the design of elected officials, backed by their sponsors, on the perception that going for congresses and a national convention before the 2019 elections might create internal division.

Plausible as that reasoning might be, the APC shouldn’t trade constitutionality for expediency or convenience, as emphasized by the governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, in Abuja on Friday.

Fielding questions from journalists,

Ganduje said: “If you are saying that there would be some problems, problems are part of the ingredients of politics. There is no way you can practice democracy in a developing country without having some problems. There must be problems; there must be divergent views and disagreements. There will never be a time that things will be 100 per cent normal. So, even if there is a problem, that’s part of democracy and we will be able to move forward.”

On what to expect at today’s NEC meeting, Governor Ganduje was categorical that, “the previous decision (elongation of tenure) will be reversed and by then, the timetable will be out for congresses at the ward level, congresses at local government level, congresses at the state level, and finally convention at the national level.”

“I think that is the situation and I am happy to say that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara State) issued a statement; the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum (Rochas Okorocha of Imo State) also issued a statement; and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, made a statement, as well, to say that all is well.”

However, to the worrywarts, Ganduje should tell this, “all is well” with the APC, to the Marines. They continue to hop and gyrate, predicting implosion, disintegration and demise for the party if it toed the path of constitutionality.

The other day, I watched on the AIT Television, a certain legal practitioner cum ‘political analyst,’ appearing alongside a

politician and member of the APC. While the latter voted for obeying dictates of the APC and Nigeria’s constitutions, as regards periodic election of officials, the former dismissed the argument as hogwash.

Citing copiously, offhandedly, various articles of the APC constitution, he adumbrated that nothing would result from any legal challenge of the action of a “caretaker committee” to clear nominees of the party for the 2019 (or any other) elections.

And he warned ominously: Should the APC discard the tenure elongation for officials, and opt for congresses and a national convention, the party would reap a whirlwind of crises that would cost it not only the 2019 elections, but also ensures its “natural” death.

To the likes of this lawyer/political analyst, no one can sway their mindset, not even the infallible reference by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a Law Professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), that: “There is a Supreme Court judgment of 2015, which precisely says parties should obey their constitutions,” and cautioned that, “any introduction of extraneous clause to our constitution can affect our electoral fortunes.”

Will the APC abide by Article 13 of its constitution, and vote for holding congresses and a national convention, or succumb to machinations that would mar its chances, and allow its opponents, within and without, to sing its nunc dimittis? The die is cast!

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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS Cont’d from Pg 2 clared: “The APC has no apology to make because it has done wonderfully well considering the magnitude of the rot it met on ground in 2015.”

However, the Imo State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief George Nkworji said the President’s declaration for second term in office was the handwork of some cabal, stressing that the President did not declare on his own.

“In the first place, I don’t believe that President Buhari seeks a second term on his own volition. I suspect that the declaration is the handiwork of the Aso Rock cabal,” he contended. “Unfortunately, it goes to show that PMB is insensitive to the mass discontent against his administration in the face of pervasive poverty, ethnic polarisation, nepotism and total failure of governance.

“We have to realise that the APC Federal Government under Buhari is a total failure and Obasanjo warns that ‘failure is failure and

Where’s Nnamdi Kanu?

Cont’d from Pg 2

would resolve by 26 April, are whether Senator Abaribe, 63, would be sent to jail, whether he would forfeit the N100m bond that he post as surety for Nnamdi Kanu, and whether under the circumstances that Kanu went “missing” if he, as a surety, bore responsibility for producing him in court.

When the detained members of Indigenous People of Biafra, appeared before Justice Binta Nyako’s court in Abuja on Thursday 22 March 2018, with a DSS officer identified as AB, to hide his identity, as directed by the presiding judge, who said he “investigated” Bright Chimezie, one of the defendants, after he was arrested by the DSS at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, AB admitted that IPOB was not an illegal organisation at the time of the arrest.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, the witness also testified that Mr. Chimezie was an IPOB ‘Welfare Officer in charge of giving money donated by IPOB members to assist widows IPOB members killed by security agents during their demonstrations on self determination’.

The Witness further testified that Mr. Chimezie was the one who took delivery of the container bearing the transmitter the government had alleged IPOB intended to use to broadcast its ‘message of self determination in Nigeria’.

Upon further cross examination, the DSS witness also admitted that he did not travel to Uyo to find out why Mr. Chimezie was arrested and that he did not travel to the Lagos Wharf to investigate whether the ‘Container was cleared or smuggled’. Informed by counsel that the Container was not smuggled but properly cleared, the Witness answered that he did not know and that he was just stating what he was told by ‘the team of DSS investigators’.

Further, the Witness admitted that he did not see any Bill of Lading showing that it was IPOB that imported the Container at issue.

Asked to explain what he really did as an ‘investigator’ when he didn’t

...trails Buhari’s 2019 bid

must not be reinforced’. Issues like herdsmen menace, lopsided appointments, pervasive poverty and hardship, plus the prevalence of cabal in Aso Rock will definitely come into play,” he said.

According to Hon Ikenga Chukwudi Mayor Eze, a former member of the House of Representatives, Buhari’s re-election bid, “has once again placed Africa in an unenviable political tradition where their major political actors hate to bow out when the ovation is loudest.

Don’t forget that our President once admitted that age was already limiting his performances.”

“The next question remains, is he getting younger? This has also brought to the front burner the impact of informal groups of associates known as the kitchen cabinet in our body polity. How are we sure he is not being pressured to run again by those who stand to gain a lot win or lose because a presidential campaign alone is a feast to many close associates,” he said.

“This is why most of us have consistently requested that the passion we apply to religion should also be applied to political participation. God helps those who help themselves; praying and shouting alone cannot save us from those who are determined to undo us when God has greatly equipped

us to take charge of our affairs.

The opposition parties led by the PDP should renew their plans and efforts to effectively tell the President and the APC that they do not have enough score to earn a re-election.

“The poor performance of the APC is enough campaign materials against them. There are so much hunger, insecurity, joblessness and worst of all constant complaints from the government who finds it difficult to change their opposition rhetoric to the language of governance, which is assurance and performance.”

Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku, a human rights activist and social commentator, sees Buhari’s declaration as a mockery of his age and ill-health.

He believes that if Buhari makes it to the 2019 presidential contest, “the election is going to be a demonstration of abuse of human rights and electoral institution. But he posits that at the end, “what happened in Sierra Leone will be replicated in Nigeria. In other words, APC will deeply lose the election whilst Buhari disgracefully goes back to Daura.”

For his part, Publicity Secretary of PDP, Abia State, Sir Don Ubani, argued that “judging from his antecedents,” President Buhari whom he described as “incompe-

tent”, would henceforth abandon governance to pursue his selfish interest.

“He has never been a democrat, he doesn’t respect the rule of law.

Otherwise, a President that has not done well, a President that has presided over mass killing of Nigerians with impunity, should not be thinking of making open declaration for a contest now when he is less than three years in office,” he said.

“But, I don’t know on what basis is he thinking of being re-elected and if he is going to use security agencies to bulldoze himself into power, it could not work because Nigerians, no matter how sophisticated security agencies would be, would resist it successfully.”

He believes Buhari’s declaration comes as an advantage to PDP. “I don’t think our party, the PDP has anything to be afraid of. This is a President that has not performed. The only achievement we got from Buhari is the killing of Nigerians in droves – in hundreds, in thousands. So, with such a person as a presidential aspirant or candidate of a party, it wouldn’t constitute any threat to the PDP that is properly rebranded and repositioned to take over power as to continue with services to the people,” he said.

“We are not afraid as a party.

