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A’Court upturns Al-Hassan’s tribunal victory in Taraba, declares Otti winner of Abia gov poll Andrew Orolua, ƄƑƉ

State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State.

Also, the Appeal Court

ÎÎÎThe Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday upturned the November 7, 2015 judgment of the Taraba

sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Thursday, declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alex Otti, as winner of the April 11 Gov-

ernorship election in Abia State.

In its ruling, the Court of Appeal in Abuja said that the Taraba State Governorship election petition tribu-

nal lacked power to make an order declaring Al-Hassan Governor essentially as the issue decided upon was a pre-

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Continued on page 6

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 14

GAINERS

N150

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 31st December 2015.

NESTLE

825

860

35%

NB

124

136

12%

JBERGER

43

42

-1%

CUTIX

1.71

1.66

-0.05%

FO

315

330

15%

DANGCEM

164.95

170

5.05%

CADBURY

18.05

17.15

-0.9%

SKYEBANK

1.62

1.58

-0.04%

Emefiele is Times Man of The Year Ï ƐƈƊƑ ƄƑƄ Ɗ Ə ƈ dƐ ƐƆ ƌ Ƈ j Ɔ Ɔ Ə Friday Atufe

ÎÎÎThe Board of Editors of

Daily Times has named Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Central Bank, as the Man of the Year 2015.

With uncommon dexterity, he has continued to manage

the nation’s monetary policies, steering the economy through troubled waters.

Quietly but efficiently, he kept the economy on course even when there was no Federal Executive Council for about six months after President Muhammadu Buhari

assumed office and took time to constitute his cabinet.

His efforts can best be appreciated when viewed against the backdrop of falling prices of crude oil in the international market.

Continued on page L3

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2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

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3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Rising cancer among Nigerians

I

f there is one illness that is slowly and steadily taking a toll on the health of Nigerians, it is cancer.

Although the debilitating terminal disease has been affecting unknown number of Nigerians for a long time, of late the invasion rate has increased exponentially. As it stands, no group, age, class or gender has been spared its deadly onslaught and misery.

What is cancer? It is the name given to a collection of related diseases when some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping, spreading into surrounding tissues.

Incidentally, cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, human cells grow and divide to form new ones, as the body needs them. As cells grow old or become damaged they die, and new ones take their place. However, when cancer develops, this orderly process breaks down. As cells become increasingly abnormal, old or damaged ones survive when they should die, and new cells form when they are not needed.

These extra cells can divide without stopping and may form growths called tumours. Cancerous tumours are malignant, which means they can spread into, or invade, nearby tissues. Medical experts have identified causes of cancer to include genetic factors; tobacco use, diet, and physical activity; certain types of infections; and environmental exposures to different types of chemicals and radiation. Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including Nigeria.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of new cancer cases is expected to rise by about 70 percent over the next 20

years. The most common sites of cancer among men are lung, prostate, colon, rectum, stomach and liver, while those of women are breast, colon, rectum, lung, cervix and stomach. Unfortunately, cancer is becoming an important healthcare concern among Nigerians. It is worse that most of the country’s hospitals and medical centres lack the diagnostic capacity to quickly detect and treat cancer infections.

Even when successive governments vow to make healthcare administration one of their core agenda of action, it is becoming increasingly difficult to see the impact on the citizenry even with the existence of the National Health Insurance Scheme. Such lack of investment in healthcare infrastructure has been forcing several Nigerians to countries like India, Singapore, United Kingdom and even South Africa in search of treatment, and with it the negative economic consequence of capital flight.

The burden of cancer in Nigeria is enormous. According to the WHO, there are an estimated 100,000 new cancer cases in the country each year.

In addition, it is feared that by 2020, cancer incidence for Nigerian males and females may rise to 90.7/100,000 and 100.9/100,000, respectively. It is therefore important for governments at all levels to increase awareness campaigns on the causes of cancer, while improving public health institutions and funding for healthcare initiatives, even as they should create the enabling environment for collaboration with the private sector in tackling the menace.

Moreover, Nigerians must also begin to imbibe the culture of regular medical checkups so they can commence treatment of any diagnosed ailment promptly before it gets too late.

Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

Group News Editor Segun Adio Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide Business Editor Friday Atufe Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

ÏÏÏA

happy New Year to readers of this column.

Last year was history and a new year is here starring us in the face. It is bound to be a year of bountiful blessings, where many people’s dreams and aspirations will be met.

Not a few Nigerians, both the mighty and the lowly, rich and poor were glued to their television and radio sets to hear Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, speak to the nation in his maiden media chat. Since Chief Obasanjo’s second stint in power in 1999, the presidential media chat has become a forum where Nigerians assess their leaders and take a position of matters of concerns to them.

Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Group Head Accounts & Control Simpa Ajayi

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banned if suicide bombing continued. He also queried how one group can create a state within a state (apparently referring to the Shiite/Army clash). I have no doubt that Nigerians were happy to hear that he was not in support of a planned purchase of N45 billion cars for lawmakers.

For these, he got thumb up.

Where he perhaps went overboard was his handling of the Dasuki and Kanu issues. The President was supposedly fuming when confronted with the continued detention of the two men in spite of several court orders against it.

Of course he meant well for the country and trying to discourage corruption, but his approach to those thorny issues was below par. I think the media managers of the President have a lot to do before the next media parley. Happy New Year.

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Segun Adio

So, when it was announced that President Buhari would be speaking to the nation last Wednesday, hysteria rent the air. In the end, Mr. President did address all questions put to him. Of course, his responses have continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians.

Whatever anybody said of the President, he did his candid best in his reply to the multiplicity of questions. It is cheering that hear that living in Aso Rock villa has not alienated him to Nigerians’ sufferings, saying the people would soon begin to get dividends of democracy.

The President’s address was laced with statements that calls for concerns.

The President had assured, that any of his ministers/aides found to be corrupt would not only be sacked, but be prosecuted and that hijab would be

Words On Marble :

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye

A media chat to remember

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Gov. Ben Ayade

Pat Utomi

Martin Onovo

“What has been the problem that characterises Nigeria’s political landscape is that politics is a lifestyle; it is not a call to service”.

“Nigeria is a country dying to be led and because it is not being led the potential is being lost.”

“Only reckless state governors have difficulty paying wages. Effective state governors have been paying as and when due”.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016 Friday, November 13, 2015

‘PEACE ADVANTAGE’ Frequent Flyer Program

Overview PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Air Peace “Peace Advantage” Frequent Flyer Program is a customer initiative by Air Peace to show appreciation to & continuously reward its frequent flyers for their patronage from inception of Air Peace flight operations. The Peace Advantage FFP offers distinctive value to frequent fliers by delivering ‘recognition’, ‘rewards’ and differentiated service levels with an integrated customer interaction strategy to allow for continuous customer expression & feedback via a unique smartphone app (Android/iOS/blackberry 10 versions) and a dedicated website.

The “Peace Advantage” FFP aims to clearly communicate to Air Peace customers the value Air Peace places on their patronage & Air Peace’s commitment to building long lasting mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. The basic principle being that – The More You Fly with Air Peace, The More You Get Back From Air Peace.

The “Peace Advantage” Program rewards program members with an exchangeable loyalty currency called “Peace Points” for all their qualifying International, Regional & Domestic flights on Air Peace. Earned ”Peace Points” can be exchanged by program members for Air Peace flights nationwide, and in Future Air Peace promotional offers, gift merchandise, vouchers & other lifestyle related items from a dedicated online rewards catalogue – The Air Peace Loyalty Shop. In addition, program members will also be entitled to additional benefits – discounts & status benefits – from a network of Air Peace partners nationwide.

EARNING “PEACE POINTS” Peace Points are awarded to program members for flights flown as follows

The “Peace Advantage” program has 4 Member levels - Peace Bronze, Peace Silver, Peace Gold & Peace Platinum with the following benefits – TIER BENEFITS & QUALIFICATION

**Based on Availability

All individuals / passengers above 16 years of age will be eligible to enrol in the Peace Advantage Program, whilst to cater for our numerous passengers with families, Family Memberships will be allowed for passengers / individuals below 16 years of age, who will be enrolled under a parent / adult utilizing the Family Membership option.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

5

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

PDP tags Buhari’s anti-graft war a vendetta Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎFrom the Peoples Demo-

cratic Party (PDP) came, yesterday, a declaration that President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war is a clear case of vendetta against political opponents.

The declaration was made by the Acting National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, in his New Year message to Nigerians.

Secondus specifically accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of pursuing a one-party state agenda considering its inordinate schemes to ‘take over’ PDP controlled states.

In the words of Secondus, “Nigerians have watched in bewilderment as the so

called change agenda of the APC has deepened the socioeconomic problems in the country instead of building on the successes bequeathed to them by the PDP.” “Today the APC has governed for seven months and PDP can confidently say without any fear of contradiction that the APC was not prepared for governance.

“The APC is just a gangup of aggrieved people to take over the helms of power,” he added.

The acting National Chairman of PDP pointed out that Nigerians have seen the chaotic situation at hand orchestrated by the incoherent policy initiatives of the APC-led government.

He reminded Nigerians

that APC’s electioneering propaganda was meant to demonize the PDP and its achievements in government.

Prince Secondus noted that by its own acts of omission and commission, APC presented itself as non-inclusive and sectional.

He said, “Consequently, we are now faced with worsening fuel crisis; free fall of the naira; job losses; worsening insurgency; the Shi’ites/ military clash; renewed Biafran agitation and general insecurity.

“To worsen this state of misgovernance, the only active policy of this government, the anti-corruption fight, is being mismanaged.

“The PDP supports this

policy wholeheartedly because it is fundamental to our drive towards national development as a country.

But it becomes counter productive if it is pursued without following the rule of law and at the same time selectively targeting members of the opposition party.

“For instance, some former PDP members who defected to the APC few months ago, some of them, former governors, who were indicted in their states, are not being investigated. Rather, they are appointed into cabinet positions.”

Secondus further said that Nigerians have become despondent but however advised that Nigerians should not lose hope “as we boldly

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko ((middle) and his wife, Olukemi, with children, at the Ondo State End of the Year Children’s party, at the Government House, in Akure… on Wednesday

march into 2016.

His words “We must repose our faith in God, the only one that can guide the leadership of this country to take actions that would genuinely correct past mistakes, rebuild our economy, give all Nigerians a sense of belonging and secure our country.

“Our prayer is that in 2016 Nigerians will live in

peace, love and brotherhood and would be alive to their citizenship responsibility of engaging the government so that it can work for national reconciliation, reconstruction and development.

“The PDP will be at the vanguard of this movement.

We are already reforming our Party in order to put us in good stead to play this role effectively”, he said.

Buhari signs 2015 budget implementation extension into law ÎÎÎPresident

Muhammadu Buhari, has signed an amendment to the 2015 budget act which authorised the executive to extend the implementation of the Capital vote component in the act beyond Dec. 31.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters ( Senate ), Senator Ita Enang, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Enang explained that his clarification became necessary in view of the fact that legislators, institutions and other concerned agencies had been contacting him to know the true status of the Act, which was forwarded to Buhari last week.

“His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, has assented to the 2015 appropriation amendment Act passed by the National Assembly on December 22, 2015, extending the 2015 financial year to March 31,

2016 in respect of capital projects” ``The Act to amend the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Act specifically authorised the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, N556.9bn meant for Capital Expenditure in the 2015 budget to enable the appropriate government agencies carry out massive infrastructural projects during the dry season,’’ the statement said.

The Senate had on Dec 22, amended the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Act to enable the Executive arm of government, to implement the N557 billion Capital expenditure component in the 2015 Budget up to March next year.

The amendment was perfected at plenary shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari, presented the 2016 budget estimates to the joint session of the National Assembly.

A’Court upturns Al-Hassan’s tribunal victory in Taraba, declares Otti winner of Abia gov poll Continued from page 1 election matter which it had no jurisdiction.

It held that it was a gross misdirection for the tribunal to have declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Aisha Jumai Alhassan, winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Taraba State on the basis that she scored the second highest number of votes in the election.

The Taraba State Governorship Election Tribunal

which sat in Abuja had on November 7, 2015 declared Aisha Al-Hassan winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state and ordered that Al-Hassan who is currently the Minister of Women Affairs be sworn in as governor of Taraba State.

Dissatisfied with the tribunal decision, Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had challenged the judgment based on 11 grounds of appeal, out of which he formulated 10 is-

sues.

Delivering the lead judgment, the presiding Justice of the five-man panel, Justice Abdul Aboki, held that Al-Hassan and the APC had no legal right to challenge the alleged improper conduct of the PDP primary which produced Ishaku as a candidate.

The Appeal Court held that the APC and Al-Hassan lacked the locus standi to challenge Ishaku’s qualification to contest the April 11, 2015 governorship election on the basis of alleged

non-compliance of the conduct of PDP’s primary with provisions of sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act. The Appeal Court also held that it is the inalienable right of political parties to sponsor candidates of their choice for any election.

The Appeal Court therefore set aside the judgment of the Justice Danladi Abubakar and ordered that the certificate of return issued to Governor Ishaku by the Independent National Electoral Commission re-

mained valid.

The Court of Appeal had on December 21 reserved the judgment on the four separate appeals challenging the decision of Taraba Governorship election petition Tribunal.

Justice Abdul Aboki allowed the appeals by Ishaku, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission and dismissed the appeal filed by APC and a cross appeal filed by AlHassan.

Counsel to Al-Hassan, Mr. Abiodu Owonikoko (SAN),

said they would challenge the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has declared the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Alex Otti, as winner of the April 11 Governorship election in Abia State.

The court in its ruling on Thursday ordered the swearing in of Otti, as governor of Abia State and asked Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate the office.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Biosafety Agency to enforce NBMA Act in 2016 Akor Ejumene Abuja

ÏÏÏNational

Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has called on all owners of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) suspects that are already in Nigeria to formalize them as the moratorium for the formalisation of such products will end by 31st December, 2015.

The Agency noted that full enforcement of the Act establishing the NBMA will commence in 2016.

It would be recalled that the national Biosafety Management Agency was established to provide regulatory framework to adequately safeguard human

Fayose raps Presidency Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏEkiti state governor, Mr. Ayo

Fayose, has described the return to power of President Muhammadu Buhari as a misadventure for Nigerians, calling on the international community, especially organisations like the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) to focus their attention on human rights abuses and contempt for the rule of law in Nigeria in 2016.

Governor Fayose, who said he was not disappointed by the

health and the environment from potential adverse effects of modern biotechnology and genetically modified organisms.

Director General of NBMA, Rufus Ebegba, while addressing stakeholders at the maiden National Biosafety conference held recently in Enugu said ample evidences exists that there are unapproved genetically modified organisms suspects in Nigeria.

“All those individuals, companies and institutions that are dealing in unapproved modern biotechnology and GMOs have a window of six months from June 2015 to formalize their dealings as the biosafety law would be enforced,” he said.

President’s response during his media chat, to question on the disobedient of court orders by the Department of State Security (DSS), added that he had said it several times that once a dictator will always be a dictator and that those who helped him to power will end up in his gaol of dictatorship.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said he was aware of plot to muzzle him and others considered as non-conformists because of their opinion and critical stance on the President and his government, adding that; “such plot will definitely be counterproductive.”

He described the way and manner the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) was being treated by the federal government as the hallmark of a dictator.

PDP plans national convention for March Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assured that there is no going back on its forthcoming Congresses and National Convention slated for March this year 2016.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, who gave the assurance on Thursday pointed out that the congresses and national convention of the party is a constitutional matter.

Metuh insisted that nothing will stop it from holding.

He also denied that the present

National Working Committee (NWC) members have personal ambition to serve in the next party leadership.

According to him, “We are holding the National Convention.

Nothing and nobody can stop the convention. It is a constitutional matter. If anybody has opinion or position to canvass, let him come to convention venue”.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary observed with regret that there were lot of indiscipline and a lot of personal opinion in the party in past nine months, adding however that the NWC is determined to assert its constitutional responsibility.

7 News

FG to professionalise Fire Service, says Dambazau Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏThe Minister of Interior, Lt.-

Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau (rtd) has expressed the Federal Government’s resolve to professionalise the nation’s fire service for effective and efficient service delivery.

Dambazzau made the disclosure when he led a delegation to Chikason Gas Plant in Nnewi that was gutted by fire on the eve of Christmas day and killed tens of people.

He said that the ministry had made provision in the 2016 budget to make the fire service department proactive.

“In addition to providing equipment to the service, we also plan to carry out training of staff to make the service highly professional.

“Every local government should have fire institution up to the various wards and we are looking at the best way to approach this,” he said.

The minister, however, commended the Anambra fire fighters for the spirited efforts they put up to ensure that the fire did not spread to other areas.

The minister, who had earlier visited the Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano and the traditional ruler of Nnewi, Igwe Keneth Orizu III, said that he was in the state to commiserate with

the families of victims of the fire incident.

“We are here to assess the situation and to see how we can prevent future occurrence,” he said, while also praying for the quick recovery of those recuperating in various hospitals.

Dambazzau was accompanied by the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Mr Abdullahi Gana, and the Comptroller-General of Federal Fire Service, Mr. Joseph Anebi.

Mr Chika Okafor, the Chief Executive Officer of Chicason Group and owner of the affected gas plant, commended the minister and his team for finding time to visit the scene.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (4th left); outgoing Chairman of Civil Service Commission, Dr. Olujobi Ayodele Ososanya (2nd right); Commissioner II, Pastor Isreal Olufunso Alagbe (right); Commissioner IV, Engr. Oladimeji Oshinowo (3rd left); Commissioner I, Alhaji Razak Balogun (2nd left) and Commissioner III, Alhaji Tolani Odeyemi (left); during the dinner in honour of Ososanya and members of the Civil Service Commission at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja… on Wednesday.

Lagos Assembly approves Ambode’s N662.588b 2016 budget

ÏÏÏThe Lagos State House of

Assembly, on Thursday, passed into law the 2016 N662.588bn Appropriation Bill presented by the State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on December 17, 2015.

The Appropriation Bill, tagged “The Peoples Budget,” is the highest in the history of the state and it was an improvement on the N489.69bn appropriated for year 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The House unanimously approved the budget after members deliberated on the report of House Committee on Budget which scrutinised the Bill as

Ambode

proposed by the governor.

The report was presented by Chairman of the House Committee on Budget, Hon. Rotimi Olowo on behalf of members of the Committee.

Speaker of the House, Hon.

Mudashiru Obasa, in response, commended members of the Committee for expeditiously working on the budget to ensure its passage before the new fiscal year.

Obasa recalled that members of the Committee worked even on holidays, adding that they had indeed shown their love for the people of the state.

Governor Ambode had, while presenting the budget, put the Recurrent Expenditure at N278,909bn while Capital Expenditure stood at N383,678bn, explaining that the Capital to Recurrent ratio is 58:42 as against 51:49 in 2014 and 2015.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Politics

Æs

Controversy over purchase of helicopter by Osun deepens The controversy over the purchase of an helicopter by the Osun State Government has deepened with the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), urging Governor Rauf Aregbesola to come clean on the issue of the helicopter he claimed his administration bought for surveillance in the state.

In 2012, Governor Aregbesola, while unveiling the then newly bought Armoured Personnel Carri-

er, APC, said a helicopter had been hired for aerial surveillance of the state to nip criminal activities in the state in the board.

But the PDP in a statement issued in Osogbo by Diran Odeyemi, its director of media and strategy, recalled that APC chairman in the state, Prince Gboyega Famoodun had early this year, told journalists that the said helicopter was bought and given to OAS helicopter to rent out and generate funds for the state.

Aregbesola

The statement reads: “OAS helicopter company claimed on their website that Osun State leased AS355 brand from them. Contrarily, Osun State government told us it leased the helicopter out to OAS as a revenue drive when the lie that it was bought for surveillance did not fly.

“Who are we to believe? What exactly is the truth and where is the N500million the government claimed was the cost of purchasing the machine? A lie will need another million lies to cover up the deceit.

“Can Osun state government please tell us the truth? Who owns this helicopter and who is the ac-

tual lessor?

“How much of Osun State money has gone into the purchase and maintenance of the machine and if it was leased from OAS, how much has been committed into its usage?

“Again, if it was indeed leased to OAS how much has been generated through the lease and where are the evidences?”

The party said it was important for the present administration to clear the air on the issue of the helicopter because of heavy credibility burden the issue had placed on the present administration and the moral burden the issue has laden the administration of Aregbesola government with.

Why agitations are on the rise – Ex MILAD, Group Capt. Orji

Group Captain JOE ORJI (Rtd), was the first Military Administrator of Gombe State created over two decades ago. In this interview with VICTOR JIBRIN, where he christened the just presented proposal as Budget of Hope, the former MILAD enjoined the various government appointees saddled with implementation of the budget to rise up to the challenge of human factors that may derail it. Excerpts: 2016 budget proposals have just been presented, what is your reaction?

The 2016 budget as presented to the National Assembly appears to be all embracing in the sense that it has identified a lot of the focus of government for next year. For instance, security and education as we know, is very paramount for national development anywhere. Likewise is looking for areas of alternative sources of revenue like the solid minerals and revamping moribund industries. Again the budget appears to give a lot of room for the promises that have been made by the APC and meeting its obligation like the innovative school feeding and very encouraging giving scholarship to those who are going to read science-based courses in tertiary institutions. To my mind, these are worthy steps. For many years, we all agreed that education has suffered a great setback and for us to get it right, something radically must take place in terms of revamping the sector. For that, you could see that there is provision for the employment of 500,000 graduates to teach in primary schools. In fact, the emphasis there – primary schools, personally, I love that so much because for you to get Nigerian education right, the foundation must be properly laid. And to my mind, the foundation centers

Orji

Kanu

El-ZakZaky

around what we are doing in the primary school education – how the pupils are being prepared for

the secondary school. If you have enough facility, enough well qualified teaching staff and a lot of in-

centives, there will be a lot of motivation. With the free school feeding which is an incentive to many fami-

lies, it is likely that people would be attracted to send their children to school. The fact that a child will get at least one square meal free is a big incentive in the Nigerian setting. I think since the budget covers all those, plus the stipends the party had also promised Nigerians during the campaign, if all these things will be done, then there is no doubt that we are looking forward to a better 2016 in terms of restructuring the education system. A lot of hopes within the budget had been given on the revamping of Ajaokuta Steel Plant. It is very critical for national development. We have seen that in the past, so much has been put into that establishment. If we get it right in our iron and steel, we can easily take off industrially because we need that iron and steel CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Corruption: CANAN urges Buhari not to be intimidated by high profile suspects The Christian Association of Nigerian-Americans, (CANAN), has described the ongoing discovery of staggering amounts of money allegedly misappropriated in the ongoing crackdown on corruption as a tragedy to the nation.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Dr. Ade Oyesile, CANAN

said: “We express shock at the shameful high-level corruption perpetuated by those entrusted with power and hereby call on President Buhari to leave no stone untouched in his resolve to name, shame and prosecute all those involved.

“While conscious of the legality of being innocent until proven

guilty by a law court, we call on the administration not to be intimidated by the antics of the highly placed suspects but undertake their prosecution in a universally accepted manner.

