Wednesday may 31 edition

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The Oracle SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

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www.oraclenews.ng

WEDNESDAY MAY 31, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

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Today Today

VOL.2 No. 23. N200

FG committee to test Ezeibe’s HIV drug

•Three more persons cured of the disease, says researcher •Wants a committee of professors to verify his claim From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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Ezeibe, a professor of Veterinary Medicine and Clinical Virology, said he had followed prescribed scientific procedures, including clinical trials of the drug on animals and humans, adding that he had also published his discovery in scientific journals ‘for peer review.’ “…Because you do not announce inventions over the media.

You do so through the journals for scientists to do a review of it. The publications we made were reviewed and accepted worldwide.

Through our laboratory tests, we found out that the medicine, Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum-Magnesium Silicate (MSAMS), was able

HE federal government has finally bowed to pressure and set up a committee to verify claims by Professor Maduike Ezeibe of the University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), that he has invented a drug to cure HIV/ AIDS. Ezeibe stunned the medical world in February this year when he announced that he had found a cure for the HIV/AIDS pandemic after 22 years of research.

Hitherto, HIV/AIDS had remained an intractable medical problem for humanity.

In making the announcement, •Continued on Page 4

Biafra Day threatened

•Groups disagree

By THEO RAYS and IBE NWACHUKWU

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N what looked like a dress rehearsal for the golden jubilee anniversary of the declaration of the Republic, which comes up

this Tuesday, May 30, the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) marched through the streets of major cities in the South East and South South on Monday, May 22, in processions that were remarkably peaceful despite a few skirmish-

LNG: Nigeria may lose N9.5trn in revenue

es with and arrests by, security agents.

The processions were ordered by the Ralph Uwazuruike-led BIM in commemoration of the 17th

•Continued on Page 4

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

HAPPY Birthday

DR. GABRIEL OGBECHIE, MD RAINOIL LTD

The Management and Staff of Chipet International Limited felicitates with you on your birthday anniversary. We join your family, friends and well-wishers to celebrate this memorable day of your life.

We wish you prosperity as you age with grace with many more achievements and service to humanity.

Signed

Peter Chinedu CEO

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION From SOPURUCHI ONWUKA, Lagos

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XPECTED investment of over $25 billion or N9.5 trillion in capacity expansion programme by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited may not happen following the amendment of the company’s Enabling Act. Spokesman for NLNG, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke, who is the company’s General Manager in charge of External Relations, declared that the amendment of the Act would breach agreements between government and multinational investors in the joint venture.

The funds at stake form the estimated sum earmarked for expansion of the NLNG liquefaction capacity from six trains to eight.

Pointing at the impact of the amendment, Dr. Eresia-Eke stated that the amendment would mean an immediate potential loss of foreign investment of $25 billion in respect of Trains 7 and 8.

The Oracle Today gathered that $15b is earmarked for investment by the gas producing and supplying companies in the upstream arm of the Nigerian petroleum industry, while $10 billion is earmarked for investment in construction of the project.

Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), holds overriding 49 percent stake in NLNG; Shell, which operates the joint venture holds 25.6 percent stake; Total LNG Nigeria Limited has 15 percent stake while Eni of Italy retains 10.4 percent interest.

NLNG: Nigeria to lose N9.5trn After over 30 years of unsuccessful efforts by successive Nigerian administrations to attract foreign investors to the LNG sector, the company commenced operations in May 1999, three weeks after the enactment of the NLNG Act. From an initial investment of $6.0 billion, NLNG now has an asset base of over $11billion, generated over $90 billion in revenues, grown from one to a six-train operation, with a nameplate capacity of 22 million tons per annum (mtpa).

Prior to the amendment of the company’s Enabling Act, private partners in the NLNG JV were working on investment decision to stake additional $25 billion to achieve two additional liquefaction trains to bring total production capacity to approximately 30 million tons per annum (mtpa).

The amendment, according to Dr. Eresia-Eke, means that original incentives that formed the basis for decisions by private partners to stake billions of dollars in the gas liquefaction and export joint venture with government would now be stripped.

He made references to the company’s establishment act which provides investors with a string of incentives to stake funds in gas processing, liquefaction, shipping and export, a venture that has turned to become key source of foreign exchange income for the country.

The incentives include exclusion from certain regulatory payments and mandatory financial contributions to social development services funded by the industry in a joint corporate social responsibility initiative.

“The amendment of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) Act (Fiscal, Guarantees, Assurances, and Incentives) by the House of Representatives on May 9, 2017 will subject the company

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a huge error and it is inimical to the growth of Nigeria and a direct collision with the Federal Government’s drive to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“The main thrust of the Guarantees and Assurances were to assure the foreign Investors that their investments would be protected by the non-amendment of the NLNG Act,” Eresia-Eke added.

•Acting President Osinbajo (m) flanked by Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (l) and his Ekiti State counterpart Ayo Fayose, at the funeral service in honour of the late Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd), first military governor of the Western Region, which held at the All Saints Anglican Church, Iyin-Ekiti, weekend

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to more than just the three percent Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) levy due to the removal of the Guarantees and Assurances in the Act. “An amendment of the Act will obviously breach the promises by government to its co-investors thereby damaging the reputation of the country, its credit rating, and ability to attract or even retain future investments.

He said: “The complete removal is

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ormer Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi, has stated that Local Governments in the country are too weak to handle the administration of the basic education system.

Abdullahi made the observation on the sideline of a lecture on basic education in Nigeria, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Ilorin, Kwara.

He observed that the basic education, which he described as a foundation to other stages of education, should not be left in the hands of lowest of the three tiers of government.

The former minister, therefore, charged stakeholders in the education sector to think about better ways to fund the

basic education.

Abdullah, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), called for prioritisation of the funding of education to bring about the desired development in the country.

He said that basic education was the only way to measure standard of education.

According to him, once the basic education is faulty, all other steps can be wrong.

“Nigeria has to rethink its entire education system if we want to get a result that we believe can put us on the same pedestal with the rest of the world.

“We have to acknowledge that much of what we are doing at the moment is not work-

ing.

“And that is not just about funding, even as important as it is.

“The entire education architecture needs to be overhauled and that is right from basic education.

“We cannot continue to leave the most important level of our education – basic education – in the hands of the third tier of government.

“So, as we begin to consider the autonomy of the local government, it’s important for us to also begin to ask what implication that would have on basic education,’’ he said.

Abdullahi said that Nigerians should ask how the money meant for basic education had been spent so far.

Canada invites Ooni to 150th Independence Anniversary

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he Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has been invited as a special guest of the Canadian Government to grace the country’s 150th Independence Anniversary celebrations in July this year.

The special invitation was conveyed to the Ife monarch in his palace on Sunday by a Canadian Member of Parliament (MP), Ramesh Sangha.

Delivering the invitation, the Canadian MP said that the invitation was aimed at forging stronger ties between Canada and Nigeria.

Sangha, representing Brampton Central in the Canadian Parliament, said he would collaborate with Federal Government in the areas of economy, youth empowerment, health services, agriculture, science and technology while in Nigeria.

He described the Ife monarch as a “reference point in Nigeria in view of the enviable niche he has carved for himself since mounting the throne of his forebears.

“We Canadians are very happy with Your Highness for the great work you are doing.”

“On behalf of Canadian Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Justin Pierre James Trudeau, we are inviting you to the 150th Independence Anniversary Celebration of Canada coming up in July,” said the Canadian MP. Responding, Oba Ogunwusi said he would continue to promote Yoruba tradition and cultural heritage as well as propagate peace and unity across the world.

The Ife monarch said he would grace the occasion in Canada and also promised to contribute his quota to the success of the programme.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS

FG committee to test HIV drug Continued from Pg 1 to inhibit the virus. We then sent it to British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research (BJMMR). After its success and confirmation, they published it,” he had declared.

Another “crticial” step he said he took was that once he made the publication in the British scientific journal, “I reported myself to the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) after which this NUC gave me a mandate to present whatever I thought I had achieved before all Nigerian universities,” Ezeibe further explained.

“Consequently, on August 12, 2014, the NUC organized an online lecture where I lectured all Nigerian universities and told them what I invented and none queried it.

This is available in the publication,” he said.

But, despite all this effort, the Nigerian health authorities seemed unimpressed and would have nothing to do with Professor Ezeibe.

Though the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole promised to set up a committee to verify Ezeibe’s claim, the researcher in the end only waited in vain as the Minister was not forthcoming with the committee.

In an answer to a reporter’s question regarding the request of the Chairman of National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) of the Federal Ministry of Health to MOUAU to provide

details of the clinical trial of the claim for cure of HIV/AIDS, Ezeibe had pointed out that “agencies of Federal ministry of Health (would appear to) have left medical review of the invention and are resorting to legal review. I am in medical sciences.”

But, undeterred by the seeming lukewarm attitude of the federal health authorities to his discovery, Ezeibe petitioned the Senate, asking the upper chamber of the National Assembly to investigate his claim with a view to resolving the controversy surrounding the announcement of the discovery of the HIV/AIDS cure.

After studying his petition, Senator Theodore Orji representing Abia Central Senatorial District, moved a motion, calling for the verification of Ezeibe’s claim.

In accepting the motion, the Senate committed it to its Committee on Primary Health and gave it four weeks to report back.

But, while the Senate report is still being awaited, it is believed that the final decision by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole to set up a committee to interview Ezeibe on his claims may have stemmed from the Senate’s intervention in the matter.

Ezeibe told The Oracle Today in an exclusive interview in Umuahia that he got a mail inviting him to Lagos to appear before a committee set up by Prof Adewole, at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Re-

search, Yaba.

He said that early this month, on Friday, May 5, to be precise, he appeared before a panel of about 20 people, the Director and staff of the institute and two professors from outside the institute.

“Before I went, I told them, because I imagined that they were going to ask me to explain my invention, that I would like to make a power point presentation, which they agreed to,” Ezeibe narrated.

“So, when I arrived that day, I didn’t see a committee as such.

What I saw was a group, may be staff of the institute, that gathered and I gave a lecture. They asked all sorts of questions and at the end of the day, they said they are going to write their report and they will make it available to me, and then send to the Minister,” he said, adding that he was still waiting for report as at the time of this report.

The Professor of Veterinary Medicine said the committee asked questions mainly about the side effects of his drug to which he replied that some of the questions were not necessary because “we are not talking about herbal medicine. We are talking about a medicine that has been in existence that can be used for other things, other than what it was being used for.”

“It is an old medicine,” Ezeibe stressed. “So, when they were asking ‘have you tested it on

blood, have you tested it on these things,’ I said ah! those things are not necessary. Anyway, if you think it should be done, we can still do it,” he said.

According to him, when he suggested to the committee that the tests they were asking about should be done by the federal government, the panelists insisted that his university should carry out the tests.

“Nobody has doubted that we can cure HIV. I think what they asking is whether it does not have side effects, which I think it doesn’t have because it is an old medicine which is being used for other things. So, if it didn’t have side effect on other things, why should it have now because we are using it as antiviral,” he queried.

Continuing, he said: “After that debate, one thing was that they didn’t disagree; they didn’t say it (MSAMS) wasn’t working, but they said that there was the need for me to test them on different parameters which I felt was not necessary, but even if it is important, let us test them again.”

Ezeibe contended that it has become necessary for the federal government to set up a committee of professors to verify his claim “But, I feel, to my own understanding, that even if it was a dream, that this work is something that should be taken up.

Government should even constitute a committee, like I read in the

papers that the government of Britain has constituted a committee of professors from different universities to do a particular research. So, why can’t Nigeria do the same?” he asked.

The don, however, said he felt that his encounter with the committee represents a mark of progress.

Meanwhile, Ezeibe has told The Oracle Today exclusively in his office that three more persons who passed through clinical tests have been confirmed HIV negative between February and this month.

“Apart from those 10 persons whose cases have been confirmed and published, two more people tested negative in February and another tested negative this May. So, three more have also become HIV negative,” Ezeibe who is the Head of Department, Veterinary Medicine of MOUAU, said.

He disclosed that more HIV/ AIDS patients are still flooding the university for his Medicinal Synthetic Aluminum-magnesium Silicate (MSAMS, Antivirt®), which has been patented as an anti-retroviral drug for cure of HIV/AIDS. “A particular person who has been on this my medication for some time, this morning brought somebody. That person came and I said okay. So, if the other one has not been cured, do you think he will bring somebody,” he asked rhetorically.

Biafra Day threatened as BIM, IPOB, MASSOB disagree Continued from Pg 1 anniversary of the founding of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by Uwazuruike on may 22, 2000.

Indigenous People of Biafra and MASSOB now led by Comrade Uchenna Madu, did not participate in the marches, reserving their own anniversary celebrations for Tuesday, May 30 proper.

But, the peaceful nature of the marches has been seen in many quarters as sign of possible overall peaceful, violence-free 50th anniversary celebrations of the Biafra proclamation.

“Security agents should see from what happened on Monday that a peaceful protest by people pushing for self-determination does not exactly amount to dismembering the country,” said one police officer who would not be named, in a chat with The Oracle Today in Onitsha.

The one-week celebration will end on May 30, the day marking the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra by then Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Biafran leader and Ikemeb Nnewi on May 30, 1967.

In Onitsha, Anambra State, Enugu, Nsukka, Abakaliki, Asaba, Calabar, among others, the processions, which commenced on Monday, May 22, were largely peaceful.

In Onitsha, scores of police officers and soldiers were deployed to strategic places within the metropolis to maintain peace and order but they did not molest the marchers, an indication of a new attempt by security agents to handle protests in public space in more civilised manners.

However arrests were made in Enugu, Asaba, Abakaliki, Calabar and a few other places, where police dispersed the BIM rallies and arrested some members of the pro-Biafra group.

But, observers who spoke with The Oracle Today in Onitsha during the week, expressed fears that the seeming lack of unanimity of purpose among the pro-Biafra groups, evident in the BIM processions to which IPOB and MASSOB did not subscribe, might spell doom for the self-actualisation efforts of Biafrans.

According to Mr. John Ezeliaku (Nwaojukwu), “what I read some BIM voice out made me fear for the entire pro-Biafra Movement.”

“As far as some or most of Uwazuruike’s boys are concerned,

this thing is no longer about Biafra but about the supremacy of their leader over other leaders. Some of them said they were happy at the huge turnout of people mainly because it had shut up those opposed to Uwazuruike. Whatever the outcome of the different celebrations would be in the end, the truth is that the movement will no longer move in one well-defined direction,” Ezeliaku stressed.

While the Uchenna Madu-led MASSOB has dissociated itself from processions, IPOB had from the beginning opted for sit-athome protest to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra by the late Ojukwu.

Even as the BIM marches were going on, The Oracle Today correspondents in Nsukka, Umuahia and other places reported that sizeable numbers of IPOB members were also on the streets mobilizing people to sit at home on May 30th to mark the day.

Agonized Ezeliaku: “BIM’s Uwazuruike wants Biafrans to march in protest on May 30, IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu wants them to stay at home. Whichever way it goes, one or the other’s ego would have been hurt and the fight will continue to the detriment of the self-actualisation project embarked upon

by the entire people of Biafra.”

He wants the elders of the overall pro-Biafra Movement, therefore, to intervene to put the project back on track for the overall good of all Biafrans.

“I appeal to Justice Eze Ozobu, Dozie Ikedife, Col. Joe Achizia and all other elders of the Pro-Biafra Movement to intervene and get leaders of the various organisations to work together to achieve a common goal,” Ezeliaku suggested.

The 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra and the 30-month civil war that followed is coming against the backdrop of ethnic tensions, religious intolerance leading sectarian violence and mayhem, acts of corruption and outright incompetence in the management of public affairs that have continued to gnaw at the very foundation of Nigeria’s existence.

These, political observers told The Oracle Today, are the exact same factors that precipitated the Biafran separatist agitation and, eventually, the Nigerian Civil War. “Nothing has changed; they still treat us as a conquered people,” lamented Chief Nnia Nwodo, President_General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. “If you drive through the South

East, there is a military checkpoint in every major town you go into. If they screen you for arms and ammunition, I will understand that it is a national security imperative. But, they collect money from you; we are forced to pay.”

In his own reaction, the Deputy Publicity Secretary of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), Dede Uzor A. Uzor said: “The effect of what led to the civil war remains unresolved till date. Going by the position of the present administration of General Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments of Nigerian citizens into various strategic positions, Ndigbo remain grossly marginalized and disappointed.

“For instance, no Igboman is in top four echelon in the strategic security apparatus of the nation, ranging from Chief Of Army Staff, COAS, Chief Of Defence Staff, CDS, Insoector-General of Police, IGP, Director-General of State Security Services, D-G SSS, Specurity Adviser, SSA, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Immigration Service, Prisons Service, NAFDAC, NIMASA, Aviation, Fed-

Continued on Pg 12

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

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Birthday Wishes

P E

C

I

DR. GABRIEL OGBECHIE

A

L

(MD RAINOIL LTD)

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he Management and Staff of Integrated Oil & Gas Limited heartily rejoice with you on this special birthday anniversary. We join your family, friends and well-wishers to celebrate this memorable day of your life.

We commend your invaluable contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria over the years.

There is no doubt that you have touched many lives and remains a source of inspiration and succour to many.

We wish you more healthy and fruitful years of great achievements and service to humanity.

Signed,

Engr. (Chief) Tony Ihenacho Group Managing Director, Integrated Oil & Gas Limited

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

FG to seek alternative to $15bn recharge of Lake Chad

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ederal Government is to seek alternative to recharging the Lake Chad basin through inter basin water transfer from Congo basin, a project that has been estimated to cost 15 billion dollars.

Minister of Water Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu, who disclosed this during a twitter chat with social media influencers and other Nigerians, explained further that decision of the government to seek an alternative to save the basin is due to the high cost of the inter basin water transfer which a feasibility study had shown would cost about 15 billion dollars.

According to available reports, the basin had lost over 90 per cent of its surface area in the last 30 years and would cost about 15 billion dollars Public Private funding to execute, Minister of

Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed in 2016 after a regional summit in Abuja.

However, responding to question asked by Nigerians on tweeter using the hashtag: #ASKHMWATERRESOURCES, the Minister of Water Resources said that the project was too expensive to be easily funded.

He said that the Ministry would be organising an International Conference before 2017 end, to seek an alternative and cheaper solution to address the shrinking of the Lake Chad.

“Lake Chad shrinking is a direct consequence of the insurgency in the North East because people no longer use the water.

“We would be organising an International conference before the end of the year to discuss the

shrinking of the Lake and the option available to us to restore the basin.

We don’t want to be straight jacketed, maybe the conference will give us a better alternative than the inter basin transfer.

“After the conference, we will be able to confirm the best, cheaper and more sustainable option.

“The shrinkage is a very serious problem and we can never know what is going to happen along the line. There is also evaporation and desertification as well,” he said.

Answering questions about dam management in Nigeria, the Minister said that the ministry had moved away from previous practices where proper feasibility study was not conducted before dams are cited and constructed.

He said that many dams in Nigeria are outliving their life spans even though they had not been put to proper use.

He added that it would be cheaper to construct new dams than to manage some of the old dams that have out lived their life spans.

“We have not been serious about dam safety, protocol and inspection. Henceforth every dam must be properly planned and environmental impact assessment conducted before construction because this has caused a lot of problems. Our dams are relatively safe but we must have to be inspecting them.

“Like every other structure, dams have a life span. We have built many dams but have not put them to proper use. Many people

say we should dredge the dam but it is very expensive and we also have the problem of where to deposit the silt from the dams after dredging. So what we need to do is water shed management which is covered in the National Water Resources Law now before the National Assembly. With this law, we can police our water batter,” he said.

The minister added that part of what the ministry was planning was to build the industrial base of Nigeria so that the nation would not be fully dependent on importation for water equipment.

He added that a department in the ministry was currently assessing all imported materials to ensure that “we do not procure materials or treatment materials not suitable for our environment.

New Electoral Act will provide for independent candidate –Deputy Speaker From TITUS AGBO, Abuja

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HE House of Representatives Adhoc- committee on Constitution Review said it has made a strong case for independent candidacy in the next general election.

The Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives made this known in Abuja on Monday while speaking at the public hearing on a Bill seeking to further amend the Electoral Act. He explained that “independent candidacy must be given its pride of place in our constitution and we’ve done that in the review we are conducting now.”

Earlier in his address, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara told the stakeholders to be conscious of the effects of the proposed12 amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act as amended.

He said: “The 12 Bills before us this morning, seeking to amend the Electoral Act are a consequence of our election experiences as a nation, including the 2015 General Elections.”

“Experience has shown that good electoral system governed by an efficient and effective legal framework is an inescapable prerequisite for the conduct of free, fair and credible election, enthronement of good governance, which will ensure peace and stability in the polity,” he maintained.

“Conversely, it is a globally established fact that a flawed electoral system is a huge threat to any democracy

and can constitute an invitation to anarchy. While we continue to acknowledge the reasonable improvements recorded during the 2015 general elections in Nigeria where the ruling political party lost the elections and accepted the outcome of the process, we cannot pretend that the election was without flaws some of which bordered on lacunae in the legal framework.

He cited the case of the Kogi State governorship election in which a candidate died after the ballot but before the declaration of results as a classical example of such limitations in the Electoral Act, among others, that required reform in the law.

The issue of legal framework for electronic accreditation, (Card Reader); electronic voting and announcement of election results; the place of INEC guidelines/regulations vis a vis the procedure for elections contained in the Electoral Act itself, diaspora voting, the role of political parties in the nomination process, etc as some of the matters that should be settled in time before the 2019 general elections.

“This public hearing is, therefore, of critical importance in settling these questions. Permit me to use this opportunity also to implore the Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review to also be guided by the need to conclude all constitutional amendments or alterations relating to electoral matters early enough in order to give the election management body, INEC, enough time to plan the 2019 general elections.

•L-R: Co-Chairman, Lagos @50 Committee, Mr Hakeem Fasinro; Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I; All Progressives National Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Elegushi at the Eyo Festival marking the Lagos @ 50 Celebration, last weekend.

EKEDC announces five-day power outage in Lagos From OJOACHELE EJIGBO, Lagos

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he Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), has announced that there would be five days of power outage in many parts of Lagos from this week.

According to a statement by the company’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr Godwin Idemudia said the outage would affect Ikoyi, Victoria Island and parts of Lagos Island from

Wednesday to Sunday.

Idemudia said the outage was to enable maintenance crew from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) address technical and maintenance issues at Alagbon transmission station.

“We want to inform our esteem customers that from Wednesday, May 24 to Sunday, May 28, there will be an outage within Ikoyi, Victoria Island and parts of Lagos Island.

“This is to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) maintenance crew resolve some technical issues within Alagbon transmission stations” he said.

He also said the company regretted any inconveniences caused by the five day outage and promised that supply would be restored to the affected areas as soon as the maintenance was successfully completed.

WHO elects Ethiopian as new D-G JAMB: We’ll deploy CCTV footages to catch cheats From VICTOR NZE, Lagos Members States of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tuesday, elected Ethiopian, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as the new DirectorGeneral.

Ghebreyesus succeeds Dr Margaret Chan, who has been Director-General since 1 January 2007.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was nominated by the Government of Ethiopia, and will begin his five-year term on 1 July 2017.

Prior to his election as WHO’s Director-General, Ghebreyesus served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia from 2012-2016 and as Minister of

Health, Ethiopia from 2005-2012. He has also served as chair of the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; as chair of the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board, and as co-chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

As Minister of Health, Ethiopia, Ghebreyesus led a comprehensive reform effort of the country’s health system, including the expansion of the country’s health infrastructure, creating 3,500 health centres and 16,000 health posts; expanded the health workforce by 38,000 health extension workers; and initiated financing mechanisms to expand health insurance coverage.

From OJOACHELE EJIGBO, Lagos

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he Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has said that it will watch recordings of proceedings in its Closed Circuit Camera Televisions (CCTV) during the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board’s head, media and information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Sunday, in Lagos said in a statement that such would enable it to detect centres where examination malpractices were perpetrated.

Benjamin said that where there is any semblance of irregularities, the board will not hesitate to do the needful, that is, sanction the cheats.

“Those who know they were in-

volved in any acts inimical to our examination ethics should not celebrate as their inglorious days of punishment will soon surface.

“Again, we want to seize this opportunity to debunk messages being circulated by those who do not wish our education well that the senate has passed a bill urging the board to add extra 40 marks to candidates.

“There is no bill anywhere, not even a motion has been tabled before the two chambers of the National Assembly on the board’s 2017 UTME performance” he said.

Benjamin added that, “the board wants to state for the umpteenth time that our examination is not a ‘fail pass’ examination; it is a selec-

tion examination, so, it can never be said that there is mass failure.

“It will be absolutely wrong for mischief makers to begin to analyse an examination that has just been concluded without even looking at the overall result.

“We urge candidates to disregard all funny connotations online on their results as the board will not contemplate doing all that is being speculated as that will negate the ethics of an examination body as critical as JAMB” The statement added that the boards major concern had always been to ensure that cheating during and after examination were reduced to zero level, and this, he said, the board had substantially achieved.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS

Mixed reactions greet Okorocha’s 3, 000 new jobs From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

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IXED reactions have trailed the announcement by the Imo State Government that it has employed about 3,000 graduates in the State’s civil service.

The State government had in a press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said that the employment was in fulfillment of the governor’s promise to provide jobs for the youth, especially graduates.

But, reacting to the announcement, respondents who spoke with The Oracle Today, said the process for selection of the workers was not transparent, noting that a situation where the government allowed its appointees to nominate the beneficiaries of the opportunities was uncalled for and lacked transparency.

According Chief Peter Madu, a civil servant in the State, the governor should think out of the box and create new jobs, warning that a situation where the governor sacks civil servants in order to create job opportunities is inhumane.

He said he understood that the governor had been under harsh criticism for not living up to his campaign promise of job creation, but stressed that the recent announcement of recruitment of 3000 gradu-

ates was a wrong attempt to address his inability to create jobs.

Mr. Borniface Akuzue, who also spoke to our correspondent in Laredo, said the governor should rather pay the civil servants and pensioners instead of trying to confuse the people with the said 3000 jobs.

He said what the governor promised during his campaign was that he would build industries and create jobs, wondering when the factories would arrive.

Recall that the governor had during his maiden address in June 2011 sacked all the 10,000 workers employed by the administration of Ikedi Ohakim.

The 10,000 job scheme was aimed at injecting about N450m monthly into the economy by way of salaries, a plan the former governor said would have helped the State.

The governor had also employed about 25,000 youths in his Youths Must Work Programme but they were all sacked after the 2015 general elections.

A breakdown shows that a total of 1,499 graduates were engaged in the State’s civil service whereas 1,501 graduates were employed into the local government system.

The CPS also said that the affected graduates, who are

computer literates, have begun to collect their appointment letters.

“The governor congratulates all the youths who have been employed in the current exer-

cise after series of interviews and charged them not to disappoint the state,” he said.

Elected members of Power Tools, Bridgehead market with Chief Sir Sylvester Ahanonu (fourth from left) Photo by Mejee Mejee.

GGSM berths in Igbo-Eze North *Millions raised to honour, support Ugwuanyi From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

governance generally to Igbo-Eze North in particular and Enugu State in general.

He, therefore, announced a fundraising target of N100 million and urged everyone to donate generously.

Present at the occasion were the Commissioner for Environment, Amb. Fidel Ayogu; PDP chieftain, Chief Mike Ejinima; member representing Udenu/Ozzi Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Denis Agbo, who presented members of the Executive Committee of the movement for ratification at the meeting; serving members of the State House of Assembly including the Deputy Majority leader, Hon Ethel Ugwuanyi.

Others were the highest donor, Chief Ejikeme Odumegwu, who donated N5.4 million; Managing Director of Ferotex Construction Company Ltd, Chief (Engr.) Festus Oshaba who donated N5 million; Hon Simon Atigwe; Chief Nnanyelugo Ralph Moore; Chief Abel Abugu and Hon. Emeka Ukwaba, as well as several other serving and former political appointees, businessmen, public office holders and party faithful from the area.

BIA State House of Assembly has suspended all legislative activities by the Legislative Council of Ohafia Local Council in a bid to stem the rising political tension in the council.

The resolution followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance brought before the House by the member representing Ohafia South State Constituency, Ifeanyi Uchendu, informing the House of the Ohafia Legislative Council’s inability to settle its differences since its inauguration.

The Oracle Today gathered that there had not been peace in the Ohafia Council as the councillors had been locked in a supremacy battle as two groups struggled for control of

the affairs of the Council legislature.

A source in Ohafia attributed this development to the alleged emergence of the 19 councillors from two godfathers said to be occupying top positions in the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu administration.

It was learnt that a group of 11 Councillors (G11) said to be opposed to the Local Council Chairman, Engr.

John Eke Njoku, were pitched against the other group of eight Councillors (G8) believed to have the sympathy of the chairman.

According to sources, contention for the leadership of the Legislative Council immediately after its inauguration sparked the lingering crisis with the councillors splitting into the two factions.

Till date, the issue of who is the

leader of Ohafia Legislative Council is still a subject of litigation at a High Court in Ohafia.

Before the House of Assembly wielded the big stick, the group of 11 raised an impeachment notice in which they accused the Council Chairman, Njoku, of gross misconduct.

In their reaction, the G8 did not only question the legitimacy of those who signed the impeachment notice, claiming to be principal officers of the Legislative Council when the issue was still pending in court, but also dismissed allegations contained in the document as unfounded.

It was gathered that there was pandemonium in the Council Secretariat last week when the G11 tried to serve the council chairman with the impeachment notice.

holders under the aegis of Gburugburu Solidarity Movement (GGSM) last weekend converged at the Igbo Eze North Local Council Secretariat, Ogrute, Enugu-Ezike to raise fund for the activities of the Movement.

It was gathered that the GGSM, which is already in operation in some local council, is expected to be established in all local councils and communities in the State before the next governorship election.

According to the Director General of the group, Chief (Dr) Olisaemeka Ugwunze, whose position was ratified by members at the occasion, the meeting was a wakeup call to all indigenes of Igbo-Eze North, to come out en masse and identify with and support the movement ahead of its upcoming official inauguration and grand reception of the governor.

Dr Ugwunze, who described GGSM as an open, all-inclusive platform created to galvanise massive support for the Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu) administration, also stated that the movement avails all indigenes an opportunity to partake in the Ugwuanyi administration as it strives to maintain peace and security and extend good

Change of Name

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S part of their own support for the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi re-election bid, stake-

Abia Assembly suspends Ohafia legislative council From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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General public take note.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

Bold n’ Blunt ‘Why South-East governors are apathetic to peculiar Comrade Princewill Uchenna Okolie is the founder and chairman of the Association for Public Policy Analysis, a civil society organization, which he established in June 2006. He is also an author, having written the Communication Challenges of Reform Policies in Nigeria and the Nigeria Privatization Policy - Imperatives of Quality Education, and The Constitution and Citizen’s Right in Nigeria and the Citizen’s Perspectives to Budget Implementation and Fiscal Responsibility Law in Nigeria, etc. In this interview with COLLINS UGHALAA in Owerri, he talks about the electricity challenges in the country, with emphasis on the South East. Excerpts: How do you evaluate the power situa- think that that is a step in the right direction in the country? tion?

