Friday, March 27, 2015 Edition. by DailyPost Nigeria

Omawumi picks April 18 wedding date

Civil Servant arrested for rapping 15-yr-old girlpg. 12

pg. 14

Daily Post

Vol. 1 Edition 3 Friday, March 27, 2015

Why Enyeama should target 150 caps for Nigeria pg. 15 inside

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JONATHAN VS BUHARI

Nigeria’s Date with history • How Nigerians may vote • What DAILY POST online poll says • Issues that defined their campaigns

pages 8,9,10,11

Asari Dokubo warns Nigerians against voting Buhari

pg. 5

El Rufai accuses Army of plotting to rig election for PDP

pg. 5

Jonathan, Buhari pledge to accept election result

pg.3

Mimiko’s deputy defects to APC

pg. 3

Elections: British Prime Minister writes Jonathan

pg. 3

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Jonathan, Buhari pledge to accept election’s result if... By Sylvester Ugwuanyi

resident Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday, assured Nigerians that they would accept the outcome of a free, fair and credible presidential election even as they called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies to abide strictly by their professional roles. Disclosing this after rising from a private meeting attended by both candidates, Jonathan and Buhari requested all Nigerians and “our party supporters, to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardise our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election.” Full text of the joint statement reads thus: “You may recall that on 14th January 2015, both of us, long with nine other party leaders signed what has now come to

be known as the Abuja Accord. The substance of that Accord was our commitment to free, fair and credible elections in our

dear country. “In the Accord, we agreed to, among other things, run an issue-based campaign and

pledged that our electoral campaigns will not involve any religious incitement, ethnic or tribal profiling, both by ourselves and all agents acting in our names. “Now that the campaigns have come to an end, we meet today to renew our pledge for peaceful elections. We therefore call on all fellow citizens of our dear country, and our party supporters, to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardise our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election. “In addition, we call on INEC and all security agencies to ensure strict adherence to their constitutional roles. We also pledge to respect the outcome of free, fair and credible elections. “Today, we again renew our commitment to a united, democratic and prosperous Nigeria. We want all Nigerians to stand together at this critical phase of our nation’s history.

Governor Mimiko’s deputy, Olanusi dumps PDP for APC By Abiodun Badejo

he Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, yesterday morning, resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Olanusi, an indigene of Supare in Akoko South West local government area of the State became the Deputy governor of the State in 2009 under the platform of Labour Party before he defected alongside the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko to the PDP in October, 2014. DAILY POST reports that the governor, Olusegun Mimiko and

his Deputy have been at loggerheads ever since, resulting to media reports that the governor was making some moves to impeach him. A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Olanusi said, “ in the unfolding political development in our country today, and in Ondo State in particular, it is increasingly clear that I need to chart a new course for majority of my followers who look up to me for direction and leadership and who have watched helplessly in the last six years (6) years, the untold marginalization and total exclusion from the government they laboured to put in place.

“While still being in place as the democratically elected Deputy Governor of Ondo State, I have decided to lead my teeming supporters and well-wishers in the state into the All Progressive Congress (APC) where we can find justice, fairness, equity and democratic liberty- a party to which majority of our kith and kins in Yorubaland belong. “I have taken this decision at this critical time in the best interest of peace, stability and good governance of our dear State and for the overall development of the South West and the Nation.” Meanwhile, the Ondo State government has reacted to the

Elections: British Prime Minister writes Jonathan By Ameh Comrade Godwin head of the Saturday’s presidential election, British Prime Minister, David Cameron has written to President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that Nigerian elections are conducted in free, fair and credible manner. Cameron warned that failure to ensure a violence-free election would dent Nigeria’s international reputation. The PM in the letter addressed to President Jonathan highlighted the importance of

the elections for the African nation and the Nigeria as a nation. According to the statement, “As Africa’s biggest democracy, successful elections in Nigeria are important not only for Nigeria’s future, but as a signal to the rest of Africa. Delivering a credible process will be a lasting credit to you as President and to Nigeria as a nation. “I am encouraged by INEC’s advances in recent weeks. The collection of over 80 per cent of Permanent Voter Cards

Cameron

and the broadly successful field tests of the card readers have improved their technical

defection of the Deputy Governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement issued and signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, the government said Olanusi has the right to take decisions on his political future. The Statement reads, “The state government just received the news of the defection of Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State to the All Progressive Congress. “Though it came as a surprise, government acknowledges his right to determine his political affiliation and wishes him well.’’

preparation for the election. Your support for Professor Jega’s continuing tenure and guidance of the process remains an important part of delivering successful elections.” “With hundreds of lives lost after the last election, the eyes of the international community will be focused on Nigeria.” Cameron expressed satisfaction with the manner Nigeria, alongside her neighboring countries were able to tackle the Boko Haram insurgents. He further confirmed the UK’s commitment to support Nigeria in this effort with £5 million of UK support to the Multinational Joint Task Force to tackle Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin area.

TMG deploys 4,000 citizen observers for elections By Ameh Comrade Godwin

he Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, yesterday announced its decision to deploy 4,000 citizen observers to monitor the Presidential and National Assembly Elections slated to hold this Saturday. Chairman of the Group, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, who disclosed this to newsmen, revealed that TMG will have mobile and stationary citizen observers in every geopolitical zone, every state of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and in all the 774 local government areas in the country. As part of its observation effort, he noted that TMG will carry out a Quick, which is an observation methodology that employs well-established statistical principles and utilizes sophisticated information technologies. According to Zikirullahi, the Quick Count provides the most timely and accurate information on the conduct of voting and counting and is the only observation methodology that can independently verify the official presidential results to be announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Plateau Government promotes 11,596 teachers

r Lyop Mang, the Executive Chairman of the board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the beneficiaries were last promoted seven years ago. The chairman said the promotion was delayed due to unavailable biometric data of the teachers. She also said that some of the promotions were delayed due to lack of prerequisite qualification by the teachers. Mang said only teachers from 15 of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state benefited in the exercise, adding that teachers from Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas were excluded following delay in the compilation of their data. The chairman said pending cases were being addressed by the board, stressing that the exercise would motivate the affected teachers to be more committed to their duties. “I enjoin the teachers to see this promotion as a charge to perform their duties diligently,’’ she said. The chairman said the state government had constructed 10 classrooms at the Girl-Child Junior Secondary School, Gurum, Bassa Local Government Area, to enhance girl-child education in the state.

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Take charge of your destiny – Buhari tells Nigerians By Sylvester Ugwuanyi

s the nation heads to the polls to elect who would preside over the affairs of the nation for the next four years, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has enjoined Nigerians not to miss the moment when the nation would be expected to take charge of its destiny. This was as he explained that he had been driven to contest the presidential election for the fourth time because of his “keen awareness of the potential greatness of our country and the desire to provide the true leadership that will unleash this huge potential.” The presidential candidate, who stated this yesterday in his last message to Nigerians before the polls, observed that the nation has at no point in time been in such an urgent need of strong and competent leadership. Noting that effective leadership has become sorely absent in the country, he pointed out that the nation is undergoing a time of great opportunities and great peril. While speaking about an evident great opportunity for change, Buhari noted, “We have to start by rebuilding the trust and confidence of Nigerians in their government. No citizen will respect a government under whose watch more than 200 girls were abducted. This singular act can only portray the government as insensitive, incompetent or both. When I become president, reuniting these children with their families will, without doubts, be a top priority. Rebuilding the army and other security agencies will also be a top priority of my government. I will ensure that never again will terrorists find a safe haven in Nigeria.” The full text of the address titled, “Time for Nigeria to be great once again” reads:

Buhari I want to take this last opportunity, before we go to the polls on Saturday March 28 and April 11 respectively, to thank everyone who has supported our campaigns. I am humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many of my fellow Nigerians who have helped to carry the message of change across our great country. This is the fourth time that I would be standing for election as the President of Nigeria. All these years, I have been driven by a keen awareness of the potential greatness of our country and the desire to provide the true leadership that will unleash this huge potential. I believe that a stable and prosperous Nigeria is not only important to Nigerians. It is also important to Africa and the rest of the world. The evidence of this is the unprecedented attention that our country will receive this weekend. On Saturday, the whole world would wait with baited breath for the greatest black nation on earth to take charge of its destiny. We must therefore not

miss the significance of this moment. We must not let ourselves and our country down. At no other time in our history is Nigeria in such an urgent need of strong and competent leadership. Sadly, at no other time is this leadership so sorely absent in our country. We live in a time of great opportunities and great peril. It is only a leader that understands these in equal measure that can find the rightful place for Nigeria among the great Nations of the world. I have travelled extensively around Nigeria in the last three months. In the course of my travels, I encountered directly, what I have always believed: that a Hausa man’s desire for security is not different from the Ijaw woman’s desire to feel secured in any part of our country. An Igbo woman’s desire for her children to get quality education and find employment is not different from the Yoruba man’s dream for his children to become a useful member of our society. A wife’s desperate need for affordable and quality healthcare for her husband diagnosed with prostate cancer in Enugu is not different from a husband’s desire to save the life of his wife diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Lagos. Invariably, our fears are the same; our dreams are the same; and our problems are the same. Regardless of the language we speak, or the way we understand and worship God, what affects anyone of us, affects everyone of us. Our economy is celebrated as the largest in Africa, yet our country is home to the continent’s highest number of people living in extreme poverty. Our youth population is larger than the combined population of many of our neighbours, yet our failure to plan and create opportunities for them is turning them to a social time bomb rather than economic catalysts. A band of

ragtag terrorist group has threatened our territorial integrity, killed thousands of Nigerians, displaced our people and abducted our children. The almost 60, 000 Nigerians who have become refugees in neighbouring countries represent a budding threat to sub-regional stability. However, even in the face of these daunting challenges, I see a great opportunity for change. We have to start by rebuilding the trust and confidence of Nigerians in their government. No citizen will respect a government under whose watch more than 200 girls were abducted. This singular act can only portray the government as insensitive, incompetent or both. When I become president, reuniting these children with their families will, without doubts, be a top priority. Rebuilding the army and other security agencies will also be a top priority of my government. I will ensure that never again will terrorists find a safe haven in Nigeria. Recent fall in international price of crude leaves us badly exposed and vulnerable. Dwindling oil revenue also means that we are going to face serious financial challenges in the months ahead. However, even as daunting as this appears, it also provides us with great opportunity to diversify our economy and finally give meaning to the widely held belief that our prosperity as a nation would not continue to depend on the resources buried under our feet, but on the productive capacity of our people. No matter how much resources we have, if not properly utilized, it would only create a few billionaires and leave majority of our people in poverty. Under the current administration, corruption has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and this has been at the heart of most of our government failings, including insecurity, broken infrastructure and growing inequality in our country.

