Wednesday october 18 edition

Kachikwu, Baru fray freezes oil investments From SOPURUCHI ONWUKA, Lagos

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oncerns over contract sanctity have beclouded the petroleum industry as investors hold back proposals and work plans pending the resolution of the battle between Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation

•NNPC Board has no role in contract awards, Baru replies Kachichukwu

IPOB in court Oct 17

(NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, over rights to approve deals.

A cross section of eminent players

The

VOX POPULI SACRUM

in the industry who spoke privately on the confusion in the petroleum sector expressed fears that the feud

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between Dr. Kachikwu and Dr. Baru would delay new projects, impede quick approvals for 2018 work

racle www.oraclenews.ng

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18, 2017

2019: Atiku targets PDP ticket

programmes and deter banks from advancing investment funding.

A high profile petroleum engineer who works with a multinational oil services firm hinted that partnership deals between foreign companies and local firms have also stalled as facilitators wait to see which of the gladiators would keep standing.

According to him, investors seek-

ISSN: 2545-5869

Cont’d on page 2

Today

VOL.2 No. 43. N200

•Fruitful meeting with GEJ •PDP plan early campaign

•Fines role for Fayose •APC silence on Atiku From TONY AILEMEN (Abuja) and CHRIS EZE (Yenagoa)

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HE first meeting between former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar since the 2015 general election may have finally confirmed speculations that the former Vice President plans to return this December to the PDP on whose platform he was VP for eight years, to pursue his presidential ambition come 2019.

The former Nigeria vice-president, held a meeting President Jonathan at the latter’s home in Abuja at the instance of instance of Atiku, who is believed to be considering offers from PDP leaders to return to the party.

Alhaji Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, was among PDP bigwigs who

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left the party for the APC following disagreements over what was said to be “lack of internal democracy” in the former ruling party.

Abubakar’s exit from the party along with several other bigwigs, including President of the 8th Senate, Senator Bukola saraki, has been blamed for much of the political misfortunes that were later to befall the PDP, leading to the loss of the Presidency by the former ruling party at the centre.

The former Vice President’s visit to former President Jonathan is seen by pundits as a major shift in political alignments ahead of the 2019 presidential election, and a denouement in the move to reconcile all aggrieved parties in the PDP in the continuing effort by the party hierarchy to reorganise the

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Onitsha Amaka: Igwe Achebe’s Ofala

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

NEWS

Enugu Monkey Pox scare: No cause for alarm – Health Commissioner

From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

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•Says tests showed no clinical linkage

he Commissioner for Health in Enugu State, Dr. Fountain Chukwuemeka Ekochin has combat the disease in event of allayed fears over alleged case of outbreak, he said it is very high.

Money Pox disease in the state, “Our level of preparedness and and assured residents of the state alertness over the issue or posthat there is no cause for alarm. sible outbreak of any disease, Speaking to The Oracle Today, for that matter, is very high,” he in his office, the Commissioner ex- said, adding that it is only when plained that although there was the news starts talking about a a report of suspected case of the disease that people start getting disease in the state, all the tests worried. that were run on the patient indiHe also disclosed that the state cated that the case did not “clini- ministry of health has a disease cally fit”.

“A case has been reported in Enugu. But clinically, it does not fit. However, we will not throw it away; we have contacted the federal level. We have done all the tests that we can run here (in Enu- Continued from Page 1 gu) and we will follow up with oth- party and make it very formidable er tests that we cannot do herew. again.

But it is absolutely nothing to worPDP ruled Nigeria for 16 unbrory about,” he said. ken years. But, its failure to tactHe stated that it is only a lone fully manage internal dissentions case of the disease that has been and soothe jaded nerves in the officially confirmed, in Bayelsa run-up to the 2015 elections cost State, and maintained that al- it the Presidency and control of though there have been several many States. reported suspected cases in a Atiku’s visit came at a time specnumber of states, they are still be- ulations have become rife that he ing investigated. may dump the ruling APC and reDr. Ekochin urged Enugu resi- turn to the PDP, which he helped dents and Nigerians in general, to found in 1998, as a leader of the disregard those peddling rumours PDP group in the famous G-34 that that the disease is mysterious, fought to wrestle power from the stressing that Monkey Pox is not military led then by the late head new and that it is just like brother of State, General Sani Abacha. or sister to chicken Pox. Jonathan reportedly advised According to him, Monkey Pox Atiku to consider returning to the “is a viral disease, it is not a new PDP early enough so he can be a disease, and it is not a mystery. member long enough to be eligiIt is just like a sister or brother to ble to contest for political office.

Chicken Pox, and nobody is afraid Moves to woo Atiku back to PDP of Chicken Pox”. and his apparent willingness to Speaking on the level of alert- take the plunge followed a sourness of the State government to ing of relations between him the APC.

surveillance system, which consists of officers, with subordinates in the 17 local councils in the state. He further explained that the disease surveillance officers are coordinated by a highly trained State Epidemiologist, adding that they carry out continuous surveillance, in association with the public health department in the ministry of health, looking out for several

other diseases such as Lassa fever, Cholera and Yellow Fever among others.

“The Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, right from the outset, had declared a 4-point agenda work plan. If you look at those four points, you would realise that health has a role to play in all of them; and the Ministry of Health has keyed into that challenge.”

2019: Atiku targets PDP ticket The former Vice President was quoted recently as bitterly complaining that the APC used and dumped him, despite all his contributions to the party.

In an interview on the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) early last month, Atiku said he had been side-lined despite his efforts in making sure that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was defeated in 2015.

Speaking in Yola, Adamawa State where he had celebrated the Eid-el- Kabir festival, the former Vice Presidet said: “Honestly speaking, I’m still a member of the APC; I was part of all the processes, including campaigns until success was achieved.

“But sadly, soon after the formation of government, I was side-lined. I have no any relationship with the government; I’ve not been contacted even once to comment on anything and in turn, I maintained my distance. They used our money and influence to get to where they are but three

IPOB in court Oct 17 October 17 date that the TIPOB,HEIndigenous People of Biafra, has with the Federal High

To be serialised in The Oracle Today soon

Read about the great Rangers story from next edition

Court Abuja is gaining a lot of attention for several reasons: •Nobody is sure of the whereabouts of the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has not been seen in public since soldiers raided his home on September 14 •There are debates about the fate of the sureties if they are unable to produce Kanu in court.

• Many think that the date would be an opportunity for the court to make an order on the whereabouts of Kanu, who the military stated was not with them.

Kanu spent 17 months in detention until his release last April 25 when Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja on stringent conditions. He had enjoyed his bail, until September 14 when troops on military exercise, Operation Python Dance II allegedly invaded his Afaraukwu, Ibeku Umuahia country home.

Justice Nyako said her decision to release Kanu who is the 1st defendant, on bail, was on health ground. IPOB leader had to produce three sureties, including “a Jewish leader” and a “highly placed person of Igbo

extraction”, who all deposited N100million each before he was granted temporary freedom by the court. He was formally released to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Mr. Tochukwu Uchendu, on April 28. As part of his conditions for bail, the court expressly barred Kanu from attending any rally or granting any form of interview. “I must stress it here that the defendant must not attend any rally. He must not be in a crowd exceeding 10 persons”, the judge warned.

years down the lane, this is where we are.”

Following the VOA interview, bookmakers began to speculate on the possible moves of the former Vice President.

The visit to Jonathan, the leader of the PDP, is seen by many as part of Abubakar’s plot to return to the PDP and seek presidential election on the platform of the party.

Sources close to the two leaders told The Oracle Today in Abuja that Alhaji Abubakar had “fruitful discussions” with Dr. Jonathan who “warmly welcomed the former Vice President.”

“Both President Jonathan and Vice-President Abubakar were eager to reconcile and forge ahead in the interest of party and country,” an authoritative source told The Oracle Today. “You know, the 2015 election campaigns were rather bitter and contentious. But, as leaders working for a new Nigeria that is more desirous now than ever before, the two leaders showed signs of willingness to put the past behind them and forge ahead in the interest of the PDP and Nigeria.”

However, Jonathan is said to have also asked the former Vice President to consult more widely since he (Jonathan) cannot take alone such a major decision as the party’s stand on Abubakar’s planned return to the PDP and likely contest for the party’s 2019 presidential ticket. “ From the body language of both leaders, it was clear the former Vice President enjoys the sympathy of the PDP leadership,” a source told The Oracle Today.

Abubakar’s visit to Jonathan is also being interpreted by pundits as coming as a positive response to Governor Ayo Fayose’s declaration to contest for the 2019 Presidency on PDP platform, a move many believe was made in an attempt to get many more presidential hopefuls to show interest in the presidency early enough for the country to assess them well before the election.

Whatever the motive, Abubakar’s visit is being applauded in political circles as one of such big reconciliatory moves that should be encouraged among political actors as Nigeria, wracked by separatist agitations, searches for true and patriotic leadership that would heal the wounds in the polity and get the country moving forward again.

Kachikwu, Baru Continued from Page 1 ing entry into the Nigerian petroleum industry are stuck with their local partners over the right lane to take under the prevailing leadership crisis in the industry.

He said industry players who have files in hand currently consider whether it would be a good outing if deals are sealed under the prevailing confusion in which the junior minister is praying President Muhammadu Buhari to review approvals and appointments already activated by the GMD. Players are worried that policy and governance climate under the pair is not smooth enough for longterm investments.

The simmering dispute between the junior petroleum minister and NNPC boss had remained at the realms of gossip until Dr. Kachikwu’s explosive petition to President Muhammadu Buhari accusing Dr. Baru of executive impunity and breach of business processes in award of contracts in excess of $25 billion.

Apart from pointing out breaches in the actions of the GMD, the minister also prayed the President to cause reversal of some of the decisions and actions taken by Dr. Baru to enable due process take its course.

He alleged that Dr. Baru has unilaterally awarded contracts in excess of $25 billion (twenty five billion dollars) at NNPC without any deference to either the office of the junior minister or the board of the corporation.

“Given the history of malpractices and public perception of NNPC as having a history of non-tranparency (Appendix 2: NEITI report) the NNPC Tenders Board (NTB) cannot be the final clearance authority for contracts it enters into. The NTB which is a collection of NNPC top executives with the GMD as Chairman cannot continue to be the final approval authority for multi-million dollar contracts and transactions involving NNPC to the exclusion of the board,” the minister complained.

He accused Dr. Baru of snubbing his invitation to strategy meeting and delegating his subordinates to expanded meeting with heads of parastatals under the ministry. He added that the GMD has consistently refused to report to his office on any matter.

He prayed the president to empower the board to enforce restoration of transparency in NNPC; subject NNPC to supervision of the board and oversight of the junior minister office; suspend the recent appointments in the senior management cadre of NNPC; and encourage meetings between the Minister of State and heads of parastatals in the ministry to enhance transparency and hierarchy.

Following the spate of public outcry that trailed the junior minister’s petition, NNPC also released a public response to the allegations and described Dr. Kachikwu’s claims as baseless and reflection of poor understanding of how the process works.

He pointed out that the law and the rules do not require a review or discussion with the Minister of State or the NNPC Board on contractual matters, adding that what is required is the processing and approval of contracts by the NNPC Tenders Board, the President in his executive capacity or as Minister of Petroleum, or the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as the case may be.

Cont’d on page 47

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION Island Maternity gets ultra-modern ICU From VICTOR NZE

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HE Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) has donated an ultra-modern Intensive Care Unit to the Lagos Island Maternity, just as the wife of the Governor and Chairman of the Committee, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, promised that the group would continue to partner the State government, to end mother and child mortality.

She said the ICU project

was focus of COWLSO’s health intervention for this year, along with neo-natal hearing screening equipment donated to Gbagada General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Badagry General Hospital and Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, all in Lagos State.

Mrs. Ambode noted that late referral of emergency baby delivery cases from traditional birth attendants and faith-based homes to government’s health facilities, had be-

come a major challenge, requiring the services of an ICU, to save endangered mothers and their babies.

“Here lies the wisdom in COWLSO’s intervention, in upgrading and strengthening the existing High Dependency Unit, to an ultra-modern Intensive Care Unit, to cope with increased number and complexity of emergency cases”, she stressed, adding: “COWLSO in the present dispensation is fully committed to the safe Mother-

hood Project and partnering the health facilities, to ensure that no life is lost in pregnancy and during delivery”.

She noted that the donation of an ICU is in furtherance of previous year’s donation of neo-natal screening equipment for preventive aspect of hearing impairment and early screening of newborns for possible hearing defects.

“According to the World Health Organization, 60% of childhood hearing loss

Borno releases N300m WAEC, NECO examination fees for students T HE Borno State Government has released N300 million to the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Commission (NECO), as payment of examination fees for its candidates.

Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Musa Kubo, who made the disclosure, Friday, in Maiduguri, while presenting the cheques to the agencies, said that the payment was made to facilitate release of examination results of candidates who

sat for the examinations in public schools in the state.

The commissioner said that the gesture was part of government’s efforts to support parents in payment of examination fees for their children.

Kubo added that the gesture would also assist students to secure university admission, noting that some 15, 623 students sat for the examinations in the state.

“We paid about N300 million to WAEC and NECO to enable them to release

Family, FTAN plead for Ehanire’s release From VICTOR NZE

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s the Managing Director of Ogba Zoological Garden and Nature Park, Benin City, Dr Andy Ehanire, continues to languish in the den of his abductors, his family has cried out pleading with the kidnappers to release him.

This is also as the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), reiterated its call to the Federal Government to fasttrack action towards ensuring the release of the kidnapped Ehanire and also in the interest of tourism.

Ehanire, was a former Vice President, South South zone of the tourism operators body.

In a terse statement, the head of the Ehanire family, Chief Harrison I. Ehanire, said the family is worried over the development, adding that the wife and children of Dr Andy ‘are heavily traumatised while his businesses, especially the zoo, are in disarray and suffering from his long absence.’

He, therefore, appealed to the kidnappers to set free their son unharmed even as he called on the general pub-

lic to join the family in praying for the prompt release of the kidnapped operator of Ogba zoo.

According to him, ‘Even the Bini monarch is perturbed by this incident as the family is very close to the palace, and also as the wife of Ehanire is a Bini princess while the family holds one of the high ranking positions in Benin Kingdom.’

Although information regarding his kidnap has been scanty with the Nigeria Police saying that he was kidnapped by militants and that they are closing in on them, however, a source close to the family disclosed that the kidnappers are demanding over N1 billion for his release, which has thrown the entire family into a state of confusion as they are said not to have such an amount.

Meanwhile, FTAN President, Alhaji Saleh Rabo, has said that his continued detention is not good for tourism business in the country, as it sends the wrong signal that the country’s tourist sites are not safe, if after three weeks the security agencies are yet to effect his release.

examination results of our students. I urge you to hasten release of the results so that students could access it on good time to pursue their admission,” he said.

The WAEC and NECO had earlier withheld examination results for May/June 2017 and June/July 2017,

respectively, claiming that their action was necessitated following the inability of the state government to settle balance of the fees.

The action resulted to public outcry by students and parents who expressed the fear that their children could not get admission this academic year.

is preventable, hence our continuous intervention.

The consequences of not addressing hearing loss in children include difficulty in speech acquisition, delayed language development, academic under achievement, social isolation, higher risk injuries and increased poverty,” said the COWLSO Chairman.

Remarking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who noted that the Island Maternity recorded about 400 deliveries monthly, promised that professional update courses would be provided to run the unit, hinting that the State’s Strategic Health Development Plan envisioned the phased creation of zonal High Dependency Units to serve emergency obstetric cases.

The Commissioner added that, the revamping of the audiology unit of the ENT clinic at the General Hospital Lagos, last year

by COWLSO, has had tremendous positive impact on residents with hearing impairment from cradle to

adults.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Segun Olulade, commended COWLSO, for complementing the efforts of the government, to achieve new levels of healthcare delivery for Lagosians.

Responding on behalf of the General Hospitals that received the hearing screening equipment, the Chief Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital, Dr. Bankole Olufunmilayo, applauded COWLSO and the Governor’s wife for the intervention, stressing that the equipment would enable the benefitting hospitals screen the newborns for possible hearing defects.

Customs seize 497,279 bags of rice – CGC

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he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has seized 497,279 bags of imported rice between 2015 and August, 2017 with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3.8 billion.

Comptroller-General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), disclosed this in a document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Sunday.

Ali said that 90,073 bags of rice were seized in 2015 with DPV of N693 million while 280,109 bags of rice were impounded in 2016 with DPV of N2.156 billion.

He added that between January and August 2017, no fewer than 127,097 bags of rice were seized with DPV of N978 million.

“From January to March this year, about four enterprises registered with Tinapa Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Calabar in Cross River State syndicated the importation of 533 containers of rice.

He said the containers loaded with 299,564 bags of rice were brought into the free zone through Onne Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

“Certainly, this rice cannot be consumed within Tinapa and there is no value added through further processing as to bring it to Nigerian territory. It took the Nigeria Customs Service a big battle with the importers and Tinapa authorities to compel them to re-export it out of Nigeria.

“As at September 19, this year, 299 containers were re-exported. If this is to be allowed, it has the potential of undermining the food security policy of the Federal Government.”

With the attendant consequence of driving all the industries in the chain of production out of business, primarily the local farmers and rice millers,” Ali said.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

4,281 Nigerian deportees return through MMIA, H1

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O fewer than 4,281 Nigerians were deported from several European, American and African countries through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, between January and June this year.

Figures obtained from the Ministry of Interior showed that the deportees comprised of 2823 males and 1458 females.

According to the document, 2251 of the deportees arrived in the country through chartered flights while 2030 others came by regular flights.

NAN gathered that some of the deportees, who were allegedly involved in criminal activities in their host countries, were handed over to the Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further prosecution.

Also, a total of 691,934 travellers departed while another 560,988 arrived in the country through the Lagos airport during the same period.

Out of these numbers, 519,215 were Nigerians while another

179,739 were foreigners departing the country.

During the period, 550,988 passengers arrived in Nigeria through MMIA comprising 392,237 Nigerians and 158,751 foreigners.

“Meanwhile, all recommendations to the Commission on this issue has been put on hold until he complies with these guidelines. The Commission however can do more with a Constitutional provision that allows it protect its decisions.

“It is also common knowledge that most times its decisions are not implemented by the I-G since constitutionally the Commission cannot discipline him,” he said.

He advised that in the current move to sanitise the Nigeria Police Force, efforts should not be wasted in unnecessary witch hunt.

“The current Commission will continue to work with Mr President to give the nation the police force that will be the envy of every Nigerian. Appointments, promotions and disciplinary matters will continue to be guided by laid down rules and regulations,” he • Members of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) led by Lagos State Government First said.

Lady, Mrs Bolanle Ambode (r) during the official presentation of an ultra-modern Intensive Care Unit to the Lagos Island Maternity which was received by the Chief Medical Director of Ikorodu General Hospital, Dr. Bankole Olufunmilayo.

Lagos committed to food security

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agos State Government has restated its commitment to boost food security in the State just as it said that various agricultural initiative programmes aimed at making the State attain food sufficiency have been developed through profitable investments in the agriculture value-chain.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau who briefed the Press as part of activities to commemorate the year 2017 World Food Day Celebration noted that the theme of the celebration ‘Change the Future of Migration: Investment in Food Security and Rural Development’ brings to fore the various challenges countries face in terms of migration and food security.

“I wish to emphasise that the Lagos State government through the Ministry of Agriculture has developed agricultural initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges, the recent breakthrough in rice-agric business readily comes to mind, considering the collaboration between Lagos and Kebbi States on large production, processing and distribution of the LAKE Rice product”, he said.

Suarau noted that the State government has acquired a 32 metric tonne per hour rice milling plant, which will become operational next year, to ensure that Lagos meets up with the demand of its LAKE Rice product.

He added that Lagos is also collaborating with Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo States in the area of rice production so as to ensure that adequate farm produce is supplied to the 32 metric tonnes per hour rice mill.

The Commissioner stated that vigorous market sensitization on the use of re-useable plastic crates in place of raffia basket for packaging and carriage of perishable farm produce is ongoing stressing that the use of the plastic crates will also take effect from next year.

Suarau said that the establishment of an Agricultural Estate Initiative, promotion of vegeta-

ble production using greenhouse technology, cage and pen culture in fisheries production, strengthening of the farm settlement initiative and empowerment of farmers are some of the initiatives aimed to further improve agricultural development and sustainable food security in Lagos.

Speaking in the same vein, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Mr. Ganiyu Sanni Okanlwon averred that the State Government especially since inception of the the present administration has embarked on agricultural policies and programmes that will enhance food security.

He noted that the State government has made a lot of deliberate efforts to enhance agriculture in Lagos with the introduction of programmes in vegetable, poultry, cassava and fishery farming and various forms of agro- processing programmes to the youths.

INEC to commence training of officers for Anambra poll

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would on Wednesday commence a series of training for different categories of officers that would participate in the November 18 Anambra governorship election.

Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, saidin a statement on Friday the training would commence on Oct.11 and end on November 15, in Awka, the state capital.

He said the training of Electoral Officers/ Assistant Electoral Officers (Operations) would hold from October 11 to October 13 while that of Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs) Admin and Cluster would take place from October 16 to October 20.

Idris added that training of the officers would be done in collabo-

ration with the International Foundation for Electoral systems (IFES).

“The purpose is to enable Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers (Ops) plan effectively for elections. It is also for Electoral Officers to identify activities with timelines for a successful conduct of the election.

“The training is equally meant to properly position the Electoral Officers/Assistant Electoral Officers (Operations) to enable them discharge ad-hoc staff training on polling and counting procedures effectively.

“Expected benefits to be derived from training the AEOs Admin and Cluster include the conduct of Train of Trainers (ToT) for participation, to enable them coordinate and conduct electoral training at their Local Government Areas.”

“The Commission under the leadership of Mike Okiro, is not a mere rubber stamp Agency. It carries out its duties diligently and in accordance with set out guidelines. It also in the discharge of this duties, takes the I-G into consideration as the operational head of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The 1999 Constitution, part 111,

(supplemental) (b), 215 (2) states; The Nigeria Police Force shall be under the command of the Inspector -General of Police,” he said.

He said that on postings of Command Commissioners of Police, the Commission naturally allows the I-G who works with these officers and who knows their operational capabilities to recommend to it.

‘PSC lacks powers to discipline I-G’ From VICTOR NZE

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he Police Service Commission (PSC), stated, Monday, that it has no power to discipline the Inspector-General of Police.

A statement by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Media, Press and Public Relations officer of PSC, said the commission would not compromise its constitutional mandate to appoint, promote and discipline Officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

“The Commission also wishes to state that its powers to do this does not cover the office of the Inspector General of Police. The Powers of the Commission are stated in paragraph 30, Part 1 of the third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

Ani said that the constitution which gave the commission the powers to appoint, promote and discipline also did not extend the powers to discipline an I-G.

Unilorin holds 33rd convocation Oct. 21

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he University of Ilorin will hold its 33rd Convocation on October 21, the Registrar of the institution, Mr Dada Emmanuel, has said.

The registrar in a statement, Friday, in Ilorin, the state capital, said the convocation would include award of Degrees and Diplomas as well as prizes to deserving graduates.

According to him, other events for the convocation, including a

book presentation in honour of the out-going Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

AbdulGaniyu Ambali, would commence from Oct. 13.

He said the convocation lecture on the topic `The Genius in You: New Tools, Techniques and Technology for Developing the Individual and Institutional Greatness,’ would be delivered by Prof. Chris Imafidon of Oxford University, United Kingdom.

It added that the training of Security Personnel on electoral security best practices and knowledge of the electoral process would hold between October 25 and November 1.

“Also to be trained on election duties by the Commission include Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding and Assistant Presiding Officers (POs/APOs) and Collation/Returning Officers (COs/ ROs).”

Enugu pays WASSCE fees

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he Igbo Etiti Local Government in Enugu State is to pay the registration fees of 200 students that would seat the 2018 secondary school certificate examinations organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

Chairman of the council, Mr Ignatius Ishienyi, made the disclosure while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Enugu.

“We have resolved to pay the fees for 200 students that are from our local government; we have also resolved that we shall not discriminate along party lines,” he said.

He said that the gesture was aimed at making the impact of governance felt by everyone in the area.

“We have already compiled the names of all the students in senior secondary school 111 (SS3), who are indigenes of Igbo Etiti.

We shall also not discriminate on the grounds of economic standings,” he added.

The chairman said that the council would provide school desks to all primary schools to improve the teaching and learning atmosphere.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

CHANGE OF NAME PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT Grace and Justice Int’l. Civil Rights Initiative Inc. wishes to alert the general public about the missing of one Chukwudi Sympathy Oyem of Eziorah Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra state of Nigeria, a dealer in Motor Spare parts, Nkwo Nnewi whose picture appears above, since sometime on the 10th February 2016, after having been allegedly involved in a face-off between security agents and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), somewhere around Aba, Abia State of Nigeria.

PUBLIC NOTICE INCORPORATED TRUSTEE OF HUMAN DIGNITY RESTORATION ASSOCIATION. This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Achebe Jude Okwunna -- Chairman 2. Anyanwu Godswill Ugochukwu 3. Nwabunwanne Michael Chibueze 4. Achebe Ezichi Stella 5. Patrick Chinweoba -- Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To ensure fair treatment of traders and workers who are our members in their various work places 2. To promote peace, unity and justice in the society 3. To protect and promote the welfare and interests of its members 4. To help eradicate social vices in the society.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Chris Nnama (President).

Anybody with useful information on his whereabout should contact his parents at Eziorah Ozubulu or contact us at our office at No. 40 Ogbufo/ Oraifite Rd Uruagu Nnewi, Anambra state, Nigeria. Tel: 08035000390.

Signed:

……………………

Comrade Cornelius Ofoegbu (secretary)

THE FAMILY OF LATE MR KENNETH NWAGBOGU. We formerly known as NWAGBOGU SAMUEL ONYEBUCHI and NWAGBOGU CHIEMEZIE RITA now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUMA SAMUEL ONYEBUCHI and CHUKWUMA CHIEMEZIE RITA. former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

Signed : CHUKWUMA SAMUEL ONYEBUCHI. For the family.

Signed Revd. Sylvester Lumenkristi Ebo Spiritual Director

I formerly known as BEATRICE U. AKWARANDU now wish to be known as BEATRICE .U. OBIAGAZIE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

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6

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

Onitsha amaka Glitz, pomp as Obi of Onitsha marks 16th Ofala IBE NWACHUKWU writes on the cultural fiesta called Ofala Festival in the ancient kingdom of Onitsha, tracing its history and explaining its significance in the cultural life of the great descendants of Ezechima.

•Igwe Achebe stepping out majestically

O

n Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14, this year, the Palace of the Obi of Onitsha and indeed individual homes of Onitsha people will be agog for this year’s 16th annual Ofala cultural festival.

The festival, which is the 16th in its series since the incumbent Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogidi) ascended the throne in 2001, is expected to attract dignitaries from far and near, including Onitsha indigenes and non-indigenes resident at home and in the diaspora.

A visit to the Obi’s Palace, yesterday, showed that paintings, decorations and other renovation works were nearing completion, just as the Ofala planning committees were putting finishing touches to the ideas they came up with.

Although the Palace Secretary, Olisa Agusiobo was not around when newsmen visited, the chairman of publicity sub-committee, Prof. Ngozi Okafo, the Ogene Onira of Onitsha, confirmed that all was set for the big event and that expectations were high that the Palace would bubble with personalities both on Friday, the Ofala day and Saturday, the Azu-Ofala day.

Okafo, a Professor of Chemistry and retired university lecturer, also confirmed that adequate security measures have been put in place to forestall any possible breakdown of law and order throughout the event.

As usual, it is expected that politicians from

various political parties and their governorship candidates would like to attend the occasion and use it as an opportunity to market themselves and canvass for votes ahead of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State.

Ofala festival in Onitsha dates back to 1500 AD when the first Obi of Onitsha and founder of ‘Onicha Ado N’idu’, Obi Ezechima reigned.

The festival continued on an annual basis during the regimes of the second Obi of Onitsha, Obi Oreze in the 16th century up to his successor, Obi Chimaeyi, the third Obi of Onitsha, Eze Aroli, the fourth Obi; Obi Chimezei, the fifth Obi who reigned from 1597 to 1612.

The festival continued from the regime of the sixth Obi, Ezeolisa who reigned 1758 to 1759 and Obi Tasia and the seventh Obi who reigned from the 17th century, took over and later handed over to his successor, Obi Chimaedia, the eighth Obi who reigned from the 18th century onward to Obi Ijelekpe, the ninth Obi to Obi Udogwu, the 10th up to Obi Akazue 11th who reigned from 1840 to 1873 and Obi Omozele 12th to Obi Diali 13th who reigned from 1873 to 1874.

The festival continued from the regime of Obi Anazonwu 14th who reigned from 1874 to 1899 and then to Obi Sam Okolo Okosi 15th who reigned from 1900 to 1931 and to Igwe Chukwudebelu Okosi 16th who reigned from 1935 to 1961 up to Obi Joseph Okwudili

Onyejekwe 17th who reigned from 1962 to 1970 up to Obi Alphonsus Ofala Okagbue 18th, the last before the emergence of the present Obi Achebe who reigned from 1970 to 2001 before the ascendancy of the present Igwe Achebe who is now 16 years on the throne.

Since Achebe mounted the saddle, telecommunication companies like MTN or Glo have sponsored the annual cultural fiesta at various times. For instance, MTN sponsored from the inception to about 2010, while Glo took over from 2011 till date.

On each occasion, Obi Achebe usually delved into cultural affairs and national issues in his Ofala messages, depending on the matters of the moment in that particular year.

For instance, during last year’s 15th edition of the festival, Achebe canvassed an urgent overhauling of the nation’s battered and dwindled economy. He also urged President Buhari to look beyond the party affiliation for solution to the recession ravaging the country to avoid complete meltdown.

According to Igwe Achebe, “our country, Nigeria, has faced grave challenges over the past years. President Muhammadu Buhari was popularly elected President and he assumed office on 29th May, 2015 on the mantra of change. His political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, created high expectations during electioneering campaigns.”

“Instead, unfortunately, Nigerians have witnessed a steady decline in economic and human development, and a major recession, which has prompted several statesmen and opinion leaders, including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, as well as Anthony Cardinal Okojie to draw

public attention to the suffering of the ordinary citizens,” he added.

Declared Igwe Achebe: “To complicate matters, most State governments, have been unable to pay salaries without the socalled bailout funds, which is euphemism for loans to be repaid by generations yet unborn. Happily, Anambra state is among the few states that continue to meet their obligations of paying salaries regularly as and when due.

“There is no doubt that the nation’s economy urgently needs a major overhaul and redirection from the cumulative decisions and actions of past regimes. It needs to be transformed from being consumption and import-driven to becoming production oriented, self-reliant and diversified.

“There is no doubt also that Mr President has demonstrated singular commitment and courage to tackling the scourges of corruption, inefficiency, profligacy and waste in government, as well as the fight against militancy in various parts of the country. However, there is a distinct feeling across the country that our immediate economic challenges may demand a non-partisan approach for solution in order to avoid a complete meltdown.”

Also speaking at the occasion, Chairman of Globacom Limited, the sponsor of the event, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr., GCON, described the annual Onitsha Ofala Festival as a positive instrument for social cohesion, peace and community development, adding that the festival has over the years fulfilled the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s, UNESCO, objectives for cultural initiatives.

According to Adenuga, “Ofala Festival, for us in Globacom, is an important vehicle

The President – General Congratulations to the Agbogidi on his 16th Ofala We of the Igbo Cultural and Welfare Association (ICWA), Jos South, Plateau State, heartily felicitate with HRM Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogidi), the Obi of Onitsha on his 16th Ofala, which comes up on Friday, October 13 and the Iwa Ji, which comes up on Saturday, October 14, 2017. We wish you a successful 2017 Ofala festival.

Long live the Agbogidi, Long live Onitsha Ado, N’IduLong live Anambra State, Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria Signed: Pastor Sunday Nwasuronye, Secretary General

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

7

All Hail The Agbogidi On 16th Ofala which has been used to drive social integration, promote peace and community development. But more importantly, the festival immortalises a lofty heirloom of the Onitsha people.”

The Ofala Festival is an annual ceremony observed by the indigenes of Onitsha and of recent years by other neighboring Igbo communities such as Nnewi, Ukpo and similar communities.

It serves as a rites of renewal of the king or Obi and it is similar to the Igue festival in Benin Kingdom and the Ine, Osi or Ogbanigbe Festival in many mid-West Igbo communities of Nigeria. The term ofala, is derived from two Igbo words - ofo (authority) and ala (land). The festival is celebrated within two days mostly in October by the Obi (King).

According to some oral history sources, the Ofala Festival can be traced back to the 16th Century when Onitsha people emigrated from Benin to the Eastern banks of the River Niger presently known as the city of Onitsha and brought with them among other customs, the tradition of monarchy.

The festival is akin to the Igue Festival celebrated annually by the Oba of Benin. Some historians also believe the festival is related to the New Yam Festival in Onitsha and devotion of the King to the safety of his people.

The festival marks the end of a period of retreat sometimes called Inye Ukwu na Nlo when the Obi remains incommunicado and undergoes spiritual purification for the good of the community.

At the end of the week-long retreat, the Obi emerges during the Ofala to bless his subjects and say prayers for the community.

Ofala is celebrated annually beginning from the coronation of the Obi to his death, the latter of which is called “the last Ofala.”

The festival usually starts with a traditional 21-gun salute followed by an all-night Ufie (royal gong) drumming, dancing and other cultural activities. In the afternoon, the Obi’s cabinet of chiefs, guests from other communities, age groups, women and youth of the community usually throng the palace grounds or Ime Obi dressed in traditional attires befitting the festival occasion.

The royal music or Egwu Ota is played during the entrance of the Ndichie or red cap chiefs who arrive after the gathering of the crowd, bringing along with them a few of their friends and family members during their procession to the palace.

The highlight of the festival is the emergence of the Obi in his royal regalia to the cheer of the crowd, with a cannon shot announcing the entrance of the Obi who is usually dressed in ceremonial robe, carries a bronze sword in his hand and walks to the sides of the arena or a third of the arena acknowledging the cheers of the gathering.

The Obi then retires and subsequently, the red cap chiefs pay homage to him according to seniority. Thereafter, both the Obi and the chiefs re-appear after the firing of another cannon shot. During the second appearance, the Obi dances in the arena, something that is rarely seen and his steps cover more distance than the first appearance.

Then the visiting chiefs and guests pay homage to the Obi. The festival is also sometimes an occasion for the Obi to honour individuals with chieftaincy titles.

Long live the Agbogidi

Long live Anambra State Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria I, Chief (Dr.) Faith S.O.O Onyema, ONYE-NDU NDIGBO 1, Igbo Community leader in Jos South LGA, Plateau, on behalf of my family and the entire Igbo Community in Jos South heartily congratulate HRM, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe (CFR, MNI), AGBOGIDI, the Obi of Onitsha, on the celebration of the 16th Ofala Festival of the ancient kingdom of Onitsha.

Agbogidi,16th Ofala festival

Sixteen good and meritorious years, and just like yesterday!

A big salute the Quintessential Monarch on a day like this!

O

n behalf of myself, family and the entire Daikeanyo family, we rejoice with His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFN, 4LD,

P8C, MNI, as he celebrates this year’s ofala festival. We wish him many more years of happy celebrations. Long live Royal Majesty.

Signed Chief Emeka Osemenam, Oboli-Boja Dalika-anyo - Umuazarolu

8

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

NEWS

MASSOB condemns fresh invasion of Kanu’s home

• Declares Biafra irreversible From CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

T

he Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the recent fresh military invasion of the home and palace of Eze Israel Kanu, the father of Nnamdi Kanu, who is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at Afara Ukwu, Abia State.

