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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

VOL. 3

NO. 765

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Suspects face prosecution, to be arraigned in court Tuesday Agency warns Nigerians against undue advantage of policy over money

Adebisi Oyindamola, Abuja The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property has arrested two suspects: Muhammed Sanusi and Prince Ovie Jeff for false whistle-blowing.

The two suspects were said to have alerted the panel about stacks of money belonging to one businessman at a property in Gwarinpa area of Abuja.

The SPIPRPP Head of Media and Communication, Lucie-Aan Laha, disclosed the development in Abuja on Friday, saying that upon receiving the information, the agency obtained a search warrant and raided the property, but no money was recovered.

She said: “The suspects came to us with information about money stored in large CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

We disqualified Communications Minister Shittu for skipping NYSC – APC

PDP bows to Wike, holds g 5 Oct 6 National Convention in Port Harcourt

Pilot dies as g 3 NAF aircraft on rehearsal for Oct. 1 celebration crash

Former Health Minister, Hon Funke Adedoyin, dies at 56 g 3

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The pay will determine g12 my acting nude - Teddy A

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

2 suspects in hot soup over false whistle-blowing Continued from page 1

bags, both local and foreign denominations, at an apartment in Gwarinpa.

“So we needed to get clearance to search the house, and as we got there, our investigators ransacked the entire house and we found nothing.

“A number of Nigerians are trying to take undue advantage of the whistleblower policy, because of the monetary strings attached to reporting public loots.”

Ovie, who said he came to Abuja from Bayelsa State because of the money, said he was told the money was a looted public fund, adding that he simply wanted to get his own share.

He said he met Muhammed Sanusi through one Alli who is currently at large, claiming to have spiritual powers to detect where money is kept.

Sanusi corroborated the story, but accused Ovie of masterminding the false alarm which led to their arrest on Thursday.

The agency explained that the case is currently under investigation, stating that the suspects would appear before a Magistrates’ Court in Wuse on Tuesday.

The PRO said the panel had recovered numerous looted public funds since its establishment a year ago.

According to her, the panel recently charged to court, Director of

Finance and Account, Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, Ibrahim Tomsah, with whom 86 brand new vehicles were found in his warehouse.

She said, “We have impounded the 86 brand new vehicles parked in a warehouse, and he cannot explain how he came about it.

“And 23 of these vehicles are armoured vehicles.

We are also querying some properties in highbrow areas of Abuja, and a quarry in Kuje.

“Several properties in Kaduna, Yobe and Lagos, our investigators are looking into that.

Finally, she called on public to provide the panel with useful and credible information about looted public funds.

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PHOTO TIMES

L-R: Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki; President Muhammadu Buhari; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, at a meeting with Nigerians in the Diaspora in New York.

Pilot dies as NAF aircraft on rehearsal for Oct 1 celebration crash Andrew Orolua, Abuja Tragedy struck air display rehearsal for October 1, Nigeria’s 58th Independent Day celebration on Friday as two of the aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force taking

part in the rehearsal crashed around the general area of Katamkpe Hill near Abuja.

But the development led to the death of one of the pilots.

Though, eye witnesses said an Air force officer was killed in the sad

incident, the Director of Public Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola denied the account in a terse statement stating that “no life was lost in the incident.”

Continued on page 5

L-R: Outgoing Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Osun State Governor-Elect, Gboyega Oyetola and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, during a courtesy visit to Tinubu at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos... on Friday.

Former Health Minister, Hon Funke Adedoyin, dies at 56 Henry Omunu, Abuja and Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

A former Minister of State for Health, Hon Funke Adedoyin, is dead.

Until her death, Adedoyin was a member of the House of Representatives from Kwara State.

Aged 56, Adedoyin was said to have died from complications arising from cancer on Friday afternoon in Abuja.

Confirming the demise of the female lawmaker, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Rasak Atunwa, said: “This is a big loss to me, I am feeling a personal loss right now. It was

this afternoon that she passed on in Abuja.

Atunwa, chairman of House Judiciary Committee and governorship aspirant in Kwara, also stated that Adedoyin died of cancer.

He said: “She had been battling cancer in the past few years.”

The late Adedoyin was the daughter of foremost industrialist, Chief Samuel Adedoyin (a.k.a Doyin Motors).

The Daily Times recalls that former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed the late Adedoyin as minister of state for health during his second term between 2003 and 2007.

Incidentally, the late Adedoyin was part of former members of

the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers that recently dumped the party and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The late Adedoyin represente Irepodun Isin Ekiti Oke Ero constituency of Kwara State at the House of Representatives.

The death, which occurred on Friday was not yet announced by the family as it was being kept away from her aged father.

A source close to the family said that the deceased had a cancer operation about two years ago, while she had been in and out of the country for medical attention since then.

Outgoing Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Governor-Elect, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, atop vehicle acknowledging cheers from the residents shortly after the special Jumat Service to commemorate Oyetola’s victory during the governorship election at Oke Oba Central Mosque, Osogbo... on Friday

L-R: Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu; Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, during his visit to the injured pilot from the Nigerian Air Force fighter jet which crashed on Katampe Hill at the Defence Intelligent Agency (DIA) Hospital, Abuja...on Friday.

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

PDP bows to Wike, holds Oct 6 National Convention in Port Harcourt Presidential aspirants sign peace bond

Tunde Opalana, Abuja Apparently evading post- convention crisis imminent from threat by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, finally settled for Port Harcourt as venue of its national convention scheduled for October 6 and 7, 2018.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the party at its 82nd emergency meeting in Abuja resolved every crisis surrounding the choice of convention venue and stuck to the earlier choice of Port Harcourt.

Wike, however, withdrew his threat to teach PDP a lesson should the party dare to move the convention outside Port Harcourt.

He was said to have apologised to the party for his outburst over the venue probably to avoid being sanctioned for threatening to put the party in disarray, an action considered to be anti-party.

Wike had on Wednesday while hosting a presidential aspirant and Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Damkwabo, said, “The state (Rivers) would teach the party a “bitter lesson” if it is not given the hosting right as agreed by the PDP leadership.

No presidential aspirant can use and dump Rivers State. Those days have passed when they took Rivers State for granted.

“No presidential aspirant can use and dump Rivers State. We never lobbied for it; we never asked for it, but it will boost the economy of the state. People will make money.

Those who are against Rivers people making money to improve their businesses will not get our support.

“Nobody should dare Rivers State any longer. Enough is enough.

PDP should know that we are not a punching bag. We are not a people you can use and push. We are not harlots — whenever you want, you come, when you finish, you push us aside,” Wike said.

Two presidential aspirants, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and

Senate President, Bukola Saraki favoured the choice of Port Harcourt.

Atiku said: “I am not afraid of Port Harcourt because Port Harcourt is my second home. I don’t need accommodation in Port Harcourt, I don’t need security, so I am comfortable”.

Saraki said all the aspirants agreed on Port Harcourt.

He said, “Some of the issues that we are having before which were reported in papers we discussed that.

Everybody decided that we should stay with the party. Where temper were flared, people apologised and everybody felt yes there was a commitment to assure everybody that there will be free and fair primaries”.

Also, chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, the most popular among issues discussed was that of the convention which was successfully resolved.

“We have taken a position that the convention will hold at PortHarcourt, Rivers State. Beyond this, there were assurances of free, fair election and that the aspirants will accept the outcome of the result”, he said.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said NEC resolved to hold the 3619 delegates’ convention in the Rivers State capital after the party had allayed the fears of presidential aspirants that objected to the venue.

Another major resolution of the NEC was that the party committed all its presidential aspirants to a bond on the outcome of the election.

He said, “What this translates into is that all our aspirants will sign agreement with our party in order to ensure that the outcome of the national convention which the party has promised to be transparent, free, fair and acceptable to Nigerians must be accepted by all our aspirants.

“The aspirants have been assured of a transparent process of the national convention. The aspirants

collectively assured the party also that their fears over the Port Harcourt convention have been allayed by the party.

“They also resolved that they have confidence in the leadership of the party and the leadership of the convention committee.

“A unanimous decision by all the members of NEC present was taken that our national convention will hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The convention will take place between 6th and 7th October.

“I can assure that the PDP has a methodology of resolving its crisis using the internal crisis mechanism that’s what we adopted in the case of the decision to use the facility in Rivers State to conduct our convention”.

Other resolution of the 82nd National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting include the condemnation of the process of the Osun State governorship election as most fraudulent and completely unacceptable.

It cautioned that with the trend of electoral violence and manipulations of processes by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the political ship of the nation is on a dangerous tide and must be rescued.

Furthermore, NEC expressed the readiness of the PDP to engage democratic stakeholders all over the world towards achieving a credible free and fair general election in February 2019.

Present at the meeting were members of the National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, presidential aspirants including Saraki, Atiku, Aminu Tambuwal, Datti Baba-Ahmed and Tanimu Turaki.

PDP governors present include: Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti); Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).

Former governors Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Speaker House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara among others were also present.

Presidential primary: Party still expecting result from states – Oshiomhole Tom Okpe, Abuja

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said that the party is still expecting the result of the presidential primary election held on Friday to elect its presidential candidate for the 2019 general election.

The party, which has the incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari as its sole aspirant for the presidential election, savoured its victory in the rerun governorship election in Osun state.

Oshiomhole said the party won due to a deal it struck with the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Speaking on the Friday’s APC presidential primary held across the country, the party chairman in a press conference on Friday in Abuja said that the party is in the process of collating the results of the exercise and will make it public as soon they are ready.

He said: “The process entails collating the results from ward levels to local council and then state level, to know how many persons participated in the primary election. These are well thought out ideal meant to return the country to democratic ideals”.

When asked about membership and population of party officials that participated in the presidential primary, Oshiomhole said that although the APC boosts of 16 million members, he cannot say the actual number that voted at the primary until results are collated.

Reacting to criticisms trailing the just concluded rerun governorship poll in Osun state which the party’s candidate, Gboyega Oyetola was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oshiomhole said those who were castigating the commission including the Senate President, Bukola Saraki have no basis to do so.

He said that as far the party is concerned INEC performed creditably well in the Osun state election saying that, “going by the narrow margin with which the winner emerged, it was clear that the exercise was credible. Gboyega Oyetola and the APC worked hard to seal a deal with the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator

We disqualified Communications Minister for skipping NYSC- APC Tom Okpe, Abuja

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has stated that the serving Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, was disqualified from contesting the Oyo State governorship primaries because he skipped the mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme.

Oshiomhole also said that Shittu’s counterpart in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Jummai Alhassan (aka Mama Taraba), was also disqualified as Governorship aspirant to fly the party’s flag in the 2019 general election for her disloyalty to the party.

Oshiomhole expressed worry that Shittu failed to attend the compulsory NYSC as a Nigerian graduate, which he attested to at the party’s screening committee.

Oshiomhole made this revelation during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

He said: “Shitu admitted that he did not do the mandatory NYSC as provided for, under the law and in his own judgment, his being a member of the House of Assembly in the state and now as a Minister of the Federal Republic that these were enough sacrifices. But for us as a party we know that NYSC is a mandatory scheme.

“It is not something you may elect to do or abstain from doing and my understanding of the NYSC

Act is that no employer of labour is permitted to employ anyone who graduated under 30 years and who did not obtain an exemption for reasons as provided for in the NYSC Act. “So, for us, not participating in the NYSC raises very serious moral issue as well as legal issue.

After interviewing him, we were convinced that for our party, there are clear lessons we need to learn from our recent past. We were convinced that if he did not do NYSC, that for us was enough to disqualify him and we had to find the courage to do so.

“As for the Minister of Women Affairs, she has issues that have to do with party loyalty. Our constitution is clear and it dictates that to contest

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elections or even hold office in the APC, you must be loyal to the party in every material concern.

“From all she had said in the past and even her comments and general attitude during the screening, the NWC reviewed everything taken together and we arrived at the conclusion that she does not possess the level of loyalty that the APC requires for her to contest elections on our platform.

“We made it clear when the defections happened that the APC may well benefit from these defections if it helps us to be more critical in terms of who we give platform to contest elections and that there are core values that binds the APC together and they are nonnegotiable”, Oshiomhole added.

Iyiola Omisore while the PDP was busy protesting against the rerun election.

“That we agreed to give him opportunity to contest for a senate seat, which is correct. Not just the Senate but House of Representatives and House of Assembly seats. Going forward, we discussed how to work together”, he said.

Speaking on the leaders of the national Assembly, Oshiomhole said: “The ruling party will not accept minority party members to superintend over the National Assembly; Senator Saraki should reconvene the legislative chamber so that budget for 2019 general elections can be passed.

He said that Omisore was a deputy governor to the founding national chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande in 1999 when he was governor adding, “Omisore is not a fake progressive but has had an early working relationship with the progressives”.

Oshiomhole also disagreed that APC sponsored intimidation against the opposition parties adding that it was not in the interest of the ruling party to engage in such act.

Giving reasons for the disqualification of the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Alhassan, the chairman said the party took the decision because of her disloyalty and antiparty activities and from her previous comments about the APC which she did not hide during the screening exercise.

Oshiomhole

Pilot dies as NAF aircraft crash...

Continued from page 3 He, however, later reversed himself, saying that “the air mishap necessitated the three pilots to eject from their aircraft, which subsequently crashed in the general area of Katamkpe Hill”. “Regrettably, however, one of them later died due to complications from injuries sustained upon impact on the ground. Thankfully, there were no civilian casualties.”.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf of officers, airmen and airwomen of the NAF, commiserates with the family of the deceased officer.

The CAS has also instituted an air crash investigation to determine the remote and immediate causes of the incident.

He said that “two Air Force officers on Friday escape unhurt as aircraft used to rehearse for Nigeria’s 58th Independent Day celebration crashed in Abuja.”

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Rivers presidential primaries: APC Short News Action Alliance advises youth to endorses Buhari for 2nd term support credible leaders in 2019 Muhammadu Buhari, a press

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt release signed by the state

The All Progressives Congress (APC), held its presidential primaries across the 319 wards of Rivers State, Friday, endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office.

