DailyTimes 11-03-2015

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 10th March 2015.

EXCHANGE RATES Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN)

GAINERS

Selling(NGN)

LOSERS

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

CONOIL

35.5

1.69

4.76%

MOBIL

150

-3.00

POUNDS STERLING

296.1168

296.8722

297.6276

NB

147.1

1.15

0.78%

BETAGLAS

25.73

-1.35

-5.25%

17.83

-0.65

-3.65%

18.95

-0.47

-2.48%

EURO

213.0128

SWISS FRANC

213.5562

199.0858

199.5937

214.0996

GUARANTY

25.5

0.99

3.88%

ETI

200.1016

WAPCO

90

0.98

1.09%

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APC too corrupt –PDP Govs Ï 9Ɛô Ƌ Ƒ ƄƋƆ ƋƋƆ Ɛƈ Ƅƕ ƌ ƐƆƏ Ƈ Ə ƇƐè ƕ ƍƍ ƈƐƈ ƍ ƏƐƕ PDP’S ALLEGATIONS Ï j Ɔƕ ƌ ƒƆƗ ƌ Ɔƕ ƈ ƄƑƋƋƈ ƒ Ɛ pick Buhari as presidential candidate, says Babangida Aliyu

APC’S RESPONSES

6

PVC COLLECTION ACROSS STATES

Ï j Ɔ Ɠ ƋƆ Ɠ ƏƋƗ Ɗ Ɠ ƑƏ ƅ ƏƆ Ɠ ƇƏƆƆè Ƈ ƈƏ Ɨ ƐƏ ƍ ƏƆ Ɛê zƆ Ɨ ôƐ bribe people like them.

Ï Akpabio: Okorocha lied on alleged plan by Ï jƈƌƆ ƓƈƋƋ ƐƆƋƋê zƆ ƏƆ ƋƗƈ ƗƆƋƈƅ ƐƆ seven of our governors to join opposition. discussions with them. Ï j Ɔƕ ƊƆƗ Ƒ Əƈ Ɛ Ɨ Ɔ ƐƆƏƌ Ƌƕè want to privatise Nigeria like Lagos –Lamido

Ï M ƍƋ Ɛ ƅ Ɔ Ɛ M ƏƐ è Ƒ Əƈ ƇƏƆƆ Ɛ Ɨ two terms.

No going back on card reader – INEC

ÏÏÏThe Independent Na-

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

tional Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

PDP Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Jonah Jang (Plateau) during the session with journalists and the civil society in Lagos ... on Tuesday.

PHOTO: Olawale Rotimi

N900bn missing since 2007, says Senate 12

Agwai, change advocate, changed 6

INSIDE

Life&

TIMES Wednesday, March 11, 2015

IK Ogbonna On rumours, fiancee and L3 becoming a father P

The good, the bad and ugly fashion L5, 6 at the AMVCA P

2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Page Three

3

s

Editorial Integrating West Africa’s capital market

E

very college student knows that the West African sub region has the largest number of people than can be found on any other part of the continent. With an estimated population of 300 million and land area of 5,112,903km sq, West Africa enjoys some unique natural advantages rarely found elsewhere. Unfortunately, the sub-region is yet to leverage on its comparative advantage to integrate the citizens and economy. This is made worse by the fact that since 1975 when the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established, the objectives are yet to be fully realised.

There is no gainsaying that the region’s fragmented capital market has been responsible for the non-existence of a vibrant monetary system capable of delivering economic prosperity for the people. That is why the call by Chairman, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Suleiman Ndanusa for capital market integration in order to tackle regional challenges and create a larger market for local and international businesses is most welcome.

“Integrating West Africa capital markets will not only empower us as a more formidable competitor to other emerging markets but also help tackle the challenges of depth, breadth and liquidity,” he said.

It would be recalled that most regions of the world have for long embarked on capital market integration in order to take advantage of economies of scale such offers.

Institutions like the European Union (EU) and North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA) are responsible for the economic prosperity of mem-

ber states. It is a fact that financial integration allows for the elimination of restrictions pertaining to cross -border financial operations which in return enables related institutions to operate freely.

It also allows businesses to directly raise or borrow funds, while making it easier for equity and bond investors to invest across the state line with fewer restrictions. Unfortunately, West African has for long relied on investors from outside the region to drive economic growth. It is even more painful when it is realised that the regional trade among member states has remained low due to fragmented capital markets.

It is worth rehashing that the benefits of financial integration include efficient capital allocation, better governance, higher investment, growth and risk sharing. With financial integration, efficiency gains can also be generated among domestic firms since they have to compete directly with foreign rivals, thereby leading to better corporate governance.

Over all, Nigeria being the region’s biggest economy and Africa as a whole stands to benefit tremendously, especially in the area of direct investment in other ECOWAS countries.

Such integration would help the country diversify from an oil-based economy and thereby reduce macroeconomic volatility. That is why Ndanusa’s observation that integration would usher in a wave of product innovation as expertise is utilised from across the region is very apt.

West Africa must seize this golden opportunity if ever it is to develop like its contemporaries in other parts of the world.

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Interrogating the new-found love of politicians Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏNo doubt, in this elec-

tion season, Nigerians have been treated to a cocktail of strange actions by politicians and their spouses as they jostle for votes of the electorate.

One of such strange actions which appears to be a new-found love by politicians, is making donations to faith-based organisations, market women and men, the less-privileged as well as victims of Boko Haram insurgency among others.

It is common these days to see politicians donate money, foodstuff, kerosene and other materials to the

above groups, ostensibly to empathise with the beneficiaries.

Just at the weekend, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, stormed major markets in Abakiliki, the state capital and donated N500,000 and 100 bags of rice to traders in each of the markets.

Also on Sunday, Hajiya Aishatu Buhari, wife of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, donated assorted drugs for the care of victims of Saturday’s bomb blasts in Maduguri, Borno State.

While politicians and their spouses always declare that their actions are altruistic, not a few Nigerians see such actions as

Words On Marble :

dailytimesng

strange in view of the fact that they largely come when elections are around the corner. Again, the actions are strange because those behind them always insist that their actions be broadcast to the high heavens.

But must this be so? If there’s no ulterior motive, where have these politicians been long before now?

If there’s no ulterior motive, why can’t these politicians quietly make their donations without publicity?

If these politicians who now resort to donations want to be taken serious, they must not only sustain their new-found love beyond election period but make it a habit to regularly interface with the electorate and not just when elections are around the corner.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

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Yinka Olujimi

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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.

Arthur C. Clarke

Einstein

Abraham Lincoln

A sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic

Whoever sets himself up as the final authority on Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe

4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

5 News

PDP‘ll go into extinction in Edo after election -APC Stalwart Ojieva Ehiosun

ÏÏÏAll Progressive Congress (APC),

House of Assembly candidate in Igueben Constituency of Edo State, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, has revealed that APC in Edo state is ready to send the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), into extinction, after the forthcoming National and State House of Assembly polls.

The medical doctor-turned-politician said during his visit to APC supporters in Lagos. He said the coast was clear and that the opposition party would not win a single seat at the forthcoming national and state elections.

He said: “We are battle ready and

Chairperson, Committee for Automation of Revenue Report Generation, Janet Adepegba (left), Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka during a book presentation at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos… on Tuesday PHOTO: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

we will send the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Edo State into extinction. I am sure they know it. If you look at the progress the leader of our party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is making in all sectors of the economy in our state, you will have no reason not to vote for all APC candidates at the election. We need people who will carry on the good works of the governor even when he leaves office. PDP leaders know that it will be an uphill task to beat Oshiomhole in any political contest in Edo State, because the kind of development we have seen, since the (comrade) governor took over the mantle of governance in the state, has never been experienced.

Buhari guilty of genocide, Fani-Kayode insists

Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏAs the campaign for the 2015

election hots up, the Director, Media and Publicity, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi-Fani Kayode, has called on the International Criminal Court at The Hague, to try the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Moham-

Buhari’ll run a good govt – Osinbajo Wale Akintunde Yola

ÏÏÏAll Progressive Congress

(APC) Vice Presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, restated that General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), is ready to tackle the problem of corruption and security when elected.

Osinbajo, who was in Yola, Adamawa State capital, during a town hall meeting with stakeholders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as well as clerics and APC stalwarts, said that to tackle the myriad of corruption cases in high places as well as security, required a patriotic Nigerian

madu Buhari (rtd), for crimes against humanity.

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, Kayode said “the issues raised centered on the role General Buhari allegedly played, during the very tragic events in the core north in the mid-60’s, just before the civil war, when no fewer than 100,000 innocent and defenceless Igbo civilians, mainly women and children, were killed within a period of three months

like Major- Muhammadu Buhari.

He added that if APC is elected, Buhari would not only make sure that that the problem of corruption which has become the bane of the Nigeria’s development, is curbed, but will ensure that Nigerians key in into the new social order of the APC. According to Professor Osinbajo, the dwindling economy of Nigeria is associated with the planlessness of those entrusted with the wealth of the country, who rather than building the economy, plundered its rich resources as well as its external reserves.

The APC stalwart further stated that, if the party comes on board, General Muhammadu Buhari would ensure prudence, quality service to the Nigerian populace, respect for the rule of law, and abide by the tenets of democracy, which would be a departure from what he said is now obtainable in the PDP-led government.

by irate and well-armed local mobs, the Asaba massacre of adult Igbo males and the disappearance of N2.8 billion from the coffers of the government.

“Many have asked and wondered whether it is true that General Buhari was amongst those that covertly orchestrated and encouraged those killings and that he supported the slaughter of these innocent and helpless citizens.

“We consider this issue most relevant today because this same man, who some people have alleged was involved in this carnage and genocide, is desperate to become the next President of Nigeria”.

He recalled the allegations against General Buhari at the Oputa panel that he was in the division that took part in the massacre adding that, Buhari ordered those killings.

Fani-Kayode

2015: AD adopts Jonathan, suspends scribe Jonathan Eze

ÏÏÏPresident

Goodluck Jonathan has received the nod of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), as its presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming election slated for March 28, 2015. This was announced on Tuesday, in Lagos, by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Mojisola Akinfenwa ,at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

The party added that it had suspended its former National Secretary, Rafiu Salau, stating that the NEC ratified the report of the disciplinary committee that found Salau guilty of antiparty activities.

Akinfenwa said that with the adoption of Jonathan, the AD party’s machinery and structures across the country would

be made available for the president’s use.

He said: “Our decision to endorse Dr. Goodluck Jonathan did not come easy. We had to critically compare his record with that of General Buhari and we can affirm that Jonathan has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that he is a true democrat.”

While stressing that it did not see the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), as a patriotic, detribalized Northerner, the party said the opposition party cannot change the tide of the country because its leaders has no moral conscience.

“We are alarmed at the speed at which Buhari’s quest to become president of Nigeria has almost turned from extremism to fanaticism and to the extent that

Jonathan

when he contested in 2011, Nigerians rejected him.

“If Buhari becomes the president of this country, God forbid, it will facilitate Tinubu’s quest to conquer and acquire Nigeria as he did in Lagos and this may be the end of true democracy in Nigeria,” Akinfenwa said.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

PDP governors lampoon APC Akinjide Akintola, Jonathan Eze & Kwasu Alhamdu

ÏÏÏPeoples

Democratic Party (PDP) Governors have described the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) as an exceptionally corrupt party which however thrives on media propaganda to hoodwink Nigerians.

But the APC dismissed the allegations insisting that corruption has been PDP’s stock-in-trade in the past 16 years. The APC also denied claims by the PDP that its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will spend only one term in office if elected President, saying it is the creation of the PDP in its ploy to play a section of the country against another.

The PDP governors, led by Chief Godswill Akpabio, converged on Lagos yesterday for an interactive session with the media, raining hard knocks on the opposition and describing it as bent on winning the forthcoming elections by hook or crook.

The roll call of governors at the event included Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau, Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State. Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe, Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna and Bala Ngilari of Adamawa State were also present.

Akpabio, who is the chairman

of the PDP governors forum urged Nigerians to wake up to the reality of the alleged delusion of the APC which is promoting its presidential flag-bearer , General Muhammadu Buhari, as an anti-corruption crusader despite being surrounded by corrupt leaders and associates.

He asserted that the financiers of the APC are known individuals who have stolen from the public treasury to enrich themselves. Akpabio dismissed the widespread criticism of Buhari on the basis of his age arguing that it was not an issue, but the age of Buhari’s ideas.

He noted that as Head of State in the early 80’s, Buhari could not deliver or hold his own, rather, he delegated virtually all responsibilities to his deputy, the late Major Gen-

L – R: Minister of Lands and Housing, Dr, Akon Eyakenyi, Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Elder Bisi Ogunjobi OON, MD FMBN Gimba Yau-Kumo, President REDAN, Rev.Ugochukwu Chime and the estate developer CEO of JEDO Investment, Alhaji Aliyu Wammakko at the commissioning of the Jedo Estate, Suleja, Niger State… on Tuesday

eral Tunde Idiagbon.

He declared that the forthcoming election was all about deciding to either go backward with someone like Buhari or moving forward with someone like the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

Akpabio listed the achievements of Jonathan, especially the endorsing of the Freedom of Information Bill (FIB) which has empowered the media in scooping and investigating news items no matter who is involved. He praised Jonathan for not hounding the opposition members who hold different viewpoints or are antagonising his administration’s policies.

Akpabio submitted that the PDP had demonstrated faith in the democratic process and institutions and was determined to sustain the ideals of democracy.

His words: “President Jonathan has shown uncommon commitment to good governance and internal party democracy. Under his watch, the nation has made remarkable achievements that are unparalleled such that every subsequent elections have been better than the preceding ones.

Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, spoke next dismissing media reports that seven PDP governors were supporting the opposition APC saying it was an allegation that could not hold water.

He noted that the postponement of the election had helped to reduce the tension in the country, especially following the victory recorded by the military in the North-East war against insurgency.

According to him, it was lamentable that the opposition are skilled

propagandists who are telling lies to win election. He urged Nigerians to vote for PDP as the only way forward.

Governor Fayose of Ekiti on his part reiterated all he had said over the past few weeks on General Buhari’s certificate saga and his health. According to Fayose, Buhari is too old to rule Nigeria, adding that old age came with frailties, sicknesses and other forms of infirmities.

Describing Buhari as the age mate of his mother, he urged Nigerians to settle for President Jonathan for a second term but also tasked the media on balanced and accurate reportage.

Governors Jonah Jang, Sule Lamido, Liyel Imoke and other governors took turns to rail at the APC while canvassing for votes for the PDP. Other guests at the event were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Agriculture and Professor Akinwunmi Adesina among others.

Meanwhile, the APC has dismissed allegations by the PDP that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari will spend only one term in office if elected President, saying it is a ploy by the PDP to play a section of the country against another. ‘’The APC will not abridge the right of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to spend the constitutionally-guaranteed two terms as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if elected in the March 28th poll,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Continued on page 12

No going back on card reader –INEC Agwai, change agent, Continued from page 1 the outcome of last Saturday’s field testing of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs), and declared that there is no going back on its resolve to use the technology for the coming polls.

The Chief Press Secretary to the commission’s Chairman, Mr Kayode Idowu, made this disclosure in a statement issued by him in Abuja.

Idowu explained that after reviewing the conduct of the mock accreditation on Monday, the commission was satisfied that the objective of using it to verify Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) presented by voters at polling units and ensure that they were genuine was achieved “100 per cent”.

changed Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd) has been relieved of his post.

The decision may not be unconnected with his lecture at the 78th birthday of former President Olusegun Obasanjo which was held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital last week.

Agwai in the lecture attacked the Jonathan administration, saying that the people needed change.

However, no reason was given

for the sack in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Ruben Abati.

The president’s spokesman only said that the erstwhile SUREP boss had been replaced by Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau with immediate effect.

Agwai, a former Chief of Defence Staff, was appointed chairman of SURE-P on February 7, 2014 following the resignation of former Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who was the agency’s pioneer chairman.

Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

7 News

Kwara Gov warns voters against sale of PVCs Ola Yekeen Ilorin

ÏÏÏGovernor

Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has advised eligible voters in the state against exchanging their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for peanuts from politicians.

The governor gave the advice on Monday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) oneday campaign tour of Kaima LGA, led by him.

He described the PVC as the major democratic instrument for determining the fate of candidates, parties, the state and that of the country.

He told people of Kaima, headquarters of the LGA, Banni, Kugiji, Venra and Gbeira, where the campaign had stop-overs, that the PVCs were the only weapon people would use to vote people and parties of their choice into power.

He said that reports reaching him showed that opposition parties had been making overtures to registered voters to exchange their PVCs for a pittance.

Ahmed appealed to the people of the area to vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming state and National Assembly, governorship and presidential elections.

Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (left), with Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, during the commissioning of the Kano Institute of Information Technology, Kano… on Tuesday

APC accuses PDP of plot to disrupt Ekiti road show

Bauchi Assembly APC candidate kidnapped

Augustine Aminu

Daniel Angyu

day by APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, urged security agents to be on the alert during the road show in Ekiti and, indeed, all through the South-West, as the election approach.

He stated: ‘’Scared stiff about the success of the one-millionmarch in Lagos last Saturday, and worried about the successful rally being repeated in Ekiti and elsewhere in the SouthWest, the PDP has perfected a devilish plan to cause mayhem during the Ekiti road show.

The APC T-shirts being sewn

by Gov. Mimiko will be given to their thugs, who will then be mandated to infiltrate the Road Show and start a fight.”

our reporter, the Police Commander in charge of the area, Mr. Bassey, told Daily Times that Alhaji Inuwa was kidnapped on his way back from Bauchi, where he had gone for other engagements.

“He was returning to Miya when the incident occurred,” Yusuf said.

He added that his men were still searching everywhere for the politician, calling on the populace to assist the police with any vital information that could lead to apprehending the kidnappers and setting the politician free.

On whether it had anything to do with Inuwa’s political activities, Bassey said: “For

now we cannot point accusing fingers at anybody but do our work”.

The police area commander assured that the culprits would be brought to book.

Meanwhile, the driver of the kidnapped politician, Danliti Amadu Rungo, told newsmen that the abductors came in a black 406 Peugeot salon car, and forced him to stop at gun point.

Malam Danliti said the abductors took the aspirant away immediately to an undiscolsed destination.

On their part, the family of the kidnapped candidate and his supporters called for intensive prayers seeking divine intervention on the matter.

Abia to return 102 elementary schools to original owners

Don’t force Jega out, NGO warns Jonathan

Diabetic patients meet

Sunday Nwakanma

Jos

Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to disrupt its road show in Ekiti on Wednesday, using PDP thugs donning APC T-Shirts to infiltrate the rally and instigate violence.

The party also accused PDP, working through governors Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, of planning to cause mayhem in the South-West before, during and after the forthcoming election, to make free, fair and peaceful polls impossible.

A statement issued on Tues-

Umuahia

ÏÏÏThe Abia State Government

has earmarked a total of 102 primary schools for handover to their original owners.

Out of the number, eight schools are owned by the Adventist Church, 24 by the Catholic Church, 13 by the Qua Iboe Church, and 24 by the Anglican Church.

The Apostolic Church is to get two of its primary schools back, Methodist church, 16 schools; Assemblies of God Church, sixschools, and the Presbyterian Church, six.

Disclosing this when he met

with the Interdenominational Committee on Return of Schools in Abia State, at the Government House, Umuahia, Governor T. A. Orji said that other schools, including those owned by individuals, were being listed for handover.

According to him, the schools would be returned as soon as the committee handling the issue was through with the necessary formalities.

The governor stated that the government would avoid any crisis that might erupt between communities and churches, as that was the reason some schools were yet to be returned to their former owners.

Bauchi

ÏÏÏAhead

of the forthcoming general election, unknown gunmen were said to have kidnapped the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ganjuwa West Constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Inuwa.

Daily Times gathered that the kidnappers took their victim on his way to Miya from Bauchi on Monday night.

A family source attributed the incident to the April election, adding that the development has thrown the entire community into palpable fear.

Confirming the incident to

Moses Ikyaa-Gba

ÏÏÏPresident

Orji

Chief Orji, who said that his government was the first to hand schools back to their owners since the end of the civil war, added that apart from returning the schools, his government passed a law to back it up.

Goodluck Jonathan has been called upon to resist the calls on him to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to quit.

The Executive Director, Centre for Labour Studies and Advocacy (CLASA), Comrade John Odah, made this appeal on Tuesday during a workshop organized by the centre, in collaboration with INEC and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).

ÏÏÏThe Association of Diabet-

ic Patients will meet on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, at the Bella Memorial Hospital, Akobo, General Gas Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.

A release signed by the Chief Executive of the hospital, Dr. Andew Femi Bella, said the meeting would discuss how to improve the health conditions of members.

He explained that the association was formed to enable members cope with the challenges of their diabetic conditions, as they continue to receive medical attention and care, to enable them overcome the debilitating condition.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Politics Attahiru Jega

INEC More praises than knocks over mock polls

s Daniel Jolly, Bauchi The negative perception of stakeholders and eligible voters in Nigeria over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) new technology innovation known as Card-Reader is gradually changing following the recent conduct of the Mock accreditation exercise last Saturday in 12 states of the Federation. Bauchi is among the 12 states.