Nigerians are used to making promises HE POWER situation in Nigeria is and we are tired of it. We want the goverpathetic. If you check the amount nors to swing into action. Dave Umahi you of money that the federal govern- mentioned is using diesel to powerstreet ment has sunk into the electric- lights in Ebonyi State. How much are they ity sector since the last 16 years, it is over- spending on that alone? It is not about whelming. Energy Business report puts it making pronouncement. We are planning at $29.635bn or N6.52trn. this was spent to hold South East Power Expo 2017 and on power without result. Obasanjo’s ad- we have written him as the Chairman of the ministration spent $16bn, that is N3.52trln. South East Governors Forum since March Yar’Adua spent N5.357, that is N1.183trn. 2017 and he has not responded. Our mail Goodluck Jonathan spent $8.2bn, that is has not been treated. If they want to reN1.817trn. But, even with so much spent, solve the electricity problem and we want the situation in the power sector is still to bring all the stakeholders in the zone tonothing to write home about, what with gether to discuss the issue of electricity, its the generating capacity of the GENCOS challenges and prospects of renewable enless than 4,000MW to serve over 170m ergy in the zone, they should demonstrate Nigerians in 36 States and the FCT, and more commitment to the dream. But, gov774 local councils in Nigeria. How many ernors have been written since March and megawatts go to one local council, if you only Anambra State governor has treated share 4000MW among the 774 councils in his own mail. Others have not done anythe country. That would show you that the thing about it. Where then is the seriouspower situation is nowhere close to what ness in what they are saying? we are thinking about.

About June last year, 14 solar companies signed power purchase agreement and all Given the amount of money spent by of them are investing in the North. Under the federal government in the power sec- the 10th European Development Fund, tor, what then is the problem?

150M Euro were made available for rural Was the money actually utilized for the electrification. All went to the North. As purpose? You need to find out. When the we speak, German Technical Corporation Federal Ministry of Power says they are do- and the European Union under the Nigeria ing this and that, there is need to find out Energy Support Programme are investing whether the funds really got to the end us- funds in renewable energy. What is the ers, whether it was actually redeployed for governors’ position on this? If the South the purpose for which it was made avail- East governors were taking power seriable. If they pronounce that funds were ous, why did they allow EEDC to become made available and they were not used for the only distribution company for the five the purpose it was meant, what happens? states of the South East? South South has Nobody monitors the budget. They have Port Harcourt Disco and Benin Disco. South just passed the 2017 budget, but to moni- West has Eko Disco, Ikeja Disco and Ibadan tor it and get information becomes a chal- Disco. The North has theirs too. But in the lenge. So, the media needs to do more and South East it is only one serving the 95 lofind out whether the money meant for the cal government areas of the zone and five projects were actually utilized for the pur- states. We are almost 25 million people. pose.

So, where is the seriousness in what they are talking about? We are tired of all these There has been this argument that the promises. We want to see them working.

States should be allowed to generate For example, the level of exploitation the power and distribute without connecting people of the South East going on in the to the national grid. Do you buy the argu- hands of EEDC is astounding. The goverment? nors have every reason to defend their citiFor me, decentralization could be good zens against the EEDC but are they doing but, the issue is, how serious would the that? How many governors of the South governors be? Who is stopping them now? East have Consumer Protection CommitThere are off-grid communities in most of tee that is funded? Because the governors the areas today. Did the regulatory policy don’t fund Consumer Protection Commitnot give the condition for an off-grid area tee, the electricity consumers in the zone to have renewable energy? Is any of the are being exploited without any defense governors talking about renewable en- or anybody helping them out, except now ergy in their State? I don’t believe in those that Enugu State House of Assembly began arguments. People should go down and to do public hearing on that. But, what is start working. Even when they make the the Executive doing? We are tired of the argument, what has happened to the solar promise of what they want to do to imstreetlights that were put in place by the prove power supply. This is not something governors? Why are they not working? that should make us jump. We would rather see them take action.

Recently, the Chairman of the South Most of the solar streetlights in the South East Governors Forum, Engr. Dave Umahi East Zone are no longer working. It is not of Ebonyi State said the South East gover- prudent for the governor of a State to nors have created a committee to resolve use generator to power streetlights. The the power problem in the zone. Do you monthly bill that those generators accu-

T

mulate runs into about N40M per month.

And who owns the filling stations that supply the diesel? Go and check. It could still be people within the corridors of power. So, because of making that money they don’t believe in serving the solar streetlights and making them functional. So, I have not seen them demonstrate any seriousness in this regard.

What do you find so attractive about the renewal energy project?

Renewable energy is another area the South East governors need to be challenged. Do you know that between 15th and 19th of August 2016, the summit of National Council on the Environment was held at Laffia, Nasarawa State, and resolution 9.2 talked about promoting renewal energy, repositioning climate change departments in the ministry of environment, and promoting renewal energy in schools.

But it is very sad to say that the South East was not well represented at that summit.

During the technical session, no South East representative was there. Why? The other reason for being passionate about the renewable energy project is that climate change is an issue now, because the level of emission of smoke is a problem. Nigeria has signed into the KYOTO

programme on reduction of greenhouse carbon emission, and the national determines the contributions, which Nigeria would make. South East should be part of it. But what produces smoke now is this generator everybody is using. Every business and private person is using generator. And deforestation is taking root here in the South East, because the woods are being cut everyday in the villages. The challenges to both the health of the individuals and the environment are enormous. The challenge on the women who use the woods to cook and in the process they inhale smoke, is enormous. The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that the smoke they inhale is very dangerous to health.

So, the issue of renewable energy is that it protects the environment. It does not emit smoke and noise. And it is something that could provide employment to the people and provide stable light. The cost of doing this might be high at the start, but the infrastructure is not the one you have to buy poles and wires and start going up and down. It is not like that because it is quite a different technology.

No doubt, resolving the electricity issue in the South East will trigger off a lot of economic activities in the area. But some

11

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

Bold n’ Blunt

power supply challenges confronting the zone’

Gov. Ikpeazu of Abia State

Gov. Obiano of Anambra State

people have argued that the governors in the zone are not interested in industrialization, and that it is the reason they don’t pay attention to the issue of electricity.

They argue that the governors are only interested in politics.

It is not that they are interested in politics but they are businessmen. Aristotle said that men of appetite should go into business, men of knowledge should go into leadership and men of energy should go into the military. But the reverse is the case in the South East, where the governors are businessmen. They are men of appetite. And because they are businessmen, they came with business initiatives and their capitalism does not really take consideration of the social welfare of the people. Because they have the capitalist mindset of maximizing profits, the welfare of the people is not actually the issue to them. And also, the nature of their emergence is another important issue.

They came to power after spending a lot of money and they now want to recover all they have spent. And as far as they are concerned, nobody would challenge them.

Can you imagine that some governors, their commissioners cannot talk to them?

If your commissioners and advisers are afraid of you, who would advise you? For me, I don’t think it is all about politics, because poverty is an advantage to our leaders. The more impoverished the people are, the happier the people in position of authority are. They know that if the people are empowered, they would not be domineering. But if the people are not well empowered they would live at the mercy of the leaders. They cannot embark upon any economic plan that would empower the people and make them independent, because they know that once they do that, they will not have people following them about. But when they impoverish the people, everyone will be afraid and they cannot voice their pains. They will just want to get what to eat and will not voice out. It is a problem in the zone.

pation in Implementation of Renewablke Energy and Electricity Resolutions of 10th National Council on Development for SocioEconomic and Environmental Protection.

Like I told you about the summit that was held at Laffia, we are not happy that the South East governors were not there, neither were they represented. Why is it that our people do to evaluate the impact of federal government policies in our lives? The South East would just be there and the Arewa Consultative Forum would have a think-tank that would always evaluate whatever the federal government has as policies. Oduduwa people would also do same in the South West. But in the South East, it is more like individualistic thing. That’s why we felt that in the area of electricity, we need to come together.

Why is it that we are not having enough power? If you check, you would find out that when they were doing the power privatization programme, only one distribution company was given to us? Why? Now, emphasis is moving to renewal energy.

We need to need to come together and evaluate the nature of electricity we are getting and then evaluate also the prospects for renewable energy and see whether the South East has the potentials in that area, and how we could tap from it. And then we are private sector people.

Even if the potentials are not much here, knowing what is happening in that area would empower the private sectors to delve into it. We don’t have the manpower now, but we can do something. And we have found out that even the funding processes for climate change mitigation is an issue. Our people here don’t even know that most state governments don’t have climate change departments. There is need for us to interface. That is why we are bringing the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the chambers of commerce, to have a meeting ground with the department of climate and others. National Energy Center and Development, Nsukka, will be there too. UNIDO that has pronounced its interest in renewable energy and development has agreed to come and present a paper. Then we have the Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association. There is Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria. The Nigeria Environmental Society is also coming. We are bringing them together. But why is it that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commis-

Let us talk about the South East Power Expo 2017 you are planning. What is it all about?

The South East Power Expo 2017 will be held in Enugu State. The theme is Mobilizing South East Stakeholders for Partici-

Gov. Umahi of Ebonyi State

Gov. Ugwuanyi of Enugu State

sion (NERC) cannot control or regulate the activities of EEDC in a way that consumers could be protected? Why is the Nigeria Consumers Protection Council silent over the plight of the electricity consumers in the South East? These are the issues the Expo would throw up. We want people to air their views so that we can forge ahead.

You said the South East governors are not showing interest in the Expo. Don’t you think that the Expo might end up being a talk-show if the governors do not have any interest in it?

It will not. Because even if the governors do not show interest in the Expo, there are other stakeholders. Remember that it is called Public/Private Partnership.

The economy is supposed to be driven by the private sector. So if the private sector see what is in the sector for them they can take advantage of it. The job of the government is to provide a conducive environment. So far, the environment has not really been there, but it is the private sector that would put pressure on the government. If the private sector and civil groups understand what is at stake, they will be able to take advantage. If the community people who consume electricity and know how it pains them pick up interest in the matter, they would be able to raise the issue.

Tell us a little about yourself. What qualifies you to intervene in the nation’s power supply conundrum, especially as it affects the South East, the way you are doing?

I am Comrade Princewill Uchenna Okolie.

I am from Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. Professionally, I am a journalist, but I run the Association for Public Policy Analysis, which is a civil society organization. The Association for Public Policy Analysis was founded in 2006, in June precisely, after I had authored a book with the title Communication Challenges of Reform Policies in Nigeria. I believe in the agenda setting theory of the media and the practitioners alike. After writing the book Communication Challenges of Reform Policies in Nigeria I discovered that policies are made but the implementation remains the challenge. The reason is that the government initiates the policies, implements, evaluates and monitors.

Non-state actors seem to have no roles to

Gov. Okorocha of Imo State play. But funny enough, when the government runs all these programmes, when it comes to development the government would say that the private sectors should develop the economy. Can the economy be developed without going through the policy framework of the government? Are the private sectors involved in policy making by the government? That was why we decided that public policies need regular analysis, so that we can come up with challenges that might militate against effective implementation and suggest the way out. That was why we set up the association.

Like I said earlier, I am also an author.

Apart from authoring Communication Challenges of Reform Policies in Nigeria, I have authored Nigeria Privatization Policy, Imperatives of Quality Education; The Constitution and Citizen’s Right in Nigeria and the Citizen’s Perspectives to Budget Implementation and Fiscal Responsibility Law in Nigeria. And the latest is Electricity Supply Challenges in South East Zone of Nigeria: The Consumers Perspective.

12

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS Onitsha power tools traders elect new leadership

By EMMA IHEMEJE, Onitsha

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HE good leadership of Hon. Emma Anagor of the Power Tools and Allied Products Limited, Bridgehead Market Onitsha, was recently brought to the fore when Power Tools Traders conducted an election in which the former Vice Chairman of the Association under Hon Anagor, Sir Sylvester Ahanonu, was elected the new Chairman of the Power Tools Traders.

The election, which was conducted by Mr. Anthony Enuka and his electoral committee, elected the following members to run the affairs of the traders; Chief Sylvester Ahanonu (Chairman), Mr. Afam Ezechukwu (Vice Chairman), Mr. Chinedu Itumoh (General Secretary), Mr. Oluchukwu Ikukuoha (Assistant Secretary), Mr. Celestine Gwulum (Financial Secretary), Mr. Eusebius Agughasim (Treasurer), Mr. Bartholomew Onyeme (Provost) and Mr. Emeka Anyimachi who was elected the Public Relations Officer (PRO).

In his post election speech, Chief Ahanonu pledged to fulfill all his election promises. He also promised to carry the traders along while commending the administration of Governor Willie Obiano whom he commended for his good leadership in the state, especially regarding security and provision of basic infrastructures.

The general chairman of the Bridgehead Market, Chief Sunday Obinze, who in his speech reminded the traders that leadership was not a do or die affair or for amassing of wealth, urged the newly elected leaders of the Power Tools to lead with fear of God for the welfare of the traders.

He also charged the traders to give the new administration their support.

The patrons and elders of the traders also advised the newly elected officers to work in the interest of all.

Why my people voted for Ikpeazu in 2015 –Abia Royal Father Stories from DANIEL MADUAGWU, Umuahia

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HEAD of the 2019 general elections, members of political parties in Nigeria especially the ruling party in Abia State, have been advised to put their house in order so as to put up a good fight.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to his Palace of Justice at Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Council of Abia State by Okezuo Abia Organization led by Elder John Nwangborogwu, the Chairman Umuahia South Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Godfrey C. Onwuka who recounted incidences that played out in the State during the 2015 general elections, hinted that a house divided among itself, can never stand.

His words: “The last election went somehow, we are all witnesses. You know a house that divides among itself will never stand. So for it to stand it must be fixed very well. I will advise that you look inside and find out the loopholes, make necessary amendments, this will enable you have a smooth ride in 2019.”

Eze Onwuka who described himself as a strong promoter/supporter of power rotation, said: “I like what happened in 2015. You know for Abia to continue existing in peace and unity, it is okay and universally acceptable for power to rotate evenly”.

He said Umuahia South voters strongly supported Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu during the 2015 governorship

Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, among others.”

He queried: “Does it mean that no Igboman is qualified or educationally sound to hold such a strategic positions? These are the issues behind the continued agitation of ndigbo for restoration or actualization of Biafra.

“Since these fundamental issues are yet to be addressed, we in the ECA would want to align ourselves with some prominent Igbo personalities like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice President who are in support of Nnamdi Kanu’s continu-

election because he came from Abia South senatorial district (a zone that as at then had not produced a governor), adding that Ikpeazu has turned out to be a good choice as “he is a man endowed with wisdom and does things excellently.”

The traditional ruler commended Gov. Ikpeazu on his strides in the State and his push to make Aba the number one international market.

He said: “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is doing very well in the state and we have seen it.”

Eze Onwuka commended Okezuo Abia Organization for the appreciation visit to his local government, pointing out that, “this is the first time we are seeing those elected, coming back to appreciate those that elected them into power”.

Prof Okpara canvasses patronage of Nigerian goods, as ABSU holds 31st Inaugural Lecture

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Professor of Marketing in Abia State University, Uturu, Professor Ihegazie Okpara, has blamed the low patronage of Nigerian-made goods on Nigerians’ rush for foreign products.

Prof Okpara stated this on Wednesday while delivering the School’s 31st Inaugural Lecture, which was held at the School’s auditorium in Uturu. He frowned at the negative attitude of our people towards goods produced in Nigeria, affirming that the situation had led to the collapse of many local industries.

Biafra Day threatened Continued from Pg 4

Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Bishop Lucius Ugoji; Abia state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; his deputy Sir Ude Okochukwu and Methodist Bishop of Umuahia, Bishop Chibuzor Opoko during a meeting organized by the Governor with Church leaders in the state at Mater Dei Cathedral, Umuahia.

ation with his clamour for the restoration of Biafra”.

But, while the federal government has blamed for not doing much to mitigate the factors that led to Biafra, many others have blamed Biafrans, especially Ndigbo, for not doing enough on their own to help themselves.

Declared Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Ogirisi Igboland: “If you call yourself an Igboman or a Biafran, you must have heard that only 20 pounds was released to every Igbo man shortly after the civil war, and their properties were forcefully taken away from them in some parts of the country in

Delivering the lecture titled ‘PROJECT NAIJA’ Deconstructing The Complex Syndrome’ which he also called Akpiri Bekee in Igbo language.

The Professor of Marketing lamented that the ominous situation had driven many people out of jobs while resulting in the shutting down of many companies in the country.

Also drawing a link between consumption and national development, Prof Okpara noted that if Nigerians exibited the right attitude towards locally- made goods, the industries “would be vibrant, pay their taxes”,

as well as give employment to teeming youths.

He, however, assured that the impact of the lecture would result in a paradigm shift by Nigerians in favour of local products, adding that great economies of Asian States were as a result of the nationals’ love and patrotism for their own products.

The Don similarly, urged the governments at all levels to match their words with action through the repositioning of local industries for effective productivity and to also spend on local goods.

the name of abandoned properties, yet they managed to survive.

“However, it is quite unfortunate that the same Ndigbo who suffered these deprivations have not learnt our lessons from it, to the extent that after surviving the post-civil war trauma, they still went ahead to invest all their monies outside Igbo land where their monies and properties could be abandoned for the second time in the event of another outbreak of war or possible break-up of the country”.

“I presume that Ndigbo cannot be identified as fools with their first mistakes but with these second mistakes of continuing to invest massively in other parts of the country, as they are doing now in their numbers, they can be identified as proper fools and as such, the step could be likened

to an Igbo adage which states that first fool is not fool but second fool is proper foolishness,” he agonized.

“To me, Biafran Republic has already been declared by Ojukwu in 1967 and there will be no need for declaration of Biafra for the second time.

Ojukwu declared it, fought for it and died for it. There will be no need for a second declaration. All we need to do is to do remembrance anniversaries and befitting burials for those who died during the struggle.”

On General Alani Akinrinade’s open confession that he would not have fought against Biafra if he knew that things would turn out this way in the country, Ezeonwuka stated that such a confessional statement amounted to “medicine after death or better still, crying over spilt milk.”

Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of ABSU, Prof. E.U Ikonne, expressed his joy that the 36-year- old institution had come of age, noting that his reformation agenda in the school was aimed at sustaining the vision of founding administrators of the school.

He however, admonished the students of the institution to pay their fees to the right source, while also cautioning them against gambling and other frivolous expenditure.

He said: “I have now become unpopular among some people who are against the new system I have introduced to ensure that you students don’t encounter chequered academic career. I have also made myself your senior Course Rep. I just returned from signing an agreement with a New York University so our students would no longer be rejected by foreign schools” He also disclosed that some students of his school misused some money given to them by their parents on posh off-Campus houses which according to him cost over 170, naira, while also revealing that some of them were defrauded by the notorious MMM ponzi scheme, while warning that the school had uncovered the plot by some students to riot against the school management over fees.

The event was attended by the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Charles Ogbonna, Royal fathers, the clergy, students etc.

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

POLITICS

Ugwuanyi garners more endorsements as Ekweremadu, Enugu West adopt gov for 2019 • 5000 APC, Labour, APGA decampees join Enugu PDP It appears that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Enugu State, may have smartly contained the apprehension that greeted the recent mass defections that had hit the party when many of its erstwhile bigwigs decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC), the latest being that of the immediate-past governor of the state, Sullivan Chime. How, you ask? From Enugu, CHUKS EZE explains.

T

HE PDP recently recorded an overwhelming turnout at the enlarged Zonal Executive meeting of the Enugu West wing of the party, which appeared more like a mega rally. And incidentally, Enugu West is the senatorial zone of both the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremmadu and former governor, Chime.

Meanwhile, Chime’s style of defection had raised enormous dust when he conducted it in a controversial manner, by declaring that no PDP candidate would ever win governorship election in Enugu State in 2019. He had earlier stirred the hornets net by publicly urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to deregister PDP on grounds that the party is already dead.

The former governor, who is believed to be highly instrumental to Ugwuanyi’s emergence as governor, had also in a media chat ahead of his official movement into his new platform, also stated that APC is the only party that is viable enough to take any politician to his political destination.

He had pointed out that he had met with all stakeholders at all the ward levels, local council levels, state and national levels alike, and had been assured of a comfortable place in the party.

“I never left PDP but the party left me; PDP is dead…I am joining APC because a lot of people are looking up to me to show direction,” he had declared.

But, developments at Awgu Local Council field, venue of the enlarged zonal meeting, seemed to have turned Chime’s claims that PDP was dead into a huge irony as the event exhibited a lively, well-attended atmosphere. That is in addition to earlier rebuttal of the former governor’s claim by some of his constituents in Udi Local Council when they besieged the Government Lodge Enugu in their numbers, to show solidarity to Ugwuanyi and to assure the governor that Chime is on his own.

However, The Oracle Today observed at the Awgu special meeting that apart from recording an unprecedented turnout, the supposed “dead” party also received about 5000 new members, as was officially announced, who were said to have decamped from different political parties to join PDP. The defectors were seen waving different insignias that represented their old platforms, with brooms constituting greater percentage of the items, an indication that majority of them were former APC members. They later dumped the items at the arena in exchange for PDP-branded items.

In his speech, Senator Ekweremmadu described Ugwuanyi as a dear governor who is loved by all. He thanked the governor for his presence to observe their meeting and assured him of continued support from Enugu West Senatorial Zone.

“On behalf of the good people of Enugu West, I welcome you to our zone. We wel-

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (second right), his deputy Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu (right) and Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi (left). come you as our friend and our son; our dear governor in whom we are pleased.

What we have here today, is an expanded zonal executive meeting of PDP in Enugu West. Even though the large turnout of members makes it to appear like a rally, but it is just a general meeting”, he said.

Ekweremmadu, who pointed out that they had invited every stakeholder in Enugu West, including traditional rulers, fathers, mothers and youths, explained that it was to enable the zone to jointly take a decision about what would happen in Enugu State in 2019.

“And after about five hours of deliberation,” he said, “we the people of Enugu West have unanimously decided that in 2019, we will support you again to become the governor of our dear state. We are, therefore, donating two buses to you to mark the commencement of your 2019 campaign today. Please, give one each to our state executives and zonal executives, respectively, so they can start driving your re-election campaign immediately.”

The Senator, who led a prayer for President Buhari’s quick recuperation, further informed Ugwuanyi that the zone has taken stock of his performance in office in the last two years and is satisfied with his performance.

“We have seen infrastructures such as

roads, bridges and the rest of it. And in terms of appointment, we have earned several of it from your administration especially that of Deputy Governor, which you graciously gave to our sister. Our assurance to you is that we will continue to pray and support you.

“Finally, we are humane and godly people. We must pause at this moment to remember our President, Muhammadu Buhari, for healing, good health and wisdom; that God, who is the physician of all physicians will heal him and help him to return to this country hale and hearty in Jesus name,” Earlier in her speech, the Deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Princess Cecilia Ezeilo, had also assured Governor Ugwuanyi of the zone’s unalloyed support and praised the existing cordial relationship between the governor and Senator Ekweremmadu, describing it as wonderful. She also thanked Senator Ekweremmadu for inviting Governor Ugwuanyi to the zonal meeting, adding that that has enabled the governor to witness the current strength of the party in Enugu West.

“Your Excellency, my Principal, you have seen it for yourself; you have seen our numerical strength. This is just an enlarged executive meeting of our zone. So, when people say that our party is no longer vi-

able, you should just ignore them. Just last week at the Governor’s Lodge, the people of Udi, my paternal home, visited you in their numbers to show you support. Udi is not a place where you can force political decisions or alignment on anybody. That multitude that visited you came out of their volition and their love for you. They assured you there that in rain or sunshine, they will stand by you and your administration. That still stands. So, you can go to sleep over Udi, Sir,” she said.

Other dignitaries in attendance at event were the Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly (ESHA), Edward Ubosi; His Deputy, Rt. Hon Okey Uzogbado; State Chairman of PDP, Chief Augustine Nnamani and all former State Chairmen of the party; Former Deputy Governor of the State, Okechukwu Itanyi; Former Minister of Aviation and member of PDP Board of Trustees, Amb Fidelia Njeze; Members of the House of Representatives including Honourables Toby Okechukwu, Denis Amadi and Pat Asadu. Others are members of Enugu State Executive members, political appointees, Local Government Transition Committee Chairmen led by the ALGON Chairman in Enugu State, Prince Cornelius Nnaji, and the host council Chair, Hon. Stanley Okeke;

Cont’d from Page ?????

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

POLITICS Col. Achuzia @ 90: Ojukwu left two •Absolves Gov Obiano of being party to May 30, 2016 killing of IPOB members at Nkpor •Reveals what Obiano told him about burial of Biafran War victims In his characteristic forthrightness, elder statesman and Biafra War veteran, Col. Joe Achuzia (Rtd) bares his mind on the raging pro-Biafra agitations, the alleged complicity of Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State in the massacre of members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) during the May 30, 2016 Biafra Day procession, the late Biafran leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s legacies to Ndigbo and many more, in this report put together by IBE NWACHUKWU. Achuzia spoke when Governor Obiano’s Senior Special Assistant on political matters, Hon. Arinzechukwu Awogu paid him a courtesy visit at his country home in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

C

OL. JOE ACHUZIA (Rtd.), a Biafran war veteran who is popularly known as the Biafran Hannibal, recently played host to the Senior Special Assistant on political matters to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Hon. Arinzechukwu Awogu, at his country home in Asaba, Delta State. During the meeting, Achuzia expressed hearty appreciation, on behalf of Biafran War veterans, to Gov. Obiano for fulfilling the duty the living owes the dead, by taking the bold step on January 12, 2015 to properly bury those who died during the Biafran Civil War. Achuzia, the Civil War hero who is known for his forthrightness on topical issues, no matter whose ox is gored, revealed that the late Dim Chukwemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu nd himself had approached the then governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju with a proposal to bury the Biafran War dead, which Mbadinuju agreed to and made a parcel of land available at Uli in Ihiala Local Council of the State. Achuzia, however, regretted that when the then President Olusegun Obasanjo got wind of the plans and made troubles with Mbadinuju over the plans, Mbadinuju became frightened and chickened out.

But, according to Col. Achuzia, “a few months into the life of his administration, Gov. Willie Obiano summoned Col. Ben Gbulie, Col. Emma Nwobosi, Col. E. M. Udeaja, myself and others and asked us to join in drawing up programmes for the formal burial of dead Biafran War heroes christened ‘Ozoemezina’ and I laughed and asked Obiano ‘can you stand the heat from the federal government?’ And he bluntly told him and others: ‘if burying those that died during Biafran War will take me to jail, I’m ready.’”

He lamented that the Nigerian authorities have continued to frustrate and undermine the Igbo/Biafra existence by upturning nearly every date that matters to Ndigbo.

“The Civil War ended on a January 15th and we planned to be marking it every January 15th but the Nigerian authorities trivialized it by making January 15th their Armed Forces Remembrance Day. When we chose May 29th as the day to commemorate the genocide against Ndigbo, the Nigerian authorities chose to reduce it by making the date Democracy Day Celebration. That was why Ohanaeze Ndigbo shifted Igbo Day to September 29th instead of May 29th.”

He stressed the need for Anambra State and other States in the old Eastern region to always observe January 12th as public holiday in honour of those that died during the Biafran War since it was on January 12th that

they were formally buried.

Col. Achuzia, who expressed his thoughts on the burial of the Biafran War victims recalled that when the war ended and anyone saw his fellow Biafran, he would tell him: “happy survival”. He went on to ask “what then do we say to the dead who were not fortunate to survive the war; is it happy dead? Therefore, all we had to do for them was to formally give them a rest, which no one, except Governor Willie Obiano, had the courage to do.”

He further declared: “And considering the courage with which the governor buried the Biafran War victims at the expense of his office in worst case scenario, it would be preposterous for anyone to accuse the governor of being against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), not to talk of having a hand in the death of any Biafran activist or not doing anything at all to prevent the killing of pro-Biafra activists in his State.”

He revealed the motive behind the formation of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), maintaining that the survival of the political platform should be of paramount im-

, The two legacies bequeathed to Ndigbo

by Dim Ojukwu are Biafra and the APGA. Ojukwu’s thought on Biafra was for a final abode where nobody could cross into to harass his people, while APGA was founded as a platform to resist political limitations against Ndigbo in Nigeria

,

• Col. Achuzia (rtd)

portance to Ndigbo.

He frowned at the notion that that APGA is a mere political party, insisting that APGA is the soul of Ndigbo, is at the heart of Igbo survival as an identity vehicle for Igbo quest for the management of their own affairs politically.

Achuzia explained that the two legacies bequeathed to Ndigbo by Dim Ojukwu are Biafra and the APGA, adding that Ojukwu’s soul rested on these two legacies. He recalled that Ojukwu’s thought on Biafra was for a final abode where nobody could cross into to harass his people, while APGA was founded as a platform to resist political limitations against Ndigbo in Nigeria.

He posited that since the First republic,

Ndigbo had not only been denied a shot at the presidency as no political party was willing to give them presidential ticket but had also been prevented from having ideological political platform to rally round their own people.

Achuzia, a British-trained aeronautic engineer and one-time Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, commended Gov. Willie Obiano for living up to the dreams of APGA’s founding fathers, despite the challenges in human management.

He implored Obiano to ensure that APGA produces presidential candidate for the 2019 general election if Biafra has not been re-

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

POLITICS

things for Ndigbo -- Biafra and APGA

Hon. Awogu stored or actualized by then.

The fiery war commander revealed that it was Ojukwu’s desire for it to be on record that an Igbo is running for the presidency of Nigeria in every election year and that Ndigbo are together, at least in majority, in a particular political party and nurture same to national mainstream.

Achuzia who is now the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Elders of the Indigenous People of Biafra, SCE-IPOB worldwide, absolved Chief Obiano of complicity in the gruesome murder of unarmed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at Nkpor and other locations in Anambra State on May 30, last year.

He recalled that Amnesty International (AI) had in its November 2016 report accused the Nigerian security forces of killing unarmed IPOB activists.

