Wednesday March 13, 2019 Edition

NNPC to build fertilizer, power plants

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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pressed intensions to invest in three power plants and a fertilizer plant in the year.

The investment plan comes as the corporation

recovered some assets woth over N771 million from marketers involved in fraudulent loading of fuel at the Kaduna depot of the Pipe-

The

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has ex-

VOX POPULI SACRUM

lines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) of the NNPC, The projects which are to be delivered by a new

try.

The power plants, according to the company,

racle www.oraclenews.ng

Battle Royale WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

gas monetization entity, Gas and Power Investment Company (GPIC), are to be located in the northern and southern parts if the coun-

ISSN: 2545-5869

•March 9 : Make or mar for govs/candidates •Fierce battles in Abia, Akwa Ibom •Five strong candidates in contention in Imo •No clear signals yet for APC in Cross River, Enugu

Cont’d on page 3

Today

VOL.4 No.9 N200

Umunneochi contituency: Okey Igwe pushes for a win •P12

•Okezie Ikpeazu

•Ben Ayade

•Uche Ogah

•Ifeanyi Okowa

•Emmanuel Udom

•Great Ogboru

• Nsima Ekere

•David Umahi

Why PDP must go to court, by Obi

•Expresses confidence in the judiciary •Thanks Nigerians for voting ‘massively’ for PDP •Urges voters in Lagos,

elsewhere to vote PDP again

By ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU

P

eople’s Democratic Party (PDP) has vowed to recover its “stolen mandate” in court, saying it has total confidence in the rule of law and the judiciary to

•Ifeanyi-Ugwuanyi

Page 10

•Senator Ayogu Eze

•Ikedi Ohakim

•Nyesom Wike

upturn the presidential election of Saturday, February 23, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said President Muhammadu Buhari won.

The running mate

Cont’d on page 3

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ayogu Eze tango in Enugu

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia, JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba, CHUKS EZE, Enugu

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f the fallouts of the last election-- its conduct and results therefrom-- are any guide, then the Saturday, March 9, 2019 governorship and State Assembly election promises to be a battle royale for State Government Houses and the hallowed chambers of state legislature across the country, especially in the South East and South South States.

The epic battle is likely to be fought with scanty spectators on the stands, however, as there are fears that voters, demoralised by the shenanigans that dogged the presidential and National Assembly election last week, may simply stay away from the polling units to save their necks.

Even then, that is not likely to detract from the intensity of the battle as the gladiators are prepared to either win or lose with as few votes so long as voters are ready to cast their votes on that day.

After all, the presidential/National Assembly election that was won and lost by a total of 26m votes out of over 80 million registered voters, a mere 35 per cent voter turnout.

In the light of the intense campaigns in the states, the choice of who governs at the state level might not be as straightforward

Battle Royale as the presidential election, which looked like a two-way battle.

In the South East and South South, it will be easier for some voters while for others it will not be quite so.

It might be straight choices in some states for voters where the incumbents are seeking re-election, and not quite so in a state like Imo, where voters will be seeking to elect a new governor.

No governorship elections will hold in Anambra, Bayelsa and Edo. Along party lines, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), hold sway in Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers, while the All Progressive Congress (APC) controls Imo. ABIA In Abia, the race promises to be very explosive in Abia State.

Though about 30 political parties fielded candidates in the governorship race, the exercise is being seen as a three-pronged fight among the ruling PDP, APC and APGA. This is predicated on the frenzy of political activities, which are generating great tension.

Okezie Ikpeazu/PDP

However, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, is easily the candidate to beat, as there are several factors going for him.

He is the incumbent governor and hails from Abia South Senatorial zone, which is highly favoured by the equity principle being applied in the state.

Being the first Ukwa/Ngwa man to become governor, the Ukwa/ Ngwa political bloc has thrown its weight behind his re-election bid.

With nine local governments in its kitty, the Ukwa/Ngwa has promulgated decrees barring any other person from the area from contesting the position of governorship, except Ikpeazu.

The decree also barred any politician of Ukwa/Ngwa extraction from accepting to be deputy to any other candidate from another political party.

To this end, enormous pressure is being brought to bear on the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Dr. (Dame) Blessing Nwagba, from Aba to step down, as well as Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, to repudiate his candidacy as deputy to Dr Uche Ogah,

the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress.

All that the patriotic Ngwa man is preaching now is equity, a subtle way of saying that Ikpeazu should be allowed to complete eight years, just like his counterparts from other zones who had eight years.

The stance of the Ukwa/Ngwa has thrown to the back waters, heated arguments over merit which partly touches on the performance of the Ikpeazu-led administration, where many are scoring the governor low on irregular payment of salaries to workers.

Also the veiled threat that Ikpeazu’s re-election bid would suffer serious setback and the equity song thrown into the thrash can has fizzled out with the victory of Senator Theodore Orji.

The threat emanated from the rumour that the Ngwa section of Abia Central was rooting for Nkechi Nwaogu, the APC senatorial candidate.

With Orji’s victory, it is expected that his kinsmen would work for Ikpeazu’s comeback.

In terms of projects, the gov-

ernor has done his best in road construction and rehabilitation, especially in Aba. He has done well in the economic front, being the foremost promoter of made-inAbia products, pushing for the establishment of world-class leather manufacturing industry in Aba and starting off the private sector-driven massive Enyimba Economic City.

These, coupled with the fact that Abia has been the stronghold of PDP since the inception of the current democratic dispensation, are factors going for Ikpeazu.

Many analysts believe that it would be an uphill task to unseat the governor, more so, if all PDP members and the retinue of Ikpeazu’s aides should deliver on the deliver-your-polling unit-mandate.

Despite all he has going for him, Ikpeazu and the PDP embarked on vigorous campaigns, from the wards to the local governments and state level, a venture that is expected to rub off positively on his re-election bid.

Uche Ogah/APC Oil magnate and Chief Executive Officer of Masters Energy, Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah, the governorship candidate All Progressives Congress (APC), is going into Saturday’s contest with high hopes.

This is because the strong showing of APC in the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections in Abia North, partic-

Cont’d on page 43

Why PDP must go to court, by Obi Cont’d from Pg 1

to the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the just-concluded presidential election, and former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi who spoke the mind of the party said he had gone through such processes in the past when his victory was denied him in Anambra State.

He said that his principal, Atiku and himself with the party leadership as well as members and supporters across the nation, would, therefore, not be deterred by people pleading with them not to go to court rather than applaud the PDP for going to court instead of resorting to self-help.

Obi added that as law-abiding citizens, the PDP as a party, its presidential candidate and himself, had decided to go to court because of their belief in the rule of law. “Though elections give citizens a means to hold their leaders accountable by voting incumbents out of office or promising to hold to account those leaders successfully elected, the process is more important than the outcome as the rule of law must always prevail. Thus, the consequences of Nigeria without rule of law will be unimaginable chaos and tyranny,” he said.

Expressing his confidence in the judiciary, Obi said he appreciated the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians on the issue.

However, concerning those that advised against going to court, Obi said the dilemma for Nigeria was allowing impunity to go unchallenged.

“Besides putting a stop to impunity”, Obi said, “ such a challenge will also go a long way in strengthening the electoral processes and

in guarding against repetition of such dastardly acts in future.

He said the manipulation to favour the ruling party in the presidential election were mind-boggling, especially with the connivance of the INEC that was supposed to be the umpire, insisting that INEC failed the integrity test placed before it by Nigerians.

Obi noted that the greatest enemy of freedom are those happy few slaves and those they are trying to change to support them achieve their aim, stressing that the court would do the right thing.

Obi appealed to Ndigbo resident in Lagos to come out on Saturday and ensure that PDP candidates are voted into positions of authority anywhere they are resident despite the provocations, intimidation and electoral violence since all those are done to intimidate them from supporting a candidate of their choice.

He noted that every Nigerian is entitled to vote anywhere he or she is resident in Nigeria as stipulated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He appealed to Ndigbo and all Nigerians to come out and vote and stand against intimidation and all forms of impunity, warning those fanning the embers of disunity and crisis no to start what they can’t contain.

He wondered why a group of people who contributed in building a society should be cajoled not to participate in choosing who their leaders should be.

He however advised Ndigbo and all Nigerians to be of good conduct and law-abiding but resolute in doing the needful for a better Nigeria.

He pointed out that the PDP isn’t quarrelling with APC, so there is

•Peter Obi

nothing to reconcile, adding that it is the processes that threw the APC into power that the PDP is contesting for a better Nigeria, where the rule of law and due process with strong institutions of government, which would benefit all Nigerians, would emerge.

Nigerian votes, he said, must begin to count.

Obi who recalled how he had been on the route before, called on Nigerians to have faith in the judiciary as the last hope of a common man.

The PDP Vice Presidential Candidate cautioned against witch-hunting of opposition leaders and more especially voters in

some parts of the country who voted according to their conscience.

He said: “To the young people, millions of whom I came across on our campaigns across the length and breadth of this country, and who showed great enthusiasm and promise for a greater Nigeria, I urge you to troop out on Saturday, March 9 to restate your message of a desire for a better Nigeria.

Though a few as shown by ballot snatching, and violence are still held down by tribalism and ethnic bigotry, I urge the majority to continue in the march of the the New world order, where all are equal and Nigeria is united, secure and

prosperous.”

He thanked Nigerians for their support for the PDP during the election.

Speaking to the press in his Onitsha home, Mr. Peter Obi said he was touched by the eagerness with which Nigerians came out to fulfill their civic duties of voting and thanked especially the youth and women, some of whom exercised their voting rights for the first time in the over 119,000 polling booths scattered all over Nigeria.

Obi also condoled the families of those that lost their lives and those that sustained various degrees of injuries during the election, appealing to them not to allow their spirit become dampened towards the performance of their civic duties in future.

Speaking on the general conduct of the election, Obi said it was anything but a transparent, free and fair election, which certainly fell far below the standard established by the 2015 Presidential Election, insisting that it was characterize by deliberate voters’ suppression and intimidation throughout the South-East and South-South, actions he described as the highest form of corruption.

Obi lamented that the two zones under reference witnessed different sets of rule.

According to him, “while some zones voted strictly using the card readers, other zones, as part of the manipulation orchestrated by the ruling party, APC were allowed to vote without card readers contrary to the guidelines INEC issued before the election.”

On the way forward, Obi said he aligned fully with PDP as a party, the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and well-meaning Nigerians in condemning the exercise.

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Nigeria air passenger traffic increased by 20 per cent in 2018 – NCAA Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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O fewer than 14,171,722 air travelers went through Nigeria Airports in 2018, according to figures released on Tuesday in Lagos by the Consumer Protection Directorate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the figure represents 20.8 per cent increase, compared to the 11,221,608 passengers recorded between January and December 2017.

According to the document, the 34 airlines on the international routes operate 15,645 flights and flew 4, 079, 0789 passengers during the period under review.

The nine domestic airlines operated a total of 59,818 flights and air lifted 10, 092,648 passengers across the country, it added.

NCAA said that airlines on the domestic routes accounted for 72 per cent of the passenger traffic while the international route recorded 28 per cent.

Commenting on the development, the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurog-

boye, said government was working hard to sustain the tempo by the construction of new international terminal buildings.

Adurogboye noted that government had, within the last few months, inaugurated new international terminals at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to him, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has also promised that the construction of similar projects at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano will soon be completed.

He said:” We are hoping and working harder to ensure that there is more movement of passengers.

“By the time that new terminals in Lagos and Kano come on stream, they will equally enhance more frequencies.”

The NCAA spokesperson said the modern terminals would attract more mega carriers to Nigeria due to easier passenger facilitation and thereby bring more investments into the country.

Delta, Akwa Ibom should not be opposition states – Osinbajo

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ICE President Yemi Osinbajo says Delta and Akwa Ibom States should not be opposition states urging the people to key into the progressive ideology of the All Progressives Congress at the centre.

Prof Osinbajo who visited both States Monday said both States have more potential and could actualize them if they vote for candidates of the APC. Speaking at the APC interactive forum in Warri, the Vice President reeled the projects that the APCled Federal Government have completed and those that are ongoing in the State and in the South South.

He urged the people that Delta State can achieve more if they vote Great Ogboru, the APC governorship on 9 March. “Even the East West road that we have been talking about, this is the first government to put resource into it and all of us will be able to benefit.

“The Lagos-Calabar railway is also ongoing. When people criticize President Buhari, many forget that of the four refineries that we built in this country, that when he was Minister of Petroleum was when we built three of them, 3,500 kilometers pipelines laid in three years by this same, Muhammadu Buhari.

“So we asked ourselves are we not better off under such a President, are we not better off when our state is part of that center?

Delta State should not be an opposition state, why should it?

“What happened at the Presidential and National Assembly elections were a great victory, but the completion of the victory will come on Saturday when Great Ogboru will become the governor of Delta.

“Delta cannot be the same again.

Delta was our focus of attention; we wanted to see what will happen.

“Delta has proved a very im-

portant point that it is ready for a change to the next level. “Security is a fundamental issue and we will pay special attention to it,” he said.

The president also urged leaders and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to unite, saying “when we work together, we will emerge victorious on Saturday.”

In Akwa Ibom, Vice President Osinbajo addressed another APC Interactive Forum and urged the people that they stand to gain much more when the thinking of the state government is aligned with that of the federal government.

•President Muhammadu Buhari casting his vote while his wife, Aisha watches in admiration.

Assembly poll: Our house in order to win Ondo – APC

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HE Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) says it has put its house in order towards ensuring landslide victory in the March 9 house of assembly poll in the state.

The state Chairman of APC, Mr Ade Adetimehin, said this on Tuesday while addressing the APC ward chairmen across the state.

Adetimehin described the party’s performance in the last presidential and national assembly

defendant broke the glass of the vehicle with his elbow and caused damage to police property.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 148,153,173,231, 326 and 327 of the Penal Code. The counsel to the defendant, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) was, however, not in court.

The judge adjourned the case until April 5, for hearing.

elections.

Adetimehin advised the leaders to buckle up “and go the extra mile to ensure victory in the state assembly elections, come Saturday,” “We are here to discuss as a political party that is well structured, on how to win convincingly in the next election.

“We must strive to convince our observers that what transpired during the presidential and national assembly elections was as a result of human errors.

“It should, therefore, should not be used to gauge our voting strength in Ondo State,” Adetimehin said.

Responding on behalf of the chairmen, Mr Honey Gbayisemore, the party Chairman in Ugbo Ward, called for better understanding between the party and the state government.

Gbayisemore said that the ward chairmen would do their best to ensure victory for the party during the election on Saturday.

ated a total of 59,818 flights and air lifted 10, 092,648 passengers across the country, it added.

NCAA said that airlines on the domestic routes accounted for 72 per cent of the passenger traffic while the international route recorded 28 per cent.

Commenting on the development, the General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, Mr Sam Adurogboye, said government was working hard to sustain the tempo by the construction of new international terminal buildings.

Adurogboye noted that government had, within the last few months, inaugurated new international terminals at the Port Harcourt

International Airport, Omagwa and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to him, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has also promised that the construction of similar projects at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano will soon be completed.

He said:” We are hoping and working harder to ensure that there is more movement of passengers.

“By the time that new terminals in Lagos and Kano come on stream, they will equally enhance more frequencies.”

elections in the state as a bitter experience.

In the Feb. 23 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored higher than the ruling APC in the state, winning in 11 out of the 18 local governments, according to the results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The state chairman said the party had since learnt its lessons in a bitter way, and should do all that was possible to win subsequent

Melaye docked, granted N5m bail

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ISTINGUISHED Senator Dino Melaye was on Tuesday docked before an FCT High Court, Apo area of Abuja on a sixcount charge, bordering on attempted suicide and attempt to escape from custody.

Melaye, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, was also charged to have damaged police property.

The senator, however, denied committing the offences preferred against him.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji said that he was aware that the court had granted bail to the defendant when he was arraigned before him on July 25, 2018 on the same charges.

Oriji said that the earlier bail conditions, which included the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum were still valid and should be sustained in the current charges.

In the earlier bail condition, Melaye was to produce two sureties who must be directors in the civil service, reside in the FCT, and depose to affidavits of means.

EFCC re-arraigns Aliyu, Niger PDP gov candidate, Chairman The prosecuting counsel, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), told the court that the defendant committed the alleged of-

fences on April 24.

He said the defendant, while being conveyed in a police vehicle to Lokoja, allegedly forced his way out of the vehicle and attempted to escape. Izinyon said that the defendant held a substance in his hand and threatened to drink it to kill himself so that he would put the police officers in trouble.

The prosecutor also said that the

Nigeria air passenger traffic increased by 20 per cent in 2018 – NCAA

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O fewer than 14,171,722 air travelers went through Nigeria Airports in 2018, according to figures released on Tuesday in Lagos by the Consumer Protection Directorate of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the figure represents 20.8 per cent increase, compared to the 11,221,608 passengers recorded between January and December 2017.

According to the document, the 34 airlines on the international routes operate 15,645 flights and flew 4, 079, 0789 passengers during the period under review.

The nine domestic airlines oper-

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

NYSC drop corps members as election officials in Idemili, Ogbaru

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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HE National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra has insisted that corps members will not be posted for election duty in Idemili and Ogbaru areas of the state on March 9.

Mr Kehinde Aremu, State Coordinator of the corps disclosed this in in Awka on Tuesday.

Brig.-Gen. Sulaiman Kazaure, D-G of the corps, had after the presidential election barred corps members from being used as election officials in volatile areas in order not to further endanger their lives.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is billed to return to the field again to conduct the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections across 27 out of the 36 states in the country.

The commission will also conduct election in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Oracle Today also reports that there will be re-run election for Idemili North and Idemili South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 26 polling units in Obosi ward, Idemili North Council Area.

Aremu said the scheme had reviewed the events of the Feb.23 Presidential and National Assembly election and identified the areas as volatile with high threat possibility for poll officials.

“It would be recalled that corps members were abducted and later freed in Ogbaru, while others sustained injuries when hoodlums invaded a collation centre in Obosi to cart away election materials including result sheet,’’ he said.

The coordinator expressed delight on the corps’ credibility in the country’s electoral process.

He explained that the history books of contributors to growth of democracy would not be com-

plete without the mention of corps members.

Aremu said every corps member in Anambra was home and safe adding that none was in hospital.

According to him, the NYSC in the state will continue to protect the wellbeing of the corps members under its care.

“We are proud of the services they have rendered so far. As you can see, there is no record or report of corps members’ involvement in electoral malpractice.

“I want to specially commend our corps members who took part in the election here in Anambra.

“I am a member of the Interagency Consultative Forum for Election Security in Anambra, we have already envisaged that challenge in those areas and it came out as we expected.

“We have done our threat analysis, Idemili and Ogbaru are high risk areas for those on election duty and the NYSC has resolved that corps members will not be posted to work in those two areas.

“This is as a result of the unsavory experience our corps members had in these places and in line with the decision of the national headquarters that they would not be allowed to work in violence prone areas.

“Let me use this opportunity to say that all our corps members who participated in Feb. 23 elections are safe and sound, none of them is in the hospital, we also want to ensure that their welfare remains our priority,” he said.

Also, Aremu said about 75 per cent of NYSC ad-hoc staff had been paid their honorarium by the INEC, adding that efforts were on to ensure others were paid.

He however, blamed the delay on likely incorrect information provided by some of the corps members, noting that the process of normalizing the errors were on.

•A cross-section of members of the Asociation of Business Executives in a meeting recently.

Traders attribute low patronage to election, economic hardship

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OME traders at the Dutse Market, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have attributed the low patronage to the prevailing economic hardship and election activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that business activities at Dutse market were at low ebb on Tuesday as the traders discussed the economic hardship.

Mr Mohammed Isah, who came to buy food items, told NAN that “I am a father of three. The situation calls for caution, especially for those of us who are civil servants.”

“The prices of all the commodities have gone up and there is no money, even the little you have cannot buy you anything,” he lamented.

Mrs Jumai Adejoh, a foodstuff

Lagos to commemorate world glaucoma week with public lecture

By JEROME USHAKANG

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HE Lagos State Ministry of Health in partnership with some Eye Care Partners will organise a public lecture to create necessary awareness and educate citizens about Glaucoma and other preventable blinding conditions.

The public lecture, which is part of activities to commemorate 2019 World Glaucoma Day, with the theme “Beat invisible Glaucoma” will hold on Wednesday March13, 2019 at the AdeyemiBero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja at 10.00 am prompt.

According to the Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programs, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Funmilayo Shokunbi, the guest speaker expected at the public lecture is Prof. Adeola Onakoya, a Glaucoma Specialist and Chair of the Glaucoma Society of Nigeria.

“World Glaucoma Week is an annual event celebrated worldwide to create awareness and educate people about glaucoma, its prevention and management and this year’s World Glaucoma Week is on Monday 11th to Friday

16thMarch, 2019”, she said.

While expressing optimism that the public lecture would be educative and impactful, Shokunbi added that the topics to be treated will include; “All you need to know about Glaucoma” and “Roles of stakeholders in the management of Glaucoma”.

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve which is vital for good vision and is often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye.

It is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60, can occur at any age but is more common in older adults.

seller said that by this period in 2015, businesses had reached their peak, but now the reverse was the case. ”We are not seeing customers and again, the products are very costly and most customers received February salaries early have finished it because of election. ”Traders are witnessing one of the worst business downturns recently and many have closed their shops for now,” Adejoh said.

Mrs Maria Bipoe, a foodstuff dealer, urged the Federal Government to do the needful in the second term to end the hardship in the country.

She regretted the starvation being experienced in most families due to their inability to cope with the high cost of food items.

“The business is not moving as expected in view of the period we are and the reason is quite obvious.

“The prices of all food items have gone up and the people’s purchasing power is very low due to the prevailing inflation.

“I am appealing to the government to urgently address the galloping inflation being witnessed now,” she said.

Mrs Ngozi Collins, another buyer, said that she had stocked her

house since first week of February because things were expensive during and after election, “besides, most will want to travel for election.”

“The ingredients are so expensive in the market, a basket of tomatoes that was buying for between N10,000 and N15,000 is now N20,000 and small basket of pepper and onion goes for N1,500 and N2,500.

“I never used to wait for scarcity before I buy whatever I wanted, so that I could keep it before the prices increase as we are experiencing now,’’ she said.

A rice dealer, Mr Hassan Idris, said that unlike in 2015 when sales were up before and after election, this year was different. ”Now no sales at all; our customers are complaining of no money with many of them saying their February salaries had finished due to postponement of election. ”You come to the market and from the morning till the time you close for the day, nobody comes to price your goods let alone buying, it is really worrisome.

“I cannot wait for this election to go and let everything come back to normal because those who travelled will come back and restock their houses,” he said.

number of days the claimant’s accommodation was not paid for was 73 and not 536 as he claimed.

The judge ordered that the defendants should pay the claimant an allowance of 9,125 dollars at 125 dollars per day for 73 days.

She also ordered payment of N50,000 as cost of the prosecuting the suit, against the defendants.

The judge said that the judgment should be complied with within 90 days after which the judgment sum should attract 10 per cent interest per annum.

She noted that per diem meant a specific amount of money an organisation could give an employee to cover living expenses when travelling for work.

Mr Victor Uma, the claimant’s counsel, had submitted that his cli-

ent was employed by Bluemoon and posted to Globacom on July 7, 2003, as an Executive Officer.

Uma averred that the claimant’s offer of provisional appointment was confirmed on July $9,2004, and he was transferred to Gloworld, Ghana, on Oct. 28, 2014.

The counsel added that the claimant was paid per diem for 14 days at 125 dollars per day, pending the time he would be given an official accommodation in Ghana.

Uma said after the first 14 days, no official accommodation was provided for the claimant and his per diem was stopped.

He said that the claimant made several attempts to get the allowance, but was never paid, on the grounds that he was squatted in Ghana in an official accommodation by a staff of the Globcom.

Court orders Globacom, Bluemoon to pay ex-staff $9,125

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HE National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered Bluemoon Ltd. and Globacom Ltd. to pay an ex-staff member, Mr. Nnoke Dike, an accommodation allowance of $9,125 within 90 days.

The allowance as ordered by the court was per diem at 125 dollars per day for 73 days.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dike was employed by Bluemoon (first defendant) and posted to Globacom (second defendant) in 2013 as an Executive Officer.

After confirmation of his appointment, he was transferred to Gloworld, Ghana, in October 2014, from where he resigned.

Dike had approached the court to seek redress after his resignation, claiming that his accommodation allowance was withheld on the prem-

ise that he was accommodated at an official quarters of Globacom.

Delivering judgment, Justice Rakiya Haastrup held that evidence before the court showed that Dike was accommodated by a colleague in an official quarters of the defendant in Ghana.

She said that it was not the responsibility of a staff member to provide accommodation for a colleague on behalf of the employer.

She said that in determining the case, the court adopted the sole issue distilled by the defendants in their written addresses.

According to the judge, the issue was whether the claimant had sufficiently proven his case to be entitled to 67,000 dollars at 125 dollars per day for 536 days, as he claimed.

Haastrup held that the evidence before the court showed that the

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS

Drivers, artisans, market women, farmers endorse Okowa for second term ... As Okowa promises four years of more devt From JONATHAN AWANYAI,Asaba

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s Nigerians prepare to cast their votes in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections on March 9, 2019, members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Okada Riders Union, Artisans, Market Women, Cooperative Unions, among numerous others have adopted Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as their sole candidate for the Governorship election in Delta State.

The groups at separate occasions in Asaba described Governor Okowa as an exceptional performer who distinguished himself with the delivery of monumental projects and life-touching programmes across the state.

Chairman of NURTW in the state, Chief Ifeanyi Obi thanked Governor Okowa for taking road construction as a priority, assuring that the drivers’ unions would vote for the governor to enable him continue with good works, especially in the area of road construction which has made movement across the state easier.

President of Okada Riders Union in the state, Chief Obi Nzete also stated that transporters will vote for the Governor because apart from good governance that he has ensured, his administration has also, provided soft loans for the purchase of motorcycles and tricycle for commercial transportation while the Chairman of Cooperative Movement, Mr Larry Onyeche stated that endorsing Governor Okowa was very important for Deltans to continue to have good benefits of democratic governance.

Mrs Kate Onah of Market Men and Women Group, Mr Richard Asenime of Farmers Group, Mr Isaac Obruche, leader of People Living with Disabilites, among others, also, gave different reasons why Deltans must vote Governor Okowa and support his administration till 2023.

The governor expressed joy that different groups and all Deltans are appreciative of his administration’s achievements, stating, “I want to thank all of you, all Deltans for the cooperation and their support because if we continue in this way as a united people, Delta State will be stronger; I will continue to work in the interest of our people because, I am very comfortable in Delta State as a proud Deltan.”

“You (members of NURTW and Okada riders) are very important for the economy of Delta State, and the economy of Nigeria because, without you, the economy will collapse, there will be no commerce without transporters,” the governor said when he addressed members of NURTW and Okada Riders Union.

He continued, “I am very happy to be in your midst today; I thank Chief Ifeanyi Obi and the leadership of the two Unions for giving us peace; in these four years, we did not see challenges in the Unions; I thank you for the support.”

“As we go out to vote on March 9, mobilise your family, your relations to come out and vote for the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in because, we want overwhelming votes to make the difference,” he stated, adding, “in your business, be messengers of good governance, let the people know what we have done and what we are doing as a government for our people; you have told me that we have performed; we will do more in our second term because, we have resolved to work to change the fortunes of our people; we have constructed roads in riverine communities because we believe that as we are working on land, we should do same in the riverine areas because, we are one people.”

Catholic priest to voters: Don’t be used for violence From PAMELA EBOH, Awka

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he Spiritual Director, Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Dunukofia Local Government Area, Anambra State, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Obimma, has called on youths and Nigerians at large to shun maiming and killing of innocent lives under the guise of politics.

Obimma who made the call during the first anointing Mass at Blessed Iwene Tansi Catholic Church Umudioka said the maiming of lives for the sake of power is not worth it.

The Rev Fr. fondly referred to as Ebube Muonso condemned the reported killing of 35 persons in the February 23 Presidential election across the federation as disclosed by the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO).

He also condemned the reported killings in Kaduna State and urged government to intervene and stop the careless waste of human lives across the nation.

He said: “Voters should avoid engaging in any form of electoral offenses but ensure the processes of

electing new leaders are hitch-free.

I appeal to Nigerians to stop showing apathy but join hands in making the election a success. Vote and not fight during the election and vote for the candidate of your choice. ’2019 general elections particularly the governorship and House of Assembly elections should be taken as a brotherly contest and not a war. We should use our votes and not guns because this isn’t war. Don’t be an object of violence but embrace orderliness and peace.”

Fr. Obinma urged aspirants to en-

gage in issue-based campaigns rather than campaign of calumny or religious, tribal and ethnic incitements capable of causing disunity.

While calling on voters to come out en mass to vote for candidates of their choice on Saturday, the Catholic Priest appealed to traditional rulers, market leaders and political party leaders to ensure they don’t fan the embers of political crisis by encouraging youths to kill, maim and burn electoral materials for their selfish gains.

Delta State organised labour endorses Governor Okowa’s second term bid From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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• President Buhari with Co-Chairmen Ooni of Ife Imperial majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Sultan of Sokoto H.E. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and other members as he receives in Congratulatory Visit Members of the Traditional Rulers Council in State House

Double tragedy hits Nembe Communities as pipeline explosion, election violence overrun the people From CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

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his is not the best of times for the people of Nembe in Bayelsa State. Smarting from the violence which rocked the area during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections which rendered many homeless, the people have again been assailed by a devastating pipeline explosion.

The explosion which emanated from the 97 kilometer Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) at OML 29 operated by an indigenous oil firm, Aiteo Oil Production Ltd caused massive oil spill, destroying farm lands and fishing activities in the area.

Community sources at Nembe said that the incident which happened on Friday led to both gas leakage and oil spill compelling them to flee.

Spokesman of the Nembe Chiefs Council, Chief Nengi James--Eriworio, who confirmed the development, noted the explosion caused massive destruction of the area with air and water heavily polluted.

“People have deserted the area and the company has refused to respond despite series of emergency calls to report the incident to them.

As at early morning of Saturday, the fire is still raging. And with gas and crude leak flowing freely you can then imaging the fate of our people. The poor response of Aiteo to this incident is not acceptable and questionable. The people are traumatized and their health put at risk, “ James-Eriworio said.

According to him, oil leak from the line had covered the surface of the nearby river, making it unsafe for navigation and artisanal fishing vocation of the people James-Eriworio also appealed to the Federal Government and oil industry regulatory agencies to intervene and investigate and respond to salvage the people.

“We are concerned that Aiteo, despite the clandestine acquisition of the asset from SPDC without due consultation with the people has continued to undermine the economic rights of the people. We are worried about the poor incident response and attitude of the company towards the host communities in Nembe. They have abused the rights of the people. We are ready to drag the company before the National Assembly and the Presidency,” he said.

The explosion, which occurred at about 4am near Oil Well 7 on Friday, sacked indigenes of the affected communities and many are reported missing including women and children. It was gathered that 150,000 barrels per day capacity oil export line was shut for emergency repairs following a breach when the incident occurred and discharged residual crude and gas trapped in the pipeline.

The Nembe communities affected include Nembe creek 1,2 and 3,Jalungo,Fatuo and Kalablomi in Nembe Local Government of Bayelsa. Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency

(NOSDRA) have accused Aiteo of resisting its efforts to probe the cause of Friday’s explosion in Nembe.

Mr Francis Umeh, Head of NOSDRA’s field Offfice in Bayelsa said in Yenagoa that Aiteo had frustrated plans by the spill agency to visit the site for assessment.

He regretted that the stance of the oil firm was slowing NOSDRA from promptly carrying out its mandate.

“We are experiencing resistance from the operator and we are currently mounting pressure on them for us to be given access to visit the site for preliminary assessment and so far they have been uncooperative.

“The incident occurred on Friday and it took them some time to report it officially to NOSDRA, we had plans to visit the site but the operator is resisting and frustrating our efforts.

“We are in touch with our Zonal Office and Headquarters on this and we are briefing them on developments..

“We also want to commence a Joint Investigative Visit (JIV) at once if the environment is conducive, it is the JIV that will establish the cause of the explosion and the volume of oil discharged,” Umeh said.

On the claims by Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Exploration Company that investigations into the explosion which occurred at an oil well within Aiteo’s oil block in Nembe, Umeh said that NOSDRA was not part of the said probe.

rganized labour in Delta State has endorsed Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s second term bid, with the governor attributing the success of his administration to the cooperation and support of the labour unions in the state.

Speaking at a meeting between the Governor and leaders of organized labour in the State, the state Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress [NLC] Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe said that “Governor Okowa has been on the vanguard of everything that promotes the welfare of workers from the payment of salary arrears to the implementation of the new minimum wages which is why Delta State National Labour Congress has openly come out to endorse him for a second term” He commended Governor Okowa for putting the needs of workers on the front burner describing the relationship between State government and labour as “a success story”.

Governor Okowa who thanked organized labour for their support and cooperation for the success of his administration described the partnership with organized labour as cordial, respectful and beneficial to Deltans and the state.

“I must thank the unions, all our workers for the support and understanding we received ;with the prayers and the support of the workforce, Deltans and leaders across the state we were able to consolidate on the promises that we made as a government” he said.

Senator Okowa while appreciating Deltans for the support his administration received during his tenure, called for a peaceful gubernatorial election saying “the support I have been receiving means a lot to me; it makes me believe that we are on the right path it makes me believe that in coming back for second tenure that i have the backing of the people and that it is very encouraging. For our state to be taken to greater heights every hand must be on deck because i cannot do it alone; our governance is not all about elections, it is about working with all Deltans directly or indirectly so we need to look beyond the elections and do not approach it as a do or die affair rather let us vote peacefully for no election is worth the loss of lives”.

He urged Deltans and organized labour to continue to support his government to create peaceful environment for development to thrive in the State.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS Okowa congratulates victorious party candidates From JONATHAN AWANYAI,Asaba

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elta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated victorious PDP candidates in the just concluded Saturday February 23, 2019 Presidential/ National Assembly elections on their respective victories at the polls.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Charles Aniagwu on Wednesday in Asaba Governor Okowa said he wasn’t surprised over the victory of the party candidates because the PDP has entrenched itself as a grassroot party with people oriented programmes and policies as well as life impacting projects geared towards building a stronger Delta.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State i will like to congratulate our victorious party members on their successful election into the National Assembly”.

“The successes recorded by our party were we garnered two (2) Senate Seats and nine (9) Federal Seats is an indication that our party is still very much in touch with the grassroot in Delta State. In the last twenty (20) years of our leadership in the state, we have made tremendous impact in providing well needed infrastructure as well as people orientated policies and programmes for the good of Deltans.

“We appreciate the people of Delta State for coming out en masse to cast their votes and i call on them to continue supporting our party the PDP especially as the Governorship election is coming up on Saturday March 9, 2019. We will continue to execute well meaning projects for the benefit of Deltans in our quest to build a stronger Delta of our dreams,” he added

Traditional rulers, play vital role in the sustenance of peace” - Gov. Okowa From JONATHAN AWANYAI,Asaba

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elta State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has lauded the roles of traditional rulers in the establishment of lasting peace in the state.

The governor said this recently when His Royal Majesty Justice Francis Tabai, Esuku I, Ebenanaowei of Tuomo Kingdom, paid him a Thank-You-Visit in Asaba.

Governor Okowa said that the roles of the traditional rulers could not be taken for granted as they were the pillar that held the communities together, adding that the people of Tuomo Kingdom has been without one for far too long.

According to him “Delta State is one of the most peaceful states at the moment and it is due to the collaboration and cooperation we in government have had with the traditional rulers; i must publicly acknowledge the roles that our traditional rulers are playing in helping us to maintain peace in the state which has led to the improvement of our economy”.

The governor congratulated HRM Justice Frances Tabai for the successful and peaceful ascension on

November 10th, 2018 explaining that the community needed the guidance of a knowledgeable and reputable personality who would lead with care and transparency.

“We know that for a long time the kingdom of Tuomo has been without a king and i want to appreciate top leaders and people of the kingdom for enabling the office to be given to someone who is very highly praised because giving the position to someone who is knowledgeable about the responsibilities as well as the kingdom will take a lot of pressure from us in government because you understand the kingdom and the state” he said adding “with the level of exposure and knowledge that you have it is my belief that you will rule well and i can assure you of government’s support to bring more development to the kingdom”.

Speaking briefly HRM Justice Frances Tabai thanked Governor Okowa for the support that was received at the time of his coronation and gave assurance to serve with integrity as well as collaborate with the state government to bring development to the kingdom and the state in general.

PDP candidate dragged to court over alleged forgery From: ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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s preparations for the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections reach top gear, the PDP candidate for the Odukpani State Constituency in Cross River, Francis Bsssey Asuquo has been dragged to court for alleged forgery.

Victor Edim Udobong, candidate of All Blending Party (ABP) for House of Assembly election in Odukpani says the PDP candidate is not qualified for the contest.

Udobong in a suit no HC/14/2019 alleged that information pertaining to Francis Bassey Asuquo’s secondary school certificate no 18177/020 of 1993 supplied in the form CF 001 to INEC was false as that was not bearing his name.

The ABP candidate who is the Claimant alleged that information pertaining to the date of birth of Asuquo was false as the birth certificate submitted to INEC was not bearing his name.

Besides this, information pertaining to the PDP’s Tertiary Institution is also said to be false as he has no certificate of the University of Calabar, 2006.

In a seven point affidavit sworn in by Bar Udobong, the Claimant said “That I have reasonable grounds to believe that some information and documents submitted to the 3rd defendant (INEC) were false.

“The information supplied in the form CF 001 submitted to INEC by the defendant pertaining to his secondary school certificate no 18177/020 of 1993 was false.

“On his birth certificate, the certificate was not bearing his name and pertaining to his tertiary institution, the certificate was false having no certificate of University of Calabar in 2006 attached”.

The People’s Democratic Party and Independence National Electoral Commission were joined as second and third respondents respectively in the matter.

Bar Udobong prays the Court to declare that the defendant be disqualified from running for the office of House of Assembly-Odukpani constituency in Cross River State in 2019 General Election having submitted false information form CF 001 to INEC for determination of the matter.

• Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and DSP Ike Ekweremmadu mobbed by school children during their door-todoor campaign ahead of March 9 polls.

Group seeks suspension of election in Nembe From Clem Onyemaechi, Yenagoa

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ollowing the violence which rocked communities in Nembe Local Government Area in Bayelsa during the Presidential and National Assembly election, women in Opu Nembe in Nembe Bassambiri have cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission to suspend the forthcoming State Assembly election in the troubled community.

Spokesperson of the Women, Mrs. Sotonye Samuel-Johnson, said in a statement on Monday that the call to postpone the election in the violence ridden community was necessary to safeguard the lives and properties of women and children in the area.

Samuel-Johnson said that women and children who fled the community to nearby Ogbolomabiri and Yenagoa have not been able to return to their community because of the violence being perpetrated by thugs backed by the Army led by Major A. Modibbo Commander of JTF in Nembe.

She urged the President to direct urgent investigations into the activities of the thugs and their Army collaborators which according to her had assumed a frightening dimension.

Samuel-Johnson said that the thugs had become so emboldened to the extent of sacking detachments of Mobile policemen and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence deployed to maintain order in the community.

She stressed that it had become clearly unsafe for the women folks and their children to return to Nembe Bassambiri during the tensed election period.

She stated further that the Army which was equipped to deal with such instances of violence had looked the other way for the thugs being led by one Sam Kodjo, an oil surveillance contractor, to subject the community to violence.

The women leader argued that it would be fool hardy on the part of the women, and their families to return to the besieged communities without being guaranteed of their safety by the security agencies especially the Army which she said has become compromised in the area.

She said, “We the Opu Nembe

Women are making this frantic appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the forthcoming House òf Assembly election in Nembe Bassambiri as a means of safeguarding the lives of women and children in the area.

“Several women and children have been displaced in Nembe Bassambiri by the thugs led by Kodjo under the directive of former Governor Timipre Sylva, “We are constrained to say here that the APC thugs who enjoy the support of the Army have driven many voters out of the area.

