Dtn 12 11 15

TSA: dƆ ƐƆ ƅƅƑ Ɔ `&L9j Ƈ MƾǀƄ Əƈƍé ƇƇè ƏƗƆƏ ƍƏ ƄƆ Olufemi Samuel, ƄƑƉ

ÎÎÎThe

Senate on Wednesday alleged that an agent, REMITA had ripped off the Federal Government

to the tune of a whopping N25 billion just by assisting to remit monies from commercial banks into the Federation Account through electronic system, under the policy of Single

Treasury Account (TSA) of the government.

The Senate alleged that the sum of N25 billion accrued to the agent after it charged 1 percent of all monies that

passed through it which amounted to N2.5 trillion.

Against this background, the SenContinued on page 2

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N150

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.229

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 10th November 2015.

FO

282

287.98

5.98%

FLOURMILL

20.9

21.85

0.95%

NESTLE

822.99

817

-5.99%

CADBURY

20.1

19.1

-1%

NB

129.51

133

3.49%

ZENITHBANK

16.99

17.2

0.21%

UACN

29.1

27.91

-1.19%

OANDO

8.48

7.66

-0.82%

Buhari recants, assigns all ministers portfolio Ï 0 Ƌ è ƗƆ Ƒ è L Ƌ ƌƈè # ƌƄ Ɩ Ƒè # é Ƌƈè ƌ Ɔƅ ƈ ƆƐ Ɛ ƍ ƌƈ ƈ ƐƏƈƆ Ï zƆôƒƆ ƐƏƈƆƗ Ɛ Ɛ ƏƆƍƆ Ɛ ƌƈ Ɛ ƊƆ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƍ Ɛ – President

Full Ministerial list on page 2

Egena Egena, ƄƑƉ

ÎÎÎPresident

Muhammadu Bu-

hari on Wednesday made a u-turn on his well publicised decision not to assign portfolio to some of the 36

ministers he appointed.

He gave all the ministers portfolio at their swearing-in ceremony

held in the Aso Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President had last week

while receiving the list of the minContinued on page 2

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TSA: g 17 dƊƕƆ Ɗ ƈ Ɛ ƋƊ ƓƈƐ Mè ƆƆƊ ƏƆƒƈƆƓ Ƈ MƿƄ Ƈƈ Ɔ

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News 2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Buhari recants on ‘ministers without portfolios’ Continued from page 1 isterial nominees from the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, following the conclusion of screening by the upper legislative chamber, emphasized that some minister would only sit at cabinet meetings as they would not be assigned portfolios.

Citing current economic realities of dwindling earnings by the Federal Government owing to the falling price of crude oil, Buhari had hinted earlier in an interview during the conference of India-Africa forum in New Delhi that some of the ministers would have to do with no specific role.

Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fasola heads the Works, Power and Housing Ministry, while the Justice Ministry is being headed

by Abubakar Malami (Kebbi State).

Also, Senator Chris Ngige (Anambra) is in charge of

Labour and Employment Ministry, while Chief Audu Ogbeh (Benue) is overseeing the Agriculture Ministry.

With Fashola’s rather huge portfolio, combining three former ministries, Folakemi Adeosun (Ogun State) heading Finance Ministry; Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State) in charge of Solid Minerals Ministry; Omolaye Daramola(Ondo State) as Minister of State, Niger Delta Ministry; Prof. Isaac Adewole (Osun) in charge of Health Ministry and Abdulrahim Shittu (Oyo) heading the Ministry of Communications, the South West unarguably clinched most of the choice ministries.

President Buhari also rationalized and pruned down the number of ministries from 38 under former Goodluck Jonathan to only 24.

In his address at the rather prolonged swearing-in ceremony, the President charged the new ministers to hit the

ground running with the consciousness to justify the confidence of Nigerians and meet their expectations.

“Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions,” he said.

Buhari explained that the choice of the ministers took into serious consideration not only their ability to deliver the goods but also the need to reconcile the ethnic, religious and political divides that had permeated the polity.

He said he also did some thoughtful reflections to ensure that right people were placed in the right places where their utmost performance could be manifest, thereby avoiding the errors of the past where capabilities were sacrificed on the altar of wrong portfolios.

“Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited. We want to work towards a prosperous nation respected for the right reasons, and whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world. And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that the appointment of new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes while showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders in our country.

“I have also been conscious of the need not to repeat such mistakes of the past where the right people were allocated the wrong portfolios, which translated into their performing poorly to our collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities. Also, I have responded to the counsel to consult as widely as possible, given the need to build a stable and all-inclusive government by reaching across our various

ethnic and political divides,” the President stated.

President Buhari declared, accordingly that with the inauguration of ministers, the government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect of the economy and in other areas.

While working hard to maximise revenue from oil in the face of a sharp decline in Continued on page 6

The list of ministers and their portfolios is as follows: 1. Muhammadu Buhari — Minister of Petroleum 2. Ibe kachikwu (Delta) — State, Petroleum 3. Enyinnaya Okechukwu Enelema (Abia) — Industry, Trade and investment 4. Aisha Abubakar (Sokoto) — State, Industry, Trade and Investment 5. Mohammed Musa Bello (Adamawa) — Federal Capital Territory 6. Udo Udoma (Akwa Ibom) — Budget and National Planning 7. Zainab Ahmed (Kaduna) — State, Budget and National Planning 8. Chris Ngige (Anambra) — Labour and Employment 9. James Ocholli (Kogi) — State, Labour and Employment 10. Audu Ogbe (Benue) — Agriculture and Rural Development 11. Heneiken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa) — State, Agriculture and Rural Development 12. Adamu Adamu (Bauchi) — Education 13. Anthony Onwuka (Imo) — State, Education 14. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) — Power, Works and Housing 15. Mustapha Baba Shauri (Borno) — State, Power, Works and Housing 16. Usani Usani Uguru (Cross River) — Niger Delta 17. Omole Daramola (Ondo) — State, Niger Delta 18. Ogbonnaya Onu (Ebonyi) — Science and Technology 19. Isaac Adewole (Osun) — Health 20. Osagie Ehanire (Edo) – State, Health

A mammoth crowd welcome the victorious Golden Eaglets at the International Airport in Abuja… on Wednesday.

21. John Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) — Solid Minerals 22. Bawa Bwari Abubakar (Niger) — State, Solid Minerals 23. Gregory Onyeama (Enugu) — Foreign Affairs

TSA: Senate accuses REMITA of N25b rip-off, orders probe Continued from page 1 ate ordered its Committee on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions as well as that of Public Account to carry out holistic investigations on the alleged fraud and report to it in two weeks.

It also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Finance to stop further payments and remittances to REMITA,

pending the outcome of the probe.

The Senate took this decision after adopting a motion

by Senator Dino Melaye and supported by 29 other Senators on what they termed abuse and mismanagement of the Treasury Single Account of the government.

Leading debate on the motion, Melaye said in the course of the operation of the Treasury Single Account, the government on

September 15 mopped up the sum of N2.5 trillion through its e-collection agent called REMITA. He said REMITA charged 1 percent on all monies that passed through it, stating that at the end, the agent was able to rake in the sum of N25 billion as a reward for using electronic system to remit monies in into the consolidated Revenue Fund.

He said the intervention

by REMITA was illegal, hav-

ing contravened section 162 (1) of the Nigerian constitution, which specified that agencies of government should pay all revenues they collected directly to the Federation Account without a third party.

He said the law also specified the CBN as the sole institution mandated to collect and disburse monies on behalf of the Federal GovContinued on page 6

24. Khadijat Buka Abba Ibrahim (Yobe) — State, Foreign Affairs 25. Amina Mohammed (Gombe) — Environment 26. Ibrahim Jibrin (Nasarawa) — State, Environment 27. Suleiman Adamu Kazaure (Jigawa) — Water Resources 28. Abdulrahman Dambazau (Kano) — Interior 29. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) — Transport 30. Hadi Sirika (Katsina) — State, Aviation 31. Abubakar Malami (Kebbi) — Justice 32. Lai Mohammed (Kwara) — Information 33. Folake Adeosun (Ogun) — Finance 34. Adebayo Shittu (Oyo) — Communication 35. Solomon Dalong (Plateau) — Youth and Sports 36. Aisha Jumai Alhassan (Taraba) — Women Affairs 37. Manir Dan-Ali (Zamfara) — Defence

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Growing cervical cancer cases in Nigeria

C

ervical cancer is one disease dreaded by women.

Available statistics show that more than 100,000 women die every year in Nigeria from the disease. This is particularly tragic because the vast majority of the cervical cancer deaths in the country are preventable.

According to Professor Oladapo Walker of the Department of Pharmacology, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, the increasing spread of the disease is traceable to poverty of ideas and mind of the victims. The medical expert revealed that the disease has a long gestation period of no less than 20 years and normally starts with a chronic infection of the Human Papilloma Virus, type 16 or 18, which are the carcinogenic ones.

Experts define cancer of the cervix as cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb). The cervix is the narrow part of the lower uterus, often referred to as the neck of the womb and occurs most commonly in women over the age of 30. In addition, there are two main types of cervical cancer: squamous cell cervical cancer and adenocarcinoma of the cervix, even as risk factors include smoking, giving birth at a young age and having a weakened immune system.

Others include having had at least three children in separate pregnancies, long-term use of some common contraceptive pills, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and experiencing high levels of stress over a sustained period.

Moreover, cervical cancer-causing HPV types can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.

However, women who have had many sexual partners are at higher risk of infection with HPV, which

raises their risk of developing cervical cancer, even as a link between becoming sexually active at a young age is also a factor of cervical cancer.

In addition, studies reveal that women in deprived areas are more likely to have higher rates of cervical cancer.

Surprisingly, less than 0.1 per cent of Nigerian women have ever had cervical cancer screening in their lifetime and less than 1 per cent is aware of the existence of this silent killer.

Incidentally, the most common symptoms of cervical cancer are, bleeding between periods, bleeding after sexual intercourse, bleeding in post-menopausal women, discomfort during sexual intercourse, smelly vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. Due to this, we advise that women should regularly go for medical screening to ensure early detection, especially when they attain the age of 21 years.

Cervical cancer is ranked the second most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria, and the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 45 years of age.

In order to reduce the morbidity arising from cervical cancer, it is pertinent that the authorities immediately map out strategies to improve women’s health, rather than wait for the capacity of the country’s health infrastructure to approach that of the industrialised nations. One of the major challenges against the management of this disease can be only attributed to the inadequacy of public enlightenment and poverty. It is therefore important for government to embark on mass enlightenment campaign on the dangers posed by cervical cancer to women. Now is time to reduce the burden of disease in the community through education.

PDP: How not to begin a re-branding project Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎExpectedly the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) since losing the Presidency and many governorship seats in the last general election has had to do some soul searching with a view to identifying the reasons behind its loss as well as chart way forward.

A fallout of this soul search was the setting up of the Raymond Dokpesiled committee to organise party’s re-branding conference.

That conference which holds today (Thursday) in Abuja, all things being equal, is expected to unleash a wave of reforms in

the party and return it to winning ways.

But less than 48 hours to the re-branding conference, Dokpesi made a statement that had the capacity to cause more disaffection within the ranks of the erstwhile ruling party as well compound the rebranding project.

Addressing journalists at a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, Dokpesi said the PDP made an ‘error’ in fielding former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, as its sole presidential candidate in the 2015 general election.

No doubt the PDP is in dire need of re-branding and the Dokpesi-led panel must be commended for efforts so far made in this regard. However, very many Nigerians, members of the PDP inclusive disagree

Words On Marble :

with Dokpesi’s diagnosis, especially his statement that fielding Jonathan in the 2015 poll was an ‘error’.

Poser: How can fielding Jonathan be an error when his candidature had the blessings of all the caucuses in the party, national officers inclusive? Fact is that the PDP its members were not blindfolded or under duress when they endorsed Jonathan to run for the 2015 presidential election. He ran but lost eventually.

The choice of Jonathan was a collective decision of all organs of the PDP and the party must be ready to live by the consequences of its decision and not try engage in blame game as Dokpesi tried to do on Tuesday.

Such blame game cannot but compound efforts to rebrand the PDP and return it to winning ways.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

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

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Oby Ezekwesili

Odia Ofeimun

Femi Fani-Kayode

“Citizens must realise that we cannot afford to permit our public officials to continue with the habit of privatising democratic institutions.’’

‘’We must describe our future before we move into them. That doesn’t mean you should neglect the past.’’

‘’We want peace but it cannot be at the expense of our lives and the liberty and safety of our people’’.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

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News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Senate debunks report on plot by PDP to take over Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Senate has dismissed reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are in league with their colleagues in the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take over the Upper chamber of the Na-

tional Assembly.

The Senate made the clarification amid misgivings arising from the chance given to the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu to preside briefly during the day’s plenary Ekweremadu, a mem-

ber of the PDP presided in the absence of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki who was at the Presidential Villa earlier in the day for the swearing in of cabinet members by President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, Ekweremadu had vacated the seat im-

mediately the Senate President returned, while Saraki presided over the remaining part of the plenary.

There have been reports that the APC was already taking control of the Senate against the back drop that Ekweremadu pre-

Adeosun resumes at Finance Ministry, receives handover note Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe new minister of

the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun on Wednesday reported to work immediately after her inauguration by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mrs Adeosun, who ar-

rived the ministry at about 3pm, went straight into a closed door meeting with directors of the ministry.

Soon after the meeting she then met with Finance Correspondents and assured of her readiness to transform the ministry in line with international best practices.

She, said that as min-

ister she would work in hand with everyone and ensure that the ministry lived up to its expectations in discharging its day-today functions.

The minister was on Wednesday inaugurated alongside other 35 ministers during the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa.

The 48 years old minister is an economist and chartered accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant (England and Wales).

She had worked in various capacities in the private sector, and was once a commissioner for finance.

She holds B.Sc (Hons) Applied Economics.

L-R: CEO, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Yinka Sanni; Ag. CEO, ExecuJet Aviation Nigeria, Mr. Bo Schjonning-Larsen; and Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinnia Abajue at the launch of Commercial Banking Customer Value Proposition by the bank in Lagos... on Wednesday

TSA: Senate accuses REMITA of N25b rip-off, orders probe Continued from page 2 ernment, although it may appoint a bank to perform the function in some special cases.

Dino said the agent REMITA used in collecting monies from banks into TSA is not known as a registered bank, stressing that its activities had violated the BOFIA Act 2007 which stipulates that “No person shall carry out any banking business in Nigeria except it is a company duly incorporated in Nigeria and holds a valid license under the Act. Dino said the amount cov-

eted by REMITA through TSA was outrageous since such a huge sum, according to him could be used to build infrastructure to better the lot of Nigerians.

Senators in their contributions expressed outrage on the involvement of REMITA in the operation of Single Treasury Account, as they were unanimous in asking the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to also investigate the issue.

Senator Ali Ndume said he found it unbelievable to learn that such a fraud could be perpetrated under the

government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said if the alleged fraud was eventually proved to be true, some elements within the government must have been up in arms to sabotage the government.

Ndume said his personal investigation of the alleged fraud took him to the CBN, whereas the CBN governor, according to him denied ever being aware that such action took place under Treasury Single Account Senators Ibn Na’Allah, Shehu Sani, Albert Bassey and others who spoke on the motion urged the Senate not

to take the allegation lightly, and urged the upper chamber of the National Assembly to unveil those behind REMITA. The Senators contended that those behind the alleged fraud should be held and make to account for every penny they had collected.

However, some Senators had expressed words of caution on the motion, contending that the Senate should first get a proof that such huge amount of money was indeed collected by the agent, before concluding that fraud was indeed, perpetrated.

sided, although there was no complaint from any quarter all the while he presided.

Senate’s Spokesman, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, cleared the air on the issue stating, “The bi-partisan stand of the Hallowed Chamber would not in anyway impede its legislative duties’’.

According to him, speculations of plans by

PDP to take over the Senate was a `figment’ of the imagination of those behind the report.

He said the Senate was committed to providing robust legislation.

He said, “The Senate wishes to state categorically that there is no conspiracy of any nature among distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Buhari recants, assigns all ministers portfolio Continued from page 2 the price for the commodity, he said, his administration was determined to diversify the economy in agriculture to enhance employment and explore solid minerals as a major revenue earner.

The primary aim, according to him, was to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of both items as well as solid minerals, adding that government intended to pursue policies that would generate massive employment for millions of Nigerian youth.

“We shall also continue with greater determination and focus to pursue our goal of ensuring improved security for our country and its citizens, and without letting up on our fight against corruption. Our commitment to defeat Boko Haram and all the threats it constitutes remains as strong as ever.

So is our resolve to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigerians,” the President also stated.

Buhari also noted that despite challenges, his administration had made noticeable progress in its short life, as an indication of how much better Nigerians could do as a people driven by patriotism and a common resolve to do things right both in the moral and economic spheres.

He said: “On the moral sphere, trust is slowly but steadily being re-established between the government and the people. Now, when

the government speaks, the people listen; and when the people’s expectations are not met, they appreciate that it is not for lack of commitment or trying on the part of government. In effect, government business is now being conducted with transparency and cynicism is waning as a result.

“Our adoption of the Treasury Single Account has resulted in the blocking of financial leakages in the public sector, making more funds available for the business of governance and ensuring the welfare of our citizens.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has also assisted more than 30 States of the federation with concessionary loans to offset salary arrears for their workers. On the monetary side, the CBN has also implemented country-specific and innovative policies that have helped to stabilize the exchange rate and conserve our reserves.

“Over all our economy is poised for sustained job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive growth. Regardless of the present challenges we are confronting, I believe all Nigerians will keep hope alive and sustain their optimism about the future of our economic well-being.”

Dignitaries who witnessed the oath taking ceremony included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the Senate President, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu respectively; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Justice Mahmoud Mohammed; and the National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Chief John Oyegun.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Oyetubo Olabimpe

ÏÏÏEdo

State Association of Deaf has appealed for support from the state government as it prepared to marked 2015 international week of the deaf (IWD), and annual general meeting/national conference to be hosted in Benin city, the state capital.

Mr. Ekhorutomwen Iyobosa, chairman of the association, in a press release issued in Benin City, on Wednesday, stated that the AGM cum international week of the deaf, is the greatest deaf fiesta and the most powerful assembly of deaf in all member countries of the federation of the deaf, which

Delta Speaker appeals for dedication Akor Ejumene Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Ovwigho Igbuya, on Wednesday, called on members to re-double their efforts in the area of lawmaking for peace and good governance of the state.

Igbuya, who gave the advice during the plenary also told the members to jettison selfish interest.

“In the next few days, our decisions and deliberations can define the direction of the state. We need

Saka Bolaji

Minna The new Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammed Haliru Dantoro, Kitoro IV, officially received his letter of appointment as the new Emir of Borgu Kingdom just as the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar sani Bello, charged the new Emir to sustain and improved on the legacy of his father, late Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, the Kitoro III. The presentation of the letter on Wednesday in Minna, witnessed by some top government officials held in Government House, officially ushered in the new Emir, who was formerly a member of the Niger State Traditional Council in charge of Borgu Emirate in the state.

Governor Bello in his speech, spoke extensively on the virtue of the late Emir whom he noted was a man of justice and was like a father to him, and therefore urged the new Emir to sustain his father’s legacy if he could not exceed it. He, therefore, expressed confident that the new Emir ,who is the first son of the late Emir would live up to expectation in the task of leading the people of Borgu, saying that, “I

ÏÏÏ

Bello

7 News

Edo deaf group begs govt for support Nigeria is the 114th registered member.

He said: “this year’s edition which was earlier slated to hold from November 1-7, 2015 had to be postponed for about two weeks to November 24-29, 2015 due to what the host state branch of NNAD called logistics challenges and poor response to request for support for the all-important event, especially from the state government. to set our hearts on a greater purpose than our personal interests which is to lift the state to a higher height. We must offer hope to our people in spite of the gloomy situation.

“I welcome you all from the first Annual Overseas Lecture and Vacation of the 6th Assembly which took place at the Georgia Tech Students Centre, Atlanta Georgia.

I know that we will apply the richness of the training and tour towards the execution of a just, fair, and equitable legislative agenda, in the pursuance of good governance and development during the remaining period of the first year of the 6th Assembly” the Speaker added.

New Borgu Emir gets appointment letter have no doubt that the new Emir of Borgu is up to the task and as the governor, Borgu Emirate remain dear to my heart”.

Bello stated that he was not unaware of the dreams of the late Emir for the development of his Emirate, and that all the dreams the late Emir had for Borgu would remain dear to his heart as a governor and will make sure that it is realised and actualised for the people of Borgu Emirate.

Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr. Emeka M. Ezeh (right) in a handshake with representative of the SGF, Dr. (Mrs.) Ijeoma C. Unaogu at the opening of a one-day Interactive Session on Public Procurement with Directorate Cadre Procurement Officers of Federal Ministries organided by the BPP in Abuja… recently.

I was nearly dethroned for speaking truth- Alake Abiodun Taiwo

Abeokuta The Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, on Wednesday, said he nearly lost his throne during the former Governor Gbenga Daniel's administration of Ogun State due to a harmless comment he made that roads in his domain were in deplorable condition.

The Egba monarch, who spoke in Abeokuta during a press conference, to herald activities to mark his 10th-year coronation anniversary, said the most challenging period of his life was the attempt by the immediate past administration to dethrone him over a comment he made. Answering a reporter's question, the monarch also revealed that "August 28, 2005 was the saddest day in my life, it was the first night that I spent at Ipebi". Ipebi is a secluded place where by tradition Egba kings are kept for three months under diffi-

ÏÏÏ

cult conditions, as a way of teaching them the poorest man's style.

He said when he got to the place, he discovered that there was only latrine instead of water closest toilet and besides, there was no bed nor mattress so he had to sleep on a mere mat.

His words, "The room was seven by seven metres wooden house without any window. This was 10 years ago. In fact, it was really a bad night, the experience was worse than when I was in the army.

"Anyway, it was a kind of training and I had to go through that for three months", he told the briefing held at his Ake palace.”

The monarch recalled that based on a harmless comment he made that roads in his domain were in deplorable condition hence the government in power then should do something about it, the immediate past administration misinterpreted that to mean he was criticising them and therefore in their

view "the government must return fire by fire" and initiated moves to dethrone him.

He explained that what changed their mind was Chief Duro Onabolu's article at that time that there was an existing court ruling that no governor had the power to dethrone a king.

"The foremost Journalist, (Onabolu) wrote a two part article on that question you're asking me now, saying there is a law court ruling which said no governor has a power to dethrone any Oba, go and check what he wrote", he revealed.

He continued, "The court pronouncement came from Abeokuta here, government didn't appeal that judgement and so it remains, that was what he was telling that government that you haven't gotten that power. Try it and you will fail and the shame will be too much for you. He quoted that judgement verbatim and government didn't appeal it.

Alleged N1.8m bribe: Why EFCC didn’t prosecute CCT boss Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏFollowing the allegation of

bribe taking by Justice Danladi Yakubu Umar, the Chairman of Code of Conduct Tribunal, facts are beginning to emerge why last administration did not remove or prosecute him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which investigated Justice Umar over the N10m bribery allegation against him said it could not put him on trial because the evidence against him was not weighty and

not sufficient to sustain a possible prosecution.

The anti-graft body claimed that the facts raised against the CCT Chairman were just mere suspicious which in law, cannot take the place of proof.

In a memorandum forwarded to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the EFCC, however, confirmed that one Ali Gambo Abdullahi, a Personal Assistant to the CCT boss admitted receiving N1.8m in 2012 from one Rasheed Taiwo standing trial at the tribu-

nal.

The said Abdullahi was alleged to have used his salary account at Zenith Bank to collect the graft.

In the letter dated March 5, 2015 and personally signed by the immediate past Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, the complainant in the bribery saga, Mr. Rasheed Taiwo, a retired Deputy Comptroller General of Customs was said to have failed to produce the alleged telephone conversations and text messages exchanged by him and Justice Umar.

