Daily times e newspaper issue 4

Vandalism, Drop In ARPU, Others Stunt More Investment In Telecoms Sector Ugochukwu Onyeocha

in the Nigerian economy. The sector has continued to generate positive The telecommunications sector reviews and create more employremains one of the few bright spots ment for millions of Nigerians as

well as boost income and revenue and leaves many wondering when since 2001. However, the sector has all will be well indeed. also had its fair share of challenges Considering the continued devalthat has limited its massive impact uing telecom services in the coun-

DAILTY TIMES AUGUST 11-17 2014

I Am Under Observation For Ebola, Says NHRC Chair

P10

Vandalism, Drop In ARPU, Sickle Cell Disorder: Family Others Stunt More Investment Turns Grief to Humanitarian In Telecoms Sector Service

Show Stopper

VOL. 1, NO 4

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Now Africa’s Third Best, 33rd in World

Nigeria will not break up –IBB P8

I Now Know My Real Friends –Faze P 21

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Now P 15 Africa’s Third Best, 33rd in World Umeh Accuses Obi Of Instigating Lawmakers Defection

Ebola Vaccine Possible In Nigeria If... –Dr Agwale

P 14

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AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

news

INEC Extends Distribution Of PVC In Abuja, 11 States

By Lara Adejoro

bution of permanent voter cards in the FCT and 11 he Independent states by two days.

The Commission in a National Electoral Commission statement issued in Abuja (INEC) on Sunday by Head, Voter Education extended the ongoing distri- and Publicity, Mr Okezie

T

Nwankwo disclosed that the extension is expected to give more people the opportunity to get the cards.

It stated that the time for the collection of the cards remained between 8 a.m. and

4 p.m.

The states are Yobe and Bauchi (North East); Jigawa and Sokoto (North West); FCT and Kwara (North Central); Anambra and Ebonyi (South East); Ondo and Oyo

(South West), and Delta and Cross River (South South).

The exercise which began on August 15 and initially scheduled to end on August 17 will now end on August 19.

Adeyeye: Most Federal Roads Would Be Motorable Before May, 2015

By Lara Adejoro

M

inister of State for Wo r k s , Mr Dayo Adeyeye, on Sunday assured that most federal roads in the country would be made motorable before the end of May, 2015.

Adeyeye said that President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to ensuring that all federal roads are reconstructed, repaired or rehabilitated before the end of his first

I Am Under Observation For Ebola, Says NHRC Chair

By Lara Adejoro

C

hairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Chidi Odinkalu has said, he is under observation for Ebola having been attended to by one of the doctors in Lagos, who managed the index case.

Dr Odinkalu made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday while calling for the postponement of the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) scheduled for between August 24 and 29 in Owerri, Imo State in view of the current

Ebola disease threat.

Odinkalu who is a scheduled speaker at the conference urged intending participants at the conference to consider withdrawing from attending in view of the possible health risk involved in a gathering of the large number of people attracted annually by the conference.

“I am a scheduled speaker at the Owerri conference. I have also been a person under observation for Ebola because as an out-patient I was attended on July 21 by one of the doctors in Lagos, who managed the index case, i.e., on the day after he was ad-

mitted.

“The NBA has no way of knowing this and has made no effort to elicit this kind of information from any of the participants. I have decided that I will not go to Owerri.

“As an act of responsible citizenship, I would also urge as many intending participants as possible to consider withdrawing from the Owerri conference.” Odinkalu said.

He said it would be a wrong decision for the NBA to continue with the conference in the circumstances of the present public health emergency prevailing

in the country.

The Human Rights Chair said the NBA, in a bid to avoid leadership vacuum, could swear-in newly elected national officers of the association (which was one of the events planned for the conference) at a less elaborate venue at the NBA office in Abuja.

“The NBA Conference is usually a very large gathering. Its venues usually attract well in excess of 20,000 participants, traders and visitors. It’s an excellent market place for a virus in search of vectors.

“On August 15 the NBA issued a public

statement claiming that it ‘is putting adequate anti-Ebola precautions for its members attending the 2014 Annual General Conference in Owerri. It failed to say what these precautions were or who said they were ‘adequate.’

“As a result, participants are not in a position to asses independently what risks they run in attending the conference. The most ‘adequate precaution’ the NBA can take at this time is to defer the conference. It should do so. If the NBA declines, I would urge government at all levels to strongly request it to do so,” Odiankalu said.

term in office.

He spoke to newsmen on Sunday at his country home Ise-Ekiti, in Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State at a reception organised for him by the governorelect, Mr Ayo Fayose.

He said that the affected roads cut across all the six geo-political zones of the country, among them Akure-Ilesa Federal Highway, which cut across Ondo and Osun states, as well as IfakiIkole-Omuo Road in Ekiti State.

Adeyeye said the president was committed to quality jobs to ensure that roads constructed during his tenure last for many years.

“It is the resolve of the president to make all roads in the country motorable and durable.

This is evident in what the Federal Ministry of Works has done since the administration came into being and what is still in the pipeline to be carried out in few months time”, Adeyeye said.

The governor-elect who organised the reception thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing Adeyeye as minister.

He called on the new minister to justify the confidence reposed in him by being above board in the discharge of his duties.

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

3

news

Umeh Accuses Obi Of Instigating Lawmakers Defection Ugochukwu Onyeocha

A

wka- The c r i s i s plaguing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which led to the recent defection of four members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), took a new twist on Sunday with the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh accusing the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, of instigating the action.

Speaking to journalists at Aguleri, the

Umeh

home-town of Governor Willie Obiano, Umeh said the former governor was the architect of the defection.

“The plot of the defection was hatched

by Obi and his associ-

Obi

ates,” he stated, adding that “part of the group’s game-plan was to go to the Presidency to say that APGA was not supporting Jonathan, which is not true,” he said.

He described those

who decamped from APGA as election ticket hunters, noting that whenever they did not get what they wanted from a party, they began to curse that party, and urged them to leave APGA alone.

According to him, “APGA is supporting Jonathan 100 per cent and has even set up a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, called ‘Join Jonathan Journey, JJJ, which will be launched in Awka next Wednesday.”

He also said the reason given by Obi for resigning as the chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of APGA was due to the new appointment he got from Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah as the South East coordinator of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN. According to the APGA chairman, APGA had wanted to inaugurate Obi as

a BoT chairman before leaving office as governor and that the party asked him to provide a budget for the special convention to that effect.

Umeh regretted that the former governor dilly-dallied, apparently because he had made up his mind not to accept the role.

Umeh said: “With all our hearts, we wanted to make him the APGA BoT chairman and leader of our party, but the issue was that because of the leadership crisis experienced in the party then, he thought that my leadership had come to an end and there was therefore no need to deal with us.”

Boat Explosion Kills One, Injures Others In Lagos Lara Adejoro

O

ne person has died and several others injured over the weekend in a boat explosion that occurred in the Victoria

Island area of Lagos State.

The body of the deceased, identified as Emmanuel Omu was initially missing but later recovered by combined team of officials of the National

Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), marine police and others.

It was revealed that the boat, said to belong to Aquiten Oil and Gas was refilling its gasoline, when the explo-

sion occurred, leading to injuries to the passengers on board.

NEMA spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye, while confirming the explosion to the newsmen, stated that the explosion occurred on

Friday.

He stated that “A case of boat explosion that occurred on Friday has just been reported to NEMA, which injured several passengers, who were rescued by volunteers and taken to

different hospitals.”

He continued that “the boat took off from V Craft Jetty, Lekki Phase one and while trying to refill gasoline at Capital Oil Jetty at Victoria Island, the engine exploded.”

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

4

foreign ‘At Least 34’ Massacred in Central Africa

S

uspected exrebels in the Central African Republic have massacred at least 34 civilians in several northern villages over the past several days, officials said.

The former rebels killed at least 34 people over the last week in a series of attacks on remote villages, Bienvenu Sarapata, mayor of the M’bres commune in north of the capital Bangui told the AP

news agency on Saturday “At least 34 people from several villages were killed between August 13 and 15 in the M’bres region by armed men identified by inhabitants as exSeleka,” an officer in the African peacekeeping force, MISCA, told the AFP news agency on the same day.

The officer said the fleeing residents spoke of the attackers “firing on their victims at

point-blank range and chasing them into the bush and some of the victims died by hanging, others were beaten or tortured to death”.

One resident who fled, Achille Ketegaza, confirmed that account to AFP, saying: “The attackers arrived by foot and on motorbikes. They fired pointblank at anybody they encountered. They said they were going to ‘clean’ eight villages between M’bres, Ndele

and Bakala before September 15.”

A UN force is to be deployed to the country on September 15.

CAR has been torn apart by ethnic and religious violence since the Seleka, an alliance of mostly Muslim groups, seized power in March 2013.

Their leader, Michel Djotodia, was president for nine months before having to step down under strong international pressure after many

Seleka fighters refused to disband and carried out atrocities against civilians.

A mostly Christian militia called the “antibalaka” - or anti-machete - rose to counter the rogue Seleka fighters, but they also committed serious crimes against civilians.

Some 2,000 French peacekeeping troops were deployed alongside an African Union military force of around 6,000 men from De-

cember last year.

Transitional President Catherine Samba Panza last week appointed a new interim prime minister, Mahamat Kamoun, to lead a new broad-based government with the task of ending the chaos and overseeing a democratic transition in the deeply poor landlocked nation.

Seleka, which controls parts of the north, has said it will not participate in the new government.

UN Peacekeepers Killed In Latest Attacks In Mali

I India’s Landslide Death Toll Increases

N

ot less than 109 have died as landslides and floods hit Nepal and northern India following heavy down pour.

The death toll from landslides and flooding triggered by torrential monsoon rains in Nepal and northern India has climbed to at least 109 as tides of water, mud and rocks swept away houses, officials said.

The downpours also displaced thousands of people in the scenic

Himalayan region and revived memories of a deadly deluge last year that killed more than 5,000 people in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

The rains in Nepal over the past three days have killed 85 people and stranded thousands more.

Rescuers struggled to retrieve the bodies on Sunday amid fears of a cholera outbreak as army officials ran helicopter sorties to evacuate about 20,000 people stranded in badly-hit

western districts, said national disaster management chief Yadav Prasad Koirala.

“We are very concerned about a possible outbreak of cholera due to the bodies lying underwater,” Koirala told the AFP news agency.

The rains have damaged roads across the country’s western plains bordering India, with poor visibility hindering helicopter rescue efforts.

“Because of the damage to roads in the area,

we can only deliver relief supplies like tents and medicines by helicopter,” home ministry spokesman Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said.

The deaths come two weeks after the worst landslide in over a decade smashed into hamlets in northeastern Nepal, killing 156 people.

Monsoon rains have also forced officials to close a major bridge along the country’s longest highway after it developed cracks and caved in.

n recent attacks in Mali, threat of violence in Mali and, specifically, attacks directed at international forces hasn’t gone away, two U.N. peacekeepers died and nine others were hurt in a suicide attack Saturday, the U.N. mission there said.

The U.N. mission in the West African nation is there to guard against militant Islamists, which have been in the country for years and recently threatened to move on the capital, Bamako.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the recent spate of attacks suggests such a threat is still very real -- especially when one considers that Saturday’s attack is the third against U.N. personnel in the past week.

A motorist Saturday targeted a U.N. patrol base in Ber, a village in northern Mali not far from Timbuktu.

Two U.N. peacekeepers were seriously wounded when their vehicle struck a mine on Thursday, and another

peacekeeper was hurt in a separate mine incident, MINUSMA said.

“Such violence is senseless, the MINUSMA pays too much of a toll in Mali,” David Gressly, deputy special representative of the secretary-general, said in a statement. “These attacks reinforce our determination to continue our mission alongside the Malian people.” Islamist extremists carved out a large haven in northern Mali in 2012, taking advantage of a chaotic situation after a military coup by the separatist party MNLA. These forces including al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb began advancing toward Bamako in early 2013.

Their initial success prompted international military intervention that included forces from Chad and France, which was Mali’s former colonial ruler. With fighting on the ground and airstrikes from above, these allied forces managed to significantly stop the Islamist extremist fighters.

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

5

africa

African Culture

Ashanti Ghana

By Iyanu- Oni Orisan

T

he Ashanti live in central Ghana in western Africa approximately 300km away from the coast. The Ashanti are a major ethnic group of the Akans in Ghana, a fairly new nation, barely more than 50 years old. Ghana, previously the Gold Coast, was a British colony until 1957. It is now politically separated into four main parts. Ashanti is in the center and Kumasi is the capital.