“As things stand, it is virtually impossible for our people to return to Bassambiri if the security agencies cannot guarantee their safety.”

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on Monday accused military operatives of operating as a terror force, noting the ignoble role they played in the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

Governor Dickson who made this known while presenting flags to the party’s House of Assembly candidates in Yenagoa described the role played by the operatives during the elections as a coup against democracy.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei however urged the people to turn out in their large numbers to vote for all PDP candidates in spite of the brazen intimidation and harassment by partisan security forces.

The Governor reiterated his call on the Federal Government to direct the security agencies to conduct themselves professionally and do what is right in the interest of peace, stability and democracy.

His words:”The Nigerian nation has once again failed our people by preventing them not only from voting but also accessing their own homes in places like Nembe Bassambiri. Even when we sent Civil Defense Corps and Mobile Police operatives to the community, the hoodlums and their supporters chased them away. I’m afraid that community is becoming a lawless society.

“The last election that held just a few days ago, can best be described as a military coup against democracy in our state. I don’t expect anything less in this coming election

too. But in spite of that we won in all the units, wards, and constituencies where election took place.

“But let me assure you that the charade they organized in Nembe Bassambiri and Southern Ijaw will not stand. I urge PDP leaders not to fall prey to the propaganda and blackmail.”

Governor Dickson who noted that failure to adhere to the electoral guidelines would create instability in the state which would have a ripple effect in the entire Niger Delta region.

According to the Governor, no political party that is popular would resort to violence, rigging and winning elections through the barrel of the gun.

He stressed that, PDP has demonstrated its dominance in the state by winning fair and square in all the places where elections held in the last presidential election.

While appreciating Bayelsans for their support to the PDP, Governor Dickson assured that the party would not spare any effort in recovering its stolen mandate.

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Retd), described what happened in Nembe Bassambiri in the last election, as barbaric and shameful.

The Deputy Governor who hails from Nembe said, the area is presently under siege by APC sponsored hoodlums, noting that PDP members and their supporters are being prevented from accessing the community.

The Senator-elect, for Bayelsa Central Hon. Douye Diri and his House of Representatives counterpart, Chief Fred Agbedi thanked the people for re-electing them.

They however called on the people to remain steadfast in their support to the PDP and assured them of a better representation.

The State Chairman of the PDP, Mr Moses Cleopas expressed sadness over the killing and harassment of its members in the February 23rd election.

Mr Cleopas, who called for a level playing ground for this Saturday’s House of Assembly election, warned the APC and their supporters not to take the law-abiding disposition of PDP members as cowardice.

POLITICS

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

•Wike

•Amaechi

Senator Ayogu Eze: Enugu has no future with a governor who doles away resources

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•GOC 6 Division, Major General Jamil Saharm

March 9: Accusations, counter accusations rage between Army and Wike

•Wike: Army planning to cause crisis so that governorship, State Assembly election will be postponed •Coalition of 54 governorship candidates: APC, INEC plan to scuttle governorship, State Assembly elections • Army: We will prevent rigging and ensure protection of voters, electoral materials.

The war of attrition between Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the army over suspicion that the latter plans to rig the March 9 governor and State Assembly election in the State or to engineer crisis so the election election would be postponed continues unabated. From Port Harcourt, NATH OMAME Jr. captures the unfolding drama.

The relationship between the authorities of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and the State governor, Nyesom Wike has been far from cordial. Governor Wike has repeatedly accused the Army and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 6 Division, Maj-Gen Jamil Sarham, of plotting to work in concert with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the 2019 general elections in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), an allegation that the Army and INEC have repeatedly denied.

On Tuesday, February 26, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army paraded 30 people whom it claimed had violated the Electoral Act by attempting to rig the presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, February 23. Army Deputy Public Relations Officer, Col Aminu Illiasu, had paraded the suspects at the Python Dance Officers’ Mess, Bori Camp, in Port Harcourt.

They were 30 suspects: 28 men and two women. The suspects include a lawmaker in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Okpokri Wanaka, representing Ahoada West State Constituency and the Commissioner for Urban Development, Dr.

Reason Onya. Four Policemen were also paraded: the Camp Commander of Government House, Port Harcourt, Oyoko Ifelle and three security details serving in Government House, Sgt Akanu Garba, Inspector Hycent Oboi and Sgt Nketan Chuks. A serving Army Major A.P. Ubah, was also paraded by the military. The Army also played a recorded voice alleged to be that of the governor, which it claimed was an attempt to bribe a military officer to release those that were arrested by the military while allegedly trying to rig the elections.

But Governor Wike responded very forcefully on the same day the Army paraded the suspects. He stated that the state government has written a petition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute the GOC, 6 Division, Maj-Gen Jamil Sarham for what the governor referred to as “crimes against humanity.” Wike insisted that “instead of running round in circles, the GOC should explain to Nigerians the reasons why the 6 Division stormed collation centres in Ikwerre, Emohua and Okrika Local Government Areas with officials of INEC. He accused the Army of “stealing electoral materials and concocting results.” Governor Wike who spoke to journalists at

Battle for the soul of Umunneochi

Government House, Port Harcourt, denied trying to compromise soldiers of the 6 Division, saying the allegations was “false, malicious and diversionary.”

“Nigerians watched in utter dismay as three local government Electoral Officers of INEC indicted soldiers of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army for orchestrating electoral violence, snatching election materials and colluding with the APC leaders to concoct results during the Saturday, February 23, Presidential and National Assembly elections. Rather than respond to these allegations, the GOC is making diversionary allegations.

These weighty indictment of men and officers of the 6 Division confirms earlier intelligence that the GOC 6 Division is neck deep in the crisis in Rivers State.

INEC Electoral Officer for Ikwerre Local Government Area, Mrs. Mary Imawuya; INEC Electoral Officer for Emohua Local Government Area, Mr. Kenneth Etah and the INEC Electoral Officer for Okrika Local Government Area, Mr. Leo Okon, who spoke at the Rivers East Senatorial Collation Centre, at Elekahia, were unequivocal in their indictments of the criminal activities of the soldiers during the elections. The major problem they should defend is the INEC officers who

9 Pg 12

declared that the soldiers of the Nigerian Army abducted them, carted away materials and concocted results.”

Responding to the allegation by the 6 Division that the governor attempted to compromise the electoral process, Wike denied ever offering money to soldiers to act illegally. He explained that Dr. Reason Onya was one of the agents of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) mandated by the PDP to escort electoral materials. Governor Wike said he called to speak with the officer who arrested Dr. Onya to explain that Onya was a PDP agent and seek his release since he was on a legal electoral duty. “I offered no bribe to any soldier. As governor, I spoke with about 10 officers anytime the PDP raised concerns in course of the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Army cannot be a judge in their matter. You cannot parade officials on legal electoral duties. You cannot change the narrative. They have violated all known laws.”

Governor Wike further described the press conference where the Army paraded 30 members of the PDP arrested by men and officers of the 6 Division as “tantamount to a coup against constituted authority.

On Friday, March 1, Governor Wike, again, addressed journalists, at Government House, Port Harcourt, alleging that soldiers from the 6 Division “are plotting to cause crisis so that the governorship and State Assembly elections, slated for Saturday, March 9, will be cancelled.”

He alleged: “The 6 Division has mapped out local government areas where they will initiate violence to ensure that elections are not conducted as they did during the presidential and National Assembly elections. Look at how they shed innocent blood because they want to get 25 per cent or want to satisfy the ego of one or two individuals. There are areas that are no-go areas. You don’t kill simply because you want to win.”

Amidst the welter of political brickbats with the Nigerian Army, Wike believes that the PDP will win the gubernatorial and State Assembly election in Rivers State because his administration in its first term “has revived the state through massive infrastructural projects, empowerment and economic development programmes.”

On the same day, 54 gubernatorial candidates who claim to have stepped down, voluntarily, for Wike of the PDP, also addressed journalists, at a news conference, in Port Harcourt. The 54 gubernatorial candidates under the aegis of the Coalition of Governorship Candidates in Rivers State, alleged that they “have uncovered secret moves by INEC, aided by the APC in Rivers State to scuttle the rescheduled gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in the state.”

Chairman of the Coalition of Governorship Candidates, Pastor Samuel Ihunwo, who read the press statement on behalf of his colleagues, stated: “The coalition has intercepted another heinous plan to deliberately sabotage the March 9, gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Rivers State in order to advance the partisan interest of the APC, a party that is not on the ballot for the said elections.”

The governorship candidates lamented: “This evil plot is coming while Rivers people are yet to recover from the pains and trauma of the unlawful violence and bloodletting that characterized last week’s presidential election.”

The group further alleged: “Furthermore, in the event that the elections manage to hold, the plan also includes using operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic

Cont’d on page 13

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Face-off

2019: Enugu guber is referendum on Ugwuanyi – Nana Ogbodo •Says no broken promises with Ugwuanyi •Enugu APC plagued by emergency godfathers perpetually at war •APGA stronger than APC in Enugu

Spokesperson of PDP Campaign Council in Enugu State, Nana Ogbodo, has described the 2019 gubernatorial election in Enugu State as a referendum on the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the party’s standard-bearer. According to him, the result of the poll would be almost 100 per cent approval, owing to the governor’s sterling performance. While enumerating some of the governor’s feats, in this chat with CHUKS EZE, in Enugu, Ogbodo insisted that the governor’s approval rating has continued to soared, adding that both PDP and Ugwuanyi have no real challenger in the state.

As the Spokesperson of PDP Campaign Council in Enugu State, what are your permutations, especially as regards gubernatorial election in the state?

As an incumbent running for a second term, what the 2019 election means for Governor Ugwuanyi is a referendum. A referendum on how much he has lived up to his promises, how much he has been able to sustain the confidence of the people, how much their approval rating has either soared, remained what it used to be or lowered. And I will tell you that taking these things as it is, we are quite happy to meet the electorates because we know that the referendum will be a resoundingly victorious one for us. He has been able to make promises and he has been able to keep them. The governor is a man who is blessed by God to have the vision of where he is taking his people to. He has the passion to pursue it and the compassion to feel the pulse of his people. These are the compelling virtues that have defined his leadership. He is shun of guiles, he is incapable of intrigues, and with him, there are no broken promises. Governor Ugwuanyi promised Enugu people peace and today, Enugu is the most peaceful state in the country, arguably so. He promised Enugu people rural development and today, Enugu is like a construction site.

How is the state a construction site?

When about 480 autonomous communities in the state are involved in one construction or the other, of their specific choices of projects at the behest of the governor’s financial support, how do you define it? This is a governor that slated N10 million each for the communities; already released first tranche of N5 million each and those who have been assessed to have fruitfully deployed their own have been given the second tranche. Not only that, the governor promised civil servants good fortune, and he pays salaries on the 24th of every month, whether the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday and whether there is allocation from the federation account or not. He even goes further to pay the novelty salary of 13th month. So, whereas other states are reeling under the pang of accumulated and accumulating arrears of salaries, Enugu workers smiled home with 13th month pay. He promised pensioners that he would look into their plight, and he has taken pensioners’ gratuities that were forgotten over the years, and deployed almost everything he got from the Paris Club refund in fulfilling that pledge. Today, the governor has paid the local government pensioners, from 2001 to 2006. To the state pensioners, he has made it a monthly affair that he deploys N100 million each month, in the gradual payment of gratuities that had ossified over the years. To those workers, you can see that he has lived up to his promise.

To the political space, this is the first time that Enugu has remained a salubrious enclave for both the opposition and the rul-

•Ugwuanyi

ing party. Times were in the past when the state was embroiled in the miasma of misplaced confidence and arrogance of power, where opponents had the prudence to escape from the state in order to save their lives; where being in opposition was tantamount to being somebody else’s enemy. Today, all these have changed because of somebody’s temperament, which is purely democratic. The governor has been able to permit people the luxury to belong to another political party and still have friendship and relationship that is cordial enough with the person who is in the other political party. So, the lines of demarcation between PDP members and members of other political parties have been so blurred, in the state, that you hardly know the difference in party affiliations. This is what I call political ecumenism – being able to accommodate, first, that we are human beings before we are politicians; being able to grant somebody the privilege to swing his arms and seek permission from the person to protect his own nose in spite of the fact that he wields the power. This is unique. So, is it in the physical infrastructural transformation?

Governor Ugwuanyi has lived up, perfectly, to his promise. He has taken development from within the nucleus of the city, not relying that every development had to be within Enugu metropolis; he has taken it far-flung to some villages and communi-

ties that would never have had a contemplation that development, as good roads, would come to their place. Look at the Ikem Bridge, in Isi-Uzo LGA. That bridge had arrested development in that area but the governor confronted it, built this wonderful bridge and reconstructed the road.

What about the university city of Nsukka?

It has been given the facelift it deserves as the city that hosts the premier university in the country. The city is transformed and all the ancillary towns thereto, also benefiting from it.

If you go to Miliken Hill, Ngwo, you would see that it was not only been reconstructed but the area has become the new face of tourism in Enugu State. But beyond tourism attraction, if you know how many lives that have been saved by the fact that people no longer have to take the (failed) Ugwu-Onyeama (express road), you would now know what import good governance can be to the people. Is it the bypass that we should talk about? The last Christmas was the easiest Christmas for commuters who ply 9th Mile Corner while going to Nsukka-Markurdi or OnitshaLagos, because somebody had the vision to do that bypass which decongested that area. What about Amuri, a community in Nkanu West LGA? That community had suffered sinister abandonment over the years but today, they can go home all season, all time curtesy of one man’s vision

that injustice arises when equals are treated unequally. Am I to talk about the people of Nkanu East LGA, Amagu Nze, for instance? There were communities along the expressway to Abakaliki, Ebonyi State that are still also within Nkanu East council area. On such occasions that they had course to come to their local government headquarters, it had always the challenge of having to go through Enugu North, Enugu South and Nkanu West before they even begin to go to their LG headquarters. They had been held hostage by lack of link bridges and roads to connect them directly to their council headquarters. But somebody had the courage to take up the challenge and today, they can travel freely to their Lg headquarters.

There are legion and one which I cannot begin to mention. But one thing to add is that, if it has to be a referendum, it would be almost a wholesome 100 per cent approval. That is why the governor is enjoying support from within and without; from members of his party and members of the opposition parties. This is the first time a candidate, even though he is a governor, would contest unopposed and get nominated, in the state. And even candidates of other political parties still defer to him as the father of all. In our clime where nothing is hidden, it is not easy for

Continued on Page 16

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Face-off

Senator Ayogu Eze: Enugu has no future with a governor who doles away resources

•Says ‘I prefer to teach people to fish not give them fish’

Distinguished Senator Ayogu Eze, APC governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Enugu State spoke with FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU and IGWEBIKE MBANEFO on why he wants to be governor, the things wrong with the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Administration and how he plans to remedy them if elected governor of the State on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Excerpts: Distinguished Senator Ayogu Eze, tell us, what are the issues in this election? What are the issues at stake?

The issues are very, very straightforward.

And they include bad governance, indeed, a total lack of grasp of what governance is all about. For three and half years, going to four years, there has been virtually no direction; there is no focus because the governor doesn’t have a programme. There is no blueprint, there is no manifesto. Even as a person in office seeking a second term, he has not been able to present a roadmap. We have seen a lot of betrayal of our people’s expectations and trust. Here in Enugu, as you may have seen, the roads have been the way they have been since Sullivan left office. Some of them are pothole-ridden. I went to Independence Layout recently and found out that the roads are very rural. You would be surprised to see many earth roads in Independence Layout, the top, highbrow area of Enugu-that is not acceptable.

There is virtually no home with running tap in Enugu, the capital city. You may have one or two homes with water running intermittently, especially since we started talking about it and you know you cannot achieve clean environment and, by extension, good health without steady and adequate water supply. So, our people don’t have basic things of life to make life easy for them. Indeed, the basic things of life are not given to our people because the governor just doesn’t seem to know any better.

Those are the issues. We need to restore the confidence of the people in government because right now, the people of Enugu State are not happy; they are disillusioned.

The issue, really, is let’s get a government that is focused, has a programme, that wants to work for the people, that has a contract with the people. Because, we have established a charter by which we want to govern our people and be held accountable by the content of that charter. Right now, there is nothing like that in place. These are the issues.

I think it is obvious what the issues are, going by what you have explained. But, the question still remains, why do you want to be governor?

I want to be governor because I believe I have what it takes to change the things that are not going right, to give our people what they need from government; to provide the constitutional rights of the people—their welfare and their security. That is the primary purpose of government, that is what the constitution says and that is my responsibility to give it to them. And I believe I have a passion, the vision and all it takes to provide good governance. I have a programme, I know where the shoe pinches and I believe I am in a position to provide purposeful leadership that will give our people these basic things and not only give them these basic things but also make our State viable, rejig the economy of our place, create employment for our people, indeed make them buoyant. These and more are the reasons I want to be governor.

You were in PDP until recently and you also tackled the current governor, legally at least.

Is this a grudge project?

No, no. When we finished the processes— from the PDP primaries through the courts--I congratulated him and told him that I would ask our people to support him so he could work to better their life. But after that, he set-

tled down to business as usual, which means he didn’t know any better. So, it’s not really about him; it’s about people. The only way it concerns him is that he has failed. It doesn’t have what it takes to govern a State. He operates more or less like an emperor who rides in a very flashy and royal motorcade and moves about doling out money to those who massage his ego.

This does not make for good governance. We are not in an imperial age; the governor is an accountable person who folds up his sleeves and comes out to the street and works for his people. The governor is not an emperor who summons different segments of the people to come and endorse him based on their compromised status. That is not governance—governance is not a theatre. Because what we have in Enugu State today is a theatre, theatre of the absurd, where the governor pays money to people to come and endorse him. This is not the time of Nero, my brother. Nero lived in ancient Rome. We are talking about modern governance, where people are expecting good roads; expecting that you will help them start their small businesses; that you will provide them with facilities that will enable them go to their farms and get good yields; that you will help create employment for their children who are leaving school; that you will help provide them with good and functional healthcare and educational systems that would give them good healthcare and good education that give them independence and self-reliance. That is what people want, not for you to impound the resources and dole out largesse to those who massage your ego as if you were a Robin Hood.

Did you discuss your candidacy with him?

Secondly, what you just discussed seems to be an age-old habit of his. How do you intend to discourage, even disrupt, that because it is certainly going to come handy for him during the campaigns?

I don’t think I need to take permission from him to run. But he knows that I am running.

However, you would notice that throughout the period we were in court, I didn’t even say much not to talk of saying foul things to or about him. I have never been abusive; I have never said anything that could be considered offensive in any way.

But, I believe that people are sick and tired of a Robin Hood in Government House who is using their resources to collateralize their conscience. This is their money and you are using their money to do them a favour; it is not a favour; indeed, it is robbery, an open day robbery at that, and they have found out that they would rather learn to fish than to be given fish, moreso when this fish is from their territorial waters and you carry it and sit on it alone and dole it out in a fashion that belittles their intelligence. To all intents and purposes, the man is not a governor but an emperor who has seized the resources of the State and is using them as a Robin Hood to give to those who massage his ego. That’s an embarrassment.

I go back to how you are going to disrupt that style; what is your game plan?

The game plan is to explain to the people that that style is wrong. Fortunately, many people in the State have come to the realization that they have no future with a governor who doles away their resources instead of investing them in ways that would be useful to the generality of the people through job creation and other measures that would give them self-reliance and make them stand on their own. Many people are working with us, including people who are in PDP, because they are sick and

tired of this kind of administration. Every year, they make a ritual of passing the budget but everything is concentrated in the governor’s office. If you are looking for even N10,000 to do anything, the governor has to approve. In Enugu, the budget is just a document because it is hardly ever implemented.

If we had a House of Assembly in Enugu State that knew its onions, that man has committed a lot of impeachable offences; they should have taken him out long ago, because he abuses the laws that the House passes by not implementing the budget. He concentrates all the money in his office and makes approvals based on his whims and caprices.

That is not what the law says. Or may be he doesn’t know any better. But, then, ignorance of the law is not an excuse…

The one that is even more offensive is the way they use local government resources.

Allocation comes to the local government and the local government chairman goes to withdraw N40-60m cash and brings it to Government House. If you go to the office of the Chief of Staff in Government House, it is lined with rows and rows of jute, otherwise known as ‘Ghana-Must-Go’, bags of cash that are generated from a lot of these illicit sources.

I believe that at the end of four years, there are a lot more people that are going to jail for working with him than those that will walk home from his office. Because a lot of them have committed crimes against the State and against our people!

What are the things you have done in your previous engagements as a public officer that you think qualify you better as a candidate for the office than any other person, including the incumbent governor?

There are many but that isn’t a fair question because I have never occupied any executive position in my tour of duty, I mean a place where I control the resources n accordance with the law and in a manner by which I will be judged one way or another. But, be that as it may, the few opportunities I have had as a legislator, I have converted them for the good of our people. I gave employment to hundreds and hundreds of our people that are now working in federal establishments. Those people are settled for life, at least until they retire from service at the age of 60, by which time their own children would already be taking care of them. I attracted roads, even though some of them have not been completed. I attracted electricity projects in different communities; I brought water in nearly every community in the Senatorial District, as well as health facilities.

We attracted a lot of other infrastructure and things that impact our lives. Right now, there is a radio station called Voice Fm that is broadcasting from Nsukka. I attracted that radio station and chose the name because I wanted to give our people a voice. My slogan when I was going to the Senate was ‘At last our people’s voice shall be heard.’ When our voice started being heard, I attracted the radio station and chose the name ‘Voice Fm’. I chose it deliberately because giving our people a voice was a mission I wanted to accomplish.

There is an NTA Station nearing completion and I brought two of them—one in Udi, one in Nsukka. I also brought the Digital Bridge Institute, which I understand they are now trying to convert to University of Communication

Cont’d on page 38

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

POLITICS

Battle for the soul of Umunneochi

C

ome Saturday, March 9, Abia voters, as their counterparts in other parts of the country, will return to the polls to elect their governor and members of the State House of Assembly.

It has been a season of elections in the country after a rigorous campaign exercise by the political parties, with the presidential and National Assembly polls already held on Saturday, February 23. Against the backdrop of the political hiccup caused by INEC’s postponement of the presidential polls a fortnight ago and the off-putting presidential election result, which threw many offbalance when it was announced by the electoral body, there are fears that there could be a voter apathy come Saturday during the governorship and State House of Assembly polls in the State, unless adequate measures are taken to sensitize voters on the need to participate in the political process to the very end.

The Abia electoral contest on Saturday is one generating much heat and tension for obvious reasons. This is going by the performance of the APC, the opposition party in the State in the presidential and National Assembly polls. The APC garnered a total number of 85,058 votes against the PDP’s 219,698 votes in the presidential poll. That was no mean feat by the party given that Abia is among the PDP strong holds in the country.

And it also came to pass, against all political odds, with the APC winning a senatorial seat and a couple of House of Representatives seats in the state, before the very eyes of political pundits in Abia.

With its performance in the state during the presidential polls, the party no doubt will have some impetus as well as motivating spirit in this weekend’s gubernatorial and legislative polls in the State. The party’s governorship candidate in the State Dr Samson Uche Orgah, will once more rekindle his rivalry with the incumbent governor, Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP. Before now in Abia State, only two political parties existed in the political consciousness of the people. These are the PDP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

This narrative is currently threatened, going largely by the APC performance in last Saturday’s presidential poll in the State. The APGA governorship candidate in the State, Dr Alex Oti is expected to go the extra political miles if he desires to occupy the seat of power in Umuahia. Though yet unconfirmed, it is being speculated that Dr Oti will, in a matter of days, step down for Dr Uche Orgah as a matter of political exigency. This is to enhance the political chances of Abia north as both men hail from Arochukwu and Isuikwuato local government areas respectively. Succinctly put, it will be a one-way political traffic between the PDP and the APC in their quest to control the political soul of Abia come Saturday, March 9, 2019.

Same wave of political tension is seen in the various local government areas of the State. Umunneochi State constituency election, for instance, will be contested by three main candidates: PDP candidate Bar Philip Okechukwu Igwe, that of the APC Hon Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri and Chaka Ikenna Chukwumerije of APGA. While Chukwumerije is largely seen as a greenhorn, Ezekwesiri is seen as one who has quite outlived his political usefulness in the area. The ace, certainly, is held by the PDP candidate, Barr Igwe who was elected two years ago as Chairman of local government, a position he nobly used to better the lot of his people in the two years he was in the saddle.

On Igwe’s assumption to office as executive chairman of the area, he made a promise to restore light to the area before leaving office. True to his promise, light was restored in Umunneochi within one year of his administration. This was done with the intervention of the state governor Dr Okezie Ikpeazu. That giant democratic dividend to the people was one never to be forgotten in a hurry and thus catapulted Igwe’s political

The political developments in Umunneochi Local Government Area Abia State, especially as it relates to the State House of Assembly contest in the area, are quite interesting, to say the least. Residents of the area are of the view that the incumbent legislator Hon Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is already a spent political force and as such has no more business in the State legislative chambers. From Umunneochi, OLIVER UDEOGU reports.

•Okey Igwe

• Ikedi Ezekwesiri

•Chaka Chukwumerije

profile to the zenith and endeared him to the hearts of his people.

His wealth creation policies all through his tenure as council boss saw to the empowerment of a large chunk of youths of the area who today have bidden goodbye to the employment market. An employer of labour with many business interests, Igwe is seen as the right man for the job by the people of Umunneochi. His educational pursuit in far away United States of America is an added advantage and will come to bear when he ascends to the legislative chambers of the state. Igwe no doubt will be a good representative of his people, going by his level of exposure before venturing into the murky waters of politics.

Another thing going for the Umuahamaya Amuda Isuochi-born administrator is his family background. It is an undisputable fact that the Igwe family of Amuda Isuochi has provided jobs for a teeming mass of youths of Isuochi, their native hometown, and Umunneochi at large, more than any other family in the area till date. Okey Igwe and his brother Dr Chris Odinaka Igwe, who was recently conferred with the title of Oke Oji Abia State by the Abia State governor, have improved the lots of many people in Umunneochi and beyond, including youths, widows and the handicapped. It’s, therefore, not surprising, that beneficiaries of Igwe’s political largesse while he was in office as council boss of the area, could not fathom the enormous wonder the power of political office could do in moulding people’s lives.

Igwe as council boss maintained due process in all administrative policies in the area council. For instance during his tenure, appointments of supervisors, special advisers and other political portfolios, were strictly done by merit, just as accountability remained the watchword of his government. No wonder he ran a transparent government to the admiration of all.

term in the Abia legislative chambers. In his previous outings in 2011,he ran under the PDP and in 2015, under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) before seeking succour now in the All Progressives Congress (APC) . Ezekwesiri’s change of political parties with reckless abandon has made him to be seen in the area as a political prostitute and as such one that cannot be trusted as he is alleged to have failed to fulfill his promises to all the people in the area that worked for his electoral success way back in 2011 and also in 2015. As such they are allegedly full of regrets for supporting him and may have vowed to vote him out on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

Truth be told Hon Ikedi Ezekwesiri got political patronage from the people not by dint of personal hard work per se but rather on a platter of gold. In the build-up to the 2011 election in the area, it was reliably gathered that his father who is the traditional ruler of Isuochi, His majesty, Eze Godson Ezekwesiri with some other Isuochi natives demanded that Isuochi represent the area in the State House of Assembly. The sitting legislator at the time, who had gone to the House on three occasions, Engr. Matthew Ibeh hailed from Nneato, one of the three towns that make up the Umunnochi area council. The other is Umuchieze. A consensus was then reached after the meeting of the stakeholders that Isuochi should produce the next member of the state legislature.

Being one of the oldest monarchs in Abia State, Eze Godson Ezekwesiri had pleaded for one of his children to go for the position.

The rest of the stakeholders in Isuochi had agreed and the lot then fell on Ikedi who is his first son and the rest soon became history. But on assumption of duties, Ikedi started early blunders by displaying attitudes uncommon with occupants of such prestigious office. First was that in his poster during the electioneering period, it had the tag of Barrister attached to his name. His political opponents were said to have investigated his

academic claims and found fault with his claim as a legal practitioner. Pronto they threatened to instigate a legal suit against him for attempting to ridicule a highly respected discipline just like that. From then onwards, the embattled legislator had to remove the Barrister title from all his documents, including his political posters.

Since his sojourn in the state legislature, the allegation is that no tangible project has been attracted to Umunneochi unlike in the past when Engr Ibeh held sway and lots of projects came to the area. This among others has cast doubts on his qualification to represent the area in the State House of Assembly once more.

Hon Prince Ikedi Ezekwesiri The APC candidate is seeking his third

Chaka Ikenna Chukwumerije The APGA flag-bearer may have come from a good family background. He is scion of the legendary Chukwumerije family of Ngodo Isuochi. His father the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije had held many positions at the federal level but could be said to have done very little uplift the living standard of people of his Isuochi kith and kin when he was in power. Many see his father’s failings as the albatross dogging Ikenna’s political aspiration in Isuochi today.

Again the younger Chukwumerije was shut out from politics when his father was reigning and that has done more harm than good to his political career, as he is been seen as a political greenhorn in the area. Unlike Saraki in Kwara State who believed in generational change of power and started early to groom his children and expose them to politics very early in life, Uche Chukwumerije failed woefully to groom his own children in politics. For Chaka Chukwumerije to win the election, he may well have to do more than the ordinary. Indeed, it will be an uphill task for him going by the dwindling fortunes of his party APGA in the state as a result of the party’s fielding of a presidential candidate at the just concluded presidential polls. APGA can be said, at the moment, to be a political party that is already dead on its arrival.

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

POLITICS

March 9: Accusations, counter accusations rage between Army and Wike

•Wike

Cont’d from page 9 and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass and force electoral and collation officers to cooperate and comply with the rigging template and directives of the APC. “ The text of the press statement reads: “We the Rivers State Gubernatorial Candidates of all the political parties for the 2019 general elections collectively express our concern over the militarization of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections and condemn the brazen violence, snatching of election materials, harassment and abduction of electoral officers and the wanton killings of innocent persons by the Nigerian Army in Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru, Ahoada West, Andoni, Bonny, Degema, Emouha, Ikwerre and Okrika Local Government Areas of the State.

“While the people of Rivers State are yet to recover from the pains and trauma of awful violence and bloodletting that characterized last week’s general elections, we have intercepted yet another heinous plan to DELIBERATLY SABOTAGE the March 9th 2019 Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State in order to advance the partisan interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party that is not on the ballot for the said elections.

“According to credible intelligence, the APC has successfully compromised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) TO EXCLUDE THE NAME AND LOGO of one of the political parties from the ballot papers for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State.

E1 astonished at INEC motivations for becoming an accessory to such treacherous acts, which offer the most simple but lethal legal ground and weapon to any mischievous person or political party to nullify the said elections and terminate the rights of Rivers people to enjoy the

•Amaechi

fruits of their votes in the Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections.

“Equally worrisome is the report that where INEC fails to effect the exclusion of the designated political party from the ballot papers by Wednesday 6th March 2019, the alternative plan is to resort again to the use of the army to disrupt, disorganize and scuttle the distribution of election materials from the State Registration Area Centres to the various wards and units across the entire State.

“Furthermore, in the event that the elections manage to hold, the plan also includes using operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass and force electoral and collation officers to cooperate and comply with the rigging template and directives of the APC. “Of course, the partisan involvement and subversive activities of the army, especially the General Officer Commanding the 6 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Jamil Sarham and his unpatriotic band of soldiers in last week’s Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections are well known to the entire world.

“Indeed, it is on record that the disruption and snatching of elections materials at Okrika was led by one Captain Inuwa, the Aide De Camp to the GOC 6 Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Sarham. Regrettably, in spite of the hue and cry over their murderous activities in last week’s presidential/national assembly election, the army is, again, neck deep in the plot to unlawfully assist the APC to disrupt and prevent this Saturday’s Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections from holding in Rivers State.

“As governorship candidates of the various political parties, we are more than committed to the success of the Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in our dear Rivers State. Accordingly, we would neither tolerate, support nor accept any act of commis-

•GOC 6 Division, Major General Jamil Saharm

sion or omission, deliberate or otherwise, by INEC to either exclude any political party from the ballot papers and or deny the people of Rivers State their God-given rights to peacefully, freely and fairly participate and elect their governor and State legislators come 9th of March 2019.

“To this end, we call on INEC to remain absolutely neutral in the politics of Rivers State and ensure that none of the politic parties is unlawfully, deliberately or negligently excluded from the ballot papers for this Saturday’s Governorship and Hoses of Assembly general elections. Furthermore we categorically demand the total exclusion of the army from performing any election duties in Rivers State as we do not want more of our people to be killed in cold blood as they did in last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“We join the people of Rivers State and the rest of humanity to say in clear terms that enough of the killings, disruptions of the electoral process and massive disenfranchisement of the people of Rivers State by INEC and the army as they did in last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections. We call on Mr. President, the Chief of Army Staff and the Chairman of INEC in the name of God to ensure that the army is prohibited from election duties in Rivers State.

“We further call on the APC, which is not on the ballot for this Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State, to give peace a chance and repent from its devilish plot to destabilize, kill and destroy innocent lives and property in the State. There is nothing to gain from destroying the State and killing your own people for nothing.”

Responding to these rather weighty allegations, Deputy Public Relations Officer, 6 Division, Col Aminu Illiasu, stated that the Nigerian Army remains a disciplined professional institution and would not allow it to be dragged into partisan

politics, adding that the authorities of the 6 Division will also not succumb to any form of blackmail by politicians or their acolytes.

Illiasu said in a statement: “In line with our constitutional mandate, 6 Division, Nigerian Army which covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states has concluded all arrangements to aid civil authorities in the smooth and peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Participating troops have gone through series of trainings and issued with the Code of Conduct for Armed Forces of Nigeria during elections and the rules of engagement for Operation Safe Conduct During the 2019 General Elections. These pamphlets are specifically produced and distributed to each personnel as a guide to troops’ conduct during elections.

“The GOC, Maj-Gen Jamil Sarham wishes to reaffirm the neutrality of the troops and to continue to remain apolitical as they conduct their assigned duties professionally. He has further directed troops to always conform to the Rules of Engagement (ROE) and strongly warned them to desist from fraternising with political parties or figures as defaulters will be severely sanctioned. We wish to warn would-be trouble makers before, during and after the elections to have a change of mind and action as our troops will not tolerate any act by anyone to truncate the electoral process.

“It has also come to our notice that some miscreants are planning to use military-like fatigue dress pretending to be troops of the Nigerian Army to perpetuate carnage at polling centres; this plan has failed as no soldier is allowed to be seen in the vicinity of any polling area.

Anyone seen in military uniform in a polling unit is an impostor and should be treated as such. The Nigerian Army wishes to reassure Nigerians of our resolve to provide safe and conducive atmosphere in conjunction with other security agencies to enable you exercise your franchise without fear of molestation.”

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

BOLD & BLUNT

14

What the world can learn from Nigeria’s unfolding disaster Africa’s most populated country and the world’s 26th largest economy is heading for a meltdown as a direct result of envy politics. It was an election between a multimillionaire pro-business candidate seen as part of the establishment and a selfproclaimed hero of the masses who railed against corrupt elites and promised to fight for the little guy. While this may seem to be the story of pretty much every election nowadays since the shock victory of Donald Trump in 2016, the results of Nigeria’s recent elections contain a very important message from an imperilled country about the dangers of using socialist rhetoric and envy politics as a tool of governance.

It is a story that shows how the populist tactics deployed by Trump and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have infected the global political discourse, becoming powerful tools for emerging dictatorships and incompetent governments to entrench themselves in power. Whether dressed up in right-wing clothes as in Trump’s case or presented as new age “socialism” as with AOC, the basic method is the same – the weaponization of envy and use of scapegoats to achieve political goals at the expense of good economics and common sense.

If the collapse of Venezuela got the world’s attention, the impending collapse of Nigeria, with six times the population of Venezuela, will be positively seismic. This is what happened, and here is how the world can learn from it.

‘Poverty is Good’ Typically decided along ethnic and religious lines, these elections took on a decidedly economic posture, with the generally prosperous South voting as one for the first time in favour of Atiku Abubakar. This was an economically liberal challenger and successful businessman who promised to introduce comprehensive cryptocurrency regulation in his campaign manifesto after Nigerians were forced to become prolific crypto traders due to the woes of the naira, which fell over 85 per cent in 2016 alone.

The largely impoverished North, however, voted almost unanimously for the famously statist incumbent Muhammadu Buhari.

Following four years of woeful economic performance, including Nigeria’s first recession in a quarter of a century, Buhari’s campaign message was no longer that fighting corruption would grow the economy – which it clearly failed to do in his first term.

The message was something altogether different – that Nigerians should learn to accept poverty as the price for “fighting corruption.”

While this message elicited stunned reactions from many voters, it turned out to be right on the money in terms of hitting the emotional lever of an even greater number of people.

Despite being far behind where it should be on a per capita basis, Nigeria’s $411 billion economy has a significant population of US Dollar billionaires and millionaires, in addition to a large population of middle class professionals in cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Ibadan – predominantly in the country’s South. This fact is often overshadowed by the preponderance of extreme poverty, particularly in the North.

The glaring economic divide between North and South has been used alongside with ethnic and religious politics in the past, but this election was the first time that no attempt was made to promise economic

In this report, DAVID HUNDEYIN, writer and TV production professional ex-rays Nigeria’s recent presidential election and argues that the conversations leading to the election skirted the real issues at stake, especially on the side of the ruling party.

•Atiku growth to those in need of it. Instead, the message was that poverty in Nigeria is a sign of virtue because only the “corrupt” are able to live well. Like a certain social media sensation-cum-Congresswoman across the Atlantic, Buhari was the “man of the people,” campaigning with a message that their honest poverty is not their fault and is nothing to be ashamed of.

Like in the U.S., this approach worked brilliantly, with voters responding positively to a message that absolved them of responsibility and found a comfortable and suitably visible scapegoat. On the surface, AOC’s message is “billionaires and corporate money are distorting democracy,” but what voters are actually expected to hear and respond to is a class warfare dog whistle saying “rich people think they are better than you.” Similarly, the message Nigerian voters really got from the “live within your means” mantra was “those smug city people feel superior to you because they have some money which they probably stole.”

‘Populism is good politics’ For Buhari’s campaign team, it meant avoiding discussions about real issues like Nigeria’s bloated, inefficient, and excessively powerful central government and the unsustainable nature of its welfarist federal budget.

To have such a discussion would mean

•Buhari explaining why amidst the naira’s 85 per cent fall against the dollar in 2016, Buhari’s government chose to maintain an unrealistic official exchange rate which was used to subsidise religious pilgrims heading to Mecca for the Hajj.

Such conversations would include discussing the opposition’s stated plan to privatise NNPC, Nigeria’s state-owned oil firm that essentially functions as an independent country on its own, with no practical oversight by or accountability to government. Also included would be the federal government’s opaque and inefficient public contracting, procurement and funds disbursement process.

Rather than discuss a lack of investment in education and healthcare, extremely poor power generation and transport infrastructure, or the lack of proper separation of powers making the executive a law unto itself, the campaign was instead spent attacking the convenient fig leaves of “corrupt people”, “treasury looters,” and “arrogant elites”.

In the absence of reasoned debate or actual policies and achievements, a large vote-buying effort was also deployed, in what some have referred to as the “weaponization of poverty.”

AOC, Trump and Farage In One Weaving together the anti-elitist appeal

of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the bloviating news-magnetism of Donald Trump and the skilful sophistry of Nigel Farage, Buhari’s campaign painted a picture of a country held hostage by “corrupt” elites, “treasury looters” and their middle-class subalterns who wanted to vote in a pro-business candidate to preserve the corruption status quo.

In 2015, Buhari defeated an incumbent candidate with a Ph.D. who was perceived to be incompetent due to being an airyfairy ivory tower resident. This time around, his challenger’s wealth was portrayed as a moral failure in a manner reminiscent of how Ocasio-Cortez has portrayed the existence of billionaires amidst poverty as morally unjust.

