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Imam Imam, Tambuwal’s spokesman, dies 6 at 41 After historic summit, Koreas agree to end war, denuclearise 7

Buhari breaks silence, lauds Lai Mohammed over Obasanjo’s letter

THE

DAILY

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Appeal Court okays forfeiture of Andrew Yakubu’s $9.7m, £74,000 to FG 6

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Gadaffi v. Nigeria: Tales of sorrow, tears and blood Ï Herdsmen attacks escalate in Benue, other states Ï Govs proffer solution to end farmers, herdsmen clashes

Ladesope Ladelokun, Lagos

ÏÏÏ It

was the last mass they would ever attend on the face of the earth before they were mowed down by suspected herdsmen.

From the sanctuary of God, they became guests in the mortuary. Tears and blood flowed like a brook. Protesting eyes blazed with fury. But they were not enough to bring back the souls of Rev. Fathers Joseph Gor, Fe-

lix Tyolaha and 17 parishioners murdered in cold blood by the merchants of death at St. Ignatius Catholic Mission, Ukpo Ayar, Benue State during the week. Theirs is a story other NiContinued on page 4

L- R: North Korea President Kim Jong-Un and South Korea President Moon Jae-in, embracing after signing their joint statement in Panmunjom Village, South Korea ... on Friday

A good actor should be so convincing in a role L2&3 –Paschaline Okoli

2

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

3

News 4

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Gadaffi v. Nigeria: Unending tales of sorrow, tears and blood Continued from page 1

gerians who have been victims of violent attacks by suspected herdsmen can relate to.

With communities leveled, children orphaned, parents widowed and thousands languishing in various camps across Nigeria owing to the terror unleashed on innocents by suspected herdsmen, the fear of herdsmen, for some Nigerians, has become the beginning of wisdom.

Piqued by the swelling statistics of Nigerians dispatched to early graves almost on a daily basis, the Senate and the House of Representatives had last week and during the week respectively called for the removal of service chiefs in the country over what they deem the failure of the Nigerian state to shield its citizens from the lethal weapons of suspected herdsmen.

Prior to the call for the removal of service chiefs , former Minister of Dfence, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma had accused the military of colluding with herdsmen to cut short the lives of Nigerians, calling on Nigerians to defend themselves.

In the same vein, just as the dust raised by Danjuma’s comment was settling, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom expressed his frustration and apparent loss of faith in the military, admonishing Benue citizens to stone their attackers.

From Benue to Nasarawa, Nasarawa to Kogi, Adamawa to Taraba, the gory sight of the scale of havoc caused by suspected herdsmen has left a tale of sorrow, tears and blood in the mouths of Nigerians, The Daily Times gathered.

Speaking on why attacks by suspected herdsmen have assumed an alarming dimension, President Muhammadu Buhari had at the Abuja House in London, blamed it on the influx of trained gunmen by former President of Libya, Muammar Gadaffi from the Sahel.

His words: “The problem is even older than us. It has always been there, but now made worse by the influx on of gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of West Africa sub-region. They were trained and armed by Muammar Gadaffi of Libya. ‘’ But some Nigerians would not let the comment of the

president lie, while some have knocked the President for what they described as his unending blame game; a handful believe he’s just being misunderstood.

Baring his mind on the matter, Linus Okoroji, Chairman, Humanity Services Project, described the President’s statement as uncalled for and called for an overhaul of the nation’s security agencies.

He said, “I was embarrassed by such claim by my Change President in a foreign land. It was a negative speech to me. It also demonstrates how porous our borders and security system are. What are the responsibilities of several security outfits in Nigeria? The President must review the leadership of Nigerian security agencies.

“They are not working effectively. You may not know that from some quarters, that has been the agitation based on the fact that the Change President Buhari only considered his kinsmen, all from the northern section of the country for appointments in the national security, coupled with fear of domination of the South by the North and the lukewarm attitude of the President about the many killings going on all over the country. As a former military General, it is expected that he has the capacity to curtail the mess.’’

The Public Affairs commentator said the President’s comment is a shouting evidence of lack of information coordination between him and his appointees.

He further said, “The IGP and Defence Minister have come out to say the anti-grazing law caused the killings. It then beats my reality than imagination that the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria had to go off tangent with unsubstantiated statement or so it seems.’’

He continued: “As it appears, the Federal Government that should address the issues on ground appear to have lost fresh ideas, evidently lack sincerity an the will power to rout the enemies of our peace and sovereignty. Perhaps and as suggested by the lawmakers at a recent sitting, the security heads of this administration should be sacked.’’

Reacting to the outrage sparked by Buhari’s comment, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity , Mr. Femi Adesina,

berated his critics, saying the truth about the President’s comment is already in the public domain.

Adesina said, “The President talked about the influx of militia trained, armed and used

by Gaddafi, who now dispersed into different countries, including possibly Nigeria, after the Libyan strongman’s death. Are some people claiming ignorance of the development? So deep must be the ignorance of such people. Simple research will

show them the Libyan influence on proliferation of small arms all over Africa, after Gaddafi’s death.”

On efforts of the military to stop killings by suspected herdsmen and what is expected of Nigerians, the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. John Agim, urged Nigerians to provide timely information to the military and see the security problem bedeviling Nigeria as a problem of the country and not just the military.

Agim, on a live programme monitored in Lagos, said: “We have the Nigerian Immigration that is in charge of monitoring who comes in and goes out of the country. They may also need to up their game. The problem of security is not only the problem of the military, it’s a problem of the country. The military, yes, we are all over the country, but there is no alternative to what the military is doing. If you Continued on page 5

L-R: Herbert Wigwe, GMD/CEO; Mosun Belo-Olusoga, chairman, and Sunday Ekwochi, company secretary, all of Access Bank Plc, during the 29th annual general meeting of the bank in Lagos...on Wednesday.

Photo: Olatunji Wale

Buhari breaks silence, extols Lai Mohammed over Obasanjo’s letter Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident

Muhammadu Buhari has finally spoken on the strong-worded letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to him in January, asking him to forget about contesting in 2019, as the development would amount to overstretching the tolerance of Nigerians.

Obasanjo had in the letter, advised Buhari to retire from active public service and take his “role on the sidelines as a statesman”.

But the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, simply responded that Buhari directed his aides not to take up issues with Obasanjo.

However, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, replied Obasanjo by listing the achievements of Buhari-led administration.

But speaking in Bauchi during a state banquet in his honour on Thursday night, Buhari stated that he opted for silence until Mohammed convinced him that there ought to be a response from the federal government.

The dinner was attended by Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar, his deputy, ministers and top government officials.

According to Buhari, after his initial reluctance, he consented to Mohammed’s wish after an agreement had been reached that the minister

would not mention Obasanjo’s name in his response.

The President said, “Tonight, I want to remind you people of what Lai Mohammed did when a letter was written on our failure as an administration. Lai Mohammed was agitated about replying but I said no. I said no for two reasons: one, he is much younger than the person who wrote the letter and myself; two, he is from the same constituency as the person who wrote the letter.

“But when Mohammed came again, I said he should go out but he said he won’t go. I asked why and he said let me give him a chance to say what he Continued on page 5

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

5 News

Gadaffi v.

Nigeria: Unending tales of sorrow, tears and blood Continued from page 4

APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, National Vice Chairman South-West, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Aremo Olusegun Osoba and others during a meeting of APC South-west Leadership with the party’s gubernatorial aspirants in Ekiti State at State House, Marina Lagos.

2019 Presidency: I’ll defeat Buhari, says APC aspirant Tom Okpe, Abuja

ÏÏÏA

presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general election, Adamu Garba, has stressed his confidence of not been intimidated out of presidential primary election, saying that he would defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari, to the party’s ticket.

The Adamawa born young politician also said that nobody in APC has enough resources to buy him over to drop his presidential ambition.

Addressing a news conference on Friday in Abuja expressing reservation over decision by the party to postpone the national convention earlier slated for May 14, Garba said his supporters nationwide were beginning to be worried.

According to him, the people were angry over the convention’s postponement, adding that if the shift was in interest of the party there will not be problem.

On how he will defeat President

Buhari who has already declared his presidential re-election, Garba said: “I think the only thing that can make me give up in the presidential primary election is the ballot. If the delegates decided to say no and in a free, fair and transparent election as stipulated by the party constitution, then that is all but I am very sure that I will emerge as winner at the presidential primary of APC. “Who will buy me over; why will I sell my conscience when I love my party and my country?

This cannot happen. I don’t believe there is anybody that has anything in this world even if you want to bring back to life my late mum that will say I should drop out for the love of my country. It is not possible, I will go to the ballot and let me lose there. I’m not losing anyway; I will win the primary, I’m sure about that”.

While expressing reservation on the convention’s postponement, the presidential aspirant said: “Nevertheless, it’s still not a problem to us. Our main target is to ensure that there is true, free and fair democracy within the

party so that we can have a duly elected person who will be the candidate for the election. We are looking forward to the party to stay true to the constitution and ensure that free, fair and transparent elective convention takes place, and that is our main target.

“We are fully ready for the convention, our target is for us to be there and demonstrate the fact that the young Nigerians are not ready to be the agent of change, they wanted to be the change themselves, but unfortunately the convention is postponed and we are actually disappointed especially with the level of preparedness we have for this convention.

“As a result, we the young generation of Nigerians have decided to make sure that we produce within ourselves a credible candidate for the coming convention for the position of party chairman. We believe that the internal wrangling that is happening in the party is calling for all young Nigerians to rise up and take responsibility”.

While revealing that the young stakeholders of the party will

produce a chairmanship candidate for the convention, Garba said: “Our senior credible and responsible citizens are getting tired with the happenings in the country which is not in the interest of the country and the ruling party itself.

“We believe APC is our party, we believe APC is a property of Nigeria and therefore we the young generals of Nigeria are fully ready to continue with the legacies of our founding fathers, and therefore we are calling on all the parties involved in the wrangling within the APC to support us because we believe that we have the clear direction.

“We are not in support of this side or that side but we are in support of the party and the interest of Nigeria for Nigerians. Therefore what we stand for is to focus in making sure that APC continues to be the party of choice for all Nigerians.

“We believe that there is need for a new chairman for the APC and this new chairman should emerge from the young, fresh, neutral blood within the party”.

Buhari breaks silence, extols Lai Mohammed over Obasanjo’s letter Continued from page 4

wanted, then I said go on. He said in what he would do, he would not mention names but only try to remind Nigerians what the country was when we came in, where we are now, and what we have done with the resources available to us.

“Eventually, I had to admit that he was right and I was wrong because a number of

people who could get in touch with me have said that Lai did a good job. A lot of them are in the media… I am very happy with the performance of our party, the All Progressive Congress.”

Buhari also went down memory lane to narrate how the “betrayal” of some of his former political associates informed his insistence on finding credible platform that

would enable him “rescue the country”.

He said, “I will like to go down some historical antecedents so that people can assess.

When we were in the APP, I went through an impartial primary and I won the ticket.

I think for the third or fourth time and while I was in court, because I felt I was ready to be president, the person who was to be my vice-president, al-

lowed himself to be appointed by the presidency.

“The chairman and vicechairman of the party accepted; even when I was still in court as a presidential candidate. That’s why I got out and formed the CPC; when we realised that if we don’t work together, that is the opposition parties, and wrestle power from the PDP, this country would have sunk.”

look at the weapons these people carry, they are above what the police can contend.’’

Commenting on how members of the public can assist the military, Agim said: “If they see something that is abnormal around the environment, they should quickly report to security agents, and we will know how to take these people out. We can do it. A lot of them have been arrested. ” Meanwhile, as part of measures to check what has been described by some Nigerians as alarming spate of killings by herdsmen, the National Economic Council (NEC), comprising 36 state governors and other public officials, has recommended a ban on the movement of herdsmen across the country.

The ban is expected to take effect in the five states that are worst hit -Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna and Zamfara.

Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the last NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, said the committee identified causes of the conflicts to include media perception, competition.

Umahi said: “In all, we agreed that movement is not profitable to the herdsmen because they value the milk from the cow even more than the cow itself.

“So, movement is not healthy for the cows as it dries up the meat and gives less than two litres of milk per cow per day. So, we condemn the issues of foreign invasion by foreign herdsmen and l am happy that the Federal Government is doing something about it.

“We also agreed that these movements have to stop and occasionally by those who have settled and integrated from other parts of the country like the middle belt, they sometimes go into conflicts with farmers. So, in all we agreed that there is a more profitable and modern way of raising these cows which is by ranching. So, we have agreed that the states involved are going to give lands. Niger and Kaduna have given lands and Plateau is also giving land.

“Ranching is being practised in Mambila in Taraba State and they have success stories with regards to that.”

6 News

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Appeal Court okays forfeiture of Andrew Yakubu’s $9.7m, £74,000 to FG Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Court of

Appeal in Kaduna has affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court Kano that forfeited $9.7million and £74,000 cash found in a house in Kaduna belonging to former Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engineer Andrew Yakubu, to the Federal Government.

The Daily Times recalls that on February 3, 2017,

operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed a house allegedly belonging to the former NNPC boss and uncovered the said $9,772,800 and another £74,000 stashed in a fireproof safe.

The money, according to Yakubu, were gifts from well wishers.

The EFCC, however, suspected that the money were proceeds of crime while the development prompted the commission to secure an interim forfei-

ture from the Federal High Court on the money.

But Yakubu through his lawyer, Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), approached the Federal High Court in Kano, asking the court to revoke the order.

The Federal High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Z.B Abubakar on May 10, 2017 dismissed the application of Yakubu and affirmed the order of interim forfeiture it granted on the 13th February, 2017.

Dissatisfied with decision of the Federal High

Court, Yakubu approached the Court of Appeal, asking it to reverse the interim forfeiture order of the lower court.

The appeal was filed on the 22nd of May, 2017 while the Commission filed its response which was subsequently adopted on the 29th of January 2018 while the matter was adjourned to Friday (yesterday) for judgment.

Yakubu’s appeal was anchored on grounds of jurisdiction, misrepresentation of fact by EFCC that

the money is suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities. He further argued that Section 29 of the EFCC Establishment Act is null and void while at the same time submitted that, Section 28 of the EFCC Act offends the provision of Section 44 (2) (k). In Section 43 of the EFCC Establishment Act, Raji argued that the Attorney General of the Federation did not make regulations and guidelines consequently, all forfeiture made shall be null and void.

But the respondents in their reply, contended that the verdict of the lower court validating its order was not perverse and that sections 28 and 29 of EFCC Act are valid and operational notwithstanding the alleged failure of the AGF to make regulations for their operations.

In a judgment delivered

by Justice Obietonbara Daniel Kalio who headed the panel of the three justices, the appellate court resolved all the issues in favour of EFCC.

Imam Imam, Tambuwal spokesman dies at 41 Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

ÏÏÏMallam

Imam Imam, the Special Adviser to Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Media and Publicity has died.

The 41-year-old seasoned journalist died on early Friday morning at the Nizamieye Turkish Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness.

His body was later laid to rest on Friday at the Al-Nur Mosque, Abuja after Jummat prayers.

Imam Imam was one of the aides first appointed by Governor Tambuwal on being sworn in on May 29, 2015.

The late Imam had served in the same capacity when Tambuwal was the Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 when he became the governor.

The deceased was a for-

mer Group Politics Editor at THISDAY Newspapers.

He was born on July 16, 1977 in Gboko, Benue State and hailed from Taraba State.

The late Imam, who studied mass communication at the Kaduna Polytechnic, began his journalism career at Millennium Weekly newspaper in 2000 before joining ThisDay where he rose to the position of group politics editor.

Imam, who read development studies at post-graduate level in Bayero University, Kano, also worked with the New Nigerian Newspapers.

He was a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and a graduate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

The Taraba State indigene is survived by two wives and four children.

Special Adviser, Office of Overseas Affairs & Investment (Lagos Global), Prof. Ademola Abass (second left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Mrs. Kofoworola Awobamise (second right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Information & Strategy, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku (right) and representative of the Permanent Secretary, Office of Lagos Global and Director, Admin, Mrs. Abosede George (left) during the on-going Y2018 ministerial press briefing as part of activities to mark the third Year in Office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

Buhari departs Abuja for US to meet Trump Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident

Muhammadu Buhari will today depart Abuja for United States on an official working visit to the US on the invitation of President Donald Trump.

Buhari is expected to have a bilateral meeting with President Trump and a working lunch on Monday, April 30, 2018.

The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina on Friday,

said that the meeting was to discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and to advance shared priorities, such as: promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.

The meeting would further deepen the US-Nigeria relationship as the United States considers Nigeria’s economic growth, security and leadership in Africa to be critical aspects of their strategic partnership.

Later in the day, Buhari

would meet with a group of business persons in agriculture and agro-processing, dairy and animal husbandry.

Adesina said, “Ahead of the visit by Buhari, meetings have been scheduled on 26th and 27th April, 2018, between senior Nigerian Government officials and executives of major US companies in the areas of agriculture, aviation and transportation.

“In the area of aviation, the Nigerian officials will be meeting with Boeing,

the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, on the National Carrier Project.

“On agriculture, they will meet with large equipment manufacturers with focus on harvesting and post harvesting equipment.

“In the area of transportation, the officials will meet with the GE-led consortium for the implementation of the interim phase of the narrow gauge rail concession.

“In the interim phase, a substantive concession

agreement will be negotiated and finalized to provide the consortium the opportunity to invest an estimated $2bn, to modernize the rail line from Lagos to Kano (Western Line) and from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri (Eastern Line).

“During the meeting, the concession framework and the interim phase framework agreements are expected to be signed.

“The Nigerian officials would also meet with USEXIM Bank and the US Overseas Private Invest-

ment Corporation to explore competitive financing arrangements.

“It is noteworthy that in 2017, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the United States Department of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote and encourage commercial and investment ties between Nigeria and the United States, with initial focus on infrastructure, agriculture, digital economy, investment and regulatory reforms.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

7 News

Paris Club Refund: Court orders forfeiture of consultants’ N1.4bn to FG Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏ A Federal High Court,Ikoyi,

Lagos on Friday ordered the permanent forfeiture of N1. 44billion found in the bank accounts of three firms, which allegedly impersonated the consultants engaged by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to analyse the Paris/London Club loan refunds due to the states.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), obtained the forfeiture order on Friday, insisting that the defendants obtained N3.5 billion from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF),

by making false claims.

Also sued as defendants in the final forfeiture application were: Melrose General Services Limited, WASP Networks Limited and Thebe Wellness Services.

The respondents were accused of impersonating a consortium of consulting firms engaged by the NGF for the “verification, reconciliation and recovery of overdeductions on Paris and London Club Loans on the accounts of states and local governments between 1995 and 2002.”

The EFCC said the original firms engaged by the governors’ forum were GSCL Consulting and

Bizplus Consulting Services Limited.

But an investigator with the EFCC, Usman Zakari, said the alter ego of the first defendant, Melrose General Services Limited, Robert Mbonu, made a false representation to the NGF, causing the Forum to pay N3.5 billion to his company on December 14, 2016.

Zakari said the money was credited into the Access Bank account of Melrose General Services Limited, adding that the respondents dissipated and laundered about N2.3billion out of the money between December 15,

2016, and January 20, 2017, leaving a balance of N1.2 billion.

The investigator also stated that his agency had recovered N220m out of the laundered sum from the second and third respondents.

The EFCC had on October 13, 2017 obtained an interim order from Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, placing a “Post No Debit” order on the accounts containing the N1.2bn and N220m.

The judge had made the order following plea by lawyer to the EFCC, Ekene Iheanacho, who said it would best serve the interest of justice for the respondents

L-R:Public Affairs Manager (East/Central), Nigerian Bottling Company Limited(NBC), Ekuma Eze; Public Affairs Manager, Lagos & West, Nigerian Bottling Company Company Ltd(NBC), Ifeoma Okoye; Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Oyo state, Abayomi Oke and Key Account Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited(NBC), Chinelo Michael during the kick-off of the second edition of the NBC/Coca-Cola Hellenic Youth Empowered workshop held in Ibadan.... on Wednesday.

to be ordered to forfeit the N1.4bn temporarily to prevent them from dissipating same.

The judge, after granting the interim freezing order last year, directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national daily.

She gave anyone interested in the funds 14 days to appear before her to show cause why the funds should not be forfeited permanently.

Subsequently, one Prince Godwin Maduka and Linas International Limited showed up before the court, praying separately that the funds should be forfeited to them.

Maduka claimed that his firm, Udemgaba Maduka & Associates, had been engaged in 2011 as a consultant by Zamfara State Government to help the state recover some hanging funds, with an agreement that it would be paid 20 per cent of the recovered funds.

He urged the court to forfeit the N1.4 billion to his company to cover Zamfara State’s alleged indebtedness to him.

In opposition, EFCC contended that the suit was not a debt recovery suit and that Zamfara State was not a party to the suit.

Justice Olatoregun upheld the EFCC’s argument and dismissed Maduka’s claims.

On its own part, Linas International Limited said it was entitled to the payment of $6m from Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

But Justice Olatoregun equally dismissed its claim, holding that the suit was not a debt recovery suit.

Having dismissed both claims, the judge ordered the permanent forfeiture of the N1.442, 384, 857.84 billion to the Federal Government.

After historic summit, Koreas agree to end war, denuclearise Ibrahim Mohammed, with agency report

ÏÏÏ Leaders of

North and South Korea stunned the world with their agreement to end 65 years of hostilities against each other’s country and rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons, after holding an historic summit on Friday.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports that North Korea President Kim Jong-un and US backed South Korea President Moon Jae-in made the announcement after talks at their border.

The two leaders also agreed to push towards turning the truce that ended the Korean War in 1953 into a

peace treaty this year.

The summit came just months after warlike rhetoric from North Korea, a country dubbed by many in diplomatic circles as the most isolated state in the world.

In a remark at a banquet after the talks, Mr. Kim hailed the progress he said had been made, noting that “we bade farewell to the frozen relationship between North and South Korea, which was a nightmare. And we announced the beginning of a warm spring to the world” .

Details of how denuclearisation would be achieved, according the BBC, were not made clear and many analysts remain sceptical about the North’s apparent enthusiasm for engagement. ‘‘An issue for the North is

the security guarantee extended by the US, a nuclear power, to South Korea and Japan and its military presence in both countries. ‘‘Previous inter-Korean agreements have included similar pledges but were later abandoned after the North resorted to nuclear and missile tests and the South elected more conservative presidents’’, the international news channel stated.

It quoted Mr. Kim as saying that “there may be backlash, hardship and frustration,” but “a victory cannot be achieved without pain”.

Besides, the two countries it was reported, also agreed to seek international support to reach this goal, the joint statement said.

China later praised the

political determination and courage of both leaders and said it hoped the momentum could be maintained.

For his part, US President Donald Trump also welcomed the news, tweeting that “good things are happening”.

On a lighter note, Mr. Kim apologised to Mr. Moon for repeatedly forcing him to get up early because of the North’s missile and nuclear tests.

“I heard you (President Moon) had your early morning sleep disturbed many times to attend National Security Council meetings,” he said.

“I will make sure that your morning sleep won’t be disturbed,” he added.

“Now I can sleep in peace,” Mr. Moon replied.

Mr. Kim also acknowledged that the North’s infrastructure lagged behind that of the South.

“I’m worried that our transport situation is bad so it may discomfort you, it may be embarrassing (for me) if you visit North Korea after living in the South’s environment”, he said.

World leaders and governments hailed the historic summit between the leaders of North and South Korea as a step toward peace, but also sounded a note of caution about the challenges ahead, according to AFP. During the first such summit in 11 years, the two countries agreed to pursue a permanent peace and the complete denuclearisation of the divided peninsula.

Responding to the historic announcement, AFP quoted US President Donald Trump, as saying on twitter that “Good things are happening, but only time will tell!”

In a second tweet, Trump wrote: “KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!’’

“We applaud the Korean leaders’ historic step and appreciate their political decisions and courage”, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying told a press briefing.

“This is very positive news”, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, told reporters.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Herdsmen killings: CAN slams Buhari, says war looming if unchecked

Agege fly-over: Lagos restricts movement for construction works

By Benjamin Omoike

President Muhammadu Buhari (middle) in a group photograph with delegates of the Grand Khalifa of Tijjaniya Movement led by Sheikh Mahi Ibrahim Inyass when the group paid a courtesy call on the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja...on Friday

N102m fraud: Court dismisses oil magnate, Owoicho’ s no case submission

By Andrew Orolua, Abuja. the

Federal

Capital

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday April 28, 2018

Politics

9

APC chairmanship: Buhari has right to his preferences – Abdullahi The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors last week met with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on issues concerning the party, especially the National convention and some other related matters. The National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi spoke to party correspondents after the meeting.

TOM OKPE was there for The Daily Times.

The governors met with the chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and that is supposed to be an opportunity for him, what exactly is the NWC position, is he re-contesting?

Well, I don’t think that is a fair question to ask me, because if you ask of my personal position on this represent my position. But what I can tell you is that Chief Oyegun will make his position clear within the next couple of days whether he’s going to contest for the chairmanship or not.

May you tell us whether the party is comfortable with President Muhammadu Buhari endorsing Oshiomhole…..