According to reports collated at the APC State Secretariat, 63 Aba Road, Port Harcourt by the Presidential Primaries Returning Officer for Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, a total of 388,653 party members across the State voted for the only presidential aspirant of the party, President

Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Chris Finebone stated.

According to the statement, the election which was based on the direct mode of primary earlier adopted by the NWC/ NEC of the party for the exercise was witnessed by all the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Electoral Officers in the 23 LGAs of the State.

The statement added that on hand to witness the primaries were the various Divisional Police Officers across the State.

It stated that earlier, the State Presidential Returning Officer, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi

Amaechi, also the Minister of Transportation, had arrived the APC State Secretariat and was ushered into the State Chairman’s office from where he monitored the exercise before visiting some wards within the Port Harcourt metropolis and environs to see things for himself.

“Whereas the 319 Ward Party Secretaries served as Ward Returning Officers, the 23 LGA Secretaries of the party served as LGA Returning Officers.

“Meanwhile, all hands are on deck to ensure a successful Governorship Primary scheduled for Sunday, September 30, 2018, in Port Harcourt,” it concluded.

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja Action Alliance (AA) has advised Nigerian youths to ensure the emergence of credible leaders in the 2019 general elections.

National Secretary of AA, Mr Venimbe James gave the advice in Abuja while presenting free intent and nomination forms to a Youth Governorship Aspirant from Benue State, Mr Akpur Emmanuel Terfa.

The party scribe said that the free forms presented to the governorship aspirant was part of the party’s strategies of encouraging the youths to participate in the 2019 polls.

According to him, women and People Living with Disabilities (PWD), who are interested in contesting for any political office under AA Party would also be given free intent and nomination forms to give them a sense of belonging in next year’s elections. He said the time has come for the youths and women as well as PWD to take their rightful place in the nation’s political arena.

James who expressed concern over the present situation of the country stated that the party was committed to reposition the country for greatness if given the opportunity in 2019.

He explained that the party had already concluded arrangements for its primaries at various political offices beginning from Presidential, governorship and national and state houses of assembly.

Receiving the intent and nomination forms, the Benue State guber aspirant, who is 38 years old said if elected, he would harness the state’s agricultural potential to create jobs and develop the state.

Speaking further, Terfa decried the slow pace of development in Benue State promised to initiate fresh ideas that would revamp the economy and reduce the level of poverty in the state.

He appealed to INEC to conduct credible elections that would be acceptable by generality of the people.

Katsina to establish model female secondary school - Gov Masari The Katsina State Government says it is set to establish model girls’ secondary school in Katsina Metropolis to boost female education.

Gov. Aminu Masari disclosed this during interactive session with journalists on Thursday in Katsina.

The governor said that “the idea behind establishing the special girls’ secondary school is to give maximum support to female child education in the state.

“The state government has already acquired the defunct kiddies International School in Katsina metropolis for the establishment of the model school.

“The government will surely make the school like the model family support secondary school in Katsina, where modern facilities had been installed.”

Masari disclosed that the state government was committed to providing conducive atmosphere for learning, especially in female boarding secondary schools.

He said that his administration had renovated female secondary schools at Ajiwa, Sandamu Rogogo, Kabomo and Government Girls Secondary School Malumfahi.

Kogi guber aspirant tasks FG on flood disaster management

Scenes from the two Nigerian Air Force aircraft which collided in Abuja... on Friday

Buhari meets, congratulates first black senator in Italy Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has met and congratulated the first Blackman ever to be elected senator in Italy, Mr Toni Iwobi, of Nigerian origin who lives in Italy for 41 years.

On the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, Thursday, he met with President Muhammadu Buhari, along with a high-powered team from the Italian Senate.

“My congratulations to you,

and to Italy,” President Buhari told Iwobi, who was elected in March this year, on platform of the far-right League Party.

“It shows the advanced respect of Italians for human beings, in spite of colour. It’s very impressive.”

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, FEMI Adesina, on Friday, stated that the team from Italy discussed issues like illegal migration and how it can be curbed through investments in Africa, recharge of the Lake Chad via inter-basin water transfer, among others.

“Africa doesn’t need charity,

but collaboration to develop,” Senator Iwobi declared.

Responding, President Buhari noted that what causes irregular migration from developing to developed countries include lack of security, education, health care, among others, stressing: “Climate change has had negative impact on a big country like Nigeria. That is why our youths often defy the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, to try and get to Europe.

It is a problem that needs to be solved.”

The Italian Senate delegation plans to visit Nigeria soon.

Kogi State governorship aspirant, Dr Joseph Ameh, popularly known as Erico, has appealed to the Federal Government to evolve a permanent flood disaster management plan to save lives and reduce hardship of victims.

Ameh, a security expert running under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the call in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Lagos.

He said that part of the ecological funds should be allocated to flood disaster management and should be monitored to prevent its diversion to other projects.

The politician, who is the Managing Director of Real Strikers Security Services Ltd, advised government to use the funds to make pre and post-disaster management plans for flood zones in the country.

Ameh said that in making plans ahead, the federal government should identify waterlines and waterways, and then clear them.

Plateau Govt to organise maiden tourism conference

As part of efforts to re-position Plateau as a tourism hub, the state government is set to organise its maiden tourism conference.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Culture and Hospitality, Mrs Tamwakat Weli, said this in her goodwill message to mark the 2018 World Tourism Day on Thursday in Jos. The commissioner represented by the Director of Tourism in the ministry, Paul Danbaba, said that the conference would chart a roadmap for the socio-economic development of the state.

She said that the conference, schedule to hold in November, would help draw up a tourism policy for the state which would facilitate the production of a tourism master plan.

Weli said that the 2018 theme, ‘Tourism and Digital Transformation ‘ would highlight the need for investment in digital technologies.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Saraki, Atiku fault Osun rerun poll ... Urge PDP supporters to be law abiding Tunde Opalana, Abuja As condemnation trails the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gboyega Oyetola as Osun State governor elect after Thursday supplementary election, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar have joined in describing the handling of the election as a mockery of democracy.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said “yesterday, we witnessed another display of the subversion of the will of the Osun people during the re-run gubernatorial elections in the State. The election was characterised by widespread voter intimidation, violence and harassment. Accredited observers were denied access to polling units and duly registered voters were prevented from participating in the electoral process by thugs and compromised security agents..

“Like I said a few days ago, this needless re-run election was only designed as an avenue for the ruling party to perpetrate electoral fraud. The nature of these

elections is an embarrassment to our democracy and casts an alarming pall on the institutions responsible for protecting the will of the Nigerian people as stated through their votes. That was why for more than ten hours the INEC could not collate and announce results in just seven polling units with just over 2000 votes.

“It is surprising that the election in which on Saturday, the two leading candidates were running neck to neck with the PDP candidate having an edge, four days later, as a result of manipulations and impossible conditions, the APC candidate is now being credited with all the votes and some paltry number of votes were being recorded for the PDP candidate.

“It is important for Nigerians and the international community to insist that the hands of the clock should not be turned back in terms of the achievements we recorded in the last general elections.

We should not make a mockery of democracy by conducting elections in the manner that the Osun Polls were conducted. The Osun election is a clear indication of how the 2019 election will be conducted. It demonstrates that if we cannot conduct free, peaceful

and fair elections in seven polling units spread across four local government areas of a state, then the conduct of the general elections in 774 local government areas across 36 states of the country is already endangered”.

According to the senate president, it is disheartening that the major beneficiaries of those credible processes are now the ones subverting the basic principles of democracy in every way possible.

On his own part, Atiku said the declaration by INEC is a travesty of justice and a demonstration of tyranny, stressing that the unnecessary rerun, in polling units cancelled or voided by the INEC, was nothing more than a red herring, to distract attention and gain time, while the ruling party perfected strategies to pull a fast one on the electorate, as it has done today.

Calling on the international community not to stand idly by while democracy is being trampled upon in the country, Atiku said Nigeria as a unique nation is very strategic to Africa in terms of population and location, warning that a destabilised Nigeria will destabilise Africa and this must never be allowed to hold.

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Short News Imo Reps member de-worms school children Prince Nwankwo, Port Harcourt The Imo State House of Representative member, Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor representing Okigwe South Constituency in the House of Representative through his support group known as Hon. Chike Okafor Support Group (HCOSG) has kicked off the de-worming of primary school pupils in his constituency.

The area of coverage comprises pupils from Ehime Mbano L.G.A, Obowo L.G.A and Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A. The exercise kicked off on Wednesday September 26, at Isiore primary school in Umuezeala Ehime Mbano L.G.A, with the wife of the honourable member, Deaconess Akudo Okafor who officially declared the programme/ event open by giving some drugs to the pupils of Isiore primary school.

The organizer of the programme, who is also the Chairman of HCOSG, Hon. Prince George Okafor, thanked the entire people of Ehime Mbano, school head teachers for coming to Isiore the take off programme, promising that they have enough drugs that will be used to de-worm all primary school pupils in Okigwe south constituency, and that after Ehime Mbano, the group will proceed to Ihitte/Uboma L.G.A and Obowo L.G.A.

NECO says ongoing reforms yielding results – Ag. Registrar The Acting Registrar of National Examination Council (NECO), Mr Abubakar Gana, says the ongoing reforms embarked upon by the council are beginning to yield results.

Gana made the assertion while speaking with newsmen on NECO’s efforts over the past four months at fulfilling its mandate in Abuja on Thursday.

The acting registrar explained that dividends of the reforms were evident in the result of its recent examinations among other things.

He said that results of the NECO examinations of 2017, specifically Mathematics and English language had shown that 70.85 per cent of candidates obtained five credits and above.

He further said 71.48 per cent of the 2018 result indicated improvement over the 2017 results by 0.63 per cent in terms performance of candidates On the 2018 NECO results, he said that 875,464 candidates, representing 84.77 per cent scored credits in English Language, while 850,331 candidates representing 82.34 per cent, scored credits in Mathematics.

He added that 742,455 candidates representing 71.48 per cent scored five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

Abia Govt to launch fund for free basic healthcare services

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike (right), addressing traders at the burnt Fruit and Vegetable Market in Port Harcourt... on Friday

Anti-terrorism: Buhari accepts OIC’s support Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the pledge by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to help Nigeria tackle the Boko Haram insurgency through sound education among others.

During a bilateral meeting Thursday, with OIC Secretary-General, Dr Youssef Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, on the margins of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York, the

President also underscored the importance of education in purging the mind of wrong indoctrination, particularly on religion.

Buhari noted that the problem in Nigeria was aggravated by climate change and population explosion, emphasizing for the umpteenth time the need for the recharge of Lake Chad through inter-basin water transfer, “to take care of about 45 million people who depend on the lake for agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, and many others.”

Special Adviser to the President on Media

and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated that the OIC scribe had told the Nigerian President that his organisation had passed a resolution committing member states to support Nigeria in combating extremism.

He said that the body was ready to use its facilities and institutions to correct the wrong narrative that the Boko Haram insurgency was about Islam.

Dr Al-Othaimeen, who noted that development was essential to addressing extremism, also pledged assistance for Nigeria in that respect.

The Executive Secretary, Abia State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Chinagozi Adindu, says the state government has concluded plans to launch Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to revitalise the primary healthcare sector.

Adindu, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Umuahia, said that the fund was expected to be launched early next month.

He said the fund, which would be launched by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, was part of Federal Government’s measures to improve healthcare services in the country.

According to him, the fund will enable people to have access to free medical services at primary health care facilities.

The executive secretary said that the project would be assisted by the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates and other donors’ agencies.

Niger Govt to spend N91m on livestock tracking devise Niger government says it will spend N91 million on micro chips to track movements of livestock in order to address the issue of cattle rustling in the state.

The state Commissioner of Fishery and Livestock, Alhaji Zakari Bawa, disclosed this during a press briefing in Minna on Thursday.

He said that the project was approved during the weekly executive council meeting, adding that the state government would collaborate with MTN to actualise this.

According to him, there will be a sensitisation campaign across the 25 Local Government Areas to educate owners of livestock on the project.

“Due to the recent happenings in the country on theft of cattle, this project is meant to put surveillance on livestock to know their movement and where about.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

2019: We are ready to break away if... Emir Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin The Emir of Yashikira, in Baruten Local Government area of Kwara State, Alhaji (Dr ) Umar Seriki Usman, has advised political parties to ensure the emergence of Kwara North aspirants as their respective candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

He stated this on Friday, while receiving a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Alhaji Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi in his palace.

He noted that the section of the state had resolved to mount agitations and breakaway from the state if reverse is the case stressing that, “gone are those days when we do follow-follow.”

According to him, “We are the food basket of the state, we are the commercial hub and pride of the state and we have always being instrumental to political victories in the state.

“Our people have been living in abject poverty, poor conditions, perpetual backwardness, joblessness and enmity among communities.

We want a governor from within us and any attempt to do otherwise, we are ready to mount agitation for breakaway from this state because our Kabba and Okene were lost to the present Kogi State.”

He also lamented over the poor road networks across Kwara North Senatorial District maintaining that successive administrations have promised and failed the region saying, “It is our time to take over the leadership of the state by

producing the next governor of the state.

“We need modern equipment for farming; we need qualitative education and good healthcare delivery for our people. This is 21st century and we can’t afford to be living in the dark and unpardonable ignorance. May God assist you in the cause to salvage us all in Kwara state.

The first class traditional ruler however endorsed Alhaji Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi as the Kwara North candidate for the 2019 governorship race in Kwara State and prayed God to ensure his victory in the party primaries.

Earlier, the APC aspirant had enumerated some of the problems facing the people of the state and promised to betray the trust if elected as the governor in 2019.

Short News Senatorial ambition: Kwara tricyclists endorse Gov Ahmed Kehinde Akinpelu , Ilorin Fifteen thousand members of Kwara State Joint Tricycle Association have joined other well meaning Kwarans in endorsing the State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed for his Kwara South Senatorial ambition.

At a solidarity rally to Government House, Ilorin, on Friday, Chairman of the Association, Prince Duro Oyebade who led other members of the sixteen tricycle associations emphasised that they were solidly behind the governor in accomplishing his senatorial ambition.