While the world of shouty Fox News anchors and social media-savvy Congressional freshmen may seem relatively tame in comparison to the literal life and death politics of Africa’s largest country, it is important to note that Nigeria itself was not always this way. The unfortunate sequence of military coups and poor economic decisions that saw the country lose an entire generation of talent to the developed world could not have taken place without popular support from the very people most affected.

It may be difficult to picture Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or Donald Trump leading the

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Bold & Blunt 0.1 Per cent) – the globalist plutocrat oligarchs who pay fewer taxes than everyone, and who have taken away all the jobs and healthcare and placed everyone in debt.

Nigeria’s unfolding catastrophe For most of the world, the catastrophe phase is not underway yet, so perhaps a look at Nigeria where it is well and truly underway will be instructive. A poor economy dependent on a single export resource looks set to continue on its self-imposed implosion, driven by generous subsidy regimes, ridiculously unsustainable social intervention programmes rapidly ballooning foreign debt and a growing annual recurrent expenditure bill that it cannot hope to afford.

In a wrong-headed attempt to plug this funding shortfall, the government has embarked on a high-handed tax collection effort, repeatedly violating the law by unilaterally freezing bank accounts belonging to small businesses and private individuals in the absence of valid court orders or even demand notices. Understandably, this has spooked investors and accelerated the outward flow of investment, which is conveniently labelled as “corrupt money” leaving the country, as against a policy failure driven by envy and fuelled by incompetence.

Alongside this is the growing spectre of oil losing its value, as the world’s biggest oil buyers including China and Europe switch to renewable sources over the next couple of decades, which will effectively render Nigeria’s government penniless overnight.

Amidst all this, due to a populist aversion to promoting family planning, Nigeria’s impoverished population over the next decade will add another 137 million to its numbers – the biggest growth of any country on earth excluding India.

Already, tens of thousands of middleclass Nigerians are upping sticks and moving to destinations like Canada, Germany, Australia and the U.S. in preparation for the impending crisis. An entire generation of highly skilled labour including doctors, teachers, lawyers, engineers, nurses, pilots, accountants, entrepreneurs, artists, programmers, artisans, academics and management personnel is being lost to the developed world, leaving behind an exploding population of people living in extreme poverty.

•Buhari Campaigns-In-Kano-

Atiku-Campaigns-In-KanoU.S. into a dystopian future where middleclass professionals are disparaged as the “enemy”, and widespread poverty is held up as a virtue, but such situations can take decades to incubate. The incubation takes place in three stages that often overlap – an anger and dissatisfaction phase, a demonization phase, and then the catastrophe.

Demonization and scapegoating The first phase is already well underway across most of the developed and developing world. From Bangalore to Baltimore, everyone is united in anger about something. Regardless of the wide disparity of living experiences around the world, the general mood is that things are worse than they have ever been, and something or someone must be held to account for it.

Politicians eagerly feed the narrative that something has gone terribly wrong, and they will fix it.

The second phase is also underway across much of the world. During this phase, scapegoats must be identified and separated from the assumed ‘virtuous masses’. In Nigeria, the scapegoats are “elites”, which translates practically to “anyone who is not poor.” Anyone with a university-level education and a stable source of income is an “elite” who is collaborating with “corrupt treasury looters.” Across the developed world, the scapegoats may vary from immigrants to Blacks, to Muslims, to “the 1 per cent.”

To the impoverished and angry Nigerian voter, their predicament is down to “people who are stealing Nigeria’s money,” regardless of how easily that argument falls down when challenged by the most cursory analysis. Their world is a zero-sum game, where if someone eats three times a day, lives in a comfortable modern residence and drives

a car, they must have those things because they “stole” them, or they work for someone who stole them.

However intellectually redundant such a viewpoint is, it has a powerful emotional resonance that is often amplified by lack of education and existing ethno-religious divisions between North and South.

For the angry voter across much of the developed world, discontent is caused by immigrants coming over and being given all the jobs and housing, or it is down to the Muslims and refugees being allowed to come into the country and create their own laws and live outside the constitution unlike the long-suffering, salt-of-the-earth natives whom nobody ever listens to.

Perhaps it is the Blacks who are committing all the crimes and nobody can criticise them for fear of being called racist, or most recently, it is the 1 Per cent (or even the

The Sahara desert meanwhile, is also claiming an estimated 3,500 sq. km of arable land from Nigeria every year, which is a contributing factor to the presence of Boko Haram and the Fulani herdsmen – two of the world’s deadliest terror groups responsible for tens of thousands of deaths, maiming and abductions over the past decade.

Envy politics is deadly politics Through all of this, a class of anti-intellectual populists in Abuja continue to raise clenched fists before adoring crowds, admonishing them to “live within their means” while demonizing economic ambition and wealth. They have achieved great political success by weaponizing the economic envy of a large, impoverished population, publicly glorifying poverty as a virtue while collecting the world’s most generous compensation packages for political office holders.

Outside in the real world, however, following the news of Buhari’s re-election, the Nigerian Stock Exchange lost N196 billion (about $542 million), as the investment outlook continues to dim on Africa’s largest economy. The net result of years of envy politics and demonizing wealth and intelligence is a country that has hit the metaphorical iceberg, and continues to cheer while the band plays as the ship sinks.

The next time a politician – be it AOC or Donald Trump or Viktor Orban or Nigel Farage – tells you that your life is terrible because of this or that group of people, it would do you some good to think about whether this is what you want your future to look like, before giving in to your base instincts.

The unfolding lesson from this part of the world is very clear – the politics of populism and envy may be very good at winning elections, but they clearly are not good at running successful economies.

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Face-off

tion in question has long been won! A man who has been able to hold Enugu firmly peaceful since he assumed office in 2015; a man who has lived up to the infrastructural demands of the state; a man who has been able to guarantee peace, who has been able to pay pensioners every month, with N100 million continually allocated to payment of gratuities; a man who has been able to transform Enugu the way it is and the people of Ikem can now go home unfettered, the people of Amuri can go home unfettered and the people of Nsukka can beat their chest that they are from Nsukka? Why should we be afraid?

You are not afraid of APC in Enugu State?

Let me tell you: APC in Enugu State is made up of emergency godfathers that are perpetually at war with one another; I think that is her major misery. So, they have to put their house in order before they can think of any magic. As we speak, we do not know who is the APC Chairman and who is the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State. Whether Sen Ayogu Eze or Barr Tagbo Ogara is the gubernatorial candidate, we do not know; whether Deacon Okey Ogbodo or Dr Ben Nwoye is the state chairman, we do not know.

There might even be other contenders.

And I ask: can a house divided against itself stand? Even if it is standing, can anybody wish away the transformation that has visited Enugu under Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi? To that extent, PDP in Enugu State has no reason to be bothered. There are even some more credible parties than APC, such as All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

•Nana Ogbodo

2019: Enugu guber is referendum on Ugwuanyi – Nana Ogbodo Continued from Page 10 a governor to have been accorded the recognition as the best governor of the year by four leading newspapers in the country.

He is the Governor of the Year of The Sun, The Independent, Vanguard, and Leadership newspapers. These are people, by their reputations, cannot be prodded to do otherwise. They reckon with somebody’s prudence, commitment, dedication and achievements thereto. So, it is an approval-rating, and I have no doubt that Enugu people have given him the nod to go ahead.

Do you think that hard work and visible popularity, as you have ascribed to Governor Ugwuanyi’s candidacy, are enough to secure victory under the current dispensation, considering the much-taunted APC magic?

Well, APC magic is a notional fixation in the minds of some lazy politicians. There is nothing like APC magic in the forthcoming general election. What I want to assure you is that hard work matters and hard work will prevail over indolence. It is said, in law that delay defeats equity but equity aides the vigilant. So, in Enugu State, equity will aid the vigilant because we have been able to deliver on our promises. We have been able to move the people ahead

and able to show that democracy works.

We have been able to grant people peace, able to create enabling environments and even been able to institutionalise the internally-generated revenue – the revenuecollection system such that Enugu that is not an oil-producing state, is not shaken when there is no allocation coming from the federation account. That is not a mean feat! There were two months that money did not come from the federation account and many states could not do anything but Enugu was firing from all cylinders such that nobody noticed that there was no allocation. That is creativity, and I do not think that Enugu citizens would like to slip back to Egypt. Do you think the workers who receive their salaries as at when due and even enjoy 13th month pay would not want a continuity? Do you think that there is any community that has received the N10 million grant that would not want their project to be completed?

Do you think that those – both rich and poor, who sleep with both eyes closed in Enugu, would not want to enjoy continued peace? That is what has made Enugu thick; everybody wants to have a home in Enugu. So, would you say that a candidate that has enjoyed approval across board, including party lines, will not win election?

Where will the APC magic come from? Will

it come from the air? I want to disabuse people’s minds from lazy contemplations of people’s minds.

The APC candidate, now embattled though, says he has the magic wand to offer better governance to the state, that your candidate is underperforming; How do you react to that?

You just mentioned that he is embattled.

So, who is the APC candidate in Enugu? I am sure you listened to the recent court judgement…

Which is subject to appeal, and his campaign organization has hinted on move for an appeal?

Well, let us start from there; let them win the appeal first. But given the proclamation of the Abuja Federal High Court, I do not know which candidate you want me to attend to his rantings now.

What does that judgement portend to Enugu PDP, especially as regards to guber election?

The judgement does not bother us in PDP. Why should it? It is of no moment.

Whether Senator Ayogu Eze or Barrister Tagbo Ogara becomes the candidate of APC in Enugu State, even if both are combined, it would still not bother us. The elec-

In Enugu State?

Certainly, yes. They are cohesive and they have some good candidates too. But in all, why it appears that APC is existing at all in Enugu is because it is the ruling party at the centre. If you remove that, tell me what again is existing in Enugu.

You sound so confident about the quality of your guber candidate; but, can you affirm same confidence on the electoral umpire – INEC – considering the level of concerns that have been raised in some quarters?

You do not write history in a hurry; history is not story but a synthesis of events.

Given the caliber of people in INEC, I do not feel it is justified to begin to rail at them continually. I have not seen anything to make me so much afraid.

Nothing at all?

I am indeed talking about the candidates and not about the institution. It is given that the institution should be fair to all. If indeed they fail to be fair, it is no longer because we did not prepare well, it would be that some individuals were perfunctory in the national assignment they were given.

Nigerian Elders Forum, speaking through Chief Emeka Anyaoku, after their recent meeting, raised strong concerns over INEC, with reference to its performance at the recent Ekiti and Osun guber elections.

Are you saying that such concerns do not exist in Enugu?

When a great institution like INEC that is supposed to manage national election where perhaps, about 90 million persons are going to vote, you cannot expect that in our clime, where most things are not even digitized, that there would be perfectness in everything. I think the manner of experience is that you keep on tweaking some aspects of your operation that you noticed were not in good shape.

Thank God that the elections you referred to held. But they are still before the courts and it may be imprudent for me to comment authoritatively on it. But speaking hypothetically, what if there were some lapses and those lapses have been identified and plugged ahead of the forthcoming elections? One expects improvement in everything; even as a reporter, you keep improving by the day. I have no doubt that INEC will do a great work, especially in Enugu, because there is no reason why they should not.

17

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

BU$IN£SS

•Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

Economic pundits wrong on Buhari, right on economy

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

E

Buying(NGN)

P22

Travel

Marriott’s Luxury Collection announces first hotel in Seychelles the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were burnt down ahead of the elections; 323 people are currently being held for electoral violence; non indigenous residents were attacked and prevented from voting in Lagos; and there was massive deployment of the military in areas controlled by the opposition party.

In all, official figures have it that 37 people were killed during just one phase of the election. Unofficial accounts hold that more people died in the struggle to exercise their political franchise or in the venting of anger after warlords scored disappointing results in some places.

Working with abundance of facts and figures, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is stridently disputing the results of the elections in several key centers; and a peace committee comprising statesmen and clergy mediating between the two political blocs appears weakened by the weight of evidence to dissuade Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from protesting the results.

In the Nigerian political environment therefore, it would be very difficult for predictions to follow established pointers and calculable socio-political indices that ought to dictate the patterns and trends of

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

US DOLLAR 305.9 POUNDS STERLING 402.8397 EURO 346.8294 SWISS FRANC 305.7166 YEN 2.7325 CFA 0.5096 WAUA 425.2046 YUAN/RENMINBI 45.6279 RIYAL 81.5646 S/A RAND 21.6237

Nigeria’s oil production dives below budget targets P20 Glo chief, 65 others get IoD certification

CBN Exchange Rates March 5th, 2019 Currency

Energy

e-Platform

306.4 403.4982 347.3963 306.2163 2.7369 0.5196 425.8996 45.7029 81.698 21.6591

306.9 404.1566 347.9632 306.716 2.7414 0.5296 426.5946 45.778 81.8313 21.6944

choice expression.

On the economy, all predictions pointed at tougher times for the country should President Buhari returned to office after the elections. And the president himself has declared immediately after the elections that the future would be tough. His outlook on the economy might leave many voters and supporters feeling duped, but it had been predicted ahead of the election that his re-election would offer neither a deviation from nor alternative to the current failing policy direction.

In its pre-election predictions, Spain based FocusedEconomics had declared that the presidential candidate primarily differ “sharply over how the foreign exchange regime and the vital oil industry ought to be managed.

“Buhari supports the Central Bank’s system of controlling the value of the naira, which has been criticized as inefficient and for deterring foreign investment. “In contrast, Abubakar has said he would deregulate the foreign exchange market and replace Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, whose term ends in June. He also plans to liberalize the oil and gas industry by selling all the state oil refineries, partly privatizing the state-owned

oil company and scrapping gasoline subsidies.

But according to Jane Morley, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Country Risk at Fitch Solutions, despite Abubakar’s bold proposals, he would face an uphill battle to implement them fully.

“It is likely he will struggle to deliver on reform. He will face resistance from disparate vested interest groups, even if he has a parliamentary majority, while key structural obstacles, including corruption and complex bureaucracy will undercut the extent of immediate gains.”

Chief Economist for West, Central and North Africa at NKC African Economics, Cobus de Hart, while commenting on the outlook for monetary policy under Buhari, noted that “If [Buhari] remains in power as expected, we expect more of the same. In turn, FX pressures are seen mounting, and reserves will likely remain on a downward trajectory which could hold implications for FX liquidity conditions. Portfolio flows will play a very important role in determining the path of reserves this year, as oil exports receipts will take a knock from lower oil prices.

How the central bank responds, in turn, could hold adverse consequences for growth and unemploy

XPECTATIONS by economic analysts with investment advisory portfolios in the Nigerian business space were proved wrong by the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in which the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari was declared re-elected by the electoral umpire.

However, unfolding events point directly at accurate prediction of the country’s economic direction after the elections, especially now that President Buhari has been declared winner of the race.

Global petroleum industry investment advisory group, Wood Mackenzie, had hinted that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar could win the election on the consideration that Nigerians would not vote Buhari in the face of the crushing economic woes.

It also added that “a win for the challenger cannot be ruled out, especially since Buhari’s presidency has been lacklustre and dogged by ill-health”.

In weighing the options before the people, the company had described Atiku as more dynamic and liberal candidate who is focused on the economy and jobs, calculating that the issues that recommended Atiku to the electorate would capture the attention of the country’s burgeoning youth generation that are currently jobless.

On Buhari, Woodmac declared that “he can be sure of support from his northern heartlands and from conservatives, but he may lose votes in the central states where Abubakar is from; while the south will remain a PDP stronghold”.

The company had also predicted correctly that “ Buhari has only a 45% chance of success, so the election result could be very close. Indeed, if the result is not clear cut, tension and uncertainty is likely.

Civil unrest is a risk, particularly if the fairness of the election is disputed. This would be uncharted territory”.

Given the circumstances of the election which took event on February 23, it might be wrong to score Woodmac’s analysts completely wrong. The polls suffered general apathy as total turnout averaged 38 percent of credible voters; millions of voters’ cards were never delivered to their owners; some of

•Tourism

P26

Insurance

Lessons as Insurance stakeholders laugh last over NAICOM

P28 Equity & Capital Market

Illegal share sales: Court remands Adebanjo over N58.46m share sale P30 Money Market

UK partners AU to invest £30m in Africa

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Cont’d on Page 19

Stock Market Highlights As At 5TH month, 2019

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP BOND CAP S/N

32,173.66 3,885.00 400,869,168.00 N3,464,024,534.97 N11,998,056,238,000.66 N10,111,995,219,820.10

Coy (By Volume)

DIAMONDBNK FBNH UBA GUARANTY ZENITHBANK

119,787,421 44,385,148 40,820,181 32,514,555 24,403,097

Value(N) N299,334,226.39 N358,982,556.65 N314,483,820.55 N1,218,165,734.55 N604,990,024.35

5 Top Gainers

Symbols Last Close NASCON N19.2 DANGFLOUR N10.4 GUARANTY N37.2 UBN N6.7 ZENITHBANK N24.5

Current Change N20 N11 N37.6 N7 N24.7

%Change 0.8 4.17% 0.6 5.77% 0.4 1.08% 0.3 4.48% 0.2 0.82%

N196 N5 N5.9 N8.1 N2.3

-1 -0.51% -0.5 -9.09% -0.15 -0.15 -1.82% -0.15 -6.12%

5 Top Losers DANGCEM REDSTAREX CUSTODIAN UACN CAVERTON

N197 N5.5 N6.05 N8.25 N2.45

18

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

BUSINESS

Outlook for the Nigerian economy in Buhari’s 2nd term Stories by KAYODE OGUNWALE

U

NITED Capital Limited has predicted positive but modest outlook for the Nigerian economy in Buhari’s 2nd term.

The investment banking said, the outlook for the economy over the next 4 years is positive but modest as President Buhari’s victory signals policy stability.

Clearly, the administration will continue to invest in infrastructure, sustain its welfare scheme, reinforce the drive to substitute imports for local production, and retain its intervention programs across the Agric, Power and the SMEs space, by building on its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). As such, we expect the budget to remain large, broadly financed by borrowings. However, the role of the private sector may be limited by the absence of farreaching liberal policies. This may keep investment low, and output growth soft. Accordingly, United Capital Limited expect GDP growth to sustain a gradual uptick over the next four years, rising from 2.0 percent to 3.5 percent or more over the period. Inflation rate is likely to ease 10 percent /9 percent, though minimum wage implementation and power tariff adjustment may weigh on prices. Thus, the interest rate may to revert to its long term 12 percent over the period.

(PAG) worth N701.0bn was set up to cover the shortfalls of Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc. (NBET), targeted at GenCos and Gas suppliers over a 2-year period. Going forward, we imagine the possibility of further intervention in the sector by the administration. As such we do not see any major reform in the sector. However, this may also go with a possible adjustment of the electricity tariff in the short-term to further reflect the cost of generation. While power generation has received a lot of focus from the political class, we believe a further increase in generating capacity will continue to be constrained by poor investment in transmission network and limitation of distribution networks.

(Former-CEO FBNH/Chairman, FBN Quest). Other possible candidates include Aishah Ahmad, who recently became the Bank’s Deputy Governor and Mr Herbert Wigwe (Ex-Access Bank CEO). Overall, the direction of monetary policy and the stability of the financial system will, to a large extent, depend on the economic views and policy inclinations of the next CBN governor.”

Anti-Corruption War and the Economy The administration’s efforts to stamp-out corruption will be sustained and the EFCC will continue to clamp down on looters and individuals with allegations of misappropriation of public funds. Over the last three to four years, the implementation of TSA, Whistle blower’s policy and the efficiency unit of the Ministry of Finance, by the administration has supported significant improvement in independent revenue and recoveries.

While this will remain appealing to the poor masses, it may rein in discretionary spending by the elite, ultimately limiting the growth rate of aggregate spending in the economy, especially on activities in the services sector.

Security & Social Political Environment A major aspect of the socio-political environment that seems to have benefited a lot from President Buhari’s 1st 4-year is the war against insurgency. If the voting pattern from the region is anything to go by, the massive re-election of the President by voters in Borno and Yobe (the most affected States) suggests that the perceived containment of Boko Haram activities by the Buhari government is paying off. Hence, United Capital imagine that another four years in office is positive for relative peace and security in the North Eastern region of the country. Notably, the President was also very stern on the Biafran agitators, considering his successful suppression of the uprising.

The Administration also contained the Niger/Delta militants, thanks to the negotiating efforts of the Vice President. The only concern is the herders/farmers crisis, as the President was perceived to have been somewhat soft on the issue.

Notably, the President was also very stern on the Biafran agitators, considering his successful suppression of the uprising. The Administration also contained the Niger/ Delta militants, thanks to the negotiating efforts of the Vice President.

The only concern is the herders/ farmers crisis, as the President was perceived to have been somewhat soft on the issue. However, the herder/farmer crisis has shown significant improvement over the last 5 months, with a marked impact on Agric sector output, hence we are more optimistic going forward.

Overall, improvement in social security is positive for activities in the Agric sector of the economy, which has been most impacted by the menace.

CBN, Monetary Policy and Regulation of the Banking Sector On FX, United Capital imagine the possible sustenance of the current fixed/multiple FX regime by the CBN considering the President’s view of a strong currency.

However, a lot depends on the leadership of the CBN as the president may or may not renew the tenor of the current CBN governor, whose first term ends in June 2019.

If retained, Governor Emefiele may sustain the current FX regime by retaining his demand management policies on FX sales (via the exclusion of item considered not eligible for FX sales). Also, support programs in the Agric Sector via the Anchor Borrower Program will be sustained. On monetary policy aggressive liquidity mop-up via persistent OMO issuances may be retained considering that FX rate will broadly drive policy actions.

Nevertheless, history points to a higher likelihood for the appointment of a new CBN governor. In the last 20 years, no CBN Governor has been returned for a 2nd term in Nigeria. Additionally, the position seems to have rotated across the four major geopolitical regions of the country in the last 20 years (Dr. Joseph Sanusi (S/West) 1999-2004, Prof. Charles Soludo(S/East) 20042009, Sanusi Lamido (N/West) 2009-2014, Governor Godwin Emefiele (S/South) 2014 till date).

Hence, United Capital anticipated a replacement for Mr Emefiele by Jul-19, possibly from the S/West or the North, if the traditional rotation continues. More importantly, professional background will play a prominent role in determining who becomes the next CBN chief.

“Our best guesses for likely re- Economic Reforms placement of Mr Emefiele include Beyond elections, the medium to Dr Adesola Adeduntan (MD CEO, long term outlook for the Nigerian FBN Ltd) and Mr Bello Maccido, economy depends on the position

•President Muhammadu Buhari

of the government on the implementation of far-reaching economic reforms to fix the structural challenges in the economy. If not urgently addressed, structural constraints such as; the enormous infrastructural deficit, poor electricity supply, sharp rising population growth, dependence on oil export and oil revenue for budget funding, and the problem of the viability of sub-national governments, are bound to mar economic progress.

Notably, system inefficiencies continue to undermine the ability of the federal government to diversify its revenue base, enhance social justice, allocate resources efficiently and drive economic diversification. If the stance of the current administration over the last four years is anything to go by, we do not envisage a significant drive for bold reforms. However, we expect investment in infrastructures such as rail project, road, and similar social amenities to continue in a bid to bridge the infrastructural gap. Again, the drive to diversify government revenue via improving the efficiency of tax authorities such as the FIRS, Customs and Ports Authorities, and support the SMEs boost job creation through intervention in the Agric sector will continue. Finally, efforts to ease doing business in Nigeria, via the initiatives of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), by reviewing the bureaucracies and red tapes within the civil service and other government agencies, should be more obvious going forward.

Oil & Gas Sector Earlier, the Buhari administration launched the “7 Big Wins’ with priorities to stabilize the oil & gas sector and improve transparency, cost efficiency, investments, as well as security. Nevertheless,

a review of the performance of the sector suggests that so much remains to be done. Notably, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), one of the four parts of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), designed to improve regulation, efficiency and boost transparency, was passed by the national assembly to the President in 2018.

However, this was not signed into law by President Buhari due to concerns with the documentation of the bill as passed by the national assembly. With President Buhari’s victory, United Capital expect effort to boost the efficiency of the Oil & Gas sector will continue, with the President himself as the Minister of Petroleum.

“Our most optimistic view is a possible passage of PIGB down the line. The privatization of the NNPC is unlikely but we expect the drive to improve its efficiency to be sustained. Nonetheless, we anticipate the opening of the Dangote refinery before the end of his tenor.”

Power Sector Reforms Despite the government’s commitment to improving power supply in Nigeria, the sector remains visibly challenged. Metering of end users remained one of the biggest challenges bedevilling the industry across the value chain as 3 of every 5 registered end-users remained unmetered. This continues to create a vicious cycle of poor revenue collection efficiency, high billing rate and liquidity crunch across the sector. Despite recent efforts to boost metering, following the approval of the Meter Asset Providers (MAP) regulation in 2018, the total number of metered electricity users stood at 42 percent of the total 8.1million registered electricity customers in 2018, according to NERC. To support liquidity, CBN-funded Payment Assurance Guarantee

Agricultural Sector The Nigerian Agricultural sector is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the policy stance of the Buhari administration. This captures initiatives from both the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Notable policies targeted at the sector include; Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS), Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), CBN’s Agribusiness Small & Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP), and the Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) which targeted players in the Agricultural sector (among others) with an attractive single digit interest rate. Despite favourable policies, the farmer/herder crisis buffeted activities in the sector in 2018. Over the next four years, they see further support initiative targeted at driving output in the sector, as the sector remains one of the critical sectors for job creation within the policy framework of the administration.

Financial Markets and Funds Flow For the financial market, although an opposition victory would have been greeted by a probable knee-jerk excitement, which would have buoyed sentiment in the interim, the re-election of President Buhari portends a stable outlook for the economy and the financial market over the next 3 years. As noted above, with GDP growth expected to remain positive momentum over the short to medium term alongside further moderation in inflation rate and interest rates, appetite for investment in Nigeria is anticipated to increase. As such, United Capital foresee increased foreign capital inflow, with Portfolio Funds (FPIs) taking a major share relative to Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

This will support FX liquidity, with the Investors and Exporters window expected to continue to play a key role in ensuring currency market stability. Nevertheless, the multiple exchange rate environment may limit the inflow of FDIs, amid other concerns on regulations, fiscal/debt sustainability, and challenges in the operating environment. Accordingly, they expect the yield on government instruments to moderate sharply in the short to medium term while sentiment for equities would improve as investors revert to fundamental drivers of stock market performance rather than political uncertainties.

19

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

BUSINESS Stories by JEROME USHAKANG

D

ESPITE substantial losses in the stock market during the postponed Presidential and National Assembly elections and shortly after announcement of the result, yet the Nigerian stock market achieved N400 billion gain in the month of February.

Analysis of market statistics for last month showed that the stock market opened trading in February at a market capitalisation of N11.424 trillion and closed at about N11.868 trillion, representing a N444 billion gain. Surprisingly, the bulls dominated activity charts during the days leading to the elections, with market capitalisation rising as high as N12.2 trillion on February 15, 2019. However, the stock market pulled back the gains after INEC postponed the elections.

In contrast to most reports of a stock market loss in February, stocks closed the month in positive territory gaining 0.34 percent, compared to a loss of 2.77 percent in January 2019. This was also the first positive gain since December 2018. A market watcher has at-

NSE records N400bn gain in February

tributed the trend to investor appetite for stocks which helped to boost returns in a month that was laden with election campaigns.

Some market operators are of the opinion that the prospects of a new government may have stoked the rally, as investors seize the opportunity of a post-election bounce to buy undervalued stocks. Another reason given for the boost was the earning season which officially kicked off in the beginning of February. Some of the largest companies on the Exchange released their annual reports during the month, posting impressive profits.

The improved economic situation in the country is also considered a boost for investor appetite. Higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) numbers and stable exchange rate were among factors responsible for positive economic news that may have helped increase investor attraction to the stock market.

Meanwhile, as more results are expected to be released this

month, which would thus expectedly have impact on stock market activities during the month.Dividend announcements are also expected to boost market activities during the month as investors seek higher yields on their portfolios.

With elections now out of the way, predictability in economic policy and direction is clearer, pushing aside some of the uncertainties that weighed negatively on inves-

tor sentiments.

If market data sustains current rhythm for the month of March it may also turns positive, as February figures. Since 2013, March has closed in positive following a positive close in February.The last time stocks closed in negative territory for March after a positive close in February was in 2009.

The year 2009 is still regarded as one of the most volatile years for

stocks in Nigeria.As the election season draws closer to an end, investors will shift focus to external factors that could drive foreign investors back into the stock market.

With exchange rate stability expected to remain throughout this year , investors are expected to return to buying Nigerian stocks which are still considered cheap compared to emerging market peers.

Cutix profit depreciates by N31.16m in 3rd qtr

T

HE net profit of Cutix Plc for the nine-month period ended January 31, 2019 declined by N31.16 million to close the third quarter at N300.9million from N332.06million in the comparable period of the financial year.

The drop represents 9.4 percent as earnings per share fell to 17 kobo from from 37.71 kobo in 2018. from 37.71 kobo. Similarly,Profit before tax dipped from N510.87 million in 2018 to N462.87 million in 2019.

Cutix Plc has continued to struggle with tepid sales and declining margins as third quarter net profit has revealed. Key extracts of the interim report and accounts of Cutix for the nine-month period ended January 31, 2019 showed that sales increased to N4.13 billion in third quarter ended January 2019 as against N3.84 billion recorded in corresponding period of 2018.

Cutix has been struggling with depressed bottom-line in recent period. Half-year report and accounts of Cutix for the six-month period ended October 31, 2018 had shown that sales rose marginally from N2.72 billion in October 2017 to N2.78 billion in 2018.

However, profit before tax declined from N373.62 million to N344.70 million. After taxes, net profit slipped from N242.85 million in 2017 to N244.06 million in 2018.

Earnings per share consequently

dropped from 27.58 kobo in October 2017 to 25.44 kobo in October 2018.

The decline in the bottom-line has raised concerns on the dividend outlook of Cutix, which recently distributed 880.66 million ordinary shares of 50 kobo each as bonus shares to shareholders in addition to cash dividend of N176.13 million.

Shareholders had received a dividend per share of 20 kobo and a bonus share of one new ordinary share of 50 kobo each for every one ordinary share of 50 kobo each as returns for the year ended April 30, 2018.

Cutix is an indigenous company, wholly owned by Nigerians. Incorporated in 1982, the company gradually transformed from a private limited liability company formed and owned by friends and family members to become a publicly quoted company.

The company has recently invested about N300 million on a new extension of its factory as part of efforts to increase the installed production capacity of the cablesmanufacturing company. The new factory extension was expected to impact positively on the production capacity and efficiency of the company and to enable it to further improve its performance notwithstanding the increasing competition in the cables industry.

•From L-R: Efiok Efiok, Head, Investment Management Department, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria (SEC); Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Chief Patrick Ezeagu, President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON); Wale Agbeyangi, Group Managing Director/CEO, Cordros Capital; James Ilori, CEO, First City Asset Management; Dayo Obisan, President, Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN).

Brentonwoods MD in dock over N58m market infraction

T

HE Managing Director of Brentonwoods Limited, Mr. Samuel Adebanjo and his company have been charged before Honourable Justice Muslim S. Hassan of the Federal High Court 12, Ikoyi Lagos on a two count charge of fraud relating to illegal sale of shares of a client, amounting to over N58. 4million.

According to the charges, Brentonwoods Limited and Samuel Adebanjo are alleged to have conspired within themselves to commit a felony to wit: defraud by selling and convert to their

own personal use the proceeds of 537,872 Units of Nigeria Breweries Plc shares and 21,260 Units of Guinness Nigeria Plc shares all valued at N58,461,391.49 belonging to the family of Akin Olugbade.

And therefore committed an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same Section. The offence is alleged to have been committed between 2004 and 2014 in Lagos.

The Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange

Economic pundits wrong on Buhari, right on economy

Continued from P 17

ment. To drive diversification, FDI is sorely needed and for this to occur, the FX framework needs to be corrected.”

FocusEconomics concluded its prediction with a declaration that “a win by Abubakar would alter the status quo on economic policy, particularly in the areas of exchange rate management and handling of the oil sector, which could potentially attract greater investment and thus bring about a positive economic impact over the medium-term.

“Whichever candidate gets

elected, however, they face a tough economic scenario ahead.

The economy is still struggling to recover fully from the 2016 recession induced by the crash in oil prices; unemployment has been on the rise recently, climbing to 23.1% in Q3 2018 from 17.5% in 2017; inflation remains stubbornly high despite tight monetary conditions; and widespread poverty and rampant inequality persist.”

In its prognosis, Quartz , the media hub for global economic analysts, wonders whether Prsident Buhari could do better than his current poor performance at steering the economy towards the paths of growth.

“His handling of the economy has also been broadly criticized with his policies failing to deliver significant growth after an 15-month long recession. Indeed, Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world last year and could be set to remain so given low human capital spending.

“Buhari’s health, a prominent campaign issue, will also be closely watched throughout his second term: the president was away on four medical trips to the UK during his first term, spending 150 days in London in 2017 alone treating an undisclosed illness,” quartz pointed out.

In its economic outlook following Buhari’s win, analysts at credit ratings agency Fitch predicts Buhari is “likely to maintain his previous policy stances, suggesting only slow progress on key oil sector legislation and broader reforms.”

Therefore, when President Buhari told the Federal Executive Council that the nation’s economic future would be tough, he was merely confirming that global risk analysts were accurate in their predictions that his re-election would bring no divergence from the prevailing economic conundrum currently squeezing the poor masses.

Commission, SEC, Ms Mary Uduk had severally assured investors that the Commission will not hesitate to invoke the full weight of the law on any capital market operator that is involved in fraudulent activities.

Based on her stance against fraud, Uduk has therefore urged investors to take advantage of the various initiatives put in place by the Commission to ensure that proceeds from sale of shares goes directly into the investors’ accounts to avoid mismanagement by Operators.

She said, “We are doing a lot to boost investors’ confidence and ensure their funds are not mismanaged. We have a number of initiatives that we have put in place to boost investors’ confidence. We have the electronic -Dividend Mandate System (EDMS), the Direct Cash Settlement (DCS) as well as multiple subscription in place.

Uduk also said, “We also protect them through the National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF), risk based supervision that enables us to supervise the operators to ensure that they do not do what they are not supposed to do. And again the Complaints Management Framework (CMF) that enables investors to know where to complain to and how long it takes for such complaints to be resolved.

20

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

ENERGY

Nigeria’s oil production dives below budget targets

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

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HE second tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of the federal government is likely to begin with acute budget dysfunction following implementation of of the production cuts imposed on Nigeria by the coalition of producing countries trying to balance global supplies.

Figures dropped by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, shows that Nigeria may not meet the oil and condensate production target of 2.3 million barrels per day to support the 2019 budget estimates.

However, efforts by the producers are already yielding rise in export prices which, according to analysts, will readily compensate for the shortfall in production numbers with enhanced cash returns from the market.

The Oracle Today reports that export of crude oil and gas accounts for over 90 percent of total revenue support annual government budgets, over 85 percent of Nigeria’s total foreign exchange revenue and over 80 percent of the country’s total commodity export.

The 2019 federal budget is premised on N42 billion daily income from export of about 2.3 million barrels of crude oil and condensate per day at projected price of $60 per barrel. Official exchange rate for the dollar is also projected at N305/$ for the year.

However, the budget estimates did not take consideration of moves by the coalition of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and another 10 producing countries to arrest declining prices by cutting output.

Nigeria is founding member of OPEC and remains important the group’s policy implementation.

The coalition agreed to reduce output by 1.2 MMbopd in the first

half of 2019 in order to prevent Official OPEC figures showed a supply glut. While the deal has that the February production cut contributed to a jump in crude is merely a withdrawal of earliprices of more than 20% so far this er production boost in January year, implementation has been when the country reportedly uneven, with Saudi Arabia cutting booked 52,000 barrels per day deeper and faster than promised output rise. and other nations including RusAccording to OPEC, Nigeria sia going slow. pumped crude and condensate Nigeria was exempted from at 1.792 million barrels per day the production cuts when the (mbd) in January, but Dr. Kachikcoalition introduced supply mod- wu said the figures came down to eration in 2016, but the country 1.685 mbd limit in Fabruary. was handed production ceiling He said Nigeria will find it diflast quarter following improving ficult to sustain production for stability in the oil industry, and it too long if the group decides to is expected to restrain output till extend its market intervention to July in line with the commitment second part of the year. OPEC and of OPEC. its 10 allies are scheduled to meet Dr. Kachikwu stated weekend again in April to discuss whether that Nigeria started implement- to continue the supply reductions ing its portion of the production in the second half. deal in February, saying the counDr. Kachikwu pointed out that try reduced output by 53,000 bar- the country’s production capacity rels per day as part of its commit- is rising at a time the production ment at OPEC to control supplies ceiling was allocated to the counand defend prices. try.

Most OPEC members and other “If more cuts need to come, countries that pledged commit- there would be major challenges ment to production cuts are mainbecause between December ly resource dependent. and now we’ve had the They seek to glean Egina field come out as much maronline,” Kachikket value as they wu said. He With the key can get from added that the oil export leaders in the groups the 200,000 market. But arrels that form market inter- bper their cusday tomers producvention alliance, Russia and ing field who are mainly Saudi Arabia, pledging com- wc ah imc he industrialized pliance and readiness to ex- o n l i n e econoj u s t mies that tend the cuts, Nigeria’s 2019 before require N e w energy budget appears in position Y e a r to power would atsocio-eco- to take inevitable hit from tain namenomic activiplate capacthe arrangement ties complain ity by March. that high oil He pointed prices impose out however costs that slow that Egina would down growth. produce high volume

“

of condensate which is not part of the OPEC output calculations.

Besides Nigeria, other key members of the coalition including Saudi Arabia and Russia are also keeping faith with their allotted production quotas.

Apart from leading the OPEC members in wiping off substantial crude oil volumes from the market, Saudi Arabia is working toward extending OPEC cuts into the second half of 2019, a decision Dr. Kachikwu would not wish to happen.

Saudi Arabia stated weekend that it would undertake to cut more supplies from the market this month despite pressure from the Unites States on the kingdom to influence the group to call off production cuts and allow free flow of supplies.

President Donald Trump of the United States has sustained pressure on OPEC and its allies, after oil prices turned upwards last week. The group’s supply reduction, plus U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, have contributed to a crude-price rally of more than 20% this year.

Saudi oil minister, Al-Falih told market sources that OPEC and its allies would consider production cuts throughout the year. “All of the outlooks that I have seen tell us that we will continue, we’ll need to continue, to moderate production in the second half of this year,” he said.

He however said OPEC’s intervention hinges on the continuation of supply curbs in Libya, Venezuela and Iran, and extending the cuts won’t be “automatic.

According to him, “If we find out that the fundamentals are tightening by June, you can bet that I will be, just like we did last year, encouraging my colleagues within OPEC+ to ease” the cuts and not allow the market to tighten.

In a direct response to Trump,

who urged OPEC in a tweet to “please relax and take it easy,” Al-Falih said: “We are taking it easy; 25 countries are taking a very slow and measured approach.”

Russia also cut February output deeper to comply with OPEC pact.

The country produced 11.336 mbd last month, down 82,000 bpd from the October baseline of the OPEC+ deal. The nation curtailed its January supply by about 47,000 bopd from the baseline, according to the Energy Ministry.

Russia pledged to gradually implement a 228,000 bopd reduction and maintain it until the end of the first half.

While members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have largely stuck to their output caps, compliance among their non-OPEC allies, of which Russia is the biggest, has been less strict. Nevertheless, Russia remains committed to its obligations and will reach the targeted level of cuts by early April, this week in an interview with Gazeta.Ru. Energy Minister Alexander Novak said the nation’s largest producers, who met to discuss the OPEC+ pact, agreed cutting their output in line with the ministry’s requirements.

With the key leaders in the groups that form market intervention alliance, Russia and Saudi Arabia, pledging compliance and readiness to extend the cuts, Nigeria’s 2019 budget appears in position to take inevitable hit from the arrangement.

Already, all economic indices show contraction in the horizon, with global analysts and investment consultancy groups warning that the country’s short term economic future is bleak. Even President Muhammed Buhari warned, after celebrating electoral victory, that tough times await Nigerians!