The National Commissioner in charge of Bauchi, Borno and

Yobe states in the North east zone, Col. Hammanga K. Kurmi (Rtd) and his team led other resident commissioners of the states to Jamaare ‘B’ Registration area of Jamaare local government of Bauchi State for the mock accreditation exercise. It was aimed at test running the efficiency of the INEC new innovation smart Card reader on the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Kurmi who was accompanied by two other National commissioners from the neigbhour-

ing states to Bauchi told Daily Times that Prof. Jega’s decision to test run the smart card reader in the selected 12 states of the federation for the mock election was borne out of his commitment to a thorough exercise.

Col. Kurmi who also inspected and supervised the exercise in a number of places to ensure fairness said the test running became necessary as Nigeria is experimenting with different methods to nurture and sustain CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

TOKUNBO AJASIN

Though Buhari jailed our father, we’ve forgiven him Tokunbo Ajasin is a leader of Atayese, a Yoruba self determination group in the South West. In this interview, he took Yoruba leaders to task over their support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid saying they are on their own as their view does not represent that of majority of average Yoruba people who have been abandoned by Jonathan in the last four years. He gave his support for General Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) saying even though Buhari jailed their father, (the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, former governor of old Ondo State), the family has forgiven him and will vote for him at the forthcoming polls. Excerpts Recently, Yoruba leaders, comprising the Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders, (YCE) and other stakeholders endorsed the second term bid of

Obiano

President Goodluck Jonathan on account of his promise to implement the report of the last National Conference. As a leader of Afenifere, how do you see this?

Everyone is free to support whoever he wants, that’s not a problem but the problem is when they say they are representing me in their support when I was not consulted. There was no consultation whatsoever, I was not asked what my views were, yet they say Yorubas have expressed support, what kind of support?

That’s what I quarrel with. If the entire members of Afenifere or Yoruba Council of Elders say they endorse Jonathan, I have no problem with that, but saying Yorubaland, that is going too far.

Are you not a member of Afenifere?

I am, but the original Afenifere unfortunately has broken into two or three factions.

But there have been reconciliation?

Obiano’s one year mile race

No, there hasn’t been. We’ve tried to effect reconciliation many times. I was involved in one. I spearheaded one, it lasted for a short while but it broke up again. There was one, ARG, involving the younger elements in Afenifere, I was involved too, with Supo Sonibare, but that also didn’t work out. We called everybody to IITA, people bought into the idea, they all came but after that if fizzled out again. At a time we found out that the main opposing group was the governors against the leadership of the group who were not in government but engineered what was required for these people to be in government. The leadership gave them a chance but after getting into government they became something else. We’ve tried to reconcile that but somehow, it’s impossible.

What about the efforts by Bishop Gbonigi-led commitCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Doris Nnabuenyi, Awka Anambra State is arguably the most politically aware state in the South East geopolitical zone given the calibre of politicians and well informed followership in the area hence, it is always ready to beam its search light on any public office holder that steps into the seat of governance.

Ajasin

Its people are quick to score any elected office holder high or low and cannot wait to dismiss those who may have fallen into the abyss if he or she fails to perform.

Apparently true to the nature of its people, the one year of Governor Willie Obiano has come under focus and already, analysts are set to access his

performance since March 17th 2014, when he was sworn-into office.

Also the political opponents of the governor who may have some scores to settle with him are alleged to be pulling all stops in painting pictures of what they feel he has done wrong.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

9

Politics

INEC allays fears over card readers for polls CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

its nascent democracy in order to be devoid of manipulation and rigging.

He explained that the ‘mock election’ was conducted for making voters and Nigerians as a whole not only to understand but to appreciate and accept the processes and procedures and the viability of the machine.

Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Hamman Tukur Saad dismissed campaigns by some groups and politicians rejecting the use of card readers during the general elections, noting that it would further strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

Prof. Sa’ad stated that with the mock elections, the commission is ready to conduct the upcoming general election in the country assuring that the commission was ready to conduct a free, fair and credible election.

His words: “nobody should have any fear that his or her vote will not count. I conducted election in Borno in 2011 and when I was leaving the state, all political parties and stakeholders were all happy because I gave everyone a level playing field”.

He promised that no one will be shortchanged in the forthcoming election and solicited for the support and cooperation of the people and government of Bauchi State in order to ensure that the election was not only credible but violence free adding that what causes election related violence is the perception by the public that results did not tally with their votes.

According to him, the state government is expected to be part of the team to ensure free and credible election, promising to work as a team to make sure that everybody is given his due adding that once this is done there will be no violence.

He assured the people that the era of election malpractice and rigging by politicians is gone for good, calling on the electorate to ensure that those elected to steer the polity are truly the choice of the people.

He announced that INEC had received 5,385 Smart Card readers and 4,749 Ballot boxes, pointing out that the commission’s decision to use card readers for the election was to add value and credibility to the process and remove all tendencies for manipulations and expressed satisfactory for the turn out of residents and indigenes of the state towards the collection of the PVCs. The commissioner also called on the electorate in the state to ensure that they take advantage of the two weeks extension and collect their PVCs. Director, Voter Education and Publicity said they encountered only a minor problem in one of the polling units where the Card reader was configured to start from 8:00 am to 9 am instead of 1pm which was later resolved and the exercise went on smoothly. But the state recorded a low turn-out of registered voters at the various polling stations.

The Exercise which held in Jama’re B registration Area of Jamare’re local government in the state, comprised of 14 polling units started around 8am,

Jega

“Prof. Jega’s decision to test-run the smart card reader in the selected 12 states of the federation for the mock election was born out of his commitment to a thorough exercise.”

Kurmi

“He assured the people that the era of election malpractice and rigging by politicians is gone for good, calling on the electorate to ensure that those elected to steer the polity are truly the choice of the people.”

ended at 1.pm.

Visits to some of the polling units including: Horare Polling unit, Yola Polling unit, Jeyogel polling unit, Digiza Kofar Jauro polling unit, Azizi Primay School Polling station and Jabbori polling station, revealed a low turn-out as people were still reluctant to come out because it was a mock exercise.

In Jeyogel polling station 009, the total number of registered voters was 405, but only 109 turned out for the accreditation, out of which 83 voters finger prints were successfully captured while 26 failed the verification exercise.

As at 11.30am, the average battery strength of the card reader devices at the various polling units was 78 percent, which

“According to him, the state government is expected to be part of the team to ensure free and credible elections, promising to work as a team to make sure that everybody is given his due adding that once this is done there will be no violence.”

shows that the device could function for more than eight hours or more.

Yola Polling unit 008, had a total number of 650 registered voters, but only 104 turned out for the exercise. The number of captured finger prints at the polling unit was 81 while 23 failed the verification.

One of the participants who is also a voter and Head of Jeyogel community, Malam Yau Mohammed told Daily Times that the exercise has enlightened and educated them on the Smart Card Reader and modalities associated with electoral matters noting that the exercise was coming at the right time to address some of the problems and confusion surrounding the issue of the Card Reader.

Yuguda

Politics 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

tee?

That was the ultimate. Everybody wanted reconciliation but the governors didn’t want reconciliation as the old people. They were not forthcoming as the old people. Yes, the old people have their own ways of doing things, holding on to our ways of life, our traditions, goals etc. but the governors felt opposed to them. But for me, it was an overkill as I still believed they could have carried them along. They could have reconciled their differences.

What about the Unity Forum led by Mama HID Awolowo?

That was why the Unity Forum was formed. We tried again from that angle to reconcile the groups.

Afenifere was a group that everybody liked especially amongst the Yorubas. What really happened is that Afenifere was an ideological group, some people thought it was an umbrella group, non-political.

But Afenifere was political, with welfarism and egalitarian society as its focus. So if you are for that kind of ideology, yes, you are Ok, but if you are not and then you say it should be an umbrella, then there will always be crisis and I think that’s part of the problems because some of the governors, are more to the right than to the left and they wanted to establish themselves as opposed to other groups.

So, you were not part of the Ibadan meeting?

No, I was not involved. I was not invited. To now go there and make that kind of declaration is totally wrong and false. When we wanted to go for the National Conference, they called everybody. Though I didn’t agree with some of the people appointed but we all met, even at Ibadan, at the House of Chiefs, the governors participated and everybody was there. But this one, you just called a few of your people and you now say the Yoruba people. As far as we are concerned, they are on their own, they cannot speak for Yoruba people but they can speak for themselves. I have no quarrel with that.

At the meeting, they hinged their support for Jonathan on the Confab report. Do you see Jonathan implementing the

Obiano’s sure-footed steps after Obi

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Buhari has agreed to restructuring - Ajasin

Confab report?

Let me tell you a funny thing about the reason they said they are backing Jonathan on the Confab report. When the Confab was being established, or maybe I should even go back a few years earlier when Jonathan wanted to contest for 2011 Presidential elections. He went around canvassing for votes.

He called us, I was a member of ARG then and he came to us. He had initially made a statement to pooh-pooh the conference. But we trashed it out with him on this occasion. We told him it’s surprising to hear him say there was no need for a conference as Nigeria is Ok

the way it is. He said that was not what he meant and that maybe the paper misquoted him. We later convinced him on the need for the conference as that was the plan of the Atayese since 2006, that do restructuring first before the elections. So, he had four years to have done it which he didn’t and it was only towards the end of his tenure that he now woke up to the idea of the conference, hence the APC (All Progressives Congress) said no and opposed him. But I didn’t agree with APC, I said this is an opportunity, let’s give him a chance.

We even went a step further by saying that if it is necessary to prolong this administration and all the other political offices in Nigeria and not have an election until we have a new Constitution, we said so, be it. We even asked for two more years so that we can have a new Constitution.

Because we felt this old Constitution is a fraud, a Military Constitution. But they went ahead with their meeting and didn’t implement it the way we wanted it.

Even the way the conference was put together, we were not really in support. But we felt half bread is better than none, lets see what will come out. So, they nominated quite a number of people; we wanted a democratic one, but by and large, we felt there was a good representation. I was supposed to be there but you know the Nigeria way of doing things, where someone strikes off your name and insert another one. But it didn’t matter, we wanted something done and they came out with resolutions at the end of the day – recommendations which were divided into two parts. For one part its executive powers of the president that can do it; then the other one which needs legislation. They also came out with some other recommendations which I don’t agree with, like the

creation of states which to me is not a thing we like and then to now present it to the parliament is again not a sovereign conference as we wanted.

We wanted a parliamentary system, we didn’t get that. Few things like that, we didn’t get.

Now that they have been given this recommendation, they took it, instead of implementing it, they set up another committee of four or six people to go and look at it again. Yet, you know you are going in a few months time.

He should do things in such a way to be done quickly. But the committee sat on it. One would have expected that the one that requires executive order should be implemented right away while the one requiring legislative approval, push it to the legislature.

Like it is happening in America where the legislature is accusing Obama of usurping their powers, he could do same here. He could have given the order. What I thought should have been done was that he gives the order, if they felt he has no such powers, then let them contest it. Then you make it an election issue as election is coming. This is a chance to say: I wanted to do this but I was not given the chance, the legislature is preventing me; so, this is a way to show that this man is serious about this thing. Then we strengthen his hands by voting for him so that he can do it.

We don’t want words of mouth alone; he told us four years ago that he was going to do a road, but after four years he says he wants another four years before he can do it, haba, he can tell that to the marines. Who will believe that kind of story? Nobody. I don’t believe he’s going to do anything because he had every opportunity to have done it. So, for them to say because he has promised to do this, they are backing him, its not good, its not worth it.

electioneering campaigns, no project started by the former governor would be abandoned.

Those projects are for Anambra people and not for one man.

“We shall even improve on what we already have on ground and ensure that Anambra State is made the home of socio economic development in the country” he said.

At inception, Obiano’s opponents went to town

canvassing that he has been overwhelmed by the trapping of governance, alleging that he is not cut out to run the affairs of Anambra people.

They equally accused him of mismanaging funds handed over to him by his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, alleging that the state is heading towards bankruptcy.

While his opponents were deep in the trenches sending scud missiles in the way of Obiano,

the governor called those attacks mere bluff and settled down for the business of governance.

Against beliefs that the governor has lost steam, Obiano commenced the continuous execution of all contracts embarked upon by the former governor contending that no project would be left uncompleted.

Buhari (INSET) Late Ajasin Michael

“So, he had four years to have done it which he didn’t and it was only towards the end of his tenure that he now woke up to the idea of the conference.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

At his inauguration on 17th March 2014, Obiano made a solemn promise of rendering dedicated service to Anambra people, adding that his fourpoint agenda of continuity, consolidation, competition and commission of projects would be pursued vigorously.

According to the Governor: “like I had promised during my

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

11

My plans for Bwari/AMAC Constituency -Anene The Campaign for the Bwari/ AMAC Constituency hit a new level as Johnson Somadina Anene, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the House of Representatives in the forth-coming election gathered friends, supporters and well-wishers to a dinner to rub minds on his views, programmes and initiatives. AUGUSTINE AMINU was there. Excerpts: Considering the ties of your party to the Nigerian workers, what is your perspective of the working class in their relations with employers of Labour?

Well, you know Labour Party is a worker’s party and it is also for the family, which is the reason you see the husband, wife and the child on its logo. And Labour Party is projecting the ideals of the workforce in general.

Through Labour Party, we are trying to achieve better welfare for the Nigerian workers and also to contribute to reducing unemployment in the country. We are striving to really see that every Nigerian graduate does not sit back waiting for government employment. We want to educate the people through the people so that they can be self-employed and be able to transform them from being employees to employers of labour because the government cannot employ everybody.

But what we also want the government to do is to create that enabling environment for businesses to thrive to enable the young graduate, the young artisan who has learnt one skill or the other to be able to establish his own business and grow, so we want something that will really enhance the growth of small and medium enterprise development in Nigeria.

What is your outline of programmes and initiatives to assist building cordial relationship of Nigerian Labour Congress with the Labour Party as it is in the global village?

The Nigerian Labour Congress exists mainly to canvass for the

Obiano: Taking Anambra to higher heights

“Through Labour Party, we are trying to achieve better welfare for the Nigerian workers and also to contribute to reducing unemployment in the country.” better welfare of the workers and the motto is ‘Forward ever! Backward never’ And that is what we are projecting, and also to encouraging that whatever you find your hand to do, you do it very well. We know that there is dignity in labour, so whoever that has worked is entitled to a good remuneration. Of course the NLC cannot be completely detached from the Labour Party although the management may be completely different, the Labour Party may not be in the pocket of the NLC but they supposed to have good working relationship and if they don’t have I know that they are striving to achieve that better working relationship.

Labour issue is being contemplated to be removed from exclusive list to the concurrent list in the proposed amended constitution, what experience have you garner over the years to suggest that it would not be worse for Nigerian workers if be so amended?

I really don’t think so, I also know that the government means well for the Nigerian workers, because somebody who is working for you, you will want a good welfare for him because it will impact on its productivity, so I don’t re-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

It is on record that several roads contracts were awarded by the Obiano’s predecessor even three hours to inauguration on the march 17th 2014.

Obi’s supporters had earlier accused Obiano of abandoning ongoing projects embarked upon by his predecessor and also alleging that he appears to

Anene ally think government will deliberately remove the labour matter from exclusive list to the concurrent list. And if so removed, yes, the state government has some roles to play while the federal government would also have its role to play, but then you know that it’s not every workers that are on the pay roll of the federal government neither does all the workers come under the state governments.

The recorded history of organized Labour in Nigeria is over nine decades, what does this mean to you? And where do you envisage the workers which you wish to represent be placed in the new century and how could that be achieved?

be concentrating developmental projects in only his zone, Anambra North.

Reacting to this allegation, the governor said “Any one telling you that my administration has abandoned all the projects embarked upon by the former governor is not saying the truth.

“All projects have continued and we shall complete all of them, All that we have so far

The workers should always take the front seat to play a dominant role in the development of the economy; every country that wants to move ahead should not play down the workforce. I know sometimes we look at these things as rock science but it’s a simple thing, someone who is working for you, you should establish a good working relationship with that person, maintain a good welfare for the person, so that the person will have a right state of mind, right frame of mind and the right attitude towards the work he is doing which would enhance better productivity from that worker.

So the global community should be mindful of how they

done is to carry out constant inspection of those projects and also re-energize the contractors to execute quality work that would be long lasting.

“We have also embarked on more projects for our people and make no mistake about it, we shall deliver on record. We have also opened new roads to food producing areas in Anambra and this is aimed

Politics address issues relating to the workforce, and if it’s well address that economy will move faster in the right direction, so you cannot remove the development of any economy from its workforce.

What core impact would have been made by your office if elected in Bwari /AMAC constituency in the incoming 5th National Assembly?

I hope to impact positively on the welfare of the workforce, to propose bill that will enhance better worker welfare and by so doing enhance positively on the economy. Some people think that when you are advocating for better workers’ welfare of the worker, better salary, better take home package, they think that you are just asking only for the interest of the worker but that is not true because when you pay the worker a good salary it impacts positively on his entire family.

For example, if the take home pay of the head of the family is good, it will show on his wife, the children, all the dependant and the extended family at large and show on the immediate environment and not only that, the worker will be more committed to the work thereby impacting positively on the productivity and economy of the environment.

Looking at your vision, you are driven by the desire to promote the wellbeing of the people through legislative advocacy in the House of Representatives on the platform of Labour Party, what is your take on austerity measure as it affects the working class people?

Well, austerity measures of course is saving, self-denial and sacrifice. But you will not say because you are alright today, you refuse to save for the future. And in as much as you want to save for the future, you will not starve and deprive yourself completely because you need to live today in order to get to that future. At same time you don’t need to eat fat today and starve in the future, so there must be a balance. Austerity measures can be applied but to some limited extent because you need to be alive in order to reap the benefit, thus my take on it is that you need to manage the resources well to the extent that the people here will live a modest life style and you now save for tomorrow welfare and increased productivity.

at checkmating rural – urban migration in order to keep our farmers at home and guarantee high food production,” Obiano added.

It is no news however that Awka capital city would soon wear a new and befitting look in few months following the constructing of three states of the arts fly-overs along OnitshaAwka- Enugu Expressway.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

N900bn missing since 2007, says Senate Celestine Okafor & Sunday Isuwa, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe federal government has

misappropriated over N900 billion revenue accruing to the Natural Resources Funds accounts since 2007, the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals said on Tuesday.

Chairman of the committee, Abdulahi Adamu, made the disclosure during budget defence, adding that the funds were created since 2007 through a legislation and that the money was paid into the accounts.

Adamu explained that the funds, 1.6 percent of all the past annual budgets since 2007, were either diverted or misapplied by successive governments of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He lamented that the National Solid Minerals Development Agency (NSMDA), which is responsible for accessing and allocating the funds was only created in 2013, asking where the allocations had been going before the creation of the agency.

He regretted that Nigerians had been short-changed by the federal government, pointing out that had the funds been disbursed to the state and local governments, they would have gone a long way to turn around their fortunes in the area of solid mineral development.

While calling for explanations from the federal government on the whereabouts of the funds, Ad-

amu said the country could not continue the way it was going, saying there was need for change in the government of the country.

However, in his explanations, the Minister for Solid Minerals, Mines and Steel, Musa Sada, said the funds resided with the Ministry of Finance, while the funds for solid minerals development was controlled by the ministry.

He also said that the ministry intended to establish a laboratory in Jos for research and development of solid minerals in the country, adding that this would help investors to have access to reliable data on any area of development they intended to embark on in solid minerals.

On this note, Senator Adamu assured the minister that the Senate would do everything possible to provide legislative back-up for the establishment of the solid minerals development laboratory.

Meanwhile, other senators who

spoke at the budget defence, also lamented that the ministry had low capital budget, which they noted would not be adequate for it to perform its statutory duties of developing the solid mineral ministry.

42 feared killed as bombs rock Maiduguri market Sam Kayode Maiduguri

ÏÏÏNo fewer than 42 people were

killed yesterday when a teenage girl suicide bomber struck at the famous Maiduguri Monday market.

Only last Saturday, a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the same market which claimed about 54 lives.

Immediately after the blasts, traders and residents of the area were seen running in opposite directions. About 42 more people were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries during the explosions.

According to eye witnesses: “Immediately the explosion rocked the area, we saw heavy black smoke opposite us at the small entrance of the Monday Market near the El Kanemi roundabout at about 4.47pm.

“It must have affected those ladies selling pure ground oil and kuli kuli because they used to stay in front of some stalls by the roadside closer to the yam sellers.

“The blast was another wicked reminder of last Saturday because it killed a lot of people wounding many both outside and inside the gate of the market linking the Palm and ground oil sellers’ arena.”

APC too corrupt – PDP Govs Continued from page 6 L-R: Head of Service for Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Jaji; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mrs Regina Obasa; Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Commissioner, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Taofiq Ajibade Tijani at the Eko Gas Cylinders Distribution Programme held in Blue Roof, Agidingbi, Ikeja… on Tuesday PHOTO: Babajide Taofeek

Jonathan sacks Agwai as SURE–P chair Continued from page 6 The statement by Abati cited the need for the Federal Government to re-energise and reposition the agency for optimal service deliver as reason why Agwai was replaced.

Agwai, who was appointed Chief of Army Staff by the Obasanjo administration, had in the lecture said: “In life you find out that everything needs change.

If that is what the community wants, what the people want, you must give it to them and as such, it becomes inevitable”.

Obasanjo, an estranged godfather of President Jonathan, had openly been critical of the incumbent president and had advocated

change in the running of the country.

Agwai, in the lecture, added: “You can have everything nice, but if you don’t have the right leadership to propel it, it cannot go anywhere. Integrity matters, doing what is good for the larger society, and not just what you want to do for a narrow society to please yourself.”