Makmid Kamara, the Interim Director of AI Nigeria was quoted as saying: “By far the largest number of pro-Biafra activists were killed on Biafra Remembrance Day on 30 May 2016 when an estimated 1,000 IPOB members and supporters gathered for a rally in Onitsha, Anambra State. The night before the rally, the security forces raided homes and a church where IPOB members were sleeping. On Remembrance Day itself, the security forces shot people in several locations. AI has not been able to verify the exact number of extra-judicial executions, but estimates that at least 60 people were killed and 70 injured in these two days. The real number is likely to be higher.”

But in absolving Obiano of any involvement in the said killings, Achuzia said that he held a meeting with the then Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Hosea-Hassan Karma, now Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Zone 9, Umuahia, on the 29th of May last year where they agreed on police non-interference with the event of the following day, May 30th.

He stressed that in that meeting, Karma had assured him that the police would stay

away from the Biafra Remembrance Day event of May 30th, but that while he (Achuzia) and others had secured police consent and understanding for a hitch-free Biafra Remembrance Day celebration, they forgot that there was the army too.

The Biafan War legend whose heroic feats

, We are as a matter of principle on the same page with IPOB in the quest for a better treatment for our people and it is our view that with some degree of understanding and a little flexibility in our approaches to resolving the Igbo question, we could make Ndigbo win on all sides of our struggles for a better homeland

,

during the 30-month old civil war, gave him the moniker “Air Raid”, revealed that the bulk of IPOB members that moved from Asaba assembled and took off from his house in Asaba to cross the Niger bridge into Onitsha and regretted that Obiano’s name is being wrongly associated with the May 30th killings.

He, however, blamed the misinformation on people who believe in ‘hearsay’, “people who were far from the scene but chose to believe anything their ears hear.

These are “people who were not in the know of what actually happened but preferred to absorb unfathomable lies for truth,” he said, as he insisted that Obiano was not a party to what the army did and should be left alone.

Achuzia, who at 90 is still mentally sound, thanked Awogu for deeming it fit to visit him as he marked his 90th birthday, recalling that he as a person bore much the brunt of the Civil War as he was thrown into jail for seven years after the war ended on the orders of the Federal Government under Gen. Yakubu Gowon.

He lamented that those that were in power at the end of the Civil War did everything against his person because of his role in the war except that they didn’t harm him, a situation he attributed to God’s will, stressing that for him to live up to 90 years can only be thanks to God’s extra-ordinary grace.

Achuzia, a stormy petrel of the Civil War, who does not mince words on topical issues, demanded that he, as a person, be addressed as “a Biafran” as that reflects his true identity, stressing that he is particularly impressed by the way Obiano resolved the issue of the Boko Haram convicts that were brought to Ekwulobia, in Anambra State to spite Ndigbo and create a sense of apprehension among the people.

He affirmed that it is only a true son that could have wrestled the federal government into relocating the terrorists from Ekwulobia, pointing out that Obiano’s relocation of the

Boko Haram convicts from Anambra State and the entire Igboland was the second frontal confrontation the governor was having in his defence of Ndigbo against the Nigerian establishment, the first being the governor’s insistence on burying Biafran War victims and opting to go to jail as a result.

Responding, Awogu recalled that Col. Achuzia was the first chairman of APGA in Delta State and expressed happiness that the nonagenarian is still conscious of the need for the survival of APGA as a party with Igbo identity and assured him that Obiano has worked exceptionally well to merit a second term mandate from the Anambra electorate, which according to him, would in turn energize the party to continue to be making in-roads.

Awogu, however, used the opportunity to call on Anambra electorate to not only ensure the continuity of APGA rule in Anambra State but also to be ready to defend their votes come November 18, this year at all cost against manipulations.

The SSA maintained that Obiano’s administration is never in conflict with members and leadership of IPOB, adding that the State as the cradle of the Igbo nation is not unmindful of the accommodation she owes to all shades of opinion.

“We are not in conflict with our IPOB brothers,” Awogu declared.

According to him, “we are as a matter of principle on the same page with IPOB in the quest for a better treatment for our people and it is our view that with some degree of understanding and a little flexibility in our approaches to resolving the Igbo question, we could make Ndigbo win on all sides of our struggles for a better homeland.”

Awogu, therefore, wished Achuzia more years in good health as he continues to direct the affairs of the as the most senior surviving member of the Biafran Revolution.

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

POLITICS

Ugwuanyi garners more endorsements for 2019 sured him that Enugu West would reward his hard work with overwhelming votes in 2019.

On his part, while giving his progress report, the PDP Chairman in Udi LGA, Okey Aneke admitted that the PDP is facing strong oppositions from other political parties in his local government. But he also assured that the ruling party also has strong executive members that can effectively tackle the development. He said that the PDP in Udi has already adopted a special antidote to neutralise and nullify the antics of the opposition and as well, “effectively contain the activities of the so-called decampees and their principal”.

Cont’d from Page ????? members of PDP Board of Trustees; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Elder G.O.C Ajah; PDP Zonal Chairman in Enugu West, Okey Ozoani; traditional rulers, led by their State Chairman H.R.H Amb Lawrence Agubuzor, and several others.

More praises for Ugwuanyi Speaker after speaker, stakeholders eulogised Governor Ugwuanyi on his style of governance and giant strides in the last two years of his administration. For the Deputy Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Don Okey Uzogbado, Enugu State owes God unreserved gratitude for giving the state Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as her governor at a period of national economic difficulty. He also thanked Senator Ekweremmadu for his strong support for the Governor, pointing out that the synergy that exists between both leaders is exceptional in the history of the state. According to him, the APC has no business existing in Enugu because it is obvious that nobody will vote for the party in any future election in the state.

“On behalf of my brethren, I thank God for giving Enugu State a governor like Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in this time of acute recession. With what we have on ground now, the 2019 election will definitely be the easiest for PDP in the history of the present democratic experience. The governor has made everything easy through his giant strides, which are scattered across our three Senatorial Zones, local government areas and communities, he said.

Speaking in same vain, the pioneer State Chairman of PDP and current Commissioner for Water Resources, Barr C.O.C Egumgbe, described Ugwuanyi as a humble governor who never takes decision alone but always tables it before the State EXCO for deliberations and adoption. Egungbe, who said that the Ugwuanyi administration has

Ekweremadu affected Enugu West positively, also assured the governor of total support of the people of the zone. He also commended the existing partnership between the governor and Senator Ekweremmadu and urged them to continue to work together.

“Enugu State has a system; that system is PDP and that system cannot be thwarted now. In 1999, our brother Chimaroke Nnamani, from Enugu East, emerged as governor of this state and served for eight

years. He then handed over to Enugu West, in the person of Sullivan Chime, who also served for eight years before handing over to Enugu North, through the incumbent governor. Is it in Ugwuanyi’s turn that it would be altered? he queried.

House of Representatives member, Hon Toby Okechukwu, who also spoke at the event, described PDP as a ship – ship of good people – and the right ship to board.

He praised Governor Ugwuanyi’s achievements since he assumed office and as-

Ugwuanyi responds: In his response, Governor Ugwuanyi, thanked Senator Ekweremmadu and the entire people of the senatorial zone for their support and endorsement, and promised to continue to provide democracy dividends to all sections of Enugu State.

He praised Ekweremmadu’s support to his administration, describing him as a good man, dependable fellow and one destined for greatness from the womb.

The governor informed the zone that his administration is making efforts to upgrade the college of education sited in Ihe community to a university status; maintained that the local government election would be conducted in the state before the end of the year; announced that government would soon effect some reorganisations to address certain issues to enhance government operations; and inaugurate development centres, as well as various Boards, Parastatals and MDAs in the days ahead.

“I have heard the outcome of your meeting and I am excited about it. I thank you all. As you continue to support us, we shall in turn, continue to work harder for your good and the good of Enugu State. Enugu State will continue to be in the hands of god,” he said.

Okoro: South East leaders should organize international confab on Biafra From Umuahia, BONIFACE OKORO writes on his encounter with an America-based Project JTU Aguiyi Ironsi Institute for Leadership Studies who believes that only “Biafra of the Mind” is ‘viable’ in the current dispensation.

A

N AMERICAN-TRAINED political scientist has called on South East leaders to organize an international conference on the agitation for an independent state of Biafra.

Maduka Okoro, the Co-ordinator of Project JTU Aguiyi Ironsi Institute for Leadership Studies, told The Oracle Today in Umuahia that since the federal government has not shown any interest in holding dialogue with the Biafra agitators, time has come for leaders from the South East geo-political zone to initiate an international debate on the issue.

Okoro who has served as Senior aide to two former Abia State Governors: Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Theodore

Orji, said, however, that he believes in the Biafra of the mind, adding that a dialogue with the agitators may assuage their feelings and give them a sense of belonging in the Nigerian nation.

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are in the forefront of the agitation for Biafra, alongside more than 40 other separatist groups.

The federal government, has, so far, only derided the agitations, preferring instead to crack down on the agitators rather than dialogue with them, sometimes even killing them, an approach Okoro said is not the best.

“Yes, I believe in Biafra but I believe

that Biafra is a mindset because we have not been recognized.

“So, what we need to do is to say the Igbos that are agitating for the State of Biafra, what do they want, bring them.

I believe that the Presidency is making a serious mistake by neglecting the agitation of MASSOB or IPOB. “What he needs to do, if I were to advise President Muhammadu Buhari, is to call these people to a meeting, a meeting of the minds: folks, what is the problem what do you want? You will be able to hear people because you are the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and those agitating for Biafra are Nigerians. So, why are they agitating for Biafra, that is what you need to know,” Okoro said.

“It is not a question of people saying we want Biafra and then you say, oh! there is no Biafra, you cannot ask for a nation within a nation. It is wrong. Listen to the process they are following,” he added.

He maintained that the Biafra issue would be resolved “if we enter into se-

rious debate on the issue of Biafra.”

“I believe, there have to be negotiations. Nigerians need to come together and let us discuss the issue of Biafra on a political debate and then come out with concrete resolutions that will make these people (agitators) to have palliative mindset and say, okay, we have achieved the State of Biafra.

“Now what I expect our leaders to do is that they should come together, discuss this issue on intellectual level, bring our brothers from the Diaspora, let us come and discuss this issue of Biafra,” he said According to him, achieving the State of Biafra may not be “a physical achievement,” but intellectual and spiritual, to the extent that the agitators could “look at this nation and say, I am proud to be a Nigerian, I am proud to be a part of a society that is respected all over the world.”

He described the Ndigbo as big asset, saying they were “the most revered and the most feared people on earth.”

17

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

BU$IN£SS •Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

Issues clog rapid visa order A

ccording to one of the three Executive Orders signed Thursday by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, foreigners seeking Entry Visas to Nigeria can now get it within 48 hours, a development which has continued receive commendations across the business community.

However, as laudable as that move, it will fall short of expectations if the issue of local production of the country’s International Passport booklets is not addressed with a view to finding a permanent solution to it.

This becomes worrisome as conflicting reports emerge of hardships being encountered by Nigerians at home and abroad in obtaining the travel document amidst rebuttal of scarcity of the document by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

In the face of long queues at the agency’s various offices spread across the country, it is expected that the Executive Order will move to reposition the deplorable situation at home and especially in United Kingdom, United States and South Africa where Nigerian missions are daily besieged by nationals struggling to either obtain new passports or renew existing ones.

Experts also posit that Nigeria must also move to embrace free travel which appears to see countries like Ghana and Seychelles leading the rest of the continent to corner travel and tourism market in Africa, as recent report indicate that the country still lags behind in the index of countries embracing Open Visa.

The African Development Bank in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the World Economic Forum launched the second edition of the Africa Visa Openness Index with indication that Nigeria lags behind most other countries on the continent in terms of free entry.

The report examined which countries are facilitating travel for citizens of other countries and whether they allow people to travel to their country without a visa, with the provision of visa-onarrival or whether visitors need to get a visa before travel.

Overall, Africans were able to travel more freely across the continent in 2016, as the visa openness levels improved compared to 2015.

However did point out that chal-

Last Thursday’s signing into law of three Executive Orders which effectively eased travel into the country by foreigners, expedited action on budget passage as well as the patronage of locally-made goods has been welcomed as it has also been x-rayed against the backdrop of an African Development Bank initiated Index which rates the country low on free travel. In this report, VICTOR NZE points out the recurring pain of easing travel rather out of the country than into it by Nigerians. Excerpt: lenges still remain, as, for example, 75 per cent of countries in the top 20 most visa-open countries, are either in East or West Africa, while 20 per cent are in Southern Africa.

Of the top 20 countries, only one country, Mauritania, is from the Northern region, while none is from Central Africa.

“Despite the size of our group, I need 38 visas to move around Africa,” remarked Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group.

On the continent, Ghana made the most progress in 2016 in opening up its borders to African travelers, moving into sixth place in the Index, up sixteen places from 2015. Senegal also moved into the top 20 most visa-open countries, up 9 places from 2015 and Tunisia moved 13 places from 2015. Seychelles continues to lead the index and remains the only African country on the continent to offer visafree access for all Africans.

“Our leaders have to bring down the walls that separate us, from East Africa to Central Africa to North Africa to West Africa. We need a wider open market,” says Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Group.

Thursday’s signing of the Executive Order by the Acting President was the climax of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) meeting at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa meant to engage government officials who would be implementing the orders and the new instructions.

On the Entry Experience of Visitors ordinary tourist and business entry visas to Nigeria shall henceforth be issued or rejected with reason by the Consular Office of Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions within 48 hours of receipt of valid application.

The timeline shall be notified to the public by pasting a notice conspicuously at every Consular Office and by publication on every website of Nigerian Embassies and High

CBN EXCHANGE RATES MAY 19, 2017 Currency Buying

(NGN) US DOLLAR 304.6 Pounds Sterling 393.6346 EURO 334.4203 SWISS FRANC 305.7312 CFA 0.4859 YEN 2.6889 WAUA 415.2537 YUAN/RENMINBI 44.1696 RIYAL 81.218 DANISH KRONA 44.9475 SDR 417.3934

Central Selling (NGN) (NGN) 305.1 305.6 394.2807 394.9269 334.9693 335.5182 306.2331 306.7349 0.4959 0.5059 2.6933 2.6977 415.9354 416.617 44.2426 44.3155 81.3513 81.4846 45.0212 45.095 418.0785 418.7637

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Modular refineries: From fantasies to risk analysis P16

e-Platform Why we declared 2017 Year of the consumer – NCC

P17

Aviation UN graduates 35 Nigerian aviation security trainers P20 •Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdurrahman Danbazau (rtd) Commissions.

In that regard, a comprehensive and up to date list of requirements, conditions and procedures for obtaining visa on arrival, including estimated timeframe, shall be published on all immigration-related websites in Nigeria, abroad and all ports of entry into Nigeria.

The order directs that there shall be no touting whatsoever by official or unofficial persons at any port in Nigeria while on-duty staff shall be properly identified by uniform

and official cards.

Similarly, non-official staff shall be removed from the secured areas of airports while officials of FAAN, Immigration, security agency or Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any other agency are barred from meeting any non-designated dignitary at any secure areas of the airport.

The orders also affect two other key areas of the economy including; fast tracking budget submission and promoting Made-in-Nigeria products.

Insurance Experts tackle regional fears at African Trade Insurance Summit P23

Stock Market Highlights As At 22 May, 2017

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP Most Traded S/N Coy (By Volume) Volume

28,078.30 3,498.00 208,337,223.00 3,738,712,154.24 9,706,824,815,438.40 Value

5 Top Gainers Company Last Close Current Change SEPLAT 367.5 372.7 5.2 TOTAL 265 270 5 NESTLE 835 836 1 OKOMUOIL 50 50.9 0.9 PZ 18 18.9 0.9

Top Losers Company Last Close Current Change 1.

DIAMONDBNK 36,887,362 34,328,969.53 NB 143.96 140.84 -3.12 2. ZENITHBANK 29,857,681 534,056,330.07 PRESCO 49 48 -1 10.65 10.12 -0.53 3. GUARANTY 22,138,455 708,452,210.30 CADBURY 4. UBA 21,907,637 158,630,950.92 ETI 9.8 9.31 -0.49 5, FBNH 15,526,564 63,232,670.43 UACN 14.9 14.56 -0.34

18

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

BUSINESS

Gateway Trade Fair kicks off in Abeokuta Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he Gateway Trade Fair, organized by the Ogun State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) kicked off in Abeokuta, Monday, with a pledge to ‘rekindle the interest of the old investors and introduce new ones in new opportunities for its investments’ in the state.

This is also as OGUNCCIMA lauded an exhibitor at the fair, the Dangote Group, for ‘its giant strides in economic development of the country through massive investments in several sectors of

IMF canvasses economic growth in SSA countries

the economy describing the feat as worthy of emulation by other Nigerians.’

President of OGUNCCIMA, Mrs. Adesola Adebutu who made this commendation at the opening ceremony of the 8th Gateway Trade Fair, said the support given enough by the Dangote Group went a long way in making the staging of the Fair a success.

“The theme of the fair ‘Promoting Agricultural Value Chain through SMES for Nigeria Economic Recovery’ was chosen in line with Ogun state’s policy of Agricultural industrialization which is also in consonance with the national policy of repositioning agriculture as the viable alternative to oil,” she explained.

Adebutu stated that OGUNCCIMA was planned to be a clear departure from the past such that this year’s edition will rekindle the interest of the old investors and introduce new

ones in new opportunities for its investments in Ogun State.

In his opening address, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosu, thankedOGUNCCIMA for taking up the challenge to organize the fair despite paucity of funds and logistics challenges.

He said Nigeria is blessed with climate that can sustain agriculture all year round and that it’s heartening that the federal government is leading the way in diversification of the economy from oil based to agriculture whose value chain can create millions of employment.

On its part, the Dangote Group in a statement from Corporate Communications Unit, said the fair has become a veritable venue for introduction of new innovations to Dangote products and that visitors to the group pavilion at both fairs will have the opportunity of buying products of these companies at re-

duced prices.

Continuing, the statement said customers wishing to be distributor of any of the Dangote group subsidiaries would have the opportunity to be offered informed explanations by staff of the companies who would be on hand to put the customers through on how to go about it.

The Dangote Group, which is a leading sponsor of the Fair, stormed the venue with varieties of its consumer goods as well as its flagship product, cement.

Companies from under the country’s biggest indigenous conglomerate are adding colour to the Gateway Fair with an array edible goods on display. Three companies in the group offering consumer goods at the fair are Dangote Sugar Refinery, NASCON Allied Industries Plc (Dangote Salt), Dangote Flour and Dangote Cement.

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igeria, as well as other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, needs to get its budgets in order, diversify its economy and look after the poor populace, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised.

According to the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook, if these countries follow the suggested recommendations, there is no reason why the region cannot have the strong growth needed to meet the aspirations of a young and growing population.

The Regional Outlook contains a three-pillared prescription from the IMF as expressed by one of its top Africa researchers, Celine Allard, in an official IMF blog post and podcast.

Allard found that sub-Saharan economic growth hit only 1.4 percent last year, the lowest level in two decades and well off the five to six per cent rates normally reached. It was also well below the population growth rate.

“This is a quite broad-based deceleration because we see about twothirds of the countries having slowed down last year, which is quite substantial,” she said in the podcast.

While some of the reasons for the slowdown are beyond the region’s immediate control, low global commodity prices, drought and others, Allard said some problems are down to a lack of governmental response.

“Part of the deteriorated outlook is a reflection of limited policy adjustment in the region,” she said.

Hence, the first pillar: renewed focus on debt reduction, fiscal policy to raise domestic revenues, and greater exchange rate flexibility.

Allard noted that some of the countries in the region that had kept growth up, such as Senegal and Ivory Coast, had run up large budget deficits to help this along. With that, though, comes vulnerability, she said, and now is the time to shift gradually to reduce this.

As well as taking action on budgets, the IMF said sub-Sahara needs to focus on economic diversification and improving the business climate so that the private sector can feel confident about investing.

Many countries in the region are overly dependent on commodities, getting a huge boost when they are in demand but suffering when prices fall.

A Bank for International Settlements paper in 2016 estimated that the share of commodities in of sub-Sahara African exports rose to 76 per cent in 2010–14 from 57 per cent in 1990 to 1999.

Allard said the third pillar was to provide social safety nets to protect the most vulnerable in society.

“We know that in some countries there are some programmes, but they are usually fragmented and they need to be better targeted,” she said.

(L-R); Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Enelamah, Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mr Segun Awolowo, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah and Minister of Interior, Lt General Abdulrahaman Dambazau during the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council at the Presidential Villa, Thursday.

AfDB sees 4.3% economic growth in Africa

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frica will see a lift-off in economic growth this year and next on the back of a rebound in global commodity prices, an annual report predicted, Monday.

The African Economic Outlook, co-authored by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations Development Programme, expects the continent’s economy to grow by 3.4 per cent in 2017 and 4.3 per cent in 2018.

This growth is up from an estimated 2.2 per cent in 2016.

The report was released as the AfDB began its annual meeting, this year being hosted by India in the capital of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat.

Modi invited African leaders to a summit in 2015 and has sought to promote ‘south-south’ economic ties with a continent that has a large Indian diaspora but has seen far larger inward investment from China.

The report said that a decline in commodity prices starting in mid2014 had a devastating impact on several commodity-exporting African economies. Nigeria, for example, which has the biggest share in Africa’s GDP, slipped into recession.

Africa has been worryingly dependent on commodities to power economic growth. The fall in raw materials prices inflicted a significant shock on sub-Saharan Africa as fuels, ore and metals account for more than 60 percent of the region’s exports.

However, commodities have

staged a comeback since late in 2016, buoyed by an improvement in the world economic outlook together with the return of risk appetite among global investors.

If the rise in commodity prices is sustained, the report said, it would trim the continent’s current account deficit to five per cent of GDP this year from 6.5 per cent in 2016.

Africa is expected to witness a marginal improvement in external inflows that are estimated to inch up to 179.7 billion dollars in 2017 from 177.7 billion dollars a year ago.

The report urged the countries in the region to diversify their exports to reduce their exposure to commodity-price shocks and take measures to boost trade within Africa.

Some products on display at the fair include Dangote sugar, Dangote Flour, spaghetti and macaroni, Dangote salt, Danq (seasoning), tomato paste. Dangote Sugar will be offering customers different sizes of granulated sugar packs at the fair.

Dangote Flour is staging a wet sampling and offering customers a wide range of products at discounted prices. Buyers are going with several gifts as reward for purchasing Dangote Flour products. Products at the stand include-Dangote, flour for baking, wheat meals, spaghetti and macaroni.

NCAA cautions Ethiopian Airlines on charges he Nigerian Civil Aviation AuthorTAirlines ity (NCAA) has ordered Ethiopian to stop the collection of un-

authorised charges forthwith.

A statement issued by the agency and signed by Mr Sam Adurogboye, NCAA General Manager, Public Relations, weekend, in Lagos, said these unauthorised charges referred to as” refundable deportation fee” is put at between 75 dollars and 150 dollars.

According to him, all South Africa-bound passengers on Ethiopian Airlines are compelled to pay this amount before boarding.

The agency in the statement noted that it had been inundated with several complaints from many passengers who have suffered this fate recently.

“According to investigation by NCAA, all outbound passengers to South Africa from Murtala Mohammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos and the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, transiting through Addis Ababa, are liable to pay 75 dollars.

“However, if your transiting time is 24 hours or beyond, the passenger will pay 150 dollars.

“While passengers are not given prior notice concerning these charges before arriving at the airports, some were made to sign undertaken to be responsible for all expenses incurred if deported,” Adurogboye said.

He said consequent upon this, the Ethiopian Airlines’ Country management was summoned by NCAA, where they claimed the fees were always refunded when a passenger was not deported.

Adurogboye said the regulatory authority, however, found this unacceptable and viewed it as a violation of its extant regulations.

“The Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) Part 18.4.1(iii) stipulates that “all air carriers should obtain approval from the authority to introduce or increase add-on charges or surcharges prior to implementation.

“Till date, the authority has not received any request for fare increase, tariff or add-ons from the airline. On this strength, Ethiopian Airlines has been ordered to stop with immediate effect these illegal charges,” he said.

Adurogboye noted that the Airline could take advantage of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CAR) and obtain necessary approvals from the Authority if it has genuine grounds to increase fares or obtain tariffs. “the NCAA hereby warns all operating airlines to endeavour to adhere to the regulations in all facets of their operations. It is part of our statutory responsibilities to protect the rights of passengers and this we shall continue to do in accordance to the law.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

BUSINESS

Abuja hotels threaten mass shutdown over taxation

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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mbrella boy of hotel operators in the Federal Capital city, the Hotel Owners Forum in Abuja (HOFA) has warned that consistent multiple taxations on hotels operating in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) could force them out of business.

President of HOFA, Dr Chike

MAN wants CBN to slash lending rate

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he Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to drop the lending rate from 14 per cent to accelerate productivity and economic growth.

President of MAN, Mr Frank Jacobs, made the appeal in weekend, in Lagos, also urged the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to review the lending rate downward at its next meeting slated for May 22 and 23.

CBN had maintained a 14 per cent lending rate to commercial banks since July 26, 2016 in its bid to check inflation and stimulate economic growth.

According to Jacobs, the high interest rate regime had stifled growth, productivity and competitiveness of manufacturers.

While noting that with the appreciation of the naira and further drop in inflation rate, friendlier policies that would stimulate economic growth and boost production should be embraced, Jacobs also called on the CBN to create five per cent concessionary interest rate for manufacturers to drive the nation’s diversification agenda and increase contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.

“If manufacturers have access to low interest rate as done in other climes, we will be able to employ more people and create wealth for the nation through tax.”

Jacobs said that with concessionary interest rate, manufacturers would be able to expand their businesses, create wealth, boost productivity and catalyse economic transformation.

Ezeudeh, who stated this, Thursday, in Abuja decried the ‘funny’ situation where operators are confronted with numerous taxes on their business.

“It is not easy when you have a business and you are confronted with over 25 different taxes to pay, with some of them as high as N500,000. The names of some of the taxes are so funny; they have what is called Bicycle and Cart levies, which is over N250,000.

They also have `parking tax’, which is between N250,000 and N500,000; this is so frustrating.

“Most hotels cannot pay these taxes, and if they try to pay such, they will be out of business; no hotel business can survive after paying all these bills. The worst of it is that Abuja Metropolitan Area Council (AMAC) in the name of enforcing tax payment, will come with police and seal the hotels while international guests and others are in their rooms.’’

He said that such development was not good for the image of the hospitality industry in particular and the country in general.

“The enforcement strategy is crude; there is always a better way of doing things without inflicting hardship that will make business owners to close shop.’’

Ezeudeh said the forum comprised law-abiding members, adding that it would not prevent the government from generating its revenue.

The HOFA chief said, however, that such revenue generation should be done with human face.

According to him, it is unfortunate that AMAC alone has many levies and bills; but that hotel operators also need to survive in this harsh economy.

Ezeudeh said the new leadership of HOFA had started negotiating with the appropriate authorities.

The president said he had met

with the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, seeking the reduction and harmonisation of the numerous taxes, to allow hotel operators pay with ease.

“The minister is a kind person; he understands the plight of business owners in Abuja and promised to look into the issues. The truth is that when taxes are high, business owners may not be able to pay, and some unpatriotic officials will like to take bribe and write off some levies.

“There should be reduction and harmonisation of the taxes for hotel operators. If done, they will pay and not retrench their workers; this will boost the economy of the country,’’ Ezeudeh said.

Presently, taxes and levies being paid by hotels owners in Abuja are entertainment, tenement, business premises and local council.

Others include billboard, radio permit, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Fire Service and many more.

President and Managing Director Middle East/Africa (MEA) Region, Marriott International, Mr. Alex Kyriakidis and Mr Saleh Said, Director, Pennyroyal Gibraltar, during the official signing of The Ritz Carlton Zanzibar Archipelago, Monday.

Ransomeware: Experts warn against use of fake software

By SAMSON AKINTARO

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n the wake of recent global ransomeware attacks that over 200,000 people in over 150 countries, including the United Kingdom’s NHS infrastructure, experts have warned Nigerians against using fake or unlicensed software as it exposes them to cyberattacks.

While various software owners have warned users to update their software to prevent attacks, the experts notes that for users of fake software, updates are not possible and that means they will remain exposed to attacks anytime.

According to cyber security experts at Delloite Nigeria, regular update of software and using the latest versions of application software are one of the ways systems can be protected against ransomeware.

Continuing in its warnings and precautions against ransomware, Delloite said, “the experience of a ransomware lockdown can be frightening. A bank would not be able to provide services if all the information about its customers and transactions are no longer available.

It would not have access to information about their account transactions or information to correctly identify them. The whole production line of a manufacturing /energy company may grind to a halt if the core systems are exposed to a ransomware attack.

‘Other processes (e.g. inventory, supply chain) would also be adversely affected. If the core system of the central switch (i.e. for electronic transactions) of Nigeria is encrypted, e-commerce would be adversely impacted and this would affect businesses and individuals across the country. These are just some of the areas in which ransomware can cripple organisations, individuals and even a nation. Anyone is a potential victim.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has warned Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders to be wary of the cyber attacks.

NITDA’s Director-General, Dr. Isa Ali Pantanmi, in a statement explained that the virus ‘WannaCrypt’ spreads by itself between computers and does not require human interaction, stressing that it restricts access to the affected system as well as demanding for the payment of ransom.

FG, states, LGs, share N1.41 trn from Federation Account in Q1, 2017 F ederal Government, the 36 states and their local government areas have so far shared a total of N1.4 trillion from the Federation Account, being revenue generated in the first quarter of 2017.

A breakdown of the allocations contained in the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) report indicate that key agencies that remit funds into the federation account are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Customs Service.

The total revenue shared in January between the federal, states and local government was N430.16 billion, meaning that

federal took N168 billion, states, N114.28 billion and local government, N85.4 billion.

The federation grossed in N514 billion in February and federal government’s share was N200.6 billion, states, N128.4 billion and local government, N96.52 billion.

However, in March, revenue generation dipped lower, grossing N466.9 billion, and from it, the federal government got N180.5 billion, state governments, N116.5 billion and local government, N87.5 billion.

The allocation was made using the revenue sharing formula, Federal Government, 52.68 per cent; states, 26.72 per cent and local governments 20.60 per cent.

The report showed that before

distribution, state liabilities were deducted.

The liabilities paid by the states in the first quarter, included an external debt of N8.73 billion, contractual obligations of N30.15 billion and other deductions amounting to N50.23 billion.

The other deductions, covers National Water Rehabilitation Projects, National Agricultural Technology Support, Payment for Fertiliser, State Water Supply Project, State Agriculture Project and National Fadama Project.

The report also showed what each of the 36 states got in the first quarter after all deductions were made: Abia N8.42 billlion; Adamawa N7.8 billion; Akwa Ibom N34.88 billion; Anambra,

N8.7 billion; Bauchi, N7.9 billion; Bayelsa, N22.97 billion; Benue, N8.16 billion; Borno, N9.74 billion and Cross River, N4.28 billion.

