Dtn 14 5 15

EXCHANGE RATES AS AT 13th May 2015.

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN)

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 13th May 2015.

GAINERS

Selling(NGN)

LOSERS

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

7UP

170.1

8.10

4.76%

TOTAL

155

-1.90

-1.23%

POUNDS STERLING

306.6812

307.4636

308.2459

GUINNESS

160

5.00

3.13%

FO

152

-1.00

-0.66%

28.01

-0.97

-3.46%

35

-0.50

-1.43%

EURO

220.0884

220.6499

221.2113

BETAGLAS

33

3.00

9.09%

PZ

SWISS FRANC

211.1159

211.6545

212.193

MOBIL

151.3

1.30

0.86%

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Senate angry with Jonathan

N150

Sunday Isuwa ƄƑƉ

ÏÏÏThe

crisis of confidence between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Senate came to the open on Wednesday with the Upper legislative chamber warning Jonathan not to take the National Assembly for granted.

Senate President, Senator David Mark, who sounded the warning shortly after CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Lead poisoning kills 28 in Niger 5

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Blair to Buhari: The world is behind you

ÏÏÏ“I just want to say to the President–elect that there is tremendous support for you and the country at this moment from all of us. In whatever way we can stand ready

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Politics Page Three

3

s

Editorial Proliferation of fake polytechnics

T

he alarm by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) over the proliferation of fake polytechnics in the country calls for

concern.

The Executive Secretary of NBTE, Dr. Manzuid Kazuare recently revealed that as at last count, more than 65 of such institutions were illegally operating in different parts of the country. He lamented that these fake polytechnics were in the habit of admitting students with claims of running programmes leading to the awards of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates. According to him, some top officials of the NBTE are conspiring with such institutions to perpetuate fraud.

Definitely, we are worried at this earth shaking revelation and call on the Federal Ministry of Education to thoroughly investigate the claim with a view to getting to the root and meting out appropriate punishment to those concerned.

Our grouse is informed by the fact that if unchecked, Nigeria runs the risk of a further lowering in the standard of its tertiary education. Much as the country and the citizens are in need of higher education, it would amount to condemning those searching for the golden fleece to perpetual illiteracy by allowing all manner of rag-tag institutions to sprout all over the place in the guise of offering tertiary education.

It would be recalled that not long ago, the NBTE boss disclosed that more than 50 of such illegal polytechnics and monotechnics were shut across the country for operating in contravention of the Basic Minimum Academic

Standards. It is a fact that such self- proclaimed polytechnics and monotechnics lack any visible infrastructures that commend them as places for acquiring higher education. Aside the infrastructure deficit, they lack well-trained lecturers, teaching and research, all of which aggregate to define a quality educational institution.

This bastardisation of our education system must stop immediately. It is a shame that many Nigerians are unconscionably going to all length to defraud their fellow citizens who are genuinely desirous of acquiring education. Definitely, what are at stake are not only the shenanigans being perpetrated by these outfits, but also education of the present and future generations. Incidentally, fees paid in them are not cheap, which amounts to fleecing unsuspecting students and their parents of hard earned money.

Unfortunately, those seeking admission in these contraptions are victims of the country’s misbegotten public policies and ethos that have relegated education to the background. Sadly, the pursuit for further education in Nigeria is now seen as an exercise in ego massage rather than a conscious exercise to banish ignorance and help in the building of a better society.

That is why we are calling on the National Board for Technical Education to immediately publish the list of the pseudo institutions, as a way of forestalling prospective students from falling victims to their antics. It should also put in place adequate measures to check the further proliferation of such unreliable polytechnics and monotechnics.

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Idris Derby: Nigeria’s friend of foe?

Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏIf

there is any President of a neigbouring country whose role in Nigeria’s fight against the Boko Haram insurgents has remained controversial and suspicious, it is Idris Derby of the Republic of Chad.

Derby, a former rebel, who overthrow an erstwhile ally and Chadian president, Hussien Habre, had at various times before undertaken actions which on the face value was in support of Nigeria’s fight against the insurgents but on further scrutiny were suspect.

He was said to be in close touch with Boko Haram

commanders, who until the recent renewed onslaught against the sect, used Chad as a haven.

Derby was purportedly the mediator in the botched ceasefire between the Federal Government and the sect in 2014.

On March 4, 2015, the Chadian president even boasted that he knew the hideout of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, and urged him to surrender.

He had said: “It is in Abubakar Shekau’s interest to surrender, we know where he is. If he refuses to give himself up, he will suffer the same fate as his comrades”.

But on Monday, Derby made a volte-face, leading many to wonder if the Chadian president is Nigeria’s

Words On Marble :

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friend or foe.

Speaking to State House correspondents after visiting President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Derby said that he did not know the where the Boko Haram leader was hiding, adding: “Even if I knew, I won’t tell you”.

This U-turn, clearly unexpected, has heightened fears that beyond the outward posturing of Derby, he may not be the type of ally Nigeria needs for the fight against Boko Haram to be brought to a decisive end.

So, if the fight against Boko Haram is to be brought to an end, the Federal Government should be wary of persons like Derby who publicly show support to the fight against insurgents but secretly bolster them.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

Associate Editors

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Chief Commercial Officer

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Noel Anosike

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Chude Jideonwo Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Acting Bureau Chief, Northern Operations Lateef Ibrahim

Segun Adio Okay Osuji

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

Amilcar Cabral

John Quincy Adams

Theodore Roosevelt

Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told. Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures.

Claim no easy victories...

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

The best leader is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.

News 4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Ekiti: Fayose plans to kidnap us, APC lawmakers allege

J O N AT H A N

Ï ƋƋƆ Ɛƈ ƆƒƈƋè ƓƈƅƊƆƗè ƈ Ɔ ƈƐƈƒƆ – Govt.

Gbenga Sodeinde Ado-Ekiti

ÏÏÏThe 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly on Wednesday accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of planning to kidnap them in a desperate bid to prevent his impeachment.

But in swift reaction, the Ekiti State government described the allegation as “evil, wicked and insensitive”, saying “such unwarranted allegation coming from the APC lawmakers was clear exposure of the culpability of the party in the kidnapping of residents of Ekiti State.

The APC lawmakers alleged that the governor had devised a stop-andsearch plan in connivance with Government House security men, who would stop them on major roads in the state, track them, and kidnap them.

The lawmakers said this in a statement issued by Wole Olujobi, special adviser to factional speaker of the assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin

wherein they thanked the good people in government for leaking the plot. They described the operation as “unwarranted assault”, particularly as the vehicles targeted for stop-andsearch operation would be mainly dark grey Toyota Camry cars, the brand and colour of the lawmakers’ official cars.

The statement read in part: “We are in possession of a report that the governor is exploiting cases of kidnap in the state to break the nationwide ban on roadblock ordered by the inspector-general of police to raise some teams of security men working in the government house to be on our trail to take us out of circulation.

“As we speak, the security men and thugs are in possession of our photographs to identify us after stopping us. They have been told to specifically be on the look-out for dark grey Toyota Camry cars, which are our official cars, to identify us for kidnap to stall his impeachment.

“Part of the instruction is that all vehicles with tinted glasses must be

stopped for identification. All our cars are tinted and so that will create the excuse for stopping our cars just to hit their targets.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Government on Wednesday described the allegation as “evil, wicked and insensitive”, saying “such unwarranted allegation coming from the APC lawmakers was clear exposure of the culpability of the party in the kidnapping of residents of Ekiti State”.

It added that the lawmakers had betrayed their guilt by simply telling Nigerians that they want the kidnapping of Ekiti residents to continue.

A statement signed by Lere Olayinka, special assistant to the governor on Public communications and New Media, said: “The Fayose-led government will do everything humanly possible to protect lives and properties of Ekiti people and what is expected from genuine lovers of the state is to cooperate with security agencies, and not politicisation of every efforts of the government by the APC,”.

My cousin was held as slave for 24 years, US-based cleric tells UK court Ngozi Okafor London

ÏÏÏA United States based cler-

ic on Wednesday corroborated claims that a Nigerian couple held a fellow citizen in a slave condition in the United Kingdom for 24 years.