Meanwhile, in announcing Agwai’s sack, Abati in the statement said: “In furtherance of his efforts to continuously re-energize and reposition agencies of the Federal Government for optimal service delivery, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has appointed Mr. Ishaya Dare Akau as the new Chairman of the Subsidy Rein-

vestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

“Mr. Akau, whose appointment takes immediate effect, replaces Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), who served as Chairman of the SURE-P until today (yesterday)”.

The new SURE-P chairman hails from Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and holds Bachelors’ Degree in the Arts and Law. “Mr. Akau comes to the job with years of experience as a high-level administrator in the nation’s public service. His record of service includes tenures as Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Education Board and Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission,” Abati added.

Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. ‘’No conditionality whatsoever was attached to Gen. Buhari’s candidacy. He won the party primaries fair and square in a globally-acclaimed transparent manner, and he was neither a compromise nor a consensus candidate, hence there is no need for him to make a deal with anyone. ‘’We are therefore telling Nigerians to disregard the tales by the moonlight which some PDP elements are yarning, in their desperation to muddle the waters ahead of the forthcoming elections and create disaffection between a section of the country and another,’’ it said.

APC said it had ignored the myth all long because it was being peddled by fringe elements in the PDP, but decided to put the record straight once and for all after those who were thought to be saner elements in the ruling party started parroting the same incredulous lies.

The party also described as “outlandish” the claim that its vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has sworn to an oath to

resign in favour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu once elected. ‘’The question to ask is: When will the PDP stop this campaign of calumny and character assassination against our candidates and leaders? When will they stop this one-day, one-lie nonsense? ‘’The truth is that Gen. Buhari’s candidacy has brought out the worst in the PDP leadership and supporters, including Mr. President and his wife…”

Also reacting to allegations against it at yesterday’s media chat of moving money in bullion vans to ensure Buhari’s emergence, Lai Mohammed lashed out, “This is one of their usual lies. The whole world watched live, the APC primaries where General Buhari emerged as the presidential candidate and it was transparent.

Where did they see the bullion vans? Where was the money coming from and to whom was it directed? They lost it completely and are desperate to make such wild allegations.”

Lai insisted that the APC was in “a delicate discussion” with many of the PDP governors “and they know themselves.” But he declined to name them for now.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

13

International 14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Ex-Ivorien First Lady jailed 20 years ÏÏÏA court in Ivory Coast, on

Tuesday, sentenced former first lady, Simone Gbagbo, to a 20year prison term on charges of "undermining state security" during post-election violence in 2010-2011 that left, at least, 3 000 dead.

The wife of former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo, was also accused of "disturbing public order" and "organising armed gangs" after her husband and his supporters rejected results of December, 2010 presidential election showing rival Alassane Ouattara had won the contest.

The court "unanimously" condemned her to 20 years in jail, court president Tahirou Dembele said in a statement on Tuesday.

Gbagbo's face hardened as the verdict was read. She was "a little affected" by the sentence, her lawyer, Rodrigue Dadje told AFP. Gbagbo's son, Michel, a French-born dual national, from a previous marriage, was also sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the violence.

Once referred to by admirers and opponents alike as Ivory Coast's "Iron Lady," Simone

Gbagbo has been on trial since January with 82 co-defendants accused of varying degrees of involvement in the deadly unrest.

Prosecutors had asked for a lighter 10-year jail term for the 65-year-old Gbagbo.

"Simone Gbagbo most certainly participated in the composition of armed gangs," state prosecutor, Simon Yabo Odi told the court on Tuesday, adding "her men... participated in an insurrectional movement."

The previous day, the former first lady gave testimony for nearly four hours, confronting witnesses who said they'd seen her distributing arms to youths in Abidjan with flat denials.

She told the court that she "forgives" her accusers, saying: "I have suffered humiliation on humiliation during this trial.

But I am ready to forgive... because if we do not forgive, the country faces a crisis worse than what we experienced."

Nearly 3 000 people were killed in months of post-election violence ultimately halted by the intervention of international forces acting under a UN mandate, and led by former colonial power France.

Simone

Israeli PM alleges global effort to topple him

Myanmar police brutalise students

ÏÏÏIsraeli Prime Minister, Ben-

ÏÏÏMyanmar

jamin Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks on Tuesday that there was a "huge, worldwide effort" to ensure he loses next week's closely contested election.

Army Radio, which aired what it said were comments he made on Monday to activists of his right-wing Likud party, interpreted them as referring to foreign funding for advocacy groups campaigning for a change of government in Israel.

Political parties in Israel are banned from accepting money directly from overseas donors during an election campaign.

But such funding is allowed under Israeli law for non-profit organisations espousing political viewpoints, and US consultants have advised Israeli candidates for years.

"It is a very tight race. Nothing

is guaranteed because there is a huge, worldwide effort to topple the Likud government," said Netanyahu, who received rousing applause in the US Congress last week during a speech against a potential nuclear deal with Iran sought by the administration of President Barack Obama.

Netanyahu

police beat students with batons and detained some of them as they broke up a group of about 200 protesters, who had been locked in a standoff with security forces for more than a week, a Reuters witness said.

The students were protesting an education bill they say stifles academic independence, and a group of them set out on foot from the central city of Mandalay more than a month ago in a symbolic protest.

They made it as far as Letpadan, a town about 140km north of Yangon, where police blockaded them behind vehicles and barriers made of wood and barbed wire.

Although the police initially said they would allow the students to continue their march on Tuesday, the agreement fell

apart. Riot police moved into the protest site and used batons to beat students, monks who had join the protest and journalists, said the witness.

Police chased the students and monks into a Buddhist monastery where they had taken refuge, said the Reuters witness.

The witness saw police using the batons to smash the windows of a car belonging to a student and an ambulance where some protesters had taken shelter.

Five students were arrested in Letpadan on Friday, and the United States, which in recent years has backed political reforms in Myanmar, expressed concern at the developments. The students were later freed.

The Delegation of the European Union said in a statement it "deeply regrets the use of force against peaceful demonstrators".

ISIS beheads three gay men in Iraq

ÏÏÏISIS has publicly beheaded

three men in northern Iraq, two of them for allegedly engaging in homosexual acts, according to photos shared by sympathisers on social media on Tuesday.

The jihadist group, which controls swathes of Iraq and neighbouring Syria, had carried out hundreds of executions as it had imposed its brutal version of Islamic law, many of them photographed or videotaped.

The latest images did not show the claimed beheadings and their authenticity could not be independently verified.

A series of photographs shows the blindfolded men kneeling in the centre of what appears to be a traffic circle with a crowd of people looking on as a masked, black-clad executioner stands by with a long, rusty blade.

Accompanying captions said the trio were then executed, the third of them for alleged blasphemy.

The photos were said to have been taken in Nineveh province, the first to fall to a sweeping ISISled offensive last June but the exact location was not specified.

Egyptian cops foil tanker bomb attack on Sinai base

ÏÏÏEgyptian police on Tuesday

foiled an attack by militants who tried to ram an explosives-laden water tanker into a security base in the Sinai Peninsula, authorities said.

Troops guarding the entrance to the base in the provincial capital al-Arish opened fire on the tanker as it approached, said General Ali al-Arazi, the security chief of North Sinai province.

The gunfire caused the tanker's estimated 10-ton load of explosives to blow up, killing the would-be bomber and a civilian driving nearby, al-Arazi said.

About 35 policemen were injured by debris, he said. Residents reported a massive explosion that blew out the windows of their houses.

Police in the nearby village of Sheikh Zuwaid last month frustrated a similar attack with a tanker truck.

Jihadists in the remote peninsula, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, have been engaged in an insurgency against security forces since 2012.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

15 Opinion

Tragedy of Nigeria’s journalism

F Godwin Onyeacholem

or anyone who truly lays claim to the practice of journalism in Nigeria, this is the time to shield the face from a big shame. It is a season of great disappointment and embarrassment.

Not to talk of immeasurable sorrow and unrelieved nausea. This period really induces vomiting.

To be fair, a few honest practitioners have admitted that the quality of practice has indeed taken a steady plunge beyond belief, and this is very worrying.

This is not a misplaced sentiment, especially against the backdrop of the crucial activist role the press has played on two memorable epochs in the evolution of Nigeria. The first is the frontal confrontation with the colonialists in the agitation for Nigeria’s independence. The second is the bitter struggle with a string of military dictatorships, which gave birth to the democracy that is today being violently bastardised by a reactionary political class.

If anything, you would expect that at this time when the country’s democracy is under serious threat of total annihilation – with impunity at its highest and the

rule of law in abeyance – the press would once again vigorously mobilise to re-enact that historic duty of halting the drift. But no!

Besides one or two online newspapers, the Nigerian press is failing steadily to retain its place as a staunch fourth power of the estate, surely to the utmost let down of Edmund Burke, the Irish political theorist and statesman who described the press as the fourth estate of the realm.

Many news stories appear on the front and inside pages of newspapers and many materials are broadcast on radio and television that make you wonder whether those managing these outfits are actually journalists. Nigerian newspapers and magazines are routinely packed with stories dripping with appalling grammar and disjointed sentences, and radio and television broadcasters pollute the air in equal measure. And then again you wonder whether these are journalists. And if the answer is yes, are there editors in these media setups? If there are, you ask what their worth is.

For the Nigerian press, it is sad to say this is one era of unprecedented scandalous decline in practise as demonstrated in the total

neglect of the training of its foot soldiers, and an obsessive fascination with the frantic competition for the physical modernisation of the newsrooms. An era swamped by groveling journalists who lack the guts to ask the right questions, and on the rare occasions when they find the courage to ask tough questions that their subjects consider offensive, my colleagues smile shamelessly, roll on the floor more or less and vomit apologies.

They forget that journalism is not the same as public relations; that they have a duty not to ask patronising but hard questions; that the notion that journalists must not take sides is an irrefutable fallacy; that in the end, being practitioners of a profession whose singular loyalty is to the citizens, journalists must always take sides with the people and ensure power accounts for its deeds, in spite of the constraints placed in their way by media owners.

But a great majority of the journalists do not know this. Yes, they know a few valuable tricks about the trade; they know little or nothing about the profession itself. In fact, more often than not the way it works here is that once somebody becomes an editor in whatever category, reporting, for such a

person, stops automatically. He or she simply sits on a swivel chair behind a massive desk equipped with a desktop computer and swirl around with the authority of the position.

In the face of this flagrant lack of appreciation of the essence of journalism, you will never stop pondering the functions of the association of journalists called the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), or the smaller, exclusive club of editors christened Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), and the regulatory arm of the profession called Nigeria Press Council.

Instead of working to rescue the profession from what is undoubtedly an obvious degeneration, NUJ leaders and their counterparts in NGE prefer the company of big politicians, organising courtesy visits to state governors and attending state banquets.

Even if other stakeholders feel no obligation to act in defence of democracy, certainly not these two bodies. Hopefully, they would sooner wake up to the fact that by closing their eyes to identified lapses in journalism practise, they are not only killing the profession, but also unwittingly helping antidemocratic forces to lead Nigeria’s democracy to its grave.

Why ISIS may tempt more Nigerians

Y

Philip Obaji Jr.

oung, vibrant and outspoken, Ibrahim Uwais could easily have added his voice to issues concerning Nigeria’s forthcoming general elections just like many young people in the country are doing, but instead he shocked the country by reportedly joining ISIS. A son of a highly respected former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammadu Lawal Uwais, who is known for his hard stance on the rule of law, it was reported last week that Ibrahim had left Nigeria for Syria few days back with his two wives and children to enlist and fight for ISIS. He is said to be a close friend of Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, the so-called “Underwear Bomber.”

Ibrahim could be the first confirmed case of a Nigerian joining ISIS, heightening fears the children of highly placed Nigerians were being recruited by ISIS. “We are aware that recruiters for ISIS from South Africa are seeking to recruit young vulnerable Nigerians through the social media. This was why we alerted Nigerians last week of this

development,” said Mike Omeri, Coordinator of the National Information Centre.

To stanch any flow of young men to ISIS before it starts, Omeri said government agencies were collaborating with organisations and aggressively educating Nigerian youths on the dangers of jihad and radicalism.

Since ISIS declared its self-styled caliphate last June—which included Nigeria—countries around the world have been on high alert for foreign fighters trying to get to Iraq and Syria. New security measures have forced the extremists to adopt more-creative recruitment methods, but they have not hindered the militant group’s ability to reach a wide range of prospective recruits.

Intelligence and law-enforcement agencies have cracked down on the Islamic State group’s recruitment cells outside Iraq and Syria as well as on its sophisticated use of social media to attract and inculcate recruits. Despite the new measures, ISIS has managed to draw in 20,000 foreign fighters from more than 40 countries.

In a country where Boko Haram controls a large territory in the northeast and recruits soldiers with ease, a much more organised

and financially capable ISIS might be inspired to carry out a similar exercise.

In the case of Ibrahim, it is believed that he first left Nigeria for Dubai, then to Jordan, before he crossed into Syria.

The fact that he and his family were able to make the snaky trips and ascertain the routes through which they could get to the section under the control of the terrorists is a pointer that ISIS already has a foothold in Nigeria.

Many young Nigerians are well aware of the existence and scope of ISIS. During a trip to the northeastern town of Damaturu, a group of schoolboys were engaged in a discussion about ISIS. They knew a lot about the group—its source of funding and mode of recruitment. In their analysis, a few referred to what they read on social media. Some, though, argued about the objective of the group.

Recruitment of terrorist soldiers may not be new in Nigeria, but unlike Boko Haram, which forcibly conscripts children and youths into its fold, ISIS adopts a more scientific approach in recruiting its members. Recent developments though have shown

that Boko Haram is a group inspired by ISIS. In an online audio message reportedly from its leader, Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram has pledged formal allegiance to ISIS, but it’s unclear if this marks the beginning of an actual, operational alliance or if it is instead an attempt by the African group to push back against an increasingly robust regional military response.

ISIS has long used social media, such as Ask.fm and Twitter, to answer questions about joining and to disseminate advice on the best way to get to the so-called caliphate without being detected.

There are scattered sympathisers who act as online recruiters for the militant group. They will first help weed out potential spies, then determine the seriousness of potential recruits and finally connect them with the correct people to bring them across the Turkish border into Syria.

Twitter and YouTube have been increasing efforts to remove propaganda from their platforms.

They shut down accounts that belong to Islamic State group sympathizers and online recruits, but other accounts are frequently re-created just as fast.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

17

18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Business Times

s

Women engineers task MDAs on field exposure ASSBIFIE affirms retention of bank Joy Ekeke The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) on Tuesday urged government agencies to engage women engineers in field work, to expose them to hands-on practical experience.

Dr. Gladys Nwosah, the Chairperson, Abuja chapter of APWEN, made the call in Abuja.

She decried the situation where some government establishments restricted women engineers’ staff to administrative duties while their male counterparts were involved in field work assignments.

She said: “We have noticed that some ministries and agencies do

Anyim, SGF

not send women engineers out for practical demonstration field work.

“They tell them (women engineers) to remain in the office.

So, they become office engineers.

That is a serious impediment to the advancement of women engineers in the profession “Some of the affected women engineers have complained to me.

If you don’t send a woman engineer to the field, how do you expose her to practical experience?

“Government agencies should allow women engineering staff to participate in field work assignments, to expose them to current practical innovations for enhanced professional development.”

Nwosah also urged government agencies to stop gender dichotomy by giving equal opportunities to all professional engineers, irrespective of their gender.

staff in take-overs Joy Ekeke The president of unions in insurance and financial institutions on Tuesday affirmed that former staff of Enterprise Bank bought by Heritage Bank and those in Mainstreet Bank bought by Skye Bank were retained.

Mr. Sunday Salako, president of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) made the call in Lagos stating that: ``the workers are still working, in spite of the merger.” ``No worker can be sacked

without proper negotiation and agreement. They are still being retained.’’

The labour leader said that if workers would be laid off, the union must be consulted and that the people would be given their rightful entitlement.

Salako also advised the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to roll out stringent conditions to check the excesses of erring operators in the insurance industry.

He was commenting on the issue of foreign trips by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the insurance industry.

OPEC to maintain stance as shale oil production loses steam Emmanuel Ogbonnaya As a critical factor in determining oil prices in the second half of 2015, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is likely to maintain its production policy at its next meeting in June.

This is even as shale oil production in the United States has begun to record negative net impact.

Kuwait’s OPEC governor revealed the organisation’s position on Tuesday in the first public comment on what would be a crucial decision to determine the direction of global oil prices in the second half of the year.

Many OPEC oil ministers including Saudi Arabia’s Ali alNaimi have defended the organisation’s November decision not to cut production but instead defend market share and curtail the output of more expensive producers such as the United States.

The accord sent oil prices below $50 per barrel, extending a sharp decline that began in June amid a global glut of crude.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has said it believes the oversupply, as much as 1.5 million barrels per day, will evaporate as oil demand picks up and U.S. oil production

growth slows, with companies drilling fewer wells.

However, should U.S. oil producers prove more resilient than OPEC expects, the glut could persist and even be further aggravated if Western powers and Iran reach a nuclear deal allowing Tehran to increase its oil exports.

U.S. shale producers are falling behind in the Red Queen’s Race as the downturn in drilling means that new oil production is failing offset falling output from existing wells.

The net result is that the downturn in drilling is threatening to cut output for the first time since the start of the shale revolution.

Other forms of oil production, notably from offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico, will continue to increase in the next few months.

But in the shale sector, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has won its battle with U.S. shale producers and forced output growth to a standstill.

Production from three of the four largest shale oil plays in the United States will fall next month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says.

April production from the Bakken region is projected to fall by 8,000 barrels per day (bpd) from March. Eagle Ford, meanwhile,

is expected to drop by 10,000 bpd and Niobrara by 5,000 bpd, according to the EIA’s “Drilling Productivity Report”, published on Monday.

Only the Permian Basin is expected to achieve continued growth next month, but the projected increase of 21,000 bpd is less than half the 43,000 bpd recorded in December.

Once production from minor plays and gas-producing regions is included, EIA predicts oil output from shale regions will be flat next month.

Wells drilled in December are expected to have added about 423,000 bpd of new oil when they were completed and put into production in February. But wells drilled in February are forecast to add only 328,000 bpd of new oil when they begin production next month.

At the same time, declining output from the stock of legacy wells is expected to worsen from 319,000 bpd in February to 330,000 bpd in April.

December’s wells added a total of 103,000 bpd to net production in February. But February’s new wells will add virtually nothing to net production in April.

Allison-Madueke, OPEC president

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Stakeholders seek renewal of anti-phone theft initiative Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Following the sophistication on theft of mobile phones which is the hallmark of both petty thieves and armed robbers whenever they attack innocent citizens, stakeholders in the Information Communication Technology sector have advocated for the renewal of anti-mobile phone theft initiative which was deliberated on in December 2005 at the Telecoms Parliament in the old Senate Chambers, Tafewa Balewa square, Lagos.

The President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, in an exclusive interview with Daily Times said he introduced the motion for antimobile phone theft initiative in December 2005 Telecoms parliament in the old Senate Chamber, Tafewa Balewa square, Lagos, for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take the necessary steps as a panacea to stop the theft of mobile phones by both petty thieves and armed robbers.

Ogunbanjo stated that he introduced the anti-mobile phone theft initiative to the then Executive Vice Chairman of Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. (Dr.) Ernest Ndukwe and the then Executive Commissioner, Technical Standard and Engineering, NCC, Engr. Basiru Gwando, who also showed interest that it should start in Nigeria.

According to him, the then Minister of information Communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili, of blessed memory, actually launched the anti-mobile phone theft initiative at Musa - Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, in early 2009 because it was something that will be used by consumers each time their phones get stolen.

“Unfortunately, ever since the launch, I expected the NCC to promote it. How does it work?

It works by pressing *#06# and it will reveal your Internation-

al Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and with that you can take it to the network operator and then that phone will be disabled.

So it will not be useful to whoever must have stolen the phone.

That is something to discourage phone theft, but unfortunately, I expected the NCC to ensure that they promote it on a regular basis to subscribers to make use of the facility and to make sure that phones are kept useless to whoever that steals phones.

“I quite appreciate the fact that mobile number portability (MNP) is an NCC initiative; it’s a good thing and NCC should also take the anti-mobile phone theft initiative to the door steps of the consumers just like the mobile number portability,” he explained.

He lamented that there is a

firm called Net Visa that was told to supervise it, adding that they are not promoting it and the NCC is also not promoting it to ensure that subscribers of telecom services make use of this facility.

In a telephone chat with Mr. Yinka Giwa of Net Visa, he told the Daily Times that the antimobile phone theft initiative actually came up in December 2005 at Tafewa Balewa square, Lagos and Net Visa was saddled with the responsibility to further it, but the project was suspended by the NCC due to lack of funds to carry on with it.

Giwa, however, revealed that Net Visa is still in operation and has been pushing for the antimobile phone theft initiative to be revisited and implemented for the benefit of Nigerians.

19 ICT

CBT exams delayed in Lagos by students’ lateness Candidates’ lateness to the first phase of the Computer Based Test (CBT), Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), delayed the takeoff of the examination on Tuesday at a centre in Lagos.

Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, an official of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), said that the delay at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, (AOCOED) Ijanikin, Lagos, followed numerous candidates’ late arrival.

Abdullahi said that the situation also affected the accreditation and examination scheduled to started by 6 a.m and 7 a.m respectively.

He also said that JAMB, contrary to other opinions, made provision for such lateness.

