Daily Times of Nigeria by Daily Times of Nigeria

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

NIGERIA

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

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

dailytimesng

N150

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.42

APC: Military in 3-day parley to rig for PDP 6

Ï 0 Ə ƆƒƆƏƕƄ Ɨƕô ƊƆè ƍƋƆ Ɔ ƋƆ ƒƆ Ƒ ƑƐ Ƈ ƍ ƋƈƐƈƅ Ƌ ƍƏ ƍ Ɨ – Army INSIDE

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Music and I

Solid Star L Mercy Johnson and post-body weight drama L P

My N500,000 Brazillian hair L P

Table manners

XT Exclusive

NASRI tasks CITY on title X8 race

Poster!

DIKE COURTNEY X4,5 Tuesday, February 10, 2015

STARS OF YESTERYEAR

CHUKWU: Gé`ë LƏê Mƈƅ Ƌ yƆƏƒƋƆƗƆè L#ƃ &Rè Mƈ ƆƏƈ ƏƆƓƆƏƈƆ ^Ƌƅè LƏê R ƅ Ə R ƕƆƌ è &Rè Mƈ ƆƏƈ dƐ ƅƊ &Ɣƅ Ɔ æMd&ç Ɨ ƈƆƇ E Ƌ C ƌ ƗƑè ƈƏƌ è Mƈ ƆƏƈ ƏƆƓƆƏƈƆ ^Ƌƅ ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƒƈ ƈƐ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƏƗ Ƈ Mƈ ƆƏƈ ƏƆƓƆƏƈƆ ^Ƌƅ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƇƋ Ə Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ Mƈ ƆƏƈ dƐ ƅƊ &Ɣƅ Ɔ Ƈ Ə Ɛ Ɔ óƄƆƋƋ Əƈ ƈ ô ƅƆƏƆƌ ƕ Ƈ ƈƐ ƑƅƅƆ ƇƑƋ ƌƆƏ ƆƏ ƓƈƐ ƋƈƗ ƐƆƗ ƏƆƓƆƏƈƆ ^Ƌƅêêê L Ɨ ƕ

Fulani herdsmen rape, hack woman to death in 8 Ogun

How US officials, others initiated polls shift

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏFresh

facts have emerged on how two top United States organisations influenced the decision of the Federal Government to shift Nigeria’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Boko Haram kidnaps 30 bus passengers in Cameroon

EAGLES should learn from AFCON finals X2

GARRINCHA: CELEBRATING BRAZIL’S MASTER DRIBBLER X6

FEATURE

GADAFFI makes case for Nigeria’s football development

Ambode, Agbaje sign peace accord 5

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

At Acorn Petroleum, we remain committed to delivering unrivaled products and services to our customers. Acorn Petroleum Plc., your new energy

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Politics Page Three

Editorial INEC’s postponement of elections

he postponement of the general elections billed for February 14 and 28 by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has expectedly taken many Nigerians by surprise. The consternation caused by the shift in date is understandable, given that the Commission had all along insisted on its readiness to conduct a free and fair elections. Even when doubts were continually raised on the preparedness of INEC for the exercise, its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega insisted that the agency was right on track. Now the chickens have come home to roost and the reality of its shoddy preparations is starring us in the face. In announcing the postponement, Jega based his reasons on one critical point -- the security situation in the Northeast. Evidently, no one was in doubt that INEC had not made enough preparations for the elections. For example, only 45,829,808 or 66.58 of registered voters have so far collected their PVCs, while some of the card readers are still to arrive in the country. According to Prof. Jega the security agencies asked for at least six weeks to conclude a major military operation against Boko Haram in the North East. It had argued that a large percentage of its personnel are engaged in counter-insurgency

operations and would not have enough manpower to participate in the elections. It was that persuasive argument that forced the commission to have a rethink. But we are yet to know the link between the success of the elections and the continuing insurgency by Boko Haram. This is against the earlier promise by Jega that INEC had concluded arrangements for the participation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the polls. Even at that, the Commission is relying on Section 26(1)of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended). It states, “Where a date has been appointed for the holding of an election,and there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date…the Commission may postpone the election and shall in respect of the area,or areas concerned, appoint another date for holding the postponed election”. Given such compelling reasons,it is imperative that Nigerians give the Commission benefit of the doubt with the hope that it would put all necessary machinery in place for more credible elections. This is not a time for frivolous accusations by anyone or group of persons not well disposed to the change of election dates. What the country needs is a well organised election.

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

Sam Nzeh ÏÏÏAs

we enter the last lap of the 2015 general election, which is now to hold on March 28 and April 11, it is not unexpected that politicians will become more desperate, applying several techniques including underthe-table deals to sway voters. One of such desperate moves was brought to the fore recently by Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, when he alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had bribed some pas-

tors with N6 billion to work against the All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). Though the PDP and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) have challenged Amaechi to name the pastors he claimed were offered the bribe, one thing is clear and that is that as the poll draws near and until the results are announced, politicians realising the influence the church and her officials have on members as well in a society like ours, will continue to swarm the church and spare nothing to garner votes. This is where danger liesthat the pulpit is gradually

Words On Marble :

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

Politicians, spare the church, please! turning to soap box where the stocks in trade are in the main lies, exaggeration, mudslinging, abracadabra and other untoward things. So, if care is not taken, the invasion by politicians may not only polarise the church, lower its esteem but also tear it shreds. Therefore, it is in the church’s interest that politicians desist from importing their weird ways into the church. As a sacred institution, politicians even where they are members of particular Christian denominations must realise that they have a duty to let the church be and fulfill her mission of being ‘light and salt of the world’.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Deputy Editors Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Abuja Bureau Chief

Head of Operations

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Bisi Abidoye Segun Adio

Innocent Nwankwo Adetayo Adelaja

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Sports Editor

Head, Sales & Marketing

Okay Osuji

Andrew Ekejiuba

Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Moses Ebong

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

Deputy Head Graphics Afeez Odeseye

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

JF kennedy

Mahatma Ghandi

Albert Einstein

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others

The world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil but because of those who look on and do nothing

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

5 News

Lagos won’t burn, Ambode, Agbaje pledge ÏzƄ ƕ ôƎ ƐƄ ƃ ƕƆƕ ƎƄ nd Segun Adio and Kwasu Alhamdu

ÏÏÏTwo

major governorship candidates in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of All Progressives Congress (APC), and Mr. Jimi Agbaje of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have declared that the state would not burn before, during and after the general election. This was their joint commitment which they made at the residence of the Consul General of

the United States of America Embassy in Ikoyi, Lagos witnessed by Ambassador James Entwistle. The two candidates were made to sign a Peace Pledge at a short ceremony where some faith leaders also signed as witnesses to the peace pact. The faith leaders included Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins; National Missioner of Ansar-UdDeen Society of Nigeria, Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad; Senior Pastor and Prelate of House on

the Rock, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, and National Missioner of Fatilul Qareeb Islamic Society, Sheikh Abdulrahman Adangba. Speaking after the signing of the peace deal, both candidates pledged that their supporters would conduct themselves in an orderly manner throughout the election period. First to speak was Ambode, “On behalf of my party, the All Progressives Congress, I want to assure Lagosians that I will make sure that this campaign go

Remi Oladoye

ÏÏÏA group of teachers in Oyo

Osun LCDA referendum records massive turnout on Monday at a referendum organised by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission to determine whether or not additional Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) should be created. Daily Times learnt that during the referendum, majority of the residents voted ‘Yes’, in favour of new local government areas. The referendum, which held between 8am and 1pm, saw people

of 18 years old and above, including traditional rulers at different polling units where the people were seen voting peaceful. Governor Rauf Aregbesola, after casting his vote at the Ifofin Ward 8 Unit 1 in Ilesa said that the objective of his administration in conducting a referendum on local government creation was in line with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He said, “As it is in democracy, what we are trying to do is to feel the pulse of the people to know what their preferences are. I am

sure the state will not have any problem as being envisaged by some people, because we will do everything possible to meet the constitutional requirement. “We are working round the clock as you can see that voting is taking place all over the state to know the feeling of our people on the creation of additional local governments. “We will create councils that will meet all constitutional requirements. It is the genuine desire of the people for self-government”, he added.

ÏÏÏFollowing the rescheduling of

Jega

INEC extends PVC collection date by four weeks

R Ƃ

ÏÏÏThere was massive turnout

account of the result of the polls. “We are pleased with how our supporters have been conducting themselves. They have to continue to remain law-abiding and respect the opposition. It is our duty to ensure that this election does not translate to violence while we are assuring Lagosians that we will ensure non-violence”, he added. Entwistle, however, urged the two candidates not to use their body language to cause crisis among their supporters.

Teachers’ group endorses Alao-Akala

L-R: Chairman, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission and Primate, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Leader of the Federal Government Delegation and President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John Kennedy Opara, after the submission of 2014 Christian Pilgrimage Report to President Jonathan ni Abuja…on Monday

Sodiq Adekunle

smoothly in a manner that there will be no violence. “Our supporters shall do nothing to set the state on fire, no matter the outcome of the polls. We are only committed to a free and prosperous Lagos and we are happy with our supporters, so far as they have remained peaceful”, he said. On his part, Agbaje assured the people of the state of his supporters’ orderly conduct throughout the process, while reiterating that the state would not burn on

the 2015 general election, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again extended the deadline for collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) by registered voters by four weeks to March 8, 2015. According to Secretary to the

State has announced its adoption of Labour Party gubernatorial candidate, Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala as their candidate for the next election. The group, whose members spread across the state including the Patriots, Akala Teachers’ Vanguard, and Association of Education Officers and Education Assistants have over 5,000 members present at a meeting held with Alao-Akala and top members of LP in Ibadan on Monday.

SDP chairman assures defectors of equal treatment

While moving the motion the duo of Comrade Tunde Adeleke and Nike Makinde said the decision to settle for Alao-Akala was borne out of the fact that he ran a masses and teacher-friendly government while in office between 2007 and 2011. “Since he left office, the jumbo package we received had been reversed by his successor and even with the recent increment in salary initiated, we are yet to get to that status, we want that pay back and we believe in Alao-Akala, we know that he is concerned about teachers’ welfare.

Social Democratic Party (SDP), Sunday Adelaja has assured defectors to the party of equal opportunities with the foundation members. Adelaja spoke in Iganna Iwajowa Local Government where he received over 2,000 defectors

from Accord, Labour Party (LP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to his party during the electioneering campaign of the party’s governorship candidate, Seyi Makinde in the local government. The elated party chairman congratulated the defectors for taking the bold decision to identify with the SDP and promised that they would not regret their decision, asking them to ensure they make positive impact in the party. Two of the defectors, who spoke on behalf of others, Joseph Fadeji and Olayanju Thomas said they decided to pitch their tent with SDP having considered its masses-oriented policies.

Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, INEC “hopes that this extension will finally avail every registered person yet to collect his/her PVC the opportunity to do so in readiness for the general election”. INEC had on Saturday, February 7, 2015, rescheduled the 2015 general

elections by six weeks due to security challenges. The national election (i.e. Presidential and National Assembly) had been rescheduled to hold on March 28, 2015 while the state election (Governorship and State Assembly) holds on April 11, 2015.

Remi Oladoye 9Ƃ ƕ

ÏÏÏOyo State Chairman of the

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

‘Military in three-day parley to rig for PDP’ Segun Adio, Group News Editor

ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday accused the Presidency and the military of colluding to rig the coming elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It claimed that a threeday meeting of the senior military officers which began on Monday was for that alleged purpose. The military not only de-

Ï 9Ɛô ƋƈƆè ƕ #6_ Ï Lƕ ƆƇƇ ƏƐ ƗƏ Ɠ ƆƏ ƇƏ ƌ ƅƏ Ɗ è Ɛ ƈƆƒƆ – Buhari Ï jƈ ƑƄƑ ƅ ƏƍƆƐ ^#^è C Ɛ ƒƆƏ ƍ ƋƋ ƈƇƐ nied the allegation but also pleaded with politicians to spare it of “dirty politicking.” The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, in a text message reply to an inquiry from the Daily Times, wrote: “It is not true.”

Another top military officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity pleaded with politicians not to drag the forces into political battle. The officer said: “For everybody’s sake, these politicians must spare us from political propaganda. They are free to throw mud at

each other, but the sanctity of certain institutions of state must be preserved.” The National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) has given assurances that the election will not be shifted any further. His words: “Those dates will not be shifted again,” Dasuki told

L-R: Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle with US Consul General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, during the signing of a peace accord and electoral security roundtable, hosted by the US Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria in Lagos… on Monday. Photo: US Consulate General, Lagos.

the Agence France Presse (AFP). Also, the presidential candidate of the APC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, attributed his challenges in the political field to the activities of “crooks and thieves”, while the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accused the military of working against the interest of democracy. “We are aware that the Presidency has forwarded a secret memo to all commanders of divisions and battalions of Nigerian Army for a 3-day strategy meeting in Kaduna from today on how to use the military to intimidate voters in APC States to rig election in favour of President (Goodluck) Jonathan,” the opposition party alleged at a press conference in Abuja. The APC statement was read by its national chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun.” The APC faulted the letter by military chiefs which called for the six-week shift of the elections, earlier

How US officials, others initiated polls shift Boko Haram kidnaps 30 concern that millions of under the LGA level down passenger bus in Cameroon Continued from page 1 general elections by six weeks. The Daily Times learnt that the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republic Institute (IRI) had faulted the preparations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the election and had called for a shift. The elections which were earlier scheduled for February 14 and 28, were at the weekend shifted by INEC to March 28 and April. The Pre-Election Assessment Mission of the two organisations, submitted their report to Professor Jega two weeks ago. Both organisations, in their report dated January 20, 2015, had expressed

permanent voter cards (PVCs) had not yet been distributed by INEC. They particularly frowned at the preparations by the commission ahead of the polls. They expressed concern that “millions of permanent voter cards (PVCs) have not yet been distributed by INEC”. According to the report, some Nigerians were still unsure whether a voter without a PVC, but whose name was on the register, would be allowed to vote on election day and what arrangements would be put in place to adjudicate the matters. Part of the report reads: “Even though, INEC plans to move the distribution of the PVCs from the LGA level to the level of wards (which are similar units

to the polling points), that exercise has not started in all the states. “Moreover, some Nigerians stated that in a number of states, the distribution exercise has repeatedly been postponed in some locations, leading to further erosion of trust in INEC. “Some Nigerians are still unsure whether a voter without a PVC, but whose name is on the register, will be allowed to vote on election day and what arrangements will be put in place to adjudicate the matters”, it said. The report further noted that all the card readers were “still underway and not all the card readers have been delivered to INEC….Yet some Ni-

Continued on page 8

Biya, Cameroon president

ÏÏÏAbout

30 passengers of a bus were kidnapped Monday by suspected Boko Haram militants in a town in Cameroon along the border with Nigeria. The kidnapping took place in Tourou in the Far North Region, the sources said. “The whereabouts of the passengers were

not known. They were certainly attacked by the militants in an ambush.” Nine Cameroonian soldiers were injured in an attack Sunday by Boko Haram militants in Kerawa town in the region. Militants also killed 11 bus passengers Jan 1 in the same region. Boko Haram has proved to be a major security threat in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, since 2009. The group seeks to enshrine the Islamic Sharia law in the Nigerian constitution and create an Islamic state in the mainly Muslim northern part of Nigeria. Nigeria’s neighbouring countries Cameroon, Chad and Niger have also faced the brunt of Boko Haram attacks.

billed to begin on February 14. It noted that the military chiefs had earlier indicated readiness to support the conduct of the elections on the previous dates. Odigie-Oyegun said: “On the 2nd of February, at the National Peace Committee meeting in Abuja with the representatives of different political parties, the service chiefs gave assurances of their readiness for the elections. At the occasion, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh gave assurances of the Armed Forces’s preparedness for the elections. According to him “even though we are busy in the North East, we also have capabilities across the nation.” “Badeh also admitted that the role of the military is merely to support the police in providing security during elections. At the same event, Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minimah said, “we are aware of the need for security, before, during and after the elections. We will deploy across the States of the Federation in areas we discover that have capacity for violence. We are prepared to ensure we have peaceful elections.” On the allegation of collusion between the presidency and the military, the APC said: “The greatest threat to our democracy today is the way the ruling party has compromised the leadership of the Nigerian military to serve the personal agenda of President Jonathan. This is a dangerous game. A recent court judgment in Sokoto clearly ruled that the military had no role in the electoral process. What happened with this postponement is that Service Chiefs simply vetoed a democratic process on the directive of President Jonathan. We know what politicisation is doing to our once proud military institution.” It added: “Since recent revelations about the role of the military in Ekiti elections is demonstrable proof of how far this government Continued on page 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Court urged to restrain Tambuwal from parading himself as Speaker Peter Fowoyo

Sokoto. In the wake of the defection, it was also reported that about 215 members of the House of Representatives and 63 senators had signed to commence impeachment proceedings against Jonathan. At yesterday’s proceedings, Justice Ibrahim Buba, directed the applicants to address him on why the matter was filed in Lagos and not Abuja, being the place of business of the sole defendant in the suit, the House of Representatives. Ebirim, who addressed the court, said the matter was a constitutional matter which could as well be filed in the Lagos division of the court. He added that the House of Representatives also conducted part of its business in Lagos at its liaison office, and that the court was a

ÏÏÏTwo lawyers on Monday ap-

proached a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, asking that Aminu Tambuwal, be restrained from henceforth parading himself as Speaker, House of Representatives. The lawyers, Anthony Nwajiugo and Okechukwu Ebirim, argued that having defected from the party upon which he was elected into the House, Tambuwal, “cannot remain and has, by his action, lost the competence to remain the Speaker.” Besides, they argued that the House of Representatives as presently constituted under Tambuwal’s leadership could not embark on any legislative business including the adjournment of plenary sessions or the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan. Tambuwal had defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) towards the end of last year. He had hinged his defection on the crisis within the PDP in his home state of

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Miss Hassan, Adeola Muinat now wishes to be addressed as Mrs. Awe, Adeola Muinat. All former documents remains valid. General Public take note.

Aims & Objective 1. To populate Heaven and depopulate Hell 2. To preach the Gospel and make disciples of all Nations. 3. To raise righteous generations who will flourish like palm tree 4. To teach/train men on how to wage war with their hands and battle with their fingers.

ÏÏÏGovernor

proper venue for the matter to be filed. But in a brief ruling, Justice Buba, transferred the matter to the Abuja division of the court and further directed the applicants to approach the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for further directive on when the matter would come up in Abuja.

I, formerly Miss Efobi Ifeyinwa Mercy, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Onwuania Ifeyinwa Mercy. All documents remains valid. Keystone Bank, NYSC, Fed. Poly Oko, NABTED, and the general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Trustees: 1. Pastor Anthony Uchechukwu Chukwuma 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Mercy Eberechukwu Chukwuma 3. Bro. Nnamdi Onyema. 4. Sis. Oluchi Nnamdi 5. Bro. Edwin Otutu

Benin

Tambuwal

CHANGE OF NAME

Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has flagged off the N5.7billion Auchi Erosion project to tackle the menacing gully erosion threatening the community while describing it as a historic intervention that will change the fortune of the kingdom. Speaking at the flag-off of the World Bank-assisted project last weekend, Oshiomhole said, “We have borrowed N5.7 billion naira to protect this great kingdom of Auchi, to restore hope and to remove the fear and the pain that people suffer when it rains because that is the primary purpose of government. The loan that the bank gave to us is at an interest rate of less than 1% and it was spread so thinly that we pay painlessly. So it takes a sensible government, competent and transparent for people to access this World Bank facility. “I want to congratulate you for witnessing this historic intervention which will change the for-

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Animashaun Riliwan Jibola now wishes to be addressed as Obisesan Riliwan Jibola All former documents remains valid. General Public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

FLOURSIHING ARMY MIRACLE MINISTRIES. This is to notify the general public that the above named Ministry has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Titus Akhigbe

Trustees are: 1. Pastor Olutola Jerry Olanrewaju - G.O 2. Miss Solomon Elizabeth Tosin - Secretary 3.Mrs. Babatunde Bola Olutola - Treasurer 4. Abiona Joseph Oladipupo - Chairman 5. Fatoki Abejide - Member

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under

Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

Trustees:

The Trustees are : 1. Pastor Emmanuel Akinwumi 2. Pastor Mrs Kudirat Adeola Banjo 3. Oluwatoyin Taiwo Banjo 4. Olawolemiwa Idowu Banjo

1. Tobi Soniyi 2. Innocent Chikwaraeze Anaba. Aims 1.To give voice to victims of human right violation by publishing their stories. 2.To provide support to victims of human rights violation by linking them with organizations that can assist them.

General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication. Signed: Barr. Yomi Sanya.

PUBLIC NOTICE The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

Any Objection(s) to this Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication. Signed: Secretary

SAND MINERS ASSOCIATION OF LAGOS STATE (LEKKI CHAPTER) This is to inform the general public that the above name organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for addition of Trustees and Amendment of Constitution under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990. OLD TRUSTEES NEW TRUSTEES 1.Chief Bode Agbolade (Retained) 1. Prince Balogun Oluomo Idris 2.Mr. Akin Ladeinde (Retained) 2. Otufowora Hameed (New Secretary) 3.Chief Segun Olorunnisola(Deceased) 3. Alh. Remilekun Kazeem 4. Afeez Otunola

2. Emediong Bassey Ebong 3. Caroline Augustine Fabian 4. Edidiong Francis Okon AIMS AND OBJECTIVE:

AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION To give room for addition of number of Trustees from three (3) to six (6).

To bring unity among Uruan Women

Signed: Secretary

AIM AND OBJECTIVE : To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ODUDU IBAN URUAN ORGANIZATION

1. Salome Francis Okon - President

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

I, formerly known as Miss Olanike Atinuke Jegede now wishes to be addressed as Mrs. Olanike Atinuke Omotoso. All former documents remains valid. General Public take note.

I, formerly known as Miss Olaluwoye Idowu Mutiat now wishes to be addressed as Mrs. Adebanjo Idowu Mutiat. All former documents remains valid. General Public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

Aim And Objective : 1. To Preach The Gospel Of Jesus Christ 2. To Spread The Good News About Jesus

CHANGE OF NAME

applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under

tune of this great kingdom and all those who reside in this kingdom. When men or women who are enthroned into office by God conduct themselves under the guidance of God and ensure that justice and fairness rule, then the people will rejoice because they will witness development. “I am really excited at this rare privilege that we are here to formally flag off the restoration and the construction of the Auchi erosion project. Different governments in the past have attempted to address this problem. I am told that one contractor that was given the job in the past by some federal interests even had some of his second hand tractors trapped in the valley of this kingdom because the people of Auchi wanted government to solve the problem.”