No, no! The President is a party member, he has the right to have his preferences and he has exhibited that. I don’t get the feelings that he told anyone that this is the person you must support, right? He met with some of the governors who governors that met him yesterday (Tuesday). I don’t think those governors ever said they were up him and maybe because of the relationship he had with them, he told them his preferences and they felt it was important for them to make this available to the public.

I don’t think and I don’t get the feelings that President Buhari has called the governors and say this is the person you must go with, I don’t get that feeling.

If the President had met with the governors and stated this, don’t you think the election has been rigged or pre-determined?

Wao! That is a very strong word, ‘rigged’, No, I don’t think so, it was NEC meeting on the 27th of March and the President said the National had taken this decision regarding the issue of tenure elongation of party executives across the country, but have been advised afterwards that, that position was inconsistent with the position of the law. I therefore think we should take a second look at it. My position is not foreclosing the need for the party to

did not come and say, I have taken a position, no more conversation, he didn’t do that. he gave to the party to say take a second look at this, and actually we arrived at the situation we are discussing today, holding congresses and convention.

Therefore, the consultation he had with these governors was a address a press conference to say this is the person I want. So, if those was important or necessary for them to make this position public, I don’t think it will be fair to hold the President responsible for this. That is the position I am making and I don’t think he foreclosed anything or the President has said this is the

way everyone must go. Even, at the meeting today (Wednesday), I don’t get the feelings that that is his position. If he said the person lady called me to say she wanted to come and campaign to me that she wants to contest for the position of

Where is it coming from, the calls to review the timetable, is it from the governor or NWC? the issue, and we believe that the observation they had were quite germane, but there is always in this kind of situation choices we have to we have. We don’t think anyone is making this suggestion for ulterior motives other than the logistics of it.

Abdullahi

Well, we have inaugurated the

The chairman of the convention this question should be directed to State was in that meeting, may we know when they will start selling the form and possibly the cost of the form?

It is not in our hands anymore as a party.

Lagos group to hold sensitisation walk for unclaimed PVC, Ambode’s re-election Determined to address the cause of the seeming voter apathy in the Lagos polity, directly linked to huge numbers of unclaimed Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) ahead of the 2019 general elections, G-35 Elite Movement in collaboration with Ojokoro Formidable Team is set to hold a walk

that would spur them to go and claim Ijaiye constituency II for a second term. who are just 18years and above to go and register to exercise their franchise and for those who just moved into our constituency, we will encourage them to do transfer of their voter’s card so that they can be part of this forthcoming 2019 general elections.”

Speaking further, Mr. Oroki said, the constituency over time have always swung between second and third in the voting statistics of Lagos State.

He maintained that the proposed walk

Makinde” to sensitise constituents on the need to collect their PVCs. chairman, Mr. Gafar Owolabi Oroki, while stating the essence of staging a walk noted that it has become imperative to sensitise the people of the constituency on collection of their PVC so as to have a voice in the 2019 generation election. topping the list of states with unclaimed PVCs, which is over 1.4million cards, this is worrisome, quickly we put heads together to see how we can help INEC reduce this numbers, so we decided to put up a road walk, where we can be able to harp on the importance of collecting the PVC, we shall also showcase what the incumbent administration in Lagos State, both the Executive and Legislature has done for us.”

The

Publicity

Secretary

of

the

Makinde frontiers is a remarkable concept, with viable potentials, with lots of successes for our dear constituency. creation of this constituency in 2003, we are feeling and seeing the dividends of democracy more, I make bold to say, after Ijaiye constituency II, Ojokoro is the next in terms of massive roads construction. being constructed by His Excellency Mr.

with newsmen clearly mapped out how to Epe in solidarity, he has done us proud and we must do our part by ensuring

Gov Ambode

Bridge, then we would move through

Emphasising why the clearly working clique should not be let down at this

to Ijaiye. There we are going to register

more meaningful development to come to our constituency, we must increase our voting population, that’s why we are organising a road walk to give our people the necessary education and sensitisation

Congress,

and

endorse

Governor

Meanwhile, the walk is slated for 1st of enjoined to turn out in their large numbers Makinde continuity beyond 2019, as souvenirs will be given to all participants

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

2019: All political offices in Lagos, except governorship seat, vacant –Ikuforiji For 10 years, between 2003 and 2015, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji was the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, making him the longest serving head of any legislative House in Nigeria’s history.

He thereafter contested to be governor of the state, but lost the primary to Governor Akinwumni Ambode. He is of the belief that President Muhammadu Buhari has done well in the last three years in repositioning the nation, but reasoned that more needed to be done to ameliorate the suffering of the people. In this interview with PATRICK OKOHUE, he speaks on his next political move and why he believes the office of the governor of Lagos State is a no go area for any aspirant.

Thugs, allegedly loyal to a suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege recently invaded the hallowed chambers of the Senate and took away the Mace, as bad as that is, do you think it is right for the National Assembly

But, if a parliamentarian is suspended for 90 legislative days, more than half of a year….

to suspended somebody for 90 legislative days, even if they must suspend him, which is like suspending his entire constituency from participating in national discourse?

Ikuforiji

But, you were a Speaker for many years and you know that that can be stage managed, to make the Senate President look like the saviour, if that is what has been determined, don’t you think so?

The President recently declared for a second term in worried about many things, his age, health and declaring so early when compared to others years that he is going to heat up the polity and governance will take a back stage, what is your view?

“

This administration has taken some major steps, yes we feel the pains all over, but there is no gain without pain and the honest truth is to really create a solid structure, lay a solid foundation, we probably have to go through some sweating. Like I told them on a political programme on television two days ago, I think the government actually needs to learn from its mistakes, in an attempt to build a solid foundation, you don’t allow hunger to take away a portion of the people who will live in the structure you want to build before the structure is ready, palliative measure needs to be put in place

”

In order words, you will discountenance the advice of persons like former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida and the reasons they said Buhari should not run?

Continue on page 11

Daily Times Nigeria Saturdday, April 28, 2018

11 Politics

‘All political offices in Lagos, except governorship seat, vacant’ Continued from page 10 got the debt forgiveness and so there were so many complaints even about that government and there was even so much of pain as at them. The last administration even having the opportunity of having a barrel of oil going as high as $140, all that Obasanjo left in terms of foreign reserve and so on were messed up and there were no meaningful economic development.

People talk about the economic rate and all that, should our foreign exchange rate continue to be cushioned or supported or subsidised by the Federal Government? If our productivity level is low, our foreign exchange rate will be tilted against us, so you need to look at the level of our productivity, because this for decades will not help us to grow this economy. If you inherit an economy in a political era like ours, like the kind of economy that this administration inherited, it takes time to build. I am not holding forth for Mr. President, than we are doing, but we should not take the credit away from this administration, it has arrested the downward movement of our economy, it takes time to get things like that done.

If you make the mistake of driving your car to that point where the road slopes downward and then you leave it to start rolling down, it is going to be very terrible for you to get it stopped and it is even going to be more it up, we have seen Buhari’s government stopped the rolling down and we have seen him pushing it upward, what we are saying is that there should be some palliative measures to for the people, that needs to be done.

With this position of yours, are you by any means worried about the Obasanjo third force coalition with the aim of empowering a new set of leaders?

I am not bothered; because in that you will hear of coalition here and there, some form of coalition also brought President Buhari to power. If all sorts of coalition is what will lead us to the promised land, let coalitions continue.

But the truth be told, what is wrong with us, look around now, are we not in this same globe, are there no other countries, can’t we see what is going on, so what is it that is really wrong with us, why should we as a people wait for octogenarians to tell us, show us, lead us to govern ourselves, look Nigerians bellow 40 years constitutes perhaps 60 percent of the population of this country, the world over leaders of nations, the age bar has been lowered. Before Donald Trump in the United States of America, who is 70, look

at previous three Presidents of the most powerful democracy in the world. Look at the UK and so on, so why do we have to wait for President Obasanjo or General Babangida or Gen, Danjuma to tell us what to do with our future?

We all have the opportunity of shaping the future of Nigeria, if things had been done properly and thoroughly we shouldn’t be in this mess. I think we have ourselves to blame, I think the younger generation is not ready, maybe the education is not sound enough despite our Harvard, our Cambridge, our Oxford, so we should do some soul searching, to me let there be coalition, coalition will meet coalition and coalition will compete against coalition.

But are you worried about the All Progressives Congress (APC), because recent actions of the party’s leadership and the position of the President which later took precedent about the tenure of the leadership, having an elective convention now so close to the election, with all the crises the party has in its hands, with the Tinubu reconciliation serious job, people are worried that a convention now will further divide the party, create a problem towards 2019, do you share this view?

First and foremost, the convention that brought in John Odigie-Oyegun as chairman and the outgoing executive, how many years was it before the 2015 elections was the convention, was it even three years? We had the convention not so far from the election too, election is still almost a year away and the constitution of the party is clear about when the congresses and convention should take place and if the President now in his wisdom has seen the light and decided to pitch his tent with the constitution of the party and the constitution of the country, what is wrong with that, why should a convention lead to division, I think that the convention should actually lead to more harmony.

Whoever comes in as members of the executive of the party will know that they have a job to do, they must keep the party united,

“

they must try to see that the party wins the election that is at hand, So, you don’t think the Tinubu It’s a good idea and I think it’s a good move, we all know who Tinubu is, he is capable of forging these alliances and harmony in the system.

The concern now is that there is already a crisis at hand, because if there were none nobody would think of a reconciliation convention coming, you don’t think it will further polarise the party or you believe things will go smoothly?

Well, going smoothly is not what makes a strong party, I mean this is a political party, it is not a social club, so, in politics we throw the bricks and the mortars to get to the end of the throwing yourselves at the back. There is nothing wrong with having a normal political hullabaloo, it’s just very normal, we will always have that.

There is nothing wrong with that, if the party fails to do that, you will be one of those condemning us for not following constitutional provisions and say even the constitution of our party is not respected by us, how much less the constitution of the country, so, now that we are following the provisions of the constitution, why should anybody raise any eyebrow.

How will you assess the performance of the Lagos State governor, the recent increase in the Land Use Charge and its thing the increase of the LUC was necessary at this time?

I am really yet to understand your question, what has the performance of government got to do with Land Use Charge?

Because people are now using the Land Use Charge as criteria to judge the government Has the government not performed? We will get to that point when we will get more realistic. When the Land Use

Let me just say that my mind is open, the only office and the seat I know as far as this state and the even the nation is concerned, the only seat to me that I believe there is no vacancy is the seat of the governor of Lagos State, every other seat is there for people to jostle and struggle for, and in any of those seats if God says go in that direction I will definitely go, but for now, let’s leave it at that, we still have time, three to six months is a long time in politics.

”

Ikuforiji Charge was brought into being by the Tinubu administration, it was a war, but thank God for the visionary leadership of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, where would Lagos have been today, what is it that got the population of Lagos doubled in less than a decade, is it not this ability to harness internal resources? From the N600million monthly IGR when Tinubu took over in 1999 to N30billion plus a month today, what would have happened to Lagos if that leadership, that vision did not belong to a man on that seat, we would have still been a state going cap in hand begging for support from the Federal Government like most of the other states.

Yes, maybe because it is politically savvy to do so, the government has now reduced the percentage increase, but for God sake, a situation where you were paying next to nothing and they said ok, lets even get close to what it should be and then you start talking of the percentage.

From N10 to N1000 is like 10,000 percent, but what will N10 do for you. From where are you starting from is usually a question that we all don’t like to ask ourselves.

When we were buying a litre of petrol for 22kobo some years back and the thing got increased to over N1, people shouted, they have increased by 500 percent, from there to where it is today, who talks about that percentage anymore. We have to be realistic over such things. We want Lagos we want it to be the capital of the black race, we want it to be the economic hub of not only Nigeria, but West Africa and if possible the whole of Africa, but we have to

pay for it and some of the things for free, we will not be able to get them for free any more. If you look at the number of roads that this government has built or reconstructed in the last three years, if you look at the number of schools it has taken care of, you think of all the infrastructure, even energy, this government is working seriously towards the production and distribution of electricity you will be very shocked and all these do not come cheap, we have to pay for it. Since,

we have to use it well.

Any political ambition for 2019?

Let’s look at it this way, you know that I am a believer, I trust in God, I believe in him and whatever is his destiny will come.

I left every other thing I was doing in the United States to come join 2003 and today I have not resigned from politics to go into anything doing is secondary to politics.

Let me just say that my mind is I know as far as this state and the even the nation is concerned, the only seat to me that I believe there is no vacancy is the seat of the governor of Lagos State, every other seat is there for people to jostle and struggle for, and in any of those seats if God says go in but for now, let’s leave it at that, we still have time, three to six months is a long time in politics.

Politics 12

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

2019: INEC seeks NOA, NYSC’s support for credible elections The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has sought support of the National Orientation Agency & National Youth Service Corps to enhance the success of 2019 general elections.

The spokesman for the Commission, Mr. Femi Akinbiyi made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to the statement, Mr. Sam Olumekun, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner visited both NOA & the NYSC orientation camp in the state on Wednesday to seek collaboration towards a successful conduct of elections.

“While I thank you for your response, support for the Commission in the time past, I want to ask you for more support in mobilising Lagos and to participate in the electoral processes ahead of 2019 polls.

“I want the NOA to especially join the Commission in mobilising eligible voters who have abandoned their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to come and claim them.

“I acknowledge the strength of NOA and the fact that INEC cannot do it alone. Our people must participate in electoral process for democracy to thrive.

“The Commission is ready to partner with NOA and other stakeholders in our drive to deliver credible, transparent, free and fair elections in 2019.

“INEC has developed an election project plan and strategic plan of action and has itemised all we need to conduct a successful free and fair elections.

“If the last election was rated very high by both local and international observers, we are prepared to deliver a more credible one in 2019 to spas previous achievement.”

Mr. Olumekun urged NOA to

The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of planning to disobey the directive of the Supreme Court halting the conduct of council polls in the state until the determination of an appeal before it.

The allegation was made in a statement issued by Mr. Damian Opara, state PDP Publicity Secretary.

According to the statement, the PDP will not participate in elections for chairmanship and councillorship seats scheduled to hold on 14 July. It warned the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (IMSIEC) against conducting the proposed elections.

It explained that its candidates will not participate in the elections out of respect for the decision of the Supreme Court, which it said was unambiguous.

The party stated that the Supreme Court directed that the proposed polls

INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu sensitise people against violence during elections, saying electoral violence could prevent people from exercising their civic responsibility.

At the NYSC Orientation camp, the REC, Olumekun also commended the State’s coordinator of NYSC, Prince Mohammed Momoh and asked for the support of the organisation.

“We thank you for your usual support, the Commission will like to improve the MOU between us, please if there is an area we need to fine tune in the MOU let us know now so as to cement the synergy for it to work better in future.

“Because of the advancement in technology and other issues we must commence early training of Youth Corps members on the handling of the smart card readers ahead of the election.

“We have noticed that one of the reasons is the way these smart card readers are handled.

“This time around, we want to devote time to educate the Corps members during their Community Development (CD) activities at various local governments” Mr. I shola Waheed, the State’s Director of NOA, in his response, promised to assist INEC to publicise it’s activities and mobilise people to participate in electoral process.

“We shall avail the Commission our officials across the Local government areas in Lagos State to pubilise your programmes. We have over 207 officials to assist INEC” Prince Momoh also gave the commitment of NYSC to support INEC in order to deliver acceptable elections in the state.

Obasa mourns late Oyo Assembly Speaker, condoles with govt, APC, family

Hon Obasa

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described the late Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo, as a peaceloving man who stood for peace, equity, justice and rule of law.

He also described the deceased as a man who strived for the good of his fellow man as well as the development, progress and growth of his state and the country at large.

The Lagos Assembly Speaker stated this in a condolence message released on his behalf by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, addressed to the Oyo State Government, the state House of Assembly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the immediate family of the deceased.

Obasa said, “The news

Imo PDP accuses APC of planning to disobey Supreme Court verdict on LG poll

came as a shock but it pleases Almighty God to take him away at this particular period.

Who are we then to query His authority? We love Rt. Hon. Adeyemo, but God loves him more.

“He was such a peace-loving man, a man of wisdom who strived for the good of his fellow man as well as the progress, growth and development of his state and the country at large.

“We will all miss him, particularly at the Conference of Speakers. The Oyo State Government will miss him, his colleagues at the state House of Assembly, the entire members and leaders of the APC will miss him as well as members of his immediate family. I pray to Almighty God to give us all the fortitude to bear the huge loss. I also pray to God to grant him eternal rest,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said.

be put on hold until the case between the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the Imo State Government is determines.

“The PDP in Imo State, therefore, wishes to categorically state that it shall not take part in the purported election and alerts all Nigerians, particularly, political parties in Imo State, not to (participate), as any money spent by anybody in respect of the purported local government elections in Imo State is tantamount to futile efforts,” said the PDP. It recalled that on Monday, the Supreme Court, upon the oral application of Mr. Ngozi Olehi, counsel to the Imo State Chapter of ALGON, directed all parties in the suit before it to stay away from participating in any activity related to council elections in the state until the determination of the appeal before it.

“The apex court’s advice is clear and unambiguous,” declared the PDP.

Lagos lawmaker empowers residents A Lagos State lawmaker, Hon. Nurudeen Saka-Solaja, on Friday empowered several artisans, traders and other residents of his Ikorodu constituency with trade tools worth millions of naira.

Saka-Solaja, the Acting Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Science and Technology, organised the empowerment on the platform of Bibire Mega Empowerment Programme.

The lawmaker, who represents Ikorodu Constituency II at the Assembly donated sewing machines, grinding machines, dryers, and fishing nets to some residents.

Other items donated include barbing tools and power generating plants, vulcanising machines, farming tools, crates of soft drinks as well as coolers, food items and money.

Saka-Solaja said: “I am happy to support my constituents who reposed confidence in me to represent them, and I would do my best to ensure that their welfare is protected.

“We are giving out these materials, not because they are poor, but because we all have needs, and the degree of our needs vary.

“Our people must be empowered for them to be resourceful, and by so doing, our society will be a good place to live in.

“It is an annual event, but this year’s edition is different as it focuses more on adults. I have been empowering youths for computer training and distribution of free GCE and UTME forms to indigent students to help them in their education.

“Artisans must be empowered too, and we are also empowering those who have not acquired any skill so that they can start petty trading.”

The lawmaker said his determination to assist all categories of people informed the donation of crate of soft drinks to many unskilled persons to start up businesses.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Afolarin Lateef, who got a generating set and clippers, commended the lawmaker for the gesture, saying it would help his work as a trained barber.

Also, Mr Adesanya Tejumola, who received a vulcanising machine, said: “Since I finished training, I have not been able to stand on my own because of lack of fund to buy the equipment.

“I am very grateful to God and the lawmaker, I am happy today.”

Miss Adijat Odusanya, a fashion designer, said that the sewing machine would take her work to higher ground. According to her, the gesture will help her to do more jobs and train more people.

Hon Saka-Solaja

TIMES SPORTS Sprinter blasts ‘wrong’ testosterone ruling Golf: England’s Wallace takes lead in China

Coach Aigbogun: Flying Eagles can’t afford to miss next U-20 AFCON SATURDAY FIXTURES PREMIER LEAGUE Liverpool vs Stoke City Burnley vs Brighton & Hove Albion Crystal Palace vs Leicester City Huddersfield Town vs Everton Newcastle United vs West Bromwich Southampton vs AFC Bournemouth Swansea City vs Chelsea SPANISH LA LIGA Espanyol vs Las Palmas Real Sociedad vs Athletic Bilbao Real Madrid vs Leganés Villarreal vs Celta Vigo GERMAN BUNDESLIGA Bayern Munich vs Eintracht Frankfurt FC Schalke 04 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach Hertha Berlin vs FC Augsburg SC Freiburg vs FC Köln VfL Wolfsburg vs Hamburg SV Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs VfB Stuttgart ITALIAN SERIE A Roma vs Chievo Inter Milan vs Juventus FRENCH LIGUE 1 Lyon vs Nantes Bordeaux vs Dijon Lille vs Metz Monaco vs Amiens Strasbourg vs Nice Troyes vs Caen

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Supreme Court orders accelerated hearing in suit against Amaju Pinnick-led NFF executive

Port Harcourt to host Super Eagles’ friendly game against DR Congo

Times Sports 14

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

International friendly:

Golf: England’s Wallace takes lead in China

England’s Matt Wallace shot a twounder-par 70 in windy conditions on Friday to jump into the lead at the halfway stage of the Volvo China Open.

Wallace, targeting a third European Tour title after his success at the Hero Indian Open last month, went nine-under for the tournament at the Topwin Golf and Country Club and heads into the weekend with a one-shot lead over three players.

“It was tough all day, the wind picked up in the afternoon,” Wallace, who began the second day in Beijing one shot off the pace, said.

Wallace began strongly with a birdie on the second hole but faltered on the fourth with a bogey.

However, an eagle on the eighth helped him take the lead.

The 28-year-old then made eight straight pars, but a slight wobble towards the end meant that he could not extend his lead further.

Port Harcourt to host Super Eagles’ friendly game against DR Congo Nigeria are now scheduled to play their send forth international friendly against DR Congo ahead of the FIFA World Cup, at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium Port Harcourt on May 28.

The Rivers State Government made the announcement on Thursday following a high-profile meeting between the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick and Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

This puts to rest the initial uncertainty surrounding the venue of a game which ought to present the fans with an opportunity to see the Eagles in action one last time before they depart for Russia.

Speaking with the press in the aftermath of the meeting at the Government House, Pinnick expressed his delight with the support received from the Rivers State Government, while also commending the people of the state for their loyal support for the Super Eagles.

He equally revealed the CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad will be present during the international friendly, a massive motivation for the team ahead a sixth tournament appearance.

“We are playing on the 28th of May

against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

After the match, the Rivers State Governor will host the two teams to a dinner.

“Everywhere is home to the Super Eagles; Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Kano, Kaduna or Minna. They are the Super Eagles of Nigeria and every part is integral to the development of football,” Pinnick stated.

Responding to journalists on behalf of the Rivers State Government, the State Sports Commissioner, Boma Iyaye assured of the readiness of the government to put facilities at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in top notch condition ahead of the international friendly. “Governor Nyesom Wike has done well in terms of funding national sporting events.

“He hosted the African Wrestling Championship on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and now he is hosting the Super Eagles and Democratic Republic of Congo. That is something that is worthy of commendation.”

It would be recalled that the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium was the venue of the Eagles’ Preliminary World Cup qualifier against Swaziland, and it might only appear appropriate for the team to show proper appreciation on a ground where qualification began for them.

Supreme Court orders accelerated hearing in suit against Amaju Pinnick-led NFF executive Court did not nullify Pinnick board’s election, says NFF

the ought to

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to make any pronouncement on the suit seeking the sacking of the Amaju Pinnick-led executive committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Rather, the apex court, in a judgment delivered on Friday, sent the case back to the Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, where it was commenced in September 2014, and ordered the said court to give it an accelerated hearing.

A five-man panel of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, unanimously set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Jos, which had held that the case could no longer be relisted before the Federal High Court having been earlier withdrawn by the appellants.

Although the Supreme Court upheld the appellants’ contention that they could have the case re-listed before the Federal High Court after their settlement talks broke down, it rejected the plea by the appellants to have the case heard and determined on its merit.

The apex court held that conditions that could warrant hearing such case which be heard by the Federal

High Court had not been met.

The appellants, Yahaya Adama and Obinna Ogba, who had claimed that they and others were the authentic NFF executive committee members said to have been elected on August 26, 2014.

They had on September 19, 2014, filed their suit before the Federal High Court in Jos, praying for among others, that they along with others allegedly elected on August 26, 2014, be declared to be the legitimate executive committee members of the NFF. The defendants to the suit were the then outgone executive committee of the NFF represented by its President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, and Musa Adamu, the Plateau State Football Association representing the football association in the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and the Minister of Sports.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has assured that there was no reason to get worried about a Supreme Court decision on the 2014 elections into its Executive Committee.

The football body, on its twitter handle some moments after the court’s ruling, said the Supreme Court in Abuja did not nullify Amaju Pinnick’s election as NFF President.

It said its reaction followed news to the contrary ongoing on social media.

A football stakeholder, Chris Giwa, had been contesting the authenticity of the Pinnick-led board.

While the Proprietor of Jos-based Giwa FC was elected NFF president at an NFF Congress in Abuja, Pinnick was elected at another NFF Congress in Warri on Sept. 30, 2014.

Giwa took the matter to the apex court, after losing out at the Appeal Court and at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

NFF’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, was quoted in the tweet a s saying: “Nobody should cause unnecessary panic in Nigeria’s football. That’s my case.

“Supreme Court did not nullify Amaju’s election.

The Supreme Court did not remove Amaju from office.

“The Court only referred the case back to the Federal High Court to be tried properly, to know which of the elections held in 2014 was right.

“Amaju was not a party to the case at the Supreme Court. So, the court could not have removed a party from office without joining the party and hearing from the party.’’

Iniesta confirms he’s leaving Barca Andres Iniesta has confirmed he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after 22 years associated with the club.

