Daily Times e-Newspaper Issue 12

Wrong Policies: Danger to Growth in Aviation P 10

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha Following the steady decline in the fortunes of the nation’s aviation in-

dustry, analysts and aviation experts have revealed a deliberate effort by officials of government to embark upon certain policies and actions that

are injurious to the growth of domestic airlines, failure to build maintenance facility and poor policy on manpower development.

The development and growth of the aviation sector in any country is by no means a mere wish. It is a process that is adequately planned for,

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13- 19 2014

Mimiko’s Defection: Bamidele Vows to Sustain LP, as Party Elects New Excos

What You Should Know & Do To Start Or Grow A Business: Knowledge Of Your Industry

Healthy Diet, Lifestyle Reduces Stroke Risk In Women

Scarf It On Guys!

VOL. 1, NO 12

Manchester United for sale

Tambuwal, going...going...

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arring any last minute change, the nationwide “consultations” undertaken by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, to decide his next political direction may finally be revealed, as impeccable sources close to the speaker said he may defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday when the House resumes plenary.

Tambuwal had declared months back, when speculation became rife that he was

P2 L_R: Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, GovernorAbiola Ajimobi

Why Other P 13 Bloggers and Celebrities Hate Linda Ikeji

Good Time P 16 for Nigerian Footballers, Athletes

I Will Campaign For 9ice If… P 18

–Ruggedman

Study: Vaginal Fluid Detects Ovarian Cancer Gene Mutation

P 14

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OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

news

Ondo Media official Killed

by Generator Explosion ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

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ragedy struck over the weekend at the Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation (OSRC) when a generator killed a staff, Mr. Rotimi Fagbemi, of the engineering department in the station.

It was learnt that Mr. Fagbemi was handling the generator maintenance when the shocking incident occurred at the station’s premises.

Daily Times gathered that Mr. Fagbemi’s body was severely mutilated and slashed into pieces as a result of an explosion from the generator.

The incident forced management to suspend transmission and went off air as workers wailed and wept profusely.

Staff of the station hinted that the generator had been serving both the radio and television arm of the station for the past one.

Just few months ago, some union leaders in the station and workers protested the poor working condition and maladministration melted on them the management.

The protesters were later punished for exposing the rot in the station and the management seek order to re-deployed and demote the union leaders who had been agitating for better working condition in the establishment.

The affected workers included journalists in the News and Current Affairs Department of the station among whom are former NUJ, OSRC chapel chairman, Taiwo Ibitoye; his successor, Wahab Bankole; Sola Obagbemisoye, Obafemi Sogbe and RATTAWU chairman, Olatunji Ogidan.

Tambuwal, going...going...

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arring any last minute change, the nationwide “consultations” undertaken by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, to decide his next political direction may finally be revealed, as impeccable sources close to the speaker said he may defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday when the House resumes plenary.

Tambuwal had declared months back, when speculation became rife that he was gunning for either the governorship of his state or the presidency under the APC, that, “I am still consulting my primary constituency on these crucial matters which affect me, Sokoto State and Nigeria generally. I will come

back and engage my people.

All politics is local and I will make my final stand on these topical issues known to Nigerians at the most appropriate time”.

However, the need for him to now make his political plan known is largely influenced by the fact that the APC’s timetable for the presidential primaries has been fixed for December 2, leading to the February 14 general elections. His defection this week is to give him enough time to declare, pick his form, and mobilise his structure.

According to the APC timetable (which might be modified), the expression of interest forms for all offices will go on sale from October 6. Those interested in seeking the party’s nomination to stand in the presidential, governorship, senatorial, House

of Representatives and Houses of Assembly elections are expected to pick their forms between October 6 and 19.

The sale of nomination forms to presidential aspirants will commence on October 20 and end on November 6, while screening of presidential aspirants is slated to take place between November 10 and 13, and November 14 and 15 will be for appeals. The party’s national convention, where the presidential candidate will be picked, holds on December 2.

The sale of nomination forms to those interested in the governorship race is to take place between October 20 and November 9. Screening of aspirants will hold as from November 10 to 12, while appeals are slated to take place between November 13 and 14. The governor-

Mahmood

ship primaries are slated for November 15, while appeals emanating from the primaries will be entertained from November 18 to 22.

The speaker’s defection this week is said to have the full backing of key members of both the House and Senate who embraced the APC when seven PDP governors staged a walkout in August during a special convention of the PDP and five subsequently defected to the APC. This was because his emergence as speakers was greatly aided by those members of the House who were not comfortable with the domineering influence the PDP was exerting in the House.

His expected defection is also said to have the full backing of his governor, Aliyu Wamakko, who was one of the five governors that defected to the APC. The fact that the speaker maintained a robust relationship with his governor lent credence to the rosy relationship between them, this culminated in him being turbaned as the Mutawallen Sokoto.

Only recently, posters of the speaker have flooded some parts of Abuja and some few northern states, declaring his intention to bid for the presidency. But his media aide, Mallam Imam Imam, had denied the rumoured bid, saying, “Let it be known that since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not given the go-ahead for those interested in elective positions to start mobilisation, it is inappropriate for any person or group to print campaign posters and have them placed in strategic locations in any part of the country.”

Tambuwal

Apart from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is alleged to be solidly behind the presidential aspiration of the speaker, some governors under the APC banner are said to have given him their words to rally behind him.

It was learned that even though the PDP currently enjoys a slim majority in the House, the speaker may still not be able to hold onto his position when he eventually defects. This is because some of the members in the House, who are said to have concluded plans to defect with him, might not do it because of the proximity of the time for election.

When the opinion of the special adviser on media to the speaker was sought, he said, “We have consistently said that the speaker is still consulting on what his political move would be, and that whenever that consultation is concluded, Nigerians will know. I really can’t say what he will do on Tuesday; only that Nigerians will know anytime he has finished his consultations.”

Presidency Defends Oritsejafor On Seized $9.3 Million

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he presidency has said that although the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ayo Oritsejafor private jet was used to ferry $9.3 million cash to South Africa, he was not culpable.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Commu-

nication, Doyin Okupe, stated this on Sunday in Abuja while addressing journalists. “Oritsejafor has no business in this matter,” he said. “It is true that he owns the aircraft but there are over 200 private Nigerians who have jets. Apart from those who use it frequently, some give it out to get some money and defray some of

the costs. If you put your jet down, you pay money and parking charges every day.”

The presidential aide reiterated Oritsejafor’s statement that he had given the aircraft to a private company to manage. “He gave the private jet to a company to manage.

The company is handling it and these people gave out the

plane that is available, what has this to do with Oritsejafor? If I have many cars at the airport and decide to give one to car hire services and he decides to carry somebody having Indian hemp, will you link it up with the man who gave it out?” he said.

Okupe said that anyone criticising Oritsejafor’s role in

the recent saga was not well informed and also not giving due respect to the office the latter as CAN president.

“Most Nigerians do not also respect the sensibilities of other people,” he said.

“Oritsejafor is the President of CAN and head of all Christians in Nigeria who is representing at least 50 per

cent of people in this country.

When it comes to a man like that, people should be cautious and circumspect.” The presidential aide also claimed those linking Oritsejafor to the scandal were being mischievous and only playing politics with the issue.

“The linking of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is the most unfor-

DAILTY TIMES – OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

3

news

2015: Again, Tambuwal Sighted in APC State Event Mu’sodiq Adekunle

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ouse of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal on Sunday added fuel to the fire of speculations making the rounds that he may soon defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress: He was seen at the inauguration of the new Government House by the outgoing governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in the capital,

•No Apology for My Deeds in Govt, Says Outgoing Gov •Fayemi’s Loss at polls is Mysterious – Soyinka Ado Ekiti.

Though the Speaker did not make any political speech at the event, the method of welcoming him by the gathering was similar to that of an APC chieftain.

Tambuwal, whose ascension to the office of Speaker was largely made possible by the

APC, is rumoured to be planning to throw his hat into the ring for the 2015 presidential contest on the platform of the opposition party. He has lately been absent in the functions of the PDP. It was also observed that members of the PDP were conspicuously scanty at the event.

Mimiko’s Defection: Bamidele Vows to Sustain LP, as Party Elects New Excos Mu’sodiq Adekunle

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member of the House of Representatives, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, has vowed to sustain the Labour Party, saying that the party would survive the defection of Ondo Governor, Olusegun Mimiko.

The LP candidate in the June 21 Ekiti governorship elections said the successful conduct of the party’s national convention on Saturday, was a signal to this.

In a statement in Ado Ekiti on Sunday by his Media Aide, Ahmed Salami, Bamidele said, “LP is a party that is ready to give every Nigerian the alternative platform to contest for any elective position. We believe that no challenge is worth the death of any party, except when those within are not committed.

“But, as leaders, we have to sacrifice our conveniences and comforts to ensure that no Nigerian is deprived of his fundamental rights.

“We are proud to say that the LP in Nigeria remains solid and

Mimiko

maintains unwavering commitment to the development of our democracy.

“No ambition of individual (is) worth the death of any party, particularly the LP because it is ideologically-based,” Bamidele said.

The National Convention of the Labour Party which was held in Akure on Saturday, has elected Abdulkadir Salam, as

the party’s new national Chairman.

It elected Abdulkadir Salam, as the party’s new national Chairman.

Voting was done through raising of hands and voice votes by all the delegates, with all the officers elected after consensus was reached by the different interest groups within the party.

Past Chairman of the party, Dan Iwuanyawu, was ratified as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party.

An Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, emerged as the National Secretary of the party.

The deputy national secretaries would be filled by representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

Other officers elected include, Mrs. Oluchi Opara, National Treasurer; National Publicity Secretary, Ebele Efendo; National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu; National Auditor, Maria Lebeke and Financial Secretary, Hadiza Kishimi.

Notably, the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose was not present.

In his remark, the Speaker was full of praises for the outoing Governor whom he praised for exemplary performance despite being ousted by his party.

Tambuwwal said: “Posterity will be a better judge that Fayemi ruled Ekiti state in dignified ways to the extent that he left indelible marks in the State.

Fayemi combined good governance and politics; despite losing election, the governor still continued to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.”

The Speaker said with the various programmes and legacy projects put in place by Fayemi, the successor must continue on the path of development.

Also, Nobel Laureate, Prof.

Woke Soyinka, described the loss of Fayemi, in the June 21 governorship election as a

mystery which the APC must unravel.

Soyinka, who expressed bewilderment at the outcome of the election said, “Somewhere something went wrong and it has to be corrected. That is the message I have for all of you.

Be patient but at the same time be watchful.

“Many people within and outside Ekiti were mystified.

There is a clarity in my mind.

That clarity had been demonstrated today and has been manifested in the four years of Fayemi.

“My own message is that put the mystery aside and the emotional attachment. Continue to build on the foundation that has been laid by him. The state has been resurrected in a way that all of us should be proud of.

I’m glad that there is no sadness on the face of anybody.

I’m happy I do not perceive

any iota of regret on the face of anyone. That is the way it should be.”

He advised the people to put aside all the mystery surrounding the loss and continue to build on the “good foundation” Fayemi had established.

On his part, Fayemi said he had no apology for all he did in government.

He said it was up to his successor to “either honour or desecrate the legacy the APC government is leaving behind.

He said, “For us anyway, in the last four years, it has been truth, sacrifice with integrity, honour, compassion, commitment to good governance and competence in public office.

“For us, public office remains the highest form of duty.

We have no apology for all we have done. We thank our people for the solidarity and support.”

Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun; Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti and his wife Erelu Bisi Fayemi;Dep Governor, Ekiti, Prof Dupe Adelabu, Prof Wole Soyinka and Governor Ajimobi Abiola, Oyo.

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

4

news Cross River Signs MoU with EU, Germany for Rural Electrification

Amosun’s Convoy in Auto Crash

Mu’sodiq Adekunle

Mu’sodiq Adekunle

he Cross River state Government and the Deutsche Gesellshaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation) GIZ, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to jointly improve sustainable access to electricity for rural communities in the state.

The cooperation which is part of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by the GIZ and NESP, is aimed at improving the state’s electrification planning capacities and developing self-sustaining models that fosters the provision of electricity to rural communities using small scale renewable energy technologies.

It would be recalled that the Governor Liyel Imokeled administration has since inception, provided electricity to 169 rural communities in the state.

Highlighting the benefit of electricity as one of the key components to economic growth, during the signing ceremony which took place at the Exco Chambers, the IZ Country Director, Dr. Thomas Kirsch, stated that “Electricity is key to socio-economic development,” stressing that “The programme will support the state government in its drive to provide power to more of its citizens in the state by using the abundant

he convoy of the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, was in the early hours of Sunday involved in a road crash around the SapadeAjebo stretch of the LagosIbadan Expressway.

Sources told our correspondent that a commercial bus loaded with foodstuffs, coming from the Ibadan end, caused the accident.

The commercial vehicle reportedly rammed into one of the vehicles in the convoy occupied by some of the aides of the governor.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, told Daily Times that there were no casualties in the accident, adding that the governor was not hurt in the accident.

He said, “The accident only involved one of the vehicles at the rear of the convoy. The governor is alive. All other officials are alive. It was just a minor thing.

“We are already in Ekiti for the inauguration of the new Government House built by Governor Fayemi. Please, help us tell the people that the Governor is alive. The calls have been coming from people asking after his welfare.”

Meanwhile, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo and the Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade have scored Amosun high on performance and called on the people of the state to support him in his quest for re-election in 2015.

They both spoke during working tour of the governor to Abeokuta South Local Government area held at Pansheke.

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Cross River State Governor Sen, Liyel Imoke exchanging pleasantries with the Country Director, Thomas Kirsch Deutsche Gesellshaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for International Cooperation) GIZ, shortly after signing MoU for the provision rural electricity in the Calabar.

renewable energy resources.”

Governor Imoke, who was excited that Cross River was able to scale the numerous hurdles to qualify as one of the five states in the country to benefit from the programme, thanked the Country Director for what the programme and GIZ offer to the people of the state.

According the Governor, “This particular project truly represents for us, a new intervention that could have tremendous impact in the lives and wellbeing of our people here in Cross River State.

That is why we must take it very seriously.”

On the partnership with GIZ, Imoke noted: “The partnership with GIZ is today going be in the energy sector, but it will also provide us the

opportunity for partnership in other sectors, some of which the Country Director has mentioned, focusing largely on economic development, key sectors such as agriculture, health and other areas for sustainable growth and poverty reduction.”

Continuing, Imoke disclosed that “this particular project could on its own be a project that when implemented, will impact clearly on the sectors I mentioned earlier,” while adding that “as we take off for this first project, we are hopeful that its impact on our people and our communities will be significant.”

Governor Imoke who charged the partners to hit the ground running for the realization of the goals of the programme now that the

document had been signed said: “For us here in the Cross River, we believe very strongly in the partnerships between our development partners and ourselves and we find these partnership to be useful, not just in terms of financial support, which involves transfer of technology, capacity building and training, but tremendous support with best practice for sustainable development.”

Going by the content of the MoU, NESP is expected to support an efficient rollout of electrification projects with least cost electrification plan for different communities in the state, taking into account their demand growth projections and economic potentials.

Additionally, NESP will

assist in the development of up to two small scale renewable energy projects that demonstrate the viability of such solutions for the electrification of rural areas.

While welcoming the Country Director, Thomas Kirsch to the Calabar, the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke said: “The endorsement of the MoU, for us, represents a new beginning of in terms of our relationship with German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and of course, the strengthening of the already existing relationship with other institutions in Nigeria, particularly the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel as well as the private sector that is playing a key role now in the energy sector of our country.”

Saraki out, varsity teacher joins APC Presidential race Mu’sodiq Adekunle

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ormer Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki has dropped his bid for presidency in 2015.

Saraki, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) disclosed this in a statement made available to our correspondent on Sunday. He also posted it on his Facebook wall.

Before defecting to the oppo-

sition party, Saraki was among the presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.

Saraki said he was doing this because, according to him, Nigeria’s political “outlook for 2015 is very complicated and this is the time for every patriotic politician to situate his personal ambition in the context of the country’s overall interest.”

He said: “I don’t think our party can afford too much internal rancour going into next

year’s election. I therefore think some of us need to make the sacrifice and be part of the solution rather than part of the problem of the party.”

While Saraki opted out of the race, a professor of Business Education at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Mr. Mahmood Aliyu, has declared his intention to contest the 2015 election on the platform of the opposition party.

The don made the declaration in a statement made avail-

able to our correspondent after a press conference on Saturday in Minna.

The aspirant said APC was the only party that would tackle the current security challenges bedevilling the country.

He added, “There has been an agitation for the emergence of new crop of leaders by wellmeaning Nigerians in order to take this country out of problems. An APC government will tackle the security issue with all the seriousness it requires and

deserves.’’

Aliyu, however, called on the national leadership of the APC to review the N27m fee for picking the party’s presidential nomination form.

He said, “Our party should have a rethink about the fee for presidential nomination forms, so that ordinary Nigerians can afford it. Ordinary people, who have something to offer, get scared by the amount; even the PDP fee is not up to that of our party.’’

