Daily Times of Nigeria Newspaper

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

NIGERIA

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

dailytimesng

N150

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.14

FG intimidating opposition – APC

6

Ï ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ ƅƕë 9Ɛô ƍƋ ƕ Ɛ ƌ Ƌƈ ƒƐ

Tinubu

Tinubu is Man of The Year

I

T matters little where the pendulum swings on February 14 this year, when Nigerians file out to elect their president for the next four years: There can be only one ultimate winner – the electorate.

This is because, unlike what they experienced in all previous elections since 1999, the citizens will on that date be kings – like the true customers that they are.

Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and his major challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, are old political foes, surely. But in the coming election, they will be contesting for the soul of the nation almost on an even keel.

Gone, hopefully, is the era in which a ruling party in Nigeria will take it for granted that every election is already in the kitty, even before the first ballot is cast.

Nigerians have one man to thank for that development.

He is former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has raised the bar of opposition politics in the country and has thus placed the polity on the path of sustainable progress.

Political Editor, AKINJIDE AKINTOLA, presents the Daily Times’ Man of the Year 2014 on Page 14.

–Editor

INSIDE

LCCI fears production, operational pressures EAGPLES’ M in new year CAM U R BLES XT Exclusive

EAGLETS AXE 64 HOPEFULS FROM CAMPX6

Poster!

Personal information Name: Blessing Okagbare

Born:

“I believe it is doable (beating Fraser-Pryce in her native country). My records will always get better and so I can only train harder, grow my aspirations and keep my belief aflame.”

September 10, 1988 (age 26)

Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)

Weight: 68 kg (150 lb)

Country

: Nigeria

Sport: Athletics

Events:

BLESSING OKAGBARE

Long jump, sprints

Olympic Games Record

Bronze:

2008 Beijing

(Long jump)

OKAGBARE

World Championships Record

Silver:

2013 Moscow (Long jump)

Bronze: 2013 Moscow (200 m)

Commonwealth Games Record

Gold:

2014 Glasgow (100 m)

Gold: 2014 Glasgow

Silver: 2014 Glasgow

(200 m)

(4x100m)

All Africa Games Record

Gold: 2011 Maputo

Gold: 2011 Maputo

Silver: 2007 Algiers

Silver: 2011 Maputo

(Long jump)

(4x100 m)

(Long jump)

(100 m)

African Championships Record

Gold: 2010 Nairobi

Gold: 2010 Nairobi

Gold: 2010 Nairobi

(100 m)

(Long jump)

“Today, we are salivating the athletic prowess of one of our own, Miss Blessing Okagbare, 26, still energetic and spirit- filled, who was showered with blessings starting with an annual grant of $120,000 to ensure that she is not stopped by lack of funds or training facilities, and this grant will last till 2016 when the Olympics would hold in Brazil.”

(4x100 m)

Gold: 2014 Marrakesh (100 m)

Gold: 2014 Marrakesh (4x100 m)

Silver: 2012 Benin

(100 m)

Continental Cup Record

Bronze:

2010 Split

(100 m)

Personal Bests

X4,5

100 metres – 10.79 seconds (2013)

200 metres – 22.23 seconds (2014)

60 metres (indoor) – 7.18 seconds (2010)

WILLIAM BOZIMO

Rigondeaux stops Amagasa in 11th round

X7

Mikel nominated for EPL top award

X2

31

Sportlitics

KESHI MUST WORK WITH NFF TERMS, PINNICK INSISTS X3

X8

PILLAR OF SPORTS TASKS FG ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

X6

2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Page Three

3

s

Editorial

2015: A new beginning

W

ith 2014 now history, Nigerians are anxiously waiting for what Year 2015 holds in stock for

them.

The outgone year could be described as one that sorely tried the soul of the nation. It was a year that saw an increase in religious insurgency, rising unemployment and general sense of siege. Last year will be remembered for the kidnap of more than 200 innocent school girls from Chibok in Borno State and the capturing of vast swathes of territories by Boko Haram jihadists.

The year saw a spate of strikes by labour unions and interest groups demanding that governments across the country honour the contractual agreements reached with them.

Much as some of these problems remain unsolved, the country is going into the New Year with concerns and trepidation. With 2015 now here, Nigerians are asking why government exists. This question has become pertinent because the vast majority of the citizens hardly feel the impact of government in their lives.

In many parts of the world, governments find various ways of making life easier and more live-able for citizens. Some simple, but difficult questions are inevitable: What does the Nigerian government do for the citizens? Does it provide employment

or assistance to those not able to find immediate employment after school?

Does it create the necessary environment for private businesses to thrive?

Does it facilitate loans for would-be entrepreneurs? Does it provide housing or even institute a possible homeownership plan? Does it provide any significant assistance to the teeming population of small-scale farmers?

In how many of the so-called cities have governments provided the most basic infrastructure?

Without the presence of government, people are resorting to selfhelp. They have become so used to improvisation and always finding ways to go around their numerous day-to-day problems in a poorly-run country.

As the general elections approach, people are becoming worried at the conduct of politicians who in the past weeks have been overheating the polity with some unguarded utterances. In 2015, Nigerians expect them to act with decorum and conduct political campaigns devoid of bitterness. This advice is timely, in view of the numerous threats from some interest groups now beating the drums of war.

Even at that, Nigerians expect monumental changes in the New Year. These changes must be felt in the country’s politics, economy and welfare. It would be wrong for our leaders to continue seeing the citizens as docile.

Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba consoling Police Sergeant, Mr. Timothy Useni who was attacked by armed robbers at a check point, during his visit to the Hospital in Nasarawa on Tuesday.

All is fair in (political) war? ernment and the people are almost one hundred percent derived from federal allocation, it will be difficult not to see reason with the embattled governor.

Perhaps, if the governor had ended his explanation at that stage, he might not have exposed himself to a charge that he might not be telling his people the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He was quoted to have said: “The state government is passionate about staff welfare.

We are handicapped by the dwindling allocations from the Federal Government. We have a wage bill of N4.9bn but the allocation we have

this month was N2.9bn. Last month, the state got N3.1bn from the Federal Government. We are working hard to ensure workers are paid the December salaries.”

Some “enemies” of the government have dug up records from the Federation Accounts which show that the state and its local government councils got N8,706,945,432.83 in December 2014.

So, what went wrong? Is someone playing pranks with the people of his state?

In this season of election, could it be part of the warfare? Could that be what is meant by all is fair in war, especially of the political hue?

The late saga, Chief Obafemi Awolowo

Gabriel Suswan

Pope Francis

Any people that is starved of books, especially the right type of books, will suffer intellectual malnutrition, stagnation and atrophy

There is no conviction and ideology and so people just swing. They change parties the way we change our undergaments

One day we will se our animals again in the eternity of Christ. Paradise is open to all God’s creatures

Analysis Yinka Olujimi

A

Governor in a state in the southern part of the country has been quoted to have blamed the failure of his administration to pay the December 2014 salaries of civil servants on dwindling resources from the Federal Government.

In a nation where the resources for running the gov-

More info: www.dailytimes.com.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head, Sales & Marketing

Managing Editor

Head of Operations

Head ICT (Shared Services)

Editor

Online Editor

Head Graphics

Deputy Editor

Business Editor

Deputy Head Graphics

Noel Anosike

Gabriella Osamor Yinka Olujimi Yemi Ogunsola

Bisi Abidoye

Innocent Nwankwo Adetayo Adelaja

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Moses Ebong

Banjo Ayorinde King Ododoru

Afeez Odeseye

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

4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

www.bglgroupng.com

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

News

5

s

L-R: Kaduna State Governor, Alh. Mukthar Ramalan Yero; Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo and Minister of Transportation Sen. Idris Umar at the flag off of Nigeria Railway Intra City Train Service at Station Kaduna…Yesterday.

Insurgency: Tambuwal canvasses assistance for displaced persons Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to take special interest in the plight of internally-displaced persons who have been forced out of their homes as a result of the insurgency in some parts of the country.

In a New Year message issued by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, the Speaker said internally-displaced persons in various camps within and outside the country deserve the support of Nigerians at all times.

He said that governments at all levels must put in place a comprehensive and coordinated strategy that would enhance the welfare and living conditions of the affected persons.

He also said that the House of Representatives, in conjunction with other arms of government, would continue to support any effort aimed at finding durable solutions to the challenges of the internally-displaced persons.

Said he, “The National Assembly, House of Representatives in particular, will work with other arms of government, national

and local NGOs, donor agencies and our development partners to put in place durable solutions to the challenges faced by IDPs in Nigeria and those staying in our neighbouring countries.

“We hope to develop a national framework, structure and policies on internally displaced persons and ensure that these policies are implemented at all times, “ the Speaker added.

Tambuwal said Nigerians have resolved not to give in to terror, and expressed optimism that the present security challenges faced by the country will soon be a thing of the past.

Yuletide: IGP calls for vigilance in churches, mosques Augustine Aminu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has advised religious organisations in the country to put adequate measures in place to reduce vehicular movements around places of worships.

This culture, he advised, should be sustained even far beyond the general elections.

In a press release by the Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, the police chief also advised operators of Motor Parks, Shopping Malls and Recreational Centres to work very closely with the Police and other security agencies as they strive to strengthen general security in their respective facilities.

The statement reads, “To ensure a secure, peaceful and hitch-free nationwide New Year celebration, the IGP has directed

Abba all Zonal AIGs and state Command Commissioners of Police to ensure an effective and efficient deployment of all operational manpower and tools at the disposal of their respective Commands.”

According to the statement, the IGP has further directed the AIG Border Patrol to ensure that the nation’s borders are effectively manned to prevent any cross-border crime.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Igbo will vote for Jonathan – Ohanaeze Okey Chris, Awka

A

s Nigerians prepare for this year’s general elections, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has explained why it would vote for President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The position of the group, was disclosed on Wednesday by the chairman of its Anambra State branch, Chris Eluemuno, who declared that the ethnic nationality would have difficulty forgetting the perceived antiIgbo sentiments of the APC candidate.

Eluemuno recalls for instance that Buhari, as military ruler between 1984 and 1985 ordered

the execution of a teenage boy in Enugu for allegedly smoking Indian hemp. He also recalled the detention of former Vice president, Chief Alex Ekwueme, while the deposed President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was put in house arrest in a comfortable house.

He said: “I can vividly remember that when Buhari was the military Head of state, he ordered the execution of an Igbo boy who smoked Indian hemp, an offence that carried six months imprisonment on conviction. He quickly made a decree to support the death penalty on Indian hemp and backdated it to accommodate the boy for an offence that was then six months imprisonment for anybody convicted”.

The Ohaneze leader added: “Buhari also detained Dr. Alex

L-R: Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe; running mate to Plateau PDP, gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Yilji Gomwalk; gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Gyang Pwajok and chairman, PDP Plateau, Mr. Raymond Dabo at the inauguration of the party’s gubernatrial action campaign committee in Jos… on Wednesday.

Ekwueme, the first Executive Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the maximum prison for carrying coal while the Ex-President Shehu Shagari was kept under house arrest then.”

He also alleged that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has no plan for

the Igbo or Nigeria in its party manifesto, unlike President Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he said is pan-Nigeria.

His words: “Apart from his marvelous achievements, which are so glaring for everybody to see, President Jonathan is an Igbo man with full Igbo blood in

him and his family. He has Igbo connection and heritage”.

Eluemonor made the declaration while receiving an award of “Exemplary Leadership Award from Leadership and Role Model Foundation of Nigeria”, which was held at the East –End Hotel, Awka, Anambra State.

APC accuses FG of intimidation Monday Agu Jnr

T

HE war of words between the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) continued on Wednesday with the latter raising the alarm over alleged to intimidate the opposition using security agencies.

The Presidency denied the allegation and accused the APC of using foul means to malign the government.

The opposition party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, accused the Federal Government of using security agencies, especially the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and the Police, to harass and intimidate its members with a view to decapitating it ahead of the coming elections.

The APC said that the torrent of threats being issued recently by the Minister of Police Affairs and the DSS, over alleged inflammatory statements by opposition leaders, was a thinly-veiled attempt at cowing the opposition and destabilizing its ranks.

It stated the strategy being deployed included the ‘invitation’ of key opposition figures for questioning by the DSS, starting with the APC National Publicity Secretary, to be followed by arrests and detention of such figures.

The party alleged that the impending clampdown was the PDP-led Federal Government’s answer to its soaring profile ahead of the polls, therefore, called on local and international observers of the elections to keep a close watch on the unsavoury developments, which it maintained constitute a clear and present danger to the success of the elections. ”The Minister of Police Affairs said publicly that he has already directed the Inspector-General of Police as well as the DSS to arrest anyone who makes inflammatory statements ahead of the 2015 elections, and then went ahead to castigate the APC, thus exposing the real reason for his directive. ”The Minister had barely issued his orders when the DSS, which has unabashedly become

a megaphone of the ruling PDP, fired its own warning, directed pointedly at “a serving governor calling on men of the armed forces to rise up in protest against constituted authority,” when nothing of such happened. ”If the Minister and indeed the security agencies were carrying out their duties as an official/ agents of state rather than partisans, they would have realized that no one is more guilty of making inflammatory and even treasonable statements than the supporters of the President and members of the PDP. ”Yet, not once has the Minister, and the security agencies under his control, called these people to order. There is no better indication of the mindset of these threats-issuing Minister and the security agencies under his control than their glaring double-standard and vexatious partisanship. This is not how to run the affairs of state,” the party strongly held.

APC also recalled that a series of inflammatory, insulting and downright treasonable

comments by supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan and officials of the PDP all went without as much as a whimper from those who were now howling at the opposition for statements that were neither inflammatory nor inciting. ”A die-hard supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan once threatened that there will be blood on the streets if the President is not re-elected, without anyone calling him to order.

He recently said the President has already won the yet-to-be conducted Feb. 14 presidential election, suggesting that the election will be a mere formality. No one called him to order. ”On our part, we will continue to document the developments while maintaining a responsible and purposeful public discourse, highlighted by issues and devoid of the kind of inflammatory and treasonable comments that PDP and Presidency officials have been spewing out,” APC noted.

The Presidency refuted the allegation. The Senior Special As-

sistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe in a statement also on Wednesday, said that the allegation was part of the APC’s agenda to malign the President.

It said: “The presidency views the statement by the opposition All Progressive Congress APC raising the alarm over the plan by the Federal Government to use the security agencies, especially the DSS and the Police, to harass and intimidate the opposition with a view to decapitating it ahead of the 2015 elections as another smear attempt against the person of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in order to win cheap sympathy from the electorate ahead of the 2015 general elections.,” Okupe said.

“Nothing can be as unfounded as the accusation by the APC which shows clearly that it remains clueless with nothing to offer as the alternative that the party continuous to preach to Nigerians. APC should rather concentrate in selling its manifesto to the electorate,” the statement read in part.”

Daily Times Nigeria j ƑƏ Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ ơè ƾƠơǀ

Islamic group tasks FG on insecurity R Ƒ ^ ƋƈƅƆ ƈƒƆ ơƿéƗ ƕ ƑƋƐƈƌ ƐƑƌ ƌ Ɛ ƏƅƕƅƋƆ

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

ÏÏÏ An Islamic rights group, the Jamatu Nasril Islam (JNI, has stated that for peace and progress to be restored back in Nigeria, government at all levels must wake up to their fundamental constitutional responsibilities of providing adequate security to the citizens so as to stop the increasing human bombings and killings by the Boko Haram sect.

Speaking via a communiqué issued by the group’s Secretary General, Dr Khalid Abubakar, at the end of its one-day security meeting chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto in Kaduna on Wednesday, the rights group noted that the current security challenges be-deviling the country persisted largely as a result of the inability of government to deploy effective strategies to tackle them.

The group also identified endemic corruption, social injustice and flagrant disregard of the rule of law as contributing factors to the security challenges in the nation’s north-east.

It expressed fears that the economic base and development of Nigeria were being systematically and grossly crippled by all forms of insurgencies, from Boko Haram to cattle rustling, oil bunkering, theft and other militant activities.

Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÏÏÏ Ogun State Police Com-

L-R: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya welcoming Governor Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola to the Airtel stand during the opening ceremony of the Lagos Countdown to 2014 festival, Bar Beach, Victoria Island It expressed concern that the low morale of troops due to inadequate welfare, lack of desired weaponry and failure of intelligence among other reasons are severely hindering the fight against insurgency.

The Islamic umbrella body in Nigeria further stated that despite the devastation being

Lƈ ƈ ƐƆƏ ƑƏƆ Ƈ ƇƆ ƒƈ Ɛƈ ƈ ƗƑ ƐƏƕ ƈ ƾƠơǀ Akor Ejumene, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Chidoka

Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, Monday, assured that the country, in 2015, will witness sustained transformation in the Aviation sector that will ensure improvements in the safety of the nation’s airspace, security and comfort of passengers.

According to Chidoka, the ini-

caused by the incessant sophisticated bombings evidenced by huge losses of innocent lives and gross destruction of properties, politicians at all levels had regrettably showed very scanty or no concern about the national predicament and anguish, while they were at the same time busy with their political campaigns.

tiatives of the Jonathan Administration aimed at transforming the aviation sector have started bearing fruits with the coming on stream of more private airline operators, newer aircrafts and improved passenger service.

He said one of the initiatives is the Aviation Passengers Service (APS) Portal which is designed as a one-stop platform that enables the flying public to access real time information about airline operations and services at any of the airports in Nigeria.

The minister maintained that the initiative was a reliable source of verified information designed to empower air passengers especially in planning their trips, and has such features as Flight Search Functionality, Feedback Service which enables passengers to provide reports

mand has issued a 14-day ultimatum to owners of motorcycles contravened at Aiyetoro police station, to over and claim them, failure which such would be forfeited to pubic auctioning.

A statement issued Wednesday in Abeokuta, the state capital and signed by the Administrative Officer in the Police Public Relations Office, ASP Theophilus Nwakali, called on members of the public who lost motorcycles to thieves to report at the Ayetoro Division for identification and claim.

Nwakali, in the statement listed 16 motorcycles as part of the items recovered by the police which are presently awaiting claims at Aiyetoro.

These include, Bajaj Boxer with registration Number QN 453 AAA, Honda 125 with Reg Number AA 33 AAA and two unregistered Haojue Suzuki.

on issues / incidences pertaining to any airport in Nigeria for immediate intervention or redress.

The Portal, the Minister says, also provides Airline Flight Performance Analysis which is designed to expose the deficiencies or otherwise of airlines operating in Nigeria which, by extension, enables passengers to make informed decisions on choice of airlines.

The recent retention of Nigeria’s Category 1 status by the United States Federal Aviation Authourity according to him, remains one of the major achievements of the aviation sector in the year 2014 while efforts are on to ensure the categorization of the nation’s airports among the 10 best in Africa, by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards in 2015.

7 News ƾƠơǀë ^1 ƑƏ Ɔ 9M& ƐƏ ƍ ƏƆ Ɛ ƆƋƆƅƐƈ Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏ

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, on Wednesday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on how to conduct transparent elections in 2015.

The party made the call in a statement signed by its National Director of Publicity, Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, said it was imperative for the electoral umpire to provide a level playing field for all contestants in the elections.

The statement reads: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, wishes party faithful and all Nigerians, a promising, optimistic and blissful New Year, filled with great economic advancement, peaceful political milieu and socio-religious harmony.

Ɔ ƑƆ ƅ ƌƌƈ ƈ ƆƏ ƏƆ ƈ

Suswam

ÏÏÏ

Benue State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr John Ngede, on Wednesday, resigned his appointment to pursue his ambition as running mate to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prince Terhemen Tarzoor, for the 2015 general elections.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Justin Amase, made this known to newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council Meeting in Makurdi.

Amase said Ngede had been nominated by PDP as running mate to its governorship candidate Prince Terhemen Tarzoor for the 2015 election.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Taraba youths accuse Ag. Gov for working for opposition

ÏÏÏ

Lagos governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has asked Nigerians to regard 2015 as the year of peaceful and credible elections.

Agbaje also canvassed support for PDP in 2015, saying, his party offered the most credible candidates and the most realistic programmes capable of driving human and infrastructural development in the country.

He especially commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for spending last year putting in place structures geared towards the progressive improvement of the electoral process.

ÏÏÏA group of youths in Tara-

Bauchi mortality rate drops to 3.2 a month Shoppers at the Katangwa market, Abule Oja, Lagos…Yesterday. Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI either Umar runs for the PDP governorship ticket or no one else, even as it claimed that it foresaw Ishaku’s defeat by the APC candidate, Senator Aisha Alhassan with a landslide victory if something was not done quickly.

“The voting pattern of presidential election in Taraba state, come 2015, would go along with the governorship election, which means many of the electorate would cast their votes for Jonathan if the former acting governor Umar is given his party’s ticket to run as Jonathan.

“The entire youths in Taraba state are calling on Mr. President and the ruling PDP to pay attention to their concern, especially the funny zoning arrangement, and that the contest must remain open for the popular candidate, Garba Umar,” the youths said.