Boys are trained by their fathers at the age of eight and nine. They

are taught a skill of the fathers’ choice. The father is also responsible for paying for school.

Boys are taught to use the talking drums by their mothers’ brother.

Talking drums are used for learning the Ashanti language and spreading news and are also used in ceremonies. The talking drums are important to the Ashanti and there are very important rituals involved in them.

Girls are taught cooking and housekeeping skills by their mothers. They also work the fields and bring in necessary items, such as water, for the group.

The legend of the Golden Stool (Sika

‘dwa) is important as it is an account of the birth of the Ashanti Kingdom itself. In the seventeenth century, in order for the Ashanti gain independence from Denkyira (another powerful contemporaneous Akan state), a meeting of all the clan heads of each of the Ashanti settlements was convened.

In this meeting, the Golden Stool was called down from the heavens

by Okomfo Anokye, the Priest or sage advisor to the very first Asantehene (Ashanti King), Osei Tutu I. The Golden Stool descended from the skies and rested on the lap of Osei Tutu I. Okomfo Anokye

Holiday Destination

V

ery little is heard about tourism in Morocco.

Morocco has been one of the most politically stable countries in North Africa, which has allowed tourism to develop. The government of Morocco has invested heavily in its tourism sector and has promised to increase the number of tourists by 2020. It is a beautiful place to be. Of all the various places you could visit, here are a few top spots you cannot miss when you visit Morocco Fes-al-Bali, the larger of the two medinas of Fes, is a nearly intact medieval city. With a population of about 150,000 inhabitants, it is the largest car-free urban area in the world by population. Transports of

goods are provided by donkeys, carriages, and motorbikes. The entire medina is surrounded by high walls with a number of historic city gates.

Several shops and restaurants have a rooftop terrace which is a great way to escape the bustling streets. The views are particularly spectacular during sunset and after dark.

Essaouira is a relaxed fishing port, protected by a natural bay. It was formerly known by the 16th century Portuguese as Mogador. The present city of Essaouira was only built during the 18th century to increase trade exchanges with the European powers. Nowadays, Essaouira is renowned for its kitesurfing and windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind blowing almost constantly onto the

then declared the Stool to be the symbol of the new Ashanti Union (Asanteman), and allegiance was sworn to both the Golden Stool and to Osei Tutu as the Asantehene. The newly founded Asanteman went to war with Den-

kyira and subsequently defeated it.

The Golden Stool is sacred to the Ashanti, as it is believed that it contains the Sunsum viz, which is the spirit or soul of the Ashanti people. Just as man cannot live without a

soul, so the Ashanti would cease to exist if the Golden Stool were to be taken from them.

The Golden Stool is regarded as sacred that not even the king was allowed to sit on it, a symbol of nationhood and unity.

Morocco

protected bay. Parasols tend to be used on the beach as a protection against the wind and the blowing sand. The medina of Essaouira is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and wood-carving.

Marrakesh has the largest traditional Berber market in Morocco and the image of the city is closely associated with its souks. Paul Sullivan cites the souks as the principal shopping attraction in the city: “A honeycomb of intricately connected alleyways, this fundamental section of the old city is a micro-medina in itself, comprising a dizzying number of stalls and shops that range from itsy kiosks no bigger than an elf’s wardrobe to scruffy store-fronts that morph into glittering

Aladdin’s Caves once you’re inside.

Chefchaouen (or Chaouen) is a gorgeous mountain city in northeastern Morocco. The picturesque medina, set against the dramatic backdrop of the Rif Mountains, is filled with white-washed homes with distinctive, powder-blue accents. It is a popular shopping destination offering many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular with tourists.

The region around Chefchaouen is one of the main producers of cannabis in Morocco. Hashish is subsequently sold all over town, but is mostly the domain of native Chaouenis.

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

6

world

Japanese Culture

By Iyanu- Oni Orisan

J

apanese is the official and primary language of Japan. Japanese is relatively small but has a lexically distinct pitch-accent system. Early Japanese is known largely on the basis of its state in the 8th century, when the three major works of Old Japanese were compiled. The earliest attestation of the Japanese language is in a Chinese document from 252 AD. source: Wkipedia Japanese culture, particularly traditional Japanese culture has many roots in traditional Chinese culture, however Japanese culture, even historically differed from Chinese culture and due to the separation of the two land masses, plus the enforced periods of isolation from the outside world, further extended the differences between the two cultures.

The architecture of Buddhist temples, like that of any structure, has changed and developed over the centuries.

However, while the particular details may vary, the general themes and styles have strong similarities and common origins.

Most, if not all Buddhist temple buildings exhibit the same basic design elements as other traditional Japanese buildings. Tall thick wooden columns serve as the load-bearing and stabilizing element of the structure. Each column sits atop a single large stone, anchoring the building.

In the long feudal period governed by the sam-

urai class, some methods that were used to train warriors were developed into well-ordered martial arts, in modern times referred to collectively as koryū.

Sumo is a competitive full-contact wrestling sport where a rikishi (wrestler) attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring (dohyō) or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet.

The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally. It is generally considered to be a gendai budō (a modern Japanese martial art), though this definition is misleading as the sport has a history spanning many centuries. Most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal “sumo training stables”, known in Japanese as heya, where all aspects of their daily lives—from meals to their manner of dress are dictated by strict tradition.

Traditional Japanese clothing distinguishes Japan from all other countries around the world.

The Japanese word kimono means “something one wears” and they are the traditional garments of Japan. Originally, the word kimono was used for all types of clothing, but eventually the earliest kimonos were heavily influenced by traditional Han Chinese clothing, known today as hanfu ( kanfuku in Japanese), through Japanese embassies to China which resulted in extensive Chinese culture adoptions by Japan, as early as the 5th century

AD. It was during the 8th century, however, that Chinese fashions came into style among the Japanese, and the overlapping collar became particularly women’s fashion. Kimono in this meaning plus all other items of traditional Japanese clothing is known collectively as wafuku which means “Japanese clothes” as opposed to yofuku (Western-style clothing).

Kimonos come in a variety of colours, styles, and sizes. Men mainly wear darker or more muted colours, while women tend to wear brighter colours and pastels, and, especially for younger women, often with complicated abstract or floral patterns.

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

7

politics

Goodbye Osun, Welcome 2015

By Ugochukwu Onyeocha

A

few hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner in the Osun State gubernatorial elections, a leading stalwart in the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) while congratulating the leading opposition party for its hard fought victory in Osun declared “it’s quarter to 2015, we will show them that we are PDP and we know how to win when it matters”.

While many would easily wave off such threats, it is abundantly clear that the race for 2015 has unofficially begun. For many who might be wondering what this politician meant when he uttered those words, it simply means that the battle for 2015 has started with or without INEC’s declaration. While many are still clinking their glasses to the recent victories between the two leading parties in the two governorship elections that have taken place this year (Ekiti and Osun), for others, it is time to begin the real battle.

From local to state and up to national level, intense strategy meetings are ongoing between political gladiators and their unannounced campaign teams on how to go about the race for the vacant political offices to be contested for. Some campaign teams have already swung into action with the

release of various posters announcing the intention of their principal despite the fact that the ban on 2015 campaigns is yet to be lifted by the electoral umpire which in this case is INEC. In 2015, a lot of serving governors will be ineligible to contest for the same office having served the maximum two term limit as stipulated in the constitution. However, a lot of these governors have started making plans on who will succeed them in office. This has led to a lot of intrigues to the race for the various government houses across the federation. For quite a number of these candidates seeking the blessings of the outgoing governor to contest, a lot of factors ranging from zoning, loyalty and many more are being considered to guarantee any level of endorsement.

It is no longer news that quite a number of outgoing governors are planning to leave their states

to seek for national offices in the National Assembly. This has also placed a lot of current Senators on high alert as it is almost impossible to deny such governors the seat most importantly when the serving governor comes from the same political party with the senator.

This is so, because the governor by virtue of his position is the leader of the party in the state.

However, history has shown that nothing is new under the sun. Some of the possible scenarios that we will behold in 2015 would not be entirely new as some of them have previously occurred. In 2007 for instance, the Senate President at that time, Senator Ken Nnamani was forced not to contest despite his status and political position because the governor of Enugu State at that time and kinsman, Chimaraoke Nnamani, sought to leave Enugu for Abuja and being the leader of the party in the state,

his will prevailed.

At the moment, a lot of political meetings are ongoing across the nation in respect of the 2015 elections. President Jonathan for instance might not have openly declared his intention to contest but going by the words of the Chief of Staff to the governor of Edo State, Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon, President Jonathan’s intentions are visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. The various support groups going round the nation is a clear indication that he has thrown his hat in the ring even though he is yet to declare it openly.

It is not in doubt that Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has his eyes fixed on the Presidency and most intriguing is the fact that his ambition has received the backing of no less a person than former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Lamido has always maintained that he has all it takes to unseat President Jona-

than and despite the fact that he is running against the President, his belief remains unwavered. Getting Obasanjo’s endorsement has strengthened his course and it has been reported severally that he is consulting with other prominent party members to endorse him as the primaries approach speedily.

Another person who many have continued to wonder where his pendulum would swing to as 2015 approaches is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwaal. The speaker has been courted recently by members of the opposition APC who see him as a stranger in the PDP and despite his silence on the issues of 2015, his recent private meeting with Chief Obasanjo has also helped to strengthen claims that he intends contesting for the office of the President.

For the opposition All Progressives Congress

(APC), the battle for 2015 is all that truly matters as it has always insisted that the reason behind the formation of the mega party is to unseat the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre. The party is keen on wrestling the presidency from the grip of the PDP and it has a lot of tested candidates that it believes are up to the task.

Despite the plethora of candidates at its disposition, the APC it has been learnt, is undergoing various levels of widespread consultation in order to produce its best candidates to unsettle and defeat the PDP in the forthcoming 2015 elections.

These, coupled with the battle in the states makes the race for 2015 interesting to watch as Nigerians are bound to witness lots of intrigues and politicking as the countdown begins.

For 2015, it is expected that there would be upsets judging by the strength of the current opposition but recent events seems to suggest that it might not be as expected going by the fact that the leading opposition has tasted defeats in Anambra and Ekiti despite fielding popular candidates and even the incumbent in the case of Ekiti. Coupled with a lot of internal wrangling in the party, some analysts fear that the party might implode before the elections begin properly.

Whatever happens before and during the elections, it is believed that the 2015 elections would be highly critical in determining the next course of our great nation.

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

8

politics

Jonathan Should Not Negotiate With Boko Haram –IBB

Nigeria’s first and only Military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) is every reporters delight.

The former Head of State over the weekend had friends and family members throng into his Uphill residence as he marked his 73rd birthday. He took time off to interact with journalists on critical issues affecting the country and charted the way forward. . Excerpts:

By Pita Chikwem Your Excellency, the country is going through hard times with an array of challenges ranging from impeachment threats, Boko Haram insurgency to kidnapping and many Nigerians are of the opinion that the nation’s past leaders have not been saying much or advising the present administration.

The older generation, what are we doing? I can tell you we are doing a lot. If there are any set of Nigerians who understand the problems of this country, it is those of us who having been opportune to be at the helm of affairs at various times in this country. We know what the problems are, we appreciate what the President is doing, and the best we can do and we are always doing is to be of help and assistance to him in terms of advice, meetings, interactions, and so on. I think this is one of the luckiest countries that have seven living heads of state and we have always availed ourselves to the President and we also appreciate the problem the President is facing because we were once there so we appreciate it more than any other person in the country.

So the best we can do is to always sit with him in a conducive environment and give him ad-

vice and I am glad to say we are doing just that.

But for how long are we going to be patient on this advice as the country gravitates to disintegration. Is the President making use of the pieces of advice being given to him?

I have always said there will be Nigeria in 1000 years time. The fact is every administration from Tafawa Balewa to the present administration faced one challenge or the other during the course of their time. This one cannot be the end, the next administration would

have its own challenges also, the important thing is we the people strive hard to overcome the problem and move forward. I think this is what is happening. What is happening to us is not new in any developing country.

Sir, talking politics, we are witnesses to a new level of impunity in our polity. Impeachment saga all over the country and militarization of our electoral process are threats to our democracy, bearing in mind that there is no better option to democracy. What is your take on this development?

