Daily Times of Nigeria e-Newspaper Issue 10

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PDP’S Tour Will Respond To APC –Metuh

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha

Sir, is this recent campaign by the PDP not in violation of the electoral act?

First, let me correct the impression among many people who believe that we are violating the electoral act; the PDP is not campaigning as many people think. Rather, we are embark-

ing on a publicity tour to highlight the performance of our people in government.

Why is the PDP going on a pub-

licity tour at the moment seeing the numerous challenges in the country?

The PDP is not ignorant of the current challenges in the country but one

DAILTY TIMES SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

Reps Carpet Lai Mohammed Over Comments

Common Errors of Start-up Failures

Working For 55 Hours Per Week May Lead To Type-2 diabetes

Mascara On Fake Eyelashes? Wait!

VOL. 1, NO 10

Nigerian Athletes Dominate World Sporting Events

Jonathan’s Endorsement

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Glorification of Failure –APC L-R Governor Babatunde Fashola, Governor Ibikunle Amosun and wife, Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, former head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) at Canaanland Ota, during Bishop David Oyedepo’s 6oth birthday on Saturday.

Sand Business: Huge P 10 Profits In The Face Of Environmental Dangers

I bathe, prepare my son for school –Cobhams P 19

AFCON qualifiers: Keshi Names Enyeama, Moses, 22 Others for Sudan P 17

Male Or Female: Who Smells Most?

P 14

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SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

news

Ondo Police Parades Secondary School Students Alongside Suspected Cultist, Armed Robber and Rapist By ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

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he Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Ondo State Command has paraded FortyEight (48) suspected criminals specialized in armed robbery, cultism, rape and other unlawful crimes in the state.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Isaac Eke, told Journalists at a briefing that the suspects were arrested at various locations of the state, after they had been on the wanted list of the command.

The parade is coming barely

two weeks the command paraded Thirty-Four (34) suspected criminals for various crimes in the state.

Speaking on the lists of the arrested suspects, Eke revealed that the command received information from Mrs. Modupe Monebi from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Alagbaka Akure that her Techno M3 phone valued at thirty three thousand naira (N33, 000) was stolen at the Deeper Life Church, Shagari village, in Akure, by unknown thieves.

He stated that based on intelligence, the phone was later recovered from a Student of

Adegbola Memorial Grammar School, Akure identified as Mayowa Ayadi aged 15-yearold of Shagari village and he confessed to the crime and belongs to a cult group and a witch craft movement.

The Commissioner added that other member of his cult group includes Olatosin Seun aged 16-year-old and Owoyemi Jeremiah aged 16-year-old and confessed to have killed four (4) persons with their witch craft.

During interrogation Mayowa told Journalists “I am a student and belong to a cultist group. A brother called Tosin

in our house initiated me. He approached me and told me to join their group. I initially rejected joining the group but after much pressure I joined them. Three of us also belonged to witch craft movement. The name of our movement is called ‘EKU’, he said.

At the briefing, Eke disclosed Four (4) robbery suspects, Two (2) burglary/stealing suspects, Two (2) suspects conspired to commit felony, Two (2) kidnapping suspects, One (1) rape suspect, One (1) motorcycle thief, Two (2) bank fraudsters, Thirty-Two (32) secret cult suspects, Two (2) un-

lawful printing and selling of police profile forms suspects.

He added that items recovered from the suspects at their different hide out and locations are: Thirty Two (32) brands of different handset, Two (2) dell laptops, One (1) I-pad, Nine (9) memory cards, One (1) unregistered Hajoe Honda Motorcycle and Ten (10) bags of weeds suspected to be Indianhemp.

Other are: Two (2) swords/ knife, One (1), nylon bag containing weed suspected to be indian hemp, Two (2) iron rods, Two (2) butcher swords, Two (2) hammers, Two (2)

pinchers, Two (2) laptop computers, Two (2) battler axe, Two (2) masks, One (1) army fatigue t-shirt, One (1) army helmet with crest, One (1) pair of army boot, One (1) boxing head guard, Two (2) boxing glove, Two (2) army kit bag, Sixteen (16) police recruitment forms, One (1) white J5 vehicle with Reg. No Ken660-XA, Two hundred and ninety five (295) compressed parcels of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

The commissioner reiterated his commitment to rid the command off cultism and other violent crimes.

Ikuforiji Hails Judiciary Over Acquital Ugochukwu Onyeocha

L L-R Senate President David Mark, Governor Theodore Orji, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Chief Tony Anenih and President Goodluck Jonathan sharing pleasantries at a recent event in Benin.

agos- The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has described his recent acquital by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos ,of the 54-count charges involving N600million money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as victory for democracy.

Ikuforiji stated this at the weekend, at a world press conference, attended by lawmakers, party members and some local government chair-

Jonathan’s Endorsement is a Glorification of Failure –APC

By Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

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he All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ondo State has described the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming presidential election billed for February 2015 ‘as not only mockery of democracy but also the glorification of failure’.

In an electronic mail sent to Daily Times, on Sunday in Akure, the Party’s State Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya said the PDP is the ‘bane of Nigeria’s development’.

The party said the people of Ondo state are not ready to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in view of different scandals his administration had experienced without any consent to prosecution for those involved.

“If after the review of Goodluck Jonathan-led administration’s policies and scandals, like Missing Chibok girls, handling of Boko Haram insurgency, fuel subsidy scam, Oduahgate, Diezani Jet scandal, $9m cash-for-arms scandal, pension fund, scam, letter gate, missing $20billion and others too numerous to mention.

“The PDP found Mr President worthy to be imposed on

Nigerians that implies continuity in these policies and scandals. Then, the PDP is the bane of Nigeria’s development.

“In view of the precarious and unhealthy state of the Nation, the good people of Ondo State are eagerly waiting to vote out President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

The APC also advised the President to be wary of political sycophants, attentionseeking group and their allies such as the Jonathan Actualization Movement (JAM) that cannot save him from imminent electoral woes.

“The recent wish expressed by the Southwest Coordinator of the attention-seeking Jona-

than Actualization Movement (JAM), Hon Victor Olabimtan, that “majority of votes for President Goodluck Jonathan, from southwest zone, will come from Ondo State” is sycophantic and unrealistic.

“After all, public office is about public service and service delivery. It is on record that the good people of Ondo State have not benefited anything from President Jonathan’s reign despite the fact that Mr. President made huge promises like industrialization, stable power supply and others too numerous to mention when he campaigned in our dear state in 2011.

“In a clear act of betrayal, Mr President has only inflicted

more pains and hardships on the people of Ondo State and Nigeria, people now sweat out #97 for a litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as against the initial #65 per litre.

“Nigerians are now exposed to insecurity in all parts of the country and our youths remain in a state of joblessness. These parameters amongst others are the reasons the people of Ondo State are eagerly waiting to vote out President Goodluck Jonathan.”

“Nigeria is bleeding; our country needs us more than ever. All Nigerians across political folds, ethnic bias and religious affiliations must unite together to vote out this bad government”.

men among others. Ikuforiji expressed confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of common man, describing the judgment as victory for democracy.

The speaker, who thanked all that had stood by him during the 36-month trial, said the case emanated from a “spurious petition by some individuals.”

According to Ikuforiji, who was giving his first reaction to the ruling delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba, maintained that the case was concocted, describing it as “nothing but a distraction orchestrated by certain political detractors, who are still too cowardly to identify themselves.”

Saying that he bore no grudges over the case, Ikuforiji further declared that, “My acquittal by the court is a reminder that the mill of justice may grind exceedingly slow, but it grinds exceedingly fine. Indeed, justice delayed is not always justice denied.

“Dear friends, the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man. Despite the travails of the last three years, I’ve never been more hopeful that the future of our country is bright.”

He, therefore, urged his loyalists not to rest on their oars as they savored the victory, contending that a lot still needed to be done as 2015 general election approaches.

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the acqitall of Honourable Ikuforiji of money laundering charge involving N600 million by the state High Court.

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

3

news

Reps Carpet Lai Mohammed Over Comments

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

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bujaNigeria’s House of Representatives on Sunday said that recent comments by the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Lai Mohammed, on the

controversial $9.3m arms deal clearly shows that he does not understand how the legislature operates.

The House advised the APC spokesman to get a copy of the Standing Orders of the House to guide his comments on its proceedings.

A motion to debate the

$9.3m, which was seized in South Africa on September 5, had failed on the floor of the House on Tuesday last week after the majority of members opposed it.

APC members of the House had protested the ruling of Ihedioha on the motion and walked out of the chambers to

express their disapproval of the decision.

Mohammed, while reacting to the decision of the House, had accused Ihedioha of manipulating the proceedings to stall the debate.

Replying Mohammed, the House said under its rules, motions dealing with “infrastruc-

Saheed Gbadamosi, a phisically challenged person recently honoured by Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola outstanding performance.

RUGIPO Retirees Beg Ondo Assembly To Intervene Over Unpaid Pension By ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

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he Association of Retired Staff of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State has appealed to Ondo State government to save their souls from imminent extinction of over 21 years accumulation of pension allowance and gratuity.

In a petition written to the Ondo State House of Assembly on the non payment of their gratuity and pension allowance, the house directed the plea to be addressed by the

House Committee on Public Petitions, Human rights, Anticorruption and Judiciary for public hearing.

The petitioners, led by Chairman, Ret. Oguntoyinbo and Mr.Oluwole Olufawoye, the General Secretary of the Association; and the defendants, a team headed by the Rector of the institution, Prof.

Igbekele Ajibefun appeared before a legislative panel headed by Hon. Oladejo Adeloye, the house committee chairman.

Oladejo averred that the committee was empowered, by delegated legislation, to ad-

judicate in such matter and to reach a mutual compromise, where none would neither be adjudged guilty nor acquitted.

The General Secretary of the association, Oluwole Olufawoye recounted how the institution owes the retirees’ outstanding pension and gratuity arrears for 21 years, totaling N757, 951,953.31 as at June 30. He complained that their members are not placed on the enhanced pension increase rates as appropriate.

Olufawoye pleaded that their members who retired in 2010 and recently placed on 50% monthly pensions

in April, 2014 be placed on 100% and gratuity arrears as appropriate; that of those who retired in 2006 be paid as well, and those that have not been placed on the monthly pension allowance should be effected.

Reacting to the petition, the Rector of the institution, Prof.

Igbekele Ajibefun confirmed and admitted to all the allegations of the association. He lamented the untoward development in the institution and pointed out that the debt accumulated over the years from 1991 to such alarming proportion from his predecessors.

ture”, “disaster”, “security” and “investigation” are not debated.

The Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Albert Sam-Tsokwa, said the reason was that the House wanted to avoid being “judgmental” ahead of the outcome of the investigation of such matters.

He said, “In every place you have rules; if you are ignorant of the rules, you may not understand what is going on there.

“When you debate a motion calling for investigation, you are already taking a position before the investigation takes place.

“That is why the House made the rule, that such motions should be referred to the relevant committees for investigation when passed.

“In the extant case, the motion was even defeated; so, where did manipulation come in?”

Sam-Tsokwa claimed that Ihedioha placed “national interest above party interest” whenever he presided over the affairs

of the House, contrary to the allegation by Mohammed.

He explained further that Abdulrahman-Kawu’s motion was not listed to be taken on Tuesday, but that Ihedioha succumbed to pressure to let him present the motion.

The lawmaker claimed that Ihedioha took the decision to “bend backward” on the rules to avoid being accused of stopping a motion by a member of the opposition party.

However, he noted that the motion later failed after the majority of members voted against it, hence Ihedioha ruled in favour of the majority.

By storming out of the chambers, he explained that the APC lawmakers lost the opportunity of using the provisions in the rules to challenge the ruling of the presiding officer.

Sam-Tsokwa stated that one provision allowed the APC members to call for the division of the House whereby those “either for or against” the motion would be counted physically.

He added that a second op-

Lamido Will Not Join APC- Jibrin

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

K

aduna- The Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, has declared that Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State will not dump the party because he is a loyal member of the party.

The is against the rumour emanating from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) that the governor may soon join the APC. Jibrin, who was part of a PDP delegation that visited the governor in Jigawa recently, told the Voice of America

(VOA) Hausa Service monitored in Kaduna, on Sunday, that the PDP had overwhelming majority in Jigawa.

He said Sule Lamido had not indicated dumping the PDP. According to Jibrin, “what I observed in Sule Lamido is that he is a dedicated member of the party. When we were in Jigawa, we realised it is the PDP that is in power, the party which the people are proud of.”

He said Lamido had not indicated ambition for the presidency under the party, but only advised that the PDP should return to its basic principle and should not derail.

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

4

world news

Dozens Presumed Dead In Erupting Japanese Volcano

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fter a rare occurrence of volcanic activity in Japan, at least 31 people are presumed dead after rescuers found them showing no signs of life Sunday near the summit of a Japanese volcano that started erupting a day earlier.

Police said the people were in a state of “cardiac arrest,” meaning that they were discovered without a pulse and weren’t breathing but hadn’t been declared dead by a doc-

tor.

A coroner confirmed the first four deaths Sunday.

The volcano in central Japan unleashed a huge cloud of ash late Saturday morning that billowed down the mountainside and engulfed hikers in its path. Witnesses described hearing a sound like thunder when the eruption began.

The exact number of people unaccounted for was unclear, as officials were uncertain how many had already made it off the mountain.

Hong Kong Democracy Protesters Occupy Major Cities Air France Pilots Call Off Strike

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ir France pilots have ended a strike that ended two weeks and paralysed the country’s flagship airline, and was triggered by a dispute over new contracts relating to a new lowcost operation.

“I can confirm that the SNPL (the airline’s main union) has decided to put an end to the strike,” Julien Doboz, a spokesman for the sister Air France pilot union SPAF, told Reuters on Sunday.

The walkout has cost the company no less than $25m a day as around half the flights to worldwide destinations were cancelled.

No one at SNPL and at Air France was immediately available for comment.

Pilots have been trying to pressure Air France to offer the same contracts to those flying on the proposed new

Transavia unit as to its own pilots. The airline dismissed the request as unfit for the low-cost model.

The pilots decided to bring their strike to an end, although an agreement with the French airline was still not reached.

However, talks resumed with management on Saturday night.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Sunday called on all parties to “reconquer trust” and resume the airline’s development, “notably through its subsidiary Transavia France which represents an obvious asset in the highgrowth market of low-cost” airline travel.

Valls put pressure on the pilots on Friday, calling for them to accept the deal put forward by the airline to end the conflict.

The government is a 16 percent shareholder in the group and sits on the board.

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iot police advanced on Hong Kong democracy protesters in the early hours of Monday, firing volleys of tear gas in the worst unrest there since China took back control of the former British colony two decades ago.

Protesters erected barricades to block security forces amid chaotic scenes still unfolding as the city centre one of the world’s major financial districts opened for business.

Several Hong Kong finan-

cial firms advised staff to work from home or go to secondary offices, as Standard Chartered and Bank of China suspended some of its banking operations, due to “situations in certain areas”.

Many roads leading to the Central business district remained sealed off as thousands defied police calls to retreat.

Earlier, police batoncharged a crowd blocking a key road in the government district in defiance of official warnings that the demonstrations were illegal.

Several scuffles broke out between police in helmets, gas masks and riot gear, with demonstrators being angered by the firing of tear gas, last used in Hong Kong in 2005.

Thousands of protesters were still milling around the main Hong Kong government building, ignoring messages from student and pro-democracy leaders to retreat for fear that the police might fire rubber bullets.

The protests fanned out to the busy shopping district of Causeway Bay and across the

harbour to Mong Kok, posing a greater challenge for authorities to contain, local media reported.

The protesters also brought traffic to a halt and called on Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying to step down.

Police, in lines five deep in places, earlier used pepper spray against activists and shot tear gas into the air.

The crowds fled several hundred metres, scattering their umbrellas and hurling abuse at police they called “cowards”.

Buddhist Monk Says His Group Ready to fight ‘Jihad Threat’

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Buddhist cleric accused of inciting violence against Muslims in Myanmar says he is joining forces with a group in Sri Lanka to fight what he says is the “serious threat from jihadist groups”.

Ashin Wirathu, the leader of Myanmar’s 969 group, told hundreds of monks in the Sri Lankan capital on Sunday that his group would support the Bodu Bala Sena group in its “struggle to protect Buddhism in Asia”.

Muslim groups had protested against Wirathu’s entry into Sri Lanka, saying his visit would only cause further divisions. His group has been accused of inciting violence against the minority Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

“To protect and defend the threatened Buddhist the world

over, my 969 movement will join hands with the BBS,” Wirathu said at a 5,000-seat stadium packed with monks and their lay supporters.

“Buddhists are facing a serious threat today from jihadist groups,” he said, without giving details. “The patience of Buddhists is seen as a weakness. Buddhist temples have been destroyed. There is a jihad against Buddhist monks.”

