Daily Times of Nigeria

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NIGERIA

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.22

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Obasanjo, Jonathan in secret meeting 6

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Ekwueme (3rd left), APGA chairman, Victor Umeh; Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Emeka Ojukwu Jnr. at the remembrance service for the Biafran dead.

Igbo mourn dead Biafran 01 ƆƔƐ ƏƐ MơƄ soldiers, pray against war ƇƑƆƋ ƋƆ Ɨ ƈƋƕ Ƒ Əƈ 7 Nnabuenyig, Awka

ÏÏÏThirty

five-years after the end of Nigerian Civil war, prominent citizens of the South East extraction

Yar’Adua would have jailed OBJ – Oba Akiolu 6

yesterday in Awka, Anambra State capital, officially mourned dead soldiers of the defunct Biafra Republic.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Ronaldo retains FIFA Ballon d’Or

INSIDE XT Exclusive

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EXTRATIME

Playing Cote d’Ivoire’ll boost Eagles, says

EXTRATIME

Poster!

ASISAT OSHOALA

KWAMBE

NO

Asisat Lamina

X4,5 OSHOALA

X3

KE SPURS MFAER £8M OF FOR

Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number: Youth career: Honours:

Asisat Lamina Oshoala October 9, 1994 (age 20) Ikorodu, Nigeria 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Forward Rivers Angels (2013—till date) 34 FC Robo (2009–2013) Rivers Angels (2011–till date) African Women’s Championship Winner: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Runner-up: 2014 African Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2014 African Women’s Youth Player of the Year: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: 2014

It’s my second time having a handshake with the President and I am really happy about it because there are a lot of Nigerians out there wishing to just see him not to talk of handshake with him. Having this second opportunity to shake hands with him, I am really happy about it and I know it is the grace of God at work in my life. For me it’s a dream come true. I dedicate the award to God Almighty Allah who has kept and been with me ever since I started playing football up to this moment. I also dedicate the award to my parents and my family who are always praying for me. I also thank my team mates especially the U-20 girls who enabled me to score those goals that gave me the award, not forgetting team mates in Super Falcons and my previous and present team FC Robo and Rivers Angels. I also thank my coaches who have trained me and made me what I am right now. To my fans and every one I say thank you.”—Asisat Oshoala speaking soon after she received her Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award from President Goodluck Jonathan.

MESSI slams transfer ‘lies’

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EMENIKE

SALGADO: It’s tough for goalkeepers to win Ballon d’Or

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BURKE

breaks collarbone in crash X7

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Politics Page Three

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s

Editorial Continuing furore over Permanent Voters Card

T

he ongoing furore over the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) distribution exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be a matter of concern to all right thinking Nigerians.

Before now, the commission claimed that 80 percent of registered voters have been issued with permanent voters cards. But investigations reveal that the situation may be further from the truth. We say this because many aggrieved registered voters are yet to collect their cards.

Even when INEC says it is trying to rectify the anomalies, we are yet to see any improvement, given that millions of eligible voters are still in the lurch on how to get their cards All these are coming at a time some political parties are alleging of surreptitious moves by opponents to buy up PVC’s with a view to disenfranchising owners of such cards, especially in opposition strongholds.

Though INEC claims to have registered more than 80 million voters, reliable statistics show that more than 15 million of them may not exercise the civic duty of casting their votes in the forthcoming elections next month. That is why the commission must listen to the numerous complaints by individuals and interest groups with a view to rectifying the anomalies.

There is no denying the fact that one of the basic tenets of democracy

is the periodic holding of elections to enable voters chose those who will manage their affairs for specified constitutional period.

It would therefore amount to a travesty to deny those eligible to vote the right to do so for no fault of theirs. That is why we support the marching orders on the commission

by President Goodluck that it must ensure every registered voter gets a card.

The February 2015 elections are too important in the life of this nation as to deny anyone qualified voter the opportunity of exercising such franchise. Elections in the country have always been marred by such official ineptitudes, which is why the outcomes are always subjects of court litigations.

It must be stated that the voters’ cards also serve as electronic data banks on the owners. They will not only enable them keep tab on their bio-data, they also will serve as valid document for relevant information on all business transactions.

We call on INEC to show more zeal and determination in addressing the complaints of those still to get their voter’s cards. This will help put to rest charges against the commission of favouring some geographical zones to the detriment of others.

A situation where persons from certain areas of the country feel shortchanged in the distribution of voter’s cards does not augur well for the image of the commission.

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So, where are our girls?

Yinka Olujimi

ÎÎÎThe polity is charged.

Campaigns are in full swing. The crowds are there – rented or genuine, they are there and they are Nigerians, hopefully.

Fiery speeches are followed by cajolements; analyses followed by promises. The crowds roar, musicians entertain; comedians send the people into uproarious laughter. All is well.

Perhaps.

The almost 300 innocent Nigerian girls who were abducted by the bloodhounds called Boko Haram remain in captivity.

Their plight is not one of the campaign issues. All around is glib talk about ending the Boko Haram menace.

The parents of the abducted girls continue to live with the pain of not knowing if their children, precious girls, are still alive or dead; if they remain girls or have been turned into women overnight by sex-crazed human dogs. Worse still, the girls might have been sold into slavery, a sad remind-

Words On Marble :

er of better-forgotten centuries.

The incumbent President has no comforting words on the whereabouts of the girls or when they may be reunited with their families and humanity. Mum is also the word from his main challenger, who is a respected leader in the Boko Haram zone.

So, the partying and campaigns continue. The girls, and others similarly abducted by the fundamentalists have become a part of some receding memories.

It is difficult not to ask: Where are our girls? Will they ever return?

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Deputy Editors Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head of Operations

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Bisi Abidoye Segun Adio

Innocent Nwankwo Adetayo Adelaja

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Sports Editor

Head, Sales & Marketing

Okay Osuji

Andrew Ekejiuba

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Moses Ebong

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

Deputy Head Graphics Afeez Odeseye

The opinions expressed in the articles published in this newspaper are solely those of the authors. Articles may be reproduced, provided that the original source is indicated.

Philip Emeagwali

Ben Okri

Babatunde Fashola

Nigeria is a West African nation of over 100 million energetic people. It is endowed with lots of natural resources but lacks human resources.

The magician and the politician have much in common: they both have to draw our attention away from what they are really doing

Our future progress lies in our ability to move beyond rhetorics and practically rebrand our country and change the ugly picture that has been presented to the

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Victims count losses as fire razes Balogun Market Lara Adejoro

ÏÏÏIt was another black Mon-

day for shop owners and traders at the popular Balogun Market on the Lagos Island when their goods worth millions of Naira were razed by an early morning fire.

A similar fire incident occurred on Monday, November 4, 2013, with hundreds of traders weeping bitterly when the Great

Nigeria House on Martins Street, Lagos Island was burnt.

The latest incident affected shops close to the Great Nigeria House.

It was gathered that the affected plazas served as shops and warehouses for dealers in shoes and bags but the narrow road hindered fire fighters from putting out the flames. Balogun Market is, perhaps, the largest in Nigeria and, indeed, West Africa.

It spreads across many streets on the island.

Daily Times learnt that shops 16, 42, 36, Okay Shop, Rich Plaza and a Diamond Bank, Balogun branch at Gbajumo and Balogun Street were affected by the inferno. However, no casualty was recorded.

An eyewitness who identified himself as Obinna said, “When the fire started, there was no way the fire service men could come

into the street. It took them about five hours before they could gain access because of the road blocked by the local government officials. This has been like that for over six years.

“Meanwhile, this is the second time we will be experiencing fire outbreak in one year. If the fire service men had gained access into the street earlier, the fire would have been put out,” he said.

2015: Shun inflammatory utterances, US envoy urges politicians Yakubu Salisu

ÏÏÏ

President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains at the Ogun State presidential rally, in Abeokuta on Monday

Assailants attack APC National Chairman’s home …Party suspects assassins or robbers

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Abuja residence of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was, in the early hours of Monday, attacked by assailants suspected to be hired assassins or armed robbers.

The attack was confirmed in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who, while stating that the party hoped the police investigation would unravel what happened, said, “Those who attacked the residence at 1.30 am are robbers or assassins”.

The attack compelled the APC to raise the alarm over the safety of its National Chairman and his family.

Mohammed pointed out that Odigie-Oyegun was away to a meeting in Abuja when the invaders struck, stressing that his wife, who was at home, was traumatised by the raid.

According to APC spokesman, ‘’The facts of the raid, as available so far, point to a sinister motive. For example, only Chief Odigie-Oyegun’s room was ransacked. Common sense dictates that if the invaders were robbers, they would have ransacked the whole house in search of money and other valuables which they might have believed were in the residence. ‘’The invaders included two burly men, who removed the window’s burglar bars to gain access to the residence from the back and then made straight for the

bedroom of our National Chairman.

“Police security was in place at the residence when the incident happened,’’ the APC spokesman said.

The party said, although, it did not know who was responsible, noted that “the angry rhetoric and vitriolic personality attacks that have been directed at the opposition by the leadership of the ruling PDP and their spokesmen have heightened tension and put the lives of opposition politicians at risk, ahead of the forthcoming elections”.

APC, however, expressed gratitude to God for saving OdigieOyegun and his wife, wondering what would have happened if the national chairman had been at home at the time of the raid.

As the build-up to the February general elections heightens, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has urged Nigerian political leaders to refrain from intimidation and inflammatory utterances that can heat up the polity, just as he appealed to Nigerians to avoid any act of violence.

Speaking at a journalism training workshop organised by the US Embassy in Abuja and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) national secretariat in Kaduna, the American envoy called on the federal government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the political parties to ensure that all registered voters were allowed to vote for candidates of their choice to ensure that Nigeria holds free, fair and credible elections next month.

“Just 33 days from today, the 2015 general elections will begin. The United States strongly supports a free, transparent, credible, inclusive and non-violent electoral process. We continue to call upon all Nigerians to refrain from advocating, fomenting or condoning violence before, during or after the elections.

“We urge political parties and the government to ensure that all registered voters are able to participate freely in a peaceful and transparent process. In order to create an environment where that can happen, Nigeria’s political leadership and all those who aspire to lead must refrain from engaging in inflammatory rhetoric or supporting acts of intimidation.

5 News Brief Ombatse killings: Jonathan has case to answer –APC ÏÏÏ

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has said that President Goodluck Jonathan is not concerned about the welfare and safety needs of the country’s security personnel and is prepared to trade their welfare and needs for political gains.

According to a statement signed and released by Garba Shehu, Director, Media and Publicity APC Presidential Campaign Council, in Abuja, on Monday, it was for political exigency and in order to carry on with his “gentleman image’, who cannot hurt a fly that the President failed, continuously, as a Commander-in-Chief, unable to mobilise the security forces and provide them with the necessary leadership to accomplish their objective.

The statement noted that the attitude of the Jonathan administration to the cruel fate that befell more than 100 policemen and operatives of the Directorate of the State Security Services (DSS) who lost their lives while on a mission to arrest the spiritual leader of the notorious Ombatse cult in Nassarawa State, last year, was, yet, the most glaring example of how callous and uncaring a government, which claims to be democratic, can be.

“In serious countries, the government does not toy with the lives and well-being of its security men such that any act of violence visited on the personnel of the security establishment is tantamount to an assault on the nation as a whole.

“The action of the US and French authorities when terrorists attacked their Police personnel on duty is a case in point.

These governments did not rest until the perpetrators were eliminated and investigation is still continuing to get to the root cause of the assault to prevent future occurrence.

Jonathan

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Obasanjo, Jonathan in secret parley Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÏÏÏPresident

Goodluck Jonathan was on Monday night driven in an unmarked Hilux Sports Utility Van (SUV) into the Abeokuta, Ogun State Hilltop mansion of his estranged godfather, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

The visit, believed to

have been brokered by a prominent Christian cleric in the state, came after Obasanjo had sneaked out of his home earlier in the day when the President sought to pay a courtesy call on him.

President Jonathan was in the state to continue his campaign for reelection in the southwestern part of the country.

The secret meeting was still holding as at press time on Monday night. Former Minister of State for Finance under Obasanjo, Chief Jubril Martins Kuye, and many chieftains of the party, had also boycotted the campaign rally held at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.

President Jonathan, who had arrived in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was said to have been scheduled to visit Obasanjo at the Mansion but had to jettison the idea due to the information that the former President was not ready to receive him.

Some journalists had stationed themselves at Obasanjo’s home but were

surprised to have seen the former President leaving his home in a black SUV, accompanied by one security Hilux van at about 2.59p.m through a private gate to an undisclosed location.

The security personnel drafted to maintain law and order at his residence later left a few minutes after Obasanjo left.

However, people close to the former president said that President Jonathan was not in the Obasanjo’s itinerary for the day.

Obasanjo left at around 2:59p.m few minutes after the helicopter that flew

President Jonathan to the state touched ground.

At the campaign ground, Obasanjo was also not present while Senator Kuye, governorship aspirant and former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye with his Imole Group were conspicuously absent.

But while speaking at the rally, former PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, extolled the virtues of the former President, saying “Obasanjo laid the foundation of democracy in Nigeria, he performed creditably well while in office”.

Yar’Adua would have jailed OBJ – Oba Akiolu

President Jonathan (middle), PDP’s National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; and campaign topshot, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, at the Ibadan rally ... on Monday

Ekwueme, others mourn dead Biafran soldiers Continued from page 1 Also yesterday, the geopolitical zone mourned the death of their kith and kin who died during the three-year civil war, praying that the genocide experience during the war should not repeat itself.

To this end, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra State chapter, called on the Igbo not to embark on vendetta, noting that what is paramount is peace and harmonious relationship.

The occasion which had in attendance top senior military officials of the Republic of Biafra was highlighted by the unknown soldiers and the lightning of white candles by the crowd present.

Speaking at the event, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, said:

“My brothers and sisters, we are not alone on this.

History presents us with a long list of ethnicities and nations that have risen through horrific experiences to strengthen their ties of brotherhood and re-affirm their humanity through symbolic events like the one we have gathered here today to perform.”

“Umu nnem, in my inaugural address, I informed Ndigbo that the time had come for us to climb over the recriminations of the past and build new bridges of understanding across Nigeria. I argued that if our ancestors sacrificed so much to create Nigeria, we must not sacrifice any less to rebuild this country. I also re-emphasized my belief that our future as a people is better

guaranteed in a united, indivisible Nigeria. Ladies and gentlemen, that is why we must all vote for Dr Goodluck Azikiwe Ebele Jonathan in the presidential election that will hold next month”.

Also speaking on behalf of CAN, the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, said the ecumenical service was “celebrating the patriotism, the sacrifice of life and limbs made by some members of the Armed forces in various conflicts, especially the civil war and current Boko Haram insurgency.”

The bishop called the Igbo not to pursue vendetta over their relatives who were killed during conflicts in the country.

Spokesman for the exBiafran soldiers, Col Ben Gbulie ( rtd), expressed

happiness with the idea of mourning Igbo fallen heroes, adding that it has shown that Ndigbo are proud of their patriots.

Gbulie further explained that in as much as the war had come and gone, the remembering of the fallen sons and daughters during the war was instructive as it not only heals the wounds of the past but also commended the efforts of those who laid down their lives for the unity of the country.

Among those present at the occasion were Second Republic Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, Philanthropist Engr. Arthur Eze, and delegations from four states of the South East zone.

ÏÏÏFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo would have been jailed had his successor, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, not died prematurely in office in May 2010.

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, said this in an exclusive interview with the Daily Times in his palace at the weekend.

“Let me tell you something … if Yar’Adua had been alive for six months before he died, Obasanjo would have been in the prison yard. Because, I, Oba Akiolu, I had the opportunity of seeing some of the things on ground,” the Lagos monarch said.

Though he declined to give details, Oba Akiolu hinted that it had to do with corruption- related

Oba Akiolu

issues saying that by February, he would reveal all.

“The time has not come; after February, I will tell you people more and I’m serious,” he said.

Oba Akiolu added: “I know what I’m saying, if the late President Yar’Adua had lived for another six months or one year, Obasanjo would have been in prison yard.

Quote me, I, Oba Akiolu, said it and I mean it.

FULL INTERVIEW TOMORROW And I still maintain it,” According to the monarch, there were still many things not yet in the public domain, but he vowed to reveal all.

His words: “There are many things still hidden and I will expose them.

He is a pretender of the highest order. Obasanjo is a pretender and an antiLagos. With his mouth at Island Club on 24th April 2003, he said: ‘You either love Lagos or leave Lagos’.

He didn’t love Lagos and didn’t leave Lagos. And all the financial gains he made are from Lagos here. What he acquired genuinely and what he did not acquire genuinely, but everything is in the hands of God. You will see what will happen.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

7 News

Petroleum Products: FG extorts N1bn from Nigerians daily –Buhari ÏÏÏThe All Progressives Con-

gress Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCC) has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - led Federal Government to stop stealing from Nigerians and allow them to enjoy the relief that has come to consumers of petroleum products globally.

A statement from the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign,

We can’t be cowed, Yero tells opposition Victor Jibrin, Kaduna

ÏÏÏ

As campaign for elections in February hots up, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has declared that the PDP will not allow itself to be intimidated and cowed by opposition’s campaign of calumny.

Speaking at the launching of his campaign on Monday, Yero, who warned APC to tread with caution in the pursuit of their ambition, said the PDP is ready

headed by Garba Shehu, said it was disturbing that in spite of the fall in the global price of crude oil, Nigerians still buy petroleum products at pump prices, as if the global price of crude oil had remained at $100 (USD) per barrel.

The statement reads: “The current attempt by the government to deregulate the prices of some petroleum products has been completely compromised to satisfy few money bags to the detri-

for the race and will match them force-for-force.

He lamented the destruction of PDP candidate’s posters on display by APC supporters, and threatened that, henceforth, any attack on PDP would be retaliated in folds, stressing that the party’s silence and patience should not be misconstrued for cowardice.

Urging PDP faithful to rise up to the occasion, the governor charged his fellow contestants that are not ready for the electoral battle to step aside and allow their replacements before it is late.

Power, he noted, belongs to God who gives it to whomever he wishes at his own time “but if power is given to you, it is for you to make life better for the people and not to put them in pains.”

Jonathan mourns Fakeye ÏÏÏPresident

Goodluck Jonathan has received with sadness, news of the death of Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye, the spiritual leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church.

In a release from the Presidency, signed by the Special Adviser to the President on media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan extends heartfelt condolences to Prophet Fakeye’s family, members of the Cherubim

Oshiomhole

and Seraphim Church and the Christian community in Nigeria on the demise of the great servant of God. The President joins them in mourning the revered spiritual leader who greatly inspired and motivated his followers and other Nigerians with his vibrant elucidation of the Word of God, as well as his exemplary lifestyle and moral conduct.

President Jonathan prays that Almighty God will grant Prophet Fakeye’s soul eternal rest.

Oshiomhole congratulates emir, Tambuwal

ment of the Nigerian people and the economy.

“The price of diesel, which has been deregulated since 2009, still sells at the pump price of N150 and N170 per litre, the same pump price, when the international benchmark per barrel of crude was over $100. Now that the international benchmark has dropped to $47.5 (USD) per barrel as at Monday, we ask: ‘where is the deregulation and the relief which it

ought to bring to local consumers of diesel?’

“For the Nigerian consumers, unfortunately, the collapse of crude oil price since October 2014 has not translated into any change in diesel, kerosene and PMS prices across the country.

We challenge the federal government to reconcile the information on the website of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, indicating the maximum

open market price of diesel pay per litre in December 2014 as being at N111.6 and the fact that the price has come down to less than $50 (USD) as at Monday.

“We want to posit that the maximum indicative benchmark open to consumers of diesel should pay at a margin below N100 per litre.

Therefore, Nigerians are being short-changed by about N50 to N70 on every litre of diesel sold by government.

L-R: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; President, Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Maj.Gen. Lawrence Onoja (rtd); Former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Edugie Abebe and Secretary-General of (AANI), Comrade Issa Aremu during the Reunion Fund Raising 2015 of AANI in Abuja… on Monday.

Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Airways pensioners raise alarm over N3b disparity arrears Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏ

Pensioners of the liquidated Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), who retired in 1999, have raised alarm over the N3 billion that the Federal Government is owing them as pension disparity arrears as at September, 2014.

The pensioners made this known through the Deputy National President, Airways Pensioners, and Chairman, Nigeria Airways 1999 retirees, Comrade

Jonathan Eze

ÏÏÏ

Governor Adams Oshiomhole has congratulated the Emir of Zaria, HRH Alhaji Shehu Idris, on his 40th coronation anniversary.

He also felicitated with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambu-

Muideen Oyewo, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, on Monday.

Mr. Oyewo explained that their pension disparity started on January 2000, when 30 per cent Federal Government pension increase was implemented only on the pensions of Nigeria Airways pensioners, who retired before 1999.

He added that the disparity was further enlarged when 500 per cent Nigeria Airways salary increase was approved by the Fed-

eral Government for NAL management to implement on the pension of the 2002 retirees, as they disengaged in January in 2002. He urged the government to look into the matter with a view to resolving the issue.

Mr Oyewo explained that many of the workers of the defunct national carrier have died while waiting on government to settle the injustice, as a result of the way and manner the airline was liquidated.

wal, on his 49th birthday.

In a letter to the royal father, Oshiomhole said: “I heartily write on behalf of the Government and the good people of Edo State to pay tribute and celebrate with Your Royal Highness on this momentuous occasion of your landmark 40th coronation anniversary as Emir of Zazzau.

“Under Your Royal Highness’s glorious reign, Zazzau Emirate witnessed phenomenal socio-economic, political, educational and cultural advancement and, more than at any time in its history, affirmed its status as a world-renowned emirate, centre of learning and scholarship, and a home for all Nigerians.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Ex-Bayelsa Gov, Sylva launches Senatorial campaign Akam James, Yenagoa

ÏÏÏThe three candidates

of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State have kicked off their campaign for the Central, West and East senatorial seats.

The three candidates, Chief Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa East; Eddy Julius, West and Prince Preye Aganaba, Central, were handed the party flag for the February election during the presidential

Folarin promises new salary for Oyo workers Remi Oladoye

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State, Senator Teslim Folarin, has promised to clear all outstanding salaries and introduce an enhanced salary package for public workers in Oyo State if he is elected as governor of the state next month.

Folarin, who spoke at a meeting with representatives of teachers and other workers at his Oluy-

campaign in the State Aganaba, during the inauguration of his campaign team for the three local government areas of Yenagoa, Southern Ijaw and Kolokuma/Opokuma at the weekend, said victory was certain for the party in the state while former governor of the state, Sylva also threw open discussions on his chances against the PDP candidate, Ben MurrayBruce on the social media.

ole residence in Ibadan yesterday, sympathised with state workers who were yet to receive their salaries for September to December and promised to clear all arrears of salaries and allowances if elected.

He also promised to run his administration with the fear of God, respect for human rights, which he said would translate to justice, accountability, unity, among other values.

Folarin said he had met all the conditions needed for the position of a state governor and urged party members and supporters to ignore the campaign of calumny being carried out against him by his opponents.

NDLEA secures conviction of 27 drug dealers in A’Ibom Eno-Obong Okon, Uyo

ÏÏÏThe Akwa Ibom State

command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, says the command had won 27 convictions at the Federal High Court, Uyo, in 2014.

The convicts included 24 male and three female, who were sentenced to various jail terms for drug offences.

State Commander, Mrs. Ruth Obi, who stated this in Uyo on Monday, revealed that the convicts were among the 401 suspects arrested in 2014 and that the convicted persons comprised 353 male and 48 female.

L-R: Former, Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki; Kano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso; Former, Gombe State Governor, Sen Danjuma Goje; Vice Presidential Candidate Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Kwara State, Governor, Alh Ahmed Abdulfatah; APC Presidential Candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Director General, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, during the commissioning of campaign headquarters and inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Monday. Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Obasanjo remains PDP leader, says Oladipo Michael Bamigbola, Osogbo

ÏÏÏNational

Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Wale Oladipo has declared that former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo remains a leader of the party.

Oladipo, speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday, noted that the contributions of Obasanjo to Nigeria’s democracy and PDP, in particular, could not be under-estimated.

He added that the party respects Obasanjo and

She stated that the drugs seized in 2014 included 228 litres of combine (mixture of Cannabis Sativa and Alcohol) with an average weight of 157.373km.

She noted that the illicit drugs were seized during routine joint raids, which resulted in the arrest of dealers by the NDLEA operatives.

North to the South after the second term of Jonathan, saying that the northerners needed to support the incumbent president in the interest of national unity and continuity of his transformation agenda.