Pastor Christopher Ekong, also a Nigerian, told the Harrow Crown Court in London that 39-year-old Ofonime Sunday Inuk (also known as Etiobong) was clearly in a state of slavery as far back as 2004 when he visited the family in the UK. Ekong, a cousin of Etiobong, told the jurors at the resumed sitting on Wednesday that the couple once offered to pay the claimant £300 in 2004.

Giving evidence at the trial of the 60-year-old obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Emmanuel Edet and his 58-year-old senior nursing sister wife, Antan, the cleric told the court that Mrs Edet offered that amount during a heated telephone conversation he had with her on a “settlement “ for Etiobong.

Ekong also told jurors that when he got back to his base in Houston, Texas, Mrs Edet, in one of their

telephone conversations, made the offer again, but this time , said she would pay N100,000 ‘settlement ‘ fee for the 15 years Etiobong had ‘served’ the family till then.

He also told the trial that Mrs Edet once told him Etiobong wanted to commit suicide , and that he should therefore pray for him.

Ekong,42, also told the court that the Edets didn’t care about the welfare and future of Inuk, who, according to him, was known as Etiobong, by his family.

The US-based pastor also said that when he visited Etiobong in London in 2004, he was so concerned about his welfare and future that he took it upon himself to ask Mrs Edet why his cousin was not in school. Ekong stated further that Mrs Edet told him she wanted to send Etiobong back to Nigeria, because her two sons had finished university education and he was no longer needed.

Moreover, he also said he was told that Etiobong’s passport had gone missing in the process of having it renewed in Abuja. Continuing, he told how he “argued with her (Mrs Edet) when she told me Etiobong has to go back to Nigeria

to learn handwork.”

Asked by the judge what Mrs Edet said after the argument, he replied: “She didn’t give me any answer.”

When Roger Smart, prosecuting, asked him what Mrs Edet said about Etiobong not attending school, he replied: “She didn’t give me any positive answer about the school.”

In his testimony, Ekong noted also that when he and one Mr Otoro got to the Edets house during the 2004 visit, Etiobong refused to sit on the chair in the living room, when asked to join them as they waited for Edet to come out of her bedroom. He told the court also that he noticed that his hand wasn’t looking good as a result of the household chores he was doing.

Leading his witness in his testimony, among others, Smart asked: “Did she say why she wanted Etiobong to go back to Nigeria?” He replied, “yes, she said her two sons were done with university and his service was no more needed.”

“Anything else discussed,” Continued on page 6

A LEGACY OF REFORMS May 29 this year will be epochal in the chequered history of Nigeria and its years of social engineering. That day, the country will turn a bag-load of legacies.

He leaves legacies for which the nation will eternally remain grateful.

These include electoral reforms, giant strides in the economy, particularly the automotive and agricultural sectors, as well as infrastructure.

29 publish a special report to put the Jonathan enigma in proper political party to another, as well as the innumerable giant strides of his outgoing administration.

To participate in the ground-breaking event, kindly contact: OLUYINKA OLUJIMI, Editor: 08033009648, y2olujimi@yahoo.com IFEANYI EMEFU, Special Projects: 08086296714, ifeanyi642001@yahoo.com

Senate angry with GEJ Continued from page 1 a closed-door session convened by the Upper legislative chamber to discuss the way forward in the continued constitutional conflict between the two arms of government on the 2015 Constitution amendments, said the senators would remain lawmakers and not lawbreakers.

“We are lawmakers and so we cannot be lawbreakers. A senior one for that matter as the apex law making house in the country.

In relation to the Constitution review which we did, I want to assure Nigerians that we will not be lawbreakers and cannot do anything that will be against the law”, Mark said.

He also stated that the Senate met at an executive session to discuss issues that are current in the country and which is in the interest of the country, but warned that “the executive should not take us for granted by their actions”.

Speaking to journalists after the plenary, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said the Senate is exploring a legal option of going to the Supreme Court to vacate the experte motion with which the executive barred them from proceeding to override the President’s veto.

He said the lawmakers never envisaged that the executive would

ambush their efforts, adding that because the National Assembly empowered the Supreme Court to adjudicate on the matters concerning both the executive and the legislature, the Senate will obey the court to avoid being seen as breaking the laws they made.

He said the issues had been differed severally in the Senate, but that at the Constitution review meeting, the members resolved to brief the Senate at plenary to know the next step to take, hence the executive session they held before the commencement of the plenary.

He said that at the plenary, the lawmakers resolved not to do anything that will portray them as lawbreakers before Nigerians, adding that part of their resolution was to approach the Supreme Court to vacate the experte order of the executive to enable them proceed with the process of overriding the President’s veto.

Ndoma-Egba denied the allegation that the National Assembly did not meet the Constitutional requirements of fourth-fifth in passing the Bill.

He rather emphasised that with respect to every constitutional requirements, the lawmakers adequately complied with the required number, saying that the executive is merely looking for a way to scuttle the process.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

5 News

Police vacate Niger Assembly complex, members reconvene Pita Chikwem Minna

ÏÏÏMembers of the Niger State

House of Assembly, on Wednesday, reconvened on the floor of the House under the leadership of the new Speaker, Hon. Isah Kawu.

Members had planned to hold their sittings at the legislative quarters, following the continued police occupation and denial of access to the complex.

As early as 10am, members drove into the legislative quarters into the waiting hands of their legislative staff, the Sargent-at-arms and the deputy clerk, in a make-shift tent, arranged in a typical Assembly set-

ting.

By 12:05pm, the Speaker directed legislative staff to relocate to the Assembly complex, following a truce reached between the Speaker and the Commissioner of Police, which led to the withdrawal of armed policemen from the complex after eight days of occupation.

At about 1:35pm, the House eventually commenced sitting, after waiting for more than 45 minutes for other members to arrive, in order to have the mandatory quorum needed for sitting.

As the sitting commenced, the Speaker informed the House of two letters from the executive governor of the state, in respect of two bills proposed by the exec-

utive. They are bills for the establishment of Niger State Council of Arts and Culture and for the establishment of Niger State Investment Promotion Agency.

Kawu also informed the House of an invitation by the governor to members to attend the commissioning of Shiroro bridge built on River Kaduna. The Speaker urged members to rally round the governor at the occasion.

A motion for debate on the second reading of a bill, for a law to provide for the retirement benefits for Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries, and for connected purposes, was moved by the majority leader, Hon Yusuf Kure and supported by chief whip, Hon. Sadatu Kolo.

406 NIMC workers operate with forged documents ÏÏÏThe National Identity Man-

agement Commission (NIMC) has uncovered alleged falsification of documents, involving 406 workers who, it alleges, “have been benefiting financially from fraud.”

The agency said the affected staff were involved in the procurement of fake appointment, promotion, conversion and upgrading letters.

A statement, signed on Wednesday by the General Manager of NIMC on Corporate Communications, Abdulhamid Umar, said the irregularities were uncovered during the staff audit (headcount) and verification exercise.

The verification was conducted to absorb and integrate about 1,000 staff from the defunct Department of National Civil Registration and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

According to Umar, the audit, which was part of the background

checks, regularly conducted by determine the veracity of their the NIMC on its staff, to avoid claims. compromising the National Identity Database, is also part of the commission’s continued efforts, to ensure that the National Identity Management System project is not endangered.

Remi Oladoye He said, “At the initial stage, the audit turned up some fake and The management of the unverifiable appointment/promo- University of Ibadan has antion/conversion letters, belong- nounced plans to conduct annual ing to some staff of the defunct medical screening for students, DNCR. Against this background in order to know their health staand for the purpose of justice, eq- tus. uity and fair hearing, the defaultThe Vice-Chancellor of the uniers were queried appropriately. versity, Professor Isacc Adewole, “A number of persons were made this disclosure during a cleared after a rigorous process press conference to state the pothat involved a sustained back- sition of the university, over the ground check and confirmation death of a 200-level student of the of tendered documents as re- Department of Health Education sponse to the queries, while some and Human Kinetic, who died others were to be subjected to fur- last week. ther investigation through a valid Adewole, who said the whole disciplinary committee, set up to university was grieved on the

s

HISTORY In a time of great turbulence and challenge, Providence always throws up certain individuals to calm the waters and sail the ship to safety. It always places the task on one man, one team leader.