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has

SIGNED BY: Pastor Tony Chukwuma

HILL OF PEACE BIBLE MINISTRY

Edo launches N5.7bn Auchi erosion control project

PARADISE OF PEACE INT’L CHURCH

JOURNALISTS FOR THE DEFENCE OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Any Objection(s) to this Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarAny objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

7 News

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: President

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registration General Corporate Affairs Commission within 28 days from the date of this publication. Signed: Secretary

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

APC: Military in 3-day parley to rig for PDP Continued from page 6 will go to compromise the military as an institution, could it be that when the Service Chiefs said they would not have enough personnel to provide security for the elections, what they are actually saying is that they would not have enough soldiers to intimidate voters in favour of the ruling party if the elections had proceeded as scheduled?” General Buhari, at the Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, accused the PDP of inepti-

tude in handling many of the country’s challenges. He said: “As most of you know, I am not a novice when it comes to participating in the struggle to deliver Nigeria from the power of darkness. Many times, my efforts have earned me the wrath and vengeance of crooks and thieves. What I want to assure everyone in this room and across the length and breadth of this vast country is that I will do my best for you.” Buhari said further: “Once again, Nigeria is in crisis. Our country is facing grievous challenges in numerous sectors. In the light of recent events, the

three most pertinent at this time are security, the state of the economy and corruption forming a terrible troika that must be tackled all at once before we can achieve any meaningful progress.” Tinubu, in a press statement concerning the shift in elections, said that the action was issued from the “mouth of (INEC chairman, Attahiru) Jega, the words were Jonathan”. Tinubu said that the “act was one desperation of a man in fear of defeat. It was not done for the national good. It was the wrong thing done for the wrong reason by the wrong man.”

Fulani herdsmen rape, hack woman to death in Ogun Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÏÏÏA middle-aged woman, Mrs Ayesi Balogun, was at the weekend killed by some unknown Fulani herdsmen at her village in Asa, Yewa North local government area of Ogun State. The late Mrs Balogun, was also allegedly raped before being hacked to death by her assailants, according to a release signed by the Ketu Advancement Front Coordinator and Secretary, Kunle Abiose and Joseph Bankole respectively who said that the woman was hacked to death in her farm.

The statement, which was sent to relevant authorities read, in part: “We are sad to announce that Mrs Ayesi Balogun, a poor mother of three was raped and hacked to death on her farm in Asa, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State over the weekend by Fulani herdsmen. On sighting her entering the farm, the killerherdsmen who had taken over her farm pounced on her, probably gang raped her before hacking her to death”. “Mrs Balogun’s case brought to over twenty-five, the number of our innocent and poor people who had been sent to their early

graves in seriously agonising and dehumanising circumstances not to talk of several others who had been maimed”. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the allegation was yet to be confirmed but added that there been a series of fight between Fulani herdsmen and the youths in the town and that about three days ago, the dead body of a Fulani man was found in the bush in the town. He said the Police had invited the youth leaders in the town and some Fulani men for a meeting on Tuesday.

How US officials, others initiated polls shift Continued from page 6 gerians are apprehensive about what would happen should the remaining VCRs (voter card readers) not be delivered on time or should many of these new machines malfunction on Election Day”. It pointed out that while INEC had specific plans on recruitment of ad-hoc poll workers that would include current and former members of the NYSC and students in the tertiary education institutions, some members of the public were concerned that training of these

workers had yet to begin. Among delegates on the pre-election assessment mission were the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, who is also the Vice Chairman of the US Institute of Peace, Regalia Bam; former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa, Hon. Patrick Muyaya; Member of Parliament, Democratic Republic of Congo, Paulina Baker; former President of the Fund for Peace, Michael Bratton; distinguished professor of Political Science and African Studies at

Michigan State University, Robert Lloyd; professor of International Relations at Pepperdine University, and senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils African Centre, Christopher Fomunyoh; senior associate and regional director for Central and West Africa at NDI; and Gretchen Birkle, regional director for African at IRI The INEC Chairman had attributed the postponement of the elections to the security situation in the North East, which would occupy the attention of the military for six weeks.

Special Focus on Cakes/Confectioneries & Gift Shops

Daily

TIMES

Nigeria VALENTINE GIFT ITEMS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES ‘‘I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day. When i think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon’’ – Author Unknown

Are you looking for a gift item to express your love to your partner or someone you admire? We will publish top-rated shops and companies to visit. Where to pick up Roses, Cakes, Jewelry, Chocolates, Personal Clothings, Perfumes, Shoes, Designer Bags, Kiss and Tell Cliffons, Candle Light Sticks, Hearty Cards, Decorative Trays, Engraved Ornaments, Wrist Watches, etc. The classified box measuring 3 inches by 2 columns will be published on Wednesday and Thursday, 11th/12th February, 2015. The boxes cost Colour: N30,712.50 Black/White: N23,226.00 For further enquires, call: Moses – 0816 911 8913 Babalola – 0806 491 1775 Funmi – 0803 839 0726 Limited Spaces Available

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

9 News

Oshiomhole knocks PDP over erosion project Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏEdo

(L-R): Sen. Bukola Saraki, Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Musa Kwakwanso(Behind), All Progressives Congress(APC) Chairman, Chief John Odige Oyegun; former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole during the party’s reaction to the postponement of elections and other

national issues at the party headquarters in Abuja… on Monday Photo: Temitope Balogun.

Accept polls shift in good faith, Ekweremadu urges Nigerians Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏDeputy

Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has appealed to Nigerians to accept the shift in the dates of the elections in good faith. The postponement, he said, was aimed at ensuring that the elections were not only peaceful, free and fair, but seen to be so by Nigerians and the international community. Ekweremadu made the appeal through a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, while speaking at a civic reception in his honour by the Ngwo community in Ngwo, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State on Monday. He pointed out that given the pre-eminent position of Nigeria

in Africa and the world, it was necessary for the country to conform to international best standards in the conduct of the 2015 general election. The Deputy Senate President said, “I would like to appeal for your understanding in respect of the shift in election dates. Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing very well. “We have to conduct the elections in conformity with international best practices, ensuring that no one is disenfranchised and the security of lives and property of the citizens are equally guaranteed. “If the postponement will guarantee best standards and the security of lives and property in the forthcoming elections, then it is worth it, as long as it is within the constitutional time

Ondo group backs Jonathan’s re-election bid ‘Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏYoruba Progressives group

in Ondo State has expressed its support for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). State Coordinator of the group, Senator Omololu Maroyi disclosed this on Monday at a

sensitisation rally in support of the PDP candidates in Akure, Ondo State. Meroyi revealed that members of the group moved round the major streets of the capital city to enlighten eligible voters on the need to vote Jonathan for the second term. He noted that the sensitisation rally became imperative, without minding the postponement

frame”, he said. Ekweremadu then appealed to Nigerians to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the political parties, and the government to make the elections the best in the nation’s history. He further advised them to seize the opportunity of the postponement to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards and conduct themselves, with every sense of patriotism, throughout the electoral process. “While the postponement is okay in itself, it is to what use we put it, as Nigerians, that matters most; hence, it is up to us to ensure it serves the purposes of making the elections more transparent, peaceful, credible and acceptable”, he added

of the general election but to ensure the president and other contestants in the PDP gained full ground and support right from the grassroots.

Jonathan

State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal and state governments of contract duplication on the Queen Ede gully erosion project at Ogbeson community in Benin City, the Edo State. Oshiomhole made this known at the weekend at the formal flagging off of the World Bankassisted reclamation works at the Queen Ede gully erosion project in Benin City which would cost N2.7 billion. He said, “You have a real scandal when Edo State Government, under PDP, awarded this project and paid for it and the PDP- led Federal Government awarded the same contract and also paid for it. They both claimed they were doing the job, but as you can see, they simply caused more complications. “They constructed a small drain to take the water out of

Polls shift: CAN calls for prayers Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏChristian

Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Enugu State chapter, has charged Nigerian politicians to place service to the country above self. At a one-day prayer session

Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏThere

are strong indications that fresh crisis may have rocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Orlu zonal chapter (Imo West) following mass resignation of some key party chieftains. Among party chieftains that had turned their backs on the party were Director – General of Senator Hope Uzodinma Organisation, Chief Rex Anunobi and National Chairman of Orlu Political Consultative Assembly (OPOCA), Chief Samfo Nwankwo. Also in the same train were Chief ThankGod Ezeani, who had since joined All

the road without taking it to the ultimate destination. That was how the crack started. If they had fixed it properly, it could have cost us less than N5 million today. “When my attention was drawn by the Edo State Ministry of Works to the fact that this erosion was caused by a design error when the Asaba Road was being constructed by the Federal Ministry of Works, I wrote to Abuja to complain about the erosion challenges in this place. I listed quite a number of erosion sites in the state, including the Queen Ede erosion problem.” Oshiomhole added, “When I asked for the project report, the ministry officials told me “job is on-going” and, subsequently, I invited the officials to show me what they meant by the “job is on-going”. What I saw here were abandoned equipment; there was no single worker on site. That is what they meant by “the job is on-going” but that was not the only thing I found very strange. for the rescheduled 2015 general election, CAN state chairman, Rt. Rev. Christian Obiefuna, in his message urged Nigerians to devote time in praying to God to help the country navigate through every storm. He noted that the theme of the prayer session, “Oh Lord Remember Your People”, was sequel to the present challenges and prospects in the country. “We must continue in prayers. Prayer is the key; the Bible says we should watch and pray. Note that we are battling against principalities in high and low places.

Orlu PDP crisis deepens Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Chief Felix Idiga now the Senatorial candidate of Accord Party (AP) for the zone. It was further revealed that Mr. Myke Ikeokwu who ran for the primaries of the PDP for Nkwere, Nwangele, Njaba, Isu Federal Constituency had also defected to Accord Party to actualise his ambition. Anunobi in his letter of resignation dated February 4, 2015 and addressed to the chairman of his Onusa ward thanked the PDP leadership for the opportunity given to him to serve as his membership of the party last.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

FG goes tough on import of fake electrical appliances Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

L-R: Husband, of former late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Lanre Olayinka; former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Celebrant and former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; his wife, Erelu Bisi and Elder Statesman, Gen. Alani Ajinrinade (retd) during Fayemi’s 50th birthday thanksgiving at St Martin’s Cathedral, Isan Ekiti… on Sunday

Polls shift is blessing to Nigeria – Daniel Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏFormer Governor of Ogun

State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has said the postponement of the general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was like God’s intervention to prevent bloodshed. Daniel, while speaking at “Team Jonathan” interactive forum at NUT Hall, Kuto, Abeokuta stated that a reasonable and peace-loving person must be aware that there was tension as if Nigeria will break into pieces after the February election and through provocative statements by the chieftains of All Progres-

sives Congress (APC). He praised the courage of the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, for the postponement of the elections for six weeks, so as to create a conducive environment for the exercise. Earlier in his opening remark, State Co-ordinator of “Team Jonathan”, Hon. Isaac Adegbenro Oyero, said that shifting the election timetable was a blessing for the nation. He described Daniel as the engine room for the re-election of President Jonathan in Ogun State. Oyero said the security agencies should be on alert to arrest and prosecute any opposition leader whose comments could

Mutiat Alli

ÏÏÏFor

Daniel

cause disunity. He maintained that President Jonathan is a symbol of peace, otherwise he could have levelled North East Nigeria like the Odi community.

Crisis: Adamawa community seeks removal of police boss Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏThe

fragile relations between the Kwah and Bachama tribes in Lamurde Local Government Area of Adamawa State is getting worse. The reason is that Kwah people have alleged plan by the Bachama, in connivance with the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Mr. Nimfas Phineas to foist a traditional ruler on them. The Kwah people have therefore called on the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG)

to transfer the DPO and one unidentified female inspector, from the area, in the interest of peace. They said, in their petition to the police authorities, that except that was done, there might be a repeat of the bloody disturbance of last year. One of the leaders of the Kwah community, Chief Zakka Mah, whose two sons were killed in November last year, following a chieftaincy tussle in his community, has written the AIG in charge of Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe states, com-

Federal Government is set to enforce standard and safety control in production and installations of meters and other electrical equipment across the power sector value chain. Speaking at the commissioning of the EMSL National Meter Testing Stations in Lagos, Minister of State for Power, Hon. Mohammed Wakil said: “With the successful reform in the generation, transmission and distribution sub-sectors, the administration is now focusing delivery of safe and reliable electricity supply to Nigerians,

plaining that those who killed his sons were yet to be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law. Mah accused Phineas, the DPO in the council, of shielding those who killed his son and nephew from arrest. Mah, who wrote the police alongside two other petitioners, urged the police AIG to use his good office to intervene in the matter, which had caused them great psychological trauma to see the people who burnt down their houses, killed their sons moving freely in the community.

the umpteenth time, the United States Government has said that Nigeria would not split, in spite of her numerous challenges. American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle said on Sunday at the House on The Rock Church, Lekki, Lagos during the premiere of the movie, Selma. Entwistle, dismissed the insinuation that his government had predicted that Nigeria

through institutional technical inspectorate services.” The Special Assistant to the Minister, Mr. Olawale Rasheed, said in a press statement, that there was no going back on power privatisation in country, as it was already part of a popular policy. “We are set to enforce quality control and standard of electricity installations. We are resolved to enhance consumers’ and investors’ confidence and satisfaction through sustained inspection, testing and certification of electrical materials and equipment. Electricity materials should be of the right quality and specifications,” he said. The Minister declared that “ all categories of electrical installations, power systems and networks must be properly planned, designed and executed before use,” affirming that “gone are the days of substandard equipment and installations, which compromised the safety of Nigerians.”

Nigeria won’t break – US envoy

would break in 2015. He maintained that Nigeria was not different from all other countries in the world with similar degrees of challenges, but assured that the current challenges would not cause the country to split.

Don’t blame Jega for elections delay - Civil societies Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏA

group of non-political bodies, the Coalition of Civil Societies (CSO), in Osun State, has asked Nigerians not to blame the Chairman of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, for the delay in the general election. Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ismaeel Uthman, who spoke on behalf of the CSOs in a statement, alleged that the delay was masterminded by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan. He described the postponement of the election as “an onslaught on Nigeria’s democracy and a civil coup.” “The INEC Chairman is not to blame here, but our security agencies. Jega had no choice than to bow to the pressure,

Jega

particularly when the security agencies have told him they would not participate in the election and that they could not guarantee the safety of INEC staff and that of Nigerian voters.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

L-R: Special Adviser to Gov. Orji of Abia State on print media; Sir Joshua Nnanyerem Ogbonna; Chief Theodore Orji; Lady Nnenna Ogbonna and Abia First Lady, Mercy Orji at the christening and thanksgiving service of Ogbonna in Umuahia Abia … on Monday

Buhari challenges disqualification suit Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏPresidential

candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), on Monday, told a Federal High Court, in Abuja, that he would oppose, in its entirety, suits seeking his disqualification from this year’s presidential election. Buhari made this known through his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), at the resumption of hearing of suits filed by Chukwunweike Okafor and

Buhari

Max Ozoaka. The plaintiffs had challenged Buhari’s qualification to contest the election. The court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, had, last week, in two separate suits, granted the plaintiffs ex-parte orders for substituted services in the national newspapers, while considering their applications. Justice Ademola also granted an order bridging the time within which the defendants must respond to the suits. Olanipekun and Chief Lateef Fagbemi, who represented the APC, told the court that they would file applications challenging the competence of the suits and the entire steps taken in the suit so far – including the orders of service through substituted means. They prayed the court to grant short adjournments to enable them to file all the necessary documents.

Fagbemi, specifically urged the court to set aside the order of abridgment of time, within which the defendants must file their responses, because the urgency upon which it was hinged had been eroded with the postponement of the poll from February 14 to March 28. The plaintiffs’ two suits, like one other, pending before the court are seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify Buhari from participating in the poll, because he, among other things, failed to attach evidence of his academic qualifications to the form he submitted to the electoral body. They are in their separate suits contending that the INEC FORM CF 001, submitted, by the APC candidate, to INEC, was incomplete and, therefore, urged the court to declare the form as invalid.

Al-Makura frowns upon destruction of opposition billboards, posters Rabiu Doma Lafia

ÏÏÏIrked by the rising spate of

destruction of billboard and campaign posters by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko al-Makura, has cautioned party followers to play politics according to the rule, instead of causing bitterness. He gave the charge at Tunga Community of Awe Local Government, in continuation of his statewide campaign at the weekend. The governor, who is seeking re-election, condemned the

destruction of billboards and posters of opponents as a bad omen for politicking. He said government would not fold its arms, while destruction reign in the state, describing politics of bitterness as old- fashioned in the state. The governor promised the people of Tunga more benefits of democracy, if re-elected. He emphasized that the APC, under him, would give impetus to health and road projects, which are areas that could do well with more government attention. He however said the existing primary healthcare centres would

be upgraded to the status of comprehensive healthcare centres, in order to alleviate the suffering of commoners in the area – by assuring they have access to better healthcare delivery. He attributed the delay on the construction of Awe -Tunga road to the decision of the Federal Government to linked Awe-Tunga, as well construct a bridge across Tunga River linking Taraba state. He assured the people of the community that his administration may not hesitate to take over the construction of the road depending on the commitment of the Federal Government.

11 News

Kogi deputy gov empowers 415 people Ibrahim Momohjimoh Lokoja

ÏÏÏNo

fewer than 415 persons from across the seven local government areas of the western Senatorial District of Kogi State, were on Monday presented items that will help boost their incomes. The presentation was done by a Human Development Outreach Programme (HDOP), supported by the Kogi State Deputy- Governor, Yomi Awoniyi and his wife, Mrs. Tokunbo Awoniyi. The gesture, according to the Awoniyis, was geared towards making citizens of the area selfsustaining, economically empowered, so as to enhance their livelihood, and become employers of labour in the nearest future. Items presented to beneficiaries included: motorcycles, generators, refrigerators, hair dry-

ers, wheelchairs and vulcanizer pumps. Other items given to beneficiaries, who were mostly women, the unemployed youths and artisans included grinding machines, wewing machines, clippers, farm spray, cooking stoves, electronic tool boxes and undisclosed cash presentations. According to the Deputy Governor, the efforts to reach out to members of the society, with such support, was to assure the people that as leaders in the state, they were aware of their needs. Awoniyi solicited support for President Goodluck Jonathan and all other PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections, saying that such gesture by the voters in the districts would help consolidate the immense progress made under the present administration.

MASSOB warns transporters against increase in fares Dilionye Dilibe Onitsha

ÏÏÏMovement

for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, on Monday, warned that it would no longer tolerate the hike in fare charged on Igbo people resident in the Northern part of the country, who are returning home for fear of crisis that may occur before, during and after the 2015 general elections. The MASSOB Director of Sanitation in Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State, Engr. Emma Dinyele, frowned upon transporters, who are of Igbo extraction, taking worsening the plight of their fellow Igbo returnees by increasing transportation fare. He recalled that the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, had earlier provided vehicles to the Igbo people resident in the North urging them to return home instead of being slaughtered like cows.

LG boss tasks council residents on PVCs The Executive Secretary, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Barrister Jaiyeola Alabi, has called on the residents of the area to make sure that they collect their Permanent Voter Cards, since as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had extended the distribution dates by one week.

He commended Uwazuruike for introducing MASSOB, adding that “MASSOB remains neutral as no Igbo man is contesting the presidency. He called on residents of Ekwusigo Local Government Area to come out en-mass and support MASSOB on its clean-up exercise coming up on Saturday this week.

Uwazuruike

He made the call on Monday, while addressing the Executive Members of the Community Development Committee in his office. He called on the entire community to take the advantage of the extension by INEC and make sure that they collected their cards well before the general elections. The PVC according to Alabi ‘‘is your power to elect people of your choice to represent you at the state and federal levels so go and collect it as is your power and your constitutional right.’’

Africa 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Libya’s rival factions resume talks ÏÏÏLibya’s

warring factions will resume U.N.-sponsored talks Tuesday inside the country to try to resolve a struggle between two governments and parliaments, officials from both sides have said. The news came as new clashes between pro-government forces and Islamists in Benghazi killed seven soldiers, bringing the death toll after four months of fighting there to almost 700, medics said. Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed revolt ousted Moammar Gadhafi nearly four years ago. Two rival governments allied to armed groups are fighting for legitimacy in a conflict that Western powers fear might lead to full-scale civil war in the oil-producing nation. Libya’s internationally recognized government under Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni and its elected House of Representatives are based in the east of the country after a group called Libya Dawn seized Tripoli last summer, set up its own administration and reinstated the old parliament. Last month, the U.N. managed to bring some members of the factions to talks in Geneva, but the Tripoli-based parliament known as the General National Congress (GNC) wanted the dialogue to take place inside Libya. “The U.N.-sponsored peace

A Libyan soldier allied with the self-proclaimed Tripoli government stands next to a damaged vehicle at the scene of an air attack in Ben Jawad, recently talks will take place in Libya on Tuesday unless anything unforeseeable happens,” Emhemed Shoaib, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, told Reuters. GNC member Abdul-Qader Hwaili confirmed the date, and like Shoaib he declined to disclose the venue. Last week, U.N. Special Envoy Bernadino Leon said during

a visit to Tripoli that the talks would restart within days. A first U.N.-sponsored round of talks in the southern city of Ghadames was held in September but made no progress. The U.N. is hoping to get both sides to agree on a national unity government. It plans to arrange local cease-fires and prisoner exchanges as a first step to defuse the conflict.

22 die in Egypt stadium stampede

ÏÏÏTwenty-two people died as

thousands of fans tried to force their way into a Cairo football stadium on Sunday to watch a game, triggering panic as police fired tear gas and birdshot’s at the crowds. Witnesses and medical reports suggested many of the victims were crushed in a stampede, with some suffering broken necks. At least 25 other people were injured, the health ministry said. The match continued despite the violence, provoking further outrage among the fans. The clashes prompted the government to postpone the Egyptian Premier League indefinitely, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. The match between Zamalek and Enbi had been open to the public, unlike most other games between Egyptian clubs since sta-

dium riots in Port Said in 2012 left more than 70 people dead in the country’s worst ever sport disaster. The interior ministry had restricted to 10 000 the number of spectators allowed into the stadium on Sunday, and tickets quickly ran out. Thousands of fans without tickets scaled the stadium walls before police dispersed them, according to the ministry. Zamalek supporters aimed fireworks at the police, who fired tear gas and birdshot back, police and witnesses said. “There was a police car on fire and they were shooting birdshot and tear gas,” a witness told AFP. Another witness, Mostafa Ibrahim, told AFP: “Police fired tear gas at a large number of fans in a very narrow place. People were trampling over one another try-

ing to escape.” After a preliminary exam, 19 of the dead were found to have no gunshot wounds, according to a health ministry official. Injuries were consistent with being crushed in a stampede, and some of the dead had broken necks.

Morsi

The conflict has been complicated by a separate battle in Benghazi, the country’s second-largest city, where forces allied to Thinni launched an offensive in midOctober to expel Islamist armed groups such as Ansar al-Sharia. Army forces fought for a third day with Islamists holed up in the port area, residents said. Seven soldiers were killed and 41 were wounded, medics said.

Guards suspended after Mugabe’s fall

ÏÏÏUp to 27 members of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s security team have reportedly been suspended after failing to help him as he fell at Harare’s main airport. Sources told The Standard newspaper that the guards were handed their suspension letters on Friday, two days after Mugabe’s tumble, which resulted in a series of memes. However, a spokesperson in the presidency denied the reports about the suspensions. An official told the newspaper Mugabe’s fall was a serious incident and many departments are being investigated. The Zimbabwe government has tried to downplay the incident insisting that Mugabe managed to break his fall and blaming the slipup on a hump in the carpet, Sapa reported..