Oyebade who spoke on behalf of the associations also promised to work assiduously to ensure the emergence of the Governor as the next senator to represent Kwara South senatorial district.

The association praised the Governor for his various masses-oriented projects like affordable SME Scheme and the purchase of 250 tricycles for its members and stressed that the governor deserves the senatorial seat for a better representation.

He said “All members of our 16 tricycle associations fully identify with you and your ambition to represent the good people of Kwara South senatorial districts and we have resolved to work towards the actualisation of your ambition”.

2019: Maku vows to tackle security challenges in Nasarawa Augustine Kuza, Lafia Former minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has promised to tackle the incessant crises in Nasarawa state within two months if given the mandate to govern the state in the forthcoming general elections.

He stated this on Friday at a rally in Lafia when he presented himself to the people as the sole governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state.

Maku attributed the incessant crises in the state to the insincerity of the leadership to be just and fair to all.

“When I assume office in 2019, crisis will end, peace will return to all parts of the state because I am aware that the incessant crisis in Nasarawa state is from the leadership.

The formal minister assured all citizens that his administration’s transformation programme would be just and fair to all irrespective of tribal, religious and ethnic leaning.

Nasarawa LG workers to receive September salary in full

All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward 6 Chairman, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Hon. Charles Otasowe Adenomo (with the microphone); after a successful presidential affirmation primary election, at the APC Ward 6 Secretariat, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Benin City... on Friday.

The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Haruna Osegba, has said that local government workers in the state would receive their September salaries in full.

The Commissioner, who disclosed this on Thursday, said that the full payment would bring to an end the payment of percentage salaries to the workers.

Osegba said that the decision to end the percentage payment was due to improvement in the federal allocation accruing to the state and its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He explained that the percentage payment that began in November 2015 was due to shortfalls in revenue accruing to state occasioned by the economic recession the country went through that year.

According to him, the commencement of full payment was in fulfilment of government’s promise to end the percentage payment once the state’s revenue improves.

“The governor has approved the payment of full salaries for the month of September to local government employees in the state,” he said.

Abia royal fathers endorse Gov Ikpeazu

Plateau PDP sets up committee to prune number of guber aspirants

Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia Having reviewed various calls, adoptions and endorsements by various groups, persons, cultural and political blocks on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for a second term, the over 730 traditional rulers in the state, Friday adopted the governor for a second term.

In their resolutions following

moves for the adoption by Eze Bar Uche Elekwa (Abia North), Eze Edward Ibeabuchi (Abia Central) and Eze Ejirika Egege (Abia south), the traditional rulers said it will be out of order for them to be silent, observing variously that the governor has done well in all sectors of Abia economy.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Ruler said the over 770 traditional rulers in the state are in agreement

over the adoption for equity to be fully implemented in the state.

According to them, “a journey that is successful is usually repeated”, noting that since Orji Uzor Kalu and T. A. Orji did it for eight years each for Abia North and central respectively, there is the sense for Abia South, through Ikpeazu to also complete its eight years too.

However, the royal fathers sounded it loud and clear that it is for a further one term, not three.

As politicians jostle for their parties’ tickets to contest the 2019 general elections, the PDP in Plateau has set up a five-man committee to prune the number of aspirants seeking the governorship ticket.

Thirteen aspirants have purchased and submitted the party’s nomination forms to battle for the lone ticket in the PDP primaries slated to hold on Sunday, Sept. 30.

According to Mr Gwott Chocho, the State Organising Secretary, the 13 aspirants have been screened and given the nod for the contest.

Chocho told newsmen on Thursday in Jos that the committee, led by former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu, has been meeting with the aspirants “individually and collectively’’.

“The committee is expected to speak with the aspirants and explore the possibilities of some of them stepping down.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Gov Wike meets traders at burnt fruit, vegetable market, directs immediate reconstruction Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt The Rivers State, Governor, Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Friday met with traders at the burnt Fruit and Vegetable Market where he directed the Special Adviser on Special Projects to immediately redesign the market and commence reconstruction processes.

Governor Wike had on Thursday night conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the market after the fire incident, which took place earlier in the day, was reported to him.

“Let me assure you that I have directed the Special Adviser on Special Projects so that we can rebuild the market immediately,”

he said.

He reassured the traders that his administration would offer them assistance to get their lives back on track.

Governor Wike directed the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and the councillor of the area where the market was located to work with the traders to draw up a comprehensive list of shop owners and affected traders for the government’s intervention.

He said: “Those of you who sell here, I have told the Mayor and the councillor representing here to get your names, so that we can reach out to you.”

He reiterated his appeal to the affected traders to cooperate with the Rivers State Government for the necessary action.

Lamenting the incident, Wike said: “What I saw here yesterday and this morning is so painful.

Please endure and cooperate with us. Your problem is our problem.

What affects you, affects the Government.

“This is your source of livelihood and we will find a way to assist you rebuild your lives,” he said.

He added that the State Government would investigate the cause of the inferno.

On Thursday, the popular Fruit and Vegetable Market along Kaduna Street, Port Harcourt, was completely razed by fire.

The immediate and remote causes of the inferno, in which goods and property running into hundreds of millions of Naira were lost, are yet to be ascertained.

9 News

Short News Osun Rerun: APC campaign council commends voters Tom Okpe, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC), Campaign Council for the Osun governorship election has expressed satisfaction with the outcome of Thursday’s supplementary election in the state, saying with the result, the people have emphatically pitched their tent with the ruling party.

In a statement issued in Osogbo on Thursday by the Chairman of the Council’s Media Committee, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Council also congratulated the Governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the outgoing Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the entire APC family for the well deserved but hard-earned victory.

It commended INEC and the security agencies for a largely peaceful and orderly conduct of the election, as attested to by local and international observers.

The Council said the biggest winner in the whole election saga is democracy, and gave the credit to the good people of the state as well as the ruling APC, which did not hesitate to submit to the democratic process despite the high stakes.

Gov Sani-Bello directs political appointees aspiring for elective office to resign Saka Bolaji, Minna All political appointees in Niger State aspiring for any elective office in the forth coming general election next year have been directed to thrown in the towel immediately.

The State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello gave the directive in Minna, the state capital through the Secretary to the state government (SSG) Alhaji Ibrahim Isah Ladan, who said the decision was reached at the weekly state executive council meeting.

According to the statement, the decision to relief the political appointees of their jobs was to enable interested appointees pursue their ambition and for their effective participation in campaigns and other activities.

The statement further said that Governor Sani-Bello recognised the support and appreciated their tremendous contributions towards the actualization of the restoration agenda of his administration.

The Governor also wishes them well in their future endeavours.

L-R: Second best winner of the Channels Book Club’s Prize for Literature Season 3, Osemudiame Legbedion; overall best winner of the competition, Ife Olatona; Presenter and Producer, Channels Book Club, Olakunle Kasumu; and the third best winner of the competition, Ireayoluwanitemi Olota during the event in Lagos.

2019: Enugu workers, youths, reiterate support for Gov Ugwuanyi Moses Oyediran, Enugu Ahead of 2019 general election, the enthusiastic workers in Enugu State and the entire youths of the state have reiterated their stance on the earlier endorsement of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s re-election, declaring that they are solidly behind him.

The workers and youths, who spoke separately through the state chairmen of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe and Comrade Paschal Ugwu, respectively, said the decision was based on their conviction that the governor has continued to entrench good governance, cater for their welfare and promote peaceful co-existence and national unity among residents of the state.

They described the governor as a God-fearing, peace-loving, visionary, hardworking, unassuming, pragmatic and high-performing leader, whose style of governance is uncommon and

remarkable in the annals of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, the state Chairman of TUC, Comrade Igbokwe applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for his prompt payment of salaries on the 23rd of every month, “whether it falls on a Saturday or Sunday”.

Comrade Igbokwe added that Ugwuanyi “is a governor who makes workers’ welfare his first priority”, disclosing that “he paid June and July salaries even when FAAC did not sit for two months”, saying: “It is not obtainable anywhere”.

Reaffirming their earlier stance on the endorsement of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s re-election, the elated labour leader, who lauded the governor’s giant strides in infrastructural development and human capital empowerment, said: “We are supporting his second term bid and every other endeavour beyond his 2nd term, we will always stand by him.

On the part of Enugu youths, the NYCN state Chairman, Comrade Ugwu, stated that “our youthfriendly governor” has actually delivered on his promises to the youth in particular and the people

of the state in general, disclosing that “youths in Enugu State are celebrating good governance and the peaceful atmosphere in Enugu State, made possible through His Excellency’s sound vision and humble disposition”.

While reaffirming the unanimous endorsement of Gov. Ugwuanyi’s reelection in 2019 by the entire students and youths of Enugu State, the youth leader, lauded the governor for the recent appointment of Comrade Ogechukwu Nnaneme and Comrade Chidi Ilogebe as Special Assistants on Youth and Students Affairs, respectively.

The labour leader, Comrade Igbokwe, said “We are delighted to say that in the three and half years of Ugwuanyi’s administration, the labour has fared very, very well in Enugu State. The workers are happy.

Speaking further, the youth leader maintained that: “Your Excellency, with 60% voting strength of the youth out of the number of eligible voters in Enugu State, we firmly reassure you that your re-election is 100% guaranteed by God’s grace”.

APC presidential primaries: Adamawa Speaker says exercise peaceful Tom Garba, Yola Speaker, Adamawa House of Assembly, Rt Hon Kabiru Mijinyawa have described the Presidential Primaries of All the Progressives Congress (APC) in Adarawo Ward as peaceful and rancour free.

Kabiru who was the Returning officer said he is optimistic the State will not have any problem with yesterday’s primaries (Friday) as President Muhammadu Buhari is still the man of the masses. ‘’As you can see, card carrying members of our great party, men and women in hundreds queued in lines as early as 7:30am anxiously waiting to votes for President Buhari to be the flag bearer of APC in 2019 elections.

“This is to tell you the popularity of Buhari is not contestable. I believe that he will win the elections for the second term.’’ Kabiru Said He disclosed that the decision of indirect primaries for the State is to give all aspirants equal right as party loyalist to test their popularity.

2019: Govs are returning officers for presidential direct primaries – APC Tom Okpe, Abuja The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed respective State Governors to serve as Returning Officers for the Presidential Direct Primaries holding across the States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A statement issued Thursday night by the acting National publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said, “States where there are no Governors on the Party’s platform, Senators along with the ministers are to serve as Returning Officers for the exercise”..

The statement also stated that National and State House of Assembly members are to coordinate their various constituencies during the exercise.

Meanwhile, the party’s NWC led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has rescheduled the date of the governorship primaries to September 30th, however, subsequent elections are unchanged.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Plateau attack: Gunmen kill 15 Short News Ag Gov, Danladi as Gov Lalong imposes curfew Ex-Taraba joins guber race Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos Fifteen persons on Thursday night in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, at about 9pm lost their lives in a gruesome murder suspected to be executed by Fulani herdsmen Eyewitnesses said the attackers came in their numbers and opened fire on residents who live close the hills in the area.

The Daily Times gathered from the leader of the community, Mr. Sunday Abdul, that some group of herdsmen came two nights ago seeking the where about of one of their own.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Tyopev Mathias in a statement said the command received a distress call and immediately mobilised to the scene.

The PPRO said “On the 27/09/2018 being Thursday at about 2205hrs, the Plateau State Police Command Control

Room in Jos received a distress call to the effect that there were sporadic gunshots at Rukuba Road opposite Kowa Hotel, Jos. The Command after receiving the report mobilised Patrol Teams immediately to the scene of crime.

The unknown gunmen who took advantage of the ongoing rain in the area to attack residents were forced to run from the scene by the combined superior gun fire of the Police and the Operation Safe Haven (STF).

“Some people who reside close to the hills were rescued while some persons lost their lives as a result of the attack and some others sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos and are currently receiving treatment.

“The combine security is out to contain the situation in Jos. As such, members of the public are to remain calm and law abiding.

“Meanwhile, patrol of the area is being intensified and investigation in

the crime has commenced”.

Meanwhile the Plateau state government has declared dusk till dawn curfew in the State.

In a statement signed by Richard Tokgma, the acting Secretary to the State Government reads: “following the disturbance dusk till dawn curfew has been declared in Jos North and Jos South local government area of the State”.

However, the Plateau State Commissioner of Information and Communication, Mr Yakubu Dati in a press release, said that “the attention of the Plateau State Government has been drawn to an attack along Rukuba Road in the early hours of Friday morning. The unfortunate action is generating tension in Jos the State capital.

“The State government expresses Governor Lalong’s condolences to the families of the bereaved and entire community where the incident took place”.

Okerafor Athanatius, Jalingo Former Taraba State Acting Governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi has assured restoration of permanent peace to the people of the State if voted as Governor in 2019.

Sani Abubakar Danladi, who is currently a Governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State disclosed this in Jalingo while addressing Party supporters who came out in large numbers to welcome him.

“If God permits me to be the Governor of Taraba, I will do everything possible to ensure the safety of every citizenry in Taraba”.

A former Deputy Governor under the leadership of late Governor Danbaba Suntai, Danladi said, he was not satisfied with the high rate of insecurity in some parts of the State.

He added that such insecurity situations claimed lives of innocent Tarabans with property worth millions of Naira destroyed, saying, his administration will resist every bit of insecurity and ensure that permanent peace is restored if voted into power.

Bayelsa APC accuses PDP of creating imaginary tension Akam James, Yenagoa The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Brass Local Government Area in Bayelsa state has debunked claims of attack on Secretariat, intimidation of members, and shooting of police personnel by stakeholders of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

The party also alleged that the Caretaker Chairman of Brass Council, Victor Isaiah and his army of imported thugs have formed the habit of creating an imaginary tension in Twon Brass in a bid to discredit Chief Timipre Sylva and other notable party stalwarts in the state.