“In order for the students not to cause trouble for us, we allow them to write the examination and book them,’’ he said.

The Director of Information and Communication Technology, AOCOED, Dr. Victor Akinola, said their lateness could be due to the ‘’African time’’ factor.

He said that in previous times, JAMB examination did not start on time and the students would

have arrived late with such notion. ‘’But these days of ICT designed programme, we are trying to be courteous by starting on time.

“In this regard, in this time of technology, there are things we should start learning.

“We should start learning about punctuality because it counts.

“We should migrate to the fact that punctuality counts and I think that students will start learning from that too,” he said.

Akinola said there were a few hitches with the machines which were immediately addressed by the college.

“Know also that since it is an examination, the organisers would want to be very careful about the release of items. ‘’Even those that have to come through the network have to come penultimate to the exam. ‘’ By these there are a number of things we could not do until yesterday (Monday) and this morning.

Some of the students explained that they were held up in traffic for hours.

Computer-Based-Test-centres

Lenovo forced to remove hidden adware Computer maker, Lenovo, has been forced to remove hidden adware that it was shipping on its laptops and PCs after users expressed anger.

The adware - dubbed Superfish - was potentially compromising their security, said ex-

perts.

The hidden software was also injecting adverts on to browsers using techniques more akin to malware, they added.

Lenovo faces questions about why and for how long it

was pre-installed on machines - and what data was collected.

The company told the BBC in a statement: “Lenovo removed Superfish from the preloads of new consumer systems in January 2015. At the same time Superfish disabled existing

Lenovo machines in the market from activating Superfish.

“Superfish was preloaded on to a select number of consumer models only. Lenovo is thoroughly investigating all and any new concerns raised regarding Superfish.”

Labour 20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

NLC tasks delegates on proper conduct at rescheduled congress Stories Joy Ekeke The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged all delegates to its rescheduled congress to commit themselves to a free, fair and peaceful election slated for Thursday, March 12, 2015.

Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, General Secretary of the congress, made the appeal when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja.

The elections conducted during the 11th National Delegates Conference on Februry 12 was disrupted as aggrieved parties hijacked and smashed ballot boxes.

Ozo-Eson said that the NLC took cognizance of the issues that led to the unfortunate incident in preparing for this election.

He said that adequate preparation in terms of security and logistics, among others, have

been put in place to avoid such lapses.

His words: ``We have made appeals; we have held meetings; our veterans have held meetings with the candidates. ``We do hope that this time delegates are coming strictly to vote and to determine how the contestants will emerge in the various positions. ``So, we are hopeful that we will have peaceful and smooth election against the background of last experience. ``We want to appeal to them, that they are the ones who have to decide the process and they should do so with open and clean mind. ``This is without any animosity or acrimony; they should be fully engaged in the process peacefully because winners will definitely emerge. `` We have also put place tight security to guarantee that the

Ozo-Eson, NLC Scribe

Pay equality for women may take another 70 yrs - ILO It will take at least 70 more years to achieve pay equity between women and men, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said, noting that women earn on average 77 per cent of what men earn.

On the occasion of International Women’s day, the ILO said a gender pay gap persists, both for women with and without children. In general, women earn on average 77 per cent of what men earn, with the absolute gap widening for higher-earning women.

“Are working women better off today than they were 20 years ago? The answer is a qualified yes. Has this progress met our expectations? The answer is a decidedly no. We need to be innovative, to reframe the debate and to intensify the focus on ensuring the rights of women at work,” Director General of the ILO, Guy Ryder, said in a statement.

The ILO, United Nation’s specialised agency, noted that without targeted action, at the current rate, pay equity between women and men will not be achieved before 2086, or at least 71 years from now.

Currently about 50 per cent

Ryder

of all women are working, compared to 77 per cent of men. In 1995, these figures were 52 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.

It is estimated that reducing the gap in participation rates between men and women by 25 per cent in G20 countries by 2025 would add more than 100 million women to the labour force. Today, women own and manage over 30 per cent of all businesses but tend to be concentrated in small enterprises.

On a more macro level, women sit on 19 per cent of board seats globally, and hold only five per cent of CEO positions at the

election goes peacefully.’’

Ozo-Eson urged the contestants to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship during the election as only one could be a winner in positions where there are many candidates. ``Therefore, there must be a loser and I think that we must be ready to subject ourselves to the democratic process. ``Because the delegates are the ones to determine who they want and they should allow that process to take place seamlessly and even if you lose today, you can win tomorrow,” he said.

The NLC scribe also urged all workers to collectively realise that what happened the last time was a huge deficit to the labour movement.

He said that the lapses in the electoral process set the labour movement several decades backwards with a dent to its image.

world’s largest companies, the agency said.

Further, it said access to maternity protection has improved, given that the percentage of countries offering 14 weeks or more maternity level has increased from 38 per cent to 51 per cent.

However more than 800 million women workers globally, about 41 per cent of the female workforce worldwide, still do not have adequate maternity protection, the ILO said.

According to a new report, “The motherhood pay gap: A review of the issues, theory and international evidence”, mothers often earn less than women without children.

Despite policy and international labour standard adjustments, women continue to experience widespread discrimination and inequality in the workplace.

“The overriding conclusion 20 years on from Beijing is that despite marginal progress we have years, even decades to go until women enjoy the same rights and benefits at work,” Chief of the Gender and Equality and Diversity Brand of the ILO Shauna Olney said.

Teachers in Auchi protest over non-payment of January salary Primary school teachers in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Tuesday, protested over alleged nonpayment of their January salary.

The teachers in hundreds stormed the Afeamai Microfinance Bank where they receive their salaries and alleged a foul play between the bank and the state government.

Mr. Ogah Eromosele, who spoke on behalf of the teachers, accused the bank of withholding their money.

Eromosele said that all teachers in the state had been paid their salaries up to date and wondered

why they were yet to receive their money. ``Some of our colleagues in other banks have received their salaries alert and up till now our money is yet to be paid. ``We went to seek explanation from the local government authority and we were told that the problem is from the state ICT centre in Benin. ``This excuse they gave us is unacceptable,’’ Eromosele said.

In his reaction, Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Joshua Imheneganha, denied the allegation of withholding the money.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

OYEMWEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Ogbonmwan Godfrey Omoruyi 3) Oviawe Moses 5) Omoregie Monday

2) Igiehon Andrew 4) Emi Allen Efosa

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To attract development to the community e.g. Police Station Good Roads, Schools and Borehole Water by providing the necessary land for same.

2. To attract equal distribution of community commual property among every indigenous members of the community.

3. To reach out members of the communities in diaporal for the need to invest in the community for the betterment of every member of the communities members.

4. To encourage every youth of the community for further their educational carriers.

5. To attract a gainful employment to every member of the community by assisting in engaging in apprenticeship.

6. To create social awareness with a view to discouraging the youth of community against crime and other social vices.

7. To provide farmland for every member of the community for economic drives/ purposes.

8. To promote cultural heritage of the community.

9. To engage in social responsibility to government primary schools within the community e.g. providing of school desk, writing materials etc.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General,Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

21 PUBLIC NOTICE

GUNUVI ELDERS AND CHIEFS TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Hungbo Yemaro Mathew Ajeyigbe 3. Joko John Wiyon 5. Hungbo Medekogbe 7. Sosoede Denayon Amos 9. Jithonu Elijah Agemo

2. Kuruyo Thofonsu 4. Makanjuola James Bolanle 6. Toyin Hundenu Senapon 8. Agegenu Samuel Dansu 10. Zinsu Monday Ashepe

DENTAL SUPPORT FOUNDATION This is to inform to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “c” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Abidemi Oladapo Dawodu.

2. Dr. Clement Olurotimi Olojede 3. Dr. Babatunde Ogunbiyi Ogunbanjo

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:1. To foster peace, unity and charitable services among members of the association.

2. to promote the welfare and general being of members

Aims And Objectives :1. To improve and protect standard s in dental practice...

2. To maintain the dignity and honour of the dental profession.

3. To be actively involved in and to help in the promotion encouragement and advancement of dental practice in NIGERIA

Any objection 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 from the date of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Signed: Secretary

SIGNED: Barr. Elliot Oni

DELTA KINGDOM MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004.

Trustees: 1. Paul Olufunmi Abebi - General Overseer 2. Paul Temiloluwa - Member 3. Paul Oluwadayomi - Member 4. David Saturday Oyovwevotu Adjarho - General Secretary Aims & Objectives 1. To propagate gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ teaching all men the essence of true gospel as presented in i.e. NEW TESTAMENT Of both Home and Overseer 2. To evangelize preach salvation through believe in Jesus Christ and upbringing people to receive their teaching deliverance.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: General Secretary

GOD’S POWER & PERFECTION INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

WORTHYMEN’S CLUB OF LAGOS Notice is hereby given to the General Public that the above named club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, for the registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts No. 1 of 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Sosanya Bolarinwa Oluwole - President 2. Oluata Oluwasegun Dolapo - General Secretary 3. Salami Rasheed Olayiwola - P.R.O 4. Ogunojemite Oyindamola Gregory - Chip whip 5. Adegboyega Temitope Hassan - Treasurer 6. Aromaye Olukunle Abidemi - member 7. Ajayi Olasupo Oluseyi - Member 8. Akintunde Adedapo Aderemi - Member Aims & Objectives To create peaceful and resourceful relationship among members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar–General Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: General Secretary

FISTOLMATSALAJI FARMERS ASSOCIATION OF BORAMJI

This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied for registration to The Corporate Affairs Commission under part c of the Companies And Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004.

The Trustees Are: 1. Josiah Kehinde Godfrey Seyi 2. Ojei Henry 3. Bishop Victor Adewale Ojeniyi 4. Mrs Joyce Omotayo Alade

The Trustees are: 1) Abdullahi Aliyu - Chairman 2) Jibirilla Zakari - Secretary 3 Abdullahi Bawa - Treasurer 4 Mohammadu Bako 5 Aliyu Abubakar

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: To spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general corporate affairs commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication

The general public is hereby notified that the above named society has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. HRM Oba Yunus. Akinmade. (FCA). - Chairman.

2. Alhaji Elias Ayinde Banmeke.

3. Alh Chief Raheem Adisa Bakare.

4. Alhaji Fasasi Wale Ayilara 5. Alhaji Ambali Adegbola. Ishola.

6. Hmn. Abdul - Rasheed Taiwo Okenla.

7. Alhaji. Ramontallah Gbemisola.

8. Alhaja Ziyadat Adeyemi.

9. Bro. Abdul- Fatai Oyekunle. - Secretary.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To carry on the business of Islamic religious.

2. To promote the unity among members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrargeneral corporate affairs commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication SIGNED: Bro. Abdul- Fatai Oyekunle.

Secretary.

The general public is hereby notify that the above named ministry has apply for the corporate Affairs commission for registration under part C. of the companies and Allied matters Act 1990 Trustees: 1. Prophet (Dr) Felix Igbekeleoluwa Oluyemi (JP) - General Overseer 2. Pastor ( Mrs) Modupeola Titilayo Oluyemi 3. Pastor David Agboola Aims and Objectives 1. To win souls for Christ through Salvation 2. To preach and propagate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to all Nations.

3. To display good reflection of Christianity in the Society.

4. To train and ordain Ministers for the work of the gospel.

5. To be involved in publication and distribution of Christian literatures that will be positively impact the lives of people of all ages.

Any objection to the registration should be forward to the registration general corporate Affairs commission. P.M B 198, plot 420 Tigris crescent Aguiyi Ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barrister Amaechi C. Maduemezia 08030765411

GATEWAY POWER PRAYER AND EVANGELICAL MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1 of 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Ukpoma Michael Ige 2) Ukpoma Ronke Ige 3 Adekanmbi Adeshina Adelani

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) To maintain peace unity and mutual understanding among member 2) To help their member to be able to do dry season farming 3) To help our members for the upliftment of their profession.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1 To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To preach Christ love, fellowship, respect and peaceful co-existence amongst members.

3 To deliver the oppressed, heal the sick and set the captive free.

4 To organize seminars, conferences, workshops, faith clinics and training centers to enhance the spiritual growth of the people in the Lord.

5. To undertake missionary/evangelistic work in Nigeria and the whole world.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General,Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

ISLAMIC HUMANITARIAN SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

THE HOLYCITY NEW JERUSALEM ASSEMBLY OF ALL NATIONS

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

GOD ACTION POWER BIBLE BELIEVING MINISTRY

JERUSALEM CITY OF JOY CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Dike Uchenna Desmond. - G . O. 2. Evag Splendor Ogechi Uchenna - Secretary.

3. Sis. Dike Daizy Chinenye.

4 Bro. Raymond Opara

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) Pastor Nwachukwu Chinedu Prince - President (2) Nwachukwu Janeprisca Uda - Secretary (3) Eze Gabriel Agwulu - Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Religious Worship And Service.

2. Spiritual Guidance And Counseling

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general corporate affairs commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general corporate affairs commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication

SIGNED: Evang. Splendor Ogechi Uchenna - Secretary

SIGNED: PRESIDENT

22

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola The Blizzard of 1888 The most severe winter storm ever to hit the New York City region reached blizzard proportions, costing hundreds of lives and millions of dollars in property damage. Although the storm also struck New England, New York was the hardest hit, with the 36-hour blizzard dumping some 40 inches of snow on the city. For several weeks, the city was virtually isolated from the rest of the country by the massive snowdrifts. Messages north to Boston had to be relayed via England. Even “Leather Man,” a fixture of New York and Connecticut history who had walked a circuit of 365 miles every 34 days for three decades, was reportedly delayed four days by the Blizzard of 1888. Leather Man, who walked during the day and slept in caves at night, was known as such because his clothes were made out of large patches of thick leather 1917 Russian army lends support to rebels in February Revolution After being called out to quell workers’ demonstrations on the streets of Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), regiment after regiment of soldiers in the city’s army garrison defected to join the rebels on March 12, forcing the resignation of the imperial government and heralding the triumph of the February Revolution in Russia.

1921

1921 Italian auto titan Gianni Agnelli born On this day in 1921, Giovanni “Gianni” Agnelli, the glamorous, powerful Italian business tycoon who turned Fiat, his family’s car company, into an international conglomerate, was born in Turin, Italy. Agnelli was named for his grandfather, who founded Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, later known as Fiat, in 1899.

As a young man Agnelli, who had a privileged upbringing, received a law degree and fought in World War II. He also earned a reputation as a playboy, dating Hollywood actresses and enjoying yachts and fast cars. In the late 1930s, Agnelli travelled to Detroit to study the American auto industry; his grandfather report-

The most immediate cause of discontent among the Russian people was the country’s disastrous participation in the First World War. Despite enjoying success against Austria-Hungary in the first years of the war, the czar’s armies had suffered repeated crushing defeats at the hands of the German army on the Eastern Front. When combined with Russia’s backward economy, its repressive government and its huge population of hungry and frustrated peasants, defeat on the battlefield pushed the country into full-scale revolution in 1917.

Demonstrators took to the streets of Petrograd, the Russian capital, on March 8, 1917, clashing with police but refusing to leave the streets. By March 10, all of Petrograd’s workers were on strike; the next day, the troops of the Petrograd army garrison were called out to quell the uprising.

In some initial encounters, the regiments opened fire, killing some workers; the total number killed reached about 1,500.

Though the demonstrators fled after being fired upon, they refused to abandon the streets altogether and returned to confront the soldiers again. Soon, many troops began to waver when given the order to fire on the demonstrators, even allowing some to pass through their lines. On March 12, regiment after regiment defected

Cartoon from our Archives

Daily Times March 11, 1961 to join the demonstrators. Within 24 hours, the entire Petrograd garrison—some 150,000 men— had joined the February Revolution, ensuring its triumph.

Three days later, Czar Nicholas II abdicated the throne in favour of his brother Michael, who refused the crown, ending the czarist regime and leaving Russia in

Italian auto titan Gianni Agnelli born edly had been friendly with Henry Ford. In 1966, Agnelli, then in his mid-40s, became head of Fiat.

Under his leadership, the company grew into one of Europe’s leading car makers and expanded internationally. Fiat also took stakes in such Italian auto manufacturers as Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati. Additionally, Fiat branched out into other industries, including construction, finance and telecommunications.

The company became Italy’s biggest private-sector employer and Agnelli, who was referred to as the country’s uncrowned king, at one point controlled more than 25 percent of the companies on the Milan stock exchange.

According to his 2003 obituary by the United Press Interna-

s

tional (UPI), Agnelli pursued several unconventional strategies as chairman of Fiat, including turning to Libya’s autocratic Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi for financial assistance during the oil crisis of the 1970s and, after the end of the Cold War, becoming “the first Western carmaker to make an aggressive move into former Warsaw Pact countries, opening plants in Poland and Russia.”

Nicknamed L’Avvocato (The Lawyer), Agnelli amassed a multi-billion-dollar fortune, hobnobbed with world leaders and was known for his sartorial flair, which included wearing his wristwatch over his shirt cuff. He was also an avid soccer fan and owned the Italian team Juventus.

the hands of a new provisional government, led by Russia’s minister of war, Alexander Kerensky, and tolerated by the Petrograd Soviet, the worker’s council formed by the February rebels.

Kerensky hoped to salvage the Russian war effort while ending the food shortage and many other

1938

domestic crises.

It would prove a daunting task: in April, Vladimir Lenin, founder of the radical socialist group known as the Bolsheviks, returned to Russia from exile to lead the October (or Bolshevik) Revolution and take over power of the country.

Hitler announces an Anschluss with Austria

1938 Hitler announces an Anschluss with Austria On this day, Adolf Hitler announced an “Anschluss” (union) between Germany and Austria, in fact annexing the smaller nation into a greater Germany.

Union with Germany had been a dream of Austrian Social Democrats since 1919. The rise of Adolf Hitler and his authoritarian rule made such a proposition less attractive, though, which was an ironic twist, since a union between the two nations was also a dream of Hitler’s, a native Austrian. Despite the fact that Hitler did not have the full approval of Austrian Social Democrats, the rise of a pro-Nazi right-wing party within Austria in the mid-1930s

paved the way for Hitler to make his move. In 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, bullied by Hitler during a meeting at Hitler’s retreat home in Berchtesgaden, agreed to a greater Nazi presence within Austria. He appointed a Nazi minister of police and announced an amnesty for all Nazi prisoners. Schuschnigg hoped that agreeing to Hitler’s demands would prevent a German invasion. But Hitler insisted on greater German influence on the internal affairs of Austriaeven placing German army troops within Austria--and Schu! schnigg repudiated the agreement signed at Berchtesgaden, demanding a plebiscite on the question.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

&

Industry TECHNOLOGY Issues

By MOSES OWOLABI, mosesowolabi2005@yahoo.com; 08053064507(sms only)

A new dawn cometh ÏÏÏYou are welcome to a new day. With

the birth of this column, a new day has just dawned in science, technology and industry sector in Nigeria. The main aim of the column is the growth of a national system of innovation in Nigeria.

A national system of innovation is defined as “the network of institutions in the public and private sectors whose activities and interactions initiate, import, modify and diffuse new technologies.” The system also is responsible for transforming new technologies into goods and services.

The reason why discoveries in science and technology lead to industrialisation, wealth and job creation in advanced countries is that there exists a formidable national system of innovation in each country; whereas this is not so for Nigeria.

Our major duty as foremost industry, science and technology columnist is to do everything possible to ensure that the various authorities contribute their quotas to the sustenance and growth of the said national system of innovation.

For our country to have real wealth, provide jobs for her teeming population and take her rightful place in the comity of nations, industrialisation is the way to go. Anything different from this would lead nowhere.

Thinking is hard work. And it becomes harder still if you are in your comfort zone. Our leaders, with the exception of a few, have been used to easy money from oil that they have found it difficult to think of other ways of generating money without jeopardising the integrity of the whole system.

We believe, with proper thinking and homework, non-oil-bearing states in Nigeria could make more money than the oil-bearing ones. If, through thinking and innovativeness, Nevada State, a desert state in United States could be more buoyant than Texas, an oil-rich state, it is possible for Katsina or Osun or Ebonyi state to generate more money than any of the Niger Delta states, while the oil-rich states could make more than they are making at present.

This reality could further lead to deeper democracy and real federalism.

Timessearch

Sarah ODEDE

Apart from e-marking, how else has WAEC improved its methods?

ÏÏÏI

Minister of Science and Technology, Abdu Bulama

Nigeria is still clinging to unitary system of governance now because majority of the state governors could not imagine life without petro-naira; but once they are aware of the immense possibilities, talks about true federalism would no longer be equated with treason.

As a result of globalisation and removal of virtual boarders to trade, there is an intense competition going on among countries. Now, survival belongs to the fittest of the fittest. The more the industrial, science and engineering infrastructure you have, the better your chances of competing successfully.

But, just where is Nigeria among the nations? An engineer and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Bamiro answered the question in a paper he delivered at a one-day National Summit on Raw Materials-based SME Clusters in Nigeria, held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

Quoting the organizers of the March 2011-slated Conference of African Ministers of Industry, he said: According to the 2009 Competitiveness report,23 African states out of 31 that were surveyed remain at the most basic stage of the competitiveness index of a factor-driven economy (that is one in which ability to compete is based on unskilled labour and natural resources). Only five countries(Algeria, Mauritania, Namibia, South Africa and Tunisia) have reached the second stage of competitiveness — the efficiency-driven stage(which is driven by efficient goods, sophisticated labour and financial market, a large market size and the ability to utilize technology effectively).No African country has reached the innovation-driven stage, that is, a stage based on an ability to compete with new and unique products, and the use of sophisticated production-driven competition.

