Wednesday September 13 2017

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WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

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VOL.2 No. 38. N200

Nigeria will crash unless...

From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN (Calabar) and ESSIEN ESEMA (Uyo).

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he Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Calabar, Dr. Tunde Adeleye has warned that unless the country takes immediate steps to restructure its governance structure, Nigeria stands the risk of crashing sooner than later.

Adeleye, an outspoken cleric, stated this in Calabar while expressing his feelings on salient issues that have been in the news in the country in recent times.

According to him, the system

•Abuja must not dictate everything – Adeleye •Use 2014 Conference Report –Nkanga •Restructure: Ohanaeze, Afenifere, PANDEF insist and manner in which the country is being administered is the major reason real development has not taken place in Nigeria.

The cleric spoke against the backdrop of a recent national broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly after his re-

turn from a three-month medical vacation abroad and in which he vowed to deal with any real or perceived threat to the unity of

Policeman jumps into well Pg 42

the country, which he described as settled and non-negotiable.

According to President Buhari in the well-publicised speech, “Nigeria’s unity is settled and not negotiable.”

“We shall not allow irrespon-

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Union petitions FG on foreign wielders From EMMANUEL OGOIGBE, Warri

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IGERIAN wielders are worried that their jobs are going to foreigners who suspect are entering the country illegally.

They have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene. At a meeting of leaders of the Nigerian Welders and Fitters Union, NIWELFU, it was decided that the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Chris Ngige, the Minister of Interior Affairs Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, the Comptroller General of Immigration, the Governor of Imo State Owelle Rochas Okorocha, leaders of Nigerian Labour Congress NLC in Imo State and other

Cont’d on page 2

Watch out

•Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle) with his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (5th right), Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi (5th left) and four newly sworn in Transition Committee Chairmen and four Deputies of Local GovernmentCouncils, after their inauguration, yesterday.

Buhari excited as Nigeria beats recession From TONY AILEMEN, Abuja

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uoyed by recent statistics from the economic front, and excited President Muhammadu Buhari has applauded the news of Nigeria’s exit from recession, with cautious optimism. The National Bureau of Statistics released figures

indicated that Nigeria had exited recession.

The Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu said the President also assured that his administration would continue to drive Nigeria’s economic growth by vigorously implementing the Economic Recovery &

Growth Plan launched earlier this year According to him, the overall economic plan and direction of the administration resulted in, among others, sustained restoration of oil production levels, (occasioned by the enhanced security and stability in the Niger Delta), sustained

growth in agriculture, mining and the first growth recorded in industry as a whole in the last nine quarters since Q4 2014.

Quoting copiously from the National Bureau of Statistics, Dr. Dipeolu said, “The figures released by the National Bureau of Statis-

.8m Nigerian children dying of hunger

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

NEWS

Nigeria will crash Continued from Page 1 sible elements to start trouble and when things get bad they run away and saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood,” he declared.

“Every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance.

“I believe the very vast majority of Nigerians share this view.

“This is not to deny that there are legitimate concerns. Every group has a grievance. But the beauty and attraction of a federation is that it allows different groups to air their grievances and work out a mode of co-existence.

“The National Assembly and the National Council of State are the legitimate and appropriate bodies for national discourse.

“The national consensus is that, it is better to live together than to live apart.

“Furthermore, I am charging the security agencies not to let the successes achieved in the last 18 months be a sign to relax.

“Terrorists and criminals must be fought and destroyed relentlessly so that the majority of us can live in peace and safety.

“Therefore, we are going to reinforce and reinvigorate the fight not only against elements of Boko Haram which are attempting a new series of attacks on soft targets…but also ethnic violence fuelled by political mischief makers. We shall tackle them all…”

Although he gave a hint of possibility of restructuring through reference to the National Assembly, which he described as the clearinghouse for national discourses, observers noted, however, that the National Assembly, dominated mainly by tendencies sympathetic to the President had, not too long ago, through the restructuring motion out the window of the National Assembly.

But, Adeleye contended that not only is structuring desirable but also that in whatever form it comes is most welcome and much better than leaving the country the way it is at the moment, which he described as

un-progressive.

“There must be restructuring. I am not prophesying doom neither am I pessimistic but at this rate where the centre is heavily loaded with money and the states and local governments are not having anything to celebrate; the governors go cap in hand to the centre to get money and you hear things like bailout – these things will crash us unless we restructure,” he stressed.

“A system of government which will allow people to take care of certain things for themselves is what will help us. A situation where Abuja dictates education, health, police and even the water that comes from your ground is not controlled by you is not sustainable.”

Earlier Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) among others had spoken vociferously and continue to speak in favour of restructuring as the panacea to Nigeria’s myriad of socio-political and governanceproblems.

In an interview with The Oracle Today in Uyo on restructuring, a former military administrator of the state, Otuekong (Air Commodore) Idongesit Nkanga described restructuring as the answer to the myriad of institutional problems and injustices plaguing country, most of which, he said, have led to agitations and dissensions by groups in the country.

According to the ex-MILAD, there is no way selfish elements in the country can stop the country from been restructured, maintaining that Nigeria will restructure itself in due time.

He agreed with Adeleye that there is need for the devolution of powers, and strict adherence to the principle of fiscal federalism,

adding that Nigeria is practicing unitary system of government, which robs the regions of substantial benefits from their God-given resources.

“Nigeria should be restructured in such a way that allows the regions in the country to enjoy a least 50 percent of their God-given resources; that is the true meaning and spirit of fiscal federalism,” he said.

The foremost leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also reiterated the call for the full implementation of the 2014 National Confab Report, saying therein lie the solutions to cries of marginalization and injustices by some sections of the country.

“The 2014 National Confab Report represents the voice of Nigerians because the report is the product of over 400 people from different parts of the country who represented diverse interests and groups. The report has 607 recommendations capable of addressing the challenges faced today in the country,” Nkanga told The Oracle Today in Uyo recently.

Adeleye also defended State governments, stating that they have not failed because they have not been given the power or the instruments of test.

He also believes that different States have different peculiarities, which have to be put in proper context before they (States) are appraised.

“We need to test them on the basis of what they have. What do they have?” he quipped. “You cannot single out the collections of States but you have to look at other collections over time like the Boko Haram collections. But in any case, you cannot put State governments on trial when you have not given them the power to work,” he submitted.

Like Nkanga, he also called on the federal government to revisit the 2014 Conference Report, advising that it should be one of the

resource documents used for restructuring the country.

The Anglican Bishop decried the tendency whereby a new government discards the policies/ programmes of its predecessor insisting that this attitude is not healthy for the development of the country.

Nigeria Will Crash Without Restructuring The Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Calabar Diocese Dr. Tunde Adeleye has disclosed that the country will crash if there is no restructuring of the country.

He stated this in Calabar while expressing his feelings on salient issues that is affecting the country in recent time. According to him, the system and manner in which the country is being administered is the major reason why real development has not taken place in the country.

He contended that his desire is that whatever kind of restructuring that will bring this country to what it should be is most welcome able.

“There must be restructuring. I am not prophesying doom neither am I pessimistic but at this rate where the centre is heavily loaded with money and the states and local governments are not having anything to celebrate; the governors go cap in hand to the centre to get money and you hear things like bailout – these things will crash us unless we restructure.

“A system of government which will allow people to take care of certain things for themselves is what will help us. A situation where Abuja dictates education, health, police and even the water that comes from your ground is not controlled by you is not sustainable”.

The clergy also defended state governments stating that they have not failed because they have not been given the power or the

Pedro Plastic Nigeria Limited

Union petitions FG

Cont’d on page 47

Buhari excited Continued from Pg 1 tics for the second quarter of this year (Q2 2017) show that the economy grew in Q2 2017 by 0.55% from -0.91% in Q1 2017 and -1.49% in Q2 2016. This in effect means that the Nigerian economy has exited recession after five successive quarters of contraction.

“This positive growth is attributable to both the oil and non-oil sectors of the economy. Growth in the oil sector, which has been negative since Q4 2015, was positive in Q2 2017. It rose by 1.64% as compared to -15.60 in Q1 2017, an increase of up to 17 percentage points. This improvement is partly due to the fact that oil prices, which have improved slightly from the lows of last year, have been relatively steady as well as the fact that production levels were being restored.

“The non-oil sector was also reported to have grown by 0.45% in Q2 2017, a second successive quarterly growth after growing 0.72% in Q1 2017. This increase, which was not quite as strong as it was in Q2 2016, reflects continuing fragility of economic conditions.

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To be serialised in The Oracle Today soon

Continued from Pg 1 stakeholders should prevail on the management of an oil services company in Owerri Mgbala Agwa, Oguta LGA to employ Indigenous welding and fitters.

Chief Joseph Awala Inone, national president of NIWELFU, said there were national professionals who have demonstrated exceptional capacity with internationally acclaimed expertise in welding, fitting and other related trades who could readily do these job specifications.

The labour chieftain who shed more light on the dangers and ills of bringing foreigners for jobs that could be done locally pointed out that, such practices were not in tandem with the spirit and letters of the Local Content

instruments of test. He also believes that different states have different peculiarities which have to be put in proper context before they (states) are appraised. “We need to test them on the basis of what they have. What do they have?

“You cannot single out the collections of states but you have to look at other collections over time like the Boko Haram collections.

But in any case, you cannot put state governments on trial when you have not given them the power to work”, he submitted.

He also called on the government to revisit the 2014 Conference Report stating that it should be one of the resource documents used for restructuring the country. He decried the tendency whereby a new government discards the policies/programmes of his predecessor stating that this attitude is not healthy for the development of the country.

Our Distributors

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Contact

Phone Number

Abuja/Suleja Tony Grade 07036114022 Chibert 08033609468 Kano/Gombe Ige Chinedu 08036211314 Port Harcourt/Sokoto Lora 081617318286 08031511302 Kano Trag 08036211314 Uyo John Onyenwe 08069770300 Yola Onyekachi/Uche 08034414187 Maiduguri Kass 08030607067

•Head Office N0. 12 Vinee Crescent Awada-Obosi, Idemili North L.G.A. Anambra State For enquiries please call

08165286666

Read about the great Rangers story from next edition

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION FG condemns extra-judicial killing of Nigerian in S/Africa

By VICTOR NZE

Ikeri, 27, was a businessman and native of Mbaitolu in Imo EDERAL Government State and the second Imo inhas again condemned digene to be so killed in the the spate of extra-judi- last two weeks. cial killings of Nigerians living Dabiri-Erewa described the in South Africa by the coun- latest extra judicial killing of try’s police. another Nigerian in South Senior Special Assistant Africa as”worrying and conto the President on Foreign demnable”. She said that Affairs and Diaspora, Abike the latest gruesome killing Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement of Ikeri by the Police in South signed by her Special Assistant Africa, is” unacceptable to on Media, Abdur-Rahman Ba- the people and government logun, described the last inci- of Nigeria,” adding that in dent involving the death of a spite of all diplomatic talks Nigerian, Kingsley Ikeri, as ‘one between Nigeria and South death, too many.”

Africa to put an early warnThe Nigeria Union in South ing signal in place, ”it doesn’t Africa, last week, confirmed seem to be working.” the killing of another memWhile reiterating Presiber, Ikeri, at Vryheid town in dent Muhammadu Buhari’s Kwazulu Natal Province of calls to Nigerians to avoid South Africa on August 30. crimes like drug peddling

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which attracts stiff penalties, sometimes death, she noted that the latest killing has increased the number of Nigerians killed in South Africa through extrajudicial means in the last one year.

“The barbaric behaviour of the perpetrators is not only unacceptable, but also calls for urgent attention by diplomatic authorities in Nigeria and South Africa”, she said just a she urged the South African government to ensure that justice prevails by carrying out investigation and bring the culprit to book.

She reiterated her calls to Nigerians living abroad to always respect the laws of their host countries and be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

“My heart goes out to the

families of the deceased and pray God to grant the departed soul eternal rest”, the SSA prayed. Bartholomew Eziagulu, Chairman of the Nigerian Union in the province, told the newsmen on Friday that Ikeri was allegedly tortured to death by the police.

He said the union’s investigations revealed that the police arrested the deceased and a friend on suspicion that they were carrying hard drugs. He said while interrogating him, the police used plastic to cover his face to extort information from him.

“In the process, they suffocated the deceased. When the police took him to the hospital, he was confirmed dead,” he said.

Secretary General of the

union, Adetola Olubajo, said the national secretariat had been informed about the death of the Nigerian, adding that the group had informed appropriate authorities in Nigerian and the police in South Africa.

Report has it that a senior Diplomat from the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg had visited Vryheid on a factfinding mission.

Dabiri-Erewa had in February during a meeting in Abuja with South Africa High Commissioner, Mr Lulu Louis Mnguni said a total of 116 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa through extrajudicial means in the last two years. Seven in 10 of the killings were carried out by the South African Police.

Lagos advises residents to vacate Ogun River pathway From VICTOR NZE

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AGOS State Government has advised residents living along the plains of Ogun River to relocate as a necessary precaution due to the commencement of seasonal water releases from the Oyan dam by the management of Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority.

State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, explained that controlled water releases from the dam was a pragmatic approach by the dam management to prevent overflow and possible integrity failure of the Oyan Dam which could endanger the lives and property of residents, especially those living along the plains of the Ogun River in Lagos.

The Commissioner, who disclosed this in an interview, Monday, stressed that the controlled release of water from the Oyan Dam was the

outcome of the collaboration between the Lagos State Government and the OgunOshun River Basin Authority to forestall a possible collapse of the dam.

“The controlled water releases have become expedient as a result of the weather forecast and the continuous heavy rainfall which is likely to resume later in the month”, he said.

He, therefore, advised those residing along plains of Ogun River in Lagos State such as Ajegunle, OwodeOnirin axis, Owode-Elede, Isheri North, Ogolonto, Irawo and environs to be extremely careful about their movements and take precautionary measures including vacating their residences temporarily.

He urged people in these areas not to hesitate to move to higher grounds once they notice a gradual accumulation of rising water, adding that there is a need for people to be aware of the inher-

Enugu approves additional N310m for LG poll

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NUGU State Executive Council has approved the disbursement of additional N310.23 million for the conduct of the November. 4 local government election in the state.

Commissioner for Information, Mr Ogbuagu Anikwe, who made the announcement, Friday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the exco meeting, Thursday, said the approval was sequel to a request made by Prof. Mike Ajogwu, the Chairman, Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC).

He said that the funds would be used to purchase sensitive election materials, ballot papers and election forms, adding that it would also cover

the cost of transportation, security, publicity and payment of honoraria and allowances to full time and ad-hoc staff that would be deployed for the exercise.

The council on July 19 approved the release of N25 million to the electoral body as take-off funds and for the purchase of non-sensitive materials.

Anikwe said the council also approved the reconstitution of the executive management committees of local government areas affected by the forthcoming council election.

Chairmen of the caretaker committee of some local government councils won their party’s nomination for the poll.

ent danger in the water release before it is carried out.

Adejare, however, emphasised that primary and secondary channels in the State

were being maintained and dredged to contain flood related challenges that may occur during this rainy season.

The Commissioner assured

that the State Government would continue to intensify efforts geared towards achieving zero tolerance on flooding in Lagos State.

Taraba residents hail Mambilla Project approval

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ESIDENTS of Taraba have commended the Federal Government for approving 5 billion dollars for the building of a Hydro Power Plant in Mambilla.

The project which was approved at the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, August 30, was initiated in 1972, and has a targeted capacity to generate 3,050 megawatts, using rivers located in Donga and Gembu.

Taraba residents, who expressed happiness that the project had been approved after 45 years, said in Jalingo that it would usher in massive development to the area and Taraba State.

Ali Adamu also, a journalist, said that the approval was a dream come true, adding that it would rejuvenate economic activities and create jobs in the area.

“It is a multi-billion dollar project which is expected to last for six years; massive labour will be required and that will create jobs for the people.

“There will also be massive infrastructural development as heavy equipment will be moved in; that should be good news to hotels and eateries. It also means that security must be upgraded to meet challenges,” he said.

He also urged people in the area to reciprocate the gesture by cooperating with government at all levels and living in peace with one another, so as to benefit from the project.

Livinus Ayih, a lecturer with Taraba State University, Jalingo, also commended the approval of the project.

He, however, expressed concern that successive regimes, since 1999 , had mobilised various contractors to the site, only for them to disappear after sometime, leaving the job undone.

Ayih said he was confident that the present administration would execute the project effectively.

He said that the people of Mambilla were ready and willing to even relocate from their settlements, to pave way for the full take-off of the project.

Alhaji Hassan Ardo, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, who also spoke on the project, said that it was the first time that the Federal Government had shown a genuine commitment to the project by approving it, after 40 years.

On his part, state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr James Gani, said that the project would boost tourism and electricity supply in the state.

“I think it is a very exciting development. We believe it will create job opportunities, especially in the tourism sector. It will provide roads, electricity and more patronage to hotel owners.”

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

Ambode donates N5m to family of late kidnap victim

By JEROME USHAKANG

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AGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has donated N5million to the widow and children of Osaze Omorogbe, a community leader killed and burnt by kidnappers for leading security agents to foil their operation.

The late Omoregbe, who led the security committee of the Olorunsogo Community Development Association, had alerted the police on hearing heavy bullet shots of kidnappers seeking to

Commissioner tasks FG on tourism boost

capture a victim.On arrival, the police and soldiers asked him to lead them to the area. All of them were ambushed by the kidnappers and killed.

The deceased is survived by his wife, and two children, Adesuwa and Osaze.

Speaking at the presentation of a cheque to the widow and children of the late Omorogbe on behalf of the Governor at a solemn ceremony at the family’s residence in Isawo, Ikorodu, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan lauded the deceased for his heroic role.

Bamigbetan was received by the Chairman of the Community Development Association, Mr. Ahmed Yusuf. Bamigbetan who personally read the condolence speech signed by the Governor, said the late Omoregbe paid the supreme sacrifice while responding to the Government’s charge to community development associations to support its effort to rid the state of kidnappers.

Part of the condolence message read, “It is with deep grief that I share your sorrow on the unfortunate death of your father, husband and breadwinner, Mr.

Osaze Omoregbe.

“At a time our administration is consolidating partnership with our communities and their courageous and committed leaders, your benefactor stood up to be counted. He supported the forces of light seeking to crush the notorious kidnappers who had turned your neighbourhood into a jungle of death. In that patriotic response to our call to join hands and collectively secure our communities, he paid the supreme price.”

Receiving the cheque, the widow, Mrs. Omodunni Omoregbe who was short of words, broke

into tears. However, the chairperson, Mrs. Jumoke AdemehinJumbo, speaking on behalf of the LCDA, thanked the Lagos State Government for coming to the rescue of the family.

Bamigbetan, who led a delegation including the Senior Special Assistant on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri; the chairperson of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Jumoke Ademehin-Jumbo; the chairperson of the Community Development Committee, Alhaja K.A. Damole and their teams, prayed at the graveside of the deceased.

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OMMISSIONER for Information and Strategy in Ogun, Mr Dayo Adeneye, has urged the Federal Government to boost the tourism sector by showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

Adeneye who made the plea on the sidelines of the just-concluded Ojude-Oba Festival, noted that “the annual event reminds our children of what we stand for”.

According to him, the OjudeOba Festival is one the biggest tourism platforms the government can take advantage of in promoting the rich cultural heritage of the nation.

He said that the festival was not meant to portray “our dressing alone but our culture and how we respect and pay homage to elders.

“I am very happy to see the Awujale amongst his sons and daughters; the whole of Ijebuland is here. You can see how the various “Regberebe” age groups are well dressed, but its beyond that.

It’s all about our image, culture and way of life,” he said.

He said that Ojude Oba was just one of the few festivals in Nigeria that could showcase the cultural wealth of Nigeria to the outsude world.

“A lot is on ground to harness but there are few people who see our language and way of life as a gold mine. At the moment, I am committed to serving the 7.4 million people of Ogun in the capacity I have been appointed to.

“I wish relevant authorities will look deep and begin to treat what we have as valuable enough to take over the world,” he said.

Adeneye, popularly known as D1 of Kennys Music, added that the entertainment industry was doing a lot to showcase the country’s culture but added that more could be done.

“The industry practitioners are doing well in that sector and you know the rest of the world is coming after them already. I need the entertainment and media practitioners for me to be able to do my job effectively in the office I occupy,” he said.

He said that entertainers remained his first constituency and he appreciates the support they continually gave to him.

•Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with Christopher Coons, Junior United State Senator from Delaware (L); flanked by Stuart W. Symington, US Ambassador; Min of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama (R); Minister of Trade, Investments and Industries, Okechukwu Enelamah and other members of the US delegations at State House, Abuja. Photo: Novo Isioro

Edo gets 711 N-Power extension agents F EDERAL Government has deployed 711 N-Power agricultural extension agents to Edo State to boost agricultural activities in the state.

Programme Manager of the State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Mr Peter Aikhuomobhoebe, who disclosed this in Benin, Monday, said the Federal Government provided another 100 Knapsack sprayers to the state.

He said that state’s extension agents was increased to 746 from its former 35, adding that state farmers would feel the direct impact of this intervention, adding that the agents would be deployed across the three senatorial districts of the state to provide more technological support to farmers.

He, however, said the state would still need additional 698 extension agents to effectively provide the needed support to farmers across the state.

“We have not had it this good in the area of extension agents for a very long time now. What

we had before the Federal Government intervention through its N-Power programme was mere 35 that were expected to cover the whole state with no fewer than half a million farmers.

“Though we are aware that we need no fewer than 1,444 extension agents to be able to do a thorough job, the 711 that has been engaged by the federal government will make a tremendous impact in agricultural activities in the state.

“With the additional figure from the 35 we used to have, they will be able to reach out to more farmers next season. The farmers will have more technological support,” he stated.

Nigeria, others top contributors of illegal migrants to Europe — ILO The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said that countries on the West African sub-region are among the largest contributors to irregular migration into Europe and other western parts of the world.

The ILO Country Director to

Nigeria, Mr Dennis Zulu, who said this in Abuja, last weekend, further urged the affected countries to work towards stopping the situation.

“West Africa is one of the largest contributors to irregular migration into Europe and many countries in the west. I think there is need for government to ensure that irregular immigration is stopped. We are losing a lot of young lives across the Mediterranean Sea that are out to seek greener pasture, which in most cases are not there.

“So, I think we can deal with this problem to ensure that we improve the well-being of young Nigerians, Ghanaians, whoever that is crossing the Mediterranean. We need to provide them with the requisite skills, job opportunities to start and operate their own businesses, so that they can have good life of some sort back home so that the urge to go abroad to seek greener pasture is curtailed.”

The country director noted

that there were measures that could be taken by governments to stop desperate movement of youths to Europe and elsewhere, noting that young people who migrated to Europe and other places saw their moves as the only option available to them.

Zulu, who commended efforts being made by some governments to better understand the drivers of irregular migrations, added that “if we can understand what the real drivers are, perhaps we can then put in interventions.

“We can then ensure that young people stay at home rather than subject themselves to cross the Mediterranean seeking greener pastures in Europe.”

He, however, said there were enormous challenges in having reliable statistics of irregular migration in Nigeria and West Africa, saying “statistics is difficult to come by because such movements are mostly done secretly as trafficking cases, so it quite difficult to come up with figures.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

NEWS Cult group strikes in Delta community, kills an anti-cult volunteer From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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From CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

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he candidate of the United Progressives Party (UPP) for the November 18, 2017 Anambra governorship election, Chief Osita Chidoka has promised to work towards giving Ndigbo strong voice in the affairs of Nigeria, adding that he would also pursue self-determination for the nationality in a united Nigeria.

The candidate who spoke to journalists on phone shortly after receiving his party’s mandate certificate of return from the National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, said his emergence as UPP’s flag-bearer for the Anambra election signals a new beginning for the people whom he would lead to resist any relegation to the background for reason of their

Anambra 2017: Chidoka promises to give Igbo strong voice in Nigeria • To pursue self-determination in united Nigeria electoral choice.

Chidoka who is the immediate past Minister of Aviation said his emergence “marks the end of an ideologically vacuous and imprudent government that holds no hope for the people.”

“Today, Anambra State is about to start a new beginning in the pursuit of our ideology as a people; the ideology of the UPP, which is the ideology of hard-work, creativity and the fear of God; the ideology of the restoration of our homeland and the rebuilding of our capacity as a people; the ideology of self determination and right to determine our role in Nigeria, where no man is oppressed.

“Indeed, it is the pursuit of

the ideology of reenergising our people’s hopes and aspirations, of being recognized as a free constituent of the country and where they are not relegated to being a mere 5 per-cent in Nigeria.

“Let it be known that the UPP has come to restore the Igbo voice. No more would Anambra State be ruled by an ideologically vacuous and bankrupt party. In 2003, Chief Chekwas Okorie founded the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on the idea that all the grievances of Ndi-Igbo would be channelled through a political party to engage the other parts of the country.

Unfortunately, that dream was betrayed. APGA became an electoral vehicle meant

for the election of people whose desires and interests are the maximization of their personal capacity and not the welfare of the people.

“That is why today, neither APGA as a party nor the government of Anambra State has any position on the agitation for the actualization of Biafra by Ndi Igbo. They have no position on the issue of restructuring. They have worked with PDP and they are willing to work with APC. APGA as a party is adrift and we want to send it to its final grave, and on this mission, we have the full backing of the Anambra people.”

“Our greatest resource is human beings and I will continue to stand by them. The

banner I receive today is the banner that will do away with all that is wrong with us and promote all that is right. It is a banner that will question the history that makes us a people who though renowned globally as hard working people, are here in Nigeria, struggling to exert ourselves in our various endeavours,” he said.

He revealed that his campaign and the vision of the UPP have since penetrated the nooks and crannies of the state with strong bonding with the people, stressing that his candidature has for the first time presented Anambra voters with the opportunity of electing a governor of their choice as against the situation in the past where they are left with no option than to choose among stooges of political godfathers.

“No more shall Anambra State be voting for persons who are sponsored by godfathers of people that are not contesting in the election, but whose major intent is to fleece the state and line their pockets and those of their party members and deprive the people,” Chidoka stated.

On his part, Chief Okorie said the UPP remains the only party that has the full backing of the ordinary people adding that its victory at the polls has become inevitable.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a credible poll using its automated system to directly transmit results from the polling units to its central server to ensure that nothing but the will of the people as directly expressed at the polls, prevails.

member of the Delta State Anti-Cult Volunteer Corps has been killed by suspected cult members in Obiaruku, Ukwuani Local Government Area of the State.

The Oracle Today learnt that the suspected attack was a single targeted attack against the group commander, Mr Akudo Kennachor, who was shot dead at a popular drinking joint in the town.

Sources revealed that the killed Kennachor was trailed and shot at close range when he went to the gents.

The incident, it was learnt, paralysed business activities in the commercial city of the council as stores and other businesses were closed for fear of arrest by the police on trail of the cult members in the town.

It was gathered that some cult members were recently arrested for illegal gathering and involvement in cult-related activities.

In other to ensure peace in the area, the state Anti-cult Volunteer Corps met with the leaders of the community, youths and vigilante groups regarding the incident.

The meeting agreed to work together to ensure that activities of cult groups were eliminated in the area.

Meanwhile, the Anti-cult Volunteer Corps has called for the speedy implementation of the established and constituted State Law (Anti Terrorism and Anti Cultism Law of Delta State).

The Oracle Today could not speak with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) but the state police • L-R,Chief Chris Ezeoguine, on behalf of the Umuchu community, presenting an award to Mr Godwin Chukwunaenye, image-maker, Andrew Aniamaka Ezeemo, Gubernatorial Candidate of Progressive People’s Alliance in recognition of his outstanding developmental impact promised to get back when he on his hometown, Umuchu, Aguata L.G.A. Anambra State, during the town’s New Yam Festival. Photo: Udo Ogbonna. had enough facts on the incident.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

NEWS Most wanted kidnapper in Nsukka arrested From OZOR KAMSIYO, Nsukka

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How youths helped resolve insecurity in Igbo-Eze North, by Comr. Ezeja From FRED IKE, Enugu-Ezike

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mmediate past Caretaker Chairman and chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for Igboeze North Local Council in the forthcoming council elections in Enugu State, Comrade Uwakwe Ezeja has said that even though most crimes and vices are committed by youths, it was the same youths that helped him resolve some security challenges in the area.

Ezeja, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Enugu State, therefore, called for inclusion of the youth in all levels of government, noting that there is always assurance of result, speed and dynamism in every administration where the youth are adequately represented Receiving award of excellence from the youth of the council area, Ezeja said: “I excelled in the area of resolving security issues in the local government through the coopera-

tion of the youth, who actually know who is a criminal or not. I mobilized them; they worked with me and ensured that the local government is safe.”

Stressing that he succeeded because of a mutually-beneficial partnership he developed between his administration and the youths in Igbo-Eze North, the PDP candidate pledged to leverage on that partnership to make the local government area “even safer if elected,” adding that “security, as we all know is essential for investment, good governance.”

“It makes our people, who are living in different parts of the world feel free and safe to come home to spend or do business,” Ezeja noted.

“Where there is no security, there will be no development and the youth supported me aggressively and massively to succeed in what I was able to do when I was a Caretaker Chairman.”

Comrade Ezeja, while further appreciating the youth for the trust

and confidence they reposed in him, assured them that he has in his manifesto many many youth-friendly programmes, which, if elected as the council chairman in the scheduled November 4, council polls in Enugu State, he would try and diligently implement.

“I will embark on aggressive youth empowerment; we will have skills acquisition centres to provide skills and employment for so many youths. I will also empower them the much I can to ensure that the leaders of tomorrow are given opportunity to put food on their tables,” he pledged.

The PDP youth leader in the local council, Mr. Francis Arji explained that they gave Ezeja the award to express their gratitude for the peace and tranquillity in Igbo-Eze North the reigned in Igbo-Eze North under his watch as Caretaker Chairman.

Arji said: “We are celebrating the tenure of Hon. Uwakwe Ezeja as Caretaker Chairman; we are celebrating the peace that reigned

n what appears to be reward for its renewed anti-crime efforts, the Enugu State Police Command has announced the arrest of the most wanted kidnap and robbery kingpin who has terrorised Nimbo, Adani and Opanda axis in UzoUwani Local Government Area of the State, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnadi Daniel, a.k.a Dan. Daniel, who was allegedly behind major kidnap, robbery and rape cases along Nimbo, Nsukka, Adani and Opanda Expressroad, was arrested after a successful operation at the ‘Malaysia Forest’ in the area.

Confirming the arrest in a statement, the State Command’s PPRO, SP Ebere Amaraizu vowed that the police would intensify the ongoing onslaught against crime within Adani/Nimbo axis of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Nsukka cultural zone, assuring that there would be hiding place for any criminally- minded person/hoodlums under any guise in the state.

Ebereizu noted that the ‘Malaysia Forest’ was raided by the operatives and some hoodlums were arrested, amongst them the notorious armed robbery/kidnap kingpin Ikechukwu Nnadi Daniel (aka Dan) and a member of the outlawed vigilante group called Umu Malaysia (meaning children of Malaysia), whose members specialized in kidnap, robbery and murder of people within Nimbo/Adani/Opanda axis of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the State.

The suspect (Dan) is implicated in the alleged kidnap/murder of Enechi Ejiofor and one Emmanuel Okeja respectively as well as other Kidnap and robbery cases, the further said.

The State Command assured members of the public, especially law-abiding residents of the State that it would not rest on its oars in the ongoing onslaught against crime until the entire area and its • Traditional ruler of Umuoba Anam, HRH Igwe George Obalum Ekwealor (middle) flanked from his left, HM Eze C. environs are safe and secured.

Eri & HRM Igwe Alex Edozieuno cuts the yam to mark the 2017 New Yam festival. Photo by Modestus Igudobi

Abia begins remodelling of public schools • Ikpeazu flags-off construction of 4 model schools, 132 classroom blocks From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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bia State government has commenced remodelling of public schools in the state with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu flagging off the execution of 132 school building projects across the State.

The projects include four new model schools spread across the State, with each comprising 10 classroom blocks, library, laboratory, teachers’ quarters and sick bay.

Each model school would also comprise five secondary and three primary classroom blocks, solar-powered water borehole, perimeter fence and Headmaster’s quarters.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Enyinnaya Appolos said in a statement in Umuahia that in addition to the model schools, 132 new school construction projects would be undertaken with over 80 schools renovated while 10,000 pieces of school furniture would be provided.

The projects would be executed through the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2018.

ASUBEB recently accessed N5.6 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission.

Performing the groundbreaking ceremony of the projects at St. Silas Primary School, Old Umuahia in Umuahia South Local Government Area before jetting

out for his annual vacation, Ikpeazu charged the Mr. Kenechukwu Nwosu-led ASUBEB management to ensure that the projects are executed according to specifications.

He warned that government would not tolerate any substandard job, adding that a special monitoring unit has been put in place to monitor the projects across the state.

The Oracle Today, quoting the immediate past Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgeoji, had exclusively reported earlier in the year that the State was planning to build about 20 model schools that would restore the glory of public schools in the State.

• Comrade Uwakwe Ezeja under him (and still reigns). As they say, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, where two political giants fight, it is the youths that are going to suffer. Because of the peace that reigned and reigns in Igbo-Eze North, there has not been any such deleterious political fight in the local council and we the youths are very happy for this peaceful environment.

“We are thanking our leaders for coming together and working together in peace and understanding.

From the very moment he was appointed, Comrade Ezeja responded well in the area of security. Hitherto, our people were not sleeping but today they sleep and wake up sound because there is peace.

“Our expectation from his second term in office is for a continuation of all his good works because he has been doing very well and if somebody is doing well and he is asked to go back, he is bent to do even more to meet the needs of his people. The youth are being empowered, workers’ salaries are paid and a lot of other things.”

The coordinating youth leader in the council, Hon. Ifeanyi Oyiga, said: “We decided to honour the chairman considering his efforts towards curbing insecurity in the local council. Before now, we had issues that bothered mostly on security, which had to do with killings and mutilations of mad people, old women and men in different villages and communities in the local council.

“But from the moment he came in, he strengthened security to the extent that we have not had such cases. Since he became the Caretaker Chairman, that issue that bothered us was reduced, at least from 100 per cent to 10 per cent. So, we give God the glory for his efforts.”

Anambra 2017: MPPP picks Igwe’s son as sole candidate

By IBE NWACHUKWU

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n line with guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Mega Progressives Peoples Party (MPPP) has elected Prince Chuma Ojukwu, son of the late traditional ruler of Awka-Etiti community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Joachim Ojukwu, as its sole candidate for the November 18 governorship election in the state.

Ojukwu scored 45 votes at the end of the primary exercise organized by the party at their state secretariat, Awka.

Declaring him winner of the primaries, the State chairman of MPPP, Chief Gregory Mokwe said Ojukwu would have contested with one Barrister Chris Ekweozoh but because Ekweozoh did not pay his nomination fee, the national executive of the party disqualified him on the day of the primary election and directed the state not to include him as an aspirant of the party.

On the chances of the party, Mokwe described MPPP as a grassroots organisation, adding that apart from being a party for the masses, it has a penchant for carrying everybody along.

On whether the party has a regard for the much maligned zoning formula, Mokwe said it was deceitful for some persons or group to be singing zoning arrangement when there was none in existence.

According to him, this zoning issue was a personal decision of former Governor Peter Obi to hand over the mantle of leadership to Anambra North Senatorial zone, adding that while doing so, he did not consult any one to seek their opinion before imposing it on Anambra people.

He stated that the true position is that Anambra Central has ruled for 11 years with former Governor Chris Ngige ruling for three years, while Obi ruled for eight years before Obi suddenly remembered to chant zoning arrangement after satisfying himself for eight years.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

Forever in our minds

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ANA, September 9th was the day you left us. A day we will not forget.

The day death snatched you away from your parents. Till today, no one has let us know what actually happened to our daughter, but we know that God Almighty knows all things. Those that killed with sword must die by the sword.

Sleep in the Lord our beloved daughter.

We all will surely meet you where you are staying now. God will surely keep all that you left behind. You are still our Diamond and Diamond is forever. Sleep in the Lord.

Rest in perfect peace.

Alive or dead, you are our Diamond forever.