Katsina State-born Major General Muhammadu Buhari who will begin to steer the ship of the country from May 29.

report on The Man, Buhari.

the past and the present with the future on the nation and the incoming

To participate in the publication through congratulatory adverts, kindly contact:

OLUYINKA OLUJIMI, Editor: 08033009648, y2olujimi@yahoo.com IFEANYI EMEFU, Special Projects: 08086296714, ifeanyi642001@yahoo.com

UI begins medical screening for students ÏÏÏ

unfortunate incident that caused the death of Mayowa Alaran, noted that the annual screening was in continuation of a similar one introduced for staff of the institution four years ago.

It would be recalled that Mayowa Alaran, had on May 6th, lost his life after he slumped, and was rushed to the Jaja clinic but was said to have not been attended to by the staff in the clinic.

The death later led to the heavy students’ protest the following day, which slowed down both the academic and non-academic ac-

tivities in the university.

The VC however noted that the university, in order to prevent future occurrences, has intensified efforts in reforming the health services in the institution.

Adewole noted, “We will continue to decentralised the health services, we are aware as management the feelings of our students, perception is very important, I am aware that some are doing part service, you cannot be in Jaja Clinic and be doing parttime service, we are also going to inject new staff. “

Osun TUC resolves crisis Lead poisoning kills 28 children in Niger over power tussle ÏÏÏThe

Federal Government has confirmed the death of 28 children in a fresh outbreak of lead poisoning from illegal mining in Niger State.

The Minister of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo, who stated this during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, said 63 cases of the outbreak had been confirmed by the state government, while many animals in affected communities

had died.

He said there was palpable fear among neigbouring communities in Kaduna State, noting however that the disease was not contagious.

According to the Director of Port Health in the Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, who led the Federal Government’s team to the areas, said communities affected are, Shikira, Magiro Ward and Kawo, all in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

Gwarzo emphasised that the current outbreak was deadlier than the one which broke out in Zamfara in 2011, in which 400 people were killed.

He said the public should not entertain fear over the outbreak but should instead, take all precautionary measures against its spread.

Nwankwo said the health ministry received the report of the outbreak on May 7th and immediately swung into action.

Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe leadership crisis rock-

ing the Osun State chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has been resolved, following the intervention of the national secretariat of the union.

The union had been in crisis for more than two years, following the refusal of its former chairman, Comrade Francis Oladele Adetunji, to drop power

for the new chairman, Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji.

The crisis, it would be recalled, has divided the labour movement in the state, following declaration and counter declaration of strike action over the non-payment of workers’ salaries.

The National President of TUC, Comrade Bala Kaigama, led the executive committee members to Osogbo, Osun State, where the amicable resolution was reached to put the impasse off the union.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Akpabio, others back Saraki Ï M ƍƏƆƇƆƏƏƆƗ ƅ ƗƈƗ ƐƆ – Buhari

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏSenator Bukola Saraki has

secured the support of 65 ofhis colleagues to be President of the Senate, according to one of them, Dino Melaye.

However, the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari has denied backing any aspirant for the office.

Melaye, the Senator-elect for Kogi West, told journalists on Wednesday that support for Saraki is from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He added that Saraki’s endorsement was arrived at during a meeting held at the Transcorp

Hilton Hotel, Abuja, convened by a group called ‘Like-minded Senators’, spearheaded by him.

Melaye, who chaired the meeting, expressed confidence in Saraki, citing the vast experience of the former Kwara State Governor and his expertise to lead the upper legislative chamber.

He named those who attended the meeting to comprise both old and new members, including Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto State. The others are Sabo Nakudu, Mohammed Gobil, Ali Ndume, Danjuma Goje, Binta Garba, Andy Ubah, Sam Egwu and Shehu Sani.

His words: “The meeting was a mixture of PDP and APC Senators: 40 APC and 25 PDP Senators

in attendance. We resolved that we have to produce a senator that is made by Senators and by no matter everything, Saraki has the capacity and capability to stabilise and hold the Senate together.”

Melaye added: “Our resolve is that no matter any circumstance, we are committed to making Saraki the next Senate President.

Eighty per cent of Senators from Ahmed Lawal’s North-East zone attended the meeting and endorsed Saraki.”

Meanwhile, General Buhari has said that he is willing to work with anybody who emerges as leader of the Senate and the House of Representatives, irrespective of the part of the country he or she hails from.

Boko Haram launches fresh attack on Maiduguri ÏÏÏBoko

Haram insurgents launched a fresh attack on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital late evening on Wednesday forcing residents living around the Nigerian Army’s Giwa barracks of Nare to flee into their homes.

This is the first major attack by the sect in Maiduguri in the last two months, following sustained and fruitful military activity in the north-east, particularly in Sambisa, the sect’s widely-acknowledged fortress.

The attack which commenced at about 6:30pm was heralded with distant echoes of gun shots that continued to get louder and louder.

Residents of the city who are living around the southern flank of the town had to defy the 7p.m. curfew to flee.

An officer with State Security

Service (SSS) who asked not to be named because he had no permission to speak with journalists, said: “The attack is going on in Kayamla village right at the outskirts of Maiduguri”.

Kayamla is about 10 km away from Maiduguri town.

Fleeing men, women and children were seen crying for help as those with asthma or arthritis were collapsed on the way as their relatives cried for help.

The attack was coming exactly a year after Boko Haram insurgents attacked Giwa barracks, and freed some of their members.

Spokesman of the 7 Division Nigerian Army, Col. Tukur Gusau, told journalists on last night that troops have moved in to bring the situation under control.

He said: “Please be calm as we are right on top of the situation.”

The world is behind you, Blair assures Buhari

Blair said further” “This is an election which took place in a way which the country showed the majority of democracies the spirit and character of its people and in the President elect and Vice President elect.

“It is a leadership that I know is determined to do its best for the country. Obviously, the future and destiny of Nigeria lies in the hand of its people.

“I just want to say to the President elect that there is tremendous support for you and the country at this moment and all of us. In whatever way we can stand ready to support you and help you. It is a moment of great challenges which border on the life of the people as well as their security and so on.”

He added: “If the same spirit and character that defined the election can be taken through these coming years to address the challenges, I think we can all have great confidence in the times ahead.

“Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to see you again here in Nigeria and wish you and your team the best in the times head”.

The Vice President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi werealso at the meeting.

Continued from page 1

From left: Alh. Femi Okunnu, his wife and former deputy governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Lateefah; Chief Launcher, Prince Alaba Oniru; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor-elect of Lagos State and Mr Ade Ipaye, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, during the public presentation of Contemporary of State Land Matters in Nigeria: The Case of Lagos State, by Okunnu ... on Wednesday.

Photo: Olawale Rotimi

My cousin was a slave for 24 years, cleric tells UK court Continued from page 4 Smart asked the pastor, and he replied: “I asked her how much will you settle him with and how do we get his passport?”. He continued: “She said she will give £200 and I started screaming. She increased it to £300 , and I said, what are you talking about? £300 for 15 years?”

Later in his testimony, Ekong said he was in contact with the Edets and in one telephone conversation, “she offered him (Inuk) N100,000 to be paid into a Nigerian bank account, for settlement for spending 15 years with them.”

Asked how he responded, he said: “Angry. I told her it wasn’t enough to start a business.” But under cross -examination by the defence counsel for the couple, the Pastor not only became uncomfortable as he was made to admit a number of contradictions in his testimony and written statement to the police.

Counsel for Dr Edet took the lead, asking him whether he kept the two or three letters and email he said Etiobong wrote him to complain about the life of “misery” he was living. “Did you keep those letters?” “ No, no, no,” he was made to admit.

Asked when he last saw Etiobong, he said it was this year, since their last physical contact in 2005.

“So, over 10 years since you last saw him?”

“Yes.” When asked if Etiobong told him he was enrolled on a typing course in 1993, he said ‘no.’

Did he tell you he had tutoring at home? No, he answered.

Did you hear that he sometimes worked for an agency and earned some money and was being given to him by Dr Edet?

Ekong again admitted ‘no.’

He was also asked, “did Etiobong tell you he had indefinite leave to

remain in the UK as at 2004?”