“We are particularly miffed by the heartlessness exhibited by all CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Buhari

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

9 Politics

Biafra: FG should dialogue with Igbo now – Orji CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

to form the bedrock of our technological take off everywhere. There is no gain saying about that. So if the budget is looking at revamping and resuscitating the Ajaokuta steel plant, I think it will be a wonderful thing and a wonderful achievement for this government. Aside, so much also has been talked about revamping a lot of the industries that have folded up especially in Kaduna – the textile mills with huge attendant workforce. If that also is attended to, there will be a lot of employment and many Nigerians will have places to work. And again, the issue of textile produce and textile products, both backward integration in terms of raw materials like cotton growing and so on would be revamped with all the cotton growers in Funtua, Gumbe and other places returning to farm believing that their produce would be utilized in the textile industry. Revamping the textile industry will have positive chain effects in the economy of the country particularly in Kaduna and northern states generally.

I think the budget appears to be heading towards addressing a lot of issues because for the first time, we have also noticed that about 30 percent of the budget is going into education. This is a very welcome development. But you see, instead of dwelling so much on the nitty-gritty and components of the budget, I will summarize here to say that it

Orji is a budget of hope and since it is a budget of hope, we will only pray that the implementation would be properly pursued. All those who are vested with the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring that the budget is properly executed should wake up and be on the guard so as to assist the government to ensure that any money that is appropriated

for anything should be judiciously applied in such areas and also accounted for, for the benefit of the people. As I said, this is a budget of hope but the other side of it is how well we are going to implement the budget. That is another issue and worry for me personally.

The last time you spoke, you

said you saw no end to Boko Haram. Now we have Boko Haram, Biafra agitation and we have Shiite all over the country. Thus, how will you describe security situation in the country?

It is not unusual when you have a recession to have a lot of citizens who are feeling dissatisfied. Some of them think they have come to the end of their lives because they don’t see any way out. Some of them are poverty stricken that they cannot even have one meal a day in the midst of plenty and they are watching people who can have more than that to spare. Quite a number of Nigerians now manage to go through tertiary institutions and a lot of graduates are coming out yearly without jobs and even without hope to get one. So there is a buildup of armies of restive fellows in Nigeria, a development which breeds disgruntlement within the state arrangement. So it is not unusual that in a setting like what we have where even the welfare issues of a typical Nigerian had only been paid a lip service. As it appeared over the years, average Nigerian is merely on his own, except the civil servants and a few that are engaged in private enterprise. The majority of Nigerians who are so desperate don’t have hope and nobody also bothers how they feed or whether they are under shelter or not; there is no stipends even to make them have hope CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Ondo 2016: Anxiety as more prominent PDP leaders defect to APC ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure In what seems to be a prelude to the next year governorship election, prominent and grassroots politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) amidst pomp fanfare.

This development has raised anxiety within the state PDP ahead of next year’s governorship election as this is the second defection of PDP bigwigs to APC in the state in the last one week.

Olusola Oke

Ali Olanusi

Top on the roll call of the newly defected politicians from the umbrella party was Mr. Oluremi Akinbobola, a Federal Commis-

Mimiko sioner in the office of the National Population Commission (NPC), Abuja appointed during erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan’s

tenure.

Akinbobola’s defection came few days after two former members of the state chapter of the PDP, Pius Osunyikanmi, Director, Technical Aids Corps and Senator Ayo Akinyelure, a former member of the National Assembly who represented Ondo Central Senatorial District defected to the APC. Speaking during their official announcement to join the opposition APC in the state, Mr. Akinbobola, disclosed that he and his CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Corruption: CANAN urges Buhari not to be intimidated by high profile suspects CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

the accused individuals in the manner they allegedly withdrew and shared millions of dollars while the average Nigerian is wallowing in abject poverty.

“Never in the history of the nation have those in government been discovered to have either withdrawn or cornered public funds with such impunity without an iota of empathy for the generality of the people, and disappointingly, even members of the media, the supposed watchdogs, are reported to be actively involved in the loot sharing.

“Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is the continent’s top oil producer and one of the biggest producers in the world.

Yet corruption has unfortunately undermined the nation, and according to analysts, kept 68 percent of its population living on less than $1.25 a day thereby perpetuating instability, especially the long-running conflict with Boko Haram.

“The situation becomes graver with the proven strong link between corruption and insecurity. According to Transparency International, when a country’s institutions are weak, its security forces are not trusted and its borders are not strong, as is the case in Nigeria. It gives terrorist organizations room to flourish.

“This indeed is a tragedy of a nation and the administration can only be supported to root out the endemic corruption that has eaten so deep into the fabric of high level government officials”.

The association said as a Christian body, it will continue to pray for the country that God should touch the heart of the leaders and make them God fearing as a first step to stem the tide of corruption in high places.

CANAN is the voice of Nigerian Christians in the United States speaking for the voiceless. The association was the vanguard for the designation of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the US government even against the strong opposition from the Nigerian government then.

“As part of support to the cause of social justice, we support the current fight against corruption as it is compatible with the Christian worldview”, it added.

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Ondo 2016: Anxiety as more prominent PDP leaders defect to APC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

associates including other PDP defectors decided to pitch their tent with the APC in order to join the “change mantra” of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

He explained that teaming up with the Buhari government would help move the country forward and help achieve the needed change the people want from the incumbent federal government.

“We want to ensure that we join hands with our leaders, in the local government and in Nigeria at large. The National vice chairman of APC is our brother in Idanre, so we have to join hands with them.

“We also want to join hands to ensure that, as a federal commissioner, even though I was not appointed by this present administration, I will join the President to

Olusola Oke

Ali Olanusi

Mimiko

move this country forward.

“I have seen what the President has been doing since he came into power especially his plan for 2016 to ensure that our youths are gainfully employed and to also curb corruption”, he said.

Pius Akinyelure, the National

Vice Chairman of the APC who welcomed the defectors urged them to display total loyalty to the party charging them to continue preaching the gospel of the change mantra of the party noting that its members are ready to wreste power from the incumbent

government of the PDP in the state.

Isaac Kekemeke, State Chairman of APC noted that the party had some “big structure” in the state adding that it would work hard to ensure they win the next governorship election slated for

next year in the state.

Kekemeke, however, gave an assurance that the party would conduct a transparent primary to pick the candidate that would raisedits flag in the guber race to the Alagbaka Government House.

“As many people who want to be governor, go to the field, under my leadership, with the instruction from the National vice chairman, there will be transparent primaries” he said At the event were prominent members of the APC in the state which included the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Cladius Daramola, former deputy governor of the state, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, former speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adewale Omoiri, Chief Olusola Oke, former National Legal Adviser of PDP and Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, its gubernatorial candidate in the 2012 poll among others.

Orji: 2016 budget is okay but I’m worried about implementation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

for tomorrow and they continue to grow with responsibility. So everybody appears to be on his own. A situation in a country where people appear to be on their own without any state input to either encourage or to provide what you call soft landing facilities for humanity. We must be drawing references from civilized societies because we are not a primitive society. For instance, in the United Kingdom there are Council flats for people, there are food coupons for people and there are a lot of incentives that the government had already perfected. In the system, that helps to keep the average human being to maintain his dignity as human being not to eat from dustbin or to live outside under the adverse weather condition there. And to recognize the fact that you must as a responsible nation state, they take care of the people you have under all circumstances. But most of these thoughts are missing here amongst us. With the teeming population we have, 50% of which that are youthful, if not more, we appear not to be doing a lot in terms of welfare, providing care for these people, in terms of providing basic amenities for these people. Like in England, we have the NHIS equivalent here. In their own, it works perfectly, you don’t

Orji

Kanu

El-ZakZaky

have to pay. It may take a long time for you to see a doctor but you will still be seen and treated. But here the scheme is still partial. There are a lot of things still wrong with the system. If it is meant to take off a lot of pressure from those who don’t have so much so that their health situation can also be looked after, I don’t think we are succeeding so much because there are a lot of stories coming from those who are on that programme. It is either they are not being looked after well or it is very expensive.

The system is faced with our fundamental problems of dishonesty

and fraud – the problems plaguing the entire country. The aggregation of this entire thing I am touching is that any nation that does not have plan for her citizens will expect this type of disgruntlement amongst the citizens, the growing of army of unemployed youths. And since devil find job for the man who have not, they are easily drawn into other groups to vent out their situation. So when you hear of militants, Boko Haram or agitation from the South East recently, it only sends some signals that all is not well with the governance, the governance system is sick.

If you take it sectorally from the militants of the South-South, they are trying to tell us what is wrong with them and why they were doing what they were doing and the entire nation also appears also to buy into it to see and agree that from where you take all the wealth of the nation, the petroleum products, the place is so devastated and the marine lives of the people had been destroyed, the habitat and ego system had been destroyed. So in return, the nation has a responsibility to the environment and the people. I think that centers around their own agitation. Moving next to the South East,

it will appear that their own agitation also centers around what they call marginalization and despicable conditions of infrastructural developments, if at all they are there or the lack of. No road from Enugu to Onitsha, from Enugu to Port Harcourt no road, from Onitsha to Owerri no road among others. These things have been allowed to decay over several years. It is not the fault of this very government, we must admit. There are other things that made the people believe and said that there are quite discriminatory practices against them. Then of course, they are heightening it with the current disposition of or appointment by the current government which they felt that they have been schemed or short changed because of the fact that they voted for a party that was not the ruling party and they have to be punished for it. Their logic is that it shouldn’t be so and that if you have to express democratically, your right, you have the freedom of choice, freedom of voting and everything that is not in consonance with the ternate of democracy. Then they look at the political structures and also complained that of all the major speaking tribes, they (South East) have been short changed, that it has been the zone with the least number of states CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

11 Politics

African students bestow Kwame Nkrumah award on LG boss Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin The West African Students’ Union (WASU) has in Ilorin conferred the 2015 Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award on the chairman of Kaiama local government area of Kwara , Alhaji Alhassan Bagudu.

Speaking at the award, Bamikole Oladele, Nigerian Representative of WASU said it bestowed the Most Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award on the council boss due to his immeasurable contributions to education and the well being of the populace.

He explained that the event was a template to the forthcoming West African Diaspora conference of the organization that would hold at the Morgan State University.

“WASU is the initiator of the popular Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award and lecture series, which had featured in Ghana for

Kwame Nkrumah the last 15 years”, he said, adding that the aim was to promote all forms of action of good leadership designed to construct the de-

fenses of West African Culture of leadership and integrity in minds of men.

He charged aspiring leaders in

all human endeavour to start realizing the dreams of the West African founding fathers and come up with new dreams to advance the progressive course of humanity.

“Because philosophers have interpreted the world, it is for us to change it, society is moved to greater heights and higher ideals by the numbers and strength of dreamers and thinkers available to it.

“Giving expression to these dreams required continuous dose of patriotism, selflessness, determination and courage to trudge on against all odds”, he said.

Oladele urged the leaders to rise against the high incidence of illiteracy, mass poverty, hunger and starvation, constant outbreak of preventable and incurable diseases and epidemics in the West Africa sub-region.

In his acceptance speech, Bagudu said he was overwhelmed with the award presentation stating that his achievement was con-

ceived for the stake of posterity without having it in mind that a students’ union from West Africa could recognize his effort.

He assured the students’ union and Kaiama populace of more dividends of democracy despite the dwindling of allocation accruing to the local council.

In his remark, Alhaji Amadu Okandeji, the chairman, Kwara branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) said he was delighted that the union recognized a member of the association in its award despite the paucity of fund that had hindered council chairmen in the state to embark on more infrastructural developments adding that the award was not for the awardee alone, but for the entire members of ALGON in the state.

Okandeji, urged the students’ union to tame the unabated rise in cultism in the region and called for more re-orientation among the students.

Biafra: FG should dialogue with Igbo now – Orji CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

and that since attach to it is a lot of establishments in our political system, they keep on loosing and they have lost so much in the South East. With many other grievances which over the years have been building up, perhaps the youths now are taking a different dimension to it. Coming over to the north, even though the Boko Haram issue is a purely different one, beside the fact that Boko Haram perpetuators have not been able to come and tell us what their problem is and what they want, it is evident that the North Eastern part of Nigeria is grossly under developed. Whoever is responsible for this is not a matter for this discourse but we have seen that they are living in abject poverty. The place really yearns for development, federal influence and presence. If that is the reason for staging of Boko Haram and also venting avenue, I don’t know because the Boko Haram insurgents have not counted that as they had not told Nigerians that this is why they are doing that but to what we have seen, the north east is grossly under developed from all indices of development. Whether the federal

government, the state government or the local government responsible has not lived up to expectations, is a question of identifying who and at what stage of governance that the entire country should hold responsible.

So if you take a look at all these I have tried to state from South-South to South East to North East in the north, the common denominator is expression of dissatisfaction, disgruntlement over the kind of governance in terms of provision of infrastructure, political structure and political patronage and so on and so forth. When people feel that they are not getting as much as their neighbours, they complain.

They have an alternative – either to keep quiet forever or to vent out.

And in venting out, it is either you do it directly to the government and expect response, if at all or you do it in a manner that it appears will catch the attention of everybody so that they can look into your problem. Personally I believe, just like Nigerians tried to look at and understood the problems of the southsouth militants. We were dragged into a war and patiently we were studying what could be the genesis of the uprising in the north and we

Orji

country when … and find out which ones are genuine complain and attend to because this is the only way this country can grow and develop.

We have been put together and I believe in one Nigeria, one united Nigeria and that one united Nigeria must be a very strong one united Nigeria with equal opportunity for everyone. So I think the issue of all these uprising here and there can be looked at on the areas of the socio-political system, the governance system. Something is wrong with us and we get to get back to the drawing board very quickly.

are beginning to see the level of underdevelopment of north east for instance. We must be able to accord the south east agitators such privilege. Any part of Nigeria that is sick or that is not moving with the others, we must as Nigerians be concerned to listen, sit-down with them, hear them and dialogue with them. There is nothing wrong but there will be everything wrong with somebody saying forgets them, they are nothing or that they are merely trying to attract attention for us to come and discuss with them, forget them. No. That is not the way.

We must listen to all parts of the

What is the implication if government ignores or forgets agitators of Biafra?

It is just like your son drawing your attention to what he thinks is a major problem worrying him and you ignore him. When you ignore your child in a household, he may not be in his mind or heart to know what action he may take next. As he is growing he is already an adult, if you continue to ignore him and you don’t call him as a son, ask why are you behaving like this? What is the problem, to you how do you think we can solve your problem?

Let it come from him before you

start moderating. If you don’t do that, nobody knows because is like what they say a keg of gun powder.

That is what we don’t want because I don’t know what is in the minds of the young ones. The young ones nowadays you can hardly, everywhere, not only in the south east but everywhere, you cannot discern what they can do with their youthful exuberant, their contacts which are beyond the adults. And with the ICT technology, it is difficult for anybody to predict. So the best is to nip it in the bud by calling that your son, bring him in and work with him because he has to be an integral part of the family system just like the south east people.

They have continued to put a lot of effort in the overall development of Nigeria. They are everywhere and they don’t discriminate where they come to. They regard everywhere as home and try to develop the place, live as responsible citizens, paying their taxes and supporting all social, political and economic events in any area they are. So, they ought to be treated well like other Nigerians. So if there is any reason why there are signals coming from that area, I think the rest of the country will deserve to listen to them.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Media chat exposed Buhari’s undemocratic character, says PDP Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at the Wednesday Presidential Media Chat were not only embarrassing but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.

The party said this in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in Abuja.

The PDP said that Presi-

dent Buhari further confirmed his partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

The statement reads: “Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant.

“Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flout-

ing of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.

“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.

“This extremely shocking dictatorial tendency, being brazenly exhibited by the President in total disdain for our laws and judicial

institutions, portends great danger for our democracy and constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the people, and should be resisted by the citizens before it festers.

“The scorn for the principle of separation of powers, especially the independence of the legislature, is further manifested in the declared craving to regulate the funding and running of the National Assembly, a matter constitutionally vested outside the jurisdiction of the executive.

“We are most uncomfortable about his attempt at trying to whip up public sen-

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) queue for water at National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) IDPs camp in Fufore, Yola …on Wednesday.

timents against an independent arm of government, especially the one vested with the constitutional power of appropriation.

“Following from the foregoing, therefore, it may be necessary to suspend the application of our Constitution and allow the President to operate as maximum ruler for four years after which the nation can return to a democracy.

“On the issue of the Chibok girls, President Buhari’s embarrassing declaration of seeking information on the whereabouts and state of the girls betrays an obvious insincerity which is in total conflict with his campaign promises in that regard.

“Thus by this declaration, our dear President has accepted failure on this issue and should therefore apologise to Nigerians for all the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on the past administration by himself and the leadership of his political party.

“On the issue of devaluation of the naira, there is an obvious conflict between the budget speech wherein the president stated that the government is assessing the foreign exchange rate with a view to attracting foreign investments and his categorical pronouncement during

the media chat that the naira would not be devalued.

We invite Nigerians to note that the president obviously does not understand the currency that applies in the devaluation of the naira.

“Furthermore, Nigerians were shocked by the President’s labeling Nigerians as ‘very difficult lot’ while responding to questions on the strategy to be adopted in implementing his promised N5,000 social welfare package.

“This unhealthy portrayal of the citizens by the very father of the nation, who has remained unrelenting in de-marketing his country through unguarded statements, is indeed a great disservice to Nigeria and its international image.” Consequently, we reject this negative labeling of our citizens and reiterate our confidence in them, especially the millions who remain honest, hardworking and credible.

“Finally, Nigerians must take copious note of the fact that the President gave no inspiring answers to questions pertaining to his campaign promises, the fight against insurgency and rescue of the Chibok girls, the poor state of the naira, sudden plunging of the economy under his watch, and the gradual loss of democratic rights and freedom”.

Buhari, APC promise positive changes, better life for Nigerians in 2016 Egena Egena & Tom Okpe, Abuja

ÎÎÎPresident

Muhammadu Buhari has directed his ministers and other appointees to ensure that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.

The president made this known on Thursday in a New Year message, just as the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, assured that 2016 would be a better year for Nigerians Buhari noted that Nigerians have experienced significant hardships over the

past months, particularly the lengthy queues at fuel stations and difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. He, however, added that these challenges are only temporary; and assured that “we are working to make things better.”

The President further stated that “In the past seven months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has focused on laying the right foundation for the CHANGE you voted for during our historic presidential election.

“Nigerians will in due course begin to enjoy the

fruits of all our ongoing work. The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people.”

He said the crackdown on corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken and urged the courts “to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a place in our country.”

“We must reduce our country’s reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy. And we must do all we can to pro-

mote job creation.

“Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken.

So too is our confidence in God.” In his statement issued in Abuja by the party’s Assistant Director (Publicity), Mr Edegbe Odemwingie, the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said although 2015 was difficult, 2016 would see the fulfillment of all campaign promises by the APC. The statement said: ‘’I want to, on behalf of our great party, the APC, wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

‘’While 2015 was difficult for many Nigerians, we must also look back, with relief and a collective sense of jubilation, to the momentous opportunity it offered to the electorate to make the longdesired change. ‘’And we must sustain the hope that brighter days are ahead of us. Although our challenges are legion, we have the courage and determination to rise up and meet them. ‘’I want to give a firm assurance that all the promises made by the party in respect of the 2015 election to Nigerians will be kept. ‘’The New Year holds

great dividends for Nigerians when the policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration are enforced in the 2016 financial year.’’

The Chairman said the N6.08 trillion ‘Budget of Change’ presented by the President would ensure a lot of promises to the people were met including paying stipends to the unemployed.

He lauded the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), saying all government revenue inflows and disbursements could be effectively monitored and also plug revenue leakages.

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13

14 News

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

FG’ll create 1m jobs in 2016, says Osinbajo ÏÏÏThe

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government will create no fewer than one million direct jobs in 2016.

A statement issued by Laolu Akande, his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, quoted Osinbajo as saying that another one million poor Nigerians would benefit from the first phase of the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme.

The statement, released to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, said that Osinbajo made the remark during an interactive session with a cross section of Nigerian Community in Burkina Faso.

The Vice President in

was Burkina Faso to represent President Muhammadu Buhari at the inauguration of the newly elected President of that country, Roch Marc Christian Kabore.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had announced job opportunities for 500,000 graduateyouths to be engaged as teachers.

He added that an estimated 500,000 non-graduate unemployed people would be trained as artisans.

Osinbajo explained that the Conditional Cash transfer Scheme was intended to utilise the thrift system to grant loans to market women to enable them improve their businesses and earn decent liv-

ing.

He said the homegrown school feeding programme would not only provide adequate nutrition to school children, but would also boost agriculture, create jobs and wealth locally.

Osinbajo assured the Nigerian community that the fight against corruption was a continuous one.

He said that the Buhari administration would not only prosecute those involved but also recover all the loot that had been

traced. ``We will go after Nigeria’s fund wherever it is found and we will recover it,’’ he said, saying ``our country is bound for greatness.’’

The Vice President told the Nigerian community that President Buhari was a man to be trusted; a man of integrity. ``I am proud of our leadership and this is a great opportunity for the country to be great,’’ he added.

In his remarks, Nigeria’s

Ambassador to Burkina Faso, David Bala, described the one million Nigerians resident in the country as `peaceful and law abiding.’ people.

Michael Adeyanju, the leader of the Nigerian Community in Burkina Faso, thanked the federal government for attending the inauguration of the Burkinabe President.

He described the gesture as a sign of cordial relationship between both countries.

Osinbajo

Drunken Traffic Warden crushes motorcyclist in Ado Ekiti Gbenga Sodeinde Ado-Ekiti

ÏÏÏA

motorcyclist and his passenger narrowly escaped death in the hands of an apparently drunk staff of Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA) on Thursday, who crushed their legs with the Agency’s towing truck, leaving them instant inhabitant of the Accident and Emergency Section of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), in Ado Ekiti.

The incident which occurred at the Dalimoore Junction, behind Oluyemi Kayode Stadium few minutes after 9 am, attracted wild outrage and condem-

nation from other motorcycle operators and eye witnesses who openly condemned the attitude of the EKSTMA driver, saying, “he drove to kill anyone on his way.”

Eye witness told our correspondent that the accident occurred while the truck was racing after another car which might have driven against regulations somewhere around Ijigbo Area, while trying to escape arrest.

The accounts stated that the driver of the truck who should have applied the break while approaching a busy junction, sped through the junction, running over the motorcyclist and his passenger coming in opposite direction.

Abia budgets N96.7b for 2016 Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏAbia

state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Thursday, handed over his 2016 budget estimates to the state House of Assembly for approval.

Christened “The Budget of Restoration through Enterprise”, the 2016 Budget has an estimated outlay of N96.7 billion, an outlay that shows 22.8% decrease over the 2015 Budget outlay of N127.5 billion.

Speaking at the floor of the House of Assembly, Gov. Ikpeazu said the budget is anchored on the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).

This, Ikpeazu said means

that the fiscal management of his administration would be strictly guided by the principle of international best practices where prudent utilization of resources remains the prevailing norm.

His administration’s programmes/policies, he said, will enhance the following Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, Social inclusion, and Positive Governance, pointing out that the Budget has been designed “for better policy formulation, fiscal planning, budget analysis and accountability.

“It has a modest nature which shows an indication that it will be realizable within the financial capacity of the State”.

Senior officers of Nigeria Army Armour Corp, Bauchi after their decoration with various ranks in Bauchi… on Thursday.

Anambra judiciary workers suspend strike

Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏThe

Anambra state branch of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), on Thursday, suspended its four months industrial Action.

It asked its members to resume work on Monday, January 4th, 2016.

In a release signed by the state Chairman of the union, Mr. Mark Ifezue, and made available to newsmen in Awka, the state capital, JUSUN said the suspension of the strike was as result of the agreement it reached

ÏÏÏThe

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said that 2016 will offer a real opportunity for change in the country.

Dogara, in a New Year message released on

with the state government.

