Wednesday December 20, 2017 Edition by oracle

Work resumes on 2nd Niger Bridge • Applauses • Alarms • Accusations

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

VER two years after the Federal Government stopped work on the 2nd Niger Bridge, work has resumed as equipment belonging to Julius Berger was seen working in the area. Berger was working on the bridge before the Federal Government told it to pull out on 15 June 2015. The Oracle Today ran two cover stories on the 2nd Niger Bridge on

racle

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WEDNESDAY December 20, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

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VOL.2 No. 52. N200

PDP : South, East, South West battle for VP T From CHIDI UGWU, Abuja

HE emergence of Uche Secondus as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has altered the calculations about how the vice presidential candidate would emerge. The earlier calculations had been that the South West would produce the Chairman, making the vice presidential slot a reserve of the South East. “None of those calculations had considered the South South,” a party official said after the convention that produced a national Chairman from the South South. “It is no longer certain where the vice presidential candidate of would be from,” he said. With the presidency zoned to the North, it was expected that the vice presidential slot in the South would have been South East’s. A top delegate who was privy to the negotiations said that the expectation informed the low interest that the South East showed in top party positions. Blames are flying about the failure of the South West to have clinched the national chairmanship. They are being pushed back to the South West. “The South West was in disarray at the national convention. It had had six candidates. None agreed to step down for the other,” said a delegate. “They were all over the country campaigning. They seemed to think more about themselves than the party.” At the convention, the South

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• Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu handing over to Joy Ezechikamnayo (Abia One Day governor). See story on page 6

Kanu, father, mum still missing From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

SIAMA Afara, a suburb of Umuahia, the Abia State capital and one of the three autonomous communities that make up Afaraukwu clan of Ibeku, came to

• Palace deserted lime light as a result of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. One of their sons,

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, used his father’s palace as the base for IPOB activities, most-

ly rallies and prayers. These activities turned Isiama Afara to the Mecca of Umuahia, which has attracted more visitors than the Ojukwu Bunker and War Museum, two tourist sites in

Crude oil soars to $65/bbl

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The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

NEWS

Kanu Continued from Pg 1

Umuahia based on Biafra, combined. Any day IPOB had any activities, the traffic on the road to Isiama Afara was better witnessed than imagined. Though IPOB members turned up in their numbers, they usually exhibited a high degree of traffic discipline such that they did not cause traffic gridlock. In some cases, the IPOB took over traffic control, deploying members to strategic locations. This accounted for easy flow of traffic no matter the thousands of IPOB members that swarm Umuahia. Finding your way to the palace of His Royal Majesty, Eze Israel Kanu, the Egwu Ukwu II of Afaraukwu clan, any day IPOB settles for any of its frequent gatherings, was an uphill task. The road was clustered with happy-looking youths who chanted numerous soul-lifting Biafran songs; drumming and singing, blowing their horns to high heavens; accentuated with endless whistle blowing and complemented with pleasure-giving dancing steps. On such occasions, the red-alert IPOB security operatives were always vigilant to ensure that there was no security breach or molestation of any form. Movement to the palace was usually obstructed as you bumped into people or stepped on someone each time you wanted to advance closer to the palace. For now, the 14 September invasion of the palace, which houses the Kanus, including Nnamdi, has changed the ambience and hue of the community. Three months after the invasion, the palace itself, with its

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To be serialised in The Oracle Today soon

Read about the great Rangers story from next edition

PDP Covention: South, East, Niger South West battle for VP Bridge Continued from Pg 1

West had Chief Bode George, former PDP deputy National Chairman, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Education Minister, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, former governors Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), and Jimi Agbaje, PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State in the 2015 election. Individually, the South West candidates are all strong political personalities who command wide networks of contacts, associates, support and influence across the country. Many expected the South West to really fight for that position and win on their own strength. But, that was not to be, as the candidates failed to come together and present a common front. “They also didn’t seem to reckon with the frailties of politics,” said a delegate from the South West, who claimed that some of the delegates thought of the certainties of their victory beyond calculations that politics offers. “They were not bargaining, they were just telling everyone who they were. How could Lagos have two candidates (George and Agbaje) and Oyo two candidates too (Ladoja and Adedoja)? If they could not agree among themselves why do they think others would agree on their behalf? The lesson is for people to know the uncertainties of politics and

deal with them.” Those uncertainties are now obvious to those who thought that they had the vice presidential ticket tailored for them. In the South East, fights for the slot had assumed different dimension, to the point that the loss of the governorship election in Anambra State, by some accounts, was posited on not creating influence for Mr. Peter Obi, for governor of the State, who reportedly wanted to use a victory in the November 18 poll to assert his place in the party. Individuals within PDP in Anambra State and in the South East were said to have been so opposed to Obi’s vice presidential ambition that they refused to attend rallies to lend support to the candidacy of Oseloka Obaze, who Obi supported. The fight would now include “opposition” obviously from the South West, that would argue that a vice presidential slot would give the zone a better standing to command votes from the South West that is largely for the All Progressive Congress, APC. How would the final decision be made? “It is too early in the day,” said a source in the PDP, who introduced more intrigues into the game. “If the South West gets a vice presidential slot, will it accept the candidate of the presidential candidate, or it wants an imposition of its own?” According to the source, if the South West is to get the vice

presidential candidate, majority of the party hierarchy would not be proposing any of the six candidates who ran for the chairmanship. “The proposed candidate would surprise the South West,” he said. He could be saying something profound. Prof Adeniran, who was second in the national chairmanship race, is from Ekiti State. Most of the consensus seems to be that he would be the choice for a vice presidential candidate, if the position goes to the South West. “How does he merit the position beyond running for the chairmanship? There would be other considerations,” the delegate said. The major consideration, The Oracle Today learnt, would be the interest of Governor Ayodele Fayose, who with Governor Wike, were said to have been at the forefront of the battle to survive the fractionalisation of PDP. How does Fayose benefit from his contributions? Fayose wants to be the vice presidential candidate from the South West. It is also reported that he has the support of Governor Wike. “Some see Uche Secondus, though he is from the South South, as an Igbo man. As far as they are concerned, the national Chairman of PDP is Igbo, so South East has been settled. The only zone that is left out is the South West,” the delegate, who was involved in the negotiations that led to the emergence of Secondus, said.

Cont’d from page 1 its editions of November 1 and November 8, 2017, detailing the abandonment of the work and the confusions that trailed resumption work or completion of the bridge. Among the best signs that work was resuming on the bridge were the workers on site, the hordes of labourers who are turning up at the site for casual work, the quantity of equipment on site as well as some pictures of some of the works that have been done recently. “If it was possible to build the bridge secretly,” a government source told The Oracle Today, “that is what the government would have done. It would have only invited people to the commissioning. When it is time to talk about the bridge, we will.” Doubts persist on several fronts. “The secrecy would be beneficial to those who do not want us to know the type of bridge they are building. What plan are they following? There are at least two designs for the bridge. Which one are they following? What informed the decision? “Is this a new contract? Is the bridge being built under the public private partner under which Berger started building it? Has the financing arrangement changed? If the Federal Government is financing it, where would it get the money to complete a bridge that would have cost N108 billion in 2012? Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), had given a breakdown of the cost and commitments of the Second Niger Bridge project by 2012. “The project, which Julius Berger Nigeria Plc-NSIA Motorway Investment Company Ltd, JB-NMIC, Consortium was handling, was estimated to cost $700 millionthat is, N108 billion at the then exchange rate of N154/$). NMIC is a subsidiary of NSIA. “The Second Niger Bridge project comprised Phases 1, 2a and 2b and includes a southern bypass of both Asaba and Onitsha cities with an approximate total length of 44km. The phase 1 of the project, which is the bridge and adjacent roads, is approximately 11.9 kilometres and will be constructed and operated under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. “The bridge will comprise a 3.31 kilometre-long road section on the Delta side, including a 500 metre-long toll plaza; a 1.59 kilometres tolled concrete box-girder bridge with two superstructures and a 7.0 kilometre-long road section on the Anambra side. It is expected that the bridge would be constructed and delivered in 48 months. When completed, the bridge and approach roads will have six lanes with three in each direction. Phase 2a is connected to the Asaba-Benin Expressway while Phase 2b is connected to the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway. Phases 2a and 2b together constitute the feeding approach roads. “Out of the N108 billion project cost, the Federal Government

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The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Bad weather: Be more cautious – FRSC urges motorists

he Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised motorists to drive more cautiously due to the change in weather conditions in most parts of the country. Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Bisi Kazeem, issued the advice in a statement, Sunday. The southern parts of the country are currently experiencing shades of cloudy and foggy conditions, while in the northern and central states, the weather is partly sunny and hazy during the morning hours with dust haze conditions in the evenings. Kazeem warned that visibility had reduced as a result, hence the need for motorists to be more careful. “It is imperative for motorists to drive carefully, and to be mindful of their blind-spots while overtaking. He also advised them to maintain decent speed during the period. “They should put on headlights and tail lights for proper visibility due to the foggy weather so as to see and be seen. “Most parts of the country are affected with more critical situations around the northern axis,” he said. Kazeem noted that following the prescribed speed limit, the current period was no longer necessary as motorists would not be able to see far ahead nor notice obstructions. He quoted the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, as saying that this is the time for vehicles to equally meet the minimum safety standards. Oyeyemi urged motorists to ensure that the wipers, head and rear lights, braking systems and engines of their vehicles were in sound conditions, according to Kazeem. NAN reports that there have been delays and cancellations of flights by airlines due to bad weather, leaving many passengers stranded.

Safety: Plateau, Niger States re-assure youth corpers

lateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has re-assured the members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in the state of their safety and well-being during their service year. Lalong gave the assurance at a ceremony to end the 2017 batch “B” NYSC orientation on Monday in Mangu. The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Mr Danladi Mang, said that the state government was working in synergy with security agencies to ensure adequate security for the corps members and urged them to go about their lawful duties without hindrance. Lalong also said that the state

would continue to accord priority to the welfare of the corps members and advised them to ensure that “they always respect the norms and culture of their host communities’’. Earlier, Mrs Funmilayo Akin-Moses, the state NYSC coordinator, had commended the corps members “for exhibiting a high sense of courage, discipline and patriotism during the orientation.’’ Akini-Moses urged them to strive hard to meet the needs of their host communities by embarking on different Community Development Service (CDS) programmes. Meanwhile, his counterpart in Niger State, Abubakar Bello has pledged to provide adequate security and ensure welfare of corps

members posted to the various Local Government Areas in the state. He said this during the closing ceremony of the 2017 Batch “B’’ corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Paiko on Monday. Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, advised corps members to continue to play vital roles in the area of education, health care, agriculture and rural development. He enjoined them to be committed to their work, adding that government would strengthen awards to recognise distinguished corps members. The governor, however, appealed to employers to accept corps members posted to their organisations.

Christmas: Prices of tomatoes, pepper drop by 45% in Lagos

Enugu police command promises crimefree yuletide he Enugu State Police Command has stated that it had put measures in place to ensure crime-free Christmas celebration in the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, gave the assurance, Monday, in Enugu, said that various “overt and covert measures’’ had been put in place to ensure effective policing in the state during this yuletide.” He said that the command was effectively partnering with members of the public and sister security agencies in the state to ensure a hitch-free yuletide. “There is a need for all hands to be on deck for a hitch-free yuletide in Enugu State,’’ the commissioner said. Danmallam, however, urged the residents to report to the command, any misconduct by any police personnel in the state during the season, for immediate action. “Officers and men should desist from any act of incivility to members of the public. We have zero tolerance for any form of misconduct by officers and men of the command,’’ he warned

In her remarks, Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, the NYSC Coordinator in Niger, commended the State Government for the provision of drugs to facilitate the smooth running of the camp clinic. She appealed to employers to create an enabling environment for corps members to excel in their places of primary assignments rather than rejecting them. Arokoyo urged corps members to be good ambassadors of the scheme and practice all they have learnt during the three weeks orientation course in the camp.

• Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (l) with iconic visual artist, Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya from Delta State, who shows off his prize during the 2017 Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) Investiture at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

Ogun targets N4b revenue in 2018

ommissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun, Mr Bimbo Ashiru, Monday, said that the ministry had put in place machinery to generate N4billion in revenue next year. Ashiru said this while defending the ministry’s 2018 budget proposal at the Ogun House of Assembly in Abeokuta. The commissioner explained that the amount proposed by the ministry was achievable, saying the ministry had mapped out strategies to block all leakages in revenue collection. He said that the ministry had proposed to generate N200million from registration of trade and artisans in

the state while N3billion would be generated from haulage. “The ministry intends to intensify efforts on monitoring and enforcement for effective collections of haulage fee across the state. “There are over 24,000 business premises payers in the state. The sum of N300million is budgeted to be generated from registration and renewal of business premises. N500million will be generated from inspection of quarries, monitoring of activities of quarry operators, regulation of illegal mining in the state and collection of surface rent,’’ he said. Ashiru also said that the ministry had proposed to spend the sum N740million on capital expenditure

while N420million had been earmarked for recurrent expenditure. Defending the budget of his ministry, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, said that the ministry had earmarked N2.6billion as its total expenditure for 2018. Oladipo explained that the ministry had also proposed to put in place a museum in each of the three senatorial districts in the state. “There is no museum in Ogun East. We intend having one to be called `Museum of Cultural Heritage and Data’. The likes of Ogunde museum will complement that of the state,’’ he said.

head of Christmas celebration, prices of tomatoes, pepper and onions have reduced by about 45 per cent in Lagos, as checks at Mile 12, Whitesand, Iddo and Oko Oba markets in Lagos, Monday, revealed that the drop in prices was due to bumper harvest of agricultural produce. A basket of tomatoes, which previously sold for N15, 000 now goes for N8, 000 while red pepper (tatashe) now cost N8000 compared to its previous price of N14, 000 a basket. A basket of chilli pepper (rodo) also reduced from N18, 000 to N10, 000 and a jute bag of onions, which previously cost N30, 000, now goes for N20, 000. A 25-litre of vegetable oil, which previously sold for N11, 500, now cost N10, 700, palm oil decreased from N11, 000 to N10, 300, while a measure of garri now cost N400. However, the price of a 50 kilogramme bag of rice ranged between N13, 500 to N17, 000, depending on the brand while a measure of beans cost N1,500. Spokesman for Mile 12 Market Traders Association, Mr Femi Odusanya, attributed the price drop to the ongoing harvest season for most of the produce. “Over 20 per cent of the annual four million metric tonnes of tomatoes produced in the country is supplied to Mile 12 Market annually and redistributed to over 400 markets in Lagos and Ogun State and six ECOWAS countries. “About 200, 000 metric tonnes of the 800,000 metric tonnes of tomatoes annually supplied to Mile 12 Market get wasted due to postharvest losses. “Presently, the supply of the produce is more than the demand because farmers commenced harvest in December and there would be surplus in the market till April when the harvest season would end. “That is why we have been advocating for increased investment in tomato processing plant to mop up the excess and reduce waste, create jobs and increase contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Odusanya said. He urged the three tiers of government to create an enabling environment toward attracting more investors to tomato processing in the country.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

W/Africa endorses common customs duties From VICTOR NZE

conomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministers of Finance have validated draft integration instruments meant to enhance a common customs framework for the region. The ministers deliberated on the relevant issues in their 3rd Meeting. The issues included the status of implementation of the recommendations of the 2nd meeting of Finance Ministers, the Report of the 1st meeting of Directors General of Customs of ECOWAS, Draft ECOWAS Customs Code, draft Directive on exemptions from the Value Added Tax (VAT), draft Directive on excise duties on tobacco products, draft Directive on the institutional framework for the Fiscal Transition Programme, Interconnectivity of customs IT systems and transit computerization (ALISA), Reports of the 58th, 59th and 60th meetings of the Technical Committee Trade, Customs and Free Movement of Persons of ECOWAS. Among others, the Finance Ministers’ meeting recommended that the ECOWAS and West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Commissions improve their information exchanges for better complementarity, synergy and harmonization. The Ministers also recommended that the ECOWAS Commission should provide technical support for strengthening the capacity of the supervisory authorities in relation with other regional institutions, such as Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), to help fight smuggling of tobacco and other products that hinders the application of excise duties on tobacco. The Finance Ministers validated the principle of setting up a track and trace system for tobacco products but deferred its adoption. The validation however came with an invitation to the ECOWAS Commission to take another look at the issue of infant Milk and the harmonization of cereals and their seeds. In his closing remarks, the President of the ECOWAS Commission Marcel de Souza expressed his appreciation for the work of the Ministers who were also commended for having made the time for the meeting. He noted that his approval for the meeting is a testament to its importance as it came in the period when the Commission’s schedule was busiest. “Considering the importance of the meeting for integration, for the health of the region and so on, it was approved. I appreciate all of the delegates for the good work put in” President de Souza added. The Meeting follows the 58th, 59th and 60th meetings of the Trade Technical Committee, Customs and Free Movement of Persons held on July 2017 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 17th and November 22, 2017. Also on hand for the meeting were senior officials from the ECOWAS Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria as well as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbei (GIZ) When finalized, the Report of the Finance Ministers’ Meeting is expected to be sent to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the Authority of Heads of State and Government for requisite endorsements.

Kebbi govt, tourism operators to revive Argungu Fishing Festival

mbrella body of travel, tourism operators in the country, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) says it will partner with the Kebbi State Government to revamp the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival. Vice President of FTAN (North West Zone), Mr Nura Sani Kangiwa, who made this known in Abuja , Monday, said that this was part of the decisions reached at the 9th National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation conference held in Dutse, Jigawa State recently. The National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation is an annual gathering aimed at bringing together stakeholders to discuss ways the sector can contribute effectively to improve the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Kangiwa said that part of the decisions reached at the meeting was the revamping of the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural

Festival as it was set to make a big comeback. “Based on the resolution recently reached by the National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, it was agreed that the Federal Government and all tourism stakeholders will partake in the revamping of the festival. “So, all tourism stakeholders are going to partner with the Kebbi State Government to ensure that the festival, which has been comatose for some years is revived in order to promote our country as a tourism destination,” he said. He said that the Federal Government in its effort to diversify the economy had recognised the creative industry, which culture and tourism were integral part aimed at creating jobs and improve foreign exchange earnings. “This was reflected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 to 2020. Cultural Tourism is a source of revenue genera-

tion. As an “invisible export” it creates a flow of foreign currency into the economy of a nation. “The Culture and Tourism Sector is gaining more recognition and visibility and evolving economic activities capable of reducing extreme poverty, creating jobs and generating revenues for national growth and development. “Therefore, in line with the mission of the current political dispensation for diversification of economic activities, revamping the Argungu International Fishing Festival will no doubt satisfy the yearnings of our people,” he said. Kangiwa, who is `Turakin Kebbi’ described the Argungu International Fishng and Cultural Festival as “second to none in Africa’’. “It has been a beehive of activities for fun seeking tourists for decades. It is a cornucopia of cultural heritage and it astonished the world in both authenticity and variety of contents. It is a festival that is already a tour-

• (From left): Gov Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Gov Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Sam Egwu during the PDP National Convention in Abuja.

‘Construction work at Enyimba Industrial City to start in January’

ommissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning in Abia, Chief Uche Ihediwa, has stated that the survey of areas earmarked for the construction of Enyimba Industrial City will start in January 2018. Ihediwa who said this in Aba, Monday, added that that the survey, which was scheduled to start in the second week of this month, was postponed partially because of the huge capital outlay of the project. “We have not started work; over 32 communities are involved and surveying is not a joke. We held a meeting, after the announcement that the surveying would start in the second week of January, where the

surveyors informed the project promoters of the financial involvement. “We also need to appoint community liaison officers to handle certain issues. You know this is Christmas season, a very busy time; so we decided to start work in January,” he said. Ihediwa said that an urban, industrial and infrastructure firm from Singapore was appointed as the lead consulting company for the city planning, adding, however, that the state government would still use the services of local town planners. “The local town planners will be involved in the project. Surbana Jurong is the International Consultant that will do the planning and when

they finish, they will bring the plan to the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development. “That is where we will get involved, you know we have to approve anything anybody is doing. Our town planners are also involved,” he said. The proposed Enyimba Industrial City covers Ugwulagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government Areas of Abia. The Abia Government projects that over one million jobs would be created for its citizens via the massive industrial development and expanded business opportunities, which the construction of the city would bring.

ism product that is acclaimed worldwide; no doubt UNESCO inscribed it in its prestigious list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity. The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is expected to hold in March 2018. The four-day yearly festival held in Kebbi is one of Nigeria’s internationally recognised tourism attractions. The festival has not been held since the last edition in 2009 largely due to the insecurity and lack of funding.

Acquire vocational skills to qualify for start-up capital – Ambode tells corpers

agos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has advised corps members to acquire vocational skills to qualify for a startup capital from the Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund (LSETF). Ambode gave the advice at the closing of the orientation course for the 2017 Batch B corps members deployed in the state, Monday Represented by the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Oluseye Oladejo, the governor said the objective of the LSETF is to support young people to become job and wealth creators. “I am aware that the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme was one of the activities in which you were engaged during the orientation. I urge you to take your postcamp training serious and acquire vocational skills of your choice. “This will qualify you for a startup capital from the Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund that was established to provide financial support for Lagos residents and NYSC members serving in the state,’’ he said. The governor noted that the objective of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) was to foster unity among the various ethnic groups in the country. “I have no doubt that the orientation course has adequately prepared you for the next phase of your service. You are expected to exhibit good qualities such as tolerance, patriotism, diligence and perseverance in your various places of primary assignment. “As you prepare to step out of this camp, I implore you to participate actively in anything that will positively affect the lives of others,’’ he said. Ambode called on the corps members to contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of their host communities. The state Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Mohammed Momoh, said that 2,549 corps members participated in the orientation course in the state. Momoh said that the corps members were taken through wellstructured programmes such as citizenship and leadership training, para-military drills and lectures on self-actualisation.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

NEWS

150 town unions endorse Umahi for second term From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

ne hundred and fifty (150) town unions under the umbrella of Association of Urban Town Unions, Abakaliki, have endorsed Governor David Umahi for a second term in office come 2019. The declaration was made on the occasion of the first end-of-the-year general meeting of the union held at the Abakaliki Township Stadium. The group, which is mainly comprised of non-indigenes living in Ebonyi State also called for unity among residents of the state. They said their decision to endorse Umahi for second term was informed by the numerous achievements of the incumbent administration in the areas of infrastructure and human capital development and more so, the provision of conducive environment for both indigenes and non-indigenes. In his welcome address, president of the group, Comrade Ifeanyi Nwabueze explained that the association, which started with six town unions now has 150 town unions drawn from across States’ with residents in Abakaliki. The town union President applauded the efforts and commitment of Hon Charles Akpu-Enika, the Youth and Sports Commissioner towards the progress of the union. His words: “In the last one year, we have made tremendous achievements. Among other things, we have been able to champion absolute unity and peaceful co-existence among our members, the urban community and residents of the State in general.” He expressed their resolve to support the second term bid of Governor Umahi and appreciated his all inclusive policies that made it possible for nonindigenous residents of the State to be appointed to positions of Authority. He said Commissioner Akpu-Enika has made them proud. Akpu-Enika in his speech said the reelection of Umahi has been concluded in the spiritual realms, şo it is not negotiable in the physical realm. “We are only urging all eligible voters to ensure that they register so that we shall be part of the story of all round victory for our PDP in2019,” he said.

Court convicts father, son for producing local gin with ethanol From NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt

he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has secured the conviction of father and son who use ethanol in the production of local gin (ogogoro/kai-kai) in Ogume community, Delta State. They were convicted for possession/production of unwholesome processed food and storage of sameethanol (kai-kai/ogogoro)- under insanitary condition. Justice O. A. Faji of the Federal High Court Asaba sentenced Isaac Uti, 58 and his son Jonathan Uti, 28 to 14 and 11 years imprisonment respectively.

They were found guilty of threecount charge out of five count charge preferred against them for possession of unwholesome processed food, which contravenes section 1 of Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome processed Food (Miscellaneous provisions) Act. CAP C34 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 3(a) of the same act. The second defendant, Isaac Uti was sentenced to seven years imprisonment each on count 1 and 2 without any option of fine while he got 18 months jail term and a fine of N250,000 on the 5th count charge. The first defendant, Jonathan Uti was sentenced to five years imprisonment each on count 1 and 2 while

he got 18 months sentence on count 5 without any option of fine. All the jail terms are to run concurrently. Justice Faji in passing the judgment said he considered the debilitating effect such unwholesome practice might have had on those consuming the product. “This act must have impaired people’s health and putting their life at great risk,” he stated. The NAFDAC counsel, Adumen Jumbo Washington hailed the judgment attributing it to diligent prosecution. He said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to unscrupulous producers who are out to undermine the health of unsuspecting Nigerians. The long walk to jail for the father

Dare devil armed robbers attack bullion van in Asaba From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

• Chukwuemeka receiving his first prize of double-door refrigerator during the 2017 Life beer annual lawn tennis tournament at Onitsha sports club

Obiano: Ex PDAN boss harps on job creation By THEO RAYS

ollowing Governor Willie Obiano’s victory in the recently concluded governorship election in Anambra State, renowned businessman and former Chairman of Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria

(PDAN) Anambra State Chapter, Chief Larry Amelochukwu Ezeani has called on the governor to seek more ways to create jobs for the youth as he prepares for a second term in office. In a chat with The Oracle Today on the expectations from Obiano’s second term in office, starting from

March next year, Chief Ezeani, who is also Chairman/CEO of Liquid Gold Resources Ltd, said job creation for the youth will help to consolidate the ‘functional’ security measures already in place in the State, adding that there are some avenues through which the jobs can be created.

Ivo Water project: Ebonyi govt frowns at shoddy job, slow pace of work From CHINEDU NWAFOR, ABAKALIKI the site, it is very busy. “I am calling on the contactor to bonyi state government has come back to site and do the work. frowned at the quality and slow We have paid the contractor. He is pace of work on the N1.2b Ivo wa- claiming we are owing him but we ter project and ordered the contrac- have paid him. During mobilization, tor to immediately go back to site. we paid him. He generated another Inspecting the level of work at the certificate, which we have cleared. mega water scheme, the state Com- We are asking them to finish the monmissioner for Water Resources, Mrs. ey the state government has given Euphemia Nwali, regretted that de- before we put in another money,” spite the huge fund released to the she said. contractor, he has not done a comShe disclosed that Oferekpe mega mensurate work on the project. water treatment plant has started de“We contracted it out to Belfom livering over 50,000 cubic meters of Nig Ltd to do the low lift and high water daily to the people of the state lift. I am not satisfied with the level to solve acute water problem in the of work. By now, they are supposed area. to have cast the project. If you look at She added that another mega wa-

and son started sometime in September 2015 when NAFDAC Enforcement operatives led by the Director Enforcement Directorate, Mr. Kingsley Ejiofor with a detachment of policemen swooped on them while they were preparing and selling the illicit product in Ogume community in Ndokwa LGA of Delta state. Public Relations Officer, NAFDAC South South Zone, Cyril Monye, said in a statement released in Port Harcourt, that about 72 drums of ethanol were discovered in their premises including cans of formalin and acetic acid suspected to be part of the illicit production, which were eventually destroyed.

ter scheme in the state, Ezillo Water Treatment Plant is undergoing rehabilitation and will soon begin full operational services to complement the Oferekpe water scheme. She described as falsehood, a face book account report that there was water scarcity in the state and called on the residents to visit the Ministry of Water Resources for connection of water from the distribution lines to their residence. “In addition, the ministry is laying new lines to connect other communities outside Abakaliki to ensure that water gets to the nooks and crannies of the state,” Nwali stated.

To start with, Chief Ezeani advised the governor to revisit some projects initiated by past administrations of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but now seem to have been abandoned such as the proposed 5-Star Hotel on Park Lane, GRA Onitsha, stating that the project would make a good number jobs available when completed. Secondly, Ezeani called on the governor to employ some youth in form of task force or agency to monitor and protect the massive street lights from the Bridge Head area in Onitsha down to the border town of Amansea in the State against vandalism by some motorists and hoodlums who often hit the electric poles and run away without being held and questioned. The former PDAN boss, who hailed the Anambra poll as the best ever in the history of Nigeria, enjoined Obiano to ensure the completion of the Cargo Airport project at Umueri as the Airport will provide a large number of jobs for the people.

olicemen attached to a bullion van ran for their dear lives when they were accosted by dare devil armed robbers along the Benin-Asaba expressway. An eyewitness said the robbers, numbering about 10 had ambushed the van along the busy Asaba-BeninOnitsha Expressway and after chasing away the security escort accompanying the van, vandalised it and emptied it. The source who described the robbery incident as a set on a movie scene, said the robbers successfully offloaded the bullion van of hundreds of millions of naira in broad day light while shooting heavily at police escort attached to it. It was gathered that the suspected robbers after raiding the van believed to be that of the United Bank of Africa, (UBA), made a U-turn with the vehicle they came in and zoomed to unknown destination. An eyewitness who narrated the incident alleged that the operation, which was said to have lasted less than 30 minutes may have been accomplished with the connivance of insiders. The eyewitness, who said he was at the popular Koka junction when the incident occurred, said: “I witnessed everything as the hoodlums attacked the bullion van and engaged policemen escorting the van in a gun duel, before diverting the bullion van. “The incident occurred about 12:20pm when the bandits opened fire on the policemen, the bullion van and held the money-carrying van to a standstill while the policemen abandoned the driver and the bullion and took to their heels for safety. “There was serious random shooting by the robbers. All we were hearing were the gunshots renting the air. I saw someone who looked like the driver run out of the van. Before the police could mobilize back to the scene, the hoodlums had successfully off-loaded the van of undisclosed sum of money leaving the door of the bullion van opene.” The abandoned the van, it was learnt, was driven to “A” division police station by policemen who later arrived at the scene after the robbers had fled. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Delta State Police Command, Andrew Aniamaka rebuffed efforts to get comments from him on the incident as at press time.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

NEWS

Python Dance: Kanu’s kinsmen write Buhari, demand investigation into killings in Afara Ukwu

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

he people of Afaraukwu clan where the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu hails from have petitioned President Muhammad Buhari, demanding urgent investigation into military invasion of the community last September. According to an open letter the people wrote to President Buhari, they are claiming that in the course of the invasion, the military not only killed indigenes of the community but also desecrated the palace of one of their traditional rulers, Eze Israel Kanu, father of Nnamdi Kanu. In the three-page “Open Letter” addressed to President Buhari, the people want the President to urgently

Crude oil soars to $65/bbl on supply glitches From SOPURUCHI ONWUKA, Lagos (with agency reports)

lobal price benchmark for premium light crude oil grades soared to a two-year high of $65 per barrel as deliberate output cuts by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 10 other producers got boost from pipeline outage in the North Sea to impact market sentiments. Price movements monitored by The Oracle Today showed that prices were strong on three major commodity exchange platforms on Tuesday as the Forties Pipeline System in the North Sea worsened supply concerns initiated by supply cut extension by a group of producing countries. The pipeline system feeds crude to the Hound Point export terminal near Edinburgh in Scotland. At over 400,000 bpd, the supplies that flow through the link are the single largest constituent part of the Dated Brent grade that helps to settle more than half the world’s physical oil prices. Brent, which is the global benchmark rose as high as $64.71/bbl while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed as high as $57.86/ bbl. New York futures were also up near $58/bbl. Brent for February settlement gained 99 cents to $64.39/bbl on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark traded at a premium of $6.60 to February West Texas Intermediate, after touching $6.88. WTI for January delivery rose 36 cents to $57.72/bbl at 11:27 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Total volume traded was about 11% below the 100-day average. Prices received a boost earlier as news broke of an explosion in New York. The Oracle Today learnt from market sources that the Forties Pipeline System, one of the most important oil conduits in the world, is to be fully halted after a crack was discovered. The system operator, Ineos, did not provide the duration of the pipeline outage. The price response to supply cuts is also yielding the desired lucre pull on producers who see stronger prices as revenue opportunity. Key OPEC ministers from the Middle East said Monday the group may draft a strategy in June to end the curbs if the market is no longer oversupplied. Market sources stated that supply concerns were driving panic in the market, adding that the supply situation has become a problem. But market pundits also calculate that stronger prices would encourage production surge from shale fields across the world and erase gains achieved by OPEC-led producers. OPEC may draft a strategy in June to end the curbs if the market is no longer oversupplied by then, the U.A.E.’s energy minister said Monday. Kuwait’s oil minister said Sunday that the group’s reduction-cuts may end earlier than 2019 if the market re-balances by June, signalling an optimistic outlook on market conditions next year.

set up a panel of inquiry to investigate military invasion of Isiama Afaraukwu, one of the three communities that make up Afafraukwu clan, which is the autonomous community where Eze Kanu presides over its affairs. Representatives of the three clans of Afaraukwu clan-- traditional ruler of Okwulaga, Eze Edward Ibeabuchi and his Enyiukwu Afaraukwu counterpart, Eze P.K.Ukaegbu; Secretary-General of Afaraukwu Development Association, Chigozie Nwakanma, President of Okwulaga Autonomous Community, Levi Ogbonna; Vice President, Enyiukwu Autonomous Community, Engr. Cletus Uwaechi and President, Isiama Autonomous Community, Chief Ikechukwu Ndubueze, who endorsed the letter, argued that there was no basis for the invasion of their peaceful community since their people are law-abiding citizens.. They said that through the media, they learnt about the commencement of Operation Python Dance II from September 15 - October 14, 2017. They expressed surprise that events took a dramatic twist when on September 14, 2017, even before the official take-off Operation Python Dance II, soldiers invaded the palace of Eze Kanu. “To our greatest surprise and embarrassment, on Sunday, the 10th day

of September, some heavily armed military personnel invaded Isiama Afaraukwu Community in their Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and started shooting indiscriminately near the house of one of our traditional rulers, HRM Eze I.O.Kanu who is also the father of Nnamdi Kanu (the leader of IPOB) and in the process, shot some visitors to his house. The said shooting was condemned by every wellmeaning Nigerian, even though the Nigerian Army denied the shooting,” the people further stated in the letter, adding that:. “On the 14th day of September, 2017, a combined team of military personnel, namely, the Army, the Police and the SSS fully loaded in trucks, Hilux jeeps and APC, came back to the community and started shooting in the said house of HRM Eze I.O.Kanu and other parts of Isiama Afaraukwu community and in the process, killed some visitors and a lady, Miss Adaku Odoemelam who is an indigene of Isiama Afaraukwu. “They also damaged some properties in the community and totally paralyzed all commercial activities in the community and its environs as people abandoned their homes and ran away for their safety,” they stated. They maintained that since the Sep-

tember 14 military invasion, the whereabouts of Eze Kanu, members of his family and some members of Isiama Afaraukwu have remained unknown to date and expressed sadness that while their monarch and members of his family were still missing, the military and Police invaded the palace again and allegedly carted away some household properties on Sunday, October 8, 2017. They further claimed that since the September 14 invasion, “our community has continued to suffer intimidation, harassment and dehumanization in the hands of military personnel stationed near their community.” Asking Buhari to lift the military siege on the community, they said: “May we point out that we are not members of IPOB or any terrorist organisation and we do not have any right to prevent people from moving freely within Afaraukwu community based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which gives every citizen of Nigeria the right to move freely within Nigeria and therefore we should not be punished for allowing visitors into our community.” They also called on Buhari to “set up a panel” to investigate their allegations.