He pleaded with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to truncate the fledgling democracy through violence, saying “the APC needs to stop breaking the rules and focus on their campaign.

The APC should not subvert the will of Nigerians.’

While condemning violent acts allegedly perpe-

trated by the APC, the PDP scribe called on the police force to investigate the attack on the campaign team of Jonathan in Jos, Plateau State.

Meanwhile, security had been beefed up in Osogbo, the Osun State capital ahead of today’s visit of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Jonathan and other national leaders of the PDP are expected in Osogbo for the presidential campaign holding at the Mandela Freedom Park, which had been taken over by security operatives yesterday.

Jonathan’s campaign buses burnt

by PDP supporters – Buhari ÏÏÏPresidential candidate

Akpabio

would continue to adore him as an elder statesman who is useful to the country and the world at large.

“Chief Obasanjo is a leader who we all respect so much in the PDP. He is an elder statesman and a mentor to many of us. I believe he will continue to render useful advice to us in the PDP and to the nation at large,” he stated.

He, however, described the February 14 presidential election as “a contest between a Ph.D holder and a semi-literate old soldier.”

Oladipo claimed that power would shift from the

of All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to count him and his party out of the issues that led to the burning of a campaign bus of President Goodluck Jonathan in Jos, Plateau State on Saturday.

The PDP had accused APC of culpability in the incident, with the Presidency advising Buhari to caution his supporters.

In a swift reaction, Buhari, speaking through his cam-

paign organisation, said the incident was caused by the controversy over a ‘rigged’ PDP election in Plateau State.

According to a statement

by Garba Shehu, Director of Media and Publicity of Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, “PDP should leave us out of their wahala (trouble).

The incident in Jos was passed as a ‘PDP on PDP violence’ yesterday evening after their rigged primaries.

“That is the earliest security report we got. Nobody

should change that and use it to demonise opponents”, Shehu said, adding that Buhari was the first to condemn the incident immediately it was reported on Saturday.

He quoted Buhari as saying: “I have been informed of the burning of PDP campaign buses in Jos today. This is unacceptable! There is no excuse for this violence. I am hoping that the police will, immediately, investigate, arrest and prosecute the culprits. Our democracy cannot tolerate violence in any form.”

Buhari

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

9 News

Dankwambo tasks Nigerian Legion on security Danjuma Williams, Gombe

ÏÏÏBedevilled by the ac-

Fumes of burnt Popular Balogun Market in Lagos: Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

INEC presents voters’ register to parties today Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will formally present copies of the Voters’ Register that will be used to conduct next month’s general elections to political parties today.

According to the INEC bulletin 706, which confirmed the presentation on Monday, the ceremony is to take place at the Conference Hall, INEC headquarters, Abuja.

The commission described this as a crucial milestone in the journey to the 2015 general elections.

INEC based its decision on section 20 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which provides that the Register of Voters for an election shall be published at least thirty (30) days before the elections.

According to the INEC Bulletin: “The 2015 General Elections will take place on February 14 and 28, 2015”.

The commission recalled that the timetable and

schedule of activities for the 2015 general elections released to the public on January 24, 2014, shows under item 10 that the commission shall release/ publish the official Register of Voters for the election on January 13, 2015.

It shall also publish the list of nominated candidates contesting for the Presidency and National Assembly today, January 13, 2015.

The list of those contesting for the offices of Governor and House of

Assembly will be published on January 27, 2015.

Also, in accordance with the same INEC time table, the last day of withdrawal by candidate(s) replacement of withdrawn candidate(s) by political parties for governorship and State House of Assembly is also schedule for today, January, 13, 2015.

The commission said this is sequel to section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), which provides for not later than 45 days before the election.

Northern group lauds Dickson’s political tolerance Akam James, Yenagoa

ÏÏÏA

Group, under the guise of Northern Peoples Forum (NPF) has commended the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, over his show of tolerance to the political activities in the state, including the conduct of the Presidential Campaign by the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, General Mohammad Buhari.

According to the group, the show of maturity and leadership qualities by the

Bayelsa State government during the APC rally in the state is a confirmation of tolerance and maturity needed by the various political parties during the 2015 election campaigns.

In a statement issued via e-mail and signed by its National Coordinator, Mallam Kabiru Shittu Mohammed, the show of good sportsmanship and host by the Bayelsa State government ensured the peace and security needed at the Samson Sia-sia Stadium venue of the APC campaign.

“By this exemplary show of political maturity, Dickson has impressed on all Nigerians the need for tolerance and understanding which, he said, should be emulated in the on-going political campaign by politicians,” it said.

The group, however, noted that during the administration of the former governor in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, the Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign train to Bayelsa during the 2011 elections was marred by attacks and

tivities of insurgents that have caused the death of thousands of people in the North-East, Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, has called on leadership of the Nigerian Legion in the state to mobilize their members, as a reserve force, in tackling insurgency.

Represented by his Deputy, Mr. Tha’anda Jason Rubainu, the governor stated this yesterday at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day and Emblem Appeal Fund raising ceremony observed in the state.

He said they could assist towards tackling the security challenges in their various local government

NYSC to mobilise corpers twice this year Chika Okafor

ÏÏÏThe

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has stated that prospective corps members will be mobilized for service in only ‘A and B’ batches for this year.

In a press release signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in NYSC, Mrs. Bose Aderibigbe, it stated that

incidence of tear gas, adding that such attitude was not only disruptive but also does not add value to the cause of democracy.

the change became necessary due to some operational exigencies.

“We wish to inform the general public, especially prospective corps members, that due to some operational exigencies, Corps members will be mobilized in only two batches this year, i.e. 2015 Batch ‘A’ and 2015 Batch ‘B’.

“Furthermore, the 2015 Batch ‘A’ Orientation Course has been scheduled to take place from Tuesday, May 5 to Tuesday, May 26, 2015, and not in the month of March as obtained in the previous years,” it said.

Nasarawa: Return IDPs before poll – Ex-commissioner Samson Osuo

ÏÏÏA former commission-

Dickson

councils by reporting suspicious persons to security agencies for prompt action.

Already, 120 members of the legionnaires have been engaged by the state government in primary and secondary schools to protect lives and property in Gombe, Akko and Billiri local government areas.

The governor also used the occasion to salute the courage of serving and retired military officers for their commitment towards defending the unity of the nation.

He appealed to people of the state to continue to live in peace with one another irrespective of their differences adding. “On our part, government would continue to support the security agencies to maintain law and order in the state.”

er for Water Resources and Rural Development in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Ugah, has appealed to the state government to ensure that all those who are displaced as a result of communal crises return to their various communities before the February general elections.

Ugah, who made the appeal during an interview with newsmen in Lafia, expressed dismay over the high number of people that left their homes due to the cur-

rent spate of insecurity in the southern senatorial district of the state.

According to him, except those displaced go back to their communities and participate in the proposed election, the exercises may not be free and acceptable, as many will be disfranchised.

Alhaji Ugah said “Before the election I want all our people to go back to their communities because they are scattered everywhere, with some in Lafia, Shabu and other parts of the country, or else the coming elections will not be free and fair.”

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2014

Be law-abiding, Buhari tells supporters Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏAhead

of the February 2015 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential flag-bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, urged his supporters to be law abiding so as not to tarnish the party’s image.

Buhari stated this at the inauguration of his campaign office and the presidential campaign council in Abuja.

According to him, no supporter should be rude to any leader on his behalf, because it will amount to anti-party activity. ``I expect you to re-double your effort. I expect total support. I urge you not to insult or be rude to any leader on my behalf. Your conduct must not tarnish the image of the party. ``The opposition is committed to the rule of law. Learn to be vigilant before, during and immediately after elections. Don’t take the law into your hands, no matter the provocation.’’

He pledged that under the APC-led government, no Nigerian would go to bed hungry or angry at government. ``We promise you a landslide win and, to us, it’s a done deal.’’

Earlier, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, who double as Director-General of

Buhari campaign outfit, said the party must get its acts right the first time.

He said: ``No one can deliver the APC, only three people: God, the people and you. There can’t be another chance like this and we can’t afford to disagree on any issue. ``The only source of disagreement should be the will to get it right. Luckily, we have a wonderful candidate to sell; please join us.’’

Ameachi told the audience

that the party Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, was robbed overnight, adding that the development accounted for his visible absence from the gathering.

In his vote of thanks, Buhari’s running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said: ``no-one knows where or how the wind blows but come February 14, that wind will blow Gen. Buhari, prosperity and security into government.’’

The campaign council includes all APC governors, party stalwarts and stakeholders.

The campaign continues in Imo state on Monday and will be taken to the South-West and end in the North-Central on January 18 before the campaign for the Northern region campaigns begins.

In a similar development, Buhari Support Organisations (BSO), over the weekend, said a future Buhari/Osinbajo Presidency shall focus critically on investment and human capital development agenda of the youth population.

The pastor in-charge of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Niger Province, Pastor Kolajo Sanya (right), presenting an award of recognition to governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu, during the 25th anniversary of the church, held at the church’s premises, Tunga, Minna recently.

Ex-militants refutes MEND’s corruption claims Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏEx-militants under the aus-

pices of Third Phase Ex-militants have debunked recent corruption claims made by the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, against President Goodluck Jonathan.

Both national leaders of the exagitators, Tam Odogwu of Delta State and Julius Joseph of Bayelsa State who said this in Abuja at described MEND’s utterance as unguided and reckless, as it was not in the interest of ex-militants in the region.

Odogwu said: “We in Third Phase Amnesty for Ex-militants condemn in its entirety the purported, unguided and reckless utterances of the self-assumed MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, for making statements that are not in the interest of ex-militants in the Niger Delta region.

“It is unfortunate for this group called MEND led by Jomo Gbomo to raise claims on corruption and neglect against President Goodluck Jonathan and describing him as enemy to the people in the Niger Delta. It is not only baseless and disappointing but also misconceived, misleading and an absolute distortion of facts.

Rivers APC assures Buhari of victory ÏÏÏThe

Enugu guber fallout: Aspirant alleges threat to life

By Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏA Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) governorship aspirant in Enugu State, Dr. Samuel Onyishi, has alleged that he has been getting life threatening messages following his determination to challenge the December 8, 2014, PDP governorship primary election in the court.

Onyishi is the proprietor of Peace Mass Transit company.

Onyishi had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking nullification of the primary election conducted by PDP Enugu State for a breach of Sections 87(4)(b)(I) of the Electoral Act and non-compliance with the electoral guidelines for primary

elections of 2014 of the PDP and its constitution.

The court had, prior to the primary election in another suit, approved and sanctioned a list of delegates for the said primary election.

The list sanctioned by the court consisted of all the delegates duly elected as delegates at the party’s ward congress held for the state.

Onyishi contended that the Enugu State Electoral Panel, in breach of the court’s decision, discarded that list of duly elected delegates approved by the court, and brought out a totally different list of delegates, which they claimed was handed over to them by the leadership of the party. He further averred that no valid elec-

tion took place in the state as no votes or results could have been recorded from the flawed election.

He told the court that upon realizing the illegality of using a different list from the one sanctioned by the court, that some delegates conducted different primaries leading to a situation where the state now parades three persons laying claims to being winners of the gubernatorial primary election of the PDP in the state.

Onyishi, in an interview with Daily Times, said he had been getting life-threatening messages from the power that be for challenging the PDP gubernatorial primary election in Enugu state.

“Since I went to court to chal-

lenge that illegality, I have been receiving threat messages that they will close down my businesses. They even said they will come after me and kill me”.

“No amount of intimidation or threatening messages will stop me from pursing what is a just cause”.

He gave reasons for asking the court to cancel the primaries conducted in the state: “I went to court to cancel the primary after it was discovered that three different primaries were conducted simultaneously. I will follow this case to a logical conclusion, because I cannot be a party to what is not legitimate.

“I have done what my children will be proud of ”, he said.

Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured the party’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), of a landslide victory in the State during February 14, 2015 presidential election.

The party gave the assurance while congratulating Buhari on the successful flagging off of his campaign on Tuesday in the state capital, Port Harcourt.

“It was a thing of honour for us to have the privilege to host the flag-off of General Buhari’s presidential campaign and we wish to assure him that both Rivers state and the entire Niger Delta region are solidly behind him,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, stated.

He said that “with the 65,000 APC supporters that thronged the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex to witness the historical event, Buhari and the APC leadership should not bother anymore about Rivers State.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

National devt, a major issue in PDP, says Fani-Kayode Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

L-R: Registrar, Bell University, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Gbadebo; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Bell University, Professor Israel Babalola and Vice-Chancellor, Bell University Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, during the 2014/2015 Matriculation of Bell University, held at the Bell University compound, Sango-Ota, Ogun State at the weekend. Photo: Olawale Rotimi North-East, will go on; they are the only ones that have done that.

“The APC governors have not built one airport in the NorthWest or North-East, neither have they built any university. Every state in the North-West and NorthEast that had built universities and airports over the last four years is a PDP state. That is the sort of thing that North should expect, if Jonathan continues in power.

“We will also expect the consolidation of the efforts made in the fertiliser sector, which was a beehive of corruption before. He (Jonathan) has cleaned all that

and put in place a number of reformatory measures that will not allow corruption to take place anymore.

“When you come down to the South, you will find the type of cohesiveness that exists in various sectors and in the zones and, of course, the existing peace and freedom, the fact that I can say anything I like about the president without the fear of being locked up, without the fear of being intimidated or killed attests to this. “We have no political exile in Nigeria anymore. Nobody has to run away because he or she is anti-government; we have no

political prisoners in this country”, Fani-Kayode stated. While stating that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nothing to offer Nigerians, he recalled that it’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari said he would make Nigeria ungovernable if he did not win the (presidential) election.

According to him, “What they are offering is a man that said that Muslims should vote for Muslims in this country in any election; what they have offered is a man that said he would spread Sharia to every corner of this country if he is given power.

Ondo SSG woos aggrieved PDP members ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏSecretary to Ondo State Gov-

ernment, Dr. Aderotimi Adelola, has called on members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rally round and support the party in winning the next month’s general elections.

Adelola made the call on Monday at a unification meeting held between old and new leaders of PDP in Odigbo Local Government area of state.

Daily Times gathered that the meeting was held between leaders from Araromi Obu, Kuseru, Ago Alaye, Oniparaga and Ayes-

Body commends Jonathan on PVC ÏÏÏThe

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the development of Nigeria as the major issue in its campaign for next month’s general elections, as it says that President Goodluck Jonathan has performed creditably to deserve another term in office.

Director of Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode stated this when he appeared on a television programme at the weekend.

Fani-Kayode pointedly said that the election of Jonathan, for a second term, would mean the continuation of Nigeria as a secular modern state and not one that would set back many years in terms of religion, stability and peace, among others.

He said: “We do have challenges; we know those behind those challenges and we know what they are trying to do; but as long as President Jonathan remains focused, given a second mandate, I assure you that Nigeria will continue on the path of 21st century.

“The second point is that the gains we have made in agriculture, aviation and in every sector in this country will continue. The gains we have made in education, Almajiri education, and so on, tertiary institutions, building of federal universities and, indeed, state universities by the PDP governors in the North-West and

11 News

an wards of the local government.

The SSG assured that the party would be victorious in the forthcoming general elections and urged the people to vote massively for its presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Adelola urged the party supporters to remain committed and mobilise the electorate to vote for PDP candidates next month.

While maintaining that the unification of both the new and old members would further ensure victory in the coming polls,

he advised eligible voters not to sell their cards to anybody.

Chairman of the PDP Reconciliation Committee in Odigbo Local Government Area and Lisa of Araromi Obu, High Chief Tola Akintemi confirmed that the gathering was to ensure the happiness of every party member and be united before the election so as to ensure total victory for the party.

A former chairman of Odigbo local government area, Hon. Oladipo Ajani enjoined the people to maintain peace and shun violence before, during and after the elctions.

Mimiko

National Vanguard for Democracy and Development (NVDD) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his thoughtfulness in asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) available to all eligible Nigerians.

Publicity Secretary, Emeka Obinagwu, noted that a day after Jonathan’s directive, INEC provided a breakdown of figures of the cards already distributed.

“We commend Mr President for his high sense of statesmanship in asking that PVCs be provided to all eligible voters to enable them exercise their rights during the forthcoming elections”.

The president had, last Wednesday, charged the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, to ensure that all eligible Nigerians who registered to vote were provided with their Permanent Voter’s Cards, while swearing in a new National Commissioner representing Oyo State.

Gunmen kidnap Bayelsa NPC candidate Akam James, Yenagoa

ÏÏÏA

Bayelsa State House of Assembly aspirant on the platform of the National Conscience Party (NPC), Hon. Lucky Ogbazi, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen from his Azikoro village residence in Yenagoa.

According to his wife, Grace, the four gunmen, who came in two Hilux trucks broke into their home at about midnight yesterday under the guise that they were taking him in for questioning.

His family declared him missing after concerted efforts to ascertain his whereabouts failed.

Before his disappearance, the Ofoni community born politician is contesting for a seat to the represent Sagbama constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly in the forthcoming general elections.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Asinim Butswat said he was not aware of the incident.

Africa 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Ebola: China toughens travel restrictions on West Africans ÏÏÏChina

Security officers examine the body of a pastor, George Karidhimba Muriki of the Maximum Revival Centre, after he was shot dead by armed gunmen in Mombasa, Kenya, recently.

Libya PM calls for global support against jihadists ÏÏÏThe head of

Libya’s recognised government has pleaded for more help from the international community, warning that the country could become a dangerous haven for jihadists on Europe’s doorstep.

In an interview with AFP, ahead of hoped-for peace talks in Geneva this week, Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani said his government especially needed the lifting of an arms embargo to combat militias defying its authority.

“The international community must co-operate with Libya to put an end to extremism and terrorism and help government institutions, namely the army, by lifting the arms embargo,” Thani said at his headquarters in the eastern city of Al-Baida.

The UN Security Council imposed the arms embargo at the

start of Libya’s 2011 uprising, which ousted and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi, to protect civilians from his forces.

More than three years later, Libya is engulfed in chaos and hobbled by rival governments and parliaments as a myriad of armed groups battle for control of territory.

Thani’s government, which is recognised by the international community, and the elected parliament have been based in the remote east since an Islamist-led coalition seized Tripoli last August.

The coalition, known as Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) also holds third city Misrata. It launched a bloody offensive last December to seize control of key oil terminals but was repelled by the army.

Islamists, led by the UN-blacklisted Ansar al-Sharia, also control parts of second city Benghazi

in the east and have been locked in battle with pro-government forces since last May. “The international community classified Ansar al-Sharia as a terrorist organisation and it is leading an international coalition to crush such groups in Iraq and Syria,” Thani said of the USled alliance against the Islamic State group.

“But in Libya, the government and armed forces are battling these groups alone, without any support from the international community,” he said.

“We are afraid that the groups that are in Syria and Iraq will infiltrate Libya if they [coalition forces] tighten the noose around them there,” Thani said.

In November, last year, the Security Council blacklisted Ansar al-Sharia for its ties to alQaeda at the request of Britain, France and the United States.

Villagers set for showdown with Mugabe’s wife ÏÏÏOver 200 families, who were

evicted from a farm in the north of the capital Harare to make way for First Lady Grace Mugabe’s private wildlife sanctuary, are set to know their fate on Monday.

According to a News Day report, the case was set to be sealed at the High Court where Justice Erica Ndewere was expected to make a ruling on the matter.

Last week, heavily armed police officers evicted more than 200 families from a farm in eastern

Zimbabwe to create space for a game park proposed by Grace.Police officers and members of Zimbabwe’s secret service turned up at the farm, forcing the residents to leave without notice.

This happened despite the fact that the families were granted a court order last year preventing the authorities from evicting them from their homes - where Grace already owns an orphanage, a school and a farm - until they had been allocated alternative land.

has been quietly toughening travel restrictions on students and businessmen travelling from Ebola-hit West Africa, even as it increases support to fight the deadly disease in the region, diplomats say.

Beijing-based ambassadors from Liberia and Sierra Leone, whose countries, along with Guinea, are the hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak, say some of their nationals are staying away from China due to the new procedures.

“You have many Liberians, Guineans and Sierra Leoneans who come frequently to conduct business,” Dudley Thomas McKinley, Liberia’s ambassador to China, said in an interview. “Of course this has impacted them in a negative way and has slowed it down.

“It has impacted the numbers of people travelling to China from those regions, whether for business or for study,” he added, saying he planned to raise the concern with China’s Foreign

Egypt court frees 26 accused of debauchery ÏÏÏAn Egyptian court on Mon-

day acquitted 26 men accused of “debauchery” after they were arrested in a night-time raid on a Cairo bathhouse that triggered international concern.

The men were arrested on December 7, 2014, in the raid in the Azbakeya district of Cairo, amid fears of a widening police crackdown on homosexuals in Egypt.

The raid was controversially filmed by a female television journalist who, days later, aired

its footage on “The Hidden,” a weekly programme shown on pro-regime private satellite channel Al-Qahira Wel Nas. “Allahu Akbar [God is greatest],” the defendants chanted when the verdict was announced, an AFP correspondent reported from the court room.

“Finally, an Egyptian court issued a verdict in a case of this kind according to the law,” Ahmed Hossam, a lawyer defending 14 of the accused, told AFP.

Somali PM names new cabinet ÏÏÏSomalia’s newly appointed

Lady Grace

Ministry.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied there was any change in visa policy for West African applicants.

Most West Africans enter China through the southern province of Guangdong, which neighbours Hong Kong. The Guangzhou Daily said 438 000 Africans, mostly traders, passed through the provincial capital from January to October last year.

Victor Bockarie Foh, Sierra Leone’s ambassador to China, said he himself faced stepped-up screening when he returned to Beijing after a recent trip to his home country.

“I came back and at the airport I was rigorously examined,” he said, adding he did not fault China for stepping up restrictions on travellers from his country.

“If you fly with a disease like this, it is like flying with a bomb,” he said. “They [China] have not closed their doors. They are only being careful.”

prime minister named a giant cabinet of 60 people late on Sunday, as he warned of the “huge task” ahead to bring peace to the war-torn nation.

Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, endorsed by parliament last month after the president fell out with the previous premier amid bitter infighting, released his choice of names for

lawmakers to approve.

The 60 members include 26 ministers, 25 deputies and nine state ministers, an increase of five posts from the previous cabinet. Many of those named were in the previous cabinet.

“There is a huge task ahead....we will put our efforts into bringing peace among Somalis,” Sharmarke told reporters.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

13 World John Kerry in car accident in India ÏÏÏUS Secretary of

State John Kerry emerged unscathed after his motorcade was involved in a minor car accident in India.

Kerry was riding in the first of two vehicles involved in the collision, which resulted in “some damage to both cars,” said State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The SUV in which Kerry was traveling was rear-ended as it made its way through streets of the city of Ahmedabad, where Kerry had attended an international business conference.

Kerry suffered “no injuries nor did any staff or personnel,” Psaki said. “One vehicle was switched out and the motorcade proceeded to the airport without further incident.”

Armed police patrolled on Monday in the Marais, a historic Jewish neighbourhood in central Paris

France to deploy 10,000 troops to secure cities ÏÏÏFrance

is mobilising 10,000 troops to boost security after last week’s deadly attacks, and will send thousands of police to protect Jewish schools.

Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said troops would be in place from this evening in sensitive areas.

It is the first time troops have been deployed within France on such a scale.

Seventeen people were killed in Paris last week in attacks at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and at a kosher supermarket.

On Sunday, an estimated 3.7 million people took to the streets to show solidarity with the victims, including 1.5 mil-

lion people in Paris.

About 40 world leaders joined the start of the Paris march, linking arms in an act of solidarity.

President Francois Hollande ordered the deployment of troops during a crisis meeting with top officials early on Monday.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazaneuve announced that nearly 5,000 members of the security forces would be sent to protect France’s 717 Jewish schools, and that troops would be sent as reinforcements over the next two days.

The security meeting is a chance for President Hollande to be briefed on the latest in the

investigation into last week’s attacks. New elements include the discovery of a second flat where Coulibaly seems to have stored his weapons.

There will also be preliminary discussion of what - if any - new measures need to be taken in the fight against jihadism. There has been much talk about a possible French Patriot Act - similar to what the US enacted after 9/11.

But there seems little appetite to make major legislative changes. A new anti-terrorist law has only just gone through parliament. Emphasis is more likely to be on improving the means - in manpower and material - available to the intel-

ligence services, and also combating the growing problem of radicalisation in prisons.

Chris Bockman said security was tight at a Jewish school in Toulouse which was the scene of a fatal attack in 2012.