The former Customs Chief was

said to have persistently claimed that he had lost his phone since 2012 and could not trace or recover it.

EFCC said that the telephone of the complainant would have been subjected to independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the bribery allegation against the CCT boss. Justice Umar was however said by EFCC to have admitted meeting the complainant in his chamber at the tribunal and that meeting was most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on the part of the chairman.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Politics

Æs

NASS: Return of hostilities

‘Biafra agitation plot to topple Buhari’ Khalifa Dikwa

Dogara

Saraki

stated that all committees must be subject to approval by all senators.

He disclosed that another development, which made the committees null and void, was the increment of committees from 57 to 65.

According to him, some sections of Order 97 of the Senate Standing Rule specify that only 57 committees shall be constituted.

Besides, he also noted that the leadership of the committees was lopsided as it did not reflect even representation of the six geopolitical zones.

He further pointed out that the Selection Committee, saddled with the responsibility of constituting the standing committees was itself, not properly constituted.

He said the selection committee was made up mainly of new sena-

Biafran contractors, some All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors and members are acting the same script that toppled Buhari in August1985 to bring back corruption and insecurity.

I said it few weeks ago in one of the platforms and a couple of interviews. Current signs are similar to those of 1985. A few days to my NYSC posting to teach at the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1985, similar acts of sabotage were covertly on against Buhari/ Tunde Idiagbon government even though food was cheap.

Buhari was toppled in August 1985 when I was in the orientation camp. Many of us who had strong instinct but had nowhere to connect with were devastated.

Under General Buhari/Tunde regime the dollar exchanged for less than one naira and essential commodities were very affordable. No cases of pick-pocketing, stealing, kidnapping etc.

This time around as a civilian President, his readiness to fight corruption and insecurity to a standstill is regarded by the corrupt elements out of the less than

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Gbajabiamila

Akinjide Akintola & Sulaimon Adedeji After weeks of peace like that of the graveyard, tension peaked again on Tuesday at the National Assembly as both chambers were embroiled in a rumpus over committee compositions shattering a truce of sort that was brokered by President Muhammadu Buhari over leadership crisis.

While that of the Senate was not beyond exchange of hot words, the crisis in the House of Representatives snowballed into full blown fisticuffs with two members of the same All Progressives Congress (APC) slapping one another.

The bone of contention in both chambers was the sharing of juicy committee chairmanship which was seen as lopsided in favour of the NASS leaderships while those that had opposed them in the past

were shortchanged. Besides, the leaderships of both chambers were accused of unilateral decision in the choice of the committee leaderships without recourse to the other principal officers and members.

Indeed, as at Monday, some of the aggrieved lawmakers had rejected the offer of committee chairmanship granted them by the leaderships.

In what is seen as a follow up to this, a group of senators on Tuesday declared their opposition to constitution of Standing Committees of the Senate announced by President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, last Thursday.

The senators claimed that the constitution of the committees flouted the 1999 Constitution of the country and the Senate’s Standing Order, declaring that the exercise

was null and void.

The lawmakers, who belong to the Unity Group, a faction loyal to Sen. Ahmed Lawal (APC-Yobe North) who had contested the Senate Presidency with Saraki made this position known while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

They said that the committees were formed without recourse to provisions of necessary laws. A representative of the group, Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara North), said the committees were not subjected to the approval of all senators in plenary as expected.

Marafa, who was appointed Chairman, Committee on National Identity and National Population, explained that Section 62(1) of the constitution gave the National Assembly the power to constitute committees.

He added that Section 62(4)

Alhassan’s success is victory for womanhood – APC women wing

Alhassan

The Women Wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has hailed the judgment of the Taraba State Election Petition Tribunal declaring Senator Aisha Alhassan as the winner of the disputed April 11, 2015 governorship election.

The women described the success of the senator as a victory for Nigerian women in politics, saying the historical landmark is also the crowning of efforts of all women around the world.

Reacting to the verdict returning Alhassan as the rightful winner of the election, Ekiti State Women Leader, Mrs Dupe Bakare, in company of the Deputy State Chairperson, Mrs Kemi Olaleye, who spoke at a victory rally held at the party secretariat in Ado Ekiti, said the judgment was a vindication of the APC’s earlier position that the Taraba gubernatorial election manipulated by the PDP to ensure that a more popular candidate did not win because she was a woman.

“We are happy that the roles and place of women in politics are gradually being entrenched as the Taraba victory signifies the emergence of a first female elected governor in Nigeria.

“Women will no longer remain as praise singers and onlookers in politics and this practice that they are only good for mobilisation at rallies is no longer tenable with Alhassan’s victory. This victory signifies that women are also good for executive positions as governors, ministers and law-

makers,” Bakare said She added: “As we celebrate Alhassan’s victory in Ekiti and Nigeria, we implore the judiciary at the Appeal and Supreme Court levels to affirm the victory of Alhassan as declared by the lower court.

“Women in Nigeria are anxiously waiting for the swearing in of the first ever democratically elected female governor in Nigeria and we pray nothing is done to truncate this well deserved victory from any quarter.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

9 Politics

‘Biafra agitation plot to topple Buhari’

NASS: Of unending crisis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Kanu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

1% as cleaning the erring pigs and asking them never to eat from the garbage again.

Actually, some APC governors close to the corridors of power have been in collaboration with those of PDP bigots to create bad blood for the Buhari Government by holding onto salaries and money meant for essential services.

Some of those governors are scheming out loyalist stakeholders to do what is not on the priority list of any elected government.

Those chaps hardly comment on fighting corruption, obvious defeat of Boko Haram and treacherous activities of Biafra proponents because they are making fortunes out them.

In fact, cronies of some governors are secretly encouraging their supporters to multiply antiBuhari criticisms so as to stop praying for the success of PMB

Uwazuruike

Ojukwu

Buhari

government. The only hope we have so far is their inability to get the leadership of the civil societies or Armed Forces to play along their evil plan nor have they succeeded in scandalising the Presidency, Judiciary, NASS, Defence, EFCC, DSS, and other security outfits.

Therefore, urgent measures must be taken to keep an eye on some of the governors, who may well sponsor protests and media propaganda to tarnish the image of this government.

Over to you DSS, DMI, Police…

Thus, on behalf of those who are afraid to talk or write, I am pulling the alarm bell to alert those who love this country to sit up in action and prayers to help even though the chances are very bleak for the devil’s advocates to meet anywhere within Nigeria or abroad to plan anything against the goodwill of this popularly elected gov-

ernment.

Though it is not easy for all to be patient like some of us who were persecuted for doing the right thing for our country and people, however, we should refuse to be fooled because we are in a democracy.

Think of Egypt and Algeria. Has the Democracy singing world risen up to punish those who brought down democracy in Egypt and the killing of Mursi’s supporters or criticise the sit tight African presidents?

What happened to Gen. Abacha who restored peace and democracy to Sierra Leone and Liberia or to Ghaddafi who came to help many Africans or to Gen. Murtala Muhammed who said enough to corruption? My knowledge is not limited to the four walls of the University and would have been a General or an Inspector General of Police if I had followed

one of those lines. That was why the presidential antics failed to incriminate me for exposing them when they were desperate to kill my State (Borno) and Somalise the North.

Why are there no human rights groups challenging those rascals in courts of law with an evidence to support illegal retirement of many among the civilians or those in uniforms. It is unfortunate that government is watching while they enjoy why Buhari government is taking too long to reverse most of those diabolic decisions.

After Wednesday’s swearing- in ceremony, PMB government must change to a faster gear to stop their ego to perpetually keep Nigerians in bondage.

We must encourage the people from remaining consistently supportive of government’s corrective measures despite the meagre resources.

Kogi 2015: Buhari’s APC and the Kogi treasury Phrank Shaibu

Wada

Audu

Whether Abubakar Audu looted the treasury of Kogi State to the hefty tune of eleven billion naira while serving as Kogi State governor in the years between 1999 and 2003 as alleged by the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, (EFCC), is now for the court to decide.

However, that no judicial decision has been reached since the allegations were raised against the accused in about a decade is certainly an issue which will continue to mystify many watchers of the case. Simply put, while the EFCC on the one hand has cried foul by claiming that the accused, Audu has been delaying the trial with unnecessary interlocutory injunctions, the accused on the

other hand, aside denying all the multiple charges, has argued that the trial is politically motivated.

Nevertheless, Mr. Audu’s witty commentaries in various interactions with the media about the trial when combined with his recent venture into politics for pursuit of Kogi State governorship seat, perceptibly depicts a man at peace with whatever that is happening around him. Even so, one does not really have to be a psychologist to know that such seeming calmness bothers more on personal attitude or a make believe script than probable outcome of the trial.

Fortunately, the case of “F.R.N Vs Abubakar Audu & 1 other Charge No: FCT/CR/115/ 2013”of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo Abuja is not a movie.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

tors, flouting the standing order, which specified that it should be constituteåd based on ranking.

“What we are witnessing today in the National Assembly and the Senate in particular, is legislative tyranny, where impunity wants to be the order of the day.

“There is no committee. They are not legally constituted and they cannot function. Any further action is unacceptable to Nigerians and I have discharged that responsibility.”

Similarly, Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) said there were procedures for constituting standing committees, insisting that there was no resolution on the committees at plenary.

He said, “This is one of the three issues that we are contending. We are blowing the whistle, educating those that do not know and then throwing light on those areas that we feel require Nigerians to know.”

However, the spokesperson for the Senate, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, said the committees were approved during the adoption of votes and proceedings.

Sabi said no lawmaker had the power to declare any proceeding in the House null and void as they were not judges.

In the same vein on Tuesday, supporters of Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader physically exchanged fisticuffs.

Trouble started when Herman Hembe, chairman, House Committee on FCT allegedly slapped Magaji Aliyu (APC-Jigawa) while deliberating over the lingering crisis on lopsidedness of the special and standing committees.

It took the intervention of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuff Lasun, who intervened before the fracas got out of hand.

One lawmaker who spoke under condition of anonymity, noted that the caucus meeting chaired by the Deputy Speaker was aimed at deliberating on the actions of CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Saraki

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Buhari’s APC and the Kogi treasury CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

It is about justice, the Kogi people and EFCC’s quest to recover alleged stolen wealth of Kogi State.

Sadly, President Buhari’s APC seems to have a different agenda on such. Emphatically, the APC’s desire for the Kogi people is definitely far from addressing the alleged loot of 11 billion naira under the Audu-led administration. Otherwise, the APC would not have extended to Audu the privilege of being its nominee for the forthcoming Kogi State governorship race. In fact, that this was done against a purported advice of the EFFC which unfortunately was ostensibly subdued by the same national ruling party of Nigeria that prides itself as an administration that upholds anti-graft as its major focus, speak volumes.

Succinctly put, the lesson from here is that the APC and the Kogi people are on different pages on this EFCC’s legal tussle with Mr.

Audu. From all reasonable logic, the APC certainly has its intentions well spelt out and such does not conform with the EFCC efforts to assist Kogi State on an issue that has been investigated by the nation’s anti-corruption agency and Mr. Audu found wanting. What this clearly shows is a strange contradiction that portrays APC as aggressively fighting its own agenda, the President Buhari’s highly praised anti-graft battle.

Certainly, any objective analyst would appreciate that this is a very uninteresting story and twist for Nigeria’s democracy. The obvious truth is that where commonsense prevails, it will be tragic error for anyone to give the key of a warehouse that has just being burgled to a gatekeeper that the police is prosecuting over indictable theft charges related to the same warehouse. The plain truth is that such a prosecution is best regarded as scuttled before judgment, indeed, CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Audu

Magu

Who will save NASS from crisis?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

the Majority Leader and his allies who had shunned the inauguration of the committees on Monday.

It was learnt that there were plans to impeach Gbajabiamila and his group during the Tuesday caucus meeting which later degenerated into a brawl when it was thwarted by the Pro-Gbajabiamila group.

Following the development, about 100 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gathered in groups to discuss the lingering crisis and what action to take in case of any eventuality.

But peaking after the caucus meeting which ended at 11:38am, Doguwa dismissed alleged plans to impeach the Majority Leader.

Speaking on the position of the Gbajabiamila’s group, Ahmed Baba Kaita (APC-Kano) who accused Dogara of flouting APC leadership’s directive to address the lopsidedness, threatened that the party loyalist group will resist move by the PDP caucus to take over the affairs of the House.

“I am very furious about the lies going on and I cant control my anger, reason because the APC as a party has given Dogara a clear cut instruction five days ago and he was to report back to the party by Monday, but on that Monday and it was the same Monday he decided

to flout the rules of the party.

“Yesterday, while we were having a meeting in the national headquarters, text were flying by the same group of people that do not want APC to succeed in this House, that Gbajabiamila is going to be removed today, and the actually planned it. So we came and they couldn’t do nothing, because they know we hold the party and we have the majority and as long as the House is going to be dictated

by PDP, we will resist it.

“If Dogara wants us to be with him, fine and good, he is one of our own, and we don’t have any problem with being with Dogara, only if he can align himself with our party manifestos and the wishes of Mr President, he will have a smooth ride.

“Because he has majority in the House, but as long as he will be flouting the orders of the party and as long as he will be instigating some unscrupulous members to say that they will removed preferred candidates offices holders of the party, we will resist him, this is just a mess, they can do fucking nothing, please excuse my language,” Kaita said.

However, Doguwa, chief whip who dumped the Loyalist group for Dogara’s camp when negotiating for the Majority Leader’s slot, said: “This was a meeting for the APC family, a meeting we intended

Lawan to address ourselves that enough is enough of the misunderstanding among the APC family. You are all aware of what happened yesterday, where the honorable Speaker invited and chair a special session of the House of Representatives to inaugurate the standing committees.

“I want to tell you on behalf of the leadership, that the leadership has no crack as far as I’m concerned. I am talking to you honorable Dogara and the leader of the House are in the same room, the office of the Speaker discussing, trying to see how we can move

ahead.

“Nigerians are tired of this waiting, we were elected to come and do our work, as members of the House of Representatives and by extension the National Assembly.

“I want to tell you precisely that by what we have done yesterday, the flight of the 8th House of Representatives has taken off, it has not only taken off, it has taken off very successfully and it is a flight that is a four-year bound air flight, with Dogara as the pilot.

“Femi as leader is also on statusquo, we have maintained statusquo for now, and Femi is our leader in the House of Representatives and even speculations made earlier on that there is any move whatsoever to remove Femi as leader, it’s unfounded is not from the leadership, it is not from the APC and I also want to tell you that this morning I had a very close consultations with the leaders of the party, specifically Senator Lawal Shuaibu who is the deputy leader of the APC in Nigeria and we have told them that there is no cause for alarm in the House of Representatives and we are moving as one.

“There is no two way about unity, this party was founded on the basis of unity and the House of Representatives as it is today is very much poised and ready to work with Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver the change

mantra we have promised Nigerians. However, a group of lawmakers in the house elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress, (APC), had on Monday said that the composition of the head ships of House committees between the party and the opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) on equal basis by Speaker Dogara was a declaration of war against the presidency and the party.

Rising from a closed door meeting with the members of the National Working Committee, (NWC) of the party at the national secretariat in Abuja, the lawmakers who operated under the aegis of “APC House Loyal Members”, stated that it was against the democratic principle to share committees equally with the opposition.

Briefing Journalists at the end of the meeting, spokesperson of the group, Hon. Musa Saraki Adar from Sokoto State said that Dogara was causing a division among the lawmakers, insisting that he must reverse the order.

The aggrieved lawmakers, who are loyalists to the Majority Leader, Gbajabiamila boycotted the inauguration of the committees.

It is like the warriors in the National Assembly are back in the trenches. Who will save them from each other? Whether Buhari will have more time now to come in again; time will tell.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

11 Politics

Politicians react to new cabinet Success can catapult Fashola to Presidency – Ajasin

Fashola

With the enormous responsibility of the powerful Ministry of Power, Works and Housing placed on the shoulders of former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, success in the assignment would catapult him to the president,

Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin has said.

Ajasin, son of former old Ondo State Governor, the late Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin said in his reaction to new ministers and their portfolios that the position entrusted on him was as a result of the trust and confidence President Muhammadu Buhari has in him.

According to him, it is a unique opportunity for Fashola to prove his critics wrong and show that he was capable of undertaking the responsibility.

Ajasin posited that it was either Fashola performs or otherwise pointing out that in the difficult challenges he would be facing, there was nowhere to hide adding that it is a fantastic opportunity for him to excel, adding that he had no doubt that he would prove his mettle.

According to him, the sky is the limit for the new minister who is being seen as the engine room of the administration, adding that the new cabinet is ok.

The cabinet is strategic- Asoluka

Aka Ikenga, Chief Chris Asoluka has described the new cabinet and the portfolios as a strategic one aimed at achieving set goals.

In an interview with Daily Times, he said the cabinet was composed by the President with a strategy for achieving the success of the Buhari administration.

According to him, with Buhari overseeing critical area of petroleum and also putting Fashola whom he appears to have so much trust in the critical infrastructure, he appeared to have put his eyes on the ball to achieve success adding that in the fullness of time, it will be clear whether the strategy will be a success or not.

He said there is a lot of expectations from them to perform especially based on Fashola’s track record of performance in Lagos hoping that they would do no less.

He added that being in charge of infrastructure, everything looks bright pointing out that Nigerians could only pray that they succeed.

Buhari

They are capable of achieving something – Ayo Adebanjo Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said all eyes are on the members of new cabinet to perform as they took oath yesterday.

He expressed the optimism that the new cabinet will achieve something. His words: “We hope they will perform. Don’t let us be pessimistic, let’s give them a chance”.

He stated that they have no choice than to perform as they have just started work, adding

that the administration had wasted so much time already in constituting the cabinet.

He charged them to get to work immediately so that the people can see what they can do. “Let them showcase their worth”, he stressed Also speaking, former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Akin Aduwo said he has no reaction as this was purely a political appointment stressing that he does not comment of politics

Buhari’s APC and the Kogi treasury CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

even if the policeman charged with the responsibility of handling such a case is a dullard, he would need no person to tell him that he has reached the end of the road. Sadly, this is what the APC in its capacity as the ruling party in Nigeria appears to have done to the EFCC on its case involving Audu. What a wish for the Kogi people!

With benefit of hindsight, that the Kogi State people believed in the good intentions of the Muhammadu Buhari’s candidacy is akin to repeating the obvious as it was openly demonstrated through their votes for the APC in the presidential elections that thrust President Buhari to the nation’s number one throne about eight months ago. Even though Kogi State was then predominantly PDP, a rival party to the APC, the Kogi electorate could not resist Buhari’s attraction as a man of integrity. Indeed, Buhari’s call for change must have contributed to what the Kogi people anticipated would be of tremendous benefit to them. Unfortunately, with just the passage of five months in President Buhari’s

leadership, emerging actions from his APC, particularly regarding the support to Audu, are considered contrary indications that the promises of President Buhari on anti-corruption is working in Kogi State. This is certainly an issue of great worry and shock to the Kogi public especially on their support for Buhari’s presidency.

The point here is that it is highly paradoxical, that a government which is prosecuting an individual through the nation’s anti-graft agency is on the converse assisting the same individual through its political party to become a state governor, a status which will automatically suspend or terminate a trial of alleged looting of public treasury involving over 11 billion naira. On this, the perception by any objective mind is that should this trial be left inconclusive and an accused like Mr. Audu is allowed to rule again, if truly he is guilty as charged, the possibility of being unrepentant is very high as criminals are known to be continuous offenders where fitting rehabilitative effects of the criminal law is not meted upon them or in situations where justice seems easy escape. To a large extent,

this may permit such a person to go on irreparable damage on the Kogi treasury as much as he may desire. In such a situation, the victim will be the Kogi people and the entire Kogi society may never get justice. As such, the temptation of allowing Mr. Audu to cunningly get a postponement of his trial should be highly resisted as the consequences of further lengthening or delaying of the trial puts the Kogi public at great risk.

Without doubt, what President Buhari’s APC is doing in Kogi State by supporting Audu as its candidate for the Kogi governorship election is unrealistic and runs against the common interest of the Kogi people. Supposedly, what the APC wants to do in Kogi State is to impose upon the Kogi people, a man in the complexion of a governor that is already carrying a baggage of alleged financial criminality of multiple charges.

This is where there is resounding worry that the APC’s hidden agenda is to use the immunity clause extended to governors to protect an accused, Audu. However, in the spirit of patriotism, the Buhari Administration must be reminded that it owes the society the respon-

sibility to bring accused persons to trial rather than providing a safe haven for them to deceitfully postpone justice in the name of politics. Otherwise, anyone found abetting such irregularity, will be termed an accomplice in irrationally deferring justice.

Even though it seems clear that APC may stop at nothing in order to save Audu’s political future and trial, the APC must desist from making the concerted efforts of Nigerians to fight corruption a walking skeleton awaiting death.

The very sad fact herein is that with Audu as a contestant in the Kogi election, the Buhari’s anticorruption sword may be assumed to have a double edge. Prof Pius Adesanmi summed is all “…a SAN and Professor of Law and Nigeria’s Vice President, on the same podium with a filthy, corrupt yam eater like Abubakar Audu will set Nigeria back by two centuries.

What is wrong with these people?

One of the shining lights of the administration, who screams the anti-corruption mantra the loudest, will go and raise his hands on a podium in Okene. So, how is Mangu supposed to mangle Audu now? Osinbajo’s hard-earned rep-

utation will take a terrible hit if photos of him and Audu appear tomorrow…” Nevertheless, any good citizen of Kogi State must understand that the obvious support of President Buhari’s party to Audu will amount to nothing if they decide to cast their votes for the protection of the Kogi State treasury and common good.

Audu

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Obasanjo pays tribute to late ex-German Chancellor, Schmidt Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÏÏÏFormer

President Olusegun Obasanjo has eulogised the virtues of former German Chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, describing him as a personality with sterling qualities, which included his candour and understanding of global issues and its peculiarities.

Mr. Schmidt, a Social Democrat and architect of the European Monetary System, which linked EU currencies and helped paved the way to the euro, died on Tuesday, in his home city of Hamburg, at age 96.

In his tribute, copy of which was made available to newsmen, in Abeokuta, Obasanjo said the late German Chancellor was the first to visit Nigeria in 1977, when he was the Head of State, and “I was immediately struck by a number of Helmut’s sterling qualities: one, his candour; two, his intellectual capability and attendant wisdom; and three, his perceptiveness and understanding of global issues and their ramifications.

“Soon after that visit, Helmut and I were guests of Prime Minister Michael Manley in Runaway Bay, Ja-

maica, where we discussed the New International Economic Order, and our friendship was deepened with profound mutual respect and affinity of thoughts and ideas on world leadership and the future of humankind.

“In 1983, Helmut and I were privileged to co-found the Interaction Council, with other like-minded colleagues like Late Takeo Fukuda of Japan, a body designed to bring together personalities who, after having served in the highest office in their respective nations, would meet as a

unique global policy thinktank, exchange views from their privileged, vantage points, and develop joint policy recommendations on select international issues.

“The InterAction had such members as Pierre Trudeau of Canada, Lord Callaghan of Great Britain and Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. The InterAction Council exercised considerable influence in the policy development of political, economic, social and regional issues. Helmut used to say, when we got together, over a drink, that we all could agree on one thing: that the

Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo (left) in a conversation with Chairman Planning Committee, Navy Capt. Rasheed Raji (rtd) during a press conference on the forthcoming 10th coronation anniversary of Gbadebo held at palace hall, Ake Abeokuta, Ogun State… on Wednesday.

Photo: DAVID IDOWU

world was governed much better when we were in power.

“The fact was that Helmut, who was the intellectual power house of the Council, for some twenty years, was also the guiding force of the Council. The achievements of the Council were largely attributable to Helmut’s commitment, dedication and sharp decision-making ability. ‘‘I recount, with profound appreciation, the overwhelming confidence that Helmut reposed in me when he thought that I was ably qualified to give leadership to the United Nations in the capacity of the Secretary General in 1991. ‘‘Helmut opened my campaign and sustained it with letters to various world leaders canvassing for my candidature.