Civil society flays Obiano’s 2015 budget proposal

By Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka

ÏÏÏ

Civil society groups under the aegis of Equity and Social Budget Platform (ESIBUP) has expressed dismay over what they said was ‘’poor allocation’’ to the social sector in the 2015 budget of Anambra state.

They said that Governor Willie Obiano did not take adequate care of persons with disabilities, noting that the social sector was the only sector that would take care of disadvantaged persons in the area.

Leaders of the group spoke from their different points of view. While Mrs. Anekwe Eucharia, Co-ordinator of ESIBUP and Programme Manager of Justice Development and Peace/

2015: Agbaje urges commitment to violence-free poll Jonathan Eze

Abisola Oyewole, Lagos ba state, under the aegis of Taraba Joint Youth Forum (TJYF), have alerted President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that acting Governor Sani Abubakar Danlandi was working for the victory of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a statement by TJYF Chairman, Jibrin Mohammed Auwal, the group alleged that the acting governor was clearing the road for his political friends in the APC by dismantling all PDP political structures built by his predecessor, Alhaji Garba Umar.

The statement read in part: “The PDP structure built by Alhaji Garba Umar so far toward Jonathan 2015 is now history, as the present government of the day headed by the incumbent acting governor engages in clearing the road for his political friend, Senator Aisha Alhassan of the APC; giving her all the needed support to clinch the seat of power in 2015.”

However, the youth group advises President Jonathan not to truncate their chances in the state by sacrificing Umar for the present governorship candidate, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku.

According to the forum, it is

Briefs

Caritas Commission (JDPC) spoke for her group, Mrs. Ebenebe Onyeka spoke for Development in Practice (DiP).

Gloria Nwafor, who is Chief Executive Officer of Care for the Physically Challenged and Destitute Foundation (CAPCADF) while Mr. Orjiako G. Chuma spoke for Societal Values and Community Development Initiative/Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), also criticized the low representation of the social sector in the budget.

The groups said that allocation of mere 14.3 per cent of the total capital budget to social sector was “quite poor,” given that human development index is measured around important sub-sectors like health and edu-

cation. In the budget, a total of N15.872 billion was allocated to the social sector, while N430.2 million or 2.7 per cent of the social sector and 0.39 per cent of the entire capital expenditure allocated to Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. The civil society groups frowned upon the allocation as being “too poor, considering that it is the only Ministry of Women Affairs that has clear allocation for women, people living with disabilities, orphans and vulnerable children that could address the needs of the less-privileged.

Besides, the group added, even though Obiano had made agriculture the pillar of his administration, the allocation to that sector was abysmally poor.

ÏÏÏ

The health intervention programme introduced in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi state has, in a month, reduced mortality rate from 20.3 to 3.2 in 46 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC).

The council’s PHC Director, Alhaji Garba Gamawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, in Bauchi, that the achievement was recorded between the month of October and November.

Gamawa said some of the interventions were from the free services introduced by the Bauchi State Government on free health services to children under the age of five.

Army restricts vehicular movement in Maiduguri

ÏÏÏ

Obiano

The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Borno state, on Wednesday, announced a two-day restriction of vehicular movements in Maiduguri and environs during the New Year and Eid-El-Maulud celebrations.

Spokesman of the Division, Col. Sani Usman, said this in a statement in Maiduguri, adding that the measure was aimed at preventing security breach during the holiday.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Tompolo campaigns for Jonathan, meets monarchs Joe Ogbodu, Warri

ÎÎÎNiger

Delta ex-militants warlord, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (a.k.a. Tompolo), who has become a presidential envoy, has begun a major political campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan, as he meets with first class royal fathers in Delta state, drumming support for the Jonathan/Samo ticket.

The ex-militant leader, who has become very influential in the political circle in Delta state, is also pushing for the victory of Okowa/Otuaro ticket in 2015 governorship race.

Tompolo, who is hardly seen onshore except his recent outing in the corridors of power, in Abuja, had, on Tuesday and Wednesday, taken the campaign for Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, as well as Okowa/Otuaro ticket to the door steps of prominent royal fathers in the state.

It is not clear if the Ijaw warlord would extend his new political moves to other states of the Niger Delta, but a source close to him said that the exmilitant leader was embarking on the project in a bid to douse tensions, which his recent foray into political issues in Delta state may have created.

ÎÎÎThe

gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has urged civil servants in the state not to despair despite the delay in payment of their salaries.

Omisore said this in a New Year message to the people of the state.

A copy of the message was made available to our correspondent in Osogbo, on Wednes-

BRIEFS Dankwambo proposes N86.7b budget in Gombe ÎÎÎGovernor

Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State on Wednesday presented a budget of N86.7 billion for 2015 to the House of Assembly for approval.

The figure showed N21billion reduction from the N107.7 billion budgeted in 2014.

Dankwambo said the budget took into account the fall in the price of crude oil at the international market. ``After a careful analysis of our expected resources inflow for 2015, we allocated budget envelopes to all ministries, departments and agencies to guide them in the preparation of their estimates’’, he said.

EFCC loses to Akingbola at Appeal Court Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (middle); Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Ishola Adekunbi (2nd left), Hon. Isreal Jolaoso (left), Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo (2nd right) and Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle (right) when the Governor assented to the 2015 “Budget of Continuity” at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday.

Tompolo has been linked to many controversial issues in recent time in Delta state, including the emergence of Okowa as PDP governorship candidate, emergence of his cousin, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro’s as deputy governorship candidate, as well as a botched visit

of Jonathan to inaugurate the controversial $16billion Export Processing Zone (EPZ) project in the state.

Daily Times learnt that the ex-militant leader, who is highly revered among his Ijaw people for his gallant role in the struggle to emancipate the Niger Del-

ta region, had met with the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwase II, as well as top members of the Itsekiri Traditional Council in the monarch’s palace in Warri on Tuesday, and on the same day he met with some other royal fathers from the Urhobo ethnic nationality at the

Omisore

to rescue the state from the dire situation the state had been allegedly plunged into.

The message read: “I want to appreciate you for your steadfast and commitment towards making Osun state one of the best in the country.

“I also want to admonish you for standing firm despite daunting challenges. I understand that as you receive this message most of you, especially, the civil servants have not received your salaries in the last three months.

“The market men and women, the artisan and the entire populace are in dire straits, because of economic downturn of our dear state.

“That is the ‘Rescue Mission’ we espoused when we started the political journey to put our dear state, the ‘State of Living Spring’, on economic prosperity.

Omisore allays Osun workers fears over unpaid salaries Sodiq Adekunle

9 News

day, by Omisore’s media aide, Mr. Victor Oriola.

He was optimistic that the challenges posed on their ways would soon be over 2015.

Omisore, who is a former deputy governor in the state, said that he was “aware that most of the workers had not been paid for the past three months, while market women and artisans are experiencing very low patronage due to the salaries issues.”

He, however, said that they should join him in his efforts

ÎÎÎThe

Court of Appeal in Lagos, on Wednesday, struck out a N47.1 billion theft charge against former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola.

Akingbola had been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bayo Dada, General Manager of Probics Securities Ltd, before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

They were charged on 22 counts bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false pretences.

‘I bring message of hope, optimism’ – Buhari

ÎÎÎAll

Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flag-bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), on Wednesday, urged Nigerians to remain hopeful and optimistic in the New Year.

Buhari said this in his New Year Message released to newsmen in Abuja by Director Communications of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dele Alake.

According to him, he shared the anxiety of the middle class, the unemployed and the poor, who had borne the brunt of the policies of governments for so long with increasing burden.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Ondo APC accuses PDP of purchasing PVCs

Jonathan Eze

‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÎÎÎ

ÎÎÎThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sponsored by Governor Olusegun Mimiko, has procured some Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to manipulate the forthcoming 2015 general elections in the state.

A statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, to journalists in Akure, the state capital, said the party got wind of the procurement and has written to the security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate what it described has ‘unlawful purchased of the Permanent Voter Cards’ in a BID to rig the coming election.

Adesanya alleged that members of the PDP in the state, frightened by the rising popularity and growing strength of the APC, embarked on panic buying of the PVCs, sponsored by the governor.

He added that “we are quite disturbed and genuinely concerned about the authoritative reports that the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-led faction of the PDP in the state has embarked on unlawful purchase and mass procure-

Don’t give up on Nigeria - Ajimobi Remi Oladoye

ÎÎÎGovernor

Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has felicitated with Nigerians on the occasion of the New Year, urging them to continue to work for the unity of the country and not to lose hope, owing to the various challenges currently confronting the country.

The governor stated this in his New Year message issued in Ibadan on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo.

He also urged the people of the state to be vigilant and not allow those he called enemies of the state to find their ways back to

Ogun LP guber candidate tasks voters on 2015 polls

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folasade Esan; Supervising Minister of Information, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed and Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority, Mr. Shola Omole at a news conference on achievement of President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja…Yesterday. ment of Permanent Voter Cards, in a clear attempt to manipulate the 2015 general elections in Ondo State.

“Apparently, this illegal act is done in bad faith, and the evil plan was informed by the desperation of some unscrupulous politicians to shore up the dwin-

dling popularity of Dr Olusegun Mimiko in Ondo State.

“We have it on good authority that the coordinator (one medical doctor) of this ‘operation buy PVCs’ resides in Akure and the illegal act, which started in Akure, has been spreading across other areas of the state.

the corridors of power. ``As patriotic Nigerians, we should continue to work for the unity, peace and progress of our dear country. While it is true that Nigeria is currently facing a myriad of challenges ranging from security to economic and political, we should not lose hope.

Police warns Sokoto vigilantes against indiscriminate arrests ÎÎÎAlhaji Bala Hassan, Assis-

Ajimobi

tant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 10, Sokoto, has warned members of vigilante groups in the zone to desist from indiscriminate arrests of innocent people as ‘cattle rustlers’.

Hassan gave the warning in an interview with NAN in Sokoto on Wednesday.

He said the warning was to prevent the groups from taking the law into their hands He said the practice whereby the groups were arresting Fu-

The party also queried why the ruling party would carry out such “shameful act of fraudulently masterminding the foundation of rigging” when the people of the state are clamoring for credible elections and urged the electoral umpire to quickly investigate the allegation.

lani people on markets days in some parts of the zone would not be tolerated.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Ogun State, Mr Sina Kawonise, has enjoined the people and residents of Ogun State to make 2015 a year of new beginning by ensuring that they participate fully in the democratic process and elections that will redefine governance in the state.

In a new year message released in Abeokuta, Mr Kawonise said Ogun State was at a critical juncture and the people owed it a duty to this generation and generations yet unborn by voting right in the coming elections.

“2015 will determine what happens to Ogun State in the next four years and beyond. We must hold our destiny in our hands by ensuring that we vote out a mindless government without milk of human kindness. We must also not give our votes to any other party controlled by a tiny cabal who will then mortgage the interests of our people on the altar of primordial sentiments and parochial interests. Labour Party remains the only credible alternative which will ensure justice, equity and even development. My message to the people and residents of Ogun State is that they should vote right in 2015 by electing credible candidates which the Labour Party is presenting,“ Kawonise said.

LAWMA begins street washing ÎÎÎThe Lagos State Waste Man-

Wamakko

agement Authority (LAWMA) on Wednesday said it had added street washing in some highbrow areas to preserve investments on some new roads in the state.

General Manager of the authority, Mr. Ola Oresanya, disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

He said that the authority had 10 mechanical sweeping machines which sweep, wash and scrub roads in the night. ``We have commenced streets washing. We are washing some streets right now. We are not just sweeping, we are also washing.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday January 1, 2015

Northern govs urge Nigerians to pursue peace in 2015 Augustine Aminu, Kaduna

ÏÏÏ

Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has called on Nigerians to remain more focused on building the culture of peace in 2015, saying the year is crucial for Nigerians, irrespective of religious, political or ideological differences.

They also said the year is a major catalyst for meaningful socioeconomic development of the nation.

In a press statement by the chairman of NSGF and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Isreal, urged people to support genuine efforts aimed at ensuring that the forthcoming general elections are successful and devoid of needless bickering capable of threatening the nation’s corporate existence.

The forum enjoined Nigerians to enter the year 2015 with renewed hopes, saying Nigerians cannot afford to miss out in numerous opportunities that the coming year has to offer.

The 19 northern governors called on politicians across different party platforms to play politics according to the rules of the game by shuning acts capable of plunging the entire country into avoidable crisis as the unity and developmental aspirations of Nigeria is sacrosanct.

ÏÏÏThe lawmakers of both the

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives congress (APC) in Ekiti State have started trading words over the passage of the budget in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday.

The People’s Democratic Party caucus of the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday passed into law, a sum of N80.94 billion as budgetary provision for the 2015 fiscal year, following which the embattled factional Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, and other 18 lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress, described the passage of the appropriation bill into law as illegal and exercise in

Oshiomhole advocates change in 2015 Titus Eguaoje, Benin Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that the New Year 2015 will be an important one for Nigerians to vote for Change and get the country back on the path of greatness, rather than the present system at the federal level where nothing works.

Said he: “Next year presents Nigerians with a unique opportunity to vote out the party which produced bad leaders who buffeted us with different excuses and fed us with empty rhetoric on why Nigeria is yet to achieve her greatness, after being in the saddle for 16 years.’’

Erosion threatens Gboko town Freddie Adamgbe, Makurdi GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE, ALH. MUKHTAR YERO (LEFT), WELCOMING THE CHAIRMAN, SUBSIDY REINVESTMENT EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME (SURE-P) GEN. MARTIN LUTHER AGWAI (RTD) AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF SURE-P GRADUATE INTERNSHIP SCHEME IN KADUNA, Wednesday It reads in part: “We must all make sure that the forthcoming election is devoid of violence. All hands must be on deck. The electoral body and other critical establishments connected to the forthcoming elections must be ready to go extra miles in the execution of their respective assignments.

We also expect security agencies to subject their personnel to necessary pre-election monitoring

trainings and programs.

“It is indeed instructive for politicians to desist from overheating the polity with inciting comments, hate speech as well as blackmail.

We should think of what benefits the entire country than what individuals stand to gain. This is the only country we can call our own.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that things go on well.

The numerous doomsday prophe-

Ekiti PDP, APC lawmakers trade words over budget GBENGA SODEINDE, ADO EKITI

11 News

futility.

But, the PDP caucus Speaker of the House, Hon Dele Olugbemi, who briefed journalists after their brief sitting said Governor Ayo Fayose presented a sum of N80.77 billion to the House, but was increased to the present status to be able to attend to some renovation to be carried out in the Assembly.

Olugbemi, maintained that the lawmakers ensured that all the three arms of government, Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature were well represented for financial balancing in the system in the budget proposal.

The Speaker who defended the passage of the budget added that the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government were given a fair share of the State’s re-

Fayose

cies bandied around by evil men can be reversed. Nigerian is sure to survive even this electioneering period”. While wishing Nigerians a prosperous and fruitful 2015, they urged everybody to be prayerful, lawabiding, pointing out that the Nigeria of ‘our collective dreams and aspiration’ can only be achieved when people work hard and remain committed to core societal ideals.

sources to bring unprecedented development to the people.

However, the sitting was without some intrigues as the lawmakers ordered the journalists and party leaders, who were already seated at the gallery to walk out of the Chambers to allow the plenary to hold behind camera.

The leader of Government Business, Hon Samuel Ajibola, raised objection about heavy presence of non-members at the Assembly, describing the sitting as a special one that needed to be held behind closed door, which Olugbemi had consented to.

Ajibola said they were protected by laws to hold a secret session, if they so desire, saying “we are not flouting the laws if we ask non-members to walk out”.

At this point, the Sergeant-atarms and other internal security of the Assembly ordered those affected, including journalists to take their leave.

Residents of Gboko town in Benue State have continued to live in palpable fear following the devastating effect caused by erosion in the ancient headquarters of Tiv nation.

The erosion which has eaten into the main streets of the town, particularly Gboko East and South has remained unchecked by the previous administrations since the return of democracy on 1999.

According to available information, Gboko Local Government Council came into existence in 1970 when the then Tiv Native Authority was split into three administrative units; Gboko, Katsina Ala and Makurdi.

Crossover Service: Abuja churches beef up security Attacks on journalists have grown more barbaric and kidnappings have soared, Reporters without Borders said on Tuesday, after a year when violence against the media took centre stage and 66 reporters were killed.

Among those murdered this year was AFP journalist Sardar Ahmad, 40, who was shot dead in March when Taliban militants stormed a hotel in Kabul.

He died along with his wife and two of his three children.

The beheading of James Foley and Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State group also highlighted the extreme danger journalists face in covering modern conflicts.

World12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday January 1, 2015

Saudi monarch in hospital Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was admitted to a hospital onWednesday for medical tests, according to a statement from the royal court cited by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.The King is in the National Guard Hospital in the capital, Riyadh, the statement said. It gave no further details of his health.

According to the Saudi Embassy in Washington, Abdullah, 90, was born in Riyadh in 1924.

He was named crown prince, or heir to the throne, in 1982 and succeeded King Fahd, his halfbrother, on his death in 2005.

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour (L) and Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar leave a meeting of Arab states at U.N. headquarters, recently.

Israel lauds UN rejection of Palestinian resolution

ÎÎÎIsrael

expressed satisfaction on Wednesday after the UN Security Council failed to adopt a controversial resolution on Palestinian statehood setting a 12-month deadline for reaching a final peace deal.

“Every Israeli who wants peace with our neighbours can only be satisfied with the results of this vote,” deputy foreign minister Tzahi HaNegbi told public radio several hours after the resolution failed to pass within the 15-member council.

“This deals a blow to efforts by (Palestinian president) Mahmoud Abbas to embarrass and

isolate us,” said HaNegbi, a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Eight countries voted in favour, among them three of the council’s five permanent members - China, France and Russia - but the resolution fell short of winning the nine “yes” votes necessary for adoption in the 15-member council.

Australia and the United States voted against, and five other countries abstained, including Britain.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Palestinian attempts to secure their longawaited state through “unilater-

al” moves at the United Nations would never achieve anything.

“The failure of the Palestinian vote at the Security Council should teach the Palestinians that provocations and attempts to force Israel into unilateral processes will not achieve them anything - quite the opposite,” he said in a statement.

He denounced the countries which backed the resolution, particularly “some European states”.

Tiny Luxembourg joined France in voting for the text.

Lieberman said any state which wanted to see an end to the decades-old Middle East

conflict “must act with responsibility and make clear to the Palestinians that decisions can only be taken around the negotiating table”.Public radio said although Israel had narrowly avoided a fiasco, it was only “a short-term victory” which would not halt international pressure for a peace deal with the Palestinians.

The Palestinians have warned that if the resolution failed, they would seek to join a number of international organisations including the International Criminal Court, where they could sue Israeli officials for war crimes.

Missed e-mails, hepatitis keep 15 from boarding doomed AirAsia flight

ÏÏÏSome may call it serendip-

ity, others divine intervention.

Either way, circumstances prevented two families from boarding doomed AirAsia Flight QZ8501.

In one case, it was missed emails. In another, an illness in the family. As a result, 15 people -- seven of them children -- are alive and well.

It was no stroke of luck but an act of God that her father caught hepatitis, said Inge Goreti Ferdiningsih, because it made her family cancel their tickets on the AirAsia flight a day before it took off.

“We are extremely grateful,

and God is really great,” she said. “I believe that God is saving and protecting us, and this is truly a miracle.”

Inge Goreti Ferdiningsih with her family.Inge Goreti Ferdiningsih with her family.

Inge Goreti booked the family vacation nine months earlier.

Her father wasn’t booked on the trip, and her younger sister was staying by his side.

So, Inge Goreti could still have gone, with her husband and three children.

Inge Goreti’s father got hepatitis.Inge Goreti’s father got hepatitis.

The bags stood packed and

ready, and the family was full of anticipation for the Singapore vacation. Christopher 10, Nadine, 7, and Felix, 5, were psyched about taking a local ship cruise, splashing at a water park and watching animals perform at Sea World.

Doomed flight booked for the whole family.Doomed flight booked for the whole family.

But then Inge Goreti’s sister called from a hospital, where she had taken their father after he complained of stomach pains. The diagnosis: hepatitis.

The news tugged at her. “I had this feeling in my heart that I wanted to be with my dad,” Inge

An AirAsia plane

Putin sends New Year message to Obama Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in a New Year’s message to US President Barack Obama that Moscow is looking for equality in bilateral relations next year.

The Kremlin on Wednesday published several dozen New Year’s messages addressed to heads of states and international organisations such as the Olympic Committee and FIFA. Putin reminded Obama of the upcoming 70th anniversary of the allied victory in World War II and said that it should serve as a reminder of “the responsibility that Russia and the United States bear for maintaining peace and international stability.” Moscow is anxious for the relations to advance but only as long as there is “equality and mutual respect.”

Conspicuously absent from the list of the recipients of New Year’s messages was Ukrainian President

Goreti said.

So, she called off the trip Saturday, a day before the flight.

Christopher had a hard time accepting it. He was so looking forward to the trip and became very upset, she said.

An aversion to phone messages may have spared another family.

Christianawati was going to ring in the New Year in Singapore with her family and her brother’s family, she told a French news agency. Ten were traveling in all.

