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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014 VOL. 1. NO.8

2015

N150

God, do something new in Nigeria –OBJ H

Abiodun Taiwo,

E announced plans not to say much, but when he did – and what he did say – was pregnant

Abeokuta

with meanings. He spoke volumes without saying much.

Former President Olusegun Oluse-

gun Obasanjo simply opted to sing when called upon to make a remark on Monday CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Our case against guilty verdict, by convicted soldiers Gridlock at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway…yesterday.Photo: Bolaji Olasunkanmi

What is issues-based in calling Gen. Buhari a APC, PDP ‘semi-literate jackboot’ as the PDP’s National trade blames Secretary Wale Oladipo has incautiously said? over toxic “The statement by Professor Oladipo, ...does not any way compare with the many ...vicious... campaigns inattacks on the person ...of Dr Goodluck Jonathan

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Lai Mohammed

Olisa Metuh

Iheanacho, Alanpasu top Flying Eagles starting list s.2

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Politics Page Three

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Editorial WASSCE: Reversing the trend of mass failure

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he unending sequence of poor performances in almost all examinations conducted across the country in recent years is becoming worrisome.

Just two days ago, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) released the results for the Nov/Dec 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Exams (WASSCE) for private candidates. According to the Head of National Office of WAEC, Dr. Charles Eguridu, only 29 percent of 246,853 candidates that sat for the exams made credits in five subjects including English and Mathematics. Compared with the results of 2013, this represents an improvement when only 26.97 percent of the candidates made the benchmark for admission into tertiary institutions.

It would be recalled that percentage of those who made the grade in 2012 was 38.84. These grave statistics are cause to worry anyone with the educational advancement of the country at heart. Much has been said over the years about the declining standard of education in the country. Sadly, no serious and concerted efforts are being made by all relevant stakeholders to address the issue. A situation where the number of candidates who pass Mathematics and English, is declining every year should be immediately addressed.

A lot of reasons have been adduced for the high rate of failure among candidates. Among them are poor

quality of secondary education and the lackadaisical conduct of education authorities, teachers, parents and students, and consequently the total abandonment of the education sector.

On the other hand, it has been observed that the students are no more giving adequate attention to academic studies as before, while the teachers are becoming indifferent to their vocation. Most crucially, the crisis affecting the Nigerian family institution has in no small way contributed to the rot. Unfortunately, with inefficient education ministries, schools with demotivated and frustrated teaching faculty, students are largely left to drift and in the end enter the larger society with poor literacy skills. But much of the blame should go to the country’s dysfunctional education system. For example, pass rates in South Africa’s National Secondary Certificate examination, which is the equivalent of WAEC in Nigeria; have been in the range of 70 percent and above.

The crucial challenge facing Nigeria is how to ensure that her huge and growing youth population acquires the proper skills that would enhance its productivity and the overall productivity of the economy.

If this does not happen, and fast, there are fears that Nigeria risks losing its opportunity to grow into a frontline economy by the second half of the 21st century.

L-R Executive Director, FCMB Olufemi Bakare; Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry, Rasheed Olaoluwa; Executive Director, Access Bank, Titi Osuntoki; and Executive Director, Fidelity Bank, I. k. Mbagwu, after the signing of an MoU between the Bank of Industry and 10 SMEfriendly banks In Lagos … on Monday

Nigera: A break up on lovers’ day?

Analysis Ayopo Apesin

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he powers that be at INEC must have a wicked sense of humour.

They have set up the most controversial and crucial presidential elections in Nigeria’s recent history for the 14th of February 2015.

Without being dramatic, these elections are

bound to either make or break my fatherland. Both parties are geared for war.

And the stage is set for the grandfather of all battles.

In the red (cap) corner are the supporters of President Jonathan who are threatening to kill everyone from Somolu all the way to Sokoto if their guy doesn’t win the elections.

In the blue (blood) corner are the Buhari well - wishers who are threatening to destroy the country if their messiah is not voted president because of rigging. Considering Nigerians are bad losers then we should all prepare for war.

However, only two peo-

ple can save us. One that his followers are calling Jesus Christ and the other whose followers believe is the Messiah who will lead us out of the wilderness.

Whether we like it or not, one of them will win the elections and the other will lose. We are calling on the winner to be humble in victory. We are especially calling on the loser to call on his people and calm them down. We want him to BEG his supporters on behalf of the whole country not to resort to violence. The survival of the country is more important than the ambition of one person.

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Deputy Editor

Deputy Head of Operations

Managing Editor

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head, Sales & Marketing

Editor

Head of Operations

Head ICT (Shared Services)

Noel Anosike

Gabriella Osamor Yinka Olujimi

Yemi Ogunsola Bisi Abidoye

Innocent Nwankwo

Mark-Anthony Osilaja Moses Ebong

Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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

Shakespeare

Gabriel Suswan

Man, proud man Dressed in a little brief authority Most ignorant of what he’s most assured

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

Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe Open university develops humans; it is university for all and the only school that democratises education. It gives you education without pains…

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

www.bglgroupng.com

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

5 News

Rivers not owing its workers, says Amaechi President Goodluck Jonathan (R), presenting a souvenir to the outgoing ambassador of Ethiopia to Nigeria, Mr Ali Abdo Suleiman, at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday

Ambode visits Lagos Assembly, woos lawmakers

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uber natorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, is seeking the support of the state House of Assembly members for his election into the coveted seat.

Ambode was at the state House of Assembly Tuesday, where he eulogized the speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji. He maintained that the speaker had been a rallying point for all the aspirants after the primaries.

“Ikuforiji has ensured that we all came together as one voice after the primaries. We are all winners

and we will work together for the progress of the state and together we will move the state forward.

“I came here to seek the support of all the 40 lawmakers in the Assembly.

The state cannot move forward unless the legislative and the executive work together. I believe in team spirit. Once we win the elections, we will work together as a team to develop the state. Our functions are different, but our objectives are the same,” he said.

The governorship candidate, who was a former Accountant-General of the state, explained that the support of the lawmakers in the State is equivalent to

Ambode the support of the grassroot in the State.

He therefore called for the support of the entire lawmakers now that the primaries have gone and that it was time for campaign.

“It is not about if some-

one is coming back to the Assembly or not, it is about the relationship we have built. We have to work together for the elections,” Ambode explained.

Appraising the Speaker’s achievements in almost 10 years, Ambode informed the gathering that the State needs a personality like Ikuforiji who will continue with what is on ground in the State.

Responding to questions from the Assembly correspondents on his take on the current economic situation in the country and what he will be bringing forth to race the bar in the State if elected come February 2015.

Ekiti PDP lawmakers reject LG autonomy Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

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n another dramatic turn out between the pro and anti-Fayose lawmakers in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers on Tuesday voted against absolute autonomy of the local governments in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that the All Progressives Congress lawmakers, under the

leadership of the factional speaker, Adewale Omirin, had during its last Friday’s secret sitting in Ado Ekiti, voted in support of local government autonomy in continuation of the constitution amendment at the National Assembly.

Omirin had during the plenary branded local government autonomy as the only potent remedial step that could wipe out poverty among the populace, particularly those at the grassroots

But after the yesterday’s sitting of the PDP Lawmakers, the Leader of the Government Business, Mr Samuel Ajibola told newsmen that they voted “No” to absolute autonomy to LGs in order not to give room for abuse of power at that tier of government.

According to Ajibola “It is not too advisable for Local Governments to have absolute autonomy in all ramifications without being check-mated by relevant authorities in their

respective states. If LGs are not being check-mated especially in area of management of their finances by the Governors or the State Assembly, it might lead to abuse of the opportunity,” The Leader of the Government Business submitted that Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended gives recognition to the third tiers of government and the same Constitution also gives power for the State Assembly to check-mate them.

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

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overnor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has dismissed allegations that he has been funding the presidential campaign of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with state funds when workers in the state are still being owed salaries.

Amaechi stated this in response to a series of allegations that has been making the rounds recently that he has been diverting state allocations to fund the campaign of General Muhammadu Buhari at the expense of state workers.

The Rivers state governor condemned the situation whereby Nigerians are told what he referred to as lies about his administration of Rivers State, without any demand for facts to back their claims.

Speaking to newsmen on a television programme

Amaechi monitored in Lagos, Amaechi said “One young man, I doubt if he comes to Rivers State (as) he probably lives in Abuja, made the allegation that we have not paid teachers for eight months.

“We started paying December salaries yesterday (December 22) and we’ll finish today because the instruction was that they should make sure that no civil servant left for Christmas without his December salary.

“How can a young man who doesn’t have the statistics come here and say that?”

Niger guber: Nasko names Kantigi as running mate

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eoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Niger State, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko, has named Alhaji Liman Kantigi as his running mate for the 2015 gubernatorial election.

Alhaji Umar Nasko made the announcement at a closed door PDP stakeholders meeting held at the Niger state government house on Tuesday.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Israel A. Ebije, explained that the announcement of Alhaji Kantigi, by the PDP governorship candidate followed due process adding that everybody was involved as the consent of all stakeholders is sacrosanct to peace, stability and progress of the state.

Ebije, intimated the list

of prospective running mate for Nasko was above 30 saying that out of those identified, six topped the list. Among the top six, Kantigi came first according to the voting by stakeholders while Mohammed.

M Alkali came second, Idris Ndako Kpaki third, Engineer Sani Ndanusa fourth.

The statement added that Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya and Bar. Adamu Usman tied in the fifth position, adding that the third top candidates were picked for the gubernatorial candidate to choose.

“Less than 24 hours after the court in Abuja threw out the petition against the candidacy of Umar Mohammed Nasko, it became necessary for him to choose his deputy as stipulated by law. Therefore after exhausting all democratic tenets, Alhaji Liman Kantigi emerged victorious.”

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Do something new in Nigeria – OBJ Continued from page 1

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major Geneal Muhammadu Buhari, addressing a group of youth volunteers in Lagos … yesterday

APC, PDP trade blames over toxic campaigns Idu Jude, Abuja

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday traded blames over the observed toxic nature of campaigns towards the 2015 general elections.

While the APC accused the PDP of breaching a mutual agreement to keep campaigns acceptably decent, the ruling party threw the allegation back at the opposition party.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the APC expressed concern that PDP, which it noted had been preaching issues-based electioneering campaign, had resorted to mudslinging against its presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate, Yemi Osinbajo, party leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu and indeed the entire opposition.

The APC accused the PDP pf throwing caution to the wind “by their crude, rude and rambling statements.”

It said: “What is issuesbased in calling Gen. Buhari a ‘semi-literate jackboot’ as the PDP’s National Secretary

Wale Oladipo has incautiously said? Where are the issues in the pejorative reference to Prof. Osinbajo as an ‘acolyte’ of Tinubu, or in describing Tinubu himself as a puppeteer, as the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh has said in the most vitriolic and irresponsible statement that can ever be issued by the spokesman of a ruling party anywhere?”

The APC said further: “Where are the issues contained in the statement by the serial bumbler and gormandizer called Doyin Okupe, who regards Buhari’s refusal to enrich himself from the public till as a vice rather than a virtue? Why would a ruling party go after the jugular of the opposition simply because it took its time in choosing its presidential running mate, especially since it did not run foul of any electoral law in doing so?

“The truth is that the Jonathan Presidency and the PDP have no issues to canvass during the electioneering campaign for the 2015 general elections because they have wasted the mandate given to them by Nigerians on the altar of unprecedented corruption, incomprehensible

incompetence and cluelessness and perhaps the worst leadership ever inflicted on our country.”

In response, the PDP accused the APC of breaching the gentleman agreement reached by both parties to trade on issues-based campaign instead of trading words.

The ruling party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, dismissed the claim by the APC that the description of Gen. Buhari as a “semiliterate jackboot” by the PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo, amounted to reneging on the commitment.

According to Metuh, “In the PDP, we occupy the moral high ground as far as our commitment to issues-based campaign is concerned. Our word remains our bond. Since, we made that commitment, we have focused on issues.

“We have also taken up the responsibility of drawing the attention of Nigerians to the obvious cases of incompetence and failings of the APC and those who aspire to the leadership of our nation through that platform.

“There has never been any instance that we have maliciously attacked the charac-

ters of those on the presidential ticket of the APC; rather, we have been alive to our responsibility of offering public service so that Nigerians will not be deceived.

“The particular statement

by Professor Oladipo, referred to by the APC, which we even consider as complimentary, does not in any way compare with the many instances of vicious, malicious and provocative attacks on the person and office of our presidential candidate, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, after we made the commitment to engage in a decent campaign.

“It is on record that a few days after the commitment alluded to by the APC, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, attacked the person of President Jonathan, describing him as an ‘incompetent commander-in-chief.’ No personal attack could be more vicious and unconscionable.

“Similarly, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has consistently prosecuted a hate campaign against President Jonathan, describing him as ‘an enemy of Rivers people.’ I ask the APC and my friend, Lai Mohammed, if this destructive campaign sounds like a love song to him?

night at the 2014 Ogun State Christmas Caro, held at the Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Rather than say much, he simply pleaded to be allowed to sing. The former President who is stoutly against the reelection of his estranged party man and incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan, simply sang: “Do something new in Nigeria …”

Before he took the second stanza, the rapturous audience joined and sang: “Something new in Nigeria, do something new in Nigeria, today …”

Shouts of “Sai Buhari, Sai Buhari,” immediately rent the air.

Major General Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming presidential election is the main contender for President Jonathan’s seat.

Obasanjo prayed for divine intervention in the affairs of the country in 2015.

He was invited to address the crowd after the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye had preached.

Rather than make a long speech, Obasanjo simply said: “I and the governor (Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun, APC) have agreed that all what Baba Adeboye said here tonight is what all of us have said. There is no more word. But you will assist me to sing this song, Nigeria needs something new this time around.”

He continued: “The song goes thus: ‘Do something new in my life and do something new in this country’.”

The hall went into a frenzy as shouts of “Sai Buhari” rent the air. The former President continued singing to the delight of his audience.

Delivering the Christmas Message, Pastor Adeboye said that only God could engineer a way out of the crisis of the country.

Adeboye, who took his sermon from the Book of John, Chapter 14 verses 6, advised Nigerians to seek God’s way as that is the only solution to the country’s problems.

“Jesus is the way, the life and the truth. No one gets to my father except through Him.”

The RCCG leader spoke further: “Let me take one of the three names: Way, Life and Truth. The one I’m taking tonight is the Way. As we are now, we all have to go back to the Lord in terms of needs or lacks and He will show us the way. He is the Prince of Peace, all things shall be done in the name of Jesus.

The event, which lasted for over five hours, was attended by several spiritual leaders who prayed for the state, the nation and called on God to take control of next year’s general elections for peace and tranquility to reign.

The prayer session was led by Prophet S. K. Abiara, the General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church worldwide while the closing prayer and Benediction were done by the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi.

The Nine Lessons of Christmas were read by nine selected personalities with the wife of the State governor, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun reading the first which was taken from the book of Genesis 1:2 verses 3031.

The founder of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare read the second lesson from Isaiah 11 verses 1-11 while the third lesson was taken by Prophet Dr. Solomon Adegboyega Alao, the Supreme Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria.

The Ogun State Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle took the fourth lesson from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 9 verses 2-7 and Most Revd. Dr. E.A. Ademowo OON, Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Diocesan Bishop of Lagos read the fifth lesson.

The sixth lesson was taken by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo O.Olopade CON, who took it from Mathew 1 verses 18-25.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Suraj Ishola Adekunbi read the seventh lesson which was taken from Luke 2 verses 1-11 and the President of the Nigeria Baptist Convention, who is also the National Vice Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Revd. Supo Ayokunle, read lesson eight from the Book of John 1: verses 1-14.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Adamawa Assembly approves 19 commissioner nominees, rejects two Wale Akintunde Yola

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he Adamawa House of Assembly on Tuesday approved 19 out of the 21 commissioner nominees sent to it by Governor Bala Ngilari.

The 21 nominees were picked from each of the 21 local government areas of the state.

The House, in its plenary on Tuesday, shortly after concluding the screening of the nominees, which started on Monday, approved 19 and rejected two.

Those rejected were Alhaji Ahmed Alhassan, a former commissioner, who hails from Maiha Local Government and Mr. Timothy Audu, a retired

civil servant from Mubi North Local Government.

The House plenary, presided by the Speaker, Ahmadu Fintiri, did not explain why it rejected Alhassan and Audu.

The development, however, took many people that trooped to the assembly by surprised as they wondered why, for instance, Alhassan, who

served as a commissioner under Fintiri, when he was a Acting-Governor of the state was rejected.

Alhassan was, during the screening, identified by the Speaker as a familiar face that served under him thereby prompting a decision by the house that he (Alhassan) should just take a bow and go without answering any

ers, Governor Ajimobi pledged that no new taxes would be imposed on the people, notwithstanding the poor financial situation of the state occasioned by sharp drop in oil revenue.

The governor, while mak-

ing the presentation of the budget tagged ``Budget of Repositioning’’ on the floor of the Assembly yesterday, said that the proposal was guided by his administration’s desire to consolidate on its achievements and re-

position the state.

According to him, the 2015 fiscal year also aims at solidifying the on-going physical and social infrastructural development, sustaining the peace and security.

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Kidnapped wife of UNIOSUN ASUU chair released

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he kidnapped wife of the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Osun chapter, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Abiona, has been released, family sources have said.

It would be recalled that Olufunmilayo was abducted in Osogbo on Friday night when she was winding up the day’s business at

Ajimobi presents N141.8b budget

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has presented a budget proposal of N141,777,770 for the 2015 fiscal year before the state House of Assembly.

Addressing the lawmak-

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security agents in the state to intensify their efforts.

Speaking on security on the campus, he said: “The university management is relating well with the police and the Department of State Security on how to ensure that students, as well as teachers and nonacademic staff were safe.

The university will reshuffle its security personnel to ensure more effectiveness in the discharge of their duties.”

Sunday Nwakanma – Umuahia

her shop.

The kidnappers had, according to sources, demanded N50 million to release her.

Our correspondent learnt that Mrs. Fumilayo Abiona was kidnapped after she closed from her shop located at junction leading to UNIOSUN Osogbo campus at Oke-Baale area.

An eyewitness explained that Fumilayo was whisked away, while driv-

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

ing an unregistered Lexus car.

It could not be ascertained if any ransom was paid for her release and attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Sade Odoro proved abortive.

Earlier, the Vice- Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Bashir Okesina, expressed fear over the safety of the universities teachers.

The Okesina appealed to

ICAN Council member, Mrs Comfort Eyitayo, ICAN President, Mr Chidi Ajaegbu FCN, Director Treasury Audit, Mr Timothy Osonuga. during the ICAN Workshop on Anti corruption in Abuja Recently, Photo: Temitope Balogun

Sodiq Adekunle

Labour Party denies Maku’s waiver claim he leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has stated that it has not given any waiver to the immediate past minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, to get its Nasarawa governorship ticket for the 2015 elections.

The LP National Secretary, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, made the statement in Lagos, while responding to questions from journalists.

“Going by the primary conducted by our party in Nasarawa state, Hajia Aisha Mbaka, a woman who falls into the category of those exempted by the party from paying any nomination or expression of intent, like fees, emerged as being the sole aspirant.

“To the best of my knowledge, no aspirant from the state has paid the nomination fee to qualify to be considered as our candidate as someone is claiming,” Ajulo said.

He described Maku as a comrade and a former Student Union President of the University of Jos, who understood the party’s internal democracy.

“I was an executive of the Student Union Government of University of Jos, so I know the indelible contribution of Maku to the school then.

“Labaran Maku is not, therefore, a stranger to the struggle.

“Now that he is coming to LP, if he seeks the governorship candidacy, he would have to be granted waiver by the national chairman of the party and my humble self in my capacity as the national secretary, before he can get the party’s ticket,” he said.

Christmas: Abia first lady calls for end to societal ills

ife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Mercy Odochi Orji, on Monday called on parents to help restore the dignity of humanity through elimination of societal ills.

The first lady made this call while celebrating the 8th and last Christmas party with Abia children in Umuahia, urging a partnership with governments at all levels in ensuring societal harmony.

She highlighted such societal ills to include armed robbery, examination malpractice, prostitution, teenage pregnancy, cultism, thuggery, pick-pocketing and others, and reminded children that their behaviour is the mirror of the society.

“Your good behaviour as a child to your parents, guardians, and teachers bear eloquent testimony to your future leadership potentials.

“As future leaders, always take your studies serious, be punctual to school, avoid absence from studies and hanging around during school hours and always remember to ‘honour your parents, so that your days will be long on the earth, which the Lord God has given you’”, she charged the children.

question from members.

Something he did happily before taking his leave only to receive a shocker.

Efforts to get him comment on the development was abortive.

By this development, the Governor is expected to send fresh nominees for Maiha and Mubi North Local Governments.

7 News

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (middle) takes to the dancing floor with the Children during the 2014 Children’s End of the Year Party at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

Our case against guilty verdict, by convicted soldiers Mustapha Ogunsakin

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he 54 soldiers sentenced to death by firing squad have petitioned the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Kenneth Tobia Minimah, over the conduct of the General Court Martial (GCM) that tried them, alleging that the Nigerian Army gave them weapons that were inferior to the superior fire power of the Boko Haram insurgents. The soldiers were sentenced to death on December 19 2004 by the GCM in Abuja.

Lawyers to the soldiers, Mr Femi Falana SAN and Major Femi Oyebanji, in their petitioned titled “Petition against the findings and death sentence passed on 54 soldiers by the GCM” urged the COAS to review the judgement and sentence because the GCM proceedings was geared towards convicting them at all cost.