The evil that people do will surely live after them. Rest in the Lord in perfect peace.

It’s all injustice and God hates injustice.

He will surely give us justice. Since your departure, things have been the other way but we fear not, hence God knows everything and He is in control.

Left Behind

Elizabeth Oni Oduah - Mother Prince Isidore Oduah (Oguejiofor)- Father Gigi Okuobi (nee Oduah)- Sister

Suleman D. Aliyu (Major Gen. retd) – Husband Leila Alanza Aliyu- Daughter Jamal Ebubechukwu Aliyu - Son

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

FOCUS

Glitz, glitter as Igwe Emmanuel Chukwuma of Adazi Nnukwu celebrates New Yam • Asks Obiano to appoint only honest Adazi Nnukwu people into his government OLIVER UDEOGU writes on the beauty of Igbo culture at Nkpolo Village, Adazi Nnukwu in Anaocha Local Council of Anambra State as their popular Igwe, Emmanuel Ikechukwu Chukwuma, Nwata Ya Na Chi Ya Di Na Nma, celebrated the New Yam Festival for his people.

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t was pomp and pageantry recently at Nkpolo Village, Adazi Nnukwu in Anaocha Local Council of Anambra State, when Igwe Emmanuel Ikechukwu Chukwuma known as Nwata Ya Na Chi Ya Di Na Nma, performed the rites of new birth to herald the arrival of the New Yam in the area. Traditional cannon shots had begun to erupt at exactly 12.00pm, leaving no one in doubt that an important event was about taking place in the ancient kingdom.

Shortly after the cannon shots, kinsmen, friends, business associates and well-wishers had begun to gather at the Igwe’s palace at Chief Nwata Avenue.

Igwe Chukwuma, a highly successful businessman, is based in Cote d Ivoire. He is Eze Igbo Ivory Coast and was chosen by majority of natives of Adazi Nnukwu kingdom to succeed the departed Monarch of the town HRM Igwe Michael Orjiakor, the Adama Third of Adazi Nnukwu Kingdom.

A man of immense means, Igwe Chukwuma is celebrated by his people and beyond for his kind-heartedness and philanthropy, which cuts across age brackets and social strata both in his immediate community and beyond. Undoubtedly, one of the foremost illustrious sons of Adazi Nnukwu Kingdom at the moment, Igwe Chukwuma since the past five years, has been catering to the needs of the less privileged in Adazi Nnukwu by giving grants to assist people reposition their businesses, providing vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles to jobless youths and welfare of Widows.

Speaking during the event, Igwe Chukwuma called on the people to allow peace to reign in Adazi Nnukwu saying no meaningful development can take place in any community where there is rancour and disagreement.

“There is no peace today in Adazi Nnukwu because a few persons who feel they have connection in government circles have refused to speak the truth,” he lamented. “They have murdered sleep in the community by submerging the wishes of majority of the people of this town. I always stand by the truth and will die by the truth. It is disheartening that the governor listens to these people who are not popular in this community, thereby shortchanging the collective wishes of the people.”

“As the father of all, Governor Obiano should listen fairly to all parties concerned and not just conclude after hearing from one party,” the Adazi Nnukwu Monarch added. “He should send people here to investigate and know the truth, the real position of events on ground. Since election

• Igwe Emmanuel Ikechukwu Chukwuma (Nwatayanachiyadimma)

is approaching, the governor should do the needful in order to gain the people’s confidence and be voted by our people, who voted for him en-masse before. As a matter of fact, things are not normal today, in Adazi Nnukwu Kingdom. The governor should appoint people that will be telling him the truth and not lies and that will really make him the people’s governor, indeed.”

The Igwe’s elder brother, Chief Kenneth Chukwuma who is the President of Nigerian Community in Cameroon and Eze-Igbo Cameroun, described as brother as “very suitable” for the Adazi Nnukwu royal stool.

“So long as I am living, he will continue

to have my support in this struggle. We will not be intimidated, because the truth shall prevail in the end,’’ the elder Chukwuma declared.

A former INEC official, retired lecturer and factional President General of the community, Dr. Theo Belonwu, who threw more light on the imbroglio bedeviling the community, stressed: “We duly chose Chief Emmanuel Ikechukwu Chukwuma, an illustrious son of this kingdom to succeed our late Monarch, Igwe Michael Orjiakor, Adama The Third, because he is a very popular person and a great philanthropist in this community. After we had done that, a few people with relationship on the corridors of State power felt oth-

“As a matter of fact, things are not normal today, in Adazi Nnukwu Kingdom. The governor should appoint people that will be telling him the truth and not lies and that will really make him the people’s governor, indeed.” erwise and started fighting the collective will of the people, thus plunging the Kingdom into darkness. My take on this matter is very simple: let the Governor Willie Obiano-led government of Anambra State listen to all parties involved in this matter leading to the conduct of proper election in all positions in the community to let sleeping dog lie. As it stands today, Adazi Nnukwu is not in peace and only that can resolve the squabble among the natives.

This is my own humble submission.”

Highlights of the rich cultural event included the distribution of yam tubers and wrappers to indigenes, masquerade display, traditional dances and mascot display.

• Ezendigbo Cameroun, Chief Kenneth Chukwuma (2nd right) Igwe Nwatayanachiyadimma Emmanuel Ikechukwu Chukwuma, Igwe Mac Anthony, Ezeuzu Ichida and others during the New Yam festival at Igwe Chukwuma’s Palace Nkpolo Village Adazi Nnukwu, Anaocha LGA Anam.

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

POLITICS

ANAMBRA 2017: Buhari’s government Week of troubled not planning to primaries control the social Pg 10

Anambra 2017:

How Tony Nwoye crushed Andy Uba in APC governorship primary

THEO RAYS, in Onitsha, reviews the recent APC primary to select the party’s flag-bearer for the Anambra governorship election on the 18th of this November, explaining how, against all prognostications, Tony Nwoye beat the seemingly more fancied Senator Andy Uba to clinch the coveted ticket.

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N Saturday, August 26, the All Progressives Congress (APC) held its primary election in Awka, the Anambra State capital to select its flag bearer for the governorship election scheduled to hold on November 18, this year. As the event unfolded, all eyes across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and beyond were focused on the party to see who would emerge as its flag-bearer and how.

To start with, the APC surprised political pundits by clearing all the 12 aspirants (11 men and

a woman) who purchased the expression of interest form and nomination form of the party for the Anambra poll after a screening exercise at the party headquarters in Abuja. Those processes done, the questions flowed: who was going to emerge as the candidate of the party?

Could the party give merit a chance and ensure a level playing ground for all the aspirants?

Ahead of the primary election, speculations were rife that Senator Andy Uba would coast home to victory if the ticket was meant for the

highest bidder, courtesy of his financial power.

Observers say poverty among the APC leaders at the ward and local government level of the party gave Uba the opportunity to penetrate the party structure ahead of the primary.

Uba, according to observers, changed the fortune of the local leaders of the party with cash and other incentives. Uba, who was said to have the backing of over 40 super-rich serving senators, actually injected life into the party.

He distributed Sienna cars to all the chairmen in

9 Pg 12

the 21 local councils in Anambra and 3 more for the leaders of the parties at the Senatorial level.

At the ward level, he gave cash during his tour of the State to oil the machinery of the party at that level.

The two-term serving senator from Uga banked on his popularity, structure and support from his colleagues in the senate for the victory at the party primary and the main election. Speaking on his chances, he had said: “I have contested for governor and won, I am a two-term senator and I have not lost any election that I stood for. I have my structure on ground, I have people working for me all over the State and with the support of my colleagues in the senate, I am very sure that if I get the ticket of APC, I am going to win the November 18 election.”

Perhaps. Only that he did not reckon with another APC aspirant who was said to be pulling his financial trigger ahead of the primary and was ready to dare Senator Uba—naira for naira and even fire for fire: Hon. Tony Nwoye.

Nwoye, currently representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives is also spoiling the local leaders of the party with financial incentives thereby injecting life into the party.

The House of Representatives member who has served as National President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and State Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State is said to have the support of a strong political bloc led by a billionaire godfather in the State. Needless to say, he was a strong contender from the very beginning.

Hon Basil Ejidike, a former chairman of Onitsha South Local Government who, at one point, described Nwoye as a grassroots politician who belongs to the first eleven class of political leaders in Anambra, noted of the opinion that Nwoye, based on his track records in politics and leadership, was taylor-made to clinch the party ticket and to lead the State.

Ejidike said: “Nwoye is the right choice. The entire politicians in this State are behind him because we have tested him and found out that he possesses all the qualities required of a good leader. He did it as a student in the university where he presided over the entire students in the country and led the PDP to win the 2007 governorship election in Anambra State.

He was the candidate of PDP during the last election in 2013 and now he is at the National Assembly, so he is well ripped and okay for the governorship job.”

While Uba And Nwoye banked on their foot soldiers at the grassroots, their political structures and support from their godfathers, colleagues in the National Assembly, other aspirants in APC put their hope of clinching the ticket in their quality credentials, experience in business and corporate world and vision for good governance for Ndi Anambra.

For instance, Chief George Muoghalu the current national auditor of APC, who was thought to be a leading contender for the ticket, was banking on his experience as an ex-civil servant, experience in political administration having held different administrative positions in the party and his consistency as a diehard card-carrying member of the party. A most consistent and outstanding member of APC, he told The Oracle Today that those who came to the party through the backdoor were confused and opportunistic persons who wanted to reap where they did not sow.

He said that those who came into the APC to use the platform to contest the governorship election in Anambra following the victory of the party in 2015 election had to consider the fact that there were people who built and sustained the party with their time and resources before the invasion of the fortune seekers, maintaining that some people simply wanted to reap where they did not sow.

He added: “They came into APC because the party won presidential election in 2015, saying that they are popular enough to win governorship election in Anambra State. But my question is: if you are popular enough, why don’t you use your party to contest the election.

Owele Rochas Okorocha was popular enough in Imo State and consequently he used APGA a relatively unpopular party in Imo state to win election. Mimiko was popular in Ondo and consequently he used an unpopular Labour Party to defeat the incumbent Governor in Ondo State, so anybody who feels he is popular

Cont’d on page 12

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

POLITICS

ANAMBRA 2017: Week of troubled primaries

By CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

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LL registered political parties wishing to participate in the in the November 18 governorship poll in Anambra State on Saturday struggled against the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for conduct of primaries. Submission and change of names of candidates for the election has another window that could last to the middle of October.

Those that were still trying to elect their candidate included Labour Party, LP, Mega Progressives Peoples Party, MPPP. Below is the situation by the weekend.

APGA (a) This is the faction of the party that unanimously and overwhelmingly chose Governor Willie Obiano as its flag bearer. Shortly after the event, the Governor took a well-deserved rest overseas. He is still abroad.

The foisting of headship of Obiano’s reelection campaign on the immediate past national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh may be the most tactical move the administration has made in four years.

From inception, the administration carried on as if tomorrow would never come. It went beating about the bush looking for those to grant the administration some level of acceptability, a challenge for an incumbent who is open to more criticisms than other candidates.

Obiano’s first blunder was picking up quarrels with those who made him governor. Just as things were being mended, he came up again telling the world that former Governor Peter Obi had no hand in making him governor.

Today the dice is cast between the old godson and the new godson. Anyone with doubts would only exercise some patience till November 18. However, one thing is sure, it is not going to be easy for anyone, neither the obedient or the disobedient godson, nor other contenders. Everyone has to work hard to get the result.

Many point out that it may already be nunc dimitis for the ‘Working Willie’ era. Like in all elections, the results are known after the voting, and in Nigeria, when the courts decide.

APGA (b) The second faction of the party led by Chief Martin Agbaso, which has of late been a thorn in the flesh of Obiano. Typically, it appears the Governor’s spin doctors have remained resolute in seeking a middle course or truce.

While the Governor came out heavily on the management of the Awka hotel announced as venue for the Agbaso faction’s primaries, the apparently smart group went into the remote Orumba Council community of Ezira to do its business, picking a retired soldier, Dr. Hygers Igwebuike as its candidate.

That made all those muscle-flexing with the Awka hotel an effort in futility. The Chief Executive of the hotel, Chief Sam Nwosu had raised alarm over the security siege, which came twice within one week. His hotel, he said, lost huge revenue to the siege, though no political activities were booked or held within its premises.

His outcry made little or no impact until it became obvious that the APGA function that they wanted to disrupt their primaries had done their business elsewhere.

The Agbaso question has remained unanswered. Rounds of court sessions may dog the factions into the campaign weeks.

UPP It is another party full of hopes but is so troubled. The crisis started earlier without warnings. The Dr. Ignatius Igwilo led state executive announced the summary removal and suspension of the two governorship aspirants on the party’s card, Chief Osita Chidoka and Chudi Offodile. The party’s screening panel had earlier disqualified Chief Ifeanyi Okonkwo, citing an issue with the Supreme Court.

From then, it has been one problem after another. The last straw appeared to have come with Offodile’s withdrawal from the primaries.

He alleged irreconcilable irregularities with the official delegates’ list. The Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria, MOBIN, which UPP leveraged, made known its position on the dispute

•Parties race against time

•Willie Obiano (APGA)

•Oseloka Obaze (PDP)

•Tony Nwoye (APC)

•Godwin Ezeemo (PPA)

•Osita Chidoka (UPP)

•Yul Edochie (DPC)

ALL registered political parties wishing to participate in the in the November 18 governorship poll in Anambra State on Saturday struggled against the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for conduct of primaries.

Submission and change of names of candidates for the election has another window that could last to the middle of October.

”

last week. Its leader, Ada Anagbogu said it had withdrawn its relationship with UPP. Chidoka won the primaries.

APC All Progressives Congress, APC, delegates overwhelmingly elected Tony Nwoye, a former State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party under which he was elected to a current seat in the House of Representatives.

For a second time in four years, Nwoye has beaten all comers, including his perceived master Andy Uba, to the ticket. In 2013, he performed the same feat. But sadly he lost at the main election. It was assumed that President Goodluck Jonathan had allowed Governor Obi and APGA to produce the governor at the expense of Nwoye.

Today things are different. Nwoye is not unmindful of the wishes and expectations of his followers, friends and enemies alike. He wants to grab the opportunity.

After beating Uba again, the man everyone knows “has the capacity”; Nwoye believes he will step into the Anambra Government House as the next governor of the State.

PDP Another dramatic result came from Oseloka Henry Obaze who, the immediate past Governor Peter Obi, propelled to triumph. It is curious what the scenario would be at the election stage. Obiano (APGA) is Obi’s runaway political godson, and Obaze is his emerging political godson.

Besides this scenario, the PDP primaries appeared to be the most turbulent, with Prince John Emeka, a former Minister of Transport, leading others including Senator Stella Oduah to pull out of the contest. He cited brazen irregularities in the delegates’ lists.

Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah, one of the aspirants who followed things to the end, couldn’t be less dramatic as he came on air as the activities were wounding down to announce his dismay with the Governor Dave Umahi-led primaries committee. He said the committee’s activities were shrouded in secrecy, contrary to the party’s guidelines. Aspirants, he alleged, were not allowed ample time with the delegates’ list that was given to them few hours to the primaries.

•Basil Onuorah (GPN) He admitted they protested about the list and some even had to write formally. They had instituted a law suit to nullify the primaries.

GPN Green Party of Nigeria, GPN, elected a 38-year-old, legal practitioner, Basil Onyeachonam Onuorah, from Mmiata Anam in Anambra West LGA as its candidate.

Onuorah, an experienced politician, an industrialist, and one-time governorship candidate, in his acceptance speech promised about three million jobs within the first four years when elected.

According to him, “Only the Green Party is well equipped to revive the nation’s economy through agriculture. I have age on my side, I want to fight crime with jobs, hence want to carry along two million unemployed youth

Cont’d on page 13

11

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

POLITICS

Ojukwu would have revolted if he was alive – Ubani Chief Don Ubani, a civil society activist, is the Executive Director, Centre for Equity and Eradication of Rural Poverty (CEERP). The Ukwa- West-born wordsmith, popularly known as Okwubunka Asa, in this interview with BONIFACE OKORO, expresses happiness over the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in London, examined his presidential broadcast and insists that Nigeria was overdue for restructuring. According to Ubani, late Igbo sage, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu would not have been happy if he was alive to behold the perceived injustice against Ndigbo in the country. Excerpts:

R

ECENTLY, President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country from his medical vacation abroad. What were you expectations from him I was thinking that Mr President would have come back a reborn President, a man of passion, a fatherly President, a man that is very very sensitive to critical issues of this country.

My understanding is that Mr President has not shown any change, he came back the same person. Mr President should have come back a reborn President, having seen what happens in civilised democracy.

Well, I think we are back to square one, nothing has improved, I have not seen any iota of change in Mr President.

Many Nigerians had believed that the President would have used the opportunity of his nationwide broadcast to deal with thorny national issues like restructuring but it appears he just brushed over it. What is your take I want to start by saying that the broadcast was quite expected. To the best of my knowledge, it was even delayed because I didn’t see why on his return that Saturday, August 26, 2017, he couldn’t have made a broadcast.

Be that as it may, the most important thing is that the President has come back and he has spoken to the hearing of all Nigerians.

In terms of the content of his speech, I wouldn’t say he didn’t say something; he spoke on the non-negotiability of Nigeria as a nation. We all agree to that because, personally, I believe Nigeria should remain united but it must have to be restructured.

To some extent, he also gave some inclination to restructuring by saying the National Assembly and the National Council of States have a responsibility towards addressing these grievances.

But I would have expected that knowing that the situation is very very boiling, the situation in this country, except someone who pretends not to know what is happening, otherwise, any well-meaning Nigeria should know that all is not well.

There is no way sections of the country will be talking of restructuring and Mr President who has been away for about 105 days, will

come back and make no specific mention of restructuring.

What is restructuring? Restructuring means bringing Nigeria to the level where Nigeria’s founding fathers left it before military interregnum, talking about 1960 and 1963 Republican Constitution.

This is what, by my own understanding as a layman, restructuring is all about: devolution of power from the centre, there is a lot of power concentrated at the centre. Let such power be devolved to the states or regions, as the case may be, to exploit their resources and then pay the required royalty to the federal government.

If states or regions (I am an advocate of regions because these states, most of them are not viable) are allowed to control their resources, then they could retain 60 per cent and pay 40 per cent to the central government because a lot of responsibilities have been devolved from the federal government to the state, the federal government will have a lot of money from the 40 per cent and they will be able to use 20 per cent to run the federal government like Defence, Foreign Policy and so on.

And again, the remaining 20 per cent will again be shared to the states or regions. In that case, you will be able to do away with the quest for control of the centre because there are a lot power in the centre, that is why everybody wants to be at the centre and that is the cause of the crises we have in this country.

I will expecting that Mr President would have addressed basically and in details, the issue of restructuring and he did not do that.

Many believe that his stance would continue to stake agitations for self-determination On the issue of agitations, he described agitators as irresponsible people who want cause trouble in the country. That is not what we were expecting. When the situation is tense, you don’t come back to add fuel to it. He should have said we can address this problem, we will invite this people, let us talk so that whatever their grievances, we will know. But the idea of coming with a threat, two wrongs does not make a right.

He made mention of security, that security

•Ubani

if Ojukwu had been alive when President Buhari made such a statement, that those who voted for him 97 per cent, he would give 97 per cent reward and those who voted for him five per cent (even though it is arithmetically wrong) he would give five per cent, I am sure Ojukwu himself would have concluded that was a very un-statemanly statement.

”

will be given impetus but while he was away for 105 days, something very very tragic of extreme importance happened and that was the mass killing in a church in Ozubulu, Anambra State. Mr President should have shown compassion, he should have made mention of that tragic loss and expressed his sympathy to the bereaved family and that means he didn’t play his role as a father.

How relevant is the President’s reference to late Igbo leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, to contemporary Nigeria That his narrative, its authenticity, we cannot guarantee. If Ojukwu went to his House in Daura as a guest and the spent two nights discussing and at the end it was not published in any medium and Ojukwu is not alive to say whether he did or not; but the most important thing , for me I believe in Nigeria but I believe in a restructured Nigeria.

Bringing that aspect was only trying to touch the matter at the periphery.

Ojukwu’s opinion as at that time he visited him till date; if Ojukwu was to be alive, that could be a different thing because the situ-

ation Ojukwu visited him supposedly, may not be the same situation today. By the time Ojukwu visited him, I am sure he has not made his infamous statement of 97 per cent and five per cent.

So, I am sure if Ojukwu had been alive when President Buhari made such a statement, that those who voted for him 97 per cent, he would give 97 per cent reward and those who voted for him five per cent (even though it is arithmetically wrong) he would give five per cent, I am sure Ojukwu himself would have concluded that was a very unstatemanly statement.

So, the scenario is quite different. Why do people agitate? People agitate when their fundamental human rights are not guaranteed, when their existence in a polity is not guaranteed; when there is injustice glaring at the faces of everybody, people start agitating.

Many empires in history collapsed because of divisive foundations arising from agitations that also arises from injustice. So, I don’t think that reference is in any way relevant in contemporary Nigeria as we speak.

12

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

POLITICS Recently, Federal Government came up with a policy to monitor as well as control the Social Media. Can you throw more light on this policy?

Nobody is advocating control of social media. I think the problem we have is with those people who sometimes try to create problems out of every issue the government or agencies of government raise. They just want to use it to try to create problems where there is none. I remember when the National Assembly said something about controlling the social media through legislation, we all kicked against it. We all said no.

Nobody can control the social media. However, what you may be referring to here is the recent policy by the Nigerian Army to check the spread of hate messages and the use of Social Media platform to spread hate speeches. The Army said that they are going to be looking into hate speeches. In the UK, hate speech can earn you an arrest. So, it is not just peculiar to Nigeria. What we are talking about here is that there is a difference between what I heard the Army say, and the way some people are portraying the issue.

What they said is the control of hate speech.

What is going on across social media can cause fire. There is a difference between controlling the social media and going after people who propagate hate speech through the Social Media.. When you go and take a picture or pictures of hundreds of people who were slaughtered either in Rwanda many years ago or of those who were slaughtered in Somalia or Congo many years ago and you spread it around Whatsapp groups or Facebook and say these are Igbo people or Tiv people or Fulani people that were killed in Kaduna, etc, or declare them as Yoruba People that were massacred in Niger Delta, when you know that it is not true, then you will be invited to questioning to explain your intentions. Because, if you do that and then the people in Kaduna or elsewhere look at pictures and say ‘oh my God, they just killed our people’ and they pick up their guns, machetes said and start shooting and killing innocent people, before we know it, they would have murdered innocent Hausa people in the East. Then reactions would follow in Maiduguri with the killing of Igbo people and anybody from the South. That post on the social media would have cost a national catastrophe before you realize it. That was how it happened in Rwanda and the three journalists who did that are still in jail till today. We can’t let that happen here.

You are a member of the team put that manages the President’s image. What has your experience been so far?

I have been asked this question many times and my answers remain the same.

Working for the President of Nigeria as we have now in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari is actually one of the easiest jobs I have done. Yes, because with President Muhamadu Buhari, all you need to do is tell the truth. You see, when you tell the truth you don’t need to start thinking of the story to tell or how it will re-bounce on you.

We don’t have such problems. He wants us to tell the truth. He tells this nation the truth and that makes my job in particular and I believe those of others working with him too, easy. All we need to do is to tell what happens and what is going on. We don’t need to start hiding what happened. The government in the first place belongs to the people of Nigeria. President Buhari is the number one servant. He was elected to serve the people of Nigeria and it will be unheard of that he is lying to people who elected him to serve them. Consequently, that makes our job easy.

How would you assess the reactions of Nigerians to the President’s health?

Well I will say Nigerians have reacted due to their experiences in the past. In the past, Nigerian leaders would just sneak out of the country for medical help; they would sneak out of Nigeria to deal with personal issues and nobody would know about it and if it came to public knowledge, or somebody exposed it, they would deny it and later on we hear about thanksgiving services and ceremonies being performed by those same leaders who denied that nothing was happening. So having gone through that, no one

never get tired of saying it that we have not had any leader in this nation that has more respect for the people of Nigeria than President Buhari because when he needed extension he also wrote to the National Assembly and he didn’t forget to inform Nigerians. I believe at this point that he has earned the trust of Nigerians.

How does the President react to the messages on the social media platforms?

He just laughs. He sees all those cartoons and laughs. Sometimes he makes fun of them too, like one day l remembered he asked “ why is my jaw like this? Why did they make my jaw like that?” He is a man of many parts that many Nigerians really do not know. He is a man that is full of humour. He has a good sense of humour. He finds humour in everything. He doesn’t take life as serious as people think. That is why many Nigerians adore him. Many Nigerians take things too serious. We don’t joke. We must learn to let down our heads like they say it in Britain let down your head and relax. Look, he doesn’t take things too hard.

Some of the elites who personally attack him; he sees himself as their President; you know a man if you have many children some of them will be nasty; you can even have an armed robber as your child but you are not going to deny them. That is his attitude towards them. You can see that when he first came after he was first sworn in and he was going to Cameroon, he took governors not just from APC but from PDP. That is who he is. He sees himself as the President of federal republic of Nigeria not an APC President.

That is what some of us in APC will want him to be. No, but he stood on the platform of APC to run for an election that doesn’t make him the President of APC. He is the President of Nigeria and I can assure you that he just laughs over all those things and it doesn’t take anything away from him; he just see you as one of my children that doesn’t really understand who I am. That is how he views it.

•Mrs. Onochie

Buhari’s government not planning to control the social media –Onochie In this interview with TONY AILEMEN, in Abuja, Mrs Laureta Onochie, Special Assistant to President Buhari on Social Media explains that the government has no plans to control the social media, but to check ‘hate speeches, hate messages’ and many more. Excerpts. can blame Nigerians for reacting towards the President’s health issue this way, given their experience. You must also agree that we have never experienced transmutation of power. So it is a new concept. It is a new idea even though it is embedded in our constitution. Each time he travelled out on official ground, he tells Nigerians where he will be going, who is going with him and when he will be coming back. That is on official duty. And if he is going out on medical leave

or medical vacation he tells the National Assembly why he is going away. He will write to the Nigerian people through a press release and then he will hand over properly to the Vice President making him essentially the Acting President. Consequently, each time he also needed extension when he has travelled he will not just take it out of impunity and take the Nigerian people for granted or just inform the National Assembly and forget the Nigerian people. I keep saying it and I will

Are you under pressure sometimes?

No. I do things that are right. I don’t do things to please anybody and those who know me can tell you that. Under this administration, we don’t do “eye service” or do things to please anybody. I please the one who created me. I am a practicing Christian I follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ. He hated lies. He hated political correctness. He didn’t like religious bigotry and that’s why he called all those people Pharisees and Sadducees. Today I follow his footsteps; I follow his teachings and his doctrines. I don’t even do it to please him because it is me that will reap the reward of truth. It is not him. President Muhammadu Buhari does not encourage too. He wants us to do things because it is right to do them. If it is not right, he won’t do it. That is why he is different from other leaders that we have had in this country. So, he does not put any of his aides under pressures; there is no pressure at all.

What is your assessment of the President’s disposition to women in terms of appointments?

I think that women are important in any government. But l also think that what is important should be merit. I don’t even care if the President, the Vice President and everybody in this government are men as long as they deliver. I don’t also care if they are all women, let them deliver; that is what counts for me. I don’t bother where they come from. It doesn’t bother me at all. What bothers me is are they able to deliver the dividends of democracy because that is the reason why they were elected in the first place.

I don’t do this feminism and all of that. If we find people who are capable, accountable and they are doing the job and delivering, I have no problem with it. I don’t want a situation where we just bring women in order to make up the number. Oh we have women in government and then we bring the wives of, the girl friends of godfathers and then we just dump them on Nigeria when they don’t know what to do. That’s what we have had mostly in the past. That is the truth. For me, it is about merit. Let us bring people, whether they are men or women it is immaterial. Let them do the job.

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

POLITICS Cont’d from page 9 should use his party to stand for election and not cross-carpet to other party which he didn’t make any meaningful contribution to its development and growth.”

On his vision Muogjhalu said he had more than enough experience to lead Anambra State having worked in government up to the level as a permanent secretary of a ministry and had held several positions in the party at the national level, adding that if elected, he would ensure massive development in agriculture, massive rural development with road infrastructure and other amenities like functional water system, functional hospitals and upgrading of the public schools in every part of the State.

He also said that he would empower women and youth with jobs, adding that his regime would fight poverty, unemployment and crime with job creation, using the instrumentalities of coherent mechanized agriculture, building skills acquisition centres across the State and provision of accessible loan to the poor especially the women and the youth.

Dr Chike Obidigbo an industrialist for over 30 years who is also the proprietor of Osisioma Foundation is saying that he had what it takes to deliver Anambra for APC having made name as an industrialist and philanthropist with massive support from all segments of the society, including the political class, religious leaders, traditional rulers, the youth and what have you in the State.

Obidigbo who joined APC from APGA with over a million members of Osisioma Foundation made the party stronger going into the November poll. The Umunya-born industrialistturned politician said unlike some aspirants who believe that APC would use the federal might to railroad them to Government House, he has what it took to win the election.

He added that he joined the national ruling party with a view to lifting Anambra into the mainstream of national politics, noting that Anambra as a leading State in Nigeria deserves to be at the centre.

On his vision for the State, Obidigbo said that as an industrialist with over 30 years experience, he has a blueprint on how to develop the economy of Anambra State and thus create jobs for the youth.

He promised to set a model of economic development if elected, adding that with over 1m members of Osisioma Foundation, he was certain to defeat Obaino at the polls.

“I am bringing experience of over 30 years of creating jobs for the youth to bear at the Government House in Awka if given the opportunity and let me assure the good people Anambra State that if given the mandate, I would develop the economy of the State at the level where the State can favourably compete with Lagos in terms of revenue. As an individual, I have done it for 30 years developing different types of products that are acceptable to the public,” he added Speaking on Obidigbo, a political analyst, Victor Eneh described him as sure bet for victory of APC at the November poll.

Eneh pointed out that what the national ruling party needs to win Anambra is just the votes of the members of the party via Osisioma Foundation. “Osisioma Foundation has a larger number of voters than all members of APGA and PDP put together in Anambra State and the records are there for everybody to see,” he added On his part youthful aspirant Johnbosco Onunkwo made a strong case for the APC ticket on the grounds that it is the turn of the youth to produce the governor of Anambra come November 18. Onunkwo who said he was inspired into the race by the youth said he was the right choice for the APC adding that he had what it takes to deliver Anambra to the national ruling party.

Speaking on his capacity to deliver the party, the youthful Electrical and Computer Engineer who described himself as the oldest politician in APC from Action Congress and Action Congress of Nigeria, said: “I am a youth and a Catholic; if given the ticket as the flag bearer of APC in the forthcoming election, the youth and the Catholic will support me and you know what it means.”

On his vision for the State, Onunkwo said he would channel his experience in the oil industry where has worked for some years now to industrialize the Light of the Nation, adding that he would enhance power supply among other infrastructures to boost the growth of existing industries and also accelerate the pace for new ones to spring up.

He said: “I cannot be a governor that wouldn’t

...Tony Nwoye crushed Andy Uba

•Andy Uba

•Tony Nwoye

raise his finger to revive an ailing industry. I cannot be a governor who sits in office doing nothing but drinking and dancing at functions and parading awards while large-scale industries are dying at Onitsha and Nnewi for lack of access to soft loans, lack of access roads and due to epileptic power supply. As a governor, I will revive industries and new ones will spring up in Anambra State.”

He said that as governor, he would introduce a digital system of leadership by bringing modern digital equipment and applications to bear on the running of the State, lamenting with dismay that a big State like Anambra is still under analog. He said Anambra cannot be an analog State in the 21st Century when modern technology has turned the world into a global village.

He said: “Anambra at the present is analog

Cont’d from page 10 and one million unemployed job seeking graduates.”

He promised to lead Anambra State out of what he saw as “this lethargic governance”, and urged the people to join him, as the task ahead was bigger than one person. He polled 100 votes of the 105 accredited delegates. There were three “no” votes, with two invalid votes at the primaries presided over the National Chairman of GPN, Chief Sam Ekeh. It held at a hotel in Awka.

The State Chairman of the party, Akudo Chikwendu assured the electorate that his party would transform the economy of the State when it takes over the helm of affairs.

PPA The Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA, has elected Mr. Godwin Chukwunenye Ezeemo as its governorship candidate. Ezeemo said he was driven by passion to serve and improve the lot of the people.

Ezeemo, who recorded overwhelming support from delegates, noted that he wanted to restore morals in the society to ensure that every child in Anambra attained at least basic education. He explained it was the reason he was offering free basic education to every child in the State.

According to him, it was for his love for people that made him relocate his business from the United Kingdom and elsewhere to Nigeria, to his Umuchu Village in Aguata LGA of the State.

but as a governor, I will make it a digital State.

Being a digital State, there will be no gap between the those in the city and those at the remote rural areas at Nzam in Anambra West or Omasi in Ayamelum or Ogwuikpere in Ogbaru. That is what digital applications can do for you.”

In the end, however, hard, real politic won.

Months back, The Oracle Today had reported that a billionaire oil magnate and godfather had staked his billions to secure the APC ticket for his godson. In another edition, the newspaper also reported that Arthur Eze was set to battle former President Obasanjo over APC ticket for the Anambra governorship election…on behalf of their godsons. As it turned out, the epic battle was won by the Prince Eze camp: Tony Nwoye is an acolyte of the Ukpo-born billion-

aire and philanthropist.

Long before other aspirants thought of oiling their campaign machinery, indeed even before Senator Uba decamped to APC from the PDP, Nwoye had reportedly secured the support and loyalty of delegates from 15 out of Anambra’s 21 local councils. The Oracle Today learnt that by the time Andy Uba came with his own largesse, it was decidedly too late. So, while the former Senior Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo was touted as the man to beat in the much hyped APC primary, it turned out that Tony Nwoye was, indeed, the man to beat.

And nobody could beat him. Nwoye’s 2000+ votes to Senator Uba’s 900+ votes left no one in doubt who the winner was. It was Nwoye— and Prince Eze’s tendency.

ANAMBRA 2017: Week of troubled primaries has been elected the governorship candidate of the party. Delegates, drawn from the 326 electoral wards in the State, chose Oraegbunam.

In a post election remark, Oraegbunam commended the party, the delegates, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials, observers and other stakeholders for the peaceful conduct of the primaries, promising that HDP would surely beat Governor Obiano in the November 18 poll.

Oraegbunam, aka, ‘Ozo-Ocha’ who is a very well known political strategist and tactician, promised to ensure abundant democracy dividend to the people of the State when elected.

PRP The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, has chosen a young pharmacist, Dr. Stephen Mbah to fly the flag of the party in the November 18 poll. Having emerged the only aspirant, he was consequently elected by 252 votes out of the 253 accredited delegates who voted in the primaries.

PRP is the only party that elected its flag bearer through the option A4 electoral format. The National Chairman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa noted that it was to ensure uttermost transparency.

Musa who was represented by the party’s Abia State Chairman, Chief Godwin Kanu said the party was poised to occupying Awka Government House next year.

Dr. Mbah, the candidate, promised to make security of lives and property, free education, HDP food security and free ante-natal programme The Anambra State Chairman of the Hope for mothers, the agenda of his administration Democratic Party, HDP, Chief Sam Oraegbunam when elected.

IDP Independent Democrat Party, IDP, has elected a 35-year-old farmer, Franklyn Ndife, as its governorship candidate for the election. Ndife was elected unopposed by 243 delegates at the party’s primaries conducted at its secretariat in Awka.

National Chairman of IDP, Chief Edozie Madu tasked youth in the State to mobilise and ensure that the party’s victory in the November 18 poll.

He said ID as a political party that had the interest of youths and women at heart would field a female deputy governor to further boost the party’s chances of winning the election. “This is your chance to take your destiny in your hands.

Our candidate is only 35 years old; the youngest in the race. You must all go to the grassroots and mobilise support for him.

“Our chances of winning the election are 90 percent. We should not allow this chance to slip off our hands. This party belongs to the youths and women; and they are the majority in every election; so I don’t see why we should not win the November election,” Madu said.

