"The rich have grown richer, while the poor have become poorer"
         - Oxfam

Oxfam, an international confederation of 20 NGOs working with partners in over 90 countries has expressed worry over the extreme inequality in the economic lives of the people in West Africa, including Nigeria.

According to Oxfam, "Five of Nigeria's richest men have a combined wealth of 29.9 billion Us dollar, more than the Country's entire national budget for 2017. However, about 60% of its citizens live on less than 1.25 billion Us dollars a day, the threshold for absolute poverty.

Atiku won in Katsina, witness tells Tribunal

A witness at the Presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja insisted that Atiku Abubakar, Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 election, won in Katsina state.

Salisu Maijigiri, who is the Chairman of opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina state, told the tribunal that Atiku defeated President Buhari in the state contrary to the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

CALABAR: Two weeks without DOPT

For motorists, street hawkers and traders in Calabar, capital of Cross River State, whoever wishes, thinks or talks about the return of men of the Department of Public Transport, DOPT to the roads is either seen as cursed or would be caused to regret.

Two weeks ago, precisely, Friday before last, Michael Eyo Essien, a trader who sells phone accessories was not only bullied and brutalised but was smashed to death by men of the Department of Public Transport, DOPT, with their vehicle after they seized his wares. While his lifeless body remains in the morgue, his pregnant wife, four children, aged mother and siblings have been left to bear the pains, burden and grief of life without their breadwinner.

For this reason and more, many motorists and traders have rained curses and abuses on men of the Department of Public Transport and wish that they cease to exist. What about the job losses especially, for the innocent ones who also have dependants? No Motorist or trader in Calabar is ready to give a thought to this question. All they wish and want is "scrap DOPT" It's been two weeks without any DOPT officer on the road.

Read the comments of people below:

"We don't want DOPT again. Those men are really wicked. All they do is to extort money from us." Ndueso Essien, Taxi Driver.

" Those men don't have conscience. Can you imagine someone impounding your vehicle for no wrong? All because you don't want to give them money. Let them go, please." Uko Monday.

"Why did you ask me that question? Do you want those evil men to come back? I pity them. I pity their children. You can imagine the evil seeds they are sowing for their children to come and reap. Let them go. We don't want them."
- Clement Ito, Bus Driver.

"Can't you see how clear the road is without them? If they were here, they would be causing unnecessary traffic jam because they want to collect #50."
Bassey Asuquo, Taxi Driver.

"Any government that brings them back don't mean well for the people."
Esther Ita, Trader.

"We don't want them back. That's all I have to say."
John Ekong, Trader.

"We are yet to recover from their murderous act and you are asking that kind of question. What are they coming back for? To kill more people?"
BasseyAnwan Effiom, Trader.

" My brother, the government don't care about us. All they do is to send evil men to come and kill us and take away what belongs to us."
Ndifreke Akpan, Trader.

" We say no to DOPT. The truth is they don't do what they were sent to do. All they come out here to do is to beg for money. If you don't give, they seized your goods."
Godwin Okeke, Trader.

"Those men who killed one of us? And you're asking if we want them back? If it were you, will you answer that kind of question? Let those wicked men go and find something else and do."
Matthew Godwin, Trader.

" The other day, they begged me for money I told them I don't have. The following day, when they saw me, they impounded my vehicle for no offense. I pleaded but in vain. They towed my car to their office..." (breaks down in tears)
- Anonymous