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NIGERIA

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FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.93

ABUJA

ENUGU

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B/Haram changes name to Islamic State in West Africa • Landmines force troops to withdraw from Sambisa forest Segun Adio

Group News Editor

•••

Apparently seeking wider territories, the Boko Haram sect has changed its name to the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), an indication that its sight is now set beyond Nigeria to the sub region.

The group’s action is also CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

INSIDE

NIGERIAN

Poster!

TRIO NAMED IN ENGLAND EURO TEAM

ANDRES INIESTA

g X4-5

g X3

Friday, April 24, 2015

Edo FA honours Bazuaye

‘BARCA

gX7

can deliver without

MESSI’ g

X8

WENGER tests Blues’ fire power g

X2

A Boko Haram member poses with a gun in a new video posted online by the terror group. At the background is an ISIS flag... on Thursday.

Life&

TIMES Friday, April 24, 2015

Quincy

Ayodele The herbal slimming and beauty transformer L P

2,3

Tit bits from the Nigerian Entertainment conference

Green tea: The medicinal drink

L4

P

NNPC asks govt to remove fuel subsidy

PHOTO: DAILY MAIL

Jonathan urges legislators 4 g6 to halt g constitution NLC holds parallel congresses g4 Express road to hell g17 amendment

2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Marking World Earth Day

E

very April 22, is observed as “World Earth Day”. This year was no exception. It is an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection. This year’s theme,” Let us pledge to save the Tiger, Natural Resources and Biodiversity”, is meant to highlight the threats facing the world’s forests, wildlife, wetlands and environment. This position is informed more by the mindless and rapacious manner in which the earth’s resources and environment are being depleted and destroyed.

Recent statistics show that the world’s natural habitats and forests are disintegrating due to rapid development and human presence.

It reveals increasing pollution resulting from reckless dumping and disposal of waste, including the destruction of the ecosystem and threat to aquatic and avian species. Contributing to these externalities are the destruction of natural habitats due to illegal mining, timber logging, over grazing, man-made forest fires, large-scale commercial exploitation of minor forest produce, use of chemical pesticides and negative fishing practices.

As the world’s population migrates to cities, and as the bleak reality of climate, change becomes increasingly clear, the need to create sustainable communities is more important than ever.

We call on all and sundry to see the saving of our planet as a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration, to promote harmony with nature, and the earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and

future generations of humanity.

Sadly, the issue of preserving the environment in Nigeria is always a second consideration for both government and the citizens. Incidentally, there seem to be no laws governing the exploitation of forest resources, as trees are felled indiscriminately for firewood and commerce, even as new ones are not planted in replacement. Consequently, many communities are now blighted by ravaging soil and gully erosions, while the rivers and creeks are daily being polluted by human and industrial wastes, thus destroying their aquatic life.

With increasing poverty in the land, this unconscionable destruction of the environment would continue unabated until appropriate laws are enacted to ameliorate the situation. There is a mountain of evidence that indicates our global society is now the largest force of change for earth’s major cycles and systems: the oceans, atmosphere, land, ice sheets and biodiversity.

The time to save our environment is now. This can be done through investments in sustainable technology, forward-thinking public policy, and an educated and active public willing to join in the fight against its mindless destruction.

The Earth Day still is a reminder that we cannot trash our planet and expect it and us to survive.

Our planet is in crisis due to global warming, overpopulation, and other critical environmental issues. Every person on earth shares the responsibility to do as much as he or she can to preserve the planet’s finite natural resources today and for future generations.

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Army of out-of-school children Sam Nzeh

•••One major anomaly in

Nigeria is the penchant of states of the federation abdicating their responsibilities and at the same time blaming the Federal Government for such failures.

An example is the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, which continues to elicit outrage from local and international development partners.

Only recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) named Nigeria as the country with the highest number of out-ofschool children in the world.

This conclusion by UNESCO

is not only a blight on Nigeria’s development efforts but also paints a gloomy future for children of school age in the country.

But, come to think of it, whose responsibility is it to ensure that children of school age in Nigeria are in school?

Clearly, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) assigns this responsibility to state governments and not the Federal Government. The Federal Government can only intervene where it chooses to do so like in the provision of funds and materials through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

So clearly, the blame for the growing number of outof-school children in Nigeria must be laid squarely at the door steps of state governments. Fact is that most state government in the country

Words On Marble :

dailytimesng

have failed to live up to expectation as far as ensuring that children of school age are in school. Some of these states particularly those in the north for reasons ranging from religious to cultural beliefs are lethargic when it comes to ensuring that children in their domains are in school.

Unfortunately, these states see nothing in this act of irresponsibility but are quick to make it appear as if it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to keep children of school age in school.

This irresponsibility must stop. States must prioritise education of children. Also, cultural and religious beliefs that disdain education must be dismantled and sanctions meted out to parents/guardians who refuse to send their wards to school.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

Associate Editors

Tunji Okegbola

Isime Esene Remi Ogunkoya

Chief Commercial Officer

Editorial Director

Group News Editor

Group Managing Editor

Deputy Editors

Editorial Page Editor

Noel Anosike

Doyin Awomosu

Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Chude Jideonwo Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Acting Bureau Chief, Northern Operations Lateef Ibrahim

Segun Adio Okay Osuji

Sports Editor

Andrew Ekejiuba

Head of Operations Innocent Nwankwo

Online Editor

Adetayo Adelaja

Business Editor

Buky Ojelabi

Lao Tzu

Dr. Dennis O’Grady

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

“Whenever you are on the right path, opposition comes.

You were born for such a time as this; you are ready!”

If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading

Change has a bad reputation in our society. But it isn’t all bad – not by any means. In fact, change is necessary in life – to keep us moving … to keep us growing … to keep us interested … Imagine life without change. It would be static … boring … dull

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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.

News 4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Continued from page 1 a clear move for closer affinity with the more organised terror group of the Middle East, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

It was reported on Thursday Nigerian troops which on Wednesday began ground offensive on the last stronghold of the group in the country, the Sambisa Forest, pulled back on Thursday.

The action was attributed to fears that the forest is riddled with landmines.

The terrorists have released the first images of their activities since pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the UK Daily Mail reported on Thursday.

Taken somewhere in the forests of north-eastern Nigeria, the images show the jihadists casually posing in front of the terror group’s sinister black and white flag while brandishing assault

Boko Haram changes name to Islamic State in West Africa rifles.

The slick photographs carry all the logos and artwork typically seen in official ISIS releases, suggesting the Middle East-based militants have taken full control of Boko Haram propaganda.

Earlier this year the group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, released a video saying the group had pledged allegiance to ISIS and would be dropping the name Boko Haram.

Instead they now refer to themselves as Wilayat al Sudan al Gharbi, which is commonly translated into English as the ‘West African Province’ of the Islamic State.

Since their ISIS allegiance video earlier in the year, Boko Haram has not released any offi-

cial propaganda photographs or video footage.

Typically ISIS and their affiliates release shocking images of mass executions or the brutal enforcement of Sharia law after similar periods of silence.

The fact Boko Haram have returned with little more than a series of group shots and pastoral scenes is perhaps symptomatic of the group’s rapid decline in influence over the past months.

On Thursday morning Nigerian soldiers retreated from Sambisa forest amid concerns the militants had booby-trapped the area before fleeing.

Three pro-government vigilantes were killed in the area by a landmine Thusrday morning.

A vigilante and a security

L-R: President Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association, Chief Kelvinson Okpara; Secretary, House Committee on Health Service, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bisi Olawoyin; Malaria Program Manager West & Central Africa, Mr. Leslie Emegbuonye and Phillps Pharmaceuticals Regional Coordinator, Mr. Viplove Srivastava at the 2015 World Malaria Day held in Lagos.. on Thursday PHOTO: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE

source both confirmed the pullback from the Sambisa forest, a day after an offensive aimed at rooting out the insurgents.

A spokesman for the military was not immediately available for comment.

‘The soldiers have retreated to Bama because of mines. They had been on the road but that made them vulnerable, so they moved to the bush but there are mines planted there (too),’ one soldier, who did not want to be named, revealed.

The Sambisa forest, a former colonial game reserve, is about 60 miles from the village of Chibok, from where Boko Haram abducted more than 200 secondary school girls a year ago.

‘Three of our boys were killed by a landmine as we progressed into Sambisa. We’ve suspended going farther,’ Muhammad Mungonu, a member of a pro-government vigilante, told Reuters.

Intelligence officials believed the girls kidnapped in Chibok are being held in the Sambisa forest, but U.S. reconnaissance drones have so far failed to locate them.

Boko Haram controlled an area the size of Belgium at the start of the year, but have since lost much of that ground after a concerted push by militaries from Nigeria and neighbours Chad, Niger and Cameroon in the past two months.

Yet they remain a deadly threat to civilians, as illustrated last Friday when they slit the throats of 12 people in northeast Continued on page 6

NLC holds parallel congresses Abioye Olarewaju Ilorin, Titus Akhigbe, Benin, Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

•••

In a development showing the deepening crisis in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), chapters of the body in Kwara, Edo and Osun states on Thursday held parallel congresses which produced different executives.

In Kwara state, the two congresses were supervised by their respective national leaders.

At the state Banquet Hall, opposite the Government House, Ilorin, the Aliyu Waba-led faction produced Alhaji Yekinni Kareem Agunbiade as chairman while Bamidele Okogbe emerged as the chairman of Joe Ajaero faction.

In his welcome address at the Ajaero factional conference, Comrade Issa Aremu, the General Secretary of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers’ Union, who supervised the election as the newly-elected Deputy President of the faction blamed the immediate past NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar, for the crisis in the congress.

He wondered why NLC under Omar would organise an election involving only three thousand delegates and would not be able to collate and declare results for three days.

Aremu warned workers against leaders of the congress Continued on page 6

Jonathan urges legislators to halt constitution amendment Monday Agu Jnr Abuja

•••

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, has given a word of advice to the National Assembly whose members appear set to override President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto of the planned fourth amendment to the 1999 constitution: Don’t.

However, the House of Representatives has given assurance that the controversy would be fully resolved before the tenure of the current government ends on May 29.

Adoke, who is also the Minister of Justice, gave the advice in a letter to both chambers of the National Assembly.

The letters, written through his

lawyer, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) and dated 22 April 2015, were read on the floors of both the Senate and the House of Representatives at plenary on Thursday.

In the letters, Adoke notified both chambers of the fresh suit filed by the federal executive at the Supreme Court to challenge the passage of the Alteration Bill.

The letters were addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

The President has withheld his assent to the bill, citing among other grounds, the alleged failure of the National Assembly to fulfill the mandatory requirement for the passage of the bill.

He proceeded further by filing

a suit at the Supreme Court challenging a possible override of his veto by the legislators.

Adoke maintained that doing anything further on the bill despite the pendency of the suit would be “an affront to the rule of law and democracy.”

The letter was entitled: ‘RE: SUIT NO. SC 214/2015 ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATIONAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. It read in part: “In the said suit, the Plaintiff claims for determination of two questions on the constitutionality or otherwise of the procedure adopted by the National Assembly in passing the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act 2015 particularly as

it relates to Sections 3, 4, 12, 14, 21, 23, 36, 39, 40, 43 and 44 purporting to alter Sections 8, 9, 34, 35, 39, 40, 42, 45, 58, 84, 150, 174 and 211 of the extant 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and for an order nullifying and setting aside those Sections of the Fourth Alteration Act. “A copy of the Court Process is attached to this correspondence for ease of reference.

“In view of this development and the dictates of the principles of the rule of law on which any democratic system thrives, we use this medium to urge that the Supreme Court be allowed to determine the suit under reference before any further step is taken by the National Assembly on the move to pass the Fourth Alteration Act alluded to earlier in this

correspondence into law.

“May we add that adopting such attitude will not only commendably be in line with the decisions of the Supreme Court on the absolute need to avoid self-help by all persons and authorities in resolving disputes, but will also yield to the rule of law as espoused in the decisions of the Courts. One of such decisions is the case of OJUKWU V. MILITARY GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE (1986) 1 NWLR (pt. 18) 621.

“To proceed with the process of passage into law of the Fourth Alteration Act 2015 despite the pendency of this suit under reference will be an affront to the rule of law and democracy. We are convinced, Continued on page 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Anyim, Sylva head transition committee

Egena Egena Abuja

•••Secretary to the Government

of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, have been appointed as joint Chairmen of the inauguration committee for the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari.

Anyim heads the Federal government’s 14-man group, while Sylva leads the 13-man group representing Buhari's incoming government.

The 27-member committee also

has former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe as members.

The Committee met on Thursday and announced activities for the week-long inauguration programme while Anyim and Sylva, jointly briefed State House correspondents after the meeting held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja.

Anyim explained that there are two parallel transition committees and inauguration committee.

Members from the outgoing government include the Chief of

Defence, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh; Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed; Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe; Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke; Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Akon Ayakenyi; and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro.

Others are the representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser, Bello Fadile; the Inspector-General of Police; Minister of State Defence, Col. Austin

Akobundu (retd.); Commander Brigades of Guards, Brig. Gen. A. B. Omozoje and Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Permanent Secretary, Presidency (Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation).

Members of incoming government are Timipre Sylva, (cochairman), Chief Pius Akinyelure, Mrs. Abike Dabiri Erewa, Ms. Sharon Ikeazor, Prof. Tony Anwuka, Alhaji Kawy Baraje, Sen John Shagaya (rtd), Hadiza Bala Usman, Babagana Kingibe, Ismaila Isa Tuntua, Senator Binta Masi Garba, Mr. Babachir Lawal and Mr. Samson Osagie.

Olanusi: Ondo CJ inaugurates seven-man panel ‘Tosin Ajuwon

5 News Arase assures voters of security in Saturday's re-run polls Egena Egena Abuja

•••

The acting Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has said that his men would ensure the safety of voters in Saturday's re-run elections scheduled in Taraba, Imo and Abia State.

The governorship and House of Assembly elections held on April 11 were inconclusive in the three states due to electoral irregularities that occasioned mass cancellation of the polls in many polling units.

Arase, while speaking with State House correspondents at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, said he was at the Villa to brief Jonathan on the preparation of the Police for the re-run elections in the affected states with regard to the deployment of men and materials by the force.

Akure

•••The Ondo State Chief Judge,

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson (L), expressing words of sympathy to Mrs Oronto Douglas (R), when the governor paid a condolence visit to the Oronto family, in Abuja.

Reps pass N4.49tr 2015 Appropriation Bill Henry Omunu Ado Ekiti

•••The House of Representatives, on Thursday, passed the 2015 Appropriation Bill of N4,493,363,957,158 trillion, made up of N2,607,132,491,708 trillion for recurrent expenditure and N701,415,465,449 billion for capital expenditure.

Also, N375.616 billion, embedded in the budget, was for statutory transfers to the National Judicial Council (N73bn); Niger Delta Development Commission (N46.72bn); Universal Basic Education (N68.38bn); National Assembly (N120bn); Public Complaints Commission (N4bn); Independent National Electoral Commis-

sion (NN62bn) and the National Human Rights Commission (N1.516bn) while of N953. 620 billion is for debt service.

Out of the total amount appropriated for debt service, N894, 610 billion was allocated for the servicing of domestic debts and N59.010 billion for the servicing of foreign debts.

The highest sectorial allocation under the capital expenditure in the 2015 budget went to Defence with an allocation of N36.700 billion; followed by the Office of the National Security Adviser with N26. 499billion, Education with N23.520 billion and Health with an allocation of N22.676 billion.

Ministry of Works got (N19.812bn); Police (N17.8bn); Water Resources (N15.778bn); Federal

Capital Territory Administration (N13.5bn); Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (N9. 623bn); Agriculture and Rural Development (N8.752bn) Transport (N8.3bn) and the Aviation sector with N5.840billion.

Under the supplementary expenditure, outstanding commitments on 2014 constituency projects and special intervention/ constituency projects received an allocation of N50 billion each respectively, while conditional grants and social safety nets (MDGs) had an allocation of N35.284 billion; sinking fund for infrastructural development (N20bn); just as special intervention (MDGs 1 and 2) had an allocation of N15.378bn and N15.018 billion respectively.

Olasehinde Kumuyi, has constituted a seven-man panel to look into some allegations levelled against the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi by the House of Assembly.

A retired Chief Magistrate, Olatunji Stanley Adeniyan heads the panel, which includes Mr. Aladesanmi Akingbade; Barr. Ademola Ekundayo; Ven. Richard Obafemi; Mr. Abraham Kola Mathew; Alhaji Ibrahim Sodeinde and Mrs. Eunice Yinka Obadele as members.

In a short statement to journalists on Thursday evening, Justice Kumuyi said constituting the panel was consequent upon the directive from the House of Assembly to investigate the alleged gross misconduct of Deputy Governor.

He added that “In line with the provision of section 188(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I have set up a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations against the Deputy Governor, as required by the constitution”, he said.

Gov. Mimiko

Fashola tasks taxi drivers on safety in Lagos Kwasu Alhamdu

•••The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has advised taxi drivers to key in into the new Lagos taxi system.

The system is to help in tracking taxi owners, in case of any incident, while there is a licence which has the details of the taxi owner and his passport photograph and numbers that you can use to locate him at the union’s office or through the Ministry of Transportation.

He said “in many parts of the world, one of the safest places that you can find people is in a taxi. Once you enter a taxi in any part of the world, you are safe.

The reason is very simple, in those places those who run taxis are professionals, with identification, so they cannot disappear. If you are looking for a little child and you say he entered a taxi, and you can quote the number, the state officials will find that child, because they know the driver. So, at this time of national global security challenge, do we want to be left behind?”

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

NLC holds parallel congresses in Osun, Edo, Kwara Continued from page 4 who romance with external powers to mortgage the general interests and rights of Nigerian workers.

He announced to the conference that his faction of NLC would hold its Workers’ Day celebration in Lagos on May 1, 2015.

“NLC is a Nigeria Labour Congress and not Abuja Labour Congress, therefore we can hold May Day Rally anywhere in Nigeria,” he declared.

At the Aliyu Waba faction conference, the outgoing chairman, Comrade Umar Farouq, gave his executive and himself pass mark and commended the state government for a good working relationship with workers.

The Ajaero faction’s congress,

held at the International Tobacco Company Hall, elected Bamidele Okogbe as Chairman, Suleiman Ajape as his Vice 1 and Tajudeen Balogun as Vice Chairman II. In Edo State, the Wabba faction held its congress at Da Civic Recreation Centre while that of Ajaero held at Royal Mable Hotel.

However, there was a shouting match between the Edo State Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties, Mr. Didi Adodo (who represented Governor Adams Oshiomhole) and government workers over unpaid salaries at the Wabba faction congress.

The state government had insisted that it was not owing workers in the state any salary, saying that it had always met its obliga-

tions to the workers monthly.

This was in response to the allegation by the factional President of the NLC, Ajaero, that the Adulwaheed Umar-led NLC failed to account for the N3bilion mopped up from workers and retired citizens in the Kriston Lally Housing Scam.

While the incumbent state NLC chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ademokun, was returned unopposed, Mr. Eddy Ossai of the faction loyal to Joe Ajaro was elected the state chairman In a good will message to delegates of the faction loyal to him, Ajaero said, “It was observed that NLC leadership under Adulwaheed Umar failed not only on core labour/workers issues but lost its basic moral compass completely as manifested in the case

of Kriston Lally Housing Scam in which over N3billion mopped up from hapless working and retired citizens of Nigeria was uncounted for, leaving the subscribers disillusioned and utterly frustrated.

“We had all hoped for a reprieve in the last delegates’ conference but he was determined to foist on the NLC a surrogate that will keep that tradition of non-performance. Our determination and resolve to change this narrative was frustrated by the monumental fraud and perversion of the rules, procedures and processes which culminated in the failure of the conference of February 11 and the reconvened one of March 12, 2015.”

In Osun State, a factional

leader, Gambi Yusuf, was elected by members loyal to Ajaero. The election held at Osogbo Technical College, Iwo road, Osogbo.

Members of the labour body had earlier threatened a threeday warning strike in the state.

At about 03.15pm, accreditation was on for another election reportedly organised by the Wabba-led faction.

The election holding at Osogbo Sports Stadium, will see Comrade Saka Adesiyan of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and Comrade Jacob Adekomi of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) jostle for the post of Chairman.

Attempt to reach members of the present NLC proved abortive as calls put to their telephones didn’t go through.

Jonathan wants legislators to halt constitution amendment Continued from page 4

President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) (left) and Senate President, David Mark during a courtesy visit to Buhari in his office in Abuja… on Thursday

Boko Haram now Islamic State in West Africa Continued from page 4 Nigeria as the army was trying to evacuate the area around the former Boko Haram headquarters of Gwoza.

Chadian military source said a joint military operation involving armies from Niger and Cameroon was expected to begin to encircle the Sambisa forest next week.

Chadians will go in from the Cameroonian border where they have been massing troops.

particularly from the commendable record so far of the current National Assembly that it will not do that.

“May we also use this medium to thank your Excellency and all distinguished Senators for your anticipated cooperation in abiding by the rule of law and suspending the Constitution alteration process in the circumstance.”

The AGF, who is the only plaintiff in the suit, wants the apex court to declare the passage as unconstitutional as it was not passed by at least four-fifths majority of all members of each House of the National Assembly as specified in sections 48 and 49

of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the House Representatives said on Thursday, that it would act on the refusal of the President to sign the amendments before the expiration of his tenure.

Although he gave no hint of the course of action it would take, a member of the ad hoc committee of the House on constitution alteration, Sampson Osagie, who spoke with journalists in Abuja gave assurance that the matter would be disposed of before May 29.

Osagie, who is also the House Majority Whip, said that the House had reviewed Jonathan’s objections and would “decide the fate of the President’s veto before May 29.”

NNPC pushes for fuel subsidy removal •••The Nigerian National Pe-

troleum Corporation (NNPC) has advised the Federal Government on the need to stop the payment of subsidy on petrol because it cannot be sustained.

Subsidy is the difference between the Expected Open Market Price of fuel and the actual or retail price that is paid by consumers for the product at petrol filling stations as regulated by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The corporation’s Group Executive Director, Corporate Strategy and Planning, Dr. Timothy Okon, speaking at the 2015 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy

Forum organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Abuja, on Thursday, explained that “since government does not control the prices of crude oil, its fluctuation often creates fiscal instability in the country, a situation that impacts negatively on Nigeria’s revenue”.

NNPC had, recently, admitted the knowledge of the massive nationwide protests and industrial actions by pressure groups in January, 2012, when the Federal Government announced the complete withdrawal of subsidy on petrol, the corporation, however, maintained that the continued payment of subsidy was not sustainable.

He noted that when crude oil prices came down to about $40 per barrel, subsidy was not paid during that period, as the landing cost of the product was either equal or even lower than its market value.

Okon explained that “subsidy on petrol creates uneven distribution of revenue, round-tripping and unnecessary carry-over of funds from one year to another, in a manner that is difficult to control by the Federal Government.

“So, from the technical analysis made, it is obvious that subsidy is real. And from our analysis, we look at it as something that should go because it is not sustainable,” he reiterated.

Diezani

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

APC chieftain backs Amosun’s devt train •••

The National President of Ogun Patriotic Forum (OPF) and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Mr. Seyi Shodipo, has assured that the future of the state under Senator Ibikunle Amosun would not only witness the completion of his rebuilding mission, but also achieve a greater level of development in all areas.

Shodipo, who made the remarks at a special thanksgiving/prayer session, held at Soji Compound, Igbore, in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area, to appreciate God for Amosun’s re-election, expressed satisfaction with his implementation of people-oriented programmes, during his first term, which had, no doubt, impacted in an unprecedented manner on the lives of the people.