In his acceptance speech, Ndife said he wanted to make a difference in the political landscape of the State. “The old people had failed us. We can no longer continue with such retrogressive system. I am 35 years old and a farmer. I have my farms in Kuje, FCT and Anambra State. I have come to revolutionise agriculture in the State and create jobs for the youths in that sector.

“No modern nation can afford to neglect agriculture and survive. That’s why we in the race and I assure you I will win. I have the following; I have the goodwill. I hail from Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of the State.”

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

INTERVIEW

‘South-East and South-South should adopt APGA as their only political party’ Sir Bob Okonyia is an intellectually-driven political commentator who was professionally trained in England.

In this interview with IRETO TEMOFEH, he blames majority of Nigerian youths for their poor mindsets. But more importantly, he goes further to accuse the Igbos of failing to defend their political boundaries and insists that the South-East and South-South need to unite to achieve their purpose, by using the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as their common, consolidated political platform, among others.

What is your assessment of the agitation for Biafra and the release of Nnamdi Kanu from detention?

Since the agitation of Biafra and aftermath result of the release from detention of Nnamdi Kanu followed by the sit at home request by IPOB in the entire South East region, Nigeria political space is witnessing another dimension that is threatening the survival of Nigeria unity. All the youths of different ethnic groups woke up from their slumber with very unimpressive and degenerative clarion calls with conditions attached for the continuation of the existence of Nigeria’s unity.

These clarion calls by different ethnic youths have put the Nigeria ruling class, political class, the elders’ forums of each ethnic group and the traditional rulers under very serious threat. The traditional leaders are also in total disarray and confused with the uprising of the youths especially in their kingdoms or domains as to what to do to stop the encroaching anarchy in our democracy. What we are now witnessing is the upturn of the different ethnic youth forum of each ethnic race in Nigeria coming into the frontline to defend their ethnic stand in the Nigeria unity space instead of the elders’ forum. All the elders’ forums are now withdrawn to the back stage. What is manifesting today in Nigeria governance is classical display of failure in leadership of each different elder’s ethnic race forum, failure of our political leaders, failure of our traditional rulers, failure of the unified elders council and finally failure of the type of federalism adopted for our governance.

By analysis of each resolutions adopted by each different ethnic youth forum in our democratic set up portrays two things that are of importance. These are first, the unitary system of federalism has failed and cannot sustain the unity of Nigeria further.

Secondly, the elders’ forum, the political class, the traditional leaders, and the ruling class have all failed in their roles in governance and are in severe threat of their sustenance of denial of the masses survival rights of living through their deceits, looting of the treasuries, corruption, nepotism, religiosity and selfishness.

Can the position of these youths, particularly the Northern youths, move Nigeria forward?

However and very unfortunately, going by the resolutions announced by each ethnic youth forum through several media houses, their exposures of knowledge and readiness to progress Nigeria further was very doubtful. They have all displayed total ignorance of Nigeria’s problems. The resolutions and the exit order by Arewa youths show lack of their preparedness to drive Nigeria to its next level in economic and developmental growth.

It is very unimaginable, depressing and a total disgrace that in this 21st century era, when other nations are looking upon the youths to lead in politics, celebrating youths’ contributions towards making the world a better place to live with the likes of the social network developers like Facebook Twitter etc., our Nigerian youths are having the mindset to be thinking about secession without focus, some giving very

What lessons can Nigerians learn from the threats and exit order by the Arewa youths?

Their calls made us to accept in its entirety that our present system of governance lacks in merit to actualize our dreams as a nation and also lacks in capability of such a system to harness our unity.

Nigeria, over the years has witnessed the destruction of every foundation of economic, development and industrial growth because the political class, the elders’ forums, traditional rulers and the ruling class were all unified in corruption, religiosity, ethnic mindset and selfish intentions.

However, unfortunately, they divided their subjects, followers and the governed and put them in total disarray of mindsets to embrace ethnic segregations and disunity in religiosity. They also succeeded in keeping the youths of all ethnic groups in total abject poverty by enslaving them to be their puppets to achieve their political ambitions or employed them as security thugs to protect their selfish empires.

From all these developments, do you think the youths are intellectually capable of solving Nigeria’s problems?

It is clear that our youths are basically without any solution, focus and understanding of what entails in the space of the country called Nigeria. Each youth forum of different ethnic group is busy coming together to dish out resolutions that are very meaningless and of no consequential value addition to the progress and unity of Nigeria. None of the youth forums of any ethnic group made any reference to any issue that has deflated the growth of Nigeria in terms of religiosity, corruption, ethnicity, selfishness and all other nefarious attributes that are man-made.

Each and every one of them is uttering treasonable statements laced with ethnic and tribal colorations when they are all aware of the existence of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on one side is issuing threat of secession and giving conditions. Arewa youths followed by issuing an exit order of the Igbo nation from the entire Northern region with a deadline date; and so are the other ethnic youth forums.

•Sir Bob Okonyia silly and totally unintelligent exit order of another ethnic group to vacate a region that they myopically thought was owned by them in this modern era.

The funniest and most stupid one was the exit order made by Arewa youths.

This alone confirms their backwardness in knowledge and very shallowness of thinking.

Would it be legally and morally right for the Arewa youths to seize or forcefully take over the properties of non-indigenes/ foreigners just because they are not from the North?

It is very baffling and worrisome that in this 21st century era our youths are still having the mind to usurp the hard earned wealth of somebody freely because the person comes from a different ethnic

group. What a joke and highly insensitive thinking. If not for the deceitful intentions of the military dictators that created the unbalanced constitution that lacks merit, the Arewa youths should not have gotten the guts and audacity to make such an exit order freely and get away with it.

The military dictators’ visionless and ethnically biased motives was to keep our country under siege by the very few. It beats the imagination to think of how they consciously denied Nigerians their birth rights as citizens to live freely in the Nigeria space no matter their state of origin. This is what has encouraged such an exit order by some group of illiterate youths. We use one passport as citizens of Nigeria but we are being denied of our rights of birthplace to live anywhere in that same country.

Is the federal government culpable?

The elected government at the federal level could not summon courage to invoke the constitutional rights to maintain peace, unity, protection of life and property of its citizens because of their inefficiency in governance that is highly convoluted with hidden ethnic agendas that are very evidently pronounced and driven by deceitful information. The elected Governors could not do anything because they have all compromised selfishly to corruptly enrich themselves and they know that they are the targets of these youths in their respective states. Also, the ruling class realizing that their wealth was not made genuinely are afraid to comment on the youths’ demands and finally, the traditional leaders

Cont’d on Page 16

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

POLITICS

‘Ugwuanyi’s re-election is done deal, quote me’ A former Commissioner for Chieftaincy matters in Enugu State, Pastor Emeka Abugu, believes the re-election of the Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2019 is already a done deal due to the governor’s giant strides in office. Emeka, who praised the governor for being transparent, prudent and people-oriented in office, also commended him for adopting maintenance culture, which he said, is absent in this clime, as part of his policy. On the issue of 2019 and threat by the opposition parties in the state, the politician declared that not even the exit of some former big wigs from PDP would ruffle Ugwuanyi or the party because the “governor’s giant strides in terms of development of the state speak volumes; that would be Ugwuanyi’s strength at the polls because Ndi Enugu are never ingrates. I am certain that they will re-elect the governor because they have never had it so good.” He spoke with CHUKS EZE in Enugu As a grassroots politician, what is your midterm assessment of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi?

My midterm scorecard for Governor Ugwuanyi, as the ordained governor of Enugu State, is that he has kept a clean sheet. He has been superlative in governance. The governor has put up a wonderful performance in the midst of austerity. I believe that Gburu Gburu, as we call him, has a wisdom that equals the description given about David in the scripture. In the bible, David was described as having the wisdom equal to that of angels; and I think that it is the same spirit of wisdom that has made the governor to record sterling achievements that I was referring to, which cuts across every facet and every part of the state. I also make bold to say that if not for the kind of wisdom that God had bestowed on Gburu Gburu, Enugu residents would have seen the worst of life at the current period when the APC government has infested poverty and difficulty on Nigerians. But, for that divine wisdom and grace of God, the governor would not have performed due to acute paucity of funds.

But to God be the glory, Governor Ugwuanyi has proven to the world that it is possible to turn situation around for better, in the midst of scarcity, through application of divine wisdom. So, I consider him a great leader, a visionary one who is out to show the world how to lead a prudent, accountable and people-oriented government.

Were you pouring those encomiums on the governor because he is your kinsman or do you have fact-based examples to substantiate your claims?

I do not even remember that he is my kinsman; I only know him as the governor of Enugu State. I am not also speaking to you as a member of PDP, even though I am. I am telling you the truth that is known to all including our friends in the opposition. I do not have any reason to hide the governor’s inefficiency by hyping his performance, if he is not performing well. I say all that I am telling you because they are provable. I know the amount of resources that that Enugu state earns both in terms of federal allocation and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and I know that nobody would ordinarily perform wonders with the kind of allocation that our State gets from Abuja. But Governor Ugwuanyi is performing wonders, and Enugu citizens have kept wondering how he has been going about it.

Ok, be specific; how has the governor been performing wonders?

I would not want to sound like the governor’s spokesperson, but the truth is that the roads that the governor has constructed within the first lap of his maiden tenure are scattered everywhere in the state. There are several on-going projects across the state just as there are many others that we hear that government has concluded plans to commence as soon as the rains rescind.

The great innovations that we witness in the state capital are there for everyone to witness. Ugwuanyi has been rated as the most worker-friendly governor in the country, most student-friendly governor and almost most everything-friendly governor. He has been empowering 100 traders per month across the state and they have declared him the most trader-friendly governor because

they have never experienced such gesture in the history of the state. These are some of his physical or tangible achievements. What about the intangible achievements of the governor?

There are certain things that I usually desire from leaders, which Governor Ugwuanyi has been doing, and I have continued to admire from a distance. For instance, the governor has been maintaining infrastructures and structure that are already on ground. For instance, in the area of road maintenance, the governor has ensured that Enugu roads are regularly maintained to keep the state a pothole-free one. The governor’s team regularly moves around the capital city to fish out failed portions and fix them effectively such that even in this period of heavy rains, the roads are so smooth even the blind could drive on Enugu roads.

Apart from roads, there are steady structural repairs of other facilities. The governor is as well setting the pace in security. In terms of maintenance of peace and fence-mending, he is as well a master. He is doing several other things in the state that I doubt if anybody else would have done better at this time. I have known the governor for a long time; I know his giant strides as former member representing Udenu/Igbo-Eze North in the House of Representatives. His achievements are still on the people’s lips till today.

He distinguished himself as NASS member, and he is presently distinguishing himself as governor. He has soft spot for the needy and downtrodden, and I know that his calm spirit and divine wisdom would propel him to do even more for the state as governor.

Did you say that the entire Enugu State is pothole-free?

I could not have meant the entire state even if I had stated so. I could not have toured the entire state to determine the state of all the roads. I had specifically spoken about roads in the capital city, which is a known fact that the governor has shown that he is determined never to allow any pothole to surface throughout his administration. I was referring to the fact that we all know that maintenance culture is lacking in this part of the world, but the governor has embraced it as his policy watchword. When I refer to Enugu roads as pothole-free, I am just illustrating the fact that the governor is making a lot of efforts to spread road projects across board. He is opening up hitherto dead and forgotten roads in various communities and linking up these communities through construction of new roads, revamping long-failed roads and establishing linkups and ring roads.

They say he is a prudent governor…?

Oh yes, he is! In fact, if there is any better word to qualify that, then that is what the governor is. He is not only prudent in office but Governor Ugwuanyi is as well, transparent and humane. He is everything a good leader should be and we are proud of him. I am saying all these because we should desist from always dissipating our energy on bemoaning the prevalence of bad leadership in the society; let us rather learn to always appreciate God for the few good ones that we have around. Governor Ugwuanyi is a visionary leader – a people’s governor. We love him and we shall continue to pray for him and support him.

•Pastor Emeka Abugu, Well spoken; but I am sure you are aware that there exist other political parties which may feel that they can provide better alternatives to Gburu Gburu. What would you say are the governor’s chances in 2019, especially in relation to the APC that has been roaring in the state in recent times?

In as much as I would not want both the governor and the PDP to take things for granted, I want to state that I do not notice any serious threat to the governor’s re-election. There is no serious opposition in the state. If you are a keen observer of political development in Enugu State, and you have been following recent events and developments, you would discover that hardly is anyone found missing in the main political fold. The same people that make things happen; those that have been delivering PDP candidates in the past are still there. It is only a few, and especially those who seem to be very big persons and super, but without electoral value, that are no longer in the fold. But politics, as they say, is a game of numbers.

So, when you talk about the structure in Enugu State, it is still very much intact. And so, I believe that with what we have on ground presently, 2019 would be a walk over.

Are you saying that the exit of the likes of former governor, and former Senate President, Jim Nwobodo and Ken Nnamani respectively, as well as former Speaker of Enugu House of Assembly, Eugene Odo means no threat to PDP? I am saying that as far as I am concerned, the exit of those you have mentioned and their fellow decampees from PDP, would not amount to any serious opposition or threat as you put it, to the governor or the our party as it were. The reason is because the governor’s giant strides in terms of development of the state speak volumes; that would be Ugwuanyi’s strength at the polls because the people of Enugu are never ingrates. I am certain that Ndi Enugu will re-elect the governor because we have never had it so good.

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

INTERVIEW ...Should adopt APGA as their only political party’ Cont’d from Page 14

calls of disunity coming out from them at this critical moment in our country’s existence over the years should reflect in their mindset the need to evaluate the importance of being a united country. These youths are intellectuals with hidden attributes that are not yet tapped because the political leaders, the ruling classes and the so-called cabals have kept them under siege.

remain mute because most of them are benefactors of government loot and the ill gotten wealth of corruption. They are afraid of the upsurge of the youths within their domains not to attack them, as they have no adequate police protection of their palaces. Every elder is living in fear of the youths’ explosion because they are all aware and conscious of their denial of the rights of better living of these youths due to their individual selfishness and hunger for earthly and material acquisitions.

Is restructuring good for Nigeria?

Majority of the elders’ forums, ruling class and some governors are siding the restructuring proposition but in reliance on the 2014 National Conference report whilst some are resisting such ideology.

To attain a unified concept of what will be good for the country remains undecided.

The government in power, although was in agreement with the restructuring as enshrined in their party manifesto but unfortunately, it appeared to be a political statement made to win votes as their political leader was never in consonance with such a concept.

However, and very disappointedly, all the agitations of restructuring of Nigeria could not have been an issue of constitutional requirement or debate because, politically, Nigeria could have been easily divided into regions. If the Igbo nation have recalled their past experiences with series of killings in Northern Nigeria due to more tilted reasons to religiosity, one expected the Igbos to be intellectually driven in the next dispensation of democratic governance that came up in 1999. The Yoruba nation was guided by their wizardly knowledge in politics.

Did the Igbos fail to defend their political boundaries?

It could have been a different scenario today even with the uprising of the singsongs of Biafra if the Igbo people from the onset of this democratic governance from inception of 1999 had unitedly supported APGA as their political platform like the Yoruba race with AD. Unfortunately for the Igbos they were guided by their belief in the Nigeria affair of unity and participated in forming a cosmopolitan party comprising of all ethnic groups.

Some could view such decision as selfishly guided and as a result of lack of political awareness. As at today, their sentimental cry for marginalization could have been easily negotiated if the entire South South and South East are in one political platform like APGA. The Yoruba race did theirs based on their ethnicity without seeking for participation of other ethnic races.

They cleverly and intelligently defended their political boundaries.

The Yoruba formed AD in this democratic dispensation in 1999 and fully supported it in the first election. The entire South Western region was under the control of the Yoruba political platform. The Igbo nation failed to identify with APGA, their political party platform.

Even after the deceit of President Obasanjo in his second coming, PDP took over almost all the South Western States with the exception of Lagos State. Tinubu fought back to regain the entire South Western states with the exception of Ondo State.

How would the merger of the South East and South-South under one political party umbrella like APGA have affected the approach to the restructuring of Nigeria?

If the Igbo nation had accomplished that political feat with APGA in the South East and South South, the issue of Nigeria’s restructuring would have been approached differently based on political strength. The South Western Region joining forces with South-South and South-East will definitely

•Sir Bob Okonyia subdue the Northern region into roundtable discussions on restructuring because the economic power rests on the two regions. Even the South-South and SouthEast alone could have held Nigeria to ransom to negotiate restructuring based on their economic strength if APGA was in control of all the states. Unfortunately, the Igbo politics relies on followership.

However, it is worthy to note that the lower pyramid of the masses seem not to be aware and conscious of the fact that there is unity of existence between those on top pyramid class consisting of our past and present political leaders, the political and ruling class and the so called cabals and some powerful traditional leaders.

These sets of top class groups of people in our society that are very few in number have mastered the trick of absolute unity of deception of their outward characters towards the poor citizens to believe in them and have unalloyed trust in their trickery. By their deceit, the poor masses live in confusion. Their mindset became configured to have hatred for other different ethnic groups and they continued to fight each other on religiosity, culture difference and thuggery to protect their superior classes. This class of people at the bottom of the ladder continue to live in abject poverty, slavery and in denial of their basic life needs.

Do the youths also have a fair share of the blame for Nigeria’s problems?

By these awakening calls of the differ-

ent ethnic youths from their overstretched slumbering years of sleeping and serving and aligning their lives to their elders, it became evidently clear and absolutely depressing to read of their individual ethnic echoing demands, coming out in different tunes, but only to confirm that they are yet to embrace maturity of reasoning and independence from their slave elders’ masters syndrome. All they have succeeded to portray to the public through their individual separate resolutions enriched with ethnicity and religiosity, are guided utterances that have been the bedrock of our failure to harness each other as a united country.

By analogy of the successes recorded by many Nigerian youths of different ethnic diversity living in different countries abroad, it only shows that our youths living in Nigeria are beclouded in denial of their creative knowledge. They are yet to embrace in their intellectual thoughts and reasoning that the destruction of Nigeria’s economic/ developmental growth through their inherent mindsets to religiosity, ethnicity, federal character, corruption, bribery, etc. drags their future opportunities negatively as compared to their peers in other developing and developed nations They are yet to understand that the strength of a nation lies on its unity of intention and purposes, its creative knowledge, hard work and dedication of their useful time to expand their intellectuality.

As would be expected, it is highly necessary that our youths through these clarion

What is your advice for Nigerian youths come 2019?

These clarion calls may have been viewed negatively but invariably, it is an awakening call by every Nigerian youth to wake up from his or her slumber and join hands together to fight the known common enemies that have kept their intellectual contributions in the governance of Nigeria.

They should strive to take over the mantle of governance from the failed elders come 2019.

They should also utilize the awakening calls to change Nigeria in the following ways: First, time has come to accept that these calls are the calls of unity of all ethnic youths of Nigeria no matter your religion, ethnic or tribe.

Second, time has come to accept that these calls are the calls of denouncing religiosity to free our mindset from hating one another as brothers and sisters of one nation with common interest.

Third, time has come for us to embrace the concept that ethnic differences will only divide us and creates weakness in our set objectives to develop our country.

Fourth, time has come to accept that these calls are the calls of eye opener to all our youths of Nigeria to say NO to federal character in our constitution.

Fifth, time has come for us to accept that these calls are the calls to checkmate corruption and introduce accountability in ownership.

Sixth, time has come for us to accept that these calls are the calls to introduce equal rights, equity and justice to all Nigeria citizens.

Seventh, time has come for these calls to awaken every youth to denounce different cut off marks for particular States and introduce uniform cut off marks for all States to encourage performance, efficiency and effectiveness in our future encounters.

Eight, time has come from these calls to awaken all youths of this country to realize the siege of these elders in politics, the ruling class, the traditional leaders with whom have been selfishly and corruptly motivated to keep us divided for their benefits.

Nine, time has come for these calls to awaken us to appreciate that we must produce realistic and honest data for birth and death, produce honest census and immediately restructure our country to position it for realistic growth.

Ten, time has come from these calls to awaken us to accept that state of origin is insignificant and inconsequential to our unity of existence as a nation with one passport and must be immediately be cancelled. Anywhere you are born is your state.

What is your take on the teaching of religion in schools?

I must add that time has come to stop all teachings of any religion in all schools and colleges of Nigeria. There must also be a ban all courts of jurisdictions that are based on religiosity. All these are the clarion calls of Nigerian youths for a better and united Nigeria.

If you believe in the unity of this country and love your country to progress like any other nation, kindly share. We must stop the destruction of our country by the very few. We are in majority. Our voices and votes count. Be a true Nigerian and nothing else.

17

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

BU$IN£SS •Energy •Finance

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

T

HE impending marginal field round in which government would be allotting estimated 45 oil and gas fields, excised from active licenses operated by major oil multinationals, will put the maturity of small and new upstream upstarts to test.

The bid round is coming belatedly following several failed response to calls from players in the junior exploration and production segment for more assets to be released to them. The calls followed acute output declines few years after most of them put their fields to production.

The marginal fields are initially sub-commercial discoveries made by key government partners in oil and gas exploration and production joint ventures operated by Shell, Total, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Eni among others. The fields were discovered when oil prices in the export market were less than $15 per barrel.

The fields which are hosted in active mining licenses but were overlooked by the operators due to their low asset profile which offered little or no incentive for investments in development and production.

However, between 2003 and 2008, oil prices escaped predictions and hit all time high of $148 per barrel. The price upside immediately conferred commerciality on the marginal fields, prompting government to evolve strategies of using the assets to launch entry trials for shallow pocket indigenous firms that have craving for exploration and production business. Government also planned to glean out additional economic development opportunities from the abandoned assets.

Consequently, government had in brokered farm out deals with her JV partners launched the 2004 marginal field round to offer a crowd of indigenous firms the opportunity to derive over $14 billion market returns from the cumulative petroleum assets trapped in 30 of over 200 identified marginal fields.

The revenue and other targeted non-revenue opportunities were expected from activities that would unlock estimated proven and probable reserves of 300 million barrels of oil equivalent held in the 30 marginal fields.

Whereas most of the winners of the marginal fields failed to break ground on the reasons of poor project management, access to finance, technical com-

•Stock

•e-Platform

Costs, gains, pains

•Tourism

Energy

Petrol prices slow down competition P20 e-Platform

Subscribers apathy shades NCC’s ‘DND’ initiative

P22

Aviation

• Marginal fields

petence and operational inexperience; others have sprung on the opportunity to leap into the cadre of local and multinational independent energy groups.

Identifiable business strategies and operating models have made it possible for about 14 companies to cross the success line while shadows of the traditional millstones could still be seen in the background of companies that cannot lift from the ground.

Shining examples of companies that leveraged on the marginal field programme to grow or spawn fast growing daughter companies include Platform Petroleum. The company is believed to have provided the launch pad for some of its promoters to not only achieve quick wins in revenue returns but also diversified along the commercial value chain.

Founded in 2001 by a team indigenous professionals including eminent geologist, Mr. Austin Avuru,

Currency

Buying(NGN) Central(NGN)

US DOLLAR

POUNDS STERLING

304.85 393.9881

•Aviation

Marginal fields:

CBN EXCHANGE RATES AUGUST 31, 2017

EURO 363.6556

SWISS FRANC 318.2815

•Insurance

305.35

Selling(NGN) 305.85

394.6343

395.2805

364.252

364.8485

318.8035

319.3255

YEN

2.7693

2.7739

2.7784

CFA

0.5408

0.5508

0.5608

WAUA

433.0694

433.7797

434.49

YUAN/RENMINBI

46.227

46.3033

46.3796

RIYAL

81.2847

81.418

81.5513

S/AFRICAN RAND

23.3756

23.4139

23.4522

DANISH KRONA

48.8769

48.957

49.0372

SDR

433.7772

434.488

435.2001

the company took the Egbeoma marginal field hosted in Shell operated oil mining lease, (OML) 34 in the 2003 and rapidly achieved early production in 2007.

Platform, together with credible partners, also sourced local project funding to drive 10,000 bbl per day flowstation, 32 kilometers of crude export pipeline, 30 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) gas plant and 20,000 barrel storage capacity.

It is believed that revenue returns from operations of Platform Petroleum supported Mr. Avuru’s participation in the partnership that evolved Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited which launched Nigeria’s audacious first step in brown field asset mop up from Shell, Total and Eni in three oil blocks.

The rise of Seplat into an international independent exploration and production firm that is simultaneously listed in Nigerian and

London equity markets could be counted as Platform’s satisfactory fulfillment of government’s aspiration in the marginal field policy.

Another company worth mentioning as successful player in the marginal field category is Oando Plc, a downstream firm which has largely leveraged from small stakes in upstream assets into integrated energy group that has become a major partner in the NNPC/Agip/Oando JV. The company is a partner in the success of Energia in Ebendo field hosted in Total operated OML 56.

It also threw its weight behind Network Exploration and Production Nigeria (NEPN) Limited in driving successful development and production of Qua Iboe field in Shell operated OML 13.

Oando targeted assets belonging to fleeing US multinational, ConocoPhillips, and became the first indigenous company to suc-

Cont’d on Page 21

Airlines bicker over Open Skies to attract foreign tourists

P27

Insurance Harvey economic loss to hit $75bn –Report P28

Stock Market Highlights As At August 31, 2017

Summary

ASI 35,504.62 DEALS 2,263.00 VOLUME 266,505,858.00 VALUE 4,036,009,777.21 CA 12,237,477,313,305.48 Coy (By Volume) UNITYKAP ACCESS FIDELITYBK GUARANTY DIAMONDBNK EURO

Volume Value 231,414,218 115,707,109.00 39,819,139 403,335,677.34 17,150,622 22,347,476.22 11,938,831 485,666,674.57 9,548,301 11,524,711.33 340.6285 341.1881

5 Top Gainers Symbols Last Close Current Change SEPLAT 482 490.5 8.5 TOTAL 243 245 2 GUINNESS 75 75.5 0.5 DANGCEM 204.52 205 0.48 PZ 26.89 27.3 0.41 5 Top Losers Company Last Close Current Change NB 185 180.03 -4.97 STANBIC 40 38.27 -1.73 JBERGER 34.2 32.49 -1.71 CADBURY 12.07 11.47 -0.6 SCOA 3.42 3.25 -0.17

The Oracle Today

18

Wednesday September 13, 2017

BUSINESS

Lagos disburses N4.5bn to MSMEs –Ambode

By VICTOR NZE

L

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has disclosed that his administration, through the State Employment Trust Fund, has in the last one year approved and disbursed N4.5 billion to 5,527 Medium Small Manufacturing Enterprises (MSMEs).

The Governor disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Edition of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Exclusive fair, themed “Unleashing the Potentials of MSMEs for Economic Diversification” held in Lagos, Monday.

Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, he said that the Fund in partnership with the UNDP and Private sector employers will also train 16,000 unemployed Lagosians in order to take up technical and vocational jobs, adding: “The State Government would launch innovation driven enterprise framework to support business startups in the Fourth Quarter of this year”.

He reiterated the commitment of the present administration to continually implement enterprise-friendly policies and develop the critical infrastructure that would enhance the productivity and competitiveness of all businesses in the State.

“We will continue to support the growth of MSMEs and make concerted efforts to develop enterprise cluster parks especially the Imota Light Industrial Park”, he said.

The Governor informed that

actively contribute to national Speaking earlier, the Commis- and accelerating value-added in- development and economic resioner for Commerce, Industry dustrialization.

Also speaking, the Chairman, covery. and Cooperatives, Prince Rotimi The event also attracted the House Committee on ComOguleye said Lagos State is the President of the Lagos Chamber largest hub of MSMEs and the merce, Industry and Coopera- of Commerce and Industries, economic nerve-centre of Nige- tives, Hon. Oladele Adekanye Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande, the ria, accounting for more than 3 expressed appreciation to Gov- representative of the National million micro and 11,663 small ernor Akinwunmi Ambode led- President of the National Asand medium enterprises that administration for introducing sociation of Chambers of Comare significantly boosting the na- the numerous innovative inter- merce, Industry, Mines and Agtion’s Gross Domestic Product ventions aimed at enhancing the riculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode (GDP), generating employment, capacity of the small-business He stated that the 4-Day fair creating sustainable enterprises, sector so that its members could Alaba Lawson and members of the Organised Private Sector. would match-up the local smallscale industrial giants with business development support providers, investors from the private sector, public regulatory support agencies at the State and Federal government levels as well as foreign economic development institutions.

He declared that despite the contributions of the MSME sector to the Lagos economy, the sector’s competitiveness is weakened by limited access to credible, customized-business support and inability to penetrate local and expanded markets, emphasizing that there is a need to build strong publicprivate support systems that would enhance the capacity of the MSME sector for economic diversification.

In his words: “I also charge you to take advantage of the structures our administration has put in place to support your businesses and together, let us build world class businesses which would positively impact on Lagos, Nigeria and the World.

Ambode urged all exhibitors to take full advantage of the platform of the fair and e-commerce to launch their products to a •LASG team led by Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde being received by Mark Carwardine, global but competitive market.

Commercial Director (Africa & the Middle East) of the Financial Times, UK during a courtesy visit in London. The visit was the theme of this year: “Unleashing the Potentials of MSMEs for Economic Diversification throws a challenge to all players, both public and private, to look inwards and develop the internal and external capacities of the local non-oil MSME for steady growth and global competitiveness.

Unic Insurance rebrands, adopts new name

By JEROME USHAKANG

U

NIC Insurance Plc has now transformed into Unic Diversified Holdings limited.

The new company was incorporated on September 11, 2015 by the shareholder of the former Unic Insurance Plc. In a notification statement posted on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the company said, its restructuring arrangement involves the shareholders of the former Unic Insurance Limited becoming the shareholders of Unic Diversified Holdings Plc which will hold minority interest in Unic Insurance Limited by divesting the majority interest in Unic Insurance Limited to a third party investor.

According to the statement, all necessary approvals in satisfaction of all necessary statutes have been applied for and received.

Meanwhile, all arrangements to transfer agreed assets and liabilities from Unic Insurance Limited to this company are in progress and will be concluded soon.

Unic Plc was de-listed from the Nigerian Stock Exchange in April 2017 after years several years of operation without releasing any results. However, in February this year, it was acquired by Liberty Mutual . Liberty Mutual is reputed to have acquired about 70 percent of the equity of the company.

on strategic partnership between the Lagos State Government and Financial Times, UK.

Ethiopian bids to take over Arik Air

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THIOPIAN Airlines has submitted a formal offer to take charge of troubled carrier Arik Air, which accounts for more than half of Nigerian air passenger traffic.

“We have outlined our terms and conditions to the Nigerian government and we are waiting to see if they agree,” Esayas WoldeMariam, Ethiopian’s managing director of

international services, said, adding: “We are capable and desirous of handling the airline.”

WoldeMariam did not specify details of the offer, but added that he expects to face competition for Arik from international airlines.

There are no indications yet that foreign airlines have submitted bids to take over the airline which is now under the management of AMCON

FIRS rakes in N2.11tr for H1 2017

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HE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), through tax collections, generated the sum of N2.11 trillion as revenue from January to July, 2017.

This is contained in a progress report of the FIRS from Jan. to July, 2017, Monday, showing their revenue performance and impact of the new tax regime.

The aggregate revenue projected in the 2017 budget is N4.94 trillion, out of which oil revenue will contribute N1.98 trillion.

This is based on an estimated crude oil production of 2.2 mbpd converted at an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar.

Non-oil revenue for the year is projected at N1.37 trillion, which repre-

sents about 28 per cent of the budgeted revenue.

Independent revenues, various recoveries and mining will account for the balance of about N1.58 trillion.

A breakdown of the report showed that the FIRS from January to July this year collected N720.28 billion as Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) while the Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue collected in the same period was N548.22 billion.

The Federal Government had also collected the sum of N679.9 billion as Company Income Tax (CIT) and N91.4 billion as Education Tax collection.

The report also showed that consolidated tax revenue for the first seven month of the year was N62.3

billion, which already supersedes the N59.8 billion generated from the area in the entire 2016 financial year.

Also, the service recorded success in boosting its collection of National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDEF) levy, which went from N6.75 billion in 2016 to N9.87 in the first seven months of 2017.

A further analysis of the report showed that the service generated more money from taxing the non-oil sector compared to the oil and gas sector.

The report showed that non-oil tax revenue contribution was at 65.9 per cent while oil and gas contribution to revenue for the year was at 34 per cent so far.

following the debt of over N400billion, owed local and foreign creditors.

Arik’s Managing Director Captain Roy Ilegbodu reported in August that the company had stabilised under AMCON’s leadership, with services running smoothly and salaries paid. It now carries an average of 4,000 passengers daily. It has the largest fleet of 14 aircraft, although according to Ilegbodu 10 of them are operational at any time.

The Arik boss also disclosed a forensic audit of the airliner carried out by the KPMG. “They have come up with a draft report and within the next few weeks, the final report will be out and will be available to the public.”

Arik Air suitor, Ethiopian Airlines is Africa’s fastest-growing and most profitable carrier.

The airline reported a 10 percent increase in revenue to $2.4 billion for 2015/16, with a 70 percent rise in profits, and passenger numbers climbed 18 percent to 7.6 million.

Ethiopian is pursuing ambitious development at home, with the $345 million expansion of Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, and abroad, having acquired a 49 percent stake in Malawian Airlines and 40 percent of ASKY Airlines in Togo.

The Oracle Today

19

Wednesday September 13, 2017

BUSINESS

Africa’s PC market drops by 7.3% in Q2 2017

By VICTOR NZE

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HE Africa and Middle East personal computing (PC) devices market, which is made up of desktops, notebooks, workstations, and tablets, suffered a decline of -7.3 per cent year on year in Q2 2017, according to the latest insights from International Data Corporation (IDC).

The global technology research and consulting firm’s Quarterly PCD Tracker for Q2 2017 shows that PCD shipments fell to around 6 million units for the quarter.

“As forecast, the market followed a similar pattern to recent quarters, with the downturn primarily stemming from a decline in shipments of slate tablets and desktops,” says Fouad Charakla, IDC’s senior research manager for client devices in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa.

Continuing, Charakla said: “This was the result of desktop users increasingly switching to mobile devices such as notebooks or even refurbished notebooks, while users of slate tablets shifted to smartphones. These trends translated into year-on-year declines of -21.9 per cent for desktops and -15.7 per cent for slate tablets in Q2 2017, while shipments of notebooks and detachable tablets increased 11.0 per cent and 63.3 per cent, respectively over the same period.

“Market sentiment in the re-

gion remained low overall, although an aggressive push from some slate tablet vendors meant the market declined much slower than expected.

“At the same time, heightened competition has also made it harder for certain players to sustain their slate tablet businesses

and generate profits, causing them to lose interest in the slate tablet market altogether. Despite this, slate tablets are still the most popular computing device among home users in the region,” Charakla added.

Although Samsung continued

to lead the tablet market, the vendor rankings in the space saw quite a few changes, with Huawei catapulting itself to second place.

Lenovo also climbed up a position compared to the previous quarter, causing Apple to drop to fourth place.

•Alhaji Nojeem Yasin, President, National Union of Road Transport Workers in a handshake with Buscar Company CEO/MD, Mr. Friday Yange while the M/D, Cummins West Africa, Mr. Kwame Gyan-Tawiah (l) and the Assistant Corps Commander, RS2 18, Ikeja Unit, Command Emma Fekoya watch, during the official unveiling of Nigeria’s first coach brand, the CityBus.

Lagos to enforce compulsory insurance

By JEROME USHAKANG

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AGOS state government has perfected plans to enforce Compulsory Insurance Scheme (CIS) in its territory to mitigate risks resulting from violation of insurance regulations in various sectors of the economy.

Head of Retail Sales at America International Insurance Company (AIICO) Taofik Ayeni, who disclosed this at a training programmed organised for members of the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria, CAMCAN, in Lagos at the weekend, added that the authorities have therefore constituted an enforcement team to tackle abuses by individuals and corporate bodies engaged in environmental and related activities within the state.

Ayeni, who spoke on “Safety, Risk and Financial Management”

with emphasis on Insurance, pointed out that business activities globally, had become more complex in recent times. He said the development posed great challenge to financial market reporters who are expected to show demonstrable understanding of the beat they cover.

