Wednesday May 9, 2018 Edition by oracle

‘2nd Niger Bridge’ll be awarded before 2019’

IFFERENT officials of the Federal Government keep saying different things about the 2nd Niger Bridge, but what they have finally revealed is that the contract for the bridge has not been awarded. This contradicts positions given since last year that it had been awarded. The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, VON, Osita Okechukwu, a close ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, when he inspected works at the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra,

The and Asaba, Delta, on Monday, said contract for the bridge would be awarded

VOX POPULI SACRUM

before the 2019 elections. Federal Controller of Works in Anambra, Inno-

racle

cent Alumonah who was with him made more startling revelations about the

WEDNESDAY May 9, 2018

the four-phase project had been executed up to 46 per cent. “Some culverts have been completed for the project. The link road to the bridge will be linked around Okpanam junction near Asaba Airport to Ibusa junction, Oko, through Ogbaru, Atani to Onitsha-Owerri Road and later join Enugu-Onitsha Expressway,” Alumonah said. He said that 79 of the 83 piles had already been put

project. Mr. Alumonah in April had said the early works of

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Today

VOL.3 No.18 N200

Atiku sparks fresh debate on restructuring

•Restructuring before 2019 elections •Restructuring or Igbo Presidency in 2019 •Restructuring only answer to Nigeria’s problems

•President Muhammadu Buhari at lunch with President Donald Trump

From NATH OMAME Jr., Port Harcourt; BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia; EMMA OGOIGBE, Warri; THEO RAYS and IBE NWACHUKWU, Onitsha

ormer Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has again raised the bar on the ongoing debate on the Nigerian situa-

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tion with his recent re-commitment to restructuring as the most valuable path to peace, stability and progress in the country. Speaking during a question and answer session at the Chattam House, London where he delivered a lecture titled ‘The importance of strengthening state economic management sys-

tems’ last week, Abubakar restated he would restructure Nigeria in six months if elected President in next year’s election.

“It is doable. In fact, what I’ve told many Nigerians at home is that if you give me

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Court grants IPOB members bail –P2

Auto industry, fuel systems going obsolete

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS Court grants IPOB members bail •Lawyer: Army, not Abaribe must produce Kanu By THEO RAYS A Federal High court sitting in Awka has granted bail to three members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who are standing trial for conspiracy and illegal possession of flags bearing IPOB. The three IPOB members, namely Ugwu Friday, Emeka Okoye and Chinwekele Blessed were arrested by the Police in Nnewi on April 6, this year on their way from a burial ceremony for allegedly possessing IPOB flags, which police claimed was punishable under section 2 (3) (i) of the terrorism prevention act, 2011 since the group had been proscribed. The IPOB members were, therefore, charged at the Federal High Court, in Awka. When the matter came up for hearing, Justice H. Oweibo granted the accused members bail after listening to the submissions of their Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, who informed the court that an application for stay of execution of the proscription of the IPOB was still pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja. Ejimakor also argued that there was a likelihood of the acquittal or dismissal of the proscription order based on the several challenges to it before the national and international courts and tribunals. Justice Oweibo, therefore, granted bail to the accused on the condition of provision of two sureties who must include a civil servant on grade level 08 and above and another “responsible” person with tax clearance certificate and adjourned the matter to May 2, to enable the prosecution to consolidate the charges into one. Ejimakor, who hailed the ruling of the court, said he was prepared for the next trial date, adding, however, that he was disturbed that four members of the IPOB who are facing far less serious charges than the ones in Awka had been detained since 2015. He stated that while the Awka matter for which bail was granted on first application and on liberal terms carried 20 years imprisonment if the defendants were found guilty, those of Abuja, which borders on conspiracy to commit treasonable felony carries only 5 –7 years imprisonment. Earlier in an exclusive interview with The Oracle Today, Ejimakor decried labelling IPOB a terrorist group laughable, insisting that secessionist and self-determination agitations are recognised by law. “Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, provides that: ‘All peoples shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. Oppressed people shall have the right to free themselves from the bonds of domination by resorting to any means recognized by the international community’. He noted that the military not Senator Enyinna Abaribe should produce the IPOB leader: “The Federal Government as one of the parties went and breached the contract by deploying troops to attack Kanu in his home,” Ejimakor said.

•See Interview on Page 9

‘2nd Niger Bridge’ll be awarded before 2019’ Cont’d from Pg 1 in place at the Ogbaru end of the project with each pile measuring about 40 metres in length. “By next week, we will be building the pile cap at axis 290. The entire Second Niger Bridge is 1.59kms. The second Niger Bridge project will cost N14.45 billion,” Mr. Alumonah told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. Mr. Okechukwu said that the project is no longer under Public, Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement, but being solely financed by the Federal Government, noting that President Buhari believes that public fund is the fastest way to lay the critical foundation for critical

infrastructure. Three days earlier, Friday 27 April to be precise, the Director of Highway Bridges and Design, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Sogbesan Adetokunbo told the media in Asaba that the main project of the second Niger Bridge would cost N210 billion. There was no mention of who would fund the project. He listed the procedure that would lead to the realisation of the project and the extent of work done. And they are, among others: •A memo has been written to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), as well as to the federal executive council for approval.

• Early works on preliminary projects to be completed before the award of the main contract and are being executed in four phases. • Phases one, two and three comprising design, soil investigation, preliminary drawing final engineering drawing are 100 per cent completed •45 per cent of early works on phases two and three comprising piling and embankment has been completed even as work there is currently ongoing at Onitsha, Asaba axis •“The main works will be awarded in the next one or two months and the approach roads

from Asaba and Onitsha axis will be awarded before the end of the year,” he enthused. “When the main bridge is awarded, there will be a lot of piling works in the water and that is what people will see. They can stand on the existing bridge and see piling works going on but where we are working now is at the end of the two sides of the bridge. “Most people on the existing bridge will not see what is happening now but once the main work is awarded, everybody will see it. It is a project that is very critical not only to the Nigerian economy but also to countries along the corridors including Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Uganda and Kenya,” said Mr. Adetokunbo. The confusion runs through the length of the bridge to the method of financing. The project had a certain status until the Buhari Administration stopped work on the bridge in June 2015. By 2012, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) had issued this statement on the Second Niger Bridge project, saying: “The project, which Julius Berger Nigeria Plc-NSIA Motorway Investment Company Ltd, JB-NMIC, Consortium was handling, was estimated to cost $700 million- that is, N108 billion (at the then exchange rate of N154/$). NMIC is a subsidiary of NSIA. “The Second Niger Bridge project comprised Phases 1, 2a and 2b and includes a southern bypass at both Asaba and Onitsha cities with an approximate total length of 44km. The phase 1 of the project, which is the bridge and adjacent roads, is approximately 11.9 kilometres and will be constructed and operated under a Design, Build, and Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. “The bridge will comprise a

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•Workers dance at May Day rally at Okpara Square Enugu.

Atiku sparks fresh debate on restructuring Continued from Pg 1 six months, I know I will be able to achieve a fast level of restructuring, otherwise the concurrent list issue,” he said. “It’s very easy to deal with it because there is no state that you will call and say ‘I want to give you this responsibility together with the resources’, and they will say ‘no’.” The former Vice President said as President, he would make it possible for people in every state to truly hold their leaders accountable to avoid the current situation whereby the federal government “is being accused of everything, even when it’s not in its area of responsibility.” “I want to be able to resolve that so that citizens can hold their local leaders responsible for lapses and maladministration,” he said. Alhaji Abubakar first expressed his views on restructuring in 2016 when he adopted it as an the answer to separatist agitations rocking the land at the time. In remarks at the unveiling of a book ‘We are all Biafrans’, written by Journalist Chido Onumah, in Abuja on May 31st 2016, Abubakar had said: “When I was invited to chair this occasion, I immediately understood that the title of the book is

a metaphor for the legitimate feelings of marginalization by diverse segments of Nigerians that cut across the country. “Agitations by many right-thinking Nigerians call for a restructuring and renewal of our federation to make it less centralized, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities. “As some of you may know, I have for a long time advocated the need to restructure our federation. Our current structure and the practices have been a major impediment to the economic and political development of our country. “In short, it has not served Nigeria well, and at the risk of reproach, it has not served my part of the country, the North, well. The call for restructuring is even more relevant today in light of the governance and economic challenges facing us. And the rising tide of agitations, some militant and violent, require a reset in our relationships as a united nation. “Nigeria must remain a united country. Our potentials are enormous. But I also believe that a united country, which I think most Nigerians desire, should never be taken for granted or taken as evidence that Nigerians are content with the current structure of the federation.

“Making that mistake might set us on the path of losing the country we love or, as Chido Onumah puts it, result in our country sleepwalking to disaster.” But, Abubakar’s position attracted criticisms from across the country, especially from the North where restructuring is perceived as Southern agenda aimed at balkanising the country. Among the northern opponents of restructuring is President Muhammadu Buhari who insists that there is nothing wrong with the structure of the country but with itd “processes.” Similarly, Elder Statesman and prominent Northern politician, Tanko Yakassai described the former Vice President’s position as “hogwash and invitation to anarchy.” But, Abubakar whose “wemust-restructure-or-perish” mantra is widely acclaimed has intensify, allaying fears, especially in the North, that restructuring is against northern interests. “I don’t know what those who are against restructuring are afraid of. Those afraid must be lazy,” he declared in a keynote address at a youth forum organised by a conglomeration of civil society groups under the auspices of Play Forum in Abuja not too long ago. “I want to agree essentially that there

is every need for us to sit down and talk about our future. This is because the arrangements in the last 50 years or so have not served us very well. “I am not a product of the current structure of Nigeria. I am a product of regional government. I saw the government at work and I have also seen the current arrangement at work. “That was why I came out, some people even said to the detriment of my political career, to advocate for restructuring or rearrangement or whatever you call it, of the present structure of the country. I still stand by it. But we cannot determine the nitty-gritty of this restructuring until we are able to dialogue and agree on how we want to continue to live together as a country. “It is good that all the representatives of the ethnic groups agreed that we should continue to live together. I believe it is imperative. But I also don’t believe in the current arrangement, which I have always referred to as unitary federalism, which was a creation of a prolonged military rule.” The embers of the agitation for restructuring seemed to have died as soon as the federal government proscribed the Indige-

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Buhari approves recruitment of 6,000 policemen, frowns at state police

resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recruitment of 6,000 additional policemen as part of fresh measures to address the nation’s security challenges including the farmers/herdsmen clashes across the country. The President made this known in a special interview session with Voice of America, Hausa service, in Washington, United States, Tuesday morning. President Buhari, who is in the U.S. on the invitation of the American President Donald Trump, revealed that additional security measures were being put in place to check cases of insecurity in Nigeria. “We will put in place more measures to check insecurity in the country including increasing the number of policemen and train them. I have approved the recruitment of 6,000 policemen by the police authorities and I directed that those recruited

must come from all the 776 local government areas of the federation. “Even if it means recruiting one person each from the 776 they should do that instead of going to motor parks, railway stations or market for the recruitment exercise. I gave (Police authorities) them this directive,’’ he said. The president, who expressed reservation on the call for the establishment of state police as being advocated by state governors, said Nigerians must abide by constitutional provision in regard to the matter. It would be recalled that the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Abdulaziz Yari, had in February said creation of state police would help in addressing spate of insecurity in the country. Yari, who is also the Zamfara State Governor, said this at the end of a two-day summit organised by the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Re-

ormer Vice President, Atiku Fleaders Abubakar, has urged labour to engage Federal Govern-

petrochemicals, fertilizers and pharmaceutical industries, building materials, milling, paper and paper products, solid minerals, iron and steel. Abubakar also said that the country’s educational sector had continued to suffer decline, noting that agreements freely entered into by workers’ unions and the government had experienced serious setbacks resulting from the authorities’ penchant for reneging. He added that funding for the educational sector had also remained abysmally low, saying “this problem cuts across all tiers of government. “As we speak today, the Central Bank of Nigeria is in custody of billions of naira, funds representing Federal Government’s share of Universal Basic Education Fund, which state governments are expected to draw from by paying counterpart funding. “Majority of the states have failed to benefit from this fund because they have not provided the required matching funds. I am a firm believer in our youths and the height at which they can take this country if accorded quality and affordable education.’’ He said that Nigeria had a better potential if a little more attention was accorded to developing its human resources through the education of the youth and adult population. “We must increase funding for our education and research institutions where the foundational rubrics of our development can be hatched and nurtured.’’ Abubakar added that there was an urgent need to make serious commitments to massive investment in the healthcare delivery system. “We need a leadership that can gather enough investment in the upgrade of infrastructure and procurement of modern healthcare technology and equipment for our hospitals and primary and secondary healthcare facilities.”

N18, 000 minimum wage ‘ill-motivating, embarrassing’ – Atiku ment on minimum wage, industrialization, education, healthcare delivery and pension, even as he described the present wage structure as ‘ill-motivating and embarrassing.’ In a statement in Abuja on Monday, Abubakar said that the minimum wage of N18,000 per month (less than $50) as currently obtained was ill-motivating and embarrassing considering the current economic reality. He said that while it was adequate that the Federal Government could set the standard for national minimum wage, state governments, especially the rich states, should not see the standard as the maximum wage. According to Abubakar, the minimum should be simply considered as the baseline for them to build on. “I believe that our Federal Government will become smarter when it is smaller and more flexible in addressing the needs of our labour force,’’ he said. The former vice-president added that the continuing rate of deindustrialization in Nigeria’s economy was of grave concern, saying the manufacturing sector which was supposed to create jobs had continued to face decline. He attributed the decline to unfavourable conditions imposed by challenges of epileptic power supply, high cost of credit, multiple exchange rate regimes, and in extreme cases, inadequate foreign exchange supply and depreciating value of the naira. “The ability to broker the required synergy with international partners and the private sector in key sectors of the economy should be the basis for the 2019 engagement with the organized labour and the Nigerian people,’’ he said. These, according to him, include automobile, textiles, agro-allied,

view of Current Security Infrastructure in Nigeria. “Today we have reiterated the position of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. And the position of the security summit we held in August, that there is a need for the state police; we can say it is the only answer.” However, President Buhari maintained that the creation of state police would not augur well for the finances of the states, adding that some of them were finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations to workers and other state needs. “We must carefully look at the position of the nation’s constitution on the issue of state police before we take final decision on the matter if the constitution allows state police so be it. “But don’t forget that many times the Federal Government gave out what we referred to as bail out to state governments for payment of

workers’ salaries. How many states can pay salary promptly? and you want to add more financial burden to the states. “It is not proper to employ a person, train him on how to handle weapons and then refuse to pay him – you can imagine what would happen in such situation,’’ he said. On his purported comment on youth while in London, President Buhari dismissed the report, saying that the media only preferred to interpret and report what they like instead of concentrating on developmental journalism. “You know Nigeria’s population is now between 180 and 190 million and 60 per cent of this population is youth that is 30 years down ward. You know in the North most youths are uneducated or school dropouts. If not because we had good harvests in the last two farming seasons the situation would have been deterio-

rated. “These youths even if they travel out of the North for greener pasture they hardly make it economically because what they earn as income cannot afford them to meet their basic needs or return home. “All these explanations I made, they refused to highlight them in their report and you know the media in Nigeria in most cases only do what they like. “For instance the nation’s achievements in the agricultural sector where millions of Nigerians benefitted financially were left unreported by the media. “Even when the Minister of Information and Culture wanted to reply that abusive letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, I had wanted Lai not to reply the letter but I said I should allow him to highlight the achievements of our administration.’’

•CEO., Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM), Mrs. Oyefunke Olayinka (r); supported by Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Kayode Omiyale (2nd left) & his wife, Kemi (L), to make symbolic presentation to one of the residents, Mama Janet, when HOFOWEM (a pet project of the wife of the governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode) distributed of over 3000 insecticide-treated nets to Makoko residents, as part of activities to mark the 2018 World Malaria Day, at Yaba, on Wednesday, 25th April, 2018.

Distribution of PVCs to new registrants commences in May – INEC

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to newly-registered voters will commence early in May. INEC National Commissioner in charge of Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, disclosed this at the sidelines of SouthWest Zonal Workshop on Women Participation in Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and Collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop, which held in Lagos, was organized by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECEC) and had Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in attendance. The event centred on the role of CSOs in mobilising women for ongo-

ing CVR and collection of the PVCs. Ogunmola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that INEC was determined to register all eligible voters before the 2019 general elections to enable them perform their civic responsibility. “We have announced that from the second week of May, the new registrants will be collecting their PVCs. In fact, most of the new PVCs have been sent to the states; we hope that by the second week of May, we will start the distribution.” He expressed concerned about the uncollected 1.4 million PVCs in Lagos state, noting that the commission was trying to employ other strategies to ensure that most of the cards were collected. The INEC commissioner said the commission was making efforts to get the Voter Identification Num-

ber (VIN) of the people involved, get their addresses and published their names on INEC website. He said that state governments had resolved to assist the commission to publish the names of the owners of the unclaimed PVCs. According to him, voter apathy, lack of adequate sensitisation and societal issues have been identified as reasons for low participation of women in the electoral process. Ogunmola urged the CSOs and other stakeholders to support the commisson in sensitising and mobilising the people for the collection of PVCs. On his part, Mr David Le Notre, Project Director/Senior Electoral Expert, ECES, said that women, who constituted about half of the population must be carried along in every facet of the development.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION AEDC to install 200,000 additional prepaid meters in 3 states, FCT

buja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) says it has concluded plans to install more than 200,000 additional meters to electricity consumers in its franchise areas. AEDC’s Managing Director Ernest Mupwaya disclosed this at a forum in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, organised for electricity consumers. According to him, this is part of AEDC’s determined effort to end estimated billing and further improve electricity supply in its franchise areas. The forum was organised by AEDC and the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on curbing excessive electricity billing by Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria. The forum had in attendance customers on residential and Maximum Electricity Demand from Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It was designed to elicit first-hand information by members of the committee on issues of power supply from consumers in the NorthCentral zone. Mupwaya, presenting the activities of the company, said AEDC was committed to further improve services to customers in its franchise areas. He said the company had installed 146,749 meters to customers, adding that it was also in the interest of the company to meter all its customers. He said the company was also keying in to the new Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme by engaging meter asset providers to bridge the metering gap and reduce the issue of estimated billing. He, however, said that a quick method to also reduce estimated billing was to meter transformers supplying electricity to cluster areas. He said the company, in 2018, would meter 7,000 transformers to help reduce estimated billing. The AEDC boss also said the company had also reduced its ATC and C loss profile to 38 per cent from 54 per cent on inception. This, he said, was resulting in an improved supply and stability of supply to consumers. According to him, AEDC has also increased its capacity to take more power to 870 MegaWatts (MW). The managing director added that the company was also re-configuring its network to phase out old conductors. He said the allocation of electricity from the National Grid to the company was in the region of 500MW at the moment. Earlier, Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Mr Israel Ajibola, told participants that the interactive session was to get views of customers on excessive electricity charges by DisCos. He said the House of Representatives had been under intense pressure from various constituents on serious complaints against DisCos in the country. According to Ajibola, the complaints range from excessive billing to DisCos refusal to meter them, preference for estimated billing, non-compliance with the connection and re-connection regulations. He said the committee had the mandate to investigate all alleged excessive electricity charges on consumers by DisCos, quality of meters being installed and why estimated billing was yet to be phased out.

Herdsmen’s attacks: Only 5 councils in Benue safe – Ortom ...As govt drags Miyetti Allah to court Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom of Benue, has stated that only five of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state were free from attacks by herdsmen. Ortom who, stated this during his first official interaction with newsmen since he returned from his vacation from China, regretted the continued onslaught against the state by the killer- herdsmen and called for vigilance from the people. He, however, assured that President Muhammadu Buhari was working round the clock with his security chiefs to end the attacks. According to him, the Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) would soon visit the state to address some of the challenges and assured that “very soon they would become a thing of the past”. He said the transfer of his security aides was also cancelled and

explained that all political leaders in the country had the right to choose their security details. Ortom also condemned the burning down of over 300 houses by the Nigerian Army in Naka as well as the killing of a soldier by hoodlums in the area. He said neither the killing of the soldier nor the arson that followed the killing could be justified in law. He, however, disclosed that the five suspects linked to the soldier’s death were handed over to the police and wondered why the soldiers still went on to burn houses. Ortom said the arrested people were nabbed by the Gwer West Council chairman and traditional rulers. ”Reprisal of any kind will not be accepted by my government and blood shed should not take place in the state no matter the situation.

When you allow lawlessness to prevail, you are calling for anarchy and when anarchy is allowed to prevail it will unleash a lot of havoc in the society,” he said. He promised not to interfere in the prosecution of his Livestock Guards Commander, Alhaji Aliyu Tershaku, who is under military detention for acts connected to the Book Haram terror group as well as recent killings in the state. ”I have never intervened in the arrest and prosecution of any of my appointees who is suspected to have committed murder and in Tershaku’s case too I will not be different. I will allow law enforcement agencies to do their work,” he said. Meanwhile, the Benue State government has sued the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore amid the repeated killings of innocent citizens in the state.

•Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the United States of America International Development Agency (USAID) Mission Director in Nigeria, Mr. Stetchim Harken with a team of medical doctors from the Moses Lake USA on Medical Outreach at the Kebbi State Medical Centre Kalgo, Tuesday

According to the state governor, Samuel Ortom, who revealed this on Monday, the government dragged the group before the State High Court, Markurdi, on the allegations of murder and widespread violence across 14 out of the 23 local councils of the state. Governor Ortom disclosed this at the Government House while briefing reporters on the new security approach to curb the repeated killings in the state. He faulted the alleged inaction of the security forces to arrest the group for purportedly threatening violence; an act he claimed resulted in the multiple deaths since 2018. The state government had in 2017 petitioned the Federal Government, as well as the heads of the police and the Department of State Service. They called had also called for the arrest of the President of Miyetti Allah, Abdullahi Bodejo, and his secretary, Alhassan Saleh, who were accused of issuing the threats during a press conference in June 2017. However, Mr Saleh has since denied the allegation and distanced the association from the recent killings in the state, maintaining that they had warned the Benue State Government against implementing the anti-open grazing law as it would generate a lot of confusion in the state. “We told him (Ortom) that look; you can’t go by that way. The reality is that you cannot proscribe pastoralism overnight. It is going to be a process that has to encompass policies and programmes that would take a period of time. “We have written to the government of Benue State. We have written to all the relevant security agencies, telling them why we are opposed to this law; but what His Excellency Governor Ortom did was to dismiss our organisation, claiming we don’t have members in Benue,” Saleh said during his appearance on national television station programme. The implementation of the antiopen grazing law in Benue has been greeted by a series of attacks on some communities in the state, with several lives lost since the beginning of 2018.

Minimum wage: Timeline must not be altered -- NLC rganised Labour says it will not O to allow the Tripartite Committee for National Minimum Wage

•NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba

to alter the time line for the implementation for the new wage for workers in the country. NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said this during a Pre-May Day Symposium organised by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday in Abuja. The theme of the 2018 May Day Celebration is, “Role of Labour and Workers in National Devolvement: Dare to Struggle and We Dare to Win.” The Federal Government had said that the implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers would take effect from the third quarter. According to Wabba, we will make sure that the time line that has been set by the Tripartite Committee for the implementation of the national minimum wage will not in any way be altered or undermined.

“Workers, who create wealth, must also be well taken care of as we are not unmindful of the situation of the Nigerian workers, particularly, with the increasing inflation in the land. “So, clearly speaking, the minimum wage is an issue we will continue to canvass for. I want to assure you all that we will take the issue to the next level and essentially we are going to win,‘’ he said. The NLC president, while speaking on May Day Celebration said the day was opportunity to provide workers better policy and address issues affecting workers. Wabba said workers must be prepared to demand for a better working condition and welfare. “Importantly, we are going to interrogate how far the democratic process has been able to deliver on its mandate and how workers have being fairing. Workers have contributed immensely to our national development and workers create the wealth of every economy, how-

ever, they are neglected,” he said. He called on the Federal Government to address the issue of governance, inequality gap, unemployment and development among others in the country. He added that organised labour would continue to canvass for better policy options that would be beneficial to the working people. He also decried the incessant killings across the country. Earlier, Prof. Onje Gwardo, Faculty of Law, University of Jos, called for commitment among workers in the discharge of their duties. Gwardo said this commitment should include commitment to work, ideas, and National development. “We have some level of commitments that have been exemplified by those who have gone before us, ‘’he said. He also said the issue of minimum wage must be placed on the front burner to enhance commitment.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

Restructuring panacea to insecurity – CLO

By THEO RAYS, Onitsha

HAIRMAN of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) Anambra State branch, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, has described the clamor for the restructuring of Nigeria as the immediate panacea to the current tension in the country rising from Boko Haram insurgence, killing of innocent souls in many parts of the country by Herdsmen, banditry, cultists and politics of 2019 among other issues threatening the existence of the country. Ezekwueme in a chat with The Oracle Today said that it will be interesting if President Muhammadu Buhari and his party All Progressives Congress (APC) surrender to the voice of reason from eminent personalities and groups clamoring for restructuring and do the needful to get the country restructured before 2019 general election maintaining that the restructuring exercise will certainly address all issues generating tension in the country. The CLO boss observed that “people are existing in fear as a result of insecurity, nobody knows who could be the next victim of Herdsmen attack, people are poor and the amount of people suffering from hunger is very high, the rate of unemployment is on the high side and the condition of the economy is at crossroads because there is no solution to the myriad of challenges facing the economy of the country, so the time for restructuring is now not after the election” The right activist went further

to add that restructuring will reduce fear among the people and also create hope for a better future as according to him, “the most important thing Nigerians need now is peace of mind, people are becoming confused and hopeless because there is nothing on ground to give them that sense of good life, there is no measure for safety and protection, nothing on ground to fight hunger and unemployment, people want to see a situation far better than the status quo and that is what restructuring will offer” “I’m sure that restructuring will user in new security order and of course a new system of security that will address the problem of Herdsmen attack on the people, am it will usher in new economic lifeline, make jobs available both in the State quarters and in the private sector and most importantly address the political imbalance rising from the dichotomy of northern majority and southern minority including the issue religious differences, so the earlier we do it the better He urged those clamoring for restructuring never to relent in pushing for it because it appears that the issue is the hope of the masses adding “the issue of restructuring is more important than 2019 election, election will end up recycling the same political elements that have been in charge of the system into various positions and I don’t see the magic they will do to fix this country but restructuring will user in a new thing and that is what Nigerians need at the moment.”

•Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, during the 2018 Workers’ Day Celebration at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki.

Okowa advocates checks on population growth By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

ELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has said growth in Nigeria’s population will continue to pose a threat until there are commensurate efforts in place to provide amenities. “A nation that prides itself on number instead of the quality of life of the people is heavily challenged,”

Ebonyi will pay new national minimum wage – Umahi By CHINEDU NWAFOR

BONYI State governor, David Umah, says his administration will pay the newly-proposed national minimum wage when fully implemented by the federal government. The federal government and the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have been in talks over the proposed N56, 000 minimum wage for workers. Umahi while addressing Ebonyi workers across at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki Tuesday, on the occasion of the May Day, said his administration in keeping with his campaign promises of which workers welfare topped the lists had remained religiously committed to implementing positive workers’ policies that have improved their welfare. He disclosed that outstanding pensions and gratuities owed workers since the creation of the state would be paid on or before the 15th of May, 2018 while directing all ministries to work out the new promotion entitlements and to ensure that it is reflected in the salaries of the newly prompted workers on or before 15th of May 2018 when salaries are usually paid. “May I also assure you that Ebonyi state shall adopt proposed new national minimum wage when

approved and that we shall do in keeping with our promise which we made to the workers that we shall treasure their support and repay them for their support” “Our administration has in keeping with the mandate of exterminating poverty out of our land and from the civil servants has secured a loan of N4B from the Bank of Industry, BOI with a single digit interest for our workers to access and engage themselves meaningfully in agricultural programme that will have serious impact in their economic standing” “We have also organized the first ever agricultural summit for our civil servants to get them acquainted with our new programme of returning back to agriculture as the main stay of our economy in the face of the dwindling oil price” Governor Umahi further said: “ we have had our own share of the challenges arising primarily from the dwindling allocation from the federal government due to the oil downfall but we have kept hope alive and have taken the welfare of our workers as the topmost priority and this includes, payment of their salaries and other entitlements even in the face of the above challenges” He further called for prayers as the nation is going through various security challenges which he said has

remained unabated despite various security approaches that have been adopted; adding, “as we celebrate today, it has become imperative to do so in sober reflection of various bloodshed going on in almost every part of the country and to continue to beseech God in prayers to help Nigeria wriggle out of these unfortunate security challenges that tend to divide the country along various lines”

the Governor said. Governor Okowa spoke at the 70th birthday and retirement thanksgiving service organised in honour of Prof. Sam Ukala at the Our Saviour ‘s Chapel, Delta State University, Abraka. He asserted, “we are celebrating high numbers at a time when our economy is not in the best of state, so, there is a huge problem because, for so many years, there has been dysfunctionality in terms of our economic growth and the growth of the population.” “Even when our gross domestic product (GDP) tended to be high, it was still dysfunctional because it was GDP that flowed from oil production and sales of oill and oil production does not create jobs comparatively, so, there is something wrong and until we begin to look at all the issues, it will continue to be a problem,” he added while calling on Nigerians to reduce the children they bore. The Governor congratulated Prof. Ukala and urged him and other reti-

rees to engage in mentorship “A lot of our people are looking for role models, and we need a lot of retirees to guide the younger generation,” the Governor said, adding that Clergymen should also pray for God to direct the affairs of the nation. Okowa who was accompanied to the service by top political office holders also decried the level of cultism in institutions of higher learning in the country, saying Christians in such institutions should embark on evangelism to change the minds of such students. Rev. Cannon Obed Chukwuka at the sermon decried unrighteousness in the country which has hindered the growth of the country. “Nigeria as a nation is in terrible time, you are not sure of going to church without being killed, more blood have been shed in recent times, nepotism as it exist in this country is corruption and we pray for new breed of leaders,” Rev. Chukwuka said.

deaths. Of what benefit will increment of salaries be when all your children, friends and relatives are killed in the course of this national insecurity? It is incumbent on labour to rise up in defence of Nigerians by demanding for immediate cessation of killings “. Governor Wike said that Labour has a duty to work towards the progress of Nigeria as they battle for their welfare. He said that labour must rekindle their pre-2015 posture when they participated in occupy Nigeria during the Jonathan era. The governor urged labour to defend the nation’s democracy which is under threat by the failure of the APC Federal Government to respect the rule of law and democratic tenets.

“Be vigilant and defend our democracy in 2019. That is what labour is known for. Labour thrives under democracy. Without democracy, labour will run into challenges “, he said. He said that the state is investing in building a strong economy that will enable workers earn decent wages, empower entrepreneurs to create jobs and provide improved livelihood opportunities for Rivers people. “We have approved an interest-free revolving loan scheme for civil servants. The annual sum earmarked for this programme is N1, 200,000,000.00 (one billion two hundred naira) only, with a monthly disbursement of N100, 000,000.00 (one hundred million naira only.

Insecurity: Labour has failed Nigerians by failing to act – Wike

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Tuesday, declared that labour has failed Nigerians by refusing to act in the face of unbridled killings of defenceless Nigerians across the country. The governor said it is not in national interest for labour to be only concerned about salary increment when their kith and kin are mauled to the death on a daily basis. In an address during the 2018 Workers Day in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said: “Labour is only after the increment of wages and emoluments without showing concern for the mass killings going on across different states of the Federation. “Labour is quiet in the face of

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You’re not welcome in APC – Okorocha tells Uzodimma By COLLINS UGHALAA

EW days after Senator Hope Uzodimma representing Orlu Zone in the Senate reportedly defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a ceremony in Abuja, Governor Rochas Okorocha who also hails from Orlu Zone and is represented by the Senator, has said he is not aware the Senator is now a member of the APC. In a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the Governor said that the members and leaders of APC in Imo State are not aware that Senator Hope Uzodinma has joined the party, adding that the party in the state heard about the rumour of his entry into the party just like any other Nigerian. The statement said the Governor spoke in a meeting with state, local government and ward executives of the party, and leaders of the party in the state including National Assembly members at Imo International Convention Centre (IICC), Owerri on Monday, April 30, 2018, adding that there are laid down rules or procedures spelt out in the constitution of the party, those who want to join the party must follow. “It is insulting on the Party in the State for someone to be talking about joining the party from Abuja. The procedure is that you start from your ward to your Local Government and then the State, and the state will inform the Party at the national level that you are now a member. The reverse cannot be the case”. “When I joined the merger that gave birth to APC, nobody was with me except the drivers, artisans, market women, and low class politicians. None of the big names in Imo politics identified with us. Rather they

told our people that we were working with Muhammadu Buhari to Islamize the state and Igboland. “They called me Alhaji in Government House. They called me Okoro-Hausa. They attacked us, harassed us, intimidated us, humiliated us with security agents under the Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency. They never believed there could be tomorrow. Today, they want to all join the same Party through the back door”. “Honestly my brothers and sisters if not for the grace of God there is no way we would have gathered like this today. Those who had attacked and insulted us are looking for ways to join APC. Those that fought us ruthlessly during the elections, shooting us and carrying ballot boxes because of federal might are now the ones joining APC. Some are coming from Abuja. Some from London and others from America. “Unless you join APC from the right source, we will not welcome you to APC in Imo State. No one should join APC from the window. The worker deserves his wages and where you have worked is where you will be paid from. Now, I have to tell you people all that concerns our Party, how and where we have to strategize to win the 2019 election. Let me remind you all that this journey didn’t start today.” According to the Governor, “the worst thing that APC suffered was carrying the campaign into the Church circles where I suffered untold humiliation from one Church to the order to prove my genuineness as a Christian. I told my Igbo brothers to please vote Buhari into Presidency in 2015. That, whether they voted Buhari or not, he will become Nigeria’s President and it happened.”

Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade (second left) inspecting facilities at a rice seedlings centre at the Ayade Industrial Park, Calabar.

Obiano’s decongestion drive in Onitsha yielding dividends By THEO RAYS

EMBER of the Decongestion Committee constituted by state Governor Willie Obiano to rid Onitsha of undesirables, Chief Rommy Ezeonkwuka (Ogilisi Igbo), has declared that those who have been stealing and milking government revenues will be made to stop it. The committee is charged with the responsibility of ridding Onitsha of touting, illegal structures and illegal revenue agents. Speaking on the activities of the Committee, Ezeonwuka who is a

Look beyond white collar jobs, Umahi’s aide urges students By CHINEDU NWAFOR

PECIAL Adviser (SA) to Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi on Students Affairs, Ifeanyi Gideon Onwe has charged students to start thinking beyond white collar job even before graduation as according him, not only that such jobs are no longer available, anyone who wishes to succeed would not depend on monthly salary. Onwe gave who the charge in Abakaliki during a symposium organized for students of all tertiary institutions in the state by his office, charged the students to work towards being self-reliance. “I want all of you to start looking beyond academics, it is not as if coming out as best graduating students is not good, it is not as if making good result is not good but in as much as you are doing that you should also be looking at what will sustain you after your university academic. “White collar jobs are no longer in existence. It is now reserved for special people and to some extent, white collar jobs cannot take you anywhere because monthly salary from it cannot sustain you. So, anybody that wants

to make it in life should be able to think beyond monthly salary. You can make yourself the employer of labour,” Onwe told the students. In a remark, Senator Emmanuel Onwe the state commissioner for Information and State Orientation, urged youths in the country to use their voters cards against underperforming leaders in next year’s general elections instead of engaging in thuggery and other vices accompanying elections. Onwe who lamented that every sector in the country have remained stagnant, said youths were at their best to effect the desired change in the polity. “This programme is coming at a time when we the youths are at our best to determine our future. Every sector seems to be going down in Nigeria, nothing seems to be working out and no matter how we try, there are problems everywhere. “The programme is timely because election is coming very close. Often time, we the youths have always been thugs in the hands of our political leaders. But at this point in time, I think Nigeria should go beyond thuggery and crisis that accompanies politics

and election. “The much we the youths can do right now is to determine our future for ourselves and the only way we can do that is to get our voters ready and then vote in candidates that have perform very well and show the way out to some representative who are presently under performing.

also member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) revealed that investigations have shown that highly placed businessmen were behind illegal revenues agents and multiple taxations rocking Onitsha over the years. He alleged that the said highly placed businessmen are behind those boys parading different types of tickets and emblems including those who extort money as levies, tolls from traders, motorists, market women, wheel barrow pushers and piety traders in Onitsha adding that Obiano’s desire to sanitize Onitsha has to be carried out to the fullest. “Those boys working like touts and forcibly exhorting money from people with different means of revenue are working for market leaders and highly placed people. That is why the boys are untouchable, any attempt to arrest and question them always meet strong resistance,” he said.

He further alleged that the revenue thieves who have stolen and milked government revenue for many years are using what they generate to build plazas, hotels and petrol filling stations to the detriment of the State treasury and the image of Onitsha as a leading commercial city in Nigeria. “Obiano has given us the mandate to sanitize Onitsha and restore the city back to its glory and we have to achieve the target. It.is not acceptable to hear that people now prefer to live and do business in Asaba and likewise, the revenue that is supposed to be generated in Onitsha is moving to Asaba,” he added. He commended the Commissioner for Transport and Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation and the Commissioner for Environment for giving the Decongestion Committee maximum support, just as he called on Governor Obiano to ignore all those people raising their voices against the Committee.

Enugu Police as Improvised Explosive Device (IED), is a further confirmation of the fear of many Nigerians that nobody is safe anywhere in Nigeria. “The explosion at the residence of Chief John Nnia Nwodo, is an unfortunate situation which clearly confirms again the worry of Nigerians about the security of lives and property within the context of Nigeria. Although, we must acknowledge the prompt response of the Enugu State Commissioner of Police for taking experts to the scene immediately, to ascertain what exactly happened, and for promising to fish out those responsible, but the incident clearly shows that nobody is safe anywhere,” he said. While urging the relevant secu-

rity agencies to widen their scope in the course of their investigation over the matter, the former Commissioner for Education in the old Anambra State, also advised that they should as well beam their searchlight on certain individuals that had recently threatened Nwodo under a purported non-existent Ohanaeze youth group. “All those who are threatening Nnia Nwodo are threatening the Igbo nation, and we can link them up with those who have been making sure that the Igbo are destroyed in this country. Nigerians should, rather than denigrate Ndigbo, applaud their ingenuity and skills in nation building. Let envy of their stature not be a yardstick for condemning them.

Nwodo: Investigate ‘fake Ohanaeze youths’ –Eya urges police

From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

ormer Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, has charged the federal government to rise to its most basic responsibility and ensure equal protection of lives and property of all Nigerians irrespective of tongue, tribe, religion and political affiliation. The elder statesman made the remarks in a chat with The Oracle Today, while reacting to the a bomb attack at the residence of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, at his village in Ukehe, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State. According to Eya, the explosion, which has been confirmed by the

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FG to complete repair work on existing Niger Bridge in December

EDERAL Controller of Works, Anambra, Mr Innocent Alumonah, says the Federal Government will complete repair work on the existing Niger Bridge before the end of December. Alumonah, who gave the assurance while speaking with newsmen on Monday in Asaba, said that the contract awarded in 2013 was 78 per cent completed. He said the essence of the emergency repair work was to ensure that the bridge was brought back to its full functionality and increase its lifespan. The controller said the existing bridge was constructed in 1965 and commissioned in 1966, adding that the bridge had enjoyed a lifespan of 53 years. “You can agree with me that the bridge is aging and experiencing heavy traffic in addition to the axle loads going through it on daily basis. “It is on this premise that the federal government decided to award contract for the reinforcement of the bridge to bring

it back to full functionality and extend its lifespan,” he said. He said the scope of works on the project was mainly replacement of the damaged steel members, sandblasting and treatment of steel members against rusting. Alumonah said the scope of the work also involved increasing the bearing capacity of the soil after it was realised that the wearing capacity was becoming weak. “Soil line protection that will ensure that embankment of the bridge is not eroded and the replacement of the bridge bearing has all been carried out. “Before the end of this year, we should see the end of the project because it is currently at its completion stage,” he said. He blamed the delay in the completion of the project on some of the test carried out that required the assistance of some foreigners. According to him, they brought in some foreigners from the UK who helped in the execution of the stabilisation of

Police, motorcyclists clash: Injured policeman dies after surgery By CHINEDU NWAFOR

police Sergeant who sustained head injuries during a clash between police and motorcyclists in Ebonyi state has died. About six other officers who sustained various degrees of injuries are still hospitalized. Governor Umahi who made the disclosure Monday during the state security council meeting held at the state executive council chambers of the Government House in Abakaliki, said the policemen were injured by stones hauled on them by the motorcyclists who protested the killing of their colleague. The Sergeant, Onyebuchi Nweke, attached to the antirobbery squad of Ebonyi police Command last week Wednesday night reportedly killed a motorcyclist, Ejike Ofim, along the Water Works road, over N50 bribe. The killing of the motorcyclist led to a protest that degenerated into a clash with the police despite the arrest and dismissal of the rogue officer. The policeman has since been tried and summarily dismissed from the force and would be arraigned in court for murder at the end of investigations according to the Command.

