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Beauty enhancers: The rave of the moment

Mutiat Alli, Folarin Leonard & Oliva Ogbonna

ÏÏÏ For many young women, having a big

butt (Ikebe) is synonymous with being overweight and being unattractive. But things have changed; curves are being embraced and celebrated. Surely, women with natural big butts, hips and breasts are happier as they can now fit into mass media’s definition of beauty.

The flair for fake butts, hips, breast, and Pink lips seems to increase daily. The accep-

tance of big butts and hips in this age began with the Western mainstream success of Beyonce and her single, “Bootylicious”. Other celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian also made large bottoms a beauty asset wanted by all and sundry.

It is similar to the lip injection phenomenon, another artificial process to sexy-up your lips; hence the increase in the usage of artificial materials to enhance beauty is the order of the day as top female celebrities are the greatest users of these ‘Beauty EnContinued on page 6

Kenya Supreme Court makes history, annuls country presidential election

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Diaspora Festival directed at attracting Nigerians back to their roots -Ambode B3

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

5 News

Kenya Supreme Court makes history, annuls country presidential election Myke Uzendu, Andrew Orolua, Francesca Iwambe, Abuja.

ÏÏÏ In an unprecedented judgment in the history of election in Africa, Kenya Supreme Court on Friday made history when it annulled the August 8, 2017 re-election of incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta over irregularities and violations of the provisions of the Kenya Constitution.

The country apex court in a split decision of four to two also ordered the electoral body the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), to conduct fresh elections within 60 days.

This decision is the first time an apex court in Africa will annul the election of a sitting President.

The electoral body

(IEBC) had earlier declared Kenyatta winner with 54.27 percent of the total votes.

The development later led to two days of demonstrations and riots in the slums of Nairobi and Kisumu, traditional opposition strongholds.

The Agency France Presse (AFP) reported that at least 21 people, including a baby and a nine-year-old girl, were killed, mostly by police during the violence while 1,100 people also lost their lives after the August election.

In a novel judgment, four out of six justices of Kenya Supreme Court declared that Kenyatta’s election was marred with irregularities.

In a decision by the panel of six judges, with two dissenting, the Chief Justice of the Court, David Maraga, held that Kenyatta “was

not validly elected”, rendering the result “invalid, null and void”.

Maraga said the election commission (IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution”.

He added that the panel of justices had not yet had time to write a “reasoned and well-considered judgement” since hearings closed on Tuesday night, so he only read out the court decision, promising a full ruling later.

But the judgment elicited joyous celebrations outside the court from the supporters of Odinga which they described as a rare political victory for the 72 years Raila Odinga.

Thousands of Odinga supporters flooded the

streets of Nairobi’s Kibera slum which is his strongholds in the western city of Kisumu, celebrating in the streets, motorcycle drivers hooted their horns.

But in a swift reaction, Kenyatta’s lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi, criticised the court’s decision as “very political”, but said they would “live with the consequences”.

However, Odinga, still savouring his victory from the court, has passed vote of no confidence on IEBC, maintaining that the present electoral body as constituted lacks the capacity and morality to conduct free, fair and credible rerun election.

Meanwhile, some senior lawyers Nigeria have reacted to the verdict, saying that Kenya apex court should be commended for its courage in annulling the election of

L-R: Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai; Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura and others, during the 2017 Eid El-Kabir celebration, at the Lafia Central Praying Ground, Nasarawa State… on Friday.

President Kenyatta.

The lawyers: Sebastine Hon (SAN), Akindele Oluwaseyi (SAN), John Ali, Nkereuwem Akpan and Hammed Jimoh spoke during separate interviews with our correspondents on Friday.

Sebastine Hon said: “I must congratulate the Kenyan people in particular and Africans in general for this feat. Remember, the post-election violence was so determined and seemingly non-stoppable that we watchers knew something grave had gone wrong with the elections.

“Recent happenings on the political landscape of Africa, including the defeat of a sitting President - Goodluck Jonathan - and his voluntary concession of defeat - all point to the fact that there is a positive upswing in African political thinking.

“And with the pronouncement of the Kenyan Supreme Court, I think Africans are beginning to think out of the box now. The trend is most welcome and should spread like wild harmattan fire across Africa.

Oluwaseyi said: “I commend the Kenyan Supreme Court for this fearless and courageous verdict. In the history of most African countries where the third Arm of Government is cowed, this is an indication that the Kenyan Judiciary is functioning independently as it is ought to be.

“I commend the Kenyan judiciary, I commend it’s democracy and I commend the Kenyan people over this great feat”.

John Ali said: “On a per-

sonal note, I am a bit disappointed in the process of the nullification because young persons in Africa sees Uhuru Keyantta and a model. However, the law has taken it course and I hope that African Nations will emulate the courage and tenacity of the Kenyan Judiciary”.

For Akpan, “It is a victory for democracy and the rule of law and that it is a pointer to the fact that the judiciary in Kenya is truly independent and the speed with which the decision was reached is truly commendable and the Nigerian judiciary should borrow a leaf from it.

“The fact that President Uhuru Kenyatta accepted the decision even though he disagreed with it shows that our politicians have come of age.

In his own comment, Jimoh said that justices of the Supreme Court of Kenya have shown by their decision that they are courageous.

According to him, it takes courage for judges to state what the position of the law is particularly on high profile case such as the one in Kenya where an incumbent president is involved. He urged Kenyans and indeed Africans to support the decision of the apex court in Kenya.

Also commenting on the development in Kenya, an Abuja based legal practitioner, Daniel Bwala, noted that decisions of courts are determined by the facts before it, saying that it is possible that the case in Kenya was determined on its merit.

Food sufficiency: Okowa advocates increase in activities of extension service officers Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÏÏÏ TO boost food production in

the country, Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated increase in the activities of agricultural extension service officers to farmers.

The Governor made the call yesterday at a one-day interactive session with 2015/2017 beneficiaries of Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in Asaba.

According to Governor Okowa, “agriculture remains the greatest employer of labour, it is encouraging that most of our youths that we have empowered to operate in that sector are doing well, but, we must have enough

people in the extension service to encourage farmers.”

“I am glad that our youths have embraced agriculture, it will lead to food sufficiency and boost our drive in creating entrepreneurs; we are going to strengthen the mentoring and monitoring unit to ensure that beneficiaries of our empowerment programmes are encouraged to do well,” he said.

Governor Okowa observed that those who have succeeded in their businesses were determined to succeed, asserting, “if you stay resolute, success story will surely come; challenges will surely come but, you need to be resilient to do it right.”

“I am glad that a lot of you are doing well, people in government should be able to patronize you, I am very impressed with the success stories I have heard today,”

he stated.

Beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes gave different stories about their challenges, their successes and their prospects and gave commendation to Governor Okowa’s administration for giving them the opportunity to be employers of labour.

Mr Itdjere Ericson, Mrs Linda Nnabundo, among others, suggested that with the level they have grown within two years of establishing their businesses, they were capable of training beneficiaries of the skill acquisition programmes and called for patronage from the state government.

Meanwhile the governor has also called for consistency in policy implementation in the country for Nigeria to make progress.

Speaking at a one-day “policy

dialogue with the state executive council and the legislative council on investment in nutrition” at Asaba, Governor Okowa observed that one of the greatest challenges facing the country is consistency in the implementation of policies.

He also, stated that Nigerians will have access to good nutrition if the federal government makes policies in line with the population of the country.

“As a country, we will be planning wrongly if our plans does not go in line with our population, such plans will be problematic,” he said, adding, “for us to have healthy families, birth spacing is very important, we must keep the number of our families within the range we can cater for.”

Specifically speaking on the theme for the event, “prioritizing

investment in maternal and child nutrition - key to sustainable development,” Governor Okowa observed, “a lot of persons are ignorant of what it takes to bring up a child that is a major problem we need to address.”

“Issue of poverty can also be linked to the effects of recession, but, there is need for collaboration with the local government councils for effective advocacy aimed at addressing ignorance,” Governor Okowa who attended the event with his wife, Dame Edith said.

He disclosed that Delta State government has done a lot to ensure a healthy people, noting that the state has more than 60 government hospitals and more than 400 primary healthcare centres located at different parts of the state.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Beauty enhancers: The rave of the moment

Continued from page 1

hancers’ which range from butt lifter, body magic, waist trainer, hips enhancer, and breast pusher amongst others.

According to history, black men and women have been criticised and ostracised because of their full lips. And suddenly, it became in vogue for women to inject their lips, breasts, hips, butts and other parts with various substances in order to obtain sexier bodies.

Some women are aware of the dangers inherent in plastic surgery, pills and injections for beauty sake. However, producers of these fashion items have now invented a way out for women who desire larger bottoms and hips with the production of hips and butts pad which is now available at virtually every female store.

These artificial butts and hips are believed to create an impression of sexiness just like padded bras create an impression of fuller breasts. Some even go to specialists for butt surgery. These surgeries are somewhat dangerous because substances like cement and Fix-a-Flat tire sealant are being used.

Ladies now make their way to beauty shops to purchase the artificial hips and butts which is safer and affordable.

Artificial hips and butts come as skin-like pads which can be worn underneath any dress or trouser. The common hips and butts are supposed to give that perfect curve much desired by the wearer. They add flesh and muscles at the right places and give an impression of a perfect body. They come in different sizes; can be worn and removed at will, although one of the dealers, Miss Aishat, has the permanent of each at her store at ikeja, Lagos.

During a visit to Miss Aishat, whose store is at Obafemi Awolowo road, Ikeja, Lagos, one of our

correspondents saw exhibits of butt pads and breast pads among other artificial accessories like make up and the likes. She puts her stand outside her shop because people look for these pads regularly.

She explained in a chat with our correspondent that these butt pads come in different sizes to serve various purposes and they differ in price as well. There is the small butt pad in different colours for lanky girls and the medium for the average bodied and the large as well.

She explained that women most often purchase the permanent butt with hips at N3,500 while the ordinary which first time users come in for is sold at N2,500.

As part of the curiosity to further know why most top female celebrities are the biggest subscribers to the usage of artificial beautification materials, actress Uche Elendu gave her take on the use of the waist trainer.

She said: ‘’I wear waist trainers to keep my body in shape, to trim down my body because I am a nursing mother and it doesn’t have side effects. If it has side effects, I wouldn’t go for it’’.

For seasoned actress, Faithia Balogun, who describes the usage of waist trainer as part of her own beauty regime to enable to her fit in into her outfits, giving her the curves she so desires.

Her words: “Although waist trainer, body pusher and body magic helps achieve our desired shape, but personally for me, I only use it when I have an important event to attend because it comes with lots of pain too. The tighter you want it to fit on your body, the length you will fix it.

Mrs. Juliet Arokoyo-Leo, a medical practitioner at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, said “women who are willing to get in shape should take less carbohydrate and ensure bal-

anced diet.

“You should plan your meal and consume plenty of fibre roughages. You should also avoid junk food and too much minerals.

You may decide to take minerals when absolutely necessary. There are natural ways of keeping a particular body shape.

“Take natural juice and healthy supplements if you will. It’s better to gain or lose weight naturally. It is healthy to eat your fruits before your meal. Waist trainers and body magic will only keep you in shape in that moment. It will cause you inconvenience and it is advised you remove if you want to take in food.

“Some of these shape aiders are perfectly designed with minimum or no side effect but if you intend maintaining the shape you get when you use these trainers and save up unnecessary cost, you should take a step to get in shape naturally. You wouldn’t use body magic and waist trainers forever you know”.

Unfortunately, the use of these body shapers and slimmer can cause quite a bit of discomfort.

Redness is common for quite a

few hours along with localised bruising which may get permanent overtime. Furthermore, most people also suffer from local numbness, in some cases, sensation returns after months.

Also on women artificials, we can’t afford to miss out the hair which has become what many would agree is an obsession especially for the Black women who view natural hair as a curse. To some, weaving hair is just innocent. It’s considered experimenting with various hairs styles, trying out something new, being unique and fabulous. However, this has really made most people believe that it’s normal to use it in order to look good and fashionable.

A hair weave is human or artificial hair utilised for the integration with one’s natural hair.

Weaves can alter one’s appearance for long or short periods of time by adding further hair to one’s natural hair or by covering the natural hair all together with human or synthetic hairpieces.

Nigerian women have made the artificial hair a habit that they can’t do without, especially those

with poor natural hair. This, however, has got them addicted to it and they probably see it as something they can’t do without. It is said that Hair is the beauty of a woman but most women prefer the artificial hair to their natural hair. Weaving additional human or synthetic pieces can enhance one’s hair by giving it volume, length and adding colour without the damage of chemicals or adopting a different hair texture than that of their own.

Artificial hair makes women look good and classy and when worn brings out the beauty of a woman but this has however made most women forget their natural hair. It has made them pay so much attention on the artificial hair and they forget about their natural hair.

As a woman, when you don’t care for your natural hair, you are likely inviting harm to your body also to your hair. However, hair loss can occur either along the front hairline or above the ears due to the wearing of specific hair styles for a prolonged period Continued on page 7

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose (2nd right) and others, during the 2017 Eid-El-Kabir celebration at Muslim Community Praying Ground, Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti… on Friday.

Ojikutu condemns SON activities in computer village

Ebere Chibuzor

ÏÏÏ Computers and Phones Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) which is the umbrella body of all the units in the market has strongly expressed disapproval of Standard Organization of Nigeria(SON) activities on the premises of computer village, describing, as the worst that could have showed up.

The Computer village as the implies is an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) accessories market located in the capital of Lagos State, Nigeria.

“We saw this as appalling and abysmal to the standard norms in other client that things are supposed to be done in the right-

ful way.”

This was the statement of the the CAPDAN president, Comrade Ojikutu Adeniyi when Daly Times visited the association secretariat, claimed SON said traders would needed to register the goods and services.

“We saw that some of the offices are locked but we engaged the SON operators that came and we found out that they needed the traders or businessmen to register and we cannot register but we get the majority of our products from the manufacturers.” According to him, computer village is not a manufacturing hub rather than buying and selling.

Speaking further, on counterfeit products in the market, “There are different brands

and these brands go by different names. People will now go to Dubai and produce it’s own brand and does not make it a counterfeit but a brand of its own.

There are different manufacturers with different brand names.The prices might be cheaper from its generic brand.

It is not our own duty to be able now say this is what people to bring in to the nation Adeniyi said.”

“It is the duty of certain government agency and regulatory bodies which include custom services, SON as well.

On relocation of the market by Lagos State government; he said the government wanted to relocate computer village to Katangowa but there are mix feeling.

On their reservations they asked government that they should be carried along from conceptualization, formulation, evaluation and accommodation way.

A lot of things are involved in this project ranges from finances, term, tenure, light, broad bank connectivity and others.

On a flip side, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, an agency of Nigerian government, responsible for checking and approving standardization of products in the country, made a move recently, to check the standards of goods in the market with a view to weeding out substandard ones. The move resulted in a fiasco, which intrigues still resonate.

It has also produced several allegations and counter allegations

between the leadership of SON and that of the market. While SON claims that its intent is to sanitize the market, leadership of the market under the aegis of Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, CAPDAN alleges that SON’s moves are tantamount to destroying the market. In the melee, Nigerians, who are major consumers of products in the market are left confused.

Recently at an Anti-counterfeit Africa Conference organised by Hewlett Packard, HP, in Abuja, Director General of SON, Dr Joseph Odumodu, berated activities of counterfeiters in the country lamenting that it has helped increase Nigeria’s already bloated labour market.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

ơ News

Beauty enhancers: The rave of the moment

Continued from page 6

of time, such as weaves.

When a woman loses her front hairline, it makes her hair scanty and unhealthy, making her look old. Artificial hair comes in different sizes -long, short, and medium. Installing an artificial hair into a natural hair takes a few processes, which involves needle, thread, bonding, weavon oil, weavon gloss, brush, hair nets and comb.

Here are few methods on installing an artificial hair…

The Pinch braid - are individual locks of hair tied into the natural hair with a durable upholstery thread.

The tape in method - are extensions which last from four to eight weeks and the hair can be gently combed and washed while wearing the extensions. In addition, the extensions need to be treated

with specialised shampoos, conditioners and styling products to keep them in top condition. The extensions can be easily taken off by applying glue remover.

The clip in hair - most commonly come in as a long strand of one contoured piece that can be cut into multiple layers for creating separate layers on a user’s head.

When the hair is purchased from a beauty supply store, it often comes with clips, which are sewn into the hair. If bought from an online store, the clips can be simply sewn on easily by the purchaser of the extensions or by a stylist. Once the clips are sewn in, it is recommended that the user clip in the hair and visit a stylist, to help create a look that is natural.

Bonding - is also a method of weaving that lasts for a shorter period of time in comparison to sew-in weaving. It involves the application of hair glue to a section of wafted hair then onto a person’s natural hair; special hair adhesives are used in bonding to prevent damage to one’s natural hair. This technique is commonly used and does not cause damage to the hair unless taken out without proper directions from a professional. It is advised that weave bonding be installed for up to 3 weeks because the glue begins to loosen up and lessens the attractiveness of the hair. There are 2 types of bonding methods: soft bond and hard bond.

Fusion- This involves a machine similar to a hot glue gun used to attach human hair extensions to individual strands of one’s natural hair of about 1/8 to 1/4-inch squared sections for a truly authentic look. A heat clamp is then used to melt the adhesive to attach the extension hair to the natural hair. Fusion weave allows washing hair frequently and the use of

regular hair products such as hair gels.

Netting- is a technique which involves braiding natural tresses under a thin, breathable net that serves as a flat surface onto which stylists can weave extensions.

This method requires the use of hair net or cap to be placed over the person’s hair that has been braided.

Some artificial hair is hard to identify from the natural hair due to their color, their texture and their length. Most women often go for their colour especially using the human hair which is one artificial hair that has got most people confusing to the extent of mistaking it for a natural hair.

In order to differentiate an artificial hair from a natural hair, these are things you look out for: Usually, it’ll be if you can clearly see their longest natural layer in their hair, then a longer bit that

doesn’t match the others, or, it’ll be a different colour to the rest.

Their hair will just look unnaturally thick and voluminous and so you know that they’ve ‘had help’ in the thickness dept.

If they are clip in, the clips showing are obviously a dead giveaway or bumps in the hair. However, if they are done professionally, they can be really difficult to spot. The texture of artificial hair is quite different from that of a natural hair although original human hair has been made to have exact texture with natural hair.

Most artificials have a side effect. The side effects of the artificial hair and what it does to the natural hair and the body is somewhat harmful. Here are side effects of the artificial hair and the dangers it carries.

Blinding headache: This is caused when an artificial hair is attached to your natural hair and

the process which it was installed wasn’t from a professional rather was it installed improperly, so it causes headache, making you tired and sweaty all the time.

Patchy hair loss: When an artificial hair stays more than the days, weeks or months it was supposed to stay, it causes hair loss especially those with weak natural hair and those with soft hair frontline.

Sometimes permanent damage takes place when a fake artificial hair is added to the natural hair.

The texture of the fake product mixing with chemicals and installing on the hair brings damage to the scalp. When it stays for a very long period of time and is not taken care of, it brings foul smell and lice.

The risk at artificial hair is death. Most people don’t believe that artificial hair brings death, however most women have died

L-R: General Manager Terrestrial Services, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr. Mojisola Dokun; MD/CEO, NAMA, Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu received a plague from Past President, Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, (APWEN), Engr. Idiat Amusu; Engr. (Mrs.) Terese Iheanachor and in-coming National President (APWEN), Engr. (Mrs.), Felicia Agubata, during the courtesy visit of APWEN to Capt. Fola Akinkuotu in Lagos… on Thursday.

Housewife alleged murder sparks-off trouble at FMC Asaba ÏLƄ Ɠ #ƄƎ ƆƉ ƅ 6 Ƒ Ǝ Ƅ 6 Ə ƄƑƆƅƄ #ƆƄƕ Rƅ ƉƉƄ Ƅƕ MƄ ƉƆ Ƅ ƃƄ Ï6 ƋƆƎ Ɖ L ƄƊƄ Ǝ #Ƅ ƆƄ ƉƉƄ ƎƆ è Ɖ ƆƊ d Ƅ #ƆƄƕ ƅ Ɖ ƕ jƍ ƅƏ Ɔ `Ƅ ƃƎƆ Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÏÏÏ Allegations

of negligence, and other related acts have continued to brew trouble at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, Delta State following the death of one Mrs. Rita Uchebuego in the hospital few weeks ago.

While the scores of the shocking death of the housewife who was pregnant with twins, and was later delivered of the babies before she allegedly gave the ghost to negligence hitherto raises dust of seriously controversies, the hospital management through the Acting Medical Director, Dr. Victor Osiatuma said the housewife died of blood transfusion reaction, and denied the claims

of negligence its related acts as untrue.

The deceased’s hubby, Mr. Ngozi Uchebuego at a media conference yesterday in Asaba, told journalists that he married Rita Uchebuego on the 11th of June, 2016 at the House on the Rock Assembly Church, Asaba upon their relationship while she was in camp in Issele-Uku as a corp member, adding that after their marriage they both lived together as husband and wife but in the happiest discovering that she became pregnant with twins.

According to him, on the discovery of her pregnancy, we proceeded to register for ante natal services at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba wherein a patient’s card number FMCP/0270822 was

issued to my wife” disclosing that one Dr. Ojenuwa Sunday Abiodun was assigned to his wife as consultant to oversees her wellbeing till she delivered.

But this he said, was not to be as sooner than later, the hospital went on strike, and during the pregnancy of the strike action, one Albert Omate, his friend recommended Graceland Specialist Hospital/Maternity to him, where he met one Dr. Maduakor, who doubles as a consultant obstetrician/gynecologist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba.

He alleged that Dr. Maduakor, Chief Medical Director, Graceland Specialist Hospital/Maternity insisted he register his wife with him for same ante natal

services; a request, Uchebuego claimed was immediately granted and registered his wife in the hospital, and was consequently issued with a patient card number 2666.

He said: “Dr. Maduakor became my wife’s doctor by virtue of which he conducted series of tests on her in respect of her pregnancy and from one of such test results, he De. Maduakor told me that my wife has blood shortage issues in her pregnancy because she was carrying twins”.

He further disclosed that at the subsequent called-off strike action at the FMC, his wife resumed attendance at the ante natal clinic, adding that Dr. Ojenuwa her consultant, confirmed her Expected

Date of Delivery (EDD) to be the 10th of March 2017, but on Monday the 6th day of March 2017, “my wife, Mrs. Rita Uchebuego was at the ante natal check up at the hospital where Dr. Ojenuwa discovered that her blood pressure was 160/100mmHg, and advised that she should be admitted to monitor her blood pressure till the following day”.

He said that the following day being the 7th of March, 2017, he requested his mother in-law to join him at the hospital upon his returned from a site where he had gone to deliver a job he completed, but to his surprise he met his wife passing through excruciating pains, and her stomach visibly moving faster while her screaming lasted.

8 News

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Recall threat: Ben Bruce visits constituents amidst protest

Buhari should retire all corrupt police officers-PMDI

Akam James, Yenagoa

Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏ

ÏÏÏThe

The Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Mr. Ben Bruce, has finally bow to pressure of his recall threats by his constituents mainly students who threatened to begin a process of recall, as he meets with stakeholders amidst protest.

The people had lamented that the senator was not in good relationship with them and also shying away from constituency responsibility.

The aggrieved constituents had earlier issued 10 days ultimatum which elapsed 31 August 2017, for the senator to organise a town hall meeting with his constituents or face a mass protest at the National Assembly.

The Senator who arrived the Ijaw House venue of the town hall meeting along Alameiseigha expressway, hours after the people waited and called off the meeting but later reconvened was smuggled in and out of the hall through the back door by stakeholders to avoid embarrassment.

Mr, Ben Bruce, while addressing the people, appealed for understanding from the people, adding that he is doing so much for the people but it is a difficult situation he found himself at the upper chamber.

He also said” Don’t take your anger to the point where you disrupt meetings, if I walk away I still remain a successful person but it has not helped you in anyway” Bruce, submitted that as a senator he does not write checks but only speak to make laws that will benefit the people, adding that he has been fighting for the construction of the Brass/ Nembe Road which will soon be added to the budget and implementation will follow.

