Wednesday November 29 Edition

Kanu’ still missing, court told

• Abaribe sues Army

By TONY AILEMEN (Abuja)

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ONDAY’S trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was again stalled, as Kanu was not in court.

Justice Binta Nyako refused to continue the trial without Kanu whose bail conditions the court was to review.

The

A previous appearance on 17 September was adjourned again because Kanu was absent.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who stood surety for Kanu, in the sum of N100 million, had complained that he did not know where Kanu was.

He had asked the court on 17 September to relieve him of the burden of the surety and instead

hold the Nigerian Army responsible for the disappearance of Kanu.

Kanu has been on bail since last April. On 15 September, soldiers invaded his home in Afaraukwu, Umuahia, shooting parts of the building, which still bears the marks.

Kanu and some members of his family have not been seen since then.

Against that background, Aba-

racle Cont’d on page 2

www.oraclenews.ng

Today

Ekwueme exits • Tears • Regrets VOX POPULI SACRUM

WEDNESDAY November 29, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOL.2 No. 49. N200

• Nigerians mourn From: BONIFACE OKORO (Umuahia), CHUKS EZE (Enugu), NATH OMAME (Port Harcourt), EMMANUEL OGOIGBE (Warri), TONY AILEMEN (Abuja), JONATHAN AWANYAI (Asaba) and COLLINS UGHALAA (Owerri). t about 10 pm on Sunday, November 19, the great nationalist and unifier, a quintessential democrat who invested so much energy, time, money and intellect in efforts to make Nigeria a functional democratic country, Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (Ide

Aguata), passed on in a London hospital. He was aged 85. Since then, encomiums have poured in, many of them deeply felt, for the last of the truly democratic Nigerian, who believed in the unity of Nigeria but one in which equity, justice and fairness reigned supreme.

These reports summarise the life and times of a man who will be sorely missed by all and sundry who believe that Nigeria will become a great country only when true patriots, those in deeds, words and relationships demonstrate indubitable love of country.

• Obiano

• Nwoye

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Tribute by Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga, Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, younger politician but close friend of the late Dr. Ekwueme’s: Join me in mourning the transition to life after life of Dr Alex Ekwueme, Ide Okoh in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The passing of Alex focuses the mind on Prof Ben Nwabueze as the last man standing in a lineage of Igbo gods, beginning from Dr

Cont’d on page 14

Anambra votes Obiano

Page 12

• Obaze

Cont’d on page 9

Jonathan @ 60: Quietly enters Diamond Club

2

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NEWS NPO proscribes beat associations

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HE Nigerian Press Organisation, NPO, comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has viewed with concern, the continued proliferation of Beat associations across the industry.

This development constitutes a drawback on the laudable objective of media houses deploying reporters to such outlets, the essence of which is to enhance efficient and independent gathering of news.

The essence of reporters in those beats, is to strengthen the operations of the media in its quest to deepen journalism and raise an army of a well informed and enlightened citizenry and actualise its constitutional responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people at all times, through well informed news and commentaries.

Nowhere in their mandate, are they expected to form any association outside their recognised professional body, the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

The proliferation of Beat associations, is not only corrosive of the esteemed journalism profession but also capable of lowering ethical and moral standards as well as the quality of reportage, if unchecked. They are now to cease and desist from engaging journalists in such untoward conduct.

GEJ at 60: One minute silence for Ekwueme From CHRISTIAN EZE, Yenagoa

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ormer President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and hundreds of Nigerian youth who visited him in his country home in Otuoke as he marked his 60th birthday on Monday observed a one-minute silence in honour of the late Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

Welcoming the various youth groups from across the country that came to felicitate with him, Jonathan said: “My wife and I are very happy that you young people came in your hundreds from all parts ofthe country--from the North West, SouthWwest, South East, North East, North Central and, of course, our own South South, just to felicitate with us here.”

Jonathan, who had earlier sent condolence messages to the people and government of Anambra State as well as the family of the deceased said: “However before I say a few words to formerly welcome you, I have to say that we heard a very shocking news last (Sunday) night. It was the news of the death of one of our greatest leaders, who was the Vice President in the Second Republic, Chief (Dr.) Alex Ekwueme. It is, indeed, a sad loss for the nation.

So, I crave your indulgence to all stand for a one minute silence in his memory.”

The youths numbering over 300 came from Ijaw Youth Council, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), National Association of Nigerian Students (Zone B), as well as National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Jonathan’s community.

The former President who was flanked by his wife, Patience and some close friends and well-wishers further encouraged the youths to be patriotic and optimistic about the future of the country.

“You should know that as young people, this country is in your hands and it is your responsibility to make it work. Whatever sacrifices I have made as President, I expect you to even do more when the time comes for you to lead our great country,” he declared.

He told them that the world is changing and challenged the youths to show more interest in the affairs of the nation.

Jonathan further reminded them that young people like them elsewhere are not only taking interest in politics but are already taking over the reins of governance.

He cited the cases of France and Austria, two great European countries that recently elected Presidents aged 39 and 31 years, respectively.

Speaking earlier, the President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Mr Pe-

reotubo Oweilemi thanked the former President for the sacrifices he made during his administration.

He, however, noted that Jonathan’s efforts are not being appreciated by those that succeeded him and warned that Ijaw people would resist any attempt to humiliate the ex-President.

Oweilemi said: “I want to call on the authorities of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that as the President of the Ijaw Youths Council, I want to sound it loud and clear that we will not allow the persecution of the former First Family. We will not take it. We are aware of attempts to subvert justice in the bid to humiliate the former First Family. By the grace of God, I am a lawyer, and I know the law. When you say that the law should take its course, you should also be aware that there are justice and tradition.

“We all know in this country, for instance, that no former President had been asked to appear before the National Assembly and it will never start with our own son. We will stand by our President (Jonathan) and we will stand by our mother (Mrs. Jonathan).

Any attempt to humiliate them will be resisted.”

He further praised Jonathan for his candour and unprecedented gesture of calling his opponent to concede victory to him while

Signed for the NPO Feyi Smith EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

To be serialised in The Oracle Today soon

Read about the great Rangers story from next edition

• From left: Gov Okezie Ikpeazu, Sen. T. A. Orji, Mrs. Mercy Orji and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu at funeral service of Chief Bob Ogbuagu

Continued from Pg 1 ribe has sued the Chief of Army Staff General, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai over Kanu’s disappearance.

According to Abaribe’s legal team, it is only the Chief of Army Staff, whose staff invaded Kanu’s home, who can give an account of him.

The argument is that if Kanu’s home had not been invaded, he would have appeared in court in line with his bail condition.

Among the reliefs that Abaribe is seeking in his suit are that the Chief of Army Staff should produce Kanu in court, that the attorney General of the Federation should commence contempt proceedings against Buratai for resorting to “self help” in the matter, and obstructing the proceed-

Kanu’s trial

ings of the court, and a payment of N10 million to Sen. Abaribe for psychological trauma he has been going through since the disappearance of Kanu, following the army’s invasion of his home.

The matter has been adjourned to 15 February 2018, when the court expects that Kanu would be in court.

Abaribe stands as surety for Kanu, having signed a bail bond of N100million to secure bail for Kanu, who is being prosecuted by the Federal Government.

On October 17, the trial judge, Justice Binta had ordered that Abaribe and the other sureties should appear on November 20, to show cause why a bench warrant of arrest should not be granted against them.

The Court also held that Abaribe can only be excused if he produces Kanu or forfeits the N100m bail bond.

However, at the resumed sitting on Monday, Abaribe was in court but Justice Nyako did not sit.

The court registrar said she was attending the Judges Conference, and had to adjourn the trial to December 5.

But in the motion on notice filed

by Abaribe, he is also praying for “An order of the court compelling the Chief of Army Staff, on failure to produce 1st defendant/2nd respondent, to pay to the court the sum in the bail bond earlier executed by the applicant on behalf of 1st

Continued on Pg47

the votes of the last presidential election were still being collated, stressing that it was “that singular action that defused the tension in the land and united the nation.”

Other youth leaders from different parts of the country took turns to speak, with all of them praising the former President for his remarkable achievements and support for youth development.

They included coordinator, NANS Zone B, Pedro Chubuzo Obi, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria Rivers State/chairman of other state chairmen as well as Ahmed Rilwanu Laura, chairman NYCN Zamfara zone/secretary of Forum of 36 state chairmen.

While presenting the gift from Nigerian students to the former President, Obi thanked Jonathan for his achievements and efforts towards uniting the country.

Community demands market, other amenities From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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he people of Umutowe Autonomous Community in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State have identified lack of market in the community as a major factor hindering the economic advancement of the area.

Other pressing needs, which they said would fast-track development of the community but which are lacking include cassava and palm oil processing mills, skills acquisition centre, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Centre and plastic industry.

According to the people who identified these needs during a Town Hall meeting, the community is equally in need of solar-powered streetlight, construction of drainage along its health centre road, fencing of its primary school, adding that their cottage hospital lacks equipment.

During the well-attended Town Hall meeting by indigenes as well as community, youth and women leaders, a 20-man Community Consultative Committee (CCC) comprising 10 males and 10 females, was elected to drive efforts to realize the identified projects.

The meeting held at the Palace of the traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Eze Godwin Onwuka, on October 23, this year, was specifically called to identify the urgent needs of the community and seek ways of meeting such needs through the Sustainable Citizens Participation (SCP) programme.

The SCP programme, which is facilitated by Afrihealth Optonet Association, comprising civil society organisations, and funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), provides a platform for communities to engage governments on sustainable basis such that they (community people) could identify their problems, source funds or sponsor and participate actively in the execution

Continued on Pg47

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION 70% of Nigerian doctors seeking jobs abroad – NMA

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From left: Group Managing Director (GMD)Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru and Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Jeff Ewing, displaying the signed Alternative Financing Agreement to fund the Phase II of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture, also known as Project Falcon, in London, last weekend

Tributes pour in for late Ekwueme From VICTOR NZE

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ollowing the passing on former Second Republic Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, late Sunday, reactions and tributes have continued to pour in as Nigerians and groups praised the elder statesman who turned 85 last October.

Chairman of the Governor’s Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, in an official statement released, Monday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor, said: “The death of our father and leader, Dr. Ekwueme is so devastating especially now that his fatherly advice is needed most. He was a great Nigerian and great believer in the unity of the country. As his children, we have learnt a lot from his deep political sagacity.

“As the Vice President of Nigeria, Ekwueme was a great rallying factor of Igbo socio-political integration. He was a voice of reason and a man who toiled to place Ndigbo at the centre of mainstream politics.

Indeed, we have lost a rare gem, a gentleman and a decent politician and academia”, the statement said.

Also, President General of Ohanaeze, John Nwodo, in a statement, said: “As Vice President, Dr Ekwueme was intellectually forthright, engaging, loyal and outstandingly patriotic. As a politician, he was courageous and original in his ideas. Ndigbo have lost a genius, a father and an intellectual giant.”

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a message issued via his Twitter handle @bukolasaraki, said: “Today, I join Ndigbo and the entire nation to mourn the passing of one of Nigeria’s most illustrious sons, H.E. Dr. Alex Ekwueme, our first elected Vice-President. As we mourn his death, we celebrate his dedication and service to the development of our country.”

In another tweet, the Senate Persident said: “I will always remember Dr. Alex Ekwueme for his exem-

plary courage in the face of overwhelming odds — when he stood up to past military regimes, and his dexterity in his personal pursuits as a successful architect, lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.”

Former President Shehu Shagari, on his part, who the late Ekwueme served as Vice, said, in a statement, Monday, said: “It is with deep sense of loss that I learned about the demise of my brother and former vice president.

“On behalf of my family, I sincerely commiserate with Nigerians on his death. May his soul rest in peace.”

Immediate past Senate President, David Mark, in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr Paul Mumeh , said: “Interestingly, the six geo-political zonal structure (North-West, North-East, SouthEast, South-West, North-Central and South-South ) has remained the roadmap for power sharing arrangement in Nigeria.”

For former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor: “He was a forefront politician who brought intellectualism into governance. His quest for excellence, due process and rule of law in Nigeria will remain a reference point in politics and leadership in many years to come.

“Ekwueme, not minding his age is very useful to you at any time you engage him on issues and his death is very regrettable at this time irrespective of his age.’’

Former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Lai Olurode, said: “A fine gentleman, a distinguished architect and a formidable pillar of the second republic is no more. Other politicians and public figures should learn from his `politics of live and let live.

“The late Vice President Ekwueme was a man of peace, a symbol of politics without bitterness and a bridge builder who was a son

of the east, an ally of the SouthSouth, well trusted by the North and a friend of the West. May God grant the family the grace to bear the loss.’’

In Lagos, the State House of Assembly, Acting Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Mr Tunde Braimoh, said: “He was highly dignified and principled. Juxtaposed to his forthrightness, industry, ingenuity, intuition, moral rectitude and upright leanings, his demise is very regrettable.

“In the case of Dr Ekwueme, it is gratifying that we have fond memories of him. It is also reprieving to recall the herculean efforts and battles to save his life, and that his death might as well be a welldeserved rest after the struggles of life and living.”

Similarly, Former Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said: “The news of his passage came to me as a shock.

It is a great loss to the entire nation and democracy lovers. We can only derive joy from the fact that he was highly educated, highly principled and a strong bridge builder for the country.

“I pray to all Almighty God to grant his family and the entire nation the fortitude to bear the loss.

May his soul rest in peace.

“It was almost certain that in 1999 Ekwueme would emerge as the flag bear of the PDP until some intervening forces came in and changed the situation, but he did not defect from the party. He still stood firmly and supported the unity of the party and Nigeria.

“He wanted to run again having been invited by PDP Governors Forum, but again they dashed his hope; he did not leave. I call on every PDP member who is today trying to run elections to learn the lessons of sacrifice and patience from late Ekwueme. He remained a principled man up to his death.’’

he Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has decried the level of exodus of doctors from the country, stating that it ‘has now reached an alarming proportion’, just as the body also called for improved health sector funding to discourage it.

Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of the body, Dr Olumuyiwa Odusote, disclosed, Thursday, in Lagos that more than 40,000 of the 75,000 registered Nigerian doctors, were practising abroad while 70 per cent in the country were thinking of picking jobs outside.

“The health crisis in Nigeria is unprecedented as the mass exodus hits an alarming proportion.

Already, it takes a new patient two to three hours to see a doctor. Over 100 doctors have resigned from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, this year; about 800 doctors resigned from Lagos State hospitals in the last two years, and over 50 in November alone.

“Kebbi State has been unable to employ a single doctor in two years despite multiple adverts for employment; over 200 doctors and nurses have resigned from Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital this year.

“Seventy per cent of Nigerian doctors are making plans to leave for foreign lands and are taking exams to that effect,“ he said.

The chairman said that 236 doctors wrote primaries for West Africa College of Physicians in 2017 to gain admission into Nigerian teaching hospitals.

He said that in 2012, more than 1,000 doctors had written the same exams and 660 of them had written the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board Examination (PLAB) to practise in the United

Kingdom over those primaries.

“Our healthcare system has been neglected for an extended period, evidenced by lack of funding, under supply, inefficiency, decrepit equipment, poor quality, needless deaths and unhappy workforce. Today, many of the country’s general hospitals, with the exception of those in Lagos, are not in good condition and are breeding grounds for infectious diseases.

“Many also do not have sufficient beds; so, corridors are turned to sleeping wards,” he said.

Odusote who noted that allocation to the health sector in the proposed 2018 Budget should have been more than 3.9 per cent, also added that fatigued and overworked doctors had committed errors.

“The nation needs 303,333 medical doctors now and 10,605 new doctors annually to provide good quality patient care.’’

According to him, providing better facilities and work environment, higher remuneration, career progression, professional advancement and better quality of life would guarantee good quality healthcare.

He said that the 3.9 per cent allocated to the health sector was less than the WHO-recommended 15 per cent.

“NMA will nonetheless, continue with advocacy for improved healthcare financing through universal health coverage and full implementation of the National Health Act, 2014, “ he said.

NAN reports that the Federal Government allocated N340.45 billion to health in the 2018 Budget proposal of N8.612 trillion.

Obaze makes U-turn, congratulates Obiano

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andidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the justconcluded Anambra governorship election, Mr Oseloka Obaze, has reversed his earlier decision to challenge the outcome of the poll, as he has congratulated the winner, Willie Obiano on his victory.

Obaze who had rejected the election result, claiming inconsistencies in the outcome, at a news conference in Awka, Monday congratulated Obiano and said he has now put everything behind him.

He said although he had earlier issued a statement rejecting the result soon after it was released, he had no intention of dragging the process any further.

He said he would beleaguer the state with unnecessary and prolonged litigation.

“I wish to congratulate His Excellency, Gov. Willie Obiano and his running mate, Dr Nkem Okeke on their victory at the Nov. 18 governorship election, I wish both of them well. I salute my other fellow contestants for their valiant efforts and decorum during the campaigning, thank you for promoting peace.

“Before now, I had expressed concerns about the contradicting variables that that led to the electoral outcome. I have closed the chapter on this particular election, we must now move on and return to the task of promoting good governance and the wellbeing of Anambra people,”

he said.

Obaze, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take a critical look at its Information Communication Technology (ICT) operations.

He said observed flaws in malfunctioning card readers, uniformity of victory trends in favour of a particular candidate and a situation where no other candidate showed strength anywhere were serious causes for concern.

“In that context, INEC needs to undertake an introspective appraisal of its in-house operations and moreso relating to its ICT operations.

“I thank, in a very special way, former Gov. Peter Obi and his dear wife for their unfettered support, I also thank my running mate Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe and her husband, Okey, for their joint role, warmth and added value to our efforts,” he said.

Obaze used the opportunity to pay tribute to former President, Alex Ekwueme, who died in London on Sunday.

“On this sad note, I close by paying tribute to a father figure, my father’s friend, my mentor and father of my running mate, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who passed on last night.

“May his soul find eternal rest and may his family, friends and Nigeria find the fortitude to bear the huge loss,” he said.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NEWS ACROSS THE NATION

‘Nigeria ranks 35th out of 54 in overall governance’ T From VICTOR NZE

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igeria scored 48.1 in overall governance, ranking 35th out of 54 in Africa, according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, in its 2017 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) launched by the foundation, Monday in Dakar, Senegal.

It said though Nigeria ranked 35th, its score was lower than the African average of 50.8 and lower than the regional average for West Africa which was put at 53.8.

It, however, said Nigeria achieved its highest category score in participation and human rights at 52.5 and its lowest category score in sustainable economic opportunity put at 42.3.

The index also said Nigeria achieved its highest sub-category score of 63.1 in rule of law and its

lowest sub-category score of 32.7 in accountability.

“Over the last five years, Nigeria showed signs of ‘Increasing Improvement’ in overall governance.

Nigeria’s overall governance progress over the decade is driven by three of the four categories: participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development.’’

The index revealed that the continent’s overall governance trajectory remains positive on average, but had in recent years moved at a slower pace.

The eleventh edition of the IIAG looked at both country and indicator trends over the last five years (2012-2016), within the context of the last decade (2007-2016).

The foundation called for vigilance on the continent’s future, adding that concerns emerge in

some key sectors as many countries struggle to build on recent progress or to reverse negative trends.

“By evaluating more recent progress on governance alongside long-term performance, the 2017 IIAG provides the most nuanced assessment to date of the evolution and direction that countries, regions and specific dimensions of governance are taking.

“Over the last 10 years, 40 African countries have improved in overall governance.

“In the last five years, 18 of these – a third of the continent’s countries and home to 58 per cent of African citizens – including Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria and Senegal, have even managed to accelerate their progress.

“In 2016, the continent achieved its highest Overall Governance score to date (50.8 out of 100.0).’’

Katsina council gets 25,500 measles vaccines

It, however, said over the same period, Africa’s annual average rate of improvement in overall governance slowed.

It said of the 40 countries improving in overall governance during the last decade, more than half (22) either did so at a slower pace in the last five years or showed decline.

It, however, said eight of the 12 countries that registered decline in overall governance over the past decade are showing no signs of turning things around, with scores decreasing at an even faster rate over the second half of the decade.

This group includes Botswana, Ghana, Libya and Mozambique.

Chair of the foundation, Mr Mo Ibrahim, said as the index showed, overall governance in Africa was improving, adding that it was good news.

he Sandamu Local Government Area of Katsina State has taken delivery of 25,500 measles vaccines for the immunisation of children against measles across its 10 electoral wards.

The council’s Director of Health, Hajiya Sakina Zango, made this disclosure during the flag off of the measles vaccination at the council secretariat on Friday.

She said that the council was targeting to immunise no fewer than 22,000 children during the six-day exercise.

Zango said “we have formed 43 teams which included traditional rulers, health personnel and other stakeholders for the exercise”.

She added that the acting chairman of the council, Alhaji Sada Rawayau, had assured the people that the LG and State Governments had provided the needed logistics to ensure the success of the exercise.

The director warned parents against rejection of the vaccines, saying “we have never recorded instances of rejection of vaccination or immunisation in this area”.

Zango, who expressed confidence in the programme’s success, noted that the Local Government had been lauded

by UNICEF for recording compliance with immunisation and vaccination.

She said that the UNICEF had constructed a befitting cold chain store in the council area in recognition of its compliance with routine rules guiding health programmes in the area.

In a related development, the management of Maiadua Local Government has stated that it was targeting no fewer than 38,620 children for the measles vaccination.

The council’s Director of Primary Health care, Alhaji Nasiru Muazu, told newsmen in Maiadua, Friday, that the council had taken delivery of 42,630 vaccines.

Muazu said the council authority had constituted 48 teams to conduct and monitor the exercise across the 10 electoral wards in the area.

Anambra election reflects electorate’s mood – Monarchs

• President Muhammadu Buhari (l) addressing judges at the opening of the 2017 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of Superior Courts, in Abuja, Monday

UBEC to conduct assessment of learning nationwide

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he Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has said it will conduct a National Assessment of Learning Achievement in Basic Education (NALABE) across the federation and the Federal Capital Territory UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, who disclosed this during a media dialogue on the 2017 NALABE in Abuja, said the exercise would be held from November 22 to November 24.

According to him, 1,080 primary schools and 432 junior secondary schools will constitute the school sample.

He said that the objective of the assessment was to use quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the efficiency and quality of performance of Primary, Junior Secondary school pupils and students in Nigeria.

He added that this would enable

the tracking of standards of education at the basic level.

“The NALABE was conducted by the commission in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2011 respectively. The results were used to gauge the state of basic education and to proffer solutions to some of the constraints and challenges being faced in this critical sub-sector.

“The November 2017 has been scheduled for the 5th edition of the assessment. Assessment of learners’ achievements is very crucial to the implementation of basic education programme. It exposes learners’ performance in curricular delivery and impact of intervening variables’’.

Bobboyi said that six Local Government Education authorities (LGEA) were selected through simple random sampling techniques in each of the 36 states and the FCT. He said that the board selected

five primary schools in each LGEA comprising two urban, two rural and one private school.

Bobboyi noted that 20 pupils from Primary 5 and 6 would participate in the study in each selected school, adding that the head teachers of the sampled school and teachers of the selected Primary 5 and 6 classes would also participate.

“At this level, the samples are to consist of 216 LGEA’s, 1,080 Primary schools, 1,080 head teachers, 2,160 teachers, 43,200 pupils and 25,920 parents at the Primary level. And at the Junior Secondary school level 17,280 students drawn from JSS 2 and 3; 12,960 parents; 432 Principals and 1,728 teachers will participate in the study.”

Bobboyi said the board would use eight instruments for data collection at the primary level and eight at the secondary level.

The UBEC boss listed these to in-

clude achievements Test in English Studies, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology as well as Social Studies.

Others are Learners’ Questionnaire, Teachers’ Questionnaire, Head teachers’ Questionnaire and Parents’ Questionnaire.

He assured that all state governments and stakeholders were being carried along in the exercise, adding: ”Each state government needs to know the problems of basic education and how to solve them in their states’’.

The Executive Secretary said 1,512 field officers would be involved in the test administration; 400 UBEC staff, 216 SUBEBs staff and 896 NYSC members.

He said that the commission would continue with the International standard of conducting the test every two years if resources were available.

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he Anambra Central Traditional Rulers Council has declared that the outcome of last Saturday’s governorship elections was a true reflection of the mood and desire of the people of the state.

As Chairman of the council, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno, said this in Enugu, adding further that the outcome had thrown up general happiness and jubilations among the people.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the incumbent, Governor Willie Obiano of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), winner of the election contested by 36 other candidates.

Ilouno, who is also the traditional ruler of Ifitedunu community in Dunukofia council area, said INEC had once again proven that it could be relied upon, “when the chips are down’’.

“To God be the glory, for it is indeed the will of God that we have just witnessed a successful election. My people are happy and the entire people of Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, both the leaders and the led, are happy and presently celebrating the victory of our hard working governor at the polls,’’ he said.

He said the fact that the people collected money from the money-bags that were busy doling out money in exchange for a vote, and still went on to vote their conscience showed that the voters have indeed matured.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NEWS

Group warns Owerri Zone over guber ambition From COLLINS UGHALAA, Owerri

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S the race to Imo State Douglas House heats up, a group known as Imo Youths for Good Governance and Democracy has warned Owerri Zone to desist from holding on to the claim to produce the Governor of the State in 2019 but to rather support Okigwe Zone to complete their term in office as Governor.

Okigwe Zone’s bid to be on the seat for eight-year was cut short in 2011 when Dr. Ikedi Ohakim lost his re-election bid to Governor Okorocha.

In a press statement which was made available to The Oracle Today in Owerri on Tuesday and signed by its National Coordinator, Pastor Ekele Unezuruike, the group said it was “constrained to once again offer its candid advice to the people and leaders of Owerri Zone on their quest to produce the Governor of Imo State”, noting that they “have watched as some elders of Owerri Zone in what they called Egbu Declaration toed the same path that keeps portraying them as elders making one mistake over and over again.”

The leaders of Owerri Zone in one of their moves to forge unity among themselves held a summit in Egbu last week and concluded that people from the Zone would only vote for political parties that fielded Owerri sons and daughters as governorship candidates. They called on the political parties to choose their governorship candidates from Owerri Zone alone

But Imo Youths for Good Governance and Democracy said they were worried at the development “because it is difficult to atone for abomination committed by the elders. We had hoped that the elders of Owerri Zone would not sit idly and watch the shegoat deliver in the tethers. Elders are known for their wisdom in navigating difficult terrains, and they are known for tracing their way back to where the rains started to beat them. This is what we expect from the elders and leaders of Owerri, even the newly and hurriedly found Coalition for Owerri Re-Awakening, to use their tongue to count their teeth and like elders carefully trace their way back to where the rains started to beat them and find a clear path out of what seems a conundrum to them. But the right thing for them nonetheless, is to bite the bullet like elders and solve their problems once and for all”.

The youths also said they were further worried “that some elders of Owerri Zone gathered in Egbu and failed to properly articulate the problems of their people and find a true way out.

Rather, the people that called themselves elders spoke like children learning to speak”.

They said that Owerri Zone could only talk about zoning after they had corrected the mistake of 2011, which they said brought Governor Okorocha, even as they also accused the Zone of selling their birthright in 2011.

They added that even Chief Martin Agbaso had confessed that Governor

Dee Bob served humanity selflessly From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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ATE media guru, Bob Ogbuagu, has been described as a man who lived a simple life style that abhorred corruption. Many who paid tributes to the revered son of Umukabia Umuagbom Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government of Abia State last Friday at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, agreed that he was selfless.

Immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, described Dee Bob, as he was simply called, as a “great man in all ramifications.”

He recalled that though Dee Bob served as the engine room of the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation, which established many industries and farm plantations, no corruption was traced to him.

He also recalled that throughout his years in office, Dee Bob, under the auspices of the Abia Advisory Council of which he was the Vice Chairman, gave him the slimmest budget estimate for the celebration the anniversary of the creation of the state, adding that the estimate usually contained expenditure to the last kobo.

Also, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said Dee Bob was like a father to him, adding that their relationship pre-dated Dee Bob’s appointment of Champion newspapers.

He said the worked both of them worked together at the Okpara Foundation, describing him as a man of great intellect.

“Bob was my father because he talked to me the way my father would talk to me,” Iwuanyanwu said, explaining that Dee Bob provided a large shoulder for him to lean on when his father died.

He appealed to Abia State government to strive to finish a hospital, which Okpara started but could not finish.

“That hospital was dear to Bob. Please do everything to revive the project and finish it and name it after him,” Iwuanyanwu pleaded with Abia State government.

Chairman of Abia State Advisory Council, Dr Ezeogo Anagha Ezeikpe, said throughout the years they worked together, he and Dee Bob never disagreed.

“It is a sorrowful occasion that Abia has lost a man of the caliber of Dee Bob. We worked together at the Abia State Advisory Council for 26 years. He does everything with difference. He loved to give service to humanity without looking for recompense,” Ezeikpe said.

He appealed to Abia State government to immortalize the late sage.

In his tribute, Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, said his last encounter with Dee Bob was when he decorated him with Rotary pin and enjoined to join in the fight against polio.

“The next time Dee Bob came was just a few weeks before he passed on.

That particular event, whenever I recall it, brings tears to my eyes because after the regular consultation meeting between the governor and Abia State Advisory Council, Dee Bob insisted that he has a personal message for me in my office. ”When I walked into the office, he brought out a pin from his pocket and asked me to bring the Government House photographer into the office, that he is under mandate to personally decorate me with that pin.

“When I invited the Government House photographer, he brought out that pin. Lo and behold, it was a rotary pin, urging me to join the world to stamp out polio.

“Up till today, I cherish that pin and each time I want to wear it, I pick it up with shaking hands, knowing that they were my parting gifts from our dear Dee Bob,” Ikpeazu said.

“So, what do we say to mother earth as it prepares once more to take off Dee Bob? All we say is that by faith we believe that this is the channel through which all the saints departed will meet their Maker for a day of renewal when we shall know no death any more, when we shall reunite with our maker and probably see the shinning face of Dee Bob; and probably for me, I will see Dee Bob as a young man, not as a frail old man that I met him.

We plead to mother earth as it swallows our great ones, to please spare the unity of this land. Earth should spare the love for country and state; it should spare the legacies that Bob has left for us, “he concluded.

Chairman of the occasion, Prof Joshua Ogbonnaya, said he was proud of the life style and achievements of Dee Bob. Dee Bob’s daughter, Dr (Mrs.) Ada Wikina, who spoke on behalf of the family, said they were very proud of their father having listened to tributes to him in Lagos, Enugu and Umuahia.

She expressed gratitude to Abia State government for their commitment in ensuring a befitting burial for their dad.

The remains of Dee Bod were buried last Saturday in his Umukabia country home after a funeral service at Methodist Church, Umukabia Umuagbom Ohuhu.

Okorocha visited him and requested him to give him the APGA ticket.

“How else would one explain the statement of the Coalition for Owerri Re-Awakening as published in a newspaper of Friday, November 17, 2017, that “equity demands that the next governor of Imo State should be an indigene of Owerri zone...That all political parties should choose their governorship candidates from Owerri Senatorial Zone...That voters in Imo State should vote for only political parties that choose their candidates only from Owerri Zone in the interest of equity, fair play and unity of Imo State”?

“For the interest of the peace and brotherliness, we are constrained to remind the leaders of Owerri Zone that they can only talk about equity when they have corrected the mistake they led Imo people to make in 2011 when they gave their mandate to Orlu Zone.

“It is not news that Chief Martin Agbaso has agreed that Governor Okorocha approached him for APGA ticket in 2011 and that he obliged him.

Though he said he did not sell the APGA ticket, many people believe money exchanged hands. Also, it was the leaders in Owerri Zone who insisted there was no zoning and used both their bank and radio station to bankroll the 2011 governorship campaign of Owelle Rochas Okorocha”, the group said.

The group which seemed angry at the position of Owerri leaders said

that Owerri Zone did not make good use of their chances in 2015 when they had four governorship candidates from different parties, wondering whether the Zone would not sell out again in 2019.

“Imo Youths for Good Governance and Democracy also reminds the Coalition for Owerri Re-Awakening that their claim that all political parties should make Owerri politicians their governorship candidates had been done and dusted in 2015 when Chief Emeka Ihedioha was candidate of the PDP, Chief Ken Ojiri of Accord Party, Chief Usmond Imo Ukanacho of UPP and Capt Emma Ihenacho of APGA. Yet Owerri Zone sold out and supported Governor Okorocha of APC for second term. We regret to observe that many of those who sold out on the Owerri Zone project in 2015 and supported the Governor for second term against their brothers are also among the leaders making the fresh demands. Also, Owerri Zone leaders are already scattered supporting various governorship aspirants from different zones. Are they going to be ostracised?

“Owerri Zone got the zoning they clamoured for in 2015. That they did not get the job done should not be another man’s headache.

“There is nothing to show that Owerri Zone will not sell out again in 2019 due to the level of distrust and peer rivalry and jealousy that is widespread among them and put everyone in pain all over again. We therefore recom-

mend that the leaders of Owerri Zone should behave like true elders and retreat with their back and support Okigwe Zone to complete their term of four years only and then the new Governor would use his office to hand over power to Owerri Zone after four years”, they said.

According to Imo youths, it would only take the power of incumbency to make someone from Owerri Zone governor, stressing that, “and though the so-called leaders in Owerri Zone hate to hear the truth, the level of disunity in the Zone makes it more imperative for executive influence to help them achieve their governorship ambition. It happened in Enugu State, Abia State, Anambra State, where the sitting governor used the powers of his office to implement zoning, and today zoning is no more an issue in those states. The Saturday election in Anambra State reinforces this point.

This is what Owerri Zone need”.

They warned that “if Owerri Zone fails to let wisdom prevail and they also fail to support Okigwe Zone to do one more term of four years and hand over power to them, then they will be forcing Okigwe Zone to enter into alliance with Orlu Zone to produce the Governor again in 2019. If Owerri Zone could do it in 2011 and 2015, Okigwe Zone can do it in 2019. And if Owerri Zone pushes Okigwe Zone to this, then the governorship seat could rotate between Orlu and Okigwe zones in reciprocity for the foreseeable future”.

• President Buhari receives H.E. Mr Faure Gnassingbe, President of Republic of Togo in State House on 21st November, 2017

Ayade solicits support of Ohaneze Ndigbo, non-indigenes From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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he Cross River State governor Professor Ben Ayade has solicited the support of non-indigenes resident in the state for the overall development of the state.

The governor made the appeal in Obubra during an end of year consultative meeting held by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Cross River State Chapter.

The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Non-Indigenous Matters, Barr. Musa Maigoro acknowledged the efforts of non-indigenes particularly Ohanaeze Ndigbo for developing the state and solicited for their continued cooperation.

He revealed that in order to properly accommodate non-indigenous groups and guarantee their security in the state, the government is working on a comprehensive database of all non-indigenous groups in the state.

This, he said, will ensure that there is

proper planning with a view to keying non-indigenes into the government’s development activities.

This project will cover all non-indigenous groups and is one of the key projects that is being embarked on by the government, he added.

In his remarks, the president of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Cross River State, Dr. Lawrence Chukwuka expressed appreciation to the governor for delegating the Special Adviser to address the gathering.

He disclosed that the Igbo are part and parcel of the Ayade government and they believe in his administration.

He disclosed that Ndigbo in Cross River State have some challenges particularly security which they would like the governor to know and do something about.

He disclosed that a lot of violence has been visited on the Igbo in recent time in the state and solicited the intervention of the governor.

“A lot of violence has been visited on Ndigbo and this is discomfiting for the group. For instance in Ugep, the Igbo were violently attacked and they lost quite a number of their properties and up till now, we have not had a response from the government.

This same thing happened in Uyanga and two lives were lost and properties worth millions of naira destroyed,” he said.

He called for improvement in the security situation in the state and assured the governor of the continued support of Ndigbo in Cross River State.

Also speaking, the Ezeigbo Calabar, Chief Emmanuel Ezenwanyi commended the governor for improving the security situation in the state particularly by minimizing the rate of kidnapping in the state, which affected the Igbo most.

He said that security is all the Igbo need and prosperity will only come about in secure environment.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NEWS

Anambra poll: IPOB takes credit for low voter turnout

• Thanks members, Biafrans for ‘boycotting’ election

Anambra 2017: Observers rate citizens high on political maturity, decorum

By THEO RAYS

From CHUKS COLLINS, Awka

“It is without a doubt that Biafrans in Anambra spoke loudly and unequivocally that we as IPOB under the leadership of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have no more portion in the contraption called the zoological Republic of Nigeria.

With that singular act of 18th November 2017, we have said to your tents all the nations that were forcibly compelled into the fraud of a country where truth is anathema and falsehood is celebrated.

“Even with pictorial evidence of empty polling units and despite the true facts recorded by international observers, the Nigerian corrupt agency called INEC whose only term of reference is to ensure that elections are manipulated as best as possible shamelessly announced a winner in an election for which more than 2,600,000 (two million six hundred thousand) people were registered to vote but saw less than 10000 (yes ten thousand) votes cast of which majority of these 10,000 are the relatives and hangers-on of the candidates, with

T

he Directorate of State (DoS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended members of the pro- Biafra group in Anambra State for complying with directives of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to boycott the November 18, governorship election in Anambra State.

The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the head of DoS Mazi Chike Edoziem, a copy of which The Oracle Today obtained in Onitsha.