The soldiers are Pte Oton Asuabiat, Pte Nwachukwu Udo, Pte Ibrahim Saliu, Pte Abafe Sylvester, Pte Eze Isaac, Pte Abubakar Mohammed, Pte Samuel Machael, Pte Ishaya Musa, Pte Etim Peter, Pte Hermas Okpe, Pte Ahunanya Temple, Pte Ilesanmi S., Pte Solomon Ishaku, Pte Nasiru

Zubairu, Pte Audu Daniel, Pte Muhammed Abubakar, Pte Anas Awalu, Pte Babangida Jamilu, Pte Hashiu Ibrahim, Pte Mohammed Suleiman, and Pte Shehu Sa’adu.

Others are Cpl Andrew Ogolekwu,, Cpl Saturday Ife, LCpl Henry Shaibu, LCpl James Maifada, LCpl Ndubisi Sabestine, LCpl Dauda Dalhatu, LCpl Kasega Aoso, LCpl Nwonu Friday, LCpl Joshua Frida, LCpl Anthony Simeon, Pte Olayode oluwasegun, Pte Tijjani Jimoh, Pte Kabiru Abubakar, Pte Mamuda Sywasan, Pte James Emmanuel, Pte Mukaila Musa, Pte Magaji Ahmadu, Pte Amao Bukola, Pte Wuyep John, Pte Oti Kelvin, Pte Ameh Mathew, Pte Olaitan Joseph, and Pte Kulukulu Endurance.

The list also includes Pte Usman Isaac, Pte Ocheje Williams, Pte Adila Dangana, Pte Sunday Godwin, Pte Datti Hassan, Pte Abubakar Garba, Pte Joseph Dauda, Pte Chiemela Azubuike, Pte Abubakar Mohammed, Pte Anagu Mark, and Pte Danbaba Francis.

They all faced a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny against the authority of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, and mutiny contrary to the provisions

of Section 114 of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 LFN 2004 and punishable under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Cap P89 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The lawyers claimed that all their objections to the participation of the Judge Advocate in the GCM were ignored outright. “At the commencement of the trial, the defence vehemently objected to the participation of the Judge Advocate in the General Court-Martial (GCM). Our objection was based on the fact that as the Assistant Director of Legal Service in the Army Headquarters Garrison, he is the legal adviser to the Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison who convened this GCM. His schedule of work includes reviewing of all cases in the Army Headquarters Garrison and advising the Commander on how to dispose of the cases; It was our contention that having participated in the investigation and inquiry into the subject matter or review of this case, he ought not to act as the Judge Advocate in this GCM in line with Section 134 (2) of the Armed Forces Act. Although the GCM overruled our objection, the Judge Advocate misled the President and

members of the GCM who are not lawyers but saddled with the responsibility to try the offence of mutiny which attracts the death penalty”.

Each of the accused soldiers pleaded not guilty to the count charges.

The prosecution opened its case by calling Lt Col. T. Opurum, the Commanding Officer, 111 Special Forces Battalion. The C.O stated that he was appointed the Commanding Officer of the 111 Special

Forces Battalion on July 10 2014. He averred that he took over only 4 x 10 soldiers because the unit was ambushed July 9, 2014, on their way to recapture Bulabulin from Boko Haram terrorists and that a total of three officers and 23 soldiers were killed in that attack while about 82 others had various degrees of injuries. Hence most soldiers had deserted the unit and that he made spirited efforts to persuade the soldiers to return.

Col Opurum further told the GCM that on August 4, 2014, he ordered the accused persons and other soldiers to advance and capture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa.

He told the court that eight soldiers deserted the army while the 59 accused persons were part of the soldiers who refused to participate in the operation. He claimed that he had six Hilux Vehicles and an Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) for the operation.

Obanikoro may pick Agbaje’s running mate Jonathan Eze

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senator Musiliu Obanikoro may have conceded the Lagos Satate Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to his arch-rival, Dr. Jimi Agbaje, but not without a reward.

As part of the resolutions at a peace parley held on Tuesday in Lagos, the former Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana, may have been asked to nominate the running mate to Agbaje.

President Goodluck Jonathan had brokered a peace deal between Obanikoro and Agbaje with Chief Bode George and other party chieftains from Lagos State in attendance.

At the meeting, Obanikoro was pacified with the job of Minister of State for Defence, a position he left a few months ago to pursue his governorship ambition.

At the Aso Rock meeting, President Jonathan was said to have expressed his worry that the disunity within the party could cause it to lose the state in the forthcoming general election, noting also that Obanikoro’s supporters may decide to decamp to another party or work against it.

The President had also tasked Obanikoro to work with other leaders in the overall interest of the party urging all the leaders to form a common front to make them formidable.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

9 News

Oshiomhole recalls sacked SSG, accepts commissioner’s resignation Sodiq Adekunle

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has reinstated Professor Julius Ihonvbere as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The reinstatement followed the review and resolution of the issues which led to the resignation of the SSG on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

Prof Ihonvbere’s reinstatement is with immediate effect, a statement from the state govern-

ment said.

Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilisation, Chris Okaeben, has resigned his appointment in line with the electoral and constitutional requirements which mandate political appointees to resign 45 days before an election.

Okaeben, is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oredo West Constituency in the House of Assembly election holding in February, 2015.

L-R: Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar; Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo; Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji; Minister of Transport, Sen. Idirs Umar; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Gov. Theodore Orji Of Abia and former Anambra Governor, Mr Peter Obi, at the Flag-Off of Enugu-Port Harcourt Intercity TrainService in Port Harcourt on Tuesday

Osun retirees protest 4 months unpaid pensions

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etired civil servants in Osun State, Tuesday, staged a protest over non-payment of their monthly pension since August this year.

The protesters who moved around major streets in Osogbo, the state capital, carrying placards with different inscriptions, demanded immediate payment of their pension to save them from untold hardships.

Speaking to newsmen during the protest, a retiree, Mr. Samuel Adeoti, said Osun state government has subjected retirees to economic hardship by not paying their entitlements, adding that some of their colleagues who retired from the service of the state in the last three years had not being paid their gratuities.

He averred that the retirees are dying owing to the failure of government to pay their pension and urged Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola to look into their plight by paying them without further delay.

Speaking in similar vein, another retiree, Mr Rasheed Bamiduro decried the attitude of government towards socio well-being of senior citizens.

While urging government to put a stop to the idea of selective paying of pension to some categories of retirees, Bamiduro advised that all pensioners must be given equal treatment.

He added that about 56 pensioners have lost their lives in the state due to inability of government to offset accumulated pension arrears in the last five years.

He further explained that the latest among the dead pensioners gave up the ghost two weeks ago in Owode Area of Ede North local government of the state.

According to him, a 56-year-old man, whose name was not mentioned, before his death had to trek several miles to Osogbo to meet his former colleagues to get information regarding the situation.

Aggrieved PDP guber aspirants now behind Wike – Secondus

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ational Deputy Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Uche Secondus, has declared that majority of Rivers State aggrieved PDP governorship aspirants have pledged their support for Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

A statement issued by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant (Media) to Wike, claimed that Secondus spoke on Tuesday during the Thank You visit of the Rivers State PDP Governorship Candidate, Barrister Wike, to Evo

Kingdom.

While congratulating Barrister Wike on his victory at the PDP governorship primary, he said that the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Muazu has confirmed the result.

Secondus noted that the outgoing governor of Rivers State is now in exile in Lagos State, recklessly spending Rivers State resources on APC activities, thereby encouraging corruption and denying Rivers people development.

Addressing the people of Evo kingdom, Barrister Wike assured the people that he would ensure that

development permeates all communities of Rivers State.

He said: “I will be a governor for all people of Rivers State. No part of Rivers State will be denied development under my watch.

“Rivers State resources will be fully deployed to the advantage of our state.

There will be no wastage of our resources in the sponsorship of frivolous opposition activities”.

Earlier, former National President of Nigeria Bar Association, Chief O.C.J Okocha announced the endorsement of Barrister Wike by the people of Evo

Kingdom.

Said he: “Our support for Barrister Wike stems from his antecedents of performance as a council chairman, Chief of Staff and Minister. He has lived up to expectations and we shall support him to emerge as governor in 2015”.

House of Representatives member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Kingsley Chinda and the member representing Obio/Akpor 1 at the State House of Assembly declared the support of their constituents to Barrister Wike.

Kogi judiciary rewards 27 staff for outstanding performances

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s part of efforts to encourage workers to discharge their duties diligently, Kogi State Judiciary has rewarded 27 staff for outstanding performances, hard work and efficient service delivery.

The Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, who disclosed this

while speaking at the 1st Kogi State Chief Judge’s Annual Merit award, 2014, held at the High Court Complex on Tuesday in Lokoja, stated that this was aimed at sustaining a functional, viable corrupt free and proud judiciary.

Justice Ajanah explained that few staff who found it difficult to appreciate this

philosophy have shown the way out from the inception of the current administration, adding that he had always be yearning to fashion out a policy that will acknowledge and appreciate the staff that saw direction and were in sync with same.

“That is why I am elated that this event is holding.

We shall make this an annual event and subsequently, with the anticipated improvement in the resources available to the organization we will make our gift tangible and more appreciable which we hope will serve as impetus for other staff to strive to attain their optimal in service delivery, “the CJ stressed.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

Jonathan has failed us, says ex-gov Sylva Ugochukwu Onyeocha

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ormer governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva, has cautioned Nigerians against voting for President Goodluck Jonathan if they truly wanted to see a Nigeria of their dream.

Sylva stated categorically that Jonathan does not deserve a second

term, having failed woefully in almost six years he had been in the saddle as the head of the PDPled federal government.

Speaking to newsmen on a television programme monitored in Lagos yesterday, the former governor lamented the state of the country’s economy under the president saying everything was in shambles.

Sylva wondered why Nigeria could fail in the fight against Boko Haram, which has rendered parts of the country almost useless and even formed a parallel government.

He also said Jonathan had sinned against the country and its people for weakening the country’s currency.

“A dollar now exchang-

es for between 190 and N200 since the Central Bank of Nigeria devalued the naira,” he said.

Sylva, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) slammed the president for his weakness and inability to curtail oil theft in the country.

He said he was sure that the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu

Gov. Sule Lamido (R), admiring a Fulani boy who put up a spectacular display at a cultural dances at Birnin-Kudu in Jigawa on Tuesday

Military imposes five-day vehicular restriction in Borno Lara Adejoro

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ollowing security reports, the Nigerian Army has imposed total restriction on vehicular movement on Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State for five days.

A statement signed by

the Army Public Relations Officer of the headquarters of 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Col. Sani Usman, said it had gathered that the dreaded terrorist sect plan to launch an attack on parts of Borno State, with Maiduguri city a major target, while Christians

are celebrating Christmas.

The army has decided, in consultation with the Borno State Government and other security agencies, to ban all forms of vehicular movement in the state from 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 to 7.00a.m. Sunday December 28, 2014.

The vehicular restriction will, also, hinder inter-state commuting while it lasts.

However, the army excluded government officials on essential services, as well as journalists that are duly authorised by their establishments from the ban.

Buhari, would be able to tackle these challenges and return the country on the path of peace, progress and development.

“Buhari tackled oil theft in 1984. The government has said oil theft is one of the biggest problems, but it doesn’t know what to do about it. We need somebody like Buhari to come in and tackle these issues,” Sylva said.

Osun APC insists Omoworare won senatorial primary

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sun State chapter of the All P r o g r e s s iv e s Congress (APC) has insisted that incumbent senator representing Osun East District in the Senate, Mr. Jide Omoworare, won of the party’s primaries.

The position of the party was coming on the heels of the claims by Mr. Sola Lawal, who contested for the party’s ticket with Omoworare.

Lawal had claimed that he won the primaries held in Ife by the Senatorial executives of the party and accused Governor Aregbesola of imposing Omoworare against the wish of many APC members in the district.

But in a statement issued in Osogbo by the state’s APC chairman, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, yesterday, the party cleared the air on who won the primary elections

Ogun CJ swears-in 10 new magistrates Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

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en new magistrates have been sworn in by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Mrs. Olatokunbo Olapade, with a call on them to always

uphold the ethics of the profession and make selfdiscipline their watchword.

The newly sworn-in magistrates (three females and seven males) have increased the numbers of the magistrates

in the state to 22.

Speaking at the ceremony, held at Ogun State High Court conference room, Isabo Abeokuta, Olopade said that the appointment of the new magistrates became imperative because of the

ever increasing work load in the magistrate court.

“Prior to today, we had 22 magistrates, as at the end of November, there were 1,280 civil cases and 2,932 criminal pending before the 22 magistrates.

“Ethnicity doesn’t influence my reason for supporting Buhari. Nigeria’s biggest problem today is Boko Haram. Before, it was militancy and a lot of Nigerians felt that somebody from that area should be president.

“So, it would be better now for somebody from the north, who understands the issues around that area to be president.”

“Statistic shows that on the average, 230 criminal cases and 185 civil cases are brought to our courts on a monthly basis. It, therefore, became very necessary that more magistrates be brought on board,” she said.

Aregbesola conducted by the party for persons who aspired for Osun East Senatorial District ticket.

The party said Senator Babajide Omoworare, the incumbent Senator, won the party primaries elections both at consensus primary and general affirmation held on December 9, 2014 at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.

The statement reads: “We are using this medium to correct the misrepresentation and wrong impression registered by an aspirant claiming to have won the primary election.

“On the December 3, 2014, in line with the guideline and timetable set for primary elections of the party, screening exercises were held to scrutinise credentials of aspirants with a view to determining their ability and correctness of their records to fly the party’s flag. On the said date and at the screening committee stage, there was no primary election.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi (left), and Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Rivers State, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, at the press briefing on the Buhari campaign flag off in Lagos.

Photo: Taofeek Babajide

Sokoto gives parties ultimatum to remove posters, billboards

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he Sokoto State Taskforce on B e a u t i f i c at i o n and Removal of Illegal Structures, on Tuesday gave political parties one week to remove their posters from all public buildings.

The Chairman of the taskforce, Squadron Leader Aminu Bala (rtd),

said such posters and billboards would be removed by the team at the expiration of the deadline.

Bala issued the warning during a meeting with the leadership of all political parties and security agencies in the state. ``These illegally pasted posters and wrongly placed billboards have de-

faced the city and its environs and this has to stop. ``They will be removed by the taskforce upon the expiration of the ultimatum and no party will be spared. ``We will work without minding whose ox is gored, as the exercise is not aimed at witch hunting any political party in

the state’’, Bala said.

He advised political parties and their supporters to paste posters and place billboards in only areas approved by the State Urban and Regional Planning Board.

According to him, the ultimatum also affects makeshift political party offices across the state.

Ex-militants hold Delta dep gov hostage ... ’It’s sheer lies,’ aide Emmanuel Addeh

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n continuation of their protests against the alleged failure of the Amnesty Office in Abuja to pay their allowances and shunning by government authorities in Delta, some exmilitants in the state on Tuesday held the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Amos Utuama, hostage for several hours.

The ex-militants prevented the Delta State deputy governor from leaving the government house annex in Warri, where he had gone for a

meeting, insisting that the state government and its agencies in the state must have a deal to augment the stipends being paid by the Federal Government.

Yesterday’s demonstration was the third major action to draw the attention of the authorities, having earlier shut down the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission around Warri/Sapele Road and blocking the popular East-West Road which serves as the gateway from the south.

The Nigerian navy and the police were, however deployed to the scene, but were not allowed to apply

force in dispersing the exmilitants.

Negotiations were still ongoing at the time of going to press, as the deputy governor attempted to placate the rampaging youths, who were bent on getting their own share of the national cake.

But in a swift reaction, the deputy governor denied being held hostage, but insisted that the irate ex-militants only came to register their displeasure over non-payment of the entitlements.

In a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Augustine Avwode, claimed that

there was no iota of truth in the story.

The statement read in parts: “The deputy governor, Prof Amos Utuama, SAN, was not held hostage by ex-militants as there was no reason whatsoever for such an action.

“On Monday, the boys protested and yesterday only went to express their grievances upon hearing that His Excellency was at Government House Annex, Warri.

“They subsequently dispersed after expressing their grievances in the hope that His Eminence will relay it to higher quarters,” it said.

11 News

Agency urges new marshals to shun temptation Gbubemi God’s-Covenant Snr

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xecutive Director of Safety Education and Rescue Emergency Response Initiative (SERERI), Chief Kingsley Ubah, has cautioned newly decorated executive marshals of the group to shun every temptation of stealing from accident victims that they are supposed to rescue.

Speaking at the official decoration of the marshals in Lagos, Ubah said safety officers are lovers of life who care so much about lives, and saving people has to do with passion.

SERERI, in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Fire Service and National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), commissioned about 20 executive marshals.

In his address at the occasion, Deputy National Director in charge of Mobilization in South West, Fidelis Onyekwelu, advised the newly commissioned officers never to commit crimes or run one way because they wear safety marshal tags.

Onyekwelu said that it was unacceptable to use the safety marshal tags as license to commit crimes even as minor as driving one way.

‘Bus conductors to get insurance cover’

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s part of efforts to sanitize and make the bus conducting vocation attractive and safe, conductors throughout the country are to be insured.

President of the Bus Conductors’ Association of Nigeria (BCAN), Comrade Israel Ade Adeshola, said this in Ibadan while speaking with journalists.

He said the insurance cover is coming under what he called ‘Skill Acquisition and Empowerment Programme” of the association.

Said he: “We have concluded arrangements to get all the conductors in the country insured, because of the nature and high risk the bus conducting job entails”.

The BCAN president said the job of bus conducting is a very risky job, which adequate measures must be taken to ensure the safety of the conduc-

tors.

He cited various instances where conductors had been killed by some trigger happy policemen without any compensation paid to their immediate family.

“For instance, in 2012, a conductor was unjustly killed in Ketu, Kosofe Local Government Area by a policeman while performing his legitimate duty over argument of N20”, he said.

The BCAN president said the association took up the matter and petitioned appropriate authorities, lamenting that up till now nothing has been done about it “Right now the association is taking care of the only son of the late conductor including the widow. It is in consideration of all these that the association decided to come up with the insurance policy for the conductors”, he stated.

Africa 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Al-Jazeera suspends Egyptian channel

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Emmerson Mnangagwa, left, Vice President of Zimbabwe, chats with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, after the swearing in ceremony at State House in Harare, Dec, 12, 2014.

Tanzanian president fires Housing minister over graft

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anzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete has fired a senior government minister accused of wrongly taking $1m (£640,000) from a businessman.

Land and Housing Minister Anna Tibaijuka had not shown “due diligence” when she took the money, he said.

Ms Tibaijuka, a former UN official, denies any wrongdoing.

She is the latest casualty in a corruption scandal that has rocked Tanzania’s government and energy firms, straining relations with donors.

On 17 December, Attorney-General Frederick Werema resigned after

MPs accused him of authorising the fraudulent transfer of about $120m to an energy firm.

He denied the allegation, but said he was stepping down because the controversy had “disrupted the country’s political atmosphere”.

A newspaper vendor holds a copy of The Citizen newspaper in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 27 November 2014 The corruption scandal has dominated media coverage in Tanzania Mr Kikwete, in a televised address, said the government was still investigating allegations of impropriety against the energy minister and his permanent secretary and

would make a decision on their fate after the conclusion of the probe.

Ms Tibaijuka rejected parliament’s call for her resignation, saying the $1m was a donation for a school where she serves as the main fundraiser.

She accepted it in good faith and presented it to the school, she said.

However, Mr Kikwete said he had dismissed her because “one of the biggest questions raised is why this money was not paid directly to the school and was instead deposited in a personal bank account in her name,” Reuters news agency quotes him as saying.

Ms Tibaijuka was the executive director of the

Gambia arrests three for homosexual acts Gambian authorities have arrested three men accused of committing homosexual acts, which are punishable with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under a law signed in October, state

television said on Tuesday.

According to the report, the arrest followed a security operation and the men have confessed that they are gay.

However, their nationalities were not named.

``We go around in search of suspected individuals and in the course of the investigations we arrested the men. ``They have confessed that they have engaged in these inhuman acts.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme, before she became an MP and government minister in 2010.

Tanzania’s parliament, which is dominated by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, has been putting pressure on Mr Kikwete to sack top officials accused of siphoning government money in collusion with businessmen linked to the energy sector.

An investigation by a parliamentary watchdog committee found that about $120m had been taken from an escrow account, paid to an energy firm and then given to various government ministers.

he Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera network has suspended its Egyptian channel, whose coverage angered Egypt’s government.

Mubasher Misr (Live Egypt) would stop broadcasting until it had obtained “the necessary permits”, it said.

Cairo accused Mubasher Misr of serving as the mouthpiece of the Islamist supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi - something the channel denied.

It was a major source of tension between Egypt and Qatar, which backed Mr Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood.

The two countries have sought to repair relations in recent months, and on Saturday Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi held talks with a special envoy sent by the emir of Qatar.

On Monday evening, a presenter on Mubasher Misr announced that it was stopping broadcasts “temporarily until the preparation of suitable circumstances in Cairo, that is, after obtaining the necessary permits in coordination with the Egyptian authorities”.

Al-Jazeera said it would incorporate Mubasher Misr into a new regional offering.

Mubasher Misr’s offices in Cairo were closed shortly after the military - then led by Mr Sisi - overthrew Mr Morsi in July 2013, but the channel continued to broadcast from Doha.

The next month, after launching a crackdown on the Brotherhood that left hundreds of people dead, the Egyptian authorities banned Mubasher Misr, accusing it of spreading lies and rumours that were damaging national security and unity.

Africa should do more to fight Ebola - Ethiopian PM

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frican nations need to be more engaged in the fight against the Ebola virus and stop relying on aid from Western governments, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, has said.

Desalegn said the response to the epidemic in west Africa should not be “only for the non-Africans”, urging African states to respond to an African Union appeal to send medical staff to affected areas.

“We should show that there is a solidarity within the African countries,” he told reporters.

“Usually the notion is

that whenever this kind of epidemic happens, it is the Western countries and other big countries that have to be involved,” he said.