“The Nembe/Brass Road is a priority for us as a people because of the economy values, and I will do everything to see it becomes a reality, it is a difficult situation that I am, I have been fighting for the project severally and it has giving me grey hair”

effort made

by President Muhammmadu Buhari in the fight against corruption and its related offenses has been commended by local and international organisations.

In this regard the president has been called upon to retire all corrupt police Commissioners in line with his anti corruption crusade. Comrade Abubakar Abdulsalam, the President of Progressive Mind For Development Initiative (PMDI), a Civil Society Organization (CSO) made the call in yola while reacting to

the allegations leveled against Senator Hamma Misau representing Bauchi North constituency in the National Assembly by the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters against his accusation on the present Inspector Genral of police (I.G), Ibrahim Idris.

Abdulsalam challenged the police boss to counter allegations of corruption leveled against him by Misau and not diver the attention of Nigerian to irrelevant issues According to him, corruption is deeply rooted in the blood of Nigerian police personnel, hence the need for urgent drastic measures to address the ugly trend.

“The issues raised by the Force Headquarters are really unfortunate since they ought to be raised long ago, if a policeman will be posted for seven years and abandon his duty post will lawful justification, therefore, the actions of Misau is justified by law”, He stated.

Abdulsalam disclosed further that Police personnel are extorting money on major highways freely under the cover of their superior officers; they are posted to checked points to collect money from innocent persons to bring returns.

“Mr President should as a matter of urgency bring

sanity to the Police force, retire all the corrupt personnel in the force and replace them with young ones”.

It could be recalled that Senator Misau had last Friday accused the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to account for the N10 billion Police internally generated revenue, which he added amounted to N120 billion annually.

The Nigerian Police Force responded by calling Misau a deserter from the Nigerian Police, and vow that the force will definitely take appropriate action in this circumstance against the Senator.

Philanthropist moves to save motorcyclists with 150 crash helmets Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏ

In a move to save motorcyclists in Abia, a philanthropist, Mr Tony Ndu, has distributed 150 crash helmets to commercial motorcyclists, popularly called ‘okada operators’, in Ohafia and Arochukwu.

Ndu made this distribution during a one-day sensitization on safety measures organized by the Ohafia Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, in collaboration with his foundation, Tony Ndu Foundation, stating that the gesture was part of his contribution to promote safety driving among commercial motorcyclists in the area.

While stating that the helmets were donated to encourage the beneficiaries in their efforts to earn a living, the philanthropist said that the sensitization was meant for the commission to educate Okada operators on road safety measures and need to strictly comply with them.

He admonished motorists and Okada operators to appreciate road safety officials as “our guardian angels, caring for our safety on the road” rather than enemies.

In his brief speech, the unit commander of FRSC, Mr Charles Ezichi, expressed his gratitude to Ndu for his genuine concern for the safety of road users, describing Ndu as a great philanthropist and major stakeChief of Staff to Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (3rd left); Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrasheed Olabomi (3rd right); Special Adviser to holder of the commission.

Governor on Tax Matters, Barrister Gbenga Akano (2nd right); Executive Secretary, Osun Independent Electoral, Alhaji Abdulwahah Adewoyin (2nd left) and others, during the 2017 Eid-El-Kabir celebration at Central Praying Ground in Iragniji, Osun State… on Friday.

NEMA assists Benue flood victims with 7 trucks of relief materials Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Director General of The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Engr.

Mustapha Maihaja has ordered the immediate dispatch of (7) 30 tons trucks to Markudi to assist victims of flood disaster in Benue state.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday in Abuja and signed by NEMA’S Head Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti.

According to the statement, the order was sequel to a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari, that a reinforce-

ment of another contingent of humanitarian officers and relief materials be sent to state to assist victims of flood disaster.

The team, headed by Director (Search and Rescue), Commodore Paul Ohemu from the Headquarters in Abuja will include a team from Benue state, officers from the North Central Zonal Office in Jos, and they have been directed to deliver the materials immediately to the affected persons in the various locations and assess the situation for further supports.

“As an emergency response, seven (7) 30 tons truck has been despatched

to the state and are due to arrive Makurdi on Friday, 1st September, 2017” he said.

The Director General sympathized with the affected people and assured that NEMA would work closely with the Benue State Government in providing them with the necessary succour.

You may wish to recall that the lood disaster started on Sunday, August 27, and it affected residents of Nyiman BIPC Housing Estate, Achusa districts and many other parts of the state capital as a result of natural and man-made causes which were avoidable if the gov-

ernment were more prepared and the people less negligent.

According to Benue State Government about 3,000 houses were submerged in the disaster.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Terver Akase, in a monitored media chat agreed that the disaster has wreaked huge havoc on the state, noting that it was unexpected by the government, but added that “it was beyond human control”.

“As a government, we feel that this shouldn’t have happened but it has happened. It is a natural

disaster. Many families are without homes now; many people are displaced.

“It is both natural and man-made. Water is beyond human control; it must come whether we like it or not. It is natural disaster in the sense that, it is rain. We can’t prevent rain from coming.

It is man-made because, perhaps we neglected some of the things that we should have done as a people. I am not blaming Benue people. Perhaps, the government failed to do something before now. That is why it has become emergency” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

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Lack of internal party democracy bane of Nigeria’s efficiency – Princewill ≥≥≥P 10 & 11

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UPP demands involvement of EFCC in election monitoring in Anambra ≥≥≥P12

Will echoes from Kaduna quit notice on Igbos truly go away?

Myke Uzendu, Abuja

BUHARI

GOV. SHETTIMA

KANU

SHETTIMA

The controversial Kaduna declaration of June 6, 2017, during which a Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), ordered Igbo’s residing in the 19 Northern states to quit and relocate to the South East before the 1st of October, 2017 or be forcefully ejected has come and gone, but the ripples generated by the order still hangs in the air.

According to the group, “the persistence for the actualisation of Biafra by the unruly Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria” necessitated the declaration, that “from the 1st October, 2017, we shall commence the implementation of visible actions to prove to the whole world that we are no longer part of any federal union that should do with the Igbo’s,” the Kaduna declaration reads.

The declaration was further followed up with correspondences to the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the United Nations asking that Ndigbo be assisted to actualise their Biafra struggle while Nnamdi Kanu should be treated as a terrorist.

The Kaduna Declaration.

Arewa youth claimed that the declaration was consequent upon the “abusive and confrontational ideology promoted and campaigned for by IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu which has brought to the fore some of the most scariest and unacceptable treatise” such that they were left with no option than to come together and form the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) to begin charting a new future for the population of Northern Nigeria.

The CNG accused the Independent People of Baifra, (IPOB) of rolling out drums of war, calling for violence on other tribes, making fake and exaggerated claims of marginalisation, alienation of other countrymen from gaining access to trade and industry in the South East.

“While the Igbo are accommodated in every corner of the country to the point of owning landed and other immovable assets, they have on their part foreclosed all reciprocal possibilities by denying non-Igbo’s access to property all over the South-East” CNG stated.

Another sin Ndigbo committed was that they refused to let the Fulani herdsmen overrun their region and allow cows feed fat on their farms.

“The claim that some of the Fulani herdsmen were involved in the commission of some crimes is a mere smoke screen as there is no law that says the offense of an individual shall be blamed on his entire race. Besides Igbo men are severally found responsible for the commission of many vices, yet they are tolerated and accommodated in other Nigerian cities, towns and villages without blanket stigmatization,” they stated.

Further, the group alleged that the Igbo’s peddled hard drugs and infiltrated markets in the North with fake and hard drugs, subjecting Northern youths to the menace of hard drugs.

They said, “The infiltration of Northern pharmaceutical markets with fake, substandard, adulterated and hard drugs by some Igbo traders which persist despite modest efforts by some state governments

to stamp it.

“Drug abuse and supply of substandard drugs are used as political weapons to smear the North. The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency has placed Kano State, and by implication the North, as the first in terms of drug abuse in the country consecutively for several years while a World Health Organization research has pointed Kano as the location with the highest rate of fake anti-malarial drugs in Africa and by extension the world.

“While the North is the largest consumer of such products, its economic involvement is less than 5 percent of the total market value, with the rest hijacked and monopolised by people from the South-East of the country,” CNG stated.

The Abuja counter-declaration.

The group admitted that they “came under intense persuasive pressure from genuinely concerned national, political, traditional, religious and cultural leaders prominent among which were a section of the Northern Governors forum under its Chairman, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Northern traditional rulers and the Directorate of State Security” to reverse the order.

“As a consequence of these vigorous engagements and as cultured people with a tradition of respect for our national values, leaders and elders, we are today pleased to announce the immediate suspension of the relocation clause otherwise referred to as the quit notice from the Kaduna Declaration.

“We are also pleased to announce here that the Kaduna Declaration has achieved most of its major objectives, chief among which include forcing the hitherto deliberately neglected dangerous Biafra issue to the front burner of the nation’s discussion agenda,” the group stated.

Caveat to the Suspension.

Although the CNG gave no conditions for the suspension of the order, some terms were attached which government was expected to address immediately.

Government, they said, should support and allow Ndigbo to hold a referendum to decide their future either as Nigerians or as Biafrans.

“One of the key reasons why Biafra should be allowed to hold a referendum is because the principle of self-determination has, since World War 11 become a part of the United Nations Charter, which states in Article 1 (2), that one of the purposes of the UN is “to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of people.”

The group equally called for disarmament of all Ndigbo in the North alleging that they are stocking arms to attack the North as well as the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and sanction on members of the National Assembly who endorsed his bail bond.

“We insist on immediate steps to be taken for the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and for his appropriate prosecution while calling on the Nigerian Senate to demand that all Senators who stood surety for him in court rescind their bond or be suspended accordingly.”

Igbo’s speak on some of the issues.

Some people have debunked the allegations leveled against IPOB and Igbo’s by the Arewa youths as vague and false.

The Ohaneze Youth league, led by Chuks Dike, responding to the allegations that IPOB was going about their agitation in a violent manner, challenged the Arewa youths to produce any evidence of violent attack on any person or public utilities by IPOB. “The IPOB group has been conducting their activities in a peaceful manner. Nobody has been molested or killed. No public building, vehicle, police station, hospital or school has been burnt down. There is no record of molestation of any Hausa or Yoruba man living in the South East or constraining them to join the IPOB group” Dike stated.

The Chairman of Ndigbo in Nasarawa, Ekene Okwuoto said that the greatest fear of the Northerners was the success recorded by the seat at home order organised by Ndigbo for those who lost their lives during the civil war and explained that it was not part of the agitation.

“Ndigbo just recognised some Biafra veteran who lost their lives during the civil war.

The Federal Government also does same during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. “Ndigbo just decided to seat at home that day, suspend all activities and dedicate that day to pray for our brothers who died fighting for what they believe in and nobody is compelled to obey the order. So our brothers in the North should not be threatened by that show of solidarity,” Okwuoto said.

Nosa Akingbola in his reaction said that there is no evidence that Igbo’s are the sole marketers of hard drugs in the North, arguing that if they have facts, then they should approach law enforcement agencies for sanctions instead of quitting an entire race including those involved in legitimate businesses.

“I stay in Kaduna and everybody knows that illicit drug is highly consumed in the North. The level of consumption has more to do with illiteracy and idleness as most of them do nothing.

“Most of those drugs are sold in shanties and even the police cannot even go there to arrest the dealers because they have the backing of highly placed persons. Often foreigners are not involved in illicit selling of drugs because the consequence will be so grave for a foreigner to handle,” Akingbola stated.

Reactions on the quit notice.

Controversy has since trailed the Kaduna declaration. The governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, however, commended the coalition for withdrawing the quit notice, stressing that Igbo’s are very resilient and hard working people who build business bridges across the country.

Speaking in Abuja during the reversal of the notice, Governor Shettima said, “I am here to ensure that the quite notice is publicly withdrawn the same way that it was publicly declared in June. I don’t believe that majority of the Igbo’s subscribe to the Idea of Biafra. It is a tiny minority, vocal minority that is fermenting all these mischief.

“The hope of the black man rests with the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria, very

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Lack of internal party democracy bane of Nigeria’s efficiency – Princewill Tonye Princewill, a prince of the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State is a politician, businessman, and a successful film producer.

Princewill had tried his hands at the gubernatorial race for different parties in the state. In this explosive interaction with journalists in Rivers State recently, Princewill reasoned that the major problem of Nigeria has been the lack of internal party democracy. He also speaks on other issues at the state and national issues. AMAKA AGBU was there.

The act of carpet-crossing by politicians seems to have become the order of the day and you have even been described as a serial defector. How do you respond to this and to the belief that politicians do not have principles or integrity?

There are strong and genuine reasons for my defections. Since you asked, it will be fair I respond. Only somebody without principles will stay in a party without principles.

I have come to the conclusion that a lot of people don’t understand that if you are truly a person of integrity, and truly somebody who has the people’s interest at heart, you cannot belong to a party without integrity. If you continue to stay in a party that disregards integrity and disregards the people, it is an indication of selfishness and lack of integrity. May be the party is feathering your nest and for that reason, you stay.

I have always been a man of many endeavours. I have not relied on government or party. I don’t play politics for money. That is why when Amaechi and I fell out in 2014, I went out for him straight. They had nothing on me because I don’t compromise myself.

And that is why I can go now head-on with Wike because when I was in PDP, they found nothing on me. I have a history of constantly putting money into politics. I’m in politics to spend money. For instance, I donated the media centre at the PDP headquarters, Abuja, to the party. I know how much it cost me. So I am constantly on record for speaking my mind because I create endeavours outside of what you might call the political space.

The fact that people can define a person’s character by his choice of political party

all of that takes time. There was the actual production. When you finish production, you do post production. After the election we went back to conclude the post production.

So we have been doing it little by little. Other movies did not make a profit but this time I decided to make sure that 76 made profit. I dedicated my time and energy to ensuring that 76 was a success.

None of those activities involved Port Harcourt. It involved a lot of Lagos and of Abuja, especially to get the final permissions from the army. It involved Munich which is in Germany where we did our post production. It involved travelling the world for festivals. Now I’m not going to do all that and be sitting down in Port Harcourt. But I’m glad that the film was a huge success, winning Africa film of the year, best director, best actor, best actress and a host of other accolades, including the best Nigerian movie to have a Hollywood distribution deal. So I did not run away from Rivers State. I did not abandon Rivers State. Rivers State has always been on my mind. But I decided as a business man to focus on my businesses, as an entrepreneur to focus on my entrepreneurial endeavours because we cannot live off politics without compromising ourselves.

PRINCEWILL

shows the shallowness of their minds. How can you be defining somebody by the person’s choice of political party?

Unfortunately, too many of our people, not just in Rivers State but nationally, tend to look at individuals and character in a very shallow manner.

So your choice of party does not define you. Let’s be frank.

Ask yourself why the person is moving. I’m moving to APC not because I’m in love with APC. I’ve told everybody who cares to listen that my love is for the state. That’s my priority, not party, because I don’t see one party as significantly different from the other. What you find are the individuals in the parties. That’s what makes the difference. And if you are fortunate enough you will find like minds within the party.

Normally, people go to parties for their political ambition, to serve their interests better. I’ve always said that for me after what PDP did to me and other gubernatorial aspirants in the 2015 primaries, those who remained there deserves awards for people who can take anything, otherwise, you can’t scheme out aspirants in that manner and expect them to be loyal to that same party. I was absolutely surprised at the people who still remained there in PDP after that. I could not stay there. The party that behaves that way does not deserve my support. And so I moved on. That is my character.

As far as I am concerned political parties are vehicles for people to realise their ambition. The question is: is your ambition a personal ambition? Or is it a group ambition.

In this case for me it is a state ambition. I am moving or crossing because I know that APC and I working together is a better combination to address what you might call the impotence of the PDP. Mine is not a personal ambition, unless you want to say that my ambition to move my state forward is personal. So I think that rather than criticising people crossing carpets, ask yourself why they are doing that. Why did Tonye cross to APC. There is a story, there is a reason.

But if you want to simplify it, you will be saying that Tonye Princewill is just crossing because of what he will gain. That is far from the truth.

I’m coming to APC now not because I love the party, but because we need a stronger opposition to the PDP. And I believe that joining the APC will strengthen the APC. I believe that joining the APC would improve its chances at the polls. So if we have what you might call scattered opposition that is good news for the PDP. And as you can see I’m not interested in good news for the PDP. You have been out of politics for quite some time now. Why did it take you so long to bounce back? And why did you choose the APC? I’m coming to APC now not because I love the party, but because we need a stronger opposition to the PDP. And I believe that joining the APC will strengthen the APC. I believe that joining the APC would improve its chances at the polls.

So if we have what you might call scattered opposition that is good news for the PDP. And as you can see I’m not interested in good news for the PDP. Yes, I’ve been out of politics for quite some time now. I am a man of many parts. In 2007, I did my first film entitled 76.

The film was shot in 2012 in Ibadan. We did not release it because I focused on 2015 elections. After the elections, we went back to finish 76 because, if you know anything about movie production you will know that there is pre-production. If any of you had watched the film, you would notice that everything about it was 1976. To even get the cars and arrange

Now that you are back to the APC I would like to know where and how you fit into this crisis-ridden party in the state. What do you intend to achieve from a divided party?

I believe that what is happening in APC Rivers State has not taken a political crisis dimension. The situation is over rated. I can analyse it and break it down for you because I watched it from a distance. What is going on now has made APC to recognise that it has work to do. Recall what happened to PDP governorship aspirants in the primaries that produced Wike. Don’t forget that the primaries that produced him was state’s. Look at the ward congresses and the LGA congresses before that. Then you will understand what a crisis situation is.

I’m not coming to APC now because of my governorship ambition. I’m coming because I want the party to be strong.

So when I hear crisis, it makes me laugh because I’ve spoken with Senator Magnus Abe and Dr. Dakuku Peterside. The reality of it is that personal ambitions are now secondary. But in politics some people will argue that it is their ambition that strengthens the party. It is just a differing of opinions, differing of views, deferring of priorities. There is no doubt about this. There are tensions, but those tensions are mild.

As my brother Opunabo Inko Taria often says, conflict is a function of interaction. There is no how that you have so many people interacting that you would not have conflicts.

So let us not overplay what is going on. Magnus Abe, Rotimi Amaechi, Dakuku Peterside, ultimately will resolve the issues and people who are playing on this crisis would have ridiculous looks on their faces in future. My role in the APC now is peace-making. I want to show people that they can be involved in politics without having personal political ambition. I always said that politics is too important to be left to politicians. We all must be involved. I’m here to build the party, to help bring my own grassroots techniques to help move the party forward. Ultimately I believe that if you combine Amaechi’s doggedness, his grace, because he has a lot of that, I have to give him that, with the grassroots support, and relative sincerity compared to PDP, I think we can give PDP a run for its money. Defeating them? That’s God’s choice. But definitely let’s improve them because PDP is taking Rivers people for granted. No budget, nobody is talking about it. The media is afraid because you don’t have life and security in your hands. A lot of you have been expired in the past. So I can’t blame you. But if you give some of us the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

11 Politics

‘Lack of internal democracy is Nigeria’s bane’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

opportunity, we will put the PDP government in Rivers State on notice. Constituency projects, projects being awarded and nobody knows the cost.

How is the APC’s internal misunderstanding and then the APC-PDP political fight affecting development in the state?

Even the simple fight between APC and PDP in itself is driving investors away. There is nothing stopping Wike from collaborating with Amaechi to bring more benefits to the state. We have two sea ports and two airports. We have land mass. We are a corridor for East to West. We have a Minister of Transport and we have a governor of one of the richest states in the nation. Are all these reflecting in the state? Amaechi has finished his tenure as governor and gone. Now that Wike is here, is it now his responsibility to rally round, break and overcome all barriers and make Rivers State a great state? I believe the answer is yes. The governor should be creative, very intelligent and understand the need to bring people together. It’s not about APC or PDP. I expected that Wike, in his wisdom, because Wike is not a fool, he’s a very smart guy, would have to understand that he cannot do this alone. I say he is smart because Wike has successfully convinced Rivers people that their problem is APC. When you were in AC, you had a lot of structures, especially the Princewill Political Associates, PPA. You moved into Labour Party with the organisation. But since you ventured into APC, little have been heard of PPA. Why did you form it, in the first place, and is that organisation still relevant?

One of the things I said when I joined the APC was that I was no longer interested in my governorship ambition. I don’t see myself coming down to contest for governor again. That is the truth. I believe that we should be encouraging the younger people to come up. So for strategic reasons, playing up my political family is counterproductive.

I want them to be part and parcel of APC. I don’t want them to have an identity that is too loud because that ultimately makes it look like I want to contest for governor. I want my people to be APC members through and through. I want them to show their strength by their works.

Why did we form PPA? When we were leaving AC to join PDP, they were blocking our people. They didn’t want our people to join because they felt that we were coming to contest in the 2011 election. They didn’t know that was not our intention. We were leaving AC because we were fed up with the blackmail. So in that fear, they created barriers for us. I then realised that if I join the party my people would be outside. So I formed the PPA so that our people will still have their identity. I asked Amaechi whether we should dissolve the PPA when we joined the PDP since I had dropped my governorship ambition for the 2011 election because I noticed that some of his lieutenants, particularly Wike, were uncomfortable about it. He said no, I should keep it. He assured me that he will supervise the orderly transition of our members from AC into PDP. So why am I still keeping PPA? But he insisted that I keep it. That’s the only reason why we kept PPA. PPA was kept first of all to ensure the transition was smooth.

But I must be honest with you, in the APC now, the party has really helped with the transition. So there is really no need for PPA apart for sentimental reasons.

You were in the PDP but later left because you were not treated well. What is the guarantee that you will not leave

PRINCEWILL

if APC treats you badly?

The answer is there is no guarantee. If I’m not treated well, then I will leave.

As a business man, do you agree with Dr. Okonjo Iweala’s statement that the economic recession we are experiencing is, partly, caused by the negative utterances by Mr. President at the early stage of his presidency?

I will say yes and no. I say yes just for the fact that when you hear someone speaking, you must ascertain where the person is speaking from. She was speaking from the position a PDP government. She was in a sensitive position as Minister of Finance.

Some of what you might call truths of her statement might also have what you might call biases as well. I will give you a typical example. When you frighten investors, their natural reaction would be to want to collect back their money and move. So she is right in saying that some of the utterances that came in the early days of the new administration definitely frightened the markets, investors.

You have to understand that one of the financial indicators that matters a lot is government’s reserves. How much does a country have in its reserves? You may not know this but when Jonathan took over from Yar’Adua, Nigeria had an excess of $60billion in its excess crude account. By the time he left, it has fallen to $10billion. If the financial market gets a simple glimpse of that kind of financial indicators, it will frighten investors because it shows a government that is not equipped to deal with emergencies.

We notice how the dollar is dropping on a daily basis. This is partly because of the infusion of foreign exchange into the market by the CBN. CBN is infusing foreign exchange into the financial market whereas in the previous administration, they were infusing it into the PDP. So for people to say that had no impact on where we are today means that they are not connecting the dots.

I want to say that utterances, actions, the idea that you are giving certain sector of the economy access to foreign exchange and not giving others can result in people withdrawing their money. In fact, not just withdrawing money, but changing their money from naira to dollar. It means that the demand for the dollar becomes higher. And you know what demand and supply is. It means price

One of the core problems we have in Nigeria is lack of internal party democracy. If we are truly producing candidates who are popular and are speaking on behalf of the people at the state governments, legislatures, Federal Government, National Assembly as true representatives, then decentralisation of power, whether via state police or via increased resources from local government level to state and federal, restructuring can be easily achieved. is altered. So without a doubt, utterances would have had an impact, but let me say something. A lot of people don’t recognise that any government or every government makes mistakes. It is natural, especially a government that has not been in power for such a long time. Some of these sensitivities may not be immediately obvious. Nigeria is a very powerful country. We have a lot of interests. A lot of people have their eyes on us so we may not realise that an utterance here or there, as Wike has demonstrated recently, go a very long way. When Wike mentioned that he would revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of NOVOTEL Hotel, he may not have realised the significance of a statement like that, that people in Paris and Washington, and all the corners of the world were amazed that their interests and investments would be so threatened.

Financial mismanagement is a factor too.

But you see if you continue to blame the previous administration, what ultimately happens at the end of the day is people now become insensitive to that blame. They will say it is enough, that you can’t keep blaming people and tell you to get things done. And I think we should take our criticisms in good faith but let us recognise that things are now on track and progress is being made.