Last week, Mr Valls admitted there had been “clear failings” after it emerged that the three gunman involved in the attacks - Said and Cherif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly - had a history of extremism.

The Kouachi brothers were on UK and US terror watch lists and Coulibaly had previously been convicted for plotting to free a known militant from prison. Coulibaly met Cherif Kouachi while in jail.

Francis on Monday slammed “deviant forms of religion” following deadly attacks by Islamist militants in France last week which left 20 people dead.

“Losing their freedom, people become enslaved, whether to the latest fads, or to power, money, or even deviant forms of religion,” he said, laying the blame on “a culture of rejection” which leads to “the breakdown of society and

spawning violence and death”.

“We see painful evidence of this in the events reported daily in the news, not least the tragic slayings which took place in Paris a few days ago,” he said in his yearly speech to the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See. The 78-year-old was speaking after France’s bloodiest attacks in half a century, which began with

a massacre at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and ended with the deaths of four Jews in a kosher supermarket.

He pointed to “chilling repercussions” from conflicts in the Middle East and “the spread of fundamentalist terrorism in Syria and Iraq”.“This phenomenon is a consequence of the throwaway culture being applied to God,” he continued.

ÏÏÏCroatian

conservative opposition candidate Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic won Sunday’s presidential runoff election by a razor-thin margin and will become the country’s first female president.

With nearly all votes counted, Croatia’s election commission said Grabar-Kitarovic won 50.4 percent of the vote, while incumbent Ivo Josipivic won 49.6.

Grabar-Kitarovic is a former foreign minister and was Croatia’s ambassador to the United States. She has promised to work to boost the Croatian economy, one of the slowest economies in the European Union.

Lebanese Police raid prison after bombings

ÏÏÏLebanese police have raid-

Pope slams ‘deviant forms of religion’ ÏÏÏPope

Croatia elects first female President

Pope Francis

ed a notorious prison as part of an operation targeting inmates that officials say were connected to a deadly bombing on Saturday in Tripoli.

Helicopters hovered above the overcrowded Roumieh prison east of Beirut early Monday, while inside, police transferred a group of inmates to another section of the facility.

Roumieh prison, east of Beirut, LebanonRoumieh prison, east of Beirut, Lebanon Several prisoners burned their mattresses in protest.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Africa: In search of a new image

A

Steve Orji

prominent feature of colonised people is the washing away of their important identities in the course of time. Even their selfbelief.

Identity has much more to do with the intangible attributes of a people than with only their facial or personality peculiarities. Identity cuts deeper into the root and essence of a people.

By colonisation, I mean, the advent of “Whiteman’s” rule over its subject people, especially in Africa, to which the British may have set out with all the brilliant intentions of “bringing civilization” to a “dimmed, darkened people”.

Identity or the people’s selfimage, almost always suffers a collateral damage whenever a people are colonised.

The dominant image of contemporary Africa seems to be the one of poverty, a consequence of complicated social and political experiences inspired by incompetence of the managers of the continent.

Perhaps, alongside another silent but no less a big factor; western conspiracy and manipulations.

Something profound must take

place within Africa’s psychology, not only to restore its fledgling image, but for it to be able to exert an authentic influence on the world.

China and India is proof that a colonised people can equally succeed.

Almost half a century after their independence from Japanese and British colonisers, China and India, would against all forms of controls and subtleties, rise from the lurch of a broken state, to both forge strong and dynamic cultural and economic identities, bringing to rest long-held stereotypes, about third world countries not being able to initiate and sustain meaningful development imperatives.

India is already an industrial economy, coasting neck to neck with other established western economies. China with its twin miracle state has gone past most advanced countries, well reckoned as the second largest economy in the world.

These success stories both engender profound respect for the image of these nations, and should serve as revolutionary models for peer nations of Africa.

The myth must be laid to rest which holds that for success to be real and authentic, it must be couched in the mould of western traditions.

Singapore’s leap from being a tiny desolate patch of British estate into a first-rate world within four decades serves a good example. In his book, From third world to first, Lee Kuan Yew, the prime minister of Singapore writes: “Our climb from a per capita GDP of US$400 in 1959 to more than US$12,200 in 1990, and US$22,000 in 1999 took place at a time of immense political changes in the world.”

A contrasting but saddening economic descent instead took place in Africa. Martin Meredith, in his book, “The state of Africa”, he observed: “By the end of the 1980’s, after a decade of structural adjustment, little had changed for the better. Africa was slipping into its own bleak category. Per capita income in Black Africa, with a population of 450million, was lower than it had been in 1960.

Growth per capita during the 1980s contracted by an annual rate of 2.2 per cent. External debt tripled, reaching $169billion”.

There is no doubt that one of the perils of colonialism is the bitter historical residue it leaves on the psyche of its victims, the cultural and image burden it dumps on their collective psychology.

But, enough of the colonial rant-

ing.Africa like the mythic phoenix must be reborn, it must course through the fog of its historical distortions to prop a fresh start, a powerful break from the normal course.

Such revolutionary march must come at a price.Africa would fundamentally need lots of inspired courage and sense of superior creative enterprise to wean itself from the strings of western dictations and influence.

The image and identity Africa bears is better interpreted within the hearts of Europe and other places where Africans scurry for daily bread.

First, how are Africans perceived? How a people are perceived gives an idea of the identity or image of the continent to which they regard as home. This ultimately begets the treatment they receive.

Africans are first of all, abjectly needy people. A people who live in shanties, afflicted by the world worst epidemics, whose governments are either not working or badly broken.

Africans are those who must survive, even when it means living off hand-outs from the western world.

They are mauled and hurled like beasts in Europe and elsewhere, they do the dirty jobs.

Nigerian politicians and crab mentality

I

Oyede Saheed

t was my friend Oyetoro Oluwaseyi in one of his write ups that said “we are in a country where we politicise everything that happens to us. If water is running on a daily basis in APC’s bathroom, PDP is at fault- they are wasting our resources, if water is not running at all in PDP’s bathroom, APC is the cause, they have sabotaged all the pipes that supplies water.

If it is APC, then PDP must be the scape goat. If PDP, then APC must be the invincible hand.

Since the return of democracy, political parties have always accused themselves of rigging, what they should have rightly called out-rigging. The elections have always being a contest of who rigged best.

I call the above scenario the crab mentality. If you put several crabs into a bucket and if one of them begins to crawl out, one or more of the other crabs will pull it

back and prevent it from escaping. As we approach the general elections, two parties that have consistently thrown caution to the wind is the PDP and the APC. The big players within these parties have made it a point of duty to advertise their nuisance value to the populace. The political debate has been reduced to ’the friend of my enemy is my enemy, while the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ thereby exploiting us politically.

The case of PDP and APC is worth writing a thesis on. PDP has always fed us with lies that APC is an Islamic party that is poised on Islamising Nigeria.

Their argument is weak, callous and often portrays the type of politics we play as a people – the pull him down syndrome. If the military with all its powers couldn’t succeed in Islamising Nigeria, how then can a party under the current democratic dispensation and the ethnic diversified nature of Nigeria achieve the same feast?

PDP often forget that it was while

There is now a thin line between the PDP and the APC in terms of its quality of members.

The question is whether the APC will be matured enough to manage its success Obasanjo was in power that he allowed for an autonomous practice of Sharia in some northern states.

The APC is no different from the PDP. APC is pot calling kettle black. The APC has successfully deployed its propaganda tool to win the hearts of Nigerians. Their spokesman, Lai Muhammed never fails in feeding us with the various synonyms of President Jonathan and his presidency. From being a kindergarten President to being

incompetent, they have often told us that PDP is a bad party while forgetting that they have been the greatest beneficiary of the PDP’s implosion. There is now a thin line between the PDP and the APC in terms of its quality of members. The question is whether the APC will be matured enough to manage its success.

It is a known fact that all the political parties in Nigeria are not ideologically driven and the ordinary citizens argue blindly, fight dirty and waste valuable time reciting the nation’s problems rather than discussing the way forward and providing practical solutions. What we should be clamouring for is a shift from them to us and not a shift from them to them. Many Nigerians are often less concerned about what happens politically, while forgetting that these happenings have a direct consequence on our way of life. Just like riot; you don’t need to be involved before you are affected.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

15 News

Nigeria’s policy somersault at UN

O Safiya Adamu

n December 30, 2014, will go down in the memory of all Nigerians as the day the fine principles on which the country had hitherto built its foreign policy bit the dust. In bewilderment, we now wonder what our new foreign policy is, or would be, or if there is going to be any at all. What happened can easily be traced to the slave-mentality that has besieged our present leadership, a mentality that has taken us hostage and finally handed us back to colonialists.

On that day, Nigeria abstained from a UN vote that would have advanced the Palestinian cause.

And our positive vote would have swung things in its favour.

Let all Nigerians be informed that we must now start to fight for our independence. Our right to self-determination has been given away on a platter of mud and the onus is for us to get it back. Naturally, the Israelis and Americans are very much aware of the total lack of intellectual capacity of our present leaders who, from all indications, do

not seem to know what places a nation above others. They seem not to know that what makes the country a giant is the ability to stick, through thick and thin, to its principles at national and international levels.

At the domestic front, we have demonstrated an embarrassing inability to secure life and property, nor our territorial integrity, and now at the international front, we have lost our credibility and voice to be part of any honourable process. We gave our word and we broke it at the last minute. Israel has become suddenly so important to Nigeria that a phone call from Netanyahu is all it took to blow decades of solidly built foreign policy to smithereens. The core of our foreign policy is built around the principle of support for the rights of all peoples to self-determination and freedom.

Nigeria since independence decades ago, has worked tirelessly to ensure that people of all hue – white and black get the necessary support for the attainment of their aspirations to independence and self-determination.

To this, Nigeria has always been at the forefront of the struggle

The president and his team should know that wining and dining with the US and Israel surely adds no value to its status at a moment like this?

for Palestinian independence and was one of the first to recognise it.

Lest we forget, Israel has never been a friend of Nigeria – or Africa for that matter. At the peak for the quest for independence by African nations, Israel was forging strategic partnership with the apartheid regime in Pretoria and all other antifreedom regimes around the world. That South Africa was able to assert herself as an inde-

pendent nation speaks volumes of the giant of Africa. No one dares to approach South Africa with such a phone call because, in the short time they have been independent, her foreign policy ideals have cut a clear path. The duo who called President Jonathan had the confidence that he does not understand what statehood is all about. They were aware that the President of Nigeria will definitely place a self-serving interest above one of utmost importance – like the matter of a people’s independence. It is a paradox of sorts that at the time some European nations are beginning to thaw in their attitude to the Palestinian cause, the supposed leader of the black race who has always been at the forefront in the support for the quest for freedom by all people will chose the critical moment to turn its back on history. Surely, the president and his team should know that wining and dining with the US and Israel surely adds no value to its status at a moment like this?

Nigeria’s last-minute abstention from voting has taken the cause of the Palestinian people back many decades.

Elections and Nigeria’s human rights landscape

J

Emmanuel Onwubiko

anuary 2015 is a landmark month in Nigeria’s political annals because the leading political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will spend the whole of it traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria to canvass support for the forth coming elections on February 14th 2015.

Already, the presidential candidates of the two mainstream national political platforms have commenced campaign rallies, even as both have also highlighted the key focus of what their parties will do if elected into office.

The presidential candidate of the PDP Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had told Nigerians that his administration has so far placed premium on carrying out a forensic anti-graft campaign devoid of arbitrariness and other illegalities that offend the relevant sections of the Nigerian

constitution. Debates are still unfolding regarding the apparent weakness of the two antigraft agencies in the last four years which resulted in their systemic failures to frontally confront corruption that has become a hydra headed monster.

On his part, the candidate of APC and an erstwhile military leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) premised his campaign on the urgent need to restore lasting security of lives and property. Buhari has a very putrefying human rights records as a former military head of state who carried out several arbitrary executions and so will need to do more to market himself as someone who believes in democracy and respect for human rights.

Still reflecting on the commencement of their respective campaigns, President Jonathan during his campaign flag off had stated thus; “Some people say they are fighting corruption… some of you know, I am not addressing people of 20 years and

below but people from 30 years and so on… Nigerians go to fuel stations and sleep overnight to buy fuel or tip those who sell fuel to buy fuel. They hoard fuel and they benefit from the hoarding.

Who are those who benefited from hoarding fuel? Since we came on board, have you suffered? Do you need to bribe someone before you get fuel?”

“You must prevent people from touching money, you don’t give them the opportunity or tempt them with money and this is what government is doing and we are succeeding in a number of areas in our procurement processes. The relevant agencies will address Nigerians for you to appreciate what we are doing.”

What President Jonathan at the Lagos rally told Nigerians is that his administration has focused on respecting constitutionalism in the fight against corruption in compliance with the relevant rights-based provisions enshrined in Chapter four of the constitution?

But undaunted by the del-

uge of attacks to his legendary anti-democratic records, the Buhari had at the flag off of his campaign in Port Harcourt, promised to deal decisively with corrupt elements in the society.

He particularly sent fears and apprehensions across the spines of most corrupt politicians and rogue business barons when he vowed to send them to prison if elected into office. A clear attribute of Buhari is that most Nigerians see him as being austere and therefore hates corruption.

Although most Nigerians are yet to read in details the comprehensive developmental blueprints of these major political players, what is now of greater interest to Nigerians is for them to play less of politics of name calling, mudslinging and character assassination but to dwell more on those areas and policy frameworks they intend to introduce that will liberate majority of Nigerians from the unmitigated misery of poverty, unemployment, terrorism and general break down of law and order.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

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Law Agbakoba Why governor Amaechi is afraid of Okocha

17

s Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, in this interview with PETER FOWOYO, opened up on why Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi abhorred the nomination of Justice Okocha as the CJ of the state, his view on the industrial actions embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigerian (JUSUN), INEC’s lack of readiness to conduct the February 2015 election and sundry other issues.

The Judiciary Staff

Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-implementation of a Federal High Court, Abuja judgment which granted financial autonomy to the third arm of government.

What is your view about the judgment?

They are correct. Don’t forget there are three cases, the JUSUN case concerns staff, I filed two, one concerns how to fund the federal judges which was filed in Abuja, another one filed concerns how

to fund state judges and we used Ekiti state as a model and all three cases came to one conclusion that funding the judiciary, judge and non-judge staff is autonomous of the executive, the problem that is on ground now is that JUSUN is not even being paid and the agreement that was even reached apart from the case is not being followed and the case now confirmed that JUSUN is right and even the judgment is not even obeyed. So JUSUN then said if you don’t obey CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Agbakoba

ACCUMULATION OF LEGISLATIVE BILLS AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Lawyers disagree on who to blame Although the constitution makes express provisions on how a bill can be passed into law should the executive arm refuse to assent to it, some lawyers are of the opinion that the president ought to take the blame for any indolence, others are of the view that legislative function is a combined one between the executive and legislature. Therefore both are should be blamed for not living up to voters’expectations.

PETER FOWOYO, reports.

Can the president be blamed for his refusal to assent to bills passed to him by the legislature? Some lawyers believe so but, others think otherwise.

To the latter, both the president and the legislature ought to take full responsibility for allowing the magnitude of bills pending without assent or veto by the executive, when the constitution states clearly what should happen in such circumstances where the president refuses to assent to bills passed by the legislature.

Last month, a legislator representing Kano South senatorial district, Senator Kabiru Gaya,

said at the closing ceremony of the 1st Waziri Dutse Open Golf Championship, in Kano metropolis, that 120 bills emanating from the senate were before President Goodluck Jonathan to be signed into law. To Gaya, who was also a former governor of the state, this act discourages senators from writing and presenting bills on the floor of the Senate.

Section 58 sub-sections (3), (4) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that: “Where a bill has been passed by the House in which it originated, it shall be sent to the other House, and it shall be presented to the

president for assent when it has been passed by that other House and agreement has been reached between the two Houses on any amendment made on it. Where a bill is presented to the president for assent, he shall within 30 days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two- thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the president shall not be required” The relevant section and subsections of the constitution clearly empowers the Senate to pass any bill into law that the Presi-

dent withholds his assent within a period of 30 days.

Former President, Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, said that although he cannot comment on the issue because he’s not aware of the 120 bills but states that: “The legislative power is shared by the legislatures and the president the way it normally works. I am shocked to hear there are 120 bills. The difficulties in the operations legislature can be both ways; sometimes, it works contrary to what the president wants. It happened CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Law 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

‘Only fairsystem systemcan cancurb curb insurgency insurgency in ‘Onlyafair CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

the judgment then we shall take action to enforce the judgment that is the power when I talked about peoples’ revolution, this is JUSUN’s own revolution, if the government would not obey court order then we will withdraw our services and I think they are right.

The NBA has appealed to the JUSUN to explore other mechanism so that justice will not be delayed. What other mechanism would you suggest?

They have explored other mechanism because this problem started when I was the NBA President; the governors don’t like to pay that is the problem. They don’t like to pay partly because of corruption, ineptitude; it doesn’t concern them so it has been a long standing thing. It is not only in JUSUN, what about medical workers? There are strikes across board so JUSUN then said we are tired, they wrote to me and I met with them and I said let’s see what we can do, talk, talk, talk, it didn’t work so, they went to court finally.

When they won, they were called, when they were called government now found that for some reason government couldn’t pay, you remember the ASSU problem, it took years to resolve. Government has not responded to what people want from them that is what is causing these pockets of resentment whether it is JUSUN, ASSU, NMA, and elsewhere. The federal

government has a responsibility for paying federal judicial workers. JUSUN is not state only, the FHC is not working, I hope you know that. The FHC has a budget to pay its staff and I was in NJC at the time and I found it ludicrous that the NJC which is the third arm of government would submit its budget to the budget office in the ministry of finance and I told the CJN at time, Justice Alomar Mukhtar, that was nonsensical, how can we as a third arm of government give our budget to the ministry of finance? When NJC didn’t want to do anything i I told them I would go to court and I did and I won when I won, the first thing that happened was that they got N5billion but they forgot the man who went to court.

I don’t know whether federal government has played its own part but the federal government has a responsibility because JUSUN workers work in the Federal High Court.

Speculations are rife that state governors deliberately ignored the judgment so as to frustrate most of the cases especially pre-election matters that may emanate from their states. Do you share this view?

It is not an impossible proposition. I don’t know but, knowing how desperate our politicians are, it is very good idea that you have raised so; it is not an impossible proposition.

Aside the issue of strike,there

is also the issue of Rivers state not having a substantive Chief Judge for some months now thereby forcing the state judiciary to stay out of work. As a former member of the National Judicial Council (NJC), how best do you think this matter should be resolved so as to enable the common man get justice in the state?

Governor Ameachi was the cause of the problem because the way in which you appoint the CJ is clearly set out in the constitu-

“Government has not responded to what people want from them that is what is causing the pockets of resentment” tion but the problem started with the NJC making a mistake because the NJC is wrong to simply appoint the most senior judge.

Okocha is the most senior judge because Agumagu had gone to the customary court of appeal so therefore Okocha is the most senior judge but only in respect of appointing him, if you want to CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Agbakoba

‘Blame executive, legislature for indolence’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

David Mark, Senate President

with Obama and the immigration reform; he had a bill for the immigration reform before Congress.

Now, the Congress has blocked it.

One Republican spoke for about 78 hours. So, Obama has learnt his lesson. What can members of the National Assembly do to override the president’s non-objection, if it’s, indeed, true that there’s such a huge number bills yet to be assented to by Mr. President? The president himself has a responsibility to veto a bill, if he finds it objectionable. Now, if the President does not veto, it means he has assented, so it comes back to the National Assembly to act upon, if there was no veto what then do you do? It is part of the general ineptitude you find in the

system that nobody is ready to do his job because I would ask the legislature why didn’t you override? Why didn’t he then assume assent, if 30 days had lapsed and it hadn’t come back? The constitution I think provides for the question that you have asked. I will blame both of them. The president should have made a decision one way or the other in 30 days, failing which the legislature will have taken their own decisions, according to the constitution.

Otherwise, we will have endless bills that go nowhere. So, here is a failure of legislative function on both sides, because the constitution prescribes how bills are generated, even from the National Assembly to the President for assent or veto within a specific time.

If he hasn’t done that, then it’s not good enough. But, then, what is the action on the part of the National Assembly? They also have a responsibility to take action.

If they don’t, you have to blame them too.

In agreement with Agbakoba was a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo, who wanted to know how long the bills had been with the President and whether the Senate had written wrote to the President to return the bills to the Senate and the response of the president to such a letter.

He asked: “Do you know exactly when those bills were sent to the President, the date when they were sent? All that is also very important; the number of days that

the President has to sign, which start counting when the Senate sends a bill for his assent. I think it is easy or convenient for one person to say we have 120 bills before the President, or the executive, to sign. Is the constitution silent on what should be done, thereafter?

“From my own point of view, I will basically say that if that is the fact, you blame both of them because the constitution makes provisions for what should happen. I don’t think the constitution sees an act of indolence on the part of the President. It allows the President to withhold his assent.

It is not indolence. What it presupposes, I think, is that he has not assented to the bills. What has the legislature done thereafter if they CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

North-Eastern Nigeria’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

appoint an acting CJ Okocha will be the person because Agumagu is no longer in River state High Court, he is in Rivers state Customary Court of Appeal but, if you want to appoint a substantive CJ for the state, the constitution simply prescribes 10 years post call so any lawyer who is 10 years is entitled to be so appointed, Agumagu is certainly over 10 years so the NJC used the wrong criteria which is the most senior judge in the appointment of Okocha.

The matter went to court before justice Akanbi who ruled against the NJC and I think the Judge is right, the NJC has appealed that decision so the challenge now is, what will happen pending the appeal and what I think s should happen pending the appeal is for the NJC to appoint an acting CJ pending the resolution of whether NJC was right or wrong in appointing Okocha. That is my take on the matter.

With the present crisis in Rivers state judiciary, are you still comfortable with the method of appointing judges or will you advocate for a different method?

No, it is correct. In appointment of the CJ there must be input, there are three agencies that have input. The NJC does the nomination and the governor accepts or declines. What the NJC think is that its nomination must be ac-

cepted, I am not sure that is correct because it is a matter of check and balance. The governor of the state would be interested in the CJ but because we don’t want the governor to pocket the CJ, we take away the nomination from him to the NJC but the governor must accept and usually it has worked out but in this case it didn’t work out because Amaechi feared that Okocha was being set up to impeach him that is the truth, that is the truth. You know I am no longer in the NJC so I can speak openly but, that was not why we appointed Okocha but, we appointed Okocha in my view wrongly so the only way to avoid it is to keep all the appointing agencies separate otherwise you will give to one man too much power to exercise.

There is nothing wrong with the method of appointment, it is the people. Nigeria’s problem is not the constitution; it is the people who operate it.

The Independent National Electoral Commission said it has distributed over 38 million PVC to Nigerians for the 2015 general election. How ready is this umpire to conduct a free and fair election?

INEC is not ready that is one. I mean do you feel the election?Do you feel any fever apart from their going to towns to campaign?

People would be mobilized, the campaigns seems for the political parties excluding the voters, that is the impression I get and

Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN

I don’t feel any fever of elections or hear any issues, I am speaking about the big issues like education, jobs, infrastructure, health, corruption, nothing is coming out because they are starting their campaign far too late, you cannot do presidential campaign covering 36 states within few weeks before elections. As NBA President, I started my campaign a year before time, it started in 2005 so that I will be relevant in 2006 and CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

‘Executive must take responsibility’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

want to start talking about indolence? I suppose you should start accusing the National Assembly for the act of indolence too, because I know of no other way by which a president can withhold his assent except by not assenting.

That is not an act of indolence; it is provided for in the constitution. If he does not do anything, it means he has withheld that assent. So, where does the buck move to now?

“It has moved to the National Assembly and what have they done about it thereafter? Because the constitution also provides what should happen. These are political times; it is very convenient for anybody to make allegations. Yes, the president should sign if he thinks a bill is okay. It

is not enough to have 120 Bills with the President, the question is whether he agree with them . . . . If he doesn’t agree with them, is he not, under the constitution, entitled not to assent to the bills?

Yes, the constitution allows him and when he withholds his consent, for how long?

“Because the Senators do have the constitutional power with the majority to override his authority, but I don’t think they’ve done anything either. If the constitution did not make provisions for them we can say the president is indolent. In America, there are Bills that are sent to Obama, if he doesn’t agree with them, he doesn’t sign; he doesn’t give his assent. There are two ways he can do this, by expressly saying that he will not sign and he can also

Boko Haram, terrorism and fundamental human rights: The challenges that confront us CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Agbakoba

‘It is not enough to have 120 bills with the president, does he agree with them?