He disclosed that the CIS enforcement team, comprising insurance practitioners and experts in other fields, would take effective steps to combat increasing incidents of building collapse in Lagos.

According to him, there is high level of abuse and compromise among those involved in environment-related activities as they overlook policy guidelines meant to guarantee the safety of life and property.

“Lagos State Government has set up a team of insurance practi-

tioners and other professionals to enforce Occupiers’ Liability Insurance under the Compulsory Insurance scheme” Ayeni said.

Compulsory insurance, consisting of five products, refers to a class of Insurance made compulsory by law, frequently with the objective of providing protection to third parties and the general public. It was introduced in 2003.

The CIS five products are the Third Party Motor Insurance; Builders Liability Insurance; Occupiers’ Liability Insurance; Health Care Professional Indemnity (National Health Insurance);and Group Life Insurance (under Pension Reform).

Ayeni identified low awareness among the factors militating against insurance growth in Nigeria, coupled with negative attitude of the public towards the industry.

Ayeni highlighted different dimensions of insurance and ap-

plication of their policies in education, trading, manufacturing, family interests and other areas.

He stressed that most school owners were reluctant to buy into Occupiers’ Liability Insurance meant to provide cover to pupils, students and workers in their institutions against building collapse.

“Can you imagine the fatal outcome of a school building collapsing on children and teachers when classes are in session? Has anyone given a thought to the calamity resulting from the collapse of a house where people are working? This is the reason for the Occupiers’ Liability Insurance”, Ayeni added.

He said that Occupiers’ Liability Insurance would transfer the risk of such accident to the insurer, which will take the responsibility of providing the required compensation in favour of the assured.

‘Old Naira notes causing ATMs to malfunction’

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N Associate Professor of Banking at the Nasarawa State University, Prof. Uche Uwaleke has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to remove old and dirty notes from circulation, adding that they are responsible for the constant malfunctioning of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), especially during pressure periods.

Uwaleke who this in Abuja, last weekend, urged the CBN to ensure that banks did not use worn-out notes in the ATMs. “Abroad, the ATMs are used to dispense new ‘mint’ notes, so when you

use dirty notes, the machine finds it difficult to recognise it or even dispense it. The money in the ATM is what these banks get from the CBN and you will agree with me that most notes in circulation today are dirty and old.

“As a customer, when you complain about the condition of the bank notes, the banks will just tell you that is what they have. So CBN should try and ensure that dirty notes are withdrawn from circulation and replaced with new ones, especially during festive periods,” he said.

Uwaleke said also that the banks

should be made to provide more ATMs around the country because no matter how good the machines were, they would be ineffective when put under too much pressure.

“Banks should be made to provide more ATMs. ATMs are bound to break down when it is put under pressure. It’s just like using your generator 24 hours non-stop.

“When more ATMs are made available, they will help to reduce the long queues normally experienced during festive periods and also serve to ease pressure on a particular ATM so that it doesn’t get overworked.

“Banks should also make sure that there is staff readily available at any point in time to attend to issues arising from the breakdown of these machines. I know some banks dedicate workers during these periods and even on weekends but not all of them. Banks should be encouraged to do more,” he said.

Uwaleke also advised the CBN to continue to sensitise the public to cashless policy and use of electronic payment methods. We must not buy all our things using cash and that is why we have long queues. The idea of using POS should be encouraged.

Benue flooding: 21 LGs facing ecological challenges –Ortom

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ENUE State Governor, Samuel Ortom has said that 21 local governments areas are now facing ecological challenges from the flooding that the state.

Ortom who said this when the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Ibrahim Jibril, paid him a courtesy visit in Makurdi, Monday, decried the level of devastation and destruction caused by flood and other environmental challenges in the state.

The governor said that the ecological challenges ranged from collapsed bridges, culverts, destruction of roads, farmlands and houses, among others.

Ortom said that erosion sites could be found in Guma, Makurdi, Tarka, Gboko, Obi, Otukpo, Ukum, Kastina-Ala and other areas.

He said that River Benue and River Kastina-Ala needed to be dredged as a major measure to control flooding in the state.

“We are really handicapped with the situation. We need funds to build massive waters channels and big drains for uninterrupted water flow to River Benue. We want to assure the Federal Government that every fund given to the state would be judiciously used in addressing the flood and environmental challenges,’’ Ortom said.

The governor directed those living along the water channels to relocate on or before the first quarter of 2018 or their houses would be demolished.

Earlier, in his address, Minister of State, called for the enforcement of town planning regulations across the country to check the incidence of flooding.

Jibril advised that town planning regulations should be fully enforced to address some ecological issues such as flooding in the country.

He said that the regulations would prevent people from building on water drains to ensure uninterrupted water flow along the drains.

Jibril said that the Federal Government would introduce “emergency measures that will evacuate people easily and quickly during disasters.’’

According to him, it is not easy to completely relocate people away from their ancestral homes.

“We may not be able to relocate people completely from flood-prone areas, but we can provide basic emergency measures to assist victims immediately during disasters,’’ the minister said.

He described the Benue flood incident as “an urgent national issue that needs to be addressed’’.

Jibril said that he was in the state on the President’s directive to inspect the ecological challenges that led to the flood disaster and report back to him.

He said that one of the causes of flood was climate change and commended the Benue Government for its efforts so far in addressing the issues, adding that the ministry would provide technical expertise to Benue State Government for effective control of ecological challenges.

20

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

ENERGY

Petrol prices slow down competition Stories by SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

A

DEQUATE supply of petroleum products into the domestic fuel market has seen the prices of petrol and cooking gas shifting downwards from official N145 per litre to N142 in some places, according to surveys conducted by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The corporation attributed the slight fall in prices to efficient supply and distribution petroleum products.

Spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, stated that a national survey by NNPC indicated that “in the last

few weeks, the price of petrol has fallen steadily from N145 per litre to between N142 and N143 per litre in some stations across the country.”

The study showed that NNPC Mega and affiliate stations across the country are selling the product for N143 per litre, while the pump price range from between N142 and N145 per litre in some major and independent marketers in Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto, Enugu, Delta and other major cities.

One of the respondents in the survey and a manager at an independent fuel retail station in Abuja, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the station currently sells petrol at N142

per litre in line with the prevailing market situation in order to sustain the turnover of the business and to attract more motorists to the station.

Another independent marketer in Mosimi, Emeka Ikechukwu, said the going ex-depot prices of PMS had dropped from N138 per litre in most depots to N133.28 in NNPC depots and between N130 and N131 per litre in private depots.

However, the situation is slightly different in Aba and Umuahia in Abia State and Calabar in Cross River State where most independent fuel stations as well as major marketers selling the product at N145 per litre.

The survey also showed a similar trend of drop in price for cooking gas with the average price for refilling 5kg cylinder at N2,215.96 from the former price of N2,500.00.

The study further revealed that states with the lowest average price for the 5kg LPG refill were Kaduna and Niger at N2,000; Kogi at N2,005.00; and Oyo at N2,033.33.

At the NNPC Mega and retail stations nationwide, a 12.5kg of cooking gas that was sold for N4,500 a few months ago is now sold for N3,800 while other retail outlets sell the same quantity for N4,000.

NNPC has sustained its interventions through sustained improvement in the supply of the products

and remodeling of distribution channels to address sufficiency issues across the country.

The corporation has also stepped up the resuscitation of some of its critical pipelines and depots such as the Atlas Cove - Mosimi Depot Pipeline, Port-Harcourt Refinery – Aba Depot Pipeline, Kaduna – Kano Pipeline and the Kano Depot which have enhanced efficiency in products distribution.

Efforts are also ongoing by the NNPC to revamp and re-commission other critical pipelines and depots across the country to further push down the prices of petroleum products for the benefit of consumers.

Power Plants gets 730 MMscf/d of gas

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•L-R: Chairman Integrated Oil and Gas Limited Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho, Deputy Director Engineering and Standards Division Department of Petroleum Resources Mr Olumide Adeleke, GMD Aiteo Production and development company limited Dr Chike Onyejekwe, Director General , Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mr Muda Yusuf, Chairman , General Manager, Public Affairs, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Mr. Yakubu Lawal, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists’ President Mr Abiodun Adesanya.at the August 2017 Conference theme ’PIGB; Prospects and challenges to Nigerian Oil and Gas industry’ held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island Lagos.

3 Nigerian firms in race for Shell innovation prize

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HREE Nigerian entrepreneurs have been shortlisted for Shell LiveWIRE ‘Top Ten Innovators’, a global competition which highlights and rewards LiveWIRE businesses that demonstrate excellence in innovation.

The companies include Nigeria De-rahbs Energy Services which produces, installs, services and repairs solar energy equipment. The company also provides training to future engineers and energy entrepreneurs.

Also shortlisted in Nigeria Emobella Engineering Nigeria Limited which provides engineering services with a USP of 24h availability and high-quality customer service.

The next is Nigeria Fendwall Paint and Chemical Products which produces and retails household nd commercial paint products via a business model supporting lowincome customers to access their products.

Shell stated that the three Nigerians have come up with creative ideas on energy efficiency and access to chemical and paint products, and

join 22 entrepreneurs from nine countries to vie for the prestigious prize. The results of a public vote of the shortlisted businesses will help determine the winners.

“We are pleased at the opportunity for the Nigerians to showcase their talent on the global stage using Shell’s flagship entrepreneurship development programme,” said Igo Weli, General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC.) “SPDC launched the LiveWIRE programme in Nigeria in 2003, providing training, business development services and start-up capital for youth-owned businesses. Our ambassadors have benefitted from this support to make their mark and we call on Nigerians to encourage them by voting for their ideas.”

‘Top Ten Innovators’ is a worldwide competition open to the alumni of Shell LiveWIRE, a Royal Dutch Shell Social Investment Programme, operating in 15 countries, which enables young people to start their own business and create employment. The shortlisted

entrepreneurs have the chance to win a top prize of US $15,000, three Runnerup prizes of US $10,000 or six Merit awards of US $5,000. The programme aims to create role models for other young entrepreneurs, and demonstrate that introducing innovation supports growth and job creation.

Joanna Cochrane, Vice President Social Performance at Shell said, “Shell LiveWIRE is very important

to us, because when we help local entrepreneurs to set up businesses, they create long term sources of income for communities, they create jobs and they help to find innovative solutions to social and economic problems.”

Since its introduction in Nigeria in 2003, the LiveWIRE programme has trained 6,550 Niger Delta youths in enterprise development and management, and provided business start-up grants to 3,313.

Economic outlook pulls Nigerian fuel demand

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igeria’s refined fuel consumption is showing signs of recovery after a poor performance in 2016.

According to a recent report by BMI Research, a number of factors including removal of fuel subsidies, economic recession and importing difficulties due to liquidity issues weighed on refined fuels demand in 2016 that led to its poor performance.

These headwinds have somewhat abated and will continue to dissipate over the coming quarters. The economy is stepping out of recession and

importing bottlenecks have eased as liquidity improves, the report stated.

The report has economists forecasting positive GDP growth in Q217 and a full year average of 2.4%. From 2018 onward BMI forecast real GDP growth to stay above 3% for the remainder of its forecast period, which will underpin the positive outlook on Nigeria’s fuels consumption.

Diesel demand is also set to do well off the back of BMI Research’s nfrastructure team’s bullish expectations for Nigeria’s construction sector; which is forecast to bounce back from -6% in 2016 to 1.9% in 2017

OWER producing companies in the country now has more gas to fire their plants following sharp increase in the volume of natural gas availability from the feeder system.

According to operations report

by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), daily average natural gas supply to the gas power plants has more than doubled to 730 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) in June 2017 as against 327mmscf/d in the same period in 2016..

Month on month, supply to power plants increased slightly by 0.13 per cent from 729mmscf/d in May 2017 to 730mmscf/d in June 2017.

The report also indicated that nationwide petroleum products supply continued to record remarkable stability following the performance of Nigeria’s three refineries which produced between five and six million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, per day in June 2017.

The refineries also produced between five and six million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel, per day in the period under review.

The report showed that the performance of the Port Harcourt Refinery continued to improve with a boost to the midstream value chain as it inched towards sustained commercial operations.

Industry sources attributed the gas supply surge to prevailing stability in the Niger Delta as militants scale down the rate of attacks on industry facilities.

It would be recalled that the pump price of diesel crashed by 42% nationwide following strategic intervention by the Corporation in May 2017. On pipeline vandalism, the report indicated that the Corporation recorded about eighty six (86) cases of pipeline breaks across th country in the period under review.

According to the report, out of these 86 cases, 77 were due to pipeline vandalism, which represents almost 40% increase relative to cases recorded in the previous month.

21

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

ENERGY

Marginal fields: Cost, gains, pains

Cont’d from Page 17

cessfully occupy a significant position in foundation JV in the industry. It also forms the list of elite indigenous oil companies that stand prominent in the exploration and production enclave.

Enter Energia Limited. The company is another platform of group of eight indigenous service and technology providers. Energia and Oando forged a partnership that defied conventional upstream business model by deploying road haulage of crude oil in a strategy to achieve early production and market returns. Quick wins in field development and commissioning saw the partners raising 8.5 km export pipeline, 30 mmscfd gas processing plant and ramping up production.

Another shining influence is Midwestern Oil & Gas Company Limited which formed partnership with SunTrust Oil Ltd and Mart Resources to drive development of Umusagede marginal field in Total operated OML 56. After development programmes that led to first oil, the partners activated a subsequent drilling programme to raise production to some 25,000 barrels per day. Midwestern later bought out Mart Resources last year for $89.2 million.

Today, Midwestern has not only remained large in the marginal field space, it has also spawned a midsized independent exploration and production company.

Like Seplat, Midwestern and partners founded Eroton, a company that acquired 45% stake in brownfield OML 18 divested by Shell, Total and Eni. Britannia-U is a marginal field mystery. The company, low in noise and rapid in achievements, entered upstream petroleum industry through the marginal field programme and hounded assets with the stealth of leopard and speed of cheetah.

Driven by a tigress herself, Mrs Uju Ifejika, Brittania-U seized the Ajapa field hosted in Chevron operated OML 90 located in 30 feet water depth offshore and partnered Syntroleum Incorporated of the United States in a rapid field development programme that attained first oil in January 2010. The company bought out Syntroleum Inc in 2011 to maintain full ownership of the field.

In a feat that has kept every Nigerian proud, the company which is driven by Africa’s first female upstream operator has since diversified across the business loop, pursuing accretive asset acquisition across countries in Africa and America.

Other successful marginal field operators in the country include Oriental Energy Resources Limited which was given the Okwok and Ebok marginal fields in ExxonMobil operated OML 67 in compensation for losing part of OML 115 to Equatorial Guinea due to international boundary adjustment. It partnered Afren Energy Resources of UK to achieve first oil in 2011.

Niger Delta Exploration & Production Plc (NDEP) successfully deployed indigenous service companies and contractors to develop Ogbele marginal field hosted in Chevron operated OML 54 and further acquired interests in OML 53, OML 34 and OPL 227.

It has also signed a JV with Sudan National Petroleum Corporation.

It has not only invested in gas harnessing and on-site topping plant,

•Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum

NDEP has also showed commitment to clean environment by endorsing the Zero Routine Flaring initiative of the World bank.

Waltersmith sank $180 million in development of Ibigwe marginal field in Shell operated OML onshore in Imo State. From an Early Production Facility, Waltersmith and partners developed a flowstation. It has also raised $50 million for an on-site topping plant. The company joined three other indigenous operating companies to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and acquired 45% equity interest in OML 34 at $600 million from Shell and its joint venture partners.

Prime Exploration and Production Limited achieved first oil in Asaramatoru marginal field in Shell operated OML 11 in 2014 after the first phase of the field development programme.

Pillar oil Ltd achieved first oil in Umuseti marginal field in Total operated OML 56 in 2009 after a well re-entry programme. It further pursued a $28 million drilling programme and finally partnered a Seplat subsidiary, Newton Energy Limited, in $50 million divestment deal that confers 40 percent stake.

Frontier Oil and Seven Energy are partners in Uquo Marginal field in Shell operated OML 13.

The company has successfully grown its gas supply agreement from one in 2013 to four in first quarter of 2015. It signed gas supply agreement with Seven Energy to supply gas to Ibom and Calabar Power plant respectively. Frontier also operates the 35, 000 bopd crude oil delivery infrastructure joint venture among Frontier, Universal Energy Resources Limited and Network Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited.

Network Exploration and Production Nigeria (NEPN) Limited dumped Mart Resources for Oando Exploration and Production Limited (OEPL) as technical and financial services partner in the development of Qua Iboe in Shell operated OML 13 in exchange for 40 percent equity to Oando.

The partnership yielded massive investments that achieved early production.

On its own, Universal Energy Resources Limited with the help of parent Seven Energy and technical partner, Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Pro-

duction Company (Nigeria) Ltd achieved first oil in Stubb Creek marginal field 2015.

From the performance record of these indigenous companies that defied the challenges of building capital intensive enterprises on lean foundation assets it could be logically concluded that government’s policy targets in the marginal field programme have been exceeded despite the failure of some 18 licenses to activate.

These successful companies have also deflated the traditional stereotype of poor performance and incapacity imposed on indigenous firms to legitimize their exclusion from the high reward upstream asset allocations.

Perhaps the progress made by these exemplary firms might provide lessons for other companies that sit on their licenses for over 13 years despite warnings of revocation by the Department of Petroleum Resources.

Beyond the value of investments, deals and market returns, the success of these companies that launched off operations in allotted marginal fields has delivered more than visible benefits.

From providing foundation funding for bigger independent exploration and production companies to ancillary investments in gas harnessing and commercialization, employment opportunities, contracts to the service sectors and other multiplier effects in the home economy, the companies post solid promises of strong indigenous upstream capabilities.

Their success at gleaning out massive returns from lean asset operations also exposes huge unlocked opportunities in low volume assets. This justifies greater policy and fiscal incentives for the companies sustain the trickledown economic benefits for the domestic economy. It is therefore logical that hankers of more assets for the marginal field operators are addressed before they run out of business.

Promises, plans and even moves have been unsuccessful in the last 10 years to organize more tranches of competitive bid rounds for over 200 identified marginal fields in the country but it beats anyone’s imagination why government has lost the opportunity of high price cycle in the export market to harness the marginal assets.

The delays in bid rounds expected to provide business growth and operational sustainability caused panic among the marginal field operators who launched desperate attempts at asset acquisitions in the market place, leading to outlandish acquisition costs that have affected their financial stability.

Within the window of asset scarcity, multinational oil firms in the country seized the opportunity to offload their brownfield assets to desperate indigenous companies at outrageous prices, luring some of them into huge debts traps that continue to shake their corporate foundations.

For instance, despite her successful exploits in the upstream play Oando is yet to recover from its $1.3 billion ConocoPhillips acquisition cost. The company has since then embarked on divestment of stakes its low reward business ends, including its foundation assets and subsidiaries.

Britannia-U had also in the desperation to acquire sustainable asset base advanced head shaking $1.6 billion bid for bundle assets put on offer by Chevron Nigeria Limited. The indigenous firm lost the bid after a long fight and gained peace as oil prices came crashing immediately after the contest ended.

Seplat Petroleum which, with very cautious and circumspective bid packages, successfully mopped up the assets; but the company has been grappling with the cost of acquisition funding as dive in oil prices and consequent upswing in foreign exchange rates in the domestic money market watered down the value of the assets.

The prevailing market realities, global supply dynamics and gloomy demand forecasts have implications in the imminent marginal field round.

Unlike the previous marginal field rounds in the country at time when the international crude price cycle was upside, the current sale of weak petroleum assets now when players in marginal category are even more desperate for asset replacement and business sustainability calls for extreme caution in view of the prevailing gloomy price predictions.

From disciplined and responsible bids to acquisition financing and business models for development and operations, those working on asset data in preparation for the race have the advantage of lessons from the fall outs of 2004 marginal field rounds from where champions and jokers have emerged.

In hauling bids, sufficient lessons have been provided by Seplat which has driven accretive acquisitions with disciplined approach at business evaluation: proven and probable reserves, block prospectivity, infrastructure contiguity and market demand analysis. Mr. Avuru had revealed in a previous chat that had shrunk from competition for assets when other companies threw in unrealistic bids.

Second lesson from the successful companies listed above, according to an article published Dr. Sunday Kanshio, is financial prudence. This defines the difference between the companies that succeeded and those that failed. “They used ‘poor boy’ approach to achieve first oil. Most of the twelve companies achieved

their first oil by re-entering an existing oil well that was abandoned by the original leaseholder.

They used early production facility (EPF) to process the crude oil.

Energia even used road trucks to evacuate the produced oil. This approach generates quick cash and woos financial partners. This approach portrayed seriousness which made their business attractive for even local banks.”

The next lesson, he pointed out, is collaboration. Most of the successful marginal field operators collaborated with peers and even midsized independent producers on common facilities and infrastructure to beat down cost and enhance operational efficiency.

“Collaboration through the use of common crude oil export facilities is a critical success factor for some of the operators. The case of FUN Group (Frontier, Universal Energy Resources Limited and Network Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited) represents perfect example of collaboration that brought benefit to all the parties involved,” Dr. Kanshio said.

The next, according to varied industry experts that have made presentations on success factors in marginal field operations, is recruitment of the right set of skills and knowledgeable personnel in running the business. This is evident, evident in the success of the teams of professional smart heads that founded companies like Energia, Platform and Seplat.

It would be difficult, for instance, to explain why BritanniaU, founded and managed by a lawyer, became a front line success among the marginal field operators. the only plausible explanation is could be Mrs Ifejika’s visible understanding of efficiency of skills deployment.

The financial accountability and transparent governance processes of the most successful small E&P companies is also a big lesson for others. Well organised management team and up to date financial report is a key factor that has continued to distinguish Seplat and parent Platform as pace setters in corporate governance.

It has been repeatedly pressed in that excellent financial management enhanced the corporate credibility that saw some of the operators buying the shares of their foreign technical and financial partners as exemplified in the cases of Brittania-U and Midwestern.

Again, it must be stated here that the process of lease administration in Nigeria is traditionally fraught with political manipulation, clan mentality and ethnic feud: the worst factors in business consideration. These interferences tragically form challenges that work against best business practices and policy objectives.

Identifiable business strategies and operating models have made it possible for about 14 companies to cross the success line while shadows of the traditional millstones could still be seen in the background of companies that cannot lift from the ground.

Therefore, driving the objectives and targets of the marginal field marginal field beyond the test phase requires policy incentives for sustainability, sound business principles for operational and commercial viability, as well as best corporate governance models that support credible collaborations.

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The Oracle Today September 13, 2017

e-Platform

Subscribers’ apathy shades NCC’s ‘DND’ initiative Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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OVES by the Nigerian Communications Commission to end the menace of unsolicited messages and calls may have been stalled. This came with the revelation that most telecom subscribers have remained indifferent to making use of the ‘2442’ code which was designed for them to stop receiving spam and unwanted messages from their various networks.

The implementation of the ‘Donot-Disturb (DND) initiative last year was sparked by a barrage of complaints from subscribers to the telecoms regulator over irrelevant and unwanted calls and messages from their service providers. But according to NCC, as at the end of June this year, only 6.7 million out of 143 million active subscribers had activated the DND on their lines.

Investigations by Oracle Today also revealed that though some subscribers are aware of the initiative, they have not considered activating on their phone because they do not believe it would solve the problem of unsolicited messages for them. In other cases, however, some of the subscribers claimed they had tried to stop the messages, using the 2442 code, but the unwanted messages still kept coming.

But the Executive Commissioner Stakeholders Management NCC, Mr Sunday Dare, believes that the Commission has achieved some level of success with the DND code, despite the lethargic attitude of subscribers towards it. According to him, awareness and education of the subscribers is very important

and the regulator has been doing that through different media campaigns. “Our primary concern now is to ensure that the level of awareness rises to about 80 per cent. We could preach about it and people would decide not to do it, but at least they have the information, it is now left for them to take advantage of it. The campaigns have gone for about five months now.

The success factor will now be the awareness, if we succeed in creating awareness for about 80 per cent, we know we have achieved success. It is like when a doctor gives you malaria drugs and gives you the prescription and you decided to just put the drug in your pocket” he said.

Meanwhile, the President of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), MrDeoluOgunbanjo has described the implementation of the DND code as a failure, saying that many subscribers are at crossroads as the telcos continue to bombard them with unsolicited messages, even when they have opted out, using the DND code, 2442. “NCC had since last year said ‘look, there is going to be a code, 2442, which you can use to stop all unsolicited calls and messages’, but it’s still the same; subscribers are still getting unsolicited messages and calls even after opting out” he said.

The Commission had early this year declared 2017 as ‘the year of the telecom consumer’ and had embarked on nationwide campaigns specifically anchored on the ‘DND’ and the 2442 code, with a message that the power to receive or reject any text message is now in the hands of the consumer. Mr Dare,

• Unsolicited text message. however, expressed optimism that by the end of the year, appreciable number of DND activations would be recorded. While acknowledging that there have been a few reported cases of hitches in the process of activation, the Executive Commissioner said the NCC is addressing

that with the operators. “We do know that there are concerns that sometimes when you do it, it keeps coming and sometimes it takes 24 hours to succeed, but we are also looking at the level of compliance and we are engaging with the operators. We are getting complaints

from subscribers directly and we take it to the operators. There are also sanctions for non-compliance and we have sanctioned some of them, even though we don’t make noise about it” he said.

NSE to offer cloud services with new data centre

T

HE Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has said it is now poised to offer secure cloud services to both market operators and any firm interested in having a low-cost, highly available service for their customer base. This came as the Exchange launched its TIER III data centre in Lagos.

The data centre, which was

•Oscar Onyema, CEO NSE

commissioned by the HonourableMinister of Science and Technology, Dr. OgbonnayaOnu, was in line with NSE’stradition of pioneering far-reaching innovations within the Nigerian Capital Market.The Honourable Minister of Science and Technology commended the Exchange for achieving the milestone of a Tier III data cen-

tre which is not common place in Nigeria. “I am pleased with the strides the Exchange is taking in ensuring it is the best in Africa especially through technological innovations. Technology remains one of the drivers of growth for any economy and am impressed that the Exchange is at the forefront of adoption while partnering with other Nigerian companies”.

According to Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, the Data Center provides a secure, reliable and advanced physical and technical environment for the Exchange.

“It comes with real time monitoring of active devices, n+1 resistance of all critical components, 99.982 per cent availability, uninterrupted power supply and market leading cloud hosting capabilities. Data is replicated in real time offsite to a Tier III partner data Centre that is 25km away from the production site. These features place NSE’s services at par with the

best exchanges globally”.

“The new Tier III Data centre re-affirms NSE’s ongoing commitment to digitally transform the Nigerian Capital Market and enable financial inclusion”, he added.

“The NSE Data Center allows the Exchange to strengthen the adoption of digital techniques within its ecosystem and provides our stockbroking firms with the option of hostingtheir infrastructure in a 24x7 highly available and efficient platform. At the Exchange, we strive to maintain 100% availability of all market platforms and have been very successful in this quest.

Currently, 90 per cent of all trades are also done outside the Exchange, in a fully automated manner and the criticality of the data centre is key for market confidence and growth.

Our Data Center can currently host 50 clients but can scale up rapidly with demand“, he said.

Speaking on the sustainability

aspects of the Data Centre, Bajomo noted that “data centres are one of the highest energy consuming operations in the world and consume around 2 per cent of the total power generated globally. A significant aspect of data centre operating expenses is also related to power usage and the need to be power efficient is critical.

At the Exchange, we have chosen our components and cooling strategy carefully to conserve energy”.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange continues to take huge strides in the digitization journey and position itself as a world class Exchange with best-inclass technology. In 2013, we launched X-GEN which is the fastest trading platform in Africa with low latency capabilities.

On the back of this, we implemented TradeSmart to assist our Dealing Member firms in achieving a broader reach, leveraging mobile phone penetration in the country.

23

The Oracle Today September 13, 2017

e-Platform

Local content: NITDA to sanction OEMs over substandard products Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

interconnect with other operators and exchange traffic, guaranteeing lower bandwidth costs, quicker access to more content providers and carriers and lower latency for local markets.”

She explained that until a few years ago, internet capacity in Africa was low with few high-speed networks and data centers to provide users the connectivity and content they desired. According to her, this narrative is changing, as Africa’s growing fiber network density and increase in world-class data centers makes it much easier for content providers and OTT operators to host and serve data lo-

cally. Ms. Opeke said MainOne’s data center company,MDXi had addressed these concerns by hosting the Nigerian Internet Exchange and launching an open interconnection service to facilitate collaboration and peering within its Lekki data center. Ms. Opeke also shared the company’s strategy towards deepening regional integration and digital transformation of West Africa with submarine access to data centers in Lagos and Accra interconnecting all major operators, a new data center coming up in Sagamu, Nigeria, and its intent to extend its submarine cable to Cote D’Ivoire.

global electronic consumer show in Germany, IFA, SongDae-hyun, President of LG Electronics and Home Appliance & Air Solution said: “LG SteamClean dishwasher offers everything our consumers expect from an LG appliance – convenience, flexibility, and especially performance”. “Steam technology allows us to deliver a balance of superior performance with gentle care. It’s this kind of innovation with a real purpose that our customers expect from LG.” Giving further details about the product’s capabilities, he said that the TrueSteam emits high temperature steam to clean everything from delicate stemware to steel pots and pans. “A Pre-Steam option

gently removes caked layers of food residue, eliminating the need to scrub items by hand before placing them in the dishwasher. By spraying the contents with steam at the end of a cycle, the LG SteamClean dishwasher reduces undesirable water spots – one of the most frequently mentioned complaints among dishwasher owners – by 40 percent.1 LG’s steam technology not only ensures impeccably clean results, it also yields significant hygienic benefits in keeping with LG’s longstanding dedication to exceeding consumers’ needs” he explained. The dishwasher also comes equipped with QuadWash, a feature that raises the bar on dishwashing by using four spray arms instead of

the two featured in most washers. Its multi-motion arms sweep and rotate back and forth while spinning in both directions to clean plates, glassware, and cookware of all shapes and sizes from nearly every angle.

The dishwasher is powered by the Inverter Direct Drive Motor, which increases energy efficiency and helps reduce noise. The motor also allows for the adjustment of water intensity to provide the soft settings necessary for fragile dishware in the upper rack and a stronger setting for pots and pans on the lower level. This versatility offers more effective cleaning performance without risking damage to the dishware.

•Dr. Pantami

The Director General of NITDA Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, in his remarks at the meeting, commended the association and its members for their initiatives and resilience in running

their operations inspite of the peculiar challenges in the industry. He also assured them of the support of the Agency in implementing the Executive Order to ensure patronage of

MainOne advocates local Internet traffic exchange within Africa W est Africa’s leading provider of connectivity and data center solutions, MainOne has reiterated the importance of Internet traffic domiciliation as a key requirement for growing the internet ecosystem in Africa. Speaking at the just concluded African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF), MainOne’s Chief Executive Officer, FunkeOpeke challenged the continent’s leading Internet players to exchange traffic on the continent, noting that this would significantly lower costs and improve performance.

During her keynote address titled “Vision 80/20 by 2020” which approached the goal set by AfPIF to route 80 per cent of Africa’s Internet traffic on the continent by the year 2020, Ms. Opeke examined the internet landscape in Africa and rued the current ecosystem of routing over 80 per cent of the Internet traffic from Nigeria abroad, incurring expensive transit costs and increasing service latency. According to her, transactions initiated in Africa typically leave the sender for a long journey outside the continent, usually to Europe, America or even Asia before returning to target recipient e.g. a bank down the road from the sender, with the response traveling all the way back the same tortuous route to the sender. She inquired why an end-user who requests to access his records in a bank down the road would want their banking

transaction to travel from Lagos to London, when it is feasible to interconnect this traffic, and revealed that this process of routing traffic outside the continent increases Internet costs and delays content delivery to the region by approximately 150 milliseconds.

Ms. Opeke noted that “Africa needs to retain more local traffic within the continent to drive more value from the Internet.

This can be achieved by leveraging robust Internet Exchange Points and access via local interconnection points and local data centers which provide a platform for different networks to directly

A

S preparations for the third quarter Forum of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) gather momentum, stakeholders in the Banking, ICT and FinTech sectors of the Nigerian economy have continued to throw their weight behind the event.

The latest to confirm his support for the programme is Mr. Austin Okere, Founder/Vice Chairman of CWG Plc, who has accepted to chair the one-day event. In a personally signed terse email dated August 14, 2017, and addressed to NITRA, Mr. Okere said: “Thank you for the invitation to chair this event. I am honoured and pleased to accept. I trust I shall be receiving more information in due course.”

Digital disruption is changing how traditional banking services, payments, and remittances are now offered in the digital economy. Almost all sectors of financial services including payments, money transfers, banking and more are being re-imagined by non-traditional providers and FinTechs, while the traditional incumbent providers are reinventing themselves very quickly to understand better, the puzzle presented by FinTech and how they can leverage on the digital movement.

The Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), an umbrella body for journalists reporting information and communications technology in Nigeria is organising the third edition of its quarterly forum entitled “Digital Payment: Prospects and Challenges of a Financially Inclusive Nigeria.”The event which holds on September 29, 2017 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, will not only highlight the challenges and opportunities in the FinTech space in Nigeria, but will also provide knowledge and networking platform that will bring the Nigeria Fintech industry at par with its counterparts across the globe.

The event also offers the Banking, ICT and FinTech industries an excellent opportunity to showcase some of their achievements before the largest gathering of the sectors players under one roof.

A

S part of moves to implement recently signed executive order supporting local content in procurement

by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Federal Government of Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said it would soon set mechanisms for auditing and sanctioning of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) who supply sub-standard or dysfunctional devices.

This was part of the resolutions of NITDA’s recent meeting with indigenous OEMs under the aegis of Certified Computer Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CCMON). The meeting also resolved that CCMON should partner with NITDA to roll out after sales services, support and maintenance centres to its patrons. These centers are expected to commence operations in major cities of Nigeria, as from October 2017. In addition, it was also resolved that CCMON should be included in the stakeholders’ implementation committee for the Executive Order 003 on Local Content in IT procurement.

indigenous IT products and services. He however charged them on the need to improve the quality of their devices, as NITDA has experienced and, received numerous complaints on the quality of locally assembled devices. Dr. Pantami reiterated the Agency’s willingness to intervene swiftly where necessary to ensure that locally manufactured/assembled IT components fulfill the requirements of globally acceptable standards.

In his response on behalf of the members of CCMON, Mr Bode Pedro, the President of the Association, thanked the Director General and his team for hosting the meeting and commended the leadership NITDA has demonstrated in the implementation of the Executive Order. He also remarked that the recent surge in IT compliance among both the public and private sectors in the country, is a welcome development and an indication that the Agency is living up to its regulatory and developmental roles. He assured the Director General of CCMON’s preparedness to collaborate with NITDA to develop the IT Manufacturing sub sector in Nigeria.

Austin Okere to Chair NITRA Forum

LG revolutionises dishwashing with steam technology

L

G Electronics (LG) is setting new standards for dishwashers with its newest SteamClean dishwasher equipped with the company’s TrueSteam technology.

According to the LG, the product sets itself apart from the competition with steam technology that not only cleans more effectively, but also more efficiently.

“With years of steam technology experience gathered from LG’s clothing care products such as washing machines and the Styler, the dishwasher’s host of unique performance-enhancing technologies will offer consumers a whole new way to wash dishes” the company said. Speaking about the product, which would be showcased at the

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The Oracle Today Wednesday Setember 13, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

www.oraclenews.ng

VOX POPULI SACRUM

EDITORIAL When October 1 comes

O

CTOBER 1, ordinarily, was a day that Nigerians looked forward to with celebrations on their minds. It is the national holiday, Independence Day, the day the country got the right to rule itself, away from the controls of Britain.

IMAGES of October 1 have mostly been the same. The occasional changes were in the peculiarity of the year to mark certain years.

The 25th anniversary, in 1985, under the military, and the 50th anniversary, in 2010, with a civilian government, bore such distinction.

CELEBRATIONS centred on the sustenance of the country’s unity. The 57th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, the ordinariness of the year apart, would not have been anything to look forward to, except a national holiday, especially in recession.