The OPF leader noted that the people of Ogun State were proud of Senator Amosun’s initiatives in putting in place all necessary mechanisms aimed at making the state a reference point to other states of the federation, with the construction of flyovers across the three senatorial districts, the reintroduction of free-education and construction of world-class model schools etc.

Charles Okah’s trial: Court admits car, others as exhibits

Okah

•••

The prosecution finally opened its case before a Federal High Court, in Abuja, in the trial of the alleged master-mind of the

2010 Independence Day bombing, Charles Okah, and his co-accused, Obi Nwabueze, on Thursday.

Led by Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), the prosecution called its first witness, Mr. John Afolabi, who is an exhibit keeper at the Department of State Security (DSS) and through whom 14 exhibits were tendered and admitted by the court as exhibits.

The witness said that the items were retrieved by DSS investigators at ‘scenes of investigation’ into the bombing incident.

The first exhibit admitted by the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, was a list of items, which Afolabi said were retrieved during the investigation conducted into the bombing by the DSS. Other exhibits were the 13 items contained in the list. The list comprised an old Mazda 626 car with registration number LAGOS BY 318 FKJ, other military wears and camping materials.

Other exhibits were 10 camouflaged bullet-proof jackets, 30 black military belts, 21 black jungle boots,

Former Vice President and Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Governor-elect of Plateau State, Mr. Simon Bako Lalong during his courtesy visit to Atiku in Abuja… on Thursday

Ekiti Assembly crisis: APC slams monarchs

Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

•••

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused the state’s Council of Traditional Rulers of bias in the handling of the crisis between Governor Ayodele Fayose and the 19 APC lawmakers in the House of Assembly.

Reacting to what it called the partisan intervention by the traditional rulers on the crisis, the party said it was not surprised by the partisan role of the traditional rulers, against the backdrop of their com-

plicity in the festering of the crisis before it became unmanageable.

The state’s Chairman of the party, Mr. Jide Awe, said: “When we read in the media that the royal fathers agreed to keep quiet when Fayose unleashes violence on the opposition, we did not believe it, until events began to unfold.

“To respond to this clearly unfortunate partisan position by the royal fathers, we would like to ask the same questions that one Ekiti youth group, Ekiti Youth Vanguard, posed to one of the eminent leaders in Ekiti, who refused to talk while Fayose

was abusing the constitution and attacking his opponents, but now came to his aid when the governor was about paying for his impunity and constitutional breaches.

“We ask: ‘Where were the obas when Fayose stormed the court to desecrate the temple of justice?’

They kept quiet. ‘Where were they when the 19 lawmakers were being hunted in their homes? What did they say or do when seven members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held illegal sitting to purportedly impeach Omirin?’

“The seven PDP lawmakers sat to

approve the budget, Fayose’s cabinet nominees, and passed certain laws that required public hearings, but they refused to hold public hearings on these laws.

“What did the obas say about these illegal acts, and what did they say or do as the fathers of all, to correct the anomalies?

“What did they say when Fayose withdrew Omirin’s security aides, seized his official car, locked up his office, cut electricity supply to his house, forced him out of his official quarters and illegally sacked his aides?

FCT minister inaugurates 1000-capacity hostel transit camp for vulnerable children •••

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, in Abuja on Thursday, inaugurated a transit hostel, with a capacity to accommodate 1000 vulnerable children.

Akinjide said that the camp would serve as an educational and skills acquisition centre for

7 News

the inmates, while benefitting the host community. ``The facility will cater for the welfare of the vulnerable segment of our population, mainly orphans, motherless children and abandoned babies.

Akinjide said the quality of care given to children, irrespec-

tive of the circumstance of their birth, to a large extent, determined the value of their adulthood and impact on the nation.

In her speech, Mrs Blessing Onuh, secretary, Social Development Secretariat, said the objective was to transform the lives of youths and vulnerable children,

who roamed the streets as beggars.

Onuh said the centre was meant to be a transit camp to cater for their immediate needs.

“The administration thought it wise to provide them with skills, while they wait to be reunited with their families,” she added.

five green pairs of camouflage jungle boots, five pairs of brown camouflage jungle booths and 34 pairs of water bottle holsters.

There were also 10 camouflage vests, one big camp tent, one small camp tent, 34 green water bottles, 24 multi-colour water bottles, and assorted camp stands and hooks.

Justice Kolawole had to move the proceedings out of the courtroom to the car park on the court promises, for inspection and the tendering of the car exhibit.

The car, which was in a bad state, with all its four tyres torn and already revealing their internal springs, was towed to the car park from the DSS national headquarters, in Abuja, before the proceedings began.

Virtually all the exhibits were admitted, with initial objection by one or sometimes both of the defence lawyers, who appeared for the accused persons.

Okah and Nwabueze were represented by separate lawyers, Mr. Samuel Zibiri and Mr. O. O. Otemu, respectively. Both accused persons were formerly always being represented by Mr. Festus Keyamo, until October 2014.

UNODC, Justice Mukhtar canvass transparent, merit-based appointments Andrew Orolua Abuja

•••

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and a former chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, have said revised guidelines for the appointment of judicial officers would restore public confidence in the judiciary.

They gave the assurance at a conference organised by and UNODC, under a multi-year European Union (EU)-funded project, aimed at reforming the justice sector in Nigeria.

“The revised guidelines would support the fight against corruption in the judiciary. It represents significant improvements with more clearly established appointment and disciplinary processes that would enhance ethical conduct by judicial officers and restore confidence in the administration of justice in Nigeria,” Justice Aloma-Mukhtar said.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Politics

SAMBO

Æs

Politics Editor: Akinjide Akintola E-mail: akinjide.akintola@dailytimes.com.ng

How national officers sabotaged Jonathan’s election, by Mai’auduga Daniel Jolly, Bauchi The Director General of Jonathan /Sambo Campaign Organisation in Bauchi South Senatorial District Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Mai’auduga has given reasons why the party lost out in the just concluded gener-

al election in the state alleging that national officers of the party from the state sabotaged their campaign activities which led to the failure of the party in the state.

The party chieftain made the allegation at a press conference in Bauchi, saying: “even though there is a clamor for change but

our campaign was sabotaged by the national leadership of the party that diverted over 230mn campaign funds from the Presidency by national officer of the party, and all efforts to recover the money failed” He stated that if the amount of support given to the state was not diverted, it would have as-

sisted a lot in winning the heart of the electorate to vote for the party, adding: “but in our case, apart from diverting the funds, the officers also campaigned against PDP candidates in the state”.

Mai’auduga who is also the Director General of Governor CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

PDP accepts APC challenge: To be formidable opposition Akinjide Akintola In what appears to be the acceptance of a direct challenge by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the ruling party has unfolded plans to rebuild the party from its ruin ahead of the 2019 general election.

The APC had on Monday admonished the PDP to stop being a cry baby and come to terms with the cold, hard reality that its fortunes have since plummeted and that it is now in opposition.

This followed lamentations by the chieftains of the PDP over its loss in the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the April 11 governorships and houses of assembly polls where it was roundly defeated by the opposition party.

But the PDP at a well-attended meeting in Abuja on Wednesday put the disastrous result of the elections behind it and resolved to take the party back to its lofty heights.

Consequently, a committee to reposition the party following its not-too-impressive showing in the recently-held general elections is underway. This is in a fresh bid to rebrand the party and make it strong enough to take over power back from the APC in 2019.

The plan was unfolded at the end of the meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), National Vice Chairmen and State Chairmen of the PDP

Jonathan

in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed

by Amb. Ibrahim Kazaure and Dr. Emmanuel Agbo for National Vice Chairmen and State Chairmen respectively, indicated that the meeting assessed the outcome of the 2015 general elections and accordingly resolved not to al-

Buhari

low the temporary setback affect the party’s contributions to the democratic development of the country.

The meeting also commended and appreciated the patriotic stand taken by President Goodluck Jonathan after the elections as another milestone in the party’s contributions to peace, stability and progress of the nation.

But it was quick to condemn the widespread anomalies and irregularities that characterised the elections in most states to the disadvantage of the PDP despite being the incumbent government.

It therefore resolved to give full backing to the various pursuits of redress in this regard within the ambit of the law and tenets of democracy and consequently

directed all PDP candidates who believed that they were shortchanged to channel their reports through their state chairmen as it resolved to resist undue harassments, witch-hunt and any form of intimidation or undemocratic tendencies from the opposition aimed at bringing down PDP members psychologically.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

AIG Mbu: Echoes from the Lagos elections

Mbu

Austen Yong The recently concluded elections of March 28 and April 11, provide another vista for the assessment of the Nigeria Police in election duties. In a dramatic departure from previous elections, the Nigeria Police came out with an almost clean bill. They were widely commended for their professionalism and attention to duties.

However, three reports: one on April 11, and two, after the April

11 elections present a scenario for discourse because they inextricably, but perhaps inadvertently connect with Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 covering Lagos and Ogun States.

In the Sun Newspaper of April 11, one Chioma Igbokwe reported what she termed as drama in the Lagos Police Command where AIG Mbu had gone to assume election duties on Friday April 10. The report is a recipe for four case studies:

Case Study No. 1: Chioma presented AlG Mbu in the opening paragraph of her report as a rebellious officer who shunned the IGP’s posting to Ogun State in preference for Lagos State.

Case Study No. 2: The report presented Mbu as lawless, or worse still, a brigand. Listen to this: “The Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti was said to be at a security meeting when his office was invaded.” (emphasis mine) Case Study No. 3: Chioma did not witness the “drama,” herself because, according to her report she made efforts to get the Lagos State Police Command PPRO, DSP Kenneth Nwosu on phone to comment on the incident but he did not.

Case Study No. 4: Chioma contradicted herself when she admitted in the report that Mbu’s redeployment to Ogun State on Thursday April 9 was later cancelled on Friday April 10, by the Inspector General of Police. However, she claimed that this was due to instructions from the ruling party, PDP. We shall return to Chioma shortly.

The second report involves Chief Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of the dethroned largest party in Africa, the PDP. Olisa Metuh, speaking for the National Leadership of his party claimed in a statement that secu-

9 Politics

rity agents manipulated results in favour of the APC in the guber polls in Lagos. Vanguard Newspaper, April 14, at page 14.

Again, we shall return shortly to Olisa.

The third report is a clear contradiction of Olisah Metuh’s position. This one is from the APC Spokesman in Lagos, Mr. Joe Igbokwe. In the highly verbose “Thank you” statement, Igbokwe appreciated Lagosians for renewing their confidence in the APC by voting for Akinwunmi Ambode, its guber candidate.

Igbokwe did not appreciate the conducive atmosphere presented by the security agencies in Lagos State for the elections, he rather decided to uncharitably take a swipe at them. Listen to him: “If Police, Army, Department of State Service, DSS, and other security agencies were the determining factor, PDP would have won the presidency and governorship in Lagos.” Vanguard Newspaper, April 14, at page 8 THE CONNECTIONS You do not need to go far to see that the stories of Chioma Igbokwe and Joe Igbokwe (both relations) are coming from the same stock. But in the words of the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “You do not need to go behind a signature to ask for who wrote a petition,” Chioma will be answerable to her conscience for her report.

As for Olisa Metuh and Joe Igbokwe they are the archetypical politician. According to Mr Ray Ekpu, the erudite Nigerian Journalist and Publisher, in one of his articles, CONSTITUENCY UNLIMITED: “A man will give you a thunderous thank you if you tell him how nice his suit is even when he knows that it looks like what Abraham Lincoln threw into the

garbage can several years ago. A woman will give you a giant tooth paste smile if you tell her how beautiful she looks, even when she knows that her face looks like she had just had a headlong collusion with a fast moving train. But the politician, they are a different kettle of fish, they will receive their fair share of praise, but like Oliver Twist, they keep asking for more.”

In the words of Charles de Gaulle, one-time President of France: “A politician is someone who says what he does not believe himself and he is surprised when others believe him.”

It is in the strength of the foregoing that I consider the comments of Olisah Metuh and Joe Igbokwe concerning the elections in Lagos State as meant for the garbage heap.

Joe Igbokwe was the one who issued a warning when Mbu was transferred from Zone 7 to Zone 2, that the top flight cop was on a presidential mission to rig election for PDP in Lagos State. If he still holds that position after the elections, then he certainly belongs to the past and has been rejected by the present. The records have vindicated Mbu as a just and upright cop. Lagos has never been so peaceful during elections, as witnessed in 2015. And elections in the state have never been more credible.

In the Sun Newspaper of Friday April 10, at page 14, Mr. John Nwankwo, a Lagos based security analyst was quoted as saying, “As a security analyst, I knew that trouble was looming during the elections but Mbu tackled it, if not for the fierce warning to hoodlums and the adequate security provided by Mbu, Lagos would have been set on fire.”

Olisa Metuh’s comment, is for CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

PDP officers diverted N230 million campaign funds- Mai’auduga CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Adoke

Isa Yuguda and PDP Governorship candidate campaign Organisation in the zone said the state leader of the party, Mallam Isa Yuguda, his supporters and entire PDP supporters in the state have the intention to remain in PDP and correct the failure of leadership affecting the party at the top which led to its failure.

He said: “after the election, we have analysed everything and discovered sabotage from national officers and Abuja

politicians who are indigenes of the state. The people of Bauchi are happy with the developmental projects like International Airport, Specialist Hospital, University and Teaching Hospital projects executed by the outgoing administration, and provision of sustainable peace and we intend to remain with the masses in PDP and offer good opposition for the improvement of democracy in the state.”

While congratulating Jonathan for conceding defeat

which makes him a hero in Africa, the Director General said they are ready to work harmoniously with the incoming administration and they will always offer constructive criticism and advice for the development of the state.

He congratulated Governor Yuguda for exhibiting the sense of patriotism and maturity which help to stabilised the polity before, during and after the elections and pledged their support and loyalty to the party.

Yuguda

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

‘PDP’ll be strong opposition’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Acknowledging the subterranean moves by the APC to undermine the structures of the PDP across the country with the sinister singular motive of allegedly imposing a one-party state in the polity, the meeting strongly cautioned the APC and its leader, General Muhammadu Buhari against any action or inaction that could threaten or erode the gains of democracy and personal freedom that have been established by the PDP government in the last 16 years.

The meeting resolved to galvanise the structures of the party and give full support to PDP candidates in the supplementary governorship elections in Abia, Taraba and Imo states as well as resist any undemocratic plot to manipulate the process against the party.

The meeting called on INEC and other stakeholders involved in the supplementary elections to be forthright, transparent and ensure that the will of the people in the affected states are not in any way subverted.

It resolved to give all necessary support to the national leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu to enable them re-engineer and rebrand the party for the task of regaining power by 2019.

In view of the above, the meeting charged all members of the party to continue to work harmoniously with their leaders at all levels especially at this critical time, while channeling any griev-

ances to the appropriate organs in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution The meeting condemned in its entirety the attitude of fairweather and unprincipled members who are rushing to the APC. It noted that such members are saboteurs and moles who worked against the PDP in the general election.

The meeting saluted the courage and faith of committed and dedicated members even in the face of the setbacks and intimidations and assured them of adequate protection of their inalienable rights as citizens in a democracy.

The meeting accordingly resolved to set up special committees on the repositioning of the party.

However in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC urged PDP to stop complaining about alleged harassment and intimidation by the APC, when it should be strategising about the daunting task ahead of it.

It said the truth of the matter is that the PDP is scared stiff of being in opposition, adding: ‘’We don’t blame them as they have neither the capacity nor the commitment to be in opposition. A party that stood for nothing but looting and rent collection will naturally be afraid of being in opposition, where there is nothing to loot or rent to collect.’’

APC advised the PDP to understand that it is not by repeating obvious lies that an opposition

It resolved to give all necessary support to the national leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu to enable them re-engineer and rebrand the party for the task of regaining power by 2019.

Muazu

party can be effective, but by being creative, knowledgeable, resourceful and above all credible.

It is not by cheap blackmail, but by being resilient. ‘’This is why we wish to extend to the National Working Committee of the PDP a free orientation, just as we have offered the party’s spokesman a free crash course in how to be an opposition party spokesman. The theme of the orientation for the PDP NWC members will be ‘transiting from the ruling party to an opposition party’ ‘’In the first instance, there is no substitute for experience.

Also, we believe that democracy will be deepened only when there is cooperation between the governing party and the opposition, hence the offer,’’ the party said.

APC slammed the PDP for daring to complain of harassment and intimidation by the APC, saying if any party is guilty of harassment, intimidation and impunity before, during and after the 2015 general elections, it is the PDP. ‘’Have they so soon forgotten the reckless show of shame by their OPC lackeys with the full support of the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos or the mindless

bombings and killings of APC members in Rivers and Gombe states, among others? Only on Monday, APC supporters were again reportedly killed in Rivers and Kaduna states. ‘’Haven’t the folks in the PDP seen the pictures being circulated of their (PDP) supporters brandishing machetes in broad daylight during the party’s campaign in Aba on Tuesday (21April)?’’ it queried.

APC also described as laughable the allegation by the PDP that the APC is trying to turn the CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

AIG Mbu and Lagos elections controversy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

me the unkindest cut. Mbu has suffered so much maligning because of the PDP and the President. Chioma Igbokwe’s report of April 11, was a subtle way of discrediting Mbu, by linking his posting to the influence of the PDP, yet a spokesman of a Party that could not manage power entrusted to it could blame security agencies for her failure. Even though Mbu was not mentioned in that report, he superintended the Lagos elections and the swipe

at security agencies by both Metuh and Igbokwe was to call Mbu’s unassailable integrity to question.

Now let us return to Chioma Igbokwe. Her report clearly shows that she is not grounded on the crime or security beat.

Reporting crime or security goes beyond the rule of the thumbs. It requires tact, maturity and patience, which Chioma clearly lacks. The Police have a disciplined organizational structure. The buck ends on the table

of the IGP and he has the final say. Mbu, just like other AIGs did not mind their temporary “demotion” for election duties. He was redeployed to Ogun State and he gladly accepted to go. Was he supposed to question the IGP who cancelled the posting and asked him to remain in Lagos?

In the same vein, Aderanti, the Lagos State CP was posted to Lagos Central for the elections. It was Friday. The election was to hold in less than 24 hours. Any officer worth his salt will pro-

ceed to his new beat as directed and take command immediately.

Whether Mbu took his chair to Aderanti’s office, or called for the redeployment of Assistant Commissioners is clearly within his discretion and did not call for a reporter insulting him.

AIG Mbu duly held a conference with the Area Commanders, DPOs, HODs, etc. in his characteristic democratic manner, he asked them if they were comfortable to carry out election duties without compromise that could

risk their jobs. They all answered in the affirmative and he allowed them. Command CPs, Area Commanders and DPOs are under the Zonal AIG and there is no way they can disobey him because he has powers to query and punish them.

What is controversial about obeying orders from a superior officer, or issuing orders to subordinates? While in the Principles of Community Policing, the Police CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

11 Politics

Lagos election was war - PDP

Mbu and Lagos elections CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Ambode

Chief Taiwo Abayomi Kuye is the Financial Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Lagos, in this interview, he spoke on the loss of the election in the state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying his party contested against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agents and not APC. Excerpts: Why the party is heading for the tribunal?

We came to INEC to complain about irregularities and up till now, INEC cannot give us a definite answer. The other day I said it, that part of their game plan were the irregularities that characterized the governorship elections. In preparation for the election, there was a meeting between all the local government electoral officers and other chieftains of the party, where they planned in favor of APC. We discovered this in about 11 local governments, whereas in

Kuye

the governorship, we busted it in about 14 Local Governments.

PDP stronghold in Lagos?

The PDP stronghold in Lagos is more than 13, 14 local governments to be precise. There are Igbos in Lagos: Epe, Ajeromi, Agege; there is no part of Lagos you won’t find them. The same pattern of rigging was used by the APC. The five local government areas that were left out were areas they cannot change the figures because they were really dealt with. But in areas like Mushin, Kosofe where they were defeated with 5,000, they just went to INEC booths and added figures, unlike in Ajeromi and others where they lost with 20,000 votes. There they cannot do anything cynical. I stand to tell you that our stronghold cut across more than 14 local governments in Lagos, and we have won that election. That is why on the part of APC there was no celebration.

Why then did PDP candi-

Agbaje

date congratulate Ambode, if he didn’t accept the outcome?

Congratulations does not stop anything, it only shows that Jimi Agbaje is a statesman by doing so.

Is PDP not crying over spilled milk?

We have not lost, go to all nooks and crannies of Lagos, everyone will tell you that they voted Jimi Agbaje. All these and more are the true facts that we are presenting to the tribunal.

Is there still unity within PDP with current happenings in the party?

We are united. Obanikoro is a leader here, Bode George is also the party’s leader in Lagos and south west, so we are going nowhere. Anyone who jumps ship because APC is now at the center, such a person is making a fool of himself or herself. Anyone who makes such a stupid mistake would have himself or herself to blame in the nearest future. Likewise, I stand to be the last person to remain in PDP,

even till tomorrow.

So, how was Lagos State won and lost again?

Lagos State belongs to us, everyone saw it, and all classes of people saw that Jimi Agbaje was voted as the governor. But it was a battle between PDP, INEC, the security agencies in Lagos and not APC. When are you going to the tribunal?

We have 21 days after the election. It is a 3-member tribunal and I have the list of members.

We will file our papers before the deadline expires.

Future of PDP in Lagos?

Our landslide victory in the council elections sent a signal to APC, we won more than 12, 13 local government chairmanship, and more than 180 councillorship. But their leader said: ‘go and give them 18 councillorship, they cannot preside over anything in Lagos’. All these will come to an end when we come back from the tribunal.

We can’t be blackmailed- APC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

country into a one-party state by luring and making irresistible offers to the leadership of the PDP. ‘’The truth of the matter is that the leadership of the PDP is not even waiting to be approached before fleeing to the APC. PDP leaders and members are falling over themselves shamelessly and swearing undying allegiance to the APC. Well, in case they

did not get the message of the President-elect and our National Chairman, we want to repeat it in very blunt terms: PDP leaders and members, you are not welcome in APC. Please stay in your party, but if - as we suspect - you cannot survive in opposition, then take a walk, quit politics,’’ the party said.

APC also reacted to the whining of the PDP concerning alleged plan by the APC to use the

Election Petition Tribunals ‘to truncate and subvert the freely given mandate by the people in the states and constituencies’, saying it amounts to blackmail. ‘’No amount of blackmail from the PDP will dissuade us from seeking redress in the Election Petition Tribunals, especially in states where the whole world knows there were no elections.

Since we don’t believe in self-help like the PDP, we see a recourse to

the Tribunal as a lawful means of giving vent to our rejection of the massive electoral malfeasance and the resort to violence in some states ‘’In case the PDP, beaten and battered by electoral pummeling, has forgotten, the recourse to the Tribunals to seek redress is the only lawful means of resolving electoral disputes. Anything else amounts to self-help, which is not our forte,’’ the party said.

have always cultivated partnerships, the choice of language by reporters could destroy the collaborative spirit so desperately needed by the Police for nation building.

MBU AND ELECTIONS Mbu, apart from being a top brass in the Police, is an election veteran. He supervised elections in Potiskum and Gashua, in 1997 and 1999, considered as the flash points in Yobe State. He was adjudged the best. He supervised election in Suleja and Kontagora, considered as critical flash points in Niger State in 2003 and came out in flying colours. As Commissioner of the Police Mobile Force in 2012, he supervised the governorship elections in Edo State which was adjudged as the freest and fairest. He promised the people of Lagos State a fair deal. And he delivered on his promise. The new strategy of sending AIGs to supervise States considered to be volatile, while Commissioners were sent to Senatorial Zones was borrowed from Mbu because it worked in Lagos during the presidential elections of March 28. He had deployed the CP Railways to Lagos Central, CP Western Ports to Lagos West and CP Federal SARS to Eastern Zone.