It’s true there is no better option to democracy, but this is the way I see it. It is still, part of the learning process. You may call it impunity, you may give it any name you want but I think time would come, those of you who are very observant, I would like to see a situation when a chief executive of a state is being accused and he is given an opportunity to come forward to say the accusations is not true, he has his team of lawyers, the state assembly would also have their lawyers and they would make it public and the public would get to know what is happen-

ing and at the end of the day, they vote but don’t forget, in our current situation, I said we are just learning. It is one particular party which has more than the two thirds to remove a governor anytime they felt that there is a breach or gross misconduct, I hope to see a situation where the governor as the chief executive of the state can talk over the heads of those of them at the assembly and to reach out to the public. I believe if the governor is doing well, the public will support him.

So in essence you are saying for us to go

a step further, immunity clause should be removed bearing in mind that most governors hide under the clause.

They cannot be queried; they cannot be sanctioned by their various assemblies.

I pray that we would reach a time when the immunity clause should no longer be an issue.

Every chief executive has to protect his integrity. He has something in him that needs protection; he has his name, his reputation, his family. These are the things he should protect and not immunity, though it is there for one case or the other but if you accuse me, I will try to prove to you that you are wrong especially as I have children and great grand children. Time would come when chief executives would rather defend themselves, their persons and integrity as oppose to using this immunity clause.

Sir, with the current trend of militarization of the electoral process, how would you see the military of today and the military you left behind?

The militarization of politics is the fault of the people. The reason is that, there is this element in the people; they seem to accept that for things to work out well, you have to use the military. You have compro-

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

9

politics

Jonathan Should Not Negotiate With Boko Haram –IBB mised your police force, so the next one that have not been compromised but would soon be compromised is the military.

I don’t believe that the military should be involved in civil process; I don’t believe they should participate in elections.

You just said the Police force has been compromised, and there is a strong likelihood that the military may be compromised and if the military is to be compromised, the people see leaders like you who have been in the military and are still military men, (as far as the rules of engagement is concerned), what does it mean to you?

How do you feel that the institution you left behind is been subjected to a questionable affair?

Would you advice that military should be used in the election of 2015?

Nostalgia. That’s all I feel. It would be corrected, it can’t continue like this. You guys would shout your heads up, the public would shout and the administration will listen. I will tell you what we did then, there are places that we need logistical support by the military. If you take the Creeks, you can use the military in ferrying ballot boxes, in carrying people who would be involved in the elections in the creeks, to me that is practically okay but personally, I don’t believe they (military) should be seen on the streets.

To me, it is not an issue, there is a process and we haven’t gone through the process yet, so why do Nigerians kill themselves arguing about things that have not happened?

Sir, during your administration, which was military, public outcry made you to drop and revert a policy and now that it is a democratic government, don’t you think it beholds to our leaders to once in a while listen to their followers?

I think they are. I would only talk about this when eventually this loan is taken. The National Assembly listens to you the people and this proposal would come to the National Assembly and because the National Assembly listens to the people and agree with you, maybe, it would not get through.

time of next election, you will get the person voted out. Sadly we have not reached the stage where the ordinary voter would say no, this guy had not done well, let’s get him out. Once we should be able to flush a first termer who performed below expectations, out and someone else comes in and I really hope we will reach that stage where ideas are the main issues, not which zone should produce x or y, I think this is still part of the peoples problem we are facing.

rians want is for them to be released and brought back home alive not dead. From my experience as a professional soldier, a lot of planning, a lot of cooperation, a lot of study has to be done to achieve these objectives.

217 or whatever the number is a lot of population We are approaching to lose just like that. So 2015, what can we do I think the government to checkmate sit-tight is trying, from what we leaders. Those who want got during our last briefto cringe to power at all ing, I am quite satisfied cost? that efforts are really beI feel if you believe in ing done to get them out. what you are doing and You see, the objective is you are doing well, you to get them out of that would aspire to finish place alive, the operative what you started. We got It’s been over 120 days word is alive, you can it right during our time; we can still get it right. the Chibok school girls order a full scale military Add you guys have to were kidnapped. Sir, de- operation and you could make it right. I believe spite the assurances by get them all killed which what is lacking is what international communi- would defeat the objecI have always refer to as ties, the girls have not tive. the voter education. If been found. What is the Don’t you think it is you are elected a gover- way forward?

Perhaps the way for- time federal government nor of your state today, you should be able to ward is what the gov- go into negotiation with measure the temperature ernment is doing now. I the sect members?

Well, you go into neRecently the President whether people like you know there are a lot of complications.

It’s no gotiations with people proposed $1 billion loan because you are doing to fight insurgency but well or they don’t like longer an issue that you you know, people you there have been criti- you because you are not could ask the military to identify, people you see, cisms from many quar- fulfilling the promises move in, capture Sam- so whom do you negoters about the loan. What you made, all you need bisa forest and release tiate with? That is the is your take on this sir? is to be patient and the these girls. What Nige- problem. Who? Surely,

I don’t believe federal government should call Shekau to sit on the table and talk, this is my personal opinion. So whom do you talk to? Nobody!

If there are identified persons who for one reason or the other, everybody know them, they are fighting, they come out openly, say this is what they are doing, yes, that is fair enough but nobody knows whom to talk to.

So to be fair to the federal government, whom do they talk to? Tomorrow, if they come out to say this is the leadership, this is the structure, this is our grievances, this is what we want, they can sit down and talk but so far, it hasn’t happened.

to breaking up bridges.

Creating obstacles show you that they are not capable of confronting the army. They just have to impede their movement, they have to unleash terror on people and I believe if the bridge is broken, it is broken, we had broken bridges, we had engineers who would build the bridges and the armed forces are still capable of doing this.

So it is still part of the insurgents’ part of waging a war against regular armed forces. The military have their experiences and I know they know what to do and they should win that war.

What is your take on the possibility that the But the sect is gaining Chibok girls are being grounds and have start- used as suicide bombers? ed hoisting their flags in many villages in the The question on the north eastern part of the Chibok girls, I think country, they are blow- if we should allow the ing up some bridges that government, the security link up these troubled ar- agencies to handle it, we eas with Nigeria, giving may get on headway but an indication that soon if you politicise it, in eithey would take over ther way, either religious that part of the country. or social, then it becomes Do you think the govern- a difficult thing to do. ment is doing enough to We all agree that it is a ensure that Boko Haram Nigerian problem, so we do not take over one part should allow the Nigeof the country? rian authorities to solve Let’s get one thing cor- it. I see on the television, rect, the insurgents know a lot of security experts, one thing, they don’t a lot of people who talk, have the strength, they I don’t blame them, they don’t have the power to don’t have the expericonfront a regular army ences in handling these so that is why they get cases but definitely the themselves involved government is in a betin bombing, suicide, ter position to appreciate the whole purpose is to the level of commitment strike fear in the minds to get them back. They of the public with the have the military, they hope that if it continues, have the police, they the people would begin have the intelligence to doubt the capability sources, they have the of government to protect contacts and so on. All their lives. That is all the we need to do is to enobjective of the insur- courage them to work it gents. They can’t hold out and I know it will. ground hence they resort

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

business

10

Vandalism, Drop In ARPU, Others Stunt More Investment In Telecoms Sector

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

T

he telecommunications sector remains one of the few bright spots in the Nigerian economy.

The sector has continued to generate positive reviews and create more employment for millions of Nigerians as well as boost income and revenue since 2001.

However, the sector has also had its fair share of challenges that has limited its massive impact and leaves many wondering when all will be well indeed.

Considering the continued devaluing telecom services in the country, the solution readily available on the lips of many Nigerians would be for operators to make more investments, especially in optimising and upgrading their facilities.

However, some industry experts and on-

lookers are not looking at the situation as an open and close case of throwing in more money. Some believe that certain level of transparency and support must come from government to guarantee the operators that such investments would not end in futility.

A couple of areas have been identified as key factors to reasons why more financial investment might not be made in this multi billion dollar industry. A few of them would be critically examined to show what needs to be done for the industry to witness more investment and growth.

Every savvy rational investor considers the safety of its assets when making an investment decision. Unbeknownst to most Nigerians, vandalism of telecoms infrastructure is a major problem. About 2% to 3% of Nigeria’s BTS are shut down at any point in time due to vandalism, resulting in a loss of about $50m to $100m every year.

Vandalism on Telecom infrastructure occasionally occurs in error during excavation, but for the most part is perpetrated through acts of sabotage and theft of equipment.

In 2013, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) noted Vandalism of that it had recorded about 1200 fibre cuts in telecom facilities Apart from the finan- just a few months.

These acts of vandalcial difficulties, the curism are common in rurent state of security for telecom infrastructure ral areas of the country, is not encouraging for which are characterized by high poverty and unany potential investor. employment rates. The

low standard of living and lack of opportunity leads youth to revert to such actions to extort telecom operators.

The actions of vandals create significant expenses for operators in terms of repair and replacement costs, lost revenue, and also “appeasement� fees From a decisionmaking standpoint, rolling out more equipment in an environment where the assets are not protected presents a significant risk.

Delays in investment are also encouraged by market uncertainty due to the current antagonistic environment between operators, regulators and government.

Investors in the Nigerian economy are not new to theses uncertainties, in the petroleum sector about $100bn worth of investments is being delayed due to the delayed passage of Petroleum Industry Bill

(PIB) according to the international oil companies (IOCs). Such uncertainty in the telecoms sector can have a knock-on effect for the consumer.

The US in the early mid 1970s was a perfect example of what market uncertainty can do. According to Jerry Hausman, a professor of Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), regulatory issues delayed the introduction of cellular telephones in the United States for 7 to 10 years. The delay purportedly cost consumers about $31$50bn (1994 dollars) each year.

In recent times, telecom operators have been attacked by regulators or government through fines and unregulated tax charges.

This does not provide the incentivizing platform needed for investors to commit

more funds to capital expenditure. The story of the telecoms sector will mirror that of the Nigerian petroleum industry if a proper regulatory and fiscal structure is not designed and enforced by relevant stakeholders.

Critical National Infrastructure

This is one sector that must speedily receive attention.

Protection of telecommunication infrastructure in the country, especially in remote areas, is a paramount need for operators. There have been recent talks of the potential passage of a bill by lawmakers, which seeks to give telecommunication infrastructure the status and legal protection of Critical National Infrastructure as well as other critical infrastructure such as power.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

11

business

Vandalism, Drop In ARPU, Others Stunt More Investment In Telecoms Sector CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

The bill is a step in the right direction; however a delay in the passage will endanger the $25bn investment in the ICT industry as well as future investments will be endangered for the foreseeable future.

It is also important to acknowledge that passage of the bill is not sufficient; awareness and enforcement are the true determinants of the effectiveness of the bill.

A comprehensive plan is needed to communicate to Nigerian residents the need to protect all critical infrastructures and the penalty for violating the law in the country.

Lastly, a well-defined and legally backed fiscal and regulatory framework is needed to eliminate uncertainty about the telecom companies’ operations and potential investment. There is need for a uniform tax and levy framework across the nation which has a legal backing.

This would protect the operators from exploitative charges as well as the creation of unbudgeted new levies/taxes. Ultimately, a properly designed tax and levy framework will increase the positive perception of due process in the industry.

Consequently, investor confidence in the

environment will be improved which will in turn increase the probability of more capital investment in the industry.

Drop in ARPU

Ordinarily, the fundamental shift in the industry from a voice dominated environment to a data dominated environment is a threat to the viability of most operators.

As at December 2012, the national monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) was N912 (~$6), an 87.5% decrease from its 2003 level of N6,384 (~$48).

The Nigerian people need to appreciate the fact that justification for additional capital investment becomes a harder sell for the management of telecom operators due to the lower ARPU. The operators’ cost structure is equally unfavorable and a major drawback in the quest to increase capital expenditure in the country. A key component of telecoms infrastructure is the Base Transceiver Station (BTS), which essentially connects mobile phones to the network.

About 15% of all BTS in the country are connected to the powergrid, which leaves operators dependent on fuel-powered sites.

Fuel costs associated to operating BTS in the country account for about 60% of operators’ network costs. To put it in perspective, network costs in Nigeria are about two to three times more expensive than in other African markets due to fuel costs. It is estimated that Nigerian operators spend about N10bn a year to power their base stations.