Quash FG’s declaration of IPOB as terrorist organisation From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

eader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has dragged the federal government before the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in the Gambia, praying the Commission to quash the federal government’s declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation. In a case filed at the Commission on December 5, 2017 by his Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor of Adulbert Legal Services, Abuja, titled “Emergency Communication,” Kanu is asking the Commission to invoke its powers to stop the federal government from taking any further action that would cause irreparable damage to himself, IPOB and its members until the Commission determines his case. Among other reliefs, Kanu wants the Commission to adopt other urgent measures, as it sees fit in the circumstances of his case, to protect the victims in the interim and equally take such further and final measures consistent with its powers and discretions to protect the victims. Giving reasons for heading to the Commission, Kanu contended that the declaration that IPOB is a terrorist organization and that its members commit terrorist acts has empowered and emboldened the Nigerian Army and other Nigerian security agencies, acting under colour of law, to harass, intimidate, arrest or even kill or torture IPOB members and any member of the Igbo ethnic group suspected to be an IPOB member. According to his Counsel, assuming Kanu managed to retreat to safety alive during the September 14, 2017 military invasion of his Afara-Ukwu residence in Umuahia, Abia State, “Nnamdi Kanu (as a Leader of ‘terrorists’), is in imminent danger of being shot and killed on sight (under colour of law) by the Nigerian and/or other Nigerian security forces still at-large on various checkpoints and are otherwise on reconnaissance, cordon and search in the environs and outlying areas of Nnamdi Kanu’s homestead at Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia; and at checkpoints in all the five States of the Southeast of Nigeria that abut the wider geographical area of Umuahia where Nnamdi Kanu was last seen alive.” The Counsel also said the declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organization has put millions of IPOB members outside Nigeria “in imminent and present danger” of being harassed, intimidated, interdicted, arrested or even killed as terrorists upon their return to Nigeria.”

Abia One-Day Governor warns civil servants against laziness From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

• Governor Joy Ezechikamnayo (Abia one day governor) inspecting reconstruction of Aba Road, Umuahia with members of her state executive council. She was taken round in her official car by the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Work, Chief Nwala, who briefed her on the projects .

FG to resolve A’Ibom/Cross River boundary dispute – Ekpo From INIABASI UMO, Uyo

he Akwa Ibom State government has said the boundary dispute between the people of Obot Itu in Itu Local Government Area of the state and Obodio community in Odukpani LGA in Cross River will soon be resolved. The State deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, assured the people of Obot Itu that the Federal Government would resolve the contention by putting a demarcation mark on the boundary. He revealed that the Federal Government said it would resolve the contention with a demarcation mark during a sensitization tour of the boundary communities in Itu during the week. Ekpo who was represented by a Permanent Secretary in his Office, Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, noted that a joint meeting with Akwa Ibom and Cross River to sensitise boundary communities on the final boundary demarcation was held on July 11, this year. He said the government would not rest until all the neighbouring communities lived in peace. He, therefore, appealed to the people of Obot Itu Clan and other boundary

communities to remain calm and eschew violence. He said: “The boundary demarcation is not to divide communities that have been living together but for administrative purposes. “You must cooperate with government to bring peace and development to your communities.” Ekpo assured the people that the government would remain firm and just in the demarcation exercise and would not cede one community to another. The deputy governor, who is also the Chairman of the State Boundary Committee warned youths against being used by others to cause trouble. He advised the women to caution their children to desist from acts that could disrupt peace during the conduct of the demarcation exercise.

The zonal liaison officer, South-South zone of the National Boundary Commission (NBC), Mr. Marcel Ukweni, said the purpose of the commission is to preach peace among the boundary communities of the nation. He said: “Boundary is an imaginary line not to demarcate people, not a wall but a mark on the ground for the administrative convenience of both Akwa Ibom and Cross River States”. In his remarks, Chief Resident Surveyor of Akwa Ibom, Mr Bala Ipalibo, said that a boundary was not intended to restrict movement nor hinder the means of livelihood. He urged the Obot Itu clan to cooperate with government in the demarcation exercise as it would bring meaningful development to the area.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as OBASI TINA EZINNE now wish to be known as MADUABUCHI TINA EZINNE All former documents remain valid. Banks, Abia State Polytechnic and general public take note.

I formerly known as IJEOMA NWOKORO URPATRICKnow wish to be known as AIJAY IBINABO URPATRICK All former documents remain valid. Banks, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and general public take note.

bia adolescents celebrated the first Teenage Day yesterday as declared by Governor Joy Ezechikamnayo who emerged the first Teenage Governor of Abia shortly after taking over the reins of power Monday when Dr Ikpeazu handed over to her. The one-day Governor, in her first official assignment, declared that every December 12 should be observed as Teenage Day in Abia. The SS3 student and Senior Prefect of Intellectual Giants Christian Academy, Umuahia, was joined by members of her executive council drawn from the 17 local government areas of Abia State, to rule Abia for 24 hours in the maiden edition of ‘Abia One-day Governor.’ After the handover ceremony, the new Governor was ushered into the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Umuahia with members of her cabinet where she was briefed by Dr. Ikpeazu on the state of affairs in the state, including the ongoing statewide caterpillar revolution that has turned the entire state into a huge construction site. Responding, “Governor” Chikamnayo thanked Dr. Ikpeazu for his outstanding leadership style and vowed to consolidate on the foundations already laid by Dr. Ikpeazu. She warned civil servants that her administration will not tolerate laziness and lateness. She also called on the people of the state to continue to support the government at all times.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

News From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

STALWART of the PDP in Delta State and former Senator who represented Delta Central in the National Assembly, Ighoyota Amori has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a successful convention and election of its national officers. Amori who spoke with The Oracle Today in Asaba described the emergence of Uche Secondus as a good omen for the party, adding that the convention was a victory for democracy.

Amori hails PDP, Secondus on successful convention “Uche Secondus is a political warrior, an articulate politician raised from a turbulent political school,” Amori said. “He has been tested and proven to have the requisite experience to drive the party with his wealth of experience.” He urged other political parties

to emulate the rancour-free convention held by the PDP, as politics is not a do or die affair. Amori also faulted the negative utterances of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that the ruling party is jittery over the successful convention organized by the PDP.

al expertise in making the bill so that it would stand the test of time. He said the usefulness of cattle in our everyday life has made it imperative for a legislation to further maximize the value to the society. “There have been a lot of challenges in the management of cattle all over the country, not only in Bayelsa State. We are also aware that a lot of lives have been lost both ways, by the cattle rearers on one hand and the farmers on the other hand. “It takes the government and the people who have been privileged to be in the position and sensitive to peace, law and order to put institutions in place such that we will have the best out of the cattle and the best out of the

farms and we the people of Nigeria will continue to live more in peace and harmony,” the Leader maintained. He added: “By the time this bill becomes a law, the wandering of cattle around causing unnecessary road accidents, the wandering of cattle around causing pollution will be laid to rest. The intent of this bill is necessary to ensure the continued coexistence of Bayelsans in the Nigeria entity in peace, harmony and prosperity.” The public hearing witnessed presentations from All Farmers Association of Nigeria (ALFAN), National Butchers Union of Nigeria, Association of Cattle Dealers and Rearers, Butchers Association of Bayelsa State, Police, DSS, among others.

Bayelsa Assembly to outlaw open grazing From CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

bill seeking to prohibit open grazing of cattle in Bayelsa State is in the works in the State House of Assembly. The bill entitled “Cattle Breeding, Rearing, Marketing, Regulation and Control 2017 was sponsored by the Leader of the House, Hon. Peter Peretotubo Akpe, representing Sagbama Constituency 1. Declaring open a public hearing on the bill on Monday in the conference hall of the Assembly complex, Speaker of the House, Hon. Friday Konbowei Benson said the House has resolved to adopt international best practices in its operations, hence all bills being considered by the House now go through public hearing. Represented by the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Hon. Tonye Isenah, the Speaker noted that law-making process is not an exclusive preserve of the 24 member House. “We want to liberalize and open up for public participation. This bill was even at the Committee of the whole discussion before it was stood down in order to seek input from the public,” he said. Stressing the importance of the bill, the Speaker said the House is trying to forestall herdsmen-farmers clashes, taking into consideration what is happening in other parts of the country with clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers. “Even if nothing has happened at this other side, we should not rest on our oars. We need to ensure we nip it in the bud before we start having crisis in our hands,” he maintained. Presenting an overview of the bill, the Leader of the Assembly, and sponsor of the bill, Hon Peter Akpe pointed out that the bill proposal was aimed at solving a lot of challenges, hence the need to incorporate direct profession-

From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

raditional Rulers in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have denounced the traditional practice of Female Genital Mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the area. The Monarchs proscribed the practice when the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Rachael Umahi took the campaign against FGM/C

“Nigerians have come to discover that the APC is a fraud as they have failed to keep a single of their countless promises made to the citizens and the PDP has come to the rescue and Nigerians are just waiting to kick them out come 2019,” Amori said. He used the opportunity to appeal to all aggrieved members to return to the fold as the ‘umbrella’ is big enough to accommodate all, noting that, “a house divided against itself cannot stand. While giving kudos to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for conducting a free and fair convention he said: “I am happy and grateful to God that the National Convention was a success. Without doubt, the convention recorded huge success and I must give kudos to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for standing by his word to ensure a free, fair and credible convention in his capacity as the Chairman, National Convention Committee. Amori also called for more support for the Governor Okowa-led administration and urged all Deltans to continue to live in peace and harmony as no society can be developed in an atmosphere of rancour.

PDP Is reconciled for future challenges – Okowa From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

HAIRMAN of the Organising Committee of the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has said that with the successful conduct of the elections, “PDP will go into the future reconciled to take over power in 2019 by the grace of God.” Senator Okowa who is the governor of Delta State and spoke shortly before the results were announced, asserted that “PDP has had a very credible election.” Former Deputy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, who was elected the new National chairman of the party, with 2000 votes cast at the election to beat his closest rival Prof. Tunde Adeniran who got 230 votes, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi who came third with 66 votes followed by Prof. Taoheed Adedoja who did not score any vote while 55 votes were voided, thanked leaders of the party, the Governors Forum, the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), security agencies, candidates that contested for different positions, the press and all those who contributed in different ways to makjng the convention a success. Chairman of the electoral committee for the convention, Mr Gabriel Suswam, former governor of Benue State described Governor Okowa as a workaholic whose drive made it possible for the PDP to have the best convention since the formation of the party in 1998. “This is the first ever very transparent election convention that the PDP has had; it took Governor Okowa a lot of military tact for us to have what we have today,” the former governor said. Mr Suswam formally announced the results while Chief Secondus in his acceptance speech, assured members of the PDP that the party would not repeat the mistakes of the past but would ensure that “internal democracy will be strictly adhered to with a deliberate policy to return ‘real’ power to the people. No more imposition, no more impunity.” “Every member of this party can, from this moment, consider him or herself, an equal shareholder in our common destiny,” he added, noting, “my campaign pillars for this election are to rebuild, re-position and regain and by the grace of God and with all hands on deck, the brief tenancy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Aso Rock Villa expires on May 28, 2019,” Suswan said. Winners were immediately sworn-in signalling the commencement of a new executive committee for the PDP.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December, 20 2017

Dickson to sanction school who reject Corps Members From CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

overnor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has vowed to deal with heads of school in the state who reject Corps members posted to them for the Corps Members compulsory national service. Dickson gave the warning on Monday this week during the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2017 Batch “B” Stream 1 Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The closing ceremony was held at the Temporary Orientation Camp, Kaiama, Kolokuma/ Opokuma Local Government Area of the State The governor said the warning became necessary in order not to frustrate the on-going education development of the state government. Represented by Mr. Talford Ongolo, Chief of Staff, Government House, Dickson said he was aware that about 85 per cent of the Corps Members have been posted to schools and urged the principals not to

reject any of them. “The government of Bayelsa would not tolerate rejection of corps member without genuine reasons, especially by heads of school establishment. “We have set machinery in motion to deal decisively with anyone or group, which frustrate the genuine efforts of our administration in raising the standard of education at all level in the state. “For the Corps Members, do not also induce the rejection of your postings. I urge you, therefore, to accept your posting with open minds and be determined to make an impact in the community you find yourself. “I have already directed all local government Chairmen, traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure that those of you posted to their domain are warmly received and given all support to settle down,” the governor said. On security, Dickson said the state government is committed to safeguarding lives and property of the Corps Members, urging them, however,

to always be conscious of their movement, especially at night. Earlier in her address, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Loto Bolade thanked the governor for his support to the scheme and noted that the Corps Members were ready to serve their fatherland. The Coordinator who congratulated the Corps Members urged them to make the good use of what they had learnt during their orientation course, which she described as the first phase. “Gentlemen, as you begin the second phase of the scheme with your posting to the place of your primary assignment, I urge you to be law abiding as you progress in your one-year service. “Always respect the norms and traditions of your host communities, be security conscious at all time. “Avoid unnecessary travels; for those of you posted across water, do not travel without putting on the life-jacket,” she advised.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

POLITICS

• Uche Secondus

• Bode George

Many sides of Anambra Central rerun: ‘Onitsha’ markets’ Ezeonwuka urges stakeholders to prepare Pg 10 for election Pg 13

• Tunde Adeniran

• Gbenga Daniel

PDP Convention: How, why Secondus won and South West lost In this report, CHIDI UGWU, in Abuja, writes on the politics of Prince Uche Secondus’s election as the new National Chairman of PDP in the recently held elective National Convention of the former national ruling party, explaining why the South West, contrary to expectations, could not clinch the Chairmanship position, which was zoned to the South.

ints that Prince Uche Secondus would go very far in his quest for the PDP National Chair position, which he ran for in the just-concluded PDP elective National Convention, emerged about two weeks ago. On November 28 to be precise, Secondus, a one-time Acting National Chairman of the PDP, had visited Ebonyi State on a campaign tour, along with some other national leaders of the party. Receiving Secondus with his entourage at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State governor, an obviously impressed Engr. Dave Umahi had this to say to, and about, Secondus: “You are experienced and I want to commend you. When we were vying for the party ticket, you were one person that didn’t collect anything from any of the governorship aspirants or anybody. Everybody attests to that.” “Some people asked us to give. I didn’t give anybody either. But, a day of reckoning has come and we will not vote for such people when they show their faces. “We must do everything possible to eliminate bribery and corruption in our party politics--it is very important. So, I

want you to do everything possible, if God takes you there, to eliminate bribery and corruption. I want to assure you that there will be a level playing ground for all the contestants. “This time around, Sir, the South East will negotiate very seriously with anybody that the South East will vote. It will not be on the party level. We want to negotiate and know what is coming in for us. This is very important,” the governor stressed. A week later, on December 5, Umahi, Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, whose younger brother Austin is also Chairman of the PDP in the South East, added that the South East would vote en bloc for a candidate of their choice. “We just had a meeting in Umuahia, Abia State; they agreed to give us direction. We are going to meet in Abuja and take a common position, common position in the sense that in the past, we voted blindly. Now, we will seek negotiation with any one they want us to vote for. The person will agree what he will do for us. But, I want to assure you that whatever decision we come up with as a zone, I will let you know. I am not a politician but a child of

God. I don’t play politics of deceit,” Umahi had told Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of Daar Communications and PDP chairmanship candidate who had visited Abakaliki to solicit the Ebonyi governor’s support. By syllogistic reasoning, it was easy to deduce how the South East would vote. And so, with the South East and South South’s block votes in his kitty, Uche Secondus was already walking on a solid ground--electorally. Thus, when the votes were counted at the end of polling in the early hours of Sunday, December 10, and Secondus came tops with 2000 votes to his closest rival Professor Tunde Adeniran’s 230 votes and Dr. Raymond Dokpesi’s 66, it came as no surprise to keen watchers of the politics of PDP: it was a victory correctly predicted. On the other hand, the South West was in disarray. The zone had a total of six aspirants none of who agreed to step down for the other; they just couldn’t agree on a consensus candidate from among themselves. The South West candidates in the race included Chief Bode George, former deputy National Chairman of the party; Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former Education

Minister; Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Sports and Special Duties; Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Rasheed Ladoja, former governors of Ogun and Oyo States, and Jimi Agbaje, PDP governorship candidate in Lagos State in the 2015 election. Individually, the South West candidates are all strong political personalities who command wide networks of contacts, associates, support and influence across the country. Many expected the South West to really fight for that position and win on their own strength. But, that was not to be, as the candidates failed to come together and present a common front. The lack of unity in the South West camp became glaring when the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele fayose, a strong voice in the PDP who supported Secondus, specifically told former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel in the course of the campaigns, that even if he won the Chairmanship, he Fayose would not work with him. Indeed, the South West PDP leadership had to file a stay-of-execution appeal in

Cont’d on page 12

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

BOLD & BLUNT At the mention of Onitsha the most popular commercial city east of the Niger, two things quickly come to mind: one, the splendid markets that conspicuously lie in different locations in the city. Two, the different categories of traders that do different types of businesses in these markets. From the popular Main Market, Ochanja, Ose Okwuodu and the Bridge Head Market including Street Markets and gigantic plazas that grace every turn of the eye, Onitsha and its environs like, Okpoko, Obosi, Nkpor, Ogidi and others are no doubt home to traders. It is of note that at the dawn of the 90’s, the city of Onitsha was overwhelmed by a large number of traders made up of billionaire importers, manufacturers, wholesale dealers and progressive retailers. Consequently, they started to spread their tentacles to the neighbouring towns of Okpoko and Iyi-owa Odepke both in Ogbaru Local Government Area as well as Obosi, Nkpor and Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area and Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area respectively. The spread gave birth to markets like Ogbaru Main Market in Okpoko, Plastic Market Iyi-owa Odekpe, Old Motor Car Spare Parts popularly known as Mgbuka Obosi, Electrical Market Obosi, New Motor Spare Parts Nkpor, Old Mercedes Spare Parts Nkpor, Nkpor Main Market, New Motor Tyre and Tube Market Nkpor, Bakery Market Ogidi, Building Materials International Market Ogidi, Standard Building Materials Plaza Ogidi, Plywood Market Ogbunike, Plastic Market Ogbunike and Bicycle Market Ogbunike among others. For the fact that they all have their roots in Onitsha, they are called Onitsha traders. Everyday from Monday to Saturday, the traders are busy buying, selling, importing and manufacturing. That is what it should be. But unknown to many, the traders have many other things that occupy their time in addition to buying, selling, importing and manufacturing. And guess what? They also engage in praying, politicking, charity work, studying and merry making. A research conducted into the activities of Onitsha traders inside their markets by The Oracle Today, revealed that the above listed issues are part of what the traders do year in and out. According to The Oracle Today research, the traders don’t joke with prayers. They also play serious politics of who and who occupy various leadership positions in their markets. Additionally, they also do charity works, go to school to study on part time basis and make merry on the grounds that all work and no play makes the jack a dull boy. Prayer According to The Oracle Today investigation, prayer is a serious issue among Onitsha traders. Each of the markets has a central prayer group that organises weekly general prayer section in the market. Some do theirs on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or any other day. At Main Market, it is every Monday from 7am to 9am. In addition to the general prayer, each of the lines in the market has its own prayer day. Each line in Onitsha Main Market has its own prayer day and that is what is obtainable in all the markets in and around the city. Interestingly, the prayer is non-denominational. Anybody is free to participate or even lead and minister to the audience regardless of the Church he or she attends. How did the traders get used and ad-

• Former Governor Chinweoke Mbadinuju

• Gov. Obiano

Many sides of ‘Onitsha’ markets’ Prayer, politics and works of charity are among the many activities traders in ‘Onitsha’ markets routinely engage in, writes THEO RAYS, in Onitsha dicted to payers? According to Evangelist Adolphous Okoro, a shoe dealer and Anglican faithful who has spent over 30 years buying and selling men’s shoe at Bright Street adjacent to Onitsha Main Market, market prayer was initiated and made popular by former Governor Clement Mbadinuju way back in the year 2000 when Mbadinuju was coming to Onitsha Main Market to conduct prayer every Monday morning. Okoro recalled that at that point, the governor invited leaders of other Markets for the Monday morning prayer at the Main Market and consequently they copied it from Main Market and started organising weekly prayer in their respective markets. “Market prayer is one of the legacies Mbadinuju left as Anambra governor. In fact, Mbadinuju brought Christ to traders in Onitsha and to a large extent, the whole of Anambra State and nobody can take that away from him. Mbadinuju brought us to the path of light because market prayer has made great impact on the lives of traders

both spiritually and physically, as most traders were converted courtesy of market prayer while others got their breakthrough from it and the benefit is everlasting,” Okoro added Politics For the fact that every market has several sources of revenue generation, occupying leadership positions in any market particularly chairmanship position is a tug of war. As it is obtains in the larger politics of the State, Onitsha traders also trade dirty tackles for leadership positions. But, thanks to the leadership of Amalgamated Market Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS) under Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo (Ewepudike) who introduced democratic process of Option A4 for election into the leadership positions in the Markets in Anambra State, elections into market leadership positions have become less acrimonious in the State. In any of the Onitsha markets, one has to face Option A4 and test his

popularity before gaining entrance into a leadership position. This has been the case for over 10 years when Ezenwankwo’s AMATAS introduced Option A4 as the electoral system in the markets. The Option A4, according to some traders who spoke to The Oracle Today, reduced the level of tackles for power and made it a little bit soft in the sense that the winner of a particular position clearly emerges before everybody’s very eyes. Hon. Jekwu Ilobi, alias Akirika Abanaga who is the President of Old Mercedes Spare Parts Market Nkpor said about Option A4 democracy in the markets: “We all know the stories that market leadership in Onitsha involved fierce battle among powerful people who were dreaded and desperate for power. You dared not vie for leadership position if you were not strong enough to face police harassment and litigations and even attack from thugs and all that, but the introduction of Option A4 has changed all that”

The Oracle Today Wednesday Decembe 20, 2017

BOLD & BLUNT

• Market prayer

“The coming of Option A4 through the indefatigable leadership skills of Ezenwankwo alias Ewepudike is one of the best things to happen to traders in terms of market leadership because before it came on board, it was tough to become a market leader; people did all sorts of things to be appointed into leadership positions by a sitting governor, but it is no longer so because of Option A4. I am a product of Option A4 and I can tell you that the traders are very okay with it and nobody can change it,” he added. Charity Works To outsiders, it is not well known that traders in Onitsha also do charity works. But, they do quite a lot and in great ways too. The traders, according to The Oracle Today investigations, collectively engage in charity works by inviting the needy to share part of their hard-earned fortune with them. One of the markets popular for its charity works is the New Motor Tyre and Tube Market, Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Every year since 2008, the traders in the Nkpor based market make freewill donation through which they raise cash, buy some bags of rice, semolina, tubers of yam, Indomie noodle, bags of beans, beverages and toiletries and give them out to the poor and needy such as the disabled from destitute homes, blind homes, motherless babies homes, deaf and dumb as well as those who have financial challenges in their midst. Chief Sunday Ezenwobi, former President of New Tyre and Tube Market who initiated the charity works in in 2008 told The Oracle Today that it is good to remember the poor and the needy when God has helped one make progress in the year. “I initiated it as a way of appreciating God’s blessings upon the traders

because they now go to school, some of them finished Secondary School before joining business so it is easier for them to enrol into the university or college of education for further studies; those who stopped at primary six started from secondary school, take WAEC or NECO or GCE and go for part time,” a popular rights activist Uzor A Uzor disclosed. Mr Simon Ossai Eze, a trader selling ladies wear at the riverside area of Onitsha Main Market told The Oracle Today that he left his village in 1978 with elementary six to come and do apprentice in the Market. But after spending 15 years in the Market with elementary six, he went back to school took WAEC and passed and enrolled for part-time studies in the university and now he is a graduate of political science. • Okwudili Ezenwankwo

and the traders bought into it, so since 2008, we make free will donation among ourselves and raise money and food stuff and other things that are helpful to life and then invite the poor and the needy to make merry and share God’s blessing with us,” he stressed. Other markets that do charity works include the Old Motor Car Spare Parts popularly known as Mgbuka Obosi and Building Material International Market Ogidi. Just last week, traders in Building Materials Market, Ogidi, led by Chief Jude Nwankwo alias Jolity raised cash worth over N20Million with over 200 bags of rice, 100 bags of semolina, hundreds of cartons of Indomie noodle and other things which they gave out to the poor and the needy drawn from destitute homes, orphanage homes, motherless babies homes, school for blind and others. Studying

It is a popular view that Onitsha traders are a bunch of school dropouts. But, those who share this view are dwelling in the dark days of the past. The Oracle Today can report that the situation has changed as the traders massively take to part-time studies in tertiary institutions including universities to up-grade their levels of education. Some of them are currently studying at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, National Open University at Abagana, Onitsha Business School, University of Nigerian (UNN) Nsukka, College of Education Nsugbe, Tansian University Umunya and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Zulu and Igbariam Campuses. In fact continuing education is like a fashion trend among traders in Onitsha as they compete among themselves to go to school and upgrade their level of education. “Days are gone when traders are termed as illiterate school dropouts

Making Merry The traders too find time to make merry with item 7 right inside their markets. The merry may not be general in most of the markets because of size. For instance, there is no such thing as a day of merriment in the Onitsha Main Market generally but the lines have their merry days, which they call end-ofyear party. The lines, according to Victor Onyenze who deals on babies dress at Santana line in the market, each line has means of generating money they use for the end-of-the-year party, such as imposing fine on those who quarrel or fight, those who display good beyond a stipulated line and of course free will donations. The traders also have time to view European Football matches on television. Most of the lines visited in Onitsha Main Market have big-size television sets hung up there to watch European football. European clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona are very popular among the traders.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

POLITICS

PDP Convention: How, why Secondus won and South West lost Cont’d on page 12 an Ekiti federal court, following an interim order of Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Ado Ekiti Federal High Court, delivered on Nov. 8, barring the Dr. Eddy Olafeso faction of the party from parading itself as the authentic leadership of the party in the South-West, to be able to attend the convention with unified delegates from the South West. The order of the federal high court was at the instance of another faction led by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, which had earlier dragged the Olafeso group to court. An elated Olatubora, when he obtained the interim order, said the implication of the order was that the Olafeso-led faction had no legal right any longer to attend and participate in the Dec. 9 national convention of the party. It was as bad as that. However, the South West attended the convention quite alright, and fully participated in the election of party executives. But, they couldn’t secure the coveted chairmanship position largely because of their disunity and disorganization. By the time some of the candidates agreed to step down or simply withdrew from the race, the damage had been done: it was already too late to pool their ‘electoral resources’ and support one candidate and hope to win. The question many pundits have asked is, could the result of the chairmanship race have been different if the South West had organized better? Perhaps. Indeed, if reports are anything to go by, the northern delegates had planned to support the South West to produce the Chairman. But, apparently because of the disorganization in the South West camp or in spite of it, the North, according to one newspaper report, had no better option than to “dump” the South West. And vote for Secondus, the South South candidate who was also supported by the South East! Yet, it is also possible that Secondus could still have won even if the South West had organized better. Obviously, there were more hardnosed calculations by stakeholders, dictated by personal and regional interests, beyond the seeming sense of entitlement that the South West appeared to have brought to bear on their campaign for the chairmanship. Chief George betrayed that mindset when he accused Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike of frustrating South West candidates. Apparently as part of the campaign for a South South candidate, Wike had alleged that a candidate from the oil-bearing and producing South South, where five of the six States are ruled by PDP governors, would be better as PDP National Chairman than one from the South West which, according to the governor, hadn’t contributed meaningfully to the success of PDP. George took the remark as an insult to the South West and withdrew from the race. George’s calculation, obviously, was that the PDP would settle for a micro-zoning arrangement whereby the chairmanship slot would be specifically zoned to the South West, not just South (but, that was not to be because the party merely zone the chairmanship slot to the South). Reports quoted George, a PDP BoT member who stood for the party`s micro-zoning principle, as alleging that the South West

had been “cheated” with the entrance of aspirants from the South-South into the chairmanship race. Consequently, he withdrew from the race. “It appears the PDP is bent on self-destruction; I can’t be part of this...I cannot be part of this criminal allegation (that South West has not contributed meaningfully to PDP)…I hereby withdraw from the fraud as a Yoruba patriot; I will stand for our people,’’ George said while announcing his withdrawal from the race. Wike replied that as “a father, what he (George) ...did was to exhibit failure,’’ adding that in politics, all kinds of stories are told by people to project their views as the dominant viewpoints. But, “I have a right to support any candidate of my choice and I do not see how that can be said to be imposition,” he stressed. “Making statements that some people have hijacked the party, is not correct. With all due respect, we are not playing sentiments; the people know what they want.’’ Debunking allegation of undue influence over the convention, Wike, who is reported to have been in the forefront of the fight to save the PDP from disintegration, added that though governors may be influential, their influence is often limited to their states. However, he insisted that there is nothing wrong in a governor backing an aspirant in whose capabilities such governor believes. So, did Olabode George actually act patriotically (as a ‘Yoruba patriot’, as he put it) to save ‘Yoruba’ face by withdrawing, or was he simply scared of election? The latter may well be the case. For, as was to be disclosed by the former Naval officer himself, he had entered the race, in the first place, in the hope that the micro zoning arrangement in the party, which he alleged had been trashed by the mere participation of the South South in the race, would be sustained so that the South West would not have to contend for the Chairmanship with any candidates or candidates from outside the zone. Unfortunately for him, the PDP only zoned the Chairmanship to the ‘South’ as it zoned the Presidency to the ‘North’ (not to the South West or South South or North West or North East--in the case of the Presidency), it follows that George, unable to stand the rigors of electoral campaigns and expenditure, and brimming with a sense of South West entitlement to the PDP Chairmanship, wanted the PDP chairmanship zoning arrangement to reflect the 1999 political transition arrangement whereby the nation allowed an all-Yorubacandidates presidential election, just to placate the South West over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election of which the late MKO Abiola was posthumously declared winner. But, because the PDP had no reason to placate the Yoruba this time around and, therefore, made the chairmanship open for contest by the entire South, George, a former powerful Deputy National Chairman of the party, practically resorted to blackmail to discredit a process, which he knew had been meticulously put in place by the PDP to ensure a peaceful and transparent national convention of a former ruling party that needed such a credible outing to reinvent itself. So far, nothing has been said or done by

• Rashidi Ladoja

• Jimi Agbaje

• Nyesom-Wike

• Dave Umahi

any of the other South West candidates to indicate an agreement with George’s position. Although none of them has as yet congratulated Secondus (Adeniran criticised the process through which Secondus emerged), they have not gone all out either to discredit the process on the allegation that it was skewed against the Yoruba. If anything, the convention went on and ended smoothly, producing a new set of National Working Committee members of the PDP that many party faithful, supporters and opponents alike hope would inject new vitality into the party and, by extension, the nation’s body politic. As the politics of 2019 unfolds, the world, to be sure, is watching to see how Prince Uche secondus and his team– Elder Yemi Akinwonmi-Deputy National Chairman South; Sen. Gamawa Babawo Garba- Deputy National Chairman North; Sen. Ibrahim Tsauri-National Secretary; Dr.

Agbo Emmanuel-Deputy National Secretary; Hon. Aribisala Adewale-National Treasurer; Alh. Wada Masu-Deputy National Treasurer. Ibrahim Husseini Maibasira-Financial Secretary; Hon. Irona Alphonsus-Dep. Fin. Sec.; Col Austin Akobundu (Rtr)-National Organising secretary; Barr. Hassan YakubuDeputy National Organising Secretary; Kola Ologbondiyan- National Publicity Secretary; Hon. Diran Odeyemi- Deputy National Publicity Secretary; Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem-Nat. Legal Adviser; Barr. Ahmed Bello Liman-Dep. Nat. Legal Adviser; Mallam Adamu Mustapha-National Auditor; Miss Divine Amina Arong- Deputy National Auditor; Hajia Mariya Waziri-National Women Leader; Umoru Adizet HadizatDeputy National Women Leader; Rt. Hon. Udeh Okoye –National Youth Leader and Umar Babangida Maina– Deputy National Youth Leader–will reinvent the PDP and reposition it to win future elections.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

POLITICS

Anambra Central rerun: Ezeonwuka urges stakeholders to prepare for election A few days after the peaceful conduct of the Anambra State governorship, which the incumbent governor Chief Willie Obiano won, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a re-run election for the disputed Anambra Central Senatorial District within 90 days. Consequently, INEC has fixed the election for January 13, next year. This new development notwithstanding, some people are still kicking against the proposed date for the rerun election with Mrs Uche Ekwunife, who was ousted from Anambra Central Senatorial seat by an appeal court ruling in Enugu, asking INEC not to conduct the election for legal reasons. In this interview with THEO RAYS, The Oracle Today’s Anambra State Correspondent, at Rojenny Tourist Village, Oba Idemili South Local Council of Anambra State, the Igbo spiritual leader and a member of Board of Trustees (BoT) of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka (Ogirisi Igbo) urges parties in the dispute to allow peace to reign by letting the election go as planned by INEC. The Ogirisi Igbo vows to unleash the powers of Ogirisi deity and gods of the lands on anybody or group opposed to the order issued to INEC by the Court of Appeal to conduct the election within 90 days. He also speaks on Obiano’s victory in the recent Anambra governorship election, the defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) by Chukwuemeka Ojukwu Jr., 2019 and others issues. What is your overall assessment of recent governorship election in Anambra State, which Governor Obiano won? It was a wonderful election, which everybody is happy about. This is the first time we witnessed an election where people were jubilating over its outcome, not only because the choice of the people prevailed but also because the election was peaceful. We in APGA are happy that our candidate Chief Willie Obiano Akpokuodike won and we are also happy that the election went well without any iota of hitches. Let me also thank the stakeholders in Anambra who threw their weight behind Obiano’s well-deserved re-election. I give kudos to the traditional rulers, the town unions’ president-generals and the market leaders for their strong support for Obiano’s re-election. My kudos also go to the youth who shunned negative vices like thuggery and doing the bid of political desperadoes to snatch ballot boxes and all that. INEC, the police and other security agencies and everybody who contributed in one way or the other to ensure the success of the election, I salute them too. Let’s talk about one thing that came up during campaign: the defection of Emeka Ojukwu Jr. to APC. How do you see that? Some people say it was a political gamble taken too far? Not gambling by my own understanding. To me, it was a sign of maturity on the side of Emeka. Let’s not forget that his father joined National Party Nigeria (NPN) instead of Nigeria People’s Party (NPP), which was like the Igbo party, then, when he came to the country from Ivory Coast. So, sometimes you break shadows, bonds and stereotypes to move forward. As a grown up son and married with his own family, Emeka is entitled to take his own decisions, make his own choices and do things the way he feels is okay for him. His defection to APC is a mark of political maturity and I wish him well. Another thing I like us to quickly touch on is the Anambra Central re-run election. INEC has fixed January 13, next year as the date for the election following the Appeal Court judgment. Do you hope that the election is going to hold considering the fact that some people are still kicking against it? Enough of this mess about the Anambra Central re-run election. The Appeal Court has given the last judgment and INEC has fixed January 13, next year for the election for the election. As the Ogirisi Igbo, the spir-

clared interest to run for President in 2019. Buhari has not done that. So, all talk about his second term ambition is rumour and speculation and you don’t expect somebody like me to start dwelling on rumour and speculation. For me to advise Ndigbo now amounts to dwelling on rumour and speculation; I will advice Ndigbo when the time comes.