From the foregoing, the conclusion is that Nigeria has a long way to go to get to the Promised Land, but it is not impossible. The beauty of it is that you, as a country, begin to see reward not too long after starting the process; you don’t need to wait until you reach a point in an uncertain future.

See you there.

23 News

was happy when I read the reports on some dailies that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had since commenced emarking system.

No doubt, this idea is welcome, but there are so many questions regarding this issue.

It would be appreciated if the TIMESEARCH could find out from the council, if the conduct of the West African School Certificate Examination, (WASSCE) is less challenging or more complex than before since the council has now adopted a new method of marking.

Some stakeholders have accused the council of not changing its mode of setting examination questions for years, such that it becomes easy for candidates to predict questions to be set. What is the WAEC doing to rectify this?

Parents like us whose children are yet to write the examination wish to know more about the council because the mere mention of the word “WAEC” frightens many candidates.

Mr. Shola Olalekan P.O. Box 4417 Alagbado Lagos State The enquiry of Mr. Olalekan was taken up at the WAEC Headquarters, Harvey Road, Yaba with the Public Affairs Department, from where it was gathered that in the past, the major problem the council faced was examination malpractice. However, in the past few years, the council had been able to contain the leakage of its papers.

An official who craved anonymity had this to say, “What we now have are minor cases of examination malpractice, with candidates trying to exhibit abnormal pattern of behaviour, which, of course is

Shekarau

common to candidates all over the world and not just to Nigeria.”

Before now, we also faced the challenges of movement of materials and examination papers form one part of the country to the other, because we can no longer trust third parties to handle the papers.

In the past, we used to, but they betrayed us. So, what we do now is to use a system where our office in Lagos and other branches across the country would be shut down to deal with the handling of examination materials.

He added that “the act of assessment is a science in itself. We do not repeat questions for candidates.

“Judging from our operations in the early 50s, when the organization was formed, we have migrated from our traditional mode.

“The examinations conducted by WAEC cannot be compared to any examinations in Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa.

“For instance, examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB,) are one-day examinations which are based only on multiplechoice questions.

“We in WAEC test people not on the basis of assumption but on the basis of specifically proved methods. Our examinations have a practical component. The practical component tests the sensory motor skills of the individual while the essay component looks at the cognitive, comprehensive and other domains of testing.

“We also have the oral test, complemented by multiple-choice questions. Our test patterns are formed along what is obtainable anywhere in the world.”

The official stressed that the council was doing its best to make sure candidates and parents have nothing to complain about at the end of the day.

“In fact, WAEC should be complimented not feared,” the official declared.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Many insurgents killed in bid to seize Adamawa towns Tom Garba Yola

came in a car shooting and shouting “Allahu Akbar” meaning God is great, but before they could advance to Gombi town, the military stationed there countered them and killed many of them."

Another eye-witness, Gambo Adams, said: "The fight lasted for about two

ÏÏÏMany

members of Boko Haram insurgents were killed, on Monday evening, by men of the Nigerian army, when they attempted to overrun two towns in Adamawa State.

The insurgents had invaded Garkida and Gombi towns, apparently with the intention of seizing the towns. They, however, met stiff resistance from military men stationed at Gombi town.

An eyewitness, Umana Maliki, told our correspondent, in Yola, on telephone line: "The insurgents came in through the outskirt town of Garkida, which shares boundaries with the southern part of Borno.

They attempted attacking the town at about 6:45p.m. shortly before the Muslim last prayer of the day."

Umana also said: "They

hours. We were so scared to come out even after the shooting ended.

"But, when I came out, l saw two of their vehicles burnt and three seized by the military and some dead bodies of the insurgents.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the chairman of the council Mr. Japhart Keffas,

failed as he was said to be on his way to Gombi.

Also, the army spokesman in Adamawa State, Captain Nuhu Jafaru, said he could not comment on the event.

The police said that they suspected the insurgents were operatives of Boko Haram.

L R: National Auditor, Mr. Ayodele Ismail; National Chairman, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Sen. Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa and National Leader AD, Chief Mike Odurinde, on adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan on the forthcoming presidential election in Lagos… on Tuesday Photo: Taofeek

Owerri

ÏÏÏThe

convoy of the Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okoroach, was on Monday evening involved in a road accident that left several supporters of the All Progressives Congress

(APC) injured.

The accident occurred at about 5 p.m. at Ulakwo community in Owerri North Local Government Area on Owerri-Aba Road.

The governor was returning from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport after a two-

IBIENE THOMPSON SOLOMON IKPA EKE

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ibiene Kalada Thompson now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibiene Thompson Solomon Ikpa Eke. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLUWASEGUN OMOYIEME HANATU I formerly known and addressed as Miss Umoru Omoyieme Hanatu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwasegun Omoyieme Hanatu. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

week trip abroad.

The governor escaped unhurt, but several vehicles conveying APC supporters, who went to the airport to welcome him, were badly damaged.

An eye-witness told Daily Times that one of the drivers in the convoy lost control and his car somersaulted several times.

Though no life was lost, five members of the APC Youth Vanguard, who were in the bus, lost conscious-

ness, while about 12 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

A member of the APC Youth Vanguard told the Daily Times that he escaped miraculously and that he had to board another vehicle to the airport.

It was learnt that the governor had directed the Director –General of his campaign, Chief. Iheukwumere Alaribe, to take care of the hospital bills of the victims.

EXCELLENCE SOCCER TRAINING CENTRE

The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named body has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 1990.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To promote unity among the members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general corporate affairs commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication SIGNED: Mark B. Alabi.

ÏÏÏGovernment activities

were brought to a standstill in Ogun and Osun states, on Tuesday, when workers in those states took to the streets to protest the nonpayment of their salaries and allowances, while some commenced a three-day warning strike.

The Ogun State workers' strike was called by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council ,over unpaid five months' deductions from their salaries.

In Osun State, placardcarrying workers protested against delay in the payment of their salaries and allowances.

It was learnt that the Osun State Government had not paid over two months' salaries of the

workers.

The government had, on different occasions, blamed the delay in payment of allocation on the Federal Government. A statement issued and signed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s aide, Semiu Okanlawon, said that the state government was owing three months and pleaded with the workers to show understanding over the matter.

Also in Abeokuta, pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools were turned back in their schools.

Addressing newsmen, Secretary of the JNC, Comrade Modiu Bello, said the essence of the strike was to press home their demands over alleged inability of government to pay the deducted pension and cooperative deductions of workers.

I'm not returning to PDP – Atiku Abuja

PROGRESSIVE LA CREM FRIENDS ASSOCIATION, LAGOS

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Chief Okechukwu Onyekaozulu.

2. Chief Ehiemere Emmanuel.

3. Mr. George Ezika.

4. Chief Ambrose Samson Momoh.

5. Mr. Michael Nduka.

6. Mr. Victor Chidibere Abamg.

Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo & Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

Augustine Aminu

Okorocha’s convoy in road accident Val okara

Ogun, Osun workers protest non-payment of salaries

ÏÏÏFormer Vice President

and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, has refuted reports in the media (Daily Times not included) that he was plotting a return to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He maintained that his commitment to the APC and the success of its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the party in the 2015 general election was unwavering and

Atiku

never been up for bargain.

A statement by the Atiku Media Office in Abuja on Tuesday quoted him as saying: "I remain irrevocably committed to the APC, as I promised in my concession speech at the conclusion of our party's presidential primaries, and has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of our great party at the general elections."

Newland Elementary school limited RC : 987565 Notice of final meeting. Notice is hereby given that in pursuance of section 468 of the companies and allied matters act (lfn) , 2004. the final general meeting of

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Sergius Ochepachairman 2. Sunday Pammember 3. Samuel Kuntapmember

Newland Elementary School Limited ( in Members’

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To empower youths through sporting activities.

meeting the account of the winding up of the above named

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general corporate affairs commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication

the final dissolution of the company. Dated this 2nd day of

voluntery winding up ) will be held at No. 13 Olayinka Adenubi Street, Aviation Estate , Lagos on 3rd of April 2015 at 10.00am for the purpose of laying before the

SIGNED: SECRETARY

company and of giving any explanation thereof towards March 2015. Mrs Bukola Obatayo. ( liquidator). Note. The member of the company entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint aproxy to attend and vote in his stead .Aproxy need not be a member of the company.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

25 News

Gov. Jang, Gbong Gwom Jos yet to get PVCs

Sam Kayode

Chijioke Kingsley

losing about five soldiers in last week’s attempt to penetrate Barma Local Government Area of Borno State, soldiers of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army have finally recaptured the town in one of the fiercest battles ever fought against the insurgents.

The recapture was greeted with jubilation inside the Marmalari Barracks, the headquarters of the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army.

The recapture, which was led by the General Officer Commanding GOC of the 7th Divisions himself, General Lamidi Adeosun, was said to be a very fast and secretive one in which the officers and men themselves had to toe the line behind the infantry general into Barma town.

Jos

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

Senatorial candidate of Plateau North, Governor Jonah David Jang and His Royal Highness, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, have not been issue their Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

Transparency Network seeks probe of Reps Committee Augustine Aminu & Henry Omonu, Abuja

“You would recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Resident Electoral Commission, Dr. Godwin Kwanga, has announced the extension of collections dateline in the state.�

The Gbong Gwom, whose PVC is still missing, ex-

pressed worry over the inability of INEC to distribute the PVCs within the time frame. The royal father also cautioned the citizens of the state to be law-abiding.

In another development, the leader of Igbo Cultural and Welfare Association, His Royal Highness, Chief Samu-

el Acha, expressed concern that many Igbo residents in Plateau State may be disenfranchise in the forthcoming general elections.

According to him, those eligible voters, who are resident in the state should be allowed to make use of the temporary cards.

6

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non-profit organisation, Transparency Network, has called on the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to investigate the Chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee, Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, over reports of ‘politically-sponsored blackmail’ on Petroleum Ministry, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries.

A statement issued by the Executive Director of the Abuja-based non-profit organisation, Dr. Yahaya Bello, also accused the House committee chairman of ‘economic sabotage’, as a result of his series of ‘unsubstantiated’ corruption allegations on the petroleum ministry.

Olamilekan (senatorial candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos), alleged last weekend that $14.9 billion (about N3 trillion) reportedly paid by the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) Company from 2004 to 2014 to the NNPC, had disappeared.

Abuja

Ă?Ă?Ă?Traditional

rulers of Igbo extraction, in the nineteen Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have cautioned politicians in the country against hate speeches capable of adversely affecting the unity of the country.

The traditional rulers,

Ă?Ă?Ă?After

Army recaptures Barma from terrorists The military did not meet any serious resistance between Konduga and Barma.

This was indicative of the fact that the insurgents, who are now confused, had retreated.

A dependable military source told this reporter exclusively that it was not easy braving it without casualties, but the boldness of the GOC himself coupled with the new equipment, in which tanks walked over hundreds, of mines around the town produced the hard-earned victory.

Niger East bye-election: Zagbayi, INEC lose appeal

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Polls: Igbo rulers warn against hate speeches Lateef Ibrahim

Maiduguri

who came together under the umbrella of ‘Association of Ndi Ezes in the 19 Northern States and Abuja’, stated this at the end of their meeting, at the Liberty Hotel, at Kubwa, Abuja.

In a communiquĂŠ, the traditional rulers harped on the need for politicians to be very careful in their utterances, especially in this period of electioneering.

In the communiquÊ, signed by Eze Udo, Dr Uche Egenti and Eze Udo Silas Chukwu Ajah, the association’s President and Secretary respectively, the rulers also canvassed support for the use of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and the Card Reader, for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

The communiquĂŠ read in part, “We, Ndieze Udos, be-

Pita Chikwe Minna

Ă?Ă?Ă?An

Appeal Court, in Abuja, has struck out the appeal filed by the Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the ruling of the National Assembly Election Tribunal that declared Barrister David Umaru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Niger East Senatorial bye-election.

The court has also reserved judgement on the appeal filed by Dr. Nuhu Zagbayi of the PDP, who was removed as the Senator-elect at the bye-election by the tribunal that sat in

Senate backs military in war with Boko Haram Celestine Okafor & Sunday Isuwa, Abuja

���The Senate, on Tuesday, ing the grassroots leaders of the Igbo in Diaspora, should be prayerful, patriotic and pragmatic in our utterances, decisions and actions�.

It added that: “The injustice meted out on the Igbo people, in terms of political appointments, since 1999, when democracy evolved in Nigeria, is not only inhumane, but ungodly, as it is unconstitutional�.

Minna.

In the appeal that was held on Monday, the PDP and INEC appeals were thrown out by the Court of Appeal Panel, made up of Justice A.D. Yahaya, Justice T. Akomolafe Wilson and Justice J. E. Ekane. for failing to transmit the records of proceedings of the lower court that ruled on the matter.

On the other hand, Zagbayi based his appeal mainly on the issue of dumping of documents before the tribunal arguing that the tribunal erred in law by acting on the dumped documents. He also argued that the petitioner only called 33 witnesses out of 111 polling units during the trial.

commended military officers fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the north-east and assured them of its total support to win the war.

The Senators said the military authority should count on its backing towards ensuring a successful war against the insurgents.

The Boko Haram militants announced, at the weekend, that it was affiliated to the Islamic State extremist group.

Their comment came at a time

the insurgents were suffering heavy losses at the hands of the Nigerian Armed Forces and its regional collaborators.

The Senators, who spoke at plenary, expressed great pressure to defeat a group that had killed thousands of civilians through gun attacks, suicide bombings, targeting markets, worship centres and schools.

Boko Haram wants Nigeria turned into a hard-line Islamic state.

Speaking at the Plenary, Sen Ali Ndume (Borno North), said there was a clear difference in the fight against the insurgents now, than before.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Education

Nigerian -Turkish Colleges elevate Science education Segun Adio The Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges, (NTIC), in its effort to make the teaching and learning of science subjects more appealing, has continued to make deep inroads into science education.

This became imperative because the teaching and learning of sciences remain a herculean task in many secondary schools in Nigeria.

It is a fact that no nation can, meaningfully, develop without prioritising science education, this is why Science is, aptly, considered to be the driving force for national development and

no country trivialises with its importance because of its dire consequences, which include being tagged a developing or Third World country; the need, therefore, for the teaching and learning of sciences in schools, cannot be over-emphasised. It is the constant need to advance in national development that encouraged the federal and state governments to accord primacy to it through the establishment of special science and technical colleges. However, various bureaucratic bottlenecks stifle the proper administration of these government schools, thus, the need for a private sector intervention. Just like there is

s

Some of the students in one of the state-of-the-art laboratories.

“Our students have been achieving exploits in all science Olympiads and many other competitions where they have been winning medals’’.

always an exception to every rule, the emergence of NTIC in Nigeria, over a decade ago, undoubtedly, ushered in a gale of innovative changes in the teaching and learning of sciences in private secondary schools.

The NTIC, which at the moment, boasts of about 16 branches in Nigeria, has not only shown, so far, to be a trailblazer through its well-equipped laboratories and qualified 21st Century human resource, needed for effective and efficient teaching and learning of sciences, it had also proven that sciencebased subjects are truly its core area of specialisation.

According to Boniface Akh-

alumhe, a Biology teacher in the Abuja branch of the school, “NTIC, generally, is scienceoriented, and being a group of colleges that, traditionally, has strong bent for science-based subjects, it had established a track record of excellence in students’ performance. “Our students have been doing exploits in all science Olympiads and many other competitions where they have been winning medals, some of the students are on scholarship because of their excellence”.

Timothy Shirgba, who teaches Physics in one of the NTIC branches in Abuja said that “as

Continued on page 27

Fasola orders reinstatement of ASUU-LASU check-off dues Tunde Atobatele The Lagos State Government has averted a possible faceoff between the management and members of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University, (LASU).

It was gathered that the university authorities had earlier stopped the collection of checkoff dues, payable to ASUU as a

statutory policy. This, however, caused ASUU to petition the Lagos State Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions (METP), for resolution of the steaming issue.

Meanwhile, in a swift reaction to the petition, Daily Times gathered that a letter, signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Chief Fatai Olukoga, and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Obafun-

wa, directed the reinstatement of the check-off dues, since it is statutory and non-negotiable.

The letter read in part, “Deduction of check-off dues is guaranteed by a provision of the Trade Union Act of the Labour Law. “For the avoidance of doubt, please refer to the Nigerian Labour Law, chapter 14,Trade Union Act, section 17 a and b. In view of the above and in the in-

terest of industrial harmony and governance, you are requested to comply, immediately, with the provision of the law and reinstate the deductions of the ASUU-LASU check-off dues”, the directive stated.

While responding and confirming the reinstatement order, the ASUU-LASU, chairman, Dr. Adekunle Idris, said the University had duly complied with the government directive.

Fashola

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

NUC to create employment portal for jobless PhD holders

27 Education

‘Quality teaching, learning facilities put NTIC ahead of others’

Tunde Atobatele The National Universities Commission, (NUC) is to facilitate job opportunities for unemployed PhD holders in Nigeria, through the establishment of an employment portal.

According to the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, at a recent interactive session with journalists in Abuja, the commission “shall create a portal for the PhD holders in the country, for easy access by any interested employer of labour for considerations.

His words, “It is worrisome that PhD holders are largely unemployed, when their services are needed everywhere. “Many PhD holders visit my office looking for jobs, hence, the need for a portal where their data can be uploaded for easy access by prospective employers”.

The portal, according to him, would contain vital information about the candidate and his research works to aid would-be-employers in reaching a conclusive decision. By this arrangement, it is expected that the job seekers and prospective employers of labour would reach a mutual arrangement”.

Fortunately, he added that “on the other hand, interestingly, many universities in Nigeria are seeking PhD certificate holders to employ”.

He said that the nine universities recently approved by the Federal Government have been, officially, instructed to ensure quality employment programme which would add value to the education sector in Nigeria.

Okojie

Co-education computer lab3

Continued from page 26 far as Science is concerned, I don’t think there is any school that can challenge NTIC”.

How does the school enhance the students’ comprehension of science subjects? Shirgba believes that the use of smart boards is one of such efforts.

“We are using smart boards in the school, which, I think, is not available in any school in Abuja. My videos come straight from the board, which is more like all what you have in a laptop. And I can draw and do many other things on the board.

So no school can match us in this respect”.

Speaking on the students’ performance in national examinations of bodies like the West African Examinations Council, National Examinations Council and the Unified Tertiary Education Examination, Shirgba that their performance rate is always great. “Our recent examination performance was 100 percent. Every year, we always make A (Distinction) in Physics. We have also gone international with this same sterling performance; our teaching is not only theoretical, we do a lot of practical experiments”.

“We are improving, almost every day, we just organised a Physics video competition that cannot be found in other

schools, and we always evolve new ways of teaching and learning science-based subjects and the school is always ready to e support us. “Our students produced sample rockets which they can launch. Last session, we were at the National Space Centre in Abuja, for the students to see how rockets are launched”, Shirgba added.

Akhalumhe, while corroborating the importance of the smart board innovation, said that “From the materials we have on ground now, like the smart boards, the teaching aids have boosted the morale of teachers and enhanced students’ capabilities”.

Incidentally, this enhancement impacted positively on the students’ performance in Biology. Akhalumhe revealed that “In respect of Biology, I don’t think we have recorded failure in any external examination organised by WAEC, NECO and others, the students have been doing well. When it comes to the practical, which is our forte.

As we teach orally, we also expose the students to practical, to build them up very well. “For the past three years, we have been recording over 70 percent performance in Biology, especially, the recent results, which were excellent. By excellent, I mean there was no C (Credit), it was B and A (distinctions)

. “Our recent examination performance was 100 percent. Every year, we always make A (Distinction) in Physics.

We have also gone international with this same sterling performance; our teaching is not only theoretical, we do a lot of practical experiments”.

all through”. To sustain this feat, Akhalumhe advocates the need for continuous training of teachers by the school management and the regular upgrading of the science facilities.

On their part, the students were delighted with the high standard of science facilities in NTIC, the high quality of teaching and the conducive learning environment.

Ibrahim Muhammed, a student of the school, believes

that NTIC had, indeed, gone a long way ahead with its quality teaching and learning facilities and an ideal learning environment that promote students’ excellent performance in examinations. “It is a good school and has the right environment for learning. We have wellequipped facilities and quality teachers and the school’s strength in sciences is unparalleled with other schools. “The smart boards have enhanced students’ capability and they are highly effective in areas of Mathematics, Geometry and many other subjects”, he said.

Another student in Senior Secondary School 3, Nebolisa Maluchukwu, said NTIC excels, especially, in academic performance and other areas.

According to him, the school’s academic prowess, social and moral strides are qualities that can hardly be found anywhere else. “The facilities are getting better every day. Of course, the school is already filled with several facilities. We have good pitches for football, basketball and other sports. New smart boards were, also, recently installed in the classrooms”.

There is a need for other private and public schools in Nigeria to emulate NTIC, if Nigeria were to realise its goal of being advanced in science and technology.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Features Supervising Minister of Labour seeks legislative support for enhanced funding, development

The Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaiji Tanimu Turaki, has called for legislative support for enhanced funding of the ministry and development in the sector.

A statement signed by Mr. Samuel Olowookere, the Deputy Director (Press) in the Ministry, said the minister made the call at the 2015 Budget Defense/2014 performance before the House of Representatives and Senate Committee on La-

s bour, Employment and Productivity in Abuja.