The statement read in part: “The DoS do hereby express its profound gratitude to the entire family of IPOB worldwide and to Biafrans in Biafraland and in Anambra State in particular for the discipline which we all exhibited on the 18th of November 2017 through our adherence to the command of our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by boycotting the just concluded fraud of an election in Anambra State.

the rest being those that mortgaged the future of their children for a mess of porridge.

“Despite the antics of our internal detractors and in spite of the huge war chest at the disposal of our enemies, the IPOB under the leadership of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu achieved more than 95% boycott of the November 18th election. The false and fake result announced by INEC and being peddled by the compromised Nigerian gutter media is true to form because the Nigerian establishment do not want to accept the resounding defeat handed down to them

by IPOB as a result of the boycott of the election but we shall expose them “We are aware that the Nigerian government in a meeting it held with party chieftains and their candidates in the Anambra election has decided to offset the cost of their electioneering expenses in exchange of accepting the result announced by INEC. But the truth cannot be hidden for too long as

there are already dissenting voices from the ranks of the political party as epitomized by the rejection of the INEC announced result by the candidate for the PDP. Biafrans should rest assured that we the Indigenous People of Biafra shall expose the fraudulent INEC result for what it is and the Nigerian establishment and media of liars for what they are.

“It, therefore, follows that taking cognizance of the overwhelming and unassailable boycott of the election we urge the international community through the United Nations to as a matter of urgency set a date for a referendum in Biafraland so that the more than 95% of Biafrans in Anambra state who have unequivocally expressed their repugnance to the Nigerian commercial enterprise together with the rest of Biafrans both in Biafraland and in the Diaspora are afforded the right and opportunity to determine their future, that of their children and generations unborn.”

Abia tired of unserious investors – Commissioner From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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bia State government says it is ready to do business only with potential investors who deliver according agreements.

Newly sworn-in Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, made this known in his office while receiving the Management of Checkbest Nigeria Ltd, a private investment company developing the Etche Road Shopping Mall in Aba. Kalu said the state is tired of dealing with investors who, after attracting commitment from the State and signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would disappear from the project site and the State entirely.

The Commissioner noted that Abia has become an investment haven in the South East following the development strides of Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.

He also pointed out that the promotion of Made-in-Aba products, which has placed Abia on the global economic and industrial map, has created many investment opportunities in the state.

The Commissioner assured the firm of government’s support by providing enabling environment, security and road infrastructure that would ease movement of customers from neighboring states to the Shopping Mall and charged the firm to deliver on time.

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Checkbest Nigeria Ltd, Mr Chidozie Njoku, pledged on behalf of the company to deliver the project

by July next year to enable those who have subscribed for shops to move into their shops.

He told the Commissioner that the firm would be moving to site this Friday to commence construction work, adding that fund for the project has been mobilized.

•

Ikpeazu’s motherin-law for burial Thursday

Barrister &Mrs. Efobi with their child

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

Couple thanks God for giving them child after 13 years of marriage • Dedicates new born baby girl • Names her Chimfulumnanya (God loves) • Our faith has saved us - father

By IBE NWABUCHUKWU

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t was all smiles and praises to God for the Efobi royal family of Abatete community in Idemili North local Government Area of Anambra state penultimate Sunday as Barrister Maurice Efobi and his wife, Ogechi dedicated their newly born baby girl, Christabel Chimfulumnanya (God loves me) Efobi at the St Charles Borromeo Catholic Chaplaincy, Onitsha.

Barrister Efobi is a legal practitioner based in Nkpor, while his wife Ogechi is a teacher at Marist Brothers Group of Schools, Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

He is also a cousin to the incumbent traditional ruler of Abatete, Igwe Chinyelugo Emeka Efobi.

The baby was delivered on August 2, this year, after 13 years of marriage.

The dedication attracted dignitaries from all works of life, including promi-

nent members of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), such as Barrister Ben Okoko, immediate past chairman of NBA, Idemili branch and a representative of NBA national executive; Barrister Austin Enendu, immediate past chairman of Ekwusigo local Government council; Barrister Chike Okoye, Secretary of NBA, Idemili branch; the Osanakpo family of Kate Associated Beauty Products Limited; Chief B.O.B. Ugonabo of the Bonalux Paints, Nkpor, among others.

In his homily at the dedication Mass, the Parish Priest in-charge of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Boniface Okafor described children as blessings from God. He, therefore, urged parents to always endeavour to bring their children up in the fear of the lord.

In his remarks, Barrister Efobi thanked God for the special gift and for giving them the patience through-

T

HE high sense of decorum and maturity exhibited by Anambra citizens during the just-concluded governorship election, amidst very tight security, has received kudos from elections observers In a preliminary statement on their observations on the conduct of security personnel during the election, presented by a Security Research and Advocacy Group, Centre for Law Enforcement Education in Nigeria (CLEEN), the group’s Assistant Programme Manager, Public Safety and Security, Mrs Chigozirim Okoro revealed that they observed the election with specific focus on the security dimensions, noting that robust plans were developed by the security agencies before, during and after the election.

The report noted that major observations include sustained visibility policing on ground, air and waterways, prompt arrival of Security personnel, sufficient demonstration of neutrality and impartiality by the security agents and their prompt response to events that could mar the process as well as cordial inter-agency collaboration.

It, however, observed high level of votes trading by some political parties during the exercise.

While advocating that collaboration between security agencies be sustained and improved upon, the report urged the media and civil society organizations to deepen public enlightenment on the dangers of votes trading and harped on the need for security agencies to evolve and fine-tune right-sized deployment of its personnel to improve election security.

Chairman, Anambra Civil Society Network, Prince Chris Azor while aligning his organization with the findings of the group, expressed the hope that the report would yield far-reaching strategies that would be deployed in ensuring that security agencies effectively play their role in future elections in the country.

out a period of 13 years of childless marriage.

According to Efobi: “It is not by our power but by His Grace that we were able to achieve the patience and perseverance. My advice to all married couples seeking fruit of the womb is that they should be prayerful and trust in God. They should remove from themselves worries and quarrels because if they worry or quarrel, they will remove the physical and biological contributions to procreation and it also makes them lose faith in God.” “My wife and I never stopped having faith for one day because I knew that somehow, someday, we will smile and it has come to pass. Therefore, I should say that our faith has really saved us”.

Highlight of the occasion was lavish entertainment of the guests by the couple.

M

adam Jemimah Nwachi Nwakanma (nee Nwachukwu) of Umuorji Ohanze in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, the mother-in-law of the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, who died at 87 on October 1, 2017, will be buried on Thursday, November 23.

A statement by deceased’s son and a former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma, said a service of songs in honour of his late mother would hold at her residence at Umuorji Ohanze by 3.00 pm today.

Funeral service for the late Jemimah, according to Nwakanma, would be conducted by the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Ohanze Primary School Obingwa on Thursday, after which her remains would be interred at the country home of Late Elder Sunday Nwakanma.

The late Jemimah Nwakanma was born on May 20, 1930, and until her death, was a registered nurse and midwife as well as the proprietor of Nkechi Maternity Clinic, Ohanze Obingwa.

She is survived by many children, grand-children and great-grandchildren, including Nkechi, the governor’s wife.

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NPO Proscribes Beat Associations

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he Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) , comprising the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), has viewed with concern, the continued proliferation of Beat associations across the industry.

This development constitutes a drawback on the laudable objective of media houses deploying reporters to such outlets, the essence of which is to enhance efficient and independent gathering of news.

The essence of reporters on those beats is to strenghten the operations of the media in its quest to deepen journalism and raise an army of a well informed and enlightened citizenry and actualise its constititutional responsibility of holding the government accountable to the people at all times, through well informed news and commentaries.

No where in their mandate, are they expected to form any association outside their recognised professional body, the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

The proliferation of Beat associations, is not only corrosive of the esteemed journalism profession but also capable of lowering ethical and moral standards as well as the quality of reportage, if unchecked. They are now to cease and desist from engaging journalists in such untoward conduct.

Signed for the NPO Feyi Smith EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORS' ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NEWS

Ambazonia Crisis: C’ River questions FG, UN’s reactionary approach From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar

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nknown to most Nigerians, while the country rolled out the drums to mark its 57th independence anniversary from Britain, people of English-spesking Southern Cameroon also announced their independence from the French-speaking North and declared an independent Republic of Ambazonia.

Their aspiration has, however, remained a stillbirth as the Cameroonian authorities have violently squelched the independence bid.

Following the October 1st declaration, the humanitarian crisis this has created has had ripple effects on the government and people of Cross River State and the State government has on various occasions expressed displeasure at the management of the crisis by the government of Cameroon on one hand and the United Nations on the other.

The governor’s displeasure boiled over recently in Calabar when a United Nations delegation visited him to intimate him of the crisis in Southern Cameroons. The team which was led by Antonio Canhandula the UN Country Representative for Nigeria and ECOWAS High Commission for Refugees was accompanied by the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Sadiya Umar Farouq.

Describing the efforts of the federal government and the United Nations as a colossal failure and reactionary, the governor wondered why the government of Cameroon would close the international borders against the Anglophones Cameroonians, a criminal offence, which ought to be properly addressed but is not.

“You cannot watch the dislocation of family structures and all you do is rush with food to the corridors

and create squatters and camps for them and you think you are UNITED nations. You have failed. What is united about that? There is nothing united, if we are indeed United Nations, the issue in Cameroon should be at the forefront of the UN today.

“Any form of relocation of a people, no matter how temporary is a failure of the world to address the issues that border on humanity and I think the UN must take this message very clearly that it has gotten too involved in the politics of redistribution of wealth and has forgotten its essence which is peace, unity and love.

“Today, the Cameroonian international borders are all sealed against the Anglophone Cameroonians and the UN is watching and coming with food that is not food.

That is poison because indeed you know their real trouble and the silence in you that you have done nothing today, just note that it will hunt you one day”, he said.

While recounting the impact of the crisis on the state, the governor disclosed that young people’s lives have been cut short; young kids do not go to school. The hospitals in the entire southern part of Cameroon have been shut down thereby exposing the people’s lives to danger.

Its impact in the state is enormous as about 2, 430 refugees are already in Cross River, which is an indication of near cataclysm, Ayade lamented, adding, however, that the State government is willing to partner with the federal government to bring succor in order to return the victims to their homes within the shortest possible time.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Farouq told the governor that the team was in the state to commend the state for hosting the refugees who sneaked into the state through Ikom and Amaga in Obudu as well as meet with the victims who were at the moment

being attended to through the distribution of relief materials.

The country representative on her part stressed that “the solutions to the crisis could not be offered by one person, hence we are here to offer our partnership towards resolving these problems.

We also have other UN agencies that have been accredited in your state; we will synergize with them to boost humanity care,” Speaking on the crisis in Calabar, the spokesperson of the Cameroonian indigenes in Calabar Michele Orock described what the Ambazonians are made to go through in Cameroon as nightmarish and sought the protection of the world particularly Nigeria.

“We hear of the killings of our siblings, and loved ones over the struggle to me ensure sovereignty of the Southern Cameroon. We detest Paul Biya’s action. We in the Diaspora will do all in our power to sustain the struggle,” she said.

CHANGE OF NAME

• Gov Nyesom Wike (3rd left) in a photograph with the members of the Okpo Club of Nigeria (Ikwerre Lawyers Worldwide) during their courtesy visit on Tuesday at the Government House Port Harcourt

Vice Presidency for South East will curb IPOB agitation – Gbenga Daniel From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

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eoples Democratic Party (PDP), national chairmanship aspirant, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), has contended that giving executive function to South East at the federal level, which has eluded the zone for 37 years, would help curb agitations by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other groups in the South East.

The former governor of Ogun State, in an interview in Umuahia, maintained that PDP’s current zoning of the presidency to the North and National Chairman to the South West, if complemented with Vice President to South East, would be a winning formula for the party in the 2019 general elections.

OGD was in Umuahia as part of his nation-wide campaign tour to canvass for votes of delegates to the forthcoming elective national convention of PDP slated for this December 9 in Abuja.

Fielding questions from newsmen after addressing party faithful at the St. Finbarr’s Road Secretariat, where he told them that he is the best man for the job, Daniel insisted that if the South East were serious about grabbing the Vice

Presidential position, the zone must not vote for aspirants from the South South at the PDP national convention.

“If we want to do proper balancing, South West has been president and is the current vice president in the ruling party. The last time that the South East tasted executive function was during the time of the late Dr Alex Ekwueme, from 19791983, which means that in the past 34 years, the South East has not been given any executive function in this country.

“Fair is fair. What we now need to do to arrest all the agitations – IPOB agitation, all manner of agitations, is to now, without any conditionality, bring the people of the South East back into the main stream by giving them executive function,” he said.

While addressing PDP faithful, he said: “Without taking anything away from the cordial relationship that exists between the South South and the South East, because these two regions were part of the Easter Region, so there is that affinity; but you must understand that in this particular thing that is coming, a vote for the chairmanship from the South West, is a vote for

executive position for the South East.

“The corollary is a vote for chairmanship from your neighbouring South South, is a rejection or indirect transfer of the executive position to the South West.”

He enjoined the delegates to take good decisions that would brighten the chances of the party in 2019, and promised to reposition the party by returning power to the people and restoring internal democracy, if elected.

He urged Abia delegates to take the “right decision” at the convention by voting for him.

Responding, Abia PDP chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, noted that the position of national chairman is for serious minds, adding that since it is zoned to the South, none of the aspirants should be pressured to step down for others.

Onuigbo warned against any form of impunity or imposition of candidates, canvassing for a level playing ground for all contestants.

“Abia people are dependable allies. We are with you. God knows who will be the National Chairman.

If we get it right now, the party will clinch the Presidency come 2019,” Onuigbo said.

I formerly known as OKAFOR NWABUEZE JOSEPH now wish to be known as EZEMUO NWABUEZE JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

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I formerly known as ELUJEKWU UCHENNA M now wish to be known as MARTIN UCHECHUKWU UCHENDU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

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I formerly known as BLESSING OLOKOAMAOFORI WEST now wish to be known as BLESSING DIKIYE WEST. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as UZOR PRISCA CHINASA and OKECHUKWU FAUSTINA NWANJA now wish to be known as OKECHUKWUNWANJA FAUSTINA NNENNAYA. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as TOCHUKWU OKORIE now wish to be known as SIMON OKWUDIRI NWALI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

This is to certify that ONYEMENAM FRANCISCA PHILIPS and FRANCISCA NDUDI ONYEMENAM refers to one and same person now wish to be known as FRANCISCA NDUDI ONYEMENAM. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as OGOCHUKWU MARYANN OBIEFUNA now wish to be known as OGOCHUKWU MARYJANE OBIEFUNA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

I formerly known as MISS CHIGBUNDU AKUNNA VICTORIA now wish to be known as MRS SILAS AKUNNA VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. Banks, Abia state universal basic education board (ASUBEB) and general public take note

I formerly known as ONUOHA IJEMOA LILIAN and ONUOHA IJEOMA LINDA now wish to be known as MRS ANYAKOHA IJEOMA LILIAN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

This is to certify that LINUS CHIBUOKE UDEJI and LINUS.C.UDEJI is one and same person now wish to be known as LINUS CHIJIOKE UDEJI, Born on 27TH NOVEMBER 1975. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note

See more Change of names on page 41

9

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

POLITICS

W

ITH the declaration of the winner by the Chief Returning Officer, Professor Zana Akpagu of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at about 7.30pm on Sunday, a formal closure was brought to the keenly contested Anambra State government election, which held throughout the state last Saturday, November 18.

Announcing the results, Professor Akpagu, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, said incumbent Governor Willie Obiano won the election with 234, 071 votes to beat other contestants and clinch a second four-year term as governor of Anambra State.

To political watchers, the victory of the incumbent governor didn’t come as a surprise as there were many factors that worked in his favour at the polls.

According to analysts, the factors that worked in Obiano’s favour include his party APGA, which has been in power for 11 years in the State, the legacies of the late Biafran leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu who is regarded as the leader of APGA, the interest of the people in zoning and his impact on security of lives and property in the State.

Prior to the election, relevant stakeholders such as the traditional rulers and other community leaders, town unions, women leaders, market leaders, church leaders and notable businessmen had indicated their support for Obiano’s re-election following his impact on security of lives and property in the State. They believed that Obiano’s second term would see him consolidate on adequate security of lives and property in the State.

A wealthy businessman and industrialist from Anambra Central Senatorial District, who did not want his name in print told The Oracle Today that he, along with his family members and workers, would vote for Obiano because he drove away kidnappers and armed robbers from the State.

“I will vote for Obiano along with everybody around me, my children and my workers, if not for any other reason but Security,” he added These stakeholders who are traditionally the king makers in the State, considering their influence on the affairs of the people gave further reasons for supporting Obiano to include the survival of APGA as a political party to protect the interest of Ndigbo as, according to them, “APGA would be as bad as a dead party if Obiano loses the election”.

They were also of the view that the victory of either APC or PDP would bear negative impact on the legacies of the late Igbo leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

At a rally organised by traders in the State under the umbrella of Amalgamated Market Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS) inside the football pitch at Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium in Onitsha, the traders led by Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo made it clear that one of the reasons why they wanted to return Obiano was to make sure that APGA, regarded as one of the political legacies of the late Igbo leader Ikemba Nnewi, Odumegwu Ojukwu remains alive and kicking.

“We cannot fold our hands and allow the political party left for us by our leader suffer defeat and possible death in the hands of other political parties that have failed to protect our interest,” Ezenwankwo said.

Another point on which stakeholders hung their support is zoning. They argued contentiously that zoning would certainly take a balanced shape if Obiano is allowed to complete a second term for Anambra North Senatorial District because bringing in a fresh person from Anambra North, who might be interested to rule for eight years in addition to four years already spent by Obiano is not good for zoning in the State.

It was reported before the election that key stakeholders of Anambra North and Anambra South Senatorial District reached

Colour of Abia el-Rufai pursuing politics: PDP ‘implosion’, Islamic agenda APC’s gain?’ – Cardinal Okogie Pg 13

Pg 16

Anambra Poll: Factors that swung the pendulum Obiano’s way THEO RAYS reviews the just-concluded Anambra-State governorship election and explains why the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano secured a second term with a landslide. agreement that the South would support Obiano’s second term so that when his second tenure expires, the governorship seat would go to the South. The said agreement facilitated the victory of Obiano in major parts of the South such as Aguata, Orumba North and South as well as Nnewi North and South Local Government Areas.

A chieftain of APGA in Aguata, who is also the Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Market AfAf fairs, Chef Emma Ozoemena told The Oracle Today before the election that the people of Old Aguata, comprising three local government areas namely Aguata, Orumba North and South respectively threw their weight behind Obiano’s second tenure because it is clearly the turn of Anambra South to produce the governor after the north, based on the fact that the Central has taken its turn through two former Governors: Peter Obi and Chris Ngige who served for eight years and three years respectively.

Besides the aforementioned factors, there were more factors that worked in favour of Obiano. First was the failure of the leaders of the PDP to resolve the crisis that characterised the primary election of the party ahead of the election. Notable chieftains of the party alleged gross irregularities in the process through which Obaze was elected as the flag bearer of the party and efforts to make them put aside their grievances and support Obaze failed.

They alleged that Obaze was imposed on them and consequently absconded from PDP and threw their weight behind Obiano. Among those include Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Senator Stella Oduah, former State Chairman of the party Prince Ken Emeakai, Prince John Emeka and many others. Ifeanyi Uba and Ukachukwu openly campaigned for Obiano’s re-election in Nnewi North and South respectively.

Secondly, there were rumours that Obiano’s main challengers such as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Tony Nwoye and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Henry Oseloka Obaze suffered from unresolved intra-party squabbles orchestrated by personal

interests of party leaders in the 2019 general election.

A competent source confided in The Oracle Today that an APC sitting governor, among other chieftains of the party, who are interested in running for Vice President in 2019, vowed not to see the victory of Nwoye at the polls as, according to them, a governor Nwoye might drag the Vice President position with them and even beat them to it considering the fact that

he defeated the almighty Senator Andy Uba to clinch the APC ticket for the Anambra Poll.

According to the source, the governor and the chieftains of the party who have set their eyes on Vice President in 2019 ensured that Nwoye didn’t receive adequate financial support from APC bigwigs, including governors on the platform of the party who came twice to campaign for him both in Onitsha during his campaign flag-off and in Awka the State capital during his campaign grand finale.

In PDP it was also reported that the same force of 2019 interest worked against the candidate of the party Mr Henry Oseloka Obaze.

A source from the PDP close to The Oracle Today revealed that a leading figure in PDP who is also interested in Vice President in 2019 vowed to block Obaze from entering Government House in Awka because it will give his rival from Anambra an upper hand in 2019.

According the source, the PDP leading figure was duly invited to attend both Obaze’s campaign flagoff in Onitsha and the grand finale also held in Onitsha but he didn’t attend any. And not only that he didn’t attend, he made sure that the governor of his State and some other chieftains of the party neither attended nor supported Obaze in any form. That is politics for you.

With his victory Obiano remains the Chief Executive Officer of Anambra till 2023.

10

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

POLITICS

• Willie Obiano (APGA)

C

hief Willie Obiano, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate and incumbent governor of the State may have won the recently concluded Anambra governorship election, but memories of the election would remain fresh in the minds of the people of Anambra State for some time to come. Reason: it was, to begin with, a keenly contested election. Indeed, there is no doubt that Chief Willie Obiano fought the fiercest battle of his entire short but eventful political life.

To win, Obiano had to contend with the forces controlled by the movers and shakers in Anambra, a State immensely blessed with a high number of rich and influential individuals. First, the governor had to contend with his estranged benefactor, Mr. Peter Obi, a highly-regarded former governor of the State and predecessor who pitched tent with his party, the PDP candidate for the election, in the person of Mr. Oseloka Obaze.

There was also the federal might to contend with by the governor, as the APC flag bearer Chief Tony Nwoye who came second at the end of ‘hostilities’, was backed by business mogul Engr.

Arthur Eze who ensured funds were made available for the oiling of the APC machinery throughout the period of electioneering campaign and the actual polls.

The APC made life unbearable for the APGA as the party matched the ruling party Naira for Naira, Dollar for Dollar and the rest. To make matters worse for the governor, his security details were withdrawn 72 hours to the polls on the order of the DIG before it they later reinstated when President Buhari intervened on the matter.

Before the Nov 18 polls, members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had issued a stern warning, calling on Anambraians to boycott the elections.

Though that call was partially obeyed by the electorate, as there was a general low turn out of voters in the urban cities, the rural communities experienced a large turnout of voters.

On Friday, November 17, a day to the election, Obiano had declared a public holiday in the State to enable civil servants and other categories of indigenes and non-indigenes alike travel back to their constituencies or wherever they registered for the voting in order to beat the restriction on the Election Day. As such, there was a high rate of movement mostly by Civil servants in the State who travelled home to their various villages to exercise their civic duties. Major motor parks across the city were busy that day. The IPOB threat of boycott of the election combined with the deployment of over 25,000 Police person to Anambra State, by the Police high command in Abuja, heightened tension across the State but, in the end, polling took place smoothly and peace-

• Tony Nwoye (APC)

• Oseloka Obaze (PDP)

• Osita Chidoka (UPP)

Anambra governorship election: Matters arising OLIVER UDEOGU, who covered the Anambra governorship election in and around Onitsha, the commercial city on the Niger, writes that even with a landslide victory, Governor Willie Obiano is wont to accept that the election was keenly contested, with his opponents giving him the fiercest political battle of his career yet. fully everywhere in the State, except for a few, isolated incidents of electoral malpractice.

At a polling centre in Inland Town Onitsha, fr instance, some thugs came in a vehicle and shot in the air, before taking away some ballot boxes from the polling centre, leaving people to scamper for safety. In a twinkle of an eye, the polling centre was deserted except for some policemen who stayed back and had to reinforce.

But, in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the State generally, there was noticeable voter apathy. Most of the polling units and centres visited by this reported witnessed low voter turnouts as people stayed in their homes while others were seen drinking at pubs, obviously attaching little or no importance to the ongoing exercise.

The streets of Feggae, Awada, 33, G.R.A, were deserted as only a handful of voters were seen at these vicinities trying to cast their votes. Some would cast and leave for home immediately because of fear of the unknown, which gripped the entire State following IPOB call for the boycott of the polls.

But, post-election Anambra has become even more peaceful what with APC’s Dr. Nwoye announcing he will not challenge the election verdict in court.

Earlier, an aggrieved Nwoye, during the polls at his hometown Nsugbe, in Anambra East Local Council, had told newsmen in an interview that he had lost confidence in the entire process because, according to him, the APGAled government of Chief Obiano was using the levers of power to intimidate Nwoye’s supporters.

Nwoye, who cast his vote at around 11.05, said he was compelled to cry out because security agents had detained the State chairman of the APC for over 10 hours on Saturday for the simple reason that they found APC posters and stickers in the party chairman’s car. The

APC governorship candidate wondered when that had become an offence in the country.

On the other hand, the PDP accused APGA and the APC of vote-buying at the polling centres, an action the party said contravened the Electoral Act. Mr. Obaze, who has also congratulated Obaino on his victory had, earlier in a statement, contended that the results released by INEC, which showed that Obiano had won, “do not reflect the realities of the votes cast on 18 November by the Anambra electorate.”

“The over-voting and inconsistencies between the counted ballots and card reader data remain exceedingly worrisome,” he noted, adding that “the uniformity of the incumbent governor wining 21 local governments is an aberration in the context of Anambra politics.”

“The election results as reported, show that nothing matters to the Anambra electorate. (However) the people have spoken. They have taken a cursory long-term view of what they wish for Anambra State,” Obazed stressed.

Many had interpreted the statement to mean that Obaze did not accept the results of the election as declared by INEC. But, while there were still speculations as to his next line of action, the OHO Campaign Organisation issued a statement signed by Obaze congratulating Obiano on his victory.

According to the statement tilted Remarks by Mr. Oseloka H. Obaze, PDP governorship candidate congratulating H. E. Gov Willie M. Obiano on winning the 18 November, 2017 governorship election in Anambra State and paying tribute to Dr. Alex Ekwueme, at Awka, 20 November 2017, Obaze declared: …“I wish to congratulate HE Gov. Willie M. Obiano and his running mate Dr. Nkem Okeke on their victory in the 18 November election. I wish both of them well.

“I salute my other fellow contestants for their valiant efforts and the decorum during the campaigning. Thank you for promoting peace.

“Before now, I had expressed concerns about the contradictory variables that led to the electoral outcome. In that context, INEC needs to undertake an introspective reappraisal of its in-house processes, more so those relating to its ICT operations.

“Beyond these remarks, I have closed the chapter on this particular election.

We must now move on and return to the task of promoting good governance and the wellbeing of Anambra people.

“I salute my wife and children, my personal and campaign staff, our National and State party leadership, especially the PDP governors for their support.

God bless them all.

“I thank, in a very special way, former Gov. Peter Obi and his dear wife Margaret Obi for their unfettered support.

I also thank my running mate Lady Chidi Onyemelukwe and her husband Okey Onyemelukwe for their joint role, warmth and added value to our efforts.

“Finally, and on a sad note, I close by paying tribute to a father figure, my father’s friend, my mentor and the father of my running mate, Dr. Alex Ifeanyi Ekwueme, who passed on last night.

May his soul find eternal rest, and may his family, friends and Nigeria find the fortitude to bear this huge loss.

“Thank you and God bless us, bless Anambra and bless Nigeria.”

Similarly, Chief Osita Chidoka of the United Progressive Party (UPP) has congratulated Governor Willie Obiano on his success at the polls.

After the final results were announced at the INEC State office Awka, jubilation erupted in most parts of the State as supporters of APGA thronged drinking joints where they had the best of time with friends and associates.

11

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

INTERVIEW

M

ore reactions have trailed last Saturday’s governorship election Anambra State with human rights and pro-democracy lawyers and groups commending the conduct of the exercise.

Incumbent Governor Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) recorded a landslide victory in the election. He polled 234, 071 valid votes to beat his closest rival Tony Nwoye of APC who polled 98, 752 and Henry Oseloka Obaze of the PDP with 70, 293 votes.

Human rights lawyer and chieftain of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ben Okoko in his reaction, described the Obiano’s victory as well deserved.

Okoko commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for creating a level playing ground for all the political parties in the governorship election, some reported cases technical hitches notwithstanding.

He also lauded security agencies for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere throughout the exercise and the electorate for defying all security threats, to come out and cast their votes. He, however, took note of the low voter turnout.

Okoko who spoke to newsmen in his law chambers at Nkpor during the week, contended that all the contestants are suitably qualified candidates, adding that they put up a very good fight but in a contest of many personalities, one of them must win.

“I am not a member of any political party and I don’t know Obiano in person but I think he has certain projects he started in his first tenure and needs to finish in his second tenure. He has done well in three key areas of security, street lighting and agriculture,” Okoko said.

“I had a harrowing experience a few years ago when my friend was kidnapped right in front of my office and I was involved in the negotiations for his release but right now, Obiano has restored security with intelligence. Obiano even promised to replace the sand dunes with CCT cameras and he has followed it up with street lighting project. So, it is good that he has now been allowed to consolidate on these projects so that others will come in and continue from where he stopped.”

In its own reaction, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), said the 2017 Anambra Governorship Election has been successfully contested, won and lost, adding, however, that lessons and challenges abound.

In press statement, its leader, Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi declared: “On the other hand, our organization, a major player in the 2017 Anambra Governorship pre- election advocacy, is happy to celebrate with all the stakeholders in the all important poll, especially the 448, 771 citizens that courageously came out and voted, not minding threats and counter threats from IPOB and security agencies.”

According to him, “defying such threats to come out to vote is democratically and eternally rewarding.”

“In the just concluded poll, out of total registered voters of 2, 158, 171, 448, 771 (21%) voted; 26, 457 were declared invalid and 422, 314 were declared valid votes cast. Out of this number, incumbent Governor William Obiano of APGA scored 234, 071 valid votes, followed by Anthony Nwoye of APC with 98, 752 and Henry Oseloka Obaze of the PDP with 70, 293 votes,” Umeagbalasi noted.

“Our special commendation must, again, go to the 448, 771 registered voters who came out and voted despite all odds including IPOB’s consistent threats of ‘vote and die’ against the State’s voting population as well as apprehensions and other forms of psychological insecurity generated by militarization of Anambra polity by Nigerian security agencies.

“The nonviolent nature of the poll is also commendable. In this respect, we must specifically commend the participating political parties, their faithful and the contestants including the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, Mr. William Mmaduabuchi Obiano as well as the candidates of PDP, Mr. Henry Obaze, APC, Mr. Anthony Nwoye and UPP, Mr. Osita Chidoka. Their peaceful conducts

‘Anambra 2017, a successful election by every account’ IBE NWACHUKWU who also covered the Anambra governorship election writes on the positive impression of individuals and groups of observers about the election.

•INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu during the electioneering and the election proper are a continuation of the culture of political non-violence, including politics of maturity and political tolerance, in Anambra State, which has held sway in the past 12 years.

“Our commendation also goes to the authorities of INEC and Anambra governorship security providers for the peaceful conduct of the poll including heeding and acting on our expert advice on poll security contained in our joint letter of 14th November 2017. The peaceful way and manner the security operatives conducted themselves especially on the day of election is strikingly commendable.

“We also observed dying minute efforts by security providers to correct blunders committed at the beginning, though such efforts were grossly belated and yielded little or no impact on already threatened and traumatized voting population.

“Roles played by the media and rights CSOs especially in the area of pre-election advocacy and sensitization must also not be forgotten. Engaging the contestants including the incumbent Governor and winner of the just conducted poll in issue-based campaigns and good governance scorecard remains award-winning on the part of the media and rights CSOs especially leaders of the Southeast based human rights and prodemocracy coalition (SBCHROs), online, audio and audio-visual managers within and beyond Anambra State.”

Tackling challenges affecting Anambra low voter turnout, InterSociety noted that but for the threats and counter security threats prior to the election, there would have been a remarkable increase in voter turnout in the just concluded poll.

However, as could be seen from the number of valid votes cast, more people voted for Obiano in the just concluded 2017 poll than in 2013, InterSociety further noted, adding that had there not been security threats, many independent and elite voters would have voted and “much less would have been spent in buying voters.”

The statistical breakdown above further

•Human rights lawyer, Ben Okoko

• Human rights lawyer lauds INEC, security agencies, electorate • Election was successfully contested, won and lost – INTERSOCIETY shows that more voters voted in the just concluded governorship poll of 2017 than that of 2013. For, whereas 448, 771 or 21% of registered voting population voted in 2017, 442, 254 or 25% of registered voting population voted in 2013. Also while Governor Obiano secured 180, 173 valid votes in 2013, he got as high as 234, 071 in the just concluded poll.

“Therefore, the best way to tackle incessancy of voter apathy or low turnout in Nigeria and Anambra State in particular is to liberalize or dualize Nigeria’s voting system by introducing and simplifying electronic voting to exist side by side with manual voting. If Nigeria’s private banking sector can successfully operate mobile or electronic banking, Nigeria can as well operate with ease electronic voting with its simplified methodologies,” Umeagbalasi contended.

“If electronic voting had been in place, the threat of ‘vote and die’ and its accompanied poor handling styles and associated blunders would have been drastically minimized.

Billions of naira expended in the so-called “poll security deployment” would, also, have been saved. Electronic voting, if put in place, will geometrically increase voter participation and number of registered voters voting in elections.”

“It will also drastically curb money politics and voter bribery and save billions of naira worth of public funds diverted for voter bribery by party candidates, especially the in-

cumbents,” the InterSociety boss surmised.

In a similar development, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Anambra chapter, has commended the improved performance of security agents and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observed during last Saturday’s governorship election.

Chairman of the Council, Chief Barth Igwedibia said in an interview Awka during the week that the exercise was peaceful due to the transparent conduct of the election by INEC and the absence of intimidation of political opponents by security agents.

He said that if both INEC and security agents could sustain the level of professionalism they exhibited in the conduct of Anambra election during general election 2019, the rating of Nigerian democracy would improve the more.

Igwedibia noted that the number of security personnel in each of the polling units and the presence of security at entry and exist points across the state was assuring.

He said that he was particularly impressed that there was no form of molestation of voters by any security personnel.

The IPAC chairman said he was equally impressed that the incumbent, Gov. Willie Obiano was re-elected, noting that his emergence showed that Anambra people wanted him back for another tenure.

“Before the Nov.18 governorship election, the position of IPAC in Anambra was that the best of the 37 candidates that contested the governorship position should emerge winner.

“We made it categorically clear that we had no preferred candidate, but want the best person whom the people of the state want to win.

“Since Gov. Obiano won the election, it is very clear that the people have spoken and as Chief Igwedibia, I congratulate the governor for a well-deserved victory and urge him to run an all-inclusive government “If Obiano should appoint people based on merit, irrespective of the party they come from, such maturity in governance will further advance development in Anambra State,’’ he said.

12

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

POLITICS

Tribute

Jonathan at 60: A statesman’s quiet entry into the Diamonds Club

By IKECHUKWU EZE

F

• Goodluck Jonathan

ORMER President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan clocked 60 on Monday, November 20, 2017. Many other politicians, especially those of his soaraway status, would have sought to bring down the sky, to loudly let the whole world know they have entered the Diamonds Club.

But, in his characteristic modesty and exceptional selfeffacing disposition, President Jonathan had resisted all en entreaties to mark this important milestone in a formal, not to say well advertised, ceremo ceremony. Quiet commemoration had always been his style until a successful foray into politics and national leader leadership peeled off his cover, like the proverbial gold fish.

On Monday November 20, the very day of his GoodDiamond Jubilee, Good luck Jonathan was in his country home in the sleepy, idyllic ambience of Otuoke, his village, in the wetlands of Bayelsa State, surrounded only by family members.

There might also have been a handful of close friends and wellwishers who personally called to offer their felicitations and prayers.

But that is as far as it went, as there were no formal dinners, banquets or spectacles linked to this event.

For him, the quiet time with family on his birthday, would always serve as a welcome break from the grind of an unending run of interna international engagements, as the world continues to seek his attention. For instance, in a time span of about a month, beginning from September this year, exPresident Jonathan had had a busy run, beginning from Malaysia where he delivered a keynote address at a World Peace Summit, and Greece where he served as a key panelist and main media attraction at the 2017 Rhodes Forum Dialogue of Civilisations; to South Africa where he moderated the main session at an education conference that brought together many former African heads of Gov Government. Two weeks ago, Jonathan was just getting ready to travel to Liberia as head of the National Democratic Institute Election Ob Observer Mission to the Presiden Presidential run-off when the supreme court of Liberia suspended the process.

There is no doubt that exPresident Jonathan is being courted and serenaded like an A-list celebrity by the rest of the World, ostensibly because of his great achievements and deep democracy footprints while in office, even if the story is different at home. If some Biblical verses equate the former President’s post office experience, they have to be those sections that dwell on how a prophet is without regard at home, and how the world did not understand the mission of Christ until they

hung Him on the Cross.

Since Jonathan left office on May 29, 2015, he has remained a hot item on the global invitation list, winning numerous awards, performing electoral duties and speaking at several high profile international events.

It appears an appreciative world can’t get enough of his aura and attractive narrative; that of people-centred governance and politics without bitterness; both rare commodities in African corridors of power.

No matter how some people may view his time as President, the truth is that the Nigerian political space may not remain the same for a very long time after the tenure of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Dr. Jonathan at 60 casts on the public space a bright ray of light that illuminates the dark recesses of the nation’s dirty and divisive politicking. It is an account of the life of a man who has been there, seen it all and done it all, and at the end of the day, gave it all up for the good of the country.