FOR sometime, the celebrations have been lowered. Several reasons, chief among them being security, have seen to it that the celebrations lack the pomp for which they were known. In some years, there were no national broadcasts. At most, a press statement contained the President’s speech.

THE 50th Independence Day bombing in Abuja, even years ago, that killed at least 12 and had over 17 wounded, gave a new meaning to security on October 1. The official celebration went indoors. Insecurity has changed October 1. We hope it would not be forever.

CHILDREN are growing up without participating in a National Day march past. Earlier generations have cherished memories of

that landmark event of the year. Later genthoughts are common, contrary to the dicerations have no stories to tell their children tates of the Constitution that there should be of the days they marched on National Day. no discrimination on those bases. Nigerians An important national celebration has been have many constitutional rights. But, access to denied the children, and by vast implications, those rights depends, not on the Constitution our history is shrinking. and law, but on the wishes of the President, AN additional burdensome meaning to October who though not above the law, can decide 1 is the threat of the Arewa Youths to Ndigbo to ignore the law, with no consequences, the to vacate the North by the end of Septemexcuse being that he has immunity. ber. It is, they claim, their counter to Nnamdi OFFICIAL positions that gleefully hold on to the Kanu’s demand for self-determination. Acindivisibility of Nigeria and no alternatives to its cording to the Arewa Youths, by October 1, unity, fail to see that unity can only be a value Ndigbo should leave the North or face death. if it serves the people. What is the purpose of Those who remember threats that preceded unity, if it means a federation where people the massacres of the Ndigbo in the North, 50 are oppressed with the backing of the law? years ago, consider these threats to be along In whose interest is unity that cannot be disthe same lines. cussed? Where does “no alternatives” place the OFFICIAL responses have been at best lethargic. various efforts to make Nigeria operate better?

The supposed justifications have included the WHY would Nigeria prefer a shackled federation claims that Nnamdi Kanu was threatening to one that Nigerians freely subscribe to, with the North with his call for self-determination, the security and welfare of the people being actually a referendum on whether Ndigbo the primary purpose of the union, just as our wanted to be part of Nigeria, under encumConstitution states in Section 14 2b? How can bering circumstances that place them below we discuss Nigeria, when the rights to say what the rights and privileges of other citizens of one thinks are being brutally abbreviated?

Nigeria.

THERE are deeper issues that are simmering THOUGH some seem not to be taking the as our leaders place their importance over threats seriously, many Nigerians think that the running of a federation “where no one is the government should have done more than oppressed”, as a line of the former national giving assurances that there would be no anthem stated. Fear rules the land. Concerns trouble. Those who made the threats repeatabout October 1 are being addressed. The edly did so openly. They had no fears of the same askance and sectional tendencies that law. When there were suggestions that they ruin the land are at the centre of the handi9ng should be arrested, they openly dared the of October 1. authorities, again repeatedly.

IT is time for the Federal Government to be more NOBODY was arrested. Nobody decisive on protecting the lives and property was invited for questioning. In of Nigerians all over the country. The concertplace of arrests, some asked that ed threats against Ndigbo call for more than the youths be placated. The explathe duplicitous responses they are getting. nations were that they were retort- WHEN October 1 comes, we hope it would pass ing to hate speeches others made peacefully--not just that day, but the days after earlier. But, a few issues need to be October 1. The magic to a peaceful federation understood in this matter as some lies in justice and equality – they are not just to of them deal with the rights to free be preached but practised. speech and the milieu within which those rights exist.

Our Vision THREATS have no right in free TO BE among the top five newspapers in Nigeria and, speech. No matter who issues in due course, the Numero Uno; to be a newspaper of them, threats limit the rights of records that effectively caters to the information needs others to even speak, as we have of all segments and sections of the Nigerian society as seen in the disposition of the law, well as all social classes and cultures. Essentially, we as regards who speaks, and who want to be a responsible corporate citizen, a commerdoes not speak. No matter the cially viable, properly organised media business, which views people hold, so long as they meets its obligations to society, government and the are not threatening the peace of workforce. others, they should not be held for hate speech, the latest lingo in Mission trying to resolve the concerns of Nigeria, without applying justice.

WE INTEND to contribute to the development of an INJUSTICES abound in the federainclusive Nigerian society, with a view to getting rid of tion. They rage from the strictures the dark sides of our national life (slothfulness, greed, to rights to freely live and carry on corruption, nepotism, totalitarianism, etc); to continually engender and sustain national debates that would enterprises in all parts of Nigeria, ultimately lead to the enthronement of healthy national as one pleases, to the impediments values--hard-work, justice, equity and fairplay, transparto accessing federal opportunities. ency, good governance, resulting, in themselves, the If anyone is so impeded, should he egalitarian Nigerian society of our dream. We will give not complain? Should the answer voice to the voiceless and at all times, strive to be balto the complaints be threats of anced, objective, honest, truthful and fair to all sides; so further injustices to still the voices that through The Oracle Today, our people, the Nigerian that complain? people can see a bright light at the end of what has been DISCRIMINATIONS on bases a very dark tunnel. And we shall do all this in absolute of origins, religions, genders, trust in God who blesses good intentions.

25

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

OPINION

2019 Polls: Buhari as the ‘issue’

By Ehichioya Ezomon

F

ORGET that the polls, going by the timetable set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are due in late February and early March 2019; that’s 18 months away. Way, way too far, some would say.

But not so in politics! In practical sense, politicians, especially those out of power currently, are already on their marks, set and rearing to go, given the uptick in political activities, many underground though, across the country.

Didn’t we watch the “triumphal entry” of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose into the mini-convention grounds of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja, the other day? Without the INEC go-ahead order, Fayose has informally opened the campaigns for 2019, with a promise to make his presidential ambition formal on October 1, barely three weeks from this week.

Why do you think the apparatchiks in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were anxious to have President Muhammadu Buhari back home sooner than he did on August 19, even when critics were doubting his physical wellness? And why the sudden enthusiasm in the PDP to literally push into the field former President Goodluck Jonathan, for image laundering for a party that the Supreme Court judgment in July mercifully abridged its sounded death knell?

It’s about the control of the soul of the na-

tion in 2019, which is going to be a battle royale, the likes that had never been witnessed in the country.

For all intents and purposes, Buhari, like the former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “will be the issue” in the elections. For members of both parties, Buhari will be the “anyanya,” the “American wonder” - for good or for ill.

To members of the APC, the president, whether he’s re-contesting or not, will be their rallying call, their lightning rod to strike at the opposition, by invoking his persona during the campaigns.

As for the PDP members, Buhari will be their whipping boy, whom they will wrap round all the perceived failures of the APC government during its four-year tenure ending on May 29, 2019.

Whatever critics may say, Buhari is viewed today, politically, in the mode of our founding fathers - Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Awolowo, all of whom you could swear by their names-and to a certain degree Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the first Nigerian to win a pan-Nigeria landslide (moonslide) had he been sworn-in in the Military ordered, and annulled June 12, 1993 presidential poll. President Buhari has earned such veneration in the polity today.

Many politicians of old, and of today, rode to political prominence on the back of the popularity of those founding fathers, exactly the same way many current politicians, especially in the North, got elected in the 2015 general

elections on the coattail of Buhari’s acclaim.

Fortunately (for APC members) and unfortunately (for PDP members), both parties have zoned the presidential position to the North, which is likely to work to the advantage of the former.

Rightly or wrongly, President Buhari is alleged to be working for the interest of the North, to the detriment of other sections of the country. Critics argue that in just in two years of his administration, the president has undertaken lopsided appointments of more northerners into positions of authority. They also cite the siting of projects and/or rehabilitation of ailing infrastructure strewn all over the place. To them, more new projects are taken to the North, and more extensive repairs or reconstruction of public utilities carried out in the same region. The government has repeatedly debunked these allegations.

Then, throw into the mix the issues of the fight against Boko Haram and the anti-corruption campaign. These are matters, the advantages of which the government will distil to the people of the North during the electioneering. In actuality, reports indicate that sensitisation has started in that direction.

Wait a minute! During the run-up to the 2015 elections, didn’t the PDP describe the APC as a “Janjaweed” party - for the simple reason it was fielding a Northern Muslim, and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in particular, whom they alleged was both a sympathiser and sponsor of the deadly insurgent Boko Haram, without any shred of evidence?

NCC’s masterstroke that saved 2000 jobs

By CHIDI UGWU

T

HERE is hardly any doubt that the timely intervention of Nigeria’s telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), doused tension and averted the ugly economic situation that would have resulted from forceful take-over of Etisalat Nigeria by a consortium of 13 banks.

Etisalat was under threat of imminent forceful takeover by a consortium of 13 banks over its inability to repay a $1.2bn medium term loan obtained four years back for modernisation and expansion of its network, until the NCC stepped into the crisis to stave off any hostile takeover.

Analysts say the regulator intervened in time to save the jobs of over 2000 direct employees of the country’s fourth largest network operator, amid mounting anxiety resulting from the struggle between the banks and Etisalat, which over the years has accumulated over 21 million subscribers and well over 13 per cent market share.

Some industry experts say the move by the regulator immediately calmed the storm and averted what would have been a major setback in the gains made in the nation’s telecoms industry in the last few years.

In April 2013, Etisalat announced plans to invest over $500 million to expand its network, enabling further potential market growth of 17 per cent and went ahead to obtain a medium term loan of $1.2bn from banks, which it used to refinance an existing $650 million loan and funded a network expansion.

However, since 2016, the consortium of banks had been having a running battle with the mobile telephone operator over repayment of the loan facility resulting in a breakdown of negotiation, which threatened to disrupt critical gains made in Nigeria’s telecoms sector in many years.

The furore got to the extent that Etisalat’s two foreign investors, Emirates Telecommunications Service and Mubadala withdrew their interest in the concern, compounding the problems of EMTS, which is trading as Etisalat Nigeria.

Apprehensions heightened among stakeholders who feared that the development might lead to massive job losses in the sector until NCC was able to bring the situation un-

der control through tactful negotiations and compromise.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta declared that the regulator had to step in to safeguard the interest of investors, staff and subscribers all of whom stood to lose if the situation was allowed to deteriorate.

NCC had outlined several “prescriptions” to ensure peaceful resolution of the matter, insisting that the consortium of banks seeking to take over Etisalat Nigeria must first cross some regulatory hurdles, a move commentators described as the master-stroke which brought calm to the already tension-soken sector and indeed the economy.

Danbatta noted that the over $2billion foreign direct investment (FDI) by Mubadala of United Arab Emirate (UAE) was hanging while 20 million subscribers and over 2000 workers would have been affected if the NCC did not intervene in the matter with a view to finding an amicable resolution.

Resolving the issue was also partly to forestall any form of disincentive to the FDI, Danbatta explained.

According to him, if the company had gone under, this would have created a social problem especially with the job of over 2000 Nigerians on the line, a development that is capable of creating security challenges for the country.

To do what it did, the NCC collaborated actively with the CBN to avert what was obviously a looming economic disaster. It was elating for everyone when that collaboration resulted in a situation where Danbatta was to happily declare that all that they at the NCC wanted was “to see a viable and thriving 9Mobile and we want to cooperate with you so that things can move seamlessly and successfully.”

Indeed, all is well that ends well. But, getting the negotiation back on track and saving 2000 direct jobs and millions of indirect ones, wasn’t an easy street for the nation’s telecoms regulator. When the going was tough, the NCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo drew the attention of the lender banks to Section 38, Sub-section 1 of the NCA which states that “the grant of a license shall be personal to the licensee and the licensee shall not be operated by, assigned, sub-licensed or

transferred to another party unless the prior written approval of the commission has been granted.”

What that means, Ojobo further clarified, was that the lender banks must take note of relevant provisions of the NCA 2003 as well as relevant provisions of the laws guiding the transfer of licences issued operators by the telecoms regulator.

Sub Section 2 of the same provision equally states that “a licensee shall at all times comply by the terms and condition of the license and the provision of this act and its subsidiary legislation.”

Using the provisions of the law as basis for further discussion between the ‘warring’ parties, NCC and CBN “mediated by holding several meetings with the banks, Etisalat and other stakeholders with a view to finding a resolution.”

And find a solution they did. CBN’s spokesperson Mr. Isaac Okorafor explained that the CBN and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had suspected that banks might go ahead in the usual way and downsize the company’s over 4,000 staff, adding that ‘this was why the two regulator bodies reached an agreement to intervene’.

Okorafor said: “Although it should ordinarily not be the role of a regulator to decide how individual bad loans are resolved, the CBN believes that Etisalat is a systemically important telecommunications company with over 20 million subscribers that if not well handled, may have negative implications for the banking system itself.”

Access Bank Plc and other Nigerian banks eventually took over the management of the company, effective June 15 following the protracted $1.2 billion debt impasse. Other lenders in the loan deal are Zenith Bank, GTBank, First Bank, UBA, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, FCMB, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Union Bank and some foreign banks.

However, intervention by the NCC and the CBN was all it took to avert a hostile takeover that would have had deleterious consequences on the bourgeoning telecom sector, and stakeholders are happy that today, Etisalat Nigeria is now trading under the brand name, 9Mobile without any job losses.

To be sure, the decision to intervene is one that everyone involved in the deal is certainly

What has changed in the polity, between 2014/2015 and 2017-2019, for the PDP to decide to sponsor a northerner, and most likely a Muslim for the 2019 presidency?

Simply politics (politrick): The party’s realisation, following an “autopsy report” of the failure at the 2015 polls - that it made a tactical and strategic error in fielding Dr. Jonathan (a Southern Christian) as its presidential candidate!

Still, the PDP and its henchmen and women have a lot of explaining to do for all the maligning, dangerous innuendoes and actual accusations of complicity of the APC and its candidate in the untoward happenings in the North - then (and now). They were majorly what caused the PDP the elections in 2015.

Will the hen come home to roost? Definitely! The 2019 elections, notably the presidential, would most likely be a repeat of 2015 - the same issues - despite the hardship in the land, occasioned by the economic recession.

Besides the personality of the presidential candidates, and their political parties, a major issue will be “corruption” and its eradication - as it was in the campaigning in 2015. But this time, it will be all-encompassing: A hurricane!

So, for those angling to be president in 2019, take this prediction to the bank: Barring any political earthquake, the APC will retain its stronghold in the North, and then vie to gain more foothold in the South, than it did the last time. And the polls would be over!

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

proud of, especially because it was quite timely. is a Also, the Vice President , Government and Regulatory Affairs of 9Mobile, Ibrahim Dikko described NCC’s intervention as timely, stressing that the regulator was able to deliver a master stroke that calmed the whole tensions and saved the economy from some undesirable pressure.

“NCC was categorical when they said the license was not transferable so it was a brilliant master stroke from them. They spelt out what the Act stated, because many people did not understand that telecom sector is a technical sector and not a business where anybody could just step in and say I am taking over irrespective of what has happened.

They were able to calm the storm,” surmised Ibrahim Dikko, Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs of 9Mobile.

•CHIDI UGWU is an Abuja-based Correspondent of The Oracle Today

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 September 13, 2017

Travel & Hospitality

26

Lights on at Abuja Writers’ Resort by October –Denja PRESIDENT of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), MALAM DENJA ABDULLAHI, in this interview, says the first office complex at the eagerly-anticipated major destination, Abuja Writers’ Village at Mpape, in the Federal Capital Territory, will come on stream by October, this year. When completed, the village would house the national headquarters of the association, a 50-room hotel, residency chalets, 500-seater auditorium, archives as well as other facilities befitting a writers’ resort. In this interview with VICTOR NZE, Abdullahi also sheds more light on his administration’s achievements with few months to the elective national convention, among other issues. Excerpts:

H

OW have you been able to juggle your position as a Director at the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), with that of running the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA)?

I must say I have combined the two preoccupations perfectly well because they are about the same thing.

There is no significant difference between administering an association of authors and administering culture.

Both concerns belong to the same domain of the creative and cultural industries. My work as a public administrator of culture who must abide by statutory rules and display fairness and equity has greatly rubbed off on how i have been administering the affairs of ANA as its President. My precision, passion and creative propensity as a writer and manager of an NGO in which resources must be stretched and value gotten for every money or resources expended have all impacted on how I do my public service duties. There is positive co-habitation in the way I performed both tasks and my two “employers” are not complaining.

How would you rate government’s support for the literary arts, considering the rather unusual lull in the art sector in the country?

I have always advocated that all the various government interventions towards supporting the arts must be warehoused in the same basket or envelope if I may put it that way.

Presently, such supports are scattered in this or that Ministry, agency or commission and there seems to be no coordination and that even makes it difficult for government sincere efforts to be noticed or measured. We in the arts sector have always advocated the establishment of the National Endowment Fund for the Arts which is that basket I refereed to earlier. The government of any society has a primary responsibility for supporting the arts the same way that education of its citizen is a primary function of government. We cannot push this primary responsibility to the private sector. The government must show its own coordinated effort first before the private sector can come in effectively. With all the noise being made now on the propensity of the creative and cultural industries in creating wealth and generating employment, we still need to get it right by being inclusive and designing peculiar support structure for each of the components of the arts and culture

Even if I do not have any other quality, the one you cannot take away from me is that of being a bridge builder who relates with people with no prior prejudices and complexes. I have the spirit of inclusiveness in my dealings with people and it has helped me in keeping the Association united and progressive. Well-meaning and objective members of the Association have been supporting me. There will always be naysayers, even if you are a prophet; you need such people to be focused and to test your strength and qualities on. I have always said one thing about the generality of ANA membership, you can never sway them with gimmicks and other such empty posturing. They can see through all that to decide on what they want for their Association.

sector.

How has it been so far at the helm of ANA? It is not modest to score oneself but if you go through our scorecard and conduct an assessment among our members, I am certain me and my team will not score less than 80 per cent out. I have reviewed my electoral promises with what I have done within a year and going to two years of my coming on board and I have discovered that I have achieved nearly 80 per cent of what I set out to do and well on the way to accomplishing a few others left.

Your milestone achievements till date as ANA President The milestone achievements are bringing into being a strategic plan (2017-2022) for the Association’s future development; conceiving and producing a documentary film for the Association entitled; ” Dancing mask: The ANA Story”; Restructuring of the internal governance structure of the Association by creating strategic committees, panels and councils; fast tracking the development of the ANA land in Mpape, Abuja by instituting a stricter monitoring process and doing a foundation laying ceremony; bringing about the second phase of the Nigerian Writers Series by publishing three new titles devoted to children’s literature; internationalizing the operations of the Association by effective collaboration with other writers’ associations in Africa and beyond; launching a project called ABook-A-Child to put an ennobling general interest book in the hand of every school going Nigerian child of certain age ranges and generally making the Association receptive to creative and purposeful partnerships with like bodies, governments and individuals.

I and my team have done much more than that and there are still more to be done.

What have been the major challenges confronting your tenure at ANA, and how are you tackling them?

The challenges are legion as always. There is the problem of lack of fund which is ever there in a situation where dues paid by members are insignificant and not paid in any structured manner or not even paid at all. This is an Association that has no capacity to network for grant nor the personnel to follow through any request for funding in a sustained manner. It therefore leaves you with a president who thinks and does most

things for the Association. However, I must appreciate the contributions of members of the national executive council which I head and the state chapters executives and other well-meaning members of the Association across the country. They all do their bits but it is still an association where everyone can go to sleep but the President must not or else he or she will be accused of failure. It should not be that way; that is why I am working towards enthroning a system in which belonging to the Association means you must be responsible for its upkeep and well-being by playing your part, paying your dues and staking your claim in its activities.

Considering the disquiet that reared its head at the last ANA National Convention in Abuja, last year, how has your administration been able to build bridges of unity among members?

You read the signs wrongly: there was no disquiet of any kind. It was the usual underhand politicking played in Nigeria all the time, where if you succeed too much, some people begin to wonder why you should have it so smooth. They therefore decide to rake some trouble for you so that you should contend with them and negotiate some of your successes with them. That convention was our 35th Anniversary and I must tell you it was one of the most successful conventions of the Association in the last 10 if not 15 years. A lot of members after that convention called back and wrote to me to commend our efforts.

Remember that four years before in 2011 in that same Abuja, a raucous convention took place, in which delegates were held hostages in hotels over unpaid bills and me and the then newly elected President went round Abuja hotels to sign undertakings for them to be released to go home.

What are your plans for the coming year? And by extension, what is the level of development at the ANA’s Village in Abuja?

If I am re-elected to serve again for a second and final term as President in October, 2017, the Association should expect an even more purposeful tenure from 2018. We already have a strategic plan covering five years, well on to 2022., what I will do is just to follow it through and do what is possible within my tenure of office. Someone else will always come later to carry it further. On the ANA land, a lot of development is ongoing and we will deliver one of the first completed office structure before October, 2017.

How would describe the present state of literary arts in Nigeria, and what is the way forward?

The literary arts is in bubbles, exciting and new frontiers is being extended. That is why we were planning to do a symposium with the Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo in Ebonyi State on the 21st of August, 2017 on that, prelude to a major conference next year, before the almighty ASUU Strike aborted the plans. We will go ahead with that after the strike. The many book festivals, book chats and literary prizes we have all over tell you that the literary arts is a thriving industry. The drawback is that we cannot have a thriving literary industry where authors and publishers are still complaining of being unfulfilled.

Le Meridien Ogeyi Place launches theme night

By VICTOR NZE

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NE of the properties of Marriott Hotels in the country, Le Meridien Ogeyi Place has now set the pace with new theme night concepts at its main dining restaurant -Ororo.

“As part of our new culinary program, we will offer guests the opportunity to indulge in a variety of genuine and enriching flavors as well as unique creations inspired by each of the food themes.

“Our theme night activities commence with a Monday Pasta Night where you are treated to a variety of authentic Italian pasta.

“Tuesday unveils the unforgettable Asian Curry night while

on Wednesday our guests are sure to enjoy all things Nigerian from our Native Rivers Specialties.” Be sure to visit on Thursday and sample our Beijing Express which will entice you with all things from Beijing and on Friday our renowned Seafood Wazobia BBQ will thrill you,” General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Fabian Martinez.

“On the weekend, you can savor our Saturday Mediterranean Flavors and Sunday enters in with a Sunday Sparkling Brunch.”

“Every night will be unique in the sense that all our ingredients and recipes are authentic. The highlight of the theme nights is the Friday Wazobia seafood barbeque, which consists of a variety of fresh fish and seafood, grilled

to the particular taste of each customer and the evenings are brought alive with music and entertainment around the hotel pool”.

“Our Le Meridien brand Sparkling Sunday brunch event will have native cuisine and French twist recipes on offer alongside a “Children eat for free” promotion. This campaign will engage our guests in yet another way to unlock their destination through local recipes and a modern perspective on this theme night campaign”.

“We are privileged in the sense that Le Meridien cuisine enables us to offer unique, memorable dining experiences,” Fabien Martinez added.

27

The Oracle Today September 13, 2017

AVIATION

Airlines bicker over Open Skies to attract foreign tourists Stories by VICTOR NZE

D

ESPITE the huge potential presented by foreign arrivals in the continent, from tourists in the United States, Europe, and Asia to visit Africa, most African countries including Nigeria are lacking airline services oriented to mine the industry.

With Arik Air in Nigeria cutting seats and downsizing operations, as well as others in the country facing European Union restrictions, other African countries with best tourist attractions have equally surrendered their skies to the Middle East and European-registered air carriers to fly there with full domination of the continent’s airspace.

Airline and tourism experts discussing the trends shaping travel and tourism in the ongoing Africa Travel Association’s 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, said only a small percentage of African carriers fly international routes.

Foreign airlines had captured two-thirds of the capacity going in and out of Africa.

ForwardKeys latest report shows that bookings for flights to Africa are currently at 16.8 percent ahead of July 2016. However, it is notable that consumer demand and airline investment is greater in travel to African countries from outside the continent than it is between African countries,” said Olivier Jager, CEO of ForwardKeys.

On the other hand, African airline executives are pushing back

against government intrusions, red tape, high taxes, and political meddling which all made Africanregistered airlines fail to grow under stiff competition over the African skies, experts noted.

Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways, and South African Airways were the only three top airlines registered on the continent with good performance on their flights outside the continent last year.

The three airlines connect the African continent to other key tourist markets in the United States, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. It is estimated that the 3 airlines have sold twothirds of the estimated 9.2 million seats purchased for travel within sub-Saharan Africa, taking advantage of their direct connections outside the continent.

To make the air travel industry profitable, African countries need to liberalize air traffic, according to IATA and the African Union, aviation experts said.

Industry experts often criticize African countries for having more bilateral open sky agreements with partners outside the continent than with African partners.

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA), noted at the Aviation Africa conference in Kigali in February this year that airport passenger charges in Africa are 2 to 5 times higher than the global US$25 average. Aviation fuel is also 2.5 times more expensive in Africa than on other continents.

If African governments reduce charges and taxes, airlines and the aviation industry would bring

Air Peace doles out free tickets to loyal customers

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IR Peace has once again issued hundreds of free economy and business class tickets to its customers under its Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) tagged “Peace Advantage.”

In August 2016, the carrier also rewarded its customers who had earned enough points under its loyalty scheme. About two months after in October, Air Peace also compensated all passengers on two of its delayed Abuja-Lagos flights. A total of 196 passengers affected were compensated.

Vice Chairman of Air Peace, Mrs. Alice Onyema, who was on one of the affected flights, made the announcement to the surprised passengers. The flights, the airline said, were delayed due to unfavourable weather and VIP movements.

In a message to over 500 new beneficiaries by the carrier’s Loyalty Support Team, the airline said the free tickets were its way of rewarding them for keeping faith with it.

In a statement issued by its Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah, Air Peace assured that it would continue to show gratitude for the loyalty of its customers through different reward schemes.

The airline explained: “The Peace Advantage programme is our way of rewarding our customers for believing in us and supporting us with their

patronage. With a Peace Advantage card, the traveller gets additional travel time on any destination they wish each time they fly with us.

“We are a company that considers our esteemed guests a core part of our one big family and sincerely seeks pragmatic ways of making life beautiful and peaceful for them.We will continue to be unsparing in rewarding our valued guests for their loyalty, which has proved the greatest pillar of our leadership of the Nigerian aviation industry.”

(L-R): Managing Director/CEO, SAHCOL, Rizwan Kadri; Adedoyin Adeniji, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, SAHCOL; Alex Okoh, Director General, BPE; Boma Ukwunna, General Manager, Cargo Services, SAHCOL; & Baba Mohammed, Director, Capital Market, BPE. more prosperity, creating jobs, contributing more to Gross Domestic Products and trade that would overcompensate for the reduction in charges.

Politically-motivated appointments at management levels at the expense of proven competence, a recurrent problem for state-owned enterprises, also

T

Ethiopian Airlines’ successes appear to be showing the way

forward for the entire aviation industry on the continent. While wholly owned by the government, the airline has an independent management team. It has embarked on an ambitious development program, which includes promoting travel hubs in East and West Africa with African partners.

AIB wants fuel quality investigated

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HE Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to inaugurate an independent inquiry into aviation fuel quality in the country.

The AIB Commissioner, Mr Akin Olateru, made the recommendation while presenting two accident reports and a bulletin to newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday.

The bureau presented a report on the accident involving a Nigeria Police Force Bell helicopter which led to the death of four persons on March 14, 2008 at Kabong, Plateau State.

The AIB also presented a report on the serious incident involving a Tampico TB9 air-

FAAN apologises for MMIA blackout HE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has expressed regret over last Wednesday’s minor power outage that disrupted business at the terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

General Manager, Corporate Communications, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, said in a statement, Thursday that the agency regretted the disruption which occurred on Wednesday night.

It would be recalled that for about an hour activities at the airport came to a halt following an outage as travellers struggled to conduct their activities in the darkness.

Yakubu said FAAN engineers were

plagues most national airlines.

AFRAA has declared Ethiopian Airlines the best in Africa for the fifth consecutive time last year, recognizing, in part, its “exemplary” cooperation with other African carriers.

immediately mobilised to restore power to the public concourse.

“The airport on Wednesday experienced a minor power outage but our team of engineers has immediately swung into action and normalcy had been restored in the affected areas.

“FAAN wishes to apologise to passengers, airlines and the general public for the inconvenience caused by this interruption.

“The authority is assuring airport users of safety and security at airports at all times,” she said.

FAAN had recently attributed incessant power outage at the airport to the ongoing construction work at the new terminal.

craft belonging to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), which occurred on October 6, 2008 at the Zaria Aerodrome in Kaduna.

It also released a bulletin on the ground collision incident involving two Boeing aircraft belonging to Air Peace Airlines Limited at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on April 20, 2017.

Olateru said the recommendation for the NCAA and DPR to investigate the quality of aviation fuel was informed by the bureau’s investigation into the NPF chopper crash which led to the death of a Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr John Haruna, and three others.

According to him, the resulting report should focus on the vulnerability and risk of each step in the fuel distribution process.

“This should yield firmer regulatory oversight mechanisms that will ensure the international quality of aviation fuels used in Nigeria,’’ he said.

The commissioner noted that the cause of the incident could not be conclusively decided but the investigation discovered a series of discrepancies and noncompliance with Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations.

He said the pilot’s medical certificate and simulator currency had expired as at the time of the accident, while the co-pilot was not type-rated on the Bell 427 helicopter. Olateru also added that the engineer that released the aircraft, prior to the flight,

also had no type training and type rating on the aircraft type.

He, therefore, advised the NPF Air-wing to provide the proper funding, conducive working environment and develop a robust training programme for its technical personnel, with adequate supervision and approved equipment, to enhance safety.

On the NCAT crash, the commissioner said the causal factor was the inability of the student pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft after touchdown.

He said though there was no fatality, the AIB among other recommendations, advised NCAT to procure and train relevant personnel to conduct toxicology examination in its Aero Medical facility, which had since been complied with.

Olateru also noted that the ground collision between the two aircraft belonging to Air Peace at the GAT was unfortunate, as it led to loss of revenue for the airline operator.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to engage more marshallers and also establish a quasi-Apron Control Room at the domestic terminal, to forestall such incidents in future.

The AIB commissioner who noted that 22 final reports on accident investigations were still pending, reiterated the bureau’s commitment to its mandate of speedy completion of investigations into serious incidents and accidents.

28

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION Harvey economic loss to hit $75bn –Report

By CHRIS EBONG

A

S Hurricane Harvey is raging across American states, the total economic loss has been estimated at up to $75 billion. The massive price tag would see the storm on a par with Superstorm Sandy in terms of economic impact to the United States, according to analysts forecast.

As the flooding persists and spreads towards Louisiana in the east, the affected area now faces perhaps months of disruption to residents and businesses, with lost output, business interruption and other economic impacts expected to escalate rapidly.

While economic losses are not what the ILS and reinsurance market is focused on, they provide useful guides as to how severe an event is and how wide the protection gap for a specific region may be.

Report estimates the price tag for southeast Texas alone as between $51 billion to $75 billion. At the upper end of that range the hurricane’s price tag would equal that of Superstorm Sandy, and come second only to Hurricane Katrina in terms of the costliest natural disasters to strike the U.S. in recent history.

Analysts project between $30 billion and $40 billion of property damage to homes and vehicles, $10 billion to $15 billion of costs to businesses, as offices, stores and industrial space are damaged by flooding and another $5 billion to $10 billion of infrastructure as well.

The economic impact to the region is explained as; “The longterm economic damage associated with Harvey remains likely to be concentrated in the residential market. Damaged roads and bridges will be repaired, and firms whose assets were damaged can largely rely on insurance to rebuild. But a lack of flood insurance for homeowners will prevent the type of full-scale reconstruction effort that might otherwise be expected. This could have significant long-term ramifications, weighing on household wealth and consumption, while even potentially making a dent in the region’s very strong population growth.

“Estimates of lost output have increased to account for the severity of the storm. Houston, the nation’s fifth largest economy, is sitting dormant and even if it reawakens next week, it will not be clicking on all cylinders as firms and residents deal with the storm’s aftermath.

Further, jobs that can be done remotely, primarily office-using positions are made more difficult by power outages and the displacement of residents, both of which make telecommuting that much more challenging.”

That loss output is now estimated as costing from $6 billion to $10 billion, so when added to the other estimates above the total comes to the $75 billion of economic impact.

Moody’s Analytics also explained that these figures could all rise; “These figures are preliminary, as

•Hurricane Harvey wrecking havoc in Houston, United States of America, last week.

the full extent of the damage in Texas remains unclear. With the storm threatening to disrupt Louisiana as well, cost estimates may well rise further. If that happens, Harvey could potentially overtake such events as Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge Earthquake of 1994 in terms of total losses as a share of GDP.”

With the remnants of now tropical storm Harvey impacting Louisiana with rainfall and some flooding and eastern Texas still suffering as well, while waters continue to rise in areas where the rain has now stopped, it seems likely that the total will rise further.

The rising economic bill, being mostly from flooding, will have

a bearing for commercial insurers and reinsurance providers, as most of the flood risk that will be dealt with by the private markets will come through commercial arrangements. Also an economic loss means greater business interruption costs as well, which can exacerbate private insurance and reinsurance market losses.

Royal Exchange grows profit by 19% in half year 2017

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OYAL Exchange Plc, Nigeria’s premier insurance and financial services group, has announced a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N203.3million in half year 2017 from N171.14 million achieved in H1’16. The figure represents a 19 percent growth within the period of consideration.

The company Gross Written Premium (GWP) increased by 11percent to N9.37 billion in 2017 from N8.43 billion within the same period in 2016.

The company, however, recorded a moderate growth of 6.3 percent or N6.86 billion in Gross Premium Income compared to the N6.46 billion generated in the corresponding period in 2016.

Net Premium Income for the period amounted to N4.72 billion, representing a marginal growth of 2.5 percent over that of half year 2016, which stood at N4.60 billion. While total Net Claims paid for the period under review amounted to N1.76 billion, a decrease of 10 percent from half year 2016, which was N1.95 billion.

The company attributed the feat to stringent underwriting policies implemented throughout the company in the period under review.

While speaking on the results,

The Group Managing Director of Royal Exchange Plc. Alhaji Auwalu Muktari, said “by focusing on the growth objectives set forth at the beginning of the year, which included an increased focus on the retail and corporate markets, amongst others, we have been able to achieve moderate growth and the Board and Management of the company are definitely optimistic for the second half of the year”.

According to Alhaji Muktari, “the beginning of the 2017 financial year witnessed difficulties in the Nigerian economy, but as evidenced by our stellar results and those of other firms in the Nigerian Stock Market, there is renewed optimism in the Nigerian economy. Royal Exchange Plc is hopeful that by focusing our efforts on aggressive sales of our various products and services, including strong presence and participation in the retail sales space and the continued optimization of our operating costs, we will be able to surpass our financial targets set for ourselves at the beginning of the year.”

On the state of the insurance industry in Nigeria, Auwalu Muktari noted that while government is the biggest spender in the Nigerian economy, it is important that

the private sector sees the insurance industry as partners in their progress by taking out policies to ensure not only business continuity, but also peace of mind in the event of any business disruption or random event happens.

He also noted that increased awareness on the usefulness and benefits of insurance by the media will help increase insurance penetration and wider patronage of the various insurance products in Nigeria.

Royal Exchange Plc started operations in 1918 and continues to be driven by innovation and a determination to offer services that are of exceptional value to its customers.

Following the recapitalization exercise in 2007, the company was reorganised into a group structure comprising Royal Exchange Plc as the holding company and five strategic subsidiaries namely Royal Exchange General Insurance Company Limited (Non-Life Insurance Services), Royal Exchange Prudential Life Plc (Life Assurance Services), Royal Exchange Finance and Asset Management Limited (Financial Advisory Services), Royal Exchange Healthcare Limited (HMO and Health Insurance) and Royal Exchange Microfinance Bank Limited (Banking Services).

Law Union pays N622.518m claims in HY 2017

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NE of the old generation underwriters, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc, has announced that it paid out claims amounting to N622,518,696 in the half year of 2017. The high claims, according to the company, were due largely to flooding during the period under review.

The company added that despite the huge claims paid within the period it was able to net a Profit after Tax (PAT) of N318.749million. The figure represents a four percent growth against N307.334million recorded within the same period in 2016.

While the management of the firm says it is targeting N1billion profit at the end of 2017 trading years, a gross premium written in the half year ended June 30, 2017 stood at of N2, 764,235 billion representing an increase of 17per cent against N2, 371,397 billion recorded in June 30, 2016.