The president of the Bodu Bala Sena, Kirima Wimalajothi, told the meeting that Sri Lanka was “not a multicultural country but rather a nation for the Sinhala Buddhists” and threatened to topple the government unless it stopped “Muslim extremism”.

He added that a policy statement compiled by the group would be presented

to the Sri Lankan president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and that it would act to remove him if he failed to implement the changes.

The group’s general secretary, Galaboda aththe Gnanasara, urged the monks to “return to the temples and rally the people”, and said the government had a week to answer the group’s demands before it acted.

Muslims leaders on Friday petitioned Rajapaksa to request that Wirathu be refused a visa on the basis that he had been accused of inciting violence in Myanmar. No official response was given to the request.

Azath Salley, leader of the Muslim Tamil National Alliance, told Al-Jazeera that Wirathu’s visit would only serve to cause further divisions in the country.

“The government’s willingness to provide Wirathu with a visa shows they have ulterior motives in relation to the minorities”, he said.

“Wirathu promotes violence against minorities, an issue that Sri Lanka is trying to move past. His presence will harm any form of reconciliation taking place”.

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

5

africa news

Liberia’s Top Doctor Places Herself in Quarantine

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iberia’s chief medical officer, Bernice Dahn who is also a deputy health minister, placed herself in quarantine as a precaution against Ebola after one of her assistants died from the disease, the government said on Saturday.

Bernice Dahn is the latest senior West African medical official to be directly affected by an outbreak of Ebola, which has killed over 3,000 people as it spreads across

most of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“She has placed herself under self observation due to the fact that her special assistant contracted the virus,” Isaac Jackson, Liberia’s deputy information minister, told Reuters.

Jackson said that the government praised Dahn’s decision to come forward to be monitored after potentially coming into contact with the disease.

“If everyone were to do

what Dr. Dahn has done, Liberia would be free of Ebola,” he said.

The latest figures from the World Health Organisation show that the death toll from the worst outbreak of Ebola on record has killed at least 3,091 people, out of 6,574 probable, suspected and confirmed cases.

Liberia has recorded 1,830 deaths, around three times as many as Guinea or Sierra Leone, the two other most affected countries. Nigeria and

Senegal have had confirmed cases of Ebola but appear to have prevented it from spreading.

Although relatively common in Central Africa, the haemorrhagic fever has taken West Africa by surprise, spreading into heavily populated areas and across borders before authorities were able to coordinate their response.

Already weak national health care systems have been over-run by the dis-

ease, which has infected 375 health care workers in the region, killing 211 of them.

Sheik Umar Khan, the doctor leading the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone, contracted the disease himself and died in July.

Foreign governments and international organisations are dispatching funds, supplies and personnel to the region amid warnings that the disease could claims tens or hundreds of thousands of lives before it is halted.

Dahn

Zambia’s President Sata leaves NY Amid Reports of ill Health

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Protests in Congo Over a Possible Third Elected Term For Kabila

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n a bid to contest for the third time in a Presidential election, thousands of people who protested in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday have called on President Joseph Kabila to respect his country’s constitution and step down when his second elected term ends in 2016.

A march in Kinshasa was peaceful but protesters in Goma, the biggest town in the

volatile east, were dispersed by tear gas.

The country is rife with speculation that Kabila is looking for ways to remain in charge of the vast, mineral-rich nation that has been plagued by decades of conflict.

In Kinshasa, protesters demanded dialogue with the government over the holding of presidential elections in 2016, even as many de-

nounced Kabila as illegitimate “We don’t want any more Mr Kabilas. The people are tired,” said Bruno Mavungu, secretary general of the opposition Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UPDS) party.

“The Congolese people are saying: no one touches the constitution,” he told Reuters as he took part in an 11 km (7 mile) march that set off from the iconic monument to Pa-

trice Lumumba, Congo’s first elected prime minister.

Kabila came to power in 2001 when his father, Laurent, was assassinated in the middle of a conflict that sucked in regional armies and aid workers say ended up killing millions.

He steered the country to post-war elections in 2006 and won re-election in 2011, although the second vote was marred by complaints of widespread irregularities.

ambian President Michael Sata thanked his ministers for representing him at the UN assembly at different functions before he left New York on Saturday amid reports he was unwell.

Sata missed his scheduled U.N. speech on Wednesday instead his foreign minister addressed the world body on Friday. A diplomat at the United Nations told Reuters that Sata had been treated by doctors in his hotel room during his visit.

Zambia’s mission to the United Nations on Saturday released three photos of Sata.

The mission said in a statement the president had left New York, but did not disclose his destination.

“Before departure President Sata held a meeting with his ministers,” the statement said. “President Sata commended the Ministers for competently representing him and Zambia at the meetings.”

Vice President Guy Scott

Sata

told the Zambian parliament on Friday that the health of the 77-year-old Sata was “entirely normal.”

Concern about Sata’s health has been mounting since June, when he disappeared from the public eye without explanation and was then reported to be getting medical treatment in Israel.

At the opening of parliament last week, his first major public appearance in three months, Sata joked with lawmakers, telling them: “I am not dead.”

African Republic Asks U.N. to Lift Embargo on Arms to Aid Troops

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entral African Republic interim President Catherine Samba Panza asked the United Nations on Saturday to consider tweaking an arms embargo on the landlocked state so its security forces could be properly equipped to work alongside U.N. peacekeepers.

An “anti-balaka” Christian militia took up arms last

year in response to months of looting and killing by mostly Muslim Seleka rebels after they toppled President Francois Bozize and seized power in March 2013.

In December, the Security Council imposed an arms embargo on the Central African Republic and imposed sanctions in May on Bozize and two other men linked to the conflict in the mineral-rich

country of 4.6 million people.

“I should here like to ask for the understanding of the sanctions committee to ensure that the arms embargo imposed on the Central African Republic be reassessed and re-examined,” Samba Panza told the General Assembly.

She was elected interim president by a transitional assembly in January as part of a

plan to restore order.

Thousands have been killed and more than a million people displaced by the violence.

The United Nations took over an African Union peacekeeping mission last week and plans to roughly double the force to about 12,000 troops.

“We place great hope in the deployment of this mission, a mission which will contribute to - in an effective way - se-

curing our country and sustainable development,” she said.

“It remains true, however, that the success of this mission will also hinge on the involvement at its side of the national security and defence forces likely to lend support to this mission as a result of their intimate knowledge of the ground,” Samba Panza said.

Panza

6

holiday destination

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

Malawi

Malawi-Warm Heart Of Africa

By Iyanu- Oni Orisan

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alawi shares borders to the north and northeast with Tanzania; to the south, east, and southwest with Mozambique; and to the west with Zambia. Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa, is the dominant feature of the country, forming the eastern boundary with Tanzania and Mozambique.

Malawi might not be one of the most beautiful countries in Africa but it definitely is a place to visit. It has rich wildlife which is an attraction to a lot of tourists. The variety of landscape and the wildlife it supports make this relatively unspoilt country particularly attractive to visitors. For couples who want to travel on honeymoon and might not like to spend a fortune, Malawi could just be the perfect spot for you. There are so many attractions in Malawi, ranging from their wildlife, national parks, their beaches and so many more. I have been able to select a few of them and written a few facts about them and what they offer.

Lilongwe is Malawi’s capital, a pleasant enough city where you’ll find embassies and government departments. It’s a planned capital, and the population is smaller than Blantyre, at around 1 million people.

The “new town” is spread out with modern office buildings and residential areas. The “old town” is much livelier with a really great market where you

can buy everything from bikes to fans.

Lilongwe is a good place to regroup if you’ve been on the road for a while, lots of accommodation options and some decent restaurants can be found in both the old and the new town.

The Lilongwe Wildlife centre and the tobacco auctions are two of several worthwhile attractions in the capital.

Some of the embassies and cultural centres host local art shows which are worth attending, check local papers for information.

Lake Malawi is a beautiful fresh water lake that takes up about a third of the landlocked country of Malawi in Central/Southern Africa. The lake is 360 miles long and 52 miles wide, (hence sometimes known as the “calendar lake”).Mozambique and Tanzania border the lake as well, and in those countries it’s known as Lake Nyassa.

The waters of the lake are beautifully clear, perfect for swimming and snorkelling among the thousands of species of colorful Cichlids. Golden beaches, sleepy fishing villages and plenty of budget accommodation make Lake Malawi a favorite destination for backpackers and over landers.

Lake Malawi is a paradise for those who enjoy swimming, snorkelling, diving, and of course sunbathing.

The waters are mostly calm, clear as crystal and there are no big, ugly tourist resorts anywhere along its coastline.

While you can sail, fish, ride horses and water-ski around the lake, everything is low-key, quite affordable and

relaxed.

The sunsets are spectacular, the beer is good and the locals are incredibly friendly. The shores of the lake are generally sandy and the resort areas are largely bilharzia-free. There are no tides or currents. Lake Malawi contains more species of fish than any other lake in the world: over 500 at the latest count. Some of the rarest tropical fish in the world are unique to the lake, which is also the home of fish eagles, black eagles, and several varieties of kingfisher, tern, and many other birds.

One of the best ways of seeing Lake Malawi is to cruise in the 630-tonne Ilala II, the lake’s miniliner, which cruises the lake between Monkey Bay and Karonga in the north of the country. The 1052 km (654-mile) voyage gives the passenger the opportunity to visit lake ports and to view the spectacular mountain scenery.

Mulanje Mountain is a huge granite massif in southern Malawi. Its highest peak Sapitwa reaches over 3000m. There are plenty of hiking routes to choose from to enjoy this mountain, with simple huts at the end of each one. This is a wonderful hike for families, with lots of streams and peaks to explore. You should spend at least 2 nights on the mountain. The Mountain Club of Malawi has good route information as well as information on fees and how to pay your porters. If you join the Mountain Club you can use their cooking facilities stored in the huts. Enjoy the delicious smell of Mulanje cedar in the fireplace! Most hikers will start out from Likhubula, so a night at Likhubula Forest Lodge is convenient to get an early start. The best time to climb Mulanje is between May and October.

The Mulanje Massif is one of Malawi’s most beautiful mountain areas.

There are many fascinating spiritual

beliefs associated with the mountain which are still part of the local culture and should be respected. There are nine huts on the mountain owned by the Forestry Department and maintained by the Mountain Club and the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) which enable Club members to enjoy Mulanje to the full.

Likoma Island is actually in Mozambique waters, but is still a Malawian territory. Its home to a huge cathedral built in the early 1900’s. Likoma Island has several lovely beaches with two excellent eco-friendly resorts including Kaya Mawa, and some budget accommodation (check out Mango Drift) as well.

Likoma is a very peaceful spot and there are just a few cars on the island.

You can take some nice walks inland to visit local villages, the local market, or kayak around the island. There’s a diving school here as well that offers certification at very good rates. Dance troupes from other islands gather regularly for a “dance-off”, which is seriously entertaining. Getting to Likoma is half the fun, especially by boat; the MV Ilala stops here once a week.

There are scheduled flights from Lilongwe as well as charters available.

Liwonde National Park is situated in the Shire Valley, south of Lake Malawi and north of Zomba, Liwonde is the most popular of the national parks.

The River Shire flows along the eastern border of the park allowing for boat safaris. The river is mostly popu-

lated by vast numbers of hippo, and elephants and crocodiles can also be seen. There is a wide range of game in the park, including rhino and various antelopes. Through introductions, Liwonde will soon have the big five for visitors to see. The birdlife includes one of the greatest variety of species in Africa. There is accommodation in the park at Mvuu, including a luxury lodge and a separate permanent camp and camping site. Walking and driving safaris (in four-wheel-drive vehicles) are on offer. There is a landing strip for visitors coming by air. A new safari lodge has been opened on a hill site in the southern part of the park.

Nyika National Park is situated in the far north of the country; the park’s unique rolling grassland covers most of the Nyika Plateau, which lies at an altitude of 2000–3000 m (6562–9843 ft). The whaleback hills are broken by deep valleys and occasional patches of evergreen, natural forest, and bubbling streams. Nyika is known to sustain many rare birds and butterflies, game and a multitude of flowers, including an incredible range of orchids. At Chelinda, there is a variety of accommodation including new luxury log cabins.

The lodges and camps are set high up on the edge of a pine forest, overlooking trout-filled lakes. The enormous plateau has zebra, antelope, leopard and hyena as well as elephant on the lower slopes. A speciality of Chelinda is its horse safaris. There is an airstrip for visitors arriving by air.

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

7

politics

PDP’S Tour Will Respond To APC –Metuh As the race to the 2015 general elections heats up, political stalwarts and parties have continued to strategize with the aim of posting a good show at the polls. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not resting on its oars either. The recent adoption of President Jonathan by the party as its sole presidential candidate shows that it is prepared for the battle ahead. In a recent interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh speaks on the activities of the party and why he believes the party will have a good showing in 2015.

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha

S

ir, is this recent campaign by the PDP not in violation of the elector-

al act?

First, let me correct the impression among many people who believe that we are violating the electoral act; the PDP is not campaigning as many people think. Rather, we are embarking on a publicity tour to highlight the performance of our people in government.

Why is the PDP going on a publicity tour at the moment seeing the numerous challenges in the country?

The PDP is not ignorant of the current challenges in the country but one must admit that the PDP has done a lot to better the lot of the citizens as a whole. However, this publicity tour is a unique response to the negative campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the PDP. As you are aware, in the last 15 years of our democracy, our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to be the custodian of the sacred mandate freely given by Nigerians since 1999. Within this period, the PDP has strictly and vigorously applied itself to delivering on the mandate of not only establishing a free and democratic society in which the powers and actions of government are lawful, but also creating a dynamic economy where the welfare and prosperity of the people are guaranteed through sound policies and rapid infrastructural development in all the sectors of the economy.

However, while millions of Nigerians continue to enjoy the evident benefits of having the PDP in power, and demonstrating their satisfaction through their votes in successive elections, the opposition has mounted a negative cam-

paign asking what the PDP has done in the last 15 years.

Many of them have also queried the rationale behind the unanimous adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as our sole presidential candidate for the 2015 general election. The Peoples Democratic Party will respond in a unique way. With this in view, the publicity directorate has decided to embark on a comprehensive nationwide PDP performance tour to visit and publicise all projects executed by all PDP elected and appointed officials at the federal, state and local government levels in all the sectors of the economy since 1999, including constituency projects and interventions using special bodies such as NDDC, PTDF, CBN, SUREP, etc.

I must say in all honesty that there is indeed no state, local government or ward in Nigeria that has not been positively affected by projects executed by PDP governments at federal, state and local government levels.

Such projects abound in non-PDP states and many Nigerians erroneously give credit to the opposition, which they eagerly accept.

Also, in states formerly controlled by the PDP, such as Edo, Rivers, Nasarawa, Kano, Sokoto, Kwara, among others, the opposition parties, now in control are laying claims to our projects.

This tour will recover our projects claimed by the opposition and return the credit to the PDP. This is in addition to constituency projects by federal and state lawmakers, which were mobilised by the PDP-led federal government as well as the rapid growth in the private sector owing to our well-articulated reform policies and programmes in key sectors including banking, power, communication,

aviation, transport, commerce and industry, retailing, agriculture, housing and others making our nation one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Our tour will entail a comprehensive sector-by-

sector appraisal of our performance in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria and the successes recorded in transforming the lives of citizens in the last 15 years of our democracy.

Is this performance tour by the PDP not the same as the Good Governance Tour embarked upon sometime ago by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku?

This performance tour by the PDP is totally different from the Good Governance Tour of information minister Labaran Maku because only projects done by PDP members will be showcased.

While the Good Governance Tour focused on the projects executed by all the parties under the current dispensation, the PDP Publicity Tour will focus on all projects executed by all PDP-elected or appointed officials, including the federal government,

our state governors, ministers federal and state legislators, local government chairmen and councillors past and present since 1999.

The recent endorsement of President Jonathan has attracted condemnation from the opposition, what is your say on this?

Let me state this for the purpose of record keeping that the decision of NEC of the PDP to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan was based on his performance in office and the confidence our people have expressed in his leadership. The fact remains that under the present administration, our nation has witnessed an unprecedented progress in CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

8

politics

2015: Jonathan’s Endorsement And The

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha

D

espite the fact that the 2015 general elections is a few months away, recent events within the country have shown that the polity is already awash with pointers that Nigerians are really gearing up for the exercise. The recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is still gathering reviews across the country. While some persons mostly members of the ruling party have celebrated the endorsement of the president, others have laboured themselves to debate if the president deserves such an endorsement from his party men.

Although President Jonathan is yet to publicly accept the endorsement by the party, the recent performance tour by the ruling party in which the president himself has remained at the centre of it all could be a pointer to the fact that the president is really in the race already and is raring to contend with whoever the opposition might throw up as a challenge to his quest for another term in office.