Violent protests in Guinea after Imam’s arrest ÏÏÏAround

a dozen Guineans were wounded on Monday in clashes with police after the arrest of an imam who led funeral prayers for a suspected victim of Ebola. Demonstrators put up barricades, burned tyres and overturned rubbish bins in the capital Conakry, before using sticks and stones to attack officers who responded with tear gas and baton charges. “They came for the third imam of our mosque because yesterday he led the funeral prayers in the mosque here for a relative who died a natural death,” a protester told AFP on condition of anonymity. “For the Guinean authorities no one can now die a natural death. All those who die have inevitably died of Ebola,” he said. A policeman told AFP that the officers wanted simply to question the imam on the cause of death and the conditions at the burial. “It is especially important to know that he didn’t have Ebola to ensure the safety of his family and neighbours, including potential contacts,” he said.

Al-Shabaab issues death threats to Somali MPs ÏÏÏAl-shabaab

spokesperson Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab has warned Somali MPs that they are ‘legitimate targets’ to be killed or captured, following the latest killing of a Somali lawmaker. Somalia’s al-Shabaab insurgents shot dead a lawmaker in the capital Mogadishu on Monday, the latest in a string of assassinations of politicians in the wartorn country. “Abdulahi Qayad Barre was shot dead, men killed him as he left his house to go to parliament,” fellow MP Abdukarim Hajji said. At least five MPs were killed last year, but Barre was the first to have been assassinated in 2015. The al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab rebels are fighting to overthrow the country’s internationally-backed government. The extremists say they are targeting MPs as they allowed the deployment of foreign troops on Somali soil. “Al-Shabaab commandos shot and killed Barre, and all the socalled MPs are a legitimate target subject to be killed or captured, to face the justice of Allah,” al-Shabaab spokesperson Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab told AFP.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Suicide attack kills 18 in Baghdad

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (C) listen to French President Francois Hollande during a meeting on resolving the Ukraine crisis at the Kremlin in Moscow at the weekend.

ÏÏÏA suicide bomber set off

Ukraine: Putin blames West for escalation of hostilities ÏÏÏUkraine’s

crisis has been caused by the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin says, as he considers Franco-German proposals to end fighting between the government and pro-Russia rebels. Western countries had broken pledges not to expand NATO and forced countries to choose between them and Russia, Mr Putin told an Egyptian newspaper. The comments come amid new hopes of a peace deal this Wednesday. Russia denies accusations of sending troops and supplying the

rebels. The fighting in eastern Ukraine has claimed more than 5,300 lives and driven 1.5 million people from their homes. At least nine Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the past 24 hours, officials say. Fighting is said to be intense around the town of Debaltseve, near the rebel-held city of Donetsk. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande flew to Moscow on Friday to discuss proposals to

end the fighting. The detailed proposals have not been released but the plan is thought to include a demilitarised zone of 50-70km (31-44 miles) around the current front line. After telephone conversations with Mr Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Sunday, they announced that a four-way summit could be held in the Belarus capital, Minsk, if the details were agreed before Wednesday. Mr Putin’s spokesman denied media speculation that Mrs

Merkel had told the Russian leader that sanctions would be tightened if he did not agree a deal. “Nobody has ever talked to the president in the tone of an ultimatum - and could not do so even if they wanted to,” Dmitry Peskov told Govorit Moskva radio on Monday. European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels agreed more sanctions against Russian and rebel officials on Monday - but put them on hold for a week to give the peace effort a chance

Afghanistan drone strike kills IS commander Abdul Rauf ÏÏÏA

drone strike in Afghanistan has killed a militant commander who recently swore allegiance to Islamic State (IS), officials say. The police chief of Helmand said that former Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Rauf had died in the Nato strike. It emerged last month that Rauf had sworn allegiance to IS after falling out with the Taliban. Tribal elders in northern Helmand say a car carrying up to six people was destroyed while crossing the desert. The car was loaded with ammunition and exploded, reports said. The Afghan Intelligence Agency also said Rauf had been killed.

13 World

Nato confirmed the air strike, but not the intended target. The BBC’s David Loyn in Kabul says it is the first confirmed use of Nato air power alongside Afghan forces under their new mandate since combat troops withdrew at the end of 2014. The militant commander’s brother-in-law and four Pakistanis were also killed in the attack, Helmand police chief Nabi Jan Mullahkhel was quoted by Reuters as saying. Islamic State controls swathes of Syria and Iraq and has a small but growing presence in parts of Afghanistan. Correspondents say it poses the first serious challenge to the coherence of the Taliban leadership

for many years. Yemen and Saudi Arabia: The new branches have not claimed any activities yet but the move represents a symbolic challenge to al-Qaeda. Afghanistan-Pakistan: IS says its branch here represents the historic Khorasan Province - a region covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and “other nearby lands”. Rauf, who spent six years in Guantanamo Bay after being captured by US forces in 2001, was reported to have fallen out with the leader of the Taliban, Mullah Omar. He swapped the white flags of the Taliban for the black flags of IS and recruited followers in Helmand.

Mullah Omar Rauf was then named as deputy leader of IS in “Khorasan” - an old name for Afghanistan - by the organisation in Syria.

an explosive-laden vest in a busy Baghdad square crowded with rush-hour commuters early on Monday, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens, officials said. The attack took place in Adan Square, in a predominantly Shi’ite part of the capital, and appeared to be the latest in a near-daily string of attacks carried out by Sunni Islamic extremists targeting the country’s Shi’ite majority. A police officer provided the death toll and said 45 other people were wounded. A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media. The attack came two days after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi lifted a midnight to 05:00 curfew in the capital that had been in place in various forms since 2004, when Iraq was engulfed in violence following the US-led invasion the year before.

Mexican forces locate 10 kidnap victims

ÏÏÏSoldiers have located 10 peo-

ple who say they were fleeing their kidnappers in the embattled state of Guerrero and arrested two suspected gang members, Mexico’s government said on Sunday. The mass kidnapping took place in Cocula, the same municipality where federal authorities say 43 college students were killed and burned by a drug cartel in September. A statement from the federal government said that soldiers and police were sent to the area in response to rumours that 10 to 15 people had been kidnapped in Cocula. The federal forces located seven people who said they had been abducted and were fleeing their kidnappers, then later found six more people in similar conditions. Some presented injuries and dehydration, the statement said. It did not say how they had escaped or were rescued. The other freed hostages identified three of the people located by soldiers as members of the gang who had kidnapped them. Two were detained and one was a minor. On Saturday, there had been conflicting reports about how many were taken and whether some were workers for Media Luna, a Canadian-owned gold mining project in Cocula.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Soyinka and the burden of truth

Kennedy Emetulu

ecent reports say Professor Wole Soyinka went before little school children to say that though he wouldn’t be voting, President Goodluck Jonathan does not deserve reelection based on the fact that the Chibok girls are yet to be rescued. But why is he not voting when what he has done is to effectively endorse General Muhammadu Buhari, a man he said should not have even contemplated coming out to contest any election? Of what value is his comment when all he has against Jonathan is that the Chibok girls have not been rescued? Or is he in possession of other information the rest of us do not have about their abduction? Why is he is not considering the very clear possibility that the kidnap is the result of sabotage against the Jonathan government? Okay, since we have started this whole “over-200-girls kidnapped” story, has anybody ever managed to give us more than fifteen names of

the missing girls (apart from that speculative list compiled by CAN)? Have we seen more than 10 families from Chibok come out publicly to say their children were amongst the kidnapped girls? Or are the Abuja “BringBackOurGirls” campaigners the mothers and fathers of these girls? No, this is not a criticism of the “BringBackOurGirls” campaigners, because I believe they are doing a great job of keeping the issue on the front-burner of national and international public opinion, but facts are sacred and we need not tiptoe around them so as not to hurt contrived sensibilities. The unvarnished truth is that a lot is still unclear about the kidnap and so many people in government and the opposition have cases to answer, including President Goodluck Jonathan. But Professor Soyinka choosing to hang it all on Jonathan’s head in his mission to join his APC friends to elect Muhammadu Buhari (the biggest political supporter of Boko Haram) as the next president of Nigeria is plainly unconvincing! It does not matter to Soyinka that the

West has done everything to stop us from arming our army to fight the insurgents precisely because they do not want a strong Nigerian military in the Gulf of Guinea. It does not matter to him that our neighbours who were supposed to be part of the multinational force against Boko Haram had up till now been playing politics with the issue, allowing their territories to be used as staging posts. It does not matter to him that after the noise by the international community to help, they in actuality offered absolutely nothing. It doesn’t matter to him that right now we are making real headway in dealing with the insurgents simply because the international community and now our neighbours are finally recognising the threat the group poses to the sub-region. It’s convenient for political reason for Professor Soyinka to regard the Boko Haram as a local Nigerian phenomenon that should have been handled by Jonathan when in truth it is only a Nigerian franchise of global jihad. Honestly, I have no problem with

Soyinka’s decision not to vote, but if this is what he has decided, the sensible and reasonable thing would have been for him to firmly keep quiet over who is the right or wrong choice in the forthcoming election, since he had criticised both candidates extensively. Coming out to say he won’t vote, but that Jonathan does not deserve reelection is hypocritical. It is effectively a vote for Buhari and a confirmation that he is going back to his vomit! He needs to quickly apologize to Buhari and openly join his campaign team. For me, this is the time to turn my back on Soyinka. He might be my intellectual standard-bearer, but he is not my moral guide! Look, God is on His throne and He is watching. He is the One that will judge and determine the outcome of this election! He will do it in such a way that He will leave no one in doubt! Those whose ambitions are stumbling blocks to our national development will be openmouthed when the Lord benches them! True patriots shall have the last laugh!

Still on Buhari’s controversial certificate

Chijama Ogbu

he controversy over the certificates of the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, has aroused more questions than answers. Is it that the retired army general joined the army without the prerequisite qualifications? If he indeed went to a secondary school and obtained the certificate that was bandied around in the media, why is he not in custody of the originals? Why did he say it was with the military, when he indeed knew all along that it was not so? What is the veracity of the certificate ? There are many questions that Buhari needs to answer to put the matter to rest. This is not a matter that can be dismissed with the wave of the hand as the APC and its supporters may wish. This is because it goes beyond the veracity or otherwise of the certificate. At the core is whether the general, whose major selling point is his claim to integrity, lied in his INEC form? The certificate and accompanying documents tendered by Buhari still left many questions unanswered because his details were hardly discernible from the copies shown to the media.

Besides, as the director of Publicity, Jonathan Campaign Organisation, has said while rejecting the certificate, that some of the lettering of the document appeared superimposed. Buhari had originally claimed under oath that his certificate was with the military. The military later came out to say that they were not in possession of such certificate. This back-and-forth and barefaced equivocations smack of misalignment of facts and this is under oath. Three scenarios are possible here. One, that General Buhari never really obtained a school certificate as claimed and is trying to cover up. Two, the certificate that was released by his former school was doctored to suit his political objectives. Three, he had obtained a certificate but is not willing to tender it because of poor results. Notwithstanding the above possibilities, political pundits believe that what is playing out is the consequence of some special concessions discreetly given to persons of northern extraction to enable them catch up with their southern counterparts. To achieve this, the entry requirements were gratuitously waived. So while the likes of Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu joined the army with his Oxford Cambridge

Masters degree, his northern counterpart was being admitted without even a WASC certificate. Many were admitted based on recommendation from a school principal. This was corroborated by Colonel Ben Gbulie (retd) in his book, ‘Nigerian Five Majors’. He wrote, “In an attempt to catch up militarily with the South, the northern politicians had thrown out all discretion. They had lowered standards of admission drastically, settling for the minimum. “For as I recalled, all the Northerners in my intake had been trained at the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot. And they had become officers after barely six months of military training, whereas those of us who had been sent to Sandhurst had had to do two long years to earn the Queen’s Commission. The implications were quite clear - and most disturbing. Not only had these Northerners become commissioned officers before we were half-way through our first year at Sandhurst, they had all risen to the enviable rank of Captain before we could even appear at the sovereign’s parade which served essentially as a prerequisite for our passing out as Second Lieutenants.” Granting that Buhari actually obtained the certificate he pre-

sented, what is glaring is that he failed mathematics, which is a primary requirement for admission into the officer cadre. Persons who are well-informed on military matters said that there was no way the APC flag bearer would have risen legitimately to be a general in the army without meeting the entry requirements of credit in English, Mathematics and three other subjects. With the yoking together of divergent and disparate entities by the colonial powers, so much compromise was fostered on primordial sentiment. The social malaise dates back to the period when the likes of Buhari were recruited into the military on compromised standard and pushed up the ladder, over and above their counterparts from the South. Buhari is a product of that warped past. He is used to seeing other people’s rights and privileges frozen for him to forge ahead of them. And the unfortunate thing is that the beneficiaries of that old order believe it must continue. That is why they are uncomfortable whenever power is domiciled elsewhere. Nigeria craves for a new order where equity and justice form the fulcrum of our national aspirations and relationships.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE MOUNTAIN OF GREAT SALVATION EVANGELICAL MINISTRY This is to notify the general public that the above named Ministry has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Emmanuel Yemi Zaccious - President 2. Olatoye Ezekiel Oluwakayode - Secretary 3. Ogundeji Gbenga 5. Emmanuel Kemi Bose

PUBLIC NOTICE

360 ENTREPRENEUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE:

4. Adeyemo Debora Bose 6. Adeyemi Olukemi Adeola

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE; 1. To preach the word of God and bring people to the saving knowledge of Christ. 2. To restore hope to those who have lost it. 3. To build worship centres for the purpose of christian activities. 4. To engage in educational activities for academic excellence and in other to instill discipline and the fear of God in our young ones. Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

1. Chief Amb, Dr Larry-Goodwill Akintoba Ajiola 3. Elder Dabipi Jamabo

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Adeniyi Michael Adepoju -President 2. Odeyemi Hammed Jimoh - Secretary 3. Bolaji Olufemi Mayowa -Member 4. Awoniyi Adeyinka Rahmta -Member 5. Shittu Jimoh Adekunle-Member 6. Balogun Sheu Tijani-Member 7. Shorinmade Adeyemi Samuel -Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To promote worldwide the good Management of wildlife 2. To maintain a sportsmanlike concept of hunting 3. To prevent illegal and unsportsmanlike practices. 4. To safeguard worldwide the interests of clients 5. To represent worldwide the interests of professional hunters, outfitters and guides. 6. To collaborate with governments on the conservation of flora and fauna. Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Ajayi Moses 08035797477, 08094210036

PUBLIC NOTICE

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Outreach has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Victoria Iyabo Aku Erhabor 3. Ambro Ifeanyi Banor

2. Felicia Egbune 4. Gregory Utomwen Ogbeifun

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To provide platform for the movement of widows in the society. 2. To give voice to those who do with better life expectancy. 3. To empower widows to become independent.

To protect the interest of business men & women (members) towards economic growth and social development in our society. Any Objection(s) to this Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication. Signed: CHIEF AMB, DR LARRY-GOODWILL AKINTOBA AJIOLA

4. Pastor Emmanuel Omumubike

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE:

SIGNED BY: AKINTUNDE OLANIRAN

LIFEMATE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION

2. Hon. Anthony Ogosu

WIDOWS RESCUE INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH

PUBLIC NOTICE

WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONCERN FOR UPLIFTMENT INITIATIVE

ALASODUDU SCHOLARSHIP BURSARY AWARD FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has

applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under

Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE :

1. Mrs Adejoke Suliyat Fawemi

2. Mrs Adenike Kafayat Oguntola

1. Mr Toyin Olagunju

3. Miss Taiwo Oluwaseyi Opejin

4. Kehinde Moruf Opejin

3. Mr. Teniola Olagunju 4. Mr. Folarin Olagunju

2. Mrs. Carol Olagunju

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES :

1. To promote and coordinate an integrated national Advocacy for women and

1. To make positive impacts in the area of education

children

2. To assist brilliant and talented indigent students

2. To provide welfare services to the upliftment of women and children.

3. To promote harness and develop educational interest in youth

Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-

General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama,

Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

Signed : O. A. Kolawole Esq (Solicitor)

PUBLIC NOTICE

IMMACULATE HEALING MINISTRY.

CHILD FOCUS INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY.

FRESHWORD GLORIOUS ASSEMBLY

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

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

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

Trustees. 1. Prophet Alex Longinus Ugonna 2. Mrs. Cynthia Ugonna 3 Mr. Obiyo Kingsley Ogbonna 4. Hon. / Sir Prince Eleager Onyewuchi Ogbonna 5 Mrs. Grace Ugochi Ogbonna 6 Mr. Obiyo Kingsley Ogbonna 7 Mr. Destiny Chidera Ogbonna

Trustees. 1. Dr Adefoyeke Olufunmilayo Aduramigba-Modupe 2. Prof. Olasunkanmi David Kajogbola 3. Mrs. Toyosi Yewande Tunde-Akintunde 4. Evang. Kayode Bamidele Olutimehin 5. Mrs Bolanle Olufunke Oluwale 6. Evang. Olutunde Olugbemiga Oluwale

Trustees. 1. Pastor Miracle Ishioma Ugbe 2. Evang Sunny Peter 3 Pastor Joy Umunneoma 4 Brother Godwin Ejeh Uwadia

Aim and Objective. To preach the Gospel of the lord Jesus Christ. Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Dotun Akinsola & co

PUBLIC NOTICE

Aim and objective. 1. To creating awareness in the society that child welfare should be given high priority 2. To running a children’s library and children’s book center Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Aim and Objective. 1. To preach the Gospel of our lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to the whole world. 2 To impact lives through the instrumentality of God’s word for them to fulfill their destinies, 3. To make disciples of all nations Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: EVANG. OLUTUNDE OLUGBEMIGA OLUWALE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Signed: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

ANAKU BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

VOICE OF THE KING CHRISTIAN CHARITY BAND

THE ORDER OF CHRIST CHURCH

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

Trustees. 1. Ubah Chike 3. Anierobi Prince 5. Chiwetalu Emmanuel 7. Nonyelum Emmanuel

The Trustees Are : 1. Ogunyanwo Owolabi Sunny - President 2. Ava Martins Matthias - Treasurer 3- Omolehinju Gabriel Kolawole - Secretary 4- Ogunyanwo Bolaji Ajoke - Member 5- Akinwunmi Opemipo Emmanuel - Member 6- Olubowale Abiodun Gbenga - Member

2. Chukwuma Emmanuel 4. Obidike Peter Chukwujekwu 6. Rev Nwabunwanne Anthony 8. Barr. Micheal Udekwe Chukwuemeka

Aim and Objective. To minister the gospel of our lord and savior Jesus Christ as enshrined in the Holy Bible Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: BARR. MICHAEL UDEKWE CHUKWUEMEKA 07040043045

Aim and Objective : To preach the word of God via gospel music Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Secretary 07040043045

Trustee: 1. Moyesan Akinyemi Victor – President/Overseer. 2. Brodrick Monday Nice – Vice President 3. Uzoh Obinna Bonaventure – Secretary 4. Moyesan Onome Comfort – Financial Secretary 5. Awosina Olayinka Elizabeth – Provost Aims & Objectives 1.To preach the word of God 2. A church patterned after Christ to reconcile the world to God through the preaching of the gospel of Christ 3. To teach and build the people to stand for holiness and to be an example of Christ in this world. Any objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Onuoha Chukwuma (ESQ)

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

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

Colour

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

Pictures & Captions Classified Advert

Loose Insert

Colour

Political

Black & White

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Politics Jonathan

s We’ve mobilised

40million votes for Jonathan –Karka

Wale Akintunde Yola

The National Cordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward to ward Initiative for Jonathan and Sambo 2015, Mr Kamal Karka, has disclosed that his group has already mobilised 40 million votes for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in the Presiden-

tial election. Karka, who disclosed this during the North-East Presidential Monitoring Team tour to Yola said that its mission was to take the campaign of the president to ward level which he described as the critical electoral unit. He explained that the group had its membership in all states, adding that its membership was up to four million adding that each of its members was duty bound to influence 10 votes for Jonathan.