Speaking during a media parley in Lagos, the managing director and chief executive of the company, Mr. Jide Orimolade said; “Law Union is a well-known Underwriting firm with a stable outlook and result oriented management. We have numerous strategic initiatives which have contributed immensely to the growth of our financials. The company is not only determined to meeting all her obligations to the policyholders and committed to continue adding values to her esteemed customers through disruptive innovation that delivers seem less, convenient and stress free business ecosystem”.

Mr. Orimolade added that Law Union & Rock is now committed and strategically positioned to consolidate on her profit earned this year to delight our shareholders and all other stakeholders, stressing that his firm’s growth focus in 2017 include growing the Gross Premium Written by 50per cent, retain 90percent of our existing customers and growing direct & retail businesses.

Other areas of focus, he said, are to improve relationship with brokers and other channels, achieve an improved credit rating from A- to A+ by GCR and becoming the preferred first choice underwriter amongst the General Insurance business provider in Nigeria.

He continued that the company has developed and added four products into its shelve this year.

The products are I-Salute which, according to the CEO is designed to provide support and relieve to Officers and their families in event of accidents that result in any or a combination of Bodily injury requiring resulting in medical expenses. Permanent disability preventing the person from carrying on with his/her regular business or activities * Death * Injury, permanent disability or death resulting from armed robbery attack is also covered.

Doctor-on-Cover designed to help Medical Doctors comply with the law as well as protect them from unforeseen legal liabilities that could prevent them from practicing what they love.

29

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

LEKKI ROSE GARDEN IBEJU LEKKI Lekki Rose Garden is positioned around the new economic centre of Lagos State where massive projects is currently going on.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD: • Lekki Free Trade Zone • Dangote Refinery • Lekki Deep Sea Port • New International Airport • Several Gated estates.

For more details please contact PREMIUM PARTNERS +234 (803) 887 2988, +234 (803) 300 7069 25 Remi Fani Kayode Street G.R.A Ikeja, Lagos State

30

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION

CIIN, UNILAG partner on skills acquisition

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• Mr. Jide Orimolade, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (m), Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc flanked by Mr. Steve Ajudua, Chief Marketing Officer (l) and Mr. Olayiwola Olabisi, Chief Finance Officer of the company during a media parley in Lagos last week.

HE Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria(CIIN) and University of Lagos have opened up discussions on a possible partnership that will enable both Institutions alongside other collaborators provide programmes on insurance and risk management.

This will also enable collaborating Institutions exchange programmes and recognize certifications of members as well as produce well rounded students in academics and professionalism.

Designed to be in five pillars, expected parties are University of Lagos, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, College of Insurance and Financial Management Services and other foreign institutions.

Funmi Babington-Ashaye, President of the Chartered Insur-

Sovereign Trust Insurance posts N630mn pbt

S

OVEREIGN Trust Insurance Plc says it posted over N630million Profit before Tax in the first half of the year 2017 as against N400million recorded within the same period in 2016.

Representing a 57.5per cent growth the profit after tax also grew by N57.6percent from N373million in 2016 to N588m in 2017.

The company says with a resolve to being one of the leading players in the Insurance Industry, the organization has again posted a positive financial performance in the second quarter of 2017 as it bettered its performance recorded in

the same period of 2016.

For analysts, the half year performance shows that Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc is right on track in delighting her shareholders and other stakeholders alike as the year and future of the company looks bright.

The total Gross premium written grew from N3.7billion in the second quarter of 2016 to N6.1b representing an increase of N2.4billion and a growth rate of 64percent in the current financial year. Likewise, the net premium income grew from N2.3billion in the second quarter of 2016 to N2.8billion in the same period of 2017 amounting to a growth rate of 22percent.

The underwriting profit rose from N1.11billion to N1.4billion representing a growth rate of 2.7percent while investment income also grew by 73percent from N140million in 2016 to N243million in the second quarter.

While the company’s Management Expenses witnessed a consecutive shrink from the first quarter of the year, the second quarter’s expenses came down to N713million from N762million in the same period of 2016. This represents a 6.4percent reduction rate.

The Management Team reiterates its commitment to reducing

IEI-Anchor Pension bags innovative award

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EI-Anchor Pension Managers Limited has received Africa’s Best Innovative Pension Fund Administrator of the year 2017 award.

The award convened by the Developments in Africa Merit Awards recently was received on behalf of the Company by Femi Onoru the Company Secretary/

FG to release fund for next batch of retirees –PenCom

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he Acting Director-General of National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar, on Wednesday said the Federal Government had begun modalities for pension payments to next batch of retirees.

Dahir-Umar said in Lagos that Federal Government and PenCom had been working on modalities to enable it to release substantial fund for the retirees.

She said retirees that perfected documentation and verification processes would be captured for the payments in the next batch.

She said the fund for the Accrued Rights was expected to cover retirees from October 2016 to August 2017.

Dahir-Umar recalled that the Federal Government, through PenCom, released N54 billion in

April to clear pension backlog arrears and was used for pension payments of last batch of retirees.

She said the last batch consisted of those that retired from January to September 2016 and all retirees in the category were paid.

The PenCom boss also commended President Muhammudu Buhari for giving prominence to retirees’ well-being by settling accrued pension rights for that period.

“Despite conflicting demands for available cash, President Buhari had always expressed concern about the plight of workers and pensioners.

“It has brought relief to thousands of our elders who have served and deserve to be paid their entitlements promptly and fully,” She said.

Legal Adviser.

In her acceptance speech she appreciated the conveners of the award and noted that being a service delivery industry, it was exhilarating to know that every effort put into satisfying customers was taken into cognizance.

This, she notes, buttresses the saying that every drop creates a ripple as she appreciated the conveners. Onoru pledged the firm’s commitment to continually offer customer centric services according to best global practices.

“This is IEI Anchor Pensions’ second award this year. Not for its size but for its selfless customer service drive and sensitivity”, Onoru noted, adding; “This feat proves that the Contribution Pension Scheme is a success and that the current challenges being experienced are only transitional from the old scheme.

We seek to use this opportunity to appeal to the general public that the Pension fund be held as sacred by all and sundry; hence fragmenting the current settings with new laws without allowing it to mature would be a major dis-service to most and self-serving to just a few”.

cost of operations as much as possible; adding that the company’s promise of wanting to create exceptional value for its numerous shareholders spread across the country and beyond is beginning to look very hopeful.

The second quarter unaudited financial report clearly indicates that Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc is one organization to reckon with when it comes to insurance business in Nigeria. This goes a long way to confirm the viability and profitability of the company. No doubt, better days are here for this prolific Underwriting Organization, analysts noted.

ance Institute of Nigeria made the partnership request during a courtesy visit to the office of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Rahmon Ade Bello.

Babington-Ashaye said this partnership when consummated will deliver great value to the Insurance industry and all the parties involved, as well as impact positively on the output of the different institutions.

“The partnership will enable provision of professional guidance to the thousands of underprepared students every year, to ensure their success and relevance to industries and employment sector” Receiving the CIIN delegation, Ade Bello congratulated Babington-Ashaye on her recent investiture as the new President of the Institute, stating that UNILAG is not unaware of her unwavering commitment to development of the education system in Nigeria through scholarships for students of the University.

“We are poised to support and collaborate with educational and professional bodies as long as they seek to add value to what we do as an institution of learning” Professor Rahmon Ade Bello applauded the initiators of this proposal as it would create additional value for participating institutions and the economy as a whole and therefore mandated the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Development Services to work with the CIIN team to come up with a working document on the proposed partnership.

Allianz acquires Ensure Insurance

A

NOTHER acquisition deal changed hands weekend as Allianz Group announced a binding agreement to acquire 98 percent of Nigerian based insurer, Ensure Insurance Plc from its core shareholder Greenoaks Global Holdings Ltd. (GGH).

Ensure Insurance Plc. offers life and non-life insurance services and generated 11 million euros in gross premiums written in 2016.

Allianz Group views Africa as one of the important future growth markets and is now present in 17 countries across the region. Nigeria, a fast growing country with a population of more than 180 million citizens, is the country with the largest GDP on the continent.

“Nigeria is one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. The acquisition of Ensure Insurance Plc. gives us full access to this key insurance market in Africa and marks a major milestone for Allianz’s long-term growth strategy on the continent.

This new step of development will allow us to offer the best products and services to Nigerian customers in both personal and commercial lines. In addition, as we grow our excellent African teams, we are laying particular emphasis on hiring and developing local talent,” said Coenraad Vrolijk, Regional CEO Africa of Allianz SE. Pending regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close end

of 2017 when Ensure Insurance Plc. shall become a member of the Allianz Group.

The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers with more than 86 million retail and corporate customers, the group has world’s largest investors, managing over 650 billion euros on behalf of its insurance customers.

Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance.

While our asset managers Allianz Global Investors and PIMCO manage an additional 1.4 trillion euros of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we hold a leading position in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

In 2016, over 140,000 employees in more than 70 countries achieved total revenues of 122 billion euros and an operating profit of 11 billion euros for the group.

In Africa Allianz is currently present in 17 countries and accompanies clients in 39 countries. Its 1,500 employees achieved regional revenues of 600 million euros in 2016. Allianz also provides micro-insurance for 500,000 low income families and individuals in Africa.

31

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

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32

racleToday

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153,000.00

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266,000.00

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220,000.00

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206,000.00

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175,000.00s

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387,500.00

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345,000.00

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33

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

Model of the Week

LOVE NEWS

F1 star Lewis Hamilton pens tribute poem for Princess Diana

F

ormula One ace Lewis Hamilton has written a poem in tribute to “England’s beauty” Princess Diana - a day after the 20th anniversary of her death.

The three-time world champion posted the words alongside a video montage of images of Diana, accompanied by Van Morrison’s Into the Mystic.

Hamilton’s poem read: “The day we lost our Nations Rose, Tears we cried like rivers flowed, The earth stood still As we laid her to rest, A day you & I Will never forget “The people’s princess Who came to see, The love from a Country “We’d hope she’d lead, Englands beauty Captured in one sweet soul, Carried the torch God rest her soul “With the gift she had Shed light up the way, With a smile to show us a brighter day, Hearts still full of the love she gave, 20 years since she laid in her grave “There will never be another like you, Now a shinning star in

the midnight sky I will always remember you, Princess Diana As our sweet nations Rose. By Lewis Hamilton.”

He put a rose emoji before his name.

The poem and photo montage has been viewed more than 200,000 times and fans of the F1 star left comments praising his tribute.

“This is beautiful and well said mr. Hamilton. Thank you,” posted simply_franzi_ru.

“Made me have a tear ... well said @lewishamilton She was a shining star,” said littletraskteamlh.”

The 32-year-old, who was 12 when Princess Diana died, also posted a picture of her on Thursday - the 20th anniversary of her death in a car crash in Paris.

The anniversary saw flowers and tributes left at the gates of Kensington Palace.

Princes William and Harry also visited the White Garden that was planted at the palace in memory of their mother.

Name: Sonia Tel: 08027648715 • If you want to be our next ORACLE MODEL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

Boy arrested for dancing in the street in Saudi Arabia

A

teenager who went viral on Twitter when he was filmed dancing the Macarena on a Saudi Arabian street has been arrested.

The 14-year-old, wearing shorts, a striped tee-shirt and headphones, is accused of “improper public behaviour” in Jeddah, a statement said.

It is not clear what his nationality is or if he has been formally charged.

In the clip, which has been shared thousands of times, the boy can be seen dancing back and forth amid heavy traffic in the background.

The clip, featuring the popular 1990s song by Los Del Rio, was believed to have been first posted in July 2016.

Some on social media have hailed him a hero - while others have condemned him as “immoral”.

• Princess Diana

• Lewis Hamilton

Romantic Joke Bulletproof Jacket My husband and I couldn’t decide which jacket to buy our granddaughter, so we asked the young salesman.

“If you were buying a jacket for your girlfriend,” I said, “what would you get?”

“A bulletproof one,” he said.

“I’m married.”

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

True Confession

P

eople always say that wonders will never end in this world.

That’s because the world is full of mystery. What happened to me is just like a movie.

Indeed, it is just like a movie and I’m still trying to recover from the shock of what i went through. Is it a crime to be married to an impotent man and leave him? What else could I have done after been married to an impotent man for 15 years without a child, if not to leave him for good? I want readers to judge for themselves in this matter between me and my ex-husband, Marcus.

Marcus was short, ugly and fat when I met him years ago in the village during the yuletide period. I have the habit of traveling home to the village whenever it is Christmas because there’s nothing compares to celebrating Christmas in your hometown.

I love traveling home for the holidays and I did just that 16 years ago when I met my husband. Alhough Marcus was short, ugly and fat, he had the most beautiful smile in the whole wide world and I fell for that most beautiful smile of his.

We became friends and when he learned that I was still in school, he pledged to sponsor my education, which he did. And I am forever grateful to him for that singular act of charity.

Our relationship lasted from my first year in the university till my final year when we decided to settle down.

We got married when I was in my final year because Marcus told me that he was afraid that if he did not marry me now, I would dump him for another man after I had graduated and then all the money he had spent sponsoring my education would have been wasted. That is in addition to him having a broken heart at the end.

So I married him in my final year in order to assure him that I was forever his. I remember our wedding eve.

Marcus took me into his arms and whispered into my ears: “Amaka, I will always love you. I will cross the seven seas with you and climb the seven mountains until death do us part.”

That was one of the sweetest sweet nothings I had ever heard in my life.

However, we got married and as the years progressed, I realized that I was living in hell. Marcus never told me that he couldn’t father a child before marrying me.

And for the next 15 years he hid the truth for me while I grieved every morning of every day for my barrenness, thinking that the fault was mine.

It was my husband’s personal physician who secretly told me the truth.

And that was when I decided to leave my husband. I moved my things out of my husband’s house on the same night he traveled for business.

I moved in with a young man I had taken as my lover and before long, I conceived for him.

I decided to officially divorce my husband, Marcus, and the divorce litigation was still on when strange things began to happen to my young lover.

First, my boyfriend was attacked and beaten up by thugs on his way back from work one night. He was hospital-

‘My husband was responsible for my boyfriend’s death’

“First, my boyfriend was attacked and beaten up by thugs on his way back from work one night.

He was hospitalized for three days and resumed work only for the same thugs to ambush him again two weeks later and stab him to death with broken bottles.” ized for three days and resumed work only for the same thugs to ambush him again two weeks later and stab him to death with broken bottles.

I heard gossip that it was my husband who had organized the thugs to commit the crime. It was a very trying

period for me but I managed to carry my pregnancy for my dead young lover to the end, and I gave birth to a baby boy.

However, immediately my husband heard that I had given birth to a baby boy, he started claiming the child as

his own and begging me to return to his house.

Marcus is still begging me to come back to his house. He is begging me to let him hide the shame of his impotence by adopting the boy as his own child.

He said that in his culture, when a married woman gives birth, the boy belongs to her husband, irrespective of who impregnated her. But I’ve told Marcus to go to hell. I’ve told him that he’s lucky that I don’t have evidence to have him arrested and prosecuted for murder.

I’ve now given birth to my child. And I’m ready to raise the boy I had for my late boyfriend on my own as a single mother. As far as I’m concerned, Marcus is a murderer and I will never return to his house.

35

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

Relationships and Love Advice

‘My husband can’t satisfy me’

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Dear Love Doctor, I have been married for 10 years now and for 7 years out of the 10, I have not enjoyed sex with my husband. He usually comes very fast and leaves me sexually frustrated. Now for the last three years, I had an arrangement with somebody who has been satisfying me, unknown to my husband. I did it because I have tried everything to make sure my husband is able to satisfy me, including buying sex pills for him, but nothing worked. However, after seeing my spiritual director last week, he advised me to stop committing adultery and make another effort to make my husband satisfy me in bed. My parish priest said that I shouldn’t give up. What do I do?

Thanks, Angela.

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Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Bimbo,

I

think your parish priest has a point. Marriage is for better, for worse. It is a commitment to remain with your partner for life and help him address all his inadequacies. Committing yourself to one person for the rest of your life means you should never give up on that person.

You need to keep trying to help your husband satisfy you in bed, except your husband is no longer willing to try. You’re there to encourage him. With your encouragement, he is likely to improve in his sexual performance.

Here are some tips to help you help your husband satisfy you in bed: 1. Discuss with him.

Explain to your husband that you married him because you love him. Therefore, your commitment to him goes beyond having sex.

It is more about sharing lives. This explanation should lay a good foundation on which you can build on to improve his sexual performance.

2. See a doctor, sex therapist, psychologist, counselor or relevant professional.

Book an appointment with a professional and go along with your husband to see him/ her. Professionals are well trained to manage such cases, so don’t hesitate to see a relevant professional to help you and your husband spice up your sex life. Through a complete medical examination which may include blood, semen and/or other tests, a doctor would find out the cause of the problem and help him get a solution.

3. Examine yourself to determine if you’re part of the cause.

Don’t be surprised that you may even be a part of the cause of your husband’s inability to satisfy you in bed. For instance you may be overweight or have body odour, poor hygiene or anything that could turn him off sex. So you need to check yourself too to make sure that you’re not part of the reason your husband doesn’t give you all the sexual pleasure you want.

husband.

The good news is that if you’re part of the cause, then you’re also part of the solution; because if you start making yourself sexually appealing to your husband, his performance in bed will improve. What kind of perfumes do you use? What kind of clothes do you wear in bed? Maybe you can start by buying new sexy perfumes and lingerie that can help you arouse your husband.

5. Avoid self-medication.

When faced with sexual challenges, many people, out of ignorance, resort to self-medication. Some people resort to drinking medicinal substances or buying sexual performance enhancing drugs like Viagra without a doctor’s prescription. This is wrong and extremely dangerous to health. Please do not buy any so-called sexual enhancing orthodox or traditional medicinal substance for your husband to ingest without first seeing a doctor and getting the doctor’s advice. Be warned: Many of these so-called sex drugs contain dangerous chemicals and poisons (that can seriously harm your body system without you knowing).

Self-medication kills. And self-medication is largely a result of ignorance. For instance, some men who have a history of high blood pressure are known to have died after using some drugs for the purpose of getting a harder and longer-lasting erection.

Encourage your husband to see a doctor for a complete medical examination. Doctors are able to see many things about our bodies that we do not see. So never encourage your husband to engage in self-medication in order to boost his sexual performance.

6. Make sure he is free from stress, anxiety or other psychological or emotional pressure.

Stress is a major factor that kills a person’s libido. For instance, if you have too much work to do, you’re likely to have a lower sexual desire. So make sure your man is free from stress. Help him to find out ways to manage stress in the office or workplace so that when he comes back home at night, he will still be 4. Make yourself sexually appealing to your able to ‘perform’.

Blessing, 33, from Imo, in Lagos, fat, busty, single mother, needs a matured man of 45years+ for marriage. 08025117116, 08053407885.

Anxiety is also another thing to watch. If your man is too anxious to satisfy you in bed, he may just end up doing the opposite.

7. Encourage your husband to keep fit through exercise and a balanced diet.

When last did your husband go to the gym or work out at home?

Exercise will help both your husband and you keep fit and thereby boost your performance in bed. Through good exercise, your husband will shed unnecessary calories and improve his heart and body. Through regular exercise, he will also discover that he feels less stressed out. He will also happily find that he now has more energy to perform his duty of satisfying you in bed. Those are just a few of the benefits of keeping fit.

Also, help your husband watch what he eats. Adopting a good diet program will help refresh his body and mind and lead to improved sexual performance.

8. Tell him what pleases you and help him find your g-spot.

Have you ever told your husband what he can do to make you reach orgasm? If you haven’t yet told him what gives you maximum sexual pleasure and satisfaction, your silence is the main reason your husband can’t satisfy you! Therefore, you’re the main cause of your husband’s problem.

For many women, oral clitoral satisfaction or sucking or ‘eating’ their private parts makes them reach orgasm. However, since every individual is different, what works for some may not work for others.

Tell your husband what stimulates you, so that he can do it and satisfy you in bed. Don’t hesitate or feel ashamed about telling him, because you can’t be happy without sexual satisfaction. Help your husband find your g-spot or tell him what arouses you, stimulates you, or makes you come, for the sake of your own happiness.

The above 8 tips will help you spike your husband’s sexual performance and leave you satisfied anytime, any day, anywhere. Good luck as you implement them!

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

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36

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

It happened to me:

‘Having extra-marital affairs makes my marriage stronger’

I

It’s not only happening on House of Cards. This woman considers a don’t-ask-don’t-tell rule the secret to her marital bliss

t’s a Wednesday night, and my boyfriend and I are drinking wine and making out in the back booth of a dimly lit bar. It feels like nothing else in the world exists… until my phone vibrates.

“It’s my husband. The kids are in bed,” I say, then put my phone in my purse and pull my boyfriend toward me. I spend half a second staring at the diamond on my engagement ring before hiding my hand from my sight line. It’s not a secret that I’m married, but it’s also not something I want to think about right now.

Am I a horrible person? Without context, I know I sound horrible. But in my marriage, having affairs works. My husband and I don’t talk about it. But I’m certain our don’t-ask-don’t-tell rule is what has allowed our marriage to last as long as it has.

Notice that I didn’t say we’re in an open marriage—we’re not. An open marriage is transparent, with agreed-upon rules and an understanding of what both parties will and will not do with others. My marriage is opaque. I recognize what Frank and Claire Underwood have in House of Cards, although I like to think my husband and I aren’t as soulless as their characters. But there are similarities: We know the other has secrets, but we don’t care to find out more. It’s an attitude people think of as very French—the idea that you can have an affair and a healthy marriage. Quite honestly, it works. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

When Dave* and I met in our late 20s, I knew that he was a player. So was I. We also had chemistry beyond anything else I’d ever experienced. We just got each other. When I was with him, I could be myself. He was the only boyfriend I’ve ever told the truth to about how many men I’d slept with, because I believed that no matter what I said, he’d never judge me.

He also never seemed to get jealous.

After about six months of late-night booty calls, Dave and I settled into a proper relationship and started calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend. At first, it was incredibly volatile.

After not hearing from him for an evening, I’d go ballistic. He’d refuse to engage, saying he had nothing to apologize for. We yelled about cheating—he’d do it, I’d do it, we’d be furious with each other. But eventually, I realized this dynamic wouldn’t change. One of us would always act out if cheating was against the rules.

But what if it wasn’t? What if we both admitted that, yes, we were sometimes tempted, and that sometimes we acted on that temptation? I think I was the one who brought it up over dinner one night, just after we’d moved in together. I told him that I’d no longer ask questions, that I didn’t want to know. He said he’d do the same. We reaffirmed that we loved each other, and that wouldn’t change. And then, without drawing up any official rules, we embarked on our anything-but-traditional relationship.

We got married seven years ago and now have two sons, ages four and nearly two. The arguments started up again during my first pregnancy. I was pretty sure Dave was sleeping with someone else while I was stuck at home.

Before, I felt we could both have our cake and eat it, too, but the last thing I wanted to do when I was pregnant was seek out an affair. It seemed tawdry and gross, and I resented the fact that all my husband had to do was slip off his ring and he’d look single. Meanwhile, I was huge, hormonal, and knew my husband was cheating on me. When I told him how I felt, he broke off his side situation.

Toward the last trimester of my pregnancy, Dave was amazing. He was home every night, did everything around the house, and was 100-percent there for me—but I still felt resentful and like I’d gotten the short end of the stick.

A few months after our son was born, I quick-

ly got into a relationship with a former coworker. It wasn’t great—I really would have rather been at home with my son, and I felt I was punishing myself for my husband’s behavior during my pregnancy. I liked my coworker, but I know I pushed us into romantic territory fast because I wanted to feel desired. My husband and I had some huge fights during that time, and we both uttered the word “divorce.” But deep down, neither of us wanted that. We love each other.

We also seriously like other people.

I ended my affair, and for the next six months or so, my husband and I recommitted to our marriage and our family. And once we settled into a comfortable rhythm of life with a baby, we both began relaxing into our old routines. He came home late. I flirted with men when I went out with my single girlfriends. And little by little, we reached the point we’re at now, where both of us occasionally have affairs on the side but always come home to each other.

Normally, the guys I have affairs with are men I meet through my job—I travel a lot—as an event coordinator, at parties, through friends of friends, or even old flames I’ve reconnected with on Facebook. I’ve always been the type of person who gets physical fast, and being married hasn’t changed that. I don’t keep my marriage a secret from the guys I date—I don’t take off my rings and I mention my husband and kids in front of them—but I also don’t make it an issue. Often, they’re cheating as well, and I feel there’s an unspoken code about what we do and don’t discuss.

Right now, I’m 40 and my husband is 38, and

I do wonder how long we can keep this up. I don’t want to actively seek out affairs. I feel like my work, thanks to all those business trips, has made it easy to fall into them without doing much damage to my everyday life.

I haven’t said “I love you” to anyone else since I met my husband, and I do sometimes wonder how my husband feels toward the women he meets. I know—and hope he knows—that very few women would put up with a similar type of relationship, and I think that understanding is part of the bedrock of our bond.

When I say I’m going out, he tells me to have a good time. He’ll send texts, but I’m not obligated to respond. I text him if I won’t be coming home (which, truthfully, happens very rarely since we’ve had kids), and I always have safe sex. Sometimes, I truly am just going out for a glass of wine with a girlfriend, but I like the intrigue that I could be meeting a man. I’m pretty sure when he goes out, it’s to meet a woman—or women. I think I can tell when he is in a serious “relationship”—he’ll wear the same cologne and leave with a book tucked under his arm to give her—versus when he may be casually meeting someone for sex. He also travels a lot for work, and I don’t know what he does while he’s gone. It’s harder when I think something is going on while we’re both in town.

The more I think about it, the less okay I am with our lifestyle, so I’ve become pretty good at shutting down that part of my brain. Because truth be told, I do worry that Dave might fall in love with someone else. That’s why when I see his secret smiles or notice him spending tons of

time texting, I step it up on my end, asking him to be home on a certain night and initiating sex. I remind him how much I love him and how much our marriage means to me.

I won’t talk to him about it directly, though, because while it’s terrifying to imagine my husband leaving me, I know it’s possible. But that’s true in any relationship, and I don’t think the fact that my husband can sleep with other women makes him any more likely to fall in love with one of them. I believe that if you love something, you let it go, and if it’s yours, it’ll come back to you. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but it’s something I try to remind myself. And so far, he’s come back every time.

And for that matter, so have I. I’ve had three relationships since Dave and I got married. Even though I was very fond of each of those men, I didn’t want to be married to them. The affairs aren’t my real life. They’re fancy cocktails and tiny plates and falling asleep without the whooshing sound of a baby monitor. And they make me that much happier for the family I do have.

I’ve often thought about what would happen if Dave and I were to be more transparent, but I don’t think it would work. We live in a society where monogamy is everything, and it’s hard to explain that you can love having sex with multiple people but still only love one person.

We both know this, but if we tried to put our behavior into words, I’m afraid we’d say things we’d regret. The closest we came was when I got an abnormal Pap smear result. The retest came back normal, but it did give me pause and make me wonder how safe what we were doing was, physically and emotionally. Dave and I had a serious talk about safety, but spoke mostly in the abstract—about things that might have happened in the past—and came down to the rule that we will always have safe sex with other people.

I’m not sure what will happen as our sons get older—or, for that matter, what will happen as we get older. For now, our personal decisions don’t affect our sons’ lives, but if that changes— if the kids start asking questions, or if one of us starts missing major milestones because we’re spending too much time out of the house— then Dave and I may need to lay everything on the table and reconfigure the dynamics of our relationship. We also may find that playing with fire isn’t as much fun. Already, I find my priorities have shifted so much in the past decade—most of the time, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than home on the floor, playing with my son and husband.

But that’s most of the time. Once every few weeks, there’s something magical about being out with a man who’s not my husband. Just call it the secret spark that keeps my marriage alive. * Names has been changed Courtesy: NETFLIX

“When I say I’m going out, he tells me to have a good time. He’ll send texts, but I’m not obligated to respond. I text him if I won’t be coming home (which, truthfully, happens very rarely since we’ve had kids), and I always have safe sex. Sometimes, I truly am just going out for a glass of wine with a girlfriend, but I like the intrigue that I could be meeting a man.”

”

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

Love & Living

When bankers cross the line

I

ADMIRE bankers, not that I would like to be one. I am not your ideal all day at work type. I have never contemplated it since I can’t deal with it. You see why I think bankers are super beings. But what impresses me more than anything is observing how bankers are able to glamorise the profession making it seem like a gold mine. The packaging is usually intimidating but it’s not really as it seems.

Over time, we have seen that the show off luxury and affluence is only a facade, in reality bankers are not as well off as we think. Even as you read this, many would doubt it and continue with their envy of bankers.

There’s something particularly interesting about male bankers. I fear that I run the risk of being misunderstood. It’s not that I’m easily taken in by the whole show of excessive poshness that we see on daily basis in the banking halls. However, it’s really not easy to completely ignore those dudes especially when you are a regular at a particular bank branch.

They are in your face.

Lady customers of commercial banks will understand what I mean.

Just recently, a male banker called

me out of the blues asking for a date, and it felt very awkward. To begin with, I couldn’t recall giving him my contact and we weren’t even that cordial to warrant the affront. I can rant all I want about his lack of professionalism but it’s a pointer to the fact that we run a largely unregulated system where people do whatever they please with official information at their disposal. I suspect that the same information could be used for other purposes.

Suppose another ‘admirer’ had wanted the number from him, would he have given him? I am only wondering about the possibilities that exist in the management of personal information that are demanded in official transactions.

I’m not in anyway saying that its wrong up hook up with a banker if you don’t mind, It just feels wrong to unexpectedly get a call from someone who practically stole your contact just because he could. To be candid, if he had politely asked for my contact, I doubt that I wouldn’t have obliged him, and that would have at least prepared me for his call.

Someone suggested that I could make a complaint at the bank so they

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

It just feels wrong to unexpectedly get a call from someone who practically stole your contact just because he could

”

call him to order and discourage others who are also playing the same game. While that seems like the proper thing to do, I want to let this

one pass hoping that it doesn’t happen again. Maybe it’s just me but generally I feel strange when people call my phone out of the blues because times are bad and the people even worse.

More so, I think that checking the trend lies primarily on talking about it mainly for the benefit of young ladies who may not immediately notice the abnormality. While I admire bankers, I consider it rather shameful that some would use bank data to further their act of ‘womanising’.

•Please send your comments, observations to ifyaronu@gmail.com

Her Mother Flogged Her When Her Uncle Raped Her E VER since the inception of my campaign “Demystify Abuse Campaign”, I have become more aware about the many happenings within and around the home front as regards how many parents treat or react to rape and sexual abuse related stories.

To be frank, it is rather too sad a discovery for me. I had least expected some of the things I have heard in the past few months.

I do not know who or what to blame for the things I hear. The entire thing often leaves me confused. Who do I blame? Do I blame ignorance or the non-chalant and I-don’t-care attitude of our parents?

The most annoying part of this discovery is the fact that our mothers are most guilty. I often wonder what their concerns are. What really interests our mothers these days?

So, I have been opportune to listening to stories of rape and sexual abuse from teenagers and from adults too of which I am inclusive, and many of them when asked what their parents did upon hearing of their ordeal, eight of every 10 reply in ways that reflect the ways we treat our children when they bring up serious issues to them.

They were heart-breaking stories for me. They were revealing; they left me in doubt about the challenges that are ahead for the campaign. I write these things to express my concern; I write to create awareness about abuses, I write so that parents can learn.

Ours is a changing world that keeps shocking us daily. Some of the responses are enough to tell us that we are far from showing adequate interest in the affairs of their children.

“I told my mum, she flogged me for accusing her brother wrongly,” the girl her uncle raped said. Her voice had traces of her sadness.

“I told my mum, she said I am lying,” another said. How does one deal with this one? I wondered to myself

M

e& ore

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

“I told my mum, she flogged me for accusing her brother wrongly,” the girl her uncle raped said. Her voice had traces of her sadness.

“I told my mum, she said I am lying,” another said. How does one deal with this one? I wondered to myself how mothers have fallen to such levels of little care for their children.

Who would the children talk to, who would they trust?

”

how mothers have fallen to such levels of little care for their children. Who would the children talk to, who would they trust?

“I told my father, he shut my mouth with his hand, and asked me never to say such again”. The girl who had this story had thought that her father would have felt her pains and acted.

“I told my aunt, and she said her husband can’t stoop as low as sleep-

ing with me,” another girl said. I often battled with confusion at this type of response. How do wives know the ones their husbands would stoop low to sleep with them?

“I told my aunt, she starved for three days, before threatening my life, and warning me never to say it to another person”. There was always a chance that the victim could be punished, from beatings to starvation, and al-

most guaranteed, stigmatisation.

All these responses and much more came from adults who were supposed to be caretakers of these children, yet they who are supposed to be the first listening ears to the cries of these young ones, end up making life a living hell for them.

While we are trying so hard to put a stop to rape and its related offences, all hands must be on deck to make this dream a reality. It is a collective responsibility for every one of us, and most importantly parents.

These findings have gone a long way to show us how damaged and how unhealthy our homes are. We have a generation of parents who do not care about their children’s wellbeing.

We have a generation of parents who do not know their responsibilities as parents do not end in child bearing and provision of food and basic necessities like clothing, shelter and school fees. We have parents who are destroying their children by not caring.

We have a generation of parents who have become so encumbered with accumulating more wealth and looking picture perfect for the public rather than pay closer attention to their homes and their children.

If we are to record the kind of success we envisage, then everyone MUST be willing to contribute a quota to the demystifying of abuse and rape.

It is a long journey that starts with the commitment of each of us.

Attention is not so expensive that we cannot pay it to our children. They are the same children we claim are our future.

If we would listen more, we would record a massive decline in juvenile delinquencies caused by psychological traumas abuse victims experience.

•Please send your comments to maureenalikor@gmail.com

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

The Law and You

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

1999 constitution: Citizen’s right to fair hearing I “A right is an ability to modify a state of affairs in re-

am compelled to write on this topic and will be on it even on subsequent editions because of the need to correct some of the misconceptions of some “powerful persons” in our society using their influence to subdue and afflict injustices on the less privileges. If you like you call me a “radical Lawyer” or even “Pastor Lawyer” but I am doing what God called me to do in this profession -Tell them the truth-.

One of my friend’s client was “kidnapped” I said “kidnapped” because all the elements of kidnap was applied in the way he was taken away and only to be discovered in the cell framed-up as an armed robber by the “Police kidnappers”. He was bailed from the Police (don’t ask me how). He petitioned those Policemen who he alleged did the foiled kidnapping because of property matter. When a State Commissioner of Police set up a team of investigators on the matter, those set of Policemen refused to make their individual statements on the excuses that their authorities are from the Federal Arm who are conducting secret investigation on this issue already made public without the invitation of the writer of that petition or his legal representation to throw more light on the issue nor were those perpetuators arrested, detained or even suspended so as not to mar the investigation. Those sets of policemen preferred the secret investigation excluding the petitioner or his legal representation to that set up by the State Commissioner of Police.

Even the head of that set of policemen made statement to a National Daily Newspaper (not oracle) implyingly agreeing the offence was committed without his knowledge by these men under him. He said he got to know about it from a relation. He went further to be a judge in his own case by saying that his generally acclaimed good writer to be mentally unstable just to justify his action and make the different organizations the petitioner petitioned to take the report of the petitioner as that of a ‘mad’ person. Probably, he is now a psychiatric doctor.

Also, there have been series of juggle justices been perpetuated all over the country today without following due process.

Culprits are lynched by burning them without hearing first from them in a conducive condition before judgments. The reason they (perpetuators) usually give is that they do not trust our police system that is why they take laws into their hands. The big question is did all these conform to the doctrine of fair hearing and fair trial. There are so many other instances but I can’t mention all now. Therefore, from this edition and the subsequent ones I shall focus on this very important and sensitive topic.

Please enjoy your reading.

A right is an ability to modify a state of affairs in relations to the persons having correlative duties to the advantage of the holder of the right. The existence of a legal right therefore implies an existence of a correlative duty on other persons to obey or not to derogate form the rights vested in the holder.