Umahi regretted the death of the police officer, though he did not identify the name of the deceased officer. “One of them sustained a serious injury on his head and was rushed to Enugu where he was operated upon but unfortunately he died,” Umahi said. He commended the police Commissioner, CP Titus Lamorde, for handling the matter in a professional manner. The Governor promised to assist in the burial of the late Police officer.

the soil. Director of Highways Bridges Construction, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Henry Udeh, said bridges, like other structures required regular maintenance. He said the existing Niger

Bridge was undergoing normal routine maintenance because it was old and needed to be maintained to increase its lifespan. “The work is seasonal because, as the raining season is setting in, the water level will start in-

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel at the Uyo Township Stadium for the 2018 May Day celebration.

Ebonyi State now has the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law

•Umahi signs VAPP into law

OVERNOR Dave Umahi gave his assent on Monday, at a ceremony at the Executive Council chambers in Abakaliki. The ceremony was attended by his wife, Rachael and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Speaker, Mr Francis Nwifuru said the law forbids violence against persons, prohibits Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and protects women against all manners of violence, including wife battering. “The implementation of this law will enable the protection

on dangerous effects of illicit drug, drug consumption, cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape and prostitution. It also featured an awareness campaign which took the youths of the community to the major roads, sensitising people on the importance of keeping away from such vices. Residents of the community who were visibly elated told News Express that the gang had been thorns in their flesh. President General of the community, Mr. Nkwuaku, while reporting to the traditional ruler, Igwe Ralph Ekpeh earlier, said his leadership believed that only negotiation, dialogue and sound advice, rather than arrest and imprisonment could keep youths of the community off vices. According to him, members of his executive, together with him, thought out the programme and specifically picked out notorious criminals in the community whom they preached to, on the importance of living drug and crime-free life. The PG said: “I am particularly happy that this is happening under my watch as president general. We walked around the community and sensitised the people on the need to shun cultism, robbery, drug, prostitution and others.

“These suspected armed robbers who have been on the police wanted list will also receive amnesty today as they have vowed they will not engage in crime again and if they fail, we will now bring to bear the full weight of the law.” Nkwuaku noted that his executive had met and dialogued with prominent personalities in the community on the possible ways of rehabilitating the repented criminals. On his part, the Chairman Enugwu-ukwu Youth Forum, Mr. Oddy Akubuike, said that measures have been mapped out to absorb youths that have renounced crime. “We have bought WAEC forms for the ones that want to go to school, barbing equipment, and others which we will use to empower them. “We have spoken with various prominent persons in the community and we are going to integrate them into the society through skills acquisition and empowerment.” The DPO of Enugwu Ukwu police division, Mr. Dan Uke who was present at the event said the suspects have been terrorising the area for a long time, and have also given his men cause for concern, saying that he was surprised to see ‘Ten Kobo’ in his office. “When the PG brought Ten Kobo to my office early this morning, I

5 most wanted criminals renounce crime in Anambra

NUGWU-UKWU community in Njikoka local government area of Anambra State was on weekend agog as five notorious criminals, who were said to be on the wanted list of Anambra State Police Command renounced crime and submitted themselves to the police. The suspected criminals, who include Mr. Emmanuel Okafor, alias Ten Kobo, and Mr. Nnadozie Nnenwa, a.k.a Uta, both 26 years old took the lead for their gang in renouncing their evil ways. Okafor and Nnenwa who spoke on behalf of their gang members during the renunciation begged the community for forgiveness, pledging not to return to their old ways. While stating that their reason for going into crime was joblessness, the suspects made an appeal to well-meaning individuals in the community to help them start a new life by assisting them with something meaningful that will engage them. The renunciation which came on the heels of a two- day programme put in place by the Enugwu-ukwu Community Development Union headed by the President General (PG) of the community, Mr. Bonny Ozonkwuaku with focus on drug awareness. The programme featured lectures

creasing. “Once it gets to a time that the contractor cannot work again, they will stop and wait for the next dry season. That is one of the major reasons for the delay in the project,” he said.

of women and give confidence to women. Governor Umahi ordered that copies of the law be distributed to presidents of town unions, local government chairmen and councillors to help in propagating it in their areas. Umahi who commended the Speaker and the legislators for making the law also lauded his wife, Rachael and her team for fighting for the cause of women in the state. “Some states have passed VAPP into law to protect rights of Women. Women should know that they are striving to be accorded respect and must shoulder responsibility, ” he said. Mrs Umahi said her pet project, the Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation would be launched, along with foreign partners, to enhance development of women. “VAPP law will prohibit FGM, rape, abandonment of dependants, child labour, stalking, spouses battering and others. It will be a privilege for women to know who they are with the law backing them,” she said. Chairman, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ebonyi chapter and Deputy Head of Chambers, Ms Olivia Okpaleke noted that the law covers all manner of violence against women in the state. Okpaleke explained that it was a crime not to report rape cases, adding that anyone found in the act would be prosecuted. “This will go long way in addressing all forms of violence against women in the state,” Okpaleke said.

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Minimum wage: Let states pay in line with financial capacity – Wike

IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that Nigerian workers will be better off when states are allowed to fix their separate minimum wages in line with their financial capacity to pay. Speaking during a public hearing on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers for the South-South geo-political zone in Port Harcourt on Friday, Wike said that states vary in financial capacity, making a uniform minimum wage unrealistic. “And for us therefore, the single national minimum wage system is yet, another lie that betrays the distortions in our federation and the structured dislocation of the States in the power equation between the Federal Government and the federating States. “It is our view that the country and its workers would be better of, if States are allowed to fix and pay their own minimum wages indexed to the prevailing cost of living and ability to pay. When this happens, it is possible that some States may go beyond the minimum threshold to pay a living wage, which is what our workers truly need,” Wike said. The governor said that the previous review exercise failed to give maximum weight to the existing disparity in economic potential and capabilities among the 36 States of the federation, adding that it has been difficult for most of the States to implement the existing N18, 000.00 minimum wage. He noted that majority of the States are within the fringes of financial viability and cannot meet their salary obligations to civil servant without bailouts from the Federal Government. He said that enhanced wages can only be possible when the Federal Government improves the economy of the Federation. “Here in Rivers State, we value our workers; we invest in their welfare in different ways, and we want them to earn living wages that can keep them and their families as comfortable as possible. “The Rivers State Government therefore supports the ongoing consultations by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage for arriving at a new national minimum wage floor for the country.” In his opening remarks, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige said the exercise has been held across the six geo-political zones to ascertain the needs of Nigerian Workers and employers

to reach an acceptable and implementable wage. “It is hoped that at the end of the exercise, we will be able to have women and men who will be engaged in productive work in equable conditions of freedom to associate and bargain collectively with equality and human dignity,” Ngige said. Ngige who is also the chairman of tripartite committee on National Minimum Wage, added that the aim is to ensure that the nation adopts a national minimum wage that will assure the attainment of social protection floor for Nigerian citizens. Presenting the position of Nigerian Labour Congress in the SouthSouth, Comrade Beatrice Otubo called for a living wage for workers. Also speaking, representative of Trade Union Congress in the SouthSouth, Comrade Austin Jonathan pleaded that pensioners should be considered in the new wage regime. The public hearing attracted the representatives of the Governors of Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Delta States, as well as labour leaders from the six states of the geo-political zone.

•Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (l) receiving his Kaduna State counterpart, Malam Nasir El-Rufai at Akure Airport, as the latter proceeded to the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo to deliver the 4th Distinguished Guest Lecture of the varsity.

2019: No anointed aspirant, says Delta PDP By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

SPIRANTs seeking party flags for elective offices under the Delta State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been told to brace up and get cracking, reach the grassroots and mobilize heavily so as to actualize their ambitions at the forthcoming party primaries. State Party Chairman, Olorogun Kingsley Esiso gave the advice while speaking at the April 2018 meeting of PDP Delta Central held at Uvwie Hall, Effurun in Delta State. He frowned at the attitude of some of the aspirants parading themselves as the state governor’s endorsed aspirants, adding that to the best of his knowledge neither the state party leadership nor the incumbent governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, endorsed any aspirant. “Let me clear the air over rumours making the rounds that some aspirants have been endorsed either by the party leadership or our past and present governor, His Excellency Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and Chief James Onanefe Ibori. Those peddling the mischievous falsehoods are those not sure of their political pedigree and connection with the

people at the grassroots. “Ignore such rumours and go to the field to do what you need to do before it is too late. I am saying this here and now because our party leadership resolved to run free and fair primaries where only popular and astute politicians with performance promise shall be elected at the primaries by delegates. “Delegates are members of our party, and we expect them to vote wisely such that only well-grounded and popular aspirants will emerge as candidates. Party leadership encourages all aspirants to work hard and never to rely on hearsay and/or privileged relationships with some of our leaders to brag and to intimate other aspirants; suggestive of endorsement and invisible support. “I urge aspirants to disregard any attempt either by implied conduct or spoken words. Key party leaders, Chief Ibori and Gov Okowa did not endorse any aspirant and shall not do so. All aspirants must work hard and participate in party primaries. Only the best aspirants shall emerge as candidates for various elective positions in PDP,” Esiso assured. A chieftain of the party, Prof Sam Oyovbaire, expressed satisfaction over the huge turnout of leaders, aspirants and some of their support-

ing as their source of development and livelihood, hence the resolve to embark on the projects,” she explained.

ers at the April meeting of PDP Delta Central. He re-echoed the need for party members in Delta Central to clinch victory for the party and Gov Okowa in 2019, adding that the very essence of the senatorial meeting is to consistently come together to cross fertilize political and electioneering ideas and craft legitimate ways and means of winning elections and spread dividends of democracy to all Deltans. Oyovbaire also corroborated the views expressed by the state party chairman, Barrister Esiso, when he posited that it was an act of irresponsible conduct for any aspirant to either openly or secretly parade his or herself as a special aspirant endorsed by either the party leadership, past governors or the incumbent. “Aspirants must work hard, test their popularity and acceptance during our party primaries due to hold any time in the near future. Those intimidating other aspirants and bragging here and there must desist from the shameful and fraudulent conduct because transparency shall be the hallmark of the forthcoming party primaries. “The only party member and leader that has been overwhelmingly endorsed well ahead of the general elections is our amiable Smart Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa. There is no vacancy in Government House come 2019. “Our amiable Governor has done well and the party leadership in the three senatorial districts of Central, South and North decided to have

he Edo House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari for embarking on programmes and projects that had positively transformed the economy of the nation. The House also condemned the motion for the impeachment of the president, moved in the Senate by Sen. Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South). The Majority Leader of the

House, Roland Asoro, (APC Orhionmwon South), Monday, moved the motion for vote of confidence on Buhari under matters of public importance. The House Deputy Speaker, Victor Edoror, (APC Esan Central) seconded the motion. Asoro described the call for the impeachment of the president by an Edo Senator as an embarrassment to the people of the state and Edo South in particular.

Delta Govt. completes 2 fish feed mil project at N574.6m

ommissioner for Commerce and Industry in Delta, Mrs Mary Iyasere, has said the state government completed two fish feed mills located in two council areas of the state at a total cost of N574.6 million. The commissioner who disclosed this, Monday in Asaba, while briefing newsmen on the activities of her ministry in the last three years, said that they were located in Ekpan in Uvwie Local Government Area and Aliosimi Owanta in Ika North East Local Government Area of the state. Iyasere noted that the two mills, which had been completed with the installation of all necessary equipment is ready for operations. She said that the projects were executed under the Private Public

Partnership arrangement, consisting of Out-growers group and cooperatives, private sector investors and government. The commissioner said, “at the time of conception of the two projects, the total cost was N489.5billion excluding VAT. “However, the cost of the projects appreciated significantly, as other expenditures, such as clearing of the sites, demurrage, warehousing and handling charges, as well as consultancy fees were not factored into the initial project ,’’she said. The commissioner said that the idea behind the projects was to increase interest among youths in fish farming. “Experience has shown in recent times that many youths in the state have taken to fish farm-

one aspirant who is also the sole candidate come 2019, in the person of Gov Okowa. “Take the good news round the state that Gov Okowa is the only aspirant and candidate of PDP. Apart from the Governor, no other aspirant has been endorsed or favoured in any way. The field is open and we encourage hardwork and massive mobilization of the people so as to clinch the party tickets at the primaries,” Oyovbaire added. Secretary to Delta State Government, Rt. Hon Festus Ovie Agas told newsmen that Delta Central leaders and party faithful are determined to improve on 2015 governorship elections victory, saying that the general consensus is that Gov Okowa has consistently fulfilled and still fulfilling his electioneering promises to the good people of Delta State. “We in Delta Central also resolved that there is no need changing a winning team; therefore, the duo of Gov Okowa and his Deputy are good to go into second tenure till May 29, 2023. Besides, we had our fair share of 8 years through our amiable national leader, Chief James Ibori who served as governor from 1999 to 2007. “Our Delta South brothers through Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan governed the state for another 8 years before state power came to Delta North and it’s only fair and morally correct that Delta Central and South give Delta North through Gov Okowa the necessary support to complete their 8 years before power returns to Central in 2023,” Agas added.

Edo Assembly berates Urhoghide, passes vote of confidence on Buhari T

He said the Senator did not consult with his constituents before moving the motion. The law maker said, “There is no reason to call for the president’s impeachment. He is doing well. It is difficult to rebuild what was destroyed by PDP during its 16 years administration. ”The president cannot fight insecurity without procuring the fighter jets,” the majority leader said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

POLITICS

‘After two years, Nigerians now beg APC to return nation to what it was in 2015’ Pg 10

2019: PDP has chances if they field good candidate – Anigbata Pg 12

IPOB: FG, not Abaribe, must produce Nnamdi Kanu – lawyer

•Says labeling IPOB a terrorist group laughable •Avers that secession, self-determination are backed by law As the court cases between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) linger, The Oracle Today tracked the lawyer standing for IPOB, Barr Aloy Ejimakor to throw more light on the cases, especially the legal implications of the continued absence of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu whose whereabouts has remained unknown since September last year when troops under the military’s Operation Python Dance i invaded his home at Afaraukwu, Umuahia, the Abia State Capital. Ejimakor, an international legal practitioner based in the United States and Abuja, in a no-holds-barred interview says Nigeria is persecuting IPOB not prosecuting it as, according to him, pro-Biafra agitators have not breached any law to warrant their arrest and prosecution. He also spoke on Ohaneze vs IPOB saga and 2019 polls. Excerpts A lot of pro-Biafra agitators such as members of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra MASSOB and those of the IPOB are in detention awaiting trial. What are the legal implications? What hopes are there for their freedom from the legal point of view? Thank you very much. I came into this matter between Nigeria and pro-Biafra movement around July last year. Before then, I didn’t have information as to who was in jail or detention and for what offence in the course of the struggle for Biafra. But since I came in last year, I have had the benefit to get detailed information on the matter. The IPOB members in the United Kingdom briefed me. You know IPOB is a registered organization in the U.K. and several other foreign countries like South Africa, Germany, United States, California, France, Japan and many other countries. IPOB is a legal entity and highly respected in these foreign countries. It is only in Nigeria that we hear that government proscribed IPOB and I find it laughable because I don’t know why Nigeria decided to divorce itself from recognized standards of international

behav-

iour. I don’t know why

Nigeria decides not to toe the path honour in the comity of nations in showing IPOB respect like other countries do. Coming to your question, there are lot of Biafra agitators in detention in several places across Nigeria, most especially in South East and South South. Am talking specifically about IPOB because MASSOB has not briefed me. If MASSOB briefs me, that will be another matter and then I can speak on their behalf. As at last count, we have about 87 IPOB members in detention. We have 4 in

Anambra, 4 in Abuja and so many other places. In Igweocha (Port Harcourt), there are many of them. So, what we are do-

ing now is that we are pursing a path to file application to have these cases dismissed. As lawyers, we don’t believe that these people committed any offence. They were not involved in any violent activities. They were only asking Nigeria to conduct a referendum on the future of Biafra, whether ‘Biafrans’ want to remain in Nigeria or not. It is a struggle and they were not violent about it, so we don’t see any reason why they should be arrested in the first place. Now, we are filling applications to persuade the judges that secession is not a criminal offence known to Nigeria law. Under section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution sub-section 12, no Nigerian should be subject of any criminal jeopardy on the basis of an unwritten law. The law has to be written and defined or offence written and defined in a written law in Nigeria. So, secession is not in a Nigerian book anywhere. It’s not in the criminal code as an offence; it’s not in terrorism act as an offence. It’s not in any of our criminal status as an offence. Asking for referendum is not an offence. Self- determination is not only not an offence but is also recognized under a certain law that operates in Nigeria as part of our law and it is called African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria Chapter 9, 2004. So, we don’t know why these people are languishing in detention. They are being persecuted not prosecuted because they committed no offence that should warrant their arrest and detention. So, we are in the process of persuading the judges to dismiss the charges against the IPOB members in detention. Perhaps,

the courts have never been advised on the position of the Law on this matter but they are being advised now, so we are very optimistic that this will serve as an avenue for the boys to be released What you are saying is that IPOB’s demand for referendum is lawful? Yes, of course. Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, provides that: “All peoples shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to selfdetermination. Oppressed people shall have the right to free themselves from the bonds of domination by resorting to any means recognized by the international community”. Article 1 provides that Nigeria “shall recognize the rights, duties and freedom enshrined in this Charter and shall undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to them”. So, anybody arguing that self-determination is not known to Nigerian Law is wrong. The issue is that most Nigerians (including AGF Malami and Buhari and his army) are not aware of these provisions, hence the resort to perseecutions and Python Dance. The leaders of IPOB under Nnamdi are being accused of not listening to advice from Igbo Governors, Ohaneze, Igbo elders and Igbo intellectuals. In fact, they say that the greatest problems IPOB leaders have is that they don’t take advice from anybody, For instance, the issue of no-election in Anambra State last year, a lot of people advised them to shelve the idea of no election in Anambra but they ignored it and went ahead to wage campaign against the election, what is your take on this? Well, I think this is the first time since the end of the Civil War in 1970 that the Igbo nation came to have a radical political movement otherwise known IPOB. Radical in the sense that it is very focused, very outspoken, well organized and a mass movement. Radical not in the sense of a violent organization. Of course, it is a non-violent organization. So, it is its radical, revolutionary approach that has really drawn a lot of masses of Igbo land or people of former Biafra into it and that is what really captured the attention of the government of Nigeria. So, IPOB has a committed approach that has galvanized the Igbo and, indeed, all the indigenous people of Biafra into this mass movement. We can observe that the movement has a profound effect on political thinking of the people in Western Nigeria. For the first time, the Yoruba people came

Cont’d on page 11

“IPOB has a committed approach that has galvanized the Igbo and, indeed, all the indigenous people of Biafra into this mass movement. We can observe that the movement has a profound effect on political thinking of the people in Western Nigeria.”

“

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

INTERVIEW

‘After two years, Nigerians now beg APC to return nation to what it was in 2015’ Presently, how do you see to the state of the nation? And in what ways can we reignite Nigeria’s spirit of greatness? The state of the nation can be said to be one that is sitting on a keg of gunpowder waiting to explode. More worrisome is the recent rumour of an attempted coup by the Army. Presently, the nation has a President whose true health condition is being covered up by an alleged cabal controlling affairs of the government. A hungry man they say is an angry man. Majority of Nigerians are hungry and experiencing abject poverty with its attendant consequences. Lawlessness is becoming the order of the day with the APC-led federal government not accepting responsibility for the security of lives and property of its citizens. The country as it is lacks cohesion because of the kind of leadership being given by the APC at the centre. The APC must realize that campaigns are over and should, therefore, focus on delivering its electioneering promises to Nigerians. What is very disturbing to most Nigerians is that the APC in just two years in office has destroyed the democratic gains of successive PDP administrations. If Nigeria should be great again, there has to be true federalism. A situation where few States feed the majority States that make up the federation called Nigeria would continue to see the country going backward. Most States are not tapping their potentials because of dependence on nation’s crude oil earnings. Next, should be the scrapping of quota system in the country. Nations that are succeeding today lay emphasis on merit. How are PDP–to–APC defections affecting opposition politics in Delta State and the country at large? Delta State is a peculiar PDP State. It is a State where the past governors, their deputies and the incumbent governor and his deputy are all still in the party. The defection of PDP members to APC has been very minimal and insignificant. It is interesting to note that in the last few months, some who defected to the APC have staged a comeback to the PDP. The return of the second civilian governor of the State, Chief James Ibori has further consolidated the strength of the party in the state. Presently, the opposition APC in Delta State is voiceless. The party is only known on facebook and other social media platforms. What is a party without followership? The Delta PDP particularly in Delta Central meets at least every month from one local government area to another. The APC cannot boast a gathering of its members at local government level in Delta State for the past two years. The key players in APC in the State are former members of PDP who with time will return to the party following on-going reconciliation effort by the leadership of the party in the State. At the national level, most of the people defecting from PDP to APC were original members of PDP or are doing so for political patronage or fear of being persecuted. Would you say APC has failed Nigerians two years down the line? Two years into the APC-led administration of Nigeria, no Nigerian except those outside the shores of the country needs a soothsayer to tell him or her that the administration has failed woefully. Even the unborn child in its mother’s womb feels the hardship brought upon Nigerians by the APC. What the government has resorted to in the past two years is propaganda and blaming the past administration. But, they fail to realize that Nigerians are now wiser to tell the difference between a successful government and a failing one. The situation in the country has gone so bad economically that majority of Nigerians are begging the APC government to return the nation to the state it was before it took over in 2015. Celebrating two years anniversary, the administration cannot boast of any area it has impacted positively on Nigerians.

Chief Ighoyota Amori is a former Senator, former Commissioner for Education and Water Resources DevelopmentaswellasSeniorPoliticalAdvisertoboth Chief James Ibori’s and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s governments in Delta State. He is currently Special Adviser to the PDP National Chairman, former Governor Ahmed Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee. In this interview with OBIRE MEVAGEN, Amori speaks on APC, Nigerian democracy and a few other issues of national importance. Excerpts:

•Chief Ighoyota Amori It is so pathetic that one of the spokespersons to the President recently mentioned the rehabilitation of the Abuja Airport runaway, which floods whenever it rains as one of the achievements of the APC-led Federal Government. Today, the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar, pound and other foreign currencies is outrageously high with its attendant high cost of imported goods and services. Thousands of Nigerians particularly in the private sector have lost their jobs due largely to the retrogressive economic policies of the APC administration. Daily, the costs of even farm produce like Gari are on the increase and the government is helpless about what to do. On security, there are the incessant and wanton killings and destruction of lives and property all over the country especially in Southern Kaduna and Benue States. Added to this are the activities of Fulani herdsmen that have claimed many lives in Delta, Cross-River and Awka-Ibom States. You once described Chief James Ibori as a man next to God politically; after God, Ibori is next. What do you really mean by this statement? Chief James Ibori is a man with exemplary character and qualities. If you have ever had

any dealings with him, you will understand that his kind is near impossible to find on planet earth. He has a large heart and is very concerned about the progress of people. As a governor, he strived to carry everybody along. His benevolence, generosity and kindheartedness are what make people still celebrate him today despite the political travails he has passed through. I can liken him to a political genius whose mastery of the game brought many of us to the stage we are now on politically. If we have most leaders with the type of heart Ibori has, Nigeria would have been better for it. Many have criticized Buhari on many issues, but many say his anti-corruption fight is yielding fruits. Won’t you at least give him credit in that regard? I can only give credit to the anti-corruption crusade of the President when the approach is holistic and not selective as it is being carried out. In my assessment, the Buhari government is hiding under the guise of anticorruption fight to witch-hunt top members of the opposition PDP to weaken the party from providing the needed opposition to check the excesses of the administration. The administration is quick to arrest and

detain unlawfully members of the PDP at slightest allegation of fraud, while panels or committees are set up to carry out investigations whenever it involves APC members. In making objective assessment of the Buhari anti-corruption fight, it is important to ask how many convictions has the Economic and Financial Crimes commission EFCC recorded in the last two years? Besides, the anti-corruption fight must be fought at all fronts of our national life to achieve the needed result. It will not succeed if it is targeted at perceived political enemies. What are the important things that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has done over these two years? First, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has over these two years stabilized the economy of Delta State considering the debt profile of the State when he took over in 2015. At a point, it was almost impossible to pay the salaries of the State workers. But, through prudent management of the state resources, no State worker is being owed salary. Okowa’s policy of not embarking on project except when the fund is available to complete it has ensured that projects started by his administration are completed on record time. On infrastructural development, the governor deserves kudos in roads construction across the State. In the last two years, the administration has awarded 98 road contracts and of the 98 roads, 20 of them have been commissioned. While about 25 of the roads are expected to be commissioned in the course of this second year anniversary. The other 53 roads are on-going projects at various stages of execution with some at completion level. Despite not being able to employ qualified Deltans into the State Civil Service, the Okowa’s administration has done well in the area of youth empowerment programmes especially through agriculture. The administration has in the last two years through its Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) and Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) trained and equipped over 4,000 youths. In the area of political appointments, the governor has kept his promise to the three senatorial districts of the State in terms of ensuring even distribution of appointments. He is really a man that keeps his promise. How would you conclude this interview? Two years ago, most Nigerians did not appreciate the PDP government at the centre. Today, the difference is clear. I am sure Nigerians have truly experienced the CHANGE they voted for and come 2019, they will be wiser to vote wisely. Beyond party politics, the APC government should face squarely the governance of the country. Both the rich and poor are feeling the hardship brought by the administration. They must act fast before the country drifts into anarchy that may warrant another military incursion into the leadership of the nation. This will not portend well for the progress that has been recorded since 1999, when the nation’s nascent democracy came into being. Let us not easily forget the words of Obafemi Awolowo in 1983 that, “The worst civilian rule is better than the best military dictatorship.” It is worthy of mention here that come 2019 as Nigerians go to the polls again to vote their candidates in the general elections, particularly for the presidential position, they should be very wary of voting for those persons with military background. Comparatively, it is clearly evident today that both the Olusegun Obasanjo civilian rule from 1999 to 2003 and the current one by Muhammadu Buhari have similarities especially in their dictatorial and draconian approaches to governance due largely to their military backgrounds. This was different in the administrations of Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, where remarkable progress was made in advancing the tenets of modern democracy in the country.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

POLITICS

...FG, not Abaribe, must produce Nnamdi Kanu--lawyer Cont’d from page 9 up with a radical document to demand the restructuring of this country. Again for the first time the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) set up a committee on restructuring of this country headed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. Faulting the organization for not taking advice is uncalled for. Advise on what? It is a non-violent organization. It has a purpose, it has its own agenda and it is well focused. It has a vision and agenda and it is specifically focused on pursing that agenda. If you are talking about specifically boycotting of election, I will not oppose anybody that says he won’t participate in an election. IPOB has no political agenda in the present day Nigeria, so they had no stake in Anambra. It would be a different thing if it is a national election like 2019 maybe people can consider that boycotting it may not be politically smart, because that will downsize the votes of the southeast and make the votes of the southeast to be scanty to the national impact on who becomes president. Obviously, who becomes President is very important to the agenda being pursued by IPOB. If a President is elected on the platform of a promise to restructure the country towards the goals that IPOB is pursing, then such President would be considered to be friendly to the struggle. For such President who could be friendly to the struggle to suffer lack of votes and support from the southeast because of election boycott is quite unfortunate. But, you see election boycotting did not start with IPOB. Awolowo with Action Congress boycotted election in the southwest in 1964. Election boycott is a political statement often deployed by groups to make a point or gain attention and make its impact at the national stage. That was what IPOB was pursuing by boycotting the election in Anambra and I think that shouldn’t be singled out to vilify them. They created the impression that they are not comprising on the issue they are pursuing and they don’t really mind losing some temporary political mileage provided the ultimate goal is achieved or attention is brought to issue at stake. So, I think that is where they were coming from and why they stayed out of the election. The whereabouts of IPOB leader is still

unknown. What is the legal implications? The legal implication is that the military operation carried out against him, the military attack was in contempt of court. There was no outstanding warrant of arrest or rearrest. There was impending application from the Attorney General to revoke his bail but that application was merely pending, it was not granted. So, for the military to deploy troops to attack his home with intent to kill or inflict grievous hurt on him and members of his families is a contempt of court because he was a ward of the court. He was supposed to be under the protection of the court, that is number one legal implication. I expect that in a civilized society, the court would have taken a very aggressive view of the military invasion and invited the Chief of Army Staff to the court to explain why they should go and disturb a prisoner that the court duly granted bail. The second implication is that he might have been killed; he might have been taken away and hidden somewhere and let us say for the sake of argument he might have taken a fight to safety and who wouldn’t? In the face of the barrage of gunshots and bullets, you stay there to take the bullet and fight the Soldiers? Could anybody stay and face bullets in that situation? If someone takes a flight for safety, it would take the court to give some assurances of safety before that person can emanate from where he ran for safety. Until he is out, the case is under mistrial. The issue of his disappearance is the primary issue before the court in Abuja right now because he cannot be tried in absentia. As soon as that issue of his disappearance is resolved, the trial will continue but as long as that issue is not resolved, the case is stalemate, pure and simple. What then is the fate of Senator Enyinaya Abaribe and others that stood surety for Kanu’s bail? Well they are not at fault. Under the administration of criminal justice act, there are three parties involved in the bail bond. The bond is just a contract, a tripartite contract between the Federal Government of Nigeria as the plaintiff as one party on one hand and Kanu as the defendant as the second party and Abaribe and others as the sureties the third party on the other hand. The Federal Government as one of the parties went and breached the contract by deploying

•Abaribe troops to attack Kanu in his home. If you look at the caption of the case, you will see that it is the Federal Government of Nigeria vs Nnamdi Kanu. Abaribe and two others took Kanu on bail and they did not breach the contract, they were not the enabler of that military invasion in Kanu’s home. The Federal Government who brought Kanu in court, detained him, released him and sent military to attack him should bear the blame for his death or disappearance or otherwise. So, Abaribe, the Jewish Rabbi and the Accountant who signed the bail bond for Kanu as a contract should be excused from any liability because they didn’t breach the bail contract. It is the Federal Government that has to bear the blame and be held responsible.

California. Coming to your question directly, if it comes, it comes, if doesn’t we wait until the appropriate time but in truth and honesty, to secede from a country and form another is never easy. It’s not easy at all. How do you look at Ohaneze vs IPOB saga? We expected Ohaneze to play a protective role as father to IPOB but that is not being the case. We have other radical groups like IPOB in other parts of the country and they are being protected by the regional body like Ohaneze. Take for instance, the Odua People’s Congress (OPC) has the full protection of Afenifere. The leader of OPC was recently crowned as the Aare Oni Kakanfo of Youruba Land meaning the Field Marshal of the Yoruba. Up there in the North, we have Arewa Youth with penchant for issuing quit notice to Igbo in the North. They have the full support and protection of the father body called Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), so why won’t Ohaneze emulate its counterparts in the southwest and in the North to protect IPOB.

Looking at the situation of things in Nigeria, what is the hope for Biafra legally wise? Well, in my life time I have seen the Soviet Union split into many nations without a gun shoot. Yugoslavia broke into three. Czechoslovakia broke into two, Ethiopia split into two and Sudan broke into two as well. Just last week, Fox News reported that the agitation for California to secede from the United States is growing by leaps and bound adding that the California Secretary of State has announced that voting for secession will be part of the next election in

2019 election is almost here and am sure you would like Ndigbo to fully participate in the exercise. Where would you like Ndigbo to pitch their tent-- APC, PDP or Obansanjo’s Third Force? Since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, Ndigbo have consistently voted for PDP at all levels from presidency, governorship, senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly but PDP has never deemed it right enough to zone Presidency to Southeast, is it fair? It is not fair. Why cannot PDP zone Presidency to the South East and bring the entire national might and spread behind Igbo Presidency in 2019 as a measure to dowse the tension in the zone? That is not fair to Ndigbo on the side of PDP. On the side of APC, APC cannot be trusted at all. APC has not done any good thing in the South East. And for a party that has ignored Ndigbo since it came on board in 2015 to suddenly turn up from 360 degrees to dangle 2023 Presidency as a lobby for Igbo votes in 2019 is funny. It is quite clear that APC’s style of governance of this country ignited the fire in Igbo land and the party is getting away with it; so, if the Third Force under Obasanjo or anybody is ready to give the people of the South East a pride of place, why not? NdIgbo can join forces with them.

Section 143(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution,” which deals with impeachment of the president if found “guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office.” Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP, Edo South), supported by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu North) moved the motion for “immediate impeachment” of the president, for “committing a very serious and grievous breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” But there were counter arguments by senators of the APC, who, though admitted the non-observance of the rules on expenditure, did not support impeachment of Buhari. Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), describing the expenditure as “a gross abuse of the constitution,” asked that “the money be refunded and the transaction started afresh to allow due process.” Senator Abu Ibrahim (APC, Katsina South), not only recalled that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan “made withdrawals from the ECA without seeking National Assembly’s approval,” but also labelled the floated impeachment of Buhari as “a PDP conspiracy.” At this juncture, Senate President Bukola Saraki intervened, to return the debate to the essence and circumstances of the payments for the jets, and to avoid the chamber being divided along party lines, “and South versus North, for and against” the impeachment, as a senator labeled the fiery debate. Senate

thereafter referred the matter to its judiciary committee, “for legal advice” this Wednesday. By Thursday, both the Senate and House mandated their relevant committees to “look for precedents, search the archives, so we know where to accommodate the $496 million expenditure.” May I respectfully advise the lawmakers to check the answer in Section 83 of the Constitution on “Contingencies Fund for the Federation,” which the National Assembly is obligated to establish, “for authorising the President, if satisfied that there has arisen an urgent and unforeseen need for expenditure for which no other provision exists, to make advances from the Fund to meet the need.” If there’s such a fund, the president doesn’t need recourse to the National Assembly during emergencies, except to present a “Supplementary Estimate,” for which “a Supplementary Appropriation shall be introduced as soon as possible for the purpose of replacing the amount so advanced.” All said, President Buhari did not offhandedly dismiss the role of the National Assembly in matters of appropriation; hence, he has asked the legislature to include the said sum in the 2018 budget estimates. Pushing for his impeachment would then connote political motivation, especially in regard to the 2019 elections, in which he has declared to contest for a second term in office. •Mr. Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

Buhari’s impeachment: Dangerous moves in NASS By Ehichioya Ezomon

he power to spend any funds of the govTapproval ernment is predicated on the mandatory of the National Assembly, as spelt

out specifically in Sections 80 and 81 of the amended 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, and its non-observance is a breach of the right of the legislature to control expenditure. But as sacrosanct as these extant provisions of the constitution are, the lawmakers should exercise great restraint in calling for the impeachment of a violator, in this case, President Muhammadu Buhari, for expending $496 ($462) million on 12 super Tucano jets, without the express permission of the National Assembly. What’s at issue here is procedure: the nonobservance of the process of obtaining approval for the withdrawal of the $496 million, which payment had been confirmed by the government of the United States of America, which supplies the planes to Nigeria. But for the astuteness, and display of maturity by the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, and the level-headedness exhibited by the majority All Progressives Congress members, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party legislators were (are) bent in the past week to push through the impeachment moves. The level and intensity of the debate almost indicated that the solution to herdsmen’s bloodletting in the North Central, and the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East

was “immediate” impeachment of President Buhari. They didn’t buy his explanation precedent on the approval for withdrawal of the $496 million from the Excess Crude Account (ECA), to purchase the aircraft from the United States government, which “had given a payment deadline; otherwise, the contract would lapse.” They seemed principally concerned with the process of the aircraft purchase, and the purchaser, President Buhari, and not the need for the equipment to fight insecurity, which they (lawmakers) shouted about, and criticized on weekly basis at the plenary. The hullabaloo began on Tuesday, April 24, in the House of Representatives, when the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, read a letter by President Buhari, explaining the circumstances of the purchase of the planes, and for the House to include the $496 million in the 2018 budget estimates still in the works in the legislature. Dogara had hardly finished when hell was let loose by members of the PDP, who were arrow-headed by Mr. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers ) and Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, who called for the immediate impeachment of President Buhari. While Speaker Dogara tactically steered the House towards suspending, till another legislative day, the debate on the procurement of the jets; the “sanctioning” of Buhari gained traction in the Senate, where it was couched in a “motion for the invocation of

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

POLITICS 2019: PDP has chances if they field good candidate – Anigbata How would describe Nigeria under APC? There is a Latin saying that “a healthy mind is found in a healthy body.” When the polity is healthy, the economy will be healthy because everybody will work towards the same objective, the Federal Government objective. But when it is not healthy, it will be a do or die affair, everyone will be working for himself and himself alone. In that case, the economy is put in danger. So, the politics in APC is one every good thinking Nigerian should worry about because who controls what is in the interest of the generality of Nigerians. They should watch it. The way I see it, the extension of tenure was not a healthy development but it is even worse now they have reversed it as the President has now done. They would have looked before they leap. I don’t think everybody would accept it as can be observed. But if they had accepted it, it would be okey but they would have done that from inception. On the part of PDP, they are still shopping for candidate, between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Dankwabo of Gombe State, Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State among others. What are the chances of Buhari in the 2019 presidential election given the fact that he has not done well in economy and security. Many still see him as ethnic and Islamic fundamentalist. Buhari as a person still maintains his incorruptible character. He is a very good man but I am feeling that age has affected the usual Buhari. Age is a natural phenomenon that runs its natural course, making Buhari appear as though he is not the Buhari we used to know. It is said that when a lion’s leg is broken, an antelope will come to his house to collect his debt. And this has affected him a lot. Most of the activities in this regime are dull. From appointments to other critical decisions, they have been very dull. Most appointments of board have not been done until now. Some of these boards are statutory in nature and they have not been appointed. If things have been put in place, it would have been a lot better to streamline what he started, but it will be haphazard. It is advisable that another person, who will follow his footsteps should emerge as APC flag- bearer. They will have internal conflict and it has already started. What about PDP; what do you think are its chances? Some parts of the country will vote for PDP, but it depends more on the candidate. The activities of Fulani herdsmen are a great advantage for PDP if they present a good candidate. The President’s utterances, especially the type he made in London when he travelled for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments’ meeting, that the Nigerian youths are lazy, will give PDP a great advantage. But that is if a good candidate is presented. However, no matter who you present, Buhari is always a man to beat, one because of his person as “Mr. Clean” and secondly because he is the incumbent. So, for PDP to win this election, they need somebody who has muscle, boldness and the interest of Nigerians at heart, somebody whom Nigerians will see as a collective asset of one family irrespective of ethnic and religious inclination or background. Among the men who have indicated interest in PDP, who do you think fits into this your description? In my view—and it may be subjective, even though I am objective…because he is a bold man, he has a large heart.

Chief Ikechukwu Victor Anigbata is a prominent Onitsha businessman and politician. A former governorship aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Chief Anigbata in an interview with Corespondent GABRIEL EJIOFOR speaks on the chances of President Muhammed Buhari, PDP in the 2019 presidential election and the chances of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winning in other South East States, among other issues. Excerpts

•Chief Ikechukwu Victor Anigbata

“The President’s utterances, especially the type he made in London when he travelled for the Commonwealth Heads of Governments’ meeting, that the Nigerian youths are lazy, will give PDP a great advantage.” In Igbo, he is an Igbo man by marriage, Yoruba man by marriage. He is well and better known across the globe. But the stain he inherited from Olusegun Obasanjo administration needs to be wiped away. He must wipe away that corruption mark. I am talking of Atiku Abubakar. He is the best man for Nigeria now. He has to come out openly and explain to Nigerians that he is not as bad as he was portrayed. What do you make of Obasanjo’s Third Force ? For it to work, they must be in collaboration with other parties because they are the same old wine in a new bottle. When you take old wine to fill a new bottle, the taste changes; it will be neither old nor new. The 2018 budget again has been unnecessarily delayed. Some MDAs have not come to defend their budget. Is it be-

cause of the alleged padding? Why are they running? When you make a budget, you defend the budget. Every budget is padding; that is, subtraction or addition. Most of them don’t know what is in the budget document. If it was written by mercenaries, they should come to defend the budget. It is mere estimates. The presidency should direct them to defend their budget, but they have not done that. And for you to impact on the economy, you must not only prepare a transparent budget but it must be passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President before it becomes operational. And the earlier it is done, the better it often is. Nigeria owes local contractors over N2tr. When will they be paid? When the debt is paid, it will improve the economy. In most contracts, the same government, which awarded it will abandon the job and abandon the payment. How do you grow? Any growth we are talking about,

for me it is artificial, not real. What is the position or place of Ndigbo in the politics of 2019? We have a particular way of doing politics. We are rigid in nature and not flexible. If we are flexible, we belong to all political parties. And because we are rigid, we select those we like and those we don’t like. But, my candid advice is that Ndigbo wherever they are in Nigeria should first go, register and obtain their PVC and build our capacity to be able to determine who will govern them. If Igbos resister, we constitute more than 25 per cent in every state in Nigeria. How do you assess the performance of Governor Willie Obiano especially his early appointments? It shows he is prepared for governance. We expect more from him because much has been given him and he has a large heart. And he has broad vision. I am convinced that at the slightest improvement of the economy, he will do well. Construction of roads makes governments popular; he should build roads, create jobs through empowerment. He should dwell more on encouraging medium and smallscale enterprises because that is what is going to sustain the growth of the state. Do you see the possibility of APGA being extended beyond Anambra Anambra State in 2019?