Karka also said that the tour was to sensitise people of the grassroots over the achievements of Mr President which would qualify his re-election. “This group is out to reach out to the grassroots especially the wards and to enlightened voters on the achievements of Mr President and why he stands the better candidate to be re-elected. “Our conviction is based on the fact that Jonathan is the only Nigerian leader who advocates CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Taming pre-election violence in Benue State Freddie Adamgbe Makurdi

Suswam

There is no denying the fact that Benue State, over time has been notorious for pre-and post election violence resulting in waste of human lives and unprecedented destruction of properties. The election preceeding independence in 1964 witnessed the unwarranted killings of prominent traditional rulers who were sympathetic to the then Northern People’s Congress (NPC) against the home grown United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) pioneered by the late J.S Tarka. The case was no difference in 1979 when the ban on party politics was lifted by the then military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Between 1990 and 2003, the story was same but the worse case scenario was witnessed in the local government polls conducted by the then governor George Akume led administration. Under the watchful eyes of

George Akume, allegations were rife that a killer squad allegedly heavily founded with state government funds unleashed terror on innocent Benue people to a level better imagined that revealed. From Tarka to Ukum local governments and a specific target to Kwande people, thousands of people were sent to their early graves just for refusing to vote the ruling party while scores of others were displaced with no help coming their way from any angle. Barely few days to the 2015 general election, before it was postponed, the trend has again resumed and assumed a disturbing trend that is threatening the relative peace enjoyed in Benue after the Fulani insurgency that plagued the entire state in recent past. Worried by the impending breach of the peace due to the activities of political parties and elective office seekers, the Catholic Dioceses of Makurdi, CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

‘Why Jonathan must be re-elected’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

for youths and women empowerment. “It is in this quest to empower youth that we are using our resources to canvass support for Jonathan come 2015. “This meeting today will convey your messages back to Mr President and he will address your entire problem when he is returned”, he stressed. The national coordinator attributed the socio political challenges facing the north to the elites who did not mean well for their kits and kins. He urged the youth to rise against any form of ethno-religious politics for the future, adding that the “old brigade have used us enough and this is the time to say enough is enough. “Let us tell ourselves the truth, we are problems to ourselves because the elites in the north had never helped the region and today they are pointing accusing fingers at other people. They have ruled more than any other region, yet the north remains the

poorest region. “We should start telling them the truth so that they will stop using religion to divide us. If we want to develop our quality of life, then we should drop politics of ethno-religion”, he added. He said the PDP ward to ward would be sustained after the election, adding that the same structure would be considered in the provision of dividends of democracy to the people. Earlier, Mr Nuhu Wunga, Adamawa State Coordinator said that though the terrain was rough due to insecurity but the organisation would use its well articulated structure to deliver

They have ruled more than any other region yet the North remains the poorest region

Jonathan in the state. Wunga urged the national team to let the PDP national campaign organisation be aware that the group needed logistics to be able to reach out to all nooks and crannies of the state. Also, Mrs Beatrice Joseph, State Chairperson of Women Councillors Association in the state, urged President Jonathan to make it mandatory for PDP states to adopt the 35 per cent affirmative action for women, noting that the quota of women for elective positions was very poor in the state. She accused the ruling elites for neglecting councillors, pointing out that councillors were symbols of grassroots politics. She bemoaned the situation where women were not given adequate chances in the polity, noting that the bulk of the votes were from the women. She also decried the domineering attitudes of the old politicians in the state, assuring that youth and women involvement would end insurgency in the region. Jonathan

Pastors have a right to warn their flock against bad leaders Rt. Rev. Justus Mogekwu is the Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Asaba. He spoke with MONDAY OSAYANDE on incendianry languages used by politicians and others. Excerpts:

Rt. Rev. Mogekwu

Again, the stage is set for General elections in the country, would there be violence like in the past? There will be no outbreak of violence as in the past, so no cause to worry for now; of course we should not rule out the fact that in some parts of the North, particularly North East there have been reports of bombing in the countdown to the election. That is not to say there is cause for us to fear, every effort should be made by everybody, law enforcement agents, individual, politicians and parties, and ordinary citizen to ensure that they

move for peace and refrain from any action that can lead to any violent act. What about the accord signed by the presidential candidates? With the signing of accord by Jonathan and Buhari, I hope they restrain their supporters from going haywire and our prayer is that we shall not be disappointed. Mass Exodus of Northerners from Asaba? I don’t see any reason why they should leave because we are not violent people; it is they who are violent because their attitude is

that unless they win there will be no peace. In the south, we are peaceful, and accommodating. We don’t behead people, bombing and killing as we witness in the North. They are leaving without any basis; when they know they will cause violence and problem. Nobody is going to attack them, provided they conduct themselves peacefully. But if they are aware that their people are going to kill and slaughter people like in the last election, if they leave they have cause to do so. I am aware too that a few CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

19 Politics

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Otukpo, Gboko and KatsinaAla recently organised a peace Pilgrimage/Annual Prayer Pilgrimage at the St John the Baptist and Cathedral to impress it on politicians and the relevant stakeholders to see the need to embrace peace before during and after the elections. But hardy had the church event finished that the Senate Minority Leader, Dr George Akume openly engaged his rival in the forth coming senatorial election in Benue North west Senatorial District, Mr Mike Ornguga Mku in a fierce and threatening encounter. It took the intervention of the presiding Bishop, Dr Avenya to escort Sen Akume out of the church premises which invariably averted a cash between the supporters of the two political giants who all hail from the old Gboko area. But two days after the Gboko peace outing, whatever was preached at the Catholic Bishops in Benue was thrown in the trash can as alleged thugs loyal to notorious armed bandits stormed politicians, attacked and burnt down a campaign vehicles belonging to a member of the House of Representatives, Dr John Dyeyh who was on his way to attend an APC decamping rally in Buruku local government area of the state. In the same Buruku local government area, hired militia working on the instruction of their sponsors stormed, attacked and disrupted a church service organised in honour of an APC House of Representatives candidate, Rt Hon Emmanuel Orker Yisa Jev. In a commando style invasion, militants insisted that they will not fold their arms and watch Hon Jev campaign or hold any activity in Mbagen land which is the home country of his PDP rival, Mr Joseph Tyav. The police command in Gboko, it was gathered were intimated with the brazen attack at the church outing but failed

David Mark

Ortom

Benue: Again election flashpoint In a commando style invasion, militants insisted that they will not fold their arms and watch Hon Jev campaign or hold any activity in Mbagen land which is the home country of his PDP rival, Mr Joseph Tyav.

to take action giving reasons that the case was above their capacity and should therefore be transferred to the command headquarters in Makurdi where it might be handled with kids gloves as usual. With the threatening body language and utterances of political party candidates and their supporters to spill blood, it is doubtful if the 2015 general election will hold without a repeat of the old wild-wild-west epi-

sode. Politicians should remember that no human life is worth their condition. They should call their supporters to tow the path of peace during and after the elections. This could be achieved if only the electoral umpire (INEC) conducts a free, fair transparent and credible polls with security agencies seeing and acting nonpartisan in the discharge of their duties and with the fear of God.

Buhari should apologise to Nigerians CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

southerners in the North may have been leaving, but it is because they fear that the core Northerners are violent. Buhari

Does it augur well for Democ-

racy? It does not augur well for democracy; it does not also augur well for ordinary peace. During the 2011 election, Buhari had boasted, threatened that if he did not win, he was going to make life ungovernable for the President

and of cause that led to the escalation of attack we have against Christians and churches which later spread to Moslem who were known to be supportive to the Christian, and till now, Buhari has not find it necessary to apologise. If he had not apologised and

he had not seen anything wrong with what he said, then, there is this hood that he maintains, and his followers will key in on that to foment trouble because he had not counseled them against causCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Politics 20 Tom Garba Yola

The emergence of Malam Nuhu Ribadu as the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State came as a shock to many party loyalists. This was because of the belief that he was out rightly imposed on the people of the state. It appeared that his coming was more of an imposition in order to change the old order of things in the state. This is seen as a move to change Adamawa from bad to good, from underdeveloped to developed, as all over the world, Adamawa is regarded as the second backward state in Nigeria in terms of growth and development. It was as a result of these poignant issues that a search for whoever can stop the drift in government and make it one that will not allow corruption that has been in the corridors of powers in the state was put in motion. There was a sort of manhunt for a government that will not encourage a family and friends system especially a style of administration that has been in use in the state but to have a governor with a kind of iron shoe ready to match the toes of the high and mighty many of whom have been receiving and helping in looting up the treasury of the state through inflated and fake contracts. This was why some power brokers in the state that are known as Abuja politicians decided on Nuhu Ribadu, whom they believed to be the only fearless lion who can re-shape the entire state. Ribadu is regarded as a household name in the fight against corruption. And it is believed that a man of his calibre will not hesitate to deliver Adamawa, his own motherland which he knows is in dire need of people of his type. Thus the selection of Rev. Ha-

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Nuhu Ribadu’s running mate ruffles feathers bila M. Istifanus is rather another big surprise to the people of the state as Habila is only known to be a clergyman with his anointed cassock of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is regarded as a lover of his community, his inbuilt nature of helping his people through rendering free health, soft loans and skill acquisition services to thousands of people in Chamba land. Little did he know that his philantropic gestures has becoming the touch of leadership in the minds of his people. In 1999 while in Leeds University, United Kingdom studying international studies where he obtained his masters degree, Habila was beckoned by his people to be the chairman of Ganye Local Government area, a call he turned down for fear of being bogged down with political issues. As the

The selection of Rev Habila M Istifanus is rather a big surprise to the people of Adamawa State as Habila was only known as a clergyman with his anointed cassock of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ

Ribadu

saying goes ‘the voice of men is the voice of God’, his people canvassed and voted for him while he was far away in University of Basel reading his Masters degree in Advanced Studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation. After much efforts, he convinced to be the chairman and served with all sense of accountability with proven records of great achievement during his time. His pastoral call took him through the rudiments of the calling. He started life as a Grade two teacher, later Theological of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), Bukuru Jos, 1984-1988 and 1995-1997

obtained both degree and masters of theology and rose to the level of senior lecturer in Bonoten Bible College. This clergy gentleman could not find true fulfillment on what he was doing until discovering of another calling of being a peopleoriented person by coming to render help to the helpless. With passion burning in him, Habila formed Non Governmental Organisations known as Development Initiative for Social Change (DISOC), Community Action for Rural Empowerment (CARE) and Youth Movement for Development Initiative (YOMDI). He has also for the past 15 years been pro-

viding study opportunities and scholarships to more than 60 indigenes of Ganye chiefdom. He initiated a yearly free medical care, a program which brings together 40 medical experts from USA. The zero tolerance of corruption was demonstrated by Rev. Habila when he was the Ganye council boss, the first to have published the statement of the council accounts and who always wants to maintain accountability in all transactions. This nature of his made him to gain a lot of confidence from some overseas donor agencies. With Rev Habila’s high profile in both the secular and the pastoral knowledge, his large contributions to the development of Chamba chiefdom were reasons considered for his selection to be Ribadu’s running mate. It is worthy of note that his origin as a Chamba man has immensely contributed to his choice where chambas are the only tribe in Adamawa state that has 36 wards splits across three LGAs i.e Jada, Ganye and Toungo with overflowing of the tribe in Mayo-Belwa and some parts of Taraba State. This makes the tribe sensible a force to be reckoned with and determinant in winning election in the state. The population of Chamba tribe has presently placed them in the advantageous point as the major contending political parties (PDP and APC) have their running mates from that tribe for the sake of their population which when considered, will give them an edge over other parties that do not have a Chamba man as a link

Security agencies should gear up CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

ing trouble if he did not win. If our leaders can stop making such inflammatory statements, it will help their followers to maintain peace. That is why I think the law enforcement agents should stand up to the challenge, to deal ruthlessly with anybody that foments trouble. If you clamp down on them fire-for-fire, they will know that they cannot do anything and go scot free. They should not take God for granted, I will not subscribe to that kind of statement. I wouldn’t condemn any candidate, but as a shepherd of my sheep, I have every cause to warn them against

the consequences of voting for one candidate or the other. I see Buhari as a champion of Islamic programme in Nigeria. Buhari is somebody who sees sharia more in Nigeria as lawful on the Muslim, but he does not see the conflict they have with the Christians. He had maintained that if he has the opportunity, he will pursue Islam to its logical conclusion. Of course you cannot do such a thing in situation where there are non Moslem, a place where Christian are more than the Moslems. Even if we are not, we must respect a neutral legal system to guarantee peace for both Christians and Moslems. Since I have seen Buhari as an

That is why I think the law enforcement agents should stand up to the challenge, to deal ruthlessly with anybody that foments trouble

unrepentant Islamic, it in my duty to warn my congregations, to warn the flock as a shepherd not to vote for Buhari because that will be selling their peace and happiness in the country. I say this without any fear of favour or contradiction. Any vote for Buhari is a vote for Anarchy. It is a vote for the promotion of Islamic insurgence. He had given the impression that Sharia law should not bother Christians, of course it matters to Christians because if Christians find themselves in a place where Sharia law operates, how does he extricate himself of being punished; under what law are they going to judge?

Having seen a case in Zamfara State when Moslem and Christians conflict, Christians were compelled to be judged under Sharia law. In Kano, for example, churches are being burnt and people killed, but they say Sharia is not for Christians, but those whose properties are being burnt are Christians. So what is the guarantee that if Buhari wins today, Sharia law will not apply to all Nigerians? To that extent, I see that any vote for Buhari is a vote for Anarchy, and I see that, anybody can do what they like. I say it in my church, everywhere; don’t vote for Buhari because we did not trust him.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Abuja File

Some of the illegal schools used by the operators

z ƊƄ è Ɠ ƏƎ è ƕƆ ƂƉƄƕ Ɔ 0 j ƏƋƋ ƍƎ Ï1 ƐƎ Ƌƍ ƄƃƏƎƄ ƅƅƄ ƕƄƍ ƑƆƎ Ƅ ƂƉƆ Ɖ Ƒ APC

Private schools: Dilemma in FCT over quality education Idu Jude

ÏÏÏThe privatisation of

public institutions, which started under former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, resulted in an exponential increase in the number of private schools across the country, from the elementary level to the tertiary. This appears to have become a blessing to states but a curse to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Reason: The states have the political infrastructure to make laws guiding the operation of the schools, while the FCT does not. This has resulted in the proliferation of sub-standard and illegal schools in the FCT. This was confirmed by the Head, Public Relations unit in the

Education Secretariat of the FCT Ministry, Mr. Anthony Ogunleye, who is also a member of the committee on schools inspection. He admitted to Daily Times that his committee has so far been a toothless bulldog; barking without biting. Anthony said that for his committee, under the Department of Quality Assurance to carry out its job successfully, the FCT administration must have a legislative arm to make its laws. He said: “We are handicapped here. In states, the legislative arms of local government councils make edicts and by-laws. The councils are created with state assemblies but that is not the case in the FCT because we have no power to make laws.

“The offenders are aware that there is no provision of legislation for the internal operation of the FCT and they capitalise on that. We are just operating on the domesticated laws of established agencies, which are often not properly legislated before they were made to operate.” Ogunleye said that prosecuting the operators of illegal schools has become pretty difficult because there is no scope of law to work with. It is just a dream unfulfilled, very unrealistic for the moment. It has become so bad that none of these people arrested could be prosecuted because we have no such powers. What we do is seal off the premises which some of them go back to reopen.”

On the minimum standards for establishing private and public schools, Ogunleye explained that a minimum of 1.5 hectres of land is prescribed in the schools establishment guideline in the original Abuja master plan for those operating within the FCT metropolis, and 500 square meters for satellite towns and the suburbs. He noted that the rules were relaxed by the government sometime in 1992 when there was mass influx of people into Abuja and there were no many schools for a great number of children who moved in with their parents. “The government toned down the rules on the amount of money to register and dimension of land acquisition system as contained CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

ÏÏÏA

coalition of women, youths and persons with disability in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the weekend announced support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming elections. They said, at a rally in support of APC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja that the party is better prepared to address the plight of vulnerable groups in the country. They stated that women and the youth had been abandoned for too long while the welfare of disabled persons had been neglected. Hajiya Hasiya Suleiman, National Coordinator, Harbingers of Change for Buhari, a member of the coalition, said that though the present administration had done CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Abuja File 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

It’s a dream unfulfilled and unrealistic for the moment –Ogunleye CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

in the original Abuja master plan,” he said. Ogunleye continued: “That was the genesis of our problems. It was at that time that the Federal Government was pleading with Nigerians to come and develop the FCT. That was when many things went wrong. In the process of doing that, many people grabbed the opportunity to open schools illegally. Now that the government wants to implement the original master plan, it has become problematic.” He disclosed that the FCT administration has written to all schools operating at residential

buildings to come forward and apply for land, adding that immediately such persons approach the office, they are given lands to build and relocate. Ogunleye stressed that the government has also been very slow in implementing these rules because it may encroach on the rights of children living within the same vicinity. “We have stumbled unto many cases in the course of this operation. There are places in Kwali and Abaji area councils where N20 is paid daily as school fee. We discovered that such places are not schools. They use the system to extort money from parents in the morning and in the night the

place is used as football match and cinema viewing center. “We clamped down on them and the place stopped functioning. We have some schools and their owners with good intentions but the bad ones will always complicate matters. Unfortunately, we are a toothless bulldog, for the reason that the FCT does not have the structure of a state and does not make its own laws. It is not within our purview but that of the legal unit of the Education Secretariat of the Ministry of FCT to draft and promulgate laws to guide our operations”. Despite these shortcomings and limitations, the quality assurance department under the Edu-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

ment areas in the country have mobilised resources to ensure that they vote and protect their votes. The coordinator urged Buhari’s supporters to eschew violence during and after the elections, expressing confidence that the APC is a party to beat in the current political dispensation. The leader of Virtuous Women International, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Hajiya Fati Muhammed, also urged women and disabled persons to support the APC. She said the group’s conviction about the party’s capacity to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians stemmed from its record of achievements in some states across the country.

Illegal school by day, relaxation centre at night

We’re convinced about APC’s capacity to deliver

its best, it is time for Nigerians to embrace change. She said that Buhari represents the change that vulnerable groups in the country have yearned for in the past 15 years of democratic rule in the country. Suleiman said that the group was committed to its support for Buhari’s candidacy ‘’till the results of the elections are announced’’. Suleiman disclosed that the group has mobilised its members and will keep sensitising vulnerable persons to adopt the new wave that would “genuinely enthrone transformation’’. According to her, members of the group in the 774 local govern-

cation secretariat of the FCT is doing an immense job of ensuring that a high standard is being maintained. “We have an inspectorate division. Their job is to ensure that all the private schools meet the minimum standards of operation. We have town hall meetings yearly, working closely with the association of private schools owners and every privately owned school is required by the law to be a member of the association and to operate according to its standards. Ogunleye said: “Every year, the inspectorate publishes the names of schools that have been shut and the newly accredited ones after inspection. Last September, we closed down 459 substandard schools in all. For example, last year we learnt about a school in Wuse operating a nursery school in a two-storey shopping plaza and we closed it down. You can imagine that. Also, another one was operating under the Area 2 Bridge near the National Library in Garki. It was an eyesore. We also discovered at Dutse Alhaji, near Kubwa, a school without toilet facilities. The children of the owner of the school were not attending the school. It was also closed down”. It was learnt that most of such schools simply move to another side of Abuja and continue to operate. Ogunleye said: “You see, they do it because we are not empowered by law to prosecute. We only close them down. Of course, they may run to another axis and op-

774 councils pull resources to ensure that they vote and protect their votes Muhammed said that Buhari’s age is not an inhibition to his readiness to salvage the country from its socio-economic problems. ``Buhari’s focus and integrity are some of the strong points that have stood him out among the other candidates. ``We desire a president that is strong, independent in thinking

erate, but it is only a question of time. Abuja will one day have the status of a state and things will take shape”. Oguleye said that all schools accredited in the FCT since 2006 have qualified teachers, according to the recommended qualifications for standard and quality education in Nigeria and anywhere in the world: “We can say unequivocally that before now, graduates in all disciplines were engaged as teachers indiscriminately by the private schools but with the effort of this secretariat, a strict instruction has been given that individuals without educational qualification such as National Certification for Education (NCE) or its equivalent, the National Teachers Institute (NTI), must be removed. They must have at least the basic knowledge for teaching or leave the field”. It is observed that some school proprietors obtain licences in the FCT but operate from neighbouring states like Nasarawa and Niger States. Ogunleye said that the laws of such states ought to catch up with them. He said: “The FCT lacks the power of a state. We are aware of the pranks of such proprietors. For example, some states collect taxes from every operator that fails to register with their educational system or with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Because of urban migration or change of environment, some proprietors move with their businesses without reregistering on arrival in the FCT. Such a thing is illegal,” he said.

and has the capacity to deal with both family and national pressure,’’ she said. Muhammed said that the group had mobilised women and disabled persons across religious and ethnic lines to vote for Buhari. According to her, contrary to the notion that Buhari is a religious bigot, support for him cuts across religious and cultural affiliations. She disclosed that women from different church groups in the FCT were strongly in support of the Buhari’s ticket for the presidency. She allayed fears that the APC would create religious, political and ethnic divisions if it wins the election.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Law

Lawyers differ on polls shift

Jega, INEC Chairman

The general election has been rescheduled to hold on March 28 and April 11 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but, there are divergent views over whether the commission has such powers, writes PETER FOWOYO.

Obla

Discordant tunes continue to trail the postponement of the 2015 general election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While some lawyers believe that only INEC has the constitutional power to shift an election, others say that the foundation relied upon by the umpire to postpone the general election was not only shaky, but, also unconstitutional. The electoral umpire, at the weekend, announced to the amazement of the Nigerian public that, although, it was ready to conduct the election, reports from the country’s security chiefs might hinder its preparedness

to go on as scheduled. This assertion by the electoral umpire, made some lawyers believe that it was being coerced, by forces beyond its control, to shift election dates. Although, the elections fixed for February 14 and 28 for presidential and gubernatorial elections had been postponed to March 28 and April 11 respectively, several countries, including the United States of America, expressed dismay over the sudden postponement. Lawyers, who spoke exclusively with the Daily Times on Monday, disagreed over whether or not INEC has the constitutional

power to postpone the general election giving the facts that Section 26 of the Electoral Act states clearly when the umpire is authorised to effect such postponement. Chief Godwin Obla, SAN, based in Abuja said: “It’s the INEC that set the time table for the election, if it had the power to set the timetable, why won’t it have the power to shift it? It has the power to shift the time-table within a particular time frame, it must conduct the elections, at least, 30 days before the handover date, which is May 29. Anything after that will be illegal, unconstitutional and void. But, what we are looking at now

are two things, basically, INEC has the right to fix and to change the time-table, but, whether such a step, in adjusting it by postponing or extending the time, is also politically or economically expedient is another issue. It is an issue for political scientists and economists to discuss. But, as to whether INEC has the legal right? Yes, it does”. A constitutional lawyer, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, however, disagrees: “INEC did not cite security among other reasons, INEC stated that the security chiefs, including the National Security

Politicians standing criminal trials can vie for elective positions

Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, a Senior Advocate Nigeria and former Chairman, Oturkpo Local Government Area of Benue State was called to the Inner Bar in 2013. In this interview with PETER FOWOYO, he spoke on the crisis rocking the Rivers State judiciary, alleged speculation that a judge was bribed to scuttle democracy, why the National Judicial Council should speak on the attack of its members in Ekiti state and

other sundry issues.

Federal High Court and Court of Appeal and their jurisdiction, of course, is limited. So, it is even worse now, that when the courts were supposed to resume, they became the targets for bombing, which means that judicial and legal activities cannot, actually, take place in those places. First and foremost, there may be no physical infrastructure to be used and even where they are available, there will be palpable fear in the air where litigants

A few days after the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) resumed from a three-week industrial action, there were bombings of courts in Rivers State. What does this portend for democracy? I think that the case of the Rivers State judiciary was very unfortunate, for a very long time, the court were shut down, so the only functional courts were the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Law 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

‘Lawyers employ various time-wasting devices to defeat justice’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

and workers, out of fear for their lives, may stay away from the courts. I do not think this is good enough for us, don’t forget that it will affect pre-election matters and some of these preelection matters are no matters that are cognisable by the Election Petitions Tribunal, so if you don’t file your suit before the elections are conducted, of course, it may now be effectively time-barred. These are the things that impact directly on our nascent democracy. But don’t you think that aggrieved politicians who have no courts to vent their anger can resort to anarchy? It is a possibility, but, it will be a stupid act because taking the laws into their hands does not give them judgment neither does it validate whatever positions they seem to canvass. I think the best thing in this circumstance is for everybody to realise the futility of their stupid behaviour and the need for us to conduct ourselves within the realm of the rule of law, so that things can be done in an orderly and lawful manner. So what is the way forward in the crisis bedevilling the Rivers State judiciary? I think all the stakeholders must realise that unless they toe the path of constitutionalism, this crisis will continue to be there and, as long as this crisis persists, none of them will benefit from it, because none of them would have any recourse to the courts for venting their grievances.

Some senior members of the Bar have faulted the judgment that JUSUN relied upon to embark on the strike. How do you see that judgment? Well, first and foremost, I think it is wrong for people to be faulting judgments on the pages of newspapers. If you are a senior lawyer, you know the proper thing to do is to appeal against the judgment that you disagree with. After a judgment has been given, there is an unqualified obligation on the part of everybody affected by that judgment or to whom that judgment is directed to, unconditionally, obey that judgment unless and until you obtain, one, a stay of execution of the judgment or, two, an appellate decision overturning that judgment. Other than that, even if you disagree with the judgment, you are bound to obey it. Are you saying that embarking on strike by JUSUN is commendable? Well, if they have tried to use other legal platforms and those responsible in ensuring judgment have not been helpful, well, in my opinion, I see nothing wrong in what they are doing, because this judgment was directed at specific persons, there is an obligation to obey it, so if they don’t obey the judgment and the beneficiaries are saying, ‘well, it is obvious that they are using the state apparatus to disobey the judgment’, then they too, in all fairness, will not be wrong if they embark on the strike. Are you saying strike is a tool for enforcing court judg-

Obla

‘‘If you are a senior lawyer, you know the proper thing to do and the proper thing to do is to appeal against the judgment that you disagree with’’

ment? It is a labour tool, not, necessarily, to enforce court judgment but don’t forget that the judgment is a declarative one and because of that, those who the judgment was directed against, of course, were using the apparatus of state to frustrate it. So JUSUN too has cleverly devised its own strategy to enforce it except, of course, if you want me to throw the question back to you that what did you expect JUSUN to do if there is a valid judgment? What did you expect it to do if the judgment had not

been set aside on an appeal? The persons who the judgment was targeted refused to obey or carry out the order. But are there no ways of enforcing court judgments? How? Tell me. That is why I told you it is a declarative judgment and don’t forget we are on a slippery ground. It is not a judgment that says ‘go and attach money’, it is different. Several months ago, judges were attacked in Ekiti State, yet, not a single suspect had been arrested by the police. How do you view this development? I think it is the height of irresponsibility for anybody to attack a judge and it goes to show the level that our value systems have actually fallen to. Having said that, I am aware that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had actually taken up the matter, in liaison with the Inspector General of Police. I think it is important at this stage that the NJC also gives the public some information as to how far it had gone with the police authorities in relation to this matter. It will not be helpful to us if we are actually second-guessing the situation as to whether anybody had been arrested or prosecuted, let us see what the NJC has done so far. Speculations are rife that a judge was bribed to truncate this democracy as it happened in 1993. What is your take? To use a very mild language, I think it is a most ridiculous and stupid proposition because people sit down and conjure all manner of things in this country.