But he added: “We have to break this and show that Africans also are there for Africans. We should try our best to bring African solutions to African problems.”

Desalegn

UN worried about CAR clashes The United Nations mission in Central African Republic says it is concerned about weekend confrontations that included armed clashes with UN peacekeepers.

A statement on Mon-

day says one local fighter and one civilian were killed on Saturday in a clash with peacekeepers in the town of Berberati.

It also says one peacekeeper and one civilian were injured on Sunday

in a confrontation between fighters and peacekeepers in the town of Nola, and that the town of Bataganfo was tense on Monday after two fighters were killed by a rival armed group.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

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kraine took a further step toward seeking NATO membership Tuesday, when the country’s parliament passed a law abolishing Kyiv’s neutral, nonaligned status.

Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly scrap the non-aligned status, which was adopted in 2010 under Russian pressure and had prevented Kyiv from entering into any military alliances.

The amendment passed easily, receiving 303 votes, 77 more than the minimum required to pass into law.

“Aggression against Ukraine on the part of the Russian Federation, the illegal annexation of [Crimea], the waging of a so-called ‘hybrid war’ against our state, [Russia’s] military intervention in eastern Ukraine, permanent military, political, economic and informational pressure on the part of Russia, have forced Ukraine to seek better safeguards of its independence, sovereignty, security and territorial integrity,” some of the bill’s language reads.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said he will seek membership in NATO, the Western military alliance, as Kyiv fights Russian-

Ukraine drops non-aligned status

Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (R) and lawmakers of the government applaud after the second of three rounds of a presidential vote at the Greek parliament in Athens, Dec. 23, 2014. backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said the move underscored the country’s determination to pivot towards Europe and the West. “This will lead to integration in the

European and the EuroAtlantic space,” he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called Ukraine’s renunciation of its neutral military and political status a “counterproductive” step that would only raise tensions

S

ture reunification of the two Koreas from next year, saying South Korea would prepare to provide real assistance for people in the DPRK. Park had advocated the unified Korea as a “bonanza” for the Korean Peninsula and the region as well as the world.

South Korea said on Monday in its 2015 economic policy direction that it would push for aggressive exchange and cooperation with the DPRK if inter-Korean relations improved.

As part of those efforts, South Korea would push to hold a general meeting of the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI) next year in

around the crisis in the east.

“It will only escalate the confrontation and creates the illusion that it is possible to resolve Ukraine’s deep internal crisis by passing such laws,” TASS news agency quoted him

as saying.

In comments published in Russia’s Interfax news agency, Russian diplomat Andrei Kelin slammed the move as “unfriendly.”

He vowed Moscow will “negatively respond,” but did not elaborate.

Malaysia deports 500 Indonesian illegal migrants

Seoul okays dialogue with N’Korea

outh Korean President, Park Geun-hye, has said on Tuesday, that the government will continue efforts for dialogue with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Park also vowed to actively prepare for future reunification of the two Koreas from 2015. ``The government will continue efforts for dialogue in terms of interKorean relations, with a sincere and broadly open mind and in accordance with principle,” Park said during a Cabinet meeting.

She pledged to actively build preparations for fu-

13 World

M Jong-un Seoul to help the DPRK develop utilities and infrastructure.

Created in 1995, the GTI is an inter-governmental cooperation mechanism in northeast Asia supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Its four members are South Korea, China, Russia and Mongolia.

The DPRK took its name off the GTI in November 2009.

alaysia on Tuesday deported nearly 500 undocumented Indonesian workers, in what analysts said was part of a push to clamp down on illegal labour as the economy starts to slow.

The workers were brought in shackles to Subang Airport west of Kuala Lumpur, where Indonesian officials said they would be loaded onto military C-130 aircraft to be flown to their native country.

Another 200 will be deported on Wednesday, Indonesia’s ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno said, adding that more illegal workers may be sent back next year.

Muhammad Arifuddin, who worked as a labourer in construction for four years in Malaysia before being arrested, said he hopes to return to seek legal employment.

“I will try to get the legal documents and return to Malaysia to work,” the 36-year-old told AFP. Malaysia draws migrants from across the region and even from South Asian nations such as India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

More than six million foreign migrants, most of them illegals, are thought to work in factories, plantations, restaurants and in other jobs largely shunned by more affluent Malaysians.

Deadly blasts hit Yemeni capital Five bombs have exploded in Yemen’s capital, killing at least one person and wounding one other.

Old Quarter, Sana’a, YemenOld Quarter, Sana’a, Yemen The blasts happened early Tuesday in the old quarter of Sanaa, an area occupied by many members of the Shiite Muslim Houthi group.

One of the explosions went off as a Houthi militiaman tried to disarm it.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks.

The Houthis have clashed with fighters from al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and other allied Sunni tribesman since overrunning Sanaa in September.

Severe cold kills 31 in India No fewer than 31 people have died due to a cold spell in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh over the past two days, a news report said on Tuesday.

The report said that eight of the people died in eastern Uttar Pradesh while 23 died in the western part of the state where the temperatures were lower.

Report says minimum temperatures in western Uttar Pradesh towns ranged from 2.5 to 3.5 degrees Celsius.

All schools in the state have been closed until Dec. 28.

Dense fog delayed over 150 trains passing through the region.

Deaths in cold spells in India occur because many people are inadequately clothed, spend nights in the open and homes are not heated or insulated.

Modi

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Borno and Boko Haram insurgency

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Michael Baca

oko Haram has yet again made international media headlines, this time through its alleged kidnapping of nearly 200 civilians from the village of Gumsuri in Borno State. Much of the current commentary on the Salafi-jihadi group frames its insurgency as a violent contest against the Nigerian state.

This depiction agrees with the narrative put forth by Boko Haram chieftain Abubakar Shekau in his video communiqués, which identify its ultimate goal as being the establishment of an Islamic polity on the ruins of secular Nigeria.

Boko Haram has purportedly carried out terrorist attacks in cities throughout the country, including Lagos and Abuja, while its members continue to target Nigerian government’s agents.

However, as with politics, all insurgencies are local. If Boko Haram’s violent defiance of Abuja represents a national-level struggle, the Nigerian extremist movement is also engaged in a more provincial conflict concentrated in Borno State and seem-

ingly driven by parochial rivalries fueled by class, generational, and, to a lesser extent, ethno-religious tensions. The Kanuri, Borno’s most populous ethnicity, serve as the chief protagonist of this internecine war, dominating both Boko Haram as well as the regional political establishment that largely opposes it. Non-Kanuri communities in southeastern Borno also feature prominently, especially since Nigeria’s 2013 military offensive reportedly ejected many Boko Haram militants from the state’s urban centres. It is this local violence that has thus far claimed the majority of the lives lost to the Boko Haram insurgency.

Borno State consists of two distinct cultural zones. The northern and central territories contain a Kanuri majority, with communities of ethnic Shuwa Arabs and Fulani scattered throughout the area. Overwhelmingly Muslim, these sub-regions have in recent decades received a sizable number of Christian southerners, who prior to the Boko Haram insurgency made up a key component of the commercial class. Meanwhile, the southern third of Borno features a collection of minority

ethnicities. Although some follow Islam, many, including those in the vicinity of the now infamous town of Chibok, practice Christianity and/or indigenous religions.

Nestled in the foothills of the Mandara Mountains that straddle the Nigeria-Cameroon frontier, these populations retained their autonomy prior to the colonial era, fiercely resisting incursions by Muslim Kanuri and Fulani slavers.

Reverberations of these clashes continue to shape ethno-religious relations in Borno, with southerners bemoaning what they perceive as their political marginalisation at the hands of the Kanuri.

Despite their ethnicity’s dominance of the Borno government, most Kanuri also find themselves largely disenfranchised. At the apex of Kanuri society sits an oligarchy whose members trace their families’ initial wealth to lucrative commercial ventures during the colonial period. Slightly less prominent are Borno’s traditional rulers, descendants of the aristocracy that controlled the old Borno Empire (c. 1380-1893) that once held sway over much of modernday northeastern Nigeria. Below these two groups are the Kanuri

commoners (tala’a or talakawa).

The vast majority of tala’a resided in the countryside as peasants until the 1970s oil boom, when many streamed to Borno’s capital, Maiduguri, and smaller towns in search of employment opportunities, in part due to the stagnation of northeastern Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Some succeeded, but many more did not, forming instead a burgeoning, disaffected urban underclass.

Borno’s economic dislocations threw the existing social system into turmoil. Once revered traditional authority figures saw much of their influence diminish while Islamic revivalist movements such as Salafism started to gain adherents, particularly among younger generations. Although most Salafis in Borno abstained from violence and acknowledged the Nigerian state’s legitimacy, a substantial subset gravitated toward the radical teachings of Mohammad Yusuf (1970-2009), Boko Haram’s late spiritual leader. Much of Yusuf ’s appeal stemmed from his relentless criticism of a sociopolitical system that had, from all appearances, abandoned large swathes of Borno society to their own devices.

ARE ONA KAKANFO: The Scourge of 201 incisions

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Dapo Ogunwusi

BA Isaac Babalola Akinyele is my starting point today.

For about ten years, precisely 1955 to 1964, the city of Ibadan was held spellbound by perhaps its most unusual traditional ruler known to history. A Pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church who was more at home on the pulpit than the shrine, he prayed a lot. One of his prayers was recorded for posterity in the Iwe Itan Ibadan, a book he authored. Oba Akinyele prayed that no Ibadan son would ever be Kakanfo. A strange prayer indeed.

At least one of his logical predecessors was Kakanfo. Obadoke Latoosa, Asubiaro Agadagudu, who died in 1885. Ibadan drummers would beat ‘Asubiaro npale ogun mo; Edumare ma je o tenu mi jade’. An extraordinary Kakanfo who like the others, lived and died spectacularly.

What Oba Akinyele omitted to explain was why even in 1955, the title was still so dreaded. All Ka-

kanfos ended tragically. WHY? I must yield at this stage to the hallowed scriptures of Samuel Johnson who points rather obliquely at the inauguration rites of the Kakanfo as the foundation for the mysticism and tragedy that attend the holder of the office. 201 incisions are made on the occiput of the new Kakanfo using 201 lancets and 201 vials of very special preparations. Okanlerugba gbere.

This Johnson insists, makes them ‘very stubborn and obstinate. … due it is supposed, to the effects of the ingredients they were inoculated with’.

It is on record however that Kakanfo Abiola did not perform these rites, yet he got into trouble within 24 hours and was mauled by soldiers within 48 hours over a rather insignificant non-event.

Indeed, his life became a permanent roller-coaster of turbulence until he was murdered in confinement. He exhibited every bit of the Kakanfo mystique and ended so spectacularly in iconic tragedy.

He was branded a ceremonial Kakanfo. But his life was that of a quintessential generalissimo.

Irascible, implacable over his June 12 mandate, he embraced death rather than defeat.

All the Kakanfos at the point of death were confronted by overwhelming odds. Afonja in 1834 fought gallantly against Fulani traitors who trained over 100 arrows at him. 100 arrows at one man! The same for Kakanfo Akintola and the huge complement of soldiers who besieged him.

Latoosa died peacefully but no less tragically. All the commanders merely looked askance as Ibikunle got the better of him. It is my humble suggestion that we may have to look beyond Johnson’s okanlerugba gbere for the Kakanfo quandary.

One must add yet another shocking component to an already formidable perplexity. The Kakanfo title is not a particularly ancient office as evidenced by the rather small number of people who have been made Kakanfo. Indeed the office was a creation of the 16th Alafin, Oba Ajagbo [1650ca].

The curse of 1807 by Alafin Aole has also been identified by authorities as the reason for the Kakanfo

mystery. Referred to as Alafin Afepeja [one who fights with a curse], Oba Aole cursed Yorubaland as he was about to commit statutory suicide when he lost out in a power struggle that eventually consumed him. I produce here a verbatim translation of the terrible curse of Alafin Aole: “My curse be on you for your disloyalty and disobedience, so let your children disobey you. If you send them on an errand, let them never return to bring you again.

To all the points I shot my arrows will you be carried as slaves. My curse will carry you to the sea and beyond the seas, slaves will rule over you and you, their masters, will become slaves.”

It is quite difficult to locate any reference to the Kakanfo here.

Except perhaps one may underline the fact that Kakanfo Afonja was part of the chain of events that destroyed Aole. One significant flaw with the Aole theory is that the title had always its tincture of tragedy even before Aole was born. That suggestion in the face of common sense, must necessarily fail. Perhaps there is another.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Politics

15

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Imo Guber:

History about to repeat self?

Iheodioha

L

ast December 8, 2014, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) all over Nigeria organised primary election to elect its governorship candidates for 2015 general elections. Like in most states of the federation, the exercise took place in Imo State. The primary election in Imo state has become so controversial that the PDP secretariat has been under siege

by protesters reminiscent of the same election in the state in 2007.

At the December 8 primary, more than 25 governorship aspirants took part in the exercise.

At the end of the day, the PDP electoral committee that conducted the poll announced the result, declaring Chief Emeka Ihedioha, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives the winner and the flag bearer of

the PDP in the state. He polled 346 votes to beat the runners up, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, who scored 336 votes, while Chief Ikedi Ohakim, former governor of Imo State had 213 votes.

It was affirmed that the election was free and fair as it was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Buhari is the next President - El-Rufai Malam Nasir El-Rufai is a governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State. In this interview with AUGUSTINE AMINU, the former FCT Minister said he was confident that his party’s Presidential flag bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari will emerge Nigeria’s next president. He also speaks on some other important National issues. Excerpts:

el-Rufai

I

s Kaduna APC united now after your emergence as candidate?

I strongly believe that the APC is one large family. Having been in the PDP

APC, is one large family

and knowing that in the PDP, everyone is for himself, which is why we try to build a party in which everyone will look out for the other. So, in the APC, we believe that as you run for positions you should not criti-

cise anyone. This is because you do not say anything bad about your family members.

If they are bad, you keep quiet.

Secondly, we believe that unity is the hallmark of the APC. We do not speak ill

about one another. If you look at our presidential aspirants, they do not criticise one another. They work together to ensure that whoever emerges will have the support of CONTINUED ON PAGE16

Politics 16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

I will step on toes in Kaduna if…

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 everyone. Immediately the results were declared, one of the contestants, Hon. Shamsudeen came and congratulated me and offered to work with me. Yesterday, I visited the home of Isa Ashiru, another contestant and we both pledged to work with each other and to ensure that we vote out the PDP in Kaduna State and enthrone competent and transparent administration in the state in which all our supporters will have roles. I hope to visit the other contestants in due course. It is the first time that a sitting Governor is so scared of aspirants and he started attacking me that I am not from Kaduna State as if that disqualifies me from contesting.

What has happened now is just the beginning as we are going to start the campaign proper. My pledge is that we are going to focus on issues. I will never criticise an opponent because he is taller than I am. You know God made me this way, I am vertically challenged but the fact that an opponent is tall will not make me criticise him. Even as an aspirant, I published a manifesto. I will make copies available to you so that you look at it, you do a critic of it and make comments and give me feedback because it is still in a draft form and I expect inputs from everyone. I want to have a state

Imo Guber: History about to repeat self?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Commission (INEC), Police, DSS, aspirants and their agents.

However, two days later, Senator Ararume started to protest the result of the primaries. He said that he was short changed and awarded wrong number and that he should be declared the winner of the primary. He has as well gone to court to ask that Emeka Ihedioha’s name should

Ribadu: State chairman sacked for opposing has emergence.

Adamawa PDP crisis deepens, thugs stop SWC Wale Akintunde - Yola

T el-Rufai: where there is no indigene or settler. I want to have a state where everyone living here has equal rights as others. As people who live and work here, we expect you to contribute so that we produce the final copy of the manifesto.

Ohakim not be submitted to the PDP National office as the party’s candidate for the state.

Besides, since Monday, December 15, supporters of Senator Ararume, in their thousands have laid siege to the PDP secretariat in Owerri. The youths, who are said to be drawn from Ararume’s Okigwe zone, are threatening to cause destruction if their principal was not

Kaduna is the second most indebted state in the country

In the manifesto, we made commitments on what we are going to do in Kaduna, in spite of the challenges we are going to inherit. You know that Kaduna is the second most indebted state in the country and unlike Lagos, we do

not have the industrial base or the commercial capacity to bear the debt burden that we have. From our estimates, every child born in Kaduna state has a debt of N15, 000. If you have a child going to be

Since Monday, December 15, supporters of Senator Ararume, in their thousands have laid siege to the PDP secretariat in Owerri

zones of the state have advised Senator Ararume to withdraw all the armed youths he has deployed at the PDP secretariat and other places and to rather seek his redress through the normal PDP channels, if he has any.

They also told him to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the PDP which he signed voluntarily, which includes a provision not to take the party to court. He was also warned that severe disciplinary action could be taken against him for anti-party activities.

The whole scenario appears like a repeat of what took place in Imo State in 2007, when the same Ararume was told by the PDP that he should not stand

declared winner.

However, some elders, well meaning people and frontline politicians in Imo State, have counseled Senator Ararume to accept the result of the poll like a sportsman. The stakeholders who include Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, member PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Arthur Nzeribe, Member BOT PDP and many others from the three

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

he leadership crisis rocking Adamawa State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) deepened yesterday as political thugs alleged to belong to a factional chairman stormed the party secretariat and prevented the State Working Committee, (SWC) from holding a stakeholders’ meeting.

The Acting party Chairman in the state, Alhaji Jingri Rufai had called for the SWC meeting for the first time since the suspension of the incumbent state chairman, Chief Joel Madaki, by the National Working Committee (NWC).

Madaki has taken his party to court challenging the process of his suspension.

However some miscreants believed to be Madaki’ sympathisers invaded the party secretariat and prevented the acting chairman of the party from holding a meeting with the members of the NWC. The political thugs who brandished dangerous weapons and charms, chanted war songs saying that blood will flow in the party if its National Chairman, Adamu Muazu, insists on removing the embattled state chairman, Chief Madaki .

But Chief Madaki has distanced himself from the activities of the Thugs who disrupted the SWC meeting saying he has no hand in the fracas.

According to him, the whole scenario was arranged to tarnish his image for standing firm against illegality and imposition of unpopular candidates.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

17 Politics

Privatisation has favoured Nigerians

el-Rufai CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 born tomorrow, that child already has a debt burden of N15, 000 and there are about eight million people in Kaduna state, so, you do the calculation. But in spite of that, we are confident that we will find a way to work with the people of Kaduna State because there are areas of leakages, corruption we plan to tackle and there is large capacity to expand internally generated revenue. In spite of the fact that oil prices are falling and we are facing a dire economic situation more serious than anything that we have faced since 1984, we will do our best to improve the situation because we are committed to making Kaduna great again.

Your tenure as Minister of the FCT was controversial especially with your land and housing reforms. From your body language, are we likely to have a rehash of the Abuja experience in Kaduna if you become the Governor?

I do not know what you mean by controversial but I have always maintained that I am not controversial. Until 1999 when I became the DG of BPE, no one had ever heard of me. If I was a controver-

sial person you would have heard of me. I think my fortune or misfortune in public life is that I tend to get the most difficult assignments that every other person is scared of doing. My first real job in government was DG of the BPE and my job was to sell public assets. That is controversial. It is not El-Rufa’i that was controversial, it was the assignment because people are used to government managing everything. Some of these things are difficult to do and in this country if you want to do the job as written in the books, you are given all sorts of names and tags, controversial is one of them.

I am not controversial, I mind my business and when I was Adviser to Gen. Abdul salami Abubakar for one year, you never heard of me. But once I am given a job and I agree to do it, I do it with all my heart and as Minister of the FCT which is one of the most difficult jobs, I did my job to the best of my ability. I do not think that the issue is whether I was controversial or not. The question you should ask me is whether I left Abuja better than I met it. And I think most people in Abuja will say I did.

That is what matters.

Kaduna is different from Abuja in many respects. So, there is work to be done here. Not everything to

be done here will be loved by the people. A lot of it will be embraced by the people but if there is a job to be done and I undertake to do it, if the people of Kaduna State elect me it is because they want change. They do not want this place to be a state of bill boards and no action. They want schools to be better than what they are now; they want our health care system to cater for everybody, not the friends of the government that get sponsored to go to Egypt.

They want agriculture to flourish and they want the state of insecurity to be addressed. Currently these things are not being done. In the process of doing them, some people would say I am controversial. Let me give you an example.

Around the Birnin-Gwari area, there is a lot of cattle rustling, armed robbery. Why has it persisted? It is because nobody has addressed it. If I go there with the security and we crush it, it may be controversial but what needs to be done has to be done and we will crush them if we have to. We have outlined in our manifesto, the draft policies and programmes, the commitments we have for the people of Kaduna State. We will do it. Whether that thing is controversial or not, if I am voted in, the people of Kaduna State want those things done and we will do them to the best of our ability.

And everything we are going to do will be based on extensive consultations and participatory democracy. You said something about my being controversial in Abuja but did you hear about any community in Abuja protesting while I was Minister? Never! Why? It is because everything we did in Abuja, we made sure we got the communities to key into it. I had town hall meetings every three months. Nobody in Nigeria did it, town hall meetings during which FCT residents were free to ask me questions and complain about any policy and about any public officials and I investigated such complaints. Everything we did in Abuja had the full support of the people of Abuja because they knew what we were doing. Each time we were going to do something, we had town hall meetings and we explained to the people and we carried them along. And that is what I intend to do in Kaduna. Do not worry, we will do some things which they may term

controversial but we will get the job done for the people.

The privatisation of public enterprises started during your days at the BPE but unfortunately, privatisation does not seem to be working, some 15 years after including companies established by Balarabe Musa. What do you think is responsible for this? What do you think is responsible for the current atmosphere of anxiety as if Nigeria will come to an end in 2015?