If he doesn’t agree with them then is he not under the constitution entitled not to assent to the bills” CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

19 Law

Like the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights was infact a political settlement; this time between a Parliament and the King [who had abused the right of Protestants], in order to vindicate ancient rights and liberties.

“It is well known that the 1776 American Declaration of Independence states: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!

The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen followed in 1789, and its familiar first two articles recognized and proclaimed that ‘Men are born and remain free and equal in rights’ and that “The aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and inalienable rights of man; these rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression”. These revolutionary Declarations represent attempts to enshrine human rights as guiding principles in the constitutions of new states or polities.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (CFRN) as Amended dedicates an entire Chapter to Fundamental Rights.

Sections 33 (1) & (2) provides as follows: 33.- (1) Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria, A person shall not be regarded as having been deprived of his life in contravention of this section, if he dies as a result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances as are permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably necessary – (a) for the defence of any person from unlawful violence or for the defence of property; (b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained; or (c) for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny.

Section 34(1) CFRN also provides as follows: “34.-(1) Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly – (a) no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment; (b) no

person shall be held in slavery or servitude; and (c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour”. While Section 34(2) provides that: “(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) (c) of this section, “forced or compulsory labour” does not include – (a) any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court; (b) any labour required of members of the armed forces of the Federation or the Nigeria Police Force in Pursuance of their duties as such; (c) in the case of persons who have conscientious objections to service in the armed forces of the Federation, any labour required instead of such service; (d) any labour required which is reasonably necessary in the event of any emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-

“No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment” being of the community; or (e) any labour or service that forms part of- (i) normal communal or other civic obligations for the well-being of the community, (ii) such compulsory national service in the armed forces of the Federation as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly, or (iii) such compulsory national service which forms part of the education and training of citizens of Nigeria as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly”.

Other provisions in Chapter IV provide for the Right to Personal Liberty (Section 35), the Right tofair Hearing (Section 36), the Right to private and family life (Section 37), the Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Section 38), the Right to freedom of expression and the press (Section 39), the Right to peaceful assembly and association (Section 40), the Right to freedom of movement (Section 41), the right to freedom from discrimination (Section 42) and the Right to acquire and own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria (Section 43) CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

Law 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

‘INEC not ready to conduct free, fair election’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

at that time we had 88 branches.

How can you start your campaign a month to go? Who are you going to reach? Unless, of course, the assumption I have made that these issues are irrelevant, that is the only conclusion I can reach. The political parties don’t feel we are relevant in this situation. They feel that somehow, if either parties get in there so when they now win, because we are not part of the orchestra they don’t remember to clean your instrument so JUSUN will complain, ASSU will complain, NMA will complain and they will say were you part of us? When we were working hard did you come? That is my thinking in electoral practice in Africa and most importantly in Nigeria.

Nigerians are of the view that the government is corrupt and insensitive to the people’s need and there is no transparency in governance. How will you rate the government anti-corruption process?

Very poor, very poor, the anticorruption process is poor because when you look at our result, I know when the pension issue was raging, pension scam, all the billions and suddenly nothing. I know Doyin Okupe said Nigeria has notched up to eight in the transparency index but that is not a reason to cheer yet, corruption remains very real in Nigeria and I think more can be done to fight it.

Do you think President Goodluck Jonathan’s statement that he is ready to fight

the insurgency in the NorthEastern part of the country be taken seriously considering that he is losing the war?

I think the army is incompetent, that is what I think, if I were Jonathan I would have dismissed Chief of Defense Staff, Alex Barde, his uniform is not fit because it is too big, he is not competent to be Chief of defense Staff in my view but in Nigeria, nobody resigns then look what happened in France, are you following what is happening in France, the entire French police is out and I wondered that for just 12 unfortunate people who died. But here, Boko Haram has killed, maimed more than 20, 000 people and we are not touched. This calls for the resignation of people. President Jonathan’s statement is not the point here, is he the one fighting? Look at the people who are directly responsible, what you may say is that he ought to have taken action against them because they have not delivered what they ought to.

Do you then consider the system to be a failure especially as poverty level is high, no gainful employment?

Yes, poverty level is high, you are saying the obvious now, why are you asking me this? It is clear to you that what you are saying is true so why are you asking me whether Nigeria system is a failure or whether the system is poor? You know that, don’t you?

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo accused the President

“INEC is not ready that is one. I mean do you feel the election?Do you feel any fever apart from their going to towns to campaign” Jonathan led administration of depleting the nation’s resources as evident in the country’s foreign reserve. What is your take on this?

You see, that is the problem.

A country that allows Obasanjo to talk after what he has done to us, lied to us about his third term agenda, I don’t take Obasanjo serious, I don’t take him serious, I don’t want to take him serious.

Justice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court delivered judgment in your favour in a suit you filed challenging the disparities in admission requirement into federal government colleges saying it was against the spirit of section 42 (1) of the constitution. How do you feel about the judgment?

I feel very good. What do you mean? And that is part of the problem. How would someone sits in Zamfara scored five points and

Agbakoba my grandson scores 260 points and they take that one? That is the problem But, you know why this is very laughable? What is the federal government doing in education?, what is their business? Education is a state matter so if you now want to use standard six for university intake in Zamfara, go ahead but, if I want to use P.hd as my level of entry into the secondary school, does it concern you? That is the point I am talking about, political reconfiguration, all these education, health, agriculture, housing are all states matters but the federal wants to keep it because the budget is very big. Do you know what the systems around education receives as a budget and the outcomes, if they receive N80 bil-

lion, where are the outcomes? So it is unfair to my grandchildren for them in Nigeria that talks about non-discrimination to have to work harder than somebody in Zamfara state. I am happy I won the case.

How do we curb the post election violence in this country?

You can’t, unless you have a fair system. There is something you call when the corn ceases to have effect, effect ceases so you can’t curb the post-election violence when you know that when you become the commissioner for health, you will kill your mother to get in there, that is the truth but, if you are restrained, if there are rules that restrain you from bad behavior, you may not even be interested in going there.

Accumulation of Bills: Lawyers disagree on who to blame CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

withhold his assent.”

But, a constitutional lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, will take none of that. To him, the President must take full responsibility for this act of indolence. His words: “I am blaming the President. There are three branches of government, the legislature, executive and the judiciary. The business of legislature is jointly carried out, it is shared between the legislature and the executive. The legislature is empowered to legislate, pass a bill for the assent of the president. The duty to assent to bills so passed or refusing to assent to them is exclusively that of the President, as enshrined in the constitution. It, therefore,

amounts to what I regard as executive indolence for a president to treat bills passed in disdain without assenting to them or indicating that he is withholding his assent.

“If bills are passed, you cannot under the guise of pondering or consulting over them and so refuse to give assent. Can you imagine that the National Assembly would probably exercise its power to pass a bill that has been vetoed? So, if the president does not exercise the power to veto that will be the sure ground for the legislature to quickly say ‘we have our own copy, we will repass it’. Of course, the constitution gives such a window, but in practical terms, it doesn’t oper-

ate like that.

To start with, the process of passing a bill may be very tortuous and you may have a situation whereby there is a narrow majority by which a bill was passed and that if the legislature then hurriedly takes the same bill again and attempts to pass it, in fact, that majority may no longer be available. We have seen it, when bills were that contentious. So, when bills are therefore passed, what the President ought to do, is to look at that bill. He can take advise from the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and after a careful scrutiny, he may then pass it.

Why is it that when the Na-

“Why is it that when the national assembly passes an Appropriation Act why does it not take a year or four year tenure for the president to pass it” tional Assembly passes an appropriation act, why does it not take a year or four years’ tenure for

the president to pass it? Because they know that is where the money is. They won’t be able to spend money in the event of long delay. They are eager to assent to bill that will enable them spend money. They are not eager to pass a bill that will impact on the lives of the ordinary Nigerians. If you have a responsibility to exercise a power, it also means that, in exercising that powers, as the constitution has stipulates, you can either give your assent, meaning that you have accepted this bill as passed, which means that it should become a law, or you can veto it and give your reason(s) and in that case, you may even help the National Assembly to have a second look at it.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Politics Abubakar Tsav

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ABUBAKAR TSAV

No responsible government since 1999

Alhaji (Dr) Abubakar Tsav is a former Police Commissioner, Lagos State Command and Almirul Hajj in Benue State. A social crusader who abhors bad governance and injustice, he doesn’t hide his feelings when evil is perpetrated. In this interview with newsmen recently in Makurdi the Benue State capital, Dr Tsav stated that there has been no responsible government in Nigeria since the return of democracy in

1999. FREDDIE ADAMGBE was there. Excerpts: Sir, what is your assessment of the year 2014 and your projections in the New Year?

The year 2014 has been the year of bloodshed. It has been a year of tears and sorrows.

When the fundamental rights of people are trampled upon by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. It has not been a pleasant year and so far, I think Nigeria has never had it

so bad, but we thank God we are alive. May be God will spare our lives to see the changes that we expect in the year 2015.

Okay sir, but its barely 300 days now since the Chibok Schoolgirls were abducted by the armed Islamic militants, Boko Haram. What is your view on efforts by the federal government under President Jonathan to rescue those girls?

As far as I am concerned, CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

2015: Akpabio has put opposition parties in a fix-Ukpe Anietie Ukpe is the Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant (Media) to Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio.

In this interview with WALE ABIODUN in Lagos, he bares his mind on various issues including 2015 elections, the emergence of Mr. Udom Emmanuel as the PDP 2015 governorship candidate in the State and various developmental agenda and accomplishments of Governor Akpabio. According to him Akpabio has put opposition parties in a fix.

As governor Akpabio will be handing over power this year, do you think the PDP governorship candidate for the election in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, is capable enough to step into Akpabio’s large shoes?

Certainly Governor Akpabio is leaving behind very large shoes and they will be hard to fill. But if anyone has what it takes to create a seamless transition and maintain the momentum of development, then that man is undeniably Mr Udom Emmanuel. He comes to the job with a strong set of skills acquired in the Banking Industry – an industry built on trust, Akpabio

integrity and competence. He is a quintessential banker and he was a shining light in the banking industry. He is a square peg in a square hole.

What are the strategies put in place by Gov. Akpabio to ensure that there is continuity of his developmental agenda beyond 2015?

Governor Godswill Akpabio did what he did for the good people of Akwa Ibom State.

What he has done is phenomenal and unprecedented. This is largely like causing your children to acquire education. How they use it would determine whether they were worthy of it. You do not need strategies to ensure that they use it well, you can simply advise them and hope for the best. That is what Governor Akpabio is doing. He is advising the good people of Akwa Ibom State, and trying to ensure that they take the right steps to ensure the continuity of his uncommon transformation of the state. It is the duty of the people to ensure that this continues. It is only in this way that they can prove themselves before God and man that there are/were worthy of God’s goodCONTIN UED ON PAGE 22

Politics 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

have heard and seen their story before. It is much huff without puff.

Why is it that governor AAkpabio is a die-hard loyalist of president Goodluck Jonathan?

Akpabio will be an asset in the senate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

ness to them through Governor Akpabio’s administration.

Let’s talk about various legacies that will be left behind by Akpabio?

Governor Akpabio has put the opposition parties in a fix. They find it more convenient to talk about what he has not done than to talk about what he has done.

But no administration can do everything. They claim that there is hunger in the land. Okay, if there is hunger in the land how come with all the good roads in Uyo built by the Akpabio administration, we now have traffic jams. Uyo never used to have traffic jams before the advent of the Akpabio administration.

Uyo never had the kind of high rise buildings sprouting up in Uyo and the state right now. He has done so much that the difference between his administration and other administrations in the state is like the difference between midday and midnight.

Let’s simply say that at every stage in the life of an Akwa Ibom person he is feeling the impact of government.

As a baby in the womb you have free treatment because of the free medical care for pregnant woman. At birth you still have free medical treatment until the age of five. At age five or six, you start primary school and you are entitled to free and compulsory education till you finish secondary school. After secondary school you enroll in college, and you are paid bursary and depending on your course you may even obtain scholarship.

After college you have several youth empowerment schemes and this administration has employed more Akwa Ibom people into the Public Service than any other administration.

Abubakar Tsav

In terms of infrastructures, they are simply uncountable.

The Nest of Champions Stadium, the Tropicana Entertainment Centre, the Specialist Hospital, the Ibom E-Library, the completion of the Ibom International Airport, the completion of the Ibom Power Plant, the pipe jacking drainage system in Uyo and Abak, the Ibom Gas Plant, the Sheraton by Four Point, over 4,500 inter-ministerial direct labour jobs, free and compulsory education, tarred more than 320 roads covering over 1,350 kilometres, built five flyovers and constructed 35 brand new bridges, the Akwa Ibom State University… they are simply too many.

Within eight years of stewardship of Akpabio in Akwa Ibom state what is the area he has affected the lives of the people of the state most?

It has to be with the free and compulsory education programme. This was like God turning again the captivity of His people – thousands of children of school age who were in servitude outside the state returned to go to school. School enrolment tripled. Street trading and hawking by children during school hours is prohibited in Akwa Ibom State. Education monitors go around the state to ensure that all children are in school. If any child is caught not in school during school hours, his guardians risk prosecution.

This programme has been applauded by many dignitaries including Prof Wole Soyinka.

The government of Akpabio scored another first in sports with the construction of world standard stadium, what are the maintenance structure put in place to ensure that the project will not waste away after Akpabio’s tenure?

The year 2014 has been the year of bloodshed. It has been a year of tears and sorrows. When the fundamental rights of people are trampled upon by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Akpabio

Governor Akpabio has put the opposition parties in a fix. They find it more convenient to talk about what he has not done than to talk about what he has done.

A ten-year maintenance deal has been signed with Julius Berger to take care of the maintenance of the structure.

On the senatorial ambition of governor Akpabio, what strategy has he put in place to beat opposition at the poll?

This is a people movement, not the ambition of Governor Akpabio. The people of the Senatorial District came to him and solicited for his candidacy.

He obliged them. You could not have a treasure like Governor

Akpabio and not want to show him to the world. He would be an asset in the Senate. For too long we had been under-represented in the Senate. Now we have a man who the elements so mix in him that when he goes to the Senate we could go to sleep and know that we have an asset in the hallowed chambers. The Senate too will be proud to have such a man in their midst.

With the emergence of APC, how prepared is Akwa Ibom PDP to win 2015 elections?

APC is an alternative to disgruntled and desperate PDP politicians but not an option to the good people of Akwa Ibom State. The political tide has not changed. Whatever the name, whether APC or ACN, we have seen these “Egyptians” before.

These “Egyptians” we see today we will not see them again after the elections. They will retire somewhere to leak their wounds in defeat. They were stronger in the media as ACN in the 2011 elections, but they were just a media creation without any weight in the State. We

The easiest thing for us to do is to keep quiet, sit down in the comfort of our homes and our offices and do nothing about it.

May be at some point, we will lose the state completely and that is true.

Governor Akpabio deeply appreciates the transformational leadership of President Jonathan. The Jonathan administration has done so much for the country. Those who try to blame him over the Boko Haram insurgency miss the mark. He has done his best to contain the insurgency and, it is a matter of time, the insurgency will stop.

He has explored every avenue to stop it. Governor Akpabio sees in him a true democrat, a patriot, a statesman and someone who means well for Nigeria.

Why it is that Akpabio administration has never witnessed a misunderstanding between house of assembly and the executive, what is the magic wand?

The members of the House of Assembly represent the people.

When the people of the state are happy with the Government and proud of what it is doing, you cannot expect the House of Assembly to go against the tide of public sentiments. That is the major reason. More so the House are partners with Governor Akpabio in his uncommon transformation of the state. In his 2015 budget address, Governor Akpabio summed up the sentiment between the administration and the House of Assembly thus, “it would be noted that this House was the factory we brought our ideas to for incubation and production. It was here we gave our ideas wings to fly. It was here that uncommon transformation soared to heights of acclaim. As you know it takes two wings to fly and the two wings in this case were the Executive wing and the Legislative wing.”

Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the PDP governorship aspirant, appears to have some resistance from politicians, why is that so?

All fair-minded people in Akwa Ibom State understand their selfish concern. In the former Cross River State, Dr. CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Otti

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

23 Politics

Buhari has proven himself, yet, people berate him CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

I don’t think we have a government, because if we had a government, that government should not have allowed those girls to remain in captivity for almost 300 days. These girls were abducted and if government had taken prompt action at that time, they should have rescued them immediately, but no action was taken. The government thought it was a joke, they politicized the whole thing.

It was when these little girls from Pakistan, Malala visited the country that she was able to wake the president from sleep.

That was when he believed that the Chibok girls were in fact abducted. And even then, his wife (Patience Jonathan) who controls him said the girls were not missing. So it’s very sad indeed.

You see, if you place yourself in the position of a father or mother and suddenly your child whom you send to school is kidnapped by unknown persons, you don’t know what is happening to her, you don’t know what she is and you don’t know her health condition, you will be disturbed. But our government don’t care, what bothers them is politics, what bothers them is re-election, what bothers them is to steal money, that is the type of government we have. But I hope and pray that God Almighty will rescue us from the clutches of this government.

Okay sir, despite the security aspect as it bothers on the present administration in the year 2014 that you have so much challenged, do you see any other aspect of government that you have seen some level of development?

Nothing. As far as I am concerned where will you see de-

opening the save (treasury) for people to steal money. We have people with private aircrafts, go to Abuja and Lagos airports and see, and to maintain our aircraft is not easy.

The other day, the president, during a fund raising ceremony in Abuja from the PDP said shamelessly that “ the PDP has been able to raise so many millionaires and billionaires” and unfortunately he did not tell us how many factories these billionaires have built, how many people have they employed? He ridiculed himself telling the world that Nigeria is

corrupt, and there is nobody to correct him.

So with the level of politics going on in the country, what kind of leaders or president do you think Nigerians should expect in next year’s general election?

You see, I am very worried about our youths in this country.

They say the youths are leaders of tomorrow, the youths should be able to tell what they want, but today you see some young men supporting Jonathan because of money they are thinking about their future, children or generation yet unborn.

Here is a man, General Mo-

ducted peacefully, there should be no violence. But if there is any violence during the elections, it will threaten the corporate existence of this country, we are praying so hard that people who believe in God and who love this country that there should be peaceful elections.

Even the politicians who are contesting for elective positions who fear God and who are patriotic, we pray that let elections be conducted peacefully.

On the home front sir, civil servants in Benue State have for CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

Udom, reincarnation of Isong

You see, its unfortunate that we have a very bad government, nothing is happening and yet people are praising him (Jonathan)

Abubakar Tsav velopment? They talk about the railways system been revived.

But the truth is how many times have you seen a train pass through Makurdi here either to the South or from the South to the North? They talk about the aviation industry where that woman stole our money in billions and nothing has happened to her.

You see, its unfortunate that we have a very bad government, nothing is happening and yet people are praising him (Jonathan) that he has done this and that. If there is anything the government has done, is

hammadu Buhari who has proved himself that he is not corrupt, he is not materialistic but you hear people criticizing him because he has no money to give people. We have misplaced priorities in this country, people are just doing what they want and you go to any city in this country, you find so many churches, one expect that when you see so many places of worship we expect the people to be godly and we are not, we just go to the church and mosque because we want people to see us as being godly, but we go there for show, we do not follow what the Holy Bible or the Koran has told us, we are worse than the devil.

Sir, 2015 the year of elections in here, do you see INEC delivering on its mandate?

You see, the whole situation is very dicey, we only hope and pray that the elections be con-

pears to have some resistance from politicians, why is that so?

All fair-minded people in Akwa Ibom State understand their selfish concern. In the former Cross River State, Dr. Clement Isong was brought to the state after his stint as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He contested for the office of Governor and

won. He was the best governor we had in the then Cross River State. He built so many industries, institutions, developed infrastructures and touched so many lives. His tenure was the golden era of the then Cross River State. But he did not service those who saw themselves as pests of government.

The same group of politi-

cians are looking at Mr Udom Emmanuel as an incarnation of Dr. Clement Isong. They know he would definitely perform but they are worried that, like Governor Akpabio, he would not sacrifice the public good at the altar of their selfish ambition. They see themselves as the owners of Akwa Ibom State. As some kind of Board of Trustees

of the state. They do not want any person who would not come and patronize them.

So far they have not faulted Mr. Emmanuel in anyway. They have not said that he would not perform as governor. They have only been claiming that he is not a politician. The other claim is that he enjoys Governor Akpabio’s support.

Politics 24 Dr. Alex Otti is a governorship candidate of APGA in Abia, having been a technocrat and a banker in Nigeria. He is the Immediate past group MD and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank. Otti was one of the aspirants in the last gubernatorial PDP primaries in Abia and had left the party when aspirants complained of unfair treatment by the party executive in the state and on the way and manner the primary was conducted.

In this interview with newsmen in his country home in Obingwa in Abia South Senatorial district, he said Abia State needs a change of party and government for the good of the people in order to stop the unprecedented poverty in the state. SUNDAY NWAKANMMA was there.

Excerpts: You have been packaging free medical treatment to the people of the state, may we hear more on that?

Healthcare delivery is one the areas that I am interested in. if you visit some our hospitals in the state today, a lot of them are in different state of disrepair and when you notice those kind of situations, then it is difficult for people to go in there and get proper medical attention.

A survey that I commissioned has it that Abia State has a very high rate of maternal mortality and very high rate of infant mortality, higher than a lot of other states in Nigeria. So it is one of the ways we give back. So we expect that people with different ailments, we talk about diabetes, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, different ailments, undiagnosed cancer, stroke and because of ignorance some say that it is their neigbhour that is after them. So this is a way of providing them with good medical attention.

We know a lot of them cannot afford to take their bills, so we are taking up the bills.

What Is The Reach Or Spread Of The Free Medical

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Poverty rate in Abia is unprecedent – Dr Alex Otti Otti Care In The State?

The programme has already started on the 3rd of January, 2015. Because of how things have been, we believe that the church is the best channel to make this gesture available. We trust the churches and we also know that they are very close to the grassroots. They are very close to the people who also require this service. We don’t want it to go to the people who don’t need them. We are starting relatively poor because we are starting with few local governments, about seven of them, but we intend to expand it to all the 17 local government areas

Non-payment of salaries not peculiar to Benue - Abubakar Tsav Abubakar Tsav

I voluntarily resigned from the bank leaving behind over six years of my tenure as a CEO for the simple reason that the way things have gone in my state has left me very unhappy

in the state.

You are successful in your profesion. Why venture into murky waters of politics?

What I have come to do is to give service to my people. I voluntarily resigned from the bank leaving behind over six years of my tenure as a CEO for the simple reason that the way things have gone in my state has left me very unhappy and I believe that a lot of people from this state feel the same way. If you go round the state, you will notice that the state has suffered from several years of mis-governance by past governance and the state has been rudderless be-

cause we have been governed by people who were not prepared for governance and people who had no vision and today we have decided that this state that is blessed with so much with human and material resources do not continue to go in that direction. The easiest thing for us to do is to keep quiet, sit down in the comfort of our homes and our offices and do nothing about it. May be at some point, we will lose the state completely and that is true. So what I have come to do is to help our people, help the poor and the needy. If you go round the state, people’s faces are very gloomy.

the past four months not been paid, and sometimes they do selective payments. As an elder statesman what is your advise in this regard?

This issue of non-payment of salaries I think is not peculiar to Benue, many states in the federation have not been paid. But I want to advise the state government that wherever they can get money let them borrow and pay workers because these work-

ers have people who depend on them, they have wives, children and relatives and if salaries are not paid how can you feed them, how can you pay their school fees, so the situation is very bad.

You said the situation is not peculiar to Benue, civil servants are threatening to sport the opposition parties in next years elections if the trend is not reversed, how can you interpret the situation?

How are they sure that the opposition will do better than PDP government? If I am talking about opposition at the national level, I do not compare the opposition there with what is happening in Benue State because here, its the same penny, its all the same. Anybody who is now parading of flying his flag that if he comes there he will do better, he may be the worse.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Inside Abuja

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FCT landlords gripped by post-election fears Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏAs a result of

the large volume of residents who travelled out of the Federal Capital Territory for the Christmas and new year holidays, landlords in the area are apprehensive that many of the travellers may not return until after the elections next month. Many residents had said they would relocate temporarily over fear of being caught in the crossfire of possible postelection violence as happened in 2011.

It would be recalled that some lives were lost and properties destroyed in some parts of the country in violent protests over the outcome of the last general election. Some of the victims of the violence were youth corps members.

Some residents also noted that Federal Government has not fulfilled its promise to compensate

those who lost their properties at that time and are sceptical of government’s vow to ensure that post-election violence does not recur.