21

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

ENERGY

$12bn Zababa project suffers fresh legal blow Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

H

OPES of reaching a $12 billion final investment decision

by Shell and Eni on the huge Zababa deepwater oilfield development has been pushed back by the unfolding corruption charges against the two multinational firms in home countries.

Whereas Shell notified partners and shareholders that it its prosecution in Netherlands is underway, Eni is already deep in trial processes in Milan, Italy where the company is close to liability in corruption charges linked to acquisition of the license from indigenous Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

Shell declared weekend that it received expression of intention by Dutch prosecutors to press charges against it over its involvement in the oil block acquisition in Nigeria that has been tainted by bribery scandals.

The oil block hosted in oil prospecting license (OPL) 245 holds estimated recoverable reserves of about 6.0 billion barrels of oil equivalents (6.0 Bboe) in the Zabazaba field. It is rated to be the country’s biggest deepwater reserves ever discovered in one field.

On the intention of the Dutch authorities to bring it to prosecution, Shell stated: “We have been informed by the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office that they are nearing the conclusion of their investigation and are preparing to prosecute.”

The transaction is already the subject of a separate criminal trial in Milan, where prosecutors allege that at least part of a $1.1 billion payment Shell and Eni SpA made to settle charges around the license was converted into bribes.

The trial in Milan started in June last year, with the court already procuring two guilty verdicts against defendants opting for “fast-track” proceedings.

Shell and Eni have previously denied any wrongdoing in the OPL 245 case. They have said they paid into a legitimate government account to settle legal claims related to the block.

Nigeria is also driving a separate litigation against the oil companies in London on the same matter.

The government’s suit alleges that money the oil companies paid to acquire OPL 245 was diverted into bribes and kickbacks.

In the suit, government seeks to recoup about $800 million it alleges that Shell and Eni put in the hands of corrupt Nigerian officials for personal enrichment.

However, Nigerian government’s dive into the fray is seen as face mending since the government was involved in the deals right from the beginning. Besides, the deal which is sparking investigations in the country followed a traditional process of bribery and corruption to which petroleum industry transactions are familiar.

The Oracle Today reports that disputes over the OPL 245 license was sparked off by similar attempts by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to reclaim the oil license from Malabu and properly price it in a new deal with Shell.

The license had originally been awarded in 1998 by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd., linked to former Petroleum Minister Dan Etete. Later,

the government of former President Obasanjo canceled the deal and awarded the same license to Shell; and after putting a legal battle, Malabu reclaimed the licence.

In 2011, Shell and Eni sought the assistance of government officials to transact directly with Malabu on the asset.

The Milan prosecutors allege that Shell and Eni paid almost $1.1 billion into an escrow account for the Nigerian government, from which about $800 million was later transferred to Malabu to be distributed as payoffs.

The corruption trials and separate suit from government may have pulled down investments in development of the field from the negotiation table between the investors and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which is the concessionaire of the asset operated by Eni under production sharing agreement. Shell is equal partner to Eni in production sharing contract (PSC).

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had during the premier edition of the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), listed Zabazaba as one of the key projects that government was pursuing to attract some $43 billion field development investments required to restore vibrancy in the industry.

Others in the list were Egina field development, Bonga Southwest/ Aparo development, and Etan field development. However the Etan field development is meant to be integrated with the Zabazaba development plan.

The Oracle Today reports that whereas $16 billion Egina development has been completed and commissioned, Bonga Southwest and Aparo integrated development is progressing towards final investment decision after tenders have been called for front end engineering design.

Zabazaba had progressed towards investment decision even ahead of the Bonga Southwest/ Aparo development after all job packages and approvals had been worked out and secured with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

Industry contractors had waited

•Chief Financial Officer of NNPC and Chairman of the Board of NNPC Power subsidiary, Gas and Power Investment Company (GPIC), Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq (right), being shown some documents by Managing Director, Gas and Power Investment Company (GPIC), Mallam Hussaini El-Yakubu, in Abuja Tuesday.

with anxiety as approval for field development plan delayed in the office of the junior petroleum minister.

Industry anxiety over the project came after partners in the projects had scaled major regulatory hurdle in the plans for a fabrication of a floating production system for the billion barrel asset.

The Oracle reports that Nigerian Agip Exploration (NAE), Eni’s local affiliate which operates Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had secured approvals from the NCDMB for award of job packages for the fabrication of the floating production, storage and offtake vessel that would be tied to subsea facilities at the field.

Eni’s NAE is the operator of Zabazaba deepwater field hosted in Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245.

NAE operates the PSC in which Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (NEPCO) also holds 50 percent stake.

An NAE source told The Oracle that the company and its partner had confidently activated development plans on the conviction that all

transactions about their acquisition of the oil block were unassailable.

“The noise and controversies are the political side. The business side is what we are doing. We have the capital, we have the right technology and we have the right business plan for the field development. That is our core areas. We are not politicians,” he told The Oracle at an agric expo hosted by sister Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.

Though driven quietly, the Zabazaba development has since progressed from plan approvals, regulatory checks and contract bid processes.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote confirmed the Board carried out detailed scoping of the project to ensure that the targets exceed the accomplishments achieved on previous deepwater developments in the country.

He expressed optimism that the development of Zabazaba would grow Nigerian content and impact the economy, much more than previous deepwater projects.

NEITI canvasses review of PSCs

•As JV oil production capacity declines

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ETROLEUM industry watchdog, Nigerian Extractive Transparency Initiative (NEITI), is calling for review of the existing production sharing contracts (PSCs) with commercial investors in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

In a report released weekend in Abuja, NEITI stated that the review has become necessary for government to curb revenue losses associated with significant rise in prices of oil and gas produced under the 1993, mainly in the deepwater.

NEITI calculated potential revenue loss on government at approximately $16 billion across the 10 years some of the fields produced. The agency pointed out that losses to government came from a combination of rising deepwater production numbers and high prices of the commodity in the export market.

The Oracle Today reports that review of the 1993 PSCs is part if the

main dispute between government and operating companies over sanctity of contracts. Whereas government has been making consistent attempts at increasing its take from the rising deepwater output, operators point at the production sharing agreement which emphasizes high risk and high reward.

Under the PSCs, government takes huge signature bonuses from the commercial investors who stake own funds in risky search for reserves.

They lose all if they find nothing.

However, if they strike a commercial find, government steps in to take royalty and profit oil bwhile allowing them recoup exploration and development investments. Government starts sharing profits after the investors have achieved full cost recovery.

Both production numbers and high oil prices can speed up cost recovery and early government entry.

However, the active PSCs have

been the subject of disputes following allegations that government deploys the hand of power to grab barrels at export terminals in alleged contravention of the PSC agreements.

Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Organized Private Sector (OPS) which houses the major PSC operators alleges that government has taken oil worth over $10 billion in excess of its due from the floating terminals integral to deepwater production facilities that dot the Niger Delta.

Also, review of the PSCs also forms a key dispute component in the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as it comes with fiscal revision that pushes up payable taxes and royalties from deepwater operations.

It is not clear whether NEITI captures the existing scenario in its report, “The Steep Cost of Inaction,” in which it called for the review of the 1993 PSCs. In the report, NEITI stated that Ni-

The field development would offer huge opportunities for local fabrication yards with the right set of skills and technology for fabrication of different topside modules that would be integrated into the main FPSO hull when it arrives Nigeria.

Over 50 percent of the topside packages would be awarded to local companies for in-country fabrication ahead of full facility integration.

Credible sources said NCDMB and NAE have agreed that the technical and commercial evaluations of bids for the Zabazaba main packages met the aspiration of maximizing local content at the most competitive cost. The packages included the FPSO units, subsea, installation and rigs.

However, there are hints that the two companies may end up paying additional costs as legal penalties and compensations rather than lose the oil block. But the key concern for oil contractors awaiting the outcome of the prosecutions is project sanction and funding support which are threatened by the prevailing prosecutions. geria lost potential revenue of $16 billion between 2008 and 2017, adding that the losses could be up to $28 billion if share oil becomes possible from two additional licenses NEITI also emphasized that review of the PSCs has become urgent following declining production volumes from traditional joint ventures, pointing out that PSCs currently contribute the largest volumes of oil and gas to national production.

NEITI stated that between 1998 and 2005, total production from PSCs was below 100 million barrels while JVs accounted for output of 650 million barrels in the same period. It pointed out that by 2017, PSCs have since taken lead with production of 305.8 million barrels or 44.32 percent ahead of JVs which pumped 212.850 million barrels or 30.84 per cent of total production in the period.

In providing legal basis for its call for PSC review, NEITI the production sharing agreements set two conditions for review of the contracts; it listed the conditions to include oil price of over $20 per barrel, and periodic review in the first 15 years and subsequently five yearly.

22

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

e-Platform

Glo chief, 65 others get IoD certification Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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LOBACOM’S Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs. Bella Disu, and 65 other Directors have been certified by the Institute of Directors at the February 2019 New Members Induction ceremony of the Institute held at Eko Hotels last week’s Thursday, in Lagos.

Mrs. Disu was among those who bagged the Institute’s full membership; some others got associate membership, while three Directors got life membership at the induction ceremony, where the charge was administered by the Institute’s 1st Vice President, Chief Chris Okunowo.

Mrs Disu who joined Globacom in 2004 is also a Director of Julius Berger Plc, the biggest construction company in Nigeria.

Welcoming guests to the event, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute, Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Mohammed, charged the inductees on thé importance of corporate governance to lead successfully. He also noted the inductees must continue on a path of continuos learning to re-

main remain competent.

Delivering a key-note lecture on the theme “Eight Technologies every Director needs to be aware of”, the Chief Economist for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dr. Andrew Nevin, declared that the number of private sector companies should be increased in the country to banish poverty, adding that the largest foreign exchange earner for Nigeria are its people working in the diaspora.

He listed the eight technologies needed to include Cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, 3D Printing, Drones, Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, Robotics and Blockchain, urging the inductees to get familiar with them to enhance their capacity and competence.

Responding on behalf of the inductees, Mr. Akin Fanimokun of First Bank said the new members would uphold the ethics of the profession at all times by being good ambassadors of the Institute. The Institute of Directors was established 35 years ago to professionally develop Directors by imbuing them with leadership skills to enable them to lead their organisations well and develop the country.

Huawei set to sue U.S. Government

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UAWEI is preparing to sue the United States government, according to The New York Times.

The Chinese telecommunications company was reported to have alleged that the U.S. is unfairly blocking federal agencies from using its equipment, following U.S. government statements that it views Huawei as a security threat. The U.S. fears the company is too close to the Chinese government, and that, once installed, its equipment could allow China to spy on Americans or disrupt essential services.

The potential lawsuit could force the U.S. to make their arguments against Huawei explicitly and publicly. Last week at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress, Huawei executives demanded the U.S. show evidence that their technology is vulnerable to Chinese espionage, and a lawsuit could force the government to do just that.

A legal filing would likely rely on a U.S. law that says bills passed by Congress cannot single out a person or a group for punishment without a trial. A 2018 defense spending bill specifically named Huawei and fellow Chinese telecoms firm ZTE, and forbade executive agencies from using telecommunications equipment manufactured by either

company.

Rumors of the lawsuit follow on the heels of the news that Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou is suing Canada for breaching her civil rights when she was arrested in December at the instruction of U.S. officials. Meng was suspected of participating in the violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran and stealing technology from T-Mobile. The U.S. has requested her extradition, and Canada is in the process of setting a date for a hearing to begin.

•Globacom chief, 65 others with their IoD certificationiod.

Foldable iPad concept shows Apple’s next big thing may be

A

FTER the dust settled on the madness that was MWC 2019, we now have a better picture of the next big trend in the mobile space — the foldable phone. This doesn’t seem like something that will fade away next year, but it could very well be a taste of what smartphones would eventually evolve into in the near future. But why stop at just phones? Wouldn’t it be great if something like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro could be folded down to half its size, for better portability?

A render from Dutch technology website, LetsGoDigital, shows us what a foldable Apple tablet could

eventually look like, when and if it ever launches. While it’s pure speculation at this point that Apple is thinking of making a foldable iPad, the company could be experimenting with a foldable display product for a future release. The render looks interesting and would definitely make portability of the bigger iPad Pros, a lot easier. However, when folded, it doesn’t seem like it would as slim as the height of a normal iPad, which is a design area we don’t see Apple compromising on any time soon.

Only recently, it was reported that Samsung has sent samples of its foldable display technol-

ogy to competitors such as Apple and Google. These samples were reported to measure 7.2 inches, which is only slightly smaller than the panel used in Samsung’s newest Galaxy Fold smartphone.

Apple currently already uses OLED panels for its iPhone XS 96,900 and iPhone XS Max 108,424 from Samsung Display, so it’s no surprise that Apple is seemingly prototyping some sort of foldable product, using Samsung’s panel.

The previous report also stated that Samsung is able to produce around 2.4 million foldable displays per year, which it’s planning on ramping up to 10 million.

port that the telecommunication giant is understating its revenues, but MTN denied the accusations, stating the company is compliant on all tax matters, and that revenues are independently audited.

MTN’s many woes in Nigeria MTN vs CBN: The telco was alleged to have illegally transferred $8.1 billion out of the country with the help of four banks, including CitiBank, Diamond Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Central Bank of Nigeria accused MTN of repatriating $8.1 billion using improperly issued Certificates of Capital Importation. Although, MTN and the affected banks all denied this claim, MTN later sought an out-of-

court settlement with CBN. MTN vs OAG: The Office of the Attorney General first claimed that MTN Nigeria was owing the sum of $2 billion in back taxes. The company was asked to pay the money immediately. Recall that Nairametrics reported exclusively that Nigeria’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, had made the demand after an investigation into corporate tax compliance in Nigeria revealed that MTN was owing $2 billion in back taxes.

MTN vs Kogi State: Meanwhile, Kogi State Government had shut down MTN’s facility over failure to pay tax obligations of N120 million to the state government. Barrister Jamil Isah, the Director, Legal Services and Enforcement of the Kogi State Revenue Service, said MTN had been uncooperative in meeting its tax obligations.

In response to the shutdown, MTN Nigeria’s Corporate Relations Executive, Tobechukwu Okigbo, said the company has filed a lawsuit of N5 million damages against the State Government. MTN Nigeria insists the Kogi State Government doesn’t have the jurisdiction regarding regulating the telecommunications companies in Nigeria, arguing that the Federal Government had the sole authority.

NCC Fine: Four major telecommunications companies in Nigeria have been fined for various actions that contravene the rules and regulations of the Nigerian Communications

Commission. The regulatory body of the telecoms sector fined MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile. The total fine of all four telecoms was estimated at N74 million.

MTN’s profit projection unhindered by numerous regulatory troubles

M

TN Group, the parent company of Nigeran Telecommunication firm, MTN Nigeria, has projected an increased profit despite the telecom company’s financial tussle with various African regulators.

The South African-based company announced it will surpass analyst projection which was curated based on MTN’s dispute with some African regulators which has resulted into sanctions, particularly with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Office of the Attorney General in Nigeria, and the Kogi State government.

Bua group MTN’s revenue is being probed by the Ugandan government over a re-

Cisco CEO says fear of Huawei 5G dominance overblown

C

ISCO Systems Inc. Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins suggested governments shouldn’t worry that Huawei Technologies Co. will dominate the race to build 5G wireless networks.

“The current infrastructure around the world is built on a combination of communication suppliers from Europe, from China, from the U.S., everywhere,” Robbins said in a CNN interview on Sunday. “And I think that despite everything that we hear, I think that’s going to be the case in the future as well.”

The U.S. is seeking to discourage purchases of equipment from Hua-

wei and is pressing European governments to do the same, saying it’s a gateway for Chinese spying. China rejects U.S. allegations that its laws require companies to help collect intelligence.

While major western equipment manufacturers specialize in different areas of next-generation mobile gear, Shenzhen-based Huawei competes in both wide-area radio technology and core network equipment, Robbins said. Even so, “there’s not going to be one manufacturer” providing 5G equipment, he said.

President Donald Trump’s administration has stepped up its campaign

in Europe, Huawei’s biggest market outside China, where governments in the U.K., Germany, France and elsewhere are deliberating whether to restrict its gear from the network upgrade.

In Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has declined to impose an outright ban on Huawei equipment. On another front, Canada began extradition proceedings last week for Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on U.S. charges she lied to banks to trick them into processing transactions for Huawei that potentially violated Iran trade sanctions.

MTN’s profit projection Despite its numerous issues in Nigeria which are currently undergoing settlement and in Court, MTN Group stated that the company expects an increased profit by as much as 90 per cent in its 2018 result.

According to a report, Analysts had predicted that the $8.1 billion repatriation demand dispute with the Central Bank of Nigeria would affect the fourth quarter earnings of the Nigerian unit. The MTN result is due for March 7, 2019.

Nigeria accounts for nearly a third of MTN’s core profit, but it has become increasingly problematic with its various regulators’ sanctions placed on the telecommunications company.

But Reuters reported MTN said on Thursday, that headline earnings per share, the primary measure of profit in South Africa, would likely come in a range of 328 cents to 346 cents for the year ended December. That compares with 182 cents a year earlier.

Nairametrics learnt even the upper end of the forecast is not even half what the company reported in 2015, a year before it agreed to pay a $1.7 billion fine over three years for missing a deadline to cut off unregistered SIM card users in Nigeria.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

e-Platform

MTN spearheads intervention to combat deadly substance abuse Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

I

N furtherance of the drive to curb the increasing rate of substance abuse in Nigeria, MTN Nigeria, under the Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) led a multi sectoral roundtable on the substance abuse ecosystem in Nigeria and the need for intensified collaborative action.

The forum, which held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, last week’s Thursday, February 28, 2019, was part of the Lagos state activations of the ASAP aimed at reducing the incidence of substance abuse among youth in Nigeria.

The event had in attendance notable dignitaries such as Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State; Mr. Agboola Dabiri, Commissioner for Youth & Social Development, Lagos State; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman, MTN Foundation and Mr. Dennis Okoro, Director MTN Foundation. Also in attendance were ASAP partners including United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Nigeria Police Force, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN); Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM); Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), and Global Initiative On Substance Abuse (GISA)

among others.

Speaking at the forum, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Chairman, MTN Foundation, explained: “The purpose of this campaign is to stimulate discourse among thought leaders, policy makers and leaders from different walks of life, to bring us much closer towards our goal of freeing our future leaders from the evil attraction of drugs and possible addiction to opioids.”

Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, while speaking at the event, opined that education on substance abuse was essential, “We all can take time to educate ourselves and others about the harmful nature of these substances. Education on the impact that these drug and substances of abuse have on the individual and the society as a whole should be taught and understood.”

Mr. Agboola Dabiri, Commissioner for Youth & Social Development, Lagos State, in his remark reminded the youth of their strategic place in nation building: “You are the future of Nigeria; you have a lot to give. When we speak of the next level, you are the next level.” Speaking further on substance abuse and the ASAP initiative, he said, “The issue of drug abuse is no longer on the roads; it is now within our homes.

I thank MTN for this opportunity and I commend them for a job

•iPad_foldable_letsgodigital_cover_mwc_ndtv_

well done.”

The State activations, which started with various activities in primary and secondary schools, motor parks, and markets, will continue with an advocacy walk that will culminate in counselling sessions for all interested persons. A replication of all the activities under the ASAP initiative will be in five other states - Imo, Rivers, Kano, Bauchi and Abuja in the coming months. The over-

all objective is to take the ASAP initiative to the streets of Nigeria and meet the youth in their comfort zones.

MTN Nigeria continues to fulfill its CSR objective of improving the quality of life with various projects such as the What Can We Do Together Campaign, ICT and Business Skills training, upgrading of Sickle Cell and DNA laboratories and consistent support for arts and culture in Nigeria.

Globacom moves to shape Africa’s digital fortune, future in major investments

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LOBACOM, one of Africa’s fastest growing telecommunications companies, on Friday, February 1, presented its new business direction to Nigeria’s media executives. At the event held at the Grand Ballroom of the Eko Hotel in Lagos, the firm unveiled its plans to set Africa’s biggest economy on a remarkably new digital revolution.

At the event, officials of the telecom firm took turns to explain the several ‘next generation platforms’ the company would unleash on the sector this year. One executive said Globacom would expand its extensive use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deepen customer experience this year.

The company said the AI platform will engage customers directly and assist them to get information on pressing issues. It will also support customers to choose the most convenient data and talk plan in both the prepaid and postpaid categories, resolve general and specific issues such as balance enquiry/Value Added Service (VAS) and respond to customer enquiries 24/7 without any human interface.

Other officials of the company gave presentations on other initiatives being launched by the telco to engage customers and provide the best environment for subscribers.

Fifteen years ago, Globacom was born with a vision to make telephony and allied services accessible and affordable to every African across all levels of society. Right from inception, the Glo brand espoused certain fundamental values, hinged on the belief that the customer de-

serves the best.

At the Lagos event, the company renewed its promise never to relent in investing in the best, cutting edge, up-to-the-minute technology and methods.

The media executives in attendance were reminded of the company’s core values, and its numerous firsts in the industry. They were then shown the company’s new television commercials, new products to be launched this year, and other forward-looking initiatives.

To make customers enjoy the best value for money, the company says it believes that it must at all times give cogent reasons for its existing customers to stay with the network and for prospects to join it through consistent quality that is second to none and pricing that does not exploit or unduly stretch them.

In his remark at the event, Bisi Koleoso, deputy chief operating Officer, Technical, said: “We have invested massively in new technologies to introduce these products which we believe will redefine business, social and personal pursuits”.

On Customer Empowerment, Globacom says it anticipates the future with its investment in relevant technology and design of gamechanging products and services that provide best value to customers now and in future.

Dele Fanimo, Chief Operating Officer, Leadership Newspapers, Abuja; Bisi Koleosho, Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Technical) Globacom, and Godwin Komone, aka Gordons , at the presentation of Globacom’s New Communications Direction in Lagos on Friday.

The company says its mandate

remains the building of Africa’s biggest and best telecommunications network and, particularly, to stand tall with the rest of the world.

‘Glo with Pride’ The company recalled its role in revolutionising telephony in Nigeria by becoming the first network to launch on the per second billing platform and roll out world class services covering thousands of cities, towns and villages in a few months of operations. This opened up the telecom category to every citizen irrespective of ethnic nationality, creed or income, enabling them to be one with the rest of the world.

Not relenting, the company launched a slew of futuristic products and services such as being the first to offer 2.5 G when others were on 2G, MMS, international SMS connectivity to over 804 networks in 174 countries, BlackBerry solutions, international prepaid roaming, voice SMS, personal ringback tunes, and Magicplus––a comprehensive bouquet of SIM based information services.

However, to keep pace with changing times as they evolved, the Globacom brand too did evolve. By recognizing changing demographics that skewed towards the youth, the company needed to connect with the “now” person in businesses and enterprise, in social relationships and other facets of their lives.

Hence, Glo alerted existing and potential subscribers to the launch of its over 10,000 kilometre Glo 1 submarine cable which provides tons of terabytes of data per second to West Africa. This is joined to its nation-wide fibre optic backbone

which has greatly enhanced the network’s power and efficiency.

Glo Unlimited To further bring its customers on a par with the rest of the world, Glo launched the first 4G Network, offering nationwide coverage, fastest speeds and best prices. This pole position in data earned Glo the distinction of being called “GRANDMASTERS OF DATA” and it’s no surprise that Glo is now rated the 4th Most Admired African Brand.

Similarly, subscribers’ communication requirements are getting more global, more integrated and more sophisticated while data has become the new lifeblood––with technology getting smarter!

Glo has now embarked on making investments in the digital economy to enhance industrial as well as institutional productivity paving the way for the fourth industrial revolution in the country. It is equally boosting its data capacity significantly to bridge the digital divide in the country and to bring in financial inclusion; spur productivity in key sectors like health, transport, energy and manufacturing; and enhance customer experience on the network.

The TVC ‘Vibe’ Similarly, the brand got people talking with star-studded commercials underscoring the primacy of talk which is a distinctive attribute of human beings. It features iconic artistes like King Sunny Ade, Wizkid, Davido, Phyno, Yemi Alade, Ego Ogbaru, Bez Idakula, Sani Danja, Tekno and Van Vicker. The song is already very popular and is expected to rise in fame because of its sing-along attribute and coterie of stars.

Detained Huawei Chief to sue Canada for ‘unlawful’ detention

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UAWEI Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou has launched a civil lawsuit against the Canadian government and its border agency for “unlawful detention” when she was arrested in Vancouver on Dec. 1 on a U.S. arrest warrant.

Her suit claims she was detained, searched, and interrogated for three hours, which violated her constitutional rights according to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The U.S. has since charged her and China’s Huawei Technologies with bank and wire fraud in an attempt to violate American sanctions against Iran. On Friday, Canada approved her extradition to the U.S. to face charges.

Meng, the daughter of Huawei’s founder, is free on bail pending her extradition hearing Wednesday.

Globacom top shot buries husband, ‘Olu’

O

LUMUYIWA Talabi, the husband of Gladys Talabi, the executive director, Legal/Security Services at Globacom, was a very lucky man. Unlike his ill-fated peers, he did not evaporate without an eyewitness.

Olu, as he was fondly called, did not groan in dying, twisting the sweaty sheet around his chest. He did not gasp for breath feeling as if his senses drowned while he thrashed alone in the dark.

Nobody has such terrible memories of Mr Talabi. When his time was up, the foremost marketer died and departed the world, leaving priceless memories behind for his loved ones.

Olumuyiwa Talabi, died on February 4th, 2019. He was 70. If money and love were enough, his beautiful wife, Gladys, could have mustered the whole world to save him and fulfil her vows that they would grow grey together but death had other tragic plans.

It extinguished the brilliant flame of her husband and heartthrob thus casting her in inconsolable grief. He was known to all and sundry as an exemplar of the good husband. He used his considerable fortune to better the lot of many and was loved for his compassion towards the downtrodden.

The Oracle Today Wednesday MArch 13, 2019

ISSN: 2545-5869

The

EDITORIAL

racle www.oraclenews.ng

Today

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VOX POPULI SACRUM

For INEC’s Independence

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NEC’s performance during the first round from the results announced in polling must not be missing. of elections this year was well below units mostly in the south. In the north, Many people already discouraged by the average. The electoral body should strive there was no voting in many places and no events of February 23 should persevere to to achieve a pass mark in this Saturday’s results were announced at polling units vote again. Leaving polling stations free for elections. It has no excuse to give anyas prescribed by the electoral law. INEC thugs alone will do more harm than good. more. chairman Mahmood Yakubu should make Eventually, many cases will be decided by This week’s polls can be better than the prea clear announcement: all results must be election tribunals and higher courts. The vious ones, because INEC and everyone announced at polling units. courts will need evidence, and one cannot else have an opportunity to learn from Third, the activities of the military, police and gather evidence without being at the scene past mistakes. All the rigging strategies other security operatives should be limof action. deployed are now known. Accordingly, ited. Like INEC, they are public institutions By now, INEC and security agents must have we hereby remind INEC, soldiers, police, – they belong to everybody and to nobody. identified flashpoints. Rivers and Lagos and politicians of the major loopholes If they were really impartial, they would states should be watched closely. But we that need to be blocked this time. have prevented hired thugs from snatchare not advocating flooding the states with First, INEC must make use of the card reader ing and burning ballot boxes and papers in armed men. Rather, security operatives compulsory, as provided in the Electoral parts of Lagos. No fewer than 40 Nigerians should establish communication links with Act. On February 23, the electronic dewere killed on Election Day. Nobody’s amcommunity leaders ahead of Voting Day vice introduced to check over-voting bition is worth their blood. Election is not with a view to avoiding youth restiveness was abandoned in many remote areas. war. There are many wars for soldiers to or any confrontation. Usually, it is alleged TV cameras showed people queuing and fight now; election is not one of them. partiality or misconduct of military men voting in cities, but both journalists and Fourth, the issue of voting materials arriving and INEC officials that lead to protests and observers did not visit most rural areas. late should no longer be reported. The violence.

It is from inaccessible villages that votes electoral body has had enough time to INEC is challenged, once more, to prove it were manufactured. ensure this does not happen in any part of is an impartial umpire. It has to live up to Second, representatives of all political parthe country, unless it deliberately seeks to its name: Independent National Electoral ties must be allowed to watch the backdisenfranchise some Nigerians. Party repCommission. Being truly “independent” is end of INEC’s computer where results resentatives should ensure close monitorthe irreducible minimum requirement for are collated. Everyone knows that the ing of election materials as they are moved conducting free, fair and credible polls. results INEC announced were different from one place to another. Result sheets Our Vision TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nigeria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of records that effectively caters to the information needs of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commercially viable, properly organised media business, which meets its obligations to society, government and the workforce.

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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

OPINION On Igbo national predicament and Nigeria’s 2019 general election

By UZODINMA NWALA and NATH ANIEKWU

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hey say it is never over until it is over. Political struggle is never based on the outcome of any one political event. Ndigbo are a nation in quest of self-determination and freedom in the artificial Nigerian Federation in which they have been held in bondage since the Amalgamation of 1914.

This struggle is not predicated on the outcome of the 2019 general election. From our experience in the Nigerian Federation, it was obvious that the outcome of the elections would underscore the reasons for our struggle and our rejection of the artificial federation The 2019 general election in Nigeria has so far clearly demonstrated a high level of Igbo national unity and solidarity. We spoke through the ballot that we are one, one people one nation - from Abakaliki and Afikpo in Ebonyi State to Nsukka and Udi in Enugu State; from Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha in Anambra State to the entire Anioma Igbo in Delta State; from Anioma to Owerri, Oguta and Egbema in Imo State; from Elele, Ikwere and Port Harcourt in Rivers State; from Port Harcourt to Aba, Umuahia in Abia State, etc, etc. It does not matter that our votes were deliberately reduced to less than half of their strength. We have demonstrated and affirmed the reality and autonomy of our region.

We have also once more shown the world that Ndigbo have strong historical and political ties with our neighbours - the Okrika, Ijaw, Ibibio and Efik in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States…

Recent events in the Nigerian Federation have underscored the artificiality of the fed-

eration and the bondage in which various nations within it are held and subjugated. The Yoruba nation, the Tiv nation, the Edo nation, the Southern Kaduna, the Kanuris, the Ijaws, the Efik, Ibibio, etc, all are now singing the same song – longing for freedom and selfdetermination.

Was it right for Ndigbo to have participated in the Elections, knowing that it would be rigged?

Our answer is definitely YES! We say yes to our brothers and sisters who think otherwise as well as to the Internet warriors, political magicians and those whom we may call critical critics in our midst, who would want us to do otherwise. We are happy that at the last moment all the major stakeholders, pan-Igbo organizations and pro-Biafra groups in Alaigbo, all agreed we should participate.

If we failed to participate, we shall have no political, legal or even moral right to question the manner in which the elections were organized or the outcome of the elections.

On the other hand, the scandalous manner in which the outcome of the election was programmed in advance provides us and other aggrieved neighbours a very strong impetus to continue our struggle for self-determination and freedom.

The fact that we participated has further justified our case that there is no democratic path to resolving the crisis of unity and freedom within the Nigerian Federation.

The world is watching and the manner and outcome of the elections definitely arouse the disgust of those that have moral conscience. Already they feel repulsed by what has taken place in the name of elections and democracy.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Fulani kinsmen have now shown the world

why they went after the legislature hounding its leadership from pillar to post; why they seized the security apparatus of the state; went after the judiciary and destroyed its leadership; took the Electoral Commission under its control; why the control of the DSS, EFCC, the Police, etc, is firmly in the hands of the Fulani and their minions, etc, etc.

What has taken place is no election. The various ways it has been rigged are too obvious: use of the security forces to intimidate opponents; use of the compromised card reader; use of the card reader only in the South; manually filling and thumb-printing of ballot papers in the North.

Others were disenfranchisement of voters through the use of thugs to prevent them from getting to the voting centres; use of thugs to snatch ballot boxes and destroy ballots and ballot boxes and other election materials; abduction of election officers and forcing them to declare APC candidates as winners; use of wrong voters’ registers to ensure that opposition voters’ names were missing and thereby disenfranchising them; use of security men and thugs to attack and kill voters (among many other means).

It is clear that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the presidential election. The PDP should immediately publish the results from the various collation centres for the world to see the extent of reckless impunity displayed by the President and his men in order to remain in power against the will of the people.

We urge all lovers of freedom in the SouthSouth, South East, South West, Middle Belt, Southern Kaduna and other areas to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the quest to reclaim the mandate given to him by the people to govern.

We urge Ndigbo not to allow anything to

affect their resolve and continue to take part in the other elections.

Finally, we must avoid Egbe onu, tigbuo sogbuo and other forms of emotional outburst, knowing our character and history, Ndigbo would rather die than be slaves to any other nation or nations! The world is aware of the historic Igbo Landing at Dunbar Creek on St. Simons Island, Glynn County, Georgia, USA in 1803. It was here that 14 fellow Igbo brothers, under chains, held their hands and drowned themselves in a mass suicide rather than become slaves to other people. Or again, we may recall the case of Igbo young men, already trapped as slaves, who organized the rebellion in Haiti that led to the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte, facts that were not lost on the British in their activities against Ndigbo in Nigeria. That Revolution in Haiti, which started on 22 August 1791, lasted till 1804, ending French colonial rule in Saint Dominique, now the Sovereign State of Haiti. That historic event is now widely seen as “a defining moment in the history of racism in the Atlantic World” We do not need to add the Women Resistance movement against British Rule in Nigeria 1929, which led to a radical redefinition of colonial rule in Nigeria and elsewhere.

From the above, the message to Ndigbo at his moment is clear: we must not surrender to the forces that wish to enslave us, destroy our civilization and our Christian religious faith.

•Profs. NWALA and NATH ANIEKWU are President and Secretary of Ala Igbo Development Foundation (ADF) respectively. They delivered this address to the Igbo Nation shortly after Saturday, February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Let Atiku exercise right to legal recourse

By EHICHIOYA EZOMON

B

y the last count at the weekend, women, in a two-million rally, had joined the growing list of individuals, groups, institutions and foreign powers “pleading” with the defeated candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23, 2019 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to rethink his “no retreat, no surrender” stance on the poll, and congratulate the winner, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku, a former Vice President, is courted by domestic and international entities due to the potential of his supporters and members of the PDP to goad him into creating crisis aftermath of the poll he lost by almost four million votes.

They’re threatening fire and brimstone over their claim of the election being fraught with irregularities, and violence that reportedly vitiated their projected victory at every turn of the campaigns.

But it would seem that they had had recourse to allegations of a planned rigging of the poll by Buhari, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in order to prepare grounds for their current belligerent utterances and actions.

If otherwise, why would Atiku and PDP alternate their strategy from taking the claims on the poll to the Tribunal, to reportedly forming a “Parallel Government,” or making a six-point demand on President Buhari, who won the election with a landslide?

According to reports, PDP made the demands during a visit of members of the National Peace Committee (NPC), led by former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abukakar, to plead with Atiku to sheathe the sword, and congratulate the President-elect, Mr. Buhari.

Although Gen. Abubakar was quick to dismiss the reported demands on his committee, explaining that Atiku and the PDP only aired their grievances and observations con-

cerning the election, any form of demands would be nothing but blackmail.

It’s like directing a man with the yam and knife to the portion and quantity to offer you, whereas it’s at his pleasure and liberty to grant or refuse your request, and not forced by an underhand tactic.

And come to think of it, Atiku described the election as the “worst in Nigeria’s history.” Really? Recall that he said the same thing of the 2007 poll. Coming third behind the late Umaru Yar’Adua and Bhuari, Atiku labelled the exercise as Nigeria’s “worst election ever,” and vowed not to attend Yar’Adua’s inauguration so as not to “dignify such a hollow ritual with my presence.”

Ironically, the February 2019 election he jettisoned has been welcomed by several world leaders, including those of the United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia, France, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Niger, Qatar, Turkey, and the Africa Union, EU and ECOWAS Observer Missions. They’ve affirmed the outcome of the poll, sent congratulatory messages to President Buhari on his re-election, and promised their continued cordial relations with Nigeria.

The messages from the U.S. and Britain are instructive. In its statement by Michael Pompeo, the Secretary of State, the U.S. “congratulates the people of Nigeria on a successful presidential election, and President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election.”

“We note the assessments of international and domestic observer missions affirming the overall credibility of the election, despite localized violence and irregularities,” the statement said, even as it condemned “those whose acts of violence harmed Nigerians and the electoral process.”

On its part, the British Government, through the Minister of State for Africa, Harriet Baldwin, said the results of the election were consistent with the results obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) process.

In a statement released by the British High Commission in Abuja, the Minister said: “Along with our international partners, the UK believes the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result,” adding, “I offer my congratulations to President Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President.”

Besides, a domestic Observer group, YIAGA Africa, has thrown its weight behind the INEC results, as consistent with its parallel tabulations from the polling units up to the Abuja collation and declaration centre.

Utilizing the PVT methodology, and deploying “3,030 observer teams in pairs to a random statistical sample of 1,515 polling units located in every local government area (LGA) and states of the country,” the YIAGA AFRICA Watching The Vote (WTV) findings show that for the presidential election, the APC “should receive between 50.0 per cent and 55.8 per cent of the vote,” and the PDP “should receive between 41.2 per cent and 47.0 per cent of the vote.”

“These figures are consistent with the official results as just announced by INEC,” Dr. Hussaini Abdu, Chair of the group said, adding that, “for both APC and PDP, the official results fall within the PVT estimated ranges,” and urged Nigerians to have faith in INEC. The question is: If these “impartial” Observers the opposition usually relied on have given their verdict on the poll in line with INEC’s findings, which “polling units’ tabulations” are Atiku and PDP brandishing to take to the Tribunal, to expose the “worst election” in Nigeria’s history?

Perhaps, as revealed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his book, My Watch, Atiku hasn’t forgotten his claimed Marabout’s prediction of him becoming “President,” taking over from Obasanjo in a matter of months after the later was sworn-in as President in 1999, with Atiku as Vice President.

If Atiku failed in his bid to take over from Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, and had also not succeeded in his presidential aspira-

tions thereafter, what better time than now, at 72, to realize that “prophecy” through the courts or any other conceivable means?

At the weekend, the PDP, via its Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, outrightly rebuffed individual and institutional pleas, and vowed “there will be no peace” until the election was reversed in favour of Atiku and his party.

Rather than kowtowing unheeded, and indirectly helping to heat up the polity, why not allow Atiku to ventilate his anger, and affirm his claims at the Tribunal? It’s his inalienable right to so do!

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

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

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Travel & Hospitality

26

Marriott’s Luxury Collection announces first hotel in Seychelles Stories by SOPURUCHI MADUKA

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HE Luxury Collection, part of Marriott International, announced Tuesday its planned debut in Seychelles with the signing of North Island - one of the world’s most luxurious private island resorts.

Located amongst the inner granitic islands of Seychelles, North Island is owned by the North Island Company Limited and is anticipated to join The Luxury Collection’s portfolio of world-renowned hotels and resorts later this year.

Managed by ASmallWorld, a leading members-only club dedicated to international travel and luxury, North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort, Seychelles will be the organization’s first property in its highly anticipated ASW Hotel Collection.

North Island boasts pristine white sand beaches that surround a tropical interior of coconut palms and indigenous takamaka trees, cradled between three granite outcrops overlooking the azure ocean.

Featuring 11 private villas with panoramic oceanfront views and a supreme sense of exclusivity, the 4,890-sq-ft villas will provide guests with plenty of room to fully unwind and enjoy the intimate, island style experience in a luxurious setting.

In addition to the resort’s stunning villas, the property will feature a lounge, dining room, state-of-theart spa and gym, infinity pool, and intimate sunset bar and restaurant located on the western side of the

Mardi Gras in the New World

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UROPEAN colonists and slave traders brought the pre-Lenten festivities to the Americas, where they became huge celebrations throughout the Carnival season. Celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti include musical competitions, elaborate costumes, feasts and cultural shows at various points leading up to Mardi Gras, or Carnival Tuesday.

French settlers brought Mardi Gras to New Orleans and the Louisiana territory. The “Galette des Rois,” or king cake, came too, becoming a symbol of New Orleans’ brand of Mardi Gras. It has been said that “King cake season is to New Orleans bakeries what Valentine’s Day is to florists and Christmas is to retailers.”