• The huge crowd that turned out at the PDP North West zonal rally in Katsina

visit the scenes of the alleged offence, the DSS officer stated that the only thing he did was to take the Written Statement of Bright Chimezie and endorsed it.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that defence counsels have filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection challenging jurisdiction and praying the court to strike the charge of ‘Treasonable Felony’ against the defendants on the grounds that ‘agitating for self-determination or secession is not a crime known to any Nigerian Law’. In the Motion, counsels argued that ‘the allegation that defendants were making preparations to secede is not one of the FOUR offences defined as a treasonable felony under Section 41 of the Criminal Code’. The Section provides as follows: “Any person who forms an in-

tention to effect any of the following purposes, that is to say(a) to remove during his term of office otherwise than by constitutional means the President as Head of State of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces thereof; or (b) to likewise remove during his term of office the Governor of a State; or (c) to levy war against Nigeria in order by force or constraint to compel the President to change his measures or counsels, or in order to put any force or constraint upon, or in order to intimidate or overawe any House of the National Assembly or any other Legislature or legislative authority; or (d) to instigate any foreigner to make any armed invasion of Nigeria or of any of the territories

thereof; and manifests such intention by an overt act, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life”.

On the basis of the above provisions, defence counsels have contended in their Motion that ‘preparations to secede’ is not an ‘offence captured under any of the four offences named at Section 41 of the Criminal Code that should sustain the Charge of conspiracy to secede for which the defendants were charged under Section 516 of the Criminal Code’.

It will be recalled that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was also charged for the same offence that defence counsels have now challenged as not being an offence in Nigeria. In view of this new and surprising development, the court adjourned the trial to 1 May 2018.

Even his declaring is an advantage to us. It now means that APC is going to represent a man who failed woefully in all sectors of governance. Security has never been as bad as it is today in Nigeria. The economy has not been as bad as it is today in Nigeria. And in the end, whoever is democratically elected, as the candidate of PDP will have victory in 2019.

Chris Nwokocha, a PDP stalwart and public affairs analyst, agrees with Sir Don Ubani that Buhari in the presidential ring in 2019 would be an easy prey for the PDP. “President Buhari’s declaration is good for the PDP. A major factor in his favour is that I am sure that nobody can challenge him in APC and that will be as a result of the fears he has infused into every one of them.

“None of them is ready to challenge him, that is why, despite all his blunders, they still allowed him to declare.

“He has been committing a lot of blunders: there have been more bloodshed and killings in Nigeria under his watch; insecurity has reached its peak in the last three years than all the years PDP was in power.

“After comparing where we were in 2015 and now, it is left for Nigerians to know whether we can survive another four years of Buhari,” Nwokocha said.

An ex-market leader in Onitsha Chief Plus Ozoanaekwe has described President Buhari’s expression of intent to seek re-election as a wrong step in the wrong direction because All Progressives Congress, APC, will lose the presidential election to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as Buhari has nothing on the ground to convince Nigerians to re-elect him.

“Those he consulted failed to tell him truth that he has nothing on the ground to show as achievements in his first term thereby making him acceptable to Nigerians for a second term,” the market leader said, adding: “Buhari’s close friends, workers and allies don’t tell him the truth.

The Minister of information Lai Mohammed in particular doesn’t tell Buhari and APC the truth.

The Minister is busy carrying out propaganda on looters, telling stories on Dapchi girls and other things that have no effect on the yearning of Nigerians but fail to tell Buhari that Inspector General of Police did not carry out his instructions on Benue killings. He failed to tell Buhari that there is hunger and insecurity and unemployment in the land.”

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari for what it described as “the hypocritical and bias mind of the President on his declaration to run for a second term as president to those who still believe in his Nigeria.

Reacting to the declaration made before the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the MASSOB in an interview by its leader, Uchenna Madu told The Oracle Today that “the declaration may sound so pleasant to his APC members, especially all those who hide under his wings to profit politically, but it is full of hopelessness and Fulani interest.”

“We the people of Biafra can

Cont’d on page 42

42

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS

F

ORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerian youths, especially aspiring young leaders, not to repeat the mistakes of the past, charging them to revolutionize a new paradigm shift in leadership and citizenship.

Jonathan gave the charge yesterday in Yenagoa while receiving the New Nigeria 2019 Group, (#NN-2019) and the Young Professionals of Nigeria, YPN, led by Chima Nwafor and Moses Siasia. He also commended the youth groups for trying to chart a new course for the socio-political development of the country.

The former president, who described youths as the pillar of any society, stressed that anybody who meant well for the society will not downplay the role of the youths, noting that the political history of the country was replete with youths who have played leadership positions and performed creditably well.

He also went on to urge the youths not to make the fundamental mistakes of past leaders which included mistakes of tribalism, nepotism, and mistakes of religious intolerance.

He said: “I am happy that you cut across all parts of the country, you are not here because you are Christians or Muslims, you are not here because you are from the South-South, or from the North-East, or North West or South West, but because you are Nigerian youths that are committed to a particular cause and you want to make an impact for a better society for us and the future generations.”

A statement issued by his media adviser Mr. Ikechukwu Eze also noted that Jonathan identified himself with other leaders who had advocated for young people to be fully involved in leadership. According to the statement, former President Jonathan said further that he believed in the philosophy of Late Maitama Sule who posited “that the young breed without old breed will breed greed.” I believe that both old and young people must come together.

GEJ tells youths not to repeat leaders’ mistakes He noted that there was a time young people played dominant roles in the nation’s politics. He said: “All the big historical names you hear; Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Sarduana of Sokoto, Michael Okpara, all of them got involved in governance at very young age. Some of them were ministers in their twenties.”

He stressed that the situation was similar up to the time of the military heads of state, starting from Yakubu Gowon who was 32 and Ibrahim Babangida and President Buhari who became heads of state as young men.

He said further: “I am not envisioning a government that every actor will be below thirtyfive years old, but I share the aspiration of those who want young people to be fully involved in governance.

“I remember when Alfred Diette Spiff was the military governor of the then old Riv-

ers State, though most of the members of his cabinet were older than him and even referred to him as “my son,” together they achieved much in infrastructure and human development.

Jonathan stated that during his political career as a governor and president, he encouraged young people and women to play key roles in governance.

“Before I leave let me charge the young people in two key areas; the young must reform the young for us to grow positively. Some of the challenges like cultism, kidnapping and terror that we are have in the society are perpetrated by youths who have been used negatively.

“A group like yours constituting of CEOs must create platforms to re- orientate the thinking of our young people. I am glad that you mentioned setting up similar bodies, across • President Jonathan with leaders of New Nigeria 2019 group when the latter visited him in the country.

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Continued from pg 41

have known such old tactics and antics, and would surely give him a dose of political opposition that even his people would not anticipate or imagine.”

Stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Anambra State said they received the declaration with excitement. One of them who was the running mate to Dr Tony Nwoye in the 2017 Anambra governorship election, Mr Dozie Ikedife (Jnr) said in Nnewi that he was very excited that President Buhari finally agreed to seek re-election in 2019.

Ikedife (Jnr) said this is an opportunity for the Igbo to realign with government at the centre in order to achieve their expectations as far as Nigerian project is concerned, adding that he is of the view that people of the South East would give Buhari more support now than ever before without sen-

Shock trails Buhari’s 2019 bid

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a reality under Buhari’s watch, which he noted could not be achieved by past administrations before Buhari came to power. He also pointed to the fact that some of the federal roads in the South East hitherto abandoned by previous administrations at the centre were now receiving federal government attention.

He described the 16 years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s administration in Nigeria as a nightmare to Nigerians, saying that it was full of propaganda and deceit.

Similarly, Vice President of Anambra state chapter of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Dauda Ajagu has called on eminent Nigerians to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari in his second term bid to enable him consolidate on the gains of his achievements so far.

Ajagu, who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Onitsha, noted that Buhari’s achievements are gradually manifesting in the areas of infrastructures, agriculture and other areas of public interest.