Perharps, it is due to these failed promises that many people are showing aparthy towards the 2015 election and apprehension is mounting over their security.

In findings across Abuja suburbs by Daily Times, landlords already have started counting their losses as some fleeing families have not renewed their rents.

Alhaji Idris Amodu Muktar in Nyanya, one of Abuja satellite towns, said the situation gave cause for concern. “ I am tired of the whole thing, people now flee at the mention of elections in Nigeria. The question is, who is going to vote then. My property is vacant now because three families have sent massages that they are not coming back untill the election is over in February. What this

FCT: Collection Of PVC At Ward Level To End January 31 – INEC Jega

means is that they will not be paying their rents since they are staying away for more than three months”.

According to Alhaji Muktar, many Nigerians are now living in fear especially those residing in the northern parts of the country, some of whom are Southerners and Christians. “Ethnicity and religious bias have made leadership in this country extremely difficult. And those who are in business are at the receiving end even though we businessmen do not care about ethnicity or religoin, the language we hear is money. We travel to the East to buy and sell in the North. Also as a property owner, ethnicity is not concidered here what is considered is affordability, that is all. The whole thing is affecting business and many landlords in Abuja and its surroundings are currently experiencing the same thing”.

In the same vein, business

Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏ The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the weekend, said it had taken the collection of Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to ward level as part of its effort to ensure easy collection by registered voters.

It, however, said that the PVC collection, which before now had been at the area council level, would come to an end January 31, 2015 at the new designated

Bala Mohammed has slowed down at Nyanya and neighbouring Jikwoyi, all under Karu Area Council, as traders now experience low patronage.

Those trading in clothings, food items and footwears are being cautious of replenishing their stocks after the Christmas sales.

Sunday Ozoh, who trades in second-hand clothings said he no longer records gains at the popu-

lar Nyanya market.

According to Ozoh who hails from Ebonyi State, he is not surprised that patronage has reduced however. He said his parents had even advised him to relocate temporarily with his family till the election is over.

This is because his family lost

points.

The Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity in the office, Okezie Nwankwo, who made the disclosure at a public presentation of the Youth Observatory Report on PVC Collection organised by Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), said the collection commenced January 9, 2015, from 9am to 5pm each day.

Nwankwo, who acknowledged that some were yet to collect their PVC, stressed that the commission was intensifying its effort

towards ensuring that every registered voter gets his or her card.

“In fact, with regard to the FCT for example, AMAC, where there has been little challenge of low turnout of collection, the commission has moved from its previous policy of people collecting their Permanent Voter’s Card at area council level and we have moved into the field.

“Now, people have to go to their ward collection centres

Continued on page 26

Continued on page 26

Inside Abuja 26

Abayomi

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

DSS Allegation Against APC Baseless – Abayomi

Bisi Abidoye Abuja

ÏÏÏ A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Constitutional lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has faulted the allegation by the Directorate of State Security that the party planned to hack into the database of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Abayomi dismissed the allegation as baseless in a press release in Abuja after the Deputy Director in charge of Public Relations of the DSS accused the APC of cloning PVCs. He charged the leadership of the APC to go further than its denial of the allegation to warn DSS and remind the agency of its responsibility to the nation’s Constitution and the liberties

Health Workers strike threatens service delivery

Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Health Workers Union has placed a heavy burden on resident and consultant medical doctors, Daily Times can report.

The seemingly unending strike by nurses, medical laboratory scientists, midwives, and medical records and ante-natal unit staff has virtually crippled activities in government hospitals.

According to a medical doctor at the Asokoro Medical Centre who identified himself simply as Dr. Solomon, the health workers unions should as a matter of urgency make their demands clear but allow the Federal Government deliberate on them while they go back to work to save lives. He emphasised the need for a quick resumption of duty by the workers to enable doctors function effectively.

Dr. Solomon said medical doctors, in the profession are meant to be heads of hospitals but need the work complements of other units. He said: “As a doctor, I carry out diagnosis but may need a laboratory scientist to to help determine what ailment the person has. After that comes my prescription and the nurses administer the drugs while the pharmacists dispense the drug from the store. It is all a chain of duties and a division of labour”.

He clarified that doctors are not on strike and have been working nationwide, contrary to public perception that hospitals are shut. “We are not on strike, medical doctors come here daily to perform their jobs and as a consultant with this hospital, I come here to do my job.’’

However, he is aware of the unions’ grieviances. He said the

Jonathan leadership of medical doctors in medical units formed parts of the grounds for the strike action, stating that most of them have agitated to be made equal to medical doctors.

“Well this matter was a format handed down to us by those that brought the medical profession.

They left us with it and it has been the practice since then. I think as a consultant, I need to undergo and acquire a higher level of education to merit what I am paid but if that is also obtainable in other medical areas, so be it. But I think doctors should not be envied because they spend lots of years seeking knowledge”.

All other units apart from medical doctors are deserted at the Nyanya Medical Center when visited. The nursing and midwives department, laboratory and ante-natal unit were all closed down. According to our findings, solution to the problem

is yet to be found by the Federal Health Ministry as patients, especially pregnant women seeking ante-natal care have resorted

to private hospitals, while others embark on self-medication and traditional alternative solutions.

FCT: Collection Of PVC At Ward Level To End January 31 –INEC

wonderful opportunity for every person who has not collected his in AMAC to please come out and collect the PVC and this will take place in all the wards in the FCT. For instance in AMAC, we have 12 wards,” he said.

Speaking, the Head of Policy Research and Advocacy of YIAGA, Samson Itodo, attributed the challenges faced in the PVC collection in all phases of distribution to poor logistics, non-distribution of PVCs in some plus, low public enlightenment on the process, collection by proxy and inconsistency in distribution guidelines as well as non-compliance with guidelines.

Continued from page 25 or registration areas to pick up their PVC and this will commence from today from 9am to 5pm, from the 9th of January to the 31th of January. It is going to be Monday to Monday; we work through the weekend. So this is a

of her citizens and institutions above its commitment to the interest of government.

Abayomi said every Nigerian who knows there is a difference between a government and a nation must be disturbed by the quality of presentation by DSS on its invasion of the APC data house.

“Now that APC dismisses the Continued on page 28

Post-election violence fears in FCT Continued from page 25 a 22-yeear-old fresh graduate in 2011, while participating as INEC casual staff in the year’s general election.

“I sent my wife and children home for Christmas and they will not be back untill months after the election. I wouldn’t want to take any chance with their safety so, I am here alone and prepared to run if things get bad during or after the elections.

Ozoh said unlike nationalists like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and others whom he said played politics devoid of ethnicity “politics nowadays is being played with bitterness by ethnic groups and at party levels”.

He lamented further that the common man would always be at the receiving end. “These politicians send their children abroad to study but use those they delibrately denied education as political thugs. You see, they cheat us at all levels, they make use of poor people’s children to perpetrate evil and archieve their political aims and also deny them everything when they emerge or are elected into offices.

“When the trouble comes, they flee with their families to other countries and leave us to suffer here. And also now that the election is coming, we are losing our sources of income due to fear of crisis”.

But the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory and its environs that the 2015 election will be free of any crisis.

However, thousands of families who lost their love ones during the 2011 post-election violence are yet to receive any compansation from either states or the Federal Government.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

27 Inside Abuja

“FG’s Electronic Revenue Collection Platform ’ll Curb Corruption” ÏÏÏThe federal government, through the accountant general of the federation, recently introduced a new electronic revenue collection platform to check some loopholes in revenue collection and to ensure transparency in revenue administration in Nigeria. The pros and cons of this initiation have been on the front-burner. Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, an economic analyst and managing director of Bristol Investments Limited, Abuja, speaks on the initiative in this interview with Augustine Aminu.

Do you think that this initiative can check corruption in revenue collection in Nigeria?

Just as the accountant-general of the Federation rightly said, there have been a lot of loopholes in revenue collection in the country. The new electronic revenue collection platform, if well harnessed, will boost the country’s revenue generation base. When a system is automated, it makes it very difficult for anybody to tamper with the system. Before now, many revenue generating agencies would be very efficient in collecting revenues but a reasonable percentage of what they collected would not be remitted to the federal government coffers. Therefore there have been loopholes everywhere. So the automated system is aimed at consolidating and integrating the system. By the time the revenues are collected, they are meant to be remitted immediately. What that does for government is that government at any given time will know how much has been received and then determine the exact amount it has in its coffers. It is a good initiative by the

federal government through the accountant general’s office. We believe that it is going to block various loopholes in the revenue collection system.

What is the implication of revenue diversion in the nation’s economy?

It is a corrupt practice as a matter of fact. These agencies will collect these revenues and fail to remit them immediately.

The reason is that they want to earn some i for their personal use. In most cases, these interests are not recorded by the government accounting system, so it becomes difficult to track the actual amount that the government has. And there is no system audit that actually determines what interest was paid on this.

Sometimes even when the revenue collected are lodged in accounts, some people still get interests from there.

Abuja

ÏÏÏ Trouble is not yet over for the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Oyo State,

It is reported that about fifty revenue generating agencies of the federal government failed to remit over ninety trillion naira between 2009 and 2012. Where really are these funds?

Obviously they couldn’t have been in accounts of individuals.

When funds are not remitted to government, they still don’t belong to government. They maybe in the individual accounts of these revenue generating agencies. But not until they are remitted to the government, you can’t say they belong to government because government cannot access them.

tomation, once the gate opens, it is recorded. There is no way that process can be circumvented because it is already known. I know that for every system, there is always a way to circumvent it. But in most cases it will be limited.

The accountant general of the federation said the new system would increase the availability of funds for government. What do you think?

If correct funds were remitted to the federal government at the

Could that be as a result of incapability or that those working in these revenue agencies are not able to do what they are supposed to do?

It is a combination of personal interest and lack of will to do this. I know a particular top civil servant who wanted a personal tax certificate. When he approached the Federal Inland Revenue Service for it, they gave him a high bill of over N3m of taxes declared that he didn’t pay.

Because he was a civil servant whose PAYE was being deducted when he was serving, how come that for over ten years, according to them, these deductions were not remitted? Where are those funds? That is the kind of things we are talking about. Invariably they are keeping these funds for personal gains. When these things remain in agencies’ individual accounts, the interests would then be paid to individuals. That is why they delay the remittance.

re-deployment to another state.

The stakeholders led by Dr. James Adesokan Ojebode, Director Finance (NECO) in a chat with newsmen said they were in Abuja to meet with officials of INEC on the need for re-deployment of Akeju over alleged doubtful integrity of the REC. Ojebode along with six other elders from Oyo said the case of Akeju is peculiar in INEC because a court in Osun State had found him guilty of hub-nobbing with the opposition party,

while an appeal court in Ondo State equally upheld the judgment by the lower court.

He said it was rather the court that advised that the REC be returned to the INEC Headquarters from Osun State where he had worked with allegations of doubtful integrity trailing his operations in INEC. He told newsmen, “We are in Abuja to confer with the officials of INEC on this issue because we in Oyo State will not have Akeju preside over the Feb-

ruary election owing to the general suspicion of the electorate on his posting.

“He had once been returned to the INEC Headquarters based on protest by the PDP in Osun State and the people in Oyo State felt that he should be allowed to remain at the Headquarters if his services are so important to INEC. His coming to Oyo has raised a lot of suspicions on the intent of INEC on the coming elections and that is what we are trying to douse.’’

Are they paid to personal accounts?

It may not be paid to their personal accounts, but in their personal capacities. These funds will be in the agency’s current accounts, while the interests are being collected by some individuals. The initiative is a good thing.

Many people have expressed concerns that if corrupt officials working in these revenue generating agencies are not flushed out, this system would not work. What is your take?

To an extent, they are right.

But the point is that when a system is automated, the operations become automated. Take for instance, the toll at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport. Before now people were given tickets; at times wrong tickets. At times no ticket was issued and people were just passing. But with au-

Oyo elders storm Abuja To demand redeployment of INEC commissioner, Akeju Olufemi Samuel

time they are collected, government will have funds to execute its laudable projects.

Ambassador Rufus Akeju on his posting to the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as political stakeholders from the state have stormed Abuja to press for his

Ekechukwu

Inside Abuja 28

Daily Times Nigeria jƑƆ Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ ơƢè ƾƠơǀ

DSS Allegation Against APC Baseless – Abayomi Continued from page 26 allegation as worthless, we hope the DSS will prove its allegation of wrong doing outside the Press Conference in the case DSS claims to have charged to Court.

“DSS made representation against APC that APC has vast information on hacking. This averment is just as useless as the allegation about intent. Any one who wants to know about hacking or possibility of hacking especially from an opponent needs

only to sensibly access hacking software free download in the internet. There is nothing special about hacking, except that any system that desires to preserve its database must, I repeat, must know every thing about hacking to protect its database from a potential hacker like APC would presume PDP to be.

“The story by DSS public relations woman about passport photographs in envelopes means little. Thousands of APC members submitted passport pictures

pending the availability of membership forms. The hype about these issues means nothing, but over demonstration of nothing. How, for example, can APC have protected its membership database from hacking by DSS, Police, PDP, all of which have demonstrated much hatred for APC without a deep knowledge of hacking?

“DSS representation of inflated party membership registration, registration of membership of security services e.t.c. also

amount to nothing.

“Are there NO underaged registrants in PDP? Are there NO members of security forces registered in PDP? And when did such registration become an issue deserving the interest of DSS? And how would APC clean its registration list assuming it is not alright without a data-base?

“And when did parted membership registration turn to a crime warranting the deep interest of a national security body like DSS. What, at any rate, has the mem-

PDP Faces Doom In Adamawa – Senator Bent Ï d ƕ ^ ƏƐƕ MƆƒƆƏ 6ƆƋƗ 1ƑƄƆƏè M Ɛƈ Ƌ ƆƌƄƋƕ ^Əƈƌ ƏƈƆ Olufemi Samuel Abuja

ÏÏÏA stakeholder in the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Senator Grace Bent has advised the party to urgently correct the anomaly in the governorship and National Assembly primaries in the state, just to prevent, what she described as imminent defeat of the party in the coming general elections in the state.

Bent said, as at today, stakeholders of the PDP in the state still believe that no primary was held in Adamawa for the election of the governorship and National Assembly candidates for the February polls because those who were eligible to vote during the primary were disenfranchised.

She said, “Besides, none of the governorship and National Assembly aspirants, who were cleared by the Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission (INEC) to participate in the primary elections, was allowed to contest.

“On This, the Adamawa electorate are yet to come to terms with the kangaroo primary purportedly held in Abuja, and hence, would not recognise those fielded as candidates of the PDP for governorship and National Assembly polls because the process which produced them was heavily compromised”.

The one time Senate Committee Chairman on Environment and Ecology explained that a fake list of delegates was used to elect the candidates of the party at the expense of the original list widely subscribed to by all stakeholders.

She faulted the sudden change of venue of the primaries by the party as unlawful because such was never supported by the PDP Electoral Guidelines for primary

election 2014.

She said the turn of events had pre-disposed PDP to electoral doom in Adamawa State, noting that on the strength of disenchantment with the manner the primaries were handled, some key members of the party had defected other parties.

She alluded this to the low turnout of supporters for some of the candidates as they intensify campaign for the February election as a sign that the PDP was fast losing ground in Adamawa.

Said she, “ With the turn of events, the National Headquarters of PDP must do something urgently because the situation is bad for the party. Many PDP members today are moving into other political parties because of the injustice.

“As far as we, stakeholders are concerned, no primary took place in Adamawa,’’ she added.

Bent

bership of APC got to do with voting or voting population for or against APC or PDP in any election?

“It is noted that DSS, surprisingly, did not claim to have found INEC documents in the data office of APC, did not claim to have received any complaints of threat

by APC from INEC. In view of the above, we can only conclude that the DSS is only executing the plan to deliver Lagos or Nigeria to the government in power by all means,’’ Abayomi added.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January13, 2015

Today in History

29

s

1128 Pope recognizes Knights Templar Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola 1128 Pope recognizes Knights Templar On this day in 1128, Pope Honorius II granted a papal sanction to the military order known as the Knights Templar, declaring it to be an army of God. Led by the Frenchman Hughes de Payne’s, the Knights Templar organization was founded in 1118. Its self-imposed mission was to protect Christian pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land during the Crusades, the series of military expeditions aimed at defeating Muslims in Palestine. The Templars took their name from the location of their headquarters, at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount.

For a while, the Templars had only nine members, mostly due to their rigid rules. In addition to having noble birth, the knights were required to take strict vows of poverty, obedience and chastity. In 1127, new promotional efforts convinced many more noblemen to join the order, gradually increasing its size and influence.

While the individual knights were not allowed to own property, there was no such restriction on the organization as a whole, and over the years many rich Christians gave gifts of land and other valuables to support the Knights Templar. By the time the Crusades ended unsuccessfully in the early 14th century,

1950

1950 Soviets boycott United Nations Security Council For the second time in a week, Jacob Malik, the Soviet representative to the United Nations, stormmed out of a meeting of the Security Council, this time in reaction to the defeat of his proposal to expel the Nationalist Chinese representative. At the same time, he announced the Soviet Union’s intention to boycott further Security Coun-

the order had grown extremely wealthy, provoking the jealousy of both religious and secular powers. In 1307, King Philip IV of France and Pope Clement V combined to take down the Knights Templar, arresting the grand master, Jacques de Molay, on charges of heresy, sacrilege and Satanism. Under torture, Molay and other leading Templars confessed and were eventually burned at the stake.

Clement dissolved the Templars in 1312, assigning their property and monetary assets to a rival order, the Knights Hospital-

Soviets boycott United Nations Security Council cil meetings.

Several days before the January 13 meeting, Malik walked out to show his displeasure over the United Nations’ refusal to unseat the Nationalist Chinese delegation. The Soviet Union had recognized the communist People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the true Chinese government, and wanted the PRC to replace the Nationalist Chinese

ers. In fact, though, Philip and his English counterpart, King Edward II, claimed most of the wealth after banning the organization from their respective countries.

1903 The Moroccan Sultan flees Fez as his imperial troops are defeated by the pretender’s army.

1943, - World War II: North Africa General Philippe Leclerc’s Free French troops merge with the British army under the command of Montgomery.

delegation at the United Nations.

Malik returned on January 13, however, to vote on the Soviet resolution to expel Nationalist China. Six countries--the United States, Nationalist China, Cuba, Ecuador, Cuba, and Egypt--voted against the resolution, and three--the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and India--voted in favour of it. Malik immediately left the meeting, declaring that the United States was “encouraging lawlessness” by refusing to recognize the “illegal presence” of the Nationalist Chinese representatives.

1961, Fighting erupts between UN troops and supporters of Patrice Lumumba in the Congo.

1980 Joshua Nkomo was allowed to return home to Rhodesia, the first time in three years.

1991 The deputy leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Abu Iyad (Salah Khalaf), was assassinated in Tunis.

2005 Sir Mark Thatcher pleaded guilty to charges in South Africa of helping to finance a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.

He was fined $500 000.

1982 Plane crashes into Po-

1958 The Manuel Massacres

1958 The Manuel Massacres Peter Manuel was arrested in Glasgow, Scotland, after a series of attacks over two years that left between seven and 15 people dead. Manuel, born in America to British parents, established

tomac On this day in 1982, an Air Florida Boeing 727 plunged into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., killing 78 people. The crash, caused by bad weather, took place only two miles from the White House.

The Air Florida flight took off from Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, with 74 passengers and 5 crew members on board. The plane had flown into Washington from Miami in the early afternoon and was supposed to return to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, after a short stop. However, snow in Washington temporarily closed the airport. When it reopened, the plane was de-iced with chemical anti-freeze, but the plane still had difficulty moving away from the gate due to the ice. When it eventually made it to the airport’s only usable runway, it was forced to wait 45 minutes for clearance to take off.

Not wanting to further delay the flight, the pilot, Larry Wheaton, did not return for more de-icing, and worse, failed to turn on the plane’s own deicing system. In fact, the pilot and co-pilot discussed the situation, and the co-pilot said “It’s a losing battle trying to de-ice these things. It gives you a false sense of security, that’s all it does.” During the delay, however, ice was accumulating on the wings, and by the time the plane reached the end of the runway, it was able to achieve only a few hundred feet of altitude.

himself as a career criminal early in life. He received his first burglary conviction at age 12. By the time he was 15, he had moved on to assault. Later, Manuel received an eight-year sentence for a sexual attack.

Prison did not rehabilitate Manuel; not long after his release, he killed a 19-year-old woman in Scotland by bludgeoning her to death during a burglary. He was arrested and charged for another burglary, but while awaiting trial in September 1957, Manuel killed a woman, her daughter, and her sister.

30

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Money

s

CBN’s N220b MSME fund continues to elude OPS The Onitsha Chamber of Commerce has decried the inability of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to access the Federal Government intervention fund for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

The President of the chamber, Dr Tim Anosike, expressed this concern in Onitsha. ``The OPS is still having difficulties in accessing the Federal Government’s N220b MSME fund,’’ Anosike said.

He said that the problems facing the sector included the complicated procedures in accessing the fund and lack of interest of many banks in the programmme. ``The current N220 billion MSME Intervention fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is a laudable initiative. ``This chamber believes that if the fund could be made available for the target groups, then

the national economy must have received a significant boost at the end of the day. ``More so, as 60 per cent of it goes to women entrepreneurs but our fears remain those of complicated procedures,” he said.

According to him, the obvious lack of interest by many banks to be part of the exercise is due to the fact that the three per cent CBN approved interest rate for them is too small.

He, however, said the chamber had advised the CBN to guard against anything that could truncate this laudable objective, so that the MSMEs would get the lifeline.

Anosike urged the government to ensure the success of the initiative, so that budding entrepreneurs, especially millions of women, who engage in petty trading to sustain their families, could survive.

Emefiele, CBN governor

Institute urges synergy to mitigate double taxation

Dike The President of Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria (CITN), Mr Anthony Dike, has called for synergy between tax institutes and government agencies to combat the incidence of double taxation in the country.

Making the call in Lagos, the CITN president said that the

existence of double taxation was retarding rapid industrial growth in the region. ``Especially now that the country’s benchmark of crude oil is dwindling, we should encourage diversification and industrial growth. ``Multiple taxes will discour-

age diversification and industrial expansion that could profound solutions to the nation’s economic problems,’’ he said.

According to Dike, a good tax system should be targeted at consumption and not at investment. ``Whether consumptions or investments, none should be double taxed”.

He stressed the need for the nation to focus on consumption to enable government generate enough Internally Generated Revenues (IGSs) for the development of the key sectors of the economy. ``I am more worried at the illegal extortion of block industry through taxation.

He added that the development was hampering the growth

of the block making business and encouraging quackery. ``This issue of multiple taxation has chain effects, it is indirectly pushing entrepreneurs out of the business.’’

According to Dike, more worrisome is that some of the officers who go about collecting these taxes do not have a permanent office.

He, however, urged the Federal Government to continue to work hard to arrest the anomaly to improve the country’s investment climate. ``No nation or government, that wishes to bring development to its people and become a respected voice in the international community, will ignore these critical issues,’’ said the CITN boss.

Short news Industry

LCCI convenes Lagos guber aspirants’ parley

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has concluded plans to interact with the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and Mr. Jimi Agbaje respectively, on the agenda for the Private Sector, post-2015 elections.

According to a statement by LCCI, the event, which comes up on Friday January 23, at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Alausa, Ikeja is a forum designed to allow the candidates to articulate their agenda for private sector development in Lagos State, considering the fact that it is the commercial and industrial nerve centre of the nation, wherein is located the preponderance of businesses operating in Nigeria.

The Chamber had organised similar forums in 2007 for all parties’ governorship candidates and in 2011 for the two leading parties, in Lagos State.

According to the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello, the state of the economy should be of paramount importance to anybody who aspires to political office not only in Lagos but in all states as well as the presidency of the nation, and it is the private sector that is in the best position to influence the direction of the economy; “hence the need for the organised private sector to interact publicly with the candidates before the elections.”

Bello

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

31 Maritime

New tech may cool the earth with bubbles Stories by Funmi Coker New studies have buttressed the fact that shipping could play a counteracting role in mitigating the effects of global warming, by cooling the earth with smaller and more reflective bubbles.

The theory joins the painting of roofs white and injecting salt into clouds in the field of geoengineering, using man-made fixes to reverse the effects of climate change.

The object is to increase the albedo – the co-efficient of reflected sunlight – in order that more of the sun’s rays travel back into space, rather than being absorbed, cooling the earth.