Postponement of election may cause violence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Jonathan

Adviser, told the commission that they were not ready to provide security for the general election, including the logistical distribution of election materials; because of that, the electoral body was compelled, by circumstances, to shift the election. In other words, the INEC that said it was ready was coerced, compelled, intimidated, threatened and subdued into shifting the February 14 and 28 polls. “Now, does INEC have the power to do what it did? No! Contrary to opinions, expressed by many lawyers after the postpone-

ment, that what INEC did was provided for in the constitution, what INEC was compelled to do is illegal and unconstitutional. “Under Section 26 of the Electoral Act, INEC can postpone election after announcing a date for the election, if before the holding of that election INEC realises that there is, likely, going to be a serious breach of the peace or there is an emergency that warrants a shift or such other incident that will cause the election to be successfully held on the date as earlier announced. “So INEC can then shift the polls in the affected

areas and then go ahead with the elections in the other areas. Elections in those affected areas will be postponed to another day at which election will be conducted in other wards, INEC does not have the general power to cancel or postpone an election on a countrywide basis, except it’s been suggested that election cannot be held in the entire country and that is not what has been suggested. “What the security chiefs referred to is the situation in the North-East, which they want to

concentrate on and so they wanted the elections to be postponed. They have not stated that because other parts of the country will face a similar security problem, therefore, elections cannot be held. In other words, under Section 26, INEC does not have the power to postpone election or cancel election on a countrywide basis. What the Section says is that if elections cannot be held in certain areas, those certain areas will be excised from the holding of elections, which will proceed in other areas and then INEC will return to those affected areas to conduct the elections.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Chronicle Today in History

s Cartoon from our Archives

Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola 1967 Army coup plot foiled in Sierra Leone Prime Minister, Sir Albert Margai of Sierra Leone, on this day in 1967 announced the discovery of an army officers’ plot against him and thanked President Sekou Toure of Guinea for helping him to forestall it. He said President Toure moved his troops to the border with Sierra Leone after he invoked their agreement to help each other crush internal subversion. Sir Albert said that President Toure took military action to help him deal with the plot. President Toure announced that Guinean troops were moved to the Sierra Leone border and the Air Force was alerted following the signing of a mutual agreement with Sierra Leone to crush internal subversion. Sir Albert declared that on learning of the plot he contacted President Toure “and requested him to be ready to keep the pledge they had made to aid each other if requested”. 1942 Japanese sub bombards Midway On this day, a Japanese submarine launched a brutal attack on

1970

Avalanche buries skiers in France

1970 Avalanche buries skiers in France On this day in 1970, an avalanche crashed down on a ski resort in Val d’Isere, France, killing 42 people, mostly young skiers. This disaster was the worst such incident in French history. The resort at Val d’Isere was operated by a non-profit youth organization and attracted many young ski enthusiasts. On the morning of February 10, most of the guests were eating breakfast in a large room facing the mountain. Suddenly, there was an explosion-like sound and approximately 100,000 cubic yards of snow came rushing down the mountain. Three

Midway, a coral atoll used as a U.S. Navy base. It was the fourth bombing of the atoll by Japanese ships since December 7. The capture of Midway was an important part of the broader Japanese strategy of trying to create a defensive line that would stretch from the western Aleutian Islands in the north to the Midway, Wake, Marshall, and Gilbert Islands in the south, then west to the Dutch West Indies. Occupying Midway would also mean depriving the United States of a submarine base and would provide the perfect launching pad for an all-out assault on Hawaii. Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, mastermind of the Pearl Harbour attack and commander in chief of the Japanese combined fleet, knew that only the utter destruction of U.S. naval capacity would ensure Japanese free reign in the Pacific. Japanese bombing of the atoll by ship and submarine failed to break through the extraordinary defence put up by Adm. Chester Nimitz, commander of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, who used every resource available to protect Midway and, by extension, Hawaii.

trail workers who were on the hill were swept away and killed. The young people inside the hotel had little time to react. The snow exploded through the hotel’s large windows and swallowed the crowd inside. Some people were thrown down hallways and through windows. Others were buried so deeply that they could not move at all. Outside, the snow pushed cars right off the road and blocked access to the hotel. The snow was 100 yards high in some spots. Thirty-nine people inside the hotel lost their lives to the avalanche and 60 more suffered serious injuries. French President Georges Pompidou declared it a national tragedy, and authorities ordered evacuations of other resorts in the region. This proved to be a wise move, as other avalanches followed in the next few days. In fact, the abandoned hotel at Val d’Isere was struck again two days later.

Daily Times February 10, 1961

1996

1996 Kasparov loses chess game to computer After three hours, world chess champion Gary Kasparov lost the first game of a six-game match against Deep Blue, an IBM computer capable of evaluating 200 million moves per second. Man was ultimately victorious over machine, however, as Kasparov bested Deep Blue in the match with three wins and two ties and took home the $400,000 prize. An estimated 6 million people worldwide followed the action on the Internet. Kasparov had previously defeated Deep Thought, the prototype for Deep Blue developed by IBM researchers in 1989, but he and other chess grandmasters had, on occasion, lost to computers in games that lasted an hour or less. The February 1996 contest was significant in that it represented the first time a human and a computer had duked it out in a regulation, six-game match, in which each player had two hours to make 40 moves, two hours to finish the next 20 moves and then another 60 minutes to

Kasparov loses chess game to computer wrap up the game. Kasparov, who was born in 1963 in Baku, Azerbaijan, became the Soviet Union’s junior chess champion at age 13 and in 1985, at age 22, the youngest world champ ever when he beat legendary Soviet player Anatoly Karpov. Considered by many to be the greatest chess player in the history of the game, Kasparov was known for his swashbuckling style of play and his ability to switch tactics mid-game. In 1997, a rematch took place between Kasparov and an enhanced Deep Blue. Kasparov won the first game, the computer the second, with the next three games a draw. On May 11, 1997, Deep Blue came out on top with a surprising sixth game win--and the $700,000 match prize. In 2003, Kasparov battled another computer program, “Deep Junior.” The match ended in a tie. Kasparov retired from professional chess in 2005. 1962 Soviets exchange American for captured Russian spy On February 10, 1962, American spy pilot Francis Gary Pow-

ers was released by the Soviets in exchange for Soviet Colonel Rudolf Abel, a senior KGB spy who was caught in the United States five years earlier. The two men were brought to separate sides of the Glienicker Bridge, which connects East and West Berlin across Lake Wannsee. As the spies waited, negotiators talked in the canter of the bridge where a white line divided East from West. Finally, Powers and Abel were waved forward and crossed the border into freedom at the same moment--8:52 a.m., Berlin time. Just before their transfer, Frederic Pryor--an American student held by East German authorities since August 1961--was released to American authorities at another border checkpoint. In 1957, Reino Hayhanen, a lieutenant colonel in the KGB, walked into the American embassy in Paris and announced his intention to defect to the West. Hayhanen had proved a poor spy during his five years in the United States and was being recalled to the USSR, where he feared he would be disciplined.

Bakshi, Vice Airtel

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Tech Future

Paucity of funds may impede vision for ICT growth - Ogunbanjo

Ogunbanjo

ICT is one sector that has to be looked after by government

s Since the Ministry of Communication Technology presented its three and a half year report to stakeholders on January 29, 2015, industry watchers have been reacting to the report, especially aspects which relate to critical infrastructure such as broadband. In this interview with Tony Nwakaegho ,the National President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS) Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo speaks about the performance of the Ministry and other sundry issues. Excerpts: The Minister of Communication Technology, (FMCT) Dr (Mrs) Omobola Johnson recently presented the Ministry’s scorecard to stakeholders in Lagos. What is your assessment of the scorecard vis - a - vis the performance of the sector in general? Let me join a number of colleagues that have commended the Honourable Minister. She started very well, by first and foremost ensuring that she met with stakeholders. Years back and ever since then, the Communication Technology, Minister, Dr (Mrs) Omobola Johnson had been holding the annual ICT stakeholders forum. No Minister has ever done it and she has introduced that in the ICT industry. I must say that it is commendable and it’s an effort worth the while. As for her scorecard, sincerely she is doing pretty well. Again, my take is that the report on broadband is wonderful. She has tried to ensure broadband penetration. She has set

up a committee headed by the erstwhile Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Vice Chairman, Engr Ernest Ndukwe. It is also commendable that she set up another committee to ensure that it works. In your estimation, would you say that the Ministry of Communication Technology is well funded to carry out the task of ensuring that all Nigerians can share in the benefits of ICTs? It is unfortunate that government has not given the Ministry enough funds in terms of budget. She is faced with a situation where the parastatals under her Ministry are even richer than the Ministry which is not tidy. Government should ensure that they give her fund to work. The Ministry is poorly funded. They would need more fund to do the laudable things that the Minister is doing. The Ministry has invited me twice for their event in Abuja and they couldn’t fund my ticket. We are an NGO not being funded by anybody. We are just funding ourselves and couldn’t afford it at that time. Beyond that they are always saying there is paucity of fund. a ICT is one sector that has to be looked after by government. Recently the courier services in the country were seen as being relegated by the Ministry of Communication Technology. How would you assess the courier services against the backdrop of wanting a separate Ministry that would serve their interest? Sincerely there are more questions than answers. I must say that technology is affecting

Scorecard of the Comm. Tech. ministry (2) A clear indication of the upward movement of ICT as a major sector in the Nigerian economy is its current contribution to the GDP. As the fastest growing sector in the Nigerian economy and one of the fastest in the world, the sector now accounts for about 10% of the GDP of the country. The factors which may have influenced the growth no doubt include the ubiquity of internet technology, which is now a way of life, but it is also due to the positioning of the industry for foreign direct investment.

This is where Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson has done an excellent job. The partnerships and agreements the Ministry and its parastatals (such as NITDA) have entered into with several multinational ICT companies such as IBM, Nokia and SAP have been very significant. So also has been the emerging bilateral relationships with countries like South Korea and India. The Minister has been an excellent public relations chief for the sector. She has brought passion, direction, verve and vitality to the sector. She has so movingly argued

the Nigerian case at so many international events and investor fora. Her approach, as well as leadership, is beginning to rub off well on her parastatals. NITDA seems to have picked up the gauntlet. NITDA’s message at the GITEX Expo in the Gulf Region was simple but bold and emphatic: “Invest in Nigerian now or regret it forever!” The import of that message is a story for another day. But it would appear that positive forces have gathered under the new Ministry to give NITDA an impetus that was

Continued on page 27

Omobola Johnson

courier services. Now you can do a number of things online, sign letters and the next thing it’s there, except cargos and bulk parcels. I am sure the courier business is not particularly enjoying as much patronage as before maybe that is what is affecting them. Like I said letters are now done online. You can sign and do a number of transactions online except you need hard copies to be submitted. However, the call for another body I will not support that because it isn’t that the Ministry is not doing enough. It’s just that the industry is not particularly being patronized as much as before. What is the position of the suit from NATCOMS against NCC and the major telecom operators, MTN, Glo, Etisalat and Airtel before the court where the Association is demanding for subscribers to be compensated from the fines imposed by NCC on the operators in Nigeria? We are still in court. Although the NCC is taking steps in directing the telecom operators to do something to their subscribers, we are still watching and waiting for the court’s decision as well. There is another body that you are heading. What is the name? The other body that I am also the President is called the “Consumer Rights Advancement Organisation (CRADO) with office at Suite 13Peecee Shopping Complex Pen Cinema Round About, Opposite Fidelity Bank Ifako Ijaye, Lagos. It is also another advocacy body for the consumers’ rights in Nigeria.

e President customer service,

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Scorecard of the Comm. Tech. ministry (2)

ATCON invites members to Nigeria Diaspora ICT Conference (NiDICT) 2015

Continued from page 26 at best latent. For the first time in its two decades, NITDA under the Ministry participated at major international ICT events like CeBIT in Germany, Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and the Diaspora ICT Conference in Dallas, not to mention the Nigerian Investment Forum hosted by NITDA on October 14, 2014 in the Gulf Region. The Dallas Diaspora outing threw up a major find, Jelani Aliyu, on the technology landscape. Aliyu, a world class, awardwining electronic automobile designer, is a Nigerian prodigy far more popular in the United States than in his home country. Little was known of him until his ovation-laden keynote presentation at the 2014 E-Nigeria Conference and Exhibitions last November in Abuja. Again, that is a story for another day. But for the moment it is sufficient to note that Aliyu’s passion includes mentoring Nigerian youth in innovation and entrepreneurship. The key lesson is that the dots are beginning to connect in the ICT industry as a result of the leadership of the Ministry of Communication Technology. Those connecting dots include the hosting of Demo Africa in Lagos last September, with Nigeria as the Demo Africa hosting partner. Demo, a Silicon Valley brand, began an African edition some years back but had

Continued on page 29

27 Tech Future

Dabengwa, MTN president

MTN set to offer AWS to connect African Businesses Stories by Tony Nwakaegho MTN Group said it is set to offer Amazon Web Services (AWS) Direct Connect to business customers across several countries on the continent. The company disclosed that it would be the first African company to offer the new service which will leverage the extensive footprint of MTN’s Global MPLS network, to provide customers with connectivity between their data centres or businesses and the AWS EU Ireland region. This new service will give enterprises across Africa a dedicated link with which they can access the flexible, scalable and reliable AWS cloud.

According to the MTN Group Chief Enterprise Officer, Mteto Nyati, “the relationship with Amazon Web Services is an important step in our plans to address the needs of enterprise customers in emerging markets, particularly Africa. “As MTN Business, our purpose is to enable and inspire growth on the continent. We believe that by working with a global technology leader such as Amazon Web Services, MTN will be better placed to enable customers to grow their businesses by providing them with reliable connectivity and access to world-class digital solutions.” MTN’s Global MPLS network connectivity offers improved

Continued on page 28

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has invited its members to attend and participate in the Nigeria Diaspora ICT Conference (NiDICT) 2015 with the theme ‘Leveraging on Diaspora Skills-Pool for Nigeria’s Transformation’ slated to hold Thursday 14th - Friday 15th - May, 2015 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Washington DC, USA. According to a release issued by the Secretariat of ATCON, NiDICT 2015 stated that His Excellency (Prof.) Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye, through the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has graciously offered to host the pre- (NiDICT) show holding Wednesday 12th within the embassy, as a way of further educating and highlighting potential investors and partners within the USA on the vast opportunities existing within Nigeria’s ICT space. Also, the NiDICT has the expressed commitment of the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Canada, His Excellency Chief Ojo Uma Maduekwe [CFR], and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to the conference. The release further stated that the “Nigerian ICT professionals in the diaspora are not unmindful of the efforts of our home government to fast-track development in all the sectors of the economy particularly ICT. The NiDICT tries to harness diaspora potential to support the home efforts in accelerating the economic development of our dear country.” The Conference brings together Decision Makers in Government and the Private Sector, Entrepreneurs, Professional Associations, Chambers of Com-

Ajayi

merce, Investors and Fund/ Market Drivers, and Leading Lights in ICT across the three countries to provide and share insight on business, technology and development. Plenary Themes and Workshops within the Conference include Infrastructures – Mobile/Satellite Communications Telecommunications; Power/ Energy ; Regulations/Policies – Right Frameworks for Creating & Expanding Markets and Courting Investors; Human Capital Development –Frameworks for Developing and Harnessing Human Capital Development ; Knowledge/Skill Transfer; IT Local Content – Building and Promoting Local Content: Viewpoints from Home and Abroad; Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Rights –Challenges and Right Approaches: Perspectives from the Public and Private Sectors; Technology and the New Nigeria: Harnessing Data for National Identity and National Planning, as well as Security and the Use of Technology: ICT and Security in Nigeria.

Nokia Networks support Nigeria National Broadband Plan By Tony Nwakaegho Nokia Networks (NNs) has declared its readiness to enable Nigeria’s broadband strategy become a reality as it explored the road for connected Nigeria in line with the government’s ambitious National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2013-2018. The company made its position known at its telecom conference titled, ‘Connect Nigeria: Exploring ICT Potential for Growth’ that hosted about 150 industry experts representing Nokia Networks, operators, gov-

ernment, and IT companies. The plan aims to increase broadband penetration from 6% in 2013 to 30% by 2018 and also to cover 80 per cent of the population with 3G and LTE services and offer a minimum download speed of 1.5 Mbps. Speaking at t the Conference, Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said “The Nokia Networks conference has brought out excellent insights from various telecom industry players on

Continued on page 28

L-R: Noel Kirkaloy, head, Asia, Middle East & Africa (AMEA), Bassim Bennani, head, Marketing and Communication, Africa, Bernard Najm, vice president and head of Middle East and Africa, Nokia Networks, Dr. Sam Nwosu, country director and David Gaul, head of Central East & West Africa (CEWA), Nokia Networks, during ‘Connect Nigeria: Exploring ICT Potential for Growth’ telecom conference in Lagos, recently.

Tech Future 28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Nokia Networks support Nigeria National Broadband Plan Continued from page 27

Najm

MTN set to offer AWS to connect African Businesses Continued from page 27 manageability, reliability and performance. As a result, AWS Direct Connect is expected to bring significant benefits to multinational and large enterprise customers by providing a more consistent network performance when they access AWS. Commenting, Steve Midgley, Head of EMEA, Amazon Web Services Luxembourg Sarl, said “We are excited to be working with MTN to bring the security and reliability of AWS Direct Connect to customers across Africa. “By utilising AWS Direct Connect, customers are able to reduce network costs, increase bandwidth throughput and provide a more consistent network experience, helping African businesses of all sizes to rapidly expand their organisations.” Business customers are also assured of good quality of service by the agreements which MTN offers on MPLS, as they will benefit from reduced bandwidth costs, while the dedicated connection to AWS will result in a lower data transfer rate than normal Internet data transfer rates. AWS Direct Connect is one of the ways in which MTN is addressing the needs of its enterprise customers, as well as enhancing its Cloud offering with new services in the coming months.

how to achieve further mobile broadband penetration in Nigeria in line with our ambitious NBP. “The government is committed to enabling the operators to take the quality and coverage of mobile broadband services to a new level for the benefit of greater socio-economic development. We are confident that Nokia Networks’ commitments and advanced 2G, 3G and 4G mobile broadband technologies will significantly contribute in providing high quality mobile broadband services in our country on a par with leading servic-

es around the world.” A recent GSMA report revealed that Nigeria is a fast growing economy and the largest one in Africa, but has low mobile broadband penetration due to various factors including high access rates of over 50 per cent of the population (those who use a mobile despite not owning one); data consumption growth; a rise in digital entrepreneurship; and a large youthful population, Nigeria presents a growing opportunity for investment and innovation in telecom networks. On his part, Bernard Najm, Vice President and Head of Middle East and Africa, Nokia

Networks, noted that Nigeria is a priority country in the Africa region for Nokia Networks. “Mobile broadband infrastructure in Nigeria needs to be strengthened to significantly improve network coverage and speed across the country including mid-size cities and rural areas. To help achieve National Broadband Plan’s objectives and drive the country’s socioeconomic development, we are committed to providing operators here with our advanced 2G, 3G and 4G technologies, and global expertise in services to build and run the networks cost efficiently,” Najm said. In addition to its office in Abu-

ja, the company opened its second modern office in Lagos in 2014 to enhance its operational agility for delivery of its mobile broadband infrastructure for all operators in the country. In his own contribution, David Gaul, head of Central East & West Africa (CEWA), said that Nokia Networks is the world’s specialist in mobile broadband with more than 200 3G radio customers serving over one billion 3G users worldwide, adding that the company is a global leader in LTE with 162 LTE customers by the end of 2014 and holds the world record in TDD-FDD carrier aggregation with 4.1Gbps.

Licensing of new companies not solution to telecom challenges- Adebayo Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of Licensed Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), has said that moves by NCC to license more telecom operators to cover the country effectively may not resolve all the challenges currently being faced by the sector. Adebayo argued that as long as those elements that constitute barriers to access still persist in the sector, increasing the numbers of network providers would not help matters. He noted that “no matter how many providers we have, we will continue to face those problems affecting quality of service.” He listed the challenges of multiple regulations, multiple taxation, and denial of access to existing infrastructure providers; difficulty in procurement of right of way, security of existing infrastructure, making expansion difficult, hostility on the part of communities as issues that constitute barrier to access and deployment. “Until those elements are completely eliminated, it would be difficult for new or existing operators to effectively cover what is uncovered. So one would say that beyond the is-

sues of trying to license more operators, government and the regulator should focus more on eliminating the barrier to access today, and then one can say existing and new operators would be able to meet subscribers’ demand and increase capacity,” he added. Again Adebayo explained that sanctions and penalty would not improve quality of service, they will not eliminate quality of service issues neither will it improve it, and there is no service provider that would be happy to deliver poor quality of service. “if you penalise, it seems as if the operator could have done better in that circumstance, but that does not recognise the issues and the factors that leads to poor quality of service,” he concluded. It will be recalled that the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Dr. Eugene Juwah, at a telecom forum affirmed the commission commitment to look into the issue of licensing more operators in order to deepen competition, thereby making existing ones to boost their services. However, analysts in the industry have canvassed that the

Adebayo

increased competition among the network operators has not reflected in the quality of ser-

vice delivered to the over 130 million subscribers in the country.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

29 Tech Future

Broadband era in telecom sector will usher competition - Juwah Tony Nwakaegho Dr Eugene Juwah, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said the issuance of new licences for robust broadband services will usher competition in the telecoms sector. Juwah made this known in Lagos, while explaining that the subscribers expect more competition in the sector when the broadband era unfolds. “Competition in the industry had been ferocious over a decade, but what the broadband era was about to unleash could never be compared to whatever had been seen in the past. “The beauty of telecommunications and big data era will suddenly come upon all Nigerians.

Conference Chairman; Mr. Segun Ogunsanya CEO Airtel Nigeria; Mr. Bernard Najim, Head Of Europe Middle East & Africa, Nokia Networks at a Stakeholders Forum, themed Connect Nigeria: Exploiting ICT Potential For Growth - Challenges & Opportunities For Operators In The Nigerian Market Through 3G & LTE, held in Lagos recently.