According to Ajagu: “I predicted victory for Buhari in 2015 and he won and I am predicting victory for him again this time around because he had

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never be deceived by a man Biafrans know as a political parasite fully blooded with religious and ethnic sentimental hatred against the people of Biafra and Christians,” Madu said.

Chief Ndubisi Nwosu is a former council chairman, President, Awka Chamber of Commerce and ex-state chairman of the ACN and now the state chairman of the PDP in Anambra state, sees Buhari’s declaration as an assault to Nigerians.

“It shows he does not understand the mood of the nation, that the populace is in disarray,” he said. “If it’s because he succeeded in planting his lackeys, his people, his brothers and sisters to be in charge of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the security chiefs, then he should think twice. Nigerians

timent “considering what he has done for the Igbo and what he will still do to show that he cares for them in his three and a half years administration and beyond”.

He noted that the Igbo gave 99 per cent support to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration and had nothing to show for it while President Buhari who the Igbo had not supported en masse in the first instance had done more for the Igbo nation.

He explained that just recently, Anambra State had been classified as one of the oil producing States in Nigeria by the Federal government through the instrumentality of Dr Tony Nwoye who passed a motion to that effect in the House of Representatives. With this, he said, more revenues to the State and job opportunities would follow.

Ikedife (Jnr) said the issue of 2nd Niger Bridge has become

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performed creditably to warrant his re-election”.

On the proposed appointment of Anambra State Muslims Welfare Pilgrims Board, Ajagu urged Governor Willie Obiano to, in his wisdom, appoint an oldest Igbo Muslim as chairman of the board so as to revive the board which he said was almost moribund.

He also urged the authorities concerned to appoint a substantive President of NSCIA in the state to enable them function properly in the interest Muslim faithful in the State.

The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, Anambra State chapter, in their own statement, said although Buhari has the constitutional right to contest, he should have quietly left the office after this first term and go home to rest because age and health are no longer on his side.

CLO’s Anambra state Chairman, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme in a press statement issued in Onitsha, yesterday, said if Buhari had ruled North East State as Governor in the 70s, ruled as military head of state in the 80s, chaired the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, in the 90s and become an elected President in this period, what else does he want to achieve by going for a second tenure?

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The Oracle Today

43

Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS

We will continue to dare Okorocha – Civil Servants

By COLLINS UGHALAA

C

IVIL servants in Imo State have said that they will continue to flout Governor Okorocha’s order until he does the right thing.

Governor Okorocha had in August 2016 while addressing traditional rulers from the state under the aegis of Royal Fathers in Agriculture who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri on Monday, declared that the civil servants in the state would no longer work from Mondays to Fridays, saying that they would henceforth work from Mondays to Wednesdays and use Thursdays and Fridays for farming.

In a press release by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Okorocha said that his directive to the civil servants was in line with his agricultural policy of “Back To Land For Agriculture”, which he said was to enable the state engage and invest heavily in Agriculture for self sustenance since from all indications the state could no longer depend on monthly allocation for survival.

He noted that the State Executive Council had given approval to the new policy, directing that public servants in the state would now work from Mondays to Wednesdays, and use Thursdays and Fridays for Agriculture (farming) while Saturdays can be used for ceremonies.

The Governor said that the policy took effect from Monday, August 1, 2016, even as he exempted public servants on essential duties, like the teachers, nurses, doctors and others involved in Internally Generated Revenue drive. Political appointees were also exempted from the threedays working periods.

“We shall try this programme for the period of one year, starting from 1st of August 2016 and hopefully this will help. Let me make this emphasis before it is misconstrued or misrepresented, that this does not in any way affect the salaries of the workers.

Workers will get their full salaries as been the practice. So the policy does not mean that there will be a cut in salary rather let us now find a way for our workers to supplement their salaries”, said the Governor.

He continued: “For this reason the issue of annual leave and

casual leave is hereby cancelled.

Resumption time for work has changed from 8am to 7.30am in the morning and ends by 4pm.

Any worker that is not found on his or her seat between 7.30am and 4pm on the days concerned will be summarily dismissed.

“Everybody must go back to Agriculture. Every political appointee must own a farm. The youths would also be encouraged to take to agriculture. Schools including Universities, Polytechnics and Secondary schools in the state must own farms. The Community Government Council (CGC) must be strengthened for the sake of this agricultural programme.

“Two billion naira (N2b) has been set aside at the microfinance bank for the purpose of this Back To Land For Agriculture policy so that those willing can access it. And time is gone again when politicians and some Imolites will come to government in the pretence of farming and collect loans and use it to buy cars and marry new wives.

“Again, the June and July salaries would be paid this week. We are making sure that our workers are comfortable and our pensioners are happy because this is one area the whole nation is having a serious challenge. Our problem is not being unable to pay salaries but paying over-bloated salaries.

We are also making effort to pay our pensioners once the harmonization is over.

“I also want to announce that government has appealed to families and those who organize burials on Mondays to Wednesdays to please change and have their burials on Saturdays so that we can concentrate on the government’s work and on the Agricultural programme.

“Everything that has to do with Agriculture no matter in what shape it comes, government will support it. So many countries are going through economic crisis because of the fall in oil. Our nation is also going through very difficult moment. We have taken responsibility as leaders and we are not blaming anyone. Wise nations and leaders save for the rainy days. There were periods the oil price was in our favour.

But those incharge then blew the money. They made no savings. Today the oil price globally has crashed and here we are. And

we must fall back to agriculture as the panacea”, Okorocha said.

However, the Governor’s directive was immediately greeted with rejection as the people of the state said it was against the civil service rules. The civil servants also cried foul, saying that the policy violated civil servants rules but demanded the Governor issued a circular to that effect.

The policy did not take effect immediately until the state government issued a circular to that effect.

But notably, close to two years the policy has been on despite the Governor’s statement that it would be tried for one year. In

January 2018 Governor Okorocha further directed that civil servants return to the normal five working days but this directive has since been rebuffed by the civil servants.

Some civil servants who spoke exclusively to The Oracle Today in Owerri on Monday said they would continue to flout the directive until the Governor issues fresh circular, lamenting that they could not take the Governor on his words, adding also that the civil service is not run by word of mouth.

They said they had been instructed by the Nigeria Labour

• (From left to right): National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha; Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dpgara; and President Muhammadu Buhari during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party which held in Abuja, Monday, at which the President announced his re-election bid.

IGP’s order: Delta police command recovers 200 illegal arms

By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba ELTA state command of the Nigeria police force, on Monday told journalists that the people of Delta have complied with the directive as a total of 200 arms have been recovered from the state.

The move follows last month’s directive by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, that

members of the Nigeria public should surrender all illegal and prohibited firearms at their disposal, the Briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Asaba, the state commissioner of police, Muhammad Mustafa, said beside the 200 arms, the command has also recovered 3789 live cartridges, 145 rounds of 9.56mm, 24 ammunitions and

diagnostic department; we also lack scan, thermogram are not working and we also need ventilators.

“The hospital needs things in our dialectic centres, and currently, we have only two suits theatre in the entire state, we need to expand all these scopes. There are also no monitors in housing emergency units, among others,’’ he said.

Alagoa who commended the Federal Government for donating an ambulance to the hospital recently, however said that more equipment was needed to get the place running effectively.

Earlier, Mr Omale Omale, Chairman, Governing Board, commended the management of the hospital for their hard work in ensuring that the hospital was operational.

“We the governing board have interacted with the management; we have also toured the facilities and get first-hand information.

“Yes! Most of the facilities here need improvement to maximize the objective of the hospital,” Omale said.

He pledged his support to the centre to ensure that its proposal would be looked into positively.

D

CMD wants improved equipment in FMC Yenagoa

Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, Dr Dennis Alagoa, has stressed the need for improved equipment in the hospital for effective service delivery.