Samuel Edeson, MASSOB’s National Director of Information, had in a statement described the renewed assault as primitive and show of cowardice.

It stated that no amount of such intimidation would stop pro-Biafra agitators from continuing with the

struggle, adding that President Buhari “cannot destroy the Biafra consciousness.”

The statement wondered why the army would continue to unleash such primitive and brutal attack against non-violent Biafra agitators.

“Signs of jittery, cowardice and Buhari’s government frustration on the eloquent consciousness and realities of Biafra freedom, which is being appreciated and acknowledged by international communities evident in the latest invasion of Nnamdi Kanu’s home,” the statement further noted.

The monarch’s family had Sunday raised the alarm that soldiers invaded their compound yet again.

The IPOB leader’s younger sibling Emmanuel Kanu, had alleged that the soldiers invaded their home and carted away some household items.

He said the soldiers took away some items like television sets, generating sets, clothes among other belongings of the family.

He, therefore called on all saying, “the international community should prevail on the Nigeria Army to stop raiding our home again.

We have been telling the Army to produce my bother whose whereabouts has remained unknown since the September 14 military invasion of our compound.”

While confirming its operation in the area, the military denied remov-

ing any household items from the compound.

The army said: “We were there in search of weapons, no household items were removed from Kanu’s home”.

But MASSOB’s statement on Monday maintained that “application of brutal by federal forces against the non-violent Biafra agitators can never subdue or defeat the indestructible revolution of Biafra.

“The statement read in part,” MASSOB and other pro-Biafra agitators are not cowed or intimidated by this sheer acts of overzealousness and ethnic hatred of the people of Biafra by Hausa Fulani-dominated

Nigerian security apparatus.

“Even in these persecutions, arrests, extra judicial killings, subjections and detentions of nonviolent, pro-Biafra agitators, we shall continue to maintain our non-violence principles. “ MASSOB and other pro Biafra groups are the political masquerades of Ndigbo. We shall continue to be the pride of Ndigbo, upholding the vision of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.”

The statement called on southeast governors to be wary and sensitive about Biafra issues in order not to fall into what it called “the political trap of the Hausa Fulani intimidation through president Buhari.”

Nanka community celebrates harvest of consolidation at Iwa Ji festival

By IBE NWACHUKWU

T

he people of Nanka community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State were thrown into a festive mood at the weekend as they celebrated their annual Iwa Ji (New Yam) cultural festival in grand style.

Tagged: “Harvest of Consolidation”, the festival which was performed by the traditional ruler of Nanka, Igwe Godwin Ezeilo, as his first public function since after he received his official certificate of recognition from the state government, barely six months ago.

In his goodwill message, Igwe Ezeilo admonished those who feel offended over the issues of Igweship to come to his table and reason together with him, adding that there is a balm for every wound.

The monarch who noted that he was particularly extending the peaceful hands of fellowship to all Nankarians through their leadership to come to a round table discussion for the sake of peace. He also appreciated his fellow contestant to the royal throne, Chief Nathan Nwodika and Chief Okwudili Ezeugwa for their courage and candour, which they demonstrated before, during and after the entire process.

According to him, “my eternal thanks, love and prayers go to the following men who made Nanka not to go down in this turbulent and trying times, Chief Poly Emenike (Odenigbo Nanka), Chief Peter Chinedu (Onwa Nanka), Chief Ebere Nwosu (Ezeudo Nanka), Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwor (Ewepudike Nanka), Chief Gabriel Egbue (Ide Gburugburu), Chief Damian Okoye (Ome Udo Nanka), Chief Okechukwu Ezenwankwor (Nkponana Nanka) and Chief Paul Chinedu (Omeleora Nanka).

“It is also important to mention Chief Kofi Obijiofor (Ajie Nanka), Air Commodore Chuka Ifezue (Nzeakonobi Nanka), Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene (President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra state), Mrs. Chinyere Akoh and Mr. Patrick Emezue in the field of education and very many others that are progressives in the book of Nanka history”.

He commended Govenor Willie Obiano for finding him worthy to

be given the certificate of recognition as the Obu Nanka of Nanka on March 15, this year, adding, “at the appropriate time, I shall roll out blue print for the continued development of Nanka”.

Earlier in his welcome address, the President-General of Nanka Patriotic Union, NPU, Chief Bernard Onyekwelu, appealed to all the indigenes to do away with all vices that ill divide the community and to join hands in improvement of the achievements already registered so far for the progress and development of Nanka.

According to Onyekwelu, “With the assistance of good spirited individuals in Nanka, the town is now receiving dividend of democracy from the state government, adding, Ofuobi Comprehensive Centre was on July 23, 2014, taken over by the state government and is now Ofuobi General Hospital, Nanka, controlled and managed by the state government’s N2o million chooseyour project initiative.”

He commended the sole sponsor of Ezeudo University Scholarship Scheme, Chief Ebere Nwosu who presented a cheque of N2.2 million for the 2017/2018 session and Chief Kofi Obijiofor who has been sponsoring the annual new yam exhibition/fai competitions with a donation of brand new tricycle and motorcycles for first, second and third prize winners respectively and consolidation prizes to other participants in the exhibition/competition.

He also commended Chief Peter Chinedu for sponsoring this year’s festival and Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo for donating eight live cows every year for distribution to all the villages and the Igwe-inCouncil to support the annual festival and urged the people to ensure they get their voters’ cards which is their strength and power to choose those who will take good care of them since according to him, their choice in government is determined by the number of registered voters they have.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Clifford Iloegbune Okoye, Chairman Nigerian Bar Association, NBA Aguata Branch commended the entire community for their unity of purpose.

• Igwe Obosi III Chidubem Iweka cuts a yam to mark the 2017 New yam festival. Photo Emma Ihemeje

Abia AG donates mattresses as detained IPOB suspects overstretch prisons From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

S

cores of people arrested by security agencies for allegedly being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have further overstretched facilities of the already congested prisons in Abia state, thereby raising fresh concerns over the welfare of detainees and inmates.

In the wake of the military exercise code named Operation Python Dance II (Egwu Eke II) in Abia State, many young persons suspected to be IPOB members were rounded up by the military and other security agencies.

The arrested persons, many of whom had been arraigned in court, were remanded in prison custody pending the conclusion of their court trials.

This has compounded the pitiable conditions of the prisons.

The condition of the inmates touched the Abia State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu, (SAN) who said he was aware that the prisons have been overstretched with the

arrival of the alleged IPOB members arrested during the clampdown by security agencies.

Kalu, therefore, donated 100 mattresses to the prisons.

The items were handed over to the state Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Sylvester Ayoka, to ameliorate the dire conditions of the detainees, especially those being held at Umuahia and Aba prisons.

While handing over the mattresses, Kalu appealed to all men of goodwill to always extend assistance to the prison services to enable it to take good care of the detainees and inmates of the prisons as their capacities were being stretched to explosive limits.

“They (detainees) deserve a comfortable place to lay their heads,” he said, adding that “it is all in our interest to reform the prisons so that when they (detainees and inmates) come out they won’t come out with bitterness against the society.”

The Commissioner, who has headed the Justice Ministry over the past eight years, said that he had always been interfacing with

the prisons and was quite aware of the challenges facing them.

Kalu noted that he had in the past made some interventions to improve the prisons, including roofing of one prison apartments, organizing medical outreaches, adding that security would be meaningless without an effective prison service.

Abia state comptroller of prisons, Mr. Ayoka, lauded Chief Kalu for his assistance to the prisons and urged other public-spirited individuals and groups to emulate his gesture.

While acknowledging that the prisons have far exceeded their capacities, the state Prisons Comptroller said “we always go out of our way to plead for assistance in order to create conducive environment for the prisons to play their reformatory roles.”

He noted that with the donation of the 100 mattresses, the Commissioner has succeeded in “suppressing tensions in the prisons” usually generated by discomforts, adding that the items would be distributed to the prisons in Umuahia, Aba and Arochukwu.

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

POLITICS

When rampaging pirates painted Bayelsa with blood!

Pg 10

‘In Enugu, equity, consideration influences every action of govt’

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Pg 14

Why I insist Nigeria is not making progress, by Peter Obi Mr. Peter Obi is immediate past governor of Anambra State. He was in Ebonyi recently where he spoke on the state of the nation, giving reasons why Nigeria is not progressing economically. The former governor is calling for a shift from baggage economy to knowledge economy through “aggressive” investments in education in Nigeria if the country must come out of the economic woes presently confronting it and the ones it might be faced with in the nearest future. From Abakaliki, CHINEDU NWAFOR reports.

•Peter Obi

NIGERIA is facing a lot of challenges, which appear to be increasing daily.

What do you think are the reasons for these?

When they said they were celebrating Nigeria’s 57 years of independence, I refused to talk because my opinion is that Nigeria is a failed country, period.

Anybody can say anything about my position. Nigeria’s failure is the reason why you are seeing so many agitations today.

The various agitations you are seeing in Nigeria today are not about to end; they are just beginning. And they come as the cumulative effect of leadership failure over the years. You can’t avoid these agitations because you now have millions of young people in their productive age doing nothing.

If you don’t have a job and you have not eaten food in the morning, afternoon and night, tomorrow you are a terrorist. Quote me anywhere. The only way to stop that is to give them jobs. So,

•Gov. David U,ahi

we need to do something about unemployment—and fast too.

So, what do you think that could be done to avert this danger?

One of the things that have happened to Nigeria, which is very bad is when is the oil wealth, the mineral resources.

Most of the countries that are doing well globally don’t have mineral resources.

We are moving from baggage economy to knowledge economy. So, those who dwell on those solid minerals are only relying on a baggage economy and that is what Nigeria is doing today. We are still talking about getting money from oil, which is already destined to finish one day.

To build a knowledge economy, which is where the world is headed now, we need to invest in education and do so aggressively and Ebonyi has one of the best opportunities in this direction. In knowledge economy, it has been proved that

in year 2020, you will have over 25 million job vacancies in the world.

Nigeria GDP today is $420billion, and that is the biggest economy in Africa.

The GDP of number two, which is South Africa is $280billion. Two of the biggest economies in Africa combined, their GDPs add up to only $700billion dollars.

Apple, which just sells phones and computers, as at the most recent valuation is worth $752billion. So, apple as a company is bigger than Africa’s two biggest economies. Microsoft owned by Bill Gates eventually is worth $600billion, which is more than the entire economy of West Africa countries put together.

What do they sell? It is knowledge. Even face book that was started 10 years ago is now worth $430billion, which is greater than Nigerian GDP and so on.

Nigeria should key into Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not in signature. The country is there in signature and it is the only country that got involved in

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and did not achieve one goal because as soon as we signed the signature, we threw it away and came here and started doing things wrongly.

China put MDGs in their developmental agenda, they mainstreamed it in their developmental agenda and they are targeting to lift 6o million people out of poverty in 2020. But, I don’t know how many people Nigeria will lift out of poverty in the next 10 years because there are no such measurable goals. Everything is done in confusion. Our reserve is weak today and we are not talking about savings rather, we are borrowing more. In 2005, all our debts were written off and they were about $30bn—we didn’t owe anybody again. But in 2017, we have accumulated a debt of $59billion and nobody is thinking about what we should do to get over this because what we are doing is based on nothing. We just borrow money and share.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

BOLD & BLUNT

When rampaging pirates CHRIS EZE, in Yenagoa, writes on the security challenges, especially deadly sea piracy, confronting Bayelsa State, explaining that, unless the authorities do something urgently to stem the slide, the situation might even get worse.

A

GAIN, Bayelsa is in the news, albeit for the wrong reasons. Only recently, the state hit striking headlines following the exploits of a young Bayelsan, Daniel Diongoli, popularly known as Idyl, who emerged winner of the 2017 Voice of Nigeria, Season 2 Music Reality Show. It was a feat, which all Bayelsans, home and abroad, were (and are) proud of, especially coming a few years after another Bayelsan, Timi Dakolo emerged winner of a similar competition.

However, the other event for which Bayelsa also hit titillating recently headlines would have no reasonable Bayelsan associate himself with it except, of course, the criminals, the pirates who had laid siege on the waterways in the State, painting them red with the blood of innocent sea travelers.

The recent barrage of pirates’ attack on the waterways in the state was one too many. About two years ago, members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, (MWUN) Bayelsa State chapter had embarked on an indefinite strike over the incessant attack of pirates on their members on the waterways. It took a series of meetings with and assurances from the officials of the state government before the union was persuaded to return to work. The effect of the strike told heavily on the socio-economic activities in the State because Bayelsa State is a riverine state, with over 80 percent of the state covered by water while a paltry 20 percent is land. Consequently, experts believe that the fastest way for the growth and development of a state like Bayelsa lies in developing its potentials in the marine subsector Till date, many communities are still inaccessible by road, except by sea. So, anything that disrupts movement of people through the sea tends to ground socio- economic activities all over the state as even the supply of agricultural produce, which are usually moved from the hinter land to the cities, is cut off, hence resulting in high cost of the few available ones.

So, when militants suspected to be pirates attacked a military houseboat at Letugbene in Southen Ijaw Local Council of the State late August this year, killing a soldier and a civilian, and then followed with another attack on September 22, on a tugboat at Ekebiri in the same Southern Ijaw Local Council killing a police officer, a personnel of NSCDC and a civilian, the people of the state feared that the bad days were back.

There was yet another attack on Monday, September 25 on a passenger boat along the Brass waterways where two persons were killed and many others injured. As if all this was not enough, the criminals struck again on the same Brass-Nembe Road on Wednesday, September 27 and hijacked a passenger boat.

It was learnt that the pirates who branded sophisticated weapons shot sporadically into the air before seizing the boat. The driver of the boat and his colleagues were later dumped in the creeks while the pirates drove their boat to an unknown destination.

Speaking on the incident, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Llyod Sese who confirmed the incident said there is high rate of unrest caused by pirates on the waterways. Sese called on relevant authorities to come to the aid of commuters on the waterways as the attack on boat users has now become a daily affair.

A youth leader from Brass Local Council, Honorable Robert Desmond also strongly condemned the incessant sea pirate attacks on the Nembe-Brass waterways. In a press statement, Desmond described the acts as not only senseless but also inhuman and wondered why a group of Bayelsa youths would be terrorizing their own people.

Desmond berated the state government for treating the sea pirate issue with levity and tasked security personnel to be on alert. He

•Gov Seriake-Dickson said Bayelsans, particularly the Brass-Nembe people are in dire need of marine security.

He called on law enforcement agents to apprehend the ringleaders and destroy every network as well as dispossess them of every arsenal they may have, in order to bring respite to the Nembe-Brass people.

Desmond who is also the Founder/Grand Patron of the New Face of Brass Local Council further admonished the sea pirates and their sponsors to desist from the heinous crime, lamenting that it is impeding the development of the area.

As expected, the renewed onslaught of pirates against the waterways has led to a lull in maritime activities in the state. When The Oracle Today visited the Yenagoa jetty on the

Brass-Nembe route, many boats were seen parked with very few passengers available to board. One of the officials of the Maritime workers who would not want to be mentioned lamented the adverse effect of the activities of pirates on their means of livelihood, alleging that the government does not want to help them.

He noted that while the state government has provided patrol vehicles for the state anti-crime outfit, ‘Operation Door Akpor’, that patrols Yenagoa and environs, the government has neglected the marine component, leaving sea travelers and those doing business on the waterways to the mercy of criminals and pirates.

The MWUN official also carpeted the secu-

rity agencies, accusing them of complicity in the activities of the pirates. He alleged that security operatives know the camp of the pirates along the waterways, but appear reluctant to rout them.

According to him, the Naval Base in Brass, FORMOSSO, whose duty is to patrol the waterways on regular basis, does not engage in such exercises.

He further alleged that politicians are also culpable as they help to sustain the criminals by patronizing them during elections after which they retire to their camps in the creeks to wait for another election year.

It often baffles observers why Bayelsa, even as the smallest state in the Niger Delta, has always maintained a top spot in crime-related

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

BOLD & BLUNT

painted Bayelsa with blood!

activities- from kidnapping to cultism, and now piracy. It is on record that during the Amnesty Programme, Bayelsa youths formed the bulk of the beneficiaries resulting in the state now having many ‘Generals’ who did not go to war!

Yet, there may not be respite soon even in pirates attack and other criminal activities in the state if the threats from the Ifalibobou Revolutionary Movement (IRM), a former militant group, are anything to go by.

The former leader of the group, Gen. Keithy Sese recently revealed that the pockets of violence and militant activities ravaging communities in Bayelsa state are the handiwork of his former loyalists who were shut out of the Third Phase of the Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government for ex agitators.

Sese, popularly known in the creeks as Nomukeme attributed a recent killing of Joint Task Force (JTF) personnel at Foropa Town in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area to the activities of his former followers who he said have vowed to frustrate the ongoing peace efforts in the Niger Delta until they are accommodated in the amnesty programme.

He lamented that only 26 out of about 3,000 members of his group who accepted amnesty were granted the privilege to be documented in the third phase of the federal government’s Amnesty Programme, stressing that the group has protested against the marginalization in several ways to no avail.

Apparently alarmed by the activities of pirates in the waterways in the state, the Force Marine Officer, Chinedu Iwuozor, (Superintendent of Police) had visited the state earlier in the year and vowed to reposition the marine section of the Force in Niger Delta to achieve greater efficiency in the area.

He made the commitment while addressing members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Bayelsa chapter.

Iwuozor told the maritime stakeholders that the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim is eager to ensure greater marine safety in the area.

He assured of the preparedness of the force to provide better service delivery across the states of the federation where maritime activities are taking place, adding that more gunboats would be acquired to enhance patrol on the waterways.

The officer said the NPF is currently addressing the issue of manpower by mobilizing officers from other departments into the marine section, adding that they would undergo special training for the tasks ahead of them.

According to him, the marine officers are also being sensitized to be more pro-active and more pre-emptive, given the present areas of security threats recorded in recent times He thanked members of MWUN for their previous support to the marine police department and called on them to further collaborate with the police by sharing timely and relevant information for effective security of the waterways of Bayelsa.

The leadership of MWUN had used the opportunity to intimate the marine police officer with the security challenges on the state’s waterways on a daily basis.

“The rivers and creeks of the state have become very unsafe for any meaningful business activity in the marine sector to thrive because of incessant attacks from sea-pirates on members of the union and innocent travelers,” MWUN’s state chairman, Lloyd Sese said.

Sese, however, stated that MWUN members are hopeful that the marine officer’s visit would pave the way for total policing of Bayelsa’s waterways and save the travelling public from sea pirates’ attacks.

Unfortunately, the visit has not translated into providing facilities to fight the menace of pirates in the state. Spokesman of the state police command, Asinim Butswat, (DSP), said what has happened since the visit of the marine police officer is training and retraining of officers.

“If it has to do with training and retraining, that one is on course. Our men have been going for training and retraining. If it has to do with additional facilities, it is still in the pipeline. We are seeking more gunboats and boats to patrol the waterways,” Butswat said.

The police spokesman lamented that the

There is need to identify the most vulnerable spots and ensure regular and effective patrolling by well armed security personnel in properly equipped marine crafts fitted with up to date communication gadgets. terrain of Bayelsa makes policing the environment rather challenging.

“You know, the terrain in Bayelsa is largely riverine. And it is not just riverine, but creeks, narrow creeks scattered all over most especially in Southern Ijaw axis,” he noted.

He said though they have deployed the marine police at Koluama axis, Brass-Nembe, Sagbama, among others, the number is not enough to cover the entire waterways of the state.

He, however, said they are enjoying the synergy between the police, JTF, Civil Defense and the Navy to police the waterways, adding that no suspect has been arrested in any of the attacks in recent time.

The police image maker maintained that the best way to address the issue of insecurity on the waterways is synergy not only with sister agencies, but with the communities.

“We always encourage workers in the maritime domain to partner with us to volunteer useful information to us because they are also working in the river always; fishermen, sand diggers, partner with us and give us information so that we will be able to checkmate movement of some certain persons along the water ways,” he said.

According to him, Bayelsa State government has banned the use of boats fitted with 200-horsepower and above engines so that it will be easier to catch any boat involved in criminal activities on the waterways.

People, he added, are also not allowed to travel on waterways by 6 am or 6 pm.

“These are the measures we have put in place to checkmate activities of sea pirates on the waterways and they have yielded positive results if not for some few incidents that occurred some few weeks ago,” he stressed.

Butswat used the occasion to offer some safety tips to the traveling public, saying: “They should avoid odd hours on the waterways. And they should equally avoid using speedboats they don’t know right from the waterside when they want to enter.

“They should make sure that boats they want to enter are authorized; they are people they know so that they will not enter a boat that will lure them to the trap of the pirates,” he added.

The PPRO further assured that the Operational Order the command has set for the

”

ember months is very elaborate and effective, stressing that the public would notice improved security on the waterways “for this period”.

Pirates’ attack has elicited reactions from various stakeholders. The Bayelsa State government through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obuebite, while condemning the spate of attacks, described it as pure act of criminality, deliberately carried out to rubbish the security and peace efforts of the government by some disgruntled elements operating under the guise of sea pirates.

On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Boma Spero Jack described the attacks as “callous and wicked”.

While sympathizing with the families of the deceased for the loss of their loved ones, the Special Adviser expressed government’s commitment to putting in place more security measures to curb the challenges affecting the waterways.

Spero Jack called on members of the public to see security as everybody’s’ responsibility and work collectively with the police and other security agencies to make the society a better place.

He, however, assured that the Bayelsa State government is working round the clock with the security agencies to reduce crime rate to its barest minimum as well as unravel the perpetrators and deal with them according to the law.

He said plans are in top gear to make the marine component of ‘Operation Door Akpor’ more effective to tackle sea piracy, illegal bunkering and other related criminal activities being carried out on the state’s waterways.

In their joint statement condemning the attacks, the state chapter of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), and the Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth (ERA/FoEN) described the activities of sea pirates on the state waterways as too alarming, adding that even fishing folks and traders sailing on local market boats and other travelers on speedboats are not spared.

“At times like these, the security agencies are expected to do more to protect lives and property. Unfortunately, security agencies have become victims too, suffering casualties in the course of carrying out their assign-

ments. This scenario is going from bad to worse and very troubling. Unless something is done to curb the trend, not only will the much needed development be denied our rural communities as contractors and investors will avoid the environment, the local economy would also be seriously affected in terms of reduced commercial activities, including fishing and farming activities. And our people will not only starve, cost of living will also soar and poverty will become more entrenched. These criminal activities are alien to Ijawland and very unacceptable no matter who the sponsors or perpetrators may be.

“We condemn in strong terms the attacks and killing of innocent civilians and security men in our environment and call on all those engaged in the act to rethink and stop the barbaric, criminal acts in the interest of humanity,” the statement read in part.

The statement, which was signed by the state chairman of CLO, Chief Nengi James and Head of ERA/FoEN in Yenagoa, Alagoa Morris urged the government and security agencies in the state not to leave out communities in fashioning out effective strategies to bring about lasting solution.

“All critical stakeholders should be involved, including community structures, retired military/security personnel, etc. There is need to identify the most vulnerable spots and ensure regular and effective patrolling by well armed security personnel in properly equipped marine crafts fitted with up to date communication gadgets,” they suggested.

The statement urged government to engage the youths in more positive ways “so, instead of the Bayelsa Volunteers whose activities are largely unknown to most members of the public, a more robust and effective vigilante should be formally established to assist and complement the efforts of security agencies in bridging very important gaps, by way of critical information gathering and locating hideouts of those perpetrating the heinous crimes which is portraying the state in bad light.”

“Communities should be able to identify strangers in their environment and monitor activities of all. Government should support community vigilantes with monthly stipends and necessary working tools,” they stressed.

“We call on the federal government’s interventionist agencies—the NDDC and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the state government and JTF to work in synergy and establish Coast Guards in Bayelsa State. The Coast Guards should be given sufficient training and be armed like the Civil Defense to bridge the lacuna in our waterways, while the vigilantes also carry out security-related services in our communities, including the state capital and environs.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

POLITICS

‘In Enugu, equity, consideration influences every action of govt’ •EN-RUWASSA boss lauds gov. on N300m water projects

The Managing Director of Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EN-RUWASSA), Dr Okenwa Frank Omeje JP, tells THEO RAYS what Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is doing in the area of water supply and other areas of governance in the State Let’s start from your office. What’s EN-RUWASSA doing to improve on the water supply and sanitation situation in Enugu State?

EN-RUWASSA is saddled with three primary responsibilities of water supply, ensuring sanitation and hygiene and it is living up to its billing as far as I am concerned. And it’s thanks largely to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who has not just ensured enabling environment for us to operate but has also provided the necessary funds needed to execute projects. As I speak, we have the approval of His Excellency to execute a N300Million water project in 73 rural communities across the State. The Executive Council has approved the release of the fund and we have commenced plans for immediate execution of the projects.

Let me quickly inform that EN-RUWASSA, in partnership with UNICEF and the Office of the First Lady of Enugu State, is organising a week-long sensitisation programme on Global Hand washing Day with soap. Global Hand washing day is an annual event targeted at sensitising the people on the need to wash their hand with soap or ashes to avoid contacting killer infectious diseases like diarrhoea and others.

Right now, we are moving round the three Senatorial zones in the State and we are planning to hold the Grand Finale at Okpara Square by next week. We will do road and engage pupils and students as well as teachers, civil servants, artisans, farmers traders and what have you.

Last year we reached out to about 1.5million people, this year we want to double it by targeting about 3million people around the State.

Back to the N300million project, kindly permit to give you a brief down on how the project is going to be shared among the three Senatorial zones in the State. We have the project of 1) completion of NA Udi Theme Park water project (installation of3 NO PS4000 solar powered system, completion of block and landscaping, 1km pipeline reticulation) in Udi LGA. 2) Rehabilitation of Ogonogo Eji Ndiuno, Akpugo and Obinagu and Uwani Akpugo Water Scheme and completion of Neke and Mbu stream impoundment project. 3) Rehabilitation of small scale water treatment plant in Amodu/Umueze Awkunanaw in Nkanu West LGA. Others are: 4) Rehabilitation of 14 motorised Borehole in Onoda Ette in Igbo -Eze North LGA , Ulunze Ovoko , in Igbo-Eze South LGA; Edem Ani in Nsukka LGA , Enugu Achi in Orji River, Ohom Orba, Iheakpu Awka , Igugu/ umundu in Udenu LGA , Ikolo, Amankpo Ihekwenu , Udemezue in Igbo-Etiti LGA and in Oyofo, Agulu Obeleagu Umuana in Ezeagu LGA and another in Obinagu Udi in Udi LGA. We also have the projects of completion of the construction of 2 motorized solar borehole in Nsukka and Oji River Schools of Health Technology; completion of the construction of 2 motorised solar boreholes in Uborji and Ekedodo Ngwo in Udi LGA. Construction of 50 Indian mark 111 boreholes in Isienu village square Obolo Eke in Udenu LGA, Amorji Nike, Ibagwa Nike, Ubulu Uwenu, Ubulu Njodo, Orie Emene, Umuchigbo iji Nike in Enugu East LGA ,Umuene Nome in Nkanu East LGA ,Agbunonyia Enuagu Amurri in Nkanu West LGA. Ameke Orji Mpu, Okomigbo Mpu, Okpanku Ekoli, Ukete, Agbada Nenwe, Ndeabor, Oduma Achara Amagu Ani, Ezibese, Amaeke Oduma, Ameke Azunkwo, Nkwubeke Azunkwo and Agboechare Ndabo in Aniri LGA. Other beneficiaries are Umuhu Ezike, Mmaku Ugbo, Ezema Agbagugu, Ibute Ogbaku, Enuguato Ihe,Umuogba Ihe, Amata Ituku, Umuonyiba ituku, Eziama Ogbaku, Imama Ngbowo, Ibire Ogbaku, Amoli, Azu Aruru, Adani Uwakpu, Ezinese Mgbidi, Umuonia Ihe, Amabo Ogboli Awgu, Ukpukpa Mgbowo, Adagbalaota, and Mmaku Agbo in Awgu LGA. Others are Uguworie Obeagu, Obeagu Uno, Ishiagu and Amechi in Enugu South LGA under ENSG/JICA improvement of rural water supply.

In addition to these are completion of Ukehe water scheme in Igbo-etiti LGA, purchase of one Hilux project vehicle, spring water improvement with 1km reticulation in Isiama, Ihe and Isuawa in Awgu LGA and repair of auto-

disposition. His humility and passion for justice, equity and fairness is amazing. He is like water that doesn’t have enemy. He is not interested in fighting. If you are fighting him he will be looking at you and be praying for you. He will come to apologise and demand for forgiveness if has offended you. He has bridged the gap between the rich and the poor and brought the era of the rich taking upper hand over the poor in Enugu to an end. In Enugu the rich and poor have equal right and when there is opportunity everybody gets equal shares. All these have made us to declare that Enugu is in the Hands of God. What makes the system under Ugwuanyi more robust is that things are working well under recession.

• Dr Okenwa Frank Omeje clave and oven for biological test among other things.

Following the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 Enugu State has consistently had two governors who governed the State eight years each. Looking at the present administration, could you point at one or two areas that Gburugburu has done well or even better than his two predecessors?

Before you do the comparative analysis, you have to consider what is on ground. You have to consider the situation of things at the different points in time. During the time, his predecessors served during the era of oil boom but he is serving at a time when the economy of Nigeria is in recession following the fall of oil price in the international market. Some people are of the view that Gburugburu is unlucky to have come in at the wrong time when the economy is bad. Nevertheless, he is not doing badly. To the best of my knowledge, he has effectively offloaded backlog of arrears of salary and pensions he inherited from his predecessor. Presently, Enugu is ranked alongside States like Lagos, Rivers and Anambra as States that pay worker salaries promptly. In terms of security, I think Enugu is one of the States where residents and visitors sleep with their two eyes closed. And if you are in Enugu, you will discover that the level of electricity supply has tremendously improved. Furthermore under recession, Ugwuanyi is constructing world class roads across the three Senatorial zones in the State. The number of roads he has contrasted so far is higher than what his predecessors did all altogether. You talk about NsukkaOpi road with dual carriageway, the 9th mile bypass, the rehabilitation of 9th mile - Obollo Afor - Makurdi road, reconstruction of old Enugu-Orji River - Awka -Onitsha Road, reconstruction of Nike road and many others.

A few weeks ago, he approved a huge amount of money for rehabilitation of Ajali water scheme for adequate provision of water to the people of Orji River and Nsukka axis. And we have talked about the approval of N300Million for water project in rural communities. He is doing all these under recession coupled with the fact that Enugu receives the least amount of money from federal monthly allocations to the States. That is why people call him the magic governor.

Another area he has done better is the area of personal

Let’s talk about financial transparency; how is it faring under Ugwuanyi?

In Enugu now, there no iota of financial recklessness as far as the administration of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is concerned. Not long ago, a top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria commended him for prudent management of the little resources we have in Enugu State. In Enugu, everything regarding finance is done on top of the table and under due process. Gburugburu as I know him, is a good financial manger because that is his area of his specialisation. He has enough experience in financial management both practically and academically. If am not mistaking, he has about two masters degrees in financial management related courses and he has brought his huge experience in that field to bear on the leadership of Enugu State.

On the issue of equity, the governor is working with a system of triangular equilibrium just as his name Gburugburu symbolises. No Senatorial zone in the State can raise an eyebrow against his administration to complain about marginalisation. Few weeks ago, some people from Nkanu zone came on air to thank the governor for constructing a bridge that connects them to other communities and which hitherto was manually fixed with planks.

They were happy because they did not gain that kind of favor when one of them was in Lion Building. There is nothing like nepotism in Enugu State under the present administration. Every zone is enjoying the administration in terms of appointments, delivery of road projects and other infrastructural services. Take for instance the rural water project of EN RUWASSA is well spread across the zones and that is how everything is shared and distributed in the State.

In what ways would you say the government in Enugu has improved on the economy of the State?

At the out set of his administration he set up an economic team and followed it up by organising what looked like a global economic summit in Enugu. I’m sure we have reaped some benefits from the committee and the summit. Not long ago, a team of foreign investors from the United States of America were in Enugu for negotiations on how to invest in agro business. So, investors come here and the most interesting thing, as I said earlier, is that there is adequate security in the State and to the best of my knowledge, there is nothing like over bloated or excess taxation or imposition of levies.

Following dwindling revenue from oil, there is call for diversity of the economy and businesses. For instance in Onitsha, a commercial nerve centre and industrial zone, traders are under pressure to diversify into manufacturing and farming and they are apparently succumbing to the pressure. Is a similar thing going on in Enugu? They say Enugu is a civil service State, is there any move on the part of the government to diversify the kinds of businesses people do in Enugu?

The point is that there is a turn-around in the system of things in Enugu State and people in their wisdom are taking good advantage of the turn-around to pursue their wellbeing and progress in their lives and those of their families and children. Every serious minded businessman knows that the present environment in Enugu is ripe and conducive for every business to thrive. People are coming in from other parts of the country and international businessmen are also here to invest and people of the State moving along them.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

POLITICS

Nnajiofor: We must re-negotiate, run Nigeria under new template

•Says APC can’t penetrate Enugu in 2019 •100 per cent victory awaits Ugwuanyi, PDP WHAT are your thoughts about Nigeria at 57?

My thoughts are thoughts of goodwill, thoughts of prayer, encouragement and appreciation to God for helping us as a country to come this far. Fifty-seven years of marriage is not easy. And having come this far, we are grateful to God that we have been able, by His grace, to survive all the turbulent weathers, challenges and difficult moments of the past. And we can confidently say that we are marching to greatness. We have had a lot of positive and negative experiences between 1960 and now, and I believe that this 2017 independence anniversary is an opportunity for us to reflect on the past, reshape our country and then plan for our future as a country. But generally speaking, I would say that it has been so far, so good for Nigeria.

Though turbulent, it has been a journey of immense efforts towards achieving greatness and unity and stronger cohesion among various ethnic nationalities. And we are grateful to God that in spite of all our past dire situations, we have not disintegrated.

That shows that God loves this country immensely. And like I said, this 2017 independence anniversary is an opportunity for us to reflect on the past, reshape the country and make our future brighter.

Hon Paul Osondu Nnajiofor is the House Committee Chairman on Information and member representing Nkanu-East Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly. In this interview with CHUKS EZE, the vocal lawmaker states that although Nigeria has been able to wither several storms in its 57 years of existence, the country is currently edging towards a dangerous precipice.

To stem the tide, he urges the Buhari administration to take urgent steps to unite various ethnic nationalities and return the country to the part of peace, cohesion, harmony and stronger unity.

He also asserts that PDP is impregnable in Enugu State, stressing that not even APC or any other party for that matter, could find a firm footing in the State.

How can we reshape the country and plan for a greater future?

We need to urgently take care of various on-going agitations here and there. The only way for us to move forward is for us to address issues raised by various sub-units and regions and groups in this country. And there are two options here: either we bring all the issues to the discussion table and carefully treat them one by one, or we go back to the recommendations of the 2014 confab report and implement it. That would enable us to tackle the various complaints, challenges and other issues and then forge ahead.

Many Nigerians are of the notion that the amalgamation of 1914, which brought about an entity called Nigeria, was a forced marriage. What about you?

To me, it was a forced and an unholy marriage of major ethnic nationalities, without giving them opportunity to discuss and agree on a template upon which the nation would be run. And eventually, we have been able to manage the marriage till this 57th year. So, it is time to re-negotiate the terms of the marriage. The British, who put us into this unsolicited marriage in the name of amalgamation in 1914, have gone back home to enjoy their county. Let us not pretend that we are one; we are not. Nigeria is not one.