Solutions for costs, Security & Uncertainty Evaluating the dynamics of the telecoms environment, it is clear that there is still a strong need for increased capital investment in the industry.

The publicized customer satisfaction levels with telecom operators serve as enough evidence for the need for improved services.

However, until a solution is provided for the operators to deal with issues surround-

ing its operating costs, security, and uncertainty, Nigeria may not achieve the telecoms investment per capita observed in some of the emerging economies such as South Africa and Brazil.

The ICT industry is critical to support the economic growth needed to maintain Nigeria’s status as the largest African economy. Hence, all stakeholders should participate in providing a conducive environment for the required capital investment to improve the telecom industry’s quality of service.

A key win would be in the area of power supply. Unfortunately, the benefits of the electricity reforms of the Goodluck Jonathan administration are not realizable in the short term. However, it is important for the government to show its commitment to the blueprint of achieving significant growth in the genera-

tion and distribution of electricity across the country.

True commitment and observed improvements in the power sector should serve as stimulus for increased investments in the Nigerian economy. The envisaged cost savings should be reallocated to improvement and deployment of infrastructure for more efficient service delivery to the customers.

Roles govt should play

It is fair to say that telecom operators are generally evaluated by consumers without consideration of the rough operating and financial environment. However, if the government and all other stakeholders can play their roles to provide a more suitable environment, then it will become crucial that each operator provides world class and cutting edge service. High ex-

pectations of a telecom investment per capita at par with countries such as South Africa will be the norm.

As Edward Teller said, “The Science of Today is the Technology of Tomorrow”.

The delayed action to improve the effectiveness of the industry will only lead to a lag in the technological and economic development quest for Nigeria. We have attained the status of the largest economy in Africa; ICT should be supported to play its role in making us an economic power on the global front.

It is indeed necessary that the telecom industry gets urgent intervention for more investment that would further improve Nigeria’s growing economy.

Action must be taken to address these areas so as to see the desired results on investments that would be of benefit to every stakeholder in the industry.

12

relationships

By Ngozi Ndubisi Hi I read your article and hope you can help me solve this.

Please help me, my wife of five years suddenly does not like to make love again.

I am going out of my mind with worries and unsatisfied bedroom hunger. Should I date another woman?

Help me Gaius 36yrs Hear and read this:

I

went to see a cousin only to find the wife in tears.

“Funmi what’s wrong; did someone die on?”

I asked worried. ‘Yes’ she said, “my sex life just died, and, and...” she could not go on. Trust me, before I left that house I got to the bottom of it.

Funmi’s husband came back from a three- week trip and rushing to give him big one across the lips, he held her back spun her round and my dear Funmi thought he was admiring her and laughingly grabbed his head and planted a big wet kiss on his check and proceeded to quench her hunger for a kiss.

It was better imagined than experience what happened next. Her lovey-dovey husband of over 12years stood like zuma rock in her embrace.

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

My Wife Does Not Want Sex!

Do you know what he did and said next? Pushing her away gently he said “hey girl, what happened to you, you look like a mother of three and proceeded into their room. She is indeed a mother of three, whom he always confesses to us and all, looks too hot to be a mother.

That night and the subsequent nights he has tried to make love to her and she can’t get pass his hurtful words, so now his touch, smell and all irritates and nauseates her.

She cannot bring herself to tell him what he did wrong and he has not apologized for the hateful words.

Gaius, are you by any means as mean as my cousin to your wife or…

1. Did you compare your wife with any of your ex-girl friends or friend’s wife, or some lady you have been admiring?

2. Is she over worked and stressed out that, all she thinks about is sleep as soon as her head touches the pillow?

3.

Is sex only on your where, when and how?

4.

Is she angry or resentful of you or your action(s) 5.

Have you stopped noticing and paying her attention or compliments?

6.

Have you called out the wrong name before, during or after?

They may be laughable or of no importance to you as a man, but they do to her. For example: The thing is, women more than men tend to brood over negative events. In other words, when hurtful words or deeds are done to women, like when they are call fat, not neat, told that their hair smells etc, she mentally ties the insult or incident to thinking that she may have married the wrong insensitive man.

Because women ruminate more, wives are much more likely to come to bed resenting their husbands. And all the proper timing and sex tricks in this world will not make sex good for any angry or resent-

ful wife.

She might really be too tired or stressed out. Women naturally do more housework and childcare than their husbands do even as they both have fulltime jobs. Additionally, Women do need more sleep than the men, it’s a reason for her wanting sleep more than sex when both your heads hit the pillow.

You might consider helping out around the house to free both of you from undue stress of unfulfilled sex life and help her so that she is not totally warn out and out of it.

She may be resenting the fact that she does not have the freedom to choose when and how much sex she needs. In her bid to restore a sense of freedom which she feels has been taken from her; makes her push you away and refuse your advances.

So try to find out how much sex your wife really wants and is comfortable with in a week and make every second

of the time count so much so that, she will be begging for more before you know it. But be sure you are up to it when she starts to hunger for more of it. Or else… “water go pass garri” or ‘yawa go gas’ as the young say.

Your timing should be right as most women tend to be more open and free in all senses of the word to do whatever and however you want it.

Because certain days before or after the menstrual circle and the time when the cervix becomes softer and moves back, allowing for easy and enjoyable sex on the part of the woman.

Then again, how good have you been? Has she been tolerating your advances thus far for procreation and now that she’s fulfilled her obligation as it were, she no longer has to pretend to enjoy it.

Before thinking of committing adultery and sin before Godand her, consider the pointers to a better consideration and understanding of your wife so that your next complain will not be “Help she’s loving it too much” For all you want to ask or say Send Ngozi Ndubisi an email Ngozindubisi2013@yahoo. com

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

health

13

Sickle Cell Disorder: Family Turns Grief to Humanitarian Service and the psychological trauma is not worth it.”

Still reminiscing, Mamora said, “When our daughter passed on, we didn’t have any other child but in his infinite mercy, God gave us two for the price of one and they are both AS. Not so many people are lucky. The message I want to pass across is prevention.”

Tolulope Akinduro, in whose honour the foundation is being launched, was born on July 26, 1983 with sickle cell disorder. Despite, the debilitating nature of the illness, Tolu was an outstanding student throughout all levels of his education.

He was a Magnum

cum laude college graduate from Clark Atlanta University in 2007 with a double major in Physics and Electrical/Electronic Engineering and a minor in Mathematics.

Upon graduation, he joined Deloitte & Touche Consulting and was a Senior Consultant at the time of his passing away on July 13, 2013.

Speaking with Daily Times, Mrs Bambo Akinduro who is the chairman of the foundation said, the foundation in the memory of his late son is borne out of the hope of alleviating some of the sufferings of patients with sickle cell disorder.

“Some people came

to tell me of having an endowment for him because he lived in America and I just felt if we can do such for people in America, why don’t we come home and do it? That is why we have this foundation. Our hope is that it will go a long way to alleviate some of the sufferings of these people with sickle cell disorder.

“We lived with it; we know that we were able to support him. What of people that cannot even support their children?

What of people that are not as privileged as we are? That is why we have this foundation working with the sickle cell centre to help people,” she said.

Late Akinduro

By Lara Adejoro

T

here was nothing about To l u l o p e A k i n d u r o ’s look to specifically say he had a disorder that affects his red blood cells. He looked radiant, smart, handsome and it was hard to believe he was a sickle cell carrier.

His looks contradict the visible signs that accompany sickle cell disorder, such as frailty, fragility and imbalance hips. But, he died.

Sickle cell disorder is an inherited haemoglobin disorder comprising sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS) and some less prevalent but related conditions such as sickle haemoglobin C disorder (Hb SC) and sickle beta thalassaemia (Hb

SBthal). The genes for these conditions arose by mutation but proliferated in areas where there is or there was a high incidence of falciparium malaria, the most lethal strain of malaria known to man.

Mr Ibukun and Mrs Olabambo Akinduro are not the only ones who have lost their loved ones to sickle cell disorder but they have chosen to turn their grief to selfless humanitarian services.

Narrating his ordeal to Daily Times, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora said, he lost his daughter to the cold hands of death as a result of sickle cell anaemia.

“I have seen patients die of sickle cell disorder. I have managed patients when I was ac-

tively in practice. It’s a terrible thing. Even our own daughter died at 14 months. Then, we had our first son, we planned for two children and we were feeling on top of the world when suddenly we lost her,” Senator Mamora disclosed during the official launching of the Tolulope Akinduro Foundation held recently at the Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, Lagos.

“I am AS, my wife is AS. As a doctor, I would say ordinarily, you should not go ahead with marrying an AS when you are but there are times you get carried away. They say love is blind but if you don’t have faith, love will not be blind. When the reality dawns on you, the blind eye will be opened

Tolu’s Battle Against Sickle Cell

G

oing down memory lane, Mrs Akinduro said, the early years of her late son which were spent in Nigeria were better than the last five years of his life spent in the US. “The last five years of his life, he had real medical problem in the US. When he was growing up, the illness was not out of hand. But the last five years of his life which were spent in US were full of pains. As much as I think that we should let love be blind, I will not support a marriage of AS and AS, the pain of losing a loved one cannot be quantified.”

Statistics

According to Sickle Cell Foundation, Nigeria (SCFN), over 40 million Nigerians are healthy carriers of the sickle cell gene (Hb As), while over 150, 000 babies are born each year with sickle cell anaemia (Hb SS). This is by far the largest burden of the disorder anywhere in the world.

The foundation further reported that in Nigeria, more than 500000 are born yearly with clinically significant inherited Hb disorders. 70 per cent are with sickle cell disorder while 30 per cent are with thalassaemia disorders.

100000 are living with SCD in United States of America as against an

estimated not less than 1000000 in Nigeria.

The report also showed that about 1 in 14 children with sickle cell anaemia have a high risk of developing strokes (overt or silent).

This debilitating complication can impede their mobility and/or impair their intellectual ability.

Happily, strikes can be prevented, if children at risk of developing it can be identified.

The Tolulope Akinduro Foundation is aimed at aiding, educating and assisting persons with sickle cell disease.

Other missions of the foundation, is to promote medical research and public enlightenment about sickle cell disease.

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

14

health

Ebola Vaccine Possible In Nigeria If... –Dr Agwale Simon Agwale, Ph.D, a vaccinologist and viriologist, is the chief executive of Innovative Vaccines Limited, Abuja, a pioneer private administering vaccine company in Nigeria. He is also the CEO of Innovative Biotech USA Inc, and Keffi, Nasarawa state. In this interview, he speaks on Nigeria’s chances of developing vaccines for Ebola virus, as well as Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine reputed to protect people potentially for life. excerpts.

By Augustine Aminu

P

resident Barack Obama says the US will not give trial drugs to the Ebola-endemic countries. Is there hope for local vaccine development in Nigeria?

The American government will not give any country vaccines or therapies that have not gone through clinical trials and licensed except for clinical trials purposes.

These are products that showed promises in animal models. The good thing about the Ebola virus is that there are already existing animal models that develop the same symptoms as humans. It is a perfect platform to develop quick vaccines and drugs. One must be guided by science in asking the US for such products based on two patients recorded in Nigeria. Again the products should be approved by the US regulatory authority, which is the FDA. For Nigeria to use products that come from our decisions, such products should be manufactured locally. This is not a rocket science. We know how these products are produced. The worst we can do is to go into licensing agreements with the manu-

facturers with a defined territory. This means that when the products are licensed, Nigeria will be the territory for sales and the royalties paid to the manufacturers. This is the standard practice. It is not a political decision but business decision.

However, for outbreaks like the current EBOLA and because of the public health interest, decisions may be taken on compassionate grounds.

What is the immediate way out in the case of Nigeria?

We have to segment this. We have to have a short-term solution because people are already infected; then medium and long-term solutions.

It boils down to capacity development. There is no magic bullet as far as this is concerned. The main thing now unfortunately is to quickly build our own structure where we will be in the position to determine our tempo.

If we have a local vaccine factory, various claims such as the woman in the US advocating for Nano Silver could be verified. Other people talk about electrostatic ways of handling the virus, but all these claims must be scientifically verified. So there is need for a local vaccine factory or local capac-

ity to be able to verify these claims. Without it, where will the claims be tested?

Do you think Nigeria is battle ready for Ebola virus?