“Maybe it is all God’s plan that my family and I were not on the flight.”

But her brother forgot to check messages from AirAsia telling them that the flight was leaving two hours before the original departure time.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday January 1, 2015

13 Africa

Tunisia’s new president pledges reconciliation

ÏÏÏTunisia’s

Jammeh, on his reform

Gambia shuts borders with Senegal, as Yahya Jammeh returns home after coup plot ÏÏÏGambian President Yahya

Jammeh returned home overnight after a failed coup by disaffected soldiers while he was abroad, a military source said on Wednesday, voicing fears of a possible purge.

A group of heavily armed men led by an army deserter attacked the presidential palace in the capital Banjul before dawn on Tuesday, but were repelled by Jammeh’s forces.

The small city, which lies on an island in a river leading to the Atlantic Ocean, was tense but calm on Wednesday.

Jammeh, who had been on a private visit to Dubai, went directly to the presidential palace where he was shown the bodies of the attackers killed during the attempted coup, the source told AFP from Bissau.

Forces loyal to Jammeh, who has ruled The Gambia with an iron fist for 20 years, killed three

suspects including the alleged ringleader - an army deserter, according to a military officer.

The source in Bissau said there were fears that Jammeh, who himself seized power in a coup in 1994, may launch a purge.

The coup bid “has exposed some flaws in the military system even though the attackers were repelled. Some officers are certain to be singled out.”

Jammeh, 49, claims to have foiled a succession of coup plots in the small west African state and has come under fire for serious human rights abuses, including repression of the media and the disappearance of rivals.

In the meantime, Gambia has closed its borders with neighbouring Senegal. The closure may not be unconnected with the failed coup plot.

According to a security official, security units includ-

ing police and military forces have been strengthening check points alongside the borders and vehicles have been banned from entering Senegal.`The borders have been closed for entry. ``Although a press release said that the borders will reopen in an hour, it is not yet confirmed when the order for the re-opening will be passed,’’ the official said.

State-run Gambia Radio and Television Services were suspended only with some entertainment music, and officials were told to stay at home.

According to an official of the Banjul International Airport, the only airport in Gambia, was closed and was also said to reopen in a few hours.

An attempted coup that aimed to overthrow President Yahya Jammeh was foiled on Tuesday after overnight shootings in Banjul.

Ebola Virus

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe closes South Africa stay permit Wednesday afternoon was the deadline for any Zimbabweans in South Africa wanting to apply for a permit to stay in the country legally, the home affairs department said.

“The closure of the Zimbabwean special permit application process [is] by end of business today, 31 December,” the department said in a state-

Liberia Liberia suspends Ebola curfew for New Year’s Eve Liberia’s government has suspended for one night a curfew imposed to curb the spread of Ebola, so that New Year’s Eve church services can go ahead, deputy information minister Isaac Jackson said.

The government introduced the curfew in September at the height of an epidemic that has killed more than 3 400 people in Liberia.

new president pledged a rule of reconciliation and consensus as he took his oath on Wednesday before the newly elected parliament to complete the country’s democratic transition.

The inauguration of Beji Caid Essebsi, an 88-year-old political veteran, comes in a year in which Tunisians wrote a new constitution and elected a new parliament and president, ending a transition kicked off by a revolution.

Tunisians overthrew long serving dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 and inspired similar prodemocracy uprisings across North Africa and the Arab world, but only in Tunisia did fierce political rivals find common ground.

The victory of Essebsi, who served under Ben Ali and his predecessor and whose party includes many members of the previous regime, is widely seen as search for stability after the post-revolutionary turmoil.

Essebsi won over 55% of the vote 21 December after a campaign marked by bitter exchanges with

outgoing president Moncef Marzouki, who feared a return to dictatorship. A human rights activist, Marzouki represented the fervour and possibilities of the revolution but his tenure was marked by unrest, terror attacks and economic problems.

“We will work today to replace fear with hope,” Essebsi said before parliament as he began his five-year term. “There is no future for Tunisia without consensus and without harmony between all the parties and civil society.”

He said his priorities would be to re-establish security and stability, create jobs and fight poverty.

Essebsi must now designate a prime minister from his party, Nida Tunis, to form a new coalition government. The question remains whether the Islamists, who ran the country for two years and are the second-largest group in parliament, will be part of any new government.and I want to state that statistically, 95 per cent of substandard products are products that are imported into Nigeria.”

US airstrike kills Al-Shabab spy chief ÏÏÏA

statement issued on Tuesday by Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency said Abdishakur Tahlil and two others were killed in Monday’s strike. It said he was traveling between Saakow and the village of Jawari when his vehicle was destroyed.

At the Pentagon, a spokesman confirmed that Tahlil was the target of the U.S. airstrike, but he would not confirm whether the attempt

ment.

As of Tuesday, 207 802 applications had been received, while 198 840 appointments had been booked through VFS, a private company to which home affairs had outsourced certain visa and permit processes.

A total of 245 000 Zimbabweans living in South Africa were eligible to apply for the new permit

was successful. There were thought to be no civilian casualties.

In September, another U.S. airstrike in Somalia killed alShabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.

The al-Qaida affiliated alShabab is trying to overthrow the Somali government and turn the country into a conservative Islamic state. Somali and African Union troops have had success in beating back the militants over the past year.

Uganda LRA kidnap 6 in CAR At least six people were abducted and two left injured after fighters with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) attacked a village in the eastern Central African Republic, witnesses told dpa on Tuesday.

Members of the LRA, a Ugandabased militant Christian group led

by Joseph Kony, stormed the village of Moussa, some 900km east of the capital Bangui, late on Monday.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Tinubu: Bridge builder is Man of the Year

W Akinjide Akintola

hichever way next month’s presidential elections in Nigeria goes, one thing is certain: The winner will emerge only by the skin of his teeth.

The political firmament in the country is alive, and aglow. The temperature is hot, steaming hot. Unlike the election seasons since Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999, the candidates and their political parties that are in the race next month are aware that the exercise will be a titanic battle. The era of easy victories and cheap losses appears to have gone in Nigeria. The next set of leaders are not likely to take the citizenry for granted.

The country has one man – and his team of irrepressible soldiers – to thank for that. He is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinub, the Daily Times Man of the Year 2014.

Tinubu did not just happen on the Nigerian political field. He was there in the aborted Third Republic as a Senator of the Federal Republic, he was there in the trenches during the dark era of the pro-democracy struggles to revalidate the June 12, 1993 presidential election which was won by billionair politician, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

He has been there since 1999, first as a two-term Governor of Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan state, Lagos; later as the power behind the throne in the South West.

From being the last man standing, after the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had routed the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the South West of which he was Governor, Tinubu has reached out to virtually all parts of Nigeria to build a formidable opposition platform in the country.

No political system can be vibrant – or even properly serve the interests of the people – if it does not create room for a wellgrounded opposition. That platform, which had been denied Nigerians since 1999, has been created and given formidable strength by Tinubu and several other allies.

It is a fitting recognition of the role that Tinubu has played in the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he is formally recognized as National Leader of the party.

It cannot be controverted that Tinubu has successfully mid-

Tinubu wifed a credible opposition in Nigeria that is truly national in outlook for the first time in the history of the country. Yet, he is not a direct beneficiary of the process that he has created and worked tirelessly for.

Many had thought that Tinubu would be the undoing of the APC, especially in the choice of its presidential candidate for the February 14 election. But this time around, he put not a few to shame when the presidential primaries, which was held in Lagos, was concluded almost faultlessly.

Skeptics had good reasons to be pessimistic. The outcome of the presidential primaries of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) where Mallam Nuhu Ribadu emerged the party’s candidate proved to be the undoing of the party.

Many of those disenchanted with the result pulled out of the

party and it became a mere shell of its old self.

But in the APC, peace has continued to reign within the party, especially among the presidential gladiators even after the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s standard bearer.

What perhaps would have again upturned the apple cart for the party was brilliantly handled by Tinubu when he “painfully” sacrificed himself in the choice of the vice presidential candidate of the party as it became obvious that Nigerians might not take kindly to a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

When offered the slot by General Buhari, he rejected it and pushed for a Christian in the person of Professor Yemi Osinbajo who was eventually picked by Buhari to the admiration of all within and outside the party.

Consequently, irrespective of whatever happens in February 2015, someone has already poignantly raised the bar of a credible opposition party in Nigeria. As a result, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can no longer take Nigerians for granted.

Besides, his dogged advocacy for one man, one vote also stands him out among politicians in the land. This policy, if well accepted across the country, and dutifully implemented will ensure the stamping out of electoral malpractices in the polity.

With the sturdy state of the APC at the moment ahead of the 2015 polls, Tinubu has come out as a strong pillar and bridge-builder for the party that is ready and prepared for the PDP, matching the ruling party in every respect, the power of incumbency notwithstanding.

It is the same Tinubu, who joined with forces with prodemocracy activists in the trenches to engage the military in the titanic battle to restore democracy in the country.

All these have not come without lots of sacrifices for which reason Tinubu can no longer be ignored by major political actors in the country. He did not shy from exile when it became inevitable. Indeed, he was the rallying point for pro-democracy fighters in exile.

Another of his major assets is the uncanny ability to court and win over his bitterest foes, making them close friends -- and allies. Some of these included former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as well as former Governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Segun Oni, both former chieftains of the PDP who are now leaders in the APC. Of course, no one is infallible. Tinubu has his share of human foibles. But master strategist that he is, he has been able to play up his own virtues while, hopefully, grappling with his frailties.

This perhaps is why some of his other erstwhile political foes like former President Olusegun Obasanjo are currently hobnobbing with him. That is political sagacity.

It is to his eternal credit that neither the nightmares of “Chicago” nor other allegations have been able to subdue this Indomitable Lion of Democracy in Nigeria.

All hail, Tinubu, Daily Times Man of The Year 2014.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

15 Opinion

After darkness, a glorious dawn beckons for Nigeria

A Bola Ahmed Tinubu

s we enter a New Year today, it is all too easy to give in to despair and despondency at the current state of Nigeria. The gap between our tremendous potentials as a country and our actual attainments is depressing and disheartening. For a country as endowed with human, material and natural resources as Nigeria, the level of poverty in which the vast majority of our people live is appalling and unacceptable.

The voodoo statistics of illusory growth and progress peddled by those currently in charge of Nigeria’s affairs do not reflect the dire material circumstances of millions of Nigerians.

The ever widening inequality between the wealthy minority and the impoverished majority is fueled largely by a scale of corruption and outright theft of public funds that have reached unprecedented heights in today’s Nigeria. All of these are responsible for the large scale manifestation of sundry forms of violence and insecurity across the country that undermines the very foundations of the Nigerian state. Yet,

the growing impunity of an arrogant, imperious and complacent presidency weaken the rule of law and prevent the purposeful and responsible governance necessary to tackle Nigeria’s severe challenges.

But then, despair is a luxury we can ill afford as a country and a people at this time. Despair breeds depression and a sense of hopelessness. This can only result in a paralysis of the popular will that will benefit those who want to lull us into collective inaction, so they can perpetuate their misrule of our much abused country.

2015 will be one of the critical and momentous years in the history of Nigeria. It must be a time to renew our hope in the possibilities of our country. Hope enables us to generate the strength to take the positive action as citizens to achieve the positive change Nigeria so badly needs today.

Another Nigeria is possible. A Nigeria where focused, visionary and competent governance vigorously tackles corruption, insecurity, poverty and promotes peace, progress and prosperity for all is attainable. After the current darkness, a glorious, new dawn for Nigeria is possible. But this needed change will not occur by

chance. It can only be the result of deliberate and purposeful action on the part of our people to utilise democracy and popular power to achieve national liberation and transformation.

If not urgently addressed, the stratospheric level of hunger, deprivation and inequality in the land will inevitably provoke a violent revolution in the land.

Indeed, we already have a situation difficult to distinguish from bloody revolution on our hand. It manifests in the armed robbery, kidnapping, communal conflicts, religious extremism, terrorism and ritual killings rampant in Nigeria today. We have no choice but to be active participants in the common sense democratic revolution needed to salvage our country. It is a common sense revolution that must insist that legitimate power flows from the will people duly expressed in free and fair elections. Governments must assume and remain in power only at the pleasure of the people.

That is the only way that democracy can promote development by ensuring that government is responsible and accountable to the people.

My message to our fellow country men and women is thus

simple: this year must be one of eternal vigilance on the part of us all. This is the price we must pay for our democratic rights and liberties as citizens. Let us make no mistake about it. The traumatic experience of the over 200 Chibok girls who have remained in captivity for over six months shows that plaintive cries to an impotent government to ‘bring back our girls’ have become insufficient.

Rather, we must utilise the power of our vote to ‘take back our country’ from the predators and scavengers in the corridors and bedrooms of power that currently hold her hostage. This calls for eternal vigilance to exercise our vote and protect out sacred mandate at the polls.

As the careless, reckless, irresponsible and highly suspicious handling of the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shown, every effort will be made to disempower voters by a sinking and desperate administration. Millions of voters across the country have been disenfranchised in the flawed process. This subtle coup against the very foundation of democracy, voters’ power, must be challenged and resisted.

Who is afraid of a presidential debate?

A

Adewale Kupoluyi

s the presidential election draws nearer, the candidates are busy perfecting their winning strategies to enable them occupy Aso Rock Villa next year. From all indications, the major contestants in the race are those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; and Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It will be recalled that the Senate had earlier in the year, voted against a bill seeking to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct presidential debates in the 2015 general elections. The clause was contained in a bill seeking to alter the Electoral Act that was proposed by INEC, as part of legislations required for the smooth conduct of elections. The bill requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives before it is eventually forwarded to the president for his assent.

The overall interest of Nigerians should be paramount at all times, therefore, what should constitute

a vital component of the electoral process is a virile presidential debate that would enable eligible voters have a clearer picture of what the candidates and their parties have to offer them. This became imperative going by the past experiences and the seeming crisis of leadership and trust between leaders and followers in the nation.

Over the years, the country has suffered so much in the hands of their leaders that the commonly-used phrase of “dividends of democracy” has always been a mirage. Due to bad governance, life has been very difficult for the people as basic social necessities are not being provided. It will be a great disservice if they are still made to suffer in the next dispensation when denied the type of leadership desired by them.

This time round, we should avoid voting for the wrong candidates’ just on sentimental, parochial or mundane basis. There should be a radical departure from the past as only the credible, well-prepared and focused should get the people’s mandate. No doubt, we should ensure that we get certain things right before heading for the polls in February.

To begin with, the candidates

should tell us how they will end the endemic security situation ravaging the land. For many months now, the deadly attacks by the Boko Haram sect have continued to wreak havoc by killing innocent people and destroying properties without much resistance by government forces. It appears that more resultoriented approaches should really be deployed in ending the menace.

The epileptic power supply has been the lot of the nation over the years. Failed promises and deregulation policies have been a recurrent decimal in this critical sector.

The country has not witnessed much development due to the power crisis that has crippled many industries resulting into low capacity utilisation and capital flight. Many people, who cannot afford to buy generators, are currently celebrating the Christmas and New Year festivities in total darkness across the nation. Nigerians would want an end to this miserable life. The unemployment situation has reached an alarming rate that should give any serious contestant headache.

Most employment programmes by successive governments have had very little impact on the economy because those close to the corridors

of power are oftentimes the only beneficiaries. Voters will be interested in how this monster will be tamed.

The people are yearning to see an end to perennial fuel scarcity and collapse of physical infrastructure such as the railways and roads. The turning around of our economy should also be uppermost to the presidential hopefuls. The declining accruals from the nation’s oil proceeds are a timely warning for the incoming government to decisively diversify the monolithic economy. The high prevalence of corruption is antithetical to the development of any nation. This does not only render public institutions ineffective, it breeds impunity and lawlessness. How the alarming rate of corruption can be drastically reduced will surely be of interest to Nigerian voters.

Many senior citizens and pensioners die daily because of neglect by the government. Their entitlements are rarely paid as and when due. Is this what they deserve after toiling for the nation for several years? And when would they get the succour? Nigerians need answers. Getting justice has become a mirage in this country.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Daily Times Advert Rates Promotional rates valid till January 31ST 2015

Colour

Black & White Rate for Computer & IT/Property/ Vacancy/Home & DĂŠcor

Pictures & Captions Classified Advert

Loose Insert

Colour

Political

Black & White

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Politics

s 2015

Year of fearful predictions is here

Obama

17

At long last, 2015, the year of all sorts of crazy predictions is here, snaking in like a thief in the night. It didn’t come in with a bang as expected but the reverberations and fear are all over the country. It is thick like a smoke that can be felt.

Precisely, it was the United States of America that first made the uneasy predictions barely three years ago. It was to the effect that Nigeria may cease to exist as from this year.

The prediction then, scary as it

is, has some elements that could put the fear of God in someone The turn of events in the last few months in the country may have ensured that the prediction is a time bomb waiting to be lit.

Our politicians are behaving as if they are immuned in their actions and speeches should anything untoward happen.

One does not need a soothsayer to predict that whatever the outcome of the February 14 Presidential elections, the whole country may just be thrown into

a theatre of war. The major actors in the election are President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who is going into the race for the fourth and final time of his life.

Immediately the two gladiators emerged about two weeks ago, they have been throwing tantrums at each other which CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Battle for the soul of Benue

By Freddie Adamgbe, Makurdi The dreaded election year is here, and the political atmosphere in Benue State, just like everywhere in Nigeria, is daily becoming charged.

The two dominant political parties, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are devising strategies to either consolidate or take over the affairs of governance in the food basket state.

Leading the pack are the two governorship candidates of the PDP, Hon Terhemen Tarzoor and his APC counterpart, Chief Samuel Ortom both of whom have many things for and against them.

A careful look at the political provenance of the two formidable candidates indicates that both are well loved by the people. The stage is therefore set for

a titanic battle.

Terhemen Tarzoor Until his emergence as the gubernatorial candidate of the ruling PDP in the just concluded party primaries, Tarzoor could not have been seen as giving anyone much trouble in the contest. It was surprising that he emerged tops in a keenly contested primaries ahead of political heavy weights and strategists of many years standing.

The easy going and ebullient former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly slugged it out and came victorious against the likes of three former ministers, namely: Chief Micheal Aondoakaa (SAN), Dr Sam Ode and Dr Samuel Ortom as well as the state’s Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani, among many other formidable contestants.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

Tazoor

US has started sanctions on Nigeria - Yishawu Page 18

Page 19

Cross River 2015: Agba shelves guber ambition, pledges to back Ayade, PDP Page 20

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

US has started sanctions on Nigeria - Yishawu “Refusing to buy our crude is a sort of sanction” Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu represents Eti-Osa Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly. He bares his mind on why the nation’s economy is nose diving and the main reason the United States of America stopped buying our crude oil. He spoke with ALADE TASMA. Excerpts: Boko Haram insurgents are still holding on to over 200 students of the Federal Government Girls College, Chibok, Borno State in addition to continuous killing of thousands of innocent Nigerians even as we approach the election year. What is the way out?

Unfortunately, you can see that the Federal Government is not interested in finding the girls, they feel they have paid the parents of the girls off. You can see the way they are going about it, it is unfortunate.

Price of crude oil has continued to drop at the world market while the value of the naira had also fallen, what do you think went wrong?

Let the President hands over because he lacks the ability to solve our economic problems.

You have someone from the World Bank experimenting with our economy. Shell said it two or three years back that they were going to start a new system, what did we do as a nation? Rather, we were using fire brigade approach, they now

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

One thing going for the former lawmaker was his closeness to outgoing Benue State Governor, Dr Gabriel Suswam, who provided him with all the necessary logistics and the support of the incumbency to aggressively prosecute the primary election to his advantage.

Another factor was that Hon Tarzoor, whose late father was a prominent traditional ruler in Makurdi local Government area, was and still is, heavily

Yishawu

Our GDP is about $500 Billion, but tax constitutes only 2%, it is absolute economic mismanagement wish to add to the pains of already traumatised ordinary Nigerian by trying to increase taxes as well as introduce what they called luxury tax and what have you.

All these would not work; it is not the issue, if we remove tax from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), what do we have left? We are collecting

only 2% as tax, whereas the standard is 20%. Even in wartorn countries, the percentage is 11%, but Nigeria is far from that. This means there is gross inefficiency in tax collection; those managing the country’s economy knew this was going to happen two years ago, but they failed to improve on the tax collection method. I am not saying they should increase tax; I am talking of exploring all avenues for tax collection.

If you increase tax, then you want to kill those that were paying tax whose majority are the poor.

Our GDP is about $500 Billion, but tax constitutes only 2%, it is absolute economic mismanagement. The problem

with naira is devaluation; the Federal Government is trying to use the same quantity to have more naira. They devalued the naira for their selfish purposes to the detriment of the people.

My N10,000 is now like N7,500 because of the purchasing power. They have created a big problem for the economy out of their own mismanagement.

Corruption is everywhere; we heard of missing $20 Billion and another $30 Billion, whether it is true or not but they are yet to be appropriately investigated, it appears this government supports corruption. The country is currently facing a big crisis and the government at the centre is not telling Nigerians the truth, the United States of America has stopped buying our oil. They claimed that they now produced 50% of their local consumption, yet they buy from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Canada, they have increased demand from those places, yet their demand from Nigeria is zero.