If we want to be one, we must negotiate it, sit together and agree on the basis for our being together. If we say we want to maintain unity, what is the template; what is the basis for the unity? What do we do to make the smaller units stronger but still retain a formidable centre? How do we compensate the South-South, where oil comes from, appropriately? What should we do so they can enjoy between 27 and 33 per cent derivation?

We must realise that 13 per cent derivation is too meagre for a people whose land and water have been practically devastated for life. How do we return to the old glory days of groundnut pyramid, bountiful cocoa plantation; boom in palm oil production and exportation? How do we develop our coal in Enugu and other vast solid minerals across

•Hon Paul Osondu Nnajiofor the country? We must realise that this issue of one region suppressing or sapping off another region is not going to work.

Do you think that the current wave of agitations and complaints of marginalisation across the country are questioning that unity of the country?

The current agitations are warning signs about the need to restructure and reshape Nigeria. I do not totally agree with the idea of secession because we do not need to pull out of the country just like that. I quite agree that there are challenges of acute imbalance in this country, ranging from societal imbalance to economic, political and several other forms of imbalances and neglect. However, those should not make us secede. But restructuring is the answer! We must restructure the country; we must bring every unit to the discussion table, to re-negotiate the way forward, with representatives of the federal government. The South East is alleging marginalisation and South-South is

complaining of deprivation. The middle-belt is complaining about the menace of criminal herdsmen, just as there are complaints from the South West, North East and so on.

How do we solve the problem of incessant attack of criminal herdsmen on farmers, and destruction of their farmlands? How do we solve the problem of perennial marginalisation of the South-East and other complaints from various parts of the country? How do we appease the Niger Delta people, who are lamenting that their waters and farmlands have been devastated by oil spills and they have been neglected for so long? Restructuring is the way forward or, as I said earlier, we should alternatively embrace the reports of the 2014 national confab. Implementation of the 2014 confab report will open for us a window of opportunity to exit the current state of crisis and chaos. But above all, I call on aggrieved Nigerians to be patient with the country. I also urge our leaders to be tolerant and accommodate unhealthy, unfavourable views and expressions without resort-

ing to blackmailing, criminalizing, coercing, suppressing or hounding the people down.

There have been grumblings about the way political positions have been distributed in the country, either by election or appointment; how could such grumbling be best tackled?

Presidency is for every part of Nigeria; it is not the birth right of any section. If the North-Central has taken a slot of four or eight years, as the case may be, let it rotate to North-East, South-South, South-East, and South-West – across all zones. As leaders, we must listen to the people because power belongs to the people. The Presidency is too powerful and domineering in this country and holders of that exalted position seem to be turning it into winner-takes-all thing. Let us rotate it to give every section opportunity to lead Nigeria. Rotational Presidency will save Nigeria a lot of trouble.

Continued on Page 15

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

POLITICS

The porter’s predicament Continued from Page 48

evidence to the contrary, he maintained his position that there never was a massacre: “The so-called Asaba Massacre is a figment of propaganda!” Essentially, Haruna’s statements on Asaba are contradictory and self-serving, and are not useful in establishing what happened.

Yet, Haruna’s words are poignant. Because the man is not only an Army General but also a trained lawyer, his viewpoint properly situates wantonness in Nigeria. The point is not really his denial of Asaba. After all, they abound today who are adamantine in the insistence that the Holocaust is a figment of Jewish and pro-Zionist imagination.

The problematic is, however, tied to the premeditated killing of “500” human beings indexed as unworthy of remorse and apology.

People could ask what iron would do if gold rusted. They cannot fail to see the corollary between Haruna’s Nigerian template and Soviet ideologue Georgy Plekhanov’s observation that, “the dominant ideology in any society is that of the ruling class.” This, then, is the score: the all-powerful sit pretty at a pinnacle high above all laws, national and international. From this Olympian height, they could own up to serial atrocities and yet remain legally unscathed; they could brazenly deny even the self-evident and dare the nonplussed to self-destruct. It all explains why an argument with a uniformed and armed Nigerian could force from his mouth the ominous warning that, “If I kill you, you die for nothing.” That is also why cadres of the country’s Police Mobile Force are known as “Kill and Go” free.

This Kill and Go Free mentality was clearly at play in Asaba on October 7, 1967: “Twenty of our men were selected and lined up in front of us and told as follows, ‘Today, I be your God. Me first, God second.

God give you life, me I go takem. Two minute time you go die.’ ... Two minutes afterwards these 20 men were shot. Another 20 were picked up and the same ritual followed.”

Apparently tiring of killing individuals with rifles, the soldiers then readied machine guns, both mounted on trucks and freestanding, and mass shooting began. Fifteenyear-old Ify Uraih had joined the parade with his father and three older brothers, Paul, Emmanuel (Emma), and Medua; he described what happened: “Some people broke loose and tried to run away. My brother was holding me by the hand; he released me and pushed me further into the crowd . . . They shot my brother in the back, he fell down, and I saw blood coming out of his body. And then the rest of us … just fell down on top of each other. And they continued shooting, and shooting, and shooting ... I lost count of time, I don’t know how long it took … After some time there was silence. I stood up … my body was covered in blood, but I knew that I was safe. My father was lying not far away; his eyes were open but he was dead.”

Exactly how many died in this single incident is unclear; around 700–800 seems likely, in addition to many who had died in the previous days. Sporadic shooting continued for hours until darkness caused the soldiers to disperse…

“My cousin said we should wait till it was dark so that we could go together, and I agreed. You could hear the sound of the injured crying. One man, who heard us talking, he was as old as my father. He had his hand almost severed from the rest of his body.

And he told me that he had a knife, that I should please help him amputate the hand ... I told him I could not do it. He died later. I knew his children.”

Ify Uraih and his cousin ran to their grandmother’s house, where they found his sisters and three younger brothers. He told them their father and three older brothers were dead; later he learned that Medua had survived, gravely wounded, and had been car-

ried to the bush by his friend. Community elders Michael Ugoh and Leo Okogwu were among large numbers of the leading age grades to die. With all the men in hiding, it was left to women and children to attempt to retrieve the bodies of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and other relatives and then drag them back to their compounds for burial. Joseph Nwajei, the boy who had returned with family from Ibadan, had escaped into the bush from the family compound after watching the earlier execution of his uncle George, a prominent civil servant. When he returned a few days later, he learned of the death of his two brothers, aged 12 and 17, in the mass shooting: “Mum told me that in the evening hours of the 7th, she had to go and look for their corpses at the mass place where they were shot . . . Mum, in the evening, was able to identify their corpses, took them in a wheelbarrow, pushed them to the family house, where they were buried. So, I never saw their corpses, I never saw their bodies.”

Most victims, however, were dumped in mass graves or thrown into the Niger. Few people had any opportunity to conduct requisite burial practices – an affront that is deeply resented to this day. When it was safe to move about, Frank Ijeh, a local Red Cross worker, enlisted surviving men to dig hurried, shallow graves wherever they found bodies around the town: “There are so many, I cannot remember. So many, so many, so many.” In spite of these efforts, many lay unburied for several days. Interviewed in 1977, a Mrs. Mordi reported that “for nearly two days . . . the soldiers wouldn’t let us come near . . . without opening fire. It was only when the stench of decaying corpses was all over the place that the soldiers relented . . . ” She retrieved her husband’s body, but not that of a Catholic lay brother, Ignatius Barmah, who had died beside him.

She was able to put tinyele’a, a white cloth, over him – an important ceremonial act usually done by close relatives. Esther Nwanze recalled how wives went searching for their husbands, dragging them home if they could find them: “Some dragged two days before they reached home.” Pp47-49.

Fifty years after the mass sacrifice at the Altar of Moloch, Asaba remains. Resilient.

Resourceful. Thriving. Hopeful. Peaceful.

Thanks are due to the authors for recognizing the laudable role of Asaba women who, when their menfolk were wiped out, moved in and held up the Asaba family. But the extremely sad memories of five decades linger.

The people wait for closure. The authors mention and discuss “transitional justice.”

That has its place, of course. But can it really happen in the absence of official acknowledgement of the evil done? Can it proceed without official apology?

While this is pondered, there are a number of assumptions and conclusions by the authors that lend themselves to interrogation.

This may sound mundane but they describe the people of Asaba as Asabans. No. They are Ndi Asaba or Ndi Ahaba. More seriously, their narrative on the Aburi talks is astonishing.

“In early January 1967, at a two-day summit in Aburi, Ghana, between federal authorities and the country’s regional governors, Gowon and Ojukwu were unable to reach a compromise over whether Nigeria should become a loose confederation of semi-independent states or remain a federation. The failure of the Aburi summit accelerated the Eastern Region’s movement toward secession.” P10.

This account is unfortunate, to say the least. Gowon and Ojukwu did reach an agreement at Aburi. The records of meeting termed the Aburi Accord are public property, even available on the Internet. They show unequivocally that it was Gowon who reneged on the Accord, the last straw whose snapping inevitably led to the shooting war and the avoidable wastage of millions of precious lives. This embarrassing misrepresen-

•Chuks Iloegbunam tation of a crucial piece of Nigerian history ought to be corrected in the next edition of the book.

The authors are spot on in concluding that the Asaba Massacre and the shielding of the terrible development from public knowledge by Lagos and London helped to prolong the war for two main reasons. Had the story of the massacre hit the public domain, indignation in Britain and elsewhere could have forced Whitehall into reconsidering their unconditional supply of weaponry to the Federal side, thereby making Lagos more amenable to the idea of a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Again, the massacre compelled a lot of Ndi Asaba to join the war on the Biafran side, which used the macabre event to argue that laying down their arms would result in conclusive genocidal action against them. It was from this jump off point that the authors argued that Gowon had not prosecuted a war of genocide. Without playing on words, the Biafans had a good case in terming the war genocidal.

The anti-Igbo pogrom of 1966, a prelude to the war, had claimed an estimated 50,000 Igbo lives, according to the Massacre of Ndigbo in 1966: Report of the Justice G. C. M. Onyiuke Tribunal. That’s one. Two, the Gowon regime blockaded Biafra on the strength of a policy that proclaimed starvation a legitimate instrument of warfare. This cost kwashiorkor-induced deaths, mostly of children, by the tens of thousands. Three, throughout the war itself, the bombing and strafing of Biafran churches, hospitals, markets and refugee camps by Nigerian fighter-bombers were incessant, remorseless and systematic, leading to the deaths of thousands which never elicited official condemnation from a Britain solely interested in Nigeria’s oil. As a matter of fact, British Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s sanction of the punitive method of Gowon’s war underscored its genocidal configuration. Because of the importance of this point as a factor that framed the war, concise citation is imperative here: “... Harold Wilson is totally unfazed as he informs Clyde Ferguson, the United States state department special coordinator for relief to Biafra, that he, Harold Wilson, ‘would accept a half million dead Biafrans if that was what it took’ Nigeria to destroy the Igbo resistance to the genocide ...” (Roger Morris, Uncertain Greatness: Henry Kissinger and American Foreign Policy, London & New York: Quartet Books, 1977, p. 122) – quoted from Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe, “Igbo genocide, Britain and the United States”, re-thinkingafrica, 4 October 2015, http://re-thinkingafrica. blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/herbert-ekwe-ekweconquerors-concord-in.html

Asaba remains to this day, it must be reiterated. But, to fully understand the Massacre of October 7, 1967, it must be seen as an integral part of the overall plan for and course of Nigeria’s prosecution of the civil war. Bizarrely, Radio Kaduna broadcast on a daily basis and throughout the war a Hausa song that gave a chilling message in translation: Yes, let’s go, let’s march Let’s go chase them from their homes Kill them, plunder their homesteads Ravage their wives And abandon them in futile wailing.

The entire experience of the Asaba Massacre and the Nigerian Civil War itself is so bleak that recourse to a specific pattern of Igbo prayer is apposite here. Ozoemena (May it NOT happen again); Ozoemezina (May it NEVER happen again.) It is a fervent prayer indexed on hope. But it is also a prayer against the grain of the Nigerian condition, a country in which red-hot pepper has invariably been administered as the cure for conjunctivitis. The problems that landed Nigeria in internecine war over five decades ago have since been compounded. The country is today much more disunited than it ever was. The telltale signs of wild political excesses proliferating the contingences of fresh cataclysms are all too obvious for the realistic to be apprehensive. Solid foundations are being laid for further anniversaries of massacres. On December 12, 2015, peacetime Nigeria witnessed the Army troops’ massacre of hundreds of Shiite Muslims Zaria. Since last year IPOB agitators for selfdetermination have become cannon fodder in the hands of the same military. And then there are the Fulani herdsmen invading communities and snuffing out the lives of unsuspecting hundreds.

It is at this point that the somber parable of the Porter’s Predicament must come in.

He has quit moaning about the long decades it has been his unenviable lot to bear an oppressive burden; his worry now is tied to not knowing for how much longer he will be forced to groan under its dead weight.

•Iloegbunam (chuks.iloegbunam@ gmail.com) read the review at the 50th Anniversary of the Asaba Massacre in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria on Saturday October 7, 2017 That, is the end of the discussion. Shalom.

Ahiazuwa.

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

POLITICS

...We must re-negotiate, run Nigeria under new template Cont’d from page 13

for life; isn’t the pension too fat?

No, it is not too fat. There is a level you would attain in life and you cannot shy away from maintaining it. It is not the best to spend, for a former leader’s funeral, over triple amount of what he would have earned as pension, while alive. We need to take care of them to remain for us, at the background, as mentors, consultants, advisers and reference points. Governorship is a very difficult office. We know what we are experiencing in our little positions, let alone the governorship.

What about the issue of devolution of power?

We have to return to devolution of power.

We must devolve power and determine the percentage to allocate to the centre and respective units or regions, and consolidate those unit powers to run the centre.

The South East is crying marginalisation…?

We are not crying marginalisation; we are experiencing it, seeing and living marginalisation. We are being excluded from federal appointments; we have no representative at the Security Council. Even the most recent one, where they restructured the NNPC under eight departments, no South-East person is heading any of the departments. No minister from the South-East is heading any prime federal ministry, while some individuals are heading more than one mega ministry. What is in Labour and Employment; Science and Technology; Trade and Investment, and Foreign Affairs ministries that they gave to the South-East? Another thing is that all federal roads in the South-East are in complete failed and abandoned condition. The South-East was not also captured in the recent railway contract awards until agitations sprang up over it. Everyone knows that the South-East is being heavily marginalised, especially, under the present administration.

The South-East is home to great entrepreneurs, industrialists and manufacturers. But, look at how the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) is being neglected--no support. It is the same scenario with Anambra Chamber of Commerce. The other day, I represented my Speaker at the Anambra Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and they were all lamenting over lack of government support; no government presence, even from the ministry of trade and investment. Look at INNOSON Motor Manufacturing Company and other companies; they lack government support, no encouragement. We, in the SouthEast, are industrious; we are producers, manufactures and fabricators. They have to be supported and encouraged to benefit not only the South-East alone, but the entire nation as a whole. So, we are complaining bitterly because our people are dying of hunger, joblessness, suppression and dejection occasioned by the federal government.

You seem to be blaming the federal government for everything; can’t the Enugu State House of Assembly think of ways to partner the state government and multi-national investors to create jobs and alleviate the suffering of citizens of the state?

Oh, we are doing great in that regard, and the state government is trying so much. The governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is trying to revive moribund and ailing industries in Enugu state, to create jobs. He is trying to revive the Presidential Hotel, Palm oil industry, Avop Oil, Cashew industry, Nigergas and Sunrise gas among others. The governor has been wonderful in trying to revive the private sector, public sector and everywhere.

Let me also inform you that since the governor organised the very successful ‘Enugu Oganiru Economic Summit’ of April 12 to 14, 2016, investors have been coming into the state and indicating interest to invest in the state. For instance, MoU has already been entered between the state government and an Italian firm to revive the cashew industry at Oghe. The governor had travelled to Ireland to woo investors into the state, and he has as well been sending government representatives to various foreign countries, for same purpose. But unfortunately, the federal government is looking the other way, as all these are going on. But, I tell you, all those Chinese fabricators are not better than Ndigbo. The only difference is that they are supported and encouraged by their govern-

•Hon Paul Osondu Nnajiofor ment, with all necessary logistics and amenities to operate and expand. Our people are manufacturing air conditioners. They manufacture standard, durable and very efficient electricity meter that is much better than the ones they go to India, China and the rest of it, to configure. They manufacture world-class electricity meter here, in Enugu and Anambra States. Why can’t we encourage these companies, whose products are durable, serviceable, efficient and effective?

What are the major milestones of the current Enugu State House of Assembly?

We have done more than 21 motions, over 18 bills out of which 16 have gone through first and second reading. About 21 bills have as well, gone through the first reading. We have passed the Child Rights Bill, to join 23 other states that had done it; and we have as well passed the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, too. We have done the Land Use charge Bill, as well as the bill seeking payment of pension to former governors and their deputies, who are indigenes of the state. We have done so much by adopting what we call ‘Bottom to Top’ representation, where the people are given the opportunity to say how they want to be represented, through public hearing and open forum. We represent 24 constituencies and we usually collate views of our people before we take stand on any matter, before we pass any bill. We are essentially public-oriented, and we believe that the voice of our people must be heard at all times, through consultations, public hearing and advocacy among others. And it has been paying off. The Public/Private Partnership Bill is being celebrated, for the first time, in the history of South-East, and it is Enugu State

that did it, to encourage private partnership in developing the state. That is already yielding positive results. An instance is a megacapacity exercise book production company that is coming on board. There is also free trade zone near Thinkers Corner, Enugu, as well as the Lafarge free trade zone at Ngwo.

Governor Ugwuanyi has really created a lot of investment opportunities in the state, to the glory of God. You had declared on the floor of the House that the ‘Pension to Former Governors and their Deputies Bill’, had been long over-do; why did you say so?

They had been leaders of the state and they need to be sustained so they do not die away. Leadership is from God and we should always appreciate and preserve those it has pleased God to put in positions of authority.

These people served the whole Enugu State comprising 17 local government areas, 260 wards, and 57 development centres. They have paid their price. They endured all the stress and troubles that are associated with leadership at that level, successfully. Therefore, we needed to find a way to ensure that they receive something monthly, to feed their families and tackle their challenges and responsibilities. They need to feed well and, moreover, we believe that it would be improper for a former governor to die of hunger, or be unable to fuel his car and is seen trekking on the street.

But there were complaints that the stipend is on the high side, considering that the former leaders had had rare privilege of enjoying financial and various other benefits, which are assumed to be so fat to last them

As a youth who is opportune to occupy a leadership position, how would you describe the future of the youth in Enugu State?

The future of the youth, in this state, is very bright. We have great opportunities here, and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been demonstrating his resolve to allow young people to grow, in the state. He appointed several young individuals into his cabinet, such as Senior Special Adviser (SSA) on Youth Affairs; SSA on Public Enlightenment; SPA on Youth Development, as well as commissioner for youth and sports. He has been carrying the youths along and he means well for them. We also have several youths in the Enugu State House of Assembly, among whom I am one – youths who started early and are contesting political positions and wining. A lot of workshops, training and empowerment programmes have also been done for the youths in the state, across all local government areas, and the governor is comfortable with anything that promotes youth development. He is very progressive, very balanced in his thinking, and very accommodating. And I can assure the youth that Enugu State is comfortable with the ‘Not Too Young to Run Bill’. So, Enugu State youths have a future filled with bright opportunities. Their political, economic and social future is bright. They are already making waves economically because, most of the enterprises and entrepreneurs in the South-East are currently owned by the youth, and government is patronizing them.

One of the youngest vehicle tire manufacturers in the country today, is from Enugu State.

And in the area of fashion, sports, and drug manufacturing, among others, youths are there. And in Enugu State, investments are safe because there is security, tax is soft and there is no double taxation and everything is smooth.

What are the chances of PDP and Governor Ugwuanyi in 2019?

The governor and PDP will enjoy 100 per cent chances because he has done very well across all the 17 local government areas.

His footprints are everywhere in the state, across all sectors. Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a tested and trusted politician. He is hard working, articulate, humble, cool-headed and tolerant. The governor is a rare father. In October 2016, he flagged off 35 road projects across the 17 council areas; he is constructing road networks to connect all the local government areas in the state. All these are happening under harsh economic realities.

He has ensured that salaries are consistently paid on the 23rd of every month. Payment of pensions, arrears and local government salaries are up to date. There is peace in Enugu State, there is no segregation and everybody is happy. Whether you are an indigene or non-indigene, you are accommodated and protected in the state. What more do you need from a governor? It may interest you to note that the governor, through his performance, has endeared himself to APC camp and over 80 per cent of their members are joining PDP in Enugu State, as we speak.

So, there is no space for APC to penetrate in Enugu and I can assure you that they may not even get up to three per cent votes at the polls.

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

PUBLIC NOTICE Postponement of the upcoming changes to Root Zone “DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM SECURITY EXTENSIONS” (DNSSEC) Network Service Providers are hereby notied of the Postponement of the upcoming changes to Root Zone Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

ICANN is an international organization with headquarters in Los Angeles, California, United States of America. The ICANN is a non-prot corporation that has responsibility for Internet Protocol (IP) address space allocation, protocol Identier assignment, generic (gTLD) and country code (ccTLD) Top-Level Domain name system management, and root server system management functions.

The Internet Cooperation for Assigning Names and Numbers (ICANN) on the September 27, 2017 announced the postponement of its plan to change the root zone Key Signing Key (KSK) as planned earlier.

According to ICANN, changing the key involves generating a new cryptographic key pair and distributing the new public component to the DNSSEC validating resolvers. Based on the estimated number of Internet users worldwide who use DNSSEC validating resolvers, an estimated one-in-four

global Internet users, or 750 million Internet users, could be affected by the KSK rollover.

ICANN had to postpone the root zone rollover of the KSK, which was originally scheduled to take place on 11th October, 2017 due to some recently obtained data that showed that a signicant number of resolvers used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Network Operators (NOs) are not yet ready for the Key Rollover.

The Nigerian Communications Commission is using this opportunity to inform the Internet Service Providers and Network Operators within the country that are using DNSSEC validation on their network to prepare and ensure they are ready for the upcoming 'rollover', likely to be rescheduled for rst quarter, 2018.

ICANN will provide additional information as soon as it is available and the new Key Roll date will be announced as appropriate.

The ICANN's testing platform to conrm Network Operators infrastructure's support of the new KSK can be found at https://go.icann.org/KSKtest and any question can be directed to globalsupport@icann.org

The Oracle Today

17

Wednesday October 18, 2017

BU$IN£SS •Energy •Finance

•Stock

•Insurance

•Aviation

•e-Platform

Disputes worsen N1.5tn power sector debt overhang

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

T

HE trade of blame between players in the nation’s electric power sector and policy drivers posts gloom in the industry where years of lingering huge debts threaten deep pocket investments, and government and distribution companies now bicker over the problem.

According to former Group Executive Director in charge of Gas and Power at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, total debt overhang in the sector is in the neigbourhood of N1.5 trillion.

The debts, according to them ranged from legacy debts, current debts and unsettled goverment funding obligations to the industry as part of the reform arrangemnts to migrate the industry from public sector monopoly to libralized multiplayer free market.

The debt which spread across the business loop in the industry, according to pamnelists at a power conference, directly affects petroleum producers, power generation companies, transmission companies, electricity offtakers, regulators and distribution companies. Indirectly, it also afects all contractors providing services across the full spectrum of the industry.

Different speakers at the forum which pooled stakeholders from all walks of life could only be defrayed if the downstream segment of the industry grows more efficient, advanced in technology and adopt best business practices.

If the situation worsens, conference panelists warn, the upstream sector of the industry would totally collapse and lose capacity to generate products for the downstream sector to sell.

The Oracle Today reports that the upstream players include gas producers, processorsand transporters; they also include power generating companies. In the midstream are transmission companies while downstream players comprise mainly of marketing concerns that

• Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. service consumers and generate cash returns for all players, industry regulators and tariff managers in the industry.

Under a commercial relay arrangement for operations viability, the distribution companies that vend bills to consumers are expected to generate enough revenue to pay for all upstream operations plus margins.

At several debate platforms, the electricity distributors have advanced all reasons for their inability to meet their commercial obligations to power producers, blaming government for huge unpaid bills for electricity consumed by ministries, departments and agencies.

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) had stated that government has remained the bigest single debtor to the power sector. Hopes were that calls on the government to meet its obliga-

CBN EXCHANGE RATES OCT 6, 2017 Currency

Pounds Sterling EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA Yuan/Renminbi RIYAL S/African Rand DANISH KRONA SDR

Buying (NGN) 398.5431 357.72 311.79 2.7085 0.5284 429.2648 45.787 81.2335 22.3341 48.0581 429.8916

Central Selling (NGN) (NGN) 399.1972 399.8513 358.3071 358.8942 312.3017 312.8134 2.7129 2.7174 0.5384 0.5484 429.9693 430.6738 45.8626 45.9382 81.3668 81.5001 22.3707 22.4074 48.137 48.2159 430.5972 431.3027

tion to the industry would soon receive funding response to address the killer debts.

Sadly, Minister for Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, pushed back bigger bills to the distribution companies, claiming that they owe the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) over N500 billion in unserviced power supply invoices.

He also claims by the distribution companies that government’s MDAs owed N67.1 billion in unpaid electricty bills. According to the minister, the total verified debts owed DISCOS by MDAs of government was a mere N26 billion.

He explained that the actually level of government indebtedness to the power distribution companies had been a major contentious issue as the Discos had used this as excuses for the epileptic power supply, especially to government in-

stitutions and offices.

While he announced that government was prepared to net off the differences, he made it clear that, “They also owe government for the energy they have taken and have not remitted. They are owing about N500 billion to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company an agency of the Federal government” “Government has approved that this amount that has been quantified be set off against the amount owed by the DISCOS to Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET), a 100 percent federal government owned subsidiary company.” he said The Minister revealed that following several claims that government MDAs were owing N67.1b, to the distribution companies, the Ministry undertook the verification of the claims and discovered that the actual MDAs indebtedness was N26b. “ We had presented a memorandum to FEC to approve the verified sum of monies being debts owed by MDAs to distribution companies for electricity supplied to them.”

“Since the beginning of this administration, claims of debts by government to DISCOS have been a matter of concern especially in the light of liquidity issues. We had committed that those figures would be verified and the verified sums, government would pay. We Have concluded the verification and we now ask Council to approve the verified sum of N25.994 billion owed by MDAs of the federal government to be paid to the DISCOS out of the claims of N67.41 billion.” So, there is a differential of about N41 billion.”

Fashola also revealed that some of the claims were actually debts owed by public international organizations, States and Local governments which were lumped up with those of the MDAs. “That differential arises first because some of the claims do not belong to the federal government.

Some are owed by states and local governments, also some belong to public international organizations and were classified as government debts”

•Tourism

Energy

Nigeria’s crude export sinks to 1.84 mbd in September

P20

e-Platform Nigeria poised to reap economic growth from mobile broadband

P22

Insurance Economic pressures on African reinsurance markets remain – Report P28

Cont’d on Page 28

Stock Market Highlights As At 06 October, 2017

Summary

ASI

DEALS VOLUME

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

36,320.93 3,773.00 367,068,080.00 3,743,445,976.42 12,502,273,515,068.14 Value

5 Top Gainers Company Last Close Current Change SEPLAT 450 472.49 22.49 NB 163.6 170 6.4 PRESCO 61.95 68 6.05 MOBIL 161.72 166 4.28 WAPCO 54.1 57.31 3.21

Top Losers Company Last Close Current Change 1.

DIAMONDBNK 112,435,996 120,397,301.96 MRS 28.88 27.46 -1.42 2. FBNH 62,737,961 371,793,658.78 CCNN 8.36 8.06 -0.3 3. ZENITHBANK 46,187,183 1,155,436,615.42 OANDO 5.94 5.73 -0.21 4. ACCESS 42,315,680 415,515,898.75 CUTIX 2.5 2.38 -0.12 1.36 1.32 -0.04 5. UBA 20,653,994 195,565,627.74 CONTINSURE

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday October 18, 2017

BUSINESS

Zenith Bank receives top rating on sustainability standards

By VICTOR NZE

Z

ENITH Bank has been rated the first Nigerian company and first African financial institution to adopt the Global Reporting Standards on sustainability of the Global Sustainability Standards Board.

A statement by the bank in Lagos, Thursday said that the bank had received a letter of commendation on this feat from the GSSB. The GRI standard was introduced in October 2016 by the GSSB to replace the GRI 4 which Zenith Bank first adopted in its 2015 report. The GRI Standards enjoin all organisations to report publicly on their economic, environmental and social impacts and demonstrate their contributions – positive or negative – to goal of sustainable development.

Developed by the Global Sustainability Standards Board – an independent standard-setting body, the GRI Standards are based on years of expert input from diverse stakeholders. The Standards are global best practice and create a common language for sustainability reporting.

According to GSSB, the Zenith Bank’s 2016 Sustainability Report with the theme “Creating Wealth Sustainability“ is the first GRI Standard report in Nigeria and the first in Africa’s financial services industry.

“Sustainability Reporting provides a good tool for measuring progress and ensuring transparency, accountability and good

corporate governance.

“This is why it has become a key performance indicator, especially among leading brands.

We are pleased to see that you have prepared it in accordance with the GRI Standards. It is one of the first standards report from Nigeria, so a big congratulations on this accomplishment.

“We are very excited to see all of the positive changes you have made since last year and your continued commitment to the goal of sustainable development,” said Zenith Bank, adding further that its 2016 Sustainability Report disclosed its economic, environmental and social performance during its financial year 2016.

The bank said it was its second standalone Sustainability Report coming after the first report was published in August 2016 and which covered the period January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.

“While our 2015 Sustainability Report was written in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 disclosure documents, the 2016 report is prepared in accordance with the new GRI Standards unveiled in October 2016 by the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB).

“The General Disclosure and Management Approach guidelines for the different indicators are followed in the report. It includes a Sustainability Materiality Matrix covering all issues and indicators that were material to us during the review period. The boundaries for the different identified impacts are clearly indicated,’’ the bank said.

•Delegation from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN),led by the President, Dr Frank Udemba, visited Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo last Wednesday.

ANJET confirms speakers for inaugural Tourism Summit 2017

By VICTOR NZE

S

PEAKERS have now been confirmed for the inaugural edition of the Tourism Summit 2017 organised by the umbrella body of travel writers in the country, the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), in partnership with the Southern Sun Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos.

A statement by the body said the summit slated for November

FirstBank’s payment card issuance hits 10m

F

irstBank of Nigeria has said that it has emerged the first financial institution in Nigeria and West-Africa to issue 10 million cards to customers across the West African sub-region, making the bank the second in Africa to achieve this feat.

According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeduntan, delivering this feat was a testament to the bank’s brand promise to put its customers first and continuously improve its business to serve them better.

“We can attest that our customers have become more technology savvy and we will continue to encourage this attitude with our commitment to world class service delivery as we work to ensure optimal performance and availability of all our alternative channels, to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers.

“The bank currently processes over 78 per cent of its customer transactions through self-service channels,” said FirstBank boss He further explained that the accomplishment was reminiscent of a similar milestone achieved two years ago when the bank in December, 2015 and May 2016, was named the first fi-

nancial institution in the country to achieve sustained alternative channels transaction volumes of 100 million transactions in December 2015 and May 2016.

FirstBank said it has sustained its edge in payment card issuance with its Instant issuance/ Instant activation technology, which was pioneered about seven years ago.

This, it stated informed its consistency in maintaining the highest active card ratio in the industry.

The bank also noted in a statement that it recently won three Interswitch awards in electronic payment as the fastest mobile penetration bank across Africa, the highest card transacting bank and the highest issuer of Verve cards.

According to him, “These were clear indications that the giant strides taken by the sub-Saharan leading bank brand towards fostering its banking technologies are well aligned to the fast-paced technological advancement in today’s ever evolving financial ecosystem.”

Last week, First Bank announced the acquisition of the remaining shares in FBNBank DRC Limited (FBNBank DRC), making the bank FirstBank’s wholly owned subsidiary.

The move, according to the bank, followed its initial investment in FBNBank DRC (formerly Banque Internationale de Credit) in 2011, when it acquired a 75per cent stake in FBNBank DRC. The bank said in a statement that following the acquisition, FBNBank DRC has continued to expand its product offerings, deepen its customer base and is currently ranked amongst the top five banks serving the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country with a population of more than 82 million.

2 at the expansive Ikoyi-based hospitality establishment on Alfred Rewane Road, is part of activities marking the World Tourism Day (WTD), that was celebrated globally last September 27.

While Chief Executive Officer of CELTRON Nigeria Limited, Dapo Adelagan has been lined up to deliver the keynote address on the theme of the seminar, which is: ‘Tourism – A tool for Sustainable Development,’ same as the UNWTO’s WTD global theme.

The other speakers include: Kofo Adeleke of the Community Conservation Development Initiative (CDDI), Dr. Olatunji Babatola of the Department of Geography, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba.

The Chief Executive Officer of media and public relations firm, Chain Reactions, Israel Opayemi, completes the roll call of distinguished speakers at the Tourism Summit 2017.

According to ANJET, the summit is part of its commitment towards broadening discourse on the Nigeria tourism agenda, its potential as well as challenges, just as it also added that as a major stakeholder, its ‘responsibility transcends reporting the industry.’

“We lend our voice to issues bor-

Nigeria makes N118tn in 53 years from crude – NBS

T

he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says Nigeria has realised more than N118 trillion from crude production and refining from 1961.

The NBS report, which has additional data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), collated its statistics from 1961 till 2014.

“The petroleum statistics on crude oil production and oil refining reflects that a total 32.70 billion barrels of crude oil valued at N118.49 trillion has been pro-

duced between 1961 and 2014.

The highest barrels of crude production was recorded in the year 2005 with 918.66 million barrels valued at N6.14 billion.

“The lowest was, however, recorded in 1961 with 16.80 million barrels valued at N18.73 million.

The yearly domestic crude oil refining data from 1997 to 2014 also reflected that 844.19 million of crude oil has been received and 835.58 million processed within the period under review,’’ the report stated.

dering on the development and promotion of the sector which is essentially why we have also created different platforms in the course of the year to engage with both the private and public sector operators on ways to drive growth and progress in the industry.

“Hence we annually organise event around the WTD, but this year we have decided to make the celebration much bigger by partnering with the Southern Sun Ikoyi, which is one of the leading international hotel brands in Nigeria as well as other stakeholders in the industry, including the government agencies which are expected to support this initiative in different ways,” read the statement.

Notable figures expected to grace the epoch-making event include: The Minister of Culture and Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Director General, National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Lagos State Acting Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Adebimpe Akinsola, the Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Folarin-Coker, the Director General, Nigeria Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun.

Others include: The President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Alhaji Saleh Rabo, the President of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), Mr. Nkereuwem Onung, and that of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Bankole Bernard as well as students, members of the Diplomatic Corps, media practitioners, and a host of other dignitaries from the private and public sector organisations in the country.

The one-day seminar would also feature a host of other related activities such as arts and craft exhibition, music, dance drama, spoken word presentations, selected to showcase products that make Nigeria tourism unique.

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday October 18, 2017

BUSINESS

World Bank earmarks $50m in N/East for Fadama III T

HE World Bank has earmarked 50 million dollars to fast track the implementation of Fadama III, Lead Economist Tunji Oredipe has disclosed.

Oredipe who made this known during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the bank, Fadama III and Borno Government, last Thursday in Maiduguri, said that the funds were provided to support Fadama programmes, enhance food assistance, provide livelihoods and facilitate the rehabilitation of infrastructure in communities ravaged by the insurgents.

He disclosed that 27 local government areas selected from Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe were expected to participate in the programme, adding

further that Maiduguri and Jere Local Government areas were selected as pilot areas of the projects in Borno.