The debate now is on restructuring and I am sure you will agree with the fact that Nigeria needs to do things differently. In your view what manner of

restructuring do you think would move the country forward?

Well discussion is on-going, but I think that I can say without any equivocation that Nigeria needs restructuring. I think the government has an enormous opportunity here. Why do I say that? I have checked the word restructuring in the dictionary and it has a simple definition and it is very powerful. It says `restructuring is the improvement of an organisation or an entity to improve its performance. I don’t know why there is resistance to restructuring because in itself, restructuring is not defined to the point where you are restricted. Last time they just announced that creative industries would have tax rebate. I did the film entitled 76. I know how much money we spent, I know how much tax we paid. If I do 76 now the difference on financials will be huge. That is restructuring. There are so many things and so many angles to restructuring that government needs to look at to see what they can do now and what they can do later and do it. The idea of rejecting restructuring, to me, is not wise.

I think that the APC government should address restructuring in a manner that is reasonable; otherwise, it will affect them at the next election. I believe that government should look at restructuring since the country is not as efficient as it should be. All that is expected is to make the country a little more efficient. Even the Treasury Single Account, TSA, is a form of restructuring. I know the benefits of TSA. There is no doubt that the centre is too heavy and decentralisation is important, but you see we have to be very careful. One of the core problems we have in Nigeria is lack of internal party democracy. If we are truly producing candidates who are popular and are speaking on behalf of the people at the state governments, legislatures, Federal Government, National Assembly as true representatives, then decentralisation of power, whether via state police or via increased resources from local government level to state and federal, restructuring can be easily achieved. But right now we have power in the hands of people who have gone through no internal democracy. They are not truly the products of the people. They are not even truly the products of the parties they claim to represent; therefore, giving such people, or even increasing power, is going to be a discomfort.

So for me I believe that we should decentralise, but do it only when we have issues of internal democracy straightened out.

You are a creative person. You said you don’t want to vie in APC this time around. Why do you want to be redundant in a party even with your power of creativity?

The power of creativity is even the more reason why you don’t have to be a governor.

The power of creativity is to be valued. In 2007 I worked with Amaechi creatively. I believe that we can be proud of what we did in 2007 and 2011. Actually, if you are creative, you can add value even more if you are not a governor. I’m glad that people walked up to me and said that 76 was the best Nigerian film they have seen. We were able to, even outside of politics, to show value and make contributions. And so for me I have been able to demonstrate that I do not have to be governor to add value.

Secondly, I really believe that we have to come away from this idea of ‘it must be me’.

If we are going to be honest with ourselves, a true executive is an executive that learns how to build the next generation, how to build capacity. So what we should be doing now, as individuals, is preaching the gospel to the next generation. The next generation can come and lead. Like I said I think that I’m bigger than governor now.

12 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2. 2017

UPP demands involvement of EFCC in South-East politicians praise Buhari, Oyegun, challenge Obiano’s re-election election monitoring in Anambra Myke Uzendu, Abuja

Patrick Okohue, Lagos

The United Progressives Party (UPP) has demanded for the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the forth coming governorship election in Anambra State to checkmate money bags from buying over the voters.

The party equally challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to live up to its words by putting everything in place for the electronic transmission of election results from the polling centers to INEC central database.

The UPP Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie stated this in Abuja while handing over the Certificate of Return to the party’s flag bearer Chief Osita Chidoka for the November 18th governorship election in Anambra State.

Okorie said that the involvement of EFCC has become necessary as aspirants in the last election lured voters with N5,000 at the public glare, adding that policemen who were monitoring the election could not arrest the money bags, responding that it was not part of their assignment at the polling stations but to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

“I wish to recommend if only for the Anambra election, the EFCC should be part of the monitoring team. In 2013, we saw people carrying sacks of money close to polling stations, and they were paying N5,000 to every person who proved that he voted for a particular political party.

“When the attention of the police was

Leading politicians in the South-East have applauded the contribution of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to the stability of the country, calling him a tremendous character.

They also praised President Muhammadu Buhari for improving security in the country, strengthening the military, boosting economic development, advancing democracy and fostering harmony in Nigeria.

After its meeting attended by several political parties in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the leaders in a communiqué read by the Chairman of South-East Unity and Advancement Forum (SEUAM), Chief Maxwell Okoye, emphasised the harsh realities of power in Nigeria before the emergence of APC. “His ability to inspire confidence and love in Nigerians is quite remarkable,” the leaders said.

They berated critics of the second committee set up by APC to reconcile the warring factions of the party in Kogi State.

“Those for whom reason and consistency are the major virtues will look with admiration upon Chief Odigie-Oyegun for his handling of the ruling party, the high degree of intra-party democracy, his principled stance

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

economically enterprising, prosperous indefatigable race, a very proud people and I am proud to call them my brothers and sisters,” Shettima stated.

Also reacting, the former Kaduna State governor, Balarabe Musa, condemned the quit notice, saying that “saboteurs” were behind the declaration which was a threat to Nigeria’s unity.

“The quit notices are designed to escalate tension in the country and promote disaffection among citizens. Clearly, the issuers of such notices are irresponsible groups being backed by some people in their respective regions to issue the notices. Such backers and saboteurs are ready to undermine the unity of the country for their own parochial ethnic and political interests.”

An Igbo elder who resides in Kano, Eze Dr. Boniface Ibekwe, Eze Ndigbo in Kano and President General of all the Eze’s in diaspora commended the coalition for suspending the notice and pledged to dialogue more with Kanu so that he can drop his agitations.

In the same vein, Nathaniel Ajegena Adigizi, the leader of North Central Peoples Front, described Ndigbo as a people with traversing business spirit.

“It is always better to have peace. The level of investment of Igbo’s in Northern Nigeria is extremely high. We have two classes of nomadic, we have the nomadic Fulani and we have the nomadic Igbo’s.

Everywhere you go in any constituency in Northern Nigeria, you find an Igbo trader there and we have been living together for years.”

Yerima Shettima, the Leader of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum and the voice behind the Kaduna declaration, appealed for calm and re-assured Ndigo of their safety in the North after the declaration was reversed.

“There is no need for them (Igbo) to go anywhere. Before we arrived at our deci-

OKORIE

drawn, the police who had obviously been compromised said that they were invited to maintain law and order. They were not invited to chase after those who were carrying money or giving bribe” he stated.

The party chairman further said that the party will accept the outcome of the election if INEC fulfills its own part by electronically transmitting the election result to the INEC central server to avoid result mutilation which was the order of the day in previous elections.

He said that INEC earlier demonstrated its capacity to carry out the electronic transmission before party leaders, civil societies and other stake holders, insisting that INEC must not succumb to pressure from those who prefer to get into the government house at all cost.

ODIGIE-OYEGUN

on the protection of fundamental human rights and prevalence of the rule of law in the country as well as the organisation, discipline and direction of the ruling party” The leaders who talked about the current political scenario in Anambra State described Tony Nwoye’s victory as “well deserved” “The credible, free and fair governorship primary is the beginning of victory for the party in Anambra State.”

They commended Oyegun for not overstepping the mark or trespassing on the rights of Nigerians, particularly members of the ruling party.

Specifically, the leaders hailed Oyegun for developing the ruling party through intra-party discussion and orderly rational persuasion.

‘Will echoes from Kaduna quit notice on Igbos truly go’? sion, we consulted widely. Our people are not violent. We have leaders and when they speak, we obey them,” he said.

IPOB rejects withdrawal of quit notice.

But IPOB has rejected the withdrawal of the quite notice by the Arewa youths. In a statement the IPOB’s spokes person, Emma Powerful, said the withdrawal was inconsequential as far as IPOB aspirations were concerned.

“It is inconsequential to IPOB whether the ‘quit notice’ was rescinded or not because it will in no way impact the pace and direction of our effort to restore Biafra. If they had any honour, they will ‘stick to it,” he said.

However, Balarabe Musa said that such rejection was not relevant because IPOB cannot force Igbos, who had chosen to live in the North to leave by October 1, explaining that the Northern youth group that issued the quit notice did not have the power to implement their threat.

Uncertainty even as quite notice is suspended.

Despite its withdrawal of the notice, there is still apathy among Igbo’s resident in the North that the region may still be unsafe for Ndigbo and all foreigners as the October 1st deadline approaches.

This may have led Governor Shettima to stress the importance of withdrawing the quit notice publicly and early.

“We simply want to prevent a situation where some hoodlums will take advantage of the quit notice to go after the lives and properties of any Nigerian living in any of the 19 Northern states. We further don’t want to create room for reaction from any of the 17 states in the Southern part of the country as the entire country could easily explode,” Shettima said.

But IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, has advised Southerners living in the North to vacate the region despite assurances by the coalition on their safety. ”Southerners were massacred in the pogroms of 1966 and 1967 after similar assurances were issued then that people should remain in the North.

“The presence of a serving governor and senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the supposed press briefing confirms what we have always known that the incitement to genocide, which is what the ‘quit notice’ is all about, has the blessing of the Arewa political class.

“We urge all Southerners in the core North to return home before October 1 as history will most definitely repeat itself,” he added.

Averting further crises.

Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, one time Permanent Representative of Nigeria, at the United Nations, during a Justice and Peace Conference in Abuja recently, stated that war and crisis re-occurs if issues that led to the crisis were not properly addressed.

Some have also postulated that to avert further crisis from the declaration, government must as a matter of urgency set up a special task team in the 19 states of the North to beef up security in the region as a signal to those who intends to ferment trouble, else, the North will still experience a panic exodus of Igbo’s and other non-Northerners before October 1st due to security concerns.

There is no doubt that Nigerians are more divided now, due to allegations of lopsided distribution of wealth and appointments and bad governance incubated by some antidevelopment policies in the system which has remained for decades.

The issue of restructuring is one of the challenges this administration must tackle.

The how, when and extent may vary but the fact remains that restructuring which according to Oxford Dictionary means “to organize something such as a system or a company in a new and different way” is inevitable if we must remain a peaceful, progressive and united nation.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has already taken the right step by setting up a committee to articulate the position of the party on restructuring, and there is hope that the committee will come out with a popular position that will douse the tension.

Recall that when former governor Adams Oshiomhole during the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) colloquium tried to muddle the issue of restructuring as a creation of politicians who lost elections, he was booed and he confessed, “I think I get the message”.

Government must separate the messenger of restructuring with the message.

There must be sincerity from government and the determinations to look at issues dispassionately. Federal Government must boldly thinker with the content of its exclusive list, devolve power and strengthen governance at the grassroots. This radicalism will make local governments more responsive and state government more responsible.

The National Assembly must listen to the demand of the people and revisit some sections of the constitution which deals on devolution of powers for unless the lawmakers are ready to look at it with nationalistic rather than parochial eyes, there will continue to be cries of marginalisation in the system.

The fact remains that only the lawmakers can get the country out of this doldrums and only the spirit of unity, devoid of regional, religious and ethnic sentiments is required to attain this status.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Recall threat: Ben Bruce visits constituents amidst protests

Philanthropist moves to save motorcyclists with 150 crash helmets

Akam James,

Sunday Nwakanma

ÏÏÏThe

ÏÏÏIn a move to save motorcy-

Umuahia

Yenagoa

Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Director General of The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Engr. Mustapha Maihaja has ordered the immediate dispatch of (7) 30 tons trucks to Markudi to assist victims of flood disaster in Benue state.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday in Abuja and signed by NEMA’S Head Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti.

According to the statement, the order was sequel to a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari, that a reinforcement of another contingent of humanitarian officers and relief materials be sent to state to assist victims of flood disaster.

The team, headed by Director (Search and Rescue), Commodore Paul Ohemu from the Headquarters in Abuja will include a team from Benue state, officers from the North Central

Zonal Office in Jos, and they have been directed to deliver the materials immediately to the affected persons in the various locations and assess the situation for further supports.

“As an emergency response, seven (7) 30 tons truck has been despatched to the state and are due to arrive Makurdi on Friday, 1st September, 2017” he said.

The Director General sympathized with the affected people and assured that NEMA would work closely with the Benue State Government in providing them with the necessary succour.

You may wish to recall that the lood disaster started on Sunday, August 27, and it affected residents of Nyiman BIPC Housing Estate, Achusa districts and many other parts of the state capital as a result of natural and man-made causes which were avoidable if the government were more prepared and the people less negligent.

13 News

Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Mr. Ben Bruce, has finally bow to pressure of his recall threats by his constituents mainly students who threatened Bruce to begin a process of recall, as he meets with stakeholders amidst protest.

The people had lamented that the senator was not in good relationship with them and also shying away from constituency responsibility.

The aggrieved constituents had earlier issued 10 days ultimatum which elapsed 31 August 2017, for the senator to organise a town hall meeting with his constituents or face a mass protest at the National Assembly.

The Senator who arrived the Ijaw House venue of the town hall meeting along Alameiseigha expressway, hours after

the people waited and called off the meeting but later reconvened was smuggled in and out of the hall through the back door by stakeholders to avoid embarrassment.

Mr, Ben Bruce, while addressing the people, appealed for understanding from the people, adding that he is doing so much for the people but it is a difficult situation he found himself at the upper chamber.

He also said” Don’t take your anger to the point where you disrupt meetings, if I walk away I still remain a successful person but it has not helped you in anyway”

clists in Abia, a philanthropist, Mr Tony Ndu, has distributed 150 crash helmets to commercial motorcyclists, popularly called ‘okada operators’, in Ohafia and Arochukwu.

Ndu made this distribution during a one-day sensitization on safety measures organized by the Ohafia Unit Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission, in collaboration with his foundation, Tony Ndu Foundation, stating that the gesture was part of his contribution to promote safety driving among commercial motorcyclists in the area.

While stating that the helmets were donated to encourage the beneficiaries in their efforts to earn a living, the philanthropist said that the sensitization was meant for the commission to educate Okada operators on road safety measures and need to strictly comply with them.

He admonished motorists and Okada operators to appreciate road safety officials as “our guardian angels, caring for our safety on the road” rather than enemies.

Glo gives 15% unconditional bonus on electronic recharges

ÏÏÏNigeria’a

Relief materials donated by NEMA to flood victims

foremost telecommunications company, Globacom, is offering its new and existing subscribers 15 percent unconditional bonus for every recharge they make electronically.

According to a press release from the company’s head office in Lagos, Glo said its subscribers would henceforth enjoy the unconditional 15 percent bonus airtime when they recharge with N100 and above.

The offer commenced since 1st August 2017, and is available on all tariff plans and does not adversely affect the full benefit of the subscriber’s existing plan such as G-Bam, Infinito, Free Tomorrow and Glo Bumpa.

The e-channels covered include Bank USSD recharge codes, mobile banking apps, Automated Teller Machines, Glo’s *805# USSD recharge code, Glo Café, Online/web merchants, Point-Of-Sale terminals and direct purchase from Glo retail outlets.

“The subscriber will receive 15% bonus on the value of the airtime purchased.

For example, if you recharge N200, you will receive N200 plus N30 bonus, totaling N230 airtime value. N200 is credited to your main account while N30 is credited to your 15% bonus account” Globacom said.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Police dismiss corporal for murder, arrest 304 suspects, promote 144 officers Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos Commissioner of Police in Plateau State Peter Ogunyanwo, has said the command has dismissed a police officer who shut and killed a citizen.

“Police under my watch must be human in dealing with the public, that was why we dismissed a police corporal who killed someone. The officer was tried and convicted, after has been charge to court”.

In another twist, the Commissioner has also decorated 144 police officers who were due for promotion, haven contributed positively to the force.

Mr. Ogunyanwo made the disclosure yesterday in Jos, during a parley with newsmen.

He also said the command arrested 304 suspects within the month of July and August, with 235 criminal cases still pending at the command, adding that 2 out of 6 vehicles stolen in the state in the month of August was also recovered.

However in appreciation for good work and encour-

Lawmaker lauds Wike for projects in Abua/Odual LGA Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ The

ÏÏÏ

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris

aging officers to sustain the tempo, the Commissioner gave cash award to three officers for arresting 4 suspects who allegedly kill a clergy.

Daily Times reports that the benefiting officers are three Deputy Superintendent of police (DSPs), who were promoted to the rank of Superintendent of police (SP), while 140 police Inspectors, were equally promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of police ASP making a total 144 officers promoted at the Plateau State Police Command in 2017.

14 News

The Federal lawmaker representing Abua/ Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Mrs. Betty Apiafi, has declared Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, as the first governor to execute mega projects in Abua/Odual Local Government Area in the past 25 years.

Speaking on Thursday after donating equipment to the General Hospital, Abua, reconstructed by the Wike administration, Mrs. Apiafi commended Governor Wike for bringing healthcare close to the people of Abua/Odual Local Government Area.

The Federal lawmaker also expressed happiness that Governor Wike was constructing a N2billion

road in the Local Government Area, saying: “The Executive Governor of Rivers State decided to reconstruct and rehabilitate 13 General Hospitals in the state and General Hospital, Abua, was one of them.

You can see that the hospital is really beautiful.”

The House of Representatives member stated that she resolved to equip the General Hospital, Abua, as her part of her constituency project and support for the efforts of Governor Wike to transform the area.

She continued: “I felt my little contribution to support the work of the governor is doing in terms of infrastructural and human capital development is to equip this hospital as part of my constituency project.

“This is to ensure our

people get quality healthcare. For this Local Government Area, Governor Wike is the first governor in 25years to flag off the on-going construction of a road worth N2billion. He has also reconstructed a general hospital within two years. He remembered an abandoned Local Government Area, like Abua/ Odual,” she said.

Mrs. Apiafi said that Governor Wike has performed more than the expectations of the people, adding that after a stakeholders meeting the Rivers State Governor pledged to link up the Odual Section of the area by road.

She also commended the Rivers State Governor for the ongoing reconstruction of selected Primary and Secondary schools in Abua/Odual Local Government Area.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Caroline Walk said that the reconstruction of 13 General Hospitals in the state was a major programme to improve healthcare delivery across the state.

She commended Mrs. Apiafi for equipping sections of the General Hospital, Abua, as part of her constituency project.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abual/ Odual Local Government Area, Mr. Oladipo Ogu, said that Governor Wike deserved a second term for his projects delivery in all parts of Rivers State. He praised the member representing Abua/Odual/ Ahoada East Federal Constituency for equipping the General Hospital, Abua, as her constituency project.

Musical overflow concert comes up Sept. 3 Azubike Nnadozie

ÏÏÏ The

annual gospel Musical Concert Overflow is billed to hold on Sunday, September 3rd, 2017 in Lagos. The gathering of praise, which is organized

by Passion and Praise music ministry is her 15th edition themed ‘Rejoice’ will feature notable gospel artistes and other anointed men of God. In a statement issued by the organizer, Team Lead Passion and Praise Funmi Oloyede, disclosed that Passion and Praise’s vision was borne out of the desire to rekindle true worship in the body of Christ. The concert which is one the group’s expression of her mandate held its first edition in 2002, since then it has been a reawakening moment each edition.

She added that, it has been 15 years of grace and fulfillment. ‘In spite

of challenges, disappointments and pain, what has been the propelling force is knowing that I do God’s bidding per time’.

Oloyede further said that, the power of tenacity has kept the team this far. 15 represents rest and it’s no coincidence that Passion and Praise is fulfilling the purpose. ‘The year is significant for us because 2017 is a year of jubilee. The concert will feature notable gospel singers including pastor Kingsley Ike, Titi Oloyede and Aden Solomon. It promises to be a life transforming event.

Our mission: Annual concert, Monthly Worship Altar, Retreats, Worship Academy, Conferences and outreaches. Passion and Worship was established in 2002 to contribute to the development of worship and leading men to understanding worship in truth and spirit.

Muslims faithful observing prayers, during Eid-El-Kabir celebration at Phase 3 Kubwa Muslim Community Praying Ground in Abuja… on Friday.

Katsina,Sokoto,Kebbi, rail line contract yet to be awarded -NRC boss Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The managing Director of the Nigeria Railway corporation, NRC, Engineer Fidet Ohira, has said that contrary to popular misconception that President Mohammedu Buhari, have influenced the awards of rail line contract in katisna and other three states in the north West such as Sokoto State kebbi and Zamfara States respectively.

Engineer Ohira, while speaking to journalists, after presentation of

memorandum in the just concluded 15th annual national Conference of National Council on Transportation NCT, held in Sokoto state, said that the stage in which the rail line is at the moment does not require the hews and cry being experienced by Nigerians, adding that the rail line to Katsina State that passes through Daura the local Government of Mr. President was approved by former President Good Luck Jonathan.

According to Engineer Ohira, “the contract award of this rail line has not been done this is because we are still at the stage of designing of the project. So it is difficult for any one to arrive at any amount of money involving the contract and this is because the design determines the contract”.

On the progress made so far in the modernization programme of the railway lines across the country, he said that the NRC recently received 10 additional coaches already in Abuja Idu national station

which will be added to the old ones to complement the transportation system in Abuja to Kaduna line.

The MD NRC, revealed that the additional coaches, will ensure increase in the running of services in a day. “what this means is that we are close running of hour to hour ser vice as it is done elsewhere in the world. If you visit countries like China, people catch trains in hours not in days or weeks. Ones you miss the first train you wait for another the next hour and that is what is supposed to be”.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

15 Column

The stuff that speeches are made

Guest Columnist MOHAMMED ADAMU

V

‘

As the ‘speech’ defines the ‘occasion’, and as the ‘occasion’ also defines the ‘speech’, great moments of decision making are not to be attended with the distractions of unmerited anecdotes.

Buhari had ‘occasion’ to address matters touching on the survival of the state itself. He would have done great disservice to the ‘occasion’ if he had bored the nation with the details of his health condition.

He would vainly have elevated his personal affliction over the affliction of the State.

’

irtually all who have issues with Buhari’s recent state broadcast after his last return from medical vacation, say that it either lacked ‘depth’ or it lacked ‘length’ -or both. Many of those may have hoped that if only Buhari had spoken a little ‘deeper’ or maybe a little ‘longer’, he just might have said that one ‘thing’ –whatever it was- that they had always wanted to hear. And for those who wanted him to have resigned, it would not have mattered if Buhari had given a onesentence, ten-words, five seconds speech. You bet that would not have been too ‘short’ a speech -provided it contained his resignation. In fact, they would suddenly have become connoisseurs of great speeches in history and would have happily praised its pristine brevity.

And for those who had looked forward to an exposé of the gory details concerning Buhari’s health –for reasons we all know- it would not have mattered if he had read a book that day -for a speech.

Nothing would have been too ‘lengthy’ –provided every word of it had dripped with the tragic tale of a malignant condition meriting the President’s removal or impeachment. Truth is Buhari’s offence was not that he gave a ‘short’ or ‘shallow’ speech. It was that he refused to make it a resignation speech, or at the very least to raise his personal affliction above the affliction of the state.

Concerning what is an acceptable ‘length’ to a ‘good sentence’, an author of a book of grammar I cannot now recall, said that when Abraham Lincoln was asked ‘how long he thought a man’s legs should be, he said “long enough to reach the floor”-inferring that a ‘sentence’ should be long enough only to make a ‘sense’. Or that a ‘sentence’ is only as ‘long’ or as ‘short’ as the ‘sense’ that it makes. Just as a ‘speech’ too, should be only ‘long’ enough to convey the message intended by its maker. The ‘size’ of a speech is not necessarily responsible for what it contains or what it does not contain. The maker of the speech decides what to or what not to put in there, notwithstanding the size of the material. Thus the shortest speech is not necessarily the shallowest. Nor is the longest speech necessarily the most profound.

The shortest message was said to be a ‘question mark’ (?) sent by an author to his publishers; and which they understood to mean: ‘how is the book doing?’, ‘are we doing well?’, ‘will we smile soon to the bank?’. And they replied in

Buhari like manner, with an ‘exclamation mark’ (!), which he too understood to mean: ‘yes, the book is doing great!’, ‘we’ll definitely smile to the bank, soon.’