I do not agree with you that privatisation has not worked. I think privatisation has worked well in favour of the Nigerian people. You have to understand the state of these companies before they were privatised. The Senate did an investigation about the privatised companies and found out that two thirds of all the privatised companies, about 67 per cent were doing very well, one third of the companies were not doing well.

Sixty-seven per cent anywhere in the world is a good score. Benue Cement was one of the companies we privatised and I sold it to Dangote. There were all sorts of resistance but today, where is Benue?

The installed capacity of Benue Cement was 900,000 metric tons of cement. It was producing less than 600-000 as at the time we privatised it because of spare parts problems and other factors. When Dangote took it over, it is now producing two million metric tons of cement. It has expanded and the employment figure has since doubled. You cannot say that privatisation has not worked. Yes, not all the companies may work.

One of the companies that I privatised that failed is Electric Metre Company of Nigeria in Zaria.

Why did it fail? It failed because the company had only one customer, NEPA. But NEPA moved from those kinds of metres to pre-paid metres and they did not tell them because NEPA wanted to import from South Africa and make commissions. If they had given them notice and said that in two years, for example, we will stop using those analogue metres, get facilities to produce pre-paid metres, may be the company would have made the shift. That is why the company died. It died for clear reasons and not because CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Ararume: Asked to abide by the rules

Imo Guber: History about to repeat self?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 governorship primary election.

Ararume went ahead and contested and won the election, as he claimed, but the party decided to give the ticket to Engineer Celestine Ugwu, a former Minister of Industries.

But Ararume kicked as he did not obey the rules governing the election as set down by PDP. He won at the court, however. The court said he was the authentic candidate of the PDP. The party then did not fancy the whole drama and decided not to field another candidate for that position in the state that year.

PDP rather rallied round and threw its weight on Chief Ikedi Ohakim, a PPA candidate and he won the governorship election in Imo State. Ever since, PDP had not found its feet in the state, because in 2011, Ohakim the governor then had become a persona non grater in Imo State.

When the elections came that year, he was defeated by Rochas Okorocha, the current governor of the State.

If care is not taken, as some political watchers and PDP members had warned, Ararume may once again truncate the party’s opportunity to unseat Okorocha.

Some say to unseat Okorocha was what matters to the party and that Ararume should not throw spanners onto the work again. But will Ararume listen?

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 of mismanagement.

In Kaduna State, industries were established by the Balarabe Musa administration but those industries were sabotaged by the Federal Government, initially. I remember in one case, the entire equipment for one of the companies was auctioned to an NPN chieftain and they had to pay 10 times the price to get them back.

So, they had issues from day one.

We have commissioned someone to study some of these companies, the Kachia Ginger Company, the Ikara Tomato Processing Company, Zaria Pharmaceutical Company and one other. We have commissioned a consultant to find out their current status, whether they are partially privatised or not, so that we find ways of reviving and expanding them. Some of their equipment may even be obsolete.

The challenge of industrial development for a state government is that industrial policy is controlled by the Federal Government. Let me give you an example. We got experts to look at the textile industries in Kaduna, to examine their problems and what we can do as a state government. The first problem that our experts identified is electricity. That is the biggest problem for the textile industries.

But that is out of our hands as a state government. We believe that it is possible to restore the Kaduna industrial capacity to the previous situation, particularly if we have a Federal Government that is willing to work with us. Since we are confident that we are going to have Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as our President, we have a blueprint on some of these things and we assure that Jonathan is returning to Otuoke.

Recently you advocated free and fair elections on a radio station. Were you not one of the PDP elections manipulators as a Minister? Were you not the one that demolished NUJ secretariat in Abuja? Will the same fate befall Kaduna NUJ when you become governor?

It is a big mistake to say that the PDP of 2003 is the same as the Jonathanian PDP. They are completely different. The PDP

Wamakko

leader of the PDP in Abuja. So, I enjoyed that dual position but go and check, who won the election in 2007. The ANPP won because I called all the leaders of the PDP and told them that anybody that rigged the elections, I would ensure that the person was arrested by Nuhu Ribadu who unfortunately has gone back to the PDP. I did not care who won the elections. All I cared was that the elections should be free and fair.

I have never manipulated the results of elections because I would never sleep if I change the results of elections, I have never done it.

The NUJ had an illegal national secretariat in Abuja. Let me give you the history and why we did what we did. When the seat of government moved to Abuja in 1991, the NUJ was asked to move but they did not have an office. So, one of the primary schools at Garki was given to the NUJ as temporary office. It was a primary school which at the time was not populated because they had no pupils. The NUJ was given a site to build a permanent secretariat and government even gave them a

grant to build it. Go and ask those who got the grant what they did with it. When I came in as Minister, I checked the records and found out that the Minister before me, Abba Gana, had pledged to give a further contribution of N3 million to the NUJ to continue the building of the secretariat. He did not redeem that pledge but I approved the payment. When we were reviewing the status of our schools we found out that we had a primary school that was over congested because Garki district had become populated and we needed that primary school for our pupils. Now, who is more important, the NUJ or our children?

I do not know what you think but our children are more important than anything. So, I called Smart Adeyemi who was NUJ President at that time. I told him that government gave you land and also gave you money to build it but some people diverted the money.

My predecessor promised you N3 million to continue with the building, he did not pay but I have paid. I am giving you six months to get out of that place. He said they could not finish the building in six months. I said, fine but school starts in six months and I want to move children from that congested primary school to the one you are occupying. I told him to go and find an office accommodation and I will pay the rent for two years. They thought because they are journalists and by writing nobody could do anything.

He thought I was joking. And the NUJ also built a hotel in that place. The NUJ headquarters was a brothel at night where we were supposed to have a school. They did not move. We did not revoke the place because one can only revoke what you own. It was never property of NUJ, it was given to you to use temporarily and I chased them out. We demolished the hotel and put our children there. I am proud of what I did and I have no regrets. I became an enemy of Smart Adeyemi but I did my job and those children got a school. I know I did the right thing and I sleep well at night. If the Kaduna NUJ secretariat is a school, the same thing will happen if I become governor. But I do not think it is a school.

their action.

His words: “APC is the party to beat across Nigeria during the 2015 general elections,” Wamakko promised the party’s new entrants of equal and fair treatment like the older members of the party.

The governor said APC was out to salvage Nigeria and expressed optimism that it would win the 2015 general elections at

all levels.

The party’s Acting State Chairman, Alhaji Usman Danmadamin-Isa, commended Wamakko for evenly transforming the state from 2007 to date.

“More people will soon join the APC and we will collectively work to ensure the success of the party at all levels during the forthcoming general polls,” he said.

It is a big mistake to say that the PDP of 2003 is the same as the Jonathanian PDP. They are completely different.

el-Rufai

Today’s PDP is strange that I was a member of had some rules and processes. Let me give you just one example. As a Minister of the FCT, I demolished a house belonging to the Chairman of the PDP. Today, no minister of the FCT can touch the house of a member of PDP national executive committee. So, it is a different PDP. The PDP of 1999 is not the same as the PDP of today. And, do not equate members of the 1999 with members of the current PDP. The PDP of today is a criminal PDP. They have no regard for rules, they say they are People’s Democratic Party, but they do not have regard for people and they do not have regard for democracy. If you have any doubts about that, go and check what they did during their last primaries in all the states, whether there was any semblance of election. So, please do not speak as PDP is a fixed entity. The party has evolved over time and for the worse.

I was Minister on the platform of the PDP but I was not a Minister because I was in the PDP. I was Minister on my merit. I represented no state in Nigeria. The

Minister for the PDP representing Kaduna state was Nenadi Usman because the Governor of Kaduna State at that time disowned me and said that I did nothing for the party. He objected to my being Minister but Obasanjo told him that whether you like it or not, this man is going to be Minister because I have a special assignment for him. Even though I was Minister under a PDP government, some of us were different animals. We were brought in not because of PDP but because we have certain skills that did not exist in the PDP. I, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, Obi Ezekwesili, there were a handful of us who were ministers not representing a state per se. We were called technocrats. As Minister of the FCT, I enjoyed two positions in the party.

As someone from Kaduna State, I was supposed to be a member of the Executive Committee of the PDP but go and check, I never attended their meetings. I did not see myself as a member of the PDP. I saw politics as a distraction from the work I was asked to do.

As Minister of the FCT, I was the

Sokoto 2015: 4,000 PDP members defect to APC

ver 4,000 members of the PDP in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State at the weekend defected to the APC. The new members were received into the APC fold in Isa by Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

Wamakko, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, commended them for

O

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Midweek special

19

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Candid camera shots of various uses, and abuses, of phones on highways

Talking, pinging, texting unto death, or disability ... on highways Thirteen years after the Global System of Communication (GSM) made its debut in Nigeria, the talking habit of the citizens has increased remarkably, such that everywhere and anytime, the people just can’t stop talking! GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR examines the rising phenomenon, the economic factor and discovered a possible federal legislation in the pipeline to control its abuse.

I

f words spoken by the individual can be quantified per year, the average Nigerian would have spoken more words in 13 years of gsm evolution than our forefathers spoke in their life time. The good Book says all of creation is held together by the Word of the Creator’s power, and Nigerians have been extremely busy demonstrating this arm of His Omniscience with a consuming passion since the debut of the gsm technology teed off in 2001. Like a virus, deadly and infectious, the frenzy

has eaten so deep into the psyche of the nation that Nigerians just can’t stop talking!

From the scavenger, to the ice fish and pepper seller at the market place, the cobbler that doesn’t speak a word of ‘turenchi’, the great number of beggars anywhere you find them, hawkers, house-helps, and to the ruling and the business class, the power brokers at the corridors of power to the sick or dying patients in hospitals etc; everyone is talking as if they will not see tomorrow!

Like the radio talk-stations that chat 24-seven, 8,760 hours all year round, no one is counting the cost, and for service providers who boast of tens of millions of subscribers apiece, their accounts have each become a mega bank unto themselves.

“I don’t understand this kind of thing”, voiced Madam Stella Awopegba, a wholesale agent of credit cards at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on Victoria Island. ‘If you say hello, or just say emm, you will pay, yet people talk as if it is free of charge.”

A Barrister who shared his amazement narrated to Daily Times how he spent a night at a senator’s house at Apo quarters, Abuja. ‘I was alone in the study and his phone was there. Out of curiosity I checked the credit balance on his cellphone and I found a whopping N50,000 airtime dumped there just for talking.”

Daily Times witnessed a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official rebuke a woman in her 40s

Continued on page 20

Midweek special 20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

Pinging unto death on highways

Talking away on the highway

Continued From page 19

‘‘The man in the middle did not hesitate to take his call while eating, talking into the food before him, with two fellows eating’’

who hopped out of a bus and snaked across the two multilane busy roads at Oshodi in one swift stream, all the while talking on her cellphone.

“The day motor will knock you down on this road, I will tell the driver to go; na you kill yourself, and nothing go happen, I swear”.

At a crowded restaurant beside the TBS during the week, six men shared a table facing one another.

The man in the middle did not hesitate to take his call while eating, talking into the food before him, with two fellows eating one to his left, another to his right and three people facing him and he did not care a hoot that he was in a public place.

This trend has recorded many accidents on roads, in market places, and everywhere. Sharing his family’s experience on the phenomenon, a clergy man, Iniobong Ukoidem of The Apostolic Church, Ojuelegba Assembly told Daily Times of his wife and her cellphone. “If my wife’s phone rings and our superintendent’s wife is on the phone, everything she is doing will be suspended for hours. If she

A man chats on phone while crossing the highway has visitors, they are on their own; when they tire to wait, they will go; and if she is cooking that time, God help us and the food!”

Describing gsm as instrument of good and evil, Chukadibie Maduka, a freelance salesman frowned at an elderly woman who was talking on her cellphone as she boarded a bus at Obanikoro; even while struggling to sit down as the bus moved on, she was talking family matters that pricked the ears of other commuters, and not a few turned their eyes on her, but she continued as though she was the only one in the bus.

“Bode, give the phone to Taiye’, she ordered, and continued: ‘Taiye o; hear the word of my mouth: If I am your mother who born you and gave you my two breasts to suck’, she was hitting her breasts as she said this, ‘Turn your back

on that woman immediately. Laide is the wife we paid her bride price and she is coming to join you next month.’ From her conversation it was clear she was talking to the elder of her two sons somewhere in Europe.”

The law banning motorists from making or taking calls while driving has made no difference; everywhere motorists are seen talking on phone, pinging or browsing while on the steering wheel, begging the question of how we lived as a people before the gsm débuted in Nigeria.

Thirty eight years old legal secretary with a bank on Victoria Island, Abiodun Maurice exclaimed when the question was put to her: ‘Ah, it was not easy, I tell you. We used to write letters home and abroad; even in the city here, letters never arrived destinations on time.’

Maurice still had mem-

only for neighbours to say he or she had travelled, or ‘Oh, she just left few minutes ago’ and all your efforts and transport were wasted. Ah, this telephone thing has made life easier, only that some people are overdoing it: if words can finish in somebody’s mouth, many people would have exhausted their words by now!”

Everyone in the family has to come to terms with online manager, Kesiena Evhoghene in Alimosho Local Government Area, Idimu, Lagos.

“He comes from work talking on the phone from the gate into the house; walks past his parents and siblings into his room and may continue talking nonstop for the next hour or more before saying a word to anyone,’ says Glory, his elder sister.

Also, the human resource manager of a transport company, Ms Christy Akpan would talk throughout the long drive from her Ojota office to her estate home. She would continue into the house and never cease to talk even while changing her clothes. The moment she puts the phone down to wash, it rings again and she picks it up, then talks even while in the bathroom, and Sundays are no exception! She told Daily Times there is a standing company law about that: “With bus trackers and so many of our officers on the road, I have to monitor our drivers and movement of the buses all the time; that’s how we check the excesses and pranks of our workforce. And if your phone rings and you don’t pick it for whatever reason, you will be fined a large sum of money, so talking gets the business going and business is talking!”

Daily Times was on time to witness a lady who stepped into an uncovered manhole converted to dustbin of convenience beside the security gate of No. 380, Ikorodu Road

ories of large mail bags dumped in bushes, dustbins and so on and letters that took many months to arrive at Mainland from the Island and vice versa.

“I remember as an applicant in the 80s when we relied on the postal services and we suffered communication problems.

Many applicants, including myself experienced letters of interview or offers of employment that arrived many months too late. I really thank God for this gsm.”

Another face of life without gsm was recalled

by Grandma Comfort Nnaife: “In those days, whatever you had to say to your family member, friend or market partner would have to wait until you saw face to face; sometimes when you were visiting someone, there was no means of letting them know you were coming, Continued on page 21 and you might get there

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

21 Midweek special

Talk is cheap ... even for a street sweeper

Chatting to death, or disability Continued From page 20 hosting a power machine tool company in Maryland, Lagos.

She was searching out a number while on the move and had stepped into it.

A gaping hole between Nos. 13 and 15 Ifoshi Road, off Ejigbo-Ikotun Road has seen many such accidents; neighbours say many people have stepped into the gutter partly covered with a plank because they were ether scrolling on their phone or pinging while on the busy walkway.

Further up towards the Iyana-Ejigbo intersection, one Jumoke Azeez lost her expensive Android mini-tablet phone to an okada rider who couldn’t resist snatching it from her outstretched hands as she chatted at the Omiyale bus-stop. All her shouts and feeble efforts to chase the bike drew no sympathy from onlookers.

Another face of the issue is Whatsapp. A household of five adults drew the attention of neighbours at Silva Estate, Idimu in Alimosho Local Government Area recently. The Ghanaian househelp who pleaded for anonymity told Daily Times the cause of the fracas.

“Everybody in the house, including the grandma has a

big phone and the whole house would be silent for hours during weekends because everyone is chatting on their phones.’ Daddy was said to have seized madam’s cellphone and she raised hell and high water and nobody knew peace until a compromise was reached.”

Root Of The Frenzy Veteran journalist and historian, Chima Nwafo told Daily Times that Nigerians take every new thing to ridiculous extents, and he delved into history.

“The man who amalgamated Nigeria, Lord Lugard, wrote a book he titled The Dual Heritage. In that book Lugard wrote some unsavory things about the black man, Nigerians especially; derogatory things which some people quarreled with and are still quarrelling with today. “He wrote that when you teach a black man something, he adheres to it and continues doing it as if his life depends on it, without adding anything, or looking at another side of it.

If you teach him to dance, for example, he will imitate and celebrate that dance step as if nothing else exists around him.

“That’s what is playing out in this telephone craze. The seriousness and commitment with which Nigerians make

A gaping hole between Nos. 13 and 15 Ifoshi Road, off Ejigbo-Ikotun Road has seen many such accidents.

and answer phones anywhere and everywhere has turned into something else; even though there exists a law against making or taking calls while driving, motorists, even the police themselves do it; so many have caused accidents: imagine someone pinging while on the steering on a major road; is that not madness? If you don’t ping or make that call while driving,

will you die? Will the heavens fall?”

Nwafo suspects that if analysis of the massive calls and chats in the social media is made, a minimal percentage would be important calls like business and family matters, the rest would be social and idle calls.”

Now, if the ban on motorists from using their phones while driving is this difficult to enforce, how enforceable would a legislation against making calls on motorbikes, while crossing express roads or walking on busy walkways and in designated places be realized?

Daily Times took the question to the offices of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Headquarters, Ilupeju, Oshodi where the Provost Marshal sighed and conceded that everyone is guilty of the act.

“It is everywhere and many of us are guilty of it. This morning, I had crossed the road before I realised I had been talking on the phone; but it is not a crime by Lagos State law. An act is not a crime unless criminalized by law and this mobile conversation everywhere even on the road is not yet a crime although it is building up to a

potential danger.”

Watching this trend building up to a potential national shame, is there any initiative the road safety ministry can propose to curb this problem?

“Well, since this act has gone this far, we may have to write a proposal to the Lagos State House of Assembly and let them consider a legislation to make it criminal. We need to do it for the safety of the individual, even me this morning I did it as I said earlier. It is going to take a lot of public awareness campaign for people to realize it is for everybody’s good.”

Would his men be able to check this trend, especially in Lagos area, if the act is eventually passed into law?

“If that happens, the traffic authority will not be responsible to enforce the law; it would be the duty of the KAI (Kick Against Indiscipline) division.

I agree it will be difficult but at least concerted efforts by all will nip this danger. It is not too late yet.”

Daily Times also sought the view of a legal practitioner, G.P. James, who says the law cited by the road marshal is universal. At his Citadel Chambers in

Continued on page 22

Midweek special 22

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

Chatting, texting on highways, a disaster waiting to happen Even the student is not spared

Continued From page 21 Ajao Estate, Lagos he examined the difficulty in enacting a law against this act.

“As far as what we call civil law is concerned, you are at liberty to make phone calls anywhere, even when crossing the road; but like in Lagos State where it is emphasized that you use the zebra crossing and you can do that while taking or making a call, yet we see many people just ignore it.

“So until making calls anywhere is codified, enacted and gazetted, prescribing that the act is an offence and prescribing what the punishment is, you cannot enforce it.”

As a lawyer, is such act, if made illegal, defendable in a court of law?

“Making calls just about anywhere is a matter of personal discipline; every person must put a boundary within his own axis. The idea is moderation because social boundary/liberty is very wide.” He pointed at a marble hanging over his chambers that reads, ‘Make time for quiet moments as God whispers, and the world is so loud.’

‘Some people do not switch off their phones in the night, but I do; in court, they say put

your phone in silence, yet some people have a problem with that, but I don’t.

“And it became worse when telephone providers started giving free airtime, all night calls, free megabytes, short message systems (sms) and all that, so people just can’t stop talking”.

Barrister James finds it irksome that the frenzy started in the judiciary from the onset.

“I had a case with the late Debo Akande (SAN) involving a former LASU vice chancellor. We were about going on legal vacation and we wanted an adjournment but Akande said no, that the case must go on. We pleaded for a long time before he just managed to adjourn the case to the third week after the legal vacation. And what happened? Debo Akande went to London and died two weeks after and for years on to this minute we are talking, we have not started that case.

“Debo Akande’s phone was one you cannot get through when you call because it was always busy; and after he died and his wife was using the phone, when you call, the line goes through immediately; when you say, ‘Hello, can I speak to Akan-

de?’ you hear ‘Oh no, Akande is no more’. What I’m trying to bring out is that the phone is not as important as most people want you to believe, but I assure you we can do without all that.”

Referring to Covenant University, Otta, the lawyer whose three children have passed through the institution said students are barred from using phones and the children are better off.

“Students are barred from bringing phones to the school and this gives them maximum concentration and results. Yes we hear some of them do smuggle in phones somehow, but because they’re using it illegally, there’s a limited amount of time they spend on phone.’

James equated the trend with every other habit and passion in the human person.

“The phone issue is like every habit-forming part of man; if you don’t check it, it rules over you. Like some people get used to snuff, tobacco, alcohol and so on; if they don’t take it they cannot sleep; every human being has an addictive spirit and that is where discipline and moderation is counseled.

A lady crosses the road, chatting away

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Inside N-Delta

23

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Delta guber primaries:

The winners, the losers, the future ...

Emmanuel Addeh

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Uduaghan A’Ibom votes against Local Government Autonomy Page - 26

Delta’s governor backed the wrong horse

Soldiers destroy illegally refined fuel, warn vessel owners Page - 26

ike last October’s Local Government Council election and the Delta State House of Assembly primary, the recent governorship primary election in the state was largely predicted to be a one-horse race.

Pundits who believed that the candidate of the governor, Mr Tony Obuh, would emerge victorious in the race based their projection on the fact that Obuh, a dark horse in the politics of the state, had the backing of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and by extension of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) machinery which at the time was firmly under the governor’s control.

But the unpredictability and uncertainty are what make politics interesting and this erratic nature played out fully during the election where the delegates held the aces and determined who got what in the primaries.

Our correspondent takes a look at the perceived winners, the losers and the future of politics and governance in the state as the 2015 general

elections draw closer.