Oredipe also explained that about 192,000 people were expected to benefit from the programme in the participating states.

“The aim is to increase crop production, provide skills training, income generating activities and build resilience. The programme will also provide cash support to encourage food security and nutrition,” he said.

According to him, the bank is working in collaboration with World Food Programme (WFP) and International Community of Red Crescent to address food and humanitarian crisis in the region.

Ntel appoints Akinlola as new CEO

By VICTOR NZE

B

OARD of the telecommunications firm, Ntel has announced the appointment of Mr. Ernest Akinlola as the new Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the company.

Akinlola, a senior executive with over 20years extensive experience in Telecoms Media & Technology, joined the fledgling One 2 One telecoms operator in the UK and was instrumental in establishing a world class internal audit and compliance department.

Following One 2 One’s acquisition by T-Mobile, Akinlola was a key member on the integration team, leading on commercial strategy and growing the wholesale side of the business to launch several MVNO’s focused on specific customer segments. He was an integral member of the team charged with executing Virgin Mobile’s $1.5bn IPO. Many senior roles followed including leading the transformational roll out of TMobile’s store retail programme.

Akinlola is a Fellow of The Chartered Certified Accountants, holds an MBA from Manchester Business School with a first degree in Economics from UEL. Commenting on his new appointment, Ernest Akinlola said “I am excited to be appointed MD/CEO of ntel, Nigeria’s pre-eminent 4G/ LTE network. ntel has tremendous untapped capabilities which can provide a step change in customer experience for Large Enterprise, SME’s and Consumers. I look forward to leading the team in driving innovation and delighting our current and future customers” Ntel had previously assured its stakeholders that the leadership transition from the previous incumbent would be smooth and orderly in accordance with global best practices.

“We are pleased to report that there has been no adverse impact on the business operations and the company would like to thank Abhulime Ehiagwina (CFO) for holding the fort during the transition period,” the company said.

Banks warn as MMM returns

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HE Bankers Committee has expressed worry over the return of the Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM). In the country, just as it stated that commercial banks will soon commence the disbursement of the N26 billion equity contribution to Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) in agriculture by end of 2017 third quarter.

Managing Director of Unity Bank, Mrs Tomi Somefun, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Bankers’ Committee meeting last Thursday in Lagos, said that the framework for the process of the fund had been developed and finalised, while the body of banks will be the shareholders.

Somefun said that the CBN had also created a special export intervention to support it to generate more funds adding that many of the SMEs would benefit from the fund once it started .

The Unity Bank boss, however, said that the issues in the past where exporters failed to repatriate proceeds from their businesses would no longer be tolerated.

She said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had agreed that Bankers Committee should henceforth sanction defaulting exporters.

Somefun also said that the sanctions would ensure blacklisting of defaulters such that banks would no longer do businesses with them.

On further developments in the foreign exchange market, the Managing Director of the FBN Merchant Bank, Mr Kayode Akinkugbe, said it had recorded stability.

Akinkugbe said the stability was seen in the foreign exchange and capital markets as well as moderation in the inflation rate, further stating the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth would be more deepened and robust following the positive developments.

He said that the committee also commended the CBN’s efforts on stability and boosting liquidity in the foreign exchange market, saying the CBN was steady-fast in its approaches on ensuring stability and that brought the confidence in the market.

He also said the CBN, notwith-

Airport Manager Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja (MMIA), Mrs Victoria Shin-Aba (l) with the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Mr. Tiamiyu Adesina, when both signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on access to difficult terrains and five nautical miles from the airport in case of emergency.

Ecobank launches mVisa payment solution

E

COBANK has partnered with Visa to launch Ecobank Scan+Pay with mVisa solutions to their consumers.

The payment solution affords consumers with the ability to use their mobile phone to directly access the funds in their bank accounts to pay person-to-merchant (P2M) or person-to-person (P2P).

Ecobank Scan+Pay with mVisa delivers instant, secure cashless payment for goods and services by allowing customers to scan a QR code on a smartphone or enter a unique merchant identifying code into either a feature phone or smartphone. The payment goes straight from the consumer’s bank account into the merchant’s acstanding its successes, had reiterated its commitment in ensuring constant supply of foreign exchange.

Also, Managing Director of the Union Bank, Mr Emeka Emuwa, said one of the other areas of discussion was process of collateral registry for SMEs, adding that the collateral registry, which had started, would be an opportunity for small business operators to access funds from bank.

According to him, the process facilitates easy lending to small businesses which have potential to contribute to the nation’s economic growth and development.

He warned Nigerians to desist from investments that promised too good returns, saying such were likely to come up in the last quarter of the year, citing the return of the Mavrodi Mundial Moneybox (MMM).

On his part, Director (Banking Supervision) in CBN), Mr Ahmed Abdullah, said there was the need to deepen the growth that the country recorded after existing from recession, noting that the committee recognised that the growth was still fragile and more efforts were needed to improve on it.

count and provides real-time notification to both parties. This serves to accelerate digital commerce and combat some of the challenges merchants have faced using traditional point of sale systems, including the cost of installation coupled with the requirement of electricity and internet connectivity.

Ecobank mVisa solutions also enable customers to send money instantly to any Visa cardholder worldwide. This is a major innovation that serves the need of Africans in the Diaspora by enabling them to simply link their Visa card to the Ecobank unified mobile app to send money home to another Visa cardholder quickly and securely.

“We are fulfilling our commitment to give every African the right to participate effectively in the global economy at an affordable price and in a convenient manner. Ecobank Scan+Pay with mVisa helps merchants – particularly small and micro merchants – to grow their sales without the risks of carrying cash whilst also giving consumers the ability to pay for goods and services in a cashless manner from their phones. Consumers can also conduct personto-person payments and instantly transfer money to their friends and family via their phones at very low cost,” said Ecobank Chief Executive Officer Ade Ayeyemi.

The partnership demonstrates both Ecobank and Visa’s continued commitment to provide financial services to the banked and unbanked in Africa by leveraging digital platforms to offer convenient and affordable payment mechanisms.

“We are glad to partner with Ecobank to bring mVisa into the market, a mobile payment solution with real benefits to drive digital transformation backed by advantages of Visa’s global network - security, reliability and global acceptance, allowing consumers to make payments both domestically and

internationally,” commented Andrew Torre, President for Visa SubSaharan Africa.

On his part, Ecobank Group Executive Consumer Banking, Patrick Akinwuntan, pointed out that the mVisa solutions rollout significantly strengthens the banks person-to person payments capabilities.

“Bringing this added functionality on our Ecobank mobile app connects families in Africa by delivering needed funds instantly anywhere, anytime. That’s real value to our customers,” he said.

Dangote Cement pulls out of PPC deal

S

OUTH African cement manufacturing firm, PPC announced, Friday, that Dangote Cement has withdrawn its expression of interest in a deal to tie-up with it, sending its shares more than 13 per cent lower.

It would be recalled that Aliko Dangote joined the race to buy South Africa’s biggest cement producer in September. PPC is already the subject of an all-share merger bid by local rival AfriSam that values it at $700 million.

“Shareholders are advised that, on October 5 2017, the board received from Dangote a formal withdrawal of its interest in respect of the Proposed Combination,” PPC said in a statement.

PPC gave no reason for the move and the Nigerian firm was not immediately available for comment. Shares in PPC fell 13.64 per cent after the announcement, before recovering some ground to trade 4.34 per cent lower at R6.17.

The price was still above AfriSam’s R5.75 offer price.

The interest from Dangote Cement, with a market capitalisation of $12 billion, had raised hopes of a bidding war and pushed PPC’s share price above AfriSam’s offer price.

The Oracle Today

20

Wednesday October 18, 2017

ENERGY

Nigeria’s crude export sinks to 1.84 mbd in Sept.

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

N

IGERIA’S crude oil export for the month of September declined by 20,000 barrels per day just a month after concerns rose in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) over the impact of rising production from the country as the rest producers strive to arrest glut in the market.

According to a table of export performance of OPEC members in the month compiled by Platts, Nigeria recorded crude oil export at daily average of 1.84 million barrels per day (1.8 mbd), being 20, 000 barrels per day lower than the 1.86 mbd average posted by the country in August.

OPEC announced the ceiling as part of a production cut agreement with 10 non-OPEC members, led by Russia. The agreement calls on the entire group to lower output by 1.8 million b/d with effect from January.

However, Nigeria was exempt from the cuts following need for the country to raise enough revenue to contain internal security challenges in the face of insurgency and conflicts.

Nigerian production however fell 20,000 b/d to 1.84 million b/d in the month, as key grade Bonny Light has been on force majeure since September 16 following the shutdown of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line.

However, the survey by Platts showed sustained supply growth from Libya and Iraq which pushed OPEC September crude oil output up slightly from August volumes.

Total oil output by members of OPEC in September rose marginally by 10,000 b/d, as production increases in Libya and Iraq were largely offset by declines in Venezuela and Angola.

OPEC’s 14 members saw their collective September output rise to 32.66 million b/d from 32.65 million b/d in August.

The September output is some 740,000 b/d above its declared ceiling of about 31.92 million b/d, when Equatorial Guinea, which joined in May, is added in and Indonesia, which suspended its membership in December, is subtracted.

Libyan oil output rose in September by 80,000 b/d to 910,000 b/d, as the key Sharara field, which has a full capacity of 300,000 b/d, was producing about 200,000 b/d for most of the month after the field was down from August 19 to September 5.

But the North African country’s output recovery remains fraught with challenges as the security of many fields remains volatile due to threats from a militant group.

Iraqi compliance with its quota under the production cut deal remains among the weakest of the OPEC members, with production averaging 4.50 million b/d in September, still 149,000 b/d above its output quota.

Iraqi production rose 40,000 b/d from August on increased exports from the southern terminals on the Persian Gulf and increased refinery consumption.

Venezuelan production fell 40,000 b/d to 1.86 million b/d in September, the survey found, as the country’s crude exports dipped and its imports of diluents to blend with its heavy crude were also curtailed due to Hurricane Harvey.

The decline in Venezuela’s output has accelerated in the past several months as various refinery units and heavy crude upgraders have been shut down, exacerbated by the country’s deepening economic crisis.

Angolan output fell 30,000 b/d to 1.64 million b/d as exports and production of grades such as Pazflor, Dalia, and Plutonio were down, according to the survey.

Output in OPEC’s largest producer Saudi Arabia was down 10,000 b/d to 10 million b/d, as despite a slight rise in exports,

OPEC production (in million b/d) Member September Change August July Algeria 1.03 -0.02 1.05 1.05 Angola 1.64 -0.03 1.67 1.64 Ecuador 0.53 0.00 0.53 0.53 Equatorial Guinea 0.12 0.00 0.12 0.13 Gabon 0.20 0.01 0.19 0.21 Iran 3.83 0.00 3.83 3.82 Iraq 4.50 0.04 4.46 4.48 Kuwait 2.70 0.00 2.70 2.70 Libya 0.91 0.08 0.83 0.99 Nigeria 1.84 -0.02 1.86 1.81 Qatar 0.61 0.00 0.61 0.61 Saudi Arabia 10.00 -0.01 10.01 10.05 UAE 2.89 0.00 2.89 2.89 Venezuela 1.86 -0.04 1.90 1.91 Total 32.66 0.01 32.65 32.82

OPEC production vs. cut allocations (in million b/d) Country

Jan-Sep avg

Allocation

Over/under

Algeria 1.047 1.039 0.008 Angola 1.646 1.673 -0.027 Ecuador 0.523 0.522 0.001 Equatorial Guinea 0.127 0.133 -0.006 Gabon 0.202 0.193 0.009 Iran 3.780 3.797 -0.017 Iraq 4.440 4.351 0.089 Kuwait 2.702 2.707 -0.005 Libya 0.754 (exempt) Nigeria 1.735 (exempt) Qatar 0.612 0.618 -0.006 Saudi Arabia 9.975 10.058 -0.083 UAE 2.878 2.874 0.004 Venezuela 1.937 1.972 -0.035 the end of summer resulted in lower direct crude burn, survey participants said.

Iranian output in September was stable at 3.83 million b/d, as despite a marginal rise in crude oil exports, refinery utilization fell, keeping production steady.

The country’s oil minister Bijan Zanganeh insisted there was no pressure on Iran to join the cuts.

Iran’s output has averaged 3.780 million b/d over the first eight months since the deal came into effect in January, 17,000 b/d below the country’s official allocation of 3.797 million b/d.

According to an average of January through September production, total compliance among the 12 countries with quotas under the output cut agreement is 106%.

But that figure is boosted by strong overcompliance in the early part of the year, as discipline has slipped in recent months. September compliance among the 12 countries with quotas was 102%, rebounding from a low of 93% in July.

For OPEC as a whole, the significant recoveries in exempt Libya and Nigeria have undone a big chunk of the cuts.

The combined Libya and Nigeria output for September is 430,000 b/d higher than it was in January, according to survey data.

The last few months have seen some positives for OPEC, notably falling stock levels along with a stronger oil market structure supported by higher global demand.

This also translated in higher oil prices, with ICE Brent rising to over two-year highs of around $59/b in late-September.

But prices have since fallen to $56-$57/b as concerns of surging US oil output and exports have re-emerged.

The clamor to include exports as a monitoring mechanism has also grown, after ministers on the monitoring committee, said they would now incorporate export data to bolster trader confidence that the cuts are in fact lowering supplies to the market.

But some members remain hesitant about including exports due to the difficulty in tracking them accurately, as well as the lumpy nature of exports from month to month..

The Oracle Today

21

Wednesday October 18, 2017

ENERGY Nigeria’s petroleum revenue doubles to $471.9 m in July

T

HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) weekend declared jumps in petroleum export revenue from $219.34 million in June to $471.90 million in July 2017.

The company also announced domestic crude oil and gas earnings of N145.83 billion, consisting of N5.56 billion from domestic gas sales and the sum of N140.27 billion from domestic crude oil sales.

According to the July edition of the Monthly Financial and Operations Report of the Corporation which was made public weekend, contribution from crude oil amounted to $392.20 million while gas and miscellaneous receipts stood at $64.72 million and $14.98 million respectively. .

The report indicated that of the export receipt, $108.09 million was remitted to the Federation Account while $363.81 million was remitted to fund the Joint Venture cash call for the month of July, 2017, to service government’s debt to industry operators.

Also out of the naira receipt, the sum of N56.30 billion was transferred to Joint Venture Cash Call (JVCC) being a first line charge and to guarantee continuous flow of revenue stream to Federation Account.

According to the report, total export of crude oil and gas receipt for the period of July

2016 to July 2017 stood at $2.77 billion. Out of that, the sum of $2.31 billion was transferred to JV cash call in line with the budget and the balance of $0.46 Billion was paid to Federation Account.

The NNPC observed that the low receipt was due to the twin effects of production disruption in Niger-Delta and low crude oil prices during the period.

On naira payments to the Federation Account, the NNPC announced that the Domestic Crude Oil and Gas receipt during the month amounted to N145.83 billion, consisting of N5.56 billion from Domestic Gas and the sum of N140.27 billion from Domestic Crude Oil. It was noted that out of the naira receipt, the sum of N56.30 billion was transferred to Joint Venture Cash Call (JVCC) being a first line charge and to guarantee continuous flow of revenue stream to Federation Account.

In all, the Federation Crude Oil and Gas liftings are broadly classified into Equity Export and Domestic. Both categories are lifted and marketed by NNPC and the proceeds remitted into the Federation Account.

Equity Export receipts, after revision for Joint Venture (JV) Cash Calls, are paid directly into Federation Account domiciled in Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Domestic crude oil of 445,000 barrels per day is allocated for refining to meet

Axxela ready for Lagos-Jebba gas line project ...Discusses feasibility study with NNPC

I

ndigenous gas company, Axxela Limited, has completed feasibility study on the major pipeline trhat would extend existing gas grid from Lagos in southwest of the country to Jebba in northcentral zone.

The ambitious pipeline project is expected to commence in Ibadan, Oyo and run through the towns of Osogbo, Ogbomoso, Ilorin, AdoEkiti, and terminate in Jebba in Kwara State.

The management of Axxela was in Abuja to discuss the pipeline project with Nigeria’s gas concessionaire, Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company (NGPTC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

The two companies may sound strange to those familiar with the industry but they are indeed old partners in the business. Whereas Axxela Limited is formerly Oando Gas and Power, Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company remains the former Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) of NNPC. The two companies have been in discussion to realize the development of a northward extension of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) across the western and central states of Nigeria through Ibadan and Ilorin to Jeb-

ba.

The feasibility study was compiled by US-based consultant agency, Worley Parsons, and supported by counterpart funding from the United States Trade and Development Authority (USTDA).

The proposed pipeline project was conceived as part of the Nigeria Gas Master Plan to improve power generation and distribution to major cities within Nigeria’s South-Western region.

Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Gas & Power at NNPC, Mr. Saidu Mohammed, aid: “This is a project we defined a long time ago and one we wish to implement. Now, it’s key we don’t lose sight of the lowhanging fruits, as we seek to provide gas to the country in keeping with the national plan.”

Also commenting during the submission ceremony, AxxelaChief Executive Officer, Bolaji Osunsanya said: “We appreciate the active participation of all key stakeholders involved in the project, particularly the NNPC. The impetus for power-driven initiatives is underscored by the significance of this project, and its impact and scope are parallel with the Federal Government’s aspirations to improve the power situation.

domestic products supply.

Payments are effected to Federation Account by NNPC after adjusting crude and product losses; plus pipeline repairs and management cost incurred during the period.

The corporation also lifts

crude oil and gas, other than equity and domestic crude oil, on behalf of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), proceeds of which are remitted into Federation Account.

The Third Party finance liftings are Crude Oil and Gas liftings from fields that are financed using alternative finance/loan facility which require the servicing of debt obligations before remitting the balance into the Federation Account.

•NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, in a discussion with Oyo State Governor, Senator Isiaka Ajimobi (middle) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association President, Comrade Saliman Oladiti, (right) during the recommissioning of Ibadan Depot yesterday.

NGPTC declares N15.81b profit

...Total gas sales up 41% from N155.5 b in 2015 to N219.5 b in 2016

N

IGERIAN Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited (NGPTC) has declared 2016 net profit of N15.81 billion.

The company is the former Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) Limited incorporated in 1981 by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and commenced business in 1988. NGC was renamed NGPTC in 2016, with a mandate to process and transport natural gas domestically and for export.

The profit after tax, according to the corporation, is for the 2016 financial year and attributable to the write-back of deferred tax of N8.05 billion in 2015.

Chief Operating Officer of NNPC’s Gas and Power Autonomous Business Unit and Chairman of NGPTC, Mr. Saidu A. Mohammed, is quoted as saying during the corporation’s 22nd Annual General Meeting in Abuja that the profit before tax for the year ended 31st December, 2016 was N24.4 billion as against N20.9 billion in 2015, representing an increment of 16.8 per cent, while the profit after tax reduced from N22.6 billion in 2015 to N15.81 billion in 2016.

He added that earnings per share reduced from N4, 510 in 2015 to N3, 163 for 2016.

Mr. Mohammed said the total revenue generated from gas

sold and transmitted during 2016 amounted to N219.5 billion as against N155.5 billion in 2015, representing 41 per cent increase over the previous year.

He explained that the increase was due to revenue generated from application of higher transportation tariff and new commercial customers that came on stream.

“An overview of NGPTC’s business performance for the year 2016 shows that 307 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) of gas was sold and transmitted as against the planned 463 bscf, thereby achieving 66.4 per cent of its target. The year 2016 also reveals a performance of 4 per cent below the volume of 319.25 bscf sold in 2015.”

He noted that the Company was confronted with the challenges of incessant vandalism of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System 1 (ELPS 1), Trans Forcados pipeline and evacuation bottleneck of condensate in 2016.

The COO and Chairman of the Company acknowledged the continued support of NGPTC’s host communities for the sustained peace and tranquility in the Company’s areas of operation.

In his welcome remarks, the Managing Director of NGPTC, Mr. Babatunde Bakare, stated that the corporate culture of the Com-

pany was hinged on the unwavering commitment to excellence, best ethics and team work.

Mr. Bakare applauded stakeholders for their support to the NGPTC, adding that the 22nd AGM financial statement for 2016 would enable the Company to sustain its record of excellent corporate standing.

“Indeed, 2016 was historic given that Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) changed its name to Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Limited (NGPTC) to better reflect NGPTC’s new business focus and the birth of a new gas marketing company, Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC),” Mr. Bakare stated.

Giving the Joint Independent Auditors report, Mr. Ralph Okoroha, said the financial statements of NGPTC represents fairly, in all materials, the financial position of the Company at 31st December, 2016 and its financial performance and cash flows for the year ended.

He said the financial report ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and in compliance with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act No. 6, 2011 and the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The Oracle Today

22

Wednesday October 18, 2017

e-Platform

Nigeria poised to reap economic growth from mobile broadband Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

W

ITH a fast growing mobile internet penetration, Nigeria is poised to record significant boost in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, if service providers enhance their mobile broadband services delivery. This became clear with a recent Ericson report, which confirmed that every 10 per cent increase in mobile broadband penetration causes a 0.6 per cent to 2.8 per cent rise in GDP of a country.

Nigeria currently has over 91 million mobile subscriptions and leads Africa as the fastest mobile broadband growing country. Indeed, according to a recent study by Jumia on African mobile trends, about 71 per cent of its users in Nigeria access the website through their mobile phones, compared to 53 per cent of customers in the rest of Africa.

The latest Ericson report, which details the findings of a research conducted in collaboration with the Imperial College of London, revealed that when a country adopts mobile broadband, the result is solid overall economic development.

The report, entitled ‘How Important Are Mobile Broadband Networks for Global Economic Development?‘, examines data from 135 countries. It reveals that as mobile broadband penetration increases by 10 percent, it causes a 0.6-2.8 percent rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That translates to an equivalent of approximately USD 500–2000 billion, worldwide in 2016.

Ericson noted that previous reports had examined fixed broadband, and researchers have only been able to estimate its effect on

economic growth. “This study, on the other hand, has been able to conclude that the introduction of mobile broadband has an immediate positive effect on a country’s economy, and a longer-term knockon effect as mobile broadband gradually spreads to different economies” it said.

Harald Edquist, Master Researcher in Macroeconomics at Ericsson Research and one of the report authors, said: “Many countries in the developing world have used mobile broadband technology to leapfrog in their economic development in the past 10–15 years. I believe that if these countries, and others, continue to invest wisely in mobile broadband, they will have an excellent opportunity to continue to reap the benefits of continuous productivity improvements and new economic opportunities that simply would not be possible without mobile broadband.”

According to Ericson, mobile broadband networks have spread rapidly, and are set to continue doing so. The Ericsson Mobility Report (June 2017), states that at the end of 2016, around 3.2 billion subscribers (out of the world’s total population of 7.4 billion) had access to the Internet via mobile broadband technology. It is forecast that an additional 2.6 billion subscribers will have mobile broadband Internet access by 2022.

A GSMA study shows that in Africa, limited network coverage remains a key barrier to mobile internet adoption. Presently, mobile broadband networks cover around 50 per cent of the population, meaning that 600 million people in the region do not have access to a mobile broadband service.

Ericson added that to ensure effi-

cient mobile broadband adoption, stable and efficient policies and regulations are essential for mobile operators to have the best conditions to roll out mobile broadband networks in underserved areas, noting also that private investment depends heavily on the regulatory climate.

Edquist noted: “We have always challenged traditional ways of thinking. Being true to our company purpose of innovating technology for good and creating new economic opportunities we make life better, whether through con-

necting people in new ways, building technologies for industries in transformation or creating a more inclusive society. This is set to continue as we enter an era of 5G, IoT and cloud network infrastructure.”

Nigeria in 2013 set a broadband target of 30 per cent penetration by 2018 and it recently put the penetration figure at 21 per cent, although some stakeholders believe the figure is over bloated. Some believe that large chunk of the penetration figure being claimed has being through mobile broadband

Internet Solutions wins IT Infrastructure Service Provider award I NTERNET Solutions Nigeria (ISN) Limited, a leading Systems Integrator & Connectivity Provider, has added another award to its collection as it wins the West Africa’s Best IT Infrastructure Service Provider in the Customer Service Category of the 2017 edition of the Nigeria Brand awards. This was announced at the 7th edition of the Diamond award which recently took place in Lagos.

The annual Nigeria Brand Awards identifies businesses that have performed exceptionally in the area of customer service, and industry practitioners who are outstanding are also recognized dur-

ing the awards. The Nigeria Brand Awards has continued to raise the bar of excellence, innovation and professionalism amongst brands in the country.

Receiving the Award on behalf of the organization, the Chief Innovation Officer, Mr Tosin Odunlami said, “the Company’s focus on meeting customer’s need has remained our priority and we are delighted that it has been recognized and rewarded by the Nigeria Brand Award. Our zeal to continually improve our services is driven by an understanding of our responsibility to improve the quality of life for Nigerians.”

“At ISN, the satisfaction of our customers drives our innovative ideas and processes. Our solutions are based on best practices; we are resilient in giving our customers the best and this has endeared us to them. As an organization, we will continue to develop IT-driven solutions that will improve the technological advancement of the nation” he added.

According to the organisers of the award ceremony, ISN was sin-

gled out for the award as a result of its strides and innovations. Internet Solutions Nigeria Limited,

established in 1997, is one of the first Internet Service Providers to establish in Nigeria.

as opposed to fixed broadband, which the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) measures.

Other experts, however, believe that the country can still achieve the desired economic growth by leveraging on mobile broadband as most Nigerians use their mobiles for internet.

Ecobank launches mVisa across 33 African countries

E

cobank has partnered with Visa to launch Ecobank Scan+Pay with mVisa solutions to their consumers. The strategic tie-up signals interoperability on a cross border level – and potentially huge gains – as it affords consumers with the ability to use their mobile phone to directly access the funds in their bank accounts to pay person-to-merchant (P2M) or personto-person (P2P).

According to the bank Scan+Pay with mVisa delivers instant, secure cashless payment for goods and services by allowing customers to scan a QR code on a smartphone or enter a unique merchant identifying code into either a feature phone or smartphone. “The payment goes straight from the consumer’s bank account into the merchant’s account and provides real-time notification to both parties. This serves to accelerate digital commerce and combat some of the challenges merchants have faced using traditional point of sale systems, including the cost of installation coupled with the requirement of electricity and internet connectivity” it said.

Ecobank mVisa solutions also enable customers to send money instantly to any Visa cardholder worldwide.

The Oracle Today

23

Wednesday October 18, 2017

e-Platform

NCC raises awareness on cyber security Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has joined the rest of the world to raise awareness on the need to be extra vigilant on the internet. The Commission, which is a partner to the US Department of Homeland Security’s ‘STOP.THINK. CONNECT.’, Cyber Awareness Coalition, said the awareness campaign is in line with its unwavering commitment to consumer protection.

Globally, the month of October has been declared Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), thus, the MCC said it would, in the course of the month, be raising both the tempo

and sophistication of the campaign on cyber security.

“Accordingly, the interests and thematic focus of these campaign is to educate the general public on the simple steps to online safety; to make people to understand that cyber security in the workplace is everyone’s business; to let everyone to be mindful that today’s predictions is for tomorrow’s Internet; we also intend to pass the message – ‘The Internet Wants You: Consider a career in Cyber Security’; and finally to appeal to all of us to be committed to protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats” NCC said .

The Commission added that it

would through its website as well as social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn, share tips and resources, including videos, on these themes throughout the month of October.

“NCSAM is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to equip the Nigerian public with the tools and resources they need to stay safe. The Commission believes strongly in this mission. During NCSAM, we urge every Nigerian to take steps to create a safer Internet - even small actions can make a huge difference in defending from cyber threats.”

Some of the tips to internet us-

ers, according to the Commission, include setting strong passwords; making the passwords long and comple and changing them regularly. “Secure your most sensitive accounts; when it is available, use multi-factor authentication to keep your accounts more secure; treat personal information like money; information about you, such as your purchase history and location, has value, so be cautious about how your information is collected by apps and websites; regularly update the software on your Internetconnected devices, including PCs, smartphones, and tablets, to reduce the risk of infection from malware” the NCC advised.

M

forts are becoming more apparent.

I am also delighted that Edelman’s confidence in appointing us as its preferred West Africa partner company was not misplaced”, he said.

Opayemi added: “Our competitive edge is embedded in our core values, which are expressed in our can-do spirit; and our confidence and passion in handling our clients’ communication challenges. We are not an agency; we are a consulting firm. We are specialists, who always apply the finest traditions and trends of the practice in solving clients’ problems and helping them reach their busi-

ness objectives.”

One of the most prominent campaigns Chain Reactions Nigeria has managed since the start of 2017 was the PR-led brand migration of Etisalat Nigeria to 9mobile. The brand migration which has been widely acknowledged as unprecedented, resulted in the successful rebranding of former Etisalat Nigeria to 9mobile in less than three weeks after the telco’s foreign partners, Emirates Telecommunications Corporations and Mubadala Development Company, both of United Arab Emirates exited from Nigeria.

Another significant campaign was

the international girl-child education advocacy campaign by ONE Campaign to draw attention to the plight of 130 million out-of-school girls around the world. In managing the celebrity power campaign along with other PR firms in different parts of the world, Chain Reactions Nigeria leveraged the voice of Bono, Malala, Angelique Kidjo, David Oyelowo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Desmond Elliot and Waje, to call on world leaders to tackle poverty by addressing gender inequality. Nigeria emerged the world’s second best country with most impactful campaign.

TN Group has announced the appointment of Ebenezer Asante as Vice President (VP) of the expanded Southern & East Africa and Ghana (SEAGHA) Region. The role became vacant when then VP, Godfrey Motsa, was appointed CEO of MTN South Africa. Karl Toriola, VP for West and Central Africa (WECA) Region, has been managing the portfolio of operations in the SEA region in an acting capacity.

The new SEAGHA Region will comprise the mobile operations in Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Botswana and Swaziland as well as the MTN ISPs in Kenya, Namibia and Botswana. “I am very pleased for Ebenezer; he is a great talent and business leader. His appointment to this new role not only speaks to our strong bench strength, but the pool of talent we have within MTN. Ebenezer will bring great value to the Group leadership team, to the benefit of our people and customers across the MTN footprint,” said Rob Shuter, MTN Group President and CEO. The inclusion of Ghana within SEA re-balances the workload across MTN Group’s regional structures, further optimising the oversight responsibilities of the Regional VPs. Asante is currently the CEO of MTN Ghana, a position he has held since July 2015. In his new role, he will report directly to the Group President and CEO, and joins the Group Executive Committee.

He began his journey with MTN in 2008, as Sales and Distribution Executive at MTN Ghana. He later moved to Rwanda as CEO. After two years in Rwanda, he returned to Ghana in 2015. Before joining MTN, he spent 13 years with Unilever, where he held various positions, including

lowing the launch of the LG Vehicle Components business division in 2013. The LG-designed OLED rear lamp leverages the company’s global leadership in all things OLED. “As the world’s leader in OLED TVs, LG has deep experience incorporating advanced OLED technologies in products such as smartphones, smartwatches and instrument panels. LG’s OLED rear lamp is more compact than conventional lighting modules thanks to the lack of a backlight unit, up to 85 to 90 percent smaller than typical rear

lamps. LG’s OLED lamp also runs cooler which results in improved durability and longevity compared to conventional rear units. In addition to its new OLED rear ramp, LG plans to showcase other innovative products such as AV navigation systems, infotainment systems and convenience-enhancing devices such as ADAS cameras, LCD instrument panels and electric compressors, among others” the company said.

LG Vehicle Components is LG’s fastest growing business and is

expected to play a major role in the future growth of the corporation. This growth will be fueled to a large degree by the collaboration with General Motors on the Chevrolet Bolt EV, in which LG is supplying a total of 11 components and systems, including electric drive motors, power invertor modules, battery cells and high power distribution modules. For its contribution toward the success of the Chevy Bolt, LG was recognized with GM’s Innovation Award of the Year earlier this year. This comes

top of other industry recognitions such as the Supplier Award from Renault and the Technology and Innovation Award from Volkswagen.

“We plan to expand our presence and expertise in the fast-growing electric vehicle market by aggressively engaging industry leaders in Europe, North America and Asia,” said Lee Woo-jung, president of the LG Vehicle Components Company.

“We want to highlight how LG can work with automakers to develop custom solutions to drive technological innovation.”

Chain Reactions named ‘Best Reputation Management Consulting Firm’ in WA C HAIN Reactions Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consulting Firms and the Nigeria’s Exclusive Affiliate and Preferred West African Partner of Edelman, the world’s largest global communications marketing firm with presence in 65 countries across the globe, has emerged as the “Best Reputation Management Consulting Firm in West Africa”. The keenly contested Gold Category which had two leading Ghanaian agencies, Insel Communications Ltd and GMA Communications Inc. was conferred on Chain Reactions Nigeria at the 7th edition of the Nigeria Brand Awards 2017 organised by International Brand Award Nominees and held in Lagos recently.

The award acknowledged Chain Reactions’ unrivalled high level competence in cutting edge strategic communications and reputation management services provided for array of leading public and private sector clients across telecommunications, industrial technology, banking, oil and gas, FMCG and tourism amongst others. The Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Nigeria, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, who received the award, said it was a testament of the firm’s commitment to excellence, professionalism and dedication to consistent delivery of audacious integrated communications solutions that set our clients apart in their industries.

“We are glad that Chain Reactions Nigeria has been recognised among those pushing the frontiers of cutting edge public relations and reputation management practice in West Africa. It brings us a level of satisfaction because we’ve consistently worked on improving our human capital, approach to briefs and service delivery. The results of our ef-

MTN gets new regional VP

From left; Zainab Abubakar, Support Analyst, Strategy and Business Development; Israel Jaiye Opayemi, MD/Chief Strategist and Henry Eguridu, Consultant, Data & Digital, all of Chain Reactions Nigeria, after receiving the Best Reputation Management Consulting Firm in West Africa Gold Award at the 7th Nigeria Brand Awards held in Lagos recently.

LG unveils OLED technology at Frankfurt Motor Show

L

G Electronics (LG) has unveiled its advanced auto component technologies at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show highlighted by the company’s first advanced OLED rear lamps to be featured in vehicles from a major European automaker. LG also highlighted connected car solutions for autonomous driving concept cars.

LG’s debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show follows the company’s recent debut at major auto shows in Asia (Beijing and Shanghai) as well as North America (Detroit) fol-

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

EDITORIAL

VOX POPULI SACRUM

www.oraclenews.ng

Audacity of impunity – 1967 Asaba Massacre

T

HE story is told with a simplicity that PEOPLE were in a haste to get to the square. tends to belie the cruelty involved.

Those considered slow were left behind. The Three months into the Nigerian Civil troops ensured that almost everyone was at War, Biafran troops invaded the Mid the square by embarking on a house-to-house West Region, declared it the Republic of search to mobilise people to the Ogbe-Osowa Benin. They headed as far as Ore, in Western square where a special message, they were Region, before Nigerian Army stopped their told, awaited them. advance. They crossed to Biafra, across the NONE had any idea that, like the Jews masRiver Niger. sacred in Hitler’s gas chambers in Germany, ASABA lies on the bank of the River Niger. The 22 years earlier, they were walking to their river is the boundary between Asaba and death. The guile was comprehensive. Soldiers Onitsha; otherwise both towns would have bantered with them, moreso with those in merged without anyone noticing. They are the crowd who, through their sojourns, had so close that standing on any point on the acquired learned the Hausa language. shore of the Niger on either side, one can NDI Asaba were exuberant in their chanting of, literally shake hands across the river.