It was learnt that the leadership of the PDP in Brass LGA in state raised the alarm over alleged violent attack and intimidation on the Secretariat and attack on security personnel in the area by thugs suspected to be members of the APC. In a statement in Yenagoa, Yesterday, by the APC chairmen in the LGA, Mr. Baribote T. Baribote, said, members of the APC could not have brought down flags that had been hoisted for over six days, knowing fully well that such a nefarious act cannot and do not make for electoral victory.

Odochi Orji sensitises Abia women on participation in politics Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima (extreme right) lined up in the midst of hundreds of card carrying members of the APC at his Lamisula Jabbamari Ward on Friday in Maiduguri, where he took part in the party’s direct presidential primaries across the 312 wards in Borno State.

APC primaries: Consensus will eliminate moles in Kwara – Chieftain Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Kwara, Alhaji Kunle Sulyman has appealed to the national officers of the party to adopt consensus option in selecting the party’s flag bearer.

Sulyman, who made the appeal on Friday in Ilorin while speaking with journalists was of the view that only consensus, would eliminate moles planted in APC from hijacking the party.

“It is better to adopt consensus for the selection of the governorship candidate to eliminate moles planted in APC. “I know that not less than six of the aspirants in our party were planted and financed by PDP stalwart to

hijack APC. “We should not give room for him to carry out his plan to hijack both PDP and APC in Kwara,” Sulyman added.

He stressed that if the national secretariat of the party adopted consensus in the state, it would remove any rancour that may arise from indirect primary.

Sulyman, a lawyer and pioneer chairman of PDP in Kwara said adopting consensus candidate would remove spending huge sums of money by aspirants.

He appealed to elders and stakeholders of the party to join hands with him in appealing to the national officers to adopt consensus candidate in the interest of the party.

Sulyman however said that in the event the consensus option failed, the national officers should fall

back to direct primary, pleaded that indirect primary should not be used.

According to him, indirect primary would not produce the most popular candidate as aspirant with money would buy off delegates.

“In direct primary, you don’t know who to buy with huge sum of money because all card carrying members of the party are eligible to vote in direct primary,” Sulyman added.

He said the APC Advisory Committee in Kwara, which he was a member met severally with the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed where mode of the primary was discussed.

“At the meeting, we resolved that in the absence of consensus approach, direct primary should be adopted,” he said.

Abia women have been urged to take active part in politics and to contest for political positions in the state.

This call came from the immediate past Abia First Lady and wife of the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Mercy Odochi Orji while addressing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and allied organizations’ woman leaders in the state, urging them to be steadfast with the party in the state.

Odochi Orji, while advising them not to jump from one party to another, sensitized them on the need to support and vote for all women aspirants and candidates in the spirit of womanhood.

While advising Abia women to “try and contest” for elective political positions, she said: “I want women to come out and vie, even from councillorship positions.

“Try to support fellow women and also challenge others in the political positions you want. Support also women who have been in politics in their quest for new positions”.

FG pursues agric programme for youths, women Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin The Federal Government has said that it would continue to churn out various agri-preneurship programmes for Nigerian youths and women as a stop gap for gainful employment.

Already, the programmes have been fixed for the existing six geo political zones of the country just as the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) Ilorin in collaboration with McGeorge Consulting Limited pencilled down the programme for the implementation.

According to the Acting Director of the ARMTI, Dr Olufemi Oladunni while speaking with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, over 600 youths and women across the six geo political blocks would benefit from the programme.

According to Oladunni, “the modules of the programmes are such that they will empower New Generation Youths and Women on Agripreneurship and Business Development in order to enhance their competence in Agricultural Productivities.

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Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Why people find it difficult to take me serious - Wale Akorede Comic Yoruba actor, Wale Akorede, better as Okunnu, who is sure one of the popular faces on home videos and as such often time regarded to as one of the busiest in the Yoruba movie industry. Despite his age, Okunnu still waxes stronger jumping from set to set. Wale, who used to be a business man when he relocated to Saudi Arabia, is a proud indigene of Oyo State. He spoke with MUTIAT ALLI about his career, relationship amongst others. Enjoy…

You are over 50 years and yet you known to be fully active on any movie project; where do you draw the strength from?

All the strength belongs to almighty God, I don’t usually eat much but I have lots of multivitamins that gets me going. The funniest thing is that I don’t do any form of exercise; I don’t have any stress that can weigh me down because whenever I am on set, I ensure that I imbibe a happy mood strategy and that has really worked for me overtime. Most time is not about the age, how you carry yourself really matter too.

other role. Just like the medical field with different department, the same is applicable to actors as some of us are good in interpreting a particular role better than the other.

real life even when I am dead serious about a particular issue, people don’t take me serious at time because I have been tagged a comedian and at the end, I just flow with them.

Do you have a dream role you look forward to playing?

Well not really because there is precisely no role that I have not played in a movie; I played the role of a clergy, lawyer, village man and all that before; but as an actor I look forward to every role I want to play but am still patiently waiting for a script that will challenge me more.

You are known with funny roles; don’t you sometimes feel stereotyped?

Let me correct the impression that I am a stereotyped actor; there is no role I cannot play in real sense but I have come to realize that people appreciate me more when I play funny roles than

Don’t you sometimes feel bad when people don’t take you serious when in actual sense you are?

Honestly in terms of movie, even when I am playing a serious role, the audience still finds it funny because that is what has been registered in their consciousness about me but in

What is that craziest thing a fan has done to you?

A lot of crazy things, sometime whenever I pull down my car glass and they see, one has actually slapped me before all in the name of greeting me and some while greeting you will curse you along ‘ Were Oni film Yi lon lo yi’ (Is this mad actor that is going ) but In real sense am I mad? I just feel all these crazy things our fan do to us is to further show that our various works are been appreciated.

Have you ever acted in any English movie before?

Yes I have featured in countless English movies; even my Igbo people have invited me so many times and

I have been there to contribute my quota too. Like I said earlier, I an actor, so I should be able to fit into any movie irrespective of the language.

So what was growing up like for you?

Growing up days for me was a little bit terrible for me because when I was young, I was very stubborn and hard hearted because I have passion for acting and my parents were never in support of it but I started acting partially immediately after the death of my father in 1982, I became more stubborn and my mother had no choice than to give to what I love doing.

Like some of your other colleagues, did you also run away from the house?

Yes I did several time and whenever I am back home, my mother will beat me mercilessly and

so when I realize that the only thing she does was to beat me; I will run out of the house for days and when I return I am already prepare for beating because it was more or less like a routine for me.

So at what point did your mother give her support?

The moment she started seeing me on screen then she realized that I was actually born to do this and she commended my effort that if she had known that I will be this good at this; she would have supported me long ago.

With your religion, one will expect that you have several wives, why did you decide to stick with one?

Well that is my own policy, I may be with one wife today and tomorrow you hear am with ten wives; it’s a matter of choice.

Gist12

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

AMAA 2018: Organisers to host African cinema roundtable in Kigali As organisers gear up for the 14th edition of the prestigious Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), organisers have equally announced readiness to host African Cinema Business Round Table in Kigali billed to hold on October 19, 2018 at the Intare Conference Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

With partnership with the American film distribution company, Smith Global Media, the roundtable will tackle issues such unlocking distribution the key to wealth for African distributors as key note discuss of the event as well meaning movie practitioners across

Africa will be in attendance.

Revealing expectations from the coming roundtable, Martins Gbados, disclosed that speakers at the event will include the Chief Executive Officer of AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and Will Smith’s younger brother and partner, Harry Smith.

Speaking on the partnership between AMAA and Smith Global Media, the event CEO, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe noted that the partnership will help African filmmakers map a new course in film distribution across the continent at large.

L-R: Senior Brand Manager, Seven Up, Segun Ogunleye; Founder/Director, ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside; and Group Head, Corporate Communications & External Affairs, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi, at a press briefing to announce ART X Lagos 2018 in Lagos

ART X Lagos 2018 brings best of contemporary African art to Lagos this November as 18 international galleries exhibiting at ART X Lagos A total of 18 leading international art galleries have been scheduled to feature at the 2018 ART X Lagos holding at the Civic Center, Lagos from November 2 to 4. The founder and director, ART X Lagos, Tokini Peterside, disclosed that the event would include exhibiting galleries and artists, special- curated projects, a programme of talks, the ART X Prize, and a music show.

The show will also see performances

by Teni the Entertainer, Ghanaian musician Amaarae, and BOJ, accompanied by some of Lagos’ finest emerging visual and graphic artists.

The 18 exhibiting galleries include Art House – The Space (Nigeria), Addis Fine Art (Ethiopia), Circle Art Agency (Kenya), Stevenson Gallery (South Africa), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Tafeta (United Kingdom), Tiwani Contemporary (United Kingdom), Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), and Out of Africa Gallery (Spain) amongst

others.

A selection committee led by Advisory Board members, N’Goné Fall, the renowned Senegalese curator, and Femi Lijadu chose these galleries. The latter is one of Nigeria’s most respected art collectors and leading commercial lawyers.

Ms Peterside, said, “After the success of ART X Lagos 2017 we are delighted to return for a third edition.

We are validated in our decision to develop this vital platform for the growth and increased visibility of African artists and galleries.

“This would have been impossible without the phenomenal support of the galleries, sponsors and partners, who took a huge leap of faith and committed to support us from ground zero, for which we are most grateful.

In six weeks, we will open the doors to ART X Lagos 2018. We look forward to welcoming a vast and varied, local and international audience as we

seek to reinforce Lagos’ position as an emergent cultural capital on our continent.”

Internationally renowned artist, Yinka Shonibare MBE, who was announced as the keynote artist, will be celebrated with a highly anticipated exhibition, exploring his career highlights at the fair.

ART X Talks, which holds on November 3, is curated by Missla Libsekal, will feature a series of exciting and engaging talks from key stakeholders in Africa’s art economy.

Interactive Projects, which is curated by A Whitespace Creative Agency, will feature experiential platforms that explore ideas influenced by the exhilarating essence of Lagos.

The 2018 ART X Prize with Access winner, Bolatito Aderemi-Ibitola, will have a solo presentation of her project, ‘Scraps from Mama’s Floor’ at this year’s fair.

Peace-Anyiam-Osigwe

The pay will determine my acting nude - Teddy A Ex-Big Brother Housemate and CEO of Alpha Records, Tope Adenibuyan, better known as Teddy A, has revealed in a recent interview that the pay will determine if he can act nude or not nothing that as one of the criteria when asked if he can act nude and he said ‘How much are they paying me?, There has be criteria on ground and more importantly, they have to be money involved.

Teddy A was cornered at the movie shoot of Unsane as produced by actress

Nedro releases much anticipated song, Alright Stories by Mutiat Alli After much anticipation, Timbaze Music Act, Nedro finally has dropped his second single for the year 2018 titled “Alright”, to the delight of fans across Nigeria and beyond.

The up-tempo reggae song shares the message of peace and hope to Nigerians at a time the nation is preparing for elections and the polity is quite heated.

This makes the song a perfect fit for the

moment.

Friends and fans have already shown support by putting up the alright hand symbol; a trend introduced by the song and has taken over Instagram, spreading hope, peace and love. MTV act, Ehiz as well as prominent Instagram influencers have joined in talking about the song, ahead of its release.

“Alright” will mark a follow-up to Nedro’s earlier hit, “Philomena”. The much anticipated track, produced by Mix Master Garzy, is set to dominate

airwaves across the country in the coming weeks. The track is available on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer, Boomplay and other digital platforms for download.

Nnaemeka Stanley Mamah, a.k.a Nedro is an afro fusion artiste from Enugu who hit limelight after the release of his song “Duro Nor” in 2016. He is signed to Canadian based record Label, Timbaze Music. Nedro has released songs with big names like Patoranking and appeared on major shows and tours including Trace in the City Tour in Lagos and Benin.

Teddy A

Nkechi Blessing Sunday where he is playing the character John Okafor a very bad guy, arrogant and involved in so many things illegal things but ended up with some repercussions.

On his coming project, Teddy A disclosed that he has a new song titled ‘Balance’ featuring Ex-Big Brother Housemate, Bisola Aiyeola and Iyanya as well as the unveiling of the new collections from his Alpha Apparel clothing line.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

13

Beauty

Get the tricks to lasting pedicure

By Mutiat Alli

It’s not uncommon to leave the salon and discover you have chipped nail polish. You can stub your toe, trip and scrape your new polish or smudge the colour as you’re putting sandals on to leave.

One sure way to damage your newly polished toes is to put on shoes. Even when you think your polish is dry, the material can stick to newly-polished nails. Wearing shoes that are too tight increases your chances of a ruined pedicure.

Besides, one may not have the luxury of time to get a nail salon appointment on a regular basis.

Rather than leave out this beauty indulgence, learn how to get more mileage out of your polish.

Smooth it out: Having a nice polish on your toe nails can make your feet look more presentable but not if you have dry, callused skin.

Use a pumice stone to regularly slough off dead skin from your feet to keep them soft, smooth and sandal worthy Moisturize: If you’re not already moisturizing on a regular basis, it’s a must that you start. Moisturizing

your feet not only helps your pedicure look better by keeping your skin and cuticles soft and hydrated, but it also helps your feet stay smooth and look great in between trips to the salon.

Carry cuticle oil: Another way to make your pedicure last is to carry a cuticle oil and keep your feet soft, moisturized and prevent the polish from chipping. Having rough or dry cuticles can mean painful hangnails and unsightly rough skin. Keep a small bottle of cuticle oil in your bag or at your desk to apply on your cuticles and nails one to two times a day to prolong the life of your pedicure Top your topcoat: The top coat that the manicurist applied in the salon typically wears off in a couple of days, so prevent your polish from chipping and keep your toes looking fresh with a touch-up. It helps the toes to maintain its high shine and luster.

Keep them covered: This tip might go against the whole point of getting a pedicure but it’s one to think about. Although we get pedicures in order to show off our well-groomed

feet, constantly exposing them to the elements can lead to chipped or faded polish, or dry and rough skin.

Of course it’s okay to wear open toed shoes and sandals, but make sure you protect your feet and keep them covered on days you can.