In a press conference attended by members of the first team and the club’s board on Friday, Iniesta said he wanted to finish at Barca “feeling useful, feeling important and still winning titles”.

Iniesta is expected to continue his career in China but says his next move is yet to be finalised. The 33-year-old reiterated, however, he would never play against Barcelona.

After joining Barca’s academy, La Masia, aged 12, Iniesta blossomed into one of the Catalans’ greatest ever players, winning four Champions League and eight La Liga titles, and lifting the World Cup with Spain.

Struggling to hold back the tears, Iniesta said: “I understand that in the near future I will not be able to give the best of myself in all senses, both physically and mentally.

“If I had imagined finishing my career here, it would have been like this, feeling useful, feeling important and still winning titles.

“It’s a very difficult day for me because I’ve been here all my life and to say goodbye to my home and my life here is very hard.”

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

15 Times Sports

Coach Aigbogun: Flying Eagles can’t afford to miss next U-20 AFCON Katken says 2017/2018 NNL season sure to kick off today

Chief Operating Officer of Nigeria National League (NNL), Lawrence Katken, on Thursday in Abuja said the league’s 2017/2018 season would start today.

The league was earlier scheduled to start on March 3, but the addition of new clubs led to a postponement.

“Last year 32 clubs participated in the league, but this year we have about 40 clubs in the league.

“The new clubs are those relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Some were promoted from the Nationwide League One (NLO) and some of them bought other clubs’ slots to join the league.

“The new clubs include Kada Football Club, Malumfashi FC, Bimo FC, Real Stars FC, Stores FC and Rovers FC,” Katken said.

He said the competition’s organising body had agreed on the introduction of an abridged league system for the season.

“We introduced the abridged system in order not to be interrupted by the Russia 2018 World Cup matches.

“We will go on break as soon as the World Cup starts, and we will resume immediately after the global football event,” Katken added.

Steven Gerrard ‘not ready’ for Rangers job - Alan Smith Alan Smith says he does not think Steven Gerrard is ready for the Rangers job and the “massive expectations” that come with it.

Since retiring in November 2016, Gerrard has been working at Liverpool’s academy and managing their Under-19 team.

This week, he has been made the oddson favourite to be the next Rangers boss, with current manager Graeme Murty’s contract up at the end of the season.

But former Arsenal striker Smith told The Debate: “I would be surprised to see him go because he has put himself into the Liverpool academy and is deadly serious about learning the trade as a coach and serving his apprenticeship.

“Then to leap into a huge job like that at a huge club where the expectations are massive and I am sure it is not an easy place to manage; I don’t think he is ready for it.

“I see his future at Liverpool, I would be amazed if he did go.”

Paul Merson agreed with Smith, saying: “They are a million miles behind Celtic.

You can send Jose Mourinho in there with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola and I don’t think they could turn it around with Celtic.

“Rangers would expect if he went in to be fighting with Celtic next season for the title, which would be a massive ask.”

Rangers chairman Dave King has previously praised Murty for his work at the club, but said he was determined to make the “best appointment” possible ahead of next season.

On Sunday, Rangers take on rivals Celtic, who could clinch the title with victory.

Flying Eagles head coach, Paul Aigbogun, says the team can’t afford to miss out on a place in the 2019 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify for the last edition in Zambia.

The Nigeria U-20 side who have been crowned champions seven times in the history of the competition fell at the last qualifying hurdle against Sudan then.

Aigbogun’s men will kick- start the journey towards Niger 2019 with a first round fixture against the Young Djurtinhos of Guinea Bissau next month.

And ahead of the qualifiers, the gaffer who also doubles as head coach of Nigeria Professional Football League outfit, Enyimba, has charged his players to avoid any disappointing campaign.

“We failed to qualify for the last edition of the Africa U-20 Nations Cup and we can’t afford not to make it this time around,” Aigbogun said.

“Nigeria have a rich pedigree at this level and it is important we maintain it

Mou regrets bust-ups with Wenger and not tarnish the record.

“Our first game is against Guinea Bissau next month, and we are preparing hard for them. We don’t see them as a small opposition but a strong one.

Lille coach: I’ve never been forced to play Vincent Enyeama Lille OSC coach Christophe Galtier has explained that former Nigeria captain Vincent Enyeama was already out of favour when he arrived at the French Ligue 1 club in 2017.

According to a report, the French coach was talking to supporters of Lille, who had filmed him without his knowledge last Saturday.

The former St Etienne coach had stated that Enyeama’s predicament was a result of the goalkeeper’s poor relationship with the leadership of the club.

“I am going to answer you

“The team is already taking shape and we will be ready for the game.”

Guinea Bissau will host the first leg on May 11, 12 or 13, while the return fixture will hold in Nigeria a week later. very precisely, even if I did not want to discuss this topic, but we are there … Very well … If I’m wrong, you cut me off,” Galtier told reporters. ”When I arrived, Vincent Enyeama was where? You saw Vincent Enyeama train with the professional group this year – never, so when I arrived, where was he, with the reserve, and then he was injured. ”He trains when he can and he plays when he can play.

Regarding other players, I have never been forced to play a player, it’s very clear.”

The 35-year-old is yet to make a league appearance for Lille this season, but he has played two games for the club’s reserve team.

Donald Trump issues warning to opponents of US 2026 World Cup bid Donald Trump has warned nations opposing the North American bid for the 2026 World Cup they risk losing the United States’ political support.

FIFA has received one bid from Morocco and a joint bid from the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the tournament – which will follow Qatar 2022.

US President Trump has issued his support for the shared North American proposal ahead of the final decision, which will be made at a FIFA Congress in Moscow on June 13.

“The US has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup,” Trump said on Twitter.

“It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?”

Trump’s comments could breach FIFA’s rules on political interference regarding World Cup bids.

Football’s world governing body promised a “fair, objective and transparent” decision process last month, following suggestions by Moroccan bid chairman Moulay Hafid Elalamy that FIFA was privately backing the North American proposal.

Jose Mourinho admitted on Friday that he regrets some of his behaviour towards Arsene Wenger over their years of rivalry in the Premier League ahead of the Frenchman’s last visit to Old Trafford as Arsenal boss.

The two managers have enjoyed a spiky relationship since the Portuguese arrived as manager of Chelsea in 2004 and deposed Arsenal’s “Invincibles” as champions.

Famously, Mourinho called Wenger a “voyeur” and a “specialist in failure” while, in the early days of their feud, in 2005, Wenger responded by calling Mourinho “stupid” and “disconnected with reality”.

As recently as October 2014, the two managers were involved in an ugly touchline row that saw them almost come to physical blows in a game between Arsenal and Chelsea -- an example of the sort of behaviour Mourinho now says he regrets.

“Regrets? Little negative episodes, yes I do and probably he also does,” Mourinho told the press at United’s training base.

“There are little things where it would obviously have been better without them, some gestures, some words would be better without it. I feel better now without it, no doubt about it.

“But again when I arrived in England 2004, Arsenal was the champion and it was the famous champions of the Invincibles.

And I arrived and for the next couple of years was with them -- Bergkamp, Thierry, Campbell, amazing teams. So again thank you very much for that, they pushed us to the limits.”

Mourinho said he hoped United fans, who have not always treated Wenger with respect, would give him a good send-off on Sunday.

“I always feel the biggest rivals are our biggest friends because they’re the ones that pushed us to the limit,” said the United manager.

ARSENAL V MAN UTD RIVALRY “And I think Manchester United fans know that until 2004, for about a decade, it was between Manchester United and Arsenal. It was between Sir Alex (Ferguson) and Mr Wenger.

“And I think that these great teams Arsenal had and the fight shoulder to shoulder with Manchester United made Manchester United better and better. I hope he has a good reaction -- if not good, not bad at all, and from us, as a club, he is going to feel the respect we have.”

Mourinho could not let the occasion pass without a small dig at his old rival, when he claimed that if United were in the Europa League this season, they would have won the competition.

After Arsenal threw away a lead to draw 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in the semi-final first leg at the Emirates, Mourinho’s point was clear.

“Last season we won the Europa League and if we played Europa League this year we’d win it too,” he said.

Mourinho, looking to consolidate second place in the Premier League, also stressed that goalkeeper David de Gea is not leaving United.

The 27-year-old Spain international, who is approaching the last year of his contract, has regularly been linked with Real Madrid.

When asked about a potential summer departure for De Gea, Mourinho responded: “No chance.”

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, April 28, 2018

21 News

2019 presidency: I’ll beat Buhari, says APC aspirant

By Tom Okpe, Abuja A presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general election, Adamu Garba, of not been intimidated out of presidential primary election saying that he would defeat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari to the party’s ticket.

The Adamawa born young politician also said that nobody in APC has enough resources to buy him over to drop his presidential ambition.

Addressing a news conference on Friday in Abuja expressing reservation over decision by the party to postpone the national convention earlier slated for May 14, Garba said his supporters nationwide were beginning to be worried.

According to him, the people were angry over the convention’s postponement adding that if the shift was in interest of the party there will not be problem.

On how he will defeat President Buhari, who has already declared his presidential re-election,

Garba said: “I think the only thing that can make me give up in the presidential primary election is the ballot. If the delegates decided to say no and in a free, fair and transparent election as stipulated by the party constitution, then that is all but I am very sure that I will emerge as winner at the presidential primary of APC. “Who will buy me over; why will I sell my conscience when I love my party and my country, he queried; this cannot happen. I don’t believe there is anybody that has

anything in this world even if you want to bring back to life my late mum that will say I should drop out for the love of my country, it is not possible I will go to the ballot and let me loose there. I’m not losing anyway; I will win the primary I’m sure about that”.

While expressing reservation for the convention’s postponement, the presidential aspirant said: “Nevertheless, it’s still not a problem to us.

Our main target is to ensure that, there is true, free and fair democracy

within the party so that we can have a duly elected person who will be the candidate for the election. We are looking forward to the party to stay true to the constitution and ensure that free, fair and transparent elective convention takes place, and that is our main target. “we are fully ready for the convention, our target is for us to be there and demonstrate the fact that the young Nigerians are not ready to be the agent of change, they wanted to

L-R: Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan; Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulwasi Musa; and State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, during a visit to the Anatomy Department of the University of Ibadan, where the remains of the late Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo, were kept, in Ibadan... on Friday. Photo: Governor’s Office

Hate speech: NBC sanctions AIT, Channels, 68 others

By Tom Okpe, Abuja

National broadcasting Commission (NBC) has sanctioned 70 stations for various infractions on the Nigeria Broadcasting code.

The Director General of the commission Mallam Modibo Kawu said in Abuja on Friday that the commission has released the quarterly list of broadcasting stations that contravened the provisions of the Nigeria

Broadcasting Code.

According to Kawu, all the stations have been either queried or sanctioned accordingly to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

Among the sanctioned stations are AIT, Channels, Vision FM, Raypower, and Kiss FM, Cool FM and other Radio and Television stations all over the country.

He said: “In summary, 70 stations have been

bordering on inciting political and Hateful broadcasts, 22 for vulgar lyrics on musicals and videos and 29 for tradomedic advertisements “The Commission wishes to re-emphasize that all broadcasters must adhere strictly to the provisions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code and the National Broadcasting Act CAP N11 Laws of the Federation, 2004”.

be the change themselves, but unfortunately the convention is postponed and we are actually disappointed especially with the level of preparedness we have for this convention.

“As a result, we the young generation of Nigerians have decided to make sure that we produce within ourselves a credible candidate for the coming convention for the position of party chairman. We believe that the internal wrangling that is happening in the party is calling for all young Nigerians to rise up and take responsibility”.

While revealing that the young stakeholders of the party will produce a chairmanship candidate for the convention, Garba said: “Our senior credible and responsible citizens happenings in the country which is not in the interest of the country and the ruling party itself.

“We believe APC is our party, we believe APC is a property of Nigeria and therefore we the young general of Nigeria are fully ready to continue with the legacies of our founding Fathers, and therefore we are calling on all the parties involved in the wrangling within the APC to support us because we believe that we have the clear direction.

“We are not in support of this side or that side but we are in support of the party and the interest of Nigeria for Nigerians.

Therefore, what we stand for is to focus in making sure that APC continue to be the party of choice for all Nigerians.

“We believe that there is need for a new chairman for the APC and this new chairman should emerge from the young, fresh, neutral blood within the party”.

Glo’s Professor Johnbull examines practice of thrift collection Television sitcom, Professor Johnbull, sponsored by total telecommunications solutions provider, Globacom, will this week examine the age-long tradition of thrift collection which was a veritable means of growing businesses among participants prior to the advent of modern banking.

In the episode entitled Osusu Contribution, almost all the cast of the series including Etuk (Imeh Bishop); Olaniyi (Yomi Fash-Lanso); Mai Doya (Funky Mallam); Ufoma (Bimbo Akintola); Jumoke (Bidemi Kosoko); Flash (Stephen Odimgbe) Abadnego (Martins Nebo) and Samson(Ogus Baba), fell victim of a fake osusu

operator named Mr. Rowland (Mounago Collins Nche), who pretended to be the “coordinator of Corporate Osusu Group”, but ended up swindling them of their hard his care.

It is also a wakeup call to may desire to join cooperative or thrift societies to observe due diligence before buying into such associations failing which they might become susceptible to the antics of scammers masquerading as thrift collectors.

The episode will further educate viewers on the steps to take before joining thrift societies such as ascertaining the legality of the operations

as well as the antecedents of whoever the operators how Jeroboam (Osita Iheme) escaped being scammed and what the opinion of Professor Johnbull is on the entire practice.

Professor Johnbull shows every Sunday on the DSTV Africa Magic Family and GOTV Channel 2 at 6.00pm.

Repeat broadcasts come up on Thursday at 9.30 p.m. on the cable TV channels and on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV channel 251 and NTA on StarTimes at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday, while Anambra Broadcasting Service will air the episode at 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

News 17 7 News

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018 Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 27, 2018

PIB: Niger Delta, most neglected region in the world - Dickson Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, Thursday said after 60 years of oil exploration and export from the Niger Delta, the region has nothing to show for it, stressing that, the region is the most neglected and underdeveloped in the world.

The Governor said, of all the states in the region, Bayelsa is the most abandoned by successive Federal Governments.

He said though his administration had done so much to place the state on the path of prosperity, the state’s treacherous terrain makes development challenging.

He said most oil terminals in the region, including the oil terminals in Bayelsa State in commercial quantity in inaccessible to motorists.

The Governor lamented that the Federal Government and the International Oil Companies (IOCs) plunder

the oil and gas resources of the Niger Delta region, to develop other parts of the country at the expense of the oil producing communities of the region.

Governor Dickson stated this in Government House, Yenagoa when the Joint National Assembly Chairman, Senator Bashir Marafah visited him.

He noted that, Nigeria has been unfair and unjust to the oil producing communities over the years, despite the region’s massive contribution to the socio-economic stability and global prominence of the country. He said while discovered in commercial quantities and other oil producing communities promoted Nigeria to a regional and world power, has nothing to show for it, other parts of the federation are wallowing in opulence!

Dickson in a press

statement signed by his for Nigeria, to be sustainable, it must be founded and built on justice, fairness, equity and the best way to do it is to make the Niger Delta have considerable control over its resources!

The Governor, who commended the decision of the National Assembly the oil producing host communities, described the Host Communities Bill, under consideration, as a golden opportunity for the present leadership of the National Assembly to redress the long oppression of the oil producing communities.

He calls on the Federal Government and the IOCs to appropriately compensate Bayelsa and indeed the Niger Delta by making them have more control stake in the oil resource because according to him, what the Federal Government carved out as Oil Blocs are actually the

ancestral properties of the oil producing communities.

While assuring the

“they employ nobody and give no contracts, but rather pay taxes to other states”

of the preparedness of the state Government to sensitize and mobilise the people to present their views during the proposed public hearing for the bill, Governor Dickson called on the National Assembly to support the clamour for OICs doing business in Bayelsa State to relocate their headquarters to Yenagoa, the state capital!

Governor Dickson also told his audience that his administration has made enormous investments in ensuring the security of lives and property in the State, as well as creating the enabling environment for the oil companies to operate unhindered, emphasizing that, despite that, the oil companies, who are prime

economy!

He said: “The Host Communities Bill under consideration is a golden opportunity for the present leaders of the National Assembly to redress the long records of unfairness, neglect and oppression of the oil producing communities.

“Oil producing states and communities need support, and I assure you that our people will be fully mobilised

investment in security, play no role in the economic development of the state,

ready for a public hearing.

We will sensitise our people, communities and groups to make their views known.

I also call on the National Assembly to support the quest for oil producing companies to relocate to their catchment areas. You may be surprised that even over 60 years of taking oil from our communities, no IOC is located here.

In other words, they do

not contribute to the local economy and this is unfair to our people because we feel the brunt of oil exploration! Today, the Niger Delta is the most neglected region and Bayelsa State is the most underdeveloped in the region.

The entire Bayelsa is below sea level with the most treacherous and After over 60 years of oil production, after sustaining Nigeria’s economy, we still do not have roads linking oil terminals. Nigeria is a funny country..!

“So we know the investments that we are making, and yet the oil companies who are no role in our economic development, they employ nobody from here. They give no contracts but pay taxes to other states. In other parts of the world, you don’t hear people going and places several hundreds and thousands of kilometers away from where the crude is coming from. It is only in Nigeria that you hear that. Houston is the oil and gas capital because around that vicinity, you see all the oil wells and companies located” In his remarks, the Chairman of the National Senator Bashir Marafah, who had led members of

Former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Isola Olorunnimbe and wife, Alhaja Aminat Idowu Olorunnimbe (JP) flanked by their children and spouses at the celebration of her 70th birthday ceremony recently in Lagos

oil producing communities expressed concern over the plight of the communities, noting that, the visit has exposed them to the real problems facing the communities.

He stated that, it is the desire of the leadership of the current National Assembly into law before the end of the year, assuring that, will do everything within their powers to facilitate its passage.

Ikpeazu is wonderful – Ondo Commissioner

By Sunday Nwakanma , Umuahia The Ondo State Government, Friday in Umuahia commended the developmental strides of Abia State Government, describing it as unprecedented.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ondo state, Yemi Olowolabi expressed this delight while

on a courtesy call on his Abia State colleague, Chief john Okiyi Kalu, stating that the Umuahia he knew about 10 years ago has been overtaken by infrastructural upgrade, while adding that the state is working and blessed with good leadership in the person of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu who has transformed the state.

Olowolabi who said he was also in the state for the 2018 annual general meeting of the Nigeria Institute of

“I am very impressed. What I have seen in the state in the last 2 years has really blown my mind”, he said, noting that the state “is lucky to be blessed with leadership that has transformed the state”.

The Ondo Information boss who said he has between 1999 and 2018 visited Abia more than 20 times as a journalist exist in Umuahia. Hospitality industry is now many in the

state and this is a typical transformation.

“Development has taken and the state has changed. In just few years, Ikpeazu has done a lot and this is truly God’s own state. commissioner for Information, chief John Okiyi Kalu said Abia state is serious about weaning itself from dependence on federation allocation, assuring that by 2022 Abia State should

not be depending on federal allocation.

He said that at the moment Abia State carries the largest wage bill in the South East and is working to widen its base to address this problem.

The Abia state Information boss disclosed that the state government is up to date in the payment of salaries of workers in the ministries and making plans to pay all outstanding to teachers and others owed

salaries by the end of this year.

He said that to get Abia right in terms of development, Aba, the commercial nerve centre of as the cash cow of the state, disclosing that the government has concentrated on roads that have socio-economic importance in Aba. According to him, the state is willing to widen engagement with other states irrespective of party leanings to bring more development to Abia.

Times Sports 18 Times Sports 18

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018 Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 27, 2018

TRACKDOWN

Performance status of Nigeria Professionals abroad

Nigerians to watch this weekend -

Chelsea have done really well to halve what was a 10-point lead

-

Tianjin Teda may have done really well to end -

-

Sports Bet Corner Safe Bet

Don’t stake on one ticket

Liverpool-Stoke City -- 1 Bayern Munchen-Eintracht Frankfurt--1 AS Roma-Chievo--1 Real Madrid-Leganes--1 Young Boys-Luzern--1

one point separates both

Benfica-CD Tondela--1 Monaco-Amiens--1 who seems to have an

Feyenoord-Sparta Rotterdam--1 Basel-Thun--1 Angers-Marseille--x2 Anderlecht-Charleroi--1

labria-based side set to host

Paris Saint Germain-Guingamp--1 over 3+ odds

THE BIG ODD

Don’t stake on one ticket

Swansea City-Chelsea--1 West Ham United--Man City--1x Werder Bremen-Dortmund--1 FC Vorskla-Dynamo Kyiv--1 Maritimo-Porto--1

Stake what you can afford to lose

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

19 Times Sports

NBBF signs sponsorship deal with Total

Commonwealth Games: Wrestlers commend Gov Dickson over rewards Welson Ebikewenimo, 2018 Commonwealth bronze medalist, and gold medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye, on Friday commended Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State for hosting and rewarding Team Nigeria Wrestlers in Yenegoa.

The wrestlers in separate interviews told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Ibadan that they appreciated the governor’s kind gesture.

Ebikewenimo, who won silver at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, said the hosting of the wrestlers by the governor was a motivation to them, hence the governor deserved some accolades.

He said the federation had been fantastic for over five years with outstanding performances at the World Championships, African Championships and other competitions preceding the Commonwealth Games.

The Bayelsa-born wrestler said Gov. Dickson had justified his place in history as a sports loving governor, most especially to the Nigeria Wrestling Federation.

“I’m proud to be associated with my governor, he recognised us after the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and now he has done same thing again.

“I think the governor deserves some accolades. Over 15 wrestlers are employed under the Bayelsa State Government.

“This alone tells the world that wrestling is part of the Niger Delta.

“Every week, most local government organise traditional wrestling and most of us take part in this historic event to keep fit and it’s supported by the governor himself,” Ebikewenimo said.

He also commended the relentless efforts of the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, for the immense support for wrestling team and his promise to make the country proud subsequently.

Two times Commonwealth Champion, Adekuoroye, said the act exhibited by Gov. Dickson showed him as a lover of wrestling.

“His Excellency Seriake Henry Dickson the Governor of Bayelsa State thank you sir, I am completely overwhelmed”.

“It really showed how much you love and care for sports people and youth in general, I greatly appreciate,” the Olympian said.

NAN reports that each gold medalist got N1.5 million, silver medalist got N1million, while the bronze medalist got N 700,000.

The wrestlers who failed to win a medal were not left out as they got N500, 000 naira, while the coaching crew got N1million each.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has signed a sponsorship deal with Total E&P Nigeria.

The signing ceremony took place on Thursday at the oil company’s head office in Lagos.

The two-year sponsorship deal is worth N60million with an option of extension.

Musa Kida, NBBF president, described the arrangement as the “biggest deal ever” and a “major breakthrough” for the domestic league.

Kida said: “This partnership with Total E&P Nigeria Limited is in fulfillment of one of my cardinal objectives as the president of the federation.

“One of my cardinal goals and objectives as president of NBBF is to take basketball to the grassroots so that our youths and other stakeholders of the game who have been neglected for so long would have the opportunity of competing effectively right in their backyards.

“The NBBF board has decided to formulate a new league format for the lower divisions to maximize the likely benefits thereof, as we work around the clock to deliver on our promise of securing a better life for players and officials who are the major actors in our quest to take basketball to its desired level.”

Kida also hailed Total for its proposed sponsorship of the lower basketball

leagues.

“This commitment which underscores the importance the company attaches to its corporate social responsibility is geared towards uplifting the Nigerian youths is an epoch event in the annals of Nigerian basketball because it is the first time the

federation is securing sponsorship for any of its lower leagues,” Kida said.

Nicholas Terraz, managing director, Total E&P Nigeria, said the partnership is the start of a journey that will benefit the NBBF and the company.

“Today, we take the bold step to

Sprinter blasts ‘wrong’ testosterone ruling Indian sprinter Dutee Chand said track and field’s new rules on women’s testosterone levels were “wrong” and offered legal help to Olympic champion Caster Semenya to help her fight back.

Chand, who won a court battle for her right to compete with a hormonal imbalance, said she was relieved to have avoided falling under the regulations, which only cover distances between 400m and one mile.

But she criticised this week’s International Association of Athletics Federations ruling, which has been interpreted as targeting Semenya, a middle-distance specialist.

“I am happy and relieved after four years of uncertainty but I feel for athletes like Semenya. I strongly believe the current rules are also wrong,” Chand told AFP by telephone from Hyderabad.

“I have offered Semenya my legal team if she needs. I have emailed her offering my support and help.”

South Africa’s Semenya has long attracted debate because of her powerful physique related to hyperandrogenism, the medical condition which causes women to produce high levels of male sex hormones.

The issue of hyperandrogenism is controversial because it pits principles of fair competition against the rights of women born with the condition.

The new rules say that women with high levels of naturally occurring testosterone can only compete if they take medication to reduce them.

The ruling covers events from 400m to the mile because the IAAF’s medical and science department says it has data showing an advantage for hyperandrogenous athletes over such distances.