“One Nigeria, one Nigeria”, as the celebratory NIGERIAN soldiers arrived in Asaba in October, march to the square continued. Then words angry it seemed, that the Biafrans were not started filtering to the gathering that there within their reach. They reportedly accused could be trouble.

Asaba people of being saboteurs, of hiding WHATEVER the trouble, it was not expected to Biafran soldiers, charges they denied. be more than a reprimand for allowing BiaIN one of the most deceptive moments in Nifran troops to escape across the river or, may gerian history, notices were sent across for be a code of conduct for the populace as they Asaba people to troop out to their square to live with their new guests, the soldiers, who welcome the Nigerian troops. would use Asaba as their base in prosecuting THEY trooped out in their numbers, men and the war. women, with their children. They were atTHE first orders separated the men and women. tired mostly in their traditional ceremonial The exercise produced debate with the unclothing of white. Others wore suits and certainty about what age the soldier deemed ties. They were dancing. They were celebratadulthood for the boys, some of whom were ing the liberation of Asaba, and the freedom as young as 12. to carry on with a more settled life, after AT the discretion of the soldiers, youth athigh troop movements through their town tained adulthood and joined their fathers, when Ore was invaded. uncles, and brothers. They were marked for extinction while they continued the celebrations of their belief in “One Nigeria”.

WITH a celerity that befuddles survivors to date, orders were barked and the staccato firing of guns only braked for the heap of stilled bodies to be watched. If a movement was noticed, the firing resumed.

The few survivors were saved by night fall, which sent the soldiers away, and their own tenacity.

ASABA’s best men, the brilliant, the top echelon of society, fathers, sons, uncles, were killed before their wives, and younger children.

The soldiers executed the duty with brimming patriotism. Their killing of unarmed civilians has been credited to some of them as bravery in their records of the Civil War. Asaba has borne its sorrows with remarkable equanimity. The widows buried their dead and raised the next generation of Asaba men, from the bloody dust of the massacre.

SNIPPETS of what happened on 7 October 1967 from an eyewitness Ify Uraih, who was 15 then. His three brothers and father were in the crowd.

“Twenty of our men were selected and lined up in front of us and told as follows, ‘Today, I be your God. Me first, God second. God give you life, me I go takem. Two minute time you go die.’ Two minutes af-

terwards these 20 men were shot. Another 20 were picked up and the same ritual followed.”

WHEN they considered the method time-consuming, the soldiers then readied machine guns, both mounted on trucks and freestanding, and mass shooting started. “Some people broke loose and tried to run away. My brother was holding me by the hand; he released me and pushed me further into the crowd . . . They shot my brother in the back, he fell down, and I saw blood coming out of his body. And then the rest of us … just fell down on top of each other. And they continued shooting, and shooting, and shooting … I lost count of time, I don’t know how long it took … After some time there was silence. I stood up … my body was covered in blood, but I knew that I was safe. My father was lying not far away; his eyes were open but he was dead,” according to Uriah’s account in the book, The Asaba Massacre Trauma, Memory, and the Nigerian Civil War by S. Elizabeth Bird and Fraser M. Ottanelli.

WHAT are official reactions to the Asaba Massacre? Nothing, except the oft-quoted remarks of Gen I. M Haruna, at the Nigerian Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission, HRVIC, the “Oputa Panel,” which was formed in 2000: “As the commanding officer and leader of the troops that massacred 500 men in Asaba, I have no apology . . . I acted as a soldier maintaining the peace and unity of Nigeria.” Gen. Haruna has said the comment was twisted, but told the authors in 2016, “The so-called Asaba massacre is a figment of propaganda!”

GEN. Haruna, a lawyer, was not near Asaba at the time of the Massacre. Gen. Muritala Mohammed and Col Ibrahim Taiwo, both killed in the February 13, 1976 coup, reportedly supervised the massacre.

ASABA has elected to forgive, but the audacity of impunity as witnessed in Asaba, has over the past 50 years spawned more lawlessness.

GENOCIDES, massacres are punished not just forgiven.

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

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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

OPINION Okorocha and irony of ‘Imo is better’ (2)

By ROY IWUALA

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t this point, if we can be sincere, what were in the minds of most people who pretended that they were happy with the governor on his flamboyant 55th birthday celebration? We must not ignore the application of subtle coercion that made some fellows throng to the birthday ground. For sure, bitterness was fused into the birthday story as some people were bitter that they were levied in order to purchase gifts for the governor and for congratulatory messages in the print and electronic media.

Without sounding immodest, is the governor supposed to indulge in such a birthday jamboree when most of the people pretending to felicitate with him were either jobless, debtors, homeless, hungry, or bitter?

Obviously, the birthday celebration increased the tempo or realities of bitterness in Imo State. The governor may be thinking that the Statesmen that honoured his birthday celebration do not have ears on the ground to know that he is only being deceptive with glittering façade rather than with heroic deeds.

There is no doubt that some guests used

the opportunity to see how the celebrant had virtually turned Owerri upside down. I wonder why no one was able to ask the celebrant why he converted every El Dorado in Owerri into ruins or wilderness. In short, let the celebrant be told that he has destroyed a State once respected as an Elysian centre of cleanliness, hospitality, and tourism.

If we don’t want Imo State to continue to spread bitterness, we should learn how to live on a wing and a prayer.

For those who are not familiar with the idiomatic expression, “On a wing and a prayer,” I will be at liberty to explain. This catchphrase is widely used to describe an extremely difficult or disadvantageous circumstance in which one hopes that sheer luck, determination, and/or God will offer breakthrough. The Comedian, Ambassador Uche Ogbuagu would employ the language of his comic story to describe our bitter situation as “baaaaad condition,” and would recommend “Ka opuo” as the panacea.

Let me go straight to the event that led to the use of the maxim, “On a wing and a prayer” to enable my readers appreciate my clarion call. In fact, its first usage was (in 1943) during the World

War 11 when the Allied airmen flying back to their base in damaged planes, hoped and prayed that they’d make it. And, God helped them to land safely at their base.

The stories about their damaged plane and the clarion call by the Pilot for the crew to pray, inspired the writing of the patriotic hit song of 1943, which was recorded in various hippest versions. This song, too, inspired the title of the 1944 popular movie, “Wing and a prayer.”

From the foregoing, what is of paramount importance is how the pilot and the crew prayed their plane back and safely. As a Knight in shinning armour, I had on several occasions craved for prayers for our dear State so that it can be transformed from a bitter to a better State. Prayer, they say, is the master key to conquer or overcome difficult situations or problems. Our Lord, Jesus Christ became the pathfinder when He started His glorious mission with prayers, which of course, He ended with prayers.

Finally, the “Egyptians” in Imo State are “we, the victims,” and not the “tormentor.” In spite of the “tormentor’s” unbridled passion to destroy “we, the victims,” some of us who can’t put their thinking cap on chose to be in his thrall.

It is this kind of people that clapped for the thrills and spills of the “tormentor’s” sweet sounding slogans. This was why 305 young men with false sense of being millionaires agreed to demonstrate with imposing dummy cheques of N1million each, while the “tormentor” laughed scornfully. One year gone, they are still hoping to get the free money, which fizzled with the game plan. Can they ever learn to avenge with howls of derision at the “tormentor’s” political ploy?

Yesteryears, some of “we, the victims” danced to the “tormentor’s” drumbeats of Imo must be better, Corruption must stop, Education must be free, Imo Youths must work, yada yada yada. I was surprised that these “pro-tormentor” slogans clouded the imaginations of some of “we, the victims.” And, only very few of “we, the victims” could discover the whys and the wherefores of “Imo is better,” which is not only ironical, but the “tormentor’s” political intriguing impossibility.

•Sir Iwuala, a public affairs commentator, lives in Owerri.

Making sense of Obaze’s education plan for Anambra

By Chima Christian

T

he Anambra governorship election is now upon us. And as such, it is incumbent on the candidates to present their bonafides to the electorate. Interestingly, some candidates are doing this with vigour.

Others seem to consistently evade the issues; busying themselves with irrelevant political talks and innuendos that have little or no bearing on the lives of the people they aspire to continue governing or govern.

One major contender has, however, remained focused on the issues. Utilizing every opportunity to espouse his views, which often times, reflect his deep thinking and character. That candidate is Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, the PDP’s flag bearer.

Not yielding to temptations of being drawn in to the fray of name calling, mud slinging, character assassination and campaign of calumny that seems to have dominated the campaign, Obaze has insisted on discussing only the issues. Thus, living up to his professional bidding as a career diplomat and a well refined gentleman.

Obaze leaves no one in doubt as to what he intends doing in office, if given the privilege to serve Anambra State in the capacity of an Executive Governor. His towering edge over the competition is his clear understanding of what the issues are and a piece by piece plan of how to address them.

Obaze’s manifesto is clear and concise.

No promises of building castles in the air, turning water into wine or making a Naira equal to a Dollar. Peharps, nothing in his plan stands out like his proposed education policy framework for Anambra. And none does he communicate more frequently and eloquently to the voting public.

Apparently because of his international exposure and experience at the United Nations where he formerly served as a top official, the core theme of Obaze’s education plan for Anambra is to adopt the UNESCO policy recommendation of 26% budgetary allocation to education. He further plans to devote 10% of the 26% allocation to private schools and schools run by missions. His

reasoning being that such schools also train Anambra children.

As at today, only two states in Nigeria Kwara and Sokoto states - have met this 26% threshold. Anambra state government currently devotes a paltry 3% of its budget to education. Thus starving the all important sector the much needed steam.

The PDP candidate sees a new Anambra where amenities in Anambra schools will be greatly improved to meet mordern standards. Beyond amenities, qualified and properly remunerated teachers, teacher training and retraining, access to computer and Internet facilities, teaching and learning aids, appropriately sized classrooms, as well as well furnished laboratories - which are all essential to 21st century learning - will be catered for by the greatly increased funding.

With 10.5 million Nigerian children currently not enrolled in school, statistics say Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children. Agreed, the largest chunk of this people group are not domiciled in the state Obaze aspires to serve, but he has plans to ensure that all Anambra children, regardless of parent’s income cadre, have access to quality education.

The public policy expert agrees with Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which makes a case for basic education for all. The declaration has it that “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages.” Obaze proposes to give all Anambra school children from Nursery School to JSS 3 free but quality education.

Unlike conventional politicians who mouth campaign rhetorics and promises they have little or no grasp of, Obaze has worked out the number of school children in this target group and knows the exact amount of money the state government needs to invest to achieve that purpose. He also factored into his plans how to secure the grants and finances needed to kickstart and sustain the policy initiative.

In addition to ensuring free basic educa-

tion, Obaze plans to run an inclusive education system. To him, the state has a responsibility to ensure that people living with disabilities enjoy all privileges, human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others. While it is true that no government originally sets out to marginalize people living with disabilities, the inability of policy formulators to deliberately make plans for such people group technically sidelines them in the scheme of things.

On the flip side, Obaze has said his administration will pay extra attention to school children with special needs. Offering specifics in a particular gathering, Obaze gave illustrations with how government-backed subsidy of sun screens and reading lenses to students living with albinism can ensure a more inclusive education system.

Obaze proposes, as an official government policy, that classroom teachers be provided supplementary trainings on how to handle special needs children. This is in addition to his stated plans of properly funding special needs schools like schools for the; blind, deaf, dumb, autistic, etc.

With the understanding that Mid-level manpower or blue collar skilled personnel are imperative to the development of any nation, Obaze’s education plan pays acute attention to vocational training and professions that require certification. The PDP governorship candidate plans to fund tertiary institutions and other institutes in Anambra to run short certification courses for masons, bricklayers, carpenters, painters, cobblers, electricians, mechanics, vulcanizers, bakers, caterers, farmers and the likes.

This idea of tertiary education stems from the glaring fact that not all can afford University degrees, the way our education system is currently structured. Obaze believes our society will be better for it if we have people trained, skilled and certified in Midlevel manpower jobs.

With his comprehensive education policy framework, Obaze has shown that his government, if elected, will prioritise education andw ensure that Anambra children are

properly equipped to excel in a highly competitive 21st century global marketplace.

While other candidates make promises, Obaze, as an expert in public policy, goes the extra mile of laying down step by step plans of how to achieve his visions for Anambra. One added advantage is that he served as the ninth Secretary to the Anambra State Government. In his days as the SSG under Gov. Peter Obi, he put these plans to bear and, for the first time, Anambra really became the “Light of the Nation.” Will Ndi Anambra elect him come November 18 to serve in a higher capacity? Nobody knows.

But one thing is sure: the coming election will be a referendum between a new way of doing things and the old way.

•Chima, a good governance advocate and a public policy analyst, writes from Nnewi, Anambra state.

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

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday October 18, 2017

Travel & Hospitality

Hilton commits $50m to growth

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LOBAL hotel chain, Hilton says it is committing a total of $50 million over the next five years towards its Africa Growth Initiative to support the continued expansion of its Sub-Saharan African portfolio including those in Nigeria.

According to the hotel group, these funds are intended to support the conversion of around 100 hotels (roughly 20,000 rooms) in multiple African markets into Hilton branded properties, namely into its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand, the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton and the recently launched Curio Collection by Hilton.

Senior Vice President, Development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton, Patrick Fitzgibbon, said: “Hilton remains committed to growth in Africa having been present on the continent for more than 50 years. The model of converting existing hotels into Hilton branded properties has proved highly successful in a variety of markets and we expect to see great opportunities to convert hotels to Hilton brands through this initiative.”

“It enables us to rapidly grow our portfolio and delivers returns for owners by increasing exposure of their business to more international, inter-regional and domestic travellers, and specifically to our 65 million-plus Hilton Honors members, who look to stay with us in our suite of industry-leading brands. We see huge potential here in key cities and airports, as well as allowing us to develop our offering in resorts and safari lodges.”

These hotels will receive all the benefits associated with Hilton’s industry-leading brand proposition and worldclass commercial platforms. Guests will also be able to take advantage of Hilton’s innovative technology platforms such as online check-in and the ability to choose individual

rooms when booking via the Hilton Honors App. “The range of brands we have at our disposal allows owners the flexibility to pick the right fit for their property. We have already deployed this initiative in the signing of two hotels: our first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Kenya, and our first hotel in Rwanda, and expect to be able to announce further additions before the end of this year,” Fitzgibbon added.

The first hotel to benefit from this initiative is the 109 guest room Amber Hotel on Nairobi’s Ngong Road, which will re-launch under the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand. The hotel, which opened in 2016, is currently undergoing a series of renovations and will join the brand by the end of the year.

Following the refurbishment, the hotel will be known as DoubleTree by Hilton Nairobi Hurlingham and will continue to be operated by the owner under a franchise agreement through the leadership of its current General Manager, Elisha Katam.

The 153-room Ubumwe Grande Hotel in the Kigali central business district will trade under the upscale DoubleTree by Hilton brand when it fully converts in 2018. This franchised property – with 134 guest rooms and 19 apartments – opened in September 2016. The hotel will undergo some changes in order to rebrand and will be Hilton’s first property in Rwanda.

Once rebranded, the hotel will trade as the DoubleTree by Hilton Kigali City Centre.

Hilton currently operates 19 hotels in the Sub Saharan Africa region with a further 29 in its pipeline. It has held a presence on the African continent for over 50 years.

• A traditionally attired live band performing on the terraces of the Sheraton Abuja Hotel in Independence Day celebrations mood, last October 1.

WTA names Rwanda to host Africa Gala Ceremony

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orld Travel Awards (WTA) has named the hosts for its upcoming Africa Gala Ceremony 2017.

George Ndirangu and Makeda

Kaduna Govt targets 100, 000 tourists by Q4

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ADUNA State Government has shifted attention to its tourism industry as it looks to woo both tourists and investors to the state, even as it further disclosed of plans to corner the market with an ambitious target of 100, 000 tourists before the end of year.

State Commissioner for Industry and Culture, Manzo Maigari, who disclosed this at the recently concluded Akwaaba African Travel Market in Lagos, said following the tourist projections, the state government has set in motion a machinery to map out its attractions with the aim to put them out in the public domain for the interest of investors and tourists.

According to the commissioner, given the huge potential of tourism, the state governor, Nasir El – rufai, has mandated his ministry to use the tourism to bring about sustainable economic development for the state, including job creation.

The agenda of the state government, he said include putting a workable tourism policy in place to drive investment, review its tourism master plan and document its tourist sites.

“The idea is to attract local and foreign investors to invest in the rich culture and tourism potential of the state. It will also serve as an opportunity for indigenes to get employed.

This will help the state to have a proper tourism map, through which it could showcase its tourism potential to the outside world as a good tourism framework has to be in place for investors to have confidence in the state’s tourism sector,’’ he said.

The commissioner further revealed that the state government would create an enabling environment and infrastructure for tourism to thrive.

“The role of government is to create an enabling business environment while investors are to invest in the business opportunities provided. The Kaduna State Government will create a business enterprise in

Nigeria, others for UNWTO/UNESCO confab Stories by VICTOR NZE

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OR the second time this year, Ministers of Culture and Tourism from around the world, including Nigeria’s Alhaji Lai Mohammed, will converge on the city of Muscat, in Oman from December 11 to 12 for another edition of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Conference on Tourism and Culture.

Mohammed is the Vice President (Africa) of the UNWTO. This second edition of the conference is also expected to bring together private sector stakeholders and experts with the objective of building and strengthening partnerships be-

tween the Tourism and Culture sectors and enhance their role in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The cnference is a sequel to the First UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture, held in Siem Reap, Cambodia in February 2015 and will provide the platform to reflect upon the Siem Reap Declaration that pledged to explore the synergies of the tourism and culture sectors to work in harmony for sustainable development.

The United Nations has declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, thereby offering a unique opportunity to explore and highlight tourism’s potential to help transform the world into a place of prosperity

and wellbeing for all.

In this context, the second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture features prominently as one of the official events on the calendar of activities of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

Gathering tourism and culture stakeholders from all world regions in Muscat, Oman, the Conference will address a wide range of topics, including governance models, tourism development and protection of cultural heritage, culture and tourism in urban development and creativity, and explore the nature/culture interface in tourism as a vehicle for sustainable development in destinations worldwide.

the area it has a comparative advantage especially in the area of culture, commerce, industry and tourism. This will fast track development in the state and boost government revenue earnings,’’ added Maigari.

The commissioner who disclosed that the state government is targeting 100,000 tourists in the last quarter of the year, assured of the safety of lives and property in the state, adding that the state government is desirous of making Kaduna State an economically viable state.

Some of the tourism assets spotlighted by him include: Kajuru Castle, Kamuku National Park, Fifth Chukker Polo Club, Kagoro hills, museums, amusement parks, the Nok Village, Gurara Falls, Lord Lugard Footbridge and Gamji Park.

Mahadeo will compere the show, which will take place in Rwanda’s thriving capital, Kigali, on 10th October.

Ndirangu is a presenter and producer at CNBC Africa, covering daily business news across the region.

Fellow local star, Mahadeo, is a passionate DJ and media personality.

World Travel Awards Founder and President, Mr Graham E Cooke, said: “George Ndirangu and Makeda Mahadeo are two of the most talented and brilliant presenters in Rwanda, and we look forward to working with them at our upcoming Africa Gala Ceremony.”

World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony 2017 will take place at the five star Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre – which features the first convention centre in Rwanda with room for up to 5,000 delegates – alongside the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) and AviaDev Africa (10th-12th October). The leading hotel investment conference that connects business leaders from the international and local markets, driving investment into tourism projects, infrastructure and hotel development across Africa, AHIF is attended by the highest calibre international hotel investors of any conference in Africa.

Sheraton Lagos’ cocktails back

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he iconic Sheraton Lagos Hotel has announced that the hotel’s food and beverage teams have commenced work on a collection of recreated signature cocktails, which the portfolio is renowned and also in line with ‘offering Loyal Patrons elevated and transformative experiences.’ A statement

by Ms Nanji Tyem, Head of Public Relations for Marriot in Nigeria quotes the General Manager of the hotel, Mr Barry Curran, as disclosing that the Sheraton Lagos will also leverage on its cocktail experience in celebrating this year’s World Vodka Day on October 4 with a competition for vodka connoisseurs on social media.

“At Sheraton Lagos Hotel, we

have 3 bars that cater to cocktail lovers who visit. As cocktails continually become an art of the bar man, Sheraton has decided that its bars will be renown as the place to go to for cocktails within the vicinity.

“Since we are strategically located along the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way at the epicentre of Ikeja’s bustling area, our commitment towards ensuring consistent food and beverage experiences will drive us to celebrate the World Vodka Day on the fourth of October 2017, which is marked to celebrate the many flavours and recipes that make Vodka the world’s favourite Spirit,” said Curran, who is also the Area General Manager for Marriott in Nigeria.

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Wednesday October 18, 2017

AVIATION

NIS increases MMIA visa centres

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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HE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has increased the number of visa issuing centres at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, to two, even as the agency disclosed that it has so far issued over 20, 000 visas at the nation’s main entry point since the Executive Order on ease of doing business was announced by the Federal Government in June.

The visas are now issued to foreigners on arrival at both E and D wings of the airport aside its initial D wing.

The service has also improved on the immigration counters at the same airport from its initial three to eight.

It was gathered that the immigration authorities in Abuja have ordered the service at the airport to increase the counters to two in order to facilitate foreigners’ movement into the country and abolish the usual man hour loss due to immigration processes.

The issuing of visas on arrival,

has reduced the number of foreigners going to the home offices of Nigeria abroad, as many of them now prefer to get their visas on arrival at the command.

Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, it would be recalled recently paid an unscheduled visit to the command to observe the implementation of the ease of doing business by the command and ordered them to improve on their relationship with travellers at the command.

“Immigration boss ordered all the officers to tag their counters to check against corruption in the system and also key into the ease of doing business policy of the federal government “Personally, I would say it is a good development as it will check against low level corruption among officers and also ease passenger facilitation,” said a source.

It was observed that all the counters for immigration processes for arriving passengers were tagged while the same was also done for outbound passengers.

•Members of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) heading to the terminal of Murtala Muhammed InternationalAirport (MMIA) in Lagos to disrupt flight operations as planned in their failed protest over casualisation by airlines.

African airlines record 6% traffic growth

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HE International Air Transport Association (IATA), has reported a 6.4 per cent growth in traffic for African airlines for the month of August.

This, according to the body, follows the exit from economic recession of the continent’s economic powerhouses, Nigeria and South Africa.

IATA, in a statement by its Director General, Alexandre de Juniac, last Thursday, also noted that seasonally adjusted traffic had broadly tracked sideways so far in 2017, further adding that capacity rose to 3.4 per cent, while the smallest increase among regions and load factor surged from 2.1 percentage points to 75.7 per cent.

He said that global passenger traffic demand, measured in total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) climbed to 7.2 per cent compared to the year-ago period.

“Following the strong summer traffic season in the Northern hemisphere, 2017 is on course to be another year of strong traffic growth. However, some important demand drivers are easing, particularly lower fares and as we head towards the end of the year we still expect growth to continue, but potentially at a slower pace,” he said.

IATA boss disclosed that August international passenger demand rose seven per cent compared to August 2016 while all regions recorded increases, led by airlines in Latin America.

According to IATA, European carriers saw August demand climb 6.9 per cent year-to-year, which was a slowdown from the 7.9 per cent growth recorded in

July.

“International traffic on routes within Europe has slid in recent months, in seasonally-adjusted terms, despite a strengthening regional economic backdrop.

Traffic conditions on the EuropeAsia route have also softened on a seasonally-adjusted basis as capacity rose 5.5 per cent and load factor climbed 1.2 percentage points to 88.3 per cent which was the highest among regions.

“Asia-Pacific airlines’ August traffic increased 8.6 per cent compared to the year-ago period, which was an acceleration compared to the 6.6 per cent rise in July. However, the same trend of softening demand growth on routes within the region was apparent while the capacity rose 8.3 per cent and load factor inched up 0.2 percentage points to 81.4 per cent,” he said.

Juniac also disclosed that Mid-

dle Eastern carriers posted a 5.5 per cent traffic increase in August, well below the five-year average pace of 11.1 per cent, adding that the Middle East-to-North America market in particular had been hit by a combination of factors, including the now lifted cabin ban on large portable electronic devices, as well as a wider impact from the proposed travel bans to the US.

Fidelity Bank-financed multi-storey car park opens at MMIA A six-storey car park with a capacity for about 1, 300 cars has been inaugurated at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The multi -storey facility, built through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) by the Seymour Aviation Ltd in a concession agreement with Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), was financed by Fidelity Bank Plc. The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, said at the occasion that the facility which would be for a 30-year tenor, would solve the problem of indiscriminate parking within and around the airport. ”I wish to state that this facility is long overdue and equally timely as it will improve passenger facilitation and reduce the menace of indiscriminate parking within and around the airport. This project is one of the numerous partnerships FAAN has, and is still exploring to improve the infrastructure development at our airports,” said Dunoma.

The FAAN boss, who was represented by Alhaji Salisu Daura, the Director of Engineering Services in

the agency, said the authority had introduced some measures to ensure a seamless management of the car park by the concessionaire.

These include restriction at the departure frontage to a drop zone only, enforcement of a no-pick -up zone at the “D” and “E” arrival of the terminal building and designation of parking lots to all escort vehicles at the old temporary car park.

He added that a task force comprising of MMIA management staff, aviation security, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Police and tow vehicle operators, had been constituted to enforce the restrictions and tow any vehicle parked in front of the terminal building and in the airport vicinity.

Dunoma appealed to stakeholders, passengers and other airport users to cooperate with the airport management for an effective operation.

Also speaking, the Managing Di-

rector of Seymour Aviation Ltd, Mr Francis Ikenga, described the car park as a milestone for the country as it met all international standards.

Ikenga said it was equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities including Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras mounted on every floor and around the premises, adequate conveniences for both male and female users on every floor and elevators.

“To ensure uninterrupted power supply, the facility is equipped with a standby generator that can provide power for 24 hours. Passengers will also enjoy protection from the effects of weather elements as they disembark from their vehicles within the facility and move into the terminal without using an umbrella,”he said.

On his part, the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the facility would be of great benefit to passengers and airport users.

Ethiopian digitalises operations

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THIOPIAN Airlines Group has announced that it has fully digitalized all its business processes like aircraft maintenance and Flight Operations, Commercial Operations, Finance, HRM, Customer Services, Procurement and supply Chain Management, Online learning, management approvals and authorizations and others by removing paper from the entire system as of, September 28, 2017.

Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said; “Although we started the digitization project in the last few years, today marks an important milestone in our history as we are removing paper from our entire business processes.

Leading in the Digital Revolution and leveraging on the latest advancement in the Information and Communication technology of the global airline industry, Ethiopian will scale up its operational Excellence, Customer intimacy and cost leadership strategies. ICT will enable us to deliver customized global standard customer services as per the preferences of each and every customer.

“From the perspective of pursuing environmentally friendly operation, it is worth mentioning that Ethiopian operates the youngest, latest aviation technology and most environmental friendly fleets with less carbon emission to the environment,” he said.

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Wednesday October 18, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION Economic pressures on African reinsurance markets remain – Report Stories by VICTOR NZE

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HE African reinsurance market has experienced material growth over the past decade.

However, the operating environment remains challenging, with significant headwinds of currency volatility and inflationary strains amid global softening market conditions.

In the past year, the continent’s reinsurers have been affected by slower growth, reflecting challenging economic conditions and subsequently suppressed demand for oil and gas.

In addition to reduced cover for large value risks, there has been a higher frequency of attritional and large claims, as well as increased cost bases together with the need to strengthen reserves given inflationary effects.

A.M. Best’s findings, published in a new special report titled “Economic Pressures on African Reinsurance Markets Remain, but Growth Potential Lures Overseas Players,” states despite this backdrop, the reinsurance market in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to offer growth potential, drawing in overseas reinsurers.

Mahesh Mistry, senior director of analytics, said: “Although domestication policies are designed to retain business locally, overseas reinsurers provide capacity and technical expertise.

They seek to deploy surplus capital, establish a global footprint, and consider the region to be relatively benign from natural catastrophes.

From left: Chairman , Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Mr. Oluseun O. Ajayi, MDCEO, Olaotan Soyinka and Executive Director, Marketing and Business Development, Ugochi Odemelam at the 22nd Annual General Meeting of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc held in Lagos.

While domestication policies, the use of pools and the creation of national reinsurers aim to retain risks in Africa, in general, retention levels for high-value risks remain low.

Therefore, A.M. Best expects there to continue to be a heavy reliance on the international reinsurance market.”

The report examines how most African (re)insurers are looking beyond their physical borders for growth. A.M. Best has observed that companies operating in West Africa are attempting to underwrite risks in East Africa and vice versa. Those based in East Africa are also drawn to Asia as a result of historical migratory trends, re-

tained networks and connections with countries such as India and Nepal.

The report also notes that the region’s regulatory framework is evolving, although this varies depending on the country. Yvette Essen, director of research and report author, said: “A.M. Best believes there is a drive to adopt risk-based capital models in line with European market regulatory trends as regulators in the region want to ensure a perception of high standards. However, it can be challenging to implement a new regulatory framework in conditions where a scarcity of workers with the key skills, understanding and experi-

ence is not uncommon.”

In A.M. Best’s opinion, the credit quality of reinsurers in the region remains varied.

This is partly a reflection of the different levels of economic and insurance development experienced in these markets. While many reinsurers have successfully navigated turbulent economic and political times, the market environment remains volatile and uncertain. The advanced use of risk management tools, prudent underwriting practices and the development of insurance markets are critical to ensure the sustainability and profitability of reinsurers over the longer term.

Disputes worsen N1.5 tn power sector debt overhang Cont’d from Page 17 So, there is a differential of about N41 billion.”

Fashola also revealed that some of the claims were actually debts owed by public international organizations, States and Local governments which were lumped up with those of the MDAs. “That differential arises first because some of the claims do not belong to the federal government. Some are owed by states and local governments, also some belong to public international organizations and were classified as government debts” “So, there is more verifications going on and undertaking at states and local governments which we have discovered at the national Council on Power about a week ago. And this is important so that government can demonstrate its support for the private sector by paying its own debts so that the sector can do what they do well.” he said.

Also at a separate forum, the Minister said that metering of electricity consumers in the

country was not the exclusive preserve of the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos).

In an apparent fight back against the Discos, Fashola who spoke at the 18th meet­ ing of stakeholders in the power sector in Kano, said it was true that the Discos had the obligation to meter electricity customers but noted that the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act 2005 (EPSRA ), also provided for the supply of meters by other parties.

He stressed the need to enforce the section of the Act to democratize meter provision and increase metering of consumers in the country.

He said: “In addition, government has decided to optimize the Electricity Sector Reform Act to democratize meter provision.

While it is true that the Discos have the obligation to provide meter for customers, the law did not rest a monopoly of meter supply to the Discos.

“Anybody who qualifies under the safety regulations of Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEM- SA) and under the licences issued by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) can supply

meter to customers. In order words, meter supply is an open and regulated business.”

He said the intending suppliers must have to first comply with the required procedures before being considered, adding that the successful implementation of the programme would reduce some of the challenges inherent in the sector.

According to him, the envisaged success will help to resolve the conflict between Discos and customers on metering. He said the measures would also help to improve tariff collection by the Discos and ultimately reduce losses in the sector.

He explained that the measures would ultimately bring about improved liquidity and relief to the finances of the Discos, given their challenge in funding the me­ tering exercise, noting that the Federal Government was not against Discos entering into any sort of agreement with the customers paying for the meter.

“Recall that in the past, government had attempted to in­ tervene in the meter supply through the Credit Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI), which ultimately I decided we should wind down

because of the distrust and dissatisfaction it was creating between consumers and the Discos.

“Government was caught in the middle, with numerous petitions by customers who paid for meters that were not delivered within the agreed time. But some Discos have come back to say that their customers still want to pay for meters, and that they can reach at an agreement with them on how to pay for it, government will not stand in the way of such an agreement,” the minister said.

Efforts by The Oracle Today to get the position of the Discos on the new development failed as the Executive Director of ANED, Mr. Sunday Odutan, could not take calls put to his cell phone but the spokesman of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Dr. Joy Ogaji, lamented that the dispute over bills was bad news to the power generators who she said are crumbling under the weight of mounting debts.

Our investigation showed that whereas gas producers, suppliers and aggregators in the gasto-power programme of the

London will retain global position post-Brexit, brokers assure

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he latest business confidence survey conducted on behalf of DAS UK Group has found that 80% of UK insurance brokers expect London to retain its place as a leading global insurance market, despite the country’s decision to leave the European Union.

The ‘DAS Market Barometer’ of 250 brokers also found that a similar number were bullish about business prospects over the next two to three years, with 79% expecting their company to grow.

Almost half (49%) of those surveyed were even more optimistic, expecting revenues to grown by more than 10% over the next two to three years.

Growth optimism amongst brokers was highest in the South East of England and London with 87% and 85% respectively expecting to grow. The least optimistic region was Wales with 58% responding positively, followed by Scotland and Northern Ireland at 69%. Overall, only 2% of brokers surveyed expected to downsize over the next two to three years.

Managing Director Insurance UK & Ireland, DAS UK Group, James Henderson, said: “It’s clear from our latest quarterly survey that broker confidence both in their own business performance, and London’s ability to facilitate it, remains very buoyant. Furthermore, with only a small number making any form of contingency plans to set up in the EU, I hope this optimism is rewarded by the government’s negotiating team as they consider the needs of brokers and the wider UK insurance industry.”

government remain the most disadvantaged in terms of investment recovery plus margins, generating and distribution companies which are closer to cash points advance frightening balance sheets, providing no glimpse of hope that the industry might ever emerge from deep debt.

At the last edition of the International Conference of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) in Abuja, the Managing Director of Amni International Petroleum Limited, Mr. Tunde Afolabi, decried the crippling debts suffered by investors in the Gasto-Power programme, saying his company alone has lost over $170 million in the debt cage in the industry.

With the position of the government on the debts, hopes of early resolution of the liquidity crisis in the sector have been dashed. Also credibility of the Discos has come under question, shaking the confidence of other investors in the entire commercial relay. Another question that hangs in the industry is the credibility of regulators that are saddled with strict monitoring and enforcement of best market practices to guarantee backflow of investment return in the intricate commercial arrangement.

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Wednesday October 18, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

NDIC reiterates commitment to consumer protection T

HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has reinstated its commitment toward ensuring consumer protection in the banking system. Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, the Managing Director, NDIC said this at the NDIC’s Special Day at the just concluded 12th Abuja International Trade Fair.

Ibrahim, represented by Mr Sani Magaji, the Director for Procurement and Management Services of NDIC, said the Corporation in order to ensure consumer protection had ensured easy access of consumers to the corporation to make their complaints. “I am pleased to announce an additional feature to our participation in the Abuja and other trade fairs in the country.

“NDIC will be setting up a complaint desk during trade fairs where all depositors who are yet to claim their trapped deposits in any failed bank can file their claims directly. “This is to save such depositors time and stress involved in visiting our various offices to file such claims for reimbursement.’’

Ibrahim warned the public, especially those in the informal

sector of the dangers associated with keeping large sums of money at home.

According to him, the issue cannot be overemphasised bearing in mind that the Nigerian economy is still largely cashbased amidst an environment associated with widespread insecurity. He enjoined the public to have confidence in the banking sector as the Corporation would continue to ensure the safety and security of depositors through its strong regulatory measures. Ibrahim also warned against the dangers of subscribing to digital currencies which was gradually becoming the order of the day.

He noted that digital currencies were not authorised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) neither were they insured by the NDIC. According to him, any person who invest or trade in them is doing so at their own risk as they are safety concerns associated with digital currencies.

He reinstated that the Corporation and the CBN was closely monitoring such digital operations to ensure the Nigerian financial system does not suffer negative effects through them.