•Anthony Cardinal Okogie

• Ezeonwuka itual leader of Igbo Land, let me declare that we won’t tolerate any mess in the process of the re-run election. Enough of this mess called litigations. Anambra Central must have a senator elected and sworn in by January next year. There are no two ways about it. Anybody who dares to violate the process of the rerun election in January will have the power of Ogirisi to contend with. I have said this over and over and I mean it. If the law as the court interpreted it says that you are not eligible to stand for the rerun election forget it and wait for another dispensation and stop wasting our time with litigation. Anambra Central must have a senator in January next year and nothing will stop it. Let’s go back to Obiano’s re-election. By March next year, Obiano will take up fresh four years in office. What are your expectations? What are the major targets you would like to set for him? His major campaign highlight is centred on continuity and consolidation, meaning he is prepared to continue the second tenure from where he stopped during the first tenure. So let there be no dull moment or backsliding. Let him ensure that the tight security that characterised his first tenure continues, that massive development in agriculture continues, that attracting foreign investors continues, that community development projects continue, that road construction continues, that uninterrupted payment of workers’ salaries continues, that good relations between the Executive and the Legislature continue, that good relations between government and relevant stakeholders like the traditional rulers, town unions, religious leaders and market leaders continue. Let him also ensure that the good relations he has with the leadership of APGA at all levels continue. Let him empower the stakehold-

ers of APGA with windows and ensure that the good relations with prominent personalities and political gladiators like Soludo and others continue. And let him ensure that good attention accorded to education, health, sports and other sectors continue. Sports has to be given good attention for the benefit of the youth. In addition, I want to use this opportunity to draw the attention of His Excellency to the need to always remember the Biafran fallen heroes. When he assumed office, he heeded to the call to accord the fallen heroes benefiting burial rites. All his predecessors declined to accord the fallen heroes the burial rites but he accepted to do it. And he did it. That important occasion took place on January 12, 2015. On that day, it was declared that January 12 is Biafra War Heroes Day and there should be a kind of annual Remembrance Day ceremony for the heroes, so I want His Excellency to organise the heroes Remembrance Day all through his second tenure. We are going to add the remaining names of the fallen heroes who came late before the ceremony in 2015 into the book of the fallen heroes if the Heroes Day is going to hold next year and their names included in the epitaphs at Ekwueme Park in Awka. Amid glaring marginalisation of Ndigbo by Buhari’s administration, indications are ripe that Buhari is wooing Ndigbo for his possible re-election bid in 2019. As an acclaimed spiritual leader of Ndigbo, would you advise Ndigbo to support Buhari’s ambition? As far as I know, Buhari has not told anybody that he is interested in a second term, neither has he demanded support from anybody. We have people like the Governor of Ekiti State Ayo Fayose and former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido who have de-

People are saying that Buhari’s visit to Southeast States of Ebonyi and Anambra recently and his proposed visit to Abia next week is not unconnected with his interest in Igbo support for 2019? I don’t think the visit is all about 2019. I think the visit is about the need to respond to the challenges facing the country most especially the challenge to keep the country one and intact. While in Ebonyi State, he said that the oneness of Nigeria is not negotiable. So, If you look at what he said there, you will find out that the purpose of his visit is not for his ambition for re-election but to ensure peace and stability in the country. In Anambra, he came to campaign for the candidate of his party ahead of the recently concluded governorship election. So, the purpose of his visit is very clear. Does it not worry you that Buhari is not doing anything towards addressing the glaring marginalisation of Ndigbo by his administration? Well, to me we have to do some homework before laying blame on anybody or complaining about marginalisation. Over time, we in APGA have told Ndigbo to embrace APGA as a platform to fight for our share of the national cake but they don’t care to listen. Imagine the political prospects of the southeast if we had our governors in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo on the platform of APGA. Nobody would dare to joke with us because our political force is intact. But when they see that we are scattered like sheep without shepherds, they decide to do whatever they like against us. The point I am emphasising is that, it is time for Ndigbo to embrace APGA totally, knowing full well that other political parties are not willingly ready to address our interests in the system. What is your take on the massive call for the restructuring of Nigeria by relevant stakeholders? I support it because that will certainly bring out the best in the people. I am sure Ndigbo in particular would fair better if we are allowed to do things our own way. For instance, I don’t think that an assassin could invade a church at Ozubulu and kill people and run away if we the Police Force in Anambra were made up of men and officers recruited from Anambra. Virtually every part of the country has one complaint or the other. In the southeast, we are faced with marginalisation, agitation for Biafra and attack from herdsmen; in the Southwest, there is OPC, in the South South, they have militants who want the region to take control of the resources in their home land. In the north there are Boko Haram, deadly and destructive herdsmen. These are agitations and strong indications that all is not well with us. And that makes it imperative for us to sit at a roundtable and address all the negative issues surrounding our existence as a country. So, I support restructuring and the earlier we do it the better for us.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

INTERVIEW When did you start playing basketball? My foundation for the sports I love so much – basketball – started in Enugu way back as a kid. I later moved to the United States to go to college. And afterwards, I worked with one of the top sports agencies in the US called BBA Sports as a partner for 15 years. I came back to Nigeria two years ago to start Continental Basketball League, through which we are giving back to our people and as well helping to grow the game here, in Enugu, where I was born. How have your Continental Basketball league and the Basketball clinic projects faired so far? It has been very exciting. We just had a free basketball clinic for kids a couple of days ago. We had about 200 kids from all the five South Eastern states, and we hope to scale up to about 1000 kids in the next edition. We also want to make it an annual exercise as well as introduce other programmes that would help nurture our kids in Enugu and Anambra States, for our pilot scheme. What is your target age range for the exercise? We targeted 10 to 15 years age bracket, but we intend to expand the scope to accommodate kids from 7 to 15 years. The reason is because it is said that the earlier you catch a kid young the better.

Why I want to start Continental Basketball League, by Ugo Udezue Ex BBA player, Ugo Udezue is the CEO of Continental Basketball League, Alfa Sports, as well as Basketball Clinic. An indigene of Anambra State but Enugu-born and brought up, the ex-Wyoming (Sr) player is currently an unrestricted BBA free agent. He spoke to CHUKS EZE in Enugu where he spoke about his efforts to give back to the society through basketball, which gave him fame and fortune. “Our goal is to empower the younger generation through basketball. Our generation has experienced a lot of turmoil, negativity, suffering and neglect in the past couple of years. So, we are striving to successfully empower a new generation for a better Igbo race and a better Africa,” he says.

Are you just concerned about the game of basketball? Certainly not; basketball is not just about the game. It is about teaching kids how to cooperate in the society; how to partner with one another, how to learn to do team work and all that. So, it is not just a game for us, it is also a way to help shape the society better. What is Basketball Clinic all about? It is about teaching the kids the game of basketball to be exposed to the same opportunity I got through the sport. It is not just about playing in the MBA. Are you considering expanding the clinic project beyond the South East? That is in our future plan – to make it a national exercise. But our current goal is to focus on the South East. The eastern part of the country has been marginalised in the country even in the areas of sports, and yet, most of the big talents in the game come from this part of the country – the South East. So, we are trying to make sure that we develop the game here as well. What prompted you to embark on the project? It was inspired by passion for the game, and interest in giving back to the society. Sometimes, you get to some point in life and after looking back to the point you started life, you get inspired to help others. What is your ultimate goal? My goal is to help as many kids as possible – to lift them from their point of discomfort to, at least, a relatively fairly comfortable zone; to help them, as much as possible, to be like me. How do you cope with funding; does your organisation enjoy any form of sponsorship? We do not have any sponsorship yet; I am running the project all by myself. You know that it takes a village to raise the child. Our hope is that with time, people will start getting interested. God has blessed us extremely in the game. So, our hope is to give back without expecting anything back. Our goal is to keep giving back so that more people will grow to also give back to others. Therefore, as far as we have the ability, we will continue to do it.

But in case some individuals, governments or corporate organisations indicate interest to lend support, what kind of assistance do you want? We need all possible help because we intend to widen the programme to accommodate more people. Every kid needs to be impacted and no kid should be left behind. So, whatever anybody can contribute to make the project succeed is welcome. We are doing everything to get everybody to understand that the more we develop the kids and give them opportunities the better for the society. Is academic standard a pre-condition for selection of prospective kids for the training? No, it is not. Some kids never had the opportunity to go to school not because they are not good enough. So, we encourage all kids and give them equal opportunity to participate in the programmes. The only pre-condition is that the kids must fall between our stipulated age brackets. There is no academic barrier, there is no gender barrier; everybody is welcome.

How has being a basketball player impacted your life? It has really impacted my life in several ways, which I cannot begin to enumerate here. The game teaches you a lot. It teaches you resilience, hard work and honesty. Sport makes you to realise that if you are a hard worker, things would happen for you, and that is exactly what we teach the kids, not just the game alone. Basketball is life; it mirrors life in such a way that you feel that challenges of life come in form of a game. Sport is a great equaliser. It helps you to learn about what to do about several aspects of your life. The game of basketball is uniquely structured in a way that just as you have five fingers, you have five basketball players, and everybody works in unison to achieve a goal. What would you say are the key importance of your clinic to the kids and the economy? Kids are the economy and life of the society. There is a saying that kids are gates to heaven. So, the more you teach the kids and impact on their lives the more we

shape our society to be a better place. You were once reported to have complained about poor basketball facilities across the South East; but why do you think is the cause of the seeming long neglect of that brand of sports in this clime? It is because our people always feel that education is everything. Education is good anyway, but sport is also very essential and I think we have not really been able to grasp that fact. I come from a family where everybody is a PhD holder, so, I believe in Education too. But I think that we still look down on people that play sports around here. Like I said earlier, sport is a great equaliser in the sense that there is no distinction between the reach and poor; the well-educated and the slightly or educated and non-educated. If you are good, you are good. In developed countries, they have WMCAs in every neighbourhood because it is very essential to teach kids from the early age, about the opportunities that sports present. You seem to exude immense affection

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

INTERVIEW

• Catching them young at the basketball clinic that Ugo Udezue held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu and passion for basketball, but how did it all start; does it run in the family? No, it does not. I just found myself loving the game. It is a game I had always wanted to do since I was a kid. Basketball has really exposed me to great opportunities. It gave me a scholarship to go to college. And apart from that, after playing basketball professionally, the strength I get from having played the game – understanding life’s failures and opportunities, through the game of basketball, has been something has been awesome. So, I want to impart same on kids to expose them to similar opportunities too. Did your huge frame work for you during your playing days? Obviously, when you are tall and imposing as I am, it is advantageous in some situations, but I always tell people: Be careful what you wish for. For instance, I cannot just go to the market and buy shoes or clothes like you can, or make cloths like everybody else can. I cannot even fly economy seat when I am travelling. Therefore, huge frame could bring a lot of opportunities, but at the same time, I believe that everybody has the same opportunities that we have, just as we have some challenges that others do not have. Life is all about give or take. The shorter or slimmer person can be quick and faster than you. Michael Jordan is not the tallest basketball player ever. And that is the beauty of sports; you cannot have it all. Let us talk about your tournament – Coal City Jamz. How long has it been running? The one that we just did was the inaugural session. But we are planning to make it an annual event as well. When is the next lap expected to come on? We are already working out the modalities for the next edition. We have not fixed the date yet because at the moment, we are considering the possibility of even taking up double editions per year. But we hope to come up with concrete schedule pretty soon. What is certain, as we speak, is that the follow-up session, which would be the second edition, will

take place next year, 2018. What about the continental basketball league that you also run; what is the current development about it? The league is still on; we have done the first edition and our second edition will commence next year. We are starting again in March, 2018. We are currently running in 6 African countries. The first edition of the league held in Cameroun, Nigeria, Gabon and Abidjan, and the grand finale in Lagos, Nigeria. Once again, I ask you: How about funding; do you have sponsors for the league? Well, the thing is that when you have a good product, people would be disposed to pay some money to come and watch your game. In sports, when you privatise and you package a good product, people would definitely like to pay, not just to enjoy themselves but also to encourage the organiser. Even TV partners and other sponsors usually buy into good products. That is what our government have, unfortunately, failed to realise. So, we have managed to create a very good product that everybody is interested in being part of. So, to answer your question, the tournament enjoys some level of sponsorship. Do you have any government partnership so far? There is absolutely none at the moment. But I hope that things would change and there would be support as we forge ahead. So, how do you intend to cope with the poor facilities that you earlier talked about, as the programme progresses? The most important thing is that we have started. I believe that as we progress and share our values, opportunities will come for us to build our facilities. We definitely plan to improve the facilities at some point, but you have to start somewhere and let people see the opportunity. I believe that things would change when people begin to see what is going on and the inherent opportunities. Do you have any advice to parents who

• Ugo Udezue usually discourage their children and wards from taking up basketball as a trade? I encourage them to release their kids to join the train. Basketball is not a dangerous game; it is played all over the world. More so, while the best basketball talents in the world are of African heritage, the best African basketball players are from the Eastern part of Nigeria. So, it is something that has been proven to be successful, and helping a lot of people. We have the personnel, we have the talents and we have the opportunities here. We just have to utilize those resources to develop the game and be able to lift our abundant talents down here and as well help the game to grow. Did you experience the usual parental resistance when you chose to take up basketball as a profession? Obviously, yes. I told you earlier that I come from a family where everybody is a PhD holder. It was not really easy.

But you cannot blame anybody because of the wrong perception that had been created over the years that the game is not a conducive, acceptable venture. Like you know, every parent would want their children to succeed in life; and you choose to go into a terrain that is unproven. You sure would have some challenges and oppositions. But hopefully, the people that are coming behind us would not have such challenges. That is what we are trying to avoid. Did your parents wish you became a medical doctor, lawyer or something of that sort? Yes, they did. But I would not have made this kind of money, if I had danced to their tune (laughter). So, you are saying that basketball has been paying your bills adequately and comfortably? Yes, it has, and I am happy about it (more laughter).

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

NOTIFICATION REQUEST FOR SUBMISSIONS OF YEAR END NETWORK/ STATISTICAL DATA INFORMATION FOR 2017 All Telecommunication Service Licensees operational in Nigeria are required to provide the Commission with requisite information as enshrined in sections 64 – 66 of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003. The Network/ Subscriber st Statistical Data Information for the Year Ended 31 December, 2017 should be th submitted in hard and soft copies to the Commission on or before the 15 of January 2018. The Licenced Telecommunication Operating Companies include but not limited to the following: 1. Mobile Telephony Operators (GSM and CDMA), 2. Fixed Telephony Operators, 3. Internet Service Operators (ISP`s), 4. Collocation Service providers and; 5. Other Service Providers – (other than the specic licence categories listed above) Softcopies of all the questionnaires can be downloaded from the NCC website www.ncc.gov.ng under stakeholder information/operator survey form. Please note the deadline for submission and ensure strict compliance. Should you require any further information or clarication in respect of the above, do not hesitate to contact: Josephine Amuwa Director Policy Competition and Economic Analysis

KHALEESI

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The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

BU$IN£SS •

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Aviation

New Fitch rating: Debt burden, shaky estimates put 2018 budget at risk By VICTOR NZE

CBN EXCHANGE RATES DEC. 11, 2017 Currency

US DOLLAR Pounds Sterling EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI AN/RENMINBI RIYAL S/AFRICAN RAND DANISH KRONA SDR

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

305.35 408.4362 358.4504 308.1853 2.7418 0.5276 430.0543 46.128 81.418 22.3877 48.3646 430.6656

305.85 306.35 409.105 409.7738 359.0373 359.6243 308.6899 309.1946 2.7463 2.7507 0.5376 0.5476 430.7585 431.4627 46.2039 46.2799 81.5513 81.6846 22.4243 22.461 48.4438 48.523 431.3708 432.076

Egina crowns Total Nigeria’s deepwater king P20

e-Platform Enact ICT local content law, Minister begs National Assembly P22

TRAVEL ‘Nigeria losing N175b annually to medical tourism’ P26

foreign currency (FX) liquidity, and a faltering of the still fragile economic recovery. The credit rating firm noted that an anticipated imposition of an OPEC quota might cap Nigeria’s crude production at 1.8mbpd, which could limit the oil sector’s upside potential. However, as it excludes condensate production, the quota should not affect Nigeria’s near-term production potential, it stated. Only penultimate Friday, OPEC capped Nigeria’s production to 1.8mbpd from its present 1.75mbpd, despite production ca-

pacity of 2.3mpbd which was projected in the 2018 budget, which itself has come under heavy criticisms by economic and financial experts. They posit that the 2018 budget is covered in unrealizable targets from the high oil output of 2.3mbpd, in the face of the continued restiveness in the Niger Delta in addition to the emerging global trends of world economies exploring alternatives to fossil fuels, to the exchange rate of N305 which is inaccessible in the open market as attested to by the Manufactur

ONTINUINg trend of mismatch between revenue and expenditure in the federal government’s annual fiscal projections, prevailing borrowing spree, poor budget performance indicators and uncongenial operating environment combine to raise formidable pointers against credibility of the 2018 federal budget. According to President Buhari, the ‘2018 budget will consolidate on the previous budgets to actualise the economic growth recovery plan of this administration. 2018 is expected to be a year of positive and better outcomes.’ Titled the ‘Budget of Consolidation’, the 2018 proposal is up by 16 per cent from N7.44 trillion (N7.44 tn) in 2017 to N8.61tn. According to the financial estimates, federal Government expects total revenue of N6.61tn with non-oil revenue taking the larger component of N4.17tn. Oil revenue is estimated to account for N2.44tn of the budget funding while gap exists for the remaining N2.01tn. Government plans to spend N8.61tn in the year with recurrent estimates amounting to whopping N3.49tn. Capital expenditure is put at 2.43tn; debt servicing to gulp N2.01tn; sinking funds will suck up N22 billion; while N456 billion is set aside for statutory transfers. Already, global financial analysts that read the destination compass for international investment capital have started pointing out flaws in the key revenue projections that underpin government’s fiscal predictions for next year. United States-based credit ratings agency, Fitch which last Friday, cut its 2017 economic growth forecast for Nigeria from 1.5 per cent to 1 percent, had also last September predicted the capping of the country’s oil production output to 1.8mbpd by the Organization of Oil Producing Countries (OPEC). The report which has now put Ni-

geria’s credit standings at risk, have also now caused financial analysts to cast worrying expressions on the future country’s proposed 2018 appropriation bill presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, in addition to the audacious plan by the government to borrow $5.5 billion to fund capital expenditure (CAPEX) projected in the bill. This is even as secrecy and nondisclosure continue to hover around the 2017 budget in the areas of implementation and funding, as experts query how the 2018 budget will be successfully funded with a looming debt burden and the 2017’s level of implementation still shrouded in secrecy. Speaking at a Fitch event in London, Jermaine Leonard, a director for sovereigns, said while disclosing Nigeria’s new growth status, that although the country’s 2018 budget had an oil production target of 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd), the Fitch forecast was just above 2 million bpd. Last September, the statistical rating organization affirmed Nigeria’s long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B+’ with a “negative outlook”, which reflected the fact that there were still a lot of elements which could take it down. The international rating agency had in that statement explained that Nigeria’s rating was supported by its large and diversified economy, significant oil reserves, its net external creditor position, low external debt service ratio and large domestic debt market. These, it stated, were balanced against relatively low per capita gross domestic product (GDP), an exceptionally narrow fiscal revenue base and a weak business environment. According to Fitch, the negative outlook reflected the downside risks from rising government indebtedness, the possibility of a reversal of recent improvements in

Energy

P18

Stock Market Highlights As At 11 December, 2017

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAPN

N38,913.99 N4,884.00 N350,595,441.00 N4,915,605,531.80 N13,552,504,183,910.05

Most Traded S/N Coy (By Volume) Volume 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

FBNH ZENITHBANK DIAMONDBNK TRANSCORP ACCESS

61,271,508 35,322,035 34,076,390 30,330,331 29,860,140

Value(N) N553,136,582.03 N928,739,100.42 N47,580,585.13 N43,507,633.03 N344,520,250.56

5 Top Gainers Company NESTLE MOBIL TOTAL NASCON DANGSUGAR

Last Close N1410.08 N159.82 N228.01 N17.85 N20.03

Top Losers Company DANGCEM NB UNILEVER STANBIC PRESCO

Last Close N245 N145 N41.61 N43 N69.3

Current N1460 N174.96 N230 N18.74 N20.69 Current N240.9 N143 N40.5 N42 N68.41

Change 49.92 15.14 1.99 0.89 0.66 Change -4.1 -2 -1.11 -1 -0.89

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

BUSINESS News 577 firms bid for NNPC insurance renewal programme

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has opened some 577 bids submitted by firms seeking to secure the insurance renewal contract for the nation’s oil and non-oil assets. Group General Manager, Risk Management and Insurance,of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Modupe Bameke, stated that apart from being a requirement of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the public opening of bids has become part of the Corporation’s tradition aimed at promoting transparency. “The essence of this public bid opening is to ensure that the Corporation complies strictly with the provisions of the Bureau of Public Procurement Act (BPP). All the bids will be opened in the presence of everybody to ensure that all entries are properly captured in line with the transparency principle of the NNPC,” Mr. Bameke said. Shedding more light on the process, the Group General Manager, Supply Chain Management, Mr. Shehu Liman, informed that the public opening bids measure was aimed at providing a level playing field for all bidding companies. “The idea is to select broking and insurance companies that are credible and capable with track records of performance. What this means is that we are going to eliminate all those transactions that are not necessary,” Mr. Liman stated. The breakdown of bidders shows that 245 brokers tendered for oil assets, 251 brokers tendered for non-oil assets while 37 insurance companies tendered for oil assets and 44 tendered for non-oil assets.

New Fitch rating: Cont’d from page 17 ers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and then, of course, the borrowing spree the Federal Government has entered into. The Fitch Ratings report, therefore, is seen as compounding an already gloomy outlook, especially in respect of obtaining the $5.5 billion loan sought by the government. The Senate, last November, finally approved a $5.5 billion external loan request by President Muhammadu Buhari. The president had in letter dated October 10 sought the Senate’s approval for $3 billion external loan and $2.5 billion Eurobond or Diaspora bond in the international market. Buhari explained that the bonds would be channelled towards funding of the 2017 budget while the loan would be used in refinancing of maturing domestic debts. To complicate matters for the economy, it is the 2018’s projected N2.43 trillion capital expenditure (CAPEX) that is at high risk of not reaching implementation for the year, knowing how the last 2017 fared in that aspect. According to the experts, the 2018 budget would remain a mere expression of figures if the controversial loan itself is not accessed to fund capital expenditure.

FG explores funds for big ticket oil projects Sopuruchi Onwuka

EDERAL government is seeking partnership with international investment funds to drive petroleum industry projects for the 2018 business calendar. The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru said the collaboration was critical to realization of multi-billion dollar deepwater field development projects planned for the new year. Dr. Baru, who spoke in London while receiving the 2017 Africa Oil & Gas Man of the Year Award from Forbes said NNPC would be involved in a number of projects which would

require international collaboration. “Our programme for 2018 is very aggressive and will require cooperation from the international community in supporting our activities through technical and financial collaboration,” Dr. Baru stated. He listed some of the mega projects that would be launched in the coming year to include: Bonga SW/ Aparo; Zaba-zaba; Bosi; the 7 critical gas projects and gas pipelines; NLNG Train 7 plus expansion; possible divestment of Government Equity in JV and development of modular refineries amongst others. He added: “Today, the confidence of investors is being restored, thanks to good governance provided by the

administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. I therefore call on you all to utilize this golden opportunity made possible by our supportive President.” Dr. Baru said international collaboration between the NNPC and its partners was fast yielding results, adding that within the last three years, NNPC had secured about $3.7bn alternative financing agreements aimed at sustaining and increasing the national daily production and producibility. He said the alternative financing approach had yielded positive results and helped to renew investors’ confidence resulting in a boost in Foreign Direct Investments in Nigeria. Dr. Baru observed that the financ-

•From left : Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, chatting with Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode at the 9th Annual Bankers’ Committee Retreat of the CBN, which held at Renaissance Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

ing arrangement had also deepen the participation of local banks in funding the Upstream Sector as it the funds were syndicated from both local and International banks as well as lenders. He commended the local and international lenders and the Joint Venture partners for their continued faith in Nigeria and their support towards providing the funding. Thanking Forbes for the 2017 Africa Oil & Gas Man of the Year Award conferred on him, Barudescribed the recognition as not only special to him, but to all Nigerians. “This award is so special to me. It is an award to Nigeriawhich fills me with immense national pride. It also reinforces the long-established and far-reaching impact of the NNPC in national, regional and global economic growth and stability,” he added. The award, he said, came to him as a big surprise, owing to the fact that the scope of the nomination represents a huge selection of highly qualified professionals across Africa. While conferring the award on the GMD, a representative of Forbes, Mr. Mark Furlong, said his institution was celebrating an embodiment of hardwork, integrity and intelligence who was making giant strides in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and beyond. “Dr. Baru is admired and celebrated nationwide and internationally. He is a credible and courageous man with high moral virtue. His broad knowledge and positive leadership style are worthy of emulation,” Furlong added. Also speaking, Chairman Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, said having worked closely with Dr. Baru when the GMD was GED Exploration & Production, the Forbes award did not come as a surprise. “Dr. Baru has done well as the GMD of NNPC over the last 18 months. He is a strong-willed fellow whose passion and commitment to his job is incomprehensible. I believe Forbes will find him more deserving for this award,” Senator Akpan concluded.

‘Reduce lending rate on N200b MSME fund’ By VICTOR NZE

AGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reduce the lending rate on the N200billion Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) fund to ‘about five per cent or lower’ in order for the entrepreneurs to access the facility, as, according to him, this was the easiest way to achieve the fund’s targeted goals. Ambode who was speaking at the opening session of the 9th Annual Bankers’ Committee Retreat of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which held at Renaissance Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, last weekend, also said that for Nigeria to meet its growth ambitions and achieve full economic potential, concerted efforts must be made to create at least four million jobs annually and as well jettison policies that stifle development. While describing the theme of the retreat – “Improving Financial Access, Enabling Job Creation and Driving Inclusive Growth in Nigeria,” as apt, the Governor said same was at the heart of the nation’s economy and are important determinants of the country’s future prosperity, but

that all hands must be on deck to create more jobs for the people and ensure 6.7 per cent annual growth rate. “To meet our growth ambitions we need jobs. Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show that in employment terms, from a labour force population of about 81million people, we currently have 11.5million people unemployed in Nigeria and 17million people under-employed with the total employment is around 52.6million while the working age population grows by 3.7 per cent every year. So, to make a meaningful dent on un-employment and underemployment, and to reduce poverty (which is at over 60 per cent), we need to be creating at least four million jobs per year. “Where do banks fit into all of this? Well, the reality is if we do not have a well-functioning banking sector, all of this is not possible. Both investment and day-to-day commerce requires the intermediation of banks. And while someone outside of the formal financial sector can in some cases make a living, the reality is that incomes of the bottom of the pyramid are increased when we have better financial inclusion but we are not there yet.” In addition, Ambode challenged

the CBN, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC), commercial banks and other players in the financial system to decide the type of financial system that will really impact on employment and bring more people into the formal financial system. “This is where we should focus as a nation not the type of directives or decisions that actually try to stifle growth and commerce. One clear example is this; as a State Government, I want to take a commercial loan from the bank and they tell me I should go and get a letter from Debt Management Office (DMO); I should get approval from the Federal Ministry of Finance; I should go to CBN and so on. Who does that? “You want to accelerate growth and everything that I am doing even when I take loan from the bank; when I do bond and so on, I am only trying to reflate the economy. Each construction site that you see in Lagos, I am trying to create employment at the lower level so that the artisans, the bricklayers and so on can go home with N5,000. I need to do something in Badagry to make the people stay there and not come to the central Lagos and when you take the extra money outside the IGR, you are actually trying to help the econ-

omy to reflate itself and that is why you are able to excite yourself with the growth that you have seen in the third quarter that we say is 1.5 but that is not the number that we want. “So sometimes, government seems to shoot itself in the leg. Why should Lagos State go and be meeting DMO to say I want to take a commercial loan when 80 per cent of my IGR can pay the loan itself back? So, you see that there is some sense of homogeneity in the policies that we make but sometimes they are not really flexible and you end up coming back to say we want to create jobs but the things that create jobs are the things that we are actually working against and you create unnecessary competition in the system.” On his part, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has assured that the bank would continue to support measures that would deepen penetration of financial services in the country. Delivering a welcome address at the Retreat, Emefiele said the measure will capture those who are financially excluded from the system. The theme of the retreat is “Improving Financial Access, Enabling Job Creation and Driving Inclusive Growth in Nigeria’’.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

BUSINESS

MainOne, Tizeti partner with Facebook to improve Internet in Lagos By SAMSON AKINTARO

ainOne and Tizeti have announced the completion of a joint development project with Facebook to enable the expansion of internet services in Lagos. This partnership, according to the companies, will leverage MainOne’s fiber connectivity, Tizeti’s twenty brand-new solar-powered towers, and Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi to make internet services more accessible across Lagos Mainland including Ajao Estate, Surulere, Ikeja, Omole, Magodo, Gbagada, Oworonshoki, Bariga, Anthony Village, Ogudu, Ojo-

ta, Ketu and Alapere. Speaking on the partnership, Chief Executive Officer, Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi, said: “Access to fast and reliable unlimited Wi-Fi connectivity has been a problem for most Nigerian residential customers and small businesses for too long. This partnership aims to demonstrate a sustainable and cost-effective solution to the under-served areas of Lagos State through our solar-powered, always-on Wi-Fi towers, and robust internet bandwidth from MainOne.” Tizeti has built and will operate the solar-powered Wi-Fi Towers across

Lagos while MainOne will provide multiple Gbps internet bandwidth to the outdoor towers via a mix of fiber-optic and microwave backhaul connections. This internet service will be delivered to end users via Wi-Fi, including via Express Wi-Fi hotspots deployed by Tizeti in Lagos. This partnership supports the three partners’ shared goal of connecting more people to high quality internet services in the most cost-effective way. MainOne’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Funke Opeke, lauded Tizeti and Facebook’s commitment to improving the quality and lowering costs of Internet services in Lagos. Comment-

ing on the partnership, she added “This project leverages our Internet capacity, investment in terrestrial fiber-optic infrastructure and points of presence for service delivery across Lagos State. We’re committed to improving the quality of access and accelerating the digital transformation of small businesses.” Ibrahima Ba, Facebook Connectivity Programs, said: “We are committed to working with partners across Africa and elsewhere to support connectivity initiatives and develop better internet infrastructure in communities that lack reliable and affordable access.”

HMD celebrates 1yr of Nokia brand ownership By SAMSON AKINTARO

MD Global, the home of Nokia phones said it has been in celebration mood to mark its one year of Nokia ownership. This came with a revelation that in just 12 months, the start-up has made 12 major announcements including the introduction of eleven new devices, and global partnerships with industry heavyweights such as ZEISS. “With the ambition of being truly global from day one, HMD Global has already released its new portfolio of six Nokia smartphones and five feature phones in over 80 markets with activations in 170 countries, delivering websites in 48 languages and setting up solid foundations for future growth” the company said in a statement. HMD Global arrived on the scene to incredible fanfare, marked by the return of the Nokia 3310 at Mobile World Congress 2017, and the introduction of its first, global wave of Android smartphones. The new portfolio won over 20 awards at the show and sold out across markets. Today, Nokia phones are on sale across more than 80 countries on 45 local websites across 48 languages. Devices have already been activated in more than 170 countries. During its first year, HMD Global said it has forged major strategic partnerships with industry leaders, including Nokia, Google, Foxconn and ZEISS. “Over the next year, the company’s commitment to those partnerships aims to deliver purposeful innovation to fans and set new standards for what youc an expect from a smartphone” it said. Florian Seiche, CEO of HMD Global, said: “After the amazing year we’ve had, I first want to thank our fans for such an incredible response. Their engagement, enthusiasm and love for our new Nokia phones and what we’re trying to achieve has been what’s made each and every major announcement possible. It really demonstrates the value of reaching out to people, building communities and listening to what they want to see in their phones. With the progress we’ve made and the response we’ve received, I know I speak for everyone when I say I’m thrilled to see what 2018 holds for us and our fans.” With a comprehensive and differentiated product portfolio delivered in just one year, HMD Global has maintained its commitment to delivering pure Android to all its smartphones. Staying true to the famous design heritage of Nokia phones, each device is crafted with three guiding principles in mind – technology with purpose, human design, and pure, secure and up-to-date Android.

Otakikpo grows output to 7,600 b/d I

T is hurray for partners in the Otakikpo marginal field where production has sustained steady rise to new threshold of 7,600 barrels per day at a time oil prices are negotiating upside movement. Operator, Lekoil, announced an increase in production at the Otakikpo marginal field hosted in oil mining lease( OML) 11. Since starting production in February at an initial rate of 5,000 bpd, daily production levels have steadily increased through November 27. Average production for October was approx. 6,400 bpd and current production at Otakikpo from both wells is now around 7,600 bpd. Additional perforations in one of two production strings at well-003 were recently performed before subsequently re-opening it for production. The Otakikpo JV partners, Lekoil as Financial and Technical Partner and Green Energy International Ltd. (GEIL) as operator, have agreed to hold production at current levels for a few more weeks to gather and analyze essential production and reservoir data and information prior to increasing production at the field. As the Otakikpo field nears Phase One target production of 10,000 bpd, the JV is now focused on Phase Two of the Otakikpo Field Development Plan which aims to increase steady state production up to approximately 20,000 bpd.

StanbicIBTC retains triple ‘A’ Fitch rating By VICTOR NZE, Lagos

S • Mr. Mark Furlong, President of Forbes Customs Emerging Markets, presenting the Forbes Africa. Oil & Gas Man of the Year Award to the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti K. Baru.

Nigerian capital market issuances hit N1.55tr – SEC

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has disclosed said that the total value of issuances in the Nigerian capital market amounted to N1.55 trillion in September. SEC Acting Director-General, Dr Abdul Zubair, made the disclosure at the 2017 annual conference of Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) in Lagos. Zubair said that the issuances included equities, bonds and unlisted securities among others. Zubair said that the equities accounted for 12 per cent of the total value of issuances in the market during the period. According to him, the secondary market total equities transactions appreciated by 78.6 per cent to N1.66 trillion between 2016 and September 2017. The acting director-general said that foreign transactions increased by 47.31 per cent during the period. He added that the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index had returned 47.11 per cent as at Dec. 7, showing a remarkable recovery. On the theme, “Deepening the Nation’s Capital Market for Economic Growth’’, Zubair said that the commission had designed and implemented

laudable programmes to create more awareness and further deepen the market. He said that SEC joined its counterparts all over the world to mark the IOSCO World Investors Week in Abuja and Lagos, bringing together stakeholders, investors and students

to promote financial inclusion. He said that SEC set up and inaugurated the board of the National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) to restore investor confidence in the market, noting that hundreds of investors till date had benefited from the fund.