Some political analysts have described the endorsement of the president by his party and the endorsements by some support groups as a masterstroke which is in line with democratic ethics. And all those mooting the idea that the election will be postponed as a result of the ongoing war against insurgents in the Northeast zone should perish such thought with the recent overwhelming endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer in the 2015 polls. The PDP’s endorsement which came

Mr. Kayode Idowu, who is the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega in his remarks categorically stated that "all political parties including PDP have violated the spirit of the electoral law, which forbids any form of political campaign 90 days before election. He however pointed out that limitation in the letter of the law makes its abuse possible" on the heels of various endorsements by some support groups across the country is a masterstroke which is in line with democratic ethos.

However, some Nigerians have faulted the endorsement of the president by his party men and also the recent performance tour embarked upon by the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). For the opposition and some members of the public, the endorsement of the president by the party defeats the tenets of democracy and the performance tour violates the electoral act. Some also condemn the rallies across the country by support groups chiefly the rallies organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN).

In a recent interview with the correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai

Mohammed, described the recent performance tour of the PDP and the rallies organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) as a flagrant violation of the electoral act and as such should be stopped forthwith.

The APC publicity secretary also said that the various rallies under whatever guise is illegal and a breach of the constitution and as such is more than enough reasons why Nigerians should vote out the ruling party because they have no regard for the constitution.

For the ruling PDP, the performance tour does not violate the provisions of the electoral law as it is not campaigning but only going back to the people to assess its projects across the country. Speaking to the correspondent, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Olisa Metuh, stated that what the party is do-

ing is not campaigning for the president since the president himself has not signified his intention to re-contest and has not picked up the interest form from the party.

What the PDP has done is one and the same with the local government tours that are ongoing by some APC Governors. Since the president is not limited to any state, it is assumed that his constituency is the entire country and as such he is as guilty as the opposition. That being said, the focus is now on the activities of support groups most notably TAN. For many Nigerians, the activities and recent campaigns being organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), the advocacy group campaigning for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan might have thrown up a new challenge to the framers

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

9

politics

Violation Of The Electoral Law

PDP’S Tour Will Respond To APC –Metuh CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

of Nigerian electoral law.

The Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) forbids any political party or candidates to begin campaign until 90 days to the election.

Part V. 99(1) of the act states that, “…the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.”

The 90 days countdown to the election shall be announced by Nigeria Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the acts stated.

Though INEC is yet to make this announcement, TAN has gone to town holding rallies with aim to promote President Jonathan candidature in the 2015 election, therefore raising competitive advantage of the president above other candidates.

The rallies, which were scheduled to hold in six geo-political zones to urge Jonathan to contest for second term as well as enlighten Nigerians on the achievements of his administration, may not have been any less promotional than a full blown political campaign.

So far the rallies have been held in Ibadan, Oyo state; Awka, Anambra State; Port Harcourt, River States, Minna, Niger State with and Gombe, Gombe State where some of the President’s ministers were in attendance.

The presidency though has denied having any connection with TAN campaign, the appearance of President Jonathan’s cabinet members at the rallies may have cast doubt on this disclaimer.

The ministers at the rallies, according to media report, include Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory Olajumoke Akinjide,

Chief of Staff to the President Jones Arogbofa, Minister of Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan, and the Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo, among others.

But does the action of TAN strictly contradict the prescription of the electoral act?

TAN National Chairman, Mr Adamu Musa, in a paid advertorial published in the dailies on Monday 22 September has dismissed the criticism, describing it as a “misleading and mischievous enterprise”. He declared: “TAN has done no wrong”.

He said the organization is “acting within democratic principles and tradition and do have the right to engage in the marketing of their preferred candidates so long as their activities do not constitute disorder in any guise or collaboration”.

However, when the correspondent spoke to Mr. Kayode Idowu who is the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega on telephone, Mr Kayode categorically stated that all political parties including PDP have violated the spirit of the electoral law, which forbids any form of political campaign 90 days before election. He however pointed out that limitation in the letter of the law makes its abuse possible.

The Act particularly mentioned ‘political parties’ and party ‘candidates’, but exclude interest groups with political bias such as TAN. By the way, Pro-Jonathan group has carefully elided the ‘C’ word from their utterance. This is not a campaign, but a public “enlightenment/sensitisation,” the group insisted.

Idowu said narrow conception of the law therefore makes it problematic to designate TAN as a political party, and condemn its ac-

tion.

TAN describes itself as a non-partisan organisation “fostering the continuation of transformation by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”

Explaining further, Mr. Idowu said the Act speaks about ‘campaign’, but TAN’s approach may not be strictly described as a campaign,.

“Instead of soliciting votes for President Jonathan, the group is rather requesting the president to run for another term.”

Nevertheless, Idowu agreed that TAN activities amount to political campaigning, and in effect, compromise the integrity of electoral process, “but that is not the fault of the INEC; it is rather the fault of the lawmakers. INEC can only implement if the law was enacted.”

He said the electoral body is however reviewing the guidelines with a view to removing the loopholes in the electoral guidelines.

Judging by the comments of the INEC official, the onus to determine who has flouted the electoral law rests on the National Assembly which cannot bring any group or persons to order because the lawmakers have also been seen in the various rallies.

Some political analysts have risen in defence of TAN saying that TAN, being a mere association, can neither be stopped from meeting nor prevented from endorsing a candidate for election, he said. “I think any legitimate association should be free to say, ‘this candidate is good; vote for him or her.’ Other association with similar interest can also come out like TAN to do the same thing.”

One of the other political parties, the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) has gone to challenge the legality of TAN rallies. The party is asking the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from further canvassing, campaigning, promoting and publicizing/advertising in any form by TAN. It is also seeking an order restraining TAN from canvassing for votes and holding political rallies for candidates and encouraging the unwholesome violation of the provision of the Constitution relating to Section 221 and undue wastage of public funds for development and engendering insecurity, sycophancy, lawlessness, militancy and youths unrests in Nigeria.

However, by the time court makes pronouncements on this case, TAN may not only have rounded off its rallies, the 2015 election may have come and gone. The damage has already been done.

all critical sectors through Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda in spite of the security challenges we face as a nation. Apart from the massive infrastructural development being witnessed across board, it is incontestable that the private sector has immensely flourished in the last three years owing to the continued implementation of our manifesto and policies including the PDP ideology of transfer of wealth from public institutions to the private sector, allowing hard working private individuals to thrive in manufacturing, aviation, housing, banking, telecoms, food processing, hospitality, education, transport, construction, oil and gas among others.

Economically, the leap in the nation’s economy has been acknowledged by the world community.

The Fitch Ratings which affirmed Nigeria’s long-term foreign and local currency IDRs, the senior unsecured bond and Short-term foreign currency IDR ratings respectively at ‘BB”s and the rebasing of our economy which placed it as the 26th largest economy in the world and the largest economy in Africa attest to this.

Nigerians must note that these achievements were in spite of very serious security challenges facing the administration especially, the insurgency in the north. It is our (PDP) incontrovertible statement that no other political party in this country would have maintained democracy in the face of such stiff detractions.

Also we note the candour, forthrightness and humility with which President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to apply himself in ensuring the welfare and prosperity of all Nigerians as one family without regard to ethnic, tribal, religious and political considerations.

Also, it is manifest that President Jonathan enjoys the support and solidarity of the Nigerian people who desire the continuation of his Transformation Agenda and the consolidation of the gains thereof under the PDP-led administration.

There is a rumour ongoing that the future of Vice President Namadi Sambo is hanging in the balance as the president might dump him for another person in 2015?

These rumours are unfounded and distributed by the opposition through a section of the media to cause disharmony in the presidency.

I would say categorically that Vice President Namadi Sambo is still a part of the winning team ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the vice president has the implicit confidence of the president. We in the PDP are therefore very pleased that they are working together in actualizing the transformation agenda to the popular acclaim of both Nigerians and the international community. Let me restate for the purpose of record as well that the 66th NEC meeting of our great party, which endorsed President Jonathan as the sole candidate of the PDP for the 2015 general election, responsibly reasoned and anchored this decision on the outstanding performance of the Jonathan Presidency of which Vice President Sambo is an integral part of.

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

10

business Sand Business: Huge Profits In The Face Of Environmental Dangers

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha

A

lhaji Jimoh Oluyemi is undoubtedly wealthy.

Dwelling in Agbara which is one of the rural towns in the outskirts of Lagos State, his wealth has attracted lots of goodwill for him in the area and has made him a boss to no fewer than 7 boys under his watch in the area. He is a renowned sand dealer and for him, business is thriving now.

Previously, it was believed that selling of sand was certainly not a corporate or dignifying business venture. It could best be described as an odd or dirty business for those with little or no formal education.

But those engaged in this age-long business see the hidden treasure in it and are smiling to their banks with fabulous returns daily. This new status has made the business lucrative for both the educated and non-educated.

A visit to any sand market in any part of Lagos metropolis reveals that they are as busy as construction sites.

Apart from the array of trucks of all sizes filled and half filled as well as all sand types waiting for buyers, one finds both men and women young and old who act as marketing agents or touts for sand dealers. Flaunting the good qualities of the sand on sale, these touts make advances at virtually everybody passing through the market to come and patronise them. Their belief is that anybody who comes to the market wants to purchase sand, gravel or granite.

They would pester any visitor to the market with questions such as “What type of sand are you looking for? Is it dagbo, sharp, plaster, white, soft or gravel? We have the best sand around and our tippers are always filled to the brim, “they would assure intending customers.

The busy nature of the market is more visible with the number of trucks that are coming to supply different sand types to the market and loaded trucks leaving to deliver purchased sand types to various construction sites. The market is usually a beehive of activities until late in the evening when the dealers either go home or smile to the banks to deposit the huge profits made from the day’s sales.

The success of the business according to Hassan Tolani, a sand dealer at Oja Oba in Oko-Oba area of Lagos metropolis, is due to the boom in the construction sub-sector of the economy. He noted that pa-

tience or perseverance on the part of the sand dealer is also required to make good returns from the business.

For Mr. Bankole, the activities in the construction industry determine whether the business is lucrative or not. He pointed out that, as major suppliers of sand materials to construction sites, their success is determined by the boom in the construction industry.

“What I mean is this, if you observe, you will notice that construction activities are going on everywhere in Lagos metropolis and outside the city.

It is the same way construction activities are going on in the neighbouring Ogun State. The way people living in Lagos metropolis are coming to purchase our products is the same way people are coming from Ogun State to buy. We depend on the boom in the construction sector to survive.

Corporate organisations and individuals alike are building and they all need supplies from us. That is why our busi-

ness is highly patronised.

“From morning till evening every day, this is how you see people coming from all directions to look for one type of sand or the other, it is like this in all sand markets in Lagos. This shows that we are highly supportive to the construction industry in Nigeria.

However, a lull in the sub-sector will adversely affect our business.

So, we pray that we don’t experience a lull in the construction industry so that our business will continue to enjoy the desired boom,” Bankole said.

Explaining that there are variations in the prices of sand types per tipper load due to their quality and usage, he added that the distance or location coupled with whether a customer is purchasing a double loaded truck or single tipper and whether the truck is the long or short type will further determine the prices of sand materials.

“We have all types of sand and

gravel. They are used for various purposes in the construction of buildings.

Equally, the types attract different prices depending on what you want.

For instance, sharp and plaster sand do not sell for the same price.

Plaster is within N17,000- N21,000 for a single tipper while sharp sand sells for N30,000- N35,000 for the same truck load. The location where you want the sand to be dropped will attract an additional charge. There are other lower sand types, but the least which is sand-fill is not less than N16,000 per tipper load.

Gravel is more expensive than other sand types because it is used for concrete jobs during construction. A single tipper load of gravel is not less than N38,000″, he noted.

According to him, the business is not gender discriminatory, a man or woman who has knowledge about trading can do sand business. He said the business can be started on a low scale with room for future expansion.

With N150, 000, you can start the business without a truck.

“Normally, people start small and later expand as the business grows with time. Those who don’t have trucks depend on truck owners for hire.

Those who hire trucks for the business also make their money, but they may not make as much money as truck owners. It is true that there is no business without its challenges. Some of our challenges include the fact that during the rains, some bush paths into

the bush where we source our materials become unmotorable, which causes dealers not to have goods to sell.

This causes dryness in the business this period. Also, during rainy season, we have very high records of damaged trucks due to bad terrains which equally affect our business.

But I must say that the good times of the business are more than the bad times, Bankole said.

However, while many sand miners are celebrating the profits obtained from the business, investigations have shown that the excavation of sand in the areas have begun to affect the locals and their environment.

The government has also risen to condemn the activities of these sand miners saying that the continued dredging in the state’s shorelines have been described as an illegal activity capable of causing major environmental challenge for Lagos in its bid for environmental sustainability.

An official in the Lagos State Government who spoke to the correspondent said that the warning has become necessary as a result of incessant illegal land reclamation from the water bodies in order to gain more space or reclaim swampy land which were affecting the water bodies negatively.

“If these illegal activities are not properly monitored and regulated, it will lead to a major environmental problem which may result in multiplier effect on areas which were hitherto not prone to flooding,” he said, adding that it could also have an adverse effect on the tourism potentials which the water bodies such as ocean, lagoon and streams provide for the state.

He explained that the ministry has been empowered to coordinate all reclamation activities in the state to facilitate environmental sustainability and guide against environment degradation. He further directed individuals or corporate bodies to obtain the permit of any form of reclamation from the ministry.

He warned that anybody that involves in reclamation activities without obtaining the necessary permit will be prosecuted.

With the dangers of erosion and other environmental dangers in view, the business of sand mining though profiting, might be a disaster lurking ahead for the people. Steps must be put in place to ensure that it is well regulated to forestall the dangers that looms.

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

11

business

Common Errors of Start-up Failures

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha

I

t is not in doubt that there are over a thousand business opportunities that abound for prospective entrepreneurs all over the country and the world at large, however, there are a thousand and one factors that may cause a great business to collapse but in this article, we would make an attempt to identify the most common among these factors or problems.

Bad Or Wrong Location This is one factor that can really undermine a prospective business venture. For an aspiring entrepreneur or even one with a number of years in practice, irrespective of how exciting or great your ideas in the business are, a wrong location is more than enough to ruin the chances of any prospective business career.

There’s an interesting question that is vital to ask here; Why do cities become start-up hubs? Well, the reason start-ups prosper in any city is probably the same as it is for any industry: that is where the experts are. Standards are higher; people are more sympathetic to what you’re doing; the kind of people you want to hire want to live there; supporting industries are there; the people you run into in chance meetings are in the same business. With all these factors put in place, it is good to say that one is in the right place.

Therefore, one must really study his business environment and look out for these factors to know if one is in the right place to establish oneself in a particular location.

Without these factors in place, it is safe to say that the business is headed for the pit despite its huge prospects.

First, you must identify an area where people are more sympathetic to your business, then you must look out for experts or more experienced personalities in the area. Also, ensure that the people you want to hire are there and also industries that will aid and support your business are available. The issue of location cannot be overemphasized, once the location is right, the sky is surely your starting point.

Marginal Niches When we talk about Niches here, we mean a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment. So, when you choose a small, obscure niche in the hope of avoiding competition, it is apparent that you are heading for disaster. It is not altogether wise to think about starting

up a business with your personal comfort in mind.

Thinking solely of your comfort in establishing a business would ultimately lead to your inability to take critical or risky decisions when required. Risk or adventure is one critical element needed for a business man, company or group.

So it is necessary that the total comfort of the person or business should not be the highpoint of your decision in starting up a business.

You must be willing to dare. Take seemingly impossible decisions.

Get ready to swim with the sharks.

Get set to be bitten and hit by the environment and other factors but also get determined to brave the odds in order to succeed.

It’s like you watching little kids playing sports, you will notice that below a certain age the kids are surely afraid of the ball. When the ball comes near them at that age or period in question, their natural instinct is to avoid it.

So, the solution may be to think about ideas without really involving yourself. What would be a great idea for someone else to do as a startup?

Slowness In Launching Start-ups make all kinds of excuses for delaying their launch. Most are equivalent to the ones people use for procrastinating in everyday life. There’s something that needs to happen first. Procrastination is indeed the killer of time and opportunities in business.

No time is best enough to launch so the truth is start when you have to. Don’t expect all things to be in place before you launch otherwise you will watch quality and productive time and opportunity slip through you simply for the issue of procrastination.

One major benefit of launching quickly is that it forces you to actually finish some quantum of work. Nothing is truly finished till it’s released; you can see that from the rush of work that’s always in-

volved in releasing anything, no matter how finished you thought it was. You might never know the inner strengths within you until you launch or release that idea anyhow.

Quick launch helps you get a grasp of the challenges quickly and so you would find yourself tackling it in no due time. The other reason you need to launch is that it’s only by bouncing your idea off users that you fully understand it.