L – R: Moussa Davou, Director of Information Systems, BRVM Regional Securities Exchange; Dr. Afolabi Olowookere, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria; Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Ekow Afedzie, Deputy Managing Director, Ghana Stock Exchange and Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE at The Nigerian Stock Exchange Market Data Workshop 2017 held in Lagos Lagos recently.

Earlier, the President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABUCCIMA), Mr Chijioke Ekechukwu, commended the Corporation on its effort in raising the bar of professionalism

and service delivery in the country. Ekechukwu, represented by the Second Deputy President, ABUCCIMA, Alhaji Abubakar Al-Mujtaba also urged the Corporation to deepen awareness about the deposit insurance

cover available to depositors in the country. He noted that this was critical to promoting financial inclusion and to further strengthen public confidence in the financial sector.

hitherto insuring public, our profit for the year under review was greatly impacted. From a profit before tax of N454million in 2015, the figure dropped to N44.98million in 2016 while profit after tax was

N23.59million from N557.85.” He, however, noted that despite the challenges, the total comprehensive income for the year net of tax rose to N186million against N19million in 2015.

Nigeria’s growing population good for insurance growth – STI Chairman

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HE Chairman of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc Mr. Oluseun Ajayi, has said that Nigeria’s growing population and untapped nature of insurance market are pointers to potential success of the industry. Ajayi, who made the remarks at the 22nd annual general meeting of the company held in Lagos, said the expensive nature of Nigerian economy and growing population offer great opportunities to businesses in the country.

“The potential of the economy cannot be underestimated even in the face of renewed interest from international investors.” All of these in addition to the low penetration rate of insurance market are pointers to great opportunities

available in our country and industry”, he added.

He said that despite the harsh operating environment during the year, Sovereign Trust Insurance, grew its balance sheet size by 3.3 per cent from N9.2billion in 2015 to N9.5billion in 2016 and its investment income from N214million in 2015 to N281million in 2016 representing a 32 percent growth.” According to Ajayi, 2016 was tough on business operators including the insurance industry especially on the not steady foreign exchange which affected the Naira and as a result the company recorded a downward shift in its profit and gross premium written. Gross premium written of the company stood at N6.3billion as against N7.1billion in

2015, representing about 12 percent drop in revenue for the year under review. He added: “As a result of the increase on our foreign currency exposure and the drop in the consumption of insurance by the

Banks to disburse N26b to SMEs

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he Bankers Committee has said that commercial banks would start the disbursement of the N26 billion equity contribution to Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) in agriculture by end of 2017 third quarter.

The Managing Director of Unity Bank, Mrs Tomi Somefun, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the Bankers’ Commit-

Elumelu Foundation hosts 1,300 African Entrepreneurs

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he Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy, has announced plan to host 1,300 African Entrepreneurs, Business leaders and Policymakers from 54 countries in Lagos.

Mrs Parminder Obe, the TEF’s Chief Executive Officer, who made this known at a briefing in Lagos, said the 3rd Annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum was slated for Oct. 13. She said the 2017 invitation had been extended beyond the usual 1,000 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs to include selected SMEs, media, hubs, incubators, academia and investors from across Africa.

“Assembled SMEs will build networks, share knowledge, connect with investors and link with corporate supply chains. “Since launching the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme and committing $100 million to empowering

10,000 African entrepreneurs in a decade, we have unleashed our continent’s most potent development force, its entrepreneurs. “In just three years, our first 3,000 entrepreneurs have created tens of thousands of jobs and generated considerable wealth.

“On Oct. 13 and 14, the global entrepreneurship community will gather in Lagos to build a New Africa, a thriving, self-reliant continent capable of replicating the results of our ground-breaking programme. “The two-day forum will feature plenary panels, master classes, sector specific networking opportunities and policy-led forums focused on enabling African business growth.

“This is the first year we have opened the forum up to include the full pan-African entrepreneurship ecosystem.“In doing so, we are enabling African SME communities to come together and

expand the possibilities for intraAfrican partnerships. “I am looking forward to welcoming our invited policy-makers and investors to join us at the forum, as we empower the next generation of African business leaders,’’ she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Owen Omogiafo, the TEF’s Chief Operating Officer, said speakers at the forum would include Wale Ayeni of International Finance Corporation, Stephen Kauma, Afrexim Bank and Andre Hue, African Development Bank. “Others are Stephen M. Haykin, USAID Nigeria, Heikke Reugger, European Investment Bank and Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, United Nations Development Programme,’’ she said. Omogiafo said TEF’s long-term investment in empowering African entrepreneurs was emblematic of Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africa Capitalism, which positions Africa’s private sector, as catalysts for social and economic development.

tee meeting in Lagos.

She said that the framework for the process of the fund had been developed and finalised, while the body of banks will be the shareholders. Somefun said that the CBN had also created a special export intervention to support it to generate more funds.

She said that many of the SMEs would benefit from the fund once it started . The Unity Bank boss, however, said that the issues in the past where exporters failed to repatriate proceeds from their businesses would no longer be tolerated.

She said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had agreed that Bankers Committee should henceforth sanction defaulting exporters. Somefun also said that the sanctions would ensure blacklisting of defaulters such that banks would no longer do businesses with them.

On further developments in the foreign exchange market, the Managing Director of the FBN Merchant Bank, Mr Kayode Akinkugbe, said it had recorded stability. Akinkugbe said the stability was seen in the foreign exchange and capital markets as well as moderation in the inflation rate.

Akinkugbe said that the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth would be more deepened and robust following the positive developments. He said that the committee also commended the CBN’s efforts on stability and boosting

liquidity in the foreign exchange market. Akinkugbe said the CBN was steady-fast in its approaches on ensuring stability and that brought the confidence in the market.

He also said the CBN, not withstanding its successes, had reiterated its commitment in ensuring constant supply of foreign exchange.

Also the Managing Director of the Union Bank, Mr Emeka Emuwa, said one of the other areas of discussion was process of collateral registry for SMEs. Emuwa said the collateral registry, which had started, would be an opportunity for small business operators to access funds from bank.

According to him, the process facilitates easy lending to small businesses which have potential to contribute to the nation’s economic growth and development. He warned Nigerians to desist from investments that promised too good returns, saying such were likely to come up in the last quarter of the year.

The Director (Banking Supervision) in CBN), Mr Ahmed Abdullah, said there was the need to deepen the growth that the country recorded after existing from reccession. Abdullahi said that the committee recognised that the growth was still fragile and more efforts were needed to improve on it.

The CBN director said that a number of projects had been discussed to ensure that the growth became more robust.

30

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

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TITLE: C of O LOCATION: Magboro before MFM Plots of land also available in the estate for NGN3,000,000 Land Size: 50 by 100 ESTATE FEATURES • Ample green area and parks (27 plots dedicated for this purpose) • Fenced and gated estate • Tastefully finished • Good road network • All rooms ensuite • Ample parking space in your compound • Etc

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31

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

Crime

Task force arrests 50, recover 48 bags of hemp Stories by XAVIER NDAH

T

HE Police and Task Force operatives of Lagos State in a night operations tagged ‘Eradication of Criminal Hideouts’ has yielded fruit as 50 suspected notorious criminals were arrested while 48 full bags of illicit drugs suspected to be Indian Hemp have been recovered.

The joint operation which was carried out around Akala area of Mushin was directed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Imohimi Edgal to rid the areas of crime.

The mid-night joint enforcement operations was led by Mr. Soji Akinbayo an Assistant Commissioner of Police with the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi and all Divisional Police Officers under Area ‘D’ command Mushin.

The Chairman, Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi disclosed that 44 males and 6 females suspected notorious criminals were arrested during the raid.

He disclosed further that 48 bags of substances suspected to be indian hemp with packs of other illicit drugs such as ‘Novalyn with Codeine Cough Syrub’ and ‘Tuxil-C cough & cold with Codeine’ were recovered during the mid-night raid.

SP Egbeyemi stated that his Agency and other Police Officers are battle ready to maintain ‘Zero Tolerance’ on criminal activities across the State as initiated and directed by the Commissioner of Police.

He commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for giving priority to security challenges in the State by supporting the Nigerian Police including Lagos State Task Force with needed working materials.

The Chairman enjoined criminals across the State to turn a new leaf or be chasedaway also confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Imohimi Edgal has directed that all the arrested 50 suspected notorious criminals be charge to

•The suspects and bags of India hemp. court for prosecutions.

One of the suspected male notorious criminal ‘Sunday Adesoye’ a.k.a ‘Malboro’ confessed that ‘Akala’ serves as a ‘Central Market’ for Indian hemp and illicit drugs to all miscreants and hoodlums across the State.

He confessed further that he sold an average of N500.000 worth of Indian hemp with other illicit drugs per day to his customers from Obalende, Oshodi, Pen-cinema, Apapa, Lagos Island, Fadeyi amongst others.

A female suspected notorious criminal ‘Mrs Basirat Jimoh’ a.k.a ‘Iya Suzzy’ who hailed from Ibadan in Oyo State confessed to have been trading in Indian hemp and other illicit drugs at Akala area for over 17 years.

She however claimed to be only buying/ selling India hemp and not into criminal ac-

tivities.

All arrested 44 males and 6 females suspected notorious criminals were charged before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court on 3-count charge of Unlawful possession of weed suspected to be Indian Hemp, Trading in Indian hemp and conduct likely to cause breach of peace and isorderly manner.

The prosecuting counsel Barrister Oluremi Kuku disclosed that all arrested 50 suspected notorious criminals including 6 females pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ before the court, the Magistrate granted them a bail conditions and the case was adjourned to 15th of November, 2017 for further hearing.

The Lagos State Office of Public Defenders however provided free legal services for all the 50 accused through Barrister Bashiru Abdulsalam who appeared on their behalf during the trial of the case.

Help! Bank ‘Defrauds’ me N1m, scrap dealer cries out

A

scrap dealer one Onyezua Obazuaye, has cried to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Idris through the Assistant Inspector General of Police to intervene and help him to recover his N1m which was placed on fixed deposit in one of the new generation bank.

In a petition sent to the IGP, the AIG in charge of zone 2,Onikan, Lagos , Lagos state Governor, the Solicitor General, Governor Central bank, the National Assembly, and other relevant agencies to come to his aid to recover his hard earned N1m which has disappeared from a bank which he had placed on fixed deposit.

The victim said he has a saving account with the bank at the Burma Road Apapa branch of Lagos State and based on the good relationship with staff he had no issue with his account. “ I am an illiterate businessman and have been hearing of bank interest rate and some other benefits to support business. I have been hearing of bank interest rates and some other benefits to support business. I had approached a staff of the bank in Ibafo branch Olodi Apapa, Lagos at the bank premises to open an interest fixed deposit account.

“She took me upstairs and introduced me to one Mr Onyeka Okolie in charge of fixed deposit account staff in the same branch. I told Okolie, that I am an illiterate businessman at snake Island Apapa , and he laughed and smile at me. I told him to open an interest yielding fixed deposit account. “ Mr Okolie advised me not to open a

fix account rather he introduce me to ISA account which he said was better and if I deposit N1m I will be getting an interest of N35,ooo monthly. That I should bring my National Identity , passport , photograph , Electricity bill. Since I have no national ID I went to process it at Navy Dockyard Marine beach Apapa, Lagos and was assured to come back for it in two weeks period.

“I went back to inform Onyeka and he promised to commence the opening of this account and the name of the account is ISA and he demended for N50,000 only with an instruction that as I continued bringing money, he would be upgrading the account for me.

“Based on the assurance and while processing the issuance of his national identity card at the Navy Dock yard marine beach in Apapa, Lagos,I gave him N50, 000 and N450, 000 and N500, 000, cash respectively, on different days to Okolie without being issued with tellers or payment documents.

“As a matter of fact, I gave all these various sums of money in cash to Mr Okolie in the branch of the bank without issuing me deposits slips or any other documents evidencing these transactions. “ Sir, since then nothing has happened and Okolie is nowhere to be found. Okolie has never denied any of these transactions even went further to report to his friend at the Area “B” police station for the police officer to assist him to plead with me to give him time to give back my money and I have the “phone number of the policeman with me.

• Obazuaye ‘Sir, a staff of the bank Mr Tolu witnessed part of the transaction and he advised Okolie to give me a deposit slip for all my transaction for security reason but m he assured me there was no problem that I am his friend. Sir, I expected to the branch manager to be more proactive in resolving this issue but I suspected a conspiratorial tendency among the branch manager and the staff to defraud me. Sir, I also believe that the branch manager of the bank be investigated through video clips or CCTV recording of the day.

“I am appealing to the IGP and other relevant agencies to prevail on this matter as I have nowhere else to run to as I believe I will get justice” he appealed .

Forex dealer dupes bizman of N700m

O

peratives of the Police Special Fraud Unit has arrested a 36year- old lady , Uju Peace Iziogu suspected to be a trans-border fraudster.

Police said the woman a native of Ukpo in Dunukofia Local government area of Anambra state is a specialist fraudster who poses as an international foreign exchange dealer to dupe her victims.

The suspect a first class graduate of Mechanical Engineering Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka claimed to have worked in a bank in Nigeria, had used her experience as a former banker to float a financed business companies named P.W.Business Link Limited and New World Express Link.

The police said she had used her banking experience and the company to lure unsuspecting members of the public under false pretence that she operates a forex trade business.

The suspect was arrested following a petition by one Barrister Abum Onyilimba to the SFU alleging that she falsely represented herself to be a commissioned agent to some manufacturers overseas and provided a forex services.

This however led to the transfer of over N700m into her designated account with the name Reoworld Enterprises and WillyRich International Business Services domiciled in one of the new generation bank.

Police said the lady went into hiding after the money was transferred into her account and dumped her contact.

It was gathered that the suspect after years of being elusive was traced to Ghana where she was taken refuge and arrested through the collaborative effort of detectives from the SFU in collaboration with the Ghanaian police.

In the course of the investigations the police said the suspect had also affirmed to have nominated the aforementioned accounts where all the monies collected from victims were deposited and transferred to her other accounts.

Confirming the story SFU spokesman, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Audu Lawal said the monies were supposed to be paid to the overseas partner of the victims but the arrangement were thwarted following the refusal of the suspect to remit same.

“The suspect rather became elusive instead of meeting up with part of the obligation and escaped to Ghana where she was enjoying the proceeds of the fraud’ he explained.

Police said further investigations led to the arrest of both the Reoworld Enterprises and WillyRich International Business Services account holders, belonging to Richard Owegie and William Uguzo who admitted to have given out their corporate accounts to the suspects who in turn gave it to all the victims.

Meanwhile, Lawal said calls have been received from individuals alleging that the suspect have duped them of various sums of money with false representation of being forex dealer.

The suspect we gathered has been charged to Federal court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Commenting on the matter, Commissioner of Police, CP, Ibrahim Larmode , has called on members of the public to always patronize registered Bureau- de –change Operators for their forex dealing and verify the genuiness of their true identity to avoid patronizing fraudsters.

•

32

racleToday

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www.oraclenews.ng

Head Office: 116 Awka Road, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. Lagos Bureau Office: 25 Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Hotlines : 08091999222 , 08033580234 08171824606

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33

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

‘Hot cops’ selfie prompts women to ask for arrests

A

picture posted by Florida police officers has prompted women from all over the US to seriously consider breaking the law.

After three male officers from Gainesville Police Department uploaded the picture to Facebook on Sunday, comments praising their looks are still pouring in.

Gainesville PD posted the picture with the caption: “Officers Nordman, Hamill and Rengering...part of the night crew getting ready to do some work. #Irma.”

Heather Groom said: “This pic is exactly why your grandmother always told you to wear clean underwear in case you’re in an accident.”

Luci Kaye wrote: “I can’t believe how many women are objectifying these poor, fine, young, strong, handsome, brave, sexy, delicious, virile, ovulation-inducing, mouth-watering, beefy..... I can’t remember where I was going with this...”

While Erika Green had to remind herself: “I’m a happily married woman. I’m a happily married woman... who has no business in Gainesville... robbing banks...in broad daylight...”

The selfie has amassed more than 160,000 comments, 247,000 shares and almost 500,000 likes, prompting the police department to issue a response.

It said in an update a few days after the initial post: “1. We are dying with the comments. You’ve actually made our chief blush with some of them.

2. MRS. Nordman and MRS. Hamill have also enjoyed knowing how millions of women are going crazy over

their husbands.

3. We can confirm that Officer Rengering (far right with the amazing hair) IS SINGLE. 4. On another note, Officer Rengering is being placed into Cougar Prey Protective Care, similar to the witness protection program for his safety.

5. Please do not call 9-1-1 and request this group respond to your “incident” 6. There WILL be a calendar.”

The police department said funds from the calendar would go towards relief efforts for those affected by the hurricane.

“Thank you all for the hilarious comments...they have brightened our time up here. As for the calendar, we are going to try and do something fairly quickly and funds raised will go to Hurricane Irma recovery here in Florida,” it said.

It wasn’t long before colleagues over in Sarasota got wind of the attention and posted an image of its officers with the caption: “Officers Raulerson, Craig, Gloeckner & Hughes responded to help our friends at the North Port Police Department & North Port Fire Department this afternoon with rescues due to rising floodwaters from Hurricane Irma. Gainesville Police Department has nothing on us.”

Facebook user Faith Stanton said: “Can I get put in witness protection please I need to save me from myself.”

That’s Gainesville and Sarasota who will be next?

NAME: BLESSING PROFESSION: ACTRESS/MODEL • If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS Unusual deposit: Geneva loos blocked by €100,000 cash

T

oilets in Geneva have been blocked by €100,000 (£88,000) in high-denomination euro banknotes - prompting prosecutors to seek the money’s origin.

Swiss media said the first blockage occurred in the vault at UBS bank in Geneva’s financial district.

A few days later, back in May, three nearby bistros were found with 500euro notes stuffed down the pan.

Vincent Derouand, from the Geneva prosecutor’s office, said that throwing money away is not a crime - and nor is blocking a toilet.

There was no immediate reason to think it was dirty money, he said.

Mr Derouand explained: “We are not so interested in the motive but we want to be sure of the origin of the money.”

It has reportedly cost many thousands of pounds to unblock the pipes.

Romantic Joke The Explorer

Mr Derouand added that two people had agreed to compensate the restaurants, which have withdrawn an earlier complaint.

It is unclear who will get the cash which was confiscated during the in-

vestigation - if it is found to be lawful.

Last year, the European Central Bank said it was discontinuing the 500-euro note over concerns it was being used for illicit activities including money laundering.

An explorer goes into an undiscovered tomb for the first time, and in the center of the tomb there’s a lamp. He picks it up, and as he starts to rub the dirt off of it, a genie comes out of the lamp and says, “I want to know the person you hate the most.” The explorer says, “That’s gotta be my ex-wife. Why?” “I am a cursed genie. I will grant you three wishes, but whatever you wish for, your ex-wife will get double that amount.” “Okay, I wish for a billion dollars.”

“Granted, but you ex-wife gets two billion dollars.” “I wish for a mansion in California with a swimming pool, and tennis courts, everything.” “Granted, and your exwife gets two.” “Now make your final wish.” The explorer walks around for a few minutes, returns to the genie with a stick, and says, “You see this stick? I’d like you to beat me half to death.”

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

34

True Confession

‘I paid my ex to get me pregnant’ Your smile is a masterpiece, Your hug is a dream come true.

H

ow can you know that a man is infertile or impotent before marrying to him?

I love men with muscles, and so I was naturally attracted to Charles. He was 47, I was 36, and we were both happy about having an affair leading to marriage. We knew both of us were getting older and needed to settle down fast so that we could begin to have children before old age comes. Charles was almost 50 and I was already over 35, so we had to take the decision to wed rather fast.

Charles and I only courted for two months, and our courtship was like paradise on earth.

Right from the moment I knocked on his door and he opened for me to enter, he would carry me in his arms from the doorstep straight to the bed and make sweet love to me in a way I have never experienced. His touch was a memory, because I never could forget the way he touched me and made me reach cloud nine.

He was a good artist. And sometimes after we had made love, he would tell me to pose naked on the bed and use a pencil to make a breathtaking sketch of me on paper. I framed some of his black & white drawings of me nude because they were so beautiful.

Charles told me I had eyes like a cat; that my skin was the colour of honey, and that my hair was as beautiful and black as midnight. He was tall and had to look down into my eyes to say I love you. I couldn’t resist him when he kissed me, because his kiss was as soft as a feather and as satisfying as rain on dry land. I was both hungry and thirsty for his love. And I thought I would die if I didn’t have Charles all night by my side.

However, the first seven years of our marriage were of deep concern to me, because all attempts to get pregnant for Charles failed woefully. Initially, I thought I hadn’t taken in because we didn’t have plenty of sex due to job stress. So we started having sex as if there was no tomorrow. But still, it didn’t work. And after 10 years of marriage, I was at my wits end.

I asked Charles if there was anything wrong with us, and he said nothing. He just kept silent whenever I raised the issue. His silence was suspicious and I told him so. Then one night, Charles woke me up from sleep at 3am and said he had a confession to make. He now confessed to me that when he was younger he contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which affected his reproductive ability.

My husband said his sperm count was extremely low and therefore, it was going to be very difficult, if not impossible for me to bear a child for him. I now asked him why he didn’t tell me all these things before marrying me. I asked him why he had wasted my time for 10 whole years before telling me the truth about his condition. And he said he was sorry and that if he had told me during our courtship, I wouldn’t have agreed to marry him. Charles now said that people have been referring to us as a barren couple and that it is his entire fault. He suggested we get children from outside to hide our shame.

I called my ex-boyfriend and promised to pay him $5,000 if he impregnated me. And he succeeded in making me pregnant. Of course, Charles, my husband, celebrated when I got pregnant twice and bore two children purportedly for him in quick succession. And then our stigma as a barren couple vanished. We are now living happily in South Africa.

“Charles now said that people have been referring to us as a barren couple and that it is his entire fault. He suggested we get children from outside to hide our shame.”

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

Relationships and Love Advice

‘She dumped me after squandering my money’

Love Search

Women seeking relationship/ marriage Jezzy, 25, pretty, tall, sexy, in Lagos, wants a sugar daddy or mature man in Lagos. 09062373928.

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

Dear Love Doctor,

I

dated a girl for two years, providing for her and telling her that I need to have a golden marriage. No pre-marital sex.

She came pressing me to have sex with her but I refused. I later gave in to her in order to show I’m not impotent. As we dated, she kept on deceiving me by saying that it was not yet time for

me to see her parents.

After ‘eating’ (squandering) my money, I heard she was telling people how foolish I am, according to her. Later, someone showed me her wedding invitation card. I confronted her and she said that since I’m from another tribe she cannot marry me.

She even called me a coward,

saying that there is nothing I can do since she is going to marry another man, and that her people are ready for me with machetes. I was shocked because she claimed to be a born again Christian. What do I do now?

Thanks, Joe.

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Joe, How can you date a girl for two years without realizing that she doesn’t love you and is only after your money? Not wanting pre-marital sex is good, but that girl was only pretending in order to deceive you. It’s common knowledge that many people who claim to be religious are mere hypocrites or pretenders.

Open your eyes next time. Don’t be deceived. Some men think because they’re rich, they can buy the love of any girl. Maybe you thought you could win her heart by providing for her. You didn’t know she had other plans.

Taking care of a girl won’t make her love you. Money can’t buy love. Go for hard-working girls. Experienced married men will tell you that a girl who depends on a man to take care of her is lazy and will never make a good wife.

A wife material is hard-working and undemanding. Girls who think they’re smart and play on the intelligence and hearts of men later meet their Waterloo in the hands of another man.

Don’t make trouble with her. Let her go. Have faith in God and keep searching for your ideal woman. In due time, you will find the one that is perfect for you.

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

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Note: If you have fertility problems like childlessness, inability to conceive or get pregnant, miscarriages, fibroid, low sperm count, STDs, or need a male child or female? Call 07031028714, 08131161840.. Love Doctor can help you succeed in your marriage/relationship.

Kenneth, 40, wants a responsible woman for marriage. 08143002139.

36

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

It happened to me:

‘A young man gave me satisfaction for cash’

M

y husband, Terry and I have been married for 13 years and we have three little boys aged 8, 10 and 12 years. We are by no means rich, but we are not poor either; we have just enough money to pay our bills, and also good savings at the bank.

Our three boys are happy and carefree, and Terry is a deeply caring, attentive husband and father. I know that I am a very, very lucky woman.

However, ever since our first boy was born twelve years ago, Terry gradually lost interest in making love. We have not made love regularly since the youngest was conceived over eight years ago.

It is not as if Terry has another woman or anything like that. He just isn’t interested in sex at all. It seems that our three boys are all Terry ever really wanted out of our marriage, and now his world is complete and he doesn’t want anything more.

He is such a wonderful father that for the sake of our boys I’d rather not rock the boat. Besides, I want to feel wanted and desired as a woman.

Simply telling Terry how I feel seems pointless if he’s not interested in making love anyway. I’m sure he just assumes that I am not interested in sex either and that everything’s just fine.

So about a year ago, I decided I needed to find a solution to the lack of sex in my marriage.

I wanted a simple, no-strings attached solution that wouldn’t risk my marriage or hurt and embarrass Terry and the boys in any way. We live in Lagos and walls have ears.. I didn’t want anybody to start spreading rumours about me and hurting my family.

During the Easter break, I convinced my husband to travel with the children to the village for the weekend and leave me at home in Lagos to attend to some businesses.

So when Terry my husband took the boys away to the village, I first thought of talking to one of the young men in our neighborhood. But I was scared of having a boyfriend so close to my husband’s house. So I decided to do my hair first and think of an alternative.

I was doing my hair at the local hairdressing salon when the hairdresser offered me a newspaper to glance through.

I was browsing through the link up pages of the newspaper when I spotted the advertisement of a muscular guy looking for a sugar mummy..

The advert said this guy needed a woman or sugar mummy for a “discreet relationship”. I quickly checked to see if anyone was looking. When I was certain no one was looking, I tore out the advertisement and slipped it into my purse.

That evening, I dialled the advertised number. A deep, sexy male voice an-

swered. He was called Anthony. We arranged to meet at a nearby hotel. So I booked a room in the hotel and gave him the room number and said i would be there waiting for me.

I didn’t want anybody to see us together at the hotel lobby. I couldn’t afford to take any chances. That’s why I told him to come up straight to the room and meet me.

At the hotel, a tall, dark and muscular young man greeted me at the door. I was already feeling horny even before I opened the door for him, because it had been quite some time since I had been intimate with a man. Besides, the excitement from my expectation of him turned me on.

As soon as I opened the door, Anthony smiled into my eyes and hugged me.

He was so handsome!

We chatted for some time because I wanted to know a few things about him before I could fully open up to him.

When I was sure that he was quite a responsible person and not a criminal, I told him I wanted to take a shower first before we get down to business.

So Anthony gently took my hand and led me into the bathroom. He undressed me and bathed me by himself.

It was so romantic watching this young man wash my body.

Even my husband had never given me a bath in all my years of marriage.

I’ll never forget the rest of what happened that day! For one night only, I was a cherished and desirable woman.

After the show, I paid the young man a few thousands as expected of a good ‘sugar mummy’. I told him that whenever I needed his services, I would call

on him. I warned him never to call me, especially when I was at home, to avoid my husband having knowledge of what I had done.

The young man respectfully and humbly agreed to abide by my instructions and since then, our relationship has truly been discreet.

When I first married Terry, I never thought I would be the kind of wife who would pay to have sex with a man, especially a man so much younger than me. But I do know that I am more content and a better wife and mother because of that one special night when that young man gave me real sexual satisfaction for the money.

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

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

Love & Living

They want the babies, not the mums

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IMES have changed and lasting relationships seem to have lost their allure. Or is it that the changing times arrived with new relationship attitudes? Imagine being expectant of marriage proposal only for your partner to make this strange request, “I want to have a baby with you”.

Your head is making all the calculations. It is possible that is his way of proposing? Is he saying that the baby is the condition for the marriage going on? Is he ensuring that marriage would be consummated, the euphemism for the couple having babies?

Before now, this “want the baby but not the mother” syndrome was considered a “celebrity fever”, music stars like TuFace, Davido, Wiz Kid, Flavour and many others popularised the act and it does appear that this form of robust celebrity endorsement has somewhat legitimatised the practice to the end that average young people especially men now prefer having the baby but no marriage.

But some of us think it’s strangely crazy. My friend, Ogo, had to turn down a marriage proposal from a young man she really liked because he revealed that he had two sons, that is, two baby mamas by implication. She was especially pissed off because it was more like a confession laced with pride, the young man obviously didn’t see any wrong in it.

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

Two sons were the proof of his manhood or is it manliness. It seemed that he was also serving notice that Ogo had competition awaiting him. Two boys may be three from her, to prove that she was worthy of her man.

The men seem to be having a ball but what becomes the lot of young ladies who get caught up in this whole show of shame. While it may seem like a jackpot if the man in question is a top celebrity given that he would get to take proper care of the child thereby diminishing the shame somewhat, what becomes the lot of ladies who are involved with average young men out there who can hardly take care of themselves? But really, what has made this practise trendy? Is it the quest to

this is clearly youth polygamy. What better way to avoid marriage than to put two or more ladies in the family way?

In that situation, being fair to all would mean getting married to none.

”

join the bandwagon, the fear of commitment or just to take the easy way out?

My take is that polygamy is reinventing itself in this way but sadly, among the youth. In fact this is clearly youth polygamy. What better way to avoid marriage than to put two or more ladies in the family way? In that situation, being fair to all would mean getting married to none. It also serves a notice in future relationship that the character is a serial baby mama man.

It also becomes the handy weapon for the man when he wants to end a relationship.

“Why do you want to be different?,” he would almost ask. “Other ladies are glad to bear my children.”

Marriage then is out of the way, and drawing from his huge, if twisted sense of equity, he would not marry any of the ladies, since is most unlikely to marry all of them, especially as his quest to make more babies from more women would not be waning soon.

A word of caution for the ladies: Seeing how things have changed, it is clear that using pregnancy to entrap a man hardly works these days.

The men have clearly found an odd way out. So the next time you think of taking that path, think twice; that’s if “baby mamaship” isn’t your thing.

•Please send your comments, commendations, and condemnations to ifyaronu@gmail.com

Women, deceased spouses, crazy in-laws

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HAPPENED upon the news of a young woman in Port Harcourt whose husband of nine months was crushed to death by a fellow human being and not long after the burial rites had been concluded, the in-laws came to strip her off of all their properties, calling them their brother’s.

We say “drama is the imitation of reality”, I dare add whether good or bad reality, this sight has been a very familiar sight from so many of our Nollywood home videos and drama and I am sure every Nigerian must have been privy to the sight of seeing brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws and even mother-in-laws dragging a woman out of her matrimonial home after the death of her husband because somewhere in their ignorant and selfish minds, they think the woman can no longer lay claims to the properties, the most awry of the situation is when children are involved.

These things happen everyday and we overlook them as not just important, till recent times when people are beginning to stand up and demand for what is due them from marriage.

But are people listening?

During the years and times of our mothers, we heard of the inhumane treatment meted out to our them, with or without the death of their husbands and they tell the stories as just one of those things, if only they knew.

I wouldn’t know how many women have been emancipated from this in-law meanness, but I do hope they are many. If not the violations would continue.

Law has provided for these rights, and they cover any couple who conducted their marriage at the registry.

Knowledge is a god, and I believe

M

e& ore

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

During the years and times of our mothers, we heard of the inhumane treatment meted out to our them, with or without the death of their husbands and they tell the stories as just one of those things, if only they knew.

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that it is a god that will save a lot of person’s from the unfairness of man to their fellow man. I believe there should be a serious rave of sensitization that should be carried out to put

an end to this anomaly.

Who should be sensitised?

•Wives should know that hence their marriage was sealed in the court

registry, their marriage has been recognised by law and as such, they have become one and what was owned by one has been become the property of both and cannot be taken away from them at the demise of their husbands and vis-à-vßis.

•Husbands should also be taught that what was once the woman’s before they got married has now become theirs.

•Husbands should also be sensitised on the need to settle the matter with their families once and for all or even before they bring in a wife, although some in-laws are unnecessary evil sent straight from the pit of wickedness.

•The men should also do well to have a lawyer prepare a will though it may seem like are very young because death has taught us it doesn’t knock or inform us before visiting any home, and age doesn’t determine where death strikes.

•The in-laws should be sensitised on the partnership that begins when a man and a woman decide to come together as man and wife.

•The general public should also be sensitised so people would come to knowledge of this law. People should not blindly support a decayed traditional system borne out of selfishness and gross ignorance.

Should you know anyone facing difficulties with in-laws as it regards this matter, contact the NGO: Feminine Vocals, 41 Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt. Email: femininevocals17@ gmail.com or call 08030658869, 08037654101 •Please send you comments to maureenalikor@gmail.com

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

The Law and You Citizens right to fair hearing IV

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

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o far, I have examined the history of the Fundamental Human Rights generally as well as the constitutional provision of the right of fair hearing specifically. It has been established that the right to fair hearing has been constantly abused from government to government in Nigeria.

The accused is placed in a vulnerable position without the constitutional and statutory protection. The question raised here is how protected is the accused in view of the combined abuse of power of the regime in power on one hand and the police on the other hand?

The right to a fair hearing is fundamental to the rule of law and to democracy itself in most advance countries of the world today. This right applies to both criminal and civil cases, although certain specific minimum rights which affect only criminal cases are set out in Article 6 of the human right bail of rights.

The right to a fair hearing, which applies to any criminal as well as to the determination of civil rights and obligations, contains a number of requirements such as; There must be real and effective access to court with 1. exceptions in the case of vexatious litigants, minors, prisoners etc.

2.

There must be a hearing before an independent and impartial court or tribunal established by law.

3.

The hearing must be held within a reasonable time.

The applicant must have a real opportunity to pres4. ent his or her case or challenge the case against them. This will require access to an opponent’s submissions, procedure equality and generally requires access to evidence relied on by the party and an oral hearing.

5.

The court or tribunal must give reasons for its judgment.

There must be equality of arms between the parties, 6. so, for example, the defense has the same right to examine witnesses against them as the prosecution has and both parties have the right to legal representation etc.

In criminal cases, there is a right to silence and a privi7. lege against self-incrimination.

An accused person must have the right to effective 8. participation in their criminal trial The hearing and judgment must be made public.

9.

Hearing can, however, be held in private for some acceptable reasons.

The Nigerian experience is coupled with many problems both on the administration of justice as well as the procedure.

One can easily be misled here to think this problem is restricted to Nigeria alone. This is not so as there are cases of unfair trial in the Western world as we have seen in foreign cases treated in the earlier editions. However, the Nigerian position leaves much to be desires.

The underlying cause of Nigeria’s problem is based firstly on the low literacy level of its citizen. In a country where less than 50% of her citizens are literate, majority are not aware of their rights and where one is aware the police are ready to assist in keeping the accused in custody without trial for a long time.

Secondly the Legal Aid Council which came into force by virtue or Decree 58 of 1976 to give aid to less privileged citizens who afford a lawyer are barred against appearing in cases attracted capital offences thereby denying such as accused of fair trial.

Thirdly is the inadequate of funds to the judiciary and its non-independence. Independence of the judiciary is essential to enable it function properly as a justice dispensing organ as well as in interpretation of laws.

(Decree 1, Section 5) for instance, states inter alia that no question as to validity of any other decree or edict shall be entertained by any court of law in Nigeria. This means in effect that legislative acts of the military is supreme since especially its validity is not derived from the constitution hence not bound by its provisions and cannot be said to be Ultra Vires.

The judiciary has been hampered in its duty to ensure the constitutional protection of the citizen of Nigeria. It is my submission that these ouster clauses are swords which delimit the constitutional protections.