Jonathan Lays Foundation of UAM Teaching Hospital in Benue

resident Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday laid foundation for construction of Teaching Hospital of the University of Agriculture in Akwete, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue. Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, said the teaching hospital was in fulfillment of his promise to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure and provide quality education to the people. He said his administration had established 14 universities with 10 located in the North while 4 were cited in the South, explaining that the development had provided ample opportunities for youths to obtain qualitative education. The president added that the establishment of the teaching hospital in Otukpo was aimed at boosting health delivery to the people of the area. Senate President David Mark said he was overwhelmed by the gesture of the President to locate the university in his domain. Mark commended Jonathan for continuing with the Transformation Agenda. He advised Jonathan not to join issues with his political foes, whom he said, were bent on distracting him. He said the teaching hospital would be one of the President’s enduring legacies long after his exit from political office. The Minister of Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, said the Otukpo teaching hospital was one of those established recently. The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, urged the Idoma people to reciprocate the good gesture by giving their bloc votes to the President and the PDP.

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El-Rufai accuses Army Chief of plotting to rig election for Jonathan By Sylvester Ugwuanyi

ormer FCT Minister and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has accused the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, of being determined to use soldiers and army equipment to manipulate tomorrow’s presidential elections in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan. In a statement he shared on his official Facebook and Twitter pages in the early hours of Thursday, El-Rufai noted that he was “deeply worried by reports that the leaders of the security sector have jettisoned every appearance of impartiality for Saturday’s presidential election.” The ex-minister, in the nine-paragraph statement titled, “Open letter to all Nigerians: It’s time to stand up for Nigeria,” alleged that some army generals and security chiefs had vowed to shield Jonathan from defeat adding that the army was acting like the armed wing of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Asari Dokubo warns Nigerians against voting Buhari

El-Rufai, while claiming that Minimah was looking for a way to show appreciation to President Jonathan for appointing him as the Chief of Army Staff “ahead of 14 of his seniors,” warned that rigging the presidential election would wreck the economy and lead to anarchy and instability, said, According to him, “Chatter in informed circles has it that General Kenneth Minimah has sworn to use the soldiers and equipment of the army to promote President Jonathan’s cause. That is both improper and illegal. “Minimah is certainly not alone in abandoning the sanctity of his oath. A slew of generals and security chiefs have clearly narrowed their duty to protecting Jonathan from defeat. Military commanders and police officers are sounding not merely like PDP partisans. They are acting like operatives of the armed wing of the PDP. “They have paid little attention to the likely consequences of their actions. Interfering with the election, both in terms of process and the integrity of the result, is a sure recipe for disaster. That is a step that will certainly set the country

undreds of Niger Delta People Salvation Front, NDPSF, volunteers led by their leader, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, yesterday caused an unprecedented traffic snarl in the metropolis of Warri, Delta State as they staged a road show to show strong solidarity and support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan. The volunteers comprising mostly of youths used the event to reaffirm and express their resolve to vote in President Jonathan for a second term. Dokubo-Asari, while addressing

on fire, and not just in ways we can all foresee.” The APC candidate continued that the constitutional power bestowed on President Jonathan to nominate or appoint senior officials does not mean that such appointees should behave like a lapdog or be incapable of functioning with integrity, professional dignity and respect for the law. 6He enjoined all military and security officers to stand up for the rule of law and the peace and unity of Nigeria by resisting all illegal orders intended to tamper with the election results. The former minister’s post reads in part, “President Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP government has no respect for the professionalism, dignity and integrity of the people in our military and security services. To anchor rigging plans on using the personnel and material assets of these services amounts to using the institutions that should protect and secure the country as wreckers. “The lack of accountability for the Ekiti rigging fiasco, the absence

of the redemptive possibility of remorse and the unwillingness to fully investigate and prosecute the key actors fill us with dread. When such baleful conduct goes unpunished, it can only mean that it is the default modus operandi of the perpetrators. And that is not the sort of behaviour that can produce a free, fair and credible election. “This country has suffered enough. The people of this country stood up for the constitution to make Jonathan acting president against the machinations of the Yar’Adua cabal. Jonathan went ahead to fritter the good will, and he set a new marker for incompetence and for not giving a damn. The Constitution should not be subverted to illegally prolong the stay of a poor performer who only made it that far because the Constitution was upheld. “Nigerians have realised that Jonathan simply does not care. He is not bothered about the welfare and security of Nigerians. All he is obsessed about is avoiding defeat. And he does not care if the country is sacrificed for him. Enough is enough,” he stated.

the gathering warned that it shall be gun for gun, bullet for bullet, bomb for bomb should the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Muhammadu Buhari attempt to cause chaos after losing the election. Warning that the opposition leader must never be allowed to get close to power as he is a disaster waiting to happen on Nigeria, the former Niger-Delta warlord said, “He is a spent force with a stale mind incapable of leading a multi complex Nigerian State.” He accused Buhari of being corrupt

and immoral and berated his wife for having the guts to insult the women of the Niger Delta, particularly the good women of Edo State by calling them prostitutes. Spotting a red T-shirt on which was inscribed March for Goodluck Jonathan, Dokubo-Asari insisted that the APC flag bearer remained a tyrant and an unrepentant dictator who should be stripped of his military honours as he rose the rank and file by unfair, immoral and corrupt means, having not been qualified.

Enugu residents storm House of Assembly complex, protest N11b loan By SEUN Opejobi

everal residents of Enugu State, Thursday, took over the Enugu House of Assembly Complex protesting against what they called plans by the Assembly to approve a loan of N11 billion for the State government. The angry residents, led by the APC guber candidate in the state, Chief Okey Ezea, called on the lawmakers to in the interest of the people of the state reject the proposal. Speaking on behalf of the group, Ezea said; “These young men and women are here to demonstrate their rejection of the planned approval by the House of a loan of N11 billion for state government that has come to the end of its term. “We are saying that before now if you go to the Debt Management office, Enugu State as at January 31st 2015 owes N12.061bn and somebody wants to take another loan of N11bn. When will Enugu people complete the payment of such loan? The lives of our children are at stake; hospitals are not working in Enugu State, the educational system is not working in Enugu State all these children are paying N150, 000 in ESUT and IMT.”

The Week in Review On FRIDAY, former Vice

President Atiku Abubakar explained that he has not been seen on the campaign train of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, because he was not invited to the rallies. Atiku, who told the BBC Hausas that he would not attend the campaign if not invited, said, “There are minor irregularities in connection with the system being followed by the campaign team of General Buhari but we are trying to correct it.” It was also on this day that Nigeria’s wartime leader, Yakubu Gowon, accused the late Biafran hero, Odumegwu Ojukwu, of misrepresenting the crux of the Aburi Accord to Nigerians, insisting that what the Biafran leader told the world fell short of what was actually discussed at the peace meeting held in Aburi, Ghana to resolve the Nigerian civil war.

On SATURDAY

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, President Goodluck Jonathan took his re-election campaign to Daura, the home town of his major contender in tomorrow’s election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), where he vowed

that those peddling the news that his government was planning an Interim National Government would be punished. He used the courtesy visit to the palace of the Emir of Daura to reassure that the general elections would hold on March 28 and April 11 as rescheduled by INEC. Also on this day, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ ad Abubakar warned the gladiators in the general elections due to begin tomorrow, especially President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari against going about the election as a do-or-die affair.

On SUNDAY, the Dep-

uty Governor of Rivers State, Engr. Tele Ikuru, announced his defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, describing his former party as one filled with “rebels, insurgents and anarchists clothed in the robes of pretense and deceit.” Announcing his defection in a statement titled, “A call on the conscience of the people of Rivers State,” Ikuru noted that since he joined the APC with other disillusioned people of the state, he had been in emotional agony. Still on Sunday, the APC presidential campaign organisation faulted the politicization of the National Conference report and advised Yoruba leaders not to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan on the basis of his promise to implement the Confab report.

On MONDAY,

United States President, Barack Obama, in a direct broadcast to Nigerians, noted that irrespective of what becomes the outcome of the 2015 general election, it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to help keep the peace, as violence should have no place in democracy.

Stressing that Nigerians have a historic opportunity to help write the next chapter of their nation’s progress, by voting in the upcoming elections, Obama insisted that citizens must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear, for the elections to be credible, free, fair and peaceful. Also on this day, a Federal High Court in Lagos restrained the federal government from deploying soldiers for the general elections as deployment of troops for elections was “unconstitutional”.

On TUESDAY

, former President Olusegun Obasanjo reacted to the speculated handing over of the reins of government to the military, warning that such would undermine the integrity of the country. The former leader, who spoke while hosting the wife of APC presidential candidate, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, said, “I do hope we will get things more right. A lot of rumours are flying around; I think we have gone away from the rumour of Interim Government because that is not in our constitution”. Still on this day, Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Lagos annulled the directive by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) which suspended the presidential campaign fundraising platform of the All Progressives Congress. The judge consequently awarded N500 million as damages against the defendants jointly and severally.

On WEDNESDAY

, the Nigerian government announced that all its land and sea borders will be closed from midnight on Thursday to midnight on Saturday, to give room for a hitch-free poll. Comptroller-General of Immigration Service,

David Parradang, while disclosing this in Abuja, said immigration personnel had been detailed in land borders to ensure that no illegal migrants come into the country during the elections. He also warned foreigners resident in Nigeria against coming to vote during the elections as those caught would be prosecuted. Also on Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja cleared whatever remained of the hurdle seeking to prevent the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, from participating in Saturday’s election. This was as the court adjourned further hearing in the disqualification suit to April 22 and 23.

On THURSDAY

, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and declared for the All Progressives Congress, APC. This was immediately followed by a press statement from the Deputy Governor, where he noted: “In the unfolding political development in our country today, and in Ondo State in particular, it is increasingly clear that I need to chart a new course for majority of my followers who look up to me for direction and leadership and who have watched helplessly in the last six years (6) years, the untold marginalization and total exclusion from the government they laboured to put in place.” Still on this day, the Human Rights Watch disclosed that going by eyewitness accounts and analysis of media reports, attacks by the terrorist organization, Boko Haram, have led to the killing of over 1,000 civilians from the beginning of 2015 to date.