The result was unprecedented in the history of elections in Lagos State. But those who did not understand the motive of this strategy saw it as whittling down the powers of Aderanti, the one Station Command CP was posted to Lagos only September 2004.

No organization or individual is infallible. We should commend the Police when they do well; with the same gusto we condemn them when they go astray.

As for AIG Mbu, history has a way of vindicating the just. In the reckoning of the masses, he has had a superb outing as CP Police Mobile Force, Oyo State Command, Rivers State Command and FCT Abuja. He was AIG Zone 7 before his posting to Zone 2 Lagos. The streams of encomiums following the success of the recently concluded elections in Lagos State will forever eclipse the Babel of cacophony from his detractors.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

APC to IG Arase: Shun partisanship, embrace professionalism •••The

All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the newly-appointed Acting InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to approach his new task with a high level of professionalism while shunning crass partisanship that has dragged key national institutions of state, especially the police, into the partisan fray.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party advised the Acting IGP to learn from the fate that befell his predecessors who,

under their watch, turned the police into the enforcement arm of the ruling party, thus allowing the institution to be wantonly used to thwart the will of the people and act in ways that negate its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order.

It said, irrespective of the reasons for his appointment as the IGP at this time, Arase must realise that he will be judged solely by the direction to which he takes the police, which is one of the most abused national institutions by those who have been at the helm of the nation's affairs

since the country's return to democratic rule in 1999. ''We do not know the reason for the sack of the immediate past IGP, but we have read, just like other Nigerians, that it might not be unconnected with the role he either played or did not play in the last general election. What we do know is that the police force under the former IG was a major actor in the massive rigging and violence that characterised the elections in some parts of the country, especially in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto and Gombe states, just to mention a few.

''Mr. Arase faces perhaps the biggest test in his new capacity with the supplementary elections coming up in Abia, Imo and Taraba states. We do hope he will not allow the police under him to be used to thwart the will of the people in those states or to give cover to those who will engage in violence. Any IG worth his salt does not need to pander to the President or the ruling party in carrying out his duties. All he has to do is to make sure the police carries out its statutory duties in accordance with the law and without fear or favour'', APC said.

Minister assures SON of continuous support

'Nigeria, DR Congo have the highest record of malaria globally' Kwasu Alhamdu

•••Lagos State Medicine Deal-

ers Association (LSMDA), on Thursday, in Lagos, said research has shown that Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have the highest cases of malaria all over the world.

In a statement issued and signed by the president of the association, Chief Kelvnson Emeka Okpara, on the occasion of 2015 World Malaria Day at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, implored donor agencies and pharmaceutical companies to partner with the association by providing affordable and subsidise anti-malaria drugs.

Said he: “We implore donor agencies and pharmaceutical companies present here today to partner with our association in terms of trainings, provisions of affordable and subsidise anti-malaria drugs, and other relevant tools needed to fight and win the war against malaria."

Mathew Dadiya Abuja

•••

L-R: One of the Taxi Cab Operators in Gbagada, Mr. Arogundade Adekunle; Lagos State Taxi Cab Association of Nigeria, Prince Tajudeen Adetoro; Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, Comrade Kayode Opeifa and Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), during the launching of new Lagos Taxi System and distribution of Taxi licence to operators, held at LTV Complex, Ikeja, Lagos ...on Thursday

Five burnt to death in Ogun multiple accident Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

•••

No fewer than five persons were burnt beyond recognition and properties worth millions of naira destroyed when two trucks had head-on collision at Mowe/ Ibafo axis of the Lagos/Ibadan expressway on Wednesday night.

The accident, it was gathered, occurred few kilometers away from the popular Danco filling station along the axis within the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

An eyewitness said that a stationary trailer broke down by the road side which caused serious traffic congestion along the axis.

It was reported that another trailer laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called

petrol, going to Sagamu from Lagos axis drove against the traffic facing on-coming vehicles to man oeuvre his way through the traffic jam around the area.

Sources at the area further told our correspondent that the third trailer laden with granite enroute Lagos from Abeokuta, in the process had head-on collision which reportedly resulted in a very big inferno at the spot.

The five people who were suspected to be occupants of the trailers including drivers and motor boys were reportedly killed while the two trailers were also gutted by fire on the spot as there was no immediate help to rescue the situation because of the huge smoke.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps

(TRACE), Commander Babtunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a telephone interview.

He explained that officers of the Corps were on ground immediately it got information of the incident to manage the traffic situation around the area.

The PRO explained that the victims whose remains had been deposited at a Sagamu morgue were burnt beyond recognition, adding that they couldn't get the registration numbers of any of the affected trailers.

It would be recalled that exactly a month ago, seven people were sent to their early grave while 23 others were seriously injured in the same area when a trailer fell on two commercial vehicles killing all their occupants.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, has assured the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) that his ministry would continue to support the activities of the agency especially its transformational projects geared towards eradication of substandard products manufactured locally or imported into the country.

Aganga said this during the commissioning of the new wing and remodeled SON headquarters building on Thursday, in Abuja, noting that the agency has been a major part of the ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment.

He commended the Director General of the agency, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, for embarking on projects that have transformed SON to a globally accepted organisation and placed Nigeria on a map of global standardisation.

Aganga

Gunmen kill Police officer in Katsina-Ala Freddie Adamgbe Makurdi

•••

An Assistant Superintendent Police (ASP), Baba Ibrahim, was shot dead in Katsina Ala town in Benue State by yet to be identified gun men who has been on rampage since the conduct of the general election in the area.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Austin Ezeani, who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday, in Makurdi, stated that ASP Baba Ibrahim was leader of the Police Task-Force on Cattle Rustling from the force headquarters on the special assignment.

Ezeani explained that Ibrahim and his team were attacked at the Katsina-Ala Cattle Market by unknown gunmen who were using a Toyota vehicle NAND, now at large, while the other six members of the team were serious injured and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

He said that the command had commenced full investigations into the matter adding that the command would do everything within its powers to arrest the people responsible for the crime.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

African migrants may face military action in Europe •••

European Union heads of state are meeting in Brussels Thursday to discuss a range of options, including military action, to halt the flow of refugees trying to reach Europe by sea, after some 900 migrants died when their ship capsized Sunday off the coast of an Italian island.

Among the proposals expected to be considered is a push to identify, capture and destroy vessels used by human traffickers, who often pack rickety boats with people fleeing conflict and hardship in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

The leaders are also expected to double funding for EU border patrols in the Mediterranean and a pilot project to resettle refugees from Mediterranean countries in other EU states.

The resettlement plan reportedly provides for some 5,000 refugees, only a fraction of the number of migrants flooding European shores from North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.

Meanwhile on the Mediterranean island of Malta, officials and mourners gathered Thursday for a funeral for the only 24

Al-Shabaab kills senior military officer in Mogadishu •••

Members of NGOs and asylum seekers take part in a rally called "Funeral march" outside the European Council headquarters where EU leaders seek for a solution to the migrants crisis during an extraordinary summit in Brussels, on Thursday.

people whose remains were recovered from Sunday's accident.

Malta's president and prime minister attended, as well as the European Union commissioner for migration and Italian officials. The Italian island of

Lampedusa is where many migrant vessels land. Lampedusa is a common destination for migrant ships, as one of the closest European islands to north Africa.

Since the end of the EU program, Italy has shouldered most

of the burden of rescuing migrants in distress at sea. But in the past year, the number of migrant deaths has risen sharply, and experts predict it will keep going up unless something changes.

Burundi president’s third term agenda causes uproar •••

13 Africa

Any move by Burundi's president to run for a third fiveyear term risks undermining a peace deal that has kept the African nation calm since civil war ended a decade ago and could stoke tensions in a region blighted by ethnic conflict.

Pierre Nkurunziza has yet to say if he will stand in the June 26 vote, but diplomats and opponents expect him to run even though they say it would violate the constitution and the Arusha peace deal, credited with helping heal Burundi's ethnic rifts.

The ruling party argues his

first term does not count because he was chosen by lawmakers and not voted in. It could nominate Nkurunziza, a 51-year-old whose voting strongholds are in the countryside, at a party congress on Saturday.

"If Nkurunziza decides to run for a third term, he will be opening doors for another war," said prominent rights activist Pierre Claver Mbonimpa, who has often found himself in jail for his activism against the government.

"This will be a coup d'état against the constitution, against the Arusha peace agreement."

Liberia's Ivorien refugees depart for home as Ebola ends

Deep in Liberia's forested hinterland, thousands of refugees who fled conflict in Ivory Coast have been waiting in limbo, impatient to rebuild their shattered lives back home but unable to leave.

They were preparing their return last summer when suddenly they found themselves trapped in a major tropical disease outbreak as Ebola ravaged their host nation, prompting the government to close its borders.

"I was about to leave when the

•••

The Arusha pact ended a civil war that killed 300 000 people, halting a cycle of massacres lasting decades. In the scarred nation of just 10 million people, also one of the world's poorest, almost everyone counts a victim in their family.

Any flare-up in Burundi also threatens broader repercussions.

It could draw in next door Rwanda, victim of a 1994 genocide, and create turmoil in an area where term limits approach other presidents, such as Joseph Kabila in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. His second term

ends next year.

"Arusha created the preconditions for Burundi to be peaceful.

Take it away and anything might happen," said one senior Western diplomat, who added that Nkurunziza seemed determined to ignore international pressure to step down.

The Arusha pact set powersharing quotas between the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority, which once ruled the nation and dominated the army. The deal gave Hutus the biggest say, but ensured Tutsis still had a strong voice and so felt safe.

process was stalled by the Ebola virus," Saint Lamco Deniohon told AFP outside his makeshift home at the PTP refugee camp, in the south-eastern county of Grand Gedeh.

Over 220 000 Ivoriens found refuge in Liberian camps after fleeing the 2002 civil war and a 2011 conflict that claimed 3 000 lives as former president Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept election defeat to Alassane Ouattara.

Most made their way home but around 38 000 have remained,

housed in three camps and various communities along Liberia's border with Ivory Coast.

Deniohon ended up in PTP, the west African country's largest camp, after fleeing with his wife and two children in 2011.

He feared the family might never see home again as the rising Ebola death toll spread panic throughout west Africa, claiming almost 11 000 lives since December 2013, all but about 15 in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

A senior military officer was shot dead in the Somali capital on Thursday, and al Shabaab militants claimed responsibility.

The al-Qaeda-linked group has stepped up gun and bomb attacks in the Horn of Africa nation. Six people were killed in an attack on a vehicle carrying the UN staff in the semi-autonomous Puntland region on Monday, and a suicide bomber killed 10 in a restaurant in Mogadishu on Tuesday.

"Gunmen killed my colleague, Major Sabriye today. They hit him with several bullets in the heart and he died. The attackers escaped," Col. Abdullahi Hussein, a military officer, told Reuters.

Al-Shabaab, which wants to impose its own strict interpretation of Islamic law, often targets officials and politicians for assassination.

Rwandan troops cross into DR Congo

•••

Rwandan troops crossed into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and wounded a local soldier, the Congolese government said on Wednesday, drawing an immediate denial from a Rwandan official. Government spokesperson Lambert Mende said Congolese troops fired warning shots at Rwandan troops who entered Rutshuru territory in DRC's eastern province of North Kivu.

"The Rwandans responded by wounding one of our troops," he said. North Kivu governor Julien Paluku also said Rwandan troops had crossed the border on Wednesday afternoon. Rwanda's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Olivier Nduhungirehe said on his Twitter feed in response to the alleged incursion, "This is baloney, as usual."

Nduhungirehe

World 14

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Saudi-led airstrikes hit Houthi rebels in Aden

••• Warplanes pounded Houthi

rebel targets in Yemen on Thursday, two days after what was supposed to be the official end of the Saudi Arabia-led bombing campaign.

Witnesses said the raids hit areas around the main southern port city of Aden, where fighting

continues between the Houthis and supporters of the country's ousted government.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday declared an end to the airstrikes, referred to as "Operation Decisive Storm." Hours later, coalition planes targeted rebel positions in Aden and the central city of Taiz.

The month-long bombing campaign has killed hundreds and created a severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen, but has largely failed to drive back the Shi'ite rebels.

The Houthis have taken over large parts of Yemen and have forced the country's Western-

A worker carries luggage from a house that burnt after an air strike by a Saudi-led coalition struck a nearby missile base, in Yemen's capital Sanaa, on Thursday.

47 Taliban insurgents killed

by Pakistani military •••Pakistan's military on Thurs-

day claimed to have killed at least 47 Taliban fighters in two days of airstrikes in the restive northwest as part of anti-insurgent offensives that began last year.

The latest strikes hit the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan tribal district, close to the Afghan border, considered a stronghold of Taliban insurgents. The area has been repeatedly targeted by US drones in the past. "Twenty-two terrorists were killed in precise aerial strikes late last night in [an] area [close to] Datta Khel in North Waziristan Agency," the military said in a statement on Thursday.

The military has been stepping up its response Pakistan's Islamist insurgency, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of civilians since 2004 when al-Qaeda and Taliban militants fled from Afghanistan to its tribal areas.

Thursday's attacks come the day after 20 militants were killed in the Tirah valley of Khyber tribal district, where the Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Islam groups have strongholds.

"In precise aerial strikes in Ti-

rah, Khyber, today, 20 terrorists - including three suicide bombers were killed. Destroyed hideouts of terrorists include their ammo and ration dumps," the military said in a statement late on Wednesday.

In another incident late on Wednesday, the military said it had killed five insurgents in a search operation in Shakto area of South Waziristan tribal district. Khyber is one of seven autonomous tribal districts along Pakistan's mountainous western border, which became a hotbed of Islamist militants following the US-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001.

The military began its latest offensive in Khyber in October 2014, four months after by a bloody Taliban attack on Karachi airport ended peace talks and triggered a similar operation began in North Waziristan district.

Airstrikes, artillery, mortars and ground troops have all been used to take back the territory.

Both conflict zones are off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to verify the number and identity of those killed.

Moderate earthquake rattles New Zealand capital •••

A moderate 4.7-magnitude earthquake hit the New Zealand capital, Wellington on Thursday, the US Geological Survey reported, rattling office blocks but causing no apparent damage.

The quake's epicentre was at the top of the South Island at a depth of 22km, the USGS said.

New Zealand's official GeoNet monitoring service put its intensity at magnitude 5.2.

Wellington is separated from the quake's epicentre by the Cook Strait and the tremor was felt in the capital as two distinct jolts, a few seconds apart, that shook windows.

The fault that generated the seismic tremor is the same one that caused two 6.5-magnitude quakes in July and August 2013, which caused power cuts and sent panicking Wellington office workers fleeing into the streets.

backed leader, President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi, to flee to Saudi Arabia.

The rebels are believed to be supported by the Shi'ite government in Iran, which is reported to have sent a fleet of ships toward Yemen, ostensibly to assist the rebels.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday the United States is "certainly concerned" the fleet of Iranian cargo ships are carrying weapons for Shi'ite Houthi rebels.

"There's no reason for anybody to be delivering advanced weapons into a situation that's already gotten way beyond what is reasonable," Secretary Carter told reporters.

Washington has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, along with several other U.S. warships, to the waters off Yemen, partly in response to the reported Iranian convoy.

Carter would not say whether U.S. military officials are prepared to intercept and board the Iranian cargo vessels, but said that the presence of the U.S. ships gives the U.S. "options."

Wellington is criss-crossed with fault lines and memories are still fresh of a devastating quake that hit the South Island city of Christchurch in February 2011, killing 185 people.

The capital was the scene of the country's most powerful earthquake in 1855, an 8.2-magnitude monster that caused four deaths and changed the city's entire geography, pushing the shoreline out 200 metres as it thrust the harbour floor upwards.

New Zealand is on the boundary of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, forming part of the so-called "Ring of Fire", and experiences up to 15 000 tremors a year.

Prime Minister Key

21 foreign students injured in Moscow dormitory fire •••

Twenty-one foreign students were on Thursday in a critical condition in hospital after fire ripped through a student residence in Moscow, an official said.

The 16-storey dormitory, which belongs to one of Russia's top medical schools, caught fire late Wednesday, leaving a total of 43 people in need of medical attention.

Of the 43, 36 were still in hospital as of Thursday morning with 21 of them in "critical condition", a spokesperson for the city of Moscow told AFP. "According to preliminary information, all of the injured are foreigners," she added.

The dormitory belongs to the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, one of the country's oldest medical schools.

Enforcement of fire safety regulations is known to be lax in Russia, where thousands of blazes are recorded every year and the death rate from fires is several times higher than in the West.

21 die in flooded North China coal mine •••

Search teams have recovered the bodies of 21 Chinese coal miners who died when the shaft where they were working filled with water, an official said Friday.

After days of frantic rescue efforts following the accident Sunday, the final death toll of 21 was confirmed by a Datong city government official who gave only his surname, Meng.

More than 600 rescuers had been working to pump water from the shaft and drill holes from the surface at the Jiangjiawan mine near the northern city of Datong.

A total of 247 miners were underground when water rushed into the shaft Sunday evening.

Of those, 223 people made it safely to the surface while three of those trapped were rescued and were recovering in hospital.

Such accidents are usually caused by breaches of abandoned shafts where water has collected over time. China has seen a dramatic drop in accidental deaths in its notoriously dangerous mines, partly as a result of improved safety measures.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

15 Opinion

PDP: The challenges ahead

S Chris Osa Nehikhare

o many reasons and rationalisations have been adduced for the epochal failure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to re-enact its winning streak in the nation’s presidential and other elections held in March and April 2015. In a monumental and landmark stroke of ill fortune, the PDP could not put its acts together.

Some of the factors freely bandied about by the strident opposition and other groups included: a) the supposed “clueless ness” of the President about the resolution of the country’s nagging issues b) Monumental corruption and corruptive practices, c) A non-performing economy that has worsened the living standard of the people d) Insecurity as epitomised by the Boko Haram insurgency and the demystification of the Nigerian Armed Forces etc e) The introduction Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and Card Readers to reduce or eliminate election rigging etc f) Much-hyped cult-hero image of General Buhari in many parts of Nigeria and g) A well-articulated geo-political conspiracy and gang-up to short-change the South South etc.

None of these gave fillip to the All Progressive Congress’s uncommon

vigour and resilience to “change” the PDP federal administration than the self-afflicted internal fission and consequent atomization of a hitherto cohesive and monolithic PDP whole.

The death–dealing process did not just unravel overnight. The seeds were sown in 2006, when a well-intentioned re-registration of all PDP members, nationwide, was hijacked by cabals and powerful individuals across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory and turned into an instrument of political cleansing. In the process, many redoubtable leaders and grounds men of different hues were cleverly de-registered and consigned to political wilderness.

These people swelled the ranks of the then emergent Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN and now APC).

They took a larger part of the soul of the PDP to their new abode, revealing the deep cleavages and the inherent Crab Syndrome that ruled the party’s top hierarchy and rent the ranks apart.

We will make a temporary detour that will help us to understand the relevance and utility value of the Peoples Democratic Party in the country’s power matrix vis-àvis the planting, blossoming and sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy since 1999.

Over the years, after indepen-

dence, Nigeria experienced the rule by a dysfunctional political class and military cabal that held the jugular of the nation for selfish purposes.

The successive invasion of governance by the praetorian class with seemingly redemptive messages and mission and consequent policy somersaults, had blunted the average Nigerian interest in government.

So we can say, without any fear of contradiction, that before the advent of the PDP, Nigeria had no enduring democratic tradition.For now, the Peoples Democratic Party holds the longevity record for any elected civilian administration in Nigeria since Lord Lugard welded the Northern and Southern Nigeria Protectorates by executive fiat on January 1, 1914.

At inception, not many Nigerians gave the PDP administration any outside chance of success in laying a new, solid and enduring sustainable democratic governance culture for a country that has been pillaged and raped for decades. Especially one that was constantly under the purview and surveillance of a hitherto politicised Nigerian armed forces.

The events of the past few weeks have really brought it home to the rank and file of the party nationwide, that victory at future elections will only be possible if internal democracy, due process and respect

for dissenting views become truly operational and are entrenched within the party at all levels.

A new crop of leaders should emerge today from the ashes and shadows of the battle-weary layers of the party’s leadership organogram, especially the prime, decisionmaking bodies that need a positive shot in the arm for optimum performance.

The principal organs of the PDP such as the National Executive Committee (NEC), and the National Working Committee (NWC) should be re-invigorated with the infusion of fresh and committed party men and women imbued with new ideas to steer the party toward its winning ways and prominence.

The major duty of the new leadership modem in the PDP will be to set in motion the process of interfacing with those aggrieved former members of the party who now form the political bulwark of the APC power centre and the attack phalanx against their former party.

A new rules of mutual engagement should be drawn up to woo them back to their natural political home. The new generation of leaders will be expected to provide, maintain and sustain a virile, focused and formidable opposition to the APC in the next four years.

Buhari: Realities, hopes and impediments

T

Steve Orji

here is absolutely nothing about Nigeria that defies remedy. Not even its politics.

It is possible that Buhari’s supporters, have reduced Nigeria’s complexities into a sweet, soft, lollypop. Buhari’s euphoric victory at the polls soon dies out, as he begins to navigate the multifaceted layers of Nigeria’s difficult realities. For one, Nigeria has never been a “nation” as such. Had it, why would I need to emphasis my tribe of origin, on documents and official transactions that otherwise should strongly uphold my Nigerian nationality, above anything else?

Nigeria is chaotic, noisy, systematically impaired. Buhari cuts the image of one who has sense of order. Would he bring to bear a sense of order, in Nigeria’s already complicated social and political systems?

The “Federal character” must have been a brainchild of northern leaders, who fell shy of their people competing in Nigeria’s vast territory, and rather would prefer “quota” to merits, so that majority of “unresourced northerners” can find a hiding place to cut their own

share of the Nigerian largesse. Can Buhari have the political will to reinstate true meritocracy, knowing that the “north” has always never really had resourceful talents open to the rigours of competitive selections?

The north has always been the wobbly leg of the Nigeria tripod.

It has the most unherded mass of people. Its traditional institutions are technically out of date, and as such opposed to progressive, western thoughts. However, Boko Haram has wider jihadist’s context, but the north’s conservative clique, seeded and sustained its operations, simply as tool to oust anyone outside its core political interest.

Buhari will require lots of inspired courage and generous honesty to admit these truths, so he can invite his northern people into global participation in the scheme of things.

The structure of Nigeria’s institutions have been unfairly tweaked to accommodate ” everyone”, irrespective of the fact that some offices and parastatals have staffing that contributes nothing but bloated bills of governance and running of state. Far more than anything else, the current structure of Nigeria does not promote efficiency or

excellence, but harbours within its regular members, a huge number of people who constitute fiscal bleeding points to Nigeria’s resources. We hope the briefcase carrying and Agbada donning Hausa men will not return to Abuja, buying up and selling on contracts.

Can Buhari restructure the institutions, to ensure that only the best and brightest ascend the offices?

Otherwise why states would be asked to recommend candidates to fill up Federal Ministerial positions.

In addition, the best a southwestern state could afford at one point was Fani-Kayode, and worst still, had him finally confirmed to the position of Aviation Minister? Should Aso-Rock have so much power vested in it? Can’t more power be devolved to the states, such that grassroots developments could be staged at regional and council levels?

Buhari’s victory is far from being a happy one. He is going to preside over a rag-tag, rickety economy, burdened by high-level political patronage.

On the economic front, the new government would need to strengthen fiscal policies, such that would ensure sufficient liquidity in the domestic and foreign reserves,

by blocking leaking fiscal outlets.

Loose or stolen funds would need to be traced to their domiciliary origins, and repatriated accordingly. Accountability would now be a prime item on the action-list of the new regime.

The knock on effect would be less prodigal spending, better reputation asset in the global community and consequently, greater inflow of foreign direct investments, owing to growing investors confidence.