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

For the record

Why we are presenting Budget of Fiscal Prudence, by Comrade Uwakwe Ezeja

t is with a high sense of honour and responsibility that I welcome all of you today, which marks the first budget presentation in the life of this Administration. Let me start by thanking you all who are present and the entire people of Igbo-Eze North for the mandate given to me to assume the mantle of leadership as the Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Council. With my experience in the civil service and as a former Caretaker Chairman of this local government, I want to reassure you of my readiness to steer a positive course for sustainable development in our local government. Over the years, Igbo-Eze North Local Government has been confronted with numerous development challenges, which have made the area relatively underdeveloped with high poverty rate, youth unemployment and insecurity being firmly rooted in our L.G.A. It is against this background that this year’s budget has been aptly captioned A Budget of Fiscal Prudence. Thus, the collective resources of Igbo-Eze North shall be judiciously utilized in addressing the critical development needs of the Local government area. During the course of the two years of my tenure as a caretaker Chairman, we encountered a lot of obstacles as we tried to deliver good governance and tow the path of inclusive growth and development. In fact, the implementation of our budgets in 2016 and 2017 was profoundly impeded by a lot of factors, chief among which was the dwindling and insufficient funds which accrued to us from the Federal Account allocation Committee (FAAC) and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We are all aware that our economy nosedived into a recession during this period as a result of price and quantity shocks in our oil sector following the fall in global oil price and high-scale pipeline vandalism and oil theft in the Niger Delta Region. The ripple effect of this development has been so disastrous to both national and sub-national government in our country that only a few states and local governments could afford to pay regularly their monthly salaries to their staff and political office holders. I must not fail to let you know that Igbo-Eze North was spared from this economic quagmire as we relied on the money from the Paris Club to clear all the backlog of salaries being owed to the workers. More so, since the salaries of the primary school teachers are deducted at source from the monthly allocation to Igbo-Eze North, this leaves most time, little or no resources for us to pay our staff, run the offices, and deliver community projects to our people to enjoy. In addition to this financial constraint, this administration has been confronted by security challenges, which are prevalent not only in Igbo-Eze North but also across the country. It is an undisputable fact that security of lives and property is fundamental and paramount for every society to achieve sustainable development. Unfortunately, we have witnessed incessant cases of banditry, kidnapping, ritual killings and other social vices in our local government. However, despite these challenges, I was able to achieve the much I could by ensuring prompt payment of staff salaries even when the revenue in our purse could not go round payment of overheads, and delivery of some important community projects.

Being a speech by Comrade UWAKWE EZEJA, Executive Chairman, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State at the recent presentation of N1.5b 2018 draft budget to the Legislative Council at the Council headquarters, Ogrute, Enugu-Ezike. •Uwakwe Ezeja

Hon Leader, at this juncture, let me crave your indulgence to briefly highlight hereunder some of my major achievements over the past two years: Health Care Delivery 1. In line with the state government’s Four Point Agenda, which accords healthcare delivery a top priority in its development goals, my administration took preventive measures to checkmate the outbreak of diseases, by carrying out awareness campaign in all the 20 Wards on diseases, such as Polio Mellitus Cerebral Mellitus, HIV/AIDS, and Gastroenteritis. Also fumigation of the Local Government Council was carried out against mosquitoes and other disease-transmitting insects. Equally important was the control of Chicken Pox outbreak and supply of anti-worm drugs in all the wards in Igbo-Eze North. EDUCATION 1. To provide qualitative education, I provided financial support for the reconstruction of Igbele primary school. ROAD CONTRUCTION 1.Hon Leader, most of our community link roads are in deplorable conditions, making it difficult to carry out inter-community trade and other commercial activities in Igbo-Eze North. Hon Leader, I tried to tackle this challenge headlong and was able to rehabilitate various community link roads in Igbo-Eze North L.G.A. SECURITY 1.Hon Leader, as I earlier stated, crimes and vices have become commonplace in Igbo-Eze North and are of grave concern not only to me but also to every stakeholder in Igbo-Eze North. In this regard, I have provided logistical support to the Igbo-Eze North Neighbourhood Watch Security outfit to enable them effectively carry out their surveillance activities. 2. Also, massive support was given to the Igbo-Eze North Police and Army Patrol Groups. These include maintenance of Patrol vehicles as well as financial support. Market Development Upon my assumption of office, I realised the immediate need to restructure

our major markets in order to stimulate merchandise, generate more revenue and encourage further employment of our youths by engaging them in various trades. To put his noble idea into action, I kick-started the expansion and restructuring of Eke-Ozzi, Eke Amufie and Nkwo Umuida markets. While they are still work-in-progress, I have no doubt that when completed, they will bring about private sector growth and development in leaps and bounds in our area. General Administration 1.Under general administration, I constructed a new office building for the Human Rights Mediation Centre in a bid to give the people of Igbo-Eze North a sense of belonging and protect them whenever any of their fundamental human rights is trampled upon. 2.I met the Local Centre Lodge with ceiling and other structures completely caved in, thereby making it unfit for its purpose. I jumped into action immediately and renovated the building as you all can see today. 3.Hon Leader, the monthly bill of this Council is no doubt on the high side, but I am proud to say that we have been regular in the payment of our wage bills-salaries and leave allowances and other allowances to all our staff and political office holders as and when due. Lastly, my administration came on board with a human face and as such I did extend financial assistance to various indigenes of Igbo-Eze North and administrative staff in the last two fiscal years. Hon Leader and distinguished councillors, these were the modest and candid achievements of my administration in the face of the enormous constraints and challenges that confronted us during this period. My I re-affirm my unshakeable resolve and determination to continue the developmental strides that this administration has taken over the past two years by ensuring that our communities are provided with basic amenities: good roads, pipe-borne water, sanitation, healthcare delivery, power supply, qualitative education, among others. Going forward, I wish to state here that while my administration is determined to deliver the best we can in terms of projects, I do not wish to leave behind any

uncompleted project as the end of this administration. Hence, within my current tenure, all projects, which were embarked upon and could not be finished by previous administrations will be accorded a top priority. In particular, the legislative building and the ultra-modern pavilions in our Secretariat shall receive immediate attention. Hon Leader, while I intend to complete these projects, let me assure you all that my administration will embark on legacy projects, which are considered critical for our people in order to keep the wheels of development running in Igbo-Eze North L.G.A. These projects include but are not limited to road rehabilitation and maintenance, construction of new ultra-modern administration office block and renovation of the finance and health department blocks, drilling of new boreholes, building of new schools among others. My Hon. Leader, in view of the above resolve, it is therefore my privilege to present to you the budget for the fiscal 2018 with the total projected revenue of N1,490.000,000 only for your kind consideration and approval. The breakdown of the expected revenue accruals from the budget sows that while the sum of N1,120,000,000 billion is expected from FAAC as Statutory Allocation, N345,000,000 is being expected as VAT revenue. Also the sun of N25,000,000 is projected to be earned as Internally Generated Revenue (IGN) serve them. To actualize this goal, my administration shall strictly adhere to Due Process, equity, transparency and accountability in order to achieve fiscal responsibility, good governance and value for money. I have no doubt that with this approach to governance which is in tandem with the international best practice, my administration will not only touch positively the lives of the common man, but also create an enabling environment that will spur the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises across the length and breadth of Igbo-Eze North. The outcome that I envisage will of course be a robust and productive economy, an increase in youth employment, reduction in the high rate of poverty, and a peaceful and serene Igbo-Eze North where our men, women, and children shall be proud to call their home. Therefore, it is my humble appeal to you and the Honourable members of the Council to kindly give this budget accelerated attention and speedy passage. At this juncture, may I acknowledge the support and invaluable contribution given to me by the councillors from the inception of this administration to this moment. May I also thank the traditional rulers, the NULGE, my Executive, party members, the clergy, the press, other trade unions and Leaders of Thoughts for their goodwill and effort towards the success of this government. May the Almighty God reward you all. Finally, let me appreciate his Excellency, Rt.Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the unflinching support and assistance he has rendered to Igbo-Eze North and also for his tenacity in delivering good governance in Enugu State. Thank you and Long Live Igbo-Eze North. CMR Uwakwe Ezeja Executive Chairman, Igbo-Eze North Local Govt. Council

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

Special Report

ARIOUS claims are made, each Commonwealth Games cycle, about the prowess of the team that was sent. Excuses are not left out in the explanations of the results. In the 68 years that Nigeria has been involved in the Games, there have been moments. Some of the consequences of the moments cannot be easily reflected in text. Two boycotts were central to the late establishment of Nigeria as a dominant force in Commonwealth Games. The first in 1978 was more frustrating for Nigerian athletes who had boycotted the 1976 Olympic Games, incidentally in Montreal, Canada (the 1978 Games were also in Canada, Edmonton). Most of the athletes had high chances at the boycotted Olympics, two years earlier, and had done well at the All Africa Games in Algiers. On what the contingent presumed as a flight to Edmonton for the Commonwealth Games, the team learnt midair that it was heading back to Lagos – the Federal Government had announced a boycott of the Games, in protest over fraternisation of some countries with apartheid south Africa. It was shattering. A generation of Nigerian athletes that had honed its skills in the United States did not have a chance to take part in the Games. Top of the pack was triple and long jumper, Charlton Ehizuelen who was a hot favourite for medals in both events. Modupe Oshikoya also lost her chances of improving on her records of three medals at the 1974 Games. Then in 1986, another boycott was staged, again over apartheid South Africa. It was more elaborate involving all African countries and the Caribbean. The move reduced the number of participating countries in the Games to 27, the lowest in 32 years. Which Nigerian team to the Games produced the best results? There would be different ways of making the assessments, but the medals table were any guide – the ultimate view of what countries produced at each Games – Nigeria would post the 1994 Games as its best, in terms of number of medals won, final position on the medals table, and the fact that some of those athletes posted Nigeria’s best Olympic Games result after 44 years of participating in the Olympics. Even if football, a non-Commonwealth Games event is deducted from 1996, it still stands out as Nigeria’s best Olympics. The point has been made over time that more attention to the Commonwealth Games, a qualifying platform for some Olympic Games events, and its nearness to the Games, mostly two years away, could aid Nigeria’s preparations for the Olympics. While you savour the results of Team Nigeria to the 2018 Commonwealth Games, deepen your appreciation of Nigeria in the Games, with the records of the Games in 68 years… 1950 Host city Auckland--New Zealand Nations 12 Athletes 590 Events 87 Nigeria tied at 10th with Wales, Rhodesia, 1 silver from high jumper Josiah Majekodunmi, father of table tennis legend, Olawunmi Majekodunmi. Josiah passed on in 1996, at 69. 1954 Host city Vancouver--British Columbia, Canada Nations 24 Athletes 662 Events 91 Nigeria finished 11th, with 1 gold, three silver, 3 bronze, a total of 7 medals. It was the Emmanuel Ifeajuna Games, where his gold medal was the first by a black African athlete at the Games, a Commonwealth record, and a world record of the highest someone had jumped above his own height. 1958 Host city--Cardiff, Wales Nations 35 Athletes 1122 Events 94 Nigeria was 16th with one silver, one bronze. 1962 Host city--Perth, Western Australia, Australia Nations 35 Athletes 863

•Emmanuel Ifeajuna

•Modupe Oshikoya

•Solomon Dalung

Nigeria – 68 years at the Commonwealth Games IKEDDY ISIGUZO writes on 68 years of Nigeria’s participation in Commonwealth Games. Events 104 Nigeria didn’t participate 1966 Host city--Kingston, Jamaica Nations 34 Athletes 1,316 (including officials) Events 110 events, 10 sports Nigeria was 10th with 3 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze, and a total of 10 medals. 1970 Host city--Edinburgh, Scotland Nations 42 Athletes 1,744 (including officials) Events 121 events, 10 sports Nigeria was 14th with 2 gold, both from boxing. 1974 Host city-Christchurch, New Zealand 38 Nations Athletes 1276 Events 121 events, 10 sports Nigeria was 8th with 3 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze, and a total of 10 medals. Modupe Oshikoya became the first Nigerian woman to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Her collection of gold in long jump, silver in pentathlon, and bronze in 100m hurdles, would have placed her joint 14th on the medals table, if she was entered as a country, and dropped to 11th place. 1978 Host city-Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Nations 47 Athletes 1,475 Events 128, 11 sports Nigeria boycotted the Games to protest sports relations between New Zealand and Apartheid South Africa, contrary to the terms of the Commonwealth’s ban on South Africa. 1982 Host city--Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Nations 46 Athletes 1,583

Events 141 events, 12 sports Nigeria won 5 gold, 8 bronze for a 7th position on the overall medals table, a total of 13 medals. Boxing was a major factor in the overall results, with 3 gold, and 3 bronze, and weightlifting 1 gold, 4 bronze. Athletics, 1 gold, and wrestling, 1 bronze produced the other medals. 1986 Host city--Edinburgh, Scotland Nations 27 Athletes 1,660 Events 161 events, 10 sports Nigeria led an Africa-Caribbean boycott of the Games that produced the lowest number of participating countries since 1954. The issue again was the violation of the sporting bans on South Africa by some members of the Commonwealth. 1990 Host city--Auckland, New Zealand Nations 55 Athletes 2,074 Events 213 events, 10 sports Nigeria was 7th with 5 gold, 13 silver, and 7 bronze, a total of 25 medals. 1994 Host city--Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 63 Nations Athletes 2,557 Events 10 sports Nigeria’s best Games to date with 11 gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze medals, and 4th on the medals table, a total of 35 medals. It was South Africa’s return to the Games in 44 years, Namibia’s first Games, and the final Games for Hong Kong as it was returned to China after the Games in Victoria. 1998 Host city--Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Nations 69 Athletes 3638 Events 214, 15 sports Nigeria did not participate. She was under a Commonwealth ban for the military’s

execuºtion of Ogoni rights activist, Ken SaroWiwa. 2002 Host city Manchester, England Nations 72 Athletes 3,863 Events 281, 17 sports Nigeria was 11th with 5 gold, 3 silver, and 11 bronze, a total of 19 medals. 2006 Host city--Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Nations 71 Athletes 4071 Events 245, 17 sports Nigeria was 12th with 4 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze, and a total of 17 medals 2010 Host city--New Delhi, India 71 Nations Athletes 6,089 Events 272 events, 21 disciplines Nigeria was 9th with 11 gold, 10 silver, and 14 bronze, a total of 35 medals 2014 Host city Glasgow, Scotland Nations 71 Athletes 4,947 Events 261, 18 sports Nigeria placed 8th with 11 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze medals, a total of 36 medals. This finishing presents an argument. We won highest number of medals ever, but finished four places below 1994. I would suggest that 1994 remains our best Games to date. 2018 Host city--Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia Nations 71 Athletes 4,426 Events 275, 19 sports Nigeria finished 9th with 9 gold, 9 silver, and 6 bronze medals, a total of 24 medals. Birmingham, England, would hold the next Games in 2022.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS Extra

Ayadeorderspaymentof2014gratuity,donatesN50mforcompletionofLabourHouse

ROSS River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, Monday, authorised the payment of 2014 gratuity to retired civil servants in the state, even as he donated N50 million to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for the completion of the Labour House. The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, members of the state executive council as well as officers and members of the state NLC and TUC, gave the directive shortly after inspecting the NLC secretariat, which is under construction. On payment of gratuity, he said: “We have already finalised and I have just signed today an authorisation for them to commence the implementation of 2014 gratuity.” While applauding the leadership of labour in the state for good management of resources in the erection of the building, the governor said, “at the time we discussed with the NLC/TUC on the need to support them build a labour house, the approv-

al I gave was so insignificant for the accomplishment of what I am seeing here today. I thought I was the only magician who knows how to turn one naira to a million dollars. Today, I have seen some management experts that are equally very good.” Ayade who assured that the labour house will be completed before his third year anniversary in office announced that, “against that background, God has descended upon me with an inspiration,” adding that, “to ensure that you complete this project and get it ready for commissioning as in the history of Cross River, we have never had a labour house where members can come in unmolested, it is my pleasure to support you complete this edifice with additional N50 million. That figure will cover both furniture, telecom and small clinic in case of any emergency.” He charged labour leaders and members to remain better organised, well structured and never relent in their roles to the society, pointing out that, the leaders must not stop insisting on what they think is the right

Delta State maintains polio-free status for six years By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

ELTA State has been able to maintain a polio free status for six years running as a result of its collaboration with the relevant stakeholders in the health sector. The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mordi Ononye, made this known today in Asaba as part of activities to mark the African vaccination Week, an adaptation of the World Vaccination Day, approved by the World Health Organization for celebration in all its regions of operation. Dr Ononye stated that despite the polio free status recorded by the State, Nigeria is still listed among polio transmitting countries of the world and pledged the commitment of government to ensure that people do not suffer from another disease outbreak. He said that yellow fever disease had also been perpetually kept under control in the State and that the State had the machinery to combat every vaccinepreventable disease. According to the Health Commissioner, the National Programme on Immunization (NPI) provides opportunities through Routine Immunization of infants against tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertusis, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia, Measles, Meningitis, and yellow fever as pregnant women are given Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine to protect them and their unborn babies from the perils of contacting Tetanus and Diphtheria disease. The Commissioner reiterated the commitment of the state government in ensuring that the Expanded Programme on Immunization remained on course, stating that so many resources by way of funds, logistics and personnel had been deployed

towards saving lives of mothers and children who he noted, were the most vulnerable to vaccinepreventable disease. He asserted that surveillance remained key to disease detection and urged all to report any suspected case of vaccine preventable or any other disease to the established health institutions for appropriate action. Ononye explained that the World Health Organization Afro Region with headquarters in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo in collaboration with the Governments of 47 out of the 54 member-countries in Africa adopted this year’s theme as ‘Immunization Works, Do your Part’ while Nigeria due to her own peculiarities adopted the theme ‘Vaccines Work, Be an Immunization Champion’. He therefore called on Deltans to come out and support the vaccination of children and mothers campaign saying “Together we can raise the collective immunity of our communities.”

thing for the people as it is pertinent to share the concerns of government while appreciating the challenges of workers. “I must commend you for being very balanced in the whole process. Agreed that normally as government task, critical misunderstanding will set in, but that is part of relationship and I think that the concept of this is a harbinger of a better relation-

ship and better understanding of each other.” Earlier, NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade John Ushie, explained that “for over 40 years, the labour centre has not had a place to call their own, but in your time, it has come to pass. We believe that before your third year in office, you will come back to commission this place.”

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, receiving the Presidential Excellence Award of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) from the outgone NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Rotimi Oladele during the 2018 National Delegates Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Institute at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State.

Delta Commissioner, Ukah bags NIPR award By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba; BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

ELTA State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has been honoured with the Presidential Excellence Award of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) at the 2018 National Delegates Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Institute at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State. Presenting the award to him, the outgone NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, eulogized the sterling leadership qualities of Mr. Ukah and commended him for reorganizing Delta State Chapter of NIPR for optimal functionality within the public relations fold.

Dr. Oladele posited that in a short while of being given the mandate to reorganize the Delta State Chapter, the Commissioner for Information have been able to produce over 50 prospective members whose forms were being processed and out of which 12 were inducted recently, including motivating about 60 existing members to recertify their membership. “I have confidence that Delta State is a chapter to watch out for in terms of adding affirmative value to NIPR. I commend him; even as strenuous as his job of Information Management could be as Commissioner, he still found time to do the much he is doing. I will only implore you to do more, because there is always a place for hard workers like you in history”, the President affirmed.

May Day: Delta PDP congratulates workers By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta State have joined workers in the state to celebrate the 2018 workers day celebration. In a congratulatory message to the workers, the party in a statement, signed by its Publicity Secretary, Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza, the party congratulated the workers in the State on the occasion. “We recognize and identify with the universal celebration of Workers Day across the world and join the rest of the global community to celebrate the dignity of Labour which cannot be over-emphasised because of the valuable contributions of Labour to the socio-economic and political well-being of society”.

The governor, his deputy, members of the organised labour as well as members of the state executive council, thereafter proceeded to other projects sites embarked by the present administration in the state, including the 21 megawatt power plant, Calabar Garment Factory, Calabar Pharmaceutical Factory, Rice Seeds and Seedlings Center, amongst others.

“Labour is the creative and intelligence arm of any administration and a functional Labour force thrives on the ingenious creations and productions of the Worker, who is tasked with delivering results that strengthen every administration and make the world a worthwhile and profitable place to live in”. In the statement, the party exhorted the workers in the state, as it described them as bank of mass creative energy, and praise them for the cordial relationship that exists between the workers and the state government. “ Delta state PDP is very proud and appreciative of our Labour force which has not only been a bank of mass creative energy that has engaged in an enviable and profitable partnership with the State govern-

ment, over the years, but has since the advent of the administration of His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, not only become the major focal point and driving machinery through which the brilliant objectives of the SMART agenda has been delivered but has indeed been working assiduously to actualize the prosperity for all Deltans mission and make the State a place of opportunities for all”. “The Delta State PDP extends our profound gratitude to the generality of the civil servants across board in the State for their co-operation with the Government of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by remaining peaceful and providing a conducive atmosphere for labour-government relationship to flourish to the overall benefit of all”.

Mr. Ukah, in his response, thanked the NIPR President and Board of Council for finding him worthy of such meritorious award. He promised to remain committed to the service of NIPR and its ideals. Meanwhile, newly elected President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Malam Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, says the institute would spearhead the convoking of a “reputation summit” where issues militating against the unity and development of the country would be subjected to robust and objective analyses. Sirajo, in his acceptance speech after his election at the end of the NIPR Annual General Meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, said the goal of the conference was to engender an atmosphere of peace and national development. According to Sirajo, the Institute, under his watch, was prepared to partner with governments at all levels as well as nongovernmental outfits, with a view to solidifying the unity of the country. He therefore called on Nigerians to imbibe the culture of constant constructive engagement rather than the mistrust and suspicion that seems to drive some aspects of our national life. To reposition NIPR, , he promised that the Council would vigorously pursue the fight against quackery and ensure full compliance with the provisions of Decree 16 of 1990, which criminalizes the practice of Public Relations (both corporate and individual),without certification by the Institute.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS Extra

May Day: My joy is excellent health condition of retirees, workers – Ugwuanyi

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has stated that his greatest joy in office is the excellent health condition of retirees and workers in the state civil service. Ugwuanyi said this at the 2018 Workers’ Day celebration in Enugu on Tuesday. He said that his administration would remain committed to the welfare of workers and pension-

Okorocha, Ohakim, Onyeagocha felicitate with Imo workers

ers and urged workers to remain steadfast in their duties. He said that his administration was not oblivious of the numerous challenges faced by the worker and would take steps to accede to the requests presented to him. “My greatest joy is seeing retirees and workers marching strongly this day. I say glory be to God,” he said. Ugwuanyi said both the executive and legislative arms of government were on the same

page with workers in the state civil service, adding, “we are one family”. The governor gave assurance that his administration would never take the workers for granted. Earlier, the state Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Igbokwe Chukwuma, had appealed to the state government to enroll workers in the state in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Chukwuma said that the ap-

peal became necessary to curtail avoidable deaths involving civil servants due to lack of appropriate medical care. “A lot of civil servants have died due to self-medication. Some of them fall sick when salaries are not readily available and the resort to self-medication. “It gives joy when you know that the appropriate medical attention will be provided to you when you fall sick,” he said. Chukwuma also appealed to the state government to include

By COLLINS UGHALAA

s civil servants in Imo State join their counterparts across the nation in celebrating the 2018 Workers Day, former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, has assured them that they will smile again if he becomes governor again in 2019. The former Governor who is running for a second term in office told the workers in a statement on Monday, that the workers deserve to be congratulated having survived the Okorocha administration. “No doubt, having survived the harsh conditions forced on them by the inhuman administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha who has done everything possible to kill the state civil service, the civil servants deserve all the warm felicitations they can get”, Ohakim said. “The condition of the state’s civil servants had never been this bad. Imo State used to be known for its vibrant civil servants, so much that the state was known for its vibrant civil service and education. Imo people used to adore civil servants and looked up to getting civil service jobs upon graduating from the university. Even those with lesser education looked up to working in the junior cadre of the civil service. A civil servant used to be revered. Today these glories are gone because Imo people danced to the tune of selfish propagandists in 2011 who were bent on cutting short the realisation of the beautiful dreams of the Imo people in order to pave the way for their enrichment”. “Imo people had it so good under the Ikedi Ohakim administration. Ohakim prides himself as the Governor who upon assumption of office in 2007 increased workers’ salaries even before the clamour for minimum wage started. He lifted the over 15 years recruitment embargo into the state’s civil service, paving the way for the recruitment of many Imo people. “The Ikedi Ohakim administration embarked on the biggest recruitment scheme ever in Imo State with the employment of the 10,000 graduates into the civil service, where government ensured that N450M circulated to Imo fsmilies monthly. This recruitment scheme which remains the most transparent recruitment scheme ever in the state had about 5,000 graduates employed into the school system, to mitigate the personnel challenges in the subsector. However, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, Governor Rochas Okorocha felicitated with the workers in the state and the nation, appealing to Imo workers to appreciate his modest efforts making their welfare a priority since he came on board as governor in 2011.

Enugu State Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (middle) and flanked by the state Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comr. Igbokwe C. Igbokwe (left), and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Dep. Chairman, Comr. Maurice Eze (Right), acknowledges cheers from Enugu workers’ at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, during the 2018 May Day celebration.

Ikpeazu moves to revive Abia Rubber Company A By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

N investment company, Great Nobles Integrated Limited, has taken over the management of Abia Rubber Company. The government-owned Abia Rubber Company is on the verge of going moribund and was concessioned to the new management, a private firm, which is expected to give Abia Rubber a new lease of life. At the handing over ceremony held at Ndi Oji Abam in Arochukwu local government area, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said his administration was poised to revamp moribund companies in the state in

order to create more employment opportunities for her citizens. Ikpeazu, represented by the acting Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, noted that the move would also boost the economy of the state through massive revenue generation. To ensure that the goal for handing over Abia Rubber to a private firm was realised, Ikpeazu assured that the state government would closely monitor the activities of the new management company to ensure better results; and pleaded with the people of Ndi Oji Abam, the host community, to give the company their full support in order to achieve the aim of government which is for a better tomorrow.

Receiving the documents on behalf of Great Nobles Integrated Limited, a former Deputy Speaker of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Acho Nwakanma, assured that the company would do everything possible in ensuring that the rubber company was quickly revived as to meet the expectations of the state government and Abians, in general. Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Uzo Azubuike, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barr. (Mrs Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne), in their speeches, thanked the Governor for striving to revive the rubber company, describing the move as a timely and necessary.

tional period for duly registered tricycle operators is between 6 a.m and 9 p.m. “The government wishes to advise all tricycle operators to ensure that they work strictly within 6am-9pm daily and also support security agencies to maintain the existing peace and security that earned Abia State recognition as the “Most Peaceful State in Nigeria,” part of the statement by Okiyi read. Announcing the restriction in August 2015, the then Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Godwin Adindu, said the measure was taken to stem rising crime wave. “In recent times, there has been a resurgence of armed robbery and other sundry crimes in the

two cities of Umuahia , Aba and the environs. “Security reports confirm that these hoodlums operate with tricycles (Keke) and motorbikes. As part of the security measures towards checkmating the activities of these hoodlums, government is hereby re-enforcing the old rule and order as it relate to the operation of keke riders and okada riders in Abia State. “Henceforth, Keke riders are only allowed to operate within the hours of 6am and 7pm in Aba and Umuahia, while okada remains banned in the metropolis. Okada can only operate in the outskirts and communities. This order takes effect immediately,” Adindu said in the statement.

Abia extends operational time for Keke operators By BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

FTER more than two years of restricting commercial tricycle (Keke) operators from operating beyond 6 pm, Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, on Monday, April 30, 2018, approved the extension of operational time for duly registered commercial tricycles (Keke) to 9pm daily with immediate effect. Keke operators in Aba and Umuahia , were in August 2015, restricted from operating beyond 7 pm as a response to increasing rate of crimes allegedly committed with tricycles. But in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, stated that opera-

workers in parastatal agencies in the centralised payment portal of the state government. He said that the current practice where such workers received their salaries differently and on different dates was not encouraging. He said that some retirees in certain parastatal agencies were owed over two years pension arrears and appealed to the state government to help ameliorate the situation. Chukwuma thanked the state government for setting aside N100 million monthly for the payment of gratuities of retired civil servants. He also thanked the government for acceding to the demand of re-imbursing workers whose contributions to the National Housing Fund were not remitted. Chukwuma said that the workers would always rally the state government in achieving its set goals. The state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Virginia Nwobodo, said that workers were happy with the friendly disposition of the governor. Nwobodo said that the governor had shown exemplary leadership since his assumption to office. “We want to assure the state government that as partners in progress, we shall also be constructive in our engagements, while giving preference to factual arguments and superior reasoning,” Nwobodo said. The theme of the 2018 Workers Day is ‘Labour Movement in National Development: Dare to Struggle, Dare to to Win’.

Obaseki approves N1.5bn Paris refunds for payment of LG workers’ arrears

do State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has approved the use of N1.5 billion from the Paris Club refunds to offset part of N2.5 billion salary /and pension arrears of local government workers in the state. The governor announced the decision during May Day celebration in the state which held at the University of Benin Sports Complex in Benin on Tuesday. Obaseki said his administration was committed to the welfare of workers. ”I have instructed that all outstanding salaries and pension arrears owed local government workers be paid before the end of this year,’’ he said. The governor said his administration had successfully paid batches 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the state pensioners. He promised to increase the monthly allocation of N100 million for the payment of pension arrears to N200 million with effect from Tuesday. He said plans were on to enrol all local government staff in the contributory pension scheme like their counterparts in state service who were already captured in the scheme. The May Day celebration was based on the theme, Labour Movement in National Development: Dare to Struggle Dare to Win.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

BU$IN£SS •Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

Energy transition: Infrastructure deficits threaten Nigeria’s economy

Energy

2019: Disputes surround oil cash movements

•$100b needed to close energy loop •Domestic auto industry, fuel systems going obsolete

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

•Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu. already stripped relevance from coal and currently target to push oil and gas into oblivion in preference to green energy options. He listed Sweden, Norway, France, United Kingdom and Netherlands among key 11 European countries that have fixed 2040 deadline for end of hydrocarbon fired cars as part of their domestic energy policies that emphasize environmental concerns. Whereas Norway has fixed 2025 as deadline for zero emission cars, China has reportedly surpassed its 2020 solar targets and all European Union countries plus United Kingdom are committed to zero emission deadlines by 2040. According to industry experts,

CBN EXCHANGE RATES MAY 1, 2018 Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

304.7 US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING 418.3226 367.9253 EURO 307.2812 SWISS FRANC CFA 0.5415 437.3094 WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI 48.1046 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 24.4739 DANISH KRONA 49.3737 438.0977 SDR

305.2 419.0091 368.529 307.7854 0.5515 438.027 48.184 24.5141 49.4547 438.8166

305.7 419.6955 369.1328 308.2896 0.5615 438.7446 48.2633 24.5542 49.5358 439.5355

climate change, the rise of renewable energies and the prospect of peak oil demand are already knocking dents into the long-term investment outlook for the oil sector, as prospect of a widespread retreat from funding by multilateral lenders and investment from sovereign wealth funds is emerging as a new threat. Norway’s sovereign wealth fund announced plans to cut its exposure to the petroleum industry by dropping oil and gas stocks from its $1.0 trillion fund. Citing “catastrophic climate change,” and the decision stands as a benchmark for countries and funds keen to promote clean energy.

The World Bank also announced that it would cease to finance upstream oil and gas after 2019, citing a target to bring its lending in line with Paris climate agreement goals. Decision by global insurers and pension funds to divest from fossil fuels also compounds funding stricture for upstream oil and gas operations in the medium to long term. Even within the league of oil exporting countries, governments are repositioning their economic strategies to cope with the predicted energy transition with key Arabian countries announcing strategies for eventual peak oil. Saudi Arabia, for instance, announced plans IPO of its national oil company, Saudi Aramco, as part of longer term programmes to cut its dependence on oil. Abu Dhabi has also floated plans to move away from reliance on fossil fuels to establish itself as a “global center of excellence in the renewable energy.” Irish parliament passed a vote in favour of legislation that would drop fossil fuel investments from its E8 billion strategic investment fund. According to a report by Platts Energy intelligence group, global investment in new upstream projects plummeted by nearly 50 % since 2014 due to belt-tightening amid the price slump, yet the IEA estimates that $640 billion is required in upstream spending every year between 2017 and 2040 to avoid a potential shortfall in global oil supply. OPEC puts the investment requirement estimate at $10.6 trillion. Even the multinational oil companies are taking positions in development and commercial production of clean renewable energy, probably pulling funds from oil proceeds for deployment in new energy ventures. Total SA weekend agreed to buy Paris-based utility Direct Energie, a move that shows the majors are preparing for a future in which fossil fuels are diminished in the en

IGERIA must overcome its wide infrastructural deficits in order fit into the emerging global economy driven by diversified fuel sources, integrated energy facilities and variegated sources of clean energy as world governments solidify commitments to lower carbon emissions. According to panellists at an industry conference in Abuja, the global shift from energy factors that leave enormous carbon footprints in the environment requires emerging economies to commit huge investments in development of the right set of infrastructure that would conform to requirements of new technology for machines, tools and equipment. The challenge come as government declared that the Nigerian energy industry requires a short to medium term investment of over $100 million to harness full values across the energy loop, with most of the fund required in the wobbling gas-to-power programme. At the event where the Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Tony Attah, sounded the alarm over commitments by nearly all European countries to transit from use of petroleum fuel to cleaner, sustainable and renewable energy options by 2040, industry analysts weighed the risk that the Nigerian economy would face when cars begin to run electricity, homes draw power from solar panels and electric motors drive machines at factories. Mr. Attah said that scotching footprints of global warming are registering environmental consequences that drive governments of advanced economies into drastic measures to urgently reduce emission of greenhouse gas from industrial and automobile plants that are fired with fossil fuel. He made it clear that whereas the world is still replete with huge fossil fuel reserves-enough to last for 100 years-environmental concerns have

•Tourism

P20

Travel

Sheraton Lagos to reopen renovated Italian restaurant P26

Insurance

NAICOM approves Guinea Insurance’s 2017 audited account P28

Cont’d on Page 19

Stock Market Highlights As At 1st MAY, 2018

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP S/N

41,268.01 4,699.00 450,527,442.00 N4,958,949,587.07 N14,948,513,604,332.31

Coy (By Volume) Volume

MBENEFIT UBA FBNH ZENITHBANK TRANSCORP

130,965,188 67,755,124 53,617,325 23,614,631 16,149,748

Value(N) N31,436,790.88 N781,075,860.25 N670,282,693.50 N648,515,662.40 N26,954,592.83

5 Top Gainers

Symbols Last Close BETAGLAS N75.5 JBERGER N26.9 DANGCEM N245 CCNN N19.5 GUARANTY N44.35

Five Tope Losers

Symbols NESTLE DANGSUGAR DANGFLOUR FLOURMILL TOTAL

Current Change N79.25 3.75 N28.05 1.15 N246 1 N20.45 0.95 N45 0.65

%Change 4.97% 4.28% 0.41% 4.87% 1.47%

Last Close Current Change N1615 N1599 -16 N21.4 N20.5 -0.9 N14 N13.3 -0.7 N35.2 N34.5 -0.7 N222.6 N222.2

%Change -0.99% -4.21% -5.00% -1.99% -0.4

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

BUSINESS

Fidelity Bank grows profit by 94%, as PBT hits N20b in 2017 Stories by VICTOR NZE

IDELITY Bank Plc has delivered another set of strong financial results as it posted a 94 per cent growth in profits for the year ended December 31, 2017. This is also as the bank has proposed a dividend of 11 kobo to shareholders. Details of the full year audited results for the top Nigerian lender, released, Monday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), shows impressive growth in all key indices. The performance capped a remarkable 2017 financial year for the bank which returned to the international capital markets and successfully issued a $400m Eurobond that was over-subscribed by over 200 per cent. Gross Earnings grew by 18.3 per cent to N179.9 bn from N152.0bn in 2016, whilst Profit After Tax (PAT) surged by 93.7 per cent to N18.9 bn compared with N9.7bn recorded in the previous year. Net Interest Income (NIM) increased by 15.4 per cent to N71.5bn in 2017, Net Operating Income rose by 9.9 per cent from N86.0bn to N78.3bn whilst Total Assets grew by 6.2 per cent from N1.3trillion to N1.4 trillion in the period under review. In other indices, Total Expenses declined by 2.3 per cent to N65.7bn from N67.2bn whilst Liquidity Ratio stood at 35.9 per cent compared with 33.2 per cent in the previous year. Commenting on the results, Fidelity Bank CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo expressed delight with the performance. According to him, the Bank sustained its performance through disciplined balance sheet manage-

ment, strategic cost reduction, increased focus on the corporate, commercial, SME segments and continued execution of its retail and digital banking strategy. “We are delighted at the results, which showed strong growth in key revenue lines, significant traction in our chosen business segments and a corresponding decline in our operating expenses despite the high inflationary environment”, he stated. According to him, the implementation of initiatives from its Business Process Review Project and the Bank’s digital focus, continued to impact positively on operational efficiency as “total operating expenses declined by 2.3 per cent to N65.7 billion leading to the cost-income ratio dropping to 67.5 per cent from 77.3 per cent in the 2016FY. The combination of the strong net revenue growth of 9.9 per cent to N7.7 billion and the 2.3 per cent decline in total expenses which translated to cost savings of N1.5 billion resulted in our increased profitability”. Increased digitization has resulted to over 25 per cent of the Bank’s fee-based income as customers’ adoption of its mobile/internet platforms improved to 35% in the 2017FY and led to a 21.0 per cent reduction in vault cash holding. Similarly, the Bank’s retail banking strategy continued to deliver good results. Savings Deposits grew by 15.2% to N178.6bn, accounting for 23.0 per cent of total deposits from 19.5 per cent in the 2016FY. This has improved the Bank’s low-cost deposits ratio to 77.0 per cent of total deposits.

•Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, representing the Federal Government signing the agreement for the interim phase of the concession of Nigeria’s narrow gauge rail network with a General Electric (GE)-led Consortium comprising three other companies; SinoHydro, Transnet and APM Terminals, in Washington DC, United States, Friday

Diamond Bank sells 100% stake in UK subsidiary M ID-TIER lender, Diamond Bank Plc, has announced selling 100 percent equity in its subsidiary in the United Kingdom. The bank, in a statement issued to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), explained that the decision was to streamline its operations to focus resources on the significant opportunities in the Nigerian retail banking market. Already, the financial institution has signed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with a member of GFG Alliance. The disposal of Diamond Bank UK followed the bank’s divestment from its West African business, Diamond Bank SA, which was completed in November 2017.

Digitisation strategy rapidly yielding results – Ecobank

roup Chief Executive of Ecobank Group, Mr Ade Ayeyemi, has expressed satisfaction with outcome of the bank’s digitalisation policy. Ayeyemi, while speaking at the 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, parent of the Ecobank Group, in Lomé, Togo, Monday, said with that done, the lender can now focus giving more returns to shareholders. The bank’s chief said he was glad that the financial institution was becoming the better choice of people in Africa. “Our digitisation strategy is rapidly yielding results that are putting Ecobank firmly on its path to becoming the digital bank of choice across its pan-African territories. “Additionally, having ‘rightsized’ the business and ‘fixed the basics’, Ecobank is leveraging its inherent strengths as middle Africa’s leading financial platform to the benefit of all its stakeholders as a strong and sustainable bank as it promotes economic development and financial integration across the African continent,” Ayeyemi said. Also speaking at the AGM, Chairman of Ecobank, Mr Emmanuel Ikazoboh, said “Ecobank enjoyed a return to profitability in 2017 as the strengthening of un-

derwriting and risk management processes began to address our legacy credit issues. “There were substantial improvements in the financial performance of our Consumer Bank and Corporate and Investment Bank divisions and the Board is confident that the foundations are now in place to enable the sustainable growth that will create shareholder value throughout Ecobank.” During the meeting, shareholders welcomed Ecobank’s return

to profit for the year to December 31, 2017 as they approved all the resolutions at the AGM, which included the ratification of the cooption of Messrs Monish Dutt, Brian Kennedy and David O’Sullivan as Directors. They are nominees of the International Finance Corporation, Nedbank Group and Qatar National Bank respectively. The firms Deloitte and Touche, Nigeria and Grant Thornton Côte d’Ivoire were re-appointed as Joint Auditors for a one-year term.