“In a very touching show of genuine friendship and loyalty, Helmut vigorously threw himself into a global campaign for my cause, when I became a victim of tyranny in Nigeria and suffered over three years imprisonment for charges that were no more than the imagination of the leadership of the day. Helmut personally, and in group efforts, appealed to General Abacha and other world leaders for my release and justice, to no avail”, he added.

Mixed reactions trail aviation merger Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏStakeholders

in the Nigerian aviation industry have tasked the new Minister of State for Aviation, Capt.

Hadi Sirika, to focus attention on the construction of national hangar, training of qualified personnel and evolve workable policies for the country’s aviation industry.

Some of the stakeholders said that Sirika was coming in at a time when the industry was faced with challenges, but assured that as a professional in the sector, he would be able to tackle the challenges headlong.

Speaking with our correspondent, on Wednesday, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, a former pilot with the defunct national

carrier, Nigeria Airways, Capt. Samuel Adewunmi, said he expected Sirika to bring the country’s aviation industry to international practices and standards.

He said that despite over 90 years of aviation in Nigeria, the country could still not carry out Check D maintenance on aircraft, stressing that it was one of the major ways of encouraging capital flights outside the country.

He hinted that as a result of bad policies and inconsistent appointments in the sector, other African countries, like South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya, had overtaken Nigeria in aviation industry and also urged Sirika to empower the sector in the area of engineering.

He said, “He should economically think about im-

proving aviation in this country and bring it at par with other economies of the world. We need a real national hangar, which can be situated anywhere in the country.”

Also, the immediate past President of Aviation Round Table (ART), Capt. Dele Ore, said the scrapping of Ministry of Aviation was victory to good governance, reasoning and truth.

Ore noted that ART had over the years clamoured for the scrapping of Ministry of Aviation, stressing that the sector was now in line with the Inernational Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), recommended practices and standards.

He insisted that the appointment of Sirika was a big departure from the pre-

vious appointments as those hitherto sent to the sector had little or no knowledge about the industry.

He, however, warned him to beware of antics of sycophants whom he alleged had ill-advised about 10 ministers in the sector for their selfish gains.

He also appealed to him to allow the agencies, especially the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), to carry out its oversight functions and economic regulations without interference from the government.

“He will be one of the people to understand what I call avio-politics because he is a former pilot and now a politician. He has, in the first instance, less than four years to pilot the affairs of the sector.

Aviation industry is the easi-

est to be administered.

“He should look at the policy that we have as the current National Civil Aviation Policy 2013 has been bastardised. Also, the issue of multiple entries for foreign carriers should be looked into critically by the government.”

Also, Engr. Sheri Kyari, urged the new minister to ensure infrastructural development, security and safety of critical equipment for the sector to operate to its full capacity.

He also wanted him to focus on the re-establishment of a national carrier for Nigeria as desired by the government, adding that training for personnel in the sector would also go a long way in boosting employment opportunities for Nigeria.

CFAB organises two-day workshop for social workers Oluwaseyi Adeshina

ÏÏÏA non-governmental

organisation, Children and Families Across Border (CFAB) has organised a two-day workshop for 60 social workers in Lagos State.

The workshop was held at Adeyemi Bero hall, Lagos State, Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja.

CFAB is a UK based NGO that manages cases across border, such as child abuse, either physical, emotional, sexual or neglecting of children.

Speaking at the event, Angela Wilson, who is a social worker, explained some categories of abuse and their definitions, which included child abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse and neglect. Physical abuse is a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.

Lagos monarch seeks constitutional roles for traditional rulers Alade Tasma

ÏÏÏThe traditional ruler

of Bariga in Lagos, Oba Gbolahan Timson, on Tuesday added his voice to the calls for constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the country, saying that traditional rulers are closer to the people in theır domains and had ways of dealing with the needs and challenges of the people in their respective areas just as it was done in the precolonial era.

The monarch who also lamented the terrible state of inner roads in Bariga as well as other areas in the state was speaking at a town hall/stakeholders meeting organised by Chief Whip of the Lagos State House Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru at Bariga stressed that government needed to urgently make provision for large car parks to ensure roads were made free for vehicular traffic and stop indiscrımınate parking of vehicles by resıdents.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday November 12, 2015

13 International

Myanmar President greets Suu Kyi on poll result ÏÏÏThe

Myanmar President Thein Sein has congratulated opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy Party (NLD) for their apparent landslide victory in this week's parliamentary elections over the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

An NLD spokesman says the message the party received Wednesday from Information Minister Ye Htut on behalf of Thein Sein included a promise that "the government will pursue a peaceful transfer" of power once the Union Election Commission has confirmed the NLD victory.

The latest results from the country's Union Election Commission show the NLD has claimed 179 out of 216 seats, or more than 80 percent of the results announced so far for the lower house of parliament. The NLD is also far ahead in the upper chamber of parliament, winning 77 of the 83 seats announced so far.

Earlier Wednesday, Ye Htut posted on his official Facebook page that President Thein Sein had accepted an offer from Aung San Suu Kyi to hold talks, but only after the election commission had completed the vote

Syrian army breaks ISIS siege of key Aleppo air base

ÏÏÏEthiopia

Myanmar opposition leader and head of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi (C) visits a polling station in Kawhmu township, Yangon, Nov. 8, 2015.

counting process.

In addition to the president, the Nobel Peace laureate sent letters requesting talks to parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann and military chief Min Aung Hlaing in what she said was the spirit of "national reconciliation."

Myanmar political experts say the NLD needs to capture twothirds of the parliamentary seats to overcome the military’s veto in the bicameral legislature, known

as the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, which selects the president.

The 70-year-old democracy icon is constitutionally barred from becoming president, because her late husband was British, as are her two children. But in an interview with the BBC Tuesday, she insisted that she will continue to make all decisions as NLD leader, regardless of who emerges as president.

The military automatically

controls 25 percent of all parliamentary seats under the 2008 constitution, and maintains control of several key government posts, including defense, interior and border security.

The military and the largest parties in the parliament will nominate candidates for president in February of next year.

The top vote-getter will be president, while the two runners-up will be vice presidents.

has barred Eritrean footballers from playing in East Africa’s premier football tournament this month because of political tensions between the neighbouring nations that fought a bloody war from 19982000.

Secretary-general of the Council for East and Central African Football Associations, Nicholas Musonye, said the regional football body “must respect” Ethiopia’s position not to allow the Eritrean team into the country to play at the CECAFA Cup from November 21 to December 6.

Eritrean players have frequently used football trips to try to escape their restrictive homeland.

Fifteen Eritrean players and a team doctor went missing and claimed political asylum at the 2012 CECAFA Cup in Uganda.

Last month, 10 were granted asylum in Botswana having refused to return home following a World Cup qualifier.

Briton faces jail for trying to smuggle girl out of Calais migrant camp

ÏÏÏSyria’s army broke a more ÏÏÏRob than year-long jihadist siege of a military air base in the country’s north Tuesday, scoring its first major breakthrough since Russia’s air campaign began.

Troops, backed by pro-government militia, broke through the Islamic State (IS) group’s siege of the Kweyris military airport in northern Aleppo province, a photographer working with AFP said.

A group of soldiers penetrated IS lines west of the airport and reached government troops inside the base, firing into the air in celebration.

Experts said the base could be used by Russian planes in their air war against rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, aiding their efforts to retake Syria’s second city of Aleppo.

Russia launched air strikes in Syria in support of Assad at the end of September, but the regime has still struggled to advance against opposition forces and securing Kweyris would mark their first major victory in the Aleppo area.

Ethiopia bars Eritrea from African football tournament

Lawrie, 49, told AFP he faced a maximum sentence of five years after he was caught trying to bring four-year-old Afghan refugee Bahar Ahmadi to relatives in Britain from a migrant camp in Calais.

"Who in their right mind would rather a child live in a tent on a chemical dump than allow me to take that one child to her family five miles from where I live?" Lawrie said of Ahmadi, who he nicknamed Bru. "On that evening that I actually took her we were sat round a camp fire, Bru was sat on my knee, and she kind of just snuggled in and went to sleep,

Palestinian inquiry: Israel behind Arafat's 'assassination'

ÏÏÏThe head of the Palestinian

team looking into the death of Yasser Arafat on Tuesday again accused Israel of assassinating the iconic Palestinian leader in a Paris hospital.

and that's the point when I just thought: 'I can't leave this girl here'."

Lawrie, a father of four from near Leeds in central England, said Ahmadi's father had asked him several times to take his daughter across the Channel before he agreed.

He had visited Calais several times to build shelters for the around 6,000 migrants living in squalid conditions at a camp known as the "Jungle", where those trying to enter Britain illegally have gathered.

On October 24, the former soldier hid the girl in a storage compartment above the cabin of his

truck, where he set up a bed.

After passing French then British customs in France and technically entering British territory, sniffer dogs detected two Eritrean migrants who unbeknownst to Lawrie had stowed away in the back of his truck.

Lawrie said he was then approached by a friendly French policeman.

"I walked with him. What I didn't realise at the time was that he was trying to get me back onto French soil. Because as soon as I stepped over that border, he swung round and put me into handcuffs.

Lawrie spent three days in de-

tention, while Ahmadi was returned to her father at the camp.

On January 14, the Briton is due back in France for a court hearing.

"I've never run from anything in my life," he said, vowing to face justice head-on.

"I don't have a criminal record.

I know I did something illegal.

But I don't think I did something morally illegal."

Support has poured in online for Lawrie, who had put his carpet cleaning business on hold to help migrants in Calais after seeing the body of Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach.

His comments came on the eve of the 11th anniversary of Arafat's death and two months after French judges closed an investigation into claims he was murdered, without bringing any charges.

"The inquiry committee has been able to identify the assassin of former president Yasser Arafat," said Tawfiq Tirawi, the head

of the probe opened in 2009.

"Israel is responsible," he said, without giving further details other than to add that "we still need some time to elucidate the exact circumstances of this assassination". Arafat died in Percy military hospital near Paris aged 75 in November 2004 after developing stomach pains while at his headquarters in the West

Bank city of Ramallah.

His widow Suha lodged a complaint at a court in France in 2012, claiming that her husband was assassinated, sparking an inquiry. The same year, Arafat's tomb in Ramallah was opened for a few hours allowing three teams of French, Swiss and Russian investigators to collect around 60 samples.

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Germany pledges to strengthen Nigerian military Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Federal Republic of Germany, on Wednesday, gave a detail of its proposal and supports to strengthen the Nigerian Armed Forces, in addition to the training of personnel of the Armed Forces Electronic and Mechatronics Engineering (AFEME) Workshop and School, which she had been the sole trainer.

The offer include medical services to cater for war victims, the injured and traumatised, military mechanical units, establishment of peace-keeping centre, provision of counter improvised explosive device (IED) equipment, capacity building and training of medical

personnel, amongst others.

Colonel Thomas Brillisauer, the leader of a German Advisory Team, in charge of military equipment and programme aid, disclosed these, on Wednesday, when the team paid courtesy visit on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin, at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Brillisauer noted that Germany and Nigeria had maintained a cordial working relationship for decades and that the aim of the visit was to discuss new areas of support in the fight against insurgency in the country.

According to him, “Nigeria has been a reliable partner, therefore, there is a need to support her by

strengthening the military relationship for the future of both countries.”

He said the German government was ever ready and willing to improve on the existing relationship by wading into the current needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the on-going war on terrorism, which is different from other forms of previous bilateral relation.

Olonisakin, represented

by Defence Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice-Marshal Umar Omeiza, described both countries as partners in progress.

He noted that the longstanding relationship between them Abuja and Berlin had yielded posi-

tive results in the upgrading and establishment of Armed Forces Electrical Mechatronics Engineering workshop and school (AFEME).

He, therefore, commended the German government on the proposed programme to support the military and expressed optimism that Nigeria would get out of the present security challenges and continue to exert her influence among the comity of nations.

Some other countries – the United States of America, Great Britain, Korea, Pakistan and India, among others, have also thrown their weights behind Nigeria in support of counter insurgency operations.

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (right) in a handshake with the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo when he led the management of the bank on a courtesy visit to Saraki in Abuja… on Wednesday.

Fayose woos professionals, clerics on new tax Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÎÎÎFollowing

the furore that was generated in Ekiti State, over the introduction of new tax regime by the government, Governor Ayo Fayose is believe to be wooing both professionals and clerics in the state in a bid to help him convince the people of Ekiti state on a need for them to buy his idea on the issue.

He explained that his desperation on the new tax regime was to increase the revenue in the state, point-

ing out that “a total of N900 million is being deducted from the allocation monthly. And a situation whereby our government is to be operating on a monthly allocation of a little over N1 billion calls for us to look inward and the new tax regime is one of our finest way to get out of this situation.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, during a parley with Igbimo Ure Ekiti, an apolitical Ekiti professional body, Fayose said available records showed that schools being

held by missionaries, had consistently been leading in every public examinations in recent past.

He said his administration was committed to the construction of an ultramodern Oja Oba Market, airport and fly over in AdoEkiti the capital city, in spite of the paucity of funds.

Responding, the president of the group and former Minister of Health, Mr Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, assured that the body would continue to play apolitical role and support the gov-

ernment to attract development to the state.

“We are professionals across all fields. We can effectively leverage on our connections to attract investors to Ekiti for more development in infrastructures and in other areas.

“We are really pleased by the governor’s stand to change indiscipline among our people. It is our right to support the government and this we will continue to do being part of our passion to develop the state in all facets”, he stated.

Union may sanction Caverton helicopters over sack of 50 Nigerian staff

ÎÎÎThe leadership of

the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), has threatened to ground operations of Caverton helicopters over the sack of at least 50 of its members, without following the due course of law and what it termed “illegal deductions of salaries to the tune of 1,000 per cent.

A letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the helicopter company, signed by NUATE’s the General-Secretary, Comrade Olayinka Abioye, and made available to some journalists, in Lagos, accused the organisation of illegally deducting workers’ salaries, since September this year.

The letter insisted that the management erred by deducting staff salaries without any iota of consideration for rules, logic and applicable standards, stressing that the exercise was not meant to safeguard the company financially

as a result of “drop of two Shell helicopters.”

The union further queried the non-uniformity in deductions of workers’ salaries and recourse to the unions for the exercise, alleging that rather than deduct some of the staff ’s salaries, theirs either remained as it was or increased by as much as 200 and 350 per cent.

The letter added, “What qualified the staff of Human Resources have salary increases as much as 200 per cent or 300 per cent? Why would someone earning about N200, 000 be catapulted to N500, 000 or why would a staff earning N500, 000 be moved to N1, 000,000 and more in the same company?

“Are we actually reducing staff salaries to compensate for loss of revenue?

Why should the staff of administration enjoy same increase while another staff had a reduction in salaries?, the letter queried.

Fresh crisis rocks Adamawa Assembly Dan Garba Kurama, Yola

ÎÎÎThe

Adamawa State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, in a plenary, passed a motion and dissolved a committee on Appropriation and Budget for peddling false information and misguided utterance by its chairman.

The motion was moved by a member representing Girei, Hon Mohammed Mutawalli, to dissolve the committee based on the unguided information passed across to the people.

The Chairman committee on Information, Hon. Hassan Barguma, faulted and accused the Chairman, Committee on

Appropriation and Budget, Abdulrahaman Abubakar Isa, to have misinformed the people of the state with his unguided statements.

Barguma said that the House in plenary where 22 members and only one said the letter should not be approved.

“For him to go and have a press conference after the House plenary, disputing what the House agreed upon is totally unconstitutional.”

Abubakar maintained that he was working for the interest of Adamawa people and some lawmakers were not happy with what he was doing and he would soon expose them.

Osun govt to stop full payment of WAEC fees

ÎÎÎThe Osun Government

said it could no longer bear the burden of full payment of West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) fees for students in public schools.

The Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, said this when the House of Assembly Committee on Education paid her a visited in her office in Osogbo, on Wednesday.

Laoye-Tomori, who doubled as Commissioner for Education, said that the state government would pay half of the WAEC fees, while parents would, henceforth, pay the remaining.

She said the state government spent over N500 million as WAEC fees for students per annum, adding that it could no longer bear the cost due to lack of fund.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

15 Opinion

Assigning duties or functions to recently appointed Ministers (1)

A

Prof. Ben Nwabueze

t last, after a long lapse of five months, President Buhari has now, to the relief of Nigerians, appointed ministers, 36 in all, to help him administer the government of the country in a constitutional manner. But the assignment of duties or functions to the ministers is exciting some controversy among the public owing largely to misunderstanding of the constitutional position on the matter.

1. ONE MINISTER FOR EACH STATE, AS PROVIDED

BY SECTION 147(3) OF THE CONSTITUTION, DOES NOT CARRY THE IMPLICATION OF 36 MINISTRIES AS A CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT There is no constitutional requirement to have 36 ministries or, in the event of the creation of more States, such larger number of ministries as there are States.

The controversy that has arisen on this issue is because of the error of equating “minister”, as used in section 147(3), with ministry, as if they are one and the same thing or as if the one necessarily imports or implies the other as a synonymous or interchangeable term.

A “minister” does not imply a ministry; he (a minister) is only an individual person holding or occupying a public office, i.e. the office of minister, whereas a “ministry” is an institution of government, established and regulated by law, and manned by a multitude of functionaries of whom a minister is just one, and whose “activities are systematized, co-ordinated, machine-like and impersonal”. A minister and a ministry are thus vastly different things, which cannot be equated one with the other. It could not have been the intention of section 147(3) or of the makers of the Constitution that there should be as many ministries as there are States, say, 50, 100 or more than that! In terms of costs, the total personal emolument of a minister is only a small fraction of the total recurrent expenditure of a ministry, with its multitude of functionaries.

What should be the appropriate number of ministries to have is a function, not of the number of States, but of the needs of the country and its ability to afford the financial costs. The President, as the Executive, is the best judge of this, and he has told us that our economy is in such “battered” state it cannot support 36 ministries. At a time when we are all urging that the ratio of recurrent to capital budget should be kept at 60: 40 percent, it is our duty to back-up his judgment that

the economy cannot support 36 ministries.

2. THE ESTABLISHMENT POWER (i) Establishment of the non-political administrative machinery of government The Constitution does not, in explicit terms, establish ministries or departments of government and offices in them nor does it expressly empower the President to establish them, but a power in the President to do so seems to arise by necessary or reasonable implication from the vesting of executive powers of the Federation in him, taking executive powers to “extend”, in the words of section 5(1)(b), “to the execution and maintenance of this Constitution, all laws made by the National Assembly and to all matters with respect to which the National Assembly has, for the time being, power to make laws”.

(Emphasis supplied.) A power as extensive as this cannot possibly be exercised by the President alone and unaided. Necessity dictates that he must have the aid of adequate administrative machinery manned by a multitude of staff of various categories and grades.

The existence of ministries or departments, and the offices in them, is further implied by references made in various sections of the Constitution to ministries, to the assignment to a minister of responsibility for a department of government, to the permanent secretary or other chief executive in any ministry or department of government, to the ministry or department of government charged with responsibility for external affairs, to the head of a division in a ministry, and to staff of a ministry or department of government.

The establishment power assures to the President a potent source of control over the administrative machinery of the government. It enables him to determine the policy governing the entire civil service and its administration, particularly rules of conduct, terms and conditions of service, staff complements and gradings, salaries and allowances. Every staff member in the ministries and departments is bound by his directive in this respect, and it is within these directives and general orders that the civil service functions.

The executive power vested in the President embraces as a necessary incident the appointment, promotion, removal and disciplinary control of the staff in the ministries and departments, but these incidents of the power are subject to limitations of various kinds contained in the Constitution, a discussion of

Buhari which is inappropriate here. (ii) Establishment of offices of ministers, i.e. political offices The office of minister is, unlike the thousand and one non-political offices in the ministries and departments, established expressly by the Constitution, section 147(1) of which provides that “there shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President”. The provision is, however, not as free from interpretative difficulty as might be wished. The words, “there shall be.offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation”, are the form of words appropriate for the establishment of an office or something else, as exemplified in the provision of section 130 that “there shall be for the Federation a President”.

The interpretative difficulty comes from the words, “such offices of Ministers…. as may be established by the President”. The effect of these words is to leave it to the President to establish, not the offices of Ministers in a generic sense which is already done by the subsection, but particular ministerial offices with specific functions or designations, e.g. minister of finance, minister of education or such other functions or designations as he may establish.

It is necessary to reiterate by way of emphasis that the establishment of the office of minister by section 147(1) relates to the office only in a generic sense, and that no particular ministerial office, e.g. minister of information, is thereby established by name, except in the case of the AttorneyGeneral, who is designated “the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and a Minister of the Government of the Federation”, (section 150(1) without the words “and Minister of Justice” extra constitutionally super-added to the designation.

The provision in section 147(1) is silent on how the power it vests in the President may be exercised – whether by a formal instrument in writing or by mere word of mouth. The assignment of any part of the President’s executive powers or of any government business under sections 5(1) and 148(1), which

is a form of delegation, is an act of state, and must be made by instrument in writing. In practice, a written instrument of delegation is issued by the President from time to time assigning specific responsibilities, with their scope carefully delineated, to the Vice-President, Ministers, Secretary to the Government and other relevant officers in the public service in the form of Government Establishment Circulars under the title Mandates of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Responsibilities of Honourable Ministers Instrument or the Assignment of Responsibilities to Honourable Ministers, etc – see for example, Instruments of July 1999 and April 2007. The provisions of these Instruments, duly published in the Federal Government Gazette as Establishment Circulars, have the force of law and binding as such; they do not require to be proved by evidence, affidavit evidence or other kinds of evidence.

In cases where the power being delegated is conferred on the President by statute, the delegation is required to be made by Order under the authority of the Ministers’ Statutory Powers and Duties (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, cap M14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, section 2 of which authorizes the President to transfer by Order to “a Minister any of the powers and duties which are by any statute directly conferred or imposed on [him], or any public official or Minister.”

3. THE ASSIGNMENT OF DUTIES OR FUNCTIONS TO MINISTERS Much of the controversy generated over this issue is caused by the word “portfolio” being injected into the public discussion on the matter.

The word is nowhere used in our Constitution, nor is it a term of art with a definite, universally accepted meaning. In any case, it does not, under our Constitution, mean or imply the administration of a ministry or department of government. This follows indisputably from section 148(1), which provides that “the President may, in his discretion, assign to the Vice-President or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government, including the administration of any department of government”. (The underlining is for purposes of emphasis). This provision makes it clear that what may be assigned to a minister is “any business” of the Government of the Federation, which may or may not include “the administration of any department of government”. Under section 148(1), therefore, the office of minister or the appointment of any person to it does not carry with it the right to be assigned responsibility for the administration of a ministry or department of state, which is what is erroneously regarded as “portfolio”.

To be continued

16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Business Times Æ s TSA: Skye Bank in talks with CBN, seeks review of N4bn fine Stories by Friday Atufe Skye Bank Plc has commenced engagement with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with a view to bring to its attention issues relating to the recent fine of N4 billion imposed by the apex bank on the bank over in respect of the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Skye Bank stated this in a communication to the directorgeneral of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), remarking that it is also seeking a review of the penalty imposed by the apex bank.

The bank said, “We will continue to update the NSE with development on the matter”, adding that, “We wish to assure you that the bank is a responsible and law abiding financial institution that places premium on compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.”

The also said that a significant portion of the moneys for which the penalty was applied are NNPC Pension Funds and National Assembly Legislative Aides account balances, remarking that these organs have since been confirmed by the CBN that they are not Federal Government agencies and

amounts erroneously transferred to the CBN on them by some banks have been refunded.