There is no way one can fully understand his idea until he has released it. Once an idea is released, it becomes easier to appreciate and understand the challenges, pitfalls, true success among others related to the business. So the idea is to launch quickly and not to procrastinate.

However, it must be pointed that a quick launch means that proper work and study must be overlooked.

Launching Too Early Just as it was pointed out in the closing stages of the previous point, proper work and study is necessary before starting up a business.

Launching too slowly has probably killed a hundred times more start-

ups than launching too fast, but there is a huge possibility that one can launch too fast.

One danger about launching too fast here is that it will make you ruin your reputation. You launch something, the early adopters try it out, and if it’s no good they may never come back. The process of repairing a bruised or damaged reputation in business is so cumbersome that many who have tried to repair theirs have ended up being unable to. So the best thing is to avoid damaging your reputation with a hasty business launch.

Diligence is the key word here. It is expected that a prospective business man must be diligent in ensuring that he has thoroughly studied his environment and ensure that the right things necessary for immediate take off are in place in order ensure success.

A question likely to arise is, what’s the minimum you need to launch?

We suggest start-ups think about what they plan to do, identify a core that’s both (a) useful on its own and (b) something that can be incrementally expanded into the whole proj-

ect, and then get that done as soon as possible.

Spending Too Much It’s hard to really distinguish spending too much from raising too little cash. If you run out of money, you could say either was the cause.

The only way to decide which to call it is by comparison with other start-ups. If you raised five million and ran out of money, you probably spent too much.

Burning through too much money is not as common as it used to be.

Founders seem to have learned that lesson. Plus it keeps getting cheaper to start a start-up.

Sacrificing Users To (Supposed) Profit The companies that win are the ones that put users first. Google is an excellent example. They made search work and then worried about how to make money from it. And yet some start-up founders still think it’s irresponsible not to focus on the business model from the beginning.

They’re often encouraged in this by investors whose experience comes from less malleable industries.

In conclusion, these are a couple of factors that can lead to business collapse. Once these pitfalls are avoided in business, it is safe to assume that the business is headed to greater heights. Study them and ensure that the errors highlighted here are properly avoided to ensure a safe business ride. Successful businesses are those that did a proper research of their environment and studied the issues explained here to ensure that they were not caught in the web of these little start-up errors. Let these tips guide you to success.

Don’t Stall Any Further, Take Action Now!

12

relationships

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

Study Your Man Like A Manual

By Ngozi Ndubisi

W

hen equipment is bought, the first you want to do is to read the manual on installation, how it’s used, and the maintenance to have the maximal benefit of the product. Most people have found to their detriment when they think they can manage without manuals.

So also in the hope for marital bliss, the man and woman must have studied each other before coming together and when they eventually marry, they look for ways to subtly implement all they have learnt of each and also learn personally now, how to better understand ways of living blissfully together.

In the absence of these, you croup around like one looking for candle stick in total darkness, where you

bump into things, scrap or hit your toe sore and still come not having light, because you did not prepare an easy reach or place for the candle stick, in time of such need.

In my over fifteen years of counseling and being in different marriage repair committees, I have come to hear statements like ‘he does not even listen; talk more of hearing me when we talk and we do talk plenty.’ And ‘oh that woman is Jezebel incarnate.’

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” - George Bernard Shaw Most times we marry personality rather than character, so when that character begins to unfold, do we use adjectives that are meant for the gutters on each other. Some I’ve heard make me wonder if they ever loved each other in the first place.

Today it’s all about the man, next week it’s about the woman. The Good Book says, women, wife, mother are created as ‘Help Mate’ in all ramifications of the word.

Most times the women complain that their men won’t allow them carry out their God given purpose; women, do you know that there are things your man wants from you but is scared to tell for fear of seeing him in a light different from what he really is? Things like: Men are Scared To Tell You When They Are Afraid: they are usually very bad at communicating this fear because they are terrified you might see them as weak, feeble and at the long run call them pathetic.

They Feel they are Emotionally Disadvantaged: When you go all weeping and shedding tears, the men feel threatened and employ anger

as Defence Mechanism Men often feel inadequate and that they not measuring up: when they have not taken care of their responsibility properly as they should. In extreme cases, they physically pound their wives at the least provocation they feel is showing them up.

However, some carry wounds of deep-seeded failure from their past instead of communicating this to the wife, they compensate for this lapse by throwing themselves into whatever they are doing to find “achievement and success.”

Men Fear the Venom from a Woman’s Tongue: A woman’s angry tongue can either make or break the husband.

The Good Book rightly identified the tongue as an instrument for life or death. If only our women can consciously curb their tongues and stick to the sweet, soft feminine voice

they were created with, lot of bliss will abound.

Men Think About Sex: to the extent that they tend to value the sexual aspect of the relationship so much that they measure the overall wellbeing of their marriage on the regularity of what happes in their bedroom.

The Need for RESPECT

by Men: makes them make erroneous assumption that beating the day light out of their wives will earn them the respect they so much crave for. Please ladies, give the men their respect as the head of the home no matter the circumstance.

Men Yearn for Their Wives to Be Their Best Friends: My husband once told me ‘in spite of the numerous buddiess we have, we tend to lean on you more than you realize for companionship and for true friendship.’ Most women will

seat up straight if they know.

Men Hate Complaints: Turn that complaint into request or present it as a matter of factly as you possibly can.

This way your man will take quick notice and try doing what you asked for.

A Man’s Attention Span is 2-3 Minutes: so ladies ‘Cut to the Chase’ as it were and present your case as fast and clear as you possibly can. That way he will hear, listen and try to take your loving corrections, suggestions and that change you need.

If we women can understand these sides of our husbands, we are in for a l-o-n-g blissful years ahead.

Email your comments and keep sending your questions, we will treat all and also send your personal emails for additional tip bits.

Email: ngozindubisi2013@yahoo.com

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

13

leisure

The truth Behind Amber Rose, Wiz Khalifa’s Bitter Split!

By Opeoluwani Akintayo

N

ot until news of Amber Rose filing for divorce from her husband of one-year, Wiz Khalifa hit us like volcano; we’d thought their marriage was made in heaven.

Everything seemed perfect; especially with the birth of their adorable son and the fact that the couple recently celebrated their one year anniversary. Rose even went ahead to release their never-seen wedding photos.

Phew! What went wrong?

Why did everything suddenly fall apart immediately after Rose hired recently Nick Cannon as her manager? Well, look no further because the answer is here!

We think Rose may not have cheated with Nick like

Movie Talk

Wiz claimed. Wiz is just jealous! He’s jealous that Rose had to hang out more with Nick who also just got separated from his wife, Mariah Carey. He fears that Rose may fall for Nick since Nick is single again, and of course, Nick is a better looking, decent guy than he is anyway. So, Wiz apparently just played out his horrific imagination!

That’s why Wiz got unnecessarily tensed and quit the marriage, left their home to live apart and whore with other women in revenge.

What revenge anyway?

Wiz is guilty of cheating on Rose. Besides, we are shocked that after calling out Rose for cheating with Nick, he still hasn’t come out with a concrete evidence to prove his point unlike Rose who caught him right in the act of adultery.

Davido Makes Guest Appearance In Eniola Badmus’ New Movie

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ow we know why Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus and Davido got really playful Sunday, Sept.28.

DTN brought you a photo which saw Eniola Badmus playing the big sister carrying Davido on her back, and we wondered what led to that shot.

Now we have the fact behind that picture.

Fans of Davido should watch out for him in Eniola Badmus’ upcoming movie as the O.B.O star made a guest appearance in it.

Don’t forget that this isn’t the

By Judith Frank -Edet

October 1

The Equalizer

Director: Kunle Afolayan Script: Tunde Babalola Running time; 140 mins Starring: Sadiq Daba, Kanayo .O. Kanayo, Kehinde Bankole, Fabian Lojede, Demola Adedoyin, Kunle Afolayan, Deola Sagoe, Nick Rhys, David Bailie.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense Directed By: Antoine Fuqua Runtime: 2 hr. 11 min Staring; Denzel Washington, Chloe Moretz, Marton Csokas, Dan Bilzerian.

W

O

ctober 1 is Kunle Afolayan’s newest production with a running time of 2hours 20 minutes.

The story line totally keeps you engrossed especially through its flakes of comedy.

Aside starring few known faces, Afolayan brilliantly employs new and capable faces to drive home the point.

Demola Adedoyin’s play of Prince Aderopo brought life to his scenes as he exudes the arrogance and light heartedness of an aristocrat.

The movie tells a not-toosweet story about Nigeria, revealing the fault lines of our leaders, at the same time asking relevant and serious questions. Nigeria was at the brink of gaining independence but there were serious crises, rape, murder, exterminations in the western region

first time Davido will be picking up movie scripts.

He starred in a new movie produced by his actor and producer cousin, Ikechukwu Ojeogwu. The movie which is yet to be out, was directed by renowned director Teco Benson.

Eniola Badmus is presently out of the country, in Brooklyn, East New York, where she’s working on her newest movie, “Oshey”.

With this movie production, it means the actress is on the move to stamp her prints in Nollywood, not only as an actress but also as a movie director. Good for her!

of Nigeria. A Nigerian detective, Dan Waziri was immediately sent off to the region by the British government to solve the series of gruesome crises.

On getting there, Waziri discovers that the situation is worse than he thought and had the herculean task of saving more women from dying which is a race against time.

Despite the independence celebration being in the offing, Waziri and the killer try to outsmart each other.

The movie gets to a climax when the life of a famous local teacher is threatened by the killer and Waziri must hunt down the killer before Nigeria signs its last dots to become independent.

We must also commend the excellent cinematography by Yinka Edwards.

The plot of the movie is very clear and well written.

Though there seemed to be a striking contrast in the story line at the beginning, there was a synergy of the narrative

e all love Denzel Washington; he’s been doing this for ages, ordinary guy, and cool killer. This is one action and thriller movie that needs you to grab your popcorn with a drink.

Denzel Washington plays McCall, a man who puts his mysterious past behind him and dedicates himself to a new beginning and a quiet life. His co workers look up to him for advice and wonder what sort of life he lived in the past. He plays with a couple of young friends that he was a pipmeaning he used to be a backup singer/dancer for Gladys knights. He then shows them some smooth old school dance steps and this made his friends almost believe him.

A pip indeed; before then, McCall was a diehard executor. He could pre-visualize a potentially explosive situation

with intelligent Sherlock-level precision, and eliminate wouldbe assailants with swift and often grisly violence. He also employs a watch timer to judge how long it will take to wipe out a threat. Usually, it is within seconds.

But he wanted to stop that life and turn a new leaf. The widower started spending his nights sipping tea and reading classics. He stopped using his special skills and had to start afresh again.

Not until he met this underage prostitute; Teri played by Chloe Grace Moretz, a young girl who hangs out at the restaurant between clients and

was under the control of ultraviolent Russian gangsters. Teri became sincere friends with McCall and she even revealed to him that she would have loved to be a singer. But when Teri didn’t turn up for the usual night dessert due to a brutal beating from her Russian pimp which landed her to the hospital, McCall can’t stand idly by - he has to help her., which means he has to pull his fighting skills out of hibernation.

McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall must help.

From here, the game becomes tougher as McCall tries to capture the perpetrator and his thugs at a Russian restaurant. One funny thing in the movie was how the bad guys always looked at him and underestimated his fighting prowess and yes they paid a price for doing so. And the big boss behind the pimps is eager to locate this mystery man that is knocking off his workers and undermining his lucrative business. But Denzel is on a mission of pay back- he is the equalizer.

health

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

14

Working For 55 Hours Per Week May Lead To Type-2 diabetes

L

Male Or Female: Who Smells Most?

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By Lara Adejoro

ature is a respecter of no body. It could be embarrassing to know that your best friend, husband or wife emit odour that is unpleasant. However, findings show that, human can actually control body smell or odour.

Some people think women smell more than men because of their various components: hair, armpits, genitals, smell from excessive use of covered-shoes, mouth, bra/breast, menstrual cycle, inner thigh, skin while another school of thought says men smell more.

Some even say that men smell like he-goats when they wake up in the morning. However, experts say whether a man or woman smells is a debatable question.

According to Dr Laz Eze, a public health physician at the Health Systems, Four ACES Consulting Services Ltd, Abuja, sweat is produced from two glands – the eccrine and apocrine glands.

The Eccrine glands cover most part of the body while the Apocrine glands are found largely in the groin and armpits; they secrete chemical compounds which bacteria on the skin act on and metabolize into smelly/odorant substances resulting in body odour.

Dr Eze said, “Body odour may have some strong genetic basis. Medical conditions

such as bromhidrosis or osmidrosis may also manifest with body odour especially when apocrine regions of the skin (like armpit) are affected. An individual’s body odour may be influenced by lifestyle, medications or type of food consumed (garlic, onions or piping hot curries, excess dairy products, etc). Tobacco smoking also causes body odour.”

Consecutive body odour (Bromhidrosis) is a common phenomenon in postpubertal individuals. In many cases, bromhidrosis may become pathologic if it is particularly overpowering or if the Bromhidrosis significantly interferes with the lives of the affected individuals.

Do Men Smell More?

There is a significally difference between female and male odour.

Males will develop much more odour, which has a masculine, strong characteristic because of the dominating testosterone hormone while women emanate a more sweeter scent which is mostly affected by feminine estrogens.

A Swiss study done by researchers in Geneva revealed that women’s body odour contained high levels of sulphur, which together with dermal bacteria produces the chemical compound thiol that has a smell of garlic or onion.

According to the study, men’s sweat was found to contain more fatty acids, which when mixed with bacteria from the skin, produces a certain brute smell, resembling cheese.

Excessive sweating is a more common problem for Caucasians and Africans, who tend to have more hair follicles to which the apocrine glands are attached. East Asian people appear to have less and smaller apocrine glands, which explains why they might not need to use deodorants as often as populations of Africa and Europe.

As a matter of fact the deodorant/antiperspirant market in Asia is much smaller than in the western world. Surely, though, there may be many exceptions since body odour is obviously influenced by many factors, for example by one’s personal diet.

According to Dr Eze, this is a debatable question as some studies produce conflicting results.

He however said, “I’m not aware of any biological basis that supports either of the argument in the absence of external factors. Generally, whether a man or woman smells better is determined by external factors most of which are within human control. For example, if a man consumes large quantity of alcohol at night, he may wake up with bad smell. If a woman fails to keep her body and genital organs clean, she may also smell badly.”

Other causes may include the following: •Obesity •Diabetes mellitus •Intertrigo (rash) •Trichomycosis axillaris (underarm infection of the hair shafts) •Erythrasma (superficial skin disease) •Wrong clothing (nonbreathable fabrics) •Mouth odour may also contribute to body odour

Prevention •Good personal hygiene including regular bathing, mouth brushing and use of clean clothes •Use of antiperspirants and/or deodorants •Wear breathable fabrics like cotton or wool-made clothes especially during warm weather or exercise.

•Regular shaving of armpit.

•People with body odour may consider avoiding foods rich with garlic, onions, etc.

ong working hours are a common thing these days. Prolonged sitting, modern erratic lifestyle and lack of physical activity can lead to the onset of Type-2 diabetes and other heart related problems, reports Zee News.

A study conducted by researchers at University College London suggests that working for more than 55 hours per week may impair glucose tolerance which can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Researchers conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of published studies and unpublished individuallevel data examining the effects of long working hours on type 2 diabetes up to 30 April

2014.

The study revealed that individuals doing low socio-economic status jobs who worked 55 hours or more per week had a roughly 30 per cent increased risk of developing diabetes compared to their counterparts who worked between 35 and 40 hours a week, even after taking into account health behaviours such as smoking and physical activity, and other risk factors including age, sex, and obesity.

This association remained strong even after excluding shift work, which has been shown to increase the risk of obesity and developing type-2 diabetes.

The study is published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

How To Keep Your Kidney Healthy

T

he kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that extract waste from blood, balance body fluids, form urine, and aid in other important functions of the body residing against the back muscles in the upper abdominal cavity.

They sit opposite each other on both sides of the spine.

The right kidney sits a little bit lower than the left to accommodate the liver.

Some of the core functions of the kidneys include: Waste excretion, water level balancing, blood pressure regulation.

Because of all of the vital functions the kidneys perform and the toxins they encounter, the kidneys are sus-

ceptible to various problems and as such, here are a few kidney-friendly tips: •Exercise regularly to keep your blood flowing and your kidneys healthy.

•Maintain an ideal weight; lose weight if you are overweight.

•Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Also, have fish like tuna, brim. Meat intake should be limited.