Avoid heat: You might think that once you get fast-dry top coat on your nails, you are pretty much good to go, but not quite. Nail polish takes about 12 hours to harden so if you get your pedicure and run to the sauna or jump in a hot tub, you’re running the risk of ruining your pedicure!

Bring your own polish: If you’re unsure whether your nail salon

carries new bottles of polish, why not bring your own? Many salons use nail polish thinners to prolong the shelf life of nail polish, so if you want to ensure you’re really getting a fresh coat, bring your own nail colour. This way, you can do your own touch-ups if you accidentally smudge a toe nail.

Dodge fragrances: If you like to use scented body lotions, the fragrance in the lotion might not be great for your pedicure. Synthetic fragrances have been known to make nail polish crack, so when you’re moisturizing your feet, go for unscented lotions or use essential oils to keep your skin soft.

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Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Mixed Grill IBEJII presents ‘Tribal Marks’ Disney honours

90 years of Mickey Mouse on DStv, GOtv

Stories by Mutiat Alli Recently, Ibejii, the charismatic enigma, hit the global music sphere with his third offering in just over a year, Tribal Marks. Ibejii is locked and loaded to serve up some more delightful tunes seamlessly woven with classic jazz.

The avant-garde crooner who has since become a mainstay in the alternative music sphere once again proves the range of his talents and vocal prowess.

Tribal Marks represents another dimension to a remarkably talented mind as the artiste flawlessly waltzes into the jazz genre. The album continues the trademark storytelling adored by his fans using sweet melodies, captivating metaphors and traditional folklore. The 11-track album delves deep into Ibejii’s mind on the subjects of humanity, politics and love.

A titillating new artiste, Ibejii seeks to paint pictures, tell stories and drive action with the power of his music. Armed with folklore and metaphor all delivered in his native tongue, IBEJII is a storyteller whose music is delivered in an emphatic yet sensitive fashion.

IBEJII seeks to explore, traditional Yoruba folk, Jazz, Dance, R&B, Juju among other genres.

Ibejii

Hotyce drops new single, ‘We don’t do that over here’ Fast rising rapper and songwriter, Hotyce (Emeka Ejechi) having dropped several singles in the past is sure not relenting has he further proves his relevance in the music industry releasing yet another brand new single and video titled ‘‘We don’t do that over here’. The video as directed by Aje Films is a simple work of art, illustrating the essence of HipHop, which is embodied in the new song.

Signed to K2O Entertainment, Hotyce is a graduate of Economics from the University of Abuja and has gained prominence with heavy velocity as an undergraduate.

Over the past couple of years, he has worked hard at his art by writing, composing and co-producing a whole lot of songs for himself and others in the studio. However since landing a recording contract with K2O Entertainment Hotyce has impacted the music landscape

with songs like “10 o’clock in VGC, The man, Kilofoshi” amongst others as these bodies of work has cemented his place as a burgeoning and authentic rap-act to watch.

Hotyce defines his sound as rejuvenating Hip-Hop. His clever metaphors, rhyming schemes and well-crafted delivery, mixed with clear diction and audible baritone vocals kill it. While growing up he listened to the likes of Dr. Dre, Snoop, Nas, LL Cool J, Fabulous, Fela, Sade which later influenced his music but he always say that he loves anything good music and appreciates it when he hears something and gets inspired.

As part of his plans before the end of the year, he is however set to release a debut project which features industry heavyweights like MI, Waje, Jesse jags, YQ amongst others.

Hotyce

The GoalMac show/ TV berths in Lagos A new media company with the aim of further creating and developing exclusive sports and entertainment content has berthed in Lagos. The first of its kind football and entertainment show recently launched in grand style in Lagos, THE GOALMAC SHOW airing on GoalMacTV www.goalmac.tv .

In the words of the Managing Director, Mr. Macdonald Okafor, he said: “Our platform was created so that our fans and viewers can be educated, entertained and earn while also enjoying what they love”.

The MD however reaffirmed that the platform is here to stay as football and entertainment is like a religion in Nigeria and Africa hence why The GoalMac show

was created to entertain fans in a manner they have never been entertained before.

The GoalMac showcases the lifestyles of popular footballers, coaches, cars, and fashion via the weekly sport show while the entertainment segment features top entertainment personalities who discusses burning issues of the industry.

Other segments of the GoalMac show includes Street Talk, GoalMac Talent promo, GoalMac betting tips, fans giveaways, and Live football streaming amongst others.

However, the lifestyle segment is hosted by the duo of Chinonso Arubayi, Esther John and Nnenna Chuku and can be connected to for free via www. goalmac.tv.

GoalMac

Disney Africa has announced the African launch of the Mickey the True Original campaign, joining the global festivities honouring nine decades of Mickey Mouse, his heritage, personality and status as a pop-culture icon.

As 18 November 2018 marks 90 years since his first appearance in Steamboat Willie in November 1928, a series of world-wide celebrations will be taking place this year and Africa is no different.

The campaign will come to life with engaging content and events that embrace Mickey’s impact on the past, present and future. Local festivities kick off this month, leading up to Mickey’s 90th anniversary on 18 November 2018 and beyond. Later this year, Mickey’s 90th Spectacular, a twohour prime-time special, will be screened on M-Net 101.

It will feature star-studded musical performances, moving tributes and never-before-seen short films. Superstars from music, film and television will join the birthday fun for the internationally beloved character.

In addition, there will be special programming on Mickey’s birthday across Disney Channel (DStv, Channel 303),Disney XD (DStv, Channel 304) and Disney Junior (DStv, Channel 309, GOtv channel 60).

“Binding generations together more than any other animated character, Mickey Mouse is the ‘True Original’, who reminds people of all ages of the benefits of laughter, optimism and hope. With his universal appeal and ability to emotionally connect with generations all over the world, no other character quite occupies a similar space in the hearts and minds of a global fan base and we are thrilled to be sharing these festivities.” said Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa.

Mickey’s birthday is celebrated in honour of the release of his first theatrical film, Steamboat Willie, on 18th November 1928, at the Colony Theatre in New York City. Since then, he has starred in more than 100 cartoons and can currently be seen on Disney Channel (DStv, Channel 303) in the Mickey Mouse cartoon series and on Disney Junior (DStv, Channel 309 and GOtv, Channel 60) in Mickey and the Roadster Racers.

African fans are encouraged to share their Mickey Mouse moments on social media using the hashtag #Mickey90Africa.

BUSINESS TIMESg Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

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12 firms bid for Afam Power Company, 7 bid for YEDC Mathew Dadiya

L-R: Director General, Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatude Irukera; Chief Medical Director, Wellinton Clinic, WC, Dr. Charles Ugwuanyi and General Manager, WC, Marvel Ochoga, during the Domestication of Patients’ Bill of Rights at WC in Abuja... on Friday Photo: Temitope Balogun

FG woos investors, says Nigeria remains best investment hub in Africa Mathew Dadiya, Abuja The Nigerian Government delegation to the United Nations general assembly in New York during the week, told the foreign investors that the Africa’s largest economy remains the best investment destination in Africa with enormous natural and human resources.

Nigerian Government disclosed this to key foreign investors at an Investors Roundtable held under the auspices of the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU).

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who gave the opening remarks at the event, appreciated the interest the investors are continuing to show in Nigeria and thanked them for their willingness to spread the good news to others about the opportunities Nigeria offers to investors.

Senator Udoma said Nigeria’s President Mohammadu Buhari had promised the people that he will restore peace in the troubled zones of the country, fight corruption and grow the economy. “The Buhari administration has worked hard to ensure that those election promises are fulfilled,” he said.

“The present government inherited a challenged economy with very weak fundamentals, but has worked hard towards not

only getting the economy out of recession, but placing it on a path of sustained inclusive growth through a series of policy initiatives and deliberate actions”, the Minister said.

Diligent implementation of the initiatives, he said, has resulted in the economy emerging from recession within a short time and beginning to grow again. He emphasised the fact that Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (the ERGP) is anchored on partnership with the private sector with the Government helping to create the enabling environment.

The investors believed that Nigeria’s current government continues to show a commitment to creating a conducive business environment in the country.

That is why the government is focused on improving the country’s infrastructure and creating an environment with improvements in the ease of doing business, to encourage and attract local and global investors. Government is also focused on social development by increasing investments in education and health so as to improve the quality of the country’s education and health facilities.

He emphasised the importance of having a well educated, healthy and productive nation.

There is no cause for investors to worry about the next year’s general elections, the minister told the gathering, as there will be no slow-down in the implementation of government programmes and policies in the period leading up to the elections; as he explained that the ERGP is a medium term economic blueprint which runs through 2020.

Finance Minister, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who spoke after Senator Udoma, explained that significant progress has been made with the implementation of many of the policy initiatives of government.

She cited the stabilization of the country’s currency, consistent downward trending of inflation, increased foreign reserves, fiscal discipline in government, and a commitment to creating a conducive business environment..

The Finance Minister said government officials are under instruction from the President to stay focused on the business of governance notwithstanding the upcoming elections.

In a similar direction, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, pointed out that the Federal Government has been working with the sub national governments and the

National Assembly to introduce measures to improve the enabling environment for doing business; and indicated that these efforts have been acknowledged by the World Bank which, in 2017, rated Nigeria as one of the ten most reforming countries in the world.

He also spoke about the determination of the Government to develop world class Special Economic Zones in each of the six geopolitical regions of the country in partnership with the state governments and the private sector.

Dr Enelamah concluded his remarks by emphasising that ministers’ in the Nigerian government are here to serve, and are easily accessible to address any problems investors may experience.

On Thursday, Senator Udoma, Mrs Ahmed, Mr Emefiele, the Director of the Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha and the Executive Secretary of NIPC, Ms Yewande Sadiku, had a series of one-on-one and conference call meetings with more than eight high rate investors to explain current happenings in the country as it affects foreign investments in Nigeria and assured them of policy consistency, adherence to global best practices and the safety of their investment in the country.

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has disclosed that 12 firms submitted bids for Afam Power Company and seven for the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) at the close of the submission of bids for the Expression of Interest (EOIs) for the acquisition of the two power companies.

Amina Tukur Othman, Head, Public Communications on Friday stated that among the companies that bided are renowned players in the power industry which the Evaluation Committee earlier set up by the Bureau to scrutinize the bids has already been inaugurated and commenced work.

Othman said that the request for expression of interest in the two companies was published by the BPE in national newspapers on August 16, 2018.

The Daily Times recalls that although Yola Distribution Company was successfully privatised and handed over to the core investor in 2013, a force majeure was declared in 2015 by the core investor citing insecurity in the North-East region of the country.

Following this, the company was duly repossessed by the Federal Government, transaction for Afam Power Generation Company on the other hand fell through due to the delay in signing the Gas Supply Agreement (GSAA) and the Gas Transportation Agreement (GTA).

PBE added that 19 firms indicated interest to acquire the Afam Power Company and the Yola Distribution Company (YDC) put up for sale by the Federal Government at the close of the submission of bids for the Expression of Interest (EOIs) at 1 pm on Tuesday, September 26, 2018.

In 2017 the National council on Privatisation (NCP) gave approval for a fresh transaction to privatise the two power companies.

Collaborate with banks’ SME desks for growth, Sekibo urges entrepreneurs Motolani Oseni Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo has encouraged the budding African entrepreneurs of the Next Titan Housemates to talk to small and medium enterprise (SME) desks of banks because the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has a policy for disbursing money to banks for SMEs sector.

Sekibo stated this while delivering a keynote address titled: Why African needs new breed of entrepreneurs and why is Heritage Bank championing it, at the premiere of the 5th edition of the Next Titan TV reality show in Lagos over the weekend.

The Next Titan is Nigeria’s

entrepreneurial reality TV show where thousands of ambitious young entrepreneurs across the country compete with one another for a grand prize of N5 million and a brand new car to start his or her dream business.

He, however challenged the budding entrepreneurs to stir up their entrepreneurship DNAs in a bid to allow innate ideas to flow and blossom.

According to Sekibo, the entrepreneur is not the risk taker but the person who relentlessly pursue opportunities without recklessness, without regard to not having money, house or car or any strong financial support from family members, remarking that in most cases, he is the one that drops out at of school.

He said during the pre-colonial era in Africa, Africans, (our fore fathers) who were the entrepreneurs of those days in

places like Lagos Island and Badagry were engaged in fishing and farming as well as trade across the west coast among themselves under an organised system.

The bank’s boss said during the colonial period, (our fathers) were affected by the culture and traditions of the colonialists a development which affected their psyche, thereby making what is foreign to be more important than what is local.

Sekibo said western tradition became the order of the day as Africans moved away from entrepreneurship to white collar jobs to earn monthly income and the word job came into play, adding that work was no longer defined as the work of a tough man or woman on the farmland but depended on how much of the colonial language one understand.

In order to reverse the trend, Sekibo contended that budding African

entrepreneurs should relive the DNAs that their forefathers left for them by uncapping them so that their innate ideas could flow and blossom.

He said Africans burn with ideas but they needed to mine them so that they could blossom, remarking that they need to have mentors that will enable them to achieve their goals.

The Chief Executive also said money is very critical to entrepreneurship and they had to be bold and courageous to get it, adding that there is a spirit behind getting money which is largely influenced by character and integrity. He enjoined them to collaborate to bring down the cost of money.

Also speaking, Mr. Folusho Philips, Managing Director of Philips Consulting also listed some factors for successful

entrepreneurship. They are competence, character and behaviour, study and steadiness as well as compliant and chemistry of the prospective entrepreneur.

Mrs. Yetunde Odejayi, Permanent Secretary to the office of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State noted that entrepreneurship was part of key programmes of the current administration. She encouraged them to be bold and resilient and be prepared to face challenges and also informed them about state’s Ministry of Wealth Creation and the Lagos State Trust Fund (LSSTF).

Mr. Babarinde Abiona, General Manager (Marketing) with Coscharis Motors tasked them to believe in themselves and be focused, adding that Coscharis, a major dealer of Ford Motors in the country will give a brand new Ford Focus to the winner.