Amosun

DAILTY TIMES – OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

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africa news

Enough Of Killings, Ban Ki-Moon Tells Libyans

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Liberia Medical Workers Threaten To Down Tools Over Ebola Pay

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edical workers in Liberia are set to go on strike over a pay dispute, a move that could deliver a serious blow to the fight against the deadly Ebola virus, reports Voice of America.

Thousands of members of Liberia’s National Health Workers Association said they will not report for work on Monday unless they receive a substantial increase in hazard pay.

Members of the association are demanding $700 in monthly hazard pay on top of monthly salaries that are around $200 or $300.

Liberia has the highest number of infections and deaths in the worst outbreak of the illness. Ebola has killed more than 2,300 people in the poor West African nation.

The number of people killed in the Ebola outbreak has risen above 4,000, the World Health Organisation has said.

s part of a UNbrokered reconciliation process, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has called for peace in Libya during a surprise visit to Tripoli.

It will be recalled that on his first visit since 2011, when Col Muammar Gaddafi was removed, he told MPs meeting at a hotel in the city there was “no alternative to dialogue”.

The UN brokered talks last month between rival parliamentary factions, after months of militia violence.

Instability has plagued the oil-rich country and the new parliament elected in July has been forced to meet outside the capital as rival militias battle for control of the city.

Ban accompanied by the Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini arrived in Tripoli by plane from neighbouring Tunisia, where the UN mission to Libya has been based since it was evacuated during the summer.

“Libya needs a strong parliament and a strong government,” Mr Ban told them.

“The fighting must stop...

Enough of killings, enough of displacements of people.”

Ms Mogherini, who is set to become the EU’s new foreign policy chief next month, delivered a message of support for the Libyan parliament.

Italy, she said, was “fully committed to staying by your side - on the side of the Libyan people... to save Libya from a destiny it doesn’t deserve”.

Mozambique Gears Up For Presidential Elections

C ANC: Use Your Large Numbers To Take Charge

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NC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe called on the party’s MPs to use their large numbers to take charge and make decisions, the SABC reported on Sunday.

He said current incidents in Parliament where opposition parties had walked out needed to be stopped, according to the public broadcaster.

Mantashe was speaking at the African National Congress’s cadre assembly in Mahikeng in the North West.

The assembly was attended by all ANC members and alliance partners in the Ngaka

Modiri Molema region.

Mantashe reportedly said the ANC must not be ashamed to take control.

“It is conscious offensive, this offensive is seen there in Parliament where you see everybody coming together to form coalitions,” he was quoted as saying.

“EFF and Freedom Front Plus, DA and Cope in one coalition… we must delegitimise it, weaken it and ultimately dislodge it.

“People have elected us as the majority party and we can’t be ashamed of it. If they walk out continue, that is it, that is the only way we can do this thing,” he said.

ampaigning for M o z a m b i q u e ’s presidential elections wrapped up Sunday with a rock-and-roll rally to drum up enthusiasm for the ruling party’s first post-colonial candidate, AFP reports.

Addressing a crowd of around 5 000 supporters at an open field in Maputo, Frelimo’s Filipe Nyusi promised jobs and economic opportunity, and vowed to fight graft in the country his party has governed for nearly four decades.

Wednesday’s presidential and legislative election is being closely watched, especially by foreign investors, as Mozambique stands on the cusp of reaping vast wealth from its nascent gas industry.

Nyusi, from the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province near Tanzania, told the rally that his name, in the local Makonde language from his far north region, translates to mean bee.

“I am the bee that will make honey for all!” he pledged.

The 55-year-old candidate, a former defence minister, is little known to the public, and represents a change of guard in a party ruled up to now by former fighters who led Mozambique to independence from Portugal in 1975.

In a bid to appeal to the

country’s burgeoning youthful population, his rally was held on a gigantic, professional sound stage with performances from some of the nation’s best-known pop and dance acts.

Frelimo political heavyweights also turned out to offer support, including outgoing President Armando Guebuza, who is completing his second and final five-year term.

Also in attendance was Graça Machel, the widow of former president Nelson

Mandela and of Mozambique’s first post-independence leader, Samora Machel.

In a frenetic speech, Nyusi fired off a list of his campaign pledges at rapid pace, to loud applause by supporters dressed mostly in his party’s red T-shirts.

He said he was aware that people were frustrated with the pace of change but they “shouldn’t think that the president has bags of money in his office”.

He also pledged to improve

the quality of life for Mozambicans, most of whom scrape by on barely a dollar a day.

Frelimo and its candidate are expected to win the election, but with a lower margin compared to the 75 percent it gained in the last election in 2009.

The opposition Movement Democratic Movement (MDM), whose candidate Daviz Simango is running for president for the second time, made some surprising gains in last year’s municipal elections.

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

6

world news

Ebola: Hospital mistakes blamed for US transmission

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US health chief has said a mistake was “clearly” made by hospital staff treating an Ebola victim in Texas, resulting in one member being infected.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that a female health worker tested positive for the deadly virus in Dallas.

CDC chief Dr Tom Frieden has promised a full inquiry into how the transmission could have occurred.

He said 48 other people who may also have had contact were being observed.

The health worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital is now on an isolation ward

and is said to be in a stable condition.

She had been treating Ebola victim Thomas Eric Duncan, who caught the virus in his native Liberia and died on Wednesday.

The current Ebola outbreak, concentrated in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, has resulted in more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases, and at least 4,033 deaths.

In other developments the health authorities in Sierra Leone say they are now treating more Ebola patients in the capital Freetown than in the eastern districts of Kenema and Kailahun, where the first cases in the country were detected European health of-

ficials investigating how a nurse in Madrid caught Ebola told the BBC they believe it was simply the result of an accident and the risks to the wider population remain very low The UN special envoy

on Ebola told the BBC the number of Ebola cases was currently increasing exponentially, but greater awareness would help contain the virus.

Dr Frieden said a full investigation would be conducted into how the infection had oc-

curred.

“Clearly there was a breach in protocol,” he told US broadcaster CBS. The CDC investigation, he told reporters, would focus on possible breaches made during two “high-risk procedures”, dialysis and respiratory intubation.

The health worker who was infected has not been able to identify a specific breach of protocol that might have led to her being infected, he said.

Dr Daniel Varga, of the Texas Health Resource, said she had worn a gown, gloves, mask and shield when providing care to Duncan during his second and final hospital admission.

Dr Frieden said education and training of health workers would be stepped up and efforts would be made to reduce the number of staff treating Ebola cases.

Police are guarding the apartment complex where the woman lives in Dallas as decontamination work is carried out.

Officials have been knocking on doors, making automated phone calls and passing out fliers to notify people within a four-street radius about the situation, while seeking to reassure local people.

No details of her identity or position at the hospital have been given, in accordance with family wishes.

Bolivia election: Evo Morales bids for third term

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otes are being counted in Bolivia, with left-wing President Evo Morales bidding for a third consecutive term in office.

Mr Morales has been in office since 2006 and is widely tipped to win, having presided over a period of economic growth and reduced poverty.

Six million people were eligible to vote in Bolivia and abroad.

The electoral authorities and foreign observers said the poll passed without major incident.

Evo Morales became the first indigenous president in 2006 and is even more popular now, and not only among his Aymara ethnic group.

He won the trust of many thanks to Bolivia’s good economic performance. Supermarkets, cinemas and restaurants are popping up everywhere.

The new cable car in La Paz is perhaps the best example of the changing times in Bolivia, which remains one of the poorest countries in the region.

It connects La Paz with the satellite city of El Alto, home to thousands of migrants. There, a monument to Che Guevara sits next to a brand new shopping centre, surrounded by thousands of poorly built stalls selling counterfeit products.

A giant campaign poster of “Evo” overlooks the scene.

His face is likely to stay there for five more years if, as predicted, he wins a landslide victory on Sunday.

Since 2006, Mr Morales’s government has focused on education subsidies, increased pensions and spending on public works.

He has been boosted by a boom in commodities prices that has helped boost export revenues nine-fold.

The revenue has helped fund policies that have created an average annual economic growth of 5%, well above the regional average.

It has also funded public works projects, including a cable car system for the capital, La Paz. Some 500,000 people have been taken out of poverty.

The oil, gas, mining, telecommunications and water sectors have all been nationalised.

Mr Morales’s critics say he

has introduced anti-environment measures and presided over a corrupt administration.

He is also accused of using millions of dollars in government cash to fund his re-election campaign and that this has helped create a fractured opposition.

Although there are four challengers in the election, opinion polls suggest Mr Morales is 40 points ahead of his nearest rival, Samuel Doria Medina.

Mr Doria Medina has vowed to clean up the judiciary if elected.

To avoid a run-off, Mr Morales must win 50% of valid votes, or 40% if that includes a 10-point lead over his nearest rival.

Mr Morales will want to maintain his two-thirds control of Bolivia’s Senate and assembly, which are also holding elections.

This could allow him to alter the constitution to permit a fourth term in office.

Mr Morales has already benefited from a court ruling that permitted him to run for a third term.

Bosnia votes as discontent over ailing economy grows

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he people of Bosnia have voted in national and local elections dominated by economic fears and ethnic tensions, nearly 20 years after the civil war.

Tensions between Muslims (Bosniaks), Serbs and Croats remain high after a war which

cost more than 100,000 lives, and there are calls for secession.

The country is one of the poorest in Europe, with joblessness at 44% and youth unemployment even higher.

EU membership hopes have been dogged by failure to meet reform targets.

It is the seventh election since the US-brokered Dayton peace agreement ended the 1992-1995 war between the main ethnic groups.

In February, mass violent protests broke, reflecting deep dissatisfaction with political elites and the high levels of corruption in the

country.

Analysts say protests could return if the new government does not tackle corruption and the spluttering economy.

“Nothing functions in this country,” Mirsada Grgo, 64, told AFP news agency in Sarajevo, echoing the discontent of many Bosnians.

Brazil election: Silva backs Neves in blow for Dilma

T

he Brazilian environmentalist Marina Silva, who came third in Sunday’s presidential election, has backed opposition centrist candidate Aecio Neves in the second round.

Mr Neves won 33.5% of the votes in the first round to 41.5% for President Dilma Rousseff, who is running for a second four-year term.

Ms Silva failed to qualify for the 26 October run-off, with 21.3%.

She cited Mr Neves’s “commitments” as the reason for supporting him.

On Saturday, he announced in an open letter to the nation that he would include in his manifesto issues such as land reform, the demarcation of indigenous lands, the rights of rural communities and environmental concerns.

Those issues formed a key part of Ms Silva’s campaign.

“I prefer to be criticised for my actions while fighting for what I believe in and for what is best for Brazil,” she said.

Ms Silva, who grew up in a poor family of rubber tappers in the Amazon, is a former environment minister.

She fell out with the Workers Party government now led

by Ms Rousseff and eventually founded her own political movement, Rede Sustentabilidade (Sustainability Network).

Ms Rousseff said Ms Silva’s endorsement of Mr Neves, who is seen as a pro-business candidate, was “understandable”.

“She is closer to the economic programme of Aecio [Neves] than to the social programme of my government,” said Ms Rousseff.

Mr Neves, who is running for the Social Democratic Party, received the news “with much emotion and responsibility,” he said.

“We are now one body, in one common project to help Brazil and all Brazilians.”

Ms Silva stood as the Socialist Party candidate after presidential contender, Eduardo Campos, died in a plane crash in August.

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

7

politics

President Jonathan

Allison-Madueke

Speak On Malabu Oil Scandal Now, APC To FG

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently speak out and take action on the monumental Malabu oil scandal that is rocking his administration and again putting Nigeria under the global searchlight as a corrupt nation.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said President Jonathan must end his silence on the matter since half of the 1.1 billion US dollars paid to Malabu Oil and gas for oil field OPL 245 by two oil majors was allegedly used to

bribe Nigerian officials, who in turn used the proceeds to buy private jets and armoured limousines.

It said that since the deal to pay Malabu the huge funds was brokered and passionately defended by the Jonathan Administration, it stands to reason that officials of the same Administration will know one or two things, and perhaps are part and parcel, of the whole scandal. ”The only way to know for sure is if there is an independent investigation of the allegation, which has been published by the international media after Italian prosecutors intensified their probe into the deal. This is where President Jonathan comes in: He must

allow an unfettered probe of this scandal that has again put Nigeria in bad light. Whatever happens, however, the names of those who received the bribes will soon be known, thanks to the determination of the UK and Italy to show that no one who violates their laws will go scot-free. ”Just like the Halliburton and Siemens bribery scandals that were also exposed from abroad, this Malabu scandal has again damaged Nigeria’s standing in the comity of nations. While US, France, Italy and Germany have jailed officials and imposed fines on the foreign firms that gave bribes to Nigerian officials in the Halliburton and Siemens scandals, none of those who

received the bribes here in Nigeria has been touched. The Malabu scandal must not go the same way,” APC warned.

The party lamented that Nigeria has never had it as bad, in terms of runaway corruption that has cost the nation billions of dollars in money that would have gone into national development, as it is having under the prodigiously-corrupt Jonathan Administration. ”There is no better way to say this. The Jonathan Administration is swimming in corruption and the President has continuously allowed it to fester because his government is feeding fat on the proceeds of graft. He has even tried to use semantics to cover up the extent of sleaze, saying steal-

ing is not corruption,” it said.

The statement said apart from the Malabu, Halliburton and Siemens scandals, the Jonathan Administration has done nothing to tell Nigerians what happened to the 20 billion dollars in diverted oil money; the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy fraud for which no single persons has been brought to justice; opaque crude oil swaps at the expense of encouraging domestic refinery; payment of billions of naira in kerosene subsidy without appropriation and the gargantuan police pension fraud. ”Under your watch, Mr. President, there is massive looting of the commonwealth by the same people being paid by taxpayers to ensure a judi-

Lola Abiola-Edewor Stages A Comeback

S

ince she was denied a return to the House of Representatives a few years ago, Lola Abiola-Edewor has vowed that she would never seek elective position in Nigeria again. Meanwhile, she was lucky to have been appointed as an Executive Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance

Company (NDIC) by President Goodluck Jonathan, a position she has been occupying in the last two years.

The daughter of the late Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, may have reneged on her promise, as she will be staging a return to politics, which

will see her contesting for a position in the 2015 general elections. It was gathered that her friends and loyalists are doing serious underground work to enable her bounce back to politics in a big way.

Lola was a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2007. But she failed to secure re-election for

a second term and her attempt to earn the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) senatorial ticket to represent Ogun Central in the 2011 elections met a brick-wall, as she was defeated by Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who was eventually trounced at the poll by Gbenga Obadara of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

cious utilization of the scarce national resources.

There is a growing culture of impunity because no one is punished for the looting. Now you have another chance to turn things around for the better. ”The Malabu scandal provides such a chance. All those who collected millions of dollars in bribes in the illegal transaction must be identified and brought to justice immediately. We must not always allow foreign countries to be the ones exposing corrupt Nigerian officials.

Our government must act like a responsible government by demonstrating it will not allow violation of its laws or encourage corruption”.

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

8

politics

2015 And The Burden Of Rec Ugochukwu Onyeocha As the 2015 general elections draw near, efforts are on to ensure that every crack in the relationship that exists between stakeholders in the respective political parties is addressed. This is done to ensure that no stone is left unturned as parties plot on how to retain their strongholds on their respective domains and capture new grounds in the upcoming elections.

In its efforts to address some of the issues before it, the leadership of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has setup the National Integration and Reconciliation Committee headed by its BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih. The choice of Chief Anenih is not in error as he is known to be a fixer of things which has rightly earned him the nickname “Mr Fix It‎.”

The setup of the National Integration and Reconciliation committee by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was instructive and strategic, particularly for a party that often prides itself with the ability to resolve thorny issues within its flanks.

One of the many problems this committee must tackle diligently and effectively is the long strained relationship between past and incumbent PDP governors in states it controls ahead of an intense election in 2015. Many incumbent governors it would be recalled are in political enmity with their predecessors.

From Abia to Akwa-Ibom and many more, there are divisions in the party over certain issues which have also divided the loyalty of the party membership.

The national chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, while inaugurating the members, said that the committee would see to repositioning of the PDP “so that it remains the party to beat ahead of the 2015 general elections.”

The terms of reference of the committee include: to reach out to all estranged members of the party and resolve issues affecting them; work out a harmonious re-union between subsisting members and new or estranged members in a synergic engagement; mobilise new members to join the party as well as obtain the buy-in and commitment of old members to become advocates of the party’s vision.

Other chairmen in the committee are Senator David Mark (South West); Sen. Ahmadu Alli (South East); Prof. Iya Abubakar (South South); Dr Bello Aliero (North Central) and Sen. Ken Nnamani (North

East).

Underscoring the import of the assignment, Mu’azu charged the committee thus: “You have been assembled as great party leaders with great party spirit; men and women of high strength of character who, by your wealth of experience, are well-equipped and disposed to create value, add value and protect values within the PDP family.”

Party insiders posit that as much as the membership drive and poise to reposition the party is crucial, top on the minds of the party leadership is the resolution of the simmering face-off between the incumbent governors of the PDP and class of 19992007 governors of the party who are desirous of returning to the party’s mainstream.

The intense rivalry between the incumbent governors and their predecessors (which soured in some cases immediately after 2007 and in other cases at the turn of 2010) has lingered on, which is ironic, considering that the baton of governorship was passed to the serving governors by these set of former governors.