Michael Irene: What really is it? Democracy? Nigerian Democracy? Cabalocracy?

ohn Dunn, Emeritus Professor of Political theory at King’s College, London, posits: “democracy is not synonymous with good governance.” In other words, the fancy use of the term “democracy” simply doesn’t birth the practice of accountability and fairness in democratic nations. In his seminal book, Breaking Democracy’s Spell (2014), Dunn argues, in clear terms, why this oft praised system of government is replete with “unstable, vulnerable […] and continuing danger” in the so-called democratic countries. The general failure to “comprehend” the concept of democracy, he states, amplifies deep “instability” in governance. His assessment holds certain truths; democracy thrives on, most times, racial/ tribal divisions, malicious capitalism and widens the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Yet, many third world countries exercise this borrowed system of government without proper analysis, and often times, espouse the monstrous characteristics of democracy. This is not to suggest that democracy is not laden with its advantages but the system as used in most African nations, for instance, in a country like Nigeria, shows that the system is used to defraud and oppress the hoi polloi. Okoye in an essay, “Election Administration in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: A Guide for Election Managers and Students” claims that “history of elections in Nigeria shows that it has been characterized by massive frauds, the intimidation and even assassination of political opponents.” These characteristics enumerated by Okoye have its historical prece-

dence. In 1959, the last Governor-General before Nigeria gained independence, Sir James Robertson, orchestrated a stunning electoral process, which, according to Akintola, a Nigerian historian, was created to “thwart Nigeria’s progress and undermine the authority of the new [political] elites”. That is, the newly elected Governor-General and later president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, and the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, were both set-up to govern a nation characterized by various cultural differences. The politicians were tools in the hands of the colonialists. Nothing worked. Deyan, another scholar of Ni-

gerian literature and history, argues that the newly imposed independence gifted to Nigeria by colonialists set the country “into a cycle of pathos.” Arguably, the historical pathos still haunts Nigeria in contemporary times. The leaders have not learnt from history. They’ve not been able to move away from the colonial trap. Of course, total democratization of nation states takes time and works with consistent dialogue, positive practical approach and implementation of policies. Are Nigerians, however, having these dialogues? Are Nigerians asking the right questions about democracy as practiced in their country? International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) proposes that for democracy to work accurately in Nigeria, democracy must include a broad section of the society, embody the aspirations of all Nigerians, and it must fight against the culture of the elites’ attachment to power. IDEA’s proposition sounds good but it is what it is, an idea, which the political elites are not willing to put into consideration. As the Nigerian presidential and gubernatorial elections draw nearer, strong echoes of this type of disastrous democratic practice dances devilishly in the Nigerian social context. First, the political elites in Nigeria, in their bid to hold onto power, bastardize the tenets of democracy. If anything, the senseless peregrinations of Nigerian political zealots seeking votes, the pingpong attacks by party loyalists, and the general hogwash spewed by many Nigerian party followers, points to the chilling reality that Nigeria is divided on dangerous tribal and religious lines which the current aspirants use for their

campaign. The terms, Islam and Christianity, are used interchangeably to win souls for parties. Religion has become a political tool. Northern Nigeria and southwest Nigeria, which holds the highest number of Muslims and Christians respectively, have become platforms where these political gods preach about their desire to lead the people across the red sea. Poverty, too, is another avenue for political exploits. Some days ago, party loyalists representing both parties were caught on camera sharing gift items to members of the public as they campaigned. This reiterates the fact that Nigerian political elites don’t care about suffering Nigerians. The people see this but still follow the politicians blindly. They are mere pawns. Some would ar-

“This is not to

suggest that democracy is not laden with its advantages but the system as used in most African nations, for instance, in a country like Nigeria, shows that the system is used to defraud and oppress the hoi polloi”

gue that voting-in the right person would stop the mess. However, I’d argue that, before voting, that Nigerians asked the right questions. Is Nigeria really a democratic state? Or, is this Nigerian Democracy? Nnenna argues that democracy in Nigeria is “currently characterized by immense experimentations in Nigeria.” Of course, when practising what one has not totally understood and analysed, what follows is a process of trial and error. She further argues: “the usual procedures of enthroning democratically elected governments in Nigeria are still marked (even marred) by administrative and executive trials and errors.” The electoral process in Nigeria, to elaborate her point, is based on probability. No one is certain about the outcomes. But, how can certainty be possible? Godfathers and sponsors control the country. Then, the question again, is: “Is this democracy?” In an interview with journalists at an Abuja rally against the oil subsidy, Obahiagbon (a member of the political elite), quips: “what we have in Nigeria is cabalocracy.” That is a “government by the cabal, for the cabal and of the cabal.” Who is the cabal? Where are the cabals? How can these cabals be uprooted? When can Nigerians really ask much more from their leaders? It is not enough for Nigerians to rush to the polls on the 28th of March 2015. In addition to exercising their rights to vote, they also need to ask pertinent questions about how they can attain a collective freedom. The people have the power, and should learn to exercise it aggressively and wisely.

Friday, March 27, 2015

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business Six ships laden with petrol arrive in Lagos

ix ships laden with 157,200 tonnes of petrol have arrived Lagos ports waiting berthing. The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its daily publication – `Shipping Position’ in Lagos on Thursday. The publication indicated that 10 other ships containing kerosene, aviation fuel, base oil, bulk rice and containers were also waiting to berth. It noted that 33 other ships were expected to arrive at the ports from March 26 to April 19. The publication stated that the expected ships would sail in with petrol, aviation fuel, kerosene, fish, general cargo, bulk wheat, steel products, vehicles and bulk sugar. It stated that 26 other ships were discharging crude palm oil, soya beans, rice, fish, bulk salt, fertilisers, containers, general cargo, steel products, petrol, bulk gas, diesel, base oil and bulk gypsum.

FG’s local content policy receives major boost

he Federal Government local content policy Wednesday received a boost with the formal handing over of Shell’s equity in OML 29 to a local oil and gas firm, Aiteo. According to the statement from the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, this would increase the participation of indigenous companies in the upstream sub-sector of the oil and gas industry. According to Alegbe, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Joseph T. Dawha, speaking at a brief ceremony to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Aiteo for the transfer of Shell’s equity in OML 29 to the latter, described the event as a milestone in the quest of the Federal Government to develop the capacity of Nigerians and Nigerian companies to play leading roles in every sector of the oil and gas industry as encapsulated in the Nigerian Content Development Act. Also speaking in a similar vein, the Managing Director of SPDC and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, described the event as a major step towards the fulfillment of “the nation’s aspiration of growing indigenous participation in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry”. He described OML 29 as one of the biggest onshore oil blocks that Shell has ever divested in the country.

UBA sustains growth momentum, grosses N290bn earnings in 2014

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has released 2014 full year audited results showing that consolidation of its African operations and enhanced productivity across the group are sustaining the Bank’s growth momentum. The results of the Pan-African Bank, released on Wednesday at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), show a 10% growth in gross earnings to N290bn. In other indices, the Bank recorded a Profit-Before-Tax of N56.2 billion and a Profit-After-Tax of N48bn. Earnings received a boost from both Interest and Non-Interest Income showing the Bank’s diversified and stable income base. Interest Income rose 5.91% to N197 billion in December 2014 from N186 billion in December 2013, while Non-Interest Income rose by 18.17% to N93.3 billion from N79.0 billion. The Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), Ugo Nwaghodoh expressed optimism that the Bank will continue to record a steady and sustained increase in its profitability by leveraging on low cost stable funds as well as rising opportunities in the Bank’s target markets in Nigeria and across Africa. “The performance of our African business was boosted by increased cross selling of our products and a number of other strategic initiatives. As we gain critical mass in the African market, we look forward to increased earnings in line with the diversification of our business across Africa” explained Nwaghodoh.

Fire fighters battle to put out Ascon filling station inferno in Lagos, yesterday.

Customer deposits in the Bank in the period under review remained stable at N2.17 trillion in 2014. Buoyed by this stability, UBA expanded its support for businesses on the continent by increasing its loan book by 14% to N1.072 trillion in 2014. “We expanded our loan book without compromising our focus on asset quality. Notably, our non-performing loan ratio remains one of the best-in-class

at 1.6%, as we responsibly grew risk assets in line with our defined risk appetite and target markets” said the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Phillips Oduoza. The Bank was also able to grow shareholders’ fund significantly by 13% to N265 billion in 2014 from N235 billion in 2013, with a capital adequacy ratio above regulatory requirement. “We will leverage on our adequate capi-

talization and liquidity to grow market share across target business lines” said Oduoza. UBA also announced that it is paying a proposed cash dividend of N0.10 per share in a move, the Board says, is to effectively reflect the balance between giving short term return to investors and the commitment to create sustainable long term value to all shareholders.

Naira will depreciate post-election - FDC

ontrary to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) view that the naira would appreciate after Saturday’s elections, financial advisory firm, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd (FDC) has said that it expects the local currency to suffer a marginal depreciation. In a note issued shortly after the CBN’s rate setting body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concluded its meeting on Tuesday, the firm predicted that the naira will hover around N202/$ and N225/$ at the interbank and parallel markets respectively. According to the FDC, although the MPC remains committed to its price and currency stability objectives, “The continued insecurity in the north and high political uncertainty remain sources of concern, particularly the danger of violence after the presidential polls. This could spur capital flow reversal and increase speculative pressure on the naira.” The experts further stated that while the CBN’s scrapping of the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) window had resulted in the naira recording marginal gains against the dollar thus helping to reduce the rate of reserves depletion and boosting investor confidence, the local currency was still

under pressure because of continued volatility of oil prices. Commenting specifically on the likely impact of the MPC’s decision on the markets, the FDC stated that interest rates would remain unchanged because the markets had already discounted the outcome of the Committee’s meeting. The report said: “Other factors

such as the resumption of the plunge in global oil prices and likely reversal of portfolio flows are threats to government revenue and the external reserves level. In our view, the impact of the MPC decision on the economy and the markets in the near to medium term is expected to remain neutral. “The probability of the US

Federal Reserve Bank increasing interest rates and its impact on foreign portfolio investors appetite have tempered the view of the CBN on its ability to slash interest rates in the near term. However, immediately after a transparent election, the markets and the economy are likely to witness a mild recovery.