The truth is that, It is a form of sanction; they are telling us that they are not happy with our government, they are telling Nigerians to do something about their government. This is the opportunity that we have, our opportunity lies on February 14, 2015, to speak with our votes.

Check it out, Is it transportation, oil, security, health, education, and what have you? Show me the area, where this government has performed. Forget about the propaganda they are selling, economic growth does

not translate to economic development. You are saying you are making more money, yet there is no food on the table of the common man. The man on the streets does not feel richer,”has your salaries been increased in the last two or three years”? Yet the ruling cabal wants to perpetuate themselves in power. I thought the man was talking about six years single term, he is now six years in office, why is he re-contesting.

The NLC had alleged that it’s only the poor that are being forced to pay tax while the rich do not. What is your take on this?

I think what they are trying to say is about the inefficiency in the collection of taxes. What they are telling you is that the civil servants and public officers are paying taxes because they are in the formal sector, but those in the informal sector are not paying taxes. But I believe in efficiency of tax collection, in some countries, it is easier to get away with murder than tax evasion, not tax avoidance anyway.

I don’t see why people won’t pay taxes, I pay my tax.

Some people have accused INEC officials of asking them if they would vote APC before they could get their permanent voters card. What is your reaction to this?

I doubt if this is true, I know that the APC did not employed INEC officers, so why would this be. The position of our party is that people should go and get their PVCs, whether you vote for us or not is another issue. But they need to vote for us because of our manifestoes and the pedigree of our party. We tell the people to collect their voters card so that there would be no room for rigging. Let us work for our tomorrow now, people would vote for APC from the assembly to the senate and the presidency, so why should we be afraid. Like I said, it is not in our character to buy people over or disenfranchise anybody, we want free and fair elections and level playing ground for everybody.

Battle for the soul of Benue supported by the entire Tiv Traditional Council under the leadership of the Begha U Tiv, Orchivirigh Akawe Torkula.

Thirdly, the support extended to him by former and serving colleagues of the Benue State House of Assembly remains a plus to his candidacy.

He will also enjoy bloc votes from the Benue South because of the influence of Senate Presi-

dent David Mark, particularly because the zone never tolerates opposition but prefers mainstream from which they have continually reaped bountifully, apart from the ministerial position they now occupy.

With the incumbency support, and a heavy financial war-chest in his favour, Hon Tarzoor who is perceived in many quarters as humble, focused, intelligent,

articulate, well-educated and result-oriented, looks good to clinch the governorship position.

HIS WEAKNESSES The major minus against the candidacy of Tarzoor is his alleged lack of executive experience, exposure and versatility in either public or private enterprise which pundits insist are CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Tarzoor

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

19 Politics

Battle for the soul of Benue

Ortom

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

germane for articulating government’s policies for the state which are often frustrated by selfish bureaucrats.

Tarzoor is also alleged have no connection with the local corners of Benue State and therefore not appreciative of their plight. This, it is said, may make it impossible for him to address such challenges and rely on his appointees from such communities who hardly deliver government’s programmes to the rural people but corner them.

The process which threw him

up as the candidate of the party still leaves bitter tastes in the mouths of the party’s top members, and his co- contestants. It will take serious persuasion and pleas for many to come to warm up to him.

As the anointed candidate of Governor Suswam, Tarzoor is being queried by many party men across the board who are expressing their reservation on his ability to perform. The outgoing Governor is perceived to have economically strangulated the state, particularly when it is having difficulty paying workers’ salaries.

On the whole, the marketability or otherwise of Hon Tarzoor depends more on how his campaign organisation and the party in particular realise these salient points and address them headlong.

SAMUEL ORTOM An experienced political Trojan-horse, Samuel Ortom first came into the political scene in 1990 when he was elected the first chairman of his native Guma local government area of Benue State.

In 1999, he was elected the State Treasurer of the defunct All Peoples’ Party. He was made the State Secretary of the PDP upon his defection to the party in 2001, the State Deputy Chairman 2006, elected National Auditor PDP, appointed Minister of State Trade and Investment where he oversaw the Ministry of Aviation before resignation to seek the governorship of Benue a few months back.

There is no denying that Chief Ortom is a household name in Benue and indeed Nigerian politics now. He has endeared himself to the ordinary folks, the transport union where he was a garage tout, the Church which he has contributed significantly in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it in turn is now supplicating and firing prayers to God to clear electoral hurdles in his way.

Ortom is a friend of the less-

The greatest advantage of Chief Ortom is the intimidating followership he commands in Benue as well as his financial war-chest, coupled with his deep connection across Nigeria, particularly in the church privileged, the rejected and dejected and the otherwise hopeless on the street.

He has provided employment to thousands of youths of Benue, Lagos and Abuja and elsewhere, using his Oracle Business Enterprise. He has groomed young politicians who are scattered across the state and are willing to die for his governorship project so as to bring about the desired change the people have been yearning for.

The greatest advantage of Chief Ortom is the intimidating followership he commands in Benue as well as his finan-

2015: Year of fearful predictions is here CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

understandably has been heating up the polity, much to the delight of their followers across the nation.

But it could not have been otherwise as the duo represents major blocs in the politically sensitive geo-political zones of the country. While Buhari is from the core North, Jonathan is from the South-South area which produces the oil from which over 90 percent of the revenue of Nigeria comes from.

This is the first time in the history of the country that the zone which lays the golden egg has become President of the multiethnic groupings called Nigeria.

It thus sees the re-election of its son as a do-or-die affair as it sees the chance as its right.

Indeed, many of the leaders had threatened to put the country under if the man was not re-elected in 2015. They had first started with the nomination of the PDP which has now been handed over to Jonathan on a platter of gold. Now the whole world is awaiting the outcome of the election come February 14, which happens to be the lovers’ day.

In the same vein, Buhari’s supporters mainly from the north had made it clear that this time around, it is Buhari or nothing.

During the 2011 elections, a lot of them had threatened to make the country ungovernable if their principal was not declared the winner of the presidential elections. Of course, since then Nigeria, particularly the entire north has not known peace.

Buhari

cial war-chest, coupled with his deep connection across Nigeria, particularly in the church.

HIS WEAKNESSES Described as sly, all-knowing, ambitious and desperate for vain power despite his deep belief in the Church of Christ, Chief Ortom who two weeks ago contested the governorship ticket on the platform of the PDP before defecting to the APC, is said to have also procured another nomination form in the Labour Party which has made many people not to trust him any longer.

Another controversy is the manner in which he was handed the APC ticket by the Senator George Akume against some popular aspirants in the party, like Senator JKN Waku, Prof Steven Ugbah, Hon Emmanuel Jime, Mr Akange Audu and Mr Mike Iordye without a properly conducted primary or genuine consensus arrangement.

Already, the aggrieved aspirants have threatened a court case to stop INEC from receiving Chief Otom’s nomination form which is a negative signal of things to come.

The fact that remains is that with a divided house the way it is now, the candidacy of Chief Ortom and the chances of him triumphing over the PDP opponent appears dicey unless a divine miracle is applied to avoid implosion and possible protest vote.

The turmoil had been more intense in the north eastern part of the country where the president had to declare a state of emergency in the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states where the killings and bombings had been going on unabated.

As to be expected, the grouse of the north was that it was not allowed to complete its two terms following the sudden death of President Umar Yar’Adua who died in office barely a year to the expiration of his first term.

Even though it was not the fault of anybody that Yar’Adua died in office and Jonathan who was Vice President had to be sworn in as President (after some foot dragging) in line with the constitution, the north wanted the constitution to be subverted so that somebody from the north could continue where Yar’Adua stopped.

And when this was not posCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Politics 20

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Cross River 2015: Agba shelves guber ambition, pledges to back Ayade, PDP Mr. Jeddy Agba, one of the governorship aspirants in Cross River State, has shelved his governorship ambition pledging his support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Senator Ben Ayade and the party.

Political pundits had expected Agba to pursue his governorship ambition on another platform following his dissatisfaction with the congresses and governorship primary conducted by his party, the PDP. However, Agba, a multibillionaire, who retired a few months back from NNPC, said in a statement that his decision to abandon his governorship quest and remain in the PDP followed “…the appeal by our National Leader, Presidential Candidate and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan against defection to other parties on account of dissatisfaction with the conduct of the party primaries; and, more recently, following the grave concerns and medical advice of my doctors…”

He recalled that, following the recently concluded primary elections at different levels in the state, he had expressed my misgivings and dissatisfaction over the conduct of the exercise alleging manipulation of the delegates lists to outright voter intimidation.

This, he said resulted in his withdrawal from the race for

Ayade

I shall not contest the 2015 gubernatorial elections on an alternative platform

I shall work within the ambit of our Party to ensure that the PDP retains control of Cross River State at all levels

I shall work fully with our Party’s candidate, Senator Ben Ayade to ensure his victory in the gubernatorial election

Agba the gubernatorial ticket of our Party, the PDP, in the 2015 elections pointing out that the decision, painful as it was, was reached not without due consideration for the uncommon dedication and sacrifices made by the leadership and entire membership of his campaign team as well as his supporters across the state adding that it

also did not preclude the option of exploring the possibility of seeking the mandate of the good people of Cross River State on an alternative political platform.

According to him, having weighed all the variables, and in the light of the appeal of the National Leader, Presidential Candidate and President of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan against defection to other Parties on account of dissatisfaction with the conduct of the Party Primaries; and, more recently, following the grave concerns and medical advice of my doctors, “I have had to come to another painful decision:

I shall give my all to ensure that President Jonathan not only wins overwhelmingly in Cross River State, but that he wins the Presidential election with an even wider margin than he did in 2011.

He assured that he remains a loyal member of the PDP, appealing to his teeming supporters to remain loyal and work for the victory of the party at the forthcoming general elections.

2015: Year of fearful predictions is here CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

President Jonathan

sible, during the 2011 elections, they insisted that the ruling PDP must drop Jonathan and field someone from the North in order to satisfy them to complete their second term which was truncated by Jonathan’s death.

But all these ended in vain as the party fielded Jonathan for the election that year leading to unprecedented insurgencies in the country.

Thankfully, apart from the few bombings in Abuja and part of Kogi and Kwara, the problems and the crises have not re-

ally moved down south as it has been kept at bay except for a few threats but with the elections barely six weeks ago, anything can really happen now.

It is on account of all these that prominent Nigerians have been calling for caution on the part of the major players in the election so that the impending threat to peace can be put on hold.

First to speak was former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi who wanted the two major contenders, General Buhari and President Jonathan to sign an un-

dertaken to maintain the peace before, during and after the elections.

Besides, on account of the unfolding development, elder statesman, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite wanted the election to be put on hold because of its tendency to push the country off the precipice. Instead, he proposed an interim government to take over the government from Jonathan and implement the proposal of the last National Conference before any election could take place in order to avert the looming danger in

the country.

But these suggestions have not gone down well with government as some spokespersons have said it was not necessary for the two leading contenders to sign any undertaking whatsoever.

Besides, Police Affairs Minister, Jelili Adesiyan is threatening hell and brimstone over proposals for an interim government, hinting that those behind it might be in for treason.

Will the evil predictions come to pass? This is time for prayers for those who can pray.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Features

21

s

Concern: Bringing meaning to wretched lives Society for Safety of the Insane and Destitute (SOSAID) at Okota in Lagos is one woman’s vision. In this interview with the founder, Mrs Concern Oluwatofunmi Ugochinyerenwanyi Martins, GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR reports a woman whose passion baffles many but brings succour to many more…and before whose compassion insanity flees.

ÏÏÏMrs

Concern Oluwatofunmi Ugochinyerenwanyi Felicia Martins, the soul behind So-Said thrives in the midst of the destitute: The frustrated, the insane, the abandoned, the loony, the sick etc. They all find solace in the big heart of Concern.

“Not all destitutes are insane,” Concern says, “many

Early marriage

were driven into the streets and to the dustbins by sheer desperation, often born of the harsh socio-economic hell of our times.”Under her care, Daily Times found some sane and sober people, among them, top professionals whom she had picked off streets and dustbins --- and you will be CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Concern

ÏÏÏWhile in Sinclair Secondary

School, Olodi-Apapa, a man saw the 15-year-old child and talked with her guardian. The next thing she knew was, that woman linked the man with her parents who were apparently too glad to give their stubborn daughter out to marry the stranger.

“The man paid my bride price so I had to go to his village in Imo State to finish my school.

After that, I undertook a nursing course without really knowing why but after I finished, I took time off to work in the secular world where I rose to the post of a

So-Said Charity Centre, Okota

I was so stubborn that my father threatened to sell me off to slave merchants; maybe he was only threatening me to behave, I don’t know,

general manager with Kapharm Services Ltd.” While with the company, she had started a part-time law programme at the Lagos State University; she was in her 300 level when the storm that changed her world started.

“It was in the year 2000 that I heard the calling of the Lord that took me to the work I’m doing now and that put my marriage on the line. It was difficult for my husband to understand my vision; that his wife should suddenly go out to be lifting odd people off the streets and say she wants to give their lives mean-

ing. He couldn’t come to terms with it.”

Her husband wasn’t alone; it was difficult for her family and friends to understand how the Felicia they knew should be so concerned about the destitute, the sick and the insane to want to throw her life into ‘giving their lives a meaning’. The sad conclusion of everyone was that Felicia herself had gone crazy and many genuine tears were shed for her.

Concern’s frowns deepened as she recalled those days: “It wasn’t just family and CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Features 22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Janaury 1, 2015

ÏÏÏ “When I couldn’t contain

I took off with nothing Concern

the burning passion in me, I went out alone; there was no home, no support. So, I started by calling those my friends that ran from me and I would brief them, begging them to help me take off.

Some gave what they could afford. I hired a video man and a still camera man; I would buy food, pure water and go about feeding destitutes wherever they were.”

She did that for a whole year but at a point, the number go so large and she was compelled to gather them somewhere. She would gather them and stay with them on the streets, and when it was dark, she would find an empty shop and settle them there.

Unknown to her, eyes were

watching her. A suspicious traditional ruler sent his aides to spy her out, to know whether this strange woman was doing some rituals with the people or not. The spies reported seeing the woman covering the mad people while they slept and was driving mosquitoes away from them with her wrapper.

That was when help started to come to her.

“The traditional ruler was the late Oba Alahankiki, of Imoren.

Having got the report of his aides, he gave us a place by the canal side where we gathered old zincs and made some make-shift structures. Later, Reverend Father Flin of St. Margaret Catholic Church, Olodi Apapa came to help us with proper roofing.

‘My family rejected me’ but like I said, I don’t know really when I can leave here; I have no plans yet.’

Another pathetic case is a tall, fair lady with pointed nose who spoke Queen’s English. According to SoSaid records, she is a medical doctor; holds a degree in bio-chemistry and studied medicine in the University of Benin. She was working at the General Hospital in Victoria Island when she fell and hit her head on the concrete floor, and that was the beginning of her mental problems.

Parents tried but she ended up at a psychiatric hospital from where she took to the streets after her parents died; she was picked up along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway by So-Said workers.

The lady, who introduced herself as Lilly Maduche, said she is from Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Her account confirmed So-Said records and she said the organisation is a godsend. In her words, “I was at my wits end when So-Said showed up and I willingly submitted myself for assistance; I’m grateful the people took me out from the hot sun and dust bin.”

She said she’s happy to be cared for; “But I’m okay now, I don’t really need much care except that I have nothing of my own to start off my life again; and my regret now is

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

surprised who they turn out to be: Oluwatoyin Anita Koleosho from Abeokuta, Ogun State, introduced herself as an artiste by profession.

According to her, she was taken to London by her foster father who died while she was there. Anita studied music, drama and beauty therapy at the Guild Health School of Music and Drama in South-East London from 1975 to 1977. She spoke polished English with clarity of mind and sound memory.

“I got pregnant and had a baby out of wedlock in London and returned home to learn that my parents were both dead.

“I worked with the Nigerian Television Authority, Ogun Radio and Radio Lagos, Ikeja before I stumbled on drugs that just made me lose control.”

From what she could recall of that period, she got addicted to hard drugs; in the process she got beaten up when she couldn’t pay for the drugs. Helpless and frustrated, she ended up on the streets. She was brought to So-SAID by officers of the Yaba Baptist Church.

Now 34, Anita, who left her child behind in Britain, said she’s a lot better now but doesn’t know how long she’ll continue to be here.

“Really I don’t know, they’ve not told me when I’ll leave here. I just wish I can get help to reintegrate myself and pick up my life again;

Broadcaster Anita & Bio-chemist Maduche

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

That was a breakthrough for us because we now had a roof over our heads.”

Now they had a roof over their heads, feeding them was another problem; Concern’s approach was nothing short of divine inspiration.

“God gave me an idea: I started taking their pictures to Awodiora market in Ajegunle to show market women there and ask for assistance. The idea was my last resort because I and my few staff couldn’t pack all of them to the market place especially as we didn’t have a vehicle and some of them were aggressive.

“The market women gave us assistance as they could afford; fish sellers gave us fish heads because

CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Forced into early marriage

Concern CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

friends; the society saw and treated me like that, and it is ironic because I cannot achieve this vision without them all, so I was in a dilemma.”

Questions were thrown at her from all fronts; from her husband, friends and family members: “Who sent you?” “What’s your business with them?” “Are you the governor?” “Are you a politician?” etc “I couldn’t tell anyone the kind of passion that suddenly filled me while I was in school; it was burning and consuming me to go out and do what I’m doing. I alone heard the call and I alone am feeling the heat and the push.” Felicia who was a nominal member of the Catholic Church, recalled series of dreams that preceded the call: “I was confused when I started seeing myself in dreams healing people, doing a lot of preaching and packing the destitute, insane CONTINUED ON PAGE 23

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Janaury 1, 2015

23 Features Rejected by family CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

Michael Okoro before and now

The rough, tough begining

Concern

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

some customers don’t take the head; though they resell them but they had mercy and gave the fish heads to us; some who sell melon will give us some also.

“Gradually God gave us some friends in the market who always expect So-Said people every morning, and when we get there they already have their different packages for us. With these we were able to make a particular soup that fed all of us for three good years. We were making egusi-stew soup which served us for eba when we could find gari and also serve as stew when we could cook rice.”

This continued for three straight years until First City Monument Bank came to Concern’s aid.

“Their officials came and surveyed So-Said work and they said well, it’s a good work we are doing but the environment was very poor. They decided they would help me register the charity for-

mally before they could associate with my vision.

“To the glory of God, they brought N150,000 and registered us with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja, and after that they started giving us monthly subventions to help our feeding and payment of staff because at that time we had employed staff to help run So-Said; and till today, we still receive a six-digit figure from FCMB which goes a long way to meet our payroll of over N700,000 every month for salary alone.”

At the time of this interview So-Said has a staff strength of 40 workers which include doctors and nurses who run the medical section, professionals in other areas like administration which include a public relations officer, still and cine-camera men, graduates in different fields, including social workers. As So-Said grew, expatriates were brought in.

Concern herself is not resting in her quest for more knowl-

edge; she took up a course in social sector management at the Pan African University in Lekki and Victoria Island where, upon graduation, she was advised to bring in specialists to make the running of So-Said easier.

On the home front, when her husband was unable to restrain her from going out to the streets, he resorted to physical violence: “His reaction was very hard on me; he came up beating me, shut me out of the house on several occasions, ganged my children against me that I was mad on the streets, that they should not talk to me, that I shouldn’t come in and cook their food and so on. All that happened to me; he threw me out of the house and for eight months I was on the streets.

I couldn’t come to my home, and when I did I just walked around the compound because I had been shut out.

“One day, I gained access and my 16-year-old son slapped me

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Became a woman when only a girl CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

and abandoned. I thought I was sick, that the revelations were symptoms of some sickness. You know when you have malaria and you begin to experience funny dreams, that was what I thought, but when it persisted I

believed I was having some kind of problem and I was afraid.”

Her parish priests agreed she was having bouts of nightmares but when they couldn’t offer any sensible counsel and the dreams persisted, she started seeking counsel from one church to the

other.

“That was how I got to God’s Sanctuary Bible Church in Ajegunle where my vision was revealed to me. I was shocked, and when the call became clear and sure, I resisted it. I was asking God: ‘Who am I to you? Do

you see me as Moses, or Elijah?

You have pastors and bishops all over you can call’ and all that but God made me realize that He can make me become whatever He wants me to become and today His word and His will have come to pass.”

I’m not married; I would like to marry and have some kids for myself.” It was clear she spoke from the depth of her human spirit.

The centre has photo records of others who were picked from the streets, treated and reunited with their families and some whose relations have not been located.

Though born in Lagos on October 4th 1968 at Abule-Ijesha in Lagos to Edward Ukpom who worked with Flour Mills all his life till he retired recently and a mother who is a petty trader, Concern Martins’ parents hail from Abam-Ubakala town, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia.

Concern is the only female of three children.