According to Diamond Bank, it is committed to pursuing a quick completion of the transaction with GFG Alliance subject to approval of the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority, which regulate banking business in the United Kingdom. The lender noted that the sale of its international subsidiaries is not expected to cause service disruptions for customers located around the world as they can continue to enjoy enhanced and convenient banking services through its digital channels. Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank, Mr Uzoma Dozie, disclosed that the financial institution’s strategic objective is to be the fastest growing, and most profitable technology-driven retail banking franchise in Nigeria. This strategic intent, he said, requires the bank to optimize the use of its resources which means, where necessary, divesting from its non-core assets, and focusing on the priority area, namely Nigerian retail banking. In recent years, the bank has laid the foundation for growth in Nigeria with acquisition of over 15 million customers, many of whom own bank accounts for the first time. The Nigerian market has vast potential due to its strong fundamentals, including millions

FG signs interim phase of rail concession deal with int’l consortium

ederal Government has formally signed an agreement with an International Consortium to proceed with the Interim Phase of the Nigerian narrow-gauge railway concession following its award of preferred bidder status in May 2017. The agreement signed, Friday, in Washington DC involved a consortium of prominent firms led by General Electric and comprises; SinoHydro, Transnet, and APM Terminals. In the interim phase of the rail concession, Remedial Works will be carried out on part of the narrow-gauge rail line system to make it technically and economically operable. Additionally, a joint operation will be established between the Consortium and the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) with an initial supply of 10 locomotives and 200 wagons to

augment the existing rolling stock in Nigeria. This programme is expected to deliver an increase in the number of available locomotives, thus increasing the frequency of passenger and freight rail services. In addition, freight haulage capacity by the end of the first 12 months of the interim phase is expected to increase roughly ten-fold, from its current less than 50,000 metric tonnes per annum to about 500,000 metric tonnes per annum. Speaking on the occasion, Lazarus Angbazo, CEO of GE Nigeria said: “GE is committed to the sustainable development of Nigeria and as such we are delighted to have reached this crucial stage of the project to revamp and revitalize the country’s legacy rail infrastructure system. The Consor-

tium looks forward to commencing execution of this Interim Phase with the continued support of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Transportation. As operations begin, our strong partners, such as Transnet and SinoHydro, will bring their strong operating and development skills to the forefront.” Following the commencement of the Interim Phase, the Consortium will conclude negotiations with the Federal Government on the terms of the substantive phase of the concession agreement that will expand service to up to 200 locomotives and associated rolling stock. This will see to the comprehensive rehabilitation of Nigeria’s narrowgauge rail infrastructure and the return of rail transport as a key element in enabling the country’s socio-economic development.

of people who are either underbanked or unbanked and changing lifestyles that favour the use of mobile devices to complete multiple financial transactions at the consumer’s convenience. Dozie explained that, “This is also underpinned by significant economic potential driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a growing culture of innovation.” He said moreover, by harnessing technology and fostering a digitally led approach, “Diamond Bank will have further positive impact on the overall development of the financial system, and the Nigerian economy in general.”

Sterling Bank earmarks N10b for personal loans under ‘Specta’

terling Bank has set aside N10 billion for retail lending under a platform called “Specta”. Head of Strategy and Innovation in the bank, Mr Shina Atitola, said in Lagos, Thursday, at the inauguration of the platform that the N10 billion loan facility would be for customers and non-customers of the bank. According to him, ‘Specta’ will ensure that customers have access to personal loans without going through the stress associated with obtaining regular loans from banks. Head of Value Chain Banking Department in the bank, Ms Benedicta Sadoh, said through ‘Specta,’ the bank was targeting 100,000 customers before December, while 700 corporate customers had already keyed into the platform. She said the platform, which only caters for salaried workers, would take only five minutes to access after profiling of customers. Sadoh said that the bank would also confirm and negotiate the interest rate with the human resource manager of the company where the prospective customer worked. She said that the loan repayment would be at 33.3 per cent of the net monthly salary of the beneficiary spread over 48 months. According to her, the maximum amount that can be borrowed by a customer is N5 million per transaction. Sadoh said any outstanding principal would be covered by insurance company in case of job loss or death.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

BUSINESS

CBN pegs USSD transactions at N100, 000 per day from June

•To sack bank chairmen, CEOs for late FSs Stories by VICTOR NZE

FFECTIVE June 2018, bank customers will not be able to use Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel to conduct transactions more than N100, 000 per day. Furthermore, bank customers will have to use both their PIN and a soft token to authenticate transactions above N20, 000. The USSD is a technology platform for online payments. In addition, banks must allow their customers the option to opt out of USSD channel for financial transactions. This is also as regulatory bank threatened to sanction bank chiefs for failing to submit their financial statements (FS) at the year. These were highlights of the ‘Regulatory Framework for the use of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) for Financial Services in Nigeria’, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Friday. In a circular announcing the framework, Director, Banking System and Payments Department, CBN, stated: “The vast applications of the USSD technology, in terms of available services have raised the issue of the risks inherent in the channel. In this regard, concerns have been expressed on the likely exposure of CBN approved entities to the possible breaching of the USSD accessed financial services in view of likely vulnerabilities in the technology and the ever growing threats. ‘‘Furthermore, the implementation in Nigeria has created multiple USSD channels to customers, thereby increasing their exposure to risk, without a common standard for all. ‘‘This

framework therefore, seeks to establish the rules and risk mitigation considerations when implementing USSD for financial services offering in Nigeria.” Among other things, the framework stated: “USSD based financial transaction requires encryption to protect the integrity of the financial information. To this end, Financial Institutions providing use of the USSD channel shall: Ensure that the customer receives notification on the status of every transaction conducted through the channel; Not use the USSD service to relay details of other electronic banking channels (in case of banks), to their customers, to prevent compromise of other electronic banking channels through the USSD channel; Avail the customers the option to opt in/out of the USSD channel for financial Transactions.’’ Meanwhile, Chairmen and CEOs of banks operating in Nigeria have been warned that they risk being removed if they fail to file their financial statements 12 months after the close of the financial year. This threat was given by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a circular titled ‘Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade and Exchange Guidelines for Fiscal Years 2018/2019.’ The monetary policy circular number 42 signed by the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, noted that, “In accordance with the provisions of BOFIA 1991 (as amended), banks are required, subject to the written approval of the CBN, to publish not later than four months after the end of each financial year, their audited financial statements (statement of financial position and statement of comprehensive income)

in a national daily newspaper printed and circulated in Nigeria. “To facilitate the implementation of consolidated supervision, all banks, discount houses and their subsidiaries shall continue to adopt December 31, as their accounting year end.” The apex bank that if banks fail to publish their accounts for a period of 12 months after the end of the financial year, it would “hold the Board Chairman and Managing Director (MD) of a defaulting bank directly responsible for any breach and impose appropriate sanctions which may include barring the MD or his/her nominee from participation in the Bankers’ Committee and disclosing the reason for such suspension.” The central bank said apart from that, it may suspend the

“foreign exchange dealership license of the bank and its name sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), in the case of a public quoted company” and remove the Chairman and MD from office. On the determination of banks’ cost of funds, the circular noted that lenders “shall continue to employ the weighted average cost of funds methodology in the computation of their cost of funds. According to the CBN, the applicable cost items shall include interest cost on the different types of deposit liabilities, borrowings from the interbank funds market, payments in respect of deposit insurance premium and costs due to reserve requirements.

“It should be noted that overhead costs are excluded from this computation,” the circular obtained by Business Post stressed. The CBN urged banks to seek profitability by driving down cost and charging competitive rates instead of charging excessive rates of interest. “Any bank applying for direct participation as a settlement bank will be required to possess the capacity to provide the required clearing collateral of N15 billion, subject to periodic review. Such lender will also have ability to offer agency facilities to other banks and to clear and settle on their behalf and have adequate branch network, in all the CBN locations,” it said.

From left: Technical Consultant to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Mr. David McEwen, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (middle); and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, during a courtesy visit by the UN Consultant to the Minister in Abuja.

Energy transition: Infrastructure deficits threaten Nigeria’s economy

Continued from Page 17

ergy mix and consumers demand charging points alongside gasoline pumps at fueling stations. The policy targets by key industrialized nations of the world that form the global crude oil markets have great implications for the global economy as technology developers and equipment manufacturers embark on race to meet the time limits. Mr Attah noted that improvement in rechargeable batteries is making electric cars more efficient, versatile and durable in distant run and increased payload. Placing the demand drivers in focus, he observed that with projected global population of 9.7 billion by 2050 and estimated gross domestic product of about $77.99 trillion the share of renewable energy in the mix would escalate to 31 percent by 2040 with current environmental sentiments, pushing down the relevance of oil. In pointing out that oil dependent Nigeria has no balanced energy mix to sustain the economy after industrial technology abandons fossil fuel, he warned that the country has no option than to activate arrangements to move with the world.

Despite claims by the Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria’s Mohammed Barkindo, that princely $10.6 trillion is still required to produce enough oil to meet global demand by 2040 when he said petroleum would still hold some 50 percent of global energy demand, panellists still sustained concerns about the fate of the country’s economy beyond the peak oil. With the country’s low industrial capacity for self production, the panel members and plenary participants agreed on the need for Nigeria to evolve workable strategies that would translate to rapid development of infrastructure that would shield the domestic economy from the shock of imminent transition from oil fuelled machines to electric powered alternatives. Contributions from industry captains, economists and policy makers converged on the need for the country evolve efficient policy programmes that begin early to develop the right set of infrastructure not just for energy diversification but also for application of new technology. Automobiles form the major consumers of fuels derived from pe-

troleum liquids, and shift to electric vehicles mean that local infrastructure for producing, converting and maintaining electric cars would be required for the domestic automobile industry to flow with global technology for new energy. There were also opinions that Nigeria should use the energy transition window to develop its local automobile manufacturing industry in order to continue utilization of its abundant oil and gas resources to guarantee internal energy sufficiency. The shift towards battery powered electric vehicles entails huge investments in ancillary industries for automobile accessories to achieve the required level of efficiency to meet load and distance goals for vehicular transport. The emerging scenario raises a pile of questions about the future of Nigeria’s economy, and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, expressed confidence at the summit in Abuja that Nigeria’s oil would still be relevant to the global energy mix in the foreseeable future. Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Austin Avuru, declared that Nigeria still has opportunity within the

energy transition frame to shift the role of crude oil in the country from being revenue earner to becoming economic development enabler. He added that urgent steps should be taken to maximise the economic benefits of the country’s petroleum resources ahead of the dreaded energy transition. He called on government to quickly develop the relevant infrastructure, facilities and expertise for the automobile industry in order to position the country for local production of oil fired automobile should the developed world move ahead of the country with electric vehicles. He pointed out that it would still take huge investments to develop the right set of infrastructure for electric vehicle if the country failed to invest in building its automobile industry for application of its huge petroleum resources. The Oracle Today reports that the key challenge is to build Nigeria’s power infrastructure to play greater role as global equipment technology in the medium to long term emphasize electric power generated from renewable sources. The transition means that existing plants and equipment that fire on petroleum fuel would be begin a

slow journey to obsolescence. Again, government’s endless reforms programme in the power industry which is based on investment relay among gas producers, supply brokers, power generation companies, an electricity transmission entity, bulk trader and distribution firms is stuck in commercial stalemate with over a trillion Naira in debt overhang. Players in the upstream end of the Gas-to-Power programme lament huge investment losses, poor regulation and weak commercial arrangements that create escape routes for deal defaulters. Dr. Kachikwu told our correspondent in Abuja that the whole gamut of deficits in the energy sector, huge gaps currently threatening the future of the economy and the right set of investment needed to close the value loop requires some $100 billion to resolve. He said government was fully aware of the sale of the problem and has evolved a set of policies and programmes captured in several executive orders on ease of doing business in order to attract global investible funds to activate processes that would lead to gap closure.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

ENERGY

2019: Disputes surround oil cash movements

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

•Outrage over $1b Boko Haram fund •NASS grills NNPC over N1.4t subsidy

Dr. Maikanti Baru, NNPC GMD

are building a very huge financial war chest towards the 2019 elections and our treasury is daily being looted to achieve this. One of such means is the $1 billion approved by the president, purportedly for the procurement of arms to fight a Boko Haram insurgency they claimed to have defeated.” Again, both the Senate and House of Representatives weekend held plenary sessions to hear ongoing investigations of unappropriated spend of billions and trillions of Naira by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on domestic fuel subsidy which they observed was neither in the budget nor separately appropriated by the legislature. The separate sessions were outcomes of respective investigations into allegations that NNPC is secretly spending huge amounts of money to subsidize the retail prices of petrol in the domestic fuel market which is currently under automatic price modulation mechanism. Whereas the Senate committee investigating the financial flow into fuel subsidy has directed the corporation to refund some N216 billion to government, the House of Representatives working on the same subject sees over a trillion Naira in unauthorised subsidy claims by NNPC. However, the National Assembly’s close-in on NNPC over the legitimacy of self reimbursement is seen putting the legislative Act establishing the corporation in the middle of the dispute. Whereas the Senate declared the self help by NNPC was illegal for violating the requirements of legislative appropriation, the corporation insists that its establishment laws empowers it to make internal cross-subsidization to salvage loss positions. Senate President, Mr. Bukola

Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister

Saraki, condemned NNPC for withholding N216 billion as domestic fuel subsidy in 2017, saying the corporation had already declared the amount as operational loss in its financial reports for same period. Group General Manager in charge of Public Affairs at NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, told The Oracle Today, weekend, that everything the corporation has dome in feeding the domestic fuel market with products followed the paths of legitimacy provided by the Acts establishing the corporation. The disputed N216 billion represents the sum of market underrecovery losses claimed by the corporation which is charged with the role of supplier of last resort for the local fuel market. The landing cost of the of the premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol varies according to international prices, exchange rate, shipping and a list of other import associated charges that form the approved cost templates set by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). According to the Senate Committee, NNPC landed a litre of PMS at about N171, while the approved domestic pump price is N145, generating under-recovery of N26 per litre which the corporation absorbed on behalf of government as subsidy. “The differential (under-recovery of the sum of N26) born by the NNPC as a loss in 2017 amounted to the sum of N216bn and the NNPC paid itself the differential (subsidy) but described it as ‘operational cost’,” Senate committee stated in a report. The Senate committee had stated that NNPC imported 9.8 billion litres of petrol at the cost of $5,488,634,448.91 in 2017. It put the Naira value at N672,508,506,917.55 at the exchange rate of N305 per dollar.

Separate calculation by The Oracle shows that $5,488,634,448.91 at N305 per dollar amounts to N1,674,033,506,917.55. This means that the subsidy gap could be wider than what is disputed. House of Representatives is separately investigating the N1.4 trillion allegedly spent on fuel subsidy by the current administration without appropriation by the National Assembly. The House had directed its Joint Committees on Finance and Petroleum Resources (Downstream) jointly chaired by Mr. Babangida Ibrahim (APC, Katsina) and Mr. Joseph Akinlaja (PDP, Ondo) to investigate the N1.4 trillion taken by NNPC as subsidy. The legislators noted that the 2017 budget had no provision for subsidy in the period under review. Beyond the figures, the Senate pointed at abuse of process by the NNPC, saying: “There was no appropriation by the National Assembly for the payment of the differential between the landing cost of PMS and the selling pump price, otherwise known as subsidy, in 2017.” The report of the committee which was adopted by the Senate declared that the subsidy payments NNPC deducted directly from its operations revenue was illegal since, according to the committee, the payment was not appropriated by the National Assembly as required by law. In adopting the committee’s report, the Senate ordered NNPC to stop further payment of subsidy to itself; it also called on the Auditor General of the Federation to commence examination of the financial records of the corporation for a period not determined at the session.

TAKEHOLDERS in the in the Nigerian economy are mounting staunch surveillance on oil cash movements following coincidences of controversial cash withdrawals from Economic Stabilization Account (also called Excess Crude Account) by the Presidency and huge subsidy claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Following a spate of public commentary on huge cash withdrawals in months running up to political campaign activities, two chambers of the National Assembly have activated detailed enquiry into the financial transactions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in an obvious bid to track movement of huge volumes of cash as political fireworks spark up ahead of the dreadful 2019 elections. Revenue from export of petroleum commodities-mainly crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids-form over 90 percent of President Muhammadu Buhari government’s foreign exchange Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti income and over 85 percent of total revenue receipts that State consistently protests that support government’s fiscal ex- the huge withdrawal from oil penditure. Thus, run up to po- escrow account was part of a litical campaigns and elections strategy to pool public funds in Nigeria traditionally focalises to finance “President Buhari’s cash movements at NNPC the reelection as well as the coming leadership of which is politically governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.” controlled. He also argued that “It will be With the sinking popularity of President Muhammadu Buhari, illegal and against the principle acute cash drought in the econ- of federalism that operates in omy and widening rift between Nigeria for the president, who the executive and the legisla- is the head of just one of the tive arms of government, the federating units, to approve ambition of the president for a the spending of funds belongsecond tenure in office evidently ing to the three tiers of governcalls for huge budget and drudg- ment without the consent of the ery to push through thickening heads of other federating units.” “When did the National Assemopposition. And deep pocket bly approve the spending of the spending is needed to hire men $1 billion, or can the president for tough campaign jobs. The National Assembly ap- spend $1 billion belonging to Nipears to have mounted sur- gerians without the approval veillance around the country’s of the National Assembly?,” he vaults to ensure that stashed oil asked, noting that the president money at Economic Stabiliza- lacks power to unilaterally spend tion Account also called Excess money from the ECA. Governor Fayose, pointed out Crude Account (ECA) and flowing cash at the Nigerian National that release of the money was Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) not necessary since the security forces had severally assured are accounted for. President Muhammadu Buhari Nigerians that the Boko Haram had at a meeting he held with insurgents have been defeated the heads of the nation’s securi- while government had also conty agencies on April 4 approved firmed a ceasefire with the Islamthe release of $1 billion (or N360 ist group. “Which insurgency are they billion) for the procurement of equipment for the military to buying arms worth N370 bilprosecute the fight against inse- lion to fight, is it the same Boko Haram that they told Nigerians curity in the country. The unilateral approval which they had completely defeated? spited the Federal Executive Since they said they had defeatCouncil and appropriation of the ed Boko Haram, and later told National sparked outrage and Nigerians that they had ceasefire criticisms from the public with agreement with the insurgents. the Peoples Democratic Party What else do they need a whop(PDP) accusing the president of ping $1 billion (over N370 billion) approving the funds for political for, if not to fund the 2019 elections?” the governor asked. reasons. Governor Fayose challenged Many Nigerians have also condemned the billion dollars with- federal government to account drawal, arguing that only the for sundry funds granted NigeNational Assembly could make rian by international donors to appropriations for the security fight Boko Haram. “Like I have maintained, they agencies.

Continued on P19

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

ENERGY

NPDC building 330,000 mtpd gas plant

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

IGERIAN Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has declared a 330,000 metric tonne per day plant project for production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also called cooking gas in the country. Managing Director, Engr. Yusuf Matashi, who said the company was on the path of steady growth, added that the LPG plant is expected meet about 40 percent of the country’s LPG demand by producing 1,000 trucks per day. The Oracle Today reports that NPDC is one of the leading indigenous gas producers for domestic market alongside Seplat, Energia, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources and others.

Engr. Matashi was speaking in Benin, Edo State, during the company’s Annual General Meeting where parent Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) set a new production target of 500,000 barrels per day for the NPDC. The NPDC is the exploration and production arm of NNPC which operates the Oredo field from where it makes large supplies of natural gas to industrial consumers in Nigeria. Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said that the target of the corporation is to make NPDC a leading producer in the country. He said NPDC’s production level was would soon hit the 500,000 barrels per day (b/d) from current 230,000 b/d.

Egypt targets $10b oil investment E GYPTIAN Petroleum Minister, Tarek El Molla says the country would from this July aim to record about $10 billion worth of foreign investment in the oil and gas sector in the 2018/19 fiscal year. Molla said early in the week that he expected foreign investments to total the same amount for the current fiscal year, marking a 25 percent increase from the previous year. The 25 percent gain comes as a result of foreign companies investing in major gas projects in the Mediterranean, he said.

Egypt aims to increase its gas production from newly discovered fields, which include the mammoth Zohr asset discovered by Italy’s Eni in 2015. Once a gas exporter, Egypt hopes to halt imports by 2019.

ªFrom right: GMD NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru; NNPC Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq and MD Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Mr. Yusuf Matashi, during the 18th Annual General Meeting of the company in Benin.

Ghana begins TEN gas sales in June

IGGEST buyers from Nigeria’s gas export pipeline, Ghana, would record significant local production of natural gas by June, dimming the commercial fortunes of the West African Gas Pipeline.

The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCO) which manages regional sales for the Nigerian N-Gas consortium is already suffering low capacity in both supplies and offtake as key customers be-

2019: Disputes surround oil cash movements

Continued from P20

The panel recommended that the NNPC “should stop the illegal payments without appropriation henceforth,” adding that the corporation, through President Muhammadu Buhari, “should make a formal request to the National Assembly for appropriation for the illegal payments,” while the N216bn spent in 2017 should be returned to the Consolidated Revenue Fund account. The lawmakers also adopted a recommendation that government should pay the oil marketers the outstanding arrears of subsidy owed them prior to 2017, and that the local refineries should be The chamber also directed the committee to recommend appropriate sanctions “for officers and personnel who have carried out this illegal payment.” “The important thing is that the NNPC cannot continue going forward making those payments without appropriation, because, definitely, there is subsidy going on now and it needs to be backed by law, which has always been the case since 1999.

“There had been appropriation for fuel subsidy. It stopped briefly. But now, the NNPC is using the absurd words ‘operational cost’ to justify this expenditure, and we all know this is not operational cost. This is fuel being imported. How that becomes operational cost is even an insult on the integrity of Nigerians,” Saraki said. In a chat with The Oracle Today, Mr. Ughamadu insisted that the NNPC followed clear processes in its operations, arguing that the corporation has the backing of its establishment Act to manage its internal financial flow to respond to challenges of its operations. On the call on the Auditor General to pry into the corporation’s account, Mr. Ugahamdu said NNPC recently declared its financial account to the public, adding that the books of the corporation are always open for public scrutiny. The Oracle Today reports that Auditor General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation as well as external auditors traditionally examine the financial records of key gov-

ernment revenue agencies and public enterprises, including the NNPC. Huge oil cash withdrawals from NNPC and national escrow accounts are customary in months leading to major elections in Nigeria, leading to suspicions among stakeholders over recent frantic moves to procure military equipment to quell insurgency inherited by the current administration in 2015. Also, President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has been driving phased deregulation of the domestic market under a price modulation strategy that allows marketers to over-recover revenue from the retail market during low price cycle period. The profit surge, under the arrangement, is supposed to be deployed to subsidize under-recovery during high price cycle. The Oracle Today reports that the oil market has been in the low price since 2014 and only started heading up since 2017. Arguments are that players in the domestic retail market are still in comfort zone and may not require subsidy at the moment.

gin to seek alternative supply from N-Gas. Key player in the Ghanaian petroleum industry, Tullow, declared weekend that the company would begin sale of natural gas from operated assets in Ghana by next month. The company declared in its AGM Trading Update that the first sale of natural gas produced from the development offshore Ghana will take place in June. The field, which came into production in August 2017, produced on average about 68,600 bpd during Q1. Gas production from the TEN field was used to substitute supply to Ghana National Gas Company when Tullow had to shut down the Jubilee field to stabilize the damaged turret on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah. In addition to the gas sales news, Tullow reported that the Maersk Venturer arrived in Ghana and began operations on the TEN field in early-March. The rig is expected to drill and complete four wells in 2018. The first well is a Ntomme production well at TEN which is progressing as planned and is expected to be brought on stream

around the middle of the year. The second well planned is a Jubilee production well located in the north-eastern area of the field. Work is ongoing to finalize the sequence of further wells to maximize production from both the Jubilee and TEN fields. Tullow and its joint ventures partners continue to evaluate the business case for contracting a second rig that would allow the acceleration of drilling across both fields. Tullow is the operator of TEN with a 47.18 percent stake. Next are the Americans Kosmos Energy and Anadarko with 17 percent. The Ghanaian state holds 15 percent and finally the South African state firm Petro S.A with 3.82 percent. In addition, the company reported that on its Jubilee field, the damaged turret has been stabilized. A new field closure for one week is planned for the end of 2018. This will help the FPSO to reach its maximum power. Tullow’s average world oil production was 87,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day. Forecasts for the full year range from 82,000 to 90,000 bpd of oil and gas production from operating units is 3,500 to 4,500 boe/d.

OPEC conceding more market share to US, Citi says

merica looks likely to overtake Saudi Arabia to become the world’s biggest oil exporter next year, making the United States an important factor in global oil supplies. Citigroup Inc. said in a note last week that falling crude oil production volume from OPEC and its allies on the one hand, and the rising

output from conventional and new sources in the United States on the other hand, confers the American oil more market share. The company stated that the U.S. is on course to be the top exporter of crude and oil products in 2019 as its production surges to unprecedented levels and OPEC continues curbing output.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

e-Platform FG partners CGWIC to launch 2 satellites

EDERAL government is working with foreign partners launch two satellites for the country in the imminent future, spanning a period of three years. The two additional satellites billed for separate launch events are conceived to meet the needs of telecommunication, maritime, defence, broadcast media, Africa, parts of Asia and others. According to the Executive Director in charge of Marketing and Business Development at Nigeria Communication Satellite (NICOMSAT) Limited, Mr. Sampson Osagie, government has secured collaboration with China Great Wall Industry Cooperation (CGWIC) to launch two additional satellites for Nigeria. Mr Osagiewho said in Abuja that the satellites would be deployed in the next 36 months. The two new satellites with total life cycle of 15 years, according to him, are being launched to relieve the current seven year old satellite currently orbiting the globe. “NIGCOMSAT is collaborating with China Great Wall Industry

Cooperation and we are negotiating to launch additional two satellites in 36 months. Presently Nigeria does not have the capital to build and finance its own satellite which is why the collaboration is needed. “The first satellite by Nigeria was launched in 2007 but had issues and was de-orbited. It was later re-launched in 2011 which makes it seven years now. “The life span of a satellite is 15 years, which means that the first one is still functional and it is important to note that negotiations for projects like this take time,” Osagie said. He said that the two satellites would be launched separately, adding that negotiations on their operations were ongoing simultaneously. It would be recalled that NIGCOMSAT-1, the first satellite was originally launched in May 2007, but de-orbited due to malfunctioning of the Solar Array Deployment Assembly. The satellite was later relaunched in 2011 as NIGCOMSAT1R and had been in the orbit since then.

Fidelity Bank posts N20bn profit Cont’d from Pg 18 tation of initiatives from its business process review project and the bank’s digital focus, continued to impact positively on operational efficiency as “total operating expenses declined by 2.3 percent to N65.7 billion leading to the costincome ratio dropping to 67.5 percent from 77.3 percent in the 2016 financial year. The combination of the strong net revenue growth of 9.9 percent to N7.7 billion and the 2.3 percent decline in total expenses which translated to cost savings of N1.5 billion resulted in our increased profitability”. The banks explained that increased digitization resulted to over 25 percent of the bank’s fee-based income as customers’ adoption of its mobile/internet platforms improved to 35 percent in 2017 and led to a 21.0 percent reduction in vault cash holding. Similarly, the Bank said its retail banking strategy continued to deliver good results. Savings deposits grew by 15.2 percent to N178.6bn, accounting for 23.0 percent of total deposits. The figure is an improvement from 19.5 percent in the 2016,

CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo

according to the bank. “This has improved the bank’s low-cost deposits ratio to 77.0 percent of total deposits,” the bank stated. The financial statement showed the performance capped a remarkable 2017 financial year for the bank. It would be recalled that Fidelity Bank had within the period approached the international capital markets and successfully issued a $400 million Eurobond. The Eurobond was over-subscribed by over 200 percent! The Oracle Today reports that Fidelity Bank has in recent times won various recognitions as the Best SME Friendly Bank, Best in Mobile Banking and the Most Improved Corporate/Investment Bank among several industry awards. The bank was also ranked the 4th Best Bank in the Retail Banking Segment in the 2017 Banking Industry Satisfaction Survey conducted by KPMG. Focused on select niche corporate banking sectors as well as Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Fidelity Bank says that it is rapidly implementing a digital based retail banking strategy which has resulted in an exponential growth in savings deposits over the last three years. It added that it is also recording corresponding surge in customer enrolment on its flagship mobile and internet banking products. Over the years, the bank has been reputed for integrity and professionalism. It is also respected for the quality and stability of its executive management team that is focused on building and maintaining a virile and well-respected brand to cater to the needs of its growing retail, corporate, commercial and consumer banking clientele.

FG Launches Start-up Nigeria

HE Federal Government has commenced the Startup Nigeria programme conceived to inspire young entrepreneurs to become successful business owners that create rather than seek jobs. Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Innovations and Entrepreneurship, Mr Ife Adebayo, told journalists in Abuja that the programme would involve training of youths in innovation and technology amongst others, starting from the North-Cen-

tral and South-East regions of the country The zones cover 12 states targeting 20 start-ups across four sectors. The overall objective of the programme, according to him, is to galvanize social and economic activities to boost the economy. The programme is aimed at any business upstart with creative solution to problems in different sectors of the economy. Segmented into

geographical regions of the country, young business upstarts in the North Central region would focus on agriculture and governance while their counterparts in the South East regions would be groomed in commerce/FinTech solutions. The curriculum is designed to help idea and early-stage entrepreneurs find their footing and thrive in domestic and regional markets.

NCC Consumer Town Hall Meeting berths in Epe

IGERIAN Communications Commission Holds 37th Edition of Consumer Town Hall Meeting in Epe Town , Lagos State. Theme: Information and Education as a Catalyst for Consumer Protection. In an effort to ensure that the farthest and remotest areas get information and educated regarding the activities of the Nigerian Communications Commission in order to make informed choices and guard against unfair practices by service providers, NCC takes its 37th Edition of Consumer Town Hall Meeting to Epe, in Lagos State. Felicia Onwuegbuchulam, Director Consumer Affairs Bureau at NCC in her opening remarks informed the gathering that we are here to inform and educate you regarding the activities of the Commission and, what you need to know to make informed choices when selecting from the availability of telecom services and, how to get redress for unsatisfied services; She reaffirmed the supremacy of he Consumer saying that is why we have convened today’s tripartite meeting of the regulatorconsumer- service provider. The Director CAB said, “I believe you all know about the Do-not -Disturb 2442 code to stop unsubscribed to SMS or the texting of help to 2442 to select what VAS messages you wish to receive. Equally important, you can use the NCC 622 Toll Free Line to escalate your complaints unresolved by service providers.” Ismail Adedigba, Deputy Director

Consumer Affairs Bureau NCC said we have come all the way to empower you with information and educate you so that you make informed choices and get value for money exchanged for services. Those services may be data package rate plans and voice/ call tariff plans you subscribe to. Different plans offer subscribers different level validity periods and user flexibility. We also will like to hear your experiences/ feedback so that we know where to focus our regulatory efforts in order to improve the industry’s

regulatory excellence and operational efficiency for mutual benefits; said Adedigba. He further urged participants to make the best use of this occasion to make their voices heard noting that no complaint is too small or unimportant to call for NCC’s regulatory intervention. The event concluded with a session for participants to ask questions, make observations, recommendations, and inputs as well as provide feedback for mutual benefits in the industry.

Facebook sets new standards for posts By Sopuruchi Onwuka

leading social media interactive platform, Facebook, has declared new community standards that would enable it censor posts and sundry contents from users as the company seeks to minimize or completely stop misuse of its social media tools for felonious activities. The company published new user standards on Tuesday allowing users freedom to express themselves on versatile issues, relate freely with online friends while conforming to standards on expression and safety. The publication contains internal enforcement guidelines as well as the expansion of appeals process to create a clear path for improvement in delivering a platform for

safer online community for users. The company which was grilled recently by the United States Congress over issues relating to privacy violations says it is now giving serious considerations to censorship on what goes up the platform, adding that users would be given freedom to appeal against such decisions if their posts are mistakenly censored. Vice President in charge of Global Product Management at Facebook, Monika Bickert, stated in an official post Tuesday that deciding what is allowed on the platform is among the most important decisions managers of the website have to make “because they’re central to ensuring that Facebook is both a safe place and a place to freely discuss different points of view.”

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

Travel & Hospitality

Sheraton Lagos to reopen renovated Italian restaurant

Stories by VICTOR NZE

HERATON Lagos Hotel has announced that it will reopen its La Giara Italian restaurant which has been under renovation on May 17, this year. Authentically Italian, the restaurant brings to life different flavours of Italy with its unique style of cooking. With a distinct rustic feel, and an open kitchen plan, aromas emanate teasing diners of the exquisite food about to excite their taste buds. The restaurant has 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 also carefully selected items for the décor to create a modern ambience, guaranteeing guests to leave feeling satisfied after being fully immersed in the culinary culture it provides. Members will enjoy a significantly improved digital and mobile experience. Meanwhile, the parent firm, Marriott International, has announced it will introduce one set of unified benefits across Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) for its members in August 2018, that will create a bigger loyalty programme in which members will earn more points faster than under the previous programmes with an average 20 per cent more points for every dollar spent. For the first time, members will have access to book stays and earn

or redeem points among 29 participating global brands comprising 6,500 hotels in 127 countries and territories. Additionally, the Moments experiential platform is expanding, with more than 110,000 experiences in 1,000 destinations from must-see attraction tickets and tours for purchase with cash by all guests, to once-in-a-lifetime events only available to members using points, including the new bespoke Moments Live event series. “We listened to the travel aspirations of our members and set our sights on unlocking the full potential of our loyalty programs,” said David Flueck, Senior Vice President of Global Loyalty, Marriott International. “We are excited to announce that this August, our members can enjoy one set of benefits across our extraordinary portfolio of hotels from iconic full and select service, to extended stay, to unique boutiques and luxury brands. We hope to inspire our members whatever their travel passion, whether it is resorts featuring overwater bungalows, peaceful secluded island settings, ski-in / ski-out mountain resorts, towering hotels with picture-worthy views or even former palaces converted into hotels,” he said. Beginning in August, members will be able to combine their separate Marriott Rewards, The RitzCarlton Rewards and SPG accounts into a single account spanning the entire loyalty portfolio. The Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) names will continue to live on under the new set of unified benefits until a new program name is introduced in 2019.

Jos readies for 2018 Carnival J

OS, the Plateau State capital is set to come alive next May as the 2018 carnival holds in the tourist city. The planned carnival which holds with the theme; ‘One People,’ aims to attract visitors from across the country as the state looks to reposition its famous destinations following years of communal and ethnic unrests which had taken the shine off the iconic city. Speaking in Jos recently, on the sidelines of the just-concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), hosted by the state government this month, chairman of the Jos Carnival Local Organising Committee, Mr. Solomon Ejila stated that the government plans to use the carnival brand to showcase other tourism assets and activities in the state, as well as rekindle interest among tourists in the tourism products which abound in the state. According to Ejila, the NATP AGM hosted in the state was in line by moves initiated by the state government to reposition the tourism industry, in the same way as the as the forthcoming Jos carnival, which will be rebounding after last year’s inaugural edition. “This year’s edition will feature such events as the carnival pageantry, culinary feast, a guided tour

to Wase Rock which hosts a specie of birds called the Red Indigo and another guided tour to Am-Pidon Lake, mini polo tournament, hiking to Sherre Hills, among other activities. “There will also be a music fiesta, bikers’ parade and children carnival. “Last year’s edition had about 300,000 people in attendance. This year, we expect twice that number. The essence of the carnival is to promote peaceful coexistence among the 54 ethnic groups that make up the state with their unique culture and tradition living together,” said Ejila. Ejila said Jos has brought up a lot of music talents, sports men and women, actors and actresses among others, adding that the forthcoming carnival was originally planned to take place after the Easter, but had to be postponed till around May in order to fine-tune all arrangements towards making it a grand event. According to him, the May date is, however, subject to the state government’s approval. He said the last edition was targeted at Jos residents, adding that for this year’s edition, the state is prepared to host visitors from across the country. Ejila further stated that arrangements are in top gear to get the carnival village ready for the event.

•Children performing during the just-concluded 2018 African Drum Festival, which held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Tuesday.

NTDC to create Tourism Satellite Account

HE Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation said a Tourism Satellite Account would soon be created to ascertain the sector’s monetary contribution to the nation’s economy. Director- General of the corporation, Mr. Folurunsho FolarinCoker, who disclosed this in in Abuja, weekend, said the account would aid to assess tourism contribution, monitor its progress, evaluate its impact, encourage results-focused management and highlight strategic issues for policy objectives to attract local and foreign investors. Tourism Satellite Account is a standard statistical framework and the main tool for the economic measurement of tourism.

“Tourism satellite account is what measures what tourism contributes to an economy. Nigeria does not have a tourism satellite account; the minister just negotiated and arranged with the UNWTO for them to send the individuals who are going to establish our tourism satellite account. And we have paid, they have set up a date in the next two or three weeks they are arriving in Nigeria to set that up.” He said that the TSA was one of the major tools that would make the tourism sector to thrive globally, hence the need to establish the account in the country. “Tourism is an eight trillion dollar business globally growing year by year. Africa sees less than 10

per cent. Africa is six hours from the Middle East, it is six hours from Europe and we see this money flying over us consistently. “It is time for us to do what GSM did to analogue, it is time for us take the strategic position to look at tourism and say what the components of tourism are: transportation, hospitality and entertainment; they all exist in whatever condition. “What we need is policy, funding and the drive to redefine that industry as we redefined the telecom industry, which today is the largest and most valuable industry in Africa; tourism in Nigeria could be same,” Coker said. He reiterated NTDC’s commitment to promoting to

has shown his commitment to develop this sector. “The governor is ready to support the sector with funds because it had been provided for in the budget. His Excellency has approved the construction of staircases in Owerre Ezukala; plans are already on top gear to conclude this within the first 100 days of his second term in office. “So, we are drumming up awareness in the state and the country so that other people will know what we are doing and come here to enjoy themselves,” she said. Traditional Prime Minister of Owerre Ezukala, Chief Evans Ihesi, said the heritage site had suffered neglect from past administrations in the state. “This place has suffered neglect for a long time because past governors did not show interest in its redevelopment. We have had investors from Canada, Australia and Israel that showed interest in its development but government had promised to develop the place without fulfilling them.

“The community is ready to donate lands for the government to build anything but our major challenge is access road. The community is blessed with a lot of mineral. The white men built these streams and some facilities here as far back as in the 1950s but no further development has been added to it since then,” he said. Meanwhile, Mbanefo has stated that her mission is to make tourism sector a major contributor to the state’s economy. The commissioner who said this when she visited the Blessed Iwene Tansi tomb and Obu Gad, the historical origin of the Igbo people in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area, last weekend, promised to use her experience in the tourism industry to activate and turn around the tourism potential of Anambra and create a good number of jobs in the sector for the youth. According to her, the tour of the various tourism sites in the state is to enable her to have first-hand appreciation of what Anambra is endowed with in the sector.

Anambra Govt seeks foreign partnership to develop tourism

nambra State Government has said it is exploring partnership with foreign investors for the development of its tourism sector. State Commissioner for Indigenous Artworks, Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Mrs Sally Mbanefo, said this when she visited the Owerre Ezukala Cave and Water Falls in Orumba South Local Government Area, Friday. Mbanefo said the state government was set to put amenities in place at the UNESCO heritage site to make it a first place destination for tourists. She said the facelift works at the site would be completed within the first 100 days of Gov. Willie Obiano’s second term in office. She said that the funds for the project had been captured in the budget. “We want to invite international investors to see the tourist potential we have to offer and partner them in developing them as natural tourist sites for hospitality and recreational facilities. We have the full support of the governor; he

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

ISSN: 2545-5869

EDITORIAL

www.oraclenews.ng

VOX POPULI SACRUM

We should negotiate Nigeria

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari speaks about Nigeria with an unhelpful magisterial finality that makes the country seem a nice piece of estate devoted to pleasing his tendencies to rule by fiat. When he rules that the “unity of Nigeria is settled and not negotiable”, he steps beyond being magisterial to a new status of a deity. How, if we cannot negotiate Nigeria, can we negotiate how we live in it in unity? UNFORTUNATELY, behind the President are followers acquiescing to whatever he says-no questions, no advice, no introspection, no contemplation. They have made the President a law unto himself and certainly the judge of all cases, including his. These fellows have worsened the situation of Nigeria more than the current recession has done. THEY have spent months mouthing the “non-negotiable, indivisible Nigeria” mantra of the President. Their positions are mere regurgitations of lines that have become trite, for they add nothing to what we know, except the stridence with which they insist that Nigerians cannot discuss how they live with one another . NOT done with reducing the debates to “no issues”, they have successfully wielded “restructuring” and “secession” into one meaning. Their intention is clear: those asking for restructuring are asking for the break-up of the country. What is wrong with a break-up? The Constitution is their witness that it is “unconstitutional”, to, as it would seem now, to contemplate having Nigeria outside the way it is currently framed. HAVE they not succeeded in distracting Nigeri-

ans into tangoing over keeping their country together, whereas, restructuring has nothing to do with breaking up Nigeria. If anything, restructuring can be the best guarantee of the future of the country. What a wonderful country that we have! THE President has decreed that there won’t be structuring by any means, other than the National Assembly. The same National Assembly has on several occasions affirmed that “Nigeria would not break up under its watch”, a song that the 36 State Houses of Assembly adopted when their Speakers met in Owerri last year. It was a continuation of meetings that have held in Uyo, Yola, as if a nationwide tour was required to conclude that Nigeria was not working. BLAMES, shared across the polity, names mentioned to emphasise their roles in the enthralling mess, and the constant injection of the agitations of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), as the best reason for asserting that the time for restructuring was not now, have failed to address the larger question of how to rule a country with an over-burdened centre, which decides issues, some of which States, or even Local Governments, should handle. LITTLE progress has been made on restructuring since the breakdown on talks about mending a collapsing country in Aburi, Ghana, 50 years ago, led to the Civil War. Thereafter, restructuring the country meant the centralisation of most decisions to decapitate the abilities of parts of the country to develop, independent of the thinking at the centre. IN 50 years, all parts of the country have depended on the centre for decisions about parts that those at the centre barely know. Insertion of provisions in the Constitution about the unity of Nigeria being matter that had passed the negotiation stage, left Nigeria shackled in a union that made no provisions on how they would live for their own benefit. UNITY in the current setting is an end in itself. Once the country is hemmed in, falling parts refused any indications of their decay, the “prosperous enteritis” gloating over their ingenuity, and others use the Constitution to threaten those who suggest that things could be done better, Nigeria is deemed to be on the march to progress. WE think of unity differently. If we are to consider unity as a national value, it must have benefits that can improve the lives of our people. How does the unity of Nigeria benefit Nigerians, unless the tiny few, who have legislated a different life for themselves at the expense of the people? Can the resources that are wasted running an unwieldy federation, which through the Constitution ensures that the States replicate the waste, not be avoided? HAVE our “non-negotiable” proponents thought of how to harness the resources with which to run Nigeria’s humongous bureaucratic wastes, when oil stops earning revenue?