Naturally, incumbent governors sit pretty at the helm of the party, dominating the political space in the states and in most cases stretching to the federal level, on account of the crucial role they play in ensuring the PDP retains the presidency.

But party watchers, like Micheal Obiekwe, observe that it is no fault of the governors that they wield such influence. “The way the party is structured recognises governors as leaders of the party in the state just as it recognises the president of the country as the leader of the party in the country, projecting them as the final authorities in their sphere of dominance,” he said.

But at the heart of the long battle is the scramble for political hegemony and the soul of the party in each of the states, which emerged with the moves made by incumbent governors trying to step out of the shadows of their predecessors who, in most cases, single-handedly ensured their emergence into office.

As it stands, the political friction between governors and their predecessors is more intense in states like Abia, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Plateau, Ebonyi; while in other states like Kebbi, Jigawa, Cross Rivers, Niger, there is a silent yet measurable distance maintained between incumbent governors and their predecessors.

While Bauchi State appears to have so far sidestepped the traditional squabble between an incumbent governor and national chairman

Jonathan and some PDP stalwart

Anenih

of the PDP, states like Bayelsa, Kaduna, who have the president and vice president, respectively, as former governors have followed in the path designed by the predecessors. In Kogi State the romance still blossoms while Taraba faces a different scenario with the internal wranglings, after the accident of the substantive governor.

Governors of Katsina, Benue, Gombe, Adamawa, Delta are spared these concerns as their predecessors have either defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), serving time abroad or passed on.

But as the integration committee sets out to do its work, in some of the states visited so far, incumbent governors have given a rather cold reception to the committee.

But this was expected it would seem. With the emergence of Dr Adamu Mu’azu as national chairman of the PDP, a member of the 1999-2007 set of governors, there was little doubt that his mates would see him as a rallying point for their return to the party.

For the incumbent governors,

DAILTY TIMES – OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

9

politics

conciliation

Kalu

‘‘

One of the many problems this committee must tackle diligently and effectively is the long strained relationship between past and incumbent PDP governors in states it controls ahead of an intense

,,

election in 2015

who had a more pronounced fight with their predecessors, they vehemently expressed their objection

(during their solidarity visits to the new chairman, Mu’azu) to the planned return of their predecessors

to the mainstream of the party, particularly at the state level, referring to them in certain instances as “viruses”.

Specifically, the chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) and Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, had while expressing the desire of the governors to cooperate with the national chairman, however urged the new national chairman to recognise the governors as party leaders at state levels while the president remains the party leader at the national level.

Assurances by Mu’azu that the party was big enough for all of them, did not sway the incumbent governors, who were not ready to shift ground.

For instance, Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, reportedly gave a cold reception to the committee on grounds that the state party is not ready to admit new members, in spite of the insistence by his predecessor, Sen. Joshua Dariye, that he is bent on returning to the party and no one can stop him.

In Abia State the back and forth between Gov. Theodore Orji and his predecessor, Orji Uzor Kalu assumed new levels despite the emergence of the committee. Kalu, who has repeatedly declared his membership of the PDP, despite the steady resistance by the party in the state led by Orji, was not able to attend the committee’s session when it visited the state as he was out of the country.

But Jang, Orji, their Enugu and Ebonyi States counterparts, Sullivan Chime and Martins Elechi, respectively were absent at the inauguration of the committee, perhaps a subtle objection to the reconciliation idea some party members aver.

Perhaps, the threat the former

governors could pose to the continued dominance of the incumbent governors was quite instructive.

Still, Mu’azu would readily want to show that with the scenario in Bauchi State, it is possible to have a former governor back in the mainstream of the party (even at the state) and alongside the incumbent governor the party can still function, with both parties understanding the rules of engagement.

Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda had endorsed Mu’azu as PDP national chairman at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, after they had had a bitter face-off.

Yet, Mu’azu has never pretended not to recognise the importance of the governors as he has promised not do anything to jeopardise their control of party structures in their states.

Nevertheless, the challenge for Mu’azu’s leadership is to ensure that the reconciliation process does not pose a threat to the 2015 chances of the party.

President Goodluck Jonathan, himself a former governor, had upon the emergence of Mu’azu, attributed his choice as national chairman of PDP to Mu’azu’s ability to build bridges, still there is no telling how far the president would back a move that may upset the governors who are very crucial to 2015 chances of the party.

Jonathan said of Mu’azu, “We needed someone who can build the party, who can reach out to the people and who is friendly with the people. Someone who can bring the party together, someone who can build bridges.

“I knew you as a governor and I can say to some extent that I know you. We need somebody who can

build the party and who would not resort to fighting every time.”

But Jonathan underscored the import of having a fractured house going into elections.

He tasked Mu’azu to reduce the tension among PDP members, saying it was not easy deciding on him as the party chairman, because many of the party’s governors did not want the next chairman to come from their states, in order to reduce friction between them and the chairman, as had happened previously.

Clearly, the incumbent governors are not ready to accommodate any potential threats to their territory, like the ones they perceive in their predecessors. This is more so that the governors are poised to ensure their candidates succeed them in office.

For those heading to hibernate in the senate, they would not want the hassle of facing any opposition as they already have serving senators to contend with.

Yet, it is hard to assume that the former governors will be able to resist the pull to enter the mainstream; a challenge the party national leadership will have to deal with if the reconciliation project succeeds.

Moreover, how much threat the former governors can pose to the PDP in the states, particularly when they join forces with a relatively more streamlined All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to be seen.

In any case as the party waits for the committee to be done with its assignment, following the three week mandate it was given, the outcome of the process, if well managed, holds a lot of promise just as it could spell disaster if the aura of suspicion is not dispelled. How the Anenih led committee will reconcile the grieving members, only time will tell.

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

10

business

Wrong Policies: Danger to Growth in Aviation

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha

F

ollowing the steady decline in the fortunes of the nation’s aviation industry, analysts and aviation experts have revealed a deliberate effort by officials of government to embark upon certain policies and actions that are injurious to the growth of domestic airlines, failure to build maintenance facility and poor policy on manpower development.

The development and growth of the aviation sector in any country is by no means a mere wish. It is a process that is adequately planned for, organised and strategically executed by government, its officials or others assigned to carry out such responsibility. It is not a knee-jack procedure where actions beget reactions with attendant transient regulations and policies that are arbitrarily enunciated to solve a temporary problem.

Findings from many countries that have continually gained from the aviation industry reveal that efforts were well planned and implemented. There were laid out long-term plans that, at completion manifested in invaluable benefits and a boost of the image of such countries. Heathrow Airport in London for instance has been the busiest airport in the world for many years.

In the African continent, Ethiopian citizens are hardly known for being frequent travelers but the country has the most profitable airline in the African continent.

The reason is that these countries have organised system that dovetail with the expectation of international operators and they also abide by world standards. That is the problem of Nigeria. There seem to be lack of commitment by Nigerian government and its officials to abide by these standards.

But Nigeria remains an attraction in air travel because of its large population and the high and growing number of travellers.

But it is a country that has airlines that are not doing well. It is a country that has dilapidated airport facilities.

It is a country that is yet to meet international safety and security standards.

It is a country that has recorded air crashes than many other countries that have higher air traffic in the continent and overseas.

Nigeria’s Aviation Sector And Its Problems One would ask; what is the problem with the aviation industry in Nigeria?

Former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos (MMIA) Group Captain John Ojikutu (retd), in an interview Daily Times recently said the problem with the aviation industry has to do with the actions of government officials in the

Ministry of Aviation. He accused them of deliberately undermining domestic airlines, giving foreign airlines multiple entry points to various airports in the country and also giving them multiple frequencies.

“It is the ministry’s politically appointed officials that are exploiting the domestic airlines to benefit the foreign airlines and I have no apology for saying so. These officials have now cancelled the royalties on Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and commercial agreements given to foreign airlines for multiple entry points and multiple frequencies. These are not technical issues from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) but political issues that do not benefit domestic airlines,” Ojikutu said.

He said that not having a national carrier is injuring the nation’s aviation sector, noting that government officials give out frequencies that if well harnessed would have earned Nigeria huge revenues.

“Moreover, we have no national or flag carrier. Most of the airlines are privately owned. On the government side we have the culture of exploitation of BASA and commercial agreements unilaterally by political and appointed Ministry officials. But if well developed, domestic carriers should generate huge foreign exchange for government in the absence of national airline to give a challenge to the foreign airlines on the international routes,” Ojikutu said.

He observed that domestic airlines are not given any incentives because possible incentives that should have been given to them have been diverted to foreign airlines and these include multiple entry points and multiple designations, thus giving out the Nigerian routes to foreign carriers. Ojikutu also added that by giving the foreign carri-

ers multiple entry points, the lucrative domestic routes have also been given to foreign airlines who can land in Kano, Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Port Harcourt.

But he also remarked that domestic airlines have not adequately utilised the opportunities given to them by government like the intervention funds and the tariff free importation of aircraft parts.

“On the other hand, private (domestic) airlines too should not complain.

They have benefits of various intervention funds and debt relief, which they hardly pay back and there is zero tariff on spares,” Ojikutu said.

He noted that for domestic airlines to survive, government should revert foreign airlines multiple landing to single entry point, as there are no profits left in the domestic route for domestic airlines outside Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Port Harcourt, Abuja-Port Harcourt, LagosKano, Lagos-Enugu etc, which have been given to British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Ethiopia airlines, Emirates etc from where these foreign carriers airlift passengers to various international destinations.

“You can’t compare number of passengers on Lagos-Ibadan, AkureBenin, Minna-Kaduna, Sokoto-Jos and Maiduguri routes and it is these routes that you want Nigerian airlines to develop after giving out the lucrative routes to foreign airlines,” the former Airport Commandant said.

He urged the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, to put searchlight on the unilateral exploitation of BASA and commercial agreement by elected and appointed officials of the Ministry.

“These are major sources of foreign exchange revenue of about $200 million annually for Nigeria. This is because our Nigerian airlines have no capacity to compete with foreign airlines

resulting in the imbalance in the utilisation of BASA,” he explained.

Poor Leadership Discussing Nigeria’s aviation industry in an international African conference recently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a Partner with Ernst & Young, Ethiopia, Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, said that Nigeria has one of the largest markets in Africa with the most favourable geographical location and should have the most viable airlines in the continent but its leadership is a failure in terms of providing policies that would help the growth of air transport in the country.

He lamented that while the aviation market in Nigeria is worth $80 billion annually, Nigerian airlines have only three per cent of this market because foreign airlines have been given the opportunity to take over the market from indigenous carriers through multiple designation of frequencies, whereby a foreign airline is allowed to operate to four or more destinations without partnering with local airlines.

“Nigeria has all the elements to become a hub but investors are afraid to invest their money in the country and unless you fix the up (government) because the top does not guide the sector well; it lacks vision and efficient regulation to build a viable aviation industry. Nigeria has no reason not to be the best in Africa,” Negatu said.

Ill Treatment of Indigenous Employees Another analyst in the aviation industry, Mr. Onyekachi Kanu, said foreign airlines operating into Nigeria need to brace up and correct glaring anomalies noticed in the treatment of Nigerians working with them and the sanctity of their operational guide-

lines regarding the Nigerian content as stated in documents submitted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the BASA signed by the respective countries.

“Workers of Air France/KLM in Nigeria recently embarked on a warning strike to drive home their agitation for better working conditions and improvement of salaries, under the leadership of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).

The Air France/KLM management response was simply distasteful. Rather than dialogue and negotiate with the workers since it was a warning strike, they tried to break the strike by hiring temporary charlatans to run the system at a considerable security risk to the system, airport and nation at large while also using all intimidating tactics to subdue the staff.

“Their pilots have given notice of a warning strike, while other staff domiciled in their base have done so in the past without getting the same response from management. Rather, they negotiated and prepared their customers for the strike by cancelling flights, offering refund or allowing change of travel plans without penalty,” Ohunayo said.

He noted that these carriers lodge their expatriate staff in Ikoyi, Victoria Island etc in Lagos, and also provide police escort and protection right from the airport to any point that catches their fancy; all at a huge cost to and detriment of the local staff take home pay.

So Nigeria loses in the aviation sector for the failure of government to protect indigenous carriers and local manpower from exploitation, an attitude which would never be allowed to be meted to the citizens where these airlines are coming from.

Code-share with Domestic Airlines Foreign airlines argue that they do not code-share with local airlines because the later do not meet given safety standards and expected financial profile, which are standard to the international carriers.

President of the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representatives in Nigeria (AFARN), Kinglsey Nwokoma, said: “It is about local airlines meeting the same safety standards like their foreign counterparts and also having operational system that is transparent.

Otherwise, there should have been some kind of partnership between some of these airlines and that of international carriers. We have situations where different companies are merging together. Those days we just have Air France as a single airline but these days we have Air France partnering with KLM, Air Italia so the more that we have together the stronger the brand. I am an advocate of code-sharing.

DAILTY TIMES – OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

11

business

What You Should Know & Do To Start Or Grow A Business: Knowledge Of Your Industry critically assess the following questions:

By Joel Osebor

L

ast week, we started a series on what every entrepreneur (new or existing) should know or do to start or continuously grow their businesses. In addressing this vital aspect of our business development n which many neglect, we started and referenced the SEVEN DOMAINS OF ATTRACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES proposed by an entrepreneurship expert and author – John Mullins in his book The New Business Road Test. We will be on this for a while. We looked at the domain of “Knowing Your Market” and the need to look at these areas at the Macro and Micro levels before we venture into any business opportunity. (Please see this article:http://www. dailytimes.com.ng/article/ business-road-test-what-youshould-...)

Please note: Businesses – whether new or existing should define their markets as follows: i. By who the customers are i.e in demographic terms (age, gender, education, income etc). for business-to-business opportunities, demographic refer to the industry in which the customers do business, plus firm size and other firm characteristics ii. By where the customers are, i.e in geographical terms iii. By how the customers behave, i.e in behavior or life style terms.

THE BUSINESS ROAD TEST II: KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR INDUSTRY Every business idea or concepts does not only have a target market to serve, it also has an industry which it must compete with, with other existing or potential idea or concept. In other words, businesses do not only exist to serve a particular market, it is also compelled to succeed or fail amongst other businesses directly or indirectly in the business environment. An industry consists of sellers or organizations that offer products that are similar and close

1. What industry will you compete in? define it carefully 2. Is it easy or difficult for companies to enter this industry?

3. Do suppliers to this industry have the power to set terms and conditions?

4. Do buyers have the power to set terms and conditions?

5. Is it easy or difficult for substitute products to steal your market?

6. Is competitive rivalry intense or polite?

7. Based on all five forces, what is your overall assessment of this industry? Just how attractive or unattractive is it? substitutes for one another.

Having a good knowledge of the industry one is poised to play guarantees the success of the business. Many entrepreneurs are not conscious of this and are shocked to find out that higher strategies adopted by their competitors soon reduces their chances of surviving in that industry.

Some industries are more attractive than others. Entrepreneurs should invest sufficient time in identifying the dynamics and attractiveness of the market they compete in.

There are forces that drive the success of an industry. This has been clearly presented and defined by Prof. Michael Porter – who identified forces that determines market attractiveness and how profitable an industry is. Existing and potential entrepreneurs should have good knowledge of these forces which are: THREAT OF ENTRY Industries that have potential for high profitability and yield high returns will attract new firms. This will result in many new entrants, which eventually will decrease profitability for all firms in the industry. Entry into some industries are difficult because of the financial requirements and technical competencies need-

ed. We need to understand the dynamics and conditions of the industry we want do business for us to succeed.

BUYER POWER Buyers are becoming knowledgeable about market dynamics. In terms of pricing, quality, durability, rewards and so on. They have the power to put your business under pressure because of increasing alternatives and competition. When this happens, it affects low patronage which in turn impact profitability. Customer service, relationship management and loyalty programmes can help your business manage this.

SUPPLIER POWER

Suppliers in an industry exhibit great power if there are few substitutes. That is, they determine at what price they sell their products or services because they are the only ones that can provide that product or service. However, if there many suppliers, the reverse become the case. Pertinent to note is the disadvantage start-ups and micro businesses faces as a result of this.

THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES There are products and services which are not similar to ours that increases the propensity of customers to switch to alternatives. For example, water might be seen as a substitute for soft drinks,

whereas Coke and Pepsi are competitors of similar product. The smart phone is gradually becoming a substitute to the regular camera. We must understand how this market force impacts the sale of our product and services. What is the substitute to your product or service?

COMPETITIVE RIVALRY This is likened to the “red ocean” strategy. The competitiveness of any industry is determined by the intensity of competitive rivalry. Entrepreneurs need to be aware of who the “big” players are in their industries. They have the capacity to crush new entrants and other players threatening their share in the industry.

A good appreciation of how the above forces determine the success of business will save us sleepless nights of worries and countless failure in business. It is important we research where our industry is heading and what factors are affecting it. Investors want to know that the industry is here to stay and that it is not yet to be replaced by technology. Entrepreneurs should have this in the centre of their business-thoughts.

To succeed in any service or product industry, you must

8. If your industry is a poor performer overall, are there persuasive reasons why you will fare differently? If not move on.