Alagoa made the call on Tuesday in Yenagoa, during the assessment tour of the hospital by the Governing Board led by Mr Omale Omale.

According to him, out of the five sets of 500 KVA generator donated to the hospital 15 years ago, only one was currently functional.

“We have been using small generators to support the various departments, and the hospital is expanding, from 40 bedded in 1999 to 455 bedded hospital at the moment.” he stated.

“We need some modern equipment, especially in radio

Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) not to revert to the five working days without a circular from the state government.

They noted that no circular has accompanied the Governor’s directive. According to them, they did not get any loan from the state government as announced by the Governor.

Speaking on the N2bn loan announced by the Governor, the civil servants said they did not get any loan from the government, adding that the period of the policy afforded time for rest, saying that there was no money to engage in the farming.

eight expended cartridges.

The recovered arms and ammunitions include 103 locally made single barrel guns, 10 pump action guns, three locally made double barrel guns, 53 cut to size single double barrel guns, 22 locally made pistols, among others.

The police commissioner said from the date the directive was issued till date, compliance has been great, consequently the command made great breakthrough in the recovery of the aforementioned fire arms and other ammunitions.

He said the arms were recovered from Sapele division, Ogwashi Uku division, Warri, Aladja, Ugborikoko and Effurun area of the state.

However, Mustafa said despite the number of arms so far recovered, the command is still intensifying effort to mop up any illegal or prohibited firearms within the state.

Following this, he said: “All persons who have failed to take advantage of the 21 days of grace from March 1 to March 21, 2018, which had been extended to them, should have themselves to blame and therefore be prepared to face the full weight of the law.”

The Oracle Today

44

Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS

Trouble brews in Udi North, as royal fathers reject proposed Catholic Diocese T

RADITIONAL rulers in Udi North comprising Eke, Abor, Ebe, Ukana, Awhum, Okpatu, Umulumgbe, Umuoka, Egede, Affa, Akpakwume and Nze communities, have affirmed their opposition to the inclusion of their areas in the proposed Catholic Diocese, insisting that the status of Eke as a Deanary must be restored.

According to Igwe Chinwendu Onuoha, the traditional ruler of Eke, the abolition of the Deanary Status of Eke was the root of the injustice the people of the zone had suffered since the exit of Bishop Eneje of blessed memory.

He said that Eke was made a Deanary by Eneje and it had enjoyed the status until he left and the succeeding Bishop, Anthony Gbuji, for reasons they did not understand, abolished it and went ahead to create more Deanaries, all being offshoots of Eke Parish.

Recounting the history of Eke as a Parish, Igwe Onuoha said that it was incontrovertible that the Catholic Church first set its foot in Enugu and environs on Eke. He pointed out that Eke later became the parent parish to some other parishes, including the Holy Ghost Cathedral Enugu, which serves as the Diocesan Headquarters, today, as well as other parishes such as Oturkpo, Makurdi, Idah, Abakaliki, etc, which are all Dioceses at the moment.

Also speaking on this, Engr Geoffrey Okolo, a native of Eke, said that it was Chief Onyeama of Eke who invited Bishop Shanahan, who was then resident in Onitsha, to Eke in 1910. He said that from then, Eke became an out station of Onitsha and priests were coming from Onitsha and Aguleri to conduct mass services at Eke until 1912 when Eke became a parish with a resident priest.

Then, Okolo said, Eke became the parent parish for the outstations in Enugu, Abakaliki, Idah, Oturkpo and Makurdi. These out stations were later to become parishes with their own resident priests.

According to him, under Onyeama, who was the paramount ruler of Agbaja Kingdom, the entire communities in Udi and Ezeagu local government areas of today were made to be members of the Catholic Church. This, he said, was the reason the Catholic Church remains the predominant denomination in the areas till date.

He said: “For whatever is the reason for the Catholic Diocesan

Headquarters in Enugu, they, the people of Udi North, would not be part of the proposed Udi Diocese.”

Udi North, Okolo said, is made of three regions, namely, Okpatu, Eke and Affa, and it is hoped that these Regions would one day become Deanaries on their way to becoming Dioceses.

On his part, Igwe of Ukana, Tagbo Ubaka, said: “We are asking for little: Return the Status of Eke as a Deanary and leave us as part of Enugu Diocese. Anything short of this is not acceptable to us.”

Geoffrey Nnadi, a leading member of Laity, said that people should be sincere so that peace will reign.

“We cannot run our lives outside our history. Eke is the history of the Catholic Church in this part of Nigeria, including Benue, Kogi, Ebonyi and Enugu,” Nnadi said.

He gave the names of the pio- • Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (r) exchanging souvenirs with President of the Institute of Chartered neer priests as Fr. Alloysius Mull- Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Alhaji Muhammadu Zakari who led a Courtesy Visit by the Governing Couner, 1910-1914; Fr Joachim Corria, cil of (ICAN to the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

1915; and Fr. Marcel Gradin, 19151919, insisting that the records were there to be checked.

Contributing, Igwe of Awhum, Charles Ugwu, said that old Eke Deanary had no continuity with the proposed Udi Diocese and it would amount to gross injustice to remove them from Enugu Dio- By IBE NWACHUKWU Mike Emuh, who disclosed this, the refineries would be cited in cese.

Monday, at Anambra state tradi- Anambra.

Awhum, his community, he EDERAL Government has tional rulers’ house, Government Emuh further told the traditionsaid, has common boundary at last recognized Anambra House, Awka, while briefing tra- al rulers that the federal governwith Abakpa and a part of Trans as one of the oil producing ditional rulers in the state, said ment also approved the employEkulu Enugu. Abor, he said, owns states in Nigeria. in addition, government has ap- ment of 10,000 youths from all a great part of Trans Ekulu, esNational Chairman of the proved 10 modular refineries in the oil producing states, out of pecially the Phase 6 side of it – Host Communities Producing all the 11 oil producing states in which 1,000 youths are to be em“Same with Ukana.”

Oil and Gas (HOSCON), Prince the country, out of which one of ployed in Anambra state, adding that he was in the state to ask the royal fathers to mention a particular place where the modular refinery would be cited in the state

By CHINEDU NWAFOR the payment of £5,500 to each of talking about living expenses but and to prepare for the selection the 43 beneficiaries of this PhD tuition fees. In 2017, he equally of the youths to be employed. ver forty two (42) Eb- scholarship is only an attempt made similar payment and some Flanked by Chief Monday Whisonyi indigenes studying given that our tuition fees are graduated in 2015, 2016, 2017. ky, HOSCON’s National Media “For the remaining one, the Director and other national officabroad have appealed to from £11,950 and above. Therestate Governor David Umahi to fore, no one can emphatically Governor paid over N150m into ers, with Anambra HOSCON officassist them in offsetting their claim that our tuition fees have the scholarship account and ers, including the state chairman, outstanding tuition fees as their been paid completely”,part of from there they were paid; the Anthony Chiokwe, his Vice, Greg balance there is for 2018 and I Onyilegbe and the state Organpresent financial status was pos- the letter read.

The stranded students fur- know there is no way they will izing Secretary, Ifeanyi Chigbo ing a great threat to them concluding their academic pursuit ther stated that the inability of say that our Governor is not ed- (a.k.a. Target), Emuh who is also a abroad. present administration to off- ucation-friendly; he has serious In a letter entitled: “Payment set their arrears had earned the passion for the children even member of federal government’s of our Outstanding Tuition Fees scheme that brought them over- those outside; He knows that if governing council on petroleum, and Living Expenses,” written to seas the negative attribute of you empower someone educa- also handed over all the docuGovernor Umahi and signed by “Ebonyi Scholarship Fraud” with tionally, he will assisting in devel- ments containing the approvals from the federal government and Ejike Chuku, University of Brad- damaged credibility as the rip- oping other areas of the state. ford, Jude Ogodo, University of ple effects of such development “The other day in my office, a copy of HOSCON’s constitution Central Lancashire, and Esther were incalculable I saw a letter from foreign stu- to the royal fathers.