The commitment has been fantastic in terms of creating awareness to reduce the spread. There is also information on how to isolate people who are infected; some telephone numbers have been stipulated for emergency cases. In that regard, the government has done well. But there is no disease that can be eradicated without a vaccine. So it points to building our local capacity. Currently we have what is called candidate vaccines; unfortunately these vaccine candidates were developed by scientists in the USA and Canada where no Ebola case exists.

The place where we are in the vaccine industry is that we know the protective protein, which is called the glycoprotein (GP) of the Ebola virus. What we need to do is to take that protein and clone it into a system and then develop the process, and conduct the test. It has been shown to protect animals from Ebola virus challenge. Vaccine development is from an-

imals to humans. There is no Ebola in Canada and the US; that is why they cannot do efficacy trials in humans. That is why they have just done the phase one of the trial. The result of the one done by the US National Institute of Health is promising. But they can’t go beyond that because there is no Ebola outbreak there.

The ideal thing would have been to move to phase 2, and phase 3 clinical trials requiring the people that are exposed to receive the treatment; some will not.

It is controlled clinical trials. This experimental candidate vaccine does exist; we know that they protect monkeys and other animal models, but it requires building the local capacity to enable the local production of the vaccine. Nigeria is in a fantastic position to develop Ebola vaccine for the world. The US and Canada have the technology but do not have Ebola. They won’t give their trial vaccines out because any product that is developed must be tested in the country of production first. However and like I said previously, based on licensing agreement or public health interest, these vaccines could be available only in the

Agwale

context of clinical trials.

Is there any effort you are making as an individual to locally have a vaccine manufacturing company in Nigeria?

When we talk about vaccine manufacturing, we are talking about manufacturing vaccines that are already in existence to make them available in Nigeria.

When you talk about vaccine development, you are developing something that has not been known. In terms of Ebola virus, it is the second scenario because the vaccine has not been developed yet for us to manufacture, but even if vaccines for Ebola are developed for clinical trials, there must be a vaccine manufacturing plant to produce them for clinical testing.

Currently the capacity to develop vaccines in Nigeria is very rudimental. It will take us time to build, but we have the capacity to build that within months, and then train local scientists on vaccine development.

But the fastest we can is to take advantage of our lab in the US. We are working on HIV vaccine and new generation cervical cancer vaccine. It

is the same platform that was used to develop the cervical cancer vaccine (i.e. viral like particles or VLP displaying the protective proteins) that will be used on Ebola.

What we need to do is to change the HIV antigen and put the Ebola antigen and quickly scale up the process and manufacture the clinical grade of the product and then begin to test.

If we are serious about this, within months, we should have an experimental vaccine that we can test locally and see if we can control the disease. If there is vaccine, everybody will get Ebola vaccine, then the epidemic will end. It is urgent because we don’t know the next epidemic that will come after Ebola. That has been the history of infectious diseases. The good thing about building the capacity is that when we experience another epidemic, we already have a platform.

It requires studying the new organism and checking whatever that can be taken and clone it into the platform. This is the only way to avoid jumping here and there to take care of epidemic emergencies. We have to be proactive.

sports

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

15

w o N a i r e g i N : FIFA Ranking d l r o W n i d r 3 3 , t s e B d r i h T Africa’s Bremen Chasing Brian Ruiz

By Yakubu Salisu

F

IFA world rankings released on Thursday showed that Nigeria has moved up by one spot to occupy the 33rd position in the August month.

In the rankings table posted on the world football governing body’s website, Nigeria has 673 points in August, as opposed to the 660 points it garnered in the July ranking.

Nigeria’s ranking was however an improvement, in a month which witnessed a lull in footballing activities in many parts of the world.

But in spite of the slight move, Nigeria remains the third-placed team in Africa behind Algeria and Cote D’Ivoire which have 880 and 840 points respectively.

The first two African teams also maintained their spots on the global ranking as the 24th and 25th-placed teams respectively. However, Ghana displaced Egypt for the fourth place in Africa after moving up by two spots with 648 points to now rank 36th in the world.

Egypt now occupies the 38th position in the world with 645 points.

On the global scene, there is

only one small change among Meanwhile, 2014 World Cup the top 14 positions. quarter-finalists Costa Rica have climbed up to 15th posiWorld champions Ger- tion at the expense of the U.S. many continue to lead the which is now 18th, down by way ahead of Argentina and three spots. the Netherlands with 1,736, Sierra Leone have climbed 1,604 and 1,507 points re- 14 places in the Fifa world spectively. rankings for August, lifting Colombia, Belgium and them into the top 50 for the Uruguay maintained their po- fist time in their history. sitions as the fourth, fifth and The Leone Stars, who are sixth-placed countries with now ranked 50th in the world, 1,495, 1,407 and 1,306 points have also broken into the top respectively.

10 teams on the continent, sitBut Spain has jumped one ting in seventh place. position forward and now But the biggest mover in shares seventh place with the world is Lesotho, who Brazil, with both countries have risen 26 places to 105th tied at 1,241 points apiece. - they are 29th in Africa.

Keshi May Dump Nigeria for Another Team

T

he planned new contract for Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi which was expected to have been sealed during the week was unsuccessful, suspected due to ongoing crisis in the Nigerian Football Federation.

Close sources to Keshi revealed that the Big Boss was already considering an “option B”. The source said

Keshi was already planning to consider heading to coach another team.

However, following the reinstatement of Alhaji Aminu Maigari, all plans put in place by the board had to be suspended pending the resolution of the logjam If the letter from the world football governing body FIFA is followed to the letter, then his appointment may

not be confirmed until after the election.

FIFA had directed that all issues should be put on hold until after the August 26th election.

There were speculations that the gaffer would be offered a N7 million monthly package, but our source said that was still at the realm of speculations.

Werder Bremen already agreed with Fulham’s striker and now has to face negotiations with Fulham, who have even higher offers from Turkye. But the Costa Rican international wants to play in Germany, Bild reports.

Sevilla Wants Milan Badelj Europa League winner Sevilla asked for the Hamburg midfielder some weeks ago, but Hamburg demanded six million Euro, too much.

Now, after Moreno sold to Liverpool, the Andalusian make a new effort.

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

16

sports

Transfer Window Gist!!!

Manchester United Reduces Fellaini’s Worth to £5.5m Manchester United is willing to allow Marouane Fellaini to leave the club for Napoli for just £5.5m. Rafael Benitez is keen on the Belgium international with United willing to allow the midfielder to leave on the cheap, Metro reports.

Bayern Raids La Liga for Martinez Replacement; Bayern Munich are set to raid La Liga to fill the void left by Javi Martinez’s anterior cruciate ligament injury. Atletico’s Diego Godin is a candidate, just as Real Madrid pair Sami Khedira and Raphael Varane, AS reports.

Sporting Want Nani on loan

Sporting Lisbon are in contact with Manchester United in an attempt to strike a loan deal for out-of-favour Nani. The Portuguese winger has been told he can leave Old Trafford and may be tempted by a return to his first club, according to Gianluca di Marzio.

Liverpool Near Romero Deal Liverpool have almost tied up a deal for Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero. The 27-year-old is currently on Sampdoria’s books after a season on loan at Monaco and a £1.6 million bid has been tabled. Sampdoria also want Sebastian Coates, says Metro News.

QPR Move for Diarra

Harry Redknapp is aiming to tie up a deal for Lassana Diarra, his former player when at Portsmouth. Diarra currently plays for Lokomotiv Moscow and is believed to be available, but his wage demands of £80,000 per week could be a stumbling block, Daily Mirror reports.

Rolando May Return to Inter

Inter could soon embrace again Rolando. The Nerazzurri have reached an agreement with Porto for the purchase of the Portuguese defender in full ownership.

De Guzman close to Napoli Jonathan de Guzman is one of the major objectives of Napoli. The Dutch midfielder prefers the Italian club to QPR, the deal with Villarreal could be closed with a loan, Sky Sport Italia writes.

l l e b p m a C s Liverpool’ k c a B d e k c o n K Approach

A

rsenal have rejected a Liverpool approach for Joel Campbell this summer. The Merseysiders are among a cluster of clubs who have enquired about taking the Costa Rica international on a season-long loan as they attempt to bolster their strike force. However, Arsene Wenger has rebuffed all offers and wants to hold on to the 22- year-old at least until January.

Campbell will be integrated into the Arsenal

senior squad for the first time since joining the club in 2011, following loan spells at Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiakos. He will join Olivier Giroud, Yaya Sanogo and new signing Alexis Sanchez in battling for the central striker’s role. Speaking at his Friday press briefing ahead of Saturday’s Premier Leaguecurtainraiser against Crystal Palace, Wenger said Campbell had “matured a lot” and figured in his plans for the forthcoming campaign.

Done Deals and Rumours in Transfer Window … Nigerian Star, Victor Moses on Loan to Stoke Mu’Sodiq Adekunle

A

t last, Chelsea’s Nigeria winger Victor Moses has joined Stoke on a season-long loan on Saturday. Moses has struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge since moving from Wigan for £9 million ($15 million) in 2012 and spent last season on loan at Liverpool.

The 23-year-old, who can play on both flanks and in a more central attacking role, is Stoke’s sixth signing since the end of last season. Moses, who started his career in England at Crystal Palace, started six Premier League games for Liver-

pool last term and featured in a further 13 from the bench, scoring his only goal on his debut against Swansea.

Born in Nigeria, Moses chose to represent England at various youth levels up to the under-21s before deciding to play for the country of his birth in senior internationals.

He started all four games at the recent World Cup as Nigeria reached the last 16 before losing to France.

Stoke’s chief executive Tony Scholes said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of such an exciting young talent in Victor. “He will certainly add to our attacking options and from talking to him it’s obvious that he’s really excited about the prospect of making an impact in the Premier League with Stoke City.”

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

fashion spot

Show Stopper

By Ronke Akinola

J

ust as the world keeps getting advanced, fashion world is not left out.

Dresses you wear speak great volume. Just as the saying goes, the way you dress determines the way you will be addressed. Dressing up well is not an art but simply a math. Fashion is inclusive of certain rules and calculations that make it work, and yes the number of variables has to be considered.

Tight dresses are great for hourglass figures; they highlight all the best features of your body perfectly.

Dressing has codes and rules; when the rules are followed it makes a perfect outfit. Pick a colour you look good in. Dark skin and hair will look good in blue or purple while light blonde hair and freckly skin will look good in warm colours, such as red, yellow or brown.

Brown or strawberry blonde hair will look good on green, yellow, purple and red. All skin tones and hair colours look great on white.

Remember, we are only trying to speak on the basics that will help you out.

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AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

18

fashion spot

s p i T n o i h s a F Eye- Catching Heels

Make your outfit interesting from the front to the back. Use the colours in the print of your dress as a guide to what colour of shoes to select.

It’s a trap most women fall into by matching their shoes within an inch of their lives to the dress they’re wearing.

Red dress? Red shoes of course, right? Wrong!

Do not wear one solid colour from head to toe. This is the perfect opportunity to inject your style personality into your outfit. When working with a dress in a black colour, think about using a contrast colour for your shoes.

If you are not a fan of the monochrome colours, find pointed heels with trendy details like spikes and two colour heels. A contrast colour is a colour opposite to the original colour on the colour wheel.

Statement Necklace

Necklaces are a must have piece and is often the favourite accessory for women. Necklace completes an outfit and also gives a touch of glamour to it.

Statement necklaces are known to boost one, when one is down and clueless about the attire to wear, statement piece are so much in trend that you can pair it with anything and still look gorgeous.

Matching necklaces to one’s outfit is always

a good idea and it looks super gorgeous if the necklace matches the tone of your outfit.

Strapless tops and dress looks fabulous with short chain pendants, chokers while longer necklace looks best on turtle necks.

Shorter necklaces generally like bib, collar etc. look best on crew necks.

Cuff Bracelets

Cuff bracelet is an excellent choice if you want to wear a statement piece.

To show yours off, keep your arms bare or wear a cuff over a slimfitting one colour long sleeve top. Stick to one cuff to create a focal point.

Bangles are another great option. Just remember that if you would like to stack a number of bangles together, stick to one arm only. Keep to a maximum of six bangles at a time as a general rule of thumb to avoid overdoing it and make sure that the bangles’ colours and patterns complement each other. When layering bangles, throwing in some gold or silver always looks great.

How To Wear Your Earrings

No formal attire is complete without complementary jewellery.

One of the most popular jewellery options, especially when it comes to dressing up, is earrings.