The former President is by all accounts, a child of destiny. This is because at 60, Jonathan’s leadership experience, political trajectory and record of achievements, uniquely surpasses that of any other political actor in Nigeria. He had uniquely been Deputy Governor, Acting Governor, Governor, Vice President, Acting President and President.

Amazingly, he wears no air of self-importance around him, despite his astounding and exceptional political odyssey. Goodluck Jonathan has remained enigmatically human and humble.

There is no doubt that Jonathan emerged from the crucible of Nigeria’s leadership pressure-cooker a better and stronger man.

In his wake, he left a united and peaceful country. Under his watch Nigerians remained happy, proud, united and prosperous, at least up to the time he left office.

After his record-breaking stint in governance and massive infrastructural development across the country, Jonathan’s engaging days in the Nigerian political space did not only positively impact the nation but also changed the narratives of politics in Africa.

He remains today the most adored and recognizable face of all the living African statesman; not just because of his exceptional accomplishments and the ease with which he gave up power, but also as a result of his rare candour and selflessness.

Today, without equivocation, he is seen all over Africa as the apostle of free and fair elections; the one who stripped a continent of that unprogressive affliction of a long-existing sit-tight syndrome. Even his traducers admit that it is a rare privilege for a past Commander-in- Chief and President of Nigeria, a nation hitherto reputed for flawed elections, to easily emerge as the toast of the international community, especially in the area of democracy and electoral reforms in Africa.

Never in the history of party politics in Nigeria had a level playing field been created by the main actors in a race in which they were involved! President Jonathan did that effortlessly by reforming the electoral system and ensuring that only those with proven competence served in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

I had pointed out in another piece that those who make light of Jonathan’s historic telephone call to concede the 2015 presidential election to his rival, President Muhammadu Buhari, even while the votes were still been counted, fail to realise the import of that gesture, in a clime where the roots of democracy are still very fragile. That conclusion, in my view and in the estimation of majority of Nigerians, remains the truth. President Muhammadu Buhari himself could not hide his joy when this happened.

In one of his numerous commendations of Jonathan’s rare gesture, he said: “What I will say is since the telephone call you made

you have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that you have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this system of multi party democracy system and you have earned the respect of not only Nigerians but world leaders.”

Early this month, the United Nations had commended Jonathan for the electoral reforms he initiated during his tenure, and for his good works towards promoting peace and stability in Africa.

Ambassador Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa who lead the UN delegation to solicit the former President’s support for the world body’s peace effort across Africa, also prayed that “the institutions Jonathan built and the high standards he established in organising credible and peaceful elections are maintained and sustained in Nigeria.”

Two years ago, just before Tanzania’s presidential election, The Guardian of Lusaka wrote a perceptive editorial, advising local politicians not to go below the standards already set by Jonathan. It said: “Jonathan’s voluntary handover of power to the opposition wrote a new chapter for Nigeria’s democracy, given the fact that it is rare for sitting presidents in Africa to hand over power to winning opposition parties.

“It must be said that Jonathan rewrote the narrative of Africa’s leadership struggles by selflessly handing over power to the opposition, despite obvious reasons for contestations, a road if taken would have not only prolonged the transition process, but would have also heightened the tension in the land.”

We must not lose sight of the essence of the foundation of our peace today and the new model of patriotism, which Jonathan symbolises. Nigeria must consolidate and imbibe this rare spirit of selflessness, tolerance and the love for a country, if our country is to make meaningful progress.

Jonathan emerged from the obscure village of Otuoke and beat all odds to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If anything, this shows the smile of the Almighty over a man is no respecter of tribe, background, time and space.

At 60, Jonathan’s life symbolizes the Nigerian dream. The echoes of the now iconic aphorism “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian,” backed by a rare courage in statesmanship, have become the clarion call for responsible citizenship and patriotism. That is the foundation that has made Jonathan a reference point for democracy and good governance; it is his legacy that will outlive all of us that witnessed this change.

More importantly, as he marks his birthday and the world continues to celebrate his legacies in style, it is expected that his example will stir up new passions amongst the younger generation; that a life of true sacrifice for the cause of the nation is worth it after all.

As the former President devotes his time and post-presidential life to inspiring more co-operation and commitment towards improving our societies, and making a change in the lives of the ordinary people in our various countries, through the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, there are obvious signs that forces out to extinguish the torch he lit, are at work. However, in the face of extreme provocation, he has remained incredibly calm and unfazed.

Despite the desperate efforts that feed into the plot to put the former President and his former appointees under unnecessary pressure, there is no doubt that history will be kind to him for all he has done to uplift the status of his country and people.

Eze is media adviser to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria (2010-2015)

13

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

POLITICS

Colour of Abia politics: PDP ‘implosion’, APC’s gain?

From Umuahia, BONIFACE OKORO writes on the political horse-trading, alignA ments and realignments going on in Abia State at the moment and the huge WONDERFUL event took place at the Wonderland Event Centre on a wonderful Sunday in Umuahia, the wonderful capital of God’s Own State of Abia.

The wonderful event was a rainbow coalition which saw, for the first time in the history of Abia politics, an amalgam of opposing political parties come together for a single objective, irrespective of party affiliation.

The precedence set by that gathering, was, however, nearly equalled by Ebonyi State governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, who looked beyond his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to crave for President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) to run for a second term.

At the Wonderland Event Centre gathering at the beginning of this month, November 5, to be precise, the rainbow coalition gave birth to a new group called Ndigbo for PMB 2019, with state officers and coordinators for the 17 local government areas instantly inaugurated. Membership of the group is drawn from PDP, APC, the All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA), among other political parties.

The sole objective of Ndigbo for PMB 2019 is to drum support for re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) in 2019.

The group’s National Coordinator is Prince Paul Ikonne, a former Commissioner for Lands in Abia State, while the Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, a PDP lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency and the first Speaker of the sixth Abia State House of Assembly, is the Chief Coordinator for Abia State.

Reports quoted Rt. Hon. Azubuike as saying, while inaugurating the Abia State and Local Government Executives of Ndigbo for PMB 2019, that the group has no political party identity but open to all.

He was quoted as further saying that Ndigbo needed to avoid the mistakes of 2015 by keying into the centre to enable the zone to receive its fair share of the national cake.

Rt. Hon. Azubuike, however, was quick to dispel the notion that he may have dumped his party, the PDP, but pointed out that the group was out to harvest Abia votes for Buhari.

On his part, Ikonne expressed optimism that the socalled “5 per cent votes” recorded by Buhari in 2015 would gain a quantum leap to 99.9 per cent.

The November 5 meeting took place at the height of rumours of impending implosion in PDP, Abia State chapter, following the unanticipated exit of a PDP member of the House of Representatives, Solomon Adaelu. Ugochukwu Allen swiftly followed Adaelu’s footsteps by defecting to APC, even though Adaelu is yet to publicly declare where he has pitched his tent.

The decision of the duo to quit PDP took many by surprise. Both are from Osisioma Local Government Area, a lucrative nest for politicians given its high voter population. At least, PDP had relied on votes from Osisioma and Obingwa to knock off the Alex Otti challenge during the 2015 cliff-hanger governor contest in 2015. The crux of the matter is that both are sons of PDP bigwigs and leaders of Ngwa political bloc.

Solomon Adaelu, currently a member of the House of Representatives representing Obingwa/ Osisioma/Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency in Abia State, is the scion of Chief Emma Adaelu, the undisputed political leader of the Ngwa who has championed the liberation of his people from perceived marginalization in Abia politics. He is also the Chairman of Aba State Movement, which is seeking the creation of Aba out of present day Abia.

Similarly, Ugochukwu is the son of Chief Allen Nwachukwu, erstwhile deputy Chairman of Abia PDP and another political backbone of the Ngwa. Sources alleged that the once rosy relationship between the elder Adaelu and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has grown cold following perceived political differences while Chief Allen Nwachukwu is said to be bitter with the governor for denying him the party chairmanship at the state level.

The departure of their sons from PDP, seen by many as kite flying, fuelled postulations that all is not well between their fathers and the governor. The bitterness of the Ngwa against their son seems to be on the rise.

Though Adaelu has issued a statement explaining why he dumped PDP, many believe 2019 tickets may be in issue.

Many who should know are keeping mum over these developments. Some who volunteered comments are rather reticent. Some reasons include alleged imperviousness of the governor to advice and refusal to take some critical actions. This is why many an Ngwa will tell you “we are just in government, but not in power.”

Others have gone to the extent of alluding that the governor was doing the third term of Chief T.A.Orji, his predecessor and their grouse is that the governor has not yet “liberated” himself from his godfather.

They have, therefore, threatened to leave the PDP en masse for, probably, the APC where they feel they could assert not only their powers but exercise their political freedom.

But, Chief Reagan Ufomba who recently decamped from APGA to PDP has punctured the accusation that Governor Ikpeazu does not take advice.

“Few have lamented that “Governor Okezie does not take advice, Ikpeazu does not listen,” and to others “he is irredeemable.”

fence-mending challenge there from for Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

• Okezie Ikpeazu “The Dr Okezie Ikpeazu I constructively engage is calm and receptive to noble and transformational ideas. He knows exactly where he is headed. With our collective support, crossing a few ‘Ts’ and dotting some ‘Is’, we shall get there. Let’s keep an open mind on Abia,” Ufomba said.

Early this November, Umuahia was awash with speculations that another House of Representative member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyåejeocha, was set to dump PDP for APC. The rumours had it that Onyejeocha was just bidding for time.

Baring his mind on the alleged impending PDP implosion, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Abia, Sir Don Ubani, urged the party hierarchy to take all necessary steps to avert such implosion from coming to pass, pointing out that PDP paid dearly for dismissing speculations that many bigwigs were set to dump the party in 2013.

In his November 7, 2017 statement titled “My Thoughts On Rumoured Implosion,” Sir Ubani wrote: “I am very passionate about PDP and, so, when I perceive any sign(s) that, out of experience, I think could harm the Party, I would always speak out.

“I am sure if politicians and aides who were close to former President Goodluck Jonathan had been frankly bold enough to advise him against printing only one presidential form and, by so doing, making himself the sole presidential candidate of the Party in 2015, the situation the Party is facing today would have been different.

“At worst, Jonathan would have lost the primary election but PDP could still have won the presidential election.

“The Abia political climate has, of late, been saturated with rumours of mass defection from PDP to APC. “In 2013, the speculation that many top wigs of PDP were planning to decamp to APC was visibly in the air. Out of a combination of arrogance and lack of political sagacity, that rumour was dismissed with a wave of the hand.

The end result was abysmal failure of the Party at the 2015 general election. We are still nursing our wounds.

“Since the conduct of December 2016 local government council elections in Abia State, the Party has not been the same.

“Many aspirants, who spent their hard earned money, in a terribly depressed economy, feel they were short changed in the primary elections conducted by the party.

“Having been convinced that the process was anything but transparent, they have not been happy with the party.

“A good number still believe that PDP has not done away with the leprosy of impunity that we avoidably ruined ourselves with in 2015.

“Between now and 11th of November this year, 11-11, a very strategic date for that matter, when it is speculated

many members of PDP in Abia State, including about four Members of the House of Representatives, would dump our party for APC, I humbly but vehemently suggest that a careful, honest, strong and effective reconciliation mechanism be put in place to, at least, reduce the number.

“Again and more importantly, while efforts are geared to woo new members to the party, honest efforts should also be made to make those who are still in the party more comfortable and happy.

“A situation where members of a ruling party in a state would, at best, be suffering and smiling in squalor and abject penury while very few close to the helmsman will be swimming in flagrant ostentation; buying the best of latest SUV cars, building hostels and lodges around university campuses and spending fortunes lecherously, can never guarantee a peaceful and sustainable political environment. We can still do something, not minding what sycophants would say.”

However, 11/11/17, the earlier proposed date for the APC mega rally when decampees from other parties would have been received into the party, which Ubani feared, has come and gone. The event was put forward to a yet-to-be announced date.

It was learnt that the Abia APC, in anticipation of plentiful harvest of defectors from PDP, had to postpone its November 11, 2017 planned Mega rally in Umuahia.

“We want to make a big statement with that rally,” Chief Donatus Nwankpa, chairman of Abia APC, boasted recently at the party secretariat.

“APC in Abia is growing in all ramifications in human indices as exemplified by the quality of human beings that are coming into the party. As I speak to you today, we are recording success in the present members of the state Assembly and National Assembly. Those who mock us that APC has no root in Abia will be shocked to the marrow. We are here to take over in 2019,” Nwankpa added.

Another APC giant, Amobi Ogah, echoed similar sentiment when he hosted APC stakeholders in Isuikwuato in his Uturu country home recently.

Chief Amobi assured the party faithful that APC will take over Abia Government House come 2019.

Currently, the Abia political horizon appears blurred, beyond prediction. While many are said to be leaving PDP and others are waiting on the wings of time, many political heavy weights from the opposition are equally returning to PDP. At the last count, Chief Reagan Ufomba, APGA governorship candidate in 2011, Chief Damian Ozurumba, an Ngwa political warhorse and Emmanuel Ibegbulam, an influential Isuikwuato politician are back to the PDP fold, with their numerous supporters.

It is believed that Ikpeazu is also not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that the PDP family remains intact and united. He is said to have visited Chief Emma Adaelu on a face-mending mission and recently travelled to Niger State with Chief Allen Nwachukwu. He is also working closely with youth and student groups in the state, ostensibly courting their support for 2019.

While PDP and APC are locked in their game of wits, APGA has dismissed both parties as mere paper weight.

APGA chairman in Abia, Reverend Augustine Ehimere, maintains that APC cannot win election in Abia while PDP is dying every day.

Speaking at Umuahia North office of APGA recently, Ehiemere noted that many people from the South East have lost their sympathy for APC following the crackdown on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the federal government through its Python Dance II operation.

“A large number of South Easterners have lost faith in APC because of the way the issue was handled, based on that ‘APC will not get votes in Abia State come 2019,” he said.

In the same vein, Reverend Ehimere accused the PDP-led government in Abia of being “the most confused, visionless and directionless,” emphasizing that “the government does not care about the suffering of Abians which is the reason why civil servants are not paid salaries for months.”

He maintained that APGA faithful would remain in the party to salvage Abia.

A political analyst, Chima Uzokwe, after taking a cursory look at the current political landscape and scenario in Abia, concluded that nothing much would change in 2019.

“The movements you are seeing are along the same curve,” he said. “It is engineered by people seeking relevance and space. These are people looking for opportunities, which their present parties could not afford them.

They are not changed people, so to speak. What will interest Abians are systems that would bring development, not opportunities for personal aggrandizement.”

What remains clear at the moment is that the road to 2019 is still long and no one could, with certainty, predict what will happen in the end.

14

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

BOLD & BLUNT TRIBUTES:

Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON (October 21, 1932 – November 19, 2017) At about 10 pm on Sunday, November 19, the great nationalist and unifier, a quintessential democrat who invested so much energy, time, money and intellect in efforts to make Nigeria a functional democratic country, Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (Ide Aguata), passed on in a London hospital. He was aged 85. Since then, encomiums have poured in, many of them deeply felt, for the last of the truly democratic Nigerian, who believed in the unity of Nigeria but one in which equity, justice and fairness reigned supreme.

These reports summarise the life and times of a man who will be sorely missed by all and sundry who believe that Nigeria will become a great country only when true patriots, those in deeds, words and relationships demonstrate indubitable love of country.

From BONIFACE OKORO (Umuahia), CHUKS EZE (Enugu), NATH OMAME (Port Harcourt), EMMANUEL OGOIGBE (Warri), TONY AILEMEN (Abuja), JONATHAN AWANYA AWANYAI (Asaba) and COLLINS UGHALAA (Owerri).

T

ribute by Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga, Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, younger politician but close friend of the late Dr. Ekwueme’s: Join me in mourning the transition to life after life of Dr Alex Ekwueme, Ide Okoh in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The passing of Alex focuses the mind on Prof Ben Nwabueze as the last man standing in a lineage of Igbo gods, beginning from Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, who combine tremen tremendous learning with tremendous love of the Igbo people, coupled with sagacity, erudition courage, charisma, great wealth and credibility more than substantial follower followership. Renaissance man properly so-called.

That’s how I addressed Alex in a paid newspaper advert to commemorate his birthday in Year 2002.

I enjoyed close and warm relationship with Alex Ekwueme but the longest time I had the privilege of his company was in India in the course of an in international conference on federalism. I had a long drive with him over several hours to the historic site of taj mahal. He paid for the ride and for the food and the beer we drank. In the course of the trip, we dis discussed Nigeria and he told me that after independ independence, the imminence of national crisis was evident and that accounted for why more of his investments were in Port Harcourt than Lagos.

He told me his views on Olusegun Obasanjo, Okwy Nwodo and how surprised he was that (Francis) Ellah, his bosom friend also ran for the presidency with him. He admitted the role that Okechukwu Ikejiani played in his life as revealed to me by Arthur nwankwo He mentioned his role in the appointment of Igbo persons from Rivers and Asaba area as ministers under Shehu Shagari. We discussed several other issues that convinced me further that his mind was very quick and of tremendous depth.

At the end of our tour of the taj mahal, he bought a sculpture of special (material) and paid for its shipment to his wife in ikoyi. When I asked him whether the Indians woul keep faith, he nodded and they did as he confirmed to me in a subsequent meeting in Nigeria.

Earlier, I had, an the conference, met an envoy from South Sudan who told

me that Alex was making substantial contribution to the independence struggle of the people of South Sudan.

Once when he was forming the PDP, I was in a large meeting with him at Eko L’Meridian Hotel in Lagos when Abacha ‘s forces stormed the hotel. Uche Ezechukwu was there also. Everybody in the meeting ran away, some through the window, except Alex Ekwueme who remained on his table, a solitary figure of defiance and courage.

Goodluck Jonathan may not have lost the presidency if he had acted decisively in a direction on a matter as Alex Ekwueme urged. Now the great man has returned to his creator and we gaze heaven ward for another star!! May the soul of the valiant soldier of Christ rest in peace amen.

Azubuko Joel Udah, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Rtd), lawyer and politician For Udah, Ekwueme would have laid a good foundation for Nigeria if he was made President of Nigeria in 1979.

“A big Iroko tree has fallen in Igbo land,” he said, describing Ekwueme as a very wise man. “It’s a very big loss to Ndigbo,” he stressed.

Udah added that Ekwueme was a very big Igbo leader, who chaired very important Boards that saw to it that Nigeria was properly reintegrated as a nation.

“You can remember that this six geopolitical arrangement in Nigeria today was his brainchild. He was the one who created the six geopolitical zones; the only thing we were waiting for was for it to be put in the constitution but it was already being used as an operational tool.

“He was not only an architect, he was a historian, a political scientist, a lawyer--so many things rolled into one.

“Dying at the age of 85, we would have liked him to live more. There are elder statesmen like Mugabe who is 93, but we cannot question God. He left a lot of legacies that the Igbo, who love themselves should emulate.

“Apart from the political zones, he was the chairman of those who formed the PDP in those days. He was even touted to be the Presidential candidate but all of a sudden, the whole thing was truncated. Perhaps, if that thing had happened, we would have had a better foundation, a better leadership.

“But, there is nothing we can do about the way God has taken him. He was a fulfilled person and we thank God for his life. He should be imortalised in so many ways by the Nigerian government because he is a national hero.

“We hope he will be properly honoured. He did a lot for the unity and oneness of Nigeria.”

His Royal Majesty, Eze Uwadiegwu Ogbonnaya, tradional ruler of Umuanyi Autonomous Comunity in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State: Eze Ogbonnaya said the news of Ekweme’s death hit him like a thunderbolt.

He described Ekwueme as a great hero, an accomplished professional who recorded great political exploits and prayed the heavens to receive his soul.

Said the veteran journalist turned king: “Ekwueme dying at 85, cannot be said to have died early. In fact, he accomplished everything God prepared him for in life. He came from the Ekwueme royal family of Oko. “He made his mark, both in his profession as an architect, and in politics. So far, he is the highest Igbo man to have at-

15

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

BOLD & BLUNT

•From right: Donald Duke, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa and Prof. Wole Soyinka tained any political position in Nigeria since 1970 and it is on record that he is the first Nigerian architect.

“He qualified as far back as 1967 in London that is 50 years ago, at the age of 26.

With his privileged background, he was a product of Kings College Lagos.

“He reached his climax in 1979 at the age of 48, when he got elected as the Vice President of Nigeria and he was very loyal to Shagari throughout their first term and the second one, until the military truncated their second tenure.

“In his hometown, Oko, he established the School of Arts and Science in Oko which Jim Nwobodo, elevated to a Polytechnic, Anambra State Polytechnic, during the second republic.

“And during the tenure of Prof. Ben Nwabueze, that was when the federal government took it over. The impact of that

polytechnic has been felt just as the Igbo have felt the impact of IMT, Enugu.

“Ekwueme did much both for Nigeria and Ndigbo. I wish other Igbo and Nigerian politicians would learn to serve like that.

He was a great Nigerian, his name has been immortalised.

“I would call on the federal government to name the polytechnic at Oko after him: Alex Ekwueme Polytechnic, Oko, at least, as a befitting memorial in his honour.

“Event when he was released from detention in 1980, he came to Abia State University,Uturu and registered for a Law Degree programme and he was called to the bar. That is to show you that it is not too late a times for one to make it academically.

In fact, I commend him to other Nigerian politicians,” he said.

For Azubuko Joel Udah retired Deputy Inspector-Gemeral of Police, Lawyer and

Ekwueme, near encounters

By IKEDDY ISIGUZO F Nigeria needed a poster boy of the Ihave post-war recovery of Ndigbo, it would been Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu

Ekwueme. Only nine years after the war, he was Vice President of Nigeria. The surprise was that little was known about him, politically, before the war. How did he survive a field that was populated by ranking Igbo politicians, some of them Ministers and juggernauts before the war?

Dr. Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe, KO, one of those highly speculated to be the Vice President to President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, uttered the famous, “KO is OK” quote that became a newspaper headline the day after Shagari chose Ekwueme above the others. He remains the most loyal Vice President in our history.

He did not deploy his intellectual fecundity to upset the system. He was hardly heard. He knew who was boss. Not for him the intrigues of putting the President under pressure. His Office did not claim credit for ideas that emanated from it.

The story was that political forces that were affronted that by 1987, when Shagari would have completed his tenure, Ekwueme would have been President hatched the 31 December 1983 coup that expelled civil rule in Nigeria for 16 years, the longest stretch of military rule in Nigeria. It was enough time for Ekwueme and his successor to have completed two terms each.

A man who made his money, when it was something to be a millionaire, Ekwueme remained humble, patient, and endures the tides and trials of political relationships until he passed on in London on 19 October

2017. He was afraid of taking risks, saying his mind, including leading the group that told General Sani Abacha, to forget his planned transmutation to a civilian President.

On 7 October 2017, Ekwueme made one of his final public outings for the final day of the 50th anniversary of the Asaba Massacre. His entry into the hall was greeted with shouts of “Ide”, his traditional title.

He decided to take one of the front seats, saying it was adequate for him. It was at the insistence of the organisers that he moved to the high table.

He made a few remarks about the imperatives of Nigeria remaining one, but prefaced it was the importance of equity and justice as foundations of the unity.

As he was being led away after the event, on unsteady feet, to his vehicle, one was tempted to get a word from him. What was the point bothering him? He was clearly tired and his minders shielded him to the car. There would be another opportunity.

The next opportunity was nine days on, 16 October 2017. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of which he was a founding father, was flagging off the campaign of its governorship candidate at All Saints’ Cathedral field, Onitsha, a walking distance from the office.

It afforded another opportunity to see Ekwueme. One thought little of it. Weeks after he had the fall. Two weeks on, he was gone.

Adieu Dr. Ekwueme, who was everything most people are saying about him, and more. Yet they stood against him the President of Nigeria, and driving the ideas he generously espoused for the sustainable future of Nigeria.

politician, Ekwueme would have laid a good foundation for Nigeria if he was made President of Nigeria in 1979.

Udah maintained that by his demise, “a big Iroko tree has fallen in Igbo land.”

He described Ekeueme as a very wise man.

“It’s a very big loss to the Ndigbo,” he lamented.

Udah adde that Ekwueme was a very big Igbo leader, adding that he chaired very important Boards that saw to it that Nigeria was properly reintegrated as a nation.

“You can remember that this six geopolitical arrangement in Nigeria today was his brainchild. He was the one that created the six geopolitical zones, the only thing we were waiting for was for it to be put in the constitution but it was already being used as an operational tool.

“He was not only an architect, he was a historian, a political scientist, a lawyer; so many things rolled into one.

“Dying at the age of 85, we would have liked him to live more. There are elder statesmen like Mugabe who is 93, but we cannot question God. He left a lot of legacies that the Igbos that love themselves should emulate.

“We hope he will be properly honoured, he did a lot for the unity and oneness of Nigeria.

Apart from the political zones, he was the chairman of those that formed the PDP in those days.

“He was even touted to be the Presidential candidateexploits, Eze Uwafirgeu said: me but all of a sudden,the whole thing truncated. Perhaps if that thing had happened, I think we would have had a better foundation, a better leadership.

“But there is nothing we can do about the way God has taken him. He was a fulfilled person and we thank God for his life. He should be imortalised in so many ways by the Nigerian government because he is a national hero,” Udah submitted.

His Royal Majesty, Eze Uwadiegwu Ogbonnaya, tradional ruler of Umuanyi Autonomous Comunity in Uturu, Isuikwuato local government area of Abia State said the news of Ekweme’s death hit him like a thunderbolt.

He described Ekwueme as a great hero, an accomplished professional who recorded great political exploits and prayed the heavens to receive his soul.

According to the veteran Journalist, “Ekwueme dying at 86, cannot be said to have died early. In fact, he accomplished everything God prepared him for in life. He came from the Ekwueme royal family of Oko. “He made his impact, both in his profession as an architect, and in politics. So far, he is the highest Igbo man to have attained any political position in Nigeria since 1970 and

it is on record that he is the first Nigerian architect.

“He qualified as far back as 1967 in London that is 50 years ago, at the age of 26.

With his privileged background, he was a product of Kings College Lagos.

“He reached his climax in 1979 at the age of 48, when he got elected as the Vice President of Nigeria and he was very loyal to Shagari through out their first term and the second one, until the military truncated their second tenure.

“In his hometown, Oko, he established the School of Arts and Science in Oko which Jim Nwobodo, elevated to a Polytechnic, Anambra State Polytechnic, during the second republic.

“And during the tenure of Prof. Ben Nwabueze, that was when the federal government took it over. The impact of that polytechnic has been felt just as the Igbos have felt the impact of IMT, Enugu.

“Ekwueme did much both for Nigeria and Ndigbo. I wish other Igbo and Nigerian politicians would learn to serve like that.

He was a great Nigerian, his name has been immortalised.

“I would call on the federal government to name the polytechnic at Oko after him: Alex Ekwueme Polytechnic, Oko, at least, as a befitting memorial in his honour.”

Ekwueme was the face of Ndigbo in Nigeria’s politics - Barr Ogboko Barr Emma Ogboko has expressed sadness over the death of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme. He joined other Igbo leaders, Nigerians and Africans at large in mourning the demise of the foremost Igbo leader whom he said was the face of Ndigbo in Nigerian politics and epitome of unity in a diverse Nigeria.

The seasoned politician and entrepreneur who is a chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) said that the death of Dr. Ekwueme is an irreparable loss to Ndigbo, adding that he wished the former Vice President lived longer because Ndigbo and Nigerians needed his wisdom now more than ever before.

He said that the death of Ekwueme was one too many, stressing that the vacuum he left behind would be very difficult to fill at this material time.

He added that Ndigbo needed his wisdom to navigate the raging debate on restructuring and the agitation going on in the Southeast against marginalization.

He called on the governments of the Southeast and the federal government to take actions to ensure that the values and legacies Dr Ekwueme left behind live.

Wike commiserates with Nigeria, govt and people of Anambra and family From NATH OMAME, Port Harcourt Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has commiserated with Nigerians, the government and people of Anambra State and the family of former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme over his passage.

The governor, who described the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as an outstanding democrat, compassionate leader, true patriot and exemplary statesman, said Dr Alex Ekwueme would be missed by all lovers of democracy and development.

While extending his deepest condolences to Nigerians, Governor Wike expressed deep pains at the death of the former Vice President.

He prayed God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Onitsha residents mourn Ekwueme Residents of the commercial city of Onitsha have joined other Nigerians from all parts of the country to mourn the exit of former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme who on Sunday, Novemeber 19 in London.

Leading the pack of mourners in the city is the President General of Amalgamated Market Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS) Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo who described the late former Vice President as a detribalised Nigerian who did everything possible within his powers to move the country forward.

According to the market leader, Ekwueme would be ever remembered for his massive contributions to the development of Nigeria both in private sector as a successful individual and in politics as a great politician, leader and elder statesman.

Ezenwankwo said that he death of the

Continued on Page 42

16

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

POLITICS

•el-Rufai

el-Rufai pursuing Islamic agenda – Cardinal Okogie Anthony Cardinal Okogie is the founding president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos. In this interview with IRETO TEMOFEH, he states that the Kaduna State government is being neither fair nor sincere in its plan to sack 22,000 teachers, insisting that the Kaduna State governor has an ulterior motive. Excerpts

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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is reported to have expressed his support for the reported sack of 22,000 teachers by the Kaduna State government on the grounds that they are unqualified. What is your take on this rather controversial support coming from the president for the mass sack of Nigerians, especially considering the fact that the federal government has not fulfilled its promise of massive job creation for unemployed Nigerians and also that the country is in recession?

I find it hard to believe that President Muhammadu Buhari as the father of the nation will give his support for Governor Nasir El-Rufai to sack 22,000 teachers in Kaduna State, knowing full well the implications of such a mass sack on both the families of those 22,000 people and also the impact on the economy.

Number one, what are they going to do with their salaries? Number two, it simply means the government is faulty. They ought to have checked whether the teachers were qualified to go into the classroom to teach, because they must have scrutinized them.

They must have presented a certificate. You can’t just go to the bush and say come and teach.

Do you actually believe those figures or do you think that Governor Nasir el-Rufai has hidden agenda in all of this?

It means there is something wrong with the government, those who employed them; which even touches the governor elRufai himself. It’s not just a matter of saying you are testing the teachers to know wheth-

er they are good or bad. I suspect the governor has an ulterior motive.

How did they come about the figure of 22,000 useless teachers? That figure is suspicious. Even The Guardian newspaper put the figure of 22,000 in inverted commas.

So what do you think is going to happen after the 22,000 teachers are sacked?

What I suspect is going to happen now is that the governor is going to put about 22,000 Muslim teachers, that is, those who are going to be sympathetic to the Islamic religion there in Kaduna to take the places of the sacked teachers. Governor el-Rufai is pursuing an Islamic agenda in Kaduna State.

That’s my suspicion. I say so because where is he going to get 22,000 people to take the place of those teachers? What will become of the students? What are the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigerian Labour Congress doing about it? Why are they allowing this kind of thing to happen? And is Kaduna State the only state where this kind of thing about unqualified teachers has happened?

Do you fear that this mass sack of 22,000 teachers that the Kaduna State government is carrying out might lead to another religious crisis in Kaduna State and indeed in Nigeria in general if majority of those teachers who will be sacked are Christians?

We have to recall when Christians were being killed in Kaduna and this man (the governor) said he wasn’t aware of it, that it’s not true, before the thing boomeranged. And even the Sultan of Sokoto had to put in a word about it; that it is unlawful for Muslims

•Anthony Cardinal Okogie to kill Christians because the Koran doesn’t say that.

Could the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari be culpable or have some complicity in this matter?

This is very serious. What are they turning Nigeria into? What kind of image are they presenting about Nigeria to the outside world? If you go through their budget, they give us false figures. The federal government will say that the exchange rate of the naira to the dollar is so and so, but if you go out or sit down to calculate it, you will find that it is not true. They are liars. This is not fair to Nigerians. Because Nigerians keep quiet so the people in government feel that they can take them for a ride. It is not good. I don’t care if they feel offended that I’m criticizing them. I have to speak out for the sake of innocent Nigerians and tell those in government the truth, because a man dies but once, not twice.

Do you believe that this is part of the alleged plot to Islamize Nigeria?

When the issue of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) initially came up, I was then the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and I took up the issue with General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB).

But, they are now bringing back the issue of OIC again. We told them about Islamic Bank but they have brought Islamic Bank too. There was another time they said that the Minister of Petroluem and the Minister of Education must be Muslim. And unfortunately, we had some useless Christians who were supporting Aminu, the Minister of Education at that time.

Is this matter of sacking 22,000 teachers ca-

pable of changing the way Nigerians view the APC government of Kaduna State and the governor Nasir el-Rufai?

The Kaduna State government is talking about 22,000 people. Are they 22,000 cows?

So, what was the government doing when they were employing them? What will happen to the families of those 22,000 people?

This means that the government is fake. So, what Governor Nasir el-Rufai is telling the outside world is that his government is fake.

Do you trust the Kaduna State governor or do you think Governor Nasir el-Rufai is part of the problem in Kaduna State?

You cannot even trust the government.

Since he (el Rufai) got into Kaduna, there has been a lot of trouble. It is the same Kaduna that was peaceful before he came.

But agents of the Kaduna State government have reportedly said that many of those 22,000 “unqualified” teachers were thugs employed by the previous PDP government of Kaduna State, which means that they should not have been employed in the first place. How do you react to that?

My answer to that is that those (previous Kaduna State PDP government officials) who employed them are the ones who should in fact be punished. Again, how sure is the Kaduna State government that those people are thugs? How can the Kaduna State government prove that they are thugs? They said that because they set exam for the teachers and they couldn’t pass. I don’t believe them. The next thing they will do now is that they will flood the place (Kaduna educational system) with Islamic teachers and Islamic religion and all what not. And that is what we have been fighting against.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

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Aviation

Nigeria tops stalled hotel projects in W/Africa

By VICTOR NZE

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ROM factors revolving around high capital investment, lack of access to adequate financing options, limited access to raw materials and to others like high construction and material costs, the newly-published W Hospitality Group 2017 Hotel Chains Pipeline report has identified 61 stalled projects in Nigeria alone, representing 49.6 per cent or more than 10,000 hotel rooms out of the over 20, 000 uncompleted in the subregion alone.

Other factors identified by the report for the delay in construction which include; inadequate technical capacity to manage the development programme, as well as a heavy reliance on importation, all form barriers to entry of new investors into the sub-regional hospitality market.

It would be recalled that a Nigerian firm, Eagle Hospitality and Leisure Limited had back in August 2016 signed an agreement with Starwood Hotels announcing a proposed Four Points by Sheraton in Benin City, Edo State.

Since that signing, Starwood has since been acquired by the Marriott International with no indication that the planned 176-room project will go beyond its pipeline stage as it adds to the 61 hotel pipelines registered against the country.

Marriott only last month opened the Protea Hotel in Owerri, Imo State, which signing was not even announced.

“West Africa has a pipeline of 114 hotels and 20,790 rooms, accounting for 42 per cent of the sub-Saharan African hotel pipeline. However, of these hotel deals signed and planned, only approximately 9,875 rooms, or 48 per cent have moved to construction.

“Of the hotel pipeline for West Africa, Nigeria contributes 49.6 per cent or more than 10,000 hotel rooms (in 61 hotels). Nigeria is also the top market in Africa for planned rooms,” said the report.

Expressing worry over the poor or inadequate hotel supply, the report pointed out that some hotel pipeline projects signed since 2009 by international hotel chains with Nigerians firms are yet to take off.

…10, 000 rooms in 61 projects uncompleted

US DOLLAR Pounds Sterling EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL S/African Rand DANISH KRONA SDR

Buying(NGN)

304.95 402.4425 359.658 307.2854 2.7078 0.5281 429.0485 45.98 81.3113 21.6806 48.3281 429.7355

Gas to drive S/East industrial plan P20

e-Platform Recession: Telecoms operators demand bailout P22

TRAVEL with local and foreign investors to develop these hotels. All the major global hotel chains have strong expansion plans to increase their operating presence on the continent, and in West Africa,” it said.

As a way out for these international chains which had traditionally relied on their development teams signing deals for new build hotels, primarily with their flagship brands, with local owners, the report reveals some of these companies are evolving new business strategies to see to the completion of the projects including; conversions and rebranding of existing properties, acquisition of existing local hotel operators, effecting growth through the franchise model, or developing owned hotels first.

“To overcome this (problem of inadequate hotel supply), we are looking at rolling our focused service brands in key markets with a focus on our Hilton Garden Inn product.

We are also pioneering the use of modular construction with a new Hilton Garden Inn in Accra, which is a fast and cost-effective build model

“40 per cent of Nigeria’s pipeline was signed between 2009 and 2014, a large portion of these projects is still in the “planning” phase. In Senegal, only approximately 44 per cent of the deals signed have moved to site.

“The other substantial markets in West Africa include Cape Verde with 11 hotels and 3,478 rooms, and Senegal with 14 hotels and 2,164 rooms.

These three markets contribute a total of 15,955 hotel rooms, or 77 per cent of the West African hotel pipeline.

“Approximately 57 per cent of the pipeline in these countries has moved to site, however some of these projects have been stalled for some time. In a country, like Nigeria, this can be significant.

The report which though opined that the pipeline of hotels to the subregion is encouraging and indicative of strong investor interest, however, said the low completion rate of projects could be troubling for the development of the hotel sector.