Also, Delta got N21.54 billion;Ebonyi, N7.56 billion; Edo, N6.5 billion; Ekiti, N4.97 billion; Enugu, N7.86 billion; Gombe, N6.35 billion; Imo, N7.92 billion; Jigawa, N9.66 billion; Kaduna, N10.56 billion and Kano, N14.02 billion.

Similarly, Katsina’s share from the federation account in 3 months was N10.05 billion; Kebbi, N8.37 billion; Kogi, N8.28 billion; Kwara, N6.9 billion; Lagos, 19.03 billion; Nassarawa, N7.41 billion and Niger, N9 billion.

Finally, Ogun State got N4.98 as allocation for first quarter, 2017,

Ondo,N10.22 billion; Osun, N1.76 billion; Oyo, N8.9 billion; Plateau, N5.7 billion; Rivers, N26.8 billion; Sokoto, N9.07 billion; Taraba, N6.9 billion; Yobe, N8.33 billion; and Zamfara, N5.91 billion.

The FAAC committee is made up of commissioners for Finance and Accountant-Generals from the 36 states of the federation.

The Minister of Finance, is the chairman of the committee, while the Accountant-General of the Federation, is next with representatives from the NNPC. Other members are representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service; the Nigerian Customs Service; Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

ENERGY M

ultitude of intending investors in small scale refineries also called modular refineries must either forge partnerships for large scale refineries or run the risk of huge losses in the thin margin industry.

Besides, fund providers in the Nigerian banking industry may not support loans for modular refineries unless investors advance technical competence for the business and government guarantees commercial returns on invested frunds from the market.

Eminent petroleum industry expert and former downstream regulator, Mr. Reginald Stanley, warned intending refiners in the country to work out their numbers efficiently before staking huge borrowed funds in an industry that currently suffer low margin curve.

Mr. Stanley who is former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) stated at a lecture hosted by Rainoil Limited in Lagos that the global refinery industry currently draws commercial viability from economies of scale, warning that investments high cost micro refinery plants are inherent with huge loss risks.

Pointing out that 20,000 barrels per day of modular refinery would cost a minimum of $250 million to build, Mr. Stanley told downstream petroleum industry payers to be wary of the vast adverse differential between the rate of commercial returns and cost of funding in the operating environment.

He made it clear that while commercial margins and rate of returns on refinery investment under the prevailing global market conditions are thin and slow respectively, the cost of funding under prevailing lending rates in the country is short term and double digit.

His advice came in response to a spate of wide expressions of interest in modular refineries and associated references to modular refining by policy makers as solution to challenges of operating environment and acute supply shortages that sustain justification for high volume petroleum products imports into the country.

An Executive Director in charge of downstream business of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Obi, had stated at the forum that government was advancing option of supporting investments in modular refineries as a means of displacing substantial petrol import volumes with locally refined products.

He said petrol alone represent over 70 percent of total local fuel demand in the country, adding that the fuel product carries huge social and political liability that government must address.

He said at the event that government was shopping private invest-

Modular refineries:

From fantasies to risk analysis

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he spark of ideas about small-scale refineries, also termed scalable or modular refineries, as a means of solving Nigeria’s fuel import woes is transcending conference presentations to investment decisions. Deputy Editor SOPURUCHI ONWUKA reports that technocrats and financiers still think that large scale is still the viable option.

• Mr. Reg Stanley

ments in local refining as a measure to resuscitate internal refining capacity and also address environmental issues associated with illegal refining activities that source crude input from pipeline vandals and thieves.

Earlier elsewhere, Vice President Yomi Osinbajo had declared that government was working on policy proposal that recommend harnessing of raw skills and cruse processes that drive illegal refining in the Niger Delta for clustered modular refining industry that would serve dual purpose of curbing pipeline vandalism and bringing small scale refineries to regulation.

Former Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr. Emeka Ene, also an eminent petroleum engineer, had propounded the modular refinery alternative as a formidable solution to the problem of illegal refineries that feed on the crime side of the industry.

Mr. Ene who is also a former President of the Nigerian Council of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) pointed out that clustered modular refinery industry in the country would further address the agitation for the development of Niger Delta.

He explained that establishment of refinery clusters in the Niger Delta would yield robust economic benefits, commercial and development impacts that would transform the Niger Delta into a commercial status

like peer oil regions like Houston in the United States.

A successful experiment by and indigenous production firm, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources, with a topping plant that extracts diesel from crude oil produced at its well head gave strong fillip to arguments seeking support for modular refineries in the country.

Subsequently, an association of modular refinery operators evolved with the sole purpose of harnessing resources for the evolution of modular refinery clusters in the country.

But existing modular refinery projects driven by Orient Petroleum Resources (OPR), Amakpe Refinery Limited and Integrated Oil and Gas Limited are still to reach commissioning due to challenges associated with funding and crude source arrangements.

Despite unresolved debates on the topic, several policy alternatives and industry conference communiqués advanced by stakeholders have pressed government accept modular refining strategy as the silver bullet to the country’s refinery woes.

But a lecture sponsored by Rainoil Limited in Lagos weekend, Mr. Stanley who walked the whole terrain in the Nigerian downstream petroleum industry warned that the song about modular refinery might be a trap into a sinkhole, saying the global refinery business hinges on thin margins and survives on high volumes.

He advised investors positioning for modular refining to forge partnerships, pool funds together and harness collective resources for large scale refineries as the only viable option in the downstream commercial play.

Also a representative in Stanbic IBTC, an pan-African international bank, pointed out that a combination of fluctuations in the global refinery industry fortunes, internal market regulations and integrity of the business operators pose huge challenge to funding investments in modular refineries in the country.

According to the bank, most of the players in the Nigerian downstream petroleum industry who have obtained licenses for modular refineries have no technical pedigrees in running refineries.

He made it clear that integrity of the investors and their pedigree in the petroleum refinery business would form critical bases for any bank to syndicate loans that would support investments in modular refineires.

He also pointed as channels of returns on investments, noting that the Nigerian fuel market is still price regulated while the mode of subsidy reimbursement to marketers has remained increasingly unreliable for fund hedging.

On the whole, players, fund providers and government policy drivers are yet to agree on the fate of

small scale refineries otherwise called modular or scalable refineries in the country.

Mr. Stanly who was a lead speaker at a panel session during the lecture in Lagos declared that: “all over the world, refineries have moved from market efficiency to economies of scale due to thin margins. Today, US refineries are supplying huge volumes locally, to Europe and South America. But within all these, we have very efficient refiners in the Arabia Gulf, Asia and the pacific. All these are export targeted.

“Today, refineries are such that you have to be extremely very efficient because refining business is cyclical: you are in money today and tomorrow you are off money. On the toughest that would survive.”

He said: “it would cost $250 million to fund 20,000 barrels per day and only very few individuals can afford that. That level of funding can only come from the banks. Have you ever gone to borrow money from the banks? BY the time they complete their due diligence and do their risk analysis, you know it is very tough.”

He said investors must move away from the mindset of building alone and start thinking of how to farm in.

“You can see with me that if you have 10 entities come together to share the risk of $250 million, that would come to $25 million each. That will make a better sense.”

overseas refiners, trading companies and indigenous companies are allocated crude supplies in exchange for delivery of an equal value of gasoline and other refined products to NNPC. The scheme, which started in April 2016, usually covers a period of 12 months, although the 2016 program has already been extended.

The start of the 2017 DSDP scheme was delayed for almost two months, although sources said it is expected to start from July 1.

Sources said a shortlist of winners for the 2017 program has already

been drafted, with allocated volumes and specification changes yet to be decided.

The shortlist consists of 10 pairs of companies, with one company responsible for procuring refined products in exchange for crude oil from another company that is already included in NNPC’s 2017 crude term contracts.

According to market sources, the 2017 DSDP scheme will likely see a crude allocation of one cargo per month per company pair. An average West African crude cargo is around 950,000 barrels.

A tender for the new DSDP contract was announced in January and 128 companies submitted bids but the alteration in fuel specification, according to our sources, has left the participants with confusion over the right blend of petrol for the country under the scheme which allows the corporation to barter unused crude refining allocation for refined products.

Nigeria currently imports gasoline with a sulfur content of up to 1,000 ppm, although there are expectations that this will change to either 500 ppm or 150 ppm as the country

seeks to shift toward cleaner fuels.

NNPC had announced that the specification of gasoline imports would change to 150 ppm sulfur max from 1,000 ppm by July 1.Various figures for a future sulfur cap are being discussed in the market, market sources said, with both 150 ppm and 500 ppm being suggested as possible outcomes.

Spokesman of NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, could not specify the real specification for swap petrol, but market sources hinted that Nigeria would move to 500 ppm sulphur specification.

NNPC’s new petrol spec stalls DSDP imports

By Soporuchi Onwuka

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ew fuel quality specification by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) i9s so uncertain that its refinery partners that swap crude oil with petrol can no longer guarantee delivery of cargoes from July 1.

According to trading sources the low sulphur content requirement

by NNPC is holding up the country’s much-delayed direct sale of crude oil and direct purchase of products program (DSDP) for 2017.

Under the DSDP model, selected

21

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

Travel & Hospitality CBAAC, FRSC to produce customized number plates for FESTAC’77@40

C

•La Giara Restaurant

Sheraton Hotel Lagos reopens La Giara Italian restaurant

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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heraton Lagos Hotel has announced that the re-opening of its newly renovated Italian Restaurant – La Giara.

Sheraton Lagos Hotel, located on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way at the epicentre of Ikeja’s bustling area, also recently ushered in the ‘Year of the Rooster’ with all lovers of the Chinese cuisine.

The new-look La Giara restaurant, which opened for business, May 17,

had undergone works to bring the Italian charm of dining to life. Guests will be able to get the full Italian dining experience as they enjoy the traditional Italian Recipe, in a stylish contemporary environment. The new menu consists of traditional hand crafted dishes ranging from pizzas to pastas that are sure to delight lovers of Italian cuisine.

The hotel has carefully selected items the décor to create a modern ambience. It is guaranteed that all guests will leave feeling satisfied after being fully immersed in the culinary culture it pro-

vides.

At Sheraton Lagos, action speaks louder than words and by doing this, the hotel believes that it will be cementing its place as a hotel not just business travelers but also a property that creates experiences leisure seekers too.

With the hotel’s proven success and exceptional reputation in culinary expertise, The Sheraton Lagos Hotel looks forward to inviting all food lovers and enthusiasts to the property to try out the new La Giara. The Sheraton Hotel Lagos has 325 guest rooms and 7 suites.

Hotelier tasks FG on international conferences to boost tourists’ influx

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roup Managing Director, NANET Hotel and Suites, Abuja, Mr Ini Akpabio, has called on the Federal Government to periodically host international tourism conferences to boost influx of tourists into the country.

Akpabio said in Lagos, Wednesday, that such programmes would afford local and foreign tourists to meet themselves, exchange ideas promote domestic tourism products and destinations.

“Many countries have developed their tourism sectors through periodic hosting of international events. Nigeria can also key into such development by hosting international conferences and events to boost influx of tourists,” he said.

Akpabio said the United Kingdom has continued to benefit from the World Travel Market (WTM), Germany from the ITB in Berlin, Global Hospitality Conference in Hong Kong and International Joint World Culture Tourism Conference in India.

He said that if Nigeria could also follow such strides, it would help to boost her foreign exchange earnings, Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“Nigeria as host community to such conferences will earn billions of naira

from several tourists that will fly into the country, eat Nigeria cuisine, lodge in Nigerian hotels, fly airline and also patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods,” he said.

He said that the hoteliers, commercial drivers, tour operators, airlines, tour guides, eateries and host communities would benefit from such international conferences.

Akpabio urged the government to learn from other countries the strategies they were using to develop their tourism

sectors because Nigeria has more than enough tourism products/destinations to offer to tourists, even as he called for the construction of standard conference centres that could accommodate international tourists.

“This will open the eyes of international tourists to the domestic tourism potential that we have in the country. It will also attract foreign investors to invest in the rich cultural and tourism potential that the country is endowed with,” he said.

76, The Wedding Party win 2017 Nollywood Award

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he NollywoodWeek Film Festival, Tuesday, announced that ‘The Wedding Party’ and ‘76’ have jointly received the 2017 NollywoodWeek Public Choice Award.

The festival trophy was given to Izu Ojukwu, the Director of 76 and Moses Babatope who represented the film in the absence of the film Director, Kemi Adetiba in a closing ceremony that was followed by the World Premiere screening of Ctach[dot]er by the Director Walter Taylaur.

“I was not expecting this award. It’s an honour for me and for everybody who worked on the film,” said Izu Ojukwu.

In his acceptance speech, Moses Babatope expressed his joy at winning this award and mentioned that it was a good omen as the production of The Wedding Party 2 had just begun in Lagos and Dubai.

The high quality of the selected films for this 5th edition has been praised by journalists and film critics. Eleven films in total were shown during the four days of the festival, including five films in competition: Dinner, Gidi Blues, Green White Green, The Wedding Party and 76.

Nadira Shakur, the Director of Communication and co-founder of the festival said that “The festival has really cemented its place in the Parisian cultural calendar.”

entre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) has said it is collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to produce custom vehicle number plates for the commemoration of FESTAC’77 at 40.

Director-General of CBAAC, Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, who made this known in Lagos, explained that the commemorative number plates were aimed at relaying the memories of FESTAC’77 to young Nigerians and other blacks.

According to him, the aim was also to promote the nation’s culture and boost the economy, adding further that the number plates would be produced by the FRSC and that attendees to the FESTAC’77 at 40 celebration would fix them on their cars “to further advertise the only famous cultural event that ever happened in Africa’’.

“FESTAC’77 in Memorial’ will be inscribed on the number plate and the picture of the FESTAC mask, produced by great artist of Benin extract, will be on it,” he said.

According to Anikwe, the production of the number plates will begin in June.

He said that relevant agencies had begun consultations with the embassies and high commissions to ensure that the number plates could be used in other African countries after the celebration.

Anikwe said that the commemorative number plates could be used in Nigeria or be replaced with the existing number plates after the ceremony.

“We want to ensure that this event will henceforth be recognised and celebrated. The vehicle number plate will represent the dignity of the black man as FESTAC’77 and the mask will be inscribed on it. I have finalised plans with FRSC, which will produce it, and some tax agencies so that the production will start early June.

“I want all Nigerians to embrace this, as it will go a long way in boosting the nation’s economy and promoting our cultural heritage,” he said.

Anikwe, however, said that the cost of the number plate would be determined after production.

Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) took place in Nigeria in September 1977. It is also known as FESTAC ’77.

The ‘Rolling Out of 40 African Drums’ programme which held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on March 3, this year, kicked off the FESTAC’77 at 40 commemoration, which will formally open from June to December, this year.

Artifact stolen from Nupe Kingdom found in Italy

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he artifact that represented the goddess of fruitfulness reluctantly released by the Nupe people to Niger State Museum and stolen some decades ago, has now been found in Italy.

Executive Director, Niger State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Emmanuel Zhiri, who made this known in Minna, said the discovery was made by the state’s Commissioner for Information.

“This artifact was found in Italy recently by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Jonathan Vatsa’’, Zhiri said, adding, however, that it would cost the state a “huge fortune,” to retrieve it.

Zhiri who spoke on the sidelines of the 2017 Commemoration of the World Museum Day with the theme: Museum and Contested Histories: Saying the Unspeakable in Museums,” said the Niger State museum was one of the well-organised premier museums with experienced professional personnel.

Zhiri said government was working seriously to expand the museum by bringing in more artifacts to enrich the state’s museum.

“We are working strategically to bringing in more artifacts to uphold our cultural heritage. We have identified artifacts we are going to bring in, like the musical strings of the late Walo Shatan Gwari and late Nupe musicians’ musical strings used in the course of their musical career. We are going to pay the custodians of these musical strings and bring them to the Niger state museum. It is going to cost us about N2 million to bring them from the Niger Zone A, Zone B and Zone C”, he said.

Zhiri added that the essence of bringing such artifacts to Niger museum was to preserve the history and make it public to those who did not know such history.

22

The Oracle Today, May 31, 2017

AVIATION NAMA to fast-track digitalisation of AIS he Nigerian Airspace ManageTstated ment Agency (NAMA), has reits commitment towards

accelerating the digitalization of Aeronautical Information Service in view of the centrality of data automation to the overall safety of civil aviation.

Managing director of the Agency, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, who disclosed this on the occasion of the World AIS Day in Lagos said: “In view of critical deliverables of the Aeronautical Information Management project such as the enhancement of e-NOTAM, e-Flight Planning, e-AIP, e-TOD, e-Charts, e-Flight briefing and others, and given that it represents a global migration to a dynamic data oriented aeronautical information management system that facilitates the timely exchange of aeronautical information in an accurate and standardised format from anywhere to everywhere globally, on real time basis, the automation project is a must-do for NAMA.” Akinkuotu said for the dream of AIS Automation to be realized, it requires staff of the department to put in their best to see that their service both at the individual and group level remains invaluable, adding that they could do this through extensive research and paper presentation at seminars, targeted at enriching the system and taking it to the next level.

He promised to open his doors to their professional and technical advice which he said would give him the needed guidance in taking key decisions.

The NAMA helmsman also lauded staff of the AIS department for their diligence, hard work and dedication to duty: “AIS remains one of the most critical departments in the agency even though they are hardly given the prominence they deserve, because their job most often, is behind-the-scene,” he said, stressing that the absence of AIS in the system will bring about chaos in the entire civil aviation.

In his welcome address, the General Manager, AIS, Mr Kabir Gusau appealed to NAMA management to consider the periodic training and retraining of AIS personnel which according to him, “would bring staff up to speed with modern trends in a dynamic aviation industry and also prepare them to effectively embrace automation when fully deployed.”

Gusau also harped on the need for the agency, through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to ensure that qualified AIS personnel were licensed as this would bolster them towards hard work, commitment to duty and enhanced productivity. Observed in 191 contracting states globally, the World AIS Day is a day providers of the service, regulatory authorities, users of the service, other aviation stakeholders, as well as AIS systems manufacturers, critically assess the performance of the service and recommend appropriate measures for its enhancement.

In Nigeria, the 2017 World AIS Day with the theme: Efficient Data Management System that Supports Digital Aeronautical Information Services was celebrated on May 15, 2017 simultaneously in all parts of the country.

UN graduates 35 Nigerian aviation security trainers Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he United Nations Counter Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) has graduated 35 Nigerian aviation security master trainers as part of its project to support efficient security screening across Nigeria’s civil aviation infrastructure.

A statement by the UNCCT, Friday in Abuja, said the capacitybuilding project initiated in July 2016, was co-founded by the United Kingdom and is being implemented by UNCCT in partnership with the Nigerian government.

According to the statement, the

graduates will train aviation security experts in two training centres to be established in Lagos and Zaria.

“The project responds to the current security environment and supports strengthening of the aviation security sector in Nigeria and the broader region. It has brought together the best aviation security and counter-terrorism experts worldwide to develop these new training centres of excellence in Nigeria.

“This project is designed to improve aviation security at all airports throughout Nigeria, through a more efficient security screening

process for all passengers, in accordance with the international standards required by ICAO and the European Union.

“The project will contribute directly to the Nigerian Government’s overall counter-terrorism strategy by helping to mitigate the threat posed to civil aviation by terrorist organizations and their operatives.

“It also contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution 2309 adopted on September 22, 2016, which calls on member-states to take all necessary efforts to im-

prove and protect aviation security worldwide,” it said.

The statement added that the project also demonstrated the willingness and the continued effort of the Government of Nigeria to battle terrorism and protect its people.

“The UNCCT was established in 2011 at United Nations headquarters in New York, within the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) Office. The Centre provides capacity building support for Member-States in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy through co-funded capacity,” it said.

•L-R: Chairman, Med-View Airline Plc, Sheik Abdul Mosheen Al-Thunayan, Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Muneer Bankole and Executive Director/ Chief Operating Officer, Engr. Lookman Animashaun during the company’s Annual General Meeting which held recently at the Renaissance Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Med-View Airline not affected by EU ban

F

ollowing Wednesday’s reported ban slammed by the European Union on airlines including Nigerian carrier, Med-View, from its airspace, the operator, Thursday, debunked the alleged operational restriction, describing it as a misunderstanding by the public ‘as a total ban on its UK operations.’

Med-View Airline was believed to be one of those under the EU Air Safety List Annex A, which includes all airlines banned from operating in Europe.

A total of 181 airlines were barred from flying into Europe, with 174 airlines barred due to safety oversight by aviation authorities in their home countries.

The EU Air Safety List is a list of non-European airlines that do not meet international safety standards, and are therefore subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union.

In the updated version, all air carriers from Benin Republic and Mozambique were removed from the list, while four individual airlines, one each from Nigeria, St. Vincent

and the Grenadines, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe, were added.

However, the airline in a statement signed by Executive Director, Business Development and Commercials, Mr. Isiaq Na’Allah, stated that its operations to London has not in any way been affected by the ban, saying it has been operating with its wet-leased aircraft.

The ban which falls under exception rule in EASA, Annex A, where it states that “Air carrier listed in Annex A could be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier, which is not subject to an operating ban”, the Na’Allah said in the statement.

The Airline regretted the anxiety the misinformation may have caused its

teeming passengers and assured them that there is no basis for alarm as the Lagos-London flight remains unaffected.

“We at Med-View Airline is committed to safety, and currently working with EASA and NCAA to restore normalcy,” the statement said.

The airline has been operating normal scheduled flights to London despite the purported restriction.

23

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

Export Platform

By CHINYEMIKE TORTI

Gum Arabic is a money spinner

Gums ready for export

O

NE product that is first becoming a cash cow for commodity traders is gum Arabic, which is extracted from the acacia Senegal, and acacis seyal tree shrubs, which grow wild and almost perennial. However when cultivated especially, the acacia Senegal variant; it takes five to six years to mature after planting and it does command premium market prices. Maturity of the tree is detected by the discharge or eruption of little bubbles when hacked with a knife. These bubbles solidify into pellets or gums that are harvested twice a year in April and December.

The production and exportation of gum Arabic is exclusively an African affair mainly

by Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Cameroon, Niger, Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia. In Nigeria, it is predominantly cultivated in Yobe and Borno States: with towns like Damaturu, Gwandu, Jakana, Bayamari Auno, Gubio, Kukawa, Monguno, Kaduna, Kano as swing producers.

Nigeria is the current third largest producer of the product after Sudan and Chad, with an estimated current output of 10,000 tonnes annually. Three distinct grades of gum Arabic are usually available - grades 1, 2 and grade 3.

For the export market, it is only grade 1 and 2 that are acceptable. Better still grade 1 which is pure, whitish, sparkling and contains less or no purities. Grade 2 is brownish and not as pure and is more available in the market. Buyers must beware!

Gum Arabic is endowed with diverse and multifarious commercial and industrial applications which makes its production highly economical, because of its unique qualities of being odourless and tasteless coupled with its adhesive properties, the usage of gum Arabic finds expression, in various industries like, beverages, food, dairy, confectionery, cosmetics, printing.

Gum Prints Since the nineteenth century, gum Arabic has been combined with a sensitizer and a soluble pigment, applied to paper, and exposed through a negative under a powerful light source. This can produce beautiful prints only negative under a powerful light source.

Nigeria is the current third largest producer of the product after Sudan and Chad, with an estimated current output of 10,000 tonnes annually.

Some Gum Arabic Industrial Applications Textiles Gum Arabic can be added to make the yarn stronger and increase its tensile strength.

These days, many manufacturers in the textile industry use a modified starch mixed with

gum Arabic.

Fabric Printing Gum Arabic can be added to the painting formula to fix the pigment in the fabric, thus saving printing costs.

Water Colors The essential ingredients in watercolors are pigments, a binding agent (usually gum Arabic), and water. When combined these three components create transparent watercolor.

Gum Arabic acts as the binder for watercolor and paints. Pigments are ground up and a liquid gum Arabic solution s added to produce paint that is more opaque and which imparts a dusty quality to the surface. Gum Arabic is resoluble once it is dried, therefore, it can be stored in cakes.

Printing Houses In the past, gum Arabic was used in the aluminum plate process. Normally, after printing was finished, the plate would have to be cleaned with chemicals and covered by a gum Arabic solution before re-using the plate.

Planographic printing (lithography) the planographic method of offset lithography is the most common form of printing nowadays.

The process works by sensitizing a part of the printing plate so that it will accept grease, oil, printing ink. An image is drawn or transferred on to an aluminum or zinc plate and ‘etched’ with a solution of gum Arabic, water and nitric acid. This area is known as the oleophylic area, and the no sensitized area is called hydrophilic.

Offset lithography continues to be the most economical and reasonable printing process because of its low up-front costs for film preparation and press operation. Moldings have to be covered with paraffin wax before the injection process to make it easy to remove the mold, but paraffin wax is difficult to clean.

Manufacturers must mix gum Arabic with the paraffin and then when they put the mold into hot water overnight the gum Arabic dissolves the wax out easily.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS: GRADE 1 PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS: GRADE 2 Product: Nigerian Gum Arabic Grade 1 Product: Nigerian Gum Arabic Grade 2 Colour: Amber, Orange or White colour with no dark pieces of significant level of impurities. Colour: Amber, Orange or white colour with no dark pieces of significant level of impurities.

Size: Large, round and spherical shaped pieces of 0.05-2 inches in size. There could be up to 10% smalls, fines flakes and dust particles.

Size: Large, round and spherical shaped pieces of 0.05-2 inches in size. There could be uptol0% smalls, fines flakes and dust

particles.

Colour: 3.5 on -e ige colour Colour: Amber compactor. Viscosity: 35.0 Viscosity: 100 cps Ph at 20% Solution: 4.32 Ph at 20% Solution: 4.40 Identification: Positive Identification: Positive Starch: Negative Starch: Negative Tannin Bearing Gums: Negative Tannin Bearing Gums: Negative Optical rotation: + 25.7831 Optical rotation: 26.88 Salmonella: Negative Salmonella: Negative Escherichia Coli: Negative Escherichia Coli: Negative Solubility: 1 gm per 2 ml of water Solubility: 1 gm per 2ml of water M o i s ture content: 4.5% Moisture content: 5% Emulsion test: N/A Emulsion Test: Stable 24 –tours Bacteriological Quality: Free from pests, Bacteriological Quality: Freedom pests, rodents rodents etc.

OVERSEAS BUYERS OF GUM ARABIC 1. Simar S.A Paises Baixos 3 Pol. Indl., de Igualada Igualada 08700 Cataluna Spain Phone: +34938036100 Fax: +34938045208 2. Jumbo Trading Co. Ltd. 46/3 Soi Ruenrudee (Sukhumvit Klongtoe ynua Wattan, Bangkok 1011 Thailand.

Phone:(662) 665 5232 (662) 655 50724 Fax:(662) 251 9627 (662) 252 1086 Email: murtada@ksc.th.com 3. Andrea Gallo Di Luigi. Sri Via Erzelli 9 16152 Geneva GE, ITALY Phone: +390106502941 Fax: 390106503888 4. Sealock Parc d’ Activities de la Galance 53 Rue du Marais 62430 Salaumines, France Phone: +33321786060 Fax: +33321786162 5. Neelkanth Polymers SPL 2B Rll Co. Industrial Area Sitapura Tonk Road Rajasthan, India.

Phone: 813 661 7048 Fax: 813 354 4647 Email: info@npguari.com

6. Red Carnation Gums Ltd. Unit 11 Westmayne Industrial Park, Bramston Way, laidon Basidon, Essex 55115 6TP United Kingdom Phone: +441268412020 Fax: +441268410040 7. Brenntag Nordic Oy Teollisuustie 9 b 02700 Kaunianen Finland Phone: +35895496400 Fax: +358954956411 Email: main@brentag- nordic.com 8. Operational Resources Ltd. Walsall WS9 8UG W Mildlands United Kingdom 9. T.M Duche & Sons Ltd. Wilmslow SK9 8UG W Mildlands United Kingdom 10. Ottensten A/S 8260 Viby J. Denmark 11. Avebe U.K Ltd. Ulceby DN39 6XD Humberside United Kingdom 12. Euro Food Brands Ltd. Nothampton NN2 8XB Northants United Kingdom 3. Tarbert Shellfish Co. Ltd. Tarbert PA 29 1PA Argyll United Kingdom 14. Sfk Norge AS Slagteriernes fesindk Orenning SFK Norge AS 1481 Hagan Akershus Norway 15. Amylum Uk Ltd SE 10 OPA Gtr London United Kingdom 15. Bondloc Uk. Ltd Bewdley Dyl2 2UJ Wores United Kingdom 16. Formulated Polmer Products Ltd. Bury BLO 9BQ Lancs United Kingdom 17. Industrial products Cooreman International I.P.C. Bvba 9200 Denedermonde Belgium Phone: +325241393 CHINYEMIKE TORTI,Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Nigerian Exporters, Alumnus,World Bank Institute,Washington DC • Resource Person ITC/WTO,Geneva-Switzerland. Moderator,EXPORT ADVOCACY GROUP exportgazette@gmail.com

24

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOX POPULI SACRUM

www.oraclenews.ng

EDITORIAL

For an inclusive rail system

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HE furor in the Senate in the past few days over the routes of the new rails the federal government is planning part of the manifestations about the state of our union. The country called Nigeria thrives so much and for so long on privileges and impunity that nobody seems to know the victim or the victimized any longer. Why should the routes of the rail be an issue, such that it dominated a session at the Senate?

Answers are available in what Nigeria has become: the land of opportunities for the parochial, ethnic jingoists and reductionists, who believe that Nigeria cannot be whole, prosperous, and peaceful until they keep excluding the South East from federal government projects without reason?

Where South Easterners, essentially Ndigbo are involved, some other Nigerians are quick to jump into rigmaroles about the impropriety of siting federal government in the zone. Most times there are no debates because the deeds are done before the projects.

It has a lot to do with the Civil War and the persistent fears that Ndigbo can do it again. It is equally an admission by the authorities that they have not done anything to re-integrate the East into Nigeria after the war. Efforts are rather targeted at making the South East a wasteland, by draining its resources, a way of ensuring that its youth cannot live in the zone, as there are limited opportunities in the zone.

The debate may be about the rails. It however goes deep down to the heart of how Nigeria treats the East since the war ended. Some,

borrowing from the treatment, know that the war has not ended. We can give many examples of those treatments, but we have elected to restrict them to two issues: • Other seaports in Nigeria, except Lagos are dead. The commercial and industrial outfits in the South East suffer most from the decisions not to make the ports in Warri, Koko, Sapele, Port Harcourt, and Calabar functional. All imports are from Lagos with attendant increase in cost of manufacturing and distribution of goods.