Business Times 16

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

First Bank participates in Africa investment summit Motolani Oseni As part of its financial inclusion and thought leadership drive, First Bank of Nigeria Limited participated in the Africa Investment Summit convened by Guardian Newspapers, Financial Times of London, NEPAD Business Group, Africa Business Roundtable, Africa Matters and Capital 3 Ltd. The event themed; “Bridging Africa’s Investment Gap” took place on 26 - 27 September

2018.

FirstBank, Nigeria’s premier bank and one of the most valuable banks in Africa has grown in influence overtime and its leading position has earned it recognition and a position of thought leader even beyond the shores of Africa.

Recently, FirstBank, through its MD/CEO was the only representative Nigerian bank that participated in a High-Level dialogue among Chinese and African Business representatives which took place in China. The participation of the Bank at the summit

is another testimony of its growing influence amongst the African financial institutions and business community.

Meanwhile, the MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, has been conferred with the Honorary Citizenship of the State of Georgia and Congressional Commendation Award from the Georgia Senate – United States of America (USA). The Honour and Award was received at the International Forum on African Leadership (IFAL) on Tuesday, 25 September 2018 on the sidelines of

the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

The identification of Dr. Adeduntan for the award is in recognition of his position as one of Africa’s most distinguished thought leaders in the financial sector with an impeccable leadership savvy backed by years of invaluable experience in the continent’s banking industry while also impacting the lives of his internal and external communities through his unalloyed commitment to the growth of FirstBank and Africa at large.

If we combat corruption, African economies will grow fast - Buhari Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed that checking the menace of corruption will create major sources of funding for developmental programmes and projects for African economies.

Addressing a High-Level Roundtable on Corruption, Migration, Bridging Africa’s Infrastructural Gap for Sustainable Development organised by NEPAD/APRM Nigeria on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, the President expressed regret that huge amounts of funds are still being squirreled out of the continent.

Buhari said, “It is still worrisome considering that billions of dollars, great talents and professionals are continually drained out of the continent through various corrupt activities thus causing

poor investment inflows, undermining the rule of law, stifling trade, worsening macro-economic conditions and escalating level of poverty in our countries.

According to Buhari, “these detestable practices are being perpetrated by some international collaborators hiding in secret jurisdictions.”

The Nigerian President, however, expressed delight that “efforts are being made by African leaders to ensure greater transparency and accountability in government business, fostering regional integration as well as creating enabling environment for our youth,” stressing that “these efforts will remain unabated, as African leaders will remain unrelenting.”

Looking ahead, the President said: “We must adopt laws, regulations and policies that encourage transparent financial transactions, youth and

women’s empowerment programmes as well as establishing good infrastructural links among member states towards sanitising the continent of these ills.”

Describing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as a strategic framework document designed for the “socio-economic development of Africa and a policy framework to address our economic and social challenges,” President Buhari implored his colleagues to: eradicate poverty; place African countries on a path of sustainable growth and development; halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process; enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy and; accelerate the empowerment of women and youth.

Calling the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) a flagship programme of NEPAD and a specialised Agency within the AU structure, the

President noted that it is mainly “a selfmonitoring and assessment tool for peer learning and enthronement of good governance on the continent.”

Reminding his fellow leaders “that Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the African continent over the next 50 years with a strong mandate on NEPAD and APRM,” Buhari urged them to “build on and seek the acceleration of the implementation of past and present continental initiatives for our growth and sustainable development.”

Saying that he looked forward to the conclusions of the conference, the Nigerian leader assured the gathering that, “African leaders are totally committed to delivering these developmental goals, namely, AU Agenda 2063 and 2030 SDGs in order to keep up with the international economic development.”

MD/CEO, SAHCOL, Basil Agboarumi, receiving the NUATE Philanthropic Award, on behalf of Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman SAHCOL, from Chief Executive, Westlink Airlines, Captain Ibrahim Mshelia

RMB seeks improved awareness on financial inclusion The Chief Operating Officer of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria (RMB), Mr. Funso Odukoya, has called for increased awareness on issues around financial inclusion in the country.

Odukoya spoke during a panel session at the 2018 Annual National Conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN), with the theme: “Banks, Fintechs and Nigeria’s Financial Inclusion Journey,” held in Lagos, recently.

“To achieve financial inclusion, we need to educate everyone. Let’s get the information out there and let’s bring people into the financial system.

“We can achieve this by understanding our culture and by leveraging information to make sure everybody understands what financial inclusion is about,” he said.

Responding to a question on reports that banks don’t lend to fintechs because of competition, Odukoya said: “Banks carry out due diligence before they lend to any sector. You really must do the due diligence before you can lend to anybody.

Banking just understands the risk.”

But, he pointed out that in most countries where fintechs had developed, “you will discover that they are not really dependent on banks’ funding.”

“There are venture capitalists and private equity companies that look into the value the start-up is bringing and they provide funds to those companies.

“So, fintechs that are struggling for funds, I would say is because they have no value to offer. If a fintech start-up has value, funding will seek such a firm out.

“We have instances of young start-ups that are flooded with funding because they are bringing value to the table.”

Continuing, he said: “But the relationship between banks and the fintechs have to be collaborative. It mustn’t be we against them; it has to be all of us working together to achieve the ultimate goal of reaching out to everyone.

“So, the goal is not for fintechs to overtake banks, or banks to overtake fintechs.

The goal is to reach out to everyone and make financial services affordable and available to everyone.”

POLITICS TIMES g Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

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Without wining war on corruption, Nigeria cannot win fight against poverty – Akhimien Davidson Akhimien is the national president of the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, he is also a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN), in this interview with a select journalists, Akhimien speaks on why he is aspiring to rule the nation and why the fight against corruption must be intensified if the nation intends to come out of the low poverty index. PATRICK OKOHUE was there for The Daily Times You are a presidential aspirant with a military background, what do you think is the solution to the various security challenges in the country?

One of the problems we have as a nation is that we are not able to look at the fundamentals. You see, our approach to security threat has always been a wrong approach. As a government we need to be proactive.

When GDPN comes to power in 2019 our approach to security will always be proactive. We have been doing reactive security, after the fact. When thing happen after the facts. No, that is wrong, we need to be proactive to security issues.

Some of the foundation of security problems in Nigeria stems from what you call pervasive injustices in the land. Most of the security challenges that we are experiencing today would not have been on the table if not for these pervasive injustices. Wherever there is injustice I am telling you even the best security measures will not hold sway. So what am I saying?

I am going to address the problem of insecurity using two approaches.

The first approach is to ensure there is justice and equality in the land. We are going to look at the foundational problems. There is what you call cultural conflict. What are the causes of cultural conflict? We want to look at them from foundational stage. By the time we are able to close those rifts, we would have done 50 per cent of the job. Then we will now be doing the direct approach which is probably bringing in deployment of forces as the case may be. But fundamentally, we must look at the causes of structural conflicts that we are having in the country and the injustices pervading the land. By the time we do this security problems will die a natural death.

Recently, Nigeria was described as the World Capital of Poverty. We have economic crisis for years. What is your blueprint in solving these problems?

Don’t you think it is a misnomer of sort that a country so highly endowed in natural resources, a country so highly endowed even in human resources, a country that has been the sixth producer of oil since 1958 and almost still so even as I speak, a country that has earned more money in term of revenue than most of the African countries put together to be referred to as World poverty capital. It is a misnomer, it is unacceptable, true as it may be but that is not the true picture of the Nigeria of our dream. That goes to tell us that we have a problem and

Akhimien

the problem is highly identifiable.

It is the problem of harnessing and management of the quantum resources that we have been blessed with as a nation. The lack of proper harnessing, proper management of our resources. And that is why you see the present government having one of its trust policies as the fight against corruption .We are all privy to the information from the

media, both the traditional media and the social media of the millions and billions, trillions of money in different currencies that are being recovered from politicians. Primitive accumulation on the part of the politicians. You can’t even begin to fathom how a human being can do away with public funds of that magnitude. It is crazy. How can we not be the poverty capital of the

World? When the rich continue to do as they wish why are we not going to be the poverty capital of the world.

There is no two ways about it. It is not rocket science, you don’t have to do any tabulation, just refer back to your arithmetic HCF. Highest Common Factor, the Highest Common Factor in Nigeria is corruption. Corruption does not discriminate between Igbo and Hausa and even between Yoruba

We need to fight corruption holistically. When a teacher receives money from a parent to score the student higher marks, both the parent, the teacher and the student are corrupt . When the woman that is selling rice in the market hit the under of the Mudu in order to sell half mudu for you instead of full, that is corruption. Corruption of the mind leads to corruption of the outside. We need a moral revolution in our country. We will continue to remain poor when you cannot manage the resources you have, no matter how much you are endowed with

. Corruption does not discriminate between parties, SDP, PDP, GDMN. It is the highest common factor in the Nigeria political space . And we are looking at it and we are not doing anything about it. Some of us condone it, some of us have this mentality that it is turn by turn Nigeria Limited. That it is their turn, our own turn is coming. And that is why I say to the President and give him a tap on the hand for the fight against corruption. It should be sustained, however it should go beyond that, our society need real moral re-engineering, because these political leaders emerged from this society, so we need to do a clean sweep, to do a retrospection for us as Nigerians. It is not only politicians that are involved in corruption. Even in the civil service there is corruption.

In the institutions there is mass corruption. Corruption pervades the entire Society. We must begin to look at corruption holistically. We need to fight corruption holistically.

When a teacher receives money from a parent to score the student higher marks, both the parent, the teacher and the student are corrupt . When the woman that is selling rice in the market hit the under of the Mudu in order to sell half mudu for you instead of full, that is corruption.

Corruption of the mind leads to corruption of the outside. We need a moral revolution in our country. We will continue to remain poor when you cannot manage the resources you have, no matter how much you are endowed with, our cousins will continue to remain poor. Our fight against corruption is going to be holistic.

Your party, GDPN is a new party, why the choice of that party platform?

Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria; I just want you to listen to the name Grassroots. How does it sound to you? In those days, when you talk about grassroots, reference to the grassroots people is made of rural dwellers. When you want to refer to the people in your village, you say the grassroots people. But now we use economic parameters, you find out that grassroots people are not only the rural dwellers. Grassroots people using economic parameters will refer to as many people as in the fringes of the society. They may be living in the urban areas but they don’t have the empowerment to maintain a worthy life style. A man that is in Ikoyi area of Lagos but sleeps under the bridge is a grassroots man. A

Continued on 18

Politics Times 18

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

My presidential ambition is to lead Nigeria to promised land - Femi Babalola Patrick Okohue Businessman and philanthropist, Femi Babalola has purchased the Expression Of Interest And Nomination form of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2019 general election, saying his party has gained trust of the people to lead the nation to the promise land.

Babalola in a statement by his media officer, Mercy Ayo-Oloye has filled and submitted the documents after meeting all requirements of the party.

Babalola expressed confidence in his ability of clinching the party’s ticket and facing President Muhammadu Buhari in the general election.

He described the ADC has a credible alternative political vehicle, capable of moving the nation forward.

“The ADC is the third force that is morally conscripted to offer Nigerians an escape route from the failed promises of the status quo and the party that connects across Nigeria today, most movements and people who believe

that we must depart from the worn out system of mediocrity and corruption; which the APC and PDP represent.

Babalola said that a country cannot run successfully without a defined system, saying the government is owing Nigerian youths and this is the time to pay the debt.

“My presidency will activate more than six geopolitical zones that will bring even development to every part of the country.

“One of the pivotal programmes of my administration will be industrialisation of every part of Nigeria and the creation of several millionaires in every local government area in the country. Nigeria has more than enough resources to sustain these visions,” he said.

Babalola had earlier declared his intention to contest the 2019 Nigerian Presidential election, saying governance in the country needs creative and fresh ideas to deliver the country from its current woes.

He noted that challenges facing the country are not rocket science, but lack of sincere political will has kept the country in its present situation.

Complete abandoned projects, Ogun ADC tells Amosun Benjamin Omoike The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Ogun State has berated Governor Ibikunle Amosun for abandoning several infrastructural projects across the state.

In a statement signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Abiola Odutola, the ADC called on residents and indigenes to rise and save Ogun State from further socioeconomic damage.

He said littering the state with abandoned projects was a clear signal that there “is a problem with policy direction.”

According to him, events in the last seven years are pointers to the fact that the state needs to be rescued from the era of wasting resources on the construction of several bridges that would not add any economic value to the state and the people.

“ADC remains resolute in its defence of the common people of Ogun State. We have perfected plans to ensure that we finish whatever we start and stand by the commitment of ADC to the War Against Poverty,” the Publicity Secretary said.

According to the party, abandoned projects have made life more difficult for residents and investors in the state as they spend more on transportation of goods and maintenance of their vehicles, especially during the raining season.

Some of the abandoned projects according to him are across Akute (road), Magboro (road), Agbado Junction (bridge and road), Ijoko (road), Sango (road) and Lambe (bridge and road) areas of the state, among others.

Contrary to the claims of the government that the projects would enhance rapid economic development and boost foreign direct

investment in the state, ADC argued that such development had made life miserable for all residents in the areas and would also scare foreign investors from the state.

Odutola said, “Residents are the ones bearing the brunt of the state of the projects as the cost incurred on car maintenance and transport fares in the areas have gone up by over 200 per cent in the past years. When it rains, some residents have to rely on some men, who carry them on their backs like babies.

“It is appalling that after more than six years, this administration has not completed projects it promised to finish in two years. Initially, it blamed the delay on the economic recession it claimed was caused by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but one should ask the governor how come the recession didn’t affect the commencement and completion of the bridges he constructed across Abeokuta within the same time.”

For instance, as explained by the publicity secretary, one effect is that a project that was supposed to be completed in 2013 at N100 billion (when the naira/dollar exchange rate was at N150/$1), would be completed at three times or more the cost in 2019, (when naira/dollar rate might hover between N450 and N500/$1).

“There is secrecy in the preparation, enactment, and implementation of the budget in the state, as well as a pervasive lack of transparency, conspired to keep citizens in the dark as to what their government owes them. Ogun residents must therefore rise and save the state from the ruling party, which claims to open the state for business while inflicting poverty on the people that elected it to power. I urge them to join hands with ADC and wage war against poverty in our dear state,” he added.