The Winners Senator Ifeanyi Okowa A reticent and largely conservative politician, Senator Ifeanyin Okowa, against all odds, won the governorship primaries poll with 406 votes.

The Owa-Alero, Ika North-East-born politician, who is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, where he studied Medicine and Surgery, virtually stood no chance, especially against the background that the PDP machinery and the governor were solidly behind his opponent in the race.

A former Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources and later that of health, Okowa, who had earlier in 2007 contested the party’s ticket against Uduaghan, did his homework, rarely talked, but forged strong alliances with quite a few ethnic groups in the state.

Of major importance was the political relationship he forged with the Ijaw people, arguably the third largest ethnic group in the state.

Continued on page 24

DESOPADEC dragged to court over overseas bursary sponsorship Page - 25

Inside N-Delta 24

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The winners, losers, future of Delta’s guber primaries Continued From page 23 Okowa, a former Secretary to the Delta State Government, highly underrated by pundits, emerged victorious, rubbishing claims that the PDP was firmly under the control of the incumbent governor.

The Ijaw people Since the return of democracy in 1999, the Ijaw people have not held the highest political position in the state, but they remain a major power bloc.

With the altercation they had with the governor over his attempt to displace Mr. James Manager, the Senator representing Delta South in the Upper House, it was obvious that the stage was set for a showdown.

Having been promised the Deputy Governorship if Okowa eventually emerged the governor, the Ijaw delegates threw their entire arsenal in the ring, vowing to make sure Okowa won the primaries.

With the assistance of ex-militant and mult-billionaire, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, Senator Manager and many other foot soldiers, the Ijaw people rallied round Okowa to emerge the winner.

Ex-Governor James Ibori Though, now languishing in a London Prison, having been convicted for corruptly enriching himself while he was governor of oil-rich Delta State from 1999 to 2007, Chief James Ibori remains a major power broker in the politics of the state, even from the four walls of a jail.

The influence of the ex-governor, who has fought to keep his political family and loyalists intact, despite the storm, came to play during the poll.

Some of those who worked with him during his reign in

Delta State are still very loyal to him, given that he successfully made millionaires out of many of them.

Prominent among the former governor’s foot soldiers were the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Chief Monday Igbuya, who was earlier in Obuh’s camp; and former state chairman of the party, Patrick Sinebe from Patani, who joined forces with Okowa, following a reported directive from Ibori to make sure that he won.

Delta North The people of Delta North or the ‘Igbo-Speaking’ part of the state were clear winners during the primaries which took place penultimate week.

Right from the outset, there was an unwritten understanding that it was time for power to shift or rotate to Delta North.

However, other ethnic groupings, especially the Urhobo, refuted any such claims, arguing that democracy should be allowed to take its course.

Despite the politics that ensued, and the shaky start to the aspiration of people from that part of the state to take over from Uduaghan, Delta North, said to be the second largest ethnic group in the state, emerged victorious.

Their chances became blighted when they overwhelmingly rejected the candidature of Uduaghan’s choice, Obuh, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Government House, Asaba .

With the traditional rulers from the place leading the pack of those who did not want Obuh and thereafter listing about six names among which Uduaghan’s successor could be picked, it was obvious that the governor might withdraw his support for Delta North, which he did.

Obuh By dint of hard work and a dash of luck, power eventually rotated, though not without the intrigues and melodrama.

Democracy A clear winner was democracy, given that despite the opposition of the establishment to his emergence, democratic forces helped propel Okowa to victory.

For close watchers of politics in Nigeria, that was an exception to the rule, for the simple fact that the power of incumbency is very critical in Nigerian politics.

The Losers Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan The governor’s initial intense support for Mr. Tony Obuh, shifted to Mr. David Edevbie, former Principal Secretary to late President Umar Yar’Adua just about 48 hours to the election.

Those in the know, believe that his withdrawal of support for Obuh was because of the inability of Delta North to rally

round one aspirant who would be backed by all and the rejection of his (governor’s) candidate.

Edevbie’s emergence was as dramatic as it was mysterious.

He was never in the reckoning.

In fact, his name was never mentioned in the politics of the primaries before then.

Suddenly, Edevbie, who is of Urhobo descent, was on the lips of everybody as the governor had told the party and his loyalists to vote massively for the new aspirant, following the withdrawal of his backing for Obuh, and by extension the aspiration of Delta North.

But in spite of his directive, delegates returned Okowa. Uduaghan had earlier forfeited his senatorial candidature to Mr. James Manager. He said he took the decision to avoid violence and allow peace to reign in the state. He has also congratulated Okowa, winner of the PDP primaries.

Tony Obuh and David Edevbie The governor switched his support for Obuh to Edevbie, an Urhobo aspirant and directed his loyalists to enforce the instruction.

Despite the media hype and blitz that trailed Obuh’s emergence as the preferred person to take over from Uduaghan and the game changer less than 48 hours to the election, Edevbie got 299 votes, while Obuh who had been notified of the change of plans had 5 votes.

Delta Central ( Urhobo) The Urhobo Progress Union, easily the most influential group in Urhobo land had earlier directed all delegates of Urhobo origin to vote massively for Edevbie after the governor switched his support to him.

The UPU had also threatened to use their about 800,000

Continued on page 25

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

DESOPADEC dragged to court over overseas bursary sponsorship Emmanuel Addeh

T

he Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, has been dragged before a Warri High Court for allegedly sponsoring overseas students to the detriment of their Nigeria based counterparts.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to compel the oil commission to use the monies for overseas scholarship for local bursary to the benefit of students in higher institutions in the country.

In a Suit number W/505/204, filed by Igbighogho Ernest, Awipi Lawson, Aguonigho Samuel and Udi Elijah on behalf of themselves and the Delta Elite Youth for Good Governance, the claimants also asked the court to convict officials of the agency for not complying with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The complainants told the court that after writing several application letters for the requisite financial information to be made available to them, the oil commission consistently failed to make the information public.

Igbighogho , Counsel to the

claimants, on behalf of himself and the three others prayed the court, among others, to compel the commission to convert N1.385billion budgeted for local bursary and overseas scholarship for the year 2013 to local bursary only.

They are asking the court to effect “the conviction of the defendants and other officials responsible for making the information applied for by the claimants available for failure to comply with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act No.4 Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2011.

“An order compelling the defendants and its official to make the information (records) available with regard to the expenditure of N5.443billion for Itsekiri nationality, N5.540billion for Ijaw nationality, N2.326billion for Urhobo nationality. ‘’ Also for the N2.292billion for Isoko nationality, N1.221billion for Ndokwa nationality and N1.385billion for local bursary and oversea scholarship for the year 2013 and an order compelling the money for overseas scholarship be converted to local bursary.”

The case is billed for hearing on the 16th February 2015.

25 Inside

Delta guber primaries: What does the future hold?

James Continued From page 24 Urhobo votes against President Goodluck Jonathan if he forced Governor Uduaghan to support another aspirant, other than Edevbie.

In the build-up to the poll, the highly influential group also banned some politicians of Urhobo origin for allegedly hobnobbing and campaigning for candidates outside the ethnic group.

It is still unclear what their next move would be after the aspirant they supported lost the primaries; but analysts believe that the union remains a formidable force in Delta State.

Devastated... the flora and fauna of oil communities

N-Delta

The Future Unless a major political tsunami takes place in Delta State between now and February 2015 when the general elections would take place, Dr Okowa, would likely become the next governor of the state.

Unarguably, Delta State remains under the firm grip of the PDP; and the party’s candidate,

barring the unforeseen, might emerge victorious.

However there are fears that those who were aggrieved during the primaries might form a coalition, move to another party and attempt to floor the PDP. Among those who are not happy with the outcome of the primaries are: the Urhobo people and now the Isoko politicians, who if they don’t get the Deputy Governorship slot, might gang up against the PDP candidate.

Unless, they are assured of a place when the next government is formed, the politicians of Delta North origin, who contested against Okowa, might also move against his victory.

Realistically speaking, the All Progressives Congress, APC, a relatively new party in the state might not be able to challenge the PDP behemoth, but there are also insinuations that if the APC decides to work with Labour Party’s Great Ogboru, it might just be the game changer in the 2015 governorship poll in the state.

There are fears that those who were aggrieved during the primaries might form a coalition, move to another party and attempt to floor the PDP.

Inside N-Delta 26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Soldiers destroy illegally refined fuel, warn vessel owners Emmanuel Addeh

S

oldiers attached to the Special Squad of the Anti-illegal Oil Bunkering and Oil Theft squad of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield, have arrested an illegal oil bunkering cubit barge containing a large volume of Automated Gas Oil (AGO) suspect-

ed to be illegally refined.

The JTF officers intercepted the barge while patrolling along Alakiri waterways of Okirika Local Government Area,

Rivers State, according to its Commander, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Atewe.

The soldiers revealed that the vessel had four compartments fully loaded with stolen products which were apprehended after

allegedly

loading

from an undisclosed illegal oil refining camp in Alakiri axis of the state. ‘’ The eagle eyes of the JTF troops on a tip off, followed up and apprehended the barge on its way to the sea. The Barge and the products were towed to a safer place and destroyed in situ.

However, Atewe warned owners of barges and vessels used for illegal operations in the waterways of the Niger Delta to verify the true use of their vehicles before renting them out. ‘’In line with his zero tolerance campaign against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region, the Commander JTF Operation Pulo Shield, warns vessel and barge owners to always verify the purpose before lending them out as any vessel or barge arrested for oil related crimes will be destroyed

and suspects prosecuted to serve as a deterrence’’, the Commander said.

Meanwhile, Atewe has commended the people of Igbomatoru community in Southern Ijaw council of Bayelsa State for assisting the JTF in fighting oil theft in the state.

Atewe, who spoke through the Chief Medical Officer of the JTF, Surgeon lieutenant Commander, Samuel Akinyemi, during a free medical treatment, restated the JTF’s commitment and readiness to eradicate all oil related criminalities in the Niger Delta.

A’Ibom votes against Local Government Autonomy Eno-Obong Okon, Uyo

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End of the road for fuel thieves

he Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Akwa Ibom State has expressed disappointment at the decision of the state House of Assembly’s decision to reject Local Government autonomy.

The state house of Assembly had voted against local government autonomy, among other issues in the ongoing process of constitutional amendment.

The state president of NULGE, comrade Felix Udo in a chat said the position of the house of assembly was in variance with the standing of stakeholders on the issue.

He noted that lack of autonomy would negatively affect the finances of local governments which would in turn affect the third tier of government.

“I don’t know why they took that decision. It’s very unfortunate, and it is not good for the local gov-

ernment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the vice chairman, House of Assembly Information Commission, Mr. Onofiok Luke said the provision of the Assembly on the various section of the constitution was in the best interest of the state and aimed at deepening democracy in the state and Nigeria.

“We voted no for reasons. The federal government does not control the local government. The local government are under the direct control of the state. They are personated according to states, so the state legislature has the right to legislate on matters of local government.

“That is why we are voting for the local government to still be within the powers of the state legislature,” he said.

The House of Assembly had also voted for financial autonomy for state Houses of Assembly and the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Money

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More FDIs expected from Spain in 2015 Michael Olatunji

A

top official of the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria has disclosed that more investors were being expected in the country in 2015.

Mr Pablo Segrelles, Economic and Commercial Counselor, Economic and Commercial Department of the Embassy of Spain in Nigeria, says his country will increase its trade and investment in Nigeria in 2015.

Segrelles said this in Lagos yesterday noting that many Spanish companies had already indicated interest in Nigeria’s investment-friendly environment.

He said that some of the companies and investors had already started making their presence in Nigeria’s automotive and agricultural sectors. ``Spain is today Nigeria’s 30th client and partner and in 2015, we should be expecting many more Spanish companies to come and invest and do business in Nigeria,” he said.

L-R: Director General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, Gombe Sate Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and Council Coordinator, Honorary International Investor Council (HIIC), Baroness Lynda Chalker at the 17th Meeting of the HIIC in London recently.

Gas marketers urge DPR to 11 petrol enforce regulations laden ships arrive in Lagos

T

he Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) yesterday urged the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to rid the sector of illegal cooking gas marketers by enforcing sanctions where necessary.

The Public Relations Officer, of NALPGAM, Mrs Olufunke Eleyinmi, gave the advice in Lagos.

She urged the agency to sanction marketers who failed to comply with relevant laws on operational safety.

She advised the regulatory agency to embark on facility audit of licensed plants nationwide to ensure compliance with

statutory provisions on operational safety.

The NALPGAM spokesperson said that many people contravened the safety laws by storing and selling LPG without valid licences.

She said that DPR should ensure that gas retail outlets were licensed.

“Plant operators must be conversant with all safety needs of LPG plant operations,’’ she said.

Eleyinmi, however, cautioned DPR against approving the citing of gas plants in a volatile and un conducive arena.

She said that the warning became necessary against the backdrop of recent gas explosion in the premises of Babson Gas Nigeria Limited, Akure.

27

Funmi Coker

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he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said yesterday that 11 ships laden with petrol had arrived Lagos ports.

This was contained in NPA’s daily publication, the ‘Shipping Position,’ made available to newsmen in Lagos.

The document indicated that three other ships had arrived the ports with base oil and aviation fuel.

It stated that seven other

ships arrived with food items including bulk malt, bulk sugar, rice and bulk fertiliser.

The document explained that 53 ships were expected to sail into the ports from December 23, 2014 to January 28, 2015.

It indicated that 27 of the expected ships would sail into the ports with containers, while 13 others would arrive with food products.

JTF destroys 840 illegal refineries in eight months The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, said it impounded 53 vessels, 200 barges and destroyed 840 illegal refineries in its fight against oil theft from March till date.

Col. Mustapha Anka, Media Coordinator of the task force, told newsmen yesterday in Yenagoa that efforts of the JTF had significantly reduced the menace of oil theft in the region.

Anka said that JTF officers rebuffed a bribe offer of 65,000 dollars (more than N960,000) and arrested the culprits.

He said that the troops destroyed four militant camps, freed and rescued more than 10 victims from the kidnappers’ den.

Amiwero

Existing duty valuation has hindered trade flow – NCMDLCA The President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr Lucky Amiwero, yesterday called for a review of the processes of Customs duty valuation, noting that the current one has hindered the flow of trade.

Amiwero noted that the review had become necessary in view of the present difficulty in processing cargo clearance at the ports. ``When they started this thing, the foreign exchange collapsed because they were looking for revenue. They say they have made one trillion, whereas they have lost close to three trillions,’’ he said.

Money 28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

New regional Customs regime to commence in January 2015 Sodiq Adekunle

T Awolowo

Turkey-Nigeria trade volume exceeds $2bn Sodiq Adekunle

H

ead of Turkish Embassy in Nigeria, Ambassador Mustafa Pulat, has estimated the Turkey-Nigeria trade volume to have risen above two billion dollars.

The ambassador, who was represented by Deputy Head of Mission Turkish Embassy Abuja, Yusuf Selçuk, spoke at a Muslim Public Affairs Centre convention themed, ‘One Humanity Under God’.

While presenting his paper, he noted that location of Turkey made it possible for it to steer through the major challenges of our region.

He explained that the country did not allow its decades of instability, conflicts and terrorism to affect its relationship with Nigeria and other African countries.

He said: “Turkey’s relations with Africa has been developing speedily during the previous years. Africa has been a priority in our foreign policy.’’

he Nigeria Export Promotional council (NEPC), has said the new customs regime will take effect from January, 2015, which will present great opportunities for exporters and traders to benefit from.

This was made known at the one day stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on the new ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET), held at MAN house in Lagos.

Speaking at the workshop tagged “Common External Tariff: Administration, Opportunities and Strategies for Nigeria Export”, the Director, Nigeria Export Promotional Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, said 2014 was the initially proposed official take off date for the new custom regime, but ECOWAS member states could not agree on the modalities for the implementation of the Common External Tariff.

Olusegun who was represented by the Director, Multilateral and Bilateral Relation of NEPC, said: “The regional body has continued to work towards actualizing its lofty economic objectives by signing several agreements such as the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Trade, the Protocol on Free Movement, The Protocol on Single Currency and the Protocol on the Com-

mon External Tariff (CET). In spite of these agreements, full economic integration is still a tall dream as the region is still divided along Anglophone and Francophone lines.

“This has made it difficult if not almost impossible for members to agree at a definite time for the take-off of the implementation of the region’s Common External Tariff which analysts say has been fashioned after the European Union’s single currency.”

Speaking further, he said the CET was a basic feature of the Customs Union as it stands as a form of economic integration.

“All the countries in a customs union shall abandon their individual tariff structure with which they trade with other countries and adopt a common external tariff in trade with non ECOWAS member countries.

The same customs duties, import quotas, preferences or other non-tariff barriers to trade apply to all goods entering the area, regardless of which country within the area they are entering,” he added.

Olusegun noted that the CET was designed to end re-exportation, saying it may also inhibit imports from countries outside the customs union.

He added that it would reduce consumer choice and support protection of industries based within the customs union.

Samsung records annual sales of US$187.8 billion per year Opeoluwani Akintayo

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amsung Electronics West Africa has revealed that it records an annual sale of US$187.8 billion per year.

This was disclosed by Director of Hand Held Products for Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas during the movie premiere of Banky W’s music films and video, “A Music Film Experience” at a Cinema in Lekki, Lagos.

During the premiere, Galaxy

A5 and Galaxy A3 mobile were also unveiled.

Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 mobile offer a refined, trendy design with the most advanced functions to support social networking.

Available in a variety of colours and sizes, both devices empower younger consumers to quickly and easily capture meaningful moments, connect to social media and share their daily experiences The devices were unveiled at the Movie premiere of Banky W’s music films

and video, “A Music Film Experience”.

“The Galaxy A5 and A3 offer a beautifully crafted full metal unibody, slim design, superior hardware and the best possible social media experience. These devices make our advanced Galaxy experience even more accessible to young and trend conscious consumers,” Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, Director of Hand Held Products for Samsung Electronics West Africa, said.

Ogunsanya

‘Adopt-a-School’ stands out at SERA 2014 CSR awards Opeoluwani Akintayo The Social Enterprise Report Awards (SERA) has rated Airtel Nigeria’s CSR initiative tagged Adopt-a-school programme as one of the best in the 2014 awards.

The Telco at the 2014 (Social Enterprise Report Awards) SERAs Awards, which held recently in Lagos, was adjudged the Best Company in Education CSR. The SERA awards also known as the Nigeria CSR Awards, is one of Nigeria’s highly acclaimed awards recognised by Industry experts.

Other nominees for the awards category include Samsung, Etisalat and Oando.

In a citation by the organisers, Airtel’s Adopt-a-School programme and the Bridge IT project were described as some of the key initiatives of the Telco which have contributed to the development of education in the country.

While receiving the awards, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, explained that the Telco places

Revmatas

high priority on its CSR programmes which cut across critical areas of societal needs such as education, youth empowerment among many other initiatives.

He also commended the commitment and sacrifices of all staff of the company, which he said, had been pivotal to the successes of the company’s CSR efforts, adding that the company would not relent in its drive towards an improved society.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

29 Money

New CIIN syllabus to cover emerging risks Kayode Adelowokan

T

he Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) academic syllabus that is at the final stage of consideration and ratification by its council will cover emerging risks like kidnapping, terrorism and many more areas.

According to the institute’s President, Bola Temowo, who disclosed this in Lagos, the council has remained irrevocably committed to enhancing the knowledge base of the industry’s practitioners through regular review of the institute’s syllabus.

Temowo noted that the

OPIC commits $5.2bn in renewal energy projects in four years Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

T

he Overseas Private Investments Corporation (OPIC) has disclosed that it committed about $5.2billion in global renewal energy projects from 2011 and 2014.

syllabus review has always taken cognizance of the industry dynamics and the realities of global standards in human capital needs, adding that the challenges confronting the industry today require a renewed approach and depth in insurance education to equip practitionersadequately for the tasks

Temowo

before them.

He said the institute will continue to exercise its statutory responsibilities as enshrined in Decree No 22 (Now Act) of 1993, stressing that a major provision of the statute is the responsibility to continually determine the skill and knowledge required by persons seeking to become registered members of the insurance profession.

“The importance of the statutory provision cannot be over emphasized, especially in respect of its intent and purpose of stipulating the maintenance of a register of members and ensuring that practitioners dispense with insurance services effectively and ethically”, he said.

CIIN Headquarters, Lagos

IMF predicts 5% slow NIMASA growth for Nigeria in 2015 await FG’s

approval to disburse cabotage fund

Kayode Adelowokan

will invest in the poorest countries in the world. In addition, OPIC generated positive receipts of $358 million, marking the 37th year the agency has contributed to federal deficit reduction,” she said.

She said looking ahead to 2015, OPIC has even more planned, including new financial products and capabilities, and a redoubled effort on renewable resources such as water and agriculture.

Littlefield pointed out that OPIC’s commitment to economic development and growth has led to a focus on investments in the world’s lowest income countries, especially in Africa, which accounted for over a quarter of the Agency’s 2014 commitments,” she con-

This was contained in the end of year brief overview of OPIC’s full year 2014 results shared with the media by the Corporation’s president Elizabeth Littlefield.

“We are proud that, since 2011, OPIC has been able to propel more than $5.2 billion in renewable resource projects in every region across the globe. This year’s OPIC projects will sustain or create 9,278 jobs in developing nations. And more than 30 per cent of our projects cluded.

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF), is forecasting that Nigeria’s growth rate would slow to about five per cent in 2015 as falling oil prices cut revenues and spending.

In a statement by the IMF Mission Leader to Nigeria, Mr Gene Leon, the country would have to rely more on the nonoil sector which helped it grow 6.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2014.

According to Mr Leon, the CBN’s eight per cent devaluation of the naira would likely boost inflation, but the effect is likely to be contained, owing to lower food prices from increased local production of staple food crops.