Marriott, Dana Air roll out discounts for Christmas By VICTOR NZE

ARRIOTT Hotels in Nigeria as Dana Air have rolled out exceptional offers ahead of the Christmas Celebrations as the two firms also announced a partnership which gifts traveller 25 per cent discount on tickets. Marriott International Hotels In Nigeria including the Sheraton Lagos Hotel, the Sheraton Abuja Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton in Lagos and Le Meridien Ogeyi Place, in Port Harcourt have in addition repositioned their services to ‘deliver elevated Christmas experiences this season of cheer,’ according to Area General Manager for all the Hotels in Nigeria, Mr Barry Cur-

ran, in a statement, Monday. Specifically, the selected hotels will offer free feeding to children under the age of five and room rates below N40, 000. “We have special offers for everyone, from food lovers to music enthusiasts. For those visiting our hotels, get ready to illuminate your mind and sight as the ambience of the statement décor will highlight the Christmas spirit for those coming through the doors of our hotels. “We have partnered with Dana Air to make this season much more memorable, the first 20 people who book a stay at any of our hotels will enjoy 25 per cent discount off your next Dana air flight.

tanbicIBTC Bank and its holding company, StanbicIBTC Holdings Plc, have both retained their AAA status by Fitch Ratings, the global leader in credit ratings, reaffirming their strong fundamentals and stability, especially the ability to meet their financial commitments as they fall due. In the release issued Monday, the bank said the rating was obtained November 27, 2017, adding that the two institutions recorded AAA (nga) national long term rating, which provides a relative measure of credit worthiness for rated institutions in Nigeria. The AAA national rating is assigned to an institution with the lowest relative risk. In arriving at the rating for Stanbic IBTC, Fitch took account of the strong parental support from Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC belongs, as the group provides support in such areas as staff training, provision of information technology upgrades and best practice processes as well as strong corporate governance practices. “Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC’s (SIBTCH) National Ratings are based on potential support from its parent, South Africa’s Standard Bank Group Limited (SBG/Group; BB+/Stable), if required. Our view of institutional support considers SIBTCH’s strategic importance to SBG, high levels of integration between the parent and the subsidiary, as well as SBG’s majority shareholding in SIBTCH (53.2% through Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited),” the agency stated. Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC and Stanbic IBTC Bank received similar ratings in 2016 and February 2017 after a thorough examination of its credit process and financial results.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

ENERGY Sopuruchi Onwuka

EFORE the close of 2018, French multinational oil major, Total, would have added a total capacity to produce 560, 000 barrels of hydrocarbon liquids per day from three oil fields in two Nigerian deepwater blocks. Total declared weekend that the pace setting $16 billion Egina deepwater development project is on schedule and on budget, adding that the time frame for commissioning remains last quarter of 2018. By then, the deep offshore production volumes attributable to Total would flow from Akpo field hosted in oil mining lease (OML) 130, formerly oil prospecting lease (OPL) 246; Usan field in OML 138, formerly OPL 222; and upcoming Egina field also in OML 130. About 200,000 barrels per day (200 kbd) of the production volumes is expected from the Egina field, while Akpo and Usan fields are already producing separately with nameplate capacity for 180 kbd respectively. Already, hull of the floating production, storage and offtake vessel (FPSO EGINA), which will form the main production facility, is being tracked on its sail from Korea to Lagos where it would spur topside integration activities. Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) discovered the Egina field in 2003 within the OML 130, some 200 kilometres offshore Port Harcourt. The company operates the field in partnership with China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) and Petroleum Brasiliero (PETROBRAS) under Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC} which is the asset concessionaire. The company stated that the field development project which started in 2013 has reached 88 percent completion, adding that key production facilities await the FPSO EGINA hull for integration. When Egina comes online by last quarter of next year, Total would have competed a hat trick development programme and stand tall as the undisputed production factor in the high risk but proportionately rewarding deepwater oil and gas play in Nigeria. Besides completing the company’s triple field development programme, Egina is set to push Total’s operated production to over 700,000 kbd, a volume that would also make the company a contender for the country’s top producer. That means that the company’s operated field development investments projects in Nigeria as well as actual output volumes would by next year confer it with a status that would be greater that total production capacity of sovereign producers like Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Ghana all combined. With the deepwater development programme, Total alone would be responsible for 30 percent of Nigeria’s total production capacity and 56 percent of the country’s total output from the deepwater. New development projects might alter the percentages, but the company’s hat trick programme would make it difficult to dislodge Total from Nigeria’s deepwater leadership position in the short to medium term. Whereas there have been other world class field development pro-

Egina crowns Total Nigeria’s deepwater king • Builds biggest deepwater production capacity •Brings first FPSO integration yard to Nigeria •Sets new Nigerian Content standards

jects in Nigerian deepwater terrain, the Egina development project resonates across the Nigerian petroleum industry for its Nigeria Content profile. The project receives industry applause for the heap of value it delivers in the Nigerian economy and the stimulus it provides the country’s local industrial development. Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, said at the last Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Seminar in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, that Egina has elevated Nigerian Content profile of field development projects in Nigeria to all time high of 77 percent. He explained that 77 percent of the $16 billion Egina field development budget was deployed in patronage of local goods and services, a deliberate strategy to significantly raise the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) with deep pocket upstream petroleum industry projects. Before now, upstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria had remained an enclave that provided no stimulus to the domestic economy as key industry services and products were

procured abroad on the pretext that infrastructure, technology and capacity were deficit in the domestic environment. Government evolved the Nigerian Content policy and subsequently enacted the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010 to trap down the economic benefits ancillary to upstream petroleum industry activities. It also established the NCDMB to drive systems and processes that ensure compliance and delivery of policy goals. Total stated that it has always exceeded government’s local content targets in all its projects in the country, adding that the objectives of the policy falls in line with its business principles of developing capacity in the operating environment and delivering industry benefits to host communities. The company also pointed out that apart from exceeding industry targets on Nigerian Content, it has progressively challenged the domestic environment with job and contract opportunities that translate to significant growth in the local content profile of operated projects. According to project factsheets

available to The Oracle, Total achieved 44 percent of Nigerian Content in the 2005 Akpo development project, as against government target of 18 percent. It grew the performance to 60 percent in its 2008 Usan development project before setting the new industry local content benchmark of 77 percent with the 2013 Egina development project. “Egina has the highest level of local content of any such project in Nigeria,” Total stated. “As operator of the Egina project, Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd fully identifies with the Government aspirations for Nigerian Content and has been working closely with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to maximize Nigerian Content on the project.” Total listed key Nigerian Content features of the Egina project include “24 million man-hours or 77 percent of total project workload, equivalent to a workforce of 3,000 persons on average over a period of 5 years.” On capacity development and training, it stated that over 560,000 man-hours of human capacity de-

velopment training was conducted across Egina contracts. The company stated that, in terms of in-country facility production, 60,000 tons of equipment are being fabricated in Nigeria; while several large-scale new fabrication facilities were constructed and several existing fabrication yards upgraded to lay enduring infrastructure in Nigeria. Total also attributes Egina project with several pioneering Nigerian Content achievements, explaining that the 330-meter long FPSO EGINA sets industry record for hosting the highest number of locally fabricated topside modules and also for being the first ever FPSO for incountry topside integration. To achieve 77 percent Nigerian Content of a $16 billion development project, The Oracle reports, entails huge investments in upgrading local capacity, infrastructure and facilities in order to meet stringent global quality standards for deepwater operations. Thus, Egina project formed the basis for Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to sink huge investments in developing local topsides integration yard in Lagos, the first of such technologically advanced ship building infrastructure in Africa. Apart from SHI, other local fabrication yards, pipe producers, coating companies and sundry service providers including Dorman Long, NigerDock, GIL Automation, Aveon, Obijackson Group, FMC Technologies, PCNL, Ponticelli and SCNL all benefitted from the opportunity for facility upgrades. “The assembly of the Integrated Control and Safety System of the FPSO was fully performed in Nigeria; Egina includes the fabrication of the largest subsea equipment including manifolds and risers ever completed in Nigeria, far above what was achieved in previous projects,” Total boasts. “The Egina project is testimony to the fact that large deepwater projects can be developed with a very high level of in-country activities, thus fulfilling the aspirations and objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria in terms of employment generation, capacity building and industrial capability development.” The Oracle reports that Egina field development rapidly follows commissioning of the Usan deepwater field by Total in OML 138. According to records available to The Oracle, 60 percent of total project engineering and fabrication hours were delivered in Nigeria with over 14 million man hours of jobs delivered in-country. Some 12 contractors collaborated to deliver 180,000 man-hours of detailed engineering jobs and 90,000 man-hours of design engineering training, project control training, post-training and welders training. On the fabrication side, Nigeria hosted production of 7,500 tons of topside components including Flare Tower, Helideck, Water Caissons, Crane Pedestals, Pressure vessels and many other intricate components. Also, foreign and local contractors cooperated on delivery of and onsite integration of 3,500 tons of risers, mooring protection, P4 module. On umblicals, flowlines and risers (UFR), 175,000 man-hours engineering, 69,000 man-hours of training and post-training for the USAN development project were

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

ENERGY

November output defies OPEC cap on Nigeria Stories by Sopuruchi Onwuka

igeria may need to cut some 5000 barrels o crude oil production per day from its November levels in order to comply with a multilateral agreement to wipe some 1.8 million barrels of crude oil per day (mbd) in a bid to curb market oversupply and arrest prices from further decline. Nigeria’s crude oil export in the month of November averaged 1.84 million barrels per day, posting an increase of 60,000 barrels per day from the 1.78 million barrels per day (mbd) recorded against October. The export figures, The Oracle Today reports, solidifies the output fluctuation trend in Nigeria’s crude oil exports since the beginning of the year when a combination of policy measures and political overtures were deployed to calm angry nerves industry operations in the Niger Delta. It is not clear whether the November figures formed the benchmark for the production cap imposed on the country by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) which pegged combined market output from Nigeria and Libya at 2.8 mbd. OPEC finally slammed production cap on Nigerian and Libyan crude oil production, and charged the two countries not to exceed a combined output of 2.8 mbd without giving them specific production figures, The Oracle gathered from Nigerian sources involved in the meeting. The 13 member group which is collaborating with 10 non-member producing nations to curb global market supplies in a concerted move to arrest free fall in prices brought Nigeria and Libya into calculations for the first time since the production cuts started in 2016. OPEC had granted Libya and Nigeria exemptions when the two African nations dealt with internal strife and civil unrest that targeted their oil infrastructure. But both countries have seen sharp rises in production this year, partially undoing the impact of the coalition’s collective 1.8 million b/d in supply reductions. Nigeria currently posts production figure of some 2.1 million bar-

rels per day (mbd) of wellhead petroleum liquids. Of the total volume, 1.75 mbd is crude oil while some 350,000 b/d is condensate. OPEC does not consider natural gas liquids like condensate in its production rationing arrangements. If the Platts figures are correct, then the November production means that Nigerian has exceeded the OPEC production cap right from the outset. Platts put Nigeria’s crude oil output for the month of November at 1.84 mbd after the group decided to extend their existing production cuts by a further nine months in a move to keep nearly 1.8 million b/d of crude oil off the market till the end of 2018. Nigeria’s October output to the market was 1.75 mbd when OPEC took the decision on November 30. But production cuts from other member countries might wipe off oversupply from Nigeria and other

countries and balance the group’s cumulative output to the market. Platts stated that Angola, Saudi, Iraq dragged OPEC November oil output to six-month low by 220,000 b/d from the previous month. Outstanding numbers showed that Saudi Arabia’s output dropped to 9.97 mbd; Iraq did 4.35 mbd; Nigeria posted 1.84 mbd; Iran produced at 3.80 mbd; while the Venezuelan production dived by 270, 000 barrels per day (kbd). Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, acknowledged that OPEC had asked his country and Libya to maintain “production discipline.” “Without any definitive obligation, we are going to try as much as we can to keep to our 2017 highest production level,” he said after the meeting, adding that Nigerian crude oil output had reached a high of 1.85 million b/d last year. Meanwhile, Libyan oil output fell

30,000 b/d to 950,000 b/d as, despite a slight rise in exports, total production fell due to outages at the Wintershall-operated As-Sarah field caused by protests. The Oracle reports that total OPEC oil output in November fell to 32.35 mbd, its lowest in six months led by declines in eight of the 14 member countries. A survey of supply movements by Platts motitored by The Oracle showed that November output slid 220,000 b/d from the previous month due to steady falls in Angola, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Venezuela, Libya and the UAE. The only two countries to have a production rise were Nigeria and Algeria. Despite the declines, OPEC output level was 430,000 b/d above its declared ceiling of about 31.92 million b/d when Equatorial Guinea, which joined in May, is added in and Indonesia, which suspended its membership in December, is

OPEC production (in million b/d) Member

November

Change

October

Algeria Angola Ecuador E / Guinea Gabon Iran Iraq Kuwait Libya Nigeria Qatar Saudi Arabia UAE Venezuela Total

1.01 1.61 0.53 0.14 0.19 3.80 4.35 2.70 0.95 1.84 0.60 9.97 2.86 1.80 32.35

0.01 -1.10 0.00 0.00 -0.01 -0.01 -0.03 0.00 -0.03 0.06 0.00 -0.05 -0.03 -0.03 -0.22

1.00 1.71 0.53 0.14 0.20 3.81 4.38 2.70 0.98 1.78 0.60 10.02 2.89 1.83 32.57

September 1.03 1.64 0.53 0.12 0.20 3.83 4.50 2.70 0.91 1.84 0.61 10.00 2.89 1.86 32.66

Egina crowns Total Nigeria’s deepwater king executed in-country. Project factsheet shows that the subsea production system (SPS) for Usan project has 45,000 manhours of detailed engineering work and 30,000 man-hours of training including post-training as well as fabrication of foundation piles, all the 8 manifolds, all Jumpers and assembly of entire 12 christmas trees were delivered by local contractors. Total states that “overall Local Content on the Usan Project was successful as the contractual scope was achieved without any schedule impact on first oil.” Before Usan, Total had made its first development toe thrust in the deepwater with operated Akpo field in OML 130. Akpo delivered about 26,000

tons in local fabrication, and some 11 million man hours in local employment. Total states that it hinged its Nigerian Content plan for Akpo field development project on the principles to ensure that all works and services that could be performed in Nigeria are carried out in-country, and also to develop potentials in Nigeria through personnel training, exposure, and increased capacity building. According to the project profile, Akpo development kicked breakthroughs in technological activity in Nigeria’s industry service sector. Nigerdock fabricated for the first time in Nigeria an OLT Mooring Buoy TURN TABLE. A new White Metal Workshop was set up by Globestar. Cameron expanded its base facili-

ties in Onne, to cope with her local content scope on the project. Akpo project delivered some nine million man hours of work, 26,000 tons of Steel fabrication and sparked off investments in new infrastructure at SCNL, Socotherm and Nigerdock. Besides, Akpo was the first deepwater project that engaged indigenous marine vessels with enlistment of STARZ Investments Company Limited, and ARCO Marine for operations support vessels and security vessels respectively. The company states that deep offshore is one of its growth avenues in Nigeria with which it proposes to groom a new crop of indigenous service providers with word class skills and capacity.

“Total deploys an assertive policy to build in-country capacity. Amongst other things, the company is helping Nigerian contractors to build deep offshore expertise,” the company stated in Egina project factsheet. It adds that “Egina project is a contributor to the realization of Nigeria Content objectives through generation of local employment opportunities, transfer of technology and capacity development.” With the three value packed deepwater projects, total has concluded firm strides across the full hydrocarbon space in Nigeria, straddling onshore, swamp, shallow water and deep offshore terrains with high impact exploration, development and production operations.

subtracted. Last week OPEC and non-OPEC countries agreed to a nine-month extension of their production cut agreement through the end of 2018, with an option to review the deal in June. OPEC’s lead producer, Saudi Arabia, led the cuts by reducing its production by 50,000 b/d to a four-month low of 9.97 million b/d. Saudi kingdom reduced its domestic crude consumption to a fourmonth low and curbed exports. The kingdom had previously indicated a sharp dip in its November and December crude export allocations. Contributors to the survey said that in place of burning crude for power generation, Saudi Arabia had increased its refining volumes as it pushes up oil product exports. Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih indicated last week that his country was likely to continue curbing its output, but warned he will come down hard on non-compliant countries. “I will be breathing down the necks of the other 24 countries,” Falih said on the sidelines of last week’s OPEC meeting in Vienna. “2018 will very much mirror what we have done in 2017.” Angola which was conducting offshore production facility maintenance programme led production cuts in November with 100,000 b/d to 1.61 million b/d in November, the lowest since October 2016. Exports and production of grades such as Plutonio, Hungo and Girassol were down. Iraqi output slumped further as output from the disputed Kirkuk fields of Bai Hasan and Avana Dome remained shut-in, reducing pipeline exports to the Turkish coast to less than half the pipeline’s capacity. Iraq produced an average of 4.35 million b/d of crude in October, a fall of 30,000 b/d from the previous month, despite a steady rise in exports from its southern terminals. Exports from Venezuelan pfell to 1.80 million b/d in November, the survey found, as the country reduced exports and kept refinery runs low. Exports to its key crude buyers like India, China and the US were all down sharply, the survey found, while Venezuela’s imports of diluents to blend with its heavy crude also remained low. Venezuela’s oil production has fallen 270,000 b/d since November last year on the country’s economic and social woes. Its quota under the production cut deal is 1.972 million b/d, making it the most compliant -- if unwillingly so -- member of the coalition. OPEC output has slumped 470,000 b/d since reaching a 2017 high of 32.82 million b/d in July. As a result, compliance with the agreed output cuts has also stayed largely steady over the past few months. Total compliance among the 12 countries with quotas under the output cut agreement is 108%, according to an average of January through November production. The UAE and Iraq, the two countries that had complied least with the agreement, have more recently come into line. But OPEC and its non-OPEC allies in production cuts have reiterated that their job is not yet done, as they decided to extend the 1.8 million b/d cuts to the end of next year. Falih acknowledged that the coalition had “only recently passed the halfway mark” in the goal of reducing OECD oil stock levels to their five-year average, and was mindful that “the low demand period through the second quarter of 2018” was imminent.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

e-Platform Enact ICT local content law, Minister begs National Assembly Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

HE Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu has urged the National Assembly to come up with a law for the development of local content in the Nigerian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. This, Shittu said, became imperative to save the nation’s economy from capital flights and to empower local businesses in the ICT sector. The Minister who spoke at the Nigerian Computer Society’s technology awards event in Lagos said the need for local content law was part of the resolutions of a recently concluded Meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT).“The issue of local content needs to be elevated to such a serious level to save our economy. What more can be economic sabotage, if actions that cause massive loss of jobs and massive loss of foreign exchange are not redressed? It is time for the National Assembly to enact a holistic law on local content. Such a law should, among other things, criminalize breaches of the local content policy of the nation” the Minister said. While noting that Nigeria is blessed with the human capacity to accommodate a robust ICT based economy Shittu added that stemming the potential capital flight, by empowering local businesses, is of utmost importance. According to him, the Communications Ministry through NITDA, is ready to pro-

vide guaranteed order for the local products and the private sector must ensure quality of service and products. “We are totally committed to the implementation of the Local Content Program and the Executive Order on Local Content” he said. Shittu however pointed out that local content does not mean excluding foreign participation in the nation’s economy. “Rather, it means concerted and collaborative efforts by all players to build a strong indigenous economy. It means baking a bigger pie where every party would have a considerable chunk. It means adopting a win-win formula or what the LCDs call the Local Content Diplomacy”. “Let me add that this optimistic view of the transformational benefits of this new local content Executive Order is predicated on the gains observed to date from the Government’s 2010 Local Content Law for the Oil and Gas sector, which has migrated local content in this previously closed up sector, from little or nothing to about 30% today. Backed by this reinvigorated Government commitment to local content, this percentage is bound to see a jump in the coming years in the ICT sector” the Minister said. Long before now, stakeholders in the Nigeria ICT sector have been clamouring for local content law just as it is in the oil and gas industry. This, they believe, would move the country from being just an ICT consuming nation to a producing nation. According to the Chief Executive Officer of

• Adebayo-Shittu

Teledom Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, the best way to move Nigeria out of recession is for government to develop her local content law by encouraging locally developed products and their patronage. “If this is achieved, it would not only create jobs, but also boost GDP growth as well as the Nigerian economy” he said. “What Nigeria needs at the moment is a general consumer content law that will drive local content development in the ICT sector,” Ekuwem said, while frowning on a situation where the telecoms operators depended largely on importation of telecoms infrastructure, to the detriment of local manufactur-

• Bukola-Saraki

ers. He expressed his displeasure over importation of items like switches and routers by telecoms operators, insisting that such items could be manufactured in the country, if the right policies are put in place, and backed with proper implementation strategies. Ekuwem is of the view that if local content development is encouraged in the ICT sector, it will boost development and create additional jobs for the unemployed youths of the county. In the same vein, the President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Mr. James Emadoye, believes that Nigeria needs a law and right policies to drive local content

The issue of local content needs to be elevated to such a serious level to save our economy. What more can be economic sabotage, if actions that cause massive loss of jobs and massive loss of foreign exchange are not redressed?

development in the ICT sector. Emadoye, who blamed the federal government for policy inconsistencies and poor implementation, gave an instance where the federal government, through the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette, wrote a letter with Ref No SGF/OP/1/S.3/ VII/795, to head of civil service commission, ministries department and agencies (MDAs) of government, on the need to patronise made in Nigeria products, including procurement of locally assembled computers and locally developed software. He said the letter directed all federal MDAs to comply with the directive, but expressed deep dissatisfaction that such directive was never implemented. The situation, he said, has grounded several local manufacturers of ICT products and equipment in the country, while importation of ICT equipment still thrives. He therefore called on government to expedite action in putting in place policies and the right implementation that would support local content development in a sector where there are willing and talented people that could develop ICT equipment with global standard and best practice.

“ WorldRemit targets 5 million customers in Africa L

Ismail Ahmed, Founder and CEO WorldRemit

EADING digital money transfer service WorldRemit has raised $40m to drive its next phase of global growth, aiming to serve 5million customers in Africa in its emerging markets expansion targets. As part of the expansion, the company said it would enable customers in Africa to transfer money to 148 countries as easily as sending an instant message, using the WorldRemit app. “Countries in Africa which now receive remittances through WorldRemit, will become send countries. Most importantly, the new service will make sending money within Africa faster,

easier and low cost” it said. According to the World Bank, inter-Africa transfers are amongst the most expensive in the world. Money transfers to Africa account for more than half of WorldRemit’s total volume of transactions. The company currently handles 74 per cent of remittances to popular mobile money services across Africa like MTN, Ecocash, Tigo Pesa, Vodafone M-Pesa and Airtel Money, making it the global leader in mobile-tomobile international money transfers. Speaking on the expansion drive, Ismail Ahmed, founder

and CEO at WorldRemit, said: “This new funding will fuel our growth, and help bring our service to millions more customers across the globe. Africa is a crucial market for us and over the next few years, we will expand our services so customers can send and receive with WorldRemit, getting the benefits of our fast, secure online service.” Since its last funding round in 2015, WorldRemit has launched 206 new services across the globe and has grown its transaction volume by 400 per cent. Last month WorldRemit became Arsenal FC’s first-ever online money transfer partner.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

e-Platform

Yuletide: 9mobile excites customers with double roaming offers Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

EADING mobile operator, 9mobile, has launched double roaming offers to enable its potential and existing customers to stay connected with family, friends and business partners, in the UAE and 10 other destinations across the globe this Yuletide season. According to the company, starting from December 1, 2017 to January 31, 2017, subscribers on the 9mobile network would enjoy seamless and affordable connectivity, on both voice and data on the go, when they travel out of the country for Christmas and New Year celebrations. The two innovative roaming packages launched by the telco are 9mobile Roaming to United Arab Emirate (UAE) and 9mobile Xmas Roaming. “9mobile Roaming to UAE is designed to enable customers travelling to the UAE this Christmas and to Dubai Shopping Festival in January, to benefit from discounted roaming rates. With a recharge of N5,000 customers get to make local calls in the UAE and calls to Nigeria at the rate of N100 per minute, send SMS at N30 per event and receive free incoming calls from Nigeria and UAE”

the company said in a stement. According to the statement, customers also get to choose from two roaming data bundle variants of 200mb for N5,000 valid for 7 days, or 500mb for N10,000 valid for 30 days by dialing *6589# to activate either of the data bundles. The other package, 9mobile Xmas Roaming, is designed to enable customers stay connected with loved ones when they roam in any of the 10 listed countries on select networks - South Africa (Vodacom & Cell C), USA (T Mobile), UK (Vodafone and 02), Ghana (Vodafone), France (Orange), Germany (Vodafone, T mobile and 02), Kenya (Safaricom), Spain (Vodafone and Movistar), Turkey (Vodafone and Turkcell) and the Netherlands (Vodafone). “On the Xmas Roaming package, subscribers can enjoy rates as low as N150 for calls to local numbers in visited countries and back to Nigeria, N50 per SMS and upon recharge of N5,000, customers are eligible to receive calls for free from Nigeria and local numbers within the visited country. Under this package, customers can also choose from two roaming data bundle variants of 200mb for N5,000 valid for 7 days

or 500mb for N10,000 valid for 30 days by dialing *6589#” it said. Speaking about the roaming offers, Director, Consumer Segment, 9mobile, Adeolu Dairo, said the two packages could be considered as Christmas gifts to 9mobile’s teeming customers who have continued to display unflinching loyalty to the brand since its inception nine years ago. He said, “Our commitment to our esteemed customers and the zeal to ensure they remain connected to loved ones during this festive season goes a long way to show how much we value our subscribers. The offers will enable subscribers on the 9mobile network enjoy value added services like video streaming, seamless calls and other lifeenriching content. Customers can also visit www.9mobile.com.ng/roaming for more information”. “The offers are amongst the many ways 9mobile is connecting with the passion points of its customers, especially during this season, as a way of encouraging the spread of unity, love and peace. 9mobile UAE and Xmas Roaming packages make roaming affordable and accessible to everyone not just a select few.”

• From left: Ismail Olalekan, National Head of Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria; Ekom Esang, Project and Field Service Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria and Caroline Oghuma, Acting Head of Corporate Communications, MultiChoice Nigeria during the DStv Installer App launch press conference in Lagos

MultiChoice Nigeria launches app for DStv installers N a bid to make the DStv installation proINigeria, cess seamless for customers, MultiChoice the country’s leading pay TV pro-

vider, has launched an app for DStv installers as a part of its installation ecosystem. The DStv Installer App is a management tool for assigning, monitoring, reviewing, troubleshooting and managing customer installations to ensure quality installation and better accountability. Speaking on the launch of the app, the Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, said: “The DStv Installer app is the latest feature in MultiChoice Nigeria’s line of innovative services and products which benefit our partners and customers. The DStv installer app enables dealers to assign jobs to accredited installers within a specific area, whilst ensuring that our customers benefit from reduced waiting times and the pre-knowledge of their installer’s identity.” The benefits of the DStv installer app also include an improved business process which reduces the manual operation of assigning an installer, tracking the installation and managing the installer. This in turn ensures reduced operational costs for the dealer, whilst also giving them the power to review and ensure all installations are done properly, and simultaneously guaranteeing a better customer experience. The installer app

joins other innovative means and platforms through which customers are aided with the DStv installation process. These include the DStv website www.dstv.com, and the DStv easy self-service platform www.eazy.dstv. com which gives you the ability to clear error codes, pay for your subscription, find a DStv installer and upgrade or change your package, all from the comfort of your home.

Speaking further, Ugbe said: “At MultiChoice Nigeria, we take pride in constantly evolving and advancing our systems and processes thus ensuring our subscribers get the best experience from the point of purchase to installation and user experience. We are thrilled to launch the installer app, and guarantee our customers of improved installation service delivery.”

Huawei to launch mobile app store across Africa HINESE ICT solutions provider, Huawei, C has announced plans to launch its mobile service application in Africa, adding to

the 328 million users who already have access across the globe. The platform will launch as a pre-installed localised app store on Huawei devices. “Huawei’s consumer mobile services in Africa will include an app store for locally developed games, music, movies, books and other content; we are also planning to launch African themes and cloud storage,” said Cobe Li, Huawei’s Cooperation and Alliance Director of Consumer Cloud Service Dept, Southern Africa. Li added that Huawei’s app Store is not aiming to compete with the likes of Google Play, but aims to supplement existing an-

droid apps. Huawei has been working with partners in Africa to offer local content, locally developed apps, including games to bring added value to its customers in Africa. “We want to partner with innovation incubators to support local developers and bring their content onto our platform, this is part of our long-term strategy to build up our localised content inventory,” said Li. Huawei’s mobile service is also aimed at mobile carriers in Africa as the demand for content and digital services grows. Research of online consumer trends shows that there is a marked increase in demand for content; and in Africa, consumers want quality local content which they are willing to pay for, according to the company.

Dangote partners with Jumia to sell cement online N a new move designed to reduce price Ichase and ease logistics inherent in the purof its products, the management

of Dangote Cement Plc has signed a pact with the foremost e-commerce platform Jumia Nigeria to offer for sale its cement to customers online. At the unveiling of the deal in Lagos, Dangote Cement, Key Account Director, Chux Mogbolu said Dangote Cement was happy to partner with online shopping giant, in a bid to make Dangote cement available with ease to customers. According to the deal, Nigerians and corporate bodies wishing to purchase a minimum of 300 bags of 50kg of Dangote Cement and above can now order on Jumia from the comfort of their rooms at the price of N2,500 per bag as opposed to how much is sold in the open market and see them delivered to any place of their choice without any extra cost for transportation. Mogbolu, however disclosed that the purchase would only be within Lagos, Port- Harcourt and Abuja for now. He said: “Dangote Cement decided to work with Jumia Nigeria based on its credibility and excellent performance over the years in online shopping management”, adding that the new initiative would help arrest the scams perpetrated by online fraudsters who deceived the people by asking them to come and purchase Dangote Cement for N1000 per bag. “For now, the pilot scheme is live in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, but we can extend to other cities depending on the level of demand and performance of the new deal”. “With the deal, Nigerians in need of seamless supply of cement from Dangote can now place order and pay online and wait for the delivery in record time from any of Dangote’s nearest cement plant to Lagos, Port Harcourt or Abuja. “We are starting with Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) of 300, 600 and 900. We may increase depending on demand surge as time goes on,” Mogbolu explained. Also speaking on the deal, Chief Executive Officer of Jumia Nigeria, Juliet Anammah said the deal with Dangote Cement is part of efforts to deepen service delivery on Jumia Nigeria online platform. She said she was of the belief that the deal will be beneficial to all parties involved and deepen further online shopping in Nigeria as obtained all over the world. The Jumia Nigeria boss reflected on the 2017 Black Friday Festival ran by her organization and said the Festival has attracted more than 14 million visits since the commencement of the campaign on November 13th. According to her, “the annual sales event, which was initiated in Nigeria in 2013 by Jumia remains the busiest and largest shopping day of the year on both online and offline stores. This year’s explosive Black Friday numbers demonstrates the increasing capacity and flexibility of the online retail space in Nigeria.” “We deliver to the 36 states across Nigeria, and are able to reach neighborhoods and shoppers who traditionally have not had access to a wide variety of products and deals. This year we also see the increasing interest in groceries and other FMCG products which reflect the increasing relevance of Black Friday to the average Nigerian” she said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

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EDITORIAL

Return of PDP: 2019 begins

ORE that four years after its 31 August 2013 candidates re-surfaced with the campaigns for the variconvention tore the Peoples Democratic ous national positions that were contested on Saturday Party (PDP), to shreds, it has held another nain Abuja. Candidates campaigned round the country, tional convention: without contention. It is a possibly the most robust campaigns for party offices, feat in many ways. The failures of PDP after that 2013 yet at each stop they expressed fears about imposiconvention that produced parallel executives in the tion of candidates, which rules out opportunities for States and at the national level, introduced the killer the delegates to vote on the values candidates were pills that various factions injected into the party. canvassing. THE loss of the 2015 elections was the final nail. PDP PDP and its officials must be relieved that they have made a big deal of mismanaging its advantage as passed this stage that appeared unattainable. They the power in power for 16 years. It was worse out of would next manage the dissatisfaction with the conpower. Without any experience of being in opposivention, in whatever guise it comes, and work towards tion, members picked on each other. Factions grew, rebuilding the party for elections that are 14 months fractions multiplied. away. NUMEROUS legal agitations constrained PDP from any THEY are already ahead of APC, which also has not held a reconciliation. With eyes on the pie that party offices national convention since it came to power. Fears of an are, many of those in the confrontation thought their implosion at a convention have delayed the meeting. interests were more important than the party’s, or Several dates had earlier been announced but nothing the prospects of providing alternatives to the celhappened. Excuses have been given for the postponeebrated ineptitude of the All Progressives Congress ments. A national convention is unlikely in 2017. (APC). ONE of the key factors that have kept APC going for years THOSE who said PDP was dead, had every good reason without a national convention is the decision on its to say so. Losses of the governorship elections in 2019 presidential candidate. Some of the dates that had Osun (after the contentious PDP 2013 convention), been set for the convention had clashed with President Edo, Ekiti, and Anambra (most recently) seemed Muhammadu Buhari’s medical trips abroad. There are to have confirmed the speculations. Those were also the choices to be made on national party offices. the fall-outs of the years of impunity that had been THE deference to Buhari, who has neither time nor erected within the party. temperament for the democratic entailment that EVERYONE who mounts a podium would speak of even impositions demand, is another opportunity for internal democracy within the party. The intrigues those around him to decide, using his name. While PDP that produce party officials, and others for elective dreaded holding a successful convention, APC’s chaloffices in national elections put a lie to any pretence lenges are more in the circumstance. to democracy. Whatever was left of PDP after that DEPARTURE of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar rancorous 2013 national convention, evaporated as from APC was anticipated, but it has triggered off the various state chapters decimated themselves in speculations that more people may leave the party. The the party primaries for the 2015 elections. complaints are similar to what drove them away from SURPRISINGLY, PDP appears to have learnt little from its PDP, which many of them would return to – the abwoes. The same complaints about the imposition of sence internal democracy. Atiku was warmly received in PDP whose presidential ticket he would contend with others. It is a better option, for him, than APC. THERE are no chances of anyone taking APC’s presidential ticket unless Buhari declines a second term, a remote prospect as the days go by. If he does not, he would be expected to anoint a candidate for the position. Atiku knew both prospects would not have favoured him. He has not forgotten how he lost APC’s presidential primaries to Buhari. IN his letter of resignation from APC on 19 November, Atiku stated: “While other parties have purged themselves of the arbitrariness and unconstitutionality that led to fractionalisation, the All Progressives Congress has adopted those same practices and even gone beyond them to institute a regime of draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced. “Only last year, a governor produced by the party wrote a secret memorandum to the President, which ended up being leaked. In that memo, he admitted that the All Progressives Congress has ‘not only failed to manage expectations of a populace that expected overnight ‘change’ but has failed to deliver even mundane matters of governance’.” “Of the party itself, that same governor said: ‘Mr. President, Sir, your relationship with the national leadership of the party, both the formal (NWC) and informal (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso), and former governors of ANPP, PDP (that joined us) and ACN, is perceived by most observers to be at best frosty. Many of them are aggrieved due to what they consider total absence of consultations with them on your part and

those you have assigned such duties’.” ATIKU has commenced the debates about 2019 earlier than many expected. Others have cowed themselves, or are waiting to be conferred with the right to run – or the party’s ticket as the sole candidate. He discussed the failings of APC taking particular notes of the unmet expectations from the manifesto of the party. The discomfort of APC is palpable. THOSE against Atiku should speak openly about their concerns. He has been responding to them. His early declaration affords Nigerians opportunities to grill him, a treatment they should also extend to all with presidential ambitions. President Buhari should not be exempted. The window that the electioneering campaigns provide is too narrow and time-bound to interrogate candidates for various positions. IF elections are to hold in February 2019, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has on its schedule, we barely have 14 months away from electing the next set of people to manage Nigeria. With provisions for the time that party primaries and the resulting disputes consume, there is no time left. Atiku, by revving up his campaign, is reminding us that there is hardly time to seek answers to what has happened to Nigeria between 2015 and now. Should the future be discussed in abeyance? FRETTING about 2019, about Atiku, about who should, and who should not be President, cannot be our only concern. The over-concentration of attention on Abuja is part of our problems. Where else should concerns about 2019 lie? HERE are many legislators from the local councils, through state legislatures to the National Assembly who have not served us well. Are they Atiku? Are they all running for the presidency? Can replacing them with worthier servants improve chances that our country would improve? WE have more things to contend with than the politicians. The current attitude of many Nigerians could result in self-imposed dictatorship. Nigerians are comfortably resorting to excluding others from the political and social space with considerations for their rights to freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of thought. Anybody who abridges denies others of their fundamental rights. PDP’s return is a chance for deeper, more wholesome thoughts about the future of Nigeria, which includes the future APC promised in 2015.

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.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

OPINION Buhari, governors and workers’ salaries

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

s majority of Christians, and many non-Christians alike, prepare to mark the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ this Christmastide, let’s spare a thought for the Nigerian workers and retirees at the state and local government levels, who may not join in the revelry due to non-payment of (arrears of) salaries and/or pensions. Their condition typifies what the legendary reggae maestro, Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley, describes as the “Rat Race” in which “In the abundance of water, the fool is thirsty.” Although Nigeria’s workers are no fools, as those in authority may want to portray them, they, nonetheless, go hungry in the midst of plenty. So, in the sobriety of this season, we should think about them, considering the unbecoming attitude of some state governors, who blame the current economic crunch for their failure to meet obligations to workers, and yet continue to live a life that puts a lie to their cries of scarce resources. If not downright insensitivity, how could $86.5 million of the N522.74 billion refunds from the over-deducted London-Paris Club loan find its way into an account of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum; N19 billion paid to alleged governors’ proxies as consultancy and legal fees for securing the refunds; and some billions got to National Assembly persons, who are not members of the Gover-

nors’ Forum? And why did the governors give coldshoulder to the gentleman’s agreement they had with President Muhammadu Buhari, that the states would use 25 per cent to 50 per cent of the refunds for payment of outstanding salaries and pensions? So many “hows” and “whys” and yet no answers! Since the Buhari administration was heralded by an economic recession that was only technically exited a few months ago, the Federal Government, to keep the states afloat, has practically been acting as Santa Claus (Father Christmas), doling out trillions of interventions, especially for the payment of salaries and allowances to workers, and gratuities and pensions to retirees. For instance, in his October 1 broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 57th Independence anniversary, President Buhari said that besides statutory monthly allocations shared by the federal, state and local governments, his government, as part of measures to stabilize the polity, had released N1.64 trillion to states and local governments between 2015 and 2017. These were in the form of State Excess Crude Account loans, Budget Support Facility, and Stabilization Fund Release to state and local governments, as follows: N200 billion in 2015, N441 billion in 2016 and N1 trillion in 2017, totalling N1.64 trillion. “This was done to enable states to pay outstanding salaries, pensions and small business suppliers, who had been all but crippled over the years,” the president said.