How multiple taxes impede telecoms’ growth – Operators

elecommunications networks in Nigeria have, for the umpteenth time, bemoaned the negative impact of multiple taxations on their infrastructure expansion. The operators spoke through their umbrella body, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON). ALTON President, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said that multiple taxations and other frivolous charges usually levied on telecoms operators have been having impeding accelerated infrastructure deployment by the telecoms companies. He said: “In deploying their infrastructure, telecoms operators have had to contend with multiple taxation challenges, as all sorts of taxes of various nomenclatures are imposed on telecoms networks before they can be allowed to lay fiber cables

or build base stations.” According to him, this has further been complicated as governments, especially state and local and their different agencies “now see telecoms as cash cow, which they target to boost their Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR).” Adebayo, urged federal government to strengthen its efforts in engaging more state governments to sign up to the ‘Smart State’ initiative, saying that allowing telecoms operators to roll out faster in a state will boost the economic development of such a state. The ALTON President, however, called for a one-stopshop approach to tax collection from telecoms companies in Nigeria. “It is better and faster for a telecoms company to approach a single office and pay all the charges it needs to pay to embark

on any expansion project and complete such a project in record time than to go to multiple offices and pay and yet, by the time you start building your infrastructures, another government agencies or bodies are stopping you, demanding frivolous charges before you can be allowed to proceed with your project,” he said. Importers may lose 2,000 vehicles to Customs Importers and Customs agents may forfeit their April consignments if they fail to clear them within the next one week. The affected shipments are over 2,000 vehicles abandoned between January and December 2014. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Port and Terminal Multi-services Terminal (PTML), Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, has given the duo two weeks to clear the goods.

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Jonathan Versus Buhari:

Nigeria’s date with history

• How electorate may vote by Timothy Enietan-Matthews

fter months of preparation, vigorous campaign by political parties and their candidates, postponement in scheduled dates, accusations and counter-accusations, the 2015 presidential election is here, and in less than 24 hours, Nigerians will be heading to the polls to choose who among the 14 presidential candidates who have secured the tickets of their parties as the next president of the most populous black nation on earth! Saturday’s presidential election is arguably the most important in the history of Nigeria as a nation and one that will go down in record as the most fiercely fought. It is the most important because it is the first presidential election after the nation celebrated its first 100 years of nationhood. It is the most important because Nigerians are going to the polls to elect a new leader in a time of war, the war

against Boko Haram insurgents. It is the most important, because Nigerians have never at any point been this politically aware and passionate about elections as it is been witnessed at the moment. The 2015 presidential election holding tomorrow, as pointed out, will also be the nation’s most fiercely contested and one that may not produce an overwhelming victory for any of the candidates. Students of history are quick to point out the fact that at no point in the history of Nigerian elections has a ruling party or an incumbent been given the kind of fight and scare as is being experienced at the moment in an election year. Since the return to constitutional democracy in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has always had a field day, going into national elections with so much comfort and confidence, a situation that made a leader of the party to once boast that the PDP will rule Nigeria for the next 60 years.

Jonathan

Buhari

As their slogan implies, the coming on board of the All Progressives Congress, APC, into the nation’s political firmament after a successful merger of the legacy parties, has proven to be a game changer in Saturday’s election. The party, through the combination of deft political maneuvers, extreme and productive use of the media and propaganda, has been able to work itself

into the consciousness of Nigerians, many of whom see the party and its presidential candidate as the change they have been waiting for. The current discontent in the land and the clamour for change, notwithstanding, Saturday’s election will surely be a photo finish contest between the two main contenders, incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jona-

than and a former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari. President Jonathan, a former Vice President to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, is coming into Saturday’s contest with Nigeria’s famed incumbency factor, the ruling party’s national spread and hitherto behemoth structure across the length and breadth of the country, the gale of endorsements coming his way and adoptions by some other opposition parties. For General Buhari, the widespread discontent and clamour for change in the land seems to be his most potent weapon in Saturday’s election. Coupled with this, is the expected block votes from the Northern and Southwestern states which his party, the APC, has as strongholds. Though Saturday’s presidential election may be predictable on regional basis, it is however instructive to look at how Nigerians may vote in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, as block votes may not necessarily come in handy in some geo-political zones. Continued on page 9

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How Nigerians may vote Continued from page 8 South East The South East traditionally has remained a PDP zone and it is expected to remain so in Saturday’s election. Save for Imo State where the PDP candidate may be in for a surprise defeat, Anambra, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi would be easy wins for Jonathan. Though with popular clamour for change and the influence of the Imo state governor in the zone, General Buhari is expected to perform a lot better than he did in the zone in 2011. In 2011, President Jonathan garnered a total of 1, 145, 169 votes in Anambra, 480,592 votes in Ebonyi, 882,144 votes in Enugu, 1,175,954 votes in Abia and 1,406, 289 votes in Imo State. Though there have been questions over the validity of some of these figures, the introduction of the card readers may sort out some concerns of bloated figures in favour of the PDP candidate. But overall, it is still safe to say Jonathan is practically safe in the South East. South South The South South geo-political zone presents an interesting scenario for two reasons. First, it is the home zone of President Goodluck Jonathan and one that has always been home of the PDP. Secondly, since the return to constitutional democracy in 1999, the South South zone has always given the PDP almost 100% of total votes cast in elections. These may have however changed with the strong in-roads the opposition APC is making into the zone. Aside Edo and Rivers State that have APC governors at the helm of affairs, the party has also made quality incursions into Bayelsa State, the president’s home state. The party has been waxing strong in Bayelsa, may be due to the influence of former Governor, Timipre Silva. Sylva has lately become a vociferous critic of the Jonathan administration, who not long ago apologized to Nigerians for presenting Jonathan to the nation. Also of note is the large turnout party supporters during the APC presidential campaign in Yenogoa, the state capital. Though it may be preposterous for Gen. Buhari to expect an outright win in Bayelsa, it will surely not be a walkover for Jonathan. In Edo State; APC may be coasting home to victory, courtesy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s iron grip on the politics of the state. Oshiomhole has been a vociferous critic of Jonathan and his administration and will do all within his power to deliver the state to APC. For Rivers, the APC looked good at a point and everything pointed to a major upset for the PDP, as Governor Rotimi Ameachi continued to consolidate the presence of the party in the state until his deputy defected to the PDP and potentially weakened the strength of the party in Rivers State. The reaction of Ameachi and the party machinery in the state to the defection of Engr. Tele Ikuru, also paints the picture of a major setback and a destabilization of its planned consolidation in the State. As things stand, the state will be a major electoral battle ground between President Jonathan and General Moham-

madu Buhari. For Cross River and Delta States, President Jonathan appears to be solidly on ground and looking good in coasting home to victory but the same cannot be said of Akwa Ibom State, which had hitherto been seen as a safe haven for the President. The less than perfect way with which the incumbent governor of the state, Chief Godswill Akpabio handpicked his successor, leading to disharmony within the rank and file of the party, may turn out to be decisive in the presidential contest. The dramatic appearance of former Governor, Victor Attah and a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Don Etiebet at an APC governorship campaign in the state, have no doubt hurt the supposed invincibility of the PDP in the state, thus making Akwa Ibom another battle ground between President Jonathan and General Buhari. On the whole, the South South zone is expected to still go the way of President Jonathan though without the traditional near 100% of total vote cast. South West The South West zone has always been a complex one when it comes to politics and elections. It is a zone no one can confidently predict, as the people of the zone proud themselves as highly politically enlightened. In 2011, against the run of events, President Jonathan had a landslide win in five of the six states in the

Jonathan

region, despite the fact that the dominant party in the zone then, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, had a presidential candidate. Though there were allegations of a tradeoff, it was however not expected that things would go the way it went. 2015 however seems very different from 2011, as the major promoters of the candidature of General Buhari and fiercest critics of the President Jonathan’s administration are from the zone. It is a known fact that the quest of the retired General for the presidency is highly popular online and the bulk of online activists working for the election of Buhari are also from the zone. Aside the popular clamour for change, the South West zone has an axe to grind with President Jonathan because of what the zone calls marginalization of the zone by the current administration. This feeling, prevalent, especially among political elites in the zone may prove decisive in

the way the zone will vote and the eventual outcome of the Saturday’selection. And with the vice presidential candidate of the APC coming from the South West, the zone may just want to vote for a ticket that will best protect its interest. The Above notwithstanding, the presidential election in the South West may not be a walk over for the APC candidate, as President Jonathan is expected to still make an impressive showing in states like Ekiti, Ondo and Lagos States. Ekiti and Ondo States are PDP states while in Lagos, the candidature of Jimi Agbaje in the April 11 governorship election may provide necessary breather the president needs in the state. Also the large number of South South and South East indigenes resident in the state may prove a significant difference in state. North Central The North Central geo-politi-

cal zone will no doubt be a battle ground for both candidates, as the zone may turn out to be the decider in Saturday’s poll. Kwara and Nasarawa States are APC states while Kogi, Benue, Plateau and Niger are PDP states. However, the Northern sentiment and discontent with the PDP administrations in states like Benue and Kogi States may sway a sizable number of votes for General Buhari in the PDP controlled states in the zone. On the whole, the two candidates may come out of the election neck to neck in the zone. North West Going by the 2011 presidential election, General Mohammadu Buhari is expected to have a landslide victory in all the states in the North West. The vice presidential candidature of the current Vice President, Namadi Sambo and whatever impact it may hope to have on the electorate in the zone have been dwarfed by the cultlike following Buhari enjoys in the zone. Though PDP controls states like Jigawa, Kaduna, Kastina and Kebbi, it is yet to be seen what impact their governors can make in delivering their states for President Jonathan. North East Just like the North West, the North East geo-Political zone may be another walkover for General Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. The zone that has been ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency for over four years, aside the clamour of a return of the presidency to the North, may decide to queue en-mass behind General Buhari who has promised to end the insurgency immediately he assumes power as president.

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justify his commitment and to relieve electricity consumers of some loads, President Jonathan’s government recently slashed electricity tariff by 50 per cent, promising that Nigerians will receive better ‘packages’ if he is given another mandate. General Buhari on the other hand believes that his party has a holistic or an all-inclusive package to transform the power sector. He believes that the current transformation of the power sector by the current administration could only be found on the pages of newspapers and in figure as the ordinary Nigerian is yet to enjoy the tariff he pays on power. He said his government will reduce tariff on power and ensure that power supply becomes regular against the current epileptic status.