While coming from Ajegunle for this interview with Daily Times at her Okota centre, Concern saw a naked girl outside a locked shop on the way and stopped the okada.

“I took an event banner of a Church nearby, wrapped up the girl and took her back to our Ajegunle centre before coming back here.” Such is the zeal of Concern.

Digging into her background to know what kind of a Nigerian child would grow up to be another version of Mary Slessor, our correspondent found that growing up was pretty difficult for Concern.

One, she was very stubborn. In her words, “I was a rebel everywhere.

“I would break all the plates in the house, spend most part of each day fighting and quarrelling with everybody and would refuse to do house chores. It got so bad that I was sent out of the family house to live with people who could help to modify my character.”

Now a mother of five, Concern recalled those days and the trials that followed with a frown and a faraway look: “I was so stubborn that my father threatened to sell me off to slave merchants; maybe he was only threatening me to behave, I don’t know, but my mother who knew her husband too well smuggled me out in the night to a woman who raised me.”

Features 24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Janaury 1, 2015

‘I am getting tired now...’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

when I entered the house; he said I was bringing disgrace to them. I learnt later that boys in the neighbourhood gather and mock him, that his mother is busy packing mad people around. They so intimidated him that he was ashamed and that moved him to take that action; but I pardoned him because I knew he wasn’t himself; it was the devil trying to discourage me by using my children and my husband against me to make me stop the good work of God. But I appreciate God in all these because His voice was with me all the way, telling me, ‘don’t worry, it will get better, pray for him, and pardon them all’, which I have done and till today I still do that.”

So how are they relating with her now that the work has become known nationwide with some branches? Her answer was a surprise: “They have come to realise that this is the work God has called me to do; my five children reconciled with me, they’re grown up now and on their own; and my husband even lives here with me now in the midst of the people I gathered from the streets and dustbins! The one thing left is that my husband has still not realised the core value of my vision because the content of my vision is that I am to abandon myself, leave anybody very close to me, and attend to the rehabitees.”

Recalling how the vision scattered her life, Concern, with eyes closed, her hands covering her face let out a long sigh: “I don’t now know how to talk about my life, but the only thing I know now is that I’m tired; I need rest; in anything one does, if you don’t have rest you’re killing yourself, and with the level I am now with So-Said, if I die

Iyalode before and now I just die for myself because SoSaid will continue; so I’m looking to see how I can get rest for myself, keep away from the work a while though my mind will always be there as I certainly can’t live or have peace in my mind without them. So-Said is my life and Soul, that’s why I live where they live and I eat what they eat.”

Asked to give me a picture of what her typical day is like from the moment she wakes up, she said: “A normal day starts with my quiet time and I think that is really the only quiet time I have for the whole day because after praying, we start shouting and quarrelling to get things done; you know I have residential workers, we will be shouting, “Nurse

Ï A suspicious traditional

ruler sent his aides to spy her out, to know whether this strange woman was doing some rituals with the people or not.

Ufuoma, why is this place like this?” “Nurse Rebecca, where’re the cartons of soap delivered that time?” “Ah! It’s finished?” “Okay, Nurse Becky, why are these children still like this?” “You madam, carry these things outside and prepare this hall,” etc and we go on and on, which is not good for my health any longer.

“My legs are weak now, my head is full and sometimes it will be spinning. Because God gave me zealous staff too, I was telling one of my workers recently to ‘take it easy o; this was how I started with So-Said, and now it’s telling on me so you better slow down before you become old by force like me’. So, I’m old by force now.”

With that kind of pressure,

Ï I need support from my

husband, from everybody around me, from the press, corporate organisations; I need help; you have no idea what great burden So-Said is

how is Concern able to find time for her husband? She let off a long, soft laughter.

“I don’t know about finding time; all my time go for So-Said; my brain, my thoughts, how to make ends meet for them, school fees for those in school, drugs for the sick, baby foods for nursing mothers, ah, it torments me, it consumes me.”

“You’re only a 53 … and beautiful,” Daily Times observed.

“Am I? You may see me young, but the work makes me very old.

I trek to many places each day; even till now, I don’t have a car, so I carry a lot of loads while trekking.”

God said what he has joined together, let no vision put asunder; is she going to allow So-Said to

put her marriage asunder?

Her response was to give Daily Times a sideways look saying nothing “You see, sometimes I pray God to turn me to a man, so that when men see me they will see me as one of their kind and in a way, it’s working for me. So, if my husband even wants to marry another woman on that account, I wouldn’t mind. He didn’t say that, but I do think about our marriage sometimes. I’m still a woman of course, but I’m no longer thinking about such things, and to be frank, with the level I am now, I really don’t know. But I sometimes wonder that at our age and the level of work we’re doing, I don’t think sex should still be a priority or an issue.”

Ï One day, I gained access (to

our home) and my 16-year-old son slapped me when I entered the house; he said I was bringing disgrace to them. I learnt later that boys in the neighbourhood were mocking him

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

South East Voice

s

Senator Anosike’s heart of kindness

By Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka The crowd had gathered once again at the Community Primary School Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State on that day to witness yet another annual event organized by the former Senator that represented Anambra North Senatorial Zone.

There were no space to contain yet another surging crowd that tried to gain entrance into the primary School play ground, hence they had to cause traffic jam along the Awkuzu-Nteje Umueri- Otuocha high way there by disturbing vehicular movement.

On that day, it marks the seventh Senator Emma Obi Anosike Empowerment scheme for the seven Local Government Areas that made up Anambra North Senatorial zone. The arena indeed beheld large quantity of Wrappers, food items and wheel chairs for the physically challenged people in the area.

Speaking at the occasion the Chairman Emma Nnacho, one of the Elder Statesmen in the area extolled the qualities of Anosike nothing that a man’s wealth amounts to nothing if he cannot use it to give succor to the less privileged.

“What we are witnessing here today is practical Christianity.

The need for us to assist the less privileged is because they are always with us at all times and God uses those kind gestures to bless us” “One interesting thing here is that though Anosike is a Politician, he is not doing this for election purposes. He is not contesting for any position in this 2015 general election. He had been doing this every year and people benefit bountifully from it” “We urge all and sundry to give him support through commending his efforts. I also want to use this opportunity to encourage the entire well to do members of the Society to borrow a leaf from what our son Anosike is doing”

25

Abia: 1000 erosion sites in one state Stories By Sunday Nwakanma – Umuahia In Nigeria, the geographical location of the state called Abia has been described as one of the reasons the underground movement of water and surface rain drops has endangered it with over recorded 1000 erosion sites of different categories.

Abia State is a state in the south eastern part of Nigeria with its capital in Umuahia and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

Age grade organizes f/ball competition for health, unity Two age grades in Ibeku, Saturday at Amuzukwu Girls Secondary School, slugged it out in a football competition aimed at uniting them and keeping the body fit.

The match between the two age grades, Otu Obi Age grade of Amuzukwu Ibeku and Otu Obi Age grade of Amaeke Afarata Ibeku, made up of individuals born between 1957 and 1960 ended in 1-0 in favour of the Amuzukwu age grade.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

I will work to fully realize on-going projects in Abia - Orji Items distributed to the widow Also speaking at the occasion the Chairman Traditional Rulers Council for Anambra North Senatorial zone and traditional ruler of Nteje Community in Oyi Local government Area, Igwe Roland Odegbo observed that politics has to do with service to humanity.

“People go into politics to

serve mankind and that is the way it is. Those that go into politics just to enrich themselves do not last in the system. Emma Anosike has always been with the people and not those that are totally disconnected from the masses” “Anosike has served us as Federal House of Representa-

tives member and he did well. He has also served us as a Senator and he gave us the good road network that we now enjoy today, you also know his contributions in attracting successive governors and Federal governments to our Communities for developCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Less than five months to the end of his administration, Gov. Theodore Orji says, he will continue to give his best in the New Year and equally work to fully realize on-going projects in the state.

However, he said the promise will be based on available resources which will dictate.

In a state-wide New Year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

South East Voice 26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

‘Touching the lives of many’

Bags of rice for the widows

Jubilating widows during the programme CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

ment and empowerment. That is why he is seen as the real Son of the soil. We must continue to encourage him and ensure that he is not demoralized at the end of the day “he added.

It was also a very rare opportunity for resource persons to enlighten and educate the rural dwellers on some issues concerning their health. To this end elder Sister to Anosike Mrs Easter Maduka spoke on breast and womb cancer among women and advised them to always run a check on their womb and breast respectively.

Maduka noted that women that have stopped Child bearing between ten to fifteen years run a high risk of having cancer of the womb or breast but insisted that if noticed on time the patient can be treated.

She advised that pressing the breast of new born babies can also cause cancer in a later age, adding that more than two hundred women are lying helplessly at the teaching Hospitals due to breast cancer.

She also warned against the use of sugar to check eye infection, adding that such practice

We shall continue to empower widows and the less privileged members of our society is not allowed medically and is always dangerous to the eyes.

She observed that the only way out is for one to be-eating food that contains vitamin A that is good for the eyes.

Delivering his address at the occasion, Senator Anosike noted that he do not expect anything in return but prayers from people.

“We shall continue to empower widows and the less privileged members of our society. In the next time we are having this programme we shall have Centres for free medical check-up and any person found to be sick would be taken care of at the General hospital for free treatment” “It is my belief that if every well to do person in Anambra

North come out to do what am doing the level of poverty would reduce drastically. It is also my hope that next time it would be bigger than what we have today by the grace of God. I also urge both the federal and State governments to come to the assistance of those at the rural Areas through provision of basic amenities and good Medicare. ‘’ he added.

Former Commissioner for Information and culture Chief Jeo Ofokansi who incidentally was the Chairman of the Empowerment scheme noted that the essential reason behind the empowerment is charity to mankind.

Ofokansi also explained that “we shall continue to grow from strength to strength at all times in empowering our people. As a former Senator, he cannot limit it to Anambra East; he has to expand his tentacles up to other Local governments in the zone.

Next year we are going to add new things add dimensions to the scheme in other to increase our number of beneficiaries’’ The highlight of the occasion was the distribution of over 1,000 wrappers, 1,000 bags of rice, onions, cartons of tin tomatoes and about 50 wheel chairs for the physically challenged persons who actually need them as well as physical cash.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Daily Times at the occasion expressed happiness over the kind gesture of Senator Anosike adding that the foundation has gone a long way in empowering people.

One of the Widows Mrs Roselin Chinweze from Oyi Local government Area noted that ‘’ we started benefiting from the foundation since 2006 and ever since then it has been encouraging, God will continue to bless him and his family members’’ Mr Christopher Jideofor Ifediora who spoke on behalf of the physically challenged persons recalled that Anosike had given him money in past for his Children’s school fees and another sum of money which he used to start small scale business.

Also Mrs Cordelia Okeke from Anambra East Local government Area recalled that “some time ago he gave us free medical care and relief materials when we had flood disaster. He is a humble and accommodating man with open arms” At the end of the occasion, the beneficiaries went home happy and Senator Anosike went home justified that he has touched the lives of his people.

Some of the erosion sites in the state

Abia: 1000 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

its major commercial city in Aba. The state was in 1991 carved out of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people (95% of population of about 2,833,999 (2006 census) and covers an area of about 5,243.7 sq. km and is one of the smallest in Nigeria’s 36 states.

In all, about 1000 erosion sites have been identified in the state.

They include the ravaging Isuikwuato Local Government area erosion site, Umezeukwu gully in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state, Amaekpu Ohafia in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State and the UturuOhafia-Arochukwu Highway.

The worst affected areas

include Umuezeukwu and other surrounding villages like Umuodeche, Umuogu, Ikputu and Agburuike in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.

Others are Umuahia, Ikwuano, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Abiriba, Igbere, Nkporo and parts of Arochuku.

It is the same story in many other areas.

Other communities affected by flood, landslide and gully erosion include Ozuabam and Ikwuano and many more.

In Abia, many villages - with substantial number of population have been cut off from the rest of the state by gully erosion.

The magnitude of the erosion sites has made the funds required to tackle them too big for the state government and

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

27 South East Voice Age grade organizes football competition for health, unity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

erosion sites in one state they span from Abia North through the central to the south senatorial districts.

During the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu, it was said that the then government would require about half a billion naira to tackle the menace of an erosion site at Isuikwuato Local Government alone not to think of the entirety of the menace in the state.

This had led to the state government deciding to work on those it could manage with its lean resources.

The worst area with the highest number of erosion site is in Isuikwuato Local Government and as at that point the financial implication of taming the site increased tremendously to well over N100 billion

The magnitude of the erosion sites at Isuikwuato area was beyond the financial capacity of the state government, which has at various times called on the Federal Government to come to its aid in tackling the menace ravaging the entire length and breadth of the state.

For instance, an albino woman, Grace Dike, from Amaekpu Ohafia in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State was recently rendered homeless as her house was washed away by erosion following a downpour, which also destroyed many economic trees worth millions of naira in the area.

The council Chairman, Udensi Ekea, had after visiting the woman called on the Federal Government to take steps

to fix the erosion site through the ecological fund, assuring her of government’s assistance through the National Emergency Management Agency.

Last year, the Uturu-OhafiaArochukwu Highway was cut into two by erosion at Isuikwuato.

During a recent retreat by the Senate in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State last November, the South-east governors were unanimous in their call on the federal government to declare the eastern zone as an emergency for erosion intervention measures.

During a state visit to Abia, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had while in office once expressed worries at the level of ecological disaster in the region.

Speaking after the encounter, the Traditional Prime Minister of Ibeku Ancient Kingdom and Chairman/Executive Officer of Bawas Group of Companies, Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu said apart from keeping fit and uniting them, the competition was also aimed at inculcating discipline and spirit of sportsmanship in members of the age grade.

He described the age grades as the first in Ibekuland to have sister age grade, all with prominent and influential sons of the clan as members.

Bawas said what was important in the competition was the unity, love and happiness that is involved, stating that the event would be made an annual one and to be made an all-Ibekuland affair.

The two age grades, he said is also involved in community and humanitarian activities, including building town halls and giving scholarship to Ibeku sons and daughters.

Handing over a trophy to the winners of the match, the honourable member representing Ibeku East state constituency in the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Nkem Uche said the exercise will bring health benefits to the players and commended them for their spirit of sportsmanship.The state was in 1991 carved out of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people (95% of population of about 2,833,999 (2006 census) and covers an area of about 5,243.7 sq. km and is one of the smallest in Nigeria’s 36 states.

In all, about 1000 erosion sites have been identified in the state.

They include the ravaging Isuikwuato Local Government area erosion site, Umezeukwu gully in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state, Amaekpu Ohafia in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State and the UturuOhafia-Arochukwu Highway.

The worst affected areas include Umuezeukwu and other surrounding villages like Umuodeche, Umuogu, Ikputu and Agburuike in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.

Others are Umuahia, Ikwuano, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Abiriba, Igbere, Nkporo and parts of Arochuku.

It is the same story in many other areas.

Other communities affected by flood, landslide and gully erosion include Ozuabam and Ikwuano and many more.

In Abia, many villages - with substantial number of population have been cut off from the rest of the state by gully erosion.

The magnitude of the erosion sites has made the funds required to tackle them too big for the state government and they span from Abia North through the central to the south senatorial districts.

During the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu, it was said that the then government would require about half a billion naira to tackle the menace of an erosion site at Isuikwuato Local Government alone not to think of the entirety of the menace in the state.

The worst area with the highest number of erosion site is in Isuikwuato Local Government and as at that point the financial implication of taming the site increased tremendously to well over N100bn This had led to the state government deciding to work on those it could manage with its lean resources.

The worst area with the highest number of erosion site is in Isuikwuato Local Government and as at that point the financial implication of taming the site increased tremendously to well over N100 billion The magnitude of the erosion sites at Isuikwuato area was beyond the financial capacity of the state government, which has at various times called on the Federal Government to come to its aid in tackling the menace ravaging the entire length and breadth of the state.

South East Voice 28

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Social Society groups criticize Anambra for poor budgetary allocation to social sector

By Nkiru Nwagbo, Awka Civil Society groups under the aegis of Equity and Social Budget Platform (ESIBUP) has expressed dismay over what they descried as’’ poor allocation’’ to social sector in 2015 budget of Anambra State.

They said that the Governor Chief Willie Obiano did not take adequate care of vulnerable persons and disabilities noting that the social sector is the only sector that will take care of this disadvantaged persons in the area.

The group said that allocation of mere 14.3 per cent of the total capital budget to social sector is “quite poor” given that human development index is measured around important sub-sector like health and education. In the budget, a total of N15.872 billion was allocated to social sector.

Also, in the same budget, a total of N430.2 million or 2.7 per cent of the social sector and 0.39 per cent of the entire capital expenditure allocated to Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. The criticized this allocation as being “too poor considering that it is the only ministry that has clear allocation for women, people living with disabilities, orphans and vulnerable children”.

Analyzing the budget further, It said that while investment in

Obiano agriculture promises returns, evidence abounds that women cannot inherit land and are unable to process land ownership in the official Government system.

Besides, the group added, since Obiano made agriculture the pillar of his policy, the

amount allocated to the sector was too poor.

This shows, the group argued, that women and girls will not be able to benefit from the initiatives and investments in this sector except special attention is paid to gender mainstreaming or to standalone strategic

project for those excluded by reason of gender or sex.

Leaders of the group spoke from their different points of view. While Mrs. Anekwe Eucharia, coordinator of ESIBUP and programme amanager of Justice Development and Peace/ Caritas Commission (JDPC) spoke for her group, Mrs. Ebenebe Onyeka spoke for Development in Practice (DiP).

Also, Gloria Nwafor who is Chief Executive Officer of Care for the Physically Challenged and Destitute Foundation (CAPCADF) while Mr. Orjiako G. Chuma spoke for Societal Values and Community Development Initiative/Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU).

In its view, gender and social inclusion should be mainstreamed by all MDAs during the implementation of their budget line items.

It argued that it is important that projects should be implemented with a view to ensure that socially excluded persons are fully considered.

Among other things, the group said government should include the needs of the youthsmale and female, women, the retired, the aged, and those with disabilities and communicate such inclusion not just in the budget speech, but across various government fora.

Orji

I will work to fully realize on-going projects in Abia – Orji CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

broadcast to Abians, Orji said on assumption of office in 2007, he met a state of insecurity where armed robbery, kidnapping and other illicit acts held sway.

“We met a state lacking in basic foundational infrastructure. We met demoralized and un-empowered youths. We met a political class and elites in Aba State polarized into Abuja group, Umuahia group, Lagos group, etc. We met a culture of impunity where idolatry and oath-taking at shrines were the order of the day.

“Today, we have not only achieved unity and peace among our hitherto polarized political class and elites but we have also restored security

and placed our state as one of the safest states in Nigeria”, he said.

He highlighted his numerous achievements ranging from achievements in government sector to health, education, transport, housing, agriculture, youth employment and empowerment, roads, security and other infrastructures.

“We have taken steps to revive the moribund Golden Guinea Breweries Ltd, Umuahia. This brewery is almost ready to commence production and I shall commission it before leaving office as another parting gift to my people which will also create employment”.

He expressed his conviction that this administration has laid the foundation to realize

an economically virile, strong, affluent and glorious Abia State of his dream with the support of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stating: “I have always believed in equity and together with our party – the PDP, the governorship position was zoned to Abia South Senatorial Zone”.

He called on Abians to support the PDP gubernatorial candidate in the state Dr Okezie in order to sustain the creative and enterprising Abia spirit and the desired path of irreversible development.

“Indeed, I see a greater and more prosperous Abia State, made strong by their toil, triumphant in their travails, ever united as a people and determined never to go back to

the dark days of impunity and idolatrous worship” the governor said.The state was in 1991 carved out of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people (95% of population of about 2,833,999 (2006 census) and covers an area of about 5,243.7 sq. km and is one of the smallest in Nigeria’s 36 states.

In all, about 1000 erosion sites have been identified in the state.

They include the ravaging Isuikwuato Local Government area erosion site, Umezeukwu gully in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state, Amaekpu Ohafia in the Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State and the UturuOhafia-Arochukwu Highway.

The worst affected areas

include Umuezeukwu and other surrounding villages like Umuodeche, Umuogu, Ikputu and Agburuike in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.

Others are Umuahia, Ikwuano, Ohafia, Isuikwuato, Abiriba, Igbere, Nkporo and parts of Arochuku.

It is the same story in many other areas.

Other communities affected by flood, landslide and gully erosion include Ozuabam and Ikwuano and many more.

In Abia, many villages - with substantial number of population have been cut off from the rest of the state by gully erosion.

The magnitude of the erosion sites has made the funds required to tackle them too big for the state government and they span from Abia North through the central to the south senatorial districts.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Business

s

FG frowns at perpetration of illegalities at FTZs ...Says it is totally unacceptable to use Free Trade Zones as exports revolving doors Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏThe federal government has assured Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria, POFON, that it would tackle illegality at Free Trade Zones, FTZs, by some companies who hide under the guise of waiver granted to them to carry out illegal business activities to the detriment of the economy and genuine investors.

The assurance was given by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, during a meeting held with POFON members in his office in Abuja.