“It is also difficult for the hotel chains whose expansion plans in these markets rely on partnerships

CBN EXCHANGE RATES NOV. 17, 2017 Currency

Energy

Central (NGN) Selling(NGN)

305.45 403.1024 360.2477 307.7892 2.7122 0.5381 429.7519 46.0559 81.4446 21.7161 48.4073 430.4401

305.95 403.7622 360.8374 308.293 2.7167 0.5481 430.4554 46.1317 81.578 21.7516 48.4865 431.1447

for owners and developers,” said Vice President Development Sub-Saharan Africa, Hilton, Mike Collini.

On his part, Carlson Rezidor’s Senior Vice President Africa & Indian Ocean for Development, Andrew McLachlan, said in a direct comment to Estate Intel: “Today we have 17 hotels open or under development in the region and in our new 5-year development strategy we have identified five Tier 1 Cities in West Africa (Lagos, Abuja, Accra, Abidjan and Dakar) where we see scaled growth opportunities…across the luxury to midscale hotel segment.”

McLachlan further explained that the Hilton Group sees an opportunity to adopt this conversion model to reposition the hotel under its management, particularly in cases where the existing hotel may not be performing to its full potential.

It would be recalled that Hilton had recently announced a plan to support the conversion and rebranding of 100 existing hotels through its Hilton Africa Growth Initiative, by committing US$ 50 million to supporting these conversions.

Marriott to lift Lagos hotel capacity P26

Stock Market Highlights As At 17 November, 2017

Summary

ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE EQUITY CAP

36,703.58 3,097.00 1,827,380,175.00 6,306,339,825.53 12,774,178,623,892.31

Most Traded S/N Coy (By Volume) Volume 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

SOVRENINS ZENITHBANK DIAMONDBNK AIICO GUARANTY

Value(N)

1,575,000,000 787,500,000.00 71,759,715 1,726,062,129.85 54,207,159 59,656,062.81 27,468,570 15,093,367.26 13,333,156 573,209,043.26

5 Top Gainers Company UNILEVER PZ NESTLE NB FBNH

Last Close N36.1 N21.42 N1250 N138.15 N6.62

Top Losers Company BETAGLAS OKOMUOIL UACN CADBURY ACCESS

Last Close N54.01 N68 N18.9 N11.78 N9.86

Current Change N37.5 1.4 N22.49 1.07 N1251.03 1.03 N138.8 0.65 N6.9 0.28 Current N51.31 N66.01 N17.2 N11.25 N9.7

Change -2.7 -1.99 -1.7 -0.53 -0.16

18

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

BUSINESS INTERVIEW When did you start inventing and fabricating devises?

It dates back to my early life. I bagged a scholarship in secondary school through inventions and amateur fabrications. And as days went by, I did touch lights and extension sockets, bedside lamps and drinking troufe, used in poultry. But, I would say that the time I really invented something reasonable was in 2012, when I developed what I called ‘rechargeable solar wall clock’. The clock can supply light for up to 4 hours during power outage from the public power supply.

And in 2014, I designed an improved version of the clock, which can give light for 12 hours.

The one that gives light for four hours works with a remote control, while the one that lasts for 12 hours, has a solar panel and runs on solar system as well as on public power supply and generating set. Both automatically turn on their lights immediately there is power outage and there is darkness. They also have USB-enabled points where one can charge phones and other devises during power outage.

I have also done one or two electrical gadgets in the past, and I can mass produce all my products, if given the needed logistic enablement. I have also invented generator booster, which can enable one to use pressing iron with the little 500-watt generating set, popularly called ‘I beta pass my neighbour’. And while using the iron, one could still put on other appliances such as television, electric cooker and microwave among others. But it is not designed to power refrigerator. And all my products are efficient, durable and also given out with appreciable warrantee.

I can fix power challenges in Nigeria –Imafidon Edo State-born super fabricator, Obayagbona Emmanuel Imafidon, (aka Scientist Emma), says he has invented a device that can permanently put to rest the perennial power problem in the country. According the young man, with adequate support from government, the invention, ‘Thunder Lightning Energy Converter Project’, which has reached appreciable stage, power outage would be a thing of the past in Nigeria. In this chat with CHUKS EZE, in Enugu, the 2015 graduate of Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Institute of management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, also declared that the project is eco-friendly, safe and reliable. He disclosed that his invention prowess dates back to his early life, pointing out that it earned him full scholarship at Challenge Academy Secondary School, in Warri Delta State.

Which high institution did you attend?

I studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Institute of management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. I graduated in 2015.

What was your final year project design in IMT? I did a 1.5 KVA inverter. It was a well-designed and durable product and I think that it is still being used in IMT. What have you been doing since you graduated?

I have been involved in series of researches as well as tours to display my new products and as well solicit for funds and sponsorship of my current project. That is why I have not been able to do my compulsory National Youth Service programme. I also set up a school at my residence, where I train people in inverter and solar technology production.

I hear you got an award from Enugu State government, what was it about?

The award is called the 50 Most Influential Young People in Enugu State. It was organised by Enugu State government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Dr. Chukwuemeka Asogwa.

What is your current project about?

It is about generating electricity from lightning. A lot of people are afraid of lightning because of its devastating effects at times, but it can still be of enormous benefit to humanity. Statistics have shown that lightning occurs with an average of 20 billion watts energy and up to an average of 140 million times per annum. In sub-Saharan Africa, it strikes over 80 to 100 million times per annum and about 60 to 80 million times in Nigeria per annum.

How did you come about attempting to generate electricity from lightning?

I was prompted to explore such means by the perennial power outages in Nigeria.

Power outage has dealt a heavy blow on the individual and collective economies of Nigerians, and nobody feels happy about it. I always feel embarrassed whenever people shout ‘Up NEPA’ or rain curses on the power sector whenever there is sudden power outage. Such should not be happening in a country so richly blessed like Nigeria. From NEPA to Power Holding Company and now EEDC and co, yet it is still the same old story of one step forward and several steps backwards.

So, what new story or song do you have about the power sector?

• Emma displays prototype of the thunder lightning energy converter My new song is that we have what it takes to exit the era of epileptic power to an era of non-interrupted and eco-friendly power, through thunder lightning energy source.

The Project is called ‘Thunder lightning Energy Converter Project’. What I have here is the non-working prototype. It comprises five zones, but I just installed four zones, leaving out one to keep some of my secrets to my heart. So, in these four parts of the five zones are trapping zones which are made of lightning arrestors. The trapping zone is that by which lightening is trapped through the lightning arrestor or lightning boot. The whole thing is specifically designed according to my specification. Similar devices in Nigeria are meant for earthing purposes – which is a process of sapping excess power supply and discharging them down to earth. But in my method, we isolate the armoured cable from the ground.

We use a special arrestor that traps a particular amount of lightning and sends the energy to a harnessing zone, which will harness the energy for 8, 928 hours, which is a year and seven days. Looking at this harnessing zone, one of them is meant to store energy for about 8,928 days. And the five harnessing zones, is capable of storing energy for five years and over 40 days.

What happens after the harnessing?

From the harnessing zone, the energy is then channelled to storage zones. One storage zone however, discharges One Megavolts (1 MV) and its signals sent through other harnessing zones, via sensors, to shut down other harnessing zones, and prevent them from discharging at the same time.

One is meant to discharge at a time while others remain shut. Then the 1 MV that is discharged from the harnessing zones is channelled to the conversion zone, which converts the power from static energy to current energy. From the conversion zone, the energy is transmitted via overhead cables, which is meant to transmit 1 MV high tension down to the high tension step-down transformers, which represents the transmission zone, and which will step down the 1 MV, from the conversion zone to whatsoever the country needs. For instance, if the Nigeria’s current generation is about 330 KV, they will step down to 132 KV, then to 33 KV; further down to 11 KV and finally down to 4.15 KV. That is what all of this is about.

In layman’s terms, what is thunder lightning energy and how does it work?

Thunder lightning energy is all about generating power through harnessed lightning strikes. When lightning strikes and there is any harnessing zone, which I explained above, that is not fully charged, it would be

• The solar wall clock charged up immediately. Simply put, when the stored or charged energy is in use, the energy would be dropping and anytime lightning strikes it provides energy that refills the used one. It is not like Solar Energy, it is rather about trapping energy from lightning, harnessing it and converting it from static energy to electrical energy, and then transmitting it to the national grid for the consumption of the citizens of Nigeria, who are the end-users. So, while the solar panel is used for solar energy, lightning arrestor is used for thunder lightning energy.

How would all that you have illustrated benefit the ordinary man out there who is eager to witness practical results?

When it comes to fruition, Nigeria would never suffer blackout anymore and children will cease to shout ‘Up NEPA’ whenever there is power outage. Also, businesses would cease to shut down due to epileptic power supply, and those that had relocated to other countries would begin to return their investments to the country. You cannot talk about a successful country without steady power because both are like Siamese twins. Once there is steady power, investors would definitely start trooping. The reason

Cont’d on page 18

19

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

BUSINESS

OPEC sees oil meeting 52% global energy needs in 2040 Sopuruchi Onwuka, with agency reports

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ontrary to the gloomy oil demand outlook predicated on evolving alternatives to petroleum fuel, world oil supply group, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) insists that crude oil and its derivatives would continue to dominate global energy mix by 2040.

The 13 member group which manipulates demand-supply balance in the global crude oil market through output quotas among member countries stated in its market intelligence report that crude oil and natural gas would account for 52 percent of global energy demand by 2040.

The scenario would see demand grow from 95.4 million barrels per day, in 2016, to reach 111.1 million

Immigration Service evicts illegal expatriates

...Industry needs $10.5 tn to meet demand barrels per day by 2040, with the global economy growing by an average of 3.5 percent per year during that time.

Meeting this demand would require an overall investment of around US $10.5 trillion across upstream, midstream and downstream operations.

In the latest edition of its World Oil Outlook OPEC predicts oil will remain the world’s largest source of energy over the next two decades, despite the increasing importance of renewable alternatives.

First published in 2007, the World Oil Outlook is one of OPEC’s flagship publications. It provides an in-depth review and analysis of the global oil industry, offering a thorough assessment of various trends and challenges in the medium and long-term development of the industry. This year marks the 11th edition of OPEC’s World Oil Outlook.

Reports captured from the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference

(ADIPEC), hold that OPEC presented its market indices, including demand prediction to senior industry executives in an exclusive briefing at the event.

The latest edition of OPEC’s World Oil Outlook, it was gathered, forecasts that oil will supply just over 27 percent of worldwide energy needs in 2040, while natural gas will see its share at slightly more than 25 percent.

In his introduction to the report, OPEC Secretary General, Nigeria’s Mohammad Barkindo, noted the 2017 outlook was more positive than last year, partly due to oil exporting nations’ efforts to stabilise the market.

“The past year has been an historic one for OPEC and the global oil industry,” Barkindo said. “Since publication of the World Oil Outlook, in early November last year, the oil market has undergone significant change and transition. It has been a period where the rebalancing of the global oil market has

gathered vital momentum, buoyed by a number of important factors.”

However, while prospects for the industry are strong, the World Oil Outlook predicts demand for oil will grow more slowly than the overall demand for energy. Renewables will see the fastest rate of annual growth, at 6.8 percent per annum, although their overall share of the energy mix is only expected to reach 5.4 percent by 2040 due to their lower starting base.

“Alongside an ever-expanding global population and the critical importance of reducing energy poverty, these growth rates mean energy demand is expected to increase by close to 100 million barrels of oil equivalent a day between 2015 and 2040,” Barkindo said.

“OPEC is greatly supportive of the ongoing development of renewables and many of our member countries have vast solar and wind resources, with significant investments being made in these areas.”

A

ccording to the Nigerian Immigrations Service (NIS), the resident permits of expatriate staff of Intels Nigeria Ltd. and five other companies have been revoked for operating without a valid license within the country’s Oil and Gas Free Zone.

The other companies named as offenders are PRODECO International Ltd., West Africa Machinery Services Ltd., Net Global System International Ltd., MGM Logistics Solutions Ltd., and ORIEAN Investment Ltd. The expatriate staff were given up to November 30, 2017 to leave Nigeria, or be deported on the orders of the Minister of Interior.

The Comptroller-General of the NIS, Muhammad Babandede, who announced the revocation order in Abuja through the agency’s spokesperson, Sunday James, said the action was pursuant to the powers vested in his office by section 39 subsection 1 of the Immigration Act 2015 and section 5, subsection 5 of the Immigration Regulation 2017.

•Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (m) flanked by participants of the just-concluded 18th Committee Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in >West Africa (GIABA) in Abuja.

2018 budget lacks capacity for economic growth -- Experts

By JEROME USHAKANG

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conomic and financial experts have painted a gloomy picture of the recent 2018 National Budget presented to the National Assembly by President Mohammadu Buhari, saying it lacks the capacity to grow the economy.

Their views were expressed at the 2018 Budget Seminar organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Lagos aimed at ascertaining the way the capital market can contribute and also benefit from the budget of the nation.

Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, said the budget reflects 16 percent increase and anequivalent of 16 percent inflation rate indicating expenditure growth of zero, stressing that there were no stimulants for growth.

Rewane said, “It is not an expansionary budget; we are not spending our way to growth”. In addition, he pointed out that the issue of multiple exchange rates in the economy was not addressed in the budget, stressing that the prevalence of such rates would continue to distort the market.

The Chief Executive Officer said: “Inflationary projection in the budget is not realistic as Government is silent on subsidy on power and petroleum products and minimum wage. The projection for nonoil revenue is not realistic and the deficit gap may widen after all.”

In his assessment, a professor of Economics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Ndubuisi Nwokoma described the 2018 National Budget as a very ambitious one but doubted how the government can implement it.

“Oil production is also ambitious.

We are being too optimistic without a clear plan of how to achieve it our target. Over the years, we have distorted the budget cycle. This will affect implementation and good accounting. Nigeria should have a clear budget cycle and budgetary interferences should be avoided,” Nwokoma said.

‘I can fix power challenges in Nigeria’ Cont’d from page 19 many investors find China as a veritable haven, for instance, is because there is constant electricity there.

If given the opportunity, can you transform the project into a functional type that can also be expanded to feed the entire country?

If I am given an opportunity as well as the needed logistics, we can expand it to feed the entire country because, like I had illustrated earlier, from the first high tension line that would be stepped down to what the country needs, it would be transmitted straight to the national grid. And from the grid system, the entire parts of the country can receive power supply, for five years and thirty days, just by a strike of lightning.

Is the power generated by the invention compatible with the grid system?

Yes, it is. And like I said, we are stepping down from one mega volts to whatsoever the country needs. If Nigeria needs 310 KV, for instance, to feed the grid system, this invention is capable of delivery. And another

advantage of the invention is that it is ecofriendly. It is a clean energy – safe, reliable and effective.

Are you doing the project alone or with collaborative efforts?

I started the project alone and brought it this, but it is actually a project that deserves collaborative efforts. It is a synergic exercise that requires huge funding and inputs of other experts such as electrical engineers, metallurgical engineers and astronomers among others, because the special arrestors that I talked about ought to be fixed at several strategic areas that are prone to lightning across the country, state, region or project coverage area as the case may be, and not clustered in one area. The idea is that whenever lightning strikes in any particular region, it would transmit the energy to the harnessing zone through overhead cables.

What challenges are preventing you from delivering a finished version of the product,

no matter how miniature, to back it up with proof?

The bulk of my challenge is insufficient funds. I need financial support from government, public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations. However, I am not requesting that raw cash should be given to be, but rather, my request is that the government should buy into the project and create a platform for the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) to partner with me. The project is just like fabricating a car. One person never manufactures a car because a lot is involved.

So, I am open to collaboration and I would like both the government and NSE to partner with me so we can jointly carry the project to fruition, for the benefit of the whole country. Also, I would like the federal government to set up a body that would screen the invention as well as monitor its progress and manage the funds to be set aside for the project. It would as well be nice if the government can align me with the nation’s research institutions so we could have easy

and faster completion of the project. I am available to collaborate with other bodies so we can get the job done to enable me focus on other projects in the pipeline. The project is a new invention and there is no part of the world that uses lightning as a major source of electricity.

Are you saying that you cannot complete the project alone?

If I am given the required funds and human resources, I can do it and it would work effectively. The only thing is that it would not be completed as early as it would with collaborative efforts.

Where are all the products that you had invented?

I have sold them out; none of my products ‘reaches ground’, as it is said. The thing is that people usually rush my products soon after I display them and I sell them to either fund my education or to fund further research into the main project which I am doing now.

20

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

ENERGY

Norway’s $1tn wealth fund to pull back $35b

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Stories by Sopuruchi Onwuka

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OVERNORS of the Southeastern states of the country see natural gas the prime driver of an integrated development strategy the details of which is being worked out for industrialization of the zone.

According the plan which was unfolded by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, at a townhall meeting hosted by Ndigbo Lagos, the leaders of the region would deploy abundant gas resources in the zone to create congenial operating environment for local and foreign investors.

Details of funding arrangements and role distribution among participants in the plan were not disclosed by the governor but The Oracle gathered from other sources that all models of infrastructural development financing as well as assistance from federal government are on the table.

Part of the plan is to reticulate flow of gas from the operations petroleum exploration and production sites in the states to connect existing and planned industrial centers that would host industrial plants for manufacturing of consumer and industrial products.

The Oracle Today reports that the Anambra sedimentary basin which covers all the five southeat east zone has been proved by bodies of geologists, petroleum engineers and earth physicists and sundry professional groups as established gas province.

Also, neigbouring southsouth states host over 80 percent of estimated 187 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves for which Nigeria is recognized as global factor.

From Niger Delta which comprises states of the southsouth and southeast zones of the country, Nigeria rakes in billions of dollars annually in gas export revenue and earns nearly as much in domestic gas market.

The new national gas policy places natural gas on equal resource value with crude oil and condensates that form the pillars of the nation’s economy.

Currently oil and gas export accounts for over 90 percent of Nigeria’s total foreign exchange earnings, over 75 percent of total revenue support to government’s annual fiscal projections and nearly 40 percent of the country’s gross domestic product

Gas to drive S/East industrial plan (GDP).

Natural gas also forms the critical bedrock for the country’s evolving power sector reforms with over 80 percent of newly installed electricity generation plants as well as planned capacity boost through ongoing projects are modeled to be gas fired.

Also, programmes are running to create a national gas grid network that would provide conduits for natural gas to be pumped simultaneously from Niger Delta to North East and Northwest zones of the country.

Already, the existing EscravosLagos pipeline has the status of Africa’s biggest capacity gas fuel conduit that feeds industries in all Southwest states and also provides the outlet for the submarine West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) through which Nigeria feeds gas to industries and power plants Benin, Togo and Ghana republics.

A second submarine gas pipeline is under project stages by Dangote Group to fire production at cement manufacturing sites in Southwest and Northcentral states of the country.

However, apart from pockets of gas delivery hubs in Aba and Port Harcourt, the entire eastern Nigeria are bereft of sustainable gas feed infrastructure to create industrial corridors.

Governor Ikpeazu blames the situation for the difficulty in siting private industries in other locations in the southeast outside Aba and Port Harcourt.

He added that absence of gas distribution infrastructure has also made it even more difficult for indigenes of Southeastern parts of the country to domicile part of their investments in home states.

He recounted that Igbo owned businesses account for over 70 percent of all private sector jobs in the country, and lamented that those job opportunities elude Igbo youths because they are domiciled outside the southeast zone.

He pointed out that even in-

• Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu

vestment repatriation under the prevailing ethnic tension in the country has not only proved difficult but also lacks tenable infrastructure basis.

He declared that it was an unacceptable paradox for the region which produces nearly all the gas that fire industries and power plants across the country to be denied access to the resources due to acute infrastructural deficits.

He said the southeast states would under an integrated development programme drive a gas infrastructure development programme that would create industrial corridors for gas reticulation within the zone.

When fully developed, he said, gas availability is expected fuel availability for mini power production and industrial ventures in the region.

Besides, the governor stated, a parallel programme is also being conceived to connect all the five southeast states with rail lines in a strategy that would ensure flexibility in the movement of raw materials, skilled labour and finished products to sustain business vibrancy in the region.

The rails, according to the governor, are to be used by trains and trams that are fired by gas engines to haul goods and passengers in order to reduce axle pressure on roads and reduce losses associated with road mishaps.

Gas infrastructure, according to the governor, is another critical imbalance in the country which must be addressed with the collaboration of the federal government to restore equity, fairness and trust for uniform development of all parts of the nation.

ORWAY’S $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund proposed dumping about $35 billion in oil and gas stocks, including Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil, to protect the economy of western Europe’s biggest petroleum producer.

The nation will be “less vulnerable” to a drop in oil by not being invested in stocks of companies in the industry, the Oslo-based fund said Thursday. The Finance Ministry said it would study the plan and decide at the earliest in “autumn 2018.” The Stoxx Europe 600 Oil and Gas index reversed gains after the announcement, sliding 0.4% in London.

“Our perspective here is to spread the risks for the state’s wealth,” Egil Matsen, the deputy governor at the central bank in charge of overseeing the fund, said in an interview in Oslo Thursday.

“We can do that better by not adding oil price risk through the fund.”

The advice constitutes the next major step in scrubbing the world’s biggest wealth fund of climate risk after it largely sold out of coal stocks. While the fund says the plan isn’t based on any view on the future of oil prices or the industry, it will likely add pressure on oil producers, already struggling in a world where renewable energy is gaining sway.

The fund’s largest oil and gas holdings as of 2016 Market Value (USD) are: Royal Dutch Shell $5.36 billion; Exxon Mobil $3.1 billion; Chevron $2.04 billion; BP $2.03 billion; and TOTAL $2.02 billion, Built from Norway’s oil and gas revenue over the past two decades, the fund takes into account ethical rules encompassing human rights, some weapons production, the environment and tobacco when deciding on investments. Its fossil fuel investments have also come under closer scrutiny as Norwegians increasingly struggle to reconcile their ambition to be a climate leader, while remaining one of the world’s biggest oil and gas nations.

Matsen emphasized that the recommendation is to remove oil and gas stocks from its benchmark index but that it wants to keep them as part of its “investment universe.” The state also holds majority control of Statoil ASA, valued at $66 billion, as well as direct ownership of offshore oil and gas fields.

Norway depends on the oil and gas industry for about 20% of its economic output.

The fund has doubled in value over the past five years and was this year given the go-ahead to boost its stock holding to 70% of its portfolio to help drive returns.

Norway last year also withdrew cash for the first time after sinking oil prices opened up holes in the budget. Today’s recommendation comes at a “good time because the stock portion will now be increased to 70% and that would also mean that we would buy more oil and gas stocks,” Matsen said.

The fund said it doesn’t expect returns or market risk to be affected “appreciably” by excluding oil and gas stocks. The move would also mean raising its investments in other sectors.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

ENERGY

Transmission capacity grows by 600 MW Stories by Sopuruchi Onwuka

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RANSMISSION Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared capacity boost in the national electric power wheeling system with the creation of 600 megawatts redundancy in the crucial AsabaBenin line.

General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Ndidi Mba, stated in a release that the line which has been commissioned was part of the strategy for incremental power delivery.

The commissioning into service of the new transmission line, brings to three, the number of 330kV transmission lines

from Onitsha axis to Benin.These three lines have the capacity to carry 600MW each and with the new line, the total capability of the 330kV transmission lines on Benin axis has increased from 1200MW to 1800MW. According to the release, energizing the new Asaba – Benin 330kV transmission line also provides alternate route for power flow from Benin to Onitsha and assists in ensuring system stability, flexibility and redundancy on the line route. This means that TCN can transmit more power on this route and that fault or tripping of one of the lines would not affect power transmission in the area.

He said the new transmission capacity provides alternative source of energy to the Asaba 330 kilovolts (kV) transmission substation in Asaba, Delta State.

The line which was completed and notput on potential since 22nd of October, 2016, was finally commissioned into service after TCN engineers had completed the relay setting at the Asaba and Benin end of the transmission line.

TCN pledged to continue to invest in the expansion of the nation’s grid, noting that it is also currently executing several transmission lines, transformers and new substations projects in many locations nationwide.

NNPC installing fraud proof frameworkl

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IGERIAN National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which is battling integrity reputation had declared a major restructuring in its corporate governance framework for ‘accountable and fraud repellent system cross its value chain. ‘ Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the measure was an integral part of on-going transformation of the corporation to set new standards and processes controls, compliance and risk management.

Dr. Baru who spoke during a Fraud Awareness Week at the NNCPC Towers, reiterated the corporation’s resolve to work closely with the International Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, (ACFE) to achieve success.

Dr. Baru noted in the presentation that it was far more cost effective to create awareness and improve reporting skills and technique of staff members considering the huge outlay of time and resources that goes into the investigation and prosecution of fraud when allowed to fester.

In his lecture, Wilson Herbert, a professor of Finance and Accounts Management, noted that combating fraud was an art which requires patience and apt skill acquisition which would not only guarantee successes but would provide a hostile environment for the germination of fraudulent activities.

A similar perspective was canvassed by anti-fraud experts from the United States Embassy in Abuja, who harped on the need for due diligence and rectitude in the conduct of routine operational schedule.

The International Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) Fraud Awareness Week is an annual event which is celebrated all over the world because it provides an opportunity to spotlight fraud related issues and to stress the importance of antifraud training and education.

The NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee, in liaison with the ACFE, is marking the 2017 event in the NNPC Towers in fulfillment of an earlier pledge made by the GMD in this regard.

2 Nigerians win Shell prize

WO Nigerian business owners, Mr. Precious Temerged Adeho and Mrs. Ngozi Deborah Atalor, have winners in the 2017 Shell LiveWIRE • Egina FPSO on sail from South Korea

Germany partners, KfW, ATI on renewable energy projects

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ERMAN government has struck partnership with two international renewable energy support agencies to support investors and inventors that focus on small and medium scale renewable electricity production in Africa.

According to secondary sources, German Development Bank is already working KfW and the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) on a new instrument to support renewable energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa that targets small- and mid-scale green power renewable energy projects.

The projects to be supported include those that produce up to 50 MW hour on sustainable basis.

The facility is designed to provide a viable solution to one of the biggest challenges facing independent power producers (IPPs) operating in Africa, specifically the requirement to provide project lenders with a liquidity guarantee.

The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW will provide funding of up to 32.9 million euros to the facility, which aims to enable small-and mid-scale renewable energy projects in Africa to reach financial close by addressing liquidity requirements that lenders frequently require in order to fund such projects.

The launch of the new facility is happening at an opportune moment when emerging markets are seeing record investments in the renewable energy sector. The International Energy Agency (IEA)

expects sub-Saharan Africa’s renewables capacity to grow by 73% (24.4GW) over the period 2017-22.

In addition, small-scale projects are seen as a potential solution to Africa’s energy deficit because they are easier to implement and can target energy requirements at source, but these projects find it difficult to access the type of guarantees needed to reach financial closure. The facility will kick in by providing immediate liquidity to keep the IPP afloat during periods of payment delays that are beyond the grace period provided in the power purchase agreement.

Günther Nooke, Personal Representative of the German Chancellor for Africa, BMZ, said “The Regional Liquidity Support Facility will address a key challenge in renewable energy project finance and de-risk private sector investments. We are pleased to provide the funding to this innovative instrument underlining Germany’s commitment to the objectives of the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI).”

The RLSF is designed to help independent power producers (IPPs) developing renewable energy projects in Africa to obtain the liquidity they need in the event that their off-taker (frequently a state owned entity) delays payment. The facility will provide immediate cash collateral supported by guarantees to a commercial bank that will in turn open a standby letter of credit to the benefit of the IPP. The amount provided will enable the IPP to operate and service the debt for up to 6

months. Furthermore, unlike most IPP letters of credit (which tend to be 12 month tenors) the facility is designed to be in place for multiple years.

Dr. Thomas Duve, KfW Director Southern Africa and Regional Funds, noted “We highly appreciate the opportunity to partner with ATI on this innovative instrument. The RLSF is a strongly market-driven concept, emphasizing KfW’s strategy to support and leverage the resources of local partners and the private sector.”

The facility, in combination with ATI’s traditional suite of political and trade credit risk insurance products (in particular ATI’s arbitration award default cover), means that ATI is able to cover the full range of political and financial risks facing investors on such projects.

Speaking at the launch, John Lentaigne, ATI’s Chief Underwriting Officer commented “We are delighted to be working with the German government, represented by KfW, on an initiative that directly targets one of the main bottlenecks preventing green power projects from being financed in Africa.”

Jef Vincent, Senior Advisor to ATI, who has overall responsibility for the initial implementation of the facility, added “Unlike some of the alternative solutions to the liquidity issue, ATI’s guarantee (as provided via the RLSF) will not require a counter-guarantee from the relevant Ministry of Finance, and as such we are confident this will be a very useful tool for those projects that we expect to support.”

Top Ten Innovators competition, a global contest open to beneficiaries of Shell LiveWIRE, and aimed at rewarding shining cases of innovation in businesses supported by the programme.

The two Nigerians won the Merit prize along with four others in the same category, while businesses from the United Kingdom and Pakistan took the top and runner-up awards. The winners were announced during the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

“We congratulate the Nigerians on this feat,” said General Manager, External Relations, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC.) “Three Nigerians came up with creative ideas on energy efficiency and access to chemical and paint products, and were among 22 entrepreneurs from nine countries who vied for the prestigious prize. We are happy that young Nigerians have deployed the skills and funding assistance in our LiveWIRE training schemes and made a mark for themselves and our country.”

Adeho and Atalor won $5,000 each, the only Africans to clinch the prize. The overall winner received $15,000 while the three runners-up got $10,0000 each.

Shortlisted businesses for the LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators competition were judged by an international panel of business leaders, chaired

by Mark Gainsborough, Executive Vice President of New Energies at Shell.

Trained by Shell LiveWIRE Nigeria, Adeho got a start-up grant to reposition his company, Emobella Engineering Nigeria Limited, which provides engineering services with a USP of 24-hour availability and high-quality customer service.

The business model integrates a training programme for young people facing employment challenges in the region. Mr. Adeho said: “This is the best thing that has happened to me and my business. Shell LiveWIRE has taken our business to the global stage, and I want to thank Shell for the opportunity to showcase our vision.”

Atalor, a 2016 Shell LiveWIRE grant recipient, offers affordable solar energy solutions on a small scale to empower families and businesses in rural areas to adopt the technology.

The Oracle Today

22

Wednesday November 29, 2017

e-Platform

Recession: Telecoms operators demand bailout, infrastructure bank Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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EATEN by a recessive economy, players in the Nigeria telecom sector are demanding government bail out to bring back the vibes in the sector. As with other sectors of the economy, many telecom players have gone under, due to the economic situation, however, stakeholders in the industry believe that with government financing in terms of bail out things will begin to turn around for the players. Aside bail out, they also pointed to the need for the government to establish an infrastructure bank for the sector in order to bridge telecom infrastructure gaps in the country.

Speaking at a forum in Lagos, Mr Ikechukwu Nnamani, Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Communications, said one major challenge confronting operators in the Nigerian telecom landscape is financing and with the current situation of the economy, this can only be addressed by a government bailout. “We have seen bail out in banking and other sectors, why not telecom?, he queried. According to him, many telecoms businesses have shut down in the last few years due to no fault of theirs but because the economy is not favourable. “Most of those companies that have died did not die because of poor management, it was because of bad economic condition” he said. Nnamani added that the sector also requires infrastructure bank to be able to address financing challenges in infrastructure building for broadband.

But in a recent chat with the me-

dia, the President of Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said though operators are facing serious financial challenges as the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) has gone down considerably, bail out alone would not solve their problems. The ALTON President indeed, disclosed that interconnection debts between the operators had become so huge that it has become another major headache for the operators.

However, rather than bail out as a standalone intervention, Adebayo canvassed robust policy interventions that would make the business profitable for the operators.

Meanwhile, in his own submission at the forum, Mr Osondu Nwokoro, Director, External Affairs at Ntel, said the idea of infrastructure bank for the ICT industry, which was recently announced by the government, would bring succor to the telecom sector if implemented. He urged the Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu to expedite actions on the establishment of the bank, which he said would help address financing challenges in the telecom sector.

The Communications Minister had earlier this year announced plans by the federal government to establish a specialized bank to cater for the development of the Information and Communications Technology industry. Shittu had noted that the establishment of ICT development bank became expedient because the regular banks cannot cater for the needs of operators in the ICT industry because of the time it takes to develop ICT products and services, from conception

to market. The minister said the proposed bank was provided for in the ICT Roadmap which, he said, had been approved by the Federal Executive Council.

But the Vice President, Regulatory & Corporate Affairs at 9Mobile, Mr Ibrahim Dikko, believes that the

most essential support the telecom sector needs from the government now is the declaration of telecoms infrastructure as critical national infrastructure to guard against the willful vandalisation of infrastructure being experienced by operators across the country. “In those

days, if you damage NITEL infrastructure, it was a criminal offence, but today, we experience fibre cut every day and nobody is being held responsible. For us to get out of this problem, telecom infrastructure must be declared as critical national infrastructure” he said.

Unused data: Subscribers excited over 14-day roll over grace

Why our software development is poor – ISPON

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problem we are also facing is that some companies in the country don’t put value on themselves. There is the need to have a reasonable level of trust and confidence that the country can manufacture substantially what they need, not only in software but in all strata of the economy. We have the population, resources and land mass to really be a great country,’’ he said.

According to the ISPON president, the more local goods such as software that are produced, the more the nation can develop and the economy in turn will improve for good. “The fact is that the economy cannot develop until we become production based,’’ he said, and advised that the country needed to stop importation of goods, particularly software.

“Some professionals in the industry are trying their best to be up to date and measure up with international standards, but if government through its procurement activities avoids patronage, the industry will not grow. “The institute is working in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency and other government agencies to ensure total enforcement in terms of buy Nigeria, consume Nigeria, Nigeria first before any other,’’ he said. He, however, urged government on prompt implementation of budget allocations, adding that delay in implementation could slow down the industry.

ELECOMS subscribers have expressed excitements over plans by the Nigerian Communications Commission to issue a directive to operators allowing 14 days window for subscribers to roll over unused data. Until the new directive takes effect, subscribers are only allowed to roll over unused data if they are able to renew their subscription on or before the expiry date.

The subscribers who took to the social media to express their happiness with the impending directive as announced by the NCC, said if implemented, they would be able to enjoy their data more. The Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof.

Umar Danbatta, while speaking at the just concluded 2017 Lagos International Trade Fair, had hinted subscribers on the plans to issue the directive to telecom operators, noting that subscribers would be given the 14 days grace, even if they do not renew on the date of expiration of their data.

He said that this would stop the present practice where subscribers would lose the entire unused data if they failed to renew on the date of the expiration of the present subscription. According to him, NCC recognises that telecommunications services are very important to the nation’s development.

“NCC also recognises more importantly, that the consumers of telecommuni-

cations services deserve to get value for their money. NCC also recognises that consumer should be treated as a very important stakeholder in the scheme of things as far as service delivery is concerned. “Let me recall that in the 8-Points Agenda of my administration, the issue of empowerment and protection of the consumer occupied the sixth position.

“The vision in this agenda is to protect consumers from unfair practices through availability of information and education to make informed choices in the use of ICT services. “The strategy which we have adopted in achieving these agenda is to strengthen initiatives to educate and inform consumers in the use of communications,’’ he said.

Danbatta said that the commission had adopted the strategy to act swiftly and consistently whenever necessary in the use of enforcement to protect consumers’ rights and privileges. He said that the regulatory body had put the service providers on special notice about NCC’s present monitoring of users experience and would call them to account in due course.

According to him, where the service providers continue to fail to improve services at the detriment of the consumers, the commission will apply appropriate regulatory actions and sanctions against such service providers.

• Mr James Emadoye

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HE President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) Mr James Emadoye, has adduced reason for poor software development in Nigeria, blaming it on lack of infrastructure. Emadoye, who stated this in Lagos, said that the challenges facing the industry were mostly centred on electricity supply and broadband. “The porous nature of the country where anything goes is also hindering the development and utilisation of local software as anything can be imported into the country. It is so sad that the country is so porous, anything goes and even our colleagues in other professions encourage the influx of software from other places. “The

The Oracle Today

23

Wednesday November 29, 2017

e-Platform NSE boosts online presence

Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said it has Tbe HEupgraded its website, www.nse.com.ng, to mobile friendly with a cleaner layout and navi-

• From left: Mr Felix Adeoye, Commission Secretary, NCC; Mr Olusola Teniola, ATCON President; Otunba Olabiyi Durojaye, Chairman NCC; and Mr Clement Baiye, member, NCC Board of Commissioners at a Forum on Code of Corporate Governance in Enugu recently

Stakeholders commend NCC’s use of social media Stories by SAMSON AKINTARO

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TAKEHOLDERS in the ICT industry have applauded the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for its judicious use of social media for public communications. Specifically, the Minister of Communications, Honourable Adebayo Shittu, commended the Commission for using the social media impeccably while urging other stakeholders to emulate the NCC to expand the frontiers of public sector communication, good governance and national development.

Speaking at a 2-day seminar on social media for good governance organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Shittu said “in an era when the social media have become very strong platforms for information dissemination and public discourse, it is imperative for government and key players in the private sector to pay extra attention to feedback from, and utilize these new media to provide platform for government-citizen and business-public

engagement in an online, real-time and interactive manner”.

The seminar and retreat, Shittu said was designed - among other goals - to share knowledge and information oriented in recent research and analysis of sovial media use; and to review good practices on policies and programmes promoting social media for good governance and other effective uses of the communication networks.

The Minister noted those uses to include creating means to improve governance, opening up access to government and government officials, saving time and money, and creating new ways of working.