Buhari

Jonathan

Issues that defined their campaigns by Adoyi Ali

he 2015 Presidential election can be likened to the Roman gladiatorial contest; a contest of two individuals of divergent political clouts, thus making it difficult to predict exactly who will emerge victorious at the end of the Saturday’s polls. While the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan who hails from Otuoke in Bayelsa state, and a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is viewed as a conservative leader going by his approaches to national issues since he became the nation’s president six years ago, General Muhammadu Buhari, an indigene of Daura in Katsina state and the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been generally termed a radical and no-nonsense leader. This judgment is entirely anchored on his antecedents as a former Head of State, former Minister and Chairman, Petroleum Special Trust Fund, PTF. This distinct political philosophy has created widespread political divides across the country. Many Nigerians have however decided to vote according to their conviction, but not outside the squeaky line that separates the two ‘actors’ – ‘Transformation’ and ‘Change’. Both candidates have come up with strong and resounding campaign promises to induce voters, even though Nigerians appear skeptical as to whether these promises could become efficacious towards solving their many problems after the 2015 general elections. Whichever way one looks at their campaign promises, one thing is sure- a winner will emerge after Nigerians are done voting. Corruption

While the incumbent President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has attributed his success story where he grew from a humble background of ‘’no shoes’’ to an aristocratic status to destiny and the need to transform Nigeria through his economic policies, General Muhammadu Buhari believes that the destiny of Nigeria is solely in their hands, and the only way to survive is to kill corruption before it kills the country. Both President Jonathan and General Buhari have had conflicting ideologies on how corruption should be tackled. President Jonathan, in his conservative approach to tackling corruption believes that corruption can best be exterminated through gradual and methodical approach by fashioning ‘’brick walls’’ around what may create chambers for corruption. Jonathan believes that throwing people into prisons over corrupt acts will only have an instantaneous solution, but not long term solution. He believes that if there is a reasonable reduction in the flow of money within and outside the country, corruption could be reduced minimally. His philosophy is basically that corruption must be tackled institutionally. Even though President Jonathan has shown some high level of dedication towards ending corruption in both public and private institutions, he believes that the result can become visible in the long run. He has promised Nigerians that despite his conservative approach to tackling corruption, corrupt people will not be tolerated if he is returned elected. General Buhari on the other hand has taken a left turn from Jonathan’s promises and approaches to tackling corruption. He has stressed at several fora that corrupt government

officials be punished, as that is the only way corruption can be tackled headlong. He believes that despite the endemic nature of corruption, his government will eradicate corruption in a short time. He has promised that no stone will be left unturned when the war on corruption begins. General Buhari believes that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has not done much in the area of fighting corruption, as many corrupt individuals were left untouched by the government.

National Security Even though security issue has remained a major drawback of Jonathan’s government due to the rising cases of insurgency in different parts of the country, he has promised that before this Saturday’s elections, some of the security issues currently being used to chastise his administration will become a ‘thing of the past’. During the last presidential debate organized by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group, Jonathan said there was a renewed approach to security issues across the country. He said the war on insurgency can best be won through sensitization and mass enlightenment. He said with the current security approach, the issue of Boko Haram, kidnapping and armed robbery will be tackled vehemently when he is returned to office on May 29, 2015. The question most Nigerians are asking is that; ‘’will Jonathan earn the support of the north even when his security team has failed to rescue the Chibok girls from their Boko Haram abductors?’’ Despite the positive outcome of the ongoing onslaught against the Boko Haram insurgents, General Muhammadu Buhari has however condemned the ‘’snail-like’’ approach to the

tackling of insecurity by the current administration. He believes that the whole nation’s security must be overhauled, and the military must be equipped to battle both Boko Haram militants and other groups posing serious security threats to Nigeria’s cooperate existence. General Buhari has promised to secure the lives of Nigerians under his administration. One of the major campaigns against his government however is his alleged comment that ‘’Nigeria will be made ungovernable’’; a comment he purportedly made prior to the 2011 Presidential election which he lost to the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan. Power While President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party have beaten their chests over their effort towards revamping the power sector, many Nigerians have continued to decry the ongoing poor power supply being experienced across the country. President Goodluck Jonathan recently inaugurated the rehabilitated Unit 6 and the overhauled Unit 4 of the Egbin Power Station in Lagos, adding 240 more megawatts to the national grid and also restored the power plant to its full capacity of 1,320 megawatts. With this result, the country’s power generation capacity is said to now stand at 5,500 megawatts. This is the highest figure ever achieved since Nigeria started to make effort towards stable power supply. The Minister of power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, during the commissioning ceremony said the restoration of Egbin to its full capacity was the fruit of the President’s ‘’candour, doggedness, tenacity of purpose, and dexterity of purpose, as well as his commitment, which has been so unwavering in the full implementation of the privatization of the power sector”. Even though President Jonathan believes his government has done much in the area of power reforms, he has blamed the recent poor power supply across the country on shortage of gas and the activities of saboteur. He has promised that if he is returned elected after Saturday’s elections, he will complete what he has started by ensuring that Nigeria achieves uninterrupted power supply. To further

Petrol While President Jonathan has showered accolades on his administration for eliminating some cabals from the oil sector and for making Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, available to Nigerians at an affordable N87 per litre, he has regretted the recent shortage in the supply of the product on the eve of the nation’s election. The President has promised to make the product abundantly available and at affordable rate for Nigerians if re-elected. On the contrary, General Buhari believes that with the fall in the prices of crude, Nigerians should pay far less than what they currently pay. He has promised that queues at filling stations will disappear as soon as he assumes office. The General believes that as one of the richest oil producing countries, Nigerians should enjoy what they possess. He has promised to revive all the refineries in the country, boasting that he was instrumental to the emergence of the nation’s refineries that are now non-functional. He believes that corruption in the oil sector is unprecedented and must be tackled without delays. Education With the creation of additional nine federal universities in the country and some Almajeris schools in the North, President Goodluck Jonathan appears to have done well in the sector. However, his major criticism has been the protracted ASUU strike that almost crippled tertiary education in the country. While commending himself for taking the bull by the horn and accepting to implement the Federal government-ASUU’s agreement, he promised to take the nation’s education to the next level if re-elected. However, General Buhari has promised to revive academic standard in the nation’s institution, and to ensure that a near free education policy is achieved under his government. He has promised that incessant strike actions by teachers and lecturers will become a thing of the past under his government. Health care While President Jonathan in most of his campaign messages lauded his government’s zeal and ability to eradicate the Ebola Virus Disease from the country, General Buhari believes that the healthcare sector must be re-positioned so Nigerians can enjoy better health service delivery. Even though Jonathan has promised to take the sector to the next level if re-elected, General Buhari believes that he has mapped out strategies to tackle even incessant doctor’s strike as well as poor healthcare delivery.

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What daily post online poll says Sylvester ugwuanyi

n all countries of the world, elections are characteristically preceded by a strong desire in the citizenry to know who would eventually carry the ballot. All the posturing, politicking, electioneering campaigns and last minutes actions of government can only heighten the inquisitiveness of the electorate and other stakeholders. It gets worse when the election at stake is as decisive and competitive like the one Nigeria will witness tomorrow. In such circumstance, people recourse to anything they think can give them inkling into who would win. But over the years opinion polls have come to the rescue in this regard. It has very much helped the populace to see through the grandstanding of candidates and their parties into knowing how rooted such posturing is and what is giving it the bounce. Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election heavily fits into the type of election where the people cannot wait till the D-Day to call the bluff of those strongly taking particular positions as to who would win. With the anxiety reaching a fever pitch barely one week to the March 28 date for the election, DAILY POST like a handful of other Nigerian media houses and organizations conducted a survey to find out who the online community in Nigeria thinks will win the election. Judging by the response to former polls conducted by this newspaper, the outcome of this edition very much confirmed how truly interested Nigerians are on who would become the winner of tomorrow’s election. The opinion poll was opened to respondents at 1pm on Friday, March 20 and closed 2pm on Tuesday March 24, 2015. A total of 10,423 votes were recorded. Great care was taken to make this online poll very credible. Nobody could have voted twice as voting was based on unique computer IP address. At the close of the poll which asked: “Who would you vote for right now – GEJ or GMB?” a good majority of the respondents numbering 6,849 and constituting 65.71 per cent voted for General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) while a lesser 2,951 number of respondents making up 28.31 per cent would rather vote for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ). There were those who with their votes opted for no candidates. Respondents in this category numbered 623 and constituted 5.98 per cent. Respondents commented via three platforms. While 77 com-

Jonathan

Buhari

ments were made on the opinion poll portal, 104 others were posted on DAILY POST site that has the poll. But out of the total 188 comments, 50 were invalidated since they were posted as replies and were centered on issues alien to the topic concerned. From the remaining 131 comment, Gen Muhammadu Buhari was still on a clear lead as the bloggers that voted for him were 95 (77%) as against the 41 others (33%) whose comments favoured the candidacy of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It is however worth stating that none of those who commented through the two platforms said anything of the other candidates. The third platform used by respondents to comment was on the DAILY POST page on Facebook where a record 1,539 comments were elicited by the poll. Enthusiasm for each of the candidates was on free displayed on this forum as the fans did not fail to pick on those who posted negative comments about their candidate. This was majorly the reason why number of invalid comments rose as high as 129. This number was also bloated by bloggers who used the thread to advertise and post unrelated matters.

Ansa Ewa Henshaw observed this barely 24 hours after the poll was opened by posting, “Out of 347 entries so far, 220 for GMB and still counting. Who says GMB is not winning this 2015 presidential elections? Sai Baba” Mr-Jaytee Jonathan Adaidu also had this to say, “Everywhere I go on online polls, its GMB leading massively... Pls let’s endeavor to go out on 28th and make dis dream come true with our PVC... Your PVC is ur voice, scream with it!! Offcos I’m voting GMB!” One of those supporting Jonathan on Facebook, Nwanguma Ikechukwu, upon seeing the number of votes pulled by Buhari, posted “APC only win election on Facebook but fail at polling unit. In Ekiti state in Anambra stated same thing. So APC keep on winning on Facebook okay. But POP at polling unit”. Another of President Jonathan’s fan, Iyke Kelvin Ezugwu, posted, “GEJ is the man, no doubt in order to ensure continuity in his transformational programmes. We don’t want president that will not represent Nigeria well in comity of nations”. In the same vein, Anaba Victor Onyeanula wrote, “those that want Buhari are the uneducated, uncivilized and with forged educational certs. How

“Judging by the response to former polls conducted by this newspaper, the outcome of this edition very much confirmed how truly interested Nigerians are on who would become the winner of tomorrow’s election” However, Buhari’s supporters on Facebook were in the overwhelming majority as 1001 of them constituting 71 per cent used their posts to vote in support of Buhari. Those supporting Jonathan were in the minority as 409 of them taking up the remaining 29 per cent used their comments to state that they would vote for Jonathan.

can I allow myself to be led by a man who can’t show proofs of his education qualification, rather he resorts to disrespecting the law of the land.” While Abdulrahim Idris was drawing the attention of those who care to know to the fact that Buhari’s impressive showing at the social media comments “doesn’t include over 60% of his (Buhari’s) supporters who are not on Facebook,” Bukar Abba Kaka posted, “My prayer is may the Almighty God keep me alive and keep me in good health come 28th of march, so that I can cast my vote in favour of the man whom most Nigerians want to vote for, I won’t mention his name, but I guess many knows him. Long live my PVC, my PVC is my weapon!” Indeed, as stated earlier, there have been other surveys conducted on who is likely to win in the March 28 election which from all indications is a two-horse race. While Buhari as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is tipped to win in some of them, President Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is favoured in others. Howbeit, organizers of all the surveys insist that they were subjected to foolproof scientific procedures.