The release read: “Following the resolution of the industrial dispute between the Judiciary Staff union Of Nigeria, the state branch, and the Anambra state government, as shown in the agreement entered into between the parties, this 31st day of December, 2015, the industrial action embarked upon by the judiciary workers of Anambra state on the 7th day of September, 2015 is hereby suspended”.

The release further stated that: “The union appreciates the efforts of the lead-

ership of NBA in Anambra state towards the resolution of the crisis particularly the committee of Bar chairmen and secretaries.

“The union in a special way appreciates the efforts of the intervention group, co-chaired by the emeritus Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Charles Onyeagba and Chuka obele Chuka.

“The Union also appreciates the fatherly role of Chief Joseph Okonkwo (Ofiadiunu) for his intervention which led to the breaking of the impasse.

It was gathered that the state government had

agreed to pay the court workers their September and October salaries in two instalment instead of thrice as it earlier offered.

According to new government offer, the workers December salary would be paid upon resumption of work on Monday, while September and October salaries would be paid along with January and February salaries, respectively.

On the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS) that was the crux of the strike, government agreed to look into it by the third quarter of 2016.

2016 will usher in change -Dogara Thursday in Abuja, also praised the ``unshakable’’ commitment of leaders at all levels of government to ensure a better Nigeria.

The Speaker also gave

an assurance that the 2016 budget before the National Assembly, ``when passed into law and faithfully executed,’’ would lift the common man from abject poverty.

``It will also usher in the much needed opportunities for innovation and investment that are the engine of economic growth and prosperity,’’ he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

15 Opinion

Zaria Massacre: The shame of Nigeria

T Emmanuel Uchenna Ugwu

he most heartbreaking spectacle out of Zaria Massacre is not the heap of human corpses some trigger-happy soldiers of the Nigerian Army made out of the “Shiites”.

It is the anomalous reaction of the immediate neighbourhood. The hosts of the tragedy mobbed the dead bodies and stripped them of all their material possessions!

According to an eyewitness and a member of the Ibraheem ElZakzakky-led Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Abdulmumin Giwa, the killings precipitated an instant gold rush. ‘’They were fighting over the money, mobile phones and other valuables stolen from the corpses of their fellow Muslims.”

The looters were a boisterous lot. They struggled in a shambolic scramble. They must despoil the slain before the dead bodies grow cold and stiff!

The bathos was horrifying. The looting had the flurry and ferment of a bonanza. They stooped down low, tearing into the pockets of the dead!

The gore and the blood did not petrify the looters. The sprawling abattoir did not horrify them.

They felt nothing against the mass murderers.

They felt no pity for the dead. The casualties were their neighbours and

fellow compatriots. Nevertheless, they felt neither the devastation of bereavement nor the arrest of grief.

They surveyed the field of human corpses –bodies of our fellow citizens killed in cold blood –and felt their legitimate obligation to dead was to debase them!

The looters were not satisfied that the casualties of the carnage had suffered the ultimate robbery: The robbery of life.

The air suffused with euphoria.

The human scavengers celebrated their finds of trifles. They evinced delight that, in the very least, would suffice as ratification of the massacre that consumed the victims.

Pondering this scene repeatedly, one sooner begins to wrestle with the riddle of how it may have begun.

The nature of the absurdity also raises a question about the context.

Was it all about facile acquisition?

Did they just rush in to cash in?

Did materialism sidestep their humanity?

In addition, the madness, you would wonder whether there was a method to it. Did the looters ransack the corpses at random; ‘praying’ that the one they chose, in split-second decision making, would yield naira notes or an iphone?

Did they, screen their candidate corpses –with a sweeping glance of reconnaissance –based on some indicators of wealth…like the quality

of the blood-stained dress of the corpses?

If we were a serious country, if we are not desensitised to shame, we would be interrogating our deterioration to a country where a massacre produces looters instead of mourners!

The vandalism of the dead, in broad daylight, speaks to the collapse of the moral infrastructure of the Nigerian society.

We cannot honour the dead. We cannot permit an encounter with our common mortality to tame our penchant for frivolities.

The looting of the dead was not a chance event. It was an inevitable coming-out-of-the-closet incident.

The Nigerian people are wont to prescribe a purge of the political class as the solution to state corruption. We aver that the politicians are the sole, irreparable problem. The politicians are the traitors who loot the commonwealth and pauperise their fellow citizens.

Those calls for class extermination have grown more strident following the confessions of ex-National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.

The looting of the Zaria dead, however, illustrates that corruption is pervasive and endemic in Nigeria.

It is not some elite plague. The entire society is steeped in it. In addition, the leadership of Nigeria and the follower ship have attained an

osmotic balance. The rot of the fish head is as serious as that of the rest of the body.

Dasuki appears to be the most egregious specimen of a kleptocrat to emerge since 1960 because he abused his appointed place in the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan.

However, the sights and sounds of the looting of the dead in Zaria shows that Dasuki is not an uncommon phenomenon. His only distinction lies in the profile of his looting.

Chances are excellent that if Dasuki had missed being cast as NSA in that epic looting drama, another person in that role would have perpetrated a comparable atrocity.

The rape of the dead in Zaria is a bestiality that ought to agitate our minds. The fact that that Faustian desecration happened, its incredible popularity as evidenced by the mammoth crowd that participated in it, should engage us in communal soul searching.

The mob that raided the pile of dead bodies did not stoop to check if they could find one person who still had a pulse. They were in a hurry to divest the dead!

Sadly, the looters of the dead were predominantly youths!

Nigeria will survive politicians who rob the living. However, its undertakers will be this generation of youths who have no qualms about robbing the dead!

Nigeria at the crossroads

N

Fr. Philip Paul Tah

igeria, as one nation, remains the hope of the African Continent, one that all of Africa has waited on for too long to lead the African renaissance. Several leaders have expressed this hope and frustration, past and present, including Nelson Mandela, Uhuru Kenyatta, Atta Mills etc. Our huge population, our geographical location, and multi-ethnic mix are all potentials we have failed to use to our advantage. It is time we started asking the right questions. What is wrong with Nigeria? What is wrong with her leadership? What is wrong with her citizens? Why has Nigeria failed to rise and be among the community of nations fifty-five years after her birth? Why do we keep electing or maybe accommodating leaders who are hardly ever prepared for the job or have the requisite skills to lead?

How do we account for the near, if not total collapse of our institutions, including but not limited to our judicial systems, our school system, our religious organisations, our infrastructure, medical systems, energy systems, and indeed the

confidence of an average Nigerian in our common ability to fix our problems?

We must admit that while there are no easy answers, these are questions we can no longer ignore or pass over. Now is the time to raise them, now is the time to engage the only country we have. I do not promise to proffer answers here; neither do I think we can tackle all these issues in a single article. I am only inviting us into what I will call “Operation fix Nigeria” as we prepare to start the New Year. We owe it to ourselves, our children deserve it, Africa is expecting it, and I am sure God is demanding it. There are no easy options, there never were. We just have to start acting now. In this edition, I hope to look at “Leadership, Attitude and the Biafran Model”. However, the first part of this article will focus on Leadership and Attitude with the second part focusing on the Biafran Model.

Leadership; I am amazed and I am sure you will be too, that ever since the days of Tafawa Balewa and Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria has not been able to find a leader who could command respect around the world, inspire hope and confidence in Nigeria’s ability to lead Africa, articulate

a vision to move Nigeria and the rest of Africa from a “maintenance” to a “thriving economy”. We have toyed about with leaders whose best has been colossal failure. Over the last 50+ years, under leaders from all stripes, military and civilian, we have seen our infrastructure deteriorate beyond repairs, the quality of school system degenerate to unsustainable levels, the professionalism of our military, the police force, Church ministers damaged beyond redemption. Today, we can only remember with nostalgia, when we had land phones working in our homes, pipe borne water flowing into our homes or public taps, medical care available to most Nigerians, school system with well trained and qualified teachers. The question then is: how did we get here? What went so wrong with Nigeria? How did we lose an entire generation to mediocrity, incompetence and ineptitude? These are troubling times, with very worrying signs. We cannot pray ourselves out of this mess.

We cannot simply wish them away by outsourcing our responsibility to God. Miracles do happen. However, we must do our part as Nigerians, if God must do His. Leadership is not only about elect-

ed or appointed figures with high positions of responsibility. That only captures a narrow definition of leadership. Technically, everyone in whatever position is a leader, and ought to act as one, as long he/she has some influence in others’ life.

Acting responsibly in that position and aiding others under one’s influence to do the same is what leadership from below represents. Change does not always start from above.

Indeed real and enduring change, historically, has always started from below; from committed citizens who have had it and are ready to say, ‘ENOUGH”. We have to grow up as citizens. Now, “growing up requires courage, it is a continuous process of exposing our vulnerable areas, areas where we have not developed mastery”. It involves embracing the dark and often uncomfortable realities we hate to admit even to ourselves. It requires the radicalism to hold oneself and others accountable for our service to others. This is what Ira Chaleff calls “courageous followership”; being responsible and holding others responsible. This is leadership from below, leadership at its best. Sadly, this is a deficiency we must embrace and redeem for Nigeria’s survival and thriving.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Here’s to Greater Heights in 2016 We thank you for making us part of your journey last year.

2016 holds even more excitement because we will be introducing new destinations and taking delivery of new aircraft, as well as celebrating our 10th Anniversary.

We look forward to many more adventures and happy landings together.

10

a r i k a i r. c o m Nigeria and West Africa’s Leading Airline

2

6 01

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Features

17

Æs

Peculiar marriage of the decade survives...

I can’t afford to be emotional about my person – 45-year-old disabled accountant, husband and father

Flashback: ‘No kidding; we know what we’re doing’ Couple assures minister

Contracted June 2nd 2012, guests at their wedding betted that the marriage was for the moment, that reality will hit the lady and she will walk out.

GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR located the physically challenged accountant and his lovely wife to usher our readers into the New Year - and lo, he found the couple are now parents!

John Sunmonu is an accountant with Freedom Park in Victoria Island for three years on. The physically challenged young man caused a stir in 2012 when he walked down the isle on his hands, refusing a wheelchair to say ‘I do’ to with lanky Ruth, also an accountant, at the marriage altar.

Speculations trailed the marriage with guests expressing fear for the young lady and other betting that the marriage won’t go the distance.

His disability

John was not born disabled; a freak feverish symptom mishandled by some hospital staff resulted in this permanent disability.

Of this he said, “I was about one year old, or a little more, according to the account of my mother; I was trying to walk like any other normal child would do; but there was this illness I had and because of lack of proper care, it resulted in my inability to use my two legs.

“I don’t really know what the illness

was; I was just told it was an illness that took me to the hospital; I was given an injection and I reacted to it as a child and it resulted to this. It happened in Lagos here.

Born on October 6th, 1970, John calculated and expressed surprise; “How time flies, I am actually over 45 years old!”

Coping with the society “Well, society itself is the place that motivated me to where I am now. Coping with society is like learning from the society to be the best I can because society throws a lot of challenges to you, especially if you are physically challenged.

“So as an individual I have to make use of the challenges to bring out your best so that society will not say, because he is like this that’s why I could not make it in life; but they could say it the other way round that despite the fact that he’s like this, he’s still pulling through.

“Also society has people with different ideas, thinking and different mentality; every day they want to portray those attitudes to you to see what your reaction would be, but knowing the kind of society I belong to, I always brace myself to take up those challenges, work with them to bring out the best in me.

“For example going to and fro my office, I meet all sorts of people that react to me in different ways. There are many people that give me alms and when I reject it they feel embarrassed; and this makes some of them to say ‘ah, what’s wrong with this one: are you not begging?’

“They just want to force you to talk, to react, but I have come to realise that if I react, it gives them something more to talk about, like they would say: okay, it’s because he’s like this that’s why he’s reacting like that; they feel I am, or could be violent.”

Are you violent?

“The tendency to be violent is on the high side, so knowing that, I weigh in a twinkle of an eye what my reaction will be; if it’s on the bad side, I ignore it, and if it’s on the good side, I respond appropriately.

Three years and a baby girl Social science says it is usually after tying the knots that every marriage experiences the storm of differences, character, and temperaments some of which can be irreconcilable. In your particular mar-

“Society itself is the place that motivated me to where I am now.

Coping with society is like learning from the society to be the best I can because society throws a lot of challenges to you, especially if you are physically challenged.

So as an individual I have to make use of the challenges to bring out your best so that society will not say, because he is like this that’s why I could not make it in life” riage, many betted that Ruth’s boldness and confidence will crack, but here you are: How has it been three years down the road?

With a voice a sea captain will envy, John, full of life and confidence began: “Three years down the road has been full of challenges, ups and downs, but we bless God in spite of everything; our marriage has been splendid. Both of us coming from different backgrounds, we have our different behaviours and characters and, whether one of the two is physically challenged or not, those characters have to manifest.

“So when the characters come up, it’s only left for the head most times, to either take a bow and allow peace to reign, or the lady understands that this is the head; for now this is what he wants; but later when he calms down, I will express my views concerning the matter to him; then I will see how I can warm him up to myself so that peace can reign.”

Continued on page 19

Features 18

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

My case is different because I don’t use a wheelchair

John in a bold, wide smile ... after the wedding vow

John at home explaining a point

passing to everybody that cares to know.

“So when I first strolled around for the first time in this neighbourhood, there was that reaction, but I found out that as time went on, they began adapt to seeing me too; I could sense them say to themselves, ‘okay, he’s like this, he now lives in our neighbourhood, he’s trying to be part of us’ and so on.”

John and Ruth had another

surprise for their neighbours “The day they discovered I was married, that was a different thing entirely; even up to date when we’re going out in same dress, we trek from our house.

“I like her to be in front of me when we go out; it’s not as if she’s covering me up, no: the reason is, by the time they see how pretty she is, they will say ‘ah, who’s the man behind her so?’ By the time they look and see me, they exclaim ‘ah, it’s this man? Waoo!’ That’s my reason and my message. The right thinking people would say ‘ah, if God can do it for this man, then who am I? to complain?’

“And we joke and play a lot when we’re strolling and it is not as if we are putting up a show; like you saw at our wedding. She would even push me on the street, and people wonder and say ah, Iyawo e ni (she’s his wife!). From there everyone in

the neighbourhood got to know us as a normal, healthy family.

So, convinced, they say, ah, he is part of us now, he is even married, that’s his wife!

“And now God has blessed us with a daughter who is loved by everybody. I don’t know how that happens, but when they see her, everyone warms up to her, ‘ah, baby girl how are you?’ And she’s fast in responding, ‘Thank you, ma, Thank you, sir; Thank you, uncle.’

“Our daughter is very close to our hearts; she clings to me and we stroll out to see some friends.

We have that bond of mother-father-daughter and people see it when we move around.”

UpNext: John lets Daily Times into his world with the public as he goes to work from Ahmadiya area of Lagos Mainland to Victoria in public transport, among others.

It is a must read.

“I look at the fact that there is hope for someone that is physically challenged than for the person that is mentally challenged because you can’t tell when his mental illness will heal if it will heal at all; himself can’t tell or know what he’s doing. But for someone physically challenged, there’s hope for tomorrow.”

John seeing off our correspondent Photos: God’s Covenant Snr and Olawale Rotimi

Flashback 2: Couple in group photograph with ministers

Continued from page 18 Courtship We’ve known ourselves right before teenage; we grew up in the same neighbourhood; but in the sense of courtship, it wasn’t up to one year. Even the period we may call courtship, we were just praying for ourselves for God to see us through our decision to get married.”

Your baby girl is two years now; was there anxiety in the almost two years you waited for the baby to come?

“No, none whatsoever; we just waited for God to have his way and He did.”

You rented this apartment just before the wedding; how did neighbours receive the new couple?

“The reaction was a bit different from what everyone would have expected. You see, my case is a lot more different because I don’t use wheelchair; I move around the neighbourhood, and everybody stared and reacted expectedly as human beings.

“There was this spoken and unspoken question of, ‘Ah, who’s this person?’ I agree they did not take me now the way they received me at that time.

“I am someone who likes to stroll around my neighbourhood, buy one or two things on my own. When I do that, I see a lot of reactions but they bother me; I have long adapted to that.”

Is there a reason you must stroll around? You could send your wife to pick up things, for

example?

“The reason is that there’s a message I want to pass across to onlookers and I can’t afford to be emotional about my person because if I do that I’ll not be able to pass that message across.

“The message is quite simple: being physically challenged does not mean that you can’t live a normal and better life; you can live your life in your condition to the best that God wants you to live; let me not say to the best of your human ability because it is God that decides destiny in His great Wisdom.

For example, it is possible that I would not have been like this if the hospital staff that attended to me had been a little cautious when I was treated in the beginning, but they were not, and God let it be so.

“On the positive side, I look at the fact that there is hope for someone that is physically challenged than for the person that is mentally challenged because you can’t tell when his mental illness will heal if it will heal at all; himself can’t tell; he doesn’t even know what he’s doing. But for someone physically challenged, there’s hope for tomorrow.

“Fine, I am physically challenged, but the fact that God still keeps my life means there’s something he wants me to do in this life and (it is His decision that) before I achieve that thing I must go through every process in life to discover and attain that thing. So that’s the message I am

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Naturally, all crawling creatures - especially the snake – frighten the daylight out of any normal being.

There are tribes in different zones in the country who worship pythons as a god.

Besides the eerie nature of the snake, how safe or healthy is the creature for human consumption?

A medical consultant and nutritionist, Dr. Israel Eboghade told Daily Times that there are snakes and there are snakes.

“Generally, some species of snakes are recorded to have toxic or poisonous venoms in their make systems. It would take an expert to locate and isolate that part in the snake and cut it off. There is a similar organ in the domestic fowl which stores some very bitter substance; the locals easily identify and extract it before cooking the chicken. So in eating snakes, one should be well informed and cautious what type you eat.

“We cannot ignore the fact that some snakes may have swallowed poisonous creatures or eaten some inedible grass or herbs.

“However, if the meat is thoroughly cooked before being consumed, the process heat will eliminate the toxic substance in them but I must warn that any creature that is naturally toxic, no degree or amount of cooking will make it fit for human consumption,” Eboghade warned.

Of snake meat and frozen chicken: With the recent discovery that imported chicken and turkey are unhealthy for human consumption, Daily Times sought the knowledge of a veterinary consultant in Ajao Estate, Dr. Majekodunmi Opeifa. He counselled extreme caution in making a choice in the matter, especially in this festive season.

“With the hazard of infections and artificial preservatives associated with frozen imported birds, especially chickens and turkeys etc, Nigerians should be careful in consuming such imports because the possibility of infection and disease is on the high side. Some of them if not all defreeze in the process of smuggling them in and they are frozen up again: there is high risk that the meats are not safe for human consumption.

“Consider the way some of these imports are smuggled in. It was in the news that some of them buried by health officials somewhere were exhumed by local villagers and those chickens and turkeys found their way into the open market again.

“The date the birds were slaughtered and frozen cannot be ascertained and

Python-meat soup

19 Features

Would there be enough snakes to go round?

skin off before deboning

since there is no way of certifying them fit by a medical personnel, it is not advisable that such meats be sold to the public no matter how cheap.”

Snakes not for pregnant women As a parting gift for the Christmas, Dr. Opeifa warns that although snake meats may appear safer if properly detoxicated under the circumstances, it is not advis-

Snake pepper soup

able for women, especially those still in their child bearing age to eat snakes.

People with some health conditions like ashma too will do well to keep away from snake meats.

Snaky Curtains Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes. While some deight in eating of the creepy creature and others

“Some of those celebrating the meats now may end up behaving funny in their latter days and nobody will know it is because they have been eating snakes in the past.

God has given us so much alternatives – so, why the snake?” make a living out of it, another group of humans worship and idolise it. But here are two sides to the story of snakes delicacies for your Christmas enjoyment: Magnus Mbakwe who spoke to Daily Times at Festac Town in Lagos said he loves snake meats with passion. “No matter what anybody says, snakes for life is my motto. I am only disappointed when they are in short supply.”

Another Igbo man, Innocent Ezekel has a special reason for eating snake meats.

“I eat snake meat at every opportunity especially to spite the evil creature that caused man to fall, which brought all the problems upon mankind.

“Yes, I love chewing its meat between my teeth, swallow it and poo it out afterwards. That is what it deserves.”

Chief Frank Okudi, a business man from Ukwani Local Government of Delta State expressed his caution this way: “I am a careful person, I can tell you.

I won’t chance the risk of eating snake for any reason because no doctor can tell what its side effects would be in the near feature.

“Some of those celebrating the meats now may end up behaving funny in their latter days and nobody will know it is because they have been eating snakes in the past. God has given us so much alternatives – so, why the snake?”

The depth of the passion is summed up in the revelation that customers travel all the way down here at weekends from Badagry, Ikeja, Gbagada and other parts of Lagos to consume snake pepper soup.

We should not be surprised to hear one day that they have formed a snake meats pepper soup association of Nigeria!

Have a bold, adventurous and Happy New 2016!

Steamy family boar soup

Features 20

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

How to make your own snake soup this New Year Warning: Our features desk can tell you authoritatively that you may not find snake meat recipe in the average cookery book, so whether you’re buying fresh snake meat, or you prefer to skin it yourself, especially for dinner, here are guidelines to arrive at a sumptuous adventurous experience this New Year.

Make sure you obtain your snake from a trusted source or familiar environment. Avoid the risk of eating a snake that has eaten a poisoned rodent If snake is obtained and you are not ready to cook just yet, make sure you refrigerate the carcass as soon as possible.

It can also be frozen. The meat’s integrity remains intact, and the coloration of the skin is unaffected.

Recipe Cut off the head, strip off the skin, and remove the guts.

Rinse the meat, and cut it into pieces with a sharp knife or poultry shears.

Make the cuts between and at the same angle as the ribs to avoid cutting the ribs.

If the ribs are severed, they may be difficult to remove from the meat after it is cooked.

Some people prefer to soak the readyto-cook snake pieces in saltwater for a day or two to remove any remaining blood or gaminess from the meat.

Dredge the snake meat in pepper and local seasoner of sweet fragrance like cowry, or your herb of choice then mix with some extra black pepper). Shake off the excess.

Heat about 3/4” (2cm) of canola, vegetable, or peanut oil in a heavy frying pan until quite hot.

Add the snake pieces one at a time to avoid dropping the temperature in the pan too quickly. Use tongs to keep your fingers away from the sizzling hot oil, watch for dangerous splatters, and use a screen if necessary to prevent a mess.

Turn the snake pieces just as the batter begins to turn golden. Note that by the time it starts to turn brown, the snake will be overcooked. There’s not much meat on the bones, and the muscles are thin and lean.

Drain and cool: remove the snake pieces before they’re quite done - they’ll continue to cook after removal from the pan - and set them on paper towels to drain

In case you want more than just the meat, try it with the skin on - it is called casserole

” Cut snake meat into 4 inch lengths. Beat egg and milk. Mix spices with flour in a separate bowl.

Preheat deep fat fryer with cooking oil. Dip snake into egg mixture and then in flour mixture and place it in hot oil. Cook until golden brown and crispy like fried fish.” and cool.

Serve your fried snake bits warm, and provide napkins - this is finger (licking food!) Accompany with most anything you would serve with fried fish or hot dog.

Note: Snake meat gets most of its flavor from the way it is spiced and prepared. Cooking methods used for chicken will produce snake that tastes like chicken!

Carrot-glazed snake with fresh herb Gather and cut up vegetables of taste or those locally available.