Babalola

Without wining war on corruption, Nigeria cannot win fight against poverty – Akhimien Continued from 17 Level 15 officer in the civil service who is unable to pay school fees for his children because his salary cannot possibly pay for primary to university fees is a grassroots man. What I am saying in essence is that grassroots has transcended rural dwellings to lack of economic empowerment. And so for us at Grassroots party we represent these mass populi. And I can tell you on good authority that over 85 per cent of Nigerians will fall within this category. For us we say there is a yarning gap and we come to fill that gap.

You are a member of the CUPP. What confidence do you have in that coalition and how hopeful are you that you are going to win the coalition’s ticket?

We are a member of the coalition and like we used to say in GDPN we are not in politics to compete with anybody. We are a movement. What you call a tender plant that is ushering in a new paradigm into the Nigeria political space. We are in the coalition if we make it, this time around, to God be the glory. That means we will start the work now if we don’t make it, this time around there is another time. It is a journey, it is not a destination. My country will not remain the same. As long as the GDPN has been birth, we are not competing with anybody. The creator of heaven and earth will see this seed nurtured and bring forth fruits if not today, then tomorrow.

As one of the presidential aspirants of the GDPN what makes you the best to pick the party ticket?

I never look at myself as the best, but I try to be the best in what I try to do. So as far as I am concerned I am not in competition with other aspirants. I only try to be the best of what I have set out to do. I have set out to be the presidential candidate God willing of this GDPN that has a mandate, a divine mandate to set Nigeria on the right course. I have come out also by divine calling to be an instrument that will set Nigeria on the right course. So I am not in competition with anybody. I am only an instrument answering a call from beyond here.

How do you see the last voter registration exercise?

From my experience with the electoral body I am aware that INEC has done a lot to expand the number of voters that should vote in 2019. To that extent I think they have tried. Now talking about the records at the level of the INEC is another thing altogether. For me I will like to see more transparent INEC processes, where information will continually be given to the public as to the number of registered voters as updated from every state. Then again investigation into the allegations of under aged voters especially in certain parts of this country must be thoroughly investigated and the outcome of the investigation must be made public. That will be a show of transparency by INEC. I say again for emphasis, allegations of under aged registration in certain parts of the country should be thoroughly investigated, not only

by INEC, but by a third party possibly international bodies and the outcome of the investigation

made public. That is when we will be showing transparency about INEC and its processes.

How do you see the spate of defections by politicians across party lines?

Truth be told, a lot of political parties exist and more will still be thrown up, but only God knows the motives for the establishment of political parties by the founders themselves.

Some have said political parties are set up for pecuniary reasons, you understand, so that they can be used as bargaining tips. Some have said patriotism has not been what has driven setting up of some political parties. Political associations will continue to exist.

And in all associations where human beings interact definitely offences will arise. There will be polarisation. Some people will be for while some people will be against, however, I think political parties should come up because of certain ideologies they hold close to their heart. And if a political party has a sound ideology and adheres to it, people are hooked to the party because of its ideology; you will not find much of these defections as you have them today. An ideologically based or focused party is the party that will go far. Our party, GDPN is founded on the principle and ideology of the elevation of the living conditions of the grassroots people of Nigeria who are in the mass majority. Indeed our ideology is the reduction of if not complete elimination of ruralurban migration which we are going to do with industrialisation of the rural areas, bringing in rural development like you have never known it before.

Labour Strike - Day 2

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Labour grounds activities at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Airlines especially those flying from the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) Ikeja-Lagos are counting their losses following the grounding of activities at the airport due to the strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) and the Trade Union Congress( TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC).

The unions stormed the GAT in their numbers disrupting the activities there on Friday.

Counters of some airlines were seen shut as they groaned following the impact of the disruption.

However, it was learnt that the same treatment was not meted on the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) operated by BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited as flights

from there operated normally without hitches.

With what has happened, flights into airports that can only operate visual services like Owerri, Benin, Ondo State will be affected.

The unions which were around the GAT for over four hours on Friday were said by some airlines to have wreaked havoc on their operations.

Corporate Communications Manager, Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, said the situation was sad and unfortunate and unfair to the airline. ”It is sad and with what the unions have done, it affects all our operations. As I speak to you because we did not follow our schedule, we may be unable to do our late flights into airports like Owerri, Benin, Ondo because the landing on those airports are visual and not instruments.” ”We are not against the union’s strike but they can carry out their industrial action without using it to affect the private businesses

of others,” he said.

Passengers who were affected by the union’s actions did not find it funny however, stressing that the unions were only thinking about them not everyone.

“What is wrong with these unionists?”

A passenger who simply wanted to be identified as Bertha said.

“If they were that intent on crippling the country, they should have gone to the motor parks to stop vehicles from traveling out of the state or those ‘danfo’ from moving.

Instead they are here and I am missing my flight,” she said.

Media Manager of Arik Air, Adebanji Ola, who also spoke to our correspondent, said the unionists disrupted their counters briefly before moving on.

He, however, said flights have resumed and Arik’s services have commenced normally.

Maingate of the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos…on Thursday.

NLC, TUC disruption costs Air Peace over N60m .. As Arik Air gives 250 free tickets Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo As a result of yesterday’s flight disruption by the Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC) United Labour Congress and (ULC) and the Trade Union Congress( TUC), Air Peace says it has lost over N60million including destruction of property at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) The unions yesterday descended on airlines at the GAT but hard hit was domestic carrier Air Peace which due to the disruption commenced their own flight by 11 due to the length of the strike.

Barrister Allen Onyema, the Air Peace Chairman who lamented what happened was perplexed that Air Peace was singled out as the disruption did not affect other airlines in the terminal.

He said because of the disruption the airline might have to fly late into the next day as they would have to commence the day light operations to ensure that those flights go.

Reports gathered by from a

credible source is that the unions stormed the GAT in their numbers disrupting the activities there.

Counters of some airlines were seen shut as they groaned following the impact of the disruption.

The unions which were around the GAT for over four hours were said by some airlines to have wreaked havoc on their operations.

Corporate Communication Manager, Air Peace, Chris Iwarah who spoke said the situation was sad and unfortunate and is unfair to the airline. ” it is sad and with what the unions have done, it affects all our operations. As I speak to you because we did not follow our schedule we may be unable to do our late flights into airports like Owerri, Benin, Ondo because the landing on those airports are visual and not instruments.” ” We are not against the union’s strike but they can carry out their industrial action without using it to affect the private businesses of others.”

“If they were that intent on crippling the country they should

have gone to the motor parks to stop vehicles from traveling out of the state or those ‘danfo’ from moving.

Instead they are here and I am missing my flight,” she said.

Media Manager of Arik Air, Adebanji Ola who also spoke to our correspondent, said the unionists disrupted their counters briefly before moving on.

He however said, flights have resumed and Arik’s services gave commenced normally Meanwhile, Arik Air is giving away 250 free tickets on October 1, 2018 to celebrate Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary.

Customers flying Arik Air on Monday, October 1 have the opportunity of winning complimentary tickets on board as five one-way economy class tickets will be raffled on each and every flight of the day.

In the course of the day’s flights, the crew will conduct a raffle using the seat numbers to draw five winners on each flight for the free one-way economy class domestic tickets.

19 News

Short News Rivers NLC chairman commends workers, security agencies ... As strike claims first victim

Memoye Oghu, Port Harcourt The Rivers State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade (Mrs) Beatrice Itubo (JP) has commended workers in the state for their total compliance with the warning strike called by the organised labour to protest against the federal government delay in approving a minimum wage for workers in the country.

She also commended security operatives for their cooperation so far as the nationwide strike rounds off day two.

She said most of the security operatives who were assigned to monitor them advised them not to molest, harass or threaten any worker in their course of monitoring compliance.

The number one labour leader in the state made the commendation in an exclusive interview with the Daily Times in her office in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Friday, shortly after her return from monitoring compliance for the second day.

“The first day recorded tremendous compliance and today, the second day, the compliance is total. Only banks that are not unionized worked yesterday. But today, they are all shut.

“I commend all the workers of Rivers state who complied with the NLC directives without compulsion because it is a fight for the future generation to come,” she told our correspondent, adding that the level of compliance will be increasing every day while the strike last.

She however advised the federal government not to allow the situation degenerate to the level that the masses and ordinary workers throughout the country would suffer. “Government should do the needful. Give us the minimum wage you promised us,” she counselled.

Meanwhile, the ongoing nationwide warning strike in protest against federal government delay in handling the minimum wage palaver has claimed its first victim in the state, as property worth millions of Naira were destroyed by fire in a dusk fire that razed the popular fruits garden market in the state capital.

Some traders who narrated their ordeals said that the fire started at about 8pm Thursday night and that the state fire service when called responded that they were on strike.

When they responded later, after the fire had gutted down everything, angry traders attacked the fire fighters.

The late arrival of the firemen infuriated the traders which led to the traders attacking the fire service officials and inflicting injuries on them and damaging their truck.

A trader who identified himself simply as Okeonu said, “the fire started around 7.00pm on Thursday, I received a call from some residents around and I immediately rushed here to the market, we tried to put off the fire but we couldn’t, we searched for fire service number and called them but they refused to come, telling us that they were observing the strike.

Industrial action effective in kebbi Haruna Aliyu Usman, Kebbi As the nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) enters day two, full compliance was seen in Kebbi state particularly the state capital, where schools and entire ministries were shut down in compliance with the labour directive.

In a chat with journalists the state chairman of the Union, Comrade Umar Halidu said the strike is in the best interest of workers who are living below poverty line due to poor remuneration that has affected their purchasing power therefore slowing down businesses.

The unionists added that without workers there can never be progress and development in the country as civil servants contribute nine percent to government business and are part and parcel of effective policy making.

He maintained that the anti corruption crusade will go nowhere with poor salaries that are consumed by inflation and lack of basic necessities of life, government lukewarm attitudes to workers forced them harbour bad intentions towards corruption to survive.

He called on Kebbi workers to exercise patience as the entire action is because of them, adding “we will keep you posted as events unfold”.

Classified 20

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

If we combat corruption African economies will grow fast – Buhari Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has affirmed that checking the menace of corruption would create major sources of funding for developmental programmes and projects for African economies.

Addressing a High-Level Roundtable on Corruption, Migration, Bridging Africa’s Infrastructural Gap for Sustainable Development organised by NEPAD/ APRM Nigeria on the margins of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, Friday, the President expressed regret that huge amounts of funds are still being squirreled out of the continent.

“It is still worrisome considering that billions of dollars, great talents and professionals are continually drained out of the continent through various corrupt activities thus causing poor investment inflows, undermining the rule of law, stifling trade, worsening macro-economic conditions and escalating level of poverty in our countries,” he said.

According to President Buhari, “these detestable practices are being perpetrated by some international

collaborators hiding in secret jurisdictions.”

The Nigerian President, however, expressed delight that “efforts are being made by African leaders to ensure greater transparency and accountability in government business, fostering regional integration as well as creating enabling environment for our youth,” stressing that “these efforts will remain unabated, as African leaders will remain unrelenting.”

Looking ahead, he said: “We must adopt laws, regulations and policies that encourage transparent financial transactions, youth and women’s empowerment programmes as well as establishing good infrastructural links among member states towards sanitising the continent of these ills.”

Describing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as a strategic framework document designed for the “socio-economic development of Africa and a policy framework to address our economic and social challenges,” President Buhari implored his colleagues to: eradicate poverty; place African countries on a path of sustainable growth and development; halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process; enhance its

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full and beneficial integration into the global economy and; accelerate the empowerment of women and youth.

Calling the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) a flagship programme of NEPAD and a specialised Agency within the AU structure, the President noted that it is mainly “a self-monitoring and assessment tool for peer learning and enthronement of good governance on the continent.”

Reminding his fellow leaders “that Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the African continent over the next 50 years with a strong mandate on NEPAD and APRM,” he urged them to “build on and seek the acceleration of the implementation of past and present continental initiatives for our growth and sustainable development.”

Saying that he looked forward to the conclusions of the conference, the Nigerian leader assured the gathering that, “African leaders are totally committed to delivering these developmental goals, namely, AU Agenda 2063 and 2030 SDGs in order to keep up with the international economic development.”

Osun Guber: APC congratulates Oyetola over victory Tom Okpe, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the Party’s candidate, Gboyega Oyetola on what it described as ‘his emphatic victory’ in the Osun State Governorship re-run elections saying, “it was truly a tough contest and a hard-fought win”.

The party also commended the Osun electorate for bravely defending their votes despite the spirited attempts by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig and disrupt the election.

Oyetola was declared governor elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the end of Thursday’s supplementary election in seven wards, polling a total of 255, 505 votes to defeat his opponent and candidate of the major opposition’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, who scored 255, o23 votes.

A press statement signed by the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Yekini Nabena on Friday said: “Our immense appreciation also goes out to the Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who headed the Party’s dedicated and selfless 63-member campaign committee for the Osun Governorship election.

“The Osun Governorship victory is another morale boosting victory in the lead-up to the 2019 General Elections and solid attestation of the people’s support for the Change Agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Change administration.

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“We assure the Osun electorate that the Party will continue to work in their interest through responsive and people centered governance”.

The Osun State Governorship election was declared inconclusive by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and a re-run ordered for Thursday, 27th September 2018 and won by the APC candidate.

Also, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has congratulated the Osun State Governor- elect saying it was a keenly contested governorship election.

Ambode in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna said that it was a well deserved victory as the people of the state had made a right choice to vote for continuity and experience which he said Oyetola represents.

He said: “It was a confirmation that the people still have confidence in the program and policies of the party not only in the state but across the country”.

Commending the people of Osun State, for comporting themselves during the exercise, he noted that, “Despite the inconclusive election on September 22, voters defied the heavy downpour to come out in their large numbers to exercise their franchise during the supplementary election.