Smaller bubbles – about 10 to 100 times smaller, or 1 micron - behind a ship would lead to a brighter and longer-lasting wake, increasing albedo from around 0.02 to approximately 0.2.

If implemented aboard 32,000 large ships, could reduce the surface temperature by around 0.5°C – equivalent to a carbon offset of 85.2bn tonnes, according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calculations.

Most importantly, the technology already exists, and is already being used aboard ships, albeit for a different purpose – air lubrication systems such as the one on aboard bulk carrier Soyo. “I understand that for the existing air lubrication system the size of the bubbles is 1mm,

a bit larger than would really be needed for geoengineering,” Julia Crook from Leeds University and author of the study, said.

“There are commercially available bubble generators that generate 1 micron bubbles and used for various applications including research.

New ship technology

Tanker spills notches new five year low

Oil leak The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) has reported a new fiveyear low in oil spills from tankers, as the average for 2010-2014 falls to 1.8 large spills per year.

In 2014 the federation recorded one large oil spill (over 700 tonnes) of around 3,000 tonnes

“For the air lubrication system you want the bubbles to stay under the ship hull as much as possible but for geoengineering you want the bubbles trailing the ship or out to the sides. For air lubrication 1mm bubbles works but for geoengineering you need them to be smaller.”

of bitumen in the South China sea, and four medium spills (over 7 tonnes) totalling seven spills over 7 tonnes.

“For the last two and a half decades the average number of incidents involving oil spills from tankers has progressively halved, with the current figures showing the lowest yet, at less than two per year,” ITOPF stated in a press release.

“Interestingly, a number of tanker incidents reported in the media in 2014 involved fire and explosion, where potentially significant quantities of cargoes and bunker fuel burned. The cargoes involved included condensate, diesels and fuel oils.”

Ballast water treatment system Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) specialist, Optimarin and Goltens, a leading provider of engineering and installation solutions for the shipping industry signed a non-exclusive worldwide agreement for retrofitting Optimarin’s Ballast System (OBS).

The deal provides shipowners with a complete BWT package, offering them BWT technology, alongside first-class engineering and installation services across the globe.

Optimarin and Goltens have a lengthy and successful track record of collaboration. Since first working together in 2011, the duo have installed, or are in the process of installing, a total of 54 retrofitted BWT systems on a broad variety of vessels up to 60,000 dwt. However, this is the first time they have signed a concrete understanding - a move that, according to Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen, provides customers with a new level of reassurance ahead of the ratification of the IMO’s BWM convention.

“With nations representing 32.54 per cent of global tonnage having now ratified the treaty, the 35% target needed to enforce it is within touching distance,” Mr Andersen stated. “That will trigger a wave of demand for compliant BWT systems, and shipowners need to plan to ensure their vessels are catered for - on time, with systems and engi-

Optimarin, Goltens sign worldwide deal neering solutions they can trust.

“This agreement with Goltens gives our customers complete peace of mind, while providing us with a global partner to meet the needs of large, diverse and geographically scattered fleets.

It is real a competitive edge.”

Goltens provides a comprehensive menu of services for Optimarin clients, centred on a proven retrofit process that utilises precision 3D laser scanning and modelling as the basis for detailed design, prefabrication and streamlined system installation. A global network of offices can also handle all class approval and after-sales servicing duties.

Andersen says it is a level of customised service and ‘hands on’ expertise that minimises vessel downtime, while maximising technical results.

Jurrien Baretta, Business Development Manager at Goltens, agreed. “We are here to cure any customer headaches related to BWT and Optimarin is a very important partner for us,” she noted. “We have developed an excellent technical understanding of Optimarin’s system through our extensive project experience with their product. Together we can ensure that customers get solutions that are tailor made for individual vessel requirements, within the best possible time and cost parameters for their businesses,’’ she added.

World’s largest vessel to undergo final assembly in Rotherdam For its final assembly, the largest vessel in the world, heavy lift and pipelayer Pieter Schelte, has arrived in Rotterdam in the inner lake of Maasvlakte 2.

Under construction since 2007, the 382 m long and 124 m wide Peter Schelte will be largest vessel ever built once completed, with a 48,000 tonne topside capacity, a 25,000 tonne jacket lift capacity, and a 2,000 tonne pipelay tension capacity.

Work undertaken at Rotterdam is to include installation of a set of 65m long support beams, amongst other work, estimated to cost around 700m ($826m) and involving 440 different Dutch

firms.

Rotterdam Port Authority maintains that the geography of the region, especially the plots of water on Maasvlakte 2, can be “put to good use” for the dismantling of oil and gas platforms, construction of wind farms and demobilisation proj-

World’s biggest ship

ects.

“The arrival of the Pieter Schelte in Rotterdam is in line with Port Authority policy, which is geared towards strengthening the Rotterdam offshore sector further,” said Rotterdam Port Authority ceo Allard Castelein.

Maritime 32

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Passengers now to undergo ship drills Stories by Funmi Coker The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) amendment to the Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS) regulation III/19 which said that passengers must undergo safety drills before departure has come into force in all maritime countries.

The aim is to reduce the fatalities, which might occur if crews enter enclosed spaces without adequate training or protection.

The Code for Recognized Organizations (RO Code) became mandatory, on January 1, 2015, under Safety of Life at Sea ( SOLAS), Maritime Pollution (MARPOL) and the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966.

The convention noted that administrations (Flag States) may delegate certain responsibilities for surveying and certification of ships to “recognized organizations,” which can act on behalf of the Flag State. The RO Code provides flag States with standards mechanisms for the oversight, assessment and authorization of recognized organizations (ROs) and clarifies the responsibilities of such organizations.

Further, SOLAS amendments entering into force address enclosed-space entry and rescue drills and the code for recognized organizations.

Profits rise for crude tanker owners 2014 has proved to be a rather better year for the crude tanker market than recent years with earnings in the VLCC, suezmax and aframax sectors considerably higher than the previous year.

VLCCs earned an average of $27,315 a day, according to Clarkson Research figures, the best since 2010. Suezmaxes earned an average of around $28,000 a day, the best since 2006, while aframaxes earned nearly $25,000 a day, thanks to earnings of nearly $80,000 a day in January in a volatile market. All three sectors have made a strong start to 2015.

Lower fuel costs towards the end of the year have, of course, played their part in improving earnings.

Passengers waiting to board a ship The amended regulation III/19 in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea was adopted in 2013 in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident, to ensure that passengers undergo safety drills, including mustering at the lifeboat stations, before the ship departs or immediately on departure.

Previously, the requirement was for the muster of passengers

to take place within 24 hours of their embarkation.

It stressed: “An amendment to SOLAS regulation III/19, on emergency training and drills, makes mandatory the carrying out of enclosed-space entry and rescue drills, which will require crewmembers with enclosed-space entry or rescue responsibilities to participate in

an enclosed-space entry and rescue drill at least once every two months.

“The International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code), the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code) and the Code of Safety for Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC Code) have been similarly amended.”

Stakeholders advise FG to change FoB to CIF The Nigerian Indigenous Ship owners Association (NISA) has advised the Federal Government to change its term of trade for crude oil from Free on Board (FOB) to Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF).

The President of NISA, Captain Niyi Labinjo, stated in Lagos that the CIF mode would add more value to the crude oil business in the country.

Labinjo declared Nigeria was the only country among the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), selling crude oil based on FOB. Labinjo said that the time had

Briefs

come that Nigeria must change its transaction mode from Free on Board to Cost Insurance and Freight.

He said: “We need to change term of trade. By so doing, way we would have been adding value because we will get value for the insurance; we would also get value for the freight.

“Before 1976, the entire insurance companies in Nigeria had only 316 employees but because of the government of the day’s position that all insurance policies must exhaust Nigerian insurance available locally before you will ship anything abroad,

between that time and 2012, the business of insurance increased from N16 million to N16 billion and from that you can count on your fingertips a number of employees to over 3 million employees.”

“So we have no option; we have to encourage the growth of our own economy. “ He noted that cost of doing business in Nigeria was one of the highest in West Africa.

Labinjo also urged the Federal Government to include maritime industry among those sectors that were getting tax incentives.

Labinjo

EA Gibson boss

ClassNK releases new stowage guidelines ClassNK has updated its Guidelines for Container Stowage and Securing Arrangements, as a response to the increasing size of container vessels.

The group cited the increase of size of newbuilds to an average of 7,000 teu in 2014, as well as a number of technologies improving the efficiency of container loading.

Amendments include changing evaluation methods to allow for the effect of sea routes on stowage, as well as new class notation for vessels with lashing calculation programs, and the addition of class procedures for ships in compliance with Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS) Annex 14.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

33 Interview

Electronic revenue will affect DMBs’ liquidity- Ekechukwu ÏÏÏƈƌƍ ƅƐ Ɔ ƐƈƒƆƋƕ Ƌ ƆƆƊƆƏ The federal government, through the accountant general of the federation, recently introduced a new electronic revenue collection platform to check loopholes in revenue collection and to ensure transparency in revenue administration in Nigeria. The pros and cons of this initiative have been on the front-burner.

Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, an economic analyst and managing director of Bristol Investments Limited, Abuja, shares his assessment in this interview with AUGUSTINE AMINU. Do you think that new revenue collecting platform by Federal government can check corruption in revenue collection in Nigeria?

Just as the accountant general of the federation rightly said, there have been a lot of loopholes in revenue collection in the country. The new electronic revenue collection platform, if well harnessed, will boost the country’s revenue generation base. When a system is automated, it makes it very difficult for anybody to tamper with the system. Before now, many revenue generating agencies would be very efficient in collecting revenues but of course a reasonable percentage of what they collected would not be remitted to the federal government coffers.

Therefore there have been loopholes everywhere. So the automated system is aimed at consolidating and integrating the system. By the time the revenues are collected, they are meant to be remitted immediately. What that does for government is that government at any given time will know how much has been received and then determine the exact amount it has in its coffers. It is a good initiative by the federal government through the accountant general’s office. We believe that it is going to block various loopholes in the revenue collection system.

What is the implication of revenue diversion in the nation’s economy?

It is a corrupt practice as a matter of fact. These agencies will collect these revenues and fail to remit them immediately.

The reason is because they want to earn some interests for their personal use. In most cases, these interests are not recorded

j Ɔ ƆƇƇƆƅƐ Ɛ Ɔ Ɔƅ ƌƕ Ɔ ƆƏ ƋƋƕ ƈ Ɛ Ɛ Ƅ Ɗ Ɛ Ɛ Ƒ ƆƗ Ɛ Ɔ Ɖ ƕ ƇƋ Ɠ Ƈ ƇƑ Ɨ ƋƈƎƑƈƗƈƐƕ ƓƈƋƋ Ɠ ƄƆ ƅ ƐƏ ƍƍƆƗè Ɨ ƓƈƋƋ Ɛ ƒƆ Ɔ Ƒ ƇƑ Ɨ Ɛ ƌ ƊƆ ƌ ƏƆ ƈ ƅ ƌƆ ê

by the government accounting system, so it becomes difficult to track the actual amount that the government has. And there is no system audit that actually determines what interest was paid on this. Sometimes even when the revenue collected are lodged in accounts, some people still get interests from there.

The accountant general of the federation said the new system would increase the availability of funds for government. What do you think?

If correct funds were remitted to the federal government at the time they are collected, government will have funds to execute its laudable projects.

It is reported that about fifty revenue generating agencies of the federal government failed to remit over ninety trillion naira between 2009 and 2012. Where really are these funds?

Obviously they couldn’t have been in accounts of individuals.

When funds are not remitted to government, they still don’t belong to government. They maybe in the individual accounts of these revenue generating agencies. But not until they are remitted to the government, you can’t say they belong to government because government cannot access them.

Who should be responsible?

Various departments of revenue generation agencies know their functions. Any revenue collected goes into the agencies’ accounts. I also know that there are stipulations on how long these revenues should be remitted into the government accounts. They know these things.

There are supervisors and other officials designated to ensure

Ekechukwu

ƈƐ ƈ ƈ Ɛ ƄƋ ƅƊ ƒ Əƈ Ƒ Ƌ ƍ ƋƆ ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƏƆƒƆ ƑƆ ƅ ƋƋƆƅƐƈ ƕ ƐƆƌê

that these processes work. But because of attitudes of workers in this country, and selfish reasons they make the system not to work.

funds in all these banks for onward transmission to the consolidated accounts of the federal government. The effect on the economy generally is that banks that used to enjoy flow of fund liquidity will now be cash trapped, and will not have enough funds to make more incomes.

It will also reduce the available funds for credit facility among these banks. Right now

What effect will this policy have on deposit money banks?

Deposit money banks simply mean commercial banks. Revenue generating agencies have been directed to lodge their

the effect this initiation will have on commercial banks is that the interest rates will go up because everybody will be asking for funds. It will also affect people borrowing money from banks.

But the beneficiaries will be people who have enough money and want to deposit in banks. It means that fixed deposits will attract more interest rates. But for those who need the funds, the rates are going to be high.

The available funds will be reduced. That is the effect in the economy.

What message do you have for Nigerians on this development?

Nigeria is undergoing many economic transformations.

This initiative is nice. It can be likened to a previous exercise where the ghost worker syndrome was nipped in the bud.

GM1 ƍƏ ƉƆƅƐ Ƅ Ɨ ƆƗ ƈƋ ƍƏƈƅƆ ƅ ƋƋ ƍ Ɔ The fall-out from the collapse in the price of oil has reached into the LNG production business and resulted in the cancellation of one US LNG project.

Backers of Excelerate Energy have backed away from a proposed 8m tonnes-per-year

project in Texas, due to come on stream in 2018. Other projects around the globe face uncertainty in the face of a decline in potential profit spreads and the inability to sign up long-term buyers to secure financing. In the US alone, only two of 13 proposed projects reportedly have

enough buyers to justify going forward.

Because most LNG projects are indexed to the price of oil, the pricing of LNG has taken a nosedive, and backers of projects are faced with making a call on whether the oil price collapse will be short-lived.

Ict 34

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Telcos data servicing blamed for poor call quality

Apple’s take from app sales reached $4.5 billion in 2014 Apple continues to make billions of dollars from mobile apps sold in its App Store. The company said last week that in 2014, billings from app sales rose 50 per cent from the previous year, which results in roughly $15 billion in revenue for app developers and a $4.5 billion cut for Apple.

Apple takes a 30-per cent cut of each app sale made in its App Store. The $4.5 billion sum is a tiny sliver for Apple, which makes more than $180 billion in annual sales. But it is still a considerable sum for providing a storefront for developers to sell their apps.

By comparison, Google’s An-

Apple phones droid is the largest mobile operating system in the world, but its app store, Google Play, generates far less money than Apple’s.

That’s partly because Apple’s iPhone customers are wealthier and spend more money than people who own Android phones. App Annie, an analytics firm that tracks mobile app sales, said that in the third quarter of 2014, Apple’s App Store revenue was 60 percent higher than revenue generated from Google Play.

The business of selling bandwidth by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) is expected receive a boost this year as more providers are set to begin operation in the country. This is even as telecommunication companies have been flayed for compromising on call quality, due to provision of data services to their customers .

Immediate past president, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN), Engr.

Sam Adeleke, said that small internet service providers that will be involved in the reselling of bandwidth from major 4G operators have also been licensed

by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and they are to start business this year.

Adeleke, who is the Chief Executive Officer, Steineng Ltd, said “There is a boom in the data business in the country

ISP which is another reason why ISP business is looking up. Today, GSM operators are focusing more on the data service which has compromised on the voice service thereby leading to poor voice quality on their networks.

VMware extols role of solution providers Tony Nwakaegho VMware, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), has extolled the role of ICT solution providers by awarding the Computer Warehouse Group Plc (CWG), the Solution Provider of the Year and Renewals Partner for the Year in the entire West East and Central Africa (WECA) at the annual VMware Channels award ceremony recently held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The award ceremony was organised by VMware, CWG’s Original Equipment Manufacturer partner, to recognise the dedication of her partners, acknowledged for outstanding achievements in sales, performance and customer satisfaction every year.

According to the company, “The VMware Channels Award is to celebrate outstanding partners and the continual investment they make in developing their skills and capacities in order to better support VMware customers.”

Speaking at the grand event held in South Africa, Head, Partner and General Business Lead, VMware, Mark Reynolds, said that the awards portrays that “VMware appreciates the critical role partners play in helping its

customers move to the cloud, embrace the software-defined Data centre and plot their path to the hybrid cloud.”

CWG received the recognition alongside 16 other prominent peers across the continent. These include foremost global technology outfits IBM, Royalty OEM Partner of the Year (WECA); HP, as Royalty OEM Partner of the Year (South Africa), Dell as the highest Revenue contributor of the year (South Africa), Ubuntu as the outstanding OEM reseller (South Africa) amongst others.

CWG however is the only IT firm from Nigeria that was recognized.

The Daily Times gathered that the awards add to CWG’s repertoire of recognition for stellar performances over the years as the company was recently named a Global Growth Company by the World Economic Forum; recognized as the Best Absolute Achievement Award in P & MEA; the ICT Solutions Provider of the year, ICT Company of the year, by national and international key industry players and observers while CEO of the company was recently named ICT Personality of the year.

Reynolds

Their compressor ratio on the voice platform is low.”

He explained that there is need for ISPs to expand their scope in view of competition with Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) providers that also provide internet services.

He described the policy of encouraging internet penetration through government subsidy as counterproductive.

On his part, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said that granting multiple operational licenses to operators to provide metro and national fibre infrastructure does not guarantee investment in that regard, but implementation of well-articulated policies that will encourage operators to invest their money.

Obama wants America’s internet services to go faster While Google, AT&T, and Comcast look to expand blazingfast gigabit Internet access across the U.S., the president has some plans of his own toward that end.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday will announce a set of initiatives for bringing affordable high-speed Internet to more people in the country, a White House official said on background yesterday. Some of the points could well make it into the president’s State of the Union Address later this month, the person said.

And the new ideas could be coming at a good time. AT&T said in November that it would hold off on a wide deployment of gigabit until net neutrality issues are resolved.

President Barack Obama

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 13, 2015

35 Global business John Kerry calls for stronger Indo-US economic ties

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) member states

Thailand to host next round of RCEP parley in February RCEP, a grouping of 16 nations, including India, China and Australia, will meet next month in Thailand to resolve issues for concluding a mega trade deal covering various sectors.

In the sixth round of talks, which concluded in India last month, the country had asked RCEP members to focus on value addition in services, besides working towards improving investment climate to spur trade and boost regional growth.

The 16 economies of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership account for over a quarter of the world economy.

The RCEP negotiations were

launched in Phnom Penh in November 2012.

“The seventh round will happen in Thailand during the second week of next month,” an official said.

The members have to resolve issues related both to the goods and services sector, he said.

The mega trade deal aims to cover goods and services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property.

India’s interests mainly lie in the services sector. It is pressing for parallel negotiations in goods and services to ensure that the proposed agreement

benefits all nations.

India is pressing for services agreement as the sector contributes over 50 per cent to the country’s economic growth. Indian IT companies have strong presence across the globe The 16-member RCEP comprises 10 Asean members and its six Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners - India, China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

RCEP is viewed as a very important institutional process that could lead to a plurilateral agreement which will have significant consequences for its partners.

Australia hopeful of securing FTA with India in 2015

Andrew Robb

Australia is hopeful of securing a high-quality free trade agreement with India this year, trade minister Andrew Robb has said, even as he blamed “bureaucratic hindrance” for the low trade with India as compared to China.

Robb, who is leading the largest-ever business delegation to India for an eight-day long mission from January 9-16, said

that trade ties with India, standing at 15.2 billion Australian dollars, have been a fraction of what it could be as compared to China.

“The high level of bureaucratic hindrance in many ways is the reason why our two-way trade with India is 10 times shy of the two-way trade with China,” Robb was quoted as saying by the ABC news.

Showering praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US Secretary of State John Kerry has called for greater Indo-US economic ties and said initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ can be turned into a win-win situation for the “planet as a whole”.

“The moment has never been more right to tap the incredible possibilities between India and the US,” he said here at the 7th Vibrant Gujarat Summit, adding that the economic partnership is already getting stronger by the day.

Lauding various initiatives announced by Modi, he said, “I was very taken during PM Modi’s campaign ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, participation of all for development of all. That sounds like a pretty good slogan for all of us to adopt, and if we adopt it we can get the job done.”

“We will turn Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative a win-win opportunity for the planet as a whole,” he said.

Annual trade between goods and services between US and India has grown nearly five-fold since 2000. Bilateral FDI now stands at nearly $30 billion, he said. “...I want to ensure that our economic relationship grows stronger in every respect. We share PM Modi’s goal of increasing our countries annual trade five-fold in years ahead and we want to expand our commercial ties ...we can take this relationship to the new heights that we envision,” he said.

India and the US have a common responsibility, together with other country partners, to prove that democracies can deliver for their citizens, he said.

Flagging concerns over climate change, Kerry said it was affecting crop production, economy and raising cost of doing business.

“...believe me if it continues down the current trend line we will see climate refugees, fighting each other for water and seeking food and new opportunities,” he said.

Stressing sustained energy policy to fight climate change, he said India government has now committed to greatly expanding wind resources, make agricultural systems more resilient and increase its national solar mission five-fold.

“Together we can create an environment where all companies play a leading role in bringing cutting edge technology, equipment and capital know-how not just to India, but countless countries that need this growth and development,” he said.

Talking about changing political and economic situation in India, Kerry referred to Modi’s journey “from a young man who sold tea right by the rail road here in Gujarat to the PM’s residence on the Race course Road”. “...we join with you celebrating extraordinary new chapter of India that is being written today,” he said.

John Kerry

Petrobras gives leniency terms to contractors Brazil’s Petrobras has asked contractors implicated in a kickback scheme with the state-run oil company to admit guilt and pay damages in return for lifting a ban on bidding for future contracts, Estado de S.Paulo reported on Saturday.

The move is the latest example of how Petroleo Brasileiro, as the firm is formally known, and the Brazilian government

are trying to stop the corruption scandal from paralyzing major projects in the country and weighing on the economy.

The terms were laid out in an email sent on Dec. 29 by Petrobras to all 23 engineering and construction companies blacklisted by the oil major due to alleged participation in the bribery scheme, the Brazilian daily said.

Abdullah al-Thani said his whenister they were called governespecially mentgovernment now found that for someneeded reathe lifting of an arms embargo son government couldn’t pay, you to combat militias defying its auremember the ASSU problem, it thority. took years to resolve. Government “The international commuhas not to what people nityresponded must co-operate with Libya wanttofrom them is what is put an end that to extremism and causing these pockets of resentterrorism and help government mentinstitutions, whether it is JUSUN, namely the ASSU, army, by NMA, and the elsewhere.

The federal lifting arms embargo,” Thani

Law

said at his headquarters in the eastern city of Al-Baida.

The UN Security Council imposed the arms embargo at the

recognised by the international pecially pre-election matters community , and the from electedtheir parthat may emanate liament in the states.

Dohave you been sharebased this view? remote east since an Islamist-led It is not an impossible proposicoalition seized Tripoli last Aution.

I don’t know but, knowing gust. how desperate our politicians are, The coalition, known as Fajr it is very good idea that you have Libya (Libya Dawn) also holds raised is not an impossible third so; cityitMisrata.

It launched a proposition. bloody offensive last December to Asidecontrol the issue ofoilstrike,there seize of key terminals

Features

but was repelled by the army.

Islamists, led by the UN-blacklisted Ansar al-Sharia, also control parts of second city Benghazi Daily Times Nigeria

of debauchery

“ButNJC in Libya, the government the making a mistake beand armed forces are battling cause the NJC is wrong to simply ÏÏÏAn Egyptian court on Monthese groups appoint thealone, mostwithout seniorany judge. day acquitted 26 men accused of support from the international Okocha is the most senior judge “debauchery” after they were community,” he said. because Agumagu had gone toarrested in a night-time raid “We are afraid that the groups the customary court of appeal so that are in Syria and Iraq will on a Cairo bathhouse that trigtherefore Okocha is the most seinfiltrate Libya if they [coalition gered international concern. nior judge but in around respect of The men were arrested on forces] tighten theonly noose appointing him, if you want toDecember 7, 2014, in the raid in them there,” Thani said.

Azbakeya district of Cairo, CONTINUED ON PAGE In November, last year, the 19 theAgbakoba Security Council blacklisted amid fears of a widening police crackdown on homosexuals in Daily Times Nigeriaits ties to alAnsar al-Sharia for 30 Tuesday, January 13, 2015 Qaeda at the request of Britain, Egypt.