Capture one boa (or snake of choice). Remove head, skin and organs. Dice meat. Size of it determines number you will need as well as nume soup ber of guests and size of snak pot, drum (i.e. cooking container).

Rattlesnake-cocktail - for real men

Amount of vegetables should equal amount of meat. Add water enough to just cover ingredients.

Season to taste with local seasonings (i.e. salt, pepper, peppers, roots...).

Bring to boil, allow to simmer off of flame for 5 to 10

minutes.

The thing with snake meats is that you should not serve it cold or warm: the hot-

ter it comes the better because the heat brings out the core nutrients and taste of its meat.

Spoil your house a little with these delicious rattlesnake recipes Baked rattle snake 1 rattlesnake carcass 1 cup half n half or milk 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced 2 limes, sliced thin 1 tsp. basil 1 tsp. pepper 1 tsp. rosemary Cut snake into 3-inch sections and place in a large baking dish. Cover with cream or milk and add the mushrooms, limes, basil, pepper, and rosemary. Cover tightly.

Bake in 300 degree oven for 60-70 minutes or until done.

ROASTED RATTLE SNAKE Cut snake into 2 inch pieces. Place pieces on a skewer and roast over glowing coals, keeping the skewer constantly turning. When the meat quits sizzling, it is done.

SOUTHERN FRIED RATTLESNAKE 1 egg salt to taste 1 tsp. minced garlic 1 tsp. seasoning salt mix 3/4 cup milk 1 tsp. pepper flour 1 rattlesnake Cut snake meat into 4 inch lengths.

Beat egg and milk. Mix spices with flour in a separate bowl. Preheat deep fat fryer with cooking oil. Dip snake into egg mixture and then in flour mixture and place it in hot oil. Cook until golden brown and crispy like fried fish. Serve with French fries where available.

Snake Cocktail ½ oz whiskey 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 egg (the white only) 1 teaspoon sugar Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a cocktail glass and serve with cherry where available.

Step into a bold New Year!!!

Source from Instructables

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

21

22 News ÏÏÏSenate

President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, called on Nigerians to join hands with the Buhari administration to make the country great, again, by supporting its policies and programmes aimed at restoring full security across the country and revamping the economy.

In a New Year message to Nigerians signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki congratulated the people as they marked the New Year and on their resilience and patience, especially in the

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

New Year: Let’s join hands to make Nigeria great again –Saraki face of daunting economic challenges.

He said that the need for effective collaboration between the people and the Federal Government – led

by President Muhammadu Buhari – was imperative, so as to overcome the nation’s most pressing socio-economic challenges and make the nation prosperous, once again.

He added that the present government was working to ensure the world stops talking of the potentials of Nigeria and move on to counting the achievements and progress recorded by our country as the true giant of Africa and major player in world politics.

Saraki noted that the Federal Government, through the nation’s Armed Forces,

and the support of all Nigerians, had recorded tremendous success in the fight against insurgency, while pointing out that intense collaboration between the citizenry and government was needed, more than ever before, to prevent incessant attacks from Boko Haram and eradicate all forms of criminality in the land.

He commiserated with

all the victims of suicide attacks during the Christmas celebration and said he was greatly encouraged by the determination displayed by the security agencies so far in their efforts to effectively close that sad chapter in the nation’s history.

Saraki said: “I am delighted that we are celebrating the New Year not only in peace, but as

Labour dares Wada over salaries

FRSC elevates 607 officers ÏÏÏThe FRSC has elevat-

Ibrahim Obansa Lokoja

ÏÏÏThe

protracted crisis between organised labour in Kogi State and the government over unpaid three months’ salary took another dimension, on Thursday, as labour has appealed to the traditional rulers, members of the House of Assembly and the well-meaning individuals to mount pressure on Governor Idris Wada to commence the payment of the salaries to avert a crippling crisis.

The appeal was sequel to the indefinite strike action embarked upon by workers, which is already in its third day, with government showing no signs of entering into negotiation with the labour unions.

In a statement issued in Lokoja, on Thursday, which was jointly signed

by Comrade Onuh Eboka, Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, A.D. Ganiyu of Trade Union Congress, and another top labour leader, Comrade Aaron Akeji and

Debris from burnt Area 1 market razed by fire in Abuja... on Wednesday

PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Ban on hijab means victory for Boko Haram – Lagos MSSN Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe

Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, has warned President Muhammad Buhari not to attempt or consider any ban on Hijab.

The Amir (President) of MSSN LSAU, Mallam

Saheed Ashafa, said this at the on-going December Islamic Vacation Course, holding at Epe, Lagos, on Wednesday.

The group said such a consideration would ridicule the war against Boko Haram, adding that it was an unnecessary approach.

According to Ashafa, a ban on hijab means that Boko Haram has succeed-

ed in their deceptive ideology and may strengthen their unjustifiable zeal to kill innocent souls.

It would be recalled that during the maiden Presidential Chat, late on Wednesday, Buhari said that the federal government may consider a ban on hijab, if terrorists continue to use it to perpetuate evil.

Ashafa said that “The statement by President Buhari is disappointing.

It is an indication that the present administration is trying to apply the faulty approach of the last administration that took us nowhere. A ban on hijab is wrong, bias and the greatest that can drown the support and popularity of the Buhari administration.

Our govt’ll always reward excellence, dedication, says Ambode

ÏÏÏLagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has re-appointed three of the out-going members of the State Civil Service Commission for an additional tenure of five years.

Ambode, who made this known at a dinner organised by the State Government in honour of the out-going Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission, said the re-appointment was in line with the resolve of his administration

a united country to the shame of doom’s day prophets that predicted that this country would not survive the year 2015.

Notwithstanding the negative predictions, we are today marking the New Year as one indivisible country and, more than ever before, determined, as a people, to live together in peace, love and unity.

to always reward excellence, hard work, commitment and dedication.

Those re-appointed are Pastor Israel Folorunsho Alagbe, Hon. Tolani Wasiu Odeyemi and Engr. Oladimeji Oshinowo.

Others are Comrade Rasaq Folorunsho and the Chairman, Dr. Ayodele Olujobi Ososanya.

Ambode said he was delighted to celebrate and thank them for their selfless service to the government and people of state, adding

that the members had discharged their duties very well.

He said: “The outgoing Chairman, Dr. Olujobi Ososanya, has served the Commission for ten years and during his tenure, the credibility and pride of our civil service was never in doubt.

Civil servants have been getting their promotion in time and there has been better communication between the Service and the government.”

“The task of recruiting,

selection, and placement of suitable and qualified individuals in the State Civil Service is enormous but this Commission has handled it very well and ensured that the engine room of the government is properly oiled,” Ambode said.

He added that he having served in the civil service for twenty-seven years until recently, he could attest to the fact that the Commission, under the out-going members, was able to maintain harmony, through the

even application of rules and regulations guiding the service without fear of favour.

ed 607 officers to between the ranks of Deputy Chief Marshals and Road Marshal Assistant II as a follow up to the recent promotion exercise.

A statement issued on Thursday, in Abuja, by the Commission’s Head of Media Relations and Strategy, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, said that the promotion was a follow up to the recent one involving 442 officers on Inspector cadre.

“The management has promoted additional 607 Road Marshals to their next ranks in the service: Four hundred and thirty one (431) Deputy Chief Road Marshals Assistants were promoted to Chief Road Marshal Assistants, while 105 Senior Road Marshal Assistants were promoted to Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistants.

“Similarly, 60 Road Marshal Assistant I have now been promoted to the rank of Senior Road Marshal Assistant, while 11 officers on the rank of Road Marshal Assistant II were elevated to Road Marshal Assistant,’’ the statement said.

It said that the Corps Marshal, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, urged the Marshals and other recently promoted personnel to handle the responsibilities that had come with their new ranks effectively.

GBADEBO OLUWATOBILOBA OLUWASEUN

Gov. Ambode

I, formerly known and addressed as GBADEBO MICHEAL TOBI (MR.). now wish to be known and addressed GBADEBO OLUWATOBILOBA OLUWASEUN (MR.). All former documents remain valid. General public and GT bank take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

New Year: Ugwuanyi calls for rebuilding nation’s economy Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏGovernor

Ifeanyi Ugwaunyi of Enugu State has urged the people of the state, and Nigerians in general, to use the occasion of the 2016 New Year celebration to rededicate themselves and all their useful energies to the urgent task of rebuilding the nation’s economy.

While felicitating with the people of the state and other Nigerians on the New Year celebration, Governor Ugwuanyi noted that Nigerians – alongside all those in authority, needed a sober reflection as they embrace 2016, in order to get all hands on deck, in tackling the myriads of socio-economic problems that confronted the people in 2015.

He commended Nigerians for bearing, with stoic philosophy, the heavy burden brought by the said economic situation and called for prayers and abiding faith in God to see the nation through to its aspirations in the New Year.

Ugwaunyi also recalled the unprecedented massive support he garnered at the polls during the governorship election in

Police arrest vigilante operative for robbery in Ogun

ÏÏÏMen of the Ogun State

Police Command have arrested a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) for alleged armed robbery in Sagamu.

The “Vigilante” officer, identified as Adesiyan Adeniyi, was arrested in the Ewusi area of Makun, in Sagamu Local Government Area, about 1a.m., with a locally-made double-barrel gun with 20-live cartridges.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrest of Adesiyan, also explained that police operatives in Sagamu Division had earlier placed the suspect under surveillance before he was arrested last Wednesday.

the state and the equally unrivalled hands of fellowship the people have continued to extend to his administration, in spite of the present economic crunch and thanked them for all that.

According to a release signed by Mr. Uwakwe Abugu, his Chief Press Secretary, he urged the people to carry over this positive disposition to his

administration into the New Year, assuring that all the laudable programmes and projects outlined and some already being executed by his administration, since its inception, would be completed in record time, in keeping with his determination to achieve laudable goals for the benefit of the people.

The governor, who is reputed to place much pre-

mium on divine guidance in governance, called on Nigerians to pray for the country as the New Year is ushered in.

He assured the people of the state that his administration’s actions would always be guided by the fear of God, while working hard with the meager resources available to it to provide the gains of democracy to the people.

23 News

Niger budgets N74.7b for 2016 Pita Chikwem, Minna

ÏÏÏThe Governor of

Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has presented the 2016 financial budget estimated at N74. 7 billion to the state House of Assembly.

The proposed budget is made up of recurrent estimate of N39.5 which represents 52.85%.

Presenting the budget on Thursday at the floor of the State House of Assembly, Bello said the 2016 budget was expected to be

financed through statutory allocation estimated at N35.7 billion, Value-Added Tax (VAT) N9.8 billion; Internally Generated Revenue N9.3 billion; and Capital receipts N19.6 billion bringing the total to N74,744,151,133.00.

Also, the sectoral breakdown of the Capital Expenditure, will gulp N3,687,052,540.00, Economic N23,998,054,631.00, Law & Justice N896,400,000.00 and Social N6,660,847,880.00 bringing the total to N74,744,151,133.00.

Delta Speaker lists achievements ÏÏÏThe

A cross section of beggars under Sango-Ota bridge, Ogun State… on Thursday.

PHOTO: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE.

Lagos Assembly reverses Femi Pedro’s impeachment Alade Tasma

ÏÏÏThe Lagos State House

of Assembly, on Thursday, reversed the impeachment of former deputy governor, Otunba Femi Pedro, who was impeached on the May 10, 2007.

The House’s resolution to reverse the impeachment was sequel to the adoptıon of the recommendation of the eight- member Ad Hoc Committee set up on July 2, 2005, to review the circumstances that led to Pedro’s impeachment.

The House, which passed a vote of confidence on Pedro maintained that the allegations that led to his impeachment were not connected to any criminal charges.

The House’s Majorıty Leader, who chaired the committee, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, saıd in its report: “In line with Rule 51 (6) of the Business, Rules and

Standing Orders of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the committee recommends that this House should, by a substantive motion, review the impeachment passed on Otunba Femi Pedro, on Thursday, May 10, 2007, by the 5th Assembly.

“Pardon him and pass a vote of confidence on him as a fit and proper person that can be entrusted with political and administrative responsibilities,” Agunbiade said.

Thirty-six (36) members of the House were in support, while a member abstained.

It would be recalled that Otunba Femi Pedro, the then deputy to Bola Tinubu as governor, was impeached in a controversıal cırcumstance towards the end the tenure of Bola Tinubu for gross misconducts.

Pedro had urged the current Assembly to revisit his impeachment on a compassionate ground in a letter he

sent to the House.

The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Segun Olulade commended the adhoc committee for the recommendation to reverse the impeachment.

Olulade also commended Pedro for withdrawing court cases challenging his removal to allow the Assembly wade into the matter.

According to the lawmaker, Pedro should be forgiven and be allowed to further contribute to the society.

Hon. (Mrs) Adefunmilayo Tejuosho (APC- Mushin I) said, “I am in agreement with the report of the committee; all the allegations against Pedro were not criminal. The former deputy governor has displayed a lot of maturity and honourable behaviour. His name has to be cleared. He is a man of integrity and we should clear him of the allegations.”

The Chairman, House Committee on Information,

Strategy and Security, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, however, urged the House to direct the Executive to invalidate all documents against Pedro.

Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said the House did not absolve Pedro of the allegation, but decided to pardon him for his remorsefulness.

Obasa said that since Pedro was not convicted of any crime by any court of law, the Assembly had decided to pardon him and reverse the impeachment served on him in 2007.

Pedro

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, on Thursday, reminisced on the first seven months of the Sixth Assembly, describing it as “wonderful”.

In a New Year message to Deltans at home and abroad, he said that the period would remain evergreen in his memory.

He listed the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency Law, 2015, Delta State Technical and Vocational Education Board Law, 2015, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Law, 2015, Delta State Appropriation (Amendment) Law, 2015 and the Delta State Contributory Health Commission Law, 2015 as major achievements of the Sixth Legislative Assembly.

Igbuya, who described the performance of his colleagues for the first seven months as impressive, vowed to introduce more growth and reforms in the state.

He urged his colleagues to set new goals to quicken the pace of development in the state.

“I am committed to deepening legislative measures that will support government’s effort at guaranteeing peace, welfare and security of Deltans.

Indeed, he said Nigeria could no longer depend on oil and gas based economy.

“To grow our way to a higher standard of living in 2016, we must diversify the country’s economy. We must think of new revenue sources”.

24 News Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÏÏÏThe Senate would en-

sure a speedy passage of the 2016 Budget, the Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Senate President, Hon. Mashood Mustapha, has said.

Mustapha noted that most of the needs and demands of the masses were captured in the budget.

He also assured Nigerians that the challenges confronting the country would be addressed through legislation of laws that would have direct impact on the

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Senate to ensure speedy passage of 2016 Budget -Saraki’s aide populace.

Mustapha gave the assurance in his New Year message to Nigerians.

He maintained that the 8th National Assembly was determined to serve the people diligently and operate a participatory governance in which the inputs of all Nigerians would always be considered.

Mustapha, who pledged

the readiness of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and other senators to champion the course of the masses, said the Senate would work closely with other arms of government to provide the change the country needed at this critical period.

While assuring the people of Nigeria that the Senate would be operating

an open-door system, Mustapha called on Nigerians to always engage in constructive criticism and offer useful suggestions that would ensure the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Mustapha, who stressed a need for Nigerians to let the lessons of the Maoulud-Nabiy and Christmas reflect in their dealings,

urged them to live peacefully with their neighbours.

He also promised that the Senate would continue to work with the executive arm of government in the onerous task of tackling insurgency.

Mustapha called on Nigerians to be security conscious, embark on community policing and support the law enforcement agen-

Nigeria’s prosperity lies in her unity - Gov. Bello

How to win war against illicit drugs -Ajimobi

ÏÏÏThe Governor of Oyo

Pita Chikwem, Minna Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State, on Thursday, said that the country’s prosperity, in the years ahead, depended on the unity and peaceful coexistence of all the federating units.

This was contained in his New Year Message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Jibrin Ndace in Minna, the state capital.

Bello called on the people to pray for the sustenance of peace and unity in the country stressing that “our collective prosperity as a nation and as a people is uncompromisingly dependent on the unity and peaceful co-existence”.

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (right), with the Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, during his visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Enugu... on Thursday.

Lagos Airport NDLEA arrests 577 drug suspects in 2015 Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏA

Gov. Bello

total of 577 drug suspects were arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in 2015.

While 438 drug suspects were arrested by the Lagos Command of the agency, between January and November 2015, the airport command arrested 139 sus-

pects same period.

The Lagos State Commander of the NDLEA Alhaji Aliyu Sule, who disclosed this to the Daily Times in an interview in his office in Lagos on the activities of his command in 2015, also disclosed that a total of 7315 kilo grams (over 7 tonnes) of various drugs were seized during the period.

The breakdown showed that cannabis 7313. 06 kilo grams, heroine 413.5 grams, cannabis sativa 480 grams were seized.

Sule disclosed that there had been a drop in the number of arrest this year compared to the previous year’s, adding that the command was becoming more proactive than before in trailing suspects.

According to him, between 2011 and 2012, the NDLEA Lagos Command made a seizure of drugs between 10 tonnes and 8 tonnes compared to the 7 tonnes this year.

Sule explained that the Command had continued to swoop at the drugs suspects hide-out and mount road blocks on the highways to arrest suspects.

2016 a year of new beginnings – Sylva

ÏÏÏThe All Progressives

Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa State and former governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, has told Bayelsa people and Nigerians, generally, to see the New Year as an opportunity to make a new start in their individual and collective quests for development.

Sylva stated this in a new year’s message he issued to the state on Thursday.

cies by giving them useful information that would assist them in fighting crimes.

He charged religious leaders on a need to preach peace, tolerance, love and oneness, saying that the nation could only witness rapid development when the environment and the people were peaceful. nesty Programme, BrigGen. Paul Boroh (rtd) in reaching out to the rural population in the Niger Delta region through a community-based non-governmental organisation, Rural Africa Health Initiative (RAHI).

He sued for peaceful co-existence among the people and urged them to eschew divisive tendencies.

In the statement signed by his media adviser, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, Sylva said, “As we welcome the New Year this Friday, we should also embrace the new hopes, new opportunities, and the new vistas it opens for us as Bayelsans and Nigerians to stand out and fulfill our personal and collective

destinies.

“Let us sincerely rededicate ourselves to the fond hopes and expectations of our founding fathers, and endeavour to uplift the welfare, peace, and security of our people. We have a perfect opportunity to reboot and rebuild.

“We have come a long way as a state and as a country. We have crossed the bridges over many rivers. And it has pleased Mother Nature to keep us

together, despite our fault lines. So, it behoves us to focus on issues that would sustain and strengthen our togetherness – rather than those that would destroy it.

“In recent times, some leaders have, most unfortunately, chosen the expansion of our fault lines as the hallmark of their strategy for power.

We should reject these divisive tendencies and see politics as a way of

building bridges between our peoples, both here in Bayelsa State and across Nigeria.

“The election coming up on Saturday, January 9, 2016, in our state offers us a perfect opportunity to demonstrate our rejection of the politics of clannishness, brigandage, and exclusion. It offers us a great opportunity to change our old ways and move with the time’s progressive philosophy.

Sate, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) needed to strengthen its intelligence gathering capability to identify drug peddlers and barons disturbing the peace of the land.

He gave the advice when the Acting Chairperson of the agency, Mrs. Roli BodeGeorge, visited him at Governor’s Office, Ibadan.

Ajimobi recommended a three-pronged approach to the fight against the drug cartel, which included strict enforcement of the NDLEA laws to punish incorrigible drug lords and deter those that might see illicit drug business as lucrative.

He expressed satisfaction with the performance, adding that the agency could not afford to rest on its laurels due to the recalcitrant posture of the drug dealers.

Ajimobi said: “I’m impressed with the achievements of the NDLEA under the acting chair in the area of enforcement. But you cannot afford to rest on your laurels. You need to do more on enforcement through arrest and prosecution.

Gov. Ajimobi

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

25 Opinion

At last, 2016 is here! privilege.

The government is broke.

ÏÏÏ Having journeyed through time, through the wilderness of solitude, through places of memory, through habitations, crossing places of exile and places we call home, journeyed through grief and loss, seeing through places into love, hope and our anxieties, the new year finally arrived where we prayed, kept vigil, sounded cymbals, rattled bells, clapped, sang, screamed, hugged our wives, our husbands, our children, our lovers, our friends, our acquaintances, hailed our neighbours and welcomed guests into our towns, villages, hamlets, into our homes.

While we waited for the new year, we kept vigil on the brows of hills and kept watch on city towers. We prayed. We sang praises to God. We counted down the hours, minutes and seconds as we gathered to bid goodbye to the old year smoldering in ashes, to welcome the new year emerging from the dying embers of the old.

Another new year is here.

The phones scream their weak batteries to death.

Onye ije nno. Traveller, Welcome!

The new year wasn’t a lone journeyman. Always present in our individual journeys, it liked our companionship, shared our joys: joys that we found our better halves, joys young

lovers expressed when they bent their knees during those questioning moments of “will-you-marry-me?” and the joys of birth of our first, middle or last child.

The new year, another beginning.

The sunset of one year is the sunrise of another year.

As the new year begins for many, so the new year ends for others.

Yes, the new year brings with it new beginnings, many endings. While we sound cymbals, rattle bells and sway violins down by the cathedrals of our cities, of our towns and our hearts, our memories of endings, our memories of days that began for us and days that ended abruptly for others, our memories of sunrise and sunset, dusk and dawn remind us of our new beginnings, of shoots in their new seasons, births of those who carry lineages far into time, of endings: of those who have gone ahead of us, of those fateful memories in time, filled with grief, anguish and pain. So, let this new year, a new beginning, which emerged from the embers of the old year, be the constant reminder of that eternal truth: out of the dying womb comes new life, out of the old comes the new, out of rotted seeds shoots

spring forth, out of the past a new future emerges.

Life is an oxymoron. As we celebrate, share love, pat backs, exchange presents and pleasantries, let the new year remind us of the sadness that life gifts in our moments of joy, this January and beyond.

This January, the month we begin another count down to another year, the new year begins its own countdown as the earth makes its movement around the sun.

Named after Janus, the two faced god of the Romans, the god of doors, doorways and openings, January presents us with its own possibilities, opportunities and beginnings. We begin in earnest to make the new year look good in our eyes, to seek those opportunities the old year didn’t avail us and to seize the moment that will surely present itself. Opportunity knocks but once, they say.

We come to the benefices of our hearts, of hands cupped in prayers. The cathedrals where we sway our violins become the altars of amen. This is the way we do

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it: we call on the Holy Ghost for ceaseless miracles, we command fire to destroy enemies, the altars of the fathers and mothers’ houses, who trespass against us.

This January we will gaze upon things in the present and beings in the future, praying that God answers our prayers. Amen.

Yet January is the month we look back at own follies, we remember our madness, our consumption craze, we judge ourselves in the-had-Iknown way, we ponder over cash splashed during the Christmas rush, without putting anything aside for a rainy day.

Someone will ponder over his children’s tuition fees due at the start of the school term. Someone will remember the due date of his tenancy. Someone will find it hard to pay his way to and from work. Someone will curse his pastor for requesting tithe in January.

Anxiety builds like Lego Castle.

Someone will devise ways of evading payment of his house rent. He will learn to

avoid his landlord. He will refuse to take the calls of his estate agent or caretaker. Someone will become a fugitive from civilization, he will find shelter in the underground. Someone will arrange nights of honeymoon with oblivion.

He will become anonymous, even to himself.

If he lives in the same face-me-I-face-you house with his landlord, he will learn to differentiate fury from hell, fear from terror.