•If you have diabetes, manage your blood sugar level •Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol •Know your family history, especially that of kidney disease •Limit your salt intake •Avoid unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

15

health

Another Health Crisis Looms Over Unpaid Salary Lara Adejoro

S

equel to the nationwide strike action embarked upon on Tuesday, July 1 by the Nigerian doctors under the aegis of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the suspension of the strike action by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in August 24, Lagos State doctors are however yet to be paid their August salary.

It was gathered that while other healthcare workers in the state were paid, the salaries of the doctors are yet to be paid.

Meanwhile, resident doctors in the state had petitioned the State House of Assembly, seeking its intervention over alleged refusal of the state government to pay their August salary.

In a letter through the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the resident doctors said they were not finding the alleged refusal of government to pay their August salary funny.

Findings by Daily Times indicate that if nothing urgent is done about the matter, it might lead to another health crisis in the state.

A medical doctor who spoke to Daily Times on condition of anonymity said the reason for the non-payment of the August salary was alluded to the recent strike action embarked upon by the doctors.

“The reason the state government alluded to it was that it has the policy of no work, no pay.

We wondered why that will apply because other state governments have paid July and August salaries to their doctors and are expecting their September salary as we speak.”

It was learnt that several meetings have been held with the state government, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, government agencies and Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Health and at the time of filing this report, the call for investigation by the State House of Assembly, the doctors are yet to receive a letter for a call for resolution on the matter despite the call for investigation.

The doctor said, “What we have been doing in the last 3 weeks is appealing to them to see reasons why they need to pay us. It was NMA that called the strike. In any case, the doctors in the Ministry of Health were supposed to be on strike since they are members of the

NMA. “The issues that led to the strike are issues that borders on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) so that health can become affordable for Nigerians, issues on people who want to become Consultants, Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) without working for it.

“While all of these are being resolved, we do not think that the Lagos State government should

introduce another problem into the health sector because we are yet to recover from the woes arising from the last strike.”

In his argument, he said, “the issue of selective application of no work, no pay for doctors alone will not augur well for the medical profession.

“We are aware that when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) went on strike for over four months, they were

paid, we are also aware that when the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) were on strike for over 7 months, they were paid. The judicial workers who recently called off their strike were paid their salaries.

So, why the selective application of no work, no pay to medical doctors alone? I think this question can best be answered

by Lagos State government.”

When asked if the issue might

lead to another strike action, he said, “At the moment, we are following the path of advocacy and lobbying. We hope we will be able to impress on the Lagos State government to see reasons why they should pay our salaries that is why the Lagos State House of Assembly is involved, the commissioner is involved and elders in the medical profession are involved in this trouble to persuade the Lagos State gov-

ernment to pay us.

“We will wish that it does not result to another strike action.”

Daily Times gathered that, the doctors in the state are paid on the 24th of every month and there are threats that they may not be paid for September as they embarked on the strike in July and the salary payment for July was an error and would however result to non-payment of their September salary.

LASUTH Doctors Lament Poor Working Conditions, Dearth of Bed Spaces For Patients

By Lara Adejoro

D

octors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos have decried insufficiency of bed spaces for patients who daily troop into the hospital for treatment.

Daily Times gathered that, one of the wards has just 8 bed spaces for over 80 patients and the situation is worse at the surgery ward.

A doctor at the hospital speaking on condition of anonymity said, “We have to turn patients back because of inadequate bed spaces. Some-

times, when a surgery is done on a patient, we tell them to go home and come for medical check-up because we need to admit new patients with severe cases.”

Another doctor who does not want her name mentioned said, “How many surgeons do we have in the hospital? We just need to do our best.”

Daily Times reports that, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), an association of all medical doctors in Nigeria on July 1 embarked on a nationwide strike demanding that the Federal Government address the health challenges in the country.

In an open letter to the Sec-

retary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, on June 11, titled “Facing the Challenges in the Health Sector,” the doctors demanded for the acceleration of the passage of the National Health Bill and extension of the Universal Health Coverage to cover 100 per cent of Nigerians rather than 30 per cent as currently prescribed by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The doctors also demanded that the universal applicability of all establishment circulars on the remuneration and conditions of service for doctors at all levels of government must be granted.

The NMA also asked the government to, as a matter of urgency set up a health trust fund that will enhance the upgrading of hospitals in Nigeria.

Even though the association called off its 55 day-old strike on Sunday, August 24, the reasons they embarked on the strike seem not to have be addressed.

sports

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

16

Nigerian Athletes Dominate World Sporting Events BY: Mu’Sodiq Adekunle

T

hough, rankings by Federation of International Football Association and its counterpart in Basketball showed that Nigeria was dropping in its performance, the Africa’s giant athletic stars are not performing badly in various sporting competitions.

One of the athletes that has continually bring glory to the nation is Aruna Quadri. Qadri recently won the Portuguese Super with his club GD Toledos. This, he believes will motivate him to win a title at the International Table Tennis Federation World Cup. Quadri and his teammates beat Bode Abiodun’s Sporting Lisbon 3-1 last Sunday to lift the Super Cup for the third time since joining Toledos in 2010.

Quadri, who is Africa’s sole representative, will be competing at the men’s World Cup in Dusseldorf, Germany between October 24 and 26.

As if that was not enough to justify Nigeria’s outstanding performances, the country has also maintained her place in the International Rugby Federation ranking released on Monday.

The Black Stallions still occupy the 78th spot in the

world and the 12th spot in Africa with 38.05 points.

Nigeria qualified for the Africa 7s as one of the 12 best rugby playing nations on the continent. The competition will take place in Kenya on a date yet to be confirmed by the Confederation of African Rugby.

In football, title-known Nigerian midfielder Omoh Michael has been hogging the headlines in Sweden in recent weeks for the right reasons.

The Dalkurd FF creative player scored again last Saturday to bring his season tally to nine league goals and 14 overall in all competitions.

Dalkurd lost Saturday’s match 2-1 to Athletic FC but aside scoring his team’s only goal, Michael was in fantastic form, causing problems for the opponents.

Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa lone goal was also the decider when CSKA Moscow beat city rivals, Locomotive Moscow, 1-0 at home in the Russian Premier League. Musa scored the goal in the 33rd minute after one of his trademark runs.

Nnamdi Oduamadi was also on target for his Serie B side, Crotone, in their 2-0 home win over Bologna. The Eagles midfielder came on in the 70th minute to score his

club’s second goal 12 minutes later after Steve Beleck had put the hosts ahead in the 46th minute. The win was the first for Crotone in the four-weekold season.

Meanwhile, Nigeria captain,

Vincent Enyeama, was in goal for Lille as they played a goalless draw against Montpellier at home in the French Ligue 1.

The Eagles keeper ensured they shared the spoils as he saved efforts from Montpellier’s Kevin

Berigaud. The draw brought Lille to third in the table with 11 points from five matches.

In Germany, Chinedu Obasi was an 82nd minute substitute in Schalke 04’s 2-2 draw in the Bundesliga. He replaced Klaas

Jan Huntelaar after the four goals have been scored. Obasi was absent for the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa earlier this month.

Former Falcons Coach, Ugandan Footballer Dies Mu’Sodiq Adekunle

P

resident of world football-governing body, FIFA, Mr. Sepp Blatter, has expressed sympathy to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, over the death of former Super Falcons Head Coach, Mr. Ntiero Effiom.

In a letter addressed personally to Maigari, Blatter noted that late Effiom was an outstanding coach and will be remembered for his various accomplishments and the contributions he made to the women’s game in Nigeria.

“Allow me on behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of football, to extend my deepest condolences to the football community of Nigeria, and most importantly to his family, friends and loved ones.

“We hope that in some

way, our words of support may help bring a little bit of peace and solace in this time of sadness.

Also, an Ugandan foot-

baller, Fahad Musana collapsed and died after Premier League game between Manchester City and Chelsea.

Federation of Uganda

Football Associations confirmed this in a statement released on their website moments after the player’s death on Sunday evening.

“Musana, a staunch Chelsea fan, breathed his last after ex-Blue Lampard equalised for his current side Manchester City in a game the visitors were leading 1-0 through an Andre Schurle goal.

“Musana was watching from a local makeshift video hall in Bombo Town, home of Simba,” the statement read in part.

“He has been a passionate fan of Chelsea and would do anything for the club, apart from gambling,” Gerald Bagoole – scorer of the only goal in Simba’s victory on Saturday – who also distanced the deceased from betting, told a local site Kawowo Sports.

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

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sports AFCON Qualifier

NFF Elections: Ogunjobi, Umeh, 35 Others Get Clearance To Contest Mu’Sodiq Adekunle

T Keshi Names Enyeama, Moses, 22 Others for Sudan Mu’Sodiq Adekunle

H

ead Coach Stephen Keshi has named goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama and 23 others for next month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations must-win qualifying tango away and home to Sudan.

Both teams clash in Khartoum on Saturday, 11th October before trading tackles at the National Stadium, Abuja four days later.

Keshi has also included a hatful of new faces, including former junior international Raheem Lawal, China–based striker Aaron Samuel and relatively unknown Anyora Ugonna, who plays in Norway.

There are also opportunities for World Cup star-boy Babatunde Michael, back from injury, Reading of England’s Hope Akpan and Austria –based forward Sunday Emmanuel.

African champions Nigeria must win both matches against pointless Sudan next month to have any realistic chance of reaching the finals in Morocco early next year.

THE FULL LIST: Goalkeep-

ers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’erSheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United).

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough, England).

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi FC, Israel); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); Raheem Lawal (Eskisehirspor FC, Turkey); Anyora Ugonna (Haugesund FC, Norway).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Osaguona Ighodaro (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Victor Moses (Stoke City, England); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R & F, China); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine).

he Electoral Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has cleared 37 candidates for its September 30 elections for chairmanship and other elective positions.

The list made available on the committee’s website has seven candidates for the chairmanship position.

They are Taiwo Ogunjobi, a former NFF Secretary-General; Amanze Uchegbulam, a former first Vice-Chairman of the NFF and Mike Umeh, former NFF acting Chairman.

Others are: Amaju Pinnick, the Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission; Dominic Iiorfa, Vice-Chairman of Lobi Stars FC, Markurdi and Shehu Dikko, a member of the League Management Company.

Abdullahi Abba-Yola, a one-time Special Adviser to the Minister of Sports is the seventh contestant jostling for the chairmanship position.

Emeka Inyama, Chairman of Abia Warriors FC; Shehu Adamu, a former NFF board member and Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman of Lagos State Football Association are contesting for the first vice chairmanship position.

Suleyman Muazu from Sokoto State, who was a member of the Chris Giwa-led board, was also cleared to vie for the first vice chairmanship seat.

The committee also cleared Ibrahim Gusau as the sole candidate for the position of Chairman of Chairmen on the NFF board.

Four contestants were also cleared from the North Central, South East and South West zones, while South-South and North East zones have five contestants each.

North West zone has three candidates contesting for the membership of the board from where two are expected to emerge to represent the zone.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Samson Ebomhe, explained that more people were cleared for the elections because of the openness of the committee.

“What we have done is to make it fair and open, that’s why you see the increased number of people who are now participating,” Ebomhe said.

According to Ebomhe, the clearance of Suleyman Muazu, who was a member in the Giwa-led board to now vie for the first vice chairman showed how open the committee was.

Ogunjobi

18

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

beauty

Mascara On Fake Eyelashes? Wait!

Aderonke Akinola

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his issue is a mind bugging one, especially for ladies who really want to know about it. Fixing false eyelashes is the in-thing now as it gives that look of sophistication.

But before going ahead to get that gorgeous fake eyelashes, you need to know these; There’s this common myth that says; use mascara if you want your natural lashes to “blend in” with your false ones.

The truth is that it’s not every lash style that looks good with mascara. Besides, what do you need it for? The fake eyelash does everything for you; fullness, volume, length, curl, separation and softness.

But in case you decide to go for any of the below fake eyelashes then, you need to use your mascara; Light density eyelashes need mascara because it’s not full. Most people go for it when they don’t want it to look obvious.

Eyelash extensions or cluster lashes. These are individual clusters of 6-10 hairs. Mascara can be applied all across the lash line or just at the ends.

Knotted band lashes have a natural effect.

Provides the perfect amount of volume and comes in all kinds of lengths.

If your natural lashes are thick then you don’t need mascara. It doesn’t matter if your lashes are short. If they’re thick at the roots, let the lashes work their magic on their own. However, if your natural lashes are scanty then, wearing mascara will help darken/thicken your lash roots.

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

19

people

I bathe and prepare my son for school –Cobhams Unlike most physically challenged who rely on help from friends and family to move around, Cobhams Asuquo is quite a breath of fresh air. Moving around the house and doing stuff like bathing his son and doing dishes isn’t such a big deal for him. You would think he would be a victim of bully especially during his primary and secondary school days yet, Cobhams says he also did bully some of his mates which he regrets though.

In this exciting interview he speaks on growing up, career, family and loads of other mind-catching issues. Read on;

By Opeoluwani Akintayo

I

t is amazing to see you walking around the house without help. You must be a genius!

I don’t think there’s anything spectacular about that. The loss of sight doesn’t necessarily mean that you lose coordination or that you lose your bearing. Since I can hear, I can smell and feel; all those factors still help me move around freely. Seeing is great actually but I’m used to my environment which helps me move around very well.

What was it like growing up in a barracks?

How did you know I grew up in the barracks?

It’s research!

It was fun, wild and exciting. I consider myself a true barrack boy because I ran through the streets, played with tires, fought a bit as a child, until a girl 5 years older than I am slapped me and for the very first time, I saw stars! After then, I realized fighting wasn’t meant for me. So, I had fun and played. I had a life and totally enjoyed growing up there because it was a very eventful place where things always happened.

What about school?

I went to a boarding private school. School was crazy for me because of course; I missed

my family but interesting because I found a way to express myself. And I went to Kings College Lagos which helped in forming me in many sense; as a person, my value, character and sense of dignity, self worth and personality. I drew a lot from that institution.

So Kings College has a place for the physically challenged to study?

Yes. The institution was also built to ready the blind person for the competitive world; the Federal schools have catered for blind students for many years now despite the poor working condition and teaching aide they get.

You must have faced lots of bullies especially at secondary school First of all, I’m a strong willed person. I do what I want to do and if I do what you want me to do, it’s because I want to do it. So, that wasn’t much of a challenge for me. By the time I got into secondary school, I had lost some time so, I was older than my mates. I was friends with my seniors in school at Kings College so bullying was something that happened to me in primary school. I had my share of it and regrettably, I also bullied some people. But it was school life and it was fun. I didn’t concern myself with whether or not someone bullied me because there was the whole of the school which was my world to conquer. I was playing the piano, doing the news,

debating, acing my classes, doing all the good stuff and staying out of trouble.

So was it in Primary you discovered you music talent?

It was before primary school actually. This wasn’t an epiphany of some sought. It just blew on me. I’ve been musical from the age of six or seven. I whistled a lot and tried to sing. I would play on anything that came my way so music just grew in me.

You didn’t take after it from any of your parents?

I was told my dad was a DJ in the army but he got drunk and broke his spin one day which was a fun story for us. And then my mother used to sing a lot growing up and kept her music book which had songs from the likes of Jimmy Cliffs, Jim Rims, Don Williams and the likes. She also promised herself that someone from her line will sing and she asked God for it, and the lot fell on me.

But you didn’t study music at the university?

No I didn’t What did you study?

My university story is interesting. I studied Law up until my third year, after which I opted out to pursue music.

Why Law in the first place?

Because I felt attracted and called to it. I was fascinated by the relativity and application of the law in a particular situation and how it can vary from place to place, the morals and details from God that govern this world. I loved the fact that Law allows you to argue and determine who is guilty and not guilty. Generally while growing up, I liked to argue and see things from a certain stand point but, I guess, the university system made me lose the taste for it.

How? There were all kinds of things going on and at the time in regularizing my admission at the University of Lagos which was where I wasn’t meant to be initially because I had a full-paid scholarship to the University of Massa in Georgia, USA but I couldn’t go and decided to go for Unilag. There were all kinds of hurdles to face and music was also calling me so, I just went for music in my third year and I haven’t had any cause to regret it ever since.

Something must have happened to convince you to go for music I was always crazy about music and it has been part of my existence.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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people news

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

I bathe and prepare my son for school –Cobhams sire for a car.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Was your dad still alive at that time you decide to switch?

Yes. My dad was still alive. My parents have a lot of respect for my decision and I don’t know why. So, when my mom realized that was what I wanted to do, she’d trained me so, she supported me because it wasn’t a decision made because I wasn’t doing well in my academics. I was top of my class so, anything that would make me take a new path was definitely going to be a success. So my parents supported me.

How do you handle your staffs?

I’m blessed to have trust worthy people and anyone who has a questionable character never lasted with me. I’ve known the people I know for a long time and even those who don’t work with me anymore are still my friends.

I have a great team but most of all, my wife sits atop everything and she has the eyes of an eagle and the heart of a dove. She’s my rock and very special to me.