On occasions of dinners or banquets, earrings with genuine gems or sparkling stones should coordinate well with the evening dress or gown as they enhance the luxurious, elegant and the feminine charm.

Wear studs with gems or pearls if you plan to wear a busy dress that has lots of ruffles, lace, beading, sequins, crystals or a large pattern.

Studs also work well if you are wearing your hair in a more formal up-do. Long or large earrings with a tight updo can make you look like a princess.

Danglers look perfect when worn with western dresses. An elongated and narrow drop earring with simple design is a good match with long hair to show ladies’ elegance.

Also make sure that your make-up balances well with your earrings.

If you are wearing a brightly coloured pair, they may look best with clean and simple makeup.

How Belt Define Your Waist Adding a belt to a dress is a great way to add sparkle to it. A belt can be used to define the waist, hide those extra pounds and also add curves to a straight waist. This simple accessory can be used to glam up a plain dress or to add a casual feel to an ensemble.

Where the belt sits on the waist or hips affects the overall look of the outfit.

For some women, the

perfect spot for a belt is on the natural waistline, while others look better wearing belts that sit above or below it.

A belt can be used to add contrast or to blend in with a dress. A belt that blends in with the dress is generally best for women with undefined waistlines as it makes the wearer look slimmer.

Fashion belts can be used to create dramatic statements and add colour to a plain outfit; simple belts in block or neutral colours are more versatile and will probably still be fashionable and wearable in the future.

Belts that feature elastic are more comfortable and expand with the body while fabric, leather, patent leather, and metal belts yield different looks and the effect of the belt’s material should be considered when putting the outfit together.

You can absolutely look fab sporting a beltless style, but they do add many more options to your existing wardrobe.

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

19

metro (lagos)

By Joy Ekeke

C

hildren are often said to be leaders of tomorrow. If that be the case then Nigeria’s future leaders can be found on the streets, ragged, starving and worn out. They are child hawkers who sell every conceivable article from sachets of pure water, gala sausage rolls, lacasera to just about everything including recharge cards and roasted cashew nuts.

Those too poor to trade in commodities lie in wait at traffic intersections for unsuspecting motorists upon whom they press their windscreen washing services. This trend exists all over the country and with each passing day, the number of children who take to street hawking increases.

Some of the parents of these children refuse to send them to school because they cannot afford the cost while others are not biological parents but guardians who simply take advantage of them by engaging them in child labour.

From an early age the parents engage the child in whatever trade they may be involved in, be it selling of food items or working in a mechanics workshop just to mention a few. The level of poverty in Nigeria is such that many families live from hand to mouth; what they eat is what they have sold/earned in that day. It therefore means that if they cannot sell or earn, they starve until the next day. Such parents send their wards out to hawk knowing the risk involved but they have few or no options at all.

However, for others who send these children out, it is simply because they are not their biological parents and they only take advantage of that fact and use the children to enrich themselves by sending them out to hawk and sell for them despite the risk involved in street hawking.

The risks facing child hawkers in modern day Nigeria is indeed daunting, even for matured adults. These child hawkers are exposed to reckless drivers, ritualists and intimate predators.

There are several cases involving girls as young as ten who are sexually active and who trade in sexual favours for money alongside whatever commodities they are peddling.

This scourge is not limited to the female gender alone as male children also fall victims to sexual offenders as well.

The consequences of these acts include unwanted pregnancies, illegal and unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted diseases and psychological trauma. The

Can the child say no to street hawking? streets have nothing to offer child hawkers save frustration and psycho-social disorientation.

However, for a few parents, they are not only propelled to send their wards out to hawk for economic reasons, some feel it is a way to train the child up well.

In a an interview with Daily Times, Blessing Chidi, a mother of two expressed her discontent on the issue stating that child hawking is never a form of training for the child but it is child abuse.

“There are other ways a child could be of help in the family, not by selling on the street or highway. For a girl child to be on the street, she doesn’t feel valuable. Even for the male child, hawking does no good to him. It reduces the child’s self worth and make the child de-

velop feelings of inferiority,” said Chidi.

Another respondent, Ibukun Ibrahim said sometimes when he sees children hawking on the streets, he feels bad for them especially the way they run in traffic in attempt to make sales. ‘’Most times you see girls sexually assaulted and they will not be able to say a word for fear of being punished by their abusers and even their guardian or parents when they get home. At the end of the day, some of them get pregnant while others may end up becoming street children and running away from home.”

Our correspondent also spoke with one of the kid street hawkers, Eniola Ayuba, 10 year old. She said she has been hawking since the age of 5.

“I have been hawking coconut chips

since when I was 5years old, after school I go home to eat my lunch, and then my elder brother and I would go hawking.

My brother hawks plantain chips while I hawk Coconut chips. At times we might be lucky to sell everything in our baskets and at times we might not be so lucky.”

Eniola explained that there was a time she fell seriously ill but was not bold enough to say no because the implication of that was that she would starve and might be beaten up by her mother.

“There was a time I was sick, I could not even walk because I was very weak but I can’t say no to my parents because if I did not go out to sell, I wouldn’t have food to at night, so I just had to go and hawk and I don’t want my mother to beat me at night.”

While speaking with Daily Times, Abiodun Ogunkoya , a psychologist at the Psychology department at the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital Yaba describes child street hawking as a way of making more money for the parents/ guardians at the expense of the children’s future.

“It is not right for a child to be hawking on the street and why does the child needs to hawk on the street? It is either to help the family at home or perhaps they are just using the child to make money for them.”

He further explains that the psychological impact of that on the child is negative and besides that, it exposes the child to serious dangers.

“When you send a child to hawk, the child is exposed to different dangers like road accident; kidnapping for rituals and sexual abuse which is even more rampant. Some of these children have to stop school and others who are still in school don’t even have time to concentrate on their studies and they start drop academically till some eventually drop out of school.”

In this part of the world, when a child gets to the age of 18 he can say no to some things he or she does not want to do.

“We all know that basically at the age of 18, the child has every right to say no but we have to also look at the cultural difference. We can’t compare our culture with that of the advanced countries.

Over here when a child gets to 18 he or she can never says no to his parent because he or she can’t survive alone and the government can’t fend for him so for this reason, it is difficult for the child to stand his or her grounds on issues like that because of the consequences that could result from such decisions.”

20

metro (abuja)

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

Karasina II, Snake Eating Community In FCT A Augustine Aminu

fter the day’s activities and the hustling and bustling associated with living in the city of Abuja, most people need a place where they could relax and unwind with cold drinks and some delicacies. Such relaxation outlets dot the nooks and crannies of Abuja but there are a few that are different in terms of what they offer.

While many joints have become popular for the delicacies they offer on their menu, Karasana II village located along the very busy Kubwa expressway has become popular for a special kind of bush meat – snake meat.

Interestingly, snake according to those who eat it is a very special delicacy for the people of and most of the villagers talk proudly of the legendary eating of snake meat.

Despite the growing popularity of snake meat and its growing demand, this reporter would later discover and interesting part of this community – they don’t sell their snakes.

Investigations by Daily Times reveal that in joints where snakes are

sold, depending on the size, one single smoked snake goes for between N1000 and N1,500 and a plate goes for N3000.

Speaking to Madaki of Karasan II, Danlami Danjuma said not everybody in Karasana eats the reptile but said those that eat only eat big ones.

He said, “Our ancestors forbid us to sell. The only bush meat we sell is rat and that for our Sunday pocket money” He also said the reptiles are going into extinction because of development coming to the area.

Snakes are reptiles that are found in most countries in the world. Some snakes are venomous, meaning that they can inject poison into the bloodstream through a bite. Snake meat is commonly eaten in the Southwest, South-South and some states in the north central region of Nigeria. The popular recipes include rattlesnake chili and barbecued snake meat. Other cultures generally eat their own, locally found snakes.

Snakes are considered medicinal in Chinese lore, as a “warming” food, and the blood of snakes is often mixed with liquor to produce a virility enhancer.

Traditional South American medicine

includes dried or powdered snake meat which is believed to cure several different illnesses. Snake meat is usually said to taste like chicken, but a closer approximation is frog legs. Snake meat can be very tough if not prepared well.

Research shows that snake meat contains protein like any other type of meat. Protein is necessary for many body systems, including the development of muscles. Protein provides amino acids the body cannot obtain any other way, which do everything from building cell walls, to regulating hormones. Snake meat contains roughly 93 calories per 100g (3.5 oz) of raw meat, depending on the type of snake. This is roughly half the calories and one third the amount of fat of a similar amount of sirloin beef steak.

Fewer calories and less fat content for the same weight of meat can aid dieters in controlling their weight.

Experts however warned that as snake meat has been linked several times with severe strains of salmonella, which grows in the snake’s gut.

This bacteria is neutralized by proper handling and by cooking. Snakes, like other animals, may also contain parasites and other infections that can be transmitted to humans, which can also

be neutralized by proper handling, freezing, and thorough cooking. Snake venom must enter the blood stream to pose any danger to people, so there are no concerns about poisoning from eating most snakes.

Snake meat is relatively low in fat and calories, high in protein and some consider it a rising star in the food industry. However, like any type of meat, it should be prepared and cooked carefully to ensure it does not result in infection or food poisoning.

However, snake eating community is legendary and Danjuma said there has never been reported case of anyone being poisoned. He said they consider the snake meat like every other bush meat and said it taste extremely nice.

Other residents, who spoke, said they enjoy eating snake and that it is a delicacy that has passed on for many generations.

Also speaking, a prince in Karasina II, Abdullahi Bayero who is a teacher at the only Nomadic School in the village lamented on the issue of government taking their land without compensation. He said being an indigenous community they should benefit from the ‘encroachment’ on their land through some form of compensation.

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

people

In what seems like an endless ride round almost the whole of Festac, Faze drove, in search of where to feed his hungry stomach worms. Eventually, the ride came to a halt at a local joint where he devoured a handful of eba and egusi soup with beef. More like an informal interview, Faze spoke on his new projects, relationship with ex-Plantashun Boiz matesTuface and Black Faze and marriage plans among others things.

By Opeoluwa Akintayo

21

I Now Know My Real Friends –Faze

of my friends in the industry.

Are you still with Now Musik?

No I’m not

What have you been up to lately?

I’ve been working on my project, the Why did you leave the label? new album, 2000 And Faze, new vidI’m now with my partner, Panache eos and I will also be starting my radio records, we are partners. and TV tour soon. I’ve been trying to put myself on the right spot.

Was there a grudge What about the video you’ve shot with Now already?

Musik?

My first single is ‘Your DaughThere ter’ and I noticed that everybody was no wants to dance. So I’ve shot the grudge. We video and it should be had an out next week. I’m also working on the single I recorde d

with Patoranking. The video will be out in about a month. We are both going to South Africa to shoot the video and we will be back in a week’s time. The whole album will be out next year.

How many tracks will be in it?

I haven’t specified how many songs will be inside but I already recorded many songs. It’s not just about me. I have to agree with my management, Plantashun Entertainment before anything can be done.

Aside Patoranking, which other artistes will you feature on the album?

I don’t want to mention them. It’s a stepping stone. I want to work with Flavour and some

agreement to go our separate ways because I had to do my thing on my own terms. They tried but my way of doing things is different from theirs.

Your contract ended with them?

No. We decided to part ways amicably.

So why choose South Africa for your video?

I wanted variety. I shot ‘My Daughter’ here in Nigeria. So, I’m just trying to change places.

Wizkid recently got bashed for using white and coloured girls in his video. Are you also going to do same?

I won’t say anything yet.

I just want people to wait and see it.

It’s not all about the girls.

It’s all about t h e song a n d how it makes them happy because at the end of the day, after lashing out at Wizkid, everybody still dance to the song. So, why not stay stiff if you think you don’t

like the song.

Why choose Patoranking?

I didn’t choose him. Funny enough, this song was recorded before he came out as Patoranking but thank God he’s now big and strong. And he’s been asking me to do the video even before he became popular but I kept shifting it until now. So this is God’s time and I know Patoranking will keep getting bigger because he’s humble and gives me that respect and I respect him too.

You must be enjoying your new look Yes. I’m happy I don’t have to bother with dreads anymore. All I need to do is cut my hair, bathe from head to toe and keep it clean.

You don’t want to go back to wearing dreads?

Not at all.

Is it true you sold your house in Festac?

I don’t want say anything about that because that’s about my personal life.