When would we start thinking of Nigeria beyond the immediate gains of occupying office? When would the blackmails about the purposes of restructuring stop? THE concentration of powers at the centre has caused a cessation of thinking in the States. Competitions for economic and social developments that the various regions had because they harnessed their resources, invested them for their good, and paid taxes to the centre, from which they also benefitted, have been wiped out. In their place are guile, greed, and outright disruptions of development of the States. RESTRUCTURING is not an option or alternative to whatever Nigerian leadership is doing now. It is imperative – and the most developed countries still adopt to do things better. The befuddlement that has been heaped on it is unnecessary interruption to injecting life to an ailing patient called Nigeria. HOW restructuring will work is what Nigerians should be discussing now. The immediacy of the matter does not grant us the luxury of the delays that some patriots insist on throwing in the discussions. The patient, Nigeria, is in the intensive care unit and treatments for what ails it must be dressed with emergency attitudes that reflect the seriousness. THE “non-negotiable Nigeria” is a military imposition that stripped us of our freedoms, our rights to be open with our fears and doubts about the country, and offering these concerns on national platforms that would have attended to them. Nigeria was run as a pretence, it is no longer sustainable. WHAT are the benefits of restructuring, some would ask? When Nigeria restructures, Nigerians would have the freedoms to think, to talk, to engage in alliances and associations that would create wealth across various platforms of our existence, engender trust, generate relationships that celebrate competences of our various parts, and rejuvenate a competiveness that would see individuals, organisations and governments engaging each other in worthy pursuits away from the constricting structures of Abuja deciding everything. Our Vision TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nigeria and, in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of records that effectively caters to the information needs of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commercially viable, properly organised media business, which meets its obligations to society, government and the workforce. Mission WE INTEND to contribute to the development of an inclusive Nigerian society, with a view to getting rid of the dark sides of our national life (slothfulness, greed, corruption, nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continually engender and sustain national debates that would ultimately lead to the enthronement of healthy national values--hard-work, justice, equity and fairplay, transparency, good governance, resulting, in themselves, the egalitarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will give voice to the voiceless and at all times, strive to be balanced, objective, honest, truthful and fair to all sides; so that through The Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian people can see a bright light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel. And we shall do all this in absolute trust in God who blesses good intentions.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

OPINION

Did Iran not tell the whole truth? By JOSEPH FEDERMAN

srael’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled what he said is a “half ton” of Iranian nuclear documents collected by Israeli intelligence, claiming it proved that Iranian leaders covered up a nuclear weapons programme before signing a deal with world powers in 2015. In a speech delivered in English and relying on his trademark use of visual aids, Netanyahu claimed the material showed that Iran cannot be trusted, and encouraged President Donald Trump to withdraw from the deal next month. “Iran lied big time,” Netanyahu declared. In Washington, Trump said it vindicated his past criticism of the nuclear deal. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said later that the U.S. had been aware of the documents “for a while” and that he and Netanyahu discussed them during their meeting in Tel Aviv on Sunday. Speaking with reporters while flying back to the U.S., Pompeo said that although the existence of Iran’s nuclear arms programme had been public knowledge for years, the documents give new detail about its scope and scale and prove Iran was lying when it claimed never to have been pursuing nuclear weapons. “This will belie any notion that there wasn’t a programme,” Pompeo said. He issued a statement later saying Iran also lied to the six nations with which it negotiated the nuclear agreement. “What this means is the deal was not constructed on a foundation of good faith or transparency. It was built on Iran’s lies,” the statement said. Iran’s deception is inconsistent with its pledge in the nuclear deal “that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons,” Pompeo said, adding that the U.S. is now assessing what the documents mean for the nuclear deal. Netanyahu’s presentation, delivered on live TV from Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv, did not appear to provide evidence that Iran has violated the 2015 deal, raising questions about whether it would sway international opinion ahead of Trump’s decision.

By GODWIN ADINDU

“I

f you are incapable of gratitude, you are incapable of noble sentiments. Even animals are grateful,” --- By Sir George Bernard Shaw. In that famous romantic Comedy, Arms and the Man, Sir George Bernard Shaw, the English dramatist and playwright observed that ‘If any man (by extension a community, society, country or even group) is incapable of gratitude, the man must also be incapable of noble sentiments.” Sir Bernard Shaw added: “Even animals are grateful” Indeed, it is from this standpoint that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu recently led the UkwaNgwa people to give honour to whom honour is due. On Friday, April 13, the Ukwa Ngwa people, led by their Governor, gathered at Ngwa High School, that old symbolic citadel of learning and expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji (Ochendo) for helping them attain an almost elusive dream; for ensuring that an Ukwa Ngwa man became the Governor of Abia State. On that historic day, the people said their gratitude in great eulogies; they expressed it in music and dance; they did by their colourful attires and by the great multitude of men and women that assembled at Ngwa High School. The Ukwa Ngwa openly demonstrated that they are Sir Bernard Shaw’s men - men who are capable of gratitude and therefore capable of noble sentiment. Why did Governor Ikpeazu lead the Ukwa Ngwa to celebrate Ochendo? The Governor was inspired by the history and the existential reality of the people. Remember that right from the First Republic when the Aba Division in the Old Eastern Region was

•Israeli Prime Minister says he has evidence of secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme

The U.S.-led agreement offered Iran relief from crippling sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme. Netanyahu furiously fought the deal while President Barack Obama was negotiating it, and he has been a leading critic since it was signed. He says it does not provide sufficient safeguards to prevent Iran from reaching nuclear weapons capability. Netanyahu has found a welcome partner in Trump, who has called the agreement “the worst deal ever.” Trump has signalled he will pull out of the agreement by May 12 unless it is revised, but he faces intense pressure from European allies not to do so. Netanyahu said he already has given the information to the U.S., and he plans to share it with Western allies and the international nuclear agency. Ahead of the announcement, Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, belittled Netanyahu in a tweet, saying: “The boy who can’t stop crying wolf is at it again.” He later tweeted: “Pres. Trump is jumping on a rehash of old allegations already dealt with by the IAEA to ‘nix’ the deal. How convenient. Coordinated timing of alleged intelligence revelations by the boy who cries wolf just days before May 12. But Trump’s impetuousness to celebrate blew the cover.” Iran’s deputy foreign minister and senior nuclear negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, called Netanyahu’s presentation “childish and ridiculous” and said the purported evidence was “fake and fabricated.” Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons. The exchange ratcheted up already heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. Israel considers Iran to be its biggest threat, citing Tehran’s hostile rhetoric, support for militants and growing influence in the region. Israel has said it will not allow Iran to establish a permanent military presence in neighboring Syria, where Iran supports President Bashar Assad. Overnight Monday, a missile attack in northern Syria killed more than a dozen

pro-government fighters, many of them Iranians, a war monitoring group and an Iranian news agency said. There was no official confirmation of the death toll or the target. But Israel was widely suspected of being behind the attack. In his presentation, Netanyahu said Israel had obtained some 55,000 pages of documents and 183 CDs of secret information from an Iranian nuclear weapons programme called “Project Amad.” He said the material was gathered from a facility in the Tehran neighborhood of Shourabad a few weeks ago “in a great intelligence achievement.” He said the uncovered filed included “incriminating” documents, charts, blueprints, photos and videos. He pointed to one presentation that allegedly called for producing and testing five warheads. The authenticity of the documents could not be verified, and it was not clear whether they shed any new light on what international inspectors already have concluded. The documents appeared to date back to the early 2000s, when international inspectors already believe Iran was pursuing a weapons program. A 2015 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, for example, concluded that Iran “conducted computer modelling of a nuclear explosive device” before 2005 and between 2005 and 2009. It said, however, that those calculations were “incomplete and fragmented.” Netanyahu provided no direct evidence that Iran has violated the 2015 deal. But he said the existence of the documents proves Iran is waiting to resume its race to build a bomb. “We can now prove that Project Amad was a comprehensive programme to design, build and test nuclear weapons,” he said. “We can also prove that Iran is secretly storing Project Amad material to use at a time of its choice to develop nuclear weapons.” He said that after the project was disbanded in 2003, its director, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, continued his work under another agency called Sapan.

Netanyahu said the material proves the international nuclear deal is a failure. He said it allows Iran to continue enriching some uranium, and does not address its research efforts or development of long-range ballistic missiles. He noted that Trump was weighing whether to pull the U.S. out of the nuclear deal, saying “I am sure he will do the right thing.” At the White House, Trump praised Netanyahu’s presentation and said it vindicated the president’s past statements about Iran and the shortcomings of the nuclear deal, adding that recent events have “really shown that I’ve been 100 per cent right.” Although Trump was hosting Nigeria’s President for a visit during Netanyahu’s speech Monday, he said he watched part of it on television. “That is just not an acceptable situation,” Trump said. He declined to say whether he’ll pull out of the deal on May 12 but said that even if he does, “that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t then negotiate a real agreement.” Trump has set a May 12 deadline to decide whether to pull out of the Iran deal — something he appears likely to do despite heavy pressure to stay in from European allies and other parties. Both Trump and Netanyahu say the deal should address Iranian support for militants across the region and Iran’s development of long-range ballistic missiles, as well as eliminate provisions that expire over the next decade. Netanyahu’s office later issued a statement saying the prime minister had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, and agreed to share the intelligence with them. He also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the findings. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, issued a statement saying Netanyahu’s presentation will be assessed. “I have not seen from Prime Minister Netanyahu arguments for the moment on noncompliance, meaning violation by Iran of its nuclear commitments under the (nuclear) deal,” she said. •Culled from time.com

Ikpeazu’s capacity for gratitude shortchanged and their position given to an Efik woman, Margaret Ekpo, who represented them in the old Eastern Region House of Assembly, successive regimes have always short-changed the UkwaNgwa and reneged on whatever promise or agreement entered into with the people. Thus, the struggle for the emancipation of the UkwaNgwa became a long-drawn battle that spanned over six decades, climaxing with the OTUONU Mass Movement led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. The movement raised the momentum of the UkwaNgwa agenda and brought many issues about the people to the front burner of national discourse. From the Old Imo State, it appeared as if the UkwaNgwa was consigned to the position of Deputy Governor, only good to play the second fiddle. From Isaac Uzoigwe, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chima Nwafor, Acho Nwankanma to Col. Ananaba, the tradition endured. At different times and on different scenarios, many UkwaNgwa men of repute led heated struggles to break the jinx but to no avail. The iron hand of oligarchy continued to strangulate them. But, significantly, the reality of the fate that confronted the UkwaNgwa came in 2001, at the hallowed ground of Okpuala Ngwa, the ancestral cradle of the people, when the former Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, looked at them eye-ball to eye-ball and announced that his daughter (who was three years then) will grow up to govern them if they did not give him support for his second term bid. The UkwaNgwa took it as the height of insult against the collective sensibilities of a people.

Based on the rotational principle in the Abia Charter of Equity, power was to rotate between the Old Bende and the Old Aba Zone. Kalu, from inception, promised to adhere to this ordinance. But, out of his deep-seated hatred for the UkwaNgwa, he reneged at last and handed over power to his fellow old Bende man from Abia Central in 2007. In the twilight of his administration in 2015, Governor T. A Orji came under intense pressure by his people of old Bende to shortchange the UkwaNgwa again. Thus, the UkwaNgwa are aware that, except for the firm and unwavering decision of Governor Theodore Orji who, against all pressure and odds, stood his ground on power rotation and kept his word as his bond on handing over to an UkwaNgwa, the people could not have attained the current milestone. Thus, the UkwaNgwa showed gratitude to Ochendo for setting this standard of equity. They celebrated him as the only leader of Abia who has demonstrated that balance of power is critical and crucial for our common existence as one common humanity. The people celebrated Ochendo for being a father of equity. By that grand thank you reception, the UkwaNgwa man re-invented himself. The act of paying good with good is primal in our value system. The UkwaNgwa does not pay good with evil. Such an act almost amounts to a sacrilege in our cosmology. The UkwaNgwa are men of great honour who carry themselves with so much respectability and dignity and this also applies to the moral of

gratitude. This is why Governor Ikpeazu led his people to roll out drums and in colourful ceremony said: Thankyou Ochendo for fighting a good fight and leading us across an important bridge. •Godwin Adindu, is a public affairs commentator.

THE GROUP Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Ikeddy Isiguzo Editor Felix Oguejiofor Abugu Deputy Editor/Head, Lagos Bureau Sopuruchi Onwuka Abuja Bureau Chief Tony Ailemen Head, Graphics & Designs Nnamdi Alex Chukwu Business Manager Kelechi Nze Circulation Manager Felix Oti

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

EQUITY & Capital Market

Fidelity Bank posts N20 bn profit •Proposes Dividend of 11k Per Share

APIDLY growing commercial bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, has declared impressive business performance for 2017, enhancing corporate financial prudence that suppressed operational expenses, boosting liquidity ratio and growing total asset. The bank’s operating strategy that emphasized dedication to critical growth targets yielded gross profit of N20 billion with potential dividend of 11 kobo per equity share. The bank which services over 3.8 million customers at its 240 business offices and through various other digital banking channels stated that the 2017 financial performance represents significant 94 percent improvement on its 2016 results. Head of Corporate Communications Division at the bank, Mr. Ejike Ndiulo, stated that the banks described as Nigeria’s leading lender also recorded key growth indices across its full business scope. Details of the full year audited results of the banks were released on Monday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). According to the financial results, the bank’s gross earnings grew by 18.3 percent from N152.0 billion in 2016 to N179.9 billion, whilst Profit After Tax (PAT) surged by 93.7 percent from N9.7 billion recorded in the previous year to N18.9 billion. The figures also showed that the bank’s net interest income (NIM)

increased by 15.4 percent to N71.5 bn in 2017, net operating income also rose by 9.9 percent whilst total assets grew by 6.2 percent from N1.3 trillion to N1.4 trillion in the period under review. In other indices, total expenses declined by 2.3 percent from N67.2 billion to N65.7 billion whilst liquidity ratio stood at 35.9 percent compared with 33.2 percent in the previous year. Commenting on the results, Fidelity Bank CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the bank sustained its performance through disciplined balance sheet management, strategic cost reduction, increased focus on the corporate, commercial, SME segments and continued execution of its retail and digital banking strategy. Ranked amongst the top 10 in the Nigerian banking industry, Fidelity Bank boasts of presence in the major cities and commercial centres in Nigeria and has correspondent banking, confirmation lines, credit and other relationships with a network of off-shore finance institutions. “We are delighted at the results, which showed strong growth in key revenue lines, significant traction in our chosen business segments and a corresponding decline in our operating expenses despite the high inflationary environment,” Mr. Okonkwo stated. According to him, the implemen-

Cont’d on Pg 30

Guinness Nigeria reports 17.4% increase in revenue

uinness Nigeria Plc has reported 17.4 percent growth in its revenue for the nine months 2017/2018 financial year, stood at N105.5 billion. More remarkably, after tax earnings skyrocketed to N5.1 billion from a loss of N2.6 billion in the corresponding period of the last financial year. In spite of the increasing competition in the brewery space, its quarterly revenues grew 15.0 percent year on year to N34.9 billion, propelled by improving volumes in the firm’s mainstream spirit and beer brands, despite that prices were higher in the corresponding quarter. The 21.52 percent year on year decline in gross profit margin to 33.2 percent reflects increases in production costs compared to the corresponding quarter last year. However, gross margin was relatively flat on a quarter on quarter basis with 33.2 percent in current quarter compared to 33.5 percent in the preceding quarter. It’s operating profit margin improved quarter on quarter to 11.5 percent even as the company continues to enhance its processes for greater productivity (management had previously hinted at efforts to streamline its operations to reduce cost). This is more evident in the 38.4 percent year on year decline in marketing and distribution expenses (Q3’17/18 – N7.7 billion; Q3’16/17 – N12.5 billion), despite improved growth in revenues. More so, Guinness Nigeria recorded an impressive 97.9 percent year on year and 24.3 percent quarter

on quarter growth in profits before taxes during the quarter. This was also supported by net finance income of N320 million, compared to net finance costs of N2.1 billion and N500 million recorded in Q3’16/17 and Q2’17/18 respectively. Overall, per share earnings came in strongly at N1.35, 141.4 percent higher than consensus estimate of N0.56.

GMD NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru in a handshake with the MD, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Mr. Yusuf Matashi, during the 18th Annual General Meeting of the company in Benin.

NSE, LCCI collaborate to promote investment friendly policies

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have partnered to promote investment friendly policies in Nigeria. Speaking during the courtesy visit to the NSE in Lagos, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Babatunde Paul Ruwase said, monetary, fiscal and trade policies have significant impact on the performance of the stock market and private sector investments generally, saying it would be useful for the two organizations to collaborate to promote

investment friendly policies in the economy through regular engagements with the relevant authorities of government. We need to attract more private capital [domestic and foreign] into this economy, especially now that it is obvious that the government does not have the financial resources to fix the economy, he said. He said, LCCI would like to partner with the NSE in the promotion of good corporate governance and scaling up of business ethics. “We are concerned about the deterioration of values of trust and integrity in Busi-

Energy transition: Infrastructure deficits threaten Nigeria’s economy Cont’d from Pg 22 The emerging scenario raises a pile of questions about the future of Nigeria’s economy, and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, expressed confidence at the summit in Abuja that Nigeria’s oil would still be relevant to the global energy mix in the foreseeable future. Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Austin Avuru, declared that Nigeria still has opportunity within the energy transition frame to shift the role of crude oil in the country from being revenue earner to becoming economic development enabler. He added that urgent steps should be taken to maximise the economic benefits of the country’s petroleum resources ahead of the dreaded energy transition. He called on government to quickly develop the relevant infrastructure, facilities and expertise

for the automobile industry in order to position the country for local production of oil fired automobile should the developed world move ahead of the country with electric vehicles. He pointed out that it would still take huge investments to develop the right set of infrastructure for electric vehicle if the country failed to invest in building its automobile industry for application of its huge petroleum resources. The Oracle Today reports that the key challenge is to build Nigeria’s power infrastructure to play greater role as global equipment technology in the medium to long term emphasize electric power generated from renewable sources. The transition means that existing plants and equipment that fire on petroleum fuel would be begin a slow journey to obsolescence. Again, government’s endless reforms programme in the power industry which is based on investment relay among gas producers,

supply brokers, power generation companies, an electricity transmission entity, bulk trader and distribution firms is stuck in commercial stalemate with over a trillion Naira in debt overhang. Players in the upstream end of the Gas-to-Power programme lament huge investment losses, poor regulation and weak commercial arrangements that create escape routes for deal defaulters. Dr. Kachikwu told our correspondent in Abuja that the whole gamut of deficits in the energy sector, huge gaps currently threatening the future of the economy and the right set of investment needed to close the value loop requires some $100 billion to resolve. He said government was fully aware of the sale of the problem and has evolved a set of policies and programmes captured in several executive orders on ease of doing business in order to attract global investible funds to activate processes that would lead to gap closure.

ness practices.” “There are several other areas in which we can collaborate especially in sharing information. It is our hope that this interaction will occur more frequently so that together we can deliberate on response strategies to emerging challenges in the economy.” Enumerating important of stock market on economy, Ruwase said, stock market mobilize capital for investors especially the indigenous ones. According to him, “as you very well know, the costs of fund in money market as well as tenure of funds are not in tune with the yearning of investors, especially those with a long term perspective. This has constrained the growth of key sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, property, construction, infrastructure etc. All these sectors need affordable long term funds. The capital market window naturally provides the good option for funding of such investments. We would like to see a better impact of this funding window. There is also need to collectively strengthen advocacy to make pension funds available for long term financing needs of the economy.” As in many other economies, SME’s are critical to economic development especially the creation of jobs and the promotion of inclusiveness in the Nigerian economy, noted that, there is need to work with NSE to explore options of financing of small businesses. Funding SMEs remains a major challenge in our economy, it has been difficult to unlock the potentials in the sector partly as result of this problem, Ruwase said.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

Equity & Capital Market

Consumers outlook for Nigeria moderates in Q1 2018 Stories by KAYODE OGUNWALE

The Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) report for first quarter 2018 published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows that the consumer outlook index remains positive indicating that consumers have a positive outlook for Nigeria in second quarter 2018 and for the next 12 months. However, the overall outlook of consumers moderated in first quarter 2018, as fewer consumers were optimistic in their outlook. Consumers attributed this moderation in outlook to worsening economic condition and family financial situation. The CES also indicates that majority of consumers expect prices of goods and services to rise in the next 12 months. The major drivers

will be an expected increase in the prices of education, transportation, medical care, house rent, electricity, food and other household needs. The consumer buying intention index shows that consumers do not plan to purchase items such as furniture, gas cooker, refrigerator, air conditioner, television, motor vehicles and houses in the next 12 months. Consumers expect the Naira to appreciate in the next 12 months despite the expected rise in interest rate (borrowing rate) and inflation rate. Similarly, the Inflation Attitudes Survey (IAS) Report for first quarter 2018 published by the CBN shows that the majority of respondents expect prices to increase in the next 12 months. The median expectation of price changes over the next 12 months is that prices will

inch up by 2.3 percent. The IAS also shows that, although respondents expect interest rates to rise, they are of the view that it would be best for the Nigerian economy if interest rates went down. FSDH Research expects that the Nigerian economy will continue its

recovery in the short-to-medium term, driven by the favourable oil price and oil production. Similarly, the inflation rate is expected to trend downwards and drop to single digit by July 2018, barring any changes to the electricity tariff and the pump price of premium mo-

tor spirit (PMS). FSDH Research also expects the exchange rate to remain stable in the short term. Therefore, the short-term outlook of the Nigerian economy favours monetary policy easing which will lower interest rates and stimulate economic growth and credit creation.

22nd OTC FX Futures contract matures

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has remained a strong force with supporting the operations of the Naira-settled OTC FX Futures market from inception, consistently offering quotes for the contracts over the past twenty-one (21) maturities to ensure sustainability of a market that has contributed phenomenally to the stability of the Nigerian FX market. With the maturity of the NGUS APR 25 2018 contract (notional amount, $660.49), the total value of contracts so far matured and settled on FMDQ, stands at $9.13bn. A total of c. $12.03bn worth of OTC FX Futures contracts have been traded so far. As with the other maturities, and in line with standards stipulated in the FMDQ OTC FX Futures Market Operational Standards, the contract stopped trading eight days before its maturity and was valued against the NAFEX – the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Fixing – the FMDQ reference Spot FX rate published on Wednesday, April 25, 2018. The associated clearing/settlement activities were effected accordingly. This matured contract was replaced by the CBN with a new contract, NGUS APR 24 2019 for $1 billion at $/N362.44. Meanwhile, the CBN has intervened in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) segment of the market to the tune of $396.18million. According to figures obtained from the CBN, the released sum is meant to meet obligations in the agricultural, airlines, petroleum products and raw materials and machinery sectors. Cfirming the figures, the bank’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor said in a statement, Friday, that the interventions by the CBN in both the retail and wholesale sectors of the forex market were targeted primarily at ensuring liquidity in the market as well as encouraging production and trade, particularly now that the focus was on the promotion of local content. Okorafor further explained that with the country’s reserves nearing $50 billion, the bank was even more determined to sustain the gains recorded through the various policy

options the Bank took in the course of stemming the depletion of the external reserves and steering Nigeria out of recession. Beyond ensuring liquidity in the inter-bank sector of the market, he said the bank was committed to supporting efforts aimed growing the economy and further diversifying it away from oil. Despite rates at N362/$1, Okorafor, insisted that the market would remain stable and that the Bank would ensure it maintains the country’s external reserves in order to safeguard the international value of the Naira. The CBN in its last SMIS on March 23, 2018, intervened with the sum of $339.89, while also intervening in the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market to the tune of $210,000,000, comprising $100million for the wholesale segment and $55 million for both the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and invisibles segment on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

•Chief Marketing Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Ibidapo Martins (left); Human Resources Manager, Fareast Mercantile Limited, Titi Ladipo; Executive Director, Retail and Consumer Banking, Sterling Bank, Grama Narasimhan; Group Head, Strategy and New Business, Shina Atilola; and Head, Human Resources, Sterling Assurance Plc, Olufemi Festus, during the launch Specta online lending platform powered by the bank, in Lagos.

SEC tasks CIS on innovations, competitiveness

HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), to step up its game in order to meet the challenges of technology and other innovations in the world financial system. Acting Director General, SEC, Ms Mary Uduk, while speaking at the commissioning of the CIS new corporate headquarters in Lagos, commended the institute for ensuring

Fidelity Bank strengthens financial inclusion with N215m in 2yrs

idelity Bank has strengthened the financial inclusion initiative of the Federal Government with about N215 million in two years. Managing Director, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, who stated this at the sixth/final draw of the ‘Fidelity Get Alert in Millions Promo Reloaded’ in Lagos, said the bank, through the promo, had distributed about N215 million to 140 customers in the last two years. He said N105 million was “splashed”to customers during the first promo, while N110 million was distributed under the Get Alert in Millions Reloaded. Okonkwo said 192 customers were also rewarded with consolation prizes ranging from television sets, refrigerators and generators bringing the total winners to 332. He said the reloaded promo, which commenced in October 2017, had impacted positively on the bank’s customers and savings base. Okonkwo said that the adoption of retail banking strategy generated a lot of deposits from existing customers, attracted new custom-

ers and enhanced financial inclusion in Nigeria. He said the bank would continue to embrace initiatives that would improve lives of its customers. According to him, the promo was introduced to improve lives of customers and reward those who had been banking with the bank over the years. “The believability of it is because of how we have delivered on our promises. We are Fidelity and we keep to our word,” he said. He commended the bank’s customers for their loyalty in the past years, adding that the bank would announce a new promo initiative in the next couple of weeks. “I am happy to see that we have come to the end of the promo. This is the seventh promo of the bank in the last 10 years,” he said. Mr Ekenechukwu Nnolue, a customer at Aba Shoe Plaza branch, Abia State, won the bank’s promo grand prize of N10 million. Speaking on the grand prize, Okonkwo said he was happy that somebody from that location emerged the winner.

that its qualification is widely recognised. According to her, because its qualification is recognised both within and outside Nigeria as a professional business qualification, there is the need for the institute to stay ahead of trends and remain competitive in the global arena. Uduk, who was represented by the Director, SEC Lagos office, Stephen Falomo, said: “As we share the joy of inaugurating the Institute’s new home, I congratulate all those who have collaborated to make this achievement possible. We also embrace its shared vision and commitment to safeguarding the quality assurance of the training of capital market operators.” She noted that the acquisition and relocation to the new office complex would aid the Institute in saving costs and strengthening its underpinning role for the development of the capital market. Also speaking, the founder, First City Monument Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun, while unveiling the new office, pledged the bank’s continuous support towards moving the institute to the next level. He described the Nigerian Stock Exchange as the centre of the economy, and urged both the organised private sector and the government to support its growth and development. He commended the past presidents of the Institute and the present administration for achieving this feat despite the challenging operating environment. The immediate past president of the Exchange, Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede, outlined the nexus between the capital market and the nation’s economy growth, adding

that stockbrokers play integral role in the process of capital formation of any given economy. He assured the CIS of his strong support for continuous development in order to attain full-fledged global status. The CIS President, Oluwaseyi Abe, commended both the past and present management of the Institute for their supportive role towards its progress, and described the acquisition of the new office as a milestone after 25 years of existence, saying that it signalled growth potential despite the inclement operating environment. According to him, the significance of the new corporate office is better appreciated in view of the prevailing economic climate, which tended to constrain the operations of many corporate bodies. “The dramatic acquisition highlights the resilience and determination of the Institute in the face of the odds. It has not been a bed of roses for the Institute in view of the economic headwind and its domino effect on the capital market (the primary constituency of the Institute). “But the unity of purpose and unalloyed commitment of its members, and the continuous deployment of creativity and astute management of funds has helped the Institute to keep its head above waters. “The Institute places a high premium on effective cost reduction and control measures and has distinguished it as an Institute of integrity in professional certification of stockbrokers and other investment professional, and with wide acceptance across the financial service industry,” he said.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

INSURANCE & PENSION

NAICOM approves Guinea Insurance’s 2017 audited account

ATIONAL Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has approved the 2017 audited financial statements of Guinea Insurance Plc. According to NAICOM, in a statement released by the company, Monday, Guinea Insurance had substantially complied with the commission’s regulatory requirements stated in its letter dated April 11, 2018 and tilted; ‘Approval for Publication of Year 2017 Audited Financial Statements.’ Guinea Insurance recorded a marked shift of positive results as at the year ended December 31, 2017 as Gross Premium Written grew by 7 per cent from N906.7 million in 2016 to N967.1 in 2017. Net Premium Income also grew by 15 per cent from N649.5 million in 2016 to N747.1 in 2017. Similarly, underwriting profit grew from N453.4 million recorded in 2016 to N501.1 in 2017 representing a growth rate of 11 per cent. However, claims paid by Guinea Insurance on various classes of insurance decreased by 47 per cent from N304.9 million in 2016

to N161.5 million in 2017, due to operational efficiency in terms of people, processes, technology and communications, the underwriter had said. Similarly, the period under review was characterized by the whole shooting match of the Monetary Policy Committee holding interest rate at a record high of 14 per cent while the Central Bank had kept the monetary policy rate unchanged since July 2016 with the aim of balancing the need to fight inflation and also stabilising the naira in order to support an economy emerging from its worst slump in 25 years. In spite of these shortcomings, the underwriter’s investment Income recorded a marginal decline of 3 per cent from N215.5 in 2016 to N208.3 in 2017. Also, , a remarkable performance was delivered as the underwriter posted a Profit Before Tax (PBT) increase of 35 per cent from N176.3 million in 2016 to N237.8 million in 2017; even as it recorded a Profit After Tax (PAT) increase of 518 per cent from N40.6 million in 2016 to N251.0 million in 2017.

Consolidated Hallmark grows profit by 108% in 2017

onsolidated Hallmark Insurance (CHI) Plc has reported a 108 per cent jump in its profit for the financial year ended 31st December, 2017. In its results, which were submitted within the regulatory timelines and recently approved by all regulators, including the Capital Market, the company posted a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N 406,205,406 when compared with the N 194,987,845 of the 2016 Financial Year. Similarly, Profit Before Tax (PBT) grew by 74 per cent from N368, 133, 129 in 2016 to N641, 052, 022 in 2017. Further details of the results made available to shareholders of the company show appreciable progress in investment activities as well. Income from this arena grew from N472.3 million to N796.2 million in 2017.

Meanwhile the Total Assets of the company have risen by 27 per cent from the N7.44 billion of 2016 to N9.49 billion. Revenue reported for the period through Gross Premium Written was N5.680 billion, while a Net Underwriting Income of N4, 053,742,495 was recorded. The company continues to fulfil its obligations through prompt claims settlement as gross amount paid out in this regard during the year under review was N3.354 billion. Plans are already afoot to hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM), where in line with its policy of rewarding shareholders for their steadfastness, dividend payment will be proposed to shareholders for approval. CHI Plc has paid dividends seven times in the last ten years.

•Chief Marketing Officer, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc, Steve Ajudua; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Jide Orimolade and Chief Financial Officer, Olabisi Olayiwola.

Lagos pays pensioners N9.3b

AGOS State Government said, Friday that it paid N9.3 billion as pension to 2,466 retirees in the state, between May 2017 and March 2018. State Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Dr Akintola Benson-Oke, said this at the 2018 Ministerial Press Briefing, to mark the present administration’s three years in office. “The state government, through the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), paid the sum of N9.3 billion into the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of 2,466 public retirees, within the last one year. “From August 2015 to date, the sum of N35.92 billion has been paid into the RSA of 8,731 retirees, deceased and withdrawn staff. There has been continued significant reduction in outstanding backlog of terminal entitlements of retired public servants,” he said. Benson-Oke said that the Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode led-administration commenced and maintained the trend of paying terminal entitlements of retired employees monthly,

since August 2015. “The ministry will continue to sensitise retirees on activities of pension fraudsters so that they will get their entitlements without hitch,” he said. The commissioner said that the ministry would distribute welfare packages to no fewer than 8, 000 pensioners aged 70 and above this year. On the payment of death benefit, he said that 80 beneficiaries of deceased employees in the state were paid N220.7 million within the period. The commissioner said that the state’s Public Service Staff Development Centre trained 3, 737 officers in the last one year. He said the training provided solutions to problems on human capacity through learning and development initiatives, using technology-driven resources. “The essence is not only for selfdevelopment, but for the skills and knowledge acquired to be deployed on the job for impactful service delivery to teeming populace of Lagos State,” he said. Benson-Oke commended the 17

The products according to market analysts attracted more premium income into the company’s coffers, and also created enough liquidity to grow investment and meet claims obligations.Law Union & Rock Insurance in 2017, expressed commitment to retain 90 per cent of existing customers, grow direct and retail business, improve relationship with brokers and other channels. It also achieved improved credit rating from A- to A+ by Global Credit Rating agency to become the preferred first choice underwriter amongst the general insurance business providers in Nigeria. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company explained that Law Union & Rock has introduced additional new

products into the market including: I-Salute; Doctor-on-Cover; GPA-4-Schools and Sure Pay. According to him, it was designed to provide support and relief to Officers and their families in event of accidents that result in any or a combination of bodily injury requiring resulting in medical expenses. While the Doctors-on-Cover was designed to help Medical Doctors comply with the law, as well as protect them from unforeseen legal liabilities that could prevent them from practicing what they love.GPA-4-Schools, the company said it is a Group Personal Accident product designed for Schools and Students/ Pupils at all levels of education – Kindergarten, Nursery, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.

Law Union & Rock Insurance announced N1.1b PBT for 2017

AW Union & Rock Insurance Plc (LUR) has announced a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N1.1 billion recorded at the end of 2017 financial year. The figure represents a 66.8 per cent increase from the 2016 figure of N658.64 million, while Profit After Tax also appreciated by 62.1 per cent, moving from N561.85 million in 2016 to N910.71 million at the end of the review period, underscoring the capability of the board and management to enhance shareholders value. LUR’s earnings per share stood at 21 kobo, as against 16 kobo in the previous year, indicating increase in shareholders’ value, just as it also recorded a gross premium income of N4.25 billion, as against N3.9 billion in 2016, showing an eight per cent increase.

In the firm’s full year audited result, investment and other income also appreciated remarkably to N912.5 million from N687.3 million in 2016.A further insight into the financials show a quantum growth in total assets of the company in 2017, which grew by 16.9 percent, from N8.58 billion in 2016 to N10.03 billion in the review year. The company also kept its own side of the contract with its teaming customers, paying claims and claims expenses of N1.4 billion, as against N967.8 million in the past year. The positive growth in all the indices in the review year has been attributed to management’s efforts to increase market share and deepen penetration, with the launch of several new products.

labour unions in the state public service for supporting government in creating a safe, conflict-free and productive workplace. “It is historic to note that in the last three years, this administration has not witnessed any form of crisis, protests or agitations by labour unions,” he added. He said the unions’ National Joint Negotiating Council met and interacted with government four times yearly to take decisions on issues pertaining to workers’ welfare and promote industrial harmony. Benson-Oke promised that the ministry would continue to intensify efforts towards motivating and training the civil servants for better service delivery and protection of interest of residents of the state.

Ayade directs payments of March pensions to workers

ross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has directed pensioners in the state who have yet to receive their monthly pensions up till the month of March to forward such complaints to their local government area offices for onward transmission to his office. In a statement signed by the state commissioner for Information and National Orientation, RoseMary Archibong, Wednesday, the governor further advised the affected pensioners to ‘act within one week of the announcement.’ “Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has directed that all pensioners in the state who have not received their monthly pensions up to March 2018 should forward their complaints with relevant documents including pension identity card, bank account number and BVN to the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) in their respective local government areas for onward transmission to the office of the Governor. “His Excellence emphasises that he had directed payment of pensions up to the moth of March 2018.

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The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

Delta APC assures level playing ground for all aspirants By JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

HEAD of the All Progressive Congress, APC wards and local government congresses scheduled to commence on Saturday the 5th of May 2018, leaders and stakeholders of Delta APC on Sunday met to forge unity; promising level playing ground for all party aspirants. Speaking at Delta State APC stakeholders meeting which held at the country home of Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, the leader of Delta APC; Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Chief Hyacinth Enuha maintained that there is no division in Delta APC but a healthy competition amongst brothers. They added that those spreading rumours of division in Delta APC in Abuja are not on ground and does not mean well for the party in Delta state, stressing that APC is stronger now and ready to displace PDP in 2019 and take over government house. According to them’ “what the outsider considers as crisis in Delta APC is a healthy competition, we have the Ogboru-Omo-Agege and Emerhor-Enuha tendency in the Delta APC, but after the party primaries we all will work together to defeat PDP at the governorship election. This platform is what will produce the APC governor from Delta north in 2019 and will also produce APC governor form Delta central in 2023, in four years from now PDP would be dead in Delta. The meeting which has Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Chief Hya-

cinth Enuha, Chief Adolor Okotie-Eboh, Air vice Marshall Frank Ajobena (Rtd), Barr. Fred Okpohworo Olokor, NDDC EDP; Engr. Dr. Samuel Adjogbe, and seven APC governorship aspirants in attendance promises to work together and ensure level plying ground for all party aspirants in order to defeat PDP come 2019 election. The party governorship aspirants who attended the meeting were Prof. Pat Utomi, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Chief Osiobe Okotie, Dr Iyke Odikpo, Dr. Leroy Edozien and Dr. O’Diakpor Obire and they all pledged to work with the two leaders to ensure rancor free party congresses in the state. The leaders also charged all stakeholders to return home to their wards and LGAs to work out agree consensus executives that will be supported by all at the congresses where necessary. Both aspirants and stakeholders also agreed to work together in unity in order to put in place a structure that can win elections in 2019, stressing that some members of the existing Excos will form the bedrock of the new executives with a focus on enhancing its strengths through the injection of new blood. In their different remarks at the meeting, Prof. Pat Utomi, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, promised to do one term in office if elected as governor of the state come 2019, noting that they believe in equity and justice.

FAAC: FG, states, councils share N626.8bn for April T HE Federal Government, states and local governments have shared a total of N626.827 billion has been distributed as Federal Allocation for the month of April 2018 Addressing journalists at the end of the rescheduled Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, said the figure was N20 billion lower than N647.39 billion shared in March. Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, said this on Thursday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting. Giving a breakdown of the revenue accrued in March, Idris said N480.59 billion was received as gross statutory revenue, lower than N557.94 billion received in March by N77.34 billion. He said the reduction in revenue was due to a decrease in the crude oil export sales by 13 per cent when compared to 5.42 million barrels from the previous month. “The issues that negatively affected production were the Shutins and Shut-downs at various terminals for repairs and maintenance. “This resulted in reduced revenue from federation crude oil exports sales by $33.58 million dollars. “However, the average crude

oil price increased from $63.08 dollars to $65.72 dollars per barrel. “There was a considerable rise in oil royalty for the month, while Companies Income Tax (CIT) and Import Duty recorded marginal increases. “Value Added Tax (VAT) decreased slightly but there was a significant drop in income from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT).’’ He said that N83.7 billion was received from VAT, showing a decrease of N5.74 billion as against N89.4 billion received in February. Mineral revenue was N360.5

•General Manager, Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Mrs. Kemi Olugbode and the Director General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Mr. Osita Aboloma during a courtesy visit of the management of LASCOPA to SON.