“Nigeria remains vulnerable to oil price volatility and global fi-

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

nancial developments,” Gene Leon said in the statement. There are domestic risks including uncertainty ahead of February elections and security, he said.

“Capital outflows have continued and, with lower oil receipts, have led to sustained pressure on thenaira.

“Despite the outlook, Nigeria could surmount its challenges, especially if a national spirit of burden sharing and rebuilding together is actively embraced.” Leon said.

T

he Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, has said that the agency was awaiting Federal Government’s approval to commence disbursement of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

NIMASA DG made this known in an interview with journalists in Lagos yesterday.

He said that already, the agency had made recommendations to the Federal Government on the disbursement of the funds.

Akpobolokemi said that

Akpobolokemi

as soon as the approval was given, the fund would be disbursed. ``We have issues with the CVFF distribution.

We’ve made recommendation to government.

Government is studying the proposals. ``Government at the appropriate time will give the blessing and once they do that, we will distributethis money,” he said.

Akpobolokemi said some banks had been selected for the disbursement of the funds.

He said that the beneficiaries had been shortlisted and the list had been sent to the Federal Ministry of Transport for approval.

Global Business 30

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Afreximbank acquires 25m Euro credit facility to boost agric in Senegal Ugochukwu Onyeocha

T

he management of the African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank) headquartered in Cairo has secured 25 million Euro dual tranche credit facility from a Dakarbased leasing company, Locafrique Senegal, to further support the Senegalese agricultural sector.

The bank made this known in a press statement made available to our correspondents yesterday in Lagos.

It said that Afreximbank originated and arranged the club of lenders for the facility, including Banque Atlantique, which is participating in the two tranches in an amount of seven million dollars.

“The leasing tranche is secured by a guarantee from the United States Agency for International Development for up to 7.5 million Euros,” it added.It quoted President of Afreximbank, Jean-Louis Ekra, at the signing ceremony for the facility in Cairo, as saying that the facility will be

in two installments.

According to the statement, the first tranche of the facility, amounting to 20 million Euros, will enable Locafrique finance purchase and import agricultural equipment.

It said that the equipment would be leased to the firm’s clients involved in agricultural activities and clients involved in transportation, manufacturing, construction, energy and industry.

It said that the company would use the Tranche II to purchase and discount qualifying receivables from clients under a factoring operation.

Ekra said that the facility was part of the bank’s strategic objective to contribute to the promotion of factoring in Africa.

“This facility helps to bring much-needed support to SMEs in Senegal as direct exporters in the supply chain and ensures that agriculture is commercialised as a business.

“It will enable Senegalese growers to shift from traditional manual agriculture to intensive industrial produc-

tion, thereby improving productivity, efficiency and quality,” Ekra said Also speaking, Khadim Ba, Managing Director of Locafrique, expressed appreciation to Afreximbank for its support to the company. The African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank) is the foremost Pan-African multilateral financial institution devoted to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade.

The Bank was established in October 1993 by African governments, African private and institutional investors, and non-African investors.

Its two basic constitutive documents are the Establishment Agreement, which gives it the status of an international organization, and the Charter, which governs its corporate structure and operations.

Since 1994, Afreximbank has approved almost $30 billion in credit facilities for African businesses, including about $3.5 billion in 2013.

No block on foreign Monte Paschi bid - Bank of Italy official

T

he Bank of Italy has stated that it would not oppose a foreign takeover of troubled domestic bank Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, a senior central bank official said in a newspaper interview.

The Deputy Director General of the Bank of Italy, Fabio Panetta, said that past experience showed that foreign takeovers of Italian banks had been successful.

“Any reservations on the nationality of groups that could be interested in a merger with Monte Paschi would be anachronistic and counterproductive,” he told the Italian daily, Il Messaggero.

Monte Paschi is set to tap investors for up to 2.5 billion euros next year in its fourth cash call since 2008 as it tries to fill a capital hole unveiled by a health check of European lenders.

The cash call is seen as a stepping stone towards finding a buyer for the world’s oldest bank still in business.

“The only relevant condition in assessing a possible merger is the ability to ensure a sound management of the bank so that it can lend to families and companies,”

Central Bank of Italy

Panetta added.

French bank BNP Paribas bought Italy’s Banca Nazionale del Lavoro in 2006, a year after Bank of Italy Governor Antonio Fazio lost his job over phone tap transcripts that raised allegations he had favored domestic bidders against foreign players.

Afreximbank headquarters

French electronics group Thales appoints new chairman

F

rench defense electronics group, Thales, has announced the appointment of former EDF chief Henri Proglio as chairman yesterday and its secondin-command as CEO with shareholders, the French state and Dassault Aviation, setting aside differences over influence on the board.

The appointments continue a period of change at top French firms after Thales Chief JeanBernard Levy resigned in October to run the state-controlled EDF power utility following Proglio’s ouster.

Thales said its board of directors elected Patrice Caine, 44, chief executive and charged him with preparing the separation of the role from the chairman, which would in turn go to Proglio, 65.

The appointments and the changes in its statutes are subject to confirmation at an annual general meeting due on Feb. 4, a spokesman said. Though their appointments had been expected, the French state and Dassault were at odds over board influence until late Monday, causing a Monday board meeting to be delayed by a day.

Sources said on Monday the arrival of Proglio and Caine would require changes in the composition of the board, with the French

Proglio

state calling on Dassault to give up one of its seats to make way for Proglio.

Dassault refused, however, as the loss of one of its four seats would create an imbalance in the face of the government, which would keep five, one of the sources said. Thales’ board has 16 members in total.

Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron accepted late on Monday that Proglio, seen as close to the Proglio family, would replace one of the five directors representing the state rather than one of Dassault’s four directors.

The French state has a 25 percent stake in Thales and Dassault Aviation 26 per cent. They are bound by a shareholders agreement that runs at least until the end of 2016.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Daily Summary as of 23/12/2014

Daily Summary (Bonds) No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Construction ARBICO PLC. Building Construction Totals Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. G CAPPA PLC Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIC INSURANCE PLC. UNITY KAPITAL ASSURANCE PLC UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals Current Price 21 25.71 12 22.00 33 No. of Deals Current Price 14 2.29 14 47

Quantity Traded 260,350 84,800 345,150 Quantity Traded 1,015,202 1,015,202 1,360,352

Value Traded 6,611,285.22 1,958,880.00 8,570,165.22 Value Traded 2,316,662.58 2,316,662.58 10,886,827.80

Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals Current Price 2 1.26 1 0.98 175 3.72 66 36.00 244 244

Quantity Traded 50,000 225 24,607,674 1,338,328 25,996,227 25,996,227

Value Traded 65,000.00 211.50 91,203,762.34 48,386,936.14 139,655,909.98 139,655,909.98

Symbol ARBICO

No. of Deals 1 1 No. of Deals 19 1 20 No. of Deals 6 6 No. of Deals 18 18 No. of Deals 1

Quantity Traded 50 50 Quantity Traded 1,613,501 25 1,613,526 Quantity Traded 6,917 6,917 Quantity Traded 66,148 66,148 Quantity Traded 1,900

Value Traded 278.00 278.00 Value Traded 1,288,130.80 343.50 1,288,474.30 Value Traded 398,626.71 398,626.71 Value Traded 645,292.30 645,292.30 Value Traded 19,000.00

1,900 1,688,541

19,000.00 2,351,671.31

Quantity Traded 434,581 434,581 Quantity Traded 684,587 521,389 2,158,548 2,753,280 283 6,118,087 Quantity Traded 197,278 197,278 Quantity Traded 584,003 2,965,680 2,769,857 2,607,939 3,181,200 850 12,109,529 Quantity Traded 91,251 183,783 275,034 Quantity Traded 1,379,128 131,097 1,510,225 Quantity Traded 856,151 123,138 979,289 21,624,023

Value Traded 217,290.50 217,290.50 Value Traded 3,669,136.32 71,463,137.40 53,970,258.73 420,350,979.06 1,021.63 549,454,533.14 Value Traded 31,389,209.00 31,389,209.00 Value Traded 2,639,636.66 17,827,068.99 106,748,307.18 8,946,894.68 19,777,166.66 14,577.50 155,953,651.67 Value Traded 3,677,190.30 159,289,232.50 162,966,422.80 Value Traded 5,061,366.58 111,835.54 5,173,202.12 Value Traded 21,300,026.51 4,156,027.01 25,456,053.52 930,610,362.75

Quantity Traded 33,999,730 7,562,477 4,711,006 5,385,906 6,088,522 4,954,551 721,150 29,361,950 8,476,645 580 10,900,815 57,164,251 169,327,583 Quantity Traded 1,623,277 475,295 2,024,757 100,000 150,000 200 2,004,000 725,500 3,127,000 672,138 1,500 1,000 1,000,000 350 420,000 172,905 12,497,922 Quantity Traded 424,427 424,427 Quantity Traded 3,650,000 40,000,000

Value Traded 237,623,519.77 42,092,756.46 82,445,029.67 8,533,296.40 148,214,572.40 12,751,763.94 1,742,680.50 133,437,534.56 64,357,280.92 290.00 10,532,698.70 1,123,738,166.17 1,865,469,589.49 Value Traded 1,201,224.98 413,506.65 1,012,378.50 50,000.00 75,000.00 100.00 1,002,000.00 2,395,265.00 1,563,500.00 403,270.86 750.00 500.00 500,000.00 175.00 210,000.00 108,930.15 8,936,601.14 Value Traded 337,699.06 337,699.06 Value Traded 1,825,000.00 20,000,000.00

Symbol LIVESTOCK

Symbol COSTAIN GCAPPA Symbol JBERGER Symbol UAC-PROP Symbol UPDCREIT

Current Price 5.30 Current Price 0.80 14.46 Current Price 60.66 Current Price 9.58 Current Price 10.00

1 46 Symbol DUNLOP Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW Symbol 7UP Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM Symbol CADBURY NESTLE Symbol VITAFOAM VONO Symbol PZ UNILEVER

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE EQUITYASUR GUINEAINS HMARKINS INTENEGINS LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE REGALINS UNIC UNITYKAP UNIVINSURE WAPIC Symbol NPFMCRFBK Symbol ASOSAVINGS RESORTSAL

EQTY Board Totals

No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals 12 91 44 147 1 295 No. of Deals 23 23 No. of Deals 58 97 186 45 67 2 455 No. of Deals 16 63 79 No. of Deals 38 4 42 No. of Deals 50 28 78 974

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 123 89 68 72 134 74 15 159 34 2 16 639 1,425 No. of Deals 22 5 2 1 1 1 2 7 3 12 1 1 1 1 1 9 70 No. of Deals 12 12 No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 6.99 5.79 17.96 1.58 24.52 2.64 2.43 4.56 7.87 0.50 0.98 19.50

Current Price 5.36 137.76 24.23 151.75 3.79 Current Price 161.70 Current Price 4.56 6.01 39.00 3.50 6.15 18.05 Current Price 40.20 877.80 Current Price 3.83 0.90 Current Price 24.70 32.50

Current Price 0.74 0.87 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.31 0.50 0.60 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.66 Current Price 0.78 Current Price 0.50 0.50

4,963

440,812,474

4,105,676,562.45

Symbol CAPOIL

ASeM Board Totals Equity Activity Totals

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1 1

Quantity Traded 200 200 200

Value Traded 100.00 100.00 100.00

200 440,812,674

100.00 4,105,676,662.45

1 4,964

ETF Board Totals ETP Activity Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

No. of Deals Current Price 2 9.93 1 2,126.00 4 14.90 7

7 7

Quantity Traded 30 19 2,152 2,201

Value Traded 290.15 40,394.00 30,652.00 71,336.15

2,201 2,201

71,336.15 71,336.15

Page

1

of

BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals NATURAL RESOURCES Totals OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS Totals SERVICES Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. Apparel Retailers Totals Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals

W

ith the holidays around the corner, the Capital market experienced some boost with an appreciation of the All Share Index (ASI) second day in a row

Exchange Traded Fund Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

UNHOMES

Desola Akindele

Daily Summary (ETP)

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC NIGERIA-GERMAN CHEMICALS PLC. PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals HEALTHCARE Totals ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC E-TRANZACT INTERNATIONAL PLC Processing Systems Totals ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC

1 0.50 3 No. of Deals Current Price 43 2.91 15 3.78 727 8.92 299 2.72 3 0.51 12 29.18 70 1.69 1,169 2,679

200 43,650,200 Quantity Traded 1,530,113 25,747,152 28,009,560 33,312,883 50,000 54,500 2,544,212 91,248,420 317,148,552

100.00 21,825,100.00 Value Traded 4,430,363.10 93,210,241.06 247,781,638.18 92,756,987.56 26,500.00 1,567,418.30 4,279,450.08 444,052,598.28 2,340,621,587.97

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH NIG-GERMAN PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals Current Price 8 3.40 44 50.00 24 1.40 9 0.78 2 6.32 1 2.14 88 88

Quantity Traded 1,076,610 309,410 895,540 653,750 3,000 9,850 2,948,160 2,948,160

Value Traded 3,655,274.00 15,423,855.52 1,279,266.00 498,474.08 18,270.00 20,094.00 20,895,233.60 20,895,233.60

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals Current Price 5 0.50 5 No. of Deals Current Price 1 4.13 1 12.83 2 No. of Deals Current Price 3 0.50 4 3.08 7 14

Quantity Traded 503,180 503,180 Quantity Traded 3,000 749 3,749 Quantity Traded 500,200 9,120,000 9,620,200 10,127,129

Value Traded 251,590.00 251,590.00 Value Traded 12,390.00 9,130.31 21,520.31 Value Traded 250,100.00 25,563,202.79 25,813,302.79 26,086,413.10

Symbol ASHAKACEM

No. of Deals Current Price 132 22.15

Quantity Traded 1,431,779

Value Traded 31,474,075.53

BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PAINTCOM PORTPAINT WAPCO

3 9.00 19 36.10 19 9.90 110 178.46 2 0.87 1 1.54 3 4.50 75 82.55 364 No. of Deals Current Price 5 1.30 5 No. of Deals Current Price 3 26.46 3 372

5,050 411,801 247,442 542,827 1,200 834,800 20,800 1,481,913 4,977,612 Quantity Traded 75,516 75,516 Quantity Traded 5,185 5,185 5,058,313

43,177.50 14,920,354.92 2,477,742.22 93,182,120.47 1,020.00 1,285,592.00 89,044.00 121,416,315.74 264,889,442.38 Value Traded 97,816.80 97,816.80 Value Traded 143,795.10 143,795.10 265,131,054.28

Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals Current Price 1 0.50 1 1

Quantity Traded 42,000,000 42,000,000 42,000,000

Value Traded 21,000,000.00 21,000,000.00 21,000,000.00

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 2 2 No. of Deals 138 138 No. of Deals 10 42 107 23 4 22 208 No. of Deals 5

Quantity Traded 4,500 4,500 Quantity Traded 5,982,202 5,982,202 Quantity Traded 5,268 2,154,090 757,583 16,650 15,135 23,433 2,972,159 Quantity Traded 190,883

Value Traded 2,250.00 2,250.00 Value Traded 109,774,031.94 109,774,031.94 Value Traded 212,354.48 6,365,431.36 160,394,949.10 2,465,653.60 767,064.20 3,698,886.67 173,904,339.41 Value Traded 55,772,194.94

190,883 9,149,744

55,772,194.94 339,452,816.29

Quantity Traded 56,500 56,500 Quantity Traded 633,596 633,596 Quantity Traded 358,405 10,000 368,405 Quantity Traded 403,100 403,100 Quantity Traded 653,000 653,000 Quantity Traded 38,200 38,200 Quantity Traded 5,410 80,862 256,500 342,772 Quantity Traded 447,300 447,300 Quantity Traded 550 396,241 396,791 Quantity Traded 371,769 371,769 3,711,433

Value Traded 169,500.00 169,500.00 Value Traded 427,531.78 427,531.78 Value Traded 1,392,883.50 12,300.00 1,405,183.50 Value Traded 201,550.00 201,550.00 Value Traded 2,485,980.00 2,485,980.00 Value Traded 19,100.00 19,100.00 Value Traded 6,151.80 113,206.80 1,023,393.00 1,142,751.60 Value Traded 246,983.48 246,983.48 Value Traded 979.00 1,791,009.32 1,791,988.32 Value Traded 1,094,116.69 1,094,116.69 8,984,685.37

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Symbol CWG NCR Symbol CHAMS ETRANZACT

Symbol CUTIX Symbol BETAGLAS

Symbol OANDO Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL Symbol SEPLAT

Current Price 0.50 Current Price 18.90 Current Price 44.44 3.05 209.00 144.00 56.00 150.47 Current Price 292.18

5 353 Symbol LENNARDS Symbol RTBRISCOE Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR Symbol CILEASING Symbol IKEJAHOTEL Symbol DAARCOMM Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL Symbol ABCTRANS Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 5 5 No. of Deals 24 24 No. of Deals 15 1 16 No. of Deals 4 4 No. of Deals 15 15 No. of Deals 20 20 No. of Deals 5 3 10 18 No. of Deals 11 11 No. of Deals 1 15 16 No. of Deals 16 16 145

Current Price 3.15 Current Price 0.66 Current Price 3.80 1.23 Current Price 0.50 Current Price 3.82 Current Price 0.50 Current Price 1.18 1.40 4.05 Current Price 0.55 Current Price 1.70 4.52 Current Price 3.01

NSE ASI continues on increase spree, Rises by 4.31%

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board ASeM OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals OIL AND GAS Totals

31 Capital Market

13

this week. The All Share Index (ASI) closed at 32,786.00 basis points rising from 31,371.93 which represents a 4.31 per cent increase in the ASI. Tuesday’s market activity shows that a total of 440,812,674.00 shares exchanged hands on the floor

of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The shares worth 4,105,676,662.45 naira in 4,964 deals brought the Market capitalization to 10,824,211,211,251.35.

The gainer’s table recorded 48 companies while 13 others were on the loser’s list.

32

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

UGA TIMBER DEALERS UNION, UGA

SAKI MOTOR DEALERS ASSOCIATION

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Alh. Jubril Malik 2. Mr. Okesola Rufai 3. Alh. Lukman Esintola

1.Ifeanyi Ibeagwa – Chairman 2. Okpalaugo Linus –Secretary 3. Samuel Dimonyeka 4. Richard Nwankwo THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: a.To foster mutual corporation and understanding among the members. b.To work for the welfare of members of the union.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

STRONGTOWER REDEMPTION POWER CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Oderinde Paul Akintunde 2.Taiye Akintunde

3.Kehinde Akintunde 4.

Ojo Philip Isa 5.

Reccecca Akintunde

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To preach the gospel Jesus Christ to all nation 2.To evangelize and win souls for God’s kingdom 3.To help the poor and the needy in the society 4.Conduct Deliverance, Healing and breakthrough crusades and Seminars in order to win souls for Christ.

5.To preach and train Christians to possess the good Christian virtues and shine as light in the world and salt of the earth.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: INNOCENT ETHOUGHWOO

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHRIST DELIVERANCE PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Assembly has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.

Mr. Adegbakinro George Oluwasoga 2.

Mrs. Adegbakinro Esther 3.

Mr. Adegbakinro Stephen THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2.

To organize Christian assembly as prayer meetings and Bible study.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. YOMI

PUBLIC NOTICE ALUMINIUM CAN MAKERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Andrew John Barday – Loggie 2. Barend Jacobus Bester

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

3. Gary Shatwell 4. Patrick Momodu 5.Chukwuemeka Agwu 6.Adetokunbo Abiodun Towobola

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To foster unity, peace and social welfare to members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

4. Mr. Amuzat Yakubu 5. Mr. Adeyemi Adeoti 6. Mr. Niyi Olawuwo 7. Mr. Olusegun Adegbola

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: a. To promote members’ and communal socio-economic welfare, unity and harmony. b. To protect members’ professional interest and promote publicprivate partnerships.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR. MUSAH ABDULWASII SOLICITOR. 0803 388 0535

PUBLIC NOTICE

POWER LINK ASSEMBLY The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Assembly has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Pastor Hosea Reigns -Chairman 2.Mrs. Deaconess Martha Reigns -Secretary

3.Apostle Abel Gendaga

PUBLIC NOTICE

FOUNDATION FOR PROBITY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICAL REBIRTH The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Sheikh Ahmed Adenrele Adepoju, FNIVS –Chairman/Founder 2. Olutunde Femi Abegunde, ACIArb –Secretary 3. Barrister Rotimi Fashogbon 4. Rasaq Wale Ahmed, FCA 5. Engr. Nasiru Rasaq Ayan THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote ethical values and accountability among the youths.

2.To promote probity and the rule of law in the society.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

SAFE FUTURE & HUMANITARIAN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

4.Pastor Mrs. Cecelia Anyebe 5.Mr. Aniekan Akan Etim

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To win souls into the kingdom and make disciples for Christ through the preaching and teaching of the word of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE HOPE REKINDLER INITIATIVE The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: I. SHINA ABIOLA – PELLER -President 2.

IBRAHIM SHOBOWALE ADETORO 3.

ADEBAYO OLUSEUN OGUNNUSI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: a. Education and skills development for the less-privileged. b. To improve basic amenities for the people. c. To provide free health care services for the poor and the needy.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: BENNETT CHUKWU, Eclat Chambers, Suite 305B, NCWS Building, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. 08033159623.

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The General Public is hereby notified that the allottee (crossed copy) in the name of Hussaini Kawu in respect of Plot BD/174 Dutse Alhaji Layout, Dutse, Abuja is missing.

Any person(s) with useful information in respect of the said document should please contact the undersigned.

SIGNED: BARR. AUGUSTINE AKPAMGBO 08035900553

1.

Egba ThankGod -Chairman 2.

Dede Nwaud - Secretary THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.