Responding, the State ChairAkpoke, University of College Reacting, the Senior Special dents; to me the tone of the letLondon, the students who ap- Assistant to Governor David ter is appreciative of the effort man of Anambra Traditional Rulpreciated the Governor for the Umahi on Higher Education, of the Governor and requesting ers Council and Obi of Onitsha, payment of the last two tranches Prof. Adaeze Nwuzor explained him or reminding him of 2018; Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, that the present administration you know the letter has not commended him for coming to of their tuition fees in the past.

They however, stressed that had paid off the arrears of their been seen by him and the mo- brief them and disclosed that the for government to abandon tuition fees from 2013 till date ment he sees it, he will minute traditional rulers would set up a them after they had come a stressing that the 2018 payment on it directing that the 2018 be committee to be headed by the traditional ruler of Aguleri, Igwe long way in their research pro- was in progress and would soon paid. gramme, was not a palatable op- hit their accounts.

“There is no way the Governor Christopher Idigo, to look into his “For the records, the Gover- will say he will not pay their tui- briefings and take a decisive step. tion.

“To put the records straight, nor wasn’t the person that gave tion fees; it is cordial for them to Achebe who handed all the our tuition fee, especially for them the scholarship but be- notify the Governor of any de- documents over to Igwe Idigo, those studying in the UK, US and cause of his passion for educa- velopment; they should exercise disclosed that he himself, having Canada ranges from £11,950 to tion, when he was sworn-in in patience, their letter just came in worked in the oil industry for over £30,000. The records are there 2015, the Governor paid the arlast week. They should appre- 30 years, would serve as a private in our various files at the Ebonyi rears of 2013 to 2015 to the over- ciate God to have given us the consultant to actualize the dream State Scholarship Board for con- seas students; then in 2016, he person of Governor David Uma- of Anambra getting its fair share firmation. Without being blunt, paid them N3m each; he is not hi,” he said. as an oil producing state.

FG affirms Anambra as oil producing state

F

Pay our outstanding tuition fees – Ebonyi indigenes beg Umahi

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The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

SPORTS Russia 2018: Ebuehi optimistic of Eagles’ success in Russia

By MADUABUCHI KALU

A

s Gernot Rohr and his charges prepare for the global biggest football fiesta, the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, Super Eagles’ and ADO Den Hagg defender, Tyronne Ebuehi, has expressed optimism that the three time African champions, the Super Eagles will do well in Vladimir Putin’s country when hostilities for the World Cup begin.

He is hopeful that despite the difficult opponents in Eagles’ Group that is made up of two time world champions, Argentina, experienced World Cup participants, Croatia and debutant, Iceland, Eagles will make it to the group stage of the tournament.

Even with his optimism, the 21-year old defender who has a Dutch mother, said his optimism of Eagles’ success will be dependent on everything being put right.

“I think we will certainly qualify for the next round, but then everything has to be right,” Ebuehi told his club’s official website.

The ADO Den Haag right back won his fourth cap against Serbia last month in London in a 2-0 defeat and his optimism counters predictions made by a Talk Sports supercomputer that postulated Brazil would beat Spain in the final.

The supercomputer predicted that the Super Eagles would not make it out of Group D in Russia. It said Iceland would come first, followed by Germany while Africa will only have one representative in the Round of 16 in Mohamed Salah’s Egypt.

This view was corroborated by a

By MADUABUCHI KALU

S

• former Argentina midfielder, Osvaldo Ardiles, who told Sportske Novosti, “In one I’m sure, Croatia and Argentina will go further in the group.

“Everything else would be a big surprise, though. When you see the names, then it is clear that Nigeria and Iceland cannot be on that level. With their condition, Croatia and Argentina are well placed considering their team level and individual quality.”

Ebuehi though agreed it would be a difficult task for the Eagles. “That’s hard to say, even though we beat Argentina in November, they are still

a very difficult opponent, especially when Lionel Messi is competing. Also, Iceland and Croatia have good teams,” he confesses.

Even though we won 4-2 against Argentina in November, it is still a very difficult opponent especially when Lionel Messi is in the team. He didn’t play against us,” Ebuehi told his club official website in Holland.

Meanwhile, Ebuehi has explained why his move to top Portuguese side, Benfica failed through during the January transfer window: “It was not my goal to leave ADO Den Hagg at all cost

Martins

Tyronne Ebuehi

this winter, I am still young, my time is coming. “I am just very happy that I am still playing here and the coach gave me the advise, stay at ADO Den Hagg at least you can make minutes there,” he said.

Ebuehi has played 27 ADO Den Hagg’s 29 matches this season missing just two due to injuries and suspension. And right now he is thinking of qualifying with the Super Eagles from the group stages to the second Round of Group D and from there anything can happen.

Martins undergoes successful knee surgery in UK

I

•

Mikel plays down his absence in Eagles’ defeat to Serbia

t is no longer news that Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins World Cup dream has been cut short no thanks to the injury he sustained during his side’s Asia’s Champions League which they draw but what is news is that the former national team goal poacher has undergone a successful surgery in England according to his Chinese Club, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC. According to the tweet on their official handle, Shanghai Shenhua wrote: We want to announce that our player, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins has undergone a successful surgery in England.”

It is recalled that recently owing to dearth of potent strikers in Gernot Rohr’s charges, many well-meaning Nigerians started looking in the direction of “Oba Goal” as he is fondly called by his supporters.

This is more so, when he was firing from all cylinders in his Chinese side, Shanghai Shenhua even as he fired a hattrick a week before he sustained the injury during his side Asian Champions League with Japanese side, Kashima Atlas.

With Martins out of the game against Kashima Atlas following the injury he sustained, the encounter ended 2-2. The draw ensured that Shanghai Shenhua got eliminated from the Asian Champions League.

The 33 year old is said to spend

about seven months on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in his right knee.

The former Seattle Sounder Fc of the United States of America attacker scored three leagues for Shanghai Shenhua who are placed 6th in the Chinese Super League.

Meanwhile, as one man is surely out of the World Cup and another has a faint hope of making it to the Mundial even as he has turns to God for a miracle to enable him be at the Mundial, he is no other person than Everton loanee, Henry Onyekuru.

The Anambra State born goal poacher is still in danger of missing out on the World Cup as the Everton striker is not yet 100 per cent fit.

Ander letch tested the knee of the Nigerian last week and declared that the earliest possible time for him to resuming full training with the first team is in two weeks.

He suffered a serious knee injury in the Belgian first division tie against his former club, Eupen on December 22, 2017, three days before Christmas.

It was initially thought he will be out of action for the reminder of the season but on his return to his parent club, Everton it was announced that he doesn’t have to spend so long on the side line. And with the way things are at the moment, it will only take miracle for Onyekuru to make it to the Mundial.

uper Eagles’ captain, John Obi Mikel, has played down insinuations that the squad is not strong whenever he is not playing.

It is recalled that since the appointment of Gernot Rohr as the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles in 2016, the two games Super Eagles have lost were when Mikel wasn’t playing. A 2-0 against South Africa in Uyo in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers and of course 2-0 in international friendly Eagles played penultimate week in Hive Stadium in England.

Mikel who was unable to participate in Eagles’ 2-0 defeat to Serbia due to work permit problems at Tianjin TEDA said the lost was not down to his absence.

“It is disrespectful when people say that a team as talented as ours can’t win when I am not playing.

“We have players who can fill in for me adequately. Simply put, we are not a one man team,” Mikel enthused.

“The team were unlucky against Serbia; it’s as simple as that. Just like the lost to South Africa, we didn’t play to our potential. With too many errors it could be costly,” Mikel explained.

“As a team, we keep improving and hopefully make positive impression at the FIA World Cup,” Mikel declared.