Nigeria had suffered severe reputation losses in the last eight years owing to corruption. The reality is this-it would be difficult for Buhari to initiate and sustain a wideacross-board probe, without hurting some elements in APC knowing that some of them had questionable riches, drawn from the same puddle of dirty Nigeria money.

To handle historical corrupt charges, especially ones committed 20/30 years earlier would somewhat unsettle the focus of the present regime. Another difficult reality is-how would Buhari bring to book his fellow northern past heads of states, who raided the till, even with loads of sophisticated assets, especially as some of them had shown sympathy lately to his political cause?

16

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Features

Part of the damaged Alakuko Bus Stop area

17

Æs Pothole horrors on Abeokuta -Lagos Express Road

ABDULRAZAQ PEDRO visited the traffic prone areas of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and observes that with the elections come and gone, the hope of a permanent repair of the damaged sections of the expressway is very dim.

His report.

The Lagos Abeokuta Express way is one of the

busiest roads in Lagos Mainland. Stretching for over 50 kilometers, it links Lagos with Ogun State and also provides an avenue for commercialism in one of Nigeria’s most populous states. So it is of great importance that the road be maintained round the clock to aid quick vehicular movement especially in the rush hours of each day.

Sadly, this is not the case as several points along the road CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Happy workers at the farm

Beautiful grains of life – Products of the botanic farm

The don who recreated ‘Eden’

Eggs as healthy as they look

•••Seeks govt, private collaboration GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR visited one of the world’s richest privately owned botanical garden,Ido’Ijesha, State of Osun recently and brings word from a professor of many firsts, Rhizobiologist Professor OluOdeyemi. His report.

The Environmental Pollution Science & Technology Farm Ltd (ENPOST), is tucked away in the serene

town of Ido’Ijesain Osun State, Nigeria. It is one of the world’s richest botanical parks overflowing with natural species of plants.

About threekilometres in length, and onekilometrewide, the garden, nick-named the ‘Forest of Life’ or ‘Garden of Eden’, is a conservation ofthe former Rector, Osun State College of Technology,Esa-Oke, Professor OluOdeyemi(OFN).

Prof Odeyemi is the first scientist worldwide to demonstrate at home and abroad, the feasibility of using seeds of MoringaOleiferaand energy

from sunshine to purify water in place of non-renewable alum.

From the entrance into the natural habitat, the visitor is greeted by large fish ponds barricaded with perimeter wire.

Daily Times gathered that fishes in these ponds could weigh up to 150 kg. And after harvesting, cross-fertilization of female and male fishes, as much as 40,000 fries can be obtained!

Among the documented wonders here is proof that fishes are different in taste and texture, and that fishes produced CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Features 18

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Express road of no motion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Prof Odeyemi

‘Some fish in ‘Eden’ weigh 150kg’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

from organic environment can stay alive out of water for many days. The fishery also has a big hatchery that produces fingerlings for the integrated farm land.

Natural residents of this farm include over 150 different species of trees, each carrying a number and labelled with their Yoruba, botanical and English names.

Our resident tour guide boasts that the families of trees are of great ecological, botanical, economical, cultural, pharmaceutical and medicinal importance, more than half of which have been found to be unique and rare.

Tree No. 52, carrying a jawbreaking name tag of RauvolfiaVomitorialAfzelApocynaeceae, Swizzle stick in English (Asofeyeje in Yoruba) for example, is documented to contain the cure for madness According to records amplified by our guide, “If a mentally deranged person chews on

the root of this tree, he would immediately fall into deep sleep and gradually regain his or her senses.”

Another tree, Osun Pupa in Yoruba with the botanical name of Pterocarpuslegunminosae, bleeds red liquid when cut with a sharp object. The liquid is a natural raw material for the manufacture of lipstick and make-up materials for the theatre and movie industries.

Another one,Akokoin Yoruba or NeewboubliaLaevis seem-Bignoniaceae is sought after for coronation and chieftaincy ceremonies.

While the fluid from ErythrinaSengalensis, or Coral Tree in English and Ologbosere in Yoruba is a natural liquid for stamp and batik design, Daily Times learnt also that its root is another revelation. The list is endless and it gives food for thought that nature has provided everything for human survival, good health and wellbeing. But mankind seems not CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

have deteriorated and repair has become a political question of who owns the road: the federal or the state government.

One of the destinations that has been affected is the stretch that connects Alakuko Bus Stop to Mosalashi and the bus stop on the other side of the road that leads to Oshodi. The area measuring just about 300 meters is a commuter’s (and motorists’) nightmare.

Our correspondent arrived the area on a Thursday morning, when traffic was expected to be light in Lagos, because of the state government’s environmental sanitation law which restricts commercial life until 10 a.m. But lo, the gridlock, about a kilometre long, was there.

When vehicles could move at all, motorists had to maneuver round and about the large potholes that have stored up filthy waters from the last rainfall.

To a marked cab driver caught in the gridlock who gave his name as Favour Uche, the nightmare has become a tradition on this road. “This road has known no repairs for longer than anyone can remember.

When we talk with the Lagos

‘‘Nature has provided everything for human survival, good health and wellbeing.

But mankind seems not to be looking hard enough.’’

Another eyesore on the Expressway

State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) officials about the repairs, they tell us this is a federal road; that reports have been made to the maintenance department of the Federal Ministry of Works for necessary action.”

A media marketing executive, Mrs. Eugenia Ayigbe, also caught in the traffic told Daily Times that maintenance was carried out three times at different times in 2014, but they were merely surface-dressing.

“They did it like three times last year but it was a lazy, superficial work; they merely poured sharp stones and sand that ruined vehicle tires very quickly.

Whenever it rains, the sand is washed away quickly, leaving the sharp stones to deal with tires. Pot holes also become waterlogged and increase in size, also leaving large pot holes that cars try to avoid. Those are the causes for the heavy traffic jam we experience on our way out of Lagos daily. It doesn’t have to be this bad before government acts; someone should be held responsible for this despicable shame.”

Commuters and workers CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

19 Features

POTHOLE HORRORS:

‘someone should be held responsible for this despicable shame’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

complain of the man-hours lost to this road every day. The commercial bus drivers are the most hit because they spend the hours of many trips on this short area of the express and it tells on their delivery and takehome pay, and increases the wear and tear and cost of maintaining their buses.

At some times, broken down vehicles engage the services of mechanics that turn some of the side walk to emergency motor workshops that includes vulcanizer, auto-electricians, etc.

Raheed Alli, one of the mechanics repairing a broken down commercial bus popularly called ‘Molue’ narrated the history of the Alakuko and Mosalashi road problem: “This place has been there

for almost 10 years now; there was no demarcation on the expressway before, and there used to be a roundabout, which meant that buses do not necessarily go to tollgate to drop passengers. Instead, they drop passengers here.

“Many accidents have been happening on these bad spots, both police, LASTMA and other government agencies know and see it, but they have done nothing about it,” Alli concluded.

At the Agbado-Oke Odo Local Government office, the nearest LGA to the problem spots, an official who pleaded anonymity said “This office is just an annex of the local government, a revenue-generating center. Any information is available at the information center at Oja Oba, our headquarters,” he said.

The so-called headquarters at Oja Oba turned out to be a Lo-

cal Council Development Area under the Alimosho Local Government; at the ‘information centre’ under the executive arm of the LCDA, one Mrs. Seun told Daily Times the road is owned by the federal government.

“Only the ones that branch out of the expressway are the ones we are responsible for; and before we can carry out any repair, we have to contact the state government who will in turn contact the federal government and a directive is given to us before anything can be done and that has not happened.”

Now with the election come and gone, the hope for a permanent repair of this section of the expressway is very dim. It is hoped that the groaning of the people will some day challenge the state and federal governments to be proactive and repair the road.

The nightmare at Mosalashi

This ‘Eden’ is for the sick infirm to recuperate - Tourist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

to be looking hard enough.

A master’s degree student that was supervised by the erudite scholar had researched into the Coral tree and found that its root can kill bacteria, cure typhoid, cholera, stomach ache and chronic malaria among others.

For the enclave to be truly organic, Prof Odeyemi constructed a biogas plant that uses organic wastes from the farm and is also useful for domestic heating and lighting in the farm.

The professor explained that the post-digestion sludge from the biogas digester is used for fish feeding, mushroom cultivation and as liquid organic

fertilizer and insecticides. The biogas digester is about 8 feet deep and has no oxygen inside.

Another item derived from the biogas plant is organic fertilizer. The liquid from the plant is dried and turned into solid organic fertilizer and also serves as feed for fish ponds.

The feeds are also used to grow mushrooms. The liquid from the biogas plant is so effective that it can be used as Insecticides which is ideal for public health, while it can also be used to spray crops like cocoa, mango and other cash crops.

Explaining further the use of the biogas plant, Prof Odeyemi said he doesn’t use pellets for his fish ponds. “The fishes here are fed with organic food,

Assorted grains lined up for processing at the farm

wastes and organic fertiliser produced here. All year round, we turn out products in this farm. We have 16 ponds averaging 100 X 60 meters in size. Daily Times noticed two streams going round the farm to supply water for the whole farm. The two run through the forest and can be expanded or turned to artificial lake or dam to gener-

ate electricity. The streams join to form a confluence on the farm.

A Caribbean curator and one of the tourists our correspondent met at the garden commented: “The very air in the atmosphere here is pure, exuding life and radiating good health and wellbeing. It is a place for the sick and infirm to rest and

recuperate.

Farm of the future Odeyemi disclosed that one of the purpose of setting up the ENPOST Farm was to provide agriculture and environmental education and research facilities for the nation, “I envisaged then that very soon, there would be the need to have CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Features 20

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

‘This is my legacy for Nigeria’ - Odeyemi, new ‘Eden’ creator

Nchawu leaves CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

a place where problems relating to the environment, pollution, food security, water, power, agro/forestry conservation could be solved. There must be a venue for research and where solutions can be procured for these problems which would be rearing their heads against human existence on the surface of the earth. And this is what is happening today” Odeyemi visualized the future of his farm and implored journalists to help create public and government awareness to the great potentials of this farm by focusing on scientific and research works.

“With this farm, the employment opportunities that can be generated from here are limitless. We can gainfully employ a lot of people to work here while students can make a lot of re-

search that can further boost our economy because it is a chain and multiplier effect.

“This is my legacy for Nigeria, Nigerians and the generations yet unborn. It is the future of the city, the state and the country at large. All these trees, the fauna and flora here must be conserved and preserved. It is a great asset economically, biologically, culturally, ecologically, botanically and medically. This forest will soon be used for carbon trading in the world. So I can never afford it to be destroyed or tampered with.”

Government presence Inviting federal and state governments as well as individuals to join in running and preserving the farm, the 69-year-old Professor sends out this appeal: “It is true this eco-tourism enclave is my dream which is now a reality, but this dream

‘‘I will not mind if anybody, organisation and government joins me in ensuring that this dream is sustained to serve its purpose of creation. It is now beyond a family affair.”

is not for my family alone; it is for the cities, for the states and for the nation as a whole. I will not mind if anybody, organisation and government joins me in ensuring that this dream is sustained to serve its purpose of creation. It is now beyond a family affair.”

Born in Iloko-Ijesha in 1946, Prof Odeyemi was the first scientist in the world to develop fungicides-resistant rhizobia for legume inoculation (USA Patent No 4, 094,097). The first rhizobiologist to develop Bradyrhizobium inoculants in West Africa. This inoculants have been used by the FAO, FMA and National Special Program for Food Security to boost cowpea and legume yields in Niger, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kwara and Katsina States.

He was the first to mechanise compost/organic fertilizer pro-

duction for Shell (SPDC) Warri.

The fertilizer was used in most of the secondary schools in Osun State to boost School Agricultural programme in 2002.

Odeyemi was also the first to build a biogas generator (renewable/green energy) in Nigeria. The methane gas can be used for cooking, lighting and electricity generation. The Chinese model biogas digester at Prof Odeyemi’s residence is used for cooking and lighting and it can last 70years according to him. He was the first scientist to demonstrate in Nigeria and Canada the feasibility of using sunshine and seeds of Moringa Oleiferato purify water instead of non-renewable alum. He was the pioneer Rector of Osun State College of Science and Technology, EsaOke. He was given national award Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1999.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

TRANSFORM COMMUNITY CHURCH The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Pst. Henry George 2. Pst. Mrs. Precious George AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. To transform life through the word of God .

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: PST. HENRY GEORGE ALL SUFFICIENT GOD INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named assembly has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. Prophet Adeleke Joshua Abiodun 2. Elesaodo Clement 3. Adeleke Amos Ayotunde Aims and Objectives To propagate gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nation of the earth starting from Nigeria Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: JENNIFER OLOTU MRS. 08023353000

DEAF SUPPORTERS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Mr Dahunsi Afolabi 2. Mr Ibrahim Amuda Yusuf 3. Mr Muhammed Abdullahi Bima 4. Mrs Okocha Rebecca Idayat THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:To cater for welfare and needs of deaf and dumb people in Nigeria Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT,Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY:- SECRETARY

BELIEVERS WORD IDENTITY INT’L CHURCH This is to inform the General Public that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Rev. Okechukwu Christopher Abazie 2. Rev. Gift Ugochi Abazie 3. Pastor Chinedu Philip Ogbonna 4. Pastor Benjamin Chibueze Okonkwo 5. Elder Babalola Ogundeji Ogundare THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS: To preach the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT,Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY:- Trustees

CHRISTWAY PRAYER & EVANGELICAL CHURCH The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the C.A.C for registration under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act Cap 20 LFN 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Pastor Aderogba Israel Adeyemo.

2.Pastor Ajiboye Ayodele Adedayo.

3.Pastor (Mrs) Olowoyo Grace Olutoyin.

4. Abomoge Ayokunnu Oluwasogo.

AIMS AND OBJS: 1. To preach the gospel of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, C.A.C, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

21 Public Notice

PALACE OF PEACE GOD’S ATTITUDE CHURCH

THE NAWAIR-UD-DEEN SOCIETY NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

This is to inform the genera public that the above name THE NAWAIR-UD-DEEN SOCIETY NIGERIA has applied to the corporate affairs commission Abuja for CHANGE OF TRUSTEE registration under part c of the companies and allied matter act l990.

TRUSTEES: 1. Joseph Olusola Ebiniyi.

2. Akapo Joshua 3. Abel Abraham 4.Paul Ebiniyi.

5.Abosede Ebiniyi.

6.Augustine Ahonsi 7.Akolawole Olorunfemi 8.Richard Akintunde Martins

OLD TRUSTEE ARE.

THE NEW TRUSTEE ARE.

1. Alhaji Chief Yusuff Moyo Abudu.

2. Alhaji Chief Adegbenro kadiri 3. Alhaji Salimon Arikewuyo Adeboye 4. Alhaji Yinusa Abefe Akinloye.

1. Alh.Chief Abdul Ganny Adisa Adegboyega 2. Alh.Chief Fatai Layiwola Aremu Isiaka 3. Alh.Chief Raufu Akanni Saliu Olowo 4. Alh.Chief Abdul kaudri Orunsolu.JP 5.Alh. Rasheed Olayinka Yussuff 6. Alhaji Yunusa Abefe Akinloye

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To promote peace and unity 2 To promote islamic religion.

Aims and Objectives To preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed; Secretary

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed by: Omoniyi Lanre

SOURCE OF JOY EVANGELICAL MINISTRY (SOJEM)

THE POWER OF WORD SOLUTION MINISTRY

Address: No 12, SOJEM Street, Ajegunle Ale, Phase 2, Elijah Bus Stop, Badagry Expressway, Lagos

The general public is hereby notified that the above name MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. Rev. (Dr.) Augustine Adeyemi Igunsabi - (President) 2. Prophetess Elizabeth A. Igunsabi 3. Pastor Abraham K. O. Shittu 4. Pastor Timothy A. Ilori 5. Rev. Apostolic Mother Prophetess Eunice Akinola 6. Apostle Rotimi Samuel Igun 7. Deaconess Rachael Adeola Kareem

THE TRUSTEES: 1. Pastor Aregbesola David Adebayo – Gen. Overseer 2. Pastor Oshoniyi Olawale Sunday 3. Pastor (Mrs) Aregbesola Rose Bose 4. L/Evang. Opeaye Ebun Elizabeth 5. Aregbesola Oluwadare Joshua

Aims and Objectives 1. To preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To embark on mass evangelism 3. To teach the Word of God and bring understanding to mankind

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach the gospel of Christ to all nation.

2. To heal the sick, deliver the oppressed and set the captive free through the power and efficacy of prayer Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, District Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed; Secretary

Signed: TRUSTEES

OYO METROPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

IGHOGBOYA SOCIAL CLUB IBADAN

The general public is hereby notified that the above name ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above name CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES: 1. Archbishop Ayo ladigbolu Lawrence Sanda - Chairman 2. Prince Adeniran Gabriel Eyinada - Secretary 3. Alhaji Salaam Aruna Sijuola 4. Barr. Okediji-Abimbola Mojisola Bridget 5. Adeyi Amos Oyetunji 6. Engr. Chief Taiwo Francis Adedayo. A 7. Surv. Chief Lala Benjamin Adebimpe 8. Prof. Olaifa Julius Ipadeola 9. Imam Adebayo Mosind Abdul Ganiy 10. Sir Adeleke Anthony Ayoola

THE TRUSTEES:

1. Aikhumenlo Victor - Chairman 2. Omionawele Jude Eke - Secretary 3. Unabor Pius AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote socio cultural and infrastructural development of Oyo Town.

2. To promote and preserve cultural heritage of Oyo Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, District Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

1. To promote peace, unity and love among members.

2. To care for members welfare Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, District Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed TRUSTEES

PROGRESSIVE YOUTH FORUM OF OYO STATE

MERCY CHRIST JESUS INTERNATIONAL WIN MINISTRY

This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry have applied for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 LFN 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Olajide Adedeji Stanley - Chairman 2. Orioke Olushola Aremu 3. Folarin Adekunle Babatunde - Secretary 4. Morakinyo Daniel Adediran 5. Adesina Olatunde Babatunde

Trustees:

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:To assist the less privileged

Aims & objective:

1, Olaoye Taiwo (General Overseer) 2, Clement Kenny Cosmos (Member) 3, Taiwo-Olaoye Ibukun Oluwa Theresa (Member) 4, Clement Rita Akomu (Member) 5, Olaoye Oluwakemi Elizabeth (Member).

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT,Abuja,within 28 days fromthe date of this publication SIGNED BY:CHAIRMAN

SIGNED BY:SECRETARY

To carry out the great commission of evangelising the gospel to the world.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: Trustees

UMUAGA WELFARE ASSOCIATION LAGOS BRANCH

FINGER OF GOD RELIEF TRUST FUND

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE have applied for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 LFN 2004.

The general public is hereby notify that the above named has applied to the corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part c of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Mr. Cornelius Eneh 2. Apostle Sunny Onyia 3. Mr. Charlie Ude 4. Mrs. Mentie Ude 5. Mrs. Obiageli Nwachukwu 6. Mr. Johnnie Eze AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. To foster increased understanding among members, 2. To cater for the wefare of members, 3. To champion the course of development of education and provision of social amenities in Umuaga.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: B.C. UDE ESQ (Solicitor) 43, Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja, Lagos.(08056442995,07036845520)

The Trustees Are:

1. Mr. Aminu Momoh- Chairman 2. Mrs. Osaze Ukpemhen- Secretary 3. Mrs. Violet Oyarekua- Member 4. Mrs. Augustina Ossai- Member.

Aims & Objectives:

1. To provide moral and financial support to the indigent students in our community 2. To provide welfare to the less privileged people.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission, plot 420 Tigris crescent, off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Mr. Aminu Momoh- Chairman

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

NEMA DG vows to reclaim rep seat for PDP Sunday Isuwa

•••

Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, has assured VicePresident Namadi Sambo that he would use his resources and position to reclaim Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency in court.

All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Jagaba Adams Jagaba, won the

Federal Constituency, while John Audu Kwaturu and Nuhu Goro won the Kaduna State House of Assembly seat in Kachia and Kagarko, respectively.

Sani-Sidi, it was alleged, had earlier hired thugs to disrupt elections at the APC strongholds when he realised APC was winning, which led to the cancellation of election results in those areas by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“We have gathered reliably that, during a meeting of stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), SaniSidi promised Sambo that he would use his position to ensure that all the election won by APC in Kachia/ Kagarko Federal Constituency were reversed in favour of PDP candidate,” Umar Garba, a chieftain of the APC, told journalists.

He said in order to keep to his promise, Sani-Sidi

Murder case: Lagos court frees APC chieftain, two others

••• An Ebute-Metta Chief Mag-

istrate’s Court, on Thursday, in Lagos, discharged and acquitted a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tola Kasali, 63, and two others on alleged charges of murder and possession of firearms.

The Magistrate, Mr. E. O. Ogunkanmi, made the pronouncement after he had read an advice from the office of the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The two other accused were Mr. Folami Musiliu, 65, a Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government, and Mr. Tobun Abiodun Lukman, 35, the chief security officer to one of the APC chieftains

in the state.

Kasali was a former commissioner for Special Duties and former governorship aspirant, on the platform of the APC. Kasali and the two other persons were first arraigned on November 11, 2014, on charges bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, murder and illegal possession of fire arms.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Mr Jonathan Ogunsanya, the prosecutor and a senior state counsel in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, informed the court of an advice signed by the DPP, Mrs. E. I. Alakija, and urged the court to act on it.

RECONCILIATION TABERNACLE PLACE This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990 TRUSTEES: (1). Pastor Binitie Charles Ayo – Chairman (2). Binitie Patricia Olusola (3). Binitie Charles Toritseju – Treasure (4). Binitie Charlotte Oritsematosan (5). Binitie Yvonne Oritseweyinmi (6). Binitie steve Oritsegbubemi (7). Barrister Kingsley Ediale - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: (1). To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ (2). To propagate Christian Education, outreaches, Seminars, workshops.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT,Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed: The Secretary

UNCHANGING POWER OF GOD PRAYING MINISTRY This is to inform the General Public that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Airhihenbuwa Moses Osamudiamen 2. Samuel Deborah Mabel 3. Ekebe Thomas Alik 4. Oluwabamidele Oluwatomisin Samuel 5. Olaiya Abayomi Solomon THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To preach the gospel of Lord Jesus Christ 2. To deliver the oppressed through praying and deliverance 3. To set the captives free through demonstration of the power of God wroughting signs and wonders like the apostolic days Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT,Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY:- SECRETARY

Ogunkanmi read out a part of the advice, dated March 31, and recommended the discharge of the first, second and third defendants, since no case was preferred against them.

“The first to third defendants are hereby discharged and the case is hereby struck out,” he said.

After reading out the DPP’s advice, Ogunkanmi pronounced the three defendants discharged and acquitted.

Counsel to Kasali, Mr. Kunle Odufayo, said that there was nothing special about the case, adding that the DPP’s advice equally confirmed his client’s position and innocence.

had disbursed money to the PDP candidates who lost at the polls, and hired a senior lawyer close to Sambo to pursue the state and the House of Representatives cases in court.

When contacted through SMS, Sani-Sadi forwarded same to one Ahmed Maiyaki, the Director-General to the outgoing Kaduna State governor on Media and Publicity. Ahmed Maiyaki pleaded that the story should be spiked.

Sani-Sidi

Niger govt assures of smooth handover on May 29 Pita Chikwem Minna

•••

Niger State government, on Thursday, assured the in-coming All Progressives Congress (APC) government of a smooth handover on May 29, even as the government had released the presidential suites to the Governor-elect, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, for his use.

In addition, the administration of Governor Babangida Aliyu has also made available two of the government houses to the governor-elect for use by his guests during the transition period.