• Road in the South East are about the worst in the country. They have gone for years without any serious efforts to repair them. Apart from poor construction materials and neglected maintenance procedures, the damaged roads result from the heavy trucks that ply them daily, delivering goods from Lagos, the only sea ports in Nigeria.

It is, therefore, not surprising that at a time that the government wants to address transportation issues, the South East is excluded again. It is noteworthy that the only time since the war that a government tried a holistic development of the country was under President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari. The Calabar port was to be dredged and linked by rail to serve the North east flank of the country, including some Cameroonian border settlements. The 1983 coup stopped that project, as well as the ring road that was planned from Tin Can Island port, through Okokomaiko, to link an expressway that would have run straight from Badagry to Sokoto. Work was in progress on that project; it also died with the 1983 coup.

By early as 1980, there had been plans to link Asaba by rail to Lagos. Later projects hinted at a coastal rail line to open up the creeks, and make transportation from the ports cheaper. Others projects were for rails that would cross from east to west to cover areas that the parallel south-north rails from Lagos, and Port Harcourt did not cover.

Location of rails should be an economic decision as the British did, running their lines through economic belts at both ends of the country and to the seaports. The rails were not social services. Onwuka Njoku, Professor of African History at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, credits the rails with re-writing the economic history of Nigeria. In his book, Economic History of Nigeria 19th and 20th Centuries, Njoku proved the importance of the rails in the economy of Nigeria and how the colonists used the rails.

From the commencement of construction in Iddo in 1898, rail lines were built rapidly – Ibadan (1901), Jebba (1909), Kano (1911), Lagos-Kano route (1 January 1912). Subsequently, a permanent bridge across the Niger was constructed and opened to traffic in 1914.

At the same time, Lugard, who was at the time the governor of the Northern Provinces, in 1901 began construction of a rail line from Zungeru to Kaduna (1901), Baro-Kano-

Zungeru-Zaria (1907), Bauchi-Bukuru (Jos Plateau) in 1914 for the tin mines.

These developments matched economic interests, the same point that we expected would have been a consideration by the Federal Government in its new rail projects. Politics cannot be allowed to overtake the economic powerhouses in the South East, bearing in mind that the rails, if built across different parts of the country, would spread economic opportunities through the tracks.

Coal in commercial quantity was discovered in 1909.

By 1913, construction of the Eastern rail line began in Port Harcourt, Aba was commissioned in 1915, and Enugu in 1916. The rails defined development in these areas with new economic activities, new cities and new lifestyles.

Professor Njoku noted that “the annual receipts of the railway show a steady increase: £2,077,000 in 1924-5; £2,178,000 in 1930-1; and £2,854,000 in 1937-8”. Increase in number of passengers who used the rails was also noted. These were possible because the train was an economic venture.

The economic equity that including various parts of the country in the rail demands also makes a demand on Ndigbo. It is time they started thinking for themselves, and about themselves. The federal authorities have consistently proven that they are unwilling to be fair in the allocation of our commonly owned resources. We cannot mourn that plight endlessly.

There are viable economic belts in the South East and South South that can support rail project that would link them. There are also financial options for developing these projects that should excite private sector interests.

Governments, the private sector, and others who have concerns about the slow pace of developments that centrally made decisions have imposed on the region must find ways of getting out of the quagmire.

Fifty years after the civil war started, it is more than enough time to think of new ways of surviving in Nigeria.

Our Vision TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nigeria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of records that effectively caters to the information needs of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commercially viable, properly organised media business, which meets its obligations to society, government and the workforce.

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

25

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

OPINION

Of ladies and nude pictures

By AMARA VANLARE

A

GOOD number of nude pictures you see on the Internet are as a result of love gone sour. When it was sweet, all in the name of “I don’t want to lose my man”, those ladies foolishly sent out nude pictures to them.

What you don’t know is that some of these guys share your nudity with friends.

A friend once told me how a colleague brought out his phone during management meeting and continued passing it round for everyone to view his girlfriend’s nude pictures. As they viewed, he continued praising the girl over WhatsApp, asking her to send different poses while they fed their eyes. What a shame!

He keeps calling you different names and telling you all the sweet words you want to hear thereby making you lose your head. Real women don’t lose their head in lust. Don’t get it twisted; he does not love you, he’s only lusting after you and to him, you are nothing but a sex object.

This is why I pity girls who see themselves as ladies and get carried away when men address them as ‘sexy’.

Don’t think you are the only one sending him nude pictures. A good number of men who ask for nude pictures do same

with many other girls, you’re just one of his girls. Even your husband asking for it likely does that with many other women.

Men who ask for such have no regard for womanhood. Hard to swallow? I know, but that’s the truth.

Okay, let’s buy into your lie and agree that your husband doesn’t do that with other women , what happens when his phone mistakenly goes into the wrong hand? Every locked phone can be unlocked. And what happens if, tomorrow, that present and future becomes ex?

Sure no one prays for divorce, but it happens. What happens if that his relative or friend who hates you so much lays hands on those picture? Even if they do nothing against you, how shameful it is for your husband’s brother or friend to behold your nudity.

Again, what happens if that boyfriend or husband of yours, decides to use that to blackmail you tomorrow for trying to leave him for another? A woman contacted me with this issue. She has been so battered by the husband and now that she wants to take a walk, the man, who has all the nude pictures she sent him when the going was good, has compiled everything, ready to throw it out to the world should she dare. Many

women are stuck in relationships they should have no business with because they are afraid of the after effect. If that guy has nothing against you, you can confidently take a walk when you should. But because you have done so many bad things with him and have sent out pictures of your vagina and breasts, you are helpless.

Ladies, you are nobody’s sex object. Anyways, some smart girls now download pictures of naked women and send to these insatiable guys...two can play the game.

And why should any man open his dirty mouth to ask you for such pictures?

No man who has regard for womanhood and for your body will open his mouth to ask you for pictures of your breasts and vagina. Never forget this: If he asks for it from you, he’s asking for and getting it from ten other cheap girls. Ladies, give yourself some respect and carry yourself the way you want to be addressed. You cannot be shouting and telling the whole world how men disrespect you when you make yourself nothing but a very

cheap sex object.

I refuse to buy into that lie that men have no regard for women. Men don’t disrespect me just the way they don’t disrespect so many other ladies. Men disrespect you because you deserve to be disrespected. Get yourself together and be a woman. What do you have to offer apart from your body? A good number of men ask for such because you’ve got nothing to offer. You can’t have a reasonable discussion with the man. He can’t talk politics with you.

He can’t discuss his vision and spirituality with you. He can’t discuss sports with you. He can’t even get a good meal from you. What then is left if not to ask for your vagina, which is all you have to offer? Act, talk, and walk like a woman and you shall be adored. Become versatile and balanced my dear young woman.

•Mrs. Vanlare ((nee Nwosu), author, motivational speaker and executive director of Dorcas Foundation, a widows’ empowerment initiative, lives in the United States with her husband and children. She contributed this piece to mark the International Women’s Week

APC’s threats of war in Anambra State

By CHUMA IGBOANUGO

I

N A STRANGE and unpleasant turn of events, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has suddenly swept through Igboland like an invading army and swept away our ageing political leaders and some businessmen. It is as though we are all watching a tightly scripted movie and these red-capped Igbo leaders and businessmen are the symbolic prisoners of war…victims of incendiary commentaries and thinly veiled threats of scorched earth policies against the 5% that failed to vote APC in the last general elections.

Instructively, before this sudden surge

by APC, there had been subtle threats by the party’s megaphones in the South East who felt emboldened by its growing high-handedness at the national level that has gone unquestioned for a while.

The flagrant disregard for the sanctity of human lives, the brazen contempt for the doctrine of separation of powers and the iron-fisted crackdown on opposition elements are just a few of the excesses of the APC that have influenced the tenor of the rhetoric deployed by its stalwarts in the South East to cow the decamping Igbo leaders to submission.

In mid-December last year for instance, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State fired the opening shots of APC campaign in Igboland when he threatened that the party would take over Anambra State from APGA. Okorocha was not clowning this time.

He merely let slip a grand plan that his comrades had hatched at the highest level. Since then, he had ratcheted up more attacks on Anambra for obvious reasons…Anambra is the very heart of Igboland. APC’s capture of Anambra is symbolically the final conquest of an enclave where Nigeria has met the stiffest resistance in both war and peace times. Okorocha’s masters are in full awareness of this

symbolism and have effectively primed him to lead the assault.

As would be expected, Okorocha and his minions had gone on the offensive, threatening in an uncouth language to take over Anambra State and jabbing an insolent finger in the eye of Ndi Anambra in a manner that could not have gone for too long without a response.

He took it rather too far when he promised that “we are also going to use the Anambra election to show that APC has arrived (in the) Southeast.”

That fatal comment is a pointer to the undisguised plan of APC to deploy conventional and unconventional means to force their way into the Government House in Awka later this year. It is, therefore, a note of warning to Ndi Anambra who find a great deal of pride in the great legacy that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu left in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which has withstood the relentless assault of all manner of political gang-ups to date.

The Minister of Labour, Senator Ngige felt that Okorocha was outshining him in his own turf and picked up the inflammable commentary where the former left it. He boasted that APC would demolish the iconic flyovers built by the governor of the state in Awka because they are a regrettable obstruction of the federal highway. Senator Ngige issued other annoying threats also but to talk about pulling down the three flyovers on the ground that they are obstructing access on a federal highway that had been abandoned by the federal government for thirty years is not only irresponsible but provocative.

And sadly, because these incendiary comments by Okorocha and Ngige were not sufficiently challenged by Ndi Anambra, the volume of threats is growing in more decibels. The latest threats came from the former governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo who

is leading a 7-man Committee of political vampires set up by the APC to annex Anambra State by any means necessary.

Like others before it, Nwobodo’s Committee has been issuing threats to forcibly wrench Anambra off the grips of APGA and hand it over to the marauding APC to cement the total annexure of Igboland by the invading army. Never before has South East Nigeria heard the verbal violence currently being spouted by the APC leaders in the region with regard to the Anambra gubernatorial election. There is not the slightest attempt to disguise the fact that its approach is essentially intimidation or that it is hellbent on foisting an electoral heist on the people.

Two things are involved in the recent APC invasion of Igboland. One of them is the thirst for conquest by the coalition that formed the party, the same coalition that came together in 1967 to crush the economy of the old Eastern Region, which was widely regarded then as the fastest growing economy in Africa. The other one is the pride of the Igbo man and his wish to preserve what is left of his pride and his political heritage.

As it stands now, the conquerors are wetting the ground for an ill-fated assault on Anambra State. And once again, Senator Jim Nwobodo is leading the charge. It is saddening to recall that Nwobodo whose greatest infamy is that he rose against his own people at the PDP Convention in Jos in 1998 and spoke Hausa language to deny Dr. Alex Ekwueme the chance of emerging the party’s standard bearer in the campaign that produced the Obasanjo presidency, has not truly repented.

Even in his twilight years, Nwobodo has continued to lend himself quite easily to the enemies of the Igbo. As for Kalu, his antecedents are well known. He left Abia State in a decrepit state after eight

wasteful years in which he danced himself lame, careering from one controversy to another. Kalu is all politics and not enough leadership. These two leaders whose political careers have since tipped over into the setting sun are leading a retinue of other never-do-well politicians on a ruthless assault on Anambra State, the pride of the Igbo man! These two political wolves are determined to spit on the grave of Ikemba Nnewi and all of our great ancestors who put their lives on the line to preserve what is left of the dignity of Ndigbo as a global race! Tufiakwa!

Will Ndi Anambra allow that? Can Ndi Anambra allow that? Alu! •Chuma Igbanugo is an Onitsha based Attorney

THE GROUP Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Ikeddy Isiguzo Editor Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Editor/Head, Lagos Bureau Sopuruchi Onwuka Abuja Bureau Chief Tony Ailemen Production Editor Henry Duru Business Dev. Manager Amaka Onumajulu Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Circulation Manager Felix Oti

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The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

e-Platform Facebook fined €110m over WhatsApp discrepancies

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•The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta (middle), flanked by Comedienne/OAP, Helen Paul and Actor Aliyu Nuhu, both ambassadors of the Commission at the launching of the ‘Year of the Telecom Consumer’ campaign in Lagos

Why we declared 2017 Year of the consumer – NCC

By SAMSON AKINTARO

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he Nigerian Communications Commission has described the consumers in the Nigerian telecommunications sector as the pillar upon which the sector has grown strongly over the years, and this, it said, necessitated the declaration of this year as the Year of the Consumer. The declaration, according to the Commission comes with the whole gamut of ensuring that all its activities in the year are geared towards ensuring that the consumer enjoys the best service quality and is well protected.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Year of the Consumer’ campaign in Lagos, the EVC of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said the Commission’s campaigns and regulatory efforts for the year would focus on two key areas of improving the quality of services and protecting and educating the consumers. “In our determination to ensure that the consumer experiences improved service this year and beyond, the Commission is implementing measures to ensure Drop Call Rate reduces and meets its industry benchmark of less than one percent target. The Commission is closely monitoring, tracking and reviewing the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of operators by the Network Integrity and Technical Standards Department” the EVC said, adding that “greater efforts would also be put in place for compliance monitoring and enforcement of set standards”.

Danbatta said the pro-consumer stance of the Commission was part of 8-point agenda, which it unveiled about

a year ago. According to him, items number two and six of the agenda are to improve quality of service and to protect/ empower the consumer. “These two items have been the core drivers of our Year of Consumer initiative” he said.

The EVC added that as part of his efforts to achieve the focus of the year, he met with the Mobile Number Operators (MNOs) and infrastructure providers recently to demand that the quality of services must be improved upon immediately. “This is to ensure that the consumer gets value for money and gets satisfactory user experience. There are sanctions for failing to meet the KPIs, and we will not hesitate to enforce them and might even make them more stringent.

In addressing forex challenge, which the operators had blamed as one of the factors limiting their capacity development efforts, Danbatta said the regulator was also aware of this and had intervened with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “Already, this intervention is beginning to yield some results and we are sure that in no distant future, the forex challenge would no longer exist, to the benefit of both the consumer and the operators.”

Also speaking, the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management at the NCC, Mr Sunday Dare, said for the first time, the NCC has singled out the consumer and dedicate a year of activities towards safeguarding the rights, protecting the interests and empowering the consumer to make informed decisions. According to him, the drivers

of 2017 focus on consumer are the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb service, which allows the consumer to stop unsolicited messages; the toll free line 622, which the consumer can call to report any operator that fails to address their complaints; and Quality of Service.

“On a continuous basis, NCC will seek to engage and explore waysto make consumer experience more satisfying within the Nigerian telecoms industry.

We want both the inbound and outbound call experience to get to a higher standard such that wherever you are calling from, be it from Kano to Kotongora, from Ado-Ekiti to Abuja, from Lagos to Lokoja, from Dutse to Damaturu, Enugu to Yenago, and from London to Lagos, you experience good quality service” he said.

He added that the Commission would continue to engage the service providers and other critical stakeholders in a consultative way to ensure that quality of services across board is achieved and the levels of awareness and activation of the 2442 and the 622 help lines take centre stage.

Meanwhile, network operators in the country have pledged their support for the NCC in its bid to satisfy the consumer, saying that also fall within the scope of their target as service providers. The operators who took turn to pledge their allegiance before the mammoth crowd of consumers and other stakeholders at the NCC campaign launch in Lagos, also promised to do all that is necessary to improve their service quality to the consumer.

he European Commission (EC) has fined Facebook €110 million for providing “incorrect or misleading” information in 2014 regarding its $20 billion acquisition of WhatsApp. When Facebook notified the EC about the acquisition in 2014, it said it would be unable to establish reliable automated matches between the two companies’ user accounts.

However, in August 2016, WhatsApp announced updates to its privacy policy which showed it may link user phone numbers with Facebook identities. After an investigation, the EC found the technical capability to do so existed in 2014, and Facebook staff were aware of this. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the fine: “sends a clear signal to companies that they must comply with all aspects of EU merger rules, including the obligation to provide correct information.” “It imposes a proportionate and deterrent fine on Facebook.

The commission must be able to take decisions about mergers’ effects on competition in full knowledge of accurate facts,” she added.

The commission could have fined Facebook up to 1 per cent of its turnover, which would have been around $276 million, but said it took into account Facebook’s cooperation during the investigation. Also, the EC’s decision to levy the penalty does not have any impact on its decision to authorise the transaction, which the commission said was based on a number of elements going beyond the issue at hand.

A Facebook company representative said: “the errors we made in our 2014 filings were not intentional and the commission has confirmed that they did not impact the outcome of the merger review. Today’s announcement brings this matter to a close.”

This is the first time the EC fined a company for provision of incorrect or misleading information since the 2004 Merger Regulation came into force.

The EC also clarified the decision is unrelated to ongoing national antitrust procedures or privacy, data protection or consumer protection issues, which may arise following the August 2016 update of WhatsApp’s privacy policy. WhatsApp has been in hot water with regulators ever since it implemented the update. The company was recently fined €3 million in Italy for obliging users to agree to share their personal data with Facebook. In November 2016, the app maker stopped sharing data of European users with Facebook a week after initiating a similar move in the UK at the request of the country’s Information Commission.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

e-Platform

Microsoft to offer new cloud services in Africa Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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icrosoft has revealed plans to deliver the complete, intelligent Microsoft Cloud for the first time from data centres located in Africa. This new investment is a major milestone in the company’s mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more, and recognition of the enormous opportunity for digital transformation in Africa.

Expanding on existing investments, Microsoft said it would deliver cloud services, including Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365, from data centres located in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa with initial availability anticipated in 2018. The new cloud regions will offer enterprisegrade reliability and performance combined with data residency to help enable the tremendous opportunity for economic growth, and increase access to cloud and internet services for organisations and people across the African continent.

“We’re excited by the growing demand for cloud services in Africa and their ability to be a catalyst for new economic opportunities,” said Scott Guthrie, executive vice

president, Cloud and Enterprise Group, Microsoft Corp. “With cloud services ranging from intelligent collaboration to predictive analyt-

ics, the Microsoft Cloud delivered from Africa will enable developers to build new and innovative apps, customers to transform their busi-

nesses, and governments to better serve the needs of their citizens.”

Microsoft’s new investment will provide highly available, scalable,

Smile appoints former MTN CEO as ED Operations S mile, a Pan-African telecommunications group with operations in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has announce the appointment of Ahmad Farroukh to its Board as Executive Director, Operations, effective 1 May 2017.

Ahmad is an experienced telecoms executive with a distinguished record of commercial success, extensive experience working in Africa and an impressive ability to drive strategy and profitability in accordance with international standards. He has held executive management positions at Investcom Holdings and the MTN Group, including being CEO of MTN Nigeria for five years, CEO of MTN South Africa and MTN Group Chief Operating Executive (responsible for 19 countries). Most recently, he served as CEO of Mobily, Saudi Arabia’s second largest telecommunications operator. Given the extent of the opportunity and the significance to Smile, Ahmad will spend the majority of his executive time in Nigeria.

“The Africa telecoms market is as dynamic as it is challenging, and Ahmad Farroukh is perfectly suited to lead Smile’s next exciting phase of growth, as we have transitioned from a spectrum rich start-up to the most reliable data gigabyte factory in Sub-Sahara Africa,” said Irene Charnley, Smile Group’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Africa is experiencing explosive data growth, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the operations of the continent’s best 4G LTE network at this exciting time. It has also been a revelation after over 20 years in the industry to witness the power and versatility of Smile’s proprietary technology applications and billing platform, which was developed in-house and provides a huge competitive and cost advantage,” said Ahmad. Ahmad holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from the Lebanese

and secure cloud services across Africa with the option of data residency in South Africa. With the introduction of these new cloud regions, Microsoft has now announced 40 regions around the world – more than any major cloud provider. The combination of Microsoft’s global cloud infrastructure with the new regions in Africa will connect businesses with opportunity across the globe, help accelerate new investments, and improve access to cloud and internet services for people and organisations from Cairo to Cape Town.

“We greatly value Microsoft’s commitment to invest in cloud services delivered from Africa. Standard Bank already relies on cloud technology to provide our customers with a seamless experience,” says Brenda Niehaus, group CIO at Standard Bank. “To achieve success as a business, we need to keep pace with market developments as well as customer needs, and Office 365 empowers us to make a culture shift towards becoming a more dynamic organisation, whilst Azure enables us to deliver our apps and services to our customers in Africa.

We’re looking forward to achieving even more with the cloud services available here on the continent.”

MTN hit with another $8.5 million fine in Rwanda T

he South African telecommunications group, MTN, is in fresh trouble as the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) fined its Rwandan operation unit, MTN Rwanda, 7 billion francs (8.5 million dollars) for running its IT services outside the country in breach of its licence. This may have created a more compounded situation for the MTN Group, which still has about N220 billion to pay the Nigerian authorities, having paid N110 billion as part of a negotiated fine imposed on the company for its failure to disconnect unregistered lines in 2015.

The Rwandan regulator, RURA, in a statement posted on its website, said MTN was fined for hosting its IT services hub in Uganda, which it had prohibited. “They are punished for relocating their IT services outside Rwanda, and this was deliberate,’’ Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority Spokesman Anthony Kulamba said.

MTN Group said it had also received a notification about the fine. “MTN Rwanda has received official notification of a fine equivalent to US$ 8.5 million from the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA). The fine relates to noncompliance with the Directives issued by the regulator prohibiting the inclusion of MTN Rwanda in the MTN South and East Africa (SEA) IT hub based in Uganda.“MTN has been engaging with the regulator on this matter over the past four months. MTN Rwanda is currently studying the official notification and will continue to engage with the regulator on this matter,” it said in a statement.

In 2016, the company, which operates in 20 countries, set aside 600 million dollars to pay a fine imposed by the Nigerian government through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for not disconnecting unregistered SIM cards.

•Ahmad Farroukh American University and is a Certified Public Accountant (New York, USA).

Smile, founded in 2007, is a Mauritius-based Pan-African telecommunications group with operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Africa.

The company is majority owned by Saudi-based, Al Nahla group. Smile has the largest sub-1 GHz 4G LTE commercial network in Africa, operating in the 800 MHz band, providing SuperFast and Reliable broadband services

to its customers.

Smile was the first to launch VoLTE on its network and has continued with its innovation, having introduced SmileVoice, which is a free mobile app that enables customers with any Android or Apple handset (including those which are not VoLTE-enabled) to make SuperClear voice calls over Smile’s 4G LTE networks. Smile was also the first to introduce an unlimited offering, which enables SuperFastReliable data and SuperClear voice, all in one bundle.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

Disaster insurance against climate change attracts African countries Stories by KINGSLEY CHRISTOPHER

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ollowing the threat of natural disasters that has been the hallmark of African existence and the task of humanitarian aids to rise for rapid response, the African Risk Capacity limited has mulled plans to develop product for climate change During a drought, for example, small-scale farmers facing a sequence of harsh dry seasons may sell their cattle and pull their children out of school. A quicker response could minimize the longterm effects of such a crisis.

To address the problem of slow response to disasters, international development practitioners are advocating for “resilience building,” a term that refers to efforts to help communities brace for extreme events before they happen.

The goal is “to move away from disaster response and shift the conversation to one that is more proactive,” says Dolika Banda, a Zambian economist who was recently named chief executive officer of African Risk Capacity, Limited (ARC Ltd).

“The continent needs to move from an ex post humanitarian response to ex ante preparation and disaster management plans,” says Ms. Banda.

ARC Ltd is the private-sector arm of the ARC Agency, established as a specialized agency of the African Union (AU) to help Member States improve their capacities to plan for and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters, therefore protecting the food security of their vulnerable populations, according to their website. It was launched by a 2012 treaty with 32 signatories and joins a small but growing group of “risk pooling” initiatives around the world (others are the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility and the Pacific Risk Pool).

ARC’s plan works like orthodox insurance; think of homeowners who must install smoke detectors to get fire coverage. If the detectors prove insufficient and everything goes up in flames, a system is in place for prompt payouts.

“As a technician, my message is that we cannot depend on nature,” said Hastings Ngoma, the government coordinator for ARC Malawi. “We need risk management.”

ARC promotes the value of insurance coverage to national leaders, advising countries to develop contingency plans before they purchase coverage. This encourages preparedness and makes sure countries know what to expect as they pay for the premiums.

ARC uses a straightforward, novel system called parametric insurance to determine payouts.

Under the parametric insurance

policies, payouts are made when a predetermined threshold is reached for instance, if rainfall falls below a certain level.

“You need to reach the trigger,” says Ms. Banda. ARC and countries have to jointly develop customized policies that assure a payout when one is needed, she added.

The organization’s original capital infusion was a loan.

Opening shop in 2014 with drought coverage, ARC marked its inaugural period with $26 million in payouts to Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. More recently, Malawi has qualified for $8 million in cash.

The ARC brain trust has calculated that a dollar in premiums translates into at least five dollars’ worth of traditional response

with quicker delivery. ARC aims to cut down its current payout response time of six weeks, but even six weeks outpaces the United Nations’ response in providing relief supplies for the Sahel.

Eight countries, including Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe, have taken drought insurance in ARC’s first three years in operation. Total coverage in the second year for seven nations was $178 million. Six countries (Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal) are currently on board for the annual period that runs through mid-2017.

ARC emerged partly in response to concerns about the often delayed and high cost of response of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and donor countries when providing hu-

manitarian relief. The German development bank KfW and a UK aid agency, the Department for International Development, laid down a $200 million interest-free, 20-year loan as seed capital.

Donor and WFP support for ARC is expected to continue.

During the COP21 climate summit in December 2015, ARC announced more than $150 million in new pledges from countries including Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States.

Last year the WFP announced collaboration with ARC to extend disaster insurance coverage to more African countries, partly thanks to European donors. The WFP’s replica insurance programme will match outlays for countries that consistently invest

in insurance premiums via ARC. The UN agency hopes that by 2030 insurance will finance half its natural disaster aid expenditures in Africa and Asia.

“WFP is transforming the way we assist vulnerable communities to cope with natural disasters, from disaster response to risk management,” said WFP executive director Ertharin Cousin during the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul last year.

“Countries themselves need to own and manage their disaster risk, first and foremost.”

To make sure that it can make good on any and all claims, ARC has its own insurance, spreading its risk among many of the world`s top reinsurance companies, including such big names as Munich Re.

L-R: Secretary General, AIO, Prisca Soares, the Minister of State for Finance, David Bahati, Vice President, Mr. Edward Sekandi and Outgoing President of Africa Insurance Organisation(AIO), Mr Bachir Baddou at the.opening event held today in Kampala, Uganda

PenCom, NAICOM meet AIICO Pensions this week to resolve delay AuM hits N78.1bn on annuity approval A T he National Pension Commission (PenCom) and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) would meet this week to resolve issues responsible for delay in approval of annuity, It was learnt.

It was also gathered that the meeting would bring both regulators on the page and also pave way for a joint guideline that would regulate the operations of annuity.

The delay in the approval of annuity in recent times remains a concern for insurance operators and retirees who are only left

with programmed withdrawal option.

Also gathered was that one of the contending issues in the administration of annuity presently is the payment of commission to brokers and agents.

For PenCom, commission should never be charged on annuity as such was not provided in the Pension Act. This medium gathered that the payment of commissions to brokers and agents remains an area insurers really want NAICOM and PenCom to carefully consider.

IICO Pensions Limited total Pension Assets under Management has increased by 21 per cent in 2016 to N78.1 billion moving from N64.2 billion.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the parent group, AIICO Insurance Plc, Edwin Igbiti at AIICO Insurance pre-AGM press briefing in Lagos Thursday.

According to Mr. Igbiti, the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) ranked 13th in the industry by fund under management, with a market share of 1.4 per cent, adding that the PFA currently has a physical presence in 25 states.

He further explained that the company’s revenue totals in 2016 grew to N994 million or 15.8 per cent from N858million in 2015, while profit was up by 882 per cent from N17.5 million to N172 million within the period under consideration.

Igbiti noted that the private sector continues to drive its new business with over 90 per cent of the new customers. This, he said is crucial as the cash crunch in government continues.

“We believe that opportunities remain in the pensions industry especially with the large informal sector in the country,” he added.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

Experts tackle regional fears at African Trade Insurance Summit Stories by

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he African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) held its 17thAnnual General Meeting last week amidst fear of increased geopolitical uncertainties arising from challenging growth impediment in the African region. This is as the agency supported the $4billion worth of transaction in 2016.

With the sustained commodity price decline and current geopolitical uncertainties which took centre stage, participants urged African governments to intently focus on growing intra-African trade and diversifying their economies away from commodity reliance in order to reduce vulnerability to external shocks.

Report from the agency noted that the sub-Saharan Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), growth rates expected to hit a record low of 1.5per cent, depressed commodity rates are seen to be one of the major drivers with export producers accounting for two-thirds of the region’s growth.

Set against a backdrop of increased geopolitical uncertainties that could prove challenging for improved growth, H.E. Patrice Talon, President of the Republic of Benin and Hon. Henry Rotich, Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury of Kenya delivered opening addresses that pointed to ATI as a vital partner in supporting Africa’s journey toward diversification, self-reliance and more sustainable growth.

In 2016, ATI facilitated financing of trade and investments in Kenya valued at close to USD800 million which represents around 1.2per cent of Kenya’s GDP. Similarly, in ATI’s two newest member countries, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, the company supported USD400 million worth to trade and investment to these economies.

“This is a very significant contribution to our economy. It demonstrates real benefit because these financial flows could not have been realised without the

support of ATI,” noted Hon. Rotich.

ATI is a multilateral investment insurer that was formed

by COMESA member countries with the support of the World Bank in 2001. Since then, ATI has expanded to include countries in the ECOWAS region.

The company provides a range of products that mitigate risks impeding the flow of investments and trade to and within Africa. As of 2016, ATI has cumulatively supported USD25 billion (KES2.5 trillion) worth of trade and investments into its member countries since inception.

ATI provides political risk and trade credit risk insurance products with the objective of reducing the business risk and cost of doing business in Africa.

“Our main goal is to help increase investments into our African member countries and twoway trade flows between Africa and the world. We facilitate exports, foreign direct investment

into and trade flows within the continent.

ATI was launched in 2001 with the financial and technical support of the World Bank and the backing of seven African countries. The African Development Bank recently joined as shareholder and partner by funding countries to join ATI. Since 2003, we have supported over $25 billion worth of trade and investments across the continent, secured an investment grade rating of ‘A’ from Standard & Poor’s, and expanded membership with plans to attract even more African member countries and international financial institutions in the near term.