The first Mardi Gras day parade is said to have been celebrated in 1837.

Over time, balls, parties and parades have spread out to take place throughout Carnival season, organized by social clubs called “Krewes.”

The tradition of “parade throws” is thought to have originated in the 1920s with the Rex Krewe, the city’s oldest social club, whose colors of purple (justice) gold, (power), and green (faith) have come to symbolize New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.

After starting with necklaces they moved onto coins called doubloons stamped with their logos, and other krewes adopted the practice.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no need for nudity to attract throws.

Local historians say the trend emerged in the latter 20th century as Mardi Gras attracted more college-aged revelers.

island.

North Island’s Library will offer a standout experience for guests with an extensive natural history collection resulting from a devoted, meticulous renovation of the old coral ruins. In addition to housing a large selection of books and artefacts, The Library will also play host to immersive marine life presentations and environmental programmes.

“Seychelles is a true Luxury Collection destination, and one that

we have been keen to offer to global explorers for quite some time,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. “Home to some of the world’s most beautiful islands, with endless white sand beaches and coral reefs, lush mountain rainforests and rare animals, The Seychelles archipelago is an untouched paradise with over 115 islands to discover.

The Luxury Collection is thrilled to announce the joining of North Island later this year - one of the

most exclusive and exotic locations in the Indian Ocean.”

Led by acclaimed site architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, the property’s environmentally friendly architecture draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the destination. Each room features local materials including wood, local stone and glass, all of which are individually handcrafted by Seychellois and African artisans, along with natural thatched roofs to complete the magnificent design.

•A luxury beach resort in Seychelles

South African-based interior design firm Life strikingly captured the spirit of understated elegance and quiet authenticity that is characteristic of North Island, with an organic aesthetic influenced by the destination’s unparalleled beauty and plethora of lush vegetation.

North Island will offer immersive experiences and opportunities for guests to explore the captivating magic of the island. With a variety of adventurous activities including scuba diving, sea kayaking, boating, fishing, yoga, snorkelling and more, guests can connect with the indigenous offerings while making a minimal impact on the environment, which is the main philosophy of the island and resort.

Speaking about the signing, Bruce Simpson, managing director of North Island Company Limited, said: “We are delighted to join The Luxury Collection’s exclusive and unique portfolio. North Island is the ideal fit for a brand offering truly indigenous experiences and we look forward to building on the position of the island as one of the world’s most desirable private island resorts.”

Jan Luescher, CEO of ASmallWorld, stated: “We are proud to launch our ASW Hotel Collection and collaborate with Marriott International on such an iconic property. We are looking forward to expanding our collection over time.”

North Island is located approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Mahe Island, the main and largest island in Seychelles. Arriving at the property is simple and tailored for guests, with the property being a 15-minute helicopter transfer or a one-hour boat trip from Mahe Island.

Researchers seek domain for works on African rituals

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HIRLING masked spirits clad in raffia and laughing children daubed with clay dance across the pages of “African Twilight”, the latest book by two photographers documenting rapidly vanishing rituals across the continent.

Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher have traversed 44 of Africa’s 54 countries over four decades, documenting rituals used to mark milestones such as birth, death, and courtship, the graduation of girl to woman or the moment a warrior becomes a respected elder.

Now their archive, comprising

more than a million images, hundreds of artifacts and field diaries, and thousands of hours of video, is looking for a home.

They want the collection to go to a university in Africa or some other venue that will guarantee access to African artists, historians and researchers.

“This record of Africa won’t be taken again. It can’t be taken again because 40 percent of it is already lost,” said Fisher, a vivacious Australian draped in beads and red chiffon for their book launch in Nairobi on Sunday.

Zulu singer, Dorothy Masuka, dies at 83

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OROTHY Masuka, a vocalist and songwriter who blazed a trail for female pop stars in South Africa and became a dogged advocate of the struggle against apartheid, has died at her home in Johannesburg.

She was 83.

The South African jazz journalist Gwen Ansell, who knew Ms. Masuka, said the cause was complications of a stroke that Ms. Masuka suffered last year while touring Europe.

Ms. Masuka rose to fame in the mid-1950s, becoming one of the first black female recording artists to achieve stardom across southern and eastern Africa. She performed in a jazz-inflected pop style, singing in native African languages, often about politics.

Ms. Masuka wrote prolifically, and many of her songs were covered by other South African stars. Miriam Makeba adapted Ms. Masuka’s “Pata Pata” originally titled “Ei-Yow”, turning it into her signature song. Tunes like “Kulala” and “Hamba Nontsokolo” were covered by Hugh Masekela, Thandiswa Mazwai and others.

“A lot of my songs, they talk,” she told The Mail & Guardian, a South African newspaper, in 2014. “The way of my singing is message. You send a message: It’s love, it’s sadness, it’s everything.”

Ms. Masuka’s career took off right as a newly cosmopolitan culture was flourishing among young black South Africans. At the same time, the country’s apartheid regime was tightening its repressive policies.

Heat lightning flashed across the sky as models, acrobats and dancers showcased traditional music and textiles at the event at Africa Heritage House, a private museum. But conflict, climate change, and the spread of technology are erasing or transforming many such customs.

In South Sudan, decades of war has devastated traditional Dinka culture, said Beckwith, a petite, curly-haired American. Few now can make the beaded corsets whose patterns and colors would tell you the life story of its wearer.

In Ethiopia, desertification and land From her early career, she wrote and recorded songs that squarely addressed the racist policies of the South African government and others across the continent. She sang in support of the non-violent Defiance Campaign, and she denounced the pro-apartheid politician D. F. Malan in “Dr. Malan.”

In 1961 she recorded “Lumumba,” addressing the assassination of the Congolese leader, Patrice Lumumba.

The South African authorities tried to seize all copies of the record, and Ms. Masuka went into exile for more than 30 years.

Throughout the 1960s she worked with pro-independence groups across southern and eastern Africa, including the African National Congress, which at the time was a revolutionary party seeking to overthrow the apartheid regime in Pretoria.

grabs are pushing nomads south into farming lands or towns. Samburu elders in Kenya worry that youngsters enamored of cell phones and city life no longer care for time-consuming social ceremonies and the obligations they entail.

“It’s really important for change to happen, but ... in a way that works without losing your identity,” said Fisher.

Encouraged by conservationists, one Maasai community in Kenya changed from lion-hunting to athletic games as a way of proving male prowess, she said. The Wodaabe people in Niger still stage male beauty pageants famed for their use of make-up and grimaces.

The photographers’ friend Nike Okundaye, a Nigerian chief and textile artist, is trying to revive the laborious methods for dying patterned indigo clothes, a tradition handed down from her great-great-grandmother.

Women once used the cloth - Nigeria’s “color of love”, Okundaye says - to flaunt matrimonial harmony. But the months-long process to produce a piece makes it too expensive for most consumers, so now her work hangs in Washington’s Smithsonian Museum and is pictured in the pages of Beckwith and Fishers’ books.

Okundaye has been working with them since 1967, she said.

“Carol loved the culture and Angela loved the tradition,” Okundaye said.

“We hope their photographs will inspire a new generation.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

AVIATION

Foreign airlines divert traffic to PH, Abuja to decongest Lagos Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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OREIGN carriers have expressed readiness to divert some flight operations to new terminals at Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Omegwa, Rivers State, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, as part of moves to decongest Lagos operations.

The move, The Oracle Today learnt, is also part of efforts by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), to put the new terminals to profitable use. FAAN disclosed that Turkish Airlines would soon commence scheduled flight operations from PHIA, while Emirates Airlines would run daily flights from NAIA. In addition, Air Peace would from April, do direct flight to Dubai from PHIA. General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu, said the move was necessary to redistribute traffic from Lagos to other airports in the country. Yakubu said the carriers could use state-of-theart facilities in other aerodromes across Nigeria, adding that FAAN is determined to improve the experience of air travellers nationwide.

She hinted that Cronos Air, and Lufthansa already operate from the Port Harcourt Airport, while Turkish Air flights will operate four times weekly, starting from June 25, 2019.

Besides, Yakubu explained that Air Cote d’Ivoire would commence direct flight from Abuja to its base

in Abidjan soon.“We want to appeal to members of the public that they don’t have to come from Port Harcourt or any part of the Eastern state to fly out of the country.

“They can easily go to Port Harcourt to fly. Also, as you know, Abuja Airport’s new terminal too has opened, and Emirates would be starting from the terminal from June. We are expecting all the international airlines to start operating also from Abuja Airport.

“We want to encourage our passengers that they don’t all have to come to Lagos, even though we know Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country and the airport is the hub, but passengers can travel from Abuja and Port Harcourt airports to connect to their destinations so that we can decongest Lagos airport.”

Recall that the recently opened Abuja terminal has annual capacity of 15 million passengers, while Port Harcourt has capacity of five million passengers. Yakubu further informed that Kano Airport, with another five million annual capacity, would come on stream in the next two months.

“Lagos Airport did not take-off early because of the issue of citing of the new terminal. Where we have it now is not the original site; it has come up with a lot of issues – connectivity to the airside, the runway and others. But we are assuring our passengers that once Kano is inaugurated, the next airport would be Lagos,” she said.

OVH Energy acquires new bowsers for its aviation business

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VH Energy Marketing Ltd, Nigeria’s leading provider of trusted petroleum products and services and licensee of the Oando retail brand, has announced its acquisition of brand new aircraft fueling bowsers as part of its expansion plans to deepen its service offerings in providing fueling solutions to players in the aviation industry.

Manufactured by Flightline UK, the bowsers are equipped with latest technological and safety standards certified by the Joint Inspection Group (JIG), the world’s leading organization for the development of aviation fuel supply standards. With a combined capacity of 88,000 litres, capable of dispensing up to 3,500 litres of aviation jet fuel per minute, these bowsers are designed to enhance safety and operational efficiency of partner companies.

Commenting on the acquisition, Chief Executive Officer, OVH Energy Marketing Ltd, Mr. Huub Stokman stated “this acquisition is one of the many investment initiatives we have for the downstream industry and we will continue to deepen our investments to consolidate OVH Energy’s leadership position in the aviation sub-sector and the downstream oil & gas industry as a whole. We are committed to exceptional service delivery to foreign and local airline operators in the Nigerian aviation industry so that Nigeria becomes the destination of choice for international airlines to refuel their aircrafts.”

The Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Babafemi Olabiyi also stated that

this acquisition positions the company to further improve its aviation customers’ experience amongst whom are leading international, local and specialized airline operators. He reiterated OVH Energy’s commitment to operational excellence whilst delivering exceptional customer service.

OVH Energy is the marketer of choice providing trusted petroleum products and services in Nigeria with expertise in jetty and terminaling services as well as the marketing and distribution of refined petroleum products for retail, commercial and industrial purposes. Its aviation business spans over 25 years and is present in the major airport hubs within Nigeria.

•Fueling-bowsers

Nigeria’s Airlines record 36,350 delayed flights in 2018 – Usman

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OMESTIC airlines operating in Nigeria recorded 36,350 cases of delayed flights between January and December 2018, according to figures released by the Consumer Protection Department of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

A document issued by the department and obtained by the The Oracle Today in Lagos showed that 59,818 flights were operated by nine airlines during the period under review.

According to the document, 544 flights were cancelled for various reasons by the airlines.

It said the airlines in operation were Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Air Peace, Azman Air, Dana Air, First Nation, Med-View, Overland and Max Air. The document said Air Peace, which operated 22,055 flights, topped the chart of delayed flights with 14,067 and 137 cancelled flights.

It indicated that Arik Air followed with 8,073 delayed flights and 152 cancellations out of its scheduled 15,205 flight operations.

According to document, Dana Air operated 5,944 flights with 3,915 cases of delayed flights and 67 cancellations.

Azman Air recorded 3,242 and 49 delayed and cancelled flights re-

spectively, out of the 4,944 flights operated by the airline during the period under review.

Also, Aero Contractors operated 4,361 flights with 2,459 delayed and 70 cancellations; Overland, 601 flights with 1,960 delayed and 29 cancellations; and Medview, 2058 flights with 1,256 delayed and 42 cancellations.

It showed that Max Air recorded 1,151 delays and five cancellations, out of the 2,205 flights operated by the airline.

Similarly, FirstNation Airways, whose licence has been suspended by the NCAA, recorded 137 delayed flighs and three cancellations, out of 445 flights operated within the period under review.

However, the delays,, according to the airlines, were due to operational reasons, bordering on scarcity of aviation fuel as well as adverse weather conditions leading to low visibility at most of the

Airlines stall in tackling climate change – Investor Group

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IRLINES are doing too little in the fight against global warming, a study funded by investors with $13 trillion of assets under management said on Tuesday.

Faith Ward, Co-Chair of the Transition Pathway Initiative (TPI), on behalf of the British Environment

Air Peace to operate UAE flights from MMIA

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IGERIAN carrier, Air Peace, Tuesday said its planned flights services to Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates would be operated from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The airline, which made the disclosure Tuesday in Lagos, dismissed reports that it was planning to originate its flights to Sharjah and Dubai from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

It maintained that the MMIA, Lagos, was strategic to the launch of Air Peace international flight operations.

According to the company, arrangements for the airline’s

long-haul flight services to Dubai, Sharjah, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg were nearing conclusion.

“Our plan to operate our Sharjah and Dubai services from the MMIA, Lagos remains unchanged. “Our strategic plan is to commence our international flight operations from Lagos, with Sharjah and Dubai preceding other routes.

“As we have variously promised, we will eventually expand our international operations to cover other cities and regions of Nigeria and even the West Coast of Africa,” it said in a statement by its Corporate Communications

airports.

Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, NCAA, said one of the major ways to reduce flight delays was the construction of modern terminals or remodelling of old ones to ease passenger facilitation.

Adurogboye said: “Some of these problems are infrastructural related. The government is remodelling most of the airports and this will ease passenger facilitation.

“By the time these modern facilities are deployed, it will curb unnecessary delays.

“However, issues like adverse weather or a machine (aircraft) developing a problem cannot be ruled out, and you can’t expect them to fly with a machine that had developed problem. Those ones happen occasionally.

“So, we hope that very shortly, these delays will be reduced drastically, and we are working toward that.”

Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah.

The airline noted that the goal of Air Peace was to leverage its broad domestic and regional route network in offering the flying public a reliable alternative.

“This will be clearer as our longhaul route network unfurls. “But we envisage that the base of our international operations will remain the MMIA, Lagos, while mini-hubs will be created in the North, East and South of Nigeria and West Africa.

“The company said this would ensure that the airline fully realise its vision to create seamless flight connectivity and positively impact the economies of its areas of operations.

Agency Pension Fund, said in Oslo.

The sector accounts for two per cent of world greenhouse gas emissions and should do more to manage risks of climate change, the TPI said in a review of 20 of the world’s biggest listed airlines.

It rated Delta, Lufthansa, United Airlines and ANA Holdings as the best performers at managing the business risks and opportunities of climate change.

But all could do more. “Investors have a clear message to the aviation sector: When it comes to carbon performance they must be in it for the long haul,’’ Ward said.

“Investors do care … it’s about encouraging disclosure so we can make informed decisions,’’ she added. TPI, which seeks to assess the performance of businesses in cutting carbon, groups 40 investors with $13 trillion under management, including BNP Paribas and Legal & General Investment Management.

More fuel-efficient planes, wider use of biofuels and ensuring that planes fly at full capacity would help to limit emissions.

TPI separately said easyJet and Alaska Air now had the most efficient fleets among the top 20 listed airlines, judged by their emissions per passenger kilometre flown.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION

Lessons as Insurance stakeholders laugh last over NAICOM Stories by JEROME USHAKANG

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T is no longer news that the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has cancelled the Tier Based Solvency Capital recapitalization Policy for insurance companies in Nigeria. It’s now history. And a good knowledge of the past is essential in order to avoid pitfalls and have concrete and realistic plans for the future. JEROME USHAKANG writes on the intrigues and drama following the botched recapitalization of insurance companies, lessons and the triumph of voices of the investors.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) had on July 25, last year attempted to change the low profile of Insurance companies in Nigeria, aimed at raising their financial capabilities so as to handle big ticket contracts. The regulator announced an increase in the minimum solvency capital of insurance companies, classifying insurance firms into tier one, tier two and tier three companies.

Based on the new capital requirement as was proposed by NAICOM, Life insurance firms have three capitalisation tiers. Tier one companies were required to have N6 billion as capital. Tier two life insurance firms need to have N3 billion, while tier three firms are required to maintain the current requirements of N2 billion.

Also, Non-life insurance firms will now have three tiers. Tier one nonlife firms are mandated to have a capital base of N9 billion. Firms in tier two segment are expected to have a capital base of N4.5 billion, while tier three firms will maintain the current capital base of N3 billion.

In addition, Insurance companies operating in the composite segment, that is all classes of insurance, have three tiers. Companies operating in the tier one will be required to have a capital base of N15 billion. Tier two firms will need to have a capital base of N7.5 billion, while those in tier three will maintain the current capital base of N5 billion. NAICOM deadline to meet the new recapitalisation requirements was scheduled for January 1, 2019.

However, as a lot of companies were exploring means on how to meet up with these requirements, by way of mergers, acquisitions, and Rights Issues. NAICOM came out with a shocker by suddenly backdating the deadline to October 1, 2018. It was like a joke, as the insurance companies have only one month and two days to recapitalise.

NAICOM The Commissioner For Insurance, Mohammed Kari, stressed that the recapitalisation is targeted at raising financial fortunes for the insurance companies so that they can absorb more risks and at the same time be at par with other financial entities in the economic system.

According to Kari, a recapitalised insurance industry will enable companies deploy more capital for improvement in technology, which will help challenge the traditional ways of buying and underwriting insurance, and replace them with newer, faster and more reliable ways of insuring life, goods and property.

INVESTORS Verses REGULATOR Investors in the insurance sector, agreed with NAICOM on the need to recapitalise. They said, “We are not against recapitalisation but the duration or time frame that is very short, making it impossible for most insurance companies to meet up with

new October 1, 2018 deadline.”

They also claimed that the policy was aimed at forcing licensed insurance businesses to increase their paid up share capitals by 100 percent or face losing their investments.

In addition, they alleged that the proposed policy in the circular was inconsistent with the provisions of Section 25 of the National Investment Promotion Commission Act, 2003.

Kari in response said, “There was no going back on its October 1, 2018 deadline for operators in the insurance industry to shore up their capital base. He emphasized that his office was not moved and could not be deterred by either the operators’ opposition to the policy, their threat for court action or even the various stakeholders’, especially the shareholders that filed a suit in court on account of the recapitalisation exercise.

The NAICOM boss insisted that there was no nowhere in the world that a court has stopped a regulator from performing its duty. He said the various agitations and resistance going on did not surprise him, noting that it has always been the character of the industry players to resist change, which he said would not help the industry.

“Their resistance to change is what has kept the industry where it is today and if it continues, the industry will not catch up with other sectors of the economy. Insurance has remained the only growth area in the economy, whereas others have grown, insurance sector vis-a vis population is not making the expected impact to the economy, but there is no alternative but to grow”. Kari added.

In his own words, he said, “We are not deterred by their threats for court case, court cases have not stopped any regulator from performing his duties. There is nowhere in the world it has. What we did was making the public aware of what we have been doing in the industry.

Kari said it was for operators’ protection, though they were resisting the initiative. He likened the relationship between the operators and the regulator to that between a baby and his parents.

“They are like children and we are the parents, and parents stop children from breaking their toys while playing with it, but you know, some children are resistant, so are the operators,” he stated.

There was confusion surrounding the insurance recapitalisation issue , while the investors were advocating for more realistic time, as the process is complex and a bit cumbersome , NAICOM, the regulator was bent on concluding the recapitalisation process on October 1, and was not considering the failure, or harm this may inflict on the insurance sector as well as the fate of investors.

This was not acceptable by stakeholders who described it as impossible considering the processes involved. Thus pushing them to take a legal action against the commission.

The applicants who filed the action at Federal High Court Ikoyi were led by Mr. Sunday Nwosu(Sir sunny Nwosu).Others include Mr. Adeniyi Adebisi, Mr. Moses Oke, CAC Okpara, Mrs. Ayodele Kudaisi, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu, Mr. Issac Obarinde and Mr. Okechukwu Nwaguru, while the Oath was taken by Mr. Moses Igbrude.

Despite a court order on September 14,, mandating NAICOM to halt the implementation of the deadline.

The Commission was still insisting, there was no going back on its Octo-

•Mr. Eddie Efekoha, Managing Director/CEO, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, unanimously elected 22nd chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association [NIA]at the 45th Annual General Meeting. ber 1, 2018 deadline for operators to increase their capital base.

However, NAICOM, later in a surprised move cancelled the Tier Based Solvency Capital recapitalisation Policy for insurance companies in Nigeria. The commission in a circular to all insurance companies on ‘Withdrawal of circular on Tier Based Solvency Capital policy recapitalisation, was signed by Mr. Agboola Pius, a Director in NAICOM. It stated thus “Pursuant to the powers conferred by the enabling laws, the commission hereby withdraws and cancels the circular dated August 27, 2018 and titled Tier Based Solvency Capital Policy for insurance companies in Nigeria. This withdrawal and cancellation takes immediate effect.”

This seems not to be a voluntary action by the regulator. As the saying goes, ‘there is no smoke without fire. Some shareholders of insurance companies had sued the commission to a Federal High Court in Lagos for insisting on implementing the recapitalisation. And Justice Muslim Hassan gave an order in a class action brought by the shareholders restraining NAICOM from enforcing the TBMSC policy.

This led the commission to suspend the implementation of its recapitalisation in October.The cancellation took place late November 2018. The statement in parts read: “ In compliance with the extant rules and injunction issued by the Federal High Court, the commission had said status quo would be maintained and insurers were asked to continue to operate on the subsisting regulatory framework prior to the circular. It stated that appropriate regulatory directive would be given upon the completion of the suit.” But through this latest circular, the regulator cancelled the recapitalisation which had generated a lot of controversies.

Reacting to the development, the Publicity Secretary of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) Mr. Moses Igbrude commended NAICOM for the cancellation of the recapitalization policy. Igbrude said the action was an indication of respect for the rule of law as the regulator toed the path of law.

LESSONS The regulator and shareholders are supposed to work for the overall

interest of economic development of the country. It is a necessary mutual relationship between the two with each other having listening ears and respect for each other. NAICOM failed in this respect, when investors raised an alarm that the time frame for recapitalisation was short, instead of listening to them with a view to finding solution, the regulator rather regarded it as a superiority contest. It took the court to call the regulator to order. If attention was given to investors, there would have been no need dissipating energy, time and money for nothing. So, regulator, have listening ears, be a problem solver and have harmonious relationship with those you are regulating.

Secondly, it seems the advisers of Commissioner for Insurance failed in their duty, I want to believe that Kari didn’t single-handedly took the decision to compel insurance companies to recapitalise within a very short time without the contributions of Board members of NAICOM. Or perhaps, they were not courageous enough to highlight inadequate time to their boss.

If, this is the case with NAICOM, then it needs to re-organise itself, put its House in order so as to come out with policies that will revive the industry. Taking into consideration, right timing. Anything else would amount to a sheer waste of time.

Time in business circles is money.

Kari likened shareholders to children and NAICOM to parents and as parents he said, there is need to restrain children from breaking their toys and children are resistant to change. It goes beyond breaking toys. If your child is complaining or crying and you don’t care to find out but busy boasting that you are his father until another person has to persuade you to attend to your child before you comply. Are you a good father?

NAICOM’s objective, according to Kari, is also aimed at protecting the insurance companies, which in essence is the principal function of any regulator. However, a regulator should not do that at the detriment of the firms it claimed to be protecting, by forcing them to do what appears to be humanly impossible.

As a regular, NAICOM knows how tedious the process of raising money as per recapitalisation is, or even the

process of mergers and acquisition.

So, was the time allotted for the exercise enough?

Also, approval from various bodies including shareholders is essential.

It’s not a matter of one month and few days as NAICOM did, or even two months, minimum duration should be at least three months. The short duration given by NAICOM, prompted stakeholders to smell a rat. An allegation that the recapitalisation was planned to fail, and only Kari and his Board knows why.

We all know that a regulator can only be a regulator indeed if it is in harmony with the sector it regulates by taking them along and keeping them abreast with happenings in the area of its jurisdiction. And not by ambushing them with surprise packages devoid of enlightenment in the guise of the betterment of the sector. This is not an honourable action expected from a regulator with the status of NAICOM. NAICOM is aware that majority of the investors are retirees who are Ordinary shareholders, the risk bearers, therefore if any company goes under, they would lost all---no compensation. Their lives depend on the dividends they earn and augmented by retirement benefits, for some who are fortunate. Many are bread winners with many dependants. Besides, as an ordinary mortal, wherever your treasure is, there will your mind be. So, whenever shareholders are shouting or complaining about a policy or a move by a regulator, the regulator shouldn’t be insensitive, after all, it may turn out to be in the interest of the entire economic system and for the healthy development of the country.

There are so many lessons for us to learn but only few have been composed here for the public interest.

Time is very essential in every human endeavour, for instance, gestation period for pregnancy takes nine months for human beings, allowing those concerned to prepare for the baby. When rain is about fall, dark clouds appear, followed by thunder storm, cool breeze and finally rain.

Information, communication enlightenment is embedded in these natural occurrences, nature is teaching us but we tend to refuse to learn or even copy on gratis. I will like to end this piece in the words of George Bernard Shaw, “If you have a dirty head, don’t cut it off, wash it”.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

INSURANCE & PENSION

Delta: CIIN advocates insurance inclusion in secondary schools Stories by JEROME USHAKANG

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HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is seeking for the support of the Delta State Government for insurance to be included in secondary schools in the state.

The appeal was made by the President of CIIN, Mr. Eddie Efekoha, when he led a delegation of the CIIN and the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC) on a courtesy visit to Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in his office at Asaba.

Efekoha, also entreated the governor to also support the creation of faculties of insurance in stateowned tertiary institutions.

In a statement, the CIIN revaled that the delegation, which was received by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Ovie Agas, in like manner solicited support from the state in helping to promote the industry agenda.

The statement read: “Efekoha assured the Secretary to the State Government that CIIN and the IICC would equally play an active role in executing these projects. During the visit of the delegation, 500 textbooks entitled, Insurance for Senior Secondary Schools, were donated to the state government for onward distribution to secondary schools in the state.

Meantime, the donation of the books represents a major stride and serves as a landmark in the institute’s quest to groom a new generation of industry leaders. Copies of the textbooks have previously been presented by the institute to the Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Edo, Ondo, Rivers, Imo, Osun, Enugu, Ekiti, Kaduna and Kano State Ministries of Education as well as the FCT, while similar presentations have equally been slated for other states in the Federation.

“All of these are part of our articulated efforts at expanding the capacity of institutions offering insurance programmes thereby guiding them to deliver superior and qualitative insurance education. The promotion of insurance education is not only a key to unlocking the huge potentials of our industry but also a means of opening the doors to the younger generation who represent the insurance practitioners of tomorrow,” he said.

Hon Agas, who represented Governor Okowa, expressed delight at the gesture from the institute. He commended the CIIN and the IICC for considering Delta worthy place to carry out its insurance awareness. He promised the delegation that the message would be taken back to the governor and he was sure that the delegation’s requests would be given serious consideration.

•Commissioner-for-Insurance-Alhaji-Mohammed-Kari.

New accounting standards to delay insurance companies’ results

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OST insurance companies may miss the month-end deadline for submission of their audited annual reports due to implementation of new accounting

S/Africa’s insurance firm to commercialize subsidiaries

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SOUTH Africa’s Insurance company simply known as Liberty Holdings is considering the sale of some businesses bought in previous years as part of expansion-focused strategy.

The insurer, a unit of Standard Bank in the middle of a turnaround plan, said it had placed asset management and short-term insurance operations in a number of African countries, as well as health insurance arm Liberty Health, under “ownership review”.

It made the announcement while reporting a 17 per cent drop in headline earnings in 2018, which dampened progress in the first full year of its turnaround strategy and prompted a three per cent drop in its share price.

Liberty’s CEO David Munro said the move to review and potentially sell some of the businesses would refine the company’s portfolio.

“It’s these kind of steps that we’re taking that will… make sure that each of the businesses in the portfolio can deliver growth for Liberty and our shareholders,” he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

However, he declined to give a time frame for possible sales, but said negotiations were currently underway. Munro took the helm in 2017 and has since then, with the backing of Standard Bank, worked to slow the acquisition-fuelled expansion drive which preceded his appointment to focus on Liberty’s home market – a move that had delivered rising profit.

The units under review have been deemed no longer central to the new strategy, and include asset management operations in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Botswana and short-term insurance businesses in Malawi and Namibia.

Liberty’s share price fell by

around three per cent on the news that its headline earnings per share -the most widely watched profit measure in South Africa – had fallen to 817.9 cents from 982.1 cents in 2017. But it later recovered some losses to stand at 101.98 rand per share, down 1.7 per cent. Munro said the more salient part of the results was a 42 per cent rise in normalised operating earnings, as this captured the performance of its core operations – South African insurance and asset management.

“We’ve made really significant

progress in turning around our business,” he said, adding that the results go a long way to restoring shareholders’ confidence.

The headline number was pulled down by more than 80 percent slump in earnings in a portfolio Liberty uses to invest the capital it has to hold against its insurance operations, to 250 million rand ($17.93 million). Munro said this was the result of a “disastrous” year from investors’ perspective, characterised by market volatility and low returns.

Insurance firms flout NIID data upload rules on motor insurance

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OME insurance firms have been flouting the Nigerian Insurance Industry Database, NIID, data upload requirement thereby exposing vehicle owners to harassment from officials of Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, in Lagos The Oracle Today gathered that about 14 out of the 40 insurance companies underwriting motor insurance in the insurance sector have consistently defaulted in uploading data of their motor business on the NIID, even though it is mandatory for them to do so.

Consequently, many vehicle owners are being harassed daily by officials of VIS over inability of the VIS officials to determine validity of their insurance certificates, even when they have valid motor insurance policies. The NIID is an information technology-based system that facilitates easy collation and dissemination of statistical and other information relating to insurance.

It also serves as a platform for easy identification of genuine insurance documents by relevant authorised persons. The platform provides protection to Nigerians against the activities of insurance fraudsters, particularly the third party motor in-

•Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

surance certificate racketeers.

Also, the NIID is connected to the database of the VIS for easy identification of valid insurance certificates. It will be recalled that the VIS recently overhauled its processes and installed automated vehicle inspection processes which enables it to obtain information on vehicles with cameras mounted on some roads across Lagos.

With the cameras mounted on some major roads in Lagos, a capture of a vehicle plate number will display all information regarding that vehicle.

Offenders are no longer apprehended on the roads but are traced to their homes as all information of a vehicle owner is on VIS database.

Issuance of VIS notice of default attracts a fine of N20,000. Unfortunately, many insurance companies are defaulting in uploading their motor business data on the NIID. Information from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the country has 11.7 million vehicle population as at the end of second quarter of 2018. However, the NIA revealed that only about three million vehicles are registered on the NIID.

standards by the insurance industry.

Post-listing rules at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) require quoted companies to submit their annual audited report and accounts with the Exchange not later than 90 calendar days after the relevant year end.

Most quoted companies including all banks, insurance companies, major manufacturers, oil and gas companies, breweries and cement companies use the 12-month Gregorian calendar year as their business year.

The deadline for the submission of the 2018 yearly report and accounts is Friday, March 29, 2019.

The Nation‘s check at the weekend indicated that not less than four insurance companies have applied and secured a waiver and extension of the deadline for submission of their 2018 results.These included Mutual Benefits Assurance, Guinea Insurance and SUNU Assurances.

Insurers said the implementation of two new accounting standards by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the primary regulator of the insurance industry, has affected the completion of the auditing process for the annual report and accounts. The insurance companies also envisaged delay in the approval process at NAICOM, which must approve the accounts before the submission to the NSE for onward release to the investing public.

According to the companies, the recent adoption and implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 9 on Financial Instruments and IFRS 4 (as amended) on Insurance Contracts

by NAICOM will delay the auditing process.

The companies noted that NAICOM had recently released the guidance on the implementation of the two accounting standards, with the consultative meeting with the insurance companies held as recent as February 12.

“These events have affected the finalization of our audited financial statements and we envisage that the primary regulator would not have approved the financial statements by March 30, 2019,” one of the insurance companies stated.

The insurance sector is the most populous sector at the Exchange.

Despite the delay, the NSE Insurance Index recorded the highest gain last week at the NSE, playing the contrarian with a gain of 3.01 per cent during the week that saw other main and sectorial indices closing negative.

The rules allow the Exchange to grant specific waiver to relevant companies or a general waiver of the deadline under some specific circumstances. General waiver is usually given in the event of general disruption to industrial activities such as strike, national crises, many public holidays and other circumstances that in the judgment of the Exchange may significantly impact the 90-day timeline given to companies to prepare and submit the audited report.

A market source said defaulting companies may mount pressure on authorities at the Exchange to consider a general waiver citing the disruption caused by national elections.

Fines for failure to submit reports and accounts within the stipulated timeline range from N100,000 to as high as N100 million.

Under the rules at the Exchange, late submission under the first instance of 90 days could attract N9 million, the additional period of 90 days will attract N18 million while such delay beyond the first 180 days to the next 180 days could attract as much as N72 million, bringing fines payable by a defaulting company within a year to N99 million.

In addition to the monetary fines, a defaulting company will be tagged with the “Below Listing Standard” (BLS) or any other sign or expression to indicate that the company has failed to submit its accounts within the stipulated period and this tag shall remain for as long as the company fails to file its accounts.

Where a company fails to file its accounts after the expiration of the first 90 days, the NSE will send such a company a “second filing deficiency notification” within two business days after the end of the first 90 days. In addition, the Exchange will suspend trading in the company’s shares and notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

EQUITY & Capital Market Court remands Adebanjo over N58.46m illegal share sale Stories by KAYODE OGUNWALE

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USTICE M.S. Hassan of the Federal High Court 12, Ikoyi Lagos, at the weekend remanded Samuel Adebanjo, Managing Director of Brentonwoods Limited in prison custody until March 19, 2019 over a two-count charge of illegally selling a client’s shares.

Adebanjo and his firm, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Specifically, they were allegedly conspired to commit fraud by selling and converting to personal use proceeds of 537,872 Units of Nigeria Breweries Plc shares and 21,260 Units of Guinness Nigeria Plc shares, valued at N58,461,391.49, belonging to the family of Akin Olugbade.

The offence is contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same Section, was allegedly committed between 2004 and 2014 in Lagos.

Recall that the Acting Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Ms Mary Uduk has repeatedly assured investors that the Commission will not hesitate to invoke the full weight of the law on any capital market operator involved in fraudulent activities.

Uduk therefore urged investors to take advantage of the various initiatives put in place by the Commission to ensure that proceeds from sale of shares goes directly

into the their accounts, thereby avoiding mismanagement by Operators.

According to the SEC boss, “we are doing a lot to boost investor confidence and ensure their funds are not mismanaged. We have a number of initiatives that we have put in place to boost investors’ confidence.

“We have the electronic-Dividend Mandate System(EDMS), the Direct Cash Settlement (DCS)as well as multiple subscription in place.

“We also protect them through the National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF), risk based supervision that enables us to supervise the operators to ensure that they do not do what they are not supposed to do. And again the Complaints Management Framework (CMF) enables investors to know where to complain to and how long it takes for such complaints to be resolved.

Uduk however urged investors to ensure they only patronise Fund Managers registered with the SEC as this is one of the steps in safeguarding their investments.

“We are steadfast and committed to our responsibilities as the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market in ensuring that only fit and proper people are allowed to operate in the market. We are committed to protecting investors in the work we do and that is why we have zero tolerance on infractions” Uduk added.

• Wambui Gichuri (right), Director of the African Development Bank’s Water Development and Sanitation Department, hands award to Cross family members.

Nigerian equities market opens positive as Index up 0.57% Monday

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OLLOWING the conclusion of the general election, sentiments in the Nigerian equities market turned positive as the benchmark index of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) notched higher by 0.57 percent to 32,568.65 points, driven by interest across major counters.

Accordingly, the Month-to-Date

SEC approves 15 year corporate green infrastructure bond

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OLLOWING the receipt of Board’s approval on 26th September 2018 to raise additional capital and the receipt of regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission on the 31st of December 2018, North South Power Company Limited through NSP-SPV PowerCorp Plc, have issued its first N8.5 billion 15 year 15.60 percent Series 1 Guaranteed Fixed Rate Senior Green Infrastructure Bonds (“Series 1 Green Bonds”), due 2034 under a N50 billion Debt Issuance Programme.

The Series 1 Green Bonds is the first certified green corporate bond and the longest tenured (15 year) corporate bond issued in the Nigeria debt capital markets.

The Series 1 Green Bonds was oversubscribed by 60 percent with firm commitments from twelve (12) institutional investors including nine (9) pension funds, and priced at 70 bps spread to the comparable 15-year sovereign benchmark bond (FGN 2034) using the closing yield on the reference date (04 February 2019) adopted for the book building. The Series 1 Green Bonds was certified by TUV NORD CERT (www.tuv-nord.com), an approved verifier under the Climates Bonds Standard, in conformance with the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA’s) Green Bond Principles, Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment’s Nigerian Green Bond Guidelines, and the Green Bonds Issuance Rules of the

Nigeria Securities & Exchange Commission. The development of the “Green Bond Framework” and the pre-issuance verifications was obtained through technical assistance support from the African Local Currency Bond Fund (www.alcbfund. com), an initiative of KfW Development Bank.

In a statement, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of North South Power Company Limited, Engr. (Dr) Olubunmi Peters noted that the success of the bond issuance is a significant milestone in the company’s long-term corporate strategy, demonstrating its market leadership, innovation and commitment to the highest standards of environmental, social and corporate governance.

quality metrics and relatively robust loan underwriting standards and risk management processes, large local currency liquidity buffers, and resilient capital buffers. These strengths are balanced against Nigeria’s still challenging operating environment which negatively affects banks’ asset quality and revenue growth, and concentration risks in the bank’s loan book, including its exposure to loans denominated in foreign currencies.”

Moody’s also notes that the senior unsecured NSR rating is on review for downgrade to reflect the potential negative pressures on capital and asset risk metrics as a result of Access Bank’s merger with Diamond Bank Plc. NSRs provide a measure of relative creditworthiness within a single country, and are derived from global scale ratings (GSRs) using country-specific maps. NSRs are not intended to rank

credits across multiple countries; instead they provide a measure of relative creditworthiness within a single country (Nigeria in the case of Access). Moody’s NSRs are given a two-letter suffix to distinguish them from the agency’s Global Scale Ratings. For example, NSRs in Nigeria have the country abbreviation “ng”.

Access’s Senior Unsecured NSR rating along with Access’ other ratings could be affirmed if the bank’s solvency and funding metrics are not materially strained by the merger. An upgrade is not likely given that Access’s ratings are on review for downgrade.

Moody’s said, Access’s Senior Unsecured NSR rating along with Access’ other ratings could be downgraded if the bank’s solvency indicators deteriorate materially as a result of the merger and the bank does not improve its capital position in order to support its larger balance sheet.

Moody’s assigns scale ratings to Access Bank’s senior unsecured notes

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OODY’S Investors Service, has assigned a Senior Unsecured national scale rating (NSR) of A1.ng to Access Bank Plc’s (Access) issuance of up to N15 billion five-year senior unsecured notes. The Senior Unsecured NSR rating is on review for downgrade, in line with Access Bank’s other ratings.

The international rating agency said, the A1.ng senior unsecured NSR rating assigned to the senior unsecured notes is aligned with Access’ A1.ng local currency deposit NSR rating, recognizing that the debt securities will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Access and will rank at least equally with all other senior unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the bank at all times.

“Access’ A1.ng NSR maps from the bank’s global scale rating of B2 (RUR) for such unsecured notes. The A1.ng NSR reflects the bank’s strong asset

and Year-to-Date gains increased slightly to 7.01 percent and 4.04 percent, respectively.