January is as unforgiving as a landlord, is as punishing as hunger.

Folk, you didn’t save for a rainy day, hunger will whip sense back into you!

That will be too late. It will be too late to have the senses whipped back, too late to remember that the salary a worker earns as a living wage is a privilege and not a right. The worker will discover rather too late that to hold back his labour is neither a privilege nor a right. It is the duty he owes himself. When Governor Okorocha eventually tells him, “No Work No Pay”, he means it because he considers his day’s worth a

I am not making this up.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news. President Buhari broke the news, hear him: “Where is the money? You must have known that the Federal Government has to help 27 states out of 36 to pay salaries. Nigeria cannot pay salaries”.

Hear this: our economy has stagnated and the prospect of early recovery is dim. Fortune only finds those who brave the odds to face up to their sufferings and banish the economic demons that hold them down.

The new year is here.

It is a new beginning to many who who will make hard choices, choices that align with the struggle to keep their heads above the parapet, align with their energies, desires, and the strength to walk through the doorways of the impoverished NOW. They need to hang in there, they must hang in there, where survival is dire.

Those who pull the levers of power of our country today must do all within their power to slay the elephant in the room: the declining value of the naira, runaway inflation and the poor purchasing power of citizens.

Nothing is impossible.

Stagnation can be turned into growth. Poverty can be turned into wealth. Hopelessness can be turned into Hope. Sunset can be turned into sunrise. Bed of thorns can be turned into bed of roses. Yes, we can!

Happy New Year.

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Art Review

Æs

When Benin

flaunts its arts at Smithsonian An exhibition of some of the finest images of Benin kingdom’s rich art as documented by late Solomon Osagie Alonge has been on-going to great acclaim at Smithsonian Museum of African Arts, AGOZINO AGOZINO writes.

L-R: Prince Ademola Iyi-Eweka receiving a gift from Wayne Clough, Secretary to the Smithsonian Museum at the exhibition in USA

L-R: Lancelot Imesua, Prince Ademola Iyi-Eweka, Stanley Obamwonyi, Magdalene Obamwonyi and Austin Iyara at the exhibition

Portrait of Oba Akenzua greeting Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on a royal visit to Nigeria. Late Minister of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (left).

PHOTO: ALONGE

Benin Kingdom has a reputation for court art. One of the unique example of this art is the late Solomon Osagie Alonge’s Benin kingdom photo exhibition, which has been on-going at the Smithsonian Museum of African Arts, (SMAFA) United States. Explaining the show may not be very simple. But capturing it as spectacular just sums it all.

The show which opened at American frontline gallery over a year now serves images that are remarkable even as it showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Edo people captured by the late palace photographer. Since the remarkable show opened in Washington, it has received remarkable reviews from collectors and lovers of Benin culture.

The exhibition, which showcased the activities throughout the reign of the late Oba Akenzua and Oba Erediauwa I, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo in Benin Kingdom, served a collection of thrilling works. The exhibition is featuring over 3,000 interesting images, and the second leg of the exhibition, is scheduled to hold in Benin. The works tell pregnant cultural stories while showing Alonge’s gift for capturing activities around the Oba’s palace and other interesting themes.

The Director of Smithsonian Museum Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, who was in Nigeria recently said the main objective of the show was to celebrate a Nigerian photographer who has left a legacy with his talent. Dr. Cole described Alonge as a unique photographer with a remarkable gift, whose works will always be celebrated.

“We are happy for hosting this on-going exhibition in our museum in Washington.

As you can imagine, Smithsonian is the only museum in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to the visual arts of Africa, and what I mean is from Algeria to Zimbabwe and down to South Africa.

“We have many exhibitions, education and outreach programmes. But we are happy because the Alonge case is a unique show. And that is why we are in Nigeria, because in the history of our museum we have never had such important projects ever. It has never been done in the history of the Smithsonian Museum or the Smithsonian which has 19 different museums with research centres.

Throwing more light, Dr. Cole said “Yes, we are here because of that wonderful photo exhibition. He was one of Nigeria’s premiere photographers, who for five decades.

He photographed the royal courts of

Lancelot Imesua at the event

Benin including children, visiting dignitaries and politicians, and annual festivals and court ceremonies from a unique insider’s perspective.

“It is not only because of the exhibition that we are here in Nigeria and the Benin museum; we also plan that in future we would train curators, gallery workers and others for the museum here in Nigeria.

We will, equally, do many educational programmes, especially, training children in Benin to appreciate their cultural heritage.

Dr. Cole is in Nigeria with a team including Amy Staples, a widely travelled international photo artist and Dr. Christine Mullen Kreamer, Curator at Smithsonian museum.

The team, which had been to Benin, Edo State, recently, are working with other stakeholders for promoting culture and art event.

“The late Chief Alonge’s legacy includes 60 years of photography, an archive of over 3,000 images that represents an unprecedented visual history of Benin royalty and society in the 20th century. His photographs have been compared to the famous bronze plaques of the Benin kingdom, as modern visual records that preserve the history of Edo-speaking peoples.

Alonge also set up his own studio where the ordinary people come for photography. And think of how fortunate we are in Smithsonian because we were able to purchase, from the family, his entire collections of photography. We have his camera, his glass plate; we even have some of his trousers. All of that is in our exhibition now. But we are here to raise the fund to help send the exhibition back to its source.

The beauty of it all is that we also plan to make a gift to the Benin people after the exhibition. The exhibition in Nigeria will be the most talked about event in arts in recent time which will enjoy a long display,” said Dr. Cole.

According to Dr. Cole, the aim of the exhibition in United States is to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Edo kingdom and one of the black nation’s art heritages and to celebrate the late Alonge for his contribution in documenting heritage from Nigeria to the world. She said the exhibition has made Nigeria popular while in Smithsonian. The future edition of the show will be the first of its kind and will be more remarkable especially as it will be showcased at the place where the event was documented.’’

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

27

Art Review

Ilori right with Queen Elizbeth in one of the works at the exhibition

Queen of England in Lagos Last weekend, the British monarch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was in Lagos but not physical. She was displayed in Omenka Gallery Ikoyi Lagos in an exhibition entitled Status and Time.

The show which is a twoweeks long 30 piece joint display featured the recent works and other creations of two United Kingdom-

Agozino Agozino Although, Ehigbor Iyoghiojie, an Auchi Polytechnic, Delta State trained artist was popular in the 1990s before he left the country to Southern Africa for the proverbial golden fleece, the painter who is popularly known as OBJ, returned back to the country, recently, brimming with confidence like a man in his father’s courtyard.

His early exposure to arts in the country and his being steeped in popular art exhibitions, in Lagos and Benin had already earned him the credentials of an artist destined for a better future in the country’s visual arts sector before his sudden exit.

That is the impression you get after a few moments of encounter with the Uromi, Edo State born painter,

based Nigerian artists, Yinka Ilori and Jade Folawiyo.

Both artists are based in the United Kingdom. The ongoing exhibition which is supported by the British Council featured an installation and other remarkable installations, as well as a collection of intricate wall clocks referencing thought-provoking quotes

on the theme of time and change. The exhibition which opened on December 19, 2015 is still on-going till January 9, 2016.

Inspired by Nigerians reaction to the reduction in oil price by President Buhari, Ilori’s clustered palm oil kegs represent the voice of the nation and emphasise the need for the Nigerian community to set

aside cultural differences and work together to encourage socio-economic development. The flowers are a metaphor for the beauty that eventually blossoms from the efforts of Nigerians working together as a country rather than individuals.

Yinka Ilori, whose work touches on themes as various as hope, sexuality and

social class said, “My installation is about understanding that we have to work together as a country to move forward… the palm oil bottles represent individuals and their struggles.

The table is supported by the palm oil bottles and that’s we need to understand that Nigeria needs the support of the people in order for us to all shape and

move Nigeria forward.”

Also, each of Jade Folawiyo’s clocks is designed with its own unique name and quote. These design references are taken from Folawiyo’s Nigerian influences and her minimal design style, with a number of the clocks reflecting her ongoing interest in the beading work found on the musical instrument shekere.

Passionate artist, Ehigbor, back from Malawi with art, zeal who, before his exit, operated the Living Colour Studio, Ekea in Benin City, Edo State. Ehigbor, had also engaged in arts at the Bruce Onobrakpeya Harmattan Workshop and worked with popular Port-Harcourt, Rivers State-based Abasi Palmour Gallery among several curators and art buffs.

Now, a converted Christian and a multi-talented artist with experience garnered from Malawi, he, sure, had seen it all.

“I left the country in the late 1990s for Malawi, South Africa, Johannesburg and Cape Town, but, I later settled down in Malawi, where I worked with the Visual Arts Association for many

years before I decided to return home to showcase my talent here,’’ the painter said.

Ehigbor, who said he did not regret moving to Malawi, when his art career was about blooming, reasoned that, although, Malawi is a small country, the experience the country’s art sector offered him could not be quantified in terms of money. According to him, he learnt how the artists in Malawi came together to promote creativity.

This, he said, is far better than what obtained at home. He said everything about art should not be seen in terms of money, but, to preserve record and

document history and culture.

In his words, “Malawi has two incomes. Tobacco and tourism, I worked for three years in the Malawi Central African Gallery, which is the biggest gallery there. Now that I am back, I want to showcase my art and culture with all the experiences I have got here.

One of the painting by Ehigbor

Ehigbor

Chikatara opens up on Pillars’ move

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Chikatara

op striker, Chisom Chikatara has said the quest for laurel is behind the move to former Nigerian champions, Kano Pillars.

The Super Eagles lanky marksman was Abia Warriors top scorer in the out gone 2014/15 Nigeria Professional Football

League (NPFL) season.

Chikatara said he believes the Pyramid City side will afford him the rare opportunity to sip from the NPFL trophy as well as campaign in Africa.

“Yes, I have negotiated with Kano Pillars but yet to collect my clearance from Abia Warriors.

“Of course, I’m bringing with me two of my teammates to Kano Pillars.

“However, I think the urge to win trophy and continental participation is the driving force behind the move in addition to the quest for new challenges.”

Barca not leading Pogba chase, g 30 insists Raiola

Page 28

Wenger

recommends

Amutu to French club

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rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has recommended Nigerian striker Austin Amutu to high-flying French Ligue 1 side SCO Angers.

According to reports, Angers are very interested in Warri Wolves forward Amutu, who they report is currently on trials at Israeli club Kiryat Shmona.

Angers have already completed the application for a visa for the 22-year old after he was highly recommended to them by Wenger, who has been keeping his eye on him for some time.

Angers have been the surprise package in the French Ligue 1 as they are now third on the table with 31 points from 19 matches.

However, Amutu, who was earlier this year invited to the Nigeria U-23 team, said last week he has signed the dotted lines for Kiryat Shmona after he recently completed a loan spell in Malaysia.

He said he has signed till the end of the season and has been handed jersey No 29.

Friday, January 1, 2016

N

FF President Amaju Pinnick has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles, will qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals.

The qualification series for the 2017 Cup of Nations to be hosted by Gabon will be concluded in September 2016, but the Eagles have what is seen as a group-decider, double-dose against the Pharaohs of Egypt in March, while the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, to be staged in Russia, begin in October 2016.

Pinnick also revealed that a holistic solution being packaged for the women’s game in the country has been slowed down by the poor state of the economy, which hit hard at the company that was willing to pick the bills of the proposed expatriate coach for the Super Falcons.

Nigeria’s number one football administrator paid glowing tributes to the contribution of ideas, toil and sacrifices of the Members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management, saying the bountiful harvests that Nigeria football reaped in year 2015 was the handiwork of a united and committed team. Admitting that the job of managing Nigeria football (where about 150 million of estimated 170 million population are ‘football coaches’) is a tough call, but Pinnick assured that the NFF Executive Committee and Management are equal to the task.

“I want to state clearly that it has never been a one-man show. The Members of the Executive Committee and Management have been excellent. We are a united team. The triumphs of the U-20 boys in Senegal, the U-17 boys in Chile and the U-23 boys in Senegal, as well as the qualification of the Eagles B for the African Nations Championship and the progress the Super Eagles have made are the results of a committed group.

“I make bold to say that year 2016 will be

even better. We are looking to see the Eagles B win the African Nations Championship, the Super Eagles qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and starting the race to Russia 2018 on a sound footing, and also planning for the women teams to excel at their various international championships.”

The Super Falcons expect to qualify for the African Women Championship in Cameroun,

while the U-20 girls have already qualified for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea and the U-17 girls are looking to reach the U-17 World Cup in Jordan.

On the issue of the FC Taraba players’ sleep strike outside the State Government House to protest unpaid salaries and allowances, Pinnick said it was highly unfortunate but that the League Management Company is on top of the situation.

les Super Eag lebrate players ce ng a goal. after scori

Pinnick: Eagles will qualify for AFCON, World Cup finals

Amapakabo rejects bribe as Rangers screen players

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Amutu

angers coach, Imama Amapakabo, turned down bribe from two players who were desperate to be signed just as the Enugu club penciled down 18 players after a screening exercise.

Imama, who has bagged a new one-year contract, turned down two players who brought cash in brown envelopes to bribe the coach to sign them.

In the meantime, Rangers have concluded a screening of mostly non-league players ahead of the new season after they picked 18 of them to be considered for the next round of the trials.

Former Nigeria coach Christian Chukwu was part of the screening exercise.

Rangers finished 12th last season.

Amapakabo

Friday, January 1, 2016

EXTRATIME

Ajayi hits fifth goal in Tunisia

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unior Ajayi scored his fifth league goal of the season for Tunisian side, Club Sportif Sfaxien on Wednesday in their 3-1 win over Club Africain.

Ajayi netted on 82 minutes to fire the Sfax club to the comprehensive win which see them remain in second place on the Ligue 1 standings, a solitary point adrift of the leaders, Etoile du Sahel.

The former Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) man has hit the ground running this season for the Juventus El Arab (Juventus of The Arabs) netting five goals in six matches.

Ajayi has netted in all but one of the six league games he has played in this season.

El Gwafel Sportives de Gafsa, Avenir de la Marsa, Eo Sidi Bouzie and Etoile Sportive de Métlaoui have all found themselves at the end of the deadly efficiency of the striker.

Ajayi was part of the Nigeria U-23 side that won the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.

29

asbu mep Ala es Feir nse de ut mak

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igeria goalkeeper Dele Alampasu on Wednesday night made his competitive debut for CD Feirense in the Portuguese League Cup. Alampasu, who has been part of the Eagles set up for the past few games has made three match day squads for his team but got the nod from the start in the away game against Famalicao.

The former Golden Eaglets goaltender, who won the best goalkeeper gloves at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, was in good form in the game.

He made two outstanding saves in the first half that ended goalless and kept Feirense in the game for long periods as the home side.

Feirense got the go-ahead goal in the 50th minute when Micael Freire broke through to score the only goal of the game.

Alampasu and his teammates came under a barrage of attack from the home side but they could not breach the Feirense defence.

The 19-year-old pulled off another fantastic save in the 89th minute of the game getting a hand to divert it away from goal and was called to duty again in the 91st minute punching

No panic over

Oliseh’s health, says Pinnick

Alampasu away a dangerous corner kick.

Feirense held on to secure their win and earn Alampasu his first competitive win and clean sheet.

P

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has assured there is nothing to worry about the health of Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh.

Oliseh has been down with a viral infection and did not join the Eagles training camp in Abuja ahead of the CHAN in Rwanda, but Pinnick has maintained there is no cause for alarm.

“Sunday Oliseh is not feeling too well but it is nothing to worry about and he is now undergoing therapy and he will be sound soon. He’s still excited about the

With the result, Feirense is second on the Portuguese League Cup Group A with three points from two matches.

job of rebuilding the national team,” the NFF boss said on a television programme on Thursday.

Officials have said Oliseh will join up with the Eagles squad at their next training base in Pretoria, South Africa.

Oliseh

30

Friday, January 1, 2016

EXTRATIME

Leaving Roma for Real is impossible, says

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Pjanic

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oma midfielder Miralem Pjanic has dismissed suggestions he is on his way to Real Madrid.

A number of reports recently have suggested the 25-year-old is close to joining the Santiago Bernabeu side, but the Bosnia-Herzegovina midfielder has insisted he is not thinking about a transfer at this stage of the season.

“Real Madrid interest? I am focused on Roma at the moment,” Pjanic told reporters.

“We are still fighting for the Scudetto and have the Champions League round of 16 coming up. That’s why leaving Roma is impossible right now.”

His agent Michael Becker, meanwhile, was quick to stress there had not been contact with any interested clubs.

“These rumours surprise me. I don’t know where they are coming from,” Becker added.

“Neither Miralem, nor his father or Roma have been in touch with Real Madrid, Barcelona or any other European club.”

Pjanic joined Roma from Lyon in August 2011 and has since developed into a key figure at the Serie A outfit.

He has a contract with the Stadio Olimpico side until June 2018.

Pogba

Barca not leading

Pogba Law, chase, insists Lee

Raiola

honoured with CBEs

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Real keeping tabs on

Arfa

N Pjanic

aul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola has dismissed speculation that Barcelona are leading the race to sign the Juventus midfielder at the end of the season.

The France star has a contract with Juve until June 2019, but clubs such as Barca, Manchester City and Chelsea are all believed to be interested in signing him.

Spanish and European champions Barca were thought to be in pole position for Pogba, but Raiola claims that is not necessarily the case.

“The big clubs will come knocking for Paul again at the end of the season. I don’t know how much chance Juventus have of holding on to him,” he told reporters.

“Paul will make a decision based on the offers he receives and based on how he feels. He was in a similar situation last summer.

“Are Barcelona in pole position to sign him? The only team ahead of the others is Juventus. Paul has a strong connection with Juve. Paul is the type of guy who thinks things through and he thinks with his heart. He felt that it was not the right moment to leave last summer and he was right.

“He stayed put and overcame his initial difficulties, when the fans jeered him and treated him unfairly. It did not bother Paul, but I did not like it. But it will not affect Paul’s decision at the end of the season.

“The fact that Paul decided to stay with Juventus last summer shows that he has invested in Juventus. And the Juventus hierarchy has also invested a lot by opting not to cash in on Paul. Paul is like a limited edition Ferrari, there are only a few who can afford him.

A—rPfa

ice coach Claude Puel has claimed Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on the situation of Hatem Ben Arfa.

The 28-year-old joined Nice from Newcastle United in January 2015, but FIFA ruled he would not be allowed to play for the club because he had already appeared for Newcastle’s Under-21 side and Hull City that season.

He has been in stunning form for Nice in 2015-16, though, his seven goals in 18 Ligue 1 appearances earning him a recall for France’s national team.

His excellent performances have seemingly not gone unnoticed elsewhere and his coach at Nice has revealed Madrid are among those interested in

uel

signing him.

“I am not surprised to hear that big clubs such as Real Madrid are keeping tabs on him,” Puel said.

“Hatem has become part of the club, just like Mathieu Bodmer when he joined us from PSG. “I do not agree with those who say Hatem needs to be at a small club in order to deliver his best performances.

“I hope for him that he no longer plays for Nice next season.

“The high level he has been playing at is not just some isolated dazzling performances. He has been very consistent and has been working very hard.”

anchester football greats Denis Law and Francis Lee have been awarded CBEs in this year’s New Year Honours list.

Law famously formed part of Manchester United’s ‘Holy Trinity’ when he played alongside Bobby Charlton and George Best, helping the club win league titles in 1965 and 1967, as well as a FA Cup triumph in 1963 in a United career which spanned 11 years and produced 237 goals.

He won the European Footballer of the Year Award in 1964 and was part of United’s first European Cupwinning squad in 1968, although he missed the 4-1 final win against Benfica at Wembley through injury.

Law, 75, would famously go on to play for United’s rivals Manchester City, featuring alongside his fellow CBE awardee Lee in the 1973-74 season.

Since retiring, Law has been a fund-raiser for Cancer Research UK, having recovered from prostate cancer in 2003.

The Scot scored a back-heel goal against United on the final day of the season as his former team were sent into the Second Division.

Lee, 71, played for City from 1967-1974, helping the club secure the league title in 1968.

The City great also helped the club to a 1969 FA Cup win, as well as League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup triumphs in 1970.

Friday, January 1, 2016

EXTRATIME

Odemwingie

31

Falcao suffers injury setback

regrets C QPR snub

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ade the Odemwingie min January e ok St to move has 2014, where he five times. found the net

BRIEFS

Klopp branded ‘a soft German’

S

am Allardyce called Jurgen Klopp “a soft German” after a touchline row with the Liverpool boss on Wednesday night. The two benches clashed at the Stadium of Light after Jeremain Lens caught Mamadou Sakho with a late tackle during the first half of Liverpool’s 1-0 win. Klopp, who failed to shake hands with West Brom boss Tony Pulis following a similar incident this month, did share a handshake with Allardyce after the game.

he January Transfer Window often throws up last-minute moves and deals falling through, but few compare to Peter Odemwingie’s attempted Deadline Day switch in 2013.

In what has become arguably the most famous transfer deal never to be completed, the-then West Brom forward famously drove the 120 miles from Birmingham to London in an attempt to speed up a late move to Queens Park Rangers.

The striker was seen signing autographs outside of Loftus Road and was also interviewed by the media, telling reporters from his car that he was ready for “a new chapter”.

But the move couldn’t be completed before the 11pm transfer deadline, with then QPR manager Harry Redknapp claiming “wires got crossed”, leaving

ieri C Rpaefn ul on ho Vardy, hrez Mtua res fu

Otamendi: We can win without Kompany

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anchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi believes his side can continue on the path to Premier League glory without captain Vincent Kompany. The Belgium international has suffered a string of calf injuries that have hampered his season. Kompany has missed 16 matches this season and City has only managed one clean sheet in his absence - in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Leicester City.

Jagielka nears Everton return

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oberto Martinez is pleased Phil Jagielka will be back to boost Everton’s defensive stocks inside the next seven to 10 days. England centre-back Jagielka has been out of the Everton side since suffering medial knee ligament damage in the defeat against Arsenal on October 24. Martinez said Jagielka could even return on Sunday against Tottenham, although it is more likely his comeback game will be against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup semi-final or the FA Cup thirdround clash three days later.

Odemwingie having to make the trip back to re-join the West Brom team-mates he’d already said goodbye to.

Reflecting on that evening three years on, Odemwingie said: “I didn’t even know what to think; I was laughing and almost crying at the same time! I believed it was done, I had nothing to hide.

“When the cameras came, I didn’t feel awkward to say ‘yes, this is where we are’. Unless you see it on paper nothing is done, so that’s why I said it’s a 90 per cent done deal.

“West Brom players were confused a bit and they knew I believed the deal was done. But then it was tough of course with the fans.

“After the move collapsed, I said I’m going to play a song from Akon, Lonely, and drive home. I wish it all didn’t happen, but that’s life.”

Vardy

laudio Ranieri is hopeful he can keep Leicester City’s star performers at the King Power Stadium in the upcoming transfer window after a stellar first half to the Premier League season.

Leicester sit joint-top of the Premier League - trailing Arsenal on goal difference - having gone into 2015 bottom of the table under Ranieri’s predecessor Nigel Pearson.

Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have been the stars of the show, boasting 28 league goals between them, while the likes of N’Golo Kante and Kasper Schmeichel have also impressed.

Ranieri refused to confirm reports of a new deal for Vardy but expressed hope for the upcoming window.

“My focus is on Saturday’s opponents Bournemouth,” he stated. “But I think nobody goes from Leicester in January. There’s too much speculation. We want to fight, build with me - the chairman and fans.