The statement said Turaki was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Clement Illoh.

It quoted the minister as saying that the ministry had made tremendous contributions to national development and required special attention in terms of adequate funding for effective and efficient service delivery.

The identified the challenge

facing the ministry to include include inadequate funding for training and capacity development for staff, especially the professional officers.

He said that the ministry was owing outstanding promotion arrears totaling over N101, 921, 389, and outstanding salary arrears totaling over N162, 230,815.00.

He further said that the ministry also faced inadequate ofCONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Turaki

THE TEXTILE CHALLENGE

Why the textile industry

may remain prostrate (I) “The latest problem, pushing the textile industry into extinction, is the issue of counterfeiting of Nigerian textiles by Chinese companies which is worse than smuggling”

Cotton yarns for production Before the collapse of the Nigerian textile industry in 1990’s, it was the third largest in Africa, behind Egypt and South Africa, and accounted for 25 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Daily Times Features Desk publishes the first in a series of articles on the glorious past and the comatose state of the industry today. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT Snr. reports. Additional reports from FUNMI SALOME

JOHNSON. Viability of the textile industry The textile industry (or apparel industry) is, primarily, concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry.

It is one of the most viable

and productive sectors for any country that desires to tackle unemployment and boost its Gross Domestic Product, (GDP), this is because the industry is estimated to churn out 1.4 billion textile products annually and creates employment for millions of people worldwide.

In the case of Nigeria, however, the time came when textile products, from China and other Asian countries, flooded the Nigerian

market, simply because the Federal Government could not sustain the local industry. For about two decades, more than 50 of such companies shut down production in the country, with, at least, a total of 1.5 million workers laid off.

Some of the companies converted their factories to other uses, such as motor marts and rice warehouses while some, especially, Afprint, diversified into importation of vehicles and other business ventures.

The total collapse of the industry came when the last of the five companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the United Nigerian Textile Plc., sacked 4,000

workers and closed its factory in Kaduna.

The four other textile companies that were listed, but, now moribund are Aba Textile Mills, Asaba Textile Mills, Enpee Textile Mills and Nigerian Textile Mills.

Their forerunners in the closure race include Afprint, Arewa, Five Star, Hong Kong, Aswani, Kaduna, Tarpaulin, Mayfair, Topstar, Globe, United Spinners, and New World. Their closure was forced by the unfavourable business environment as the major indices of production in the sector were absent. The sector, with a workforce of over 253,000 in 1997, had less than 50,000, ten years later, and now with little workforce in the country.

The number of the companies also fell from more than 70 to less than 30, with only 10 operating at 30 per cent of installed capacity.

How the industry collapsed The textile industry depended on importation of raw materials, which include a sizeable percentage of cotton requirements and almost all the dyes and chemicals. The reliance on imported raw materials and the problem of sourcing for foreign exchange also contributed to the high cost of production; coupled with the problems of poor power supply and smuggling of relatively, cheap textile goods from CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

29 Features Labour is one of Nigeria’s greatest assets

Textile collapse: A major crack in the economy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Asia. The industry also faced the problem of mismanagement and capital flight. If the identified problems were solved, the textile industry, anywhere in the world, has the prospects of expanding its production level and employing thousands of workers.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association, Dr. Jide Olanrewaju, identified lapses in the implementation of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s economic policies and the poor proactive level of the association as being responsible for the precarious state of the sector.

The major threat, Olanrewaju said, was the unabated smuggling of finished textile products.

“Despite the ban on textile imports, introduced by the Federal Government in 2004, Nigeria remains a dumping ground for all sorts of textile, especially from China. Our borders are porous, despite a firm pledge by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to police them. The truth now is that as long as the NCS, at its best, is not good enough to stop the smuggling, so also will the economy of the country continue todecline..”

Olanrewaju recalled the December, 1996 summit which the association held in Kaduna, when the gradual fall was noticed in the industry. “The major causes of the fall were identified and solutions proffered, but government failed to implement.

“Then to compound the situation, by January, 1997, the Federal Government lifted the ban on importation of textiles, contrary to our suggestions.

“We had earlier sent a recommendation to the Federal Government that the ban on imported fabric should continue, but, the opposite was done. Worse still, that year, there was devaluation on the French franc and French goods became cheaper than ours and the West African sub-region, our major export market, and since the ban on imported fabrics was lifted, it affected our market adversely”, Olanrewaju said, adding that, perhaps, if the association of textile manufacturers had been more proactive in the past, the story would have been different today.

“The association was relaxed,

because it did not have much competition, things were going well in the industry and the members were making a lot of money from it without reinvesting. There was no advertisement, the members were not really updating their technology. The industry was not proactive and that was why it was so devastating when the challenges came. We couldn’t get out of it because the cost of production was so high and we could not compete in the industry.

“The poor situation had always been a part of the system and it was also there then. We spent a lot of money on diesel for our generators to produce and this was part of what made the cost of production very high.

“Again the (General Ibrahim) Babangida regime that introduced the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) did not make things easy, because, apart from cotton, which we have here, every other thing, like the dyes, chemicals, machinery and other materials were imported and the prices were high because the SAP policy expected us to look inwards and not export.”

The EEG option “One of the measures introduced to assist the manufacturers was the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), which worked well, initially, but, was grossly abused due to the corrupt practices of government officials. Under the scheme, beneficiaries were allowed to export various types of yarn and use the proceeds to import spinning machines and spare parts.

“But, soon, sharp practices crept in and the scheme was suspended’, Olanrewaju said.

Counterfeiting Olanrewaju said the latest problem, pushing the textile industry into extinction, is the issue of counterfeiting of Nigerian textiles by Chinese companies which is worse than smuggling.”

It would be recalled that Tuesday, January 20, 2015, the Federal Government approved a new funding mechanism that would ensure that cotton, textile and garment companies access longterm, low interest loans to finance their operations. This was said to be part of the new National Cotton, Textile and Garment (CTG) Policy aimed at revitalis-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Weaving looms in a textile factory

Olanrewaju ing and boosting the growth and development of the cotton, textile and garment industry. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, disclosed this during the launch of the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy and the inauguration of a 17-member Implementation, Monitoring and Review Committee for the policy, in Abuja. Aganga said the policy, which was a product of prolonged and comprehensive consultation with stakeholders in the industry, was expected to address the bottlenecks inhibiting its development.

Aganga added that, as part of the new policy, all military and para-military institutions and government-owned agencies will purchase only Made-in-Nigeria fabrics, in order to boost local patronage and support the growth of the value chain across the industry.

He added that it would improve the quality, quantity, production capacity, marketing and competitiveness of the players across the entire value chain; control the influx of fake and sub-standard textiles and garments into Nigeria and improve the competitiveness of CTG across the nation, among other benefits.

Worrisome trend It is 7.30 a.m. and a crowd of youths, with anxiety visible on

their faces, are gathering outside the premises of a former textile factory on the busy Oshodi/Apapa Expressway in Lagos State.

For many, it has become a ritual of coming there on a daily basis in search of elusive jobs. Incidentally, majority of them were once employees of the various textile mills caught in the gale of rationalisation that continued to sweep across the industry. Curiously, many of them are willing to work as temporary hands in completely new areas, like soap making, milk canning, packaging of detergent and chemicals, jobs that are fast replacing textile manufacturing in the country.

This state of affairs depicts the parlous situation which the collapse of the textile industry has plunged Nigeria. Today, the industry has not only gone under, it is tantamount to what is negatively affecting the national economy.

fice accommodation at both the headquarters and state offices as well as and inadequate operational materials and tools such as project vehicles and computers.

Turaki said that the partial releases of Overhead and Capital Allocation had hampered optional projects, programme delivery and implementation.

He appealed to the committee to assist in ameliorating the impediments militating against the realisation of the statutory responsibilities of the ministry.

Turaki noted that the Nigeria Labour force was one of the greatest assets of national development, adding that the ministry achieved its 2014 target. ``We achieved this through tactful planning and utilization of the resources allotted to the ministry in the 2014 fiscal year.’’

Responding, Sen. Wilson Ake, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, assured the minister of the support of the legislature to enable it to perform optimally.

Earlier, Ekpenyong Ayi, the Chairman, House Committee Labour, Employment and Productivity also pledged support to boost the ministry’s performance.

NEXT EDITION

Daily Times brings you indepth interview with a textile technologist who saw the beginning and end of the Western Nigerian Textile Mills, among other related companies.

He sheds more light on the problems of the industry.

Turaki

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

31

Business Times

s

8

Politics

Women engineers task MDAs on field exposure ASSBIFIE affirms retention of bank Joy Ekeke The Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) on Tuesday urged government agencies to engage women engineers in field work, to expose them to hands-on practical experience.

Dr. Gladys Nwosah, the Chairperson, Abuja chapter of APWEN, made the call in Abuja.

She decried the situation where some government establishments restricted women engineers’ staff to administrative duties while their male counterparts were involved in field work assignments.

She said: “We have noticed that some ministries and agencies do

Anyim, SGF

not send women engineers out for practical demonstration field work.

“They tell them (women engineers) to remain in the office.

So, they become office engineers.

That is a serious impediment to the advancement of women engineers in the profession “Some of the affected women engineers have complained to me.

If you don’t send a woman engineer to the field, how do you expose her to practical experience?

“Government agencies should allow women engineering staff to participate in field work assignments, to expose them to current practical innovations for enhanced professional development.”

Nwosah also urged government agencies to stop gender dichotomy by giving equal opportunities to all professional engineers, irrespective of their gender.

staff in take-overs Joy Ekeke

The president of unions in insurance and financial institutions on Tuesday affirmed that former staff of Enterprise Bank bought by Heritage Bank and those in Mainstreet Bank bought by Skye Bank were retained.

Mr. Sunday Salako, president of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) made the call in Lagos stating that: ``the workers are still working, in spite of the merger.” ``No worker can be sacked

28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

without proper negotiation and agreement. They are still being retained.’’

The labour leader said that if workers would be laid off, the union must be consulted and that the people would be given their rightful entitlement.

Salako also advised the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to roll out stringent conditions to check the excesses of erring operators in the insurance industry.

He was commenting on the issue of foreign trips by Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the insurance industry.

Features

Supervising Minister of Labour seeks legislative support for enhanced funding, development

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Alhaiji Tanimu Turaki, has called for legislative support for enhanced funding of the ministry and development in the sector.

A statement signed by Mr. Samuel Olowookere, the Deputy Director (Press) in the Ministry, said the minister made the call at the 2015 Budget Defense/2014 performance before the House of Representatives and Senate Committee on La-

s

s

INEC More praises Daily Times Nigeria than Wednesday, March 11, 2015 knocks over mock polls Attahiru Jega

bour, Employment and Productivity in Abuja.

The statement said Turaki was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Clement Illoh.

It quoted the minister as saying that the ministry had made tremendous contributions to national development and required special attention in terms of adequate funding for effective and efficient service delivery.

The identified the challenge

International 14 BUSINESS Features

facing the ministry to include include inadequate funding for training and capacity development for staff, especially the professional officers.

He said that the ministry was owing outstanding promotion arrears totaling over N101, 921, 389, and outstanding salary arrears totaling over N162, 230,815.00.

He further said that the ministry also faced inadequate of-

Daniel Jolly, Bauchi The negative perception of stakeholders and eligible voters in Nigeria over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) new technology innovation known as Card-Reader is gradually changing following the recent conduct of the Mock accreditation exercise last Saturday in 12 states of the Federation. Bauchi is among the 12 states.

The National Commissioner in charge of Bauchi, Borno and

News

Yobe states in the North east zone, Col. Hammanga K. Kurmi (Rtd) and his team led other resident commissioners of the states to Jamaare ‘B’ Registration area of Jamaare local government of Bauchi State for the mock accreditation exercise. It was aimed at test running the efficiency of the INEC new innovation smart Card reader on the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Kurmi who was accompanied by two other National commissioners from the neigbhour-

ing states to Bauchi told Daily Times that Prof. Jega’s decision to test run the smart card reader in the selected 12 states of the federation for the mock election was borne out of his commitment to a thorough exercise.

Col. Kurmi who also inspected and supervised the exercise in a number of places to ensure fairness said the test running became necessary as Nigeria is experimenting with different methods to nurture and sustain

Politics

OPEC to TOKUNBO THE TEXTILE Ex-Ivorien First ISIS beheads P8 AJASIN: AJASIN CHALLENGE: TOKUNBO three gay men Lady jailed 20 maintain stance Ex-Ivorien First Lady in Iraq OPEC to maintain stance as THE TEXTILE WhyCHALLENGE the years Buhari as shale oil jailed Though jailedBuhari our P14 ÏÏÏThough 20 years shale oil production loses steam jailed our industry may Why the textile industry P18 production ÏÏÏ father, we’ve forgiven him father, we’ve remain prostrate remain prostrate (I) loses steam may P28 forgiven him (I) Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.63

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

ÎÎÎSince

the 2015 presidential campaign began, there has been a suspicious and ominous silence by most Hausa/Fulani Muslims holding top and sensitive positions in the government of President Goodluck Jonathan. Those keeping this silence of conspiracy include ministers, special advisers and appointed heads of federal commissions, agencies and departments who are supposed to be speaking and showcasing what the government has achieved under the sector they are supervising.

Jonathan became President of Nigeria following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He won the 2011 presidential election on personal merit and with the support of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). About to serve out his first four-year term, Jonathan is seeking re-election but the Hausa/Fulani Muslims especially, in bed with some other opposition elements, have ganged up to say that Jonathan must not be allowed a second term, insisting that power must be in their hands from May 29th this year, by fire by force. Most of those opposing Jonathan’s re-election were originally members of the political parties

growth slows, with companies drilling fewer wells.

However, should U.S. oil producers prove more resilient than OPEC expects, the glut could persist and even be further aggravated if Western powers and Iran reach a nuclear deal allowing Tehran to increase its oil exports.

U.S. shale producers are falling behind in the Red Queen’s Race as the downturn in drilling means that new oil production is failing offset falling output from existing wells.

The net result is that the downturn in drilling is threatening to cut output for the first time since the start of the shale revolution.

Other forms of oil production, notably from offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico, will continue to increase in the next few months.

But in the shale sector, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has won its battle with U.S. shale producers and forced output growth to a standstill.

Production from three of the four largest shale oil plays in the United States will fall next month, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) says.

April production from the Bakken region is projected to fall by 8,000 barrels per day (bpd) from March. Eagle Ford, meanwhile,

is expected to drop by 10,000 bpd and Niobrara by 5,000 bpd, according to the EIA’s “Drilling Productivity Report”, published on Monday.

Only the Permian Basin is expected to achieve continued growth next month, but the projected increase of 21,000 bpd is less than half the 43,000 bpd recorded in December.

Once production from minor

Price: N150

plays and gas-producing regions is included, EIA predicts oil output from shale regions will be flat next month.

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

Bonaventure Melah

As a critical factor in determining oil prices in the second half of 2015, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is likely to maintain its production policy at its next meeting in June.

This is even as shale oil production in the United States has begun to record negative net impact.

Kuwait’s OPEC governor revealed the organisation’s position on Tuesday in the first public comment on what would be a crucial decision to determine the direction of global oil prices in the second half of the year.

Many OPEC oil ministers including Saudi Arabia’s Ali alNaimi have defended the organisation’s November decision not to cut production but instead defend market share and curtail the output of more expensive producers such as the United States.

The accord sent oil prices below $50 per barrel, extending a sharp decline that began in June amid a global glut of crude.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has said it believes the oversupply, as much as 1.5 million barrels per day, will evaporate as oil demand picks up and U.S. oil production

dailytimesng

Wells drilled in December are expected to have added about 423,000 bpd of new oil when they were completed and put into production in February. But wells drilled in February are forecast to add only 328,000 bpd of new oil when they begin production next month.

At the same time, declining output from the stock of legacy wells is expected to worsen from 319,000 bpd in February to 330,000 bpd in April.

December’s wells added a total of 103,000 bpd to net production in February. But February’s new wells will add virtually nothing to net production in April.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Turaki

ISIS has publicly beheaded three men in northern Iraq, two of them for allegedly engaging in homosexual acts, according to photos shared by sympathisers A court in Ivory Coast, on Gbagbo has been on trial since on social media on Tuesday.

Tuesday, sentenced former first January with 82 co-defendants The jihadist group, which conlady, Simone Gbagbo, to a 20- accused of varying degrees of trols swathes of Iraq and neighNo, there hasn’t been. We’ve year prison term on charges of involvement in the deadly un-Tokunbo Ajasin is a leader President Goodluck Jonathan bouring Syria, had carried out of Atayese, a Yoruba self on account of his promise to tried to effect reconciliation "undermining state security" rest. determination group in the implement the report of the many times. I was involved hundreds in of executions as it had Prosecutors had asked for a during post-election violence in South West. In this interview, last National Conference. As one. I spearheaded one, it lasted imposed its brutal version of Isworkers and closed its factory in 2010-2011 that left, at least, 3 000 lighter 10-year jail term forhethe took Yoruba leaders to task a leader of Afenifere, how do for a short while but it broke up Kaduna. lamic law, many of them photoover their support for President you see this? again. There was one, ARG, in65-year-old Gbagbo. dead. four other textile compa“The latestEveryone is free toThesupport graphed or videotaped.

Jonathan’s second thenow younger elements nies that were volving listed, but, "Simone Gbagbo most Goodluck cerThe wife of former Ivorian term bid saying they are on their whoever he wants, moribund that’s notare a Aba in Afenifere, I was involved too, The latest images did not show Textile Mills, problem, pushing president, Laurent Gbagbo, tainly participated in the comown as their view does not repre- problem but the problem isTextile when Mills, with SupoTextile Sonibare, but that also Asaba Enpee the claimed beheadings and their was also accused of "disturbing position of armed gangs," state sent that of majority the of average say they are representing didn’t workMills. out. We called everyMills and Nigerian Textile textilethey industry authenticity could not be indewhenforerunners I was body people bought into in to theIITA, closure told people who have been me in their supportTheir public order" and "organising prosecutor, Simon Yabo Odi Yoruba abandoned by Jonathan the not consulted. Thererace wasinclude no con-Afprint, pendently verified. intoinextinction, the idea, they all came but after Arewa, Five armed gangs" after her husband the court on Tuesday, adding last four years. He gave his sup- sultation whatsoever, Star, Hong Kong, Aswani, KaduI was not that if fizzled out again. At a time A series of photographs shows anfor General Muhammadu and his supporters rejected re- "her men... participated inport is the issue ofwhat my views na, were, Tarpaulin, asked yet Mayfair, we foundTopstar, out that the main opthe blindfolded men kneeling in Globe, United Spinners, and New sults of December, 2010 presi- insurrectional movement." Buhari, presidential candidate they say Yorubas have expressed posing group was the governors counterfeiting of the centre of what appears to be Their closure wasthe forced of the All Progressives Congress, support, what kind World. of support? against leadership of the The previous day, the former dential election showing rival by the unfavourable business en(APC) saying even though Bu- That’s what I quarrel with. If group who were not in governa traffic circle with a crowd of Nigerian textiles by of Afenifere forjailed their father, Alassane Ouattara had won the first lady gave testimony hari as the major (the late the entire members vironment ment butindices engineered what was people looking on as a masked, production the sector nearly four hours, confronting contest.

Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, companies or Yoruba Council ofof Elders say inrequired forwere these people to be Chinese black-clad executioner stands by absent. The sector, with a workformer governor of old Ondo they endorse Jonathan, I have no in government. The leadership The court "unanimously" witnesses who said they'd seen force of over 253,000 in 1997, had with a long, rusty blade.

State), the family has forgiven problem with that, but saying Yo- gave them a chance but after which is worse than condemned her to 20 years in her distributing arms to youths less than 50,000, ten years later, him and will vote for him at the rubaland, that is going too far. getting into government they be- Accompanying captions said and now with little workforce in jail, court president Tahirou in Abidjan with flat denials.forthcoming polls. Excerpts smuggling”Are you not a member of came something else. We’ve tried the country. the trio were then executed, the She told the court that she Dembele said in a statement on Afenifere? to the reconcile that but somehow, The number of companies third of them for alleged blasRecently, Yoruba leaders, I am, but the original it’sthan impossible. "forgives" her accusers, saying: Tuesday. alsoAfenifere fell from more 70 to less phemy. the Afenifere, has broken into only What about than 30, with 10 operating at the efforts by market, Yosimplyunfortunately because the Fedon Gbagbo's face hardened as "I have suffered humiliationcomprising ruba Council of Elders, (YCE) twocould or three Bishopcapacity.

Gbonigi-led commit- The photos were said to have eral Government notfactions. sus- 30 per cent of installed the verdict was read. She was "a humiliation during this trial. and other stakeholders But there have been recontain the enlocal industry.

For about beenAjasin taken in Nineveh province, CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 be- the second term little affected" by the sentence, But I am ready to forgive...dorsed bid of more ciliation?

How the industry collapsed two decades, than 50 of such the first to fall to a sweeping ISISThe textile industry depended companies shut down production her lawyer, Rodrigue Dadje told cause if we do not forgive, the Cotton yarns for production led offensive last June but the in the country, with, at least, a to- on importation of raw matericountry faces a and crisis worse AFP. Its people are quick to score performance since March 17th sizeable Awka Doris aNnabuenyi, Before the collapse of the Nige- JOHNSON. productive sectors for any tal of 1.5 million workers laid off. als, which include exact location was not specified. than what we experienced."