But South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has blasted the new regulations as unjust and racist and urged the Pretoria government to challenge them in the Court of

sponsor Nigerian basketball,” he said.

“By so doing, we acknowledge that we are part of the make up of Nigeria where we have been for more than 60 years. We are only too aware that in Nigeria, sports simply means unity, friendship, solidarity and energy.” raring to make a mark.

“A medal in the Olympics is what I dream of. Also I missed participating in Commonwealth Games, so will target the 2022 edition in Birmingham.”

Arbitration for Sport.

Semenya, 27, is the reigning world and Olympic champion over 800m and won the 800-1,500m double at this month’s Commonwealth Games.

Chand, who competes in the 100m and 200m, took her case to the CAS after she was barred from the 2014 Commonwealth Games by the Athletics Federation of India over her hyperandrogenism.

Now cleared for competition, the 22-year-old is keen to make up for lost time at the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“I lost crucial years of my career when I could not focus on my training and initially (in 2014) lost six months which is a significant time in a sportsperson’s life,” said Chand.

“I missed three big competitions like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the junior World Athletics Championships when I was just 18 and

Ko, Oh among five sharing LPGA lead Former world No 1 Lydia Ko, seeking her first win since 2016, fired a fourunder par 68 on Thursday to head a group of five players sharing the first round lead in the LPGA Mediheal Championship.

On the same Lake Merced Golf Club course where she won in 2014 and 2015, New Zealand’s Ko carded an eagle and three birdies with just one bogey.

“Wind is probably the biggest factor on this golf course,” said Ko, who celebrated her 21st birthday on Tuesday.

“It’s a golf course where nobody goes super low, so you just have to keep continuing to play solid and be patient out there and sometimes par is not a bad score.”

Patience was at even more of a premium in the chilly, windy weather, with afternoon starters getting the worst of the gusts.

Four of the five leaders played in the morning wave – Ko, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall, South Korean Kim In-kyung and American Jessica Korda.

Australia’s Su Oh joined them late, and was the only player in the group without a bogey on the day.

England’s Charley Hull, South Korean Kim Sei-young, France’s Celine Herbin and American Lexi Thompson were a stroke back on 69.

“It was cold and pretty windy out there, and because it’s got a lot of elevation, it kind of swirls in the middle like in the low areas, so it was tough,” Oh said. “I hit the ball really solid today, and then the ones I missed I made really good up-anddowns. I’m really happy with my round.”

Oh, who missed the cut in five of her eight starts this season, said a switch to heavier shafts had worked out well.

“Hopefully it will keep working,” she

said.

For Ko, a return to Lake Merced is a return to a course that featured prominently in her precocious rise to stardom.

Her first win here in 2014 was her first as an LPGA Tour member.

The New Zealander has 14 LPGA titles, including two majors and has spent 104 weeks at No 1 on the world.

But she hasn’t lifted an LPGA trophy since the Marathon Classic in July 2016 and is now 18th in the world.

“I know this is a golf course where I’ve played well at,” she said. “The fans have been amazing, they’ve been super supportive every single time I’ve come here.

“I hit a lot of greens, so I’m giving myself many opportunities for birdies, and this is a golf course where you need to drive the ball well and putt well.”

20

TIMES SPORTS

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

ICPC inaugurates NFF’s ACTU unit, praises Federation The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) of the Nigeria Football Federation, commending the football body for its zeal in establishing the unit and ensuring its inauguration.

At a brief ceremony that took place inside the NFF Secretariat, the Acting Chairman of the ICPC, Dr. Musa Usman Abubakar explained that the ACTU “is one of the strategies being deployed by the ICPC to monitor corruption and engender full compliance with transparency and accountability policies

by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.” The speech was read on his behalf by a representative, Mr. Ota Okorie, an Assistant Commissioner.

The ICPC boss added that the NFF’s role in “organizing domestic and international football is crucial to the promotion of unity within the Nigerian Nation and the world at large” and that “the ICPC through the ACTU seeks to implement a three –dimensional approach towards entrenching ideals in the workplace; as derived from its mandates of Prohibition and Prevention of corruption as well as enlisting and enlightening public servants on and against the ills of corruption.”

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, who was represented by NFF 2nd Vice President/ LMC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the creation of the unit sits well with the present NFF administration’s vision and objectives of absolute transparency and accountability.

“When we came on board in 2014, one of the first moves we made was to ensure that our book –keeping processes were better done than in the past, and we appointed world –renowned firm, PWC as our auditors. Our last audited account was certified good and even FIFA has commended our efforts in straightening processes and ensuring accountability.

“That was why we made all the effort to birth the ACTU in NFF. We all know that prevention is cure. If anyone’s going wrong in any process, the ACTU will be there to put him or her right. We see this as another milestone for our administration. Right processes are key for investor –confidence.”

While observing that a corrupt –free society is the goal of all good people, Dikko assured that the Federation would give ACTU all the support necessary to succeed in its work.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, also pledged that the Federation would fully support and cooperate with the ACTU. The NFF’s ACTU chairman, Barrister Okey Obi, thanked the Federation for finding the members worthy in character and in person to serve in such capacity, pledging that the unit would serve the purpose and end for which it has been put in place.

Other members are Miss Ruth David, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, Mr. Wale Adeyinka, Mr. Rajan Zaka and Alhaji Magaji Abdullahi. Mr. Ayo Olu-Ibidapo is the secretary.

With Okorie from the ICPC office to perform the inauguration were Alhassan Abubakar (Assistant Chief Superintendent), Adogo Alonyenu (Corruption, Monitoring and Evaluation Department), Adebimpe Abodunrin (CMED), Joseph Odu (Chief AntiCorruption Assistant), Jimoh Kamaldeen (CMED) and Joy Erusiafe (CMED).

Coach Bitrus Bewarang (NFF’s Technical Director), Mohammed Cheku Salihu (Director of Finance), Bola Oyeyode (Director of Competitions), Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications), Yusuf Tegina (Deputy Director, Audit) and Karim Bako (Assistant Director, Finance) were also there.

Bellew vs Haye 2: Tyson Fury willing to give the winner a Tyson Fury has opened the door to fighting Tony Bellew or David Haye as his comeback draws closer.

The former world heavyweight champion has

not fought in two-and-a-half years but will keep an eye on rivals Bellew and Haye, who settle their grudge live on Sky Sports Box Office on May 5.

“Listen, if the opportunity arises for those guys to take a beating from me, I’m sure we can sort it out. It should be quite simple,” Fury told Sky Sports News.

Nadal eases into Barca quarters,

Pogba says he is ‘judged differently’

Dimitrov edges Jaziri World No 1 Rafael Nadal eased into the Barcelona Open quarterfinals after dispatching compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-1 6-3 and winning a record-extending 40th consecutive set on clay.

The top seed, who has won the tournament 10 times, will meet Slovak Martin Klizan, who had dumped Novak Djokovic out in the second round, on Friday after powering past Garcia-Lopez in a quick-fire first set.

He raced into a 4-1 lead in the second but was slowed down when he surrendered his serve, although he soon broke back to finish off his opponent.

“When I was 4-1 a set up I lost a little intensity but in general I played well,” Nadal told a news conference.

“I felt good from the start, playing with more intensity than yesterday and playing with more ease and comfort in every sense.”

Second seed Grigor Dimitrov survived an almighty scare against outsider Malek Jaziri to edge into the last eight, beating the Tunisian 7-5 3-6 7-6(8) following a nail-biting tiebreak.

Jaziri, ranked 88th in the world, hit back after surrendering the first set to comfortably take the second and he looked poised to cause the latest high-profile exit in Barcelona after Djokovic’s defeat and Kei Nishikori’s withdrawal through injury when he went 4-2 up against the second seed in the third.

Bulgarian Dimitrov came back to level at 5-5 but was under pressure in the 12th game, before holding on to force the tiebreak.

He finally ended Jaziri’s resistance on his fourth match point when the Tunisian found the net to end a match lasting two hours 49 minutes.

Dimitrov will meet Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, who beat Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-2 4-6 7-6 (8-6) in an another thrilling three-setter that had fans on the Rafael Nadal court watching the world No 1 turning their heads towards the action unfolding on the adjacent Court One. Carreno Busta is ranked 11th in the world to Mannarino’s 27th but after blitzing the first set he succumbed in the second

and survived match

a

point to take a delicately-poised tiebreak.

Klizan beat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-1 6-4 to set up his meeting with Nadal while last year’s runner-up Dominic Thiem also made the last eight, beating Jozef Kovalik of Slovakia 7-6 6-2.

Thiem will meet Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, who knocked out Spaniard Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-4 7-5.

Belgian David Goffin beat Russian Karen Khachanov 6-2 7-6(2) 6-0 to set up a clash with Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, who beat compatriot Pablo Andujar 6-4 6-1.

Jose Mourinho: Not my decision to sell

Mo Salah

Jose Mourinho says it was not his decision to sell Egypt forward Mohamed Salah when he was Chelsea manager.

Salah, 25, left Stamford Bridge for Roma in 2016 and has scored 43 goals in all competitions for Liverpool since joining the club last summer.

Mourinho, now manager of Manchester United, says the Blues opted to cash in on the player to fund other signings.

“People say that I was the one that sold Salah and it is the opposite,” said the Portuguese.

“I was the one that bought Salah. I was the one that told Chelsea to buy Salah,” Mourinho told ESPN. “But he came as a young kid, physically he was not ready, mentally he was not ready, socially and culturally he was lost and everything was tough for him.

“Chelsea decided to sell him, OK? So the decision to send him on loan was a decision we made collectively, but after that, the decision to sell him and to use that money to buy another player wasn’t mine.”

Salah joined Chelsea under Mourinho in 2014 but was loaned to Fiorentina and then to Roma before making a permanent move to the Italian side for around £15m.

On his return to the Premier League with Liverpool, Salah has scored 31 goals in 33 matches and won the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Player of the Year award.

However, Mourinho says his form this season will have surprised even the player himself.

“He is a great player that has reached the peak of maturity,” he added. “He has already lived several other experiences and now has fitted perfectly into the style of play of the team, of the coach and of the club as well.”

Paul Pogba says he is “judged differently” from other Premier League midfielders after a frustrating season that has seen him dropped by Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on several occasions.

The Frenchman was widely criticised for a lacklustre display in this month’s 1-0 home loss to West Bromwich Albion that handed the title to Manchester City -- the latest in a long line of disappointing efforts from the former Juventus star since his move to United two years ago.

There was even talk that Mourinho had told United to put Pogba up for sale, just days after City manager Pep Guardiola said he had been offered the chance to sign the midfielder by his agent in January.

But the 25-year-old has produced some improved displays in recent weeks, including a man-of-the-match performance in the comeback win at Manchester City and is looking for more of the same when Arsenal visit on Sunday.

“It’s quite funny because we don’t judge me on the midfield part,” Pogba, who joined the club for a then world record fee of £89 million, told Sky Sports.

“We judge me on assists and goals and that’s the truth. I can make an outstanding game, but if I don’t score or make an assist they will say, ‘that is normal’, or whatever.

“But if someone else does it, it is different. They will maybe be man of the match. I think I’m judged differently, but it’s good.”

The France international, who has scored five goals and made 10 assists in the Premier League this season, said he saw the criticism as a challenge and it helped him improve.

“I don’t take it in a bad way,” he said. “I’ll try to score and make assists and that’s it. I still want to do my job in midfield.

“If I can help the team in attack and defence and make a difference I will do it.

If I can score and assist it is even better.”

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

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Wike canvasses separate minimum wages for states based on financial strength

By Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt national minimum wage Governor Nyesom for Nigerian workers for the Wike of Rivers State, has stated that Nigerian workers would be Friday, Governor Wike said that states varied in

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CORRECTION OF NAME

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LOSS OF DOCUMENT

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among the 36 States of the federation, adding that it

He noted that majority of the States were within

“It is our view that the He said: “And for us therefore, the single

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equation between the Federal Government and

minimum wages in line a uniform minimum wage

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national minimum wage system is yet, another lie that betrays the distortions in our federation and the

WINDING UP! WINDING UP!! WINDING UP!!!

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT (CAP. C20) LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA, 2004 NOTICE OF FINAL MEETING OF MEMBERS OF TIP TOP DELTA VENTURES LIMITED (RC 1053213) [PURSUANT TO SECTION 478, 481 (E) CAMA AND UNDER THE WINDING UP PROCEEDING RULES] NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A FINAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERS OF TIP TOP DELTA VENTURES LIMITED WILL BE HELD AT 43A, AFRIBANK STREET, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS ON THE 30TH DAY OF MAY 2018 AT 10AM. AGENDA À 24'5'06#6+10 1( %105+&'4#6+10 1( 6*' .+37+&#614Â5 4'2146 À 24'5'06#6+10 #0& %105+&'4#6+10 1( 6*' %1/2#0;Â5 (+0#.

ACCOUNTS. À &+551.76+10 1( 6*' %1/2#0; À #1$ DATED THIS 25TH DAY OF APRIL 2018 SIGNED: KEHINDE DAODU ESQ LIQUIDATOR

their their own minimum wages

salary

obligations

bailouts from the Federal

States may go beyond the Rivers State, we value our workers; we invest in their The governor said that and we want them to earn them and their families as

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News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Group threatens to recall Senator Uroghide for supporting impeachment motion

By Titus Akhigbe, Benin A group under the aegis of Edo South Youth Coalition, on Friday, threatened to begin a process of recalling Senator daring to move a motion calling for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari if he fails to apologize to him and retracts his earlier statement within 48 hours.

The group in a communique issued and signed by its leader, Hon. Ehis Odiase and made available to newsmen in Benin City, said having reviewed the circumstance resulting in the motion for impeachment Uroghide against President Muhammadu Buhari, they have come to understand that he did not consult the Edo people whom he

claimed to represent nor did he seek the opinions of other senators from Edo State in the Red Chamber before his impeachment motion.

Odiase said following his action, they have no option but constrained to note that the move by Senator Uroghide is self-seeking and which are not in tandem with the wish of Edo people in the South Senatorial Zone.

He said for the avoidance of doubt, he should take a cue from Senator Ehigie Uzamere who performed excellently and was on the same page with his people.

He said it is lamentable to note that Uroghide did not take any action when the who was nominated to head Nigeria Energy Regulatory Commission, NERC was stalled.

He reiterated that Edo people are in support of the

and will certainly be ashamed of the action of

Mr. President as corruption is the bane of Nigeria’s development, consequently, any action to the contrary is anti-democratic.

He said Edo people are respectable people with high regard for the elderly adding that the senator’s

The leader of the group further advised that he should focus on delivering projects and serving his people whom he has neglected for so long.

In his reaction, Senator

the culture of respect for the aged which our people are known for and therefore is condemnable.

He said Edo State is known to have produced respectable Senators of repute including but not limited to Senator Prof. Osarieme Osunbor, Obende Domingo, Owie, Isah Braimoh, and others who have made tremendous contributions in their time and held up the emblem of democracy at the senate

a telephone interview, berated those calling for his recall for moving a motion that President Muhammadu Buhari should be impeached noting that they are ignorant of the law and workings of the National Assembly.

However, the Edo State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, led

by Chief Dan Orbih has commended Senator Uroghide for his bold step at the national assembly.

According to him: “Edo

PDP has been watching with keen interest the goingson in the nation especially the state of insecurity and the illegal withdrawal and spending of state resources without following due and constitutionally prescribed process.

“We hereby state that we support the current National Assembly to stem this ugly tide. No nation can survive under the weight of executive tyranny, hence we call on all Nigerians to come out and voice their support for members of the National Assembly who recently are been harassed, intimidated and persecuted for daring to speak.

“The legislature all over the world is the key component of democratic practice. No nation can survive under the weight of executive dictatorship as we are experiencing under the Buhari presidency. Any constitutional role will spell doom for our democracy.

“We commend Distinguished Senator Chairman Public Accounts representation of Edo South Senatorial district and our party, Peoples Democratic incisive, quality and patriotic contributions in the senate at this hour of our democratic trials.

“We call on all members of the National Assembly

Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson (seventh left); Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (sixth left) and other contingents, during a reception organise by the Governor in honour of wrestlers who won laurels at the just concluded Commonwealth Games and others at the Government House, Yenagoa

repositioning our democratic values where the Three Arms of Government are allowed to play their role in the overall interest of the nation.

Edo PDP stand with the National Assembly and the Nigerian People”,

Enugu LG boss presents N891.6m budget estimate ByMoses Oyediran, Enugu

the

The Chairman, Enugu South Local Council Hon. Sunday Ugwu, has presented the council’s 2018 budget proposal of N891, 608,007 to members of the Council’s Legislative.

Ugwu, in the proposal earmarked N129,354,000 for capital expenditure in the council while the the recurent estimate stood at N762, 253,007.

In his presentation, the Chairman, who tagged the budget: “Budget of Consolidation”; noted that his administration in line with the vision and mission of the governor, Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the budget would target at achieving an overall consolidation of the local government projects to enhance the living standard of the people.

Hon. Ugwu said

implemented based on the division of labour that exists in the council. “I personally will monitor the projects”, he assured.

According to the chairman, the local government would

budget

would

be

the federation account allocation and internally generated revenue. Ugwu said the uncertainty and unpredictability of the former has raised a compelling need for the towards the enhancement of This scenario has compelled his administartion to embark on an aggressive maximization of internally generated revenue to ensure that the 2018 budget target is achieved. “I therefore solicit the co-operation of all and sundry toward the

realisation of this budget.

We will puursue this objective with candour and integrity”.

Highlight of the budget include the realisation of human capital development, sustainable infrastructural development both in the rural and urban areas of the council; improved health care services to the citizens; to sustain educational services through the provision of instructional facilities and excellent learning environment and massive realisation of food security programme of the state government.

He urged the councillors to give the budget urgent consideration and approval in line with the promise to serve the people of Enugu South local government area.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the Council’s

Legislative, Mr. Arinze Nnaukwu, commended the Chairman’s dedication to the progress of the council.

According to him, the proposed budget was meant to bring about positive change to the council, while also impacting on the lives of the people.

He said the House would do the needful to ensure that the proposed appropriation was put into consideration and approved speedily, so that the needs of the people would be met at the appointed time.

Hon. Obinna Okenwa, member representing Enugu South Urban constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly said he was highly elated by the chairman’s administrative acumen which has changed the economic fortunes of the council within a short period of time.

He said the state

assembly had already put a mechanism in place to monitor the implementation of budgets of various local government areas.

In his reaction, Raymond Nnaji, supervisor for health in the council said the implementation of the in view of the fact that it “the budget is not a bogus one” “The chairman maintains an open door policy and always transparent in the administration of the council. He has been very supportive in carrying out health care services like in the ongoing polio vaccination in the council.

I believe the budget can be implemented without much ado”.

All the 13 councillors were present including members of the executive, members of the house of the assembly present at the presentation.

But for providence and professional competence of the Edo state Police Commissioner, Johnson Kokumo, the Senator representing Edo South, Mathew Uroghide, would have been lynched by angry youths, who wanted to teach him a lesson for moving a motion for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Senate on Thursday.

As at 3pm, Friday, the with the supporters of the ruling APC and the PDP.As soon as Senator Uroghide, a PDP senator arrived via Arik Air, hell was let loose, as persons suspected to be thugs descended on him for daring to move the motion for the impeachment of Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

Rainfall blows-off 200 houses’ roofs in Delta Community

By Owen Akenzua, Asaba

No fewer than 200 houses, roofs were on Thursday night blownNorth Local Government Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the rainfall which wreaked serious destruction of properties apart from it being accompanied by heavy windfall, also swept away crops in their community’s farm lands.

Investigation revealed that many of the rainfall victims had been rendered homeless and had appealed to the state government to come to their aid.

The President-General Okpe Isoko Community, Mr. Alor Okpelogbo, who spoke to our reporter “The rainstorm destroyed our school buildings, churches, and over 200 houses, roofs no houses to sleep for now, we appeal to the state government to come to our aid”.

Further investigation revealed that electricity poles, cables including shops also destroyed by the heavy rainfall which lasted for several hours.

But Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Tim Owhefere in a swift reaction told our reporter “The rainfall was indeed hurricane like, indigenes have been divested in the unexpected natural disaster, many houses were destroyed” and urged the victims to be calm as government would not abandon them, adding that a similar rainstorm hit Emevor Community though not as bad as that of Okpe Isoko Community.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

23 News

Police recover 263 kidnapped, missing children in Delta

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba The Delta Police Command says it has in the last one year recovered no fewer than 263 kidnapped/missing children in the state bush paths.

The state had in the last few years been enveloped in the hue and cry of missing children, and increasing kidnapping spree.

But DSP Andrew Aniamaka, Police Image Maker in the state who spoke to our reporter in the recovered children were found in Warri, Ughelli, Ozoro, Asaba, Ibusa, Okpanam and its environs, disclosing that were complimented in collaborative measures o with other security agencies

in the state.

According

to

him;

to GRA Police Station, Asaba found and brought a missing 13-year old girl and upon interrogation, the girl said she hails from Gboko Community in Benue State, and that she was in primary 5”.

DSP Aniamaka explained that some of the lucky missing children were discovered inside the forest in Ibusa, Asaba, Okpanam and its environs, adding that the 263 children were allegedly kidnapped by money ritualists, and at the verge of them carrying out their evil act, the police detectives and Antikidnapping Squad acting on them in their various hideout.

DSP Aniamaka told our reporter: “The 263 missing children recovered in one of the Police Detectives and Anti-kidnapping Squad, Civil Defense Corps, Vigilante Corps in Warri, Okwe, Ibusa, Okpanam, others” disclosing that the children had since been reunited with their parents.

It was gathered that most of the missing children were either stolen or kidnapped, under the nose and watching eyes of their parents after they were allegedly charmed by the unsuspecting kidnappers and money ritualists.

Speaking further, DSP Aniamaka said; “We recovered 63 in two weeks at Ibusa a bush path in a small built house, and the suspects were arrested, and had since been charged to

court, some of the children were found with charms on their necks, and upon interrogation with the suspects, they confessed to be money ritualists”.

Meanwhile, the police in Asaba have arrested four armed robbery suspects who had been responsible for various robbery incidences.

DSP Andrew Aniamaka Police Image Maker in the arrest of the suspects, said the suspects upon interrogation confessed to have raided 125 houses in Asaba and its environs, adding that the police recovered from them 26 television sets, 16 locally made guns, and jewelries, handsets and N600, 000.00 cash.

It was learnt that nemesis caught with the armed robbers while they had gone to rob a Lawyer Barrister

Kelvin Osibi, around Koka police patrol team at the ‘A’ Division Police Station acting on a distresses calls, swooped on them, and they were arrested.

Also, a middle-aged man was on Thursday night arrested in Asaba by the police at the ‘A’ Division Police for allegedly stealing motorcycle in Oko Community, near the ‘A’ Division who did not want their names in the print told our reporter “We arrested the man with the motorcycle without plate numbers, and we interrogated, he confessed to have stolen it because of hunger” disclosing that he is currently being detained for further investigation.

A parent Mrs. Chukwudi

Rosemary who spoke to our reporter said “my ten years old baby girl was missing for six months, we searched for her everywhere in Ibusa community to no avail, she was sent to buys us pure water when the kidnappers toke her away but the God we serve brought her back when the police called us that she was seen in Effrurn inside a bush where the suspects were arrested, it is almost a common practice in Delta for frequent missing children”.

In another development, residents of “Area 74” Asaba have raised the alarm over the frequent attack on them by armed robbers. Spokesperson for the residents, Mrs. Helen Okereke told our reporter “We have never had it so good in the past six months in Area 74, Asaba, robbers”.

NUJ appoints Gov Sani Bello patron

By Saka Bolaji, Minna Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has been appointed the patron of members of the Nigeria North Central Zone The Vice President of the zone, Chief Wilson Bako stated this in a statement issued yesterday in Minna, adding that the

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, Leader of the National Assembly Joint Committee on the Petroleum Industry Bill, (PIB), Senator Bashir Marafah, members of the Committee; Senators Biodun Olujimi, and Foster Ogola, during a courtesy call by the Legislators to Government House, Yenagoa.

after careful screening of his achievements.

He stated that the governor won the admiration of members of the union because of the overall infrastructural development including the completion and digitalization of the state

owned Television and Radio stations.

While commending the governor for emerging as the patron of the union in the zone, the Vice President said that Governor Sanidecorated at May 1st 2018 at a colourful ceremony at government house Minna.

He said, “as part of the ceremony, delegates are expected to visit some of the Governor’s key projects especially the digitalized state Television and Radio stations that were modernized by the administration” He said that Chairmen and Secretaries of the seven states including FCT that made up the zone are event.

Over 80 percent of Nigerian children suffer from violence – UNICEF

By Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

UNICEF activities from

The United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has said over 60 percent of children

said child violence ranges from Physical, Emotional, Mental and Sexual abuse.

Speaking on Friday

from violence, says a Child Protection Specialist of UNICEF, Miss Lady Alabi.

Alabi who coordinates

capital, on the activity tagged School Based Campaign To End Violence Children, Ladi Alabi, reading from the

Survey said before the age of 18 years, approximately 6 out every 10 children experience some form of violence.

According to her, the Survey stipulates that “one out of two children experience physical violence, one out of four girls and one out of 10 boys experience sexual violence, plus one out of

six girls and one in every emotional violence”.