And although a humorist had said that a speech should be like a woman’s night gown: Long enough to cover ‘everywhere’ but transparent enough to reveal ‘everything’, it is still the prerogative of the maker of it to decide what to ‘cover’ or what to ‘reveal’. The object of a speech is not to be ‘long’ or ‘short’; or to be anything in between. It is to effectively communicate the intended message of its maker. Just as the secret of ‘success’, would be different concerning different situations and concerning different goals. To a personified ‘calendar’, ‘the secret of success’ will be always to ‘keep up to date’; and to the ‘refrigerator’ to ‘keep cool’; or to the ‘hammer’, to ‘drive hard’; or the ‘knife’ to ‘be sharp’ or ‘glue’ simply to ‘stick to it’! The goal of every ‘speech’ is ‘to communicate’ the intended message of the communicator.

It is said that any material will be unnecessarily ‘long’ if it is written ‘from a desert of ideas and a flood of vocabulary’. But that every material should be written ‘from a plenitude of ideas and economy of words’. Said H.G. Bohn, author of ‘Handbook of Proverbs’: “Deliver not your words by number, but by weight.” Which is not necessarily an indictment of lengthy speeches.

A speech should be lengthy if it has to be lengthy. And it is the reason lexicographers say that writers must not be contented with meager dictionaries. For as they ask, rhetorically, “why starve when we have the lord’s plenty?”

Nonetheless, comparativelyspeaking ‘short’ speeches are preferable always to ‘long’ ones. When you write speeches, said former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Be sincere, be brief ”; or as the French writer and poet Jean de la Fontaine said “the shortest works are always the best”; or the Spanish writer Baltasar Gracian, who said “Good things, when short are twice as good”; or the U.S. born British writer and critic Henry James, who averred that “In art economy is always beauty”. Or the mightiest of them all, Shakespeare who said “Brevity is the soul of wit”.

Besides, those who are in the business of writing -whether as professional speech writers, or as speech makers who write their own

speeches- know that it is easier to write long speeches than to script short ones. Good, short speeches although they are not made by many words, they are made by many man hours. To have to say so much in so short a time, or to have to cram so much in so small a space, will require a certain amount of ‘inspiration’ and ‘perspiration’. In answer to an invitation to make a speech, Woodrow Wilson said “It is easier to talk for longer period than to talk briefly. If you want me to talk for ten minutes I’ll come next week. If you want me to talk for an hour I’ll come tonight”. someone said that “Language is the armory of the human mind, and at once contains the trophies of its past and the weapons of its future conquests”. That famous Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy”, (referring to the day the Japanese attacked America’s Pearl Harbor), was contained in a 517-word, two minutes speech to Congress as America prepared her entry into the Second World War. Should Roosevelt have used a wartime speechmaking occasion to elevate his own personal affliction over the affliction of the state?

Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s similar address to the British Parliament a year earlier on the same subject, was a 15-paragraph, 626-word, three-minute speech in which he was to say to a war-nervous nation, “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”. Churchill who had described the German threat as “a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime”, could not have used a wartime speechmaking occasion to discuss personal afflictions over the afflictions of the state.

Queen Elizabeth’s 1588 famous speech which inspired a timid English army to defeat the “invincible Armada” of King Philip II of Spain, was a one-paragraph, 331-word, one minute affair. It was the speech in which the spinster Queen whose rejection of the marital overtures of the Spanish King resulted in a threat of war, said “I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king.” And as she affirmed her faith in a “famous victory”, saying “Let tyrants fear” because “I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general”, the occasion evidently

was inauspicious for the elevation of personal afflictions over the afflictions of the state.

About a thousand five hundred years ago, a three-paragraph, 182word, one-minute speech delivered extempore by the Roman Empress Theodora, saved the life and throne of her husband, -a timorous Emperor Justinian- who was ready to flee to avoid massacre in an impending rebellion. A stubborn Theodora had said in that speech “Those whose interests are threatened by extreme danger should think only of the wisest course of action.. .

Flight is not the right course, even if it should bring us to safety. It is impossible for a person…not to die; but for one who has reigned, it is intolerable to be a fugitive. If you wish to save yourself My Lord, there is no difficulty… (but) reflect for a moment whether, when you have once escaped to a place of security, you would not gladly exchange such safety for death.” The royal train stayed back; and the rebels were slain.

A flight to safety would have elevated personal affliction over the affliction of the State. And as martyrdom was the occasion for this speech, Theodora said she chose the ‘royal purple as the noblest shroud’.

Which is the same as saying: “A crown or else a glorious tomb”.

As the ‘speech’ defines the ‘occasion’, and as the ‘occasion’ also defines the ‘speech’, great moments of decision making are not to be attended with the distractions of unmerited anecdotes.

Buhari had ‘occasion’ to address matters touching on the survival of the state itself. He would have done great disservice to the ‘occasion’ if he had bored the nation with the details of his health condition. He would vainly have elevated his personal affliction over the affliction of the State. Such inanity, –at that material time- would have availed neither him nor the tribulated State.

Nor would Buhari have made the desired impact if he had delivered his ‘words’ that day, lengthily by ‘number’ and not briefly by ‘weight’ -like he did.”

That historic 1863 speech of President Abraham Lincoln in which the Union’s commitment to the Principle of freedom was re-dedicated at Gettysburg, was a two-paragraph, 266-word, two minutes affair widely recognised till today as ‘one of the best short speeches since the Sermon on the Mount’. The renowned orator, Edward Everett who also spoke at the occasion, wrote Lincoln a day after to commend the speech’s all-encompassing succinctness and to say that even he (an orator) could not have come “as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours” as the President did “in two minutes.” And to which Lincoln replied saying “In our respective parts yesterday, you could not have been excused to make a short address, nor I a long one.”

Lincoln was referring to the accepted fact that ‘length’ in speech is to orators not a vice, and that it is to everyday speech makers like the President, that ‘brevity’ is a virtue.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Crime

s

17

Housewife alleged murder sparks-off trouble at FMC Asaba Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Allegations of negligence, and other related acts have continued to brew trouble at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, Delta State following the death of one Mrs. Rita Uchebuego in the hospital few weeks ago.

While the scores of the shocking death of the housewife who was pregnant with twins, and was later delivered of the babies before she allegedly gave the ghost to negligence hitherto raises dust of seriously controversies, the hospital management through the Acting Medical Director, Dr. Victor Osiatuma said the housewife died of blood transfusion reaction, and denied the claims of negligence its related acts as untrue.

The deceased’s hubby, Mr. Ngozi Uchebuego at a media conference yesterday in Asaba, told journalists that he married Rita Uchebuego on the 11th of June, 2016 at the House on the Rock Assembly Church, Asaba upon their relationship while she was in camp in Issele-Uku as a corp member, adding that after their marriage they both lived together as husband and wife but in the happiest discovering that she became pregnant with twins.

According to him, on the discovery of her pregnancy, we proceeded to register for ante natal services at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba wherein a patient’s card number FMCP/0270822 was issued to my wife” disclosing that one Dr. Ojenuwa Sunday Abiodun was assigned to his wife as consultant to oversees her wellbeing till she delivered.

But this he said, was not to be as sooner than later, the hospital went on strike, and during the pregnancy of the strike action, one Albert Omate, his friend recommended Graceland Specialist Hospital/Maternity to him, where he met one Dr. Maduakor, who doubles as a consultant obstetrician/gynecologist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba.

He alleged that Dr. Maduakor, Chief Medical Director, Graceland Specialist Hospital/Maternity insisted he register his wife with him for same ante natal services; a request, Uchebuego claimed was immediately granted and registered his wife in the hospital, and was consequently issued with a patient card number 2666.

He said: “Dr. Maduakor became my wife’s doctor by virtue of which he conducted series of tests on her in respect of her pregnancy and from one of such test results, he De. Maduakor told me that my wife has blood shortage issues in her pregnancy because she was carrying twins”.

He further disclosed that at the subsequent called-off strike action

Ï6ƑƄƄƕ ƋƋƆ Ɔ Ɛ ƏƆ Ɛ Ɛ ƋƈƇƆè Ɔ Ɨ Ƈ Ə Ƌ Ɠ ƅ ƑƏƐ ÏLƆ ƕ ƗƆƐ ƈƋ Ƈ Ɠ Ɛ Ɔ Ƒ ƆƓƈƇƆ ƗƈƆƗ Ƈ ƋƋƆ ƆƗ Ɔ Ƌƈ Ɔ ƅƆ Ï6 ƍƈƐ Ƌ ƌ ƆƌƆ Ɛ ƗƆ ƈƆ ƋƋƆ Ɛƈ è ƅƋ ƈƌ Ɔ ƗƈƆƗ Ƈ ƄƋ Ɨ ƐƏ ƇƑ ƈ ƏƆ ƅƐƈ

Mr. Ngozi Uchebuego

at the FMC, his wife resumed attendance at the ante natal clinic, adding that Dr. Ojenuwa her consultant, confirmed her Expected Date of Delivery (EDD) to be the 10th of March 2017, but on Monday the 6th day of March 2017, “my wife, Mrs. Rita Uchebuego was at the ante natal check up at the hospital where Dr. Ojenuwa discovered that her blood pressure was 160/100mmHg, and advised that she should be admitted to monitor her blood pressure till the following day”.

He said that the following day being the 7th of March, 2017, he requested his mother in-law to

join him at the hospital upon his returned from a site where he had gone to deliver a job he completed, but to his surprise he met his wife passing through excruciating pains, and her stomach visibly moving faster while her screaming lasted.

“This made me terrified, and so I enquired to know what the problem was but was told that she had been induced by the nurse on duty on Dr. Ojenuwa’s instruction, I did not know what it meant to be induced” the visibly angry Uchebuego told the journalists.

Narrating further, Uchebuego said he was shocked when it was

revealed to him that inducement can only be done when permission had been sought, and obtained from the expecting mother, and her husband, adding that he was unsettled and immediately requested to see Dr. Ojenuwa rather his efforts to see him met a brick wall as he was nowhere near the hospital premises.

He said: “this put me in a position where I was left in the dark so I demanded to know why they induced my wife when they earlier told her that they were only admitting her to monitor her blood pressure, and her EDD was still far away but the nurses asked me to calm down that my wife would soon put to bed” disclosing that with the assurances, he dashed out of the hospital to deliver some survey plans to his clients, only to return and met his wife in serious pains, informing him that she was induced the second time without her consent.

He added that his wife on the 8th of March 2017 was rushed into the labour ward where she was allegedly forced to push but yielded no positive result when she tried and failed, and was booked for an emergency cesarean section after she had suffered two failed unauthorized inducements.

During her labour process, Uchebuego alleged that his enqui-

ry as to who performs the cesarean operation turned out to be Dr. Maduakor his wife private doctor; a situation he breathed a sigh of relief but waited endlessly for Dr. Maduakor who refused to show up adding that after a while one Dr. Adigba came into the labour ward and performed the operation after two pints of blood donated to her.

“At about 1:30pm, my twin beautiful baby girls came out from the theater, and the surgery ended at about 2:00pm when my wife was rolled out of the theater to the O&G ward with a pint of blood connected to her body through her hand” he said.

Regretting that his wife was alleged killed due to the hospital’s doctors/nurses’ negligence, Uchebuego disclosed that he met the wife struggling with Oxygen fixed on her, and fearfully beckoning on him to come and assist her on his returned to the hospital on the 9th March, 2017 from his house but could not do much as he did not know anything about oxygen neither does he know how to fix it, rather he shouted for help only for one Nurse Egbuobi to have shouted back at him; a situation he suspected a foul play, and no sooner he was praying the wife, she gave up the ghost.

“Since my wife gave up the ghost, I have getting strange calls to my life, and I have vowed to get to the root cause” he alleged.

But his team of lawyers, led by Barr. Dumbili Chinonso Emmanuel told the journalists that though investigations were ongoing following their petitions to various stakeholders, adding that it was crystal clear based on oath of Dr. Ojenuwa and Dr. Maduakor at the Federal High Court Asaba that the hospital’s negligence and willful act resulted in the death of Mrs. Rita Uchebuego.

Barr. Chinonso Emmanuel disclosed that the hospital’s Acting Medical Director, Dr. Victor Osiatuma allegedly gave series of contradictions in his reports, saying that his reply to the body constituted to investigate their petitions were in variance with their findings.

He said: “in fact the Acting Medical Director, Dr. Victor Osiatuma in his response to our findings, claimed he was still investigating which had ran fowl of the certification of the blood as fit for administration on Mrs. Rital Uchebuego by the Lab Scientists at the FMC”. Barr. Chinonso Emmanuel therefore demanded that Dr. Victor Osiatuma be sacked while others be made to face disciplinary action of the law.

18 Crime

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

4 teenage cultists, robbers smashed by Police in Abia Joy Anyim Four teenagers suspected to be members of the notorious ABC cult group wrecking havoc in Abia State have been arrested by operatives of the state Police Command.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeleye Oyebade who paraded the suspects alongside others at the State Police Officers Mess in Umuahia stated that the suspected cultists were arrested by operatives attached to Isiala-Ngwa North Division, during a raid of suspected criminal hideouts at Mbubo Nsulu Isiala-Ngwa North.

The suspects identified as David Adieze; 18 years old, Chinemere Isaac; 14 years old, Chimezie Moses Francis; 17 years old and Okon Effiong Samuel; 19 year old were arrested with one locally made Revolver Pistol, two rounds of live ammunition and charms.

The Commissioner of police stated that the suspects are been interrogated by the police and will be charged to court once investigations have been rounded up.

In another development, the State police boss also paraded a suspect in possession of a Laptop belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

He disclosed that one Eberechi Nwaeze of Osaa-Ukwu village had made a distress call to the police that one Maduforo

Iheanacho of same village burgled his house and carted away his belongings.

Patrol team attached to Ohuru Isimiri Division Aba swooped on the said Maduforo Iheanacho and recovered two sets of ZINOX Lap-Top Computers property of INEC and other items belonging to Eberechi Nwaeze during a search of his house.

Briefing news men on the other breakthroughs made by the police in the state, CP Oyebade also said, “one Okpaleke Chima of No. 1/3 Aba Owerri road Aba, had reported at Central Police Station Aba that three unknown armed men who claimed to be Naval Officers came to his motor park at the above address, dragged his motor boy, one Chidiebere Obioha into his white coloured Toyota Hummer bus with reg. no. NSH 884 YW and drove away.

“Sequel to the report, a team of detectives attached to the Police Station was drafted to go after the hoodlums. The detectives tracked down the vehicle to Owerri, Imo State and arrested one Obinna Ekere who is 35 year old while others escaped.

“The suspect confessed that the vehicle was given to him by his younger brother to his wife, a student of Maritime Academy in Delta State named Michael Chimaobi Obiakor. “ Speaking further, he said acting on a tip off, operatives attached to Anti-Kidnapping Section (D7) of SCIID Umua-

hia in collaboration with the vigilante group in Amuzukwu Ibeku Umuahia, arrested one Chikodi Okoronkwo who is 20 year old from Amuzukwu Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA, Abia State.

He said the suspect had with two others at large robbed one Ifedikwa Sochima ’of Uwalaka Street Umuahia of his valuables. Subsequently, one Oyiam Thankgod aged 18yrs a fleeing member of the gang was arrested by the investigating team. One machete used in the robbery concealed in Jean trousers worn by Chikodi Okoronkwo was recovered.

The Commissioner of police said the suspects have confessed to the crime and more efforts are being intensified towards arresting other fleeing members of the gang, and subsequently arraign in them in court.

The teenage robbers

Suspects who snatch cars from churches arrested

The suspects

Three suspects notorious for car snatching in churches within Anambra and its environs have been arrested by the the Anambra State Police Command.

It was gathered that the suspects Monday Uche(64), Sunday Ofoekwe(42) and Joseph Chikezie (60) - were arrested based on a tip off from a concerned member of the public after several cars had been moved from different churches.

The State Police Spokesperson, ASP Nwode Nkeiruka who paraded the suspects disclosed that Uche and Chikezie had conspired with the duo of Okowa and Johnson who are still at large and removed one Toyota Tacoma with Registration no:KGS 735 KS from where parked at St. Michael catholic Church Amakioha Owerri.

She said, “After the theft it was reported to the police and investigations launched into the matter, the suspects were tracked down by the Anambra State

police Command and arrested at Nnobi town idemili south LGA of Anambra State.

“One stolen Toyota Tacoma Jeep was recovered from the gang, 25 bunches of keys, one master key, one federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) jacket, one federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) banner, two number plates: MUS 515 AX Lagos, NSH 109 FM Anambra, one emergency Tyre pump, one Toyota ignition key seating, sets of spanners, Anambra State Vigilante ID card, were all recovered from the gang “The suspects also confessed to the crime and are assisting the police with useful information and will be prosecuted when investigations has been completed.”

Similarly she called on the good people of Anambra to be security conscious at all times and report any strange observation or suspicious movements to the police or other security agencies promptly.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

News 19

Eid-el-kabir: Ganduje calls for vigilance, cleanliness

Glo gives 15% unconditional bonus on electronic recharges

Yakubu Salisu, Kano

ÏÏÏAs the Muslim Um-

mah celebrates Eid-ElKabir, Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has called on them to be security conscious during and after the festive period. Governor Ganduje, in a Sallah Message, said though President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has recorded impressive success in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges, there is need for the people to remain extra vigilant and conscious of suspicious movements during and after the festivities.

The Governor also urged Muslims to emulate the dedication and total submission of Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismai’l, who were ready to undertake Allah’s Command for the sacrifice of the latter, before a Ram was brought as a replacement by Angel Jibril on Allah’s command.

Wthile wishing all Muslims happy and peaceful Eid-El-Kabir celebration, Governor Ganduje urged them to maintain cleanliness as they slaughter and prepare their sacrificial animals. He also called on them to be cautious of what they eat to avoid contracting avoidable diseases.

Governor Ganduje reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensure good health for the people and clean environment, demonstrated in the recent employment of over 2, 000 health workers and 1, 000 sanitary inspectors by the state government.

Governor Ganduje also prayed for the safe return of pilgrims who went to Hajj, just as he called for continuous prayers and support for President Muhammadu Buhari, who just returned from London, on medical vacation. Governor Ganduje, however, emphasized the determination of his administration to continue to improve the wellbeing of the people through policies and projects that have direct impact on the lives of the people.

L-R: Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu; Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Alhaji Jelili Okewole; Master Rahmon Amosun and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, during the 2017 Eid-El-Kabir celebration at Lantoro Praying Ground, Abeokua, Ogun State… on Friday.

Concerned Nigerians protest against corruption Atolagbe Tawakalitu and Babalola Mujeeb

ÏÏÏ

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma Thursday said that Nigeria has moved out of recession in the non oil sector adding that other sectors of the economy would record positive growth by the fourth quarter of 2017.

The Movement against corruption (MAC) has declared serious war against corruption and corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors of This was declared in a protest which was headed

by Dr. Mrs. Joe Odumakin and other members of the steering committee of MAC. The protesters started their march from Ikeja under bridge, Lagos and then proceeded to the Lagos state house of Assembly Alausa, Ikeja holding red cards and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Say No to Corruption”, “If we don’t kill corruption, Corruption

will kill us”. “Enough is Enough” and singing different war songs.

In an interview with members of the press, Dr Odumakin made it known to Nigerians that the mission of the protest is to eradicate total corruption in Nigeria by issuing red cards to all corrupt public officials. She said “Movement against corruption is a coalition of over seventy (70) civil society organizations.

People think that corruption is not their business but the business of the institutions. This is going to be different because we are not just protesting but want to eradicate corruption and make people know that it is their fight.

This movement is one that will pilot all other movements across the country simultaneously.”

She further stated that corruption is cancerous and urged Nigerians to stand up and fight for their rights which include improvements in the health sectors, education

sectors, and reduction in the level of unemployment in the country. She disclosed that if these damaged sectors are remedied, the rate at which people travel out for medical treatment and acquisition of higher education will reduce drastically.

The protesters marched into markets, motor parks and eventually the Lagos state house of Assembly where they demanded the see the governor or his representative for a lasting solution to the cause of their protest.

Another member of the steering committee, Barrister Inibehe Effiong during an interview with Daily Times correspondent s against corruption should be holistic. He urged the federal government not to pursue Diezani alone but should go after other corofficials who have stolen the patrimony of the citizens of Nigeria. He also appealed to the judiciary, press and Nigerians to be committed to the fight against

corruption because the presidency cannot do it alone without their support and commitment. He urged the presidency to strengthen the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and also ensure mutual relationship with the neighboring countries in other to retrieve Nigeria’s lost glories.

In another interview with pressmen, Barrister Ugwumadi Malachy, another member of the steering committee declared “The corrupt elements of just end here there are still other strategies that we will use to achieve our aim.”

After several minutes of waiting, the representative came out to address the protesters telling them that the Governor is aware of the effects of the corruption on Lagosians and Nigerians at large. He appealed to the protesters to calm down and promised them that actions will be taken to remedy the situation very soon.

Army officers combat competition ends in Lagos Iniobong Iwok

ÏÏÏThe 81 division of

the Nigerian Army Lagos, Officers combat proficiency competition which began last Monday and hosted by the 9 brigade Ikeja, has ended.

In his closing remark, the General Of-

ficer Commanding of the division, Major General Peter Dauke, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Army to the continue training of junior officers for the task ahead, adding that they were future leaders of the force.

Dauke commended the competitiveness of the competition and the enthusiasm of the participating officers, adding that objective of the competition had been achieved.

He charged the officers to remain discipline and discharge

their duties in a professional manner, adding that the division has commence preparation for pending operation stressing that officers should remain Focus and dedicated to Service in the period leading to and the operation which would be tasking.

Nigeria’a foremost telecommunications company, Globacom, is offering its new and existing subscribers 15 percent unconditional bonus for every recharge they make electronically.

According to a press release from the company’s head office in Lagos, Glo said its subscribers would henceforth enjoy the unconditional 15 percent bonus airtime when they recharge with N100 and above.

“The subscriber will receive 15per cent bonus on the value of the airtime purchased. For example, if you recharge N200, you will receive N200 plus N30 bonus, totaling N230 airtime value. N200 is credited to your main account while N30 is credited to your 15per cent bonus account” Globacom said.

According to Globacom, the bonus comes with validity periods of between seven days and thirty days, depending on recharge value.

“Bonuses on e-Top Up amounts below N1000 have seven days validity, while bonuses on e-Top Up amounts between N1000 and N1999 have 15 days validity. Similarly, bonuses on e-Top Up amounts from N2000 and above are valid for 30 days.”

The operator further stated that the 15 per centeTop Up bonus can be used to call and text any GLO customer in Nigeria. To check bonus balance, all the customer has to do is dial 122.

Globacom described eTop Up as the most convenient, stress-free and hassle-free recharging method that enables Glo subscribers to recharge anytime and from anywhere without having to purchase and scratch a recharge card.

The company said this is both environmentallyfriendly and is also consistent with the drive towards a cashless economy.

Globacom pledged to always strive to develop products that meet the expectations of their customers.

The telecom company added that its e-Top Up service gives the most value for money to subscribers who recharge electronically in Nigeria. It called on all subscribers to use Glo e-Top Up the next time they want to recharge their lines, or that of family and friends.

Photos News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Eid-El-Kabir in photos

President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd left) and others, at Daura Praying Ground, Katsina.

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu AbubakarIII, at the Sokoto Central Praying Ground, Sokoto.

Muslims faithful at Ile Zik, Ikeja, Lagos.

L-R: Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Barrister Tobi Ashafa and Alhaji Sulaiman Elegbede, at Magodo Expressway Praying Ground, Lagos.

Fun seekers at the Shoprite, Ikeja, Lagos.

Some children of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Malkohi, Yola, Adamawa.

L-R: Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and others, at Lantoro Praying Ground, Abeokua, Ogun State.

Chairman, Osun House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strateg, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye (2nd left); Chief Imam of Ibokunland, Alhaji Bello Tijani (2nd right); Chairman, Ibokun Muslim community, Alhaji Wahab Adeyemo (right) and Baba Adinni, Ibokun Muslim community, Alhaji Yekini Farayibi, during the at Ibokun Praying Ground, Osun State.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Court extends detention of Cameroonian activists

Bonny Amadi with agency reports

ÏÏÏDespite a presidential order on Wednesday to free activists arrested in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions, the Yaounde military court has extended the detention of over a dozen people.

The court released the leaders of the Anglophone region including Lawyer Felix

Study rates kissing, cuddling, romance among preferred sexual behaviours

ÏÏÏA new US survey released

by American University has revealed that greater number of people still prefers the bedroom sexual behaviours of kissing and cuddling.

The Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington and the Center for Sexual Health Promotion researchers carried out the study which is the US nationally representative study.

The research ranks as the first of its kind to gather data on a wide range of sexual behaviours not hitherto studied before in the general population.

Nkongho, Dr Neba Fontem, and Ayah Paul Abine together with some other detainees on Thursday.

However, an unknown number including radio show host Mancho Bibixy had their detention extended till September for judgement by the military court, local media report.

Communications Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary told AFP that between 50

21 Foreign

Cameroon Anglophone protest

to 70 people have been released.

“All those who have no blood on their hands, all those who have not broken or defaced the symbols of the state, all those who have not set fire to schools and institutions will be released,” he said on Thursday.

55 people are reported to have been released by the end of Thursday.

Sarah Harding and Chad Johnson

CBB winner, Sarah Harding, has no regret cheating on her fiancee ÏÏÏWhile

in the live camera wired she enjoyed a sex, romance with Chad Johnson, 30, in the TV house despite already being in a relationship with her fiancée, Aaron Lacey.

In her first newspaper chat, since leaving the show, Agency reports said that Sarah Handing the pop star, 35, insisted the only choice for her was to cheat.

SARAH Harding says she has no regrets about cheating on her lover on her way to winning Celebrity Big Brother. She said: “At the end of the day I was in a very brief relationship before I went into the house. It was a matter of weeks, so it wasn’t very serious.

“Every day in the house is like a week and Chad became a good friend to me and we got close. It felt like we’d known each other for six months. So

I had to weigh up the options. And you can’t compare what I and Chad had to dating someone briefly.

“It was a very careful consideration. It was a long process. It wasn’t taken lightly…I’m not that kind of person. I was in a very unfortunate situation where I wasn’t in a position to deal with it properly.”

Aaron, 33, is said to be “devastated” by the way Sarah has treated him. But she insisted: “I never regret. I don’t like to look back on my life and have regrets. I don’t look back in hindsight. It’s too late.

“In life the only thing you can do is learn from your mistakes and maybe next time approach it differently.”

Sarah has hinted she will not be in contact with Aaron about her antics on CBB

22 News

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Sallah Message: I see a new brand Adamawa State- Anna

Philanthropist enrols 3,000 IDPs in free summer classes in Plateau Kingsley Chukwuka,Jos

Tom Garba, Yola ÏÏÏAn

international business Woman who is an indigene of Adamawa Northern Senatorial zone based in Abuja said this year’s prayers of Muslims faithfulness in marking the Eid-el Kabir sallah celebration is no doubt a prayer that will rebrand not only Adamawa state but the entire country.

Sini in her Sallah message where she enjoins the people of Mubi North, Mubi South,Madagali, Michika and Maiha to pray more for the health of Mr President,Muhammadu Buhari for God to give him revamp Health to lead the country in the right direction.

According to her Nigerians from all works of life have resorted to the powers of prayers for God to intervene in the myriads of the political, insecurity and economy problem bedevilling the nation. ‘’If our leaders are succeeding we will succeed, if they are sick is no doubt we are sick too because leaders are the head and whatsoever affects the head affects the entire body.’’ Anna Said She congratulated the Governor of Adamawa state,Senator Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow and indeed the entire Muslims Ummah for witnessing this year’s sallah celebration. ‘’The brilliant performances in infrastructures and other sectors of the state’s economy are zeal and passion you have to Show us you really meant well for our people. Thank you for being a faithful steward.” Anna Said While congratulating the entire Northern Senatorial Zone for the Eidel kabir celebration she call on them to give the Governor a maximum support to do more in order to take the state out of the crutches of underdevelopment.

Fun seekers at the Millennium park Abuja… on Friday. Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Emir asks government to reduce cost of food items Kehinde Akinpelu , Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

The Emir of Ilorin and chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday asked the nation’s leaders to device means of reducing the escalating cost of food items.

The Emir lamented that it was becoming very difficult for Nigerian masses to eat three times daily due to exorbitant cost of food stuff.

Sulu- Gambari made the appeal in his Sallah message shortly after Eid-el- Kabir prayer at the Ilorin Yidi praying ground.

The Emir who prayed

for peace, tranquility and resuscitation of the nation’s troubled economy, said “ it’s high time that our leaders across the three tiers of government do something about the escalating cost of food stuff. “ He asked God to continue to guide the nation’s leaders aright so that the task of moving the nation forward would be easier for them.

While urging Nigerians to give their leaders necessary support, the monarch said that rejuvenation of the nation’s economy is a collective responsibility of all Nigerians.

Earlier, in his sermon,

the chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammed Bashir Salihu who led the two- rakah prayer, urged the affluent to always cater for the needs of the poor masses in their localities.

He also enjoined public office holders across the country to make deliberate efforts towards ameliorating the suffering of the Nigerian masses.

Salihu asked Muslims to continue to co- habit peacefully with the adherents of other faiths, saying that Islam abhors violence in all ramifications.

At Issa Elelu mosque along Murtala Moham-

med Way, I Waliy- Kamal, reminded Nigerian leaders that they are holding offices in trust for the electorate.

He advised them to rule with fear of God and attend promptly to the yearnings of those who elected them into office, adding that they shall in the hereafter give account of their stewardship before their creator.

The Imam urged Muslims to reflect on the import of Eid-el Kabir and imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, tolerance and obedience that brought about the festival.

Eid: Muslim faithful call for peace, unity Some Muslim faithful on Friday appealed to Nigerians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, to close ranks, to enhance peace and unity in the country.

The Muslim faithful, who were, among others, celebrating this year’s Eid el-Kabir in Lagos, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in various parts of the metropolis, including Idimu, Ikotun, Mushin and Iponri.

They said that it was imperative for Nigerians to always love themselves, and work to foster peace and unity amidst the nation’s diversities.

The Chief Imam of Mushin, at the Ojuwoye Central Mosque, Alhaji

Luqmon Aganran, enjoined the Muslim faithful to use the Eid celebration to reflect on how to promote peaceful co-existence in the nation.

“Today is the Eid elKabir celebration. On this day, let us all appeal to Nigerians and my Muslim brothers and sisters to be fearful of the commandments given to us by Allah.

“We all must strive to love ourselves, live in peace and unity anywhere we may find ourselves.

“We need to know that our creator created us in peace and we must endeavour to continue to live in that peace and unity,’’ he said.

Aganran also appealed to young Muslims to resist

every form of inducement to terrorism, saying that he does not see terrorists as human beings.

Alhaji Usman Obabiyi, the Chairman of the Ikotun Central Mosque Committee, also said that the festival was a time for Muslims and other Nigerians to embrace peace.

Obabiyi said that most Nigerians ought to be working as good ambassadors of peace in their various communities, businesses and organisations.

“The extent to which we are urgently in need of peace, love and unity in Nigeria today cannot be overemphasised.

“We need peace and unity in our homes, offices, businesses, organisations,

communities, indeed, everywhere we may find ourselves,’’ he said.

Alhaji Ayinla Kadiri of the Iponri/Surulere Muslim Community Mosque, said that it was important for Nigerians not to allow a wrong understanding of religion to affect the nation’s peace and unity.

“We must know that Islam has always been a religion of peace and would always remain so.

“There is an aspect of the Holy Koran that says that you have your religion and I have my religion.

“What this means is that you must not compel any other person to forcefully take to your religious beliefs.

Over 3,000 internally displaced pupils in Plateau central zone have been enrolled in free summer holiday classes, courtesy a young development activist, Dr. Hassan Jingina.

The program under the Jingina Empowerment Foundation (JEF) is aimed at restoring hope to the IDPs as well as enabling them become useful to themselves and the general society, its spokesperson, Mr. Akims Mamot said in an interview with newsmen in Jos .

According to him, “The program is also designed “to keep the children busy over the long vocation so they don’t engage in vices that would be harmful to themselves and the society.”

“The program which is part of the foundation’s objectives of meeting the health, educational and social needs of the less privileged especially crisis victims aims to identify outstanding talents for further educational support, Mr. Mamot said.

He said, “it will be giving scholarship to the overall best from Jss 1, 2, 3 and SS1, 2 and 3.

“The foundation shall take up sponsorships of the best students by paying their WAEC and NECO as well as JAMB exams.

“It will also sponsor the University education of such children who top .”

The program will continue as long as the foundation exists, the spokesperson said.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Features

23

s

Humanity: How waste water drowned five communities in Oke Aro, Ogun State Oyindamola Idris and Ebele Obi

The flood in the compound and living rooms in the pictures on this page is not from the rains of heaven.

Residents of the affected area have not, at any time, asked for “showers of blessing”. Believe it or not, the waters are uninvited “stay-put” guests from the Adiyan Water Works, the Ogun State based station of the Lagos State Water Corporation - and the victims are residents of five communities in the Oke Aro area of Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State. The worst hit is Iludun community, Matogun Road, Agbado, Oke-Aro. Following the incessant release of waste water from Adiyan Water Works, residents of the five affected communities - Iludun, Alade, Orisunmibare, Magbara and Moboluwaduro, on Monday, July 10, 2017, staged a peaceful protest to register their anger and frustration over what they described as untold hardship brought upon them by Lagos stated owned Adiyan Water Works, situated at Agbado, Ogun state, but no positive response came from Lagos State Government.

Chairman of Iludun community, Evangelist Olade Odulana, lamented that the wastewater from Adiyan water works has made life miserable for every one of them.

“Our environment and properties have been destroyed. We have complained for over two years now, and our pleas and complaints have fallen on deaf ears.’’

Genesis of the problem Some of the affected house owners, Mr. Makinde and Mrs Afolabi disclosed the root cause with our correspondent: First, the water company channels its waste water through these communities to a nearby river. Now, the great volume of the waste water became so much that over time, the access route to the river became totally blocked. The channel route has now become a very deep and wide gully that has grown big trees which become death traps in an area where thousands of people dwell.

A bridge over the river has also been blocked as the gap between river and bridge is no longer up to two feet due to the rise in water level which has risen up to eight feet above its normal height.

Attributing the problems to negligence and the nonchalant attitude of Lagos state Water Corporation, the residents say all the Lagos State government needed to do “Is to dredge the river the more, because it was

Ï`Ɔ ƈƗƆ Ɛ ƈ ƗƈƋƆƌƌ ƅƏƕ ƑƐ

The sorry state of some of the homes and properties destroyed by the waste waters

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosu

Lagos State governor, Ambode

dredged last about nine years ago. Instead, they abandoned it, forcing us into this endless, inhuman condition. This destruction has rendered us homeless these two years, yet Lagos and Ogun state governments have turn deaf ears to all their complaints,” they said.

“See, the waste water which has now flooded our homes and communities has grounded most of the daily activities that make us part of the human community,” Afolabi lamented.

“Fish now swim in our rooms!’’, cried 11-year-old Bola Arogundade. “I can no longer go to school because our home is destroyed and even our school has been overtaken by flood. We don’t have a place to stay any-

more.”

Another resident, Taye Arogundade, painted a pathetic picture of the situation. “There is no dangerous animal we have not seen. We have seen scorpions and pythons; what we won’t wait to see before we act is crocodile! The sad thing about the wastewater they release is the fact that the water is not ordinary water we know; it has chemicals that are very dangerous to one’s skin.

“All I have laboured for all my life have been destroyed. I used to have a house I built, but I now sleep in the church or anywhere the night meets me,” he said.

The Lagos State Government story

A drowned living room in Oke Aro

When our correspondents visited the Lagos State Water Corporation, a top official who spoke in confidence, said steps were underway to bring the situation under control, but there is an unresolved issue on ground.

“I hate to say certain things, but in a situation like this, I am compelled to talk. Some of the houses affected in the communities were built on lands that originally belong to Lagos State Water Corporation, but so-called Baales connived with people and sold the land to unsuspecting buyers, and some projects we are supposed to embark on have been stalled by this development.”

Denying the allegation, Odulana said, “It’s not true that the houses affected are on lands owned by government. We are talking about five communities here. They have their land fenced. All the places affected can’t be in government’s master plan.’’

Chairman of Iludun community, Evangelist Olade Odulana accuses Governor Ambode of insensitivity to their plight.

“Can Lagos state government accept this? See how the waste waters have been destroying our properties, damaging our environment and rendering many of us homeless for over

two years now.

“We have exhausted all channels to plead for intervention but authorities have turned deaf ears to all our complaints.

Every day, they release high velocity waste water and the flood breaks into our homes as you can see in these photographs.

Governor Ambode is keeping Lagos clean while building it up to become a mega city, but see how he is drowning us in OkeAro, damaging our environment. See how they are dealing with citizens of another state from where they produce clean water Lagosians drink.”

A desperate plea to Gov Amosu “Governor Ibikunle Amosu, we are your citizens. Please don’t forsake us. Come and deliver us from the hand of oppressors. We are crying for help.

We are not refugees or aliens; we are your own native people.

If Lagos State Government wants to annihilate us, please arise and Save Our Souls,” the Evangelist pleaded.

Stop Press: News reaching our features desk confirms that in a move to correct this situation, the Lagos State Government has ordered the demolition of all the buildings along the affected areas and the bulldozing is ongoing as you read this.

24 Feature

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Chewing gum: The good, the bad and ugly consequences you must know Franca Sulem-Yong Chewing-gum, a fun chewy household name is a product you would most likely find in the pockets and bags of people of all ages and sexes across the globe. Dating as far back as the Neolithic period, this confection comes in a variety of flavors (ranging from mint to fruit flavors... and even licorice!), and has a long history in many countries.

Unlike many candies which contain sugar and can wear down a person’s enamel and teeth without continual brushing, dental professionals say some gum types have been created to have helpful properties, and can be a benefit to overall tooth care. Whether done mindlessly while working, driving, just sitting in class or jiving, chewing gum is still en vogue today and opinions about it abound.

One of the most apparent effects of chewing mint gum is the instant fresh breath that it provides. A good mint flavored gum can help to get rid of those foul smelling bacterium that live inside your mouth, replacing them with a much more pleasant smell (as well as making for a better first impression on a first date or job interview).

Loveth Onuigbo Chiamaka, a University of Lagos student who visited The Daily Times office in Lagos, acknowledged that, whether we chose to admit it or not, keeping your mouth shut for a long time would produce a not-too-pleasant odour, even if you had brushed your teeth beforehand. This would irritate and annoy people when you speak and they would think you are a dirty person who does not brush his or her teeth.

Therefore I always chew mint gum when I am conversing with people.”

Hygienic benefits Chiamaka’s opinion confirms report of a research by the Health Site, which suggests that, maintaining a good oral hygiene is a must for everyone; and chewing our favorite sugar-free gum can prevent tooth decay as it cleans up leftover food on the tooth surface, thereby increasing saliva production which cleanses the oral cavity and teeth.

Lagos financial analyst, Yoseni Oluwatosi, contributing to the discourse, revealed that chewing gum helps her to relieve hunger. “I feel satisfied and don’t feel the need to eat when I chew the gum; it also helps me curb other feelings like nausea. I cannot stand the smell from public buses as they make me feel nauseous, so I take on chewing gum as my remedy,” she disclosed.

A study conducted at Louisiana State University, showed that people who chewed gum after eating lunch had less food cravings later in the day and generally crave less for sweats.

To others like Veronica Dailu, a receptionist in Lagos, chewing gum is key to keeping her alert. “When I feel sleepy, tired and weak at work, all I need is chewing gum to bounce me back to life.” blood flow booster A United Kingdom based 2009 study among several others recently suggests that chewing gum can boost your mood while combating stress, tension and high blood pressure. According to Dr. Andrew Scholey, co-author of that 2009 paper and director of the Centre for Human Psy-

Chewing-Gum packs

Chewing gum and blowing into bubble chopharmacology at Australia’s Swinburne University, “There is evidence that chewing gum increases blood flow to the brain by 25 to 40 percent. That boost will last for about 20 minutes, but that’s enough to wake your brain up and get ready for the day. This may contribute to the increase in alertness that is consistently associated with gum chewing.”

A junior high (SS3) student in Fortuneland College notes some other “silly benefits” that accruing from chewing gum.

“One of them is the excitement you get from the bubbles and the crispy sound you get when you chew. Also, chewing gum makes you look cool in front of peers.” She explained that as a “Soft looking person, I often get bullied by peers. But when I chew gum, I look tough and no one dares to bully me!” she said, suggesting that one of the reasons

why teenagers become addicted to chewing gum is to curb boredom and look tough.

Addiction, HeAdAcHes And pAin Against this backdrop, a general medical practitioner at the Agboola hospital in IjuHills, Lagos, Dr. Tunde Agboola, cautions that as beneficial as the act of chewing gum may be, the main thing people should watch out for when chewing gum is addiction, warning that addiction may lead to headache and facial pain. “Although chewing gum is used to straighten jaw/ facial muscles in case of paralysis, addiction can lead to a dysfunction of the same face which was straightened by the chewing gum. Although a certain kind of chewing gum can help a smoking addict to quit smoking, the smoker has to watch out against falling into another addiction of gum chewing,” he said.

Buttressing these claims, a renowned dentist in Beverly-Hills, California, USA, Dr. Thomas P. Connelly, revealed that chewing gum can cause some mouth disorders in certain people, such as a clicking or popping noise in the jaw, or tire out jaw muscles.

In an article published in the Huffpost blog, Connelly warned that chewing gum that does not use helpful additives (like Xylitol and calcium lactate) can be risky and damaging to the teeth.

“The most common ingredient in standard gums is sugar which is commonly linked with causing numerous chronic dietary problems, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and emotional disorders,” he revealed.

The dentist then advised people to chew the right gum in moderation if they hope to enjoy all the health benefits and avoid the health risks.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

25

For the Records

Judicial recognition of CJ’s power to release prisoners Femi Falana

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couple of days ago, Mr. S.T. Hon SAN questioned the constitutional validity of the administrative power of Chief Judges to order the release of prisoners under trial languishing in dehumanising conditions in Nigerian prisons. I found out, to my utter dismay, that the totality of the learned senior counsel’s submission was anchored on the speculative belief that the Chief Judges have been performing such functions under “the respective high court laws and high court rules”.

Although I drew my learned colleague’s attention to the relevant provisions of the Prison Act and the Criminal Justice (Release from custody) Act which have empowered top judicial officers including the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chief Judges to conduct prison visits and order “the release of any prison inmate if satisfied that the detention of that person is manifestly unlawful; or that the person detained has been in custody, whether on remand or otherwise, for a period longer than the maximum period of imprisonment which the person detained could have served had he been convicted of the offence in respect of which he was detained” he did not change his position.

In fact, in his curious rejoinder to my intervention in the needless debate Mr. Hon SAN did not pay any attention to both laws as he insisted that his shaky submission on the matter was unassailable. In questioning the administrative release of prison inmates he accused the Chief Judges of usurping the powers of the President and state governors by granting pardon to persons concerned with criminal offences. Thus, i am compelled to reitetate that the prisoners released by Chief Judges have not been pardoned but merely released from illegal prison custody. To that extent, such prisoners may be rearrested and prosecuted by the government. But a convict pardoned by the President or a state governor is said to be a new man (novus homo) having been acquitted of all corporal penalties and forfeitures annexed to the offence. See Falae v Obasanjo (No 2) (1999) 4 NWLR (Pt 599) 476..

Instead of relying on local and foreign authorities on the undisputed constitutional powers of the President and state governors to grant pardon to convicts and criminal suspects, Mr. Hon SAN may wish to have a look at the case of Edwin Iloegbunam & Ors v. Richard Iloegbunam & Ors (2001) 47 WRN 72 wherein the Court of Appeal had upheld the constitutional validity of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act. In that case, the Appellants were arraigned on a holding charge of attempted murder before the Magistrate’s Court, Ogidi, Anambra State on

July 3, 2000. For want of jurisdiction the Magistrate Court refused the application of the Appellants for bail and ordered that they be remanded in prison custody. However, before they were properly charged with murder at the High Court the Chief Judge of Anambra State visited the Onitsha Prisons and ordered that the Appellants be released on bail.

In making the order the Chief Judge did not pardon the murder suspects but merely released them on bail.

As soon as the Appellants regained their freedom the complainants in the murder case filed a motion ex parte at the Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court and prayed that the Appellants be rearrested and held in prison custody. The application was granted as prayed. Completely dissatisfied with the order the Appellants approached the Court of Appeal for the restoration of their fundamental right to personal liberty.

In justifying the decision of the lower court the Respondents’ Counsel, Chief Anah SAN questioned the constitutional validity of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act under which the Anambra Chief Judge had released the Appellants on bail. In my submissions on behalf of the Appellants I argued that the validity of the Act could not be challenged since it was made to protect the fundamental right of prison inmates to personal liberty guaranteed by section 35 of the Constitution.

In allowing the appeal the Court of Appeal had no hesitation in upholding the validity of the Act. In the leading judgment of the Court, Oguntade J.C.A (as he then was) held that “there is power in the Chief Justice of the Federation or any of the Chief Judges of the States to order the release of persons detained in prison custody in the exercise of their power under section 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) (Special Provisions) Act Cap 79 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 is not in doubt. The exercise of that power by the Anambra Chief Judge would definitely constitute a different cause of action for the present respondents if they feel aggrieved by it. And an action founded on the exercise of that power which action is challenging the authority of the Chief Judge is one that should be brought before the High Court of Anambra State by virtue of Section 272 of the 1999 Constitution.”

It may interest Mr. Hon SAN to know that heads of court in other jurisdictions in common law countries are applying similar laws to decongest prisons by releasing indigent prison inmates from prison custody during prison visits. In Writ Petition (Civil) No. 406/2013 in which judgment was handed down on September 16, 2014 the Supreme Court of India directed magistrates and session judges to visit prisons in their districts for two months to identify and release

Falana under trial prisoners who had already been held in custody for half of the maximum period prescribed by law for the offences for which they were charged.

The court however pointed out that the order did not apply to under trial prisoners whose offences attract death penalty.

Since not less than 66 percent of inmates were awaiting trial in the various courts across the country Chief Justice R. M. Lodha noted that “There are people who cannot take bail. There is nobody for them.

They languish in jails because courts are not enabled to take their cases.”

The progressive verdict of the Supreme Court of India has reverberated throughout common law countries and has strengthened the campaign for prison decongestion. In March this year the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Ahmed Sheikh visited the Malir district prison. Based on the complaints of several prison inmates the Chief Justice met with the Inspector general of prisons for the district, Mr. Nusrat Manghan.

Following the directive of the Chief Justice the prison management announced a remission of 60 days to the entitled jail inmates apart from those convicted for espionage, subversion, terrorism and murder. Just last month, the Principal Judge of the High Courts of Uganda, Justice Yorokamu Bamwine directed all High Court judges and magistrates to release all prisoners who have overstayed on remand without trial.

His lordship lamented that on his coun-

trywide tours to prisons, he met many prisoners who have stayed on remand beyond the statutory period. He said Article 23 of the Constitution demands that untried persons remanded on non-capital offences, should be released on mandatory bail after three months in jail.

In justifying the directive, Justice Bamwine said that his directive was intended to protect liberties of suspects as provided for in the Constitution and that one way of ensuring compliance is through routine visits to prisons to ascertain the numbers and conditions in prisons and routine meetings with all judicial officers and court staff, among the best practices.”

From the foregoing, our Chief Judges are on terra firma in exercising their powers under the Criminal Justice (Release from custody)(Special Provisions) Act in ordering the release of under trial prisoners during prison visits. Apart from the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Iloegbunam v Iloegbunam supra which has upheld the validity of the Act section 8 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 has imposed a duty on Chief Judges to appoint high court judges and magistrates to visit detention centres once a month with a view to ensuring that the indigent under trial prisoners are not detained without legal justification in line with paragraph 55 of the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners adopted by Nigeria.

Falana is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria

Arts 26

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

A book in the hand of every Nigerian child is our aim - ANA

Childing reading

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resident of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Denja Abdullahi, is a man driven by passion and commitment to the arts. In this interview with Benjamin Omoike, he reasons that the literary culture of the nation, if properly harnessed, will play a pivotal role in shaping future generations positively and contribute to overall development.

Two years on since he took charge as President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Denja Abdullahi has good reasons to celebrate his achievements.