Created to fill a market gap in trade and investment risk mitigation in Africa, the multilateral agency fits into the gap bridging aim of the founding fathers. For instance, in the late 90’s, risk mitigation tools for credit and political insurance were not available for many African countries, and

where the cover existed, it was very costly. In addition, the relatively small volumes of trade and investments into these countries did not justify the establishment of national export credit agencies. The only viable solution was to form a multilateral agency that would provide more cost-effective use of underwriting capital, reduced over-head costs and the ability to encourage private sector insurers to assume risk in Africa.

In response to the demand, a number of African countries came together to establish an insurance mechanism to protect their economies against losses caused by credit and political risks. They were confident that this instrument would help local companies compete globally and help Africa attract foreign direct investment.

ATI was subsequently launched in 2001 with a mandate to create insurance and reinsurance products to help reduce the risks and costs of doing business in Africa.

IICO Insurance Plc says it will continue to leverage close relationship with insurance brokers and agents to grow insurance market premium.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Edwin Igbiti, who disclosed this at the weekend during a pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM) media briefing in Lagos, noted that the firm will continue to engage with its partners to ensure that it find mutually beneficial ways to work with one another.

He remarked that the firm will internally focus on improving efficiency across it businesses while embedding a culture of rigorous performance management across the organisation, stressing that the firm will also continue to invest in its people to increase hu-

onsolidated Hallmark Insurance C Plc said it is floating a microinsurance company to take advan-

tage of the volume of sales accruable from low-income class.

Stated in its 2016 annual report, the underwriting firm said that the microinsurance outfit – CHI Microinsurance Limited is at the formative stage.

Managing Director Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc, Eddie Efekoha, said the company has finalised plans to revamp its agency unit to enable it position appropriately for microinsurance and take advantage of the volume of sales accruable from the low-income class.

He noted that prompt and quality service delivery model will be designed to ensure that all customers are left with long lasting impression.

He said the company is currently undergoing a digital transformation exercise which will enable it position itself strategically and to also align with its strategic objectives, stressing that the efforts would help the company deliver exceptional returns to shareholders, be profitable and increase its market share, and that this is part of a comprehensive five years strategic plan currently being implemented

Lagos State prepares workers for pension transfer window

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From left: Head, Non-Life Business, AIICO Insurance Plc, Adewale Kadri; Executive Director, Babatunde Fajemirokun; Managing Director/CEO Edwin Igbiti and Chief Financial Officer, Ayodele Bamidele at the event in Lagos

AIICO Insurance leverages intermediaries for increased growth

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Consolidated Hallmark Insurance sets up microinsurance firm

man capital. According to him, a motivated workforce will represent the company better to its clients.

Igbiti said the insurer’s underwriting profitability increased from a loss of N5.5 billion to a profit of N12.45 billion across the group driven by slight underwriting improvements in the non life business release of the reserves in the life business.

He noted that due to the reduction in its annuity reserves which is recorded as a decreased in unearned premiums in its income statement and a released to profits, the company recorded a gross premium income of N30 billion in 2016 when compared with N10.4 billion reported in same period of 2015; indicating 188 percent in-

crease.

He maintained that actual investment income appreciated by 27 percent from N5.7 billion in 2015 to N7.2 percent at the end of 31, December 2016.

The AIICO boss maintained that the company’s asset management capabilities continue to be a key strength for the company following its outstanding performance in investment income due to high yield.

He added that profit after tax rose 756 percent from N1.195 billion to N10.2 billion in 2016, while Profit before tax rose to N11.835 billion in 2016 as against N1.799billion achieved in 2015; representing 558 percent increase.

According to him, the firm’s total assets came down by N2.6 billion from N80.1 billion achieved in 2015

to N77.5 billion which he said was due mainly to the reduction in the value of financial income assets and the one time expenses which decreased cash holdings and financial assets.

He said company’s gross premium dropped to N27.1billion in 2016 as against N32.9billion recorded in the financial period of 2015; representing 17. 8 percent largely because of its strategic decision to reduce premiums written in the long term business due to higher market risks Executive Director of the company, Babatunde Fajemirokun, who is responsible for the firm’s operations, said the firm is eyeing a gross premium income of N30 to N32 billion from 2017 underwriting business.

agos State Government has prepared her workers for the opening of the transfer window which will enable a contributor port from one Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) to another, the Commissioner of Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson, has said.

He disclosed this at the ministerial briefing in commemoration of the second year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, adding that the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) as one of the trail blazing agency of Lagos State Government has also initiated and perfected electronic archiving of records of payments made to Retirees of the State for preservation and protection of records in case of any unexpected eventualities.

The essence of this giant stride, he said, is to ensure preservation of records of paid retirees in electronic format and thereby removing the usually associated “ghost worker/ retiree” fraudulent syndrome prevalent with the administration of old pension regime due to lack of adequate record.

He said the Commission was also one of the specified agencies earmarked for the Specialized Orientation Programme for Redeployed Management Staff in the Local Government Service, adding that this is to ensure seamless integration of Officers from the Local Government to the State Public Service “The Commission has not stopped the sensitization of retirees on the activities of Pension fraudsters. It would interest you to note that despite the fact that one or two cases of these fraudsters are reported, this malaise has reduced drastically compared to what the Agency used to have in the first half of 2016,” he said

Oke maintained that the officers of the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions have laboured and toiled to achieve exceptional feats in the first two years of the current administration.

30

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

Love and Living

... With Ireto Temofeh

Oracle Girl of the Week

ODD NEWS Mystery of Da Vinci’s mother solved

Name: Catherine Tel: 0803 263 8739

A

*Do you want to be our next Oracle Girl?

Send your photos to ireto007@yahoo.com and call 07031028714.

RT historians have finally solved the identity of Leonardo da Vinci’s mother nearly five centuries after the artist’s death.

Da Vinci’s mother, Caterina di Meo Lippi, was an orphan living in a farmhouse with her grandmother on remote hills a mile from Vinci when she became pregnant.

New research reveals that the vulnerable girl was only 15 years old when she was seduced by an older lawyer and became pregnant with Leonardo.

Art historians discovered da Vinci’s mother was an orphan called Caterina di Meo Lippi who was just 15 and living in a farmhouse with her grandmother on remote hills a mile from Vinci.

Caterina’s father, Bartolomeo Lippi, disappeared when she was young.

She was brought up by her grandmother who then died in 1951 so she then moved in with her uncle and aunt.

She was only 15 years old when she was seduced by an older lawyer and became pregnant with Leonardo.

Leonardo, who who was born on 14 April 1452, was probably brought up in Ser Piero’s father’s house.

Caterina was married off to a local farmer called Antonio di Piero Buti.

Caterina went on to have a second son

LOVE NEWS

Prince Charles and Camilla post a job advert looking for a new chef

C

LARENCE House has published a detailed new job advert seeking out a sous chef to cook for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

The very regal appointment involves travelling extensively with the couple on royal duties, and serving up organic-only food in a fine dining setting.

According to the advert on the Clarence House website, the successful candidate will work 40 hours a week and find themselves in the kitchens of royal residences across the UK. ‘We are looking for a talented sous chef to join our team within The Household of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall,’ says the advert.

It continues: ‘The sous chef will be responsible for the supervision, preparation and service of food to the highest standards from private dining and staff meals, to receptions and events. You will be confident working alone in the provision of meals and also as part of the wider team.’

The role will also see the successful candidate ‘working in Royal Residences across the UK’.

Creating menus using locally-sourced produce is clearly a huge part of the role; those applying ‘should be passionate about the quality of the food you provide, including its origins and sustainability.’

Budding regal chefs will also plan menus from ‘conception through to service’.

and four daughters.

More than 40 years later Caterina went to stay with her son in Milan where she died, documents reveal.

Art historians have long struggled to find out about the life of the artist’s mother with speculation that she was a slave from Africa or China but new research reveals the truth is closer to home.

According to a new book by Professor Martin Kemp, emeritus professor of art history at Oxford University local girl Caterina became pregnant with a 25-yearold lawyer called Ser Piero da Vinci who was working in Florence.

Dr Kemp said he was ‘a young man on the make’ who took a few weeks off in July 1451 when he met Caterina, writes The Times.

‘Nice summer’s evening probably in the fields — and that was it’, said Dr Kemp.

Caterina ‘was a peasant fallen on bad times, and you cannot be much lower in the social pile than that.

‘To be a 16-year-old with an illegitimate son and no house was about as bad as it gets’, he said.

Caterina’s father, Bartolomeo Lippi, disappeared when she was young.

She was brought up by her grandmother who then died in 1951 so she then moved in with her uncle and aunt.

31

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

True Confession

‘I married him without knowing he had given me HIV’ M

Y name is Azuka and my story is quite interesting but pathetic at the same time.

Three years ago after my youth service, I decided to travel home to my village in the East to see some of my relations which I hadn’t seen for a very long time, and also to rest because my service year had been a very challenging one.

I didn’t like taking night buses but because I hadn’t packed my bags in time, I had to take the night bus. So I boarded a night bus at the Mazamaza area of Lagos and the man sitting next to me on the bus appeared to be very interested in me.

He introduced himself by saying: ‘Hello sweetheart, my name is Jerry and I must confess that you’re the sweetest thing ever to walk the face of the earth.”

He disarmed me with his charming manner and I suddenly found myself laying down my guard and responding warmly to him.

Inside the bus that night, Jerry and I got up close and personal with each other. Jerry told me many things about himself and about his family. I did the same thing too.

He even told me all about his past relationships and how they had failed one after the other. Jerry really opened up to me and it looked as if we had known each other for years.

I felt so happy and relaxed being with him. And from the smile on his face and the look in his eyes, I could tell that he felt the same thing too.

Inside of me, I knew that Jerry was my soul mate, the missing rib that I had been looking for, for so many years.

From the way he talked and stared at me, it was clear that he adored me and that I was the only woman he wanted to be with.

From the look in his eyes, I could taste the love he felt for me, even without kissing him.

The driver and the bus attendant were unable to fix the engine of the bus which had broken down that night, so they advised all the passengers to either spend the night on their seats in the bus or in nearby hotels.

In fact, though I feel ashamed to admit it, I was actually happy that the bus would not be able to continue its journey that night. This was therefore, an opportunity for Jerry and I to get more intimate.

For the first time in my life, I made love with a man I met on a bus. For the first time in my life, I let my passion take control of me and I gave in to Jerry right there on the bus. And he made me experience heaven with so much passion!

Of course, since we were on the bus, we couldn’t afford to take our clothes off! So we did it in the best way we could in such a situation, because we both knew that it wouldn’t be nice if we let other passengers notice what we were doing.

From that night onwards, Jerry and I started dating and became best of friends and lovers. Later, I found out I was pregnant and informed my man about it. Jerry was overjoyed to hear that I had conceived and he promised to marry me.

I told him to go and see my parents in the village to officially ask for my hand in marriage and he promised to do so the following week. Jerry kept to his promise and travelled to my village the following weekend to see my parents.

My parents were glad to see the man whom I loved and they received him with open arms. However, they advised him to pay my bride price as soon as possible before my pregnancy begins to show, because it would be embarrassing for people to see that their daughter is pregnant outside marriage.

Jerry went ahead and informed his family members too and they met with members of my own family and collectively set a date for our traditional marriage. They decided that it would be better we did the traditional marriage in December since many people usually return home during Christmas.

My traditional marriage took place during the Christmas period and it was absolutely fantastic. After our traditional marriage, I moved into Jerry’s home and my life as a wife began.

However, because I was pregnant, I had to register for ante-natal at the local hospital in the area. One of the

requirements at the hospital was that they would conduct HIV tests on every pregnant woman.

I agreed for them to take my blood sample for the HIV and other required tests. After my blood sample had been taken, I was told to go home and come back the following day for the result.

The following morning, I went back to the hospital but when the matron saw me she looked so sober and didn’t say a word. The auxiliary nurse simply told me to wait and see the doctor.

When I walked into the doctor’s office, he quietly asked me to sit. Then he said the words I can never forget.

The doctor said to me: ‘My dear Mrs Azuka, you are HIV positive.”

I felt really devastated on hearing the news and I might have died right there on the chair if the doctor hadn’t started trying to comfort and counsel me. It was as though my world had crashed. I just can’t describe the way I felt.

The doctor said that I needed to bring my husband to the hospital for a HIV test too. I went home but I didn’t tell my husband that I had tested positive for HIV. I just told him that the doctor wanted to see him at the hospital the following day.

My husband went to the hospital with me the following day and the doctor conducted the HIV test on him. My husband tested positive for HIV too, and it was discovered that I

acquired the virus recently through my husband who had impregnated me.

My husband confessed that he didn’t know he was HIV positive before getting married to me, and he begged for my forgiveness. Initially, I found it so difficult to forgive Jerry my husband for infecting me with the HIV virus but he continued begging me to forgive him until I had to forgive him and accept my fate as the will of God. I married him without knowing he had given me HIV. Sometimes I feel like crying but I try to control myself. Sometimes I blame myself for having sex with a man I met on a night bus and getting married to him only to discover that he infected me with the HIV virus.

I feel like a walking corpse. Every morning when I wake up, I pray for God to take my life. But my parish priest keeps encouraging me and telling me to put all my hope and trust in God. I know that I will not die of AIDS because it is not my portion. Instead of dying, I will live to praise God. I pray for my healing every single day and I believe that in the end God will make a way where there seems to be no way.

Your say: Have your say about this love confession. Call 08131161840 or 07031028714.

32

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

My L ve & Life

Cheating is fun, but…

PRETTY, prim, even proper, Ify ARONU writes about the fun in cheating, drawing from her experience to tell you how to deal with a cheating partner. Would you stay or go when you find out? Each option has consequences…

B

EING faithful isn’t exactly interesting neither is it fashionable. It is in fact boring and drab; more like a straight road with no turns. Cheating is the opposite, full of activity, adventure; it lets you get expressive without restraint. Sounds interesting, right!

I had a rather odd experience some years ago. Things were going quite smoothly in the relationship until the scent of another lady became unmistakable. Despite his denials, I just knew I couldn’t possibly be wrong. Men should know this, a smart lady who is into you can always tell when her place is in contention; we just know.

But strangely, hard as I tried, I couldn’t just pick her out. They were very arty and managed to keep it low.

I knew that he was only cheating just because he could. It was only a game, fun, proof of manliness. She wasn’t more than a sex toy so he kept her identity secret, he wasn’t proud of it. But he was really enjoying it, I could tell.

Much as I tried to make him stop, he just couldn’t. I hated unhealthy competitions so I had to recheck my relationship goals. I found that I was getting what I didn’t need. I wanted to believe in something and someone and safely so too. Having to perpetually worry about finding out who he might be sleeping with per time was completely out of it. I began to see those early signs as red lights worth my attention. It made no sense letting someone tamper with my self-esteem just because some girl was being extremely generous. It’s not even as if we had discussed the issue in this regard. So, I left him.

Some months later, I got a call from Janet, his cousin’s friend. She needed me to visit her to discuss something important. I remembered her, very quiet and unassuming personality.

She was plain and innocent looking, ever smiling and respectful, everything good. I decided to go.

When I got there, a pregnant Janet welcomed me. Shocked and benumbed, I sat down waiting to hear what she had to say. Then she went on her knees and in tears begged for my forgiveness. She then confessed!

They were seriously making out all the while that she pretended to be just a friend. He was always worried about me finding out but she reassured that she would never tell. They only stopped when I left. By then she was already pregnant, with his child?

No! Janet was pregnant for someone else. Apparently, my ex wasn’t the only beneficiary of Janet’s bonanza.

He was in luck though since she didn’t pin the pregnancy on him, at least she still had a bit of a conscience.

And then she asked that I forgive him too and take him back. Truly, he was

still asking for another chance at that time but I couldn’t give it. I knew that cheating is not easily overcome, that’s

why it is not easily forgiven. Forgiving him each other time. You might think an unfaithful partner today usually that unfaithful partners want their means that you are willing to forgive partners to be faithful but that is hardly the case.

Most cheating partners prefer it when their partner are also discretely playing games; that way it’s even and no one bothers to stalk the other. A friend recently corroborated that saying that relationships work when partners are like-minded and not when one is good and the other bad. Hmmm…

I have always held that being able to see the red flag earlier on can make a world of difference. If you notice that your partner cheats, it is only fair to clear the air just to be sure. If you find that it’s true, you have two options, walk or stay.

If you do stay, make sure you are ready to always forgive each other time. In that case, you might want to invest in a robe of forgiveness.

Good luck!

Cheating seems really interesting but the fun dies out fast. However, partners who cheat only come to terms with the stark emptiness it brings after a long time of addiction.

Many are never able to get off that windy road and a crash is inevitable.

33

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

Relationship and Love Advice ‘He proposed to me, but he didn’t tell me that he already has two children’

Love Search Women seeking relationship/marriage Loveth, 27, residing in Kaduna, wants a sugar daddy from Abuja. 09062373928.

Lilian wants a sugar daddy. +234 808 109 3279.

Dear Love Doctor,

Omotola, 26, final year student, needs a humble, honest man of 34-38 years for a serious relationship. 09037310491.

Rosemary, 29, from Anambra based in Abuja, self employed, good looking & homely needs an educated God fearing, comfortable man from the East between 32-45 years strictly for marriage. 09092942483.

Maureen, 24, needs a kind and sincere person who can love her. 08035653647.

Precious, 25, student from Enugu, orphan, needs a kind person to help her in her education. 08172047663.

Rosemary, 31, from Anambra based in Abuja, self employed,

good looking & homely, needs an educated, godly, comfortable man from the East between 32-45 years strictly for marriage. 08161186244.

Annie, 32, a graduate, christian, single mum in Lagos, wants a man between the ages of 37-55 years; literate and working, a Christian, either single, widowed or divorced for a relationship.

09026823456 or 08168485612.

Uchechi, 36, a graduate, tall, fair, needs a tall, fair, graduate, Igbo evangelist, pastor or God fearing Igbo man for marriage. 08052366993.

Wunmi, works in Lagos, needs a working Yoruba man from 32-45 years who attends Cherubim & Seraphim for marriage.

09075839386.

Lora, graduate, works, HIV Positive, based in Jos, wants a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage. 08090925014.

E-Mail: ireto007@yahoo.com Go to foodstuffs.com.ng.

Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840 for Counseling, fertility problems & Direct Hookup.

Men seeking relationship/marriage I am Chioma from Enugu state. I live in Port Harcourt and I am a student.

This is my story.I am in a relationship with a guy and he is my first love. He is from the Northern part of the country. He proposed to me and I accepted to marry him. But after a year of honest devotion and pure affection, I found out that he has two children and the mother of his children still lives in his house in Lagos while we have fixed a date for our traditional marriage.

Should I quit or go on? What should I do?

From Chioma.

Dear Chioma,

I

you have been dating and as a result, I strongly advise you to suspend the socalled traditional marriage.

Again, if the mother of your man’s children still lives in his house, it is very likely that she is married to him.

In other words, you must have been dating a married man who probably wants you as a second wife.

From the look of things there is still so much more you need to know about that man because he has ap-

Call Love Dr. 07031028714, 08131161840.

E-mail: ireto007@yahoo.com

Daniel, 25, student, needs a sugar mummy or a single mum in Minna, Abuja or Kaduna who can take care of his educational finance. 08167627446.

Steven, from Anambra, in Lagos, wants a lady from 22 to 30 years for a serious relationship. 08081972446.

Love Doctor’s advice: t’s rather ridiculous that you’ve been dating a man of whom you know little or nothing about and yet you decided to rush into marriage with him. It is rather unfortunate that you have been a fool for love. The fact is that a partner who hides the truth from you from the beginning or when the affair begins to get serious certainly cannot be trusted.

You do not know who

Goodheart wants a tall, fair, beautiful, working class Yoruba, Akwa-Ibom, Kogi or PortHarcourt lady for marriage.

08030725296

parently hidden it all from you. The fact is that if you don’t know who you’re dating, then you won’t know who you’re married to.

That simply means you’ve been sleeping with a stranger for the past year. They say that love is blind, but that does not mean being ignorant as you’ve been.

The lesson in this is that you must try to know your man well next time, instead of rushing into marriage with him.

Gavin, 35, from Enugu, in Lagos, needs a female from 3045 years for a relationship that will take them to the future.

09039290091.

Eric, 30, from Anambra, in Lekki, Lagos, needs a lady who needs a man to get her pregnant. 08064558484.

Frank, 27, in Enugu, needs a loving and caring sugar mummy. 08096522435.

Larry, 33, in Lagos, needs a beautiful and sweet mummy or widow for dating.

08101103008.

Ogbonna, 40, from Ebonyi, in Abuja, business man, needs a working class lady between 30-40 years for marriage.

09069054706.

Special Request: I am a 53-year old widow, an educationist from Edo State, with grown-up children, looking for a God-fearing and honest 60-67year old widower from South-West Nigeria, preferably Catholic and living in Lagos, as a soul partner. Please call Iziegbene on 09099203751.

Note: If you have fertility problems like childlessness, inability to conceive or get pregnant, miscarriages, fibroid, low sperm count, STDs, or need a male child or female? Call 08153536405, 08122352054. Love Doctor can help you succeed in your marriage/relationship.

34

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

It happened to me:

‘I had my boss transferred’

“

CAREFUL, Fiona,” my workmate Kate warned as I gazed at our handsome young boss Aaron.

I’d been at the legal firm just a few weeks and Aaron was the company star. He was only in his early thirties, but he’d worked his way to junior partner and was on his way to another promotion.

“Why’s that?” I asked. “He doesn’t seem so bad.” The truth was I thought he was gorgeous.

“He sleeps with most of the girls in the office,” Kate said with a shudder. “He’s a total player!”

He just hasn’t met the right girl yet, I thought. Within weeks, I’d pretty much fallen for Aaron and decided to make a move.

I knew it was dangerous to date my boss, but I couldn’t get him out of my mind. So I sent him an email, asking if he’d like to meet for a quick dinner after work. He replied immediately with a time and place.

The date was very successful, and I spent the night with him.

After that, we saw each other a few times a week — in secret.

Every morning he rushed off before me so we arrived at work

separately. “We can’t be together in the office, babe,” he told me.

Deep down, I knew Aaron was using me, but I was sure I could make him fall in love with me if I was the perfect girlfriend. But it wasn’t long before I noticed Aaron spending a lot of time with a young clerk, Alannah.

“What’s with the flirting?” I asked, burning with jealousy after seeing Aaron laughing with Alannah in the kitchen. “She’s only 19!” He just smirked.

That night, Aaron didn’t come around to my place as planned and he didn’t answer his phone.

Alannah came to work the next morning in the clothes she’d worn the day before. It was obvious from the way she looked at Aaron that something had happened.

I spent most of the morning crying in the toilets. How could I have been such a fool?

I was drying my face when the CEO’s wife came in — her husband had popped in to talk to Aaron about the company losing money.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Soon I was in tears again and had blurted out the whole story.

“That’s terrible,” she said.

“Don’t cry. He’s only a man.”

For the rest of the day I tried to avoid Aaron and Alannah, who giggled and flirted all afternoon.

I arrived at work the next day ready to resign, but a man I didn’t recognise was in Aaron’s office and Alannah was crying.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Aaron’s been transferred!”

Alannah wailed. The CEO had

called Aaron the night before saying he’d heard stories about inappropriate relationships, and was sending Aaron out to a much smaller firm in the country.

I suppose I should feel guilty for getting Aaron practically fired.

Funnily enough, I don’t!

Your say: Have you been a woman scorned? What revenge have you sought? Call 07031028714.

Romantic Joke Jury Duty

I

T was Sally’s first time going for jury duty and she was a little bit apprehensive. “I would just like you to know” said Sally as soon as she was in front of the judge “that I feel very strongly that capital punishment is morally unjust and incorrect.” “That’s OK , said the judge “capital punishment is not a possibility in this case so it’s perfectly fine for you to serve on this jury.” “What’s the case about?” Asked Sally.

“Well Mrs. Smith is filing a suit against her husband for gambling away the money she had saved for remodeling her bathroom”, replied the judge. “Alright” replied Sally “I’ll serve on this one, I may have been wrong about the capital punishment thing after all.”

35

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom (08162016410)

Arrest of an accused (1) T

HE mounting pressure on me by callers before my last write-up compelled me to skip this topic which ought to come before bail. One must be arrested before bail comes into play. This topic - arrest - is important because sometimes persons and authorities abuse it. There have been situations where innocent persons were arrested by the police and trumped up charges are brought against them and they are charged to court. This kind of intimidation of innocent citizens are as a result of ignorance and this is what I intend to address in this write-up.

Please don’t forget that the prompt attention of a lawyer is very necessary once you

are arrested and even before you make any statement in the police station, which may be used against you. You do not understand the Law, therefore an expert- lawyer is the best for you.

What is an arrest?

The lawful restriction on an individual’s right to liberty as contained in Section 35 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria is termed to be an arrest.

According to Wikipedia, “An arrest is the act of depriving people of their liberty, usually in relation to an investigation or prevention of a crime, and thus de-

taining the arrested person in a procedure as part of the criminal justice system.

Police and various other bodies have powers of arrest. In something places, the power is more general; for example in England and Wales, any person can arrest “anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be committing, have committed or be guilty of committing an indictable offence,” although certain conditions must be met before taking such action.”

Etymology The word “arrest” is Anglo-Norman in origin, derived from the French word arrêt

meaning ‘to stop or stay’ and signifies a restraint of a person. Lexicologically, the meaning of the word arrest is given in various dictionaries depending upon the circumstances in which word is used. There are numerous slang terms for being arrested throughout the world. In British slang terminology, the term “nicked” is often synonymous with being arrested, and “nick” can also refer to a police station, and the term “pinched” is also common. In the United States and France the term “collared” is sometimes used. The term “lifted” is also heard on occasion.

To be continued next week.

*Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

Case 1:

Case 2:

Can I be arrested while legislating on Am I right to detain a suspected burglar on my property? the floor of parliament?

Dear Lawyer, I am a regular reader of your column. Please I’m a legislator and I will like to know if I can be arrested while I am on the floor of the House (parliament) legislating. I hate embarrassment. Thanks.

From Chief Edwin, Umuahia.

Lawyer’s Answer:

Around 12:30am one night, I heard a noise coming from the door of one of my tenants who had traveled for the weekend. And when I went to check what was happening, I saw a young man with a hammer trying to break into the apartment.

I shouted, and with assistance from other people we apprehended him and detained him until 12 noon before taking him to the police station. Please is my action right?

From Mrs Edu, Lagos.

Dear Chief Edwin, FIRST and foremost, it is not good to commit an offence because it makes one restless at all times for fear of being apprehended by the law enforcement agents. I believe that you’re an honourable person who just wants to know your rights.

However, a warrant of arrest cannot be

Dear Lawyer,

executed in a Lagislature or parliament while the House is in session; except with the consent of the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House. Let me also add that likewise, a warrant of arrest cannot be executed in a courtroom while the court is sitting.

Lawyer Jokes The Lawyer’s Son The lawyer’s son wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, so he went to law school and graduated with honors. Then he went home to join his father’s firm.

At the end of his first day at work, he rushed into his father’s office and said, “Father, father! In one day I broke the Smith case that you’ve been working on for so long!”

His father yelled, “You idiot! We’ve been living on the funding of that case for ten years!”

Lawyer’s Answer: Dear Mrs Edu, IN a way as a private person to arrest a person committing a misdemeanor by night is right as in Section 12 CPA. However, if a police station is nearby and there is a means of taking him to the station that

Contract Law Class One day in Contract Law class, the professor asked one of his better students, “Now if you were to give someone an orange, how would you go about it?”

The student replied, “Here’s an orange.”

The professor was livid. “No! No! Think like a lawyer!”

The student then recited, “Okay, I’d tell him, ‘I hereby give and convey to you all and singu-

night or veryl early in the morning, it is best to do so. Please don’t take laws into your hands because you have no right to detain him for as long as you did, since there is a police station near you.

lar, my estate and interests, rights, claim, title, claim and advantages of and in, said orange, together with all its rind, juice, pulp, and seeds, and all rights and advantages with full power to bite, cut, freeze and otherwise eat, the same, or give the same away with and without the pulp, juice, rind and seeds, anything herein before or hereinafter or in any deed, or deeds, instruments of whatever nature or kind whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding...”

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT It was love at first sight when I met Funke Akindele –JC Skillz, Funke Akindele’s hubby H

USBAND to A-list actress and creator of popular TV series, Jenifa’s Diary, Funke Akindele, JJC SKillz has opened up on how he met and fell in love with the actress in 2013.

Speaking with The Oracle Today, the singer turned moviemaker recalled it was a case of love at first sight the first time he laid his eyes on her: “The first time I saw her I was wowed! She also told me that when she first saw me she went ‘Wow! We tried to keep it as professional as possible but along the line, emotions ran high.

“We had a very beautiful relationship but to be honest, I had proposed to her earlier and she laughed at me. I think that was a week after we met. I was like ‘I have never met anyone like you, marry me.’ And she just laughed at me. And then I promised her that she would be my wife. I play around a lot but I meant it.”

Recalling how they met and fell in love he continued: “To be honest, I lived the better part of my life in the UK so I didn’t really know who Funke Akindele was. When I met her, I felt I had just met someone who wanted a director for Jenifa’s Diary. That was in 2013. We have been going on for a long time, people just found out in 2016. We were very low key because we are two popular people; we had to protect our privacy. “She wanted someone to direct her TV series and I was about to embark on recording the JJC album then. Her sister introduced us because she knew I was into music and video directing. When I met her she told me she did a movie sometime ago and would like to turn it into a TV series. We started working together and preparing for the shoot, then one thing led to another. Here we are today, the rest is history.”

Popping the question “I am definitely a romantic person so I gave her a dose of it,” recalls Skillz on how he proposed to her. “It wasn’t in an open place, because very few people knew.

So that very day she came home to meet flowers and candles everywhere; quite a romantic set up. She had no choice but to say Yes.” After years of denying an affair, the couple finally tied the knot in 2016 to the shock of the entertainment industry.

36

I’m hale and hearty –Mailaika

F

UJI MUSIC STAR, Alhaji Sulaimon Alao Adekunle who survived an automobile accident on Ikorodu Road on Saturday, May 13, is back on his feet as he was discharged from hospital on Tuesday.

In a telephone chat with Oracle Today, Malaika said: “Thank God for sparing my life. My brother, it is by the sheer grace of God that I am alive today. Anything could have happened and I could have lost my life.

My fans should join me in thanking Almighty Allah.

I am hale and hearty and back on my feet and now the show must continues.”

Recall that the accident occurred while he was on his way from Ikorodu for a performance in Festac Town, Lagos, after his car was hit by a truck which

veered out of control at Onipanu, Bus Stop.

The white-coloured Highlander SUV in which he was travelling with plate number EPE-82-ES was seriously damaged but he was lucky to have escaped with minor injuries. However, he was hospitalised for three days.