The head of the 270-man Transition Implementation Committee of the administration and

LIFE ARK CHRISTIAN CENTRE INT’L

Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Idris Ndako Kpaki, who gave the assurance of the smooth handover, also told newsmen in Minna that the administration had also ‘provided some other logistics to the governor-elect’.

Kpaki disclosed that the official residence of the governor, within the premises of the government house, was also undergoing renovation and would be completed before the handover date.

PRECIOUS OGOCHUKWU OLALOKUN

I, formely known and address as Miss Precious Ogochukwu Dickson now to be known and addressed as Mrs. Precious Ogochukwu Olalokun. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DIGNIFY ARTICULATE MEN’S CLUB

This is to inform the General Public that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990.

This is to inform the General Public that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Pastor Adebayo Folu James 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Adebayo Blessing 3. Pastor Afolabi Ebenezer 4. Elder Atsu W. Daniel 5. Mr. Oluwasanya A. Richard 6. Mrs. Oluwasanmi D. Bukola 7. Mrs. Mosowa Folashade

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Kingsley Chukwudi Echenim – President 3. Ogbenede Iyamu – Secretary 5. Nosakhare Ilekhuoba – Treasurer 7. Alex Ohale – Member

Vision Leading men to dignity objectives 1. To draw men from power of darkness into light of the gospel of Christ 2. To train men and women as soldiers of Christ making impact for the kingdom of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: Biodun Balogun

GARDEN OF GOD ESTATE

2. Sunny Iduozee – Vice President 4. Samson Emonina - Asst. Secretary 6. Dr. Smart Ezukuse - Legal Adviser 8. Fredrick Osamuyi Akenuwa – Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote friendship among members.

2. The club shall be a non-profit private membership organization 3. The club shall strive to cooperate with and contribute towards charitable and other such organization aimed at helping the needy and less fortunate in the society.

4. The club shall foster unity and common purpose by encouraging members on wealth creation.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Anthony Nwami Attorney to the club (07065271960)

FESTUS ADEWOLE FOUNDATION

This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990.

This is to inform the General Public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under ‘Part C’ of the Company And Allied Matters Act,1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Chukwu Stephen Chukwu 2. Ibemere Ugochukwu Vitals 3. Ugochukwu Okwuchukwu Emmanuel 4. Ugochukwu David Chibuoke 5. Charles Jonathan Chike

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Pastor Festus Oluwatosin Adewole - President 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Felicia Busola Adewole 3. Apostle Oladejo Olagboye Ademola 4. Mr. Ademola Ojo 5. Mrs. Akhuetie Mercy Mojisola - Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To foster unity among members 2. For the development, progress and welfare of residents of the estate Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT,Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY:- SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To protect the interest of the members 2. To promote the welfare of the people in the immediate environment 3. To foster unity, integration and cooperation among members and society at large.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, FCT,Abuja,within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY:- SECRETARY

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

'3.2m Nigerians live with HIV'

••• The Society for Family Health has said that more than 3.2 million Nigerians are still living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

Managing Director of the society, Mr. Bright Ekweremadu, said this on Thursday in Abuja, at a forum to mark the end of the programme on Enhancing Nigeria’s Response (ENR) to HIV and AIDS. He solicited realistic programmes to fight the virus, insisting that with the prevalent rate, much still has to be done to tackle the menace.

``There have been tremendous improvements in addressing and halting the HIV and AIDS burden in Nigeria, and there is still a lot to be done, especially with regards to expanding access to services,’’ he said.

According to Ekweremadu, the ENR is one of Nigeria’s largest HIV/AIDS grants. ``ENR was funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to promote sexual reproductive health and HIV reduction in Nigeria. ``Its goal was to also contribute to reducing the spread of HIV epidemic and mitigating the impact of AIDS in Nigeria”, he added.

Niger budgets N594m for education varsity staff Pita Chikwem Minna

•••

Niger State government has budgeted over N594.6 million for the recruitment of staff for the new University of Education and the College of Education, both in Minna, the state capital.

The amount will cover the salaries of 302 teaching and non-teaching staff of the University of Education, six management staff as well as the engagement 212 academic and non-aca-

23 News

picture of the building gutted by fire in Ebonyi

Fire renders 20 families homeless in Ebonyi Jacob Mbam Aliyu

demic staff.

The Commissioner for Education, Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, who disclosed this at a news conference in Minna on Thursday, said that the new University of Education will take-off very soon as the National Universities Commission (NUC) has concluded arrangements to undertake a visitation to the university, with a view to approving its programmes.

Abakaliki

••• Over 20 families have

been rendered homeless and few others displaced, following a fire outbreak that gutted a 17-room residential building, situated at No. 13, Awolowo Street, very close to the Fire Service office, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Also, properties worth millions of naira, which included eight shops of different kinds attached to the building, were destroyed by the inferno, which was caused by an electrical fault.

Other items destroyed by the fire, which was said to have started around 9.00 am on Thursday, included refrigerators, electronics, furniture and other household properties.

One of the victims of the inferno, Michael Nkwegu, told our correspondent that there was power outage in the area and, no sooner than the light was restored, there was a loud noise from the roof and, before they could know what was happening, fire had engulfed everywhere.

“We started seeking for ways to quench the fire. The most annoying thing is that

we were helpless. There was no water, while fire service officials could not come to our rescue, even as their office is just a stone's throw from the scene.

“The fire officials complained that they don’t have water to put off the fire,’’ he said. Nkwegu, however, called on the government and public spirited individuals to come to their aid, adding that the inferno had brought untold hardships to the people, as many of them were stranded, along with their families.

Meanwhile, restless youths, who were annoyed by the inability of the fire

service men to either put off the inferno or come to the rescue of the victims, smashed five private vehicles parked at the premises of the fire service offices and burnt a motorcycle.

Residents of the area had marched to the fire service office, located along Water Works road to register their grievances over the attitude of the officials.

But for the quick intervention of policemen, there would have been breakdown of law and order, as the protest later turned violent, following a clash between the fire officials and the protesters.

tion of 20mw hydro power plant in Kogi State, and Alphamax Consortium, for the provision of transmission infrastructure, said that the production of 20mw of power, spread across 50 sites across the country, would contribute immensely in alleviating the power challenges of the nation, as it would be easier, cheaper and quicker to harness, as against the setting up of a 400–500mw capacity plant in terms of time, space and cost.

He described the venture as a proactive means of solving the obvious acute electricity supply problem

facing the country, especially as it was using renewable energy, which is environmental friendly.

He added that it would be a holistic project that would also address agricultural challenges in its area of location, as more water would be harvested and made available for farming.

The minister further urged the company to work towards getting the necessary licenses to ensure smooth take-off, adding that because government is a continuum, and given the viability of the project, it would definitely see the light of the day, even with

the in-coming administration.

Prof. Nebo, who attributed the present challenges of the transmission network to long years of dilapidated infrastructure, charged the Alphamax Company to take a careful look at the advert placements of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, with a view to keying-into areas where their proposed projects will be most required.

“If we produce all the power in the world without a corresponding transmission capacity, how will we get the power out to the end users”?

Jonathan orders removal of campaign posters, billboards Minister proffers solution to Nigeria’s Egena Egena epileptic power supply •••

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, directed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation and other bodies that campaigned for his re-election, to start removing the posters, billboards, banners, signs and other campaign materials they erected nationwide.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said with the 2015 general election over, it was appropriate that steps be taken to restore the environment in Nigerian cities, towns and villages to their

pre-election campaign state.

Jonathan urged Nigerians to put the recent political campaigns behind them and join hands with the incoming administration in working for a more united, peaceful, stable and progressive nation.

The statement read: “With the 2015 presidential election now concluded and the country preparing for the inauguration of a new administration on May 29, President Goodluck Jonathan believes that it is appropriate that steps be taken to restore the environment in Nigerian cities, towns and villages to their pre-elections campaign state.

Augustine Okezie Abuja

••• The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, has suggested embedded power generation as the panacea to the epileptic power supply that has plagued industrial and economic activities in the country.

According to him: "It would guarantee regular power supply for both domestic and industrial uses.’’

Professor Nebo, who made the disclosure while signing two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Winners Power Gardens Limited, for the construc-

24

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Today in History Æ s Cartoons from our Archives

Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

1908 Tornado flattens towns in Louisiana and Mississippi A single tornado travelled 150 miles through Louisiana and Mississippi, leaving 143 dead in its wake. In total, 311 people lost their lives to twisters during the deadly month of April 1908 in the south-eastern United States. Another 1,600 were seriously injured.

Two of the locations worst hit by the single extraordinary tornado on this day were Amite, Louisiana, and Purvis, Mississippi. In Amite, the tornado was 2.5 miles wide as it touched the ground, killing 29 residents. In Purvis, 55 people were killed and 400 were injured.

Tornadoes on average travel four to eight miles along the ground at about 60 miles per hour. This one travelled more than 150 miles. Though large, it is not nearly the most impressive on record—a 200-mile-long tornado was recorded on one oc-

casion.

In the United States, it is rare that a single tornado kills more than 50 people, although a series or grouping of related tornadoes sometimes causes such damage.

The death rate from tornadoes has plunged since this 1908 disaster. Until the World War II era, public warnings were very rare.

During the war, spotters were used to protect ammunition plants and, when the war ended, this system was adapted for use as a civilian-warning system.

It is estimated that 15,000 people in the United States lost their lives to tornadoes in the 20th century. The most deadly twisters now take place in the densely populated nations of India and Bangladesh, the only other area in the world besides North America where the climate conditions regularly cause these dangerous storms.

Daily Times April 24, 1961

1916

Easter Rebellion begins

On this day in 1916, on Easter Monday in Dublin, the Irish Republican Brotherhood, a secret organization of Irish nationalists led by Patrick Pearce, launched the so-called Easter Rebellion, an armed uprising against British rule. Assisted by militant Irish socialists under James Connolly, Pearce and his fellow Republicans rioted and attacked British provincial government headquarters across Dublin and seized the Irish capital’s General Post Office. Following these successes, they proclaimed the independence of Ireland, which had been

1922

under the repressive thumb of the United Kingdom for centuries, and by the next morning were in control of much of the city. Later that day, however, British authorities launched a counteroffensive, and by April 29 the uprising had been crushed. Nevertheless, the Easter Rebellion is considered a significant marker on the road to establishing an independent Irish republic.

Following the uprising, Pearce and 14 other nationalist leaders were executed for their participation and held up as martyrs by many in Ireland. There was little

love lost among most Irish people for the British, who had enacted a series of harsh anti-Catholic restrictions, the Penal Laws, in the 18th century, and then let 1.5 million Irish starve during the Potato Famine of 1845-1848. Armed protest continued after the Easter Rebellion and in 1921, 26 of Ireland’s 32 counties won independence with the declaration of the Irish Free State. The Free State became an independent republic in 1949. However, six north-eastern counties of the Emerald Isle remained part of the United Kingdom, prompting some nationalists to reorganize themselves into the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to continue their struggle for full

Forensic evidence is introduced in Australia

Colin Ross was hanged to death in Australia for the rape and murder of 13-year-old Alma Tirtschke.

Ross was one of the first criminals in Australia to be convicted based on forensic evidence. On December 30, 1921, Tirtschke was reported missing in Melbourne. The next day, a constable patrolling Gun Alley, a well-known area for prostitutes, found the young schoolgirl’s body bundled up in a blanket.

Strangely, despite evidence of a brutal rape, there was no trace of blood found on her body.

Given the scarcity of cars in Melbourne at the time, the police surmised that the perpetrator had to live nearby. Prostitutes’ eyewitness accounts led authorities to Colin Ross, who owned a nearby bar. Pretending to be helpful, Ross volunteered that Tirtschke had been at the bar on the day she was killed.

Police soon learned that Ross had previously indicated a predilection for young girls. He had reportedly told someone, “I prefer them without feathers.”

Although this was enough to convince law enforce-

Irish independence.

In the late 1960s, influenced in part by the U.S. civil rights movement, Catholics in Northern Ireland, long discriminated against

by British policies that favoured Irish Protestants, advocated for justice. Civil unrest broke out between Catholics and Protestants in the region and the violence escalated as the pro-Catholic IRA battled British troops. An ongoing series of terrorist bombings and attacks ensued in a drawn-out conflict that came to be known as “The Troubles.” Peace talks eventually took place throughout the mid- to late 1990s, but a permanent end to the violence remained elusive.

1940 Britain

ment officials of Ross’ guilt, additional evidence would be needed for a conviction. Since no evidence would be forthcoming from the obviously cleaned body, police turned their attention to Ross’ house.

There they found a blanket that had long red hairs on it.

The colour and length matched Tirtschke’s hair, and new experts in the field identified it as human. Some of the hairs had been pulled out at the roots, suggesting

a struggle. At the trial, the defence challenged the forensics expert to distinguish and identify several hair samples. The strategy backfired when the expert did just that, and Ross was convicted.

It is now believed, however, that Ross was almost certainly innocent. Recent forensic research has demonstrated that the hair samples were misidentified, either accidentally or at the behest of the police investigator in charge of the case.

begins its evacuation of Greece in Operation Demon

On this day in 1940, British forces, along with Australian, New Zealand, and Polish troops, began to withdraw from Greece in light of the Greek army’s surrender to the Axis invaders. A total of 50,732 men are evacuated quickly over a six-day period, leaving behind weapons, trucks, and aircraft.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Court halts impeachment FAAN disrupts moves against Fayose ••• Arik Air's operations in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, set aside all actions and activities of the embattled Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin and the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers from November 21, 2014 till date, including the purported commencement of impeachment proceeding and notice alleging misconduct against the State Governor, Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose and his Deputy, Dr Olusola Eleka.

Justice E. Chukwu gave the ruling on an Exparte Application in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/361/15 filed by the factional Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Dele Olugbemi and six other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers. The judge also granted plaintiffs in the suit leave to serve the originating summons on the defendants through newspaper advertisements.

Olugbemi and six others had filed the suit, seeking an order of the court de-

claring the seats 19 lawmakers vacant having abdicated their functions since November 21, 2014 and also an order restraining the police from aiding, abetting or assisting the lawmakers from carrying out any illegal act.

Apart from Omirin and the APC legislators, also joined as defendants in the suit are the Inspector General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Hearing of the Motion on Notice has been adjourned till May 13, 2015.

Voter apathy threatens Imo re-run election Val Okara Owerri

•••

There are strong indications that voters in Imo State may not troop out to vote in the governorship and House of Assembly re-run election, holding tomorrow in the state.

Reports from the affected electoral wards and polling units across the state showed that voters were not showing the desired interest to participate in the election.

Some registered voters, who spoke with our correspondent, alleged that selfish politicians, who manipulated the previous votes, were responsible for the cancellation of the

April 11 election.

“So, why should we go out again to vote? After casting our votes, politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will do whatever they like. It is better for them to just announce the results and declare winners, without bothering the masses,” one voter said.

According to some of them, the last two elections exposed the high level of impunity on the part of politicians and INEC's ad-hoc officials, with the snatching of ballot boxes and thuggery being the order of the day.

“One would have

thought that the policemen present that day were impersonators, with the way they brandished their guns and were shooting sporadically. It was a terrible situation. We need to be careful because there would be no significant change by whoever wins in the state,” one of them said.

The INEC in in the state had, recently, declared the Governorship and House of Assembly elections inconclusive, because of alleged electoral violence and fraud.

The commission, consequently, fixed tomorrow (April 25) for the re-run of the inconclusive polls in over 250 polling units.

NDE urges Anambra youths on job creation Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

•••

The Director-General of National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, has called on unemployed Nigerian youths to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the directorate for the unemployed in the country.

Mohammed, who spoke at the City Sports Club, Amawbia, during the opening ceremony of the NDE-Enterprises and Finance Counselling Clinic for unemployed gradu-

ates in Anambra State, on Thursday, said that most of the developed nations did not achieve prosperity because of large corporations, but through small scale businesses, which provided job opportunities for majority of the populace.

Represented by the Anambra State Coordinator, Mr. Mike Mbata, the DG said that it was against this backdrop that the directorate encourages the formation of small businesses, which, he added, have the potential to grow into big businesses, de-

pending on the commitment of the owners.

He said the purpose of the training was to ensure that the participants discover their potentials; how to write bankable feasibility studies, and also expose them to sources of funding facilities.

Head of the Small Scale Enterprises Department of NDE, Mrs. Henrietta Achigbu, represented by Mrs. Chikaodili Ike, urged the participants not to be distracted so as to avail themselves of the maximum benefit from the programme.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

••• Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), on Thursday morning, disrupted Arik Air’s operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, when they denied the airline’s staff access to their duty posts.

A statement from the Corporate Affairs Manag-

25 News

er, Arik Air, Mr, Ola Banji, said the latest action might not be unconnected with the alleged debt that FAAN claimed Arik was owing it. A claim he described as fictitious and malicious.

He insisted that Arik Air did not owe FAAN any money, since the agency’s charges were paid in advance (pay-as-you-go basis), adding that it had been the practice for over two years, when all the aviation agencies introduced pay-as-you-go for their services.

He said the bogus debt claim by FAAN was, therefore, unacceptable to Arik Air. Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, had earlier stepped into the lingering debt issue between FAAN and Arik Air and

had directed that a firm of auditors be engaged to reconcile the books. This process had not been concluded before the latest action

by FAAN on Thursday.

Banji said since about 10:50am, when the minister directed the Managing Director of FAAN to allow Arik Air access into the terminal, the directive was yet to be complied with by FAAN. He apologised to the passengers for the inconvenience that the FAAN action might have caused them, adding that safety and comfort of passengers remained the bedrock of the airline’s operations.

Investigations by Daily Times revealed that Arik airline had never paid landing charges in Lagos, since it started operations as an airline.

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26

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Tourism Æ s

Nigerian Museums: Any relevance to the present generation?

Tayo Adelaja Email: t.adelaja@dailytimes.com.ng

Kano museum

Tayo Adelaja Museums are places where history is made tangible. It is a memory bank to remind one of the past. No wonder most societies in different parts of the world trace their origin through the works of arts. Museums are collection centres of heritage materials that render invaluable help to unlock memories.

Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Abdallah Yusuf Usman, classified the museum as the Central Bank of cultural resources that stores several works of arts for posterity.

“The museum is the Central Bank of cultural resources, a collection of memories about man’s

way of life, his achievements and progress over time.”

From the 1950s to date, over 20 museums have been established to help in the managing of cultural materials which are mostly artifacts and ethnographic materials found within Nigeria.

The museums in Nigeria are often viewed as cultural resource centres charged with the responsibility to collect, store and showcase to the public the cultural materials of ancient times. In view of this, the museums are mostly stocked with antiquities most of which photographs are seen in books and other public historical documents.

Speaking on the relevance of museums to the present generation, Mrs Oluwakemi Malomo, a business woman in Lagos, said,

“The patronage of Nigeria museums is on the downward trend.

Nigerians are no longer curious about their past. In our days, we relished the memory of going to museums and it was an exciting time.”

“In comparison to developed countries where museums are tourist attractions, museums in Nigeria remain desolate and under-utilized. When you mention museum now, a lot of youths are likely going to look askance, if not look at you as old school.”

Most Nigerians are not interested in our museums anymore.

It is unfortunate that the present generation is not tapping into the rich history the museum has to offer,” Malomo added.

In his own response, Nwa-

Continued on page 27

Must-see sites in Nigeria Tunde Atobatele

Later Benin brass commemorative head

Azumini Blue River Rose Azumini is an ancient community in the South-East. In this community, there is a beautiful, fascinating blue river which flows from the southern part of Abia State towards the edge of neighbouring Akwa-Ibom State.

The water is branded “Azumini Blue River” because it is blue, clear and appealing.

Tourists are always enticed by the bright and sparkling nature water; so bright that you can clearly see things beneath the river such as fishes as they swim around, the white sandy bottom and the bright colourful stones and pebbles lying in its bed. Canoe riders sailing from one end of the river to the other.

Its comfortable sandy beaches dotted with chairs, tables and barbeque grills, offer special

pleasure to tourists who often relax at the bank to enjoy the unique works of nature.

Silicon Hill Near the Nkpologu Campus of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) is found the Silicon Hill --- a very important deposit of the mineral, silica. The site, therefore,

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

27 Tourism

Top five museums in Nigeria

Slave relics, Badagry Museum

Museum imperative for national development Continued from page 26 chukwu Ephraim, a legal solicitor with Nwachukwu and Co, Lagos stated, “In developed countries, museums provide the prime function of offering enjoyable and rewarding stimulation for individual minds in their hours of freedom from their daily chores. It is not surprising that such museums in Europe and America now make millions of Euros and dollars yearly either through admission charges and or sales of books, pamphlets, paintings, casts and other souvenirs.

“The very rich and diversified fauna and flora and other natural history resources in tropical Africa provide readily materials for exhibition in our museums. The impact of this to tourism which is an important service-offer to the outside world is then obvious.

Dr Yomi Akindele Oscar, a lecturer at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, said, “It is an established fact that Nigeria is a country of rich natural history. It is however unfortunate to note that the native fauna and flora, most especially the former are relatively unknown. And

much worse is the fact that a sizeable amount of what is known can be found only in collections and other works housed in museums outside Africa.

“Yet, an adequate number of the natural history objects are very vital for any effective and judicious utilization of these resources. Furthermore, there is no gainsaying that a natural history museum is the natural soul of a nation. This is because the natural history objects are significant objects of any nation as they can reveal the past, inform us about the present and predict the future.

“The existence and meaningful development of the museum therefore is imperative for a nation which is aspiring to be industrially, scientifically and technologically great. The National Museum, if properly organised, well developed and adequately financed can be a source of fund generation for the nation. This can be achieved through provision of identification services to individuals and organisations as well as sale of photographs, paintings, models and casts of natural history objects.”

Nigerian tourism sites Continued from page 26 apart from providing a tourist centre, serves economic purposes.

The surrounding environ-

Oguta Lake

ment is very captivating with hills, valleys and plains beautifully wrapped up such that one cannot ignore its breathtaking views and awe-inspiring blend.

Oguta Lake Oguta Lake is the largest natural lake in Imo State, within the Equatorial Rainforest belt of Nigeria. Apart from being a wonderful tourist site, it is of enormous economic importance to the local population (the people of Oguta, Orsu, Nkwesi, and Awo) as a source of water, fish and other water resources. It served as a Biafrian Army maritime base during the Nigerian civil war of 1967- 1970.

Nigerian National Museum Lagos

Nigerian National Museum, Lagos Founded in 1957, the Nigerian National Museum has a remarkable collection of Nigerian arts, culture, archeological and ethnographic exhibits. There you find pieces of carvings, historical statues and monuments.

The museum is located in Onikan, Lagos. The museum is a must-see and even if you have already been there, it definitely worth a second visit.

Jos Museum Jos Museum was founded in 1952 and it is situated near the Jos Zoo in the heart of the city. If you want to learn more about the prehistoric culture of Nigeria, you need to visit Jos Museum. The museum offers collections such as Nok terracotta heads – sculptures dating as far back as 500 B. C. You will also find a collection of finely crafted pottery in the Pottery Hall inside the museum.

Other collections displayed are mining exhibitions of the olden days. The unique exhibits in the

museum will definitely add to your vacation experience and leave you enchanted.

National War Museum, Umuahia Nominated among the seven wonders for tourists in Nigeria, the National War Museum is a great tourist attraction located in Umuahia, Abia State. The museum comprises of the Armed Forces gallery, the civil war gallery and the traditional warfare gallery. There you will find Ojukwu Bunker, Nigeria civil war weapons, materials related to Niger Delta conflicts, Aba Women Riot and Enugu Coal Miner Riots, and other relics such as local bombs also known as Ogbunigwe. The War Museum is a dingy reminder of the evils of war. The War Museum brings back the memories of the dark days of Civil War. One will discover the impact of war and conflicts on Nigeria’s history and reputation in this museum.