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30-year-old Nigerian man arraigned for duping Canadian Internet lover of $26,000

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned an internet fraudster, Nwakanma Chukwudi, 30, before Justice D. V. Agishir of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, for duping his Canadian lover, a lady he met online to the tune of $26,000. The accused was arraigned by EFCC over cyber-crime, obtaining money by false pretense and impersonation. It was gathered that Chukwudi who met the Canadian lady, Donnalynn on a dating site claimed he was a British citizen, with the name- Barry Bernard. While the online dating lasted, Chukwudi was able to make the lady part with the sum of $26,520. According to Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Donnalynn sent several love mails and pictures to Chukwudi who claimed to be a resident of Manchester, United Kingdom while the whole affair lasted. Uwujaren said “Donnalynn did not have any course to doubt him when he requested for $26,520 from her, having been communicating with him over a period of time. ‘’When she later found out that she had been duped, she petitioned the EFCC,” he said. The EFCC Head of Media and publicity also noted that the accused was arrested after a careful.investigation was carried out. Chukwudi however pleaded not guilty to the charges. Consequently, the accused was ordered by Justice Agishir to be remanded in prison while the case was adjourned till April 7 for bail consideration.

Man remanded in prison for killing lover

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Seun Opejobi seun.opejobi@dailypost.ng

Police kill four robbers in Osun T

he popular adage that ‘’what goes around comes around’’ was on Tuesday reenacted in Ife-GbonganIbadan express road, Osun State, as four armed robbers who in recent times, have been terrorizing residents of the State met their end in the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS attached to the State Police Command. The police team led by Adekunle Omoyele, a Deputy Superintendent, swooped on the robbers after getting a call that the miscreants were carrying out an operAregbesola ation. Upon arrival of SARS at ing, a gun duel ensued which the scene where the robbers lasted close to an hour. numbering six were operat-

While speaking with journalist in his office, leader

of the team, DSP Adekunle Omoyele said the four robbers were killed while two escaped with bullet wounds. Omoyele said, “The incident occurred about 3a.m. We successfully smashed the robbery gang. But two members of the gang members escaped with gunshot injuries. We urge members of the public to help us with relevant information that can lead to the arrest of those that escaped.” Items recovered from the armed robbers included a cut to size barrel gun, Bajaj Motorcycles, seven live cartridges, assorted charms and a toy gun. The leader of the team said officers were on the trail of the escaped robbers.

Rivers State Police Command parades 92 cultists, four robbery suspects

he effort of the police in combating crime is seriously yielding results as 92 youths suspected to be members of different cult groups were on Tuesday paraded by the Rivers State Police Command. While reaffirming the resolve of the police to stamp out crime in the State,The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Almad Muhammad, said the force “in pursuit of its renewed efforts in combating crime was able to smoke the cultists out of their holes.” According to Muhammad, four AK47, three pump action guns, five locally made guns and several live ammunitions were recovered from the suspected cultists. The PPRO disclosed further that four members belonging to an armed robbery gang who were on their way to Port Harcourt after carrying out an armed robbery operation in Akwa Ibom State were apprehended by the command. He said a Sienna bus, one locally made pistol, one live cartridge, 17 cell phones, an international passport and one

Magistrate Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State has remanded one Ahmed Jimoh, 27, in prison custody for allegedly beating his 18-year-old girlfriend, Omoyeni Oluga to death. It was gathered that the deceased met her untimely death in the hands of Jimoh after a minor misunderstanding ensued between them. The incident

Civil servant arraigned for raping 15-year-old girl

T Amaechi

million naira were recovered from the gang. Mohammad affirmed, “The Rivers State command has observed with consternation the upsurge in cult activities which coincide with the present political events in relation to 2015 general election. ‘’Their nefarious and deadly activities, which sometimes were attributed to politics have no doubt constituted a nuisance to the general public

and have the capacity to truncate the electoral process. ‘’The command has risen to the challenges with renewed determination to smoke them out from their hideouts,” he said. The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson also used the opportunity to advise miscreants to stop indulging themselves in criminal acts as they will be punished when apprehended.

happened at Oke-Itoku area of Abeokuta. Inspector Augustine Ozimini, the police prosecutor, while testifying in court said on March 3, 2015 a misunderstanding ensued between Jimoh and the deceased at his residence, leading to a fight which eventually cost Oluga her life. Ozimini affirmed, “The accused and his girlfriend had a

disagreement at the accused’s residence that led to a fight, which eventually caused the death of the girl.” Magistrate Emmanuel Adekunte, however, rejected the plea of Jimoh. He consequently adjourned the case till May 5 while the accused was ordered to be remanded in Ibara Prison.

he Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a 34-year-old Civil Servant, Segun Oluyara, before a Yaba Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Lagos for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl. While presenting the case before the court, the police prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, said the accused who resides at No. 36, Oduntan Street, Ketu, on March 18, 2015 allegedly had sex with the minor at No.114, Ogunmefun Street, Pedro area of Lagos. According to the prosecutor Oluyara who met the deceased at a restaurant lured her to bed under the pretext of getting her a job. Anyanwu said,” The accused took the victim to a guest house and claimed to be the owner. He then took the victim to a room and pushed her on the bed before he forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with her”. ‘’The accused gave the victim a soft drink and a drug ‘postinor 2, ′ to prevent pregnancy. The girl told her mother, who reported the case to the police and the accused was arrested. ‘’The victim was taken to the hospital for medical check-up and treatment.” Oluyara however pleaded not guilty to the offence. Consequently, the accused was granted bail by the presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Soladoye, in the sum of N200, 000 while she adjourned the case till May 4, 2015 for further.

Friday, March 27, 2015

interview 13

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I foresee a bloody uprising – CharlyBoy H ow does it feel taking over the leadership of the Oputa family after the demise of your father? There is nothing to take over. I’ve always been in charge even when he was alive. He saw the soldier in me and allowed me run things. So it’s not like I’m talking over anything. There is really nothing to take over. Like I said, all the values he nurtured in me are now the things I stand for. You once said there were some values you rebelled against but had to fall back to at old age; how do you mean? Like integrity. As a little guy, I didn’t understand its importance. With consistency and tenacity, a man should be filled with pride. He would always say I don’t want anybody spoiling this name..o and I was like what is in a bloody name. I mean must I act a certain way because I bear this name? So those were the values I rebelled against, including discipline. He used to say, a man without discipline is as good as dead. I didn’t understand that. Eventually, discipline is what brought me this far. I’ve been married to one woman going to 38 years. It is only discipline that allows me stay in that relationship and nobody dey hear how we dey break head or where we dey quarrel. You know that is what makes you not to hear about any acrimony in my domestic life. So those were the things I’ve run back to at old life. I’m 63 now but I’m looking younger because of discipline; I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, there are lots of things I don’t do and it is because of discipline. The Charlyboy brand, because it is larger than life, people speculate a lot about it, but that’s only speculation. The Charlyboy brand you just mentioned mean different things to different people, but what does it mean to Charles Oputa? It’s just a brand. The things that you put out that you identify with. That makes a brand. When you talk about crazy, weirdness, that’s the brand. But my rings and tattoos do not define me. It’s an act just like when you want to play a role in a movie, you go for a specific role and act it out in such a way that people believe you are that person. So I am not Charlyboy. It’s just a role like a lifestyle and that is why people will see what they see from where they stand. If you are a fetish kind of person and you believe in juju dem and ‘winsh wey dey’ fly for night, you may look at my ring and say that’s diabolic, but to me it’s just an ordinary ring that I’m wearing. Considering the world of difference between Charly boy and Charles Oputa, what is that thing you do that makes it easy for you to switch between both characters? I have an inbuilt adjuster. As I’m talking to you now, I know you would be wondering that the image of the person discussing with you is different from the image of the Charlyboy you have been hearing of. I am a soft talker, I am not gragraish. But if you take me now and put me in a place like Mushin, of course my behaviour will change instantly. Like I said, it’s an inbuilt thing. If you take me again and put me in a boardroom for some serious discussions, again my persona will change automatically to fit that environment. That is why I am a communicator and that is what I studied. I know when Charlyboy is needed in a situation so it comes out naturally. The inducement is