“Yes; the milestone achievements we have made include bringing into being, a five-year strategic plan (2017-2022) for the Association’s future development; conceiving and producing a documentary film for the Association titled “Dancing Mask: The ANA Story”; restructuring of the internal governance structure of the Association by creating strategic committees, panels and councils; fast tracking the development of the ANA land in Mpape, Abuja, by instituting a stricter monitoring process and doing a foundation laying ceremony.

“Also, we are bringing about the second phase of the Nigerian Writers Series by publishing three new titles devoted to children’s literature; internationalising the operations of the Association by effective collaboration with other writers’ associations in Africa and beyond; launching a project called ‘A-Book-A-Child’ project, to put an enabling general interest book in the hand of every school going Nigerian child of certain age ranges and generally making the Association receptive to creative and purposeful partnerships with like bodies, governments and individuals.

I and my team have done much more than that and there are still more to be done.”

Not leaving out the proposed site for the headquarters of the body, Abdullahi informed that real development is ongoing

Denja Abdullahi at the moment.

“We instituted a proper monitoring process on the land by working closely with the ANA land development committee in which professionals pay visits to the site monthly and report back to us. We have also agreed on development timelines with the developer. All these have kept the developer on his toes and I can tell you that real development is on-going on the land.

In a couple of weeks and before the next convention, the first completed structure, which is a prototype ANA Secretarial office, should be ready.”

Emphasising reading culture among children as the focal point of his organisation, the President revealed some processes towards publication of children’s literature has passed the manuscripts stage.

“The process towards the publication of those children’s literature titles started last year with a call for submissions after which we got 13 manuscripts that were taken through three experienced series editors who recommended three titles as worthy of receiving further attention towards publication. Co-incidentally, the three titles have something to do with pro-

moting the girl child empowerment and the cause of the female gender.

“Oma, The Drummer Queen, by Salamatu Sule, is about the girl child’s ability to venture successfully into a domain previously seen as excluding her gender.

“The Golden Girl of Galma, by Kabiru Abdullahi, emphasises the right of the girl child to chose her path in life and be educated.

“The Loyal Queen, by Chinyere ObiObasi, looks into how the female can act right in a seemingly patriarchal setting or negotiate existence within it.

“We are planning to get the book incorporated in the school system through a project we are launching with the books called A-Book-A-Child nationwide project.

The books also have some very unique and peculiar cultural resonance.

Missing link On Nigerian literatures in the Diaspora, Abdullahi acknowledged that Nigerian writers are doing very well abroad.

“In ANA, we are presently advocating for the bringing into being - in a coordinated and professional manner, what we can call literary agency, which I personally be-

lieve is the missing link in the book chain.

There must arise a crop of literary agency professionals who must be devoted to editing manuscripts properly, advising the writers on literary trends, negotiating deals for them and protecting their copyrights, etc.

“The Association as a body has been doing some of these for writers all over, but a crop of professionals must take this up as a trade to help the industry. I have personally nudged some young persons into this and I have been watching them grow with it and helping the field.”

Abdullahi lamented the failing of publishing houses in their responsibilities to the course. ”Even the very good publishing houses have been failing in this respect. All they are after is churning out books into the market and struggling to stay afloat. No one cares about having a properly edited book or preventing a badly written or illconceived book from getting into the market. Who cares to even research what the market prefers to read or getting writers who can write for some specific purposes or markets? That is the sorry state of the book industry, but we are working to correct all that,” Abdullahi said.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

27 Arts

When Ohuhu land celebrated new yam

Ohuhu traditional rulers cutting the yam

Ohuhu royal fathers dancing into the arena

Stories by Sunday Nwakanma nƊƏ Ɔ

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t was pump and pageantry as the entire Ohuhu clan in Umuahia North LGA initiated their 2017 new yam celebration in a style that attracted the state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

Speaking during the occasion which was conducted at the Nkwochara Community Square, Isingwu, all the 21 traditional rulers were at the venue to add colour to the occasion, including all socio-cultural organizations, women groups, and traditional dance groups from the area.

The ceremony titled “Iwaji Ndi Eze Ohuhu 2017” (cutting of yam by the traditional rulers from Ohuhu) featured recognition and conferment of chieftaincy titles by Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers on deserving sons and daughters of Ohuhu.

The awardees include the late Premier of eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael I. Okpara, late Managing Director of Champion Group of Newspaper, De Bob Ogbuagu, former NDDC chieftain, Onyema Ugo-

chukwu, former Nigeria Ambassador to Argentina, Chief Empire Kanu, former Minister of Finance and World Bank Chief, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Federal Minister of Commerce, trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelema and an Abian philanthropist, Charles Nzechi, as well as Rtd Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Services, Chief Sam Okwulehie, a former mayor of Umuahia, a Finncial Consultatnt, Aham Uko and an APC Chieftain, publisher of The Economist magazine and World Bank Consultant, Chief Hon Ikechi Emenike among others.

Speaking at the occasion, the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu expressed his happiness with the Ohuhu clan for recognizing the need to sustain their culture for the upcoming generation to know it, stating “you are projecting what we are known for as Ndigbo”.

Ikpeazu, who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon Ude Oko Chukwu thanked the Ohuhu people for recognizing the need to honour late M. I Okpara as a former leader of Nigbo, Chief Ony-

ema Ugochukwu “who saw the need to develop the state” especially over series of road networks he created as well as late Bob Ogbuagu.

Also speaking, the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia at the federal House of Representatives, Sam Onuigbo described the awards to the sons and daughters of the clan as deserving.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the former first Deputy Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers and chairman of the occasion, HRM Eze sir Nzenwata Mbakwe, the Egwu Uga I of Umuosu Okaigua Nkwoegwu Autonomous Community said the iwaji ceremony was for the traditional rulers to cut the yam first and declare the ceremony open for autonomous communities to star celebration, pointing out that the new yam festival in clan is devoid of fetish practices, but anchored on God. “We are celebrating yam as king of the crops and not worshiping it”, Eze Mbakwe said stating “If you would not celebrate yam, do not eat it”.

In his welcome speech, the Chairman,

ÏÏÏ 9ƂƄƈƏ Ƈ Ɔ Ɔ ƃƄƉƄƂƍ ƎƆ T he Ibeku ancient Kingdom celebrated her yearly new Yam festival on the 27th of August 2017. It was done at the Egwu Ibeku in Isieke.

All Egwu in the seven clans that makes up Ibeku at home were all represented and the youths who came out en mass with their various dance groups gave it a very colorful tune. Ochiagha Ibeku, Prince Benjamin B Apugo in his routine manner hosted and entertained all who called on him at his residence at Nkata Ibeku.

The president General of Ibeku Egwu Asaa Development Association, Chief Sir Princewill Ukaegbu through this medium, thankfully appreciates all who contributed towards the success of 2017 Iwa ji Ibeku.

Ibeku Egwu Asaa Dev Ass, Ieada President General, Princewill Ike Ukaegu (r) with Immediate Past Ieader, Onunaruwa Onuoha During The 2017 Ibeku New Yam Festival

Some Ibeku Youths celebrating 2017 Ibeku New Yam Festival

Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers, and Okpu Ngwu I of Okpu Isingwu, HRM Eze Kinsley Alozie Emekobum described the “Iwa JI ndi EWze Ohuhu” as a known annual traditional thanksgiving ceremony where they celebrate “the Almighty God (Chukwu Abaima) for surplus harvest from our farms, especially bumper harvest of ji (yam), the crop of our people this year’s farming season”.

“It is time to share with our subjects, in-laws, friends and well wishers in our tradition as Ndi Ohuhu for the common good of the people and the advancement of the clan, the state and the nation in general.

“As custodians of the cultural heritage of the people, we try to hold the Iwaji Ji ceremony in high esteem especially cultural practices that have stood the test of time”, he said pointing out that the year’s ceremony was unique with the installation of sons as chiefs in the clan apart from their various autonomous community recognitions, “as Ohuhu people occupy enviable positions in the socio-political development of our country, Nigeria.

Ochiagha Ibeku, Prince Benjamin B. Apugo (l) Ibeku Egwu Asaa Dev Ass, Ieada President General, Princewill Ike Ochiagha Ibeku, Prince Benjamin B. Apugo (l) Ibeku Egwu Ukaegu (r) and the Publisher of Rising Sun Tabloid, Sir Asaa Dev Ass, Ieada President General, Princewill Ike Joshua Nnanyerem Ogbonnaya Ukaegu (r)

Ochiagha Ibeku, Prince Benjamin B. Apugo (right) admiring Ossah Ibeku Ekpo Masquerade

The raditional Prime Minister of Ibeku, High Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu (Bawas) in a handshake with an Ibeku Son

Saturday, September 2, 2017

EXTRATIME

28

All stories by Andrew Ekejiuba with Agency reports late goal from Thomas Partey was not enough to ease Ghana’s woes as they remain on the cusp of seeing their 2018 FIFA World Cup hopes go up in smoke following a 1-1 draw to Congo at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday.

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Ghana’s World Cup hopes suffer blow in Kumasi The Black Stars have qualified for three successive World Cup’s, but look sure to miss out on a ticket to Russia as they remain winless in Group E with Uganda and Egypt leading the way.

For Congo, a point on their travels will serve as some motivation,

but in reality the result does neither team any good as they remain well off the pace heading into the reverse fixture in Brazzaville.

The Red Devils made a positive start and hit the front as early as the 18th minute through Thievy Bifouma.

Josef Attamah looked nervy from the onset and it was his mistake that ultimately led to the opener as Fabrice Nguessi pounced to tee up Bifouma for a clinic finish, 0-1.

Ghana went in search of a reply with Partey looking the most likely, his rasping effort well saved by

Barel Mouko in the 38th minute.

Congo 1-0 up at the break.

It was no surprise to see Harrison Afful introduced at right-back following the interval, and it was he who threatened in the 70th minute.

The USA-based defender unlucky to

Odion Ighalo scored the opener for Super Eagles in Uyo.

Eagles give surprise Sallah gift to Nigerians, wallop Lions 4-0 N

igeria put in a superb performance to humble African champions Cameroon 4-0 in the teams’ 2018 World Cup qualifying match in Uyo on Friday evening.

The victory at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium - secured thanks to goals from Odion Ighalo, John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Kelechi Ihe-

Wilmots

anacho - saw the Super Eagles open a sevenpoint lead over the Indomitable Lions at the head of Group B and put them firmly on course for Russia 2018.

Cameroon started the stronger of the two teams, settling quickly into a passing rhythm and also pressing high up the pitch to make

it difficult for the hosts to play out from the back.

However, Nigeria soon went up a couple of gears and began to dominate. Their first hint of a goal arrived in the 24th minute when Victor Moses’ free kick passed through the box Contd. on Page 29

Wilmots wary of ‘terrific’Gabon

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vory Coast head coach Marc Wilmots says he respects Gabon even without their captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Borussia Dortmund forward was left out of the Gabon squad that will face Ivory Coast in

the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group C qualifiers.

The Panthers of Gabon will host Ivory Coast’s Elephants at the Stade de Franceville in Franceville today. ‘’Our goal is to make a good match with a

good result,” Wilmots said.

“I watched the last game of Gabon against Mali, without Aubameyang.

Contd. on Page 29

Saturday, September 2, 2017

EXTRATIME

29

Jamie Murray (left) and Bruno Soares won the Australian Open and US Open in 2016.

US OPEN: Murray, Soares reach second round

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amie Murray and Bruno Soares began the defence of their US Open men’s doubles title with a straight-set win over Alexander Peya and Julian Knowle.

The British-Brazilian fourth seeds fell behind early on but recovered to win 6-4 7-6 (8-6) in New York.

Murray and Soares are trying to win their third Grand Slam title together.

“We did well, it was a good match. There were a lot of good rallies, good atmosphere on the court - it was fun for us to play I

think,” the Scot said.

“We’re really happy to get through in two sets in the end.” The 2016 Australian and US Open champions will next face Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Fernando Verdasco, or New Zealand’s Marcus Daniell and Brazil’s Marcelo Demoliner.

Murray and mixed doubles partner Martina Hingis, who won Wimbledon in their first tournament together, came through their first-round match, beating Anna Groeneveld and Robert Lindstedt 6-1 6-4.

Ghana’s World Cup hopes suffer blow in Kumasi

Continued from Page 28 The return leg match will be played at the Stade Bouake in Bouake, Ivory Coast next week Tuesday.

“It’s a good team that kept the Malians high.

With or without Aubameyang,” the Belgian tactician added.

“We respect Gabon. And then, I also have absentees.”

Ivory Coast will be without injured duo Wilfried Zaha and Jonathan Kodja.

Eagles whitewash Lion 4-0 in Uyo

Continued from Page 28 see his shot rattle the side-netting.

Jordan Ayew was denied by Mokou soon after before Partey stepped up to the plate with both Asomoah Gyan and Andre Ayew substituted.The Atletico Madrid man finding the back of the net following a defensesplitting pass by Christian Atsu with 85 minutes on the clock.

Too little to late, though, for Ghana who will need a miracle if they are to book a ticket to the world showpiece in Russia.

Briton Dominic Inglot and Canadian partner Daniel Nestor lost 6-4 7-5 to Mikhail Elgin and Daniil Medvedev in the men’s doubles, while Neal Skupski and Argentina’s Guillermo Duran were beaten 6-3 3-6 6-3 by second seeds and Wimbledon champions Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo.

In the women’s doubles, Naomi Broady and Croatia’s Darija Jurak lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 to German pairing Carina Witthoeft and Mona Barthel, while Anna Smith and American Nicole Melichar were beaten 3-6 7-5 6-3

by Sabine Lisicki and Raquel Atawo.

Wilmots wary of ‘terrific’Gabon

Thomas Partey scored Ghana’s late equalizer.

Continued from Page 28 and found the back of the net, but was ruled out for offside.

Yet it was only five more minutes until the Super Eagles broke the deadlock: striker Odion Ighalo outmuscled defender Michael NgadeuNgadjui to win a long ball before cutting inside and scoring with a superb low finish.

Cameroon needed goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa to make a terrific save on 36 minutes to keep out a goal-bound effort from Moses Simon, but there was nothing he could do six minutes later when John Obi Mikel made it 2-0, getting ahead of his marker to meet Moses’ corner kick and toe-poke the ball home from close range.

Nigeria added a third goal just 10 minutes

into the second half, with a speedy counter attack seeing Moses exchange passes with fellow wideman Simon before firing home a low shot to effectively end the match as a contest.

And Cameroon’s match went from bad to worse when half-time substitute Eric ChoupoMoting pulled up with an injury and had to be replaced just before the hour mark.

Nigeria put the cherry on top with a fourth goal, arriving in the 76th minute: Moses and Ogenyi Onazi combined superbly down the right flank to hand substitute Kelechi Iheanacho a simple header into an almost empty net.

The teams will meet again for the return game in Yaounde on Monday evening, with the Indomitable Lions seeking redemption for this embarrassing defeat.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

EXTRATIME

30

EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO…

ABEDI PELE congratulates Ronaldo on surpassing goal record

Ronaldo

P

ele has sent his congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portugal forward surpassed his international goals record.

Ronaldo struck a hat-trick, including opening the scoring with a brilliant scissor-kick volley, in his side’s 5-1 victory against the Faroe Islands on Thursday.

And his latest Portugal treble means Ronaldo has now scored 78 times for the Euro 2016 winners, moving ahead of Pele on the all-time list.

“Congratulations @Cristiano for joining the elite five of #FIFA international goal scorers. Congratulations!” Pele wrote on Twitter.

Ronaldo is now level with Iraq’s Hussein Saeed and just two goals behind Japan’s Kunishige Kamamoto, while Ferenc Puskas – who hit 84 goals for Poland – is also in his sights.

The all-time-record international goalscorer is still Iran forward Ali Daei, who struck 109 goals in 149 appearances.

Rooney charged with drink driving

UEFA opens FFP investigation into PSG

U

EFA has opened a formal investigation into Paris SaintGermain as part of its monitoring of clubs under Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, European football’s governing body has announced.

The Ligue 1 club’s huge spending stood as the defining feature of Europe’s summer transfer window, with Brazil superstar Neymar arriving at Parc des Princes from Barcelona for a world-record fee of €222million.

Blaise Matuidi and Serge Aurier are among the players to have been moved on from Unai Emery’s squad to recoup a portion of that incredible outlay but PSG completed another seismic swoop on deadline day by signing Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe.

The 18-year-old striker has joined on an initial loan deal for 2017-18, although terms are agreed on a permanent contract running until June 2022 for when PSG’s option to buy is activated.

Mbappe will reportedly cost PSG €180m at that point and UEFA cited “recent transfer activity” as a reason for formalising its examination of the capital club’s operations.

“The Investigatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body has opened a formal investigation into Paris Saint-Germain as part of its ongoing monitoring of clubs under Financial Fair Play regulations,” a statement from UEFA read.

“The investigation will focus on the compliance of the club with the break-even requirement, particularly in light of its recent transfer activity.

“In the coming months, the Investigatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body will regularly meet in order to carefully evaluate all documentation pertaining to this case. “UEFA considers Financial Fair Play to be a crucial governance mechanism which aims to ensure the financial sustainability of European Club Football.

“UEFA will make no further comments on this matter while the investigation is ongoing.”

E

Rooney

verton forward and former England captain Wayne Rooney has been charged with drink driving by Cheshire Police.

Rooney was arrested during the early hours of Friday morning, seven-and-a-half miles from his home in Prestbury, Cheshire.

The 31-year-old was charged with driving while over the legal limit and released on bail.

Rooney is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on September 18 – the day after his scheduled first return to Old Trafford when Everton face Manchester United in the Premier League.

A statement read: “Cheshire Police has charged a man with drink-driving following a vehicle stop in Wilmslow.

“The man was arrested shortly after 2.00am today, Friday 1 September, after officers stopped a black VW Beetle on Altrincham Road, Wilmslow.

“Wayne Rooney, aged 31, has since been charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit.

“Rooney has been released on bail and is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on 18/9/2017.”

Rooney returned to boyhood club Everton in July following 13 years at United, during which time he became the all-time record goalscorer for the Red Devils and his country.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP… ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP… ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP

M

anchester United held talks with Arsene Wenger over replacing Alex Ferguson as manager in 2001, former chairman Martin Edwards has revealed.

The Arsenal boss was identified as the number one choice to take charge at Old Trafford following Ferguson’s shock announcement to the club that he intended to retire following the 2000-01 season.

Edwards, who was chairman of the club between 1980 and 2002, says discussions were held at Wenger’s home in an effort to tempt him away from United’s fierce rivals.

“I have to say that his decision came as both a surprise and a shock to all of us,” Edwards told reporters when asked about Ferguson’s initial plans to retire.

“Once we realised that he was very serious about it and that his mind was made up, there were lots of discussions at board level about a possible replacement.

“Our first choice was Arsene Wenger. Since joining Arsenal in 1996, Wenger had been pretty successful, especially in his first full season in charge when he won the double. And while it’s true to say that he has suffered hard times since, at the time we all thought he was the best candidate to replace Alex. Certainly, he was my number one choice.

“Wenger did show a little bit of interest, enough to want to meet with former United chief executive, Peter Kenyon and me at his home in London to listen to what we had to say. In fact, we had a couple of meetings with him and for a while we thought there was a possibility of him joining us.

“But I think Wenger felt a loyalty towards former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein. He was very close to David, and that was the reason he gave us in the end for turning down United. He felt that he had started something with Arsenal and that his attachment to the club was too great, he didn’t want to break that bond.”

Ferguson eventually reversed his decision and went on to guide United to a host of further honours, including seven Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008, before retiring in 2013.

M

Sakho

Drinkwater seals Chelsea switch

Stories by Andrew Ekejiuba with Agency Reports

C

helsea have completed the signing of Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater, the Premier League champions have confirmed.

Drinkwater, who was instru-

Drinkwater

mental to Leicester’s remarkable title triumph in 2015-16, signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge, completing a reported £30million move.

The 27-year-old joins Antonio Conte’s side having made 218 appearances for Leicester across all competitions, scoring 14 goals after signing for the club from Manchester United in 2012.

“I’m delighted to be a Chelsea player and can’t wait to get started,” Drinkwater said.

“It has been a long journey to get here but I am very happy and am looking forward to helping the club win more trophies.”

Drinkwater, who reportedly handed in a transfer request to force a move, could be in line for an immediate return to the King Power Stadium, with Leicester hosting Chelsea on September 9.

Alex OxladeChamberlain

F

ormer Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has backed Alex OxladeChamberlain to enjoy the best years of his career at Anfield.

The 24-year-old finalised a move to Jurgen Klopp’s side from Arsenal on Premier League deadline day for a reported initial fee of £35million.

The midfielder admitted that the decision to quit the Gunners for a direct rival would come as a surprise for a

31

‘Red Devils wanted Wenger to replace Fergie’

Sakho returns to Crystal Palace

amadou Sakho has rejoined Crystal Palace on a permanent transfer from Liverpool, signing a four-year contract at Selhurst Park.

France defender Sakho, who spent the back half of 2016-17 on loan at Palace and played a key part in their Premier League survival, sealed his return to south London in a deal worth a reported £26million.

The 27-year-old made 80 appearances for Liverpool after joining from Paris Saint-Germain in September 2013, and became Frank de Boer’s fourth signing of the transfer window.

“I am really happy to be here because I have some friends here,” Sakho said.

“I loved the challenge last year; it was difficult but beautiful and it’s why this summer I thought that Palace was the best choice.

“I am really excited about playing for the Palace fans again, but in football the past is the past and you need to think about today and tomorrow.

“Last year we did a good job and we need to prove that again and have a good objective. If we put all of our power together, we will have a great season.”

EXTRATIME

Gerrard thumbs Vidal: Sanchez, Man City reports up OxladeChamberlain’s were made up! lexis Sanchez did not agree Reds move a deal to join Manchester number of fans but underlined his belief that he would develop into a better player at Liverpool.

And Gerrard expects his career to peak during his time on Merseyside.

“I think he’s already become a fantastic player, and that’s the reason why we spent 35 million pounds on him,” said the former England star, now Liverpool’s academy coach. “I think he definitely strengthens the group and the team.

“He’s English, he’s 24, he’s just coming into his peak years. He’s a very quick and exciting player.

“He seems as if he wasn’t happy at Arsenal, so now hopefully he can settle down, give the best years of his career at Liverpool Football Club. But I think he’s a very, very positive signing.”

A

City from Arsenal, according to Chile team-mate Arturo Vidal. Sanchez started in a World Cup qualifier for Chile against Paraguay on Thursday, but his side collapsed to a shock 3-0 home loss with Vidal scoring a spectacular own goal.

Reports in Britain had suggested Sanchez had signed a contract with City on transfer deadline day on Thursday, with Arsenal moving for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar as his replacement, only for both deals to fall through.

But Juventus midfielder Vidal suggested that was not the case and he also denied claims Sanchez had informed his international colleagues of an impending move.

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Business & Economy

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2 , 2017

Nigeria leads African nations in digitization process Page B2 – Amana NIMASA targets 100% compliance in ISPS code implementation Babajide Okeowo The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that the Agency would not rest on its oars until 100% compliance of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is achieved in all port facilities across the country.

The Director General who spoke at the opening of the 5 day Advanced Drills and Exercises Workshop organised

by NIMASA in conjunction with The International Maritime Organization (IMO) for ISPS Implementation Officers stated that the Agency is committed to increasing the compliance level from the present 90% to 100%.

The DG who was represented at the event by the Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of the Agency, Mr. Gambo Ahmed said that the Agency realises the importance of capacity building towards the successful implementation of the Code hence, the need for frequent training of the enforcement officers in order to acquaint them with the current rudiments of implementing the Code.

According to the DG, “It is no secret that we have made giant strides in ISPS Code implementation in Nigeria. We do not wish to rest on our laurels as the zeal to acquire 100% compliance in all port facilities can only be achieved if the officers are technically equipped and updated on international standards required for ISPS Code Implementation”.

BUSINESS TIMES Business Editor Ganiyu Obaaro

Deputy Business Editor Azubike Nnadozie Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

Nigeria: Diaspora festival showcasing domestic tourism, culture

Understanding e-dividend payments, T+3, trade alert Page B8

Page B3

Massive mergers loom in insurance sector Afolabi Adesola

Drastic actions are being considered to be taken against the “noserious insurance companies”, which might result in further mergers and acquisitions as witnessed at the post-2003 insurance reform.