Despite the various interventions by the Federal Government, state and local government workers continue to grumble and protest over unpaid salaries and allowances, prompting President Buhari to wonder how state governors could go to sleep while their workers were unpaid. On October 17 in Abuja, in one of several visits by representatives of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to the Presidential Villa, Buhari queried: “How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months? I actually wonder how the workers feed their families, pay their rents and even pay school fees for their children.” Noting that the challenge in payment of salaries in states “has taken a toll on the people,” the president said the Federal Government and state executives would “need to work closer together to ameliorate the situation of workers across the country,” a proposal an obviously stunned Governors’ Forum Chairman, Abdul’Aziz Yari, concurred with. The Zamfara State governor said the governors “are concerned with the situation in our states,” and that the bailout funds, and part of the London-Paris Club loan refunds “were judiciously utilized to alleviate the plight of workers,” even as he urged the Federal Government to do more to get the states out of the woods. Like the fabled Oliver Twist, who was never satisfied, the governors, this time, want full refunds of the over-deducted loan, em-

ploying subtle blackmail, such as reminding President Buhari about the agreement they reached with him for the balance to be paid after reconciliation; and for them to factor the refunds in their 2018 budget estimates, without specifically mentioning payments to workers and retirees - a point that didn’t escape the president, and which he noted when he finally approved payment of the refunds to the states. “This (refunds) should be done (applied) not only for next year’s budget, but for this Christmas,” Buhari said. “For Nigerians without sources other than their salary, I am concerned that workers should be able to pay rent, school fees, buy drugs and take care of their families. I am so much concerned that people should have something to eat at Christmas.” Well, I hope the president’s appeal, which now sounds like a broken record, will not fall on “deaf ears” once more because, no sooner the bailouts and the first tranche of the London-Paris Club loan refunds were released to the governors than they reneged on the promises made to the president to pay their workers and retirees. For once, let the governors spare a thought for their states’ present and former workers who, as labourers, deserve their wages (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18).

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

On the dispute over Jerusalem and Israel’s Capital By Jonathan Ferziger

hat’s the capital of Israel? Israelis say it’s Jerusalem, and indeed the prime minister’s office is there, as well as the parliament, the highest court and most government ministries. But, other countries consider the city disputed territory, subject to negotiation with the Palestinians. No major power recognized Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem until today (Wednesday December 6) when U.S. President Donald Trump said he had directed officials to begin the process of relocating the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. World leaders from the Vatican to Tehran denounced the U.S. position, and security officials in the region braced for unrest. What’s so special about Jerusalem? It’s sacred to followers of the three major monotheistic religions. It is home to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in the world for Jews, who come from around the world to pray at the Western Wall the last remaining supporting wall of the biblical temple. Muslims revere the same plateau as the Noble Sanctuary, where Al-Aqsa mosque stands as the third-holiest place in Islam, after Mecca and Medina. Not far away in Jerusalem’s Old City is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which Christians revere as the site of Jesus’s tomb. When the United Nations voted in 1947 to divide British-ruled Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish states, it didn’t want either side controlling Jerusalem, due to its religious resonance. Instead, it set aside the city as an international zone to be administered by a UN council of trustees. So why does Israel control it? Arab states rejected the UN partition plan for Palestine and launched a war against the fledgling Jewish state. The war left Israel in control of west Jerusa-

lem, where the bulk of the Jewish population lived, and Jordan in control of the mostly Arab eastern side, containing the holiest sites. In 1967, Israel captured east Jerusalem in the Six-Day War and formally annexed those portions of the city to form one municipality under Israeli law. In 1980, its parliament passed a law declaring “complete and united” Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital. Most nations rejected the move. The only two that complied, Costa Rica and El Salvador, eventually moved their diplomatic posts to Tel Aviv, 70 kilometers to the west, where all the other embassies are located, under pressure from Arab states.

fice amid warnings that the move could spark Arab violence or scuttle peace talks. The U.S. Congress passed a law in 1995 requiring that the embassy be moved to Jerusalem by 1999, but the legislation included a provision allowing the president to waive the move for six months in the interest of national security -- and that’s what has happened ever since. Before leaving the White House, Barack Obama signed the waiver for a last time on Dec. 1, 2016. Trump renewed it for six months on June 1, after Jordan’s King Abdullah warned him that moving the embassy would aggravate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Does anyone still envision an international zone? Not really. Vatican officials have periodically called for an “internationally guaranteed special statute” for Jerusalem. However, the U.S., Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, acting collectively to advance peace between Israel and the Palestinians, have embraced the position that it’s up to the two sides to negotiate the status of Jerusalem. Trump clarified after recognizing that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital that the U.S. takes no position on “the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem.” The issue has been among the knottiest in peace talks since the first Israeli-Palestinian accord, the 1993 Oslo agreement. Palestinians insist the city must be their capital and have picked a spot to build their parliament in east Jerusalem’s Abu Dis neighborhood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government says Jerusalem will remain the “undivided and eternal capital” of the Jewish people. What have other presidents done? Like Trump before today, Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush vowed as candidates to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem but backed away once in of-

What would moving the embassy entail? The U.S. has no facility in Jerusalem big enough to house the work of its embassy in Tel Aviv. Building one would take years. Since 1989, the U.S. has leased from the Israeli government a large plot of land in Jerusalem’s Talpiot neighborhood, presumably for a future embassy. Robert Satloff, head of the pro-Israel Washington Institute, has argued that Trump could fulfill his promise by moving the American ambassador’s office to an existing U.S. facility in Jerusalem. The U.S. has a consulate-general in Jerusalem, which according to its website, serves as the “de facto representative” of the U.S. government to the Palestinian Authority, which administers the limited self-rule that Palestinians exercise under their agreements with Israel. How will the region react to Trump’s announcement? Predictions range from a new war to violent protests to nothing beyond diplomatic complaints. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to cut relations with Israel if the embassy is moved. The two countries were once strong allies but suspended ties from

2010 until 2016 after ten Turks were killed when Israeli forces raided a Turkish ship trying to break an embargo on the Gaza Strip. Palestinian factions have called for “days of rage” following Trump’s announcement. In the past, Palestinian leaders have suggested that they might respond to an embassy move by withdrawing their recognition of Israel and shutting down the Palestinian Authority, effectively ending any cooperation with Israel. Members of Netanyahu’s cabinet have said those threats are bluffs and that nothing would happen that the Israeli police and military couldn’t handle. • Mr. Fertiger originally wrote this article for Blomberg online

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 Advert Manager Andrew Udeh Circulation Manager Felix Oti

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

Travel & Hospitality FCTA commences auditing of parks HE Federal Capital Territory AdT ministration (FCTA) has commenced auditing of all allocated

parks and other recreational spaces within the Federal Capital City. A circular released by the FCTA and signed by Grace Zamani, AMMC Spokesperson for FCT Ministerial Committee on Parks Auditing, directed those allotted spaces to submit relevant documents to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) before De-

cember 30, this year, or have their properties revoked. “All allottees of Parks /Recreational spaces are therefore invited to submit their Letters of allocation, approved design, drawings, receipt of payments and any relevant documents for verification at AMMC Headquarters on or before 30th Dec 2017. “Failure to comply with this directive will attract revocation of the Park,” the statement read.

Ambode bags Best Tourism Governor award

AGOS State Governor, Mr. AkinLoured wunmi Ambode has been honwith the Best Tourism Gov-

ernor Award at the 2017 Nigeria Tourism Award, organized by the Nigeria Travel Week. Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor, the Acting Commissioner and Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola said tourism is one of the sectors that play an integral role in the socio-economy development of any nation. Akinsola said that tourism if properly harnessed and managed, could contribute significantly to the global agenda of tackling poverty and fostering development especially in developing nations of the world like Nigeria. According to Akinsola, Lagos State is endowed with natural landscape and topography traversed by the sea, lagoon, beautiful beach-

es and waterfronts that are unique tourism products yearning to be tapped and developed for the socio-economic transformation of the State. She reassured that government is determined to maximize the potentials of this sector to boost the State’s economy in terms of revenue generation and create employment opportunities, stressing that the government has an active desire to make Lagos State Africa’s top tourism destination. The Special Adviser stated further that the ongoing development in Epe and Badagry, as well as the transformation of Onikan axis among several others, speaks to the commitment to make Lagos State a choice destination for tourists and essentially to create the right atmosphere for private investors to take advantage of the opportunities in the tourism industry.

A/Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2017 gets Dana backing ANA Air has been made the ofD ficial airline of the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival, sched-

uled to hold on 22nd of December, 2017 at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom state. The Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Coordinator of the Festival, Mr Aniekpeno Mkpanang disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital. ‘The Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival is one of the biggest and well-attended Festivals in the world and we are expecting over 20,000 artistes and visitors to fly in from other parts of the country, Africa and the world, hence the need to join ranks and partner with one of the most consistent Airlines in Nigeria right now to ensure a hitch-free, hassle free, seamless, and on-time travel for all our guests and visitors.’’ “As you may be aware, the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival is the largest assembly of carol singers in the world and this is a global achievement officially certified by Guinness World Records. We have a track record of hosting worldclass events and we can’t afford to let the ball drop at this point when we are aiming to beat even our existing records. We are grateful to our Governor and Principal Host, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel for the unbridled consistency of his full support,’’ said Mkpanang. The Communications Manager of Dana Air, Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, while commenting on the partnership said: “We have been flying to Uyo for over 5 years now, support-

ing the economic activities in the state and providing the best of air transport services with convenient fares to the good people of Akwa Ibom State. We are excited about the choice of Dana Air as the Official Airline of the Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival 2017 and we assure the organizers and the State Government of our full commitment.’’ The Akwa Ibom Christmas Carols Festival has held since 2008. It is a gathering of worshipers to celebrate Christmas in a unique and spectacular way. It usually features a Grand Choir made up of thousands of Carol singers, singing Carols together in an awe-inspiring way alongside ministration from top Gospel Artistes from around the globe.

• Acting Commissioner and Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts and Culture, in Lagos, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola (r) receiving the Best Governor Award on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode from MD, Skylogistics, Adefemi Adefope, courtesy of the Nigeria Travel Week

‘Nigeria losing N175b annually to medical tourism’ Stories by VICTOR NZE

MMEDIATE past Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, has claimed that the country was losing N175 billion annually to medical tourism. Chukwu made the claim at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Faculty of Clinical Sciences 10th Faculty Week & Scientific Conference, Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, on Tuesday, with theme: “Medical Tourism in Nigeria”. He said that the wasted fund was more than 50 per cent of the proposed total budget for 2018 for the federal health sector.

According to him, the health sector is being denied the much needed funding which is affecting its development. “Skill proficiency becomes a victim as both trainers and trainees are not exposed to enough cases and of course quality of care ultimately suffers. As outbound medical tourism gradually becomes the preference of patients, the local sector loses the confidence of the populace resulting in low esteem and loss of morale among the health personnel, ” he said. He called on Federal Government to support the health sector by providing standard medical

equipment that will compete with those found outside Nigeria, so that people will partronise local medical facilities. Also, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, the Group Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC, Lagos, called on federal government to address the issue of medical tourism. Ogunbiyi who said that Nigeria leaders needed to release enough fund and provide modern equipment that would boost the health sector, added that Nigeria has competent profesdionals that are qualified to treat all ailments, and called on the government to standardise the health sector.

Tax evasion: Lagos agency shuts 11 hotels

he Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has shut 11 hotels, restaurants and event centres over alleged failures to remit their taxes under the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Laws of Lagos State 2009. Director, Legal Services of the LIRS, Mr Seyi Alade, said this, Thursday, after a state-wide tax law enforcement exercise in Lagos, adding that the firms owed the state government N354.75 million in unpaid taxes. Alade who said that the government had started full enforcement of all aspects of tax laws on default-

ing taxpayers, further warned that failure to file Annual Tax Returns, false declarations in returns filed and evasion of taxes were criminal offences punishable by severe fines and jail terms upon conviction by a court. “Any failure to deduct and remit taxes as and when due in Lagos State will now attract very serious monetary penalties. These penalties include sealing of the company, seizure of the goods and chattels and criminal prosecution of principal officers of recalcitrant entities. “We are presently prosecuting 52 high net-worth personalities and

20 entertainment celebrities before the State High Court for offences ranging from failure to file Annual Tax Returns, false declaration in Returns and tax evasion,” he said. He added that over 200 corporate bodies were currently being prosecuted before the High Courts for failure to file returns and remit their taxes to the government. Alade advised that taxpayers should take advantage of the window of opportunity created by the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), to regularise their tax status relating to previous tax periods.

“In exchange for full and honest disclosure of assets and income, such taxpayer will benefit from the forgiveness of overdue interests and penalties till the 31st December 2017. “Declarations made from 1st January 2018 will attract interest but no penalties up to the end of the scheme on March 31, 2018,” he said. He listed Regia Luxuria hotel, Golden Hope Hotel, Westown hotel, Liberty Hall, Seven Eagles Spur and El Shaddai Margvee Hotel, among others as some of the affected companies.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

AVIATION

Domestic airlines record 8,173 flight delays in 3mths Stories by VICTOR NZE

omestic airlines operating in Nigeria recorded 8,173 cases of delayed flights between July and September this year, according to information contained in a report released by the Consumer Protection Unit of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority in Ikeja, Wedesday. The report showed that 13,255 flights were operated by eight

airlines during the period with 96 flights cancelled by the airlines for various reasons. It listed the airlines involved in the flight operations as Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View and Overland Airways. The report said that Air Peace, which operated 3,811 flights, topped the chart of delayed flights with 2,166 and five cancelled flights. According to the report, Arik Air

follows with 2,057 delayed flights and 32 cancellations out of its 3,285 flight services in the period. The report said that Dana Air operated 1,762 flights with 1,079 cases of delayed flights and five cancellations. Med-View Airline recorded 986 and seven delayed and cancelled flights, respectively out of the 1,394 flights operated by the airline during the period. Azman Air operated 1,127 flights

with 712 delayed and 16 cancellations, while Overland operated 542 flights with 391 delayed and seven cancellations. First Nation Airways had 239 flights with 98 delayed and three cancellations. The airlines blamed the delays and cancellations on operational reasons, high cost of aviation fuel and inadequate navigational aids at many airports in the country.

•Commissioner/CEO, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Engr. Akin Olateru (middle) flanked by the Director of Engineering, Engr. Mohammed Wali, (left) and the General Manager, Engineering, Engr. Abdullahi Babanya... during the launching of AIB Application Mobile for accident reporting and the release of accident reports at AIB Headquarters, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

ICAO intensifies move towards greener airports

HE International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has intensified moves to ensuring greener and environmental friendly airports across the world. ICAO’s Secretary General, Dr Fang Liu, made this known while declaring open the United Nations Aviation Agency’s Seminar on Green Airports at the agency’s Headquarters in Montréal, Canada. Liu said inn her speech that the seminar was organised to permit ICAO Member States and industry stakeholders to exchange ideas on the latest technological, operational and policy advancements with an environmental focus. She said this could assist the ongoing efforts of airports globally to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and assure more sustainable operations. “There are presently close to 400 airports worldwide which are either under construction, undergoing major expansions, or are at advanced planning stages for related objectives. “This represents a 25 per cent increase compared to 2016 and

this growth trend is being driven by an ever-increasing demand for air travel,” Liu said. According to her, current air traffic flight and passenger volumes are projected to double in just 15 years’ time and so will aviation’s ability to increase tourism and trade and foster many other sustainable socioeconomic benefits for civil societies globally. “This underscores why it is so important today that future increases in air transport capacity are managed by airports which have been built or modernised on the basis of the most effective environmental policies and capabilities available.

“2016 was a record year for the installation of renewable energy capacity worldwide, and in parallel, the cost of solar photovoltaics has decreased by 80 per cent and the cost of wind energy by 30 per cent in just the past five years. “We can take this as a historic turning point in our efforts to design and realise sustainable airports,” she noted. Also, Ms Angela Gittens, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI) noted that aviation and airports had come a long way in minimising their environmental footprint. “I am proud to affirm ACI’s commitment to working with

aviation stakeholders and helping our members on the full range of environmental performance,” she added. During the event, ICAO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) launched a compendium of new guidance material, tools and resources for governments which had been developed under various capacity-building and assistance projects. These are intended to provide States with information on how to implement measures to reduce CO2 emissions from international civil aviation.

First Nation Airways had 239 flights with 98 delayed

HE airlines blamed the delays and cancellations on operational reasons, high cost of aviation fuel and inadequate navigational aids at many airports in the country. Airline industry set for record profit in 2018 – IATA Airlines around the world are set for another year of record

profit in 2018, thanks to improving global economies and robust travel demand, the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) said on Tuesday. Industry profits are expected to rise to 38.4 billion dollars in 2018, from 34.5 billion dollars in 2017, IATA said. “Industry profitability is on a

more sustained path,” IATA chief economist, Brian Pearce, said. ICAO intensifies move towards greener airports The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has intensified moves to ensuring greener and environmental friendly airports across the world.

NAMA trains ATCs, others on safety management

IGERIAN Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has organized two separate training workshops in Lagos for some of its critical personnel in Safety Management. Facilitated by Aviation Academy for Southern Africa (AAFSA), the trainings include a three-day workshop on Safety Management Systems (SMS) and a five-day training which focused on the Impact of Human Factor in Air Traffic Management Safety, While the former was for members of NAMA Safety Action Group (SAG) and selected Air Traffic Controllers in the agency according to their Safety Management Systems (SMS) related functions in the field, the latter was targeted strictly at Air Traffic Controllers selected from strategic airports across the country. The Safety Management Systems training is designed to impact basic SMS knowledge to participants and enable them understand the basic concepts, principles, theories, procedures and processes of Safety Management Systems in aviation. The training primarily focused on the provisions of the State Safety Programme (SSP) and the SMS Manuals including their interrelationships. The Human Factor workshop on the other hand dwelled extensively on the crucial role of human factor in hazard identification, safety risk management and critical decision making in the process of air traffic management. In his remarks at the commencement of the training, the Managing Director of NAMA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu noted that what informed the policy of aggressive training by his administration was the need to constantly train, and retrain the human person because “only by doing so can we be at par with technology which is also being constantly updated by the passage of each day.” He expressed delight with the quality of instruction just as he challenged the participants to see themselves as safety champions of NAMA and “be ready to impart this knowledge to others so that it can trickle down the agency with the ultimate aim of making our processes and procedures more compliant with the International Civil Aviation Standard and Recommended Practices (ICAO SARPs).” Akinkuotu said the concept of safety must be understood and imbibed by everybody in the system such that safety issues could be promptly reported by subordinates without fear of reprimand. Also reacting to the training, the Chief Instructor at the workshop, Raymond Wittstock said the urgency and responsibility of Safety Management Systems including the seriousness of safety at the airport is what trainings such as this set out to emphasize and reinforce, stressing that the time has come for aviation authorities to ensure the buy-in of all workers in safety management at the airports.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

Kano varsity converts 238 casual staff to pensionable appointment

UTHORITIES of the Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST) Wudil said it had converted 238 casual staff to a Permanent and pensionable appointment in the last four years. The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Shehu Alhaji-Musa made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kano on Wednesday. He said the gesture was part of the modest achievements he recorded as Vice-Chancellor of the University in the last four years of his tenure. He disclosed that no fewer than 42 academic staff obtained their PhD from various universities of the World and returned to the institution during the period under review He said in addition, no fewer than 70 others lecturers were currently pursuing doctorate degree programmes in various universities within and outside the country. Alhaji-Musa said during the four years he served as the vice-chancellor of the university, 21 academic programmes were accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). “The Kano State Government gave the University over N521 million for the accreditation exercise,”the vice-chancellor said. He disclosed that the admission quarter of the institution had also increased from the usual 1, 200 students to above 5, 000 students. The outgoing VC said the University had also established a consultancy and Investment company aimed at generating more revenue for the institution.

Lagos pays 301 Public Service retirees

HE Lagos State Government has released the sum of N1.075billion Naira in November into the Retirement Savings Accounts of 301 Contributory Pension Scheme retirees including former staff of Local Governments and the State Universal Basic Education Board. The Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke who conducted the 45th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation Ceremony in Ikeja on Wednesday thanked the retirees for their services which has resulted in a better Lagos. He stated that in recognition of the selfless service rendered by the retirees, the government is in the process of providing Pensioner’s ID cards that will enable them to enjoy some benefits which they would have hitherto paid for. Akintola said this administration, through Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), has been able to disburse more than N32 billion in form of accrued pension rights to 7,976 retirees between August 2015 and November 2017. The Director-General, LASPEC, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga who also spoke at the event enlightened the retirees on the importance of healthy living as requisite for a stress-free life in retirement. The pensioners at the ceremony expressed gratitude to Lagos State Government and were unanimous in praising the staff of the Commission for their diligence while urging them to keep up the good work.

Lagos RSA hits N78b Stories by VICTOR NZE

agos State Government had grown its public servants’ retirement savings account (RSA) being maintained by the 10 Pension Fund administrators to the tune of N78.592billion as at March 2017, according to state chief executive, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Ambode who disclosed at a magazine launch and award ceremony organised by the Peninscope Professional Warranty Limited, publishers of the Pension Scope Magazine, added that his administration gives priority to payment of pension to retired civil servants, stressing that government will continue

to fulfil its obligations to retirees regularly and promptly. Speaking at the event, the Governor who was represented by the State Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke said the government has been consistent in the payment of accrued pension rights since the commencement of the Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate presentation in 2010. “The issue of the welfare of pensioners is one that is paramount to this administration. Apart from the fact that it is a moral obligation which government must discharge with all sense of responsibility, regular and prompt payment of pensioners’ entitlement is key to the

fulfilment of our pledge to make life more comfortable for retirees after many years of service to the State,” he said. The Governor said the feat has become possible with the huge investment in ICT infrastructure to support an efficient, transparent and accountable pension administration system through the State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and other established pension offices. Ambode said further that there is a monthly contribution into a sinking fund account to ensure that adequate provision is made for payment of pension liabilities, adding that the objective of this fund is to meet pension liabilities which may arise due to unforeseen voluntary

retirement. Also speaking, Mr. Peter Adediji, Group’s Chairman and Convener of the event said this year’s programme is aimed at looking at various government policies as they relate to the investment of pension and insurance funds among others relevant issues. On the contributory pension scheme, he disclosed that Lagos State has been a shining example of the scheme with its demonstration of the goodwill to fully implement the Nigeria Pension Act. While congratulating the State on its achievements on pension matters so far, he urged the administration not to relent in the implementation of the scheme.

• From left: Regional Manager, Leadway Pension, Mr Ibrahim Bonnet; Divisional Director Abuja/North, Leadway Assurance Company Ltd, Mr Olufade Allah and the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) Sharon Ikeazor, discussing during the Leaway Regional Managers courtesy visit to PTAD headquarters in Abuja.

Acquire more skills in insurance -- Broker

hairman, Standard Chartered Insurance Brokers (Scib) Nigeria Ltd., Mr Ololabi Ogunlana, has advised new graduates of College of Insurance and Financial Management (CIFM) to acquire more skills in insurance. Ogunlana gave the advice, last

Wednesday at the third graduation ceremony of the college in Ibafo, Ogun State. Ogunlana, speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, said that only dogged and thorough professionals could sell and retail clients in insurance business, just as he advised

them to be good professionals and acquire more skills, noting that insurance was very difficult to sell. Also, Rector of the College, Dr Yeside Oyetayo, said that the college would continue to impact on insurance industry positively. “CIFM, through training and re-

Buhari signs Pensions bill into law

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has assented to three bills, including the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy (Establishment) Bill, and the Air Force Institute of Technology of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill 2017. The president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement issued in Abuja, Wednesday, said the president also assented to the National Intelligence Agency Pensions (Establishment) Bill, 2017, on December 5. Adesina said the bill on Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy stipulated that the college should be sited in Enugu. According to him, the college is to provide courses of instruction leading to the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates in dental

technology, dental therapy and related courses. According to him, the bill on Air Force Institute of Technology of Nigeria indicated that the Institute will be situated in Kaduna. He said the institute would provide technical training to the personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and other services of the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigerians as well as nationals of other African countries. The presidential aide stated that the National Intelligence Agency Pensions (Establishment) Bill, 2017, is to administer the pension’s scheme for personnel of the agency. This is sequel to the exit of the agency from the application of the Contributory Pension’s Scheme under the Pension’s Reform Act, 2004.

• Buhari

search, will improve Nigeria insurance industry landscape. Already, over 75 students trained by the college had secured employment in insurance firms. We encourage Nigerians to release their wards for insurance training in the college.’’ President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mrs Funmi Babington-Ashaye, lauded the graduands, urging them to uphold the virtues acquired from the college. “You emerged at a time the insurance industry is highly in need of thorough professionals, do not disappoint. The council of CIIN has agreed to give 50 per cent of its grants to support the college in order to take CIFM to lofty heights,” Babington-Ashaye said. In his remarks, Mr Eddie Efekoha, Chairman, Governing Board of CIFM, implored the graduands to uphold the ethical practice, saying that the institute abhorred unethical behaviours. The Guest Speaker, Mr Babatunde Mimiko, urged the graduands to make right choice. Mimiko, who is an Executive Director, FBN Insurance General Ltd., said that right choice would push them into limelight. 14 students graduated with Diploma in insurance from the college.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

Families of LGs, SUBEB deceased staff get insurance benefits

•Relatives of deceased staff of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB ) and Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos state receiving their insurance benefits from the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami (second right).

A.M. Best affirms credit ratings of Custodian Insurance Stories by VICTOR NZE

.M. Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bb” of Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited Nigeria. The outlook of the FSR remains stable, whilst the outlook of the Long-Term ICR remains positive. CAI is the wholly owned non-life subsidiary of Custodian and Allied Plc. The ratings reflect CAI’s balance sheet strength, which A.M. Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also factor in the company’s exposure to high levels of economic risk, and very high levels of political and financial system

risk associated with operating exclusively in Nigeria. The positive outlook of the LongTerm ICR continues to reflect the steady improvements in CAI’s risk management framework, which assists in improving the stability of operating performance and balance sheet strength in a highly competitive operating environment. A.M. Best expects CAI’s balance sheet strength to remain at the very strong level, underpinned by solid risk-adjusted capitalisation and a prudent dividend policy. Offsetting these rating factors is the quality of CAI’s assets, which are mainly restricted to Nigeria, its moderate dependence on reinsurance and the elevated risks associated with operating in Nigeria. The company has a return on equity in excess of 20% over the past five years demonstrating its resil-

ient operating performance. Additionally, ongoing development of CAI’s risk management framework is expected to be a positive factor in sustaining the company’s balance sheet strength. In particular, the company’s internal risk-based capital model has started to support strategic decisions, such as reinsurance placements and capital management policy. CAI’s operating performance has been volatile in recent years and is assessed as adequate. In 2016, the company benefited from significant foreign exchange gains in response to the devaluation of the Nigerian Naira against stronger foreign currencies including the US Dollar, Euro and Pound Sterling. As a result of the currency devaluation, CAI’s technical performance reduced substantially to NG82.1 million, although this was

offset by the significant increase in foreign exchange gains, which boosted investment income, as the company held 75% of cash in foreign currencies. In line with company’s business plan, CAI’s third-quarter 2017 results show top-line growth of 29% and a reduction in the loss ratio to 33%. While CAI has a leading market position within its domestic market, its profile is limited to Nigeria and thereby exposes the company to the economic and financial system risks of the local market. Although Nigeria’s difficult economic conditions represent a challenge for CAI, A.M. Best believes the associated risks may be mitigated partly by the company’s strong position in the market, growing retail business and improving ERM practices including the strategic decision of holding US Dollar assets outside of Nigeria.

Africa Trade Insurance, firm partner to boost power in Nigeria, others Africa and the African PhaveOWER Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) partnered to ramp up efforts

to provide first-time access to power to 50 million people in subSaharan Africa. In addition, Power Africa aims to encourage installation of at least 30,000 MW of electrical power on the continent. Power Africa identified ATI as an important catalyst to help them achieve their objectives based on two important initiatives that ATI recently launched to address specific risks to energy projects in the region – the RLSF, a liquidity support facility, and AEGF, an underwriting pool targeting renewable energy projects across Africa. The partnership takes a longterm approach with an objective to increase connectivity to millions of people in ATI’s member countries. In the near-term, the agreement aims to increase the viability

of renewable energy projects in Africa by providing accessible solutions to the main impediments to their success – namely political and financial risks. Under the agreement, Power Africa and ATI will work together to identify eligible projects, develop a joint pipeline of projects and connect them with ATI. Power Africa Coordinator Andrew M. Herscowitz said, “We are very excited to launch this partnership with ATI – their products will stimulate investments in the energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa, which will help provide more megawatts and connections for those who need them most.” The collaboration between ATI and Power Africa is happening at an opportune moment when emerging markets are seeing record investments in the renewable energy sector. The Interna-

tional Energy Agency (IEA) expects sub-Saharan Africa’s renewables capacity to grow by 73% (24.4GW) over the period 2017-22. This represents a significant opportunity for project developers who are often tackling the reality of risks that are much more severe in sub-Saharan Africa. Financial and political risks greatly increase the cost of these projects, rendering them uncompetitive and unattractive to project developers and investors. These risks include currency risk, legal risk, liquidity and refinancing risk, low access to long-term loans and off-taker’s risk. The RLSF, a joint project of ATI and KfW – the German Development Bank, is designed to help independent power producers (IPPs) developing small-scale renewable energy projects in Africa to obtain the liquidity they need in the event that their off-taker

(frequently a state owned entity) delays payment. The facility will provide immediate cash collateral supported by guarantees to a commercial bank that will in turn open a standby letter of credit to the benefit of the IPP. The amount provided will enable the IPP to operate and service the debt for up to 6 months. Furthermore, unlike most IPP letters of credit (which tend to be of 12 month tenors) the facility is designed to be in place for multiple years. The AEGF is another facility that involves a partnership with the European Investment Bank, Munich Re and ATI that seeks to increase ATI’s capacity to insure energy-sector projects across Africa for risks like the risk of termination of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), expropriation and nationalization, currency inconvertibility, war, civil war and terrorism.

HE Lagos State Government has presented insurance benefit worth N254.6m to 99 families of deceased staff of the State Government comprising 42 staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and staff of 57 Local Government Governments and Council Development Areas of the State. The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami, who presided over the presentation, advised the recipients of the insurance benefits to utilise the money in securing the future of the children and dependants of the deceased. Folami, represented at the event by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Fola Padonu, stated that the approval for the payment of benefits was as a result of the Government’s determination to ameliorate the sufferings of the dependants of the deceased staff. He commended the State Governor for his support to the families, saying: “I commend the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for being mindful of the plight of the dependants of the deceased staff and his commitment to prompt payment of premium which has made today’s presentation possible”. He reassured the beneficiaries and the general public that the present administration is determined to ensure regular payment of premium on Life Insurance and Pensions to its workforce. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Funmilayo Balogun who also spoke at the presentation, implored the beneficiaries to invest the benefits wisely and ensure judicious use of the money to cater for the immediate families of the deceased staff.

Oyo Assembly moves to address pensioners’ entitlements

yo State House of Assembly on Tuesday appealed to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi to pay of pension arrears to retirees in the state. The appeal followed a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Ona Ara, Mr Azeez Biliaminu, in which he made a passionate appeal for the payment of pensioners’ entitlements. In the motion, Biliaminu said some of the pensioners could not afford regular feeding and medication due to their financial constraints. “The children and wards of pensioners are already overwhelmed by nuclear family responsibilities while some of them are unemployed or under employed. I know the governor has been trying in view of the dwindling economy in paying workers’ salaries and pensioners entitlements. “These pensioners require adequate regular feeding and medical care which cannot be met without adequate financial strength,” he said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

Crime Christmas rush: Rice smugglers hit brick wall SARS: Lagos police begins application of panel approvals on human rights abuses

s the public condemnation of professional misconduct by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Anti-Cultism and AntiKidnapping units rages on, the police Lagos State Command has commenced the implementation of the recommendations of a panel of inquiry as directed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris. Lagos police boss, Imohimi Edgal said the recommendations critically assessed past and current allegations of human rights abuses against the Special AntiRobbery Squad, Anti-Kidnapping Squad and Anti-Cultism Squad. According Edgal who addressed reporters at the command headquarters in Ikeja, “The panel were tasked to look into all allegations of human rights abuses against officers and men of the units and give recommendations to prevent reoccurrence. They were tasked to profile personnel currently posted to the unit and determine their suitability to continue in the units. They also made recommendations for the immediate training of officers and men of the units on the principles and tenets of fundamental human rights and the rule of law.” He said the panel, headed by a Commissioner of Police had credible journalists, and lawyers from reputable chambers and human rights bodies has done a careful recommendation that would make SARS be in tune with democratic policing and international best practices. He added that “disturbing issues relating to investigation of civil matters, illegal detentions, prolonged and unconstitutional detentions, safety and custody of exhibits, welfare of suspects and detainees, sexual abuses molestation in any form, right to bail with an emphasis that bail is and must remain free among other areas that the panel has deemed reasonable for modification would be overhauled to sharpen the force’ performance and boost its image. “I have reviewed this report with senior officers in my management team, we have looked at it and all the recommendations there in and we have resolved to immediately implement those short term aspects that we can give directives at the level of the command to ensure that we make the SARS more professional, result oriented and more in tune with international best practices and modern day democratic policing. However the long term aspects that require approvals from force headquarters will be used on to the appropriate quarters for review and necessary approvals,” he said. He, however, called on traditional media to be dutiful in circumspection when dealing with social media reports.

Stories by XAVIER NDAH

S Nigerians plan for a groovy Christmas and new year celebration, smugglers who plan for a higher returns through the smuggling of banned products into the country have met with sour tale with the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS). The Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, of the agency said it has intercepted 22 trailer loads foreign parboiled rice which is over 13,333 bags which were smuggled into the country within 30 days. Making this known was the Comptroller Mohammed Uba, the Customs Area Controller(CAC) of the unit disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos. Uba explained that,the unit has intercepted various contraband with Duty Paid Value(DPV) of N1,595,141,144.81.and has also arrested five suspected smugglers in connection with some of the seized goods. The seized items include 64 assorted vehicles which are mostly brand new ones; 13,333 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 1,390 cartons of frozen poultry products, 835 jerry

Four men gang rape girl, 14, for seven days T

HE police in Lagos have arrested four men in connection with the alleged abduction and rape of a 14year old girl. The suspects Samuel Efe, Afeez Tajudeen, Solomon Olowu and Okurobo Francis were arrested at the Egbeda area of Lagos state. It was gathered that one of the suspects, Efe had forcefully dragged the victim into his apartment and invited three of his other friends to come and have a feel of the action. The Oracle gathered that the victim was kept in the house and the suspects molested her sexually in turns for seven days while the parents searched everywhere for her before her disappearance was reported to the police. It was gathered that by the time she was eventually allowed to go, she had already fallen ill due to the level of sexual escapades she had from her adductors and was rushed to the hospital. It was gathered that the police was able to arrest Efe the principal suspect who confessed to the crime and mentioned the three other suspects. Police source said the suspects had been charged before the Magistrates court sitting in Ikeja for conspiracy, abduction and rape. The suspects we gathered pleaded not guilty and the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum. They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail condition. The matter was adjourned till 22 February, 2018.

…as customs seizes 13,333 bags of rice

cans of vegetable oil, 15 parcels of Indian hemp, 1,101 pieces of used tyres and 205 bales of used clothing among others. These goods according to the controller were seized between 1st and 30th November, 2017. He said the seizures were made possible after the unit had intensified its operational modalities to meet up with the current smuggling tactics even as yuletide draws closer. “We need to support the Federal Government policy on rice, encourage local rice farmers, the millers and patronize our own nutritional rice”, the Customs boss said in response to the seized rice. Giving further details on the seizure, the Comptroller said: “Among the detained vehicles include 2 Lexus bullet proof jeep, 1 bullet proof Land Cruiser, 9 Toyota Hilux, 8 Toyota Hiace Bus, 26 Toyota Corolla, 9 Land Cruiser Jeep, 5 Toyota Camry, 1 Land Rover, 1 Nissan Sentara, 1 Pajero Jeep”, adding that they were all 2017 models. Others are 1 Sienna 2015 model and 1 Lexus RX 350.