“The election has been deservedly won, the good people of Osun have chosen quality continuity over uncertainty. I have no doubt in my mind that the governor elect will bring his wealth of experience to bear and continue with the good works of Rauf Aregbesola, and call for unity to take the state to greater heights”, he said.

OLAKUNLE OCHAI VICTORIA OLUWASEUN

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS AGBAJE SALAMI KAFILAT OMODOLAPO OLUWASUN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OLAKUNLE OLUWASEUN KAFILAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OGUNJOBI ABIMBOLA ABOSEDE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AZEEZ ABIMBOLA SIMBIAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, GENERAL PUBLIC KINDLY PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KOROH EBI MERCY BUT NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KOROH ESTHER MIYENEBI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. BANKS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHINYE EZEJA GEORGE THEODORA .C.

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VICTORIA ADEOSUN EGHONGHON ATINUKE

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

21

SPORTS TIMES Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

Golf: Ryder Cup begins with all eyes on Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods teed off in an electric atmosphere at his first Ryder Cup since 2012 on Friday as defending champions United States launched their quest for a first win on European soil in 25 years.

Woods, playing in his first Ryder Cup since 2012, is the star attraction in Friday’s morning fourballs.

Over 60,000 fans are expected to flock to Le Golf National, just outside Paris, for the first Ryder Cup held in France, where 14-time major champion Woods received a prolonged, rousing reception at the opening ceremony.

He will partner the talented, yet brash Patrick Reed in the anchor match of the opening session, which begins with an intriguing matchup pitting Justin Rose and Jon Rahm against Brooks Koepka and Tony Finau.

“It’s going to be fun for both of us.

We’ve been looking forward to teaming up and doing something like this

together,” said a reinvigorated Woods, coming off his first win in over five years at last week’s Tour Championship.

“We finally have our opportunity to go against two great competitors.”

An intimidating 6,900-capacity grandstand surrounds the first tee with scores more guaranteed to pack in tightly around the tee box to generate an intoxicating atmosphere.

“When I first saw that on the first tee, I looked up and felt like I kept looking up and up and up,” said Reed, who partnered a largely po-faced Woods in Thursday’s nine-hole practice round.

“It’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere.”

Europe captain Thomas Bjorn has placed great faith in his rookies, calling upon four or his five Ryder Cup debutants straight out of the gate.

“When you look at this group of guys that’s come into this team, they are really hard competitors, and I believe in them

g22

so much,” said Bjorn.

“I wanted to give them that responsibility of standing up and go out there and enjoy it.”

– ‘Hit the fairway’ – The 23-year-old Rahm, the youngest player in the competition, will look to set the tone alongside the seasoned Rose in what is his fifth Ryder Cup. “Not many people get to play for a Ryder Cup in Europe with this stage setup and be in the first group outright,” said Spain’s Rahm.

“I just kind of hope one of us hits it in the fairway to start off the day.”

Veterans Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson — all captain’s picks — will sit out on Friday morning, but Bjorn insists their time will come.

“They are all difficult to leave out, especially guys that have played in so many,” said Bjorn. “I’m quite sure that you’ll see them on the golf course at some stage before Sunday.”

FIBA Women’s World Cup: USA defeat gallant D’Tigress 71-40 Nigeria’s D’Tigress exited the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Tenerife Spain after losing 71-40 to the USA in the quarter-finals of the competition on Friday.

The D’Tigress started the encounter in massive way and won the first quarter 17-9 but lost the remaining quarters 18-6, 19-12 and 255.

It was the second time the reigning African Champions lost to the United States at the FIBA Women’s World Cup. The first was a 79-

46 loss at the 2006 edition hosted by Brazil.

Ezinne Kalu was D’Tigress most efficient performer in the encounter scoring eight points, four rebound, five steals and six assists.

Forward Evelyn Akhator also bagged eight points and five rebounds.

Despite the defeat, Otis Hughley’s girls set a new African record as the only team to have won three games at the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup and also attaining a quarter-final feat

Serena Williams ends season, out of China Open Tennis great Serena Williams was left out of the China Open tennis draw on Friday as reports said she’s called time on her season following her meltdown at the US Open.

Williams’ name, along with that of her sister Venus, did not appear on a list of 64 players ahead of the tournament’s start on Saturday in Beijing.

It comes less than three weeks after the tempestuous US Open final, where Williams accused the umpire of sexism in an angry rant during her 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Japan’s Naomi Osaka.

In extraordinary scenes, Williams went into a tailspin after a warning for receiving coaching from the sidelines, smashing her racquet and being docked a point and then a game.

She later said that she wanted to “move on” from the incident, but maintained that women players could not get away with “even half of what a guy can do”.

“Right now we are not, as it’s proven, in that same position,” she told Australia’s Channel Ten. “But that’s neither here nor there. I’m just trying most of all to recover from that

and move on.”

Reports from the United States said Williams’ season is now over, making it the fourth year in a row she has curtailed her playing commitments — although in 2017 she took time off to have a baby.

In 2016 she called it quits after the US Open citing a shoulder injury, and in 2015 she took a break after narrowly failing to win all four majors in the same year, following a shattering defeat in New York to Italy’s Roberta Vinci.

D’Tigress coach family cheats death in auto crash Nigeria coach Otis Hughley has revealed his family survived death in a car accident which occurred hours before he guarded African champions D’Tigress to the quarterfinals of the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, Spain, on Wednesday.

Nigeria edged Greece 57-56 to become the first African team to reach the last eight since the tournament was first hosted by Chile in 1953.

However, no one of Hughley’s family suffered any major injuries, according to the coach.

“I got a phone call and I remember my daughter was screaming franticly,” he was quoted as saying by AP after practice on Thursday.

“My wife’s neck and spine were injured. She already is a survivor of having an aneurysm, three massive strokes and had brain surgery. She had to learn to read and write all over again. She can’t work anymore.”

Hughley didn’t get much

sleep but kept it from his team because he didn’t want it to be a distraction before the biggest game in the country’s history.

“You see the condition of the car, it’s totalled,” he said.

“My mother-in-law, wife, two daughters and youngest son.

Someone ran a stop sign and was going pretty fast.”

Meanwhile, Los Angeles forward Nneka Ogwumike is expected to lead USA against Nigeria in the quarterfinals of the World Cup on Friday.

Ogwumike started all three victories in group play of the tournament, averaging 10.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 56 per cent from the field, according to ESPN. In Friday’s quarterfinals, the Americans will face Nigeria, a game that might have a little extra importance to Ogwumike, who is of Nigerian heritage.

The Nigerians’ uplifting run through this tournament so far no doubt means a lot to her, even if she and her US teammates will

be trying to end that on Friday.

Nigeria forward Sarah Imovbioh will see a familiar face or two on the US sideline in the encounter.

Imovbioh played a year at South Carolina under coach Dawn Staley in 2015 to 16 after transferring from Virginia. She helped the Gamecocks to a 33-2 record, including a 16-0 mark in the Southeastern Conference. A’ja Wilson was a teammate.

“Never, never, never, never saw this coming,” AP quoted Imovbioh as saying of playing against her former coach and teammate. “It is family versus family. She’s like a parent to me. She took care of me while I was in South Carolina. She’s like family to me. I’m looking forward to this.”

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 29, 2018

23 Sports Times

World stars arrive as Lagos Open Tennis begins Lagos will play host to players across the world as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) approved circuit, the Lagos Open Tennis, begins this weekend.

Already scores of emerging tennis players from different countries of the world have been arriving ahead of the event, which will be played in the next two weeks at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, TBS, Onikan.

Some of the players who have arrived are Tucker Vorster, Paulina Jastrzerbrska, Claudia Coppola, Diana Maria Mihail, Phillipe Gelade, Zoe Kruger, Rico Gore, Nigerian-born British player, Tiffany William, Valeriya Siskova, Fiona Codino, Alexandria Riley from USA; Jesman Jebawi from Germany and a host of others These players came into Lagos with their coaches and parents.

The tournament is made up of two Futures, the F5 and the F6, while players will compete in four events – Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles with total prize money of $100,000.

Qualifying matches for Futures 4 (first leg) starts on September 29 with the main draw commencing on October 1 and the final on October 6.

The main draws for Futures 5 (second leg) will commence on October 8 with the grand final set for October 13 where Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, is expected to declare the tournament closed.

The breakdown as published by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) shows that 60 players registered in

the men’s event, while 65 players are taking part in the women’s category.

They are coming from 47 top nations of the world.

Some of which are USA, Brittan, Slovakia, Kenya, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, China, Cameroon, India, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Ecuador, Poland, Thailand, Egypt, Serbia, Mexico and a host of others.

Evander Holyfield: Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder bout‘ll be great Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder can bring the heavyweight division back to its prime, according to former champion Evander Holyfield.

Joshua retained his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight world titles by beating Alexander Povetkin last week, while Wilder puts his WBC belt on the line against Tyson Fury in December.

If Wilder beats Fury as expected, a monumental showdown with Joshua, the type we haven’t seen since Holyfield twice beat Mike Tyson in the nineties, awaits us.

Holyfield had this to say on the subject in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, where he is attending Friday’s World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) supermiddleweight final between George Groves and Callum Smith.

“When boxing was going down Mike Tyson was the one who brought it back by knocking everyone out,” he said.

“Everyone wanted to see who could handle that, and I was that guy.

“Now Joshua is a good fighter,

knocking people out and everyone wants to see that. He’s got all these people, 100,000 people coming to his fight and that’s the first time in my life I’ve ever seen boxing draw so many people.

“Deontay isn’t skilful, but he can knock people out, and people want to see that too.

“I truly think they are,” he answered when asked if they could bring the division back to its prime.

“Boxing never died, you just got to understand that it’s not the most organised thing. If people actually came together and did it right it would probably be the biggest sport in the world but it hasn’t ever been done properly.”

Asked who would win a potential mega-fight between the two, Holyfield replied: “I don’t know. I think it will be a great fight, you’ve got one guy in Joshua who is a good classic boxer, but another in Deontay who knows a little but can do it well.

“It will all come down to personality

and confidence to do what they know they can do. In that situation it’s about who’s willing to step it up a little more, and that’s on Deontay. Joshua is a good fighter and at any given time he knows what to do and can probably do it. You just never know, boxing is a mind game and the person with most confidence can will their way up and do a lot better than people think they can be.”

Fulham owner to acquire £600m Wembley Stadium

Fulham owner Shahid Khan moved a step closer to buying Wembley Stadium after the Football Association board agreed to let the Pakistani-American businessman’s £600 million (€674m) plan be considered by the governing body’s full council next month.

Wembley, in northwest London, is the spiritual home of football in England and the historic arena reopened in 2007 after a sevenyear rebuilding project that cost £757m.

But senior FA executives believe selling to American businessman Khan, who also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team, could provide a huge cash boost for English football as well as an additional £300m in future revenues from the stadium’s hospitality business.

Now Khan’s proposal will be put before the FA council when it meets on 11 October.

“The sale of Wembley Stadium, the negotiated protections and an outlined plan to invest £600m into football community facilities, were presented and discussed at the FA board meeting today [Thursday],” said an FA spokesperson.

Reports in the British media before Thursday’s meeting suggested opposition from amateur football representatives and other grassroots groups could have scuppered the deal.

Board approval was forthcoming, however, although Khan’s plan will need to gain majority council support if it is to get off the drawing board.

Khan’s proposals also include basing the Jaguars at Wembley, where a succession of NFL games, several featuring his side, have been played in recent years.

Jose Mourinho warns Paul Pogba no one is bigger than Man Utd Jose Mourinho warned Paul Pogba that no player is bigger than Manchester United, but praised the Frenchman’s attitude in training during another week in which tensions escalated between the Portuguese coach and his star midfielder.

Mourinho stripped Pogba of his role as vice-captain on Tuesday and a frosty exchange between the pair was caught on camera at training the next day after United crashed out the League Cup on penalties to Championship side Derby.

Pogba was rested in midweek, but Mourinho was reportedly unhappy about an Instagram video in which Pogba appeared laughing while watching Tuesday’s match at Old Trafford.

However, the club later clarified that it had been uploaded during the match, when the home side had been leading.

For his part, Pogba criticised Mourinho’s tactics for being too negative in a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves on Saturday.

But Mourinho insisted Pogba will return to the starting line-up for this weekend’s Premier League trip to West Ham. “He’s a player like the others. No player is bigger than the club and, if I’m happy with his work, he plays, if I’m not happy, he doesn’t play.

“I’m happy with his work this week, really happy. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday especially because today was not so significant. He trained really well.

“The team needs good players,

players with personality to play; he has that and he plays tomorrow.”

When pressed on his relationship with Pogba, Mourinho expressed frustration that television cameras had picked up their training ground conversation.

“It is a good relationship, player and manager,” he said. “I cannot tell you (what was said).

“The training session was open, you had some cameras with some potential to get some of the words. Maybe you have to change the potential if you want to know everything that is said because I’m not going to comment.”

And Mourinho insisted that his decision to take the vice-captaincy away from Pogba was not made in the heat of the moment after his outspoken reaction to the draw against Wolves, but after extensive consultation with his staff.

“I explained in detail to the people that have to know in detail, which is the squad and especially Paul.

“I always analyse a player as a player -– and when a player is captain, I analyse the player from both the player and captain perspective.

“After weeks of analysing and exchanging opinions with my coaching staff we made the decision Paul is just a player and not a captain.

“The decision was made, I informed the player and the players and when I was asked before the match on Tuesday I confirmed it and now I confirm (it again) and now it is the end of the story.”

Peter Olayinka celebrates return from injury with cup win Peter Olayinka has celebrated his return to action for Czech champions Slavia Prague after an injury spell.

The former KAA Gent and ZulteWaregem striker was a second half substitute as Slavia Prague progressed to the fourth round of the Czech Cup with a 2-0 home win over FK Usti Nad Labem.

Before then he last featured for his team in a league game in August.

“It feels good to be back,” Olayinka declared on his return to action.

The 22-year-old striker has scored a goal in two league games since his arrival from Belgium.

Slavia Prague are top of the table with 24 points from nine matches.

QUOTABLE QUOTES

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Ben Franklin

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