Though Ekong said “yes,’ he added that Etiobong hadn’t seen the passport because they told him it was missing.

Emma Akuwudike also crossexamined the pastor, and when told Mrs Edet couldn’t have called him ,because “ you never gave your number to Mrs Edet,” during the 2004 visit, he said he couldn’t remember whether it was him or Etiobong who gave her the number.

When things became rough, he told the court “I’m a pastor, I won’t come here to lie.”

When asked if Etiobong told him of the good time he had with the family while they were resident in Israel, “his response was that he was doing household chores there.”

She also asked why he didn’t see the need to keep the two letters Etiobong wrote him, he replied, “I don’t know where I kept them.”

to support you and help you. It is a moment of great challenges which border on the life of the people as well as their security and so on.”

Those were the words of former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, who held a private meeting with the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Blair, who addressed journalists after the meeting said that the world stands solidly behind the Presidentelect as Nigeria turns a new page on May 29.

He was particularly full of praises for the manner the recent general elections were held in the country, noting that the exercise was followed by peace and tranquility.

General Buhari had met with Blair during his trip to the United Kingdom shortly before the election.

The former British Premier said that with the peaceful and credible election, Nigeria and its people have earned the respect of the international community.

He expressed confidence that the incoming government of Buhari, would achieve its set objectives.

His words: “In the last few weeks, Nigeria has earned respect throughout the whole world. There is enormous support for Nigeria now in the international community. The support takes into consideration the challenges that lie ahead and there is great confidence in the country.”

Blair

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

7 News

It’s time to embrace truth, PDP raps Lai Mohammed

FG approves N31bn for road projects

Lateef Ibrahim

ÏÏÏThe

Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has admonished the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to learn to be truthful, honest and desist from fabricating lies that could be injurious to democracy and peaceful co-existence in the country.

The PDP gave the advice in a statement, on Wednesday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, in Abuja. Metuh said, “but for the maturity of President Goodluck Jonathan and the head of the APC’s Transition Com-

mittee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, who cleared the air, the country would have been thrown into crisis over the false alert by Lai Mohammed that the Presidency was frustrating the transition process.”

According to him: “After Alhaji Joda had debunked Lai Mohammed’s false statement and denied that his committee was being frustrated by the PDP-led Presidency, we waited for forty-eight hours expecting the APC spokesman to apologise to the nation, but this has not been done.

“It would be recalled that Lai Mohammed alleged, last Thursday, that the Presidency and the PDP had ‘bluntly refused to co-

operate’ with the APC to ensure a successful transition and that the Transition Committee of the Federal Government had refused to hold any meeting with that of the APC. “Even after the PDP had debunked the false allegation with facts showing that the committees of the two parties have been holding fruitful meetings, Lai Mohammed vehemently stuck to his position, only for the head of the APC’s Transition Committee, Alhaji Joda to confirm, on Tuesday, that the two panels have been meeting and operating on the same wavelength and that at no time did his team complain to anybody that

there was no co-operation.

“The APC spokesman must realise that his style, which is anchored on lies, has negatively impacted the polity, especially hundreds of young Nigerians, who now engage in insults and fabrications in the media thinking that such is what party publicity is all about.

“Lai Mohammed should know that the campaigns, with its attendant propaganda, are over and that Nigerians expect a more mature and patriotic behaviour from the political class. He should therefore learn to get his facts right and be truthful in his statements at all times”, the PDP said.

Aregbesola debunks arrest of son for money laundering Sodiq Adekunle

ÏÏÏOsun State Governor, Rauf

Aregbesola

Federal Government has approved N31 billion for road projects in Delta, Ondo and Bayelsa states.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Steve Oru, who briefed State House Correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting, said the Council ratified contracts which were given anticipatory approvals by President Goodluck Jonathan at the end of last year.

According to him, his ministry got four projects ratified by the Council; one was the construction of Zara-Okodia-Iseni road in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Other roads to be constructed are Agadagba-Akotokpo-IsayaOvia River and bridge in Irele Local Government of Ondo State, Ofagbe Udeze-Ozoro road with a spur from Ovwie to Aba road in Isoko North, Isoko South Local Government areas of Delta State and Amasoma-Egbedi road in Kolokuma Okpokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Minister unaware of German radio correspondent's de-accreditation

Osogbo

Aregbesola has debunked the inisinuations that that his son, Kabir Aregbesola, had been arrested for money laundering.

The governor, who spoke through his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said it was all lies.

It would be recalled that there was an allegation that Kabir was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, in Lagos, on Tuesday, with a huge sum of money in foreign currencies.

He noted that no relation of the governor travelled nor encountered security agencies.

Aregbesola's aide in his response said: “We have discovered the authors of the wicked and malicious lie they are doggedly pursuing their agenda, by engaging in an aggressive push for the falsehood to reach a larger population, especially using the social media".

Monday Agu, Jnr.

ÏÏÏ The Minister of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose (right) addressing staff of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido, when he visited to sympathise with them over the kidnap of one of them… on Tuesday

30% increase on cargo tariff Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏ The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company, NAHCO Plc, on Wednesday, reviewed its cargo tariff upward by 30 per cent.

With the new regime, a kilo of cargo, which hitherto went for N40 per kilo would now be offered at N52 per kilogram.

It was gathered that the high cost of purchasing equipment due to the increase in dollar rate was one of the reasons for the rise.

Sources said 95 percent of equipment used by NAHCO Plc were imported, while the airports authority hikes its charges every

year, adding that apron passes were increased as much as 300 to 500 percent in some cases.

It further hinted that Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria bills on the company for power has gone up drastically even when there was no power supply to NAHCO for two weeks.

It was further learnt that the last increase was three years ago when the inflation rate was not as high as now.

The source told Daily Times that there was a meeting with all the relevant stakeholders before the decisions were reached at NAHCO headquarters following which agreement was reached on

the hike.

The General Manager Corporate Communications, Mr. Tayo Ajakaiye, said: “You know, we did all we were required to do. We consulted everyone, body, agencies and stakeholders that needed to be consulted. But of course you will agree with me that no one wants a price increase.”

But, the spokesman of Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL), Mr. Basil Agboarumi, said the company was yet to review upward its cargo rate. He said SAHOCL still charges N38 per kilo on each cargo, but noted that the cost of operations had gone high in recent time.

Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, on Wednesday, said she was not aware of the withdrawal of the accreditation tag of German Radio Deutsche Welle’s correspondent, Ubale Musa.

Musa's accreditation was withdrawn on Monday by President Goodluck Jonathan's security aides, shortly after the visit of Chadian President, Idris Derby.

Ubale had asked Derby on the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them.

When asked about the incident at the post-FEC briefing, Akwashiki said: “I am not aware of it, I was in Jos on official assignment.

I read about it like you did.

“Everything about security is controlled by the Chief Security Officer to the President.

“He has his reasons but I don't know the reason why he should do that. I will ask him when I see him,” Akwashiki said.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Politics Buhari

Be wary of desperate Niger Delta leaders, ex-militants warn Buhari

s A group of ex-militants, under the aegis of the Niger Delta Salvation Front (NDSF), has warned the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to be wary of selfish Niger Delta leaders, who are desperate for political recognition.

Consequently, ex-militants urged Buhari to be conscious of the antics of such characters, whose actions, it alleged, could have inimical effect on the fragile peace in the oil rich Niger Delta.

The warning was contained in a statement by Messrs Victor Tamarapreye and Michael Akpodore, the group’s National

Coordinator and Public Relations Officer respectively who alleged that some indigenes of the region were rushing to the media to make all manner of utterances in a desperate pursuit of political recognition and vengeance against real or imagined enemies.

They alleged that such elements from the Niger Delta were on a mission to plunge the region into avoidable crisis for their own enrichment and should be stopped.

They urged the incoming administration to be mindful of the bold steps taken by the

administrations of President Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to address the malaise of violence in the Niger Delta.

The group warned, “We are aware that some political agitators, whose desire is to provoke needless crisis in the Niger Delta region, have commenced moves to misdirect the incoming administration of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in order to engage in acts inimical to the peace of the region.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

With Buhari, dark days are over –Prince Audu Prince Abubakar Audu, first Executive Governor of Kogi State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in this interview with AUGUSTINE AMINU bares his mind on the outcome of the 2015 general election, the future of the country and his ambition to run for the governorship of Kogi State later this year among other issues. Excerpts: Your party, the APC won election at the federal level.