It will be recalled that in a circular from CBN, addressed to the Chairman, Board of Directors of Skye Bank, a fine of N4,005,228,976.35, which represents 10 percent of the unremitted funds belonging to Federal Government MDAs was recently placed on the bank and the amount would be debited from Skye Bank’s current account with CBN. The bank which confirmed that it was fined for failing to render appropriate returns on some pub-

lic sector funds as required by the CBN provided more clarification on the issue which it called a mix-up, saying that it did not at any time conceal any information from the CBN as adjudged.

The confirmation which was through a publication placed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange website on Monday 9thNovember explained that: “The sum of N40 billion for which the bank was penalized consists of various NNPC account balances, NNPC Pension Funds Accounts, and National Assembly Legislative Aides account balances.

17

That on October 7, 2015, the bank rendered returns on all remitted and unremitted amounts to the CBN, including the balances in the above accounts.

On October 9, 2015, the bank received a communication from the NNPC forwarding a letter from the Accountant General of the Federation on the treatment of NNPC funds. By the communication, the bank was advised that an 18 business day window had been granted by the Vice President within which a plan for the orderly withdrawal of the NNPC funds would be implemented.

In rendering the returns requested by the CBN via its directive of October 14, 2015, the bank relied on the letter from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation as advised by the NNPC, and backed out the NNPC monies from those that were required for the immediate implementation of the TSA arrangement.

CIS, Anambra to partner on development projects

L-R: Executive Director, Shared Services, Chijioke Ugochukwu; Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former Minister of Trade, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Akande; Fidelity Personal Savings Scheme (FPSS) beneficiary, Unah Yvette and Executive Director, Lagos and South West, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe at the Fidelity Bank Loyalty Savings Scheme prize presentation ceremony at the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair, TBS. Lagos on Wednesday.

British Airways refits B-747 on Lagos-London route Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo British Airways management has announced improved services on the Lagos- London route on board the its Boeing 747 aircraft from Mid. January 2016.

The Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales for British Airways, Mr Paolo De-Renzis announced this at a media parley which also coincided as his first visit to Nigeria.

Speaking to Journalists, De Renzis said the refit of the air-

crafts was one of British Airways many investments to improve the passenger experience on board.

He noted that, “At British Airways, the comfort and satisfaction of our customers is paramount and we are pleased that with the refurbishment, customers flying on the Lagos-London route can enjoy the very best travel experience available on the aircrafts.”

While describing Nigeria as one of the biggest markets for British Airways, he added that the country was very important

and strategic to its operations in the region.

On his part, Regional Commercial Manager, West Africa, British Airways, Kola Olayinka while reiterating the commitment of British Airways to enhancing service delivery said, “Our winning streak in the past 80 years since we ventured into the Nigerian market has been the quality of service we offer our loyal customers, our human capacity and our understanding of the Nigerian market.”

Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has commenced talks with the Anambra State Government on a range of development issues that may bring about strategic partnership.

Details of the discussion are still hazy, but when concluded, Anambra State Government may emerge as one of the institute’s strategic partners for project execution next year.

As a prelude to the final decision, the institute’s Principal Officers visited Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State recently to canvass for the state government’s support for the institute’s projects.

Addressing Governor Obiano and his team, the acting President and Chairman of Council, CIS, Mr Oluwaseyi Abe explained that in line with the institute’s strategic plan, strategic partners are required for execution of many projects.

According to him, the projects include sponsorship of customized training programme for the staff of Anambra Seate government agencies, sponsorship of 20,000 indigents of Anambra State for the institute’s Diploma Programme in Securities and Investment, sponsorship of mega television

documentary that highlights the substance and essence of investment through the capital market, sponsorship of the annual national conference, workshop and allied major events. “ In view of the above and the strategic positioning of the CIS in the area of capacity building and certification of professionals, we would like to among others collaborate with the Anambra State Government in the area of capacity building and employment creation among the teeming unemployed youths through the institute’s training and certification programmed,” Abe said.

Responding, Governor Obiano commended the institute for its foresight in the area of capacity building and assured the principal officers of the willingness of his administration to participate in development projects. But he explained that his administration would study the highlights in order to take decision appropriately.

On the team of the institute were the second Vice President, Mr Dapo Adekoje, the Registrar and Chief Executive, Mr Adedeji Ajadi and Assistant Director and Head, Research and Technical, Mr Arize Nwobi.

Business News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

NAMA develops e-software for airmen

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

L-R: Former Secretary General, Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council (LSCDAC) Otunba Yomi Tijani; Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri; Matron-in-Charge, Lagos State Children Centre, Idi-Araba, Mrs. Silifat Giwa; Assistant Director, Community Development, Lagos State Ministry of Local Government , Community Affairs (MLG & CA), Mr. Onilude Sakiru and Immediate past State Chairman, LSCDAC, Prince Gabriel Adewale Awomodu, during a visit to the centre by the MLG & CA in commemoration of year 2015 Community Day celebration in Lagos on Wednesday.

AB InBev, SABMiller agree on terms of acquisition Friday Atufe Boards of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“AB InBev”) and SABMiller Plc (“SABMiller”) yesterday reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of SABMiller by AB InBev. The transaction will be implemented by means of the acquisition of SABMiller by Newco (a Belgian company to be formed for the purposes of the transaction) while AB InBev will also merge into Newco so that, following completion of the transaction; Newco will be the new holding company for the combined group.

Under the terms of the agreement, each SABMiller shareholder will be entitled to receive forty-four pounds per share. The cash consideration

represents a premium of approximately 50 percent to SABMiller’s closing share price of £29.34 on 14 September 2015 (being the last Business Day prior to renewed speculation of an approach from AB InBev); and a premium of approximately 36 percent to SABMiller’s three month volume weighted average share price of £32.31 to 14 September 2015.

The transaction will also include a partial share alternative under which SABMiller shareholders can elect to receive £3.7788 in cash for each share they hold and 0.483969 restricted shares The partial share alternative is equivalent to a value of £41.85 per SABMiller Share on 10 November 2015 while the stated value of the Partial Share Alternative is calculated before taking account of any discount for the unlisted na-

ture of the Restricted Shares.

SABMiller shareholders will only be able to elect for the Partial Share Alternative in relation to their entire holding of SABMiller Shares and not part only. The Partial Share Alternative is limited to a maximum of 326,000,000 Restricted Shares and £2,545,387,824 in cash, which will be available for approximately 41.6 percent of the SABMiller shares.

To the extent that elections for the Partial Share Alternative cannot be satisfied in full, they will be scaled back pro rata to the size of such elections (or as near thereto as AB InBev in its absolute discretion considers practicable) and the balance of the consideration due to SABMiller Shareholders who have made such elections will be satisfied in cash in accordance with the terms of the transaction.

Stanbic IBTC Bank rewards loyal customers With the holiday season around the corner, Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, has launched a two-month nationwide loyalty campaign in which both existing and prospective customers are offered a new world of opportunities, while also delighting them with valuable gifts for their patronage.

Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Obinnia Abajue, said the initiative, the third in

the series themed ‘Never Stop Moving Forward’, is designed to encourage Nigerians to freely express the traditional African hospitality in the festive season by showering gifts and love on one another. The list of such gifts, he said, should not be limited to conventional items but should include financial gifts.

“Besides showcasing the essentials of the festive season, the highpoint being the sharing of gifts, the promotion fits

into Stanbic IBTC Bank’s purpose of making progress real to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria by making financial services and products easily accessible to even a greater number of people, wherever they may be. In doing so, we help in moving the largely unbanked and under-banked segments and communities into the financial mainstream.” Abajue stated, while announcing commencement of the campaign in Lagos.

In its drive to comply with modern trend in technology to digitalize Air Traffic Management services in the country, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency NAMA, has developed an application software intended to enhance the dissemination of aeronautical information, also known as Notice To Air Men (NOTAM) electronically to airspace users.

To this end, a three-day trainthe-trainer workshop designed to educate and sensitize airline operators, service providers, aviation agencies, the Nigerian Air Force and other stakeholders on the migration from manual to digital NOTAM has been conducted at the agency’s headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.

Declaring the workshop open, the Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam noted that “aviation globally is moving away from manual to digital operations and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind,” stressing that “the agency’s determination to provide safe, efficient and economic air navigation services has challenged us to deploy new technologies that would ease service provision, save time and reduce operational cost for the airlines and aviation agencies/organizations.”

He expressed confidence that “the deployment of e-NOTAM would make for ease of access to online real-time aeronautical information by doing away with

paper work, and bureaucracy that characterized the old system.”

Engr. Abdulsalam also assured participants that NAMA was willing to make all necessary adjustments to accommodate customers’ feedback and complaints in areas of possible improvement.

The provision of aeronautical information that could enhance flight operations is one of the key functions of NAMA. Before now, NOTAM was printed in hard copy and made available to airspace users.

Apart from time constraint, the cumbersome nature of paper work posed a challenge to both the agency and airspace users especially in emergency situations. E-NOTAM therefore was conceived to ensure an accurate database of NOTAMs, address the above challenges and also bring about efficiency in service delivery.

It will be recalled that NAMA had in the recent past also developed the e-flight plan and eclearance software packages in response to the yearnings of airspace users for a faster method of processing flight plans and clearances.

STOCK MARKET REPORT

NSE rises over constitution of Fed cabinet Adesola Akindele The Nigerian equities market halted a two- day losing spree yesterday following the constitution of the federal cabinet by President Muhammadu Buhari to close on a positive note as the lead indicator rose by 0.12 per cent. The All Share Index added 33.66 basis points to close at 29,014.78 compared to the 186.92 points lost previously to close at 28,981.12 points, representing an appreciation of 0.12 percent.

Market capitalization also added 11.6 billion to close at N9.974 trillion compared to the previous decline N64.255 billion to close at N9.963 trillion.

Price movement on the equity board showed that Axamansard Plc led 12 gainers with a 4.96 per cent or 13 kobo gain to close at N2.75 per share, followed by Dangote Flour Plc which added 4.76 per cent or 11 kobo to close at N2.42 per share, while Flour Mills Plc increased 4.55 per cent

or 95 kobo to close at N21.85 per share.

Eterna Plc appreciated 4.52 per cent or 8 kobo to close at N1.85 per share, while Access Bank Plc grew 4.00 per cent or 18 kobo to close at N4.68 kobo per share.

On the other hand, Oando Plc led 25 equity losers with a loss of 9.67 per cent or 82 kobo to close at N7.66 per share, followed by Transcorp Plc which lost 8.87 per cent or 18 kobo to close at N1.85 per share, while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc dropped 8.25 per cent or 72 kobo to close at N8.01 per share.

Cadbury Plc declined 4.98 per cent or N1.00 to close at N19.10 while A.G. Leventis Plc decreased 4.90 per cent or 5 kobo to close at 97 kobo per share.

In all, a total of 217.3 million shares valued at N1.5 billion were traded by investors in 3,067 deals compared to 317.41 million shares worth N1.808 billion previously exchanged by investors in 3,721 deals.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

19 Brand & Maketing

Management accounting creates long-term sustainability for business — CIMA MD

Harding

Stories by Godwin Anyebe To remain relevant in the business climate of the 21st century, accountants must be able to add value to organisations and businesses beyond measuring the past. They must help build business sustainably for the future by embracing integrated

reporting which de-emphasizes fixation on financial and shortterm gains by investors and shareholders.

Andrew Harding, Managing Director, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) shared this insight at the 2015 members’ dinner of the institute in Lagos.

According to Harding, “The

biggest challenge facing the accounting profession at the moment is how to remain relevant and to add value to business.

More often than not, traditional accountants look backwards; they tell companies how much profit they made last year and how much tax they need to pay.

But that’s merely reflecting the history of the business. It adds no value. What we need to be seeing from accountants is a forward looking strategy. It is for this reason that CIMA strongly advocates integrated reporting - using narrative reporting as well as financial reporting to tell the whole story of an organisation’s value creation”.

Making reference to the global financial crisis of 2008, the CIMA MD said the economic meltdown was a result of the failure of business leaders who were intoxicated with short-term profits and were not keen on properly managing risks. He disclosed that for businesses to succeed, it is essential that business leaders make decisions to create and preserve value for the short, medium and long terms for the business. He also added that there is the need for decision makers to connect the dots, bring together the infor-

mation they require and understand precisely, the concepts of cost, risk and value.

Harding is persuaded that “There is an unmet need in the measuring of nonfinancial information that can drive long-term performance within organisations. Which is what good management accounting does.

It demands relevant information about the performance of a business and is not just concerned about the profit. Last year’s profit doesn’t help you to make a single decision for next year. Management accountants have the depth and breadth to understand the business from multiple perspectives, and can help businesses succeed in troubled times and create long-term sustainability.”

Speaking on the present state of the global economy, the Henley Management College alumnus said “As we near a decade from a global crash triggered by poor understanding of risks, it’s depressing to see how little has changed.

Identifying possible threats to a business is essential for securing the firm’s future. Adapting to future risks and changes can give a company a competitive advantage. Failing to do either means sleepwalking towards disaster.”

Science Ambassadors Foundation set to make Guinness World Record with SEA 2015 In its determination to contribute to sustainable development in Nigeria through science appreciation, the Science Ambassadors Foundation (SAF) has set its machinery in full speed toward the 2015 Science Expo Africa (SEA). The event which is expected to draw World attention to science development in Nigeria is billed to hold at University of Lagos indoor sports hall in December.

At the sanitization seminar held in Lagos it was revealed that over five thousand students will converge to carry out an experience on the topic light is a metaphor to happiness., Speaking at the event, Lagos State, Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs.Uzamat AkinbileYussuf, disclosed that science is the bedrock for any meaningful development a nation or any organization can experience as science education equips students’ at all levels on how to engage the environment and create jobs.

Over two thousand students and various stakeholders were present.

She added that it is the duty of

all stakeholders to pay rapt attention to science and encourage students to take their studies serious owing to the fact that it expand the brain and help individuals get outside of the norm ”that makes them a sort after individual.”

The Commissioner further disclosed that “Science Ambassadors Foundation has been a leading force in science promotion and advocate in Africa and Nigeria, Science Expo Africa 2015 will not be an exception to many successes they have recorded in the past.” She encouraged government, corporate organization and other stakeholders to support the laudable idea.

In his comments, Patron, Science Ambassadors Foundation, Professor Oluwole Familoni, revealed that, “Science Expo Africa 2015 is all about making statement that will drive desire for more students to study and embrace the numerous benefits science add to life and the socioeconomic impact it offers. We at Science Ambassadors Foundation are interested in building capacity for students in Nigeria to be exceptional in the field of sci-

L-R: Head, Public Relations and Event, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Tope Ashiwaju, Tazomania Dubai Mega Prize winner, 13 years old JSS 3 student, Master Dein-Dumo Anaye from River State, and Marketing Manager, Indomie Instant Noodles and Head of Indomie Fan Club, Sony Dorai at Tazomania Promo prize presentation ceremony held at Dufil Head office in Lagos recently.

ence and able compete shoulder to shoulder with students from the developed nations.”

Country Director, Science Ambassadors Foundation, Mrs. Nnabugwu Peace stated that 2015 Science Expo Africa “is not just for the experience and achieving the Guinness World Record, but a gathering of intellectual expo-

sition, ideas sharing and creative capacity development. A twist to the expo is the essay and poster competition among schools tagged Science meets Arts and Creative contest that is supported

by Diamond Bank Plc, where the winner will go home with N1million in scholarship and enterprise grant.

Roy

Chi Limited introduces 315ml Can Packs for On-The-Go consumers In order to further deepen its market share, Chi Limited, one of the leading brands in Nigeria fruit juice market has introduced new Chivita 100%, Chivita Active and Chi Exotic 315ml fruit Juice Can Pac The new 315ml Can pack which is targeted at hip, trendy and On-the-Go consumers is designed in a dynamic prismatic shape with an attractive cap that is well blended into the pack.

According to the Managing Director, Chi Limited, Deepanjan Roy, “the new and attractive 315ml can pack has a genuine consumer appeal and the feedback from the market has been fantastic. At the cost of N100, we are confident that the affordability, accessibility and convenience of this trendy, handy and On the go Can packs would ensure that our consumers continue to get the same refreshing taste and nourishment, wherever and whenever” Continuing, he disclosed that, “with its range of high quality fruit juices like Chivita 100%, Chivita Active and Chi Exotic in the 315ml Can Pack, the story can only get more interesting for a brand that truly places premium on consumer needs and satisfaction”.

“With a price of N100, the 315ml Can packs contains enough juice to satisfy individual consumption and offers competitive pricing as well as value for money. Its handy size allows consumers to take it along with them wherever they go and fits into the lifestyle of young upwardly mobile consumers.” He noted.

Interview 20

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

You can now track stolen vehicles, abducted child with click of a button Vehicle theft and child kidnap have been a menace in the country now. Many have died as a result, but one man has found a solution; the first of its kind in Nigeria. MR. WILLIAMS NWOKOMA, Business Director and the brainchild behind Tracker.NG, shares his experience with ISAAC AGBER. Excerpts:

Nwokoma

How did you conceive the idea about Tracker.NG? You know it’s interesting with the amount of things that can be done in our country, Nigeria. One day, we were sitting down at the office and the papers came in and we went through the papers and saw this tragic story of a barrister, Barrister Emmanuel Okota, who was shot down at Asaba, Delta State, by armed vehicle snatchers. It caught my attention and got me thinking; this could have been avoided if he had a vehicle tracker installed in his vehicle.

That would have saved his life, saved him the troubles of struggling with the armed vehicle snatchers and also helped him recover his stolen vehicle.

This got me thinking and I got talking with the business team that we had and we deliberated about it and did more findings to it. We contacted car owners and other providers of car tracking service in Nigeria. What we got was kind of revealing because the car tracking companies we contacted, a good number of them are all market representatives and not the owners of

‘‘Another significant difference vehicle owners must know is that the trackers monitored by some telecom providers. It has a cumbersome recovery process. For instance, in the event of theft, the vehicle owner will have to call the telecom provider to do the login and demobilizing process. But with Tracker.NG, the owner does that by him/herself without wasting time.’’ the technology. And they are not in control of the price and when we spoke with the vehicle owners, taxi drivers, private vehicle owners, not necessary the business vehicle users, from the feedback we got, two things stood out for us.

The first thing they complained of was that the cost was on a very high side and the second was the ease of use because the providers are working with maybe Chinese or Indian firms.

They have to visit those Chinese and Indian portals to track their

vehicles and they are not very comfortable with that because it’s difficult for them but they said what they wanted was to be able to tract their vehicles. They knew the importance of tracking and we were excited with what we heard and we decided in the long run to develop a vehicle tracking system owned by us and not in association with any other firm.

We had to do it that way if we want to be in control of the price and also to be able to work out a very user friendly and interface

for the vehicle users where we have mobiles, we have personal computers that they can easily log in and get to tract their vehicles. And this is some more added findings, we have over 12 million registered vehicles in Nigeria and 85 percent of that number are untracked. It is also alarming to see that over 65 vehicles are snatched on daily basis across the country; that’s pretty much like three vehicles in every one hour. It’s crazy how that has evolved.

So we saw the need to make owners of vehicles have more control over their vehicles and be able to secure their vehicles because we are talking about lives and we cannot put a value to the number of lives that would be saved by this singular act. We have had a launch recently and we are happy to announce that vehicle owners can now track their vehicles, monitor their vehicles and recover their vehicles with the click of a button just as low as N10, 000 thousand naira per annum.

How much efforts did it cost you to put a team together to achieve this feat?

The cost involved in setting this up is confidential information but what we did was that we did everything with our own dedicated members of staff to that effect and that took us almost eight months from start to finish of this programme. So there was a lot of learning from us because there is no other company in Nigeria doing the same thing we are doing. So we kept on coming up with various challenges but we were able to go through these challenges and reached completion at the end.

And that’s why we are excited.

Did you get help from any expatriate?

No we didn’t, to be honest with you; we did not even look for such help. I’m clearly of the opinion that things are better off when they grow because when you get to throw money on things, you will spend the money and still not get the experience or results. So, it’s better you get the experience and let it transfer to the money. So for us, as I said, it’s a learning call for us and it’s one step at a time, of course we are excited because we have big plans for Tracker.

NG as we will go on and on until we ensure that everyone has a tracker in his or her vehicle not just the big vehicles or taxi driv-

ers but even the Kekes and the Okadas. But like I said, it is one step at a time. The most important thing is that we did everything ourselves.

Vehicle tracking is nothing new and like I said before, it has always been there but the only thing new now is that we are bringing out excellent service at low cost prices because our commitment is to make it affordable to all and this is the extent we have come forward to make that possible.

Another significant difference vehicle owners must know is that the trackers monitored by some telecom providers. It has a cumbersome recovery process. For instance, in the event of theft, the vehicle owner will have to call the telecom provider to do the login and demobilizing process. But with Tracker.NG, the owner does that by him/herself without wasting time.

Do you need any help from the government or partnership?

To be honest with you now, it is the government that needs help from us. What I’m saying is that we are comfortable with what we want to do and we are not going to look at the government because we have the structures in place to empower a lot of people and we are looking at having as many as five hundred partners by the end of July 2016; people that will sign up with us full time and part time as partners and consultants. What they only need to do is to make referrals and make some good money out of it. We are looking at an opportunity where these partners can earn as much as N620, 000 on a monthly basis. So we are creating opportunities to that effect and trying to see that we give peace of mind to vehicle owners and save a lot of lives.

We are also going to be creating opportunities for employment to be done across the country. The challenge of unemployment is not only peculiar to the Nigerian government but it’s in Europe and other parts of the world. So this is a reality that has come to stay because IT is taking over. This tracking equipment, for example, performs the work that 40 to 50 people are supposed to do. But what government should be considering about this is to create an enabling environment that can aid people to take advantage of that environment and create jobs.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

21 News

Kachikwu allays fear over fuel scarcity …Says subsidy payment ready in one week Augustine Okezie, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Minister of State

for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has dispelled fears of fuel scarcity in the country, saying the return of fuel queues as seen in

some parts of the country was as a result of panic buying by motorists in anticipation of future scarcity.

Mr. Kachikwu, who gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja while resuming work in his office shortly after being

sworn in by the President, said the NNPC has enough stock to sustain supply for a long period.

On the complaint by major marketers that they were yet to access the N413 billion approved recently as subsidy pay-

ment to them, the minister assured that their payment would be ready in a week’s time.

He said: “President Buhari is not known for double speak neither is he deceiving any one, he has approved the payment personally and made sure they

Ministerial portfolios: Igbo group commends Buhari Akor Ejumene, Abuja

ÏÏÏNdigbo Cultural Society

of Nigeria (NCSN) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Ndigbo with worthy ministerial portfolios which compliment the recent appointments of Federal Permanent Secretaries.

The group said the recent conducts by President Muhammadu Buhari indicated that the president is beginning to re-write himself from an earlier posture of sectionalism into a worthy national posture.

It therefore counseled the ambassadors in the President Muhammadu Buhari admin-

MENTALLY AWARE NIGERIA INITIATIVE AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF PEOPLE & THE SOCIETY TO MENTAL HEALTH. 2. TO REDUCE THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTALL ILLNESS. TRUSTEES: 1. UGO VICTOR ONYEKACHUKWU – CHAIRMAN/ FOUNDER. 2. OSIAN FRANKLYN CHUKS – VICE CHAIRMAN. 3. DIPEOLU IYEWANDE AYOBAMI – SECRETARY GENERAL. 4. UWAJEH STEPHANIE – TREASURER. 5. OYEOBU MOFIYINFOLUWA OLUWATOYIN – P.R.O. SIGNED: SECRETARY GENERAL.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS PRESS ASSOCIATION – AFRICA This is to notify the General public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission, for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. 59, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) Mitchell Obi (President) (2) Chuka Momah (3) Aisha Falode (4) Dan Ngerem THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To promote sports development.

Any objection to this application should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed By: Mitchell Obi (President)

istration to give their best to the nation and mankind, stating that even though the economic fortunes of the country is at all time low, the nation expect the ambassadors to be a shining light at this dark end of the tunnel.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari, the group also encouraged

him to still take a giant step forward and ensure that an Igbo is appointed into the six principal offices of the nation, possibly the position of the Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), which will help Igbo leaders convince their kits and kin that no region is left behind in this government.