Defining our industry will help us make changes to our product development to suit what customers really want, have knowledge of other organizations offering our kind of services, because sensitive to the impact of substitute product or service, manage our available resources and focus on what gives our organization sustainable advantage.

Next week we will look at HOW TO GAIN SUSTAINABLE ADVANTAGE IN YOUR MARKET/INDUSTRY another critical area to assess when starting or growing a business.

Do have a successful business week ahead!

Joel Osebor Joel.osebor@conedge.com. ng, joel.osebor@gmail.com The writer is the Chief Executive Officer of Con-Edge Enterprises Solution Limited, an organization based in Lagos providing: Business Development, Business Process & Strategy and Training & Consultancy services for SMEs, Multinationals and Government organizations.

12

fashion

t I f r a c S ! s y u G n O N

eck wrap has become a fashion trend both for men and women, a pretty fashion statement at that!

Neck scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, head and waist for warmth, cleanliness and fashion reasons.

They are of different colours which help to add strong element of style, mostly when you introduce another colour to an otherwise bland outfit.

Scarves come in different types like bandana scarves, head scarves, square scarves, circle scarves, skinny scarves, e.t.c.

The rule is that your scarf width must be from six to 14 inches, length from 50 to 90 inches. Don’t forget Scarf length & thickness can limit knot style options.

Most scarves are made from either wool, cashmere, angora, cotton, linen, silk, synthetic materials, or a combination of them.

Different ways of knotting your scarf around your neck Drape Scarf This is the simplest way to wear a scarf.

Drape the scarf over your neck and the front of your chest under your overcoat.

It’s a loose way of wearing a scarf. It works well when wearing a suit or sports jacket.

Overhand Knot Scarf One of the easiest ways of knotting your scarf for a great look is to determine how low or high to wear it. It must hang a bit looser around the neck than the rest knots.

Once Round Scarf To know how to tie a scarf in a oncearound knot, drape the scarf around your neck, allowing one end to be longer than the other. Take the long end and bring it around your neck and let it fall over your chest.

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

13

leisure Why Other Bloggers and Celebrities Hate Linda Ikeji

By Judith Frank- Edet

T

he last couple of days witnessed panics from various quarters after Linda Ikeji’s blog was shut down by internet giant, goggle, over allegation of copy right infringement.

What shocked many was that her so-called friend was the same person who filed the report which eventually led to yanking off of her famous blogosphere.

The man whom she identified as Mr Aye Dee, has also at one time presented her with an award of Woman of The Year.

However, her blog was later reinstated by Google for obvious reasons-yes she sometimes violated the copy right law and was deeply into plagiarism however, it was more of a hating game. Simply put, her friend felt used and dumped and decided to take his pound of flesh! But that’s no longer news.

What you may not be aware of is that, Linda Ikeji has more sworn enemies than Mr. Aye Dee. Yes, she has stepped on toes.

Though this is something you would naturally do when blogging however, some say hers is to the extreme.

So to say, many journalists and bloggers alike were happy upon hearing the woes that befell her.

The biggest shocker came after it was announced that her blog has been reinstated.

While some bloggers sincerely posted the news, emphasizing on her, others who were quick to share the sad news never posted anything when the blog was restored.

Few blogs didn’t hide their hate for the famous blogger. One of the famous headlines read “Linda Ikeji’s Blog Is Finally Dead While SDK (Stella Dimoko Korkus) Is declared As the Number One Blogger In Nigeria”.

A particular famous blog didn’t even post any news on the shutting down of Linda’s blog despite that her readers asked her to do so.

Apparently we caught wind that other bloggers see her as a peacock who always rubs her

success in their faces.

A particular blogger, Gideon Banks said it was not appropriate for her to have bought a car worth 24 million. He accused her of being a money waster. Her fellow bloggers also accused her of stealing other people’s works and not humbly apologizing for it. They think her apology wasn’t good enough but, you’d be shocked to know that these bloggers practically wait on Linda to share exclusive so they use on their blogs, word for word.

A couple of other bloggers wrote articles such as ‘Lessons to Learn from Linda Ikeji’s Crash’; ,“Don’t rub your success in people’s faces no matter how good your intentions are” “Stay Humble”, “Let people have access to you” and so on just to spite her.

Linda is also disliked by some section of celebrities because she has revealed some very nasty things about many of them.

Some celebrities accuse her of cyber bullying and they think that even the government should do something to regulate bloggers. She writes very cruel things about certain celebrities or sometimes leaves it to her readers to attack and rain insults on them, which could be very demoralizing. Some people just go to her blog to read the comments because her readers are known for very spiteful, vicious and bitter comments. She certainly is aware of those comments and that’s why she posts them. Toni Payne openly wrote about it in her website; ‘the blog has grown into some sort of “haven” for anonymous commentators who wish to pour out the darkness inside them all in the name of commenting about others. They have even taken it several notches up and attack each other’ Linda has also been accused of favoritism. They think she hides the scandals of certain celebrities but broadcast those of others. When it comes to some celebrities like Tonto Dikeh, Jim Iyke, Dencia she is quick to post their scandals, But others like Genevieve, Tiwa Savage she hardly says any malicious thing about them. For instance, no

single story was posted on her blog on Tiwa Savage’s marital woes but she could post that of Ini Edo’s. When Tiwa was criticized for her video wanted and for showing her goodies when tweaking with a fan while performing, Linda didn’t post anything.

Some celebrities have even called her out for this including Tonto Dikeh, Jim Iyke , Olamide and more.

Hate is an inevitable part of life. And the more successful you are, the more hate you will get. But the clincher is that the hate could escalate depending on the job you do.

No matter how she spins it, she will still have enemies. It is also an unbeatable fact that the young lady who is indeed hard working has built a multimillion empire for herself. Her honest free-spirited style of writing reflects her realness and originality, making you feel you actually know her when you read through her pieces. She has a confident way of passing her opinions across on issues without the fear of being judged or misunderstood. She breaks exclusive stories that no other blogs can. She however seems to enjoy the controversy.

The lady who started blogging just as a hobby has 3 fleets of cars; a 2008 Toyota Camry, a 2011 Infiniti FX 35 worth N8million and her latest luxury toy; a brand new 2014 Range Rover Sport Supercharged worth whopping sum of N24m ($228,000). She is said to make about 4 million every month and her blog was estimated to be worth $1.2 million by statscrop.com. She is rated No .10 in the Alexa rankings and was recently featured alongside other African women in Forbes Africa Edition where she was described as ’beauty, brains and the business of blogging.

EXPOSED: Phyno’s Secret Lie!

By Opeoluwani Akintayo

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hen Indegenous rapper, Phyno took the entetainment industry by storm, we all jumped for joy especially at his vibrant rap style. He quickly became a brand to be reckoned with, something different and refreshing in the Igbo genre of rap music.

He dopped hit upon hit, most of all ‘Alobam’ which quickly became the toast of all, more like a national anthem.

Before we knew it, ‘Alobam’ T-shirts flooded the whole place, and the industry went gaga upon hearing of such huge move being made by a relatively new entrant into the industry.

However, recent scoop by DTN has it that the ‘Alobam’ fashion label of a thing allegedly doesn’t belong to Phyno like we all thought.

According to our sources, Phyno doesn’t even have a say in how the labelis being run, he’s not a fanancier, not to talk of sharing in its profits.

“I don’t really know why Phyno has been pulling all those lies. Although we know that the entertainment industry is mostly about.

Make belief”, he started.

Probing to know why he made such statement, he continued, “I mean the Alobam t-shirts everybody thinks belongs to him.

He’s not even anywhere near its ownership.

Of course, he’s aware that someone is using the title of his song to sell the product but he doesn’t have a kobo in it. He’s been paid

off”.

While we were still grappling to digest the shock, another source present also confirmed it, saying the reason why Phyno hasn’t been at the forefront of the ‘Alobam’ fashion label is because he’s just a nominal partner. “Have you ever seen him come out to ask people to buy the t-shirts? He has never spoken about it or make advertisement to sell them.

I heard the real owner uses him and other entertainers as models so the t-shirts can go far. Let’s not be fooled. The clothing is not his!” He thundered.

This is shocking especially when such scandal wraps around someone like him who is well respected by all. We wonder why the rapper has chosen to build his reputation on a pack of lies!

health

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

14

Communities In Nigeria To Get Health Insurance Coverage

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Healthy Diet, Lifestyle Reduces Stroke Risk In Women

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new research has indicated that a healthy diet and lifestyle may help women to avoid stroke by more than half in their life, Zee News reports.

The study looked at five factors that make up a healthy lifestyle i.e. healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption, never smoking; physically active, and healthy body mass index (BMI) and then compared with women with none of the five healthy factors, women with all five fac-

tors had a 54-per cent lower risk of stroke.

Study author Susanna C. Larsson, PhD, of the Karolinska Instituet in Stockholm, Sweden, said that because the consequences of stroke were usually devastating and irreversible, prevention was of great importance and these results were exciting because they indicated that a healthy diet and lifestyle could substantially reduce the risk of stroke, and these were lifestyle choices that people could make or improve.

Study approached 31,696 Swedish women with an average age of about 60 completed a 350-item questionnaire about their diet and lifestyle and they were then followed for an average of 10 years.

The study observed that most of the women had two or three of the healthy factors and only 589 women had all five healthy factors, and 1,535 had none and there were 1,554 strokes among study participants.

Women with healthier diets

n efforts to provide affordable healthcare services to the people in the rural communities, over eighteen communities are set to launch the Community Based Social Health Insurance Programme (CBSHIP).

The Executive Secretary the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas disclosed this at a sensitization programme held in the Palace hall of the Ojomu of Ajiran Land in Eti osa Local Government of Lagos State with community members present eager to enrol in the scheme.

According to Dr. Femi the

scheme will cater for Nigerians dwelling in organized rural and urban community settings as CBSHIP is a key to achieve universal health coverage.

In response, the Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Mr Nasiru Ikharo, represented by the Lekki State Coordinator, Mrs Awala Ebijuwa stated that “with proper data in place in the communities, the NHIS is poised to offer free healthcare for all the pregnant women and children under five years.”

According to her, “all the Pupils in Public Primary Schools Nationwide would have free healthcare access.”

had a rate of 28 strokes per 10,000 women per year compared to 43 strokes per 10,000 women per year among those with a less healthy diet.

There was no relationship between the healthy factors and the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by bleeding in and around the brain, accounts for about 15 to 20 percent of all strokes.

The study is published online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Study: Vaginal Fluid Detects Ovarian Cancer Gene Mutation

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ince ovarian cancer is relatively uncommon among women, compared to other types of cancer, it can be difficult to diagnose.

Current diagnosis procedures require women to show symptoms before seeing their doctor for a physical exam.

A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology has revealed a novel approach to detecting ovarian cancer gene mutations in vaginal fluid using a tampon test.

While ovarian cancer may

only account for three per cent of all cancers among women, it also accounts for the most deaths out of any other cancer that affects the female reproductive system.

Around half of all women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at the age of 63 or older.

Researchers involved with this study recruited 33 female patients, including eight with advanced serious ovarian cancer. Three of these women previously had their fallopian tubes tied. In the three women who had their tubes tied,

there was no way of detecting ovarian cancer, since cancerous cells had no way of traveling from the ovaries to the vagina. All participants were about to undergo surgery for a pelvic mass and were asked to use a tampon before the procedure, which was removed in the operating room.

A form of DNA sequencing, known as deep sequencing, was used to detect tiny portions of mutated DNA in samples taken from the tampon. Although it was expected that no tumor DNA would be found in the vaginal fluid

of the three women who had their fallopian tubes tied, the other five women with intact fallopian tubes produced samples with tumor DNA. “In about 60 per cent of patients who had their [fallopian] tubes still intact, we were able to pick up tumor cells, or essentially tumor DNA, in the vaginal tract,” Dr. Charles Landen, an associate professor of gynecologic oncology at the University of Virginia, told LiveScience. “It’s an important step toward the Holy Grail, but we’re certainly not there yet,” Zee News reports.

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

15

relationships

By Ngozi Ndubisi

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fter the articles we put up, many questions came and this was one of them. I went searching for the right answers and came across this by Tiya CunninghamSumter and thought you too should read it.

Each time marriage is considered, we hear time and time again about the ingredients that make a marriage work. Love, honesty, trust and communication are a few of those that normally soar to the top of the list.

We are also familiar with the actions that lead to the destruction of a marriage. Infidelity, abuse and neglect all go to the top of that list.

However, do we ever consider those things that we don’t necessarily see as destroying a marriage, but over time can definitely lead to the wear and tear of a relationship?

Below are the character defects that should be barred from marriage.

If you happen to fit quite nicely into any one of these characteristics, don’t fret, there’s hope.

The Greedy One Someone with this defect constantly look out for satisfying only himself. You hear phrases like numero uno which means (I, me and myself).

Sacrifice and commitment are battles with this defect. It’s always about what’s best for them without putting in to consideration the feelings of their spouses.

I will admit that during my early years in my marriage this was a serious struggle. I cringed whenever I hear the word selfish because in some areas it rang true for me and it was not an easy pill to swallow.

Making my husband feel he wasn’t as important as I was in the relationship was simply selfish. Seeing the error of my ways allowed me to make my spouse a priority.

Asking myself the following questions were also helpful “what can I do today to honour my husband?

How can I demonstrate how much I love, support and need him on a consistent basis?” Staying aware of the fact there are two people in the relationship and both have to always feel loved is vital.

The Score Keeper This defect is most concerned with winning than in what’s best for the marriage. The ultimate goal is to be right. People in a relationship with this flaw will eventually stop communicating as a result of never feeling heard or never feeling they have a real opportunity to express their feelings. Taking responsibility and admitting when you’re wrong isn’t always easy, but it’s fair. We all make mistakes but we should learn

Flaws That Ruin

Marriages from them and keep moving forward. We must humble ourselves by considering what the best outcome for the partnership is. Being mindful of our intentions and uncovering our need to win is also helpful.

Ask “What can I do in this moment to create peace?” Using that as a guide when you have a strong urge to prove you’re right is true victory.

The Complainer This kind of person is never satisfied and nothing ever appears to be good enough. The expectation of things not working out is constant.

Constant complaints from one partner make the other feel inadequate.

For this defect, I recommend creating a list of all the positives in the marriage. Asking questions like “Which awesome qualities does my spouse possess and what are the

benefits of my marriage to him?”

This can be a very useful tool. By examining all the ways your spouse puts forth effort makes it easy to stay focused on the blessings. It quickly becomes noticeable how much the good normally outweighs the bad.

The Negative Nelly or Ned This is a person with a dreadful temper most of the time. This defect is known for draining the energy right out of the room. Others in the home would rather spend time away from home than with their spouse.

The outlook is typically dim and hopeless. The main action needed here is to get to the real source of the attitude. Sometimes it’s a matter of not being sure just how to be happy. Asking questions like “Why do I feel the way I do and what can I do to feel better?” Seeking the ap-

propriate outside assistance is sometimes necessary.

The Lazy One This person neglects contributing the necessary amount of energy and enthusiasm into their relationship.

This defect feels if the romance suffers it is okay and if the communication is challenged it doesn’t matter.

They are normally not willing to do what it takes to maintain a solid relationship. The questions that need to be asked here are “What does my marriage mean to me and how often do I show it?” The ideal situation is to never allow a marriage to arrive at a state where the romance or communication struggles. But if it does we must be willing to give and do whatever is needed to bring it back to life. Marriage requires our full attention. It won’t work if we do it

half way.

If you have find yourself having any of the above character/ defects, remember it is not the end of the world. Here are some tips to help you.

•Admitting that you fall into this category is the first step.

•Next is recognizing the behaviour has been damaging to your relationship.

•And last is always making an honest intention to do better.

Remember, with a determined intention comes action! If there is anything harming your marriage, do what you must in order to liberate it.

For more and for your questions to be answered, send your email to: ngozindubisi2013@yahoo.com

sports

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

16

Mu’Sodiq Adekunle

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one are the days when athletes are looked upon as unserious persons. MU’SODIQ ADEKUNLE reports that footballers and other athletes are now highly ranked.

Sports have now become an activity almost every individual want to partake in not only because of its health benefits but the riches and honour that comes with it. Among the richest personalities in the world today are sportsmen.

Of recent is the heroic welcome and awards bestowed on some Nigerian athletes for performing outstandingly in various competitions. Not only were they given cash prizes, they also got national awards, Member of the Niger (MON).

The athletes while receiving the award displayed glamorous gestures. They joyously said the awards gave them a sense of fulfillment. To top scorer Azizat Oshoala, the award could be described as a shock.

The Lagos State-born player, who scored seven goals for the Falconets at the justconcluded Canada 2014 to claim the adidas Golden Boot award and adidas Golden Ball as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, is among the 305 eminent Nigerians conferred by the Federal Government with the national honours on September 29.

“I am really surprised. I feel honoured to be recognized by my country. But, I still thank God for all and I feel appreciated. Its a good thing for me that my nation appreciates me,” Oshoala conferred with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award said.

The Rivers Angels forward stated that the national honour will further propel her to greater heights in life, adding that her effort toward becoming outstanding player was not a waste.

“I think with this I am motivated to do more for my nation because, I wasn’t ignored with what I did earlier.