Accordingly, “government will not limit Nigerians’ access to social media solely on the basis that it may be used to express views critical of government or the social-political system. Protecting critical expressions on the Internet is the standard by which governments are now held to be genuinely democratic” Shittu told the large gathering of delegates from all the agencies in the Ministry, journalists and other communication professionals and a galaxy of other stakeholders.

The Minister however bemoaned the use of the social media networks for “divisive, tribal, parochial, fabricated and sentimental information, messages and ideas capable of disintegrating the country”. In its stead, Shittu urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from enterprising young Nigerians across industries who have used social media to achieve phenomenal strides that have shaped our lives qualitatively.

Tony Ojobo, NCC Director Public Affairs, who presented the lead paper on public communication in the era of new media, and drawing on NCC’s and other exemplary practices demonstrated in a concrete sense how social media can be deployed for greater effectiveness in public sector communication in Nigeria.

The presentation by other presenters including Ade Atobatele, Akeem AdenijiAdele, and Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, which focused respectively on the magic of words; digital transformation; and social media as a tool against weaponisation: hate speech, fake news, were also enthusiastically received and discussed by the audience.

gation befitting of the brand.

The upgraded website, according to the NSE, will enable users to access information quickly and easily on the various products and instruments that are listed and traded on the regulated market. Commenting on the upgraded website, the CEO of the Exchange, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, noted that the upgrade is in line with the NSE’s drive to create more liquidity and improve participation in the market through greater access to market information and visibility for all securities listed on the Exchange.

“Accessibility and usability are our watchwords in providing capital market information to existing and potential investors. We aim for an Exchange that is easily accessible and actively used by investors who now have greater thirst for more information and detailed disclosure information to make sound investment decisions.

“The explosion of online services and the rising popularity of the internet will continue to create new opportunities for the Exchange to utilize in its determination to constantly improve the level of services it provides to the market”, he added.

According to the Head, Corporate Communications, Olumide Orojimi, the NSE carried out this upgrade with the user experience firmly in mind. “We are excited about our newly upgraded website which has been fully optimized to be mobile friendly and contains robust information for diverse stakeholders in our ecosystem. The revamp was fuelled by feedback from users that wanted certain high demand pages easier to navigate and some key changes implemented. For example, using analytics from visits and usage of our website, we added filter functionality to the Corporate Disclosure page to enable users browse through results filed by listed companies easily.

Our online visitors can now experience a more vibrant and seamless view of our offerings”.

The Acting Head of Technology, Tosin Beredugo remarked that users will experience improved page load performance with the website upgrade. He noted that with the upgrade, the NSE is laying a foundation for future technological enhancements which will enable the Exchange offer more services to its stakeholders.

NITDA to enforce.gov.ng compliance N

ATIONAL Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said it will henforth enforce strict compliance to the use of the Country Code Top Level Domain of the Nigerian government (ccTLD.ng) by all ministries agencies and departments (MDAs) in the country. The Director General of NITDA, Dr. Isa Pantami, who disclose the stance of the agency in a statement, said NITDA had observed that many MDAs were disregarding the use of the .gov.ng domain name domain in the transaction of government business despite previous directives by the agency.

NITDA will henceforth ensure strict compliance with the directive by ensuring that all government business transactions are strictly carried out on the .gov.ng domain name. To this end, the

management of NITDA has put in place measures to ensure that all government MDAs (Federal, State, and Local Government) operate within the .gov.ng.

These measures include; Ensuring that all request http://for.gov.ng domain are verified& approved within 24hours provided all conditions are met; Provision of a Special Purpose 24/7 mobile line (+2348140504418)for responses 2 enquiries & support; Regular evaluation of government websites in collaboration with relevant agencies of the government; and iv. Blacklisting of all MDA sites running on Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD), other than the .gov.ng.” “For the avoidance of doubt, the National Information Technology Development Agency is an Agency of the Nigerian Government tasked with the implementation

of the Nigerian Information Technology Policy and co- ordination of general IT development & regulation in the country; Section 6(l) of the NITDA Act mandates that NITDA renders advisory services in all IT matters to the public & private sectors”, the statement read.

NITDA is also mandated “to ensure Internet governance and supervision of the management of the country code top-level domain (cctld.ng); Furthermore, .gov. ng domain names are free with no rental or renewal cost attached. “We therefore call on MDAs and service providers to support the Federal Government effort of moving Nigeria up on the scale of “ease of doing business”; by ensuring that all government websites are ONLY hosted on the .gov.ng as this will promote Government service delivery in Nigeria”.

• NITDA DG Dr Isa Pantami

24

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

ISSN: 2545-5869

VOX POPULI SACRUM

www.oraclenews.ng

EDITORIAL

Anambra passed peacefully, but…

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HE governorship election in Anambra State held on Saturday peacefully. There were few--and minor--cases of violence. Nobody or group was able to disrupt the election. None made any such attempt.

tion, is it sustainable in 2019 when election would be on in at least 31 States of the Federation? If the Anambra deployments were considered standard, the police would require 806,000 policemen, which is almost thrice the 371,800 policemen in service.

CREDIBILITY of the results has benefitted from everyone agreeing that the election was largely free and fair. There is no doubt that security played a big role in the achievement of the feat. We congratulate voters for conducting themselves in manners that left no room for clashes with security agencies.

THE security deployments for the 2017 Anambra governorship election were as follows: • Police 26,000 • Army 10,000 • Navy 5,000 • Air Force 3,000 • Civil Defence 11,000 WITH the exception of the case the All Progressives • Dogs 3,000 alliance (APC), candidate Dr. Tony Nwoye made • Gunboats 100 about the harassment of voters in his locality and the • Armoured Personnel Carriers 15 complaints of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP), candidate Mr. Oseloka Henry Obaze, about the card The long list did not include Federal Road Safety Corps, reader data being inconsistent with the results, the Immigrations, Prisons, and in the unique case of Anelection has been awarded pass marks. ambra State, neighbourhood vigilante groups. Other non-uniformed security agencies like the Department BOTH candidates have affirmed that they are not conof State Service are also excluded in the list. testing the result in court. Osita Chidoka of UPP congratulated Governor Willie Obiano more than eight Awesome as the figures are, they do not present a hours before the results were officially announced. complete picture of the security armada deployed to Technically, the election is settled, unless the intraAnambra State for the election. It is also expected that party disputes in the All Progressives Grand Alliance there would be arguments that the high presence of (APGA) upset it--which is unlikely. security personnel ensured the peaceful conduct of the election.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), appeared to have done a better work with distribuThese deployments, which were new, were not to protect tion of materials. Late arrivals were rare. The only 37 candidates and their running mates, who already complaints were with the card readers, in some had police protection. It is doubtful if more than the places. five main candidates had police protection. So, what were 26,000 policemen doing on election day?

HOWEVER, the security cordon on Anambra State, for the election, deserves special attention. Even if it They provided guard for electoral materials on transit to was the reason for the peaceful conduct of the electhe 4,608 polling units, 6,200 voting points, in 179 communities. If the policemen were deployed to each of the voting points, 24,800 policemen would be used, with 1,200 policemen still not deployed.

ARGUMENTS would arise over who manned the roads, the waterways, giving some of the credit to the police. Our point is that the numbers were far too high, and there were obvious wastes. Less than half the number would have done the job, with the assistance that other agencies provided.

IN most of the polling units, the voting points were in enough proximity that fewer policemen were needed to man them. Some units had up to three voting points. The waste the deployment of security in that order entailed should be checked.

ONE thing that should be commended about the security agents was their politeness. They were firm but friendly. Their point was that without a proper search of vehicles, no matter who were driving them, it was possible to compromise the election. They seemed different from the usual security people who are on the roads daily, extorting money from people.

PEOPLE are asking where IPOB was. The group not disrupting the election was considered another success. IPOB does everything to remain in the headlines.

IPOB would be grateful for numerous mentions it got from the police high command as the reason for the number of policemen on duty. The IPOB rally in Onitsha, a week to the election, for whatever it was intended, kept the group in the news

through the election.

ITS call for people to sit at home, as they did on 30 May 2017, to mark the 50th anniversary of Biafra was the image that people had expected could be replicated in Anambra on 18 November. The streets were empty, not because of IPOB. People voted without IPOB molesting them. The conduct of security agencies also doused fears that voters would be molested.

THE success of the 30 May sit-home order that IPOB ordered changed the perception of many about IPOB. Where did the organisation get the resources to mobilise for 30 May? What type of organisation shut down the South East so peacefully? The possibility of repeating the 30 May performance could weigh higher in IPOB’s calculations than in mourning its dead members.

IPOB is still claiming credit for the low turnout in Anambra State, where the total votes cast were less than 25%. It has congratulated voters for staying away from the polls. In the previous election, it was a little over 26%.

Then, there was no IPOB. Who was responsible for the low turn out on 16 November 2013, when Governor Obiano won his first term?

THERE could be a way of giving IPOB credit for the sanity that prevailed in the election. Political chieftains who would have wanted to manipulate the processes could not do so because security minimised movements. The insistence on searching all vehicles limited the movement of “illegal” materials. It could be said that the fear of IPOB intensified security and ensured a free and fair election.

A LESSON for IPOB and governments is that the people have a mind of their own on the issues that affect their lives. They are capable of making their own decisions, particularly where fears of danger to their lives are removed. On 30 May, they stayed at home because they believed that the 50th anniversary of Biafra was worth celebrating. On 18 November, they voted because they felt they had candidates they wanted to run their lives.

NOTHING could stop that resolve. In both instances, the people acted for themselves, though others may be the ultimate beneficiaries.

WE congratulate Ndi Anambra for a peaceful election.

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

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

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

OPINION ‘Trust in News’ study shows more trust for print than digital Ian Gibbs, MediaShift

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rust is the topic that won’t go away.

On either side of the pond, leaders with very different temperaments are dealing with issues of declining trust in very different ways. Whatever their differences, however, the knock-on effect to mainstream media — tacitly held responsible for failing to fully represent shifting public sentiment when they aren’t being openly lambasted — has been profound. Or has it?

A new global research study from Kantar entitled “Trust in News” has lifted the lid on attitudes to news media among 8,000 news consumers in the U.S., U.K., France and Brazil. Key findings of the study include: • Traditional print and broadcast media brands have proven more resilient to accusations of “fake news” than social media platforms and digital news outlets.

• News consumers are reading more widely and becoming more sophisticated in their engagement with news content, for example by independently fact-checking news they read.

• The public believes “fake news” had an impact on recent elections but maintain that quality journalism is important for democracy.

The strength of trust in mainstream and traditional forms of news is notable. In fact, printed news magazines are the most trusted news source (72 percent rate them positively), closely followed by 24-hour TV news, radio bulletins and national newspapers. Conversely, just 33 percent agreed

By COLLINS UGHALAA

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have listened to some people who did not know much about the Senator while he was in the Senate ask what he achieved as a lawmaker. The fact is that as a lawmaker, Senator Nzeribe ensured that the executive did not pocket the Legislature, because he believed in separation of power and the independence of the Legislature.

As a lawmaker, Senator Arthur Nzeribe’s functions were lawmaking and oversight functions, and he discharged them creditably. Not many knew that he was the highest-ranking Senator at the time, having been in the Senate for four terms.

This put on his shoulders the role of a stabilizer in the Senate.

He served as the Senate Committee Chairman on Power, and later on Health.

It was his Senate Committee on Health that gave Nigeria the first ever National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This is not mentioning other meaningful successes recorded in the Health sector.

However, it needs to be mentioned that some people have made some baseless falsehood about whom Chief Nzeribe has empowered. Except for those engaging in mischief, Chief Nzeribe’s empowerment has remained classical.

Not many know that the term ‘human empowerment’ was created by Senator Arthur Nzeribe in the first place. His kind of human empowerment spread across the country and many people benefitted.

Among those who benefitted from Chief’s empowerment is the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, whom he had sponsored for the governorship of Edo State. What Chief needed was demonstrable competence, and once he saw it in you he would spend his money and activate his wife reach contact to sponsor you, not minding where you come from.

Hon Gerald Irona is another person that was empowered by the Senator. He

that social media “provides news I can trust.” Even the print versions of national newspapers are more highly trusted than those same organizations’ websites.

The impact of ‘fake news’ Clearly, news accessed via social channels takes many forms — from the simple sharing of current news-related opinion and comments with friends, to the in-stream consumption of content distributed by mainstream news organizations themselves. What is particularly interesting, irrespective of the mode of social news consumption, is the impact of the pervasive topic of fake news on people’s trust in social news.

Again, social news has taken quite a battering. In the survey sample, 58 percent say that they will trust coverage of politics and election news less on social media as a result of fake news scandals. Mainstream news is by no means immune, either. A stillsignificant 24 percent report declining levels of trust in mainstream news, a smaller number compared to social. Tellingly, given that barely a day passes where President Donald Trump fails to mention fake news in some form of other (he did popularize the term, after all), it is in the U.S. where respondents feel that fake news has had more of an impact on their own election than it has outside of their country.

The same is true in Brazil. In the U.K. and France, respondents are more likely to feel that it has mattered more outside of their own countries.

So why is this important to news brands?

Fundamentally, this matters to news brands because a line can be drawn between trust and monetization. At a time when mainstream media is looking to protect, diversify and digitize its revenue streams, trust matters more than ever before.

While 29 percent of respondents say they have paid for online news in the last year — either as one-off payments or as part of an ongoing subscription — this figure increases to 42 percent for those who display high levels of trust towards newspaper brands.

Similarly with print, 40 percent say they have bought a newspaper in the last week; among those who trust newspaper brands, 56 percent say they have.

The relationship between trust and monetization also extends beyond audience subscriptions to advertising impact. “For news organizations to position themselves as the trusted medium of choice, is to an extent to enable them to break free of the now much contested one-dimensional notion that ad spend should be a closely aligned function of time spent with media,” according to the Kantar report, which also says that trust may transcend simple attention metrics.

Meanwhile, research from TGI Clickstream suggests that those who trust newspaper brands are 65 percent more likely than the average British adult to agree that they pay more attention to advertising on sites that they trust. The battle of attention in the online ad market is fierce and the ability to prove a tangible ad

impact multiplier to brands looking to maximize the efficiency of every penny of their online ad spend will become an increasingly important unique selling point for mainstream news organizations.

The relationship between news publisher and social platform has become an increasingly complex one over the past few years.

The dreaded “frenemy” status that sees ad revenue increasingly gobbled up by Facebook and Google, even as the platforms provide a vital traffic lifeline to news publishers, has become more complex. Traditional news brands are already wary about their dependence on audiences driven to them by social, but when nearly two-thirds of social news consumers say they notice which news organization provides the content they are reading, news brands must also be cautious of any negative effect that declining trust in social news could have on their own brand.

“In a networked world, trust is the most important currency,” then-CEO of Google and current chair of Alphabet Eric Schmidt said at a commencement address in 2009.

Almost a decade later that quote rings truer than ever. Trust was once a hygiene factor: the bare minimum we expected from mainstream news. Now it is a vital lifeline in a commercially turbulent world for news publishers.

•This story first appeared on MediaShift and is republished on IJNet with permission.

Arthur Nzeribe: Celebrating the Nostradamus of Nigeria’s politics @ 79 (2) sponsored him to be Councillor for two times in Oguta LGA, made him the Secretary of then All Peoples Party (APP).

By Chief Nzeribe’s empowerment drive Hon Irona became two term Executive Chairman of Oguta LGA. Chief also sponsored other candidates from Orlu Zone for Imo the State House of Assembly, including Hon Irona. He did not stop there: he was instrumental to Hon Irona going to the Federal House of Representatives.

He also sponsored Dr Gideon Nwaeze to be the Executive Chairman of Oguta LGA. Chief Nzeribe’s magnanimous empowerment also touched on Senator Osita Izunaso, Hon Jeff Ojinika, and others too numerous to mention. These people are still alive and active in Nigeria’s political and economic development.

Away from political empowerment, Senator Nzeribe is a huge philanthropist.

He created the Arthur Nzeribe Foundation where he empowered countless number of people in Agriculture and Education. As an act of philanthropy, Ogbuagu did not need to know the beneficiaries and where they came from. No one was required to pay a dime too.

Chief Nzeribe also provided free medical program for pregnant women, children and the elderly. The huge benefit to the beneficiaries cannot be quantified as most of those who could have died without the medical interventions are still alive and doing well in their different endeavours. And Chief never thinks they owe him anything.

It is in recognition of his good heart towards all that God chose to bless him with old age. And despite the frailties and other nagging challenges of old age, Nigerians, nay Igbo people, are grate-

ful to God that Chief Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe is alive and enjoying his old age. Growing up, we were told that old age is a reward from God. That is why all cultures demand total respect for the elderly. In some cultures it is believed that respect for the elderly brings God’s blessings. That God has rewarded Ogbuagu with old age is a pointer to the fact that no good deed passes unnoticed before God. As Ogbuagu clocks 79, we celebrate an enigmatic leader, a colossus, an institution, Maverick politician, philanthropist and consummate businessman, who has recorded earth shattering results for himself, Nigeria, Imo State and the entire Igbo nation. We celebrate a legend whose firm belief in progressive constitutional democracy, negotiations and people’s power has paid off. His belief that ultimately power belongs to the people has remained unwavering.

We celebrate the man that saw “change” in Nigeria as far back as 1983 when he campaigned for change, decades before the change mantra took over Nigeria. We celebrate a man who is loved by his people. This love is found in the lyrics of his 1983 campaign jingle which succinctly and solemnly declared that “Arthur Nzeribe is the people’s choice”.

This love is also found in the fact that the people of Oguta are fund of naming their sons Nzeribe, and in my community I have some people by that name. At a point Chief Nzeribe became our address.

When asked where we came from we would say we came from Nzeribe’s place, Oguta; that we are Nzeribe’s brothers.

Such was the love. And we remain proud of him snd his achievements.

At 79 we celebrate a legislator per excellence, a man of uncommon courage and foresight with huge international network of relationships with global financial structures and major political players and influencers.

Happy birthday, Ogbuagu, and may we have more years to celebrate you on earth.

• Ughalaa is Imo State Bureau Chief of the

Oracle Today and wrote in from Owerri.

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

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The Oracle Today, November 29, 2017

Travel & Hospitality Over-tourism needs to be addressed – UNWTO

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nti-tourist protests arising from over-tourism were a wake-up call to the travel industry, said the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai.

According to the UNWTO chief, who spoke at a travel summit along with other industry leaders, last week, diversifying tourist activities, reducing seasonality and highlighting lesser-known destinations could help address the problems of over-tourism which set off a wave of protests throughout Europe this summer.

Calling the anti-tourist movement a ‘wake-up call,’ Rifai said the industry must acknowledge the discontent of fed-up locals and create a more balanced tourism economy, cites a report out of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.

“Growth is not the enemy. Numbers are not the enemy. The key is to manage the growth sustainably, responsibly and intelligently and use the power of growth to our advantage...We cannot continue to build five-star hotels in three-star communities,” said the Secretary General said during the summit.

Cities like Barcelona, Venice and Amsterdam have been struggling with overcrowding, sowing bitter anti-tourist sentiments and driving local residents to the streets in protest.

Amsterdam, for example, has a population of 850,000 residents, but received 6.34 million visitors last year. That number is expected to spike to 6.57 million by the end of the year, and 7.5 million in 2025, according to the Top 100 City Destination Ranking released out of WTM London.

Meanwhile, behemoth cruise ships which belch out thousands of tourists at a time are blamed for causing over-tourism in Venice, while unsustainable tourist arrivals in Barcelona and short-term vacation rentals like Airbnb are blamed for overcrowding.

Speakers cited countries like Greece as a model example, for their efforts at promoting tourism during the off-season winter months and Mexico, which has been promoting lesser-known destinations and cultural sites to attract visitors off the resort path.

On her part, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Gloria Guevara Manzo, opined that the tourism economy can be credited for bringing jobs to Barcelona, which was previously plagued by high rates of crime and unemployment.

• Taleb Rifai

Marriott to lift Lagos hotel capacity Stories by VICTOR NZE

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ITH The official signing, Monday, of an agreement with the Landmark Africa Group for a 216-room hotel plus the 44-room executive apartments, in Victoria Island, Lagos, the United States hospitality chain, Marriott International will add a total of 983 room keys to the Lagos hotel market by 2020.

Following its acquisition of the Starwood Hotels properties in September 2016, Marriott also owns the 337-room Sheraton Hotel Lagos as well as the 231-room Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Lekki.

In addition, the Marriott Group owns the Renaissance branded hotel in Ikeja area of Lagos with 155 guestrooms including 17 contem-

…Adds almost 1000 rooms by 2020

porary suites which was the first of the hotel chain’s brands in the country, last December.

Marriott International and Landmark Africa Group, last Monday, announced the signing of the new Renaissance Lagos Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments. Slated to open in 2020, the hotels will be located within the Landmark Village precinct, along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront in Victoria Island, Lagos.

“We are excited to partner with the Landmark Africa Group on this project. With the rapid pace of urbanization more and more guests are looking for the value, the convenience and the vitality that mixed-use provides. The Renais-

sance Lagos Hotel and Marriott Executive Apartments will be a significant addition to our strong Nigeria portfolio. There is a growing need for high caliber short and extended stay lodging in Nigeria and we believe the two hotels together will help bridge this gap,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.

The 25-floor hotel will feature the 216 room full service Renaissance Lagos Hotel and 44 room Marriott Executive Apartment offering extended stay apartments.

“Marriott International is synonymous with quality and unique lifestyle experiences globally,

which we, at the Landmark Africa Group continuously strive to align ourselves with. We look forward to bringing Marriott’s hospitality and passion for excellence to the Landmark Village setting a new benchmark for mixed-use developments in the region,” said Paul Onwuanibe, Chief Executive Officer Landmark.

Designed to be the first Lagos equivalent of the Rockefeller Centre in New York, Canary Wharf in London, Rosebank in Johannesburg and Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, the Landmark Village is rapidly emerging as a leading mixed-use development on the West African Coastline.

Carnival: Calabar roads get facelift

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• Olisa Victor Chinonso (Mr. NACOSS) and Onyekwelu Mmesona Chisom (Miss NACOSS) NOUN Awka

Six ‘Eko Theatres’ to open in 2018

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AGOS State Government has said that the six `Eko Theatres’ under construction across the state would be ready before the end of next year.

State Commissioner of Information, Mr Steve Ayorinde, disclosed that the six theatres are located in Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Igando and Lagos Island areas of the state.

Ayorinde, who spoke at the recently-concluded All African Music Award (AFRIMA) 2017 in Lagos, said that the construction of the theatres was aimed at boosting tourism and entertainment in the state.

He said that three of the theatres would be commissioned by

the first quarter of 2018 ahead of the third anniversary of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.

According to the commissioner, the construction of the theatres is on course and will be ready on schedule.

“The first three of the Eko Theatres will be ready on schedule by the first quarter of next year.

“Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode is passionate about it: He visited the construction site of one of the theatres in Badagry last week and it is about 65 per cent completion level; same thing we have in Alomosho and Ikorodu.

“There are six of them scattered all over the state, but we are sure that the first three will be

ready for inauguration before the next democracy day May 29, 2018.

The opening will be used to commemorate the third anniversary of the administration, so we are putting much energy on it to have them completed,’’ he said.

Ayorinde said that other three Eko Theatres would be ready by December 2018, adding that Ambode was ready to make tourism and entertainment the hallmark of his administration.

“We are committed to the new economy because we all know what entertainment and tourism brings to table when it comes to revenue and income generation,’’ he said.

HE Cross River State Road Maintenance Agency has commenced the rehabilitation of bad portions of roads along the 12 kilometer carnival routes and other areas within the Calabar metropolis.

Director General of the Agency, Mr Oqua Edet-Oqua, who disclosed this, Thursday in Calabar, said the agency embarked on the repairs because of the importance of the routes to the carnival.

According to him, the agency usually carries out repairs of potholes within the state metropolis every December to make the roads motorable and fit for the street dance.

“If you drive along the carnival routes and other major roads in the metropolis, you will agree with me that they have actually started work. Some of the potholes have been marked while others were applied stone base and are waiting for the pouring of asphalt.

“Between now and the early part of December, we are hoping to complete the entire work. We are also working on other parts of the state because we believe that the yuletide season in Calabar is of most importance to us.

“I am giving you my assurance that the roads along the carnival routes will be ready for use in due course and the carnival participants will have a better road to dance on,’’ he said.

He explained that the maintenance and rehabilitation of major roads, especially the ones on the carnival routes had become a routine activity of the agency every December.

“It is a common knowledge in Cross River that before the carnival, all the roads are given attention and we will try to ensure that everywhere is clean before the main event,’’ he said.

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The Oracle Today, Wednesday November 29, 2017

AVIATION

ICAO, IATA advocate greater security Stories by VICTOR NZE

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he International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council has endorsed the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASep) to improve international coordination, response, and planning to counter threats to aviation passengers, cargo, aircraft and facilities.

This is also as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) similarly called for the implementation of the GASep, developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

In a statement posted on its website, Wednesday, President of ICAO Council, Nigeria’s Dr Olumuyiwa Bernard Aliu said the new strategic document would assist Member-States in their aviation security coordination with other states and applicable security agencies.

“It will also help to nurture se-

curity cultures and capabilities, place greater focus on the role of new technologies and innovations, and refine related frameworks for oversight and quality assurance,” he added.

According to him, a set of indicators and target dates have also been established, and all associated targets and outcomes will be regularly reviewed and adjusted, taking into account all new and emerging aviation security threats.

He said the council had encouraged the ICAO Secretariat to continue refining and improving this critical living document on the basis of close continuous cooperation with states and security stakeholders globally.

Aliu said subsequent to its first review of the new global aviation security plan in June 2017, the council authorised its transmission to ICAO member-states and international organisations for comment.

He added that 96 per cent of those replies indicated agreement with its scope and purpose, as well as the related strategies and global targets, which would continue to be refined.

The statement also quoted the ICAO Secretary-General, Dr Fang Liu as saying “the document was developed on an accelerated basis to answer the call of ICAO’s Council and member states.’’

It would be recalled that, last Tuesday, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) learnt its voice to the clamour for the implementation of the Global Aviation Security Plan (GASep), developed by ICAO. Director-General of IATA, Mr Alexandre de Juniac, made the call at the IATA Aviation Security World Conference in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The IATA chief noted that global standards were critical to manag-

ing the security of the aviation industry globally.

“States are responsible for implementing effective security measures. Annex 17 of the Chicago Convention, which has been in place for four decades, makes this clear. But shockingly, 40 per cent of states have struggled to implement even the baseline requirements. This is not good enough.

“Development and implementation are different things as we clearly see with low levels of compliance to Annex 17 requirements.

Capacity building will be critical.

States will need to integrate the priority actions outlined in GASeP into their respective National Civil Aviation Security Programme if it is to be effective,” de Juniac said.

He called for strengthening of partnership between governments and the industry in order to improve aviation security.

“Governments and the industry

are partners in aviation security.

Airlines have operational knowhow. Governments have the financial and intelligence resources. We have to put them together effectively in a continuous dialogue focused on improving security.

“We cannot predict the next security challenge. But some things we do know for sure. Our common defense is stronger when governments and industry work together.

And, if we can avoid long-term extra-territorial measures, focus on global standards, share information and develop technology efficiently, our hand is strengthened even further.”

The IATA chief further noted that better information sharing and coordination on security measures among governments and with the industry was essential.

According to him, the failure to share information among states manifests itself in many ways.

Nigeria, others stall foreign airlines’ $1.2b

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From right : Area Manager, South West, Africa, International Air Transport Association, (IATA), Dr. Samson Fatokun presenting the ceritificate of full International Air Transport Association, (IATA) membership to Accountable Manager/Chief Operating Officer, Dana Airline, Mr. Obi Nbanuzuo, Chief Pilot, Dana Air, Capt. Ayo Jemitola and Manager, Flight Operations Quality Assurance, Dana Airline, Olukayode Ola at Dana office, Murtala Mohammed Airport II.

IATA presents certificate to Dana Air

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he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has formally presented Dana Air with its membership certificate.

The certificate was presented to the Accountable Manager of the airline, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo, by IATA’s Area Manager, South-West Africa, Dr Samson Fatokun, in Lagos.

Speaking at the occasion, Fatokun said that not all airlines were members of IATA as a result of its stringent admission process.

He commended Dana Air for making the list and joining over 300 airlines presently on the association’s registry.

“We have requirements for any airline that wants to join the IATA family and one of that requirement is that they must pass the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and this has kept most of them back. IATA comes with a requirement of quality and people expect the airline to operate with recommended standards of aviation globally. We commend Dana Air for

this feat and hope that they will keep up the good work,”Fatokun said.

Responding on behalf of the airline, Mbanuzuo assured of Dana’s continuous safety and operational efficiency and a commitment to raising the standards of air travel with its admission into the registry of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Mbanuzuo also assured the airline’s teeming passengers of its commitment to guarantee sustainability and professionalism in Nigeria’s aviation industry. ‘’Since becoming an IATA member, we have received a barrage of requests for interline and code-share agreements and we can’t wait to take our unrivaled services in Nigeria to the global stage. Dana Air remains uncompromising in its commitment to maintaining global best practices and as always, we will continue to churn out world-class initiatives to meet and exceed the flying aspirations of our teeming guests,” he said.

He also stated that being a mem-

ber of IATA came with benefits and responsibilities, benefits that the airline is already tapping from with the deluge of information it gets as well as the airline body’s ability to lobby government and aid in favourable policies for the airlines.

He said the airline had also successfully undergone an operational audit

conducted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and its foreign partners, the Flight Safety Group.

“We also scaled the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and we wish to assure our guests that we are not resting on our oars as commitment to professionalism is unwavering,’’ he said.

IGERIA and eight other African countries including; Angola, Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan and Zimbabwe, have been accused of blocking global airlines’ funds amounting to $1.2 billion.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said, Monday, that foreign airlines’ operations were being crippled following the failure to remit foreign exchange owed the carriers by governments of the named countries.

According to IATA, the global airline industry has $1.2 billion blocked or trapped in nine African countries At an aviation meeting in the Rwandan capital, IATA’s Vice President for Africa, Raphale Kuuchi, said that airlines were in talks with “a few governments to unblock airline funds”.

“To do business effectively, airlines must be able to reliably repatriate their revenues,” Kuuchi said, adding: “And that’s not the case in nine African countries: Angola, Algeria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan and Zimbabwe.”

Of the total of $1.2 billion, Angola has blocked the largest amount, $500 million, while Sudan has held up $200 million, another IATA official, Adefunke Adeyemi, said.

Last year Nigeria owed airliners $600 million but as of October the amount had fallen to $221 million, she added.

Ethiopian Airlines bags AFRAA’s Airline of the Year

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THIOPIAN Airlines has won the Airline of the Year Award for the sixth consecutive year in a row, at the African Airlines Association’s (AFRAA) 49th Annual General Assembly which held, November 13, 2017, in Kigali, Rwanda.

The AFRAA annual awards recognize excellence in service delivery, innovation and competitiveness in airlines, individuals and service providers in the African aviation industry.

Ethiopian Airlines was chosen for its remarkable performance revealed through its exceptional profitability for the financial year ended June 2016, exemplary cooperation with other African carriers, cargo development in the continent, and significant expansion of its route network helping to connect Africa together and with the rest of the world.

“As a truly indigenous and home-grown Pan-African airline

owned, managed and operated by Africans, we are highly honored to receive this recognition by fellow sisterly airlines in the continent for the 6th consecutive year,” said Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam.

It would be recalled that SKYTRAX, the most prestigious international air transport standards and quality rating organisation, on November 8 , 2017, certified Ethiopian as Four Star Airline.

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION Pensioners decry selective payments

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HAIRMAN of Akwanga Branch of College of Education Pensioners Association, Chief Patrick Oyinu, has raised the alarm over the selective payment of pensioners by the institution.

Oyinu made the allegation, last Wednesday, in Akwanga when presenting a memo before the fact finding committee investigating activities of the college.

He called on the committee to thoroughly investigate the allegation to ascertain the truth.

“The problem is that selective payment of dead gratuity and pension to pensioners should be discouraged in all ramifications, the authority responsible for the payment of pension and gratuity should follow first come first serve principle.

“They should embrace the policy of ‘change begins with me’ by ensuring that payment of pensioners should be based on who retired first and who retired last in the interest of justice and peace,” he said.

Oyinu called on the state government to increase the amount of money sent to the school for payment of pension, adding that the monthly N3 million subvention for the payment of pensioners in the institution was grossly inadequate.

The association chairman called for regular payment of pension to pensioners in order to improve their standard of living.

Responding, Chairman of the fact finding committee, Alhaji Umar Muhammad Sani, said that the committee would look into their allegation and would come up with accurate reports on the issue devoid of sentiments at the end of exercise.

Over 7m workers registered Q3, 2017 --NBS

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igures from the Pension Asset and RSA Membership Data Q1 – Q3 2017 indicate that 7,710,564 workers have so far been registered under the pension scheme compared to 7,589,936 590 workers in Q2 2017 while the Pension Fund Asset under Management as at Q3 2017 stood at N7,164mln as against N6,832mln in Q2 2017.

FGN Bonds has the highest weight percentage of 54.09 per cent of the total pension fund assets and closely followed by treasury bills with 17.73 per cent weight and domestic ordinary Shares with 8.66 per cent weight while infrastructure funds has the least with 0.07 per cent weight.

Participants within the age distribution below 40years have the highest percentage composition closely followed by participants less than 30 years and within the age bracket of 40-49 years while participants above 60years has the least percentage composition.

Ambode harps on training for pension administrators

Stories by VICTOR NZE

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AGOS State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has told agencies and companies to prioritise the issue of welfare of the people as well as staff, which he described as the ‘ultimate law’ as the organisations, according to him, stand to ‘ruin the trust of the citizens in governance.’

Ambode who disclosed this while declaring open the Work-

shop tagged: ‘Vital Interpersonal Skills for Pension Administrators’ organised by the Civil Service Pensions Office (CSPO) of the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions in Lagos, said that employers who neglect welfare of their staff ‘run the undeniable risk of ruining their enterprise and the trust and devotion of their employees.’

The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner, Min-

istry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson said the Lagos State Government is one of the most notable of governments that believes in this ideal, adding that the dedication of the State Government to the welfare of its workforce both during and after service cannot be over-emphasised.

The training, he said, is dedicated to the need to inculcate and sharpen the vital interpersonal skills that

• From left: Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Habib Aruna; facilitators, Senior Lecturer, Journalism and Communication Studies, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Dr. Is1mail Ibraheem and Head, Media and Communication, Nestoil, Mr. Segun Fafore during a 3-day Refresher Training programme with the theme: EffectiveSkills for Good Governance Leadership and Social Media Practice for Correspondents in Lagos

officers of the Civil Service Pensions Office require to properly and fully serve the pensioners and retirees of the State Civil Service.

“In addition to fulfilling my duties charged with the responsibility for ensuring the adequate exposure of the civil service to knowledge on an on-going basis, the activities that have been carried out signify and underscore the Governor’s commitment to all matters relating to the welfare of staff, retirees, and pensioners in Lagos State.

“In aiming to call attention to, and aid the development of, the vital interpersonal skills that are vital for pension administrators, our trainings will focus on the skills that are not learnt in schools but are important though rarely visible. These are the skills that are less tangible, harder to quantify, challenging to teach and, sometimes, difficult to describe.

They include attributes such as etiquette, getting along with others, listening and engaging in small talk. Without doubt, these skills are related to the concept of ‘Employability’ but they are also related to the concepts of effectiveness and efficiency.

“Clearly, possessing the right attitude to work is a soft skill that is not taught in universities and other formal schools. This is therefore an attempt to help officers of the Civil Service Pensions Office develop the skills that are necessary for success. The training will also fully assist the participating officers to appreciate and acquire the benefits that training brings to bear on the attainment of the strategic objectives of the government and the effectiveness of the institutions of the civil service. It will also help pension administrators in the CSPO benefit from having officers who are able to make critical observations”, he added.

Ogun pays over N536m to council pensioners T

HE Ogun Government says it paid N536.9 million to local government pensioners in September.

Director of Finance and Supply, Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Mr Rotimi Opeodu, disclosed this Thursday during an oversight visit to the Bureau by the Ogun State Assembly

Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Opeodu said that the bureau had 10,119 retirees on its payroll, adding that the government paid N397.9 million to teaching and non-teaching retirees from primary schools.

“Over N139 million was released to the local government

pensioners in September. The monthly pensions have been paid up to the month of September for which we are grateful to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun for making the welfare of retirees paramount.

“Sadly between January and September, 91 retirees passed on to the great beyond,” he said.

AIO Hall of Fame Award launches third edition

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HE African Insurance Organisation (AIO) has announced the official launch of the third edition of its Hall of Fame Award, formerly known as the African Insurance Awards. It would be recalled that the second edition was awarded to Mr. Rajni Varia, former Managing Director of ZEP RE in Kenya.

According to AIO, the aim of the award is to recognise individuals and companies for their outstanding contributions towards the growth of the African insur-

ance industry. The award will be presented to the meritorious individuals and companies during a gala dinner at the close of the AIO Conference and Annual General Assembly.

In addition, the winner in the individual category will be nominated for the Insurance Hall of Fame which is organised by the International Insurance Society (IIS).

“Nominees must be adjudged to have made a broad encompassing and lasting contribution

to the insurance industry in its broad sense (insurance, broking, reinsurance and regulatory) and thereby exerting a substantial influence on the ability of the insurance industry to serve society. They must be recognized by their peers, without question as having been dominant and successful leaders, innovators and visionaries,” the AIO in a statement, which also informed that the deadline for submitting nominations is March 5, 2018.