To provide career mentoring and Leadership training for teenagers and young adults.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

GIRLS EPIPHANY NOVELTY FOUNDATION

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MISS ESEROGHENE LILIAN OVWIE -Chairman 2. MISS OGHENEKOME OROWO ANAIDE -Secretary 3. EFETOBORHE JOY OVWIE -Member THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: a. Empower, inspire, educate and mentor young girls and women to become mentally focused, spiritually and emotionally independent, guiding them in identifying their passion and the course they want to take in life b. Advocacy for education and child right protection. c. Rescue and rehabilitation of abused/violated girls.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: ERIC GRANT LP. Solicitors to the Girls Epiphany Novelty Foundation

Place your advert here

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Education

33

s

How French can boost Nigeria’s economy

French Language Village, Lagos

N

igeria is a country boarded on every side by Frenchspeaking countries.

Even West African sub-region where Nigeria is playing a leading role, is dominated by French speaking countries. It is thus surprising that French as a language is not the second major language in the country.

For the country to enhance its full potentials in the committee of nations both in West African and the world at large, the study of French language should be taken with all seriousness by the education ministry and made compulsory for students at all levels of

education.

In the new economic world order where countries are aligning and realigning and boundaries are collapsing into a global village the importance of French education in Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized.

According to the Head of co-operation and culture at the French Embassy, Partrick Perez, if the teaching of French in Nigerian schools is taken serious, it will help reduce unemployment of youths who will access job vacancies in foreign missions. Secondly, the study of French will open up a new vista of employ-

ment opportunities that will enhance economic growth through job creation within and outside the country.

Discussing the economic befits that will accrue to Nigeria if French studies is given a pride of place, an educationist, Mrs Adekunle, said French studies would usher in a new wave of economic prosperity for Nigerians.

She noted that over 30,000 Nigerians students are in different private universities in Cotonu, Benin Republic, studying and if French language had been taken serious in Nigeria the care givers for these students could have

been Nigeria’s who would directly repatriate these huge sums of money.

Using Benin and Niger republics as examples, she said the Nigerian population of over 160million would have overrun these two countries if majority of the citizens had been literate in French, noting that low man power of these countries could have been compensated by Nigerians thereby drastically reducing unemployment in the country.

Sources at the Universal Basic Education, UBE, office, the agency responsible for primary and junior second-

ary school education in the country, agreed that French education, if enhance will create over 200,000 jobs yearly.

The source noted the major problem facing French language is that the adult population which is 93% illiterate in French language is making whatever gains made in the school a waste since the adults outside the school cannot help the continuation of what is taught in the school --unlike the case of English. He said government was taking steps to start adult education in French language to correct Continued on page 36

Education 34

Shekarau

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Govt may shut private schools

All private primary and secondary schools who defaulted in the remittance of their taxes to the Plateau State Government will be shut down.

This was communicated to the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, recently in Jos by the executive chairman of the Plateau Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Samuel Pam. He said that the board was working hand-in-hand with the state ministry of education to bring such schools to book.

He said an enforcement committee that would carry out the exercise in the entire state had been

set up. The era was gone, he said, when some proprietors of the private schools and their staff would be enjoying social amenities provided by the government of the state without remitting any form of levy or revenue to the state government to the detriment of other tax payers in the state.

Pam called on all unregistered private schools to register with the Ministry of Education to avoid being sanctioned. He said all registered schools

Envoy urges boost in French language teaching

T

eachers of French language have been asked to be more effective in impacting the knowledge of the language.

The call was made by the ambassador of Nigeria to Cote d’lvoire, Her Excellency, Ambassador Mrs. Ifeoma Chinwuba, while addressing participants at the 17th Annual Conference and AGM of the Universities French Teachers’ Association of Nigeria at the Nigerian French Language Village, Agbara Badagry Lagos. S She said French language in Nigeria today had assumed a new dimension of opening up the bottled-up areas of Nigeria’s economy. She noted that with the effective teaching of French language, students wiould be able to key into the developmental aspects of neighbouring French-speaking countries and use it as the basis of developing and comparing development in Nigeria.

She also called on the educational authorities to review French curriculum to make it development-friendly.

In another development, the director of studies in Alliance Francaise de Lagos has stressed the importance of

French to the Nigerian economy.

While chatting with newsmen recently, he said that with eight out of the 15 ECOWAS countries speaking French, Nigerians learning French will smoothen out trade relationships with these countries, noting that Nigeria is France’s number one economic partner and business exchanges keep on growing.

If French language studies was taken serious he said, it would be a plus to the over 50 multinational companies of French origin in Nigeria.

He listed the efforts of Alliance francais in developing French language in Nigeria to include the organisation of courses for the corporate community, creating of pedagogical contents customised to suit different segments of the Nigerian society, intensive customised evening classes for highly dedicated professionals.

He final noted that Alliance Francaise had opened offices in Lagos, port-Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri, Ibadan, Ilorin, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Maiduguri.

Alliance Francaise, he said, it was doing all these to encourage Nigerians and also develop the language in Nigeria.

T

He spoke in his opening speech at the 17th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of University French Teachers Association Continued on page 35

NOUN lists benefits of open varsity

T

he Nigerian Open University has embarked on the sensitisation of the public on the benefits of the Nigerian Open University Education system.

The university director of media and information, Dr (Mrs.) Ronke Ogunmakin, made this known in an interview with Daily Times.

She said there were ten points that Nigerians need to know about NOUN to enable them maximise it: FLEXIBILITY: flexible in terms of age and time, allowing for enrolment at any time and age, and at convenience of pace dictated by student.

Nigerians receive quality Education at a reduced cost.

NOUN provides opportunity for working people to acquire knowledge, skills and techniques which may be relevant to their career prospects. The scheme allows working people who are living in whatever location regardless of their job.

The institution currently / presently has sixty-one functional study centers spread across the nation, inclusive of the Special study Centre for

Ifeoma Chinwuba

Director laments neglect of UFTAN French Village he Director of the Nigerian French Language Village Badagry, Prof.Raufu Adebisi, has decried the neglect of the village by the Federal government.

Continued on page 35

seeks pact with govt agencies

Continued on page 36

T

he president of the University French Teachers’ Association of Nigeria, Prof. Tunde Fatunde, has appealed to government agencies, customs, immmigration and the Nigerian armed forces whose duties and responsibilities are linked directly with the countries of the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS, to enter into partnership with the associa-

tion in the area of French translation, French interpretation and the use of French as a tool in their dealing with their counterparts from French-speaking countries of ECOWAS. He said UFTAN could enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with these government agencies with a view to improving the use of French among their personnel.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday December 24, 2014

35 Education MOUA graduates 1,878 students

T

he Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, has graduated a total of 1,878 students in different fields of study in the 2013/2014 session. Of the 1,878, 14 had first class; 517, second class upper, 834, second class lower while third class and pass degree were 436 and 30 respectively.

This was disclosed by the Vice chancellor, Prof Hilary Odo Edeoga, during the 6th convocation ceremony of the university.

The Vice chancellor said the school of post graduate studies had witnessed tremendous growth, noting that in the 2012/2013 session, the university graduated a total of 36 students, made up of nine PHD, 25 M.sc and two PGD while in the 2013/2014 session 40 PHD students were graduated, 124 M.sc, 9 MBA and 22 PGD making total of 195 graduates.

Participants at the quiz competition, with (seated from left to right): a teacher, a Trustee, Mr. Eleanya Dike, chairman of the event and Trustee, Elder Anya Kalu, the Trustee Secretary, Elder Kalu Eleanya student, Ogba; another Trustee, Elder Mrs. Georgina Mbonu, and another teacher of the participating schools.

GROUP plans grants for indigent students

I

n pursuit of its objective of strategic intervention in the educational sector, The Ezekiel Dike Ukuku Memorial Foundation (EDUMF) recently organised a quiz competition among Junior Secondary School, JSS, students in Abiriba,

Director laments neglect of French Village Continued from page 34

of Nigeria (UFTAN) in Badagry, Lagos. He said the institution was in dire need of federal presence. He listed the problems facing the village to include the delisting of the village by TET fund, nonexistence of an enabling act establishing the village, stagnation of the academic staff on the Senior Lecturer grade engendering low morale and

exodus of old and experienced lecturers, low research activity, low students’ enrolment, poor staff training etc.

He however said these challenges notwith- standing, the village had made progress in the ambulance purchase, renovation of the executive students’ hostel, improvement in students’ enrolment with the help of Dr Matthew Alawode’s advocacy initiative among others.

Jonathan

Abia State, from where 15 students will qualify to receive educational grants at an event to be held in Abiriba later this month.

The focus of the group is indigent children to help them attain their educational ambitions up to university level.

Govt may shut private schools Continued from page 34 would have to pay their taxes henceforth through the banks instead of through the board’s counter.

The chairman said the board had restructured and consolidated all forms of revenue or payment from both the state and local governments through the designated banks. He urged individuals and corporate bodies to process their Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) as this would be the medium through which all revenue payments would be made.

The processing of TIN for all categories of tax payers was free of charge, he said, and urged companies to report any person seeking financial inducement.

He said with companies having their TIN Number there would be exempted from multiple taxes.

Education 36

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

NOUN lists benefits of open varsity Continued from page 34

National Assembly.

-

-

mitted

-

-

-

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

FG gives MOUA N2.7billion

T

-

-

staff.

How French can boost Nigeria’s economy Continued from page 33

-

-

-

-

-

sons.

-

-

-

VC NOUN ( Nigeria’s Open University)

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

How to rock Denim Jeans Fashion is always recycling itself, and when it comes to fashion, nothing defines us better than denim .

Denim Jeans which has become a modern-day closet staple for everyone, all started as men’s simple work wears.

Denim jeans have emerged as wear-anywhere essentials, as opposed to the basic, casual, anti-establishment staples they once were.

From shorts and skirts, to coloured and artfully-printed styles, not to mention jackets, vests, and overalls, we’ve taken denim to a whole new, staggeringly broad level.

Here are different ways to wear your Denim Jeans Double Denim

T

he best way to wear double denim is to go for contrasting shades.

The real trick with the double denim look is to make sure there is a contrast between the top and bottom piece.

The only way this look works is when one piece is dark denim and the other is light. As for me, I like it best when the bottom half is the darker part.

For instance darker blue for your jacket and couple with lighter wash jeans for the trouser. Pairing a denim jacket with jeans often works better than using a shirt. Combing denim shirt with jeans has become quite trendy lately.

The double-denim look is the best, helps to create the dad-look. Bravo to fashion-forward people that helps making to work.

Denim Shirt & Jeans Try to risk your fashion with your foray into double denim by replacing the jacket with a shirt. Less traditional and slightly more difficult to pull off, make sure you keep one of the washes unconventional.

For example combining grey jeans teamed with a standard blue shirt. Again, contrasting shades make the concept an easier one. Layer a bomber or leather jacket over the top to play on the rugged, masculine nature of the aesthetic before finishing with some Chelsea boots to create an ideal look for a night out

An injection of colour of Denim We all know colour has established itself as a key part of the modern man’s wardrobe,with differing shades as an essential part of a well-curated double denim outfit.

Get creative with your layering by wearing your standard indigo denim jacket underneath a single-breasted overcoat, with a casual shirt providing the base. For the colder season, your denim jacket is important to be used as either a top or middle layer.

37 Society

Society 38

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Revealed:

K1 Da Ultimate thrills crowd at Kupoluyi’s 50th birthday

Mode 9’s epic confession!

Isaac Oguntoye

I

t’s no longer news that Biodun Kupoluyi has now joined the league of Quinquagenarian. What has kept Lagosians socialites talking is the glimpse and glamour of the superlative birthday bash.

The well-planned event had the cremede-la-creme of the society in attendance ranging from the political circle, business moguls, entertainers and showbiz stakeholders.

So large was the number of attendees that the venue used, Times Square Events

Stories by Opeoluwani Akintayo

L

yricist and rapper, Mode 9, has been known to always speak his mind when it comes to happenings in the music industry.

Even though we knew the rapper is not living to the fullest in terms of having all what money can buy like most of his colleagues, however, never had we thought he could come out so clear to our faces this way.

Speaking in a recent interview, the rapper lamented over not being as rich as his mates in the industry.

‘Music has got me fame but not fortune.

The kind of song I do is hip-hop in its pure essence and the truth is that most Nigerians do not like it. I can eat three times in a day; I am not hungry but I am not as comfortable as I would love to be. However, the book has not ended, so let’s see what happens. Music has got me more fame than fortune.’...

Sources close to the rapper revealed to us that he’s presently psychologically down as a result of the poor acceptance of his music in Nigerian. As a result, the poor acceptance has led to him exchanging words with few of his colleagues, eventually isolating himself from the circle.

To make matters worse, his last album, ‘alphabetical order’ which was produced in 2013 was not even near success as Nigerians

Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, was filled to the brim till late in the night as food, drinks and souvenirs were in bundance. Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were; APC governorship candidate, Ambode and in showbiz we have movie producer, Tunde Kelani, Kunle Afolayan, Bisi Ibidapo Obe, Sola Fajobi, Bisoye Fagade, Akin Adeoya, Lamex and other celebrities magazine publishers.

In case you don’t know, Biodun Kupoluyi popularly know as Bodilon is a seasoned entertainment journalist and publisher of E247 Magazine.

Mode 9 and show organizers didn’t see his music as commercial enough to rock gigs.

After relocating to the US few years back he soon returned to push his music yet met with a brick wall.

At the moment, nothing much has been heard from him in terms of churning out songs as sources disclosed that Mode 9 is “merely struggling to stay afloat”.

No wonder fellow rapper, Ruggedman, had advised him to either change his style of rap or quit music as he(Ruggedman) didn’t see any prospect for him(Mode 9) in music, even in the nearest future.

So, finally, even as others merely slammed the insult on his face, the rapper was yet to admit until now.

Tunde Kelani, Kupoluyi and wife

Gabriel Afolayan shaves all

Yinka Davies, others for ‘Love Is The musical’

T Afolayan with a fan

N

ollywood actor, Gabriel Afolayan, stunned us all when he made debut into the music scene. At first, we all thought his would be the run-of-the-mill kinda songs, just like his fellow colleaguesOmotola Jalade, Tonto Dikeh, Genevieve Nnaji, Desmond Elliot and others, but, he gave us the shocker of our lives when he turned out with one of the sweetest voices we’ve ever heard in Nigerian mu-

sic. He was like our Craig Davis.

Worthy of note is how he keeps evolving with different looks in his videos, and this one, ‘Awelewa’ is no different.

The cool dude showed up with this clean shaved face…who knew he’s got such a smooth face? And those bushy eyebrows!

‘Awelewa’ is his latest release, directed by Kunle Afolayan and shot in Seychelles.

Yinka Davies

his Christmas, the city of Lagos will witness a magical theatre experience, as a rich combination of soul singer Timi Dakolo, vocalist Yinka Davies, popular comedian Gordons, prolific artist Ice Nweke and a host of others come together in the Christmas edition of love musical performance.

The event which holds Saturday, December 27 at Eko Convention Centre, will see media personalities like Mo Abudu, Julius Agwu, Noble Igwe and others who witnessed the last edition a few weeks ago, gather once more.

This is the Christmas edition, which according to the producer, Clementine Vervelde, the event will thrill guests even more than the last edition.

To be hosted by TV personality ILL Rhymz, guest performances are expected from Ranti Ihimoyan, Donna the Poet, Efe Paul and Sasu, Lolo Eremie and Frank Konwea.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, December 24, 2014

39 News

Jigawa vaccinates 3.4m cattle

J

igawa State Government said it had vaccinated 3,438,590 cattle against diseases in the past sevenand-half-years of Governor Sule Lamido.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Rabiu Isa, disclosed this at the 2014 flag-off of vaccination of animals in Birnin Kudu.

Isa said that since 2007 to date, the state government had immunised 1, 611, 197 sheep and goats, while 53, 450 dogs were also vaccinated against rabies.

He said that due to routine vaccination, the devastating diseases that often affected animals in the state had declined significantly.

According to him, the government has included poultry in the programme to prevent Newcastle disease.

Isa said that the government often purchased assorted veterinary drugs for farmers at subsidised prices and modern surgical equipment for nine veterinary clinics across the state.

He said that the Lamido administration had installed 50 windmills to supply water to animals in 50 grazing reserves.

Lamido said that his administration had invested a lot of resources on agriculture as the main stay of the economy.

He said that he convened economic and investment summit in the state in 2013, because of his commitment and efforts in the sector.

Lamido said more than 80 per cent of the investors who participated at the summit expressed willingness to invest in agro-allied industries in the state.

Jang presents N215.5bn budget for 2015

G

overnor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, on Tuesday, presented N215.5 billion as the state’s proposed 2015 budget to the Plateau House of Assembly.

Jang said that the budget, tagged ``Budget of Transition and Inclusive Growth’’ would focus on the completion of on-going projects.

The governor said the budget would ensure smooth transition from the present administration to the next one in 2015.

He added that the budget was a 4.26 per cent drop from 2014 estimate of N225.1billion, and attributed the drop to the state’s dwindling economic fortunes, particularly in oil receipts.

Jang said N92.5 billion had been proposed for recurrent expenditure, representing 42.93 per cent of the budget, while N122.9 billion

was proposed as capital expenditure, representing 57.07 per cent of the total budget.

According to him, the budget will be funded from Internally- Generated Revenue, statutory revenue allocation, SURE-P and expected re-imbursements from the Federal Government. ``The Internally- Generated Revenue has an estimate of N16.8 billion, the sum of N43.6 is for statutory allocation, while Sure-P income is projected at N2.7 billion.

Similarly, N15.3 billion was expected from re-imbursements from the Federal Government, he said.

Under the recurrent expenditure, the governor said, consolidated revenue fund charges would take N39 billion, which is the highest, while overhead cost would follow with N30 billion.

Founder, Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospice, Mrs Laja Adedoyin (3rd left), with some members of staff Heritage Bank Limited during a yuletide visit to Hearts of Gold Children’s Hospices In Lagos.

Jonathan proposes ‘Hall of Shame’ for criminals Monday Agu Jnr.

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has proposed the institutionalisation of Hall of Shame, to document names of criminals and their crimes.

This, according to him, would help in serving as a deterrent to young Nigerians, who may want to take to crime.

The President made the suggestion on Tuesday, while hosting the Legends of Nollyhood, led by its Chairman, Paul Obazele, who had visited him to confer on him the honour of the Grand Patron of the body.

“I heard you saying that you are planning a Hall of

Fame. I think we should start thinking of having a hall of shame where the names of criminals would be written. This will serve as a deterrent to those who may want to indulge in criminal activities as they would not want to soil their family names,” the President said.

Jonathan, who acknowledged the contributions made by the actors and actresses in the film industry, also eulogized them for contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

He praised Nigerian thespians for projecting the country’s culture positively within and outside the country, saying the country is proud of them.

Jonathan He charged the actors to help project agriculture positively in their movies so that youngsters could develop interest in going into the business, while assuring them of government support for the production of such movies.

Earlier, Obaziele had requested more support from

the government in terms of welfare.

He also requested that comprehensive health insurance and pension schemes be created for actors and actresses, even as he sought government support in the area of accommodation for those who cannot afford decent housing among his members.

Obaziele called for the establishment of a Film Fund to be managed by government agencies, just as he proposed creation of a Hall of Fame for his members, who have made names for themselves in the profession.

The group also assured Jonathan of its members’ support ahead of the 2015 Presidential election.

… lauds Nigeria, Ethiopia economic ties

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja applauded the cordial relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia, which, he said, has encouraged leading Nigerian companies to establish branches in the Horn of African nation.

Speaking at an audience with the out-going Ethio-

pian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ali Abdo Suleiman, President Jonathan noted that economic ties between both countries had improved significantly in the last three years.

A statement issued by Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President Media & Publicity to the President, also observed that the Bi-

lateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both countries had resulted in regular flights from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, to four major cities in Nigeria - Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Kano.

He commended the outgoing ambassador for working hard to boost trade and economic relations between

Nigeria and Ethiopia during his tenure.

Suleiman, ambassador since the past three years, told the President Jonathan he was leaving with very happy memories of Nigeria.

The ambassador thanked President Jonathan for the support and co-operation he received from the Federal Government which, he said.

Society

Money

JTF destroys How to rock 840 illegal Denim Jeans P37 refineries in 37 Society eight months P27 Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014

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VOL. 1. NO.8

How to rock Denim Price:Jeans N150

Politics

Buhari is the next President –el-Rufai P15

Business

‘Adopt-aSchool’ stands out at 2014 CSR awards P28

Fashion is always recycling itself, and when it comes to fashion, nothing defines us better than denim .

Denim Jeans which has become a modern-day closet staple for everyone, all started as men’s simple work wears.

Denim jeans have emerged as wear-anywhere essentials, as opposed to the basic, casual, anti-establishment staples they once were.

From shorts and skirts, to coloured and artfully-printed styles, not to mention jackets, vests, and overalls, we’ve taken denim to a whole new, staggeringly broad level.

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

dailytimesng

Here are different ways to wear your Denim Jeans Double Denim

Agony, pain of living in Abuja T

Bonaventure Melah

he best way to wear double denim is to go for contrasting shades.

The real trick with the double denim look is to make sure there is a contrast between the top and bottom piece.

The only way this look works is when one piece is dark denim and the other is light. As for me, I like it best when the bottom half is the darker part.

For instance darker blue for your jacket and couple with lighter wash jeans for the trouser. Pairing a denim jacket with jeans often works better than using a shirt. Combing denim shirt with jeans has become quite trendy lately.

The double-denim look is the best, helps to create the dad-look. Bravo to fashion-forward people that helps making to work.

Denim Shirt & Jeans

Try to risk your fashion with your foray into double denim by replacing the jacket with a shirt. Less traditional and slightly more difficult to pull off, make sure you keep one of the washes unconventional.