If you notice my kind of person; I don’t like to show off anything because of my family and for security reasons. I like to live like an average person. As you can see; I don’t like to go around with an entourage. I don’t have a driver but whenever it’s necessary, I move around with crowd.

Do you still see Tuface?

Yes sure. We talk on phone and whenever it’s necessary, we meet.

What about Blackface?

We speak a lot too Last year he got signed to a new label for almost N60 million. I even saw him shooting a video around 23 road earlier in the year…

Yes, I heard the good news about

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

22

people

I Now Know My Real Friends –Faze

him too. He told me about the video and I would have been in the video but wasn’t around.

when are you bringing in your wife?

I’m not married

So he was down, now he’s up…are you happy for him?

Everybody faces challenges in life and now, he’s at the peak of his success. His time is coming really soon and he’s going to come out fine.

I know. The last time we met, you told me you had someone so?

Yes I do have a girlfriend and she’s still the same person So what’s going on?

She’s in school. So when she’s done, we’ll know what we’re doing next. Education is very important you know because tomorrow if I’m not capable, she should be able to take care of the family but, I know that can never happen.

You said your Re-fazed album was going to be the biggest. What happened with it?

I had issues with my marketer and I don’t want to talk about it. Now, I’m doing the whole thing alone with my partner, Panache Records because we have the same mind and he’s my very good friend. I trust him and he believes in me.

You must love that girl because you guys have been dating like forever We have our ups and downs and that makes us stronger as we try and rectify our mistakes

You’ve been going on and off…why?

Yes, that’s because I had issues with my last album and I couldn’t promote it because of the problem.

There was no way I could start pushing out those songs when I had some scores to settle with my marketers. So I had to halt it but now, everything is settled. I’m going to be disturbing your radios, TVs and headphones. You won’t be missing me anymore.

A lot of people think you’re broke Yes a lot of people say that and that’s Nigerians for you. People are affiliated to success. When people see that you’re doing well, they start calling you, even those who don’t even know you. I was on Hip TV for an interview, and when it was aired, I started getting even strange calls from people who didn’t bother about me in a long while. But I don’t react to them, I just answer them politely. But everything made me stronger and I now know who my real friends are and I’m going to roll with them and they will enjoy me.

Tuface and Black Face?

They are my family. I’m not even talking about entertainment friends alone, it applies to even my normal relationships.

I saw you giving some area boys money on our way. Is that how you give them all the time?

I don’t give out money like that all the time. It’s just that they are the people that secure us and they are not privileged to be where we are. So, the only way to appreciate them is through money but, I know it’s not good to always indulge them as such but, giving someone money like that could save his day. That may be what he has to feed for that day and God will bless me. I also do it for charity because God’s blessings come from there. You’ll see that in one of my songs titled ‘Give Back’.

We don’t see you at shows and events anymore?

I’m very selective about the kind of shows I go.

You’ll get to a stage and people will get tired of seeing your face, I don’t want to be in that category. I want to be there and make sure I have something

But you meet other girls whenever you go out People make the mistake of thinking I go out a lot.

I don’t go out that much. The only times I visit clubs are whenever someone has an occasion or whenever I want to hear the kind of music in vogue new to give to people to people’s amazement. I’m trying to upgrade myself.

You don’t get endorsement deals like some of your colleagues. Why? They came actually but I just want something new first of all. I want to bring out something new, especially with the Refazed album so that people can know that music is what made me and not because I just want to get endorsed by brands.

You are kicking out endorsement deals?

I didn’t say I kicked out endorsement deals. I’m looking for bigger ones.

You drove us almost round the whole of Festac Town just to come eat at this local joint. Why not some sophisticated eatery?

I live in Festac and I can walk on the streets comfortably. Of course I can’t walk freely in Ikeja or Surulere but I’ve lived here almost all my life, it’s over 20 years I’ve been here. So, this is my hood.

So now you want to move out of Festac. Aren’t you going to miss here?

I’m not moving out. My family is still here. It’s just that I want to start shuttling places now. I love Festac.

So did you rent the new house you’re moving to or you bought it?

I will be quiet about it. I don’t like people knowing about my personal life. I’m a very quiet person.

Now that you’re moving into a new house,

So if you are not in the studio recording, where do you go to?

I’ll be at home Doing what?

Having a good time and resting with a couple of my family friends and other friends who come around What fashion item can’t you do without?

I can’t go without my sunglasses and hooded tops, T-shirts whenever it’s a corporate thing. I wear what suits me most of the time Did you have any embarrassing moment when you were coming up in the industry?

I’ve not had such an experience since I went solo, maybe when I was still withy Platashun Boiz, we used to beg for shows and they never let us in. But as Faze, I’ve never had such an issue.

Aside music what else do you do?

I do business. By the time I’m through with it, I can now start talking about it.

How many people are you sponsoring in your hood...more like a big brother thing?

I help anybody that comes to me with whatever I can afford. But once I know someone is the type that smokes everyday and he comes to me, like the area boy I gave money and I said it was somehow wrong to give him money. No matter what they do, they will still smoke their weed from the money butI know that they will also feed out of it. And these people are those who go around telling people what you’ve done. So if you don’t give them; they’ll mess up your name.

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

23

arts & culture

Nigerian Parents and Artistic Children:

Who Should Decide?

By Desola Akindele

I

t is a common practice in Nigeria for parents to tell or choose what their child /children should study while in school. Nigerian parents are known to have affinity towards medicine, law, accounting, engineering; these are the professions thought to make ears tingle and make motionless bodies listen. You would openly hear some parents proudly spout their mouths declaring “My son is a doctor”, with each word coming out slowly so that the whole world would hear

and take note, aimed to give them societal respect and unqualified glory.

But the world is fast changing. The richest and influential persons now come from the so called professions that parents didn’t want to be associated with, such as footballers, musicians, painters, writers etc. Footballers now earn millions in pounds and are highly respected.

Many Nigerian children in the past have suffered from merciless beatings from their parents for going out to play football, owning a ball, using their books to draw or even trying to be

creative. Art classes in secondary school days were usually scanty and there was the mentality that only the rejected go to Art classes. Those notions were abjectly wrong!

One of such people in the past that did not follow the status quo was born on the 15th day of October, 1938 in Abeokuta into an uppermiddle-class family. His name is Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti often called Fela; Abami eda. His mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, was a feminist activist in the anti-colonial movement; his father, Reverend Israel Oludotun RansomeKuti, a Protestant minister and school principal, was the first president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers. With such conservative Nigerian parents you would expect them to follow the trend of choosing their children’s future profession. They must have.

As a teenager, Fela would run miles to attend traditional celebrations in the area, already understanding that the authentic African culture of his ancestors ought to be preserved. Fela was sent to London with

two two of his brothers and sister in 1958 to study medicine but decided to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music, while his siblings studied their parent’s choice of medicine. Although, his two brothers became successful in medicine, one even was a former Health Minister in Nigeria. None of that can be compared with what Fela created.

This decision of his, created a lasting genre of music (Afro beat), a republic (Kalakuta), an oracle of some sort and most notably, a legendary trend.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre (a cross-breeding of Funk, Jazz, Salsa and Calypso with Juju, Highlife and African percussive patterns), human rights activist, and political maverick. The fact that AfroBeat is today globally winning hearts in its original form – lengthy, ably crafted, earthy compositions laced with explicitly political lyrics – suggests that Fela’s purgatory on earth may have served to awak-

en a sensibility in people to appreciate authenticity and substance.

In 1960, Fela married his first wife, Remilekun (Remi) Taylor, with whom he had three children (Yeni, Femi and Sola).

While in America, Fela met an African American woman, Sandra Izsadore, a political activist and close friend of some prominent members of the Black Panthers, who was to be a big influence on his thinking. She introduced Fela to the writings of Malcolm X, Eldridge Cleaver and other black radicals, through which he became aware of the link existing between black peoples all over the world.

With this insight, Fela also gained a clearer understanding of his mother’s fight for the rights of Africans under colonial rule in Nigeria, together with her support of the Pan Africanist doctrine expounded

by Kwame Nkrumah, the Ghanaian head of state, who had negotiated independence for his country with the British.

Before returning to Nigeria, Fela also found the inspiration needed to create his own unique style of music, which he named Afrobeat. The band scraped together the money to record some of the new material in Los Angeles. Back home, Fela once again changed the name of the group, this time to Fela Ransome-Kuti & Africa 70, and the L.A. recordings were released as a series of singles.

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

technology

24

Looking Through Windows... and Time The Operating System that’s changing the world… or not

By Olatunji Makanjuola

W

hen it comes to the world’s most popular Operating System (OS) Windows, one can say that there has been a kind of behavioural trend to their releases… like an updown-up trend.

Because there would be one great running edition and when a new one is released something seems to be wrong but next to that, things go well again; being determined by public acceptance of each release.

In Nigeria for instance, the best accepted Windows OS was Windows XP, so much so that till today, we still have businesses, both small and large, running on XP even up to large scale corporations; notwithstanding the fact that Microsoft has officially stopped its free support to the OS since April this year, after twelve years of support.

But with all the Windows we have had since, is Time ‘not’ saying anything to Windows and its users?

Time Past

We had Windows 95, a great game changer at

its time which proved useful and progressive to both personal and business users- coming along with a few bugs which were well resolved and lead to Windows 98.

Next came Windows Millennium Edition aka Windows ME. This one was resourceful and ambitious and was supposed to meet the needs of the new millennium but it was generally seen as a backwards movement especially to businesses.

Feedbacks from this edition lead to Windows XP (eXPerience) in 2001. This was a significant move in the Windows OS line as it has been regarded as one of its most stable and user friendly releases since- supporting a wide range of products with enhancements that favoured all kinds of users and making them happy. This is reason why about 25% of Windows users still run the XP operating system including corporate organizations around the world.

And then came Vista, one of the downturns in the series, which was not welcomed so muchquickly leading to the Windows 7 releaseanother great release which holds about 48% of PC users around the

world.

Windows 7 proved great for the fast paced changing world of computing and was great for business tooupturn.

Today

Windows 8 came on the scene in late 2012.

It was slow in its acceptance even though it is a very solid operating system that works very well; it introduced an environment that users found uncomfortable because the OS had its focus on touch screen devices.

This idea didn’t get along with business environments as workers were not readily provided with touchscreen devices.

The major discomfort was in having to know whether to run your activities via the ‘Metro’ tiled app interface or by the familiar desktop menus and environment… and seeing the tiled interface as the

welcome screen upon booting your computer was a radical shift from the known.

In October 2013 Windows 8.1 was released and improved on its original 8 version bringing back the desktop landing screen after booting and the Windows Start buttonon-screen.

8.1 also made the difference between the tiled and desktop screens smoother and brought the usability and access to tile apps possible from the taskbar on the desktop screen, either when they have been launched or by pinning them to the taskbar. Full screen apps can be minimized and closed like desktop apps.

Altogether, Windows 8 – a really solid OS – hasn’t been largely embraced by business users especially while the tiles and full screen apps are still taking some getting used to.

If the seen trend with Microsoft’s Though Windows OS releases is the feel on moanything to go by, then bile devices, mostly we should be expecting Windows smartphones, something excellent has been received betand very welcoming in ter than it has been on the next release of the desktop and working Windows series. devices (because WinThere were lots of rudows 8 was geared mours saying the next more towards touch release would be anothscreens), it would not er tune-up to Windows play well for workers 8, being Windows 8.2, who need their usual but more certainly, computers or laptop for there would be a Winserious business use. A dows 9 early-mid 2015. working environment If the rumours are nowadays has to be right, the new OS distinct from consumer would have a workable ones even in computdistinction between ening. terprise and consumer The upgrade to Winuses. dows 8 has not been an Microsoft is also easy one for many uslooking into a unified ers and corporate bodand streamlined operaties. And with many ing system which users consumer arguments as would find easy to unto whether or not to upderstand as a product. grade, this OS could be Till now Microsoft has regarded as one of the offered variations of its not-so-good releasesoperating system which also bearing in mind consumers have found what ‘word on the net’ to be confusing. These says about Microsoft’s include Windows 8, plans for the future.

Windows Phone and Windows RT.

To Come

Windows 9, codenamed “Threshold”.

Courtesy: http:// www.techradar.com

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

early beginings

The First and second acquisitions The 1930 – 1948 ERA

By Tunji Makanjuola

M

r Earnest Ikoli resigned as editor of the Nigerian Daily Times with effect from November 30, 1929. A year earlier, the African Messenger had stopped publication on the recommendation of the European manager of the company, Mr Jeal, who felt that the paper had become a waste-pipe on the company’s finances.