“These 64 assorted vehicles alone have Duty Paid Value one billion, three hundred and two million, nine hundred and twenty seven thousand, one hundred and six naira, sixteen kobo only.” He equally disclosed that 57 vehicles were evacuated based on intelligence along Omole estate in Ojodu and Olayiwole Close in Lekki Phase 1. According to him, the remaining seven were intercepted during patrol along Ijebu Ode expressway and Olorunda. “As I speak with you, nobody has come forward to claim ownership yet, because we doubt if they have customs papers on the vehicles, not to talk of the End-User Certificate for the bullet proof. Our legal unit has already been mandated to investigate it and as soon as we get any head way about the owners or their agents, we will let the public know.” He further disclosed that a total of 17x20ft containers loaded with wood were under detention on the

suspicion that they did not meet the required guidelines for export. Also, 1x20ft container was seized for carrying 385 cartons of Tiffany Crunch and Cream biscuit, 2300 cartons of Tiffany chocolate and Toffee sweet as against engine block declared in the SGD. “This is a clear case of false declaration which is tantamount to seizure.” The Comptroller also revealed that during the period, the Unit recovered 108,306,018.25, making a cumulative of N1,703,447,163,06. “In the spirit of inter-agency collaboration, the seized Indian hemp will be handed over to NDLEA after this press briefing for further investigation. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with these 185 seizures and are currently in our custody”. He commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.) and the entire management team of the Service for providing necessary logistics that brought about this feat.

‘I accepted the offer of carrying Indian A

suspected drug courier, Omebu Kingsley has told officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) he couldn’t resist the juicy offer of N25,000 in helping to convey some bags of Indian hemp Cannabis) to Delta state. The suspect who is married with a child and a jobless secondary school dropout said he saw the deal as a good one which would have made him and his family has a better Christmas but his joy has been cut short by NDLEA. In his words, “I was contacted to assist the driver for theN25,000 I am married with a child and as a jobless secondary school dropout; l accepted the offer especially as Christmas is approaching”. Kingsley was arrested with another suspect by operatives of the Edo State command of the (NDLEA)

when they intercepted another shipment of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sativa concealed in building materials. Principal Staff Officer Public Affairs Edo State Command of NDLEA Ofoyeju Mitchell said the drug were packed in 409 bags with a total weight of 7,073kg was ingeniously concealed in a consignment of building materials in a truck with Ondo registration number XB 625 WEN. The driver of the truck and another accomplice has been arrested in connection with the seized drugs valued at N70.7m naira. According to the NDLEA Edo State commander, Mr Wakawa Buba, an investigation has shown that the truck departed Akure, Ondo State on its way to Abi in Delta State. The driver of the truck, Monday

Amusoga, 39, who lives in Benin City and Omebu Kingsley, 30, based in Delta State are currently being interrogated in line with investigative procedures. Both suspects are from Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State. In his statement, Monday said that he was paid the sum of N50,000 to drive the truck from Ondo to Delta. “I am a driver but I have been jobless. My friend assisted me with this deal so l can meet my family needs. “I am married with five children. Unfortunately, when we got to Benin, the officers in a Hilux vehicle asked me to stop and took me to their office in Benin where they conducted search and the cannabis was detected amidst iron rods” Monday stated. The second suspect, Omebu Kingsley told officials that he was called to assist the driver in conveying the cannabis to Delta. In his words, “I was contacted to assist the driver

Cultist killed

• Some charns, ammunitions and arms recovered from some of them

he Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, was at the weekend thrown into mourning as a suspected cult member Kator Tsegba, was allegedly killed by his colleagues during an initiation/charm test, which was reportedly failed. Police source explained that the cultist met his untimely death when he voluntarily subjected himself to the compulsory initiation and charm test which was expected to herald him into the folk to prove to the members that he was a fit and hardened man who can withstand all forms

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

Crime

Driver sells employer’s SUV for N70,000 LAGOS based driver, EmmaA nuel Odunukwe has been arrested in Anambra state after

absconding with her employers Nissan Pathfinder SUV car worth N2.5million. Dependable police sources disclosed that trouble started when the driver was introduced to one Mrs Njoku by her neighbour for employment as a driver. It was gathered that he had worked for three months and the employer had no problem with him since he had been executing his duties perfectly within his stay and he was given a free hand to operate. However, the situation took a different dimension when the driver took her Madam to Okota area and the woman alighted from the vehicle to purchase some food items unknown to her that the driver was plotting to escape with her vehicle. It was gathered that the driver zoomed off and abandoned the woman to her fate and all effort to trace him proved abortive. The matter was however reported at the police at Ikotun Division and Odunukwe was trailed and arrested at a popular hotel in Nnewi,Anambra state. He was brought back to Lagos where he mentioned one Anene as the person who negotiated with

• Comtroller Uba showcasing seized smuggled rice before the press

hemp to get a superb Christmas’ for the sum of twenty-five thousand naira. I am married with a child and as a jobless secondary school dropout; l accepted the offer especially as Christmas is approaching”. NDLEA Edo State commander, Mr Wakawa Buba while confirming the arrest and seizure described the building material mode of concealment as deceptively imaginative adding that the command will do all within its capacity to counter the illicit activities of drug syndicates. “This is yet another clever trick employed by drug traffickers. The cannabis was neatly concealed amidst building materials but we were able to detect it based on intelligence report”. Wakawa warned drug barons that unless they quit the criminal trade, they will continue to be arrested and prosecuted while their drugs will be seized and destroyed. The suspects he said will soon be charged to court.

• Monday and kingsley with the exhibits

as bulletproof charm fails turbulence on his way. Dependable sources said the cultist met his death while testing his bulletproof charm when he was given some concoction and it failed him during their usual assembly at Ihungwanor in Mbayion District of Gboko Local Government Area. It was gathered that the concoction was a bullet proof concoction meant to be an antidote that can stopped any bullet from penetrating him whenever they clash with any rival group or the security agencies “the first step was for him to drink the mixture

and after he would have been tested with a gun but he died without completing the stages “a source explained. Our source said the incident was kept in the dark as the cultist were already planning how to either bury him without the knowledge of anyone or the story they would tell the parents to forestall any form of problem. However, the story we gathered got to a relation of Tsegba, who is also a cultist, and he raised the alarm which attracted the attention of the police and

the community. Our source said residents of Gboko and its environs were now living in fear as the new Divisional Police Officer in charge of Gboko A Division, SP Dooiyor Fatmann, was going about with his anti-cultism team in search of the culprits who have gone into hiding. It was learnt that, already, about 13 suspected cult members who are in connection with the incident have been arrested while 12 of them were remanded at the Gboko Prison.

the buyer in Awka town,Anambra State where the vehicle was sold at giveaway price of N70,000. However, they were charged before an Ejigbo Magistrates court for the alleged offence. Odunukwe pleaded guilty to the two count charge of conspiracy and stealing while Anene pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mr L.K.J Layeni granted Anene bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Meanwhile, it was gathered that the buyer of the vehicle had abandoned the vehicle and escaped but his girlfriend was arrested when he got wind of the story that the driver and his colleague have been arrested by the police. It was gathered that when he was contacted on phone by the police to show up he refused but rather asked the police to come to Ihiala town in Anambra to recover the vehicle. However, when the matter came up at the court for hearing, the prosecutor asked the court for short adjournment to enable him to present facts for his sentence while a date was adjourned for Anene who pleaded not guilty to face trial. The matter was adjourned to January 3, 2018 for continuation of the trial.

Femi Adesina’s impostor jailed for 8 years A

FRAUDSTER who impersonated the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, and attempted to fleece a Bayero University don of N300, 000 for a nonexistent appointment in the Presidency has been convicted. Christian Efe Oyovweyho was convicted on December 5, and sentenced to 8 -years imprisonment by Justice Z.B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court Kano. The convict was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 2-count charge that borders on conspiracy and attempt to obtain, in contravention of sections 8(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The convict’s journey to prison started when the Commission received a petition that he had impersonated Adesina. The petitioner, Professor Dalhatu Mohammed Galadanci of the Bayero University Kano further stated that the convict had attempted to obtain the sum of N300,000 from him. According to Galadanci, sometime in July 2016, the convict sent him a text message claiming to be Femi Adesina, SA to the president on Media and Publicity. The defendant fraudulently

• Christian Efe

claimed to be speaking on behalf of the president and that the name of the professor has been forwarded for appointment in the presidency. The complainant further stated that the defendant claimed to be searching for a better office for him. Subsequently, the defendant asked the professor to make payment of the sum of N300,000 in order to facilitate his appointment to one of Nigeria Port Authority, Nigerian Railway Cooperation and Rural Electrification Agency. At that point, the professor got suspicious and reported the matter to the commission. Upon arraignment on the 16th of March, 2017, the convict pleaded not guilty and the prosecution counsel, Musa Isah proceeded to trial during which two prosecution witnesses gave evidence while the convict stood as the only defense witness. In her judgment, Justice Abubakar found the convict guilty of the offence he was charged with after she was convinced that the prosecution had proved the case against him beyond reasonable doubt. She subsequently sentenced him to 4 years imprisonment without option of fine on each of the two count charge. The sentence is to run concurrently.

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Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Harry’s flexible fiancee! Meghan Markle shows off a range of yoga positions

‘Y

oga is my thing,’ Meghan Markle recently declared, as she described her health and beauty regime. And these stunning photographs of Prince Harry’s new fiancé shows she is a woman of her word. The royal bride-to-be has been practicing the discipline since she was a young girl, thanks to her mother, Doria Ragland, who is an instructor in their home town of LA. Miss Markle, 36, who will marry Harry at Windsor Castle in May, devotes a couple of hours to her passion a week, whether at home or in a studio. ‘That practice is in my blood,’ she told Canada’s Women’s Health Magazine in 2015, the year before she met the Queen’s grandson. ‘There are so many benefits that come with the practice of yoga… increased flexibility and muscle strength, greater happiness, increased mental focus, a greater ability to relax, decreased anxiety and better sleep.’ While the younger royals – William, Kate and Harry – are all extremely keen on their sport, Kensington Palace is unlikely to have seen anything like the ultra-flexible Miss Markle before. The prince’s intended says she also loves running but has found it more of a strain as she gets older. Nowadays, she reveals, her ‘perfect’ day would involve waking up late, tak-

ing her dogs for a walk before doing some yoga and then enjoying a sashimi lunch. Prince Harry take note! Ellen Lee, chairman of the Independent Yoga Network, an organisation for yoga teachers and training schools, who has practised the discipline for 41 years, praises Miss Markle’s ‘strength and flexibility’. She said: ‘Interestingly the poses in all four pictures are, technically, back bends. Because she is obviously a strong, flexible practitioner, people like Meghan generally favour back bending because it has such an effective stretching action on the front of the body. ‘Back bending generally stimulates the nervous system. If your energy is low and you are feeling quite lethargic, particularly if you are sitting at a desk all day, any form of back bending physically and emotionally lifts your heart and your energy.’ She added: ‘The key words that strike me [about her] are strength and flexibility. They are the two things that yoga encourages, physically, and can take a long time to develop. ‘Yoga is an eastern-based practice stretching back thousands of years and is based on promoting a flow of energy through the body. All of these poses ensure Meghan’s heart is being lifted. ‘It is a lovely thing to see.’

Name: Catherine Tel: 08079521318 •

If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Cancer: Briton, 65, first in world to get breakthrough treatment that could extend life for thousands

British woman has become the first in the world to be given a revolutionary breast cancer treatment. Anna Jones, 65, who is terminally ill, has been given a breakthrough combination of immunotherapy drugs that doctors hope will extend her life. Experts at The Christie cancer hospital in Manchester believe the treatment – which operates in a twin attack against tumour cells – could help women for whom no other drugs work. Mrs Jones, a grandmother of two from Rochdale, has been fighting the disease for more than a decade. She has previously tried ten different treatments, including several rounds of chemotherapy. But each drug has failed and she is now pinning her hopes on the therapy – a combination of established immunotherapy drug Herceptin and a second drug so new it is only known by the code name R06874281. Mrs Jones, who has been taking the treatment for six weeks, said: ‘Fingers crossed that it’s a wonder drug – I would be over the moon, not

just for myself but for other women as well. ‘Of course it is scary being number one – they don’t know what the side effects are because nobody has tried it before. But it is exciting.’ Mrs Jones, who worked for the NHS before she retired, has been fighting advanced breast cancer since she was diagnosed in August 2004. She was told she had the particularly aggressive HER2-positive form of the disease, which is responsible for 13,000 new cases in the UK each year. ‘When they found it the cancer had already spread to the lungs, the liver and the bones,’ she said. ‘It is a death sentence – but every day I am thankful to have got this far. I have seen things I never thought I would see, I have seen my granddaughter go to her first prom, to buy her first car.’ She added: ‘The treatment has been a battle but I have stayed positive all the way. ‘I have lost my hair several times with the chemotherapy. And I have taken lots of different types of hormone therapy.’

Taking part in a clinical trial is also a major commitment – she has to travel into Manchester every week to receive the combination treatment, which is delivered via a drip over four hours. She then stays overnight so doctors can monitor her. But Mrs Jones, who lives with husband David, 66, views it as a privilege. She said: ‘It is wonderful to know that other people will potentially benefit in the future from this research. It would be a good legacy to leave. I feel very privileged to know that I’m the first person in the world to have been given this new combination.’ Roche, the company which makes the drug, has agreed to keep Mrs Jones on the treatment for at least two years as long as she continues to benefit from it. Her doctors expect to know in the New Year if she is responding. The combination treatment is designed to work on two fronts – by boosting the immune system’s ability to attack while simultaneously taking down the cancer’s defences. The RO6874281 drug introduces a Cont’d on page 36

Romantic Joke The Curse A man goes to see a wizard and says, “Can you lift a curse that a priest put on me years ago?” “Maybe,” says the wizard, “Can you remember the exact words of the curse?” The man replies, “I pronounce you man and wife.”

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

Online Dating & Marriage

From online to offline: A glimpse into the marriages of real people who met through the Internet “Marriages are like fingerprints; each one is different and each one is beautiful.” -Maggie Reyes By Ireto Temofeh

hey say that marriage is a long journey full of joys and pains, crowns and crosses. However, could marriage be different with somebody you met through digital technology? With the advent of unconventional ways of finding a partner, such as through dating links on a newspaper, magazine, website, radio or TV programming, one can’t but wonder how it would be like being married to a partner you met through a publication, the Internet, TV or radio. Some men and women who are presently living with or married to people they met through digital, print or electronic media dating forums shared their experiences of marriage with us. Chinwe: In marriage, I have learned to adapt to the negative attributes of my husband. She narrates her experience: I had been seriously searching for a partner for the past five years. I had visited so many churches and attended many weddings and other social gatherings with the hope of finding a befitting partn er there, but all my efforts had been unsuccessful. I was only getting used and dumped without getting a proposal from a responsible man. In fact, I was at my wits end when a friend suggested that I send a hookup request to one of the national newspapers. Initially, I rejected her idea because I thought it would be demeaning to advertise myself on paper saying that I am looking for a husband. But my friend told me not to think like that. She suggested that I give it a try since I had got nothing to lose from publishing my profile and phone number on paper. After a second thought, I decided to give it a shot. So I sent my request through a text message to The Sun newspaper. My request was published on a Saturday and I received so many calls from men that day. I tried my best to interrogate each and every man that called me on phone so that I would know the one best for me. It was like a filtering process which went on for a few weeks and in the end I settled for Andrew my husband. After dating for about three months, Andrew formally proposed to me and I agreed to marry him. We got married after five months of meeting each other through the newspaper. But after getting married to Andrew, I began to notice things that I hadn’t noticed before and we had a lot of quarrels and fights over things like that. For example, I began to notice that he was a womanizer but since I was already married to him at that time, there was nothing I could do about it. My husband has not stopped having girlfriends and I have learned to live with it because I can’t kill myself. But from hindsight, I think I married him too quickly without enough courtship. The fact that we courted for less than six months could be the reason I didn’t know that he was a womanizer before getting married to him.

However, I don’t blame myself for meeting him through the dating column of a newspaper. There is nothing wrong with marrying a man you meet through a newspaper because marriage is the same everywhere, irrespective of where you meet each other. So I can’t say that my husband is misbehaving because I met him through the papers because a womanizer will always be a womanizer no matter through which platform both of you meet each other, and a wife needs to adapt. So I have learned to adapt to the negative attributes of my husband for peace to reign. Betty: He deceived me and moved into my apartment. Betty also met her ‘husband’ through the dating platform of a newspaper. But her ‘marriage’ has been a bitter pill to swallow. She shares her story: I think my husband duped me into marrying him and I’m going to divorce him very soon. I didn’t know that there are some fraudulent people who take advantage of people seeking relationship or marriage online or through a publication. Three years ago, I sent my profile to a newspaper for publication and it was published. Many men signified interest in me after my request was published, but there was this particular man who swore that swore that he was in love with me and that he must marry me, even with the last drop of his blood. I think I fell for him because of the way he used to talk. At that time I was working with Samsung (I still do) and I was living in a beautiful three-bedroom flat at Abule-Egba in Lagos. This man told me that he is a medical doctor and that he previously lived in South Africa. He said he had financial problems in South Africa and had to return to Nigeria to start life all over again. He told me that he was going to marry me but that I should help him with an accommodation because

where he was squatting with his friend was not convenient. I told him that I didn’t have money to pay house rent for him and he begged me to let him move into my apartment. Previously, I had never thought of letting a man move into my apartment and share my flat with me. But since I was desperate to get married and he had promised me marriage, I allowed him to move into my flat. Do you know that this man has been living with me in my flat for the past three years and the only step he has taken to marry me is to do my introduction? It wasn’t until after he had moved into my flat that I noticed that he is jobless. I am the one that feeds and clothes him. Can you imagine? My so-called husband whom I met through a publication three years ago is now a burden and a pain in the neck. Last week I told him that I’m giving him three months to get a place for himself, else I will throw him out of my apartment. He now says that he will complete the process of my marriage whenever he is able to get a job, but I don’t care anymore and I have given him an ultimatum to move out of my apartment. Abeke: Marriage is marriage. There is nothing special about being married to a man I met through a TV Programme. Abeke, a civil servant in Ibadan, says that the experience of marriage with a man she met through a dating link on television is not different than other marriages. She shares her experience: I sent my phone number to a matchmaker on TV and after my number was aired, many different men called me. In the end, I settled for the man I am now married to because he was simply the best among all of them. However, I have discovered that marriage, like life, is full of ups and downs. Marriage has its challenges and its joys, its pains and its sacrifices. And being married to a man

I met through a TV Programme doesn’t make my marriage special in any way. Marriage is marriage. So there is nothing like my marriage is different because I met my man through Television. My marriage is just the same like other people’s marriages. My marriage is not insulated from the usual challenges of marriage or doomed to fail just because I met my man through TV. The truth is that it doesn’t matter where you meet your partner. But with love, patience and understanding and a lot of effort, every marriage can succeed. Victoria: I couldn’t tell my parents that I met him online. I was ashamed to tell my parents that I met my husband online because my mother thinks that women who post requests looking for a partner on print and electronic media are prostitutes. It is unfortunate that some people in this country still reason that way. There was a day I was browsing the Internet on my laptop at home. I was on a particular dating site when my mother walked into my room and saw pictures of men and women looking for partners on my computer screen. My mother hissed and said: “Prostitution has now taken a new direction. How can a woman be advertising herself and displaying her picture for the whole world to see her and know that she is in search of a husband?” My mother then advised me not to do what those women were doing. I thank God that she didn’t notice that I had also registered on that same dating site and posted my picture too for the whole world to see that I was single and searching. I was very lucky to have met my husband through that dating site, but I can’t dare tell my mother or father that I met my husband online because of her mentality. What would she think of me? Obinna: Marriage to the woman I

met through a radio broadcast is so much fun. Obinna was listening to the radio one night when he stumbled upon a love link program on one of the radio stations. He took interest in one particular lady’s request and decided to call her immediately. He narrates his experience: I had just returned from work one night when I turned on the radio for relaxation. There was a programme called love link which the station was airing at that moment and I decided to listen to the programme. The radio host and matchmaker was generally talking about romance and then started reading out numbers on air of single and searching people. It was very interesting and that was how I met my wife Joy. The matchmaker read out the phone number of a certain Joy who is 5.7ft tall, fair and beautiful and in search of a responsible man for marriage. And to tell you the truth, all my life I’ve been looking for a tall, fair girl who would reciprocate my love. I found my dream woman through that radio programme that night and I must confess that being married to her is so much fun. My wife Joy has given me a son and I have nothing to say against her. She is the most wonderful woman I’ve ever met. I thank God and that radio station for giving me a beautiful wife and the love of my life. Matchmakers on print and electronic platforms should be commended for their effort. Andy: Marriage exposed her because she wasn’t the person she claimed to be. For Andy, a banker in Lagos, there are a lot of fake people on dating sites and marriage exposed his former wife for not being the person she claimed to be. He tells his story: I met my ex wife through a dating Cont’d on page: 37

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

Relationships and Love Advice

‘I believe he has another woman’

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Joyce, 26, in Lagos, romantic, wants a caring sugar daddy who can also help her get a job. 08050572880. Sarah from Jos needs a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage. 08090925014. Victoria, 30, from Akwa-Ibom, in Lagos, tall, big, single mother, wants a tall, responsible, working or business man for marriage.08153598363. Busola, 43, tall, chocolate, with big breasts, living in Lagos, wants a mature-minded man for a relationship with benefits. 09090517882. Comfort, tall, dark, big, with a heavy backside and good in bed, living in Lagos, wants a man that can take good care of her. 08062720819. Faith, 35, works and lives in Port Harcourt, needs a decent guy of 36-40 years.. 09037846643.

Dear Love Doctor, I am a lady of 29 years who deeply loves a guy. He claims to love me too but he does not express it. He does not call but sends text messages once in a while. I complained but nothing is being done and I strongly believe he has someone else. I stopped my frequent calling yet he never bothered. He does not give me money or gifts, yet I have never asked him for anything. Now I want to quit the affair because I am not enjoying the relationship at all. Does he really love me? Love Doctor please I need your candid advice. From, Praise.

Dear Praise,

If he doesn’t respond after you make your need for affection clear, then we have to dig deeper to find out why he’s withholding affection from you. Is something not working for him in the relationship? Is something bothering him at work? Is he depressed? Does he feel that you’re not meeting his needs? Generally when we feel properly fed by our partners, we want to give back to them whatever they want from us. When a partner withholds, it can be a sign that he/she is feeling unfulfilled in the relationship. Now let’s move to another possibility. Maybe everything is fine for him in the relationship and he’s simply fallen into what some counsellors call the Caveman Courtship routine. The caveman did whatever he needed to win his female. He’d show

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Love Doctor’s Advice: y first question is whether your guy used to show you any affection before (in order to win you) or was he always not affectionate? If he used to be affectionate and he’s become lazy of late, my first question is have you discussed the issue with him? Does he know that you need more affection? If you haven’t yet discussed the matter, then we can’t assume that he knows anything is the matter! Never assume anything about your partner in a relationship without first seeking clarification from him/her. He may not have someone else as you think. However, remember, don’t attack, blame, complain or criticize him. Simply state what you need and how much it means to you. In many cases, this solves the problem.

Monica Ono, 35, beautiful, single mother of one, needs a handsome man of 38-41 years for marriage. 08036844539.

off, prove his strength and prowess, fight off competitors, etc. But once he banged her over the head with a club and dragged her back to his cave, the challenge was over! His conquest was won, and he could just sit back and watch the sports channel. In this way, modern day men aren’t very different from cavemen. Therefore, your guy may be taking you for granted because he sees you as a done deal rather than the prize that he needs to keep happy if he wants her to remain in his life. Reach out to your man. Discuss with him to know why he doesn’t show you affection. If it’s clear that he is playing games, don’t settle for deception, because it wouldn’t be wise wasting your time being with someone who doesn’t love you.

Men seeking relationship/ marriage An educated, God fearing young man wants an educated, God fearing, tall, very fair, working class lady with a B.Sc. or M.Sc. for marriage. 09021839161. Víctor, 37, engineer, from Delta, businessman, wants a responsible lady from 25-35 years for marriage. 07060456276, 08122424703. Ephraim, a pastor, not buoyant, needs a buoyant girl of 20-30 years with big hips and big bust for marriage. Email: ugochukwuodor@yahoo.com Uche, in Lagos, needs a matured sexy woman from 40 years and above for friendship, not marriage. 08077821830.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

It happened to me:

‘I’m dating a widower, but it wasn’t love at first sight’

en years ago I met a widower whose wife of 18 years had died the previous year. He had two sons. One was in high school the other was away at college. I wasn’t too interested in him at first, no love at first sight for me. But he was persistent and eventually we started dating. It became serious rather quickly. After some time went by he asked me to move in with him. I wanted the same, I had fallen in love and hated the time we were apart. We discussed our future as I was not willing to move away from my kids, grand kids and job to be someone’s live in. I was making a huge move and needed the security of commitment. (we lived hours apart) He lived on a farm in an isolated area where there was no job opportunities. His sons had no problem with me moving to their farm and living with their Dad. Three months later when the time came to tell them we were getting married, the youngest had a problem with that. He said no! The wedding was off. I moved back out. I had to move in with my sister as I had given up my apartment. I had also given away all my furnishings. Time to find a job! Three days later he called begging me back, assuring me we would get married as soon as his son Graduated high school and went off to college. He felt his son had been through enough with the death of his Mother. I couldn’t understand why giving me the respect of marriage would cause his son any hardship. His son was fine with me living with them, cooking the meals, cleaning the house, sharing his Dads bed and helping around the farm. I thought he was being a bad parent by letting his son rule the roost but I didn’t say anything. I did move back in and everything fell back into place. I dealt with all the normal widower crap. (dead wife’s pictures all over the place, her clothes still in the closet, cosmetics in the medicine cabinet etc.) I filled in for the missing Mom, baking cakes for school raffles, washing football uniforms, decorating for graduation party. etc. I did notice that my widower withheld showing affection towards me whenever his son was around to see. This to I let pass, though I was still thinking bad parenting. When his son moved away to college, everything was more open and carefree. We had a prenuptial agreement drawn up and he talked to his kids again about marrying me. Must not have gone over any better than the first time. My widower’s bad parenting kicked in again and the wedding was off. He told me he was never getting married again and couldn’t understand why I needed to get married. Why couldn’t we just live together like his son wanted us to. Anyway, to sum it up. Every time I leave he begs me back with promises. I know he in-

tends to follow through but then he puts the brakes on. I know he loves me. He just can’t go against his kids wishes. Even though they are both married now. He also has guilt issues to deal with. He was a drinker during most of his married life so he wasn’t the world’s best husband to her. I’m sure that plays a big part in all this. So everything is fine as long as I don’t expect anything serious from the relationship. His kids even resent any money he should spend on me..So, that doesn’t happen. So where am I at? I am a live in cook, maid, housekeeper and bed partner. I play the role of wife without the respect and security of marriage. I am on the outside looking in. Nothing is mine unless it needs to be cleaned. My widower doesn’t or chooses not to see what I have given up and what I continue to give up. My needs are not being met. My feelings are not being taken into account. I simply exist. This is not the life he promised me. My widower, his kids and even his friends downplay my role in this relationship. Everyone is being loyal to a dead wife and mother. I have to wonder what type of a person she really was. Oh, I have heard of her greatness over and over again. That doesn’t bother me. Everyone who dies is turned into a saint by the people they leave behind. I understand this silly ritual. But, if they think their treatment of me would please the dead wife, then they either don’t know her very well or she was not a very nice person. Because no woman would be pleased to see her kids and husband treat another woman so poorly. What I’ve learned... I’ve found that most widows and widowers are very selfish people after the loss of a spouse. They tend to think and do only what will make them happy. They believe they have suffered the greatest hurt imaginable so others should not complain about the small every day pains and hurt feelings. They have blinders on that keep them from seeing the pain they cause others. These blinders tend to fog over their true memories of their dead loved ones also. That’s why second wives or girlfriends of widowers usually feel like they can’t measure up or compete with that “perfect” late wife. Society isn’t much help. Friends and family have a way of branding a widower as a sad lonely person who will never be complete again. Doesn’t matter if the widower is in a new relationship, he is still expected to be sad and lonely for all eternity because he lost his one and only true love. They see second wives and girlfriends as replacements. Happy the widower found a companion to help fill in for the missing wife. Widows and widowers can predetermine that a new relationship will never be as meaningful as the one they had with their

...first in world to get breakthrough treatment Cont’d from page: 33 potent version of the Interleukin 2 protein into the bloodstream, which stimulates the body’s immune system to kill rogue cells. It is taken at the same time as Herceptin, which binds onto the cancer cells to make tumours visible to the immune system. Around 60 people will eventually take part in the global study, including patients in the UK being treated at University College London

Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Barts Health NHS Trust and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. RO6874281 has previously been taken by a small number of patients in a safety trial. However, this is the first time it has been combined with Herceptin. Professor Andrew Wardley, from The Christie hospital, said: ‘This is an exciting and very novel form of therapy especially for breast cancer and I’m delighted that our patient Anna will be the

late spouse. (They can’t really) But they can put the brakes on a new relationship so that it doesn’t compete or out shadow the previous relationship. They do this out of loyalty to the late spouse and because society expects it of them. There is also that graveside promise they almost always make. “there will never be another one” or “I’ll never love anyone as much as I did you” Doesn’t matter if they couldn’t stand to be in the same room together when they were both alive, they don’t remember that part. (Blinders) Like I said, I’ve been in this relationship for ten years. It took me 1 year to get her clothes out of the closet. Two years

to get her pictures off the walls. I’m not even scratching the surface yet. Is it worth it? I would say yes. For him that is. He has had the best of both worlds. After ten years of playing house, doing everything his wife did and then some. He tells me that our relationship will never mean as much to him as “theirs” did. She was his one and only true love for all eternity. My reply?...”well if you love her that darn much.. go dig her up! I’m tired of doing her dishes and feeding her husband.” Are we still together? Yes. But it’s a work in progress.

first to hopefully benefit from this treatment. ‘We believe that the two drugs working together will be more effective at targeting the cancer and stimulating the body’s immune system to kill the cancer cells.’ The HER2-positive form of the disease is responsible for about one in five of all cases and tumours are notoriously fast growing and difficult to treat. Breast cancer is Britain’s most common female cancer, with more than 55,000 new cases and 11,000 deaths every year according to the most recent figures.

The number is rising steadily due to the ageing population and lifestyle factors such as obesity. A study last week found that women who lose half a stone significantly reduce their odds of developing breast cancer. US researchers said even ‘relatively modest’ weight loss has a considerable effect. Losing two stone or more cuts the chances of developing breast cancer by a third.

• Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

Daily Mail

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

True Confession

‘My sister-in-law caused my miscarriage and made me childless’ Look into my eyes and tell me that you love me, but don’t break my heart.

y elder brother and his wife have a history of domestic violence. I have never taken sides in their quarrels or fights, nor do I intend to take sides now, especially after the damage has already been done. I was just a pregnant woman who didn’t wish anybody evil. However, my light-hearted visit to my brother’s house turned out to be a near-fatal mistake for me. On that particular day, my elder brother and his wife were quarreling as usual. I think the problem bordered on money and I could hear their loud voices even from outside as I quietly approached their apartment. They always had financial problems and I just couldn’t understand why they couldn’t properly manage their financial problems without quarreling and fighting over money all the time. I believe that in marriage, a sound understanding of the management of resources (financial and otherwise) is very important. And husband and wife need to work together as a team to budget and plan for both the family and for their personal needs too. They both operated a joint account and my brother had accused his wife of withdrawing and spending too much money from the account without his knowledge or consent. I was about six months pregnant then, and I had gone to deliver a message from our mother to my brother. I had recently traveled to the village to see my mother because it had been long since I last saw her. Apart from the fact that I wanted to give her some money, I wanted her to give me some local herbs that would help me in pregnancy. My mum was well versed in local herbs and she knew how to make a pregnant woman safely deliver a healthy baby. Seeing my mother in the village had given me great joy and my mother had gladly accepted to assist me with some medicinal local herbs. However, when I was about to depart from the village, she had informed me about a project she was undertaking. It was a church project, because my mother was deeply involved in church activities in the village. She urgently needed money from all her children to help her proceed with the project. However, the huge sum of money involved was not something that I alone could gather and give my mum. I just couldn’t afford it, so the best thing to do was to get my siblings in the city to contribute their own share of cash to the project. That was just what I had in mind when I left home for my elder brother’s house that day. All I wanted was to collect some money from my brother to add to the one I had been able to gather for my mother. But sadly, fate seems to have had other plans for me. Before I walked into my elder brother’s apart-

ment, I could hear shouts and screams and nasty words being said. I was alarmed at the kind of nasty words I could hear them say to each other. My brother would say: “I will kill you today, you stupid woman.” And his wife would reply: “You will die too, shameless man.” They had apparently started fighting again and were oblivious of their surroundings. As they exchanged blows and hot words, they obviously cared less about whoever was listening. The most irritating thing about it all was that my brother and his wife lived in a very peaceful neighborhood and their noisy quarrels and

fights were the exact opposite of the peaceful nature of their neighborhood. Even my presence in their living room was not enough to douse the tension and make them sheathe their swords. My brother’s wife only had a wrapper tied around her chest and my brother had his hand on the wrapper and was trying to strip her naked and push her out of the house for the neighbors to see her shame. Although I was heavily pregnant, I couldn’t just stand and watch things fall apart without doing anything. I appealed to both of them to

stop fighting and be quiet, but all my pleas fell on deaf ears. I even yelled at my sister-in-law to stop insulting my brother because her insults were driving him crazy. But she didn’t listen. She continued calling him unprintable names and the situation continued to degenerate. Before I knew what was happening, they had started fighting again and my brother’s hand was on his wife’s throat. He was obviously trying to strangle her and I couldn’t stand and watch him kill her just like that because I knew the implication. So I jumped in-between the two of them in order to separate them. With my pregnancy, I was in-between two fighting parties and I thought everything was now going to be okay since I was now between both of them. But just when I thought both warriors were going to calm down and sheathe their swords, my sister-in-law ran into the kitchen and came out carrying a pestle. She rushed forward and swung the pestle, trying to hit my brother with the pounding tool. My brother managed to dodge the first blow. Then I ran in-between them again, trying to protect my brother from harm. It was the moment I rushed in-between them that she wildly swung the pestle again, hitting me in the abdomen accidentally. The pain I felt is unimaginable and I passed out instantly. I later woke up in the hospital and collapsed again after the doctor told me that I had lost my pregnancy. He said I had bled so much that it had been impossible to stop the process of miscarriage. The worst of it all was that the doctor said that my womb had been seriously damaged as a result of the hard impact of the pestle on my stomach. According to the doctor, I may never be able to have a child again. I am now going through emotional shock and deep trauma. As if having a miscarriage isn’t enough, being told that you may never be able to have a child again is like a cruel icing on a heartless cake. My marriage has virtually been ruined because my husband is now saying that he may seek a divorce and marry a second wife because it is clear that I won’t be able to bear him children and he wants children. My in-laws now call me barren behind my back and are secretly pressuring my husband to marry a second wife who will give him children. I can’t believe that my loving husband can actually look into my eyes and tell me that he loves me, only to break my heart with the talk of marrying a second wife because he wants children. My sister-in-law has practically made me a barren woman because of her stupid fight with my brother. I now remember the warning an old woman had given me at the market when I was only three months pregnant. She had told me that I should avoid anywhere there is trouble. The old woman had told me that a pregnant woman should never be present wherever people are fighting. I have now learned the hard way. I thought that nothing bad would happen to me because the fight was between my brother and his wife. But I was wrong. I’m now running from pillar to post looking for a solution to my problem. I advise all pregnant women out there never to try to mediate in any physical or violent conflict. They should avoid violent or troublesome people and stay away from troubled spots. Only God will save me!

A glimpse into the marriages... Cont’d from page: 34 site. On the site, she claimed to be a dual citizen of Nigeria and Canada. We chatted on Facebook and talked on phone for two weeks before physically meeting each other. I made a mistake by not investigating her background thoroughly before jumping into marriage with her. I had always wanted to relocate to Canada and since she claimed to be a citizen of Canada, I told her that as a banker, I had been saving money to process a permanent resident permit and relocate to Canada. I confessed to her my future plans and she heartlessly took advantage to do me evil.