C’River, US Attorneys partner to end wildlife trafficking, transnational crimes By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

ROSS River State Government and the Conference of Western Attorneys General of the United States have pledged to work together to end the rising incidences of wildlife trafficking and transnational Crimes in the state. This was disclosed during a symposium held in Calabar by the United States Attorneys under the Conference of Western Attorneys in collaboration with the Africa Alliance Partnerships with the theme “Investigation and Prosecution of Transnational CrimesWildlife Trafficking”. Speaking at the symposium, Director of CWAG, Mr Markus Green, disclosed that the symposium was necessary because human trafficking, child pornography, drugs, firearms, among others, no single country could address the challenge of the global crime alone. According to him, “CWAG-African Alliance Partnership seeks to

contribute to the reduction, prevention and elimination of transnational crimes. This is part of the symposium that we are doing around nine different countries in Africa. “Primarily, what we are doing is to encourage the rule of law. We deal with a range of topics including human trafficking, wildlife trafficking and some of the general administration of the rule of law practices. “Like anything new, the initial reception for the training was met with scepticism in Nigeria. But the idea is that we all belong to a global village and so we talk about the global social justice system. Whatever impact the United States also impacts Nigeria and the reverse.” Host of the symposium and the Cross River State Attorney General, Mr Joe Abang, disclosed that the United States Attorneys were in the state because of the huge wildlife biodiversity in the state as well as their passion for conservation.

NBA, SERAP berate Nwobike’s 30-day jail term

awyers and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have reacted to the conviction and sentencing to a month in prison by an Ikeja High Court of Dr Joseph Nwobike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for perverting the course of justice. Nwobike is the first SAN to be convicted of “judicial corruption”. While some lawyers said the punishment was mild just a “slap on the wrist”, others described it as a sad development. Justice Raliatu Adebiyi, in her judgment on Monday, convicted Nwobike of 12 counts of the 18-count charge bordering on attempting to pervert the course of justice slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The SAN was convicted for the charges relating to exchange of text messages with court registrars, instructing them to assign cases to judges in order to receive favourable rulings and judgments in court. Lawyers in various interviews with NAN described the sentence as a “slap on the wrist” considering that the law under which Nwobike was sentenced prescribes a mandatory two-year sentence. Chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Adeshina Ogunlana, said: “I just heard the news 20 minutes ago though a one month sentence is light, conviction is conviction. Certainly, he is liable now to be disbarred apart from being stripped

of his rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The stain is there even if he is given a VIP treatment during his stay in prison. “I would not know if the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt but since they have proved their case against him, then too bad for him. On the surface, the sentence seems lenient but the implications is quite devastating, he is now a convict.” Also reacting, Executive Director, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, expressed displeasure over the sentence. Mumuni, who said he had yet to read the full details of the judgment, noted that given the weight of the offence, the punishment was mild.

“Attorney Generals from the United States are in Cross River State as a result of their passion for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity general which has caught the attention of the international community. We are host to one of the largest national parks which house chimpanzees, monkeys and other important species of humanity”. He said the experiences the Attorneys have had in the United States and Mexico will be useful to the state in ensuring that the endangered species which are found in the state is preserved for the benefit of the society. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a representative of the Africa Alliance Partnership Mr Anthony Idigbe disclosed that the Alliance has been conducting training around Africa on rule of law. He stated that there are laws against wildlife trafficking but the problem is always around the enforcement of the law. “What we have done is to bring in different people from abroad to come and share their knowledge on how they have been able to succeed. I think one of the things that will come out from this training is the need for cooperation among the different agencies. There are so many agencies involved. We have those in charge of the national parks, environment and climate change ministries, Nigeria Immigration, Nigeria Customs Service, Police, ministries of justice, among others. “All these agencies are involved in trying to enforce various laws? The question is whether they are working in any coordinated manner to ensure that they are effective. With respect to wildlife, clearly, you cannot have the parks working alone because something can slip out of the park and if that happens, there will be the involvement of other security agencies”, he said.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

Crime Student poses as American soldier

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan zonal office has arraigned one Ilesanmi Babatunde Yemi, a final year accounting student of Ekiti State University, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on a 5-count charge of fraud and romance scam. Yemi allegedly specializes in love and romance scam on internet. The defendant, while posing as American Army Officer by the name ‘Dennis Martinez’ serving in Libya allegedly engages unsuspecting ladies on the internet in a dating and romance scam through which he fleeces them of their money. The last victims were two ladies from Australia which he allegedly swindled to the tune of $500 in tranches.One of the counts reads: “That you, Ilesanmi Babatunde Yemi, sometimes in year 2014, at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this Federal High Court, did directly take possession of the sum of 7,000 British Pounds only transferred to you by one Carolyn Hide which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”. The defendant however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Sanusi Galadanchi, applied for a date for trial and urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody. However, the defense counsel, Olatunde Adeoye informed the court of a pending application praying the court to admit the defendant to bail. He also urged the court to allow the defendant remain in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of his bail application. Justice Abdulmalik, however, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Federal Prison, Agodi and adjourned to May 8, 2018 for hearing of the bail application.

Man 70 defiles girl, 13 says I only fingered her

Stories by XAVIER NDAH

en of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 70-yearsrs old man Adefuye Emmanuel Teslim for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 13 year old girl (name withheld) at Parapetearea of Ago-iwoye. The suspect was arrested following a complaint from mother of the girl Mariam Kareem who reported that her 13 year- old daughter was lured into an apartment by the suspect where he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. She complained further that the suspect threatened to kill the girl if she ever tells anybody about her experience with him. But the girl who was feeling pain on her private part later informed her mother, consequence upon which

the mother reported the case to the Police at Ago-Iwoye Division. On the strength of her report, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO , Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, Ade Adedoyin led detectives to the scene where the suspect was promptly arrested. The victim was taken to the General hospital for medical examination and the result confirmed that the girl had been sexually abused. In his statement the suspect we gathered had denied the offence but stated that he only pushed his finger into the girl’s private part but not his penis. Commissioner of Police, CP, Ahmed Iliyasu we gathered has ordered the case be transferred to Anti Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for proper investigation and prosecution of the suspect.

•Teslim

‘We stole their goods to frustrate them’ T

wo traders suspected to be burglars have been arrested by the police Lagos Command for allegedly stealing footwears worth millions at the Trade-Fair Complex, Lagos/ Badagry Expressway. The suspects one Ifeanyi Okafor 30- years of No. 4, Ayo Shobowale Street, Ira-Ojo, Lagos and one Okonkwo Nnamdi 30- years have confessed to committing the crime because their victims had more superior selling capacity than them which crashed their market to a zero level and they were left with no other option than to frustrate them. Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal said burglary and stealing were not serious crime which his command should have taken so serious to parade the suspects but however, what makes this case unique is that the culprits were caught in the act carting away goods worth millions of naira at the Trade-Fair Complex, Lagos/Badagry Expressway. According to him, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Trade-Fair Division, SP Sunny Akaeze got a tip off that a syndicate that specializes in breaking and looting shops in TradeFair Complex are about to operate in BBA arm of the Complex. He said based on the information,

the DPO promptly dispatched his operatives led by the DCO to the Kaduna Plaza Shop D-108 on surveillance. Eventually the operation was successful as the suspects were apprehended with 39 cartons of Snickers footwear worth millions of naira. During interrogation, it was discovered that the first suspect, Okaf-

or Ifeanyi, was a failed trader within the complex. He went bankrupt and sold his shop as a result. He decided to take to stealing to launch himself back to business. The second suspect, Okonkwo Nnamdi, on the other hand is a shop owner. He owns Shop 108 at Kebbi Plaza BBA. Both suspects mentioned one Tupac as their Alter-

ego. Tupac is aware that their conspiracy to burgle a Chinese shop in the complex has been thwarted by the police; hence he is on the run. Recovered from the suspects include one saw-blade; one damaged padlock used by the Chinese to lock his shop meanwhile he said investigation is in progress and suspects will be charged to court soon. In a chat with The Oracle Today Ifeanyi said the reason they had to burgle the shop was because the owners of the shop were importers who bring in to the market contraband goods. He said when they bring such goods they sell at a cheaper rate to customers and they who purchase their market in Nigeria sell at the rate which they could make some gains but to no avail because customers abandoned them thereby making their business useless. “That was why we reported them to Customs that they bring in contraband goods, the Customs men came and cease their goods not up to one week their shops were emptied they filled them again with goods. We were not happy with the situation so we decided to burgle their shops before we were arrested. We are not thieves but we wanted to teach them a lesson’. Ifeanyi explained

crisis when they use to dress up in full military uniform with which they harass people at various fuel stations to influence prompt purchase of fuel for their customers for a fee. Police source said luck however ran against them on the April 17,when the DPO Adatan Division Chief Superintendent of Police CSP, Olajhide Joshua led his men on routine patrol and accosted the first suspect Abayomi Amos Akanjiin full military camouflage uniform without a name tag. The police said his appearance

look suspicious and that prompted the Policemen to put some questions to him in order to ascertain his authenticity, but he was unable to give good and satisfactory account of himself as a soldier. It was gathered that he was promptly arrested and taken to the station and on interrogation, he confessed to being a fake soldier stating that he stole the uniform in an army barrack where he visits frequently. The suspect further named his other accomplices whom they have

been parading themselves as soldiers together as Adebayo Rasheed and Lawal Musa. Police said they were both arrested on the 24th of April 2018. Recovered from them are; one full army camouflage uniform, Nigeria army folder, army face cap and vests. Meanwhile the Commissioner of Police,CP, Ahmed Iliyasu have ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for further investigation and prosecution.

•The suspects and the stolen goods)

Three fake soldiers in police net

•Teslim

hree soldiers suspected to be fake have been arrested by the police ogun state command for impersonation. The suspects Abayomi Amon Aknaji’, Adebayo RasheedOladimeji and LAwal Musa Akinmoye were arrested at the Adatan area of Abeokuta, Ogun state for having been terrorizing residents of Adatan, Bode Oludeand other Communities under the pretence of being personnels of the Nigerian Army. It was gathered that their activities were at the peak during the fuel

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS Extra

Oil producing communities uncover 50 wells in Anambra By IBE NWACHUKWU

EMBERS of oil producing communities in Anambra State, under the aegis of Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON), Tuesday, confirmed that they have discovered no fewer than 50 oil wells in about 12 communities in the State waiting for exploration. The state chairman of HOSCON, Anthony Chiokwe who disclosed this during their general meeting at Nsugbe in Oyi Local Government Area of the state, said contrary to the allusions by some people that the oil in the state was not found in commercial quantity, if the 50 oil wells could be harnessed, a lot of revenues would be generated by both the federal and state governments, as well as the host communities. Chiokwe further disclosed that this number of oil wells were arrived at following his mandated to all his members to go to their various communities and bring a comprehensive list of oil wells, take photographs of such wells, discuss with various town union leaders and their traditional rulers and find out if they are interested in exploring the oil deposit in their localities, adding that it was as a result of that mandate that their members went home, combed all nooks and crannies and came up with this accurate number of oil wells from their respective localities. He mentioned the six communities where the oil wells have so far been discovered as Ogwu-Ikpelle and Ogwu-Aniocha communities of Ogbaru Local Government Area; Anaku, Umerum and Omor communities in

•Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike acknowledging greetings from some labour leaders during the 2018 Workers’ Day celebrations inside the Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Tuesday.

Ayamelum Local Government Area; Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area and Ifitedunu, Ukpo and Umunnachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area and Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area. Flanked by other executive members of HOSCON, including the Deputy Chairman, Anene Onyilegbe Gregory; State Woman Leader, Hon. Uju Izuakor and the National Community Liaison Officer, NCLO, representing Anambra state HOSCOM, Mrs. Felicia Nwankwo,, Chiolwe disclosed that Aguleri alone has 26 oil wells, while Ogwu-

Ikpelle has as much as 16 oil wells, just like Ogwu-Aniocha has five wells, Anake has nine wells, Umerum, three wells, two wells in Abagana, while Okija and Umunnachi wells were said to have been overflown and are currently spilling. He explained that most of the oil wells were discovered by Shell Development Corporation in the past years, while Sterling Global Resources, an Indian company is currently exploring one of the 16 oil wells at Ogwu-Ikpelle, just as Orient Petroleum resources is busy exploring some other oil wells in Anambra West, Anam-

”We must bring back the glory of the Ministry of Agriculture and ensure that our youths engage in meaningful agricultural activities that will engender food sufficiency and security. We must make the ministry the best in the state and to succeed where others have failed. “I believe in practical rather than theoretical agriculture and

for us to succeed in the great task ahead of us, we must embrace the type of agriculture done in the field.’’ The commissioner lauded Umahi for the giant strides his administration had recorded in the agriculture sector, noting that the Abakaliki rice had achieved both national and international acclaim.

“The popular Abakaliki processed rice is now consumed in different parts of the country as well as being exported to overseas. The rice is equally eaten at Aso Rock Villa and has become a high source of revenue to government and provides employment for thousands of people who deal in the business.”

By CHUKS COLLINS, Awka; By IBE NWACHUKWU

They were detained on a trumped up charge of treasonable felony merely for celebrating the inauguration of Trump. Trump, according to IPOB had demanded immediate end to the serial slaughter of Christians in Nigeria, especially Biafran Christians since the coming of the murderous ‘Buhari’ presidency in May 2015. According to the media statement of the pro-Biafra group’s Director of Media/Publicity, “it is to the credit of the IPOB that our sustained international advocacy, the letter we sent to President Trump on the eve of the meeting and the demonstrations we carried out at the White House were the factors most responsible for bringing this matter to the attention of President Trump. “After watching ‘Buhari’s’ cringe

worthy body language and cowed persona during the meet the press session at the Rose Garden, like a cat trapped under the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, we knew that whatever stern warning you delivered to him must have shocked him to the bone-marrow. “Buhari and his coterie are coming closer to the clutches of international justice, we would like to seize this opportunity to draw the attention of the American people to the plight of Biafrans in detention across Nigeria especially the four that are still in detention in a maximum security prison simply because they came out to celebrate with millions of other people around the world the day Trump was sworn into office. “It is also important that we further remind the US presidency the enormity of the brutality and cold

bra East and Ayamelum council areas of the state. In his speech, the Deputy Chairman, Onyilegbe appealed to the state government to urgently set up an Oil Development Commission like in other oil producing states, to enable the federal ministry of petroleum resources pay the federal government approved 13 percent oil derivation fund to the state, for onward transmission to the host communities. At Omor oil field, the Secretary-General of the town union Joseph Nonyelum confirmed that the oil wells were discov-

Ebonyi govt committed to repositioning agriculture E By SAMSON NWAFOR, Abakaliki

bonyi State government said it is committed to repositioning agricultural sector to boost food production in country. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Ikechukwu Nwobo, stated this during a one prayer retreat to mark the 2018 planting season in the state. According to him, the vision of the Dave Umahi-led state government is to make Ebonyi a leading state in food and other agricultural produce in Nigeria. The commissioner said that the present administration was committed to repositioning the agriculture sector to boost food sufficiency and employment generation in the state. To achieve the goal, Nwobo said that the ministry would work hard to ensure that the vision and dream of the state governor in attaining food security and self- sufficiency for the people of the state were realised. Nwobo, therefore, solicited the collaboration and cooperation of every staff member to ensure that it becomes the highest Internally Generated Revenue earning ministry.

ered by Shell many years ago, but now Orient Petroleum Resources are exploring the oil at Omor and Umerum communities. The National Chairman of, HOSCON, Prince Mike Emuh has during his recent visit to Anambra state where he had a crucial meeting with traditional rulers in the state, disclosed that the federal government had recognized Anambra’s status as an oil producing state, adding that about 10 modular refineries had been approved by the government each to be cited in each of the oil producing states in the country, out of which one of the refineries would be cited in Anambra. Emuh further told the traditional rulers that the federal government also approved the employment of 10,000 youths to serve as oil surveillance squad from all the oil producing states, out of which 1,000 youths are to be employed in Anambra state, adding that he was in the state to ask the royal fathers to mention a particular place where the modular refinery would be cited in the state and to prepare for the selection of the youths to be employed. Emuh who is also a member of federal government’s governing council on petroleum, also handed over all the documents containing the approvals from the federal government and a copy of HOSCON’s constitution to the royal fathers. Responding, the State Chairman of Anambra Traditional Rulers Council and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, commended him for coming to brief them and disclosed that the traditional rulers would set up a committee to be headed by the traditional ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Christopher Idigo, to look into his briefings and take a decisive step. Achebe who handed all the documents over to Igwe Idigo, disclosed that he himself, having worked in the oil industry for over 30 years, would serve as a private consultant to actualize the dream of Anambra getting its fair share as an oil producing state.

Killing of Christians: IPOB commends Trump

he Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has commended President Donald Trump of the United States, for the direct and serious manner he addressed which it said sent a ‘serious message to the visiting Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.’ The group also urged the US President to tighten the noose on the Nigerian leaders for what it sees as atrocious rights violations and killings, especially the killing of its members in January 2017 and the jailing of Mr. Ikenna Igwe Mazi, Mr. Uchenna Innocent, Mr. Bright Sunday Okoro and Mr. Chidinma Godwin Nwafor who are still languishing in prison for no other reason than the fact they were celebrating Trump victory.

blooded massacre of innocent citizens merely exercising their right to freedom of assembly on that fateful day of January 20, 2017,” the statement read. Meanwhile, IPOB has expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari’s meeting with his American counterpart, Donald Trump on Monday has drawn Buhari and his coterie closer to the clutches of international justice. IPOB said it would use this opportunity to draw the attention of Americans to the plight of Biafrans in detention across Nigeria, especially the four who are still in detention in a maximum security prison simply because they came out to celebrate with millions of other people around the world the day Trump was sworn into office.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

‘The pain was an 11 out of 10’: Man’s penis ruptured after he heard ‘popping’ sound during sex

man whose penis ruptured after he heard a ‘popping’ sound during sex has described the pain as ‘an 11 out of 10’. Ross Asdourian, 32, ruptured his penis muscles and severed his urethra during the horrific incident. The author from New York shared candid details of his genital trauma on Kyle and Jackie O, an Australian breakfast radio show on Friday while promoting his new book about the experience, Broken Bananah . “We were having sex in what doctors call “doggy style” position and I came out and then went back in, and we both did that in equal but opposite force, and it caused a very audible “pop”. “I didn’t really scream because if you’ve ever been in that real pain you don’t really make much noise, some sound comes out of you but it’s not sustained,” he said. “I went into emergency protocol, I got up, flipped the lights on all while this poor woman is still there on all fours looking confused because she didn’t know what was happening.” He called an ambulance, telling them that he thought he had broken his penis. His injury was so bad that even medics looked a little shocked by his genitals, he said. Medics managed to repair his torn genitals and he confidently attests that he has regained 80- 90% function after a long, painful, expensive and sometimes bizarre road to recovery.

His penis injury racked up $60,000 (£43,000) in medical bills and left him stuck with a catheter for four months. He also required two surgeries and many stitches. Ross now says that he likes to blame the injury on the heated, passionate nature of his love-making with the unnamed woman who he said was a former college lover who happened to be visiting his city that fateful night.

ROMANTIC JOKE

THE WIFE’S EXPERIMENT

Name: Omobolanle Tel: 0818 512 5174 • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

A man drinks a shot of whiskey every night before bed. After years of this, the wife wants him to quit. She gets two shot glasses, fills one with water and the other with whiskey. After bringing him to the table that has the glasses, she brings his bait box. She says, “I want you to see this.” She puts a worm in the water, and it swims around. She puts a worm in the whiskey, and the worm dies immediately. She then says, feeling that she has made her point clear, “What do you have to say about this experiment?” He responds by saying, “If I drink whiskey, I won’t get worms!”

ODD NEWS

t sounds too good to be true and there is no doubt the results are astounding – even though medics are not really sure why. A revolutionary new stem cell treatment, which takes only a few hours, is being hailed as a potential benefit for the hundreds of thousands of people suffering heart failure. Lying in a hospital bed, Denise Williams knew her time was almost up. Her heart was failing and she was being sent home to get her affairs in order. Even worse, as sole carer for her brain-damaged teenage son, Denise knew the outlook for both of their futures was looking dire. Depressed and desperate – and with her heart working at just 10-20% of its normal capacity – she was out

Revolutionary one-day stem cell treatment could save lives of hundreds of thousands suffering heart failure of options. Then she saw an advert for medical trials for those suffering from heart failure. The very thought of being a guinea pig would be -understandably terrifying but, figuring she had nothing to lose, Denise applied for the stem cell treatment at St -Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. Just months after the pioneering treatment, using adult stem cells, Denise’s heart was back within normal limits which she says, “is nothing short of a miracle”. Denise, 61, has gone from spending all day in bed to feeling “20 years younger” with loads of energy and a

renewed vigour for life. Remarkably, she no longer takes any medication and the treatment itself took just a couple of minutes. “There are virtually no drugs involved, and you’re ‘done’ within a few hours,” she says. “If what has happened to me can happen to the countless thousands of others out there with heart and other health problems, it would be amazing.” It sounds too good to be true and there is no doubt the results are astounding – even though medics are not really sure why. The innovative procedure involves taking bone marrow from the pa-

tient’s pelvis, harvesting stem cells and injecting these straight into the heart. So far, just 150 people have received the treatment, which has seen an ¬incredible 80% positive response with patients typically experiencing improved heart function and a better quality of life with no further use of medication. And now doctors hope it could change the lives of countless people living with heart failure and save thousands of lives. The procedure, which normally costs up to £10,000 per patient, is not currently available on the NHS.

Professor Anthony Mathur, the senior cardiologist leading the programme, says the results so far are “impressive”. After 10 years of trials at St ¬Bartholomew’s involving more than 400 volunteers, he adds: “To achieve long-lasting, potentially life-saving health benefits with no need for additional medication is revolutionary, and could save the NHS millions of pounds.” Heart failure currently affects 900,000 people in the UK. It is caused by the heart failing to pump enough blood around the body at Continued on page: 34

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

True Confession

y name is Ade and my story is a sad one. The love of Ifeoma is the greatest love I have ever had, and will ever have. In my own estimation, love is not measured by how long it lasts, but by how strong it is. Even if it lasts for a moment, there is a kind of love that could be stronger than the loves that last for years. That was the kind of love that I and Ifeoma shared. Don’t look down on me because my wife is now a mad woman, because I’m determined to stand by her till the end. I met Ifeoma 15 years ago while we were still teenagers. I was staying with my aunt in Lagos and my school was on holiday, so my aunt suggested that I go and spend the holiday with the children of her bosom friend in Enugu. That was how at the age of 16, I went to Enugu to spend a holiday. The family of my aunt’s bosom friend was a very happy and united one. We called my aunt’s bosom friend Aunty Ngozi, and she had 3 girls. I was gladly introduced to all her children who welcomed me with open arms. Ifeoma was her first daughter and even at 12yrs, she looked bigger than her age. We became fond of each other and continued our friendship through to adulthood. I yearned for Ifeoma like a deer yearns for water. And I prayed to God earnestly for the day she would finally be mine. When I finally got a job in Lagos, I invited her to come from Enugu and stay with me in Lagos, pending when I would have saved enough money to do her introduction. Ifeoma and I picked a date for our wedding and we looked forward to that day when we would become husband and wife. However, our wedding day proved to be the saddest day of my life. The truth was that one of my aunts was totally against my getting married to Ifeoma because she is Igbo. My aunt did everything to turn my parents against my plans to wed Ifeoma by saying that Igbos are only after money. According to my aunt, Ifeoma would only take my money and abandon me. But still, I was undeterred. I swore to go ahead with the wedding as long as

She ran mad on our wedding day

my parents had agreed to it. But I didn’t know what my aunt had in store for us. On our wedding day, we woke up early and went to the church with Ifeoma looking immaculate in her wedding gown. After we had exchanged our wedding vows, that my aunt and other relatives came to greet us. Suddenly, my aunt brought out a black substance from her bag, and rubbed it all over Ifeoma’s head.

Immediately, Ifeoma, my newly wedded wife, started acting funny and taking her clothes off. She would have run out of the church naked if I hadn’t held her hands. At first, it didn’t occur to us that my wife had gone crazy. We rushed her to a private hospital thinking it was fever or malaria. It was at the private hospital that it dawned on me that my wife had run mad on our wedding day when the doctor

referred her to a psychiatric hospital. Ifeoma is still in the psychiatric hospital. Yet my aunt is saying that she has found another wife for me, a Yoruba girl from my hometown. But I have vowed never to let her succeed in her evil plans. I will stand by my wife, Ifeoma, till the end. I will never take another wife.

continues to run the charity with the aim of raising the necessary £6.5million to fund the initial trials. Denise was one of the first to benefit from the treatment. Her heart condition was triggered by an aggressive virus which hospitalised her. She was then given a 33% chance of dying within a year. She was immediately put on a cocktail of drugs but towards the end of 2009 Denise was taken off all medication. In 2010, she suffered heart failure again, this time in an airport, and her condition seemed hopeless. She felt she was living on borrowed time and her disabled son Alex, 16, who had been badly brain damaged after a car accident in 2005, told her he couldn’t carry on without her. She says: “I was told to go home and ‘make preparations’ – in other words, plan my funeral and find someone to care for Alex. I’d been widowed, my son was brain damaged, and I was about to die. I became depressed, and saw my illness as my own failing.”

better every day. Even my cardiologist says it’s impossible, but the treatment has given me hope where before there was only despair. “I live in hope that one day stem cells may be used to help my son and the many thousands like him who have had catastrophic brain damage.” To make the trials fair, a third of patients were given a placebo, a third had serum ¬injections – which medics hoped would make stem cells travel from the bone marrow to the heart – and a third had the proper stem cell treatment. Paul Beards, 68, was one of the 60 people to take part in the trial after being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy. His heart was no longer able to effectively pump blood. When his symptoms started, Paul found work too hard because he was so exhausted. “Whenever I tried to climb stairs I’d have to stop several times, and even the simplest tasks like washing the car would leave me out of breath,” he says. Paul was part of the trial group who was just given serum injections and he felt no improvement in his condition. Then, in the summer of 2016, he received a phone call to tell him that because 20 people in the active arm of the trial had seen such incredible results, they were rolling out the treatment to the other patients.

“I knew there’d be no instant ¬improvement – but around six months later I definitely started to feel stronger and fitter,” says Paul. “My wife Jean has to keep up with me when we go for walks now. I’m loving playing table tennis, swimming and playing with my four grandchildren, ¬something I didn’t have the energy for before. “Crucially, the number of drugs I take every day has gone down and I’ve been signed off by the hospital, so no more scheduled check-ups. I feel I have my life back.” The Compassionate Treatment Unit at St Bartholomew’s Hospital is being supported by the Heart Cells Foundation as they also look for private investment. Jenifer says: “There are many people living in the UK who have had a heart attack and 800,000 to one million of these are living with heart failure. “Unfortunately, despite other new treatments for heart failure patients becoming available, progress has been slow and this is why we are so excited by the results of our stem cell trials which suggest we have found a -revolutionary new treatment. “The aim is to continue to treat patients with stem cell therapy to give them back their lives.”

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

Revolutionary one-day stem cell treatment could save lives... Continued from page: 33

the right pressure, because the muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. It causes breathlessness, extreme tiredness and death. For most people, it is a long-term condition that cannot be cured and is managed with medication such as beta-blockers. In the most serious cases, a heart transplant may be required. Heart failure can be caused by high blood pressure, ¬coronary heart disease, an abnormal rhythm or weak heart muscles. Trials into the treatment were funded by the Heart Cells Foundation charity who hope the procedure could become widely ¬available on the NHS. As a result of promising findings, the charity has now launched the Compassionate ¬Treatment Programme, which offers stem cell therapy to heart disease patients on -compassionate grounds. The programme aims to treat one patient per week and hopes to increase this number in 2018. Jenifer Rosenberg set up the charity after her husband Ian became seriously ill with a heart condition and was given weeks to live. The couple travelled to Germany where Ian received stem cell therapy which transformed his life. Sadly Ian has now passed away but Jenifer

So, Denise opted to try the stem cell therapy in 2013 and it changed her life. “I can walk upstairs without losing my breath,” she smiles, “I have the energy to be there for Alex and, despite being told I was going to die, the opposite is true – I’m getting

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

Relationships and Love Advice

I need a man who can truly care for me

Love Search Women seeking relationship/ marriage Oluchi, 34, tall, dark, busty, single mother, in Festac Town, Lagos, needs a responsible, working Igbo man from 38-45 years for marriage. 08164007657. Deborah, 35, Igbo, orphan, needs a widower from 35-45 years. He must be educated, humble, tall, educated, comfortable, for marriage. 07065658063. Nkiru, 31, from Enugu, needs a responsible young man for a serious relationship. 08063677573. Arin Ola, 42, a divorcée with a kid, wants a honest man for a relationship that can lead to marriage. 07082807656. Chichi, 28, from Abia, needs a caring, God fearing, loving man for marriage. 08130775977. Vivian in Enugu, but willing to come to Lagos, needs someone to care for her and help her in her education. 08160542364.

Dear Love Doctor, I’m a young lady living in Lagos. I’m very attractive and men like to be with me. But the problem is that I don’t think that the men around me really know what it takes to care for a woman. I need a man who knows what it means to love someone and has what it takes to care for a lady. If there’s any man among your readers who knows how to care for a lady please give him my number. I need a man who truly cares.

Lora from the middle belt wants a HIV positive man of 35-40 years for marriage. 08090925014. Call Love Doctor: 07031028714, 08131161840, 08077821830 for Counseling, infertility & Direct Hookup.

Thanks.

Men seeking relationship/ marriage

Juliana, 070335018xx

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Juliana,

It’s a good thing that you have an open heart that is ready to give and accept love.

cause of the natural you, that is, because of who you are, and not because of what you have.

With patience you will definitely find someone who truly loves you and cares about you enough to stay committed to you for the long term.

Since you will like to be connected with any of my readers who has what it takes to truly care for a lady, I think there are many readers who will also like to get to know you. Let’s see what happens when they start calling me. However, just remain true to yourself and you will definitely find the

Just continue being who you are, because the one for you will definitely be attracted to you be-

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Ajibola, 38, in Lagos, needs a serious lady above 30 years for a genuine relationship that can lead to marriage. 08075821083. Emmy, works in Lagos, wants a working lady in Lagos who loves receiving cunnilingus. 08077821830. Dele, 50, a media practitioner, needs a working class career lady of 30-38 years for intimate loving relationship that could ultimately climax into decent marriage. 08030729579. Kunle, 40, widower, fair, tall, medical, wants a caring woman from 28 years and above from any tribe. 08103329049.

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com

Mike, tall, living and working in Lagos, needs a tall, fair, Igbo or Yoruba nurse or lawyer between 20-35 years for marriage. 08131161840.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

It happened to me:

‘I stole because of my addiction to shopping’ I

am addicted to shopping. I will go to extreme lengths to get the latest fashion trend. But nothing compares to what I did for my latest fashion fix. I was at lunch with friends in the city and we decided to stop in at the local boutiques for some retail therapy. We entered a very expensive store that always had something fabulous and that day was no exception. I was instantly drawn to a beautiful coat in the window. My friends also started hustling for the coat and asking for sizes from the shop assistant. They only had one in stock but it was my size. I tried it on and fell in love with it. It was gorgeous! I was very nervous to look at the price tag. The lovely coat cost $1500. I couldn’t believe it. There was no way I could afford it. But I just had to have it. That night I went home and tried to think of ways to get the money for the coat. Like I said, I was addicted and convinced myself I needed the coat. I wanted to buy it before anyone else could. If I had the coat, I knew I would be the envy of all my friends. The problem was, it was so out of my reach. A couple of days later my friends and I met up for coffee and as we walked past the boutique I noticed a ‘staff wanted’ sign. I suddenly had a thought. Once my friends and I parted ways, I went to the store and enquired about the job. It was a casual position, mainly weekends.

I turned on my sales persona and told the manager I was interested in finding a second, casual job and had a lot of sales experience. I apologised for not having a resume on me as I had only noticed the sign as I was walking by, but the manager was quite eager to give me a trial anyway. I wasn’t really sure what I was doing. Well, I was in a way, but I couldn’t believe I was actually contemplating it. So I went for my trial, fake resume in hand. The manager gave me a few tasks and then gave me a set target to try and reach before the end of the day. It was really busy and funnily enough the only thing I was nervous about was if one of my friends happened to walk by. That would surely thwart my plan. Thankfully, no familiar faces showed up. My next challenge was to figure out my plan of attack. Lunchtime showed that opportunity. The manager told me she would be leaving for lunch but would only be 20 minutes or so. She took some large bills from the register and said that she was going to get change from the bank. I watched her walk into the bank as I could see it from the boutique. The rush had died down and there was no one left browsing the racks. I knew this was my chance. The coat had been removed from the window dummy earlier as someone was trying it on and it now remained on a centre couch. I quickly picked it up, folded it and stuffed it into a large bag I had

ready. I peeped at the bank to see if the manager had left. She was still in there. I had parked my car just around the corner. I grabbed the bag and ran to my car, leaving the store unattended. I didn’t care at this point. All I knew was that I needed to get the bag out of the shop. I was in and out in less than a minute. I took a quick glance around the shop and everything seemed in place. I composed myself and waited for the manager to return. At this point I was getting very nervous. I had a fair idea of what I was going to say but wasn’t sure it would work. By the time the manager walked in I had put on my frantic face and even managed some tears. I was carrying on in a hysterical panic and she told me to calm down and explain why I was panicking. I told her that a customer had come in and asked for another size in a particular top. I’d gone out the back and when I’d returned the girl was gone and so was the coat. All the manager could do was scream out a huge “What?” I explained that I had only been out the back for one minute but the manager said that I should never have left the front in the first place. I was very afraid she was going to make me pay for the coat, so I said I was only trying to reach budget and that I didn’t want to lose out on a sale. The manager looked distraught. She called the police and told me that I would have to give a full state-

ment of what the thief looked like. I already knew they didn’t have cameras installed. The police asked me to give a description of the girl and I gave the best description I could of my imaginary thief. I kept picturing a girl who I despised so my description would be consistent. After the police left, the manager told me that under the circumstances the trial had not worked out. I put on a devastated face and once again said how sorry I was. I walked to my car and couldn’t believe what I had just pulled off or what I’d done for a coat. I never told anyone what I did. I still have the coat tucked away secretly in my closet. I haven’t even worn it because I am scared the manager might see me in it. Being a small city, it’s quite possible I could bump into her on one of my nights out with the girls. I am waiting until next season to wear my beautiful coat but I have now become quite paranoid that I will get caught. I feel guilty for what I did and of course ashamed that I was so desperate. If I eventually wear the coat and my friends ask where I got it, I am going to say it’s from eBay. Since then I have stopped shopping so much and am considering talking to someone about my compulsive shopping behaviour. When I was younger I used to joke about how much I liked to shop and being a typical shop-oholic. But after what I stooped to, somehow it doesn’t seem so funny any more.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

Mortgages

The lender is the ‘mortgagee’ while the borrower is the ‘mortgagor’ The simple idea of a mortgage is that it is security for loan. In fact a mortgage is birth. i. A contract between the mortgagor and the mortgagee ii. A proprietary interest in the land of the mortgagor granted to the mortgagee. If a mortgage was only a contract, then this would not give the mortgage enough security as if the land was sold then the mortgagor would not have to repay the mortgagee before he/she sold the land. Therefore it must also give an interest in the land. TYPES OF MORTGAGE A mortgage is normally a charge by deed by way of legal mortgage.

CHARGE BY DEED: It is a statutory form of legal mortgage which is shorter and simple than the accustomed form. It states merely that the property has been charged with the debt by way of legal mortgage. There is no conveyance of any estate to the mortgagee. It must be made by deed and must contain a statement that the charge is made by deed and must contain a statement that the charge is made by way of legal mortgage. The effect of such a charge is that the charge get the same protection, powers and remedies as if he has had a term of 3,000 years. ADVANTAGES OF THE CHARGE There are 3 practical advantages in using a legal charge; 1. It is a convenient way of mortgaging a freehold and leasehold estates together. 2. Probably, the granting of a legal charge in a lease does not amount to a breach of any covenant against subletting for the charge creates no actual sublease in favour of the mortgages but merely gives him the same right as if he has a sublease. 3. The form of a legal charge is short and simple. EQUITABLE MORTGAGES 1. Mortgage of an equitable interest: If a mortgagor has no legal estate but an equitable interest, e.g. mortgages the effect must necessarily be equitable. It need not be made by deed but must either be in writing or by will. 2. Informal mortgage: It is a contract to create a legal mortgage which gives an equitable interest to any party entitled to a specific performance. E.g. deposit of title deeds by way of security. Edge v. Worthington

i. The legal date for redemption has passed; ii. If the mortgagor makes the money fall due; iii. Breach of any term of the mortgage or iiii. The occurrence of any such breach e.g. failure to pay interest – Keene v. Biscoe. A foreclosure action gives the mortgagee and all other interested in the equity of redemption an opportunity of redeeming the mortgage or applying for sale in lieu of foreclosure. b. SALE Section 9 of Conveyance Act 1881 gives power of sale in non-PCL states. In the PCL states, every mortgage is made by deed and has a power of sale provided that; i. The mortgage was made by deed ii. The legal money is due i.e. the legal date for redemption has passed. Section 123 (1) of PCL The power of sale is not exercisable unless and until 1. Notice requiring payment of the mortgage money has been served on the mortgagor and default has been made in the payment of part or all of it for three (3) months thereafter. 2. Some interest under the mortgage is two months or more in arrears. 3. There has been a breach of some provision contained in the mortgagedeed. Section 125 of PCL. In general, the power of sale is exercisable without an order of Court. The mortgagee may sell by public auction or private treaty or contract.

2. Remedies primarily for the recovery of interest i. To take possession Section 123 (I) (G) PCL, Section 19 (1) C.A 1881. See Chaplain v. Young ii. Power to appoint a receiver Section 131 (1) PCL, Section 19 C.A 1881, the power is not exercisable until the power of sale is exercisable. RULE AGAINST PERPETUITIES 1. Appointive Property: Property subject to the power of appointment 2. Permission Appointee: Possible beneficiaries 3. Possessory Interest: Allows a beneficiary to possess the property when the interest is conveyed. 4. Future Interest: Allows a beneficiary to possess the property at some time in the future, after the interest has been conveyed. 5. Reversion: When a finite estate ends and there are no other grantees with a future interest in the property, the property will revert back to the grantor. 6. Possibility/Right to Reverts: For instance, if the grantor conveys land to be used to build a church, and the grantee does not build a church, the land will revert back to the grantor automatically. 7. Right to entry: it is similar to a possibility of reverter except that the right of entry gives the grantor a choice to re-enter the property if a condition is not satisfied. However, the grantor must obtain a court order to re-enter the property.

QUESTION

‘I bought land but couldn’t complete payment’ Dear Lawyer,

I purchased a piece of land by depositing part payment for it, but I was unable to complete payment. Is there any effect of failure to pay balance of purchase price of land? Ngozi, Abuja.

EQUITABLE CHARGE An equitable charge is created by appropriating specific property to the discharge of some debt or other obligations without there being any change in ownership either at law or in equity. No special form of words is required. It is sufficient in an intention that the property should constitute security can be gathered – Craddock v. Scottish Provident Institution. The same applies where a will or voluntary settlement charges land with the payment of sum of money. Matthew v. Goodway, Re-Owen. RIGHTS OF THE MORTGAGEE OR CHARGEE A mortgagee may sue for the money due as soon as the date fixed for repayment has arrived but not before there. However, the REMEDIES peculiar to the mortgagee and charge are those for enforcing the security, these are; 1. Remedies primarily for the recovery of capital a. FORECLOSURE By giving the mortgagor an equitable right to redeem after he had lost his legal right of action, equity interfered with the bargain made by the parties. Once the legal date for redemption has passed, the mortgagor’s right to redeem was merely equitable. Foreclosure is the process whereby the mortgagor’s equitable right to redeem is declared by the Court to be extinguished and the mortgage is left as the owner of the property, both at law and in equity. An order of the court is essential for foreclosure. Section 111 (2) PCL. The right to foreclose does not arise until payment had become due at law – Williams v. Morgan. For until the equitable right redeem has arisen, it cannot be extinguished for foreclosure. Repayment is due at law when;

Dear Ngozi, Where a purchaser of land makes part payment of the purchase price but defaulted in paying the balance, possession cannot defeat the vendor’s title. In such a case, the vendor can rescind the contract and resell the property. See Maryam v. Idris (2000) FWLR (Pt. 23) 1237 Ratio 3.

• Do you have questions or seek legal clarification on issues concerning your marriage, probate, property, etc? Call or send a text message to Barr. Ken: 08162016410, 08075763840. Email: kenakpom@yahoo.com

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT Give us an insight about your background? My name is Faith Liberty, I am a Nigerian from Delta State, Asaba to be precise. I live in the UK. I am a Chartered Accountant and presently doing my Ph.D. Music is my passion, it has been my passion from childhood. I have been singing from the age of 10. While I was in the University have been in different choirs. How did you discover your music talent? I have had my company a couple of years now and have had almost everything planned about my workers. Aside from that maybe cash flow or whatever I wasn’t feeling fulfilled not doing what I love most which music. I had a meeting with my manager; I said, do you know why I love music? Because most of the time, I get this songs when I wake up in the morning or when I am sleeping. I would say God give me song in my heart and I write it down and have written over 100 of songs.