National Museum, Benin City

Head of Queen Mother (replica)

National Museum Benin

This museum is located in the heart of the city, around the King’s square. Founded in 1973, The National Museum in Benin has a notable collection of intrinsic artworks such as bronze sculptures, terracotta, cast iron pieces that represents stones of the Old Benin Empire. The museum exhibits great Benin artworks that reveal the history and culture of Benin. You’ll leave the Benin Museum with a great understanding of the Benin Culture and history of Benin Kingship.

National Museum, Kaduna Located in Kaduna, the National Museum offers collection of many archaeological and ethnographic artifacts such as terracotta statuettes and Benin bronzes. You will also find a traditional craft village located within the Museum premises, where you will see creative art crafts and even watch craftsmen at work. You will definitely enjoy this ever-changing craft exhibition that will inspired and boost your creativity zeal.

28

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Business Times Æ s

Business Editor: Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Email: emmanuelogbonnaya@dailytimes.com.ng

Expatriate quota abuse worsening in aviation sector – Ex-NUATE scribe

L – R: Executive Secretary, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), Nigeria, Dr. Abia Nzelu; Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mrs. Cima Sholotan; Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, Mr. Bola Adeeko; Convener of CECP, Mrs. M.R.A. Adeleke, and Chairman of the CECP, Prof. Pat Utomi at the 2015 NSE Corporate Challenge Press Conference at the Exchange Wednesday.

LCCI urges CBN to relax monetary conditions Charles Okonji As investor confidence and activities pick up in Africa’s largest economy following a successful and peaceful election, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has called on the country’s apex bank (Central Bank of Nigeria) to relax monetary conditions to boost lending to the real sector.

Stressing the need for a review of fiscal conditions in the financial sector, the Chamber noted that a better fiscal policy management is the catalyst for accelerated economic growth.

Alhaji Remi Bello, President LCCI, who made this call at the chamber’s 2015 first quarter press conference, Wednesday in Lagos noted that fiscal operations of government needed to be better managed to reduce money supply pressures on macro-economic conditions to create room for a growth oriented monetary policy.

“With the apparent floating of the naira exchange rate, it has become necessary for the CBN to commence the gradual easing of monetary conditions to stimulate growth in the real economy

through cheaper credit. High interest rate regime is good for the attraction of portfolio investments, but it penalises the real economy and impedes the capacity to create jobs. We call on the CBN to reduce charges on bank deposits, especially the 0.5 per cent fee to NDIC, and another 0.5 per cent for AMCON. These additional costs are invariably passed on to the investors in form of high cost of fund.” Bello stated.

Besides, he noted that the Money-deposit banks deserve to earn interest from the 20 per cent CRR on private sector deposits because the deposits were mobilised at a cost.

“The same is true of the 75 per cent CRR on public sector deposits. We believe it is only fair for some interest to be paid on account of the withdrawal of these funds from the banking system,” he said”.

Bello further urged CBN to urgently put in place a framework to ensure sustainable intervention in the interbank foreign exchange market, stressing that it has been difficult for investors to access foreign exchange to meet their various international payment obligations in the last cou-

ple of weeks.

LCCI Boss Bello lamented that the exchange rate depreciation of about 20 per cent over the last six months has impacted adversely on the profit margins of many enterprises, explaining that it was an indication that businesses were unable to pass-on the cost increases to consumers.

The President stated; “The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at the end of its last meeting held on 23rd-24th March 2015 decided to sustain the tight monetary policy regime. The committee retained Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 13 per cent; CRR on Private Sector deposits at 20 per cent; CRR on Public Sector deposits at 75 per cent; and liquidity ratio at 30 per cent. The implication is that interest rate would continue to remain high and continue to put pressure on operating costs in the economy.”

“For now, lending rate of commercial banks including fees and charges range between 22 and 34 per cent, depending on the customer profile, tenor and collateral quality. High interest rate is a concern we have expressed at every turn in our advocacy activities engagements.”

One-time Secretary General of National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and a former member of the Civil Society Representative (Aviation) in MTSS, Comrade Razaq Saidu, has said that the rate of expatriate quota abuse is getting worse in the nation’s aviation sector.

According to Saidu, the situation is more deplorable among operators of private charter airlines, “you will see the high level of abuse there. You will wonder, whether we have indigenisation law in Nigeria or not. There, expatriates are placed in positions that ought to be occupied by Nigerians without the approval of government.”

Saidu called on the in-coming government of Gen., Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to beam a searchlight on this.

“This will be part of what will bring about the real change going by the slogan of Buhari’s political party. We want this Change slogan to transform into economic change in the Aviation Industry for Nigerians,” he said.

Saidu lamented that the gross abuse of expatriate quotas is militating against the employment of Nigerians in specified positions, stressing that the issue must also be looked into, especially the Immigration Officers that are colluding with these airlines and allied agencies to give illegal approvals.

“Some time ago when I was in the National Union of Air Trans-

Saidu

port Employees (NUATE), we protested to the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) on the persistent abuse of expatriate quotas by airlines-foreign and domestic- The abuse in the aviation sector also affect the oil industry and many other sectors of the economy.

“Those perpetrating this evil never wanted the Unions to talk about it at all. If as a Union member and you happen to be a staff in the affected airline and you dare make mention of this racist syndrome, the next day, you are sacked.

“When I was in NUATE and as a result of our agitation, I know many foreigners that were deported by Alitalia (UTA), on the abuse of expatriate quota. That time, it was UTA, now it has changed to Air France,” he said.

He mentioned that also affected in this abuse were CAMEROUN Airline and British Airways.

“We have well experienced Nigerian pilots and engineers that are employable why foreigners?

They prefer bringing expatriates to take over positions meant for Nigerians hiding under “Technical Partnership.”

“When you are hiding under technical partnership, there must be a limit to the number of expatriates you are bringing, when we have numerous Nigerians itching for the jobs-such as Aeronautical engineers, Aircraft engineers Pilots and many more,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

29 Energy

NUEE protests Nigeria, Russia nuclear pact Stories by Tony Nwakaegho National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has denounced the Nigeria, Russia nuclear pact with a call on the President elect, Mohammadu Buhari to resist the on-going discussions between Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and Russia’s Rosatom Corporation (RRC) to build nuclear plants in Nigeria.

The Union through its General Secretary, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Lagos told the President-Elect, Mohammadu Buhari that part of NUEE grouse stem from the unfortunate 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, to which the union said Nigeria does not have the required capacity to manage such nuclear disaster for now.

The Union told the Presidentelect that the electricity employees took cognisance of the fact that Nuclear power plants are some of the most sophisticated and complex energy systems ever designed and no matter how well it is designed and engineered, it cannot be deemed failure-proof.

“Building of nuclear plants in Nigeria will no doubt subject the citizens to unavoidable risk.

We urged the President elect, Mohammadu Buhari to resist the on-going discussion between NAEC and RCC to build nuclear plants in Nigeria, as the nation, for now do not have the required capacity to manage disaster that may emanate from nuclear accident,” Ajaero said.

He lamented that Japan even with the high level capability in terms of human and economic power, found it extremely difficult to manage the nuclear accident, which rocked the country

Dawha

Funmi Coker

Ajaero

in 2011 and led to the death of thousands of people.

“We cannot turn skewed-eye to the global concerns that a combination of human and mechanical error at a nuclear facility could result in significant harm to people and the environment,” he added.

According to him, operating nuclear reactors contain large amount of radioactive fission projects which if dispersed, can pose direct radioactive hazard, contaminate soil and vegetation, and be ingested by humans and animals. Human exposure at high enough levels can cause

both short term illness and longer-term death by cancer and other diseases.

He explained that the issue of unresolved problem of radioactive nuclear waste remains a big issue as Nuclear power plants typically have high capital costs compared with other power plants.

He stated that Eastern Europe, a number of long established nuclear projects are struggling to find finance, notably Belene in Bulgaria and the additional reactors at Cernavoda in Romania and some potential backer have pulled out.

If the incoming government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) make good their promises, Nigeria may be inching towards attaining selfsufficiency and eventually become a net exporter of refined petroleum products by 2020.

The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Joseph Dawha, in a presentation on ‘The Challenging Face of the Oil and Gas Industry: Nigeria’s Future Strategy in a Global Context’, said the aspiration could be realised with the government’s support for establishment of new refineries.

Besides, the NNPC boss added that the corporation is currently working on a new strategy of progressive rehabilitation and upgrading of the refineries and it is expected that they will all attain at least 90 per cent capacity utilisation by next year (2016).

“NNPC has continued to intensify efforts at repositioning the refineries for better performance even as we re-strategise to face current operating challenges.

This strategy would ensure maintenance of all the refineries in parallel rather than the previous rehabilitation strategy and all the refineries will attain at least 90 per cent capacity utilisation by next year. He said “With government support for

Nigeria targets fuel adequacy, exports by 2020 the establishment of new refineries, Nigeria may attain self-sufficiency and become a net exporter of petroleum products by the year 2020.”

The nations four refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt (old and new) and Warri has about 445,000 installed capacity, but the NNPC recently said it would hit 400,000bpd production in 2016 by the time it completes the rehabilitation of the refineries.

The Green Field Refinery projects are also a major driver but the fate of the N3.7 trillion projects are yet unknown, as the Green Field Refinery earmarked for Lagos, Bayelsa and Kogi states, are yet to commence few years after the agreement was signed.

But the Dangote refinery may be a complementary factor as it is expected to take-off in 2017 with capacity to refine about 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Although the initial plan was to have 450,000bpd refining capacity, Dangote group said it had since gone back to the drawing board to enlarge the plant to 650,000bpd.

Describing the present situation where the country produces crude oil but goes abroad to buy refined products as unacceptable, the group said Nigeria as a leading producer of crude oil should also be credited with similar local refining capacity.

More IPPs under way in Lagos State – Energy Commissioner

Tijani

As part of efforts to achieve a competitive, reliable and alternative energy source for the benefit of its citizens, the Lagos State Government has embarked on aggressive reforms and changes in the power sector to meet the energy demand of all residents in the state.

Engr. Taofiq Tijani, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, disclosed this Tuesday at its Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the Fourth Year, Second Term in office of

Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

Tijani stated that the present administration had already added 48 Mega Watts (MW) of power to the electricity delivery of the state through its Independent Power Project (IPPs) in the last four years.

The Commissioner reiterated that the energy generated by the IPPs, is being used to power more than 120 public buildings and facilities like Lagos House,

Marina; Island General Hospital; High Courts; LASUTH and LASUCOM; Island Water Works; Lekki - Aja Bridge; the Old Secretariat and staff quarters, among others places.

Tijani noted that the determination of Governor Fashola’s administration in providing steady and adequate power supply for Lagosians has been demonstrated through the commissioning of five Independent

Power Projects at Akute, Lagos Island, Secretariat-Alausa, Lagos Mainland and Lekki with similar on-going projects at Ikorodu, Matori as well as Imota Industrial Schemes.

He recalled that “four years back, the power situation in the State was so dismal that the whole State got between 600 MW - 700 MW of electricity in a day whenever power was available, which he said necessitated government focus to bring adequate power delivery to the citizenry.

Honda Element

Auto 30

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

A generation of model changes

‘Niyi Omo-Okiri Overview The Honda Element was a compact crossover SUV based on a modified CR-V platform, and offered in front-wheel and all-wheel drive formats from model years 2003 through 2011.

The Element followed a concept vehicle called Model X, developed by a core group of Honda R&D engineers in 1998 and debuted at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Model X was designed to be an activity-oriented vehicle combining features of a pickup truck and a sport utility vehicle.

The 4-seat Element is optimized to carry large loads. The floor is made of easily cleanable textured urethane; the fabric is stain-resistant; the individual rear seats recline, fold up and are removable. The rear clamshell tailgate arrangement is large and the vehicle is tall, allowing large loads.

The rear side doors open outwards from the front but are not referred to as suicide doors, as they cannot be opened if the conventional front doors are not. To accommodate elimination of the B-pillars, which provides unobstructed access for side loading, the Element features a chassis with reinforced joints, strengthened lower side sills, larger cross members, enlarged rocker panels, and five bulkheads per side.

The compact SUV features a

2.4 Litre K Engine, an i-VTEC four-cylinder engine producing 166 hp (124 kW) at 5500 rpm and 160 lbft (217 Nm) of torque at 4500 rpm and front-wheel drive, or an optional all-wheel drive system — a hydraulically actuated system that operates only when front wheel slippage occurs, marketed as ‘Real Time’ all wheel drive.

All wheel drive was discontinued in Japan with the 2006 model. The Element has a towing capacity of 680 kg, or 1500 lbs.

With projected first year sales of 50,000, the Element sold 67,478 units in 2003 in the U.S. By 2010, just over 14,000 were sold, and by December 2010, shortly before its discontinuation, it had sold a total of more than 325,000 units.

In 2007, the Element won the Dogcars.com ‘Dog Car of the Year’ award because of its ‘versatile cargo space, easy-clean flooring, crate-friendly rear design and optional all-wheel drive’, and in 2010 it won the ‘Small SUV’ category as a ‘Top Safety Pick’ in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Annual Awards.

Model year changes 2005 The LX model was introduced with more standard features.

Improvements were made to the front seats, as well as the inclusion of an arm-rest for the passenger’s side captain’s chair.

2006 Honda Element EX-P A fully painted version called the EX-P became available (an extra US$500 compared to non-

painted counterpart). It comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.

2007–2008 Honda Element EX EX-P is retired and painted panels become standard on all EX models. Only the LX has the unfinished body trim.

The 2007 Element received a mild refresh, which included 10 hp increase to 166 hp, along with a 5-speed automatic transmission, and an Integrated Seat Belt System on the front seats that allows rear seat occupants to exit the vehicle without the need for a front occupant to disconnect his or her seatbelt. Side airbags are also now standard, as well as electronic stability control. The plastic latticework grille was replaced by silver-colored slats, similar in style to the 2005-06 Honda CR-V and 2006-08 Honda Pilot.

2007–2008 Honda Element SC A new ‘urban cruiser’ trim level called the SC is offered with a custom bumper and grille, lowered suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels. It will also feature upgrades to the original Element such as projector-beam halogen headlights, custom tribal print seat fabric, standard centre console and carpet in the seating areas.

2008 The only change from the 2007 Element was the addition of the

colour Royal Blue Pearl for the SC trim.

2009 Honda Element SC For 2009, the Honda Element got a navigation option and some cosmetic changes to the exterior. The front end is similar to that of the second generation Honda Pilot and Honda

Ridgeline. The hood and front grill have been redesigned, the front fenders are now all-metal rather than painted composite material, and the wheel arches were squared off. The moon-roof was no longer available for 20092011.

•Adapted from car care

The X-Trail: Old & New The big changes are beneath the skin, where the Nissan X-Trail Hybrid teams a 108kW/207Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 30kW/160Nm electric motor with a lithium-ion battery and a continuously variable transmission.

Nissan claims the X-Trail Hybrid achieves fuel consumption of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres on the Japanese cycle (which always delivers lower than official combined cycle) as well as a 75 per cent reduction of ni-

trogen oxide and non-methane hydrocarbons in exhaust emissions over 2005 standards.

The extra hybrid hardware eats into boot space, reducing the petrol-electric SUV’s cargo capacity from 550 litres to 400L. The X-Trail Hybrid will be offered in both front- and all-wheel-drive layouts, will come standard with forward emergency braking, and will be available with a 360-degree camera system and semi-automatic reverse parking.

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The journey of a thousand years begins with one step - Chinese proverb

Tunde Oyedoyin’s PERSONAL FINANCE

•••

g Business g News

Make a Habit of Reinventing Yourself (3)

What has reinventing yourself got to do with personal finance?

Perhaps, I didn’t point it out in the two preceding pieces, and if I did, let me reiterate that it affects your bottom line in more ways than one. Those who don’t give a hoot about it may soon hit a brick wall and for others, it may be a glass ceiling in their chosen careers.

Dapo Oyebanjo ( D’banj) could have limited himself to Koko beats and wanting to love Rihanna, Beyoncé and Omotola (Oliver Twist), but by making major changes to his interests and putting his ears to the ground and opening his eyes wide, he has reinvented himself and is now a gari merchant. You meet

him on the dance floor and in the market place.

Let me start by giving the backdrop for this piece. The initial plan was to make it a two-part reading and I’d thought the second instalment would be the concluding part when I sent the copy to the editor last week. While I did notice a gap - the how of reinventing yourself needed more emphasis, I thought. I toyed with the idea of finding a way to plug this, it wasn’t that compelling enough until I read the interview with Ali Baba in This Day on Saturday. Asked if he had actually retired from doing stand - up comedy, Ali Baba said he had not.

“What I have retired from was doing every other show, I’ve now restricted myself to doing A-class shows, the ones that are either state or federal government functions ...”

Hear this: “If you continue to do shows that are paying for say N1 million to N4 million, then you stifle the market for the

young ones.”

I thought stopping to do every other shows was his own way of reinventing himself. That’s part of the ‘how’ I felt was missing. So, you need not move from Nollywood to the

of doing a third part was still a probability of not more than fifty per cent, until I was inside a cab taking me home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

As we approached St Ann’s road junction, I

So, you need not move from Nollywood to the Lagos House of Assembly like Desmond Elliot, in order to reinvent yourself. Ali Baba is still in the business of stand - up comedy, despite reinventing himself.

Lagos House of Assembly like Desmond Elliot, in order to reinvent yourself. Ali Baba is still in the business of stand - up comedy, despite reinventing himself.

As if the Ali Baba piece wasn’t enough, the idea

continued my conversation with the man behind the wheel , by asking how long he had been in the business? “It’s been far too long ,” he replied . Continuing about a minute or so later, he said, “I’m going to stop doing this in De-

cember and do something else. I will be travelling home and coming back every two or three months.”

He sounded so convincing of what he was saying that I had to ask him what he meant by ‘far too long.’

‘What do you mean, how long have you been doing this?’

He replied: “I’m 52,” without his Ghana accent giving him away. According to him, he came to the UK as a 21- year-old, and had been a mini cab driver since then. Of course, our conversation didn’t end there. Apart from exporting and importing, he also revealed, “I’ve always wanted to be preaching and praying for people.”

At that point, I knew there had to be a third part to this topic.

Here’s the point , while reinventing yourself will lead some to change careers like the cab driver above, you won’t necessarily have to, as the interview with Ali Baba and the Koko master ( D’banj) have shown. So, be you a

failed banker or an alsoran politician or even an undergraduate, in order to reinvent yourself successfully, you may just need to do a short course in either a different aspect of your existing skill or a new area altogether. All you/re doing is expanding your horizon and seeking what else you could do.

And for those who have recently become opposition politicians in the last three or four weeks, you may ask your party to organise short courses on ‘becoming a successful opposition politician.’

As the stories of Ali Baba and D’banj have shown, reinventing yourself is not an overnight business. It might take doing four short courses over the space of two years and being a teaching assistant at a summer school for the next three years. Just make sure you open your eyes and put your ears to the ground.

Yours truly.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08169118913, 08075038528

Life&

TIMES Friday, April 24, 2015

Quincy

Ayodele The herbal slimming and beauty transformer L P

2,3

Tit bits from the Nigerian Entertainment conference L4

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

I have no plans to retire

- Quincy Ayodele

Isaac Oguntoye She needs little or no introduction in the herbal business. The pioneer Secretary General for the Association of Traditional medicine in Nigeria, Quincy Ayodele is also an adviser for the development of African traditional medicine to the World Health Organization (WHO). Her outfit, Quincy Herbal Slimmers has been an authority in traditional medicine not only in Nigeria, but globall, for over 20 years. In this interview, she opens up on how she has been able to transform her business to a global brand and the role of her children in the business.

When you started this business about 20 years ago, not many people wanted to identify with you because they felt you were fetish. How were you able to change that perception?

I don’t know, who will look at all these products and think there is anything fetish about it? Anybody who still thinks that I’m a fetish herbal practitioner is just deceiving himself/herself because as far as I am concerned, I am a medical herbal practitioner. I know the herbs and the science of the herbs including the dosage and the medication and what to treat with the herbs. It has nothing to do with Ifa , it is pure medicine.

Life&

T E A M

You have grown from using plastic containers to sell your herbal medicines to now packaging them scientifically.

Does this have anything to do with the change in perception?

Well, one of my daughters, Tobi studied biochemistry in school and after school, she joined the business and infused what she learnt in school to improve the business.

She advised me to stop pounding the herbs in our usual local way

and showed me how the products can be decently packaged without it losing its natural potency. That has always been my problem, not packaging my products all these years because I didn’t want to package something that will not work properly thereafter or reduce its potency or no longer have the natural formula.

It was like a tug of war because I wondered how pawpaw or slimming garri could be packaged. I insisted that, it’s either they do everything natural or they just leave my products the way they are. But she assured me that it could be done using scientific methods. So, I gave her the go ahead. She spoke with some manufacturers in developed countries to see how it can be done.

So now, everything is naturally made now to the extent that, in products where we have to put orange, it has to be orange and not orange flavour.

The slimming garri, tommy blasting tea, skin care products, though very well packaged, still retain their natural potency.

How did your clients receive the re-packaged products?

It was a welcome development.

They like it so much that I feel so embarrassed for having stuck with using plastic containers for so long.

I wondered why they didn’t tell me all these years that we have been using mortar to grind leaves. Some of them were like, “Are you sure this is Quincy?” So, they like it and they’re proud to take it abroad because its looks nice and all that. It is well developed.

Now that we have re branded, are you ready for large scale demand?

Right now, we’re still doing it on service basis. Of course the products are here and the formulas are still in my brain. So, anytime we decided to go commercial, we won’t have a problem with large scale demands. But we can only go com-

Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784

mercial as soon as we complete our dialogue with necessary authorities. For now, we use it for service because I want to remain practitioner. I want to remain in the healing industry using herbal medicine but of course, I’m going to be open to other people that want the product for commercial basis. We would contract it out for those that will do it for us. So that it can be in other countries like America and Nigerians can even buy it from internet because right now, we have approval to sell it on Amazon website. And for Amazon. com to approve a n y product on health a n d beauty s e g ment, the product must 100% herbal medicine. And all our products have been approved by Amazon.

Are your products NAFDAC compliant?

That is why I said we’re still talking to the necessary authorities. As soon as we finish all our paper work, it will be in the market. However, they have gone through several tests to prove that it’s safe for human consumption.

It has already been approved to be sold in the United States of America.

It must have cost a fortune to achieve this level of re branding and packaging. Does it mean that Quincy products will now be more expensive than what it used to be?

At Quincy, we’re not really expen-

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378

sive. We’re not particular about money because we believe money will come later. Since I started this business, it has always been Quincy and slimming. Everybody in the country knows that if you desire to get slim, then Quincy is the best place to be.

If I was particular about money, no one would still be patronizing me till date and the name would have gone into extinction. The reason for this business is to create generational wealth. By the time the money will start coming, all these products would have been everywhere, round the globe.

Do you plan to sell a franchise of the business in the nearest future?

When that times come because if you look at KFC (eatery), they didn’t start selling their franchise until af-

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893

Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478

ter 30years.For now, we can’t but when the time comes and there is a need for it, most likely. I have since discovered that, those that create good products that endure the test of time don’t use five years to perfect the product or service. Our vision is to keep developing our products in other to build confidence in people.

As a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has the body been intimated about your products?

As a WHO expert on development of African Traditional medicine, I’m proud to say that I’m one of the herbal medicine practitioners that WHO is proud of when it comes to invention, innovation, treatment and even the environment that Quincy Herbal Slimmer has for the clinical

Continued on page 3 Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, April 24, 2015

L3 Interview

Continued from page 2 management of obesity. They are really proud of me and they are aware of the development of some of our formulas.

How were you able to sell your vision to your children such that they are now part of the business?