Meanwhile, Ogene Karo Etebo has returned from injury after spending three weeks on the sideline following the ankle injury he sustained during a league game in La Liga.

Etebo who plays for La Palmas of Spain wrote in his instagram page, “ready for the challenges ahead, never give up.” The Nigerian midfielder got injured in La Palmas’ 2-0 win against Villarreal last month and was forced to seat out key fixtures against Real Madrid and Deportivo La Corona and including Nigeria’s international friendlies against Poland and Serbia.

•

Mikel

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday April 18, 2018

SPORTS Eagles’ youthfulness Fillol blames Caballero for Argentina white-wash by Spain excites Kanu

By MADUABUCHI KALU

F

ormer Super Eagles’ captain, Nwankwo Kanu has expressed excitement over the youthful nature of the current squad of the national team the Super Eagles.

According to the former Arsenal talisman, it has taken long for Nigeria to have this type of talented and youthful players in the national team.

Kanu, a former Arsenal, Inter Milan and Ajax Fc of England, Italy and Holland star, said the fact that Eagles can boast of 25 good players who are as good as the other gladdens his heart, because it has been long when last the country can boast of having such a good squad.

He explained that the players will come in handy when the team faced opposition when hostilities begin in Russia June this year.

Kanu said he was excited that we have players who are as good as those on the bench playing football and those playing are as good as those on the bench.

“For me, the team is a very good one, knowing that they don’t have a super star, and one other vital advantage they have is the youthfulness of the team.

“This is the first time we have 25 good players, because those on the bench are as good as the first XI in the pitch. They are very young and brimming with energy, even as that; they have the experience.

“My advise for them is that each one of them should know that they are representing the biggest country in Africa. Once the players are committed, then football will follow.

“The international friendlies are part of the preparations for the World Cup that is why it is important to play such matches. We should

not be carried away or be disheartened when the outcome is not in our favour but learn from it,” Kanu advised.

Continuing he said: “A lot of countries are watching us and also strategizing on their own plans. What matters is the positives that the coach is picking from the friendlies to knock the team into shape.

“I know that our group is tough but it is not impossible for the Super Eagles to go as far as the semi-finals of the tournament,” Kanu enthused.

“I am so excited about this team, you know before now we never had 25 very good players playing for the country and right now we are having them, 25 very good players and this calls for celebration.

“More importantly, the team have the advantage of not having a superstar who everyone will be looking up to which many at time prove to be distraction. Every player in this current team is good and that is the good thing about is it.

“And I hope that the boys would just be ready to play very well for motherland when hostilities begin at the FIFA World Cup,” Kanu declared.

Meanwhile, the former Arsenal striker has declared his penultimate week’s presidential declaration as April fool stunt. According to him he has no political ambition but want to fool Nigerians on April and since no one was alert, he succeeded in his stunt.

It is recalled that the press was awash penultimate week when the Abia State born footballer declared that he will be contesting the presidential election come next year even as he did not disclose the political platform where he had intended to slug it out with the incumbent, President Mohammedu Buhari.

Rohr reveals expectations for Eagles’ World Cup

S

uper Eagles’ gaffer, Gernor Rohr, has revealed his expectations from his boys at the World Cup in Russia.

According to the Franco-German tactician, he expects his boys to approach and play at the Mundial the same and manner they approached and played during the World Cup Qualifiers that saw them stun the footballing world by securing the sole ticket of their Group B of the African Zone.

It is this Eagles’ heroics that Rohr said he wanted to see when hostilities get underway in Russia in June.

“Well, I have my expectations for the World Cup from my team,” Rohr began.

“First and foremost, I am expecting good decision on the pitch of play by my players. I am expecting the same football we played in the qualifiers, and I am expecting a good general attitude to bring a lot of joy to Nigeria.

“I am expecting also the team to be ready as we play the same way we play during the qualifiers.

“Good conduct and good attitude because this is the highest level we can play, that is the World Cup,” It is recalled that when the draws were made which pitched the Eagles against former continental

champions, Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia, the conclusion was that Eagles were not going to qualify because the calibre of teams in that group but surprisingly, Eagles started the qualifiers on a good note with victory against Zambia in Ndola.

The Nigerians followed it with emphatic 3-1 win over Algeria at home in Uyo and by then, Algeria was the highest ranked team on the continent. As if that was not enough, they thrashed Cameroon 4-1 in Uyo and drew against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Yaoundé to amass four points from the two legged encounters.

Despite the determination and desire of the Chipolopolo of Zambia to ruffle Eagles feathers in Uyo, Alex Iwobi made sure that they didn’t realize their dream as his strike was enough to give the Nigerians the maximum points at home thereby dashing once again the World Cup dream of Zambia.

The final game in Algeria equally ended with the Nigerians securing a point which was later deducted by world football governing body FIFA for fielding unqualified player during the game and a fine of $60,000 imposed on the NFF.

•

L

Willy Caballero

egendary Argentine goalkeeper, who help Argentina win her first World Cup in 1978, Ubaldo Matildo Fillol, after taking a critical look at the humiliation his country suffered in the hands of La Furi Roger of Spain in international friendly last month at the Wander Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain has singled out Chelsea’s goalkeeper, Wilfredo Daniel “Willy” Caballero Lazcano for blame for the unfortunate disgrace.

According to Fillol, the former River Plate goal tender when the La Albiceleste won their first World in 1978, questioned the ability of Caballero who conceded five of the six goals during the game at the Estadio Wander Metropolitano out there in Madrid.

“It was painful and shameful but it is more to be pitiable. You cannot play that bad again. Sometimes you play badly and you do not concede so many goals, it is bottom with this result,” said Fillol.

Argentina will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria for the fifth time in the

group stage of the World Cup when hostilities get underway in St Petersburg on the 26th of June.

Meanwhile, owing to La Albiceleste performance going to the World Cup, everybody is worried now and even the President of the Argentina Football Association; Claudio Tapia does not sleep with his two eyes closed.

To this end, President of the Argentine Football Association, Tappia has backed the much criticized national team head coach, Jorge Sampaoli to lead the team to a respectable outing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia despite La Albiceleste embarrassing 6-1 defeat to La Furi Roger of Spain in a friendly game last penultimate week.

Sampaoli, who was in-charge of Chile at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, helped the South Americans secure the ticket to the Mundial despite a poor start. But the team’s poor performances in recent games have seen him come under severe criticisms from the fans but the tac-

tician has the backing of his FA boss.

“I have seen him come under criticism from the fans,” outside of Spain, Argentina were embarrassed by their group opponents for Russia World Cup, the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a friendly game last year.

But Tappia has refused to toe that line of fans and analysts who have called for his sack and even confirmed that the former Servilla gaffer will manage the team to the World Cup. Well you have La Albiceleste, two time world champions, you have Croatia who are indeed an experienced side in the World Cup, they have experienced players playing in Europe, from Juventus to Real Madrid to Barcelona to Napoli in Italian Seria A but then one man is not deterred, he is the technical adviser of the Super Eagles, he is a German, he feels that he has forced the German philosophy into Nigerian Football. Rohr in sports radio programme talked about his expectations for Eagles.

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

with the Blue Samurai before they play their first match against Colombia in a tough World Cup pool that also includes Poland and Senegal.

“We thought the new director should be appointed from inside, given we have just two months left before the World Cup,” Japan Football Association President, Kozo Tashima told reporters.

“We have asked Nishino to take this position as an emergency measure.”

A former international midfielder who won 12 caps for his country, Nishino is best known for his stint at the helm of Gamba Osaka, which he steered to the team’s first Asian Club Championship in 2008.

This earned them the biggest match in their history, a World Club Cup semi-final clash with a powerful Manchester United side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs

and Wayne Rooney, which they lost in a 5-3 thriller.