RIPE FOR HARVEST EVANGELICAL MINISTRY TRUSTEES: 1. REBECCA ADEFUNMILOLA AYANFEOLUWA. 2. JONATHAN AYOOLUWA AYANFEOLUWA. 3. SAMUEL OLUSEGUN AGOSU 4. BISOLA OLUBUKOLA HASTRUP 5. ADEKUNLE MICHEL ALABI. AIMS: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL. Signed: Secretary

ENUGU PROGRESSIVE FORUM COKER LAGOS The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: l. OKAFOR INNOCENT TOCHUKWU (CHAIRMAN) 2. UGWU CHIKA CLEOPHAS (SECRETARY) 3. ANI STEPHEN OBIORA 4. OKEKE OBINNA FIDELIS 5. ENEH DAMIAN NONSO 6. ANIEZE IFEANYI SAMSON 7. ONYEAMA OKECHUKWU STANLEY 8. NWANKWO ARINZE KINGSLEY 9. OFOR MOSES UCHENNA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To provide cordial relations among members 2. To foster love,unity and mutual understanding among members 3. To work together for the purpose of promoting members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 Days from the date of this Publication.

Signed: Secretary

were paid, but it had to undergo due processes before the payment actually gets to them.

For instance, the president requires seeking National Assembly’s approval on this matter, and I am sure that within one week their payment will be ready.’’

On the PIB bill before the National Assembly, he said that government will thinker with the fiscal aspects of the bill and that it is already dialoguing with the senate on this.

The Petroleum Minister further described the policy direc-

tion of his administration as focusing on finding more oil, more money for the government, and ensuring a conducive industrial environment and working afflictively with the staff to realise the change agenda of government.

AHMED SABO

SARAH GAPANI

I, formerly known and addressed as ALIYU ABDULLAHI, now wish to be known and addressed as AHMED SABO. All former documents remain valid. Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly known and called SARATU YAGA now wishes to be known and called SARAH GAPANI. All former document remain valid general public take note.

OGBEBOR EVELYN OZOEMEZIM

OPARA MARY CHUKS

I, formerly known and called IJEH EVELYN OZOEMEZIM now wishes to be known and called OGBEBOR EVELYN OZOEMEZIM. First Bank, UBA and general public take note

I, formerly known and called OHAEKELEM MARY CHIOMA now wishes to be known and called OPARA MARY CHUKS. All former document remain valid general public take note.

MILLICENT ODOGWU

MRS. APPOLONIA UKACHI ARISIUKWU

I, formerly known and called VANESSA GODFREY now wishes to be known and called MILLICENT ODOGWU. Access Bank take note and general public take note

MR. ADETUYI MACDONALD I, formerly known and called MR. ILESANMI M. OLAYINKA now wishes to be known and called MR. ADETUYI MACDONALD .

All former document remain valid, General Public take note.

I, formerly known and called MISS AWUSAKU UKACHI CELINE now wishes to be known and called MRS. APPOLONIA UKACHI ARISIUKWU. All former document remain valid, Ministry of Education Ogun State and general public take note.

DIVINE WORD & SPIRIT MISSION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. TONY CHIME – GENERAL OVERSEER 2. PST (MRS) IFEOMA CHIME 3. DR. JAPHET OLISEKODIAKA 4. DEACONESS SHADE OLISEKODIAKA 5. DR WILFRED IGBINIGIE 6. PRINCE AUSTINE ADIGWE 7. DEACON MONDAY ALIANDU THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ 2. To help the helpless 3. To organise churches 4. To help build the nation in unity and love 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 from the date of this Publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH AGBALA ITUSILE BABA EJE JESU

XEJETS LIMITED APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF AIR TRANSPORT LICENCE (ATL)

AJAYI CROWTHER DIOCESE CHURCH OF NIGERIA ANGLICAN COMMUNION

This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR POPOOLA OYEWOLE AMOS 2. MR. AMOS SEYI JOHN 3. MRS. OKESANU FASILAT MOJISOLA 4. MR. AJAGBE BAMISE PETER 5. MRS. AKANMU OLUBANKE OSUOLALE Aims and Objectives: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus 2. To propagate the kingdom of God to all Nations.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi-Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Oludare Adewale Esq. S.O. Adewale & Co

This is to inform the General Public that an application has been submitted to the Honorable Minister of Air Transport (Aviation) by Xejets Ltd for licence to operate Schedule Passenger, Non-Schedule Passenger and Cargo Services within and Outside Nigeria.

The proposed operational base of the Airline will be ABUJA NIGERIA AIRCRAFT TYPES • Boeing Series ROUTES FOR SCHEDULE PASSENGER SERVICES • Lagos – Abuja – Lagos • Lagos – Port Harcourt – Lagos • Abuja – Port Harcourt – Abuja CARGO AND CHARTER SERVICE: Within and Outside Nigeria Any person wishing to make any representation or raise any objection concerning the application, should do so in writing, within Twenty-Eight (28 Days) from the date of this application. Such representation or objection that states reason(s) for doing so should be addressed to: The Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Air Transport (Aviation), Federal Secretariat, Abuja FCT SIGNED: MANAGEMENT

This is to inform the General Public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. THE RT REV. ODUNTAN OLUGBENGA OLUKEMI 2. HON. JUSTICE TAYO OSOBA 3. VEN. ADELEKE JOHN KOLAWOLE 4. BARR. OLUKUNLE ADESOLA LALUDE 5. BARR. ADENIYI GBEMISOLA Aim and Objective: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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 twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, August 18, 2015

21

Daily Times Advert Rates Sizes

Rates

Vat

Sizes

F/PAGE

532,350.00

26,617.50

H/PAGE

303,439.50

15,171.97

Q/PAGE

163,431.45

14”X5

Colour Rates

Vat

Sizes

Rates

10”X6

505,732.50

25,286.62

6”X3

114974.83

5,703.74

10”X5

324,252.34

13,780.72

6”X2

76,049.94

3,802.49

8,171.57

10”X4

421,528.04

21,076.40

5”X5

158,437.36

7,921.86

516,379.50

25,818.97

10”X3

337,222.43

19,861.12

5”X4

131,839.81

6,591.99

14”X4

268,517.34

13,425.86

10”X2

131,839.81

6,591.99

5”X3

95,062.36

4,753.11

14”X2

296,551.80

10,327.59

9”X6

455,159.25

22,757.96

5”X2

63,374.94

3,168.74

FPS 6”X3

873,388.02

43,669.40

9”X5

379,375.23

18,968.76

4”X2

50,699.95

2,534.99

FPS 6”X2

582,257.81

29,112.89

9”X4

303,500.18

15,175.00

3”X3

43,874.94

1,864.68

BPS 6”X3

861,432.81

43,071.64

9”X3

21,0126.15

10,056.30

3”X2

29,249.98

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OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS DTN COMPLEX LATEEF JAKANDE ROAD, AGINDIGBI, IKEJA, LAGOS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 44 ADETOKNBO ADEMOLA CRESCENT WUSE 2, ABUJA

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Army recovers 192 livestock from cattle rustlers in Niger Pita Chikwem Minna

ÏÏÏIn a bid curb the menace of

cattle rustlers in Niger State, the 31 Artillery Brigade, Minna, has said it had sacked rustlers camp in Bagabaga village located within Alawa forest, in Rafi Local Government Area and recovered 100 cows and 92 sheep.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations (ADAPR), Captain Njideka Agwu, disclosed this to journalists in Minna, on Wednesday.

Agwu explained that during the operation, led by the Brigade Task Force Commander, Lt. Col. Dzarma Zirkushu, other items re-

covered were 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 19 cartridges of double barrel gun, one locallymade revolver pistol, one empty AK-47 magazine, three handsets and a motorcycle.

She said the army had handed over the livestock to the Chairman of the local government council, in the presence of the Department of State Security (DSS) officer in charge of the council, Mr Barnabas Idzi, the representative of the Nigerian Police, Mr. Lawal Yinusa and District Head Alawa,Alhaji Shehu Adamu Gajere.

Agwu said the aim of the operation was to get rid of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the area, and warned

that the Brigade, under the leadership of Brig.-Gen. Baba Ibrahim, would not tolerate criminal acts in the area.

She advised members of the public to go about their normal business without fear of intimidation, adding that any person with useful information that could lead to the arrest of the suspected criminals that fled raid, should feed it to the nearest security agency.

It would be recalled that in September, 2015, the army arrested a suspected cattle rustler and recovered 97 cows and 41 sheep in Sarkin Pawa, in Munya Local Government Area of the state and handed them over to their rightful owners.

Oyindamola Ahmed

ÏÏÏThe Lagos State Government,

on Wednesday, described the article published in the latest edition of The Economist magazine as reckless and slanderous, noting that the issues were ill-conceived.

Reacting on behalf of the State Government, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the government deemed it fit to write a rebuttal to the article titled “Paralysed: Why Nigeria’s largest city is even less navigable than usual”, as it contained series of bias judgment in it.

Ayorinde wondered why the article, published just about the time the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode read the riot act to traffic offenders on the readiness of his government to carry

Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed no fewer than 28 filling stations in 11 out of the 23 local governments in Sokoto State in the last seven days.

The DPR Zonal Operations Controller, Alhaji Mohammed Kaura, made the disclosure, when he spoke with newsmen, on the fuel supply situation, in the state, on Wednesday.

He disclosed that the filling stations were in Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Illela, Sabon-birni, Isa, Goronyo, Wamakko, Bodinga, Wurno, Gwadabawa and Gada local government areas He said that they were sealed for selling petrol above the govern-

Sodiq Adekunle

Sodiq Adekunle

ÏÏÏA member of the Osun State

Osogbo ÏÏÏNo fewer than five federal establishments were shut down by the Osun State Internal Revenue Service (OSIRS), on Tuesday, for non-remittance of over N219 million tax money.

The defaulting federal establishments include Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Retail Mega Station in Osogbo to the tune N28 million covering 2008 and 2013; Bank of Agriculture, Osogbo branch to the tune of N43 million covering 2006 and 2013; National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife with a liability of nearly N37 million covering 2006 and 2013.

Others are African Regional Centre for Space Science Tech-

bordering on tax evasion and the state revenue service will continue to take the advantage of the provisions of the law to prosecute recalcitrant corporate organisations and individuals without further notice.”

He noted that the revenue service was set to begin criminal prosecution of all tax defaulters in the state, adding that they would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

According to him, other agencies that were yet to join IPPIS pay roll system included Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Examination Council (NECO), Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

out comprehensive enforcement effort on traffic management, was latched on by traditional and social media.

Attributing it to the handiwork of fifth columnists, he said the article failed to take into account the bigger picture of an emerging reform policy, designed to address the larger concerns in the management of security, traffic and the environment.

“If we were to conclude hastily, like the article did, we would have described the magazine’s effort in the same words it once famously used as “an unpleasant nose-tostranger’s-armpit experience.”

ment approved pump price of N87 per liter and at irregular hours.

“Four of the sealed filling stations belonged to the major marketers, while 24 belonged to independent marketers.

All of the axed filling stations were each fined N100, 000, and were forced to sell the products at government approved pump price.

These filling stations were also indicted for selling the commodity at between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

“This is to apparently evade the eagle-eyed officials of the DPR, but we will continue to monitor their activities, diligently, with a view to sealing and sanctioning any erring filling station,” Kaura warned.

Lawmaker tasks new ministers on service delivery

Osun shuts five federal agencies over unpaid N200m tax nology, OAU, Ile-Ife, with liability of over N80 million covering 2006 and 2011 and International School, OAU campus, with liability of nearly N32 million covering 2006 and 2011.

It was learnt that some federal establishments defaulting in taxes had also been listed to be shut by the revenue agency as part of its new revenue drive.

The Acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, OSIRS, Mr. Dayo Oyebanji, who led the revenue team to the affected establishments, said the shutdown was backed with court injunction.

He said, “The establishments were sealed in pursuant to the provisions of Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2004 as amended in 2011.

“The law is clear on issues

Govt slams Economist’s article on Lagos

DPR seals 28 fuel stations in Sokoto ÏÏÏThe

Niger State Governor, Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello (Left) Presenting letter of appointment to new Emir of Borgu, Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro (Kitoro The IV) in Government House, Minna… on Wednesday.

23 News

Osogbo

House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has stated the need to institute a robust and proactive evaluation mechanism into every segment of service delivery with the appointment of diligent team of ministers to work with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Oyintiloye, representing Obokun Constituency and Chairman, House Committees on Information and Strategy, stated this, in Ibokun, while reacting to the composition of Federal cabinet.

Oyintiloye, who spoke on the process of their emergence as well as the dynamism of the screening exercise as one in tandem with democratic principle, said proactive approaches must be encouraged in the days ahead.

He also said institutionalisation of evaluation mechanism was not

only critical to the actualisation of the big picture, but will put everybody on his toes and ensure that the change agenda was on course.

“The ministers will no doubt take their brief from Mr. President, adopt a blue print and follow action plans, but we need to subject our march-forward to critical examination, scientific evaluation. The National Assembly, of course, will play their oversight role; we must be willing, as a government, to, periodically, review, update and address critical barriers based on circumstances and changing needs,” he said.

Buhari

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

More Nigerians eulogise HID Awolowo ÏÏÏMore

than a month after her death, Nigerians have continued to flood the Ikenne home of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo to condole with his children following the death of the matriarch of the family, Chief (Mrs.) HID Awolowo.

And with barely two weeks to her burial, she has been described as the pillar behind the political successes of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was said to have laid a solid foundation for Nigerian politicians, who wished to enjoy public trust.

This was the position of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) when its officials paid a condolence

visit to the Awolowo family at Ikenne, Ogun State.

Its Chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, who led the team said that the qualitative partnership which HID offered her husband had brought progress and development to country.

With the IPAC officials were chairmen and other executives of various political parties.

Ameh, who is also the Chairman of the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA), said “HID assisted her husband to build the foundation for good governance. We are here to appreciate her contributions, because we have benefited from them and the future

generations will also benefit from them”.

The National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, described Mama Awolowo as a great woman of unequalled virtues.

“She was the greatest of all mothers that ever lived.

Her contributions to Nigeria’s development – politically and economically – were unparalleled and unquantifiable. We appreciate her; we adore her and we also commend her life,” he said.

The National Chairman of Conscience Party (CP), Tanko Yinusa, described the Ikenne home of the Awolowos as home to all politi-

cians in the country.

He urged politicians to emulate the good ideals and political ideologies of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whom he described as a politician, who promoted the interest and welfare of the common man.

In their responses, Chief Mrs Tola Oyediran and Chief Mrs Tokunbo Dosunmu Awolowo stated that they were enjoying the good will of their parents, while also stating that the shoes left behind by their parents would not be too big for them to wear, but they would be ready to contribute immensely to ensure that the country gets to its desired destination.

INEC'll be non-partisan, fair under my watch, by Prof. Yakubu

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has given an assurance that the agency, under his watch, would be non-partisan and fair to all.

Speaking at the Peace Summit, at the Creek Motel, Yenagoa, attended by nearly all the twenty candidates for the Bayelsa State slated for December 5, 2015, Yakubu said INEC was resolute in its commitment to provide a level playing field. Said he: “We will be non-partisan and fair to all, applying the laws without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, in accordance with our individual oaths of office and our corporate

stakeholders under the aegis of “Transparent Campus Group”, at the University of Ibadan (UI), have raised an alarm over an alleged plan to impose a corrupt official as the Chief Bursar of the institution.

The group which draws its membership from both workers and students of the institution, in a press statement, signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Tola Adegoke, said they were aware of plans by some members of the management to manipulate the process of selection of the Chief Bursar.

“We are not against anybody’s progress, but we don’t want a situation where corrupt officials will be appointed as the head of

Tension in UI over appointment of new Bursar bursary department at the expense of the development of the institution.

“Our organisation through our fact-finding team has discovered the desperate moves of one of the applicants, who was said to have been holding a series of meetings with different associations – including academic and nonacademic unions. From our investigations, we have also discovered that one of the applicants’ sudden rise to affluence is questionable.

Customs boss: Severe punishment awaits corrupt officials Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara receiving the Interim Report of the Committee on Review of the Existing Law of the House of Representatives from the Director General, National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS), Ladi Hamalai (left). With them is Ag. Head of Protocol, NILS, Musa Husain at the National Assembly in Abuja… on Tuesday.

Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

ÏÏÏThe

ÏÏÏConcerned

mission statement.”

Yakubu, who was represented on the occasion by a National Commissioner, Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari, explained that the body was facilitating the Peace Summit pursuant to its mandate to pursue and promote sound democratic knowledge and practices, which, he observed, was in sync with the UNDP’s mandate of promoting democracy and development, through good governance and reducing the risk of conflict.

Still, Yakubu observed that, in a democracy, sovereignty belonged to the people and that this sovereignty could be expressed in elections that were devoid of violence, threats,

coercion or intimidation.

The Resident Representative of the UNDP, Mr. Opiah Kumah, who was represented by Mr Matthew Alao, congratulated the Commission on facilitating the Peace Summit.

He observed that it was a similar effort earlier in the year which paved the way for the highly peaceful 2015 general elections.

Mr. Kumah said the Peace Pact, the Electoral Act and extant laws would ensure that the supporters of contestants did not foment trouble before, during and after the election.

He expressed delight that the UNDP’s investment, in deepening Nigeria’s democracy, was yielding encouraging profits, and this,

he said, was evidenced in conduct of the 2011 and 2015 general elections.

In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police for Bayelsa State, Mr. Nasiru Oki, charged all voters to comport themselves peacefully on election day.

He admonished the contestants to talk to their followers to eschew violence and not to see the election as a money-making venture.

He warned that any armed Orderly, who accompanied his principal to the polling unit would be apprehended and detained, adding that the Police would be on hand to arrest anyone who breached the laws governing the election.

ÏÏÏThe

Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), has warned that any officer caught involved in corrupt practice, would serve the maximum 10-year jail term prescribed by law.

Ali gave the warning in Sokoto when he addressed officers of the Sokoto/Zamfara/ Kebbi Area Command.

“The minimum jail term for corrupt officers is five years, but I will make sure that any officer found to be corrupt gets the maximum jail term of 10 years.

“This is to serve as a deterrent to any officer who finds himself in the Customs to make money and not to earn money.

“I am not saying that there are no good, incorruptible officers in the service, but

there are few bad eggs who are giving the service a bad name,” Ali said.

The CGC also cautioned the officials against indiscipline and living above their means.

“Our work ethics must change to be in tune with the change mantra as championed by President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

Ali advised the Customs personnel to make integrity, honesty and transparency their watch words.

Buhari

Nigerian youths seek relevance in governance ÏÏÏNigerian youths have

appealed to the federal and state governments to key in the youths in policy decision- making in the country, while pledging that they would no longer engage in confrontation with the authorities.

Comrade Akeem Ayo Babalola, the Oyo State Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria, made the appeal in Ibadan, during the annual Shafaudeen Brothers Daawah Movement.

He said the provision was for youths to have 30

percent representation in governance, pointing out that those tagged youths were not representing Nigerian youths, who should be about 40 years old.

He assured that the present youths had decided to adopt strategy and not confrontation in demanding their rights from government and commended Prof.

Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen In Islam for the exemplary leadership, adding that all parents should apply the same policy to nurture their children and wards.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November12, 2015

25

Features Æ s Improving the welfare of the elderly in Africa Ageing is an irreversible process but its attendant loneliness remains a major problem to older persons. One of the major goals of the conference is to create an institution for ageing where research, seminars and other ageingrelated issues would be handled.

— Okojie

Actress Tonto Dikeh feeding an elderly person in a home.

The drive to lay a structure that will help the elderly age with dignity is the focus of our features desk today.

Stemming from a recent confab in Abuja by the African Society for Ageing Research and Development (ASARD), the future of the aged is billed to take a better turn. OVIE DANIELS reviews the trend with agency report.

The end is yet to be heard of the status and well-being of elderly persons in the African society. We of this generation still recall with nostalgia memories of communal life of old where old people were adequately taken care of.

They were like living libraries of customs and tradition and could tell to the last century, highlights of events in our communities with graphic details to the awe and admiration of the people, and great respect was accorded them. But nowadays, loneliness, lack and sometimes

hunger have become a major issue with the aged both in urban and rural areas.

Once again the issue of improving the welfare and caring for the aged in our society was brought to the front burner at a recent stakeholders’ conference held in Abuja, the Federal Capi-

Caring for the elderly

tal Territory.

Organisers of the conference say that the meeting became imperative as the population of elderly persons across the world has been increasing at an exponential rate.

Statistics released at the conference indicate that the popula-

tion of aged persons - persons with ages from 60 years and above - is expected to increase from 59.8 million in 2012 to 64. 5 million in 2015.

Tagged ‘Inauguration Ceremony and International Conference of the African Society for Ageing Research and Development (ASARD)’, the stakeholders’ meeting was organised by the National Universities Commission (NUC), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In his keynote address, Prof.

Hilary Inyang, the President of Global Education and Information Services (GEIS), Charlotte, North Carolina, in the U.S., said that environmental exposure was one of the greatest contributors to mortality in Africa.

According to him, the immune systems of elderly persons are weaker and as such, they are more vulnerable to the dangers of environmental exposure.

He recommended formulation of a national and regional research agenda to capture the peculiarities of each country and the creation of a research centre to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to issues of ageing Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, in his address at the occasion advocated the creation of civic centres for the aged in society.

“Ageing is an irreversible process but its attendant loneliness remains a major problem to older persons,” Okojie began. “One of the major goals of the conference is to create an institution for ageing where research, seminars and other ageing-related issues would be handled.

“We used to have a communal life where old persons were adequately taken care of but nowadays, loneliness is a major issue in ageing.

“We will advise that government should create some civic CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Features 26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Enabling environment, indicated by safety, access to transportation and housing as well as general psychological well-being of older persons show many African countries, including Nigeria, occupying almost all of the last 10 positions.— Omokaro Continued from page 25 centres where elderly people can be kept busy with routine visits of nurses and doctors. We also want a sustainable agenda for ageing; somebody should, however, coordinate all the activities.

“In Africa, the population of older persons aged 60 years and above has been rapidly growing and was expected to increase from 59.8 million in 2012 to 64.5 million in 2015, the close of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).’’

The Professor however assured that the NUC and other major stakeholders would play critical roles in improving the capacity of institutions and individuals to understand the care needs of older persons.

He said that NUC had developed a Gerontology programme in 12 Nigerian universities with Benchmark Statements and Minimum Academic Standards for Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD), Master of Science (M.Sc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Furthermore, the NUC secretary said that the commission had consulted widely with relevant stakeholders to define and develop a Master of Science (M.Sc) programme in Geriatrics.

Old People’s Home, Yaba

Geriatrics and Gerontology Gerontology is the study of ageing and older adults, while Geriatrics is the branch of Medicine that deals with the problems of ageing and diseases of the aged.

“The commission has also engaged strategic stakeholders in the past four years to coordinate and focus on the programme’s multi-disciplinary and multisectoral approach to teaching and research in order to develop community intervention models on ageing.

“To stimulate research policy dialogue and to harness scientific research outcomes for evidence-based interventions in ageing, the NUC, through its collaborative work with the Dave Omokaro Foundation in Gerontology and Geriatrics, founded ASARD in 2012.”

The Professor said this package is designed to create the necessary platform to elevate the visibility of ageing programmes and research in Nigerian universities.

ASARD, he stressed, has taken on the responsibility to formally and consistently promote dialogue on the medical, social, economic and cultural implications of ageing.

LEADS Scholar in Ageing

It is necessary to combine experience of the aged with the exuberance of the young — Alhaji Maitama Sule

Some elderly people engaging in physical activities at a old people’s home.

Studies Development, NUC, Dr Emem Omokaro, in her remarks said that ASARD was an African think-tank platform for experts to exchange information on care for older persons.