I told my children from day that even if they go to school to study to become lawyers, engineers or doctors, they will still come and join me in this business. And that was what happened .

You look good for your age and as a grandmother. What’s the secret of your youthful look?

I’m a practitioner for anything natural. Don’t forget that I am a

herbal medicine practitioner. I use most of my product. Of course I take a lot of slimming garri every day.

I use my products because it has anti-aging and anti-wrinkle properties, it contains shea butter, has sun block and it brightens the skin.

The concept of skin brightening is not bleaching the skin but exfoliating dead skin cells and exposing the new skin. Once you are able to do that naturally, you’re not going to look bleached or damage your skin.

That is the concept of the cream that we use and that is what I use. I can tell when I see some of our clients who use our products judiciously.

They look radiant, glowing and youthful looking without dark knuckles or stretch marks.

How do you maintain your figure?

Like I said, I’m a natural person to the core, I’m attracted to natural things. I eat a lot of vegetables and take a lot of selected fruits because it is not all fruits that should be ingested. But vegetable should be taken all the time. Also, I am very active because I still do my house work with my house girl. When I have the time, I exercise. I eat healthy and I don’t buy food from eateries.

Thank God I have my daughter with me, she doesn’t allow me to eat off guard. She’s a natural person as well, even more than I am. She make sure everything I eat is healthy and she makes sure we drink lots of water at stipulated times. In our house, we must finish at least eight bottles of water whether you like

it or not. And we have all gotten used to it.

Obesity is on the increase and as someone who does clinical treatment of obesity, how can it be curbed?

Most of the food we buy from eateries cause obesity also, living a sedentary lifestyle. People no longer walk to their work places. You can’t find people on the street walking.

And people eat too much in Nigeria.

Some people eat late because they get home late from work. Most people reach home by 10pm and that’s when they remember they have not eaten all day and they settle for a bowl of pounded yam or Eba which is very wrong. How can you be eating Eba at 10pm?And some people think eating big pieces

of meat or chicken is a sign of good living not knowing that they are killing themselves. We always tell people that, meat, fish, chicken or anything that is taken from animal are formally alive as such when you eat them, it shouldn’t be more than the size of an ATM card.

And your serving should not be more than your palm.

You’ve been in the business for so long. Aren’t you thinking of retiring?

I have no intention of retiring.

My intention is to bring up my children and support them to the level where they cannot be scared of anything in the world. If they now want me to retire, they will b the one to tell me but right now, I am not retiring.

Our products came as a means to an end - Tobi Ayodele-Keeney

Tobi Ayodele-Keeney is the health and skin care consultant at Quincy Herbal. She schooled and worked in United States in as a critical/intensive care aesthetician. She is also a wife and active mother to two lovely boys.

What are the range of products that you have modernized?

We have lots of products that has been modernised. We do have our normal slimming packages for our clients who have a huge amount of weight to lose and we treat them accordingly. Within the packages, we have the new and improved products that we have come out with. Part of it is the slimming garri and the slimming tea. The slimming garri and slimming tea are our newest products The slimming garri is not made out of cassava but the name was derived from our customers who tasted it and said it tasted like garri and that’s how we came about the name, slimming garri. It’s a special blend of formulas that makes you lose weight, makes you feel full without eating. Our tommy blasting tea is an organic tea that helps one to lose belly fat and keep you fit. It’s for those that have protruding belle, it helps to bring it down. We usually combine these products, either taken together or in combination with our general weight loss plan. We also have our beauty skin care line and we think about it as a regime.

Natural skin beauty is not something we just administer to people. There is this big epidemic now in Nigeria with skin bleaching. Everybody is trying to bleach their skin and they end up damaging their skin. You will be shocked that we have not had a single client who came to us with normal skin. They all come with damaged skin, severe stretch marks, sun burn, dark knuckles, black armpit, black neck and so many other skin disorders. So, our skin lightening products

were formulated to find solutions to such problems. Our products came as a means to an end. They say necessity is the mother of invention, this is what gave birth to our skin care products. We didn’t make it for those who want to be fair in complexion but for those who have over time damaged their skin by using bleaching creams . All our products are formulated without any hydroquinone, steroids, mercury, no harsh chemical. We don’t even use any artificial preservatives and yet you see the effect very quickly, long lasting and very natural. And everything is made for the international market.

You come in, you do a consultation and we access your skin, we tell you what is best for you and we recommend what you need to use and how to go about it. I can tell you, as of today, all our clients are from the epidemic of stretch marks and burnt skin and they are all young. And something has to be done about it because the rate at which we see clients here with stretch marks, as if a tiger has bitten them, we need to act very fast. And because of the stretch marks, we have anti stretch mark intensive repair collagen cream. Of course, you have to use it in combination with other products and make it look as if they never had stretch marks before.

What prompted your interest in the herbal business?

I grew learning the business, I was born into it and now she has made it easy for me by making a name for me to build on. We all are in the business contributing our own quota. If you want your children to carry on with your business, you bring them in at the same time. There are families that have successfully handled the family business from generation to generation, it depends on what you want your children to do with

Tobi with mum, Quincy you. If you tell them they are going to be involved in this business and you get them involved from the beginning and they know, even though they have a job on the side, they will still be involved. I’m in the medical field, so it’s easier for me to connect to the medical and the scientific aspect of the business. My sister is a lawyer so she uses her profession to do the, marketing aspect of the business. My brother is into information technology. Anytime we need graphics for advertisement and all that, he’s always available. Even my husband does the administration of the business and he makes sure our financial statements are in order. So, we’re all involved in the business.

Why did you think that the products needed to be repackaged and how were you able to convince your mother to allow it happen?

When I officially joined, I had a medical and scientific background and because of that, I tend to do things in a systematic way. I have to be able to replicate things and re-

sults. I want to be able to say, when I did this ten or a thousand times, I got the same result. If I don’t do that, I’m not comfortable. Unfortunately, with herbs in Nigeria, we’re still using our hands and eyes to measure or calculate things and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. So, it was tough trying to convince her to change things; the way the herbs were being sorted, the way they were packaged, how they were prepared how they were being dispensed to clients and they were being recorded. I made her understand that for me to join her fully, the products had to look a certain way.

We’ve been working on this repackaging since 2009. Now if I sell it in the United States of America, anybody can see it and be proud to display it on his or her shelf. I feel more comfortable that they are in this format now . My mother may think it’s perfect but for me, I’m still thinking of how to improve on this.

What really are your plans for Quincy Herbal Slimmer?

I want it to be a global business.

Now, I still consider it to be a local

company. I want to see it more in the international market, that’s my long term plan for the company. And because I want to see it in the international market that is why I have to make it look a certain way and still maintain the standard quality and its efficacy. That is very important to me because it can look as beautiful as you want but if it doesn’t work, you’re just deceiving yourself. We’ve been on this for so long to make sure we don’t miss out on anything. It is even better than what we have been doing before because now, we can replicate results. The fact that it looks brand new doesn’t exactly mean it is new as we have been using and testing it for over a decade.

How will you guard against imitation?

How does any company guard against imitation? They just make sure to create awareness about their own products as much as they can.

I always suggest people buy from source, that is one sure way to guard against imitation.

Event L4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Scoops from the Nigerian Entertainment Conference Mutiat Alli & Opeoluwani Akintayo The 3rd edition of the Nigerian Entertainment Conference organised by the Founder/CEO of BlackHouse Media and Publisher of Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET), Ayeni Adekunle held at the Ocean View centre, Eko Hotels and Suites might have come and gone, but the memories and of the event which took place on Wednesday, 23rd April, will continue to linger in the hearts of many who participated in the conference. The theme for this year’s event was Buying and selling Nigerian entertainment and everything in-between.

Sheyi Shay’s anthem rendition Singer, Sheyi Shay gave a classic rendition of the National Anthem which opened up the event in a grand style.

Sheyi who was also part of the panellists, did justice to the topic, How important is music royalties in the entertainment industry?

The many sides of Adekunle Ayeni As if all the numerous things he has his hands on aren’t enough, multitalented public relations personality and journalist, Adekunle Ayeni, added another feather to his cap with the official launch of the NET Orin application. Orin is a new music streaming website which provides music on the go for music lovers.

Sheyi Shay

Singer, Eldee De Don resurfaces

Adekunle Ayeni

Dagrin, Zara, Goldie honoured Even in death, the legacies of the trio of Dagrin, Zara and Goldie cannot easily be forgotten as the organisers of the conference honoured them with posthumor awards in honour of their struggles in the entertainment industry.

Many have applauded Aye crooner, David Adeleke as being dynamic on stage but not many know that he is equally a good public speaker. The singer who delivered his note on how to make a hit song, took the audience on a 15-minutes demonstration.

The self-styled O.B.O singer and his longtime producer, wowed the audience with their skills in the production boot.

ELdee de don

Between Shina Peller and rapper, M.I

Shina Peller MI Quilox Ceo, Shina Peller and Chocolate city artiste, MI Abaga were spotted in close contact, which got many thinking that the duo must have put the ugly incidence that took place at Quilox club behind them. M.I had gone on a rant on social media last month, complaining of the ill treatment meted out on him at the popular night club.

Nollywood actress, Ini Edo who was among the panellists to speak on the topic, ‘How to sell the Nigerian content’, couldn’t make it. Her seat was conspicuously empty, making guests to wonder at what could have held her back from attending.

Tony Okoroji boasts

The other side of Davido

For those who may have wondered what has become of foremost singer, Lanre Dabiri, otherwise know as ELdee de don who has been absent of recent from the music scene, it is because he has decided to leave music for good, preferring instead to pitch his tent with information technology. The former CEO of Trybes Men Records has since stepped up his game with his latest innovation, PlayData, a soft ware to help Nigerian singers keep track of their music whenever it is being played abroad. It is worthy of note that former singer gave the best speech delivery at the conference.

Actress, Ini Edo visibly absent

Davido

Chris Ihindero unveils book

Chris Ihindero

Movie Critic and producer, Chris Ihindero aroused literary appetites with the launch of his new book, Wanderings Of A Rapidly Degenerating Mind.

The book, a compilation of 100 of the best articles from his weekly column Chris Ihidero Unedited, it is a six-part epic divided into sections which are Music & Showbiz, Books, People, Music, Issues of the Heart and Daring the Heavenlies.

Tony Okoroji Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria ( COSON), Tony Okoroji, took pride in his job after he told guests how the body has been able to pay musical artistes, royalties over the years.

The panellists

Some of the panellists who were at the conference were; Chioma Ude of AFRIFF, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko of Camara studios, Mai Atafo, Jimmy Jatt, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Ifeoma Williams, Deji Awokoya of Megalectrics, Wunmi Obe, Mo Abudu etc.

Artistes present

Obiwon, Joke Silva, Kaffy Ameh and Grace Amah A few of the artistes present at the conference were; Toyin Aimakhu-Johnson, Grace Amah, Yomi fabiyi, Joke Silva, Jesse Jags, Ice Prince, Sound Sultan, DJ Spinall, Kemi Adetiba, Steve Onu (Yaw), Bez Iduklala, Toke Makinwa, Emmanuel Ikubese etc.

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, April 24, 2015

Nkarenyi Ukonu

Brothers who are passionate polo players

L5

Society

Kayode and Tayo Awogboro

The game of polo, popularly referred to as the Sport of Kings, is no doubt, a favourite pastime for some of Nigeria’s wealthy folks as the horses, critical to the success of the game do not come cheap and with some usually imported from as far as Argentina. This is besides bearing the cost of the horses’ groomers, trainers and the playing kit as well. Depending on how well heeled you are, you can take your addiction a notch further by setting up your own polo team, and becoming a proud patron of the sport.

Here below are a few affluent brothers who are hugely obsessed with the game of polo, all of who are members of the Lagos Polo Club, the premier polo club in the country.

Habeeb and Mustafa Fasinro Adeyemo and Yinka Alakija

Adeyemo and Yinka Alakija

Habeeb and Mustafa Fasinro While Mustapha is a wealthy oil trader and the CEO of Linetrale, a leading petroleum products supplier, Habeeb who is the older of the two, is the current president of Lagos Polo Club. A former House of Representatives member between 1999 and 2003 where he represented Eti-Osa Federal Constituency,Lagos State, in addition to his numerous private ventures, also owns Smooth FM, an urban radio station as well as the patron of the Linetrale/Trafigura Polo team. Habeeb and Mustapha whose father is Alhaji Hassan Fasinro, a former town clerk of Lagos City Council, are two brothers who are immensely passionate about the game.

The Alakijas are synonymous with the game of polo, it is a family tradition as their great grandfather, grandfather and their own father are great and famous polo players. In fact, it is mandatory for every male child in the Alakija household to play polo. While Yinka who is the business manager at Pavilion Nigeria, a security and safety specialist, personally owns 13 horses which don’t come cheap, his brother, Adeyemo is the managing director of Riverlake group, a shipping business.

Kola and Tunde Karim

Bode and Rotimi Makanjuola Kayode and Tayo Awogboro

Kola and Tunde Karim Bode and Rotimi Makanjuola These two silver spoon brothers are heirs to the Caverton Group, a $1 billion conglomerate with operations in gas distribution, offshore support vessels and aviation services. The brothers are the patrons of the Caverton Polo team. Their father, Remi Makanjuola, ranks as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen.

Selected by the World Economic Forum as a global young leader in 2007, Kola Karim is one of the most popular polo players in Nigeria. At 41, the CEO of Shoreline Energy group, one of Nigeria’s most storied conglomerates with interests in everything from construction to oil servicing and trading is a patron of Shoreline Polo team. His brother who is also an ardent polo player is an investment analyst at MBC Securities.

While Kayode is a non executive director at Ark Insurance group, his brother, Tayo is a senior staff at Oando PLC. Their mother, Adetokunbo is fondly referred to as Nigeria’s first lady of nails on account of being a trail blazer in the nail business, a business she has since grown and positioned for even greater heights. Both brothers are members of the Goodfellow/Ark polo team. A few years ago, Kayode who is the senior of the two got married to Makashe, the first daughter of Oscar Ibru. Oscar made sure to give his daughter the wedding of her dreams. He flew more than 250 family members including domestic staff and friends to Paris to attend the wedding which held at one of the most fashionable churches in Paris, the Neo-Gothic Basilique Ste-Clotilde while reception held at one of the grandest event centres in Paris, Pavillion d’Armenonville. Guests stayed both in five and three star hotels.

Society L6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, April 24, 2015

Isaac Oguntoye

Jide Macdede delves into property business He is a professional freight forwarder whose lifelong dream was to be a pilot but incidentally found himself in the freight forwarding business. Having built a reputable and enviable business track record, Jide is set to diversify his investments by delving into the property business. According to him, ‘My plan is to reach the highest height, the level at which my clients can give me job and have confidence in me. I also plan to go into property, though I am already doing that in bits but I hope to consolidate on it. I also believe the future of freight forwarding depends largely on government policy. If the policies are good and the tariffs on goods are not high, it will be of immense benefit to us,” he concluded.

Jide Macdede

Kayode Oduoye on vacation He is a Kayode Emmanuel Oduoye is a legal practitioner, businessman turned politician. Barrister Kayode was PDP house of representative candidate for Boripe/Ifelodun/Odo-otin federal constituency in the recently held election where the APC candidate hon Yinka Ajayi won.

The dude we learnt has put the election matter behind him and simply moved on.

Kayode is currently on a two-week vacation with wife and kids. The chap and his family left on 14th April and are billed to visit Dubai United Kingdom and other continents before coming back to the country.

The fate of the three major South African companies in Nigeria; MTN, Multichoice/DSTV and Shoprite is being threatened following the incessant xenophobic crisis going on in South Africa. Besides the fact these multinationals enjoy both government policies which is in their favour and the Nigerian citizens patronage, the companies are among the top rated companies in the Nigerian economy. And with the killing of immigrant African countries in South Africa and no major arrest being made, there just might be some major unrest in the country which will directly threaten the scope of operations of these aforementioned companies with huge investments in Nigeria. Already, there have been reported cases of protests at some MTN offices across the country. In fact members of some civil society groups have demanded that South Africans take a swift action against the attacks on foreigners or else there would be a backlash on their own citizens elsewhere and on their business.

John Ugbe, MD, Multichoice

Michael Ikpoki, CEO, MTN Nigeria

Akin Adeoya plans big for mother’s funeral

He is a journalist turned hospitality guru who runs a chain of hotels.

The copywriter, poet, and publisher of Brands & Products , now known as M2, a marketing weekly, recently lost his mother, Mrs. Victoria Olufunke Adeoya. She died at the age of 77years.

To this end, all roads will lead to Ekiti State where he plans to give his mother a befitting burial. Already, arrangements for the burial ceremony has been in top gear and a date would be announced in due time. The late Mrs Adeoye was survived by her husband Mr. Adefemi Adeoya and many children.

Kayode Oduoye

When will Bode George go on exile?

Where is Bode George? Is he on exile already? If not, when is he going on exile? These are some of the questions on the lips of many. Before the presidential election, the politician and member of the People Democratic Party was quoted in one of the publications, saying that should General Muhammadu Buhari emerges winner of the Presidential election, he would go on exile. And ever since Gen. Buhari was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the president-elect, little or nothing has been heard about the PDP chieftain.

Till date, no one seems to know what has happened to the man who was behind President Goodluck Jonathan campaign in Lagos and Jimi Agbaje’s campaign in Lagos.

What will be the fate of MTN, DSTV, SHOPRITE?

Akin Adeoya

Genesis boss, Demola Oyefeso Loses father A while back, Life & Times reported that socialite and CEO of Genesis Promotion, Demola Oyefeso is stranded in Lagos. Just when the business man was trying to find means to revive his business, he lost his father to the cold hands of death. The death of his father was announced on Monday 20th of April, 2015 at his residence in Mushin.

Until his death, the deceased aged man was an ordained Pastor. Those in the know say that the New Jersey, United States of America-based promoter has been putting things in place for the burial arrangement.

Bode George

Demola Oyefeso

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, April 24, 2015

Isaac Oguntoye

Grass to grace story of Chris Erondu

His core area of competence is the club and hotel business. Recently, he reopened his former popular Page night club but renamed it De Vogue. Situated on Opebi road, Ikeja, De Vogue night club is one night den equipped with world class facilities. Erondu who is also a stake holder in the hospitality business revealed that he started business with virtually nothing. “I never bothered myself about money then, I just kept nurturing the ambition to hit it big in business, having at the back of my mind that one day I will invest in the entertainment sector. Even if it was just to start a little bar for people to fun have fun, I knew that if I could start like that, then I would most likely grow. Before I attained this level, I once served as an errand boy for people,” he concluded.

Chief Joseph Odobeatu give thanks as he clocks 50

The brand O’jez no doubt is a household name in the Nigerian entertainment and hospitalityu business.

What many perhaps do not know is that Chief Joseph Odobeatu is the Boss of O’jez group, located inside the National Stadium, a brand that has honoured several prominent Nigerians who are doing very well in various areas of endeavour. The amiable businessman recently joined the golden club and has been grateful to God who has kept him in good health. In his words “At 50, I think I have superseded all my life target. Considering the kind of background I was coming from, our targets were not too big but today I have gone beyond it, that is why I keep thanking God. I look at my children, my family looking healthy, being contended with how my business is growing despite all the challenges, tell me why I won’t be happy. I go to bed every day knowing that the O’ jez brand has become a household name.

It started like child’s play but today, we are growing stronger. The standard we have set is to lead and let others follow and it has been like that. For us to have remained this long in business and still waxing strong, we give God the glory”.

Chris Erondu

Lagos big boy, Tony Adenubi puts up hotel for sale H e is one of the major players in the hospitality business and he owns the popular Abidap hotel around Alimosho area of Lagos. According to information made available to us, the cool dude is about to dispose of the hotel as the hospitality outfit has been unable to generate the much need sales expected of it. The hotel which used to be managed by his son has now become a shadow of its former self, a stark contrast to how it used to play host to a wide variety of entertainers who saw it as a second home.

Unfortunately, buyers for the hotel are not forth coming due to the exorbitant amount placed on the property.

Tony Adenubi

Mixed Grill Game

Solution to last week’s game

Sudoku

L7 Society

Chief Joseph Odobeatu

Picture story…

L-R: Director, James Cubitt Architects, Mr. AbiodunImana; Chief Executive Officer, Poatson Nigeria Limited, Prince Patrick Olaside Adeniyi, awardee, Mama Comfort Imana; Presiding Pastor, trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and Director, National Orientation Department, Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mrs. Bola Abumere, at the presentation of Post Humous Award to late Mr. Michael OmiunuImana, during the Pastor Ituah Ighodalo Foundation Award, held at Trinity House, Victoria Island, Lagos

e r e h W ’ ‘N hen W

This week’s game CRISS-CROSS 02 Can you fit the words correctly into the grid? The letters in the yellow boxes will spell out another word.

3 letter word Ray 4 letter words Babe Jaws Taxi 5 letter words Alien Fargo Shrek Twins 6 letter words Closer Psycho

7 letter words Amadeus Network Vertigo 9 letter words Alexander Gladiator Spartacus 10 letter words Braveheart Casablanca Goodfellas Metropolis Unforgiven

Afro music night with Terry-G @NTYCE Karimu Kotun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, April 30th, 2015

WED Expo @The Haven Event Center Ikeja GRA, Beside Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, April 24th-26th, 2015.

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, April 24, 2015

Showing on

L8 Television Showing on

117 Universal Channel

107 M-Net Movie Romance

00:55

14:25

Fri, 24 Apr | 16SNL

Fri, 24 Apr | 18

Two nurses, a housekeeper, a solicitor and a woman’s two kids all convene at her deathbed. What the old lady tells them serves to reinforce her own strength and power.

Judy Davis, Maria Theodorakis, Charlotte Rampling.

(2011) Fred Schepisi

101 M-Net West

01:00 The Invisible Woman 03:00 Young Hollywood’s Greatest 04:00 MasterChef Australia 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 Modern Family 06:30 The Blacklist 07:30 NCIS: Los Angeles 08:30 Guardians Of The Galaxy 10:30 Two And A Half Men 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 NCIS: New Orleans 14:00 The Newsroom 15:00 The Fixer 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 2 Broke Girls 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 19:30 Arrow 20:30 The Frozen Ground 22:30 The Purge

154 AfricaMagic Family 00:00 Tinsel 00:30 Living With Trisha 01:00 Star Gist 01:30 Making Of A Mogul 02:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Channel O: Volt 04:30 Channel O: Volt 05:00 Comedy Club Live In Kampala 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 A Dead End 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:00 Comedy Club Live In Kampala 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Channel O: Volt 12:30 Channel O: Volt 13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Aurora 03:00 Fearless Heart 03:50 Labour Of Love 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart 07:50 Labour Of Love 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart 12:00 Labour Of Love 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Aurora 15:20 Fearless Heart 16:10 Labour Of Love 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Aurora 19:30 Fearless Heart 20:20 Labour Of Love 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Aurora 22:50 Aurora

14:00 Through The Eyes Of An African 14:30 Fashion Coast 15:00 Making Of A Mogul 15:30 Coco Bill 15:45 Coco Bill 16:00 The African Child 16:30 Living With Trisha 17:00 Comedy Club Live In Kampala 18:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 19:00 Goal Diggerz 19:30 Star Gist 19:55 Andrew’s File 21:30 Making Of A Mogul

‘S3/E23 - Joseph’. When a victim’s credit card is suddenly used a year after his death, Lilly reopens the case of a rehab counsellor who was killed. Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, John Finn. (2005) Roxann Dawson

128 Sony Max

00:15 Unbeatable Banzuke 00:40 Unbeatable Banzuke 01:05 Freakshow 01:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 00:20 The Cube

10:35 Deal Or No Deal

01:05 Top Gear

11:15 My Family

01:56 Silent Witness

11:50 My Family

02:49 Come Dine With Me

12:20 Top Gear

03:37 EastEnders

13:15 Come Dine With Me

04:06 Top Gear

14:10 Celebrity MasterChef

05:00 Fool Britannia

15:05 The Weakest Link

05:25 QI

16:00 Casualty

06:00 Would I Lie To You?