Reading further, also explains that the majority, approximately 80percent of children who experience physical, sexual or emotional violence in childhood do so on multiple occasions.

“Children often

experience more than one type of violence either at points in childhood.

“Of those children who experience violence, children between the physical violence, and approximately one in 10 physical violence under

“A

third

of

girls

incident of sexual violence between 14 and 15 and almost a third of boys experienced their incident of sexual violence at 13 years and below, while 26 percent of girls and 10 percent of boys reported intercourse was forced”, the survey informed.

News 24 Ozubulu massacre trials: Plot to stop media coverage under way

By Moses Oyediran, Enugu The trial of suspected masterminds of the August 6, 2017 massacre at St Phillip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Anambra State will continue on Friday, May 4, 2018 at the state High Court,Awka.

The venue was shifted to Awka from Nnewi High Court following an alleged high tension at Nnewi.

The presiding Judge, Justice F.I. Aniukwu, adjourned the continuation of hearing after prosecution witness narrated how his wife was murdered in South Africa by unknown persons.

He told the court that as at May 2016, Ozubulu had lost six prominent indigenes in South Africa while Gozila and Afam who are currently in prison claimed that they were responsible for the killings.

“Within a short time, one man Obinna Obijeme who gave witness against Chinedu Akpunonu at Igwe’s palace in Ozubulu during a peace meeting, was shot dead in South Africa.

When we heard this we called meeting and invited Chinedu Akpunonu, Aloysius Ikegwuonu and 20 others. After the burial of my wife another Ozubulu prominent son, Nnoso Ikedinobi was murdered, another person Udoamaka was also murdered and by May 2016 Ozubulu people lost six persons in South Africa and Afam and Dozila claimed responsibility”, he claimed.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Jay Jay Ezeuko, SAN, Onyeka told the court that the suspects, who claimed responsibility for the killing of many Ozubulu indigenes in South Africa, had already demanded the sum of $1 million from Ozubulu people in South Africa for them to stop further killings.

According to him, the two persons, Gozila and Afam, currently serving prison terms in South Africa and who claimed responsibility for the Ozubulu church massacre, demanded the amount as part of their conditions to stop further killings.

But during cross examination

by Festus Keyamo, SAN, counsel to Akpunonu, the witness Nigeria and South Africa had convicted Akpunonu for murder, just as he said he had never agencies on the alleged murder cases he accused Akpunonu of.

He also denied that the Ozubulu development union ever entertained any murder case.

Meanwhile, there are plans to stop the press from covering the court proceedings. According to an impeccable source, the prosecution counsel and Ikegwuonu had concluded plans to approach the Directorate of Security Service, DSS, to obstruct the press from further coverage of the court proceedings.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 27, 2018

Man in police net for sodomy in Lagos

By Joy Anyim The Lagos State Police Command on Friday said one Musa Mohammed, 22 years old have been arrested for having unlawful canal knowledge of a 12-year-old boy through the anus.

The victim identified as Sodiq Abdullahi was defiled at Katangowa market OkeOdo area of Lagos on April 27, 2018 at about 12:00 midnight.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal who disclosed this during a press briefing at the Lagos State Police Command

Headquarters in Ikeja said: “Mohammed was arrested while the other who is a minor is currently under shelter.

“Preliminary investigation into the case was conducted at Oke-Odo Division, however, the Gender Section of the Command has called up the case for further investigation. “ The Commissioner of Police also paraded one Pastor Adeniyi Joshua of El-Supreme Church at No. 3, Oseni Adekogbe Street, Igbogbo Ikorodu.

The suspect was alleged to have been running a fake WAEC centre at El-Supreme

Private School located on same address.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested following a complaint by a Senior Staff of WAEC office Ogba, that there existed a fake WAEC centre at the address which led operatives of the Command attached to Area ‘G’ Ogba to swoop into action.

The suspect who had been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public especially parents and guardians with a false hope of success in the WAEC exams 2018 at about 2pm.

Recovered from the suspect were WAEC question papers

and answer sheets suspected to be forged.

On firearms mop up in the state, Edgal said, “In compliance with the Inspector-General of Police directive that, illegal firearms should be mopped-up, the Command has recovered nine Pump-Action rifles, two AK-47 rifles, six locally made pistols; and Five locally made singled Barrel Pistol.

Similarly, the command had engaged in the raid of the Creeks of Itowolo, Majidun and Ajegunle areas where operatives of Anti-Kdnapping Squad of Command assisted by operatives of FSARS Ipakodo, arrested 26 suspected

cultists and Kidnappers.

Edgal said: “ Two bags of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp were recovered from a make shift structure at the Creek of Ajegunle. The owner of the structure and the weeds was not arrested because he was not seen. In a similar vein, at Itowolo Creek close to the waters, a man with a gun in his hand sighted us and ran.

He was pursued and dropped the gun and jumped into the waters. One double barrel gun was recovered. Meanwhile, effort is on to arrest him.”

The State police boss stated that the suspects would be charged to court when investigations are completed.

Residents of Bauchi, capital of Bauchi state, troop out to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari on a two - day visit to the state...on Thursday

World Day for Safety, Health at Work: Safety, major component of our work place reforms – Obaseki Governor Godwin Obaseki, of Edo State, has said that the ongoing reforms in the state’s critical institutions place high premium on workers’ safety.

According to Obaseki, “Safety is a critical component of our overall work design and execution and it is a major point of reference by our local and international partners in project the safety campaign because it is essentially about the life of a worker.”

The governor stated this on the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, celebrated on April 28 each year, by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to promote safe, healthy and decent work.

According to the United Nations, “A national occupational safety and health culture is one in which the right to a safe and healthy

working environment is respected at all levels.”

The global body notes that such culture includes “where governments, employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, and where the highest priority is accorded to the principle of prevention.”

Obaseki explained that the state government’s multi-sector reforms have commenced with institutional framework being strengthened to ensure safety rules are adhered to at construction and other project sites.

“We are committed to a bouquet of robust health and safety rules as well as the regular retraining of safety and health officers that monitor and supervise jobs to ensure that laid down safety

rules are not compromised at the work place. We will blacklist contractors that fail to adhere to safety rules.”

Other aspects of the reforms according to the governor

practices and carry out the needed reforms,” he added.

The governor challenged employers of labour with obnoxious practices that render the work place a killing

by credible international safety and health organisations, to sustain the tempo and raise the safety bar from time to time, in line with global best practice.”

Obaseki lauded the wisdom of the ILO in the choice of this year’s theme: “Occupational Safety Health (OSH) Vulnerability of Young Workers” and the agency’s decision to combine the celebration of the World Day Against Child Labour with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

“By bringing the growing exploitation of children and young workers under the global spot light, all stakeholders will interrogate labour laws, policies and

workers alike, to put the right structures in place to guarantee workers’ safety.

“In some work places, there are no safety rules and where some rules exist, they are observed in breach.

Workers’ protection against hazard is under-estimated and incidents and accidents are rampant. My administration will not tolerate such inhuman practices and we will stop any job that exposes workers to any danger,” he said.

He assured that the state government frowns at child labour and has commenced the deployment of education marshalls to ensure children of school age are in school and not hawking or loitering.

He further said that “Our Child Right Act and policy are legal bulwarks for children in Edo State and we are their provisions.”

The UN notes that the joint campaign to improving the safety and health of young workers and end child labour, “aims to accelerate action to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 8.8 of safe and secure working environments for all workers by 2030 and SDG target 8.7 of ending all forms

which includes 37 million children in hazardous child labour - account for more labour force and suffer up to a 40 per cent higher rate of nonfatal occupational injuries than adult workers older than

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

25

Public Discourse Their desperation, our despair: Charting a path to 2019

By Jaye Gaskia The recent trends in the polity are once again assuming alarming and potentially catastrophic proportions as it is usual with Nigeria’s congenitally inept ruling class, across all its fractions and factions, once a general election is approaching and on the horizon.

If it is true that the ruling class is greedy,

and

exceptionally

characteristics of our rulers as they throw even the meagre caution in their possession into the winds.

‘

magisterially to the fore as they jostle for power without the slightest consideration on their part of the impact of these ‘free for death, zero sum

,

engaged in on the rest of us.

disunity and fan the embers of chaos, they continue to perpetrate and perpetuate a maddening race one of whose potential outcome is a ‘Mutually Assured Destruction’.

So instead of defending their

light

approach of general elections always

Their greed and

to orchestrate steps and actions, and make reckless statements that are all combining to endanger our societal cohesion, national stability and security, and our collective wellbeing.

magisterially to the fore as they jostle for power without the slightest consideration on their part of the

engaged in on the rest of us.

It is as if at the approach of every general election, the ruling political elites collectively become submerged which to paraphrase the legendary words of the immortal Fela Kuti in his evergreen song Beast Of No Nation [BONN], maybe stated as ‘This general elections will bring out the beast in us’.

In BONN Fela was making allusion to the anti-apartheid struggle of the 1980s, and to the determination of the apartheid ruling class to crush the uprising of the masses, hence the ‘This uprising will bring out the beast in us’.

How ironic that this statement true with respect to one ruling class in faraway South Africa decades ago, is also true in an adapted form with respect to our own ruling class several decades later, and has come to characterise electoral contestations in Nigeria’s 4th Republic.

The Convener and Godfather of the Third Force movements and the Coalition [of the panic stricken self-serving discredited ruling elite] For Nigeria, and the man variously referred to by elements of this same ruling class as the ‘Father’ of their Nation, Former President Obasanjo once put this succinctly when he said the general election is a ‘Do or Die So, in recent times the very irresponsible ruling class have begun

shadows and see enemies lurking in every corner. Rather than propose alternative programs that can take us out of the deepening quicksand of stagnation and retrogression, they have become adept at raising false alarms and crying wolf.

Neither the incumbents, nor the opposition and there would be opponents and successors are talking about our wellbeing, our collective security; about the development strategies and the economic programs that are either being undertaken, or that will be undertaken to address our national challenges.

Nevertheless, one thing is certain, they are desperate, and they are in a panic. These desperation and panic

During this period, the closer we get to the 2019 general elections and beginning with Ekiti and Osun later this year, the more they will seek to heat up the polity so that we can be distracted from scrutinising the failure of what can pass for their governance agenda; or alternatively so we can be distracted from scrutinising the emptiness of the electoral promises that they are making as they seek to challenge and unseat incumbents.

And in all of these, they exploit our fascination with sensationalism, our hustling induced hastiness that does not encourage us to ask questions.

So they regale us with tales of how their lives are being threatened; they present to us on national live television a self-orchestrated descent into chaos at the National Assembly; and they throw about accusations and counter accusations about responsibility for insecurity and armed criminal activities across the country among others.

As for real content, they claim to have invested N1.5trillion in social investments, when in total not up to N500bn has actually been released, and

no one has given an audited, including programs.

And although they continue to insist even though there is contradictory evidence that Boko Haram has been degraded and technically defeated, nevertheless, in its place has emerged a more robust, more mobile, and more extensive clear and present danger in the armed and marauding herdsmen.

As for the mainstream opposition and the Third Forcers, those who seek to replace them, other than condemnations, lamentations, and alarmist accusations, we are yet to see Among these lot, as well as among those that can be described as ‘’óutsiders’’ the majority of what is coming out have been promises that seem to be made up along the way depending on the audience and the questions asked.

Very few strategic programs of action, that show that these have thinking have been unveiled. Many are going around promising heaven on earth; purporting that will create tens of millions of jobs; pay a pre-determined amount without consultation, without any indication of the understanding of the dimensions, as minimum wage; complete 250km multilane expressways in one month; etc.

On the contrary we have developed and released for public consumption and engagement a comprehensive Program and election manifesto, along with a subsequent document on our proposed Governance Agenda.

It is important that we note and understand that our despair is desperation; our Pain in their panic; and that it is our incumbent duty to shorn sensationalism, to suppress our impatience and hastiness, and to be determined to engage in a deeply

while also ensuring that we develop the ability and capacity to patiently scrutinise the programs and promises being made by candidates and parties/political formations, along with a scrutiny of the capacity of the candidates to understand our challenges, understand the solutions, and implement their proposed programs.

Gaskia is a social development strategist

activist,

26

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Features

Soothing the soot hoot

CLOs on soot protest

By Memoye Oghu, Port Harcourt Like the Lassa fever which claimed over 200 lives across the country last year and has refused to go; so also has soot droppings in the atmosphere continued to haunt the people of Rivers state.

Soot, those black powdery or dust-like particles, byproducts of hydrocarbons combustions has become part and parcel of the numerous deadly environmental hazards besetting the state, particularly Port Harcourt, the state capital and environs. And like jigger sand flea or parasites, it has finally eaten residents and visitors alike to consciousness, waking them up from their slumber to the realization of the dangers of the soot.

Although, the state government has initiated several steps and measures to combat the problem, it has refused to abate, forcing the government to threaten legal actions against the federal government for insensitivity and criminal neglect of the people’s lives and safety.

The state governor, Nyesom Wike issued the threat penultimate Monday while inaugurating the board of the recently established Rivers state Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency in Port Harcourt, pointing out that the state government has done all that it is supposed to do, including advocacy and enlightenment campaigns with no action from the federal government.

“I hear that people want to demonstrate that there is soot in the state. Help us demonstrate against the federal government and we will all be happy. This is because we have no control over the sources of the soot. Do I shut down the refineries? Will they not say that it is economic sabotage? Do I even have the security? Do I control the Police or the Army to go and stop production at the refineries”, Wike asked, stressing that the state government cannot stop the Nigerian Navy from destroying illegal refineries in ways that release dangerous substances to pollute the environment and that all entreaties to the security agencies have so far fallen on deaf ears.

An accusation he repeated next day when a team of Environmentalists from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

and the Federal Ministry of Environment paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt, where he threatened to take legal actions against the federal government for planning to systematically eliminate Rivers people through these dangerous particles known as soot.

“I have asked the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to initiate legal proceedings against the federal government for this neglect.” The team was in the state to assess the negative effect of the soot to the environment and residents.

The Environmentalists had earlier visited the state Environment Commissioner, Prof Roseline Konya, where the UNEP Representative in Nigeria, Ravij Anko told the commissioner that the team was in the state on a “scooping mission” to assess the impact of the soot on the environment and how harmful it is to those who reside in the state.

“We are here to look into the soot problem in Port Harcourt and other parts of the state that has been reoccurring for some years now. It is a very serious issue that has been bothering residents for a couple of years now and they want this problem to be resolved as quickly as possible,” Mr. Anko told the commissioner, adding that the team would at the end of its fact finding mission prepare a report on what they have seen and also make recommendations that will be segmented into immediate, long term and broader programmes of actions aimed at providing a final solution to the soot that has already enveloped the atmosphere.

Prof Konya, in her response expressed optimism at the presence of the team and said: “The Ministry of Environment wrote to them, inviting them to come. I am full with high optimism. This is not a team that will visit the state and not do anything about it.”

Two days after, the state Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo warned against politicization of environment matters to the detriment of the people, accusing the federal government of joking with the lives and safety of Rivers people because the control of the soot falls squarely on the purview of the federal government.

The deputy governor issued the warning last

Thursday while addressing members of ‘Stop the Soot’ campaign organized by Civil Liberty Organizations (CLOs) who stormed the Government House in protest against the soot.

She lamented that the federal government has done nothing to ameliorate the gas flared by refineries and other International Oil Corporations (IOCs) in the state and how security agencies employ unconventional methods in dislodging bunkering activities in the state.

“We want to assure you that the agencies that are flaring these obnoxious fumes are under the control of the federal government of Nigeria. The federal government owns the refineries that have been flaring gasses; the federal government owns the security agencies that have been using uncivilized methods to detonate bunkering and such activities,” she stated and assured the protesters that the state government is ready to partner with the federal government in ensuring a cleaner environment.

She however pleaded with Rivers people to prevail on youths to desist from illegal bunkering activities as it contributes to the pollution of the environment. “Please also advise our people in the creeks, our young stars not to involve themselves in illegal bunkering and not to add to the pollution of the air through things that they call ‘kpom fire’ because it is dangerous, not only to their health but the health of people around them,” she advised.

Protesters against the soot, under the umbrella of Stop the Soot campaign carried several placards, some bearing inscriptions like: ‘Rivers people deserve the right to a clean, healthy environment’; ‘stop the politics, stop the soot’; ‘nobody is exempted, stop the soot’ and marched from the popular Isaac Boro Park, in the state capital to the Government House where they tabled their demands. The protesters also marched to the State House of Assembly, where they asked the lawmakers to criminalize environmental pollution and the state Police Command headquarters, both along Moscow road in the state capital.

Leader of the protesters who read out their demands advised the state government

to privatize the environment and seek a supplementary budget to combat the rampaging soot as well as to conduct an environmental audit of all host communities for oil production and to act as a reservoir of local data.

Meanwhile medical experts have posited that the black soot is capable of causing cancer and respiratory disorders. Dr J. Gideon, a Medical Officer with Paraclete Hospital, Igwuruta, a suburb of the state capital explained the short term implications of the soot in the human body and health He told our correspondent that the soot, which can also be categorized as dust is alien to the human body and as such, the body will initiate measures to defend itself against any dangerous foreign object by secreting mucus in the nasal cavity.

According to him, this secreted mucus can cause sneezing, coughing and chest pain and if unchecked could result to bronchitis. “The body’s respiratory tract defensive mechanisms become active, nasal mucus is secreted; cough and sneezing also set in and if unchecked may result in bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes). Individuals with bronchitis have reduced ability to breathe air and oxygen into their lungs, they find it difficult to clear mucus or phlegm from their airways,” Dr Gideon explained, stressing further that the soot can also result to cancer in persons who probably already have a history or factors that could easily trigger it in them.

It would be recalled that two years ago in 2016, Rivers people, particularly residents of Port Harcourt woke up to discover strange black powdering substances have covered their vehicles, clothes sunned outside and other flat tops within and outside their homes.

Some even complained of sneezing out black substances suspected to be soot from their nostrils.

Nobody took them serious until last year when it reappeared, this time on a larger scale, affecting more areas of the state capital. The state government quickly swung into action and constituted a technical committee as well as an inter-ministerial committee to combat the menace. Apart from sensitizing the people on the dangers of the soot and visiting security agencies, appealing to them to destroy seized bunkered petroleum products in line with internationally accepted standards, there was nothing much they could do. And so the problem hatched into a pandemic.

Today, it is easier to identify the soot because it has totally enveloped the atmosphere throughout the state. Even the blind can now feel it because of the contaminated air and the hydrocarbon smell oozing into their noses. Early mornings in Port Harcourt and its environs, even in the thick of the raining season is like Harmattan haze – it is covered with black dust, turning the sky into a dark gray colour. One can consciously see and feel that all is not well in the atmospheric conditions in the state.

But almost every resident of the state knows the causes of the soot. They know that the illegal artisanal refineries by crude oil thefts in the creeks of the Niger Delta and the unconventional methods of destroying these stolen petroleum products by the security agencies as well as the gases being flared by oil exploitation companies in the state are among the main causes of the soot. Others have been identified to include indiscriminate burning of unused tyres, car fumes and many more.

However, environmental Analysts in the state believe that in this war against soot in the state in which all manners of measures and solutions have been taken and proffered, the government has so far ended up soothing the soot hoot.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 27, 2018

27 News

LASU introduces international students’ ID Lagos State U n i v e r s i t y (LASU) says it has introduced an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) with a view to serving as a valid proof of students worldwide.

This was contained in institution, indicating that registration for the ISIC begins next week.

It noted that the ISIC would give LASU students the opportunity to be part of the largest globally recognised, students’ identity.

The UNESCOendorsed ISIC the bulletin added is a passport for reasonable discount on goods and services for students in selected enterprises

globally and enables them to pay less on trainings and courses.

“It is a single card for identity, payment and access to deep discount worldwide and gives the students an opportunity to save money daily both home and abroad. on travel, shopping, museum, food, entertainment, transportation, education, among others,” amongst others it said.

Jonathan’s ex-aide asks court to dismiss alleged N5.1bn fraud charge Erstwhile Senior Special Assistant on Domestic

in Lagos to discharge and acquit them of allegations of N5.1 billion fraud brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The duo made the request in two separate no-casesubmission before the court through their lawyers.

The two men and Property Development & Investment Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Pluto Property Limited

Investment Company Limited and Rotate Interlink Services Limited are currently standing trial before the court presided over by Justice Muhammed Idris, on a 15 counts charges of conspiracy and fraud. to the EFCC are contrary to and punishable under sections 17(a), 18(c), and 27 (3) (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004. the court the anti-graft agency’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo had closed the

EFCC’s case against the accused persons.

However, at the resumed hearing of the instead of opening their defence the accused persons through their lawyers, A. Olufolaju, who stood in for Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), and Mr. Ige Asemudara, informed the court about their clients’ no-casesubmission applications.

They told the court that the applications were brought pursuant to section 302, 303, 357 and 358 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and section

36 of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999, as amended.

Asemudara, told the court that same applications have been served on the prosecution.

Oyedepo, confirmed receiving the said application, and told the court that he needed time to respond to the application, as he was just served.

Based on the development, the trial Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the case till May 15, for hearing.

Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Waripamo Dudafa and Iwejuo Joseph Nna, on Thursday urged the Federal High Court

Sacked Kaduna teachers protest unpaid entitlements A group of disengaged teachers of Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest demanding payment of their entitlements.

The protesting teachers converged at the local government secretariat in Zaria City, led by Mallam Muktar AbdulqadirShitu, who said that the embarked on the action because of the inability of Zaria Local Government to pay outstanding entitlements including leave grants for 2016 and 2017.

According to Abdulqadir-Shitu, “some local governments have their leave-grant but Zaria is yet to do so, some of the sacked teachers had started suspecting the leadership of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Zaria branch.

“Some of these members were aggrieved, up to the extent of planning to beat up the NUT chairman saying that he connived with the council’s authority, but we had to intervene.

“However, in our discussion with the management of the council today, they have assured us that they are compiling the list of disengaged teachers for payment soon,” he said.

He listed other demands

of the sacked workers to include non payment of gratuity and end-well allowance by Kaduna State Government.

“Therefore, we are appealing to Kaduna State Government to kindly consider our plight and pay us our entitlements and they should release the end-well money to the union for onward payment to “The end-well is money being deducted from workers’ monthly salary and had nothing to do with state government but we don’t know why the money is still in government procession?

“We are still pleading, government should kindly do everything possible to come to our aid, we have children, we have dependants who solely rely on us for a living,” he pleaded.

Kaduna State Government had in November 2017 sacked about 22,000 primary school teachers for allegedly failing to score 75 per cent pass mark in an examination it conducted for them, and, recruited about 11,000 new teachers in March 2018.

Addressing the teachers during the protest, the Acting Education Secretary, Zaria Local Government, Malam Ahmed Haruna, called on them to exercise patience as the leave-grant would be paid soon.

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and his wife, Florence; at the launching of the state’s Cancer Control Strategic Plan 2018-2022, in Ibadan

Emir of Daura counsels NIPSS participants on Nigeria’s unity

By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Umar Farouk, has charged participants of Course 40 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to shun divisive tendencies that would further polarise the country.

Farouk, gave the charge when the course participants, paid him homage in his palace.

He called on the participants, who were on local study tour of Daura and its environs, to interests above every other consideration for the social, political and economic development of the nation.

He noted that the role of the NIPSS in the promotion of peace and stability was important, adding that “we have for long been playing host to the participants of this great citadel of learning”.

The monarch described tribalism, sectionalism and religious bigotry as the fault lines impeding Nigeria’s unity and urged participants that they must endeavour to “implement all that you learnt to tackle the problems facing the country.”

He said the Federal Government would need the intellect, knowledge, experience and the wisdom of the products of NIPSS in dealing with the security

problems facing some parts of the country.

“I urge you to shun greed and immoral lifestyle as we would all go back to God and account for our deeds.

“We should focus on issues that would unite us than those that would divide us ” he said.

The emir also urged the Federal Government to give the institute adequate funding for it to continue to thrive noted that “Kuru is not for everybody, but only those who made marks in their choose career”.

Earlier, the Acting Director-General of the institute and leader of the team, Mr Jonathan Juma, Mni, said the participants were at the palace to seek

for royal blessings and wisdom.

Juma, explained that the tour was aimed at interacting with traditional, religious and community leaders on how to strengthen community policing as well as fashion out modalities on how to achieve lasting peace and stability.

Juma said that after the tour, the participants were expected to report back to President Muhammadu and recommendations on strategy and policy development.

Highlights of the tour were visit to the historical sites of the Daura Emirate like the Kusugu well and other places.

News 28

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 27, 2018

Michael Adesina Adeyemo 1971-2018

Ajimobi declares 3-day mourning as Oyo Assembly Speaker dies at 47 The Oyo State Government has announced the passing away of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adesina Olusegun Adeyemo. He died early Friday morning after a sudden illness.

He was aged 47.

A three-day mourning period, starting from Monday, April 30 - Wednesday, May 2, 2018, has been declared by the State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who also directed during the period.

The governor, who was on the state had to rush down to Ibadan when the news was broken to him, and headed straight to the Anatomy Department of the University of Ibadan where the late Speaker’s remains were kept.