You must have fallen in love with some girl at the university I had a regular campus life. There was a girl I was madly in love with before I got into the university so, that was there. During the university days, I had music and friends around me to keep me company.

You always say you are very romantic. I guess you replaced your disability with being romantic so women can like you?

I don’t think there’s anything to cover up about me. If I’m romantic it’s because it’s in my blood. I love to love because I was born and given a lot of love. My parents love me and I’m sure my father loved me until he drew his last breathe. My mother and siblings continue to love me till today. So it’s only natural that I show love to others.

Yes, I am hopelessly romantic and it’s got nothing to do with whether I can see or not. It’s just who I am. It’s my person.

So girls didn’t interest you at the university?

I wouldn’t say they didn’t interest me but it wasn’t my priority. Like I said, straight out of high school into the university system, I was already in a relationship with someone I cared very deeply about. I think that was enough.

So after university, how was it going into professional music?

It was easy because I’ve always done music at the university. So when I took out time to face music full time, things just worked out.

Your kind of music isn’t that popular in Nigeria. How did you manage to get shows?

It was all about the music more than anything else and by this time, I was more into music production than singing. So I was making music for almost everybody. I made ‘Catch Cold’ for Maintain in my year 1, ‘Faze Alone’ for Faze in my third year, ‘Maintain In India’ for Maintain either in my second year or third year so, I was working as a producer which was my focus not on getting shows and performing.

You seem to be very close to God. If you had your sight, would you still be close to him?

I don’t think sight is the reason why I love God. I think I’m close to him because I found him too big in my life.

I’ve had encounter and experiences that no one would have showed up and given me much hope and he just stepped in and took care of everything for me. No one can be God in your life and I’m grateful to know more of him.

How did you give your life to Christ?

Several times I’ve heard people

preaching and then at a point, I realized that there was nothing to prove anymore so, I ended up surrendering to him willingly, on my own.

So were there times you asked why he created you blind?

I don’t think I’ve had cause to question God because I haven’t had a bad life. The honest truth about life is that you can be sighted and unemployed and dealing with a heart condition and loss of loved ones, poverty and all and still question God. So I don’t think sight is a reason why I should question him for creating me like this. I could easily have asked why he decided to bless me like this because obviously, he has blessed me in many ways. He has put me in a place where many people envy.

So you haven’t asked him for your sight even if it’s to see your wife and son?

The good thing is that I think touch is better than sight. Sight is great don’t get me wrong but one of the challenges we have in this world is that we see a lot of things we can’t touch and that’s what creates desire. Touch quenches desire and my wife and kid are people that I can touch and I have a close relationship with them, I have a picture of them branded in my mind and brain.

So, I know them better than I know anybody else. But if it will make my

So how romantic are you to your wife?

I don’t want to discuss that here but I’m romantic to her in a way she only wife happy for me to see her then, it’d understands. be nice to see. If I can touch her face, what else is better?

But you wooed her somehow?

Yes. We were friends for many years Deaf and dumb people usually even before I became Cobhams. So have this bad temper. Have you found when she came back from America and yourself snapping at someone who found that ordinary guy with so much looked down on you? fuss about him, she just wondered and I don’t think I have the time for asked what has changed and why peothat. As a kid, I saw myself as perfect. ple paid so much attention to me. So to I ran around and did everything my her, I’ve always been the same person mates did. The realization of blindness and that’s good for me because no matdawned on me when my mates began ter who I am, I come back home to this to drive and I couldn’t. but that was one person who loves me and thinks the quickly replaced by the thought that world of me, but who also realizes that being able to drive is better but you’d I’m her friend and husband. If my duty agree with me that in Lagos traffic, is to give my son a bath or do the dishes you’d rather be driven than drive your- then, that’s exactly what I’m going to self. do.

Was it the passion to drive that You bathe your son? drove you to buy a Mercedes Wagon Of course! I prepare my son for in your year two at the university? school every day and I love it.

Yes I guess so. I’m fascinated by two things- driving and health. So in my Do you dress him up too or you just second year at the university, I went bathe him? out and bought a car.

I dress him up and take care of him because I’ve learnt to do all kinds of Did you take someone along to buy things. it for you?

I went all the way to Ibadan in the That’s wonderful so, when is he getpouring rain, gathered all the money ting a sibling? that I had and bought it. It was quite a Let’s leave that to God because he car, we drove it to Lagos but it broke alone knows the time. down on the day we bought it but I was proud of it. So, I had conquered my deIf you aren’t doing music, what else

would you do?

I’m interested in politics.

Wow, so you’d be contesting soon too?

No, that’s not what I mean. I like my life and want to keep it intact for a long time. I just like the process that brings someone into a place of leadership especially because I always have ideas in my head. I think that I’m a thinker and that’s what a leader does which I’ve come to accept myself as. So I’d probably be a Preacher.

So what are you up to music-wise?

I’m preparing for the release of my first studio album. I’m also preparing for the release of the albums of artistes signed under by label, Bez and …. I’m doing a lot of work preparing for my album and I’m out in the US breaking grounds, learning and collaborating.

Whom are you collaborating with?

I’ve met some of the greatest musicians in the world in the last two years and I’ve made music with them which I’ll be putting out shortly. I’ve also featured the likes of Angelie Kijo, Common and others and it’s exciting for me career-wise.

Obviously you don’t go to the gym I don’t go to the gym but I have a treadmill and elliptical machine in my house.

That’s why your stomach is this big?

Well, that’s relative because what’s important to me is being in good health and not whether I’m fat or slim or my tummy is big or flat. I’m not self conscious in the typical sense but it’s important that I live long for my family and take good care of them. I eat right and you have to understand that I live in a not so small house.

That means, making my way up and down my three-story building is enough exercise in a day.

What’s your eating habit like?

I like fine dining and I’m not a desperate eater. I like good food whether it’s Nigerian, Chinese, Tai, Malasian or Jamaican or Indian- I like all kinds of food. If it’s good and savoury I eat it.

For me, the experience of fine dining goes a long way and not just food.

What is your sense of style?

My sense of style if defined by my personality. I’m easy going and expressive and trendy in my own way so it reflects in my dressing. My hair is wild and free. I’m a jeans kind of guy and won’t be caught doing tie because I’m not a guy with his nose up in the air so, I’m easy, casual and just me. And of course, my unofficial but able stylist now is my wife and she’s very able and has a sound sense of style for which I’m grateful because I benefit from it.

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

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metro (south)

By Funmi Salome Johnson

N

ot a few women have died following inability to understand their body conditions during pregnancy.

But with the increasing cases of deaths arising from ectopic pregnancy, the figures have since made a geometric leap. In this report looks at ectopic pregnancy, the chances as well as the dangers.

•‘The doctor said her baby was growing outside the womb’ Vivian Ajaka, 37, and mother of two, was expecting her third child, but as they say, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. For, Vivian, her dreams were cut short as she died following complications arising from ectopic pregnancy. Vivian’s is one too many of several women, who die in similar circumstances and a sad reminder of the general lackadaisical attitude to frequent medical checkups. Perhaps, if there was a second chance at life, the Aba, Abia Stateborn woman would have done better. Indeed, the signs of lurking danger had shown up, but she reportedly took the signs for the normal weaknesses of the body.

Typical of a medicine man, who could not cure himself Vivian, a health product marketer, was pregnant but did not know it.

After tying the nuptial knot about five years ago with her heartthrob, Ndu, she had enjoyed her marriage until her shocking death two weeks ago after a brief illness. “It’s hard to believe that she is gone,” a sympathizer said amid sobs. Described as a cheerful and easy-going woman, life was good until she took ill.

According to her husband Ndu Ajaka, she was healthy and strong except for the normal body weaknesses until the night of Saturday September 20 2014. According to him, it was not the first time she had complained about general body weakness, which he said often goes away even without medication. “But I think I know now that we were wrong,” he disclosed.

Ndu revealed to Daily Times that around 11pm she

Sad: How Women Die of Ectopic Pregnancy

complained of excruciating pains at the lower part of her tummy. “She had always been strong and healthy. I encouraged her to stay calm till in the morning when we would go to the hospital. After sometime, she said she could not endure the pains anymore and started acting funny.” “When it became clear that her life was in danger given her sudden change of condition, I rushed her to a hospital near our house.

After the doctor on duty conducted checks on her, he told us that he could not treat her because she was seriously bleeding internally. I had to contact a Christian brother who owns the hospital we normally use at Festac and

we managed to find our way to the place that dead night,” he explained. “On getting to the hospital,” Ndu continued, “it was confirmed that she was bleeding internally and we were told that she must go under the knives. The surgery was successfully carried out on Monday, but she lost a lot of blood. She was still fine until Tuesday evening when she started acting strange. She said she was very weak and I felt it was because of the surgery. But by Wednesday morning, she passed on.”

An evidently shocked Ndu said he is yet to believe that his wife is gone. “It was a rude shock, because she was still breastfeeding. Worse still, the doctor said the preg-

nancy was growing outside the womb and called it ectopic pregnancy. As a matter of fact, we were thinking of going for a family planning after she stops breastfeeding, but never knew she was already pregnant until that fateful day.

It is a very big blow on me.

It was like my whole had collapsed,” he said.

Indeed, Vivian’s death points to the need for pregnant women to keep a constant check on not just their unborn baby, but also on the general body conditions until delivery day. Over the years, a number of women have lost their lives to this deadly ailment, but for a few lucky ones. Described as one of the commonest causes of first trimester ma-

ternal death, ectopic pregnancy, according to a report compiled by Yakasai AI, Abdullahi J and Abubakar IS, on the management of ectopic pregnancy in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, in Kano, represents 4.26% of all deliveries, 5.55% of all gynecologic admissions and 26.01% of all gynecological surgeries. The report, which put the ages of the patients at 27 to 28 years with a range of 15-41years, noted that the highest frequency occurred in women between the age of 25 and 34 years, representing (61.39%).

“The commonest symptoms presented were abdominal pain in 98 (97.03%), amenorrhea in 74 (73.27%) and vaginal bleeding in 65(64.36%). Thirteen patients (12.87%) presented in shock had prompt resuscitation and surgery. The main site of occurrence was tubal 89 (88.12%) and all patients had laparotomy,” the report said. Fielding questions to Daily Times, Dr Francis Onyemuchara, a general practitioner and the Medical Director of Healing Balm Hospital in Ikeja Area of Lagos noted that many women who die from this condition are not always aware of their conditions until the last minute when it would have become difficult to control.

“Many of these cases are as a result of not properly treated or untreated sexually transmitted diseases, which in most cases result to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PIDs),” Onyemuchara said.

He explained that an ectopic pregnancy is a bizarre phenomenon which occurs when a fertilized egg is unable to move down the woman’s fallopian tube to enter into the uterus. “The fallopian tubes may be blocked because of an infection, or a swelling of the tube causes a partial or complete blockage.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a common cause for the fallopian tube blockage.

When an ectopic pregnancy occurs, the fertilized egg settles in the fallopian tube in more than 95% of ectopic pregnancies and because of these ectopic pregnancies are also referred to “tubal pregnancies,” he told Daily Times. He continued.

“In addition to the eggs settling in the fallopian tube,” the Healing Balm Hospital boss further explained, “it may also implant itself in the ovary, abdomen, or the cervix, and if this occurs, the pregnancy is the termed as a cervical or abdominal pregnancy. The word ectopic means ‘out of place.” Although Onyemuchara pointed out that this state may arise as a result of PIDs, he however, stressed that those who have had an ectopic pregnancy at one time are also more likely to have a re occurrence. Onyemuchara also said that the diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy may be a little difficult as, according to him, the symptoms experienced are virtually (if not totally) the same as that of a normal early pregnancy.

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

22

metro (north)

Karu Road Network: A Death Trap In FCT?

By Augustine Aminu

T

he Karu Urban Area is a suburb of Abuja in central Nigeria. It has an area of 40,000 hectares (400 km²) and a population of some 2 million.

It is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world, with a growth rate of 40 percent recorded annually. It consists of towns that developed as a result of the need to house middle income workers who could not afford accommodation in Abuja.

The beauty of Karu lies in the Federal Housing Authority, popularly called FHA Phase 2, Karu. It is better called Karu extension because it is a beauty to behold.

Karu is one place outside Abuja you will think is like the famous Maitama, Asokoro, Garki, Wuse and the rest of the places where the high and the mighty lives.

People who equate FHA Phase 11, Karu, to the places mentioned above can be justified because of its serene environment. It is cool, spacious and accommodating.

No wonder why the masterplan of the FCT also accorded FHA Phase 11, Karu, the recognition it deserves by citing some federal establishments in the area!

Prominent in the area is the Training and Research Institute of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Others are the headquarters of the Medical Centre of the Nigerian Customs Service, quarters of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency, State Security Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others. FHA Karu Phase 11 also houses the Abuja Motherless Babies’ Home.

However, inside the lush FHA Phase 11, Karu lies Abuja’s most horrible road access where the Great live and ply on a daily basis. It runs through the Tera road, Phase 11 Mosque, famous Cane Wood Hotel round to the Hayatu Islamic School.

Adjoining street roads that have the same tale of woes are Idoma road, Central road, Urhobo Street to mention a few.

According to the Okada man who took Daily Times

round, “some roads here are small, small shit wey dey spoil Karu’.

“If you look at the people living here, you will wonder why they cannot tell FCT minister to come and repair this road. All the big men in Karu access this road on a daily basis,” he said in Pidgin English.

Like he rightly said, Daily Times noticed that the street roads on this side of FHA Phase 11, Karu, are simply impassable, squalid, and unimaginable considering the calibre of the residents.

It was gathered that the residents of FHA Phase 11 had always hoped that their access roads would be fixed many years ago, no thanks to many reassuring promises made by succeeding ministers of the FCT right from the era of Mallam Nasir el-Rufa’i to the current Bala Mohammed.

“The situation has been very pathetic. At times I wonder the reason why these access roads have been abandoned by succeeding FCT administrations. In other climes, I will say it could be partisan, but a majority of the residents of the affected plac-

es are top civil servants who do not belong to any political party. In fact, the houses you see here are mainly quarters of civil servants and government parastatals. The reason behind the neglect is still unknown.”

Said a residence of Urhobo Street, John Moma.

Investigations indicate that residents have often been greeted with news that the access roads had been awarded for repairs by the FCT administration. However, none of such ever came to fulfilment.

“El-Rufa’i himself was here during his regime. He made

all the promises. Without mincing words, he was an action minister, but his ‘actionness’ did not materialise into anything here. He left without fixing the roads. Other ministers also toed the same promise-and-fail gestures, all to no avail,” Mohammed Jideji said.

But the closest time FHA Phase 11, Karu, was almost getting her blessing of access roads was when the Training and Research Institute of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, hosted an international con-

ference of the African subregion at its Karu office.

You will recall that experts converged on Abuja between 5thand 7th September, 2011, to discuss terrorism and economic crimes. The goal was to deliberate on national development and challenges of global economic crimes, which were the thrust of the 8thnational seminar organised by the EFCC. The conference assessed the impacts of corruption, money laundering and terrorism on national development as well as the use of international anti-corrup-

tion instruments in addressing bribery and corruption in African business environment; the challenges of cyber crimes and provide a platform for practitioners to network and share experiences and best practices towards improved international cooperation in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

However, what the residents thought as the moment of respite became truncated at the end of the day. The prayers of the residents were almost answered or half answered.

Another resident on Tera road, Karu, Daniel Mu’azu, said that during the visit, the FCT administration resurfaced the roads up to the EFCC training school and quit.

“It was a moment we saw a hope dashed. The powers then in their wisdom, repaired the roads up to the EFCC Training and Research Institute, where the event would take place, and ended the project there. It was done in such a way that the eyes of Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other foreign dignitaries would not see that the road repairs ended a few metres from where they entered the institute. It was another way we rebrand our names as if all were well. The contractor disappeared a day after the event. Till date, we are still made to believe that works on the roads have not ended,” he said.

A source who does not want his name mentioned said a certain philanthropist who lives around the area had in the past years been single-handedly repairing the access roads, but according to him, ‘maybe the man’s money has finished’.

The business that thrives on Tera road down to Hayatu Islamic School is Okada as commercial Vehicles don’t ply the routes however.

Mrs. Olu Yemisi said, “Our vehicles get damaged after plying the roads. My child attends school around there but I had to engage the services of Okada riders to be taking him to school. It is risky but what else can I do? I know that FCT minister Bala Mohammed is proactive. He has done well in developing many satellite towns. I know if he gets the hint of the fate of FHA Phase 11, Karu, something good will come before he lives office”

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

23

arts & culture

Ekpe Festival: Celebrating The Mysterious Spirit From The Jungle

By Desola Akindele

W

e had just come home for the holidays in December. Everyone had talked about how they were travelling overseas to spend their break. My Dad had also promised us we were visiting France this year. I had started learning some new words in French while in school in anticipation. On the morning after we got home, Dad came upstairs with a smile on his face. He asked about school, boys and some unimportant things. I was dying to hear the words, “get packed”, but it never came. Suddenly, Dad paused and with a deep sigh he delved into what I had wanted to hear. He explained how he had to be at Calabar throughout December, on the directive of his superior at work. After all, it wasn’t what I had wished. My heart was now far away from all he was saying, my thoughts were on what I would tell my friends, “that I didn’t go to France?