For example combining grey jeans teamed with a standard blue shirt. Again, contrasting shades make the concept an easier one. Layer a bomber or leather jacket over the top to play on the rugged, masculine nature of the aesthetic before finishing with some Chelsea boots to create an ideal look for a night out

An injection of colour of Denim

We all know colour has established itself as a key part of the modern man’s wardrobe,with differing shades as an essential part of a well-curated double denim outfit.

Get creative with your layering by wearing your standard indigo denim jacket underneath a single-breasted overcoat, with a casual shirt providing the base. For the colder season, your denim jacket is important to be used as either a top or middle layer.

I But what you see at the city centre is a big lie, a farce and an unscrupulous deceit masking the current realities of Abuja

f you are coming into Abuja for the first time, you would marvel at the beauty and splendour of the Federal Capital City with wide stretch, well-manicured roads especially from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport into the city central area. In the day, you would see some of the most exotic cars you can find anywhere in the world being driven by Senators and other federal lawmakers, top civil servants and businessmen/women among other privileged members of the society. Watching Abuja city in the night gives a blaze of glamour.

But what you see at the city centre is a big lie, a farce and an unscrupulous deceit masking the current realities of Abuja. What is known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja is made up six Area Councils. Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) is just one of the areas that make up Abuja. The Abuja City

Centre comprising Maitama, Wuse, Garki among a few others are all part of AMAC where successive administration have concentrated developments at the detriment of the other five Area Councils. Even Kurudu, Azahta, Nyanya, Karu, Jikwoyi and several other communities that make up AMAC are not taken into consideration when it comes to development planning by the various Ministers that have governed the FCT. But the worst administration so far is that of the current Minister Alhaji Bala Mohammed. When it was earlier made public that the Minister would be leaving President Jonathan’s cabinet to contest the governorship election in his home state, Bauchi, many residents heaved a sigh of relief but were shocked later when news came that the Minister was staying back ‘to continue his good work.’

Not even Armageddon that is being awaited by

members of the Jehovah’s Witness sect could compare to the commotion, the apprehension and the secondby-second near-death experience that you encounter driving from Asokoro District to either of Nyanya or old Karu both in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

You would be shocked to your marrows to see several hundreds of motorcyclists riding against the traffic and coming towards you like a swarm of locusts. Remember that motorcycle (Okada) riding has been banned in Abuja Metropolis since the days Nasir El- Rufai administered the FCT. The ban has also been sustained even by the current administration which has on several occasions issued threats that it would deal with anybody violating the law. Now, Okada riders do not just enter the city, hundreds of them ride against the traffic both in the mornings and in the evenings causing tens of accidents and deaths that

are uncountable. While the danger of these lawless desperados steer you in the face, on the other side of the road, workers, business men and other road users are trapped in an endless long queue caused by traffic gridlock that lasts for several hours, day in day out. You could hear the deafening horns of the offensive motorcycle riders, while from your left hand side, civil servants, traders, bus drivers and other road users curse their fates, wondering what brought them to Abuja, a city that now compares to the valley of the shadow of death.

The congestion on Abuja intra- roads and its attendant frustration persist in spite of the daily advertisement of ‘near completion of new roads’ to open up the city and decongest FCT that media aides of the Minister and his colleagues in the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and other agencies in the FCT dish out every now and

The phoenix

rises

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. www.dailytimes.com.ng email: www.dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI

then. Even the age-long intra-city rail project that residents have been waiting for is nowhere near completion.

On Saturday last week, the Public Relations Officer of the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency (AEPB) was a guest of WE FM, one of the popular Talk Stations in Abuja and when asked why there is so much dirtiness along some streets especially in the satellite towns, the PRO said that the influx of people into FCT has continued to overstretch infrastructure projection of the City. This has been the excuse that media handlers in FCT have been giving to residents for years anytime they are confronted with the question of housing deficit and the several other unfortunate conditions that residents are facing.

TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK

Email: melahbonaventure@yahoo.com Tel: 08036062975

XT Exclusive

NFF divided over Keshi’s new dealX8

Poster!

Ahmed Musa of

Nigeria in a Group F action against BosniaHerzegovina during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

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EXTRATIME

Cathy Freeman’s missing olympic bodysuit found

, O H C A N IHEA P O T U S A P ALAN S E L G A E G FLYIN T S I L N A M 30Sportlitics

All Eyes On Nigeria’s Rave Of The Moment

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Ibrahimovic fumes at award’s snub X8

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

EXTRATIME

Tough battle ahead! Flying Eagles star Taiwo Awoniyi sandwiched between two opponents.

IHEANACHO, ALANPASU TOP FLYING EAGLES 30-MAN LIST

I

n preparation for the African Youth Championship (AYC) scheduled to hold in Senegal in 2015, Flying Eagles technical crew led by Coach Manu Garba have released a 30-man list of players scheduled to resume training in Kaduna on Saturday, December 27, 2014.

The list is mostly dominated by players from the world conquering Golden Eaglets squad of 2013 plus several other players who were selected during the screening exercise which took place in Kaduna earlier in the month.

Toping list of invitees are Manchester City duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali, Goalkeeper, Dele Alanpasu and Granada of Spain striker, Isaac Success.

The Flying Eagles have been drawn in Group A alongside host nation, Senegal, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

EXTRATIME

Musa Yahaya (left) for Flying Eagles training camp

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Samson Siasia

rs are: The selected playe Goalkeepers: Abiodun Akande (3SC), Yusuf Mohammed (Pillars), Emmansin Daniel (Akwa Starlets), Emmanuel Daniel (Rangers)

The full 30-man list: Goalkeepers: Defenders: Joshua Enaholo, Dele Alampasu, Olorunleke Ojo, Adamu Abubakar

Midfielders:

Kingsley Madu, Musa Muhammed, Mustapha Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi, Zaharadeen Bello, Prince Izu Omego

Ifeanyi Matthew, Akinjide Idowu, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Obinna Nwobodo, Kingsley Sokari, Abdullahi Alfa, Chidiebere Nwakali

Forwards:

Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Kelechi Iheanacho, Usman Hassan, Chidera Eze, Alhassan Ibrahim, Billy Auta, Sulaiman Abdullahi, Musa Yahaya, Abubakar Lawal, Moses Simon, Bernard Bulbwa, Wasiu Jimoh.

TIongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa Utd), Etim Emmanuel (Abuja Football College), Freedom Omofonma (Warri Wolves), Godwin Odibo (Nath Boys), Samuel Adegbenro (Kwara Utd), Niyi Adeniyi, Godwin Saviour (Plateau Utd), Usman Mohammed (Taraba Utd), Samuel Chukwudi (Bayelsa Utd), Achibi Ewenike (Warri Wolves), Newman Doubra,Ekene Attackers: Etebor Oghenekaro (Warri Wolves), Ajayi Junior (3SC), Sunday Adetunji (El- Kanemi), Peter Onyekachi, (Abia Warriors), Jonathan Osondu (Adamawa Utd)

Defenders: Stanley Okoronmu (36 Lions), Sincere Seth (Supreme FC), Chima Akas (Sharks), Chris Madaki (Giwa FC), Waziri Christopher, Wikki, Dede Mughalo (36 Lions), Tope Jaiyeola (Obe Sports Academy), Azubuike Okechukkwu, (Bayelsa Utd), Peter Obochi, Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys), Olawale (Amakson Academy), Foreign Pros: Solomon Olaleke, Faisal Sanni (Abuja Onuachi Paul Eber (FC Midtjyllan/DenFootball College), Erhun Obanor mark), Aminu Umar (Samsunspor/Tur(Bendel Insurance) key), Stanley Amuzie (Sassuolo/ Italy), Atanda Sodiq (FK Apolonia).

Midfielders:

AAG: Nigeria U-23s select 39 for Gabon qualifier

I

n preparation for the African Youth Championship (AYC) scheduled to hold in Senegal in 2015, Flying Eagles technical crew led by Coach Manu Garba have released a 30-man list of players scheduled to resume training in Kaduna on Saturday, December 27, 2014.

The list is mostly dominated by

players from the world conquering Golden Eaglets squad of 2013 plus several other players who were selected during the screening exercise which took place in Kaduna earlier in the month.

Toping list of invitees are Manchester City duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali, Goalkeeper, Dele

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

EXTRATIME

Iheanacho: How he felt as U-17 world champion

Toureon Iheanacho

“I feel good, I feel good, I feel good! I thank God because I feel so good. I don’t know if I can find the words to say what I’m actually feeling. I can’t even tell what I’m feeling because I’m feeling a millions things at the same time. I am feeling love for my teammates and my family and my country. I feel all of it. I’m on a high for winning the U-17 World Cup and the Golden Ball (best player).”

“Kelechi is an exciting player. I love the way he plays and I feel that he will have a good career at the club and go on to become one of the players of the future.”

Yaya Toure

HOT STUFF!

6 GOALS

“I can’t even tell what I’m feeling because I’m feeling a millions things at the same time”.

Iheanacho

KELECHI IHEANACHO

ALL EYES ON NIGERIA’S

K

elechi Iheanacho is one of the hottest teenage football prospects in Nigeria, whose exceptional skills has kept football world buzzing with excitement.

Iheanacho was the star as the Golden Eaglets conquered the world last year in the UAE, and was snatched

by English giants Manchester City after a hot battle with other top European clubs.

The Owerri-born player recently made UK based Dailymail’s list of the 10 hot teenage prospects that have the football world buzzing with excitement. He was joined on the list by other highly rated Prodigies, which include Brazilian Thiago Rodrigues Da Silva (mosquito) and Spanish Oliver Torres.

Iheanacho has already enjoyed some big moments in his career for club and country. The Nigerian hotshot was very impressive on Manchester City’s pre-season tour of the United States, even scoring in the 4-1 win over Sporting Kansas City, having won a place on the flight to America by impressing during a training camp for the fringe players in Scotland.

Last year, Iheanacho led Nigeria’s

triumph at the 2013 Under 17 World Cup, scoring six goals with Nigeria, who lifted the trophy in the United Arab Emirates. The dire devil striker is also a playmaker and lethal finisher all rolled

into one, his trademark goal celebrations had the Nigerian fans in UAE on their feet from start to finish.

However, despite calls by football loving Nigerians who feel the lanky midfielder has what it takes to improve the Super Eagles offensive play, Nigeria’s national team manager, Stephen Keshi, has resisted any attempt to invite him to the Super Eagles.

Iheanacho is presently on loan in the United States with Columbus Crew but will rejoin Manchester City at the end of the season.

l l i t s o h c a n a Ihe feeling a ! s g n i h t n o i mill Nigeria’s outstanding No10 Kelechi Iheanacho put on a dazzling display of football in UAE last year, scoring six goals and setting up a further seven en route to a fourth title for the West Africans. FIFA.com caught up with the best player of the 2013 U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates to talk about how it feels to be a world champion and why he had doubts about his size and strength when he was called into the national team camp.

FIFA.com: How does it feel to be a

world champion?

I feel good, I feel good, I feel good! I thank God because I feel so good. I don’t know if I can find the words to say what I’m actually feeling. I can’t even tell what I’m feeling because I’m feeling a millions things at the same time. I am feeling love for my teammates and my family and my country. I feel all of it. I’m on a high for winning the World Cup and the Golden Ball (best player).

How close to you feel to your teammates at this moment?

None of this could have been possible

RAVE OF THE MOMENT

Iheanacho with Sepp Blatter

without my teammates. They are the best. The way we all cooperated together to win the World Cup is simple amazing.

It’s like nothing else I’ve ever felt. I give them thanks for making it possible for us to do what we did.

You were named the tournament’s best player and you were the second top-scorer. How does that feel on a personal level?

It means a lot to me personally because when I came into the national team camp I felt uneasy. A lot of the boys thought maybe I was too small, too skinny to be a good player. But I realized now with what I’ve done here that God is preparing something special for me.

You had tremendous support from Nigerian fans here for all of your games. How important was that?

The fans here have supported us so much. It’s been incredible. They’ve given us courage and cheered us up when things weren’t going so well. The fans here in the stadium and the ones back home, they own a part of this trophy too.

They helped us to win it.

One of Nigeria’s best-ever players, Nwankwo Kanu, was here to watch the final, and you two had a long chat after the whistle. What did you talk about?

He is the true hero of football in our country. Back home, he’s like a father, like a brother. He’s like everything to me. He always gives us advice. He comes to train with us, to make sure we’re happy and moving in the right direction. He helps us to understand what football is really about, and what it takes to make it in the game. Talking with him and being with him is just a great honour.

Manu Garba

Senegal 2015 AYC Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba will be relying on the superlative form of Kelechi Iheanacho to lead his squad to a successful outing to the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal. And, despite the uphill task the Flying Eagles might face, Garba has tipped his team and Cote d’Ivoire to qualify from a tough 2015 AYC first round group, which also has hosts Senegal and Congo.

“Our group seems to be tougher than the other group which has Ghana, Mali, Zambia and South Africa, but I believe we will qualify to the semi-finals along with Cote d’Ivoire,” predicted Garba.

“But this is not to say that all the eight teams are not good enough to win the competition and so we will expect no favours from any of them.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

EXTRATIME

ATHLETICS

Boxing: Ali’s condition has ‘vastly improved’

Cathy Freeman won the 400m final in front of the home Australian crowd wearing a green and white skinsuit.

CATHY FREEMAN’S MISSING OLYMPIC BODYSUIT FOUND

O

ne of Australia’s greatest sporting mysteries may have been solved partially as a bodysuit thought to be the one Cathy Freeman wore when she lit the 2000 Olympic flame in Sydney was found.

The suit vanished from the 400m gold medallist’s dressing room after the opening ceremony, 14 years ago and was thought either stolen or accidently removed.

The garment was mailed anonymously to the National Sports Museum last week but has yet to be authenticated.

The moment aboriginal athlete Freeman lit the Olympic cauldron

is seen by many as a statement of reconciliation with indigenous Australians.

The returned suit has been sent for forensic testing after being handed in at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which houses the National Sports Museum.

A statement from the Australian Olympic Committee said: “We are hoping the item of clothing handed to the Museum is authentic and the mystery is finally solved.”

An Athletics Australia spokesperson added: “It is a very iconic Australian moment, and Catherine’s involvement was a very proud moment for a true champion of our sport.”

Cathy Freeman lighting the Olympic torch

The condition of Muhammad Ali has “vastly improved” since he was admitted to the hospital over the weekend with a mild case of pneumonia and doctors hope to discharge the boxing legend soon, a spokesman said.

Ali, 72, was admitted to a hospital in an undisclosed location on Saturday morning.

“The Ali family continues to request privacy and appreciates all of the prayers and well wishes,” spokesman Bob Gunnell said.

“No further details are being released.”

A three-time world heavyweight champion and widely recognised as one of the best fighters ever, Ali suffers from Parkinson’s disease.

He made a rare public appearance in September to attend a ceremony in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky,

for the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards.

Ali, nicknamed “The Greatest,” was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about three years after he retired from boxing in 1981 with a 56-5 record.

Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s after he retired from boxing in 1981.

Basketball: Fourth-quarter surge takes Bulls home Chicago chased the Toronto Raptors for most of the game before the Bulls put up a franchise-best 49 points in the fourth quarter to secure a 129-120 victory.

Led by starting Chicago (18-9) guards Derrick Rose (29 points) and Jimmy Butler (27 points, 11 rebounds), the Bulls outscored the Raptors - the top team in the Eastern Conference - by 12 in the final quarter.

Elsewhere, Atlanta point guard Dennis Schroder scored 22 points to lead a balanced attack in the Hawks’ 105- The Bulls outscored the Raptors by 12 points in the fourth quarter.

102 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

The Hawks (20-7) earned their Tony Parker dropped 26 points fourth consecutive win and 13th in the on the Los Angeles Clippers, leading past 14 games. Atlanta is in second the Spurs to a 125-118 victory that place in the Eastern Conference. snapped a four-game losing streak.

Sailing: IOC to tackle Rio super bug Olympic chiefs have pledged to arrest fears that sailors and windsurfers at the next Games will not just have to deal with their rivals on the water but a potential super-bug under it.

Researchers have found a bacteria more typically encountered in hospital waste which produces the enzyme KPC in several different locations along the Carioca River, which feeds Guanabara Bay where the sailing events will take place.

The bacteria is resistant to antibiotics and can cause urinary, gastrointestinal and pulmonary infections although Rio officials are adamant the risk is “minimal.”

But the International Olympic Committee insisted it had been made aware of the problem and was working closely

X5

with Rio officials to minimize any potential risks.

The IOC statement read: “The health and safety of the athletes is our number one priority. Rio has created a task force to monitor this situation and we are being kept fully updated by them.

“We will continue to work with Rio to ensure that the athletes are able to compete safely and in the best conditions possible.”

The research is the work of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, considered one of the world’s main public health research institutions.

Study coordinator Ana Paula D’Alincourt Carvalho Assef, of the foundation, said in an email to the Associated Press: “There is a risk of contracting

diseases, which are not more serious than those caused by other microorganisms.

The problem is that in case of infection, it is possible that treatment involves hospitalization.

“Since the super-bacteria are resistant to most modern medications, doctors need to rely on drugs that are rarely used because they are toxic to the organism.”

Earlier this year, biologist Mario Moscatelli described the Marina Gloria, which will serve as a base for the sailing competitions, as a “toilet.”

While Rio mayor Eduardo Paes admits a planned clean-up will not be completed prior to the Games, state officials have allayed fears over the risk to sailing competitors that take to the water.

Sailors had previously warned of filthy waters, which contains a super-bacteria known as KPC.

X6

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

EXTRATIME

Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team:

Full name: Date of birth:

Ahmed Musa October 14, 1992 (Age 22) Jos, Nigeria 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) Forward/Winger CSKA Moscow

Ahmed Musa of Nigeria in a Group F action against Bosnia-Herzegovina during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

EXTRATIME

X7

A

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME IBRAHIMOVIC FUMES AT AWARD’S SNUB

BRIEFS NFF divided over Keshi’s new deal

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was left less than impressed as he finished behind Bjorn Borg in a vote to name Sweden’s top sports person of all time.

Tennis star Borg won 11 grand slams, including five successive Wimbledon titles and four consecutive French Open crowns.

A Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter ranked the country’s top 150 sports stars, and Borg was named as number one ahead of Ibrahimovic.

The news was not taken well by the Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is not shy about talking up his own qualities.

“Thank you, but to finish second is like finishing last,” he said upon being congratulated by the newspaper.

When asked to rank his own top stars, Ibrahimovic replied: “I would have been number one, two, three, four and five, with due respect to the others.”

Keshi There is a serious rift in the NFF executive committee over a new contract for Coach Stephen Keshi with a majority still opposed to this. It has exclusively been gathered that a section of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership want Keshi to be given a new contract despite failing to qualify Nigeria to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations so as to at least keep their plum jobs. However, this group is opposed by a majority on the NFF executive committee who has stuck to a “unanimous decision” in October to sack Keshi.

We won’t underrate Malakia –Ekpai

Ibrahimovic

Cech´s agent urges Liverpool, Arsenal to make bid

Cech Petr Cech’s agent has urged Arsenal and Liverpool to show their interest in signing the goalkeeper once the 201415 season concludes.

After joining from Rennes in 2004, Cech became a mainstay in the Chelsea side, helping the club to three Premier League titles as well as the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.

However, Thibaut Courtois’ return from a three-year loan spell at Atletico Madrid has seen the Czech Republic international reduced to second choice.

Cech has made just two Premier League appearances so far this campaign, sparking speculation that he could look for a move away from Stamford Bridge.

Xavi: I almost dumped Barca!

Xavi Barcelona midfielder Xavi has revealed he was ready to move to New York City at the end of last season after falling out of favour.

The Spain midfielder has spent his entire career at Camp Nou, but the club legend came close to a switch to Major League Soccer after growing increasingly frustrated at a lack of first-team football under previous boss Gerardo Martino.

Xavi has spoken of how close he came to turning his back on Barca before club president Josep Maria Bartomeu and new coach Luis Enrique convinced him to stay with the Catalan giants.

“The decision was made. I was going to New York. It was all done. A call from Bartomeu was what changed everything,

Walcott pace unaffected by injury—Wenger

Walcott Theo Walcott’s pace is totally unaffected by his near year-long absence through a knee injury, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists.

The England international sustained a torn cruciate ligament in an FA Cup tie with Tottenham last January, missing the latter half of the 2013-14 season and the World Cup as a result.

Walcott has made two substitute appearances this term, against Burnley and Swansea in November, and returned to the bench at Liverpool at the weekend after suffering a minor groin injury.

Wenger confirmed that Walcott is “not far” from making his XI over the busy festive period, and the Frenchman is confident his attacker will not miss a step when he does return.

Zeman sacked

by Cagliari

Kano Pillars striker Ubong Ekpai has revealed that they will not underrate their ‘unknown’ CAF Champions League preliminary round opponents Malakia FC of South Sudan. Pillars will travel to South Sudan for the first leg in the weekend of 13, 14, 15 February, while the second leg games were scheduled for 27, 28 February and 1st March 2015.

Benin star Fabiyi joins Kano Pillars Zeman Serie A strugglers Cagliari have sacked Coach Zdenek Zeman with the club languishing in the relegation zone.

The vastly experienced 67-year-old tactician was only appointed in July and has paid the price for a disappointing start to his tenure.

Zeman was charged with the task of improving on Cagliari’s 15th-placed finish in Serie A last season by new owner Tommaso Giulini.

The former Roma coach has only masterminded two victories from the first 16 league games and Cagliari are without a win in their last eight league games.

Cagliari sit third-bottom of the table and it was announced on Tuesday that Zeman has been relieved of his duties.

Fabiyi Goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi will team up with fellow Benin Republic international Isaac Loute at champions Kano Pillars ahead of the new season.

The highly-rated Fabiyi has already discussed personal terms with Pillars.

The shot-stopper has featured for Sunshine Stars, Bayelsa United and Abia Warriors.