She said the expected outcomes of the conference would identify research priorities, institute joint research projects across universities and share knowledge to policy makers, among others.

Furthermore, Omokaro said recent research indicated that African countries fared poorly on issues regarding the well-being of elderly persons.

Visibly unimpressed, she said the research which was conducted by HelpAge International showed that Nigeria has dropped in the rankings.

According to Omokaro, only Mauritius and South Africa have put in place policy frameworks that respond to the rising challenges posed by the remarkable increase in the population of older persons.

HelpAge International, AgeWatch Index’s annual ranking of countries, based on the wellbeing of their elderly persons, uses internationally comparable data on health.

“These are indicated by life expectancy at 60 and also healthy life expectancy at 60; income

security indicated by pension coverage and poverty level; capabilities in terms of skills and continuing productive engagement at 60.

“Enabling environment, indicated by safety, access to transportation and housing as well as general psychological well-being of older persons show many African countries, including Nigeria, occupying almost all of the last 10 positions.

“The recently released 2015 Global AgeWatch ranking shows that Nigeria has dropped in ranking from 85th to 86th position in the survey of 96 countries,’’ she added.

Omokaro said that population ageing, which was formerly a concern for only developed countries, had also become a challenge to developing countries.

ASARD she said, aims to build a globally relevant Africa-oriented ageing network that will stimulate critical thinking and structured approach to tackling challenges inherent in population ageing.

Chairman of the occasion, elder statesman, Alhaji Maitama Sule said that a good government would always strive to rely on the input of young and old citizens in day-to-day governance.

This is because it is necessary to combine the experience of the

aged with the exuberance of the young.

“Africa should, nonetheless, introduce policies that take care of the aged,” he said, adding: “The aged should not be dumped in old peoples’ homes so long as they are alive; they need to be catered for.”

Dr Tim Menakaya, a former Minister of Health, lauded the organisers of the conference for taking into congnisance the plight of elderly persons in society.

“This assures us that we have a society that recognises old people; a think-tank to re-engineer ageing-related issues in this country.

“This conference recognises the importance of health in ageing and also fine-tunes ways of tapping from the experience of aged persons.

“We need to support healthy ageing and the aged,’’ he said.

A communiqué, jointly signed

by Okojie and Dr Rui Vaz, the Country Director of WHO, made certain recommendations: “That there should be a policy to facilitate social pension development and implementation through greater productivity at the national level.

“That policies on ageing should reflect the realities of Africa’s ageing experience.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

27

Crime Æ s Policeman kills self after missing assessment exam Stories by Ndudi Joy Anyim

The suspects

Man jumps fence to evade arrest A 28-year-old suspected cultist who was arrested along side four others in the Oshodi area of Lagos has revealed how he jumped a fence in order to evade arrest.

According to Rasheed Oseni, a father of two, he was arrested inside a church after jumping the fence to evade police arrest that night. “I have been living on the streets for three weeks.

It was when I heard gunshots that I scaled the church fence. I removed all my clothes and lay down beside a man inside the church. I live on the streets because I don’t have accommodation,” he revealed Daily Times learnt that operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (SCIID) Yaba has been on the trail of the suspected cultists following series of mayhem unleashed on the residence of Oshodi and its environs by the gang.

According to Police sources, the cultists were arrested by the police in different parts of Oshodi with charms, cutlasses, and a military emblem which

they use when carrying out their operation.

Daily Times gathered that while Rasheed Oseni scaled through a church fence to evade arrest, another suspect, Yusuf Ganiyu, who had machete wounds in different parts of his body reportedly jumped into a canal when police officers were searching for him.

We are not cultists - Suspects Refuting the claims of the police, the arrested suspected cultists have however claimed to be innocent. According to 28-yearold Yusuf Ganiyu, who had machete wounds on his feet and hands, he told Daily Times that he was sleeping when the sound of gunshots woke him up.

“I was sleeping at Olaiyia Street at Mafoluku area of Oshodi when I began to hear sound of gunshots. When the officers came to my house they didn’t see me because I have escaped.

I jumped into a canal to escape their arrest, but I had to come out when they attempted to impound my motorbike. I started smoking India hemp last

I was sleeping at Olaiyia Street at Mafoluku area of Oshodi when I heard sound of gunshots.

When the officers came to my house they didn’t see me because I have escaped. I jumped into a canal to escape their arrest, but I had to come out when they attempted to impound my motorbike — Yusuf

year. On the various wounds that dotted his body, Yusuf said he sustained the wounds via motorcycle accident.

Also denying the allegation of been a cultist is Uzoma Nwampa, 23, who was among the gang that attacked police officers with broken bottles, according to him, “I am from Abia state and a Bricklayer. I live at Abayomi Street, Oshodi. I was arrested on October 26 at about 2am. I wasn’t feeling too well so I took some drugs and was sleeping in the shop when I was arrested.”

He said Monsuru Adegbesan, 39, a meat seller at Ogunolokun market and also doubles as an Okada rider said he was arrested on his bike while sleeping.

“I sell at Ogunolokon market, because I don’t have a house, I sleep on top of my bike at night because I don’t want them to steal my motorbike. I had a deflated tire which was why I didn’t work that evening.

I didn’t know that cultist have been fighting since morning,” he said.

It was a sorry sight at the Nigerian Police Training School, Ikeja in Lagos recently when the lifeless body of an officer was discovered in his dark colored Passat Jel with registration number JJ489AY in an apparent suicide mission.

It was gathered that the officer identified as CPL Agi Elias who is attached to the Safer High Way patrol Lagos, reportedly committed suicide after he missed an assessment exam held at the training school, Lagos.

Daily Times gathered that Agi Elias who was part of the officers undergoing a training course in Ikeja was trapped in traffic on his way from Badagry when he missed the assessment exam.

Trouble started after he got to the scene of the assessment and found out that the assessment conducted by the Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni was over, all his entreaties to the officers in charge fell on deaf ears.

Sensing that his chances of promotion had gone with the wind, Agi was alleged to have put a call across to his wife telling her that he won’t be coming back home again, that she should rather come to the training college and pick up his corpse, true to his word, the woman received a phone call the next day that her husband had died.

It was a sight that will melt the stoniest of hearts as Agi’s wife, family and friends were seen at CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Crime 28 34-years-old Mariam Musa is presently cooling off her heels in one of the dreaded cells of the State Criminal investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos as you read this. She is alleged to have pushed her 14 year old step-son from the third floor of their apartment.

The incident which led to Mariam’s arrest happened at No 40 Oluwole Estate, Ogba, Ikeja, after the 14-year-old stepson identified only as Raman, accused her step mother of pushing him from the third floor of their apartment.

But Mariam, a full time housewife, has denied the allegation, saying that the poor boy jumped off by himself and that she couldn’t have pushed him as she has children of her own.

“I was arrested because my stepson accused me of pushing him from the window of our apartment on the third floor, but I didn’t push him; he jumped out of the window by himself,” she told Daily Times.

Pleading her innocence, Mariam said “how could I possibly push the boy from the window, when I have children of my own? I am surprised that he said I pushed him when in truth he actually jumped off himself.

“Raman was five years old when he started living with us.

God in heaven knows he jumped out of the window himself,” she lamented.

Tracing the incident that

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Woman arrested for pushing stepson off third floor apartment landed her in police custody, Mariam said that she woke her family (which included Raman) up on Wednesday at about 5am to prepare them for school, only for her to discover that Raman disappeared a few minutes after that.

“On Wednesday at about 6am, I woke my stepson and my children up so that they get prepared for school; later, my son Abudulakim came to meet me in the kitchen and informed me that his step brother is not in the house.

“When my husband Umaru woke up, he found out that his N5, 000 was missing. Throughout the day we searched everywhere for him; my husband even called one of his brother, Abubakar, to know if Raman was in his place and his brother said no. Luckily, Abubakar called back at about 5pm and said that they have seen Raman.

That night at about 9:30, my husband and I went to my brotherin-law’s place to fetch him back home.

“That was not the first time he was running away from the house; usually he spends two to three days anytime he runs

away from home. Anytime he steals school snacks from other children’s bags and he gets caught, he will not come back home. Most times when he runs away from home he sleeps in the mosque, and at other times, he just runs off.

“Just last week, he was almost lynched after he stole from a film vendor and was caught.

Because of what happened on Wednesday, my husband left an instruction while he was going to the clinic to take some injections as he wasn’t feeling too well on Thursday morning, that Raman should not be allowed to leave the house.

“So I laid on one of the sofas to keep tabs on him. Unknown to me, while I was sleeping in the sitting room, Raman jumped out of the bedroom window. It is a miracle that it was only his legs that were broken.

“We have done all we can to help make sure he turns a new leaf, but he has refused to be a good boy. There was a time his father took him to a Church for deliverance. But nothing seems to work as he is determined to destroy us all,” she lamented.

Mariam

I thought he was relaxing—Becky

Continued from page 27

Owoseni, Lagos State CP

Agi Elias is rich; he has two cars; a jeep and the Passsat which he died inside, and two houses in different parts of Lagos.

Now what do we tell his aged parents.

He didn’t even think of his family, his wife and two children— Colleague

the scene of the incident weeping profusely while people who knew the deceased kept muttering “Agi Elias can’t kill himself ”.

According to one of his course mate, Sanni, “we have been here together since Friday on a training course. Yesterday Elias was coming from his division in Badagry when he got trapped in traffic and missed the assessment exams. He begged the officer in charge to help him but they told him it was late and there was nothing they can do because it was the CP himself who conducted the assessment.

Lamenting, a police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said he cannot believe that Agi killed himself. Describing the late officer as a rich man, the policeman said “even if his missed the assessment exams, it is not enough reason for him to take his life. His death is not ordinary. I see no reason

why he should kill himself because we were together yesterday when he missed the assessment only for me to hear this morning that he has committed suicide.

“Agi Elias is rich; he has two cars; a jeep and the Passsat which he died inside, and two houses in different parts of Lagos. Now what do we tell his aged parents. He didn’t even think of his family, his wife and two children,” he lamented A vendor named Bekky Onabanjo at the entrance of the school revealed that she saw the deceased inside his parked vehicle yesterday night. “I saw him inside his car yesterday night; one of his legs was outside while the other was inside the car. He was there till we closed for the day at about past seven. I didn’t know he was dead because he stayed inside the car like he was relaxing. It was this morning that we found his lifeless body already stiff inside his vehicle.

Also an empty can of pesticide

was found when inside the car,” she said.

Confirming the incident, DSP Joe Offor said a policeman was found dead in his V/W Passat Reg.No. 489 AY parked at the entrance gate of high barracks ikeja today 10th Nov 2015 by 0730hrs.

The NCO CPL Agi Elias until his sudden death was attached Safer high way patrol Lagos but on Coporal to Sergaent promotion course in Police Training School (PTS) Ikeja. The aforesaid course came to an end yesterday 09 Nov, 2015. Preliminary investigations carried out so far revealed that tablets and some poisonous substances littered around his corpse while still inside his car.

His body has been recovered and deposited at Lagos state university teaching hospital mortuary, while the investigation of the case has been taking over by the Homicide section of SCIID Yaba with a view to ascertaining the cause of death.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Health Æ s

29

Experts advocate mental health fitness test for leaders, drivers

Obe

Stories by Lara Adejoro Some medical experts have canvassed for compulsory mental health fitness test for Nigerians leaders to ascertain the level of their stability to direct the affairs of the nation.

The experts who spoke at the

1.25m Lara Adejoro

46th Annual General Conference and Scientific Meeting of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) in Lagos also advocated for a Mental Health Bill.

The conference had its theme as: ‘Mental health as a driver for positive change.’

The Keynote Lecturer at the

conference, Prof Ibidapo Obe, said, “It has become necessary for our leaders to undergo medical checks to ascertain the state of their mental health, in view of what we had seen in our House of Assembly and Senate.

“Most of the top leaders have challenges with the state of their mental health; no one checks people in political positions to find out their mental balance.

Even before somebody contests an election, a mental health fitness check should be mandatory to ascertain if the individual is fit to be a leader.

Obe, also a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, said, “When a man wants to acquire so much money, something must be wrong with him. The individual knows that he can’t spend all those in his life time, so something is wrong. At the pedes-

tal level, let every leader undergo a mental health test. Bringing it down to the masses, especially the drivers we have on the roads, government must do something to check the mental health of these drivers.

“It should be enforced that the mental health of these drivers are checked considering their drunkeness, recklessness and general comportment on the roads when they are driving,” Obe said.

According to him, the Federal Government should pass a bill on mental health to help stabilize the citizenry.

Obe said that 50 per cent of people who were not mentally fit would seek help from churches rather than psychiatric centres.

According to him, because they lack belief in the capacity of current medical facilities to cope

with their challenges, believeing that the ‘gods’ of mental problems were supernatural.

Dr. Richard Adebayo, Acting Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, said that mental health was integral to the stability of the nation.

“We talk about insurgencies, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and we often forget about the mental issues that they may grapple with after being reintegrated in the society.

“The political, social and economic policies have their consequences on individuals, families, societies and the nation either directly or indirectly. The health impact is often unquantifiable and we know there is no health without mental health. Most of the burning issues confronting CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Airtel partners unilever, people die annually on the world’s roads—WHO Dental association to create oral health awareness

Despite improvements in road safety, some 1.25 million people die each year on the world’s roads.

The World Health Organisation’s recent Global status report on road safety 2015 warns that while the number of road traffic deaths is stabilizing - despite rapid increase in the number of motor vehicles worldwide and a growing population - the pace of change is too slow.

Road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among those aged 15-29 years. Almost half (49 per cent) of all road traffic deaths are among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

The Global status report on road safety 2015 defines many of the key measures to be highlighted during the Conference.

These include strategies to: improve laws and enforcement on risks such as speeding, drinking

Margaret Chan of WHO

and driving, and failing to use seat-belts, motorcycle helmets and child restraints; make roads safer through infrastructural modifications, such as sidewalks and lanes separating cyclists and motorcyclists from vehicles; ensure that vehicles are equipped with life-saving technologies including seat-belts, air bags and electronic stability control; enhance emergency trauma care systems for victims of road traffic crashes.

However, delegates from more than 100 countries will meet in Brasilia from 18-19 November to agree ways to halve road traffic deaths by the end of this decade – a key milestone within the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.6).

The “Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety” is expected to guide action through the end of the UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 and towards achievement of the SDGs.

Leading telecoms operator, Airtel Nigeria, has collaborated with manufacturer of home and personal care goods, Unilever, alongside the Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) to promote oral hygiene among students in Nigeria.

Speaking on the initiative, regional operations director, Lagos Region, Airtel, Mr. Adedokun Oye, said the health awareness programme is a means to educate primary school students across Nigeria on how to stay healthy through oral hygiene.

Oye said Airtel has taken a step further to care for Nigerian children by ensuring their health and well-being through proper oral hygiene in order to bring out the best in them.

He said, “Airtel and Unilever are providing kids in schools with gift items like tooth brushes, toothpastes and leaflets that

offer tips on oral hygiene. When children stay healthy, it will be easier for them to learn.”

He said under the programme, all the students in schools adopted by Airtel Nigeria will be reached with the health awareness campaign.

Oye said, starting with Oremeji Primary School II, Ajegunle, Lagos, St. John’s Primary School, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun; Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo; Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River and Iyeru-Okin Primary School, Kwara, are next in line to benefit from the programme.

Brand building director, Unilever Nigeria, David Okeme, said Unilever’s global oral care social missions is to improve the oral health of 100 million people by 2020 by convincing them to brush day and night to stay healthy and happy.

Health 30

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

We can win war over vaccine-preventable diseases— Dr Ojo Stories by Lara Adejoro Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Chapter, Dr Tope Ojo has said vaccine-preventable diseases can be eradicated in Nigeria with concerted efforts.

Ojo stated this recently at the association’s Physicians’ Week held at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos with the theme: ‘Routine Immunisation in the change era: Targeting measles and other vaccinne preventable diseases.’

Ojo said, “There is no impossibility with concerted efforts, we can defeat vaccine-preventable diseases. The theme of the Physicians’ Week was chosen even when we didn’t know Nigeria would be delisted from polio-endemic countries by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and that shows that we can also win the war against vaccine preventable diseases.”

Explaining further, he said, “When Ebola came, we defeated it. The victory over Ebola is the collaboration of everyone with the help of public enlighten-

ment. We need to encourage people that we can target the eradication of measles. The delistment of Nigeria from polioendemic countries is a major breakthrough.

“Though we have constrains like cultural and religious beliefs but with high level of collaboration in medical associations, government, NonGovernmental Orgnisations (NGOs) and individuals. I believe we can eradicate measles and other vaccine preventable diseases, and even HIV by 2030.”

Recall that, the Ebola virus was introduced into Nigeria on 20 July 2014 when an infected Liberian man arrived by aeroplane into Lagos, Africa’s most populous city. The man, who died in hospital 5 days later, set off a chain of transmission that infected a total of 19 people, of whom 7 died.

According to WHO recommendations, the end of an Ebola virus disease outbreak in a country can be declared once 42 days have passed and no new cases have been detected. The 42 days represents twice the maximum incubation period

‘...FG should pass a bill on mental health...’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Ojo

for Ebola (21 days). This 42-day period starts from the last day that any person in the country had contact with a confirmed or probable Ebola case.

However, on the 20th October, 2014, Nigeria reached that 42day mark and is now considered free of Ebola transmission.

Strong public awareness campaigns, teamed with early engagement of traditional, religious and community leaders, also played a key role in successful containment of this outbreak, according to WHO.

Also, on the 25th of September, 2015, WHO announced that polio is no longer endemic in Nigeria. This is the first time that Nigeria has interrupted transmission of wild poliovirus, bringing the country and the African region closer than ever to being certified poliofree.

Nigeria has not reported a case of wild poliovirus since 24 July 2014, and all laboratory data have confirmed a full 12 months have passed without any new cases.

us as a nation such as security, economic crisis just to mention a few have grave mental health concerns.”

Prof Joseph Adeyemi, President of APN, said that the theme of the conference was apt and relevant in view of the recent political development in Nigeria.

Also, Majekodunmi Fasheke , popularly known as Majek Fashek, a reggae artist, songwriter and guitarist, said that mental health was very important in the lives of people and a nation.

Majek Fashek, who had just undergone mental rehabilitation said, “Mental health is not a yardstick to look down upon people.

There is need to create a system to manage or rehabilitate people who are not mentally balanced as well as create more awareness on mental health challenges and appropriate management.

“Government should look into how to rehabilitate mental health patients as most of them have great potential and talents. If not, these disadvantaged persons may rot away with great ideas that can help advance the fortunes of a great nation like ours,” Fashek said.

Pollution: Groups demand justice for Ogoni people The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and other groups across the world under the aegis of Friends of the Earth International have demanded justice for Ogoni people asking the Nigerian government to compel Shell to pay the full cost of cleaning up recommended by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

The call coincides with the 20th anniversary of the murder of playright Ken Saro Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders at the hands of the Nigerian dictatorship of Sani Abacha.

Known around the world for his struggle with oil giant Shell, Ken Saro-Wiwa is now a figure acclaimed globally for showing how people power can win over polluting corporate giants and dirty energy.

The social and environmental crisis and injustice exposed by Ken Saro Wiwa in the oil-rich and massively polluted Niger

Uyi Ojo

Delta are still ongoing; the people of Ogoniland are still suffering from the effects of fifty years of land, air and water pollution by the oil industry.

“Ken Saro Wiwa’s legacy is not only a major source of inspiration to the people of Nigeria, it also serves as a beacon of hope to people across the world

struggling for environmental justice,” said Friends of the Earth International chairperson Jagoda Munic.

“Oil companies such as Shell continue to dodge their responsibility. They must prevent further spills, clean up, and provide adequate compensation to people affected by oil pollution in Nigeria, ” said Godwin Uyi Ojo, executive director of Friends of the Earth Nigeria / Environmental Rights Action.

In a statement made available to our correspondent, the groups said, four years after the 2011 publication of a groundbreaking report by the UN Environment Programme UNEP on oil pollution in Ogoniland, the reports recommendations have still not been implemented and the people of Ogoniland continue to wait for justice and a chance to escape the devastation of the oil industry.

The resilience of the Ogonis and persistent pressure by local

and international civil society is however starting to bear fruit : the present government of President Buhari recently committed to the implementation of the UNEP report. With an initial pledge of 10 million USD, there are high expectations that the proposed governing body to oversee the clean up will be inaugurated soon. ‘’Because the UNEP report recommendations still have not been implemented, the Ogonis remain shortchanged and justice denied. Shell and the other companies, as well as the Nigerian government should immediately implement the recommendations. Shell should also compensate communities affected by continuing oil spills and agree to pay their share of the full cost of cleaning Ogoniland and other affected areas of the Niger Delta, ‘’ said Godwin Uyi Ojo, executive director of Friends of the Earth Nigeria / Environmental Rights Action.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

31 Opinion

Which Way Nigeria at 55 Years Old? (Part 2)

ÏÏÏIn part 1, we examined

the challenges to socio-economic growth in Nigeria.

We saw that law change, notably the appropriation of mineral oil to the federation account fuels underdevelopment including its symptom, corruption.

We pointed out the need to return the country to the union constitution of 1960, which guaranteed equity and all round development through inter-regional healthy rivalry.

Late President Yar’Adua’s 2009 approach of 10% oilexploration-equity (offered to Niger Delta communities) in exchange for peace was a step in the right direction. This is because it indirectly recognizes the minority peoples’ ownership of their natural resources. It is a progressive move towards the restoration of the fiscal federalism enshrined in the independence union and republican constitutions of 1960 and 1963. But the Yar’Adua policy has its own draw back from a legal interpretation perspective. I mean that the policy, not having been made a constitutional provision, does not have sufficient legal guarantees to sustain it. More importantly, the ultimate approach to peace

and national development is to directly recognize the Niger Delta peoples as owners of their oil and gas, the same way other peoples’ minerals must be given back to them. The limestone of Kogi State does not belong to the federation of Nigeria or to Rivers State. It belongs to the specific Kogi State peoples who have made the land in which the metal is located home long before the State of Nigeria was born. There is therefore an urgent need to review the problematic Sections 44 (3) and 162 (2) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution and the entire 1978 Land Use Decree. Specifically, it would require the replacement of sections 44 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution with section 40 and 134 of the 1960 Constitution, which was adopted in the 1963 Constitution, and which provision facilitated the unrivalled nation-wide industrial growth of the early 1960s to 1980s. While section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution took mineral oil from the Niger Delta Peoples, section 134 of the 1960/63 Constitution recognizes their ownership of it, including the mineral oil found on their continental shelves. This recog-

Buhari

nition, which also affected other minerals, ensured the development of Nigeria in the past by gingering amongst regions (states) a positive economic competition that birthed great institutions.

I had argued in 2008 that we needed to act fast before the Niger Delta violence was imported to other parts of the country.

I had argued that it took little intelligence to see the war going that way. Unfortunately, the country is yet to follow this alternative of holistic peace. The result, I would argue, was the rise of the Jam’atu Ahlis Sunnah Ldda’awatih

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wal-Jihad (‘Boko Haram’) Islamist terrorism mostly in Northern, particularly North Eastern Nigeria.

In essence, I find strongly persuasive Abdulkarim Mohammed, a researcher on Boko Haram, who has argued that violent uprisings in Nigeria are ultimately due to “the fallout of frustration with corruption and the attendant social malaise of poverty and unemployment.”. I however emphasize that the true and more fundamental corruption is not in or by compromised individuals but in the nation itself. By committing legal theft against its minority

regions through the colonial-style seizure of their oil and gas resources, the nation of Nigeria institutionalized corruption, especially when governance at local, state and federal levels became and is now, especially since 1999, a regime of sharing oil moneys distributed monthly in Abuja. This underdevelopment, manifesting as corruption, unemployment and ultimately conflict, sometimes violent, is directly traceable to the legal theft of Niger Delta oil and gas.