Chai, there is God”.

I also concluded that my father had a mean boss for cancelling my trip to France. My ears picked on some words from father; he promised that the trip to Calabar would be mostly fun and not about business. I was less concerned as the real plan had been aborted.

What good can come out of Calabar?

The next day on getting to Calabar, dad kept to his words by taking us to a gathering of people about to perform an annual festival which was taking place on the Eke day.

It was the 3rd annual International Ekpe festival organized by local Ekpe leaders. By the way, dad works for the government.

At the gathering there were important dignitaries dressed in different regalia. I was concerned for some of the dressed dignitaries, in that they were heavily padded with clothes under the scourging sun.

Importantly, I could tell my friends, I spent the break with senators, governors, and tourist from different parts of the

world.

I wanted to enjoy this to the fullest, so I decided to give curious attention to what was been done and questioned the old man seated beside us. My ipad was also on hand to give me info at every point in time.

But nothing compared to being on ground. I was told that the Ekpe festival is one of the most popular festivals in these parts.

It has been practiced for over 156 years.

Ekpe festival is said to originate from the Cross River area.

Ekpe spread to what is now the Southwest province of Cameroon and other areas and spread west towards what is now Abia and parts of Imo and Ebonyi state, largely due to the old Aro Confederacy.

‘Ekpe’ means leopard and the many masquerades across the Bight of Biafra region, although differing in shapes and size, usually mimic the movements of the leopard. The old man hurriedly pointed out, with a stern look on his face that Ekpe is not the same thing as Ekpo, or Ekong, which are other societies in the Cross River basin, especially in Akwa Ibom State, Annang do not practice Ekpe.

He pointed out that this festival was preceded by a freefor-all night of dancing and rehearsals for drummers, danc-

ers, chorus leaders and their choric groups.

As many choric groups performed, ranging from groups of elderly men or women to children’s groups. I quickly acquainted myself with what Ekpe festival was all about.

Egbo or Ekpe is a mysterious spirit who is supposed to live in the jungle and to preside at the ceremonies of the society.

Members of the Ekpe society are said to act as messengers of the ancestors (ikan). The economics of the society is based on paying tribute to the village ancestors. Ekpe (low-low tone) should not be confused with Ekpe (high-low tone). The latter is a secret society which is exclusive to men, and which is also called Okonko in many parts of Igbo land.

Ekpe is not confined to a religion or ethnic group. It was originally used as a way of enforcing laws.

I saw young ladies simply covering their breasts with broad cloth exhibiting the intricate design of the tattoo on their skin and wondered if they could do this in Lagos. They wore large beads around their waist and their hair-do is strictly cultural.

The masquerade then emerged from its abode. This masquerade is a wonderful example of African art. The hand

crafted representation of the Ekpe masquerade can only be found in the remote villages and are carefully made by the villagers using dyed raffia and wool to create a true representation of the masquerade.

This particular masquerade is steeped with cultural wealth and probably goes back to the time of the founding fathers.

The Ekpe Masquerade is used in ceremonies, songs, dances and is usually accompanied by cultural drama. These masquerades also come out during chieftaincy coronations, seasonal celebrations and other important events. It is an important cultural event in the life of the Efiks and its roots are deep in traditional religion. The Ekpe Masquerade, the folklores (known as Ekong-Nkeh, Nke Ekong Abasi) and the Ikombi dance has won international recognition; they have become a form of entertainment in welcoming important dignitaries to the state and at events outside the state. It has become a trademark of the Efiks and is becoming more widely recognised The Ekpe festival, an actionpacked festival with songs and dance, is one of such cultural events, and is very popular among the Ngwa of Igbo land.

It is also widely celebrated in neighbouring areas such as the old Umuahia and Owerri prov-

inces.

As a festival, Ekpe is celebrated yearly because it is an important cultural event in the life of the people being the culmination of their year rites. Its roots are deep in traditional religion and ritual.

It is only a tragic event such as the death of a village hero, or permission from the gods that can stop the staging of Ekpe.

Different groups appeared to give their presentations. But the most important of all these groups is the group comprising men drawn from different quarters of the village who accompany the masquerade dancer and chief actor. Before noon on Eke day, this group rouses the village and begins the series of a circular movement designed to take them to the village square and out of it. It is led by a choric leader who, in the Greek sense, is the epheboi. The epheboi sings in praise of the village ancestors, especially those of them who had been chief actors, soliciting their blessings for the current chief actor and the village.

Other choric groups of young men, women and children perform in the village square.

They tour the village with the main drummers and not with the chief actor.

This participation by these minor choric groups adds up to

the communal significance of Ekpe. The only staging device of Ekpe is the “Arena staging” in its most traditional form.

There is no raised platform for the chief actor or the drummers. Everybody is on the same level, including the spectators who have to peep over a forest of heads to see what is going on in the innermost circle enclosing the chief actor and masquerade dancer. It is significant that the old village shrine forms a background for the stage, with the drummers backing it and the chief actor facing it. It reminds one of the traditional Attic theatre thousands of years ago.

The dance movements of Ekpe are the vehicles of plot advancement. The entry dance leads the chief actor to his ancestral shrine where he obtains blessings for a successful day’s performance. The second dance movement is the climax of Ekpe. It marks the critical stage of the performance, and it is here that the chief actor’s role as a communal representative becomes clear.

As the music changes from “aja” into a more vigorous type, a sharpened knife is handed over to him. The chief guide admonishes him that “the village looks on to you.”

When the actor takes the knife, he moves round and round the sacrificial goat tied to a peg on the sacrificial spot trying to make a decision. He re-enacts an ancient sacrifice by their forebears during which a human being is sacrificed to the gods. After the chief actor has taken so many tours round the goat, he appears to make up his mind.

He waits for the opportunity for the goat to stretch its neck, a propitious movement. All of a sudden, he takes a stance, bends and rises and then the sacrifice is done. The head of the goat is thrown up to show the audience amid volleys of gunshots and wild ecstasy. The sacrifice has been successful and the village can expect increase in crops, livestock and children during the coming year. As in most traditional African ceremonies, the costumes used for Ekpe are very colourful.

technology

24

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

g n i r o t o M t W Smar

By Olatunji Makanjuola

e all know how much things have changed since the advent of the smartphone; from making phone calls, sending texts and other forms of communications, organizing the day, entertainment and playing games and lots more.

Asides from phones, nearly everything else seems to be getting smarter; like TVs, computers, wrist watches and other clothing, and even our kitchen electronics too.

How About Cars?

Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to control and monitor various aspects of your car by using apps rather than going through the troubles of manually checking for flat tyres or batteries and the like?

Quite a number of car companies are releasing smartphone apps to run various daily activities related to your vehicles while inside or outside of yours, like checking emails, reporting your car’s status, to where your car is parked in a large car park and even buying a new car.

Here are some must-have apps listed by drive.com.au: Trapster (Free) Billed as the world’s largest social driving network, this program gathers data from users across the globe to create an up-to-date “trap map” for your iPhone.

Trapster covers everything from red light and speed cameras to school zones and toll points. It even allows you to upload photos, report accidents and flag active police radar traps. A version is now available for Android-compatible phones.

Livio Car Internet Radio (Free, $5.99 for premium upgrade) Sick of the same old stuff on your car radio? Livio gives you access to hundreds of free internet stations worldwide. Upgrade to the premium version and you get more than 42,000 stations at your fingertips, from BBC World to California’s XSite Radio. You can search by genre, location or name and save your favou-

r a ​ c ​ r u o ​ Apps ​F​or y​

rites for one-touch access. It can even recommend stations you might like based on your previous listening tastes.

When And Where ($1.19) If you’ve ever spent time wandering around looking for your car at a shopping centre or after a concert or sports event, this app is for you. Not only does it allow you to mark your parking spot on a live GPS map, you can also take a photo of your park, write notes or even leave an audio message with navigation details to ensure you don’t lose your car in a sea of roof-racks and spoilers. If you are in a metered area you can even put on an alarm to warn you 10 minutes before your paid parking expires.

TripAliyzer ($7.99) TripAlyizer uses phone tower and Wi-Fi triangulation to track your driving habits

and help you drive more efficiently. Once you’ve entered the details of your car, you can set goals for fuel consumption and mileage and track your progress against them. For those budget-conscious drivers, the program can calculate individual spending on fuel, while those more ecologically minded can get a graphic of their car’s carbon footprint. If you have more than one car, you can compare the costs of each.

Waze (Free) Similar to the popular social mapping application Foursquare, Waze is a traffic map with a difference. Created to compete with expensive GPS systems, the app provides free turn-by-turn navigation based on information provided by users. Once activated, Waze collects live data on your location, your speed and travel time to create a dynamic map

that suggests congested areas to avoid. You can also add pictures and comments to existing posts. Budding explorers can record previously uncharted roads on the map in real time and the popular “Road Goodies” mode converts your car into a real life Pacman, scoring you points for logging new route data.

Text ‘n Drive (Lite version free, pro version $12.99) With the dangers of texting and driving becoming increasingly apparent, this app aims to satisfy both hyper-busy executives and the constantly curious Gen Y by reading aloud newly received emails. Available for Blackberrys and iPhones, Text ‘n Drive is activated by voice commands to allow users to listen to and (in the pro version) respond to their emails without taking their eyes off the road or hands off the

wheel. It plugs into existing hands-free kits and developers are hoping to add a textmessage reading feature soon.

Car Minder Plus ($3.99) Anyone who maintains their car knows how difficult it can be to remember when they last changed the oil - this is where Car Minder Plus comes in. Acting as an electronic car diary, the app allows you to store complete servicing information on all of your cars, record your last fill-up and log any repairs. It can then generate fuel economy tables, estimates on wheel rotations and average daily mileage. You can also set reminders for your next service appointment and warning levels for tyre and oil changes based on previous data.

The car buyer of the future is more likely to be browsing apps on the dealership forecourt

Courtesy: drive.com.au Teaser: We all know how much things have changed since the advent of the smartphone… from making phone calls, sending texts and other forms of communications, organizing the day, entertainment and playing games and lots more.

Asides from phones, nearly everything else seems to be getting smarter; like TVs, computers, wrist watches and other clothing, and even our kitchen electronics too.

So, how about cars?

Wouldn’t it be cool to be able to control and monitor various aspects of your car by using apps rather than going through the troubles of manually checking for flat tyres or batteries and the like?

Quite a number of car companies are releasing smartphone apps to run various daily activities related to your vehicles while inside or outside of yours, like checking emails, reporting your car’s status, to where your car is parked in a large car park and even buying a new car.

Here are some must-have apps…

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

dtn early beginings

25

Men Of Destiny Part 2

M

r King always made it his business to seek out politicians of all persuasions and to find out their views and what they thought of their treatment by the Daily Times.

With British officials he was less patient. He personally inspired a highly critical editorial in June, 1950 on the handling in the previous year of the shooting at the Enugu Coalmine, of which he had had some personal knowledge, placing responsibility on the Government in Lagos and not on those criticized in the report of a commission of Enquiry. Indeed, apart from Sir Hugh Foot, almost the only senior British administrative officers of whom Mr. King had much good to say, were Sir Bernard Carr, then Chief Commissioner of the Eastern Region when King first went to Enugu, and Sir Rex Niven, a senior administrative officer in the then Northern Region.

He also had a kindly word for Brigadier Gibbons, who was finally shunted into the relatively minor job of Commissioner for the Cameroons, because, it was thought, his unconventional behaviour had not endeared him to the authorities. Of the then Governor, the Late Sir John Macpherson, he had nothing good to say. He was highly critical of the whole system of British administration, and particularly critical of the idea that able men should serve continuously in a Central Secretariat, where they would progressively become out of touch with reality, while District Officers in the field might never be posted to the same area twice.

He agreed that in the early days the type of man recruited for the administration was probably the right type. But as communications improved and the number of Nigerian graduates and professional men increased, the earlier type of colonial official had become obsolete.

Although politics was to become the central issue of government, they tended to be allergic to politics.

Cecil king was almost certainly wrong to assume that his failure to get on with more than a handful of British officers was due to their

resentment that a British newspaper group was making great success of a newspaper which from the officers’ point of view, was highly political. The fact is that even very senior officers were sometimes afraid of him because they knew of his connections in high places in London – he dropped names in conversations not to create an effect but in the hope that the conversation might prove more interesting, many of them also knew how little he thought of them, and for this reason were reluctant to offer him hospitality. But three contrast between the cool relations with the British officers, and his relations with leading Nigerians, remained very marked throughout.

It was not long before Cecil King felt that the Daily Times needed the services of a London correspondent and he asked George Marcathy, a seasoned Mirror journalist, to do the job part time. Marcathy’s breezy Mirror style and total ignorance of all things African produced some curious results and before long the job was transferred to the then two-man staff of the magazine, West Africa, whom, if lacking the Mirror man’s flair, was expected at least to have some idea of what might interest Nigerians.

Later one of the two-man team, Ted Carey was to leave West Africa to become the first fulltime London Correspondent and to prepare the way for the continuous succession of Nigerians who have since occupied the position.

Cecil King already knew Alhaji Babatunde Jose as one of the able journalists on the Daily Times staff list when the incident occurred which, he recalls today, first impressed on him the true worth of his future successor.

Cecil King invited Jose to lunch. Jose, not yet an Alhaji then, declined on the ground that it was Ramadan and he was fasting during daylight. Cecil King, a man of strong religious conviction, admired this devotion to principle, and wondered whether any junior member of his staff in Britain, on being invited to lunch with the chairman, would have allowed principle to stand in his way.

So impressed, indeed, was Cecil King that on discovering that this devout Muslim had not yet made a pilgrimage to Mecca, he suggested that Jose should make the journey at the expense of the Daily Times, stopping at the great Muslim University of Al Azhar in Cairo and write some articles for the newspaper.

The friendship, for this it became, thus established has lasted until the present day. Long after his retirement from the chairmanship of IPC , Mr. King and his wife were invited to West Africa to visit Nigeria as guests of the Daily Times directors. Before Cecil King left London to settle in Ireland, Alhaji Jose was a regular visitor at his Hampton Court House.

In a B.B.C television interview in 1973, Cecil King once again declared his admiration for Nigeria and Nigerians, and contrasted the excellence of Nigerian public men with what he had come to consider the worthlessness of both Government and Opposition in Britain.

Although so many of the people Cecil King sent from London to West Africa were to rise to senior positions in the international Publishing corporation and its subsidiaries – party because Cecil King had been able personally, as he might not have been at home, to observe the quality of their work at first hand – he also in his autobiography, ‘’Strictly Personal’’, expressed his misgiving about some of these.

He claims that ‘’over forty per cent’’ of the men sent to West Africa ‘’went to pieces’’. He gives the case to a Daily Mirror man who, at home had been stolid reliable, but who within a few weeks of arriving in Lagos was drinking heavily. Was mixed up with a number of women and was even entangled with witchcraft.

No doubt Mr. King was exaggerating, but he often expressed the view that the administration created by the small number of Europeans on the staff in West Africa and particularly their wives was in itself one of the best arguments for pushing on with the promotion of Africans. This promotion, however, he felt to be essential on political, commercial, and even moral grounds and it gave him great sat-

isfaction that he could claim that although his Group had arrived in West Africa many years later than some of the long established British concerns, it was able to hand over management to Africans in Ghana and then in Nigeria far earlier than most of the other concerns had been able to do.

This was not because of any particular luck in attracting talented Africans. It was determined that the fullest use should be made at all levels of whatever talent was available and that no African member of the staff should ever have any doubt about the firm’s intention to fill all posts with Africans as soon as that proved possible.

He was particularly critical of those British business leaders in West Africa who shut themselves off socially from local people; and even more critical of their superiors in London, whose visits to West Africa took the form of royal progresses.

His own visits, it is true, entailed a great deal of hard work and organization since each time he wished to visit not merely the capital city, but remoter places. To these he would be accompanied not only by members of the staff, but probably by his wife or a distinguished friend whom he had brought from London to enjoy the experience of a West African visit.

The organization of such tours, particularly the provision of reliable transport, tested the local organization but it never failed.

Alhaji Babatunde Jose More than 20 years after Cecil King discovered the strength and potential of Jose, that reporter up North who refused a lunch date strictly for religious reasons, became Chairman/Managing Director of the Daily Times of Nigeria Limited. Mr. King’s faith and hope were not misplaced.