In the aspect of the legislature’s promulgation of same-sex marriage in Nigeria, it is my view that the opinion of the electorates ought to be sought and they ought to be adequate fair hearing before the enactment of such law.

SUGGESTED REFORMS REVIEW OF THE LEGAL AID-COUNCIL The legal aid council which was established to help the poor and the accused should be reviewed. The jurisdiction of the council should be widened to include various offences which attract capital punishment.

In accordance with section 36(5) which deals with the pre-

sumption of innocence until (proven otherwise) the council would have convicted the accused, so to speak by denying his legal representation. This would not be in line with the duties of the council whose major aim is to provide legal representation for indigent Nigerians; this in my humble view should be done without discriminating against the offence.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY Judiciary by virtue of its job is dispensation of justice, its independence is stifled would affect its work.

The judiciary should be independent not only to dispense justice but also this has slowed down the progress of the courts.

The judiciary as of now lacks both human and material resources and this has slowed down the progress of the courts.

Justice A.R. Bakare (rtd), recently commented at his farewell party that he was retiring early due to his falling eyesight, arthritis and back pain which was due to his always bending to record proceeding with poor lighting conditions and poor ventilation.

I humble suggest that more money be pumped into the judiciary and for independence in their budget control at least they will be able to provide better machine to improve their services thereby fair hearing to citizens.

Secondly, the judiciary should be independent in the sense that judges should be able to dispense justice without fear of being castigated by the government of the day. This would reduce incident of judges ‘hands being tied’.

PRISON VISITS In view of the over populated situation in our prisons which is partly due to the inability of the police to bring the accuse to trial within reasonable time, and the slow progress of the courts most of the inmates have found themselves serving more than their term if they had been convicted. The importance of prison is to reform and rehabilitate criminals and not necessarily putting them into hardship. It is expected that the prison authorities and other authorities concerned should set up a monitoring device to assess and record the reforms being made on these prisoners so as to enable the judges, the magistrates and even their relative granting them access to releasing them or appealing for their release based on reformed good conducts and not necessarily because of long stay in the prison.

Chief Judges and Chief Magistrates should be made to visit our prisons periodically and I humbly suggest that this be increased to probably quarterly so that those accused of minor offences like wandering and petty pilfering as well as those already proven to be reformed trough the monitoring system be released rather than languishing in police custody indefinitely.

Secondly, the literacy level of the police especially those in the lower ranks leave much to be desired. Majority of these policemen do not know much about rights and the law and they seem to rejoice when a citizen allegedly runs afoul of the law.

The power of the police are so abused that many citizens have suffered from denial of their rights to fair hearing, liberty and personal dignity. It is my view that the provision of section of section 36(6) lacks the necessary machinery to ensure that affected citizens are rightly compensated.

THE POLICE FORCE The Nigerian Police Force needs to be ‘comprehensively’ reformed to meet international standard. This reform needs to start from the recruitment stages to promotions and posting.

The aspect of bias in selection of those to be recruited, promoted and posted to position of authorities and responsibilities should be reviewed. The idea of positioning policemen on their faithfulness or closeness to a superior officer in position for the protection, coverage of their properties and other interest in those areas instead of working for the country and the masses the vowed to protect and serve should be condemned.

Also, the Nigeria Police Forces should be properly enumerated in terms of salaries and other allowance so as to discourage dishonesty, corruption and infringement on innocent citizen’s fundamental human rights as I discussed. Some weeks ago, the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike announced to the whole nation the involvement of IGP, IRT policemen in most of the armed robbery and kidnapping cases in the country. Earlier before this, a journalist with the Oracle Today Newspapers based in Lagos petitioned some IGP, IRT squad at Ikeja, Police Headquarters, Lagos of kidnapping him because of family property dispute matter and framed him up as an armed robber and detained him without any entry made in any police station or theirs for three days before he was discovered by his family members who was awaiting his return from taking those policemen who posed as buyer of his widow mother’s advertised flat in an estate in Lagos but only tuned out to be kidnappers policemen who worked for their sponsors. All these corrupt attitudes to me are as a result of not being contempt with their salaries and jobs.

Finally, if this is the policy of the Nigerian Police Force to be collecting and switching off the phones of suspects and not allowing them make contacts to their relatives and next of kins to know who arrested them and which police station is responsible and for which offences, it contravenes to the principle of fair hearing in Chapter IV, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is stated that an accused is innocent until proven to the contrary by a competent court and not the Police Force. Citizens should be allowed the freedom of expression at least to express their situation to their loved ones before they are taken away and locked up in the police cells. It is very bad that some of the so called accused taken to courts may be innocent and framed up like that journalist by the police for selfish purposes, hence, will not want their relations to know until charged to court and detained in prison custody so as to achieve the contract they made with their sponsors.

It is my utmost view that no matter the reasons the police may give for switching off a suspects phone and denying him of the opportunity to communicate to the relatives should be stopped immediately.

After all said and done it would be reasonable to conclude that the right to fair hearing in Nigeria is greatly abused. There is lack of effective machinery ranging from lack of funds to lack of well qualified human personnel.

To improve the lots of the citizens of Nigeria, the present laws should be reviewed to plug the loopholes so that in the words of the utilitarian, it would bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people.

• 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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

Entertainment With Douglas Omoyooma

Secret to my success –– Omoni Oboli

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ctress, Omoni Oboli is surely blazing a trail in Nollywood. Beginning in 2009, the actress turned movie producer has starred in over a dozen films and established herself as one of the most sought after faces in the motion picture industry with movies like Entanglement, The Figurine, Anchor Baby and Brothers Keeper among others. And ever since she branched into movie production, she has made a name for herself with movies like Being Miss Elliot, Fifty, Okafor’s Law, Wives on Strike and now she is poised to drop another blockbuster, Wives On Strike Part 2. In this chat with Oracle Today, the graduate of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, opens up on the secret to her success.

“I take time to pray and plan whatever I have to do. I don’t do things haphazardly. Whatever I set my mind to do I always make sure I go the hog. However, there were those that didn’t see what I was seeing back then but I never listen to people who were trying to discourage me.

“Once I noticed that you’re that kind of person, I stay away from you because I want a lot of positively charged people around me.

Positivity is what makes you grow.

If you have negativity around you, it pulls you down.”

It is barely over a decade since she staged her Nollywood comeback to in Kunle Afolayan’s Figurine, how has the journey been? “It’s been great! I am not going to sit here and say it is not been good. It has been really really good and I am moving from one level to the other, consistently upping my game.”

How does she combine career and family and yet, look so amazing?

A smile breaks her features as she responds: “Well, I always say the same thing where ever I go and I am asked this question which is that every woman out there who is working and who has a family and probably has a career, including the market woman, we all have the same struggles and the same challenges which is to try to put everything together. The truth is that you’ve got to have a good support

system. I think I have one and a very supportive husband.”

When she hit NOllywood over a decade ago, did she ever believe you could come this far? “I have always dreamed big and I knew just where I was going but I must confess, I did not think it would happen so soon and so well. I have God to thank for all of this and also my loving husband who has stood stoically behind me like the Rock of Gibralter.”

Omoni Oboli began her formal movie career with her first movie role in Bitter Encounter, in 1996, where she played a secretary. Her next was Shame. She then went on to play the lead female character in three major movies namely Not My Will, Destined To Die and Another Campus Tale. After enjoying a brief career in 1996, Omoni left the movie industry to complete her university education. She got married immediately after school and didn’t return to the industry until a decade later. She has several notable screenplays to her credit including her film: Wives On Strike as well as The Rivals, a movie she co-produced with her friend and which won the prize for Best International Drama at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival. It was the first Nigerian film to be premiered since the festival’s inception in 2003. The movie was given a 3 star rating out of 4 by the festival’s judges.

• Omoni Oboli

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

Entertainment

Death of Tagbo: Controversy trails Davido

T

hat the last week has been a turbulent one for singer, Davido is not lost on anyone. Beginning with the death of his friend, Tagbo, after they went on a drinking binge to the recent death of his close pal, DJ Olu and tongues are already wagging.

“This must be very difficult and challenging times for Davido. In just one week he lost two friends.

The act is currently under a lot of pressure no doubt even as investigations have revealed that his friend Tagbo died as a result of alcohol poisoning,” a source revealed to Oracle Today.

However, another source said: “Too bad he is attracting so much death to himself at this time but the death of Tagbo could have been avoided only if he had

threaded with wisdom. As a role model he should not be binge drinking and when an issue of this nature occurs he should be able to deal with it.

“Now people think that Davido is just a rich spoilt kid who has not been able to balance his success with responsibility. It is just too bad.”

Trouble begen for Davido after his friend, Tagbo Umeike was alleged to have been abandoned to die by Davido at a yet to be named general Hospital in Lagos..

However, Davido’s management had come out with a statement absolving the singer of any blame but actress, Carolyne Danjuma continues to insist that Davido is responsible for her death.

Why I no longer act with Aki –Pawpaw (Osita Iheme)

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sita Iheme, popularly known as PawPaw is one actor who has carved a niche for himself in Nollywood acting alongside Chinedu Ikedezie (Pawpaw).

Ant the thespian cleared the air on why he and Aki have not starred in a movie in a long while debunking rumours that they were at loggerheads He said: “There’s nothing going on, there’s no movie to feature us together, if there’s a movie, we will work together. We are still very good friends and when ever the opportunity comes you will see us st6arring together again or do you have a script for us? Forget rymours that we are fighting, we are still very cool.”

• Tagbo and Davido Does he have any plans to go into movie production like a lot of his peers are doing currently? “I’m doing that already. I have movies to my credit as a producer. They include eggae Blues singer, Har- claims not just as false, but also a Of pertinence, is the fact that of spreading our contents using Super Models, ‘Career Woman,’ rysong, has carpeted his well-orchestrated stunt by an in- as at the time of putting this the media, stunting is definitely PawPaw My Love, Ada My Love and Mr. Limpopo. former producer, Dr. Amir dividual eager to be noticed. The piece together, we have not not part of it.

Song theft: Harrysong carpets former producer

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for accusing him and Kcee of intellectual property theft and also informed that he is instituting a court case against them, In his rely Harrysong said Amir who claims Harrysong’s track ‘Samankwe’ was stolen and is demanding N45m, is hungry and desperate to be famous by all means, even at the expense of someone’s career. Harrysong also appealed to the general public to disregard Amir’s

statement by Harrysong’s Alterplate reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a publication circulating the social media sphere regarding a ‘child’s play’ suit filed by producer, Dr. Amir against Alterplate Chief Executive, Harrison Tare Okiri, famously known as Harrysong. It was very alarming to read about a suit he purportedly filed against our boss in some section of the media, on September 27, 2017.

been served any legal note by any chambers representing him or whatsoever (of course, no notable legal office can subject itself to such disingenuousness).

“However, for Dr. Amir to think he could ride on Harrysong’s popularity and image to make himself relevant is not only jesting to his career, but totally unacceptable to us and very nauseating too. As a reputable company, we have a unique way

“Asides suggesting that the young man subjects himself to a proper brain evaluation, we at Alterplate feel he has also crossed a dangerous line and betrayed our friendship with him and as such, he will hear from our lawyers in no time. For avoidance of doubt, we have here, proof of a text message he sent to Harrysong yesterday, trying to pacify him,” the statement added.

My affair with Delta State set to host Delta Unity Concert saba, the capital of Delta fostering greater lives, harmony and Anita Joseph state will play host to top- cooperation amongst its people for artistes, comedians and the purpose of making Delta State –Charles Okocha guestsnotch from across the state as the a peaceful and economically viable

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• Anita Joseph

ollywood bad boy, Charles Okocha aka Igwe Tupac has sensationally denied having anything romantic to do with Nollywood sex bomb, Anita Joseph despite a suggestive photo shoot and a twerk video where the actor urges the actress to shake what her mama gave her vigorously which has gone viral.

“I am not dating Anita Joseph,” Igwe Tupac as he is popularly known in the industry said. “We are just friends. We are not having an affair.

We have been close for 12 years now.

As a matter of fact, she is dating my very close friend, Mac Morrison who used to be an actor but is based in America now.”

So what inspired the photo shoot and twerk video? “ It was just a movie we did together. She played my girlfriend in the movie and that was all. Beyond that we are just friends.”

Openeing up on the movie, Igwe Tupac continued: “The working title of the movie is Don Jay and I am Don Jay; I play lead. Chiwetel Agwu is involved, Anita Joseph among a host of others are also involved. I read the script and I was like wow! I have to do this movie.”

Could he date Anita Joseph? “Why not? Anita is endowed; she has a body any man will die for. She is a complete woman. As an actress she is good and doing her thing. She has been there over time.”

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state hosts The Delta Unity Concert themed: The Power of Oneness at the prestigious Dome Event Center, Asaba, Delta State.

Speaking on what inspired the event, a member of the organizing committee said: “This concert seeks to bridge the gap in Delta State which is a multi-tribal state, while emphasizing the spirit of unity amongst all. The leadership of Delta Entertainers recognise the power of music, culture and entertainment in

state.

“Delta state is leading the way in creating a counter narrative to the various divisive voices seeking to create disunity and disaffection in various parts of the country by highlighting our oneness as a people. The Power of Oneness concert is a timely intervention capable of snowballing into a call to Nigerians as whole to embrace our uniqueness, similarities and shared history • Osita Iheme and aspirations.”

Game Over as Peter of P Square signs American deal

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eter Okoye aka Mr. P of P-Square has signed a partnership deal with Empire, an American distribution company and record label based in San Francisco, California, USA. The singer who now goes by the name ‘Mr. P’, shared the news on his Instagram page. He wrote: “Thank you Lord. Just signed a deal with @ Empire. It is a digital distribution deal with @peterpsquare! The official Empire page also made a post “Welcome to the #EMPIRE family @peterpsquare! Thank you for @kingkanja for the introduction & partnership!”.

Among others, the record label has worked with artistes like Kendrick Lamar, Rich Homie Quan, Cam’ron, Busta Rhymes, Shaggy, Tyga, Migos, Remy Ma amongst others. Recall that the twin brothers called it quits few weeks back with a video of them and brother/ group manager, Jude Okoye in a fight making round • Paul and Peter (PSquare)

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

NEWS Govt playing politics with our future, IMSUTH • Insists on non-violent struggle, despite ‘provocation’ students cry out

IPOB accuses Ohanaeze Ndigbo of efforts to kill Biafra

From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

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he students of Imo State university Teaching Hospital, Orlu, on Monday held a public protest to express their frustrations against the state government and the management of the institution over their inability to graduate on time.

The Oracle Today had earlier in the year published an allegation of corrupt practices against the management of the institution by the students as part of the reasons the institution lost some accreditation. It was also reported that the students had engaged in self-help and levied themselves as their contribution towards solving the problem.

But in apparent expression of loss of hope about when they would graduate, the students who have spent close to 12 years in the teaching hospitals carried placards and went on public protest.

One of the students said: “We can recall that sometime in December (2016) the report of the accreditation exercise carried out by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in the Department of Medicine and Surgery, Imo State University, was released and it stated that the Pathology Department of Medicine and Surgery in Imo State University did not pass the accreditation.

“As a result the students were banned from writing any 3rd MBBS examination in IMSUTH until all the requirements listed by MDCN are fulfilled, after which the faculty should reinvite the MDCN in 6 months time for a reaccreditation exercise. But unfortunately, this is the 10th month ever since the report was delivered to IMSUTH and yet nothing is being done. Rather, the Provost of the Medical College, the lecturers, the university management and the teaching hospital management, as well as the government, have decided to keep on playing politics with the students’ future which has set many students into frustration.”

It was also gathered that when the medical students reached out to their Provost, Professor (Dr.) B.U Ezem, and the Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Diwe, they were allegedly told off, as they were alleged to have told the students that they did not have anything to discuss with them.

The students said they were told to “direct their questions to the government and never again disturb them”.

Stating that they have doubled their stay in the institution, the students said they have in the institution for about 12 years.

“In a medical school, a student is meant to spend 6 years, but in IMSUTH we have spent more years against the 6 years. With the current decline, it has degenerated to between 11 and 12, and more years just to get a degree.

“Students normally write their 3rd MBBS professional exams towards theend of their fourth year in medical school, but in IMSUTH, currently, the 3rd MBBS exam candidates are in their 8th year. Yet no sign of their 3rd MBBS exams coming forth.

The students resolved that until the accreditation team is re-invited and the re-accreditation exercise carried out, they would never stop their protests as they made it clear to the management that no promises would be entertained this time around.

The Provost, Dean and lecturers were nowhere to be seen for comments on the development as it was gathered they went into hiding to avoid being attacked by the angry students.

When asked why they lost accreditation, another students said: “We lost accreditation because we don’t have anything that qualifies us as a medical school. Some of us travel to other places just to have practical knowledge of the real things a medical student should know.”

From CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

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he Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has affirmed it would maintain its original non-violent posture in the struggle to actual a Biafran Republic, not minding the “level of provocation” by the authorities.

The group also accused some “selfish and Igbo political contractors who were envious of her popularity and the demonstrable feat it had so far achieved in the struggle”, of efforts to strangulate pro-Biafra agitations.

The publicity secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a statement made available to journalists in Awka accused the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the South East governors and those they described as Abuja political contrac-

tors of working to kill pro-Biafra agitations .

The group said the Nigerian government and its security operatives brought violence into the otherwise non-violent pro-Biafra agitations, insisting that IPOB had hitherto engaged in non-violent and peaceful agitation for the restoration of the Biafra Republic.

Mr Powerful said IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s leadership, would continue to implement nonviolent and peaceful restoration of the Republic of Biafra, irrespective of the provocation by the Nigerian Army and their Igbo collaborators.

Said he: “From the inception of this noble and globally respected family of IPOB under the command of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, our sole mission has been to restore Biafra. We know that freedom from

the concocted contraption called Nigeria is an expensive undertaking, both in terms of human life and resources.

“It was the Nigerian government and her security operatives that brought violence into the Biafra agitation, not IPOB. Should IPOB decide to engage in armed struggle at a future date, the world must hold the government of Buhari, Igbo governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo responsible.

“They brought war and death to us and they will one day, in the not too distant future, reap what they sowed.

“We remain resolute in our quest for independence, no matter the high level of genocide, propaganda, intimidation, torture and abductions meted to us on a daily basis from the oppressive Nigerian

government.”

The group also referred to the recently launched Operation Python Dance of the military as being conceived by Igbo politicians and executed by the Nigerian Army, “who are themselves looking for a perfect cover to unleash genocide on innocent populations due to their age long hatred and contempt for anything Biafra,” the statement added.

“What they (Igbo governors, Senators and Ohanaeze) have consistently failed to do is to point to one incident of violence attributable to the activities of IPOB. Instead, they chose to hide under the mantra of hate speech and violent agitation to justify the killing of hundreds and the military invasion of our leader’s home.”

• From left Prof Wole Soyinka, Gov Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr Alex Ekwueme, Dr Donald Duke a dignitary & Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma during the Launching of a book in commemoration of Asaba massacre. Photo: Modestus Igudobi From CHUKS EZE, Enugu

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rontline lawyer and politician, Barr Asuquo Asuquo Okpo (SAN), has prescribed good governance as the solution to most problems that are testing the unity of Nigeria, especially the current agitations for restructuring.

Asuquo, who spoke to The Oracle Today at a function, in Lagos, also believes that lack of good governance has been the bane of Nigeria’s progress, noting, however, that the country boasts superlative education enough for her to seek and emulate secrets of success stories of other countries around the world.

He accused the political class of destroying Nigeria’s educational system, which he said is making it difficult for any desired reform to take place in the country.

“We have destroyed our educational system; the political class intentionally destroyed the educational system, which is inimical to any reformation that we want to do. How can you have a country where history is not taught in secondary school, which is to say you do not know who you are?” he la-

Good leadership is solution to Nigeria’s problems –Okpo mented.

On how to achieve progress through good leadership, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said that it is not rocket science.

“What did Clinton, Obama and the rest do that made them successful in office? What is being done in Dubai that is making it exceptional? We are educated and exposed enough, in this country, to embrace and emulate what is being done in

those countries to make them better such that we flock there for holidays, medical vacation and the rest of it,” he said.

On the issue of restructuring, Asuquo, who was 2019 governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, and 2019 hopeful, said that Nigerians need to first, restructure their minds to prepare grounds for political and economic restructuring that many people have been agitating

for.

“The most important thing that Nigeria needs is good governance because it covers all the complaints and agitations in the country. But the solution to all these is good leadership. Without good leadership, Nigerians will never achieve their common desires, and even if we achieve all that, without good leadership, everything will later be a failure,” he stressed.

Anambra 2017: YDP candidate, Prof. Ejie unleashes foot soldiers

By THEO RAYS

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he candidate of Young Democratic Party YDP in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State Professor Jide Jisos Josiah Ejie has unleashed foot solders in all the 326 wards across the State with a mandate to reach out to the electorate in his favour as the poll draws nearer.

Professor Ejie, who is also the international President of United Nigeria Chaplaincy (UNC), while unleashing the foot soldiers at a cer-

emony held at his country home in Mbaukwu in Awka South Local Government Area of the State, said the aim of the foot soldiers is to take the message of good governance he is about to bring to the good people of the State to the doorsteps of voters.

According to the UNC boss, his target at the Government House in Awka is to take development to the rural areas where poverty, hunger and lack of infrastructure and amenities are hitting hard on the people.

He said that if elected, he would

use the instrumentalities of mechanised farming to provide jobs for youth and also boost the economy of the State, adding that under his rein, the people will experience more practical progress in agriculture.

He added: “If I am elected as the governor of Anambra State, I will run things in a more practical dimensions not on the pages of newspapers. If I say I produce yam, vegetable rice and other things, people will have to see the sites at which they are produced.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Nigerian envoy sues for peace in Liberian elections N igeria’s new ambassador to Liberia, Mr James Dimka, has sued for peace as his host country heads to the polls for Tuesday’s presidential and House of Representatives elections.

Dimka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, that sustaining the prevailing peace in the country was critical to its full socio-economic and political recovery.

Reports say that this will be the first time for the transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another in the country since 1944.

“My expectations are clear. We are

praying there should be peace, before, during and after the elections in Liberia. No nation develops where there is rancor.

“Peace is cardinal, justice must prevail, transparency should be there.

Once there is transparency; there is justice, people will be satisfied with the results of the elections. And that is what I expect should happen tomorrow.

“Those who win should remember that people voted them; those who lose should know that it is only one person that can win at a time.

“Once you know that people are involved, that if you win you are going

to govern people, then you pray that there should be peace.’’

If there is no peace and there are no people, then you cannot be president, you cannot be governors.”

The envoy, who assumed duty on Monday, also stressed the need for Nigerians resident in the country to go about their normal duties and remain law abiding.

NAN reports that many Liberians are praying for a violence-free election and hoping for a new government that would improve the economy and maintain peace in the country.

Some of them told NAN of their

prayers for peace from all the 20 presidential candidates, their parties and their supporters.

At a peace concert, Queen Juli Endee, a music artist, urged her fellow Liberians to shun violence during the elections.

“I am here to promote peace; that is what I do to continue to sustain the peace and we must maintain the peace.

“And it is important for us Liberians to respect the mandate of the international community because peace in Liberia is peace in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

“The West African countries have done very well for us. Now, it is our responsibility to maintain the peace that we have had over the years.

“We want a culture of peace, and denounce all forms of violence during and after the elections.”

Liberia has been through turbulent times in recent years occasioned by two brutal civil wars that left the country in ruins.

Outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who has served out her constitutional two terms in office, is lauded for restoring order and sustaining peace in the country in her 12 years in office.

Nutrition crisis: UNICEF cautions Mali

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nutrition crisis is threatening the lives and future of thousands of children in Mali, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.

UNICEF Representative Lucia Elmi said in a press release that an estimated 165,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition across the country in 2018.

“Behind these figures are the lives of the most vulnerable and forgotten girls and boys in Mali.

“We must provide life-saving treatment and ensure each and every one of these children can fully recover.

At the same time, we need to invest in the critical first 1,000 days of

the lives of children to reduce the risk of acute malnutrition from occurring in the first place,’’ Elmi said.

The rate of acute malnutrition among children under five has reached critical levels in the conflictaffected areas of Timbuktu and Gao, while the national rate also remains very high.

Since the 2012 political and security crisis in Mali, violence and instability have led to displacements of population and disruption of social services in the north of the country.

Security crisis in Mali has led to damaging impact on the nutritional status of the most vulnerable girls and boys.

Thailand prohibits dropping of cigarette butts at beaches

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hailand plans to take a severe measure against the random dropping of cigarette butts at beaches throughout the country, said a Senior Government Official on Monday.

Beginning from November, the dropping of cigarette butts on all major beaches nationwide will be legally prohibited and those found to do so will be subject to a maximum of one year in prison.

Director-General, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Jatuporn Burutphat, said that the jail term would attract a maximum fine of 2, 940 U.S. dollars or both Thailand’s major beaches where the stringent legal measure would be imposed include those in Pattaya, Hua Hin, Phuket and Koh Samui Island.

It is going to be regulated under the Marine and Coastal Resources Management Act of 2015, primarily designed to combat pollution in the sea and environment.

Besides, those who may drop cigarette butts while travelling on any boat in the sea would be faced with the same legal penalties, the department chief said.

He cited a survey recently conducted by the department’s research centre as finding out that about 139,000 cigarette butts had been dropped randomly in the sand along a 2.5-kilometer-long Patong beach in Phuket.

Thailand has had some 500,000 tons of cigarette butts and cigarette packs discarded freely in a year only to become rotten waste and detrimental to the environment, Burutphat said

Mass workers’ strike causes disruption in Belgium

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orkers embarked on strike in Belgium on Tuesday, causing disruption to public transport in the Capital and other cities in a protest at what they say are the government’s austerity-style measures.

Public sector workers, teachers, and garbage collectors were among those participating in the one-day strike called by Belgium’s main trade

union to protest budget cuts and the privatisation of public bodies.

In Brussels, no buses were running and only one metro line was operational, with some public broadcasters also going off air.

The Belgian strike coincides with a day of industrial action in France, where unions are rallying against job cuts and pay freezes.

Swiss Police arrest 2 men after Marseille knife attack

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wo men have been arrested in Switzerland over alleged links with a deadly knife attack in Marseille in early October, the Swiss Federal Police Office said on Tuesday.

The two Tunisian asylum seekers are suspected of having connections with a 29-year-old compatriot, who had killed two women in the French port city on October 1.

Based on an international arrest

warrant, the suspects were detained in Chiasso, a town on the Swiss-Italian border.

The Marseille attacker was shot dead by soldiers after he stabbed the women.

He shouted “God is great’’ in Arabic, according to eyewitnesses.

The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack.

• Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Catalonia’s capital Barcelona in support of independence.

Israel pledges improved relationship with Nigeria

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he Israeli Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, Nadav Goren has reassured a steady promotion of business and economic ties with Nigeria to improve people-to-people relations between both countries.

Goren, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the relationship between both countries was not religious, but economic and trade. “ Most may think the Israel-Nigeria relationship is based on tourism through the pilgrimage programmes but it is not that at all, in fact, Israel tries to work and maintain a relationship with Nigeria without looking at religion. “ Israel is focused on helping Nigeria attain economic development, so we have continued to train professionals and share our vast knowledge in key areas with Nigerians to attain this development.

“There are many Israelis in Nigeria, who manage and operate companies that focus on agriculture, water management and security which we feel are key for Nigeria’s development, especially as the Nigerian government has stressed on the agricultural sector.’’

Goren said that Israel had been able to manage its scarce resources by carrying out researches that could be beneficial to Nigeria.

“Israel is a humble country with a population of about eight million people and we are known not to be blessed with natural resources, how-

ever, that has pushed us to research ways to recreate and manage the little resources we have.

“Israelis are now known as people who create opportunities in adversity, so it will be right to say we have been blessed with knowledge and will continue to share this knowledge with Nigeria.

“A classic example of the knowledge development of Israel is in our water management technology.

“Israel is known to have two-thirds of its land as arid causing us to struggle with water which led to a struggle with vegetation and agriculture.

“We carried out studies on ways to solve the problem and manage water and we were successful with it bringing about the water management technology we are sharing with Nigeria now.

“We know there are some parts of Nigeria that are struggling with similar conditions and those regions will benefit from this technology,’’ he said.

The ambassador also said that the Israeli Government had made provisions to introduce Nigeria to their water management technology in order to help Nigeria manage agriculture and water scarcity.

“In September, we had a delegation of senior government officials from Nigeria attend the 2017 Water Technology and Environmental Control Exhibition & Conference (WATEC) in Israel.

“We needed the delegates to see

first-hand how the technology came about and how it works so that it could be properly replicated in Nigeria.

“This water management technology goes hand in hand with our focus on the agricultural sector as water is fundamental for successful agriculture which is something we have also been successful with and are proud of.

“The Nigerian Government has stressed on its plan to develop the Nigerian agricultural sector so we are happy to support the government with the necessary knowledge and technology to attain that.

“These are measures we are taking to strengthen the relationship between our countries.’’

NAN reports that the Israeli Government is also taking steps to contribute to the improvement of the education, health and energy sectors in Nigeria.

The Israeli Embassy in Nigeria did not celebrate its 2017 national day as officials decided to donate the funds for the celebration to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Adamawa.

The embassy organised a football tournament for the children in the camps and awarded a one-year full scholarship to 225 children as part of efforts to support the children and expressed the hope to continue such humanitarian gestures.

The Oracle Today

43

Wednesday October 18, 2017

SPORTS How Iwobi’s strike landed Eagles in Russia •Says‘myWorldCupdream has come to reality’

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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T is no longer news that three time African Champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, otherwise called Russia 2018 with a game to spare.

However, the news is that the player whose strike ensured that the dream of the Chipolopolo of Zambia of going to their first ever World Cup was sealed, Alex Iwobi, has expressed satisfaction that his lifelong dream of going to the World Cup has come to fruition.

The 21-year striker sent the spectators into ecstasy in 73 minute moment after replacing Moses Samuel about 69th minutes.

“I am delighted that we have made it to Russia even with a game in hand. I am over joyed because this is dream come true for me,” the Anambra State born striker began.

“I thank God that we were able to get the maximum points from this game. It was a difficult game.

I must give credit to the Zambians; they did their best unfortunately their dream of first ever World Cup has been sealed with this vic-

tory here in Uyo. “We knew that the game was not going to be easy because we knew how desirous the Zambians are in getting not just a result they wanted to get the maximum point just like we equally need the points.

“I thank God that we are able to get the job done as expected.

I must thank players and the technical crew for the good job. Russia here we come!

Iwobi proved to be worthy replacement as Eagles could not score goals before his introduction in the 68 minutes. The coming in of the Arsenal striker automatically changed the pace and rhythm of the game.

Meanwhile, former Arsenal great, Ray Parlour believes Iwobi can become one of the best in the world if he adds more goals to his game.

Parlour made the comments during the MTN/Arsenal Football Clinic for coaches and children, which ended Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Parlour, who played alongside former Nigerian captain, Nwankwo Kanu in the Arsenal ‘Invinci-

• Iwobi bles’ of the late 90s and early 2000s, rated Iwobi as one of the most promising midfielders in the game.

He, however, advised the Super Eagles’ midfielder to work harder in his tracking and defensive duties if he is to reach the height commensurate to his talent.

“Iwobi is still a young player and in Wenger he is in good hands. He listens and works hard and with

time I believe he will become a top player.

“What he needs is to learn to score more goals and contribute more to the defensive side of the game. His movement on and off the ball is excellent, but he still has a lot to learn. He is one of the players to watch at the World Cup,” he said.

In the same vein, Arsenal FC of England have celebrated Iwobi’s

goal which qualified Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Gunners celebrated the Nigerian on their official Twitter handle. “#BIG17 scores the winner as @NGSuperEagles beat Zambia in World Cup qualifying,” the Gunners tweeted.

The club also congratulated Nigeria for becoming the first African side to book a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The club tweeted: “QUALIFIED! Congratulations, Nigeria!

“The Super Eagles are the first African side to reach Russia! “This looks sweet for @NGSuperEagles fans!#WCQ.” Iwobi, who came in for Moses Simon in the tension soaked match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, scored the winning goal in 73rd minute to send Nigeria to Russia 2018.

Iwobi’s goal at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Uyo, was a repeat of what he did in Ndola last October, when he opened Eagles’ World Cup Qualifiers’ account to set the tone for the team’s successful World Cup Qualifying campaign.

It is worthy of note that Eagles amassed 13 points out of 15 points of the five matches they have played even as the Nigerian became the first country to have qualified for the Mundial on the continent. The West Africans were later joined on Sunday by the Pharaohs of Egypt with a game to spare.

The Eagles’ game against the Desert Foxes of Algeria is a formality game which does not matter for the team as far as the World Cup ticket is concerned though there is need for the country to play for pride.

Seen by many as the toughest group of the continent’s five qualifying tables, Nigeria have been dominant, remaining unbeaten throughout and only dropping points to a Cameroonian penalty in Yaounde.

Buhari, Jonathan, Gumel, others congratulate Eagles

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ollowing Super Eagles’ 1-0 triumph over visiting Chipolopolo of Zambia in the World Cup Qualifying game played at the magnificent Godswill Akpabia International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday that saw the team qualify for the 2018 World Cup otherwise called Russia 2018 World Cup, President Muhammadu Buhari, Habu Gumel and others have congratulated the Nigerian boys that did the country proud with a game to spare.

President Buhari in his congratulatory message commended the Gernot Rohr coached national team for their resilience, commitment and hard work that saw the country became the first country to qualify for the sport greatest party.

According to Buhari: “The Eagles’ World Cup Qualification is a wonderful 57th Independence gift to the country.”

Also reacting to the Eagles World Cup ticket, the immediate past president of the country, Goodluck Jonathan praised the Eagles for doing the country proud saying they should not rest on their oars until they conquer the world.

• As business mogul, Adetutu shell out N50m to team He expressed delight at the achievement of the team despite the fact that when the draws were made, many never believe they could make it but due to their determination, hard work, commitment and tenacity in the course they believed in, they were able to put smiles on the faces of millions of Nigerian football fans across the globe.

Jonathan said he has always has confidence in the ability of the Nigerian youths and encouraged them to keep up the good work even as he challenged other youths in the country to emulate the Super Eagles by engaging in meaningful activities.

In his own reaction, the President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel also congratulated the Super Eagles on their triumph over the visiting Chipolopolo of Zambia.

According to Gumel, hard work, dedication, commitment and unity of purpose gave the Nigerian na-

tional team the World Cup ticket with a game to spare.

Speaking further, the renowned sports administrator tipped Eagles to go far in Russia 2018 World Cup. Meanwhile, business mogul, Chief Kensington Adebutu immediately after the game which saw the Nigerian national team secure a place for the 2018 World Cup, shell out the sum of N50 million Naira to the team as a way of appreciating the team for doing the country proud even when they were not given any chance after the draws.

The businessman was full of praises for the Super Eagles for their determination, professionalism and commitment throughout the qualifying campaign, which saw them overhaul the so –called Group of Death with a game to spare.

Speaking with the duo of midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and match –winner Alex Iwobi, the successful businessman urged the team not to rest on their efforts, but to prepare hard to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria

and Africa at the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

Meanwhile, defender Ola Aina, who played at junior level for England but opted to represent fatherland at senior level, and was handed his Nigerian debut on Saturday as he came in as substitute for Elderson Echiejile who got injured in the 79th minute of the crucial encounter.

“He did pretty well. He tackles well, joins the attack, has the heart for the big game and very calculating,” Rohr praised Aina at the post –match conference.