“We can say ‘start to win the title’, but it’s not our job.

Our job is to win the next match.

“We made a fantastic half-season. It’s unbelievable.

We must continue building to fight at the top.”

Hiddink

angry with Garde over Remy interest C helsea interim manager Guus Hiddink is unhappy with Aston Villa boss Remi Garde declaring an interest in Loic Remy.

Garde confirmed on Wednesday

he wanted to bring Remy to his Remy struggling side, who sit bottom of the Premier League, in January.

Hiddink was left unhappy with prove his fitness at Chelsea first.

“From our point of view, I don’t the public declaration, insisting the think we, or the management, will 28-year-old French forward had to

helsea striker Radamel Falcao is back at square one in his recovery from a thigh injury, manager Guus Hiddink has revealed.

The Colombian has endured a difficult time of things since moving to Stamford Bridge on loan from Monaco in July - failing to rediscover his form following a frustrating season-long spell at Manchester United.

Falcao made just two starts in all competitions for the struggling Premier League champions before suffering a thigh injury in early November.

And the former Atletico Madrid striker suffered a relapse during a practice game with Hiddink confirming the 29-year-old remains some weeks off a return.

The Dutchman - appointed as Jose Mourinho’s successor until the end of the season this month - told reporters: “It’s the inside of his thigh and it’s the same now as it was before.

“He’s having treatment at the moment but he cannot appear on the pitch. He was out and our medical staff tried to build him up but he had the setback, which is not a positive signal.

“We hope within 10 days he might be fit again but not to play. No.”

go into a similar situation,” the Dutchman said.

“You have to respect where the players are.

“If you are interested, talk first to the people to whom they are contracted. You cannot go into details.”

Remy signed a four-year deal at Chelsea when he moved to the club from QPR in August 2014.

While he has struggled for regular game time since arriving, Remy appears set to be given a chance by Hiddink.

“You don’t go through the side door. The player has signed a contract here and must be fit for us,” Hiddink said.

“He’s having a difficult time regarding his injuries. He has to prove first of all that he’s a good Chelsea player.”

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fRidaY, JannuaRY 1, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.13

Price: n150

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Odemwingie

regrets QPR snub

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usa Bility has failed to overturn his exclusion from the race to succeed Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

The Liberia Football Association chief failed an integrity check in November but vowed to take his fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

However, in a statement released on Thursday, CAS confirmed it had “dismissed the appeal and upheld the FIFA Ad hoc Electoral Committee’s decision”.

“The full award, with grounds for the decision, will be issued in early 2016,” CAS added.

Bility’s initial candidacy had been rejected on the grounds of a sixmonth ban from football issued in 2013 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The sanction had been handed down after CAF agreed that Bility had used some of its confidential documents

Bility

as part of a legal challenge against President Issa Hayatou, now the acting head of FIFA. “I think it’s unfortunate,” Bility said at the time. “My decision to fight CAF at the time was a genuine attempt to change African football and prevent rules from being arbitrarily violated.”

FIFA’s electoral congress is due to be held on February 26, 2016.

End of the Road!

y t i l i B l a e p p a loses A F I F t s n i aga n o i t c e j re

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Economist wants FG, CBN to revisit TSA policy Page B3

FIRRO to Page B7 attact $575m FDI in 2016

Indonesia rejoins OPEC 7 years after Page B2

NCC demands MTN pays fine as deadline expires Tony Nwakaegho Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it was expecting MTN to meet the deadline for paying a record $3.9 billion fine which expired yesterday, despite the South African operator challenging the penalty in court.

NCC, the country’s telecoms regulator, had in October fined the firm for missing a deadline to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards, citing security

concerns in a country plagued by frequent kidnappings and an extremist Islamist insurgency Boko Haram.

It imposed a whopping $5.2 billion fine, later reduced to $3.9 billion (3.6 billion euros) following an appeal by MTN. Nigerian communications ministry spokesman Victor Oluwadamilare said “If MTN fails to meet the deadline today (Thursday), the regulatory body will enforce the fine.”

Oluwadamilare said the pend-

ing legal proceedings had nothing to do with the payment deadline, saying “the court case is not tantamount to extending the deadline.”

MTN spokesman Chris Maroleng declined to comment beyond a December 17 statement announcing the decision to go to court.

Johannesburg-based MTN also declined to offer a detailed response on Thursday, but said earlier this month it would launch a legal challenge in the Federal High Court in Lagos against the

fine, and expected all parties “to restrain from taking further action” until the case was concluded.

On its part, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that MTN Group Ltd. must stick to a December 31 (today’s) deadline to pay a record $3.9 billion fine, even after MTN prepares to try and overturn the penalty in court.

“Tony Ojobo, a spokesman for the Nigerian Communications CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Fuel subsidy: Group flays NLC over protest plans Joy Ekeke The Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC) has been accused by a group Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy, (VATLAD) of being motivated by political reasons in planning to organise protests across the country, should the subsidy on petrol be stopped by the federal government.

VATLAD, vehemently condemned the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, for opposing the proposed removal of fuel subsidy and plans to mobilise Nigerian workers to embark of nationwide strike to protest against it.

Reacting to NLC planned protest, the group’s national president Comrade Emmanuel Odafe Igbini, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Asaba noted that the decision of the leadership of NLC is purely politically motivated rather than the overriding good and interest of the masses of Nigeria as claimed by NLC. “Why NLC would base its decision on the fact, opposition politicians who encouraged the mass action against the former CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Friday, January 1, 2016

L-R: Oyo State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs. Omolade Faboyede; Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi; Acting Chairperson, (NDLEA), Mrs. Roli Bode-George and Assistant Commander of Narcotics, Mrs. Victoria Egbase, during a visit to the Governor’s Office, in Ibadan… on Thursday.

NAGAFF warns on collapse of business in Nigeria if...

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Chairman of National Association of Government Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Murtala Muhammed Airport Ikeja, Hon Segun Musa has said a lot of importers would close shop in the country in 2016 following federal government’s new policy.

Speaking exclusively with Daily Times in his office at the MMIA Ikeja, Musa declared that the new government’s policy using the Nigerian customs officials has forced many importers out of business in Nigeria while others have relocated out of the country in the last few months.

According to Musa, the men of Nigerian customs have mismanaged the ports across the country, adding that the revenue leakage was more than the money collected into the coffers of the government .

According to the NAGAFF chairman, high import tariff by customs was not favourable to importers and has led to poor relationship between importers and the customs “Customs officers mismanaged the ports, they have not brought to table any meaningful CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

More jobs expected from agric, mining sectors – Buhari Joy Ekeke President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday announced that more jobs will be created through the government’s diversification efforts especially from the agricultural and mining sectors.

According to the President, who disclosed this at the maiden Presidential Media Chat in Abuja, the 2016 budget has been tailored to adequately address the

issue of unemployment in the country. ``All these things will take time; we said during our campaign that we will diversify the economy to agriculture and solid minerals. ``We are hoping that these sectors will generate jobs from those sectors and our budget has shown that we will focus on those sectors. ``Also, we have focused on education and other key sectors of

the economy. ``Some investors are ready to come and invest in those sectors but our problem is to secure this country first,’’ the president said.

According to him, the government has taken cognisance of the countries that have indicated interest in investing in solid minerals.

He said a lot had changed in the country, especially with the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Buhari

Business News B2 NCC demands MTN pay fine as deadline expires

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Commission, said that “the deadline remains”.

The NCC will consult with lawyers about what to do if the Johannesburg-based company doesn’t pay the fine on Thursday, he said, without providing detail on possible actions the regulator may take.

MTN disconnected the millions

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

of unregistered subscribers in Nigeria at the end of August, it reported in its quarterly performance update in October, adding that 3.4 million of those subscribers had since been reconnected.

“The fine is really unusual, it’s far and away bigger than anything we’ve seen globally and anything we’ve seen in Nigeria,” Amy Cameron, telecoms analyst at

NAGAFF warns on collapse of business in Nigeria if...

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Widodo

Indonesia rejoins OPEC 7 years after ÏReactivates its OPEC membership Opeoluwani Akintayo Indonesia has resumed its membership of OPEC after a seven-year break. Report says the country re-joined in search of a better footing for crude deals to ensure its energy security.

Indonesia remains Southeast Asia’s top crude producer, but for lack of investment in domestic production activities and surge in demand, the country has been the biggest net importer of gasoline in Asia for almost a decade.

The country reactivated its OPEC membership as the cartel convened at its headquarters in Vienna on Friday.

“We welcome you back … and look forward to fruitful collaboration in the future,” Emmanuel Ibe Kachikuwa, Nigeria’s oil

minister and president of the OPEC conference, said in his opening remarks published on the OPEC website.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, who attended the meeting, said that by being an OPEC member once again, Indonesia was back among global oil heavyweights, which was “crucial to attracting investment.”

Widhyawan Prawiraatmadja, Indonesia’s OPEC governor, said the country was revamping its oil and gas sector by easing investment requirements, encouraging new exploration, and improving management of the energy sector.

“Those efforts need to be complemented with a more active role on the global stage,” Widyawan said.

By reactivating its OPEC membership, Indonesia will be “part of its decision-making process, instead of standing at the receiving end of those deals,” he added.

policy that will actually drive the industry. Because they are saddled with the responsibility of checking revenue being collected by the freight forwarders, they actually mismanaged the ports.”

“The revenue leakage is more than the revenue collected in Nigeria, the tariff on imports are so high and that has taken a lot of business out Nigeria.”

“We have criticised the President Arrival Report that government should not saddle the customs with issuance of that certificate but the customs came with all kinds of snow whiting discuss that they won’t be any query again when they start issuing the Certificate.”

He called on the federal government to engage private sector in policy formulations in order to get things right stressing that importation was not responsible for the demise of some major industries in the country but as a result of bad roads, insecurity and poor power generation.

He explained that they will soon go into a regime of external tariff where every importer is at liberty to import goods and pay tariff any where in the world and go to the border to clear their goods without paying to customs.

“By the time importers start going to Ghana, Togo, Abidjan and Cotonou to pay duties, there will be loss of revenue here and our terminals will be turned into football field where they will be no activities going on in the shed. So, you can imagine how the Labour market will look like when about three million people will be thrown out of the market.

He noted that Nigeria has the highest number of contraband goods all over the world adding that it was not in the interest of the nation.

BMI Research, a market research firm, told AFP. “Normally when it goes to arbitration like this, it would make sense that the NCC can’t impose the fine until there’s a decision from the court,” Cameron said, speaking from London.

“I would expect that it’s highly unlikely that MTN would pay anything.”

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country of 170 million people, is MTN group’s largest market with 62.8 million subscribers. It operates in 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

“MTN is committed to Nigeria and it’s going to stay there. Nigeria is its most profitable market and it has no intention of leaving,” Cameron said.

Group flays NLC over protest plans CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

administration (PDP) to remove the fuel subsidy were now agitating for its removal. Must leadership of NLC expects Nigerians to continue to support the perpetuation of wrongs of the past while Nigerian masses are dying?

“The fact remains that the leadership of NLC for years now has never been sincere with Nigerians over the issue of deregulation of the petroleum sector and proper pricing of petroleum products rather many of labour leaders have used it to mislead millions of Nigerian masses while very few individuals continue to fraudulently enrich themselves through the socalled fuel subsidy.

“We long expected NLC to have mobilised her members and Nigerians to demand a probe and prosecution of those involved in the fuel subsidy scam and the monumental fraud and corruption in the upstream and downstream of Nigerian petroleum sectors. We also expected NLC to embark on nationwide protest against the few unpatriotic Nigerians who have made it impossible for our refineries to function. We know for sure that the Nigerian refineries are

in good working conditions and that the Nigerian workers of the refineries are ever willing and capable to putting the refineries in use, but some power-that be refused them.” Igbini stated.

The group however, challenged NLC to embark on protest demanding that the Nigerian refinery workers be allowed free hand to run and manage the refineries without political interferences, stressing that it is against the spirit of labour movement to allow crude oil swap for imported petroleum products while management and workers of NNPC and refineries are paid for years without refining a barrel of crude oil.

Wabba

Nigeria’s foreign reserves drops to $29.13b Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said that the nation’s foreign exchange reserves declined to $29.13 billion as at December 29, 2015.

The apex bank posted this on its website, adding that the drop represented 2.43 per cent from 29.31 billion dollars recorded as at December 23, 2015 The foreign reserves have been dropping since July 1, 2015.

The nation’s external reserves stood at 34.49 billion dollars as at January 5, 2015 from the 34.47 billion dollars recorded in December 31, 2014.

But shortages of US Dollar

has forced the nation’s external reserves into a massive decline hitting a new low of 29.73 billion dollar as at December 11, 2015 while the value of the Naira declined in the unofficial foreign exchange market.

The CBN had spent around five billion dollars between January and July defending the Naira, which was hit by the 2014 plunge in oil prices.

The CBN in November said it was able to save $300 million as at August from Bureau De Change (BDC), through its provision that request for forex must be accompanied by the BVN of the customers.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Stories by Motolani Oseni Despite the successed claimed to have been recorded through the full implementation of the Treasury Single Accountt a renowned economist has charged both the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to swiftly revisit the policy.

TSA is a unified structure of bank accounting system that enables consolidation and optimal utilisation of government cash resources. Although, some financial analysts had lauded the directive that it will reduce fraud in the system, ensures transparency and accountability in government spending, but professional economics believed that it has contributed immensely to the current state of the nation’s economy with banks exposed to liquidity crisis and distress conditions.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, Chief Registrar/ Secretary General, Institute of Chartered Economic of Nigeria (ICEN) Mr. Peter Ikpamejo revealed that the policy had put the banking industry in a tight liquidity corner as some of them now embark on aggressive marketing strategy to survive and even competing with MicroFinance Banks (MFBs) in the country.

According to him, we all know how much naira is exchanged

Financial inclusion: Ecobank unveils agency banking services in Nigeria NIBOR as @ Dec. 31, 2015 Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

O/N

1

0.00 ?

1M

8.9539

-0.38 ?

3M

10.6781

0.05 ?

6M

12.7629

0.39 ?

B3 Money Market

Economist wants FG, CBN to revisit TSA policy

L-R: Director, Retail Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Lou Odunuga; Elegbe of Egbe Land, Oba Ashimiyu Dada; Head of Region, Lagos and South West, Etisalat Nigeria, Eno Umoh; Business Partner, Etisalat Experience Centre, Ikotun, Nze Chidi Duru and Head, Retail Strategy, Roll Out and Operations, Etisalat Nigeria, Anthony Iloh at the official opening of Etisalat Experience Centre in Ikotun, Lagos recently.

at the parallel market now. Even though the CBN official rate is N197 per dollar and N199 at the interbank market but currently sells for often sold at around N255 to N260 at the parallel market. So, what is CBN doing about it? Has Treasury Single Account (TSA) been able to control it? It is not possible because many enterpris-

es are not prepared to do business with the government anymore, and government is losing out and unfortunately does not know this.

The way it is, very soon Nigerians may start fasting and praying for this system.

“Government should revisit the TSA policy because it is a problem to the economy; I think

Ecobank Nigeria has commenced agency banking services, enabling its appointed agent partners carry out banking services on its behalf, in order to boost banking services among rural and urban customers.

Agency banking services is designed to increases the bank’s retail distribution network allowing it provide basic banking services to its customers as well as offer payment services such as bank transfers, bill payments and airtime top to the general public.

Also, intended to offer basic banking services to the underbanked and while providing extended hours for available banking services in the customers’

neighborhood.

Announcing the commencement of the Ecobank Agency Banking service in Lagos, Head, Cards and e-Banking, Mr.Ayotunde Kuponiyi said it is part of the bank’s distribution strategy to take banking service to the door-step of the customer.

“This is extending our banking services to consumers’ neighborhood to offer even greater convenience and accessible financial services in a cost effective and secure manner” he said.

Mr. Kuponiyi listed agents partners already offering this services in Lagos as Buymore Super-

CBN Exchange Rates

Month

they should have looked deeply and identify its negative implications before introducing it,” he said.

He further stated: “Mr. President let the account be run the way it was, because people are losing their jobs. Recently over 50,000 construction companies’ workers across the country lost their jobs.

market chain (in Agungi-Lekki, Kilo Surulere, Ikeja, GRA, Kenzo Retail Supermarket chain (in Lekki, Festac and Apapa) and Savea-Lot Supermarket in Egbeda. He maintained that more locations are coming up in Lagos and other major cities and towns across the country.

Banking services provided by the agents banking locations include opening Ecobank Quick Account, cash withdrawal and deposit into Ecobank accounts; funds transfers into any bank account in Nigeria, bills payment (utilities, cable subscription, etc), mobile phone airtime top up amongst othMoney Market Indicators (%) er services.

Ecobank -2015 agency bankJanuary

February

March

10.21

23.5

12.59

Date

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central(NGN)

Selling(NGN)

12/9/15

US DOLLAR

195.97

196.47

196.97

POUNDS STERLING

295.4444

296.1982

296.952

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR)

EURO

214.058

214.6042

215.1503

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

13

13

SWISS FRANC

197.6102

198.1143

198.6185

Treasury Bill Rate

11.2

10.88

YEN

1.5982

1.6023

1.6063

Savings Deposit Rate

3.48

CFA

0.3057

0.3157

0.3257

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.61

WAUA

270.5555

271.2458

271.9361

3 Months Deposit Rate

YUAN/RENMINBI

30.4813

30.5595

30.6377

6 Months Deposit Rate

RIYAL

52.2197

52.3529

52.4861

DANISH KRONA

28.6904

28.7636

28.8368

SDR

272.026

272.72

273.4141

Inter-Bank Call Rate

And a lot of people from the banking industry are also losing their jobs. And it seems the present administration is not concern about it.”

ICEN boss explained that the rate at which people are going into crimes daily is alarming and this is due to lack of jobs in the country. The question to ask the President is what are his opinions on all the noted negative impacts of the TSA policy? Why not turn back and revisit the TSA for every Nigerian to be convinced that we are actually in democracy and not in military rule. Listen to people and reverse it or take the appropriate decisions, so that this system can run.

Ikpamejo, however, commented on the separation of budget from the finance ministry, saying that there are difference between budget and finance, because we are talking about the same thing here. He added that financial manager can prepare a budget for the country.

“Who prepares budget? It is the financial experts and the same thing goes for who administers finances. So, why would you now separate them,” he lamented.

ing service which is the first of its kind to debut in Nigeria is aimed at offering affordable access to financial services to promote and deepen financial inclusion in the Nigeria economy.

Aku

Inter-Bank Rates 12/15/15

OBB Rate

0.5000 - 0.5000%

13

12/10/15

OBB Rate

0.5000 - 0.5000%

10.77

12/9/15

Call Rate

0.5000 - 0.7500%

3.47

3.76

OBB Rate

0.7500 - 1.0000%

8.47

8.42

12/7/15

OBB Rate

0.5000 - 0.5000%

9.64

9.54

9.02

12/1/15

Call Rate

1.0000 - 1.0000%

9.74

9.46

9.88

11/27/15

Call Rate

0.7500 - 1.0000%

12 Months Deposit Rate

9.51

9.37

9.52

OBB Rate

1.0000 - 1.0000%

Prime Lending rate

16.86

16.77

16.9

11/25/15

OBB Rate

1.2500 - 1.5000%

Maximum Lending Rate

25.97

26.33

26.61

11/20/15

OBB Rate

1.2500 - 1.5000%

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Fidelity, Total, GSK to join NSE 30 Index Stories by Adesola Akindele The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has reviewed the composition of the various market indices with the following changes set to take place effective January 1, 2016.

Companies such as Fidelity Bank Plc, Total Nigeria Plc, Glaxo Smithkline Consumer (Nig) plc are set to join the 30 most capitalized stocks on the local bourse under the umbrella of The NSE 30 Index, while Cadbury Nigeria Plc, FCMB Group Plc and UACN Plc are to Exit this Index.

The NSE Insurance Index will welcome the Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc and STACO Assurance Plc., while Sovereign Insurance Plc and Prestige Assurance Plc., are to exit the index.

Joining the The NSE Lotus Islamic Index are Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc and 7Up Bottling

Co. Plc and leaving the index are UACN Plc, and Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co Plc. Cadbury Nigeria Plc., Glaxo Smithkline Consumer Plc., Julius Berger Nig Plc., Seplat Petroleum Dev. Co. Plc., Beta Glass Co. Plc are to join The NSE Pension Index while Wema Bank Plc., Union Bank Plc., Honeywell Flour Mills Plc., UACN Property Dev. Co.Plc and Ecobank Transnational Inc. are set to exit.

The composition of these indices will be effective on January 1, 2016 after the completion of the year-end review and index rebalancing exercise which will see the entry of some major companies and the exit of others from the various indices.

The price indices, which were developed using the market capitalization methodology, are reviewed and rebalanced on a bi-annual basis - on the first business day in January and in July.

Stock Market Report

Investors networth rises by N297b The Nigerian Stock market ended the year on a positive note as lead indicators increased by 3.11 per cent. The local bourse has thus closed trading activities for the year, following the Federal Government’s declaration of a nationwide public holiday on Friday, January 1, 2016, to mark the New Year celebrations, to reopen market activities on the fourth of January 2016.

The All Share Index rose 864.42 points higher to close at 28,642.25 points compared to 1,014.59 points gained previously to close at 27,777.83 points, while market capitalization added N297.3 billion to close at N9.9 trillion compared to N351.5 billion added previously to close at N9.6 trillion.

The day’s gains were sustained by ample increases in Sectoral indices as they all closed posi-

Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong presenting the State 2016 appropration bill before the Plateau State House of Assembly in Jos… on Wednesday.

tive with the exception of the NSE ASeM Index which closed flat.

The NSE Consumer Goods Index topped the sectoral indices with an increase of 5 per cent due to gains recorded by Nigerian Breweries which added 9.68 per cent or N12 to close at N136 per share and Nestle which also grew by 4.24 per cent or N35 to close at N860 per share.

Market breadth likewise closed positive with 33 gainers pitched against 6 losers. Top three gainers for the day were Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc., which increased by 10.20 per cent or 35 kobo to close at N3.78 per share followed

by Transnational Express Plc., which added 9.71 per cent or 10 kobo to close at N1.13 per share, while Nigerian Breweries Plc., gained 9.68 per cent or N12 to close at N136 per share.

On the flip side, Cadbury Plc topped the losers chart with a decline of 4.99 per cent or 90 kobo to close at N17.15 per share, followed by Cutix Plc., which depreciated by 2.92 per cent or 5 kobo to close at N1.66 per share, while Skye Bank Plc., dropped 2.47per cent or 4 kobo to close at N1.58 per share.

At the end of the day’s transactions, investors on the Nigeria Stock Exchange had in 2,160 deals exchanged a total of 252.2 million shares valued at N3.9 billion in contrast to a total of N1.4 billion shares worth N1.95 billion exchanged in 2,559 previously.

Cornerstone appoints new director as Enelamah resigns Friday Atufe Board of directors of Cornerstone Insurance Plc has accepted the resignation of Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah from the board of the company following his appointment as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The company secretary of Cornerstone Insurance, PAC Solicitors, stated this in a letter to the Chief Executive officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, adding that the board approved the resignation at its meeting held on December 17, 2015.

Dr. Enelamah was a non-executive of the company prior to his resignation.

The board has also approved the appointment of Mr. Steve Iwenjora as a non-executive of

Iwenjora

the company at the same meeting. His appointment will be ratified by shareholders of the company at the next annual general meeting of the company.

Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Lagos and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

He is presently a vice president at African capital Alliance.