Adesina said: “The Free Trade Zones, FTZs are not areas for hanky-panky business, because the government is not benefitting from that and making other genuine companies to suffer for it.

“It is totally unacceptable that Free Trade Zones are being used to re-export and the idea of FTZs is to add value and not as revolving door. When you do that is basically shooting yourself in the foot and it is a great disservice for those investing in the customs area and setting up ‘plantations’.

“We will focus on the protection

of your investment on oil palm plantation. The Free Trade Zone is meant for export and not to reexport into Nigeria via companies in the FTZs.” Adesina also decried the level of economic sabotage by some companies who have capitalised on poor monitoring at the FTZs, which defeats objectives establishing the FTZs, and described it as madness and unacceptable by government.

“I have raised this matter at the Federal Executive Council meeting and Mr. President is aware of it and he is concerned about it.

We cannot have a situation where some people take advantage of loose monitoring as regards to the issue of regulation. I will assure you (POFON) that I am going to raise this issue formally and also discuss with my colleague Ministers.”

The minister also expressed optimism over the production capacity of the country’s oil palm industry, saying it has the potential to sustain the demand and also urged players in the industry to step up local production of Crude Oil Palm (CPO) to add value to the economy.

ÏÏÏThe Bureau of Public Procurement (BPE) has announced that it has saved about N8.9 billion for the Federal Government of Nigeria between April and June 2014 through cost reduction of contracts.

The bureau stated this in its 2014 Second Quarter Report made available to newsmen by its Head of Public Relations, Mr Thomas Odemwingie, on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the report, the savings is based on the difference between the amount requested for contracts by various

MDAs and what the bureau approved after vetting the contracts.

A breakdown shows that about N136.6 million was saved from the contract submitted by the Ministry of Police Affairs to procure six units of Innoson Motors buses.

The ministry had requested for N250 million which was revised down to N113.4 million by the bureau.

Also, the Ministry of Transport’s request for 61 million dollars for the construction of Berth 21 at Terminal E, Lagos Port complex, Apapa, was revised down to 59.6 million dollars.

Short News Contributory pension: Membership grows to 6.19m in 2nd quarter - PenCom Kayode Adewolokan

ÏÏÏThe National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said that membership of the contributory pension scheme had increased from 6.09 million in first quarter to 6.19 million in second quarter of 2014.

This was contained in the commission’s quarterly report obtained by on Wednesday in Abuja.

The report said the increase was largely explained by Retirement Savings Account (RSA) memberships, which accounted for 98.94 per cent of total pension scheme memberships during the quarter.

It said that Approved Existing Schemes (AES) and Closed Pension Fund Administrators (CPFA) accounted for the remaining balances of 0.66 and 0.40 per cent respectively.

Akinwumi Adesina

SEC partners NSE over listing of operating multinational companies in Nigeria

Onne Free Trade Zone

BPE saves N8.9bn on FG contracts in 3 months Ugochukwu Onyeocha

29

BPE ``This shows that 1.4 million dollars (N228.4 million) was saved on this project alone,’’ the report said.

It further indicated that the bureau had cut down to N289.3 million, a request by the Ministry of Works for N307.1 million

for ``additional advisory services’’ on the concessioning of the 2nd Niger Bridge.

This had led to a saving of N17.7 million on the contract for the federal government, the report indicated.

It also indicated substantial saving from the request submitted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in respect of contracts for three separate projects for N9.8 billion, N116.5 million and 116 million.

It stated that the bureau saved N3.1 billion after vetting the contracts which were brought down to N6.7 billion, N106 million and N106 million respectively.

Adesola Akindele

ÏÏÏThe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday stated that it has gone into partnership with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to ensure listing of numerous operating multinational companies on the nation’s bourse.

Mr Obi Adindu, Communications Adviser to SEC’s DirectorGeneral, who stated this in a chat with newsmen said that the commission was engaging multinationals on the benefits of listing on the NSE. According to him, the companies, contrary to other opinions, would only be wooed to be listed and not by compulsion.

Adindu said that there were no subsisting enabling laws to compel any company or multinationals to be quoted at the NSE.

Industry 30

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

A refinery, powering Nigeria’s economy

Economy: Can FG meet the private sector’s expectations?

Michael Olatunji

ÏÏÏJust as the curtain was closing on 2014, members of the organised private sector (OPS) deemed it proper to review the prevailing micro and macro-economic issues that have, one way or the other, affected their operations.

Prominent among the business membership organisations that undertook this critical task was the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). While the body commended its partner in development – the government, for impactful strides it recorded in the outgoing year, NACCIMA also raised concerns over issues that should be addressed without delay, for tangible economic objectives to be realised.

It is now left to be seen if the government will rise to the expectations of the private sector in transforming the economy in 2015.

Efforts by Federal Government to diversify the nation’s economy through various reforms in the non-oil sectors, were commended

by NACCIMA, noting that diversifying the Nigerian economy was a pathway to achieving economic stability and will lead the nation in realising its long term socioeconomic development goals.

However, the body of technocrats and professional business minds and economic analysts advised the government to work towards improving the collaboration between the public and private sectors, stressing that in this wise, the government’s sincerity in facilitating a private sector led

economy, will enable Nigeria to maximally utilise her abundant resources.

-

-

“Government should provide a climate for a profitable and flourishing business enterprise.

In this regard, the first and most

critical area of attention is to intensify its transformation agenda on infrastructure. With this, cost of production will reduce, unit prices will reduce and our goods will be able to compete internationally,” said Chief Bassey Edem, 1st Deputy National Vice President of NACCIMA. The association further advised Government to address other areas that effectively raise the cost of doing business, such as excessive tax burden, high cost of compliance with government regulations and Extortion/ harassment of companies by Regulatory Agencies.

“Government should examine the various incentives and harmonise them appropriately.

The ineffective ones should be abolished while others should be

fine-tuned to make them practicable and realistic. In this wise, the abolition of Duty Draw Back Scheme is commendable, and the fine-tuning of the Export Expansion Grant will be a step in the right direction,” Edem also said.

NACCIMA commended the efforts put into the timely preparation and presentation of the 2015 budget by the Federal Government, noting that delay in budgetary process has its implication on proper planning by government MDAs and business operators, whose plans and projects were dependent on the annual budget.

NACCIMA commended the timely preparation of the 2015 budget and urged that it be sustained in line with global best practices of budgetary process.

Taxes should target consumption, not investments – CITN

Breweries finalises merger

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

ÏÏÏThe management of Nigerian Breweries Plc, on Wednesday announced that it has concluded its merger with Consolidated Breweries Plc. A statement by the company in Lagos said the merger was effective from Dec. 31. ``This followed the receipt of approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the sanction by the Federal High Court. ``Nigerian Breweries Plc has for-

ÏÏÏThe President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Mr. Anthony Dike, on Wednesday, called for a shift in target for taxation, advising that consumption and not investments ought to be the target.

Dike also admonished tax institutes to partner the various tiers of governments in combating double taxation nationwide.

The CITN president told newsmen in Lagos that prevailing double taxation impacted negatively on the proposed national industrial growth.

“Now that the country’s benchmark of crude oil is dwindling, we should encourage diversification and industrial growth.

“Multiple taxation could discourage diversification and industrial expansion needed for sustainable economy.

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

Mark-Anthony Dike, CITN-President

mally informed the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of conclusion of merger process as required by the listing regulations,” the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Nicolas Vervelde, said in the statement made available to newsmen.

Nichola Vervelde

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

LCCI forecasts production and operational pressures in 2015 Michael Olatunji

ÎÎÎ

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has predicted tighter pressures on production and operations for industries in the country in 2015.

The chamber noted that the lingering infrastructure and institutional challenges notwithstanding, the Nigerian economy remains strong in metrics as one of the emerging investment destinations in the world.

“Impressive feats on moderation of inflation rate, improvement in per capita income,

sustained strong growth, stable democracy and robust demand are noteworthy in this regard.”

LCCI said.

The Chamber noted that with the unfolding oil price scenario and the consequent exchange rate depreciation, it is plausible to predict higher inflation conditions in 2015. “There would be pressures on production and operating costs across sectors.

High cost of imports will also be a major factor.”

LCCI pointed out that the combined austerity measures of the government and tighter monetary policy would put ad-

Charity homes praise Glo for end of year gifts Opeoluwani Akintayo

ÎÎÎ

A number of charity homes across the country have lauded Globacom for donating food items worth millions of Naira to them in the spirit of end of the year festivities.

The items comprising of edibles and essentials for children were delivered by senior staff of the company to several charity homes in different locations

across the country, including Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

The company said the donations were part of its initiatives of reaching out to the less privileged in the society. ‘’This is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes. It is meant to reassure the less privileged during this festive season that they are neither forgotten nor abandoned”.

31 Money

A cement production line

Remi Bello, LCCI ditional pressure on consumer prices and expects inflation rate to cross the double digit mark in the first half of 2015.

Business implications of naira exchange rate depreciation in 2015: “As a result of the import dependent character of the

Combined austerity measures of the government and tighter monetary policy would put additional pressure on consumer prices and expects inflation rate to cross the double digit mark in the first half of 2015.

economy the sharp declines in exchange rate will naturally push up the operating cost of enterprises in the economy.

Many firms are already feeling the heat across all sectors. In the few weeks, naira exchange rate has depreciated by about 11 per cent in the interbank market and over 12 per cent in the parallel market. The impact of the depreciation on operating costs will be very profound in 2015.”LCCI said.

The Chamber explained that a natural outcome of depreciating exchange of rate in an import dependent economy is inflation.

“Cost push inflation will begin to manifest in next few weeks of 2015. This will be driven by high cost of production and high cost of imported finished goods.”

Merit awards will boost innovative entreprises – Smith Opeoluwani Akintayo

ÎÎÎ

The Managing Director, World Telecoms Lab (WTL), Mr Leigh Smith, said on Wednesday that recognition of companies for outstanding innovation will boost the ICT sector in Nigeria.

He stated also that his company made a tremendous impact in the Nigerian Telecoms space in 2014 through its achievement in the provision of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoiP). ``WTL, with its 100,000 seconds installed base of voice ports, with service providers

worldwide, switching billions of minutes of VoIP traffic, our company has shown itself as a leader. Barely less than two weeks of WTL’s passage of hitting one billion minutes through its specialist second generation VoIP switches, deployed by five interconnect exchange carriers, the company added yet another feather to its laurels by naming it the 2014 Nigerian Innovative Product of the year,” Smith said.

“With a population of approximately 180 million and the largest economy in Africa, recognition in the Nigerian market is a significant accolade,” he said.

Smith

Money 32

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday January 1, 2015

NSE closes market marginally negative Good way to end the year -Fakrogha Desola Akindele

ÎÎÎAmidst

Infectious excitement, marked by celebration and jubilation in the Nigerian Stock Exchange house, with the presence of popular entertainer Dr. Sid, market activities closed for the year midday on Wednesday in red as All Shared Index (ASI) reduces by 0.08% to close at 34,657.15.

Despite the various crisis that affected the Nigerian economy in the last 12 months such as the outbreak of Ebola, the falling of oil prices, the market still fared very well in the last 12months says Fakrogha Charles Chief Executive Officer, Foresight Securities & Investment Limited and a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, in a chat.

He further stated that yesterday’s (Wednesday 31st December) market performance was expected, given the bullish trend of the market in the previous days, He explained that investor confidence had come back towards the end of the year. It is hopeful that trading activ-

ities picks up on a bullish note come Monday.

The last day of year 2014 records an exchange of 233.81 million shares worth N4.23 billion in 2,775 deals, as against the 390.82 million shares valued at N6.99 billion traded in 4,637 deals on Tuesday

by Investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Unitykap emerged as the most traded stock, accounting for 65.12 million shares worth N32.56 million in two deals.

FCMB exchanged 37.73 million shares valued at N91.12 million in 127 deals, while Transcorp sold 22.42 million shares worth N72.87 million transacted by investors in 130 deals.

Amidst twenty five (25) gainers, Sterling Bank appreciates by 4.96 per cent to close at N2.54 from its previous N2.42. Dangote Cement gained N7.59 the highest on the chart to close at N200 per share.

7UP gained N5.40 to close at N165.40, while Forte Oil appreciated by 65k to close at N227.90 per share.

Leading thirty one (31) losers is Transcorp with a 9.72 per cent loss closing

L – R (Pic 3) shows Mr Haruna Jalo- Waziri, Executive Director, Business Development, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Sidney Onoriode Esiri (Dr Sid), Recording Artist, Mavin Records; Ms Tinuade Awe, Head, Legal and Regulation Division, NSE; Ade Ewuosho, Head, Market Services, NSE at the Year End closing Gong ceremony 31st December 2014. at N3.25 from its previous N3.60, likewise Nestle which lost N31.25 to close at N1, 011.75 per share.

Total Oil depreciated by N7.50 to close at N142.50, while Nigerian Breweries dipped by N3.70 to close at N165.30 per share.

Conoil lost N2 to close

at N38.11 per share and Guinness dropped N1.85 to close at N168.15 per share.

Market capitalisation lost N9 billion to close at N11, 447,661,174,486.50 (N11.477 trillion) from the N11.486 trillion recorded on Tuesday.

Fakrogha

Foreign bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals

RMRDC, NASSI to hold SME cluster summit in 2015

** Private equity firm Apollo Global Management LLC is considering making a bid for Portuguese lender Novo Banco SA, the bank carved out of Banco Espirito Santo SA, Bloomberg reported. ** Canada’s Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan said it had bought a 19.25 per cent stake in Birmingham Airport from Australia’s Victorian Funds Management Corp, taking its investment in the British airport to 48.25 percent. ** New Zealand’s state-

ÎÎÎThe

run pension fund and utilities investor Infratil Ltd will acquire Australian retirement village operator RetireAustralia in a deal worth A$640.2 million ($520 million) as they gain exposure to Australia’s growing retirement services sector. ** Marka, a retailing and restaurants start-up, has agreed to buy a sporting goods retail firm from state-owned conglomerate Dubai World for 220 million dirhams ($60 million), in a move that will make Marka operationally prof-

itable in 2015, it said on Sunday. ** Carl Icahn reported a 7.7 per cent stake in Manitowoc Co Inc, and became the second activist investor this year to push for a splitup of the company’s crane and foodservice equipment businesses. ** British broadband provider TalkTalk Telecom Group Plc is in negotiations to buy grocer Tesco Plc’s loss-making video-streaming service Blinkbox to bolster its TV business, the Financial Times said. Vodafone

Michael Olatunji

Group Plc had also looked at Blinkbox, which analysts say could be worth about 14 million pounds ($22 million), according to previous reports. ** Gazprom OAO has agreed to buy its European partners Wintershall, EDF SA and Eni SpA out of the scrapped South Stream gas pipeline project, the companies said in statements.

Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), plans to hold a summit on raw materials-based SMEs cluster with the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI).

Dr Hussaini Ibrahim, the Director General of the council, said in a statement in Abuja that the meeting, to be held between Jan. 21 and Jan. 22, is part of strategies to develop micro-small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.

The summit, with the theme ``Raw Materials Based Clusters Initiative: Imperative for Nigeria’s Sustainable Industrial Development and Economic Growth’’, is being organised for the country’s 774 local government areas’ chairmen.

The Commissioners for Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Finance, Science and Technology, as well as offices of the first ladies of local government areas of all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are expected to attend the meeting.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

33 Global Business

China stocks top performers in 2014, dollar sees best gain in 9 year ÎÎÎ

Chinese stocks were celebrating their best year in five on Wednesday, while markets elsewhere in Asia were ending 2014 on a cautionary note, as worries about Greece’s future in the euro zone served as an excuse to take profits on crowded trades.

The U.S. dollar lost a little of its recent gains, but the euro got no respite as European bonds yields scored all-time lows following a shockingly sharp fall in Spanish inflation.

The stand-out global equity performer was China, where the CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen looked set to end 2014 with gains of nearly 50 percent, the biggest among the world’s major markets.

Almost all of China’s rise

came in the last couple of months, as hopes for more aggressive policy stimulus to counter its economic slowdown boosted banks and brokerages.

Featuring on Wednesday were hefty gains for China’s biggest train makers, China CNR and CSR Corp , after the two firms confirmed a $26 billion merger.

Trade elsewhere was thinned by holidays in Japan, Thailand, South Korea and the Philippines, while many markets in Europe are either shut or finish early on Wednesday.

Australia and Singapore were all but flat for the day. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.2 percent but was still ending the year almost exactly where it started.

Short News Technology

Public LG and Samsung’s disputes over washing machine ÎÎÎSouth Korea’s two top tech-

Happy investors in China The Nikkei fared better with a rise of 7.1 percent for the year, thanks chiefly to the Bank of Japan’s extraordinary campaign of asset buying which lowered the yen while fattening exporters’ profit margins.

Asia’s worst performer in 2014 was South Korea, where the KOSPI lost 4.8 percent for the year, partly on fears that the sliding yen would give Japanese exporters a greater competitive advantage over their Asian rivals.

Among the scraps of news in Asia was a final measure of De-

modestly against the greenback on Wednesday, getting some respite on the last day of a tough 2014 that has the loonie on track for its worst performance in six years.

The Canadian dollar started the year as many investors’ top short position as the Bank of Canada was expected to remain accommodative.

After a sell-off in the first three months, the loonie managed to regain some ground into

the summer, only to be knocked lower again by the plunge in oil prices and a Federal Reserve that is moving closer to raising interest rates.

The Canadian dollar is down 8.4 per cent for the year, its biggest decline since 2008, the start of the global financial crisis.

“It’s definitely been a challenging one for the loonie and is likely to continue into 2015,” said Scott Smith, senior market analyst at Cambridge Mercantile Group in Calgary.

cember Chinese manufacturing from HSBC. Activity shrank for the first time in seven months but was little changed from a preliminary reading and only reinforced expectations that Beijing will have to roll out more economic support measures in coming months.

In currencies, the dollar was on track to end 2014 with a gain of 12 percent against a basket of major currencies, its best performance since 2005, and anticipated U.S. interest rake hikes may strengthen its appeal in the new year.

Technology

Taiwan clears Xiaomi, others of breaching data privacy ÎÎÎTaiwanese regulators on

Tuesday cleared China’s Xiaomi Inc and other smartphone brands of breaching local data protection laws after national security concerns triggered the government to launch a probe in September.

The National Communications Commission, in a report concluding the investigation, said all the 12 brands it had tested, which include handsets sold by Apple Inc, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, LG Electronics Inc and Sony Corp, did not violate the laws.

James Lou, an NCC official who was involved in the testing, said the commission, however, would request mobile phone makers make information transmission more secure.

Canadian dollar at C$1.1595 or 86.24 U.S. cents ÎÎÎThe Canadian dollar firmed

nology firms, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics , have a history of bitter rivalry, but their latest spat over a handful of washing machines has prompted a barrage of public mockery.

“This is all so petty and juvenile,” a reader on online portal Naver said of the dispute, which began in September when Samsung accused LG executives of damaging its washing machines at stores in Germany ahead of an industry event.

LG agreed to pay for what it called accidental damage to four machines following mediation by German authorities, but couldn’t resist taking a pot shot at its rival’s build quality.

Canadian dollars

Xiaomi phone

Capital Market 34 Adesola Akindele

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

DAILY MARKET SUMMARY

Market Capitalization and All Shares Index Trend for Equities Day

Market Capitalization (N)

Index value

Tuesday 23/12/2014

10,857,979,211,251.34

32,786.00

Wednesday 24/12/2014

11,402,042,992,052.69

34,428.82

Monday 29/12/2014

11,479,902,985,244.65

34,663.92

Tuesday 30/12/2014

11,486,658,400,845.79

34,684.32

Wednesday 31/12/2014

11,477,661,174,486.51

34,657.15

CBN EXCHANGE RATES AS AT 31st DECEMBER, 2014.

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN)

Selling(NGN)

US DOLLAR

167

167.5

168

POUNDS STERLING

260.687

261.4675

262.248

EURO

202.9384

203.546

204.1536

SWISS FRANC

168.738

169.2432

169.7484

YEN

1.3995

1.4037

1.4079

CFA

0.2935

0.3035

0.3135

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Today in History

35

s

‘We thank you and 600,000 others on 7th anniversary’ Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

utes after taking off. There were no survivors. Family members of the victims later sued the plane’s manufacturer, Boeing, for negligence, but the case was dismissed in 1986.

Today is Thursday January 1, 2015 the 1st day and 1st week of 2014, there 364 days and51 weeks left in the year. Highlights of today in history

ÏÏÏ1915 Sneak preview of The Birth of a Nation

ÏÏÏ1961

Sunday Times: “We thank you and 600,000 others” on 7 years anniversary”

The Sunday Times in a New Year Front page Editorial Comment, titled, “We thank you and 600,000 others today” stated as follow: “in the year 1960 which ended yesterday at midnight, the number of copies of Sunday Times sold each week, rose to an average of about 150, 000”.

“Expert” according to the paper, “believed that a least four people read one copy of Sunday Times “ this means that more than 600, 000 people, (i.e. over half a million) read Sunday Times weekly. This certainly was the largest circulation readership enjoyed by any newspaper in West Africa.”