My dream is to bring the trophy (AWC) back to Nigeria after losing it to Equatorial Guinea,”she added.

President of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom

Good Time for Nigerian Footballers, Athletes Nwuche, commended the Federal Government for listing some of the country’s weightlifters among recipients of national honours this year.

Nwuche expressed delight at the rich and diverse composition of the awardees, stressing that it was indeed proper to confer the national honour on persons found worthy in character and service to the fatherland, irrespective of class or position in society.

“These fine traits can be found in Nigerians in every strata of society - from the lowly to the very high, including security guards, labourers, artisans, taxi drivers, teachers, politicians, and government employees. In conferring this honour on deserving persons without discrimination in status, President has indeed departed from the past where

only the high and mighty were recognized and awarded national honours.”

As if that was not enough, the FG in its gigantic move to aiding participation in sports honored another set of sportsmen and women who had outstanding performances in Glasgow and the Commonwealth Games. Among those honoured were gold medalists in the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow led by Blessing Okagbare and power lifting championships in Dubai.

They received cash gifts of N2.5m each. Those who won silver medals got N1.5m each while bronze medalists got N1m each. Coaches at the two championships got N1m each while officials at the Commonwealth Games got N700, 000 each.

Their counterparts in pow-

erlifting received N500, 000 each. Jonathan also doled out N1m each to those who won gold medals in African Senior Wrestling Championships; silver medalists got N750, 000; bronze medalists got N500, 000; coaches and officials N1m and N250, 000 each respectively.

The rewards announced for the African Junior Championships were gold – N750, 000; silver – N500, 000; and bronze – N250, 000, while coaches and officials got N750, 000 and N250, 000 each respectively.

Members of the women’s U-20 team that won silver in Canada got N1m each, their head coach, N750, 000 and officials N500, 000 each.

Also rewarded were participants in African Team Athletic Championships in Morocco, African Youth Games in Bo-

tswana, the handball team to Sweden as well as the country’s contingent to the World Youth Games, who were turned back by authorities in China over an Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.

The athletes were given N500, 000 each even though they had no opportunity to participate in the event.

Jonathan announced the rewards during a dinner he organised in their honour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He explained that the differences in the rewards for each category of sportsmen and women were based on the fact that some of the tournaments were more important than others.

He told the gathering that his administration was committed to ensuring that all sectors of national life were given the necessary motivation to achieve set goals.

The President recalled that the journey to winning of sports laurels was not an easy task.

He said, “Realizing the significance of sports in national transformation, I took the decision to organise a retreat for the sports sector in 2012. This arose from my conviction that our outing at the 2012 Olympic Games did not represent our full potential.

“Of course, if you look at the continent of Africa, we have the largest population; we are highest in terms of diversity and our economy is also the largest. In any competition in Africa, third position is not good enough for us because in all the other parameters we are never third.

“I am happy to note that things have progressively changed for the better since that retreat.”

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

17

sports

Raheem hits back at critics, says excuse me for being human

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aheem Sterling appears to hit back at criticism after Roy Hodgson reveals England winger told him he was too tired to start against Estonia in Euro 2016 qualifier Raheem Sterling retweets those criticising his decision to pull out of England’s startling line-up against Estonia on Sunday evening in Tallinn Sterling writes himself: ‘Now listening to... Excuse me for being human’ The 19-year-old came on in the 64th minute and won the winning free kick.

Roy Hodgson says ‘there are times when top league teams with Champions League football when players suffer from a physical and mental fatigue’ Raheem Sterling has appeared to hit back at those criticising him after England manager Roy Hodgson revealed the 19-year-old said he was too tired to start against Estonia.

The Liverpool winger took to Twitter in a cryptic response shortly after midnight on Monday morning, and wrote: ‘Now listening to...

Excuse me for being human.

On my way home.’

The message came after Sterling retweeted those criticising his decision, including one post that suggested he should ‘try getting up at 5am six days a week and putting in a proper shift’.

Sterling started on the bench for England’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia before being brought on in the 64th minute to win the free kick that led to Wayne Rooney’s winner.

After the 1-0 win, Hodgson said: ‘People don’t like it when you simplistically tell the truth.

‘We were training at The Grove doing a light session but some work in how we wanted to play the game tactically.

‘Just before we started, Raheem had done the warm up and he came to me and said: “Look I really am feeling a bit tired, I’m not in my best form at the moment because I am feeling a bit tired”.

‘So I said the best thing is Adam Lallana starts the game and you rest and I have got you to bring on from the bench, simple as that.

Ozil to leave Arsenal in January, to be replaced by Khedira

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esut Ozil wants to leave Arsenal in January as Bayern Munich line up £30m bid for crocked German midfielder and the Gunners could bring in Sami Khedira Mesut Ozil has grown increasingly unhappy at Arsenal and wants to leave. He wants to quit Arsenal as soon as January and the Gunners are ready to do business. Bayern Munich are lining up a bid of around £30million for Ozil,

Ozil

who joined Arsenal from Real Madrid last summer for a club record £42.5m.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger could bring in Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira as replacement

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‘As you saw when he came on there is nothing wrong with him and he isn’t suffering from anything.’

Hodgson also claimed Liv-

erpool’s poor start to the new Premier League season could be behind Sterling’s decision to pull out of the starting lineup in Tallinn, however.

he Football Grapevine understands the Germany star has grown increasingly unhappy at the Emirates, not least because he is not being played in his preferred forward floating role by Arsene Wenger.

Ozil returned to Germany last week only to discover what was thought a minor knee injury could in fact rule him out for up the three months. It might even mean he has played his last game for the Gunners.

Wenger doesn’t usually like to do business in January but

Wenger

could see the opportunity of offloading Ozil and bringing in his compatriot Sami Khedira from Real Madrid. Arsenal may also move for two other Germany stars in Mats Hummels and Julian Draxler.

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace calls for measures to prevent ...As Messi may leave Barca Premier League’s young stars frittering away their millions

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eremy Peace has called for a system to protect Premier League’s young stars from frittering away their million-pound pay packets Football’s ‘too much, too soon’ culture is causing concern in the game.

There are fears players may spend their high wages unwisely and lose motivation in the game West Brom’s Jeremy Peace has become the first Premier League chairman to call for a system to be introduced to protect the game’s young millionaire players from frittering away their wages.

Football’s ‘too much, too soon’ culture — whereby young stars like Manchester United’s Tyler Blackett can earn £50,000 a week after a handful of games — is causing major concern in football’s higher echelons, because it could demotivate young play-

Peace

ers, and because they may spend the money unwisely and have nothing left when they need it.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, under pressure to increase 19-year-old Raheem Sterling’s contract from £40,000 a week, has spoken widely about the issue, stating: ‘Young players get car-

ried away and then wonder why their careers fall away.

They buy a new Range Rover Sport before they have a driving licence.’

Former Crewe manager Dario Gradi, who helped develop the career of dozens of players including David Platt and Danny Murphy, has revealed that the subject kept coming up when he was part of Greg Dyke’s FA commission into the game.

Peace is particularly concerned about wages being squandered.

He said: ‘My view on young players is that it would be a good thing to try to protect their money in some way. When you read about Tyler Blackett and other young players getting a big jump in wages, the natural reaction is “Wow”.

‘You just hope, when any young player is being given all this money, that

the agents or friends are advising them to put it away somewhere safe, so if it goes wrong or they have an injury, they have something saved to enjoy when they eventually retire.

‘I just think there should be some mechanism in place so all the money they earn is not spent.’

Peace is at a club that prides itself on developing young players. Albion gave Isaiah Brown a debut at 16 — he has since signed for Chelsea — and currently have England Under 21 striker Saido Berahino on their books. Berahino has already scored six goals this season.

The Albion chairman added: ‘I am sure some agents are already very good at looking after their players’ long term, but I worry about what happens to others. You hear tales.

L

ionel Messi’s run-in with the Spanish tax man could alter the destiny of his club career. Instead of playing out his days with Barcelona, Messi could finally consider a move elsewhere if things get heavy.

Inevitably Manchester City and Paris Saint-German are

Messi

monitoring the Argentine’s current complicated situation.

Manchester United for sale

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anchester United owners, the Glazers, could be gearing up for the potential sale of the club within two years for up to $3billion.

Sources in Florida say there has been wrangling within the family over the future of the club since the death of Malcolm earlier this year.

I understand that some within the family feel the time to optimise their investment in the club is drawing close.

Blackett

Last year the club announced record revenues but the future is not so certain given failure on the pitch last season.

18

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

people

I Will Campaign For 9ice If… –Ruggedman Ruggedman is no stranger as far as the Nigerian music industry is concerned. His reign dates as far back as 1989.

He produced his own songs and released two tracks in 1999, both of which were well-played on radio.

Ruggedman launched himself into the music industry in 1999, eventually becoming the most featured rapper in Nigeria. His albums are all released on his personal label, Rugged Records. He has performed worldwide alongside international acts like KC & Jojo, Guru, Sean Paul, Wyclef Jean, Akon, Wayne Wonder, Ja Rule, Kevin Little, Maxie Priest, Kanye West, Ll CoolJ, T-Pain, Nas and Nelly.

In this chat with OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO, Ruggedman opens up like never before, from his career, to fashion line, to personal stuff, controversies and relationship with 9ice

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hy did you take your food inside to eat? Are you shy?

(Laughed as he moved to take his seat. He asked if the reporter was feeling hot. Although the air conditioner was on, he stood up to switch on the fan).

Been a while. What has been happening to you lately?

I’m good. Basically, I chilled a bit to work on my artiste, Embryo. We’ve been shooting for a while and I’ve been doing more researches into my clothing line. Right now, I have a new song out with Wande Coal called ‘Agidi’ . I shot the video two weeks after the audio went out and it should be ready by next week.

My artiste has a song with Patoranking and another one with Olamide. We are working on them and we’ll decide

on which one to shoot the video. And then, I’m about to relaunch my clothing line. Although I’ve been working on it for years, the major issue I had back then was sales and distribution but now, thanks to the online stores we have right now, I’ve already sealed a deal with one of them and they’re going to be handling the sales and distribution. All I’ll do is manufacturing. I have someone here who makes some for me and another manufacturer abroad.

What happened to your shoe line?

That was just a test run thing. That’s why I said I’ve been doing a lot of research. It was in the process of looking for where I could make good shirt back then, I stumbled on where shoes were being made. So I thought female shoes would cause more buzz and decided to try it out. I did a few of the female shoes

and sold them. But I’m not really into shoes so the excitement died. I want to take it a step at a time. That’s why I’m starting with T-shirts, vest, jackets, fez caps (facecaps) and hoodies. What I intend to do is, I have a song I did with Reminisce called ‘8 Figures’. We shot the video and in it, we were both wearing the 8 Figure hoodies. The first set of things that will go online for sale are the 8 Figure hoodies, fez caps, shirts, the jackets. ( he stood up to show off both the local and foreign made shirts, fez caps and hoodies with a broad smile all over his face. After a while, he came back to his seat).

That’s the kind of finishing I’m talking about. You know Nigerians don’t know how to make something but they can criticize it. So that’s why I also went for the foreign made type in case some are not able to afford the locally made.

So, I’m just waiting to get the rest of the ones I ordered and then we go on sale.

Seems like you can’t really stay off music because there was a time you said you were quitting music I just said that for saying sake jare, is this not entertainment? People didn’t allow me stay off music. I actually tried to slow down but I kept having to do collabo here and there. I’ve also been in the studio with my artiste and I could be there with him and might hear an instrumental I like so, we’lll just mess around with it and before we knew it, we’ll record a song. Playfully, I now have a song with Wande Coal, Tuface, Reminisce, Wizkid and I can’t let those things waste. So,l released the one with Reminisce first and now, the one with Wande Coal is out. Basically for me, most of the songs I’m releasing now are to push the

clothing because you’re going to be seeing us wear them in the videos.

A while back, I had a photo shoot with Monalisa Chinda Yes we saw it, even with Chidinma and Maheeda of all people!

Yes! Maheeda’s own was very naughty but of course, it created that Buzz I wanted. And you know I said I’m still researching. I’m checking how to do the promo and sell. I have a lot of ideas locked down already so, it’s just to start rolling and once it starts, it’s not going to stop.

How far have you gone with Embyo music career?

He’s doing good actually. We’ve dropped a couple of videos and singles.

Now I want to up his game. That’s why

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

DAILTY TIMES – OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

19

people

‘Tony Payne Doesn’t Have A Say In 9ice Political Ambition’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

theme songs, we already know what’s going to happen in them. But I’m happy for the likes of Kunle Afolayan and others who are taking it up so, I’m hoping we are able to do something better.

There were times my friends always told me I’m not patriotic because I watch foreign movies. And I told them I just can’t watch them because how would it be that after watching all the hitech foreign movies, I’ll then come back to watch a movie where someone will be saying “chief you mean you want to marry a second wife? Over my dead body!” (laughs).

I went as far as getting Patoranking on one of his songs, and then Olamide.

Everything will go together. Once my new video drops, his new song drops, my video comes in again and then the clothing drops. I’m going to do my tour too. Back then I used to have fashion parties where it’s all about the clothing.

I did it for the shoes and watches like two three years ago, and earlier than that was when people first knew Karen Igho who later went for Big Brother Africa. She came for one of my shows then and then took off her top and wore the one I gave her and that also created a lot of buzz on Facebook back then.

So a lot of my plans will go hand in hand.

Why choose a fashion line business?

When I started music, I used to read international music magazine called Right On. What I noticed in all of those foreign acts was that they had fashion labels. Puff Daddy has Sean John, Metal Man had Johnny Blaze, Jay Z has Rocker Wear so, that made me think towards that line.

For me, the passion goes as far back as 2005 when I did my ‘Baraje’ video, the T-shirts I wore were made by me.

So it’s not like it’s a new flair, it’s been there for long.

Since you started, how has the acceptance been?

Everybody likes it. Tiwa Savage got hers last week. I have artistes who are ready to model them for me. Even actors. You’ve already seen Monalisa Chinda, Joseph Benjamin, Ice Prince, Chidinma, Reminisce And you’re gonna pay them?

It’s between us. We know how we settle one another. They support me and I support them.

You still sing but we hardly see you at shows I slowed down and started pushing my clothing line. I’ve been around in the music industry for so long so, it’s not a must I run around for shows because I didn’t really release music. It’s when you have music out there that you go for shows. What I want now is to push my artiste to do all that because he’s new. I want him to leverage on my platform.

You said you were in Abuja for last week. What did you go for?

Business waka (laughs).

So you have other businesses aside this fashion and music thing and you’re hiding it from us abi? (laughs) No that’s not it. I could have gone there to meet with some investors. I’m not saying that’s what I went

there to do o. That’s why I just said business waka.

I guess you trying to push Embryo was what led to that fracas with the Abuja-based show promoter Oh that! Exactly. I was trying to get Embryo out there.

The whole fight revolved around just N100 000. We thought you’d already grown big to be charging such a ridiculous amount for a show My sister I tire o! That amount was too small for my person. Why would I charge N100 000 for a show in Abuja?

The money was for Embryo and that’s because I was trying to push him out there. If the worse comes to worse, I’ll do a show for free than charge such an amount. I’m not new in the game so why would I charge such an amount?

He knew he was at fault and messed up big time. And may be I just came out and said the whole thing the way it was.

But being a typical Nigerian, he looked for a way to try make me look funny.

So, instead of him coming out to accept his fault, he had to turn the whole story around and make me look silly by saying I was asking him for N100 000.

But he said you begged him to be on his show How is that possible? If truly I begged him for a show, why did he pay for my flight and accommodation? If it was true I did beg him then, he could have used me and even charged me to be on the show. It was my artiste I was pushing and I’ve been doing it a lot. This whole fashion thing that I’m doing costs me a lot! How can someone who has been begging for shows afford to put

such huge thing on fashion business on ground? Does he know how much it costs me to produce just the cap? It’s just laughable.

So have you settled with them?

I don’t have to. Is it everybody you have issues with that you settle it?

Meanwhile, his show is not Ben Bruce’s MBGN o! it’s just some guy that does an Abuja beauty pageant in Abuja. It’s his own personal thing. I met him in Abuja when I went there for an event. In fact, one of the people who worked for him had to put out a press release that she was there when I met him and he was begging me to come on his show. But I don’t want to dwell on it.

But it was bad press at that time Babe, the point is that once a Nigerian wants to go stupid like that, there are many Nigerians who would roll with it.

Like if you go on Twitter and someone insults an artiste, before you know it, everything is everywhere. So, it’s not bad press because I’m still doing my thing and my business is still growing You’ll make a good actor with all this demonstration (laughs) I’ve been told that a lot. But back then when I was much younger, I played a waka pass (extra) role in a Francis Agu ,movie. I played an extra in two of his movies and I’m always proud to say it was even before the likes of Genevieve, Tonto and Halima came on board. So I’m a veteran waka pass actor(laughs). The funny thing is that I met Francis Agu back then when we used to live on the same street . I just woke up one morning and thought that the only thing I hadn’t done was act. So,

I went to him that same day and told him I’d like to act. He then told me he was having an audition and the likes of Tony Umez, Jumai Joseph also came for the audition. Imagine me meeting those calibre of people at the audition. So I acted in ‘Devil’s Disciple’. I can’t remember the second one. After that I went straight into serious music How much did he pay you for those roles you played?