We must give oil for holistic national peace and economic growth. We must return Niger Delta oil to the region to assure Nigeria’s economic development and sociopolitical stability. But the question many elites may ask is: how would we survive without our Niger Delta legal loot, without continuing to depend on Niger Delta oil and gas? If we look at Nigeria of say two decades back, it might look suicidal to let go of our Niger Delta colony. We would not want to treat that region with the same respect we treat majority regions. But looking only at Nigeria of twenty to thirty years back to judge the economic viability of the country is myopic. The simple and plain truth is that Nigeria at one point did not rely whole scale on oil and gas. In fact, thousands of years before oil was discovered in Nigeria, the country’s various peoples lived relatively peacefully and thrived economically on agriculture.

And it is certain that when oil and gas run out, Nigeria will live on, peacefully

and economically. I have shown in this column, in September 2015, in the series tagged Why Kogi Can’t Pay Salary (Parts 1 and 2) how Kogi State, which would probably be tagged poor by many, is sitting on trillions of naira that it does not and cannot exploit. And that regional state, Kogi, is handicapped because of constraints of bad laws especially contained in the Constitution of Nigeria 1979 reenacted in 1999, notably section 40(3) 1979 Constitution and section 44(3) of the 1999 Constitution. The sections simply take ownership of mineral and mineral oils from their natural owners, people on the land, the locality, and placed it in the federal government. The 1999 Constitution goes on to decree that the revenue from the minerals and mineral oils should go to the federation account and shared to all governments – federal, state and local.

Kogi State and other states can be self sufficient IF there is legal reform to give back to various localities and states ownership in their minerals and mineral oils. Suffice to say for now that Nigerians, wherever they come from, don’t have to be poor: we are a rich nation and rich peoples, with or without petroleum oil.

Very soon, I will begin in this column a series titled Nigeria Vision 20-2020 Mirage? It is five years to go to achieve our dream of being in the league of twenty (20) most developed nations in the world. What would make it not happen? What would make it a dream come true? Keep a date with this page.

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keen to learn from Ronaldo g X7

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FIFA: Blatter hospitalised,

says no intention to quit S

uspended Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) President, Joseph Blatter, is in hospital with an undisclosed illness but insists he will not quit.

His adviser, Klaus Stoehlker, disclosed this to newsmen on

Wednesday in Zurich.

“He is in the recovery stage, the doctors say that he can work again from next Tuesday onwards,” Stoehlker said.

He did not reveal the reason for Blatter’s hospitalisation but said “he told me that his head and heart are ok.”

Blatter, 79, was last week told by doctors to rest and was hospitalised at the weekend, according to Stoehlker.

It would be recalled that Blatter and European Football Association (UEFA) President, Michel Platini, were provisionally suspended for 90 days on Oct. 8 by FIFA Ethics Committee in connection with a “disloyal payment.”

Blatter was also suspected of mismanagement in one other case in a Swiss criminal probe.

The embattled president and Platini

had said they were innocent and appealed the ruling.

It was gathered that if the appeal fails, he may approach the Court of Arbitration for Sports as he seeks to stay on the job as planned until an extraordinary FIFA congress set for February, 2016.

“I am the elected FIFA president; I was elected by the 209 member federations of FIFA and no commission in the world can remove me,” Blatter said recently.

Life&

TIMES Thursday, November 12, 2015

Gina

Cephas:

L2,3

P

Soaring higher despite parental objections

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

My parents tagged me wayward because I do secular music – Gina Cephas Cross River State-born Egbe Regina Mbeng better known by her teeming fans as Gina Cephas is one of the fastest rising female musicians in the entertainment industry who is not leaving any stone unturned to be relevant in the music scene merging the practical knowledge of music acquired at the Esut Institute of Music, Douala, Cameroun to the everyday superstar style. Having released back to back single that includes I gat money, super giver and handover, Gina is fully set for the challenges ahead. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Gina leads us into her music, her parents’ thoughts on her career and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

Life&

T E A M

What inspired the concept behind your new body of work ‘ G i m m e Chance’ featuring Colonial music act, Minjin?

The concept is not far from the fact that some Nigerian men are usually of the opinion that their female counterparts are always seeking out for money as they believe majority of women are not faithful and the likes. In essence, the video Gimme Chance further serves as an eye opener to my fellow women never to be taken for granted by men; hence we should learn to stand firm all our doings.

Considering the fact that we have several male artistes in the industry, what the choice of Minjin?

Well, I believe he can do better and for me Minjin is a very talented and good musical artiste that you can attest to well

Editor Music Correspondent Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng Akintayo Opeoluwani 08029030427

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli

when you listen to Coupe Decale. Aside music, he is friendly and always ready to contribute to the success of every young budding artiste.

Music for you, how did it all start?

Music for me started when I was a little girl where I discovered my love and passion for music because while growing up, I love dancing and will dance with just my panties around the neighbourhood most especially when my parents had just bought me a new underpants. I equally grew up being a member of the choir in church and I had always believed that one day I will be become and singer; here I am doing my thing.

At what point in your musical career, did you know you were fully set?

That will definitely be in 2011 when I started recording my own songs and I released three singles at the same time that includes I gat money, super giver and handover because back then I was used to doing acapella songs of other artistes.

Ever since you ventured into music professionally, what has been the reception of people towards your kind of music?

Sincerely, the reception and comments have been encouraging as there is always a room for improvement at every stage of one’s career. I have got good downloads

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

on several music sites on my new video and single with Minjin, it can only get better day by day. I am not resting or relenting any time soon. I want to sincerely appreciate the effort of my producer Timo and sound engineer, Indomix, for believing in the Gina Cephas brand.

How did your parents take your choice of doing music, most especially csecular songs?

My parents never supported my kind of music simply because I belong to a strong Christian believer family where my mother is a deaconess and my elder sister works at the popular T.B Joshua church. So from day one, they believed I was a wayward child and said they will only support my kind of music if only I’m doing gospel songs which does not work for me. Everyone wants me to go into religious music but told them that I don’t have the call to do religious music. So these are the types of music I feel I can do better and up till now we are still at loggerheads.

When your first ever single came out, how did your parents react to that as well?

My parents have never listened to my song. They didn’t even want to see or listen to anything concerning my music. My CONTINUED ON

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

L3

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

L3 Interview

My parents tagged me wayward because I do secular music CONTINUED FROM

L2

mother especially still envisage on the fact that she does not know why I can’t do gospel music, saying ‘why do you want to disgrace me as a queen and all that’. She said everybody is looking at her as if she has given birth to a wayward child.

If you had done gospel music other than secular music, do you think you would have been this popular in your musical career?

Believe me sincerely, I doubt if I will be this popular or famous if I had done gospel music. Though I am not trying to condemn gospel musicians, it’s not just my kind of music.

Both secular and gospel music are business in their own way in showbiz and people are making money off it.

Where do you draw your source of inspiration from?

My inspiration is gotten from something extraordinary that I can’t explain. I am made of music. I sometimes wonder why most people in my kind of music smoke cigarette or have to take alcohol before they go on stage. I go on stage as Gina and I don’t engage in any form of smoking or alcohol on stage and when I’m off stage.

How will you describe your first time on stage?

My first time was unbelievable. I never expected such ac-

ceptance from the crowd; everybody was so welcoming with their smile and cheers. Coming newly, I never expected that kind of welcoming audience. The crowd enjoyed my performance all through.

Are you fully ready to take music as a full time occupation?

I am ready to take music business seriously because the Nigeria music industry is very competitive and also for the commercial industry in the continent, I am fully prepared.

Where do you see Gina Cephas as a brand in years to come?

Gina Cephas as a brand will be known in every nook and crannies of Nigeria. I wouldn’t mention names but let me say I would be very big in the music industry and my brand would be known because I am not relenting in my music career. I want to be popular as some of the biggest brands in the industry.

When do we get to hear another body of work from you?

You would always see me by the special grace of God. I would be dropping my new single next month and I won’t disclose the title of the song for now. It’s a surprise package for my loyal fans.

Gina when do we get to see you in your own official al-

bum?

My album is something I want to take my time in preparing and as such I picked 15th of March 2016 as the release date.

Is Gina Cephas signed to any record label?

I am officially on my own for now. The Nigerian music industry is very competitive. It is not easy for young stars like me to be heard but I am managing myself and I’m improving. With a lot of effort and strength, I would get big in the music industry.

Are you in any relationship?

Sincerely for now, I’m not in a relationship. I am single and not ready to mingle now. I really want to face my project and build myself in my music career.

If you were given an opportunity to change something in the entertainment industry, what would that be?

I think that would be that Nigerian musicians should sing songs with story line. We should also try and advance in our choice of words. Music is meant to educate the public. Back in those days, when you listened to Fela, you learnt something but it is not like that anymore. We no longer dance to lyrics anymore; we dance to beats. We are all after making money forgetting that music is life.

Music Gist New music Alert

Terry-G

out with Ferrari Terry-G, who is currently on tour has released a new single titled ‘Ferrari,’ revealing his past life experience before he could afford a Ferrari. The ‘Apako Master’ also shared pictures of his brand new Ferrari toy he recently purchased from Italy.

Jesse Jagz unveils album art work (Pics: Jesse Jagz) Chocolate city act, Jesse Jagz has released a sketchy poster of what is expected of his yet to be released album.

The singer has plans to drop a number of projects before of the turn of the year, and he has been teasing about it. The latest is an artwork totally branded with his personal imprint JagzNation.

The Future Awards Africa launches #AfricaNeedsYou campaign …. visits Banjul, Johannesburg, Enugu, others The Central Working Committee (CWC) of Africa’s biggest youth event, The Future Awards Africa (TFAA), has officially launched the media campaign for the 2015 edition – which celebrates 10 years of inspiring Africa.

The campaign is themed #AfricaNeedsYou and will be driven by a tour of 100 cities across Africa.

This tour will re-focus attention on the issues young people are facing across the continent, the case studies of how TFAA’s global brain trust has solved these issues and then set up hubs in each city - made up of past winners, nominees, partners

and volunteers at community-levels – to solve these problems.

“Over the past 10 years, we have created a platform that has spotlighted, invested in and grown businesses amounting to over $100 million dollars in revenue, supported and created change organisations reaching over 200 million African youth, transformed governments and institutions, and has inspired millions of young Africans directly with these stories told strategically through its 10-year cycle of global media partners,” said Ohimai Atado, who is chair of the CWC. “ The one-year tour, which kicked

off in October 2015, has now visited Kano, Banjul, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Abuja and Lagos. Next on the schedule are cities in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Adamawa, Sokoto and Accra.

10 alumni of the awards were unveiled on November 8 as ambassadors to drive this campaign.

The Future Awards Africa 2015 is powered by RED and held in partnership with the Ford Foundation, Microsoft, the US Consulate, the Canadian High Commission Nigeria and The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The event will be hosted in Lagos on Sunday, 6 December, 2015.

Williams

…. visits Banjul, Johannesburg, Enu-

Music Gist L4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Mutiat Alli

Mavin Partners Access Bank

... debuts N500 gatefee yearly concert Fans of Mavin records are better get ready for the fun of their lives this yuletide. That’s because the group in partnership with Access Bank have debut an annual concert titled Access Mavin Concert. Nigeria youth get to see the Mavin crew - Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid, D Prince, Reekardo Banks, D’ija and Korede Bello live on stage.

The carnival-like gig is billed to take Eko Boulevard, Eko Atlantic, Lagos by storm on the 23rd of December, 2015.

The most exciting part of it is the low price it comes with. The all-star concert is just N499, simply put, N500! That’s the lowest in the history of concerts in Nigeria.

Speaking with media about this rare funpacked opportunity, CEO, Mavin Group, Don Jazzy said he’s been working on the concert for three years now. He expressed joy at the realisation of the gig, all thanks to Access Bank.

On behalf of Access Bank, the Executive Director, Victor Etioku , said it is a blessing to form a special bond with the Nigerian youths through the concert. According to them, Access Bank saw the need to get to the young minds through the Mavin crew because of the large followership the group commands.

“We are proud to be associated with the Mavin crew because we believe they are best in the country right now. This concert is not a profit making one but to add value to

Platinumz

Don Jazzy

the lives of our youths, “ he said.

The gig will come up every December in Lagos State, and invites can be obtained on the Paywithcapture app. Pay With Capture is Access Bank’s newest platform for payment. All you need do is download the app on your phone and then buy your ticket.

Afterwards, simply show up at the concert venue with or without your phone, and your access is guaranteed so long as you already registered.

Headies

award gets December date

Animashaun

Organisers of the biggest music award in Nigeria, the Headies, has hinted that the 2015 edition of the awards has been slated to hold December 30, at the popular Landmark event center.

According the CEO of Smooth Productions, owners of HipTV, Real Time & Hip-hop world Magazine, Ayo Animashaun, the 2015 edition of the award

Seyi Shay inks

endorsement deal

comes in bigger and better package as all hands are currently on deck towards the successful running of the event which will be broadcast live on Nigeria’s leading entertainment platform HIPTV. However, Olamide is top of the nomination table this year with eight nods including – Best Pop single, Rap Album, Best Collaboration (twice), Best Street-Hop Artiste, Album of the Year, Artiste of the Year, and Song of the Year.

The highly prized Next Rated category will see Reekado Banks, Kiss Daniel, Korede Bello, Cynthia Morgan and Lil’ Kesh slug it out.

Other new nominees at the Headies are Wizkid, Falz The Bahd Guy, Mr. 2Kay, Small Doctor, Ugovinna, Di’Ja, Shaydee, Simi and Aramide.

Few days after singer, Seyi Shay revealed on twitter and Instagram that she would love to be a Pepsi brand ambassador along with some other wishes which she tagged ‘ThingsiLongThroatFor’, the musician disclosed that she has indeed joined the Pepsi ambassadorial team.

Seyi has however joined other brand ambassadors of the company that includes Wizkid and Tiwa Savage.

Free shopping voucher for guests at AFRIMA 2015 During the ceremony of unveiling the activities of the 2015 All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA in Nigeria, the International Committee of AFRIMA has announced 5000 units of discount shopping vouchers worth N3,000 each to be distributed to all guests/ participants by Supermart.ng, an online Supermarket at this year’s All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA on Sunday, November 15 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Unveiling the partnership deal, Director of Communication and Sponsorship, AFRIMA, Matlou Tsotsetsi said” “There is a global call to action today for collaboration. Businesses, great and small are called upon to examine economic challenges and share ideas on how it can be eliminated in Africa. This is a good opportunity for us to air our views about the approaches being used to shop with convenience in Africa. Like it or not enterprises are growing in Africa. With Supermart.ng, the cost of moving goods and personnel around, cost of maintenance of motor vehicles

Seyi Shay

due to high wear and tear and with so much man-hour wasted due to road congestion is reduced.”

According to the Senior Associate, Communications and Partnerships, Supermart.ng, Oluwatayo Alofun, “Supermart.ng is proud to support the All Africa Music Award, AFRIMA 2015.

This is in line with our business objective of meeting African needs

by Africans. While we are meeting these needs in the area of food, technology and logistics, we proudly support other Africans that are meeting African needs in other areas especially in entertainment, tourism, arts and culture.”

AFRIMA is expected to be broadcast live to over 80 countries across the world with African superstars billed to perform like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, Olamide, Yemi Alade, Busiswa, AKA, Sakordie, Charlotte Dipanda, Ahmed Soultan, Flavour, Alikiba, Vanessa Mdee, Wiyaala, Jose Chameleone, Cassper Nyovest, Dark Suburb, Bebe Cool and several others.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Spectre movie tops box office rating Stories by Mutiat Alli Recently released 24th Bond movie, Spectre, has taken in $73 million to shoot to the top of the US box office in its first week.

Spectre recently emerged the biggest opening of all time in UK box office history, bringing in $63.8 million in its first seven

L5 Movie Gist

MERCY AIGBE’S

Victims set for cinema release

Spectre

days of release.

The Peanuts Movie took the second spot with $45 million, while The Martian took the third spot with $9.3 million, and Goosebumps the fourth spot with $6.9 million.

The UK biggest opening record was previously held by Harry Potter and ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’, which opened to £23.8 million.

Directed by Academy Award winning Sam Mendes, the upcoming film stars includes Daniel Craig, Ben Wishaw, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Christoph Waltz, Monica Bellucci, David Bautista, Léa Seydoux, Stephanie Sigman, Andrew Scott and Rory Kinnear.

Light skinned actress and CEO MAGDIVA pictures, Mercy AigbeGentry, shortly after a successful private screening her much anticipated movie ‘Victims’, insider disclosed that the movie will be hitting cinemas across the country, November 20.

Victims ex-rays the few of the societal vices that includes rape, child abuse, human trafficking, child labour to mention but few and equally featured top notch stars that includes Funsho Adeolu, Fathia Balogun, Saidi Balogun, Seun Akindele, Jude Orhorhor, Juliet Ibrahim, Olu Jacobs amongst others.

Victims is however produced

by Mercy Aigbe-Gentry and directed by renounced cinematographer Lancelot Imaseun.

Toyin Aimakhu

new lover confirms affair

Aigbe

Iyabo and Dorien

Seun and Toyin

The ongoing media attention on the crack in the 2 year union of Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu and her estranged hubby, Adeniyi Johnson is not getting an end soon.

According to multiple reports, the alleged affair between Toyin Aimakhu and Seun Egbegbe of Ebony Films might be heading to the altar soon.

In a recent interview with lifestyle magazine, Global Excellence,

Seun Egbegbe affirmed having a sizzling affair with Toyin, adding that they may decide to marry soon. “I’m looking at that area. We may decide to marry.”

“It has been awesome in my life within the short period of time Toyin and I have been together again.

Even for Toyin herself, her career is on high tempo. I’m sure we are meant to be together as partners,” he added.

Iyabo Ojo star along Hollywood Dorien Wilson Nollywood actress and producer, Iyabo Ojo, who recently completed shoot of her latest movie “Astray,” is currently on set of a new movie.

The Mask stars the actress, her son, Festus Ojo alongside Hollywood actor, Dorien Wilson, best known for his role as Professor Stanley Oglevee on the sitcom, “The Parkers.”

Directed by Nigerian Hollywood based filmmaker, Pascal Atuma, the upcoming film is written by Promise Adeyemi.

The movie stars Wilson as Bishop Ruby, and a faith based film depicting the private life of pastors and what they face when the lights go off, and some of the domestic challenges they go through.

Lilian Esoro returns to set Despite being newly-wed, Clinic Matter star, Lilian Esoro, who recently got married with MMMG boss, Ubi Franklin, has returned back to work as she was spotted alongside Uche Jumbo- Rodriguez on set of new movie titled’ Lost in Us’ The movie, which also stars Tope Tedela, Ruth Kadiri, Mary Lazarus, Desmond Elliot and many others, is being directed by Uche Jombo.

Event L6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Mutiat Alli

Kemi Lala-Akindoju

Kunle Afolayan

Cross section of participants

ini Edo, OC Ukeje

Fillmakers and actorsd

OC and wife

Funlola Aofiyebi-Rahimi

Ekwador

Cross section of traineeas

Segun Arinze

Wale Ojo

Rita Dominic

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

L7 Reviews

Stories by Patience Ekanem and Igbokwe Oluchi

Music Review

Bracket ft.

TimayaCelebrate: Celebrate your sorrows away

Bracket has just released this newest video titled- celebrate ft.

Timaya. The music has 13,256 views, and was released 2-days ago precisely November 2nd, 2015. It was produced by Notjust ok.

The music is an interesting one, everything about it is just good. Bracket really took his time to do the music. The background of the music befits it, it’s very conducive, and because it shows that they are celebrating and jubilating. The costumes of the dancers is very nice, it’s kind of a carnival attire, and the combination of the colours is nice. The outfits of both singers are really

gorgeous. The video is shot in a swimming pool.

The words of the music is clearly heard unlike some music that you rarely or hardly hear the wordings of the song, the beat was very good. The dance step is also nice and unique, it was really fun, because the dancers were just smiling all through, it’s very good, the dancers are not much, the rest of the girls in the video are just swimming, the dancers really performed very well.

The shot is very nice and it is sharp, the music is kind of informative, it’s trying to tell people to celebrate and jubilate no matter their situation, that you just have

Movie Review The Nigeria Nollywood GhollyWood Movie is a blast and stunner.

The movie’ Speechless’ was directed

by Ken Steve Anuka and was produced on August 27, 2015. This movie has a view of about 6,771. The movie ‘Speechless’ centers on a beautiful young lady name Andrey (Nadia Buari), who has been living with her family but her mother treats her so different from the way she treats her youngest daughter ‘Leila’(Amaka Ike). The harsh treatment became so much that she couldn’t bare it again and it got her thinking if she really belonged in the family. Andrey’s world got scattered when her dad who has always been there for her and who always confronts his wife about her harsh attitude towards Andrey, was shot by an armed robber and died instantly. Andrey’s world got scattered and along the line, the woman whom she believed was her biological mother gave her the shock of her life when she revealed her true identity to her by telling Andrey she was her biological mother and even sent her out of the house. Andrey had no other choice than to move into her boyfriend family house. Andrey, who

to talk to God and He will brighten your situation, and give you a reason to celebrate and jubilate like Bill Gates.

He did the music because of the upcoming Christmas celebration, and he is also praising God for His

Speechless:

A Block Buster Movie! Dare to see it thought her sorrows were finally over when she got accepted into the family, her school fees were being taken of and other things were settled, couldn’t understand her life her situation when her boyfriend parents died in a car accident on their way to the airport. Andrey’s boyfriend, Ken (Artus Frank) and the elder brother, Alvin (George DickMan), became hopeless and Andrey in return revealed her true identity by proving to her boyfriend that she’s nothing but a whore, lost everything and Alvin went to prison due to his dangerous behavior towards his exgirlfriend, ‘Gizel’ (Martha Akomah). This kept ken wondering, if there was more to Andrey’s real identity that he is yet to discover!

In all it was a good craft and deserves 7/10 score card.

good works, he said he asked for just an opportunity, but God gave him many opportunities.

The music is very nice, a good one because it is good to jubilate. I say kudos to you…more grease to your elbow. I rate it 8/10.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, November 12, 2015

Tinsel

Showing on

13:30

Thur, 12 Nov | PG13

Showing on 150 Africa Magic Showcase ‘S8/E1536 - 8/1536’. Tsav takes a huge risk to deliver a personal message to Amaka. The girls adjusts their travel plans as the Baale and Prince Ojo pay a very special visit. Bimpe confronts Nina and causes trouble for Soji.

101 M-Net

L8 Television 166 Channel

Married Again

08:00

Thur, 12 Nov | PG

‘S1/E94 - 1/94’. Yash’s father is accused of having another child outside his marriage. He agrees to take a DNA test to prove he is not the father. Aarti breaks into Radha’s house in search of ammunition and is shocked at her findings.

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:20 Would I Lie To You? 00:50 The Cube 01:40 Call The Midwife: Christmas...

03:00 EastEnders 03:30 EastEnders 11:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 12:00 The Voice 13:00 Royal Pains 14:00 Arrow 15:00 Resurrection 16:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 17:00 The Goldbergs 17:30 The Voice 18:30 Grey’s Anatomy 19:30 Mysteries Of Laura 20:30 Elementary 21:30 Carte Blanche 22:30 Hello Ladies: The Movie

154 AfricaMagic Family

00:55 Out Of The Ghetto 02:30 Jane And Abel 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Scarlet 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Redial 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:25 Mashariki Mix 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 14:00 Goge Africa 14:30 Nowhere To Be Found

04:00 EastEnders 04:30 EastEnders

03:50 The Impostor 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love

15:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:00 Prem 16:30 Tenant 17:30 Mary Slessor 18:00 Jane And Abel 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 19:55 Paul’s Puzzle 21:00 Nowhere To Be Found 21:30 Goge Africa 22:05 Living With Trisha

05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series

14:10 Total Wipeout UK

05:25 QI

16:00 EastEnders

06:00 The Thin Blue Line

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

06:30 EastEnders

00:30 Killer Karaoke

17:10 The Cube

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

01:30 Tattoo Nightmares

07:55 The Weakest Link

18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

02:00 Most Shocking

08:45 The Chase

19:00 Celebrity MasterChef

09:30 Total Wipeout UK

20:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

10:30 The Cube

21:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

11:20 New Tricks

21:50 The Graham Norton Show

12:20 Top Gear

22:40 Would I Lie To You?