Can it meet the expectations of Nigerians?

Well, not only at the federal level, we won the election at the states level as well and I am very optimistic that APC will deliver Nigeria to the promised land where we will all enjoy the dividends of democracy. The reason for the over whelming victory across the country is simple; the entire country

Adamawa:

Confusion over plots to impose Speaker

is tired of PDP; 16 years of misrule; they foisted poverty and general human degradation on our people. Our people said: “enough is enough”. They need a change and that change is here with us so we are grateful.

I know expectations are high, but we also know that this country has a lot of natural endowment. It is not because we don’t have the resources but the management has been very poor; that has been the pedigree of this administration for 16 years. I can assure you that with APC, the difference will be clear.

Nigerians have not made any mistake in introducing change into our electoral system, into the entire governance system and it is time to benefit and in no distant future, we will see a lot of changes in this country because money meant for millions of people are being cornered into few people’s pocket as a result

of glaring corruption that will be a thing of the past. An APC administration is going to put a stop to those irregularities.

Wale Akintunde, Yola

anoint and impose a speaker for the new assembly that would be unveiled next month.

But Mallam Abdulrahaman Abubakar, Adamawa State House of Assembly memberelect for Mubi South Constituency of Adamawa, re-iterated his colleagues commitment to ensure the emergence of a popular and

There is confusion in Adamawa State over allegations of plots to impose a Speaker on the State Assembly in the soonto-be inaugurated 8th Assembly in the state.

Sources alleged that a powerful individual in the state is already making moves to

Before now, APC has been struggling with people like you and a few others from other states that have actually put in their effort, resources and energy into building it.

Are you worried now that too many other persons are decamping to APC? How? Why? We are very happy.

This is what PDP did to us and we are paying them back in a big way. It is the law of retributive justice that is taking its course, so we are very happy; we have no cause for apprehension, the only thing is that in due course, we will try to separate the chaff from the wheat because some are coming to APC with a purpose.

If you don’t have a natural CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Audu

competent candidate as the Speaker of the House 8th Assembly.

Abubakar who is the chairman of the newly formed Integrity Forum by the House of Assembly members-elect, alleged that there was move by a leading politician to impose a speaker on the house, a development he said the

members had vowed to reject.

Abubakar, who was elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that the members of the APC dominated house had resolved to have a speaker from the Central zone of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

9 Politics

Fashola: No development without law and order Yar’Adua

Some Niger Delta leaders are desperate, Buhari warned CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

“To this group of self-serving politicians, who have suddenly turned agitators on the pages of newspapers, the only means to crave relevance in the incoming administration is to vilify imaginary enemies as well as orchestrate disingenuous scenarios to create an atmosphere of crisis in the Niger Delta region.

“We have no doubt that Mr. President-elect is abreast of all the laudable steps taken by the administrations of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and his successor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, not only to stem the rising spate of militancy in the region, but also in enhancing the desirable economic stability as a result of the commendable measures taken to reduce unrest in the Niger Delta region.

“That the nation’s fiscal state as it stands today is as a result of these appreciable steps is to restate the obvious.

“Nonetheless, we are constrained to remind General Buhari that he owes the Niger Delta region, and indeed the entire country a duty to differentiate between selfserving political jobbers and genuine fighters for better socioeconomic conditions. The two are not same just as their impacts are different.

“Therefore, we call on the incoming APC government to be circumspect in its dealing with dubious minds whose latest crave for relevance has merely depicted desperation that has the capacity to alter the relative peace in the Niger Delta”, the group stressed.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola has warned that it would be difficult for any nation to attain meaningful development with the absence of law and order in the society.

According to him, law and order remained the most important agenda any nation could pursue, pointing out that without it, nothing could be achieved.

Specifically, he was of the opinion that Nigeria will be a better place if things are always done in accordance with the rule of law.

His words: “Law and order remains the most single important agenda that I think any nation can really pursue.

A nation that pursues law and order will achieve everything.

And no matter the buildings we build, the roads, if we choose to live outside of the law, our society will not progress.

“So it is important to pay attention to those who will have the responsibility to enforce the law and those who have the responsibility to administer laws. Because the greatest civilisations have been those founded and nurtured on the basis of law and order”, he added.

The governor who spoke while inaugurating a 22-room magistrate court in Ogba area of the state said the delivery of the court was a demonstration of the government’s commitment to deepen the rule of law and widen access to justice. The court was named after retired Justice Samuel Ilori, a former Chief Judge of the state.

He expressed the belief that the new court would not only help to enhance justice dispensation, but would also

Plot to impose Speaker in Adamawa raises dust

“It is important to pay attention to those who will have the responsibility to enforce the law and those who have the responsibility to administer laws.”

maintain order through conflict resolution.

The governor said his administration had built some new courts across the state to enhance justice delivery and a number of others were at different stages of completion. Fashola praised the state’s judiciary for its role in promoting development, saying the strides of his administration could not be divorced from the great work of that arm of government and

urged the judiciary to continue to justify the confidence reposed in it through efficient service delivery and promotion of democracy.

“I want to express my gratitude to the state’s Chief Judge, the judges of the Lagos High Court and the entire officers and men and women of the state’s judiciary for the support given to my administration. Our time is winding down, but the challenge of running Lagos continues and I can only appeal to you to give the same massive support to the next administration”. On the naming of the court after Ilori, Fashola said the gesture was in recognition of his contributions to the state’s judiciary.

He said similar courts had been named after illustrious legal practitioners in the state to inspire others to contribute to the state’s development.

The governor said the task of promoting the state’s development rested on the shoulders of everyone and urged all residents to contribute their quota to it. Mr. Ade Ipaye ,Commissioner for Justice, said that the new courthouse would promote law and order like similar ones built in Epe, Ikeja, Ikorodu and Lagos Island.

He said all the courts were fitted with the right equipment and facilities to ease delivery of justice. Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, Chief Judge of the State, thanked Fashola for his massive investment in the judiciary.

She said that his interventions had helped to strengthen the arm of government adding that the provision of the latest court and the others already provided would help boost access to justice.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

operated in accordance with the constitution of the country.

On the recent appeal by some members-elect to the state government to sponsor them for an induction course in Abuja, Abubakar said such members were on their own and that what they did was not the collective decision of the members-elect.

“Nobody send them to Government House to solicit for sponsorship; what they did was not our collective decision”, Abubakar said.

Bindow

Fashola

state since the Governor-elect and his Deputy are from the Northern and Southern zones respectively.

“We have a particular person in mind who is good and equal to the task. But a political leader in the state is trying to foist somebody on us but we will reject that”, Abubakar said.

He said one of the major roles of the integrity group was to ensure that the house

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Audu: I will rescue Kogi from PDP’s misrule CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

to achieve our desired goals and objectives.

interest in APC and you are joining APC, it is not a good thing; we will fish you out and know what to do with you in due course. As you readily appreciate people like us, we have never belonged to the ruling party and we have consistently been in the opposition and our consistency is paying off today because we have never being associated with failure. If we had been associated with failure, today we would have been burying our head in our armpit but anywhere we go in Nigeria we will hold our head very high above our shoulder. So, we thank God. Don’t you think we are tilting towards one party system?

Well, that is the contention of PDP. When people were decamping enmass to PDP, they did not say that but now that they are on the receiving end, they are now saying that Nigeria is going to one party system. If that is their contention at this time, so be it; but as far as I am concerned, we have about 20 to 30 registered parties in Nigeria and with that we won’t say it is one party system. All other small-small parties they have votes, they have supporters, so why should it dawn on PDP to start crying at this early stage, crying wolf where there was none.

How do you see PDP in Kogi State?

PDP has failed the people, they are a total failure in Kogi State. Nine years of misrule, nine years of total darkness, nine years of placing the entire state and its people in the woods, nine years of poverty, human degradation. I don’t need to tell you, you are a Kogite, you know it better than me. In our political rhetorics, we are in the fact of the situation, so, the choice has been made by the people that PDP is not good for

Audu

them, they wasted nine years, 16 years governing the people and impoverish the people.