Note also that a legal right must have its existence guaranteed and recognized by law and its exercise must be based on the acceptability by law of the consequences.

The right of fair hearing is the bedrock for security justice where an aggrieved party is denied the right to be heard by an unbiased court or tribunal, there is every likelihood of there being denial of justice. The right has gathered a lot of moss over the years thus elevating it to the status of being the most litigated fundamental right.

Depending on how it is approached the right to fair hearing may mean so many things in the eye law to wit presumption of innocence of an accused person; right to counsel of one choice, right to informed timeously of the charge or allegation against ones expeditions trial by an unbiased court or tribunal, right against double jeopardy, the rule against interest and bias, right to be prosecuted under an existing law (i.e. nullion crimes sine lege – crime except in accordance with the law) and so forth.

In Nigeria among other countries, fair hearing has been embodied as a requirement of natural justice, in Chapter Four of the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria constitution. The concept of natural justice has been said to be rooted in the philosophy of natural law which in itself connoted the inherent right of man to that which is fair and just natural justice as we know today is summed up by twin Latin maxims of NEMO JUDEX IN CAUSA SUA (one should not be a judge in his own case) and AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM (he who decides a case must hear both sides).

The early proponents and adherents to concept of natural justice found justification as it is in biblical story of tat first recorded in the book of Genesis chapter 3:8-13. Thus, in R. v.

Chancellor of Cambridge University, Dr. Benilly Fort, J., in considering the case of the applicant who had been deprived of his degree by the respondent unheard noted that even God did not condemned Adam in the Garden of Eden after he had eaten the forbidden fruit until he heard Adam’s side of the story.

The above authority represents the judicial genesis of the AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM rule which presuppose that in contentious matters, parties must be given the opportunity of stating their case before they are condemned or pronounced

lations to the persons having correlative duties to the advantage of the holder of the right. The existence of a legal right therefore implies an existence of a correlative duty on other persons to obey or not to derogate form the rights vested in the holder. ”

guilty. The maxim has grown over the years and has covered the issues of notice, time adjournment, legal representation, opportunity to see and cross-examine witnesses, etc.

In this edition, I believe that the right to fair hearing has been constantly abused by both past and present government in Nigeria. It is intended to look critically at the right to fair hearing under the 1999 Constitution oif the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its application in criminal procedures.

This essay is not intended to be a condemnation of sectiomn35, and section 36 of the constitution rather it is hoped that it would be helpful for a possible reform of the constitution and towards that the provision in its present form is abused; the accused person whom it seeks to project is far from seeing the light of protection.

FAIR HEARING AS A NATURAL RIGHT Natural rights by their origin are Universal rights, that is, it is the right of everyman anywhere on the globe to enjoy, “because of the fact that in contradiction with other beings, he is rational and moral” other species of natural rights include the right to life, right to personal liberty, right to freedom of expression, right to freedom of movement, right to dignity of human person, to mention a few.

In the development of these rights, the theory of natural law played a predominant role and it is on record that the formulation of the theory of natural law was first embarked upon by the stoics after the demise of the Greek city states and they based this theory on eternal reasoning, justice, universality and immutability.

Socrates, Plato and later, Aristotle had different views about natural law (natural right), it was easily deducible from their teaching, belief and doctrine that they conceived the idea of justice as a form of law decreased by nature to which manmade laws were subordinate and must as of necessity comply with.

Natural law which can be called Natural Justice is derived from Roman concept Jus-Naturae, which means the principle of natural law, natural justice or good conscience. The question her which I shall be answering is how this relates to the answering on fair-hearing.

In the case of Copper Wordsworth v. Boards of Words, the learned Judge said that “Even God did not pass sentence upon Adam before he was called to make a defense; Adam where are thou, has thou not eaten of the tree thereof I commanded thee that thou shouldn’t eat?”

This means that even God right from creation know that people shouldn’t be judged without hearing from them or given them fair hearing. God has the omnipotent power to say whatever He likes and does whatsoever he likes with them because He is their creator but He did it fit to have fair trial before condemning them. In the case, Adam blamed it on Eve and God used His own wisdom and fair assessment of his answer to judge him by condemning Adam and Eve. As specie of natural right, the right to fair hearing or to common law rule of natural justice is embedded in a twin rule, viz: the right to be heard which is expressed in the Latin maxim – (Audi Alteram Partem) and the right to have ones dispute determined by the impartial judge is also based on the Latin maxim – (Nemo Judex In Causa Sua). At this juncture, these principles should be considered one after the other.

AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM: This has been various defined as the right to be heard on “no man should be condemned unheard”. Commenting on the implication and meaning of the right, Lord Denning has this to say; “If the right to be heard is to be a real right which is worth anything, it must carry with it a right in the accused man to know the case which is made against him. He must know what evidence has been given and what statements have been af-

fecting him and then he must be given a fair opportunity to correct and contradict them.”

This appears in all the cases from the celebrated judgment of Lord Coveburn, L.C. in Board of Education v. Rice down to the decision of the Lordship Board in Ceylon University v. Fernando. It follows, of course, that the judge or whoever has to adjudicate must not hear evidence or receive representation form one side behind the back of the other. The court will not inquire into whether the evidence or representation did work to his prejudice or not. Sufficient that they might do so, the court will not go into the likelihood of prejudice. The risk of it is enough. No one who has lost a case will believe he has been fairly treated if the other side has had access to the judge without his knowing.

As already pointed out, the right to be heard is of universal application and the right has been upheld in many Nigerian cases.

In Adedeji v. Police Service Commission for instance where the appellant, a police officer was dismissed by the commission for receiving a bribe, a written allegation was sent to him to which he replied. It was however at the hearing of an application for an order of certiorari to quash the order of the Police Service Commission that the appellant for the first time got to know of the evidence relied on by the commission in making the order of dismissal.

The court held that although a tribunal is entitled to decide its own procedure, it must however conform to the rules of natural justice. That failure to get the appellant acquainted fully with all the evidence relied upon by the commission was fatal to the commission’s case.

It should be noted also that the right to be heard entails that the parties be notified of the time and place of the hearing and that adequate opportunity is given to the parties to prepare their cases. The American enactment of the control order regime for the prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, which is still in force, imposes some strict restrictions as house arrest, on anyone suspected of involvement in terrorism actions.

We should now consider the other arm of the principle of natural justice in so far as it relates to fair hearing NEMO JUDEX IN CAUSA SUA: Interpreted, the rule means a man should not be a judge in his own cases or the natural justice rule against bias. The rule against bias means that a person interested in a matter should not adjudicate or take part in the adjudication of such matter in which he is interested.

It should be noted that ‘interest’ here has a wide connection and it is stringently constructed. The ‘interest’ may be professional, proprietary or personal.

The test often applied by the courts in deciding whether a person is interested in a matter or not is whether a person’s interest in the case or his relationship with one of the parties is such as is capable of creating a real likelihood of bias. If the situation is such that bias is very likely to result, the person should not hear and determine the case.

Thus in Legal Practitioner Disciplinary Committee v. Gani Fawehinmi, where the applicant, a legal practitioner and author was summoned to appear before the committee on allegations of advertising in the magazine, ‘WEST AFRICA’, he went to court to seek injunction on the ground that the Attorney-General was both the complainant and prosecutor; therefore it raised a real likelihood of bias.

The Supreme Court held that the committee which is expected to act judicially must observe the rules of natural justice and must not place itself in a position in which it may appear that there is real likelihood of bias.

Note you can contact any lawyer around you or text my phone numbers or email for further assistance if need be.

Please stay away from crime.

• 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

39

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

Entertainment With Douglas Omoyooma

Day I worked with a live snake –Yetunde Aderibigbe Actress, Yetunde Aderibigbe started acting in 2012 and has featured in over 30 home videos including her own productions. In this chat with Oracle Today, Yetunde reveals how it all started among other issues.

“It was when I played the role of a snake and my producer insisted I work with a live snake. It was very terrifying. But because I love my job and I also believe in hard work I had to do everything he said.”

”

tent babes of nowadays are willing to go for money.

What else do you do aside being an actor?

I am also a skin care therapist, I sell all kinds of skin care products.

• Yetunde Aderibigbe

When did you venture into acting?

That was in 2012 through a friend. She introduced me to her boss, Omogoriola Hassan and that was how I joined Neehass Production and got proper training and to God be the glory, here I am today. I have featured in over 30 movies including my own productions among others Have you ever been sexually harassed in the industry?

Not all, no one ever harassed me.

What has been your most challenging role ever?

It was when I played the role of a snake and my producer insisted I work with a live snake. It was very terrifying. But because I love my job and I also believe in hard work I had to do everything he said.

Between acting and being a skin therapist, which do you find more profitable?

Honestly, they are both lucrative but at the moment, I will say being a skin therapist pays me more. In the movie industry we mostly work for people due to our personal relationship with them and professionalism is always on the backburner But in my business as a skin therapist, you pay for whatever product you want to buy from me.

Who are your role models in the industry?

I have so much respect and admiration for Joke Silva and Aunty Moo Abudu; they are both good at what they do.

Could you describe your kind of man?

My kind of man? Hmmm…a good man As an actress, what is your selling point? with the fear of God who is ready to supI don’t really think I have a particular selling point but my peculiarity in interpreting my role has made Yetunde Aderib- port what I do. igbe a brand in the movie industry.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

What are your dislikes and likes?

Oh! I am a person who loves the truth no matter whose ox By God’s grace I see myself everywhere with great achievements. is gored. Even if it’s hot I will be pleased once the absolute truth is revealed. And for my dislike, I hate lies with passion.

What project are you working on at the moment?

I am presently working on a new project, Scam. It What inspired your latest movie, Omo Jebezzi? exposes the fraudulent acts going on around us today and The inspiration came from God! Yes, I got the inspiration from God and things that is happening in our society. The ex- believe me, it is going to blow your mind, I promise.

40

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

Entertainment

Lesbianism is everywhere –Salma Aminu, actress

S

tar of Drift Beyond Conscience, Salma Aminu has declared that the issue of les bianism is over-flogged in Nollwyood.

In a chat with TS Weekend, the actress bared her mind on rumours of a lesbian clique running Nollywood?

“Lesbians are everywhere and not just in the industry so I will say it is outrageous picking on the industry. I feel this lesbianism thing is just being exaggerated. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying they are not in the industry but it has been over blown and over flogged.”

Has she been approached by then before? “No, the answer is No.” Salma Aminu is poised to define 2017. The hardworking actress is currently working on two new projects she says will redefine Nollywood and set the pace for 2017 and beyond. “I’m working on two projects at a stretch but the first is the movie entitled Traits. Traits is my story but the screen play was done by Smart Conrad. It is a must watch because it is educative and sensitizes people on the dangers of using hard drugs and how to handle meningitis breakout.

The project is still cooking, it is 90 percent ready.”

“The second project is starting immediately I am done with Traits. I am

working with the best hands. Pascal Amanfo is directing He did justice to the story, he brought his creativity on this project and I’m grateful to him. And my associate producer is Vincent Opurum, oh Vincent drained his energy on this job, his passion to

see the success of it is amazing.”

Among others the movie features Ray Emodi, Vincent Opurum, Belinda Effah, Kelechi Udegbe, Lola Alao, Kayode Aiyegbusi and of course myself among a host of other fantastic thespians.

A • Salma Aminu

• Holds concert for 30 years on stage tomorrow

R

E

x-Fela pianist, Duro Ikujenyo, last week Friday marked his 61st birthday in grand style at Bogobiri, last week Friday and in the house to celebrate with him was world renowned guitarist, Keziah Jones.

Speaking, Duro said: “As I celebrate my 61st year I want to thank God for sustain me to this day. I want to thank Keziah Jones for jamming with me today. This is 32 years that the Age of Aquarius started as a band and has been preaching the message of love, peace and justice and oneness of humanity. It is a fact now that the world is changing from the West to East and Africa to develop new technologies and also lead the world in balancing the capitalist exploitation and slavery of the past 2, 000 years of Age of Pisces.

“We have always been consistent

mum raised me, there was a prophet called Paul Kanu from Sierra Leone who prophesied to me that I would go very far in the music business. He told me I would go to America and my music would be prophetic and everything came to pass so God is in charge of my destiny. Young boys are in charge now. So I thank God for Tuface for embracing me and taking me to the younger generation. The album I am releasing is all about wisdom conscious messages. I thank God that I am still alive and I have given my life to Jesus Christ and I am born again.”

Commenting on plans for his 30 years on stage, his manager, Uzor

said: “We need support. Majek Fashek is a big brand. Corporate bodies should wake up and do what is right because Majek has made us proud.

We should look beyond his challenges and reach out to him now.

The expectation is that it is going to be a great day and a lot of international artistes and local artistes will be there. He will also auction the clothes he wore in 1987 when he released Send Down The Rain. Let us all join together and celebrate our own legend when he is still alive.

Join us on September 10 at Oriental Hotel from 4pm for the biggest show of the year.”

ctress, Adesua Etomi returned to the cinemas on September 1 in Chinyere Ozoemena’s debut Nollywood flick entitled In Line.

Earlier in the week, the media screening was held on Thursday, August 24 and the movie was applauded by the media and personalities present.

Written by Diche Enunwa and Temitope Bolade-Akinbode, In Line is the story of an ex-felon, Debo, played

by Uzo Arukwe who gets a second chance to be a loving husband to his adorable wife, Kate, played by Adesua Etomi, but is still a prisoner to his violent past. This leads to series of events which exposes an intricate web of lies, betrayal, lust and ultimately heartbreak!

Featuring a blend of Nigerian and

Ooni of Ife launches Goldberg’s empowerment scheme

T

he Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II on Thursday, August 31 launched Goldberg’s empowerment scheme tagged: Isedowo, at his palace in Ile Ife, Osun, Osun State.

The Ooni expressed appreciation and commended Nigerian Breweries for the initiative. He said: “On behalf of my brothers from the seven Yoruba speaking states, I thank Goldberg lager beer and Nigerian Breweries for this community partnership with the Yoruba people. By leading the way to support the businesses and entrepreneurial potential of artisans in the Southwest, you have challenged other corporate bodies to give back to the society where they operate.”

Speaking, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Franco Maria Maggi declared: “We believe that as the custodian of the Yoruba culture, your blessings will rub off positively on Isedowo. It will set it on a path of achieving the objectives of positively

with the performance, of Duro Ikujenyo and Age of Aquarius and guess that includes Ayinke Martins, Tony Ogaga, Seun Olota, Sina Bakare and Pnero at the Bogobiri House, bringing to you African music with the message of the New Age of Aquarius.

“The Age of Aquarius has completely taken another dimension, as you can feel a bright, full moon igniting your psychic consciousness and opening your sensory organs.

We can now live in harmony with this universal consciousness. This is the age of enlightment, light and quantitative education in the physical and spiritual to navigate and to make life better for humanity’s development to conquer nature’s hardship and evolve a revolution of purity and reasoning.”

Adesua Etomi dazzles as In Line hits cinemas

Man of God prophesized I would be great –Majek Fashek ainmaker, Majek Fashek, has revealed that a Man of God, Prophet Paul Kanu revealed that he would be a great man years before he released his Reggae classic, Send Down The Rain which was prophetic as it rained cats and dogs and earned the musician the sobriquet The Rainmaker.

And after 30 years, the music legend has revealed that what Nigerians witnessed was actually prophesized by a prophet of Aladura Church when he was a child. Majek made the disclosure during the press parley to unveil plans for his 30th anniversary on stage.

“In Aladura church where my

Keziah Jones jams with Duro Ikujenyo to mark 61st birthday

transforming the lives of its beneficiaries with spill over effects on the larger economy by way of increased job creation and income.”

Participants who wish to benefit from the empowerment scheme are required to showcase their business ideas at any of the Isedowo centres around the Southwest region. This would be followed by a screening

after which the top 100 participants will be rewarded with a grant of 300,000 each, totalling 30million for all participants to support their businesses.”

The occasion also witnessed the rewarding of the first set of entrepreneurs who have benefitted from the initiative.

Wizkid cancels tours due to illness • Set to feature Nicki Minaj in new track

S

tarboi, Wizkid, has revealed that he is poised to feature American rapper, Nikki Minaj in a new track entitled Bounce.

Wizkid took to his instagram profile to make the announcement earlier in the week.

This is coming on the heels of his success with the remix he did with Drake entitled One Dance, which also won awards.

Meanwhile, the act has revealed

that due to stress and illness he would be canceling his shows in the UK in order to rest and recover as he put it on his instagram page.

He wrote: “Sad I am typing this.

But I’ll be moving dates on my tour to get my health up. I appeal to my fans to understand and pray with me. I’ll be spending time with my sons and family while I recover. If I die today I die a legend!”

• Adesua Etomi

Ghanaian actors including Adesua Etomi, Chris Attoh, Tina Mba, Uzo Arukwe, Shawn Faqua, Sika Osei and Lenora Okine, In Line brings a refreshing wind to Nollywood.

Speaking, Executive Producer, Chinyere Ozoemena said; “Being in there and hearing the reverberating applause from the audience was mind blowing. In Line ended up everything I wanted it to be. It has always been about quality and that is what this movie is all about.

Anyone who sees this movie should get ready to see something different in terms of quality of pictures, suspense, sound, dialogue and of course, the storyline.”

In Line was directed by Tope Oshin.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

News

75-year-old woman consecrated bishop in Calabar From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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he ancient city of Calabar was agog penultimate week as distinguished personages from all works of life converged to witness the bishopric consecration of Mrs Deborah Udoka of the Peniel Church of God International Calabar.

Apostle Deborah, 75, the second woman Bishop in the Pentecostal family within Calabar metropolis, was born into the pious family of the late Mr and Mrs Udoka.

Unlike some of her contemporaries, she could not afford formal education as she dropped out at primary school, due to financial constraints, and assisted her mother in petty trading.

Born into Apostolic Church family, she embraced God at quite an early stage and could not depart from it.

And penultimate week, Deborah did not only build a house for the Lord, but was also consecrated as the second woman Bishopric within the Pentecostal family in Calabar metropolis.

Present at the epoch-making events included Governor Ben Ayade, representative of Speaker, House of Reps, Chief Justice of the State, Justice Michael Edem, Rt Hon Essien Ayi, member representing Calabar South/Bakassi/Akpabuyo Federal Constituency, and National President, Mount Zion Light House Full Gospel Church, Bishop Paul Augustine.

Performing the consecration, Bishop Paul Augustine said: “Today is another history making day when our lady of God has been consecrated and immersed in the

Adamawa traditional council honours Atiku From TONY AILEMEN, Abuja

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ormer Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been appointed as Waziri Adamawa by the Lamido of Adamawa, His Royal Highness, Dr. Barkindo Mustapha.

The new title, which is regarded as one of the highest in the land was bestowed on the former Vice President in recognition of his philanthropic roles in the state.

A statement made available to The Oracle Today in Abuja on Tuesday said the title was also in recognition of the growing influence of the former Vice President in his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

As a mark of appreciation, the traditional ruler of the hometown of former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, HRH Umaru Adamu Sanda led a delegation to felicitate with former Vice President on his new appointment.

They included Governor Jibrilla Bindow and Minister of Women Affairs, Sen. Jummai Alhassan on thank you homage to the Lamido Adamawa, HRH Dr. Barkindo Aliyu Mustafa on his appointment of Atiku as Waziri Adamawa.

spirit. It is a manifestation of hard work and commitment to serve.

“As she handed over the mantle of leadership of this Church and the power to move God’s work higher, we call on all to support and cooperate in achieving her dreams of establishing the Church which is winning souls for Christ.

So, we welcome her into the Bishopric fold.”

Speaking shortly after the consecration and dedication, Deborah said: “In the course of my evangelism, I worked in different vineyards of God including Apostolic Temple of God Church searching for fulfilment until I found it in the Peniel Church of God. “God gave me revelation about this church 20 years ago and after about 40 years of sojourn, my dream came to pass and I dedicated a house for the God at Odyer Street, Calabar South.”

Governor Ben Ayade in his remarks said: “I commend Deborah for the dedication of this church.

I’m shocked you have been able to bring a political heavyweight to this church. It’s great to see men of his status bring down themselves and propagate the word of God. There is really hope for this

•Bishop Deborah country.”

The governor donated N5m to the church.

In his comments, the chairman,

House Committee on Niger Delta, Hon. Essien Ekpenyong Ayi prayed God to “make the bad youths change.”

“There is nothing God cannot do,” he stressed. “I have combined my pastoral duties with politics for over 15 years. I was ordained a pastor in the year 2000.

“The presence of God (i.e. the impact of the church on the immediate community) and there are a lot of things the community has gained there from. This church has brought a lot of developments to this community. For example, we have asphalted the road, provided streetlights as well as water to residents of the community. Some of them were my constituency projects. The host community is benefitting a lot.

“I built this church completely on my own and it is my little contribution to the propagation of God’s word. The Lord has blessed me immensely from this ministry and that is why I keep praising him.

In his goodwill message, the Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Michael Edem, said: “I toe the line of the Apostolic Church which says God first. When we put God first everything falls in line. I really commend the leadership of the church for building a house.”

Delta enrolls 71,000 pregnant women for health scheme

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ELTA Government says it has enrolled over 71,000 pregnant women and children under five years in the State’s Contributory Health Scheme as at July 31.

Director-General, Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr. Ben Nkechika, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Asaba, said that the scheme commenced in the state on the January 1, said that the commencement of premium contribution and inclusion of the formal sector group started in August to ensure conclusion of the programme and ensure enrollees started to receive healthcare services.

According to Nkechika, it became necessary to clear insinuations regarding the scheme following the commencement of deduction of premium contribution.

The Scheme starred Jan. 1, with pregnant women and children under five years of age who are the most vulnerable members of the society.

“As at July 31, over 71,000 pregnant women and children under five years have been enrolled and are receiving service under the scheme in Delta State Government healthcare facilities.

“Based on the programme established for the scheme, commencement of premium contribution and inclusion of the formal sector group started in August to enable conclusion of the enrollment process,” he said.

The Director-General also said that uploading of Bio Data of Public servants had started and validation of this data and registration of their entitled family members would follow immediately.

He said that the inclusion of the informal sector group would also start in September with their registration and payment of premium.

“Enrollees that complete their registration process will be allocated to the accredited Public or Private Hospital chosen by them from the list of accredited healthcare facilities. This will enable them to start receiving healthcare service in these healthcare facilities.

42

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

NEWS Okowa Urges NASS to speed up passage of PIB From JONATHAN AWANYAI, Asaba

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O boost investors’ confidence in the oil and gas sector, Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has urged the National Assembly to speed up the process of passing the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Governor Okowa made the call today when he received on courtesy call, Nigerian Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ambassador Francis Efeduma.

According to the governor: “We will continue to call on the National Assembly to speed up the issues concerning the Petroleum Industry Bill because, it is important for further development, particularly in the gas sector. The gas sector has a lot of potential particularly in the petro-chemical industry and it is our hope that we will look very strongly in this direction.

“I believe that with a well speltout rules of engagement in the PIB, investments in the gas sector, even for local consumption and to power our energy sources, will be very important and also, further processing of the gas for various petro-chemical industries,” Governor Okowa stated, adding: “There is no doubt that our key areas will be in the oil and gas sector, principally at this moment is the fact that the gas sector is not truly developed, it is our hope that very soon the National Assembly will get through with the Petroleum Industry Bill because that is also key for any new investment to come in.”

He continued: “Nigeria is still very attractive for foreign direct investment; I think we are lucky that as at today, we are able to stabilize our forex policy; with a stable currency, it becomes easier for the investors to plan and now that it is stabilized, a lot of work is being done towards ensuring some reasonable stability in the years to come concerning our energy source. I believe too that we are going to become more attractive because of the population of this nation being the most populous African nation, obviously, is a nation that many investors will be attracted to.”

He noted that Delta State is investor-friendly with a lot of potentials waiting to be tapped, adding that apart from the oil and gas sector, the state is rich in soil for the cultivation of rice, palms, cassava, among others.

Earlier, Ambassador Efeduma informed the governor and members of the state executive council who witnessed the event that as the Nigerian Ambassador, he would ensure good diplomatic relations and also, ensure that investors are attracted to the country.

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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he Founding Fathers of Abia State have expressed unhappiness that 26 years after the creation of God’s Own State, developments in, and progress of, the State are yet to reflect their dreams.

“It is agonizing that at 26, Abia State of our dream is still not in sight,” the Founding Fathers said on the occasion of 26th anniversary of the creation of the state on August 27, 1991.

The Abia elders, who made their feelings known through a congratulatory message to the people and government of the State during the anniversary celebration last week, therefore, charged the government and the governed to rise to the challenge of building a virile State where justice and equity would reign supreme.

The Abia elders said they had ex-

Policeman jumps into well days after transfer to Borno State • Suspected herdsmen kill 70-yr-old woman From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

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serving policeman in Ebonyi State Police Command, Donatus Oyibe has jumped into a deep well in his residence days after the Command released his transfer letter to Borno state where insurgency caused by the dreaded BokoHaram terrorists holds sway.

Oyibe, a native of Ndiagu Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the State was said to have taken his life by jumping inside a deep well on Sunday night when he went to fetch water.

It was gathered that he was among the 40 police officers recently transferred to Borno State and his transfer letter was released on August 28.

A close family source said after Oyibe received the transfer notice, he became worried and confused about what to do and even openly expressed his dissatisfaction.

The deceased’s daughter, Ukamaka told The Oracle Today that his late

father took a bucket to fetch water from the well but could not be seen for several hours.

This, she said, created suspicion and tension that led to a search for him.

She added that when they reached the well, his bucket was seen and they looked inside the well only to discover his lifeless body floating.

“My father took a bucket of water, saying he was going to fetch water from our well on Sunday night but could not come back after some time that created suspicion and we started looking for him. I went to the well and saw his bucket. When I looked inside the well, I discovered that he had died,” she said.

His corpse has been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki, mortuary.

When contacted, the State Police spokesman Loveth Ogah confirmed the incident but said circumstances surrounding his death were not yet known but that the police would in-

vestigate the matter.

Meanwhile, a decapitated body of a71-year old woman was during the week found yesterday in Amuro Afikpo, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the State nine days after she was declared missing from her farm, killed by suspected herdsmen allegedly terrorizing the community.

The decomposing body of 71-year old Mrs. Uche Oko was found in a farm in the area.

Mrs. Oko had gone to farm to harvest cassava stems to plant in one of her farms when she was attacked by suspected herdsmen.

Search parties were organized by people of the area to know her whereabouts but to no avail until Monday this week when her dead body was found with machete cuts.

A team of policemen has evacuated the decomposing body after taking her photographs.

The State Police spokesman Loveth Ogah, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.

• Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Metropolis, His Grace Most Rev Valeran Okeke (middle) and other clergy during his pastoral visit to St. Augustine of Hippo Catholic Parish Nkpor. Photo by Modestus Igudobi

Legalise Abia Charter of Equity, Elders urge Ikpeazu • Say ‘Abia of our dream not yet in sight’ pected to witness an Abia developing rapidly in terms of infrastructure and morality, that serves as a beacon to other States in the country, using the Abia Charter of Equity as a guide.

Their message read in part: “It is with great pleasure and profound gratitude to God that the Founding Fathers of Abia State, congratulate the government and good people of Abia State on the 26th anniversary of the creation of God’s Own State.

“Our pleasure and gratitude to God are premised on the emerging development that this anniversary is being celebrated in an atmosphere of political stability and peace in the state. To God

be the glory.

“As anniversaries are occasions for taking stocks and making projections, we take this opportunity to urge both the government and the governed to play down on politics and embrace good governance and socio-economic development, as enshrined in the Charter of Equity bequeathed to the state by the Founding Fathers. It is agonizing that at 26, Abia State of our dream is still not in sight.

“It is, therefore, our prayer that this anniversary and the emerging new political dispensation will lead Abia to greatness and usher in an enduring peace and socio-economic develop-

ment for the people.

“As we celebrate, let us also remember the Founding Fathers, both dead and alive, whose counsel, blessing and prayers would always remain an invaluable asset to both the government and the good people of Abia State.”

The message was jointly endorsed

by His Excellency, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Eze Benard Enweremadu, Eze Isaac Ikonne, Ezeogo Dr Anagha Ezeikpe, the Co-ordinator of the group, Bro Ezenwa Gabriel Odimuko as well as Engr. Prof. Anthony N. Nzeako (Coauthor, Abia Charter of Equity), among others.

The Founding Fathers are pushing

NNPC appointments: Rally round Kanu now to get Biafra says cleric

By IBE NWACHUKWU

T

he General Overseer of Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries Inc. (aka By-Fire-By-Fire), Nnewi, Anambra State, Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh has advised South-East and SouthSouth elders to rally round the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to restore Biafra now before the northerners dry up our oil mineral deposits.

He said from the recent appointments made by President Muhammed Buhari at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), where no South Easterner was included among the appointees, Ndigbo do not need an angel to tell them that northerners do not have any regard for them.

Udeh who spoke to newsmen yesterday, via SMS, said the spirit of God told him in a vision during his Monday prayer devotion that the northerners are singing oneNigeria for now because they are waiting for the oil mineral deposit in South East and South South to dry up before they will agree for us to have Biafra.

According to him: “When I was giving a serious thought to Buhari’s appointments in NNPC, during this week’s Monday devotion, the revelation came to me from the spirit of God that northerners mean to dry up the crude oil in the south before they can now develop all the mineral deposits that abound in the north and push us out of Nigeria.

“The spirit of God equally told me that there are many mineral deposits hidden and reserved in the north by the northerners waiting for the oil deposits to dry up before they can now divide Nigeria, push the southerners away and then develop them for their own use,” he stated.

“It is based on this revelation, which the spirit of God showed me in the vision that I am calling on Ohanaeze Ndigbo in particular and all southerners, both young and old to rally round Kanu and support his secession agitation now so that we can go and stabilize Biafra before the oil deposits could dry up because it would not be wise for us to fold our arms and watch the northerners dry up our oil and brush us aside before we do something to save our land and people.” for legalization of the Abia Charter of Equity because of their belief that it would ensure the building of a just society.

Odimuko told The Oracle Today that they expected to see Abia grow as a “model state in Nigeria where things would be done decently and in order.”

Also, Ezikpe, who is also the Chairman of Abia Council of Elders, at a preanniversary Press Briefing, explained that the Abia Charter of Equity was carefully drawn up to ensure that no one or section of the state was cheated in the way things are done.

He, therefore, pleaded with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and the Speaker of the 8th Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, to ensure that the charter was passed into law to make it justiceable in the likekyhood of any breach by individuals or political parties.

The Oracle Today

43

Wednesday September 13, 2017

SPORTS

Buhari splashes Naira on D’Tigress •Charges team to continue in winning ways

Stories by MADUABUCHI KALU

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday received the victorious Nigeria female basketball players who returned to the country after emerging champions of the just concluded FIBA Women’s 2017 AfroBasket Championship in Mali.

Delighted President Buhari had to defer the Wednesday Federal Executive Council Meeting to receive the gallant Nigerian women Basketball players who went all the way unbeaten to be crowned champions of Africa for the third time.

Welcoming the players and officials to the Federal Executive Council Chambers, President Buhari who was beaming with smiles once again congratulated the team for doing the country proud even as he charged them to continue in their winning streak saying that their victory in Mali is sign of what they can do not only on the continent but also globally.

The victorious women national basketball team were led to the Federal Executive Council Chambers by the Hon. Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung where President Buhari and his cabinet members received them.

“I wish you congratulate you once again for doing our dear country proud in Mali at the just concluded FIBA Afrobasket Women Championship.

“Your victory at the tournament is a mark of the country can achieve. I am happy to receive you and I want to charge you to continue to win in your subsequent engagements.

“Your victory is a sign of your potential to do well not only on the continent of Africa but globally. I wish you the best of luck as you go for the FIBA Basketball Championship in the near future

to represent not only Nigeria but also Africa,” President Buhari charged D’Tigress.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria President used the occasion of reception of the Nigerian victorious women Basketball team to shower the players and their officials with cash reward.

He announced the cash reward of

one million Naira (N1millin) to each of the players while their officials were richer by half a million Naira (N.5million).

Also speaking at the event in Aso Rock Villa, the Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung called on the Federation to consolidate on the achievement of the D’Tigress at the just concluded FIBA Afrobasket

2017 in Mali.

Dalung explained that the Federation can consolidate on the achievement of the D’Tigress by investing on the grassroots. He explained that it is by placing emphasis on the young ones that the team will have a future.

Also speaking at the event, the President of the NBBF, Musa Ah-

madu Kida assured of the Federation’s determination to build on the achievement recorded by the NBBF at the just concluded FIBA Afrobasket in Mali. He explained that the Federation has solid plans on how to grow the sport in the country and therefore, urged Nigerians not to entertain any fears in that regard.

Fantastic Ezenwa makes case for home based players •Just as Rohr gives reasons for his choice

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KECHUKWU Ezenwa, the captain and goalkeeper of Championship of Africa Nations (CHAN) Eagles and FC IfeanyiUbah goalkeeper, has through his outstanding performances while on national duties recently opened the door for the inclusion of more league players to the national team.

The Anambra State born short stopper showed the stuff he was made off while standing in-between the sticks in the crucial World Cup Qualifier against continental champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in Uyo last Friday.

The captain of the home-based Eagles as the CHAN Eagles are called ensured that he lived up to his boast that he would stop the President Paul Biya boys when they come calling for the crucial double header World Cup Qualifier in Uyo. Ezenwa made eye catching saves to earn the commendation of the fans and officials who thronged the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo including other Nigerians who were at various places viewing the match on television and at the same time listening to the commentaries of the crucial game.

There is no gain saying that Ezenwa justified his inclusion in the Super Eagles’ squad despite doubts being expressed by some stake-

holders and fans following the absence of Carl Ikeme through illhealth and Daniel Akpeyi injury.

It is true that it was the first time the FCIfeanyiUbah keeper was keeping for the Super Eagles in any competitive game, he didn’t betray the trust and confidence reposed in him by the technical crew

and the players.

With his performance, Ezenwa has inadvertently made case for the home-based players for their inclusion in the national team given that before now the door was shut against them by the technical crew.

He has through his very eye-catching performance made a strong

statement that there are quality and good home based players who can square up against their peers in any part of the world.

He has through his quality performance confirmed the age long view of the captain of the team and coach, Christian Chukwu, who has always insisted that home-based players should be made a part of the team.

With what Ezenwa has done, there is no more reason some quality home based players should not be included in the national team. Ezenwa has through his five star performances so far, proved that some home based players are as good as their counterparts abroad or even better.

Meanwhile, Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has given reasons Ezenwa was selected to man the post for the Eagles in Uyo and Yaoundé in the World Cup Qualifying matches.

According to the Franco-German football tactician, the choice of Ezenwa was made because he has proven over time that he knows what it takes to be the national team’s No1 man.

Rohr equally gave Ezenwa’s outstanding performance against the Squirrels of Benin Republic in Kano, where he ensured that the CHAN Eagles qualified for this year Championship of African Nations, a

The Oracle Today

44

Wednesday September 13, 2017

SPORTS

Chukwu dismayed by Rangers’ Fed Cup ouster •Queries new NFF’s format

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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ORMER national team captain and coach, Christian Chukwu is yet to get over the surprise ouster of Enugu Rangers International Football Club from this year’s Federation Cup. Reacting to the defeat of the Flying Antelope

by lowly in Calabar, the Enugu Rangers General Manager said he yet to recover from the devastating effect of the lost.

He alleged that there were some calls by the referee which were wrong but explained that there was nothing he could have done just like other people who cried foul at such call couldn’t do anything either.

The former Harambee Stars of Kenya coach bared his mind while reacting to the defeat of Rangers in this year’s Federation Cup. “I must confess to you that I am highly disappointed with our ouster from this year’s Federation Cup,” Chukwu began.

“As I speak, I am yet to recover from the devastating effect of the defeat. It was shock defeat because nobody saw it coming but that is football for you, it is full of surprises.

“I am just returning from Calabar and I am weak because of the defeat. Having said that there were some calls which the referee made that were wrong but then what could anybody do about that? Chukwu queried.

“I had thought that we could play on the continent through the Federation Cup but it is not to be.