Ajimobi had a lengthy discussion with the pathologists to ascertain the likely cause of the death and whether it could have been prevented, after which he spoke with the family members and the large number

of sympathizers on ground.

Born into the Adeyemo family of Alaarun Compound in Lanlate, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of the State, family.

Municipal Government), Oke Ado, Ibadan for his primary education and was at Celestial Church High School, also in Oke Ado, for his secondary education.

A brilliant man, Rt. Hon. Adeyemo bagged two University of Port Harcourt in Educational Management, graduating in Second Class Upper and at the prestigious University of Ibadan, where he studied Law and graduated in 2004. He practised at the Olujinmi & Akeredolu Law Firm.

With a passion to serve his people burning in him, he made his foray into politics in 2007 and had been a member of the state assembly from 2011 till his death.

He was quite active in the

over the plenary session of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 before its adjournment till May 3.

Popularly called AMA by friends and associates, the late Speaker who represented the Ibarapa East State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, was sworn in as Speaker of the State House of Assembly on June 12, 2015 Prior to his position as Speaker, he was Deputy Chief Whip of the House, member of Fund Allocation, Works and Transport, Agriculture, Trade and Investment, Appropriation of the 7th House of Assembly.

The late Speaker was the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Conference of Speakers and also the Chairman of the Constitution Review the States’ Houses of Assembly.

He was a member of the Nigerian Bar Association Bar Association. He also served

the Ibadan branch of the NBA as an Auditor and Assistant Secretary.

Governor Ajimobi described the death as a tragic loss for him and the people of the state.

“I received the news of the untimely passage of my brother, friend and dependable political ally, with grief and

and bridge builder, who was and progress of the state. His death has left a gaping void said.

The governor expressed sadness that death had again taken away one of the brightest, leaders in the state, who had used his sagacity in piloting the rancour.

As the leader of the legislative arm of government, political parties, the governor said that Adeyemo ensured that the relationship with the

Executive was very robust.

The governor said, “He was an energetic young man that was always prepared to and resources to ensure that the relationship between the Executive and Legislature did not break down at any time, might be. He was my bridge builder.

“Political leaders from Ibarapa zone deferred to him because of his candour, gentleness, respect and his amiable disposition to all, young and old. He was a rallying point for the Assembly leaders, who held him in high esteem because of his unassuming nature.

“My thoughts and prayers are with his family, honorable members of the House of Assembly, his political associates, friends and loved ones. This is a loss too sudden and tragic for me to bear. My prayer is that his very gentle soul should continue to rest in peace. I

. . . A Rude Shock - Osun Assembly The State of Osun House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt.Honourable Najeem Salaam has described as a rude shock the death of the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Micheal Adeyemo on Friday.

Honourable Adeyemo died on Friday at the age of 47.

In a condolence message signed by the Chairman, Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Osun Assembly said the death was a huge loss to the government and people of Oyo State in general.

According to the statement, the death of Honourable Adeyemo was too sudden as he led the house proceeding with agility three days to his death.

The Osun Assembly noted that Honourable Adeyemo who is the Chairman, Conference of Speaker in the South West in the legislative family would be greatly missed.

Describing the late lawmaker as a respected parliamentarian and a voice to reckon with in the Nigeria Conference is Speakers and legislature generally, it said that his death would leave a big vacuum.

According to him, the wealth of experience of the lawmaker has gone a long

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (left) addressing members of the State Executive Council in his office, Ibadan, following the death of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo... on Friday. Photo: Governor’s Office

on the legislative arm of Government has greatly

... A calamity –Oyo APC The

All

Progressives

State chapter, has described the death of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adesina Adeyemo, as a “calamity that befell not only the people of the state but Nigerians and humanity as a Hon.

Adeyemo,

47,

a member of APC, who was on his second term representing Ibarapa East State Constituency, died at Jericho Hospital, Ibadan at the early hours of Friday.

APC, in a statement issued and made available to journalists in Ibadan on Friday, expressed its shock over the incident which it described “as a devastating, saddening and

of Oyo State interms of lawmaking and stabilise government in the State.

“The death of Honourable Adeyemo came as a rude shock and it came at a time his wealth of experience is needed to sustain the peaceful coexistence among all the arms of government in Oyo State.

“The story of the developmental success in Oyo State can never be complete without his

unfathomable development which marks a dark spot in the According to the statement, the ruling party in the state said “One would wish our amiable Speaker did not die this time as his death creates a sad chapter in the pages of history book of our dear state. Hon. Adeyemo had been a brilliant, hardworking and passionate

player since he joined politics from his legal professional practice.

“His three-year reign as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly was full of monumental achievements and posterity would always be kind to him because he served humanity to the best of his ability. Obviously, Oyo APC and the entire good people of

the state have lost a rare gem.

“Our condolences go to members of his family, our leader; Governor Abiola Ajimobi, members of the State House of Assembly, the good people of Lanlate and Ibarapaland in general as well as his professional and political associates. We pray God to give all the fortitude to bear the

While sympathising with the immediate family of the lawmaker, the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Ajibola Ajimobi, the Oyo Assembly and the people of the state, he urged them to take solace in the contribution that had been made by the deceased lawmaker toward the development of Oyo State and humanity in general.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

29 News

Rainstorm victims receive relief materials in Enugu Enugu State Government, has distributed relief materials to more than 250 households

(SEMA), Mrs Nkiru Eneh, while delivering said that the gesture was

distribution

rainstorm in Agbawka, Government The

Area

the materials were not for sale, adding that a good measure of

Eneh,

said

that

on

rainstorm

to

the

“This is a demonstration of love in

order

to

provide

Earlier, the Chairman Government Area, Mr of disaster had never Ibagu said that two persons were hospitalised after the

residents of the area,

He Isigwe,

also

gave

the

Ovorie, Akpa

naira to the rainstorm

Ibagu, said that the pulled Also, Mr Fidelis Edeh,

down

in

the

The roofs of several

said that the rainstorm

worth N500 million in Relief items distributed to the

vegetable

oil,

foams,

state and the governor demanded immediate response in order to “Our happiness is that no life was lost in

Hajj: Lagos Govt urges pilgrims to complete payments April 30 Lagos Government

State has

pilgrims from the state

Commissioner for Home AbdulLateef,

at

the

Chairman, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr Tajudeen deadline was extended pilgrims to undertake the “We

urge

the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria

gave

stakeholders meeting on Represented

“I urge them take advantage of the new date so as not to miss out,” he explained that the deadline was

and NAHCON, Lagos state has no powers to “Intending pilgrims from Lagos need to take

Late Imam, Imam of Annur Mosque, Dr. Khalid Aliyu leading the funeral prayers of Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Sokoto state Governor, Malam Imam Imam who died after a brief illness Abuja, yesterday. Among are: Senate President Sen. Bukola Saraki, with Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of sokoto state and Others, during the Funeral prayers of late Imam Imam, at Annur Mosque in Abuja, yesterday... Photo: Temitope Balogun

of performing the 2018 The Commissioner said that the weekend

intending

before the deadline of

87 Ebonyi communities get 181 W’Bank assisted projects and advised people to

Kano Govt tasks abattoir operators on supply of hygienic meat

Mbam, explained that at N865 million under

Kano State Government, has tasked meat sellers ensure

environmental saddled

with

the

The report was released

Dr Ali Makoda, the state Commissioner for Environment, gave the

and

the General Manager of State CSDP, Dr Peter

government

being

is

has operated in the state 2016 till date for CSDP

of the governor and the

Peoples

Responding, wife of the state Governor, Mrs

a

(PDP) in the state and Chairman of CSDP

enjoined the people of the areas to ensure proper

using

state government for providing the enabling

keep

Chairman,

supporting

the

developing the areas and

Makoda, who led the Tarauni

growth and bring empowerment to the “CSDP,

Administration

to

transport,

environment among others implemented to is

members

water,

the government for the

areas of the state, and 55

News 30

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Popular Ile-Epo foodstuffs market demolished

Findings show that the exercise was being carried

that there was no resistance from the traders.

Some of the traders said served with notice, the

Special Adviser to the Governor, Office of Civic Engagement, Mr. Adeyemi Olabinjo (2nd left), rendering account of his parastatal in the last one year during the on-going Y2018 ministerial press briefing to commemorate the third Year in Office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, April 27, 2018. With him are Special Adviser to the Governor on Information & Strategy, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku (right); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Mrs. Kofoworola Awobamise (2nd right) and Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement, Mr. Adeshina Odeyemi (left).

Gov Okorocha has lost touch with reality - Ohakim

By Mathew Dadiya, governors.

on the government to come to their aid as they had nowhere to go.

Sports Academy, etc, were Africa and other foreign investments.

who have not been paid

has confessed that those

go after his shop had been

come to their aid as their

needs a team of psychiatrists

them.

the statement noted.

Governor for the former governors of the state.

condemn payment

the of

primitive pensioners,

according to the statement, â&#x20AC;&#x153; â&#x20AC;&#x153;This

inordinate

it had gone down the drain and governor behaves with

other foreign investments.

He said that he was not

Road Secretariat which he has to the extent that he is now

of their Governor to the

Money Laundering: Court grants bail to Sen Nwaoboshi on self-recognisance to do so.

By Peter Fowoyo

Crimes

Respite, on Friday, came the way of the

Commission to the vendors by order

The senator was however

recognisance. senator to provide two

said.

companies

conspired charges.

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 27, 2018

News 31

Ugwuanyi okays N100m monthly payment for Enugu retirees’ gratuities

By Moses Oyediran, Enugu The Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration in Enugu State in keeping with its commitment to the welfare of the civil servants and retirees in the state has the sum of N100 million every month for the gradual payment of gratuities to state’s retired civil servants, totaling N1.2 billion a year.

The decision was part of the outcome of the meeting between the Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO) and the leadership of the Organized Labour in the state.

Government House, Enugu shortly after the meeting, the State Chairmen of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe and Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, respectively, also stated that the council approved for them the payment of nonFunds deductions made from workers’ salaries between year 2000 and 2004, which amounted to the sum of N82, 714, 506.00.

They added that it was agreed that the payment would be made in three equal installments within eight months, while the payment of

2018.

According to them, “within 2000 and 2004 deductions were made from workers’ salaries as National Housing Funds now workers are retiring every day and they need their refund.

“So we appealed to Gov. Ugwuanyi, a true labourfriendly governor, for intervention. Although the deductions were done by the two previous regimes, the governor said we should come and when we came today(Friday), the council approved the payment of N82.7 million to be paid in three equal installments within

eight months”.

The leaders of Organized Labour, who expressed gratitude to Governor Ugwuanyi and other members of the EXCO for the “rare gesture and considerations”, also disclosed that the Biometric Capturing of 80 workers of the Enugu State State Civil Service was equally this year.

The leadership of the Organized Labour pointed out that the approvals were sequel to the requests made to the governor by the workers and pensioners during their recent

solidarity rally in support of good governance in Enugu State and his re-election in 2019, saying: “We are happy today that His Excellency Executive Council has granted our requests”.

They noted that the issue of gratuities, which was largely inherited from past administrations, had remained a source of concern to the workers and pensioners as “the bill is rising every day”, expressing delight that the gradual payment system adopted by the state government was a welcome development that will go a long way in ameliorating the

plight of the retirees.

In his remark, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Hon. Charles Ogbo Asogwa stated that the council approved all the demands presented before it by the workers because of its commitment to theirwelfare and the wellbeing of the people of the state.

Hon. Asogwa added that the outcome of the meeting was a demonstration of the cordial working relationship between the state government and the workers of the state, assuring them that “the government is to the past and future demands of the labour in Enugu State”.

Presidential hopeful and former CBN Deputy Governor, Financial Stability, Prof.

Kingsley Moghalu, addressing students of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, during his recent visit

Omo-Agege: Court declines to restrain Senate, fixes April 30 for hearing

By Andrew Orolua, Abuja The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday refused to grant a prohibitive injunction restraining the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from preventing the Agege, (Delta Central, APC) entering into the Senate.

Omo-Agege’s lawyer, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), had approached the court with an exparte motion seeking the prohibitive injunction against the Senate, but the court declined.

Rather, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ordered that the Senate, and its President should show cause why the reliefs being not be granted.

The court gave the 1st respondent Senate and the 2nd respondents Senate President seven days to show cause.

Justice Dimgba ordered that

hearing and adjourned it to In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/ Agege, through his lawyer, Dr. Izinyon (SAN), by originating 90 legislative days’ suspension is challenging his suspension from the Senate.

Friday, Izinyon informed the court that he was ready to move his motion since the suit was slated for hearing of the However, counsel to the 1st

conditional appearance. application praying the court to set aside it’s order which granted abridgement of time to hear the suit.

Pressing for an adjournment,

just briefed on April 19, adding that he has not even cited any of the originating processes.

He insisted that what he was served with was an enrolled order abridging time, and asking them to show cause. to the court that counsel to the 1st and 2nd respondents had served him with a motion containing one prayer.

Izinyon told Justice Dimgba that the respondents had been duly served with the originating summon.

Interjecting, Justice Dimgba said he would bound by the court’s record, “I am aware that I made an order for accelerated hearing”.

“The court has proof of service that the 1st and 2nd respondents had been served through the clerk of the senate.

“I have to protect the integrity of the court. On two occasions,

this court had respected the Senate and as well, I expect the Senate to respect the court” Justice Dimgba said.

Consequently, the court not minding the weekend, adjourned to April 30, by 1pm, for hearing of the substantive suit.

He directed the respondents to serve advance copies of through email, not later than 7pm of April 27.

Among other reliefs, the declaration that the 1st and 2nd defendants’ referral of the on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for trial for expressing his opinion on the purport of a Section of the Electoral Act N0.

6, 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2017 is an act calculated to interfere with or likely to constitute a breach

human right to freedom of expression without interference as guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended] and Article 9(2) of the African Charter on Human and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 LFN, 2004.

“A declaration that the expression of his opinion on the purport of a Section of the Electoral Act No.6, 2010 (Amendment) Bill 2017 in the 1st defendant’s Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 20th February, 2018 as “..... “malicious, unfounded and aimed at smearing the reputation of the Senate as an Institution...” makes the allegation against the

of the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act Cap L12 LFN 2004 and therefore cognizable only by court of competent jurisdiction as, provided by Section 36(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended].

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, otherwise

howsoever

from

rights and or privileges as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or and preventing him from entering or remaining within the precinct or Chamber of the Senate or National forcibly remove him from the chamber or precinct of the National Assembly or in any way impeding or undermining

Privileges and Public Petitions] of Section 24(a) and or 24(c)

as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2018

VOL. 3

NO. 640

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Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED. Operational Headquarters: Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos Corporate Office: 9 Osun Crescent, MaItama, Abuja Email: info@dailytimes.ng Managing Editor: BONAVENTURE MELAH, Tel: 08036062975, Email: bonamelah123@gmail.com

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Business Times Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

Public Service Reforms: Dickson tasks HOS, Perm secs on full implementation Page B4

Digital citizenship will promote smart and Page B7 responsible use of technology –VC Anchor University

‘Niger Delta tourism Page B6 expo to unlock tourism potentials in the region’

Why Discos revenue drop by N60bn in 3 months Motolani Oseni Major challenge as regards electricity distribution in the Country has been linked to the nonpayment of bills by about 60 per cent power consumers across the country, accounting for a whopping N60 billion revenue drop by the Distribution Companies, DISCOs in the first three months of 2018.

In fact, latest information showed that DISCOs lose about N20 billion monthly across the country due to collection gap.

For instance, the Chief Corporate Service Officer, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KADECO, Mr. Uday Mishra, recently disclosed that there are various challenges surrounding DISCOs operations in the Country.

According to Mishra, “All DISCOs are surviving hardly because they have just 40 per cent of legal consumers on their billing net while the majority of consumers are involved in bypassing, theft, nonpayment of bills and direct hooking”.

He however regretted that honest consumers suffer infrequent electricity supply because they have to subsidise other non payers and electricity thieves.

“We call on consumers to take care of their duties by paying bills and disengaging in any kind of electricity theft, saying,

the company disconnects as last resort which is also costly and time wasting”, he stressed.

Mishra called on government to subsidise electricity tariff for agriculture related projects, low income groups and the poor masses residing at the slums.

The Head of Compliance, KADECO, Engineer Lawal Lawal explained that the company

is only entitled to 8 per cent of the power generated daily in the country, which it distributes to Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi States.

“We have no option than to ration supply because electricity is solely dependent on gas in Nigeria. Our total demand is 600 megawatts but we rarely receive 300 for distribution daily”.

“Kaduna even gets more supply due to high population and other economic activities when compared to its the other states, yet, the supply is poor”, Lawal said.

He attributed the low distribution of electricity to little supply from the source, adding that, the poor revenue collected from consumers affects the compa-

ny’s health.

KADECO calls on regulatory bodies like NERC, MoP and others to strengthen the sector with better regulatory framework, government sponsored investment, subsidy for lower income groups, tie ups with multilateral agencies to help support the industry.

L-R: Mr Fola Adeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Kevin Krapf, Cultural Officer US Consulate General, Lagos, Mr Steve Ayorinde, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Aramide Giwanson, Special Adviser, Arts and Culture and Mr Ibrahim Aliyu, Cultural Specialist, US Consulate Lagos

FAAN moves to rid corrupt practices in airports Mr Sani Mahmud, Regional Manager, Northern Operation, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), says the authority is committed rid all Nigerian airports of corrupt practices and other vices.

Mahmud, who is also the Manager, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, stated this during a Sensitisa-

tion Campaign by FAAN’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the campaign was part of the strategies put in place by FAAN to awaken the consciousness of its staff on the need to shun corruption while carrying out their official duties.

Mahmud said that Abuja air-

port, being the gateway to the nation’s capital needed to be a flagship airport in the fight against corruption in aviation sector.

He added that the agency had also put necessary measures in place to ensure that everyone working at the airport community was not compromised to indulge in corrupt practices.

The manager said the workers in the airport needed to carry out their duties with integrity and in accordance with the ethics and rules of the organisation and the laws of the country.

“In December 2017, we also invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to sensitise the airport community and today we

have the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) here.

“In every society, there are people that conform to the law and there are also people that do not conform and as you know, airport is a community.

“So, airport, being a society, you observe a lot of things like CONTINUES ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

New Minimum Wage: FG pleads for understanding as workers opt for N66,500 Idu Jude Abuja

As the Federal Government tripartite committee for the review of new minimum wage begins sitting across the six geopolitical zones, workers in the North central are demanding N66, 500 minimum wages from the Federal Government.

Also, the Abuja chapter of the NLC and its sister union, the FCT Trade Union Congress, requested N 66,500 new minimum wage from the Fed-

eral Government.

Also speaking, the Nigerian Union of pensioners suggested the amount of 40,000 for pensioners and 56,000 for the workers.

Speaking earlier, the host Minister and the Minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Bello, represented by the Director of Human resources Hajia Amina Abubakar, stated that “very many well meaning Nigerians identify with the plight of Nigerian worker because these are men and women who la-

bour daily to run our hospitals, schools, public utilities and other institutions. They maintain our roads, protect our lives and manage our properties as well as the management of our national resources among others. They are indeed the goose that lay the golden egg and deserve adequate reward for their Labour.’’

“We all will agree that the current as, are structure which begin with the N18,000 minimum wage fall short of what is required to guarantee a mini-

mum living standard in our economy today. Since it came into force in 2011, series of economic forces including inflation have eroded its purchasing power. On a closer look, this only amount to N600 per day and indeed les than 2 dollar per day.

“It clearly puts the earning power of the Nigerian worker even below the poverty bracket defined by the international development institutions. Since the promulgation of the first national minimum wage act

of 1981, which provided a baseline of N125 per month, Nigeria has witnessed more than three other revisions. These ranges from the N250 recommended in 1991 to N5500 per month of 2000 which paved the way for the current N18, 000 per month.

Unfortunately, each time a new minimum wage is arrived at; it sets up a wave of economic forces that erode the gains envisaged by the review.

The FCT Minister noted that CONTINUES ON PAGE B3

FAAN moves to rid corrupt practices in airports CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

touting and sometimes people get caught with money but all we do is to inform the relevant authorities.

“In all of this, we make sure that our staff is not involved because all fear is the insider’s threat.

“That is the reason we will continue to sensitise our people,’’ he said.

Mahmud also disclosed that the installation of Close Circuit Television (CCTV) was 90 per cent completed in the whole of Abuja airport, adding that over 80 cameras had so far been deployed.

He assured that all the scanners at all entry points in the airport were functional and serviceable.

The Representative of ICPC, Mr Japhet Udeani, said the essence of the programme was to educate the airport workers on the fight against corruption as well as the need for ethical conduct and transparency.

Udeani said that airport workers were the first contact with foreigners, being the gateway to the nation.

He said ICPC had done corruption risk assessment and came to the conclusion that there are cases of open corruption in the aviation sector.

“Right now, there is improvement because you don’t get to hear much about touting and extortion of money from passengers.

Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Uja Tor Uja (sitting Middle) with Chairmen and Secretaries of various Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board across the Country during the Strategic meeting between NCPC and Pilgrimage Leaders and Managers at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja...yesterday

How modern infrastructure consumes popular Ile-Epo foodstuffs market The popular Ile-Epo Foodstuff Market in Agbado OkeOdo Local Council Development Area, Abule Egba area of Lagos has been demolished to pave way for a modern market befitting a mega city.

Findings show that the exercise was being carried out by the Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, in conjunction with the developer, Total Value Integrated Limited.

The demolition, which commenced around 8am, was supervised by scores of well-armed task force officials, who ensured that there was no resistance from the traders.

Bulldozers were seen pulling down structures in the market, while others used sledge hammers in demolishing the market, even as thousands of traders were seen frantically trying to evacuate their wares.

Some of the traders said even though they were served with notice, the duration was short, calling on the government to come to their aid as they had nowhere to go.

A trader, who simply identified himself as Ibrhim Yahyah, lamented that he did not know where to go after his shop had been demolished.

This was just as Ola Mummy and Yakubu Lawal, urged the government to come to their aid as their means of livelihood had been taken away from them.

Mrs. Augustina Egbuonu, 68, who claimed to be the Financial Secretary of the Ile-Epo Market Association, said she had been in the market for 20 years and that she invested N18million in the market, but lamented that it had gone down the drain with the demolition.

Speaking on the development, Managing Director, Total Value Integrated Limited, Chris Onyekachi, said the traders were giv-

ing 18 months notice to vacate the market for redevelopment, adding that while some had left the market, others refused to do so.

“We have given them nothing short of 18 months notice to leave the market. Many of them have packed out while some remained.

We came here around 7:30am for the demolition. We have given them alternative place in the market.

“We are not demolishing the whole market now. We are doing it in three phases,” he said, adding that the market was an eyesore not befitting a mega city like Lagos,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

B3 Business News

Edo drive for sustainable investments spurring our expansion, says Okomu MD Managing Director, Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, Mr. Graham Hefer, has said that the state government’s unrelenting drive for sustainable investment is paving the way for the company’s numerous expansion projects.

Hefer made the submission during an interview with journalists in Udo,

Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He said the focus on institutional reforms and infrastructural development by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration provided a window of opportunity for the company to expand its portfolio and push for more investments in the state.

Noting that the drive would create jobs and improve the state’s economy, he said the company has been able to expand its oil palm plantation by over 11, 000 hectares.

Hefer added, “In the last three years, the company has expanded by 10, 000 hectares in Ovia North West Local Government Area. With the expansion

we expect to double our current volumes in the next five years.

“The company has commenced construction of two new oil mills. The first mill will be completed in year 2020 while the second will follow up a year after.”

Hefer explained that the company’s present mill is being expanded to produce

75 tons of palm oil per hour from its current 60 tons capacity, noting, “All of these are as a result of the increased production expected from the recent extension II project. The state government’s investment drive for sustainable development aided our expansion project. On account of all these, people

L-R: Executive Director, Group Chief Executive, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Group Plc, Mr Ladi Lawal; Chairman, FCMB Group Plc. Mr Oladipupo Jadesimi; Company Secretary, Mrs Funmi Adedibu; Founder, Otunba Michael Balogun And Managing Director, Mr. Adam Nuru, At The 5TH Annual General Meeting Of The Bank, In Lagos.

PHOTO: OLATUNJI WALE

are now taking us seriously.”

Hefer commended the governor for the drive to attract investors to the state, highlighting the governor’s spirited efforts to sell the state to investors across the globe. “I commend the governor who has been busy interfacing with potential investors visiting the state. Things are looking promising for investors in the state,” he said.

He added that with the institutional reforms being implemented, “the state government ministries, agencies and department are now looking more professional in dealing with private investors in the state. We are now having a better relationship with the government officials.”

“We are experiencing a two-way communication with government officials in ministries, which we have not had in the past.

When there are issues we don’t understand, we pick up the phone and talk with the officials to get clarification,” Hefer averred.

On the effort of the government on infrastructural development, he noted, “I hope to see the Gelegele Seaport and Industrial Park projects completed very quickly. On our part as a company, we are studying how these projects will benefit us in the short and medium terms.”