Scorecard of the Comm. Tech. ministry (2) Continued fom page 27 never come to Nigeria until the Ministry showed interest and put Nigeria forward. The hosting of Demo Africa must go down in history as an important milestone on the technology terrain. Out of the forty finalists, from all over Africa, who had a chance to pitch their solutions and start-up businesses to investors at Demo Africa, fourteen were Nigerian technology start-ups. Several other initiatives account for the groundswell of awareness about technology innovation. The Tech Launch Pad, again established by the Ministry as a pre-incubation program for deserving start-ups, has served as a funnel into the software incubation program catalyzed by the Ministry. The IDEA Hub represents the single most important project of NITDA and its parent Ministry under the innovation program. Indeed, it is quite easy to sense that the ICT industry now has a much better enabling environment (to use a Nigerian cliché) and a vibrant ecosystem than in the pre-2011 years. The Technology Innovation Fund set up by Ministry has just closed its first round of fund raising at $16.2million dollars. Although the Fund is still over $30 million

dollars shy of its target, it is ready to begin impact investing. All of these initiatives (including the broadband and SMART States initiative) have heightened awareness for innovation, catalyzed a rich innovation ecosystem and brought hope to young innovators and start-ups which hitherto had been hamstrung by a myriad of obstacles. In the past, young innovators focused on building applications which they quickly sold to investors for peanuts and hurried off to build another. All that is changing. The Ministry’s slogan of “companies and not code” is catching on. The various initiatives have worked to encourage young innovators to focus on building companies instead of merely developing and selling off applications. The successes of the Ministry transcends the stimulation of an innovation ecosystem. A major achievement has been the uniting of its parastatals and bringing of synergy to their operations. Before 2011, the public sector of the ICT industry was fraught with turf protectionism and what I call turf ‘expansionism’. Enclaves were erected. It was difficult to have any two of the several parastatals cooperate or collaborate on a project. Overlap in functions was rife.

Two major attempts were made under Professor Turner Isuon, Nigeria’s longest servicing Technology Minister, to streamline and harmonize the activities of all the institutions playing in the ICT sphere. Hardly any of the recommendations was implemented. The latest effort at harmonization, before the birth of the Ministry was in 2009. A landmark recommendation was the call for the creation of a separate Ministry to be in charge of ICT. That call was heeded in 2011. I am sure that the majority of stakeholders would agree that that singular act has had a resounding impact on the ICT industry in that last three and a half years. The industry would also be grateful to the Ministry for the local content development program. For many years, government had had a local content policy which did not see any significant implementation. Its main thrust, conveyed in service-wide circulars, was to encourage the purchase of ‘made-in-Nigeria’ ICT hardware and software but was totally silent on the services sub-sector. It was not until September 2011 that a formal attempt was made within NITDA to articulate a holistic approach to local content development in ICT. With the ac-

tive supervision and directions of the New Ministry, that effort gave birth to the Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT. Launched on December 3, 2013, the Guidelines have the potential of becoming the grundnorm of local content implementation in ICT, akin to that of the Oil and Gas sector. An agenda in the coming months and years for the Ministry, which has done so very well to justify its creation, however will include a number of critical items. First will be a renewed drive for e-government adoption across Ministries and Departments of government. The change management process required to stimulate a widespread adoption needs to begin as a planned, deliberate usercentric program from the lowest rung of the service ladder. A Nigerian e-government ‘toolkit’ (another way to describe a home-grown critical mass of technical capacity to resolve egovernment problems) needs to be acquired and activated. Second, the growth of the National Outsourcing Program, which is as old as the National Identity Management Commission but has remained in its infancy in spite of the grant of 2 billion naira by the Obasanjo administration needs to be ac-

celerated. A good way to start might be to conduct a review of the Outsourcing Policy which indeed has been due for a review since five years. While a review is being considered, the Outsourcing industry association (NAITEOC) needs all the assistance and hand-holding it can get to stand firmly on its feet. Government must take steps to guarantee an onshore market for the sub-sector. An area which would be a quick win for the sub-sector would be the digitization of government data. Apart from being ancillary to e-government services, such a project would save government billions of naira invested annually on stationery. It would create thousands of jobs and help to build the capacity of Nigerian Outsourcing companies Third, the predilection of Nigerians for foreign ICT products needs to be severely curtailed at all costs. Otherwise, the indigenous ICT industry will remain stunted. All government offices including the custodians of the local content guidelines brandish foreign brands of computers. As the hackneyed saying goes, “charity must begin at home”. By Inye Kemabonta Email: Inye@technologylaw.com.ng

Bakshi, Vice P Airtel

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Business Times

End users waste 40% of generated power across sectors – Eke Dr. Emmanuel Uche Eke, Deputy Director, Training, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, in this chat with Tony Nwakaegho, takes a critical look at factors impeding the impact of power generation and distribution in Nigeria and efforts being made to mitigate the brazen wastage of energy across all end-user sectors, through policy and consumer attitude orientations. Excerpts: What is your assessment of the power sector reform in Nigeria? An assessment of the power sector reform can only be objective if it is based on some metrics that track its delivery on the set objectives it was meant to achieve. It is against this background that I would like to say that the power sector reform programme so far has been moving in the right direction. The reform has started delivering on some of it key objectives. For instance, the broad government’s objectives to divest from and to inject competition in generation and distribution aspects of the operations of the power sector are already being realised. The reform has unbundled the government monopoly represented by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and brought in private sector power generating companies (Gencos) and distribution companies (Discos) to perform the power generation and distribution functions of the defunct PHCN. The second broad objective relating to improving power supply and general operational efficiency is also being attained even if slowly. The slow progress is however understandable taking into account the peculiar nature of the power sector infrastructure projects. Let me be quick to say that there are many factors why the additional power being generated and transmitted will take some time to make significant difference. One of such is the fact that a lot of power generated is being wasted by the consumers through the use of excessive power consuming electrical appliances and equip-

ment. Still the fact must be emphasised for those who are in a hurry to compare the result of the power sector reform with that of the telecoms sector reform, that it is erroneous to compare both reforms. The telecoms sector reform brought wireless GSM technology to replace landlines. Power infrastructure is far more capital intensive than GSM infrastructure and GSM projects deliver faster than power projects. What I am saying in essence is that I am convinced that the power sector reform programme in Nigeria though still at the learning curve, is making steady positive progress which will become more evident with time. Today the Nigerian power sector reform has become an African model. Nigeria has been trying to be one of the most industrialised nations of the world by 2020. Why has it been difficult for the country to attain 24 hours steady supply of electricity? Nigeria has a stated objective of becoming one of the most industrialised nations of the world by 2020 and poor power supply is known to have posed one of the greatest obstacles to attaining this objective. A combination of factors is responsible for this state of affairs. One factor has been the very wide gap between power supply and demand which required a massive injection of funding. Another factor is the enormous amount of electricity wastages incurred at all end use sectors in the country arising from the use of energy inefficient appliances and equipment and low number of metered consumers. However by far the major problem which has been very well documented, is that the power sector prior to the power sector reform was characterised by an unacceptable level of operational inefficiency and poor funding which made it impossible for the defunct PHCN to deliver on its mandates. The need to overcome the above problems justified a power sector reform. Power sector reform thus became a necessary paradigm shift from government power supply monopoly to a privatised power

Eke

supply market with the aim of solving the twin problems of operational inefficiency and poor funding. How does the Energy consumption pattern affect the energy sector? Electricity consumption as I have earlier mentioned involves a lot of wastages that have significant negative impact on the capacity of the power sector to keep pace with demand. Electricity is wasted across all end use sectors, be it the residential, commercial or industrial sectors as a result of the use of energy inefficient appliances, equipment and processes. Energy inefficient appliances, equipment and processes consume more energy to produce the same unit of service than energy efficient ones. A simple example which is not difficult to understand is the use of energy inefficient 60 Watts incandescent bulbs where energy efficient 15 watts compact fluorescent lamps will do

the same job or the use of say energy inefficient 14 inch cathode ray tube television sets where an equivalent 14 inch energy efficient 14 inch flat screen television set would be better. In the case of lighting for instance, the amount of energy wasted by the 60 watts incandescent bulb is 40 watts. Research has shown that Nigeria is one of the largest importers and consumers of second hand near end of life electrical appliances and equipment in the world. These second hand appliances and equipment are most times those phased out in other countries on account of their high energy inefficiency. The wasteful electricity consumption pattern associated with the use of these energy inefficient appliances, equipment and processes and the existence of a large proportion of unmetered electricity consumers in the country constitute one of the

Continued on page 31

Housing

Lafarge, Shelter Afrique sign affordable housing deal for Nigeria Lafarge Africa Plc, a subSaharan Africa building solutions provider and Shelter Afrique, a Pan-African housing and development institution, Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the purpose of facilitating access to affordable housing for low income earners in Nigeria. The agreement which will commence with the development of identified sites at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja will be for an initial period of four years. Under the terms of the MOU, the areas of cooperation between the two organizations include provision of assistance to define the best construction technologies for use in affordable housing and micro-finance projects as well as supply of cement and concrete products for projects. Mr. Guillaume Roux, Group MD/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, said at the signing ceremony that “this is in furtherance of Lafarge’s objective of complementing government’s efforts to boost national development through improved infrastructure, industrialization and economic growth. Our commitment to bring more housing and better solutions to contribute to building better cities in Nigeria will be enhanced with the implementation of this agreement, which represents a new major step in our affordable housing program.”

Roux, CEO, Lafarge

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Nebo

FG opts for embedded generation solution to power

Augustine Aminu, Abuja Determined to stabilise and improve on power generation in the country, Government is considering a fast way of solving lingering power supply shortage through embedded power. By this, less emphasis would be on the national grid, while small cluster of end users and industries located in the same area can have power

31 Energy

distributed to them from the excess produced in their localities. Speaking at a recent parley with newsmen, Professor Chinedu Nebo said that even farmers can also benefit from embedded power. To encourage those interested in the model, he said, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is considering a type of intervention similar to the carbon credit

scheme already developed in some countries, noting that as at now nothing is on ground as a form of incentive to those interested, as it is known in other climes. He assured that Government is desirous of encouraging those with excess power that could be used as embedded generation, such could be sold to the grid after clearance with appropriate Government agencies.

Energy efficiency will close demand gap- Eke Continued from page 30 greatest constraints to closing the electricity supply and demand gap. By consuming a disproportionate amount of energy due to wastages arising from the use of energy inefficient appliances and equipment, consumers lower the amount of electricity on the grid for others to access. Energy saved is said to be energy generated, thus deploying energy efficient technologies to save energy would amount to generating additional electricity equivalent to the amount usually wasted otherwise. Apart from helping to close the electricity supply and demand gap in the short term, energy efficiency helps to slow down the rate of growth in electricity demand in the long term. This is attained through a supply push and demand pull mechanism in which supply pushes towards demand and demand pull towards supply in search of equilibrium. High energy demand due to wastages also affects the supplier through the impact on his equipment. Excessive demand often threatens the electricity supply system integrity, when load approaches or exceeds design capacity. It is instructive to note that most of what we call blackouts in the country result when the power utility tries to reduce load on its system by cutting off an area. A conscious effort should therefore be made to promote the uptake of energy efficient technologies in order to compliment the power sector reform and to accelerate its gains. What solutions have been proffered to the challenges of excessive energy consumption? Energy efficiency which seeks to control energy consumption through the use of energy efficient equipment is a global solution to the challenge of energy consumption. Energy efficiency can be applied to control the

‘‘Consciously promoting the uptake of energy efficient technologies will compliment the power sector reform and accelerate its gains’’ consumption of any of the energy types including electricity. For instance, energy efficiency is key component of the United States policy of energy independence by which the country aims to be self-sufficient in all of their energy supply needs. The European Union member countries as well as all Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member nations are all vigorously promoting energy efficiency policy as a critical component of the overall energy policies. These developed and other developing nations are convinced that ‘energy efficiency is a resource’ and that it is more difficult to aim to meet the growing energy supply needs of the people through only supply side solutions. Thus they believe that the way to go is to employ a mixture of supply side and demand side solutions in order to attain equilibrium faster. Energy efficiency in the power sector has been pursued by various countries using a menu of different approaches. Some of the most popular of the programmes applied to promote energy efficiency through the uptake of energy efficiency technologies include Phasing out of incandescent bulbs programmes that aim to replace all old and energy consuming incandescent bulbs in a country with modern energy efficiency compact

Energy efficiency

fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light emitting diode lamps LED lamps; Energy labeling, ratings and certificate schemes used to inform consumers about the energy use, energy costs and environmental consequences of their intended lighting equipment and appliances; Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) that determine the minimum energy efficiency levels for electricity consuming appliances and equipment that can be sold in a particular country; Building codes that either set explicit lighting installation specifications, or indirectly include lighting in general building energy performance specifications; Bulk procurement programmes that seek to lower the information gathering and purchasing costs of large quantities of power consuming appliances and equipment; Financial and fiscal incentives in the form of either a rebate or a tax deduction to motivate consumers to purchase energy efficient appliances and equipment, etc. How can Nigeria move away from energy inefficiency to

energy efficiency? One way to make Nigerians aware of the need to embrace the culture of energy efficiency is aggressive procurement and distribution of pre-paid meters. Pre-paid meters let consumers know the benefit of saving energy, since the more electricity you consume, the more you pay and the less you consume, the less you pay. The Government is not unaware of the need to deploy strategies to mitigate the power supply wastages. To this end, the Ministry of Power through the Nigeria Energy Commission (NERC) in collaboration with the UNDP Global Environment Facility had embarked on the design and implementation of an Energy Efficiency Standards and Labels(S&L) programme in Nigeria. In your estimation, how much energy do you think Nigerians are wasting by still using non energy saving appliances? On the average, about 40 per cent of power supply is wasted

as a result of the use of energy inefficient appliances and equipment across all electricity end use sectors. This percentage varies however from sector to sector. For instance, the residential sector which is the worst culprit and because of the use of energy inefficient incandescent bulbs, the proportion of wastage is as much as 60 per cent. What is the cheapest form of energy? By every standard, the cheapest form of energy is energy saved. Energy saved as earlier mentioned is energy generated. By this it means that energy wasted is energy deprived another consumer. Consequently, when energy is saved, that energy is taken up by another consumer as if additional energy has been generated. Certainly there has been additional energy generated but at a far lower cost than if it was generated from the plant. This is why energy efficiency has been described as the ‘low hanging fruit’ waiting to be tapped.

Nutrition

Tech

News

P13 Licensing of Dining Afghanistan new companies drone strike kills etiquette in not solution 28 IS commander Nigeria -Dos to telecom Afghanistan drone strike IS commanderAbdul AbdulRauf Rauf L7 kills and Don’ts challengesAdebayo TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.42

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

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

Ayo Akinyemi ÎÎÎAs

he was observing the daily morning ritual of going through the pile of newspapers on his table, Aare called the attention of those of us around to the 2015 Election Time-Table released the previous day by the Independent National Electoral Commission. He was excited that the Presidential Election would hold on 14 February 2015, his 70th birthday. In unison, we all sighed, ah! He asked why. As if we had rehearsed it, about three of us responded almost in the same tone: The election might take the shine out of the birthday celebration. Aare took his eyes off the newspaper, looked in our direction, his lips laced with his trademark bewitching smile, and said: “Honestly, you know, I like it. The election holding the same day with the birthday would make the celebration more memorable than it would have been. It would make the day an all-time reference point as I have a feeling the election would be tough and keenly contested and may likely turn out to be a landmark in the history of the country. But, we need to pray that God would make it a peaceful one so that we can remember the day for good.” On the 70th birthday celebration, he said, in Yoruba: “B’Olorun ba se fe, bi o ba se gba, laa se se. K’Olorun so wa ju igba naa lo”. (We would mark the birthday, the way God wants it to be. We pray that He would preserve our lives beyond the time.) That was Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, for you – a man who committed all, who

sues of trying to license more operators, government and the regulator should focus more on eliminating the barrier to access today, and then one can say existing and new operators

Price: N150

dailytimesng

Here are a few tips and rules for basic

Again Adebayo explained that sanctions and penalty would not improve quality of service, they will not eliminate quality of service issues neither will it improve it, and there is no service provider that would be happy to deliver poor quality

-Napkins should be placed on the lap as soon as you are seated. When you

“if you penalise, it seems as

Business

End users P 30 waste 40% of generated power across sectors – Eke

Yemen and Saudi Arabia: The new branches have not claimed any activities yet but the move represents a symbolic challenge

Afghanistan-Pakistan: IS says its branch here represents the historic Khorasan Province - a region covering Afghanistan, PakiRauf, who spent six years in Guantanamo Bay after being cap-

Posthumous 70th birthday of Arisekola Alao – compulsive philanthropist submitted all and did all in absolutely submission to the will of God. Putting the unfolding frightening developments in the political arena today in perspective, Aare’s words concerning the 2015 elections seemed divinely inspired, turning out to be a prophecy. Nigerians of all faith have been praying very hard for a successful and peaceful conduct of the election. The arsenals of the prayer warriors are reinforced by the minute, not leaving anything to chance, persistently asking the all-knowing God to take control. Ironically and unfortunately, the inspirer of the prayer-points can no longer, in body and flesh, partake in the ventilation of the prayers. Yes. Saddening… Devastating… Heart shattering…The ebullient, everbubbling, highly spiritual Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, the Aare Ikolaba of Ibadanland, is no longer on this terrestrial plane to witness the landmark events and the day he had wished God would preserve our lives, including his, to see beyond. On Wednesday, 18 June 2014, fate dealt a fatal blow as Alhaji Arisekola Alao breathed the last in his home in London, the day he was expected back in Ibadan from the trip, 240 days from his 70th birthday he had looked forward to. How else can the scriptures be fulfilled that, “No man, no matter his wisdom (material or spiritual endowment) can add a second to his span of life.” As the news of his death filtered in that fateful day, trucks load of Gaari, Elubo, provisions (milk, sugar, beverages) were streaming

into the expansive Aare’s Villa, to add to the stock already in the store, in preparation for the Ramadan Fast, which was a few days away. The stuffs were to be distributed free to both the have and have-not, for the season. That had been the tradition since he was installed as the Aare Musulumi in 1980. In addition, for the 30 days of the month of Ramadan, there was always free food every evening for hundreds and thousands, to break the fast - and even those who did not observe the fasting. It was not surprising, the amount of tears shed by hundreds and thousands who thronged the palatial home at OritaBashorun, following the death of the exceptional philanthropist. The pain in the heart of each of the agonized mourners varies and was in different proportions. There were those who were on his monthly pay-roll, a form of social welfare, there were those on scholarships - relations and non-relations whose school fees he was responsible for - there were also those whose medical bills

he bankrolled, there were those - able and disabled, men and women, young and old - who in hundreds, thronged his home every Friday and at the end of every month for Zakat. Most times, the Aare would attend to them personally, on his feet for hours, giving cash, foodstuffs, and at times packs of cooked food, to each and everyone on the queue. In whispers and above whispers, the sing-song was: many died literally the day Aare died, that many would die piecemeal, psychologically and be emotionally decimated. In fact, many are still to come to terms with the reality that Aare ArisekolaAlao is no more. What is not in dispute is that his name will resonate for decades to come and he will live in the heart of many, till only God knows when. With his transition, things cannot remain the same with some people, institutions and situations. His transition, undoubtedly, changed the political configuration in Oyo State. Although not a card-carrying member of a politi-

cal party, his magnetic and infectious personality cut across political divides with unquantifiable influence that often determined the terminus of power. With him out, the flock has scattered in different directions. Like an object viewed through a prism, Aare presented different image to different people depending on the angle of focus, hence the controversy that surrounds his person and personality. Largely described as a business tycoon, because he made his money from BARANDA (buying and selling) according to him, he came across more as a blessed man who believed more in committing his riches to the welfare of others. In his words: “Any man blessed by God who fails to spend his money to make others happy, should be the first to respond when there is an advertisement for the insane to come forth.” Aare’s low moments were when there was not enough cash to meet the demands of the needy. There were many sides to Aare Arisekola Alao

that one cannot exhaust in a jiffy. A highly detribalized Nigerian, devout but liberal Muslim, his generosity knew no bound. A man of limited academic background, he is highly cerebral, endowed with a magnetic, photographic brain, a moving encyclopedia of Yoruba history, a repository of Nigeria’s political genealogy, he was an uncommon creation. I am on the same page with General Ibrahim Babangida, who said during a condolence visit to the family in Ibadan that “Aare should not be mentioned in the past, as he has so much on ground and in the heart of many to outlive generations.” As the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar said on a similar visit, “Aare Arisekola has been around for so long, relating with the high and low, touching so many lives in different spheres such that it is hard to believe his age is just 70. We must continue to celebrate his life.”

ABA

AKURE

SOKOTO

MINNA

Low 26°C High 37°C Wind S at 3 m/s

Low 23°C High 34°C Wind SW at 3 m/s

Low 22°C High 41°C Wind ESE at 6 m/s

Ayo Akinyemi writes via akin yemiayo@y ahoo. com

Low 23°C High 41°C Wind NNW at 3 m/s

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08169118913, 08075038528

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Music and I

Solid Star L Mercy Johnson and post-body weight drama L P

My N500,000 Brazillian hair L P

Table manners

Society L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Isaac Oguntoye

i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng

Yakub Balogun’s

soaring popularity The undying support of people of Lagos Island Constituency 1 for Alhaji Yakub Balogun, fondly called Ajoo, seems to be second to none. They have shown overwhelming support for the candidacy of the former Head of Service, Lagos State, which, perhaps, almost made him the sole candidate for the constituency if not for the PDP candidate who is the only contestant against him. Ajoo is adjudged the best House of Representatives member to have represented the constituency very well, in the history of the area, little wonder, we gathered, that he won the party primary with a landslide victory.

Where is Funke Osibodu? Funke Osibodu was the former Managing Director, Union Bank before moving to one of the electricity distribution companies as a top management member. The society woman, who is married to Gbolade Osibodu, Chairman, Vigeo, a marketing and business development company, is presently missing from the social circuit. This is unlike her, when, in those days, she was always seen everywhere with her husband. Now, you could hardly see the once-bubbling couple attending social gigs. Life & Times scooped from people in the know that her absence from the social scene could be as a result of her new and very demanding job. Others hinted that the couple, simply, had attained a societal height which needed great caution.

Otunba Arabambi, politician with a difference Amber and D’banj

BRIXTECH boss,

Ore Kufoniyi launches MECS

Leading tech company, Brixtech, owned by Ore Kufoniyi, has announced the launch of its new Mobile Emergency Communications System (MECS). MECS ensures that you are never stranded without help. The MACS, according to Ore Kufoniyi, at the push of a button, sends messages to your emergency contacts (friends, loved ones, families, security authorities) because at present, 25 percent of Nigeria’s over 116 million mobile subscribers use smartphones. Kufoniyi said this during the launch of the package over the weekend. Speaking further he said, the Blink Rescue lite android version, which is free, is available for download on Google Play Store. The IOS version and Windows version will be available shortly.