She told me that we needed to get married as fast as possible so that she could help me with the Canadian immigration process. She promised to use her ‘citizenship’ status to get me to Canada after our marriage. However, after our wedding, she started demanding for huge sums of money from me for her to go to Canada to pave the way for me to come over. She asked me to give her two million naira (N2million) the first time, which I did. She then travelled to Canada and stayed for three months and returned to Nigeria. Then she now demanded for five million naira (N5m) for her to go back to Canada and make the final preparation.

I was trying to sell off one of my properties in Lagos in order to make up the five million naira when my boss at the office asked me if I had consulted the Canadian embassy in Nigeria about I and my wife’s plans. My boss felt that my wife was demanding for too much money and told me to seek clarification from the Canadian embassy. The following day after speaking with my boss I went to the Canadian embassy and told them what was happening. They told me to submit my wife’s name and details. You can imagine my embarrassment when an official of the Canadian embassy called me later to tell me that my wife was not a citizen of Canada. The official said she had been using my mon-

ey to process her own personal immigration to Canada. In other words, my wife was trying to use me to get to Canada and it was clear that if she succeeded in completing her own personal immigration process to Canada, she was going to dump me. I had to act fast to divorce her. Kenneth: In the end, there are no rules to how you meet, but what you make out of your marriage. In the past, if you were going to get married to someone, you had to have known each other for x number of years. But these days, people meet each other through media dating Cont’d on page: 40

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

The Law and You Company directors

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

neighbor of mine who works with a factory as the company driver used to come home occasional with his company’s bus and with inscription of the products of his factor written over the vehicles. However, some young school girls residing around us and who see him come with these vehicles asked home one day whether he is a driver in the company. Do you know what he answered them, “I am the company director-in-charge of Sales and Marketing”? As luck ran over home one day when one of these girls who invited him for an interview as a Secretary to the Executive Director Marketing and she became so glad that her chances would be very easy since that driver told them that he is the Director Marketing . She kept mute on receipt of her interview letter and planned to surprise that driver on the day of interview. On the D-day, she prepared very well and with high hopes went to that company for the interview and on arrival she asked to see the director. She was let in but she saw a different person and asked him about the Director Marketing and mentioned the name of that driver. She was shocked to understand that the man she knows is the driver to the Executive Director, Marketing. The man she knows was called in by the director and to the girl surprise; the man came in and was prostrating for his boss who embarrassed him for impersonation and lying. What I am driving at is that it is an offence to advocate to ourselves what we are not. Section 250 CAMA states that where a person who was not duly appointed acts as a Director, his acts would not bind the company and he is personally liable for his acts unless the company is shown to have held him out. Likewise, Section 244(2) CAMA states that a member can apply to the court to restrain both the company and such a person from being paraded as a Director unless duly appointed. Hence, one is left the question; WHO ARE DIRECTORS OF A COMPANY? Directors are the Alter ego of the company. They are the mind and brain behind company’s activities. They make up the policy making bodies of the company as well as the executive organs of those companies. They are persons duly appointed by their companies to direct, manage and generally oversee the affairs of their companies. It should be mention here that the respective names ascribe to these directors are immaterial but what matters is whether it is their companies that duly held out the persons out as directing its affairs. Directors are of different types as we shall understand now. TYPES OF DIRECTORS Nigerian Corporate Law Practice recognized the following types:

f. LIFE DIRECTOR In private companies especially, Life Directors may necessarily be appointed to retain the control of a company for life by the Board members. However, the fact that a person is appointed a Life Director of a company does not mean that he cannot be removed except by death. Life Director can be removed under Section 262 of CAMA by an ordinary Resolution having special notice and the observation of other procedures which the lawyer knows better. So find out from them or approach any for further assistance. It has to be mentioned here that the major benefit of appointment as Life Director is that such a Director is not subject to retirement and rotational rule as in Section 255 of CAMA.

a. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The daily activities of the company must be taken care of by a head – a Director – hence, these classes of directors known as the Executive Directors are appointed to oversee the various sections such as the Administration and Finance, etc. These classes of Directors occupy dual position or status as Alter ego as well as employee of the company. This means that he sits at the board meetings formulating policy directions for the company as well as being in-charge of implementation of the policy thrust of the company. He has office created for him in the company to exercise his g. REPRESENTATIVE/NOMINEE DIRECTOR daily affairs. This is the appointment of a person who is already a director in one company to represent the company as a direcb. NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR These classes only operate as the Alter ego and are not tor in another company in line with the law approving this involved in the day to day running or operations of the act. He is a nominee of the other company to represent it company as the Executive Directors. No office is allocated in another company as Directors. Such an appointment is to them in the company. They only must attend the Board done by ordinary resolution of the members of the compaMeetings. It is in fact from this class of directors that the ny which is to represent unless the articles reserved such a Chairman of the company is elected to preside over the power the Board of Directors. His tenure is however for a board meetings. However, it should be noted that some fixed term in line with his appointment terms. small companies at times appoints Managing Director as SHADOW DIRECTOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to perform h. A Shadow Director does not have formal appointment nor both non-Executive and Executive positions. is there any formal removal from office of such a person. The acceptance of the person as Director is based on the c. MANAGING DIRECTOR He is the Chief Executive Officer who takes full responsi- test whether the company’s existing Directors are obliged bility of all the daily activities of the company. He occupies to take the direction and instructions of such a person in dual position as both the alter ego and employee of the the ruling of the company’s affairs. A good example of company. The appointment of Managing Director (MD) shadow director can be found in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, is done by the Board of Director from member whether the former President of Nigeria and the Transnational Corfrom executive or non-executive arms of the directors and poration of Nigeria (Transcorp plc.) where it was generally delegates powers to him to act so for the interests of the believed that he directs and dictates the Board decision of company and not personal interests. Skills play prominent the company. role in this appointment hence, a service contract of terms WHAT IS THE NUMBER OF DIRECTORS REQUIRED BY and conditions of employment is very necessary. COMPANIES? Two is the minimum number of company director in Nid. CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTOR He is appointed by the Board of Directors from among the geria while the Articles of Association of the company Board members to act as its Chairman and to preside over determines the maximum number for that company. It is the company’s Board Meetings as well as its General share- to be mentioned that Section 245(2) CAMA specifies that holders meeting. Sometimes and subject to the compli- a company whose number falls below two shall within ance with the law regulating companies, he may have dual one month appoint new directors and shall not carry on business after the expiration of the one month unless the roles at a time. directors are appointed. The general meeting of the company can increase or decrease the number of directors by e. ALTERNATE DIRECTOR Simply put, this is the appointment of two directors for alteration of the articles. The Board of Directors can only a single position to alternate for each other in case of ab- increase to the maximum allowed by the articles. sence of one. This usually happens where an expatriate is involved. However, they cannot be for executive directors. WHO CAN BE APPOINTED A DIRECTOR OF A COMPANY? It is not everybody that can be appointed as a Director in Here, their tenure in office ends at the same time. Nigeria. Section 257 CAMA states out the persons qualified to be appointed as Directors in Nigeria companies. These classes of persons to occupy the alter ego of a company must be matured in character and attitude, credible personalities and very reliable persons in characters and trusts. To this end, the section of CAMA I mentioned earlier, Section 257 CAMA disqualifies the following from been directors of Nigerian companies. They are; •

Infants under the ages of 18 years Lunatic or person of unsound mind Persons of fraudulent characters as prohibited by court order or convicted for such act A corporation unless by its representative appointed for a given term • • •

APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS AFTER DEATH OF ALL DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS In the event of the death of all directors and shareholders, the law permitted any of their personal representatives to apply to the Federal High Court within their jurisdiction for an order to convene personal representatives meeting of the shareholders to appoint new directors. In the absence of the representatives doing so, any creditor may c all for such a meeting. For further enquires, you can contact me on my lines, email me or consult lawyers nearest to you.

• 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

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

I love bold, sexy and intelligent women – Ken Eric

tar of Holy Prostitute, Ken Eric Ugo, an indigene of Anambra State and a graduate of Theatre Arts from Nnamdi Azikwe University, in this interview with The Oracle Today’s DOUGLAS OMOYOOMA, talks about his journey to stardom,challenges and, of course, his kind of woman.

What has stardom denied you? First of all, you must know that the advantages of stardom outweigh the disadvantage but then, you don’t have your privacy any more so sometimes, you can’t be who you want to be. But then, the most painful part is that you get to lose a lot a friends; people you can call real friends because those are the people who knew you when you were nobody. I am talking about people you grew up with and hung out with you and then all of a sudden, you become this person they see on screen and them you get busy and the gap between you and them widens because there are demands of the job weighing on you and though you try as much as possible to explain but some do not seem to underDid anyone try to discourage you as a green stand. So, it is painful because I value and I cherish friendship; without friends I wouldn’t horns? Yes, but the discouragement I had was nev- be where I am today. er from my family or close friends. My family has been supportive. However, it was com- Looking at all the movies you have done so ing from colleagues who taught that there far, which is the most challenging? were so many people in the industry hence Every film I have ever done is challenging; my chances were pretty slim but I am not a every single one of them. I am the kind of acquitter; I have never given up on anything be- tor that considers every role I play challengcause I am frustrated except I lose interest. ing because of the training I have. No single character makes a movie. Even the least role What were your challenges as an up-and- is very important without which the movie is incomplete. What I do is that I try to immense coming actor? Challenges will always be there but the ability myself into the character and I observe. to surmount determines how far you can go in this business because definitely, there are What is the craziest thing a female fan has so many people who has the same interest as ever done to you? you, who want to act, who probably have got I have had incidents though I do not want to better talent than you. Basically, what has led exaggerate or take it for granted but I know me through have been persistence, perse- I’ve had embarrassing moments with fans, verance, patience and determination and of on the streets, at the mall, in the cinema, so many places. I have seen people scream my course, prayers. name; hug me from behind and a lot. Some When you watch your movies, do you feel fans told me that all she ever wanted to do that there are some areas you would have was to set her eyes on me. And the day she saw me, she did something funny (laughter). done better sometimes? I used to find it very awkward watching my films I must confess. It was strange but at How do you handle your female fans? some point I told myself that if I needed to Oh very well. I have very good relationship improve, then I must watch my movies. Once with them. I adore my female fans because in a while, I try to watch to see where I can they have really shown me tremendous supimprove on and I think it is very necessary for port and without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They like me for who I am even every artist. though some try to cross the line which is Beyond what we see on TV, who is the real natural. Ken Eric? Ken is the guy next door. This is just me, no Are you still single or married? plus, and no minus. I am a simply guy who I actually don’t want to discuss my private grew up like every other child. I was born in life. the North, in Kano State precisely and I had my early education there before coming But your female fans deserve to know in ordown to the east for my higher education. der to keep their eye off you... And then I did my youth service in Kaduna af- I am actually not telling anybody, keep your ter which I ventured into the movie industry. eye off me or on me, I won’t discuss my privacy. Was it always your dream to become an entertainer? Yes, I was a very good entertainer when I was a kid. I used to be drawn to anything artistic. I could go to where there was a live band playing and just sit and watch. I knew right from when I was at a tender age that I passionately loved entertainment because I had this strong passion for the arts. However, talking about being where I am today, I will say that I never dreamt about it. I come from a very liberal family. My parents didn’t have a problem with what we wanted to be; all they care about is get a good education, be disciplined and do not dent the family name.

Which actors influenced your acting career? I look up to RMD, Ramsey Nouah, Sam Dede, Desmond Eliot and John Nzeama who particularly influenced my acting greatly. What is your advice to up-and-coming actors and actresses? Be good and work on yourself. You need contacts, you need to attend auditions, you need to do movies but what you need most is work on yourself to be a good actor and every other thing will fall into place. If need

be get training, make sure you are a good actor so that whenever the opportunity comes, you do not flop. Have patience, you will have a lot rejection, discouragement but make sure you don’t give up. What is your ideal woman? My ideal woman? Beauty is fine but I look mostly at the heart and intelligence. I love intelligent bold and sexy women; I have never been with any woman who isn’t intelligent. Once you are intelligent, you have me.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

Entertainment

Charles Okafor, others for Awuwo Odofin Alleluia Carol Night

ctor, Charles Okafor will be among celebs that will grace the Amuwo- Odofin Alleluia Carol Night powered by the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International Nigeria in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Lagos on December 15, by 6:30pm at Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos. The coordinator of the programme, Mr. Christian Okpara said that the reason behind the event is to unit Christians by bringing the different denominations under one umbrella to celebrate the birth of Christ. According to him, the event will take place Both the past and present Local Government Chairmen of the local government are expected to be present, including some notable men of God. He saidL: “By extension, we are bringing in choristers from different Churches to form a mass choir that would be presenting that day. The Full Gospel Businessmen have their own Choir but we are involving other choristers to come under one umbrella to

fter making a mark on the music industry in Japan, boss of Clergy Entertainment, Nwabueze Chukwuka Ndubisi aka Bishop XL is back home to impact the Nigerian music space. The act has released a brand new single entitled Notica. “I came back to Nigeria this year and recorded Notica, which is an acronym for ‘nothing can stop me’ and it is set for release soonest. It is full of energy, positive vibes and lyrics. Bishop XL has

celebrate Christ. “We want to use the medium to unite us all, we are projecting love and unity. If you look at what is happening in the Christendom, it is as if we are not

worshiping the same God, everyone to it’s doctrine, but we are all worshiping the same God. So why should we discriminate?”

Anambra polls: How I lost – Yul Edochie

ctor, Yul Edochie has sensationally declared that the reason he lost in the recently held Anambra polls was because he was betrayed! In an exclusive chat wit Oracle Today, the thespian who got only 145 votes during the election which was held on saturday November 18 said: “ First let me congratulate Governor Willie Obiano on his victory at the polls. The process was a fulfilling one. Stressful but I would do it all over again for the good of the people, the youths. No one likes losing but I thanked God for the experience and keeping me alive all through and I have since moved on. “Three days to the election some of my party members went to pay allegiance to another party, accepted money from them and said that I had stepped down. However, they didn’t discuss with me before doing it and it went viral! I did a video to counter that but the propaganda had spread so quickly and my supporters thought I had stepped down but I hold nothing against anyone, it is all politics.” Does he have regrets venturing into politics? “No regrets at all. I am happy i ventured into it and i have come to stay in politics. And I urge more Nigerian youths to come into politics. We all need to know how our state and country is being run and make contributions.”

Bishop XL drops Nautica

come to make a difference,” the act told Entertainer. Born in Awka, Anambra State, he started miming popular songs in high school and and was inspired by 2pac,Snoop Dogg and Bone Thugz-n-Harmony. He recorded a seven-track EP in 2005 but traveled to Japan in 2008 and finally made his

Japanese debut with a single entitled, I’m Alright in 2012, featuring Hawaiian reggae artiste, Iakopo. Bishop XL has a four-tracker EP entitled Enter D’Excel currently on sale on digital stores and is currently hosting his own monthly event, christened Excel Night in Tokyo, Japan.

I want collabo with Wizkid – Seth

ast rising act and Office singer, Seth (Ihenacho Chisom Seth), has revealed that he is dying for a colabo with Starboi, Wizkid. The indigene of Abia State who grew up in Olodi Apapa, Lagos, and who started making money working as a dancer at the National Theatre at an tender age before he discovered singing added that he was so overwhelmed by Wizkid’s success at the recently help MOBO Awards that he broke down in tears, He said: “I broke down in tears when I heard that Wizkid won the MOBO Award For Best Act beating the likes of Jay Z and Drake and all the big names. That was a special moment for me.” Seth, who is a graduate of Political Science and who recently dropped a new single entitled Office continued:

“Wizkid has always been my inspiration though I look up to a number of other acts like Tuface. However, Wizkid’s has also influenced my dress sense. He is a fashion icon. I am so proud of him. D’banj started this movement when he hooked up with Kanye West back in the day but now, Wizkid has taken the game to a whole new level. My dream is to do a collabo with him. It would be a dream come true having myself and Wizkid on the same song.” Speaking on his recent single entitled Office, the fast rising singer continued: “Office is a song encouraging people to work hard in order to be the best that they can be in life. It is an inspirational song that teaches that your talent is your office and you need to exploit it to achieve your dreams.”

• Yul Edochie

Beyond the Complexion premieres

A glimpse into the marriages... Cont’d from page: 37 platforms and get married too quickly or within a brief/short period of their first meeting. For example, you can seldom find anybody who dated his/her partner for more than five years after meeting through a media dating platform. Most of the time, if they get married, they do so within three months to a year. The period of courtship on the average for people who meet through media dating platforms is rather too short in my opinion. Maybe it’s because the people who advertise their profiles are already desperate as at the time they decide to publish or air their profiles. That is not to say that only desperate people patronize media dating platforms. However, in my own case, I was desperate for a wife when I decided to publish my phone number. I mar-

ried my wife within three months of first meeting her and marriage for us has been a learning process. However, marriage would always be a learning process or a school even if you had dated your partner for 10 years before marriage. Therefore, to me, there are no rules in how you meet your partner, as long as you’re both committed to making your marriage work. In the end, there are no rules to how you meet, but what you make out of your marriage. Even though we met online, me and my wife have put a lot of effort into making our marriage work. So in the end it doesn’t matter how you meet but what you make out of your marriage. Meeting someone online or on a blind date may require luck, but building and maintaining a marriage to that person mostly involves love, commitment, effort and sacrifice.

So there is no big deal in marriage with somebody you met through the computer, digital mobile or other platform, because we will all go to the same market, so to speak, and live our lives in marriage like others do. Being married to somebody you met through digital technology is like moving from virtual reality to reality. You know that there is a thrill to meeting someone through a computer or digital mobile technology. But once you get married to that person, the thrill soon wears off and you’re left with the harsh reality of marriage. From that point onward, your marriage will now become whatever you make of it. Like in all other marriages, it’s all in the hands of the two parties involved. It’s now up to you and your partner to make or mar your marriage after the thrill you derive from meeting each other through digital technology fades away.

nome Akinlolu Majaro Foundation and Ada Ossai Productions have jointly premiered a short movie entitled Beyond the Complexion, which advocates proper treatment for people living with albinism. Executive Director/Founder of the group, Mrs Onome Akinlolu Majaro said albinism is a genetic condition not a disability and so people living with the condition deserve to be treated right. She added that a lot of people violates the rights of albinos because they ignorant that is what inspired the movie. The producer, Ada Ossai added that the movie is an adaptation of a true life story which designed to correct myths and misconceptions on albinism, while shedding light on the trials and triumphs of people living with albinism. A member of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, Rita Okagbare decried the fact that albinos are hunted and physically attacked due to prevailing myths and admonished parents who have albino children to shower them with love and affection.

I want tall, dark Igbo man for marriage – Ruth Eze

ctress, Ruth Eze has bounced back from the heartbreak she experienced a while ago when he lover after gifting her a brand new car on her birthday ended up breaking her

heart. The Imo State-born actress recently and she opened up on her new plans. She said: “I am not in a relationship at the moment. I must confess, heart break is the worst thing that could happen to anyone. I have actually done everything for love; I just want love to do everything for me now. ‘’I want a dark tall guy, he must be a lover of God, rich and must be Igbo. He must be honest, very creative and funny. I love to love to love.”

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

INTERVIEW What do you do at Halcott? We are into building, estate development and production, sale and supply building materials. We are into provision of general building support as well as provision of latest technology in wood services; we do everything about wood finishing in the house. We usually get involved in building projects just after the carcass, to do all the fittings that have to do with wood; including the wardrobe, bathroom and toilet as well. We have state-of-the-art kitchens, doors, wardrobes and all those departments that have to do with wood. Halcott boasts best products and services as far as wood finishing is concerned. We have an ultramodern factory where we do our production. We also do supply of security doors and provide consultancy services. For instance, we assist those embarking on hotel business to manage their spaces adequately to avoid wastage of apace. We as well help in managing kitchen spaces and as well carry out standard, professional installation of kitchen fittings. And apart from our security doors which we import as company representative, we produce all other products that we offer here in Nigeria. What is your new office complex in town about? It is for diversification mechanism. We are trying to import European technology in kitchen and general wood finishing, and we are planning to establish the factory here in order to discourage all forms of importation of products. We have already secured another site to take care of that project, which is on-going as we speak. Some of our machineries are already on ground, and the project would be a job-generation venture when it fully comes on stream. We are discussing with some partners for the acquisition of more modern top range machines so that when we finish our jobs locally here, it would be exactly like top products anywhere in the world, with special fortification to sooth our climate. How long have you been into the business? Halcott was registered in 2007 and to the glory of God, we have been growing from strength to strength. We are pleased that every step in the company has been an improvement. We had gone through supply stage, company representative stage, and now we are manufacturer. We have really come a long way and we are grateful to God. How important is the kitchen in the building? Kitchen is about the most important department in a building. It is in the kitchen that the food we consume is prepared. A kitchen that is not well organised and well-structured could portend serious health danger. A lot of dirt is often generated in the kitchen when food is being prepared, and appropriate measures should be taken while constructing the kitchen to ensure that dirt, flies, pests

‘Most Nigerian kitchens are sub-standard, disease incubators’ Prince Eloka Nnamani is the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Halcott Ltd, a company that provides latest technology in wood services. The company is specifically into building and Real Estate services; building materials and general building support. According to Nnamani, the company has also diversified into provision of latest technology in wood services as regards all aspects of wood finishing in the house such as kitchen furniture and house furniture, among others. He spoke to CHUKS EZE in Enugu. sicknesses that occur in various homes are due to substandard kitchens.

and rodents are completely warded off. Would you say that Nigerians accord adequate importance to the kitchen while embarking on residential building projects? Honestly, we do not give enough importance to the kitchen. If you look at a typical kitchen in the western world, you do not need to be told that the kitchen is an essential part of their residential buildings. In advanced climes, you can stay in the living room and be accessing the kitchen; it is not hidden. But down here, some buildings do not even have kitchen at all. We do not place enough value on the kitchen. That is why we are running a campaign at Halcott, to educate people on the importance of creating a befitting kitchen in their homes. What would you say is the reason our people are slow in making standard kitchen an essential part of the building, in this clime, even when Nigerians are considered about the most travelled people on earth? I think the reason is culturebased. Naturally, we do not attach special importance to our kitchen in this clime. It is a culture that is being introduced into the system. You would notice that most of our traditional houses do not even have kitchen at all. Our people used to build their kitchens separately from the main residential building. But in organised climes, kitchen is used to display pride. However, the good news is that our people are gradually appreciating the importance of investing in a good kitchen. A well-organised kitchen wards diseases off the home, unlike most kitchens in Nigeria that are best described as disease incubators. It is almost impossible to find flies in a well-structured house because a lot of professional measures are taken during the construction to ensure that it is as highly safe. So, I think that women should commence national campaign to protest against non-provision of standard kitchen in modern buildings in the country. Paucity of fund has been given as one major reason why people shy away from constructing standard kitchen. How do you react to that? I think that it is rather a matter of scale of preference and prioritisation than paucity of fund. At Halcott, we are propagating a

What other parts of the building do you consider very essential? They are the wardrobe, toilet and bathroom. Most times you see a house being designed without wardrobe. That is because they do not find it very important. And even those that manage to include it lack knowledge of how standard wardrobe should be. There is no reason why clothes should be scattered around the room in the 21st century world. The thing is that once you have an organised kitchen, wardrobe and proper toilet and bathroom, not much is needed to have a wholly organised home. A section of Halcott Limited deals with provision of consultancy, sale, supply and fitting of proper tabs and proper toilet and bathrooms in building. And we provide best range of products that can match any top range standard anywhere in the world.

Prince Eloka nnami

A well-organised kitchen wards diseases off the home, unlike most kitchens in Nigeria that are best described as disease incubators. It is almost impossible to find flies in a wellstructured house because a lot of professional measures are taken during the construction to ensure that it is as highly safe.

”

revolution in the building industry to encourage people to take the kitchen as most essential part of the building because the kitchen is even more important than the sitting room. We are trying to raise a new culture in that regard. So, the notion that putting up a standard kitchen is an expensive but unimportant venture is a misnomer. At Halcott, we are in the business of giving the kitchen profes-

sional touch. There are so many things that are not supposed to be seen in the kitchen, and we have accessories that can keep things in order and out of sight in the kitchen. It is not possible to find rodents inside kitchens that are done by us. There is immense need for developers to engage building finishing experts before embarking on building construction. Many people do not know that most

There is general apprehension over continued influx of inferior building materials in the country, which has reached an alarming stage. What do should be done about that development? Government should take the issue of standardization very seriously; and that includes areas of building approvals as well as production and importation of building materials. Government should encourage its relevant agencies to partner effectively with the media to educate people on the importance of adhering to official standards in building and building finishing. It is not just about building a house but also about doing it the proper way. Government should also be serious about enforcement of standardisation to save citizen’s lives and the nation’s economy. Various official regulators should as well ensure that only officially approved products are allowed to be brought into the country. But above all, government should fashion out modalities, just as we are currently doing at Halcott, to bring in foreign technologies to start manufacturing building materials locally, rather than bringing in finished products from abroad. It is better, cheaper and more reliable to manufacture products locally as that creates jobs and grows the nation’s economy.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

News

Work resumes on 2nd Niger Bridge

• Work in progress on the 2nd Niger bridge

Cont’d from page 2 has already made a commitment to contribute N30 billion, which represented 28 per cent. The JBINMIC consortium would raise the remaining funds for the construction, operation and maintenance of the bridge and adjacent roads of Phase 1 under a 25-year concession. “The Federal Government contributed N18.31billion out of its commitment of N30billion, comprising N8.464billion from SURE-P budget in August 2014 for early works II and a further $50million (about N9.8billion) from its Eurobond loan for the execution of early works III. The Sovereign Wealth Fund contributed N10.4 billion of the fund allocated by the Federal Government has so far been disbursed, leaving a balance of about N7.94 billion of government contribution with the sponsors. “The Second Niger Bridge, along with adjacent roads, would be 11.9km in length and have six (6) lanes with three (3) in each direction. It was expected that the bridge would be constructed and delivered in 48 months.” Things were in this state when Berger started work on the bridge. The arrival of the new government increased confusion that included protests over the toll that was to be paid to use the bridge. The Senate in 2011 had shot the proposed toll, saying that tolls could only be collected if there were other routes for those who were unable to pay tolls. A Member of the House of Representatives Abdulrazak Namdas said last June that not a dime of the N12 billion that was allocated to the bridge in the 2016 budget was spent. The wonder for the National Assembly was how the project moved from a PPP to being funded wholly again by government. Nobody has answered that question, or is about to do so. Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo made the most recent government pronouncement on the

bridge when he announced at the flag off of the governorship campaign of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Onitsha, October 20, that the Federal Government had paid contractors $2b for works to commence work on the bridge, in fulfillment of electoral promises APC made in 2015. Hours after the Vice President spoke, a statement from his office reversed the position, saying the actual amount that the Sovereign Wealth Fund had released for the project was N2 billion. Neither the contractor nor government was willing to confirm if N2 billion or more was released to the contractor for it to return to site. Vice President Osinbajo made two different statements about the Bridge in two months. “President Buhari went to China to negotiate with them about the Second Niger Bridge and East-West road,” Osinbajo, said at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Ifitedunu, Anambra State, on 29 September 2017, during the funeral mass for Mrs. Rosaline Ezinma Akabueze, mother of Ben Akabueze, Director-General of the Budget Office. He concluded that President Buhari loved Igbos, as the planned construction of the Bridge proved. Nobody contradicted him. Among the dignitaries present were Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, Minister for Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and the Minister of Industry and Investment, Okey Enelama. Earlier in the year, at the funeral service of Mrs. Roseline Akabueze, mother of the Director-General of Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze, in Ifitedunu, Anambra State, Vice President Osinbajo had promised that the Federal Government would complete the bridge. ,Remarkably, as a Senator in 2014, when President Goodluck Jonathan flagged off the construction of the bridge, Dr. Chris Ngige called the project a fraud. “The first is that the bridge is being built on a Public Private Partnership (PPP), deal, with overseas financiers. For that reason, the cost of the bridge suffered double

inflation, both from the Nigeria end and the financiers who alleged cost of fund,” Ngige said as the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State chapter was being launched in July 2014. “The bridge, which should have cost N70 billion is now to cost N114 billion, that was why I told the South East Senate Caucus that I was not going to be a part of it. As a governor in this State, I resisted that arrangement from Mr. Obasanjo. “In the budget, we have similar bridges and same length built for free by the Federal Government. Why should that built for the South East be toll gated? That bridge will have two toll gates, one in the Asaba end and one in the Onitsha end. Before you pass through it and come back, you would have spent N1, 000 that is injustice. We will continue to fight to ensure that the bridge is not toll gated”. Ngige had confirmed that there was a contract in place to do the Bridge. What was the reference the Vice President made to China? Where were the Chinese to come into the project? A lot of work had been done and actual construction started with a completion date of 2015 announced. The Muhammadu Buhari administration stopped the contract with the explanation that it needed to review the process. The Oracle Today was told that the persistent concerns were about the funding of the project. “What would N2 billion do for a N108 billion at the older, friend exchange rate of N154/$, considering the current exchange rate? When would government budgetary allocations be enough to complete the work? If N20 billion is released for the project annually, it would take over five years to complete it, assuming the cost is still N108 billion,” said one of those very familiar with the project. Motorists, in particular, are applauding the project. “It would help clear traffic on the entry to Onitsha,” said one of them. “I am happy about this. Let them finish the work quickly.” Sources at the Ministry of Fi-

nance revealed however that the paucity of funds has hindered the progress of work on the bridge. None was willing to discuss why government stopped the PPP model for the project. The source said the project is being considered under the new public private project PPP arrangements. How would the new PPP affect the earlier one? How would the new PPP and the old PPP be affected by the government financing of the project? The 2nd Niger Bridge is not on the list of 2016/2017 projects that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission listed for PPP. Section 2(4) of the ICRC (Establishment etc) Act 2005 requires the Commission to publish all Federal Government projects eligible for Public Private Partnership (PPP) contracts. Is the project no longer a PPP? What are the implications for parties that had been involved? “Work stopped here on 15 June 2015,” a source told The Oracle Today, at the Ogbaru side of the proposed bridge. “Government (Buhari’s) told us to stop work, so we did. We have not heard anything from them,” a Julius Berger official told The Oracle Today. Among the many surprises about the bridge is the change from a PPA to a government funded project, an issue that the House Representatives wanted Minister for Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to explain. “The Ministry of Finance has not yet released any cash for the Second Niger Bridge; so no money was returned,” Fashola, reacted to a welter of accusations by the House of Representatives that held him responsible for doing no work on the 2nd Niger Bridge. “On March 10, President Goodluck Jonathan performed a ground-breaking ceremony of the Second River Niger Bridge at the Krisoral ground, Atani, Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State. Julius Berger is carrying out the early works on the project and has been named preferred bidder of the EPC contract on the project’s main phase,” said on its website.

Berger started work on the site, laying beams. Its abandoned equipment is still there. It also established a work yard by the foot of the old Niger Bridge, near the Inland Waters office and the Onitsha Sea Port. Its location gives it easy access to the project site to the Harbour Industrial Layout. However, there is no work to do. Berger may be parading a letter awarding it the contract, but the government seems to have another plan. The N2b that the Vice President said was paid to contractors was for “preliminary works”. What preliminary works on a project that the execution had commenced? Berger celebrated its hold on the contract during its annual general meeting in 2014 in Abuja. “Work on the long-awaited second Niger bridge has commenced, Wolfgang Goetsch, its Managing Director told shareholders at its the 43rd annual general meeting. According to Goetsch, the Federal Government had given Julius Berger a letter of intent, which would enable it to do preliminary work such as, soil testing and engineering design. The bridge is to be built under the private public partnership arrangement. Goetsch continued, “A consortium that included a company from South Africa participated in the bidding for the project. In January 2013, our group became the preferred bidder. We are excited because it will be the first of its kind in Nigeria”. Retired AVM Nurudeen Imam, announced Berger’s successfully entry into the PPP market and its selection as preferred bidder for the second River Niger Bridge project. These are the most recent confusions. A source familiar with the project stated that nobody “is talking about which of the designs would be implement, or the company that won the design.” He painted a clearer picture of the confusion stretching it to Obasanjo, who Ngige mentioned earlier. “President Obasanjo used the as a publicity stunt from his campaigns in 1999 to the most brazen move he made two days before leaving office. On 27 May 2007, he claimed to have flagged off the construction of the project,” the source recalled. “No contract was signed. There wasn’t even a design for the bridge.” “The Senate who gave some breakdowns of road projects across the country to show how the South East was marginalised wondered why of all the mega projects initiated during Chief Obasanjo’s tenure, it was only the second Niger Bridge that was confined to PPP whereas others were solely financed by the federal government,” Senator Uche Chukwumereije, said in 2014. “If strategic national importance is the criterion for direct federal funding, second Niger Bridge merits as much attention as these other mega projects. It is a major link to the whole length of eastern half of Nigeria, from Onitsha through Benue to North East, yet the two host States which can barely source enough funds for their internal development were nearly sentenced to the burden of PPP contributions.” Obasanjo said that the project was to be funded in this manner, 60-20-20. The Federal Government would provide 60 per cent of the funds, while Anambra and Delta States would cough out 20 per cent each. Senator Mohammed Sanusi

Cont’d on page 47

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

SPORTS Messi to retire from national team if… • As teammates make excuses for Eagles defeat By MADUABUCHI KALU

arcelona and Argentina super star, Lionel Messi has threatened to quit the Argentine national team if the La Albiceleste didn’t do well at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It is recalled that Argentina were in the verge of not qualifying for next year’s World Cup if not the ingenuity of the five time Ballon d’Or winner, who made it possible by scoring hattrick on the last game of the World Cup Qualifier against Ecuador. The La Albiceleste of Argentina lost 4-2 to the Super Eagles of Nigeria recently in the international friendly in Krasnodar, Russia but the Argentines have since dismissed the outcome of the encounter as none issue as it is not going to have any effect when the two countries meet in competitive game next year in Russia. The first to carpet Eagles’ victory over two time champions is Manchester City forward, Sergio Aguero who blamed his second half fainting that resulted in his being rushed to the hospital for the lost. He explained that after he was rushed to the hospital, his teammates’ attention and focus were directed at his well-being hence they couldn’t concentrate any more on the game and that was responsible for their defeat. Also speaking on why they lost, FC Barcelona defender, Fernanda Mascherano explained that he was

•

Messi

exhausted and didn’t do what he ought to do which resulted to the Eagles advantage promising not to allow such mistakes repeat itself at the Mundial. Meanwhile, former Argentine World Cup winning midfielder, Osvaldo Ardiles has heaped praises on the Super Eagles even going ahead to tip them to ruffle feathers at the Mundial next year saying they are physically powerful and more motivated to win their opening game against Croatia.

The 1978 World Cup winners named Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Ahmed Musa as the stars in the Super Eagles squad. “Nigeria is very, very dangerous dream. True, they are no longer dug big stars like Finidi, Okocha, Kanu, and Amokachi. However, this is young energy loving team that wants to be at this level of its best time,” he said. Continuing he said: “Nigeria could be unexpected favourites of the World Cup. They will play without

FG budgets N3bn for Eagles World Cup campaign – Dalung By MADUABUCHI KALU

he Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Hon. Solomon Dalung has disclosed that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has budgeted the sum of N3billion to enable the Super Eagles’ have a successful World Cup outing in Russia. Dalung disclosed this to State House correspondent after close door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential Villa last week. He explained that while sponsors and partners will raise part of the money the substantial of part of the budget will be provided by the Federal Government. “We have a consolidated budget of about N3billion but out of that, FIFA is going to raise about N900million and our sponsors and partners are also going to bring about N600million. “Government would conservatively raise about N2 or N2.5billion to complement,” Dalung said. Speaking further, the Minister disclosed that plans are under way to ensure that the players get their allowances up-front latest by March 2018.