Born in Lagos on Sunday, December 13th 1925, Alhaji Jose and Hajarat Jose, grandson of Chief Imam Braimoh Jose, a soldier and religious leader and Seriki Musulumi of Calabar

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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dtn early beginings

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

Men Of Destiny Part 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

1830--41. A self-made humble man in search of knowledge, he was educated at Lagos Government School Yaba, Methodist School and Saviour’s School, Lagos.

He joined the Daily Times in 1941 as a technical trainee; five years later, he was transferred to the Editorial department as a junior reporter. He represented the Daily Times as Chief Correspondent in the former Eastern and Northern Regions of Nigeria. He took part in the national struggle for independence as a member of the Zikist Movement and Lagos Branch of the NCNC. In !952, he was promoted Assistant Editor of the Daily Times. In 1955, he performed the first pilgrimage to Mecca and through a series of articles and a book –- ‘’Towards Mount Arafat’’ he brought Knowledge of the Hajj to millions of people in Nigeria.

On December 13th, 1957, he was appointed Editor of the Daily Times. Nine months later, i.e. September 1958, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Daily Times.

Dedicated to the maintenance of very high standards in the printing and publishing industry, Alhaji Jose has travelled widely in the five continents to study the press and acquire knowledge of the people of these Lands.

As he took on more responsibilities in the organisation, he became a stabilizing influence in times of great changes in Nigeria.

For many years, as Editor of the Daily Times, Alhaji Jose’s steadfastness and concentration on the essentials enabled Nigeria’s newspaper readers to appreciate the real nature of the problems confronting their country, thus establishing, earlier on, the vital function newspapers should play in quickly developing nation, as well as laying the foundation for a constructive and influential Press.

He continued in juxtaposition with popular journalism, to increase the impact of the Press on this country by the publication of news and features on the political and economic situation of countries overseas, thus enlarging readers’ interests.

In an environment common in so many parts of the world where journalists traditionally just evolve, Alhaji Jose was among the first to appreciate that high standards of training for all branches of newspaper work (including management) were indispensable if the Press was to be effective.

Today, he is the moving spirit behind many of the projects to train Nigerians, both in Nigeria and overseas, recently, he was instrumental in establishing a link-up with Lagos University and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, for the training of journalists and in establishing scholarships and awards from the Times Group for this purpose.

He was appointed Managing Director of the Times Group of Companies in 1962 and Chairman of the group in June 1968. As Vice-President and later President of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam for seven years, (the youngest head of the Movement in its history), he was a stabilizing influence between the old and young generation of Muslims. While the proprietor of all Ahmadiya Schools in Nigeria, he was responsible for an increase in the number of schools owned

by the Movement and maintenance of religious and moral discipline in Ahmadiya Schools.

During the national drought disaster in 1973, Alhaji Jose set up the National Drought Relief Fund Committee and launched an appeal for funds to provide food for victims of the drought. He was the Chairman of the Committee. Well over N1 Million was collected to buy food and equipment for the immediate relief on the victims and to dig boreholes to provide water as a contribution to the long-term solution.

In March 1974, Pope Paul VI awarded him a medal in appreciation and recognition of his contribution to inter-denominational religious understanding in Nigeria.

Alhaji Jose is a member of many organizations and patron of many others. He is a member of the Executive Board of the international Press institute, Switzerland, member of the Executive Council of the Commonwealth Press Union with headquarters in the United Kingdom, member of the Executive Committee of African Association for Public Administration and Management, and member of the Council of Lagos Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.

He retired from the services of the Company in March this year following the take-over of 60% of the equity capital of the Company by the Federal Government.

Alhaji Aliko Mohammed When the Federal Military Government announced in August 1975 that it had decided to take over 60 per cent equity shares in the Daily Times Group, a new chapter opened in the 50year old history of the Company.

The first few questions which most people wanted answers to had to do with the manner in which Government was going to reflect its majority shares in the Company’s management and control. Would the Daily Times be regarded as a corporation to be run by the Federal Ministry of Information? Could the paper still regard itself as ‘’the independent newspaper,’’ a slogan it had all along carried under its frontpage masthead?

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

DAILTY TIMES – SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014

27

dtn early beginings

Men Of Destiny Part 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

Was Government participation to be regarded strictly as a commercial investment, or would the Company now become part of the Civil Service and be subject to its conditions of service and general orders?

These were some of the questions the new Chairman of the Daily Times Group had to answer since he took office. The answers have emerged from a chat with AlhajiAliko Mohammed himself: The fact that government holds majority equity in the Daily Times does not mean that the company has become a government corporation or arm of any ministry, he says. There were reasons for establishing the Daily Times fifty years ago.

One such reason, he points out, was to make money. So, the founding fathers and their successors put in all they had into the business to ensure that it made money. They looked not only for the most competent marketing people who would find advertisements for the paper.

They also engaged in other profit motivated plans to ensure that the business was successful. This has been the secret of the success of the Daily Times.

Because the Daily Times make money, can afford to be independent. Everybody is therefore conscious of this fact, that if they do not produce a good newspaper, people would not buy, the money would not come in and the independence of the paper would be compromised.

In deciding to acquire shares in the Daily Times, the Chairman explains, Government made a statement. It is unfortunate that in spite of what has been said, some people still fish around for reasons not given. The Government decided not to interfere with running of the Daily Times and everyone, including the Editor, who interviewed the chairman in order to write this chapter, knows there has been no interference.

The Editorial Department would not be dictated to by anybody. In the end, however, what happens would depend on the editor himself.

The interest of Government in the Daily Times is economic, not political. There is a difference between a government corporation and a government-owned company. The Daily Times is limited liability public company owned by some 17,000 Nigerians; the Federal Government is only one.

So, the Federal Government is no more than a shareholder in the Daily Times.

The Daily Times is NOT an extension of the Ministry of information or of Government Press. It is a commercial line and the Government, like any other shareholder, waits for the dividends.

There should, however, be a good working relationship between Government and the Press; some sort of partnership in the service of the community. This necessarily would involve some measure of consultation at all safe levels of government operations so that actions the Press thinks are not in the best interest of the people can be criticized while they are being contemplated. It would be easier for the Government to change at the planning stage than to retrace its steps after the action has

been taken.

The Daily Times would remain an independent newspaper, helping the Government in the service of the people through, among other ways, the advice it can give. Thus the Government gets to know the public reaction to its plans and policies before major decisions are taken.

AlhajiAliko agreed with the interviewer that the role of the first of Chairman of the Company, Sir AdeyemoAlakija, was ‘’to build up’’, that of Cecil King to “Consolidate, while Alhaji Jose’s era was one of ‘’expansion’’, his own tenure of office, he said, could be seen as a period of ‘’re-orgaanisation.’’

In the period of re-organisation, AlhajiAliko says, the Daily Times would emerge as a more modern newspaper, making use of the best possible machines, the best possible staff and the best management. The end-product would be a new and unique newspaper organization, which is owned by Nigerians.

AlhajiAliko was born on September 15, 1934. In 1951, after he left school, he started to train as a Sanitary Inspector at the Hygiene School in Kano. He was there for a few months before he joined the UAC where he worked until 1954, first as a produce clerk, and then as an accounts clerk in the company’s Finance Department.

Between 1954 and 1956, AlhajiAliko was in the Government Treasury, and later, until 1959, he worked with Barclays Bank. Between 1960 and 1964, he trained in the United Kingdom as a Chartered accountant, returning to Nigerian as Chief Accountant/Secretary of the Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria. This post he held until 1966.

From 1966 to 1968, he was Chief Accountant of the Northern Housing Corporation and for some three years later, up to 1971, became Financial Controller of the New Nigeria Development Company Limited, Kaduna.

From 1971 to 1975, AlhajiAliko was Investment Manager of the Northern Nigeria Investment Limited.

Now, he is chairman of three companies and director of dozen others.

Apart from his Chairmanship of the Daily Times, AlhajiAliko is chairman of the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria and chairman of Niger Insurance Company Limited.

He is director, too, of Bank of the North Limited, Nigerian Acceptances Limited, Northern States Marketing Board, D’Alberto&Bogialla Limited and D’Albo Holdings Limited. Other companies in which he was director are Northern Resources Development Limited, Monier Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited, Mohammed Brothers Limited, Amana Quarries Limited, Technical Gases and Holding Services Limited, Hotel Management Services Limited and Records Manufacturers of Nigeria Limited.

AlhajiAliko’s positions in companies in which the Federal Government has interest, Including the Daily Times, were not executive.

His job in the Daily Times as Chairman of the Board of Directors was to ensure that the policies of the company were carried out by the Management.

SEPTEMBER 29- OCTOBER 5 2014 DAILTY TIMES

28

opinion

An Open Letter To Lecturers

By Gabriel Omini

T

his letter is an appeal to the Nigerian teacher especially lecturers in the higher institutions.

Despite the list here, I want you to inspire the next generation. Point them to the bright light at the end of the seemingly endless tunnel. Encourage them and let them know that you believe in them. I am giving you no ammunition but asking you to face the Goliath of adversity in the mind of the average Nigerian student who is going to be the first graduate in a whole village and cannot go abroad for the type of education that he might wish to get.

The educational system is what it is. The financial, IT, agricultural, telecoms, banking, and power systems of the country have seen some changes, albeit short-termed, as transformational leaders were posted there.

The educational systems seek for one: Someone to breathe into it and give the masses hope. Agreed, you cannot change the system overnight but you can do things from your confines. So I throw this challenge back to our lecturers. What can we do to become a beacon of hope to aspiring students?

I use the word aspiring because I completely understand you. There are students who show up but the constituents of their spirit, mental faculties and soul are far from where the bag of bones called their body is.

There are another set that don’t just get it; not because they cannot cope with academic rigours but the only thing that they listen to is their hormones. Yet another set, are humanoids; they are hooked to social media and can’t hold a 3 minute conversation with the next man without touching that screen.

Another set are in front of you because their parents said so. Again another, that openly come to you with dollars for grades or threats as they claim to belong to ABC or the ones who believe in the self-invented philosophy of “getting what they want with what they have” in the most untoward way.

Then the final set are those wondering why they are here,

in front of you and what has the dy/dx got to do with their progress in life. All in all, you must understand that you are dealing with teenagers that just left home for the first time and have just tasted supposed freedom. They want everything to happen at once and hence are utterly confused. For some others; the pace of everything hitting them so fast and hard is literally leaving them breathless. I am not making excuses.

I am only throwing the facts out there for you to understand.

The system also does not help. You teach more students than you can possibly handle. You basically teach with nothing; no teaching aid, no graduate assistant, no reference books and a whole litany of things that you would need to make your work easier.

You cannot conduct a simple experiment to demonstrate the beauty and practicality of science or a simple survey to show the complexities of human desire. Apart from titration and sodium darting over water, you can do very little.

The same with giving out questionnaires; those seem to be the only social experiments you can do. So, I get that part as well.

The society has not helped either. In social gatherings, you are not accorded your status. Your dropout secondary school classmate, who has a warped sense of tenses and literally blows grammar such as “I wanted to collected that money yesterday” and who has no known job but “shows working” evidenced by flashy cars, landed properties, oil blocs and harem of red light district acquaintances is given the high table and the right hand of fellowship. Your teller in the bank, who earns more than you, wonders why you are complaining for his / her terrible services, given your bank balance.

Your former students do not call to say “hello” or “thank you”. It is only when they want a younger one to obtain admission or they need their transcript, that is when your number is dug up from the abyss of their smart phones.

Yes! Their phones are smart and yours is.not so smart. The first person you were interested in and asked out, asked you to “look me well o. I resemble who wan suffer?” And

you wonder, if anyone in their right senses wants to suffer naturally. The second one told you to “leave that thing”. Then you turned to your colleague and the person schooled you in the art of rational thinking and the discussion goes thus “If we go on strike for 3 months and we are both teachers / lecturers, how will we survive with 4 children.

Think am na ! No be say I no love you o but love must make sense. You need to think these things through”. Your family members question your career choice. You seem to always be in the dark. You seem not to exist. It seems you were cursed to have taken this path; whether willingly or otherwise.

Your children are in schools that you wish they were not.

You know better and want better for them but your economy cannot support that mission. Your car speaks spattering Japanese – KihiKihiKihi – every other time.

You wish the Japanese can transcend to the language spoken by other cars but that is a wish.

You have become a mechanic by force and the local mechanic is now you bosom friend. In fact, he is now family because you call him more frequently than your spouse; same as the generator repairer. The last time you were in court to witness a proceeding, the judge nearly ordered your arrest “for contempt of court and disturbance of proceedings” courtesy of the sound of your car.

The private sector has done

things in trickles. Nigeria LNG Limited, Etisalat, ExxonMobil and Cadbury have programmes for the educational sector but that is in trickles. Oby Ezekwesili started the “Adopt-ASchool” programme but the living day light was snuffed out immediately she left office. Let me borrow the words from the intelligentsia in WhatsApp land.

It states……

MTN Project Fame: N7.5m + SUV; Etisalat Nigerian Idol: N5m + multimillion naira contract; GloNaija Sings: N5m + SUV; Gulder Ultimate Search: N10m plus endorsements; COWBELL Mathematics Competition: N100k; Spelling Bee: N50k; School Scrabble: N25k.

Cool FM Spelling Game: a goodie bag filled with amila drink...

And someone is asking why on earth WAEC results standard is on the decline???

These are not my words.

Imagine if some lecturers get the sponsorship a teenager gets from Nigerian Idol. Anyway, we get what we encourage. Have you seen any University advertise its best lecturers? They only award professorship to those that publish papers. And publish papers, we will. Why should I be a good lecturer and bother about my morals when all I am rewarded for is my publications.

Finally, your take home pay does not take you home. You need to do the needful to get

government’s attention and it takes half of forever for the negotiation to start talk less of ending. During those times, you are supposed to survive on the 21% available oxygen in the atmosphere. With all these extenuating circumstances, you have been made to become all things to all men.

This sounds like African Magic, Nollywood, at its best but unfortunately, it is your reality.

Let’s call these issues I have raised – externalities. Is there anything that you can influence or do to make the students get the best out of the system? The initial answer is “no” but if you think it through, there might be some things. What can you do with what you have to encourage them? I have listed a few. · Please don’t vent your anger on how the society, employer, government etc have treated you. It is the natural thing to do but resist that urge. · Never get dragged down to the level of your students.

How do you know that has happened? When you argue unnecessarily, when you plan revenge. Walk the higher path.

You are the elder here. · Don’t brag to students how good you were in your days. They know when you are good. · Please don’t tell them that “if you are bright, you can get a C in my course”. It sounds cool but it is not cool at all.

Somewhere else their competition is getting what they deserve and soon they will meet to compete for a space.

Your student will not be able to explain why he/she got a lower rating. Never cause an irreversible reaction because of your ego. · Think of how you can help. You can call former students to come back and give a talk on how they got a job, a scholarship for further studies or started their own company.

Use your network to make this happen. There are people in your network that can easily do this on pro bono basis. · Don’t ask for what you cannot justify. Don’t take advantage. It is just a matter of years they will not be under your control again. Do your best when they are with you. · Spend some time finding ways to inspire your students.

Google it. Others are already doing it in some parts of the world. It’s all there on You-

Tube. You don’t have to invent anything. Copy. Adapt. Paste.

Pronto! · Plan a visit to where your course of study is relevant. It might take a while to make it happen. Ask for the help of your students. Some of them have people they know in those places. A tour around a manufacturing plant might do wonders. Students love group trips. · Give them something to do that will involve group / team work. The way the system is shaped, some classmates may never ever talk to each other until they leave school. Use this as an opportunity to make it happen. The school system hardly teaches collaboration but this is a skill they need to make it in life and the work place. · In the group work, ask them about Belbin’s theory and the life cycle of a team. It will lead to some self-discovery. · Ask for presentations of the group work. Make them choose who will make the presentation. It will task them from choosing a leader. · Say sorry when you make a mistake. Apologize. Just do it. Some may see it as a sign of weakness but it doesn’t matter. In a decade’s time they will know you were not. You were just humane. · Finally don’t give up on them. Yes they have their issues but to a few of them, you are the richest man they have ever met. You are the only voice of conscience they know. You assist God to run the earth. That is how they see you. Don’t disappoint them.

There are many other things not listed here that you can think up and adapt for your situation. Think through, write them down and implement.

I wrote this in respect of a lecturer in school who inspired me, Prof Robert Ebewele. He came to class on time, would inform us if he wasn’t coming, printed journals for us to read and made his classes interesting. He told us that he wanted to make it difficult for us to fail his course. Waoh! Can you beat that? He explained to stupor complex matters and made them simple. A willing goat could learn from him. He was as fresh air to me and he made me fall in love with learning.

He made a difference. Would you not join him?