Despite the famous win over Brazil in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Nishino came under fire for being overly defensive. But in 2012, he wrote a newspaper column on “the thrills of attacking football”, setting out an offensive style of play.

Tashima said the “basics will remain the same” under the new manager, adding that a fast, attacking style was “much needed.”

Russia 2018: Japan fires national head coach, Halilhodzic

B

arely 70 days to the kick of the world’s biggest football fiesta, Japan on Monday fired their national team coach, Vahid Halilhodzic even as they immediately named respected veteran manager, Akira Nishino as replacement.

According the Japanese football governing body, the replacement of Vahid Halilhodzic by Akira Nishino was an “emergency measure” as it is fitting to pick someone from within.

The 63-year-old Nishino boasts an impressive array of domestic silverware and masterminded one of Japanese football’s proudest moments: beating a Brazil side containing Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos 1-0 at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Nishino will have only 70 days

The Oracle Today

47

Wednesday April 18, 2018

NEWS

FG plotting to frame me – Wike

R

IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has raised the alarm over a plot by the Federal Government to frame him up by planting illegal items on him in any of his trips outside the shores of Nigeria, and have him quizzed and embarrassed by foreign security agencies.

A statement by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media noted that investigations by the Rivers State Governor revealed the Federal Government is using her security agencies to plan the set up anytime the governor travels abroad.

The governor said: “My investigation reveals that the Federal government using her security agencies is planning to set

me up anytime I am travelling outside the country. They plan to organise security to storm the hotel I am staying and say they found xyz cash in my possession; after which they would say I was arrested for currency trafficking or whatever offences outside the country.

“They will then precipitate crisis in my state and other parts of Nigeria. They will plan demonstrations to demonize me and claim I have gone outside to embarrass the country. The public odium is meant to smear me before my people and other Nigerians. It is unfortunate, wicked and unfair.

“What they plan is similar to what was once done to the late Chief DSP Alamieseigha. They are planning what they call the ‘Alams treatment’ for me. But, by the grace of Almighty God,

they will fail.”

Governor Wike said, though he was neither scared nor disturbed over the plot, he felt the need to alert the nation and the world to the evil and dangerous dimension politics had degenerated in the country.

“I am using this opportunity to alert the world of the sinister plot. I am a law-abiding citizen of this country and countries I visit in the course of my work or holidays. I have never dabbled into anything illegal. So,

any attempt to frame me up on trumped up charges or alleged offences is bound to fail.”

“What they are doing is just cheap politics. They want to intimidate the opposition into silence as they are already doing with their so-called ‘looters’ list’. It won’t work. We can’t all be intimidated. What we expect government at the centre to do is to showcase to the people their lists of achievements; why they should get a second

chance. But they have nothing to show; so they are embarking on intimidation and arm-twisting tactics of the opposition,” said Wike.

Governor Wike said he was sure of resounding victory at the polls in 2019, because he has been serving the people diligently and efficiently.

“My works will speak for me. My projects will speak for.

The People of Rivers State will speak for me by voting me back. No shaking, “he said.

New NUPENG leader advises FG to stem job losses N

By JONATAN AWANYAI, Asaba

EWLY-INAUGURATED National President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG), Comrade Prince Williams Akporeha has called on government not to allow the ongoing reforms in the oil industry to lead to job loss or victimization of oil workers.

He specifically maintained that NUPENG under his leadership will do everything possible to safeguard workers’ welfare whilst requesting that the implementation of Petroleum Industry Bill by the legislative and executive arms of government should not impact negatively on workers in the oil and gas sector.

According to him the Petroleum Industry Bill which is already being harmonized by both Senate and House of Representatives should help to strengthen the interest of oil workers, host communities, International Oil Companies (IOCs) government and other key stakeholders in the downstream, upstream and mid-stream sectors without any iota of resentments or bias.

Comrade Prince Williams Akporeha made these remarks in his acceptance speech shortly after his inauguration as national President of NUPENG recently at the oil union’s 4th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference, (NDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. ‘’Dear esteemed Comrades, you are all aware that we are coming on board at this critical time when our industry is facing two critical challenges of changes and reforms. One of these challenges is the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill that has just been harmonized and passed by the two national assemblies. There is no doubt the passage of the bill is long overdue but nevertheless, the implementation of this Act must not be allowed to impact negatively on job security of workers in the industry. ‘’The second challenge relates to the theme of this national delegates conference. Globalization has created series of challenges to the global working class. The new dimension of these challenges is the replacement of Man at work with machine. The race between

Man and Machine has left workers with the wrong side of the baton with redundancies being served on our plates every now and then.

Union membership has been seriously depleted due to the impact of Industry 4.0. ‘’It is within this context, that we commend President Mohammadu Buhari on his “Nigeria First initiative” on job recruitment order. This we believe will go a long way in halting the expanding and increasing unemployment level of qualified youths in the country.”

Comrade Akpohera stated.

The acceptance speech further noted; Notwithstanding all the above challenges, I stand here to give you my assurance that we will use all resources at our disposal, both human and materials to defend the job interest of all our members. We shall protect our collective interest with our collective resources in line with extant rules.”

He continued, “Be assured of the fact also, that we shall show more commitment and seriousness in the vision of taking the union to next level by building on stability and unity of the union as well as ensuring a stable financial base through prudency, frugality, transparency and accountability. ‘’We will also vigorously embark on tactful and strategic unionization of workers in the formal and informal sectors of the oil and gas industry into NUPENG. This new approach to unionization will include careful and objective recruitment of Organisers, indept research work, creation and consistent maintenance of efficient and effective collaborative UnionManagement relationship.’’

Prince Akporeha in his compassionate disposition also extended his warm hands of fellowship to others who were ambitious of same elective positions to join him and the new elected officials in building a strong, united and purpose-driven NUPENG. Akporeha, a reticent but firm and astute labour leader of note, known for his penchant for humility, and deep respect for elders used the auspicious occasion to acknowledge and extol the virtues, efforts and contributions of NUPENG’s founding fathers and heroes, he said:

•Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, flanked by the Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar during the tug-of-war competition which held at closing ceremony of Nigeria Air Force 3rd Division Combat Sports Competition which held at the Godswill Akpabio International Sports Stadium, Uyo, Friday.

PTDF begins scholarship selection process

T

HE Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has started the selection process for the award of 2018/ 2019 overseas scholarship for Master’s Degree (Msc) and Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) programmes.

Manager, Education and Training of the PTDF, Mrs Rabi’ah Waziri-Adamu, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the interview for shortlisted candidates for the award.

She said the Fund had modified the style of selection by suspending the conduct of aptitude tests for applicants in the programme.

The PTDF also disclosed that it had entered into a partnership with top universities in France, Germany, China and the United Kingdom to help successful applicants in its scholarship scheme secure university admissions.

She said the interview, which was holding simultaneously across the six geopolitical zones in the country, was for special partnerships with Germany, France and China.

According to her, the interview will run for five days.

She allayed fears over lack of transparency in the new system, stating that the interviews would be conducted by a panel of experts, comprising lecturers from Nigerian universities and the energy industry.

According to her, the PTDF selection process has always been rigorous as evident by the ex-

ceptional intellectuals that it had trained over the years.

“The process has always been excellent, transparent, and has produced excellent scholars. However, this year, we have decided to make a few changes.

“In the past, we used to administer aptitude test to our MSC candidates and then oral interview for our PhD candidates.

“However, this year, we have decided to interview all the candidates. Why have we done that?

“For the MSc candidates, we have asked them to write a statement of purpose as to why they wish to study the subject area that they have chosen, in addition of course to their credentials.

“We have done that to ensure that we select the most outstanding students. We are looking for that ‘X-Factor’ in the candidates, what makes them different, what is it they are contributing to the country, how is it going to affect the oil and gas industry in Nigeria and globally. That is why we have changed the system to interview both our MSc students and the PhD students.”