Gbagbo's son, Michel, a any elected office holder high or 2014, when he was sworn-into Viability of the textile indusrian textile industry in 1990’s, country that desires to tackle unSome of the companies con- percentage of cotton requirethe dyes State is arguably low and cannot wait to dismiss office. it was the third largest in Af- try employment and boost its Gross verted their factories to other ments and almost all Anambra Nearly 3 000 people were killed French-born dual national, from Also the political opponents Themost reliance on The textile industry (or apparel Domestic Product, (GDP), this is uses, such as motor marts and and chemicals. the behind Egypt and South Afpolitically aware state in those who may have fallen into in months of post-election vioarica, previous marriage, was also and thegeopolitical zone the abyss if he or she fails to of the governor who may have rica, and accounted for 25 percent industry) is, primarily, concerned because the industry is estimated rice warehouses while some, es- imported raw materials the South East lence ultimately sentenced five years in prison some scores to settle with him with the production of yarn, and halted of the GrosstoDomestic Product to churn by out the 1.4 billion textile pecially, Afprint, diversified into problem of sourcing given for theforeign calibre of politicians perform. to the Apparently true to the nature are alleged to be pulling all stops subsequent design (GDP).

Features Desk cloth and the annually and creates importation of vehicles and other exchange also contributed and well informed followership intervention of products international for hisDaily roleTimes in the violence. high cost of production; coupled in painting pictures of what they or manufacture of clothing and employment for millions of peo- business ventures. publishes the first in a series of in the area hence, it is always of its people, the one year of forces acting under a UN manOnce referred to by admirers of poor power its search light Governor Willie Obiano has feel he has done wrong. articles on the glorious past and their distribution. The raw mate- ple worldwide.

The total collapse of the indus- with the problems ready to beam and led by former and opponents alike as Ivory of rela-office holder that come under focus and already, rial may bedate, natural, or synthetic the comatose state of the industry In the colonial case of Nigeria, however, try came when the last of the five supply and smuggling on any public Obiano CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 from using products of the chemical the time came when textile today. GBUBEMI COV-Simone prod- companies listed on the Nigerian tively, cheap textile Simone stepsgoods into the seat of governance. analysts are set to access his power France.

Coast's "Iron GOD’S Lady,"

Obiano’s one year mile race

Where are Jonathan’s Northern ministers?

Allison-Madueke, OPEC president

ENANT Snr. reports. Additional reports from FUNMI SALOME

industry.

It is one of the most viable

are they keeping quite?

We have heard in hushed tones that some ministers and advisers from Gombe, Bauchi, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa and some other parts of the North say they are afraid of speaking in public in support of Jonathan because they may be attacked by their people back home if they do so. But that excuse holds no water. You cannot be appointed into an exalted position where all manners of privileges are available to you and say you cannot face the hazard associated with the job. There is no job that is risk-free. Even as I tap on my laptop writing this piece, I know the sort of insults we get, even threats, for being a journalist. For those advisers, ministers and other federal appointees who are keeping quiet while ‘Rome Boils,’ you are nothing but traitors that deserve to be flushed out of the toilet for wanting to eat your cake and still have it.

At no other time is the loyalty of a political appointee needed more than at election time, especially if your principal is seeking re-

Stock Exchange, the United Nigerian Textile Plc., sacked 4,000

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Israeli PM alleges global effort to topple him

Myanmar police brutalise students

ÏÏÏIsraeli Prime Minister, Ben-

ÏÏÏMyanmar

jamin Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks on Tuesday that there was a "huge, worldwide effort" to ensure he loses next week's closely contested election.

Army Radio, which aired what it said were comments he made on Monday to activists of his right-wing Likud party, interpreted them as referring to foreign funding for advocacy groups campaigning for a change of government in Israel.

Political parties in Israel are banned from accepting money directly from overseas donors during an election campaign.

But such funding is allowed under Israeli law for non-profit organisations espousing political viewpoints, and US consultants have advised Israeli candidates for years.

"It is a very tight race. Nothing

which have merged to form what is now known as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and therefore a force to be reckoned with.

While you can understand the position of the APC and its members no matter the region or political zone they may come from, for seeking to wrest power from Jonathan and the PDP, what excuse has a minister, special adviser or chairman of a federal commission appointed by the President under political consideration to remain aloof and rather indifferent while high-wire political fireworks are going on in the nation? Is it not curious that ministers and special advisers who are supposed to be speaking to Nigerians, especially people from their states of origin, about the achievements of their various ministries are not doing that now? Is this not the right time for Jonathan’s ministers and advisers to be seen speaking, sometimes in their local languages, trying to convert their people on the need to support Jonathan and to vote for him in the coming elections. Why

ucts, from China and other Asian countries, flooded the Nigerian

election; and we have been told a long time ago that in politics, it is either you give a hundred percent loyalty or nothing at all.

A political campaign is a deliberate and organized effort by political parties aimed at influencing the decision making process of individuals and interest groups for the purpose of gaining their votes. This is done through information on what and how the parties and candidates would positively affect the lives of the people if elected into public office. At a time like this, committed party members and supporters as well as individuals holding top offices would rise to the occasion, defend and promote the administration and the president that had considered them for appointment out of other millions of equally qualified citizens for the privileged positions they occupy.

Those days that Alhaji Shehu Shagari was president, his Political Adviser Dr. Chuba Okadigbo suffered no ‘enemy’ of his boss one minute of peace. While advancing and promoting

is guaranteed because there is a huge, worldwide effort to topple the Likud government," said Netanyahu, who received rousing applause in the US Congress last week during a speech against a potential nuclear deal with Iran sought by the administration of President Barack Obama.

Netanyahu

police beat students with batons and detained some of them as they broke up a group of about 200 protesters, who had been locked in a standoff with security forces for more than a week, a Reuters witness said.

The students were protesting an education bill they say stifles academic independence, and a group of them set out on foot from the central city of Mandalay more than a month ago in a symbolic protest.

They made it as far as Letpadan, a town about 140km north of Yangon, where police blockaded them behind vehicles and barriers made of wood and barbed wire.

Although the police initially said they would allow the students to continue their march on Tuesday, the agreement fell

ÏÏÏEgyptian police on Tuesday

apart. Riot police moved into the protest site and used batons to beat students, monks who had join the protest and journalists, said the witness.

Police chased the students and monks into a Buddhist monastery where they had taken refuge, said the Reuters witness.

The witness saw police using the batons to smash the windows of a car belonging to a student and an ambulance where some protesters had taken shelter.

Five students were arrested in Letpadan on Friday, and the United States, which in recent years has backed political reforms in Myanmar, expressed concern at the developments. The students were later freed.

The Delegation of the European Union said in a statement it "deeply regrets the use of force against peaceful demonstrators".

the Shagari and his administration, Okadigbo gave deadly punches to the opposition including his kinsman Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Give it to Ahmed Gulak the former Political Adviser to Jonathan who was removed for whatever reason we are yet to know. If Gulak was here, the ante would have been higher than what obtains now.

Since this campaign began, Nigerians have been hearing Femi Fani-Kayode speak with confidence in defence of President Jonathan and at other times, ‘attack’ the opposition and their candidates. You may not like Fani-Kayode’s style, but he is doing the job he was appointed to do. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Olisa Metuh has been on top of his game, reeling out the achievements of the President and advancing reasons Jonathan should be re-elected. We hear Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State as he replies anyone who abuses the President and takes leaders of the opposition to the cleaners. We hear even Doyin Okupe speak on Jonathan’s high points, even if

Egyptian cops foil tanker bomb attack on Sinai base

foiled an attack by militants who tried to ram an explosives-laden water tanker into a security base in the Sinai Peninsula, authorities said.

Troops guarding the entrance to the base in the provincial capital al-Arish opened fire on the tanker as it approached, said General Ali al-Arazi, the security chief of North Sinai province.

The gunfire caused the tanker's estimated 10-ton load of explosives to blow up, killing the would-be bomber and a civilian driving nearby, al-Arazi said.

About 35 policemen were injured by debris, he said. Residents reported a massive explosion that blew out the windows of their houses.

Police in the nearby village of Sheikh Zuwaid last month frustrated a similar attack with a tanker truck.

Jihadists in the remote peninsula, which borders Israel and the Gaza Strip, have been engaged in an insurgency against security forces since 2012.

you think he goes for insults and abuses but he is talking. We hear Edem Duke, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation who was recently made supervising Minister for Information as he reels out the achievements of the administration. Akinwumi Adesina has been up and doing, showcasing what the president has done in the agric sector these past four years, the same with Prof. Chinedum Nebo who is on air almost every day explaining what has been done and the plan ahead in the power sector.

But all these are Southerners and Christians.

Where are the Hausa/ Fulani Muslims who are spending our monies in the name of allocations to their ministries and offices? Why are they keeping quiet? Or are they Jonathan’s aides in the day but opposition members and supporters at night?

Bonaventure Melah Mobile phone: 08036062975 Email: melahbonaventure@ yahoo.com

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 Wednesday, March 11, 2015

IK Ogbonna On rumours, fiancee and L3 becoming a father P

The good, the bad and ugly fashion L5, 6 at the AMVCA P

L2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday March 11, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday March 11, 2015

L3 Interview

I live my life the way I please Mutiat Alli and Opeoluwani Akintayo His trademarks roles in movies is either a lover boy or a gangster.

Handsome with a princely physique, it is no wonder he is one of the leading men in Nollywood.

Not one to get carried away by his physical attributes, the la-

Ikechukwu Ogbonna

IK or “Tattoo boy� on account of the numerous art works that adorn his six-packed frame, is also a model who has his hands in several other businesses like event organization. Recognizing his great acting skills and a passion for the art, who has featured in movies such as lovelorn, playing safe amongst others, was a nominee in the best actor category in the just concluded Africa Magic Viewers Choice Award.

He spoke about his much rale and his thoughts about the awards ceremony.

With fiancee, Sonia

You always look good each time you turn up for events. What is the secret to your impeccable dress sense and style?

Thank you for the compliment.

Well there is no secret behind it other than the fact that I love to look good and look my best at all times.

The event that I attend dictate what I wear and I must say that when it comes to dressing for an occasion and looking good, I am well grounded in that.

What do you think about this hype?

First of all, I want to commend the organizers of the event for a job well done and also for believing so much in the brand called Nollythe biggest so far and the fact that the Nigerian movie industry is doing so well and getting recognition is something to be joyous about.

Would you attest to the fact that the award was credible?

I think so and I can also say that it was a free and fair award bebut rather the viewers who choose their winners in all the categories choice awards. The viewers did not fall short of the expectations of the all, the audience present and viewers at home. All I can say is that the organizers of the event should keep the good work going as we expect a better package next year.

Recently the news of your engagement to your girlfriend were you able to handle the fact that the news went viral?

You see this days when I read about myself on the internet, I just laugh it off most especially the negative ones which are obviously not true. But on the engagement, yes it is truth that my girlfriend, Sonia and I we got engaged and I am happy about that because you should understand the kind of feelings that radiates around you when everything seems to be going on perfectly.

T E A M

why I am living my life the way I so please. The disadvantage of being open about your private life is that some people will try to destroy what you are trying to build. They spread all sorts of rumors but if you both are best of friends, you will laugh off the negative stories.

Do allegations and rumors affect you? owe any explanation to is God. I planation. As long as I know I am in His good book and my conscience is clear, I am not bothered.

be able to draw the line between my fans and my woman because her in anyway because she is presently carrying my baby and I am excited about it.

father soon?

Very excited I must tell you. I by my unborn child. It means more responsibilities and I am prepared for it all.

When then should we expect the wedding bells?

wedding bell but rather an alarm make a statement?

Let me correct this, I am not my life the way I should. I am do-

Life&

ing things that will make my wom-

Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784

Now that you are engaged, how will be able to cope with your female fans?

Just the way I am coping with them before I got engaged. I should

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378

very big way. You just keep your

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893

Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478

Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397

Interview L4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday March 11, 2015

My hairs are not grey but silver Lining -Nonso Odogwu Opeoluwani Akintayo He is the young man who plays the lead role in the popular soap, Just the two of us and produced

by Opa Williams. An emerging face in the industry no doubt, the Agukwu nri, Anambra state born actor takes us down memory lane revealing to us how his love for movies started and also how he has been able to keep his head above board.

How did your movie career take off?

It all started in 1996 in Enugu state when I was still in the higher Institution, in my 200 levels precisely.

A friend of mine had asked me to accompany him to NTA Enugu for an audition and when we got there, the person reading was not giving the director what he wanted so he called me, asked me what I was there for and even though I gave me the script to read and the rest they say, is history. However, I started professional acting with the help of Steve Onu (Yaw) who introduced me to Pat Oghre, who later gave me a role in everyday people.

This was in 2006.

So how would you describe your growth in the movie industry?

It has been gradual but steady, though not as fast as I would want it to be but I am still moving to a higher ground and I thank God for everything.

Would you say you have gotten

am still on the verge of a real break but for now the series by Opa Williams called Just the two of us, has brought me a little fame.

What are the determining factors for accepting a script from directors?

It has to be good and sometimes if the pay is right too, all well and good.

How would describe the evolv-

ing nature of Nollywood, from the time you started out with collaborations with Hollywood ?

Nollywood has really evolved from the way it started, even though we are witnessing a small set back but as we speak, more people who have gone abroad for training have come back to reinvent and rejuvenate the industry. We now have a lot of movie series that will match the American from a set of Ebonylife aptation of Desperate house wives but ours is Desperate house wives, Africa. Ebonylife TV went down to America to get the franchise to shoot the African version.

What are some of the problems you think are militating against the growth of the movie Industry today?

Well a few of them are greed, incompetence, lack of passion, lack of good and proper organization, and a group of cabal who dictate certain things in the industry.

under your belt? done more of soaps and series.

and When dreams fall apart.

Any recognition yet for your work?

None yet but by his special grace, it will happen soon.

Do you have any special or particular set of people you love working with in the industry?

I can work with anybody.

Is acting a temporary thing for you?

No. I intend to continue acting for as long as I can.

Nonso Odogwu scene for the right prize but not a total strip down for the right prize.

Do you have any plans to take your career to your home state?

Well, the thought of taking acting ing in Igbo productions now.

In your opinion, what determines a good movie ?

It should have good suspense and be able to capture its audiwhich means the story line should be good and the actors should be on point and the director should also know how to help bring out the best in a story in terms of the visual contents.

Who would you say is the person that has made the biggest Impact on your career in Nollywood ?

Well I would say Opa Williams has made a great deal of impact in my career because he gave me a chance to prove myself. God will bless him for giving me the opportunity to show case myself.

Would you ever act a nude scene?

I would do a romantic semi nude

over casting roles because of your grey hair?

None that I can recall.

If you are given one chance greatest, who would you love to meet?

I would like to meet Denzel Washington, Will Smith, John Jackson, Alpacino, Keifer Suther-

number one pick. He is just an amazing actor.

You are married . How did you meet your wife?

I met her in church on a blessed Sunday morning. It was as if we had known each other for a while.

Ironically, I actually went to the church to see another lady who

What fond childhood memories can you readily recall?

My growing up years was fun and interesting. I attended Elizabeth fowler primary school and Yewande memorial primary school.

My secondary school was in the sacred heart junior seminary Nsude and St John cross seminary, Nsukka as well as Gbaja boys high school Surulere,

Where do you see your career in ten years time?

To the next level by the grace of God. I just pray I can move with dawn that is coming soon.

You seem to have a lot of grey hairs on your head yet u look so young. Why is this so?

What else do you do besides acting?

I model and do some small business by the side.

hair, what I have I call silver linings which means I am still a young man Grey hair is for old people and I am not old.

What lessons has life taught you?

It has taught me to always expect the unexpected,

Have you had any problems

it all.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday March 11, 2015

L5 Fashion & Style

The good, the bad and ugly fashion at the AMVCA Nkarenyi Ukonu

The 3rd edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, AMVCA, certainly loved up to its billings as one of the most organized shows in Nigeria, yet. Besides the anticipation of knowing of drama; from glamorously well put together ladies and dapper gentlemen, to the hilarious looking and downright offensive ensembles. Here below are some of the good, the bad and the downright ugly fashion that graced the AMVCA red carpet.

The good

The bad Ramsey Noah: I want to assume he took all of his clothes to the laundry a day before the awards and the laundry man played a fast one on him by not returning them when he should. And by the time he realized the laundry man wasn’t going to show up, it was already too late to go cloths shopping. Or how else does one explain his decision to wear a pair of tight fitting jeans to a black tie event. Oh and the loafers, he couldn’t find any of his dress shoes, I pressume.

Dakore Egbuson

Toke Makinwa

Josyeln Dumas

Adunni Ade: After two children, there is no denying the fact that she has a banging body, unfortunately, the red see through dress does her body and her brand which she is trying so hard to build, any good. A thigh high slit, a plunging neckline and see through all at the same time, is one too many.

Kendra Etufunwa: She looks anorexic and should have known better that to get entangled in this sleeveless chiffon. With no bust line, I wonder what purpose the plunging neckline serves

Eku Edewor

Genevieve Nnaji

Funke Ogunde

Yaw: Ok, so he is a comedian, but the AMVCA is not a comedy show. The invite stated black tie or glamorous and his ensemble is nowhere near these. He is better suited in the early 20th century as a village headmaster.

Fashion & Style L6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday March 11, 2015

Downright ugly

‘Traditional -ists’

Dapper dudes

Ayo Makun

Denrele Edun: His whole ensemble deserves two words - No comment. An attempt to decipher what it is will leave you in a worse state than when you first saw him.

Susan Peters: What in the world is this contraption she is wearing? Is that Nigeria’s version of a fur coat made of net? Susan used to be a good dresser when she started out as an actress. I wonder what has gone wrong judging from her too many misses on the red carpet in recent times.

Jide Kosoko

Blossom Chukwujekwu

Eucharia Anunobi: Speechless! Still trying to understand the plot here; her hair, makeup and the dress leaves me painfully speechless.

Belinda Effah: I guess she was trying to channel her inner African goddess but lost the plot somewhere along the line. Nothing is right about her look from head to toe.

Ali Baba Richard Mofe Damijo

A bun in the oven Singer, Omawunmi and girlfriend to actor, IK

Omawunmi Magbele

Sonia Morales

Kunle Afolayan

O.C. Ukeje Photos: Mutiat Alli

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday March 11, 2015

L7 Beauty

... And naturalistas ruled the AMVCA red carpet Nkarenyi Ukonu

Cynthia Kamalu

Appearing on the red carpet with natural hair is fast becoming a style statement as can be seen from the growing number of celebrities who have embraced the natural look.

Ireti Doyle

Zizi Cardow

Tosin Ajibade

Fathia Balogun Zainab Balogun

Chidinma

Nse Ikpe etim

Kate-Henshaw

Omoni Oboli

Global Fashion & Beauty News Most Beautiful Girl in Lagos auditions contestants Nkarenyi Ukonu and Austine Agbovi Beautiful, eloquent and most captivating young ladies from across Lagos state have began preparation to emerge the winner in the Most Beautiful Girl in Lagos contest, 2015 edition, a pageant that will prepare them to take on the world as women who are aware of the power that is pose, and how to use this power rightly on humanity.

Royhills Fashion House, organizers of the highly awaited MBGL this year, decided to split the auditions into two for residents of Lagos mainland and Lagos Island respectively for the convenience of registered contestants. Both auditions experienced impressive turnouts from contestants who converged at the venues from different locations in Lagos State. While the Lagos mainland audition registered 52 contestants which was eventually narrowed down to 14, the Lagos Island audition registered 61 contestants and was eventually narrowed down to 13.

According to the CEO of Royhills Fashion House, Roy Edozie,

the initiator of MBGL, Lagos Fashion Awards (LFA), Runway On The Street (ROTS) and Africa Internationedition which promises to be the biggest beauty pageant in the history of Lagos State, has been tagged The Sleek Queen Edition and it is endorsed by the Lagos State Government. Besides the Lagos State government, the pageant is also proudly supported by SEPTIN911 Entertainment, LTV, R2tv, Encomium, BellaNaija, Media Africa, HZM, ONTV, HipTv, Spice TV, VChannel, com, Septin911.com, Azeez blog, Insigna Media, Pulse[ng], Olodo Nation, EmmyRhyme, Teez Couture, Pels Skin Care, Philadelphia, Fabrique by Fabz, LaChae Cosmetic, Aquadanna Water, Smile Telecoms, Acada Mag, Links & Glitz Mag, Muse Mag, Ola Fashion, Tobbies Touch, Lacasera, Bespoke Event Centre.

Oreka Godis (back)

Oreka Godis (front)

Vina

MISS Commonwealth Culture becomes D.A.D ambassador Miss Commonwealth Culture 2014/2015, Ruth Oputu Ebite, has been named an ambassador for Defending all Daughters, D.A.D, an initiative that seeks to promote gender equality in the workplace with particular interest in the enhancement of female gender friendly environment.

Popularly known by her native name as Tumara, Ruth Oputu Ebite who hails from Okubiye in Bayelsa State, sity of Port Harcourt, where she is currently pursuing a bachelor degree in Culture and Tourism.

As an ambassadorial, she will be expected to concentrate solely on encouraging corporate organisations and government institutions alike to promote gender quality in workplace with more emphasis place on making the workplace more female gender friendly. In a country of over 160

million people with 66 per cent in productive employment and with 38.7 per cent of the productive population being women, it is incomprehensible that women still occupy fewer than 30 per cent of all posts in the public sector and only 17 per cent occupy senior positions. This is despite the tion on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in 1985, and the optional protocol in Protocol to the African Charter on Rights of Women in Africa in 2005.