On sectorial breakdown, all sector indices close positive, led by the Consumer Goods (+1.26 percent) index, and followed closely by the Insurance (+1.13 percent), Banking (+0.85 percent), Oil & Gas (+0.05 percent) and Industrial Goods (+0.02 percent) indices.

Notable stocks include NB (+4.00 percent), AIICO Insurance (+4.23 percent), Zenith Bank (+0.97 percent), Oando (+1.54 percent) and Dangote Cement (+0.05 percent).

Elsewhere, market breadth was positive, with 25 gainers and 8 losers, led by Dangote Flour Mills (+9.95 percent) and Union Diagnostic (-6.45 percent) shares, respectively. Total volume of trades declined by 0.7 percent to 219.81 million units, valued at N5.55 billion, and exchanged in 4,327 deals.

In the absence of a positive catalyst, as well as the still tense political milieu, analysts guide investors to trade cautiously in the short term. However, stable macroeconomic fundamentals and compelling valuations remain supportive of recovery in the midto-long term.

In the currency market, the naira traded flat against the dollar at

N360 in the parallel market, while it depreciated slightly by 0.01 per cent to N361.54 in the I&E FX window. Total volume of trades in the IEW rose by 43.4 percent to USD165.32 million in Friday’s session, with trades consummated within the N359.00-N363.00/USD band.

In the fixed income and money market, the overnight lending rate moderated by 146 bps to 18.79 per cent, following inflows worth N38.97 billion from the JAN-2028 bond coupon payments.

Activities in the Treasury bills market were bullish, as average yield contracted by 8 bps to close at 14.26 per cent. Yields compressed at the short (-43 bps), mid (-63 bps) and long (-10 bps) ends of the curve, following demand for the 80DTM (-136 bps), 171DTM (-304 bps), and 206DTM (-105 bps) bills, respectively.

Proceedings in the bond market were similarly bullish, as average yield compressed by 16 bps to 14.50 percent. Buy sentiment was spread across the short (-29 bps) and mid (-19 bps) segments, driven by demand for the JUL-2021 (-58 bps) and JAN-2026 (-34 bps) bonds, respectively. Conversely, yield expanded at the long (+6 bps) end of curve, following a selloff of the JUL-2034 (+22 bps) bond.

2018: Local investors outperform foreign counterparts

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N a monthly basis, The Nigerian Stock Exchange polls trading figures from major custodians and market operators on their Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) flows. The table below shows an analysis of transactions on the Exchange as at the end of December 2018.

Total transactions at the nation’s bourse reduced by 15.93 percent from N149.72 billion recorded in November 2018 to N125.86 billion (about $488.8 million) in December 2018. The cumulative transactions from January to December reduced by 5.44 percent from N2.542 trillion recorded in 2017 to

N2.404 trillion in 2018.

Domestic investors outperformed foreign investors by 4.54 percent in December 2018. Total Domestic transactions increased marginally by 0.64 percent from N65.36 billion in November to N65.78 billion in December 2018.

In contrast, total foreign transactions reduced by 28.78 percent from N84.36 billion to N60.08 billion driven by a reduction in foreign inflows which reduced by 34.31 percent from N34.97 billion to N22.97 billion and foreign outflows which reduced by 24.86 percent from N49.39 billion to N37.11 billion over the same period.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

MONEY Market

UK, AU to invest £30m in Africa Stories by KAYODE OGUNWALE

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HE British Government, on Sunday, said it plans to inject as much as £30 million into prosperity and security projects across Africa in a bid to step up investment in the continent.

The funding, which forms part of the partnership agreement, it added, will be spread over three years and will be used to train peacekeepers in Kenya, assist free and fair elections, and support the next phase of negotiations for the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The partnership, according to the statement by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is expected to strengthen cooperation on security and prosperity, and support a joined up approach to tackle climate change.

UK’s Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, in a statement on Sunday said this comes as Britain signs a new strategic partnership with the African Union, strengthening the engagement between the continent and the UK Government.

Speaking ahead of the signing of the partnership at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mrs Baldwin said: “From our support to observers ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria and

Senegal this weekend, to the crucial training our Armed Forces provides to security forces in Kenya, the UK’s partnership with African countries continues to help empower and upskill people across the continent, and this funding will allow us to boost those efforts.

“Our new partnership will also cement our relationship with the African Union, building on growing economic ties to forge new opportunities for young people and reinforce our close bonds,” she added.

The strategic partnership also allows the UK to support African-led ambitions with British expertise, to create more opportunities and more jobs.

Mrs Baldwin’s visit to Ethiopia comes after Prime Minister Theresa May visited Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa last August to set out her vision for the UK’s future partnership with Africa and the UK’s aim to be the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022.

It also follows the rapid expansion of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s diplomatic network in the region, including plans to open new embassies in Djibouti, Chad, Niger, Eswatini and Lesotho, and recruit more diplomats with new skills-sets, including in trade and investment.

Stanbic IBTC, EDC build capacity for agri-business enterprises

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URTHER to its commitment to help stimulate and grow a strong and viable small and medium scale enterprises sector in Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, is partnering with the Enterprise Development Center (EDC), Lagos Business School, to host a capacity building series tagged Agri-Business Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) capacity training, which is targeted specifically at the agri-business enterprises ecosystem in the country.

The Bank, renowned for its support for the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) sector, announced that its AGSMEIS capacity training will commence on Tuesday, 26 February 2019 and end on Wednesday, 06 March 2019. It also offers a wide array of banking solutions as well as funding, skills acquisition and other support to the SME sector.

The Agri-Business Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme is an initiative of the Bankers’ Committee to provide support to and complement the Federal Government’s efforts at promoting Agri-businesses/Small and Medium Enterprises as a vehicle for sustainable economic development and employment generation.

The scheme essentially addresses capacity building, technical assistance to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and their funding challenges through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

Head, Enterprise Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Ayodele Ojosipe, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to providing the right support and solutions for individuals and businesses to achieve their goals. “Stanbic IBTC’s commitment to building capacity among enterprises stems from its deep understanding of the important role enterprises play in providing linkages to industries, employment generation and driving growth of the economy,” he

stated.

“The seminar course content will include essential topics such as Understanding your Market (Competition Analysis, Marketing Plan, Segmentation); Operation and Business Model; Business Plan (Template review and Development); and Understanding the AGSMEIS Application Process Pitching Activity,” Ojosipe said.

He said Stanbic IBTC Bank boasts of highly trained and motivated staff with the requisite expertise in enterprise financing and support.

The AGSMEIS initiative requires all deposit money banks to set aside 5 percent of their annual profit after tax (PAT); and as of December 2017, about N26bn had been accrued from all deposit money banks for the scheme. The fund is domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria and applicants are expected to be trained and certified by any of the CBN approved Entrepreneurial Development Centres which include the Lagos Business School, House of Tara, Fate Foundation, Thrive Agric and others to access the loan.

Head of Business Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Remy Osuagwu, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting enterprises. According to Osuagwu, “Our key mandate of financial intermediation ensures that we are mindful of providing the right support and solutions for individuals and businesses to achieve their goals and this workshop represents another opportunity for Stanbic IBTC Bank to help develop and sharpen participants’ business skills.”

As part of its support for small and medium scale enterprises, Stanbic IBTC regularly organizes trainings for enterprise operators. Among other benefits, the trainings seek to equip enterprise operators with financial, marketing, and management skills that they can readily apply to transform their businesses to grow their bottom lines and ensure business continuity.

•CEO, UBA UK, Mr. Patrick Gutmann; GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Group Chairman, UBA Plc, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu; President, Afreximbank, Dr. Benedict Oramah; and CEO, UBA Africa, Mr. Victor Osadolor at the launch of UBA UK in London.

Another merger benefit as Diamond Bank introduces PayDay loan

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S part of its merger benefits to customers, Diamond Bank, Nigeria’s leading retail Bank has introduced PayDay Loan to ease the financial burden of customers.

PayDay Loan is an instant salary advance service available to all customers who have their salary accounts in Diamond Bank. This is service quick, convenient and does not require any paperwork, collateral or guarantor.

PayDay Loan was originally an Access Bank Salary Advance Scheme that provides instant credit to its salaried customers and individuals whose salaries are processed

through the electronic payment platform REMITA. As a result of the merger between Diamond Bank and Access Bank, the instant loan service has now been extended to Diamond Bank salary account holders.

“Customers are at the heart of our decision to create one of Nigeria’s leading banks. The combination of Access Bank and Diamond Bank will result in real benefits and that is why we have introduced the PayDay Loan scheme to Diamond Bank customers. Together, we will bring the power of banking to millions across Nigeria, focused on speed, service and security. We are

determined to ensure that both Access Bank and Diamond Bank customers will experience no disruption to normal banking services while we join forces to create Nigeria and Africa’s largest retail bank by customers”. Access Bank Executive Director - Personal Banking Division, Victor Etuokwu, explains.

To request a PayDay Loan, customers who have their salary accounts in Diamond Bank should simply dial *901*11# on their mobile phones and follow the prompts.

This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be accessed from anywhere.

FirstBank processes 20% of Nigeria’s financial services transactions

•Hoists 125th anniversary flag

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IRST Bank Nigeria Limited on Friday hoisted its 125th Anniversary Flag in Lagos and has thus far processed 20 percent of Nigeria’s financial services transactions, according to Adesola Adeduntan, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bank.

Adeduntan said the lender would maintain its commitment to the development and growth of Nigeria as well as the financial industry through enhanced service delivery, ” as a financial institution, FirstBank has supported the economic development of Nigeria,’ he said.

“From that very modest beginning in 1894, First Bank has traversed an incredible journey of delivering impeccable financial services to its customers and supporting the building of the modern-day Nigeria and indeed, West Africa, including our early pivotal role as the monetary and fiscal policy regulator for the entire West African region,” the FirstBank CEO added.

According to him, FirstBank has offered its customers world class financial services and would remain committed to that direction in the future “and by marking the 125th anniversary, the bank was taking a unique posture which will afford it the opportunity to constantly innovate and reinvent itself,” Adeduntan said.

He stated that by marking the

125th anniversary, the oldest Nigerian lender was taking a unique posture which will afford it the opportunity to constantly innovate and reinvent itself.

The FirstBank CEO said Bank has the highest spread of branches across the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria with the largest Automated Teller Machine (ATM) network and 13,000 agent bankers driving banking services and deepening financial inclusion in the country.

On her part, Ibukun Awosika, chairman of FirstBank at a media parley said the bank has contributed immensely in facilitating the growth of businesses across the country, in the past 125 years.

While Oba Otudeko, chairman of FBN Holdings in his opening speech said FirstBank has in 125 years, impacted Nigeria’s economy driving financial inclusion.

Those present at the occasion were, Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos and royal father of the event, Oscar Onyema, CEO of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Adebisi Shonubi, deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, who represented Godwin Emefiele, the governor of CBN, Urum Kalu Eke group managing director, FBN Holdings Plc. Others are Nike Akande, Joseph Sanusi, former governor CBN, Omobola Johnson, former Minister of Communication Technology and Dipo Fatokun, director, Banking and Payment System of the CBN.

NEITI uncovers $20bn recoverable revenues

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HE Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has uncovered $20 billion recoverable revenues, its Executive Secretary, Waziri Adio, said.

He spoke in Kiev, Ukraine at the ongoing 42nd meeting of the Extractive Industry Initiative (EITI) Board.

Meanwhile, the International Board of EITI has ranked Nigeria for its ‘Satisfactory Progress’ in the implementation of its principles in the country’s extractive sector. This ranking is second highest in EITI implementation.

The global body also applauded the country for using EITI process to

shape reforms and improve transparency in the extractive sector. Adio said: “Through NEITI’s reports and interventions, Nigerians now know more about the operations of the sector, which despite low commodity prices, still remains the backbone of their economy.

“Citizens, civic groups and the media are now better armed with information to ask probing questions and make informed contributions to governance “Over time, various governments have used information from NEITI’s reports to recover almost $3billion that would have ended up unpaid.”.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

HEALTH Cancer prevention: A precorsor to life saving from cancers-cervical, breast etc.

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edical Doctors and other Medical Professionals are working hard to learn more about early stages and locally advanced cancers, including ways to prevent it, how best to treat it and how best to provide care to people diagnosed with the cancers. The following areas of research include prevention methods, new screening and options of treatment for patients through clinical trials are suggested. Always talk with a doctor, especially oncologists about the best diagnostic screening and treatment options for a particular cancer patient and or to respective cancers for the best follow up.

The best cancer care starts with the best cancer information.

Cancer can often be prevented by having regular screening to find out any precancers and treat them early enough. Preventing precancers means controlling possible risk factors, such as: 1.Delaying first sexual intercourse until the late teens or older age 2.Limiting the number of sex partners.

3.Avoiding sexual intercourse with people who have had many partners.

4.Avoiding sexual intercourse with people who are obviously infected with genital warts or show other symptoms 5.Quitting smoking and alcoholism.

The HPV-Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer caused by HPV. Gardasil 9 is available in the United States and Africa for preventing infection from HPV-16, HPV-18 and 5 other types of HPVs linked with cancer.

There were two other types of vaccines previously available in the United States that are scares related now: Cervarix and the original Gardalis. Both of these are available in Africa, but to ascertain its originality is what may be confusing. To help prevent cervical cancers, professionals recommend that girls from (18) eighteen years receive HPV vaccination. Too, talk with a professional health care provider about the appropriate schedules for vaccination because it may vary based on many factors, including age difference and vaccine availability, screening is used to look for cancer or abnormalities that may become cancerous before any symptoms or signs are seen. Scientists have developed and continue to develop types of cancer before signs or symptoms appear. The overall goals of cancer screening are to (i) Reduce the number of people who die from the cancer, or completely eliminate deaths from cancer. (ii) Reduce the number of people who develop the cancers.

The following tests and procedures may be used to screen for cervical cancer: (1) Bimanual Pelvic Examination (BPE). In this, the doctor checks women body for any unusual changes in her cervix, uterus, Vagina and Ovaries and other nearby organs. To start, the doctor uses an instrument called

a speculum to keep the vaginal wall open and look inside the woman body-vulva, if there is any changes unusual in the vagina.

(2) Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test. This test is done on a sample collected from the women’s cervix and is also used for pap test. The sample is tested for strains of HPV most commonly lined to cervical cancer. This test may also be done on a sample cells collected from a woman’s vagina. (3) Pap smear test. This is the most common test for early changes in cells that can lead to cervical cancer. It involves gathering a sample of cells from the women’s cervix. Pap test can be combined with BPE and HPV tests.(4) Visual inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA): This screening test can be done with few tools and the naked eyes using dilution of white vinegar applied to the cervix. The screening test is very useful in places where access to medical care is limited.

Between 30-50% of all cancer cases are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer. National policies and programmes should be implemented to raise awareness, to reduce exposure to cancer risk factors and to ensure that people are provided with information and support they need to adopt healthy lifestyles: (1) Tobacco: All over the world, tobacco use is the single greatest available risk factor for cancer mortality and kills approximately 6 million people each year. Tobacco smoke has more than 7, 000 chemicals, at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancers. Tobacco smoking causes many types of cancers, including cancer of the lungs, oesophagus, Larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, Pancreas, Stomach and Cervix. Second-hand smoke also known as environmental tobacco smoke has also proven to cause lung cancer in non-smoking adults. Smokeless tobacco (also called Oral Tabacco, Chewing Tabacco and or Sluff) causes Oral, Oesophageal and Pancreatic Cancers. Nearly 80% of the 1 billion

The Oracle Health With Dr. JOHN

NWABUEZE •Calls only: +234-8127227226, Email: ogudoben@gmail.com

smokers in the world are low and middle income earners, and death toll rising steadily.

(2) Dietary modification is another important approach to cancer control. There is a link between overweight and obesity to many types of cancers such as Oesophagus, Colorectum, Breast, Endometrium and Kidney.

Diets high in fruits and vegetables may have an independent protective effect against cancers.

Regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet, considerably reduce cancer risk.

In addition, healthy eating habits that prevent the development of diet-associated cancers will also lower risk of other non-communicable diseases.

(3) Alcoholism: Alcohol use is a risk factor for many cancer types including cancer of the Oral Cavity, Pharynx, Larynx, Oesophagus, Liver, Colorectum and Breast. Risk of cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. For several types of cancers, heavy drinking of alcohol combined with tobacco use substantially increases the risk of cancer. In 2010, alcohol attributable cancers were estimated to be responsible for 337, 400 deaths worldwide, predominantly among young men and women of 25-45 years.

(4) Infections: In 2012, approx-

imately 15% of all cancers were attributed to infections such as Helicobacter pylori, Human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Epstein - Barr virus. The fraction of infection-attributable cancers varied between countries and development status, from less than 5% in some places like, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and few selected countries in Western and Northern Europe to more than 50% in some countries in sub-saharan African. Two- third of infection-attributed cancers (1.4 million cases) occur in less developed countries.

Vaccines are available for Hepatitis B Virus and some types of HPV and can reduce the risk of liver and cervical cancers respectively.

(5) Environmental pollution: Pollution of air, water and soil with carcinogenic chemicals contribute to the cancer burden to differing degrees depending on the geographical settings.

Outdoor air pollution is classified as carcinogenic, or cancer-causing for humans. It has been estimated that outdoor air pollution contributed to 3.2 million premature death worldwide in 2012 including more than 200, 000 lung cancer deaths. Over 4 million people die prematurely from lung cancer attributable to air pollution from cooking with solid fuels, annually.

Indoor air pollution from coal fires

doubles the risk of lung cancer.

Exposure to carcinogens also occurs via the contamination of food, such as aflatoxins or dioxins.

(6) Occupational carcinogens: More than 40 agents, mixtures and exposure circumstances in the working environment are carcinogenic to humans are classified as occupational carcinogens. It is well documented that occupational carcinogens are causally related to lung cancer, mesothelioma, and bladder cancer. For example, mesothelioma (outer lining cancer of the lung and chest) is to a larger extent caused by work-related exposure to asbestos.

(7) Radiation: Radiation energy is used in medicine and can help save lives as well as prevent the need for more invasive procedures. However, inappropriate use may cause harm because of unnecessary and unintended radiation doses for patients. Radiologic test and procedures should be appropriately prescribed and properly performed to reduce unnecessary radiation doses particularly in children. Residential exposure can also arise from radon, a naturally radioactive gas sometimes present in soil and building materials increase risk of lung cancers. Radon levels in homes can be reduced by improving the ventilation and sealing floors and walls.

Breast cancer is the top cancer in women both in developed and the developing nations of the world. The incidence of breast cancer is increasing in the developing world due to increase in life expectancy, urbanization and adoption of western lifestyles.

Therefore, early detection in order to improve breast cancer outcome and survival remains sacrosanct in breast cancer control. Many low and middle-income countries that face double burden of cervical and breast cancers need to implement combined cost-effective and affordable intervention to tackle these highly preventable diseases.

WHO-World Health Organisation promotes breast cancer control within the context of national cancer control programmes and integrated to non-communicable diseases prevention and control.

In summary: The following are parametres to look for in general cancer care and prevention.

There are: (i) Age (ii) Age at first pregnancy (iii) Parity or number of pregnancies (iv) Obesity (v) Age at menarche or early menarche (vi) Age at menopause or late menopause (vii) Alcohol use (viii) Hormonal or oestrogen stimulation (ix) Dietary fat intake (x) Age at which oral contraceptives were initiated (xi) Environmental influence (xii) Family history.

Cancer is more a disease of lifestyle. We can do well to avoid these things that expose humans to cancers.

•Dr. John Nwabueze Calls only: +234-8127227226, Email: ogudoben@gmail.com

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Women’s Day Made Special with Innovative Products from LG Electronics

T

echnology defines our era and it knows no gender. With female students outnumbering men at universities, the future points to more influential women-led businesses and start-ups. Women will become consumer tech early adopters, so it’s important to consider what women want because their influence will only increase. As gender equality increases, so does the need for technology to adapt.

Realising the need for gender equality, socially responsible companies across the world are lending their voice to advocate for gender parity.

For more than half a century, LG has celebrated the efforts of women world over with products that are friendly to operate while giving women the leverage they need to compete with anyone and develop their potential to the fullest.

Name: Tessy Tel: 08136640556 • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Ach-eww! Mother shares ingenious way of clearing out her toddler’s blocked nose... but not all parents and doctors are entirely convinced

T

his ingenious way unblocking your nose may not be the prettiest - but its surely one of the most effective.

This young mother filmed the moment she blasts bogeys out of her daughter’s nose using a syringe filled with salty water.

While there are nasal respirators which can help unblock sinuses, this mother’s DIY solution has been hailed as ‘brilliant’ after the video was posted on social media.Using a phone camera to distract the toddler, she tells her young one to keep her mouth open and places a syringe into one of the nostril and pushes down, releasing a torrent of gunk which out of the other nostril.

However the nostril therapy has divided people on social media about how effective and safe the treatment really is.

One person said: ‘As a respiratory therapist, this is the bomb!

Although most kids may not be so cooperative and may require some sort of containment system.’Another added: ‘Yes it’s safe! I had to do this to my adult son. He could not breathe nor sleep for days. Doctor kept giving him Meds that didn’t work. I told him he would hate me for what I was about to do.

‘On the 3rd squirt this disgusting chunk of yuck came out and he could breathe again. He took a hot

shower and his nose was running clear. He put Vick’s under his nose and slept for 2 Days.’

Yet some were less than convinced by the treatment.Jamie Richard Steele said: ‘This is not a safe practice. It can lead to choking and aspiration which could result in a pneumonia. But what do I know.

I’m only a children’s nurse.’Sherouk Salem said it was the ‘cutest most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen’. The NHS recommends: ‘If they have a blocked nose, you can make their breathing easier

by raising the pillow end of your child’s bed or cot by putting books or bricks under the legs, or placing a pillow under the mattress (although you shouldn’t put anything under the mattress of a baby younger than one year old).’

A warm, moist atmosphere can ease breathing if your child has a blocked nose – take your child into the bathroom and run a hot bath or shower, or use a vaporiser to humidify the air.’

If you are unsure of anything ask your doctor.

Breaking of the Female Stereotype More women are making up the overall workforce, with some work areas being dominated by them. This goes to show the progress being made towards gender parity. This breaking of the female stereotype has led to more women working, and governments have now turned to promote women as not just workers, but leaders of small and large companies. We now live in a world where successful business women and leaders of countries are not hard to come by, which proves how women can not only hold responsible positions but also excel in them.

According to Mr Hari Elluru, Head of Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics, West Africa Operations, “It’s hard to argue against the positive change towards women in workplaces, education institutes and society. Traditionally men have been seen as technologies’ early adopters, but more women are influencing the technology trends we see today.

He stated that LG is committed to bridging the gender gap across the world through smart technology and convenience with performance.

“Consumers are willing to spend big on technology if it helps them work.

LG offers products workers desire, with added unique features, like the light-weight design, to increase convenience and efficiency at work. We tend to promote tech towards improving personal life rather than work life, but a happier work life equals a happier home, and LG has products are perfect for making the working day easier”, he added.

LG makes the perfect study tool for female university students in the LG gram series of laptops. Widely known as the lightest laptops on the market today, LG gram devices make portability a breeze! LG offers both powerful

and lightweight laptops for aspiring scholars making it easier than ever to travel around campus with perfect study companion, replacing books and heavy school material while ensuring one can watch a movie, play a game or check social network to catch up with friends and family left behind.

Robot Vacuums Grow in Popularity Reducing the tedious and time-consuming task of cleaning is empowering. Robot vacuums take cleaning to a whole new level with their versatility and efficiency. LG delivers the ultimate cleaning solution with its HOM-BOT, enabling consumers to take control of their home and still have enough time to appreciate themselves and each other this Women’s Day. It showcases an innovative design that absorbs vibrations and reduces noise, making it one of the quietest robot vacuums in the market.

Doing Dishes in a Breeze Doing dishes post a dinner party at home or daily is no longer cumbersome thanks to the advanced technology and dishwashers available now.

With an ease of just putting the dishes in the washer and pressing the START button, this chore is no longer a gender-biased task only for the women to perform. It is so easy and convenient that any family member be it your husband, brother or even your dad can do it in a breeze.

Setting New Standards For Dishwashers Another innovate products manufactured by LG to create a smart kitchen is the SteamClean dishwasher.

It is equipped with one-of-a-kind TrueSteam technology. This revolutionary product sets itself apart from the competition with steam technology that not only cleans more effectively but also more efficiently. LG SteamClean delivers a host of unique performance-enhancing technologies to give customers a whole new way to wash dishes. By spraying the contents with steam at the end of the cycle, the LG dishwasher reduces undesirable water spots by 40 per cent!

Gender parity is fundamental to whether and how economies and societies thrive. Ensuring the full development and appropriate deployment of half of the world’s total talent pool has a vast bearing on the growth, competitiveness and future-readiness of economies and businesses worldwide.

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. The theme for this year’s celebration is #BalanceforBetter.

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

True Confession

I told him the truth that he is not my son’s daddy My husband Eze and I have been married for 15 years. We have one son, Chibuzor. Chibuzor is not Eze’s biological son and for many years, Eze didn’t know the truth because I never told him. I had never shared my secret with anyone and I’d hoped I would never have to.

Chibuzor was diagnosed with acute leukaemia shortly after he turned 10.

He was immediately admitted to one of the teaching hospitals and from there my husband flew him abroad to a great hospital in the UK where he remained critically ill for many months.

The doctors told us that his best chance of survival was to have a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible.

We needed a compatible donor.

As Chibuzor’s parents, we were to have our blood tested the following day. If neither of our blood types was compatible, then our other relatives would be contacted and his name would be put on the donor list.

At this stage, I realised it was inevitable that Eze would discover he wasn’t Chibuzor’s biological father. I had to tell him the truth that very evening. I felt that it was better he heard it from me than from the doctors the next day. You can just imagine!

That night after having dinner, I explained to Eze that he was not really Chibuzor’s biological father and that I’d had a brief affair with a man in my office called Edward, during our marriage. Eze was filled with shock.

Without a word, he stood up in a daze and walked away from me to his bedroom and locked himself inside the room and slept off.

I waited up for him all night on the sofa in the living room, for him to call me into the bedroom but he didn’t call me.

The following morning, Eze coldly told me that he would divorce me but not now. He said that he would remain with me for now for Chibuzor’s sake because Chibuzor needed him.

He said that when Chibuzor was well again, he would file for divorce and leave me. From that time on, he refused to have anything to do with me outside of Chibuzor’s hospital room and he slept on his own in the bedroom.

My blood type was not compatible with that of Chibuzor so I had to contact Chibuzor’s biological father, Edward. He had moved to London with his wife before Chibuzor was born and we had long ago lost contact.

Edward was shocked to learn that I had become pregnant and given birth to his child as a result of our extra-marital affair. He was sorry to hear about Chibuzor’s illness, but refused to help. He didn’t want his wife to find out about the affair or about Chibuzor.

After many weeks of trying, we were not able to find a compatible

donor for Chibuzor and we were reduced to simply waiting in the hope that one might eventually turn up.

It was as though all my sins were finally catching up with me; I was being severely punished for my infidelity and stood to lose all that I loved.

I had already lost my husband and now I could lose my son!

Chibuzor became so ill that the doctors said that conventional medical treatment could do no more for him. All we could do was remain positive and do everything in our power to help support him in his fight against the Leukamia cancer.

Throughout this terrible, terrible time, Eze my husband was simply

wonderful to Chibuzor. He was loving and funny; an endless source of comfort, hope and strength. Chibuzor never suspected that behind Eze’s cheerful facade, he was hiding so much hurt and anger.

Over a year later and against all odds, Chibuzor won his fight against cancer and returned home with me.

For a short, precious time, we were once again a family. My joy at having my son safely home was tinged with sadness; because now that Chibuzor had fully recovered, Eze was free to leave me.

I was determined to be as calm and as strong as Eze had been for Chibuzor for all those months. If Eze

wanted to leave, I would let him go with grace. He had already given me so much by helping to bring Chibuzor back home.

However, to my greatest surprise, later that night, Eze gently took my hand in his. With tears in his eyes, he asked me to please forgive him for his foolish, stubborn pride.

He said that it was no longer important to him whether he was Chibuzor’s biological father or not.

Chibuzor’s long illness and recovery had made him realise what really mattered, which is that we were a very special family and we all belonged together.

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Relationships and Love Advice

Helikes keeping malice with me

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Precious, Igbo, with great potentials, needs a genuine rich widower with two or three kids.

He must be a presentable, born again, educated man of 40 years and above for serious marriage.

07065658063.

Stella; 32; fair; from Enugu; living in Lagos; needs a clean rich man for a serious relationship: 08028003811.

Chiommy, very tall, fair, sexy, hippy, busty, needs a sugar daddy who will take good care of her and she will satisfy him very well. 09028379398.

Chinyere, 35, dark, single mum, humble, works, seeks a hardworking man from 38 years and above for marriage.09038028331.

Viky, 52, widow, working, Igbo, chocolate, average height, wants to get connected to a man of 53-60 years (not a divorcee) from any tribe.08036309809.

Humble, 40, needs a sponsor in her theology school. 09026452405.

Dear Love Doctor,

M

y name is Nneka. I’ve been in love with a guy for 3 years now. And he has started paying my bride price since the past one month. What I want in marriage is happiness and understanding, irrespective of if my husband is rich or not.

However, I’m not happy with his attitude at

present. He gets upset at the slightest provocation and keeps malice with me for one to two months.

I have begged him and advised him to change but he has refused. Now I want to quit the marriage for peace to reign since he doesn’t want my happiness.

Dear Nneka,

P

If you want to marry, learn to accept someone the way he is & be patient.

You can’t change his personality. Lovers who like keeping malice with their partners are usually either immature, extremely sensitive or the vindictive/ unforgiving type. If your man is very sensitive, stopdoing things that provoke him. Does he always act childishly? If he is childish, don’t rush to marry him because he may not bepsychologically ripe or mature enough for marriage.

One way to heal an immature male lover is by depending less on him.

When he sees that you’re independent (eg, you don’t ask him for money anymore), he will start behaving himself in order to win your love. Maybe he keeps malice with you because you always depend on him. Depend less on him so that he can respect you.Relationships are not generally built on changing people’s character. Rather, relationships are built on accepting people the way they are & learning to live with their faults, because no one

Funke, 44, needs a man (widower or divorcée) of 50-55 years for a serious relationship.08185083988.

Lora, graduate, works, HIV Positive, based in Jos, wants a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage. 08090925014.

A single mother needs a responsible man for a relationship. 08140599563.

Love Doctor’s Advice: lease try to control your anger because anger makes people take rash decisions. What do you do that makes him keep malice with you?

Do you demand too much or offend him in some way? Or is your man simply acting childishly? It is assumed that before two people decide to marry, they must be compatible. If you’re not sure of your compatibility, why rush into marriage?

Three years is long enough to decide if you’re compatible or not to marry. Or have you endured for three years with him because he gives you money? I advise you to search your heart. Take time to search your heart & find out the reason you want to be with him. Most people go into relationships for one of four major reasons.

1.Love. 2. Lust. 3. Loneliness. 4. Financial or other benefit (eg, job, sponsor etc). Search your heart & find out the real reason you want to be with him. Then decide if you want to spend the rest of your life with him or not.

Rose, in Lagos, just rented a shop, needs someone to support her in starting a business.

08107458039.

is perfect.

The best way to address your man’s attitude of “keeping malice” is through communication. Call him & explain to him how much his attitude hurts you. Tell him that you love him & that if he values your happiness, he should stop hurting you through his attitude. Tell him that his attitude of keeping malice is the only issue that could affect your happiness if both of you marry.

If there is any other issue bothering you about him, now is the time to tell him & resolve it before marriage.

Explain the implications to him & stop doing anything that givesrise to such a negative attitude from him. Be patient with him, because people who act childishly are like babies. It would take time for them to grow up. But if you can’t take it anymore, tell his parents to talk to him.

Finally, try to control your anger so that your final decision will be based on reason & sound judgment.

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make? Call 07031028714 now!

E-Mail: ireto007@yahoo.com Go to foodstuffs. com.ng. Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840.

Men seeking relationship/ marriage Uche, a graduate in Lagos, needs a kind woman or man to help him in his new business.

Text08131161840.

Divine, 36, wants a beautiful, highly educated, tall, fair, working class lady from 25-30 years for marriage. 09054199030.

Diamond Prince, 28, living in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy. 07069498904.

Emmy needs a mature lady or widow in Lagos for companionship. 08077821830.

Godspower, 33, tall, from Kogi, based in Abuja, wants a sugar mummy from 40 years and above based in Abuja, to satisfy her very well.

0810069625,07018735547.

Emeka, 54, in Lagos, needs an educated woman between 32-35 years for a wife. 08118482541.

36

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

It happened to me:

I made my husband look violent to end our marriage

When I first met Timothy, I knew I had found the man I was looking for.

He clearly felt the same — we were engaged within three months, married within six, and I was pregnant by the end of our first year together.

To the outside world, although it happened quite quickly, everything looked perfect — we had everything other people wanted. But by the end of our first year of marriage, I got sick of people commenting on how great I had it. Because this really wasn’t the case at all.

Timothy was lovely — kind, considerate, thoughtful. I always got breakfast in bed, coffee brought to me without asking and sweet, thoughtful presents for no reason.

I also got phone calls at all hours and extreme jealousy about the relationship I was building with our three-month-old baby — the constant attention really began to wear on my nerves. I couldn’t go

anywhere without him insisting he tag along. It wasn’t done in an aggressive, possessive way (I was allowed to do whatever I wanted), but he simply had to be there with me every minute that he wasn’t at work.

I began to long for my carefree single days. Being a mother was one thing (my three-month-old baby was less clingy than my husband!) but I couldn’t stand being a wife any longer.

Everybody loved Timothy, and I didn’t want to be the one who was looked upon as the “ungrateful one who walked out on the perfect marriage.”

So I decided I had to make Timothy look less perfect.

I wasn’t quite sure how to do it, and the idea really came to me at the last minute — not something I planned. Or something I’m proud of.

One night I fell on the curb taking the bins out in the dark, and an ugly black bruise on my arm was the result. The fol-

lowing day, my friends wanted to know how I’d hurt myself, and the answer was out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Oh, you know,” I said, pretending to be evasive. “I walked into a door.”

As soon as I’d lied, it all seemed so simple, and soon I was doing it all the time. A naturally clumsy person, I often had bruises, and I always made sure my friends saw them, before putting on my evasive act. After a few months, two of my best friends sat me down and demanded to know what was going on. I wouldn’t tell them but my silence, and the months of evasion, had done enough.

My best friend rang my husband and accused him outright of physical violence. Of course, he denied it, and angrily wanted me to explain what I had been telling my friends. I simply told him they were jumping to conclusions that I couldn’t talk them out of. But Timothy was really angry.

He kept pestering me to lay down the truth and clear his name — but every time he saw my friends they were rude and hostile, and he was soon over it. We separated and my friends never suspected that my husband wouldn’t hurt a fly.

I have since remarried and had more children. My new husband is lovely — and distant when I need him to be.

Personal space is a healthy part of our relationship.

I heard that my best friend ran into Timothy and his new wife a few months ago — she told his wife to be careful of Timothy’s temper. I felt awful when I heard that: Timothy had never done anything besides want to be with me.

And he has no idea that I actually led my friends to believe he was physically violent so I could get out of the marriage. *Do you have a story or comment about this confession? Call 07031028714.

racleToday

The

www.oraclenews.ng

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38

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

Face-off

Enugu has no future...

•Senator Ayogu Eze

Cont’d from page 11 Technology (UCT) at Ugwogo Nike on the way to Nsukka. So, even while I was a Senator, I had a pan-Enugu view. When I was attracting all these things, I did not say because I was representing Enugu North Senatorial District, if there were things that should be strategically sited for the benefit the State I should shy away from that because I was representing Enugu North. No, I didn’t. And that was the same attitude I adopted when I was giving employment to people. I didn’t restrict it to my Senatorial District. I gave it across the State and across Nigeria. And those people are alive today and they are working. Those are people that are settled for life.

So, the little opportunity I had, I showed that I can be dispassionate, patriotic, nationalistic, indeed, that I can bring everybody together. The most significant political appointment I attracted was not given to somebody from my Senatorial District but from Enugu East Senatorial District. I could as well have put my brother, as several people did, including this governor. When he had an opportunity, he put his own brother in a federal board but I put somebody else from another Senatorial District. This is just to show you that I am conscious of the fact that what matters most is what the individual brings to the table not where he comes from.

The raging debate is about who, between you and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is a more beneficial political leader: Ugwuanyi, they say, likes to give fish (money) but you, on the other hand, would rather teach people to catch the fish, which explains the emphasis you place on offering people employment or attracting projects that offer employment. In our peculiar socioeconomic environment, which would you consider a better political strategy: giving fish or teaching people to fish?

When you seize the people’s resources and give them pittance from their money, it doesn’t really make you a benevolent man or giver. This is because, in reality, you are cheating them. For, what you give them is a pittance from the ocean of wealth that actually belongs to them. I have told you that that’s the way emperors operate; it is in their interest to perpetuate poverty. They will not empower the people so that the people will not have independence: they cannot think, they cannot function, they cannot generate wealth on their own. Every morning they wake up, they have to look up to him as their benefactor, as the man without whom they will not be alive.

My philosophy is different. I want you to not even remember me for one month because you are comfortable in your house as a result of my activity. I will be more fulfilled that you are at home and are able to solve your own problem and your dignity remains intact. But the person who is a beggar who is looking forward everyday to handouts has no dignity, no honour. So, the man rubbishes our people but our people think he is helping them. But all he is doing is to perpetuate a cycle of poverty. The people are poor

because they can’t help themselves; they can’t help themselves because the policy of government ensures that the poverty regime stays in place so you can manipulate their hunger, their ignorance and all such things and appear to be their God that they can see. That is what is playing out. I am not hoping to copy that model because it is a criminal model that pauperises the people, seizes their things and uses their own things to buy their conscience.

I would rather empower the people to go out and be independent and self-reliant and be people who have confidence in themselves and who will help with my crusade for the strengthening of the institutions of government. If people have jobs, they won’t get up every morning to organise themselves and go to the Government House and endorse the governor so they can collect N20,000 or N50,000 as the case may be.

How have you been able to manage the crisis in the APC since you entered the party and collected the governorship ticket almost effortlessly? Have you reached out to the aggrieved parties with a view to reconciling all warring factions?

Reconciliation where human ego is involved is a very tedious process. It is not something that happens overnight; we are talking amongst ourselves; we are discussing; we are meeting, we are reaching out to all concerned.

We are doing everything we possibly can to smoothen all rough edges so that we can all be on the same page. But you know that politics is all about contestation for power, for influence and for distribution of the resources of society. These are very high stakes and people who come seeking them convince themselves that they are the best suited to be at the head of the team or group mandated to manage those resources. It is a process, which will continue even after the election. But, we are making significant progress.

You are someone without a lot of vulnerabilities and in politics such people are feared.

You can’t be manipulated; you don’t have godfathers and all that and in politics people look for people with vulnerabilities to support. Do you need to soften an image?

There is no human being that is not vulnerable. But, it is a question of people being able to discover those vulnerabilities—are they visible; are people able to see them? Before I came to APC, everyone thought I was ramrod; even in APC, they were scared. It was like this man who is coming, nobody can get along with him o; he is too this he is too that. But, they have since come to understand that it is better to deal with honest and straightforward people than with people who come kneeling down and rolling on the floor but at the end of the day, will never ever honour any agreement or discussion you held with them.

They have come to understand that it is better to deal with a man who says it the way it is, who tells you no when he means no and yes when he means yes. It is very, very fulfilling for me that the people of Enugu State now know that my yes is my yes and my no is my no and that, in fact, I am just a normal guy who eats normally and relates very normally; nothing can be more fulfilling for me than that.

What about godfather?

Everyone has a Godfather. The difference between others and me is that while their Godfather is here on earth, mine is in heaven.

It is the big Godfather that I have; I don’t have earthly godfathers. And that big Godfather has been very dependable, because if it were not for Him, even my emergence in the primaries wouldn’t have happened because all sorts of roadblocks were constructed to make sure I didn’t emerge. But that big Godfather ensured that all those barricades did not prevent my emergence as APC candidate; not all those barricades have been completely removed but I know that with Him steering the ship, all obstacles will be surmounted.