Before joining African Capital Alliance in 2004, he had several years of professional experience in financial control and international operations from Citibank Nigeria and Continental Trust, which is now part of United Bank for Africa.

Steve had also worked with private equity unit of Renaissance Capital and was the fund manager for SIM Capital Alliance.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

B5 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 31-12-2015

Real sector digest B6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

ENTERPRISE STROKES:

‘Omo-onile’ menace and building development Stories by Siaka Momoh

L-R: Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Ekiti State, Hon. Jide Egunjobi; Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, Dr. Kolapo Olusola; Corporate Social Value Manager, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mrs. Abosede George-Ogan and Training Manager, Samsung Engineering Academy, Mr. Dickson Odikayor at the launch of Samsung’s second Engineering Academy in Nigeria, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State… on Thursday.

‘What the business environment was like in 2015’ Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry consistently expressed its concern over the deplorable state of roads leading to the Lagos ports (Apapa and Tincan Island). These ports account for over 60 per cent of the cargo into the country and an estimated 70 per cent of customs revenue. The poor state of the roads has multifarious effects on the private sector, economy and the citizenry.

The Chamber notes some of these effects are as follows: i. Risk to the lives of citizens arising from containers falling off the trucks as a result of bad roads. Several lives have been lost in recent past as a result of this. ii. Congestion at the ports resulting from the delay in the evacuation of cargo. iii. High demurrage paid by importers to Terminal Operators and Shipping Companies as a result of delays [which were not their own making] in the clearance and evacuation of cargo in the ports. iv. High cost of transportation for evacuating cargo because of the prolonged engagement of the trucks by importers arising from the delays. v. Serious traffic congestion along the roads leading to the Ports, which often spill over into the Lagos Metropolis causing severe traffic jam and loss of man hours. These congestions are caused by the convergence of fuel tankers from various parts of the country coming to Lagos ports to lift fuel. vi. Delays in getting raw materials and other inputs from the ports to the factory premises in Lagos and other parts of the country.

It urges the Federal Government to fix these roads as a matter of utmost urgency, as these are Federal roads. It argues it is also important that the Trailer Park under construction in the neighbourhood of the Tin can Island port be urgently completed to reduce the menace of trucks and tankers on Lagos roads.

“Above all reforms of the downstream petroleum sector should be accelerated to reduce the importation of petroleum products and by extension the pressure on Lagos ports,” it says.

‘How the economy will play in 2016’ According to Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in 2016, GDP growth is expected to rebound, though, slowly to about 3.5 if the right mix of fiscal and monetary policies are put in place to stimulate the economy and attract domestic and foreign investments. “While the recovery is expected to be driven by increase in government expenditure, the growth in oil sector may be constrained still by low price and investment drive. Meanwhile, the exchange rate volatility is expected to persist fuelling high inflation of about 10-11 per cent. However, correction towards Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) in the form of exchange rate adjustment is likely in Q1 2016. This will reduce the pressure on external reserves,” says The Lagos Chamber director general Muda Yusuf.

According to him, other macroeconomic features for 2016 are highlighted as follows: • Clearer macroeconomic policy space • Expansionary fiscal stance

•Huge debt profile •Improved power supply and infrastructure •PIB acceleration and downstream deregulation •Blocking leakages by Treasury Single Account (TSA).

He lists the following as the Sectoral Outlook 2016: •The targeted N300 billion by the Nigerian banks to boost lending to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and the agriculture sector in 2016 will boost SMEs development and employment and thus increases non-oil export.

• The insurance industry will remain largely underpenetrated with insurance density at about 0.225%.Therefore, significant change in this industry with respect to growth and penetration remains bleak even as the sector is still highly fragmented. The declining GDP is also expected to strain, to a large extend, the performance of this industry.

• Subsidy arrears payment and end of subsidy regime likely to result in improved market efficiency and profitability as downstream sector players explore pricing dynamics to boost investment. The expected deregulation in the downstream sub-sector will be a game changer.

• With the declining trend of global oil price and its attendant impact on government revenue and foreign reserves, general business outlook will remain tense. Implications on cost of and access to credit will be undesirable. Businesses, especially those with high forex exposure, will continue to face challenges of meeting foreign obligations to suppliers and partners. This will also impact contractual trust and integrity.

They are street urchins, nothing short of it, but they go by the name ‘Omo-onile’. They operate with all impunity unchecked.

You begin to wonder if they are licensed by government to carry out their despicable activities.

Hooligans they are and are very deadly.

As soon as you start digging the foundation for the house, they swarm on you like bees and start making demands. They number up to 15/20. Depending on the size and type of the building you are putting up they make demands ranging from 60/70 thousands naira hundreds of thousands.

If you refuse to cooperate, they seize the tools of your builders or cause damage to your property.

They can even injure you or your builders or kill. Deaths have been recorded in scuffles with ‘omooniles’ in the past in Lagos in particular.

You are forced to pay for foundation, German floor, roofing and fencing. They a law onto themselves. The Police cannot help you if you report to them. Agencies in charge of land matters cannot help too. Must government allow these hooligans to continue to operate unchecked?

This is one worrisome issue that

this administration should include in its change agenda. The ‘omo-onile’ action is criminal and fuels the cost of putting up houses, one which is passed on to tenants who rent the buildings in question and to consumers of consumer goods if such buildings are commercial structures.

And talking about cost of building houses, one attention is drawn to the fact that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange policy has placed restrictions on real estate development.

Most developers are currently not working on new projects because of the need to minimise costs. According to a report by Broll Nigeria, a real estate services firm, 46 per cent of the items put on restrictions by the CBN are directly related to the real estate industry. Currently, on the average, the naira trades at N197 per dollar at the official exchange rate and N258 unofficially. It was as high as N280 by mid December 2015! With dearth of dollar at official rate, developers option is the unofficial market. To buy at the unofficial rate is to commit economic suicide. This is why there is a lull in the industry now, especially with the construction of Shoprite, Spars, etc.

Government intervention is urgently called for.

Farmers urge FG to tackle poultry products’ smuggling Poultry and Livestock Farmers Association of Nigeria (POLFAN), Lagos Chapter, has called on the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Alli (Rtd.) and all relevant security agencies to tackle smugglers of contraband poultry products, who they allege are currently on “Yuletide rampage”.

They said the alleged smugglers are currently taking advantage of the “Christmas rush” to criminally distribute several

tons of imported poisonous frozen poultry products, especially turkey and chicken, across the country, which unsuspecting and hapless Nigerians consume ignorantly.

While addressing journalists in Lagos recently, President of POLFAN, Lagos branch, Fatiu Ajero, called on the CG of Customs to save the country from experiencing what he called “lethal Christmas and New Year season”.

Nigerian farmers

Siaka Momohis a media consultant and publisher Realsectordigest.com and can be reached via siakamomoh@yahoo.com; 08061396410

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

B7 Industry

FIRRO to attact $575m FDI in 2016 Stories by Charles Okonji Dr. Mrs. Gloria Elemo, Director General, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has stated that about $575million Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) would be attracted within the next one year.

She said this in a statement made available to Daily Times recently, adding that opportunities have been created for the establishment of over 2,500 micro, small and medium enterprises through the institution’s research results.

She said, “The Institute is considered as one of the major research centres in Africa with high potential for selection as R&D centre for collaboration with the Coca-cola International. Cocacola International is currently conducting a survey of major research centres in Africa with a view to identifying potential centres to work with regarding R&D into local beverages that can be domesticated and commercialized.”

“The institute carries out weekly trainings and empowers techno entrepreneurs through its developed technologies. There is a strong interface with the MSME sector in this regard and many MSMEs have benefited from FIIRO technologies.”

“FIIRO also engages in training students on the SIWES programme to expose them industrial research activities. FIIRO identifies industries and organizations with similar interests and collaborates with them.

There is ongoing collaborations and partnership with the private sector both large industries and MSMEs, international and indigenous organizations and associations such as UNIDO, Honeywell, SMEDAN, NDE, NYSC,” Elemo stated.

She stated that through R&D, economies of the world have been transformed in different ways – from advancement in the medical world, more efficient industrial equipment to even providing security for both citizens and their territories.

Flour Mills shuts production line ÏSacks affected staff The Flour Mills of Nigeria has recently shutdown one of its production lines due to multiplicity of problems.

According to a source very close to our reporter, the company has been facing challenges and difficulties in getting some of its products sold.

FMN some years back ventured into the manufacturing of well packaged Chin-chin and Mario Cheese- balls, which could not compete favourably with the already existing one in the market.

After an investigations carried out by our reporter, it was realized that FMN always have lots of returned inventory of expired goods initially supplied to the distributors, which were not sold.

FMN has over the past one year been facing financial challenges in that department, trying to push these products, but to no avail as they are facing

stronger competitors.

Speaking with some hawkers and some dealers of these two products, they responded that the Golden penny chin-chin is not as delicious as those others, expressing that the price was also one of the factors that led to its widely non acceptability.

Commenting on the Mario Cheese balls, they said that children preferred the traditional cheese ball to that of Golden penny, lamenting that accepting distributorship for these two products was a very big mistake.

One of the regional sales manager confirmed that FMN has actually sacked them all including the marketers, saying that he has been attending business meetings in the company premises since Tuesday to know how he can get his entitlements.

He noted that the management had to do so since they are not deriving revenue from that department, stressing that the management saw the department as a liability to the company, as it cannot fund its expenses and maintain its equipment and other inputs.

Elemo

NEWS Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Board of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), has named Mr. Rizwan Kadri as the new Acting Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer of the company with effect from January 4, 2016.

According to Basil Agboarumi, SAHCOL spokesman, Rizwan Kadri takes over from Dr. Oluropo Owolabi, who shall now move to the Board as a Director, where he’s expected to further contribute his experience in moving SAHCOL forward.

Until this new appointment, Rizwan Kadri was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited.

Kadri, a Senior Aviation Ground/Airport Operations Executive and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Certified Aviation Management Professional (AvMP), brings with him substantial expertise in International Aviation Ground and Airport Operations, as well as significant leadership experience.

He is a graduate of Science from the Mumbai University, India, and also holds an Executive M.B.A in Aviation and Quality

SAHCOL appoints Rizwan Kadri as MD Systems Management, from the National Institute of Business Management, India.

Rizwan Kadri has attended many aviation courses, amongst which includes; IATA Station and Ground Handling Management, Airport Management, Corporate Leadership Challenge, Dangerous Goods Handling (DGR), Ramp Handling, Basic Cargo and Baggage Service Skills, Weight and Balance (Load Control) and many more aviation related training.

With over 25 years of extensive international experience in Aviation Management, Rizwan is an expert motivator who has demonstrated an excellent track record in leading large teams, with well developed management competencies.

Prior to his joining the team of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, Mr. Rizwan Kadri worked as a Freelance Aviation Consultant and IATA Certified Aviation Management Professional; Director of Operations and Accountable Manager-IAA Flying Academy; Director of Operations – Indian Aviation Academy; Airport

Manager-Qatar Airways, Mumbai Airport; Station ManagerKenya Airways, Mumbai Airport; Standard and Procedures Officer – Emirates Airlines, Dubai-UAE and Traffic Officer- Kuwait Airways, MumbaiIndia.

With this new appointment, SAHCOL once more signals its determination to become a leader in the West African Aviation Ground Handling Market, while building a staff and management team with expertise that spans industry circles, as a result building structure of trust and excellent service to its growing list of clientele.

Kadri

Entrepreneurship B8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Remedy recession through entrepreneurial governance (2) ‘‘We need a better and functional government and governance structures. a better indigenous economic participation and fiscal structural system and budgetary procedures and systems, and these all require a substantial level of being entrepreneurial, innovative and creative, with a good dose of thinking outside the box and being pragmatic, result oriented and focused to achieve.’’

Chukwuemeka

Nwaodu Chukwuemeka On our discussions that started last week on how entrepreneurship skills in governance mixed with innovation and creativity can jump start the economy leveraging on our advantages and acquisition of the right knowledge, we continue with the fact that: On a broader outlook, the economy needs to be better handled and managed, the fiscal and monetary policies deserves a better handling, a choice between managing inflation and creating employment still needs to be made. Do we maintain national pride of having our local currency be the only legal tender for transactions within our borders, at the expense of high interest rate, due to the system of managing this strategy. Do we continue in the current system of managing the monetary policy; where the central bank have to print Naira for every dollar of our national income meant to be injected into the economy, only to turn around and engage in the vicious circle of managing inflation and interest rates, this system as it is presently operated puts us at the short end of the stick whatever the case is; if our commodities are highly

priced in the international market, we cannot benefit from our high earnings and reserves by way of currency value appreciation, equally so for when the commodities are down (then it even becomes worst because in addition, we have to deal with the short fall in revenue and budget deficit management).

With this system therefore, we are forever down as a nation no matter what our lots are. Should we be bold enough to take our destiny in our hands by either dollarising our economy (by the way most choice items and properties in the country are already dollarised - unofficially you may say), or we find an innovative method of injecting our dollar receipts into the economy, a method which would not have to by the same breath trigger off inflation, high interest rate and the crowding out the real sector from the credit market. This can be by issuing dollar receipt or vouchers to recipients and beneficiaries, like the three tiers of government, contractors and expatriate staff, instead of issuing Naira for their dollar receipts, only to turn back and buy them again from the banks at ten to fifteen per cent in ninety days monetary instrument, and the cicle continues, interest rate is

heightened, as this becomes a threshold, of course it bear almost no risk, so the banks prefers them to borrowing to the real sector, and then low activities will be registered at the real sector of the economy, therefore resulting in less employment and then higher poverty index, and the circle continues.

We need a better and functional government and governance structures. a better indigenous economic participation and fiscal structural system and budgetary procedures and systems, and these all require a substantial level of being entrepreneurial, innovative and creative, with a good dose of thinking outside the box and being pragmatic, result oriented and focused to achieve.

On the fiscal side of the economy, a lot more needs to be done ranging from fiscal discipline, efficient budgetary procedures and systems, to decisions on the relationship between recurrent and capital expenditures, procedures of managing corruption, labour issues and so on.

Someone may ask, what is the relationship of all these to entrepreneurship, since that’s my forte, simply put faulty economic systems produces dyfunctional and bad social and financial effects, like poverty, crime, low productivity, lack or inadequate access to health care and education, clean and drinkable water, housing, respectable employment, and so on. Then very important and germane is to recognise that although faulty economic systems may produce a handful of stupendously wealthy people, the truth is that “one rich person in the midst of six poor people, is equal to seven poor persons”, the society will be better for it in terms of development, efficiency, inclusiveness and serenity, if we can get the systems to run efficiently and orderly. Only then will the effects of economic development, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship begin to be clearer, experienced and enjoyed by all.

On the fiscal side of the economic management, one would

ask why it has been difficult on a seating to tell specifically what the nation’s actual earnings are, especially from the oil and gas sector, the internal revenue services, e.g. the tax board (FIRS), the customs, immigration, the maritime industry regulators (NIMASA), the Satellite agency and weather management agency, the telecommunication regulatory agency and the broadcasting commission, and so on.

The constitution mandates that all revenue accruing to the federal government be paid into the federation account before appropriations, but what you notice is that organisations like the NNPC, NIMASA and other agencies spend at source without recourse to the national budget or the constitutional provisions. These highly discretionary activities leaves a big opening to corruption, since it becomes difficult to monitor or track effectively such actions, as has been proved by those of NNPC and NIMASA. Looking at the nation’s budget size, one would wonder why for about a decade or so, it has hovered at about 4.3 to 4.6 trillion Naira , when just the revenue from taxes alone equals that amount. The question then is what happened to the rest of the income from the other streams; could they have been lost in transit? But thanks to the new directive on the single treasury accounts (TSA), they could likely be on the way to recovery.

The point here is were all the revenue aggregated in one place as the constitution stipulates, Nigeria should well have over 15 trillion to budget on and appropriate. Then we can move on to the next stage of reformation, which has to do with the budgetary system and the relationship between recurrent and capital budgeting. For the budgetary system, the incremental style of budgeting hasn’t been of much help so far, but thanks to the new regime of zero budgeting system, although it might come with its own hiccups of bureaucracy and lengthy time of preparation and completion, all the same whatever it takes to

end the status quo of practically copying and pasting whatever it was in the preceding year’s budget and marking it upwards with a specific percentage to arrive at the current year budget, must be encouraged, for that is the root of wastage, pilfering and other corrupt actions.

The nation has remained largely undeveloped with dilapidated infrastructures as a result of the budgetary system and processes. A situation where over seventy per cent of the budget are spent on the recurrent expenditure, while the rest becomes too small to make any significant mark on the all important dividends of democracy, which is expressed through the development activities, on roads, rail lines, provision of health care, education, and so on. But if the revenue aggregation is observed to the leters of the constitution, then at least the about thirty per cent of a huge sum representative of the improved budget size, will mean much to actual provisions of the development activities of the government and to the dividends of democracy. Yet it can be better, by restructuring the ratio between the recurrent expenditure and that of the capital, by say reversing what we presently have in operation, this is possible because with a huge thirty percent of a large earnings, things like the salaries and emoluments of the federal civil and public servants, the nation’s statutory payments and debt servicing, which are some of the constituents of the recurrent expenditure, will be more than well taken care of, and we can then have a whole lot left as the seventy per cent of the budget wholely devoted to real development, for this is actually where the rest of the population is taken care of, and money trickles to the public and the market place, so that the larger proportion of the people can begin to feel the effects and impacts of good governance.

Next week, we shall be continuing this discourse in the part three of this writeup.

Nwaodu Chukwuemeka, is a consultant with IDEAS Exchange Consulting, Lagos. He can be reached at nwaodu.lawrence@hotmail.co.uk (07066375847).

Life &

TIMES Friday, January 1, 2016

2015 Top socialites

L2,7

P

Issues L2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Top socialites who rocked 2015 social scene in style According to a popular saying: ‘Soldier come, soldier go, the barrack remains’. This is what can best describe what has been happening on the social scene lately. The Nigerian social circle is a busy scene of some sort. As we have both the old and young, so also we have successful entrepreneurs, politicians and bankers who dictate the tune when it comes to the party circuit. Thus, as 2015 comes to an end, taking some socialites from the scene, leaving some while some have fizzled out on the scene, Life & Times here highlights some of the events and top socialites that rocked the past year.

Quincy Ayodele hosted friends as she buried mum

Princess Toyin Kolade still waxing stronger

Herbal Slimmer doctor, Quincy Ayodele, is a woman of class and calibre, apart from her beauty and charisma. She is the founder of Quincy Herbal Slimmer. She is also one of the crème-de-la-crème in the society. She planned the whole party for the burial of her mum herself and ensured everything went on smoothly. She was on her feet throughout the day to make sure all the guests were well taken care of. She was indeed a very perfect host. Some of the dignitaries that grace the event include She is an Amazon who has made giant strides in her chosen career and still waxing stronger. Her hospitality and events outfit, Anchor Place situated in Ikeja, Lagos, is one of the ‘busiest’ amongst similar outfits in that axis. With her hands in many lucrative pies, businesswoman cum socialite, Princess Toyin Kolade, is also the CEO of Fisolak Global Resources, Fisolak Royal Furniture

Lawmaker,

Funmi Tejuosho at 50

Life&

T E A M

Lawmaker, Funmi Tejuosho is gorgeous and blessed with a striking mental power which endeared her to many. Mere looking at her from far, one will doubt if this policy-maker has attained the golden age of 50 because of her looks. Luckily for her, she clocked 50 years on 25th of March 2015.

First, she visited the motherless and had a prayer session at her church to offer thanks to God for making her see the day. After the election, the rare gem gathered political leaders, socialites, family and other well-wishers to celebrate her goldenjubilee. Life & Times sighted her recently at one event and asked her what life has taught her at 50.

The birthday jewel was in a hurry, but quickly said: “Life has taught me a lot and I’m very grateful to God almighty”.

Movie & Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah’s Football Club and Politics Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah was sighted at Nnewi, Anambra State where he was inspecting the turf and ongoing construction work at the site of the proposed 18,000 sitting capacity stadium of international standard of FC Ifeanyi Ubah.

Now, we can confirm to you that the dream has finally come through in the year. The stadium is supposed to be a sports complex

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

with three training pitches, football academy, international conference centre and a five star hotel when completed. Aside that, Ifeanyi Ubah played a significant role during the 2015 Presidential Election.

He was National Coordinator of Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, (TAN) which raked in a lot of controversy within the political and social scene.

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

and Arikay Oil and Gas. Princess Toyin Kolade was on top of her game all through 2015. She attends virtually all the events both in Lagos and outside the country. She’s one of the forces to reckon with when it comes to attending parties. If Princess Toyin Kolade attends your event, then be rest assured that, drinks will be surplus as she moved around with her special cooler.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

L3

Emefiele Is Man of The Year Continued from Page 1 The failing price of crude oil has put enormous pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves and its ability to meet demands for foreign exchange by various stakeholders.

In his maiden address on assumption of office on June 3, 2014, Emefiele did not leave anyone in doubt that he was committed to creating “a central bank that is professional, a central bank that is apolitical, and people-focused. A Central Bank that spends its energies on building a resilient financial system that can serve the growth and development needs of our beloved country, Nigeria.”

He also used the opportunity to set his 10-point agenda.

Under the agenda, he said the CBN would pursue a gradual reduction in interest rates, remarking that “high rates create preserved incentives for commercial banks to simply buy virtually risk-free government bonds rather than lend to real sector.”

Emefiele also said the bank would continue to maintain exchange rate stability in view of the high import-dependent nature of the economy and also cautioned that a systematic depreciation of the naira might translate to considerable inflationary pressure with negative effect on macro-economic stability.

“Therefore, under my leadership, the bank will continue to focus on maintaining exchange rate stability and preserve the value of the domestic currency,” he had said.

Emefiele added: “We will sustain the managed float regime in the management of the exchange rate as this will allow the bank to intervene when necessary to offset pressure on the exchange rate.”

An analysis of operation of the CBN since Emefiele assumed office has shown

that he had lived up to major points in the agenda.

In an interview he granted to Financial Times recently, Emefiele defended his approach to stabilising the naira.

He believes that the recent steps that the apex bank took such as cutting off dollar access to importers of certain key goods will prevent further devaluation of naira.

He also justified restricting imports, noting that it would stimulate local production and gave his views on the state of the parallel market and liquidity.

Indeed, over time Emefiele has run the apex bank as a central bank that is professional, a central bank that is apolitical and people-focused as well as a Central Bank that spends its energies on building a resilient financial system that can serve the growth and development needs his country through various interventions the bank has made in the agricultural and energy sectors among others.

Besides ensuring financial stability in the economy, the apex bank under the leadership of Emefiele has been able to achieve the following: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund Under Emefiele, the apex bank recently re-energized the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) with fresh guidelines.

Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund In the same vein, the apex has also strengthened the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) which was established by Decree No. 20 of 1977, and started operations in April, 1978 with original share capital and paid-up capital of N100 million and N85.6 million, respectively. The Fed-

eral Government holds 60 percent and the Central Bank of Nigeria, 40 percent of the shares. The capital base of the scheme was increased to N3 billion in March, 2001. The fund guarantees credit facilities extended to farmers by banks up to 75 percent of the amount in default net of any security realized. The fund is managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which handles the day-to-day operations of the scheme. The guidelines stipulate the eligible enterprises for which guarantees could be issued under the scheme.

One is not surprised by the professionalism that Emefiele has brought to bear on the apex bank, given his pedigree.

Prior to his appointment, Emefiele was the Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc. Until then he was the Deputy Managing Director of the bank, having been appointed into that position in 2001. Emefiele has been on the bank’s management team since inception and has held various management positions in the bank, including serving as the Bank’s Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and Strategic Planning.