13:15 Come Dine With Me

22:30 Would I Lie To You?

15:05 The Weakest Link

155 AfricaMagic World

03:00 Most Shocking 04:00 Exposed 04:30 Exposed 05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 05:25 Exposed 05:50 Exposed 06:15 Video Zonkers 06:40 Video Zonkers 07:05 World’s Wildest Police Videos 08:05 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:05 South Beach Tow 09:35 Most Shocking 10:35 Most Shocking 11:35 Video Zonkers 12:05 Video Zonkers 12:35 World’s Wildest Police Videos 13:35 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:35 South Beach Tow

00:05 Music Block 01:10 Good Morning Africa 02:10 Deal Or No Deal SA 03:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 04:00 The Dzigbordi Show 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 The Heart Of A Shepherd 07:50 Star Gist 08:25 Star Gist 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 The Dzigbordi Show 11:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA

13:00 Music Block 14:00 Star Gist 14:30 Star Gist 15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Lies That Bind 16:00 The Dzigbordi Show 17:00 So Wrong So Wright 17:30 So Wrong So Wright 18:00 The Dzigbordi Show 19:00 Kumwesu 19:30 Kumwesu 20:00 Revelation 21:20 Jara 21:55 Music Block

15:05 Most Shocking 16:05 1000 Ways To Die 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Video Zonkers 17:30 Caught On Camera 18:30 What Went Down 19:00 South Beach Tow 19:30 Hardcore Pawn: Chicago 20:00 Enemy Territory 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Sexy Car Wash 22:30 Most Shocking

Ighalo

g charges Eagles to fly over Swaziland

Poster!

X2

Maradona, Messi are

incomparable —Zola

Ballon d’Or: Rivaldo g X7 makes case for Neymar FRANCISCA ORDEGA

Klopp effect

A FRANCISCA ORDEG

Soccer League. national the Nigeria women’sshe the U-17, Ordega represented all levels. With Cup football team in FIFA U-17 Women’s World played the 2010 at 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s and with the U-20 World Cup. FIFA Women’s she played in the and 2015. At At senior level of 2011 account by World Cup tournaments her World Cup against Sweden the latter she opened equalizing goal scoring Nigeria’s in Winnipeg, Canada. The on June 8, 2015 ended 3–3 in the opening game pulsating match of Group D. at the of Nigeria’s squads She was also partChampionship of 2010 and .

African Women’s both tournaments 2014, winning

19, 1993) is (born October also Francisca Ordega soccer player who a Nigerian professional Spirit in the National pwlays for Washington League. She represented Women’s Soccer national football team (Super Nigeria women’s the FIFA Women’s World Cup Falcons) at both Championship. and African Women’s youth level for her career at thepromoted to the Ordega began before being at Bayelsa Queens, in 2008 where she played side professional Championship.

Nigerian Women’s a top to Rivers Angels, with In 2011 she moved later, she signed ip club year A club in Nigeria.

Football Championsh for Russian Women’s 2013 to 2015, she played kan. Ordega Rossiyanka. From Swedish Damallsvens and signed Pitea IF in the the North Atlantic Women’s then moved across Spirit in the National with Washington

About

Bayelsa Queens Rivers Angels Rossiyanka Pitea IF Washington Spirit Nigeria

Francisca Ordega October 19, 1993 (age 22) Gboko Benue Nigeria 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) Forward Washington Spirit 14

Ordega

Francisca

g X4,5

Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: State: Nationality: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number: Senior career 2008–2011: 2011–2012: 2012–2013: 2013–2015: 2015–Till date: National team:

PeRSONAL INFORmATION

EXTRATIME

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Special feature

I made Ronaldo, Keane g X7 confesses

Football has doping problem —Wenger g X6

g X8

g X6

Mignolet hails

X2

Thursday, November 12, 2015

EXTRATIME

Ojo denied visa for Swedish Open

Police raid Malta FA offices over Germany 2006 bid scandal

O

ne of the nation’s vibrant table tennis players, Onaolapo Ojo, has missed out from the Swedish Open which served-off in the Scandinavian nation on Nov. 11, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Ojo told NAN on Wednesday in Lagos on telephone that he was denied an entry visa by the Swedish Embassy which made it impossible for him to participate in the championships.

“I won’t be participating because I was denied an entry visa for reasons best known to them.

“I could not understand anything meaningful as reasons they gave for the refusal,” he said.

The competition would hold from Nov. I1 to Nov. 15.

The player added that he had prepared rigorously for the tournament, only to have his hopes dashed by the Swedish Embassy in Lagos.

“This is one competition I have been training and preparing for, long before now.

I have been putting in all my best in my training.

“I hoped to use the tournament to improve and move up in my international ranking,’’ he said.

Ojo is currently ranked at 357 in the international rankings and was primed to compete in both the singles and the doubles events at the Swedish Open. He was scheduled to pair with Aruna Quadri in the doubles event, but the visa denial has frustrated the arrangement.

P

Ighalo

s le g a E s e g r a h c lo a Igh to fly over Swaziland O

Ojo

dion Ighalo has insisted Nigeria cannot afford to take Swaziland lightly in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Lobambo and he will therefore prepare for the game as he would against Arsenal in the English Premier League.

The Watford striker, who has scored seven goals in the EPL, said there are no longer minnows in world

football.

“There are no small countries in football and so I will prepare to play against Swaziland as I would against Arsenal,” said the 26-year-old forward.

“I will give 101 per cent whenever I play for my country.”

Former Nigeria U-20 skipper Ighalo has scored two goals for the Super Eagles.

olice have raided the offices of the Malta Football Association in connection with claims that Germany secured the right to host the 2006 World Cup after paying bribes.

Bjorn Vassallo, FA General Secretary, said on Wednesday in Valletta that officers from the police’s Economic Crimes Unit on Monday searched through the association’s archives at Ta’ Qali headquarters for any documents that might shed light on this scandal.

He said the Malta Football Association (MFA) is fully collaborating with the authorities looking into the scandal.

Vassallo said the cooperation was in line with association’s mission to eradicate corruption from football.

He said the development followed a meeting last Friday in which the police had requested him to put all related documentation at its disposal.

Vassallo said the police raid came in the wake of fresh claims made in a British newspaper, that German football legend, Franz Beckenbauer was complicit in influencing the votes of FIFA’s executive committee in 2000 before it allocated football’s most prestigious tournament to Germany at England’s expense.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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Eaglets accorded heroic reception Andrew Ekejiuba Sport Editor

A

reception worthy of heroes was accorded players and officials of the U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, as they returned to the country on Wednesday following a successful campaign at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.

The Coach Emmanuel Amuneke –led Eaglets touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard Emirates Airline flight EK 785 from Dubai. The team had stayed the night in Dubai on Tuesday after flying from Santiago the previous day.

On hand to receive the victorious boys and their officials were DG, Sports of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mallam Alhassan Saleh Yakmut, NFF 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF 2nd Vice President, Mr. Shehu Dikko, directors of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, NFF Board members Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi, Alh. Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande and Alh. Ahmad Kawu, and NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

A cultural troupe entertained the Golden Eaglets just outside the arrival hall and made it possible for several airport officials, travelers and fans to take photographs with the players and officials, as Captain Kelechi Nwakali held aloft the glittering trophy.

The team will be decamped on Thursday, to reconvene for a presidential reception at a later date.

MUHAMMAD APPEALS TO GOMBE TO EMPLOY KARATEKAS

G

ombe State Karate Coach, Musa Muhammad has appealed to the state government to offer employment to some of the state karatekas.

Muhammad revealed on Wednesday that all his karatekas were representing the state in competitions, but were not formerly employed by the government.

According to him, he has more than 10 persons, practicing Karate and Taekwondo but all of them were from independent clubs in the state.

“Engaging them in the state employment, even as casual staff of the Sport Commission will boost their morale,” he said.

The coach added that all the practitioners were well-trained and ready to represent the state in competitions.

Muhammad noted some of the practitioners had been demonstrating their commitment by providing their kitting for competitions.

“The Government only assists during events with supply of kits for competition purposes.

Martins

Martins joins EaglEs for swaziland crackEr

S

eattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins has finally joined the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Swaziland.

Officials disclosed Martins was the last to report to the training camp and he joined up by 6.30 am Wednesday morning.

Martins, 31, is making a comeback to the Eagles after he last played for Nigeria against Kenya two years ago.

He has been on superlative form in the Major League Soccer in United States of America, where he scored 15 goals in the regular season for Seattle, who reached the semi-final of the MLS playoffs.

Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi joined the squad Tuesday night.

Eagles trained twice on Wednesday at the FIFA Goal Project because the game will be played on artificial pitch in Lobambo, Swaziland.

Meanwhile, former Super Eagles

manager, Christian Chukwu has said the side will only underrate the Swaziland opposite, Sihlangu Semnikati at their own peril.

Chukwu said though Swaziland are not notables in the land but must be accorded due respect having made it to this stage of the competition.

The reverse fixture clash will hold on November 17 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Dalong appointed Sports Minister

S

olomon Dalong has been appointed the Minister for Youth and Sports following the inauguration of 36 ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Dalong, a lawyer from Plateau State, was uniquely dressed in khaki complete with a red beret like Thomas Sakara of Burkina Faso.

Early feelers say he has the ears of President Buhari and he will move swiftly to ensure accountability in Nigerian sports industry.

A new Permanent Secretary, Christian Ohaa, has already been appointed for the sports ministry.

It is not clear how this new development will impact on the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut.

Dalong

NPFL: Plateau Utd promoted after winning appeal

P

lateau United will feature in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) next season after their appeal against a ruling in favour of Adamawa United was upheld.

Adamawa United had complained that the kick-off of Plateau’s final game of the season at Spotlight of Katsina was delayed and so was open to various manipulations.

The NFF Organising and Disciplinary Committee therefore awarded the game to the home team Spotlight and so doing, Adamawa were promoted ahead of Plateau United.

However, the NFF appeals committee ruled that the game started when it was supposed to and on that basis, Plateau have been duly promoted to the Nigeria top-flight league.

Plateau last played in the premier league five years ago.

Warri Wolves striker, Joseph Osadiaye, scored a hat-trick A section of Plateau United players line up before a match.

Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: State: Nationality: Height:

Francisca Ordega October 19, 1993 (age 22) Gboko Benue Nigeria 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)

PERSONAL INFORMATION

X4 Thursday, November 12, 2015

EXTRATIME

Ordega

Francisca

RDEGA FRANCISCA O

Bayelsa Queens Rivers Angels Rossiyanka Pitea IF Washington Spirit Nigeria

Forward Washington Spirit 14

19, 1993) is a (born October er who also ay pl Francisca Ordeg er cc so essional a Nigerian prof hington Spirit in the National pwlays for Waser League. She represented er Women’s Socc ’s national football team (Supup Nigeria womenth the FIFA Women’s World C Falcons) at bo en’s Championship. and African Wom youth level for r career at the omoted to the he n ga be a eg pr Ord s, before being at Bayelsa Queende in 2008 where she played si al . ip sh profession on ’s Champi Nigerian Women gels, a top ed to Rivers An signed with e In 2011 she mov sh r, te la A year ub club in Nigeria. ’s Football Championship cl for ayed pl e sh , 15 Russian Women 20 om 2013 to rdega Rossiyanka. FrSwedish Damallsvenskan. O gned si e d th an in ic IF nt Atla Pitea ross the North en’s then moved ac n Spirit in the National Wom to ng with Washi . l Soccer League omen’s nationa d the Nigeria w U-17, she te en es pr re a the Ordeg all levels. With Cup football team in FIFA U-17 Women’s World ’s 10 played the 20 -20 at 2012 FIFA U-20 Women and with the U ’s World Cup. e FIFA Women she played in th At senior level naments of 2011 and 2015. Att by World Cup tour ened her World Cup accouneden the latter she op’s equalizing goal against Sw scoring Nigeria in Winnipeg, Canada. The me on June 8, 2015 ended 3–3 in the opening ga pulsating match of Group D. uads at the rt of Nigeria’s sq d She was also pa’s Championship of 2010 an African Womenboth tournaments.

2014, winning

About

Playing position: Current team: Number: Senior career 2008–2011: 2011–2012: 2012–2013: 2013–2015: 2015–Till date: National team:

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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X6

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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BRIEFS

Wenger

Arsenal have no fear in Europe - Wenger

A

rsene Wenger says Arsenal have no fear in European away games and believes the Gunners have shown over the years they can beat any opponent.

Arsenal initially struggled in away games when they first made it into the Champions League, drawing with Lens and losing to Dynamo Kiev to crash out in the group stages in 1998-99. Since then they have reached the final in 2005-06 and the semi-finals again in 2008-09, with Wenger claiming the club has gotten rid of the fear that held them back before.

Football has doping problem —Wenger A

rsene Wenger claims there is a doping problem in football, with the Arsenal manager revealing he has come up against “many” teams using performanceenhancing substances throughout his career.

Wenger’s comments came amid the doping scandal engulfing athletics, after an independent commission - set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) - recommended on Monday that the IAAF suspend Russia from international competition for allegations of widespread systemic cheating and cover-ups in track and field.

T h e report’s

Vardy reveals wedding day shift

my players injected to make them better. I never gave them any product that would help enhance their performance. I’m proud of that.

I’ve played against many teams that weren’t in that frame of mind.

“For me, the beauty of sport is that everyone wants to win, but there will only be one winner.

We have reached an era in which we glorify the winner, without looking at the means or the method.

“And, 10 years later we realise the guy was a cheat. And during that time, the one that came second suffered. He didn’t get recognition. And, with all that’s been said about them, they can be very unhappy.”

B

ayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is eager to manage in the Premier League, according to former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The pair worked together during Guardiola’s final season at Camp Nou, after Fabregas returned to the club from Arsenal.

Guardiola has since thrived in charge of Bayern Munich but, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, he has been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.

Talks over a new Bayern deal for Guardiola are due to be held next month.

“I have absolutely no doubt that Pep will test himself in the Premier League.

“I have spoken to him in the past and I know that he likes it a lot,” Fabregas revealed.

Chelsea midfielder Fabregas has endured a difficult season at club level - the champions are languishing in 16th place after seven Premier League defeats in 12 matches so far this term.

“Things are not going well in the league,” he added.

“Last season we lost four games in the entire season and this season I have practically lost count.

“Clearly we are doing something very wrong. “

L

eicester City forward Jamie Vardy has changed the date of his wedding to May 25, 2016, in order to be available for next summer’s European Championship. Vardy has been in sensational form for the Foxes this season and tops the Premier League scoring charts with 12 goals. The 28-year-old made his England debut in the goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland in June and has since made three more appearances for Roy Hodgson’s side.

Coutinho to create more assists for Reds

L

iverpool’s hopes to set up more goals as he builds a better understanding with newcomers Christian Benteke, Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings. The Brazil international has provided just two assists in 11 Premier League appearances so far term, eight behind Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, but he is confident Liverpool’s hard work on the training ground will eventually pay off.

findings have raised questions about doping across all sports and Wenger claims football is not immuned.

Macedonian midfielder Arijan Ademi tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug after Dinamo Zagreb stunned Wenger’s Arsenal 2-1 in a Champions League fixture in September.

Ademi faces a hearing on November 19 and will face disciplinary proceedings if his B-sample is also positive but the Croatian club will face no punishment from UEFA. “I try to be faithful to the values that I believe to be important in life and to pass them on to others,” Wenger told reporters.

“In 30 years as a manager, I’ve never had

Arijan Ademi of Dinamo Zagreb failed a drugs test recently.

Fabregas

Fabregas tips Guardiola to coach in EPL

Klopp

Mignolet

hails Klopp effect

S

imon Mignolet says Liverpool are now looking forward to the future after embracing the changes made by new manager Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp was appointed as Brendan Rodgers’ successor last month and enjoyed a six-match unbeaten run before suffering his first defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace on Sunday.

A 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 31 earned Klopp his first Premier League win, the result coming either side of cup wins over Bournemouth and Rubin Kazan.

Mignolet, who has started all but one match since Klopp’s arrival, feels the German has already put his own stamp on the club.

“I think it was a month ago when he arrived. In that month a lot has changed.

He has already improved us a lot. A lot of things have changed but we already look forward to the future,” Mignolet said.

Defeat to Palace left Liverpool 10th in the Premier League table on 17 points, seven points off Manchester United in the fourth and final Champions League place.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

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Ballon d’Or: Rivaldo makes case for Neymar

I made Ronaldo, Keane confesses F

ormer Manchester United captain Roy Keane has cheekily taken credit for developing Cristiano Ronaldo into the three-time Ballon d’Or winner he is today.

Keane played alongside Ronaldo at Old Trafford for two years between 2003 and 2005, before the outspoken Irishman

departed for Celtic.

Ronaldo - now at Real Madrid has gone on to win three Premier League titles, one La Liga crown and two Champions League trophies among others.

And Keane feels he deserves some recognition for his work with the Portugal captain, telling reporters: “Yeah I made him.

“Only for me he wouldn’t be where he is.

“Of course yeah, obviously different players have different traits in how you speak to them and who you shout at and who you don’t, but I didn’t shout at Ronaldo that much. I didn’t have to.”

Ronaldo

Odegaard keen to learn from Ronaldo

Keogh

R

eal Madrid youngster Martin Odegaard is keen to learn from Cristiano Ronaldo and has revealed the Portugal international is always happy to give him tips to improve his game.

Odegaard joined Madrid from Stromsgodset in January 2015 and made his official first-team debut in the 7-3 win over Getafe in May, replacing Ronaldo for the final 30 minutes of the game.

He has since mainly been plying his trade with the Madrid Castilla reserve team, but is eager to follow the example of the three-time Ballon d’Or winner when he trains with the first team.

“We train together from time to time so I try to learn as much as possible from him.

“He’s given me lots of tips. There are a lot of things you can pick up from a player as good as him.”

Ronaldo last week described the 16-year-old as one of the most promising youngsters around in the game and Odegaard is delighted to be held in such high esteem by his illustrious team-mate.

“It’s great to hear that from the best player in the world.”

X7

up for Dzeko challenge

B

arcelona f o r w a r d N e y m a r deserves to be crowned the best player in the world, according to Brazilian great Rivaldo.

Neymar has taken La Liga by storm this season, scoring 11 goals in 10 league matches as Barca top the table.

The pick of Neymar’s goals came last week, when he produced a sublime flick and volley to lead Barca to a 3-0 win Villarreal.

Neymar’s performances have earned the praise of former Barca and Brazil international midfielder Rivaldo, who has backed the 23-year-old national team captain for the Ballon D’Or. “I would like to say that it has been good to see Neymar playing for Barcelona, and especially with the number 11 shirt, which I know very well,” Rivaldo wrote via Instagram.

“I do not know who will be 2015 best player in the world, but in my humble opinion, respecting Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi and others, Neymar deserves to be the best in the world.”

R

ichard Keogh is relishing the chance to do battle with Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko as the Republic of Ireland set their sights on the Euro 2016 finals.

John O’Shea is suspended for the first leg of the qualifying play-off in Zenica on Friday evening, meaning there is at least one place up for grabs in Martin O’Neill’s rearguard with Keogh, Marc Wilson and Ciaran Clark seemingly battling it out for the starting berths.

But if the 29-year-old Derby defender gets selected, he will look forward to the task of keeping the Manchester City striker, currently on loan at Roma, at bay.

Asked to assess the threat posed

by Dzeko, Keogh said: “He’s got a bit of everything. He’s tall and he’s deceptively quick, he’s got a nice touch - his all-round game is something that you have to watch out for.

“He’s one of those where you think he is probably going to head it, but he jumps up and brings it down on his chest.

“Its little things like that you have got to be aware of. He tries to link the play, so he is a player that is a big threat for them.

Odegaard

Dzeko

Neymar

BRIEF Sneijder: Van Persie not finished!

N

etherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder believes Robin van Persie still has a role to play with the national team and has urged the Fenerbahce striker to respond after being dropped.

National team coach Danny Blind opted to leave Van Persie out of his squad for the international friendlies against Wales and Germany this month, claiming the forward is not fit enough to compete at the highest level. Sneijder feels the former Manchester United and Arsenal man still has the potential to be a key figure has advised the 32-year-old to prove Blind wrong.

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Thursday, November 12, 2015

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SPECIAL FEATURE

“

I think it is unfair to compare Maradona and Messi because they are from different eras. Both are extraordinary players and I learned my football watching Maradona play.

He is my master and mentor, and therefore I have an empathy towards him. Maradona had it tougher than Messi. There were two players always marking him and their aaaa only duty was to take him out of the game. I think Maradona would have scored much more goals if he were a modern player.

C

Maradona, essi M are incomparable—Zola focus on playing their own game rather than focus on one player alone. I think Maradona would have scored much more goals if he were a modern player.”

If Mexico 1986 helped Maradona etch his name into football’s pantheon, Zola is

hopeful the 2022 FIFA World Cup holding in Qatar will produce new icons and inspire fans across the world.

“There is genuine passion for the sport in the Middle East and I had not expected this when I came here,”

he said. “Every day I see a lot of wonderful things happening in preparation for the big event.

Doha is already a great city and I think in four or five years this is going to be an extraordinary place to be in. The World Cup will be massive.”

”

helsea legend Gianfranco Zola enjoyed a charmed career full of moments of unforgettable skill and elegance as he weaved his way across Europe and into fans’ hearts. And yet, despite all the titles and accolades - including the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and silver at the 1994 FIFA World Cup- one of the Italian’s highlights remains having featured in Napoli’s 1989/90 Serie A title-winning squad alongside Diego Maradona.

The former West Ham United and current Al Arabi manager spoke about the MaradonaMessi debate, his unfulfilled Chelsea dream and the current blues hanging over Stamford Bridge.

“I think it is unfair to compare Maradona and Messi because they are from different eras,” Zola said. “Both are extraordinary players and I learned my football watching Maradona play. He is my master and mentor, and therefore I have an empathy towards him.

“Maradona had it tougher than Messi. There were two players always marking him and their only duty was to take him out of the game.

“Yes, modern defenders mark Messi, but these days the game is more attacking in nature and defenders

Messi

Maradona

Zola

While many retired players look to the past to relive their greatest moments, the diminutive Italian hopes to one day return to the club at which he made 229 appearances, and help lead it to further glory.

To date, no player has worn Chelsea’s No25 shirt since Zola did so proudly between 1996 and 2003.

“My dream, let us say my ambition, is to be Chelsea manager someday,” the 49-year-old said. “I realise that I need to improve as a manager if I want to get there. And I am working hard to achieve my goal.”

Despite the current crisis of confidence at the Bridge, Zola believes that the Jose Mourinho-led defending Premier League champions will recover from a difficult start to the season in which, after just 12 matches, they sit uncomfortably in 16th place, already 15 points adrift of the leaders and close to the bottom.

“There is no one compelling reason for the poor start to the season,” Zola said. “The poor form of key offensive players Eden Hazard and Diego Costa has not helped. Defensively as well the team dropped the standards set last year. So the players have lost confidence as a group and this has led to poor results. The club has it in them to turn around their fortunes.”

Since being appointed Al Arabi coach in July, the Italian has turned heads in the region by transforming the Qatar Stars League outfit into a team playing attractive attacking football in his own image. In the process he has brought the club’s fans back to the stadium in search of a first league win since 1997.

“I try to make my side play football in the way I want to see the game played,” he said.

“I have made a small start with Al Arabi and I am confident the results will be seen in the near future.”

Culled from fifa.com