“I had hoped that since we are not going to make it to the continent next season via the league due to the turbulence we had particularly from the beginning. That is why I am down casted following this lost,” Chukwu declared.

Speaking further, Chukwu said he didn’t understand the where the football governing body lifted the new Federation Cup format which they introduced in this year’s edition which has made it possible

for the home side to be having upper hand in the games.

He alleged that the country is not yet ripe for such format because there is no way, the home teams would not have advantage when the matches are played just as referees either knowingly or unknowingly make questionable calls like the ones that Rangers experienced in their Federation Cup ouster.

“Of course you are aware that we are not the only people that have crashed out of this year’s Federation Cup. “Other clubs such as Abia Warriors, River United, Lobi Stars, Enyimba, Pillars among others are no more in the race for the Federation Cup trophy.

“I don’t know where the Nigeria Football Federation got the current format from whereby you only play once and that will be the end if you lose.

“This format will certain not bring the best team at the end of the championship because when you play at home, you will certainly have advantage which the visiting team will not have.

“The home team must have advantage and like I said earlier, poor officiating still add to the ouster of traditional teams.

“I don’t believe that this format is good enough but let wait and see what happens at the end of the competition but like I said this format cannot bring out the best of the competition,” Chukwu declared.

Beckham lauds Woods’ mental strength

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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HIS may not be the best of times for golf legend, Tiger Woods since falling from grace to grass in 2013 following his sex escapade with a number of ladies was exposed, but in the midst of all his troubles, former England captain and former Manchester United star, David Beckham has praised his mental strength.

Beckham, unlikely source to praise Woods commended Tiger Woods mental strength while speaking to Kristy Gallacher on his 25 Years of Sky Sports, a programme celebrating some of the most iconic moments to have been shown on the broadcaster since it launched a quarter of a century ago. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder singled out the impact made by former world No.1 Woods, hailing the 14-time major winner’s mental strength.

“I always had a team around me, so it was easy for me,” said Beckham. “If I had a bad game on the Saturday, on the Monday morning when you went in (to training), I was surrounded by my team.

“But with Tiger, in his individual sport, I am sure he had great people around him and amazing family around him, but you have to be men-

• Balogun

tally strong to take certain situations and, when you’re not hitting the right shot or you’re not as good as your last game, you have to take it on yourself and on your shoulders.

“Like I say, I am sure he had a team of people around him who were strong but it’s about you. You’re the one who’s being criticised; you’re the one that people are talking about.”

Beckham, who won 115 England caps, amassed a slew of honours during his 20-year professional career, including the MLS Cup on two occasions during his spell with LA Galaxy. He spent five years with

the California franchise and says he has nothing but respect for Woods for the way he managed other people’s expectations of him.

“When you’re an American sportsman, when you’ve got the strength of that country behind you – and they love Tiger, he’s such a cult hero there and he’s such a great talent – there’s going to be a certain about of pressure,” said Beckham. “But his talent is incredible. You’d pay a lot of money to go and watch Tiger (play) anywhere in the world.”

Bolt to open UK fast-food restaurants

By MADUABUCHI KALU with agency report

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AMAICA and world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt has revealed his preparedness to open a chain of fast-food restaurants in the UK following his retirement from athletics earlier last month.

It is believed the Olympic champion is look to open 15 Tracks & Records shops over the next five years.

According to report, the fast-food chain will serve jerk pork and burgers. It was first launched in Kingston, Jamaica in 2011.

The restaurants will offer traditional Jamaican dishes such as jerk pork, janga soup and pan chicken as well as the athlete’s own creation burgers a la Usain.

Bolt is yet to confirm the exact locations of his proposed chains of businesses, but it looks likely that London will be home to at least one of the restaurants.

The athlete said: “London has always been a special place for me (and this) is giving us the opportunity to share our vision and our culture with you all.”

In 2014, Bolt denied calling the Commonwealth Games “a bit s**t” when they were held in Glasgow.

2017 CNS postponed indefinitely

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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HIS year’s Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship which has suffered many postponements has been postponed indefinitely. This much was revealed to the revealed to The Oracle Today Sports by no other person than the President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF) Mr. Babatunde Fatayi Williams in exclusive interview.

According to William the postponement was necessitated by the Moslem celebration of Eid Del Kabir and the National Youth Games which will take place in Ilorin the Kwara State capital.

He said since the board of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation wanted the have a hitch free championship as usual, holding the championship during the Moslem festival and the nearby National Youth Games, their attention will be divided since many of their athletes who will be taking part in the CNS are expected to be at the National Youth Games in Ilorin.

“It is most unfortunate that our flagship championship, the Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship has suffered yet another postponement. Unfortunately, I will not be able to tell you when next the championship will take place.

“Well, the reason for the postponement of the championship is based on the fact that the date scheduled for it clashed with some other activities in the sports calendar.

“Again, we don’t want to be having the championship when the Moslem festival will be ongoing or people just coming out of El Del Kabir.

“Of course you are aware that the National Youth Games will be taking place in Ilorin, Kwara State and some of our swimmers who will be taking part in the Youth Games are the same set of athletes that we want to use for the Chief of Naval Staff Open Swimming Championship.

“We have to postpone the championship because we wouldn’t want it to clash with any other sporting event in Lagos because they are the host state.

“As usual we want to have a successful championship and Lagos has the record of being a good host. They played host to the championship for the first time last year and due to the success recorded, the pledged to play host to this year’s edition.

“So, despite these series of postponements, we are optimistic that when it is finally held, it will a resounding success,” Williams enthused.

The Oracle Today

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Wednesday September 13, 2017

SPORTS Wenger to return for Lemar

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Rohr opens up on Enyeama

By MADUABUCHI KALU

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UPER Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has opened up on former national team captain and goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, saying the reason the Lille Olympique Sporting Club of France goalkeeper has not been recalled to the national team is because he is match rusty due to lack of club at the moment, after he lost his job and position the French club following the arrival of the club new manager, Marcelo Bielsa.

According to Rohr, Enyeama is ready to return to the squad but for the fact that he does not have a club following the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa three months ago to the club. Rohr said Enyeama and about 10 other players were surplus to requirement thereby leaving him without a club at the moment.

The national team gaffer ex-

plained that for now, there is no place for the Akwa Ibom State born goaltender in the national pending when he finds a club and returns to form.

“Enyeama is a very good goalkeeper, there is no doubt about that but at the moment he is without a club having been declared surplus to requirement by his former club’s new coach, Marcelo Bielsa,” Rohr began.

“Now, due to his lack of a club he is match rusty and he is not inform. The most important thing for him at the moment is to get a club and work hard and return to form. That is the most important thing for him to do and we hope he gets a club soon.

“Of course he has shown willingness to return to the squad but like I said he has no club at the moment and we have other goalkeepers.

“So, there is nobody in the

goalkeeper department he will replace at the moment because all of our goalkeepers have clubs and they are playing.

“So, until he returns to form and prove that he is better than what we have at the moment, he will not be recalled,” Rohr explained.

It is recalled that millions of Nigerian football stakeholders and fans have been calling for the recall of Vincent Enyeama to the Eagles following the sudden diagnosis of Carl Ikeme of acute Leukemia about three months ago coupled with Eagles’ home defeat to South Africa in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier which majority attributed to the poor performance of Chippa United of South Africa goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi.

Vincent Enyeama is noted; called quit his international career following disagreement with former Eagles’ captain and coach, Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh in 2016.

rsene Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal bided €100 million for Monaco midfielder, Thomas Lemar on deadline day and said the club would try to sign the France international again.

Sources told ESPN FC that Arsenal had accepted an offer of £55m plus a further £5m in add-ons from Manchester City for winger Alexis Sanchez, whose contract runs out next summer, but the deal was dependent on Arsenal finding a replacement.

A close source confirmed to ESPN FC on Thursday that Arsenal had made a club-record bid for Lemar not long before the transfer window shut at 11 p.m. BST. However, Lemar, who scored a brace in France’s World Cup qualifying, thrashing of Netherlands, ultimately refused the deal.

And Wenger, appearing as a guest on Telefoot on Sunday, revealed that the Gunners did make a huge bid for Lemar and that they will try to sign him again in the coming months. “€100m for Lemar? Yes all true, I wanted him,” Wenger said. “He

Victory against Cameroon inspired by Ikeme –Rohr

By MADUABUCHI KALU uper Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has declared that Eagles’ victory against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on Friday was inspired to qualify for the 2018 World Cup by goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who is battling acute leukaemia.

Gernot Rohr made the declaration while fielding questions from sports journalists immediately after the crucial game in Uyo on Friday.

S

Beyoncé congratulates Serena Williams on birth of her baby girl

S

ERENA Williams has welcomed her first child with Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, with the news breaking over the weekend.

The couple announced that they were expecting back in April, revealing that Serena was 20 weeks pregnant, and now they have reportedly welcomed their daughter, giving birth on September 1st.

While the new mother has yet to comment, Serena’s coach confirmed the news that the baby girl had arrived, with news producer Chris Shepherd confirming on Twitter that the baby is 6 pounds, 13 ounces and that both she and her mum are doing well.

Since the arrival of her bundle of joy, fans have been taking to the internet in their thousands to send congratulatory messages.

Among those congratulating the 35-year-old Tennis Pro was proud friend Beyoncé who took to her own Instagram feed to dedicate a post to Serena.

‘Congratulations Serena’, posted Beyoncé alongside a photo of the Grand Slam champion from her Vogue September Issue shoot.

The photo, shot by Mario Testino, shows Serena holding her baby bump in a white flowing Donatella Versace gown, and was met by ex-

cited comments from the Single Ladies singer’s 106 million followers.

Others to send their congratulations included Serena’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who posted, ‘Congratulations Serena Williams for your baby girl. I am so happy for you and I feel your emotion.’

decided to stay at Monaco.”

Wenger then added: “We will come back for him.”

Earlier this week, Wenger had confirmed it was Lemar who had turned down the move, after the two clubs agreed a fee.

“The player has chosen to stay at Monaco,” Wenger told BeIN. “I do not want to talk too much. You have to respect what really happens on the negotiation side.

“I know we live in an era of transparency but at some stage to respect everybody you have to not talk too much about that.”

Speaking to reporters after his standout performance against Netherlands, the 21-year-old Lemar, who had also been linked to Liverpool this summer, said he was happy to stay with the 2016-17 Ligue 1 champions.

“I am a player of Monaco, I am very happy there,” Lemar, who joined from Caen for less than €4m in 2015, told Canal+. “Now I am going to make a good season with my club, to try to progress and move forward in my career with Monaco.”

He continued: ‘Recover well and enjoy without limitation… Btw … I wish you a speedy recovery … we have a lot of work ahead of us.’

Sister and fellow tennis pro Venus Williams has also voiced her excitement, exclaiming ‘words cannot describe.’

The Franco German tactician used the opportunity to heap praises on two of the team’s senior players, John Obi Mikel and Chelsea’s Victor Moses for their outstanding roles in the game against the African champions, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

The three time African champions thrashed The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon by 4-0 in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital last Friday in the first leg of their Group B double header match to remain on the driver’s seat with maximum points of nine out of three matches, five points clear of second placed Zambia, who have four points.

“We pledged to win this match for Carl,” said the Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, after their impressive 4-0 win over African champions Cameroon in their home leg in Uyo on Friday.

Ikeme has been having treatment, including chemotherapy, since he was diagnosed in July.

Nigeria’s Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia during a routine medical at his club Wolverhampton Wanderers “He is in my thoughts and those of the coaches, players and officials all the time. I believe he will inspire us in Cameroon,” Rohr added.

Rohr hopes his senior players Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel - who both scored on Friday - can replicate the form they showed against the Indomitable Lions in Uyo. “Mikel is our leader and demonstrated that against Cameroon,” said Rohr about the former Chelsea star who now plays for Tianjin TEDA in China.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

Crime

9 foreigners, 2 Nigerians remanded in prison over oil theft

a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy, dealing in petroleum products without a license and tampering with oil pipelines.

At the commencement of proceedings for their arraignment on Wednesday, Counsel to the EFCC, Kayode Oni, brought before the court an ex-parte application seeking the leave of the court to hear the defendants’ charge filed

during the annual vacation of the court which was granted by the judge.

The counsel to the 2nd -11th defendants, Abiye Atorudibo, however notified the court that the 5th, 6th and 11th defendants who are Ukranians and Indonesians are not proficient in English language and requested that the prosecution provide interpreters

for the accused persons.

In response, Oni asked for a short adjournment to get interpreters for some of the foreigners and remand the defendants in prison as the EFCC’s cell was congested.

Justice Omotoso consequently adjourned the matter to 6 September, 2017 for arraignment and hearing. He ordered that the prosecution provide interpreters for the accused persons and remanded the defendants in Port Harcourt prison.

Trouble came for the suspects when their ship was intercepted by the NNS DELTA on 25 April, 2017 at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Afremo ‘A’ Terminal, South East of Escravos in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, for illegal loading of petroleum products suspected to be crude oil. It was alleged that the crew members connived with Victor Azeberi (the 1st defendant); one Peter Ala and David Ogoma alias Ambassador, who are now at large, to siphon about 1905.836 cubic litres of crude oil.

The ship allegedly had no clearance from relevant Nigerian maritime agencies to navigate in Nigerian waters and all the foreign crew on board the ship had no valid documents to enter Nigeria.

he operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Police Lagos Command have arrested four members of two fraud syndicates operating in Ikeja, Maryland, Ojodu-Berger, Agege and Oshodi parts of the metropolis.

The members of the syndicates, three male and a female were arrested in two separate cases of fraud in Ikeja and Oshodi area of the state.

The first group, comprise of Chinasa Sunday, 44 and Osadebe Aigbe 30, were arrested in Ikeja after several days of being placed under surveillance by undercover RRS team for defrauding a lady of the sum of N85,000.00.

Their victim, Grace Enitan, had reported at the RRS headquarters that a syndicate of four men picked her up in a taxi and duped her of N85,000.00 while she was heading to Ikeja.

Investigations revealed that Chinasa Sunday and Osadebe Aigbe were involved in money doubling business popularly known as “wash, wash” while their ringleader, identified as Martin is on the run.

Police said the men had been in the habit of luring unsuspecting

members of the public with a juicy proposal to double their money hundred fold through magical means which never happen rather they dupe thousands of people of their hard earned money.

However their game came to an end when Enitan contacted the police and was able to identify the two suspects and their respective roles in the scam.

Chinasa while pleading for leniency explained that he joined the syndicate after losing his job in February, 2017. He explained that they picked up the suspect in Olowopopo Way, Ikeja, adding that her role was to monitor their victims while the scam lasted as her presence will give their victim the confidence that the deal was real.

The second syndicate members were arrested after a failed bid to swindle a food seller of over N120,000 and dispossess her of her jewelry in Oshodi.

The victim, identified as Rukayat Aderinwale was accosted and hypnotised by a syndicate of five members before dispossessing her of a purse containing N120,000.00 and her mobile phone.

They were leading her away to another location when the lady

regained her consciousness and called out to RRS officers stationed nearby.

The officer arrested one Sunday Atanda, 56, living in 13, Pero Street, Agege and a 58 year old Fausat Tijani, a pure water seller in Akala, Mushin, while three other members of the syndicate escaped.

In his confession to the police, Atanda gave the names of other syndicate members as Kayode, Shina and Lateef. He added that the syndicate only operated on the road.

He explained that they wanted to dispossess the mother of three of her money, phone and jewel but not to harm her and also admitted joining the team to raise money to feed his family.

Police said the team operates at the Agege and Oshodi area and that Lateef is their ring-leader and he dictates when and where the syndicate would operate every day.

Confirming the development, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole said that the command is reinvigorated to make Lagos inhabitable for criminals adding that efforts have been stepped up to arrest other syndicate members.

• The suspects • The suspects Stories by XAVIER NDAH

J

USTICE J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court Sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has remanded nine foreigners and two Nigerians in Port Harcourt’s prison for alleged oil theft.

The suspects, Mohammed Ejaz, Naseer Khan (Pakistani), Oleksandr Nazarenko, Oleksandr kashern-

vi (Ukrainians), Romeo Annang, Francis Ahorlu, Kwesi Attah( Ghanaians), Victor Mikpayi (Beninois ), Fredrik Fatin Omenu (Indonesian), Victor Azebiri, David Otuhohi (Nigerians) and a Company: Asztral Shipping Corporation SA, and a Vessel, MT. TECNE( a.k.a MT STAR).

They were remanded pending arraignment and hearing of

Driver attempts suicide RRS busts two fraud syndicates T over N90,000 debt

A

31-year-old driver who operates under Uber, identified as Hammed Olojo, was saved from taking his life by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on patrol along the Third Mainland Bridge Lagos.

Uber is a transportation network company (TNC) which uses an online platform to connect passengers with drivers using their personal vehicles.

The driver was seen parking his vehicle and attempted to jump into the lagoon but was restricted by the eagle eye detectives.

It was gathered that Olojo, who drove himself to the Third mainland Bridge in a Uber Toyota Corolla saloon car had written a short note to his family informing them why he wanted to end his life and left it in the car and while stepping out to jump he was retrained by the officers who monitored him a while before walking up to him.

Police source said Olojo, an ex – convict, had drove the grey Corolla with the registration number EKY 312 ES belonging to one Kalejaiye Oluwaseyi to the bridge before attempting to leap into the lagoon.

During interrogation by RRS Commander, ACP Tunji Disu on why he contemplated suicide, Olojo explained that he was owing N10,000 in Court 3, Ikeja High Court and the owner of the vehicle N80,000:00.

He stated that things have been very difficult for him and that he had tried all possible means to

survive with no success.

Olojo disclosed that his wife persuaded him from going ahead with his plan but his mind was made up and was fed up of life.

Police said Olojo, had planned to leave behind a short note in Yoruba and translated into English in the car before leaping into the Lagos Lagoon.

The letter read in part “I killed myself because of the challenges I have been facing in life. I tried my best and everything has come to nothing”.

He also added in the letter that he was owing a creditor N10,000 in Court 3 of Ikeja High Court and N80,000 for the owner of the UBER car he was driving.

Kalejaiye who was at RRS office in company of his wife noted that for two weeks, he had not remitted N40,000 per week lease to him and he Kalejaiye, has been paying for the service of the car.

He noted that although, he told him to hand over the car , at no time did he force him not to drive the car.

He noted that he was aware that he had a court case, at no time did he put him under pressure about the car.

In the note which was dated 27th August, 2017 and signed by him, Olojo indicated his phone number and the car owner’s number.

Confirming the development, Police PRO stated that the case had been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

• The suspects

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday September 13, 2017

News PDP, APC youths clash at Buhari rally From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

B

LOODBATH was averted on Monday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, following a clash between youths allegedly working for the state chapter Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and their All Progressives Congress, APC, during a rally organised by a faction of APC to celebrate the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical trip that lasted for over 100 days in London.

The PDP youths had disguised themselves as APC members and carried insignias of the party to enable them gain access to the APC office with the intension of disrupting the rally but security agents who uncovered their antics

quickly blocked them at Akanu Ibiam Junction and consequently dispersed them.

Determined to execute their plans, the youth group reconvened and engaged a tipper driver who brought about two trips of river sand and heaped along Abakaliki-Afikpo Road just as they were also burning tyres to ensure that members of APC did not take the rally to the streets of Abakaliki as planned.

Efforts by security agents to clear the PDP youths at the venue failed as they continued to hang round despite the heavy security presence. This was happening at Akanu Ibiam Junction, which links Abakaliki-Afikpo Road that is some kilometres away from the APC office.

Immediately the Minister of

Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu arrived, the APC members who had gathered in the party office in their large numbers filed out and the street march commenced. Onu and the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi were ferried in an open-roof car to enable them wave at the cheering crowd and party supporters.

Few minutes later when the APC members tried to cross the location where the opposing youths blocked and attempted to stop the peaceful movement of the crowd by hauling stones on them, but were resisted; a development that led to a free-for-all.

It took the combined efforts of Police, SSS, NSCDC and Army to bring the situation under control as movements were halted for

Adams Oshiomole, Audu Ogbe, Yemi Osinbajo, Gov Godwin Obaseki Inauguration Of Edo Fertilizer Plant and Chemical Company Limited in Auchi

Continued from Pg 2 However, given that nearly 60% of the non-oil sector contribution to GDP is influenced by the oil sector, growth in the oil sector would help boost the rest of the economy.

“The positive growth seen in agriculture when the rest of the economy was contracting was maintained at 3.01% which is encouraging especially if seasonal factors are taken into account.

Manufacturing growth was also positive at 0.64% and although lower than the previous quarter’s growth of 1.36%, it was a noticeable improvement over the -3.36% experienced in Q2 2016 and a continuation of the turnaround of the sector. Solid minerals, which remain a priority of the Administration also continued to grow and in Q2 2016 by 2.24%.

“Overall, industry as a whole grew by 1.45% in Q2 2017 after nine successive quarters of contraction starting in Q4 2014. This positive development was somewhat overshadowed by the continued decline in the services sector which accounts for 53.7% of GDP. Nevertheless, electricity and gas as well as financial institutions grew by 35.5% and 11.78% respec-

Buhari excited tively in Q2 2017.

“The GDP figures give grounds for cautious optimism especially as inflation has continued to fall from 18.72% in January 2017 to 16.05% in July 2017. Foreign exchange reserves have similarly improved from a low of $24.53 in September 2016 to about $31 billion in August 2017. In the same vein capital importation grew by 95% year-onyear driven by portfolio and other investments but also notably by foreign direct investment which increased by almost 30% over the previous quarter.

“Foreign trade has also contributed to improving economic conditions with exports amounting to N3.1 trillion in Q2 2017 while imports which increased by 13.5% amounted to N2.5 trillion in the same period. The overall trade balance thus remained positive at N0.60 trillion.

Unemployment however remains relatively high but job creation is expected to improve as businesses and employers increasingly respond more positively to the significantly improving business environment and favorable

economic outlook.

“Besides, as key sectoral reforms in both oil and non-oil sectors gain traction, the successful implementation of ERGP initiatives such as N-Power and the social housing scheme will boost job creation.

“Food inflation also bears watching as it has remained quite high and volatile due mostly to high transport costs and seasonal factors such as the planting season. Investments in road and rail infrastructures, increased supply and availability of fertilizers and improvements in the business environment should contribute to the easing of food prices.

“Overall, the end of the recession is welcome but economic growth remains fragile and vulnerable to exogenous shocks or policy slippages. Accordingly, it remains essential to intensify efforts going forward on the implementation of the ERGP to achieve desired outcomes including sustained inclusive growth, further diversification of the economy, creation of jobs and improved business conditions.”

about 30 minutes that the clash lasted.

However, the clash did not deter the supporters who continued the march to Nkwegu Ugbala Grand Arena located at Mile 50 Abakaliki where party stakeholders brought the exercise to a close with speeches.

Dr. Onu said the rally was held to celebrate the safe return of the Buhari and to thank God for prayer answered and equally ask Him to give the President the strength and good health to complete the good works he had started.

He said Buhari is a man of history and integrity who has held several positions with no link of corruption.

Onu who accused Ebonyi state government of using youths to disrupt the rally condemned that action describing it as a highest level of intolerance and urged the government to have a rethink.

He said the 2019 general elections would be different and those who want to use violence as witnessed in 2015 would be disappointed. He further advised parents not to allow their children to be used as instruments of violence as Former Governor Elechi said God has answered a prayer the state chapter of the party gathered months ago for the quick recovery of the President which was why they gathered again to thank God for his recovery. He said they were in support of the good things the President was doing especially the fight against corruption, declaring that Buhari remains their choice for the 2019 general elections.

“So I want to assure the President that come 2019, when Nigerians will give a befitting burial to the PDP, Ebonyi State would not be found wanting. We shall play our role and bring democracy back to Ebonyi State.”

“We were not involved in the talks about loan because we thought that appropriate authority should address that but some miscreants courtesy of their sponsors are saying that Dr. Ogbonna Onu, Martin Elechi and Engr. Paul Okorie should be stoned, others said, stone them to death.”

He condemned attempt by some miscreants to disrupt the rally saying, “I want to say this because we prefer the platform of peace and we don’t wish anybody ills. But when the people of Ebonyi state will rise in their righteous indignation nothing will stand on their way and the self appointed Emperor for certain will know that the free of liberty is watered with the blood of the tyrants. That is our message. If they like, let them bring ten trips of sand and heap on the road, we shall set them running.”

A factional Chairman of APC in the state, Eze Nwachukwu Eze, has called on President Buhari to probe the activities of the PDP youths for attempting to disrupt the rally organized to celebrate his return from medical trip.

Meanwhile, Chairman of PDP in Ebonyi State, Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi while reacting to the development said in as much as opposition was the beauty of democracy, opposition political parties in the State should do that within the ambits of the law and not attempting to disrupt public peace as done by APC faction in the State.

Union petitions FG Continued from Pg 2 Act, LCA, which was established to check these kinds of ill-fated attitudes targeted to rip-off the national economy and our man power potentials to the detriment of our collective well-being.

He reeled out a list of projects that have been done in the past by Nigerian welders and fitters said, “We have done Shell, Chevron and Agip installations, Saipem and Willbros Construction, the PPMC transmitting lines from Warri to Lagos and many other projects. He added that the information was in the public domain for the perusal of any interested party who wants to crosscheck the validity of his claims.

Chief Awala in his lamentation wondered why military personnel equipped with tax payers’ money should be used to intimidate those who dare to speak against the management of the company that was breaking Nigerian labour laws and committing a national crime. He called on the Inspector General of Police Mr. Ibrahim Idris to direct the Imo State Commissioner Police to stop the brutality of members of the union who had legitimate grounds to approach the management of for a consummate dialogue.

Comrade Taiwo Sufianu, Deputy National President of NIWELFU, who also spoke during the media interactive session warned that the era of taking Nigeria labour laws for granted is over, especially now that President Buhari was trying to pull the economy out of recession.

Comrade Sufianu further said, “The Minister of Labour and Productivity and the Imo State governor should not trivialise what was doing in Imo State but rather the issue should be treated as a national front.

General Secretary of NIWELFU Comrade Sokari Derek Secondus stressed that the relevant authorities at federal and state levels must see to it that the foreigners in Imo go back to their country India and Thailand so that Nigerians can take back their jobs adding that since no one can be more catholic than the pope only Nigerians can tell their stories better. He affirmed that LCA must not be jettisoned for any reason and maintained that the union would fight the injustice in this era of President Buhari who is an apostle of good governance hinged on the principles of equity and justice.

The Imo State Chapter Chairman of NIWELFU Comrade Donald Nzurike, whose area is affected, harped on the need for the Nigerian Government and corporate investors to emphasise building capacity on all fronts instead of the kind of unpatriotic behaviour of abandoning qualified Nigerian welders and fitters for foreigners.

He remarked, “If democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people then I expect the APC-led Federal Government to live up to the expectations of NIWELFU in particular and Nigerians in general by dealing with the situation in Imo right”.

WEDNESDAY September 13, 2017

The

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VOX POPULI SACRUM

“As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it” Genesis 9:7 (AMP).

A

racle

48

GOOD friend of mine called to share the “good news” of the arrival of his bouncing baby boy. Congratulation, I told him. By the way how many children do you now have, I asked? It is not usual to count our children but since it is you, I will go out of my way to tell you. This is the eleventh one. I will probably do two or three more and reluctantly stop. What has come over you? What point are you trying to make? Do you want to have up to 14 children? I queried in quick succession. But as a Christian, you should know better, he retorts. God directed that we should have many children. He ends up with the above Bible quote, reciting it perfectly. As I protested, I had expected him to justify his unbridled child rearing expertise with other sources.

From the Christian, other religious and traditional points of view, it appeared I had lost the argument about population and therefore birth control.

There is still a big debate about how many we are in Nigeria.

This debate continues to rage because there hasn’t been any credible population census in Nigeria in the recent times. The first census was done in 1863 and it covered the Lagos colony only. A second one was held in 1871 and subsequently, the colonialists held a census every 10 years. It was not until 1911, that a nationwide census exercise was conducted which put the population at 16.1m. By the 1921 census, the population had grown to 18.7m. A few more head counts held in 1931, 1953, 1963 and 1973. Two more were conducted in 1991 and 2006. One recurring feature in the head count exercises held in Nigeria is that they yielded results that were disputed by large sections of the populace. The 1953 census, for instance, put the population at 31.6m. This result was greeted with widespread controversy as it was said to have understated the population of the country.

In 1962, a census was done that produced a figure of 45m. An allegation of over-counting led to the cancellation of the entire exercise and a repeat in 1963. The figure produced in the 1963 exercise was 55.6m. This was accepted in spite of the unrealistic annual growth rate of close to 6% from the 1953 figures. The 1973 census was canceled outrightly by the government for not being transparent.

The 1991 census, which was not without its own share of controversy, produced a figure of 88.9m with an annual growth rate of 2.9%. The last one that was held in 2006 generated so much dispute that it was almost aborted. The South East insisted that the questionnaire must include two parameters of ethnic group and religion while the North opposed that. Both sides threatened to boycott the census if their recommendations were not adopted. Eventually, the Northern position prevailed and the census was conducted returning a figure of 140m people.

It is understood that the allocation of resources, the creation of States and local governments and other sharing formulae are based on the number of people in the different parts of the country. It is important to point out that the word ‘census’ actually means counting everything, as opposed to taking samples.

It is therefore strange that key elements like tribe and religion should be excluded from Nigerian census exercises and I am not aware of anywhere else where such key statistics are excluded.

The 2006 census was one of the most disputed, with Lagos State conducting a parallel census along with the Federal Government. At the end of the exercise, the National Census produced 9m as the population of Lagos. The parallel census by the Lagos state government produced a population of 17.77m.This dispute ended in the Census tribunal, which gave judgment in favour of Lagos and ordered a recount in some Local government areas in Lagos. Even though the recount was not done, Lagos insisted that it was useful to prove that the National Population Commission did not have reliable figures.

A lot of people were excited when the erudite chemist and former MD of Nigerian Breweries, Festus Odimegwu was appointed the Chairman of the National Population Commission by the Jonathan government. This was because, given his brilliance and superlative performance in the private sector, Odimegwu was going to do a thorough job. Before he could settle down, he was removed under controversial circumstances. Shortly after his appointment, he had commented that the country had not had a credible census for decades owing to falsification by politicians for selfish reasons.

The next census, which was to be conducted in 2016, has now been deferred to 2018. As 2018 approaches and as funds don’t seem to be available for the successful conduct of the exercise, it is very unlikely that it will hold. Again, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has reportedly advised that 2018 is unrealistic in view of the General elections coming up in 2019. This is without prejudice to the demarcation of enumeration areas embarked on by the National Population Commission last year.

The United Nations recommends that census should be done every ten years to account for changes in demographics and population dynamics. Because we lack reliable data emanating from a credible census, we have had to rely on projections and rough estimates for planning and indeed everything else.

According to the National Population Commission, Nigeria’s

ISSN: 2545-5869

GUEST COLUMIST By ALEX OTTI

Aren’t We Too Many?

•Alex Utti population is about 183m. On the basis of United Nation’s estimates, the population of Nigeria has been put at about 192.8m as at Sunday, September 3, 2017. This means that about 2.55% of the total world population is Nigerian and we are the 7th most populous country in the world. With this kind of growth rate, it is estimated that we would be nearing 400m people by the year 2050, becoming the third most populous nation in the world with over 4% of the world’s population as Nigerians.

You may choose to slice and dice it anyhow; the truth remains that we are a very large country by population. That we continue to grow by frightening proportions becomes even more worrisome. A lot of people have used religion to justify their procreativity. Some have insisted that what is important is the capacity of parents to provide for the well-being and education of their children rather than the number. Unfortunately, it is a well-known fact that most of the culprits of a large number of children are those who cannot afford it. In the past, it was argued that the logic of having many children was for labour to help with farming. That argument holds no water in the current dispensation where farming has become mechanised. In the world of technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and electric and driverless cars, the larger the population, the more the unemployment figures. That a country has a very large population does not necessarily condemn it to penury. After all, China, for instance, has over 1.3 billion people, but most of them are productively engaged. The capacity of the country to manage the large population is what is critical.

At the moment, most facilities, which are inadequate in the first place, are over stretched. Hospitals are in very short supply, education is more of a privilege than right. Housing is in deficit, power is a scourge, transportation is struggling and most importantly, hunger has become a permanent companion of many of our citizens. Unemployment has become our nemesis and the economy continues to wobble. The question, therefore is, why should we continue multiplying when we know we are unable to provide for even the existing population? My position is that it would be a disaster if we double our population within the next three decades. We must, therefore, do something very drastic if we do not want to witness savagery by that time.

Literature links population explosion to several factors. One of them is mortality rate. It is argued that owing to the decline in death rate and the decline in infant mortality rate as a result of rapid improvements in medicine, world population has witnessed an exponential growth. There has also been a sharp rise in birth rates, again attributed to improvements in medicine that have more people being fertile. On this note, some mischievous

fellow once quipped that the best form of population control is to replace the first ‘P’ in population with a ‘C’! Migration has also made some parts of the world receive a lot of people that have impacted on the population. Lack of education which has made a few people reject birth control measures is another factor. In the same vein, religious and traditional beliefs have been adduced as reasons why birth control and other measures to reduce procreation are not popular. In our case, the issue of migration and decline in death rate cannot be said to be major reasons why our population is increasing in such an alarming manner.

Literature is also replete with population theories, which have either been accepted or discarded. The first attempt to call the attention of the world to the population crises was made by a renowned economist Thomas R. Malthus in 1798. His theory which was later termed pessimistic, simply warned that population was growing in geometric progression while food supply was growing at arithmetic progression. He, therefore, recommended what he called “preventive measures” to manage population growth. These preventive measures include late marriages, birth control, and celibacy. He added that if the preventive measures were ignored, “positive measures” will be the consequence which man had no control over. Positive measures would include starvation, hunger, strife, pestilence, civil war and natural disasters. Both of them would achieve the same purpose but one would be more destructive than the other. After roundly condemning Malthus, many other theories had been propounded which were also criticized until the more popular and acceptable “theory of demographic transition” which is based on the actual population trends of advanced countries.

According to this theory, every country passes through three different stages of population growth. In the first stage, the birth rate and the death rate are high and the growth rate of population is low. In the second stage, the birth rate remains stable but the death rate falls rapidly. As a result, the growth rate of population increases very swiftly. In the last stage, the birth rate starts falling and tends to equal the death rate. The growth rate of population is very slow. While this theory is popular with western economists, it has its pitfalls. It assumes that there is a historical trajectory that all the countries of the world must pass through. Science does not support this and the experiences of countries like Singapore that transited from third world to the first world put a lie on that “trajectory”.

Without boring readers with theories, one is of the view that there is some sense in taking a look at the Malthusian theory again. Our experience in Nigeria seems to bear him out. Without preventive and deliberate efforts to check exponential population growth, we may be left with no option than the positive measures which will normally spiral out of our control. We are already witnesses to some positive fallouts as if Malthus saw this day in 1798. We are not strange to starvation, hunger, strife, kidnapping, armed robbery, violence and even war. The immediate fallouts may be different, but if you pause and investigate remote and latent causes, you cannot but agree with Malthus.

The few facilities provided are already overstretched and deliberate efforts are not enough, nor are resources enough to make additional provisions to accommodate the many more mouths we have to feed. This explains why in spite of the economic growth of the past, we remained a very poor country.

Anytime you translate absolute statistics to average numbers, the country begins to plummet towards the worst social and economic quadrants. Per capita income is one statistic that readily comes to mind. With a GDP of $415b by the end of 2016, Nigeria was the largest economy of the 53 African countries and the 26th largest economy out of 190 in the world. By the time you introduce the law of averages into the equation, Nigeria ends up with GDP Per Capita of $2260 and drops to number 17 in Africa and No. 133 in the world. If somehow, the number of people sharing this same GDP increases by a few more million, your guess should be as good as mine. It is therefore imperative that we seriously begin to look at policies to manage the rate of growth of our population. If we fail to do it, the positive force of nature may have to do it for us and in that case, it would be completely outside our control.

•Permit me to use this opportunity to wish my Muslim readers Barka de Sallah. Eid Mubarak.

•Dr. Otti was Managing Director of a bank, and a governorship candidate in the 2015 election in Abia State

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