With Douglas Omoyooma

Why I dumped Accounting for music – Faith Liberty Born in Nigeria from Delta state, Faith Liberty has not only taken her professional expertise as an accountant to Queen`s country, but her music career to Londoners who marvelled at her prowess how she combines music and account. Recently the fair- incompletion mother of three came to visit her country-home with her new drop hit gospel songs. In an exclusive interview with Entertainer, she went down memory lane how it all started and her journey so far. Excerpt:

How do you combine music with your profession and being a mother? I concentrate more in my personal career; despite I was dabbing with personal career and education, kids and all. I found myself I don’t miss choir practice, I was a choir leader for years. I write new songs and sing and still do professional work. One day I asked myself why don’t I just put these together and do something. I spoke with my manager about it and that’s how we came up with songs. I don’t how my customers are going feel; it is because they see me different person. But I encouraged myself, saying my passion. There is one saying that whatever job you do, you must do something that gives you joy like fulfilment. What was your experience when you first drop your album? I did an album I had about 8 songs and everybody love them. We did the launching in the UK and more than 80% of the activities came from where I managed by my company, a lot of them where so fascinated they were like; madam how do you do this? As in manage my company and your music thing? And I said you know the music helps me to focus and manage your company. They asked how do you place it and I said because when I am happy I can plan your company properly. I would have a more positive result for your company. You wouldn’t believe it was an amazing support I got from the • Faith Liberty SME that I managed. Even some of them very open person. brought me to their churches and buy cartons of CD’s of the songs. Were you an entertainer; are you extroSome career women always have issue vert or introvert at growing up? I was a bit of extroverted not introvertwith spouse in terms home front; what ed at all. I would say in that area I was is your secret? highly introverted both in sensing and The first key to safeguarding the marriage is communication, communication feeling. I started singing at the age of 10 in the children choir from there I moved is very important. If you are a career woman and your husband, you are open up to the senior choir even at the age of to everything you are doing to your hus- 12, I was already in the youth choir I was band whatever your achievement, your a soloist and each time I sing, most men of God that come to the church, will alhusband sees it in the interest of the ways prophecy and saying I am daughter family, I think that would motivate you of Zion, anointed vessel and all this stuff and give you more support. If you are a so that got into my head. I was like ok career woman and everything you do wow my voice is anointed. I know I can is for you alone. Like most women do, do it from childhood and also I would be they will still collect from their husband in my house and people would come to and add to their career and everything. my house and knock, we were directed I think the man would be like one day, to you that you can sing, please come you know I am so stressed; she is doing and help us with this album which have everything for herself, but if the man supported couples of album. sees that what you are doing is for the family as well. I think he would support Was there any difference sing gospel you. We have been married for 18 years abroad and here in Nigeria? What really and I have always had the support I brought to the country? needed because I have always been a

I came to Nigeria because this is where Pidgin English can be really refined. I wanted them to listen to the song and to see if the pidgins are correct. I was privileged to have Wole Oni as my producer; he didn’t even make any corrections. He was like, that is good. I think I only did one studio so he was like that is ok we don’t need any more thing let me complete it and we did the video shoot and everything is working fine. How do you think your music will survive in Nigeria gospel setting with the big names? I appreciate all their doing, my priority right now is not competition or breaking into the circle or breaking out of the circle. I am just myself, I believe in where God is taking me to. It is not about the money or about the fame because I wouldn’t say I am poor because I am self sponsored. I wouldn’t say I am poor and I wouldn’t say I am the richest either. I would say I am in the middle, I would say I am comfortable. I am not looking to have competition with anybody. I just

want to be myself. I just want to be who God want me to be. I believe that if God want to take you somewhere he takes you there. Among all your song which one is your favourite? My favourite right now is my latest single which is ‘Do me well’ is not yet on air, I think my promotion manager should know the date. We are promoting that `Do me well’ we want to push it to the extreme. What are the challenges you are facing at moment? Since I have been doing music, I would only talk about personal challenges and the only personal challenges have had in the past is me putting more time in the music because it is quite challenging which I am working on personally. I don’t see outside challenges at all because I have a message to give out I am interest on how the message can reach people and I am not interested in competition at all so I don’t see any challenge.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

Entertainment

AMBON berths

• Juliet Ezeigwe ( 3rd from right) with members of the Isidore cast

Isidore clinches Script2Screen Africa Reality TV show star prize

he grand finale of Script2Screen Africa reality TV show took place last weekend at the Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria Island, Lagos and a clip entitled Isidore emerged winner in the Overall Best Short Film Award. Produced by Group 4, and directed by Nuhu Dalyop, Isidore won a prize money of N1m and was selected as the Best Film of the show. According to the Project Director, Script2Screen Africa Reality, Osas Osamor: “Script2Screen is part of our commitment to establish a world-

class film academy and studio in Nigeria which will empower passionate young African generations to sell Africa’s unique stories. “With the theme, Film as a Catalyst for Revolution and sub-themed, Corruption Free Nigeria, the reality TV show’s focus is to raise a new breed of filmmakers who will tell stories that will question the status quo, disrupt the conventional, change the narrative, reconstruct the headlines and reinvent the future of Nigeria, whilst also understanding that though film

is big business, it has the capacity to create social impact.” Assistant Director of the award winning ‘Isidore’, Juliet Ezeigwe said she went into script writing because of the ugly incident that happened to her while she was growing up. “I was raped by my School bus driver who took advantage of my innocence while I was growing up. As a result, I want to use film to create awareness to the unsuspecting parents and the entire public,” she stated.

n a bid to protect the interests of live band owners, a new platform, AMBON has berthed in Nigeria. At a press brief to unveil the platform in Lagos, its president, Akin Shuga, enumerating on the benefits of the association said: “ A few years ago we set out to establish an association founded on the principles of humanitarian service, constituted in the spirit of excellence and nursed in dedication to duty, and as such AMBON is set to proudly stand as the foremost association that dictates standards for quality and timeless live band music in Nigeria.” Enumerating the vision of AMBON he continued: “AMBON will help develop, empower and organise the live music sector. We deserve a meaningful voice in decisions that affect us and it behooves upon us to harness the opportunity to develop our talents and skills. Among others he stated that the Association will bargain contracts and exercise collective power to improve wages and working conditions of members. It will also expand the role of musicians in work place decision-making and build a stronger base. “After a global 20-year decline, we are seeing growth, in fact, double-digit growth. Music is being created and consumed at a higher rate than ever before. More live bands and artists are on the road doing gigs, touring, which means fans are patronising.” According to him, statistics in the United States indicate that live music ticket sales revenue will grow from $7.2 billion U.S.D in 2015 to $9.1 billion in 2021. Consequently, collaborations between musicians and brands are more prevalent than ever. What are we doing to take advantage of these opportunities?” he asked retorically.

Frank Edwards, Chioma Jesus thrill as Over To God 2018 kicks-off

Tobi Ex-BBNaija star says he would ‘kill’ Cee C, Nina, marry Alex

ormer BBNaija star, Tobi has come out to say that he would kill Cee C and Nina but he will marry Alex. Don’t be scared guys, he only said this while playing the ‘Smash, Marry, or Kill’ game at Cool FM. When asked who he would Smash, Marry or Kill among Cee C, Nina and Alex, the BBNaija finalist gave a shocking answer. “I’ll kill Nina, kill Cee-C, marry Alex. I won’t smash either of the two,” he answered. He went on to say that he cant date Cee C, saying that she needs to work on her emotions. Tobi has got to be one of the most talked about housemates since the

end of the third season of the reality T.V. show. as we remember a few days ago, Tobi’s rumoured girlfriend, Regina came out to say she isn’t threatened by Alex. Looks like someone was just trying to get on Regina’s nerves as a certain lady with the Instagram handle, @zionnqueen took to her page to write what may have incited Regina. “I wait for the fight and competition between Alex and Regina to start. Thank God my King is out of that shit. #BBNaija,” she wrote. This might have actually gotten on Regina’s nerves as she then took to her own Instagram page where she said she won’t be in

the shadows of anyone. “I see things like this and laugh! Women who have this mentality lack self-worth, I dare say! I won’t talk too much...but I know this, I am too POWERFUL to be in anyone’s shadow! #identityconcious,” she replied. The BBNaija season 3 ended on Sunday, April 22, 2018, after 85 entertaining days, Miracle was declared the winner of the third season of the Big Brother Naija show. He beat finalists Cee-C, Tobi, Nina, and Alex to win the grand prize worth 45 million naira. The housemate was announced as the winner by Ebuka Obi Uchendu.

Lagos Central will liberate minds – Chike Nwagbogu

ecessity they say is the mother of invention and as the recession bites harder, indeed it is a time for innovation. Welcome to the world of Frank Nwambueze, the artiste revolutionising how artistes express their creativity on canvas. Recently, the artiste held an exhibition for his works at Bogobiri House, Ikoyi, tagged: Lagos Central, which attracted the creme de la came of the visual arts world in Nigeria. Speaking, Chike Nwagbogu said: “Everything here is made from throne away fabric. Frank Nwambueze is a new direction in visual arts. He invented a new approach to painting because of the rising cost of acrylic and oil paints which are imported and expensive due

to the recession but in a moment of eureka, he stumbled upon waste from his mum’s sewing workshop and saw a kaleidoscope of colours and possibility in the scrap that she had cut away and he got creative. “Inspired, he began to gather scrap from other tailors and he created these great art works. The idea is to catalogue that essence of lagos, that spirit dynamism and change. He was able to go beyond conventional wisdom and created something unique and his work is challenging contemporary artiste to look inwards and find new approaches to their works rather than depending on foreign materials. “The objective of Lagos Central to catalogue life in the fast evolving city

called Lagos from the point of view of the visual artiste. Lagos Central is trying to catalogue those old things of beauty in relation to this new art and show the essence and the beauty of the city’s sights and sounds. We are hoping to travel around the world and show the kind of elegance and sophistry that comes out of lagos. Speaking on the objective of the exhibition, Nwagbogu continued: “It is basically to literate the mind, break loose from the shackles of neo colonialism. In the words of Femi Kuti, young boy, young girl, it is your time to shine. This is Africa’s time to shine and the world knows it but we are a little bit slow to realise it. It is all about us; the arts is our most brilliant celebration.”

• Frank Edwards

t was an outpouring of prayers, prophesy, praise and worship as the 21-Day Holy Ghost Convocation of Christ World Gospel Ministry themed Over to God 2018 kicked-offon March 18 at Idimu Lagos kickd-off. On hand to thrill guests were Tope Alabi, Frank Edward, Bola Aare, Yinka Ayefele, Chioma Jesus, Dare Justified and Dare Melody among a hot of others. The program had Bishop Isaac Idahosa ministering on the first day of the programme while the General Overseer of Christ World Gospel Ministry, Prophet Bankole Olanrewaju talked about the reason for the program which he said was a revelation from God.

Duro Ikujenyo, Ayinke Martins shut down Freedom Park

uro Ikujenyo & Age of Aquarius band, featuring Ayinke Martins and Tony Ogaga celebrated Workers Week with a performance at Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Thursday, May 3, from 6pm to 10pm with rendition of Afro beat, Highlife, Spoken Words and Jazz music. Speaking, Duro Ikujenyo said: “We dedicate this performance to billions of workers all over the world and most especially, Africa and Nigeria. The present situation of the Nigerian economy has worsened the condition of workers whose salaries can barely sustain them and their families. This has also increased the rate of corruption, anger, annoyance, hypertension, and death. This situation dates back to the years of slaver.” According to him: “We believe that Africa would be united and rise to global industrial levels where workers would benefit from Africa’s great resources and be very proud and happy to work as Africans. Long live Nigerian workers.”

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

Only PDP can win elections in Bayelsa – Dickson

By CLEM ONYEMAECHI, Yenagoa

AYELSA State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has boasted that only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the capacity to win elections in the state. The governor who stated this Friday at the State PDP secretariat in Yenagoa while receiving about 5,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who returned to the PDP, said the Government in Bayelsa under his watch has placed the state on the path of peace, prosperity and development, adding that Bayelsans are happy with the party. “The PDP is the only party that has a developmental agenda for the Ijaw people. What we do in PDP is to strategize to win elections and after elections we work for the development of our people because we are in politics to serve our people. ‘The other party comes to kill our people because they lack the vision, they have no agenda for our people except to destroy what our founding fathers have built and what our Restoration Government is consolidating. Except us, no person, nobody in the SouthSouth in any party had won election under the ruling APC. “We were the first to win election in the South-South under the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency. Any person who is deceived to contest election in 2019 on another platform other than PDP will still lose because only PDP can win elections in

Bayelsa State. ‘I am very grateful to all our brothers and sisters for taking the decision to return but while you were away, our party became very cohesive and strong with order and discipline. So watch out for those who want to divide you and give encouragement and sow seed of discord. ‘On behalf of your government and the leadership of the PDP, we promise all of you level playing ground and fair play. You are welcome back home to your party. All the leaders who have come, none of them should suffer any loss of prestige or seniority, all of them should be incorporated into the appropriate organs of the team, from their communities, wards, local government area and at the state level The Governor charges the party leadership not to allow any of the returnees suffer on account of their earlier mistake of jilting the PDP.” Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP, Hon Moses Cloepas, said only his party has the capacity to defeat the Federal might as it did in 2016 when Governor Dickson was re-elected against all odds. In 2019, Cloepas said PDP will re-enact its winning streak by sweeping the polls. “Bayelsa PDP is invincible. No force can defeat us. The APC deployed all the repressive apparatus to capture Bayelsa by hook or crook in 2016 but we deployed People’s power to re-elect Governor Seriake Dickson, a performing Governor, a visionary leader and leader of

Okowa appoints 9 new permanent secretaries G

overnor Ifeanyi Okowa has approved the appointment of nine permanent secretaries for the Delta State’s civil service and the Hospital Management Board. A statement signed, Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Charles Aniagwu in Asaba, said the appointment was in line with government’s desire to rejig the state’s civil service and reposi-

tion it for effective service delivery. The new permanent secretaries are Mr Fred Edafioghor, Mr S.E.O. Dietake, Mr F.N Anuku, Mr U.M. Aloba and Mr L.O. Kekema. Others are Mrs A. Arthur-Prest Umukoro, Mr C.N. Akpatiakwachukwu, Mrs G.A Puegeren and Dr A.I. Pemu. The appointees would be sworn in at a later date.

Ebonyi Govt to clamp down on substandard schools By CHINEDU NWAFOR

pecial Assistant (SA) to Governor Umahi on Primary Education, Hon. Chinyere Nwani has said the state government has given management of the mushroom schools operating in the state a grace period upgrade their facilities or face permanent closure. The decision follows the Ebonyi State Government’s move to eradicate substandard private, nursery and primary schools operating in the state. She said the state government has mapped out N8 billion Bank of Industry loan for every Ebonyian to access including

owners of private schools for the purpose of development. She said the Governor David Umahi-led administration does not discriminate between private and public schools in its effort to transform educational sector in the state, adding that the state government had the plans to build structures for some private schools in the state but urged them to be united. “During our monitoring exercise recently we observed that some persons are operating schools in their kitchens but we have advised them to do needful as fast possible or risk being shut”, she said.

the party in the state. All of you returning to the party are welcome. You won’t suffer any loss or discrimination...” Special Adviser on Politics to the Governor, Chief Fynman Wilson said the PDP apparatus in the state are working hard to mop up the remnants of the tiny opposition in the state back. Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Kombowei Benson said the Governor is “God-fearing and has taken

Bayelsa State from darkness and the light of God is now shinning on us.” He pledged the continuous support and collaboration of the legislature with the executive arm. The leaders of the 5, 000 APC returnees include; former members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, who include; Hon. Vivian-Ere Imananagha and Hon. Johnson Alalibo and Dr. O. O. Osusu, former Special Adviser on Economic Matters,

Hon. (Dr) Michael Amaegberi, former Commissioner-Civil Service Commission, Dr. (Mrs) Love Amaseimogha. Others are: Former Chairman of Sagbama LGA, Hon. Evelyn S.B Odi, former ChairmanKolokuma/Opokuma LGA, Hon. Woyengikuro Inieyeri, former Chairman-Ekeremor LGA, Hon. John Ebikake, former Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Stephen Ogullah and former Commissioner for Transport, Fred Nyanayo.

•Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presiding over the signing of the Ogoni Trust Fund Escrow Agreement at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Wike calls for the passage of Host Communities Bill

IVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that the passage of the Host Communities Bill aspect of the Petroleum Industry Bill will give oil producing communities a sense of belonging. Speaking at the Government House Port Harcourt on Wednesday during a Courtesy Visit by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill, Governor Wike said that the bill when passed will address the challenges faced by oil producing communities. He said: “This is an important aspect of the Petroleum Industry Bill as it concerns the host communities. The host communities will become a component part of the entire process. “The oil producing communities are bedevilled by all kinds of environmental challenges. The passage of the host communities bill will give them a sense of belonging “. Governor Wike added that the passage of the bill will also enhance the security of petroleum pipelines because of the involvement of the Host Communities in the production process. According to the governor, setting aside a certain percentage of funds for the development of host communities is vital. He urged the Senate Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill to visit all slated communities for the necessary interracttion as regards their peculiar needs. Earlier, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill, Senator Kabiru Marafa

said the Senate attaches importance to the passage of the Host Communities Bill. He said that the Host Communities Bill will be passed before the long vacation of the Senate. He added that the initiative to segment the bill was to ease the

passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill. “On the assumption of office, the eight National Assembly took it upon itself to break the jinx and pass the Petroleum Industry Bill once and for all”, he said.

Obio/Akpor youths picket Agip, demand economic empowerment

ome youths under the aegis of Obio/Akpor Youth Association, Monday picketed the entrance of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, demanding economic empowerment. The youths arrived at the company’s main entrance before 7a.m., displaying placards with different inscriptions. The youths chanted solidarity songs calling on the company to provide employment and economic empowerment opportunities for them. Chairman of the youth group and leader of the protesters, Mr Chijoke Ihunwo, said they resorted to staging the protest after all efforts to get the company’s attention

failed. Ihunwo said the company should as a matter of priority involve youths from the host communities in upcoming employment opportunities. “We cannot be playing host to a company such as Agip and our people are wallowing in poverty and hunger. We have the human and material resources good enough to get some of us empowered economically; that is the reason for this protest,’’ he said. Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, the company has entered into a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the protesting youths and representatives of the council.

Delta Govt approves N233.78m contract for upgrading of Asaba water scheme

elta State Government has approved over N233.78 million and N144.29 million contracts for the upgrading of the Asaba and Ughelli water schemes respectively. The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Fidelis Tilije, who said this during the annual ministerial media briefing on Monday in Asaba, the state capital, stated that when completed, the project would improve the volume of public water supply in the two cities. The commissioner said that the ministry was determined to pro-

vide potable water to Delta residents particularly those in the urban centers. He said that the contract included installation of water prepayment metres which would enable direct connection of public water to 2,000 and 1,000 individual households in Asaba and Ugheli respectively. The commissioner said only interested households would connect water to their houses after the upgrading because they would be required to pay for the water supply.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

‘2nd Niger Bridge’ll be awarded before 2019’ Cont’d from Pg 2

3.31 kilometre-long road section on the Delta side, including a 500 metre-long toll plaza; a 1.59 kilometres tolled concrete box-girder bridge with two superstructures; and a 7.0 kilometre-long road section on the Anambra side. It is expected that the bridge would be constructed and delivered in 48 months. When completed, the bridge and approach roads will have six lanes with three in each direction. Phase 2a is connected to the Asaba-Benin Expressway while Phase 2b is connected to the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway. Phases 2a and 2b together constitute the feeding approach roads. “Out of the N108 billion project cost, the Federal Government has already made a commitment to contribute N30 billion, which represented 28 per cent. The JBINMIC consortium would raise the remaining funds for the construction, operation and maintenance of the bridge and adjacent roads of Phase 1 under a 25-year concession. “The Federal Government contributed N18.31billion out of its commitment of N30billion, comprising N8.464billion from SURE-P budget in August 2014 for early works II and a further $50million (about N9.8billion) from its Eurobond loan for the execution of early works III.” The N10.4 billion of the fund allocated due the Federal Government, which was contributed by the Sovereign Wealth Fund has so far been disbursed, leaving a balance of about N7.94 billion of government contribution with the sponsors. “The Second Niger Bridge, along with adjacent roads, would be 11.9km in length and have six (6) lanes with three (3) in each direction. It was expected that the bridge would be constructed and delivered in 48 months,” NSIA added. Questions have been raised as to whether the project has now changed to one fully funded by government, with many wondering what would happen to the payments that the Federal Government made under the PPP. Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo last October made the most recent high profile government pronouncement on the bridge. He announced at the flag-off of the governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Onitsha, October 20, that the Federal Government had paid contractors $2b to commence work on the bridge, in fulfillment of electoral promises APC made in 2015. Hours after the Vice President spoke, a statement from his Office reversed the position, saying the actual amount that the Sovereign Wealth Fund had released for the project was N2 billion. Neither the contractor nor government was willing to confirm if N2 billion or more was released to the contractor for it to return to site. Vice President Osinbajo made two different statements about the bridge in two months. “President Buhari went to China to negotiate with them about the Second Niger Bridge and EastWest road,” Osinbajo, said at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Ifitedunu, Anambra State, on 29 September 2017, during the funeral mass for Mrs. Rosaline Ezinma Akabueze, mother of Ben Akabueze, Director-General of the Budget Office. Senator Chris Ngige, who in 2014

called the project a fraud, was seated at the Ifitedunu event, as Minister of Labour but did not say anything about the bridge. “The first is that the bridge is being built on a Public Private Partnership (PPP), deal, with overseas financiers. For that reason, the cost of the bridge suffered double inflation, both from the Nigeria end and the financiers who alleged cost of fund,” Ngige said as the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State chapter was being launched in July 2014. “The bridge, which should have cost N70 billion is now to cost N114 billion, that was why I told the South East Senate Caucus that I was not going to be a part of it. As a governor in this State, I resisted that arrangement from Mr. Obasanjo. “In the budget, we have similar bridges and same length built for free by the Federal Government. Why should that built for the South East be toll gated? That bridge will have two toll gates, one in the Asaba end and one in the Onitsha end. Before you pass through it and come back, you would have spent N1, 000 that is injustice. We will continue to fight to ensure that the bridge is not toll gated”. Ngige had confirmed that there was a contract in place to do the bridge. What was the reference the Vice President made to China? Where were the Chinese to come into the project? The Oracle Today was told that the persistent concerns were about the funding of the project. “What would N2 billion do for a N108 billion at the older, friend exchange rate of N154/$, considering the current exchange rate? When would government budgetary allocations be enough to complete the work? If N20 billion is released for the project annual-

ly, it would take over five years to complete it, assuming the cost is still N108 billion,” said one of those very familiar with the project. “On March 10, President Goodluck Jonathan performed a ground-breaking ceremony of the Second River Niger Bridge at the Krisoral ground, Atani, Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State. Julius Berger is carrying out the early works on the project and has been named preferred bidder of the EPC contract on the project’s main phase,” Berger said on its website. Berger started work on the site, laying beams. Its abandoned equipment was there for more than two years. It also established a work yard by the foot of the old Niger Bridge, near the Inland Waters office and the Onitsha Sea Port. Its location gives it easy access to the project site to the Harbour Industrial Layout. However, there may be issues. Berger may be parading a letter awarding it the contract, but the government seems to have another plan. The N2b that the Vice President said was paid to contractors was for “preliminary works”. What preliminary works on a project that the execution had commenced? Berger celebrated its hold on the contract during its annual general meeting in 2014 in Abuja. “Work on the long-awaited second Niger bridge has commenced, Wolfgang Goetsch, its Managing Director told shareholders at its the 43rd annual general meeting. According to Goetsch, the Federal Government had given Julius Berger a letter of intent, which would enable it to do preliminary work such as, soil testing and engineering design. The bridge is to be built under the private public partnership arrangement. Goetsch continued, “A consortium that included a company

from South Africa participated in the bidding for the project. In January 2013, our group became the preferred bidder. We are excited because it will be the first of its kind in Nigeria”. Retired AVM Nurudeen Imam, announced Berger’s successfully entry into the PPP market and its selection as preferred bidder for the second River Niger Bridge project. These are the most recent confusions. A source familiar with the project stated that nobody “is talking about which of the designs would be implement, or the company that won the design.” He painted a clearer picture of the confusion stretching it to Obasanjo, who Ngige mentioned earlier. “President Obasanjo used the as a publicity stunt from his campaigns in 1999 to the most brazen move he made two days before leaving office. On 27 May 2007, he claimed to have flagged off the construction of the project,” the source recalled. “No contract was signed. There wasn’t even a design for the bridge.” “If strategic national importance is the criterion for direct federal funding, second Niger Bridge merits as much attention as these other mega projects. It is a major link to the whole length of eastern half of Nigeria, from Onitsha through Benue to North East, yet the two host States which can barely source enough funds for their internal development were nearly sentenced to the burden of PPP contributions,” Senator Uche Chukwumereije had said at the Senate. Obasanjo said that the project was to be funded in this manner, 60-20-20. The Federal Government would provide 60 per cent of the funds, while Anambra and Delta States would cough out 20 per cent each. Complications that the funding plans could raise may stall the work forever, said one of the sources. “If government insists on funding the bridge, the partners in the earlier PPP processes would fight and that means that there would be no new bridge across the River Niger in the next five years, if ever,” an expert who did not want his name in print said. “A cancellation of a PPP that has gone through the scrutiny of the ICRA has dangerous implications for confidence of investors in government. Has the government considered the signals it is sending to investors?” The government’s decision to stop the contract, the collapse of the exchange rate have more than doubled the cost of the project. Where would the government find the money?

“Where would government that complains of scare resources find the funds for the 2nd Niger Bridge? How much would be approved annually to get close the former contract cost, not to talk of the reviewed one?” There are also talks of the proposed rails linking Lagos with the South East and South South being a part of the bridge. Nobody is willing to provide more details. Doyin Okupe, former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan shared these insights about the 2nd Niger Bridge: • The bridge is NOT being constructed by the FGN. • It’s a PPP project which the FGN contributes a tiny fraction. • The 2nd Niger Bridge will cost about N117 billion. • Started in 2013 and should have been completed in 2017, but worked stopped for 31 months. Completion date not certain now. • FGN share of the cost is N30billion. Jonathan through the Sure-P paid N21.2billion (71%) including N7billion for the completion of preparatory work (Phase 1). •38% of the work had been done as at Jan 2015. •The N140b Oshiomole said was wasted on admin cost on the bridge was a lie, as admin cost will not be higher than the cost of the whole project. • Buhari’s Government paid N2billion NOT $2billion as Osinbajo said during the Anambra State election. They will be paying another N3.05 when 2018 budget is approved. • Work has restarted in earnest at the site and about 5%-7% has been completed bring the total completed work to about 43% to 45% according to an engineer I spoke to. • All the pictures flying all over the Internet are pictures of workin-progress made during the 1st quarter of 2015. • In summary Jonathan’s government has paid 71% of FGN’s share of the cost, while Buhari’s government has paid 6.1%. • Julius Berger, the major contractor and construction company will put toll gate on completion of the bridge to recover its cost. • The construction company is funding the project and the people using the bridge will bear the cost via toll charges. •The real people building the bridge are Nigerians that will use the bridge, as they will repay the cost to Julius Berger. •For those celebrating politicians and sharing old or fake pictures of 2nd Niger Bridge, the #Facts are Not on your side With these contradicting positions on the 2nd Niger Bridge, when would it be completed?

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

You collected bribe to free kidnap suspect – Imo community accuses police

By COLLINS UGHALAA

NDIGENES of Umuowa-Ibu Community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State have stormed the Imo State Police Command in Owerri to register their protest over allegations of bribery and unlawful release of a kidnap suspect from the police custody. Displaying placards with so many inscriptions, the angry community accused the command of collecting the sum of N5 million to free the alleged kidnapper who is also a native of the community. According to a petition addressed to the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, the indigenes said the freed suspect has now started threatening members of the community once more. The Oracle Today had reported recently that the community apprehended and subsequently handed over the kidnap suspect to the police

following the kidnapping of a child. In a petition presented to the police command and signed by the President-General, Benjamin Emere, Vice-President General, Jonas Egbu, the Secretary, Cosmos Arogu; the Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Okorie; and the Woman Leader, Helen Akazie, the community lamented that the police collected a bribe in order to free the kidnapper. “With a devastated mind, we write to draw the attention of the CP to a serious case of kidnapping in our community. Our children, Chisom Nnadi, Ekene and one other little girl were kidnapped in our community. “The matter was handled by the anti-kidnapping unit. Painfully, the suspect was released and he has returned to the community, bragging that he got off the hook by giving the police N5m”. However, reacting, the state commissioner of police said the allegation of bribery was not true.

Speaking to the press at the police command, the Commissioner said there was no evidence linking the suspect to any crime, even as he noted that while the suspect was being held in police custody some indigenes of the community destroyed

his house. He said after a thorough investigation, the command released the suspect because there was nothing linking him to the alleged missing children. “Criminality is not by suspicion; it

is by evidence. Justice is for everybody. It is their right to protest, but I have asked the Security Intelligence Bureau of the Command to investigate the bribery allegation,” the CP added.

APGA BoT member warns against imposition of candidates

EMBER of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has urged the party’s leadership to ensure party-loyalty and merit in deciding who bears its flag in elections. Ezeonwuka made the call when Mr Chido Obidiegwu, an aspirant for Ihiala Federal Constituency visited the Ogilisi Foundation in Oba Idemili South, Anambra on Monday. APGA has yet to release the timetable for its primary elections ahead of the 2019 general elections. The chieftain said it was gladdening that APGA had become the beautiful bride for all political office aspirants and interests. However, he warned that it was important to consider those who had contributed to the growth of the party first at payback time. Ezeonwuka, who is also the spiritual leader of APGA, said that many people were coming into the party not because they believed in its ideology but because they needed it as a platform to clinch positions. He said giving tickets to such people at the detriment of loyal and qualified party men would spell doom for the unity, stability and prosperity of APGA as a party. “We have people who have worked for the party and are equally qualified to occupy political positions and Obidiegwu is one of these people. Now, there are rolling and fair weather politicians who are coming into the party because they feel APGA is viable now and that they can use it as platform to win election or settle their stooges. “As a chieftain of this party, I am saying we should not allow these new friends to come and grab what should go to those who have toiled and nurtured APGA. Obidiegwu is one of such persons; he has worked for Gov. Willie Obiano and for APGA as the chief anchor of events, he brought glamour to Anambra politics,’’ he told NAN. “The message for our moneybags is that APGA appreciates them but we will not condone imposition, they should patiently wait for their turn, especially as we go into primary elections. Our dear governor who is the Leader and BoT Chairman of

APGA should not allow imposition of candidates. “It has failed us in the past, the party should insist that those who are qualified and are in touch with the grassroots within the party are given tickets.’’ On his part, Obidiegwu, the Senior Special Assistant to Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano on Events, said the visit was part of his wide consultations with the grassroots and stakeholders on his aspiration. Obidiegwu said that though he was most qualified for the job among his contenders, he was more encouraged by the quantum of approval he had received from the people of the constituency.

•Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (waving), with his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (left); Commissioner for Establishment, Training & Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson; Head of Service, Mrs. Folasade Adesoye (2nd right) during the 2018 Workers’ Day celebration at the Agege Stadium, Lagos, on Tuesday.

PDP boycotts July 14 Imo LG poll By COLLINS UGHALAA

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has said that it will not be part of the July 14, 2018 local government election holding in the state. The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) had announced that the local govern-

PUBLIC NOTICE AND CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known as MISS AMAEFULA JOY CHINWENDU. Now wish to be known as MRS AMASIOKWU JOY CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid,Banks and General public take note.

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ment election will hold on July 14, 2018, with the more than 600 autonomous communities serving as wards. Recall that the Governor had upon assumption of office in 2011 sacked the elected local government chairmen and councillors. Since then he has not conducted LGA elections, despite announcing on several occasions that the elections would hold. The PDP said it is boycotting the LGA polls in obedience to the advice given to the state government by the Supreme Court not to hold the polls. In a press release signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Damian Opara, the PDP said: “We will abide by Supreme Court advice on Imo LG election”, adding that its attention has been drawn to a “subterranean plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Governor Rochas Okorocha to disobey the nation’s Apex Court directive that the Kangaroo local government elections being packaged to defraud unsuspecting political parties and their candidates, in Imo State be put on hold until the Supreme Court determines the case between the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Imo State and the Imo State government”. According to the press release, the PDP said “it shall not take part in the purported election”, as it further called on “all Nigerians particularly, political parties in Imo State, not to fall into this booby trap of Governor Okorocha, as any money spent by anybody in respect of the purported local government election in Imo State tantamount to an effort futility. “On Monday (23rd April), the Supreme Court upon the oral application of Barr. Ngozi Olehi, counsel to ALGON, Imo State, directed all

parties in the suit before the Apex Court, to keep off from entertaining or participating in any activity pertaining to local government elections in Imo State until the determination of the appeal before it. The Apex Court’s advice is clear and unambiguous except of course, to Governor Okorocha, whose disdain for rule of law is legendary. “It is a known fact in Nigeria today that the Imo State government under Okorocha has acquired notoriety for disobedience to lawful conducts and court’s directives. “The PDP Imo State, in restating its commitment to rule of law and obedience to judicial pronouncements, hereby advises political parties and their candidates, to ignore Okorocha’s propaganda that there was no Supreme Court’s advice to stop the LG elections. As a capitalist, Governor Okorocha will stop at nothing to make money for himself, family and in-laws at the expense of Imo people. “We thereby call on Imo people and indeed, Nigerians to prevail on Governor Rochas Ethelbert Okorocha to stop ridiculing our judicial system by his relentless disobedience to court orders. “The incontestable fact as at now remains that there will be no local government election in Imo State in July, 2018 courtsey of the Supreme Court’s advice of Monday, April 23rd, 2018 and anybody or institutions who intends to disregard the advice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria is begging for chaos. “PDP Imo State thereby, calls on all our teaming supporters to ignore the propaganda and lies of the APC government in Imo State to that fact that there was no advice or directive by the Supreme Court against the conduct of the purported Local Government Election in Imo State”.

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

Ikwo/Enyigba communal crisis: You are useless – Umahi blasts Elechi By CHINEDU NWAFOR

OVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi state has lamented the wanton killings taking place in the renewed land dispute between the people of Alike-Ikwo in Ikwo council and the neighboring Enyigba community in Abakaliki council of the state. Umahi who spoke during a special meeting with stakeholders of Ikwo and Abakaliki local government areas at the Government House Abakaliki, Friday, carpeted his predecessor, Martin Elechi, as he described him as ‘a useless elder’ following his (Elechi) claims that the crisis was politically-motivated. Ex-governor Elechi hails from Alike, one of the communities involved in the land dispute that has claimed many lives and millions of naira worth of property. Governor Umahi visited the warring communities Friday with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) leadership, clergy, Elders and some state functionaries. At the meeting, he disclosed

that he could not withstand the mindless killings taking place in the area. While condemning Elechi for not doing anything about the dispute, Umahi said everything was not all about politics and warned that if nothing was done urgently the land dispute would escalate. “What I saw this afternoon was annoying. I couldn’t continue the journey. We just stopped at both sides where we saw innocent and defenceless women, children and men that are over 90 years old being slaughtered like ice fish because even chicken cannot take that dimension in slaughtering. “What I said was, let the spirit of God guide me in this meeting and the spirit of God is one. The same spirit that told me that everyone in this meeting knows what is happening also told Fr. Abraham Nwali. Without people in this room, what is happening will not happen. “The spirit of God told me that everyone in this room will enter into a covenant with Him. Everyone that has hand in this, either from Abakaliki or Ikwo must

1,500 vulnerable children, care givers benefit from USAID scheme in Anambra By IBE NWACHUKWU

o fewer than 1,500 vulnerable children and care-givers from various communities in Anambra state have so far benefited from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored empowerment scheme. The scheme which kicked off in April, 2015, with the enrollment of numerous orphans and vulnerable persons from various communities, was implemented by Widows/Orphans Empowerment Organization (WEWE), in conjunction with Local Partner Initiative in Nigeria (LOPIN), through the South-Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO). The scheme was carried out in some local government areas of the state, including Ayamelum, Anambra East and Awka North. In Ayamelum, Igbakwu, Omor and Ifite-Ogwari communities benefited, while in Anambra East, Nando, Aguleri and Enugwu-Otu benefited, just as Ebenebe, Ugbenu, Mgbakwu, Amanuke, Achalla and Awba-Ofemili communities were beneficiaries. LOPIN’s Deputy Chief of Party, Miss Ngozi Orame who disclosed this at Igbakwu community in Ayamelum Local government Area of the state, Wednesday, during the issuance of certificates of registration to Village Savings/ Loans Associations, (VSLAs) who were registered as cooperative societies, said the vulnerable persons were assembled according to the list released by the communities themselves. Flanked by Anambra state LOPIN Programme Officer, Barrister Mrs. Uju Efobi, Orame explained that the empowerment programme was not designed to distribute cash to the beneficiaries who are the vulnerable persons to enjoy themselves, but to impact skills to them so that they

can engage themselves meaningfully in various skills, earn their living and become self-reliant. In his own speech, WEWE’s Monitoring/Evaluation Director, Dr. Charles Uzondu explained that through the sponsorship of the programmes by USAID, WEWE-LOPIN had succeeded in training VSLAs in those communities in various skills, including the formation of themselves into cooperative societies in order to get credit facilities from appropriate channels and become selfemployed and even employers of labour. Uzondu expressed satisfaction that the programme which commenced barely four years ago, has empowered many vulnerable individuals and groups to the extent that most of them are now self-reliant. Giving a statistical data of how many vulnerable persons that had so far benefited from the empowerment scheme, the Improvement Manager, SSDO, Christian Madubueze who represented the SSDO Executive Director, Mrs. Nkechi Igwe-Benita, noted that out of 173 vulnerable persons who were assembled for the skill acquisition, eight had migrated for greener pastures. Madubueze further noted that out of 538 vulnerable children undergoing training, 417 graduated in 2017 and were empowered through the household or care givers (parents), based on their individual needs, adding that during the training, they were taught how to make soaps, snacks, vaseline, pomade, balms. The Deputy Director in Anambra state Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Boniface Nweke who represented the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Afam Mbanefo, noted that since four years ago, the state had established a new face of agriculture which involves cooperative societies registration.

confess with his/her mouth. The door will be locked. “If any big man had been killed, this problem would have stopped. But we are joking with fire because, if this thing is not stopped, then, the Izzi in the capital city will start seeing the Ikwo people as their enemy and vice versa. And that is when the killing of big men will start and none of us will control it.

“Today, you are all pretending, and the useless elder like Martin Elechi, will be there saying that it is politically motivated. A Governor that was in office for 8 years and he couldn’t solve the problem that is in his own community. He covered it until he left office. “And today, he has the audacity to be calling people and talking rubbish with his mouth. I don’t know why God is so merciful to

wicked people? Otherwise, by now, he should not have had the mouth to say rubbish. “Because it is terrible, that something happened in your own community and you couldn’t solve it and now, the problem is growing and instead of calling the elders of both councils and put politics aside to resolve the problem and he is there playing unnecessary politics with human lives”, he said.

•Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige during a public hearing on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers for the South-South geopolitical zone in Port Harcourt, Friday.

Bomb blast: I’m not deterred – Nwodo By CHUKS EZE, Enugu; CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

RESIDENT-GENERAL of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has said that no amount of persecution and trial would deter him to continue to lead his people with utmost commitment and sincerity, and without fear or favour. Nwodo was reacting to an explosion that wreaked havoc at his residence in his Ukehe country home, in Igbo Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, last Sunday. The Enugu State Police command said the explosion was suspected to be from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) believed to have been launched into the Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftain’s house, probably, after failed attempt by the culprits to gain entrance, which it also described as ‘highly fortified’. “Addressing sympathisers including residents of the village, security agents and journalists and well-wishers, Nwodo also wondered why anyone would be after his life. The Police Bomb Disposal Unit, which had said the explosion had caused extensive damage to the windows and ceiling of one of the houses in the compound, as well as an air conditioning unit, also noted that the development calls for vigilance and fortification in and around Nwodo’s residence, adding that it was a sign of possible further attempt on the outspoken Igbo leader. A statement from Nwodo’s Media Adviser, Emeka Attamah, said the State Director of State Security Services, (DSS) Mrs E.