Otunba Olusola Arabambi is a top socialite and politician. The industrious businessman was called recently by the people of Ayedaade, Irewole, Isokan constituency in Osun State to contest for an elective post. He, however, lost the ticket at the primary election to the incumbent under the umbrella of APC. Typical of politicians to fight each other after losing elections, Arabambi, on the other hand, accepted defeat in good faith. In case you don’t know, he is a Chartered Accountant before veering into Shipping and Logistics to run his marine logistics and services company. Life & Times asked to know how he’s supporting the incumbent, he said “We are giving her all the necessary support to make sure she eventually wins the ticket again in the general election. She’s very smart, intelligent and she has been around for long in politics. “She also comes from a political family. At the same time, she was a senior prefect when she was at Ayedaade Secondary School. And while in the University, she was also part of the school politics so, she understands the game. This is the more reason why I’m supporting her. Since my intention was to go and serve my people, I don’t see any reason to fight her or not support her because she also shares the same dream and ideology with me”, he concluded.

Ikeja City Mall allegely turns beggars den

Top security, friendly ambience, parking lot and essential services are words best used to describe the Ikeja City Mall yet, trust Nigerians, to find opportunities in every situation. As you read this, beggars have allegely turned the newly erected edifice in Alausa Ikeja to their new home. What they do immediately customers step out from the mall and about to enter their cars, they simply walk up to you with all sorts of pitiable stories just to get your attention. This we learnt has caused some rancor of some sort between visitors to the mall, including foreigners who are in Nigeria for vacation and decided to make a stop at the Mall.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Hairways

My Brazilian hair costs as much as N500,000 –Muma Gee Controversial Gift Iyaumame popularly known as Muma Gee, has been in the music industry for a while. She has several hit songs, including Kade, especially, to her credit. One thing that stands Muma Gee out is her extravagant hairstyles which she spoke about on today’s Hairways with OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO. Enjoy. You’re always having on hair extensions. What does your natural hair look like? My hair is the darkest hair I’ve ever seen on earth.

Doctors told me it was caused

What to do about constricted braids You’ve had this too-tight braids on for days and your head is already pounding like it’s going to fall off! The worst part is that you noticed little bumps around your hairline that weren’t there before. First things first! Beauty should not hurt! It’s either you have too much extensions on your head or the braids are too tight! Don’t listen to the braiders who tell you to take Aspirin, tight hair isn’t good for your head and hair. Medium tension is best for fashioning braids; they may not last as long as tight braids, but your hairline will last much longer. Showers Taking a hot shower and applying a conditioner to the hair while the braid is intact is one way of loosening braids. Do not massage the hair vigorously, carefully smoothen it into the hair. After the shower, dry with a towel and then let it dry naturally. Moist Heat Place a warm wet towel around your head and cover with a hair cap. Leave the towel on for, at least, an hour so that the warm air loosens the braids. Picking If the weave of the braid is too tight, choose a smooth object to push through the centre

of each twist to loosen them individually. Use toothpick for tiny braids and a pencil for larger braids. Leave-in Conditioners Whether they are large or small, don’t use too much conditioner and work it gently around the tight portions with your fingers for the best effect. Braid Spray Some braid sprays are created to help relieve the dryness and itching associated with braided hair, while other types are designed to help with the braid-removal process. Both types of spray are effective treatment for tight braids because they soften the hair and make the braid looser, healthier and more comfortable.

by my pigment because it’s amazing after I’ve relaxed it for years, it’s still as dark as ever. It has never turned colour and I’ve maintained one relaxer since I disvirgined my hair. But I don’t get to wear my natural hair because it doesn’t give that volume that I want.

So it’s light because you don’t take care of it? Far from it! That’s just how my hair is naturally. I take care of my hair very well. Aside relaxing it and wearing extensions and weaveon, I have hair treatments I use on it. Doesn’t your hair break? Every woman’s hair breaks. So, I don’t panic whenever it happens because I don’t even get to wear my natural hair. I concentrate more on the type of extensions I wear, and sometimes, I wear as much as half a million worth of extension on my hair.

Hairpick of the week

That must be Brazilian hair! Yes, I love Brazilian weave-on. But aside Brazilian, I like to braid and curl my hair. The extensions I use are usually imported from London. Where do you get your artistic hairstyles from? They come from within me. I love my hair so much and also love to wear long extensions. My stylist designs my hair to fit my face and occasions. I also like to wear Millatto Brazilian hair. I know you are a hair freak. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to your hair? It was when I braided my hair with blonde extension some years ago. So you can imagine a darkskinned lady wearing a blonde hair. Some of my fans liked it while others complained. After sampling opinions, I discovered that majority of my fans didn’t like it so, I took it off.

Buzz Byte L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Mixed reactions greet Mercy Johnson’s post-natal body Opeoluwani Akintayo

o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, seems to be having the time of her life after she and her husband welcomed their second child in October, 2014. Almost four months after delivery, the actress had been whetting our appetite with family pictures, including sexy shots of her work-in-progress body. And now, Mercy may have got her curvy body back, or so it seems, as the mother of two is presently breaking the internet, having her name on the lips of everyone. Over the weekend, the actress shared this photo among others, where she flaunted her generous curves, and before you could say Jack, she got tongues wagging. While some fans showered her with praises on her getting her groove back, others, simply, dragged her by the hair, maintaining that the actress still had a lot of weight to shed. Read her fans’ reactions below; MEGOLI said... “Post wetin? Still needs to work out joor”. Caris Wooler said... “I like her but she no too fine”. Felix said... “She looks good”. Princess G said...“Sweet Mercy. Thumbs up to you”.

Cynthia said... “Everything is money. Congrats Mama Purity”. BONARIO NNAGS said... “She looks so cute with her ever mad curves”. Adebola Adenola said... “Too much flesh though”. Dhobiz said... “Not totally, she’s still big”. Bonita said... “Honey, get a stylist…and a good phone”. Iykeblog said... “Sexy indeed, she added fatness”. Cool Joanes Unai said...“She’s almost there but more work still needs to be done on her tommy”. Mimi said... “Which body did she get back?” Juliet Iwuno said... “She don try but there’s still some work left to be done!” Lami said... “Hmmm, no be small thing o”. Helen Nwachukwu said... “Ever sexy MJ”. Salifu said…”she still has a long way to go. Still fat. Shed those weight before showing off. While we could keep up with the long list of reactions, the ball is in your court Life Timers. What do you think about her postbaby body?

Pasuma, Brymo, others hold election concert, despite shift The voters’ mobilisation concert scheduled to hold Sunday, February 8 ahead of the February 14 general election, still held, in spite of the announcement that elections have been pushed forward by six weeks. After engaging young voters across the country with stellar performances from superstar artistes, the RSVP Concert Tour held on Sunday, February 8 at the Classique Events Place at 7A Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos with Nigerian music icon, 2Face Idibia, supported by pop stars, Oritsefemi, Brymo, Reminisce and Fuji giant, Pasuma. Entry was free for voters with their Permanent Voters’ Cards while those who didn’t have their PVCs paid a token. The RSVP concert tour was organised by EiE Nigeria to educated voters and as a mobilisation medium the youths, following successful concerts in Port-Harcourt, Kaduna, Jos and Owerri. EiE Nigeria is a non-partisan coalition of individuals and organisations committed to instituting a culture of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria.

2Face, premiere Dance Go video Wizkid The long awaited video for Dance Go, the smash hit collaboration between Hennessy Artistry 2014 headliners 2Face and Wizkid is finally here! The video, which is for the official Hennessy Artistry 2014 theme track, Dance Go was shot at the popular Koga Studios in Lagos and was directed by awardwinning director, Kemi Adetiba with Hennessy as executive producers. The video, which premieres on Sound City, boasts of cameos from Dj Caise, Shaydee and EFA among others and showcases an exciting burst of colours and special effects.

NewVideoalert!

Mr. Flo

drops What You Got

Fast rising pop singer, Mr. Flo is back with a video for his solo single What You Got. The Ukraine-based Nigerian-born singer delivers a crispy clear visual for the song, which sees cameo appearances from colleagues and rising Afro-pop sensations. What You Got is a feel of good music with visuals that further puts life to the track.

SpongeBob, DJ Sose, others @ private movie screening

Popular Nickelodeon character, SpongeBob Squarepants is presently hanging out with kids and their families for the exclusive movie premiere entitled Sponge out of water. The screening, which held at The Palms, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, VI, Lagos featured kids having a jolly good time involving activities like face painting, photos with SpongeBob, and games among other activities. Notable faces at the event included Ajebutter, DJ Sose and other guests.

The video shows 2Face as a king whose daughter is under a spell and seeks for her redemption with promises of wealth to whoever breaks the spell. Dance Go video is just the perfect blend of the classic with the new school...”This is the first video featuring just me and the legend, 2Baba... It’s an honour”, Wizkid said. The theme song, Dance Go, which was produced by Sarz, has thrilled music lovers and club goers across Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa throughout the Hennessy Artistry 2014 project and is still receiving massive airplay on radio stations and clubs across the country.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

L5 Interview

Music has changed my Life Solid Star

He is one of the few artistes in the country from Ajegunle who is doing well in the music industry today. Speaking with CHILAKA PATRICK, Solidstar takes us down memory lane disclosing how he started musical journey.

A few years ago nothing was known about him, but, sometime in 2008, Joshua Iniyezo a.k.a SolidStar, warmed his way into the hearts of many music buffs with his first hit track One in a Million and this paved the way for his climb to stardom. Looking back now, he disclosed that all was not rosy at the beginning but he was determined to make a name for himself in music. “I started doing music professionally in 2004, however, I started singing at the age of eight years. Meanwhile, while growing up, I recorded some songs, sang in my church choir, and did small shows here and there. From there, people started telling me to keep it up, because they saw talent in me”. A product of Goriola Primary School and Oshodi Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Olodi Apapa, Ajegunle, Lagos, who is planning to further his education, Joshua never relented until he met Paul Cole, who took him under his wings and signed him on the Achievas Music label. Going down memory lane, Solidstar disclosed that he shared roots with music greats like Daddy Showkey, Daddy Fresh, Oristefemi and others who grew up in Ajegunle but rose to the pinnacle in music. And like some who moved out after a while when success came, Solidstar also gave reasons for doing so. “I decided to leave Ajegunle for Festac Town, where I live now, because when you want to move a step further in life, you need to step up. So I thought if I

moved to a more open environment, it would enhance my music, thereby, giving my fans the lyrics they desire”. He also revealed that his stage name was actually given to him by his late grandmother who was a prophetess that told him that one day, he would become a star. “My late grandmother was a prophetess in a church which she owned back then. One day, she called me and said she saw something in me that would make me a superstar and that I would shine in Nigeria. When the time came for me to take a stage name, I quickly remembered what she told me and I added ‘solid’ to the ‘star’ I was to become and thus the name Solidstar came into being. Telling us about his first hit One in a Million, where he featured wave-making music superstar, Tuface Idibia, SolidStar says he owed it all to God that the deal fell through. “Well, Tuface is a good friend to Ossy Achievas and when I did the song, I did just two verses in the tracks from One in a million. At that point, I thought about featuring a star in my album and since Tuface is my role model, I told Ossy about it, he introduced me to Tuface and we started hanging out at first. He later invited me to his tenth anniversary celebrations in Abuja and after we returned to Lagos, I gave him the CD. After listening to it, he told me he would do the collaboration with me and the rest they say, is history”. Solidstar has gone ahead to headline shows in Nigeria, overseas and was the first artiste and Nigerian to have an enhanced CD jacket that contained some of his videos, ring tones and links to all his web pages in the country . Solidstar had gone ahead to work with some of Nigeria’s finest producers

and artistes, TuFace Idibia, W4, Ill Bliss (that Igbo boy), Ojay Adams, Clever Jay, Catier, Jacuzi and Chris Brown. According to Solidstar, he is still open to work with more people in the course of his career. Solidstar, a.k.a Isoko Boy, has two albums to his credit and he’s seriously working on his next album, which, sources close to him, say will be a bomb when it finally hits the airwaves. Today, he has songs like Omotena, Confused, One Man, One Vote, Oluchi, Baby Jollof and Negotiate to his credit. Solidstar revealed in the course of this interview that God inspires him to write songs and his role model includes TuFace Idibia, R-Kelly, and Kelvin Little. He is grateful to his mentor TuFace for all his contributions and fatherly advice. One unique feature about this DeltaState-born artiste is his dreadlocked Mohawk hairstyle which creates a fashionable trademark that many have come to identify with him. “I have spent so much on my hair”, he disclosed. Since I started wearing it about ten years ago, I can’t put a figure on the amount I’ve spent because I don’t place figures when I spend money on my hair. I have a personal stylist who takes care of my hair”, he added.

NewMUSI alert!

Fluorish - Lord of the Ring

Flourish Agu, a graduate of Public Relations and Advertising from the Eastern Mediterranean University and who was a contestant at the just concluded Project Fame, is out with her debut single, ‘Lord of the Ring’. Flourish, who hails from Imo State, was born and bred in Port-Harcourt. Although Project Fame was her first attempt at music, she is set to truly take the music industry by storm. Her new single entitled Lord of the Ring, produced by Ex-O, is a humorous and captivating song for young ladies who have been engaged for years without marriage.

Chart L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

movie and music chart

The Daily Times weekly movie and music chart, started last week. It’s our pleasure to bring you top exciting Nollywood movies and Nigerian music, straight from the hearts of Nigerians, and of course, an experienced panel of judges. Our weekly chart include movies and music/music videos getting the highest attention to TV, radio, You Tube, Vevo, etc.

So as to create fair play in the movie sector, this forum has divided the movie section into Yoruba and English. Feel free to participate by sending movies and music, videos inclusive that you think can stand the heat. Send to- o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng Thank you.

Top 10 movie chart (Yoruba) 1. The Return of Jenifa 2. Oyenusi 3. Alakada 4.Bella 5. Omo ghetto 6. Arinnakore 7. Ori 8. Aroba 9. Apo Owo 10. Iku Doro

Top 10 movie chart (English) 1. Flower Girl 2. Two Bride and a Baby 3. On Bended Knees 4. October 1st 5. Holding Hope 6. Head Gone 7. The Meeting 8. Alanpoza 9. Being Miss Elliot 10. Don’t cry for me

Top 10 m u

sic chart

1 P-Squ are- Shek ini 2 Timaya – Sanko 3- Falz F t. Yemi A lade- Ma 4 Iyanyarry Me (N Finito ew Entry 5 Dammy ) Krane- A min 6 Sean T izzle- Lok e Loke 7 SkukiPeteru 8 Ice Prin ce- That Could Be 9 DJ Nep Us tude Ft. S arkodie & 10 D’Prin Phyno- B ce- OYO elieve

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Basic

L7 Nutrition

table rules Judith Frank-Edet

Here are a few tips and rules for basic table manners; -Napkins should be placed on the lap as soon as you are seated. When you get up from the table, leave the napkin, unfolded on the table, to the left of the place setting. -Sit a comfortable distance away from the table, so that with the elbows bent, the hands are level with the knives and forks. Sit up straight, sit square with hands on the lap and do not fidget. Do not put elbows on the table. -If you are served a meal that is already on the plate, wait until everyone has been served before picking up your cutlery, unless invited by your host to start. -Make sure others have been offered anything they might want from the table, such as butter, water, salt or pepper. Help yourself last and never stretch across people. -Eat at a relaxed pace and pace yourself to match your fellow diners. -Keep your mouth closed and try to avoid making noises of any kind while eating, either with implements against the plate or teeth, or with actual ingestion of the food, e.g. slurping soup. -Talking while there is food in your mouth should be avoided at all costs even when you have a conversational gem up your sleeve. -When you have finished, place your knife and fork - with the prongs facing upwards - together on your plate. -If you are confronted with a plateful that is not to your taste, try to soldier on to avoid hurt feelings. Always complement the cook.

Dining etiquette in Nigeria -Dos and Don’ts DO try eating with your hands! You’ll be given finger bowls and towels. It’s OK to ask for utensils if you’re uncomfortable eating with your hands. DON’T use your left hand at all. Don’t eat with it, pass food with it, or receive food with it. Dining etiquette when hosting Muslims. Do not use alcohol or pork in any of the dishes. Dining etiquette for dining in groups. Men, women, and children dine separately. Men are usually offered the best food first, then women, and finally children. Dining etiquette for entering a Nigerian home. Remove your shoes before entering a home. When moving from one area to another, allow more senior members of your party to enter the room ahead of you. Dining etiquette for drinking. Tea is often served in three rounds. In the first round, the tea is not sweetened. In the second round, some sugar is added. In the third, very sweet tea is served. This is meant to mirror the development of friendship. Always accept the cup. At most meals it is improper dining etiquette to eat and drink at the same time:

first eat, then drink. Never pour your own drink. Wait to be served. Dining etiquette for using your hands. Wash your hands before and after meals. Eat with your right hand only. If provided with fork or spoon, hold them in your right hand. Keep your left hand off bowls or serving items. Dining etiquette for eating from a communal bowl. The youngest person will hold the lip of the bowl with the thumb and index finger of their left hand while the older diners eat first (men, women, then children last). Eat only from the part of the communal plates or bowls directly in front of you. Dining etiquette for seating. Always make sure that your toes and feet are not pointing to the food or to other diners at the meal. You may be seated on the floor or on low stools. The most honoured position is next to the host. Dining etiquette for smoking. Do not smoke in the area where the food is served and wait to smoke until after the meal is over (women do not smoke). Dining etiquette for the end of the meal. At the end of the meal, a small burp signifies

satisfaction. Dining etiquette for order of service. The honored guest is served first, then the oldest male, then the rest of the men, then women, and finally children. Dining etiquette for beginning to eat. Do not begin to eat or drink until the oldest man has been served and has started. Dining etiquette in a restaurant. In informal restaurants, you may be required to share a table, if so, do not force conversation: act as if you are seated at a private table. Women may be seated only with other women. Wait staff may be summoned by subtly raising your hand or by making eye contact; waving or calling their names is very impolite. Dining etiquette for talking business.

Business is often discussed over meals, once individuals know each other well enough. Take your cue from your Nigerian associates: if they bring up business, then it is okay to discuss it, but wait to take your lead from their conversation. Dining etiquette for paying the bill. The one who does the inviting pays the bill. Dining etiquette for tipping. Tips in restaurants are about 10 percent.

Courtesy: Etiquette Scholar.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Showing on 131 Lifetime

L8 Television

Showing on 113 M EDGE

12:00

04:10

Tue, 10 Feb | PG

Tue, 10 Feb | Family

‘S1/E3- 1/3’. With news of their first live show, combined with Tahiti’s kids in LA, the girls find themselves in a pressure cooker starting to crack. Additionally, they get a dose of reality from vocal coach, Nick Cooper (2013)

‘S1/E6- Ridge House’. Property expert Scott Yancey has his team works through the night gutting and transform a derelict Las Vegas home in the hopes of making a return on his investment.

101 M-Net West

00:00 Gotham 00:30 CSI 01:20 The Grand Budapest Hotel 03:00 Suits 04:00 Paradise 05:23 Behind The Scenes: Transformers Age... 06:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 07:00 Masterchef Junior USA 08:00 2 Broke Girls 08:30 The Lottery 09:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:30 The Muppets: Most Wanted 12:30 Modern Family 13:00 Masterchef Junior USA 14:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:00 Blue Bloods 16:00 The Fixer 17:00 Marvel's Agent Carter 18:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 The Millers 19:30 Restaurant Start Up 20:30 Marvel's Agent Carter

00:00 The Queen Of The South 00:30 Aurora 01:20 Fearless Heart 02:10 The Queen Of The South 03:00 My Heart Beats For Lola 03:50 Broken Angel 05:20 Where Is Elisa? 06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart 07:50 My Heart Beats For Lola 08:40 Broken Angel 09:30 Where Is Elisa? 10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart 12:00 My Heart Beats For Lola 12:50 Broken Angel 13:40 Where Is Elisa? 14:30 Aurora 15:20 Fearless Heart 16:10 My Heart Beats For Lola 17:00 Broken Angel 17:50 Where Is Elisa? 18:40 Aurora 19:30 Fearless Heart

128 SONY MAX

00:00 Cheaters 00:15 Unbeatable Banzuke 00:40 Unbeatable Banzuke 01:05 Rude Tube 01:30 Poorman's Bikini Beach 02:00 Circumstances Unknown 03:35 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's...

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

04:30 Unbeatable Banzuke 05:00 Ninja Warrior 05:25 Ninja Warrior 05:50 Cheaters 06:45 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's... 07:40 World's Wildest Police Videos 08:35 I Bet You Will 09:00 Most Shocking 10:00 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's... 10:55 The Smoking Gun Presents: World's... 11:55 Cheaters 12:50 World's Most Amazing Videos 13:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 14:45 Video Zonkers

124 E! TV

00:00 Fashion Police 01:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 00:00 The Cube

07:59 The Weakest Link

00:24 Top Gear

08:49 QI

01:14 Scott And Bailey

09:21 Would I Lie To You?

02:05 Come Dine With Me

09:54 Hell's Kitchen USA

02:54 My Family

10:38 Deal Or No Deal

03:24 The Weakest Link

11:17 My Family

04:11 Top Gear

11:52 My Family

05:00 Outnumbered

12:25 Top Gear

05:31 QI

13:21 Come Dine With Me

06:05 Friday Night Dinner

14:15 The Cube

06:31 EastEnders

15:07 The Weakest Link

07:02 Antiques Roadshow

135 BET 00:00 Real Hollywood

Husbands

00:30 Comic View 01:00 Nellyville 02:00 The Message 03:00 BET Now 03:30 BET Now 04:00 Late Night Heat 06:00 Soul Sessions 07:00 Soul Sessions 08:00 Soul Sessions 09:00 The Message 10:00 Hell Date 10:30 Hell Date 11:00 The Wendy Williams Show 12:00 Second Generation Wayans 12:30 Second Generation Wayans

13:00 Let's Stay Together 13:30 Let's Stay Together 14:00 Second Generation Wayans 14:30 Second Generation Wayans 15:00 Hot Chocolate Nutcracker 17:00 Second Generation Wayans 17:30 Second Generation Wayans 18:00 The Wendy Williams Show 19:00 The Sheards 20:00 Hell Date 20:30 Hell Date 21:00 Run's House 21:30 Run's House 22:00 The Wendy Williams Show 21:30 Tinsel 22:00 The Dzigbordi Show

02:00 Giuliana & Bill 03:00 Botched 04:00 Botched 05:00 Nick Cannon's Big Surprise 06:00 Blinging Up Baby 07:15 Celebrity Style Story 08:00 Giuliana & Bill 09:00 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 10:00 Fashion Bloggers 10:30 Fashion Bloggers 11:00 E! News 12:00 Eric And Jessie: Game On

XT Exclusive

NASRI tasks CITY on title X8 race

Poster!

DIKE COURTNEY X4,5 Tuesday, February 10, 2015

STARS OF YESTERYEAR

: U W CHUK EAGLES n r a e l d l shou N O C F A from finals X2

GARRINCHA: CELEBRATING BRAZIL’S MASTER DRIBBLER X6

FEATURE

GADAFFI makes case for Nigeria’s football development X7

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EXTRATIME

AFCON 2015 fallout Ghana’s midfielder Andre Ayew (right) challenges Ivory Coast’s defender Serge Aurier during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations final football match between Ivory Coast and Ghana in Bata on February 8, 2015.