Therefore, those who thing that crisis will hit Eagles at the Mundial as a result of money issues should have a rethink as the players according the Honourable Minister will get their allowances in March 2018. It is recalled that the payment of allowances and bonuses to players of the national team has always been a major problem to African national team and not only to the Super Eagles. It is recalled that the Super Falcons created scene in Abuja earlier in the year when the won the African Women Nations Cup in Cameroon as the Federation were unable to pay the players as at when due. It was a national disgrace as they staged protest at every important government institutions including the National Assembly before President Buhari intervened by asking that money be made available for the players to be paid. It is based on that this new arrangement is being celebrated by well-meaning Nigerians if the authorities will honour their words at the end of the day and by so doing the country and Africa will be saved from the international embarrassment that may arise from such situation.

any fear. They have nothing to lose and very powerful. They are physically powerful and totally unpredictable. “Argentina and Croatia will have to be very careful in the game with Nigeria with Croatia in my opinion being the most difficult because it plays the first game with them. “In that opening match, the Nigerians will be most motivated. They want to show everything they know. They will know that getting three

points will take them faraway. “Therefore, Croatia must be very concentrated not only that as I recall, African teams usually know that they are better at the beginning and less so as the championship moves. “Here in England, play Moses in Chelsea, Iwobi in Arsenal and Musa in Leicester. Obi Mikel in Chelsea has gone to China. These are guys are simply unpredictable,” the words of the Argentine legend, Osvaldo Ardiles.

By MADUABUCHI KALU

on the strength or otherwise of the teams we are facing,” Rohr declared. While Rohr is thinking about Eagles’ first game against Croatia who are ranked 17th in the world by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), former Green Eagles goalkeeper and assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico fondly called Jogo Bonito (good football) exponent, has advised Gernot Rohr and his charges that the only way they can make it in Group D is to ensure that they secure maximum six points in their first two games against Croatia and Iceland. “As far as I am, I think what we should do is to make sure we win our first two matches against Croatia and Iceland. “I am saying this because if Eagles could win their first two matches they are done because whatever becomes the outcome of the game against Argentina will be inconsequential. “We need to take the first two matches very seriously if must come out that group. We need to work hard for victories in both games remain focused. We need to have full concentration in both games and pray for luck,” Erico explained.

Rohr reveals Eagles World Cup technical plans

•

Dalung

ernot Rohr, who is the Technical Adviser of the team, has revealed plans he has for the Super Eagles when they take on Croatia, Iceland and Argentina at the World Cup in Russia next year. Nigeria is in Group D and they will certainly face these teams who are ranked higher than them. The coach fielded a 4:2:3:1 formation during the Super Eagles’2018 qualifying games for the World Cup but later switched to 3:5:2 for 4-2 friendly win over the La Albiceleste of Argentina. And Rohr says he will use different formations for different games when hostilities get underway in Russia next year. “We won’t approach every game the same way, there are things we will take into consideration before setting up tactics for any game,” the Eagles’ gaffer explained. “Firstly, we have to focus on doing well in our first game against Croatia before thinking about our remaining group games against Iceland and Argentina. “I have players to interpret several formations and game plans based

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

SPORTS

I am tired of playing for Eagles – Enyeama By MADUABUCHI KALU

his may not be good news for those who have been clamouring for the return of former Super Eagles captain and goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama to be recalled to the national team as the former Enyimba goalkeeper has ruled out that. It is recalled that Nigerians started calling for Enyeama’s return to the national team set-up when it was obvious that the team’s weakest link is the goalkeeping department following the unceremonious exit of Carl Ikeme from the team following the diagnoses of Leukemia on the goalkeeper around April. The former Eagles decision not to

return to Eagles was made known by former Eagles’ goalkeeper and Media Officer, Peterside Idah in interview with journalist last Tuesday. Idah claimed that Enyeama told him in a conversation that he was tired of playing Nigeria and will not return to the team for the country’s 6th World Cup outing in Russia next year. Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has openly made his position on Enyeama saying he is open to welcoming the Akwa Ibom State-born goalkeeper back into the team even as the Franco German tactician has since declared that he does not have world-class goalkeeper. In the words of Peterside Idah: “I was one of those who spoke to En-

yeama when there was an attempt to get him back to the national team and he told me he’s tired of playing for Nigeria. “So, there should be no Enyeama (going to the World Cup). The players should have the love to play for Nigeria and not the love to play at the World Cup and make history.” He added that Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Francis Uzoho should be able to stand, but the choice was up to the coaches. “Ezenwa appears to be the No 1 now after what he did in the qualifiers, but he is not world-class,” Idah said. “Uzoho is better than him and I believe the training camp before the World Cup will determine who No1 is really.”

No new players for Eagles – Agali By MADUABUCHI KALU

F •

ormer Super Eagles’ and Nice of France striker and Gernot Rohr’s appointed national team scout, Victor Okechukwu Agali, has declared that there will be no new players for the Eagles as the Technical Adviser has already known the team’s squad for the World Cup.

Enyeama

By MADUABUCHI KALU

igeria’s world-class table tennis player, Aruna Quadri, last Wednesday made history after he was ranked 21 in the world, the highest he has ever ranked. The Oyo State table tennis players dwarfed his personal best of 25 in the world as International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) released their latest ranking. Despite not matching up the record set by Egypt’s Omar Assar as

He explained that Rohr will not be considering new players for the squad for the World Cup next year. Agali explained that there will be no need for new players in the team as the coach already has the team for the World Cup saying bringing in new players could disrupt the understanding existing among the players. Speaking further, the former

Quadri makes history, ranked 21 by ITTF

the first African ranked among top 20 in the world, Quadri ends the year as the highest ranked African table tennis player in the latest ITTF’s rating. Egypt’s Omar Assar is the second best ranked African table tennis player as he is ranked 26 in the latest ranking having dropped from his person and African best ranking of 20 to 26. The ineffectiveness of

Omar may have affected his ranking. President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Ishaku Tikon, says the feat is commendable as Quadri continues to put Nigeria and Africa on the world map with his scintillating performance at global stage. “We are excited about this latest ranking and this goes to show that

our efforts are paying off and what we just need to do is to ensure we unearth and nurture more players like Quadri. “Also the young players should take a cue from Quadri in terms of his diligent, professionalism and dedication to the trade. I hope and believe they can follow his footsteps in their career to make it to the top”.

“Breaking the 200m record, and hopefully at the European Athletics Championships next year, is my biggest goal now,” he previewed with reference to the European record of 19.72 seconds set at high altitude by legendary Italian Pietro Mennea in 1979.

France’s Christophe Lemaitre went closest to Mennea’s mark when he ran 19.80 when finishing third to Bolt at the 2011 World Championships Guliyev’s best time is 19.88 that he ran in Zagreb in 2015. “And after the European record,

then I want to get the world record and win medals at the Olympics,” the former European junior champion added. The former representative of Azerbaijan placed seventh and sixth, respectively, in World Championship 200 metre finals won by Bolt in 2009 and 2015.

No one can replace Bolt, says Guliyev

urkey’s World 200-metre champion, Ramil Guliyev believes there is no real successor to the retired Jamaican sprint king, Usain Bolt. In an interview posted on the European Athletics, Guliyev said Bolt’s departure leaves an evenly matched group of sprinters battling for supremacy in the 200 metres. Speaking boldly, he cited Bolt’s world record as one of his targets for the future. “Now that Bolt has gone, there is no obvious successor and there are maybe 15 of us at a similar standard. However, that can only make the races more exciting,” added the 27-year-old Turk, who suggested that the increased competition at the top echelon of 200m sprinting will push him to a new level. Guliyev edged 400-metre record holder, Wayne van Niekerk to win the 200 metre at the World Championships in August and has his eye on success in 2018.

Eagles’ striker said the players are fired up now, the bonding is strong, they understand themselves and as a result, there will be no need to disrupt the understanding bringing in new players. “I don’t think that there is any need for the consideration of new players for the Super Eagles. I don’t think that Gernot Rohr is thinking in that direction at the moment,” Agali began. “Like I said, there is no need for any new player in the team because the gaffer already has the players he needs in the squad for the World Cup. “The players understand themselves. So, I don’t think there is any need to disrupt the existing understanding among the players by bringing in new play into the team. “The players are fire-up, the bonding is strong. They understand themselves which is critical. So I don’t think that there is going to be any new player that will be injected into the team. “Like I said, Rohr already has the players he needs to work with ahead of the World Cup in Russia next year,” Agali said. Meanwhile, Fortuna Dusseldorf Under-19 goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, has confirmed that he was thrilled penultimate weekend to meet Agali at a space in the countryside (Germany). Working in his new role as scout for Rohr, Agali paid Okoye a visit over the chances of the youngster switching his allegiance to Nigeria. As the shot-stop is highly excited over the offer to switch allegiance to Nigeria, he doesn’t need to apply to FIFA to change his association with Germany as he has not played competitively for Germany at any level. Agali is scouting in Europe for fresh talents eligible to represent Eagles now that Nigeria is preparing for the biggest football fiesta in the world, the FIFA World Cup.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

SPORTS Make do with what’s available, Ibru tells Rohr By MADUABUCHI KALU

s Gernot Rohr ponders over who mans Eagles’ rear at next year’s FIFA World Cup, former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Emmanuel Ibru has advised Eagles’ gaffer, Gernot Rohr to make do with what is available instead of wishing that Enyeama should return to the team ahead the World Cup in Russia. According to Ibru, there is no need for Nigeria to go cap in hand pleading with Enyeama to return to the national team set up as he willingly retired from the national team to focus on his own career. He acknowledged the fact that Ikechukwu Ezenwa who at the moment is seen as the first choice goalkeeper for the team in the absence of Enyeama and Ikeme has shown some abilities but regretted that he is not a big keeper hence he finds it difficult with set-pieces particularly from the flanks. “I don’t think that Vincent Enyeama should be a major issue at this point in time. He has been out of the national team for up to two, three years now. He voluntarily retired from the international football to focus on his own career. “There is no point in us pleading with him to come back; that is number one. Even if he has been on top of his game you can’t force an unwilling player to come and play for you. “Upstairs, mentally is very important not just physically. And mentally you have to be where you want to be if you have to compete at this level. “Yes, we have goalkeeping problems but then you play with what you have available to us. “The young man Ezenwa has shown some ability unfortunately the major problem I see with him is that he is not a very big keeper. “So you noticed that he has a lot problem with set-pieces especially from the flanks, that is what I have noticed,” Ibru declared.

Serena Williams enters for Australian Open

erena Williams has entered the Australian Open in January, tournament director Craig Tiley has said. The 36-year-old won this year’s event in Melbourne while in the early weeks of pregnancy and gave birth to a daughter in September. Tiley told the Herald Sun the 23time Grand Slam winner is “very likely” to return to tennis in Melbourne. “She’s got her visa, she’s entered, she’s practising,” he said. “There’s no question she’ll be ready in our view.” Williams, who has won the Australian Open seven times, has posted on social media that she has returned to training. Australia’s Margaret Court, with 24, is the only player still ahead of Serena in terms of Grand Slam singles titles. “She wants to break a record that is Margaret Court’s,” added Tiley. “It would be a pretty significant accomplishment for her to be able to do that.”

UCL last 16: Chelsea draw Barca,

Agbo warns Croatia not to underrate Eagles

• Says “We’ve got another big star in Mikel”

• As Tottenham face Juventus

helsea have been drawn against Barcelona in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, while Tottenham will face Italian champions, Juventus. Premier League leaders Manchester City will play Switzerland’s Basel, Manchester United face La Liga side Sevilla and Liverpool take on Portugal’s Porto. Chelsea were the only English team to make it through as runners-up, with the other four sides all topping

their respective groups. The Blues have arguably been handed the most difficult tie, and it comes days after boss Antonio Conte conceded that their Premier League title defence was over following their defeat by West Ham, which left them 14 points adrift of Manchester City. However, Chelsea did beat Barcelona in the semi-finals before lifting the Champions League trophy in 2012.

Real Madrid, who are aiming for a 13th title and third in a row, were given a tough draw against big-spending PSG after finishing behind Tottenham in Group H. The group winners will be away in the round of 16 first legs on 13/14 and 20/21 February, and at home in the return matches on 6/7 and 13/14 March. The final will take place in Kiev on 26 May.

Iheanacho in the January. The former EPL champions are not short of striker options, as aside from Iheanacho they can also call

on his compatriot, Ahmed Musa, English international, Jamie Vardy, Algerian Islam Slimani, Shinji Okazaki and Leonardo Ulloa. As a result, game-time has been hard to come by for the former Manchester City starlet, who needs regular football next year to ensure he is fit and firing for Nigeria’s World Cup campaign. And Puel has not ruled out the option of selling Iheanacho. He told the Leicester Mercury: “Kelechi had an injury and after, for the moment, we have competition. “I am happy with Jamie for example. Kelechi or other players cannot play on the side. “It’s difficult for them, but for me also to manage all these players because we have six strikers, so there is no place for all the players.” Continuing Puel said: “‘I try to respect them. Kelechi arrived this season and we will see. With all these games in this busy period, we will see. “Time will tell. The window is not open, we will see. For the moment, we just look at all these games. We need all the players.” Iheanacho joined Leicester on a five-year contract earlier this year, having been sold by Man City.

Leicester open to Iheanacho’s sell

eicester City manager, Claude Puel, has revealed that he is open to the idea of selling Nigerian international forward, Kelechi

COPA Lagos: Spain edge Nigeria to claim title

panish national beach soccer team on Sunday, defeated hosts Nigeria 6-5 to clinch the 2017 COPA Lagos Beach Soccer tournament in a thrilling final played at the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos. It is Spain’s first ever COPA Lagos title as they subjected the Sand Eagles to another final defeat following the Nigerians’ loss to Switzerland in last year’s final. Both Spain and the Sand Eagles went into the game undefeated after winning their previous two games in this year’s tournament.

In the first period Spain went in front twice with goals from Llorenc and Eduard Molina but Emeka Ogbonna and Ekuitmi Eganosi brought the Sand Eagles back on two occasions to end the first period 2-2. The second period saw the Sand Eagles go 3-2 up but Molina equalised to bring Spain back in the game to 3-3. Molina once again got on the score sheet to put Spain 4-3 up but Abu Azeez drew the Sand Eagles back level before the game ended 6-5 in favour of the Spain.

By MADUABUCHI KALU

uper Eagles’ defensive and on loan Standard Liège midfielder from English Premier League club, Watford, Uche Agbo is unfaced with the prospect of facing FC Barcelona star, Ivan Rakitić and Real Madrid Luka Modrić as he came up against the pair while in Spain with Grenada as the two players are Croats. Agbo warned the duo not to underrate the three time African champions, saying Eagles‘ve got another big star in John Obi Mikel. He explained that he played against Modric and Rakitic, fought with them, learnt firsthand the kind of players they are. Speaking further, the former Enugu Rangers player acknowledged that Eagles have a tough group and as a matter of fact, one of the most difficult at the World Cup. According to him, Argentina, Croatia are excellent. He, however, maintained that Nigeria certainly will not be in Russia just to play saying their ambition is to go far at the Mundial. “We are a young team but powerful and talented. We have several players already playing in big clubs in the English Premier League. There is also our biggest star, John Obi Mikel. “We have confidence; we qualified without a defeat. We are considered legitimate candidates to advance to the second round. These are the minimal ambitions we have at the World Cup. “We are coming to Russia to impress the soccer world, to show what kind of football is in Africa and Nigeria. “We are hungry for the big results because we have not been so successful,” the words of Uche Agbo of Standard Liege of Belgium.

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

Special Report

Global movie on Dick Tiger boosts Nigeria

• Dick Tiger By UZOR MAXIM UZOATU

n international blockbuster movie is about to be made on the life of Dick Tiger, arguably the greatest boxer ever to have come out of Africa. In the 1960s, Dick Tiger won the world middleweight title on two occasions, and then stepped up to equally become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion of the world. After Dick Tiger defeated the American boxer Gene Fullmer via a seventh round TKO at Liberty Stadium, Ibadan on August 28, 1963, to retain his world middleweight title, the mauled American fighter said: “I went to Nigeria to fight (Dick Tiger) and, of course, I don’t know what happened over there. I had nothing. He beat me. He beat me bad. My mother and father could have been judge and referee and I couldn’t have won a round, wouldn’t have won a round. I mean, he beat me that bad.” It pumps my heart to break the great news that a groundbreaking movie about to be shot on the Dick Tiger phenomenon is poised to put Nigeria up the elevated pedestal of the global stratosphere. It is crucial to state that Dick Tiger was born as Richard Ihetu on August 14, 1929 in Amaigbo, Orlu of present-day Imo State. The idea of the feature film entitled Dick Tiger originated from the South African ace filmmaker Zola Maseko, director of the 2004 celebrated movie Drum. He is collaborating with a Nigerian producer, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, the renowned director of the multiaward-winning film Tango With Me. It’s a case of the best of South Africa and Nigeria meeting to showcase Africa to the world with Imo State as base. Governor Rochas Anayo Oko-

rocha who has hosted President Zuma of South Africa and erected his statue in Imo State has this co-production between South Africa and Nigeria as a crowning glory. Hollywood stars would shine in Nigeria. Chiwetel Ejiofor is on the cards as a lead alongside the delectable Idris Elba. The film Dick Tiger is planned as a period masterpiece by the Director Zola Maseko, in the manner of his film Drum, which was set in Africa of the 1950s. Producer Mahmood Ali-Balogun is quite busy with the Nigerian groundwork, having visited Dick Tiger’s hometown of Amaigbo and apprised the Imo State authorities of the coming boon. Ali-Balogun has also discussed with the Dick Tiger Foundation in Nigeria and has been granted access to the lionized boxer’s memorabilia. The multi-million dollar project will be shot on locations spanning Nigeria, South Africa, Liverpool and New York. It is proposed that aside from Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris Elba, Nigerian screen sirens such as Genevieve Nnaji and Rita Dominic, who incidentally are from Imo State, would equally star. The film Dick Tiger will rival Martin Scorsese’s movie Raging Bull, based on the riotous career of the recently departed middleweight world champion Jake La Motta, for class. There is no doubt that it will gain world attention like the film on Muhammad Ali starring Will Smith. Telling the true-life story of the esteemed world champion in the film Dick Tiger, according to Director Zola Maseko “is what Nigerian cinema needs at this moment, a film that can shine the international spotlight on this vast country and set new standards for Nigerian cinema.” Dick Tiger’s son, Dick Tiger Jnr, has already given his accent to the

project. The classy Nollywood actor Bobby Michaels, a nephew of Dick Tiger, based in South Africa has been a bulwark of strength tying all the knots. The tribute that The New York Post wrote about Dick Tiger after his death on December 14, 1971 is germane here. According to The New York Post: “Dick Tiger started on his hands and knees cleaning chicken hoops on his father’s farm in Amaigbo, Orlu in Nigeria. He ended up working as a man’s room attendant for ninety-six dollars a week at the Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. In be-

tween he fought eighty-two bouts, becoming a world champion and Nigerian hero.” It is incumbent on Governor Okorocha to utilize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immortalize the great native son as he is already interested in internationalizing the state. The Dick Tiger story indeed reads like a fairy-tale. He left his rural birthplace of Amaigbo to the harsh urban streets of Aba where he was a bottle-picker, bicycle repairer and water vendor. A British Army Commander stationed in Aba after World War II, Colonel Richard Diamond, saw the prospects of his young African namesake as a boxer and introduced him to boxing in 1952 at the relatively old age of 23. He won the national middleweight title in Lagos in May 1954. In December 1955, he travelled to Liverpool, England to further his professional boxing career. He suffered tremendously from cold and homesickness, but he somewhat trudged on, fighting and winning the British Empire (Commonwealth) middleweight title in March 1958 by defeating Pat MacAteer in Liverpool. He got married to his sweetheart from back home, Abigail (nee Ogbuji) in 1959 and then moved to the United States of America in a striking drive to conquer the world of professional boxing. Dick Tiger won what was then called the National Boxing Association (NBA) world title in 1962 in San Francisco, California, USA by defeating Gene Fullmer over 15 tough rounds. He had a rematch with Fullmer which ended in draw before retiring the American from boxing in the iconic fight that took place in Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, in August 1963. Queen Elizabeth of Britain bestowed Dick Tiger with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1963. He lost the middleweight title to Joey Giardello in December 1963, only to regain the title from the same boxer in October 1965. He finally lost the

undisputed world middleweight title to Emile Griffith in Madison Square Garden, New York in April, 1966. Dick Tiger then amazingly stepped up in weight to win the undisputed world light-heavyweight title by defeating Jose Torres in December 1966. He retained the title by defeating Torres in a rematch on May 16, 1967. Dick Tiger lost the title to Bob Forster in May 1968 via a fourth round knockout, the only KO he ever suffered in his long career. Wracked by the raging Nigeria-Biafra War, Dick Tiger lost everything. He ended up by taking up a job as a porter on 96 Dollars at the American Museum of Natural History. He was sadly diagnosed to be suffering from advanced liver cancer that cannot be cured. He then relocated to a sanatorium where he hoped to die until a sportswriter from Sports Illustrated saw him and raised the funds with which he was transported home to Nigeria. Throngs of supporters lined the road to the airport to welcome home the hero. Many others visited the dying Tiger in his house in Aba. He passed away on December 14, 1971. Through the film Dick Tiger Nigeria is poised to an esteemed position in international moviemaking. The co-production between South Africa and Nigeria is the grand prospect needed to match African movies with Hollywood. Incidentally, it is about the life of the Imo State-born boxing legend Dick Tiger, and the film is being shot at a time Governor Okorocha is bent on internationalizing the state as a first amongst equals. The film Director Zola Maseko of South Africa who received the Golden Stallion of Yennenga top prize at FESPACO 2005 and the Nigerian Producer Mahmood Ali-Balogun who won the MNET award in 1999 are indeed esteemed breakthrough pathfinders with the film Dick Tiger.

• Mahmood (left) and Zola

The Oracle Today Wednesday December 20, 2017

NEWS

3 months: Kanu, father, mum still missing Cont’d from page 2 securely locked gate, is still desolate. The royal father and his queen as well as Nnamdi are still missing. The roads to the palace, off Afara-Factory Road and Okpara Avenue, equally wear forlorn looks. The quietude in the entire vicinity is “deafening.” Unlike before, you could now look from one end of the road and see the other, with few persons on the road. When The Oracle Today visited Eze Kanu’s palace on Tuesday at about 11 am, the entire vicinity was very quiet and calm. Not up to five people were counted walking on the road, even as almost all residential buildings were locked, a sign that the occupants have gone out to eke a living. In front of the palace, fallen leaves from mango trees dot every space. None of the three canopies, including a large one that served as car park, is stand-

ing again. They have been pulled down. The black gate has a big pad lock on it. In front of the gate is an Isuzu Rodeo Jeep with the official vehicle plate number of Eze Kanu on its front. The front windscreen of the vehicle is shattered, ostensibly pierced by a bullet. To the right of the gate (if you are entering) are two vehicles: a Maxima car and a Sienna jeep, back shield (windscreen broken to pieces. The vehicles are coated in dust. No soul was seen around the gate. The compound could not be accessed because the gate is locked: the palace looked deserted. The big tree has been hewed down; the birds have dispersed! Few shops remained open with the occupants idling away. A shop was being renovated. The ever-busy shops at the Afara Plaza on Factory Road junction barely had customers. Only few young men were seen at a betting shop in the building. People living in the area still

cringe at the approach of an unfamiliar face and would not want to engage with you on IPOB-related issues. The few, who agree to talk, do so with high degree of reluctance. No one wants you to mention his or her name, that is if you are lucky to elicit information from anyone. One said the place now feels lonely with the absence of the royal Kanu family, adding that they feared for their king who has gone missing since the Septembers 14 military invasion. He appealed to the authorities to bring their traditional ruler back as soon as possible so that their joy would be complete this yuletide. Those doing business in the vicinity agreed that business has dwindled to its lowest volume since the invasion. They said they do not record any sales for days. The people maintained that they did not see IPOB activities as exposing them to the degree of danger and insecurity they ex-

perienced on September 14, adding that three months after, they were still trying to come to terms with the fate that befell them and were picking their bits and pieces together. Younger brother of the IPOB leader, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, aka, Fineboy, said, when contacted, that he was still very much in shock following the invasion but was quick to point out that it has not and could not change the quest to bring back Biafra. “It (the military invasion) is a thing we have never seen in our life. The invasion was obviously to kill Nnamdi Kanu and the family members,” he said. He then released a poser: “Why is it shocking? Why the invasion when the Federal Government had a pending case against Kanu in court? The invasion can’t change our ideology; on Biafra we stand.” He said the military should account for the whereabouts of his

Cont’d from page 42 Daggash as Minister for Works in 2010 visited the bridge and tried to mobilise funds through the Debt Management Office, DMO, for its construction, The Oracle Today learnt. The government approved a contract of N325 million to Messrs Roughton International Limited, a transaction advisory services firm, to design, build, and finance and operate the proposed second Niger Bridge. Daggash’s brief tenure ended that move. In 2012, Setraco Construction Company carried out maintenance work on the bridge. There were fears that it could collapse, after reports that some of the bolts and nuts had fallen off. Former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, had told the Senate Committee on Works the supposed commencement of second Niger Bridge by the former President Obasanjo was a fraud. Obi spoke to a five-man Senate Committee on Works led by its chairman, Senator Julius Ucha. According to Obi, there was no budget and no work was done after the flag off. Our sources describe the project thus: The Second Niger Bridge project comprised Phases 1, 2a and 2b and includes a southern bypass of both Asaba and Onitsha cities with an approximate total length of 44km. The phase 1 of the project, which is the bridge and adjacent roads, is approximately 11.9 kilometres and will be constructed and operated under a Design, Build, and Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. The bridge will comprise a 3.31 kilometre-long road section on the Delta side, including a 500 metre-long toll plaza; a 1.59 kilometres tolled concrete box-girder bridge with two superstructures; and a 7.0 kilometre-long road section on the Anambra side. It is expected that the bridge would be constructed and delivered in 48 months. When completed, the bridge and approach roads will have six lanes with three in each direction. Phase 2a is connected to the Asaba-Benin Expressway while Phase 2b is connected to the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway. Phases 2a and 2b together constitute the feeding approach roads.

Work resumes on 2nd Niger Bridge These, they said, were the component of the contract that Berger was executing at N108b. “The Second Niger Bridge, along with adjacent roads, would be 11.9km in length and have six (6) lanes with three (3) in each direction. It was expected that the bridge would be constructed and delivered in 48 months.” Other descriptions of the project exist. “The project, which is divided into three phases, will bypass Onitsha and Asaba to connect the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway at Nkwerre-Ezunaka, and then cross Atani to the Asaba-Benin Expressway at Okpanam with a total length of 44 kilometres. With this length, the Second Niger Bridge will surpass the world’s longest bridge in China (42.4km), to become the world’s longest bridge,” a source told The Oracle Today. What happens to the financing arrangement that was made when the contract was awarded to Berger? Out of the N108 billion project cost, the Federal Government had already made a commitment to contribute N30 billion, which represented 28 per cent. The JBINMIC consortium would raise the

remaining funds for the construction, operation and maintenance of the bridge and adjacent roads of Phase 1 under a 25-year concession. The Federal Government contributed N18.31billion out of its commitment of N30billion, comprising N8.464billion from SURE-P budget in August 2014 for early works II and a further $50million (about N9.8billion) from its Eurobond loan for the execution of early works III. The Sovereign Wealth Fund contributed N10.4 billion of the fund allocated by the Federal Government has so far been disbursed, leaving a balance of about N7.94 billion of government contribution with the sponsors. Complications that the funding plans could raise may stall the work forever, said one of the sources. “If government insists on funding the bridge, or decides to review the PPP processes that the ICRA had approved, not only would these be illegal, but the process would mean that there would be no new bridge across the River Niger in the next five years, if ever,” an expert who did not want

parents and brother. At the last sitting of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where Justice Binta Nyako is presiding over the Federal Government’s case against Nnamdi Kanu, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, one of Kanu’s sureties and Kanu’s lawyers, had asked the court to visit the Afara Ukwu home of Kanu, where he last was, when the military invaded it. He had not been seen, or anything heard from him since the invasion.

his name in print said. “A cancellation of a PPP that has gone through the scrutiny of the ICRA has dangerous implications for confidence of investors in government. Has the government considered the signals it is sending to investors?” “The biggest assault on the project was the government’s decision to stop the contract. The collapse of the exchange rate has more than doubled the cost of the project. Where would the government find the money? “Where would government that complains of scare resources find the funds for the 2nd Niger Bridge? How much would be approved annually to get close the former contract cost, not to talk of the reviewed one?” Mr. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, representing Owerri Federal Constituency of Imo State, had complained in 2013, “The promises of constructing a second Niger Bridge by the past and present administrations have been a mirage.” President Ibrahim Babangida challenged Nigerian engineers in 1992 to build a second bridge across the River Niger. Nigerian

Society Engineers designed the bridge using its management consultancy firm NSE PREMS. The project collapsed with the proposed addition of an East-West rail to it. French company, Dumez, constructed the Niger Bridge, between 1964 and 1965, to link Onitsha and Asaba. It cost £5million. During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967-1970, Biafran soldiers destroyed the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha to halt the advance of Nigerians troops. The bridge was rehabilitated. The need for a second bridge was realised almost 50 years ago. The project, which is divided into three phases, will bypass Onitsha and Asaba to connect the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway at Nkwerre-Ezunaka, and then cross Atani to the Asaba-Benin Expressway at Okpanam with a total length of 44 kilometres. With this length, the Second Niger Bridge will surpass the world’s longest bridge in China (42.4km), to become the world’s longest bridge. The confusion continues. There have been talks of the proposed rails linking Lagos with the South East and South South being a part of the bridge. Nobody is willing to provide more details. “If government insists on funding the bridge, or decides to review the PPP processes that the ICRA had approved, not only would these be illegal, but the process would mean that there would be no new bridge across the River Niger in the next five years, if ever,” an expert who did not want his name in print said. “The biggest assault on the project was the government’s decision to stop the contract. The collapse of the exchange rate has more than doubled the cost of the project. Where would the government find the money?” In a chat with The Oracle Today in Owerri last March, Dr. Umar Eleazu, economist and pioneer Director General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, said that the planned is bridge was inadequate and worse than what was proposed decades ago. “It was to start at Ogwashi-Uku with expressway that would have opened new opportunities by the coastal lines. The idea was to create industrial clusters along the route that the road would serve,” he said. “It was not meant to be just a road

WEDNESDAY December 20, 2017

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DESMOND EKWUEME

2019: Will Saraki run?

he race for 2019 is on. The race for Aso Villa is getting hotter with aspirants declaring their intentions to run. Former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Ekiti State governor Ayodele Peter Fayose, former Vice-President, Abubakar Atiku and Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo have all indicated interest to contest the Presidential election come 2019 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In fact, the defection of former Vice-President, Atiku to PDP heightened political activities and interests as his move came just days to the PDP Convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja. So far, just one candidate is standing for the governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is President Muhammadu Buhari whose Buhari Support Organization (BSO) launched its operational secretariat in Abuja weeks ago with Customs Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.) as DG. Many believe that with Atiku’s defection from APC to PDP, the way for Buhari to cruise to a successful re-election has been narrowed, despite the severe media (particularly in the social media) attacks on Atiku. It is also believed that Atiku could clinch the PDP Presidential ticket but that does not in any way imply that he could sail above the incumbent President when the election comes in 2019, if the latter’s political moves as witnessed in the crowd that greeted his visit in Kano, are anything to go by. However, political pundits, analysts and observers believe Buhari isn’t exactly walking an easy street either. With the woeful performance of his government, contrary to expectations, Buhari is certain to be given a run for his money especially as the political costs expands and more and more credible aspirants throw their hats in the ring. Apart from Atiku and others, another man that could give Buhari a serious run for his money in 2019, perhaps even a bloody nose, is Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki whose body language initially suggested he could get into the ring but suddenly not much has been heard from

his camp lately. Indeed, Saraki’s silence is being interpreted in diverse ways by different political watchers. Some suggest that he probably may have reached a deal with party chieftains and the presidency not to run since that could have a telling effect on the unity of the party and the spill-over effect could further affect the chances of Buhari more so, his (Saraki’s) position will be guaranteed and secured in the second term arrangement. Another school of thought opines that perhaps Saraki has chickened out seeing that he stands no chance before a renewed and fortified interest of Buhari to seek a second term and he may not be taken seriously just like Atiku if he chooses to return to PDP to fulfil his dream of becoming President. Yet another opinion says Saraki may be keeping his ace to his chest, observing events and waiting for the eleventh hour to strike. This option sounds most likely considering the political antecedents and attitude of Saraki especially after his cold war with APC chieftains at the beginning of this administration. Politics, as they say is a game. You wait for the weak period of your opponent to launch the masterstroke. It is a game where trust is just a word without bond or honour. It is a game where you don’t underrate your opponent irrespective of your strength and advantage over him/her. In this vein, it may not come as a surprise should Saraki step into the ring before the end of the first quarter of 2018. Unconfirmed reports suggest that he is under immense pressure to declare his interest to run. Before now though, he had never hidden his ambition to step into Aso Villa as President. Those who know say his biggest ambition is to lead Nigeria as president. This again suggests that he may beat the APC eggheads to their game having quietly yet powerfully maneuvered out of every stumbling block set on his way after that famous Senate leadership election where he emerged Senate President and leader of the National Assembly. It is not debatable that Saraki has huge influence and control over the National Assembly just as he has goodwill before the very powerful Nigerian Governors Forum. He made lots of friends in the South East and South South in the course of his emergence as Senate President. He has a firm support base in the North Central where he hails from. These are all indicators that Saraki will step into the ring sometime soon. A close aide to the Senate President said: “He is not the type that rushes into conclusion. He does not rush to take decisions especially those that concern his political life and the country. He consults widely. He speaks to almost everyone. I think that could be the case here. That is a mark of a man and public servant who is not desperate for power. He has his card to his chest. Yes, I can confirm that this issue has been burning among his faithful. But he will always say, ‘it’s not about us but about Nigerians whose decisions matter most.’ No one

can say if, he will or not but truth is the pressure for him to declare is very high. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Let’s wait, watch and see.” Observers, however, think that one factor will drive Saraki to enter the ring. That factor is his geo-political zone. The Presidential tickets for both APC and PDP have been zoned to the North. Should Buhari secure the ticket for second term in 2019, which is not unlikely, then, that implies that the North will have to wait for the South to produce the President after Buhari’s second term which ends in 2023. The big question is, will Saraki be patient enough to wait till 2031 to get a shot at the presidency after a Southern President finishes his/ her two terms? Will he be able to enjoy same support he enjoys now then? Won’t there be more sophisticated, vibrant and younger politicians springing up from the North to shove his intetests aside? Will the political atmosphere and calculations of the country remain the same by then? Won’t a new power bloc have emerged from his State (Kwara) and zone (North Central) then? Many questions to be answered! Saraki’s supporters are torn into two divides on this. One group thinks he is still young and can wait till then for as long as he still nurses the ambition to preside over Nigeria. A second group thinks otherwise, suggesting that he should make hay while the sun shines. This group believes that Saraki stands a better chance now than any other time more so, he may not be the only politician from the North Central eyeing the presidency. If Saraki goes with the latter argument then, he may find it difficult to upset or upstage Buhari who surely has APC locked down to his side. Buhari’s recent “fence-mending” exercise, which “realigned” Bola Ahmed Tinubu to his camp is a massive political boost for Mr. President. His recent visit to the South East after the “Operation Python Dance 2” is seen as a good political goal scored by Mr. President. These are proofs that Buhari is tactically reaching out and tightening his seatbelt in readiness for take-off for the journey to 2019 and beyond. Suffice this to mean that Buhari will surely end up as the sole candidate of APC in 2019 Presidential race. So where does this leave Saraki’s ambition if he decides to run? Perhaps Saraki may also return to PDP to slug it out with Atiku and co. With his massive support in NASS and the NGF, Saraki may dwarf Atiku to grab the PDP ticket to square up in a titanic battle with Buhari for the key to Aso Villa. But will Saraki follow his mind or brain? Will he listen to his heart or head? Will he wait till after 2023 or better still 2031, to step forward or take the bull by the horn to join the 2019 race? Is he even ready for this journey or is he simply being egged on by cheap supporters and sycophants? Perhaps, the first quarter of 2018 will get the picture clearer. But, one thing is certain: Saraki’s silence is a message loud enough to give politically-conscious Nigerians some concerns. • Desmond Ekwueme is a Lagos-based journalist

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited. Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha. Lagos Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA Ikeja. Abuja Office: 1st Floor, Plateau House, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenews.ng@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.