It is in recognition of the need to gender in the workplace that Defending All Daughters (D.A.D) is working collaboratively with Ruth Oputu Ebite, to increase awareness, relevance and opportunity. Defending All

Ruth Oputu Ebite organisation registered in England and Wales.

Finally, a skin care solution for Keratosis Pilaris Carmel Beauty LLC, founded

by Nigerian beauty entreprenuer, Aminah Sagoe, has launched a skin care line utilizing amazing, effective and natural ingredients for the treatment of Keratosis Pilaris, popularly bump kind of appearance that appears anywhere on the skin and that affects multitudes. The exclusive 3 step range of products called ral skin care line to mix plant stem cells, The exclusive 3 step range of

products called Emmaus skin care mix plant stem cells, a power house in skin care which provides anti oxidants and nutrients to replenish the skin which in turn encourages younger looking and healthier skin without exposing the skin to toxic ingredients.

The well researched product consists of the pampering Smiling Beads Body wash, a clarifying body wash containing salicylic acid, gly-

pumice powder which combines to promote the exfoliation of dull/dead skin cells and allows for new skin; Touch of Love Mini Towels, a thick, large and luxurious towel soaked in a blend of salicylic and glycolic acid, arginine and witch hazel and the Soothing Softness Bliss Body Lotion which nourishes and protects the skin. In addition, these 3 step range of products tend to various skin conditions such as body acne, eczema, psoriasis, dark spots and discoloration.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday March 11, 2015

Showing on

Showing on

130 MTV

125 FOX

00:10

02:30

Wed, 11 Mar | 13 LV

Tue, 10 Mar | 16 L

101 M-Net West

118 Telemundo

120 BBC Entertainment

252 Channel 128 SONY MAX

L8 Television

124 E!

X5

CHRISTINE OHURUOGU

To be honest, whether people appreciate my achievements or not, it doesn’t really concern me.

Me and my coach know what all this hard work means to us, having worked solidly and been successful for the last 10 years despite ups and downs, we’ve plugged on, plugged on, plugged on so that I’m proud of him and my family and him are proud of me.

Poster!

Vicky’s so much younger than me, nine years my junior, so I’m always a big sister to her before I’m a rival or anything else. Even if we race together, I’ll always ask her afterwards, ‘Vicky, are you all right?’ That’s my job. It’s difficult to call it a rivalry because I’ve always looked out for her.

—Christine Ohuruogu

CHRISTINE OHURUOGU X2

Num ber

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

QUOTES BY

X4,5

PERSONAL INFORMATION

WILL BE HARD TO BEAT –UGBADE

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

CHRISTINE

CONGO

X4

Full name: Born: Place of birth: Height: Weight: Sport: Country: Club: Turned pro:

Christine Ohuruogu May 17, 1984 (age 30) London, England 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 68 kg (150 lb) Athletics Great Britain Newham and Essex Beagles 2004

Achievements and titles World finals: 2007 – 1st 2013 – 1st Olympic finals: 2008 – 1st, 400m Highest world ranking: 200 m: 11 (2008) 400 m: 2 (2007/2008) Personal bests: 100 m - 11.35 200 m - 22.85 400 m- 49.41 (NR) Medal record Olympic Games Gold: Silver:

2008 Beijing 2012 London

400 m 400 m

World Championships Gold: 2007 Osaka Gold: 2013 Moscow Bronze: 2005 Helsinki Bronze: 2007 Osaka Bronze: 2013 Moscow

400 m 400 m 4x400 m relay 4x400 m relay 4x400 m relay

World Indoor Championships Gold: 2012 Istanbul Bronze: 2014 Sopot

4x400 m relay 4×400 m relay

European Indoor Championships Gold: 2013 Gothenberg European Team Championships Bronze: 2009 Leiria European U23 Championships Silver: 2005 Erfurt Silver: 2005 Erfurt

4×400 m relay

200 m

400 m 4×400 m relay

OHURUOGU Commonwealth Games Gold: 2006 Melbourne Bronze: 2014 Glasgow

400 m 4x400 m relay

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

FEDERER

targets Wimbledon title X6

R E U E N AR H G U O T S E H S I REL

T H K A SH TIE X3

UCL:

ROONEY

disappointed over defeat by

Arsenal

X3

Matic, Motta go head-to-head X8

X2

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

Ojieva Ehiosun

F

lying Eagles will, at the ongoing African Youth Championship (AYC) in Senegal, battle Congo today at the Stade Leopold Senghor, in the second match of the group after the 3-1 thrashing of the host country Senegal last Sunday. However the assistant coach of the team, Nduka Ugbade, has warned his boys against complacency, saying that Congo will not be an easy nut to crack.

Speaking in a telephone interview, the former Nigeria international stressed the need for the Manu Garba-led squad to brace up for today’s cracker, saying that the Congolese are very tactical and also have a lot of height advantage over the Nigerian boys.

“I’m happy that we started the opener on a victorious note, 3-1 is not a bad one. I think the boys played very well and we have room of improving our performance in the next game.

“Looking at our next opponent Congo, we would try to overrun them and also we cannot afford to underrate them else we find ourselves in a tight corner,” he said.

“We left Nigeria for a purpose and I do not like making promises, but I know God on our side Nigeria is in the race for glory. We will make the country proud in Africa and at the FIFA U- 20 World Cup. Nigerians at home must continue to pray for us because victory for us is victory for the country.”

Flying Eagles celebrate after a victorious outing.

Onaiwu proud of Dream Team invitation Mike Otanwa

N

AYC:

igeria’s Dream Team coach, Samson Siasia, has invited Charlton Athletic wonderkid Edward Ogbebor-Onaiwu to a training camp in Abuja ahead of the All Africa Games qualifier against Zambia.

The glovesman, who is just 14 years, is proud of receiving this call up from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and has promised to win the confidence of the coach during the screening exercise. ‘’I feel great getting this invitation, most of all I feel proud of myself and I thank God most of all, and my parents.

CONGO WILL BE HARD TO BEAT –UGBADE

Without them, I will be nowhere,’’ a delighted Ogbebor-Onaiwu said.

Despite the late notice, the exCrystal Palace youth-teamer, whose playing style has drawn comparisons to Vincent Enyeama, has vowed to honour the invitation.

The highly-rated goalkeeper will be the youngest ever player to feature for Nigeria’s U-23 side if he makes his international debut against Zambia.

Wolves move into close camping

T

he management of Warri Wolves has put the loss to Gabros Football Club in Nnewi at the weekend behind them by drafting the players into a close camping ahead of their first leg of the CAF Confederation, second round tie against highly rated Dedebit FC of Ethiopia.

According to the Media Manager of the Club, Etu Moses, he revealed that immediately after the loss, the club’s boss Davison Owumi ordered that the players be moved into a close camp somewhere very close to Warri and start preparation for the match which comes up on Saturday at the Warri City Stadium.

Owumi warned that any player who fails to obey camp rules would be sanctioned and advised all of them to take the match serious, noting that the team from Ethiopia parades some national team players.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

X3

NEUER RELISHES

Neuer

TOUGH

UEFA

SHAKHTAR TIE A

head of tonight’s Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, is relishing the prospect of playing a do-or-die encounter, saying that his team like to play such crucial games.

Pep Guardiola’s men were held to a scoreless draw in the first leg of their round of 16 tie in Ukraine and, as a result, the Bavarians will need to get an outright win at the Allianz Arena to progress to the quarter-finals.

Neuer, who was voted the third best player of 2014, is aware of the dangers posed by Mircea Lucescu’s side and feels that Bayern Munich will need to keep Shakhtar Donetsk’s counter attacks in check.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES TODAY’S MATCHES Chelsea v PSG 20:45 Bayern v Shakhtar 20:45

ROONEY Rooney

disappointed over defeat by

Arsenal

M

anchester United captain Wayne Rooney has expressed his disappointment at the way his team were knocked out of the FA Cup on Monday.

The Red Devils suffered a demoralising 2-1 loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford and their hopes of ending their season with a piece of silverware went up in smoke.

Arsenal took the lead from a Nacho Monreal goal midway through the first half, but Rooney equalised for the home side a few minutes later from an inch perfect cross from Di Maria. The Argentine was later sent off in the match for touching the

referee after he was booked for diving outside the penalty box.

The Manchester United skipper feels that with the amount of chances that they were creating before the break, he was fairly confident of getting a positive result at home.

However, a mishit backpass from Antonio Valencia in the second half sent former Red Devil Danny Welbeck through on goal and he piled on the misery on his childhood team on their home turf.

Rooney believes that mistakes like those are part and parcel of the game, but admits that losing on the back of such an error is a painful experience for his Manchester United team.

“We know we have to be cautious and keep their counter-attacks under control,” the goalkeeper said.

The 2014 World Cup winner added that since his side approach every match with a view to winning, their Shakhtar Donetsk match is nothing but a familiar scenario.

“We basically go into every game looking to win, and this is a game we have to win, we like these situations.

“You can see we retain our composure regardless of what happens, we don’t start doubting ourselves even if something goes wrong.”

And Neuer takes heart from the fact that Bayern Munich’s defence restricted the reigning Ukrainian champions to a solitary effort on goal in the first leg.

Traore Mourinho

UCL: Courtois expects Blues to overcome PSG

C

heslea FC’s Belgium ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois is expecting a tough battle as Paris SaintGermain travel to Stamford Bridge tonight to fight for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

With the tie poised at 1-1 on aggregate, Courtois will be hoping that Chelsea’s away goal from the first leg will provide enough of an advantage to see the side from the French capital crash out of the competition in the same way they have for the last two seasons - against Chelsea in season 2013-14 and against Barcelona in the preceding campaign.

“We’re confident,” said the ‘keeper of the current EPL leaders before making it clear he doesn’t feel it will be a walk in the park for Jose Mourinho’s men.

“But we’re expecting a very tough match. Paris will come here looking to score goals and it will be very complicated for us. But we’re ready and we’re hoping to win in front of our fans.”

Traore, Roberto on Everton’s radar

E

verton are reportedly looking to sign Barcelona duo Adama Traore and Sergi Roberto on permanent deals this summer.

The Premier League outfit have struggled this season and they are in serious danger of being relegated to the Championship if they do not turn around a run of five games without a win.

It has been a stark contrast for manager Roberto Martinez, who guided Everton to their highest-ever points tally in the top-flight last campaign, and the pressure is really on the Spaniard to deliver.

Survival is the key for the Toffees this season but the focus is already turning towards two players they feel could improve the strength of the squad this summer.

X4

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

QUOTES BY

CHRISTINE OHURUOGU

To be honest, wh ether people appreciate my ach ievements or not, it doesn’t rea lly concern me.

Me and my coach know what all this hard work me ans to us, having worked solidly an d been successfu l for the last 10 years despite ups and downs, we ’ve plugged on, plugged on, plu gged on so that I’m proud of him and my family and him are proud of me.

Vicky’s so much you nger than me, nin e years my junior, so I’m alw ays a big sister to her before I’m a rival or anything else. Even if we rac e together, I’ll always ask he r afterwards, ‘Vicky , are you all right?’ That’s my job. It’s difficult to call it a rivalry because I’ve always looked ou t for her.

—Christine Ohuru ogu

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Full name: Born: Place of birth: Height: Weight: Sport: Country: Club: Turned pro:

Christine Ohuruogu May 17, 1984 (age 30) London, England 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 68 kg (150 lb) Athletics Great Britain Newham and Essex Beagles 2004

Achievements and titles World finals: 2007 – 1st 2013 – 1st Olympic finals: 2008 – 1st, 400m Highest world ranking: 200 m: 11 (2008) 400 m: 2 (2007/2008) Personal bests: 100 m - 11.35 200 m - 22.85 400 m- 49.41 (NR) Medal record Olympic Games Gold: Silver:

2008 Beijing 2012 London

400 m 400 m

World Championships Gold: Gold: Bronze: Bronze: Bronze:

2007 Osaka 2013 Moscow 2005 Helsinki 2007 Osaka 2013 Moscow

400 m 400 m 4x400 m relay 4x400 m relay 4x400 m relay

World Indoor Championships Gold: 2012 Istanbul Bronze: 2014 Sopot

4x400 m relay 4×400 m relay

European Indoor Championships Gold: 2013 Gothenberg

4×400 m relay

European Team Championships Bronze: 2009 Leiria European U23 Championships Silver: 2005 Erfurt Silver: 2005 Erfurt

200 m

400 m 4×400 m relay

OHUR Commonwealth Games Gold: 2006 Melbourne Bronze: 2014 Glasgow

400 m 4x400 m relay

CHRISTINE

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

X5

RUOGU

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

Cycling

X6

Armstrong

Golf

Thomson, Watson celebrate historic milestones

Thomson

ARMSTRONG

‘SORRY’ FOR SHAMEFUL ACT

Tennis

D

isgraced former US cyclist Lance Armstrong has admitted that he is deeply sorry for the many things he has done, after a report by Cycling Independent Reform Commission (CIRC) revealed how the American and cycling’s world governing body, Union Cycliste International, colluded to circumvent doping accusations against him from 1999 to 2009.

The 227-page report has claimed that the UCI colluded with Armstrong not only to circumvent doping accusations but also to cement the former cyclist’s status as the pre-eminent personality in sport.

Armstrong, who

Federer

was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping, said that he is deeply sorry for many things he has done.

However, the former cyclist added that it is his hope that revealing the truth would lead to a bright, dope-free future for the sport he loves.

Formula One

Alonso eyes Malaysia return Alonso

targets Wimbledon title before quitting

R

oger Federer admits that he would love to win Wimbledon once more before hanging up his racket, and feels he could still do it.

The 33-year-old last won at the All England Club in 2012 when he beat Britain’s Andy Murray in the final to claim his seventh Wimbledon title. That was his last triumph in any of the big-four events as the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal began to dominate the Grand Slam scene.

But the Swiss ace remains competitive despite his advancing years and beat the Serbian world number one in a recent final in Dubai.

There has been much speculation as to when the 17-time Grand Slam winner will call it a day but he has shown no signs of quitting just yet.

And, as he prepares for yet another tilt at major glory this summer, the Basel-born legend confessed to having an inner desire to lift the famous trophy once more on centre court and is not ruling it out.

F Federer

T

wo of golf’s greatest players, Peter Thomson and Tom Watson, will celebrate historic milestones in their remarkable careers at the Champion Golfers’ Challenge ahead of the 144th Open in St Andrews this July.

Rory McIlroy, who will be defending the Claret Jug after his victory at Royal Liverpool last year, will join the five-time Champions in a pantheon of greats who will play in the fourhole challenge on the Old Course on Wednesday, July 15.

Thomson will mark the 60th anniversary of his win in The Open at St Andrews in 1955, while Watson will be playing on the 40th anniversary of his debut in The Open in 1975 when he became Champion Golfer of the Year at Carnoustie.

The occasion will also be used to pay tribute to Australia’s Kel Nagle, who won the Centenary Open in 1960 at St Andrews and sadly passed away in January at the age of 94.

ernando Alonso has his sights firmly set on returning to Formula One in Malaysia later this month, despite the shroud of uncertainty that continues to hover over the double world champion.

Alonso’s crash into a wall at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya on the final day of the second pre-season

test last month has sparked feverish speculation as to the exact cause, and to the ongoing condition of the Spaniard.

McLaren claimed a freak gust of wind forced Alonso off track, denying vehemently the incident was caused by either mechanical or electrical failure, yet there are those who have their doubts.

The 33-year-old went on to spend three nights in a local hospital on the back of conflicting stories as to whether he had suffered concussion.

After skipping the third and final test, doctors decided it would be in Alonso’s best interests for him to also miss the first race of the season in Australia this weekend.

It was deemed necessary for Alonso to avoid ‘second-impact syndrome’, whereby brain damage or death could result from another incident at a time when he is continuing to recover from the first.

The belief is Alonso will return for the next race in Malaysia from the March 27-29.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

X7

FEATURE Floyd Mayweather (right) and Manny Pacquiao will finally clash on May 2.

MAYWEATHER F PACQUIAO ive years after their first fight fell through, boxing’s biggest stars will finally meet. The business will be huge and the match is anybody’s guess.

As kicker, what does it mean anymore, the notion of a big prizefight?

On May 2 in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao will meet Floyd Mayweather; it is a marquee bout that is taking place five years too late. It was delayed for nearly all the reasons that fights are typically postponed, a series of internecine conflicts and ego-driven spats and rights wars that apparently reached a detente when the two men met and spoke at a Miami Heat basketball game last month.

It doesn’t matter that each boxer is at least slightly past his prime (though Mayweather is still undefeated, he has only one knockout win in the past eight years, and Pacquiao hasn’t knocked anyone out since 2009).

According to promoter Bob Arum – who speaks with the blind confidence of, you know, a boxing promoter – the delay was actually a good thing.

According to Arum, the five years of anticipation will actually build up the hype: “I’ve been promoting boxing for nearly 50 years,” Arum began, “and there is nothing that has come close

ONE HELL OF A FIGHT

to this because there has been nothing that has been so difficult to come to fruition. As interest is concerned, this is akin to the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight.”

This is, of course, a completely crazy notion, the kind of hyperbolic declaration that used to make the sport so compelling, but now just makes it seem like a sad parody of itself.

Boxing is in a completely different place than it was when Ali and Frazier met in 1971; it’s in a different place than it was when Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis broke the all-time record for a pay-per-view fight back in 2002.

A Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, priced at roughly $100 in HD, will make a good deal of money and will probably break

every record in terms of revenue, but it doesn’t feel as culturally vital as it once might have. And it sure as hell doesn’t feel as vital as Ali’s fights did, or even as Tyson’s fights did a decade or two ago.

There have been a million requiems written for the sport of boxing, and so I don’t feel the need to pile on too much further here. Mayweather-Pacquiao is a big deal for those people who still feel a deep connection with the sport, but it won’t alter the basic notion that boxing exists on the margins these days, that everything it tries to rekindle that image feels a bit dated.

Years ago, a studio like Marvel might have moved the opening of one of the biggest superhero movies of the year to another weekend in order to

accommodate a big fight, perhaps even a fight between these two men at their peak; but not anymore.

Maybe it will be the sort of fight that pulls people in; the notion of determining “best pound-for-pound fighter” is the one allure boxing has left in this lackluster era for heavyweights.

Maybe it can be the kind of fight that draws at least a few people back to the sport.

But mostly, the whole thing feels kind of like boxing has for the better part of a generation: A niche drama that’s trying to resurrect a once-compelling storyline a few years too late or one fight too many!

Culled from www.rollingstone.com

!

A MayweatherPacquiao fight, priced at roughly $100 in HD, will make a good deal of money and will probably break every record in terms of revenue, but it doesn’t feel as culturally vital as it once might have.

X8

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

CHELSEA

Matic

, C I MAT A T T O M D A E H O T D A E H GO UCL:

rites, Nemanja ose Mourinho favou tta of PSG, will Matic and Thiago Mo d in the UEFA ea -h tonight go head-to t-16 secondlas L) (UC Champions League Stamford Bridge. leg showdown at the es together two The encounter pitch al ntr component in examples of a ce inning formula.

Mourinho’s trophy-w holding players, Tall, left-footed l d PSG’s Motta exce Chelsea’s Matic an ing fill ful ll, ba the ut both with and witho that Mourinho has the principal criteria ’ in the ‘number six come to look for . sition defensive midfield po

J

first manager Chelsea The e during his tim as encountered Motta sistant at Barcelona, Louis van Gaal’s as Italy international where the future old from his native arrived as a 17-yearBrazil in 1999. were reunited at Ten years later, they ned from Genoa and Inter Milan. Motta joi role in the team that played an important in Serie A, the Coppa Mourinho led to glory ns League in 2010, Italia and the Champio the European final although he missed ainst Barcelona in ag after being sent off the semi-final.

Chelsea line up £39.4m Varane bid

C

helsea have made Raphael Varane’s capture a priority this summer, according to

Varane

reports.

The Blues are said to have lined up a £39.4 Million bid for the Frenchman’s signature this summer, and are likely to face competition from Paris SaintGermain and Manchester United.

The French giant’s manager Laurent Blanc admitted that Varane was the ideal defender he would like to sign, while the Red Devils are heavily speculated to be eyeing up a new-look

defence for next term.

Chelsea are believed to be eyeing up a long-term replacement for John Terry, who turned 34 in December, although he looks set to land a oneyear extension, keeping him tied to the Stamford Bridge club until the end of next season.

Varane was signed by Real Madrid

by Jose Mourinho, who has since returned to the West-London club, and the chance to play under the Portuguese tactician once again could prove too tempting to turn down.

Di Maria

hails tough

Ivanovic M

anchester United star Angel di Maria has named Chelsea rightback Branislav Ivanovic as the toughest opponent he has faced this season.

“Strong, powerful and quality going forward,” were the three reasons why the world-class Argentina international believes Chelsea’s first-choice right-back has been his toughest opponent since joining the Red Devils.

Di Maria went head-to-head with Ivanovic back in October, when United earned a lastgasp 1-1 draw against Chelsea thanks to a 94th-minute strike by Robin van Persie.

Ivanovic was sent off a minute earlier for a foul on Di Maria but still did enough over the course of the match to leave a lasting impression on the Argentine, who has struggled at Old Trafford since completing his £59.7 million move from Real Madrid last summer.