It was N2000 and that was back then.

My first show I ever did as Ruggedman was in Ogun Poly. Guess how much I got?

Tell me nah I was paid N250. And that was because it was a lot of us with the likes of DJ Lanre Falana who later became the DJ’s association president. I know a lot of people o. So he took me and some other people there and funny enough, we used the money to buy soft drink on the spot. Then the second show I did at Pyramid night club for Ibinabor Fiberesima, I got N2000.

From N250 to N2000. I can imagine how you would have jumped for joy Ah, I was very happy o. From then, I got another one for N5000 and I was feeling like a big boy What if you get a movie script right now, wont you act?

It depends on the story and scripts.

My friends know I don’t like home videos. Not because I don’t like them but because they don’t task me in any way.

They are always too plain with nothing to task your brain on. From their title and

Most entertainers are always surrounded by an entourage. I can’t see any of yours around here or are they hiding somewhere inside the rooms?

No I don’t do that. I’ve never done that because I hate packing people everywhere. Even whenever I go for shows, even my dancers already know the venue and we meet there for rehearsals. But there will always be someone on ground to make sure they get their tags at the venues and when I get there, we do our thing and there’s a car to take them wherever they want to go afterwards.

Unless we go somewhere and it’s late and they can’t go home, it’s either we check into a hotel or they come to my house. And once it’s morning, everybody goes.

That means you must be feeling a lot lonely in this big house If you step into my room, I have my computer, my phones, X-Box 360, DSTV and everything to make me connect with the whole world.

Are you trying to say you are a private person outside of the public glamour?

Yes I am.

Is that why you didn’t go abroad with your family?

Because this is where my work is. In fact, I went to primary, secondary and university here in Lagos Nigeria. I can’t leave here since I have a lot doing. If I go there, I’ll have to start all over again.

Then, I was becoming Ruggedman so, I couldn’t just leave.

There was a time you shared an opinion on the anti-gay bill passed into law by the Federal Government on Twitter. It caused a lot of buzz, more like you didn’t like the way the bill was passed into law People saying that are people who don’t know how to read tweets. All I said was that passing anti-gay bill wasn’t the next thing that was supposed to be on the list out of all the problems Nigeria has.

We’ve not had light since 1960, no good road, no good healthcare, pensioners are CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

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news people

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

‘I Didn’t Quarell With 9Ice ’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

not being paid in ages and some have died but they quickly faced the anti-gay bill, the other time it was about lesbianism bill. That was why I was wondered why they had to focus on sexual matters.

Now that they’ve settled those bills, why haven’t they passed the good light bill?

So what’s your stand on the antigay bill?

Of course, gay and lesbianism is not our way. I don’t want anything to do with gay and lesbians because I’m not gay. It’s not a Nigerian thing so I’m okay with them passing the bill.

If you’re not gay then, who is your girlfriend?

I don’t have to put her in your face What about that model girl, Olaogun or what’s her name?

We broke up So who’s the lucky girl now?

I face my work besides, I’m not going to talk about my personal life even if you try to force me.

But you’re a fine guy nah and you get attention from girls It’s not today I started getting attention.

That’s why you must have someone you’re seeing right now I’m seeing them on TV You no know sey you don dey old.

I’m sure mama wants to carry her grandchildren My family is not like that o. Like I said before, marriage isn’t a fashion statement. You don’t do it because every other person is doing it. Marriages are breaking up everywhere but that’s not to say I won’t get married. So when it happens, you will know We are anxious and want to carry your baby Don’t get anxious on my behalf and people that’ll carry my baby are where they are (laughs) So you are this secretive about her?

Because it’s always a part of life that journalists twist and then people see it another way.

How did you get to be made a United Nations’ Peace Ambassador?

It happened because I’ve been doing a lot of charity work underground. And the organization that gave it to me and myself have been doing a lot of secondary school tour, taking to the kids and giving them things. There was a time we went as far as London Metropolitan University and to Nigerians abroad. I’ve been doing a lot of others things but I don’t like

to talk about it. Apparently, that’s what they’ve been seeing before the UNN decided to make me an ambassador.

Like there was this time a girl had breast cancer. People didn’t take her serious because they thought she was lying. I was staying in Amuwo then and was about packing when I got the call. Her mom was crying and that was how I drove there, I saw her with all the lumps. I sat with her but unknown to me, someone took a picture of me speaking with her and before I knew it, it was already everywhere and that was how she got help.

I started talking to people to help and we raised the money for her to go abroad. I even took her mom somewhere and one of my ogas gave her money. She’s in America now and luckily for her, she’s still there and calls me a lot

hiding inside Nah you sabi. Do you want to go and see for yourself?

I don’t want to go home with a broken head o! I came in here and met you eating a home-made meal. Who cooks for you?

My mom is in the country so she cooked it. I’m the only one in Nigeria so whenever she comes to Nigeria, she stays with me. (Coincidentally, the door cringes and an elderly woman stepped out. It was his mom…”good afternoon ma”, I knelt and she responded nicely “good afternoon my daughter”. He introduced me to her as she walked past into the kitchen and helped herself to some food).

So you see, I’m not lying! (general laughter).

I’m sure she would have been worrying you about carrying your grandchild I’ve told you my family doesn’t worry. But if you are bothered then, let’s quickly go and have one

She stayed behind after the whole thing?

She joined one breast cancer team and will be there for a while. And that’s not the first or the second person I’ve done such for. Even back then when Kanu started his foundation thing. I was the one that organized the celebrity football match to raise funds for children with heart problem. o!

Ah no!

Then if you can’t help then situation then, leave us until we are ready (laughs).

Some people say you are now broke

Really? As you can see for yourself and even with all I’ve been saying all along, does it look like I’m broke? The thing is that when they don’t see you, they can assume anything. Some people don’t like you so they say anything about Why are you not like that? you on social media. So I’ve learnt not I don’t know. I’d rather respect you to live my life for people. As long as I’m and rather do it in the privacy of my comfortable and my people don’t lack home. anything then, I don’t have problem with any other person.

What about that Karen Igho’s picture where she took her top off for You are so romantic. Look at the you? way you attended to me when I came I didn’t ask her to take it off. It was in. first with a hug, and then you asked something she did unexpectedly all by if I was hot and quickly put on the A.C herself! and fan, you gave me a cold drink and now when PHCN took light, you Even Maheeda posed half dressed brought out the rechargeable fan. Lawith your top dies must have taken advantage of you I didn’t ask her to do that too. You a lot know that’s Maheeda kind of way. I’m Yes. I’ve met some girls who I was sure you didn’t see me in that Maheeda nice to but they took advantage of me. picture.

They usually preferred those who disrespect them There was one I saw you hold her and you guys looked cute together Why do you think that happened?

That was here when she came to take I don’t know for you women. Not the top, and it was outside and I didn’t like they didn’t like me but you’ll just grab her bum-bum. So I don’t have time see them hanging out with the bad one. for all those disrespectful kind of thing Okay there was this girl, no name mentioned. I did like her but at the end of the That means you can’t marry a lady day, I found her hanging out with guys in the entertainment industry who would squeeze her ass in public and It depends. You’ll never know who she’d laugh. But I told her if that’s what you’ll fall in love with. If I have my way, she wanted then, it’s better she leave beI won’t because of the tight schedule we cause I can’t do such both will have. Who will take care of the

home then? You need to think ahead because when you go out, come home and there’s no food or someone to welcome you then, it’ll affect you. It’s already bad enough that you go out and your wife sees all the pictures of you in different places surrounded by girls. Even if it’s in an open place, she will still have issues. That’s why we guys have to limit how we do all the holding of girls whenever we go out. Now imagine a situation when there are pictures of you in papers with girls and you also see pictures of your wife somewhere with guys! Then, the marriage won’t last.

But some entertainers don’t think like that You too do the checks. How many entertainment marriages last? The ones that last are those married to the normal working people.

So we should expect a lady from outside the industry, abi?

Like I said, you may never know So you’re behaving like an angel now, abi?

Do you have to be a devil to date someone? You sha want to find out?

As big as this house is. Maybe she’s

So if she’s not in the country, do you eat out?

I dey try small small (I do my best) but I have a restaurant where they make a pot of soup and stew for me and I put them inside the freezer. I’m a bachelor for God’s sake!

Rugged, everybody is now into politics. When are we celebrating yours?

It’s not my calling What if some people sweet tongue you into joining?

Let them come! If they come and it’s the right person, I will support him or her but I will not run for any post You’ll support 9ice?

If he comes to ask me then, I’ll support. He’s a colleague but I won’t just get up and walk up to him!

So you and 9ice are not quarrelling again?

I didn’t quarrel with him. All I did was clear my name in that crap. I gave him the opportunity to clear it and when he didn’t, I did it my way But his ex wife, Tony Payne isn’t down with his political ambition It’s his business and nobody’s. What he wants to do, he’ll do and you can’t stop him. If she was married to him now, then, we’d say she has a say but they are no longer together.

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

21

metro (south)

By Joy Ekeke

A

rtisans express themselves through Creation, invention, manufacture, repairs and manipulation of things.

Almost everything made by man which you see and use is the work of artisan.

They generate an idea, and from within themselves they eject it out into material reality. They take the raw material in their hands and fashion it into things of beauty or function.

But artisans are so multifaceted that they can’t be boxed into a single field of expertise. They can be excellent artists, inventors, interior decorators, landscapers, or essentially any occupation that generates something new, different, and unique.

They also excel at occupations that involve fixing or manipulating things that already exist, such as draftsmen, machinists, assemblers, mechanics, homebuilders, construction workers, painters, auto-makers, manufacturers, repairmen, technicians, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, cabinetmakers.

These days, youngsters are rejecting offers of being artisans. What could be the reason for it? Is it because of improvement in technology and level of social media?

Atinuke Omotosho who is a female fashion designer at Surulere, Lagos said, “I started learning how to sew since 2008, when I finished my secondary school education.”

She added: “I chose to learn trade because there was no money to further my education since I am not from a rich home. After being an apprentice in 2008, I left my madam’s fashion school in 2010, and then I started sewing for people and making my money but these days my girls don’t even want to come to shop, they don’t care about what they are learning, they are not serious with the business”.

An Auto-Mechanic, Ibuku Olaoye, who spoke to Daily Times on the challenges facing mechanics without apprentices, said:

Where Are The Artisans?

“Most young people are not ready to learn any trade, and they depend on fast or quick money. I have being working as an auto mechanic for the past 20 years, and those days I used to have nothing less than ten boys in my garage, but now I have two boys and they come to work anytime they feel like. At times they don’t even care to show up.

“I won’t blame the youth of today because we are not treated the same way government is treating traders in the Lagos state. All the places we are using are make shift.

If you are using someone’s piece of land or governmentowned plot of land, one day the owner may ask you to vacate the site, that he wants to develop it. Sometimes, we move from one land to another, so it doesn’t interest most

youth to learn and they find it stressful and tiring”, he said.

In a chat with Daily Times, Ayomipo Ogundare, a young apprentice at a generator repairer shop lamented: “Seriously, I am not really happy learning this work. At times, I see my friends coming back from their hustling job with cash in their hands and it makes me feel bad because I want quick money too. The only thing that is still keeping me here is my parent, if not I would have stopped working here for a very long time.

Lukman Ahmed, a graduate of the University of Beninsaid: “After my graduation, I went to fashion school despite my certificate. I learnt tailoring for three years, then I graduated and I became my own boss in 2007. But nowadays no youth wants to

be an artisan. They want to sit at home and relax, even those that their parents cannot afford their education still prefer to stay at home.

“For instance, I have one boy in my shop now. his parents cannot afford to send him to school and he is here to learn. Unfortunately, he is not focused, all he loves doing is to play music and dance.”

A male hair-stylist, Lateef Isamil shared his experience: “When I started learning how to make hair, my friends laughed at me because I was doing things considered to be for the female. They even discouraged me. They made jest of me that instead of going to hustle, I was learning a female trade.

“But I was determined and I decided to learn that trade.

Surprisingly, my mother encouraged and supported me in becoming a stylist and I graduated. Most youth tend to forget that once you have skill and experience, you can make enough money.

“Parents should encourage their children. Whenever they come back from school, they can at least learn one entrepreneural skill or another as that will make them become independent persons that won’t rely on white collar jobs.

Many artisans open their own businesses. They do not go about looking for a non-existing jobs,” Ismail said.

The Managing Director of LAS Fine Art School, Ajegunle, Lagos, Mr Odunayo Tosin stated that most youths are no longer interested in learning trades. In his opinion, “most youth thinks artisans are not that valuable in the society but forgetting that people can’t do without them”.

He added, “artisans who are trade-tested have more potential and earning power than those who aren’t. It is advisable to get the recognized, accredited certificate if you want to do well in the society as an artisan.

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

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holiday destination

Nigeria

Nigeria –A Tourist haven A lot of times,I have always thought about the best places in the world to travel to. A place of enjoyment to spend a couple of weeks or month and never to forget the experiences i had in these places.

As a kid, I always wanted to travel to the U.S.A. because a lot of people always talked about the snow in winter, the white christmas, the national parks and a whole lot of activities they got involved in. As i grew older, my tastes changed.

So i thought about it, if we cannot visit places in our own country during the holidays, how can we showcase what we have in our country? We can blame the government for the smallest things happening around us, yet we cannot offer solutions to these problems.

Here are some of the tourist attractions we have in Nigeria at the moment. A visit to these destinations will convinced you of what we have but did not cherish.

1. Tinapa Business Resort Situated by the Calabar River, Tinapa is a business and leisure resort conceptualized to be an integrated business resort. It is a four phased development promoted by the Government of Cross River State, under a Private Public Partnership (PPP), and very close to Calabar Free Trade Zone.

It is the realization of an exciting dream – the first integrated business and leisure in resort in Nigeria. Tinapa Free Zone has world class facilities that enable visitors to engage in retail and wholesale activities as well as leisure and entertainment.

Tinapa has space for retail and wholesale, several line shops, warehouses etc. It also has an open exhibition area for trade exhibitions and other events, a movie production studio commonly referred to as “Studio Tinapa” or “Nollywood”, an entertainment strip that comprise a casino, an Eight-Screen Cinema, a children’s arcade, restaurants and a mini amphitheater, a night club and pubs.

2. La Campagne Tropicana La Campagne Tropicana is a beach resort at the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State. It’s a lovely hour’s drive from Victo-

ria Island along the Lekki/Epe Expressway, preferably early in the morning.

This resort offers a unique blend of natural environments which include a fresh water lake, accessible mangrove forest, a savannah, extensive sandy beach and the warm Atlantic sea. The resort provides world class accommodation and a variety of activities to ensure an experience like no other on your visit. The staffs are professional and friendly and the cuisine is second to none with 24 hours security. Care has always been taken to ensure that the Infrastructure at the resort blends in perfectly with the surroundings so that the spectacular ambiance of the tropical countryside is not lost.

It also has luxuriously furnished holiday/investment homes with highly cosmopolitan African Decor. All rooms are fitted with ultra – modern appliances such as air – conditioners, TV and wireless Internet Service etc. it is also located within 2 minutes’ drive of a 27 – hole golf course currently under construction. Awaiting you there are Spa treatments, massage therapy, fully equipped cardiovascular gym with personal trainers. Cultural dance displays for guests / residents, fresh palm wine bar with an excellent ocean view, fine dining in elegant restaurants and much more. Other activities include hiking, hunting, horse riding, canoeing, ocean water fishing, aqua aerobics, beach volleyball, and soccer.

3. Obudu Mountain Resort Obudu Mountain Resort is in Cross River State situated close to the border of Cameroon and can be reached from Lagos by plane. It offers the leisure seeker and the conference goer a complete contrast. Not only in its temperate climate but also it’s exciting and different location.

Nestling at the top of the mountain the Obudu Mountain Resort is situated on a plateau at 1576 meters above sea level on the Oshie Ridge of the Sankwala Mountains. The temperate climate offers a total contrast and welcome respite from Africa’s tropical heat. Idyllic tranquility, beautiful scenery and breathtaking views make it ideal for the lone adventurer, families on re-

La Campagne Tropicana

union, young couple or holiday group. The food and beverage offering is found in the Terrace Restaurant and Bar with a cozy and relaxing atmosphere made complete by the blazing log fire.

National and international cuisine is guaranteed to suit all tastes and the healthy appetites from a day’s nature walk or round of golf.

The resort provides accommodation in the form of African round huts and chalets on stilts maximizing the breathtaking views. It also offers self- Yankari National Park contained suites varying in size from the 2-bedroom Governor’s Lodge with its own lounge/dining room and kitchenette to the 20 Mountain Villas, each with three bedrooms, lounge, dining room, kitchenette and balcony.

There’s a fully equipped gym, two floodlit tennis courts, a squash court and a natural swimming pool. Keen golfers can show their prowess on the hotel’s Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort 9-hole golf course.

4. Yankari National Park Located in the South-Eastern part of Bauchi, Yankari National Park is undoubtedly Nigeria’s most developed animal reserve and park. The park has the largest collection of Animals than any other park in the country. It currently hosts 50 different species of animals and about 550 elephants – the largest herd of elephants in West Africa. It’s best Idanre Hills

visited between February and late April.