This revelation is coming on the heels of recent findings which indicate that the insurance sector accounted for 40-42 per cent of dormant equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in the first quarter

… As Prudential acquires major stake in Zenith Life

of 2017.

Dormant equities are stocks that recorded no price movement but remain static at their nominal value of 50 kobo per share.

Giving this assertion in Lagos recently, was the Head of Retail Non-Life at AIICO Insurance, Taofik Ayeni, during a training rganized for members of the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria, CAMCAN as part of the association’s capacity building initiatives to enhance members’ skill in financial

market reporting through knowledge of industry-specific operations.

Confirming the development was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema, who at a recent interactive session with insurance industry leaders, lambasted insurance companies for their apathy towards corporate governance culture.

Onyema said there was high level of regulatory infraction in the industry and that insurance records the highest penalty among the

segments of The Exchange.

The NSE CEO disclosed that only 12 out of 27 listed insurance companies are post-listing compliant in terms of corporate disclosure, mainly filing of annual reports.

Although reports reveal that Nigeria is among the least countries in terms of insurance contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP, at 0.72 per cent, The Director-General of the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Sunday Thomas, attributed

this to “general apathy for insurance by the Nigerian government and the citizens”.

Thomas said the Nigerian insurance sector was grossly untapped because it had not yet appealed to the informal sector, which constitutes over 80 percent of the population, adding that it would take deliberate efforts to win the confidence of this sector.

The apex regulator had thus introduced a number of strategies towards achieving the objectives of a Compulsory Insurance Scheme (CIS). One of the strategies was the Market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) – a medium-term plan, aimed at facilitating the enforcement of the Compulsory

L-R: Vice, President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, the Otaru of Auchi, Haliru Momoh and Mr. Rahul Savara during the commissioning of Edo Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited, Auchi, Edo State on Thursday.

Osinbajo lauds Obaseki, WACOT on Edo Fertilizer Azubike Nnadozie The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday commissioned the Edo Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited, Auchi, a public private partnership between the state government and WACOT Limited, which has the capacity to produce about 60,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer per annum.

The Vice President who was accompanied by the Ministers of Ag-

riculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; and Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, commended the foresight of the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, for creating the enabling business environment which saw to the revitalization of the fertilizer plant which had been non-functional for about 14 years.

Osinbajo commended WACOT for its foray in the agricultural sec-

tor especially in agro-processing, and stated that the Buhari administration takes the private sector seriously. “We believe that government resources cannot bring about the rapid roll out we need, especially in the areas of infrastructure and industrial development. It is the private sector that can do so. We are therefore committed to making it easy for businessmen to invest and do business everywhere in Nigeria” he said.

He commended Governor Obaseki for creating an enabling environment for the private sector to invest.

“I must hasten to congratulate the dynamic and far-sighted Governor, as well as the great people of Edo State, on this great achievement. Not only will this boost the local economy, it will also impact the national economy in a significant way. It is therefore a gift from Edo State to our great country”.

Business Interview B2

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Nigeria leads African nations in digitisation process – Amana Much has been said about Nigeria’s process to switch over from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting. What is digital switch over?

For over 50 years, television signal transmission has been based on the analogue platform where each channel in the Very High Frequency (VHF) uses 7 MHz. and the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) uses 8 MHz. of Bandwidth to deliver one television programme to the viewers at home. Digital television is the new format that has come to replace the old analogue system. Digital television uses the same system as computers and it is capable of delivering many programmes in the same space where, previously the analogue system delivers only one programme.

What is wrong with the analogue broadcasting, necessitating a digital switch over?

The Analogue System has reached its carrying capacity, but television broadcasting is still developing and evolving. Digital television has the capacity to meet the expanding capabilities of the television broadcasting system.

Secondly, digital television allows a more efficient use of the broadcast spectrum so that other important service, such as mobile broadband could be improved for national development.

Thirdly, the change to digital television is a global movement led by the International Telecommunication Union, ITU. Nigeria, as a Member State of the ITU cannot be left behind.

Fourth; after the transition to digital terrestrial television broadcasting, some of the spectrum that will be left by television industry, often referred to as ‘’Digital Dividend’’ will be auctioned by government to the telecomm industry to generate a lot of revenue for government. Fifth; digitization will lead to a greater number of television stations and a greater variety of programmes.

How will digital broadcasting benefit Nigerians?

It will in so many ways: Better picture and

Chairman of Digiteam, Nigeria’s implementation committee on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, Engineer Edward Amana tells MIRIAM HUMBE that in spite of inability to meet up its June 2017 target date for digitisation, Nigeria is ahead of neighbouring African nations, the process has started and the country is being switched on in phases. Excerpts:

Amana sound quality More television programmes and a greater variety of programming A lot of job creation resulting from new television stations coming aboard and the fact that Set Top Boxes that will enable the existing analogue TV receivers to continue receiving television programmes after the switch over, are being manufactured in Nigeria.

Economic benefits from the more efficient use of the spectrum.

Of what economic advantage to Nigerians is the digital switch over, especially in terms of job creation?

Many new Television Stations are being Licenced thus creating jobs. Digital Television is a 24/7 operation. There is therefore a great demand for Programmes. Thus more jobs for the Producers of Television Programmes. The Spectrum to be vacated

by Television Broadcasting (Referred to as Digital Dividend) will be sold to the Telecomm Industry for a lot of money. Beyond the monetary value of the Digital Dividend, these bands of frequencies will be deployed to provide Mobile Broadband which is the quickest way to bring Broadband services to the Rural Areas of the country. Set Top Boxes are being manufactured in Nigeria.

This has already created

and it is still creating a lot of jobs for Nigerians. Apart from the young men and women working in these factories, there are distributors and retailers marketing the Set Top Boxes and technicians helping to install and activate the Set Top Boxes.

Nigeria set 2012 for broadcast stations to be digitized, then June 2017. We seem to be behind schedule. What are the challenges?

The June 17, 2012 Switch Over date was from the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) which submitted its report on 20th June 2009.

Unfortunately, the government of the day could not address the issues of digitization till 20th of December

2012 when DigiTeam Nigeria, the Implementation Committee for the Transition was inaugurated. Even after the Committee was inaugurated, there was no funding for the process. The main challenges therefore were the lack of political will, funding and lack of synergy amongst the various stakeholders.

With the transition from analogue to digital viewing in Jos, Plateau state on April 30, 2016, and in Abuja on December 22, 2016, other states appear left behind, beyond the June 2017 date.

How long will it be before the entire nation is digitized?

From Abuja we are moving to six States, one each, in the six geo-political zones of the country. From these we will progressively expand until all states of the country are digitized.

How quickly these happens depends greatly on the production ability of the Set Top Box manufacturers.

The switch off of analogue transmitters can only happen when Set Top Boxes are available for all television owners in the country.

According to the National Broadcasting Corporation, the next step is to simultaneously switch on six states, each drawn from the geopolitical zones of the country by engaging the Nigerian Governors Forum in the next phase of digitization process. How is this expected to work out?

The regulator for broadcasting in Nigeria is the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC. What the Director General of NBC means in engaging the Governors Forum is mainly in the areas of empowering the poor of their states in the acquisition of Set Top Boxes to enable them continue watching television after the switch over. Also a number of the states need to upgrade their television

production facilities to digital standards, re-train their staff and empower their television stations for 24 hour transmission.

How will the switch over process help improve internet connectivity for users?

There are a lot of Over The Top (OTT) capabilities within the Set Top Boxes manufactured in Nigeria.

Those who want to use their Set Top Box as an internet hub can purchase a Dongle that will enable them access the internet but you will have to pay for data.

Television owners are expected to get ‘set top boxes’ to receive digital signals. What are their functions, and are the boxes sufficient to cover the entire households in the country?

The Set Top Box primarily is to convert digital signals from the digital television transmitter to analogue signals that your analogue television can receive. These Boxes are being manufactured in Nigeria and before we embark on switching on any location we will ensure that sufficient numbers of boxes for that area are available. The country will be switched on in phases.

Nigeria was signatory to the International Telecommunications Union agreement tagged: “Geneva 2006”, which mandated all countries to switch over so as to avoid signal interference from other countries. Where are we presently, when compared to our neighbouring African nations?

At the moment we are ahead of our neighbours.

We have had visits from some of our neighbouring countries to look at our model of transition and we are actually assisting some of these countries in their transition. Thank you for the opportunity to use your medium to enlighten the Public.

Tours&Travels

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B3

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Nigeria: Diaspora festival showcasing domestic tourism, culture

FACTS BOX * Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, said that Lagos remains the capital of the black states in the world *Festival will do well to position the diaspora reconnection and eventual return. *Governor Ambode declared the festival as an elongated programme of the 50 anniversary of Lagos state which he stated, would continue until the end of the year and that the *Diaspora Festival Badagry 2017 would form a cardinal part of the event commemorating the creations of Lagos state. *The Governor equally expressed Government’s commitment to recreating and developing potentials in Badagry

The 2017 edition, “Diaspora Festival Badagry” has been designed to attract the historic African Diaspora back to their cultural and ancestral roots.

EBERE CHIBUZOR writes.

CONTINUES ON PAGE B4

2 Fantastic Monuments & Memorials in Nigeria

Page B4

Africa: Otunba Runsewe to Open Chef Challenge at Akwaaba African Travel Market Page B6

Ooni calls for better understanding of African cultural

Page B6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

B4 Tours & Travels

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday,September 2 , 2017

B5 Tours & Travels

Nigeria: Diaspora festival showcasing domestic tourism, culture CONTINUES FROM PAGE B3

The event was not in a hurry to kick off with symposium at The Administration Staff College Of Nigeria(ASCON). And it continued like that till the last day which was the dinner with courtesy visit to the paramount ruler, His Royal Majesty De wheno Aholu Menu- The Akran of Badagry Kingdom. Group band playing heart warming tunes and latter through the performances of cultural troupes and a drama which demonstrated the European Technology as against African magical powers.

Interestingly, the event brought African to the realization that they have their affairs in their hands. The festival was a sight to behold, as the event featured an exciting line up routines that will take swept the visitors of their seats, like Carnival Procession, Boat Regatta, Fishing competition, Dark Era Procession, Diaspora Dinner, Cultural displays, Heritage Visits, Heritage Night, The Festival Market, International Music Concert as well as courtesy visits. Most importantly the dedication of the 2017 edition of the festival and in fact the colloquium, as part of the day strategic aims, to connect the Brazilian group with their ancestor a Yoruba cultural icon and personification of African ethos and heritage who traced his root from Bahia in Brazil to Ketu in the Republic of Benin in 1967.

Meanwhile some states across Nigeria performed at the Badagry Diaspora event late last week

Dabiri

Ambode

which including Sango Cultural troupe from Oyo and Bauchi state cultural troupe. It will be nice to note that Bauchi State cultural Troupe was fully involved at the Diaspora festival. Others are Sako and Zamgbeto cultural Troupe.

The Diasporians were dressed in African regalia while everyone was seated inside a very big canopy as the Badagry local snacks were being served.

This year surpassed previous years and it expected to climb more. Guests of the 2017 edition of Diaspora Festival Badagry 2017 would probably agree that the festival is gradually gathering momentum. Although the festival which has become the only one in Nigeria with diasporic content

focusing on salient issues of “Return and Homecoming”, Engagement and Reintegration of the historic African Diaspora which, in the context of most African leaders, is regarded as the “Lost Sheep” of Africa with implicit objective for socio-economic integration.

Apart from its essential local cultural and traditional ethos of the people, some strategic attractions integrated into the festival program to stimulate return like annual dedication of the festival to some distinguished African descent in the diaspora either death of living, conferment of African chieftaincy titled on deserving individuals living in the diaspora, the organisation of the Door of

2 Fantastic Monuments & Memorials in Nigeria These are five sets of prefabricated houses whose materials were said to have been brought to Lokoja from England in 1900. Many still wonder that no single nail was used to construct any of these buildings. These buildings are found in different places in Lokoja. One is located at the National Museum.

Another one is located within the premises of the Kogi State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Another one is currently being used as the office of the Kogi State Hotels and Tourism Board. Along the state police command headquarters is also one of the buildings which is now being used as an Upper Area court. It is named Lord Lugard Area Court.

All the buildings stand on stilts and they can be dismantled. The first prison yard in Northern Nigeria, the Assistant Director of the Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr

Idoko Ameh, explained that Lord Lugard built the prison to control the people he was administering. The yard is located inside the Kogi State Hotels and Tourism compound.

The authorities of the state tourism board say the prison has been there since 1945 but now transferred to Benin Prison. The Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism is currently using the prison for a mini arts gallery.

Inside it are statutes of former military administrators and civilian governors of Kogi State.

Lord Lugard Rest House at Mount Pati, the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism also described as Lord Lugards Rest House. The house is located on the popular Mount Pati in Lokoja. Lugard’s intention for this house was just to go there and rest after the day’s job. He would go there to watch the activities on the River Niger.

Return Ceremony to admits the diaspora back into Nigeria through Badagry, it was the mammoth crowd inside the canopy at Marina that spoke volumes of its success.

However, the festival has introduced the Door of Return Ceremony as against the Point of No Return of the dark era of slavery as symbolic event which African people in the diaspora shall be welcome back to Nigeria from across the Badagry Lagoon through a symbolic Door at the original site from where their forebears were crammed into ‘schooners’ en-route to the ancient slave port, “The Point Of No Return” at the Gberefu Beach and finally into the horrible bowel of the slave ships to view the sight that ancestors

met their Waterloo. All the culture creek and guests waited patiently to witness their arrival from the point of unknown journey and those that couldn’t went to Bach side to receive them. There were others who had no business being there but exciting to see these enslaved people who created the first Black Republic in the Western Hemisphere.

This year’s festival is a collaboration with many reputable institutions and individuals specially the Institute of African Study, University of Ibadan. The giant role played by Emaritus Professor Anthony Asiwaju who happens to be the Convener of the 2017 International Colloquium, Prof. Olaniti Yai, Prof. Suomonni Elisee.

Others are the entire International Committee members and the Local Organizing Committee members, His Royal Majesty, Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi, the Akran of Badagry Kingdom, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode , Governor of Lagos State, Oyo and Bauchi State.

Speaking under a different caption, His Excellency Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State, said that Lagos remains the capital of the black states in the world and that diaspora Festival will do well to position the diaspora reconnection and eventual return. Governor Ambode further declared the festival as an elongated programme of the 50 anniversary of Lagos state which he stated, would continue until the end of the year and that the Diaspora Festival Badagry 2017 would form a cardinal part of the event commemorating the creations of Lagos state.

The Governor who concluded by

Group at the event saying they would touch everything that is Badagry, equally expressed Government’s commitment to recreating and developing potentials in Badagry and advised that a framework for its sustainability on annual basis should be put in place.

Responding at the 2017 edition,”Diaspora Festival Badagry” Prof. Suomonni Elisee from South African University, United States of America, said, “Although I have heard about this festival and this is my first time and that made it fantastic. I was the second keynote speaker and the focus of the keynote was that we need to use an indigenous framework for the transformational changes we are making in Africa and in Nigeria. If there is no framework it is going to collapse.

The topic of my presentation was megabe as framework of diaspora citizenship like those Nigerians citizens in diaspora that they have to get a value system and they should have an indigenous framework for whatever changes we need to do in Africa.”

Professor who suggested that this door of return should rename with Nigerian name, also said: “The goodwill is important, of course human mentality of people wanting to take attention but not want to be committed to the spirit of whatever we are doing. This is because there is a different between what we commit to and the spirit of it and whatever and what is in the paper. People who are interested in what that is in the paper attending this event are glamorous. I think few people is committed to behind it. For me giving them enabling environment will take time but it will going to work out. For me I am interested in the problem but more interested in the solution.

On his advice to the present administration to ensure things are done rightly: In my presentation yesterday I made a presentation in comparison between the Halloween in United States and Zamgbeto while in Halloween in U S in 2016, they spent 8.4 billion US dollars and if we are to promote Zamgbeto and

we get just one billion Nara into the economy especially in Nigeria. The resources are there but

Nigeria is historically and culturally rich with iconic landmarks and monuments which have stood for years across the country. One of the greatest issues faced is the maintenance of these landmarks and monuments, aside being blessed with natural and human resources and having over 500 tribes.

The first educational system of Nigeria as a British colony started in Badagry where the first primary school was established by the Wesleyan mission (Methodist Church) in 1843 and named Nursery of Infant Church which later became St. Thomas’ Anglican Nursery and Primary School, founded by Rev. Golmer of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1845, inside the first storey building in Badagry. The first secondary school in Badagry was built over one hundred years later called Badagry Grammar School in 1955 due to misunderstanding between the Missionaries and the natives that made them leave the town unceremoniously.

The foundation of the ancient historical laden was laid by the rev. Henry Townsend of C.M.S (Church Missionary Society) on the Marina waterfront in Badagry, Lagos, Nigeria in the year 1842, and was later built

by other missionaries in 1845.

The building served as vicarage for Saint Thomas Anglican Church and was later used by Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African C.M.S bishop that translated the Holy Bible from English to Yoruba. In one of the two rooms on the upper floor of the building, there lay glass case containing the English and Yoruba version of the bible translated

by Ajayi Crowther. It was said that the English bible is 173 years old while the Yoruba version is 170 years old, therefore, it was translated around 1845.

The well served as a source of drinking water for some people living in the community. This building was originally built with coconut fibers and bamboo, and located on an area of 1,144 square feet. The more than a century and half monument building was given a face lift to preserve it for coming generations.

the different is people are wasting them on frivolities, Elisee noted.

Speaking further, he said that Nigeria has more opportunity for tourism attraction than any other African countries. “Tourism is number two earning potential for Namibia and Boswana. They should make the tourism facilities available,” he ended.

The Festivalis set to come to a spectacular highlight this year, as it featured a very symbolic and emotional ceremony tagged, ‘Door of Return ceremony’. This event is very significant because for the first time, a door of return is opened for the Diasporans whose ancestors were historically taken away as slaves, through the point of no return in

Badagry several years ago.

The festival was organized jointly by the African Renaissance Foundation, Agile Communications Limited in partnership with the Lagos State Government and the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, and MIPAD. However, Diaspora Festival Badagry deserve a huge commendation for creating an ambiance to integrate African. The festival demonstrated culture is a veritable factor for tourism promotion. People exchanged call cards, took selfie and probably got business prospects with many reputable institutions and individuals, not minding the economy that is distress.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

B6 Tourism

Africa: Otunba Runsewe to open chef challenge at Akwaaba African Travel Stories by Ebere Chibuzor The head of Culture in Nigeria Otunba Segun Runsewe the D.G of National Council of Arts and Culture will declare the chef challenge open.

As the Jollof rice challenge draws nearer, so is an increase in buzz and enthusiasm amongst the competing countries. The event organized by Akwaaba African Travel Market with the sole aim of promoting culinary tourism in Africa already has the Chefs set and more than ready to hit the scene.

Over the weekend, Africa was thrilled with the Jollof rice challenge organized by the Ghanaian Tourism Authority (GTA) at Legon Botanical Garden.

The competition, which featured Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria and Senegal, formed part of the “See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana, and Feel Ghana” campaign being championed by the GTA, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to promote local tourism on a global scale. It also served as a selection process for the Ghana Chef Association to choose the 5 chef coming to Lagos for the Akwaaba event.

Gambia prepared the jollof rice without tomatoes but with mustard, fish and other ingredients, making their jollof yellowishwhite as compared to Ghana, who used tilapia, tomatoes and other ingredients to make their jollof attractive and tasty, giving it a reddish colour.

The Nigerian and Senegalese chefs used ingredients they believed could make their jollof super and delicious but, unfortunately, they could not win.

Ms Felicia Aniagyei, the Act-

… As Ghana chefs prepare

ing Public Relations Manager of the GTA, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the Jollof Competition, which falls under the “Eat Ghana” module, was to encourage Ghanaians to be proud of their local dishes and patronise them wherever they went.

She said the occasion was also used to showcase some locally made cuisines including Kenkey with fish and rice balls with groundnut soup.

This month has been dedicated to the “Eat Ghana” module while next month, September, would be for the “Wear Ghana” module, followed by the “Feel Ghana” in October.

Ms Aniagyei noted that engaging other African countries in the competition was to help showcase the varieties of jollof rice and deepen the relationship among the participating countries.

Akwaaba Travel Market jollof rice War will serve as the final event according to Ghanaian Chef President, Chef Isaac.

To the Ghanaian chefs, the prize is already theirs, and here is something you should know about the Ghanaian Chef association.

The goal of the Chefs Association of Ghana is to unite chefs and cooks across Ghana in a common dedication to professional excellence. The Chefs Association of Ghana (CAG) was founded in 2005 and incorporated in Accra as a non-profit association in 2006. It was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179) as a company limited by guarantee With over 400 members, a number of regional branches and a National Secretariat in Accra, the association is set to promote the culinary

OTUNBA RUNSEWE profession According President of Ghanaian Chef Association, ‘’The Chefs Association of Ghana (CAG) is seriously preparing for the Jollof Festival in Nigeria being organized by Akwaaba Travels, with 5 top Chefs across the sub-region. The Chefs Challenge Programme is an international cooking competition that affords

participating countries to acquire skills in modern cooking trends to be able to deal with international cuisine.’’

Since its inception, the Association has enjoyed a deep and longstanding tradition as Ghana’s true representation of the professional chef and cook.

The Nigerian Chef Association however, have selected the best

Chefs to represent the country.

Meanwhile, The 13th Akwaaba, African Travel Market 2017 received a boost as Olam Nigeria Limited, the biggest rice producers in the country partners the organisers of the yearly travel fair for the maiden edition of chef challenge/food expo, one of the events lined for this year.

Olam as the official sponsors of the much talked about #Jollofrice war by Akwaaba Travel Market, delivered bags of Mama’s Pride Rice brand of 1kg, 5kg and 10kg to a team from Akwaaba for the upcoming event slated for 10 September 2017 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.

Speaking at the company’s office in Lagos, while receiving the Akwaaba team led by Gbabo Laura Dein, Olam’s Regional Sales and Marketing Manager Mayowa Joshua said the organisation is looking forward to be at the travel fair adding that the company is excited about the partnership.

The culinary event is aimed at promoting tourism in Nigeria by showcasing the best of Nigeria to an international audience.

The tourism event will be hosting chefs from Ghana, Gambia and Nigeria to compete for Jollof rice challenge, 36 states in Nigeria compete for the best main meal and a group of Nigerian chefs compete for the best prepared rice in varieties.

These activities were created purposely to bring out the best in West Africa in terms of rice production and promoting the outlook of culinary tourism and local delicacies to foreigners thereby promoting indigenous hospitality and style.

Akwaaba African Travel market introduced the Chef Challenge and Food Expo on the hospitality day to foster local food experiences amongst travelers and to promote culinary tourism and entertainment. Akwaaba is a 3day travel expo that brings different travel product together. It is from the 10th to the 12th of September.

Ooni calls for better understanding of African cultural beliefs, declares Olojo a global festival As preparations towards this year’s Olojo festival gathers momentum, Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II has called for total repackaging of African culture to remove negative tag put on cultural beliefs of the black race.

The monarch said contrary to the view of many people within and outside the continent, dieties and forbears of the Africans were all servants of God, who did exceptionally well in delivering on the mandate given to them

by God. Speaking in his palace during the media launch of 2017 Olojo Festival, Ooni Ogunwusi, who gave historical back-

ground of the festival, disclosed that during Olojo, the sacred Are crown, regarded as the oldest crown in the world is worn by Ooni once in a year.

According to him, Olojo is the celebration of the first dusk and dawn, adding that during the festival, Ooni will wear Are crown and take a trip to Oke Mogun, the spot where the first dusk and dawn happened.

Declaring Olojo a global festival, Ooni Ogunwusi called for proper education of the younger generation on the significance of major cultural celebrations of Yoruba people.

Highlighting activities and events lined up to make this year’s festival a

rewarding outing for tourists and participants alike, Ooni said 2017 Olojo will feature reorientation workshop for the youth on culture, football competition, ayo Olopon, fashion show and traditional musical night.