He said that some of the challenges faced by the Bureau were the non-availability of functional vehicles to enhance movement and monitoring of the activities of the Bureau.

Opeodu said that the bureau would continue to create pensioners’ friendly environment with innovations aimed at increasing the life expectancy of the retirees.

Responding, Committee’s Chairman, Mr Olusola Sonuga, advised the bureau to ensure that all entitlements of intending retirees were duly perfected two months before their retirement dates.

Sonuga explained that the bureau should ensure that the retirees were well taken care of, saying that they should not put them in any stress before their entitlements were given to them.

The lawmaker urged the bureau to maintain cordial relationship with the Assembly.

29

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

INSURANCE & PENSION Agric, others dominate Lima discourse

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• From left: Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Abimbola Ogunbanjo, President, NSE; Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, NSE and Haruna Jalo-Waziri, former Executive Director, Capital Markets Division, NSE during the sendforth event for Mr. Ade Bajomo and Haruna Jalo-Waziri at The Exchange in Lagos recently.

Premium Pension tasks staff on professionalism Stories by VICTOR NZE

E

xecutive Director, Premium Pension Limited, Kabir Tijjani, has charged management and staff of the firm to support the culture of compliance and ethical principles.

Tijjani said this while flagging off the company’s recently-concluded Compliance and Ethics Week which was organized in line with the Global Compliance and Ethics Week being celebrated this year under the theme: “Make the Right Choices”. The event held from November 6 to 10.

The company is keying into this global yearly event for the second time running in appreciation of its invaluable significance.

“As a leading operator in the Industry, all hands must be on deck to support the culture of compliance which will not only distinguish us among our peers but also reflect on our profitability.

“Premium Pension Limited has grown to a level where ethical principles are becoming part of our culture and the sustenance of this great value is a function of the extent to which each and every staff of the Company can embrace the

attitude of doing things the right way and making the right choices at all times,” said Tijjani.

Tijjani further stated that it is through demonstrable professionalism, high ethical standards and adherence to global best practice that the company has witnessed tremendous growth and won several local and international awards.

On her part, the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer, Funmi Femi-Obalemo, pointed out that by hallmarking ethics and compliance, Premium Pension strives to fulfil its vision of being a leading Pension Fund Administrator and a

global player, which she said can only be achieved by doing business not just to comply with laws and regulations, but ethically.

“Compliance is a culture which infers the willingness to do things right, according to the requirements of the law. However, ethics goes further to emphasize the importance of distinguishing between good and evil, right and wrong, and between virtuous and non-virtuous actions or inactions,” she said.

Premium Pension has since inception paid out more than 137 billion naira to retirees and other RSA holders.

Niger State signs Health Insurance into law K

WARA State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has signed the State Health Insurance Agency Bill into law with a promise to support it with an initial N200million.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at Government House, Ilorin, Tuesday, Ahmed said the agency will operate with contributions from other sectors like the consolidated funds, grants from donors and other agencies.

The governor said the State Health Insurance Agency is part of the government’s commitment to Human Capital Development, adding that it has quality healthcare service and functional education as its main components.

“The Agency is saddled with provision of qualitative, affordable and accessible healthcare delivery for all the people of the state.

“Apart from the N200million grant from the State Government, the scheme will be funded with one per cent state consolidated fund, grants from donor agencies like World Bank and Pharm-Access.’’

He said that premium was to be paid by beneficiaries and other

funds that may accrue to the agency from time to time, saying that insurance bill would be built on the existing community.

Ahmed said the Health Insurance Scheme would cover ten Local Government Areas of the state for provision of health care service to care for separate categories of Kwarans and residents.

The governor said the agency would be sustainably used to develop healthcare service in the state beyond the existing levels with the hope to outlive the present administration.

In a post-event interview, a member of the implementation committee, who happens to be the Director-General of the State

Hospital Management Board, Dr Bunmi Winters told newsmen that the World Bank and PharmAccess Foundation were assisting with technical advice.

Winters said the committee would stage an advocacy week before the scheme takes off where they would sensitise members of the public about the operations.

Get cover, Senate urges traders

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HE Senate has advised market men and women across the country to obtain insurance to protect their businesses in the event of fire disaster which has become recurrent in markets.

This followed a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, on the floor of the senate on Wednesday.

The motion is entitled: “Fire Disaster in Central Market, Nguru, Yobe State: A call for Urgent Intervention.”

The Senate also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently pro-

vide necessary interventions to traders affected in the fire disaster at the Nguru Central Market in Yobe and other markets across the country.

Presenting the motion, Lawan said the fire outbreak occurred at the market on Saturday, Nov. 10.

He said “the fire outbreak was severe and possibly the worst of its kind in recent history of fire disasters in the state, where over 60 per cent of the market was razed.

“The inferno caused economic activities to be grounded completely in the market. Affected traders and shop owners are suf-

fering untold hardships due to the disaster.”

The lawmaker said victims of the disaster required urgent intervention to reconstruct and rehabilitate their shops.

He noted that the disaster was beyond the capacity of the Yobe Government, adding that there was need for urgent intervention

by Federal Government to alleviate their plight.

Sen. Umar Kirfi (APC Katsina) stressed the need for provision of fire extinguishers in markets to quell any fire outbreak and prevent losses by the traders.

VER sixty high-ranking representatives, from South and Central America, Africa and Asia, from the insurance industry and regulatory and supervisory bodies, gathered for the 11th Consultative Forum in Lima, Peru on November 6 to discuss the scaling up of agricultural insurance and the development of proportionate regulatory frameworks.

The 11th Consultative Forum was co-organised by the Microinsurance Network, the Access to Insurance Initiative (A2ii) and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). It took place as a pre-conference event of the 13th International Microinsurance Conference (IMC), co-organised by the Munich Re Foundation and Microinsurance Network, and hosted by APESEG. The Forum was the last of three events focusing on this topic in 2017, building on the 9th Consultative Forum, held in Singapore in March, and the 10th Consultative Forum, held in Uganda in May. “Agriculture is of vital importance for poverty reduction and economic growth, particularly in developing countries. It contributes to food security and nutrition, plays an important role in income and employment, especially in rural areas, contributes to GDP and also to the global food supply”, explained Francesco Rispoli, Senior Technical Specialist at the International Fund for Agricultural Development and Board Member of the Microinsurance Network, setting the scene during the opening session.

Forum panellists focused on the role of different actors from the industry and supervisory bodies, and of aggregators involved in the provision of agricultural insurance, as well as the importance of a strong coordination among them.

Discussions underlined the importance of technology (including the use of satellite data and the reliance on scientific agencies for product development, supporting the establishment of agile claims payment processes), of the role of supervisors and the industry in educating consumers and creating consumer awareness, and the need for training for those involved in the different processes, including the sales force. One of the key messages that emerged from the discussions was the need for clear communication with consumers as a part of consumer-protection efforts.

“I hope that the learning and information obtained here can be shared and multiplied to obtain responsible solutions. And that all stakeholders in their respective jurisdictions can work together to make insurance markets more inclusive.“ stated Carla Chiappe, Coordinator of the ASSAL microinsurance working group, Supervision Intendent at the Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP (SBS), Peru”.

A discussion facilitated by Andrea Camargo, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Consumer Protection for Central America at the Microinsurance Catastrophe Risk Organisation (MICRO), focused on the role of different stakeholders and key aspects determining the success of products, such as understanding the needs of the insured, knowing the data, testing the products and verifying their viability. Insurance supervisors of Peru and Guatemala presented implementation examples.

30

The Oracle Today, Wednesday November 29, 2017

Business Extra Ghana invites ExxonMobil to deep dive Sopuruchi Onwuka

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fter a futile run with international independent explorers, the government of Ghana has finally invited offshore champion, ExxonMobil, to deep dive into its offshore exploration terrains.

The country’s deputy oil minister, Mohamed Amin Adam, told secondary sources that the government chose direct negotiation with the US firm over a competitive tendering process due to the peculiar nature of the oilfield.

The block was relinquished twice

by Vanco Energy and Lukoil and that has since increased its risk profile, according to the Ministry.

A release from the Ministry described the block as “one of the ultradeep water blocks, which severely tests the limits of modern technology and would take research and development to optionally develop and exploit any discovered resources.”

The Oracle Today reports that ExxonMobil which operates exclusively offshore in Nigeria holds global reputation and status for taking petroleum industry’s biggest challenges while remaining compliant to host country policies.

The company is the second biggest producer in Nigeria with comparably few offshore assets. It operates two deepwater fields in the country including Usan and Erha.

According to reports monitored in Lagos by The Oracle, Ghanaian government and ExxonMobil are currently in talks to launch an exploration program off the West African country’s coast.

In 2015 ExxonMobil and Ghana signed a MoU to assess its Deepwater Cape Three Point region, where the water depths range up to 13,000 ft.

NNPC, Chevron wraps up $1.7b project finance deal

Sopuruchi Onwuka

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igerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has concluded the second and final deal on the $1.7 billion borrowing deal with Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) to drive conclusion of two development projects in Niger Delta.

The funds would be deployed in enhanced oil, gas and natural gas liquids from Sonam and Okan fields hosted in oil mining leases (OMLs) 90 and 91 respectively.

The deal which was executed in London weekend would be the second and final phase of an Alternative Financing Agreement between NNPC and Chevron aimed at boosting oil production by some 39,000 barrels per day.

The agreement is also expected to boost gas production from the Chevron operated assets by some 283 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd).

NNPC ‘s spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted the Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, as saying that the production boost from the two assets would be sustained till the 2045 projected field lifespan.

According to him, the project, which is about 92% completed, will cost about $1.7bn, with $780mn expected to be funded by third-party, while it will produce natural gas liquids and condensate extracted from the Sonam and Okan fields.

He said the project would also include the completion of the Sonam non-associated gas (“NAG”) well platform and Sonam living quarters platform; drilling of seven wells in the Sonam field and the Okan 30E NAG well; as well as the completion of the 20“ x 32Km Sonam pipeline and Okan pig receiver platform and development of the associated facilities.

“As we speak now, the facilities are 100% completed while wells are 40% executed,” Baru stated.

In carrying out the project, the NNPC/CNL JV adopted a 2-staged financing approach. While Stage 1 which provided $400mn sourced from Nigerian Commercial Banks (NCBs) achieved financial close on 1st August 2017, Stage 2, (signed today), is set to provide $380mn from International Commercial Banks (ICBs).

Out of the US$780mn total financing for both stages, Chevron’s Co-lending totals $312 million while NNPC’s portion of the total facility stands at is $468 million.

Speaking further on the Alternative Financing approach, Dr. Baru explained that it was aimed at plugging NNPC’s shortfall in funding JV cash call obligations including settlement of pre-2016 cash call arrears.

It will also enable full funding of NNPC’s JV obligations to restore investors’ confidence and stimulate further Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) as we are beginning to witness, he noted.

Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director of CNL, Mr. Jeff Ewing said his company supported the Federal Government’s aspirations to sustain oil and gas production.

“We know the important role gas supply to the domestic market plays in growing power generation.

We also understand government’s need to seek alternative sources to fund profitable and bankable JV Projects,” Ewing added.

He expressed Chevron’s commitment to execute the programme safely, timely and deliver its expected values for all stakeholders.

It would be recalled that in August this year, two sets of alternative financing agreements on JV projects were executed between the NNPC/ CNL JV (project Falcon) and the NNPC/SPDC JV (Project Santolina).

Both are aimed at boosting reserves and production in line with parts of the federal government’s aspirations for the Oil and Gas Industry.

one of the top two global providers of 4G LTE chipset platforms to smartphone makers.

4G VoLTE is a voice technology for high-definition (HD) voice and video communications over a 4GLTE network. Compared to traditional 2G and 3G networks, VoLTE allows consumers to benefit from superior voice, video and data services on single device and a single data plan. It gives customers the

choice of using their data for any service they want including voice and video, allows for faster connection of traditional calls and improves call quality.

Smile Group Executive Director Operations, Mr Ahmad Farroukh,says: “Affordability and superior technology are the key factors for a successful rollout of 4G VoLTE. That’s why we have combined Smile’sworld-class 4G LTE technology with the MediaTek Helio chipset and MediaTek powered smartphones.

“Our collaboration with MediaTek will help ensure seamless voice, data and SMS services over LTE with dual-SIM, affordable smartphones on MediaTek’s Helio platform.Thiswill enable our customers to benefit from richer, more reliable services, clearer voice calls, and value added benefits as they use our bundled VoLTE smartphones. It is in line with our commitment to offering affordable smartphones with competitive specifications and data, voice and SMS bundled as a single offer for customers in every market segment.”

MediaTek’s in-house IP Multimedia Subsystem IMS stack supports all major functions for IMS servers and operator add-ons and is tested with operators to ensure the highest quality experience for users. Its VoLTE smartphones deliver stable quality voice calls with high data transfer rates, offering consumers the best internet and voice calling experiences.

Dominique Friedl, Director of Corporate Sales for South and Sub Saharan Africa at MediaTek, says: “VoLTE is recognised as the industry-agreed progression of voice services, enabling operators to make more efficient use of spectrum than traditional voice, eliminating the need to have voice on one network and data on another, and unlocking new revenue potential. We are delighted to work with Smile as it uses this technology to leapfrog legacy mobile voice solutions and provide customers with a new-age user experience.”

About MediaTek MediaTek Incorporated (TWSE:

2454) is a global fabless semiconductor company that enables 1.5 billion connected devices a year.

We are a market leader in developing innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile devices, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT products. Our dedication to innovation has positioned us as a driving market force in several key technology areas, including highly power-efficient mobile technologies and advanced multimedia solutions across a broad range of products such as smartphones, tablets, digital televisions, OTT boxes, wearables and automotive solutions. MediaTek empowers and inspires people to expand their horizons and more easily achieve their goals through smart technology. We call this idea Everyday Genius and it drives everything we do.

Visit www.mediatek.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter @MediaTek or connect with us on Facebook.

About Smile Telecoms Holdings Founded in 2007 and incorporated in Mauritius, Smile is a pan-African telecommunications group with operations in Nigeria (Smile Communications Nigeria), Tanzania (Smile Communications Tanzania), Uganda (Smile Communications Uganda) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Smile Communications DRC). Smile has a single transformative objective of using the best and most innovative technologies to provide its customers with fast, reliable, high-quality, easy-to-use and affordable communication services.

In 2012, the company launched Africa’s first 4G LTE commercial network in the 800MHz band (ITU “band 20”) in the East African market, starting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and then Kampala, Uganda.

This was followed by the launch of West Africa’s first 4G LTE commercial network, also in band 20, starting in Ibadan and then Lagos, Nigeria.

Smile’s vision and mission is to be the 4G LTE voice and data provider of choice in all its markets and to enable its customers to benefit fully from the Internet world with data and voice services.

Smile collaborates with Mediatek

Communications and MeSthemile diaTek have teamed up to bring latest VoLTE smartphones to

customers in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This follows validation of the MediaTek 4G VoLTE (Voice over 4G LTE) solution on the Smile network. Smile is one of Africa’s leading providers of fast, reliable mobile voice and data services on 4G LTE and MediaTek is

Customers win N15m in Fidelity Bank promo

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hirteen customers of Fidelity Bank Plc have won N15 million in its “Get Alertin Million” Promo Reloaded. The 11 lucky bank customers won N1 million each, while two others went home with N2 million grand prizes.

Speaking at the second draw of the promo in Lagos, bank’s Chief Executive, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo said Fidelity Bank would reward its customers nationwide with N110 million cash and other consolationprizes.

Okonkwo, who was represented

by Mrs Chijioke Ugochukwu, the Executive Director in charge of Shared Services, said the promo aimed at improving the standard of living of its customers nationwide.

“We want to change the lives of our customers and also meet their needs. In this promo, we will give out N110 million to customerswithin a duration of six months with other consolationprizes,” Okonkwo said.

The grand prize of N2 million was won by Mr Abdulkadir Isyaku from Benin City, Edo State; and Mr Miracle Kanayo from Awka, Anambra State.

Those who won N1 million each were: Ezeokafor Felix and Osakwe Franca from Lagos zone; Usman Adamu and Amina Aliyu from North zone; Blessing Chika and Abimbola Yemisi from Abuja zone. Others were Isaac Aringbangba and Michael Agbolaga from South-West; Osita Ezeugwu from South-South; Stephen Ogonna and Akosa Nneka from South-East.

• Ahmad-Farroukh

countries to participate in 38th Kano Int’l Trade

o fewer than 11 countries are N expected to participate at the 38th Kano International Trade Fair

scheduled to hold from November 21 to December 3.

Director, Business Development and Membership, Kano Chamber of Commerce Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Alhaji Attahiru Gwarzo, in Kano, Friday, said already India, Pakistan, Egypt, Belgium and Germany had indicated their willingness to participate in the fair through their respective embassies.

He also said that no fewer than 500 participants from across the

country were expected to partake in the fair which would last two weeks.

“About 500 companies within the country have indicated interest to participate in the fair and some of them have started arriving in the state,” he said.

The director expressed optimism that the fair would give businessmen and women the opportunity to establish business relationships at the fairfor economic development of their respective countries.

“The trade F-fair is also expected to give participants the opportunity toexchange ideas and showcase their products,” he said.

31

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

Crime

ICPC opens case against Richmond University Stories by XAVIER NDAH

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HE trial of Professor Chris Okoro and Mr. Charles Ebue, of Richmond Open University, Ltd, Enugu, who were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before Hon. Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court, Enugu has commenced.

The accused persons were charged in May, 2013 for operating an unaccredited academic degree-

awarding institution in Enugu.

The first prosecution witness, Mr Chidi Orji, an operative of ICPC, testified before Justice Liman that his team of investigators had obtained a warrant from the Federal High Court, Abuja in May, 2013 to search and seal up the premises of Richmond Open University, Ltd, Enugu and about 62 other such institutions across the country.

The witness further informed the court that the activities of the unaccredited university were noticed following a Universities System Study

and Review exercise carried out by ICPC which revealed the prevalence of many unaccredited academic degree-awarding institutions in Nigeria. He narrated how the Commission obtained a list of such unaccredited institutions from the National Universities Commission and identified the Richmond Open University, Ltd as number 41 on the list.

The witness testified that some of the institutions on the list were licensed to operate as universities but were offering unaccredited academic programmes.

He said that some other institutions were operating without complying with the provisions of the Education (National Minimum Standards) and Establishment of Institutions Act 2004.

The witness further testified that unsuspecting members of the public were attracted to study in these universities without knowing that the academic certificates offered were unaccredited and worthless for employment or career progression.

The prosecution witness identified Mazi Okoro as the Sole Propri-

etor, Vice Chancellor and Academic Instructor who was awarding national diplomas, higher national diplomas, first degrees, masters’ degrees, and doctorate degrees in various fields including accounting, criminology and journalism.

The ICPC prosecutor, Barrister Adenekan Shogunle applied to tender the warrant from the Federal High Court, Abuja which was admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit 1. The case was further adjourned to 6th December, 2017 for continuation of hearing.

Man impersonates Adenuga

A

• The suspects

Police arrest over 80 cultist suspects I

N line with the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state (CP) Imohimi Edgal stance in flushing out cultism in the state the newly autonomous Anti- cultism unit of the police headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) Kehinde Johnson have arrested over 80 suspected cultist within two months.

The unit which was split from the antikidnapping unit on September 28 was made a separate unit by the CP to effectively tackle issues on cultism across the state.

Dependable police sources said the unit has made a tremendous impact as they have spread its dragnet and has clampdown on cultist even as members of the public who are not in agreement with cultism and youth involvement have volunteered information to the unit.

This came as majority of youths in the state have taken to cultism as a norm in our society and the attraction is fast gaining momentum and spreading like wild fire.

The much known cultist group in Lagos are the Eye, Aiye confraternity , Awawa boys, Badoo group but suddenly the Vikings confraternity is fast gaining grounds as many of them have already been enrolled into the group.

On September 30, dependable police sources said the Vikings group who were fully armed with machetes, axes and guns invaded a restaurant at the Ladipo area of Lagos and injured some members of the public as they run helter skelter for their dear lives. They left with tales of woe as they damaged and vandalized vehicles, injured many and causing fear in the area.

It was gathered that the information

got to the CP who alerted the anti-cultism unit whose investigation led to the arrest of one Chigoie Chukwuebere 22 and one Adekunle Babatunde who are the ring leaders.

On interrogation Chigoie has confessed to the police that he had been a member of the group in Anambra before he came to Lagos and he has recruited many to enlarge the membership in Lagos.

The suspect said his leadership of the group has earned him a position as he was recruited into the team in charge of collecting daily levy in shops at the Ladipo market.” Know that you must be seen as being strong and rugged before one can be recruited into the job, so they saw me and invited me” Chigoie was quoted as saying.

The suspects have been charged to court 4, yaba magistrate court for trial as other members of his gang are at large.

Also the unit on November 4, has charged to court eleven suspected cultists who were arrested at Mushin, Oshodi area of the state.

They were arrested along the railway line when they were holding their meeting and on a particular day sources said the group never allowed anyone to cross the railway line when their meeting was in session before the police were alerted leading to their arrest in the early hours of that day.

The suspects are Ibrahim Ayinla 19,Korede Usman 19,Lateef Muftau 24, Rilwan Ahmed 19,Temitayo Babatunde 19, Hassan Olarinde 27, Olabunmi Adebowale 28,luwasegun Ogunleye 39, Abiodun Sad-

iq 24,Ahmidu Taofeek 45, Lanre Aina 41.

They were charged to court for conspiracy, assault and occasioning harm, malicious damage and unlawful society. They were granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 each.

In a similar incident, two persons Adeolu Adefarasin 25 and Obafemi kaleyaje 26, suspected to be members of Eiye group were arrested at the Bariga area of the state with charms and some substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

They are now facing trial at court seven Ebute Metta magistrate court.

In another incident nine members of the Eiye cult group were arrested in a hotel in Bariga area of the state while holding a meeting at about 1pm.

Police source said that the police anticultism unit rounded them up based on information from members of the public in the area.

Police charge sheet gave their names as, Kunle Peters 29, Segun Omoyemi 38, Stephen Friday 39, Amodu Ibrahim 29, Philip Idomiye 27, Gbalajobi Jelili 42, Adeoye Michael 25, Ogunlesi Michael 25, Idris Moses 28.

Police Public Relations Officer Lagos state command Famous Cole confirms the breakthrough by the Unit stating that their performance has been tremendous “that is why the CP Imohimi in his knowledge decided to split that unit and make it autonomous to get the best result. This is a signal to youths that the police have a zero tolerance to cultism and we are ready to deal with those who fail to live in line with our directives”.

MAN who chose cyber-crime as a means of livelihood and resorted to impersonating a business tycoon and the second richest Nigerian, Mike Adenuga, has landed into trouble.

The suspect, 24-year old Ehioboh Lucky, was arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command having fleeced one Abiola Olalekan Ogunseye of N1, 028,770.

Ehioboh, who hails from Edo State, was alleged to have opened a Facebook account in the name and picture of the business mogul, to fleece unsuspecting Nigerians.

Nemesis, however, caught up with him after successfully defrauding this unsuspecting ‘Facebook friend’ on the pretext that he was going to secure a place for him at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In a press statement by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, “One of his victims, Abiola Olalekan Ogunseye, came in contact with him on facebook where he promised to get employment for him at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“The victim was said to have paid the sum of N1.5 million to settle some members of the management board of the corporation whom, he claimed, would influence and facilitate his appointment.

“N1,028,770 had so far been paid to the suspect before the victim realized that he had been defrauded “ the PPRO said.

Oyeyemi further stated that the victim had to lodge a complaint, via a petition, to the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Iliyasu, who directed the officer in charge of Anti- Kidnapping and Cultism, Chief Ssuperintendent of Police (CSP) Opeyemi Kujoore, to go after him After weeks of trailing, the suspect was apprehended on Monday, November 6, 2017.

Recovered from him were one Iphone 6, a Dell laptop, eight different sim cards, five Automated Teller machines (ATM) cards and one international passport. The suspect would, according to the police image maker, be charge to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

• The suspect

32

racleToday

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7x3

151,250.00

Earpiece Window (2 x 2) back

179,000

6x3

125,000.00

Centre Spread

1,000,000

6x2

50,000.00

Double Spread

850,000

2 x 6 (Strip ROP)

40,000.00

4x3

75,000.00

4x2

42,000.00

3x3

56,250.00

2x2

18,000.00

1x3

13,000.00

1x2

10,000.00

1x1

4,000.00

Wrap Around

16,500,000

Half Wrap Around

10,000,000

Classified

3,000

Loose Inserts Rate Per 1000 Copies 43,000.00 Handling Charge 45.000.00

33

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

Love and Living

...With Ireto Temofeh

MODEL OF THE WEEK

LOVE NEWS

Sylvester Stallone’s ex-wife denies sexual assault claim against the actor

S

Name: Vicky; Tel: 08020663312.

•

If you want to be our next ORACLE GIRL, e-mail or forward your photos/data to ireto007@yahoo.com. Call 07031028714.

ODD NEWS

ylvester Stallone’s ex-wife has denied claims the star sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl, saying he was with her the whole time.

The actor and filmmaker, 71, was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl while he filming Over the Top in Las Vegas in the late 1980s, according to a bombshell report obtained by DailyMail.com The Rocky star was 40 years old when the unnamed teenager told police she had been ‘intimidated’ into having sex with him and his bodyguard Michael ‘Mike’ De Luca at the former Las Vegas Hilton hotel in July 1986.

But in an interview with TMZ, Brigitte Nielsen, who was married to the actor between 1985 and 1987, said the incident could not have occurred because the couple were together the whole time.

‘During the summer of 1986 we were newlyweds. I was inseparable with Sylvester when Over The Top was being shot in Las Vegas.

‘The story claims that at approximately 8:30 in the evening during the shoot of the movie the person claims she was in our suite at the Hilton Hotel.’

She continued: ‘This incident did not occur. Most of the day, I would watch him film, then we’d have dinner and go to our room. No other person was in the room with him, but me.’

In the police report, the 16-year-old claimed she had sex with Stallone and he encouraged De Luca to join them. At that point she became ‘very uncomfortable’ with the encounter but felt she had ‘no choice’.

De Luca then forced the teenager to perform oral sex on him before penetrating her, while Stallone made her give him oral sex, according to the police report.

Retired Las Vegas metro police department detective sergeant John Samolovitch, who was head of the sexual assault unit at the time, confirmed to DailyMail.. com ‘the copy of the police report is in fact a true copy of the original report.’

Michelle Bega, spokeswoman for Stallone, told DailyMail.com: ‘This is a ridicu-

lous, categorically false story. No one was ever aware of this story until it was published today, including Mr. Stallone. At no time was Mr. Stallone ever contacted by any authorities or anyone else regarding this matter.’

After the incident, the teen claims Stallone threatened her - she couldn’t tell anyone because both men were married and if she said anything, ‘they would have to beat her head in’, before laughing with De Luca.

The unidentified teen ultimately decided not to pursue charges against either men because she was ‘humiliated and ashamed’, as well as being ‘scared’, according to the police report.

At the time of the incident Stallone, now 71, was 40 years old. Bodyguard De Luca, who was shot and killed by California police during a traffic stop in 2013, was 27 years old at the time.

Police were alerted to the incident when a hotel employee called police to report that a friend of the victim said she needed advice on the matter.

When officials tracked down the teen, she relayed details of the alleged assault to them.

She said she was staying at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel with family friends for 10 days, from July 18 to July 28, during the time that Stallone happened to be filming at the hotel for the upcoming movie Over the Top. The teen said she met actor David Mendenhall, who was playing Stallone’s son in the film, at the hotel’s arcade and he introduced her and her cousin to Stallone on Wednesday, July 23, 1986.

In the following days, the cast and crew of the movie continued filming at the hotel, and on Friday, the teen said she saw Stallone and got his autograph.

According to the police report, Stallone asked the girl how old she was and after learning she was 16 years old, he asked her ‘how she got such a build’.

One of the teen’s friends had received a kiss on the cheek from Stallone during

Footage of restaurant diners eating LIVE seafood reveals grim trend in China

A

shocking video has emerged of people eating live fish as they struggle and squirm in desperation in restaurants in China.

Horrible videos show large fish still moving despite being partially cut up and laid out on plates while being prodded with chopsticks by diners.

One fish, who has half its side slashed off with its flesh laid out in strips in front of it, can be seen repeatedly opening its mouth, as if gasping for breath, as someone prods at it.

A pot of wriggling eels are dumped in a large bowl of sauce on another dining table, and some of them make a dash for freedom, squirming across the table and onto the floor.

A man picks up a an octopus from a bowl of broth and shovels the wriggling creature, which scientists say feel pain and are intelligent, into his mouth as other diners laugh and joke as he does so.

The creature’s tentacles reach out from his mouth and wrap around his face, grabbing at their assailant before he bites them off.

In another clip, a fish opens its mouth repeatedly as people pick up pieces of its mutilated flesh with chopsticks and eat it.

Large grubs wriggle about in a bowl of broth in another video.

But China is not the only country in which this ethically questionable practice of eat-

ing live seafood takes place.

Oysters are eaten live in many countries, including Britain, and restaurants in Europe and America serve live lobster.

Wendy Higgins of Humane Society International told MailOnline: ‘This video is truly sickening both in terms of animal cruelty but also in terms of what humans are capable of doing to our fellow creatures.

‘These fish and baby squid will have endured the unspeakable horror and pain of being eaten alive, all to satisfy diners’ lust for extreme cuisine. Their ordeal is protracted and disgusting.

‘There are no laws to protect animals like this in China, and it is that lack of legal recognition that can in itself encourage an attitude of disrespect.

‘Basic respect for animals as sentient, thinking, feeling creatures is absolutely fundamental to protecting them; without that it becomes so much easier for people to divorce themselves from the pain and suffering that they commit.

‘Some of these hideous scenes in the video are not a million miles away from what we may see in the new series of I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, where the live eating of grubs and bugs is broadcast to huge audiences for our entertainment.

‘So whilst we absolutely should and must abhor the kind of violence we see at this restaurant in China, we should also take a good long look at ourselves.’

Cont’d on page: 36

Romantic Joke Emergency Boy: *calls 911* Hello? I need your help!

911: Alright, What is it?

Boy: Two girls are fighting over me!

911: So what’s your emergency?

Boy: The ugly one is winning.

34

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

True Confession

‘My husband’s business

collapsed because of me’ W

hen I met Julian, I knew he was going to make a great father. Having grown up in a family without a dad, this was high on my list of prerequisites.

Julian seemed to fit the bill perfectly — he was good with kids and spent lots of time with his nieces and nephews. I knew he was a workaholic too, but was sure that he would stop to make time for his family.

By the time we had our second child, I knew our “perfect family” was in trouble. Julian returned to work at his restaurant straight after the birth and after that, we hardly saw him.

He went to work early to start the breakfast shift, came home briefly for lunch and to see the children and returned to work until late in the evening, when everybody was in bed.

When the kids reached school age and weren’t home in the middle of the day, they never saw their father at all. Julian brushed off my complaints with reminders that he was working so hard for them in the first place, but I knew this wasn’t really the case.

The restaurant was doing well and we’d always been good with money; there was more than enough room for Julian to take a few days off here and there.

But it never happened and so by the time our kids had almost reached high school, we’d never even taken a family holiday together.

I knew I had to do something drastic, so I left my husband. But that only made things worse.

I got custody of the kids and Julian never even saw them! Infuriated by his apparent lack of concern and remembering my own childhood with a dad who lived two states away and didn’t care, I decided it was time to teach Julian a lesson.

And I knew just how to do it.

Julian had a good business going with his restaurant, but I knew he was a bit shifty in how he ran things. No one who worked for him received proper training, for example, because it cost too much.

One day, I anonymously rang the council and made a complaint. I said I’d recently eaten at the restaurant and had wound up incredibly sick.

I told them that I had watched

“I knew I had to do something drastic, so I left my husband.

But that only made things worse. I got custody of the kids and Julian never even saw them! Infuriated by his apparent lack of concern and remembering my own childhood with a dad who lived two states away and didn’t care, I decided it was time to teach Julian a lesson. And I knew just how to do it.” the preparation of the food and noticed some very poor hygiene practices from the chefs. I hung up the phone, knowing that Julian was going to get a call from the local health department.

What I didn’t know was that Julian had already been in trouble and fined for similar infringements. For example, his staff didn’t store food correctly, didn’t label expiry dates,

check temperatures, wear gloves or even clean adequately! I had no idea things had been this bad.

I only wanted Julian to get a fine, to pay him back, but it was a long way past that. When the health inspectors paid my husband a visit, they found enough wrong to shut him down. And it was all my fault!

It was a blessing in disguise, though. Out of work, Julian came

grovelling back to the family. I took him back on one condition: I would go back to work and he could become a stay-at-home dad.

He accepted begrudgingly, but every now and then he still talks about opening up his own business.

I always manage to talk him out of it, but he has no idea how far I’ll go to make sure he doesn’t!

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

35

Relationships and Love Advice

‘I slept with my dad’s boss to save dad’s job’

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Dear Love Doctor, My name is Mercy and my dad is a banker. But he wouldn’t still be working with the bank now if I hadn’t done what I did. He said his bank’s Managing Director (MD) didn’t like his face and was determined to sack him. One night, my father returned home from work looking so frightened and confused that he refused to eat. He soon broke down and told us his children that he had heard a rumour that he would soon be fired from the bank, which meant that there would be no one to pay our

school fees and no money for the still, I’m glad he kept his word not family to feed anymore. to sack my dad if I have sex with him. Christ said there’s no greater The thought of my father losing his love a man has for his friends than job was terrible since my mum is to lay down his life for them. Figjust a housewife. I’m the firstborn uratively speaking, that’s exactly of five children. I had to find a way. what I did for my dad. Greater love Without my dad’s knowledge, I has no daughter for her father, went to see his MD and he said than to lay down her body for his my dad’s name was actually on sake. the sack list. The MD said he must go to bed with me if I wanted my From Mercy, father to retain his job. Anytime I Lagos. remember the day my father’s MD slept with me, I feel so sad. But

Love Doctor’s Advice: Dear Mercy,

Time heals all wounds. So please take heart and don’t keep punishing yourself by continuously carrying the guilty feeling in your heart. Put your trust in God and never lose hope. Remember that your father (or anyone for that matter) losing his job is not the end of the world. There is life after being sacked. Some people even get rich through creativity and get their breakthroughs in life after being fired from their present jobs. So please, don’t go to such extremes again for any reason!

Do you have advice on this problem? Please share your thoughts. Call 07031028714 or 08131161840. Email: ireto007@yahoo.com Do you have a marriage/wedding, birthday, anniversary or club or town meeting announcement to make?

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36

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

It happened to me:

‘I pretended to be infertile just to maintain my career’ M

y name is Immaculate but I’m not so immaculate. I have a dirty little secret and that dirty little secret has now succeeded in robbing me of so much joy in my life.

My career has always been my first love, but when I was 30 years old I agreed to marry a lovely man that I had been seeing for several years.

Chima was really keen to have children straight away but I was focused on my job and doing really well so I managed to convince him to wait a few years.

He kept bringing up the topic and, although I was still not interested, I eventually agreed to start trying for a family.

I started taking folic acid and calcium and stopped drinking alcohol.

But secretly I kept taking the pill. I felt terrible but I knew that if I got pregnant now I would lose my job, I figured this was the best way to keep everyone happy.

Besides, by this time I was still only 34 and figured that I still had plenty of time to have children later, when I had achieved what I wanted at work.

Chima was so excited, he started buying little presents for our ‘baby’ and spent time researching the best cots, car seats and carriers.

I felt bad but I’d just been promoted again and was able to throw myself into work and forget about my lie.

Each month when I got my period Chima was so sad, and I had to pretend to be too. He would always buy special ingredients for me to cook special meals full of baby-making vitamins and burn oils that supposedly promote fertility.

After a year of “unsuccessful at-

tempts” Chima suggested seeing a fertility specialist. I put it off as long as I could but eventually I had to agree to go along.

I felt sick sitting in a waiting room surrounding by hopeful looking couples waiting nervously.. I had to lie to the doctor and undergo a series of tests.

When I couldn’t take it anymore I broke down and cried to Chima that all the testing was too intrusive on my privacy and made me feel like a failure.

I was consumed by guilt. As always, Chima was so wonderful and supportive, I hated lying to him.

By this time Chima has spent a lot of money on all kinds of “natural treatments” and with the stress of it all, along with me working longer and longer hours at work, we began to fight.

Chima resented me spending so much time at work and putting extra stress on my body. Gradually we stopped fighting and gave up on the idea of a baby of our own.

Today I am 46 and have pretty much missed out on my chance to have children. It hurts me to watch the sad look on Chima’s face when he plays with our friends’ children.

And it hurts me even more to watch the sympathetic look that my poor child-

“Each month when I got my period Chima was so sad, and I had to pretend to be too. He would always buy special ingredients for me to cook special meals full of baby-making vitamins and burn oils that supposedly promote fertility.”

Sylvester Stallone’s ex-wife denies...

Cont’d from page: 33 the conversation, so the teen said she also asked for a peck on the cheek from Stallone.

‘He replied that he would give her a kiss at a later date, that she would not forget’, according to the police report.

The next day the teen said she returned to the area in the hotel where the crew was filming with a larger picture for Stallone to autograph for her so that she could give it to a friend.