The raid was controversially France and the United States. filmed by a female television journalist who, days later, aired

News

Business

its footage on a weekly prog on pro-regime channel Al-Qah “Allahu Akba est],” the defe when the ve nounced, an AF reported from th “Finally, an issued a verdic this kind accor Ahmed Hossam fending 14 of t AFP.

‘Blame FCT landlords25 Villagers set Money s CBN’s N220b executive, gripped by for showdown MSME fund Inside Abuja with CBN’s Mugabe’s legislature fors post-election to N220b continues MSME fund Villagers set for showdown with Mugabe’s wife fears wife elude OPS P25 P30 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 indolence’ P18 continues system that nobody is ready do elude If he hasn’tOPS done that, then it’s not P12toto

‘Blame executive, legislature for indolence’ Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Short news

Industry

LCCI convenes Lagos guber aspirants’ parley

ÏÏÏ FCT landlords gripped by TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.22 Price: N150 post-election www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR fears https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts dailytimesng Idu Jude Abuja

Charles Anosike

ÏÏÏAs a result of the large volume of residents who travelled out of the Federal Capital Territory for the Christmas and new year holidays, landlords in the area are apprehensive that many of the travellers may not return until after the elections next month. Many residents had said they would relocate temporarily over fear of being caught in the crossfire of possible postelection violence as happened in 2011.

It would be recalled that some lives were lost and properties destroyed in some parts of the country in violent protests over the outcome of the last general election. Some of the victims of the violence were youth corps members.

Some residents also noted that Federal Government has not fulfilled its promise to compensate

constant barrage of economic growth narrative continues to deepen fragmentation of our thoughts, producing unseeing leadership that thrives on mindless action. The level of mindlessness is unbecoming in the face of constant conflict being perpetuated by separateness of our thoughts. A system experiences tragedy of the commons when selfinterest drives economic growth. The dilemma facing the commons needs appropriate recognition to enable behavioral change for improved psychology of economic growth. We must fight the old mindset of bigger is better and tap into a deeper level of our humanity to improve our ability to sense and actualize our future possibilities.

are showing aparthy towards the 2015 election and apprehension is mounting over their security.

In findings across Abuja suburbs by Daily Times, landlords already have started counting their losses as some fleeing families have not renewed their rents.

Alhaji Idris Amodu Muktar in Nyanya, one of Abuja satellite towns, said the situation gave cause for concern. “ I am tired of the whole thing, people now flee at the mention of elections in Nigeria. The question is, who is going to vote then. My property is vacant now because three families have sent massages that they are not coming back untill the election is over in February. What this

in the northern parts of the country, some of whom are Southerners and Christians. “Ethnicity and religious bias have made leadership in this country extremely difficult. And those who are in business are at the receiving end even though we businessmen do not care about ethnicity or religoin, the language we hear is money. We travel to the East to buy and sell in the North. Also as a property owner, ethnicity is not concidered here what is considered is affordability, that is all. The whole thing is affecting business and many landlords in Abuja and its surroundings are currently experiencing the same thing”.

In the same vein, business

finds it objectionable. Now, if the President does not veto, it means he has assented, so it comes back Bala Mohammed to the National Assembly to act has slowed down at Nyanya and lar Nyanya market. upon, Jikwoyi, if there no veto what neighbouring all under was According to Ozoh who hails Karu Area Council, as traders from Ebonyi State, he is not now experience patronage. surprised that part patronageof has the then dolowyou do?

It is Those trading in clothings, food reduced however. He said his items and footwears are being parents had even advised him general ineptitude you find in cautious of replenishing their to relocate temporarily with his the

the Preside his job because I would ask the good enough. But, then, what is start count legislature why didn’t you over- the action on the part of the Na- sends a bill f Somalia’s newly appointed to ca ride? Why didn’t he then assume ÏÏÏ tional Assembly?

They also havelawmakers is easy or prime minister named a giant 60 me assent, if 30 days had lapsed and a responsibility to take action. The son to say w cabinet of 60 people late on 26 ministers, 2 it hadn’t come back? The constitu- If they don’t, you have to blame the Preside Sunday, as he warned of the nine state mi tion I think provides for the ques- “huge them too. sign. Is the task” ahead to bring crease of five tion that you have asked. I will peace In to agreement with Agbakobaprevious what should the war-torn nation. cabi blame both of them. The presi- was a Lagos-based lawyer, m Prime Minister Omar Ab- Mr.those “From named w dent should have made a decision dirashid Robert Emukpoeruo, who enwant-ous Icabinet. will basic Ali Sharmarke, one way or the other in 30 days, dorsed ed to know how long the the fact,isyou by parliament lastbills “There after thethe president fellandahead....we failing which the legislature will month had been with President because wil th with the premier bringing have taken their own decisions, out whether theprevious Senate had writtenintoprovisions infighting, re- Somalis,” Shar according to the constitution. amid wrote bitter to the President to return pen. I don’t Lady Grace leased his of names for re-porters. double Otherwise,Institute we willurges havesynergy endlessto mitigate the bills tochoice thetaxation Senate and the sees an act bills that go nowhere. So, here is sponse of the president to such a part of the P a failure of legislative function letter.

President to on both sides, because the conHe asked: “Do you know exactly It is not indo stitution prescribes how bills are when those bills were sent to the poses, I thi generated, even from the National President, the date when they assented to Assembly to the President for as- were sent? All that is also very im- legislature d sent or veto within a specific time. portant; the number of days that C The Onitsha Chamber of Commerce has decried the inability of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) to access the Federal Government intervention fund for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

The President of the chamber,

the national economy must have received a significant boost at

Dr Tim Anosike, expressed this concern in Onitsha.

According to him, the obvious lack of interest by many banks

``The OPS is still having difficulties in accessing the Federal

to be part of the exercise is due to the fact that the three per cent CBN approved interest rate for them is too small.

Government’s N220b fund,’’ Anosike said.

MSME

He said that the problems facing the sector included the complicated procedures in accessing the fund and lack of interest of many banks in the programmme. ``The current N220 billion MSME Intervention fund by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is a laudable initiative. ``This chamber believes that if the fund could be made available for the target groups, then

Somali PM names new ca

the end of the day. ``More so, as 60 per cent of it goes to women entrepreneurs but our fears remain those of complicated said.

procedures,”

he

He, however, said the chamber had advised the CBN to guard against anything that could

truncate this laudable objective, so that the MSMEs would get the lifeline.

Anosike urged the government to ensure the success of the initiative, so that budding entrepreneurs, especially millions of women, who engage in petty trading to sustain their families, could survive.

Emefiele, CBN governor

age diversification and industrial expansion that could profound solutions to the nation’s economic problems,’’ he said.

According to Dike, a good tax

system should be targeted at consumption and not at investment. ``Whether consumptions or investments, none should be double taxed”.

He stressed the need for the nation to focus on consumption to enable government generate enough Internally Generated Revenues (IGSs) for the development of the key sectors of the economy. ``I am more worried at the illegal extortion of block industry through taxation.

He added that the development was hampering the growth

of the block making business and encouraging quackery. ``This issue of multiple taxation has chain effects, it is indirectly pushing entrepreneurs out of the business.’’

According to Dike, more wor-

FCT: Collection Of PVC At Ward Level To End January 31 – INEC

The success of what leaders do depends on the quality of their inner place, the source from where we operate. Otto Scharmer in his Theory U book stated that the quality of results produced by any system depends on the state of awareness from which people in the system operate. The formula for a successful change process is not “form follows function,” but “form follows consciousness.” The structure of awareness and attention determines the pathway along which a situation unfolds. A lack of collective understanding of a complex system reduces the cognitive ability to apply systemic thinking in resolving stakeholder issues. Arising from the inadequacies are behaviors that push the entire system to the verge of chaos.

The multilevel challenges of stakeholders and the concept of sustainability stemmed from industrialization and its impact on social and environmental issues. Hence, sustainability is the ability to develop a system that flourishes

into the future. Sustainability provides a holistic perspective for addressing a new ethics that takes into account the depleting natural resources as to protect the rights of future generation. What is clear is that regardless of the ethical approach employed, ethics of sustainability creates a new relationship between the present generation, the planet, and the future generation. “Seeing into the future” is not a prediction in the statistical sense; it is simply seeing how a system is functioning and where it is headed. The quest for instant gratification continues to derail sustainable use of the planet. The organizing principles that underpins sustainability leadership is connectedness of the whole. To be healthy is to be whole. Our wholeness extends to our social nature, which is why our relationships truly matter for our well being, personally and organizationally.

The lack of systemic mindset in evaluating sustainability progress remains a hindrance in achieving sustainable transforma-

Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏ The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the weekend, said it had taken the collection of Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to ward level as part of its effort to ensure easy collection by registered voters.

It, however, said that the PVC collection, which before now had been at the area council level, would come to an end January 31, 2015 at the new designated

stocks after the Christmas sales.

Sunday Ozoh, who trades in second-hand clothings said he no longer records gains at the popu-

family till the election is over.

This is because his family lost

points.

The Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity in the office, Okezie Nwankwo, who made the disclosure at a public presentation of the Youth Observatory Report on PVC Collection organised by Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), said the collection commenced January 9, 2015, from 9am to 5pm each day.

Nwankwo, who acknowledged that some were yet to collect their PVC, stressed that the commission was intensifying its effort

towards ensuring that every registered voter gets his or her card.

“In fact, with regard to the FCT for example, AMAC, where there has been little challenge of low turnout of collection, the commission has moved from its previous policy of people collecting their Permanent Voter’s Card at area council level and we have moved into the field.

“Now, people have to go to their ward collection centres

tion of our society. Despite this deficiency, rapid depletion of our natural resources continues as the host communities suffer.

The economic indicators focus on growth to project prosperity; this approach in general may not provide the accurate assessment of social and environmental issues needed to address our current realities. The essence of leadership for sustainability is foresight.

To see the unforeseeable and to know the unknowable is the mark of a leader. Sustainability perception remains fragmented for obvious reasons of economic gains as the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow; environmental menace is destroying communities, while businesses and government continue to project economic accumulation . To achieve transformation in today’s constant conflict environment leaders must attend to the deeper cultural dysfunctions from which these problems emanate. These dysfunctions are very hard to see, and we almost never address them directly.

Continued on page 26

Dike

The President of Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria (CITN), Mr Anthony Dike, has called for synergy between tax institutes and government agencies to combat the incidence of double taxation in the country.

Making the call in Lagos, the CITN president said that the

existence of double taxation was retarding rapid industrial growth in the region. ``Especially now that the country’s benchmark of crude oil is dwindling, we should encourage diversification and industrial growth. ``Multiple taxes will discour-

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has concluded plans to interact with the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode and Mr. Jimi Agbaje respectively, on the agenda for the Private Sector, post-2015 elections.

According to a statement by LCCI, the event, which comes up on Friday January 23, at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Alausa, Ikeja is a forum designed to allow the candidates to articulate their agenda for private sector development in Lagos State, considering the fact that it is the commercial and industrial nerve centre of the nation, wherein is located the preponderance of businesses operating in Nigeria.

The Chamber had organised similar forums in 2007 for all parties’ governorship candidates and in 2011 for the two leading parties, in Lagos State.

According to the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello, the state of the economy should be of paramount importance to anybody who aspires to political office not only in Lagos but in all states as well as the presidency of the nation, and it is the private sector that is in the best position to influence the direction of the economy; “hence the need for the organised private sector to interact publicly with the candidates before the elections.”

risome is that some of the officers who go about collecting

Unseeing leadership: A threat to sustainability David Mark, Senate President

Jega

ÎÎÎThe

to the create space for a withZimbabwe Obama and immigration Over 200 families, who were game reform; hepark hadproposed a bill for by theGrace.Poimmievicted from a farm in the north lice officers members of Zimof the capital Harare to make way gration reformand before Congress. babwe’s secret service turned up for First Lady Grace Mugabe’s Now, the Congress has blocked it. at the farm, forcing the residents private wildlife sanctuary, are set One Republican spoke for about to leave without notice. to know their fate on Monday. 78 hours.

So, Obama has learnt This happened despite the fact According to a News Day rehis lesson. What can members port, the case was set to be sealed that the families were granted of the National Assembly do to at the High Court where Justice a court order last year preventoverride the president’s non-obErica Ndewere was expected to ing the authorities from evicting jection, it’s, their indeed, true- where that themiffrom homes make a ruling on the matter.

Grace already owns an orphanthere’s such a huge number bills Last armed those who lost theirweek, properties heavily means is that they will not be poat that time and are sceptical of paying their rents since they are age, a school and a farm until yet to be assented to by Mr. Presigovernment’s vow to ensure that staying away for more than than three 200 lice officers evicted more post-election violence does not months”. they been allocated dent?

Thehad president himself alternahas a recur.families from aAccording Muktar, farmto Alhaji in eastern Perharps, it is due to these many Nigerians are now living tive land. failed promises that many people in fear especially those residing responsibility to veto a bill, if he

these taxes do not have a permanent office.

He, however, urged the Federal Government to continue to work hard to arrest the anomaly to improve the country’s investment climate. ``No nation or government, that wishes to bring development to its people and become a respected voice in the international community, will ignore these critical issues,’’ said the CITN boss.

Bello

Continued on page 26

New leadership mindset is needed to cultivate mindfulness that challenges continually leaders’ views and enhances their ability to suspend underlying assumptions and embrace multiple points of view in the service of building shared understanding and commitment. As Peter Senge stated “To become a leader, first become a human being” The importance of leadership skills cannot be overstated, the skill set of a leader undergird the connectedness of the whole as competing values of multiple stakeholders increasingly becomes the norm through which leadership emerges. Leaders are faced with multiple interdependent stakeholders with diverse needs. As such adequate effort to balance the general concerns of all stakeholders is crucial for sustainability success.

The leader-follower relationship is a dynamic one; an effective leader promotes a sense of community needed to strengthen behavior and authenticity toward achieving transformation. It is no longer

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. www.dailytimes.com.ng email: www.dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08169118913, 08075038528

an accepted principle to focus on economic indicators as wealth generation.

This approach is faulty as it ignores the essential elements of social and environmental issues needed to address current realities. Hence, the way and manner a leader steers change direct follower’s response to change. We have come to the conclusion that it is not tools and practices that bring about real change but the quality of awareness and commitment of the people that inspire and bring about change. The effectiveness of an intervention is determined by the interior quality of the intervener.

The presence (quality of attention and intention) that a leader brings to the table determines the leaders’ action. Evaluate yourself awareness, strengthen your resolve and wisdom through your crucibles to become an extraordinary leader.

Anosike is a Doctor of Business Administration-Leadership, Human Development and a Leadership Consultant.

Life&

TIMES Tuesday January 13, 2015

How Tunde Braimoh plans to edge out opposition

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P

Julius Agwu ‘How I flew my barber from Lagos to Port-Harcourt for my wedding’ PL3

Ayiri’s cloned lifestyle

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Society L2

BolaSuji Yussuf Ayinla’s albatross For some time now, rumours has it that the Lagos Lawmaker and a House of Reps contender, Hon. Bolasuji Yussuf Ayinla’s state of health.

Daily Times learnt that the reason why he went to the United Kingdom after his gallant battle at the just concluded All Progressive Congress (APC) primaries, was because he was not enjoying the best of health.

Some sources hinted that he may have suffered a partial stroke. However, BYA is back in the country and that his physician has put a close tab on him.

Controversy Trails Dapo Abiodun’s N7 billion jet It is no longer news that Dapo Abiodun, an oil baron cum politician took delivery of a new brand Bombardier private jet in September last year.

Recent gist has it that the jet allgedly belongs to the Executive governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun.

According to those in the know, the aircraft, laced with the latest flight facilities, is one of the most luxurious in the world, and has been used for Governor Amosun’s foreign trips over the years.

Prior to that, inside sources divulged that Dapo is allegedly just a caretaker of the jet.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday January 13, 2015

A

yiri’s

Isaac Oguntoye

Ayiri Emami, a.k.a Warri Billionaire, is one of the big boys in town.

And if the gist making the rounds is anything to go by, it means nobody seems to know exactly what he does for a living.

Whenever you come across him even on social media, his focus is usually to showoff his cars, houses and acquisitions a lifestyle most people find appalling.

Another thing about Ayiri is that he is always around top entertainers, in fact, he’s mostly referred to as Tuface’s friend.

Again, one thing that gets us wondering about Ayiri is the false impression he sends out to people.

If you recall, immediately

many controversies

after the final stage of the just concluded reality TV show, Big Brother Africa Hotshot, won

by Tanzania’s housemate Idris came to an end, there were reports that Ayiri threw a welcome party for Nigeria’s rep., Tayo, and also gave him $350, 000 to compensate for his loss in the Big Brother Hotshots competition.

However, Tayo later came out to deny not receiving any money from Ayiri.

Later, a photo of Ayiri and Oritse Femi was spotted online after Oritsefemi’s car accident, and what we heard was that Ayiri had replaced Oritsefemi’s crashed car with a new White Range Rover Evoque. But alas, we later found out that it was Oritsefemi’s management, Avatar Records that actually bought him the car.

Traditional Ruler in wife battery mess In Nigeria and other countries where women and girls go through different forms of domestic violence, a traditional ruler who controls a suburb of the state of excellence, we scooped, battered his wife to a state of coma on New Year’s day.

His jurisdiction, we learnt, is on the way to Abeokuta, Ogun

State from the Ipaja end of Lagos.

We learnt that in the process of inflicting wickedness on the wife, the Baale stabbed his wife which led her to bleed uncontrollably.

According to an eyewitness account, the woman later slumped and went into coma.

Way above many of his colleagues with whom they served as Lagos State local government chairmen between 1999 and 2003, Barr. Tunde Braimoh has maintained his status both in the political and social circle.

Fondly called Big Daddy due to his intimidating looks, the former Chairman of Kosofe Local Government who is currently vying for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly for Agboyi-Ketu, has been sending jitters down the camp of other party contestants. Outstandingly stylish in his dressing, Barr.

Braimoh is an APC Chieftain and society buff that controls a wide grassroot support due to his charitable nature.

Although many view his ambition for a seat in the House of Assembly as too low for his status however, according to him, it matters less which position he has been chosen by his party to serve.

Speaking he said; “this is the capacity my Party wanted me to contest for so why should I object? Politics is about service. It doesn’t matter if it is as a Governor , Senator or House of Representative”.

Big Daddy, Tunde Braimoh’s intimidating edge

Braimoh

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday January 13, 2015

Going gray: A sign of stroke While some see gray hair as a thing of joy, others see it as a reminder that they’re getting old.

However, some people grow gray hair as early as their teens. When graying begins usually is determined by genes, so if your mother or father became gray early, you may too. If you are one of those people who don’t find gray hair distinguished, you can easily cover your gray with one of the many different hair dyes available.

However, do you know gray hair can be a warnign sign for stroke?

The main cause of grey hair is a lack of the essential nutrients, especially vitamin A and B group vitamins, along with the minerals copper, iron and zinc. Copper in particular is not only necessary for hair pigmentation, it is needed by the body to maintain the health of the artery walls and without it you end up with what’s known as elastic fibre breakdown.

When this occurs the arterial walls become weak, eventually causing an aneurism (the ballooning of an artery or blood vessel). This is a life threatening condition as it can burst, resulting in either severe stroke or death.

A good case in point is Albert Einstein. If you ever saw pictures of him in his later years you would instantly recognise his bright silver grey hair.

Opeoluwani Akintayo

Julius Agwu Me, my low cut

The Work of the Weavers

CROSSWORD

L3 Hair-ways

At a first contact, Julius will definitely strike you as a compete clown. This goes to buttress why he’s into the laughter business.

Although he might have been one of the successful Nigerian comedians, when it comes to his comedy-like music, he hasn’t really won many fans to himself. In all, he’s a goal getter, he always has the right set of jokes at the right time and he’s an excellent fashion personality.

Julius Agwu is our celebrity guest on today’s Hair Ways. Read On Have you ever added relaxer to your hair?

Yeah. Ah ah, you no know me? In those early days, I used to blow my hair. When I released mu first album in 2001\2002, I had my hair curled. I still had the curls up till the time I used to anchor ‘Laugh Line’ on NTA Channel 10. How old were you then?

Has your scalp ever got burnt by those relaxers you applied?

Yes nah. But na dos ones wey dem dey do under the bridge o.

So why did you decide to go on a low cut?

I decided to cut my hair because I don’t believe in looking haggard. As an artiste, one must look clean because it’s a show business, the fans will expect one to look nice and presentable for the business to keep moving.

Were there times you’d thought of putting your hair into weaves?

No. I’ve always loved to dress to kill so, the only thing I’ve ever thought about is how to wear good clothes.

Check out my clothes don’t

you admire me? Weaving my hair will make me look out of place. For now, l like my hair low.

Can you colour your hair then?

Yes. I can do that for a good purpose. For instance if have a very important role to play in a particular event, I ‘ll gladly color my hair because I know it has to do with my profession. But anything outside putting up a performance, I can’t.

Some men can barb their hair themselves. Do you barb yourself or do you have a barber?

I didn’t learn the trade of barbing so I can’t barb my hair myself. Yes, I get one barber. His name is Abbey, he’s a local barber.

How did you meet him?

I met him where I used to live at Falolu in Surulere.

He’s been my barber for a while now I and I’m used to him barbing my hair. I like how he handles my hair that during my wedding, I had to fly him from Lagos to Port Harcourt before I could have a hair cut. I’m so used to him that I usually find it difficult to barb my hair any time I travel away from Lagos. So I always wait until I get back to have my hair cut. Now that I’ve moved to Lekki, anytime I can’t go to Surulere, he‘ll have to come down to Lekki to barb my hair. People have asked me to change him but I’m just addicted to him.

Can you shave your hair for any reason?

I can if I have an accident that affects my head and I’m under compulsion to barb it. Okay, I can barb it to perform a role too. But anything aside that, I can’t. Can you imagine me with a skin cut? I can’t even imagine it myself.

Television L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday January 13, 2015

Showing on

Showing on

TINSEL Laide plays on Amaka’s insecurities as she schemes her way towards Reel Syudios. Chuks begins to wonder what Ibuzo is hiding from him. Brenda gets a surprise visitor at the office.

101 M-Net

01:30 Feast 02:30 The Real Housewives Of Atlanta 03:30 Dark Skies 05:05 Caught On Camera 06:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 07:00 Got To Dance 08:00 Mom 08:30 Mind Games 09:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:30 Gravity 12:30 About A Boy 13:00 Got To Dance 14:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:00 Wipeout (USA) 16:00 Andre Rieu: Love In Venice 17:00 The Lottery 18:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 2 Broke Girls 19:30 Got To Dance 20:30 The Lottery 21:30 Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga...

22:30 Perception

253 AIT 00:00 AIT Midnight News 00:30 Movie: 02:00 Da New Live Beats 02:30 Sports Today 03:00 Focus Nigeria 04:00 What Life Took From Me 05:00 Oremus 06:00 Kaakaki 09:00 Golden Footprints 09:30 Studio 10:00 Focus Nigeria 11:00 The Money Show 12:00 AIT Reports 13:00 Sports Extra 13:30 Echoes 14:00 Inside The Parliament 15:00 Matters Arising 15:30 Policy On Track 16:00 World News

05:00

AURORA

Tues, 13 Jan| PG 13

128 SONY MAX

00:00 Cheaters 00:15 Unbeatable Banzuke 00:40 Unbeatable Banzuke 01:05 LFL USA 2013 02:05 Universal Soldier 03:40 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

04:30 Unbeatable Banzuke 05:00 The Young Vagabond 06:25 Cheaters 07:15 World’s Most Amazing Videos 08:00 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

08:55 I Bet You Will 09:20 Killer Karaoke 10:15 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

11:05 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

12:00 Cheaters 12:55 World’s Most Amazing Videos 13:45 World’s Wildest Police Videos 14:45 Max Knight: Ultra Spy 16:10 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

17:05 World’s Most Amazing Videos 18:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 19:00 Killer Karaoke 20:00 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 20:30 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 21:00 Rude Tube 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Kenny vs Spenny 22:30 World’s Most Amazing Videos 16:30 Nickelodeon 17:30 Oil And Gas Forum 18:00 Shakatawa 18:30 One Mic 19:00 Allison’s Stand 19:30 This Life 20:00 AIT News Hour 21:00 Prime 21:30 MTV Base 22:00 What Life Took From Me

11:55 Mr. Bean 12:25 Top Gear 13:15 Come Dine With Me 14:10 Total Wipeout UK 15:10 The Weakest Link 16:00 EastEnders 16:30 Deal or No Deal 17:10 The Cube 18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire?