About 15 countries have booked their ticket for next year’s football greatest fiesta including three time African champions, Nigeria. Others that have also secured their place for the Russia 2018 World Cup include Egypt, Brazil, Poland, England, Spain, Iran, Belgium, Germany and host, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Costa Rica and Mexico. Other qualifiers would be known after the final game of the qualifiers • President Buhari next month.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday October 18, 2017

SPORTS Bolt statue to be unveiled Friday

NBBF to fix wages for league players

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amaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange has disclosed that the unveiling of the statue of track and field icon, Usain Bolt will take place on Friday, 13 October at the National Stadium.

“The unveiling is set for 5:30 on Friday (afternoon) ... following that will be a reception in honour of our track and field athletes who went to the World Championships in August,” said Minister Grange.

Minister Grange extended an invitation to the public to attend the unveiling ceremony: “The public is invited. We’re asking that they come out early and give Usain all their love and appreciation, and to get the first look at the life-size statue of Usain Bolt that will be unveiled. And I know they will not be disappointed.”

The bronze sculpture was designed by renowned Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson and arrived in the island “during the past 24 hours,” according to the minister.

The statue of Usain Bolt is the first of four statues of national sports stars that were commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport under the Jamaica 55 Legacy Programme.

The reception for the World Championships team (which is a private event) and the unveiling of the Bolt statue highlight activities for the celebration of Heritage Week.

“Heritage Week will be massive,” said Minister Grange, who highlighted that there will be a National Reparations Youth Baton Relay, beginning in Heritage Week and organised by the National Council on Reparations, as part of the public education programme about the Government’s reparations agenda.

“We will have Dr. Julius Garvey (son of National Hero Marcus Garvey) visiting during this period and there will be a run with athletes across the island to take the message of reparations to the people of Jamaica.”

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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HE Board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) led by Engineer Musa Ahmadu Kida have announced plans to fix minimum wage for league players in the country.

This much was disclosed by the Players’ representative on the Kida-led board, Ejike Ug-

boaja while speaking after the board’s two day retreat with players plying their trade in the Nigerian Basketball League system (Premier League, Division 1, Division 2 and Zenith Women Basketball League) in Lagos.

According to Ugboaja who spent 17 years playing the game, the Kida led board of the NBBF is poised to protect the interest of the players even as he declared

that gone are the days when the welfare of the main actors of the game used to take the back seat.

“As a federation, we are going to enter into a discussion with clubs to decide on a minimum wage for players in the league system. I am going to serve them and do exactly what they expect of me and no player will be left behind.”

He appealed to all players to

Argentina’s endangered 2018 W/Cup

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his is not the best of time for two time world champions, Argentina as the South American football power house are in danger of missing a first World Cup since 1970 after being held to a goalless draw by Peru.

Only the top four in South American qualifying are guaranteed a place at the 2018 tournament in Russia, and Argentina are sixth with one game left.

The two-time World Cup champions must win their final qualifier in Ecuador to claim at least fifth spot which sets up a two-leg play-off against New Zealand.

The final round of games kick-off at 00:30 BST on Wednesday, 11 October.

Argentina coach, Jorge Sampaoli conceded “the situation is not comfortable” but added he was “confident that if we play with the conviction with which we did against Peru, we will be in the World Cup”.

Lionel Messi hit the post in the second half and Sampaoli praised the Barcelona forward’s “great intensity” as he created numerous opportunities that his team-mates were unable to convert in front of

a 49,000-capacity crowd at La Bombonera in Buenos Aries.

Argentina, beaten finalists at the 2014 World Cup, are level on both points (25) and goal difference (+1) with fifthplaced Peru, who are ahead on goals scored.

So tight is the group that four points separate Uruguay in second (28) and Paraguay (24) in seventh and a win for Argentina could see them qualify automatically.

However, they have drawn their past three qualifiers and their recent record in Ecuadorian capital, Quito, which is 2,900m above sea level, is poor, losing two out of their past three and drawing the other. Ecuador have lost their previous five qualifying games.

Peru are hosting fourthplaced Colombia and should they draw, Argentina would be eliminated if they did not win.

Chile, who are third, go to already-qualified Brazil, while Uruguay, who are all-but assured of their place in Russia because of their vastly superior goal difference, need just a draw at home to already-eliminated Bolivia to guarantee qualification.

join hands with the federation to bring the desired change and sanity to the league system.

“Two months ago, nobody knew that what we have achieved could be possible. This is a process that we are putting in place to ensure that all these issues are tackled.”

According to Ejike who also doubles as the President of the Basketball Players Association of Nigeria (BAPAN), the players associations will step in on behalf of players to look for educational opportunities home and abroad as part of their new policy direction to encourage players to combine education with sports.

The former Cleveland Cavaliers player who was drafted straight from the Nigerian league pointed out that the Afrobasket success of the women’s team in Mali, the silver medal winning team of D’Tigers in Tunisia and the recent achievement of the boys and girls 3×3 teams was largely due to the improvement in players’ welfare.

“What we have been seeing in the past is basketball with a whole lot of politics. But with a man who has played the game now in charge of its administration, we are rest assured that he knows what the game is all about and what the players stand for.”

Ejike said that with the leadership quality and achievements recorded in just 2 months, the players were solidly behind their president who shouldered the bills of basketball officials at the just concluded National Youth Games in Ilorin.

“So, now speaking on behalf of all our players, we are accepting his role as our president. We are solidly behind him as he charts the way forward for basketball in Nigeria.”

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday October 18, 2017

SPORTS IAAF shortlists 2017 Award Nominees without Gatlin

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We don’t have league – Gombe

•Says “league riddled with corruption can’t produce worthy champions” Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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LHAJI Shuaib Ahmed Gara Gombe, former member of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and the pioneer chairman of Gombe Football Association, has declared that Nigeria as far as he is concerned does not have a league.

He said his reason for his position is that the league is riddled with corruption even as he alleged that matches are fixed to get predetermined outcome.

He accused the officials who are running the Nigerian League of corruption and as a result, cannot consider such charade as a league.

Gombe explained that he will only consider the country having a league when the officials running the league, the League Management Company (LMC) divest themselves and other officials of corrupt tendencies, then he would recognized the fact that the country has a league but for now as far as he is con-

El-Kanemi signs Amapakabo

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ollowing the sacking of Ladan Bosso as manager of El Kanemi Football Club of Maiduguri, the Borno State financed club have signed 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) winning coach, Imama Amapakabo for a season to take charge of the tea.

The former Enugu Rangers coach and assistant coach to the Super Eagles confirmed this development to completesportsnigeria.com.

“Yes it is true, I have joined El-Kanemi Warriors and it is just for a season,” Amakapabo disclosed.

It is recalled that Imama Amapakabo led the Flying Antelope to their first league title in 2016 after 32 years of trophylessness.

He was part of Salisu Yusuf’s coaching crew that led the home-based Super Eagles to qualify to 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

He was also in Ghana with the home-based Super Eagles for the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations where Nigeria lost 4-1 to the hosts in the final.

cerned Nigeria has no league.

Gombe made his feelings known while reviewing the just ended 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with the Oracle Today Sports. It is recalled that Plateau United won the 2016/17 league season for the very first time.

“Which league are you talking about?

As far as I am concerned we don’t have a league,” Gombe began.

“Are you talking of the league that is only played in the media? There is no league in the country as far as I am concerned. The league is only played on the pages of newspapers, radio and television.

“Are you talking of the league that the organisers are corrupt? A league where matches are fixed here and there to produce a predetermined end? How can you call such a league? He queried.

“I want to tell you that a league riddled with corruption cannot produce a worthy champion.

“That Plateau United won the league

this year for the very first time, only helped the Governor, Simon Lalong to score a political point, that’s all.

“Yes, Plateau United have won the league, but I want to assure you that our representation on the continent next season is going to be the worst yet again,” Gombe predicted.

It is recalled that history was made at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos when Coach Kennedy Boboye tutored side beat last year’s champions, Enugu Rangers 2-0 to lift what is their first ever league title.

After 38 marathon league games, Plateau United garnered 66 points to emerge 19th Nigeria league champions.

By emerging the league champions, the Plateau State financed side was rewarded with a giant trophy and at the time pocketed N50m in prize money.

The Jos based side will represent the country in next year’s CAF Champions League along with runners-up, MFM FC, who lost 2-1 at El Kanemi Warriors.

Neymar demands Barca be kicked out of UCL

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he dispute between the Catalan club and their former Brazilian forward over loyalty payments continues to rumble on Neymar has called on UEFA to expel Barcelona from the Champions League in a dispute over an outstanding loyalty payment.

Goal understands the Brazil international’s legal team made the request to European football’s governing body as part of the ongoing row with his old club.

It is understood UEFA is yet to respond to the letter from Neymar’s camp.

The 25-year-old left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in August for a world-record fee of €222 million, less than a year

after signing a new five-year contract at Camp Nou. The player’s entourage insist he is owed a €26m loyalty bonus stipulated in that contract extension and FIFA confirmed in August that they are investigating an official complaint from the former Santos star against Barca.

The Liga side have refused to pay it on the grounds that the forward breached the terms of his deal by holding talks with PSG over a move to France.

The club launched a separate case in August to demand the return of the “renewal premium” paid to Neymar when he signed his last contract.

nternational Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) last week, announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2017 Athletics Award without 2017 London World Championship 100mtrs winner, Justin Gatlin on the list.

While his compatriot, Christian Taylor, who won silver at the event was among the names on the shortlist, Gatlin’s name was conspicuously missing fueling rumour that the IAAF egg heads were disappointed that the drug tented Gatlin won the championship which the world was expecting legendary Jamaican sprint king, Usain Bolt to win as his parting short to his fans the world over.

With the selection process to choose the 2017 World Athletes of the Year now underway, here’s a closer look at this year’s 10 men’s nominees who were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of the IAAF. The winner will be announced at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017 in Monaco on Friday 24 November.

The men’s nominees include the following: Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) World high jump champion, IAAF Diamond League champion. Undefeated all year in 11 competitions.

Pawel Fajdek (POL) World hammer champion, IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge winner. Won 15 of his 16 competitions.

Mo Farah (GBR) World 10,000m champion, world 5000m silver medallist, IAAF Diamond League champion.

Sam Kendricks (USA) World pole vault champion, IAAF Diamond League champion. Undefeated all year in 17 competitions.

Elijah Manangoi (KEN) World 1500m champion, IAAF Diamond League champion.

Luvo Manyonga (RSA) World long jump champion, IAAF Diamond League champion. Undefeated all year in nine competitions.

Omar McLeod (JAM) World 110m hurdles champion, IAAF Diamond League champion.

Christian Taylor (USA) World triple jump champion, IAAF Diamond League champion. Jumped a world-leading 18.11m.

Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) World 400m champion, world 200m silver medallist. World best at 300m.

Johannes Vetter (GER) World javelin champion. World lead of 94.44m to move to second on the world all-time list.

Voting procedure for 2017 World Athletes of the Year A three-way voting process will determine the finalists.

The IAAF Council and the IAAF Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the IAAF’s social media platforms. Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook and Twitter later this week; a ‘like’ on Facebook or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.

The IAAF Council’s vote will count for 50 per cent of the result, while the IAAF Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25 per cent of the final result.

Voting closes on 16 October. At the conclusion of the voting process, three men and three women finalists will be announced by the IAAF. The male and female World Athletes of the Year will be announced live on stage at the IAAF Athletics Awards 2017.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

News Oke wins NLNG $100,000 Literature Prize

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HE Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature and Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, Monday announced Ikeogu Oke as the winner of the 2017 edition of the prize after an intensive process of adjudication.

The Prize is awarded with cash prize of $100, 000.

The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Advisory Board for the prize, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo at a press conference in Lagos.

Ikeogu Oke’s collection of poems, The Heresiad emerged winner from among 184 entries received for the competition.

According to Professor Ayo Banjo, “Poetry competition for the prize is always very fierce and very interesting. We couldn’t have been more reassured about the process because the panel of judges did a painstakingly thorough job in selecting the best from the final shortlist of three entries”.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Panel of Judges, Professor Ernest N. Emenyonu said “The seriousness with which the NLNG literary prize is received by the teeming population of writers in Nigeria is a sign that the expectations of writers swing beyond the prize itself to that of portraying their creativity. The prestige, associated with the prize saw the 184 entries of collections of poetry in various sizes and of diverse themes

and set the stage for the stiff competition. At the beginning, the initial weeding was carried out following one of the primary criteria; quality and validity of publication year.

“Oke’s poetry collection reveals a conscious /deliberate manipulation of language and philosophy in the style that reminds us of the writings of great Greek writers of Homeric and Hellenistic periods”, he added.

Reacting to the verdict, the General Manager, External Relations at NLNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke, said, “We at NLNG are proud of this additional achievement. National and international interest in both the Prize and process are increasing and this is good for the prize and for Nigeria. We are pleased with the judges’ verdict and Mr Ikeogu Oke has demonstrated that he is a fine poet and Nigerians need to rally around and celebrate him. We must begin to build cultural icons, the likes of Professor Wole Soyinka and Professor Chinua Achebe, and this prize is the leading project doing this right now,” he said.

The number of entries for the 2017 edition exceeded the 2013 numbers in the same category, showing a six percent increase in the number of entries received and increasing interest in one of the biggest literary prizes in the world.

This has been the trend since 2005,

the first time Poetry was in focus, and for which only 13 entries were received. The next four years would see an exponential growth in the number of entries with 160 entries in 2009, and 174 in 2013.

“We believe that the prize has inspired writers to want to deliberately advance the cause of Literature and win laurels. This has led to the proliferation of books and increased the quality of books. The spiralling effect of this is a direct boost to literacy and education in the country, the foundation of cultural and socio-economic revolution. The impact of the prize is easily discernible and we believe that it supports NLNG’s vision to help build a better Nigeria,” Eresia-Eke remarked.

The decision on the winning entry of The Nigeria Prize for Literature was reached by a panel of judges, led

by Prof. Ernest Emenyonu, Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Michigan-Flint, USA. Other judges were Dr Razinat Mohammed, Associate Professor of Literature at the University of Maiduguri and Tade Ipadeola, poet, lawyer and winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2013.

The panel had, through the Advisory Board, released a shortlist of 11 in July 2017 and later, a shortlist of three in September 2017. The three shortlisted entries, in alphabetic order, were A Good Mourning (Ogaga

Ifowodo), Songs of Myself: Quartet (Tanure Ojaide), and The Heresiad (Ikeogu Oke).

Members of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, besides Professor Banjo, two-time Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier university, University of Ibadan, are Prof. Jerry Agada, former Minister of State for Education, former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, and Professor Emeritus Ben Elugbe, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and President of the West-African Linguistic Society (2004-2013).

The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara (co-winner, 2005, Poetry), Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto (co-winner, 2005, Poetry); Ahmed Yerima (2006, Drama) for his classic, Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner, 2007, Children’s Literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner, 2007, Children’s Literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary (2008, Prose); Esiaba Irobi (2010, Drama) who clinched the prize posthumously with his book Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, Children’s Literature) with his book The Missing Clock; Chika Unigwe (2012 – Prose), with her novel, On Black Sister’s Street; Tade Ipadeola

•Ikeogu Oke (2013; Poetry) with his collection of poems, Sahara Testaments; Sam Ukala (2014; Drama) with Iredi War; and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2016, Prose) with Season of Crimson Blossoms.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly among four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

•Tony Okonedo Manager, Communication and Public Affairs

2017 the Nigeria Prize for Literature – panel of judges report

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total of 184 poetry collections were received for this year’s competition.

The seriousness with which the NLNG literary prize is received by the teeming population of writers in Nigeria is a sign that the expectations of writers swing beyond the prize itself to that of portraying their creativity. The prestige, associated with the prize saw the 184 entrants of collections of poetry in various sizes and of diverse themes setting out for the stiff competition. At the beginning, the initial weeding was carried out following one of the primary criteria; quality and validity of publication year.

A total of 101 collections were disqualified at the initial combined sitting of the Advisory Board and the panel of judges for not meeting the basic and fundamental guidelines. 83 closely screened entries were left in the competition and the judges were given a month to come up with the long list of 50 and 25 simultaneously. The next step was to synchronise the shortlist of 11, which the panel carried out in accordance with the set criteria approved by the Advisory Board.

The meeting which saw the emergence of the final list of 3 was long and the scrutiny all encompassing because the panel did not just focus on the quality of production but more on relevance to contemporary Nigerian Literature. The succinct development of Nigerian literature from the classical tradition is something the panel consider an act of brevity and enriching to contemporary Nigerian literature.

At this final phase, we examined the strengths of each of the three books on the final list namely: Ogaga Ifowodo’s A Good Mourning, Tanure Ojaide’s Songs of Myself: Quartet and Ikeogu Oke’s The Heresaid.

Ogaga Ifowodo’s A Good Mourning published by Parresia Books, focuses on the tragedy, ambiguity ad contradictions of human experience recreated from poetic vision and language. The work has been likened to “an itinerary that shifts from one no-

•Abena Busia, International consultant to the Nigeria LNG Literature Prize addressing the media with Panel of Judges and Advisory Board

torious platform of human bestiality to another -- from the Slave Trade to the Holocaust, the theatres of war in Palestine and the Congo, and the genocide fields of Rwanda and Darfur and so on”.

Songs of Myself: Quartet by Tanure Ojaide published by Kraft Books Limited explores paradoxes in contemporary times presented in discursive lyricism. It reflects the journey to the deepest vicissitudes of the adventurer himself. Ojaide’s volume directs a vigilant gaze toward the artist, society and the world at large. In its breadth and sweep, it undergirds and reiterates the rich linguistic resources available to the artist from indigenous sources.

Ikeogu Oke’s The Heresaid published by Kraft Books Ltd, employs

the epic form in questioning power and freedom. It probes metaphorically the inner workings of societies and those who shape them. The volume addresses the question of freedom in all its ramifications.

In assessing and ranking the three works, the judges paid close attention to maturity and depth of vision in the execution of themes, and considered the collections holistically rather than scoring high for one or two poems. After much consideration of these criteria, the competition was narrowed down to between Tanure Ojaide’s Songs of Myself: Quartet and Ikeogu Oke’s The Heresaid.

Oke’s poetry collection reveals a conscious/deliberate manipulation of language and philosophy in the style that reminds us of the writings

of great Greek writers of Homeric and Hellenistic periods. Ojaide’s collection refreshes in its day to day experiences of the ordinary man/writer, his travels and other cross gender exploits. The collection explores paradoxes in contemporary times presented in discursive lyricism.

Ikeogu stylistically reaches out to classicism, and Ojaide, to traditional quintessential orature. Both seem to complement each other and collectively reveal and reflect the highest level of poetic craftsmanship in Nigeria. The two authors and their works demonstrate the scope and scale of ambition, which The Nigeria Prize for Literature deserves. In their respective ways they push and extend the boundaries of the practice of the art of poetry and of poetry’s engagement with society.

The judges found this seeming complementarity quite appealing and considered recommending both works as a tie for the award However, the judges went further to apply decisively and scrupulously the Assessment Criteria for the 2017 The Nigeria Prize for Literature competition in their minutest detail thus: Assessment Criteria for 2017 The Nigeria Prize for Literature competition 1. Scope • Themes/subjects with regard to relevance to society • Time (historical, contemporary and topical) 2. Maturity and depth of vision • Seriousness of content • Handling of language

Continued from Pg 47

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday October 18, 2017

News Uniting in the battle to end child malnutrition in Nigeria

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BUJA, 10 October 2017 – UNICEF applauds action this week by the Wife of the President, Her Excellency Aisha Buhari as well as by parliamentarians to address the urgent need to tackle child malnutrition in Nigeria.

An estimated 2.5 million Nigerian children under the age of five suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition, SAM, every year – an extremely dangerous condition that makes children nine times more likely to die from common childhood illnesses such as such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria. Every year, nearly 420,000 children under five die as a result of this deadly combination in Nigeria.

More than 80 parliamentarians meeting today and tomorrow at the National Assembly are discussing ways they can follow up on commitments they made at a parliamentary meeting in June in Oua-

gadougou, Burkina Faso, to protect children from malnutrition.

The Nigerian parliamentarians will plan support for Nigeria’s Action Plan to encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life; they will also discuss how to better coordinate action to combat malnutrition across all 36 states and better deliver nutrition solutions for children.

Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, is leading the charge among Nigeria’s influential wives of Governors to join her in becoming champions to address the country’s ongoing nutrition crisis. Mrs. Buhari, who established her ‘Future Assured’ campaign to end child malnutrition in Nigeria two years ago, spent Monday working with the Wife of the Vice President, Wives of Governors, Government agencies, UNICEF and partners to advocate for improved healthcare and nutrition

for women and children.

Although the problem is more widespread in northern Nigeria, there are malnourished children in every Nigerian state. Chronic malnutrition can lead to stunting, leaving children physically and/or mentally under-developed for the rest of their lives. Over 11 million children in Nigeria are stunted – a huge drain on the future of the country.

Steps to prevent children becoming malnourished include supporting and encouraging mothers to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months of life; educating families about the correct feeding practices for older babies and children; and provision of micronutrient supplements and vitamins and fortified food for pregnant women and young children.

Children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition need medical treatment. An innovative and

cost-effective way of treating malnourished children was first introduced in 2009 and has since expanded to 12 northern states. This Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition, CMAM, programme has treated over two million children since it was first introduced in Nigeria, at a cost of just US$160 per child.

Treatment generally lasts for about eight weeks, during which mothers and care-givers of children suffering from SAM bring their children once a week to a primary health care facility, where they are given advice and information about how to care for their malnourished children and supplied with packages of Ready-To-use-Therapeutic Food – known as RUTF – which gives malnourished children the critical nutrients they need to recover.

RUTF, frequently referred to as

‘miracle food,’ is a peanut-based paste, which also contains milk powder, sugar and multiple micronutrients. A Lagos-based Nigerian company, DABS, has recently received international certification to produce RUTF for the treatment of SAM, so the provision of RUTF will no longer be dependent on imports.

The British charity the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, CIFF, which has provided almost US$60 million to cover the cost of CMAM in Nigeria’s 12 Northern States since 2013, has issued a challenge to the leaders of those States to fulfil their commitment to provide counterpart funding and even to go beyond. If the states are able to raise US$16million to fund SAM treatment in 2017 and 2018, CIFF has pledged to provide and additional matching US$16 million.

2017 the Nigeria Prize for Literature

Continued from Pg 46

3.

4. · · 5. · · · · · ·

Unity and coherence of content Thematic engagement Artistic commitment Social commitment Creative use of language Mechanical correctness of use of language Diction Imagery and other poetic devices Contribution to Nigerian Literature Content Technique

6. Quality of production · Physical -Design/presentation - Quality of binding -Print quality, choice and size of font, readability

•PDP candidate Oseloka H. Obaze (OHO) and his wife Dr Ofunne Obaze hit the campaign trail in Awka and addressed the women of the Awka Catholic deanery, at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Obaze underlined his human development capital platform and stressed that the state and church will collaborate in the areas of education, healthcare delivery and social welfare. He said his government will also address youth unemployment and offer free education from kindergarten to JS3 by dedicating 26% of the state budget to education with 10% dedicated to parochial schools. Hon Emma Nweke also addressed the Awka women. Obaze said that so far the public funds expended by the Obiano administration was not commensurate with development on the ground in Anambra state.

After diligent considerations and critically objective application of the guidelines and criteria, the judges decided to recommend Ikeogu Oke’s The Heresaid as the 2017 winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature. This decision is based on its apt topicality, relevance, artistic heft and the pursuit of artistic provenance. In a world of increasingly threatened by encroaching totalitarianism and even bare-faced tyranny and intolerance, the wit, wisdom and message of The Heresaid are infinitely crucial.

It is our hope and goal that the kind of vibrancy which we have found in the collections of poetry submitted is vital evidence that NLNG is making unprecedented difference in the intellectual development of Nigeria and Nigerian today.

Kachikwu, Baru fray freezes oil investments Continued from Pg 2

“There are therefore situations where all that is required is the approval of the NNPC Tenders Board while, in other cases, based on the threshold, the award must be submitted for presidential approval.

Likewise, in some instances it is FEC approval that is required.

“It should be noted that for both the Crude Term Contract and the Direct Sale and Direct Purchase (DSDP) agreements, there are no specific values attached to each transaction to warrant the values of $10billion and $5billion respectively placed on them in the claim of Dr. Kachikwu. It is therefore inappropriate to attach arbitrary values to the shortlists with the aim of classifying the transactions as contracts above NNPC Tenders Board limit.

They are merely the shortlisting of prospective off-takers of crude oil and suppliers of petroleum products under agreed terms. These transactions were not required to be presented as contracts to the Board of NNPC and, of course, the monetary value of any crude oil eventually lifted by any of the companies goes

straight into the federation account and not to the company.

Dr. Baru specified that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) had “expressly clarified that NNPC Tenders Board (NTB) is NOT the same as NNPC Board. The governing board (NNPC Board) is responsible for approval of work programmes, corporate plans and budgets, while the NTB is responsible for approval of day-to-day procurement implementation.”

He also pointed out that “BPP referred to the SGF circular for the composition of the NTB to compose of the Accounting Officer (GMD NNPC) as the Chairman, with Heads of Department (GEDs) as members with the Head of procurement (GGM SCM) serving as the Secretary of the NNPC Tenders Board.

“The above clarifications of the provisions of the procurement process show that approvals reside within the NTB and where thresholds are exceeded, the NNPC refers to FEC for approval. Therefore, the NNPC Board has no role in contracts approval process as advised by BPP, Dr. Baru emphasized.

On NPDC procurement contracts, he explained “that there is no single NPDC contract that has been approved by the relevant Tenders Board beyond its limit of financial authority and there is no single contract that is in the $3Bn to $4Bn range claimed in the (minister’s) write-up.

“From the foregoing, the allegations were baseless and due process has been followed in the various activities,” he wrote.

Industry leaders who hazarded comments on the dispute described it from different prisms. Whereas some of them saw the ministry as a dysfunctional house, others saw glimpses of bold divergence from traditional political cloud on business operations. Yet others see the situation as creating stalemate in consummation of deals that were conceived to deliver policy targets.

A zonal leader of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) described the open feud between the minister and GMD as a show of shame, saying the two should not continue occupying their positions

if they cannot work together.

According to him, both Kachikwu and Baru are not focused on the job but fighting for influence over lucrative functions that hold approval rights over billions of dollar contracts.

Deputy Director of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Mr Timothy Adwale, said the civil society groups have met over the implications of the rift between the junior minister’s office and that of the GMD of NNPC, adding that SERAP would soon issue a statement on the development.

He refrained from making any specific declaration on the matter saying his personal opinion might conflict with the requirements of his job position.

Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mr Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, declined comments of the matter with a tone of discomfort but another eminent member of the group said in confidence that the position of Dr. Baru on the issue is the way forward for the industry.

According to him, time has come for the ministry to focus on policies

and regulation and leave commercial decisions for the NNPC to make and implement. He made it clear that what the industry needed now was clarity and consistency instead of political interference.

President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LACCI), Chief Dr. Mrs Nike Akande (CON), regretted the development but stated clearly that she was not properly positioned to hazard an assessment of the situation since, according to her, she does not play in the petroleum sector.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Content Development, Ho, Emmanue Ekon, decried the fight between Kachikwu and Baru as national embarrassment, saying the feud cannot be in national interest.

According to the vociferous lawmaker, the infighting between the two does not augur well for the economy, explaining that government’s drive for foreign direct investment in the petroleum industry cannot yield results under the crisis.

“What they are doing will scare investors,” he warned.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 18, 2017

The

www.oraclenews.ng

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racle Today

VOX POPULI SACRUM

ISSN: 2545-5869

GUEST COLUMIST Chuks Iloegbunam

The porter’s predicament non-partisan non-Africans. This point profits from the consideration that, through half a century, Nigerians have failed to agree on what actually happened in Asaba on October 7, 1967.

The authors are mindful of the fact that they are liable to the charge of appropriating and running with a story not their own, a charge that, of course, pays scant attention to the reconstruction of today’s world as a Global Village in which what happens in Alaska is much the business of its denizens as it is the concern of the inhabitants of Sarawak. Thus, they take the pains to state that funding for their book did not come from Africa, while the story they have told is the result of extensive research, and the aggregation of the voices of massacre survivors, the relations of the victims and other assorted quarters. All told, 77 people were interviewed. The result is a 239-page book of six chapters:

Book Title: The Asaba Massacre Trauma, Memory, and the Nigerian Civil War Authors: S. Elizabeth Bird and Fraser M. Ottanelli Publishers: Cambridge University Press We find this introduction in the book:

“I

n October 1967, early in the Nigerian Civil War, government troops entered Asaba in pursuit of the retreating Biafran army, slaughtering thousands of civilians and leaving the town in ruins. News of the atrocity was suppressed by the Nigerian government, with the complicity of Britain, and its significance in the subsequent progress of that conflict was misunderstood. Drawing on archival sources on both sides of the Atlantic and interviews with survivors of the killing, pillaging, and rape, as well as with high-ranking Nigerian military and political leaders, S. Elizabeth Bird and Fraser M. Ottanelli offer an interdisciplinary reconstruction of the history of the Asaba Massacre, redefining it as a pivotal point in the history of the war. Through this, they also explore the long afterlife of trauma, the reconstruction of memory and how it intersects with justice, and the task of reconciliation in a nation where a legacy of ethnic suspicion continues to reverberate.”

Having read the book, I attest to the veracity of the above claim. The credibility of the publication is grounded in the impeccable academic credentials of the authors. Bird is Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Florida. She has to her credit more than 80 articles and chapters on popular culture, media, heritage, and memory, as well as five books, two of which are award winning.

Ottanelli, her co-author, also of the University of South Florida, is Professor of History. He has authored and co-authored four books and several articles and essays on radical movements, ethnic history, and comparative migration in the twentieth century.

Yet, credibility often rides on more than the currency of academic triumph. On Africa, for instance, notable literary voices like Chinua Achebe and Ngügï wa Thiong’o have argued that the continent’s stories are better rendered by Africans and in their own tongues. But their standpoint does not invalidate the benefit of detachment often achieved by

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The Road to War and Massacre.

What Happened at Asaba?

Causes and Consequences.

Surviving the Occupation.

Reclaiming Memory in an Age of New Media.

Trauma, Identity, Memorialisation, and Justice.

What emerged, therefore, is a particularly sad story whose continued denial can only be by bigots. The book also strikes a blow for hope, for justice and for renewal. The sequences of the sorry events of October 7, 1967 and the nonchalance with which they have been responded to in some quarters induces consternation and depression, in that in 1967, officers and men of the Nigerian Army lined up thousands of unarmed civilians, their fellow citizens, and mowed them down by machine gun fire. It represented impunity and callousness. But, the atrocity is not novel in contemporary history.

A few examples are apposite.

The My Lai Massacre On March 16, 1968, U.S. Army soldiers of the C Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 11th Brigade, 23rd (America) Infantry Division massacred some 504 unarmed civilians in My Lai, South Vietnam. Victims included men, women, children, and infants. Some of the women were gang-raped and their bodies mutilated. It was described as “the most shocking episode of the Vietnam War.” The Rwandan Genocide This was the genocidal slaughter of ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority. About a million Rwandans were killed during the 100-day period from April 7 to mid-July 1994. The killing orgy cut the Tutsi population by 70 percent.

The Khmer Rouge Killing Fields These refer to sites in Cambodia where collectively between two and three million people were killed and buried by the Pol Pot Communist Khmer Rouge regime, between 1975 and 1979. The mass killings were a state-sponsored genocide (the Cambodian genocide) that targeted people suspected of connections with the former government or with foreign governments, as well as professionals, intellectuals, ethnic Vietnamese, ethnic Thai, ethnic Chinese, ethnic Cham, Cambodian monks and Cambodian Christians.

The Holocaust The Holocaust was the Nazi programme of exterminating Jews under Adolf Hitler that cost the lives of six million Jews, and others during World War ll.

In all, one ominous string ties massacres everywhere in the world, irrespective of their scale. And that is the string of evil.

But that, precisely, is where the similarity ends with the evil of massacres in Nigeria. Massacres in Nigeria are rarely acknowledged in official quarters and never punished in Nigeria. The reverse is the case in most other parts of the world.

For instance, there were spirited efforts in top political and military circles to cover up My Lai. But soldiers, who objected to the massacre, a determined American press, and an outraged public refused.

Twenty-six soldiers eventually faced trial for criminal of-

fences, but only Lieutenant William Calley Jr., a platoon leader in C Company, was convicted for the killing of 22 villagers.

Handed a life sentence, he ended up serving only three and a half years under house arrest. Minimal as the sanction was, and despite its exposition of American establishment’s reluctance to conclusively pursue the cause of justice, the trials served one big purpose. It demonstrated in America, in Vietnam and across the globe a universal acknowledgement of evil perpetrated by some of the loudest exponents of democratic credentials.

In 1997, 12 years after the toppling of the Khmer Rouge junta, the Cambodian government, with the UN’s assistance, set up a genocide Tribunal. Nine years later, the Tribunal started sentencing the convicted. Nuon Chea, second in command of the Khmer Rouge and its most senior surviving member, was tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity. He was given a life sentence in August 2014. In July 2010, Kang Kek Iew (aka Comrade Duch), director of the S-21 prison camp, was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment, later extended to life.

Many others were similarly sentenced.

Some of the most celebrated trials for war crimes and crimes against humanity have to do with the Holocaust. At the end of World War ll, international and domestic courts conducted trials of accused war criminals. This followed the 1942 declaration by the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union that officially noted the mass murder of European Jews, and resolved to prosecute those culpable. The trials of leading German officials before the International Military Tribunal took place in Nuremberg, Germany.

Twelve of those convicted were sentenced to death, among them Reich Marshall Hermann Göring, Hans Frank, Alfred Rosenberg and Julius Streicher. Three of them got life, while four others received long stretches behind bars that ranged from 10 to 20 years. Hundreds of other war criminals were tried in what was called Subsequent Nuremberg Proceedings. About half of these were convicted. About the most famous of the trials of German war crime perpetrators was held in Jerusalem in 1961: the trial of Adolf Eichmann, chief architect in the deportation of European Jews. He was condemned, executed and his remains dumped in the sea.

The trial of Rwandan perpetrators of genocide was particularly daunting. The judicial system was in shambles after the genocide; of 750 judges, 506 did not remain after the genocide – many were murdered and most of the survivors fled Rwanda. By 1997, Rwanda only had fifty lawyers in its judicial system. Yet, over one million people were potentially culpable for their role in the genocide. The trials proceeded at a very slow pace. Of the 130,000 suspects in Rwandan prisons, only 3,343 cases were handled between 1996 and 2000. Of those defendants, 20 percent received death sentences, 32 percent got life behind bars, and 20 percent were acquitted.

Twenty-two individuals were publicly executed by firing squad in April 1997. Meanwhile, the UN established the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, based in Arusha, Tanzania, with jurisdiction over high-level members of the government and armed forces. Many of those that appeared before the Tribunal ended up in prison.

Despite these examples of the trials and conviction of perpetrators of genocide and war crimes, Nigeria remains uninterested in emulating this course of justice. That is why it boasts a personality like General I. B. Haruna. The authors say the following of the man on page 80 of their book: (A) 2001 news account quoted Haruna’s testimony to the Nigerian Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission (HRVIC), the “Oputa Panel,” which was formed in 2000): “As the commanding officer and leader of the troops that massacred 500 men in Asaba, I have no apology . . . I acted as a soldier maintaining the peace and unity of Nigeria.”

This quote has been widely circulated online, and Haruna has often been named as the perpetrator of the massacre.

However, Haruna was nowhere near Asaba at the time and could not have been involved. In 2016, Haruna wrote to us that his words were taken out of context and used to bolster the Igbo case for genocide. Furthermore, in spite of all

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