This is why people decided to speak loud and clear in a language that everybody will understand. It’s the truth, they spoke through the ballot papers and I will assure you that they have not made any mistake, at all.

What agenda will you set for General Muhammadu Buhari?

The agenda of agrarian revolution, industrial revolution and complete revolution of the unfortunate situation we met on ground. The dark days are over, there is light at the end of the tunnel. After rain there must be sunshine. For the first time I can assure that Nigeria will be happy

“PDP has failed the people, they are a total failure in Kogi State. Nine years of misrule, nine years of total darkness, nine years of placing the entire state and its people in the woods, nine years of poverty, human degradation.”

with the democracy that we have been battling, true democracy that we have been battling for over the years because we know the shortcomings and the misgivings held against the previous administration and we are going to correct it for the people, that I can assure you.

Will you subscribe to an allinclusive Federal Government or a winner takes all?

No! No! If we want peace in this country, we will not subscribe to the conservative and the progressive idiosyncrasies of winner takes all. It will be an all inclusive government, but we will do it with a lot of observation and modesty; we are not going to bring every Tom, Dick and Harry. We will bring technocrats we feel we can use

There is an outcry by lots of Kogites that they want you back during the next dispensation, what is your stand?

The voice of men is the voice of God and since the people feel that I should come and rescue the state from total collapse, I will definitely answer the clarion call. I believe in chronological order of approach. I say let’s have a strong party, we have a strong party, let’s have the National Assembly on our side, we had it, let’s have the President on our side, we have it and I am very sure that we are going to have the state governor on our side as well.

With that, the next thing I am going to envisage is to join the governorship race and by the special grace of God since the people want me because of the kind of difficulty they are passing through in this country, I can’t run away from them.

They said I should come and rescue the state from total collapse. They want me to come and continue from where I stopped in 2003. There have been no development of any nature. This is my state, my baby is sick, I must be prepared to doctor the baby to health and constitutionally I have just only one term of four years and within this four years, people by the special grace of God if I am given the mandate by the people and by God you will see what you never thought of.

After all, during the four years I spent between 1999 to 2003, we were able to elevate the status of Kogi State to the Eldorado of its development and we are going to improve upon it this time around because during that time, our resources had a lot of constraints. For obvious reasons, Nigeria is a monoproduct country.

Our Crude Oil was selling at a minimal price of a nine to 12 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

“Well, that is the contention of PDP. When people were decamping en-masse to PDP, they did not say that but now that they are on the receiving end, they are now saying that Nigeria is going to one party system. If that is their contention at this time, so be it; but as far as I am concerned, we have about 20 to 30 registered parties in Nigeria and with that we won’t say it is one party system.”

Mu’azu

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

11 Politics

Why there must be seamless transition, by Uduaghan Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for seamless transition process in governance to enhance growth and development in the country.

According to him, transition from one government to another is supposed to be a smooth and frictionless process between the out-going and in-coming government so as to ensure continuous growth since governance is a continuum.

Uduaghan who spoke in Asaba when he played host to the Transition Committee set up by the State Governor-elect, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, decried the rancour observed in the transition process at the federal level and in some states of the federation and commended the harmony in the transition process in Delta State as a shining example in the country.

His words: “Delta State can showcase to the world what transition should be, it has been going on very smoothly, it can be done without friction and rancor. It should be emulated by everybody throughout the country”.

He advised the committee chaired by Prof. Sam Oyovbaire to devise ways of reducing the huge wage bill vis-à-vis dwindling resources explaining that the issue of ghost workers still persisted despite all efforts to check it.

“As you are aware the revenue of the country is dwindling with a lot of states unable to pay salaries, you need to devise

ways and means to ensure that the wage bill is authentic and manageable. We have been trying to deal with the issue of ghost workers in the state, presently we are doing both biometric and payroll automation system to check not only ghost workers but absentee workers, this l believe will help reduce the wage bill”, Dr, Uduaghan said. “l want to also bring to your attention that there are some new tractors that we just bought for Ministry of Agriculture, and vehicles for Environmental Marshals in the Ministry of Environment and other vehicles. I have told the Commissioners that the Ministries should properly document and handover these equipments intact to the incoming government. Please ensure that you take note of these equipments in the course of your documentation”, he added.

The Governor commended members of the Committee for the work they have been doing and urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to be patient with the Governor-elect in the process of appointment adding: “l know expectations are high, but we have to be very patient and loyal party members” Prof Oyovbaire commended the smooth transition process in the state especially the cooperation of the Ministries, Directorate and Agencies (MDA’s) in providing the needed information.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

dollars then and we were able to build University, we brought Obajana Cement, so many things for our people and that made the entire Nigeria or Kogites to term me as the best performing Governor in Nigeria courtesy of media tour put in place by the Federal Government under the Chairmanship of Professor Jerry Gana, the then Minister for information and National Orientation. We want to reenact the same thing and do better. By the special grace of God, we will take Kogi out of the wood I am very sure we will embark on this.

Uduaghan

Cross River PDP chairman slams Ndoma-Egba for visiting Buhari Ntufam John Okon, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), in Cross River State, has berated the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, describing him as a bad loser.

Okon who spoke with newsmen in Calabar said Ndoma-Egba has refused to take his loss in last year’s senatorial primaries of the party in good faith and has

consistently been critical of the party and government in the state.

He said the Senate Leader was a “dancer in political matters” and was not well grounded in the state’s grassroots politics adding that he should spend more time at home than blaming other people for his political failures.

On the visit of Ndoma-Egba to the President-elect, General

Audu: I will restore Kogi’s lost glory

Muhammadu Buhari recently, Okon said the party was aware of the Senate Leader’s lethargic attitude to the party since he lost nomination to contest the Central senatorial district position.

He added that the party would be waiting for him after his romance with the All Progressives Congress (APC) was over and he returns home empty handed.

Ndoma-Egba

What is your vision towards Ajaokuta Steel Company if given the opportunity?

Well, I have had good dreams for Ajakuta in my first term in office. When we came, I approached the Federal Government to allow government embark on managing government in piece meal through payment in tranches.

My intention then was to go to the stock market, raise enough capital, a working capital and make the establishment a great concern. Ajaokuta Steel Company is a fund generating business, it is a fund spinning business, and beside all this, it reduces pressure on labour market and a stimulator to boost economy but because the people are very myopic, they now see things from my own point of view and that’s why the place is dead but as soon as I come back to the office, I will revive it and it will be very useful to both Kogites and entire Nigerians.

I have done it before and this time by the special grace of God, if I am given the mandate and God approves it, I will do it in a grand style. We have no business in co-habiting with poverty in Kogi State but it is a self-inflicted injury which our great-grand children unless we work arduously to improve it, they will never forgive us. It is a very sad and pathetic situation that in the midst of plenty we are wallowing in perpetual abject poverty which is not good enough.

World 12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

N’Korea executes defense minister for sleeping at event

ÏÏÏ North Korea recently exe-

cuted its defense chief and three other high-ranking officials, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.

If confirmed, the executions would be the latest in a series of purges in Pyongyang that raise concerns about the stability of the Kim Jong Un regime.

In a closed-door parliamentary committee meeting on Wednesday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that North Korea’s Armed Forces Minister Hyon Yong Chol was shot and killed by an anti-aircraft gun as hundreds of people looked on in Pyongyang in late April.

Among the reasons cited for the apparent execution: disloyalty, insubordination and, specifically, falling asleep at a military event that North Korean leader Kim was also attending.

Seoul’s spy agency said three other high-ranking officials were also executed, including Ma Won Chun, North Korea's chief architect of new infrastructure who was pictured last year standing with Kim at the opening of a new amusement park in Pyongyang.

This is the latest of a number of reported purges that have occurred since Kim took power af-

IS deputy leader killed in Iraq air strike ÏÏÏThe second-in-command of

Islamic State (IS) has been killed in a US-led coalition air strike in northern Iraq, the Iraqi ministry of defence says. Abdul Rahman Mustafa Mohammed, also known as Abu Alaa al-Afri, was inside a mosque near Tal Afar that was targeted, spokesman Brig-Gen Tahsin Ibrahim said.

In recent weeks, there were unconfirmed reports that Afri had taken temporary charge of IS operations.