There, she met De Luca, Stallone’s bodyguard, who allegedly asked the teen if Stallone made a pass at her, what would she do.

The teen said she responded that she ‘would probably make a pass back at him’.

De Luca then gave her two keys for a room on the 27th floor and told her to go up to the room as soon as possible,’ according to the police report.

That night, the teen claims she went up to the 27th floor where she met Stallone and De Luca in the hallway and together, they all went into the hotel suite.

From there, the teen said she and Stallone went into the bedroom, got undressed and began having intercourse, while De Luca stayed in the bathroom.

The teen told police that they ‘really didn’t have sex’

less husband gives me; misinterpreting my guilt for the pain of being unable to give him what he wanted.

I know that some of his family mem-

because Stallone only inserted himself ‘a little ways’ into her and ‘only kept it in for a few seconds’.

Stallone remarked to the girl that she was ‘very tight’ before asking her if she ever had sex with two men at the same time, according to the report.

She said she responded that she hadn’t and then Stallone went into the bathroom and brought De Luca into the bedroom.

Stallone allegedly asked De Luca if he wanted a ‘blow job’ from the teen and De Luca then ‘forced her head down onto his penis’, according to the police report.

The minor claims De Luca forced her to perform oral sex on him for a few minutes before he ‘came around and had vaginal sex with her’.

Then Stallone allegedly ‘came over to her and pushed her head down onto his penis and made her give him a blow job’.

Neither of the men climaxed but the teen said that Stallone asked her if she ‘wanted to see come’ and then he ejaculated in front of her, the report continued.

The teen told police that after she got dressed, ‘Stallone made the comment that they were both married men and that she could not tell anybody about the

incident and if she did, that they would have to beat her head in’.

Stallone and De Luca both ‘laughed after he made the comment’, according to the report.

Police noted that ‘during the interview [the teen] became emotionally upset numerous times, crying and sobbing.’

The report continued: ‘She indicated that if the sexual encounter had only been with Stallone, she would not pursue this matter, but due to the fact that Mike, the bodyguard became involved in the sexual incident, she didn’t know what she wanted to do.’

According to police, when De Luca became involved in the sexual encounter ‘she became very uncomfortable with the situation. She states she did not want to have any type of sexual contact with the bodyguard, but felt she had no choice in the matter.

‘She states there was no actual physical force, but she did feel intimidated.’

Police noted in their report that the teen had ‘difficulty in relating her thoughts’ and was ‘extremely emotional’ when telling her story.

When pressed if she wanted to pursue charges against Stallone and De Luca, the girl told police: ‘I’m humiliated and ashamed, but I don’t want to prosecute.

‘I’m kind of scared and I’m very ashamed. I don’t want anybody else to have that happen to them, but

bers and friends have been telling him to marry a second wife who will bear him children. I really don’t mind.

Even if my husband marries a second wife in secret I will not be angry with him because I know that it’s all my fault.

No job is that important. If only I’d realised this 10 years ago, I would have had several children for my husband by now.

Looking back, I can clearly see that I stupidly put my career first before any other thing like family, and in so doing, I deprived myself of the joy of having children.

I don’t want to prosecute. I cannot talk about this anymore, please leave me alone.’

She later signed a no prosecution form and the matter was dropped, although police did confiscate De Luca’s concealed weapon permit on July 30, 1986..

A story about Sly Stallone being involved in a possible sexual assault in Las Vegas in 1986 was first reported by Doug Poppa of the Baltimore Post Examiner.

The bombshell police report was made a year before Stallone’s half-sister Toni-Ann Filiti, threatened him with a lawsuit in 1987, alleging that Stallone raped her and sexually assaulted her for years.

Although court documents show the actor ‘vigorously denied and continues to deny and dispute all claims of wrongdoing’, he agreed to give Filiti a lump sum of $2 million, as well as $16,666 a month for the rest of her life.

His half-sister, whose own mother claimed she was a drug addict, died in 2012 after a battle with lung cancer.

Stallone is one of the most recent A-listers in Hollywood to be accused of sexual assault and/or harassment in the wake of damaging claims made against Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Brett Ratner, among several others.

DAILY MAIL

37

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

Love & Living

There’s nothing like marital rape

B

LESSED are men whose women have high sex drive. Of course, knowing how important sex can be for men and how they can’t live without it, those that are with women who can “dance” forever without any rest can’t be less thankful.

One classical advice that young wives in our setting can’t avoid is a stern and seriously emphasised, “Don’t ever deny him, give it to him as he wants it”. Personally, I have heard that everywhere: house, church, school, market, street, just everywhere. And the threat, “Ensure to do that else another woman will do it for you and then you start complaining and moving from church to church seeking for solution”.

But it is easier said than done. As we know, the spirit could ever be willing but the flesh sometimes is weak. Since it’s more like a tradition to let him through anytime he wants and to please the man, a loving wife would yield always but what if she goes through pains most times in the process?

Some call it marital rape but that’s a rather disjointed term that should be reviewed. Granted, some men force themselves on their wives for various reasons and we must decry such acts. However, describing that

Ify ARONU ifyaronu@gmail.com

as rape may not really fit the definition since he took what’s lawfully his howbeit forcefully. Sex in marriage may not always be mutually consensual since the partners may hardly be horny at the same time. Someone has got to indicate interest and then engage the other’s interest.

Guess what proper partners do?

They patiently initiate the process before proceeding with the actual thing. Sadly though, many still force their way through thereby causing their partners pain. We know too well that its best to let a man be when he’s not ready after all en-

ticements. There’s no need killing yourself over it when it’s just not responding or standing. Good thing for the men, they don’t get to feel any pain even if she tries doing a slot in just to see if things pick up from there. But you can’t begin to imagine the pains felt by a lady when the impatient man plays down on fore play and prefers piercing through a dry path.

Who does that? Men who have delicate skin dare not go down that road because they know the pains of having their tender skin peeled but those with tough fighter skin hardly

care about how it affects their partner. That’s selfish to say the least.

It may be too extreme to describe forceful sex in marriage as rape but safe to say that it’s selfish and even inhuman to do that. The fact that it’s yours doesn’t mean you should bash it; in fact you should handle with care. If you can lovingly care for and drive your car avoiding crazy bumps on Nigerian roads, why can’t you also preserve your wives sexuality?

The fact is that the way some men bastardise the whole thing making it more like a show of violence and dominance makes women lose interest. The hormones that ensure wetness may go on leave if you disregard them by always taking it by force. Sex is best enjoyed together and should not be seen as a kind of punishment or way of unleashing violence.

The best way forward is to grow your partner’s libido, know what to do and when to do it, discover the right places to touch and never be in a hurry. With the right approach to things in the other room, there’s absolutely nothing like marital rape really.

• Please send your comments to ifyaronu@gmail.com

‘Not too young to run Nigeria bill’ A

COUPLE of months ago, the news of the French elections filtered into our ears, our newsfeeds and timelines on social media, and trust us to be us, we had an opinion, a contribution, and a hashtag to create in an attempt to make our squeaking voices heard. So a 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron emerged president of France and we as usual were thrown into frenzy.

I began to read tweets, Facebook updates and also began to bump into memes asking if Nigerian youths are ready to serve their nation? What?

Were we truly asking those questions?

Aren’t we tired already of the pattern of governance we have been accustomed to? Of course I believe majority of us are…

It was a thing of joy when a few weeks after the bill was amended, reducing the age requirement of persons to be elected into political offices.

But the salient truth is NOT VERY MANY mouthed e-politicians will be capable of holding political positions, and this is a very sad reality we live in.

This is so because we are good at avoiding responsibilities and we hate to be accountable for anything. And good governance requires accountability to the people we govern.

The bill passed is one step further for the greater good of the nation and we have a lot of demons we have to battle for it to be a success.

We never take up the courage to attempt feats that seem bigger than our eyes can see.

We do not have the entrepreneurial, “got to get up and do it” gut in us.

We do not want to lead; yet we accept to be led like sheep to the slaugh-

M

e& ore

Maureen Alikor maureenalikor@gmail.com

We are good at avoiding responsibilities and we hate to be accountable for anything. And good governance requires accountability to the people we govern.

”

ter, lamenting and complaining of how hot the fire is or how sharp the butcher knife is, for us.

We prefer to be followers, but who will lead us right, if we all choose to follow.

It is a beautiful thing that a 39 year old French man won the French election, now we are all motivated to pick up forms, me too.

While we sing and shout “are our youths ready?” I dare to ask, “Are we ready too?” Are we ready to be ruled

by these same youths we are asking if they are ready?

An average person in Nigeria has issues with taking dictates from a younger person. We have issues receiving instructions from people we know how old they are and when they were born, and this is a major issue that though it may be salient, is a really major challenge.

I have been in positions where I was almost the youngest and when ideas were needed, it was obvious the age

bracket the ideas were needed from, even when I tried to proffer a solution, I was politely shut down.

Truth is, somewhere in our psyche, we have been brainwashed to dissuade and neglect wisdom when it comes from a younger person. We battle with our ego, and this does not allow us see past our sentiments.

We also battle trust issues, we have had past experiences that gnaw at us, from the left right and center. They are demons of the past, raving mad and not letting see enjoy the present.

When older persons do find themselves in positions when they have to work for a younger person, it takes a certain level of discipline and self-control not to resent their authority.

Most of the times, we grudgingly obey those commands or run these errands, because they have to keep their job, which in turn provides their salaries.

Imagine if a young person in Nigeria with a clear sense of direction declares to run from the highest political office in our nation, let us be sincere, How many will let go of their sentiments and vote them?

How many will believe they have anything to offer, and rally around to support them?

In as much as we have a not too young to run bill passed, we should look past age, for both young and old and vote in those with proven track record of worthy virtues. I am sure we are tired of the recycling that has been going on in our political sector.

• Please send your comments to maureenalikor@gmail.com

38

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

The Law and You Administration of trusts

With Barr. Ken Akpom 08162016410

HISTORICAL REVIEW he concept of trust owes its origin to equity. The modern day began during the Anglo Saxon times. It arose out of the practice of the ‘use’. The idea simply involved the transfer of property by one man to another, who was a trusted friend, with the understanding that the friend was to hold the property for the benefit of the man’s family. This was necessary because prior to Statute of Wills of 1540, land could not be bequeathed through a will as land was regarded personal in nature and could not survive the owner.

To beat around this, lawyers devised the concept of use by which the property owner transfers the property to the feoffee for use of himself during his lifetime and for use of the cestui que trust after his demise. The exigency of the times aided this measure as men of valour often went to war and they made use of the concept of use of transferring their properties to other persons for the benefit of their families should they not return.

Most times the instruction varied, but it was always for the benefit of the third party who was called the cestui que use. To put it shortly, the feoffor who is the person who entrusts his property to another person called the feoffee, would direct that the feoffee holds the land for the use of the cestui que use, hence the word ‘use’.

It would seem that the necessity for the ‘use’ lay in the fact that the ‘use’ was an essential means of overcoming difficulties created by force of circumstances or by the law itself. The common law courts however did not enforce the use. Indeed the feoffee could convert the property without any interference by the law court.

Equity on the other hand, regarded the refusal of the feoffee to perform the terms of the use as unconscionable and enforced the agreement against the feoffee.

In the sixteenth century, Henry VII arranged for the Statute of Uses 1535 to be passed. The effect of the Act was that the individuals in whom the property was entrusted and not the intended beneficiaries had legal title to the land. The Chancellors circumvented the Act by accepting the uses and creating the concept of trust. They did this by recognizing that the trustee had legal title and at the same time recognizing the beneficial and thus equitable title of the beneficiaries. The trust therefore became and remains a device whereby equity recognized a difference between legal ownership and management of an asset on the one hand and enjoyment either of the assets or the benefits according on the other.

According to Keeton, a trust, “………is the relationship which arises where a person called the trustee is compelled in equity to hold property, whether real or personal and whether by legal or equitable title for the benefit of some persons (of whom he may be one and who are termed cestui que trust) or for some object permitted by law, in such a way that the real benefit of the property accrues, not to the trustee but to the beneficiaries or other objects of the trust.”

T

iii.

CERTAINTY OF OBJECTS ‘Objects’ in this context means intended beneficiaries. The beneficiaries must be ascertained. The question to be asked here is; Are the beneficiaries identifiable? See Mcphail v. Doulton 1979 1 AC 424.

TYPES OF TRUST There are two different types of trusts, namely; 1.

Private trusts 2.

Public trusts 1)

PRIVATE TRUSTS Under private trust there are two types;

a.

EXPRESS PRIVATE TRUSTS Trust created by the intention of the parties. Express private trusts are created by express declaration of the testator under a will, settlor under deed or other writings, or by parole and which is CREATION OF TRUST The trust is a triangular relationship involving three principal parties. intended to be for the benefit of an individual.

1.

The Settlor/Feoffor: The person who set up the trust; IMPLIED PRIVATE TRUSTS where he does so by a will he is also called the testator and where he b.

Trust implied by the operation of the principles of equity. In its does so by a deed of trust or deed of settlement he is a settlor.

2.

The Beneficiary/Cestui que trust: The person for whom simplest form a trust is said to be implied where the court finds an intention to create a trust even though there is no proof of intenthe benefit of the trust is directed.

3.

The Trustee/Feoffee: The person who is bound to execute tion by evidence of express words. In this type of trust, the parties the trust i.e. to manage the property as directed by the settlor for do not set out to create the trust but the trust is enforced by the court as a result of the surrounding circumstances. Implied trusts the benefit of the beneficiary. are of two kinds namely; ESSENTIALS OF A TRUST RESULTING TRUSTS For a trust to be create the settlor/feoffor must show a clear inten- I. tion to create a trust as a general intention will not suffice. This in- Resulting truss arises generally where the beneficial interest in tention must be evinced in three manners which we call the three property comes back to the person who transferred the property certainties (3cs) as propounded by Lord Langdale in Knight v. Knight to the trustee or who provides the means of obtaining the property. See Re Ames 1946 Ch. 217, Hodgson v. Marks (1971), 2 All ER 1840, Beav. 148 at pp. 172-173, namely; 684, Savage v. Dunningham 1973 3 WLR 471, Ezeanna v. Attah 2004 7 NWLR pt. 873 p.468. i.

CERTAINTY OF INTENTION The words used must show a clear intention that a trust is intended CONSTRUCTIVE TRUSTS to be formed or created. There are no special words but request or II. wishful words are not capable of creating trusts. See Re Snowdens Constructive trusts arises where a person who holds property in circumstances in which equity considers unconscionable is deemed 1979 Ch. 528. to hold such property on trust for another, because the property should be enjoyed by that other person. In such circumstances, the ii.

CERTAINITY OF SUBJECT ‘Subject’ in this context means the property being entrusted. Not court would hold that the property is held in constructive trust of only is it important to ascertain the properties, it is also important to the owner. ascertain the portion or share of the properties which will so to each PUBLIC TRUSTS beneficiary. A trust will therefore fail on the failure of any of the two 2) Under public trusts there are; elements of certainty involved here. See Re Jones 1898 1 Ch. 438.

a.

CHARITABLE TRUSTS The preamble to the Statue of Charitable Uses Act 1601 provides a list of charitable objects which the courts have used as a guide to charitable trust. Although, the Statute of Elizabeth has been repealed by the Mortmain and Charitable Uses Act 188, Section 13(2) of the latter Act preserved the provisions of the said preamble to the Statute of Elizabeth, Lord McNaughton observed in Commissioner of Income Tax v. Pemsel 1891 AC 531 at 583 the “object of statute was merely to provide new machinery for the reformation of abuses in regard to charities”. The Law Lord went ahead to say charity in its legal sense comprises four principle divisions • Trust for relief of poverty; • Trust for the advancement of education; • Trust for advancement of religion; and • Trust for other purpose beneficial to the community, not falling under any of the proceeding heads We must not carefully that before a trust can qualify as a charitable one; there must be two elements namely; • The intention must be for the benefit of the public (public benefit) • The objects or class of the intended beneficiaries must also be public and not based on personal relationship of the feoffor and the intended beneficiaries. For example in Re Obabunmi Pedro 1961 L.L.R. 127; a trust created for the training and education of the grand children of the testator and other child, was held not to be a charitable one. Thus if these element are absent in a trust, it cannot be regarded as charitable.

EXCEPTION There is however an exception with regards to trust for the relief of poverty. This is exempted from this requirement of public benefit because such trusts may be restricted to family members or other restricted class of people. Thus, a trust must be for the benefit of the community or a significant portion of it for it to pass the public benefit. See Verge v. Somerville 1921 A.C.496. b.

STATUTORY TRUSTS There are trusts created by statutes or operation of the law. Figuratively, they are trusts but may not fit the strict compartmentalization of trusts. For example, certain statutory trusts are created by the provisions of Ss. 61-63 of the PCL. Similarly, the Land Use Act also creates a statutory trust by virtue of its Section 1. Although these trusts are classified as statutory trusts; a high degree of distinction exists (in nature and effects) between this set of trust and the technical trusts.

• 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 November 29, 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

With Douglas Omoyooma

I need Nigerian lover – Lorraine Lionheart, musician

U

K-based Botswanan musician, Lorraine Lionheart, was in Nigeria recently where she performed at the 2017 edition of Felabration. The Oracle Today caught up with the beauty from Botswana who released an 8-tracker EP, About A Girl, almost two years ago. Currently wrapping up plans for the release of her 14-tracker album, which will drop on December 2, Lionheart opened up on why she did a song on Keke Napepe, her career, growing up, Fela and why she wants a Nigerian man.

Recalling her expeience in Nigeria, she said: “I felt safe the entire time in Lagos and found the people to be so warm and friendly. I would recommend anyone to visit and experience Nigeria.

Without a doubt ,I can see myself marrying a Nigerian man, one who is truly proud to be Nigerian and to be African. I hear they are quite amazing lovers too. What girl doesn’t want that?

Could you describe your ideal man and what it will take to conquer her heart? A smile breaks her features as she responds: “He must just have a pulse (laughter). Jokes aside, I am more in to the character of a man than his looks or possessions.

This is very important for me because good looks are not really forever and one can lose all possession in a blink of an eye.”

“So, I need to know that if he lost it all, I would still be left with a great man. A God-fearing man with a good heart, good sense of humour and intellect does it for me. Someone open minded, compassionate, conscious, spiritually developed and culturally proud. Gosh, I ask for a lot, right? No wonder I am single,” she quipped.

Keke Napepe Lorraine also composed a song dedicated to Keke Napepe, a popular form of transportation in Nigeria; what inspired that move?

A smile breaks her features as she responds: “There was no way I was going to be in Nigeria and not be inspired by the environment, the way of life and the people and to write new music. I just saw the Keke Napepe and immediately knew I had to ride it at some point before I left the country. I imagined owning one and I think when I get married I would love that to be the bride and groom ride.

“I just need to find a Nigerian groom now perhaps (laughter).

The Keke Napepe is just so cool. The video is now on Youtube and Facebook and I have had amazing feedback from it. Also, I am a beard fanatic so I was so excited to have a Nigerian boy with enough beard in my music video (laughter). I did 2two songs while in Lagos and filmed music videos for both. The other one drops soon. “ Last weekend, Davido shut down Botswana in a sold out concert. What is your take on Nigerian music and which Nigerian artistes would you want to do collabo with?

Nigerian music is doing the entire continent so proud. A lot of western artistes are now using Nigerian beats in their music and I think that is arguably a huge compliment. I wanted so much to meet Davido at the Felabration but his performance was cancelled and I never got the chance, but I am sure I will at some point. I have always loved his music and I am so glad his Botswana show was a huge success. There are so many Nigerian artistes I would love to collaborate with but I particularly would give my right arm to work with Don Jazzy. I study Music Technology at Staffordshire University and from a technical point of view, his production is insane. I would love to just sit in a studio and watch him mixing and mastering. I think that would be incredible.

2Face, Timi Dakolo and Ric Hassani are among the many Nigerian artistes I would love to work with.

As a mother, how do you combine parenting and taking care of the home front with music?

My son still cries every time I have to travel to different places for performing etc. It is so difficult, but I keep telling myself when he is older he will understand and appreciate. I try and spend as much time as possible with him when I am home and we have a very special bond. He has an amazing dad also. Even though his dad and I are no longer together, we have remained very good Fela Anikulapo-Kutu friends and share the responsibility of raising him very well. So, Lorraine Lionheart was in Nigeria recently for Fela- this makes it easier for me to put some work on my career too bration. What does Fela mean to her? “Fela is one of because I am not parenting all by myself. For that, I am grateful my absolute heroes. I respect people who dare to to God. be themselves. He is a legend because he refused to follow anyone’s standards but his own. I love Any plans to relocate to Nigeria with your family in the nearest that being on an international platform did not at future? any stage tempt him to abandon his true identity Haha, that thought has crossed my mind, but it’s important for and he has inspired me to want to learn about me to stay as close as possible to my ex so that my son can conAfrican history, embrace my culture and also to tinue having a close relationship with his dad. However, I will be be free to me myself, without any apology! doing an awful lot of travelling to Nigeria from now on. You are “Performing at Felabration was wow! I will for- all going to get fed up with seeing me there but it will all be great ever remember the day I entered the Shrine when you hear the music I will eventually do with Don Jazzy. for the first time. It is like the Mecca of African music. I felt like I had just entered some sort of What are your dreams? a sacred place. It was an absolute dream come My dream is that tomorrow I can be a better woman than I am true being part of Felabration. today and to see my son grow into a great man. I will be making “The audience were quite welcoming which I music for the rest of my life, so it’s hard to call that a dream. I really appreciated because I know they are not want to live my life to the fullest and enjoy every bit of the jourfamiliar with my music. The media was also quite ney, embrace the madness, the chaos and the joy, and hopefully generous with their attention. Overall, no matter find a special someone to share all that with and partner with to how many big shows I end up performing at, Felabra- do great works. My dreams are quite simple, right? tion will remain for me one of the most important.”

40

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

Entertainment Photos from Banky W and Adesua Traditional Marriage

Mr. Eazi drops new single

H

ip hop artiste, and bank sound creator, Mr Eazi (Oluwatosin Oluwole Ajibade ), had dropped the lead single from his much anticipated Who is Mr. Eazi remix project entitled Pour Me Water.

“Who Is Mr Eazi is going to be three or four huge remixes of my biggest songs thus far, alongside some new compositions aimed at a fresh global push for the sound and the brand,” Mr. Eazi said.

According to a statement from his management, Pour Me Water signals yet another kick-down-doors moment which will consolidate the Banku Chief’s position as sole proprietor and innovator of a unique style.

“Mr Eazi’s authoring a new chapter in African music. He’s deploying mighty jabs at auditory senses, employing E-Kelly’s minimalist production to convey the fluid, evergreen message of love.

If Leg Over became the song you hummed along to at odd hours of the day, Pour Me Water will become the only anthem you’ll ever need to carry you through all joy and all pain at least, until March 2018,” the statement added.

Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1 - Accra to Lagos, his current effort released early 2017 is an homage to Nigeria and Ghana, the two countries which have influenced the evolution of his Banku sound.

•

Mr Eazi

After robbery scandal, Burna Boy in another mess

Gandoki, others on parade at Orange Global Achievement Awards

P

ort Harcourt, the Rivers State capital played host to the maiden edition of Orange Global Achievement Awards which was held at the Hotel Presidential, on Saturday, November 11, and attracted the creme de la creme of society.

Speaking, founder and CEO/Publisher of Orange Magazine, Miss Loveth Ogedegbe, the organiser of the award said: “As a publisher, moving from one environment to another has become part of me.

Meeting people, looking at the computer screen and reading a lot about NGO’s has actually inspired me a lot

hence I decided to honor the effort of these individuals with an award..

The objective is to encourage people to keep doing their best for society.

“Themed: Engendering Communal Benevolence & Empowerment, the award is aimed at recognizing and celebrating the benevolent, charitable and empowerment strides of individuals and groups in the society,” Ogedegbe added.

Winners included Ifeanyi Oputa of Studio 24, MBH Power LTD, Prof.

Sir Victor Uwaifo and Wazobia FM

among a host of others.

Guests that graced the event included King Edward Asimini Dappa-Pepple of the kingdom of Grand Bonny, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere of the Omega Power Ministries, Prof.

Steve Azaiki, Mr. Bola Oyebode of Magum Trust Insurance Brokers, Mr. Francis Uzor of Orange Room Ltd, Brig. Gen. Anthony Ukpo (rtd.) who was represented, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Prof. Okey Onuchuku and Mr. Frederick of Asphalt Unity Construction Ltd among a host of others.

•

Burna Boy

L

ast week, Nigerians woke up to the shocking news that reggae musician, Burna Boy was declared wanted by the Nigerian police following confessions by armed robbers who attacked singer, Mr. 2Kay that they were contracted by the singer to teach him a lesson. However, Nigerians had barely recovered from the shock when another story went viral that the singer has been banned from entering the UK for the next 15 years due to alleged criminal activities.

According to an online report: “Burna Boy has a bad criminal past in the United Kingdom. We learnt he was a part of criminal drug gang who stabbed someone to death back in 2010. He was arrested and after 11 months in jail, he was released and given two months parole with community service. It was during his community service that he disobeyed and left the United Kingdom for Nigeria. He travelled back few years later and was arrested from the airport and deported back to Nigeria. He has since been placed on a 15-year ban.”

41

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29 2017

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42

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

News

Continued from Page 15 late Oko-born politician is regrettable to Ndigbo and Nigeria because his immense knowledge and ideas on issues of development and nation building would be sorely missed.

“Ndigbo and Nigeria have lost a giant, a light in the political scene whose voice is very interesting to hear and that is regrettable because we may find it very difficult to find his replacement. I urge his family to bear his loss with fortitude,” he added.

On his part the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman of International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) Comrade Emeka Umeagbalasi described the late Vice President as one in the class of foremost political minds ever to grace Nigeria.

Umeagbalasi said: “Ekwueme paraded super mind and nobody can take that away from him. Our regret, mainly, following his demise is that he could not have the opportunity to lead Nigeria because he had all it takes to make a good President of Nigeria that the people of the country are dreaming to see.”

He added: “Ekwueme was outstanding among his contemporaries, very outspoken and fearless. That was why he led an army of political leaders to dare the late military dictator General Sani Abacha in the dark days of military regime. Nigeria will forever remember him for that and miss him in the political scene. May his souls rest in peace.”

Gov Umahi describes Ekwueme’s death as devastating Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi has described the death of foremost Nigerian leader and former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme as a devastating one.

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor expressed shock at the death of Dr Ekwueme, describing it as a great loss to Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria in general.

He commiserated with the government of Anambra State and the entire Ekwueme family of Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State for the loss and prayed God to grant him eternal rest among His Saints.

“The death of our father and leader, Dr Ekwueme is so devastating especially now that his fatherly advice is needed most. He was a great Nigerian and great believer in the unity of the country. As his children, we have learnt a lot from his deep political sagacity.

“As the vice President of Nigeria, Ekwueme was a great rallying point for Igbo socio-political integration. He was a voice of reason and a man who toiled to place Ndigbo at the centre of mainstream politics.

Indeed, we have lost a rare gem, a gentleman and a decent politician and academic.”

The governor also disclosed that the South East zone through the governors would soon draw programme on how to pay last respect to the fallen political Iroko and commiserated with his immediate family and indeed the government of Anambra State.

Ex-President Jonathan mourns Ekwueme Former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has commiserated with the government and people of Anambra State, on the passing on of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who died on Sunday at the age of 85.

In a letter of condolence to the Ekwueme family and the government and people of Anambra State, Jonathan described the late statesman’s exit as an irreparable loss.

A statement by the ex-President’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, said Jonathan further described Ekwueme as an intellectual giant and democrat who took a principled stand against military rule.

It said: “Ekwueme was a well-loved statesman who played politics of inclusion and made useful contributions towards charting a course for Nigeria’s geopolitical stability. An epitome of courage and patriotism, the Second Republic Vice President played in invaluable role in deepening the roots of democratic rule and this was evident in his selfless and principled stand against military rule.

“He was an intellectual giant whose prowess in learning was as deep and profound as the love he had for his people

TRIBUTES: Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON (October 21, 1932 – November 19, 2017)

you, he stays with you all the way through.

Nigeria has lost a very important person; and may God grant his soul eternal rest and grant his family, Ndigbo and Nigeria the fortitude to bear his exit. He said.

His legacies greatly inspired me – Godwin Ezeemo For the Chairman of the Orient group, Godwin Ezeemo, Ekwueme’s lagacies as community developer, philanthropist and great patriot, was inspirational. He expressed sadness over his demise, describing him as the pride of Aguata.

“The news of his death shocked me to the marrow. He was the pride of Aguata, and his death has created a gaping hole in the socio-political atmosphere of the old Aguata, where I also come from. His principle of Aku Ruo Uno; philanthropy and excellence in service will continue to serve as a reference pint for us all, he said.

His death is great loss to Ndigbo – SEGF The governors of South East States have also expressed sadness over the death of Dr. Ekwueme, describing it as a huge loss to the Igbo nation. In a statement by the Director-General of the South East Governors Forum (SEGF), Professor Simon Ortuanya, the governors commiserated with the Ekwueme family, the Igbo nation and Nigeria.

“His death is a great loss to Igboland. We will miss his fatherly counsels, his leadership roles and he would be greatly missed. May God grant his wife and family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.

and nation. His commitment to educational excellence is a trait we should encourage Nigerians to imbibe.

“As a professional, Ekwueme was an illustrious architect of international repute, whose works will continue to be celebrated at home and abroad.

“He was a man of peace who will be remembered for his candour, open-mindedness and the bridges of understanding he built across cultural and political boundaries.”

Dr. Alex Ekwueme was a disciplined gentleman who helped shape Nigeria’s regional configuration--George Dr. Alex Ekwueme was a disciplined gentleman who helped shape Nigeria’s geo-political configuration, having recommended the restructuring of Nigeria into six geo-political regions of the North-East; North-West; North-Central; South-East; South-South and the South-West.

Chief Sotari George, a lawyer stated that the former Vice President was also loved as a detribalized Nigeria who truly worked for the unity of Nigeria by putting together the G-34 group with members drawn from across Nigeria to challenge the military dictatorship of the late head of State, General Sani Abacha, in 1998 which eventually led to the formation of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the late former Vice President truly served his country as a politician, adding that Nigeria will miss his political sagacity.

He saved me from becoming a miserable Vulcanizer – Pastor Chimereze Lagos-based pastor, Evangelist Chimereze Samuel has expressed shock at the death of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, who died at a London hospital on November 19, 2017. Dr. Ekwueme died of complications from chest infection.

Pastor Chimereze, who was privileged to live with the late sage, in an interview with The Oracle Today, disclosed that but for Ekwueme and his family, he would have probably ended up as a miserable vulcanizer. According to him, he was one of the very few privileged ones that could freely enter

Chief Ekwueme’s bedroom at will, when he lived with him.

He told our reporter that the Ekwuemes sponsored his education when he dropped out of school due to paucity of funds, adding that the philanthropist was a God-fearing man – a great father who lifted many indigent people from sorrowful conditions to meaning lives.

“Daddy Ekwueme and his family saved me from ending up as a miserable vulcaniser.

When my parents could not fund my education, and I was sentenced to become a vulcanizer, it was the former Vice President’s family that rescued me. Let me not mention names, but Daddy Ekwueme and family were instrumental to what I am today. So, I am as bereaved as every member of the family,” he said.

According to the evangelist, who said he hailed from Enugu State, the late elder statesman always ate together with his family and wards on the same dining table and never discriminated among his children and aides alike.

He was forthright, courageous – Ohanaeze ndigbo The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in his tribute, described Ekwueme as a courageous, forthright and patriotic Nigerian. He also said that the late former Vice President was as well outstandingly brilliant and intellectually engaging.

Recounting his contributions to the progress and stability of the country, Nwodo pointed out that Ekwueme can never be skipped whenever and wherever the history of Nigeria is told.

“Nigeria has lost a great person. His contributions to the country’s socio-political evolution would not be forgotten. He was one of the foremost advocates of a restructured Nigerian federation.

“When the military did not want a return to political activity, Ekwueme was one of the few people that got up and formed a political movement that engaged a number of active politicians and pressured the military for a return to civil rule.

“He was forthright and courageous about his convictions; when he tells you he is for

Gov Sani-Bello mourns Alex Ekwueme, says Nigeria has lost a great leader Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has described the late former Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme as a great and exceptional leader who played politics without bitterness.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the governor said he received the news of Ekwueme’s death with a deep sense of loss.

Governor Sani-Bello said Ekwueme contributed significantly to national development and history would remember the late Aguata-born elder statesman as a man who stood for the unity and oneness of the nation.

He lauded the hard work, commitment and dedication of Late Dr. Ekwueme to the development of the nation during his lifetime.

The governor prayed to the Almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the great loss.

Governor Sani-Bello also commiserated with the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano and the good people of the State over the death of the former Second Republic Vice President.

Alex Ekwueme a great Nigerian … Chief Clark From EMMANUEL OGIGBE, Warri Elder statesman and former Federal Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has described the death of former Vice President Dr. Alex Ekwueme as shocking and a great loss to the country.

Clark who spoke with newsmen at his country home, Kiagbodo in Burutu Local Government of Delta State, said he was aware the former Vice President was very sick, but “we prayed fervently for his quick recovery.”

“Dr. Ekwueme was a gentleman, very patriotic, very intelligent man. He was a man who lived with his people peacefully. I know his brother, the traditional ruler. I remember in 1979 when there were suggestions as to who would be the Vice-President of Nigeria, the contest was between the late Dr. Kenneth O. Mbadiwe and Dr. J.O.J. Okezie. But (some of us) thought that Dr. Ekwueme would be able to do it. So, I was one of those who encouraged him to take it and he became very effective, hardworking, and honest Vice President. Above all, we were all proud of him.”

Clark who is also the Ijaw National leader

Continued on Page 46

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The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

SPORTS early to root Aftermath of Italy’s World Cup failure It’s for Uzoho

By MADUABUCHI KALU

I

t is no longer news that the biggest casualty of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign, are the Azzuris of Italy but what is news is the mass exodus of players of the Italian national team, the Azzuris following the failure.

The four time world champions could not fly pass Sweden in their playoff having already lost the first leg of the playoff 0-1 to their less fancied opponents.

It was heartbreaking for millions of Azzuri supporters who were rooting for the national team to rise to the occasion but the Gianluigi Buffon captained side could not do the needful as all their efforts to ensure that they secure victory on Tuesday at San Siro were thwarted by the visiting Swedish national team.

It was a history making for Sweden as they stopped Italy from qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia next year for the very first time in 60 years.

Leading the list of Italian national team players who have thrown in their towel is the legendary Italian goalie, Gianluigi Buffon, who has announced his retirement from international duty after Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The goalkeeper had previously indicated he will step away from the Azzurri after the tournament in Russia but dream of quitting after the Mundial next year was cut short by Sweden who scuttled his glorious planed exit from the national team after they were beaten 1-0 in the first leg of the playoff.

The first time the four-time World Cup winners had missed the finals since 1958 and the other time they actually missed out was in 1930 when they opted out as it would be difficult for the team to access the hosts, Uruguay.

Buffon said he was not disappointed ending his international career, but rather the effect the result will have on Italian football.

He told Rai Sport, “It’s disappointing,” while fighting back tears.

“Not for me, but for the football movement, because we failed at something that could’ve been truly important for the country. That is

• Buffon, Barzagli, De Rossi quit national team

By MADUABUCHI KALU

P

• Buffon the only regret I have and certainly not that I am finishing my career, because time passes and it’s only right.

“It’s just a shame my last official game coincided with the failure to qualify for the World Cup. (But) there is certainly a future for Italian football, as we have pride, ability, determination, and after bad tumbles we always find a way to get back on our feet.

“I’m leaving an Italy side that will know how to speak for itself.”

The 39-year-old Juventus legend ended his Italy career having compiled 175 caps over two decades, peaking with the 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany.

He has represented his country at a record-tying five World Cups, as well as four European Championships and two Confederations Cups.

He added, “In football you win as

a group, you lose as a group, you divide the credit and the blame. The coach is part of this entire group.”

Also announcing their retirements from the Italian national team are Buffon’s World Cup-winning teammates, Andrea Barzagli and Daniele De Rossi followed suit by confirming they too were stepping away from the international game.

Meanwhile, some Azzuri fans have expressed happiness that they failed to make it to the Mundial because according to them, the Azzuris do not deserve to be at the World Cup as they have been playing badly in the last two years.

“The truth is nobody has cried,” said Marcello Mencarelli, an Italian football fan, after the national side crashed out of qualification for the World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years.

“In fact, most people are happy they’ll be staying at home,” he insisted. “For two years, they’ve been playing badly, so they don’t deserve to go to the World Cup.” But he admitted he might have had a little lump in his throat as he exchanged text messages with a friend as Sweden held Italy to 0-0 draw at the San Siro stadium in Milan last week Monday, and made it through to the 2018 finals in Russia over the four-time champions – who most recently won in 2006.

Mencarelli was a boy in 1958, the last time Italy missed out on a World Cup. The Azzurri’s four-yearly appearances in the finals have been a regular marker of his adult life. The only other time Italy didn’t participate was in 1930, because the team didn’t enter.

Eagles vs Argentina: Not yet Uhuru – Rohr

By MADUABUCHI KALU

S

• Gernot Rohr

– Col. Ahmedu

uper Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, whose charges on Tuesday night displayed rare courage by coming from two goals deficit to stun two time world champions, the La Albiceleste of Argentina is one man who cannot be carried away by the victory.