She explained that PTDF had already agreed with the schools that once the selection process was concluded, the credentials and other documents of these students would be forwarded to them for admission.

However, she noted that this was not the first time that the PTDF would be conducting inter-

views for applicants.

“Our PhD students have always undergone interviews and the selection has been transparent. The panelist can attest to that fact, because PTDF staff do not select and assess these candidates. We invited a panel of experts who have graded the candidates and the successful candidates that we select attest to the fact that the process is transparent and we have taken merit into consideration.” One of the panelists, Dr. Abdulkadir Mukhtar, the Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, declared that the process would be transparent.

He said the panelists would be looking out for quality and outstanding students that would be representing the country either in France, Germany or China.

“There is a template, more like a marking scheme that looks at the overall proposal that they submitted. “During the application procedure, they were asked to submit a five-page document detailing the aims and objectives, literature review, methodology, expected results and references. Based on what they were told from the onset, we would be assessing them.

For the MSc, we are looking at the ‘Statement of Purpose;’ stating why they want to do the masters programme. Masters is statement of purpose, PhD is proposal,” said Mukhtar.

WEDNESDAY April 18, 2018

The

www.oraclenews.ng

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racle Today

VOX POPULI SACRUM

ISSN: 2545-5869

Obasanjo should be in jail B

UHARI does not intend to leave a bleeding, disunited nation and disarticulated socio-economic development at the end of his tenure.

Let me say at this point that I am worried by the antics of Obasanjo and his penchant for promoting himself as the only competent Nigerian leader.

Since he left office on October 1, 1979 to local and international applause, Obasanjo has systematically sought to undermine every federal administration after him. He has today set up himself as the moral conscience of the nation. He believes he has acquired the wisdom of King Solomon and has consequently imposed on himself the right to decide who rules us and how we should be ruled.

Perhaps, part of the reason is that before leaving office in 2007, his party, the PDP, conferred on him the titles of Maker of Modern Nigeria and Father of the Nation. Such titles do have a heady way of making a man seeing his head bedecked in the halos of self-righteousness.

There is a process for changing our governments through the instrumentality of elections. Chief Obasanjo, one of the architects of that process and a beneficiary to boot, ought to support that process and let the people decide who they want to rule them.

It is not for him to decide for the people or the President.

No one should arrogate to himself eternal verities in the administration of his country. It is his consuming ambition to have his hands on the levers of power under all our presidents. When he loses that grip, he turns against the incumbent in office.

He undermined Gen. Babangida’s economic programme, SAP, with his statement that the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, should have a human face and the milk of human kindness. He denigrated Gen. Babangida by advising people to whom the former President says good morning to check their wrist watches to make sure it is morning.

Was he entirely motivated by that noble sentiment? I find that hard to believe.

I find it difficult to completely ignore what appear to me like the dark motives hovering over his action because I see it as a behavioural pattern that began with his 2014 letter to the then President Goodluck Jonathan, titled ‘Before it is too late’.

It seems to me he believes that that letter alone cost Jonathan the presidency. So, if he is fatigued by President Buhari, he can resort to the same weapon with probably the same consequences. It is a long shot.

His Coalition for Nigeria is a red herring across the path of our constitutional government.

He is free to form a political party and pursue his ambition of being the power behind the throne but such a national movement would achieve no discernible purpose in the economic management and the social administration of the country.

No one can deny him the right to criticise a sitting President but his method leaves much to be desired. He cannot, therefore, escape the charge of impure motive and that he took this step, not to try and set things right for the sake of the nation, but to promote

GUEST COLUMNIST

Sen Abdullahi

Adamu

• Obasanjo

• Babangida

Obasanjo for the sake of Obasanjo.

Being a former President, he has an unimpeded access to the President and can, therefore, seek to influence him in the privacy of the seat of power. Indeed, in the early years of the Buhari administration, Chief Obasanjo was a frequent presence in Aso Rock.

I believe he frequented the seat of power in support of the administration. I now wonder why he suddenly decided to turn a friend into an enemy and rubbish everything the President has done so far in a little over two and half years.

In a civilised political culture, it is taboo for former Presidents to openly take a sitting president to the cleaners. Our former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has faithfully kept to this time-honoured culture of a former ruler not washing the dirty linens of a current ruler rather gleefully in the public. So have former President Shehu Shagari and former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The implications for the polity of a former President regaling the public with a litany of the failures of a sitting President is a calculated and unholy effort to destroy him politically.

No one, not even Buhari’s most rabid supporters, would be unfair to themselves enough to suggest that everything is right with the administration. It is true that the government has not met the expectations of the generality of Nigerians. But it is not

for lack of capacity or the unwillingness on the part of the President to respond to the needs of the people and those of the country.

I know that we invested high expectations on the Buhari administration but is it fair and realistic for us to expect the administration to solve all the problems it inherited in less than three years? Human and resources management towards achieving a desired result is not amenable to the waving of a magic wand.

No administration is a total success and none is a total failure. Chief Obasanjo cannot honestly claim that he ran a perfect and totally successful administration. Because he did not.

Every administration grapples with problems thrown at it by circumstances beyond its control. President Buhari inherited an economy that was unsteady on its feet. He also inherited the security problems, such as Boko Haram, armed robberies and kidnappings. Yes, I agree that under his watch these problems should grow less, not more.

But the solution to problems such as these is a slow and agonising process. He has no powers to simply make them disappear overnight.

The President was fully aware of these problems and challenges when he sought the consent of the electorate in 2015. He did so in the hope that with the support and the goodwill of all Nigerians, he could tackle them. I know he has not given up on that.

I do not think he intends to leave a bleeding, disunited nation and disarticulated socio-economic development at the end of his tenure. He seems to be overwhelmed by the problems because while problems rain down, solutions to them take time to be effective.

I think the President, in the circumstances, deserves support and encouragement rather than antagonism from a constituency that should give him that support and encouragement as he seeks to address these and other problems in his own way.

Obasanjo said that President Buhari is selective in his anti-corruption war. I agree with him because if the President were not selective, Chief Obasanjo himself would be in the dock today on trial on charges of corruption arising from the corrupt practices in the pursuit of his third term gambit in the National Assembly in 2006.

Today he denies that he ever nursed such ambition. And being a man much-favoured

by God, he has repeatedly said that if he had wanted it and asked the Almighty for it, he would have given him the third term.

He knows as well as I and other leading members of the PDP that he badly wanted it and initiated the process of constitutional amendment. He bribed each member of the National Assembly who signed to support the amendment, with the whopping sum of N50 million to make the constitutional amendment scale through.

The fresh, mint money was taken in its original boxes presumably from the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria and distributed among the legislators. The money was not his and it was not appropriated by the National Assembly as required by law. I, therefore, agree that in failing to make the former President account for that money. President Buhari is waging his anti-corruption war selectively.

Nor should we forget that President Buhari has also not bothered to interrogate Obasanjo’s role in the Halliburton scandal for which some Americans are cooling their heels in jail.

Perhaps, President Buhari might look into the Siemens affairs in which the Obasanjo administration was indicted and for which people were on trial. What became of the trial?

I believe that Obasanjo is too high and too big in the estimation of the people to permit himself the continued sickening indulgence in political skullduggery. I believe that the Nigerian people and the Nigerian state have been most kind to him.

Obasanjo has a moral obligation to make the country succeed in solving its myriads of problems. That, I believe, is one way he can give back to the country that has given him so much.

As a friend, I wish to advise the former President to pull back from the dangerous path of rubbishing all Presidents that came into office after him.

“Bringing everyone down is not a patriotic duty. I fear that if he continues along this path, he would, sooner than later over reach himself and begin the inevitable descent into national nuisance and irrelevance. That would be ‘a self-inflicted wound and a personal tragedy.”

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