Sunday Times was first published in 1953-just seven year old then.

Like in 1961, We wish all our numerous readers Happy Christmas and a rewarding and prosperous New Year 2015. The new year 2015 will be full of problems, challenges and opportunities.

Let us see it through together.

1973 The real-life murder behind Looking for Mr. Goodbar Roseann Quinn, a 27-year-old New Yorker, visited Tweed’s Bar on the Upper West Side and was

1919 Edsel Ford succeeds father as president of Ford ÏÏÏ

On this day in 1919, Edsel Ford, the son of Model T inventor and auto industry pioneer Henry Ford, succeeded his father as president of the Ford Motor Company. The younger Ford ascended to the top spot after his father resigned the position in December 1918, following a disagreement with stockholders However, father and son soon managed to purchase these dissenting investors’ stock and regain control of the company.

Edsel Bryant Ford, the only

picked up by her soon-to-be killer.

The incident inspires the cautionary novel and subsequent movie Looking For Mr. Goodbar.

For many, Quinn’s murder represented the dark side of the sexual revolution.

At Tweed’s on New Year’s night, Quinn had met John Wayne Wilson, an outwardly charming, but seriously disturbed man who was dealing with problems of sexual identity and orientation.

He was homosexual but refused to admit it to himself, leading to violent feelings toward women.

At his home later that night, Wilson beat Quinn, stabbed her numerous times, and sexually assaulted her before finally killing her. Before he could stand trial for his brutal crime, Wilson hanged himself in jail in May 1973.

In 1975, Judith Rossner wrote the best-selling novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar, which described a similar incident and served as

child of Henry Ford and his wife Clara, was born November 6, 1893, in Detroit, Michigan. A decade after Edsel’s birth, Henry Ford (1863-1947) established the Ford Motor Company; five years later, he introduced the Model T, an affordable car for the masses.

Henry Ford was also credited with pioneering the moving assembly line and introducing, in 1914, the $5-per-day minimum wage and the eight-hour workday. This made it possible for ordinary factory workers to buy the cars they built and helped to create the American middle class.

As president of Ford Motor Company, one of Edsel Ford’s key contributions was to the styling of the company’s cars.

a warning to women about the dangers of anonymous one-night stands. Diane Keaton starred in a popular movie version of the book in 1977.

ÏÏÏ1978 India: Air India jet crashes just after take off

An Air India Boeing 747 jet crashes into the sea just after take-off from a Bombay airport on this day in 1978, killing all 213 people on board. The crash was apparently the result of pilot error and equipment malfunction.

Air India Flight 855 left Santa Cruz Airport (now called Chatrapati Airport) in Bombay, India (modern-day Mumbai), in the early evening of January 1. The jet being used for the flight was the first 747 acquired by Air India in 1971. It was dubbed the “Emperor Ashoka” and advertised as “Your palace in the sky.” Headed for Dubai, the jet took off down runway 27, which ends less than

a mile away from Arabian Sea. It carried 23 crew members and 190 passengers.

As the 747 ascended, the pilot, Captain M.L. Kukar, banked the jet to the right toward Dubai. The plane then apparently returned to level flying but the Attitude Direction Indicator (ADI) in front of the pilot indicated that the plane was still banking to the right.

Kukar and his co-pilot discussed the situation and tried to determine whether their instruments had “toppled,” or malfunctioned.

Since it was dark, they had no way of visually verifying what the ADI was showing. Though he could have checked another monitor available on the control panel, Captain Kukar relied on the ADI and continued to bank the plane to the left, believing that he was levelling off the plane.

Instead, the 747 was sent spiralling straight into the water, two miles from shore, only four min-

The audiences file into the Loring Opera House at 3745 7th Street in Riverside, California, for a special sneak preview of D.W. Griffith’s first full-length feature film, The Clansman. Later renamed The Birth of a Nation, the controversial Civil War epic would become Hollywood’s first blockbuster hit.

After making more than 450 short films for the Biograph movie studio, Griffith left and began secretly working on his own private project, which would become The Clansman.

Based on a novel of the same name by Thomas Dixon, Griffith’s career-making film depicted the white supremacist organization the Ku Klux Klan as a welcome force of order that arose amid the chaos of the post-Civil War era in the South. The later title change reflected Griffith’s view that it was the Civil War--and specifically the victory of the Union over the Confederacy--that bound the collection of disparate American states into a true nation under one central authority.

From the moment of its release, The Birth of a Nation drew harsh criticism for honouring the Klan’s historic role as a force of opposition to the Reconstructionera idea that blacks could be successfully integrated into white society.

1959 Cuba: Batista forced out by Castro-led revolution ÏÏÏOn this day in 1959, facing a

popular revolution spearheaded

by Fidel Castro’s 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista flees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with the radical Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti-Americanism in Cuba.

The U.S. government had supported Batista, a former soldier and Cuban dictator from 1933 to 1944, who seized power for a second time in a 1952 coup. After Castro and a group of followers, including the South Ameri-

can revolutionary Che Guevara (1928-1967), landed in Cuba to unseat the dictator in December 1956, the U.S. continued to back Batista. Suspicious of what they believed to be Castro’s leftist ideology and worried that his ultimate goals might include attacks on the U.S.’s significant investments and property in Cuba, American officials were nearly unanimous in opposing his revolutionary movement.

Cuban support for Castro’s revolution, however, grew in the late 1950s, partially due to his charisma and nationalistic rhetoric, but also because of in-

creasingly rampant corruption, greed, brutality and inefficiency within the Batista government.

This reality forced the U.S. to slowly withdraw its support from Batista and begin a search in Cuba for an alternative to both the dictator and Castro; these efforts failed.

On January 1, 1959, Batista and a number of his supporters fled Cuba for the Dominican Republic. Tens of thousands of Cubans (and thousands of Cuban Americans in the U.S.) celebrated the end of the dictator’s regime. Castro’s supporters moved quickly to establish their power.

Society 36

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday January 1, 2015

Yemi Alade, Davido now Close Up ambassadors

...shoot TV commercial

ÏÏÏObviously

this year is ending on a good note for Davido and Yemi Alade who both just signed a muti-million naira deal with one of the leading toothpaste brand in Nigeria, Close Up. We had thought the mouth watering deal was just for Da-

Welcome to Eight Wonders Fashion Masterclass!

So, you are interested in becoming a fashion designer. Or you’re a fashion fan who is keen to learn more about the craft behind the clothes hanging in your wardrobe. Perhaps you’re a budding designer and you’ve decided to take the first step to creating your own fashion label.

Fashion expert EYOLA brings her years of experience to Daily Times with her ‘Eight Wonders Fashion Masterclass’ providing you with a deeper understanding of the fashion industry at large.

Expand your knowledge in areas such as fashion textiles, the design process, fashion history and more.

ÏÏÏA very warm welcome to my resi-

dent column in The Daily Times. I feel so blessed to be in a position to share my hardearned knowledge on fashion with you. I would like to keep the first article quite simple, giving you an introduction to fashion.

According to the Oxford dictionary, fashion is defined as “a popular or latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behaviour” and “the production and marketing of new styles of clothing and cosmetics”.

The earliest clothing dates back to 20,000BC when clothes were made of fur (from animal skin), leaves and grass, used as primary protection from the weather and environment. What fun it would be to design clothes just using these three materials. Fashion design is considered to have originated during the 19th Century by Charles Frederick Worth who is credited as being the first to set up a fashion label.

Nowadays fashion design can fall under one of the following categories:

Casual Fashion

This style of fashion is designed for the mass market consisting of casual and every day wear. Clothes found in this category are usually either heavily influenced or direct copies of styles created by famous couture and high end designers. Relying on the most popular trends found on the catwalk each season, they use cheaper fabrics and simple production techniques so that the end product is as cheap as possible. I usu-

ally refer to this type of clothing as “throwaway fashion” as it is often made using inexpensive fabrics in a factory setting with styles changing often, in response to changing trends. With a focus on economies of scale (making products in bulk to cut down manufacturing costs) and churning out as many garments per hour as possible, there is usually little focus on the quality and finishing of this type of fashion. Hence why people often refer to it as “fast fashion”.

Ready To Wear (otherwise known as Pret-a-porter)

Ready-to-wear literally means “off the rack” and is derived from the French term pret-a-porter. The French language and the world of fashion are intrinsically linked, so you‘ll find a lot of French fashion terms have found their way into English vocabulary. Invented after World War II, ready to wear styles are a cross between haute couture and mass market. Special care is taken to construct each design, usually made in much smaller quantities than mass market clothing. There is still an element of exclusivity with these designs due to the care taken in the choice of cut, fabrics and tailoring. Therefore ready to wear clothing is rather pricey. Nonetheless, please be aware that no matter how detailed or expensive, they are not couture.

Continued on page 37

vido who first took Twitter by storm to share the god news but, Yemi Alade soon followed with her own after she also tweeted about the deal and we were of course, happy for the duo. “closing up the year with close up! goodies coming your

way from the new team soon,” tweeted.

It will surprise you that work has already started in earnest to open the new year, 2015 with the new Close Up TV commercial featuring both artistes.

Check out a shot from the scene.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday January 1, 2015

37 Society

Gov Fashola lights up Bar Beach Lagos

ÏÏÏPenultimate

Monday, at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, Governor Fashola flipped on the switch that lit up the entire stretch of Bar Beach with colourful lights all the way from Bar Beach Bus stop to Ocean View axis, covering about 2 kilometres.

This Festival of Lights ceremony also marked the flagoff of 2014 Crossover Festival, a close of the calendar year, as well as ushering in the New Year, sponsored by Star Lager.

Governor Fashola also commended the sponsors of the event, who, according to him, have demonstrated faith and trust by investing in the “dream” expressing confi-

dence that their investments would continue to yield rewards going by what is already taking place on the one and half kilometre stretch, including a lot of enterprise and commerce.

Star, Nigeria’s leading lager, is the title sponsor for the countdown for the second year running.

Continuing Fashola says ‘‘the countdown started as a last few days event; it has become a last one month event.

But for me, the work is not finished. What we have done here for the last month of the year must now happen every month and from there on to every day; that is when the story will be complete”.

Eight Wonders Fashion Masterclass!

Wyclef pulls prank at Sahara Group gig

Wyclef

Continued from page 36

Demi Couture

This relatively new term refers to clothing which bears some of haute couture’s elaborate techniques, such as hand stitching. I would describe my designs for my clothing label Eyola as a cross between preta-porter and demi couture.

Although I do not fully utilize haute couture techniques, every single item of clothing I design

ÏÏÏAmerican rapper, Wyclef Jean, pulled a prank on staff and families of Sahara Group on Sunday after Nigerian comedian, Bovi, suddenly announced to the audience that the Haitian rapper couldn’t make it to the event where he was expected to make a special appearance.

Right after Bovi made the announcement, he played a video in which Wyclef apologized and wished everyone present a merry Christmas.

However, as the guests wal-

has elements of hand-stitching, elaborate embellishments, couture finishing techniques and handmade using the most luxurious fabrics. So in a nutshell, demi couture clothing is very well tailored with great attention to detail, but does not always require fittings or the adherence to the strict standards of haute couture.

Continued next week...

lowed in disappointment, Wyclef suddenly showed up on stage to the shock of the audience.

He then went on to give an outstanding performance at the end of the year party which held on Sunday at the Banquet Hall of Oriental Hotel in Lagos.

Wyclef

I hope this has been informative and given you a broader insight into the fashion industry today. I look forward to sharing more of my fashion knowledge with you soon.

Please send your questions to me via Twitter @worldeyola using the #AskEyola hashtag and I will do my best to answer as many questions as possible.

Take a risk. If you win, you’ll be happy; if you lose, you’ll be wise, Eyola

38

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

Health

s

2015: All eyes on universal health coverage, modern medical equipment

Briefs Why every woman must take folic acid

ÏÏÏTaking

the recommended 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects of your baby’s brain and spinal cord.

According to a consultant neurosurgeon at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Dr Bamidele Ayodele, “Mothers that have low level of folic acid during pregnancy have been known to have a number of problems with brain development for the children.”

Corroborating that, a biochemist, Mr Kelechi Chioma said “folic acid is very important for women who give birth because when they lack it, it affects the unborn child.’’

By Lara Adejoro

ÏÏÏAuthorities

in the health sector have said that with direct focus towards the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), universal health coverage and modern medical equipment in the hospitals, the tales of medical tourism, fatal diseases and major problems in the health sector would be solved.

According to the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Kayode Obembe, “the focus in 2015 in the health sector should be universal health coverage.”

Earlier, in a statement, Obembe said Nigeria can achieve community-based health insurance in the post-millennium development goals by engaging community-based health insurance.

The NMA president said the fund accruing to primary health care as contained in the Health Act should be disbursed through community-based social health insurance which, according to him, “will definitely drive Nigeria towards achieving the goal of universal health coverage, especially in the post-MDG era that starts at the end of 2015.”

Also speaking with Daily Times, the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (CMD-LASUTH), Ikeja, Prof. David Oke, said the focus should be on universal health coverage.

Indisputably, the goal of the universal health coverage is to ensure that everyone obtained the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them.

“The NHIS has been in existence for over 15 years, but doesn’t have 100 per cent coverage for all Nigerians. Most people covered by the scheme are civil servants and a few multinationals. The challenge has been that the people who are yet to be employed and the self-employed are yet to be covered by the scheme.”

The CMD said the health coverage should be for everybody. “The government should sell the idea of health insurance coverage to everybody so that people can get access to healthcare.”

Oke also said, the government

Continued on page 39

Another FMC doctor escapes death

ÏÏÏBarely

A nurse attending to patientds in a hospital ward

Nurse Ejelonu receives posthumous award ÏÏÏNurse Justina Ejelonu has

The posthumous award given to Nurse Egelonu

been awarded the Nurse-Heroine-of-the year award by Nursingworld Nigeria.

The late Justina Ejelonu was given the award at a family gathering where her parents received the award on her behalf.

Speaking at the event, Jennifer Emelue, a director of the organization described justina as the “Florence Nightingale of our time”, and reminisced how her sacrifice has modelled the bravery and compassion that inspires nurses today.

She noted that this award is the highest distinction a Nigerian nurse can achieve and is

The award presented to her family members awarded for “exceptional courage and devotion, exemplary service.

The plaque presented to the parents of late Justina bore the inscription “pro vera misericordia et cara humanitate” (true and loving humanitarianism).

a week after the death of Dr David Akintayo Oguntuase in an inferno, another doctor from Federal Medical Centre, Owo, escaped death after gunmen attacked him in his house in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Tuesday.

Dr Muyiwa Alonge, who worked with the FMC Owo, like the late Dr. Oguntuase, narrowly escaped death in the early hours of Tuesday after gunmen broke into his home in Aule, in the Akure metropolis.

Incidentally, Dr. Alonge and Dr. Oguntuase were on the list of persons who were accused of threatening the life of the Medical Director of FMC, Dr. Olufemi Omotoso.

Longe told repoters that the attackers broke through his door violently brandishing dangerous weapons and threatened to kill him.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 1, 2015

39 Health

‘Universal health coverage is the answer’

FG launches pneumonia vaccine

By Jonathan Eze

ÏÏÏIn its bid to reduce child

Continued from page 38 should also encourage the development of medical services.

This according to him, will reduce the number of people going for medical tourism. “The government should encourage private people in the health sector.

For instance, in India, they give loans to people who are ready to set up hospitals with interest free loans, lands and relaxation of taxes on importation of medical equipment and that should be done in Nigeria. This will encourage doctors in diaspora to come over to Nigeria just like the way people travel to India for medical tourism. The amount taken abroad for treatment especially to India is alarming and that can help provide employment for the unemployed.”

With these, most of the burden of the people will be solved, Oke said.

For the immediate past president of the Guild of Medical Directors, Dr Charles Cudjoe, the three things that will help reshape the health sector in 2015 are access, cost and quality.

Explaining further, he said, “universal health care is the answer. The government should ensure that every Nigerian have access to health care, such that they can be able to go to the hospital to get treatment because it is basic diseases that are killing Nigerians and they need to benefit from the NHIS.” Cudjor also calls for the need of a health bank. “We have a Bank of Industry (BoI), so there is need for a Health Bank. Every GSM company in Nigeria should be asked to deduct just N100 for the Health Bank and at the end of the day, that will amount to billions of naira. The money can then be used to sustain the doctors and for health insurance.

“With the Health Bank, loans can be given to those in the health sector who want to set up hospitals or pharmacy with 0 to 5 per cent interest since it is not an oil and gas business.”

He added that every Nigerian needs a good health service and it’s time to act.

“Right now, access to health care needs to be improved, the hospitals in the country need to be upgraded. We’ve talked enough about this, it’s time to start it, and most countries have it. Look at the ObamaCare, aimed at more Americans access to affordable, quality health insurance.”

Briefs

mortality, the federal government has launched a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV).

Speaking at the launch, the Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, said the vaccine is a laudable initiative that is capable of protecting young children against pneumonia and other diseases.

Wada, who was represented by his deputy, Arch. Yomi Awoniyi, disclosed that it is another strategy aimed at reaching every child at risk of pneumonia.

The Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad said, by the time the nation achieves full time national coverage of the vaccine, Nigeria will avert over 600,000 childhood deaths over 3 years.

Dr. Femi Thomas, Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme Official launching of the pneumonia vaccine

pitals are broken down. If we want to plan for the average Nigerian, then the hospitals have to be equipped. The government should provide basic infrastructure because the personnels are there,” Otigbuo said.

The NHIS established under Act 35 of 1999 by the Federal Government of Nigeria, is aimed at providing easy access to healthcare for all Nigerians at an affordable cost through various prepayment systems.

NHIS is totally committed to securing universal coverage and access to adequate and affordable

Prof. Oke However, a consultant physician/Hematologist at St Claire Specialist Clinic, Lagos, Dr Chris Otigbuo said, the hospitals need to be well equipped.

“We really don’t have medical hospitals that are well-equipped.

We have the personnel but most of the equipment in the hos-

healthcare in order to improve the health status of Nigerians, especially for those participating in the various programmes/products of the Scheme.

Given the general poor state of the nation’s health services and the excessive dependence and pressure on Government provided health facilities, with the dwindling funding of healthcare in the face of rising cost, the Scheme is designed to facilitate fair financing of health care costs through

2015: Drug prices may soar by at least 50%

ÏÏÏDrug prices may soar by

Dr. Obembe pooling and judicious utilization of financial risk protection and cost-burden sharing for people, against high cost of health care through institution of prepaid mechanism, prior to their falling ill.

This of course is in addition to the provision of regulatory oversight on Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and other players in Healthcare delivery.

at least 50 per cent in the first quarter of next year no thanks to tariff re-adjustments by some agencies.

According to Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) President Olumide Akintayo, inconsistencies in the application of the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) by banks.

In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, Akintayo warned the Federal Government to ensure proper application of RDAS. He said financial institutions argued that medicines, medical devices and machinery brought in for use in the factory are part of finished goods.

This, he said, has negative implication as it excludes pharmaceutical companies and operatives from accessing foreign exchange (forex) from RDAS.

Features

Concern: P21 Bringing meaning to wretched lives THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.14

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Politics

I believe it Don’t give up on Battle for P17 is doable x4 Nigeria - Ajimobi the soul of beating P10 Benue Fraser-Pryce

Price: N150

dailytimesng

2015: Year of the stalemate ÎÎÎRoom

Nigeria has never been this polarised along the ever-widening ethnoreligious chasm

News

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

Olugu Olugu Orji

Sports

D8 Angola Hall of the University of Ife is one place that will always trigger fond memories. Between 1982 and 1983, I lived there with some of the most remarkable characters it was my privilege to encounter in my sevenyear Ife odyssey.

Obasi, Obegolu and Molokwu, foremost denizens of D8 were medical students, but in the matter I shall shortly reveal they were as committed as, if not more, than I was. There was also Kehinde Aremu; a civil engineering major who was always going to become a parson.

His particular passion was beyond question.

Kola Amodu and Femi Sharaibi were D8’s most important tenants: they were national chess players.

It was only a matter of time before the rest of us got initiated into the cerebral cult of chess.

And the beautiful thing about the game is this: it has no place for luck. You excel either because you make smart moves or you exploit the not-so-smart moves of your opponent.

Even though the rigorous demands for studying architecture could never permit me hone my skills past the very rudimentary levels, so genuine and deep-rooted was my interest, that 35 years along, the names of International Grandmasters of chess like Gary Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky are still lodged in my memory.

Maybe because I never graduated beyond the lower rungs of proficiency, a singular concept became my most cherished: stalemate. For those not conversant with chess, here’s a brief run-down.

Stalemate is an endgame situation. When the king, although not in check, can only move

into a position of check and no other piece can move, a stalemate happens. Kings and potentates shouldn’t commit suicide! Of course a stalemate means the game is a draw which is why as a greenhorn; I always looked forward to it.

The more I think about 2015 and the concomitant socio-economic and political permutations, the more I’m convinced Nigeria is headed for a stalemate of sorts.