Iraqi sources claimed IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been incapacitated as a result of an air strike in Iraq in March.

Gen Ibrahim told the BBC that Afri was killed alongside dozens of militants who he had been meeting at the al-Shuhada (Martyrs) mosque in the village of alAyiadiya, near Tal Afar.

31 persons killed in Philippine slipper factory fire

ÏÏÏA fire at a Philippine rubber

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) provides field guidance at the Sinpho Pelagic Fishery Complex, in this photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang, recently.

ter his father's death in 2011.

South Korea Unification ministry spokesman Lim Byong-chul said Seoul is closely monitoring the situation to the North.

“Our government views that North Korea is promoting the solidification of Kim Jong Un's sole leadership by creating an atmosphere of terror through

executions. But they are paying attention to how this type of politics of terror will influence North Korea's system over the long term,” Lim said.

Because North Korea is an authoritarian, closed society where the media is rigidly controlled, it is difficult to independently confirm Seoul’s assertion that

gunmen attacked a bus in Karachi on Wednesday, killing at least 45 people, including 16 women, all of whom belonged to the minority Shi'ite Ismaili Muslim community.

Provincial police chief Inspector General Ghulam Haider Jamail said six men riding motorbikes ambushed and entered the bus and sprayed the passengers with bullets. The bus was transporting members of the minority community to their workplaces when it was ambushed.

Witnesses told police the passengers thought the gunmen wanted to rob them so they immediately offered their belongings, including mobile phones and money, begging for their lives. But the assailants ordered them to put their heads down and opened fire with automatic weapons.

The attackers spared two children aboard the bus and its driver, telling him to transport the bus to the hospital, witnesses said.

The head of the crime investigation team said evidence collected from the scene suggests weapons

tols were used in the attack.

Television footage showed the bus was on an unpaved road, with buildings under construction on both sides. It is a relatively secluded area of the city.

The attackers apparently fled the scene. Authorities cordoned off the area and transported the wounded to hospitals.

Local media said police have recovered pamphlets of a little known militant group called Khurasan, claiming responsibility for the attack and identifying itself as part of Daesh, the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

Authorities have yet to comment on the reports and the Pakistani government has previously rejected reports of the presence of Islamic State militants in the country. Such pamphlets have been previously recovered from other scenes of terrorist attacks, but officials insist they are meant only to cause distraction.

Meanwhile, Pakistan military chief General Raheel Sharif can-

the executions took place and to determine if there is a serious power struggle or instability inside the Kim regime.

Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korean studies professor at Dongguk University in Seoul, said these recent purges seem to be, at least in the short term, helping Kim consolidate power.

slipper factory killed 31 workers on Wednesday and dozens were missing and feared dead, government and fire officials said.

Ariel Barayuga, head of bureau of fire protection, said investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire in the capital, Manila, that trapped workers at the two-storey factory building of Kentex Manufacturing, which makes flip-flops and slippers.

A fireman who gave his name as Soriano said 31 bodies had been found, adding most of the victims had died of suffocation.

"There could be more buried under debris," he said. "There was someone who was welding at the main entrance and suddenly there was an explosion. It was really fast." He said there were flammable materials and chemicals that helped spread the flames.

About 200 to 300 people worked in the factory, according to Veato Ang, the factory owner. "It just broke out and people started running," he said.

UN welcomes halt in Yemen 45 persons killed as gunmen attack Karachi bus fighting, urges peace talks ÏÏÏ Pakistani authorities said including "SMGs and 9mm" pisÏÏÏ The United Nations Securi-

Sharif

celed his scheduled trip to Sri Lanka because of the Karachi bus attack.

In Islamabad, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was chairing a so-called All Parties' conference when he was informed of the attack.

He denounced the bloodshed, saying it is a “worrying development that the terrorists are now targeting Pakistan’s peaceful and innocent communities that have stayed away from controversies.”

ty Council welcomed the start of a humanitarian cease-fire in Yemen and urged the warring sides to allow urgently needed food, medicine and fuel to reach civilians.

In a statement after the halt in fighting took effect on Tuesday, the council also called for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to hold a conference to broker a political solution to Yemen's crisis.

The fighting there has killed more than 1,500 people with Houthi rebels clashing with government forces and a Saudi-led air coalition that has been conducting air strikes since March.

Coalition spokesman Ahmed alAssiri said the Saudis are committed to the truce, but will continue monitoring the rebels through intelligence and reconnaissance flights. The Houthis also said they would respond if the cease-fire is broken.

U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos also urged on both sides to respect the truce.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Tension in Burundi over coup scare

13 Africa Ethiopian opposition claims harassment ahead of vote ÏÏÏEthiopian opposition groups

Women demonstrators stage a sit-down protest as they try to march to the town center before being dispersed by police in the Ngagara district of Bujumbura, Burundi, on Wednesday.

ÏÏÏA

coup attempt has been launched in Burundi to try to overthrow President Pierre Nkurunziza, amid unrest over his bid to be re-elected to a third term.

Thousands of people in the capital, Bujumbura, celebrated the announcement by Major General Godefroid Niyombare. But the coup outcome is far from clear.

The presidency says the coup has been foiled and the perpetrators would be brought to justice.

Mr Nkurunziza has now left a

summit in Tanzania and is reportedly trying to return to Burundi.

General Godefroid Niyombare told several private Burundian radio stations Wednesday that the president has been dismissed and that he will form a temporary committee, of which he is the president, to restore national harmony and unity. The army general immediately ordered "the closure of the airport and border, and I ask every citizen and law enforcement down to the airport to protect it".

“Given the necessity to preserve the country's integrity …

President Pierre Nkurunziza is dismissed from his functions,” Niyombare read in a statement on Bonesha FM radio.

Niyombare made his declaration to reporters at a military barracks in Bujumbura, and was surrounded by several other senior officers in the army and police, including a former defense minister, Reuters reported.

VOA's Gabe Joselow, who is in

Gambian president sacks another chief justice

March 6 last year.

Court of Appeal president Emmanuel Fagbenle becomes "acting chief justice" - a role which he performed for several weeks the last time a chief justice was axed in February last year - the source said on condition of anonymity.

Fagbenle has been cited by local media as presiding over many high-profile cases in recent years and was sworn in as a Court of Appeal justice six years ago, according to a government release from 2009.

A lawyer in Gambia's capital Banjul described the move as "unconstitutional", adding that Jammeh had no power to sack the chief justice.

"The constitution states that the president shall in consultation with the Gambia Judicial Service Commission appoint the most senior supreme court judge as chief justice," he said.

"Where does Jammeh derive his authority from? Fagbenle is not one of the supreme court judges."

Recent chief justices have not lasted long under Jammeh, a notoriously fickle leader who regularly reshuffles his government and judiciary.

Thousands flee escalating conflict in S. Sudan state

ÏÏÏ Gambian President Yahya

Jammeh has sacked an internationally-renowned Pakistani appointed last year as Gambia's top judge, according to judicial sources, appointing a Nigerian as his temporary replacement.

Ali Nawaz Chowhan was dismissed without an official announcement, a source in the West African nation's judiciary told AFP late on Tuesday, adding: "We have no idea why he was removed from his position."

Chowhan, who was a judge for three years in the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, had served just 14 months under Jammeh after he was sworn in on

ÏÏÏThe

U.N. human rights office says civilians are bearing the brunt of renewed fighting this month in South Sudan’s strategic, oil-rich Unity State. The agency says thousands of people have been fleeing to escape attacks by government and opposition forces.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights says it is alarmed by escalating violence involving government and opposition forces in Unity state.

Since fighting erupted at the end of April, the agency says about 2,200 civilians have sought refuge and protection at the U.N. Mission in South Sudan in the state capital, Bentiu. It says many others have fled into the bush near villages south of Nhialdiu, Koch and Leer.

U.N. human rights spokesman

the capital, Bujumbura, says tens of thousands of Burundians, including soldiers, are in the streets celebrating the apparent coup.

He says, however, it is not clear whether the general has the full backing of the military. VOA's Central African service reports that soldiers loyal to the president have surrounded the state broadcast center. The Burundian president's office said on Twitter, "There is no coup in Burundi" and that "the coup attempt failed."