The Games Reserve also boasts of more than 59 caves, a well system used by slaves and Wiki warm spring. The spring water forms a pool which is 200m long and 10m wide, containing crystal-clear water at a temperature of around 31 degrees Celsius. It available for tourists to swim in.

Yankari Park also contains several archaeological preserves including the Dukkey Well System and the Ampara and Shanshau iron smelting works and furnace shafts dating back many centuries.

5. MicCom Golf Course Ada MicCom Golf Hotels Resort is Nigeria’s only privately owned golf course with hotel facilities attached to it. It is situated in the rustic town of Ada in Osun State.

The course is set in the serene, picturesque location deep within the lovely and tranquil forests of the South-West. This tranquility is only broken by the musical chirping of birds.

The hotel is set in the splendor of nature and the peacefulness and tranquility remains unbroken. The Golf course is set within the most natural hazards, and its every golfer’s delight.

6. Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

23

holiday destination

Nigeria

MicCom Golf Course Ada

In the heart of Ikogosi, a small, quiet town with rich, local customs, in the Western part of Ekiti State (Ekiti Tourism Corridor), lies a warm spring which has now catapulted Ikogosi-Ekiti to national and international limelight. What is mysterious about the Ikogosi Warm Spring is the fact that, flowing side by side the warm spring, is another spring, a cold one. According to experts, it is a geological wonder to have such occurrence out of the same rock formation and this Ekiti flagship tourist destination is said to be the only one of its kind discovered anywhere in the world.

The meeting point of the warm and cold springs is a unique attraction to tourists.

In order to give tourists and visitors a long-lasting experience, a well-landscaped 116-hectare resort is located around the warm spring at Ikogosi-Ekiti. The resort has one Executive VIP chalet, three VIP villas, twelve western suites, seventy-five standard rooms of different styles, themes and offerings and seven support staff quarters.

7. Idanre Hills The historic Idanre hills are a marvelous tourist attraction in Ondo state. Located in Idanre town, 9 miles southwest of Akure, the state capital, Idanre Hills is no dreamland or imagery of sorts. Said to be 800 years old

Obudu Mountain Resort

Tinapa Business Resort

and reached by about 640 steps with 5 resting points on your way to the top, it is a breathtaking landscape that also provides a window to the town’s colorful history. From a few miles to the town center, a first time visitor will not cease to marvel at the aesthetics, architecture and thoroughness employed by nature in the assemblage of hills of various shapes and sizes at Idanre, also called ‘Oke Idanre’ by the locals.

The evergreen landscape surrounding the hills provides fellowship with nature’s best. The peacefulness that pervades the atmosphere, the blossoming civilization that existed on the hills, the rigors of climbing and a refreshing swim in Arun River, all make the Idanre Hills a wonderful place to visit. If you are adventurous enough, the tallest of the hills which rises to about 300 feet above sea level, challenges you to a climbing game. Those who successfully dare the peak are rewarded with the very rare panoramic view of the topography at bird’s eye, which is a unique fortitude for ancient residents.

The excitement takes you further atop of the hills to the Arun River, a small river on the hill.

It is believed that a swim in the middle of the river “will result in an eerie, fuzzy feeling.” Arun River is crystal clear and one can see crabs and a few other aquatic animals, and adjudge the water’s friendly depths. The more adventurous can also dare the Agboogun Footprints, which is widely believed to enlarge or contract to accommodate every foot.

8. Mambilla Plateau The Mambilla Plateau is a high grassland Plateau which is a part and extension of the Adamawa, Obudu, Shebbi and Atlantic mountain chain. The Mambilla Plateau, which lies to the southern edge of Taraba State, is renowned for its rich scenic beauty. It stands at well over 1,830 meters above sea level and

has a temperate climate with lush pasture green vegetation. The access route up the Plateau and the canyons is a breath-taking delight, with snake-like winding road that ascend the Plateau and natural springs that bore through rocks adorn the road.

There is also is a spectacular bridge suspended over a valley.

The Plateau is one of the few places in the federation where temperate plants like Apples, Pears, Arabica Coffee, Strawberries, Tea and Irish Potatoes grow very well. The whole area is Tsetse fly and Mosquito free with more than 2 million herds of cattle.

9. Chad Basin National Park The Chad Basin National Park is a delight for nature-lovers.

Located in the Sudano-Sahelian ecological zone of the NorthEastern part of Nigeria between Borno and Yobe States, Chad Basin National Park covers a total area of 2,258 sq km and fragmented into three sectors.

The Chingurmi-Duguma sector, which is in Borno State, is in a Sudanese Savanna ecological zone while the Bade-Nguru Wetlands and Bulatura sectors are in Yobe State in the Sahel ecological zone. The park which is generally referred to as the conventional basin of the famous Lake Chad, is indeed a veritable heaven of adventure where visitors are spoilt with activities that will make the spirit soar. The largest is the Chingurmi-Duguma Sector covering an estimated 1228 sq km in the districts of Gulumba and Woloji in the Borno state.

The sector is made of large acacia woodlands and is dotted with dense patches of elephant grass in a stratified formation that adds to the natural beauty of the ecosystem. The sector has recorded 66 species of birds which include black-crowned crane, Aviles bustard, Demoiselle crane, Arabian bustard, African-collared dove, yellow-breasted barbet and much

more.

The Bade Nguru Wetlands is part of the internationally renowned Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands and it covers an area of 938 sq km. Situated southwest of Bade and Jakusko Local Government Areas of Yobe State, the focal point of the sector is the Dagona Waterfowl Sanctuary that is internationally significant as a host to migrant birds. This is one of West Africa’s most important stop-over points for birds migrating from Europe. It has been listed as an IBA (Important Birds Areas) supported by Bird-life International.

Bulatura Sector is just a landscape of Sand Dunes in Yusufari town of Yobe State covering an area of 92 sq km. It is made up of a series of fertile dune depressions (swampy valleys) referred to as Oases and also includes highly scenic sand dunes that hold great potential for ecological and adventure tourism. The park contains some rare desert wildlife like giraffe, ostrich, red fronted gazelle, jackals, mongoose, giant tortoise, panta monkeys, porcupine, ratel, spotted hyena, common duiker, warthog, dorcas gazelle, sitatunga, varieties of waders, glossy ibis, pelicans, secretary bird, knob billed goose, etc.

10. Owu Water Falls This heaven on earth is located in Owu Isin Local Government of Kwara State. The existence of Owu Falls is untraceable, but the fall has been described as the highest and most spectacular natural waterfalls in West Africa.

The water fall cascades 330 feet down an escarpment with rocky outcrops to a pool of ice cold water below which gives a beautiful landscape and offers visitors a refreshing atmosphere.

Owu Falls is always at its best during rainy season which spans 200 meters across making it a wonderful vacation spot.

In Owu Falls, you experience a fine mix of awesome attractions and access to top quality accommodation as it offers a range of quality assessed accommodation with good quality restaurants. Its perfect location and memorable vacation experience makes it the perfect destination to host your next vacation. A fun filled and unforgettable vacation experience awaits you.

24

arts & culture

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

Revival of Carnivals in Nigeria Adesola Akindele

C

arnivals are always laden with excitement, thrills, merriment, fun and an unpredictable display of creativity. It is a time to actually unwind In recent times, economic benefits have been attributed to these events.

Nigeria is not new to the concept of organizing carnivals, although it is more prominent in some parts of the nation. Before you start to get religious, we should not confuse festivals with carnivals; they are simply two different parallel entities.

Common festivals in Lagos such as the Eyo and Egungun festival are attributed to some families from different sections of Lagos or group of masquerades. There are other festivals celebrated from the north to the south of the nation such as Argungu Festival, Calabar Carnival, New Yam Festival and others. Some people have largely dissociated themselves from such carnivals as it is believed that it involve the conjuring of spirits, and it is fetish.

But talking about carnivals, it is without borders. Everyone is invited from different age groups to ethnicity to have unlimited fun.

Carnivals actually date back to the 19th century. History has it that during the 1850s, there was an influx of educated Africans into Lagos who had earlier been sold as slaves, from Sierra Leone, Brazil and Cuba. The Sierra Leoneans were known as Akus or Saros, the Brazilians

and Cubans as Agudas.

It is recorded that in the 1880s, there were four distinct groups in Lagos – the Europeans, the educated Africans (Saros), the Brazilians and the natives. This made the town to be physically divided into four quarters corresponding to these groups.

Fanti Carnival (also known as Caretta) was brought to Lagos Island by the Brazilians who settled around Campos area on Lagos Island. The carnival comes up thrice a year: Boxing Day, Easter Monday (the first celebration after Lent and Easter Sunday) and on New Year’s Day. With time, the people living in Lafiaji area, also on Lagos Island, started participating in the carnival.

Later on, other areas of Lagos, such as Obalende, Surulere, Yaba, among others, caught the carnival bug. This has made it common practice to see many streets in the city of Lagos awash with announcements and actual staging of carnivals and musical jams which draw both the young and the old during the festive season.

So when next you are been taxed on your street by some young boys to fund their street carnival, simply remember how it all started.

Indeed, this has become an annual festivity of sorts in the City of Excellence. From Lagos Island, where such carnival originated, it has increased in scope and magnitude and spread to other parts of Lagos and Nigeria.

From these smaller carnivals,

we come into the explosive carnivals conducted annually in Lagos, Abuja, Cross River (Calabar) and most recently Imo State. With the unifying force of creativity, passion and large turn out at these carnivals it is expected that many other states would soon catch the fever.

With the participation of state governments, its agencies and corporate bodies that are involved in sponsoring segments of the carnivals with free food (Nigerians love free things), drinks and souvenirs, the carnivals have spread like wide fire.

This year’s edition of the Lagos State Carnival tagged “Bring Back Brazil” took place on Lagos Island with grand display of beautiful people, fabulous costumes and musical jamboree, which has become the hallmark of the carnival. It had a record of over 12, 000 participants.

Dancers in colourful costumes resembling those of Brazil’s carnival shimmed and shook their way through the streets.

The dancing parade of secondary school children from virtually all the state government schools and some privately owned ones in the Lagos Metropolis took off from the front of Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) through the streets of Ajasa, Boyle and Igbosere Roads down to the City Hall and back to Tafawa Balewa Square. At TBS, each school danced and put up the best of their displays before a panel of

judges who took keen interest in watching the displays to select the best for the State Governor’s Award.

If you missed this exciting extravagant display of top notch artistry and pure joy, you missed a lot. But the comforting news is that there is always next year.

Secondly, Abuja as the unifier or the centre of unity showcase the Abuja carnival in a traditional African way blend with music, dance and art. It celebrates the individuality and unity of the State Governments and people of Nigeria by showing the rich culture and history of Nigeria. The Abuja carnival like other carnivals in other states has shown to be a vehicle for active promotion of the tourist attractions in the country and the tourism sector.

The Abuja carnival involves an established cultural event commonly found among the people of Northern Nigeria called the “Durbar”. The Durbar is one of the world’s longest procession of horsemen and women, it reveals the past glories of the Emirate before the influence of Western culture.

The horses are clad in rich costumes and decorations and their riders are usually adorned with swords, polished, glinting and rich traditional headwear and robes.

The carnival also involves the Boat Regatta. This is a display of the rich cultural heritage of the riverine people of Nigeria. They dance, gyrate and put up performances to thrill their audience.

Some of the traditional music and dance performed during this carnival include the Koroso Dance Music from Kano State; the famous talking drum music in Western States; the Atilogwu from the Eastern part of Nigeria; Jarawa from Plateau; Ekemini music of Akwa-Ibom State; Swange dance of the Tiv to mention a few. These traditional dances are performed in both traditional and contemporary manner.

The Abuja carnival entails other activities such as the indigenous circus made up of itinerant players who are mostly acrobats, comedians, fireswallowers, jugglers, magicians, live animal handlers and jesters, Crafts exposition such as Textiles; Leather craft; Carvings; Bronzes; Beads; Paintings; Plaited Baskets, and a processional parade of colourful display of participants with outdoor concerts from many of Nigeria’s leading international bands and performers.

The Imo Carnival which started in 2011 has been designed to be an annual event which begins on every 16th day of December and lasts till the 31st day of every December.

Buchi George is the initiator and the founder of Imo Carnival, also the executive director Imo carnival development commission.

The governor of Imo State, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha, has a vision of unity and making his state the hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigerian and in Africa. The Carnival presents a perfect platform

from brand visibility for consumer and market awareness.

The carnival aimed to unite every Imo indigene all over the World and to include more aspects of local heritage and culture and at the same time strengthen the capacity of the locals to participate in an economically beneficial way.

Finally, the most colourful Nigerian carnival yet; the Calabar Carnival also tagged Africa’s Biggest Street Party was created as part of the vision of making the Cross River State in Nigeria, the number one tourist destination for Nigerians and tourist all over the world, with Tinapa as the backdrop. And indeed, it has lived up to expectation. The carnival which begin on every 1 December and last till 31 December has boosted the cultural mosaic of Nigeria people while entertaining the millions of spectators within and outside the State, and boosting industry for all stakeholders.

The Calabar Carnival has come a long way. It all started 2004, when the governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, had a vision of making his state the hub for tourism and hospitality in Nigeria and in Africa. The Carnival presents a perfect platform from brand visibility for consumer and market awareness. “According to Osima-Dokubo, the carnival aimed to include more aspects of local heritage and culture and at the same time strengthen the capacity of the locals to participate in an economically beneficial way”.

DAILTY TIMES OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

25

technology A Taste Of

Food Technology

By OlatunjiMakanjuola

texture. This stabiliser guarantees an efficient suspension of cocoa particles and avoids the typical problems of syneresis or gelation caused by the standard solutions based on carrageenan.

Premigum XLB-13059 presents a flexible functionality which ensures a stable product with less milk solids-non-fat (MSNF) content and vegetable fat content.

Premitex XLB-14022 is another new stabiliser and emulsifier system developed for chocolate milk that allows an efficient suspension of cocoa particles, improving emulsion stability, creaminess and mouth feel.

Coconut Water Trends Coconut water is becoming one of the choice soft drinks by the day. Already gaining popularity in the US and growing into Europe, coconut water can do well in its natural form as well as in the form of mainstream soft drinks.

Coconut contains calcium, magnesium and potassium in a hypo-allergenic format with no need for additives or sweeteners.

Foodanddrinktechnology.com informs us that… Coconut featured in more than 4% of Coffee Fueling Your Car global soft drinks launches recorded by InMost of us are used to drinking a cup of cofnova Market Insights in the 12 months ending fee when we need to be perked up a bit so we June 2014, rising to nearly 10% in the US. The can keep going on the job. But, who would have products mainly sit in the juice drinks marguessed that coffee can also fuel up your car? ket, either alone or in combination with other Cooks.ndtv.cominforms us about research carjuices. Coconut featured in more than 6% of ried out in the Centre for Sustainable Chemical global juice drinks launches in 2014, up from Technologies at University of Bath, that waste 4.5% in the previous 12-month period and coffee grinds could be turned into a sustainable from less than 2% five years ago. This rises to fuel to power vehicles. Oil can be extracted from more than 13% in the US market, where more coffee grounds by soaking them in an organic solthan 8% of sports and energy drinks launches vent, before being chemically transformed into also featured coconut water. biodiesel via a process called ‘transesterification’.

We can be sure that with the growing trend The researchers involved were able to make around the world, Nigeria will soon key into biofuel from ground and concluded that though the coconut water trend as well. coffee biodiesel is only a minute part of the whole energy mix, yet it’s interesting to know that it Chocolate Milk Stabilizers can easily be produced on a small scale by coffee Here’s something for fans of chocolate shops. About 10kg of coffee waste could be used milk… new stabilizers are being developed to produce around 2 liters of biofuel which can again for chocolate milk.This means that help such coffee shops to fuel their own delivery chocolate milk will be able to stay fresh for vehicles. longer.

Though coffee shops may not be popular every The company behind the development of part of the world yet, the idea of coffee waste bethese stabilizers in this column is Premium ing capable of producing fuel for vehicles is inIngredients. teresting to note… coffee being able to jerk up Premium Ingredients is a company that spehumans as well as cars! cializes in the design, production and marketCooks.ndtv.comfurther tells us that “Around ing of blended functional food ingredients and 8 million tonnes of coffee is produced globally they carry out research and development in each year and ground waste coffee contains up these areas. to 20 per cent oil per unit weight, This oil also As said on their website, Premium Ingrehas similar properties to current feedstocks used dients is presenting two new stabilisers for to make biofuels. But, while those are cultivated chocolate milk: Premigum XLB-13059 and specifically to produce fuel, spent coffee grounds Premitex XLB-14022, their functionalities are are waste. Using these, there’s a real potential to further explained… produce a truly sustainable second-generation Premigum XLB-13059 allows for an imporbiofuel,” Chuck said. tant cost saving by reducing milk powder content and is specially designed for recombined Courtesy: cooks.ndtv.com&foodanddrinktechnology.

UHT chocolate milk applications. It also alcom lows for an improved mouth feel and creamy

26

dtn early beginings

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

The Company

T

he Incorporation of the Nigerian Printing and Publishing Company on 6th June 1925, was followed two days later by a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company to appoint its Chairman, a Secretary and an Editor for the proposed newspaper, The Nigerian Daily Times.