Emefiele has over twentysix years banking experience and holds a B.Sc. and an MBA in Finance both from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Before commencing his banking career, he lectured Finance, Bank Management, and Insurance at the University of Nigeria and University of Port Harcourt respectively.

He is an alumnus of Stanford University, Harvard and Wharton Graduate School of Business where he took courses in Negotiation, Service Excellence, Critical Thinking, Leading Change and Strategy.

Awards L4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

Heritage Bank is

Company of the Year

Motolani Oseni The Board of Editors of the Daily Times has voted Mr. Ifie Sekibo, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank Limited as the Banker of the Year for 2015.

Mr. Sekibo is a thorough-bred alumnus of the renowned Harvard Business School OPM class (2006-2009) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (2002) with over two decades professional work experience spanning across the financial services and energy sectors.

He is a tenacious entrepreneur, passionate game changer and a result-oriented professional with a proven track record in turn-around management. These attributes consistently drive his vision to lead tenacious teams which mobilize strategic investments and capital injection to resuscitate and restructure moribund companies to the path of sustained profitability.

In 2003, he led a team which acquired Global Assurance Company Limited, previously under the technical management of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

As executive vice chairman, he steered the new institution, International Energy Insurance (IEI), which emerged as a frontline insurance company in Nigeria, undertaking a successful capital raising and listing on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

In 2009, he led another team of professionals which nurtured the re-birth of the erstwhile Societe Generale Bank which was transformed to an innovative commercial bank with regional authorization called Heritage Banking Company Ltd where he served as the pioneer Managing Director/CEO. His passion and relentless drive for turn-

around management is further evidenced by the recent successful acquisition of Enterprise Bank Ltd, to create a national, bigger, better and stronger Heritage Bank Ltd following rigorous and novel regulatory approval processes leading to the dissolution of the erstwhile institutions comprising HBCL & EBL to birth the New Bank.

From a regional outfit at rebirth in 2013, the Heritage Banking Company Limited, more commonly known as Heritage Bank Plc, has taken a deserved seat in the comity of national banks in Nigeria.

Its honour as Company of the Year 2015, as bestowed by the Board of Editors of the Daily Times of Nigeria, is thus well earned.

In October 2014, Heritage Bank which emerged from the ashes of Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria Plc, acquired 100 percent shareholding of Enterprise Bank Limited, along with the latter’s over 160 branches nationwide to leap into national consciousness. To acquire Enterprise Bank, Heritage paid N56.1 billion to the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON).

Today, branches of the bank dot the land.

The feat is great kudos to the chairman of the Bank, Akinsola Akinfemiwa, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ifie Sekibo, and the core investor, IEI Plc, which through IEI Investments Limited, acquired the Societe Generale license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2012.

The bank has successfully returned 100 percent of existing SGBN account holders’ funds to their owners as promised, while at the same time meeting, fulfilling and exceeding all required criteria for operations.

He also ensured that there was a team with outstanding talent and high performance consistency, and embarked on a

Ifie Sekibo quest to do that which had never been done in Nigerian banking – create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.

A new era begins In October 2014, Heritage Banking Company Ltd successfully met the requirements of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) toward owning 100 percent shares of Enterprise Bank Ltd. On 27th of January 2015, AMCON officially transferred ownership of Enterprise Bank Ltd to Heritage Bank, and presently they have been fully integrated to become a single bigger and better financial institution: Heritage Bank Limited.

Heritage Bank is a leading Nigerian bank with an excellent service culture hinged on working with each customer to create a name and heritage for today and for future generations. With the ideals of Service, Performance, Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Tenacity and Excellence forming core values, the bank have set out to redefine the concept of banking for the quintessential customer.

According to the bank, with our ethos of

an African centered world view of wealth, as shown in the naming protocol of the bank’s divisions- Ivory, Manilla, Cowry and Coral Banking, we are dedicated to being not just a catalyst for growth in the Nigerian financial sector, but an ambassador for showcasing the global quality that Nigeria possesses.

This is because we believe that no individual is done until they have left something behind that defies time- a heritage that places emphasis on creating, preserving and transferring wealth across generations.

“We hold firmly to the belief that the capacity for immense wealth lies in you”, says Sekibo.

He said: “The fact that innovation is inevitable for the banking industry growth, and identifying the changing dynamics of banking across the globe had necessitated the need for the country to move along the direction of e-banking to bring about innovation in the banking sector.

Heritage Bank has been continually driven through distinctive innovations.

Awards/Honours Heritage bank and its Managing Director have clinched different kinds of honours and awards both locally and internationally.

Also, the legacy of innovation at Heritage Bank Limited was reinforced as the bank received the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, PCI DSS certification, in addition to the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 award.

The PCI DSS is a proprietary information security standard for organisations that handle branded credit cards from the major card schemes including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. The PCIDSS, administered by the Security Standards Council, offers robust and comprehensive standards and supporting materials to enhance payment card data security.

The certification was in recognition of the bank’s commitment to effective and secured financial system which has put the bank in the league of big players in the industry and confer internationally-recognised standard on its operations.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

L5 Awards

OLA OREKUNRIN Heroine of the Year

Orekunrin

Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr

ÎÎÎShe earned the definition and status

of the pride of Africa’s women entrepreneurs. She floated the very first air-operated emergency medical service – Flying Doctors, in West Africa, an uncommon vision she pursued with passion, tenacity and, without exaggeration, aggression.

An African of Africans Olamide Orekunrin was born in 1987 in London, England and grew up under the

care of foster parents in Lowestoft, a small seaside town in the South-East of England.

Ola did not only graduate from Hull York Medical School at the age of 21, becoming one of the youngest medical doctors in the UK, she specilised in trauma and pre-hospital care and also broke into field of trainee helicopter pilot.

Dr. Ola, as she is fondly called, acquired practical knowledge at the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK where she worked for almost a decade.

Her meteoric rise in the field of medi-

cal studies took her to Japan as a result of her being awarded the MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship. There, she conducted clinic research in the field of regenerative medicine at the Jikei University Hospital. However, the catalyst for a major life and career decision came when her sister became very, very ill on holiday whilst staying with relatives in Nigeria.

The local hospital was unable to manage her sickle cell anemia condition, and as a result, Ola and her family started to search for an air ambulance so that she could be safely transported to a suitable medical facility in the country. The tragedy for the family was that there were no air ambulances to be found, even though the search took them from Nigeria, to Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, and across West Africa. The only one to be found was in South Africa, 5 hours away, but by the time the logistics had been arranged, Ola’s sister had died of her condition. That incident sparked off the vision she pursued with passion and aggression even without a dime to start with. She was also inspired to

ATIKU ABUBAKAR ÎÎÎFormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has

Atiku

earned the Daily Times of Nigeria’s Statesman of the Year. The choice of Abubakar will not come as a surprise to most Nigerians considering the enormous influence the Turakin Adamawa wields in the socio-political landscape of the nation.

Alhaji Abubakar is loved and respected across political and ethnic divides in the country for his large heart and unmatched philanthropy.

A lover of the downtrodden, the Turakin Adamawa cut his teeth in politics after he meritoriously served his fatherland in the Nigerian Customs & Excise.

A man of many parts, Alhaji Abubakar is also a dogged fighter who holds tenaciously to whatever he believes in. During his vice presidency, Alhaji Abubakar teamed up with his principal to move Nigeria from the precipice to a bride of the international community.

Being a true lover of democracy, Alhaji Abubakar rose against the idea of a third term presidency in the country, a move many believed was pivotal to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

In a bid to ensure that democracy further takes root in the country, Alhaji Abbakar teamed up with progressive minds to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he is undoubtedly a strong pillar.

Born on 25 November 1946, in Jada, Adamawa State, he was named after his paternal grandfather, Atiku Abdulkadir. An older sister died in infancy, making Atiku the only child of his parents.

assuage the problems of emergency medical services in the Nigeria. Undaunted by difficult challenges, The rocky beginning That she pioneered West Africa’s very first Air Ambulance Service – Flying Doctors Nigeria, a thoroughly professional healthcare dedicated to bringing trauma care to the most remote parts of West Africa would be like telling her story from the end back to the beginning.

Hear a bit of the extremely rough beginning that scripted the lyrics for the song that made her a symbol of courage, a model and a challenge to any African still struggling with their visions: “Getting your business funded can be an exhausting process,” she wrote in her entrepreneur play book.

“It’s the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, without a doubt. Now my company is actually running I can laugh at all the times I spent carrying my laptop around sourcing for funding and coming home in tears.”

Continued on L6

Statesman of the Year Atiku’s early years were spent in Kojoli, 30 kilometres east of Jada.

Atiku Abubakar is a politician, businessman and philanthropist par excellence.

He worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for twenty years, rising to become the Deputy Director, as the second highest position in the Service was then known. He retired in April 1989 and took up full-time business and politics. He ran for the office of Governor in the Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) in 1991, and for the Presidency in 1993, placing third after MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries.

In 1998 he was elected Governor of Adamawa State. While still Governor-Elect he was selected by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate. The duo went on to win elections in February 1999, and Abubakar was sworn-in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected Vice President on 29 May 1999.

Alhaji Abubakar’s second term as Vice President was marked by a stormy relationship with President Obasanjo. His bid to succeed Obasanjo did not receive the latter’s support, and it took a judgment of the Supreme Court to allow Abubakar contest after he was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission on the grounds that he had been indicted for financial misconduct by an investigating panel set up at

Continued on L6

Awards L6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

OLA OREKUNRIN Continued from L5 A member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, Ola addressed one of the biggest obstacles that contended with her vision and she eventually ‘hacked’ it down.

“Foreign investors looking at Africa often say that while the prospects are exciting, the infrastructure is lagging. I believe that existing infrastructure can be hacked – which in itself is a huge opportunity.

“So I reasoned that the term ‘hacking’ means modifying the features of a system to achieve a new goal. In development, it can describe rapid changes made by a society to advance without going through the intermediate stages. Rather than following developed nations’ roadmap to progress, Africa can leapfrog by experimenting with emerging tools, models and ideas.

Controversy In her passion to get healthcare wherever possible for needy patients, Ola has been accused of trying to get free NHS treatment costing £45,425 for a gas worker who suffered severe burns in an explosion in Nigeria at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

She had told the General Medical Council tribunal that she had told a QEH doctor that the burns victim was to be treated as a private patient but said that he ‘misunderstood or misremembered our conversation.

“Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s smallest number of motorized vehicles but the highest rate of road traffic fatalities, with Nigeria and South Africa leading the pack. Trauma has become a silent epidemic in Africa, an epidemic that will only spread as the economy grows. More and more Africans are buying cars and working in heavy and dangerous industries. At the same time, infrastructure is poor, safety laws lax, and cars badly maintained.”

On her dream project, Flying Doctors: “We take pride in being the first Nigerian indigenous company to do this. We are training more people to go into the air ambulance sector and I think our paramedics now have a huge amount of management skills. I just think that we need to start thinking outside the box and be more confident in the concept of African innovation.”

On her capacity to deliver: “We have a mixed-pool of more than 20 aircraft that we use for different types of evacuation, and about 30 staff all employed in different capacities with us and branches in three major cities in Nigeria.”

Author and editor-in-chief of London based publication Melanie Hawken, said of Orekunrin: On any level, Ola Orekunrin is an inspirational Lioness of Africa, making not just a difference to the lives of patients in Nigeria, but across Africa and the globe

through her example.

She is a successful woman entrepreneur and inspirational leader in a world that needs more like her.

Currently in its third year, the Lagos-based company has so far airlifted about 500 patients, using a fleet of planes and helicopters to rapidly move injured workers and critically ill people from remote areas to hospitals.

It has helped hundreds of patients, particularly employees in the country’s oil and gas sector, who are among Flying Doctors’ top clients. (The for-profit company’s client list also includes governments across West Africa, wealthy individuals and corporations.)

“From patients with road traffic trauma, to bomb blast injuries to gunshot wounds, we save lives by moving these patients and providing a high level of care en route,” says Orekunrin.

“Many of our roads are poorly maintained, so emergency transport by road during the day is difficult. At night, we have armed robbers on our major highways; coupled with poor lighting and poor state of the roads themselves, emergency transport by road is deadly for both patients and staff.”

The company now employees around 30 people across three branches in Nigeria and has won a number of awards and accolades.

On the future, the entrepreneur hopes to keep improving access to treatment and focusing on pre-hospital and in-hospital management of injuries.

“Eighty percent of the world trauma occurs in low-middle income countries just like Nigeria,” she says. “I feel there should be more focus on the trauma epidemic that Africa currently faces.”

Subsequently, she says being back in Africa has given her a chance to “re-integrate myself back to my roots”.

“I really do love Africa and Nigeria in particular because it is my identity. I have since realised that the earlier I re-integrate myself back to my roots, the better for me,” she told Financial Juneteenth.

“I grew up in all-white environment and went to an all-white university. To be honest, until I moved back to Lagos, I never ever thought that Nigerians were capable of doing or achieving anything on their own.”

ATIKU ABUBAKAR Continued from L5 Obasanjo’s behest.

The Supreme Court decision ordered the electoral commission to restore Abubakar’s name onto the presidential ballot. Abubakar ran on the platform of the Action Congress, having quit the PDP on account of his issues with President Obasanjo. Atiku lost the election, placing third after Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Atiku is a co-founder of Intels, an oil servicing business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad. He is also the founder of Adama Beverages Limited, and the American University of Nigeria (AUN), both in Yola.

At the age of eight Atiku enrolled in the Jada Primary School where he performed well. In 1960, he was admitted to the prestigious Adamawa Provincial Secondary School in Yola where he did well in English Language and Literature.

Following secondary school, Atiku studied a short while at the Nigeria Police College in Kaduna. He left the College when he was unable to present an O-Level Mathematics result.

He worked briefly as a Tax Officer in the regional Ministry of Finance, from

where he gained admission to the School of Hygiene in Kano in 1966.

He graduated with a Diploma in 1967, having served as Interim Student Union President at the School. In 1967 he enrolled for a Law Diploma at the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration, on a scholarship from regional government. After graduation in 1969, during the Nigerian Civil War, he was employed by the Nigeria Customs Service.

Atiku started out in the real estate business during his early days as a Customs Officer. In 1974 he applied for and received a 31,000 naira loan to build his first house in Yola, which he put up for rent. From proceeds of the rent he purchased another plot, and built a second house. He continued this way, building a sizeable portfolio of property in Yola.

In 1981 he moved into agriculture, acquiring 2,500 hectares of land near Yola to start a maize and cotton farm. The business fell on hard times and closed in 1986. “My first foray into agriculture, in the 1980s, ended in failure,” he wrote in an April 2014 blog.

He then ventured into trading, buying and selling truckloads of rice, flour and sugar.

His most important business move came while he was a Customs Officer at the Apapa Ports. Gabrielle Volpi, an Italian businessman in Nigeria, invited him to set up Nigeria Container Services (NICOTES), a logistics company operating within the Ports. NICOTES would go on to provide immense wealth to Atiku.

NICOTES would later be rebranded INTELS. Atiku’s business empire also includes a beverage manufacturing plant in Yola, as well as an animal feed factory.

Atiku’s first foray into politics was in the early 1980s, when he worked behind-the-scenes on the governorship campaign of Bamanga Tukur, who at that time was managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority. He canvassed for votes on behalf of Tukur, and also donated to the campaign. Towards the end of his Customs career, he met Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, who had been secondin-command of the military government that ruled Nigeria between 1976 and 1979.

Atiku was drawn by Yar’Adua into the political meetings that were now happening regularly in Yar’Adua’s Lagos home.

In 1989 Atiku was elected a National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria, the political association led by

ATIKU Atiku Yar’Adua, to participate in the transition programme initiated by Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.

Atiku won a seat to represent his constituency at the 1989 Constituent Assembly, set up to decide a new constitution for Nigeria. The People’s Front was eventually denied registration by the government (none of the groups that applied was registered), and found a place within the Social Democratic Party, one of the two parties decreed into existence by the regime.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

L7 Issues

Yemisi Awe

Chief Adebutu Kessington’s 80th birthday bash

opens new store

On the social scene, Awe needs no introduction. However, for those who might mistake her for someone else, she is the brain behind Paragon Place, a clothing store and she’s also the wife of ex-banker and former Island Club chairman, Akeem Awe. Yemisi is not one of the socialites who just attend events, she also organises one. Awe hosted few friends and family recently to the opening of her new shop on Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos State and it was waoh!

Oba Saheed Elegushi often spotted Olori Sekinat Aramide Elegushi is the beautiful wife of Oba Saheed Elegushi. One unique thing about Sekinat is that, she’s not the type who is often spotted alone at events as she is mostly seen with her husband, Oba Saheed Elegushi. Olori Sekinat surely knows how to cut her onions in terms of her dress sense. Her husband is the ‘Jaye Jaye’ type who enjoys himself to the fullest as is often spotted at all gigs. He was at Nigerian act, Olamide’s concert at Eko Hotel tagged #Olic2. They see nothing wrong in staying out till late when it comes to honouring invitations.

Cynthia Andrew is hot and smoking on the scene Before now, Cynthia Andrew was missing on the social scene as the pretty fashion designer maintains a low-profile lifestyle.

But this year, the ever-radiant socialite is currently hot and smoking on the scene.

She’s the CEO of Princess Unlimited Sizes Fashion House. In case you don’t know, virtually all the high society women and men in Lagos and beyond are addicted to her designs which come in various sizes and shapes. These days, hardly can any high society event take place without her appearing or see her designing. The very hard-working and extremely creative Princess controls the trends in the Fashion business. What further impresses people about her personality is the fact that she is a walking advertisement of her fashion business and she graces event as if her life depends on it.

Bisola Munis turns Obasa’s PA As young as she may be, she is successful in her chosen career. She is pretty and fast becoming a face to reckon with in Lagos Social Circle. Bisola is one of the few young babes who are close to popular Lagos Socialite and boss of Fisolak, Princess Toyin Kolade.

Bisola is always in company of her one and only elder sister, Adeola Munis. Bisola Munis is the personal assistant to the Lagos State speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

Folorunsho Alakija at Molade OkoyaThomas burial

Naturally, the presence of the richest woman in Africa at any event should be felt. And that is how it has always been whenever Folorunso Alakija who is also a well known fashion icon appears at any function. The over 60 year old oil baroness whose foundation, ‘Rose of Sharon Foundation’ helps widows and orphans by empowering them through scholarships and business grants, always leaves people’s mouth agape with her style, class and sleek dress sense each time she graces any top notch event. She was present at late Molade Okoya-Thomas burial in 2015.

Adebukunola Adebutu hosted the cream of Nigeria at a three-day affair to celebrate his 80th birthday and we all can’t stop talking about the lavish events which saw ‘Baba Ijebu’ spoiling himself with a mint marque Rolls Royce Phantom. From the conferment of Asoju Oba title on Thursday, October 22, by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Olowo Eko omo erin j’ogun ola, to the celebration of his lotto customers (Premier Lotto) on Friday, October 23, the thanksgiving service at Methodist Church of Holy Trinity, Tinubu and the reception gig at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island (all in Lagos) on Saturday, October 24, 2015, no cost was spared.

Coscharis Group boss, son’s opulent wedding

Coscharis Motors boss, Cosmas Maduka’s son tied the nuptial knot with his heartthrob of many years, Tope Odutola in Lagos on July 11th in a carnival-likeceremony attended by family and friends. The event that took place at Oriental Hotel in Lagos had top dignitaries in attendant. Saying it was fun all through is an understatement as the ceremony can be compared with that of Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton. The wedding was no doubt to cement the relationship between the Eastern and the Western part of the country.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, January 1, 2016

L8 Issues

Senator Ita Giwa @ 69

Samuel Adedoyin

Very dynamic, industrious and ever-radiant Bakkasi mama, Senator Florence Ita Giwa celebrated her 69th birthday in the year. She’s proudly 69-year-old and staged a private party for that. The most celebrated socialite did not leave any stone unturned as she gathered the creme-de-la-creme within the society to celebrate the occasion in a parleylike event. On the guest list were Nigerian’s most celebrated entertainment couple, Tuface and A n n i e Idibia, top socialite, Nkiru A n umudu and others were at the private party.

also marked

80th birthday A native of Agbamu in Kwara State, the CEO of Doyin Group of Companies, a wholly owned indigenous conglomerate comprising of 15 subsidiaries, is a lover of parties on account of the many social clubs he belongs to.

The 80-year old grandfather who is widely referred to as an apostle of industrialization, is a show stopper each time he steps out for events, sometimes alone or with his wife. He celebrated his 80th birthday in the year.

Society Gists

Lai Muhammed Chief promoter Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams has commended Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed over his policy statement on plans to have 365 festivals in the country as a cultural platform to mop up unemployed youths, saying this was the very first and hope raising statement concerning culture and tourism since the assumption of this government.

His words: “Ï must confess that this is the first heart cheering and soul lifting policy statement concerning cultural tourism which ever emanated from this gov-

ernment and communicated to the people via a cultural event in Lagos, this is laudable, plausible and commendable”.

Otunba Adams said that “It seems there is now a clear vision and direction for cultural tourism promotion of Nigeria not only as an entertainment factor but as an employment generator machine, wealth mobiliser and poverty extinguisher going by the statement created to Alhaji Lai Mohammed”.

He pointed out that “Our fortune as a nation lies in our culture which is the totality of our existence.

Shina Peller’s Club, Quilux steps out in style As you’re reading this piece, Shina Peller’s club, Quilux has been renovated more than four times this year. According to sources, the place was shut down for Ramadam and was using the fasting period to undertake a skeletal renovation of the lounge. In case you don’t know, the club has been a major hangout for Lagos big boys who find time to enjoy their money after the day’s hardwork. Shina Peller has no doubt been tagged the numero uno of night life in Nigeria as the vibrant young man has always shown class with his luxury brand-Quilux.

The year marked Quilox @2 Ultra modern party.

Olokun Festival foundation lauds Lai Muhammed on cultural tourism “We have the ingredients of culture in multitude It is diverse. It is multifarious. It intertwined. Do we talk of the awesome geographical denotation in each of the regions, the spectacular landscape from the Sea of Lagos to the Plateau in Mambilla of the Taraba, the dessert of Yobe and the thick forest of the South? Do we talk of dances, songs, culinary values, sartorial indulgences, language, the visual, the perfuming arts as typified by the classical arts of the National Troupe and our Nollywood? Do we talk also of our exciting life style, our pristine heritage? We have all these in abundance“.

According to him: “I am happy and delighted that the present Federal government has come to

see what the Olokun Foundation has been diligently prompting in the Nigeria since its inauguration and registration“.

He disclosed that “it is the vision and mission of Olokun Festival Foundation to galvanize and mobilize people in the South West states including Kwara to embrace, love and promote their cultural values for tourism benefits that led into identification of 24 Cultural festivals Calendar which the foundation has been celebrating in the past years”.

While commending the Minister, he drew the attention to the need to study “those Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Croatia which have been successful in using culture to drive their

tourism potentialities”.

He called on Nigerians to always rise above personal animosity, party affiliation and relationship idiosyncrasies whenever there is a glint of positive policy action which can benefit the nation in general.

“As a change agent determining to ensure the promotion and protection of our cultural values for positivity’, which it has diligently pursued as a mission for years which has led to the emergence of a 23 Festival calendar, the Olokun Foundation does not only commend the vision of the Federal government but ready to support, reinforce and contribute its quota for the success of the policy“, he stressed.