A Likiyon; and the Enugu State Commissioner for Police, Danmallam Mohammed, flanked by the Area Commander of Nsukka Police Command and the Divisional Police Officer of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area, have visited the scene of the bomb blast, respectively. Danmallam, while addressing a college of people who had gathered at Chief Nwodo’s home, in their numbers, urged residents to always at alert and ensure that they swiftly report to the Police, any suspected untoward demeanour around town. Danmallam, who also expressed worry over the development, added that he had always known Enugu State as very peaceful one, stressing that it was surprising that some people would wish Chief Nwodo, who he said was a selfless Igbo servant dead. The CP thereafter directed that more formidable security be put in place around the Igbo leader and his residences. “Our assurance is that perpetrators of this crime would not go free. We will definitely track them and apprehend them one by one,” he said. Commander of Bomb Disposal Unit, DSP John Aniche, had earlier briefed the Commissioner, together with Chief Nwodo, on his preliminary findings at the scene of the explosion, stressing that detailed findings would be related to them after carefully examination of items recovered from the scene. Meanwhile, the Uchenna Madu-led Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State Of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the terrorist attack

on the residence of the Ohaneze President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo. In a release from the servant leader’s office, copy of which was made available to The Oracle Today in Awka, MASSOB noted that “it is regrettable and disgraceful that the house of the president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo was bombed by the enemies of Ndigbo who hate peaceful atmosphere but delighted in evil. “MASSOB assures that whoever that is responsible for this devilish operation must never go unpunished. We shall intensify our security efforts, vigilance and grassroots reawakening of security consciousness in Igbo land against our common enemies. “MASSOB is therefore calling on Ndigbo and all Biafrans to wake up from their political slumber. Ndigbo must know that our enemies are now within our midst. We condemn this terrorist attack against an Igbo leader. Now, it is Nnia Nwodo, tomorrow who knows the next? “We are calling on Ndigbo to wake up and join hand with all the genuine pro Biafra groups to protect our land from these marauding terrorist Fulani herdsmen.” According to the statement, “We wish to remind Ndigbo that the terrorist attack by Buhari’s foot soldiers otherwise known as Fulani herdsmen on the people of Benue is not their main agenda, their target is Igbo land. “They want to use Benue state as a conquered land for establishment of their terrorist military base for further attacks against Ndigbo.”

The Oracle Today

Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

Insecurity: Nigeria won’t survive another war – Don

By CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

lecturer at the University of Jos, Prof Bashir Ajala has told President Muhammadu Buhari to address the steadily escalating problem insecurity in the country, or carry the ignominious cross of being the one who presided over the disintegration of Nigeria. Ajala spoke in Onitsha, Anambra State during a one-day first national conference on “2018 National Question: Nigeria in the 21st Century,” organized, weekend, by the Cosmos Endowment

Foundation (CEF), a non-religious and non-partisan organization based in Lagos. Ajala who observed that Nigeria would not survive another war, stressed further that ‘whichever way anyone looks at it, any other war in Nigeria won’t end quickly.’ “The trouble with Nigeria was that the people he chose to call dealers, instead of leaders, had been allowed to hold sway for too long. We have been unlucky to have “dealers” who mortgaged our future over the years. “We have a chain of satanic and greedy dealers who masquerade

as leaders. We should raise the level of our patriotism. What we have in this country is despondent mentality. See Nigeria as your own not as their own. “If I must ask now: how many of you here have your PVCs? If you can’t vote, how do change a bad leadership or retain a good one?” said Ajala. While recommending two children for each Nigerian parent, Prof Ajala blamed an unchecked galloping population as the bane of the country’s growth and underdevelopment, even as he called on citizens ‘not to produce children they would not train.’

He predicted future catastrophic consequences for the nation’s society if the present rate of population growth was not checked. Another speaker at the gathering, Omo Oba Sunmade AkinOlugbede, who spoke on “National question- Nigeria in the 21st century”, said it was aimed at analyzing the problems militating against speedy national growth and development and proffering meaningful solution. “This is not a one- off event; rather it is the first in a series of programmes with which we hope to engineer a national rebirth so as to create a better country for the future generation,” he said. In the 14-point communiqué issued at the end of the conference and read by the Chairman of Cosmos Endowment Foundation, Omo Oba Sunmade AkinOlugbade, the participants called for the redefining of Nigeria in the context of Section 147 of the constitution, to enable citizenship by residency, adding that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be restructured and funded adequately to ensure effective and efficient discharge of their mandate.

The participants also urged government to show more than casual interest, the alarming population growth rate, adding that government should avoid policy somersault and provide adequate infrastructure. “We recommend that the economy be diversified: in this regard, Nigerians are to be encouraged to participate actively in the nonoil sectors for example in the Agricultural sector and cottage industry. Government should put an immediate stop to payments of salaries and other entitlements to ex-governors and exlegislators and to desist from any interference with the judiciary”. “As a matter of urgency, government must address the issue of internal and external security threats and deal with the current issue of herdsmen and other politically related killings, while governors take full charge of security in their respective states. Government should urgently address the issue of youth unemployment through government -led industrial revolution program. We recommend digital policing for the enhancement of investigation of crime”.

Rep takes empowerment programme to churches By CHINEDU NWAFOR

•From left: Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), with Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Government House, Owerri when the ex-leader was in the state for the South-East Zone’s Nigeria Prayer Rally, hosted by Imo State.

Umahi orders arrest of council coordinator over communal crisis

BONYI State Governor, David Umahi has ordered the suspension of Mr Declan Ovunna, Coordinator of the Alike Development Centre in Ikwo Local Government Area over the renewed violence by youths from a community. Umahi also suspended other political appointees from the community and the centre and asked the police to arrest them. “It was my intention to dissolve the development centre through the state House of Assembly so that people would see that this government is not weak. “The fact that the government is Godly does not mean that it is weak as the management committee members from the centre, special assistants, technical assistants, vigilante heads, youth leaders, among others, are suspended and should be arrested,” Umahi said. The people of Noyo-Echilaike in Ikwo Local Government Area situated in the centre and Enyigba in Abakaliki Local Government Area were locked in a bloody land dispute which led to the destruction of properties and the death of several persons. The governor convened a stakeholders’ meeting involving heads of security agencies in the state on April 27 where several resolutions were reached aimed

at ensuring ceasefire. Youths from Noyo Echialike community, however, reneged on the agreement and destroyed a school and several house in Enyigba on Saturday which made the governor to suspend the coordinator and other political appointees. The governor further directed that the salaries of the affected officers be aggregated and the funds used to reconstruct the destroyed school at Enyigba. “Their suspension would subsist till the school is fully reconstructed and I will go and inspect it myself. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and my Principal Secretary should present the aggregated funds to the state executive council which would set up a committee for the reconstruction. “The heads of security agencies in the state should contribute personnel to participate in the direct labour process for the reconstruction as the affected appointees must vacate their offices immediately. “The state commissioner of police should ensure their immediate arrest while the attorney general and commissioner for justice should secure their detention order for arson. “The SSG should immediately issue a security query to Mr John

Nnabo, Chairman of Ikwo LGA for being absent at this occasion,” He called on stakeholders of both communities to urge their people to maintain peace because human life was sacred and cannot be equated with any psychical possession, including land. “I earnestly thank the people of Inyimegu and Ekpomaka communities of Ikwo LGA for maintaining peace after the crisis which engulfed them and this should be emulated by all,” he said. State Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe, who hails from Noyo– Echilaike community said that his people denied complicity in the arson at their warring neighbour’s community. “We, the stakeholders, informed them of the ceasefire resolutions and directive of the government but were surprised to hear of the renewed hostilities which led to the burning of schools and buildings in Enyigba. “We went back to confront them at our ancestral home and they denied complicity in the arson having decided to abide with the resolutions,” he said. Speaker of the State House f Assembly, Mr Francis Nwifuru, who hails from Izzi LGA where Enyigba is situated, lamented that his people were unduly provoked by their Ikwo neighbours.

EMBER representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal constituency, Hon. Linus Okorie has taken his empowerment programmes to churches. This time, he empowered over 50 widows and vulnerable youths of Abomege in Onicha local government area of Ebonyi state, who were drawn from different churches in Abaomege. The lawmaker through his foundation, Caring Heart Foundation, had on April, 27 embarked on free medical outreach for pregnant, youths and aged mothers and fathers in Abomege. The welfare programme which was held at Presbyterian Church in Omege village attracted the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the council and other religious leadership across other denominations. The lawmaker represented by his Senior Legislative aide, Wilson Okereke said Okorie also donated the sum of one hundred thousand naira each for the CAN leadership and the host church. Okorie said he was deeply touched by the sufferings and plights of the beneficiaries hence motivation to extend his welfare programs to them. He reiterated his resolve to continue to assist all indigent widows and vulnerable children in the constituency with cash gifts and other relief materials. The lawmaker said that the package was part of efforts of the wife of the state governor, Rachel Umahi to assist all indigent widows and youths in the state. One of the beneficiaries, Christiana Eze said it was the first of its kind in the community and therefore commended the lawmaker for his show of love to the less privilege. She said: “it is regrettable that my husband died many years ago leaving me with overloaded responsibilities but today, Hon. Linus Okorie has shown me care

and love. Indeed, I thought I have been abandoned and forgotten but this lawmaker has given me hope”. Some of the gift items included a bag of rice, wrapper, N5,000 and others.

Child trafficking/kidnapping: Group, police, DSS rescue victims By IBE NWACHUKWU

resident of Human Rights Defenders of Nigeria (HRDN), Dede Uzor A. Uzor has commended the police and Department of State Security (DSS) for their assistance so far in rescuing some kidnapped children and victims of child trafficking in various parts of the South east zone. Uzor recalled that through the assistance of DSS and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Enugu zone, they rescued a four and two year old children of one Mrs. Uche who were abducted by unknown persons on September 11, 2017 at Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra state from Lagos and Obosi in Anambra state respectively, within few months of their abduction. Flanked by other executive members of the group, including Comrade Charles Ezefonye, the Publicity Secretary of HRDN; Mazi Frank Udemadu, Chairman, Planning Committee and Barrister Lizzy Anyaonu, Uzor who spoke at an award ceremony organized by the group in Onitsha, further recalled that the intervention of DSS in Anambra state also helped in arresting some suspected child traffickers and rescuing 10 among the 25 children stolen by them He also narrated how one Mrs. Chiamaka Ogbodo was unlawfully detained for 16 months by a medical doctor in a hospital at Awkunanaw, Enugu for her inability to pay the sum of N147,000.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

SPORTS

•Gianni Infantino

Prince Oduah backs Obiano on Sports Commission

• Says “Governor thinking outside the box” Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

ormer member of Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and Anambra State Sports Council, Prince Isidore Oduah, has thrown his weight behind Anambra State Governor, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, on his recent decision to scrap the State’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Empowerment and replace it with Sports Commission. In exclusive interview with The Oracle Today Sports, Prince Oduah explained that there is nothing wrong in what Governor Obiano has decided to do provided that the state has the manpower required to see to the effective running of a vibrant Sports Commission in the mode of Delta and Lagos states. The founder of Red Carpet Advertising said having a good sports commission entailed having the coaches and administrators in every nooks

Yusuf sure of Eagles’ victory over Congo DR

uper Eagles Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf on Monday expressed optimism that the Super Eagles would defeat DR Congo in their May 28 friendly, slated for Port Harcourt. Yusuf expressed the optimism in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja said Eagles would use the match to send signal of hope to Nigerians. He described friendly matches as fundamental in shaping the fitness of teams, adding that friendly matches were not just meant to record victory but to strengthen teams. “We are sure of winning Congo DR in order to keep our hope in the World Cup alive and tell Nigerians that we are very ready for the task ahead.” The coach pleaded with Nigerians to continue to support the team, assuring that the Eagles would not disappoint. He said that the Eagles were one of the best teams in Africa, noting that the team had demonstrated its ability at different times. Yusuf noted that Nigeria had done well in both qualifications and preparations for the World Cup. He said that the Eagles were determined to make not just Nigeria but Africa proud in Russia. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recently announced a change in the venue of the Nigeria-DR Congo friendly from Uyo to Abuja.

• Salisu Yusuf

and crannies of the state that will be able to fish out the raw talents that are in abundance and nurture them to limelight to the glory of the state and the country at large. “I must confess to you that I have not heard about this before now. This is the very first time that I am hearing that Governor Obiano through his Commissioner for Sports and Youth Empowerment has announced the scrapping of the state’s Ministry of Sports,” The Prince of Ochuche began. “As a sports administrator of many decades, I don’t think that there is anything wrong in what Governor Obiano is trying to do or has done. “Establishing a Sports Commission is good if only the state has all it takes to run an effective Sports Commission in the mode of Delta and Lagos states who have very effective and vibrant sports commissions in the country. “I am not among those who see the innovation as a bad thing because there is an adage that says “change is the only thing that is permanent in life.” It is true that since the creation of Anambra, the state has never had any sports commission but many states are going that way now and Anambra State should not be left behind. “My worry is whether we have the man power to run an effective sports commission in the mode of Delta and Lagos states. The Governor should realize that to run an effective Sports Commission, there must be adequate arrangements for financial and human resources. “He should provide enough funds

so that the commission will be able to employ competent hands in the technical and administrative areas of the commission to enable them achieve the desired objective. “Sports is all about the youth and by coming up with the idea of sports commission, I believe Obiano has good intentions for the youth which is what I have been hammering on before now,” Prince Oduah declared. Speaking further, the Prince of Ochuche in Ogabru Local Government Area of the State explained that the idea of sports commission in Anambra State is an indication that Governor Obiano is really thinking outside the box. “I must tell you that this idea of sports Commission by Governor Obiano is a reflection his inner mind. It shows that he really has the interest of Anambra youths at heart having failed to do much for the youth via sports in his first term. “It is very heartwarming that he is thinking outside the box but like I said earlier, he must make available all the resources that are required for effective running of the commission when he finally inaugurates it. “I believe that if he will be able to establish a good sports commission, Anambra State will bounce to reckoning as far as sports is concerned in this country. “Anambra used to be the pace setter in sports but unfortunately as we speak, the state is nowhere to be found as far as sports is concerned in this country and with coming of a sports commission, the glory days of the past will definitely return,” Prince Oduah enthused.

CAF ban Nigeria Ref for 1 year

he Confederation of African Football (CAF) at the weekend handed a year ban to Nigerian Referee, Joseph Ogabor for attempted match manipulation in a Confederation Cup play-off tie between Plateau United and USM Algiers. According CAF the incident concerns a Confederation Cup game between Plateau United Fc of Nigeria and USM Algiers of Algeria on April 7th at the Agege Stadium. The decision followed investigation conducted and evidence submitted by the South African match officials of the said match, who were contacted by Ogabor to provide “technical assistance” to the Nigerian team.” The CAF Referees Committee confirmed the decision to relieve the official of his duty for a year after confirming a recommendation from the body’s Disciplinary Board. This comes after South African referee Victor Gomes had reported advances worth US$30000 been made to him to fix the first leg play-off encounter between both sides in Lagos; a match the Peace Boys emerged 2-1 winners. Ogabor was said to have contacted the officials to provide the Plateau State financed team with ‘technical assistance’. The CAF statement read: “The CAF Referees Committee on 28 April 2018, has confirmed the recommendation of the CAF Disciplinary Board to ban Nigeria referee Joseph Ogabor from any official mission for one year for attempted match manipulation with respect to the Total CAF Confederation Cup 1/16th round first leg between Plateau United (Nigeria) and USM Alger (Algeria) played on 7 April 2018 in Lagos,” read a statement on CAF website. “The decision follows investigations conducted and evidence submitted by the South African match officials of the said match, who were

• CAF President, Ahmad contacted by Ogabor to provide “technical assistance” to the Nigerian team.” Furthermore, the Nigerian topflight side have been warned to desist from handing out ‘hospitality gifts’ to officials while the South African Football Association (SAFA) have been asked to apologise to its Nigerian counterparts who were cleared of any wrongdoing in the bribery case. “Also, Plateau United were cautioned to refrain from the practice of hospitality gifts which tend to create wrong impression.” “In a related development, the South African Football Association have been ordered to render an apology to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after investigations proved there was no evidence of whatsoever of any official of the NFF regarding an allegation of US$30,000 bribe.”

Eagles’ injury list gives Ancelotti turns down Italy Rohr sleepless night

uper Eagles’ injury list is swelling up day by day thereby giving the team’s Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr sleepless night ahead of the Mundial in Russia in less than 50 days. The Eagles helmsman is worried with the spate of injuries to key members of his team hence he is planning other options even as he wished the players quick recovery ahead of the Mundial as he prefer to work with the players that prosecuted the World Cup Qualifiers than looking for new players to till places that injuries have sidelined players. There is no gain saying that many of the team’s key players are nursing one form of injury or the other and this is not giving Rohr any happiness at all as he regrets the development in his recent visit to Port Harcourt, the River State capital. Some of the players on injury list include Arsenal forward, Alex Iwobi and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, Tronny Ebuehi, Henry Onyekuru who is return from in jury though he is not yet 100 per cent. Others are Joel Obi and Joel Obi and Leon Balogun. Arsene Manager, Arsene Wenger confirmed Iwobi’s injury after their game against perennial rivals, Manchester United on Sunday while Claude Puel on Saturday expressed

hope that Wilfred Ndidi’s injury will not be serious as to prevent him from participating in the Mundial. As a matter of fact, things are not looking good at all for the Super Eagles ahead of the 2018 FIFA World with many key players suffering from one form of injury or the other, it is hoped that they will recover before the commencement of the World Cup. Ndidi had a scan on Saturday after suffering an injury in EPL game at Crystal Palace who handed them a 5-0 defeat. The Nigerian international is now waiting for the result of the medical examination on him. Already, the Foxes medical team have contacted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to inform them that the defensive midfielder would have recovered before the start of FIFA World Cup. Speaking on Ndidi’s injury, Leicester Manager, Claud Puel prays the midfielder recovers before the World Cup. “I hope it is not a serious injury for Ndidi. I hope he can play in the World Cup, all the scenario he embarked upon,” he said. “I hope it is not serious, it is an important moment”. It is our prayer that God will touch these players to recover fully before the start of the World Cup.

arlo Ancelotti has turned down an offer to coach Italy, leaving Roberto Mancini as favourite for the job, Italian media reports said on Sunday. The 58-year-old, sacked by Bayern Munich in September, held talks with Italian federation (FIGC) officials in Rome last Monday, according to reports published in several newspapers including Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport. One of the reasons given was that Ancelotti believes he can get a job with a leading European club. The FIGC could not immediately be reached for comment. Italy, currently at an all-time low of 20th in the FIFA rankings, have been without a permanent coach since November when Gian Piero Ventura was sacked following their failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Russia. Luigi Di Biagio took charge of the team for their friendlies against Argentina and England in March on an interim basis. Ancelotti, a former midfielder, is one of Europe’s most successful coaches, having won the Champions League with AC Milan and Real Madrid, plus domestic league titles with Chelsea, AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich.

• Ancelloti

Mancini is currently coach of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg. Former Chelsea, Roma, Juventus, Inter Milan and Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri, now at Ligue 1 club Nantes, was also reported to be in the running but was considered an outsider.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

SPORTS Hearn considers ‘counterproposal’ for Joshua/Wilder heavyweight boxing duel

Tiger Woods to hear of Angus golf link to his late dad

olf superstar, Tiger Woods will this summer find out how his father takes a special place in the history of a Tayside golf club. Woods will arrive in Angus in July to compete in this summer’s Open and he will be given a copy of a new book to mark Dalhousie Golf Club’s 150th anniversary. The book includes a story about his father which has been described as “a key item in the forthcoming book on Dalhousie’s fascinating history”. Club captain, Donald Ford said: “Tiger Woods was the US Amateur champion when he first came to Carnoustie for the Scottish Open in 1995. “His late father, Earl, was visiting the old ‘municipal’ clubhouse/ starter’s box during the tournament, when his attention was drawn to the badge being worn on the blazer of Dalhousie captain, John Lindquist. “He asked: ‘Excuse me, who are you?’ and John told him that he was the captain of Dalhouse Golf Club. “On hearing this, Mr. Woods immediately requested John’s autograph. “It is a safe bet that no-one then could possibly have imagined that – 23 years later – the incident would be proudly published as a key item in the forthcoming book on Dalhousie’s fascinating history.” Earl started his son in golf at a very early age and coached him exclusively for his first years in the sport. In 1993, following his son’s third straight title in the USGA Junior Amateur Championship, Earl sought out superstar teacher, Butch Harmon to develop his game to the next level. The retired soldier died in 2006 and Mr. Ford said it is unlikely his son will have heard the Dalhousie story which he will get the chance to read about. The book has been written to mark the anniversary celebrations alongside a series of events which are taking place throughout the year. Next up is a race night on Friday May 4 in the Carnoustie Hotel where the proceeds will be split between the Scottish Air Ambulance Association and Dalhousie. A donation to CHAS will also be made on the night. The principal golfing event as part of the anniversary is on August 24, when around 60 to 70 guests will attend a tournament on the Championship Course and formal dinner. Tiger Woods made his European Tour debut in the 1995 Scottish Open at Carnoustie and a week later journeyed to St Andrews to contest his first Open. He will return to Carnoustie in July as the second most-decorated golfer in the history of the game with 14 major wins which puts him just behind the 18 of Jack Nicklaus.

• President Trump and President Buhari

Trump solicits Nigeria support for World Cup bid

nited States President, Donald Trump has called on Nigeria and other African countries to endorse the US-Canada-Mexico joint bid for the World Cup in 2026, tying it to US support for them, according to AFP reports. “I hope all African countries and countries throughout the world, that we also will be supporting you, and that they will likewise support us in our bid along with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup,” Trump said in a White House press conference with President Muhammadu Buhari. “We will be watching very closely, and any help they can give us in that bid we would appreciate,” he said. The call comes as world football’s governing body FIFA prepares to

choose between the US-led joint bid and Morocco’s at a vote in Moscow on June 13. Trump appeared to tie the issue to trade, saying just ahead of his mention of the World Cup that the United States hopes “to be the economic partner of choice for nations across the continent and all around the world.” “You see what’s happening with respect to trade and the United States. We are being respected again,” he said. It was the second time in a week that Trump weighed in on the bid, suggesting a quid pro quo for the support of other countries. “The US has put together a STRONG bid with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup,” Trump tweeted last Thursday.

“It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?” Trump’s comments however risk incurring the wrath of FIFA, which has strict guidelines forbidding government intervention in football matters. With strong infrastructure already in place, the North American joint bid has long been as the clear front-runner for what will be the first 48-team World Cup. But Morocco has secured support from the influential Confederation of African Football as well as countries in Europe, notably France.

cause the money would come from the masses and not government. Akeredolu encouraged people of the state and the country at large to key into the programme as it would benefit both the rich and the poor. Earlier, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, said the funds from the programme would go a long way in preparing athletes for the 2020 Olympics. The Honourable Minsiter of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung was represented at the occasion by the Director, Federation and Elite Athlete Department of the Ministry, Mr. Ademola Are, said the programme was a practical example that ‘government cannot do it all’. The minister said that a similar programme was initiated in 1994 and before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, urging people to see it as a Nigerian project. Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, said the programme and community lottery scheme was a partnership between Ondo State Government, Athletics Federation of Nigeria and NSDFI. According to Yusuf-Ogunleye, one of the benefits of the partnership was establishment of sports

facilities in the three senatorial districts of the state. The Director General of NSDFI, Mr. Olajide Fashikun, said the launch had a target of raising N900 million for 90 athletes in five sports for the Olympics. Fashikun said that the programme only needed 4.5 million Nigerians to donate N200 only in 90 days for the dream to come to reality. “For every of the 90 athletes, we shall as a nation give them what it takes to rule the world. The last time we did this was 1994 when our fund supported those preparing for 1996 Atlanta Olympics Games. “We shall repeat the feat. By the last day of July 2018, we want to make sure we have delivered on this task,” he said.

C’wealth Games: Gov. Akeredolu to reward Ondo athletes

ndo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has disclosed that athletes from the state who won medals at the recently concluded XXI edition of the Commonwealth Games in Australia will be rewarded. Akeredolu made this disclosure during a fund raiser and inauguration of the National Athletics Development Centre by the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Inc. (NSDFI) in Akure. “Going to the Commonwealth and winning medal is not easy, that is what the minister of sports said. “If each state had won two medals at the event, the country should have topped the medals table,” he said. The coach and athletes to be rewarded are Purity Akuh, a wrestling coach with the State Sports Council and national coach; Aminat Adekuroye and Odunayo Adeniyi, gold medal winners as well as Bose Samuel, a bronze medalist. The athletes made the country proud by winning medals in the wrestling event at the Gold Coast 2018 Games, in Australia. Commenting on the Centre, Akeredolu said the initiative would engage the youths of the state positively. The governor noted that the programme was bound to succeed be-

nthony Joshua could respond to Deontay Wilder with a “counterproposal” as negotiations continue; his promoter Eddie Hearn said. A $50 million offer from Wilder last week brought the undisputed heavyweight championship fight “closer”, according to Hearn, despite a Thursday deadline expiring. I will go back with some very simple questions, which hopefully they can answer, to put us in a position to know whether it is worth talking, Eddie Hearn said. “We can’t agree a deal until we have a dozen very important questions answered,” he told Sky Sports News on Monday. “I’m thinking about making a counterproposal this week. “I have spoken to AJ multiple times – he wants this fight. Wilder wants this fight. “I work for Joshua, he is my boss! If he tells me to make a fight, it is my job to make the fight. “The gamble from their side is that they want Joshua in their backyard, in America, they want to beat him, and become undisputed champion. “Okay, but we need a fair playing field. We need to make sure we have some control and input into this process. “One of the questions – where is the fight going to be? We don’t think that’s obscene to ask. “If it’s in the UK the offer becomes more attractive. If it’s in America, we can still do that, but we need to talk about these things.” Negotiations were ramped up when Joshua replied to Wilder’s Instagram post last week saying “let’s roll” – before the American’s representative Shelly Finkel dished out a 48-hour deadline to their $50 million offer. “They made an offer which we are interested in,” Hearn explained. “I went back and asked for the terms of the contract, which was denied. “We had a meeting last Friday which was cancelled. They didn’t want to have a meeting because it was non-productive.” Joshua would bring the IBF, WBA and WBO titles into a potential fight against WBC holder Wilder. Mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin, Jarrell Miller and Dillian Whyte remain options for Joshua if his preferred fight against Wilder cannot be agreed. Wilder could defend his title against Dominic Breazeale next, Hearn has previously claimed.

The Oracle Today Wednesday May 9, 2018

NEWS

Atiku sparks fresh debate on restructuring Cont’d from Pg 2 nous People of Biafra (IPOB), an unarmed, non-violent pro-independence group agitating for a separate state for the people of Biafra, found mostly in the former Eastern Region of Nigeria, and declared it a terrorist group. But, with all eyes and attention seemingly focused on continuous voter registration and 2019 elections with little heed paid to the important subject of restructuring as a panacea to even Nigeria’s existential problems, Abubakar’s most recent comment on restructuring must have come as a short in the arm. A Port Harcourt-based lawyer, Sotoye Briggs urged the current All Progressives Congress-led federal government to endeavour to restructure the country and before the 2019 general elections to give each region and state a sense of belonging. “Restructuring should not be seen as a political tool or an electoral weapon, but rather, should be seen as the fundamental basis for the economic growth and development of Nigeria,” he said. According to him, restructuring without the devolution of economic powers amounts to a fruitless exercise. He challenged President Mohammadu Buhari to summon the courage to restructure the country before the end of his first term on May 29, next year. A civil rights advocate, Kingsley Papamie, stressed that “restructuring should also apply to the local governments, which is the third tier of government.” For his part, Chairman of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) Anambra State branch Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme described the clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria as the immediate panacea to the current tension in the country arising from Boko Haram insurgence, killing of innocent souls in many parts of the country by herdsmen, banditry, cultists and politics of 2019 among other issues threatening the existence of the country. The right activist went further to add that restructuring will reduce fear among the people and also create hope for a better future as, according to him, “the most important thing Nigerians need now is peace of mind.” “People are becoming confused and hopeless because there is nothing on ground to give them that sense of good life, there is no measure for safety and protection, nothing on ground to fight hunger and unemployment; people want to see a situation far better than the status quo and that is what restructuring will offer,” he added. He stressed: “Am sure that restructuring will usher in new security order and of course a new system of security that will address the problem of herdsmen’s attack on the people, as it will usher in new economic lifeline, make jobs available both in the public and private sectors and most importantly address the political imbalance arising from northern and southern dichotomy. And the earlier we do it the better.” Interestingly, most commentators want the country restructured before the elections next year. Warri based lawyer and political analyst, Dr. Clarkson Aribogha said Nigeria needs to be restructured before the general election next year, insisting that it will solve a lot of lopsided issues confronting the nation.

•From left: Traditional ruler of Imufu Community, Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North LGA, Igwe Remigus Attah; Enugu State Commissioner for Rural Development, Chief Gab Onuzulike; Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Emeka Okeke; Accountant General of the State, Mr. Pascal Okorie and President General of Imufu Autonomous Community, Chief Lawrence Mamah, with the N5 million cheque, Enugu State Government presented to communities for their development. Aribogha told The Oracle Today in Warri that restructuring started long ago but those having negative thoughts about it are seriously going against it. “The federal government should set up a committee to work out the modalities for implementating the recommendation and forward same to the National assembly for ratification,” he said. Aribogha who is also an Ijaw opinion leader explained that those against restructuring are only thinking about the economic and political benefits to themselves, urging such people to quit “thinking negatively”. “Let restructuring take place and everything will change for the betterment of all Nigerians,” he said adding: “There is no need waiting till after the general election before the system is implemented rather it should be done before the general election of 2019.” He, however, expressed deep worries over the continued marginalization of the oil-producing communities, especially in Ijaw area, stressing that restructuring if implemented would reduce the pains and agony currently being experienced by the oil-bearing communities. The refrain in most of the responses is that restructuring would do Nigeria a world of good. But, there is no consensus on when it would best be carried out, although majority seem to think it better done before the elections of next year. For the immediate past National President of Parent/Teachers Association of Federal Government (unity) Schools, Chief Gabriel Nnaji the clamour for restructuring to succeed, Nigerians have to come together, bypass the National Assembly and make reasonable noise in the media, churches and every other gathering. “If that is done,” he said, “I am sure the whole world would listen to us and know that this is what Nigerians want.” He votes for immediate restructuring. Executive Director, Youth Education on Human Rights and Civic Responsibilities; Barrister Cromwell Chibuzo, is sure that the issue of restructuring will definitely determine the leadership of Nigeria in 2019. He believes that restructuring

should form part of the report card for political campaigns. “If you look at the way things are happening now, eve people from the same North are beginning to realise that there is danger and are now beginning to identify with the issue of restructuring; and the Yorubas who usually try to play from behind, playing Ostrich, are now also in the vanguard, that we need to restructure. “In the lips of every Nigerian, we are now saying restructuring. For as long as we are in federalism, you continue to expect more clamour for freedom, secession and self-determination to continue to come up. That is a reflection of freedom. “What we may probably do is to continue to canvass that 2019 should be determined on the basis of restructuring and once you do that, political parties will begin to align themselves with restructuring, knowing that that is the inthing that people are now talking about,” Cromwell said. Elder Matthias Nwogu, a political analyst, says if the ruling APC is genuine about restructuring, it should have the political will to carry it out before the elections. Nwogu believes that restructuring would be consigned to the dustbin if it was not actualized before the 2019 polls. “Restructuring should be done now to demonstrate the seriousness of the government. If it is made a campaign issue, it will be forgotten after elections have been won and lost,” he said. Similarly, a legal practitioner at Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra State, Barrister Ben Okoko said said he would like the much canvassed restructuring of the country to take place before the 2019 general elections in the country, if the federal government is serious in getting things right. Speaking to newsmen in his office, Okoko who is the immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Idemili Branch, said: “I said no seriousness in Nigerian projects because Nigerians have no patriotic citizen or citizens for now because nobody is ready to die for Nigeria as at now”. He continued: “Nigeria, as at today, can be likened to the ordeals of a polygamous family where the children of others scramble

for what they can grab from the general coffers into their mothers’ kitchen. So, with this state of affairs of grab, grab tendencies, the country, Nigeria is tilting towards disintegration and nothingness but if there is restructuring, whereby Nigerian components are fortified to be independent of each other, the idea of competition will be ignited and productivity increases, thereby making the centre less attractive.”. He therefore suggested that if our Present leaders are sincere, they should do the restructuring before the election, adding that the restructuring pattern should be anchored on the 2014 National Conference, which he adjudged as the best Nigeria has ever had so far. In his own contribution, the General Overseer of Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries Inc (aka By Fire By Fire) Nnewi, Anambra State, Bishop Abraham Chris Ude, revealed that only restructuring in 2018 or Igbo presidency in 2019 would keep the Nigerian nation united or else it would disintegrate into six different nations. Disclosing this at a special church service to seek the face of God for intervention in current enormous bloodshed experienced across Nigeria on a daily basis, Udeh noted that the spirit of God revealed to him shortly after the recent 40 days of fasting and prayers which he and his members conducted that without restructuring and or Igbo presidency, Nigeria would cease to be. The Bishop noted that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government should expedite action in restructuring the country, “if they are serious,” adding that the Federal Government should not pretend to be working on restructuring Nigeria while citizens are kept waiting for so long, insisting that restructuring must be now according to the wishes and aspirations of majority of Nigerians. He also insisted that a President of Igbo extraction should be accomplished in 2019, if Nigeria must remain one, stressing that there is no other way true national integration and cohesion devoid of agitation could be achieved without allowing the Igbo a shot at the

Presidency this time around. “For it to be seen as being real, it should be done now so that it can be made a campaign issue for which the government can say we did it because of the love we have for Nigeria. The government should muster the political will to do it,” Nwogu enthused. Maduka Okoro, a Media aide to a former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, accepts that restructuring is good for Nigeria and for the polity but posits that it would be ideal to embark on it after the elections of 2019. “Restructuring will give all of us in Nigeria a sense of belonging, create awareness, it will be good for governance. “I don’t think that restructuring will be necessary before election because, it is a continuous process. Restructuring is not food that you eat and discard the remaining, it is something that is continuous and it has to come with that change that we have to imbibe the attitude that restructuring is a necessity for all of us, it is good for every Nigerian,” he said. “What is needed now is to postpone the 2019 general election and set up a provisional government on national redemption, and to reconvene a sovereign national conference for the restructuring of Nigeria. Re-electing Buhari on the basis of fictitious population figures will spell doom for Nigeria, especially the Igbo nation. Somebody has failed and some people are making noise about how to return him. Is it to justify his failure or what? Mr President has gone to America to spray himself with ointment while slaughtering of human beings continues back home,” said Professor Obasi Igwe, HOD, Political Science, UNN. Alleging that the 2019 election has already rigged been months ahead of the exercise, Igwe said whoever is suggesting that restructuring should be done post 2019 polls is wasting his time. “It is a matter of public opinion – what the generality Nigerians want. The President would complete his term on May 29, 2019. After that, he should make way for a government a government of national redemption that would convene a sovereign national conference, like I said earlier,” he surmised.

WEDNESDAY May 9, 2018

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It’s well… NO, it’s not well S

OMETIMES I wonder when we grew deceit to a culture, a thriving culture. My searches have produced no answers. That is the more frustrating part of efforts at solving a problem that few see or know that it exists. We are exalting deceit in many ways. Nobody cares any longer about our utterances, though we are the first to admit that the fullness of the heart and its abundances reflect in the things we say, how we say them, and whom we address with those words. How do we see daily killings around us and all we can say is ‘it’s well?’ How did we arrive at that level of depravity? Just a look at some of them: •January 27, 2015: 17 people were killed in attacks on Abugbe, Okoklo, Ogwule & Ocholoyan in Agatu LGA by Fulani herdsmen. •January 30, 2015: Over 100 attackers stormed 5 villages in Logo LGA, killing 9 persons in the attack. • March 15, 2015: Fulani herdsmen invaded Egba village in Agatu LGA and over 90 locals, including women and children, were killed. • April 27, 2015: 28 people were killed by herdsmen in an attack on 3 villages at Mbadwem, Guma LGA Benue State. • May 11, 2015: 5 people were killed in Ikyoawen community in Turan Kwande LGA Benue State • May 24, 2015: 100 people were killed in an attack by Fulani herdsmen in villages and refugee camps at Ukura, Gafa, Per, and Tse-Gusa, Logo LGA Benue State. • July 7, 2015: Fulani herdsmen killed one person following an attack on mourners in Imande Bebeshi in Kwande LGA Benue State. • November 5, 2015: 12 people were killed, 25 others injured in Buruku LGA following an attack by suspected herdsmen Benue State. • Feb 8, 2016: 10 people were killed and over 300 displaced in a clash between herdsmen and farmers at Tor-Anyiin and Tor-Ataan in Buruku LGA Benue State • February 18th, 2016: Fulani herdsmen at Okokolo village in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State killed five people. • Feb 21-24, 2016: Over 500 people were killed and 7000 displaced in an attack on Agatu LGA by Fulani herdsmen. • March 5, 2016: the rampaging Fulani herdsmen killed About 500 people after an attack on Agatu local government area of Benue State. • March 9, 2016: 8 people were killed by Fulani herdsmen in attacks on Ngorukgan, Tse Chia, Deghkia and Nhumbe in Logo LGA Benue State. • March 13, 2016. Herdsmen in an attack on Tarkaa LGA killed 6 people. • February 29, 2016: 11 people were killed in Edugbeho Agatu, Benue State. • March 10, 2016:2 people were killed after Fulani herdsmen attacked a community in Agatu. •April 12, 2016: Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State and killed 15 people. • April 19, 2016: Fulani herdsmen allegedly killed over 23 persons in Delta State. •April 25, 2016: Fulani herdsmen killed About 40 people after they attacked 7 villages in Nimbo in Uzo- Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

•June 16th, 2016: A 45-year-old renowned farmer was shot by Fulani herdsmen in Ossissa community in Ndokwa east local government area of Delta State. • June 20, 2016: At Least 59 people were killed following an attack in Benue State. • January 24, 2017: 15 people were killed by rampaging Fulani herdsmen, who attacked farmers in Ipiga village in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State. • March 2, 2017: 10 people were killed after Fulani herdsmen and farmers clashed in Mbahimin community, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State. •March 11, 2017: 7 people were killed when Fulani herdsmen attacked a Tiv community, Mkgovur village in Buruku •May 8, 2017: Three persons were confirmed killed by herdsmen in Tse-Akaa village, Ugondo Mbamar District of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

• May 13, 2017: Less than one week after many people were killed by herdsmen in three communities of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, armed herders struck again on May 13 killing eight more people. •December 31, 2017 and January 2, 2018: 73 persons including seven members of the Benue State Livestock Guards killed in fresh attacks on Benue communities by suspected Fulani herdsmen after they invaded Gaambe-Tiev, Ayilamo and Turan all in Logo LGA as well as Umenger, Tse-Akor and Tomatar near Tse-Abi in Nongov District of Guma LGA • January 7, 2018: Fulani herdsmen kill 5 Mambilla men and injured 6 others •January 14, 2018: 10 people were killed as Fulani herdsmen attacked two villages in the Birnin-Gwari Local Government of Kaduna State. • January 17, 2018: At least 4 people were

killed in an attack on Uhime and Angyo communities at Dooka in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State by Fulani herdsmen. • January 17, 2018: 4 people were killed in a fresh attack by suspected armed herdsmen in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas on Wednesday in Benue State. •January 25, 2018: 6 people were killed in two separate attacks by Fulani herdsmen on two communities in Plateau State. • January 30, 2018: Fulani herdsmen attacked NNPC officials, killed one person in Benue State • February 26, 2018: Fulani herdsmen attacked a community in Delta State and killed a couple. •February 28, 2018: 20 people were killed in Adamawa State after Fulani herdsmen attacked farmers. • March 3, 2018: A Mambilla woman from Takam Village, east of Maisamari, Taraba State, was returning from market when the Fulani mercenaries caught up with her and slaughtered her like a ram. • March 4, 2018: The entire Maisamari-Tungan Ahmadu-Escarpment highway was taken over by hundreds of armed Fulani mercenaries emerging from Gashaka area. The mercenaries on the Escarpment Highway killed several people. The Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi’s convoy ran into these mercenaries on his way to Mambilla and captured four of the mercenaries whom he took along with him to Gembu. • March 5, 2018: 10 people were killed by Fulani herdsmen in Benue’s Omosu village • March 7, 2018: 26 people were killed as herdsmen sack Benue village in a fresh attack. Of course numerous attacks took place in April, but I would not bore you with those details. What is listed above are some of the attacks. There are attacks in almost every State. There have been attacks in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Imo, Enugu, Plateau, Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Cross River and Katsina States. Religiosity may just be at the centre of the galvanised attempts to deny that we are in dire situations that require decisive actions. We are treating cancers with analgesics that can barely cure headaches. Nobody is bothered. We go to church. We are at the mosque. We claim we are human beings; we worship a Supreme Being, who made the lives we are wasting. Is it easier to explain the attacks than to do anything about them? What we do with the attacks is a matter for our governments to decide quickly. The international community is too interested in trades and diplomatic relations with Nigeria to be concerned with how many Nigerians are killed, and whether the killings are daily or annually. Government has a choice to stop the killings or to look away. Every decision has its consequences. The fragile peace that exists is that the victims have not opted to defend themselves as Gen Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma suggested in March. Nothing is well in Nigeria. It is the naked truth, and we should do something about it, quickly.

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