After Bro. Jekwu, Mike Ezuruonye partners Polish film makers

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OLLOWING the success of, Brother Jekwu, Mike Ezuruonye debut movie, the actor is poised to raise the bar with his next project entitled Creek Heart, in a collaboration involving polish filmmakers.

Speaking, Ezuruonye said: ‘The project is big, in fact bigger than me. I am excited about this collaboration with Poland and I am confident that this is only the beginning of a profitable collaboration. I am equally excited about this distribution deal. The movie will be distributed all across Europe. This is huge, not just for me but for the industry as a whole. Our works are getting increasingly recognised outside of our shores and it is exactly the kind of thing we need’ Mike Ezuruonye is one movie star to watch out for.”

While in Poland, the actor was interviewed by the popular polish TV channel, TVP2.

Among others, the Polish crew was part of blockbusters and TV series including the Borat and Vikings.

His debut movie as a producer ‘Brother Jekwu was in collaboration with Kenyan stars.

The comedy merges Kenya and Nigeria in an attempt to showcase each country’s role and uniqueness in African storytelling.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

Nothing can shake my marriage –Chioma Toplis, actress

By DOUGLAS OMOYOOMA

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they died. My husband has only a sister.

HIOMA ELIZABETH TOPLIS made her career debut in 2004 in the movie Stolen Bible alongside Kate Henshaw but gained prominence when she appeared in a lead role in a 2005 movie entitled Trinity. The mother of three had stamped her name in the industry and a bright career beckoned. However, love came calling and she married her white husband and took a sabbatical and relocated to London and had since made a name for herself as a businesswomen.

Oracle Today recently caught up with her and she opened up on a wide range of issues including how she met her husband.

You have been away for a while. Don’t you feel threatened by younger and vibrant actresses springing up all over?

No! I am not desperate. If I get roles, fine. If not, I have other things that keep busy.

I don’t go around begging for roles.

Music is the new trend for actors, are you going to join them?

(Laughter) I can’t even sing to save my life. Please, I can’t.

I sing in my house; for my kids and it is just for fun.

Lately there have been many marriage break-ups in Nollywood. What do you think is responsible?

Anything can happen. Brother and sister do have problems not to talk of two different people coming together from different backgrounds to be husband and wife; many things could be the reason.

Everybody has his or her own challenges in life.

How did you meet your white husband?

It was a friend of mine who was married to a Norwegian that took me to a send-forth party on the island. When I came in, he was like ‘wow!

Who is this?’ He was so excited he sent somebody to of-

Excitement as COSON House is commissioned

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AGOS came to a standstill last Saturday, May 20, as stars gathered for the official commissioning of COSON House.

The event kicked-off at 12 Noon amidst applause and fireworks.

After the inspection of the state of the art facilities, guests congregated at the COSON House Arena where they were treated to an unforgettable show.

Speaker after speaker poured encomiums on the leadership of Chief Tony Okoroji. Chief Okoroji on his part thanked his Board, the management of COSON and the team of Nigerian professionals who worked to build COSON House in record time.

An after party was held at the Arena for the artisans who made the COSON House dream a reality. They were joined by the staff of COSON for a night of fun and excitement.

The roll call of guests included Senator Annie Okonkwo, Pastor Anselem Madubuko, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Moses Ekpo who was the first

Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission. Also present was Professor Egerton Uvieghara, former Chairman of the Nigerian Copyright Commission. Among the array of stars at the commissioning were music icons like Prof Victor Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters among a host of others.

fer me drinks and later walked up to me and told me that he loved my smile especially my set of teeth. Before I knew it he gave me his complimentary card and asked me to give him a call. One thing led to another, I got pregnant for him and we ended up a couple.

Could you share the expe-

rience of being married to a white man?

Wow! It has been awesome!

I don’t have any problem with his family. My mother-in-law died when I had my daughter and my father-in-law also died some years ago. They used to come and stay with us during Christmas. I never had any problem with them before

Do you think it would come to you some day?

No, not for me, not matter how they talk about it, it will never happen. I know what I am talking about because I know the man I am married to. It will never happen. That is why I’m not moved. When I read what they wrote on the pages of newspapers and on the Internet I just laughed. In fact, if I tell my husband that I am leaving him today, he will commit suicide. I am the pillar of the home, though I am not the one providing for the family but I remain the pillar. I can say it again, I don’t see my marriage crashing; if they like, let them do or say whatever they like, my husband will not leave me; it is me that would decide whether I am going to leave him or not.

Elders’ Forum set to honour Oliver De Coque

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ATE LEGENDARY Chief Dr. Sunday ‘Oliver De Coque’ Akanite will ‘resurrect’ this Sunday, May 28, at O’Jez Bar & Restaurant, located at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, when the platform holds the May edition of its monthly show, Elders’ Forum.

Among others, Darlington Akanite De Coque (aka Safine), the son of the late Oliver De Coque and an upcoming musician will take to the stage to treat guests to Highlife music.

The climax of the evening will be the post-humus presentation of a Lifetime Achievement award to the legacy of Oliver De Coque which will be received by Safine.

The event which kicks-off by 5pm promises to be a sharp departure from the norm as guests will be treated to a night of nostalgic music from one of Africa’s fast rising music artistes as Safine rehashes memorable and golden tunes

from the stable of his demised father.

Before his demise, the legendary Ogene Sound exponent and his Ogene Super Sound of Africa Band waxed over 73 albums according to Ogbuefi Ray Ifeme, his former manager.

Prominent among artistes

who have featured in the Elders Forum Party series since its revival are Miatta Fahnbulleh from Liberia, Jimi Solanke, Shina Ayinde-Bakare, Lady Julie, a renowned female highlife musician, Beautiful Nubia, Bayode Victor-Olaiya and Daisi Orlando - Owoh among others.

38

The Oracle Today Wednesda May 31, 2017

ENTERTAINENT Gist

Domestic violence: Mercy Aigbe’s hubby may get jail term •Set to tell his side of story

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F FEELERS reaching The Oracle Today is anything to go by then, actress, Mercy Aigbe’s husband, Lanre Gentry could face up to three years in prison if found guilty of charges levelled against him by a magistrate court in Lagos.

The actress, last week admitted that she had been enduring an abusive marriage to Lanre Gentry as she shared pictures of her battered face on social media. She also claimed that her husband had threatened her life.

Said a source in the know: “This is really a serious matter.

Mercy Aigbe’s husband has landed himself in soup over the battery of his wife and the Lagos State government is determined to make him a scapegoat in order to deter other offenders. They intend to prosecute this case to the very end and Mr. Gentry, Mercy’s husband definitely needs prayers as he might end up in jail.”

Meanwhile, following his release from police custody, Mr. Gentry says pretty soon, he will tell his own side of the story.

Taking to his instagram handle @asiwajulanregentry, he had posted the following message: “How can a woman that has been my wife for the past

Laura Ikeji now Brand Ambassador

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ANADIAN based hair company; BK Unique Hair Inc has named fashion blogger, vlogger and fashionista, Laura Ikeji as one of its ambassadors in Nigeria.

A statement from the platform stated that the move is in line with the company’s commitment to expanding its business in Nigeria and as one of the top hair extension providers in North America, BK Unique Hair abides by a strict production and quality assurance routine which helps to ensure longevity and durability of their products. Though Canadian based, the company has already

10 years say I used to beat her everyday and we are still staying in the same house till now.

Well, everyone should think of all these and let’s stop believing a lie.”

opened stores in Lekki and Port Harcourt.

Speaking on the recent appointment, the Founder and President of BK Unique Hair Inc, Blessing Kenneth said: “As a brand pride ourselves on making customer’s satisfaction top priority. We focus on doing whatever we can to serve our clients and it is in this light that we have appointed Laura Ikeji as one of our ambassadors in Nigeria. ‘We are confident that Laura Ikeji will represent the brand effectively and we believe that this is only the beginning of a more beneficial relationship between us,” she added.

Last week, a magistrate court in Ikeja, Lagos, remanded Gentry, a popular hotelier, in prison on three counts of domestic violence, assault, and threat to life.

Alakada Reloaded hits cinemas May 26

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HE MUCH awaited star studded comedy movie, Alakada Reloaded is

set to make its cinema debut on May 26. The movie which is a comedy produced by Toyin Abraham will be shown in all cinemas across the country.

Alakada reloaded is the story of Yetunde Animashaun, a young girl from a poor family background who as a result of her inferiority complex makes up stories and lies about her financial and social status in order to fit in with the crowd.

Starring Toyin Abraham, Ali Baba, Odun-

lade Adekola, Kehinde Bankole, Woli Arole, Nedu, Helen Paul, Lilian Esoro, Annie Idibia, Bidemi Kosoko, Liz Da Silva, Lala Akindoju, Mr Latin, Iyabo Ojo and Gabriel Afolayan, it promises to keep movie buffs glued to their screens.

Speaking, the producer Toyin Abraham stated: “Although Alakada Reloaded like the previous productions follows the story of Yetunde Animashan, this movie takes a different dimension from the others. Alakada Reloaded is not just extremely hilarious and entertaining; it cuts across all spheres of our lives.”

Monopoly is dead and gone –AG

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he Honourable Minister of Justice & Attorney General of the Federation, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, has declared that the age of monopoly was dead and gone as far as the Nigerian business environment is concerned.

Malami made the revelation when he received the delegation of the Board and members of the newly approved Collective Management Organisation, the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN), in his office recently.

According to him, the era of monopoly as a government economic policy is gone for good.

Speaking he said: “Thank you for coming. However I will advise you to go about your business. You have the support of the government. Monopoly as an economic policy is gone for good. The decision to license your organisation is in the best interest of the nation and in accordance with international best practices.” He added.

Orits Wiliki, Chairman, MCSN, thanked the Minister for the approval which he said will open up the copyright sector and lauded the Minister for his resolution of the crisis which has lasted for over two decades.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS

Pass PIB now, host communities urge NASS From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

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LOW station/Well Head Host Communities of Nigeria (FLOWHOSCON) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to expedite action on the passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The PIB is a bill to establish the legal and regulatory authorities for the Nigerian petroleum industry.

Speaking in Warri, Delta State, on behalf of Flow Stations/Well Head Host Communities of Nigeria, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, lamented that the non-passage of the bill was making mockery of the industry and the country as a whole.

Mulade, who is the National President, FLOWHOSCON, said the country is losing billions of naira in terms of investment diversion to other African countries.

“We wish to call on the National Assembly (NASS) to pass the PIB now to give sense of belonging to all stakeholders in the Industry. The industry definitely needs PIB to give it a framework for stakeholders who play in oil and gas industry,” the FLOWHOSCON President said.

He described as quite unfortunate the fact that the bill has been with National Assembly for more than 10 years but due to politics and vested interests, has not been passed, urging the National Assembly to pass the bill now.

“People should stop playing politics with the bill. I must say that we do not know what is delaying the passage now that the bill has been broken into different segments. This bill is the hope of investment in the oil and gas

sector; it will give a sense of belonging to all stakeholders. We, therefore, appeal to our legislators to pass the bill now,” he urged.

Meanwhile, the host oil communities have called on the federal gov-

ernment to consider them in the re-award of the pipeline surveillance jobs and contracts.

According to them, involving the host communities directly would end pipeline vandalism in the region.

R-L: Wife of Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Chief of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta and Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo on Friday after the commissioning of Federal High Court complex built by the Wike administration.

Ebonyi roads are best in South East –British High Commissioner From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

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RITISH High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, has commended the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi for his infra-

structure development effort in the State barely two years into his administration.

Arkwright made the commendation during a state banquet organised in his honour by the State gov-

Moghalu: Anambra governorship election will be tough…

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NAMBRA State governorship aspirant for the Nov 18, 2017 poll, Chief George Moghalu has admitted that the forthcoming election will not be easy.

Addressing party leaders at the Wards and Council levels yesterday during tour of Orumba North, Aguata, Anambra East and Anambra West councils, Moghalu noted that both the party primaries and the main election would present very formidable challenge.

He however asserted his unshaken confidence that he would come out tops at both stages, in order to unleash massive development and transformation in the Anambra landscape.

“I am a man very close to the people. No one has ever filled a visitor’s form to see me, all my life. No one has ever called me on the phone or sent text message without me responding,” he said of his pedigree as a grassroots politician.

“I am aware that some sons and daughters of your various communities are also in this race. I actually need you to work with me; not for me. We need to be in the project as

equal partners. There’s a lot everyone would contribute especially as regards the different peculiarities of each area. I run an open door policy.

I have only one telephone line and it’s open to all so that you can call me any time if you have the need to reach me...”, Moghalu emphasized.

According to him, this period a lot of lies are being told by aspirants in order to curry political favour, but that the people should weigh the options and seek sincerity.

He called on members of the APC to decide whom to support, why and at what cost, pointing that APC has pillars whose sweat built the party and it would be abnormal to build a house and allow someone else to take it over.

On the issue of zoning, Moghalu pointed out that only the South and North senatorial zones of the state have the moral support to contest on Nov 18, 2017, knowing that former Gov Chinwoke Mbadinuju did only four years, just like the incumbent Dr Willie Obiano. He stressed also that the Central had had Eleven years through Dr Chris Ngige’s 34 months and Chief Peter Obi’s 8 years.

ernment in Abakaliki.

The High Commissioner, who was on a working visit to the state, said he had witnessed smooth roads into and within the State, describing road infrastructure in Ebonyi as best in the South-East.

“Ebonyi roads are the best in the South-East,” he said, adding that he had visited the State to look into opportunities in agriculture, especially as regards rice production.

Describing Ebonyi as a young State, Arkwright pointed out that he was certain that the state had a very bright future.

He, however, pledged the support and partnership of the United Kingdom in realising the dream.

“We are here to look into the opportunity in agriculture, rice production and infrastructure. As a young state, Ebonyi is quite optimistic to the future and the United Kingdom will be a partner to realising the future. “The United Kingdom is aware of the challenges of development in Africa and Nigeria in particular,” he said.

Earlier, in his remarks, Governor Umahi had called on the British Government to help Africa, especially Nigeria, to overcome its teething challenges.

“The British Government should move in to help Africa; Nigeria is the largest country in Africa. When you brought religion to us, we accepted it, but you didn’t bring your technology. I think there is the need to develop your technology in Nigeria.

“We shall be pleased to partner with you in the area of agricultural development and any other area of interest. We have a lot of mineral deposits such as zinc, salt, lead and others. In fact, we are sitting on potential money in this State,” he said.

The governor also appealed to the envoy to assist the State to provide succour to internally displaced persons especially those that emanated from Ezza-Ezillo and Ezza communal clashes, adding that there was another recent boundary clashes between Cross River and Ebonyi in which a lot of people were displaced.

Help save my sight, 27-yrold cries out From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, WARRI

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ISS Blessing Barda, 27, who hails from Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Council of Delta State is gradually going totally blind due to an ulcer infection in her eyes unless Nigerians come to her aid as soon as possible with the sum of three million naira (N3, 000, 000.00) to enable her undergo an operation at an eye specialist hospital operated

by Indians in Kaduna.

Miss Barda, who had undergone an operation of cornea transplant sponsored by the NDDC at the instance of reference letter of introduction by a prominent Deltan, disclosed that her problem started in 2005, and since then, she and her peasant family have passed through a lot of challenges among which were being duped of their scarce resources by unscrupulous people.

According to Miss Barda, who now feels dejected and rejected, she has gone to several eye hospitals where recommendations, treatments and tests were carried out but lack of money to properly follow up made her case to be deteriorating, hence she has no other option now than to cry out to individuals, Delta State Government, Burutu Local Council as well as Non-Governmental Organisations to help her avoid going completely blind.

She added: “These issues aggravated because there is no money to go to a better hospital with better facilities to get good treatment.

Since, then I have been going to Benin once every month for treatment and drugs. But sometimes I do skip the monthly appointment because of financial constraints.

“The lady optician then referred me to a specialist hospital in Kaduna called Relish Eye Hospital. This hospital is managed by Indians. I went to Kaduna and a test was carried out to ascertain the level of damage to know if the right eye can still be operated upon so that my sight can be restored. The result shows that there is 90 percent chance of complete restoration of my sight but treatment will cost N2, 000, 000.00. Please come to my aid to give me back my sight.”

While expressing appreciation to all in anticipation of positive and quick response by either the state government, Burutu Local Council or individuals, Miss Barda gave details of how she could be reached with donations: Account Name: Jane Barda Account Number: 3084575262 Bank Name: First Bank Phone Number: 07035383650

Ugwuanyi has restored peace between farmers and herdsmen, says Miyetti Allah From CHUKS EZE, Enugu HE zonal chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Enugu State, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, has praised Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the prevailing understanding between farmers and nomadic herdsmen in the state, noting that his “ingenuous” solution has resulted in an enduring peace and prevented skirmishes.

Alhaji Siddiki who spoke during a courtesy visit to the Government

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House, Enugu, said it’s gratifying that clashes between farmers and herdsmen, which were quite common before the inauguration of the Ugwuanyi administration have been reduced to the barest minimum.

The cattle breeders’ chairman explained that the governor’s decision to set up a peace committee yielded several proactive steps, which helped in nipping potential conflicts in the bud.

“I thank Governor Ugwuanyi for taking a bold initiative that has

brought the lingering problem to an end,” he said.

A representative from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mohammed Ahmed, also lauded Governor Ugwuanyi for revitalizing the state’s agricultural sector.

“The way you handled farmers and herdsmen crisis has shown that you are a peacemaker and one who knows the importance of agriculture to socio-economic development,” Ahmed said.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS 47 BIM members arrested in Calabar From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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ROSS River State Police Command has arrested 47 members of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) in Calabar.

They were arrested in Odukpani Local Council of the State and taken to the State Police Headquarters, Diamond Hill, for interrogation.

Irene Ugbe, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed this development and stated that the members are currently in police custody.

“The police have arrested 47 persons who are members of the Biafra Independent Movement. They were picked up in the state following reports that they were about to go on enlightenment within the metropolis”, she said.

They were not armed but flags, drums and Biafra currencies were recovered from those arrested.

The police also confirmed that some of those arrested came from outside the State.

In addition, a bus with registration number ALL 327 ZT used in conveying them is equally in police custody.

The enlightenment campaign by the BIM might not be unconnected with the upcoming Biafra Day celebration, which comes up annually on May the 30th.

Calabar community gets new monarch

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HE coronation ceremonies of HRH Ntoe Eta Bassey Eteta III, the new Clan Head of Akim Qua Town, Calabar Municipality, have been concluded in Calabar.

The ceremony, which involved a number of traditional festivities that held the ancient city spellbound, was graced by a number of personalities within and outside the State.

In a goodwill message, the governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade, appreciated the new Ntoe for his enduring legacies and his contributions to the development of the State.

“This event is unique and symbolic in the life of all the indigenous people of Akim Qua Town. I have noted with satisfaction the positive role your leadership has been playing towards ensuring that there is peace and development in the area.

“Your contribution to the development of the State is well acknowledged and I wish you a peaceful and successful reign,” the governor said.

Similarly, the Deputy Governor, Prof.

Ivara Ejemot Esu, prayed for God’s wisdom and strength for the monarch as he assumes the leadership of the Akim people.

Other dignitaries who identified with the monarch included the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo; former Deputy Governor of the State, Mr. Efiok Cobham; and the Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, A. B. Biu, among others.

Ntoe Eta Bassey Eteta III succeeds HRH Ntoe (Dr.) Lawrence Ekong Etagbo IV. His community, Akim, plays host to a number of key federal and State facilities within the Calabar metropolis.

These include the Army Barracks (Akim Barracks established in 1903); the Margaret Ekpo International Airport (established in 1937); the University of Calabar; the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, State Judiciary Headquarters and many others.

Obubra crisis: Community rejects government’s mediators From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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HE communal crisis rocking the quiet and agrarian communities of Adun, Ababene and Iyamitet in Obubra Local Council of Cross River State deepened as the people of Ababene vehemently rejected a group of mediators delegated by the State governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, to mediate in the crisis and proffer lasting solutions.

The people, who rose in unison, placed a barricade on the road passing through their community and demanded that the government team led by member representing Etung and Obubra Federal Constituency, Hon. Mike Etaba, leave their community.

Youths from the community numbering hundreds and some elders all came out in their numbers and berated the government team.

Their grouse was partly provoked by the death of one Emmanuel Agbor, an indigene of the community who lost his life in the crisis as well as the destruction of several agricultural products.

The people, who were visibly embittered by the presence of the delegation, rejected all entreaties and threatened to spill blood should the team not depart from their community.

The Ababene people, who seemed to have misconstrued the mission of the team, smashed the windshield of one of the vehicles used by the team before they departed from the community.

All attempts to speak with community leaders to find out what their grouse with the government and its team was proved abortive as the community vehemently refused to dialogue with the delegation and air their problems.

However, the reverse was the case in Adun where the team was warmly received. At the palace of the Kwuiydeden of Adun, Ovarr Patrick Erong Edom, the traditional ruler welcomed the delegation and pleaded for government’s quick intervention in the crisis. He told the delegation that the crisis had been ongoing for quite a while now and

was adversely affecting the development of the community. He appealed for peace and more government presence in the warring communities.

“Government should secure the place and possibly direct the security agencies to set up a station there as a symbol of government authority to reduce deaths in the community,” he appealed.

Similarly, the Clan Head of Iyamitet, HRH Arong Irom, equally received the delegation and sued for peace. He stated that the people of the affected communities were not violent in nature and that the current crisis rocking the community was strange to them.

“My greatest appeal and prayer is for peace to return to our community. Solomon prayed for wisdom but my prayer today is for God to bring back peace to our community”, he said.

In his remarks, the member representing Obubra I in the State House

of Assembly, Hon. Friday Obeche, declared that the essence of the gathering was not for speeches but to engage the stakeholders of the warring communities in the quest for peace.

“A terrible thing is happening in the land and we feel it is proper to come and talk to the chiefs. God made no mistake in making us stay together.

“People cannot stay together without having issues but these issues have to be properly managed.

“As a representative, I feel very bad and my people also feel bad.

Every time, government has to bring in security agencies to this community and this should not be.

“Any time we make a request to the governor, it is for security, but we ought to be asking for development projects”, he lamented.

He made an appeal to the elders of the community to preach peace.

Also speaking, a community leader in Adun, Chief Fidelis Anang Egwu, stated that he was grieved over the persistent crisis rocking the community.

He appealed to the government to stamp its authority in the beleaguered community.

The leader of the delegation and member representing Obubra/ Etung Federal Constituency, Hon. Mike Etaba, in his remarks stated that the indigenes of the communities had to be at the forefront in addressing the problems affecting the community.

“My wife is from here and I cannot bring crisis here. We did not come to fuel the crisis but to ensure that peace and development thrive.

“The governor advises all warring factions to sheathe their swords.

Government will send adequate security to the place and decisive action will henceforth be taken against those who foment trouble,” he declared.

King Dumaro Owaba, Obanobha111 of Ogbia Kingdom in Bayelsa handing over endorsement documents to Mr FaithWilkinson, President of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Festival Organising Committee at his Palace.

We have drastically reduced crime in Warri – ACP Shaba From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

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O fewer than 26 criminals have been arrested by the police in recent time, Area Commander, Warri in Delta State, Mohammed Shaba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, has revealed.

According to him, more arrests are still being made to reduce the rate of criminality to the barest minimum.

Shaba made the revelation when the executive members and top officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Warri Correspondent Chapel, visited him in his office.

He disclosed that the intensive patrol of the area by his

men has prompted the relocation of majority of the hardened criminals to other area.

He explained that some hoodlums who were apprehended in recent times had been taken to the state police command after investigation had been carried out.

“We are working assiduously across the eleven divisions under my jurisdiction. We don’t sleep both day and night to ensure that crime is not only reduced to the barest minimum but stamped out completely to enable people sleep with their two eyes closed”, remarked the police boss.

He assured that no effort would be spared in ensuring that the state is free from the

hands of criminals, adding that more dragnets had been put in place to make the effort a reality.

ACP Shaba therefore pleaded with all stakeholders and lovers of peace to join hands with the police to achieve more successes in the area of crime control adding, “we will sustain the prevailing peace and build more on it to justify our effort in this noble cause”.

He, however, pleaded for more hands from the police authority in order to stamp out the undesirable elements in the state, adding, “criminals are very dangerous to the society; hence we will continue to work hard to ensure peaceful co-existence at

all times.”

Earlier, the chairman of the union, Comrade AKpokona Omafuaire, extolled the virtues of the police boss who he described as workaholic and a man full of wisdom and proactive.

He lauded the dedication to duty of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Chief Superintendent Eyoh Aniete, whose unrelenting effort brought peace to the hitherto crimeinfested Warri metropolis.

“However, I wish to inform you that areas such as Ovwian, Orhuwhorun, Aladja etc are still being inhabited by dangerous elements who are making life unbearable for the residents”, said the NUJ boss.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

NEWS

Bayelsa group accuses Dickson of neglecting Jonathan’s community to embarrass ex-President

By TITUS AGBO, Abuja

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AYELSA Network of Progressives on Tuesday accused Dickson of deliberately abandoning all projects in Jonathan’s locality as a means of despising the ex-President and making him look bad before his people.

The group also described as uncharitable, a statement credited to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, describing the six years of the Presidency of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, as a waste to the Ijaw Nation.

The group in a statement issued in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State and signed by its Chairman, Mr. Atani Isaac, said the claim by Governor Dickson, that the State was unable to attract any meaningful development during the Jonathan Presidency, was just an attempt at “Cheap populism” by Governor Dickson.

According to Isaac, “ it was inevitable that there would be people, who for reasons best known to them still believe that Jonathan should have been an Ijaw President, instead of the Nigerian President he was elected to be.”

“It was unfair that Governor Dickson was not referring to his inability to fully deliver on the mandate given to him by the people of our state, but was rather looking for help from above, Abuja,” Isaac further said.

Said the group: “Before Governor Dickson can be taken serious on the said allegation, he must first come before Bayelsans, to explain, how he has locally delivered on his electoral promises and justify how the State has used the enormous resources, made available to it, under the Seriake Dickson’s administration.

“Dickson is pretending to be

walking the moral high ground when he is actually the one with a moral burden. He has proven to be a very bad manager of resources.

Of all the Governors of the oil producing states enjoying additional revenue from the 13% derivation, he is the only one owing workers even with the smallest workforce.

He should first of all remove the big log in his eyes before spotting the speck in the eyes of another,” the statement added.

“His attack on Jonathan is unwarranted and gratuitous. He is like the proverbial character in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart that challenged his god to a wrestling match because of a flash of good fortune. He forgets easily how his political nest was feathered. Suddenly, he has started seeing himself as the authentic Ijaw leader just because he is occupying the seat of the Governor of Bayelsa State”.

“He must be reminded that Jonathan was not made President by the votes of the Ijaw alone. His Presidency was for the entire country and so was his distribution of the dividends of democracy with projects and programmes taken to all parts of the country, including the Ijaw nation.

Jonathan, the group stressed was not sectionally minded like Dickson who had abandoned all state projects in the former President’s do-

(From L-R) Eze Dr. Wilson Egbo, a Clergy, Major General M.O.Uzoh, Eze Prof S.I. Nwankwo and Barr Okechukwu Igwe, Chairman Umunneochi Local Government Area at a thanksgiving service In honour Of Major General Uzoh at the 82 Division Nigerian Army Cantonment Enugu recently. Photo By Oliver Udeogu. main just to spite him and turn his people against him.

“It is no secret that Governor Dickson has deliberately neglected former President Jonathan’s local government and allowed key infra-

T

HERE are indications that the controversy surrounding the circumstances that trailed appointment of a new Director General for the National Pension Commission, PENCOM may soon be resolved following protest over the removal of former DG, DG, Chinelo AnohuAmazu, whose tenure was truncated against the laws establishing the agency.

The revelation came at a joint briefing by Presidential Spokesmen lead

by Femi Adesina, where they detailed the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari for the past two years.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina while responding to a question on the issue at a joint Media briefing yesterday, noted that the “ issue is being looked into” Mr. Adesina who stated that the DG PENCOM issue is a developing issue,” added that “ the issue being looked into” According to Adesina, “ For now, no names have been transmitted to

to what they call the sorry state of the roads leading to Jonathan’s community. Perhaps we should remind Dickson that such demeaning intrigues are not only malicious but self-indicting.”

Rainoil to break ground for N76 billion refinery From SOPURUCHI ONWUKA, Lagos

F

AST growing indigenous independent petroleum company, Rainoil Limited, has joined the elite club of indigenous firms that are laying out funds for private refineries.

The company’s refinery project esti-

mated to cost a princely $200 million or N76 billion comes as the call for the regulation of the downstream petroleum industry gathers momentum.

Managing Director, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie told The Oracle Today exclusively that Rainoil Limited is work-

FG to resolve controversy over appointment of PENCOM DG…Presidency From TONY AILEMEN, Abuja

structure like roads to detoriorate.

Rather than fix them as a mark of honour to the ex-President, what we see are sponsored pictures and videos on social media drawing the attention of the whole world

the Senate, that shows that something is being done and the matter is being looked into” The removal of the former DG has been dogged by controversy over what has been described as a violation of laws establishing the agency.

Section 21 (2) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 stated: “In the event of a vacancy (for the chairman, DG or other members of board), the President shall appoint a replacement from the geo-political zone of the immediate past member that vacated office to complete the remaining tenure.”

Recall that the former Pencom DG who hailed from Anambra State, in the South East geopolitical zone, was unceremoniously removed after spending two years and five months into her first five-year tenure.

President Muhammadu Buhari was said to have nominated a new DG for the agency from the North West geo-political.

Speaking further on delays in constituting Boards of Agencies and Parastatals of government, Mr. Adesina said “the process is ongoing” adding that the President wants an all inclu-

sive appointments.

He revealed that although the President gave instruction in 2015 for the list of those qualified for the appointments into the vacancies in the agencies, but the reports did not come until October, 2016.

He added that “ even when the list came, it was faced with protest from Governors who said they were not consulted before the list appointments are doing done sector by sector.

Speaking further on the report of the committee headed by the Acting President to investigate the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, Mr. Adesina said the Status quo remains.

Answering question on the Chibok Girls, they revealed that the Chibok girls prefer to remain in Abuja rather than go back to their homes at Chibok.

On jobs created, Adesina revealed that the current government is more interested in creating conducive environment for jobs to be created.

ing on the feasibility of establishing a small scale refinery in Delta State, adding however that local financing structure poses a huge challenge to the project.

The scalable refinery, which could be expanded and upgraded, is estimated, by the use of industry templates, to cost about $200 million and would process about 10,000 barrels per day.

Dr. Ogbechie said the refinery project would be part of the company’s organic growth process underpinned by prudent investment strategy, robust internal capacity, efficiency, solid funding base and low exposure to debts.