Even with the varied perceptions of this foremost entertainer by Nigerians, he appears resolute in his resolve to consistently remain either Charles Oputa or Charlyboy and nothing else. In as much as he bears both personalities with equanimity, an encounter with him living his normal life very much makes you appreciate his dynamism and creativity, and occasionally living out a concept that is totally alien to his person. In this interview with DAILY POST’s Timothy Enietan-Matthews and Sylvester Ugwuanyi, the maverick Charles Oputa let us into his world and political happenings across the country in a no-holds-barred session. Excerpts:

what I have learnt over the years. Considering how interesting your brand is, why didn’t you nurture a protégé who would sustain what the brand stands for? There are so many people that have affected my life and I have affected their lives. Till tomorrow, there is nobody that comes close to me that some of me don’t rub off on them especially when they are people hungry to learn to be good, to better their lives, because that is my strongest points. It’s a talent that has been given to be by God. Nobody passes through me and remains the same again. I chose to keep company with the young people because I need to know what is trending and because I counsel a lot of young people, I need to be in their psyche. To know their thinking and how they do a lot of things they get involved in. And for my children, you know I have nine of them. I have almost 14 grandchildren. Each and every one of them took a little bit from me. They might not end up doing what I’m doing, but they are combining their essence with some fine qualities of what they got from me. One thing a lot of those I’ve mentored over the years have is that they are very tenacious, determined and focused. Elections are around the corner and there is so much at stake as we go to the polls; what’s your own thinking? For a long time, government has been deaf and dumb. Government has ruled with impunity, it has gotten away with murder. I’m no longer vexed with leadership, I am vexed with followership. Because we are all stupid that we let people run our life anyhow and we are all comfortable in our little corner. How do we make things better when we cannot defend our

rights? We cannot stand up and say no; enough is enough. It’s obvious now that leadership is about them, not about us the led. So what do you want me to say? Before, during the regime of Babangida and even before then, anything that happens, it is the youth that come out. Once the youths say no to anything, the leaders have to think about that thing twice. But now what kind of youths do we have? I don’t blame those who are leading because someone who is bad on the inside can’t help what he or she does. Look at the youths now. Can you really say youths in Nigeria have a future? Where is the future? Where the old and the rusty people should be resting, they are still struggling. Don’t you think the youths and the masses are reluctant because they have not seen somebody to spearhead the fight? Which somebody? (Chuckles) When there is a revolution, do you think it’s planned? It’s not planned. It’s just people getting sick and tired of how their lives are going. People are now worried about 2015, they are doing all their gra gra, but no one is asking what happens after May 2015. What kind of Nigeria will be left to be governed? What manner of youths will be left to be governed? If they think Boko Haram is something, let them wait… All these people moving about with sirens and security men, one day those security people will not be able to protect them. What kind of Nigeria where everything is so scattered. People are talking of election to control power; what have they done with power so far? Nothing! They made our lives mis-

erable. But like I say, I don’t blame them because we allowed it. What do you see as the solution to these issues you raised? I think we need to do something. And that is what I try to do through my ideology, my philosophy and lifestyle, even though, I’m not Jesus Christ. So I’m looking forward to those exceptional Nigerian youths who would carry on the fight. We are on our way out… don’t forget we started all these things in those days. We cannot be here forever. Tomorrow, the future belongs to young people. Even though they are in the minority, I’m happy that there are youths in this country that stand out. Regardless of the pollution and the uncertainty of hunger and fear of tomorrow, they

“Tomorrow, the

future belongs to young people. Even though they are in the minority, I’m happy that there are youths in this country that stand out. Regardless of the pollution and the uncertainty of hunger and fear of tomorrow, they are insistent on always doing the right thing and they have the country at heart”

are insistent on always doing the right thing and they have the country at heart. So, I’m hoping that a day will come when somebody will spring up to start the ‘say no campaign’; no to bad leadership, no to this oppression and no to the rape of our treasury with this kind of impunity. A lot of people are apprehensive as we go to the polls because they believe there may be violence; what do you think? I know the elections are here but if I have my way, I will tell the government that election is not our priority at the moment. People are hungry and there is so much poverty in the land. To tell you the truth, the kind of violence, anger and demonstrations we are going to see after the elections will tell you that we have left a lot of things hanging for a long time and it is the result that would start coming. What can we do to avert such anarchy? Those who are in position of power are so bloody drunk on this power and have become so used to it that they are now behaving anyhow. I don’t know if they are going to change. Change will come if a few of them who have some decency rise against the others who do not have any scruple whatsoever. Maybe, at the end of the day, the ones with decency will win that fight. It’s also possible that God may decide to pity us and provide a Jerry Rawlings of our time from some of these youths that I’ve seen that have given me a renewed hope in Nigeria because boys dey vex o. I know that the violence that is coming is going to be massive. Do you know how many guns that are in this country? Do you know the level of importation of guns that is going on in this country? Who will be in possession of them? Do you think that the guns will be retrieved after the elections? Of course, they will still be in possession of those guns, and what do you think they are going to do with i t eventually?

Friday, March 27, 2015

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entertainment

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Ameh Comrade Godwin comrade.ameh@dailypost.ng

Jonathan vs Buhari:

Entertainers divided over presidential poll

n less than 24 hours, Nigeria would witness a pulsating battle for its soul as eligible electorate would march to the polling booths to elect the next person who would pilot the ship of state for the next four years. Nigerians will have to choose between the two main contenders in the race, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, representing the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. However, the election seems to have torn the creative industry apart as opinions are divided among entertainers. While some entertainers want Mr. President to remain in power for another four years, others are of contrary opinion, declaring that the Otuoke-born zoologist has over stayed his welcome at the presidential villa. Meanwhile, some entertainers would rather prefer to remain neutral while campaigning for a free, fair and credible election. In this special edition, DAILY POST x-rays Nigerian entertainers and their preferred candidates in the March 28 presidential election. See the list below: Mike Ezuronye Nollywood actor, Mike Ezuruonye has never for once hidden his support for the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. For him, the re-election of Jonathan is the beginning of Nigeria’s journey to the Promised Land. The actor, whose wife and children are based in Canada, recently took to his Instagram page where he shared a picture of himself and Mr. President. His open support for the number one citizen reportedly fetched him several millions of Naira. D’banj “I go vote for Goodluck Jonathan, the right man we need, ee oo aa”, with this song, music star and Oliver Twist crooner, Oladapo Oyebanjo, famously known as D’banj, declared his support for President Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo in 2011. Since then, the singer has been enjoying a close connection with the president. The self-acclaimed Koko Master has been using his social media platform to campaign for the president’s second

Jonathan vs Buhari term. Ibinabo Embattled President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima, has been using her guild to campaign for the re-election of President Jonathan. In fact, the actress and ex beauty queen who was recently ousted as AGN leader by a Lagos court, has been leading other Nollywood members to tour with the President across the 36 states of the federation for campaign. Ibinabo once declared that the president has been supporting the motion pictures industry and thus deserves all their support. Paul Obazele “His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jona¬than has contributed immensely to the growth of Nollywood from his days as governor of Bayelsa State till date”, the immediate past president of the Associa¬tion of Movie Producers and incumbent President of Edo Film Makers Association, Paul Obazele said this when asked to explain why Jonathan should be reelected. He was one of those who have been calling for the removal of Professor Attahiru Jega as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Seyi

Shay Sexy singer, Seyi Shay was ‘person of the moment’ recently in Lagos where more than 5,000 Nigerian youths met with the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. The singer who donned controversial skimpy attire was ‘bashed’ by fans and social media enthusiasts for trying to seduce the president. This however did not stop her from supporting the president. Toyin Aimakhu Popular Yoruba actress, Toyin Aimakhu, was excited when she met President Goodluck Jonathan in Lagos. Aimakhu declared she can die for Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party. KCee Limpopo singer, KCee’s open support for the president did not come as a surprise to many entertainment pundits because he was last year appointed as an Ambassador for Peace by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. KCee was among other singers who stormed Calabar for Jonathan’s re-election. Bovi Frontline comedian, Bovi has also been in the forefront of President Jonathan’s campaign. Aside his daily Pro-Jonathan’s tweets, the comedy merchant was also among other stars who met with the president in Lagos penulti-

Omawumi picks April 18 wedding date

mate Sunday. Ejike Asiegbu Former President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Ejike Asiegbu is another entertainer who want the president re-elected for another term. In a recent interview, the veteran actor says for all the support the president has been given the industry, he should be returned for another four years. Gordons Frontline Comedian, Gordons, is of the opinion that his Niger Delta brother, Jonathan should remain in power for another year. The singer who had repeatedly dished the president in his Comedy Clinic skit said he won’t allow any other person snatch power from South South. Eucheria Anunobi Actress turned-evangelist, Echaria Anunobi, also wants the president re-elected. The born again thespian said the president has done well for the nation and should reappoint. Omoni Oboli Omoni Oboli sparked social media debate when she privately premiered her movie, Being Mrs Elliot, to the president. Ever since, the president has been enjoying her support. Ini Edo Nollywood actress, Iniobong Edobong believes any attempt to enthrone another person would be suicidal. The actress who was addressing PDP supporters during a rally for the president said, with Jonathan, Nigeria will surely match forward.

Omo Baba Bearded comedian, Omobaba too has been using his fame to campaign for Jonathan’s second term ambition. He was also part of the team that met with the president recently. Buhari Don Jazzy Mavin Record Boss, Michael Collins, otherwise known as Don Jazzy, is not on the popular side. He thinks the current government has not done enough to deserve another term. He took many of his fans by storm when he stormed the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue of the APC Lagos presidential campaign. Olamide Raunchy singer, Olamide released two singles in support of the Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation. He opines that the duo of Buhari and Osinbajo are the right people Nigeria needs. Desmond Elliot Nollywood actor-turned-politician, Desmond ‘Olusola’ Elliot is a member of the APC and a House of Assembly candidate of the party for Ikeja state constituency. He is also backing his boss, Buhari for the number one seat.

Those who are neutral

Tuface Africa Queen crooner, Innocent Uja Idibia, though does not have any candidate in the coming election; he is championing the Vote Not Fight campaign. The star believes that elections are not supposed to a do or die affair. Terry G Self-acclaimed Akpako Master, Gabriel Oche Amanyi, is yet to declare his support for

alented singer, Omawumi Megbele is set to complete the last phase of her marital journey. The mother of one is currently preparing for her traditional wedding ceremony scheduled for April 18, 2015 in Warri, Delta state. It would be recalled Omawunmi got engaged on September 13, 2014 in Delta State, and went on to have a low-key court wedding on January 16, 2015 at the Ikoyi Registry in Lagos. The singer is now set to wrap it up with her man, Tosin Yusuf in 3 weeks.