According to the former Bayern Munich defender, inasmuch as he appreciates his boys rare display of courage which enabled them to bounce back after the Argentine had scored twice within the first 35 minutes of the game, he is yet to get the team he hopes to take to the World Cup in Russia.

Speaking after the referee’s final whistle, Rohr expressed happiness over his charges comeback fight that

saw them to rally from a two goals deficit to victory.

He praised the players especially the new one such as Ola Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Braian Idowu, Francis Odinaka Uzoho and Tyronne Ebuhi.

He, however, declared that the team are still work in progress as there are still some areas that needed to be fortified before the Mundial next year hence the reason for his call for more friendly games for the team.

“I must say that I am very happy at the performance of the boys. More so, when they have to come from behind to beat Argentina, they did well.

“Of course, we didn’t perform well in the first half but after the break, we changed our game and it was good beating a team like Argentina.

“However, I want to say that we are not there yet. This team is still

work in progress. We still have a lot of work to do because there still many areas that we have fortify.

“That is the reason I am asking for at least six more friendly matches before the World Cup next year.

“The players did very well especially Brain Idowu who just joined us. He performed very well. Of course Ola Aina did well too. A young player of his age facing some the best players in the world and he acquitted himself well like that is commendable.

“Tronne was fantastic. He did a fantastic job even Chidozie Awaziem performed very well. But we must not be carried away after all this is just a friendly game. But I believe that if we have more games before the Mundial we will be able to blend better,” Rohr explained.

resident, FIBA Africa Zone 3 and founder of ASPIRE ACADEMY, Col. Sam Ahmedu, has advised Nigerians who are calling on the Nigerian football authorities to pencil down the name of Deportivo de La Coruna of Spain goalkeeper, Francis Odinaka Uzoho, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup to take it easy saying it is too early to be rooting for Uzoho to be penciled down for the Mundial because of his heroics at the International friendly game against Russia last Tuesday.

Ahmedu, it is recalled is one of the men who discovered the young goaltender who stood in-between the sticks for Nigeria in the second half of the international friendly against Argentina but Col. Ahmedu wouldn’t allow sentiment to becloud his sense of reasoning; saying the World Cup is still seven month away and too early to say that goalkeeper Uzoho has done enough to be on the flight to Russia.

The ASPIRE Academy founder is advising that Nigerians should take it easy thereby toeing the apart of Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde, who calls for caution on those who are already saying that Eagles will play in the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

It is recalled that Nigerians are full of praises for Uzoho for his brilliant performance against the Argentina.

In the words of Col. Ahmedu: “I think it is too early for anybody to start tipping Francis Uzoho for the 2018 World Cup. He has just played a game for the Eagles.

“It is true that he performed very well on the night and I am happy for him. But a game is not enough to assess someone and past a vote of confidence.

“I believe that he should be given more opportunities through the friendlies and if he remains consistent why not.

“But to say that because he performed very well to the satisfaction of everybody and therefore he should be on the plane to Russia, I think it is a bit hasty,” Col. Ahmedu said.

Speaking further, Col. Ahmedu (retd) said: “You asked whether Henry has done enough to be in Russia.

Russia is still about eight month away.

So, it is too early to tell who and who will be on flight to Russia or not.

“Everybody has a chance though some are sure. Players like Mikel and Iwobi baring injuries will surely be on that flight.

“As for Henry, the lad is still a young lad who is improving his game and who because of his age but if he continues to play very well. The good thing is that he has been consistently invited to the national team.

“In any case, I am surprised that he didn’t play against Argentina and I am also surprised that he didn’t also play against Algeria.

“May be for the fact that Rohr has already seen what he wants to see or may be Rohr wants him to be in national team camp and watch and appreciate the volume or enormity of the task before him,” Col. Ahmedu said.

44

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

SPORTS

LMC unfold 2017/18 NPFL calendar

•Put kick-off date on January 14

T

he League Management Company (LMC) have released the 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Calendar.

According to the released calendar by the NPFL, the activities to kick-start the 2017/18 League season will start with the on-going club licensing after which the

comes the annual NPFL Pre-season tournament from December 11-17, 2017 that will herald the grand season opening matches on January 14, 2018.

The schedule of the new season’s activities which has been endorsed by the League Management Company (LMC) will witness a flurry of activities including the

induction and orientation workshop for the four newly admitted NPFL Clubs on December 14 and the LMC Pre- Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Consultative Meeting with NPFL participating Clubs on December 16 in Kano where the pre-season tournament will hold.

According to Salihu Abubakar, the LMC Chief Operating Officer, other activities scheduled for the month of December include “the draws for the new season, pre-season seminar and spot checking on Clubs compliance to licensing regulations, payment of players and officials salaries, status of facilities, etc.”

The LMC have also fixed t January 5, 2018 as the final date for submission of Club Licensing documentation by clubs participating in the league.

The statement read, “January 5 is the cut-off date for compliance with redemption and settlement of any outstanding payment of salaries arising from 2016/2017 NPFL Season to players and coaches; and or provision of an acceptable Financial Guarantee to guarantee the overdue payments and a tentative payment plan from the Club proprietors.”

Another highlight of the calendar comes up on January 8, 2018 when the LMC, which is First Instance Body (FIB) will issue the NFF Club Licensing Certificate to qualified clubs that meet the criteria for participation in the 2017/2018 NPFL Season.

“The 2017/18 season will start at all centers on January 14 and in the first stanza, there will be three midweek matches on match days 2, 4 and 5 while the midseason

break will be from April 30- May 5 and a longer break for the FIFA World Cup from June 14-July 15.

Resumption from the World Cup break will be on July 18 with match day 25 which will be the first of another three midweek matches in the second stanza. The other two midweek fixtures will be on match day 27 and 29”, continued Abubakar in giving a breakdown of the calendar.

The LMC assured that it took into consideration all scheduled fixtures of the AITEO Cup, CAF Club competitions and the FIFA World Cup in planning the calendar noting that “this is part of the reason we delayed the release of the fixtures and barring any unforeseen events, we definitely will conclude the season on September 30, 2018.”

Expect brand new Nigerian football - Dalung Maradona demands Argentina coaching job again

By MADUABUCHI KALU

S

ports and Youth Development Minister, Hon. Solomon Dalung is a happy man following the top tip performance of Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles in their friendly match against two time world champions, the La Albiceleste of Argentina in Russia last week Tuesday.

Hon. Dalung who was in “Cloud 9” after the friendly match in Russia urged the world to look forward to a brand new Nigeria Football.

“I must confess to you that I am a very happy man with this victory over Argentina. It is true that this is a friendly game but any game involving Argentina no matter where it is played attracts world attention because they are one of the best as far as the beautiful game of football is concerned,” Dalung began.

“Of course they came out to beat the Eagles if you consider the fact that they put two goals behind us with the first 36 minutes of the game.

“At this juncture, I must say that it was the superb free kick by Kelechi Iheanacho that revived the Eagles. That kick was fantastic.

You could the surprise on the faces of the Argentine players. It was a wonderful.

Speaking further the Hon. Minister said the Eagles would storm Russia not make up the number but to compete for the world most prized football diadem.

“Nigeria will go to the World Cup as strong contender for the World Cup trophy. The Eagles will not be in Russia just to make up the num-

By MADUABUCHI KALU

A

• Dalung bers. No! That is not what is going to happen.

“We are going to Russia to make a statement. Our opponents should watch out for the new Nigerian soccer,” Dalung declared.

Dalung, just like millions of Nigerian football crazy fans jubilated over the Eagles’ comeback fight that resulted in their emphatic defeat to one of the world foot-

ball power houses, Argentina in a game that the Argentine had believed they have won having put two goals behind the Eagles within the first 36 minutes of the game.

Nigerians are in agreement that with more friendly matches as called for by the team’s Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, Eagles can get better before the Mundial.

ngered by Super Eagles’ defeat of the La Albiceleste of Argentina last week Tuesday, the La Albiceleste football legend, Diego Maradona, has appealed for another chance to coach the country’s national side.

The world Cup winner expressed anger over the defeat and demanded that he should be given another opportunity to handle the two time world champions.

According Maradona, there is no justification for the emphatic defeat of the La Albiceleste by the Super Eagles in the Russia friendly absolving the players of any blame in the defeat.

The former Napoli forward heaped the defeat on the manager of the team Jorge Sampaoli. He explained that he did better than many of the coaches who have handled the team since he was sacked in 2010 after the World Cup in Russia.

Maradona’s anger and demand for a second chance at the La Albiceleste was contained in short Instagram post last Wednesday.

“I am angry because they have thrown away our prestige, but it’s not the fault of the lads,” he said.

“I WANT TO COME BACK!!!”

Maradona, who is currently coach of United Arab Emirates side Al Fujairah, posted statistics of 11 recent Argentina managers that showed his success rate was 75 per cent, greater even than that of

Cesar Luis Menotti, who won the World Cup in 1978, and Carlos Bilardo, who lifted the trophy in 1986 when Maradona was at his brilliant playing best.

“Who won most?” Maradona wrote. “We draw our own conclusions.”

The former Boca Juniors and Napoli striker led Argentina to the quarterfinals in Germany, where they were knocked out by the host nation.

Current Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has had an inconsistent start to his tenure since taking charge in June, winning four of his first eight games, but only one of four competitive fixtures.

The Argentines only qualified for next year’s World Cup finals thanks to a hat-trick from Lionel Messi in their last game against Ecuador.

• Diego Maradona

45

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

SPORTS

Why I opted for Nigeria – Iwobi

By MADUABUCHI KALU

B

asking in the euphoria of helping the Super Eagles defeat two time world champions the La Albiceleste of Argentina last week Tuesday in the much publicized international friendly game, Nigeria and Arsenal striker Alex Iwobi has declared the reason he dumped the Three Lions of England for the Super Eagles despite having represented them in age group competitions.

Iwobi who played for England Under-16, Under-17 and Under -18 teams before he became cap tied with the three time African champions the Super Eagles in March 2016 having made his competitive debut against the Democratic Republic of Congo in October says: “I was growing up in England and England was the only national team I knew; so I was actually very pleased to play at the national level.

“However, my family, are all from Nigeria. I was born in Nigeria.

My uncle Jay Jay Okocha is a legend in Nigeria.

“That’s why I thought I would give it a chance. That’s why I went for the Under-23 and somehow felt more welcomed and I thought this is where I belong and I made the decision to switch,” the words

Eagles to get jumbo pay from FIFA fee

By MADUABUCHI KALU

A

of Arsenal of England striker.

It is recalled that Iwobi played a crucial role in Eagles smooth World Cup Qualifying campaign as he started the World Cup campaign with a goal in Ndola Zambia.

His goal was one of the two goals that help Eagles garner the maximum points in their first game of the campaign which saw the three time African champions end the Africa Zone of their Group B World Cup campaign without defeat.

It was Alex who ensured that Eagles secured their 2018 FIFA World Cup ticket with a game to spare when he came in the second half of the home game against the Chipolopolo in Uyo. He scored the only goal that gave the team the maximum points to make the last game in the World Cup Qualifiers against that Desert Foxes of Algeria somehow inconsequential.

Of course he emerged as the man of the Match in the friendly game against the Argentina last week Tuesday having scored two of Nigeria’s four goals. So, the Arsenal striker played a crucial role in Nigeria’s Qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Iwobi is one of the players that their places in the team for the Mundial are assured and he deserves to be in the party having worked so hard for it.

•

Alex Iwobi

Winners emerge in 9Mobile cycling tourney

By SAMSON AKINTARO

I

n yet another innovative way to further demonstrate commitment to positive customer experience, Nigeria’s customer-friendly network, 9mobile, recently tipped the passion point of its teeming sports and health conscious customers as it co-sponsored this year’s Lagos City Criterium Tournament.

The cycling race which held recently at Dolphin Estate Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, attracted high ranking professional riders from Lagos, Rivers,

Imo, Kaduna and Ogun States, while it drew over a 1000 spectators who came to cheer their heroes to victory.

Cycology Criterium is a cycling sport in which participants cycle in a closed-circuit course several times.

Dignitaries that graced the event include the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Sports, Deji Tinubu.

Cycling teams that participated in the tournament came from different parts of the country. The teams competed in different categories

such as junior male; junior female, senior master male; senior master female; professional male and professional female. The topmost male category of the tournament, professional male, was won by Bassey Nelson from Rivers State’s Shark FC team. This win makes Nelson the national champion for two consecutive seasons.

The elated champion attributed his victory to hard work and discipline even as he noted that the future of cycling in Nigeria is bright.

“I trained hard and denied myself

of many things that I love for two months. My family, friends and my girlfriend paid the price for my success today. I also want to say that the future of cycling is awesome and we thank sponsors like 9mobile for this positive development,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Head, High-Value and Mass Market Segment, 9mobile, Adetunji Taiwo, said: “9mobile sees Cycling Criterium as opportunity to further promote the fitness and health of the Nigerian people while innovatively entertaining them. 9mobile supports this healthy sport because we believe there is really no wealth in the absence of health.”

Adetunji further revealed that 9mobile recently sponsored some sporting engagements such as the 9mobile Prediktor 6 which saw Taiwo Afeez Akanbi emerge as winner and becoming a millionaire.

He said, “9mobile through its sport initiatives has empowered customers in line with its key objective of promoting positive customer experience across all touch points.

We are a customer-friendly telecom company and every success we have achieved in the last nine years is because we put the customer first.”

Since it launched service in Nigeria nine years ago, 9mobile has supported talent development through an array of owned and sponsored platforms including the Under-15 School Cup amongst others.

s part of plans to adequately motivate the players of the national team the Super Eagles in next year’s World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are planning to pay the Super Eagles 30 per cent of the $9.5million expected from the world governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

Though it was the same per cent that the players got for the Brazil 2014 World Cup but it will be raised this time from $2.85million to about $3million which is about N1.2billion in parallel market after FIFA increased their parent fees to 32 finalists by 12 per cent.

This figure will also rise should the Super Eagles go pass the group stage of Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup as they did in Brazil in 2014 meaning, they would then earn even more cash for landing Nigeria in Russia.

Already, it has been agreed that the boys will each be paid $15,000 per a man for a win in the first round per a match, and this amount will rise later on of the championship.

Meanwhile, the NFF have said that former Eagles’ coach, Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh will get a share of the $3million Qualifying bonus from FIFA with members of his backroom staff also due to benefit. FIFA will pay the country for qualification to next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Oliseh, it is recalled led the country beat Swaziland 2-0 on aggregate in the second round elimination game in November 2015 for the Eagles then to be drawn alongside Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia in the final group face of the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, NFF is set to announce huge sponsorship deal any time soon. It is recalled that the Nigeria Football Federation last year secured a sponsorship deal with an indigenous oil and gas company AITEO that has helped tremendously to cushion the football house financial problems.

Therefore, it will be a very important development if the NFF will succeed in securing another sponsorship deal. More importantly; it’s like the marketing department of the Federation has woken up to its responsibility and with this development, the NFF is heading extricating themselves from the whims and caprices of the ministry.

This is because, once the federation is financially independent of government funds, Nigerian Football will be better for it as the administration of the game will be run like in advanced countries of Europe, South America, North America and Asia.

46

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

NEWS

Ekwueme: Pillar, patriot, hero

By SOPURUCHI ONWUKA

I

T is in trying to describe what is not commonplace that the full and seemingly limitless elasticity of language suddenly becomes too short to provide full expression to best imagery that befits a heroic legend.

It is in the context of these lexical deficits that the magnitude of value hosted in late Dr. Alex Ekwueme finds perceptible but inexpressible impression.

In his death, different shades of description uniquely present the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, as tall in achievements, honour and integrity. In the stream of messages that has poured in from different strata of the global community to mourn his death, Dr. Ekwueme has been moulded into a symbol of moral purity, professional accomplishment, service integrity, political correctness and leadership sacrifice.

Dr. Alex Ekwueme who died in a London hospital last Sunday after battling health issues left impacts and footprints in almost all spheres of human endeavour. Perhaps he

stands out among national heroes mainly for his enormous contributions in laying the foundation of stable democracy, unity of Nigeria and restoration of future for younger compatriots smarting from the debris of disastrous hegemony.

From his community in Oko, Anambra State, Dr. Ekwueme had mustered the courage for his roles in the history of Nigeria.

Throughout his lifetime, Dr Ekwueme maintained a focused and faultless channel of development, beginning with robust education that earned him a basket of degrees, equipped him with top shelf knowledge and prepared him to overcome the challenges of his endeavours.

Besides his core professional discipline, Dr. Ekwueme also earned degrees in sociology, history, philosophy and law from the University of London. He later proceeded to obtain a Ph.D. in Architecture from the University of Strathclyde, before gaining the BL (honours) degree from the Nigerian Law School.

He started his professional career as an Assistant Architect with a Seattle-based firm,

Leo A. Daly and Associates after which he joined London based Nickson and Partners.

On his return to Nigeria, he joined ESSO West Africa, Lagos, overseeing the Construction and Maintenance department.

In Nigeria, he established the highly successful Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners. The firm became the first indigenous architectural firm in Nigeria and flourished with 16 offices spread all over Nigeria.

Dr. Ekwueme had presided over the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.

Besides the Ekwueme and Associates, Dr. Alex Ekwueme had successful ventures in other business terrains and sits on the board of many thriving companies including Modotels, an indigenous chain of four star hotels.

He had traversed the fields of education, enterprise, politics, and philanthropic social services with impeccable integrity and deliv-

• Obiano paying condolence visit to Ekwueme’s family

Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON Continued from Page 42 said he knew Ekwueme very well, adding that “we later formed what was called Southern Nigeria People’s Assembly. Dr. Ekwueme was the leader of the South-East, myself was the South-South leader while Bishop Gbonigi was the leader of SouthWest.

“He was my personal friend, his demise not only terrible but a great loss to the country at large. It is the wish of God and, who are we to question God? May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the Ijaw leader surmised.

Dr. Ekwueme’s passing unfortunate and painful-- Emmanuel Udonkwe, broadcast journalist in Port Harcourt Nigeria has lost an all-round patriot who believed in the unity of the country. When I talk about the late former Vice President, it reminds me of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe because those were two Nigerians that truly believed in the unity of the country.

Okowa mourns Alex Ekwueme Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has commiserated with Governor Willie Obiano and the people of Anambra State on the death of former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme (GCON), who died on Sunday in a London hospital at 85 years.

Governor Okowa also conveyed his condolences to the family of the late Elder

Statesman particularly the Oko Kingdom, describing him as a committed patriot who served our nation at the highest levels with an uncommon sense of patriotism and unwavering dedication.

In a statement in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, the governor said he was saddened by the demise of the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The statement read: “I am deeply saddened by the death of elder statesman and former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme (GCON), who passed on at the age of 85 years”.

“He was a committed patriot, an astute politician and altruistic Vice President who worked assiduously to better the lots of his people and Nigerians in general”.

“Through his purposeful leadership and development strides, the late Ekwueme influenced the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic Oko which brought about unprecedented development of the Oko Kingdom in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Governor Okowa remarked that as a democrat, the late Ekwueme etched his name in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic advancement by working courageously for the emergence and consolidation of the Fourth Republic in 1999 when he joined forces with other leaders to form the Peo-

ples Democratic Party, PDP. “Before venturing into politics Ekwueme brought great pride to the country through his exemplary and pioneering efforts as the Doyen of Architecture in Nigeria.

“His good works as a dedicated family man, accomplished professional, selfless politician and great philanthropist would continue to live after him.

“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I convey our deepest sympathy to the Ekwueme family, the government and good people of Anambra State, and the rest of the country.

“May his soul find eternal repose in the bosom of the Almighty God,” the Governor wrote.

Ekwueme: A statesman has fallen – Gov. Ugwuanyi In a statement he personally signed, Enugu State governor, Rt. Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi wrote: “The death of Dr. Alex Ekwueme signals yet another depletion in the dwindling ranks of elder statesmen with an abiding love for country and humanity. We received the news of his passing with deep sadness and consider it a huge loss not only to his family but also to the entire country.

“We mourn with his family and, on behalf of the government and people of Enugu State, offer them our deepest condolences and express our gratitude for their gift of this icon of democracy.”

ered rare accomplishments that now form strident pointers to enduring pathways people should follow.

With his very disarming taciturnity, feline calmness, unusual courage, rare ingenuity, and cerebral strength, Dr. Ekwueme combined the stealth of a lion, the power of a stallion and the speed of cheetah in launching intermittent but timely socio-political interventions in the country.

After Nigeria’s first military incursion into politics, subsequent civil war and prolonged blundering military regimes, Dr. Ekwueme was among the first set of Nigerians who threw their hats in the ring to rescue the country from experimental governance.

He was among the first set of patriots from all parts of the country that offered themselves as geopolitical bridges under the National Party of Nigeria, NPN to reestablish unity and trust.

In displaying rare political engineering, he became one of the post civil war bridges between the Hausa-Fulani and Igbos when he struck a compatible partnership with Alhaji Shehu Shagari in 1979 to migrate power from war stained military government to efficient hands of civilian government.

As the Vice President, Dr. Ekwueme was Nigerian political paradox who supported government with private funds in order to steer the country into the path of sustainable prosperity. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Dr. Alex Ekwueme was one of the richest men in the country who entered public office as millionaires and came out much poorer.

Despite ethnic sentiments that defined party affiliation in the period, Dr. Ekwueme did not just offer himself as a bridge, he also played a critical role in striking an accord between his NPN, and Igbo dominated Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP. The accord created an inclusive federal cabinet that blurred the lines of ethnocentric party inclinations.

When struck by the tragedy of second military intervention in politics, Dr. Ekwueme was boldly unshaken, to the astonishment of his persecutors. He took his visible contemptuous arrest and incarceration with sagacious calmness, confident of his clean record which eventually earned him clean bill of health after investigations of corruption by the military.

Again when it was time for men to be counted, Dr Ekwueme rose firmly to lead a group of 34 eminent Nigerians to oppose transmutation of late General Sani Abacha into a civilian president, a mistake that would have created a Mugabe scenario in Nigerian politics.

The group which later transformed to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not just till the ground for cultivation civil rule; it planted and nurtured democracy for 16 years.

Driven by unwavering patriotism and party loyalty, Dr Alex Ekwueme remained in the party through thick and thin despite obvious conspiracies against his two-time presidential aspiration. Such rare party loyalty becomes exceptional and provides model for young generation of politicians that thrive in party shunting.

In the South East, Dr. Alex Ekwueme was a pillar of strength, intellectual powerhouse, leader and hero of epic proportions.

Like many other Igbos of eminent clout, he turned down the opportunities and privileges of fleeing the besieged Biafra. He instead shared in the fate of his people and played vital roles in raising logistics base and infrastructure that enabled Biafran armed forces to muster resistance to invading Nigerian forces.

As Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme played major role in the return of late Eze Igbo, Dim Emeka Ojukwu to Nigeria.

In his community, Dr. Ekwueme was the Ide of the Oko kingdom in Anambra State, where he helped establish a federal polytechnic to raise technical skill sets for industries in the state. He was also honoured by the council of Traditional Rulers with the title of Ide of the old Aguata comprising 44 towns.

It is at the time of loss that full value is calculated; yet the death of Dr. Alex Ekwueme proves an incalculable loss. He was God’s greatest gift to Ndigbo, Nigeria and Africa that returned under-tapped.

47

The Oracle Today Wednesday November 29, 2017

News GEJ tells leaders, think long-term

By THEO RAYS

F

ORMER President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the 2014 National Conference report, saying it holds the key to consolidation of the common grounds and shared values needed to move the nation for-

Continued from Pg 2

ward.

Jonathan, who urged those in authorities to take decisions whose impacts would outlive them, also explained why he did not implement the recommendations of the confab.

It was the first time that the former president would be speaking on why his administration passed on the 2014

Kanu’s trial

defendant/2nd respondent.

“An order of the court compelling the Chief of Army Staff to produce 1st defendant/2nd respondent before the court and or to explain to the satisfaction of the court the circumstance surrounding his whereabouts.

“An order of court compelling the Chief of Army Staff to show cause why the Attorney General of the Federation should not be compelled to initiate contempt proceedings against him for his extra-judicial selfhelp conducts that have obviously frustrated the proceedings and course of administration of justice and which actions have brought the court to some ridicule and its power appears nugatory as well as placing the applicant in a fixed up position.”

Abaribe predicated his application on the grounds that “Out of patriotic consideration of assisting the judicial process to defuse the overheating already generated in the polity and with full belief that 1st defendant was carrying on his activities within the limits and confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, applicant offered to stand surety for him and entered into re-

cognizance and executed the bail bond on his behalf.

Abaribe is alleging that it is only the Nigeria Army who had last contact with Kanu that can either produce him or explain the circumstances surrounding his whereabouts.

To his surprise, Abaribe said the Nigeria Army subsequently declared IPOB a terrorist organisation and all its members wanted.

He added that all attempts and efforts thereafter made by him to contact Kanu by whatever means failed completely as there was no response and nobody except the Army could give any account of him.

“The situation was such that applicant could no longer under the circumstances perform his obligation under the surety.

“As at the time of Chief of Army Staff ordered the deployment of his men and material to forcefully and violently invade and surround the town and residence of the 1st defendant/2nd respondent aforesaid, he had every knowledge of the pendency of this charge and that his conduct had the most probable effect of preventing the 1st defendant from attending court, to continue with his trial.”

National Conference report to the next Government.

In his goodwill message to the 5th Integration Summit Roundtable, which held in Abuja yesterday, Jonathan emphasised that the 2014 confab holds the answers to most of what Nigerians are agitating for today.

Represented by his media adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan explained that his administration did not have enough time to implement the conference recommendations, given that the report was submitted to him in August 2014, a few months before the next general elections.

The former President who estimated that it would have taken up to one year to complete the necessary processes for implementation, stressed that a rushed approach within the limited time he had in office before handing over in 2014, would have raised ethical questions.

He said: “I am aware that some people have raised some issues with the fact that I did not implement the recommendations of the confab during my tenure. I would like to state that those making this kind of claim are not being fair to me.

“Such people tend to forget that the report was submitted in August 2014, few months before the last general elections. It was at a time that the National Assembly was on break with many of the members already retreating to their different constituencies to prepare their constituents for elections.

“I believe that to have a tidy procedure of implementation, it would have involved committee deliberations, public hearings and town hall consultations, on different segments of the report.”

Ebonyi APC march against Oyegun’s visit From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki

T

housands of members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ebonyi State chapter have embarked on a protest match against the visit of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, calling for his removal over alleged complicity in the leadership crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.

Oyegun visited the state to receive defectors from Labour Party into the party.

Those received by Oyegun included the immediate past governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi and former caretaker committee chairman of Ebonyi Local Government area, Chief Anselem Enigwe and over 100 others.

The protesters lamented that in spite of the court injunction restraining the National chairman from tampering with the state congress, which elected Ben Nwobasi as the state chairman of the party, Oyegun appointed the state deputy chairman, Eze Nwachukwu as Acting chairman of the party in the state.

The protesters including women and youths carried placards with inscriptions such as, “Oyegun is causing crisis in Ebonyi APC”, “Oyegun is a trouble maker”, “Oyegun has lost his relevance in APC”, “Oyegun should resign”, “Onu has no political value in Ebonyi”, “APC under Nwobashi’s leadership is formidable”, “we will continue to support APC despite Oyegun’s antics,” among others.

The protesters who marched through the major streets of Abakaliki were seen chanting anti-Oyegun and Ogbonnaya Onu songs with a call for the leadership of the party to immediately remove him from office for his highhandedness and acts inconsistent with his office.

The protesters noted that the state executive committee of the party was not aware of any visit by the national chairman and would not want anything that would jeopardize the efforts of the leaders of the party in the state in rebuilding the party ahead of the next general election.

Speaking during the protest, Spokesman of the group and National Leader of Ebonyi APC Youth Vanguard, Engr.

Frank Ngwu alleged that Oyegun and Onu are behind the leadership crisis in the party.

Ngwu said: “We make bold to state categorically that our national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is behind the leadership crisis in Ebonyi State chapter of the APC through inconsistent issuance of directives. When some moneybag visited him, he authored a letter on February 23, 2017appointing one Eze Nwachukwu as the state Acting Chairman. When contempt proceeding was served on him, he quickly authorized another letter on April 25 withdrawing his initial letter.

“And despite his letter of withdrawal, he is still relating with Nwachukwu Eze as the state Chairman. For instance, during the courtesy visit to the Vice president, Yemi Osibanjo by all the state chairmen of the party, Oyegun cleared Nwachukwu instead of Ben Nwobasi who is the authentic chairman of the party.

Church donates to NUJ, others From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

T

• Bayelsa Acting PDP Chairman, Chief Serena Dokubo-Spiff welcomes Chief. Olabode George, Chairmanship Aspirant of the PDP, during his visit to Bayelsa State where he meet with PDP party faithfuls, the leadership and House of Assembly members

Community demands market, other amenities Continued from Pg 2

or implementation of select projects or programmes.

Representatives of the Centre for Human Protection and Development (CEHPROD), the sub-Implementer/Duty bearers of the SCP programme in Umutowe community, Nnenna Adaeze Ude and Pastor Chinwuba Egbulefu, explained to the community that the projects

would be categorized into long, medium and short-term depending on their cost implications.

They also informed the gathering that the projects could be executed by governments, organizations or wealthy individuals, adding that the CCC would play active roles in sourcing those that would fund the projects and equally supervise their execution.

Eze Onwuka commended the

United Nations and Afrihealth for choosing his community for the programme, pointing out that if the identified projects were realized, they would improve living standards in the area.

He pledged the commitment of his people to the project, and expressed appreciation to the local government chairman, Hon. Obioma Ogbulafor, for promising to assist the community realize some of the projects.

he Province of Aba, Anglican Communion, has made cash donations to some victims of the recent Operation Python Dance II in Abia State, stressing that agitations should attract development rather than destruction.

The beneficiaries include the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, which suffered enormous losses when soldiers invaded its Secretariat on September 12, this year; a widow, Mrs Nwosu, who lost her husband at Ariaria Police Station in Aba and the family of a young girl killed at Afara, the community of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

A four-man delegation led by the Chancellor of Umuahia Diocese of Anglican Communion, Barrister (Mrs) Dibugwu Ogbonnaya, who represented the Archbishop of the Province, His Grace, Most Rev Ikechi Nwosu, was at the NUJ secretariat to present the cash gift of N200, 000 to the Council, saying the gesture was to assist the beneficiaries to cushion the severe effects of their losses.

The delegation also included the Provincial Secretary/ Accountant, Sir Blessing Nnadozie and two representatives of Women Ministry.

“We are here today to commiserate with the NUJ Abia State Council. And that is because we are all aware of the crises that broke out a couple of months ago, when the military brought in the so-called Python Dance episode and we understand as a church that this place (NUJ Secretariat) was actually invaded,” the Archbishop said.

“We have, as a church, stood firm to say that that calamity that took place here in the state is something that is highly condemnable, we want to condemn it in every term. We were of the view that even though there are agitations, that there should be somebody to listen, that agitation pushes for development and shouldn’t push for calamity.

WEDNESDAY November 29, 2017

The

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48

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Ekwueme – Let the encomiums flow

T

HE best place to know how much Nigerians hate others and themselves is in the tributes that they pay to the dead.

It won’t not be different for Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, who transited to eternal glory on Sunday, November 19, 2017, while the result of the Anambra State governorship election was being awaited.

Dr. Ekwueme, a founding father of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was an interested party in that contest, not just because he was from Anambra State. His daughter, Lady Chidi Alexandra Onyemelukwe was the deputy governorship candidate to Oseloka Henry Obaze of the PDP. As the tributes pour in telling long tales of involvements with Ekwueme, scooping whatever media opportunities his death presents, the larger question would be why the “mourners” did not work with Ekwueme to achieve his dream of a Nigeria that worked with equity. He made many attempts in that direction and paid dearly for them.

When he ventured into politics in 1978, he was a wealthy man, with a flourishing architectural practice, the first that a Nigerian set up in these shores. His offices, 16, spanned across the country. He shut down Ekwueme Associates, Architects and Town Planners for politics, at a time most people freely mixed their businesses and politics – they still do.

Someone who once worked with him said Ekwueme declared personal houses in 52 cities outside Nigeria when completing his assets declaration on joining politics.

If that was not public, many were shocked when he donated N1 million to the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, in 1979. The money was worth at least $2 million then and was not the type of money associated with individuals as single donations. Where did he get the money? What could be his interest in politics? How would the notice contend with established political forces from the East?

Those who did not know him--there were few who did in 1979--derided him, thinking he was more money than brains. His choice as the vice presidential candidate was another shocker. It turned out that he was the best choice for President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari, whom he served loyally to the end. It was unheard of that they disagreed whether privately or publicly.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who became military Head of State following the coup that overthrew Shagari on 31 December 1983, is among those expected to eulogise Dr. Ekwueme whom he threw into jail, with others, on allegations of corruption.

Ekwueme lived first in Ikoyi Prisons and then Kirikiri Prisons. He spent 20 months in jail before the military tribunal that Justice Samson Odemwinge Uwaifo, later of the Supreme Court, headed, released him. Justice Uwaifo said this of the former Vice President: “Dr. Ekwueme left office poorer than he was when he entered it, and to ask more from him was to set a standard which even saints could not meet.”

It is the only time such remarks have been made of a Nigerian politician on trial. Justice Uwaifo is not one known to be extravagant with his words.

The foam mattresses Ekwueme bought to ameliorate the harsh conditions in Ikoyi and Kirikiri Prisons are still in use in their vastly com-

• Alex Ekwueme promised state.

Five years after he was released, the cerebral Ekwueme was called to the Nigerian Bar, aged 58. He added that accomplishment to a chain of academic attainment that no Nigerian has, not to mention the diversity of the fields.

Ekwueme, an alumnus of King’s College, Lagos, has these academic degrees – • Architecture and City Planning, BSc, University of Washington, US, where he was one of the four pioneer Fulbright scholars from Nigeria • Sociology, BSc, University of Washington • History, Philosophy and Constitutional Law, BA, University of London, external candidate • Law, LLB, University of London • Urban Planning, Master’s, University of London • Architecture, PhD, University of Strathclyde, Scotland • Law, BL, Nigerian Law School He was one who never lost faith in Nigeria, or talked down on others because of his edu-

cation. Out of prison and in public life, he kept faith with the future of Nigeria. He used every opportunity to invest in the Nigeria project, at great risk and made minimal efforts to milk the investments.

Few took more risks than him in telling General Sani Abacha that he could not transmute to a civilian president. At a time nobody spoke to Abacha, at least not unkindly, Ekwueme led the battle to return Nigeria to civil rule, through the various meetings and alliances he created on ending military rule.

He harvested the alliances of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) with the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), to rally the Solomon Lar side of the North. Lar, who succeeded Ekwueme, interim national Chairman of the PDP, which emerged from G-34 meetings, was one of the major rallying points in the North.

Ekwueme offered himself for office as President in 1999 and 2003. In both occasions, he lost the party’s primaries to Olusegun Obasanjo, whose penchant for entitlement,

was exhibited in his presidency, as well as annexation of PDP, which he knew nothing about its formation. Obasanjo frustrated Ekwueme’s participation in PDP. The collapse of PDP is an outcome of Obasanjo’s hijack of the party that witnessed the beginning of departures from the party – and its decline.

The former Vice President would not leave.

He called PDP, “a house I helped in building”.

The more crises there were in PDP, the more he thought he needed to rescue the party. Months ago, the PDP asked him to head its reconciliation committee.

On 4 May 2002, Ekwueme fortuitously missed being in the EAS Airlines BAC 1-11 which crashed in Kano that Saturday evening, killing at least 148 people, 75 on the plane and another 73 on the ground. It was a sheer miracle. Those who knew he was in the aircraft counted him among the dead, when nobody could account for his whereabouts.

Ekwueme had had political meetings in Jos. The EAS flight was making its way to Lagos, through Kano. Ekwueme was in the flight from Jos to Kano. Among those who boarded in Jos but died were Sports Minister Mark Aku and his media aide Nadon.

Where was Ekwueme who boarded with them? It was discovered that political friends on learning that he was in the plane had asked for a meeting in Kano. While more passengers boarded in Kano, Ekwueme was heading into the city for his meeting.

The plane crashed moments after take off, devastating villages, villagers, properties and its passengers. Many other rumours of his death have attended him, especially after the fall in his Enugu home in early November.

Ekwueme’s calmness is extraordinary. He managed to stabilise PDP by not walking out as many expected. His gentility is often taken as a weakness, but it marked him out as one who acted out of his conviction, and for the greater good.

His proposal for six regional power centres at the 1995 National constitutional Conference under General Abacha was hugely misunderstood.

Today, most political and economic policies are reckoned along those lines.

At the 50th anniversary of the Asaba Massacre last October, Ekwueme called for activities that would deepen Nigeria’s unity and ensure that it remains an indissoluble entity. He noted the importance of justice in ensuring that that unity is sustained.

He was the Ide of Oko in Anambra State.

The Federal Polytechnic, Oko, was one of the projects he brought to Oko as Vice President.

Lazarus Ekwueme, a Professor of Music at the University of Lagos, who is his younger brother, is the traditional ruler of Oko. The Council of Traditional Rulers in old Aguata made up of 44 towns, honoured him as Ide of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

We have lost a respected and courageous voice. A calm voice that only got agitated over the evils that pervade Nigeria. A firm voice that the occasional stutter that denied him a faster delivery never silenced. A voice that they never listened to, but would now claim they would miss.

Ekwueme’s passage is another, in a series of judgments, on how Nigerians appreciate people and their ideas, while they are alive.

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