17:00 The Chase

06:30 EastEnders

18:00 The Cube

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

19:00 New Tricks

07:55 The Weakest Link

20:00 The Graham Norton Show

08:45 QI

21:00 Dragons’ Den

09:20 Would I Lie To You?

22:05 Live At The Apollo

09:50 Hell’s Kitchen USA

21:35 Would I Lie To You?

155 AfricaMagic World 00:00 Noose Of Gold 00:30 Good Morning Africa 01:40 The Dzigbordi Show 02:30 Good Morning Africa 03:30 Good Morning Africa 04:30 Noose Of Gold 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 Foot Prints 06:30 Foot Prints 07:00 Star Gist 07:30 Star Gist 08:00 Lies That Bind 08:30 Lies That Bind 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Affections 11:30 Jara

01:55 The Treasure Hunters 03:40 Panic Button Canada 04:30 Unbeatable Banzuke 05:00 Ninja Warrior 05:25 Ninja Warrior 05:50 Video Zonkers 06:15 Video Zonkers 06:40 Panic Button Canada 07:30 Most Shocking 08:25 What Went Down 08:55 Repo Games 09:20 World’s Wildest Police Videos 10:20 Video Zonkers 10:45 Video Zonkers 11:10 Most Shocking 12:10 Panic Button Canada 13:10 What Went Down 13:40 Exposed 14:10 Repo Games 14:40 Repo Games 15:10 World’s Wildest Police Videos 16:10 1000 Ways To Die 16:40 Panic Button Canada 17:40 Video Zonkers 18:05 Video Zonkers

12:00 Jara 12:30 Katemba Mu Kkooti 13:00 Music On Africa Magic 14:00 Noose Of Gold 14:30 Noose Of Gold 15:00 Deception 15:30 Foot Prints 16:00 Foot Prints 16:30 Lies That Bind

18:30 What Went Down 19:00 Most Shocking 20:00 Tattoo Nightmares 20:30 Tattoo Nightmares 21:00 Hip Hop Squares 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Kenny vs Spenny 22:30 1000 Ways To Die 20:30 Tattoo Nightmares

NIGERIAN

Poster!

TRIO NAMED IN ENGLAND EURO TEAM

ANDRES INIESTA

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‘BARCA

Edo FA honours Bazuaye gX7

can deliver without

MESSI’ g

WENGER tests Blues’ fire power g

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WENGER

A

tests Blues’ fire power

rsene Wenger hopes Arsenal can pass the test when they welcome Chelsea to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Wenger does not have a good record against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, with his Arsenal side losing seven of their 12 meetings and drawing the other five.

Oscar While they have won eight Premier League games on the bounce, the Gunners are still 10 points behind Chelsea, who are just two victories away from being crowned champions.

Wenger is delighted with his side’s current form, but admits they face a big test against the Blues.

“We have been close to beating them a few times. The result on Sunday will just be down to the performance on the day,” Wenger said.

“We’re on a good run, we’re at home and we have the opportunity to beat them, so we want to take it.

“We have passed many tests recently, but we have another test on Sunday against Chelsea that we want to pass.”

OSCAR:

Wenger

EPL title is the beginning of Chelsea reign

Cech linked with £3.5m PSG move

P

aris Saint-Germain are planning to land Chelsea keeper Petr Cech this summer in a £3.5million deal.

A French publication runs the rule over the Ligue 1 champions’ plans for the forthcoming summer transfer window, particularly in light of the dramatic changes the club will have to make in order to bring their recruitment policy

in line with Financial Fair Play regulations.

But one of the cost-cutting measures will raise eyebrows among Chelsea fans: the recruitment of Cech in a cut-price deal.

In a section detailing transfer leads PSG are already following, the Blues keeper and a £3.5million fee are mentioned.

Long-serving Cech looks set to quit

Stamford Bridge this summer having fallen behind Thibaut Courtois in Jose Mourinho’s pecking order.

Mourinho has already indicated that the Czech Republic international, aged 32, will be given considerable leeway in determining his next move, even if it isn’t the best deal for the club.

Cech

helsea midfielder Oscar says the Premier League title is just the beginning for Jose Mourinho’s side Premiership reign, as the Blues close in on a first crown since 2010.

A 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday saw Chelsea extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points, with just six games remaining.

Wins over Arsenal and Leicester in their next two games will be enough to crown Chelsea champions and, Oscar admits, could start a period of Premier League dominance for the Blues.

“Hopefully yes. This squad is really young and we’ve been playing together for a long time,” he said.

“We are improving as the time goes by. This is good for the players and for the club. We know each other’s movements on the pitch.”

Chelsea travel to the Emirates next where they will face an Arsenal side unbeaten in the Premier League since February, and Oscar is expecting a tough test against the Gunners.

Friday, April 24, 2015

EXTRATIME

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NIGERIAN TRIO NAMED IN ENGLAND EURO TEAM

Tayo Edun of Leicester City set to feature for England’s U-17 national team.

Mike Otanwa

H

ead coach of England U-17 team John Peacock has named his squad for this summer, U-17 European Championship holding in Bulgaria, with three players of Nigerian descent in the team.

The young lions of England, who are defending champions after winning last year’s edition on penalties, qualified for this year’s showpiece with a 100 percent record with Anglo-Nigerian Ike Ugbo, who plays for Chelsea, their leading scorer.

Ugbo will be joined in attack by another of Nigerian descendant in Layton Ndukwu of Leicester City, while in defence Tayo Edun of Leicester City completes the Nigerian trio in Peacock’s 18-man squad.

Ugbo and Ndukwu will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of another Anglo Nigerian Dominic Solanke of Chelsea who emerged as top scorer at the last year edition.

They have been placed in Group D alongside Holland, Italy and the Republic of Ireland this time around and will open their campaign against Italy in Burgas on May 7.

Their other matches are against Holland on May 10 and Ireland on May 13.

Akure ‘strippers’ apologise to NFF, LMC Mike Otanwa

T

he Sunshine Stars ‘strippers’, Ebenezer Odunlami and Prince Aggrey, have both apologised for their behaviour in a league game over the weekend, the League Management Company (LMC) have announced.

The LMC says it’s in receipt of letters of apology written by the two Sunshine Stars players who were, earlier in the week, sanctioned for their behaviour during the Match Day 4 league game against Dolphins, and will not take further actions against them.

Aggrey and Odunlami stripped to their undies on Sunday in celebration when the former scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Dolphins in Akure, and were subsequently banned on Monday for one league game each and fined N50, 000 each for indecent exposure and behaviour capable of bringing the league into disrepute.

The LMC had also, in line with the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) framework and regulations, allowed the two players 48 hours to either submit to the decision or elect to be dealt with by a special LMC commission.

However, following the separate letters

NFF defends KESHI’S retention Mike Otanwa

W

ith opinions divided and as reactions continue to trail the reappointment of Stephen Keshi, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have defended their decision, and have insisted that they have appointed a “Nigerian football hero with a winning pedigree”.

Keshi’s return – although expected – has been greeted with mixed reactions, with a good number criticizing the decision to rehire him after he failed to qualify Nigeria for the last Africa Cup of Nations.

But the NFF, through its first vice president, Seyi Akinwunmi, explains why they retained the 53-year old.

“Keshi is a quintessential Nigerian football hero having brought glory to

our dear country as a player, captain of the National Team and as a coach of the Super Eagles,” he said.

“He does have a winning pedigree and despite our failure to qualify for the 2015 AFCON, we must remember that he has succeeded with the Super Eagles before and is one of our more experienced Nigerian coaches with vast international football experience and therefore remains a champion for the development our indigenous coaches,” Akinwunmi stated.

The Lagos State FA chairman also went on to lambast Keshi’s critics, saying they must have short memories for questioning his competence.

“Those who allege that he does not have the technical acumen to make the Eagles soar again must have a very short memory,” he said of Keshi’s critics.

of apology from the duo, the LMC has commended the players for accepting responsibility and admonished them to be of good behaviour going forward.

Salihu Abubakar, the LMC Chief Operating Officer, said: “The two players have written to accept full responsibility for their bad behaviour and have accordingly apologized to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the LMC, our broadcast partners; their employers; supporters of Sunshine Stars and the general public,” he said.

Pinnick

Pinnick: NIKE contract will open more doors!

Andrew Ekejiuba

N

Keshi

FF President Amaju Pinnick has expressed confidence that the Kit Sponsorship Agreement the federation signed with world’s leading brand, NIKE, in London on Thursday, will open more doors for Nigerian football in the area of sponsorship.

“I am thoroughly convinced that this agreement is the beginning of good and great things to happen to Nigerian football with regards to sponsorship deals.

“The NFF is happy to come into partnership with a leading global brand like NIKE,” Pinnick said.

The NFF boss believes there will be even more glorious moments for Nigerian football in the coming years than during NIKE’s first partnership with the NFF between 1994 and 2003.

“During those years, Nigeria won a first-ever Olympics football gold (1996) and reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup (1998). But I have no doubts whatsoever that this second coming of NIKE into Nigerian football will bring even more joyous moments with plenty of laurels for the National Teams.

“A top global brand like NIKE will help to spur the processes that the present NFF administration has put in place to drive our game to the next level,” he added.

Midfielder Barcelona

Status Role: Club:

FAMILY LIFE

Superstardom Despite his quiet nature, Iniesta’s brilliant play made him impossible to overlook for long. He starred at the 2008 European Championship, earning a spot on the Team of the Tournament after Spain topped Germany in the final. Eleven months later, he netted a last-minute goal vs. Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals, one of the highlights of a year in which Barcelona won a remarkable six trophies.

The pinnacle of Iniesta’s career came during the 2010 FIFA World Cup final vs. Holland, when he knocked home a goal in extra time to give Spain its first World Cup championship. At the end of the year, he finished second to teammate Messi for soccer’s biggest individual prize, the Ballon d’Or. Spain made history as the first team to win three successive major international tournaments with its Euro 2012 victory, and Iniesta was named Player of the Tournament. Later that summer, he beat out two of soccer’s most renowned scorers, Messi and Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo, to win the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

An invaluable member of the Barcelona roster, Iniesta was expected to sign a contract extension following the club’s La Liga and Spanish Super Cup success in 2013.

Quiet But Deadly Iniesta made his debut for FC Barcelona’s first squad in a Champions League match in October 2002. He helped Barcelona win the league title in his first season as a regular in 2004-05, but truly emerged as a vital contributor when he stepped in for injured midfielder Xavi Hernández and sparked Barcelona to a La Liga and Champions League double the following year.

A natural midfielder with superb passing and dribbling abilities, Iniesta proved versatile enough to lead the offense from a forward role. Although his all-around talents were praised by teammates and opponents alike, the diminutive playmaker tended to recede in the background as stars such as Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o stole the spotlight for Barcelona.

Childhood and Early Career Andrés Iniesta Luján was born on May 11, 1984, in Fuentealbilla, Albacete, Spain. After joining the Albacete youth squad at age 10, he caught the attention of FC Barcelona management at a tournament, and entered the club’s prestigious La Masia academy at age 12.

Iniesta enjoyed an early taste of international success with the junior national team, leading Spain to victories at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2001 and the Under-19 Championship the following year.

Synopsis Born on May 11, 1984, in Fuentealbilla, Spain, Andrés Iniesta joined FC Barcelona’s youth soccer academy at age 12. The quiet midfielder gradually assumed a starring role on the club, leading Barcelona to an incredible six titles in 2009. Iniesta also scored the winning goal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was a primary force behind Spain’s victories in the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.

Andrés Iniesta (1984–till date) Andrés Iniesta 30 years (May 11, 1984) 170 cm 65 kg Spain

Full name: Soccer Player: Name: Age: Stature: Weight: Nationality:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

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AND AN

FAVOURITE QUOTE “I don’t play the game to be number one; I play to be happy.”

– Andrés Iniesta

ASSOCIATED WITH He played alongside Ronaldinho on Barcelona from 2003 to 2008.

He married longtime girlfriend Anna Ortiz in 2012, a year after Anna gave birth to their first child, Valeria.

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SPAHIC banned for fighting security staff

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Video footage showed Spahic punching and headbutting two stewards with one of them losing several teeth.

The club released him after the brawl, saying: “The latest revelations from the case leave us no other choice.”

Spahic, 34, said at the time: “I regret my behaviour towards security staff.”

The centre-half, who joined the club in 2013, added: “I apologise to the people concerned and their families for my actions. I know this has also caused big problems for my club.”

DANTE: D

ante says he has no plans to leave Bayern Munich, despite his continued questions over his future.

Dante has admitted he has had a difficult time since last summer’s World Cup, when he was part of the Brazil team thrashed 7-1 by Germany, and he has struggled for form throughout the season.

The centre-back, who has not been called up to the Brazil squad since last summer’s tournament, was among the substitutes for Bayern’s 6-1 victory over Porto on Tuesday after a string of high-profile errors

No plans to quit Munich

Possible reunions at stake

T

BAD BOY he former Bayer Leverkusen defender Emir Spahic has been banned from football for three months, after fighting with security staff following a German Cup tie.

Spahic accepted the ban, which will keep him out of the game until July 12, along with a fine of £14,000.

According to the German FA, the BosniaHerzegovina international attacked and injured two Leverkusen stewards after the home defeat against Bayern Munich on April 8.

He was reportedly upset after the stewards refused to allow his friends entry to the dressing room area.

UCL draw:

Dante

!

in recent weeks.

However, Pep Guardiola said earlier this month that he would like “1,000 Dantes” in his team, and the player said: “I am a lucky guy to play at Bayern.

“It is what it is: We’re going to play a Champions League semifinal again, we can win the cup, and we have a super chance of winning a third consecutive championship. Why should I think about leaving the club? That would be totally inconceivable.

“I am part of this group 100 percent, have two more years left on my contract, and also want to stay.”

Hernandez

Henry blasts Real’s hero, Hernandez

he prospect of old friends and foes meeting again is at stake and will add even more interest to today’s blockbuster UEFA Champions League (UCL) semifinals draw.

Every potential pairing of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid - sharing 21 European Cup or Champions League titles, and 16 runnerup finishes - is loaded with history.

Still, two possible storylines stand out.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola could face former team Barcelona for the first time since leaving in 2012 after a trophyladen four-year spell included two Champions League titles.

A Barca-Juve pairing would reunite Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini for the first time since the Uruguay forward bit tahe Italy defender in a World Cup match last June.

First-leg matches are played May 5-6. Return matches are May 12-13.

The final is June 6 in Berlin.

Barca, Real

face tough away games

H T

hierry Henry launched a bizarre attack on Javier Hernandez after the on-loan Manchester United striker fired Real Madrid into the Champions League semifinals.

Henry claimed the Mexican international should have thanked Cristiano Ronaldo for his assist at the Bernabeu - rather than celebrating like he’d ‘won the World Cup.’ Hernandez struck in the 88th minute to secure a 1-0 aggregate win against Atletico Madrid.

But Henry hit out at his reaction claiming Ronaldo deserved the credit for his run and pass that led to the winner.

“Ronaldo giving him that ball that’s Ronaldo’s goal,” claimed the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker.

“What I don’t like is after it seems like he won the World Cup with that.

He’s supposed to turn around and celebrate with Ronaldo.”

It was only Herndandez’ sixth start since his season-long loan to Real from United and his sixth goal for the Champions League holders.

It is unlikely Real will offer him a permanent deal in the summer, while it also appears he is not part of Louis van Gaal’s plans at United.

aving booked their spots in the Champions League semifinals, Barcelona and Real Madrid now face tough away fixtures in the Spanish league this weekend with just two points separating the title rivals as the season enters its final stretch.

After its 5-1 aggregate victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona will aim to protect its slim advantage over Madrid when it crosses the city to play a derby at Espanyol tomorrow.

Madrid had a much harder time eliminating Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 victory thanks to Javier Hernandez’s late goal.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team travels to the northwestern coast to face a feisty Celta Vigo side that gave Barcelona fits in a 1-0 loss early this month.

Neymar’s contract has been a legal nightmare for Barcelona with the club mired in an alleged case of tax fraud, but the Brazilian striker is living up to the hype as one of football’s next stars.

Neymar netted two goals against PSG on Tuesday to take his season tally to 30, leaving him second in the team behind Lionel Messi’s 46.

Luis Suarez has also come into his own with 19 goals.

The attacking trio has Barcelona in position to win three titles, with Luis Enrique’s team also in the Copa del Rey final.

Friday, April 24, 2015

EXTRATIME

FEDERATION WATCH

With Osaretin Emuze

ZENITH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LEAGUE DUNKS OFF

Z

Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium Package ‘B’ Abuja saw the likes of Customs, FCT Queens, Benue Princess, Plateau Rocks, Delta Force, AHIP Queens, Coal City Queens, Oluyole Babes, GT2000, Immigration, IGP Queens and Taraba Hurricanes wrestle

T

he Edo Football Bazuaye Association will today organise two matches in honour of late soccer coaches from the state, namely, Willy Bazuaye and John Onaghise. The matches are scheduled for the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The matches are part of the state FA’s effort to ensure a befitting burial for the respected coaches.

According to the chairman of the association, Frank Ilaboya, the novelty match for exBendel United coach Onaghise will involve old players of the defunct club and a selected side, while a Lagos All-Stars

Edo FA honours Bazuaye, Onaghise team will play against players who played under Bazuaye and ex-internationals, in honour of the former New Nigeria Bank coach.

Seventy-nine-year-old Bazuaye was an assistant coach of the national U-23 side when the team won the Olympic soccer gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.

At club level, Bazuaye managed top sides NNB, Flash Flamingos and Calabar Rovers.

CMCL Golf Open tees off next month

Zenith Women’s Basketball League action. enith Bank Women’s Basketball League dunked off in Abuja yesterday with the jumpball event being the first phase of the hostilities this season.

The championship traditional first phase which took place at the

X7

power houses like Sunshine Angels, First Deepwater, Dolphins and defending champions First Bank for the 2015 title.

The teams which arrive Abuja on Thursday, ahead of the technical meeting today, will resume action on Saturday, April 25 to May 4.

T

he 17th edition of CMCL Open Golf Championship will hold from May 18 to 24 at the Smokin’ hill Gulf Resort in Ilara- Mokin, Ondo State.

The tournament according to the organizers was changed from its usual IBB Golf Course and County

Club venues to mark activities celebrating the birthday of CMCL Golf Tours Limited Chairman Olusola Adekanola.

Winners of 6-day tournament are to smile home with fantastic prizes to be determined before the championships tees off in May.

SECURITY: TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ASSURES ON OKPEKPE ROAD RACE

T

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State leads the way at Okpekpe Road Race.

4TH SCRABBLE

Meet holds in Warri

A

ll is now set for the takeoff of the 4th Scrabble Meet this weekend in

Warri.

Scrabble players from various parts of the country are already in Warri for the competition that scheduled for Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26.

The National coach and the technical adviser of the Nigeria Scrab-

he organizers of the Okpekpe Road Race have finalised plans to put in place topnotch security when the events hold on May 16 in Okpekpe, Edo State.

Technical Director of the race, Yusuf Alli during the week said that the Acting Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Security Consultant, ASP Gideon Akinsola (rtd), will also be on ground to ensure the race is secured.

“For a race of that magnitude, which is of international standard, everything has to be put right and that includes security.

“We have contacted the IGP to ensure policemen are on hand to provide security for the runners and

ble Federation (NSF) Tony Ikolo told Extra Time that the best of professional Scrabble will be showcased in the city of Warri as players, the best in the country intend to light up the city with scintillating scrabble displays.

Ikolo said all the invited players except the African Scrabble Queen, Ms Tuoyo Mayuku have been excused as she has an important

spectator before, during and after the race,” Alli added.

He also assured that there would be few vehicles on the race track with motorcyclists banned from joining the race.

He further assured that the Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s convoy would be made up of two cars to ensure that the runners get the space to exhibit their talent.

Alli also stated that a doping area would be set up in accordance with international practice, where athletes’ blood samples would be collected for test. He also noted that a VIP area would be set up, where dignitaries can have refreshment before and after the race.

family engagement to attend to.

The coach hinted that TM Place Hotels at Airport Road, Warri, is the Official Hotel of the competition as players and officials will be accommodated there.

The 2-day meet was to hold in Owerri the Imo State Capital, but had to he moved to Warri because of the tensed political situation in the state.

X8

Friday, April 24, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

BARCELONA

I’m unsatisfied with my form

–INIESTA

B

arcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has admitted that he is not happy with his form at the moment.

The Spain international drew plenty of plaudits for the wonderful, jinking run from inside his own half that ultimately led to Neymar opening the

scoring in Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou. Iniesta was pleased with the assist his fourth in Europe this season - but he does not feel he is performing at the peak of his powers at the moment, as underlined by the fact that he has yet

to score or create a goal during Barca’s 2014-15 Liga campaign to date.

“I’m happy with the way it worked out,” he is quoted as saying. “The truth is that it was a nice, fast and improvised run, but it’s good that it resulted in a goal for Neymar.

“Personally, though, I think I have

BARCA TREBLE STILL WITHIN REACH! Stegen

STEGEN

regrets Barca stay

B

arcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has admitted he wants more first team football amid talk of a move to the Premier League.

The highly-rated German international joined the Catalan club from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer for £9.7m but he has had to play second fiddle to Claudio Bravo in La Liga.

His only action this season has come in the Champions League and Copa del Rey prompting talk of a summer switch with Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly interested.

And Stegen is frustrated at Barca boss Luis Enrique’s rotation system.

“The situation isn’t great, that’s no secret. Obviously, I’d like to play every game.

“The situation isn’t great, that’s no secret,” he said.

“Bravo and I have no problems between us and we speak respectfully. Although I’d never wish him the worst, in the end, I’m going to try to beat him out.”

But Stegen acknowledges that a big club such as Barcelona needs two quality keepers.

F

ormer Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is convinced the club is still capable of winning all three trophies they are still involved in this season.

The Frenchman was back in the city to promote his Foundation, an organisation to help children undergoing treatment for serious illness, and took time out to speak to members of the Press about Luis Enrique’s side.

“Barca showed against Paris Saint-Germain that they are in top form and I think they are favourites to go on and reach the Champions League final,” commented the 35-year-old.

“I really hope they do that and go on to lift the trophy again. Doing the treble is very difficult because you can lose a football match in just one minute, although it’s not impossible.

“Football is like that. A good example is Bayern Munich and the way in which they turned the tie with Porto around.”

room for improvement. I’m unsatisfied with my form right now.”

However, Iniesta is buoyed by the way in which Barca are presently performing, with Luis Enrique’s men top of La Liga, already through to the final of the Copa del Rey and now looking forward to the semi-finals of the Champ i o n s

Iniesta

B

arcelona reached their seventh Champions League semifinal in just eight seasons after beating Paris Saint-Germain with a convincing 5-1 aggregate score, and none of the goals in the quarterfinals tie were scored by quadruple Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi.Although it may sound slightly shocking at first, is actually fantastic news for the Catalans.

Under Luis Enrique, the Camp Nou giants have become a more dynamic team which doesn’t necessarily need to have endless control of the ball to overcome their rivals. Direct transitions into attack and an unashamed preference for vertical passes into space if given the slightest chance have enabled them to evolve into a different version of Barca’s traditional model.

During the last couple of years, Barcelona supporters have realised that those who fail to adapt to the ever-changing nature of the sport simply can’t prolong their success.

The season under Gerardo Martino was, despite the club challenging for the Liga title until the last game, one of the Catalans’ most disappointing in recent times.

‘BARCA

can deliver without

MESSI’

Messi