E T A L U M E : S EAGLE E R I O V I ’ D E T GHANA, CO U W K U H C – E C N RESILIE

Ojieva Ehiosun

s the Africa Cup of Nations came to a close over the weekend in Equatorial Guinea, with Cote d’Ivoire emerging champions, former head coach of the Super Eaglesm Christian Chukwu, has charged the national team to emulate the fighting spirit and resilience of the two finalists. Chukwu, one-time Manager of the Kenya national team, said ev-

eryone who watched the finals of that cracker would have one good thing to say about the two great teams that displayed great football artistry. “The finals of the 2015 AFCON was a great one; the two teams gave good account of themselves, however in the game of football, one team must win. “It was an explosive finals and I want to commend the teams for a job well done. They have done African proud!

“To me, this is a big challenge to our boys and the fighting spirit of the two finalists is something the Super Eagles must emulate. “I can say that luck was against Ghana. Our boys in Super Eagles must begin to take their national assignments seriously because people want to watch good football and I want to use this medium to call on the NFF leadership to act fast by ensuring that they get us a good Manager for the Eagles.”

S A R E V TAdLaE tion backs Foun

NFF capacity

building programme Andrew Ekejiuba

he trip of the first batch of highly-qualified Nigerians for match reading and backroom analysis technique programme in the United Kingdom is assured, as sponsors Taleveras Foundation on Monday released the cheque for the amount of money to cover the trip and the programme. Chief Executive Officer of

Taleveras Foundation, Mr. Igho Sanomi said on Monday in Abuja that his organization was extremely proud to be involved in a process meant to facilitate the rapid development of Nigerian football. “We are doing this based on our belief that the potential is there for Nigerian football to be much better than what it is now, and everyone who has something to offer should come forward and be

NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick. counted. “Taleveras Foundation is excited to be involved in this programme that will see the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha, Coach Amodu Shuaibu, Garba Lawal, Florence Omagbemi and others improve themselves in order to be able to deliver positive impact on Nigerian football in the very near future,” he said.

BRIEFS

Fabregas

Suarez

Sanchez boosts Wenger’s strike force

Fabregas ready to feast on Everton

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hopeful the return of Alexis Sanchez can boost his side’s battle to get back into the top four with victory over English Premier League bottom club Leicester tonight. The Gunners went down 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday, hit by a second-half double from Harry Kane to turn the match around after trailing to Mesut Ozil’s early volley.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed key midfielder Cesc Fabregas is finally ready to return to action against Everton on Wednesday night.The Spaniard missed the last draw against Manchester City and Saturday’s victory over Aston Villa after suffering a hamstring injury in the second leg of the Capital Cup semi-finals against Liverpool on January.

Sex-tape scandal rocks Man Utd

Suarez ends goal drought

Manchester United players are being investigated by club officials over claims they filmed a woman performing a sexual act on one of their team-mates in a nightclub toilet. The video of the player, who has not been named, and the woman, who is believed to be in her late 20’s, is said to have been recorded in the toilet cubicle of a plush venue in Manchester.

Luis Suarez admitted he was relieved to end his four-week goal drought in Barcelona’s 5-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening. After his free-scoring form for Liverpool last season, the 28-year-old has found goals harder to come by for Barca and prior to the weekend had not netted since January 11.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EXTRATIME

AFCON 2015 Black Stars stunned us in final cracker, says Gradel

Drogba

A B G DRORATES

CELEB

Y R O V I T S A O C WIN Gyan

GHANA STRONGER DESPITE LOSS

samoah Gyan says the penalty shoot-out loss to Ivory Coast on Sunday will make them stronger. It was in the final of the 2015 AFCON in Bata when the Elephants triumphed 9-8 in a frenetic shootout. “We had the chance to win tonight but that’s football,” the striker added. The Black Stars held the star-studded Elephants side to a 0-0

–GYAN

draw after extra-time. But Ghana allowed a winning position to slip by after Ivory Coast missed their first two spot-kicks. After 22 kicks, Ivory Coast recovered to win 9-8 and lift their second African title. “We apologise for that. “I’m very sad but I cannot fault our performance. We have young players who are very good, so we hope that we can come back stronger.

idier Drogba showed his human side when he joined the celebration of his country’s achievement of winning the Africa Cup of Nations at Equatorial Guinea on Sunday. The Ivory Coast legend and former skipper had led the team to two other finals in Egypt 2006 and Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012 when they lost on both occasions on penalties to Egypt and Zambia respectively. He watched from the comfort of his home in London as his compatriots battled through another gruelling finals that also ended goalless and the nerve racking penalty shootout that ensued once again. It was pure agony turned to ecstasy as Drogba posted a video on his Instagram account showing the moment when Copa Barry’s last kick sealed the victory, as he jumped for joy alongside his family. Kolo Toure paid tribute to Drogba on Sunday while celebrating: “We owe a lot to Didier Drogba, Aruna Dindane, Didier Zokora and many of our team-mates who toiled through the years to build this team.” Herve Renard weighed in: “Our victory was not achieved in one month, may be ten years and we owe Didier Drogba and many of his team-mates and coaches who helped to shape this team over a long period when they stayed on top.”

Gradel

I Yaya Toure

To win with country is exceptional

–Toure

vory Coast midfielder and skipper Yaya Toure says winning the Africa Cup of Nations is the climax of his football career. Yaya has won league titles in Greece with Olympiacos, in Spain with Barcelona and in England with Manchester City but until last Sunday no silverware with Cote d’Ivoire. The Cote d’Ivoire star on Sunday won his first Africa Cup of Nations title after suffering heartbreak twice to finish second in 2006 and 2012. Cote d’Ivoire beat Ghana 9-8 on post-match penalties after a scoreless draw at the end of extra-time in Bata. “Sometimes you win with your club and it’s magical. But to win with your country is exceptional. We worked to achieve that, it’s huge,”Yaya said. “We are going to celebrate with the family. I have waited so much for this moment.” The Africa Cup win was Cote d’Ivoire’s second since The Elephants’ initial triumph in 1992 when they also beat Ghana in another penalty shoot.

vory Coast won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday in Equatorial Guinea after a nerve-racking penalty shootout that ended 9-8 in favour of the Elephants. Ivorian midfielder Max Gradel of French side Saint Etienne told superport.com that he had been confident they could settle matters within the regular 90 minutes, and never expected it would stretch to extra time. “The Black Stars of Ghana stunned us. They resisted us and could have even opened the scoring. As the game progressed, we believed we could find a breach and eventually find the net, but Ghana’s back half was as solid as a rock, thanks to the likes of John Boye,” he said. Both halves of the clash were open but neither side could find the back of the net, which was repeated during extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. “The penalty quickly reminded us of the 2012 AFCON against Zambia which we narrowly lost. We said to ourselves it wouldn’t happen again. I think this victory is a recompense for this golden footballer’s generation, although some have left and there are newcomers. “Ghana have no reasons to regret or shed tears. They played good football and could have as well won the trophy,” he said. A private jet was sent by the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouatarra to pick the players on Monday morning as they arrived Abidjan by 11am. Monday was also declared public holiday in Ivory Coast to celebrate the team’s victory.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EXTRATIME

Courtney Dike’s achievements

Starred for OFC ‘95 and helped lead the club to five Oklahoma state semifinals appearances ... in 2012 was a member of the OFC ‘94 squad that won Oklahoma state championship ... scored six goals in the Region III tournament to help OFC reach semifinals ... recorded 94 goals and 32 assists in her Edmond North High School career ... two-time Gatorade Oklahoma Player of the Year finalist (2012-13) ... was a four-time all-conference and all-district performer ... led the Huskies to Class 6A state championships in 2010 and 2011, recording the game-winning goal in the ‘10 title game and notching two goals and an assist in the ‘11 final ... also helped ENHS to state runnerup (‘12) and state semifinal (‘13) showings ... netted 20 goals and collected nine assists as a senior ... was named the 2013 All-City Player of the Year by The Oklahoman ... racked up 24 goals and 14 assists as a junior ... earned AllCity Player of the Year honors after a sophomore campaign that saw her post 28 goals and seven assists ... also starred on the basketball court and was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a senior ...also recruited by Oklahoma, Texas, Notre Dame, Tulsa, Colorado and Missouri.

COURTNEY

DIKE

Nation a Falcon l Team: ets

PERS ONA INFO RMA L

TION

Born: Februa ry 3, 19 95 Reside nce: United States Parents Mr & M : rs Vinc ent Dik e Playin g posit ion: Attack er

Nation a Nigeria lity: n

Full na m Courtn e: ey Dike

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EXTRATIME

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EXTRATIME

STARS OF YESTERYEAR

GARRINCHA: BRAZIL’S MOST GIFTED DRIBBLER

anuel Francisco dos Santos speed before either crossing the ball in also known by the nickname with pin-point precision or unleashing a Garrincha (“little bird”), was a fierce shot at goal. Brazilian footballer who played at the right Garrincha excelled for Botafogo in winger and forward. 1957 as he scored 20 goals in 26 games Born in Pau Grande, a district of Magé, helping his team to finish second in the in the state of Rio de Janeiro on October league. His breathtaking form throughout 28, 1933, he is regarded by many as the the season warranted his place in the Brabest dribbler in football history! zilian squad for the 1958 FIFA World Cup. His father was an alcoholic, drinking Together with the goal machine in the cachaça heavily, a problem which Gar- form of Pele, Garrincha helped Brazil win rincha would inherit. He had several birth the World Cup in truly mesmerizing fashdefects: his spine was deformed, his right ion – due to his style of play. Many people leg bent outwards and his left leg was six in Brazil consider Garrincha the better centimeters shorter and curved inwards, player of the two solely based on the flair none of which impeded his ability to play and trickery that Garrincha exercised even football at the highest level. A boy with in the most important matches of his life. a carefree attitude, he was smaller than He was deemed irresponsible by the other kids of his age, with his sister Rosa media when he dribbled past 3 defenders noticing he was as small as a little bird she and was open to take a shot on goal but started calling him Garrincha. The name instead, waited for a defender to catch up, stuck and by the age of four years old he beat him again and then scored. People was known as Garrincha to his family and around the world saw genius in the move friends. but the coach didn’t. In his very first training session for Botafogo, 18-year-old Garrincha performed a nutmeg on Brazil international Nilton Santos. Everyone marveled at his extraordinary dribbling skills and Santos himself adviced the club chairman to sign the bentlegged angel. Many times in life people let simple defects of nature to stop them from pursuing their dream, but Garrincha was special! He did play like a majestic bird too; swinging in and out, out and in with the glory of a swan. His entertaining style of dribbling the ball is one of the reasons why people call it the beautiful game. People flocked to various stadia to witness the magician with bent legs at work. He faked in and exited out with blistering Garrincha (left) with Pele

That incident cost Garrincha the starting line in his two games of the World Cup. But he was chosen for the third match of the tournament and performed superbly against the Russians who were considered to be the favorites at that time. Garrincha and Pele helped Brazil to the final of the tournament where Garrincha provided both the assists for the 2 goals that surpassed Sweden’s one goal lead. He set up both the goals with an identical run where he beat the right wingback with pace and put in a precise low cross for Vava to tap in. In the 1962 FIFA World Cup, Pele got injured after the second match and he was sidelined for the tournament. Garrincha on the other hand was enjoying the form of his life. He took the bull by its horns and single-handedly won the World Cup for the samba nation. He scored goals from all around the pitch – Headers, left footed drives from the edge of the box, curlers to the far post and solo runs. The media showered praises upon the swan as well. The British football press said he “was Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney and a snake charmer all rolled into one.” While the Chilean newspaper El Mercurio playfully questioned “Which planet is Garrincha from?” Many legends of the game think that only two players in the world have single-handedly won the World Cup for their countries – Diego Maradona and Garrincha. His fitness started to deteriorate after the 1962 World Cup and by the time the 1966 World Cup came round, he was not the player he once was. The Brazilian football association under orders by the government was forced to select a political side for the World Cup which included heroes of the last generation.

! Garrincha

The 1966 World Cup saw the emergence of a heavier Garrincha who was clearly suffering from fitness issues. He managed to score a brilliant free kick with the outside of his foot in a 2-0 win against Bulgaria, but the tournament as a whole was a big disappointment for Brazil as they crashed out in the first round. Every bird that takes off has to bear the ugly repercussions if it tries to fly too close to the sun. Garrincha was never a natural athlete and he was a heavy drinker. He had never taken the game seriously and that’s the reason why his decline was pretty rapid. While the game kept producing newer stars, everybody slowly forgot about the legend Garrincha as he lost himself in liquor and partying. Garrincha was a playboy. He became a grandfather at the comparatively tender age of 40 and considered it was weird to be both a professional footballer and grandfather. He fathered over 10 children with countless affairs littered throughout his adult life. He drank heavily throughout his adult life, and was involved in several serious road accidents, notably a crash into a lorry in April 1969 which killed his mother-in-law. He was married twice, first to Nair Marques in 1952 (they separated in 1965), a factory worker from Pau Grande with whom he had eight daughters, and second to Elza Soares, a samba singer whom he married in an unofficial ceremony in March 1966; as Soares had also married before, the Brazilian press were sour on the marriage. The couple sepa-

rated in 1977, when Soares left him after he struck her during an argument. Garrincha had other significant affairs, including one with showgirl Angelita Martinez, and he is known to have fathered at least 14 children. After a series of financial and marital problems, Garrincha died of cirrhosis of the liver on January 20, 1983, in an alcoholic coma in Rio de Janeiro. He had been hospitalized eight times in the previous year, and by the time of his death he was a physical and mental wreck. His last years were unhappy and obscure – he seemed to have become a forgotten hero – but his funeral procession, from the Maracanã to Pau Grande, drew millions of fans, friends and former players to pay their respects. The occasion was also littered with legends of the game ruing the passing of a true showman. It truly magnified the importance of Garrincha in the Samba nation.” Garrincha played 50 international matches for Brazil between 1955 and 1966. Brazil only lost one match with him on the pitch, against Hungary at the 1966 World Cup. Pelé did not play the game against Hungary, and thus Brazil never lost when Garrincha and Pelé were on the same lineup. Garrincha is probably the greatest dribbler to have ever played the beautiful game. He was a joy to the people and a multi-purpose stadium in Brasilia, Estádio Mané Garrincha, is named after him.

Culled from www.thefootballchronicle.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EXTRATIME

FEATURE

Rebuilding Nigerian all ootbgrassroots fthrough initiative Gabriel Ken Gadaffi, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

id you see anything different about the Cote D’Ivoire or Ghana teams at AFCON 2015? Did fans at the just concluded AFCON in Equatorial Guinea miss the Super Eagles of Nigeria? Did South Africa that topped Nigeria’s qualifying group done anything extraordinary at the AFCON? If you were too busy groaning over the absence of the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the AFCON let me point it out clearly here that; there’s hasn’t been any team in the AFCON that could have stopped Nigeria had they qualified to defend the title. However, why didn’t the Eagles qualify in the first instance? It is about these touchy issues that I intend to address in this piece. I would not want to dwell in the past as we all know why the Super Eagles failed to make it to the AFCON 2015 to defend their title. And no matter the side of the divide one may stand, the coaching crew, players, fans, media and not forgetting the NFF and President Jonathan Goodluck all have a hand in the problem that befell the Eagles from flying beyond the qualifiers. Since November 2014, has anything changed? The Super Eagles for now, is yet to have a coach or best said, Keshi’s position is still hanging on the air! As things are now, the focus is on the Nigeria election and beyond the election, we must look forward to repositioning Nigerian football from my vantage position of world sports. As a kicker, I would like to proffer some solutions on how Nigerian football can be repositioned so that our national team would be able to bring back past glories. Focus on grassroots We need to focus on the grassroots development of football to groom the talented youngsters to stardom. All the states should have state leagues. All the clubs should have proper youth development programmes. We also have to give importance to youth tournaments which are reminiscence of the YSFON and Shell

Cups of those days. We are not forgetting the then Principals Cup that produced several of Nigerian super stars like Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu to mention but a few. Also, because many talented players come up from tournaments like these, there is an urgent need to revive these grassroots tournaments with better organisation. Remember, players like Humphrey Edobor shot into the limelight from school football to be part of the 1979 Flying Eagles that had the likes of Franklin Howard, Stephen Keshi, Sunday Daniel, Idris Musa, Mike Ekpenyong, Henry Nwosu et al to help Nigeria qualify for the botched/Australia 1981 World Youth Championship (WYC). The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may be doing its best in this regard, but I feel they should do more focused on these critical issues. The government should also play a bigger role in the development of not only football, but all other sports because the focus of government only on football is hampering the development of other sports. No wonder, today football is seen as a milking cow! Talent scouting from areas outside traditional football bases would be vital for the development of the game in the country. The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is played in a few states. But what about talented players from other states without NPFL teams? Nigeria is a vast country and many talented players can come up from untapped areas if they are given proper facilities and training. How did China, Korea and Japan develop their sports? As part of national development strategy, their government ensured that parks and gardens are built in each district with basic sporting facilities in place, like soccer pitches, basketball courts, volleyball and other indoor sports halls. With these facilities, readily available youths are regularly engaged in sports from tender ages and from there they can easily be identified. Therefore, we have to spread the

Ken Gadaffi

game in other states and scout for talent from non-traditional football areas and groom them. This can only be done if facilities are in place in every district, Local Government Areas and states. Nigeria must think of getting back to the top in African football because it is really shameful we were unable to make it to AFCON 2015 to defend the title we won in 2013. It took Nigeria 19 years to win the African title for the third time and we surely don’t want to wait that long again to win the next one. Frankly, Nigeria have to be competitive at the African level in football. Most of the African countries have improved but not Nigeria! So, we have to do more by trying to catch up and possibly overtake them. A fresh start Many football fans around the world may have seen Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the 2015 AFCON as a failure, however I still see it as an opportunity for a fresh start for the NFF and Super Eagles. Every soccer-playing nation usually do have a blip in their beautiful game; we had the chance in 2006 when we failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Germany. We also had the chance again when we failed to qualify for the 2012 AFCON and now another opportunity has presented itself. The NFF should as a matter of urgency take advantage of Nigeria’s absence in Equatorial Guinea to rebuild Super Eagles properly and come back stronger. Truly, it will be an opportunity to start afresh, with greater independence, and I hope the NFF is aware of this fact. The Nigerian market is growing in terms of retail, customer spending and awareness. It will only make sense for us to cash in on these opportunities as early as possible following Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 AFCON. It also means that about $7billion had gone down the drain and had Eagles qualified for Equatorial Guinea the proceeds could have added to the Nigerian economy in terms of marketing opportunity for the Super Eagles brand. The NFF should now begin to think

“While NFF creates brand awareness through the successes that would come through the exploits of the Super Eagles, they would also have a shot at creating loyalists at a young, impressionable age; even the soccer academies’ will continue to churn out future stars” ahead and take its commitment to football to the grassroots level seriously. They need to tie up relationships with coaching schools and soccer academies to discover hidden talent is now. The academies will work with NFF to understand the development requirements of the players which is a win-win situation for both the NFF and the acad-

emies. While NFF creates brand awareness through the successes that would come through the exploits of the Super Eagles, they would also have a shot at creating loyalists at a young, impressionable age; even the soccer academies’ will continue to churn out ready replacement for our ageing stars which has been the bane of our senior national team. Should the NFF take this step towards starting afresh and probably looking forward to 3-4 years of total rebuilding, it will be a good move to reposition Nigerian football for good and to build brand awareness through its commitment to football development. More friendly games I acknowledge the difficulty on the part of the NFF to arrange many international matches against other countries, but I do think that the national team needs exposure and regular competitions to be able to compete against top sides in Africa and the world. Our failure to qualify for Equatorial Guinea 2015 has further dampened hopes of securing top class friendly matches, however the NFF must not relent in commencing the rebuilding process by playing lower or smaller teams on the way up again. I understand that it is very costly to arrange international friendlies, but the national team can only improve through continuous exposure and regular competitions.

riel Ken Gadaffi Catching them young! Gab in Rising Stars coaching some youngsters y (RSISA),Phnom dem Aca rts Spo l iona rnat Inte ments of the Penh, Cambodia on the rudi round leather game.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

EXTRATIME

MAN CITY

TITLE RACE:

MAN CITY seek perfection!

Man City line up before a match

ith seven points between them and leaders Chelsea, champions Manchester City believe only perfection from their remaining 14 games will give them a fighting chance to retain their title. Another poor home performance at the weekend increased

the gap at the top and as they prepare to face Stoke today. City’s players know that only perfection might be enough. “We have got to be pretty faultless between now and the end of the season to get close,” City midfielder James Milner said. “We know, more than anyone, you have to keep going to the

death and anything can happen.” City overhauled a similarly large lead to pip Liverpool to the title last season but Samir Nasri said Chelsea would be a tougher nut to crack. “We have to wake up and do the job now before it’s too late,” Nasri said.

CITY MUST ‘WAKE UP’, NASRI ADMITS

amir Nasri has told Manchester City to “wake up” before their chances of retaining the Premier League title disappear while they are daydreaming. City are now seven points behind leaders Chelsea after drawing 1-1 with Hull on Saturday, a result which extended their winless run to five games. Manuel Pellegrini’s side

were nine points behind Liverpool last season and recovered to become champions, but midfielder Nasri believes Chelsea are less likely to blow a lead. And while he has urged his team-mates to close in on Chelsea as quickly as they can, he accepts City have a difficult task as they visit one of their bogey grounds, Stoke’s Britannia Stadium, today.

Nasri

MILNER:

City can’t afford title slip-ups

ames Milner conceded Manchester City might have suffered a telling blow in the title race despite its late rescue act against Hull. The England midfielder Milner struck a superb injury-time free-kick to snatch a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium after a troubled afternoon against the relegation battlers. The result left the champions

“Chelsea, with no disrespect, are not Liverpool - who can drop points. They are really solid. We have to catch them as soon as possible if we want to be champions. “It will be tough at Stoke, it’s not ideal at 7.45 pm on a Wednesday during the winter, but we have to win it - catch up the points we have lost.”

seven points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and needing inspiration to get the defence of their crown back on track. Milner said: “We can’t really afford too many more slip-ups, if any. Chelsea have a big lead now but it’s down to us to see how many points we can get.” City have already recovered from a bigger deficit this season, having trailed Chelsea by eight points in November. A good run of form in December saw them pull level with the Londoners before the end of 2014, and they could even have gone ahead had they not been pegged back to a 2-2 draw by Burnley. Hull’s reward came in the 35th minute when Irish star David Meyler turned home a rebound after Gaston Ramirez had struck the post with a shot fired amid some chaotic scenes in the City defence. It seemed Hull might hold on but there was still time for Milner, a 66th-minute substitute, to have the final say by bending a fine free-kick around the wall.

Fernandinho

I want to win title for fans, says

FERNANDINHO

anchester City midfielder Fernandinho has spoken of the warmth he feels from City fans and how he would love to win further trophies for them. The Brazilian won the Premier League title last year in his debut season at the club and wants to win it again to repay the support. “What I want the most is to win titles for City because I already feel an enormous warmth for everyone here,” he said. City slipped further behind Chelsea in the title race at the weekend but Fernandinho isn’t panicking just yet. “It is not a gap that we wanted because we would like to have been in front of them, but it is what it is. I believe we have the ability to catch them up in the table and be there to battle for the title in May,” he added.