The Enugu people are now beginning to understand that the other method, which my opponent uses, is, indeed, a character deficit because he often promises everybody but delivers to nobody. What he does comes down to what Chinweizu calls promises of deliverance without deliverance of promises. I don’t want to be everybody’s friend at the expense of honesty, truth and decency.

Let’s talk about your projects. Two of them come to mind: the federal road project running from Obollo Afor in Udenu LGA through Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North LGA to Idah in Kogi State, and the Adada Dam project. Those projects have been abandoned and people say you embezzled the money meant for them. Did you embezzle the money?

That is a very ridiculous allegation to make by anybody because I wasn’t and am not even in a position to embezzle any money. One, the Adada Dam project never really prospered even while I was still in the Senate. But, let me give you a background to the project.

Engr. Joel Ezugwu, Arapa Opi, came to see me in my house in Zone 4 Abuja, along with Engr. Okey Ofie, from Aku in Igbo-Etiti LGA and a director in the Ministry of Water Resources. Joel was looking for something else and wanted my intervention. As they were leaving, Joel introduced Engr. Ofie and spoke about the Adada Dam project and I challenged the director and said ‘you know I am here, why haven’t you brought it up since I came and you are now bringing it up just one week to the passage of the budget?’ He said he didn’t want to bring it up again because he had presented it to all our representatives in the past but nobody had shown interest—both House of Reps and Senate. And I said that’s not the reason why you should have despaired; you should still have brought it to me. That engineer, last June or July retired from the Ministry of Water Resources; so he is alive, you can ask him to corroborate the story I am telling. I asked him, do you have engineering drawing for that project; he said he did. I said go and bring it, let me see what I could do. Within that one week, I was able to put the project in the National budget and N1b was appropriated for it. They couldn’t believe it.

When the budget came out, I appealed to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Godknows Igali that whoever was going to handle that dam project should be in the category of Julius Berger or one of these other reputable construction firms.

Eventually they brought contractor from Imo State by name Tony Chukwu whom Igali vouched for. The government made the first capital release of about N24om from that budget and kept it in an escrow account from which the contractor would be paid as he generated certificates of completion. The money wasn’t even available for embezzlement because as at the time I left, I don’t think that the contractor had drawn that money. But before I left, I had even started writing to the Minister to change the contractor because it didn’t look like the man was serious. If I wanted to embezzle money, I wouldn’t be writing to the Minister to change the contractor.

The only thing I believe that the contractor had ever done for me was that in 2013 when my mom died, I saw that he put a full-page advert in the newspaper to mark my mom’s burial. I believe he was also one of those that brought me cows.

AS for the road project, it was ongoing while I was in the Senate. Like the dam project, the Minister didn’t even allow us to participate in the choice of contractor and he chose PW. So, I am not in anyway connected with the award of contract and as at the time I left, they were still on site. I expected that those who took over from me should have pursued it and made the contractor continue with the project. That road was going to reduce about two hours from the journey from our place to Abuja for all Nsukka, indeed, Enugu State peo-

ple. If they find anyone who has embezzled the money, please let them come forward with it. As I am talking to you, no security agent has ever invited me to answer questions regarding the projects because I had nothing to do with them.

It’s pure blackmail. It’s George Ogara and his brother who are writing petitions against me because they believe that since I attracted the project I must even be the contractor.

But if the EFCC had found any merit in their petitions, they would have done something about it but I don’t think they will do anything because there is no merit whatsoever in their petitions.

There is this other road, which the local government built. The accusation is that you caused it to stop in front of your house in the village because you didn’t care about the rest of the village.

The local government chairman that built that road is still alive. I think that question should go to him. He should be able to say whether he was instructed to stop in front of my house or, for that matter, why he didn’t go any further. They had prepared the road up to the secondary school for asphalting—far from where it stopped—but for whatever reasons, they didn’t proceed before the rain came and washed the whole thing away. In fact, the road was designed to link up Unadu in IgboEze South. It was my passion for that road that led to the effort to attract the PW Road, as a federal road project. Similarly, the PW Road had been prepared, drainage et al, for ashphalting but they failed to pay the contractor and he abandoned the project and rains came and washed everything away. It would have been myopic of me to tell the local chairman to stop a road project passing through my community at a particular place. But he is alive, you should ask him what happened.

Let’s talk about poverty and its related effects. What are your plans to reduce poverty in the State?

The way I want to tackle poverty is, first of all, to regain the artisanal advantage that Enugu has had over time. This has been the centre of artisanal craftsmanship. In fact, during the colonial era, there were two centres of artisanal craftsmanship in Nigeria—Enugu and Gombe; these were the hubs of artisanal craftsmanship. Over the years, we have lost that advantage. If you have to do common POP, you have to bring someone from Ghana, Togo or Benin Republic, even to lay tiles. We want to rejig our technical colleges to bring back that advantage, to train our people. That will also be part of the programme to reform the entire educational sector. For, right now, our educational system is just floating in the air. There is no conscious effort to give our people good, qualitative education. So, we are going to return compulsory primary and secondary education to our people, to make sure that we get those basic levels of education to prepare our people to be able to deal with the challenges of the 21st Century. We will also give vocational education a pride of place at least so that we can keep at home the resources that are today expended on artisans from other parts of the sub-region. That is our first attention to job and wealth creation at the same time.

We also want to make sure that these artisanal centres like Coal Camp and similar places are properly prepared by installing facilities for the artisans there so as to enable them manufacture some basic things here, like engine parts and similar things.

I will also give a lot of attention to agriculture and in agriculture, we are going to encourage our graduates to go into farming, to go to these farm settlements. We will create demonstration farms and provide incentives for our young graduates to engage in lucrative farming. We will divide the State into produce areas and retrain some our people who are not properly employed and channel them to these projects so they can generate employment at the same time. We will establish off-taker companies that will take the farm produce off the farmers. That way, they are encouraged to produce more because they know there will be instant market for their produce.

We will create industrial parks in different parts of the State, which will generate 100200,000 jobs a year. We want to make Enugu State that people will emulate.

The icing on the cake is what we will do with tourism in the State. We will make a tourism hub in Nigeria; we will remodel the city and bring in a lot of international features and activities that will attract the world to Enugu.

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS

March 9 polls:Atie solicits support of voters in Warri North • applaud Buhari’s reconciliatory moves in Delta

From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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s Nigerians prepare to cast their votes in the governorship and State House of Assembly elections on March 9, 2019, Hon David Atie, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Warri North Consistency candidate in the Delta State House of Assembly, has promised that if given the mandate, he would initiate policies and programmes that will put smiles on the faces of the people of his constituency.

Atie made the promise in an inter-

action with newsmen in Koko,shortly after the vice-president,Prof Yemi Osibanjo visited Delta State.

While promising the people of Warri North constituency better representation if elected into office he said: “At this point in Warri North, we need quality representation. We need someone who would represent the people’s interest and not individualistic interest. When I get to the house of assembly, our basic needs in this constituency will be thoroughly addressed. This is not my personal race and that is why I am counting on the

support of everyone in my constituency.”

Atie who is a front line member of the APC in the State, expressed optimism that his administration will ensure effective representation, security, youth empowerment and integrity, described himself as the solution to the problems of his constituency.

“I want to operate an all-inclusive representation through regular consultations with the people of Warri North Constituency and come up with the best policies and programmes to achieve success. I know that I cannot

do it alone. I want to solicit the support and assistance of the people of my constituency.

David Atie, whose chances are believed to be brighter than those of his opponents also pledged to further initiate qualitative legislations that would improve the socio-economic well-being of the constituents and Delta State indigenes at large.

The APC candidate urged the people of the constituency and indeed Delta state to bring APC to power in the governorship elections insisting that the opposition party is the only

Group celebrates Buhari’s victory in Anambra

Polls: CLO seeks massive turnout of voters in Anambra

By THEO RAYS

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By THEO RAYS

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t was President Muhammadu Buhari’s day in Awka the Anqmbra State capital with all shades of glamour laced with pomp and pageantry as frontline politician and party chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Johnbosco Onunkwo and State coordinator of Good Governance Ambassadors of Nigeria (GOGAN) rolled out drums to celebrate the victory of President Buhari in the 2019 Presidential election.

The colorful event had in attendance party stalwarts, members drawn across the State. .Engr Onunkwo in his address, described President Mohammadu Buhari’s success at the poll as “victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigerians at large.”

Onwa as fondly called, who further described Buhari’s victory as “liberation for Nigerians” reaffirmed the readiness of the group to continue to support the president and the party.“Buhari’s victory is divine as God Himself ordained it.

“Some of his achievements which include anti-graft war, restoration and diversification of the economy and the construction major roads, among others endeared himto the people,” he said.Engr. Onunkwo also noted that many major roads are currently undergoing reconstruction including the Enugu-Onitsha expressway while the railway project awarded by the Federal Government would benefit the South-East.

He urged the people of the region to support Buhari’s second tenure, assuring thatthe president would keep to his promise of handing over to an Igbo president in 2023.“We have a leader that believes in equity,” he stressed.In his remarks, the state Secretary of APC, Mr Chuks Agufugo said the event was a thank you gathering to reward those who saw the need to re-elect Buhari.He charged the electorate tovote massively for all APC candidates in Saturday stateAssembly election, saying “they have been tested and trusted; hence, carefully selected.”

Mr Augustine Muomaife, the State Youth leader of the party criticised the attitude of some APC members who are not proud of the party.He charged them to refrain from such and appealed to them to consolidate on Buhari’s victory by voting forall APC candidates at the March 9 House of Assembly elections in the state.

On his part, a chieftain of theparty and former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Jerry Amilo said “we are celebrating another good four years of sanity and continuous fight against corruption.”

party that could liberate them from slavery and hard time foisted on them

by PDP. Atie applauded the efforts of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and national chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress to reconcile aggrieved members of the party within the State. Advising that “We should also not allow internal wranglings within the party to deviate us from the vision of liberating Delta State from the misrule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last 20 years”

• Rivers State governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike Speaking during a town hall meeting for Rivers West Senatorial District on Tuesday

Anambra: 2 nabbed as armed thugs break APC House of Assembly candidate’s skull with hammer

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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arely three days to the conduct of the governorship and House of Assembly elections in all states of the federation, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly for Onitsha North 1 State Constituency, Afam Emejulu, yesterday had his skull ripped open with hammer by some armed political thugs/cultists believed to have been sponsored by political opponents.

The incident, according to the source, occured at Egerton Street, at the heart of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra state, close to his residence.

According to family sources, Emejulu, who is a legal practitioner, was going out from his house in the early morning of that ill-feted day unknown to him that the thugs numbering about 10 had laid ambush near his residence.

According to the source, the thugs accosted him, with one of them hitting him on the head with a hammer, while others clubbed, marched on him and hit him as he was forced to lie face down.

It was gathered that cut off three toes of one of his boys with machete when he rushed to the scene

to rescue him.

Emejulu’s elder brother, Raphael who confirmed the incident to newsmen yesterday said he was somewhere outside Onitsha when he received the news of the attack on his younger brother and he started rushing back home.

According to Raphael, “On my way back, I saw Police Patrol team who I asked to accompany him and the team obliged” “On arrival to the scene, my brother was already lying face down unconscious with blood gushing out of his nose and mouth”, he stated.

“The thugs were seen running away and shooting sporadically and the police team which accompanied me to the scene, gave them a hot chase and eventually apprehended two of the thugs, while others ran into Onitsha Central Police (CPS) barracks from where they escaped as the police exchanged fire with them”.

“I personally incidented the matter and made statement at Central Police Station Onitsha and both my brother who is the APC candidate and the boy whose toes were cut off, were taken initially rushed to the General hospital, Onitsha for medical attention but when we felt the thugs could still go to the hospital to attack them, we moved them

to an undisclosed hospital”.

He further revealed that the police medical report was signed by one Edna Soloman, an Inspector of Police attached to the station and Doctor Okonkwo O. C. Of Onitsha General hospital.

When contacted, in his office to confirm the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at CPS, Onitsha, Ifeanyi Iburu neither confirmed not denied the incident, but stated that nobody has reported such an incident to him.

Iburu’s denial that the incident was not yet reported to him, thus contradicted the statement of the elder Emejulu who insisted that he did not only incident the matter at CPS but equally made a statement and thereafter obtained police medical report form to that effect.

Although the motive of the attack on Afam was still sketchy as at the time of filing this report, his elder brother said they could not rule out political brigandage.

He buttressed his point by saying that the campaign team of his brother the previous day mobilized over 3,000 supporters for a road show where they displayed their capacity, adding that it appeared their political opponents were uncomfortable, even when they knew that power belongs to God, not man.

head of the State House of Assembly election on Saturday in Anambra State, rights group, the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has passionately appealed to the all eligible voters in the State who are in possession of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to endeavor to come out and exercise their civil right to choose those that will represent them in the State House of Assembly in the next four years.

The State Chairman of the group, Commrade Vincent Ezekwueme who made the call during a chat with The Oracle Today in Onitsha noted that the situation of things in Nigeria today calls for good and experienced people to occupy leadership positions, adding that the only available means of securing such people is to come and vote for them during elections.

He added: “Everybody is clamoring for change, for things to get better, but in most times we don’t play good role in terms of participation in politics particularly in election through which we bring the desired change. Knowing fully well that election is the only available means through which we can enthrone good leaders, it is very important for us to be serious with it by coming out to vote during elections. I expect Ndi Anambra to come in our large numbers to vote for candidates of our choice on Saturday.”

Comrade Ezekwueme emphasized that poor turnout of voters is capable of giving room for unpopular choice to win election as according to him, “in a situation where we have about 10, 000 eligible voters in ward, it is expected that anybody that comes out to contest councilorship election has to secure at least 5, 000 to 6, 000 votes but you find out that in most cases, people can win election with 1000 or 1,500 votes in ward of 10,000 eligible voters and that is not healthy for our democracy.”

He dismissed the impression in some quarters that the people’s votes don’t count because most elections are rigged, arguing that election rigging is a thing of the past in Anambra State.

“Election rigging is dead and buried in Anambra State. It was killed by former Governor Peter Obi and several others who have recovered their stolen mandate in court after they were rigged out at the polling units, so people shouldn’t be afraid of rigging,” he counselled.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS

Ikpeazu’s re-election bid gets boost, adopted by SDP LG chairmen From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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head of Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections, the re-election bid of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has received a big boost as the 17 chairmen of the local government chapters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have adopted him as their sole candidate for the Abia guber contest.

The Body of SDP chairmen in Abia State who declared their support for Ikpeazu Tuesday, also advised the governorship candidate of the party, Dr. Dame Blessing Nwagba, to drop her ambition and support the re-election bid of the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to enable him to complete his eight years in office in accord with Abia Charter of equity.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia Tuesday, leader and spokesman of the group, Chijioke Ozems, said the chairmen were out to support equity, not for any selfish agenda or financial gains.

He explained that they were only collaborating with Ikpeazu as they have not left their party and advised SPD members to support and vote for the party’s House of Assembly candidates during Saturday’s polls.

“The 17 local government chairmen of SDP and members of the state working committee here present are hereby adopting his Excellency, Dr Okezie Victor Okezie Ikpeazu as our governorship candidate for the March 9, 2019 governorship election in the state.

“We are doing this for posterity sake, we are doing for the future and we are doing this for equity,” said Ozems who is the chairman of SDP in Isiala Ngwa North,” he said.

“You know that we have our own gubernatorial candidate, Dame Dr. Blessing Nwagba. We have gone into the nitty-gritty of this election; we have also seen that she is from Abia South where the governor comes from. And we who are in Abia State have seen this state, as led by the governor. We have also seen, as we have gone round the state, even after adopting our own gubernatorial candidate, what this young man, the governor, has done and we are here to today to appeal to our gubernatorial candidate to step down honourably for the governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu,” he added.

He also clarified that they were not collapsing SDP into PDP but were supporting the candidacy of Ikpeazu, adding that he should be allowed to continue in office for peace to reign.

He argued that their action dos not amount to anti-party as the they party in the state had at various times adopted candidates, including President Muhammadu Buhari as their candidate for the Presidential election, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu as their candidate for Abia Central Senatorial election, amongst others.

In her reaction in a telephone interview, the SDP governorship candidate, Dame Nwagba, said she was hearing the stand of the local government area chairmen as a rumour, adding that the party would make its official position known in due course.

Journalists in Bayelsa mourn as colleague attacked on election duty dies From Clem Onyemaechi, Yenagoa

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embers of Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Bayelsa State Council have been thrown into mourning as the Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, who was shot by men in Army uniform in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area òf Bayelsa State, during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections has died.

A statement by the Director Corporate Communications, Governor’s Office, Chief Nathan EgbaOlogo, which confirmed the demise

of the photo journalist stated that he died after battling to survive the lethal wounds from the gunshots in a Yenagoa hospital on Sunday night.

Dei was shot alongside the leader of the PDP in Oweikorogha community, Mr. Seidougha Taribi, while the duo were waiting for the outcome of the election in their ward at the politician’s residence.

While Dei who was initially taken for dead survived the attack until Sunday night, Taribi died on the spot.

Egba-Ologo called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the activities of the various security

agencies in order to bring the culprits of the dastardly act to book.

He added that while the state was mourning the unfortunate murder of Taribi and Dei as a result of the brigandage that rocked the parts of the state during the Presidential election, thugs working for APC chieftains have been allowed to wreak havoc in Nembe Bassambiri.

He said further that the rampaging thugs have sacked the mobile policemen and the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps on deployment in the besieged community.

He lamented that the rampag-

• AA Imo State guber candidate, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu welcome the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo

Robbers stab man to death in Anambra, injure girl friend

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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wo dare-devil armed robbers operating with Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state have stabbed a generator repairer, Chinedu Igboanugo to death and injured his girlfriend.

The incident which occured at the weekend at Nkwelle village, Ogidi, started when the deceased Igboanugo, with his girlfriend went to bed on the fateful night while his generator (plant) was still on, supplying power to the building where he lived with his parents.

The source stated that at a point, the power supply suddenly went off at about 12.30am which prompted his girlfriend to rush out from Igboanugo’s apartment wherethey were sleeping in, to know what was amiss.

It was gathered that as she came out, she met two armed robbers that reportedly stopped the generator from supplying the power to enable them strike and they allegedly stabbed her immediately on her arm and she shouted that armed robbers have stabbed her.

The shout attracted Igboanugo

and on coming out, the two robbers heldhim and as he was struggling with them, he held one on the groundwhile the other was stabbing him constantly for Igboanugo to releasethe one he was holding on the ground.

As he gripped tight the one on the ground without releasing himdespite several stabbings the other robber has done to Igboanugo, he(robber) then resorted to hiting Igboanugo with blocks and on the process, Igboanugo’s mother came out as the girlfriend became helplessand was shouting on top of her voice.

As his mother came out she saw what was happening and was asking the robbers what his son, Igboanugo had done to them that he deserved thestabbings and hittings She then gave a loud shout which made the robber that was stabbing and hitting him with blocks to run away before the people who were rushingout could catch him.

Luck however ran out on the one Igboanugo was holding on the ground asthose who rushed out gripped him, tied him with a rope and wanted to

lynch and set him ablaze before security operatives, on a tipoff,stormed the scene and whisked off to the police station.

Igboanugo who then had become unconscious with his blood that littered the entire place, having received several deep cuts that resulted inblood gushing out heavily, few minutes later, died.

It was learnt that the two armed robbers were indigenes of the community as the mother to deceased reportedly explained havingrecognized the run away armed robber before he disappeared into thethin air.

Confirming the incident when contacted, the Ogidi Divisional PoliceOfficer, DPO at Ogidi, Mr Mark Ijarafu, said that, “one of the armed robbers is currently with the police at the station, adding that the police are looking for the fleeing armed robber.

As at the time of filing this report, people were seen trouping to the scene of the incident to have a glimpse of the blood of Igboanugo thatlittered the ground like where a cow was slaughtered in the abattoir.

ing thugs have dug military fashion trenches in Bassambiri with barricades to harass PDP members in the community and prevent those who fled the community from returning.

The Director of Corporate Communications called on the leadership of the Nigerian Army and the other security agencies to prevent brigandage and a breakdown of law and order in the area ahead of the next elections.

He urged the security agencies to adhere strictly to their constitutional responsibility to ensure the provision of security and indeed the requisite environment in the next election.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissociated itself from the electoral violence in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of the state during the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.

State Publicity Secretary of Bayelsa APC, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, in a statement on Monday in Yenagoa dismissed insinuations by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and the PDP in Bayelsa State that both Seidougha Taribi, a PDP leader and Reginald Dei were victims of violence perpetrated by APC supporters.

The APC Publicity Secretary said: “On the day of election, materials were brought to Oweikorogha. PDP supporters led by Moses Taribi, Seidougha Taribi, Promise Elijah, Reginald Dei and others were fomenting trouble with the intent to destroy the electioneering materials or hijacking them for their party. APC supporters did all they could to allow voting to take place.

“While voting was on going, a certain Perebigha Azikwe of the PDP arrived the polling unit with a locally made pistol, and snatched the card reader. At that instance, the APC Ward 2 Agent, Deizigha ThankGod, approached the PDP loyalists to plead with them to return the card reader, but they refused.

APC loyalists then insisted that voting could not continue. While they were concentrating on the other two units, PDP thugs led by Moses Taribi forcefully took away the remaining materials of that unit to Seidougha Taribi’s house and were thumb-printing in favour of the PDP. At that point, the voters sought for security intervention to secure the electoral materials. Soldiers arrived Oweikorogha, and stormed Seidogha Taribi’s house. There was an exchange of gunshots.”

The statement said APC is concerned that houses of their members and their relations have been burnt down in the community and property looted, adding that their members are also being hunted for possible assassination.

“The party condemns this unnecessary insult in Oweikorogha. APC is the victim, not the aggressor.

“We call on the armed and security forces to restore law and order in Oweikorogha community. Our members and other peace-loving residents in Southern Ijaw need protection”.

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS Extra Pomp as Anambra community targets 100% peace accord

By IBE NWACHUKWU

Those who had hands in presidential election rigging should expect God’s punishment - Bishop Udeh

I

t was a triumph of peace and unity at Unubi, a sleeky community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra state as they celebrated their mass return.

Mass return in the area is celebrated every four years and it is compulsory that all sons and daughters of the community, both at home and in the diaspora must return home to participate in all activities lined up for the period.

Activities lined up for this year’s ceremonies which lasted for five consecutive days, included the opening ceremony with Unubi unity carnival, musical night/talent hunt, followed by the next day’s match past and cultural dances by all the branches of Unubi town Development Union (UDU) and various age grades with pull-out exercise of Ekwueme Age Grade, Unubi.

General thanksgiving/Bazaar Sales/ face of Unubi Beauty pageantry and growing of Miss Unubi (2018- 2022) took a center stage on day 3 of the mass return with Okweagu Night as super Artist, Umubirigbo thrilled the audience with their solo music from 7 p.m. till dawn.

The day 4 of the events witnessed Governor Willie Obiano’s visit to the community and conferment of chieftaincy titles/awards on some distinguished personalities from both Unubi and outside the community which was rounded off with another Okweagu night as the famous musician, Sunny Bobo and the original Egedege Dance of Africa, Theresa Onuora thrilled the audience.

The events were brought to an end on the 5th day with a raffle draw/ Unubi youth anniversary award ceremony/Unubi cultural troupe and official closing ceremony.

In his speech, Chairman of the chieftaincy installation committee, Chief Ignatius Agbalizu explained that it took the committee time to select those that were qualified to receive the chieftaincy titles, both from Unubi and outside.

Agbalizu disclosed that certain criteria were taken into consideration by the committee to ensure that those who received the chieftaincy titles got it on merit.

The traditional ruler of Unubi, Igwe Francis Umennajiego (Igwe Ohazurume) who conferred the chieftaincy titles and awards on various receipients, commended Governor Obiano for the ‘Choose Your Project Initiative’ which he noted has benefited the community immensely.

President General of the town union, Dr Josiah Okonkwo explained that such mass return programme for the community holds every four years, adding that the community takes the ceremony seriously because it is a strong unifying factor for the people to celebrate their close family ties, affinity and brotherly love.

According to him, it is a rule that indigenes of the community return home with their family and also attend the gathering with them. This practice, he noted, has made it possible for people to know more about one another and also prevent a situation where many people commit incest unknowingly by marrying their blood relations or relating like lovers in the township without knowing that they are blood brothers and sisters.

Okonkwo also stated that it was a period to initiate and elicit support for community development projects like the medical outreaches and building of community hospital already nearing completion, among others.

• Buhari

• Bishop Udeh

• Atiku

By IBE NWACHUKWU

of the election results and APC should return the mandate to the rightful owner (the PDP), Failing to do so, they will see the wrath of God whoever they claim to be. The worst of what happened in 2015 when he won the election will happen in 2019 that he won through rigging.

I pity the foreign observers came to monitor the election. They knew that the election was falsified but they accepted the money given to them to allow the election to be rigged (the U.K and USA). I give INEC two weeks to return the right figfure of the elections.

You think you are bringing peace in Nigeria but you are creating problems for the nation.

However, I must really thank God for Donald Trump the president of America who spoke the reality. Let me speak this veraciously: “if there is God in heaven, that stone thrown without hands in the book of Daniel chapter 2 will repeat itself again. There will be repetition of such,against the northerners, Nigerians, Islamic sect and the Fulanis who don’t want other tribes to come up”.

“Is it not the Islamic people that are working in Nigeria, They said they are professors of higher rank but they are used to manipulating the election. I knew it was going to happen, I said it but people didn’t listen to me.

I pity you Adams Oshiomhole that is the idol brought in by Buhari to rig the election. Tinubu of Lagos they are rejoicing for Buhari if at all it is Buhari” As for Ndigbo, I am so happy with their wisdom. I am happy with their doggedness and pride. I am proud with their disobedience at times. I am proud of their capacity and capability to analyze and judge every situation on real time. I am proud that at their tendency to disorganize and disagree on what other tribes would have foolishly accepted and died for. I am proud of the way they accept challenges.

However, I have never been this proud before. Nigeria lost the elections but the Igbos won the elections.

We told you Mr. Buhari that we hate you to your face. We hate your personality. We hate what you have done to our children, what you have done to pregnant women by ripping open their wombs and ordering he death of our priests and religious ministers.

We denied you our votes and subjected you and your cabal to rigging in order to win. We hate your divide and rule policies. We hate your ethnic based leadership. That is the victory of our votes. We defeated you and Tinubu in your Lagos. We have confirmed to you that we own Lagos, we own Abuja, we own Port Harcout and we

own all the south.

And for the rest of Nigeria, we pity you. We have done our part. We have rejected evil and his ministers. Our votes are our witness. The blood of all the young men killed in Port Harcourt last Saturday bear witness to us. Our resistance in Lagos sing our triumph.

Whatever will happen in Nigeria the next four years, counts us innocent because we rejected evil and those who desire evil will live with it. We have done our part and hoping that one day, only one day, the rest of Nigeria will remember the sacrifices of Ndigbo nation for the freedom of Nigeria of which our ancestors were the founding fathers. Thank you all Ndigbo who are still alive in Nigeria.

You won the elections by shaming the devil.

Igbos survive in any condition they find themselves, Salute to all Igbos all over the world. In God we trust.

Some are cut out for the suffering and do not care about it. The North never told us they do not like suffering and poverty.

All they want is power. I spoke to a Hausa Fulani friend of mine last night who spoke what he described as some truths to me.

He said you Igbos have commerce and industry. Your people travel all over the world, many send money back to their parents and their communities, from their diasporan jobs.

The South West has commerce also, education, thriving airports and Seaports.

The Middle belt has agriculture and food, and we accommodate them by giving them jobs.

So we must leave power to them in the North. That power, is all they have to survive on. That whether you guys leave power for us or not, we have designed a foolproof means to take power and hold on to it till 2031. He told me that power to the North is not a desire or want, but a genuine need for the survival of the Northerners.

That in the next 48hrs, I will see what will happen, and how easily Buhari will be declared winner. I said impossible but he told me to just watch and see.

He told me that the North suffered while Obasanjo and Jonathan were in power. He said OBJ retired all their Generals. OBJ gave the ministry of Finance to a Southerner for the first time, that Jonathan did same. That if not for El Rufai and Ribadu putting their foot down in 2007, that Obasanjo was almost going to hand power over to a Southerner in the name of Peter Odili. He said that that singular move

by El Rufai and Ribadu will make one of them President after Buhari in 2023.

G

eneral Overseer of Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries, Incorporated (a.k.a, By Fire By Fire), Nnewi, Anambra State, Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh has said that all those who had their hands in the rigging of February 23 presidential election in the country must expect somwe measures of punishment from God. He insisted that one disaster or the other is awaiting such people for neglecting his earlier warnings that the election should not be rigged for anyone but to be conducted in a transparent and free and fair manner.

In his SMS to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra state, Bishop Udeh declared: “It is very shameful for a person who claims to be fighting corruption to allow the election to be rigged and allow himself to sit on another person’s mandate”.

He queried: “What kind of hypocrisy and pretence is this. Buhari,you are showing the world your front hands but Nigerians your back hands. What a shameful individual boasting to win the election through rigging?

“The world will see you that you are fighting corruption but you are not.

The people around you are clapping for you because of the money you are giving to them but they don’t know that it is a disgrace to all Nigerians that their president secured a second term through election rigging”.

“How can it be said of a person that is fighting corruption but he rigged the election, what a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He rigged the election to enter into another person’s mandate.

I speak to all the people that have a hand in the rigging of the election especially Mahmood Yakubu and all the INEC officials that participated in the rigging of the election”.

“Surely, as a man of God, there will be disaster and trouble in their generation because I warned them before the election to desist from rigging.

How many people were stampeded in 2015 in Saudi Arabia, how many blood were shed in his regime. In his last four year, what did we see if not hunger, death, nepotic administration and starvation? He claims to be fighting Corruption by mandating the armies to shoot the electorate and the people that came to vote”.

I pity Osibanjo, the errand boy who claims to be a pastor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He is being pushed by money, something that will affect his generation, I pity him.

Let me say it frankly, the God of heaven is angry over the falsification

He said the North will never go back to playing second fiddle. Their experience from 1999 to 2015 is not one they will forget in a hurry. That the North loves Buhari, because he gives all his appointments to Northerners. That whenever a northerner is in charge of a sector, they recruit and promote northerners, and it’s effects last for more than 20yrs, and help their people survive, which is why they love and admire Buhari’s approach to appointments.

He went on to say that Atiku is from an unrecognized Adamawa State and is almost a Kanuri. That him and his restructuring agenda will never be allowed to rule. That he knows it, and all the North know it, which is why the elections in the North are peaceful and there is no fighting, thuggery and killing.

That the North knows that Atiku’s policies will advance the South and send the North into deep poverty, not on purpose, but by sharing the power, so they will not let him on board.

That PDP shot themselves in the foot by choosing Atiku. A man from the Northwest, Tambuwal or Kwankwaso would have done it, and kept power in the North for them, but Atiku is far too exposed.

He even went as far as telling me that the south should forget 2023, and 2027. That the North have agreed that the south will not have power again till 2031, at the earliest and so it shall be. By which time they will have Fulani emirates in cattle colonies in Ebonyi, Oyo and Edo State, whether we like it or not.

They have told Ribadu and El Rufai to warm up, that it will be one of them in 2023, most likely the former, who is being kept away from controversy.

I asked what about Tinubu and Osinbajo. He laughed louder than ever. He described Tinubu as the biggest southern fool alive. He said they in the North were surprised that he would be fighting for Buhari’s second term, after all Buhari did to him in his first four year term. He had none of his ministerial appointments approved and was shut completely out. All it took was Buhari attending his birthday party for his heart to melt. His VP was also shut out and is continuously disgraced in Aso Rock.

The only VP in the history of Nigeria that cannot see the president without going through an administrative staff, the chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. He said they do not trust Osinbajo, hence keeping him out of sensitive meetings, and that he will never be President, except he is ready to wait for 2031, but he is not their type.

He said the game of divide and rule will be perfected after 29th of May, as they seek to reduce Tinubu and prop up the likes of Fashola and a few others from the South West. He said by the time they finish with Tinubu, he will either go to jail or leave the party to run under another party platform, but they do not care. tI said, so you really think Atiku will lose this election. He said yes, that the North are not fighting. They have chosen, and Atiku better go get back his monies from the Generals that he bribed to make him the consensus candidate of PDP, yet failed to consult them when choosing a VP. Because the election was fast approaching, I thanked him and said that Atiku will be the next president of Nigeria and all their evil plans will be destroyed. I also urged people to pray for Atiku and Obi’s victory. If only Southerners would listen and Unite, the North would not perfect these evil plans against us.

42

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS

CHANGE OF NAME & PUBLIC NOTICE FATHER ECHEKS CATHOLIC STUDENTS FOUNDATION

This is to notify the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

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Fredrick Princewill -

Chairman - Secretary - Member - Member Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the welfare of the indigent students through scholarship 2. To promote peace co-existence among students through sports 3. To promote the University Culture without cultism 4. To promote positive values among the youths 5. To promote educational excellence through research.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

I formerly known as ODUNUKWE CALISTA NWAMAKA now wish to be known as ONYILO CALISTA NWAMAKA . former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

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Banks and General public take note.

This is to confirm that AGU UCHENNA TIMOTHY and AGU UCHENNA JAMES is one and the same person now wish to be known as AGU UCHENNA JAMES. former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

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members of my family who were formerly known as AFOAMA ANAYO JOHN AFOAMA EJIKE PETER AFOAMA VERONICA CHINYAKA

This is to confirm that ENEMUO JULIANA OYIBO , ENEMUO JULIANA .O. ,ENEMUO JULIANA ONYEKACHUKWU, EZEOKE JULIANA ONYEKACHUKWU, EZEOKE JULIANA ONYEKACHUKWU OYIBO, JULIANA ONYEKACHUKWU OYIBO ENEMUO. now wish to be known as EZEOKE JULIANA ONYEKACHUKWU OYIBO. former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

• Gov Willie Obiano (m), his deputy, Nkem Okeke and APGA National Chairman, Ozonkpu Victor Oye during the party’s interactive session for the 326 Wards across the state at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

Guber polls: Osinbajo, Oshiomole, Ogboru confident of victory in Delta From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

C

hieftains of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has exuded confidence of wining Delta State in the forthcoming governorship election on March 9, 2019.

The chieftains of the party on Monday met in an organized townhall meeting at the PTI Conference Centre in Effurun, in Uwvie Local Government Area of the State.

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who represented the President opined that Delta State would become an APC controlled state by Saturday when the people of the State would cast their vote to elect a new governor and APC candidate, Chief Great Ogboru.

The meeting which was attended by several APC chieftains including immediate past governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, APC leader in the state, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, APC Isoko Federal constituency candidate in last election, Joel Onowakpo Thomas, Olorogun Ima Niboro, Rev. Francis Waive and a host of others was packaged to galvanized support for the APC governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru ahead the Saturday’s election.

The Vice President, however promised to tightened security within the state during the forthcoming election after some APC chieftains

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who spoke at the event accused security agencies and INEC officials of allegedly colluding with the ruling party in the state to rig the last Presidential and National Assembly Election.

He said: “Delta state should not be an opposition state. Why should Delta be an opposition state? Why? There is no reason for it at all.The time has come. This is the moment, let us seize that moment.”

“I want to say there is ample reason for us as a people of this great State to ensure that we do not betray the trust of the millions of people of the State. Here, I speak to party members – by disunity and fighting among ourselves. That is what our opponents want the most.

They want to see a divided party.

“A party where we are pointing accusing fingers at each other. If we are divided, there is no way we can possibly win. If we are divided that is the end of it. If we work together, we will definitely win and emerge victorious this Saturday. I believe that we can work together.

“What happened last Saturday is a great victory for us but it is only the beginning because the completion of that victory is going to come by the grace of God on Saturday March 9, 2019 when we vote in our own governor, Great Ogboru, who will by the grace of God be a governor from that very day.

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Continuing, he said, “Just as you have said, every one of us have taken into account all of the issues you have raised especially the issue of security. It is a very fundamental issue. It is a way in the past how the PDP used and abused security in the country. We have seen frequently how they manage to victors when they are actually losers. So, there is no reason at all why we should not pay special attention to security and we will do so. I will ensure that we do so.

“The other reason why it is so important for us to ensure that Delta State become an APC state has been pointed out. The social investment programme that we put in place, it is only APC governor that can implement such programmes faithfully.

We believe that once we are able to have an APC governor such programmes will be implemented”, Osinbajo added.

Speaking in the same vein, National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, expressed thanks to Deltans for voting for Buhari to emerge winner of the last election, boasting that the next election will be the last straw that will destroy PDP in Delta State.

Oshiomhole asked the electorate to collect money from the state ruling party if they decide to offer them state resources but disappoint them by voting for APC during the election, he added.

The APC national chairman boasted that PDP can no longer win election in Delta State since the party was now outdated and “PDP is now in a political menopause” throughout Nigeria.

“You (Delta APC) have substantially weakened the rigging machines of the PDP in Delta State. This time, you will stop them on Saturday and ensure that Okowa and PDP reign in Delta State is brought to an end.

“No one will provide unlawful security. Security operatives should ensure that votes are counted because President Buhari wants to have cleaner elections”, APC National Chairman said.

Earlier, the party’s candidate, Chief Great Ogboru had while welcoming the vice president had assured him of Delta State becoming one of the APC states in the country on Saturday 9 March, 2019. zChief Ogboru, also called on his supporters to be calm, and work towards the success of the party.

43

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS Cont’d from page 2 ularly in Isuikwuato, his local government area where President Muhammadu Buhari won, has provided a solid ground for him.

In 2014, Ogah contested in the PDP primary and lost to Ikpeazu.

Then, his popularity soared to high heavens. His innocent looks and philanthropy sold him out as a man of the people.

He won converts easily through his grassroots designed campaigns where he freely distributed branded items, such as matches and other household items, with his pictures embossed on the items He is running on the strength of his reputation as a successful businessman and as a man who has the piety to deliver on his promises.

The APC is also expected to do well in other zones. This is because his deputy, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, is from the Ngwa section of Abia Central. If they Ngwa queue behind the APC, Ogah is also expected to garner some votes from the Ngwa in Abia South.

Before now, many in APC had boasted that they will win Abia with federal might, if that plays out on Saturday, then Ogah may be on his way to victory.

But his party may be his albatross. Many in Abia do not like to hear the name APC due to the perceived marginalization of Ndigbo by the Buhari administration.

So, it appears that party is not very well accepted across the state and this may count against Ogah, except if the electorate vote on the basis of personalities, not parties.

Also the rumour spreading like wildfire that he was quoted to have promised Buhari, in a recent congratulatory letter, that

Battle Royale

Enugu State Governor’s aide buries mum

By OLIVER UDEOGU

T

•Uche Nwosu

he would establish a cattle colony in Abia, and deal decisively with the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), would put spanner in his works as far as the his governorship ambition is concerned.

ALEX OTTI/APGA Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, a renowned banker, has remained constant.

He is the only candidate who has remained in his party since the last governorship election of 2015.

He hails from Abia Central, specifically, from Isiala Ngwa South local government area.

His relocation to his local government of origin, from his Arochukwu ancestral home where he lived until 2014, still generates unending debates among his supporters and opponents.

His strong showing in 2015 forced the Abia governorship contest into a re-run before PDP was

•Emeka Ihedioha

able to carry the day. And many believed that that was his end as they argued that would not muster the financial muscle required to prosecute another governorship project.

But he stunned analysts by going into the race. He resurrected his structures immediately and is reputed to have lost only very few of his trusted aides who were with him in the 2015.

After launching his state-wide campaigns, he has been discreetly carrying out his campaigns to politically relevant groups, including churches.

Otti is seen as an independent-minded candidate free of any form of godfatherism influence.

That is why many believe that if Abians give him their mandate, he will turn the state around for good.

Otti may do well on Saturday if

he still maintains his grip on Abia North where he won in 2015.

But with Ogah coming from Abia North too, which is Otti’s stronghold, it is doubtful if he could still maintain his grip on the zone.