In those early days, the Board directed and controlled all matters relating to the appointment, promotion and discipline of its staff, a practice from which finally emerged as policies regulating the pattern and structure of the Company’s management.

An illustration of the early beginnings of management policy may be found in a resolution of the Board on Friday, August 28th, 1925, to appoint a Business Manager who should “be responsible for the commercial side of the Company at a salary of N20 per month until December and N30 per month thereafter.” It is worthy of note that the Board resolved at that meeting to offer the appointment to Mr. C. A. Kasumu, subject to a guaranteed bond in the company’s favour to the value of N500.

The appointment of Mr. Kasumu and later, Messrs Omololu and Ijabode in February, 1926 exposed practical problems in the organizational hierarchy and it took three Board meetings to resolve these problems. To illustrate the wisdom and care taken to settle the issue, relevant extracts from the Board Minutes are reproduced hereunder: FRIDAY 11th SEPTEMBER, 1926

“Mr. Osborne supported by Mr. Alakija was of the opinion that this title (Business Manger) to be given to Mr. Kasumu will lead to friction between Mr. Ikoli and Mr. Kasumu. It was understood that Mr. Ikoli objected to the title of Business Manager on the grounds that the outside African public will be under the impression that Mr. Kasumu was senior in position to the Editor.

“Lengthy discussion arose over this point and it was sug-

gested that Mr. Ikoli be called Editor and Manger and Mr. Kasumu Business Manager.

Mr. Alakija suggested that Mr. Kasumu be called Accountant. It was decided to adjourn the question until the next meeting and ask Mr. Ikoli to come to the next meeting in order that he may be given the opportunity to express his views.”

TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER, 1926 “At the request of the Chairman, the minutes of meeting held on 11th September, 1926, were read. Mr. Ikoli was then asked to join the meeting. The Chairman advised Mr. Ikoli that he had been asked to attend in order to give the Board his views on the question of the duties and designation of himself and Mr. Kasumu.

“Mr. Ikoli stated that he cordially welcomed Mr. Kasumu but, as he previously had entire control which was publicly recognised, he wished to understand clearly his position as Editor to the Company. He desired that the other staff of all grades should be responsible to him and he to the Directors.

“The Chairman stated that Mr. Kasumu will be entirely responsible to the Editor for all matters except stocks in his personal charge fro which he alone will be responsible.

The Chairman asked Mr. Ikoli whether or not he will be satisfied with the designations: Mr Ikoli, Editor and Manager; Mr. Kasumu, Business Manager.

“Mr. Ikoli replied that he would be quite satisfied with the designation and division of duties as outlined by the Chairman. Mr. Ikoli then withdrew”.

At a subsequent meeting, the matter was settled when the Board resolved that in view of the practical difficulties involved, the whole office and works should be placed under the control of the Editor being previously responsible to the Directors fro all matters. As a result, an organization pattern emerged: Mr. E. S. Ikoli - Editor/ Manger Mr. C. A. Kasumu Accounts/Stores

Mr. Omololu - Advertisements/Circulation Mr. Ijabode - Head Compositor This structure was to remain until the appointment of Mr. C. H. Jeal (a European) as the Company’s Manager in October, 1928.

On the question of discipline, the Board of Directors

was equally firm. The minutes of a Board meeting on July 16, 1927, illustrates the point:“The Chairman brought to the notice of the Directors the conduct of Mr. C. A. Kasumu, the Business Manager, in authorising an expenditure on repairs of the premises without sanction of the Board. The Directors view with displeasure and disfavour such a con-

duct and request that in future the Business Manager should not incur any expenditure without the previous sanction of the Board being first asked and obtained”.

With the discontinuance of the African Messenger in December 1928, Mr. C. H. Jeal was requested to reorganize the Company. A major decision of the Board on the re-

organization was that Messrs Cassleton Elliot (Chartered Accountants) were specially engaged at a fee of twentyfive guineas to audit the Company’s accounts up to 30th September, 1929, and thereafter became the Company’s auditors on a quarterly fee of fifteen guineas. The fees have CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

DAILTY TIMES – OCTOBER 13– 19, 2014

27

dtn early beginings

The Company CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

of course increased with the growth of the business.

Commendations, even at that early stage of the Company’s development, were not uncommon. In the minutes of a meeting held on 14th February 1930, the following sentiments in respect of a senior staff and a director were recorded: “It was moved by Mr. P. D. Rose and seconded by Mr. Eric Moore, that a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr. C. H. Jeal, the Manager of the Nigerian Printing and Publishing Company for the services performed by him during the year 1928 to 1929… …

“Mr. O. Alakija informed the Board that he would crave leave to bring to the notice of the Board the services rendered at all times by the Chairman of Directors in the interest of the Company and for promoting generally the interest of the establishment.”

In 1935, while Europe was in the midst of an economic depression, the Company was acquired by Mr. Robert B. Paul. A condition of the acquisition was that the new owner should select the European Manager.

The new owners applied themselves to the task of restructuring the Company and building up the newspaper.

Europeans were employed to fill the posts of Managing Editor, Business Manager and Works Manager. In addition, the company engaged the services of a European Works Assistant who “offered to pay his own steamer fare to Lagos and prove his efficiency.” The Board sanctioned his engagement at N60 per month.

Business and commercial control of the Nigerian Daily Times became the responsibility of the new owners, but Sir Adeyemo and his local staff continued to direct editorial policy, circulation and local management.

Rough times came with the Second World War and there were problems not only of news-sprint supply but of a tired management.

The general manager of that period went for some four years without a single break and slackness crept into the production so much so that

in 1945 when the war ended and for a year afterwards, the circulation was seldom more than 1,000 copies a day.

When the Daily Mirror Newspapers of London acquired the Company from Mr. R. B. Paul in December 1947, a new era and management style were to follow.

The first general manager to be posted to Lagos by the Daily Mirror was Frank Rogers and others followed after him; but present-day history of the Daily Times did not begin until the legendary figure of Percy Roberts came on the stage.

An ebullient journalist and a tireless and dynamic work leader, Mr. Roberts joined the company as editorial adviser in 1952 and rose to the post of general manager by 1955.

As general manager, he successfully launched the “Sunday Times” and the “Sporting Record”, but his efforts with an evening newspaper and a weekly entertainment paper were unsuccessful.

In December 1957, Mr. Percy Roberts was appointed Managing Director of the Company with Mr. A. B. Osula (who had earlier been elected a director) as Deputy Managing Director.

Percy Roberts was clearly the starting point of modern journalism in the Daily Times Group. An all-round man that he was, Percy was everything at any time of the production timetable: reporter, subeditor, stone-sub, production manager, marketing and transport organiser, general manager, director, etc.

Such was the versatility of this man Percy that his shadow hung like a legend over Kakawa Street for many years. He was liked and feared at the same time and it can be said without exaggeration that it was under his regime that most of the present-day Nigerian executives mastered the secret of producing a successful newspaper.

A student of Percy’s school, Chief Olu Fadiro, who was sales manager at Nigerpak, described him as follows: “I worked very closely with Mr. Percy Roberts at a time when I very much needed an appreciation for hard work. I was a linotype operator and he was the General Manager.

“With Mr. Roberts, the sky was the limit for any worker who combined hard work with initiative. Such an employee could receive as many incentives as possible within one calendar year.

“Mr. Roberts inspired me for his hard work and he was, indeed, a pillar of strength: a ‘Jack-Never-Tire’ type of man.

“In the Composing Room, we called him O-Oga-let it go-o as such outbursts readily reminded us that it was press time”.

Mr. Dominic Nwoji, Works Manager (ND) who had served in the commercial printing department in Mr. Roberts’ time, said of him: “I worked with this gentleman for four years. He hates laziness and would give an employee salary increases

twice in a year if the employee is hardworking.

“He reads his proofs on the stone and nothing would make him sit down until the edition has gone to press… …”

At the time of his departure in November 1959, production facilities had improved and the works moved from the temporary premises in Phoenix Lane to the newly completed production block at Kakawa Street, Lagos, with Mr. J. M. Odumosu as Production Manager.

Mr. Roberts is at present Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive, Mirror Group Newspapers in London. He was the type of man who will rise to the top of his profession anywhere in the world.

His successor as Managing director in Lagos was Keith

Davenport, an Australian, whose main assignment, it would appear, was to ensure the financial participation of Nigerians in the ownership of the Company and, secondly, to initiate moves for the eventual Nigerianisation of the Company’s management.

It was a tough assignment fro Keith Davenport, but the quiet Australian went about his goal most diligently indeed. Negotiations were begun in London and Lagos for the transfer of part of the equity capital from the Mirror to Nigerians and Nigerian institutions.

In June 1963, the Daily Times became a Public Company and by June of the following year, the Ordinary Stock transferred by the Daily Mirror to Nigerians and Nigerian institutions stood at 9%.

By 1965, the transfer rose to 11.4%. In 1967, it rose to 25.1 %. In 1968, it rose to 37.8%.

In 1970, it rose to 39.5%. The process of transfer was accelerated by the Indigenization Decree and was completed by March 31st 1974. From that date on, the Daily Times became 100% Nigerian-owned.

OCTOBER 13 – 19, 2014 DAILTY TIMES

28

opinion

Like Tinubu Unlike Awolowo

Oluwaseyi Oduyela

I

n one of my previous article, I maintained that Chief Obafemi Awolowo though was a leader who sought office through democratic means, was more of a social welfarist than a democrat. Why did I say this?

We grew up to know Awolowo as the leader of Yoruba, I grew up to hear from my parents (who are Ijebu) and most adults in Yoruba land that we owe so much to Awolowo.

Yoruba belief in Awolowo was so strong that a myth was created between 1978 and 1983 that they see him in the moon.

Why do Yoruba people think or believe in Awolowo that much? Why did they brand anyone not in Awo circle as Anti-Yoruba? I grew up believing that Chief Richard Akinjide, AMA Akinloye, Victor Olunloyo, Samuel Akintola because they are not on Awo side, until I met Chief Richard Akinjide in 2000.

After all, Awolowo provided free education and I am a beneficiary of free education.

Awolowo brought the first Television to Africa, built the Liberty Stadium; what about the Cocoa House building?

For all these, our parents (in Yoruba land) believe they owe him a lot. They pledged their allegiance to him and even fought and died for him.

As a result of what he has done, being a visionary leader, focused and purposeful, it was easy for Awolowo to hand-pick people to run for office rather than allow primary elections. We can argue that a true democrat will want the wishes of the people regardless of whatever you think of feel, but Pa Awolowo got away with it many times if not all the time except for Oyo State where in 1978 Chief Bola Ige insisted on primary when he refused to step down for Pa Alayande. Chief Bola Ige won and he became the Governor in 1979.

The Awo political script was used during the Abacha era and it worked against Chief Lateef Jakande when he allowed Yomi Edu to beat Tokunbo Dosumu, Pa Awolowo’s daughter in the primaries for Lagos Governor seat. The Pro-Awo group

branded LKJ as a traitor and he remained so. In 1998/99 the same script was used. In Lagos State, while Baba Dawodu preferred Funsho Williams, Pa Adesanya amd Ayo Adebanjo wanted Tinubu who contributed to NADECO while Funsho served under Abacha government forgetting that Pa Awolowo too was the Vice Chair of Federal Executive Council in General Yakubu Gowon’s government. There was primary election and it was believed that something happened and Tinubu won in Lagos Island.

In Ogun State Osoba emerged as against Biyi Durojaiye who later settled for the Senate. In Oyo state, Lam Adeshina, former aide of Awolowo and friend of Bola Ige emerged.

In Osun, Omisore attempted but lost to Bisi Akande Ige’s deputy after the resignation of Sunday Afolabi.

Then if this worked, what went wrong? It all went wrong after Bola Ige lost the primaries to Olu Falae at the D’Rovans Hotel, Ibadan. Ige enjoyed the support of Osoba, Alayande, Lam Adesina, Bisi Akande but not that of Bola Tinubu. Bola Tinubu voted against Chief Ige that night.

The choice of Olu Falae by Ige former fellow Awoists, led to the break up Afenifere with a splinter group- Council of Yoruba Elders which eventually undid the Alliance for Democracy.

Why should the splitting of Afenifere and YCE break Alliance for Democracy? It should be recalled that Chief Bola Ige was part of the formation of PDP and APP before leading his fellow Awoists to forming Alliance for Democracy. Afenifere supported one national chairman and Bola Ige had his own party chairman. By this time, Tinubu had crossed over; he is now an Ige man no more with Adesanyas and Adebanjos. While the old Awoists were fighting, Tinubu was watching and learning.

The 2003 re-election shellacking of the Alliance for Democracy in the South west opened the door of opportunity for Tinubu. Of all the 6 Southwest Governors, Tinubu was the only lucky survivor. Lam Adeshina lost to Rasheed Ladoja, Niyi Ade-

‘‘

The Yoruba belief in Awolowo was so strong that a myth was created between 1978

,,

and 1983 that they saw him in the moon

bayo lost to Fayose, Adefarati lost to Agagu, Akande lost to Oyinlola, while the Arole Bola Ige and the Akinrogun of Egba lost to Gbenga Daniels. Being the only most senior elected officer from the Regional party (AD), Tinubu, well equipped with Lagos state money became the defacto leader of Yoruba. He took over AD, and became the new Awolowo.

Unlike Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose reasons for hand-picking candidates was not informed by personal gains, Tinubu rewrote the Awo’s political book and added the Lamidi Adedibu’s political book of gbegiri and amala politics. Tinubu’s im-

positions of candidates are mostly for his personal gains.

I know no Local government chairman in Lagos state will ever admit this in public, many of them complain quietly about it.

Awolowo established Oodua investment for the Western Region- Caxton Press, Wema Bank, National Bank, Sketch Newspaper and more for the benefit of the region.

The Action Group, invested in individual members who managed businesses for the party in order to generate funds to run the party’s programs while Tinubu invested in himself- Oriental Hotels, Shoprite franchise, Nation Newspaper and Television,

Hi-Tech Construction and many more.

In 2011 when the ruling party, PDP zoned the House of Representative Speaker position to the South west, Tinubu instructed the Southwest representatives from his party AC not to support the Southwest candidate and the position went to a northern candidate. The president is from South-south, VP from Northwest, Senate President from North-Central, Speaker from Northwest, and The deputy Senate president from South east, Deputy Speaker from south east.

How do we explain the lies of Tinubu in the summer of 2012 that he attended the US Democratic convention on the invitation of President Barack Obama and his meeting with the US National Security Council? Tinubu was neither invited nor did he meet with the US National Security council, rather he came to the US to receive award from Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition and paid $5,000 to buy the VIP seat at the Democratic convention.

What is not clear is why Tinubu and his media team would make up such stories, even backed by Lai Mohammed.

Tinubu’s ostensive interest and thirst for power has led him to move from Alliance for Democracy to Action Congress which he formed with his former enemy Atiku but the two broke up after Tinubu was dumped for the VP position by Atiku and which also cost Atiku greatly. Tinubu with some of his friends in the South-south joined hands to launder money to Nigeria through British Virgin Island to assist Yar’Adua to defeat Atiku. In 2011 brought up Ribadu as Presidential candidate, the man who once called him thief when he was EFCC’s head. Ribadu was later to step down from Buhari in an alliance that failed because Tunde Bakare refused to agree to an agreement to resign as VP for Tinubu. With that, Goodluck Jonathan, under the nose of Tinubu, won.

One lesson that Tinubu failed to learn is that you cannot successfully lead people by extorting them, but by empowering them. The big

difference between Awolowo and Tinubu if we can ever compare the two, is Awolowo’s selfless leadership style.

Awolowo led with a plan to empower the people, help raise people up from poverty level. Lateef Jakande was governor of Lagos state, and most people living in Iyana Ipaja estate and more of such in Lagos will forever be grateful to LKJ. He truly built those housing projects for true low income workers of Lagos. My aunt bought one for N30, 000 then. When Tinubu came to power in 1999, he invited Lagosians in diaspora to come back home. He offered them houses in Ikeja and Lekki for 6M and 11M. Most of these guys paid in full; now in 2014 they still don’t have the houses and cannot get their money back.

How much does Tinubu make daily from the Lekki toll gate? There is nothing more unethical for a party leader to also be a major contractor to states controlled by his party.

Asiwaju’s problem is that of unparalleled greed; one akin to Lamidi Adedibu of Ibadan.

While Tinubu has enemies outside his circle, his enemies within prove deadlier and the funny and unpleasant thing is that they are unknown; but they work to undermine him.

Unfortunately, the man like other sightless politician surrounded himself with same self-serving aides, who care more about what to gain.

Just as Jaiyeola said in his article, and as I have said on the numbers, the PDP stand a very good chance of returning Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 because it has been proven that Jonathan can conveniently win the needed one-quarter of vote in 2/3 of the 36 states.

I have looked at the National Assembly seats and I see that the PDP is still very much in control. How can APC win one quarter of votes in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Kaduna, Katsina, and more?

Lets’ wait and see.. Like Chief Bola Ige, I siddon and look.

Oluwaseyi Oduyela Lectures at Morgan State University, Maryland, USA and also a Reporter at African Interest Newspaper