The Ooni is expected to move into a 7-day seclusion to commune with his ancestors and pray for the nation before the grand finale of Olojo slated for 30th of September. He added that some members of black caucus of Pennsylvania House of Representatives and about 150 other black Americans have already indicated interest to participate during this year’s Olojo festival.

Ooni of Ife , Oba Enitan Adeyeye

Business Review B7

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Addressing debt burden to ensure seamless petroleum products distribution Simon Ugwu In order to enhance seamless distribution of petroleum products, the Federal Government should ensure prompt payment of Oil marketers in the country.

In recent time the marketers raised alarm over plans to embark on mass retrenchment of workers as Federal Government failed to pay their outstanding debts owed on petroleum importation, accrued interest and exchange differential which runs over $2 billion to date.

The marketers under the aegis of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPIs) This was contained in a joint communiqué issued by the marketers after their joint meeting in Lagos, signed by their legal adviser, Patrick Etim.

“Many marketers and oil companies were owing workers over eight months salaries due to inability of Federal Government to pay the huge debts been owed on products imported since from 2015 , the interest cost and the foreign exchange differential which has accrued to over $2 billion,” said Etim.

In a related development the marketers appealed for urgent intervention of government and authorisation to pay outstanding interest and foreign exchange differentials owed marketers to date to save their business from total collapse.

The marketers stated that they currently owe some Nigerian banks over $2 billion, which they took as loans to import fuel, and because the government is yet to them or pay the banks interest on the loans as agreed, the interest accumulated over time an is still accruing.

They said that government is in violation of the agreement reached with marketers on payment schedule as many commercial banks that lend money to oil marketers for the importation of premium motor spirit (PMS) are still in a despair following the weight of the mounting indebtedness from the oil marketers even as the operations of the marketers nationwide is fast grinding to a halt.

“The hope that the outstanding debt owed marketers will be paid resulting from the intervention

vent and financially handicapped to continue operating profitably.

“Commercial banks, the original and actual owners of these funds are already hard hit by marketers’ inability to return these funds within the ‘contract tenure of 45 days’ and have, in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s prudential guidelines, the account of the marketers are now classified ‘non-performing’ accounts in all the banks in the federation. In addition, properties provided by marketers as securities for these funds are in the process of being auctioned.”

GMD NNPC, of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo appear to be dashed as the payment that was promised to be made in July 2017 is yet to materialize. This was devastating to marketers as we are been dragged daily by banks on debts owe and under threat of putting our tank farms under receivership,” stated the marketers.

“It was expected that the various meetings held between very senior government officials and the leadership of the oil dealers to resolve the issue of the outstanding debt owed to oil marketers will yield the desired result as the figures were fully reconciled and there was commitment from government to pay by the end of July 2017.

The condition of the contract being that the government shall pay the difference between the landing cost of the petrol and the selling price of petrol (as fixed by government) provided that the landing cost is higher than the selling price.

The government approved the landing cost which fluctuated as it depended mainly on the international price of petrol and exchange rate of naira/dollar.

A key term of the government’s contract with marketers

Maikanti Baru is that the under-recovery payments shall be paid to marketers within 45days of submission of documents evidencing discharge of petrol cargo and trucking out from storage. `` It was also agreed that after 45 days the government shall pay the interest charges on the loans taken by the marketers to finance the importation of cargoes of petrol. `The marketers said the problem of the banks is compounded by the fact that they provided billions of dollars to finance the importation of cargoes of petrol.

According to them, they opened Letters of Credit at approximate exchange rate of N197/$1.00 while petrol cargoes were supplied and sold by the marketers at the selling prices approved by government and the repayment was calculated using the above exchange rate.

According to them, the foreign exchange differentials which arose as a result of the initial devaluation of the naira (by the last administration) from the initial N165/US$1 “the interest payable due to delayed reimbursement also by the by the past administration, both of which the Federal Government had approved for payment to mar-

keters, have not been fully settled by the appropriate Federal Government agencies.

“The markers stated that it was only in the first quarter of 2017, that the banks were able to liquidated the Letters of Credit from 2014/ 2015 at the N360/$ as against the N176- 195/$ at the time the LC’s were opened because of lack of foreign exchange from the government leaving their accounts with the huge differential.

“The recent further devaluation of the naira from N195 to N305 and later to over N365 to US$1, while the Federal Government agencies based their reimbursement calculation on N197 to US$1, left petroleum marketers within our association with additional debt burden in excess of N600bn. This is in addition to the over N250bn arrears owed.

“The downstream sector as a whole, is now saddled with a debt burden of over N850bn which keeps rising because the banks are still charging interests until the total debt is fully liquidated,’’ the marketers claimed.

The petroleum marketers, as a result of these unpaid interest and foreign exchange differentials have gradually become insol-

The inability to pay or service the loans, has not only stalled their further importation of fuel but is threatening the operation of the affected banks and the nation’s financial industry at large, they said They said that it is very scary to consider consequences of bank failure in Nigeria, adding that apart from the impact on individuals and businesses some economists project that it would cost the government more than N2 trillion to revive Nigerian banks in the event of failure.

“The banks are worried that financing new petrol imports when outstanding loans, interests and charges have not been paid will be foolish especially when it is clear that the imports will represent an unmitigated loss to the importers based on the landing costs.

While the oil marketers await the payment of monies owed to them as approved and announced by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), they are still unable to transact with banks because their accounts have been classified as non-performing hence cannot be used to transact business under the classification.

“There is a need for President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to keep improving governance especially by correcting wrongs of previous governments and making government responsible to its contracts and responsibilities,” stressed the group.

The marketers appealed to the government not to allow its inactions in handling the critical issues facing banks, airlines, manufacturers, electricity companies and other businesses expose consumers to suffering, However, they expressed their support for Federal government’s plan to remove fuel subsidy, even as they urged the government to quickly deregulate the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry in order to save the national economy from ruin.

v

B8 Personal

Finance

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, September 2, 2017

Understanding e-dividend payments, T+3, trade alert

Mounir-Gwarzo Bonny Amadi A dividend is a payment made by a company to its shareholders. It is usually a distribution of profits from earnings of corporations.

When an organization registered a profit or surplus, the corporation is able to re-invest the profit in the business as retained earnings and where there is still surplus to share, it will then pay a percentage of the profit as a dividend to shareholders.

Dividends also comes as bonus shares, which is credited to the shareholders accounts.

Such bonus shares are priced at the prevailing equity price and could be sold by the beneficiary to generate the monetary value.

Bonus shares and cash dividends are usually posted as slips and cheques respectively to the shareholders dedicated addresses before, but with mar-

Director General Securities and-Exchange Commission SEC ket innovations, by the Securities D Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria , the process has been simplified through electronic process as it is now directly credited the shareholders bank account or CSCS account in terms of bonus shares.

A company can pay cash dividend and also issue bonus shares, in most cases companies prefer to pay cash dividend, hence issuing bonus shares helps to dilute its share value in the market and may eventually lead to share reconstruction to prune down value shares on issue.

E-Dividend payment Prior to the commencement of dividend payment directly to investors’ bank accounts ,the Nigerian Inter bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS) was not a key player in dividend payment but active in settlement of inter

bank transactions.

The Electronic dividend payment or e-Dividend, however brought the NIBSS to full capital market operations, as it becomes fully integrated with the registrar companies in the capital market to its electronic payment network.

This synergy facilitates seamless processing and payment of shareholders dividends and interest on Bonds, Shares and other investment through the Automated Clearing House.

To benefit from e-dividend one must register freely from his dedicated bank. The registration charge is currently borne by the sec, till the end of the 2017 financial year 31 December.

What is T+1, T+2, T+3, terms used in capital market?

T+3 is the number of days

plus the transaction day, it takes to effect transaction on the exchange and receive payment.

On the issue of transaction circle, it goes beyond T+3. For emphasis, T+ 3 transaction is sacrosanct in equity market IN Nigeria that on the T, that is day of transaction, three working days, Whenever one buys or sells a stock, bond, or mutual fund, there are two important dates of which to always be aware which are the transaction date and the settlement date.

The abbreviations T+1, T+2, and T+3 refer to the settlement dates of security transactions which occur on a transaction date plus one day, plus two days, and plus three days, respectively. ‘T’ is the transaction date.

However, in Nigeria’s capital market, T+3 is the settlement day. Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria , Mounir Gwaarzo, speaking recently on the impact of T+3 settlement said “This T+3, sometimes we don’t appreciate the good things we are doing, that the advanced markets have been operating since the 18th century, their settlement is T+3.

The SEC DG added that “As at today, the US market as developed as they are still practices T+3, it is just towards the end of the year that they are looking at T+2, which is settlement of transaction within two days of transaction.

According to him, Nigerian market is developing very fast, and as the Direct cash Settlement systems (DCS) takes effect and becomes fully operational, Nigeria will migrate to T+2 “ I don’t see why we can’t operate T+2” CSCS commitment to T+3 settlements, trade alerts THE Central Securities Clearing Systems, (CSCS) is a central security depository of the Nigerian capital market and has been involved in the regulation of the activities of the Nigerian capital market as a shares or equities depository institution.

General Manager, IT & Operations; Joseph Mekiliuwa, who spoke to Daily Times Nigeria on the impact of the share depository and T+3 on the market said, “On the issue of transaction circle, it goes beyond T+3.

For emphasis, T+ 3 transaction

is sacrosanct in equity market IN Nigeria that on the T, that is day of transaction, three working days, According to him , the three working days, is called delivery versus payment in the market parlance , and during this period, shares will leave the account of the seller to the account of the buyer, money will also leave from the account of the broker who bought to the account of the broker who sold for onward transmission to his client.

DCS ensure direct payment of transaction funds to your account In the wisdom of SEC, Mekiliuwa said “we all know that there may be one or two broker who may not want to transmit that money to his client, SEC now introduced, DCS, Direct cash settlement” he said by introducing DSC, what the broker will do is that on T+3, when he receives the money, they will do some inhouse transactions clearance and on T+4 they will now give the investor the money or by way of issuing out cheques.

SEC has now directed, go by direct cash settlement, which says that on T+3, instead of the broker getting the cash credit in his account, the investor get the money in his or her account directly.

Observing trade alert The market regulators urge all investors to always monitor transition alert on dedicated phone numbers.

The CSCS general manager IT & operations said “That is why we want to encourage everyone to observe the trade alert, if the transaction is executed at about 2.30 pm in the afternoon, then you know that the processing will continue and it is on real time basis that clients are alerted.

But, if transaction occurred in the morning, within one hour, you will be alerted, if transaction occurs around the tail end of the day, within one hour, you will be alerted. The alert is to put you in the know that something has happened to your investment.

So, if you are not the person that mandated the transaction, then you will report to the Exchange, and that means, we will ensure that that broker unwinds what he has done.

When you mandate transition, always monitor alerts on your phones to make sure you get the messages from CSCS. There is no way transaction will occur today and you will not be alerted today, not the third day, not even the second day.

Life&

TIMES Saturday, September 2, 2017

Stars from Ajegunle to the world L2 & 3

P

L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Stars from Ajegunle to the world Ajegunle uniqueness likes in the fact that it is a concentration of all the many ethnic groups in Nigeria; Ajegunle is Yoruba word which is broke down as Ajegunle, meaning a place where riches dwell; in other words a land with raw and untapped treasures (Talents). Located in the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local government and bordered on the West by Apapa Wharf and Tincan, two of come into the country. In the past years it has produced notable entertainers, Olympic Team, Biodun Obende who plays in Finland, former Watford striker Odion Ighalo, and former Super Eagles defender who is now a pastor, Taribo West and Emmanuel Amuneke, former African Footballer of the Year.

The community, popularly known as “AJ City” or simply “AJ”, was subject to blessed city of Ajegunle.

Daddy Showkey Ajegunle was brought to limelight by the popular musician Daddy Showkey in the late 1990s. It was a notorious part of Lagos before now. Ajegunle as the name implies in Yoruba language where the name was derived from means a place where riches dwells. In other words a land with raw and untapped treasures (talents).

Daddy Showkey Born as John Odafe Asiemo is one Ajegunle product that has been representing Ajegunle anywhere without be intimidated even after moving out to his own house.

photo intended to brag with stacks of currency. KCee was Born and bred in Olodi-Apapa area of Ajegunle. He originally started out with a group called Kcpresh, where he and his friend and partner, Precious, worked together. They both entered a music competition Starquest, where they emerged victorious. They stayed as a group and made successful albums, until 2011 when they decided to split and try their career prospects as individual artistes.

After the celebrated split of the group, Kcee has since made hit after hits, raking several endorsement deals and multiple awards in the process. The Anambra State-born music artiste is currently

this veteran Galala singer, which usually comes with the response into the music scene when he was associated with the music group, hit song. He later went solo, producing chart-bursting songs like,

In 1995, this multiple award-winning Delta state-born artiste was awarded the Best New Artiste in Nigeria. Known for his unique Galala music and dance style, has collaborated with music stars like Harrysongz, Chuddy K, Drey Beats, and others. He made an appearance in 2014, after being silent for over 7 years, with

part of the celebrity season of the Gulder Ultimate Search, alongside Emeke Ike, Chioma Akpotha and other notable entertainers.

the few Ajegunle musicians that are still trending in the present day Nigerian music industry. Most of his celebrated tracks include, Kcee who signed a multi-million endorsement deal with Telecommunications Company, MTN is nurturing political ambitions as most celebrities are. Patience Jonathan, wife of former Nigerian President, Good luck Ebele Jonathan, appointed Kcee as peace ambassador of the federal republic of Nigeria.

The famous singer has also revealed his intention in Anambra state gubernatorial election. He is contesting for Anambra 2017 governorship election alongside popular Nollywood actor, Yul Edochie.

Baba Fryo

Don Jazzy of the richest music producer in Africa. He heads Mavin Records, often take credit as a singer, he performs background vocals for

Ikechukwu who are doing pretty well in the music industry. Hardly

appreciated by fans of both parties as they both created good music we could all relate with. Speaking on his grooming of world class entertainers, a label mate, Tiwa Savage almost a year ago, Roc Nation. His Label caught the attention of Roc Natis director of mobile strategies, Briant Briggs on his visit to Nigeria which led to the notice and picking of Tiwa Savage in his search for new talent.

Kcee Kingsley Chinweike Okonkwo popularly called KC is one of the

musician doing pretty well in the entertainment industry although he

Life&

he had the other one covered a star-

while with like

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 2, 2017

L3

Stars from Ajegunle to the world Nico Gravity

silent as Timaya once mentioned after that diss track that he came

Basket Mouth

mask. Despite being involved in music for several years, he made his most notable impact in the industry in the early

Charles Okafor

Baba Fryo belongs to the category of Ajegunle musicians he seems to have forgotten his former community of residence as they are yet to feel his impact.

Gideon Okeke Danfo Drivers at Ojo road in Ajegunle until Big Brother gave him a turn around.

produced under Cornerstone Entertainment Records label them to super-stardom. The release of their sophomore album

impact in Ajegunle is yet to be felt.

Peter Rufai

goalkeepers at Ajegunle.

They have performed in many African countries including They go by their professional names, Mountain Black and

Taribo West success of super eagles in many matches they participated in.

active in football due to age and the likes, his impact ought to be

close to their debut hit single.

Oritsefemi

Daddy Fresh

Odion Jude Ighalo From dance-hall, reggae, R&B and hip-hop genres of music. of presentation is suitable for hustlers on the streets.

Marvellous Benjy Music. The record label that once promoted other stars like 2face

state-born reggae and dancehall singer and producer struggled

Entertainment.

Samson Siasia

Ruth Kadiri

L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 2, 2017

L5

Society circle L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Ajibade Alabi

Oluchi diverts into another business

Oluchi

Supermodel Oluchi Onwuegbu-Orlandi who made name for herself and hit limelight when she won the MNET Face Of Africa competition is now back on Nigerian scene after

her reign and with many deals in her kitty. And to announce her entry into Nigeria business group, Oluchi who is the world representative of Lulu Underwear in Africa has now open

Palms Mall in V.I which she christened “Lulu Lingerie” “My new side business is called lulu lingerie .it is a Nigerian Lingerie Brand and also a multibrand innerwear brand.

We basically provide innerwear for men, women and children” Oluchi explained After winning the Mnet Oluchi moved to New York city where she still lives, she began appearing in editorials for American and Italian vague , harper s bazaars and so many. She has also appeared in many advertising campaigns

When Funmilayo Odeneye celebrates her day with her hubby It was not only a day to show love and caring for her people and those who are close to her but it was a special day for beautiful wife, of Hon Odeneye Kehinde (OK) who represents Ijebu Ode/ Odogbolu/ Ijebu North East at the House of Representative in Abuja, to give God the glory for adding another year to her year last week And what a better way to celebrate the day than to celebrate it with her hubby who also show how affectionate he is as a husband “Heavenly God I thank u for all u have done in d past years and making me to see another year of grace n blessings, may your name be praised. Happy birthday to u “Olufunmilayo”” That was how Olufunmilayo posted the message on her Facebook in the morning of her

Bayo Adelabu CBN Deputy Governor eye Ajimobi job Though the Agodi house in Ibadan is not vacant yet with the “landlord” still there but already the tussle to who will succeeds the incumbent that is Ajimobi is already hots up Daily Times can exclusively report here that one of those eyeing and who is in the race to occupy the Agodi house is no other person than Chief Bayo Adelabu whose personality and popularity has been on the rise in Oyo state, especially in political space, even though he has not est the people in Ibadan has “anointed” as one to take over the reigns of Oyo state come 2019 The Ibadan-born CBN Deputy Governor and

Bayo Adelabu & Ajimobi

the Agbalakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland is the grandson of the late nationalist and a political man, Adegoke Adelabu (penkelemesi), so he is seen as the chip off the old block and he also shares great part of his grandfather s bril-

liance And at 47 many see him as a brilliant and articulate man who can lead Oyo state to the next level. How soon he will declare is what we cannot say. But remember you

Princess Adetoun Oluwole, queen of the radio unveiled!

Funmilayo

celebration day Though it was a low key celebration Daily Times was later told that the ever shy woman will later host some friends for a get together which Hon himself and some of his friends also add

glamour to by making their presence felt “There is no other way to thank God than this, I give him all the glory” was what Funmilayo could tell us. Happy birthday madam, but the boys are still waiting for their cake!

Ondo first lady’s love for sports If there is any way the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwa Akeredolu could show her love for sports, she shown it last week at the Township Stadium Akure, launched the kick off the state summer tennis clinic for children between the ages of 4 and 13.

Gov. Akeredolu and his Wife

of the Akeredolu -led government to make Ondo state the tennis hub in Nigeria and noted that it was high time Ondo state began to produce her Serena Williams.

For listeners of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Bond FM, the name Adetoun Folashade Oluwole, should not be new to their ears especially for those who listen to “koko inu iwe iroyin” on bond fm every Sunday then the voice of that sweet female broadcaster should not be mistaken This Awori born indigene has carved a niche for herself in broadcasting that has seen her put in over 10 years in this profession, but in an exclusive chart with Daily Times this beautiful broadcaster stated that she nearly dump the profession which has now given her fame “I read mass communication for my mass communication after but I went into business after I graduated from Olabisi Onabanjo university but when I have a problem with my business when my shop burnt and things were very

my profession I now decided let me do other things than business then I took my CV to federal radio corporation when I got there I was not employed I have to leave there and go to ltv 8 to trained myself under Dr. Abayomi Mate Ifakaleluya before I later got a letter from FRCN I anchor my dialect an Awori program, on bond fm and from there I joined koko inu iwe iroyin crew anchoring

Princess

“gbagede” then I started casting news by 10 pm with Soji Adetokun with the support of my boss Oluyege I was encouraged I am always scared of Ibadan people been an Awori person but Oluyege proved that not all Ibadan people are dubious. He also encouraged me to read 7 o clock news which is world news, and now I read koko inu iwe iroyin every Sunday” She also stated that her mother was also once a broadcaster. So can we say like mother like daughter!

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Relastionship L7

Mutiat Alli

Why should he be blamed?

Life they say is not bed of roses, so also goes for love that would never be a promise of a rose unless it is showered with light of faith, water of sincerity and air of passion.

This was all that Oluwadamilare showed during our stay excuses. I was blind folded by lust not love. It took me so many years to realize the deadly mistake I made that have cost me a fortune. Come to think of it, will I ever be forgiven for that I have done. I need an advice please.

I woke up one morning hoping to have a wonderful moment with my so-called boyfriend, but to my surprise all that was supposed to be nice became sour with the kind of attitude I put up just for the reason been that I saw a guy that I considered better than him. I realized I should have taken my time before taking that decision that brought a stigma to me. I never meant what I did, only that I was blind folded by lust not love. That decision I made changed everything about me and would love people to learn from that.

When I meant Oluwadamilare back in 2002, things were going smoothly because the chemistry between us was so strong that my colleagues in school had several feelings that it might lead to a blissful marriage. library where I had gone to read in preparation for my fourth coming examination, he starred at me in the library. Later that same day, he came running after me and all he said was friendship. advances. friendship, but as time went on, I had no choice than to give in to his proposals because then, I was already in love with him. All I was even thinking before he made his moves was mate wants him too.

Although Oluwadamilare gave all that a lady desired him I wanted a break for some while. Not that we had a working out any longer. Even before I told him my intention of quitting our 2years old relationship, the sweet memories of the days shared together would continue to linger in my mind as the most remarkable one was the celebration of our one year relationship where we both had a nice treat at the popular Kuramo Beach before heading to Eko Hotel and Suites where we had a memorable day together. One thing led into another as he demanded sex from me which

baby, I was only pulling your legs, I reserve that till when I get you married fully.

Instantly, I had mixed feelings that it was just a normal saying by guys of nowadays so I was not confused about him getting married to me, I thought it was one those lies The day my world came crushing was when we had gone to attend a birthday party of his friend, Nifemi at the Nu-Grotto club on the Island. He inquired that we dance together while Oluwadamilare was still busy drinking his beers. We danced for some while before my baby boy move of Nifemi as I monitored his moves while still holding Damilare closely.

All through the party, my eyes were closely focused on Nifemi, I was carried away by is handsomeness, he sexy as all I was thinking was the possibility of him holding me

close to his heart.

After the whole day partying with the birthday boy, it was time for us to leave but I made way by confusing Damilare for us to stay a little longer which he obliged as he continue to remind me of the fact that I was the apple of his eyes. Before our discussion ended, I had already gotten his number at the time; Damilare stepped out to use the toilet. He promised to give me a call which he did as promised. All through the night even while sleeping close to my boyfriend, all I was thinking was the nice peck Nifemi gave me at the party.

It took me two months and half to set my eyes on him again as Damilare would not allow me follow him whenever he goes visiting. It got to a stage that I would sneak out of the house to see Nifemi on several occasions.

Nifemi promised all I assume Damilare should tell me, he promises to make me his wife only if I am ready to quit my relationship with Damilare. I told him to give me some time to think over the issue, after some time, I gave a call to him telling him that I have accepted his proposal.

Damilare as I started doing things that would up set him and eventually I got the better part of him as he slapped me after an argument erupt between the two of us. I saw that as an opportunity to tell him that I was already sick and tired of the relationship. Damilare felt remorse about his reactions, he pleaded but I gave a deafen ear to him since that was one of the opportunity I was seeking.

Few weeks later, I started a relationship with relationship was splendid as we had sizzling moments together ranging from the visitation to various places and much more the beach side experience.

Things worked out the way I thought as I had the dream of getting married to Nifemi as soon as possible, highly welcomed by his parent who later gave advices on things that would make our relationship last longer.

We made way for the preparation of our said

wedding, all the arrangements were made so well, but the only disappointing aspect of it was when Nifemi told the occasion. I had mixed feeling immediately that if it were to be a planned game. Nifemi gave me more courage that such would never happen as he never On the very day of our wedding, I was happy and at the same time sad at the other end as my heart told me something weird was going to occur. When the was still not balanced; all I was hoping was that the programme comes to an end so soon. The pastor later asked for whoever, will want to the wedding to take place, then Damilare was just coming in into the church, my mind was beating so fast and the top it all, I was already sweating abnormally. All I saw at the end was that he went to have his sit, at this time; my senses were just working as expected.

Later after the church and reception programme, he came congratulating us but later whispered into my ears that he was going to get me back at all cost after hugging me.

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Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Reasons to love a gray sofa

Mutiat Alli