19:00 Rev. 19:35 QI 20:05 Would I Lie To You? 20:40 The Michael McIntyre Chat Show 21:35 Miranda 22:10 Live At The Apollo

254 Channels TV 00:00 News Track 00:30 Movie 02:00 Sunrise Daily 04:00 News Track 04:30 Diplomatic Channel 05:00 News Track 05:30 Roadmap 06:00 News Track 06:30 Turning Point 07:00 Sunrise Daily 09:00 News Track 09:30 Sports This Morning 10:00 Business Morning 11:00 News Track 11:30 View From The Top 12:00 News Track 12:30 Africa Journal 13:00 News Track

Tues,13, Jan.|13V

Aurora turns Lorenzo way because she feels guilty. Vanessa is devastated over Vicky’s death but Catalina reminds her she must avenge Vicky Casts: Sonya Smith, Lisette Morelos, Sara Maldonado.(2010)

120 BBC Entertainment 00:00 Total Wipeout UK 00:43 Top Gear 01:32 Doctor Who 02:22 Come Dine With Me 03:12 EastEnders 03:42 The Weakest Link 04:30 Top Gear 05:20 QI 05:55 Would I Lie To You? 06:25 EastEnders 06:55 Doctor Who 07:55 Weakest Link 08:40 The Cube 09:30 Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire?

10:15 Deal or No Deal 10:55 My Family

02:30

13:30 Channels Discovery 14:00 News Track 14:30 Health News 15:00 News Track 15:30 Channels Book Club 16:00 News Track 16:30 Kwara Documentary 17:00 News Track 17:30 The World Today 18:00 Sports News 18:30 Diplomatic Channel 19:00 News Track 19:30 NAFDAC & Your Health 20:00 News Track 20:30 Bank Of Industry Impact 21:00 Sports Tonight 22:00 News @ Ten

252 Silverbird TV

00:00 Boomtown 00:30 Close Up 01:00 Music Africa 02:00 Boomtown 02:30 STV Sports Café 03:00 Local Movie 05:00 Gospel Rhythms 05:30 Dig Your Well 06:00 Symphony 06:30 Insights For Living 07:00 STV AM News 07:30 Today On Stv 09:30 De Market Place 10:30 STV Sports Café 11:00 Ladies Love Gisting 11:30 Nowhere To Be Found 12:05 Music Africa 14:05 Tales Of Eve 14:30 Footprints 15:00 Excite On TV 15:30 Brights 16:05 Nickelodeon 17:00 The Benjamins 17:30 Video Wheels Lifestyle 18:02 MTV Base 19:00 STV News @ 7 19:30 Taste of Love 20:00 Pepsi Chart Show 20:30 The Dragons 21:00 Boom Town 21:30 Omotola: The Real Me 22:00 STV News @ 10

XT Exclusive

4

EXTRATIME

Playing Cote d’Ivoire’ll boost Eagles, says

EXTRATIME

Poster!

ASISAT OSHOALA

KWAMBE

NO

Asisat Lamina

X4,5 OSHOALA

X3

E K A M S R U SP R E F F O £8M FOR

Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number: Youth career: Honours:

Asisat Lamina Oshoala October 9, 1994 (age 20) Ikorodu, Nigeria 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Forward Rivers Angels (2013—till date) 34 FC Robo (2009–2013) Rivers Angels (2011–till date) African Women’s Championship Winner: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Runner-up: 2014 African Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2014 African Women’s Youth Player of the Year: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: 2014

It’s my second time having a handshake with the President and I am really happy about it because there are a lot of Nigerians out there wishing to just see him not to talk of handshake with him. Having this second opportunity to shake hands with him, I am really happy about it and I know it is the grace of God at work in my life. For me it’s a dream come true. I dedicate the award to God Almighty Allah who has kept and been with me ever since I started playing football up to this moment. I also dedicate the award to my parents and my family who are always praying for me. I also thank my team mates especially the U-20 girls who enabled me to score those goals that gave me the award, not forgetting team mates in Super Falcons and my previous and present team FC Robo and Rivers Angels. I also thank my coaches who have trained me and made me what I am right now. To my fans and every one I say thank you.”—Asisat Oshoala speaking soon after she received her Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award from President Goodluck Jonathan.

MESSI slams transfer ‘lies’

X2

EMENIKE

SALGADO: It’s tough for goalkeepers to win Ballon d’Or

BURKE breaks collarbone in crash

X6

X7

X8

X2

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

Nigerian players abroad

Spurs make £8m offer for

English Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur have tabled an £8m bid for Nigeria international striker, Emmanuel Emenike.

Last week, Emenike’s agent, Edem Konyar revealed that the attacker was attracting interests from a host of clubs including Tottenham, AC Milan and Fiorentina.

Emenike has been previously linked with a move to the Premier League with Liverpool and Chelsea mentioned among his suitors.

The 27-year-old spent two successful seasons at Russian club, Spartak Moscow from 2011 to 2013, where he scored 24 goals in all competitions.

Despite interest coming from the Premier League, he returned to Fenerbahce but since has failed to hit form due to a number of injuries that has seen him lose his place in the Yellow Canaries’ first team.

The Express further reports that with Spurs making an official bid for the striker, a deal bringing the powerful Nigerian to White Hart Lane could be announced as early as this week.

Emenike has scored 14 goals in all competitions since joining Fenerbahce in 2013.

EMENIKE Emenike

MOSES returns from injury layoff

N

igerian winger, Victor Moses has made a return from injury.

The 21-year-old Chelsea man, currently on loan to Stoke City has not played since he picked up a thigh muscle strain on November 23, 2014.

Moses was an unused substitute as the Potters suffered a 0-3 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Stoke City manager, Mark Hughes said the former Wigan Athletic winger

is finally over his injury demons and described his present state as ‘sharp.’

“We have Victor Moses back and he looks sharp. It’s important to have our injured players back and we look stronger than we do going into the Christmas period,” Hughes said.

The Stoke City manager then gave credit to Chelsea’s medical staff for helping return the winger to full fitness.

Hughes also stated that Moses was Stoke’s best player before he got injured last year.

“He’s come back really well and he looks okay. Credit to Chelsea in terms of the rehab they have given him.

“He’s back on track so we will be careful; we are mindful that prior to his injury, he was our best performer.

“The loss of Victor in terms of our creativity was lessened to a certain degree following the arrival of Bojan Krkic.

“I will be mindful of both of them (Moses and Bojan) mindful that they are just returning from injuries,” he said.

Aminu (right) in action

AMINU targets promotion with Turkish club

N Moses

igeria U-23 striker Umar Aminu has revealed that he is looking forward to help his new team Osmanlispor secure promotion ticket to Turkish Super league.

The former Flying Eagles star expressed his happiness over the three and a half year deal he signed with the promotion chasers.

“I am looking forward to have a nice season with Osmanlıspor, I want to

help the team secure promotion to the Super League because I intend to continue my career in a top league,” Aminu said.

“I am very happy to be part of a strong team like this. I will record success here with my teammate.”

Last year, Aminu cancelled his contract with another Turkish second division club Samsunspor after they failed to pay his wages for several months.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

SANNI

tipped for Kwara United’s top job

Kwambe

Playing Cote d’Ivoire’ll S boost Eagles, says Sanni

KWAMBE

N

igeria international Solomon Kwambe has said playing against a star-studded Cote d’Ivoire will help boost the confidence level of his teammates as they hope for a win against Sudan on January 17.

An 84th minute strike by Salomon Kalou ensured the Elephants emerged victorious as they continue preparations for their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations outing in Equatorial Guinea.

Speaking from Abu Dhabi venue of

the friendly, Kwambe revealed that his team did very well despite their defeat and also claimed that playing against Yaya Toure and his foreign legion will help boost their composure.

“We did very well but we lost,” Kwambe said. “I never felt jittery playing against the Ivorian big boys because I have been playing series of Grade A friendlies going into that encounter.

“We learnt a lot from the defeat but the high point is that playing against the foreign-based Elephants will not only

boost our confidence but also rub-on positively on our career.”

Commenting on the game against the Falcons of Jediane billed for Saturday, the former Sunshine Stars’ defender is looking forward to a better outing.

“They are not bigger than us and we are hoping to give our best. We are looking forward to that game and we are eager to go.

“It is a game of eleven players each and we hope to improve on our last game against Cote d’Ivoire to come out victorious,” he concluded.

to float football NIGER academy Saka Bolaji Minna

T

he Niger State Government is set to float a football academy to absorb scores of talented youths that have been discovered in the 25 local government areas of the state.

The academy which will be run by both the Ministry of Education and the Sports Council will be sited near the Minna Stadium that is under construction.

The decision to float the academy was as a result of the strings of successes re-

corded by the Ministry of Education in national and international competitions which students from schools in the state participated in.

The Commissioner for Education Alhaji Danladi Umar Abdulhamid who disclosed this to sportswriters in Minna said the Academy is part of the efforts of the administration to ‘catch them young’ and to ensure the youths combine academics with sports.

Though Abdulhamid did not state the cost of the project, he said the necessary machinery have been put in place to ensure

the academy takes off before the end of the administration of Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

He said the academy will also be for students and pupils of age between 8 and 18 years.

In the interim, the Commissioner said that students that have made the state proud in national and international competitions are soon to be presented to the Governor for recognition, apart from the financial reward of over N500,000 the athletes got for emerging victorious in the NNPC-organized competition.

trong indications have emerged that Tunde Sanni would return as the technical adviser/head coach of Kwara United, supersport.com can report.

Last week, all members of Kwara United technical crew were thrown out by the General Manager, Haruna Ilerika who revealed that the Afonja Warriors need total restructuring.

Not less than 10 coaches have now submitted their applications to the management of the Ilorinbased club who just returned to the Nigeria’s top flight.

It has been a tradition at Kwara

United that a coach would only be given a one-year contract in which such a coach could re-apply after the expiration of his one-year engagement.

A top source revealed that Sanni, who was at the helm of Kwara United three seasons ago, is now highly favoured to return as the technical adviser pending final endorsement from the government house.

“We have discovered that the club treated Tunde Sanni badly when he was at the helm, and we have decided to give him back the job.

AFCON 2015:

Injury-hit South Africa calls up Gcaba

S

outh Africa have called up Ayanda Gcaba to replace injured Patrick Phungwayo in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad.

A knee injury that failed to heal during a training camp in Gabon ruled out left-back Phungwayo from former African champions Orlando Pirates.

Centre-back Gcaba also plays for the Soweto-based Buccaneers and was a surprise choice given he played no part in the six-round qualifying competition.

He is an unlikely starter, however, for the first Group C match against title favourites Algeria on January 19 in eastern Equatorial Guinea town Mongomo.

Eric Mathoho seems certain to be one of the centre-backs in a 4-4-2 system with Rivaldo Coetzee and Thulani Hlatshwayo contesting the other slot.

Coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba

will probably choose Anele Ngcongca -- one of five Europe-based footballers in the squad -- and Thabo Matlaba as his full-backs.

Bafana Bafana also faces Senegal and Ghana is what is considered the toughest of the four mini-leagues with the top two finishers advancing to the knockout phase.

Gcaba

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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

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Asisat Lamina

OSHOALA

4 Tuesday, January 13, 2015

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NO

Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number: Youth career: Honours:

Asisat Lamina Oshoala October 9, 1994 (age 20) Ikorodu, Nigeria 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Forward Rivers Angels (2013—till date) 34 FC Robo (2009–2013) Rivers Angels (2011–till date) African Women’s Championship Winner: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Runner-up: 2014 African Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2014 African Women’s Youth Player of the Year: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot: 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Ball: 2014

It’s my second time having a handshake with the President and I am really happy about it because there are a lot of Nigerians out there wishing to just see him, not to talk of a handshake with him. Having this second opportunity to shake hands with him, I am really happy about it and I know it is the grace of God at work in my life.

For me it’s a dream come true. I dedicate the award to God Almighty Allah who has kept and been with me ever since I started playing football up to this moment. I also dedicate the award to my parents and my family who are always praying for me. I also thank my team mates especially the U-20 girls who enabled me to score those goals that gave me the award, not forgetting team mates in Super Falcons and my previous and present team FC Robo and Rivers Angels.

I also thank my coaches who have trained me and made me what I am right now. To my fans and every one I say thank you.”—Asisat Oshoala speaking soon after she received her Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award from President Goodluck Jonathan.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

INTERVIEW

SALGADO: It’s tough for goalkeepers to win Ballon d’Or

Former Spanish international Michel Salgado will always be a legend as far as Real Madrid fans are concerned, which is something that not every defender can say. The occupant of the right-back berth at the Santiago Bernabeu for 10 whole seasons, Salgado also represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany and UEFA EURO 2000.

In his stay with Los Merengues, the full-back won four league titles, three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Champions Leagues, a UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup. With Spain, he formed part of the side that won the 1998 UEFA European U-21 Championship.

With the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 just around the corner, FIFA.com enjoyed an exclusive interview with the ex-Real Madrid man in the Spanish capital.

Who do you think should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or this year?

It’s a very important trophy for the players, who can’t wait to find out the result. It’s going to be tight, as it always is. There are three players in the running, but I think Cristiano Ronaldo has been the best of them. He’s worked so hard over the last two years and his statistics are just incredible. I think he’s going to win the Ballon d’Or for the second year running and he deserves to do so. If I had a vote, he’s the one I’d choose.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is another of the candidates. What are his chances?

It’s tough for a keeper to win the award, but that doesn’t mean to say that he hasn’t had a great year. He’s lifted the World Cup with Germany and a lot of trophies with Bayern Munich. He’s got all the attributes you’d expect of a great goalkeeper but, like I said, it’s going to be hard for him to compete with a striker like that. It’s not going to be an easy choice for the voters to make, but whoever wins they’ll have deserved it. None of us can wait to see who’s going to get the nod this year.

As a former defender, can you see one of your colleagues making the last three again and perhaps even winning it, like Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, the last defender to pick up the award?

That’s right. No defender has won it since then. Supporters like to follow strikers and they like to see goals, which explains why defenders don’t often get rewarded for their work (laughs).

They’re aware of that and it’s something they have to live with,

Neuer

though they also know that they perform an essential if thankless

Salgado job for the team. Cannavaro won the Ballon d’Or the same year as Italy won the World Cup. There wasn’t a single forward who stood out that year and the Italians won thanks to their solid defence. Cannavaro was the captain and he really deserved the award.

Joachim Low is up for the Coach of the Year Award, along with Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone, the coaches of the two Madrid giants. Who will be named Coach of the Year?

That’s a very tough choice. Joachim Low is the Germany coach and they’ve just won the World Cup, but he doesn’t do the same day-to-day work that a club coach does. Carlo Ancelotti has done a fantastic job since he came in at Real Madrid, winning the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the European Super Cup and then rounding the year off with the Club World Cup. It’s no mean feat to win all those titles in your first season. It’s going to be a close contest between Ancelotti and Low. People are also waiting to see who will win the Puskás Award for the best goal of the year.

W h o do you think that will go to?

We saw a lot of great goals over the year, but I think the jury will go for one of the two scored in the World Cup. R o b i n v a n Persie’s goal was incredible and he knew exactly what he was going to do with the ball. James Rodriguez’s goal was every bit as good. He really hit it hard

and it won’t be easy to choose between the two.

Let’s talk a little bit about Real Madrid, who last season won the Champions League for the first time in 12 years. Can you see this team making history at the club?

It’s still too early to say. The team has what it takes to make history but this is only the start for them.

Let’s give them a little bit more time and see if they can win more trophies. They have a great coach and they showed their potential in winning the Champions League last season. We need to see how they do in the next few years before judging them.

It was a major surprise to see Spain go out in the first round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. What went wrong?

You can’t win everything in football. Winning the World Cup and two European Championships on the trot is something that won’t be easy to repeat. This is the greatest generation of players that Spanish football has ever seen. I am proud of them and I have the greatest respect for them. Nothing can go on forever, though, and they’ll have to pass the baton on sooner or later. We need to rebuild if we’re going to defend our title at EURO 2016 and if we’re going to stay competitive in the years to come. We have a very promising U-21 side that won the last European Championships and whose players are with some big clubs. We’ve also got some experienced performers who still have a lot to offer. We’ve got plenty of time left to prepare for EURO 2016 in France and to retain our title.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

EXTRATIME

Burke Murray, breaks Dimitrov collarbone to play at in crash Queen’s Club CYCLING

TENNIS

S

Murray

A

ndy Murray and defending champion Grigor Dimitrov will play in the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club from 15-21 June.

British number one Murray, who first won the event in 2009, will target a record-equalling fourth title.

World number 11 Dimitrov beat Murray in the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year.

“I’ve always had a special relationship with the Aegon Championships, from when I was given two wildcards early in my career,” the Bulgarian said.

The 23-year-old, who beat Spaniard Feliciano Lopez to win the final at Queen’s last year, added: “It is one of my favourite tournaments and winning the title last year was one of the best moments of my career so far.

“I am really happy that I will be coming back to defend my title and I look forward to playing in front of the great British crowds again.”

World number six Murray, who lost in round three to Radek Stepanek last year, is seeking to emulate John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick by winning the title four times.

“I’ve had some great moments on those grass courts,” said the 27-yearold Scot. “It’s where I won my first professional match and my first title in Britain.

“When you see the names on the trophy, it shows how difficult it is to win. The year I won Wimbledon, it came a few weeks after winning at Queen’s, and its perfect preparation.”

teven Burke, a member of Great Britain’s victorious London 2012 team pursuit quartet, has broken his collarbone in a crash at the team’s training camp in Majorca.

The 26-year-old is now a doubt for this year’s World Championships in Paris, which begin on February 18.

“I’m really disappointed, but I’ve been in the gym today,” said Burke.

“I aim to be back on the track as soon as possible so that I can resume training for the World Championships.”

Team-mate Owain Doull fell in the same incident, but the Welshman only suffered minor injuries.

G

Watson

CRICKET

Morgan

England seals easy warm-up victory

E

…WATSON eases through in Hobart event reat Britain’s Heather Watson reached the Hobart International second round with a straight-sets defeat of Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova.

The 22-year-old won 7-5 6-1 in the WTA event and will next face fifth-seeded American Sloane Stephens.

Leading players are preparing for the Australian Open later this month.

Watson, the world number 49, part-

“The accident on Sunday was unfortunate, particularly as Steve had been showing some great form of late,” said Technical Director Shane Sutton.

The pair are also in Sir Bradley Wiggins’ new team, working with the Tour de France winner ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Ed Clancy, who was also part of the team pursuit team who won Olympic gold in a world record time in 2012, is joined by Andy Tennant, Mark Christian and Jon Dibben as the other riders in Great Britain’s track endurance programme.

nered Andy Murray in a 3-0 win over Australia at the Hopman Cup on Saturday, although the GB duo missed out on a final place.

Top-seeded Australian Casey Dellacqua heads the line-up in Hobart ahead of the year’s first major, which starts on January 19.

Dellacqua. who was beaten by Watson in the Hopman Cup, defeated Della Lauren Davis of the United States 6-4 1-6 6-4 in her opening match.

Burke

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ngland beat an invitational Australian Capital Territory XI by 216 runs in Canberra, in Eoin Morgan’s first game as full-time 50-over captain.

Ian Bell, Moeen Ali, James Taylor and Joe Root all made half-centuries as England warmed up for their one-day triseries against Australia and India.

Ravi Bopara and Chris Woakes also combined late on to add 105 in 50 balls as England reached 364-6.

The home side at the Manuka Oval were dismissed for 148 in the 33rd over.

With up to 15 players per side permitted to take part, England were able to give a run-out to all the bowlers in their squad.

Spinner James Tredwell took 3-11 to rip out the middle order, while there were two wickets each for Stuart Broad and Moeen.

“We got five fifties, some good striking at the end, which is what you want to see, and everyone got a few overs under their belt, so it was a pretty good runout,” Tredwell said.

England are next in action on Wednesday at the same venue against a Prime Minister’s XI, before Friday’s tri-series opener against Australia in Sydney.

They begin their World Cup campaign against the same opponents on February 14.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

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EXTRATIME

MESSI

L Messi

slams transfer ‘lies’

ionel Messi insists he will not leave Barcelona and says any talk linking him with a move away from the club is ‘lies’.

Messi’s future with the Catalan giants has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks, with stories circulating that he is unhappy with Coach Luis Enrique’s tactical approach to the game.

Barcelona President Josep

Maria Bartomeu played down claims Messi was looking to leave last week and the player has now spoken out as well, criticising people he feels are trying to unsettle him and the club.

“I don’t demand anything for me to stay because I have no intention of leaving anywhere,” he began. “I’ve heard stories I’ve spoken to Chelsea or City, that’s all lies. I have taken

ALLEGRI rules out BALOTELLI

J

R

quickly to a new team,” he added.

Raiola also insisted that he had no regrets over Balotelli’s Milan exit.

“Decisions are judged at the time when they are made. In the summer, it was right to leave Milan and I would do it again,” he added. “Mario has gone to the best league in the world. Now he is not doing well at Liverpool for different reasons but Mario is calm and he is working to return to be in top condition.

“I do not regret this transfer and Mario’s departure from Milan.”

Balotelli

lona, from people that love the club, or say they do. It doesn’t come from Madrid like it has in the past,” he added.

“It is not good that they look for rivalry between Luis Enrique and I, because there isn’t any,” “I’ve heard so many things.

There have been things said in the past that I have bad relationships with Pep Guardiola, Samuel Eto’o, Bojan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, that’s not true.”

Martinez dismisses Eto’o, Coleman speculation

move

uventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has ruled out a move for out-of-favour Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli this month.

Italy striker Balotelli has failed to make an impact since arriving at Anfield from Milan in August.

Serie A champions Juve have been linked with a January swoop for the enigmatic striker, but Allegri denied any interest in signing a player who he knows all about from his time at Milan.

“I think this is a made-up story. Balotelli has done very well with me but he belongs to Liverpool and he is not a player that can arrive at Juventus,” he said.

Balotelli’s representative, Mino Raiola, expects the former Manchester City forward to come good for Liverpool.

“I’m not worried, Mario has been out for almost 10 weeks with an injury and you cannot judge him until he is 100 per cent fit.

“It’s not easy to go abroad and adapt

this chance to deny it so that everyone knows the truth. I am grateful to be able to give my version of events.”

Messi, speaking after playing a big part in helping them beat reigning La Liga champions Atletico Madrid 3-1, is also determined to show a united front within the playing ranks at the Nou Camp.

“It hurts me because it comes from here, from Barce-

Eto’o

oberto Martinez has dismissed talk of Samuel Eto’o and Seamus Coleman leaving Everton this month as “speculation”.

Manchester United continued to be linked with a move to Republic of Ireland defender Coleman during the January transfer window, while Eto’o is reportedly a target for Serie A club Sampdoria.

Everton manager Martinez rubbished reports that Coleman could be on his way to Old Trafford and said there have been no offers for striker Eto’o, who only joined the Merseyside club in August.

When asked about the possibility of Coleman moving on, he said at a press conference on Monday: “No, I said before that we are in a position that all that matters is to get a good momentum in the league and be as strong as we can be in the cups.

“Obviously we are not entertaining that sort of speculation of big sales, we are not going to sell our big assets that we have at the football club in the January window. All those stories or efforts, or admiration from the outside is just a waste of time really.”

Briefs

Mascherano hits out at media ´fabrications´ Javier Mascherano has branded reports questioning the relationship between Barcelona players and Luis Enrique as “complete fabrication”.

Following last Sunday’s defeat to Real Sociedad, in which Lionel Messi and Neymar were benched, claims were made in Spanish press that there had been a fall-out between the coach and his players.

Mascherano

Benitez fumes over Napoli loss Napoli coach Rafael Benitez was left infuriated after his side crashed to a 3-1 loss at home to Serie A champions Juventus on Sunday. Supercoppa Italiana champions Napoli had the chance to rise to third in the standings but instead lost against Juventus at the San Paolo for the first time since 2000 following second-half goals to Martin Caceres and Arturo Vidal.

PREMIERSHIP TABLE Team

P

GD

PTS

1. Chelsea

21

27

49

2. Man City

21

25

47

4. Man Utd

21

13

37

5. Arsenal

21

12

36

6. Tottenham

21

1

34

7. West Ham

21

7

33

8. Liverpool

21

2

32

9. Swansea

21

1

30

10. Newcastle

21

-8

27

11. Stoke

21

-5

26

12. Everton

21

-4

22

13. Aston Villa

21

-12

22

14. West Brom

21

-9

21

15. Crystal Palace

21

-9

20

16. Sunderland

21

-13

20

17. Burnley

21

-14

20

18. Hull

21

-7

19

19. QPR

21

-14

19

20. Leicester

21

-13

17