The refinery, according to him, is also part of the string of investments that would strategically position Rainoil at the centre of the downstream business loop.

He said the project would be driven in partnership with a marginal field producer in the area to optimize onsite processing opportunities, guarantee feedstock and eliminate inefficient transportation costs.

When completed, the refinery would give the marketing arm of Rainoil a competitive advantage, including local supply of cheaper refined products, enhance the group cash flow and profitability, and assist government displace huge imported fuel volumes with locally refined alternatives.

Dr. Ogbechie said the business plan is to boost turnover in a low margin market, leveraging on the company’s vast retail outlets, terminal facilities and storage depots situated at strategic locations in the country.

The market cashpoints including over 51 retail stations, he said, would guarantee direct cash returns that would boost cash flow, explaining

that Nigeria’s cash based fuel retail market makes it easy for downstream investors to rapidly recover cost and address debt servicing.

Funding arrangements for the $200 million project are still in the works but sourcing money from the nation’s banks might not be tops in the line of considerations.

Former Executive Secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr. Reg Stanley, had declared at a lecture in Lagos that a 20,000 barrels per day modular refinery would cost about $250 billion to achieve.

Experts however point out that cost of equipment is directly proportional to size, implying that the cost differential between equipment for 20,000 barrels per day refinery might only be marginally higher than that of 10,000 barrels per day plant.

Dr. Ogbechie said the high interest rates that rule Nigerian banking industry are not structured to either support businesses or build the economy, arguing that it would not make commercial logic to borrow money at double digit interest rate to drive investment that generates returns from a price capped, thin margin market environment.

In joining the chorus of voices calling for the deregulation of the downstream petroleum market, Dr. Ogbechie advised government decouple politics from pump price of the premium motor spirit also called petrol to provide clear climate for investors.

He said deregulation would free up the market for enhanced competition, creativity and investments in technology and sundry measures that would condition market forces to play on the side of low prices.

42

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

PEOPLE

Abia governor, Okezie Ikpeazu: BONIFACE OKORO, in Umuahia, writes on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s recent victory at the Supreme Court, which finally affirmed his election in 2015 as the governor of Abia State, and the promises that the victory holds for ‘God’s Own State’.

D

R. VICTOR CHIBUIKEM OKEZIE IKPEAZU, the governor of Abia State, remains the only governor elected in 2015 who had to go to the Supreme Court for a record two times for the confirmation of his victory at the polls.

The first was stirred by a fierce inter-party battle for the Abia governorship seat when Dr Alex Otti and his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), went to the tribunal to challenge the outcome of the Abia 2015 governorship elections. Otti lost to Ikpeazu at the polls. The matter terminated at the Supreme Court, which affirmed Ikpeazu’s victory.

If Otti’s Appeal Court victory rattled Ikpeazu, there is no gainsaying that the internal political strife, which sprouted from Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah’s political nest scared the governor stiff. Ogah, a PDP governorship aspirant, headed to the Abuja Federal High Court where he accused Ikpeazu of providing false information in his tax papers.

He contended that Ikpeazu was, therefore, not qualified to be nominated by the PDP and so, he (Sampson) should be the right candidate, having placed second during the party’s primaries. He instituted the matter in December 2014 but because Ikpeazu and PDP insisted that the court lacked jurisdiction, the Supreme Court, while deciding on the issue of jurisdiction, directed that the matter be heard on merit.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, therefore, on June 27, 2016, delivered his ruling, ordering Ikpeazu to va-

‘

The time for politics is long over, and I have forgiven all those that were bent on distracting me. Let all wellmeaning Abians, including my opponents, come and join us to grow and develop our state without distractions as we ultimately have stakes in the growth and development of our state and people

‘

cate office for Ogah.

The biochemist-turned politician was jolted out of his schedules. The immediate casualty was the Eminent Persons Lectures, an innovation packaged by the Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne.

The ABSU authorities had resolved that the Visitor to the university should kick-start the lecture series. The build-up to the lecture was given the media hype such an innovation deserves.

While Ikpeazu was rehearsing his lecture that early morning of Monday, June 27, last year, after which he hit the road for Uturu, Justice Okon Abang was already in court, reading through his judgment.

In Uturu, the atmosphere was electrifying.

The Vice Chancellor was beaming with smiles just as he was expectant. The students, on their part, were milling round the school auditorium. As soon as they sighted Ikpeazu’s’s convoy, they went wild with jubilation, Curiously, the Visitor did not alight from his vehicle! Instead, he did a u-turn and headed back to Umuahia. Confusion enveloped ABSU. To arrest the situation, another person was detailed to stand in for the governor.

Unknown to many then was that Okon Abang, who got to court before Ikpeazu could reach Uturu, through his ruling, had removed the governor from office and, by extension, as Visitor to the university.

From that day, Ikpeazu embarked on another legal journey to reclaim his mandate. The

Ogah scare made him relocate to Umuahia, the seat of power, instead of Aba, the commercial hub, where he operated from. It is now history to recall that the Ogah challenge put Abia on the edge as it generated cataclysmic political activities.

However, the Supreme Court, on May 12, this year, reaffirmed Ikpeazu as validly nominated by the PDP to contest the 2015 governorship election and so is the lawfully elected governor of Abia.

Upon receiving the news of the judgment, Ikpeazu dedicated his victory to God and Abians. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, the governor enjoined all his opponents to sheathe their swords and join hands with him to develop Abia.

The statement read in part: “Governor Ikpeazu wishes to call on all Abians to join hands with him to ensure accelerated growth and development of the state.

“The time for politics is long over, and I have forgiven all those that were bent on distracting me. Let all well-meaning Abians, including my opponents, come and join us to grow and develop our state without distractions as we ultimately have stakes in the growth and development of our state and people “Today, there is the work of Abia to do and history will judge us by how much of that work we do, not by how much politics we play. My doors are open to all, my ears are open to hear and my eyes are strong enough

43

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

PEOPLE

Now that the storm is over…

• Onneghen, Chief Jusitice of Nigeria

to read suggestions on how we can best deliver greater dividends to those who really matter: the great people of Abia State.”

Since the apex court’s verdict that ended Ogah’s challenge, Ikpeazu has been swimming in the ocean of felicitations. On Monday, May 15, shops and offices were shut as Abians trooped out in their numbers on a solidarity march for the governor.

Among those who have congratulated him is Ogah who declared in a statement he released: “On May 12, 2017, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave its final verdict in my case against Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State. Even though a painful verdict, as someone who believes in the rule of law and the judiciary, I have accepted the decision of the apex court in good faith.

“As the legal battle comes to an end with the Supreme Court’s declaration, I’m exceedingly happy today that in the course of this struggle, I never resorted to self-help or encouraged my supporters to indulge in any form of violence either in my state or elsewhere. I urge all Abia indigenes to join hands in supporting the governor in order to move our dear state forward.”

On May 19, 2017, Ikpeazu replied Ogah that he was waiting with wide arms to receive and work with all who are interested in moving Abia forward.

“I also made it clear that I have, in the interest of our dear state, put the episode of the long-drawn litigation behind me and extended warm invitations to everyone, irrespective of differences in political ideologies, to join hands with me to move the state forward. I note with delight that you have accepted that invitation.

“Please recall that in my two meetings with you before this time, I clearly made the point that at this stage of our development, our state needs all her citizens to join hands together and contribute to her growth and development.

“Please rest assured of my commitment to work with everyone on this new path of progress and unity,” Ikpeazu wrote in his letter to Ogah.

Matching words with action, Ikpeazu has

Governor Ikpeazu

not only embarked on “diplomatic” shuttles, but has been meeting with critical stakeholders and Town Hall meetings will hold in all the 17 local government areas of the state, starting from this week. It is expected that the tour would calm all frayed nerves and bring Abians together for a better future.

Penultimate Thursday, Ikpeazu visited the strong man of Abia politics, Chief Benjamin B. Apugo (Ochiagha Ibeku) who is now an All Prpgressives Congress chieftain, in his Nkata

‘

The only sore point in Ikpeazu’s administration has been the inability of the government to pay salaries and pensions as and when due. With the litigations over, stakeholders expect that he would pay much attention to clearing the arrears of salaries owed civil servants and pensioners

‘

Ibeku country home.

That visit has set the runour mill wild with speculations that the governor is on the verge of dumping the PDP. Ikpeazu had denied this rumour when it was first broached

by Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and has maintained that he has no plans to leave the party that brought him to power.

At the meeting in Apugo’s house, the elder statesman congratulated the governor and advised him to work for the development of Abia instead of sharing Abia’s resources among influential politicians from the state.

Said Apugo during an interaction with newsmen: “If he wants to immortalize his name, like I told him when he visited me, he should work for Abia people. I am repeating it; he should use the money accruing to the state to develop Abia State instead of sharing it out to people who do not mean well for the state.

“He should even visit his opponents and they too should take it as a game. I have said it earlier that because people are in different political parties should not make them enemies. So, Ikpeazu should embrace them, so that they can all work together in the interest of Abia people.”

Apugo urged the governor to open up the state for investments by building an airport or airstrip.

He equally advised the governor to embrace his adversaries.

The governor has equally met with PDP stakeholders at Government House, a forum he used to commend them for their support and briefed them on his achievements and plans for the future.

The preachment has been for all to embrace peace and work together. For the Abia PDP, the “war” is over.

Abia State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Strategy, Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha told The Oracle Today in a telephone interview that with the distractions over, Abians would behold a focused Ikpeazu who has a great zeal for delivering democracy dividends to the people.

He recalled that while the legal battled lasted, Ikpeazu was able to embark work on

73 roads in Aba, completed 43 of them, with 37 already inaugurated; expanded agricultural sector to the point of making Abia one of the leading States in agricultural production, sent Abians on study and trade missions to Turkey, United States of America and China, consequent upon which a Chinese firm is on the verge of establishing a shoe factory in the state, and very soon, over 200 Abians would be sent to China to be trained on leather manufacturing and production.

Since the court matter has been dispensed, “one feels that the governor would put in everything within his power to serve Abias and fulfill his vision of developing the State,” Iwuoha said.

The Founding Fathers of Abia State said they are praying fervently that everybody in the state should bury the hatchet and brace for the task of building “our Dream God’s Own State.”

In a congratulatory message to Ikpeazu, endorsed by the Coordinator of Founding Fathers of Abia, Bro. Ezenwa Odimuko; Coauthor, Abia Charter of Equity, Prof. Anthony Nzeako and Dr. Onyike James Onyike (Enyi Abia), they lamented that they are very much “saddened that Abia is over politicized, otherwise this tussle would not have lasted that long to the detriment of vital developments in the State.”

Since it is peacetime, they appealed to all politicians and indeed, all stakeholders, not only to appreciate the Supreme Court verdict as a case of “no victor, no vanquished,” but also to rally round the incumbent government in order to move the State forward.

As Ikpeazu settles down to governance, many have observed that he just has about one year to etch his name in gold. This is because politicking is by the corner and may take the front burner from the middle of next year.

The only sore point in Ikpeazu’s administration has been the inability of the government to pay salaries and pensions as and when due. With the litigations over, stakeholders expect that he would pay much attention to clearing the arrears of salaries owed civil servants and pensioners.

44

The Oracle Today, Wednesday May 31, 2017

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45

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

SPORTS

•Gianni Infantino

Eagles’ call-up excites Onyekuru

Etoroma dismisses Delta State slide in sports

F

ormer member of the immediate past Delta State Sports Commission, Hon Ejiro Etoroma, has dismissed the fears being expressed in some quarters that the oil-rich state may lose her stronghold in sports in the country following what they described as the dwindling fortunes of sports in the state since the inception of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led administration.

But Hon Etoroma does not toe the same line of thought saying that it is not possible for the state to lose its pride of place as far as sports is concerned in the country.

According to him, the state has a formidable sports structure which cannot be dismantled overnight more importantly as the governor was a part and parcel of the Uduaghan administration as the Secretary to the state government and t=during this period he was passionate about sports and cannot at this time that he is at the helm of affairs in the state relegate the industry to the background.

Hon. Etoroma made his position known in exclusive telephone interview with the Oracle Today Sports.

According to him: “Well, I don’t know the criteria those people who are expressing fear over Delta Sports applied before raising concerns,” Hon. Etoroma began.

“As far as I am concerned, Delta sports is in safe hand with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa because he is a part and parcel of the Uduaghan administration when sports in the state was at its peak. As a matter of fact, he was the secretary to the state government then and I know that he loves sports.

“A part from that just like you analyzed, Delta State has a very sports foundation dating back to the era of the late Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia (retd) in old Mid-Western Nigeria and to old Bendel State.

“So, that strong sports foundation and infrastructure is not something that can just fizzle out overnight. It is not possible.

“I don’t sports nose-diving during Okowa’s administration because n government in the state will relegate sports to the background. It is not done because sports is means youth employment and empowerment.

“Just like I said earlier, I do not know the criteria the people who are expressing doubt about the ability and capacity of Delta to retain her position in the country’s sports industry used to start expressing doubt over Delta Sports under Okowa.

“As far as I am concerned there is no cause for alarm as I have not seen any slide in our sports. I have always maintained that there is still room for improvement as far as our sports is concerned and I am yet to change my position on that.

“Of course, we are yet to have any national championship to know whether Delta has lost her premier position in the country and until then, I have no fears about the position of the as far as sports is concerned in Nigeria,” Hon. Etoroma declared.

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

A

Ideye rescues Tianjin Teda from defeat B

rown Ideye scored his second league goal of the season as Tianjin Teda settled for a 1-1 draw against Odion Ighalo’s Changchun Yatai.

The Nigeria international netted the equaliser a minute into the second half to cancel out Sun Jie’s 16th minute opener.

Ideye was on parade for the ninth time in the Chinese Super League this season, while compatriot Obi Mikel continues recovery from his surgery on the sidelines.

Ighalo who also played for the entire duration of the game, was cautioned in the 76th minute.

Changchun Yatai are placed 13th on the Chinese Super League log and will visit Hebei China Fortune F.C on May 27 while 11th placed Tianjin Teda visit Tianjin Quanjian on May 27.

fter a long wait and cry of many sports journalists for a look in for K.A.S Eupen of Belgian striker, Henry Onyekuru, who has been in fantastic form for his club this season, the Nigerian Football Federation in conjunction with the technical crew of the Super Eagles led by Franco-German tactician, Gernot Rohr have extended invitation to the 20-year old who scored 23 goals this season.

The Nigeria n who has not slowed down one bit in scoring goals has been a big revelation this season as he has shown that his appetite for scoring goals cannot diminish, hence his scoring goals week-in week-out.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State born striker has expressed gratitude to God and the NFF for the invitation extended to him to join the already invited players for Eagles training camp and friendly games in France early next month.

Eagles will play the senior teams of Corsica and the Hawks of Togo in friendly games in preparatory to their Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

According to the Media Director of the NFF, Ademola Olajire, the chief coach of the national team, Salisu Yusuf led the contingent of goalkeepers’ trainer, Aloy Agu, the home based professionals and the backroom staff to France on Monday, from where they will travel to Corsica for the friendly games.

“The team’s Chief Coach, Salisu Yusuf, led a contingent of goalkeepers’ trainer Alloy Agu, home-based professionals Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Alhassan Ibrahim, Stephen Odey and Sikiru Olatubosun and the backroom staff to Paris on Monday, from where they will travel to Corsica.

“The three–time African champions will take on the Corsica Senior Team at the Stade Francois Coty in Ajaccio, from 8 p.m. on May 26.

“They will after this leave for Paris for the game against the Hawks of Togo, which has been scheduled for the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret, Paris on June 1 from 7.30 p.m.,’’ Olajire said in the statement.

Terry ‘sad and emotional’ at farewell C

helsea captain John Terry says he is “very sad and emotional” after his Premier League farewell.

It is recalled that Terry announced that he will be departing the Stamford Bridge at the end of the season after spending 19 years of his fruitful career at Chelsea.

Terry made the decision to quit Chelsea due to lack of playing time following

the appointment of Italian tactician, Antonnio Conte, who won the EPL in his first season in charge.

Apart from lack of playing time, Terry’s one year contract ended with the season and no effort was made by the Blues to renew it which automatically signified that his services are no longer needed by the club.

Before Sunday’s Premier League farewell Ter-

ry had declared that he may seek a new challenge away from the EPL and the likely places that he is likely going to take his career to is the United State Major League soccer and the Chinese League some of his former teammates like Super Eagles’ captain, John Obi Mikel, Oscar, Ramires etc.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

SPORTS

By MADUABUCHI KALU

C

hairman of SCOA Motors and a bosom friend of late national team captain and coach, Paul Ebiye Hamilton, Barrister Henry Agbamu, has paid glowing tribute to late Nigerian football legend describing as a man of peace who never offend anybody.

According to Barrister Agbamu, both of them were playmates but due to obvious reasons, he was never a member of the national team but that he was always in the squad. He explained that the reason for his inability to don the national colours at the time was because he was training himself in the university as his father had died before he was offered admission at University of Lagos to study Business Administration and ended up studying Law. Barrister who said if there was anything he knew very much how to do was playing football said it was because of his friendship with the former national team coach that made him to keep him very close to as there he could not remember the names of most of the people that they played together with.

Barrister Agbamu bared his mind on the death of Paul Hamilton and other problems confronting Nigerian football in his office in Lagos in exclusive interview with the Oracle Today Sports.

“Well, I must confess to you that I received the death of my very good friend, Paul Ebiye Hamilton a.k.a (Wonder Boy) with great sadness,” Barrister Agbamu began.

“Paul was a peace loving man, a very jovial person. We used to joke a lot. Since I knew him, he never for once offended me and I don’t whether he ever offended anybody.

He was such a nice person. If you are with Paul, you will never get angry because he jokes a lot.

“Like I said, I felt very bad on hearing about his death because I was still considering when I will go and see him after I heard over the radio, “Wazobia FM” to be precise that one of his legs has been amputated.

“I felt so bad because I knew that nobody was going to help him.

When I got home, I told my wife that Paul has been amputated and she asked me, do you mean Paul your ‘Mba Mmiri man’ and I said yes and she too felt very bad.

“It pained me so much that I couldn’t see Paul before he died because I was so busy here in the office, his death is quite unfortunate I must tell you.

“I was still considering when to go and see him over his amputation when I heard about his death just the way I received the news of his amputation via Wazobia FM as well.

So, when I got home, I told my wife that Paul is dead and we started blaming ourselves.

“She blamed me for my failure to see Paul before he died and I told her that she did not push me hard enough. She asked me whether I was a baby that I must be pushed before I go and see him. It was a sad experience for us because we were close.

Speaking further, the SCOA Motor Chairman said he is of the view that Nigeria has a different definition of who is a footballer from the definition that obtained in other climes. In his view, it is only those who wear the jersey that

•Solomon Dalung

SCOA Chair pays tribute to late Hamilton

•Says “Paul never offended anybody” are considered footballers Nigeria whereas they are many footballers who due to one reason or the other did not wear the jersey but know very much about the game than even some who wear the jersey “You see, it seems to me that the one who is a footballer in Nigeria is the one who wears the jersey.

That is our definition of a footballer in Nigeria, the one who wears the jersey is a footballer. There are so many footballers who probably didn’t wear the jersey for various reasons.

“Like at the time I was growing up, you will appreciate that even our parents didn’t let us play football. Each time I was on vacation from secondary school, my father will lock me up every Saturday from 11am to prevent me from going to play football.

“He will say, Agbamu, Agbamu, Agbamu, what is that bringing to the table? I asked you to go and read and all I will be hearing is Agbamu, Agbamu, Agbamu. Of course there was no money then in the game as at that time not now that the game of football is very lucrative,” Barrister Agbamu explained.

“So, when we talk of football, I was a truant footballer. That is the reason that I said our definition of a footballer in Nigeria is about those who wear the jersey. I was truant footballer, I was in and out, I was paying my fees myself and so I was

“

When I was in secondary school, it is on record that I played 397 penalties, I scored 395. The two I couldn’t score were one of them hit the cross bar and the other one, it was about to rain and the breeze was blowing and I was waiting for the breeze to subside then the referee wanted to book me, then I had to take it and in the process breeze aided it out of goal.

“

educating myself.

“And of course you know how we used to look at footballers in those days as hooligans more or less. It was not like now that football is making so much money particularly in China. I don’t know they won’t make money in China when the average height of the Chinese is 4-5 feet whereas someone like John Obi Mikel is 6.1feet.

“Like I said I was in and out of football in the mid-60s and early 70s. Because I was in and out, if you ask me who are my teammates? I won’t even remember their names. I can only remember three or four people just like that and they didn’t like me because I even looked down on them. You know in those days we looked

at those who were interested in football as hooligans. We looked at them as Boma Boys, yes! Boma Boys, Sapele Boys. They are more or less regarded as hooligans.

“Those of us who were going to school will look down on them.

I remember they used to call me Doctor because they say I went to school to study to become a doctor. It was Paul who was responsible for that any way; he was the main culprit in the prank. Paul will say don’t rely on him because he will not come. He will promise that he will come but he won’t come.

This is because today I will go to practice and tomorrow I won’t go.

“I play very well; there is no doubt about that because I was always in every squad, but not in

the team (national team) because of my inability to be consistent in coming to training. And Paul will say don’t mind him he will not come, he is studying to become a doctor.

“You know that Paul was an attacker and I was a defender. He (Paul) will say by the time I pass, you will not know what happened and I will tell him unless you are breeze, I will certainly stop and deal with him. That is the type of joke we used to crack.

“So through Paul I tried and registered the coaches association of Nigeria. I incorporated the association for them with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) at that time with the like of Okubunle. I worked for them. I incorporated the association for them and if anybody tells anything to the contrary, tell the person that he is lying.

Continuing Barrister Agbamu said: “I am the one who set up “All Stars Football Club” in Nigeria.

I don’t know whether they still exist. It was Paul who helped me to organize it. I will come to the office and do my work and in the evening I will go to Paul and he will organize it. At that time we went and played All Stars Port Harcourt and All Stars Enugu. I set up All Stars Football Club and I think I set it up either November 1st or 2nd 1971 and I retained Paul closely because I wanted to bring here (SCOA Motors). And through the help of Paul I set up “The SCOA Chairman’s Cup”.

“We have five business units and I want the Chairman’s Cup to be competed for by the various units with the hope that the chairman will use his position to continue to promote the championship because SCOA has a football field somewhere in Somolu area in those days.

“I was mobile and I wanted to run football and that was the concept I was trying to bring to SCOA unfortunately the chairman did not show any interest. I actually got Paul to help me set it up and one time Nigerian goalkeeper.

“That was why I said our definition of footballer is the one wearing the jersey. All my children, my family members and all my friends know that one of the things I know very well how to do believe you me is football.

“In those days, it does not matter the part of the pitch you were, if I wanted the ball to land on your chest or your leg I will deliver it. But I went to and acquired education and I am glad that I took the decision that I take. This is because money started coming into football when I am already old, I couldn’t have benefitted from it.

“When I was in secondary school, it is on record that I played 397 penalties, I scored 395. The two I couldn’t score were one of them hit the cross bar and the other one, it was about to rain and the breeze was blowing and I was waiting for the breeze to subside then the referee wanted to book me, then I had to take it and in the process breeze aided it out of goal.

“So when I see all of them who call themselves coaches I try to help them. I sold my car, the furniture in my house to try to help them. But just like I said, it pained me that I didn’t see Paul before he died because I was so busy here,” Agbamu lamented.

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 31, 2017

SPORTS

Europe Top Leagues Champions

in pictures

•Chelsea dethrone Liecester City to emerge 2016/17 EPL champions

•Zenadine Zidane led Real Madrid piped Barca to the La Liga crown

•Bayern are Budesliga champions with little or no serious resistance from Dortumund and the rest

•Juventus no doubt made history in 2016/17 season by winning Seria A for the fifth consecutive time •Monaco worked hard to emerge League 1 champions after dethroning PSG

Bolt acts pallbearer during Mason funeral O

lympic and world sprint champion, Usain Bolt was a pallbearer at friend Germaine Mason’s funeral on Sunday in Jamaica.

The former Great Britain high jumper, Mason died last month when his motorbike crashed on the way home from a party with friends.

Bolt and his Jamaica teammate Nesta Carter, were in Kingston to pay their respects, and he helped carry Mason’s coffin at the Hagley Park Seventh Day Adventist Church in St. Andrew.

Mason claimed silver at the Beijing Olympics, jumping 2.34m to finish behind Russian Andrey Silnov.

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VOX POPULI SACRUM

THE FRONTIER

ISSN: 2545-5869

Wednesday May 31, 2017

By Martin Ike-Muonso (Ph.D, DBA) 08033148722

Policy framework for SME development in ECOWAS W

ITH A jurisdiction of about 250 million people across 15 member States ECOWAS responsibility for deepening the integration process and economic development of the region cannot be less daunting. Several channels have long been identified as desiderata for achieving these developmental goals. Of overriding importance is the establishment of an economic and monetary union which in turn should further strengthen political and economic cooperation among member countries. Consequently, within this economic development architecture the catalytic role of the private sector must be accorded a prime place. While this in itself is necessary, it nevertheless is not a sufficient condition as it does not take into cognizance the region’s phase in developmental evolution which requires greater focus on sustainable growth of micro, small and medium enterprises. As is well known, about 90% of the region’s economic activities are driven by SME’s.

An enabling policy framework in support of SME development should be built on the understanding of key challenges which SMEs face within the region. These comprise the fuzzy and in some member country instances, the clear absence of legal and regulatory framework for SME operations.

Others are issues around the classification of SMEs, institutional support, skills, training and capacity building, access to finance, market access, diaspora support, public-private partnership in SME development within the region, business advocacy, gender SME empowerment, integration, sustainability, access to land and so on. In general these and much more for instance put pressure on the cost of transaction with attendant impact on intra-regional and international competitiveness of member country SMEs. ECOWAS however lacks harmonized legislative and legal frameworks for effectively addressing these issues. Experiences however vary at the national level. In most countries, existing frameworks are broadly on private sector development which does not take into cognizance the peculiarities of small and medium enterprises. A few countries within the region have however started developing special policy frameworks to support the SME segment. This should urgently be put in place at the regional level and strengthened with effective monitoring mechanism that does not impose undue burdens on the business segment but rather promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and growth.

In developing the framework, one important but urgent element is a regional classifi-

Marcel de Souza, ECOWAS President

cation of businesses so as to give the needed distinction to the SMEs. In many member countries the distinction between SMEs and informal businesses are blurred. As a result, difficulties in effectively targeting the SMEs heighten while complicating the execution of regional support programmes. In effect therefore, the fluidity that arises with non-categorization at regional level potentially creates unwarranted confusion in support management and may result in policy deflection.

In addition to the above, most member countries’ pro-SME programs are either deficient or non-existent. Few countries like Ghana and Nigeria have Technical Service Programmes in place for aspiring SME investors. Even with these, the supply demand gap remains huge. Institutional support in such areas as marketing, R&D and finance in member countries are burdened by corruption and poor programme implementation.

Member countries – such as Ghana - continue to pursue varieties of reforms for private sector (not SME specific) development. In Ghana for instance, access to land remains a big issue but the policy for resolving the ensuing challenges are for the private sector.

There is no specific initiative on this area for the SMEs. On the whole, ECOWAS should urgently create institutions that will support various aspects of SME operational needs and expectations such as in marketing, capacity building, R and D, finance, and market access.

Similarly, there is a clear absence of robust financial structure targeted at SMEs within the regional framework. Pockets of structures for specialized SME financing never-

theless exist in some countries. However, even in these countries, the results are not cheering as SMEs are compelled to access needed funds at interest rates that compete with those offered by the commercial banks. For example, in Nigeria although the SMEs constitute about 85% of entire business activity in the economy, only about 36% have access and are qualified for credit. Very central to the SME financing hurdle is the collateral requirements by most financial institutions including the microfinance banks.

At the regional level, it is imperative that the ECOWAS establishes as well as promote the creation of special vehicles for SME financing such as the ECOWAS SME Bank with branches in many member countries as well as a common legislation establishing special windows at specialized banks for SME financing. One should expect that the terms of credit from these institutions should compare favourably with the incentive interest rate structure for SMEs in countries such as Tunisia, India, and Malaysia.

Aggressive SME development also demands aggressive and appropriate skills for running SME operations. What has been the norm is for SMEs to benefit in the training curriculum designed essentially for other business segments which in any case do not target SMEs. Secondly, the curriculum of our educational institutions rarely prepares any student to become an SME entrepreneur.

Accordingly, harmonizing the educational policy / curriculum such that reasonable entrepreneurial skills are passed on to students at all educational levels is imperative.

The end result is that our graduates (secondary or tertiary) can easily leave the schools

with impressive entrepreneurial education.

ECOWAS harmonized skill and capacity development programmes must foster innovative and entrepreneurial culture, including continuous training and lifelong learning; encourage mobility of human resources; and reduce skill disparities by improving the match between education and labour market demand plus a collective emphasis on entrepreneurship. This should be done in collaboration with the private sector, educational institutions, employers and professional organizations One assumption that we have tacitly made in this essay is that there exists the enabling environment for business activities generally. We however know that this rarely exists in most member countries at the expected level. It follows therefore that a critical ingredient for the success of the suggested intra-regional SME enablers is the enabling business environment. In sum therefore member countries ought to do all within their means to ensure political and social stability, macroeconomic stability, peace and conflict resolution as well as consciously promote effective rule of law. Equally of significance is the quality of infrastructure.

Strategic infrastructural development policy will ensure that scarce resources are channeled to the most promising projects and address bottlenecks limiting private investment. A special fund at the regional and country level to address infrastructural challenges faced by SMEs in the sub region will go a long way in addressing this issue.

ECOWAS countries must also enlarge the regional market through free trade zones, the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, promotion of cross-border investments, harmonization of incentive measures for SME operations. While it is normal and typical to have barriers, it is also the norm within blocs to find ways of taking out these barriers. The global tendency is to liberalize trade as much as possible so that nations could trade with each other with fewer restrictions. In ECOWAS, a lot of that has been done under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) which was intended to remove non-tariff and tariff barriers to trade among member-states. This presents a whole lot of benefits for Nigerian SME as a country and for the entire sub-region.

Equally important is clearly harmonized tax policy should encourage rather than being inhibitive to SMEs growth and development. There must also be an effective public-private partnership such that the private sector plays a central role in the SMEs sector while the government provides the enabling environment.

The Oracle Today is published by The Oracle Newspapers Limited, 116 Awka Road, Onitsha, Anambra State. ISSN: 2545-5869 Email: oracletoday2016@yahoo.com, Twitter: @oraclenews.ng Facebook: oraclenewsngr@facebook.com Website: www.oraclenews.ng Advert hot lines: 09078310060, 09061836916. Editor: FELIX OGUEJIOFOR ABUGU.