Friday, March 27, 2015

sport 15

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Why Vincent Enyeama should target 150 caps for Nigeria V

Pacquiao spends $1,800 on anti-inflammatory cream ahead of Mayweather fight

anny Pacquiao spends a staggering $1,800 on a tube of anti-inflammatory cream, to deal with the bad leg cramps he suffers during training. The Filipino boxer is preparing for his $300million mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather and has been in training camp for four weeks now. “There’s no magic cure for it,” his trainer Freddi Roach told Yahoo. “We’re doing what we can do. I’ve got the doctors working on it. There are some Filipino guys here who are massaging it for him. The cream cost $1,800 for a single bottle. I wasn’t too happy about that.” Pacquiao is having to pay so much, because he does not have US health insurance and the cream has to be checked by USADA, who are conducting drug tests ahead of the bout. Roach also revealed he has changed Pacquiao’s training regime, to reduce the pressure on his legs. “We did change his running schedule because I don’t like him running the hills six days a week,” he added. “I’ve got him on the track a lot more now doing fast sprint-type workouts instead of hill workouts. I think it’s better for the older fighters sometimes to stay away from the hills so much.”

incent Enyeama finally won his 100th cap on Wednesday. It was a bitter-sweet occasion for him, as the international friendly against Uganda, ended in a 1-0 defeat. Enyeama got a hand to Farouk Miya’s shot, but it was not enough, as the ball bounced into the net. It is not a game he will love to watch again with fondness, but the big highlight of the day, was Governor Godswill Akpabio honouring him on home soil, in front of his people. Before Wednesday’s game against The Cranes, Daniel Amokachi, who has been standing in for Stephen Keshi, said: “Enyeama is a very solid player and he knows that the 100 caps is not the end of it all. “He is still in shape to play additional 50 games for the national team. He should not allow that to distract him at all and the whole of Nigeria will be there to

celebrate him because it is a mileage in any footballer’s career.” Let’s not mistake this for high praise. It is essentially a call to duty. That Enyeama is only the second Nigerian footballer ever - after Joseph Yobo - to hit the centenary mark, is an indictment in itself. He will be 33 in August. For a goalkeeper, age is very much on his side. Infact, the mark of great stoppers, is in their longevity. Buffon is still going strong as Italy’s number one. The Juventus captain will be 37 this year and has won 146 caps already. Casillas turns 34 this year and has over 160 senior caps under his belt. Cech is 33 this year and has won 112 caps for Czech. Let’s even stretch it and add Brad Friedel who will be 44 this year and is still on Tottenham Hotspur’s books. He won 82 caps for USA before Tim Howard pushed him out. Enyeama has come a long way. From the starry-eyed

Mourinho was right to dump Mata, Luiz -Terry

helsea captain John Terry, has insisted Jose Mourinho was right to allow Juan Mata and David Luiz leave the club. Mourinho sold Mata to Manchester United in January 2014, despite the Spaniard winning the Player of the Year prize for two consecutive years. He then shipped out Luiz to Paris Saint-Germain for £50million, before the 2014 World Cup kicked off. Terry claims that the Portuguese manager knows when players “take their foot off the gas” and believes Chelsea’s recent performances prove he made the correct decisions. “You look at some of the world-class players we’ve had, Juan Mata, David Luiz, players like that who’ve left

the club,” he told the Sun. “He’s seen something — I don’t know what — to let those big players go. He also knows when players take their foot off the gas.” The former England international also praised Mourinho, revealing that the former Real Madrid coach knows how to deal with players individually. “It’s his handling of different players differently and he does it superbly. He’s just inspiring and, for me, there’s none better at drawing the best out of people than Jose Mourinho,” the 34-year-old added. Terry has signed a one-year contract extension to remain at Stamford Bridge.

young man, who leapt to his left to palm away a Paul Scholes’ effort at the 2002 World Cup in Japan, he has matured over the years into one of Nigeria’s finest keepers. He has played in four Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2013 (where he captained Nigeria to gold). He has only played at three World Cup finals (2002, 2010 and 2014) and 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup. But there is a long way to go. Since Ike Shorunmu retired, he has been the firstchoice goalkeeper for the national team. Right now, there is no one who comes close to Enyeama. He is up there, in a class all by himself. With the 2017 AFCON and 2018 World Cup in Russia, he can extend his already solid legacy, by staying consistent for a few more years.

NFF approves Keshi’s new contract

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has confirmed that they have approved the re-appointment of Stephen Keshi as Nigeria coach. Pinnick was speaking at half time, during the Super Eagles 1-0 loss to Uganda, in an international friendly match played on Wednesday night. “The executive committee of the NFF met today (Wednesday) and approved the recommendation of the technical committee for Keshi to continue as the country’s coach,” he said. “It is now just left for Keshi to sign on the dotted lines.” Keshi’s new deal is understood to be worth N5million per month and will run for two years. The 53-year-old will also get N3million for accomodation and N500,000 for transportation. The Big Boss has been locked in a stand off with the NFF, since his former contract expired at the end of the 2014 World Cup.

Iniesta is the boyfriend every mother wants – Ramos

eal Madrid defender Sergio Ramos, has described Andres Iniesta, as “boyfriend every mother wants” their daughter to bring home. Iniesta has been at Barcelona for almost 19 years and has played for the Spanish senior team for 13 years, winning numerous domestic, continental and world titles for club and country. Ramos admits he would love to see the midfielder at the Santiago Bernabeu. “Iniesta is the boyfriend that every mother wants,” he said at a press conference. “The figures over his career tell you all you need to know. He is a magical player. “There are few players in the world that can compare to him, but unfortunately he is not with us at Real Madrid.” Ramos is excpected to feature in Spain’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Ukraine. It will be 10 years and a day after he made his national team debut and he admits time has passed quickly. He said: “Time passes very quickly and you don’t get to enjoy it properly. I look around and I feel old. “But there’s been a lot of positives, like all the knowledge that Vicente del Bosque and Luis Aragones brought me that helped me become a better player and a better person.”

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‘Ifreke Inyang

ifreke.inyang@dailypost.ng

“If I had said to you in 1990, that Liverpool FC would not win the title for the next 25 years, you would have thought me very ill” - Thierry Henry

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Friday, March 27, 2015

It’s heading Barc to Camp Nou!

Pinnick blasts Super Eagles after Uganda defeat

igeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has blasted the woeful display of the Super Eagles in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Uganda and warned the players to be more committed. A new-look Nigerian team was beaten by The Cranes at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, in an international friendly. Pinnick, who was present at the stadium along with his executive committee members, challenged the players to improve their attitude “Today, we are supposed to be celebrating with Vincent Enyeama on his 100th cap, but your poor performance has ruined the party and Nigerians are very angry,” Pinnick said. “When next you receive an invitation letter to come represent Nigeria, you have a critical decision to make: accept it only if you believe you are in the frame of mind to give your everything or decline if you do not feel that way. “The camp of the national team would no longer welcome average players or good players with poor attitude.” The Super Eagles will face South Africa in another friendly game on March 29.

Super Falcons get election break

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has given the Super Eagles four days off, to ensure they participate in the March 28 elections. Head coach of the team Edwin Okon, confirmed the camp will be closed from Thursday, March 26 until Monday, March 30. He however warned that any player that fails to report back in camp, will be fined or sent back and added that full training will resume on Tuesday morning at the Goal Project Technical Centre pitch in Abuja. “We are allowing you to go and perform your civil responsibilities by casting your votes in your respective residents. You are expected to report back to camp without failing by Monday next week,” he said. “The task of beating Mali to qualify for the All Africa Games is our main focus now and after the draw in the first leg, we just have to prepare well and show them we are not in the same class.”

by ‘Ifreke Inyang

ast weekend’s El Clasico was a tempestuous affair. Everything was displayed in full colour for the millions that tuned in to watch. The best players in the world conducting endless waves of attacking football, fine goalkeeping, simulation and of course, clinical finishing. Pick of the three goals scored that night, has to be Luis Suarez’s winner. The Uruguayan has struggled for form since his £75million switch from Liverpool last summer, but has been blending in nicely at the Camp Nou recently. His sterling brace against Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16, is a testament to changing fortunes. Against Real Madrid - who were reportedly keen on signing him too - Suarez controlled a long expertly and produced a finish of the highest quality past Iker Casillas. Advantage Barcelona. Luis Enrique’s men remain on top of La Liga, four points ahead of Madrid and on course to finish there in May.

Last season, they lost the league in dramatic fashion. Their last match of the season was at home at Atletico Madrid. It was the game that would ultimately decide who wins the Spanish title for the 2013/2014 season. It is instructive to note that Barcelona had given up on the title, but a run of results saw them creep right back into the race. It did not seem like a tall order for the Catalans, as they were playing at home, backed by 90,000 supporters. They had to win though, while Atletico just needed to avoid defeat. Alexis Sanchez controlled a Lionel Messi chest-pass deftly and unleashed a shot of glorious precision past Thibaut Courtois into the top corner. It seemed the script was playing out well, until Diego Godin’s powerful header levelled the scores. Full time: 1-1. Diego Simeone’s men snatched the title, right under their hosts’ noses. It must have been a terrible sight, for all the Barca fans that were prepped up to jubilate. This season, Messi and co

have a great opportunity to wrestle the title back. The Argentine has been in inspired form lately. Against City at the Camp Nou, Messi played as if he was having a kick about in his garden. Feints, flicks, nutmegs, the works. At a point, he reduced the contest to walking pace. Even when he hasn’t stepped up, Suarez and Neymar have delivered. Elsewhere in Madrid, Ronaldo is not having a great year. Gareth Bale has been painfully off colour and is now the target of angry fans. Karim Benzema continues to be suspect upfront and the jury is truly out on Casillas. Across town, Atletico are not the gale force they were last season and might make do with a Champions League place this time around. Barcelona appear to have done the hard part, by winning the El Clasico. Now you really can’t bet against them winning the title this year.

Murray’s mother insists he is back to his best

ndy Murray’s mother Judy, has said that her son has put an injury-plagued 2014 behind him and is back to his best. The British No 1 tennis player, was beaten in the finals of this year’s Australia Open by world No 1 Novak Djokovic and reached the semi-final in Indian Wells last week. He is currently the second highest points scored on the ATP Tour this year. “2014 was a difficult year for Andy because he was returning from back surgery and any kind of surgery you just don’t recover quickly from,” Judy Murray said, speaking at the SSE Arena at Wembley. “But I think when it’s in your back it takes a long time to get it to the stage where you can put it through what you need to, to play tennis at the very top level and I think once he got

into the back end of the season he finished it very strong. “He won three tournaments, he qualified for the end of year finals and finished the year at six in the world, which is an incredible achievement considering he had what he would say was an inconsistent season. “But then he had a really good off season with his coach Amelie Mauresmo and played incredible tennis all the way through Australia and the preparation events. “That was a really good sign and it was good to see him back moving well and happy and healthy and playing his best tennis. “And I think we saw some of his best tennis again at Indian Wells, which was great to see, so I think he’s back on track and he’s happy and he’s healthy.”

No Wenger bustup, Arsenal have not offered me new deal - Walcott

rsenal winger Theo Walcott, has denied stories claiming that he had a bust-up with manager and also confirmed the club have not offered him a new contract. The England international’s current deal runs out in June 2016 and he is understood to be demanding more than £100,000-perweek to extend his stay at the Emirates. Although Wenger said last month, that they have started negotiations, the 26-year-old has now claimed otherwise. He tweeted: “I don’t normally comment on false stories about myself but reports about contract demands & bust-ups with the boss are complete nonsense. “There have been no contract talks as yet and my current focus is not on contracts but on doing my best for Arsenal FC.” Liverpool and Manchester City have been linked with Walcott, who has played 294 times for the Gunners, since he joined from Southampton in 2006.

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