Nigeria has never been this polarised along the ever-widening ethnoreligious chasm. This has grave implications, not only for the 2015 general elections, but the very survival of the nation. And like in a chess game, the two players – PDP and APC – do not seem to be making any provisions for losing; especially at the presidential level. There is a real possibility the presidential contest will involve

a run-off, and whoever eventually wins will be burdened with superintending over a severely fractured polity.

Dangerously tumbling oil prices for a nation that depends almost entirely on oil earnings to run its affairs can only mean one thing – economic stalemate. As I write, many states and even the federal government are lagging embarrassingly behind in paying statutory bills; and it can only get worse in 2015. When you add the on-going, murderous, money-guzzling insurgency in the northeast to the already potent mix, you have the making of a socio-politico-economic time bomb waiting to implode in our faces.

A stalemate isn’t such a bad thing; at least for underdogs: and underdogs aptly describe what most Nigerians are and have been for the most part of half a century.

The phoenix

rises

BREAKING NEWS | POLITICS | BUSINESS | SPORTS | ENTERTAINMENT

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. www.dailytimes.com.ng email: www.dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI

A stalemate presents a refreshing opportunity to start all over again in the tasking and strategic game of nation building.

Much like in chess, 2015 might just present us the privilege of that critical gambit: re-ordering and re-arranging our assets towards finally checkmating the demons we permitted to corner us into this pretty pass.

As a nation, we have long fantasized and longed for the opportunity to remake Nigeria.

2015 might just be our year of repentance and the beginning of true recovery.

On the other hand, a stalemate can also be an excuse for tired and frustrated players to pack it all up. Some years ago, certain people predicted that was just what Nigerians will do in 2015.

It doesn’t have to be so. We shouldn’t abandon the game in 2015. We dare not.

XT Exclusive

EAGLETS AXE 64 HOPEFULS FROM CAMPX6

Poster!

Personal information Name: Blessing Okagbare Born:

“I believe it is doable (beating Fraser-Pryce in her native country). My records will always get better and so I can only train harder, grow my aspirations and keep my belief aflame.”

September 10, 1988 (age 26)

Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) Weight: 68 kg (150 lb) Country Sport: Events:

BLESSING OKAGBARE

: Nigeria

Athletics Long jump, sprints

Olympic Games Record Bronze:

2008 Beijing

(Long jump)

OKAGBARE

World Championships Record Silver:

2013 Moscow (Long jump)

Bronze: 2013 Moscow (200 m) Commonwealth Games Record Gold:

2014 Glasgow (100 m)

Gold: 2014 Glasgow

(200 m)

Silver: 2014 Glasgow

(4x100m)

All Africa Games Record Gold: 2011 Maputo Gold: 2011 Maputo Silver: 2007 Algiers Silver: 2011 Maputo

(Long jump) (4x100 m) (Long jump) (100 m)

African Championships Record Gold: 2010 Nairobi

(100 m)

Gold: 2010 Nairobi

(Long jump)

Gold: 2010 Nairobi

“Today, we are salivating the athletic prowess of one of our own, Miss Blessing Okagbare, 26, still energetic and spirit- filled, who was showered with blessings starting with an annual grant of $120,000 to ensure that she is not stopped by lack of funds or training facilities, and this grant will last till 2016 when the Olympics would hold in Brazil.”

(4x100 m)

Gold: 2014 Marrakesh (100 m) Gold: 2014 Marrakesh (4x100 m) Silver: 2012 Benin

(100 m)

Continental Cup Record Bronze:

2010 Split

(100 m)

Personal Bests

X4,5

100 metres – 10.79 seconds (2013) 200 metres – 22.23 seconds (2014)

60 metres (indoor) – 7.18 seconds (2010)

WILLIAM BOZIMO

Rigondeaux stops Amagasa in 11th round

’ S E L EAGP

CAM S E L B M U R Sportlitics

KESHI MUST WORK WITH NFF TERMS, PINNICK INSISTS X3

X7

Mikel nominated for EPL top award

X2 X8

PILLAR OF SPORTS TASKS FG ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

X6

X2

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

Abu Dhabi friendly

EAGLES’ CAMP BUBBLES! n o i t a r b e l e c y a d h t r i b d e u d b u s n i i h c a k o Ï Am n o i t n e t n i S A C s Ï Valere denie

Emem Eduok (right) is yet to hit Super Eagles camp.

Idu Jude Abuja

A

ll invited home-based players of the Super Eagles for the Abu Dhabi friendly are already in camp except Emem Eduok, Iguado Godwin and Erhun Obanor, who is with the U-23 national side.

The trio are yet to arrive camp as all invited players made it to the Bolton White Apart-

ment Hotel of the team on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

In a statement issued by the Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya, all the players had lunch with the technical crew comprising of Dan “the Bull’ Amokachi, Houandinu Valere and Ike Shorunmi.

According to Alaiya, Amokachi addressed the players after lunch and told them to brace up for the challenge of training for seven days ahead of the two Grade ‘A’

international friendlies against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan in Abu Dhabi.

He added that only 19 players from the 25 invited to camp will make the trip and that current form will be the yardstick for picking the players.

Amokachi who marked his birthday on Tuesday, December 30, in a subdued form, said as he grows older, he has become wiser and it will show in the forthcoming friendly games against Cote D’Ivoire and Sudan,

even as he acknowledged the huge influence, Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has had on his coaching career.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Houandinou Valere, has denied stories making the rounds that he intends to drag the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Switzerland, noting that even if he has outstanding salaries to collect he will never do such a thing.

“People should stop causing unnecessary friction between myself and my employers through insinuations and false reports that I want to take the NFF to CAS. “I don’t have such intention and will never do that because we are loyal employees of the NFF,” he said in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Super Eagles had their first work-out at the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

SALAMI

X3

SET TO JOIN RED STAR BELGRADE

KESHI T WORK

Keshi

MUS WITH NFF TERMS, S T S I S N I K C I N PIN N

FF President Amaju Pinnick has maintained Coach Stephen Keshi must be ready to work with the terms of the football federation were he to keep his job.

The future of Keshi is still in the dark as the Eagles regrouped in Abuja for two international friendlies against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan in Dubai with assistant coach Daniel Amokachi taking charge.

“We have given him conditions and some of those conditions is for him to be ready to work with a technical performance team,” disclosed Pinnick.

“It’s not just easy to say you discard him or you bring someone else, though people say a coach is as good as his last game, but in this case Keshi has performed creditably well.”

Amaju Pinnick upon assumption of office in October 2014 sacked Keshi even when he had no contract with the NFF. The latest change of tune toward Keshi by Pinnick is believed to be a move to woo top government officials who have kept Keshi in charge of the Super Eagles.

Pinnick

Salami

Nigeria international forward Gbolahan Salami has revealed he is close to sealing a move to Red Star Belgrade when the January transfer window opens.

The CHAN 2014 bronze medalist revealed that he is excited with the prospect of joining the former European champions.

“I am excited already and appreciate God for what he has been doing in my career. I am so happy that a big team like Red Star Belgrade are interested in my services,” Salami said.

“My representatives Yomi It-

sekure and Segun Ogunbayo have been working with a Serbian agent Goran Milovanovic about my move to Serbia and I have been informed that the deal is almost done.

“I will be in Serbia soon for a medical after which I will sign the deal.”

Salami, who got married two weeks ago, scored 17 goals last season in the Nigeria Premier League for Warri Wolves.

The ex-3SC and Sunshine Stars striker has 11 caps for Nigeria with two goals.

X4

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

Personal information Name: Blessing Okagbare Born:

September 10, 1988 (age 26)

Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) Weight: 68 kg (150 lb) Country Sport: Events:

: Nigeria

Athletics Long jump, sprints

Olympic Games Record Bronze:

2008 Beijing

(Long jump) World Championships Record Silver:

2013 Moscow (Long jump)

Bronze: 2013 Moscow (200 m) Commonwealth Games Record Gold:

2014 Glasgow (100 m)

Gold: 2014 Glasgow

(200 m)

Silver: 2014 Glasgow

(4x100m)

All Africa Games Record Gold: 2011 Maputo

(Long jump)

Gold: 2011 Maputo

(4x100 m)

Silver: 2007 Algiers

(Long jump)

Silver: 2011 Maputo

(100 m)

African Championships Record Gold: 2010 Nairobi

(100 m)

Gold: 2010 Nairobi

(Long jump)

Gold: 2010 Nairobi

(4x100 m)

Gold: 2014 Marrakesh (100 m) Gold: 2014 Marrakesh (4x100 m) Silver: 2012 Benin

(100 m)

Continental Cup Record Bronze:

2010 Split

(100 m)

Personal Bests 100 metres – 10.79 seconds (2013) 200 metres – 22.23 seconds (2014)

60 metres (indoor) – 7.18 seconds (2010)

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

X5

“I believe it is doable (beating Fraser-Pryce in her native country). My records will always get better and so I can only train harder, grow my aspirations and keep my belief aflame.”

OKAGBARE

“Today, we are salivating the athletic prowess of one of our own, Miss Blessing Okagbare, 26, still energetic and spirit- filled, who was showered with blessings starting with an annual grant of $120,000 to ensure that she is not stopped by lack of funds or training facilities, and this grant will last till 2016 when the Olympics would hold in Brazil.”

WILLIAM BOZIMO

X6

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

AYC

FLYING EAGLES

CELEBRATE

NEW YEAR WITH

ENDURANCE DRILL line Yahaya, Eze to join team before dead

F

lying Eagles will open 2015 with an endurance drill this morning of New Year’s Day. “We will begin 2015 with hard work,” said Flying Eagles assistant coach Nduka Ugbade.

“There is still a lot of work to be done before our first match at the AYC and so we cannot afford to relax even for a day.

“All celebrations therefore have to be put on hold until we have met some of our targets.

“Our New Year’s Day will be when we would have qualified for the World Cup in New Zealand.”

The African Continental Hotel in Kaduna, which has severally been home to the Nigeria U-20s, plans a special treat for the squad thereafter.

Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur youngster Musa Yahaya and Chidera Eze from Portuguese club FC Porto have promised to join up with the Flying Eagles

squad by the January 15 deadline handed them.

“We have been following up on the release of the foreign pros called up for the African Youth Championship and so far the signals have been very encouraging,” said team secretary Auwal Aliyu Ibrahim.

“For instance, Musa Yahaya is off to Malaysia for an invitational tournament with the Spurs youth team and he has called to say he will join us as soon as he returns.

“Chidera Eze has also assured he will come in before the January 15 deadline set by the coach for all overseas-based players to report to the training camp in Kaduna.”

Sweden-based Taiwo Awoniyi and Musa Muhammed are so far the only pros now training with the AYC-bound squad.

The other foreign pros called up include Moses Simon, Kingsley Madu, Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali.

Flying Eagles star Musa Yahaya (left) in action.

EAGLETS AXE 64

T

HOPEFULS FROM CAMP

N

igeria’s Golden Eaglets have axed 64 out of the 100 players they recently drafted, officials disclosed on Wednesday.

Twenty players with various documented irregularities have been cut off from the pool of 100 and a further 44 screened for lacking the technical and tactical abilities.

Officials said the rest of the players are being subjected to intensive training in order to ascertain their consistency over a time frame and would further be pruned to a manageable number in the coming days.

“We are gradually getting to the moment of truth,” noted Prince Udofia, Golden Eaglets’ coordinator.

“The coaching crew has done a very good job and there is no way the screening can go on forever; of course, many would want to be given another chance but the time before the start of our competition is short.”

Niger 2015, the 11th African U17 Championship will be held in Niamey between February 15 and March 1.

The Golden Eaglets are drawn in Group A along with hosts Niger, Guinea and Zambia.

Nigeria and their northern neighbours Niger, will play the championship’s opening fixture of February 15 at the Stade Général Seyni Kountché (SGSK) Multipurpose Stadium in Niamey.

Amuneke

Amunike Ejidike

PILLAR OF SPORTS TASKS FG ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT

he Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike has tasked the Federal Government to revitalise the sports sector as a panacea to arresting the dwindling fortune of sports in the country.

Ejidike revealed this in his New Year message on Wednesday as he called for quick solution, if Nigeria must take its rightful position in international sports.

The Pillar of Sports noted that though there were few records of successes at some levels in 2014, it was disheartening that the Super Eagles could not defend the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) they won in 2013 in South Africa. ”With the avalanche of talented sportsmen and women in Nigeria, it is highly desirable for the nation to take advantage of this to rule the continent and make remarkable impact in the world.

“However, because of administrative lapses, Nigeria could not get herself together to win major championships. Our football league needs to be restructured, our club sides need improvement and our grassroots sports should be encouraged to develop,“stated Ejidike.

He also noted that even though the government cannot do it alone, it is expected that policies that would provide enabling environment and platform for sports development to thrive should be put in place.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

BOXING

ATHLETICS

Rigondeaux stops Amagasa in 11th round

W R-L: Dayron Robles and Aries Merritt in action in the 60m hurdles at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix.

Indoor hurdles champions clash in Birmingham T

he past three winners of the world indoor 60m hurdles title will line up against each other on February 21 at the Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix, an IAAF Indoor Permit meeting.

USA’s Aries Merritt will be up against Cuba’s Dayron Robles, the man he succeeded as Olympic champion and world record-holder. USA’s Omo Osaghae, the reigning world indoor champion, is also in the field alongside Britain’s European and Commonwealth silver medallist William Sharman.

“The Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix is an important meet for me in preparation for my main goal of the World Championships in the summer,” said Merritt, who clocked a world 110m hurdles record of 12.80 in 2012. “I’m hoping to go there and find my best form to put on a good show for the fans. Birmingham is one of my favourite places to compete, the crowd is great and this event always gets the best out of the athletes.”

Robles won at this event in 2010 and is the second-fastest man ever over

60m hurdles with a best of 7.33.

“The Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix is one of the best indoor meetings in the world and I have great memories from competing at this event in 2010 and 2012,” he said. “I’m sure that it will be amazing again in February.”

After finishing seventh at the 2014 World Indoor Championships with a personal best of 7.53, Sharman is hoping to continue his impressive form into 2015 when he makes his first appearance for eight years at this meeting “I always enjoy competing in Birmingham,” he said. “It will be such a strong line-up that it could easily be a global final and I’m excited about testing myself against the best in the world ahead of the European Indoor Championships.”

Other top names already confirmed for the 2015 Sainsbury’s Indoor Grand Prix include double Olympic, world and European champion Mo Farah, former world 100m champion Carmelita Jeter, double world silver medallist Murielle Ahoure, and European 100m champion James Dasaolu.

BA/WBO super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs) had a tougher than expected time against his much taller 5’10 ½” Japanese challenger Hitashi Amagasa (28-5-2, 19 KOs) on Wednesday night in stopping him in the 11th round at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan.

Rigondeaux was surprisingly dropped twice in the 7th round by hard shots from the 29-year-old Amagasa, who had been fighting at featherweight going into the night’s fight. Rigondeaux had a tough time with the size of the larger Amagasa until figuring him out after the 7th.

Rigondeaux dominated the action from the 8th round on in landing hard body shots with his left hand and stabbing lefts to the head.

In the 10th, Rigondeaux dropped Amagasa with a hard left to the head.

Amagasa’s right eye was swollen by this time and he had very little left in the tank.

Rigondeaux continued to batter Amagasa at will in the 11th round, and it was clear that the Japanese fighter wouldn’t make it through the next round.

After the 11th, Amagasa wisely opted not to come out for the 12th round. It was a good thing because Rigondeaux was really sitting down on his punches from the 8th round on, and Amagasa would have likely been hurt if he came out for the final round. As it is Amagasa took a lot of punishment in the fight.

What was interesting about this fight was how Rigondeaux was willing to mix it up more compared to in many of his past fights. He seems to be more interested in making it exciting by being more offensive-minded and this obviously led to him getting knocked down twice in the 7th. Had Rigondeaux fought defensively like in the past, he wouldn’t have been knocked down.

Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs) (right) scored an 11th round stoppage against Hisashi Amagasa (28-5-2, 19 KOs) to successfully defend his WBA and WBO Super Bantamweight titles at the Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan on Wednesday.

X7

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Nimrod dreams 2016 Olympics ticket Musa Nimrod, the Chairman, Beach Volleyball Commission, Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), on Tuesday said the commission’s target in 2015 was to qualify for the 2016 Olympics Games.

Nimrod told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the commission recorded many achievements in 2014 and would improve on the performance to get an Olympics ticket.

“We achieved a lot in beach volleyball in the outgoing year, because we participated and did well in all the championships we qualified for.

“We qualified and went for the under-17, under-19 and under-21 championships and we did very well in all.

“Beach volleyball also qualified for the Youth Olympics Games (YOG), although Nigeria later did not participate in the Games due to the Ebola virus crisis.

“But we hope to leverage on all these achievements in 2015 by picking a ticket to the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio, Brazil.

“That will be our main target for 2015 and we are already working towards that, because we now have players in all categories who can give us what we want,” he said.

Nimrod said the commission would also focus on participating in and winning the Continental Cup in 2015.

“Apart from getting the Rio Olympics ticket, we are also focused on qualifying for the Continental Cup which we hope to win after qualification.

“So, we are envisaging a busy but fruitful year and we hope to achieve more than we did in 2014,” the beach volleyball commission chairman concluded.

X8

Thursday, January 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

EL MIK INATED

NOM P O T L P E R FO AWARD

M

ikel Obi will battle Swansea striker Wilfried Bony, Sadio Mane of Southampton as well as Alex Song from West Ham for the best African performer in the EPL for the month of December.

Giving details, New African Soccer’s Awards Director and CEO Tunde Adelakun stated that the choice was a difficult one, given the busy schedule of games in the EPL in December.

Southampton’s Sadio Mane, 22, has

been in good form as he settled down gradually into his role at the southern coast club, and Adelakun was quick to provide justification for his inclusion in the shortlist.

One late entrant into the fray is Chelsea’s Mikel Obi. The Nigeria midfielder did not have an active start to the season as many might have expected, partly due to the excellent partnership in the middle of Chelsea’s park of Fabregas and Matic.

I won´t renew Juve deal, vows Tevez Carlos Tevez has revealed he has no plans to extend his Juventus contract when it expires at the end of next season.

Tevez has scored 36 goals in 72 games since joining the Italian champions from Manchester City in June 2013.

The Argentina international was Juve’s top scorer last season as they won Serie A for a third season in succession and is currently their leading marksman this term.

Despite his successes in Turin, Tevez does not plan on a long-term spell in Italy - with a return to boyhood club Boca Juniors reportedly on the cards.

“I said I wanted to fulfil my contract and that’s my idea, I’m not thinking of signing an extension because that’s not

Tevez how I feel at the moment,” Tevez told reporters in his homeland.

“As I always said, my idea is to complete my contract. Everyone knows I said so from the moment I arrived at Juve.

“I have a year and a half left on my contract and it’s complicated to leave when you’re playing well at this level.

“I have to take things calmly and enjoy and not go crazy with the idea of coming back.”

But it was all the more reason why Adelakun felt that he deserved a shout in December.

Alex Song, Cameroon midfield maestro, makes up the fourth name on the shortlist. He is a versatile player who, according to Adelakun, “held things together in the midfield for West Ham until the latter stages of December when they faced different class of opposition”.

The winner of the December award will be announced at the weekend.

Wenger calls for diving bans Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the only way to tackle diving in football is to hand out retrospective bans to guilty players.

The issue of simulation has been a hot topic in the Premier League after several instances involving Chelsea players in recent weeks.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was particularly irked after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Southampton, when Cesc Fabregas was cautioned despite ap-

Torres begins Atletico training Fernando Torres has started training with Atletico Madrid after completing his 18-month loan switch from Milan.

The former Chelsea striker agreed a return to Vicente Calderon on Monday, just two days after completing a permanent switch to Milan.

Alessio Cerci is expected to head in the opposite direction imminently, but Torres joined his new team-mates for training on Wednesday.

pearing to be fouled by Matt Targett in the penalty area.

Previously, Hull City boss Steve Bruce accused Gary Cahill of diving in their 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on December 13 - a match that saw Chelsea duo Diego Costa and Willian go into the book for simulation.

Wenger believes that there is a problem with diving and stated that suspensions must be handed out as merely naming offenders is not enough.

EURO BRIEFS

Poyet wary of Man City

Gus Poyet has warned Sunderland to be wary of a Manchester City backlash when the sides clash in the Premier League on Thursday. Champions City had the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Chelsea to just one point heading into the New Year when they hosted Burnley on Sunday - as Jose Mourinho’s men had drawn 1-1 at Southampton in an earlier kick-off.

Whelan hit with six-week football ban Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan has been hit with a six-week ban from all football activity and fined for using insulting language. Whelan was punished by the Football Association (FA) following an interview he gave to The Guardian following the controversial appointment of Malky Mackay in November.

Cisse apologises for elbowing Coleman

Torres The Spain international was not due to officially start work with the Spanish champions until January 5.

Mikel

Wenger

Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has apologised after being handed a three-match ban for elbowing Everton defender Seamus Coleman. The Senegal international lashed out in Coleman’s direction multiple times at a corner during Newcastle’s 3-2 victory at St James’ Park on Sunday and subsequently banned by the Football Association.