New Minimum Wage: FG pleads for understanding as workers opt for N66,500 CONTINUED FROM PAGE B2

the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is aware of this and consequently inaugurated a 30- man panel to recommend an income that will allow the Nigerian worker to live reasonably within the co text of the current economic realities.

He said that with this, the Nigeria worker must be equipped to drive Economic and Growth Plan of the present government which aim at diversifying the economy, grow

skills, create wealth, expand infrastructure and ensure food security.

Speaking also, Chairman of the North Central zone committee, Governor of Osun State Alhaji Aregbesola Rauf, in his observation said “the Assembly here this morning is an indication of our commitment to keep faith with our constitution and the national minimum wage is a constitutional one. Item 34 of the exclusive list empower the federal government to deal with the issue of Labour,

in losing proscribing the national minimum wage for the federation”.

The Committee Chairman further said that the committee comprises of governments at the federal and state levels, organised Labour and the organised private sector in accordance with ILO Conventions.

He said that It’s task cannot be adequately carried out without the consultation which this public hearing provides.

“We have all along been concentrating on

cost of living which is also important. However, in your contribution, let us also look at productivity index so as to get the best for the economy. By so doing, we will be enriching the outcome of this debate and making it less controversial and more amenable to implementation”.

On his part, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has conversed for individual states to agree with their various workers separate minimum wages that they can af-

ford to pay.

The Governor believes that Nigerian workers would be better off when states are allowed to fix their separate minimum wages in line with their financial capacity to pay.

Speaking during a public hearing on the new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers for the South-South geopolitical zone in Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike said that states vary in financial capacity, making a uniform minimum wage unrealistic.

“And for us, therefore, he stated, the single national minimum wage system is yet another lie that betrays the distortions in our federation and the structured dislocation of the states in the power equation between the Federal Government and the federating states.

“It is our view that the country and its workers would be better off if states are allowed to fix and pay their own minimum wages indexed on the prevailing cost of living and ability to pay.

Business News

B4

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

Truck drivers shun N1, 000 daily fee, park on highways –Terminal Manager Motolani Oseni

Manager of the Orile-Iganmu Parking Terminal, Mr. Timothy Nkeonye, has said truck drivers parked on Lagos roads thereby causing gridlocks in Apapa area, because they wanted to avoid paying N1, 000 daily parking fees.

The operators of the facility said that the truck drivers intentionally park on the road to avoid payment of fee at the parking terminal.

The mangaer of the Parking Terminal, told newsmen in Lagos that the drivers are very difficult to control, majority of them intentionally park on the

expressway and bridges to avoid paying N1, 000 entrance fee at the terminal.

“Some drivers will tell you there is no money to pay for the terminal parking and that’s why they park on the roads,’’ he said.

Nkeonye said that for now, the parking terminal could conveniently contain 600 tankers if the drivers obeyed parking rules.

According to him, the 3000-capacity terminal has been experiencing low patronage since it was established in 2007.

He said that although part of the terminal was waterlogged, the Lagos State Government had intervened to find lasting solution to the challenge.

Nkeonye appealed to relevant government agencies to be more proactive in enforcing the traffic law that prohibited tankers from parking indiscriminately on the road.

“Some drivers will tell you there is no money to pay for the terminal parking, that’s why they park at the expressway whereas it is very dangerous.

“But if there is strict punishment for the offence of indiscriminate parking on the expressway and on bridges, the tanker drivers will adjust and abide by the rules,’’ he said.

Mr Kehinde Ishola, Secretary, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),

Orile PTD Branch, said most tanker drivers were fond of parking recklessly on the road.

Ishola said that most truck owners were unconcerned about where their trucks would be parked before loading at the depot.

“Some of the owner refused to give the drivers money for parking at the terminal; they are not concerned of where the truck will be parked before loading.

“I think government should take the enforcement with iron hand to eradicate the indiscriminate parking of trucks and tankers on the road.

“It is very dangerous and at the same time not proper as a city or

country where its highways were filled with trucks and tankers is not ideal,’’ he added.

Mr Noah Adeniran, NUPENG’s Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO), also called for adequate enforcement to prohibit indiscriminate parking of trucks on the roads.

“Some of the tankers have no base, but instead of them paying for parking at the terminal for convenience and safety, they decide to hang around the expressway before loading at the depot.

“This parking terminal has been in existence since 2007, but some of the drivers refused to use it,’’ he said.

Experts urge FG to sign digital rights bill into law

L-R: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, Head of the State Civil Service, Rev. Thomas Zidafamor, Chairman, State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Peter Singabele, and other Permanent Secretaries, during a meeting, at the Governor’s Conference Room, Government House, Yenagoa.

Public Service Reforms: Dickson tasks HOS, Perm secs on full implementation Ladesope Ladelokun Bayelsa State Governor, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson on Friday tasked the state’s Head of Service, Reverend Thomas Zidafamor and Permanent Secretaries in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, on the full implementation of the public service reforms, targeted at repositioning the service for greater productivity and professionalism.

Governor Dickson, who made the call during a meeting with the Head of Service, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and Permanent Secretaries in Government House, Yenagoa, called for support and understanding from all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the reforms.

According to him, a state of emergency has been declared in

the public service to address the decay in the sector, which has continued unabated over the years.

Governor Dickson charged the Head of Service to ensure that, the reforms are fully implemented by the middle of next month, noting that, ministries, departments and agencies that fail to comply with government’s directives may have their salaries delayed until they conform.

He said “The civil service is marred in payroll fraud and wastages but in the midst of it all, I know there are hardworking civil servants who have spent their entire working life serving our people and making a difference.

“We all have to declare emergency in the public service, especially in the area of indiscipline, proper conduct and behavior, capacity building, welfare and training. We should all be on the same page.

That is why we are having this interaction” On welfare of workers, the Governor assured of training and retraining to enable public servants acquire knowledge to boost productivity, while the medium and low cost housing units in Ayama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and Agbura, Yenagoa Local Government Area remain government’s priority.

Governor Dickson also explained that, the state government was discussing with some financial institutions to provide mortgages so as to enable top civil servants buy plots in the new Government Reserved Area, GRA. Speaking to Government House Correspondents in an interview after the meeting, the Head of Service, Reverend Thomas Zidafamor, said the major issues discussed include, the implementation of the

reforms, training and welfare, assuring that, the reforms would be implemented to the latter.

“A lot of issues cropped up at the meeting. The major issues bordered on the ongoing reforms in the civil service. The governor emphasized that Permanent Secretaries must take charge and be on top of the implementation of the reforms. Some aspects of the reforms have to do with harmonization of the workforce, some places that you have so many workers, may have to be redeployed to other places that may need their services” Also, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Chairman of the Permanent Secretaries Forum, Mr. Ekiyor Promise, said Governor Dickson means well for the state, as the reforms would free up funds for development.

Digital rights experts have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly sign the bill on Digital Rights in the table into law and set the pace for other African countries to follow.

They said the passage will make Nigeria the first country to have such law in the continent. The experts also called on other African nations to take a clue from Nigeria and domesticate Nigeria’s feet in the area of Digital Rights and Freedom.

Many industry experts had commended the Nigerian lawmakers for passing the bill on digital rights, which they say is a step in the right direction, with the potential of strengthening digital rights in the continent.

The experts made this call at the 6th Internet Freedom Forum, an international conference organised by Paradigm Initiative, held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Ephraim Kenyanito of Article 19 East Africa, said, “It would be great if the Nigerian president could immediately sign the bill into law. This would be seen as a challenge to other African countries. It would be great for Nigeria to set a good example in this area.”

According to Adeboye Adegoke, Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights Programme Manager, “The Digital Rights and Freedom Bill was drafted by a coalition of civil society, private sector and government to protect the digital rights of Nigerians in the emerging digital age. The bill is great for the protecting citizens’ rights and also great for the economy as it would energise the tech industry.”

John Edokpolo, Microsoft Nigeria Head of Legal Affairs, called on the government to enact good laws in encouraging innovation and development in the tech industry. “If you want foreign direct investment in the technology industry, you need to have a good data privacy law, among other things. It helps when businesses can help government see the economic benefits of having positive legislation around digital rights.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

B5 Motoring

TATA unveils 200th made-in-Nigeria truck

Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

The automotive policy [officially called the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) recorded another milestone recently when TATA Africa Services (Nigeria) Limited rolled out the 200th locally assembled {Tata} vehicle in collaboration with its partner, Iron Products Industries Ltd. It was indeed a celebrative atmosphere at the IPI Ltd in Ikotun, Lagos, as auto industry chieftains, including the Director, Industrial Infrastructure, National Automotive Design and Development Council {NADDC], welcomed the garlanded TATA 16-18C light truck at the plant.

In a symbolic gesture, the dummy key to the 200th TATA truck was presented to one of the brands loyal corporate customers, Cobil Nigeria Limited.

The Managing Director, Mrs. O. F. Iloanusi, and one of the directors, D. Iloanusi, received the key to the TATA truck on behalf of Cobil.

Predictably, both TATA and IPI management used the unveiling ceremony to reiterate their commitment to the development of the local auto industry through the production of good quality vehicles designed to meet the needs of the local market.

While assuring that increase in

local content would lead to more competitively priced vehicles, the partners called for increased encouragement for the industry and the elimination of impediments to growth and development, including the influx of used vehicles.

In his remarks, the Head of the Auto Division, Tata Africa Services (Nigeria), Suraj Prakash, assured the guests that in producing its vehicles in Nigeria, the fourth largest trucks maker in the world, would continue to pursue a local content programme that would ensure competitive pricing.

TATA Motors has a strong presence in Nigeria with investment of over 10 million dollars. We started assembly in 2016 in Nigeria which was well received by Nigerians.

Our vehicles are well assembled and cost effective and it is better.

Our vehicles are durable, up to standard and made for the Nigerian terrain. We will like to have more of governments support on automobile policy because importation of tokunbo {second-hand} vehicles is of great disadvantage.

Our vehicles are not expensive because most of the materials are sourced locally, so the cars are cost effective, he said.

The Managing Director of IPI Ltd, Nunu Diwan, disclosed that his company which is the leader in steel fabrication in the country, went into partnership with TATA Motors, following the introduction of the auto policy by the Federal

Driving sports car daily helps your wellbeing-research Forget romance, fine dining or an epic boxset binge new preliminary research reveals that driving a sports car on a daily basis is among the best ways to boost your sense of wellbeing and emotional fulfillment.

The study measured buzz moments peak thrills that play a vital role in our overall wellness as volunteers cheered on their favourite football team, watched a gripping Game of Thrones episode, enjoyed a passionate kiss with a loved one or took an intense salsa dancing class. Only the occasional highs of riding a roller coaster ranked higher than the daily buzz of a commute in a sports car.

Working with neuroscientists and designers, Ford brought the research to life with the unique Ford Performance Buzz Car: a customised Ford Focus RS incorporating wearable and artificial intelligence technology to

animate the drivers emotions in real time across the cars exterior.

A roller coaster may be good for a quick thrill, but its not great for getting you to work every day, said Dr Harry Witchel, Discipline Leader in Physiology.

This study shows how driving a performance car does much more than get you from A to B it could be a valuable part of your daily wellbeing routine.

Study participants who sat behind the wheel of a Ford Focus RS, Focus ST or Mustang experienced an average of 2.1 high-intensity buzz moments during a typical commute; this compared with an average of 3 buzz moments while riding on a roller coaster, 1.7 while on a shopping trip, 1.5 each while watching a Game of Thrones episode or a football match, and none at all while salsa dancing, fine dining or sharing a passionate kiss.

Government, Stating that the plant assembled about four TATA trucks daily, Divan informed the guests that capacity utilisation could be increased if the need arose, even as he hinted of plans to move from assembling of the vehicles to actual manufacturing by sourcing most of the components locally.

We are targeting manufacturing, not just assembly,” the IPI Chief Executive Officer remarked, stating, by next year, 40 percent of

the TATA trucks available in the market will be locally made.”

IPI, according to Diwan, was the product of his fathers foresight, having been founded about 50 years ago as a steelwork manufacturer, became the leader in steel fabrication and structures, and has diversified into automotive assembly, trailer manufacturing, paint manufacturing and logistics.

The special guest, Director, Industrial Infrastructure, NADDC, Abdulwaheed Odetoro, an engi-

neer, commended the President Muhammadu Buhari government for retaining the auto policy initiated by the previous regime.

The IPI plant where the TATA vehicles are assembled, the Director explained, got official certification following an inter-agency collaboration {featuring the NADDC, the relevant ministry, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Customs} in the inspection of the plant after the introduction of the auto policy.

FRSC, key stakeholder in Nigeria’s internal security –Oyeyemi Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye, has stated that the place of the corps in internal security is mostly about gathering intelligence, preparing database on critical safety/security issues and sharing same with the national security community.

According to the Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi kazeem, Oyeyemi said this when participants of the 2018 Senior Executive Course (SEC) No.40 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) led by Prof. Celestine Oyom Bassey, paid a courtesy visit on the Corps Marshal.

While making a presentation titled: Strengthening Internal Security Framework and Community Policing in Nigeria: Models, Policy options and Strategies, Oyeyemi lamented that the incidences of insecurity in

Oyeyemi several parts of the country is worrisome; hence he highlighted that there is a need for high level of cooperation among all security agencies.

He noted that dealing with internal security involves intelligence gathering (noncombative) and physical (combative) approaches. The non-combative approach utilizes information to prevent and mitigate suspected secu-

rity breach, and combative involves deployment of human and State controlled instrument of violence.

Speaking further on the organizational framework of the Corps, Oyeyemi explained how the corps has been able to utilise both human and operational facilities to improve on the nations security.

“FRSC in line with global best practices domesticated the international framework which led to the development of the first of its kind national framework on Road Safety; National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS), National Uniform Licencing scheme, Dash board Administration, Driving School Standardisation Programme (DSSP), Road Transport Safety Standardistaion Scheme (RTSSS) among others. All these are security programmes directed at ensuring the safety of lives and properties.

Tourism B6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

‘Niger Delta tourism expo to unlock tourism potentials in the region’

Motolani Oseni

As the maiden edition of Niger Delta Tourism Expo (NTDE) 2018 garner momentum, the organizers of the event recently unveiled an exciting annual travel and tourism event for the nine Niger Delta states, with high optimism that the tourism industry capable of unlocking embedded non oil economy potentials in the region.

The tourism expo with the theme: “Niger Delta Beyond Oil: “Tourism, A Tool for Sustainable Development” is scheduled to take place from 11th to 13th July, 2018 at Nigeria’s premiere business and leisure resort, Tinapa Lakeside Hotel, Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

Speaking at a press briefing in Calabar, the head of media and publicity for the project, Mr. Hope Obeten, who also doubles as the CEO of Calabar foremost destination marketing platform, Calabar Blog disclosed that the event is an initiative put together to help explore, discover and harness the rich cultural and tourism potentials abound in the Niger Delta region.

According to him, he said no fewer than 5,000 participants from industry stakeholders, investors, exhibitors, buyers, consumers, tourism and travel practitioners, hospitality service providers and the media are expected to attend the expo over a 3 day period.

“Our core vision is to drive inclusive and sustainable development across all the local

communities in the region by creating and building strong synergies amongst all stakeholders in the tourism, travel and hospitality industry in the Niger Delta”, Mr. Obeten said.

Mrs. Justina Ovat, SSA/ GM, Tinapa Lakeside Hotel, Calabar, who is also the CEO of Calabar Hospitality House Limited, the first and only certified institute for Hospitality, Tourism and Travel in Cross River State, expressed confidence that the expo will help create awareness about the huge tourism investment

opportunities abound in the Niger Delta. She noted that everything has been put together to ensure that this first outing sets the tone and pace for the annual event.

She therefore called on young persons interested in building a career in the tourism and hospitality sector to take advantage of the training component of the expo to earn certifications from renowned bodies like the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP) and the Institute of Hospitality, UK, Nigeria.

Also speaking, Mr. Allen Ef-

feh, Lead Consultant, Ibom Tourism and Head of sponsorship for the project, highlighted activities of the event, which includes, a pre and post event familiarization tour across the nine Niger Delta states (240 hours around the Niger Delta), tourism roundtable conference, panel discussions, exhibitions, trainings and will climax with a gala and award night to celebrate outstanding travel, tourism and hospitality individuals, organisations and brands in the Niger Delta.

Mr. Effeh urged corporate

bodies and government ministries, travel and hospitality service providers to take advantage of this history making event to expose their products and services to both the local and international audience.

Expressing his delight at the private sector driven project, Mr. Obinna Nwachuya, a tourism and innovation expert maintained that this event will bring a positive attraction to the region and would form a key part of the continent’s MICE calendar in the years to come.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); former President of Republic of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama (middle); Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (2nd left); former Minister of State for Defense, Chief Demola Seriki (left) and Commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde (right) during the Lagos Tourism Summit with the theme “Destination Lagos: Towards A Sustainable Tourism-Driven Economy” at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island…recently

Ibadan chiefs, artiste, applaud Sabrina for supporting Oke’badan Festival Chief Ifasola Ifamapowa, the Aboke of Ibadanland, music artiste and customers have applauded Sabrina, a premium extra dry gin for promoting the rich cultural heritage of Ibadan people through the sponsorship of Oke’badan Festival.

The Managing Director, Euro Global Foods and Distillers, Manish Uniyal disclosed that the sponsorship is part of the company’s commitment to the Nigerian market and its rich cultural heritage and values, adding that its brands are proudly Nigerian products and locally produced.

In the same vein, Head of Marketing, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries, Devanshu Seth, speaking during a courtesy visit to the Aboke of Ibadanland, the Chief Custodian of the festival, stated that the sponsorship is part of his company’s commitment to the preservation and promotion of Nigerian culture.

“Sabrina represents quality life, happiness and fun.

That is why we have identified with the Oke’badan Festival this year.

“We also realized that, the Oke’badan Festival is an annual celebration deeply rooted in the rich culture and

ancestry of Ibadanland, particularly spearheaded by the Aboke family. This is why we have come to join the Ibadan people in the celebration of Oke’badan in order to help the people sustain their own heritage” he said.

In his response, Chief Ifamapowa, on behalf of his Chiefs, family of Aboke and people of Ibadanland welcomed the Euro Global team to Ibadanland and thanked them for sponsoring the festival.

He, therefore, required that the company should support the festival in subsequent years, given that Sabrina is the number one dry gin of

the Ibadan people and its neighbouring communities.

“We thank your company for partnering with us this year. Meanwhile, we want you to partner with us again in a more befitting way because our people love Sabrina a lot. In fact, most people have asked me since we started the Fuji music concert that, where have your products been all this while. They have not seen Sabrina in this city for a long time. That shows that, the people love Sabrina due to its quality and I am glad when Mr. Seth said that, 95% of the raw materials you used in producing your drinks are all sourced locally

here in Nigeria.” He pointed.

In his reaction, Fuji Artiste, Taye Currency, said “the concert would not have been this exciting and memorable, if makers of Sabrina did not partner with us”.

During his performance, he threw Sabrina packs to fans at the Mapo Hall on day 1 of the festival.

The Sales Director, Euro Global Foods and Distilleries, Felix Aighobahi, therefore assured all consumers of Sabrina and other brands under the company’s portfolio that the company will continue to make its products available in stores and sales outlet across Ibadan and beyond.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

B7 Business Interview

Digital citizenship will promote smart and responsible use of technology â&#x20AC;&#x201C;VC Anchor University Ever since Nigeria introduced Digital Citizenship in Africa when it hosted the first African Digital Citizenship summit in July 2017, there have been calls that Digital Citizenship should grow from being just a summit to a state policy. Equally, trending are talks that Digital Citizenship, which refers to safe, savvy and responsible use of the internet, especially the social media should be included in the school curriculum, in this interview with LADESOPE LADELOKUN and FRANCA SULEM-YONG, the Vice Chancellor of Anchor University, Prof. Afolayan Joseph- Olasehindem spoke extensively on digital citizenship and its future in Nigeria.

How would you rate the level of digital literacy in Nigeria?

By my own assessment of Nigerian institutions, in terms of technology, there is what we call the mad rush at technology. As far as social media is concerned, there is a high level of subscription to it in Nigeria. But how positive it is used is another issue.

We equally observe a difference between knowing how to use technology and using it for the right purpose. A number of schools abroad have found ways to implement digital citizenship as a subject or course. Do you think the time is ripe for digital citizenship in Nigerian Schools?

We think it is the right time.

That is why we have signed up for a field known as digital humanities in our school.

Through this field of study, we teach our students how to use technology and social media positively. As you hinted earlier, most people seem not to think through before posting on social media. Many of our youths are yet to draw the line between what should be posted in public and what should be kept in private.

That is why it is important to get people educated and enlightened on digital citizenship. This explains why our university is trying to link up with one of the Universities in Canada to promote positive digital use not only as a concept but also as a practice.

If digital Citizenship or

digital humanities is instituted as a course, which form would you advise it to take? Should it be a course under computer science or a field on its own?

You see, for now, in any university before you introduce any course, you have to go through NUC.....a benchmark of courses to be run. But at least, at our own level, we want to introduce it to raise awareness in each faculty.

There are processes that we need to go through before it would become a course in the university. It is not automatic.

But we believe a course like Digital Humanities should definitely be under the faculty of humanities. But because digital issues are somehow linked to computing, there will be interactions between the departments and because of the communication aspect, a field like Mass Communication may be intertwined with it. But digital humanities should definitely be under the faculty of humanities by virtue of its name but it remains an inter-disciplinary field by virtue of its nature.

How would you advise government to come in as far as instituting Digital Citizenship is concerned?

Should Digital Citizenship Education become key on Government agenda now, given that the abuse of social media and technology is becoming a norm in our society?

Considering the conse-

tion. Communication should be contextual at different levels.

In countries in the western world,we see their youths very active in selecting their leaders.The youths have used social media and technology to their advantage to campaign for the leaders they want.We have, for instance, a young leader in France.In the next election,do you see digital citizens in Nigeria playing a great role in the selection of the next leader?

Afolayan quences we see today and with reference to anything technology- based. I strongly advise Government to include digital Citizenship in the curriculum. By so doing, government would go a long way to curb all tech related ills and cyber criminality. So, I strongly recommend that Government should encourage Universities to include digital citizenship in their programs.

Apart from the advocacy that the media is currently doing, what can stakeholders like you do to ensure that the concept and practice of digital citizenship is deeply rooted in Nigeria?

Like I said earlier, one of the ways we are working towards that is to institute Digital Humanities as a field of study in our University and the program would start effectively soon. That is one of the best

ways we can contribute to enlighten our students and the citizens of our country. This course would inculcate in them knowledge on the merits of digital citizenship. That is the strongest advocacy we can do for now.

At what level of education would you advise digital citizenship to be taught?

At all levels, everyone needs it. Even in Primary school, pupils are exposed to social media nowadays. So it is very important that digital citizenship be taught because it concerns all technology users.

We need to inform all of them about what they need to know how to use technology smartly and responsibly. Of course, the language of instruction would differ at different levels of education. It has to be taught in appropriate ways at the different levels of educa-

To some extent, it may or may not work. But from the records we have in Nigeria in terms of politicking and election system, things are not as straightforward. We still have a lot to do. Societies in the western world are more organised and more enlightened. We talk about elections but in some places in Nigeria, people doubt if there were any elections. The results are often doubtful. Therefore, we need to lay emphasis on raising awareness. Government has to do a lot of enlightenment campaign to expand the possibility of a positively digital Nigeria. Activities like this interview we are having now can go a long way to inform and advocate for digital citizenship. The media should play a key role and carry government along in its advocacy campaign. In Nigeria, the factors that drive our ambition are different from other countries and government has to consider that.

Where do you see the future of Digital Citizenship education in Nigeria in the next five years?

My field of study requires that we do a lot of predictions. So, basing myself on the theory of probability and understanding development in Nigeria, I would not be surprised if we outrun those who started it. We are crazy when it comes to development and trying new things and we have great minds in this country. When people are properly directed, they can do extra ordinarily.

Tourism Interview B8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday , April 28, 2018

Plateau State, haven for tourism activities, others -Dati Hon Yakubu Dati is outspoken and vast in public relations. He is the commissioner for Information Plateau State. In this interview, he touched on transformation of tourism by the present state governor and efforts to further boost tourism in the state. CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO reports.

What is the state government trying to make with the Nigerian Tour Operators (NATOP) AGM invitation to the Plateau State?

First we want to appreciate the Nigerian Tour Operators for picking Plateau State for their AGM, hosting of this AGM is a statement that the state has turned a new leaf, indeed, the governor of Plateau state, Rt. Hon Simon Laloang has listed tourism as part of the key programmes that will be pursued and all these falls into the five policy thrust of this administration.

In fact, Plateau has remained the centre of tourism because it is naturally endowed and they are also friendly, with weather that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find anywhere in Nigeria. So, there are lot of combinations that projects Plateau as the headquarters of tourism and believe with this visit, most of you will bear witness of the abundance of tourism potentials in the state, the governor is also working round the clock to ensure the sustenance of peace in the state because if there is no peace, there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t much you can do.