Many are predicting that the governorship contest in Abia is squarely going to be between PDP and APC; that APGA may come a distant third. But Otti says he will win the race and would be sworn in as the governor of Abia.

Only the outcome of Saturday’s polls will decide.

Akwa Ibom Another battle between PDP and APC will play out between Udom Emmmauel and Isima Ekere In Akwa Ibom. With the political demise of the former governor and poster boy of the APC,

Cont’d on page 44

NNPC to build fertilizer, power plants Cont’d from page 1 are to be located in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano to boost supply by 4000 megawatts of electricity while the fertilizer plans would located in Brass, Bayelsa State.

Group General Manager in charge of Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said the additional Independent Power Plants (IPP) in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano which is expected to would add 4,0000megawatts of power to stabilize the national grid.

Chief Financial Officer of NNPC and Chairman of the Board of NNPC Power subsidiary, Gas and Power Investment Company (GPIC), Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq, said this at the inaugural board meeting of GPIC at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

Mr. Ughamadu stated in Abuja Tuesday that GPIC was established as a subsidiary under the Gas and Power Directorate to enable the corporation monetize the abundant gas resources in the Country for the benefit of the nation’s economy.

Mr. Abdulrazaq said the GPIC was a very strategic company through which the NNPC would create more value for the country, stressing that by the time the IPPs come on stream in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, the Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the areas would be better for it.

“The Gas and Power Investment Company Limited (GPIC) is a company which the NNPC has set up basically to focus on how it can create value and monetize thenation’s abundant gas resources.

The company will also be focused on developing power stations, fertilizer plants as well as petrochemical plants across the states,” Mr. Abdulrazaq stated.

He noted that NNPC has set up the board to enable the company achieve its set targets within a very short period of time, saying the board meeting had mapped outstrategies to properly guide the company to enable its Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

He said the setting up of the company would add value in terms of payment of taxes and generating more revenue for the Country, stressing that the company and all the IPPsthat would emanate from itwould also generate more job opportunities for Nigerians.

Mr. Abdulrazaq stated that Fertilizer Project in Brass,Bayelsa State would produce fertilizer to boost agriculture in the SouthSouth and other regions of the Country.

Speaking in similar vein, the Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, Engr. Saidu Mohammed, stated that the coming on stream of GPIC would help the NNPC transform into an integrated energy compa-

ny with the production of 4,000 megawatts of power at strategic locations.

Engr. Mohammed disclosed that all relevant stakeholders in the power sector are in alignment with the NNPC with the establishment of the GPIC. Meanwhile Mr. Ughamadu stated separately that NNPC has recovered some N771million worth of forfeited assets from defaulting marketing companies.

He said NNPC recovered the assets from some marketers who had under-paid for petroleum products supplied to them from the Kaduna depot of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

The Chairman of NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee, Mr. Mike Balami, said the committee, in collaboration with Federal Government’s Intelligence and Anti-Corruption agencies such as the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, recovered the assets from the defaulting marketers.

Mr. Ughamadu stated in Abuja Monday that NNPC’s anti-corruption committee brought in forensic experts to uncover the shady deals by some of the marketers.

Mr. Balami disclosed that some of the assets recovered include filling stations, water factories and six sports utility vehicles, adding that the forensic investigation would be extended to the other depots across the country to stop the bleeding of the national oil company.

He noted that it was established that the affected marketers lifted petroleum products from the PPMC Kaduna depot without evidence of payment and when confronted with the evidence they admitted to the offence and failed to pay their liabilities.

He stated that NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, was passionate about stopping all the leakages in the corporation, stressing that the forfeited assets would be handed over to NNPC Corporate Asset Boarding and Disposal Committee (CABDC) for immediate disposal.

Mr. Balami added that investigation into lifting of petroleum products without evidence of payment was continuing, urging all relevant stakeholders to support the NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee in its onerous task of recovering all its monies outside NNPC’s system.

He said that this was the first time that the NNPC would be taking over assets forfeited by marketers who defaulted in their terms of engagement.

he remains of mother of the Senior Special Assistant to the Enugu State governor on inter party relationship and conflict resolution Rev Hon Dr Chris Asadu, Mrs Angelina Nwakaego Asadu, was on thursday laid to rest in her home town Umugworie Nru-Nsukka, in the Nsukka local government area of Enugu State, at the age of 78 years.

The late Mrs Asadu was a devoted Catholic and an ambassador of peace who was loved by her community. In his funeral sermon, the officiating Priest Rev Fr Isife, of the St Francis Catholic church Umugworie Nru-Nsukka, described the deceased as a lover of God’s creation and humanity, who loved everyone as he prayed for her soul to have eternal rest in the lord’s bosom.

Top Enugu state government functionaries graced the colourful funeral ceremony. They include the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt Hon Edward Ubosi, Chief of Staff to the Enugu State governor, Rt Hon Uzor FSA, Secretary to the State government Hon G.O.C. Ajah, Member representing Nsukka East constituency and House Committee Chairman on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption Rt Hon Chinedu Nwamba, the State Honourable Commissioner for Transport Hon Vitus Okechi, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Hon Sam Ogbu Nwobodo, Hon Peter Chigozie Nwankwo, State Commissioner for Housing, Chief Dr. C.O.C. Egumgbe, the State Commissioner for Water resources, local government chairmen in the state among other top government functionaries.

There were also in attendance at the funeral the President General of Igboezue International Association of Nigeria and in the Diaspora His Excellency, Elder Pius Uchenna Okoye, scores of traditional rulers among whom were His Royal Highness Igwe Felix Emeka Ugwu (JP) the Ezedioramma 1 of Owerre Nsukka autonomous community, Igwe John Ofodum the Igwe Igboezue worldwide, scores of clergy men and captains of industry.

The late Matriarch of the Asadu’s, Mrs. Angelina Asadu is survived by eight children, twenty-nine grand children, nine great grand children and six daughters inlaw.

•Mrs Angelina Nwakaego Asadu

44

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

NEWS Continued from Pg 43 Godswill Akpabio, the chances of APC just flickered away.

Cross River The incumbent governor Prof.

Ben Ayade might just be fancying his chances especially with the internal confusion in the APC. Who is the party presenting, the Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Uguru Usani or Senator John Owan Enoh?

That confusion might just what the PDP needs to coast to victory despite the challenge of Eyo Ekpo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Delta The incumbent governor, Ifeanyi Okowa will be feeling reassured that the governorship is zoned to the Anioma area and under that agreement, the state is solidly behind him. Serial contestant, Great Ogboru of the APC might be banking on the APC factor. Will the Ekiti or Osun states example be seen in Delta?

Ifeanyi Okowa Although, no fewer than five political parties are fielding candidates for the March 9 governorship election in Delta State, the contest is a two- horse race between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

While the incumbent governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, is flying the PDP ticket, the APC is fielding a popular politician and business mogul, Great Ogboru.

Okowa, a medical doctor hails from Ika North-East Local Government Area in the Delta North Senatorial District otherwise known as the Anioma (or Igbo speaking) part of the State.

Okowa has served the State in various capacities; Water Resources, Agriculture and Health Commissioner in the administration of former Governor James Ibori and later Secretary to the State Government in the first tenure of Emmanuel Uduaghan before he proceeded to the National Assembly where he became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health.

On his part, Mr. Ogboru, is an Urhobo from Abraka in Ethiope West Local Government Area in the Central District. He came to limelight in 1990 when he was fingered as one of the major sponsors of the Gideon Orkar-led coup that failed to oust former military leader, Ibrahim Babangida.

Ogboru has contested the governorship election on several occasions – in 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy; in 2007 on the ticket of the Democratic Peoples Party, DPP; 2011 bye-election – on the same platform and in 2015 under labour party. He failed on all occasions.

Though all strong candidates in the coming election in the oilrich State will be largely defined by zoning, popularity of the candidates as well as the strength of their parties rather than issues of governance.

On the zoning scale, Dr Okowa appears to enjoy some support.

There are many people from Anioma, Urhobo, Itsekiris, Ijaws and Isoko who have imbibed the philosophy of zoning and are prepared to cast their votes along the line of zoning.

Through out the campaign tour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the 25 local government areas of the State, Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor Burutu Otuaro, former Governor James Ibori, elder statesman, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, among other prominent Deltans restated

Battle Royale... on March 9

•Senator-Hope-Uzodinma

•Sunny Ogbuoji

their commitment to the re-election of Governor Okowa in line with zoning principles.

Many party stalwarts observed that Governor Okowa has done very well to earn second term in office and based on the rotation principles of the PDP, Deltans will massively vote for the candidates of the party.

In the Central where Ogboru is from paternally, the predominant sentiment is that zoning is a conspiracy against the people of Urhobo extraction.

However, Mr. Okowa’s major challenge is his rejection by the Urhobo, the single largest ethnic group in the State.This was evident in the recent National Assembly polls where Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of the APC retained his seat and the APC candidate, Rev Francis Waive won Ughelli North,Udu Federal constituency As voters in Delta State go to the polls on Saturday,they will have to choose between Ogboru’s mantra which is “Delta Liberation 2019” and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s promise of “ better

days ahead” if he is re-elected for second term.

Ebonyi Since he ousted his former boss and former governor of Ebonyi, Martin Elechi, governor Dave Umahi has single-mindedly put aside any form of opposition in the state. The opposition has cried literally of the lack of political space to breath. The APC governorship candidate Senator Sonny Ogbuorji has been complaining of that. If APC has a chance to taking over any state in the South East, it is unlikely to be Ebonyi; the state is not ready yet for APC. Enugu State In Enugu State, all things seem to be working for the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Barring any last minute changes, it appears the governor would have an unruffled outing at the polls.

However, the governor appears not to be leaving things to chances. Despite the many endorsements he has received from various groups across the state, Ugwuanyi is not giving anything

to chance as he has continued to intensify his campaign ahead of the March 9, gubernatorial polls.

He is currently running a campaign exercise tagged door-todoor campaign through which he directly meets and interacts with citizens at various markets, motor parks and communities among others If projections by analysts are anything to go by, Governor Ugwuanyi is favoured to emerge victorious.

Touted as a one party state because of how the PDP has held sway since 1999, and effected an airtight zoning arrangement, it is unimaginable how an incumbent PDP governor can lose. Ahead of the election, there was a sign of a contest when Senator Ayogu Eze, from the same Enugu North senatorial district as the governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, dumped the PDP for the APC. But, the APC hasn’t really found its feet in the state yet as shown in the presidential polls, where the president earned less than 20,000 votes and the party didn’t win a single seat in the National

British museum has agreed A to repatriate to Ethiopia two locks of hair taken from the

The announcement comes at the end of a year-long commemorations marking 150 years since the Battle of Maqdala.

According to BBC, the National Army Museum on Monday said it had agreed to a formal request for the return of objects “considered to be of cultural sensitivity to Ethiopian citizens.’’

Terri Dendy, head of collections at the museum, said: “Our decision to repatriate is very much based on the desire to inter the hair within the tomb alongside the emperor.

“Having spent considerable time researching the provenance and cultural sensitivities around this matter, we believe the Ethiopian government claim to repatriate is reasonable and we are pleased to be able to assist”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the historic Battle of Magdala, which resulted in the fall of Emperor Tewodros, was the conclusion of the British expedition to Abyssinia.

The expedition witnessed the battle between British and Abyssinian forces at Magdala in 1868.

In the mid-19th Century, Emperor Tewodros II had decided to modernise his empire, Abyssinia, by opening up relations with the British, but his letter to Queen Victoria requesting munitions and military experts was ignored.

In protest, the emperor detained the British consul and other missionaries, and Britain reacted by sending an army to the emperor’s fortress in Maqdala.

The Magdala invasion, often

Assembly. It might just be a PDP victory.

Imo The battle is Imo State, despite the fact that the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is not seeking re-election. He is however throwing his support behind his son in-law Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA). He joined AA after he lost the primaries in the APC. He is up against seasoned politicians campaigners at this level. The PDP has Emeka Ihedioha who lost his governorship bid in 2015 to the governor who was re-elected then. He reckons he has learnt his lessons. His emergence from the PDP is however under scrutiny in the courts.

Chief Ikedi Ohakim, one term governor, who lost his re-election bid to Okorocha in 2011 is contesting under Accord party after he was muscled out of APGA primaries. The APC candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, from the same senatorial zone as the incumbent governor has one big problem going into the election: he will be up against Okorocha who will be rooting for Nwosu.

Both of them will split the votes from Orlu zone. Senator Ifeanyi Araraume of APGA is perhaps the most war wearied in the race.

This will be his fourth attempt at being governor. Like Ohakim, he is from Okigwe. Only Ihedioha is from Owerri zone. If he can get the votes from Owerri, he might fancy his chance to be governor.

Rivers The Rivers State governor, Nyesom wike of the PDP is having an easy ride in securing his second term. The courts nullified the chances of the major opposition, the APC from fielding candidates for the election. If he loses out, it won’t be from the ballot boxes as he has a case of perjury against him in the court, following a questionable declaration of age.

The battle will be fiercest in Abia and Akwa Ibom States where the opposition APC, buoyed by the performance of the party in the national election last week, will try to leverage on that performance to give the ruling PDP in the two States a run for its money.

Imo is a bit confusing. There will a five-way fight for Douglas House as the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha battles to install his son-in-law Uche Nwosu as governor of the nation’s most literate State. He will be tackled

by Ifeanyi —it is not difficult

British museum to return Ethiopian emperor’s hair after 150 years

head of the 19th-century widely revered Emperor Tewodros II some 150 years ago.

History had it that Tewodros chose to kill himself rather than give himself up to the British after the capture in 1868 of Maqdala, his mountain capital, in order to rescue some Europeans taken captive.

Hundreds of treasures were plundered by the British, including a gold crown and a wedding dress, which are in the collection of the V&A. Ethiopia lodged a formal request in 2008 at various British institutions for the return of the treasures worth millions of dollars taken from the site.

described as the largest military offensive by the British empire in Africa, saw 13,000 troops deployed to free the British hostages as well as capture and loot the emperor’s fortress.

The British were led by Robert Napier while the Abyssinians were led by Emperor Tewodros II. As the British won the battle, Tewodros chose to take his life rather than give himself up to the British as prisoner of war.

Tewodros’s seven-year-old son, Prince Alemayehu, was also taken after the Battle of Maqdala and became a favourite of Queen Victoria.

The young prince, however, died of pleuritis at 18 and was buried at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle at the request of Queen Victoria.

45

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

SPORTS

How Rangers disappointed fans, supporters others

•Lost 0-2 at home to visiting Etoile du Sahel Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

I

T was a sad day for millions of Nigerian football fans particularly the fans and supporters of Nigerian flag bears in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup competition, Enugu Rangers as they succumbed to a humiliating 0-2 home defeat in their hands of their visiting opponents, Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia in their Group B match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium otherwise nicknamed the Cathedral by fans on Sunday.

The game started on a low pace as both teams tried to be cautious of each other, but it sprang into life in the 19th minute when Maher Hannechi gave Sahel the lead after a clinical finish.

Rangers took control of the match after that and dominated the possession stakes, but their decision in the final third resulted in very few decent scoring chances.

As a matter of fact, despite have 61 per cent of the ball in the opening stanza, The Flying Antelope only managed one shot on target as the half ended 1-0 in favour of the visitors.

At the start of the second half however, Rangers continue to dictate the pace, but the wind was taken out of their sails when Etoile du Sahel doubled their lead after Iheb Msakni converted from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, to make score-line 2-0.

With the second goal in their kitty, the North African side sat back in defence and seemed content to

defend their lead which worked for them as the game ended 2-0 in their favour.

Every effort made by Enugu Rangers to ensure that they redeemed their imaged proved abortive as the Tunisian side rebuffed every attack. However, it is important to note that despite the Tunisians rebuffing every of their attack, the Enugu State Government financed side were as wasteful as they were in the first half in front of goal as the match ended 2-0 for Etoile du Sahel.

With the result the Tunisian side now tops the Group with seven points from four games while Rangers are third with four points.

Rangers will try bounce back from this loss next weekend when they face Salitas on Sunday, March 10. Etoile du Sahel will also be in action on the same day away to CS Sfaxien.

It is recalled that many Nigerians have put their hopes on the Coal City side following their run of good form that saw them not losing in their eight continental engagements before their back to back loss. With hard work and good technical input, the Flying Antelope can still turn things around starting this coming Sunday against Salitas.

It is recalled that the Flying Antelope before their back to back lost had gone eight matches unbeaten in their continent campaign hence the belief that they could still make it to the next stage of the competition if they do their homework well and show extra commitment by uti-

•Rangers International FC of Enugu, Nigeria’s CAF Confederation Cup representatives. lizing every opportunity that comes their way in subsequent encounters.

It is noted that Etoile Sportive du Sahel (ESS) coach, Roger Lemerre had on Saturday said his players were ready to pick at least a point

against Rangers International Football Club on Sunday in Enugu and with the victory in Enugu it means the Tunisians achieved their set objective thereby sitting pretty on the driver’s seat of their Group B.

Real Madrid fan stab Barca fan to death in Kano after El Clásico loss

T

HE longstanding rivalry between two Catalan football clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, at the weekend claimed the life of a Barcelona fan in Kano after the latest showdown which saw the EUFA League Champions losing 0-1.

The unfortunate incident happened when a 17-year-old diehard Madrid fan, Salisu Muhammad of Yakasai quarters in Kano, was said to have stabbed Mujittafa Musa three times on his chest shortly af-

ter an encounter that favoured FC Barcelona.

Family source was quoted as saying that the assailant laid in ambush for his victim after the match, and the unsuspecting deceased walked into his death.

An eyewitness identified as Suleiman was not spared by the irate football fan, who also stabbed him twice on his knees.

The family account confirmed that “passersby in the neighbourhood apprehended the suspect

and handed him over to the police.”

The family source explained that “it is our hope that the departed soul will get justice”.

Confirming the tragic incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, told newsmen in Kano weekend that the state CID had commenced investigation into the matter.

According to him, “Salisu Muhammad, 17, stabbed Mujittafa Musa three times on his chest over

Georgia Oboh gets ‘baptism of fire’ in maiden LET tournament

N

IGERIA’S female golf sensation, Georgia Oboh got her baptism of fire at her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) as the tournament serves her as a learning curve after she failed to make the final cut at the Canberra Women’s Classic at Royal Canberra Golf Club in Australia.

But it was Anne Van Dam from the Netherlands that surged home on the final nine to win the Canberra Women’s Classic at Royal Canberra Golf Club by three strokes: her third LET title inside six months and her fourth overall.

Oboh went into the competition with a ray of hope but her debut on LET was not impressive after the Nigerian finished in joint 131 amidst 144field of players on day one to miss out from the cut.

Oboh blamed her poor form to not getting completely comfortable on

the greens and her late arrival at the tournament due to long flight delays from South Africa where she competed on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

The 18-year-old, however, admitted that this was a baptism that will propel her forward and help her adapt to life on the tour.

At a tournament which had some of the best players on the Ladies European Tour including Dame Laura Davies and a host of other past Solheim Cup players. also, other top players from South Africa who also missed the cut included the winner of the South African Women’s Masters Leján Lewthwaite and long drive champion Phillis Meti from New Zealand with this disappointing outing, Oboh now turns her attention to the Women’s New South Wales Open at Queanbeyan, which is just 20 minutes from the venue of last week’s tour-

nament at Royal Canberra Golf Club on March 7 to 10, where the Nigerian hopes to improve on her form.

To emerge winner, the Dutch lady Van Dam began the day as joint leader on 11 under and duelled with defending champion Jiyai Shin (Republic of Korea) through the back nine before picking up four shots in the final four holes with a final round of six under 65.

•Georgia Oboh

an argument on football match on Saturday night.”

He said the suspect who is cooling his feet at Bompai police headquarters similarly stabbed one Suleiman on his knees.

Haruna disclosed that the police had recovered the exhibit used by the suspect, adding that the accused person would be charged to court soon when investigations are completed.

Osaka still leads unchanged top 10 in women’s tennis rankings

J

APAN’S Naomi Osaka remained top of the latest world rankings released by the Women Tennis Association (WTA) on Monday.

In an unchanged leading 10, Osaka stays on 6,871 points to stay clear of second-placed Simona Halep of Romania on 5,727.

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova is third on 5,605.

Below is the WTA top 10 as of Monday (previous ranking in parenthesis): 1. (1) Naomi Osaka, Japan, 6,871 points 2. (2) Simona Halep, Romania, 5,727 3. (3) Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic, 5,605. 4. (4) Sloane Stephens, U.S., 5,277. 5. (5) Karolina Pliskova, Czech Republic, 5,145. 6. (6) Elina Svitolina, Ukraine, 4,900. 7. (7) Kiki Bertens, Netherlands, 4,885. 8. (8) Angelique Kerber, Germany, 4,880. 9. (9) Aryna Sabalenka, Belarus, 3,565. 10.(10) Serena Williams, U.S., 3,406

Ambrose eyes national team duties at AFCON

O

UT of favour Super Eagles’ player, Efe Ambrose, has expressed his desire to make a return to the national team, the Super Eagles, as he believes his days in Nigeria’s national team are not over and want to prove it with time in the side’s upcoming pre-Africa Cup of Nations build-up matches.

Ambrose, who recently joined English Championship side, Derby County, insisted he does not like the tag of a former Eagles’ player, as he believes his days are not over in the squad, and wants opportunities to prove his mettle once more.

The ex-Celtic and Hibernian of Scotland defender pointed out that he recently signed for a club in England, while many others are leaving the same country. Ambrose, who had stints with Kaduna United and SC Ashdod of Israel also cited the fact that, aside goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, he was the only set of Nigeria’s Canada 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup players that is still active in top-flight football. Ambrose is of the view that Nigeria will find his experience useful at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, having also been a part of the squad that won the title in 2013, which he believes should boost his credentials.

“I am not a former Super Eagles’ player,” Ambrose stated with affirmation.

“I am still relevant for the team and I believe I will go with them to this year’s Nations Cup in Egypt.

“All I want is for the coach to give me the chance to prove myself. Let them invite me for the pre-Nations Cup friendlies, so that I can show what I have to offer, in terms of experience and strength.

“The present squad, as it is, needs some experienced players to help the young ones in the team. I believe

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

SPORTS

Supporters Club task Buhari on sports development Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

T

HE Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to give more attention to the sports sector, to promote unity in the country.

Samuel Ikpea, the NFSC chairman made the call in an interview with the sports journalists in Lagos on Monday, against the backdrop of the reelection of Buhari.

“First, on behalf of the NFSC both in Nigeria and Diaspora, I want to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his reelection as the President of our great nation for another four years.

“I use this auspicious moment to charge him on the need to beam more light on the Nigerian

sports sector, which has for decades become the most important unifier in the country.

“And in order to sustain this unity, sports proposals should be given adequate consideration in the budgets, to enable the sector do the needful on athletes welfare and officials training,’’he said.

Ikpea said the call became necessary as it would go a long way to keep the individual brilliance and never-say-die attitude of the average Nigerian athlete alive.

He urged the president to also recognise the selfless role and activities of the NFSC as it concerns their patriotic and selfless contributions to the promotion of sports in Nigeria, particularly football.

“For over 62 years, the NFSC has

consistently promoted the various national teams, wherever and whenever they represented our dear nation in football fiesta and other tournaments,’’ Ikpea said.

According to him, the NFSC deserves a fair deal in terms of encouragement and support from the government.

“We will continue to do our best in the NFSC to cheer our national teams, while we look forward to an improved four years of better Nigerian sports in all of its ramifications,’’ he added.

Ikpea urged Buhari to charge the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development and its agencies to give priority to the welfare of athletes, through training, allowances, bonuses and regular refresher courses for technical officials.

We’re not favourites for AFCON title – Rohr

D

OWN to earth Super Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr, insists that his side are not the favourite to win the 2019 African Cup of Nations, saying the likes of hosts, Egypt and Senegal are ahead of Nigeria.

The Franco-German football tactician is of the opinion that the FIFA rankings suggests countries including north Africans Morocco and Tunisia will be difficult to break when the tournament gets underway in Egypt next June.

Rohr said his side did not qualify

for the last two editions of the tournament and it would be difficult to head into this one being overconfident of emerging champions.

In his words: “No, I do not think we can say that (Nigeria as favourite). When we look at the ranking of Africa and FIFA, we are not the first African country,” Rohr began.

“There are other countries in front of us, I think we are fourth.

There is Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt that may be favourite at home for the AFCON, there is also Senegal in front of us.

“The ranking is not just the latest results, but for a few years. In 2014, 2015, Nigeria was not great and did not qualify for the last two editions of AFCON. “It has somewhat handicapped its ranking at FIFA and Africa,” he explained.

It is recalled that the three time continental champions (Nigeria) have reached the last four of the AFCON 14 times in the competition’s history and only Egypt with 15 has a better record of qualifying for the semifinals.

•Super Eagles of Nigeria celebrating after a successful outing.

Eagles’ AFCON confidence‘ll be boosted with win over Egypt – Nwosu

F

ORMER Nigeria international Henry Nwosu has charged the Super Eagles to beat Egypt in their upcoming friendly match stressing that the victory would put them in a winning mood for the 2019 African Cup of Nations which would take between June and July. Nwosu, a winning member of Nigeria’s first AFCON title in 1980, believes that the Egyptians would be one of the title favourites at the 24-nation tournament and as such a win would put Gernot Rohr’s team in a psychological advantage should the teams come across each other in the tournament proper.

“We need to prepare adequately for the match as it is not just an ordinary friendly as it could be a dress rehearsal for what may eventually

happen in Egypt, because whichever way you look at it, the Pharaohs will be one of the title favourites for the tournament,” he declared.

He stated that the Pharaoh’s were bound to enjoy massive support of the fans who are known to be intimidating but it could count for nothing if they come across a determined and psychologically prepared team. In this regard, Nwosu says it would be necessary for Rohr to invite strong team for the dead-rubber AFCON qualifier clash with Seychelles.

“Everyone knows that we can take care of Seychelles even with players from the local league but we can’t afford not to beat Egypt.

“We have struggled against them recently because I remember they stopped us from qualifying for the

last Nations Cup when they drew with us at home and defeated us in the return leg in their country.

We need a strong team to beat them because they are technically a good side as they also made it to the 2018 World Cup in Russia,” he said. Nwosu, who was an assistant to Adegboye Onigbinde at the 2002 World Cup, stressed that apart from home support, the hosts cannot be overlooked as they are finalists in the last edition where they lost to Cameroon. “Apart from that (reaching the final), If we go further and consider the fact that they are the most successful team in the tournament, then this is one match that we must not joke with; it would help us in a big way to fine-tune our strategies for the Nations Cup,” he stated.

•President Muhammadu Buhari

Joshua lampooned for comment over Ronaldo’s rape allegation

A

NTHONY Joshua has been accused of being “inappropriate, insensitive and disrespectful” for comments praising Cristiano Ronaldo while the football star faces allegations of rape.

Quoted at a promo event for his upcoming fight with Jarrell Miller, the world heavyweight champion described Ronaldo as his sporting hero and praised the Juventus forward for “still smiling” despite being “f**ked” by women and taxes.

Ronaldo has been accused of raping Kathryn Mayorga, an American model, in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009. He strongly denies any wrongdoing and maintains sex was consensual.

Mayorga also claimed that in 2010 she was paid £275,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement to never go public with the allegations.

An investigation into her claims is ongoing. The 33-year-old footballer was also fined almost €19m (£16.7m) last month after pleading guilty to tax fraud in a Spanish court.

Joshua, 29, said: “Cristiano Ronaldo (is my sporting hero). I’ve always said two things you’d get f**ked for as an athlete is women and tax.

He’s got f**ked for both and he’s

•Joshua and Ronaldo

still smiling, still strong.

“You need mental strength, he’s proved that. He’s a family man, he’s got that aspect, but still out working and he’s dedicated to what he does. “So as a sportsman he’s had the issue of one side, he’s got the family on the other side, and he balances what he’s passionate about.

He completes all the packages, so I like Ronaldo for that reason.”

The response Rape Crisis England and Wales national spokeswoman Katie Russell told The Sunday Telegraph: “It’s inappropriate, insensitive and disrespectful to make jokes or flippant remarks about allegations or instances of sexual violence and abuse in any context.

“Arguably, those in the public eye, who may be considered a role model to many, including impressionable young people, have a particular responsibility not to trivialise such serious issues. “Experiences of sexual violence and abuse can have wide-ranging and long-term impacts on victims’ and survivors’ health, lives and relationships.

“As a society, we need to develop more empathy and understanding about that if we are ever to see more of those impacted by sexual violence and abuse get the support they need, want and deserve.”

47 The Oracle Today Wednesday March 13, 2019

In

Every Wednesday

CORNUCOPIA

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Telephone number: 08060750240.

E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@yahoo.co.uk

CORNUCOPIA: The Living Ezeigbo Gburugburu T

ODAY is about Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, who against all odds emerged as the running mate of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate. Nobody hitherto, had gained such acceptance by Ndigbo.

The results were announced.

And PDP lost. But why are people trying to stop Atiku and Obi from going to Court? Is it a crime to seek redress for a political injustice in court?

It may be surprising but the reality is that the Governors in the South East closed ranks for PDP. The solidarity was unmatched and has not gone unnoticed. Against all the threats and intimidation, Ndigbo voted Atiku and Obi. Am saying that Peter should not waste this goodwill shown to him by Ndigbo. Peter, you had your day on February 23, 2019 and it is memorable. Please leverage on this goodwill, sustain it, no matter the odds. If the 2019 mandate has been stolen, 2023 will soon be on us. We will go for the main prize, the Presidency. The political bigwigs like Senate President Bukola Saraki and many others did not protect the Northern votes like Obi and his colleagues in the South East despite the harassment, intimidation, ballot box snatching, burning of INEC card readers and materials, violence and other irregularities.

Ezeigbo Gburugburu ! Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu! That was Chukwuemeka OdumegwuOjukwu’s title until death.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a military officer and politician who served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966, led Biafrans to a civil war with Nigerians. But it’s all the past now.

This is a new beginning. A new Ezeigbo Gbururgburu has to emerge. When the late Eze Nri, Ezeobidiegwu Onyeso, traditional ruler of Agu-Ukwu Nri, installed the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, as the new Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu, the conferment divided Ndigbo. Uwazurike lack the capacity

•Peter Obi

to capture Ndigbo like Odumegwu-Ojukwu did or Obi did in the presidential election.

But today, Ndigbo have crowned Obi the Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu. For his performance in the 2019 election and earning the solidarity of Ndigbo, he has proved a political point.

I have admired Obi’s chutzpah in matters he had his heart and mind at. Is Obi elitist, a leader and a ruler? Ndigbo followed Obi willingly for his dreams, hopes and aspirations for his people.

He is courageous, strong willed, and a dreamer like Joseph in the Bible. Obi is a successful businessman crowned “Okwute Ndigbo’’ (the Rock of Ndigbo) by the traditional rulers in Anambra, led by His Majesty, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe unsolicited.” We all had looked forward, expecting that Obi,

would become the second Igbo man to become Vice president.

Obi, 57 years old, is the new Ezeigbo gburugbru. He is married to Margaret Brownson Usen and they have two children.

Thank you Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the 9th President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for leading us, Ndigbo to speak with one voice. It was amazing.

The turn coats were at loss on how Ndigbo came together and how that was possible, but it happened.

In the meantime…

Prof. M.N Umenweke of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka said that one Chris Uba threatened to kill him for declaring Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah the winner in the February 23 Anambra South Senatorial District election. But Umenweke’s wife boldly confronted Chris, who

denied the allegation. Rather, Chris said that he told the Professor that he would commit suicide if he lost the election.

Chris reportedly has been crying since the result was announced.

Why would he kill himself or anyone? For an election? A story for another day!

Before the conduct of the February 23 election, Ifeanyi Ubah and Uche Ekwunife and many others were pariahs. The Anambra Broadcasting Serivce (ABS) refused to touch their news materials, even when money intervened and when ABS ran foul of NBC rules. But once they were declared winners, ABS changed the tune and sang their news as music. Another story for another day.

On March 9, governorship and House of Assemblies elections will be conducted nationwide except in Anambra, where only

the House of Assembly elections would hold. After a woeful outing for the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) on February 23 in the National Assembly elections, the party is aiming to secure the 30 seats in the State House of Assembly elections.

Sir Ifeatu Obi Okoye, a Political Adviser to Obiano, justified why the PDP won in the South-East, South-South and some parts of the South-West geo-political zones. The reappointed Managing Director of ABS Nze Uche Nworah had hailed Obi on the solidarity he got from Southern states and was appealed to APGA to give such solidarity to Obiano on March 9.

There are others changing the narrative or justifying abuses on Obi for moving on after he left APGA. It was said that Obiano was aware of the hate words directed at Obi. The governor was even accused of endorsing them and appealed to Anambra voters to support President Mohammadu Buhari against their own kinsman. Did Obiano forget how he became governor? Anambra people revolted and taught him a bitter lesson.

There is too much deceit in Anambra politics and governance.

Now, Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s Mother of All disappointments is nigh.

At the inception of his administration, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano assured Ndi Anambra that he will be guided by the 4Cs: Continue with projects began by his predecessor, Complete them, Commission them, and Commence his own projects. Question: Has he done that?

Yet, a story for another day!

•Odogwu Emeka Odogwu is a journalist. A Blogger and Social Media Entrepreneur, he is also a publisher and Conversationalist.

His website is at www. odogwublog.com. Telephone number: 08060750240. E-mail : odogwuchampionawka@ yahoo.co.uk

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2019

The

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racle Today

VOX POPULI SACRUM

ISSN: 2545-5869

From Facebook to Frontline

I

f Mark Zuckerberg were like Nigerian Facebook users, he wouldn’t have founded the platform on which many young people burn their time and internet data. Once in a while, since I joined the online medium four years ago, I ask my friends to stop and ask themselves whether they’re not ashamed of abusing the platform founded by their age mate in America. I may ask Facebook to deregister every Nigerian who uses it to publish fake news, defame another person or write poor English!

The issues I see youngsters from Europe, America, Asia and even some other African countries discussing on social media are often quite different from what I see their mates in Nigeria discussing.

Zuckerberg is 34 years old and has run Facebook for 15 years now. But his mates in Nigeria? It’s all about music, gossip over sex, and the latest gadgets produced by their mates elsewhere. Posts related to education or informed analyses don’t attract comments, likes or reactions.

Since the weeks before and after the first round of elections, social media has not been the same in Nigeria. You would think the political candidates have been contesting on Facebook or all the voters have been Facebook users.

Of course, some politicians have those we call “e-rats” on their payroll. Their job is to abuse opponents on social media platforms particularly Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and on popular websites.

Whatever useful purpose they serve I don’t know. But my guess is that many an e-rat, paid or unpaid, was unable to sway even one voter in the real world to support their candidate. By pouring invectives on supposed opponents, they instead pushed undecided voters away.

Another suggestion I would offer as a way of sanitising Facebook is removal of its users’ anonymity. Compel everyone to open new accounts; and to reregister one must upload a form of identification which can easily be verified. BVN, driver’s licence and national identity card are okay.

Each person must use their real name and address – no pseudonyms. That way, we would be reading posts delivered straight from the heart. Anyone who libelled against another or spreads falsehood would be traced and brought to justice.

But let’s give it to the Nigerian youth.

They’re not as lazy as someone once claimed. The only problem is, they’re in the wrong country – a country that encourages them to work in a negative direction. Some professional groups on Facebook and WhatsApp, however, exchange useful information and discuss great ideas.

What the social media, notably Facebook and YouTube, provide in abundance is entertainment for some of us. And some wisecracks and lessons too. On the field, things are different.

Consider, for instance, what someone did with the EFCC on the eve of the presidential election. He had thought that the aerial image of bullion vans going into Bola Tinubu’s home he saw on Facebook was photo-shopped, until the

GUEST COLUMNIST Aniebo

Nwamu

•Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC)

suspect confirmed it a day or two later. My Facebook friend related his conversation with the EFCC on a phone line provided by the agency ahead of the polls: Caller: Hello EFCC! EFCC: Hello.

“You said we should report anyone found sharing money, right? Two bullion vans are currently in Tinubu’s home in Lagos…”

“Please where? Where in Lagos?”

“You mean you don’t know Bola Tinubu’s home on Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi in Lagos?”

“OK, we’ll go and block them now.”

“You’ll go and block them?”

After the elections on February 23, every e-rat was busy posting results, sometimes fake, from polling booths.

His candidate was always leading by a wide margin, even though it’s an election supposedly conducted in over 100, 000 polling units. One NYSC member who was on INEC’s ad-hoc staff, however, captured the imagination of Facebook users by posting her experience on the frontline.

Her story went viral. “The rigging was too much,” she said. “They wanted to kill us yesterday.”

For the sake of her security, she didn’t quote the exact location she worked as presiding officer. But she left no one in doubt about the credibility of her story: “They subjected us to abject fear and

anxiety. Nothing like card reader, PVC and the rest. They would just bring figures and ask you to sign, stamp and give them ballot papers to thumbprint.

“We didn’t even bring out our card readers…

“At some point, agents were signing, stamping and thumb-printing ballot papers at once. We didn’t see even one voter card.

“When we got back, we were so happy [thinking] the result would be cancelled because we were told during the training that manual voting isn’t valid.

To our greatest surprise, INEC didn’t even request our card readers. They didn’t even ask us how the election went. They didn’t even check the signatures on the ballot papers. They didn’t even ask why we had so many mistakes on our result sheets.

They just copied the figures and asked us to go home.

“So, my dear, INEC is a very big scam.

Nigeria needs God’s intervention.”

Another poster took academics who served as collation, returning or other officers to task. He quoted a statement attributed to a well-respected Nigerian: “This is Nigeria where professors rig elections but expel students for exam malpractice.”

And that quote got me! In the past I too have called attention to one reason

young people cheat at exams and engage in cyber fraud: They see their parents and teachers helping them to cheat in WASC and UTME exams. They watch as their parents pay bribes to secure admission for them in federal universities. They see their pastors duping people. And, at election times, they watch them on TV announcing fake results.

Mr Femi Kusa’s article in which he exhorts “strangers” living in Lagos to respect the wishes of the indigenous people also trended – it’s still trending. On Election Day, paid thugs had invaded areas inhabited by mainly Igbo voters to disrupt voting or burn ballot papers because they were not voting “right”. Many Facebook users linked their action to the bullion vans of the previous day. Some politicians were funding the thugs, it appeared.

Against all known conventions and the provisions of the Nigerian constitution, many like Kusa still felt the Igbo erred by not voting according to the prescriptions of the Lagos aborigines. On Facebook it appeared as if the Yoruba and the Igbo were doing battle!

“These animals don’t want to go and develop their place. They claim they’re developing Lagos.”

“Ndigbo are strangers in Lagos only during elections. “Yorubas own Lagos. Go and build your own Lagos in Igbo land.”

“When it’s time to share oil wealth derived from Igbo land, there are no strangers in Nigeria.”

Likely, a fracas will occur again as Lagosians vote this Saturday, because angered Ndigbo [many of them were born in Lagos] are likely to vote their conscience. And so-called security agents won’t be able to stop hired thugs from misbehaving again. President Buhari, who had directed them to shoot anyone seen snatching ballot boxes, will be voting in Daura, and Lagos will be in the hands of Lagosians.

There is quiet in the land. But on Facebook and WhatsApp, the noise is deafening. Elections are still being won and lost on cyberspace. Because nobody knows who is who, even miscreants abuse high chiefs and professors who are their “friends” on Facebook. You don’t find a poor or jobless person on Facebook– everyone is rich and influential. You have no way of tracking those who defame you because many use pseudonyms. There are those who seek information about you to aid them in their criminal activities.

Had the Nigerian authorities listened to preachers of political reform all these years, INEC wouldn’t have been offered over N250bn to waste on the general election this year. There are better ways of selecting leaders – through processes devoid of rancour, intimidation, hooliganism, and war. As I have always said, every business founded on fraud is bound to fail. Now, the nation’s economy is tottering – it will trigger the next big crisis. +234-8054100220 (SMS/WhatsApp only) •Nwamu, book editor and writer, is the CEO of Eyeway.ng. +234-8054100220 (SMS/ WhatsApp only)

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.