Mr C.A. Titcombe who joined the company on January 2, 1929, became editor with effect from January 1, 1930.

Mr A. B. Laotan became sub-editor of the paper with effect from December 1, 1929.

In the early 1930s the Nigerian Daily Times had more than its fair share of the world-wide trade depression. Daily circulation and advertisements fell and the proprietors were forced in 1935 to sell controlling interest in the company to Mr R. B. Paul, chairman of West African Newspapers Ltd., Liverpool-based publishers of West African Review who, about the same time, acquired control of West Africa, a London-based weekly on West African affairs.

After this first acquisition, other leading contenders for ownership of the Nigerian Daily Times were the Daily Mirror and Daily Telegraph groups of Fleet Street, London.

Since its days as a woman’s tabloid newspaper in the twenties, the Daily Mirror had made considerable changes and become one of the most powerful newspapers under the drive and force of Guy Bartholomew, a newspaper man who had come up the long and hard way but who knew what he could make the public like.

Eventually Mr R. B. Paul, agreed to sell the Mirror after only 12 years in control of the Daily Times.

On December 20, 1947, the deal was formally completed and the Lagos General Manager’s first news was a cable received that day from the Daily Mirror Newspapers and the Sunday Pictorial Newspapers conveying to him and the staff good wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

The Mirror acquisition document was signed

by Guy Bartholomew.

A formal announcement was made on January 1, 1948, that the “Times” had been taken over by the “Mirror”. This was the second acquisition.

Forthe first few months there were little signs of visible change, but internally much was going on.

The first “Mirror” director to visit Lagos was R. W. T. Suffern who arrived towards the end of January, 1948, with Mr A. E. Weston, General Manager of West African Newspapers.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

25

26

early beginings

The First and second acquisitions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

Mr Suffern himself tells the story from here: “The real start of the Daily Mirror’s interest in Nigeria goes back to a lunch at Ciro’s Club, Orange Street, London, on January 22nd, 1947.

“At this time, the government in Nigeria, under the administration of Sir Arthur Richards, now Lord Milverton, was somewhat concerned about the lack of responsible newspapers, and the activities of the local press, especially the views put forward by Dr. NnamdiAzikiwe’s papers, “The Pilot” and “The Comet”.

“A former Fleet Street Colleague of mine, Mrs Rene Howard, had joined the P. R. O. Department of the Colonial Service in Lagos in 1946.

“Mr D. C. Fletcher, the Senior P. R. O., was coming home on leave and Miss Howard suggested he should contact me and discuss the situation. I was Managing-Editor of the “Daily Mirror” and “Sunday Pictorial” at the time.

“So as I say, we met over lunch – first at Ciro’s then at the Royal Societies Club and again at Ciro’s.

“He was most interesting, and told me in depth and in detail of starting a newspaper of their own.

They had an excellent printing department in Lagos.

“I said I thought that that would be most inadvisable and, indeed, dangerous.

“Then, said he, would the “Daily Mirror” be interested in establishing a daily newspaper in Nigeria?

“There was a population of approximately 22 million, mostly illiterate, but developing and longing for knowledge and reading material. The population was also rapidly increasing.

“To say the least, I was very in-

terested but, I told Mr Fletcher, I could not commit the Daily Mirror to anything. I would take the matter higher.

“I went to the then Chairman, the brilliant, mercurial, exciting Harry Guy Bartholomew.

“I explained the situation to him – a 22 million (and growing) population to work on, little newspaper expertise in the country and a new worthwhile challenge to the very successful and wealthy Daily Mirror.

“Bart listened in silence to my enthusiastic outpourings. Then he said “You’re the Managing Editor, aren’t you?”

“I said I was and he shrugged. I understood what he meant. I was to get more information.

“I went back to my office and started there and then to make arrangements to visit Nigeria.

“I left London on Monday 24th of March, 1947, for Lagos.

The journey, which now takes six hours, or less, then took three days and three nights and was much more interesting than the flashing flight of today.

“The plane landed at Bordeaux, Lisbon (night stop), Casablanca, Port Etienne, Bathurst (night stop), Freetown, Takoradi, Accra (night stop) and finally Lagos on Thursday March 27th.

“I had a most curious feeling, which I never lost, as I stepped off the gangway onto Nigerian soil.

“It’s like coming home” I said to myself.

“So it was on every visit, as my affection for the country and its people grew.

“To my complete surprise, I found I was to stay four days at Government House, the guest of the Governor. I had expected to stay at the Bristol Hotel, the old CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

DAILTY TIMES – AUGUST 11-17 2014

27

early beginings

The First and second acquisitions

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

Bristol, a much more entertaining place than the present one.

“On Monday, March 31st, I left Lagos for a tour which lasted just over three weeks and took me east and west and as far north as Katsina.

“I left Lagos again, homeward bound on Sunday, April 27th and was in London on Wednesday, April 30th. I had been away 37 days.

“The next morning, Thursday, May 1st, I went to the “Mirror” office to sort out my thoughts, read my diary afresh and started my report to the Directors.

“I had travelled 3,700 miles in Nigeria, and even then saw only a fraction of the country.

I concentrated on the more heavily populated and more accessible districts which could be reached by newspapers.

“My report said: “I talked to hundreds of people ranging from shy African children in elementary schools to the Governor; from naked pagans of the Plateau to the proud Emirs of the North; from workers in railway shops, and tin and coal miners to the intelligentsia; from the peasant farmer to the Judge-on-Circuit.

“I asked the views of African teachers, pupils, doctors, journalists, lawyers, businessmen, police, soldiers, nurses, fishermen and many more.

“Mostly they said they would welcome a picture paper, but there was clearly a distrust among many of any European enterprise.

“The Nigerian De-

fender, Dr. Azikiwe’s Ibadan paper, said apropos the Daily Mirror: “… … the Nigerians are at this stage opposed to any alien coming to establish newspapers in their country.”

“A sentiment echoed and approved by many, and borne well in mind by myself.

“The prosperity, present and future, of the country was, of course, of the maximum importance to any newspaper enterprise. I made many and detailed enquiries into the situation.

“At the time (1947), the position was good.

To my mind the future was full of promise.

There were prosperous coal and tin mines.

There had, at that date, as I wrote “never been a completely adequate geological survey, but the Government is starting one now … … …

It is hoped there is oil.

Altogether there are big development plans in being.

“As we now know, there certainly is Oil. “I was confident about the country and, therefore, about a new newspaper’s prospects.

“There were obviously, snags… Land; Machinery; Distribution “The land and machinery were really minor matters. I was sure we could acquire land (I was to learn of certain difficulties later!). I knew we could ship machinery out from England.

“Distribution: The railway was very slow; domestic flying was extremely limited. I wrote:‘There remains Road Transport… … buses could carry our papers…

… I say buses because it would be wise and economic to carry passengers as well as papers.

The present road transport is taxed to the limit.

Motor vehicles of all varieties are packed to the uttermost… … passengers, at present, pay one half-penny a mile but would pay more for a guaranteed reserved seat – an unheard of thing.

This would certainly help to keep transport costs down… … and the buses could, of course,

carry passengers and freight on the return journeys.’

“There is an element of risk. I think it is one well worth taking provided we also do jobbing-printing, book publishing and photography.

“I suggest there is need for a quick discussion.

“I finished the report (34 pages) on Monday, May 5th, and it went to the Directors. “Bart” approved it in general, liked the idea, but it had

to be supported by the Board as a whole. It was an important and, in the minds of some, possibly dangerous step.

“They were, as I remember, lukewarm about the whole thing.

Nigeria was a long way away. They knew little about it.

“Except Cecil King.

“He was keen: he told me he would give me his support, but that he did not like starting anything new. If there happened to be a run-down paper

we could buy and build on – that would be different.

I thought it would be useless to approach Dr. Azikiwe or Dr. Maja (Daily Service). Dr. Azikiwe had refused to see me when I was in Nigeria. Dr. Maja had received me courteously and we had a long talk.

Continued in the next edition of Daily Times enewspaper.

AUGUST 11-17 2014 DAILTY TIMES

28

opinion

The Umbrella and the Broom : A Clarion Call For Rebirth And Restructuring

S

ince the transition of power from the military system of government to civil rule, the democratic situation in Nigeria has been very fluid in nature. The military rule, however draconian it seemed to be, was highly organized and devoid of indiscipline in contrast to violence, corruption, deceit, greed, exploitation as well as other filth which have permeated the Nigerian democracy since inception.

Cross-examination of the fifteen years of democratic reign in Nigeria reveals a bleeding and dysfunctional system of government founded on faulty political ideologies. The lifeblood of true democracy is the political parties.

An ideal political party must develop refining platforms and policies able to catalyse democratic development with practical renewal and practical approach to implementation.

A successful party must transcend geographic boundary and ideologies. From this perspective, it is clear that the Nigerian political parties approach to leadership and true federalism is a barefaced affront on an ideal democracy by being equivocal in its commitment and adherence to democratic rules and principles.

The excessive, unethical exchange of

words, campaign of calumny between the two major parties as well as other activities inimical to the avowed goals and ideals of the parties is sickening and capable of threatening public peace and stability.

The Nigerian electorate appear to have suffered so much and have sustained scars of intolerance, bitterness, distrust, social injustice and corruption which unarguably highlight this ‘Pseudo-democracy’.

An analysis of the logo of the political parties in Nigeria will make one question the genuine platform and rationale behind their emergence.

Essentially, party logos are vital political tools especially in Nigeria, a largely multilingual country where a considerable size of the electorate is illiterate, semi-literate or unable to read the official language or even the language of a particular region. Political communication is very vital

An ideal political party

for an all -inclusive democracy. AAP; a party defined by one policy must develop refining ‘change politic’ change India’ addressed issues platforms and policies of water, energy, public hospitals, shelters for able to catalyse the homeless, governdemocratic development ment schools, education and women safety, among others by setting with practical renewal up help lines, establishing accountability and practical approach and accessibility to the to implementation common man through telephones, emails, soas voters often choose Using the Indian po- cial media and every symbol rather than a litical system as a case- other means of comname during election. study, the AAP ( Aam munication to ensure The Umbrella and Aadmi Party) ;another people make their voice the Broom are the com- party with the Broom heard. monest, indispensable symbol has gained masIn the same vein, the materials found in al- sive popularity and ac- SDF (Sikkim Demomost every home. ceptance down to the cratic Front) party The Umbrella is a grassroot based on the adopts the ‘Umbrella’ device used to protect premise for which it as their party’s symbol. a person from the heat was founded. In their The party operates on or the rain. That is, in own term, the Broom the political ideology times of bad weather symbolizes “sweeping of democratic socialas well as in extreme away corruption” while ism which adheres to adverse condition, the their slogan ‘ Wield the principles of reUmbrella can be used the Broom, get rid of formist and evolutionto be saved from the cheats’ speaks much of ary struggles towards difficult times. their intention as a party socialism. The party Comparatively, while that is keen on business fights in the interest of the Brooms are indis- of eliminating corrup- the people by upholdpensable cleaning im- tion rather than busi- ing the people’s rights plement for sweeping; ness of politics. AAP and privileges in India.

It consists of bundle of treats the common man The party also attempts straws or twigs attached as its high command by to redress the economic to a long handle. providing a platform

and social depravity of the people to defuse all internal tensions between the ethnic groups in the state and to maintain communal harmony between all sections of the society.

The SDF umbrella is depicted in three colour; Blue, Yellow and Red. These three colours depict the political ideologies and party position of the Sikkim Democratic Front. The blue is used to depict the strong determination, progress and sense of national integrity.

The Yellow is used to symbolize purity and sacrifice of the party towards maximum humanitarian approaches in the state. The Red is a colour of change, of struggle and of revolutionary zeal; hence it depicts liberty through social change and upliftments of the conditions of the people in the state.

The three colours are symbolic of the party’s strength of struggle, it ideas of social change and its courage to carry forward it’s demand.

One of the notable achievement of the SDF party in India is the maintenance of an insurgent-free state at a time when the problem of terrorism and insurgency were hitting hard on India population.

However, the PDP and the APC in Nigeria are just two sides of the same coin. The corporate identity of the Umbrella and the Broom party in Nigeria seem flawed, judging from their national emblem.