The facts that groups like you are coming in shows to the outside world that Plateau is at peace. Peace is not the absence of conflict, in every society there are bound to be conflicts where human being are involved, but the capacity to be able

to nip it in the bud or ensure that you develop standard operating procedures to control it is what makes the difference. And so we are happy that so much has been done, just recently, President Muhhamadu Buhari was here where he even spent the night, he launched the Plateau road map to peace which is a five document that creates a systematic steps that will be taken to avert any breakdown of law and order and also to stop it if it breaks down, so all these are practical strategies that are being put in place by this government to ensure sustenance of peace.

How safe are tourists to come to Plateau now?

You are here now, you can see that the state is at peace, off course once in a while you see some criminal elements that try to take advantage of gaps to create mayhem and is not peculiar to Plateau, these things happen across the country and am happy that the President is taking action to ensure that these things do not go out of hand. Even though the issue of security is that of the federal government, the state is not relenting, that was why last week, the Governor purchased and distributed about 21 Hilux vans to assist security agencies, apart from the support we give them in terms of logistics. So

Dati all those are efforts that are being put in place to strengthen the security agencies, to be able to carry out their responsibility of keeping everybody safe and we are going ahead with that and we are happy that all those interventions are yielding fruits and that accounts for why such organisation like NATOP pick interest to come to Plateau State, so we are very happy about that and that is why the state is also collaborating to ensure that you have as much view as possible even though if we want to take you to our tourism sites, you need at least one month in Plateau because Wase Rock which is about 200 fit high and the only one in the country is about four hours from here, we have the Assop Falls which I learnt you have visited, we also have the Sheri Hills which is the leadership training centre, we have the museum,

The facts that groups like you are coming in, shows to the outside world that Plateau is at peace.

Peace is not the absence of conflict, in every society there are bound to be conflicts where human being are involved, but the capacity to be able to nip it in the bud or ensure that you develop standard operating procedures to control it is what makes the difference. the Jos Zoo, the wild life park, Plateau is the centre of tourism so we are happy and hope that you will use this opportunity to give a lot of publicity to what we have in the state.

Most importantly, the state is safe for Tourism and all other activities, before this government came, most of the hotels are hardly filled up, by the time this Governor came after two years of stability things have changed, we have about 150 hotels and every weekend, the ho-

tels are fully booked.

That in itself is an indication that people are coming into the state and of course, people cannot come where they feel unsafe On infrastructure, how has the government faired?

Just like the venue of this conference, the Hill Station Hotel, it was in a dilapidated state until this government came and pumped in some money and look for some investors to try to work it up and now it is habitable, before it

was not.

Secondly, there are also deliberate effort being made to ensure that key drivers of tourism, and in this case we are talking about tour operators will also focus on this State because they are the one that will move the traffic here, so by the time they are able to see and are convinced, it makes the gospel easier . So much is being done as you can also see that from the airport, am sure you enjoyed the beautiful road which was commissioned by the president. So all these are intervention that are put in place to the means to give the people that are coming to the Plateau a welcome, because if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have that most tourist will not even look at the state, because is a factor. So, all these factors are being put one after the other to create the enabling environment for tourism to thrive.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Not every movie must appear in cinemas - Paschaline Okoli

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Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Life & Times

Not every movie must appear in cinemas - Paschaline Okoli

Paschaline Alex Okoli is a Nigerian actress who is quite bold and strong-willed. Although, she had been labelled a snob and lesbian, but the Anambra State born actress is far from such unfounded accusations leveled against her. In this interview with MUTIAT ALLI the script interpreter clears the air on her personality, her kind of man, premarital sex and lots more.

How has the year 2018 been for you?

So far, it has been so good. The year has been litty litty (if you know what I mean?)

Well, my mum 1million percent from the into one or two businesses apart from acting. scratch. But my dad was not having it the first time he knew about the movie stuff, but as a Who are those you look up to in Nollywood? daughter that is as stubborn as her father, the Hmmm, I look up to my hardworking senior What are your plans for the remaining of old man had to accept by force, after much colleagues in the industry too numerous to the year? persuasion. mention.

My plans for the year is to set a clear goals for myself.

Talking about being stubborn, we have So many stories surround the success of heard people say you are also snobbish, how female celebrities, so many saying that they Any plans to go into movie production? true is that? engage in kinds of promiscuity to live a For now, nope. Well, maybe before the year Wow! snub? Not true at all. Being stubborn luxurious lifestyle, whats your take on that? ends, something might come up in terms of and snobbish are two different things. People One sentence for this question is “people must going into production. that don’t know me see me as a snobbish little talk”, no matter what you do or didn’t do. lady. But, I can’t go about trying to make people Aside Jenifas dairy, you are hardly seen in understand me. If you know me - you know!

It was once rumored that you are a lesbian, regular movies, why? can you defend that?

I do other movies too, but not constant.

Aside movies what else do you do?

Like you said it’s all a rumour. Not true at all.

I run a cleaning company #Weclean. It is Which movie brought you to limelight? actually my personal little company.

What’s your take on same sex marriage?

College girls, the pay was nothing to write No! I don’t think it’s right! home about, but in all I am grateful.

How long have you been in it and how did you start?

How about sex toys, it’s almost taking over How supportive are your parents of your I started last year. It is not easy you know. I’m the world? chosen career? that girl that loves success, so I try to venture I don’t support that either.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, April 28, 2018

L3 Life & Times

nothing but the story at hand.

What do you think should be done to take Nollywood to Are you currently in a serious a bigger height, just like their relationship? contemporaries?

Yes! I’m in a very serious The government should invest relationship with God. Very in entertainment industry. serious.

A good actor should be so convincing in a role – Paschaline Okoli

The qualities of movies are At what stage do you want to dropping, which way forward? get married?

Like I said it still government, When the time is right. because we have good filmmakers.

What kind of man do you want for marriage?

Even your colleague, Rita A man who will support me Dominic said the qualities and encourage me to pursue my of movies been shown in desires and dreams. A man that the cinemas are not worth will make me feel comfortable it, is it the government’s expressing my thoughts and responsibility too? feelings openly to him without Yes, it is not every movie that fearing his judgment or ridicule should be in cinema. Let the quality of the film match the Single and ready to mingle? hype they always give it. Then, It’s personal to me. Can we lack of fund. The government leave relationship matter, best have not been supportive of the known to me. industry, most of the production you see out there are mostly self What’s your best fashion sponsored. accessories?

Another one is greed! Some Shoes and bags. individuals have the resources to make a quality movie but Do you have a regular beauty because they want to make routine? If yes, can you share? enough profit, they’d rather Yes, I use egg white, lemon, make a low quality movie for milk mix with sugar to scrub face high profit. once in a while.

Not all Nigerian movies have poor picture quality and bad What could make Paschaline sound, there are exceptions. shed midnight tears?

Some good and thorough movie When I miss home or things producers are doing good works. ain’t going the way I want it to, it makes me cry.

During your early days in the industry, can you share your Have you been heartbroken? encounter as a green horn?

And did you deal with it?

My first encounter with Yes, I am human, but after Nollywood was in 2010, when 2weeks I was back to normal I did waka pass in a movie directed by Kalu Anya and it Did that make you cry or starred the likes of Chika ike starve yourself of food? among other actors. The movie I was hurt to be honest, but I was shot in Asaba, but at that, I didn’t starve myself. was not ready to make it a career cos I was still in school.

What turns you off in relationships?

What’s your opinion on Fake lifestyle, pretense and lies. premarital sex?

I’m not a saint ooooo but Our You have been with Funke bodies are to be temples of the Akindele’s production for Holy Spirit. St. Paul indicates years now, how best can you that sin of the body is serious describe her? compared to sins outside the She is an amazing woman. body.

Where do you see your brand What makes a good actor? in a couple of years time...?

A good actor should be so Well, I hope to have an acting convincing in a role that he can school for young talents. I’m hold an audience captive and very passionate about helping make them feel as if there is people with my brand.

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Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Gist Sunkanmi drops Monster hit song ‘ Zobo’ Fresh out of the studio, talented singer, songwriter and entertainer, Olasunkanmi Rehanat Alonge better known on stage as Sunkanmi is out with another monster hit song titled ‘ Zobo’.

The new song connects with the popular new street dance vibe ‘Shakushaku’ via it’s beat; hence Zobo song exray the life of guys with sugarcoated mouth making effort to deceive ladies with flashy things of life.

Produced by young John, mix and mastered by Indomix, the new hit is currently streaming on number one spot on the Manchester UK Afrobeat fresh ten songs.

Sunkanmi is a multi award winning afropop artiste who has featured big acts in the Nigerian music industry that includes YBNL Olamide in ‘For Body’, CDQ in ‘ Marry Joana’.

G-Worldwide Entertainment unveils 2 new artistes Stories By Mutiat Alli Months after the exits of Kiss Daniel from the label; G-Worldwide Entertainment, the premier African music company, is proud to announce two new signings Ajura and Easy Jay, and introduce them into the market.

After proving themselves as confirmed leaders in the music space, with a track record of success, G-Worldwide announces the latest additions to their rosters.

Easy Jay and Ajura, are the latest talents to be unveiled.

G-Worldwide Head of Artist Management, Louiza Williams said: “We

are thrilled to welcome Ajura and Easy Jay to the G-Worldwide family. They have all it takes to develop and become superstars in the African music scene, and will be gamechangers in dominating and bringing African music to the world. We are extremely excited to have them as a part of the team and are eager for the journey ahead.”

Ajura took a very unconventional route to making music. He began as a dancer. Born Daniel Alaba Ojamomi, in Ondo State, Nigeria, he is the last child of a family of 8.

Tragedy struck early when he lost his dad at 3.

Ajura was signed to G-Worldwide Entertainment in 2018.

He has a diverse set of musical influences, including luminaries such as Asa, D’banj, Wande Coal, Sugarboy, Burna Boy, Kiss Daniel, Beyonce, Akon, Chris Brown, and R. Kelly.

For Easy Jay who watched his parents go through a divorce as a kid. But that didn’t stop him from finding his path. Born Oluwashola Raymond Oyekan, in the ghetto of Mushin, Lagos State, he is the first child from a family of three.

At age 12, while in High School, his parents got a divorce and split up the family. That would take a toll on the young man, who went through primary education at Queen Maris International

School, before moving to St. Saviours International School.

Irrespective of the breakup, he carried through his education, and found a way to move past the hurt to keep loving his parents.

Easy Jay was signed to G-Worldwide Entertainment in 2018, and cites Fela Kuti, 2face Idibia, Usher and Chris Brown amongst others as his key influences. He’s operates across genres, blending elements from Alt-R&B, Highlife and Afro Pop. “In few years, I want to Inspire a young boy somewhere in Africa or anywhere around the world watching on me on TV to say “I want to be just like Easy Jay,” he says.

Not relenting, the talented songstress followed up with more singles that includes ‘ Follow you go’, Everywhere and You amongst others.

Sunkanmi is however a graduate of Geophysics from Olabisi Onabanjo University and draws her musical inspiration from happenings around her and music legends both home and abroad.

As part of her 2018 aim, Sunkanmi is currently working on putting out an album before the end of the year

Terry tha Rapman calls out Nollywood actress Uche Jombo for stealing his “Boyz are not smiling” slogan Nigerian rapper, Terry tha Rapman has just dropped a new single titled ‘Pablo’ where he dissed Nollywood actress and producer, Uche Jombo for stealing his “Boyz are not smiling” slogan and movie idea.

Uche Jombo has a new movie titled ‘Boys Are Not Smiling’ in the works and according to documents obtained by LIB the filmmaker registered the name

in 2012.

Terry Tha Rapman however says, ‘Boys Are Not Smiling is a slogan I popularised since 2005 in a song called ‘Na beans’ all my fans know this’.

In the song he dropped punchlines like, “BANS movement is back o, BANS movement is back, Uche Jombo don cast o, Naija rappers don cast o, you can call me sub zero, myths f---k a top 5 o.”

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Society Circle

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Stories By Isaac Oguntoye

Ex-minister Alex Akinyele’s milestone Stories By Isaac Oguntoye Former chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC) and ex- Minister of Information, Chief Alex Akinyele is presently in celebration mood as the he clocked 80years.

Sir Alex’s visionary leadership style and courageous service to the nation, especially his contributions to the public sector in ensuring that communication becomes an integral part of policy formulation and execution, and actualisation of all development projects

endears him to many.

Although, many had thought the octogenarian will roll out drums to celebrate a milestone, which has been lined with many notable achievements in both the public and private sector.

Surprisingly, the former Secretary General just wrote a piece on his facebook page saying “It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. I am 80 today.

I thank God Almighty for my life and I thank wonderful family members and friends like you”

Bolanle Ambode counsels Lagosians over humanitarian services That the Wife of the governor of Lagos State, Bolanle Ambode has been complementing her husband’s progressive work for the people of Lagos state with humanitarian services is no longer news.

But when it comes to

relieving suffering, fostering self-reliance for people of all nationalities and religions Bolanle is always ready. Few days ago,the delectable woman of substance urged every Lagosians and Nigerians in general, to be more concerned with preventing rather

than curing malaria infection. She gave the charge in Oregun, HOFOWEM office, when her pet project, Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative HOFOWEM, distributed over 3000 insecticide-treated nets, at Makoko community, Yaba LCDA, as part of

activities to mark 2018 World Malaria Day. A s i d e commemorating with the world Malaria day, she has been involved in so many philanthropy activities especially when it has to do with the welfare and health of the family.

Mrs Shade Okoya @ 41 A known Lagos socialite married to an industrialist and billionaire businessman, Chief Razak Okoya, the ever charming and gorgeous Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Shade Okoya, clocked 41 on 25th Of April, 2018. But according to fillers, she did not roll drums or had a flamboyant party like she did last year.

The industrious woman who was so passionate about moving her husband business to it zenith was spotted in the factory without hosting any party, just want to thank God in her life.

In case you don’t know, annually, in honour of her birthday the sprawling estate of Chief Razaq Okoya,

Oluwa-ni-Shola estate, Lekki, always become pilgrimage destination for all her friends and well-wishers to celebrate the beautiful heartthrob of the quintessential business tycoon.

Last year, many will recall that the prestigious hall that hosted the event within the expansive estate was adorned with a mind-blowing multimillion naira decoration as guests were wowed at the display of class and panache of the venue all in her honour.

People will not in a hurry forget the gigantic birthday cake that must have cost a fortune as it was indeed a cynosure of all eyes at the high-class event then.

Mixed Grill L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Deji Doherty set for political ventures again?

Stories By Ajibade Alabi Some of the major things that separate men from the boys in most successful endeavors are courage, determination, hard work, discipline and sincerity of purpose.

These are clearly politician, Deji Doherty exudes. No doubt his family background, as the son of a highly successful medical doctor father and quiet but strict mum greatly, shaped his upbringing.

Though a trained successful engineer, Doherty has become a politician of note due to his invaluable roles in the activities of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the South-West, especially This is not surprising as the Doherty’s hail from the Doherty dynasty of Popo highly respected family known for good conduct and integrity over the years. From a lowly position, Doherty, who shares his family traits, has his hands in many pies ranging from engineering, hospitality, logistics, transportation, telecommunications, auto business and more.

Though he had taken a shot at governorship

perhaps thinking of further growing his businesses, but it’s like people will not let him be. So strong, it was learnt, has been the

impact on the fortunes lobbyists are of the conviction that the businessman can give of life which will have a

quarters on Doherty urging him to run for the governorship of six months. While they agree that the incumbent Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has done well so far, the consensus of the multitude asking him needs somebody to right the wrongs in the state, against the backdrop of hardships occasioned by harsh policies and the failure of the authorities to

board.

The good news is that the PDP strongman has acceded to their request, even as many have promised to take the gospel to the nooks and crannies of the state.

Those close to Doherty Daily Times learnt insist his priority is to focus on policies that will impact on human capital development and invest massively in health services and education to bridge the gap across the state.

Oil magnate ABC Orjiakor’s stock can’t stop rising There is that popular saying that the human mind is quite capable of taking great leaps from one area of expertise to another. Oil magnate Dr. Ambrose Bryant Chukwueloka Orjiako popularly known as ABC Orjiakor has proven that aphorism right. The handsome billionaire is a trained orthopaedic and trauma surgeon with a successful practice. As a man that has the world as his oyster, Orjiakor left his comfort zone to make the big switch to full-time business in perhaps the most competitive and demanding sector in the Stories By Mutiat Alli

economy – oil and gas and he had managed to so seamlessly trade in his surgeon’s gowns and gloves for the cut and thrust of the business world; thanks to his adroit business acumen as he has become one of Nigeria’s wealthiest men.

In 2010, Orjiakor led a momentous deal when he co-founded SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Ltd. which was the first Nigerian company to take over the operating of a Joint Venture asset from Shell, Total and Eni. For more than seven years, it has been rollercoaster for the company under the chairmanship of the

self-effacing Orjiako.

However, in the last few weeks, Orjiako and Seplat have been in the news, but on the pleasant side. As the Chairman of Seplat, the oil firm has been in the running for acquisition of Brazil’s national oil company, Petrobras’ Nigerian assets valued at up to $2 billion.

Petrobras participates in two Nigerian oilfields, Akpo and Agbami, operated by French oil giant, Total where they produce a total of 368,000 barrels a day but it’s planning to offload its Nigerian subsidiary as part of a massive divestment programme.

Orjiako’s Seplat is looking

good to come out better whenever the result of the auction is expected to be announced in early May. On the heels of that was the news of Seplat breaking the record by becoming the first Oil & Gas Company to migrate to the Premium Board of the Nigerian Stock Exchange? The pre-eminent Nigerian independent alongside three other companies, joined the elite club of only three members on Monday, April 16. The migration is historic because Seplat became a listed company just four years ago on April 14, 2014.

Fuji icon, Alhaji Fancy Aiye Alamu moves up Fuji icon and a respected musician ALHAJI Nurudeen Alamu Bamigbaye aka FANCY AIYE ALAMU is set to move up the ladder even as he takes time to explain the main reason why he is been called fancy in this exclusive chat with this man who though look like a man in his 50 but yet he is 3 years from septuagenarian “I learnt tailoring as trade and off all of us that learnt the trade under my boss then I was different, I always give good and different styles to my clothes for the finishing, and hence I was given fancy to the point that every customer will want me to sow their clothes” On his youthfulness he said it was daily exercise that has kept

him going “ I could remember a young man in his 20s challenged me for a press up, and I accepted but after doing 15 laps he said he was tired I told him since I was not tired and he was the one who challenged me he must completed it, he could but I did.

I managed myself very well. Even on the other side I am good ask my wife (Laughter) and also I don’t eat any how I don’t just eat anything, it is not everything I eat and I don’t drink I only take soft drink occasionally” He also take a swipe on KWAM 1 “kwam 1, saying late Barrister is not the original creator of fuji is a total rubbish. He is not been sincere and I see him as a betrayer going by what late Sikiru Ayinde

Barister did for him. If not that music as a profession does not have hierarch we should not have been here discuss this issue like Yoruba adage “ igi imu jina sori” in military can corporal tell segment any rubbish? No it will not”

Glitz, glamour as ex-Gov. Donald Duke shut down Calabar for daughter The festivity synonymous with December in Calabar, Cross River State was reenacted in April as the former Governor of the State, Mr. Donald Duke and wife, Onari, last weekend dragged the upper crust of the Nigerian high society to the ancient city when they hosted the traditional wedding of their daughter, Xerona and Derin Phillps, the Chief (Mrs.) Teju Phillips and grandson of late international business magnate, Chief Antonio Deinde Fernandez.

The ceremony was held at the expansive mansion of the Dukes. It was the second part of the nuptials of Xerona and her beau, Derin, popularly known as DJ Caise. The pair had their introduction October 14, 2017. And the bride’s parents treated their cross section of guests from the Nigeria’s political, business and royal elite to a classical display of an cultures. The dignitaries in Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; HRM Edidem Ekpo Oto V, Obong of Calabar; Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas;

Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Mr. Wale Babalakin; Dr. Abdulsamad Rabiu; ThisDay Publisher, Mr Nduka Obaigbena; Mr. Segun Awolowo; Mr. Francis Ogboro, John Obayuwana, Sam Iwuajoku and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.

Visibly excited Duke took to his Instagram page to express his heartfelt joy over her baby daughter’s journey to matrimony: “Over the weekend, my wonderful daughter Xerona, traditionally married her beau Derin, in front of friends and family at our home in Calabar. I can’t believe my to start a family of her own!

Welcome to the family Derin.

We’re blessed and happy to have you.”

After the Calabar extravaganza, Xerona and Derin also had their court wedding on Tuesday while wedding) will hold in the next few weeks. The groom, Derin announced his engagement to Xerona on Monday, August 29, 2017, in an Instagram post where he couldn’t seem to hold back his excitement.

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, April 28, 2018

L7 Society Circle

Sydney Ibeanusi leads other surgeons Whenever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity this obviously might have led to the successful operation carried out on a 74year old woman with large tumour at prof.

Kelsey Harrison Hospital in Port Harcourt recently led by Dr. Sydney Ibeanusi FRCS Ed., FWACS, FMCS. This feat recorded has become a reference point to medical practice in Nigeria as the surgery which was done by the joint effort of medical doctors of International Trauma and Critical Care Ltd (ITCC) managers of the hospital, who actively played pivotal role, speaks volume to the bright future of Nigerian medical history and this shows the passionate

desire of the management of the hospital to address the needs of other people in the country.

ITCC is a Nigerian based Hospital and Healthcare managers of world class standards that are in a PPP relationship with Rivers State Government and other Public and private Investors to provide quality and affordable advanced health care services to Nigerians in Nigeria such as specialist treatment for brain and stroke care, early cancer detection and treatment, joint replacements, kidney and liver transplanting and stem cell regeneration treatment, bloodless surgery to mention a few. All can be checked on www.itcc-c. com

Between Fayemi and Ekiti State In the document, Charge Sheet HHD/05C/2018 filed on 20th of January 2018, Dr. Fayemi was charged alongside his erstwhile finance commissioner, Dr. Vincent Kolawole for high crimes of corruption by stealing 300 million Naira proceeds of bond raised to execute projects in the state, conspiracy to steal 681 million Naira plus from bond proceeds meant for Governor’s Office renovation, 716 million stolen as sum from expenditure meant for School of Agriculture, 198 million stolen from sun meant for building Ekiti State Liaison Office in Lagos , Stole 2.25 Bn Naira bond fund meant to construct modern market in Ado Ekiti that was never built and 468

million being amount stolen from water works project also slated to be built from bond but not existent despite Ekiti continuance to pay for same debt.

In all, Fayemi was accused of stealing well close to 5 billion Naira of the 25bn bond money he raised and looted from the state evident in the massive wealth he acquired despite being a governor as only a pauper lecturer from Ghana after long fought battle by progressive forces whom he quickly abandoned. In addition, he was accused of contempt of the judiciary as well as obstruction of justice and is looking at between 20-25 years in prison for the offences if convicted.

Medical practice at this hospital is a passion cum profession, it requires self-sacrifice, purity of soul and purity of thought, this, is the propelling force behind the surgeons, who all have irresistible urge to provide service to the medical profession and particularly to surgical practice, which in turn has led to the successful surgical operation carried out on the aged woman.

The patient with deteriorating condition was scheduled for overseas treatment in Germany but surgery was successfully operated and tumor removed at Prof.

Kelsey Harrison Hospital Port Harcourt.

This is amongst the highly specialized medical services provided by ITCC Team.

About core media boss Jide Adediran If any young vibrant, industrious and dynamic showbiz personality deserved an accolade, it will definitely be Jide Adediran judging by his grass to grace story.

The lucky dude will also strike your mind when you talk about some of the few youths making positive impact in the country.

The able socialite cum media mogul was once the toast of every stakeholder and event organizers due to his free and humble lifestyle. No doubt, his midas touch of gold has made his CoreTv News and Core Media Service ranks high among its competitors with excellent content and juicy breaking news. In other not to bore you with long story on his wizardry trait, information has it that, the cool dude is presently experiencing some difficult time to the extent that, his business, have stated becoming a shadow of its old self.

Sources said that; ‘’All is not fine with the media outfit as we speak. All the experienced hands that contributed to the astronomical rise of Core Tv have all left to

join other platforms in search of a greener pastures. Jide owed them backlogs of unpaid salaries. As we speak, Core Media is currently grasping for life like a sinking sailor.’’

Sani Bello’s public-spiritedness When it comes to saving human lives and alleviation of suffering, Usman Sani Bello is an advocate of humanitarian services.

His foundation has been at the forefront of engaging and promoting human welfare and social reforms.

Sani Bello is a philanthropist to default.

In his generosity no fewer than 300 people have had free surgery in a medical outreach organised by the Sani Bello Foundation in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State.

The beneficiaries who included men, women, youths and children were operated on for appendicitis, fibroid, lumps, hernia, thyroid, goitre while others were treated for hypertension.

It will interest you to know that, the three-day outreach which was in collaboration with the Graceland Health Development Foundation was held at the

General Hospital Kontagora.

Meanwhile his public-spiritedness has made him one of the most kindhearted philanthropist that the country can boast of at the moment.

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, April 28, 2018

L8

Beauty

Weekend Beauty Parlour

5 easy beauty tips for summer!

By Mutiat Alli

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