Rupert Colville says about a quarter of the new arrivals are children under five and two-thirds of them are women and girls. He says there are alarming reports of attacks, abductions and sexual violence by armed men around the U.N. site in Bentiu.

“At least 28 villages have been attacked and civilians killed and maimed,” said Colville. "Others have been abducted and there has also been conflict-related sexual violence and looting of property.

All the villages attacked have been burned and cattle and other properties have been looted.”

Colville says people who fled the area told aid workers that those committing these atrocities are soldiers from the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army or SPLA and armed youth.

Colville

are accusing the government of harassing their members and carrying out illegal detentions ahead of the May 24 elections.

Yonathan Tesfaye, spokesperson for the Blue Party, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that some party members are being beaten, especially in the southern region. He said his party may boycott the elections.

Chane Kebede, leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Party, also complained of a climate of fear.

Desta Tesfaw, a spokesperson for the ruling party, dismissed the allegations and accused opposition parties groups of trying to discredit the elections.

In 2010, Ethiopia's ruling coalition won 99.6% of all parliamentary seats — a victory that Human Rights Watch said was "the culmination of the government's five-year strategy of systematically closing down space for political dissent and independent criticism".

Roadside bomb kills 3 civilians in Egypt's Sinai

ÏÏÏ

A roadside bomb killed three civilians on Wednesday in the Sinai Peninsula where Egyptian forces are fighting an Islamist insurgency, police and medics said.

Jihadists regularly attack security forces in the region in retaliation for a bloody crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

Three passers-by were killed when the roadside bomb went off south of the town of Rafah, which borders the Palestinian Gaza Strip, a police officer said.

The area is a bastion of the jihadist group Sinai Province, formerly known as Ansar Beit alMaqdis.

The organisation has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, which has captured swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria. Officials say hundreds of Egyptian policemen and soldiers have been killed in jihadist attacks, including in Cairo, since the army overthrew Morsi in 2013.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

14 Opinion

Adamu Waziri: Victory in the horizon at last?

S Mohammed Goje Mubarak

ince his emergence following the death of his principal in 2010, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has kept his weaknesses in election matters very close to his chest, with the opposition unable to find a way to convince the judiciary to upturn his perceived victory along the line. The man has maintained what could ordinarily be seen as his political invincibility in the face of stringent and dynamic opposition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Each time the PDP tried, it has met with an iron cast shield and even when it believed it had a good case at the tribunals, it still met the same fate.

The just concluded elections in the state, which produced the same pattern of results, may however generate a more radical shift. Perhaps, the PDP tended to have learnt decisive lessons from past failures, exacerbated mainly by a seeming lack of diligent patience and investigation to obtain the kind of evidence to sway victory on their side.

That appeared to have been taken care of this time around.

At a press conference in Abuja, the Governorship candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, appeared confident of a job well

done by his team in gathering key evidences. He said he is challenging the eligibility of Governor Gaidam to contest the election based on subsisting Supreme Court judgments that have defined the tenure of the president and governors to be a maximum of two terms of four years each.

Adamu Waziri noted that it is in line with its judgment that the Supreme Court determined the tenure in the case of Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and Idris Ibrahim in Kogi State. ‘’The Supreme Court also in 2003, had declared that under the 1999 constitution, neither the president nor the governors could be sworn in more than twice.’’ This is a very interesting argument, whose conclusion would have far reaching implications for democracy in Nigeria.

The point is that if a governor is sworn in, in the morning and for whatever constitutional reason, the deputy takes over in the evening, finishes the term and wins a second term, can he, at the end of the second term insist on re-contesting for another term? The second contentious point on which Adamu Waziri hinges his case is the evidence he claimed to have obtained which showed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Yobe was compromised. A source in Damaturu revealed that the state government had paid millions of Naira into the account of the REC,

which were easily accessed and obtained. A Kaduna based lawyer, Barrister Aliyu Shehu believes that with this incriminating evidence, chances are that APC‘s Gaidam will have a tough time extricating himself from complicity.

The third and final charge, on the basis of which the Adamu Maina Waziri team hopes to make a strong case is the issue of card reader, ‘’we also have evidences to show that in many parts of the state, contrary to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) directive, card readers were not used for conduct of the election. Fourthly, we also have grounds to say that in a number of places, the election was not free and fair due to intimidation by security forces as well as traditional rulers.

Finally, we also want to say that contrary to the national environment, in Yobe state, it is said that more people came out for the governorship election than the presidential election, which is contrary to what happened nationwide.’’

These allegations can be located within the context of the history and nature of politics in the state that dwells more on the mantra of change from a sitting government that appears to run out of ideas. The Gaidam administration is largely seen as an offshoot of the Bukar Abba Ibrahim contraption that has

been accused of cornering power by foul means. Yobe has largely remained rural with poverty and despondency glaringly etched in a population that has grown to learn to put up with a leadership deficit.

The same yardsticks that were used to justify the defeat of Jonathan are the same variables that were at play in Yobe. Before the elections, majority of the people have indicated willingness to effect popular change.

A section of the people allege that the Gaidam administration has exploited the unfortunate insurgency in the state to mismanage resources.

With the dislocation of the state economy, slump in trading and other subsistence activities, Yobe has become more of a junkyard where you find carcasses of damaged automobiles all over the place.

Hopes of the people for a lifeline have been irrevocably dashed, as schools remained closed due to government’s helplessness to come up with solutions. Since 1999, Yobe has struggled to live under the stranglehold of political vampires.

The decision by Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri to challenge the victory of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam offers one last opportunity to get things right.

Beyond the electoral euphoria

I Ayo M. Akingbemi

have read with cautious optimism and shared enthusiasm the expressed yearnings of my fellow countrymen and women about the recently concluded presidential and senatorial elections. Nigerians have every reason to jubilate if for no other reason than bringing about the first transition of power from one democratically elected president to another. The fact that this election was considered relatively peaceful gives an added reason to celebrate. Nigerians were determined to bring about a change in who governs them using the power of the ballot box, thus affirming one of the basic tenets of democracy, sovereignty of the people.

In the midst of the jubilation and expressed hopes that perhaps the wind of change that swept President-elect Buhari and his All Progressive Congress (APC) into power will bring with it an era of prosperity and discipline, a note of caution is in order. Nigerians should beware and vigilant. The note of caution has nothing to do with the ability or sincerity of the President-elect and his Vice-President-elect Osinbajo in stirring the

ship of state in the right direction.

Every Nigerian old enough to know when Buhari was in power would remember the severity of his approach to impose order on a lawless social structure. That war to have its intended effect should have been directed not at the hapless masses but at the governing class. Unfortunately, his administration’s tenure was shortlived before the change he tried to instill could take hold. Even if he had had an elongated tenure in office, many of us did not believe that his approach was sustainable, except under a military dictatorship, especially when the focus of his action was not against those who perpetrated the prevailing environment of lawlessness.

The well established process of social evolution which requires political education and exemplary leadership was abandoned in favour of trying to instill mass behavioural change with the use of horsewhip. His approach though crude, was bold and different, and like anything new, Nigerians celebrated and embraced it, albeit for a short while. What Nigerians needed then and are yearning for now, is pure and unadulterated observance of the rule of law by

those entrusted with the power of leadership. As the saying goes, the speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack. When those in position of power subject themselves to the rule of law, the masses will have no choice but to follow.

Uniform enforcement of the rule of law without fear or favour, and with no regard to exalted political or social status will go a long way to ridding our society of the twin ills of indiscipline and corruption. Remove these two social ills and watch Nigeria soar to a new height.

The President-elect has an excellent track record as demonstrated by his disciplined and austere lifestyle unlike the lavish and ostentatious style of his contemporaries.

This should bode well for him as he is already reputed as a man walking his talk. Perhaps this is part of the excitement about his ascension to power. His commitment to moving the country in the right direction is unquestionable.

Rather, our concern stems from the awareness that a tree does not a forest make. He is one among equals when his executive powers are viewed within the context of the checks and balances of the legislative and judicial branches.

Let’s keep in mind that although the office of the President wields enormous power, the Presidentelect upon assumption of office will not have the power of ultimatum that was afforded him by military decrees during his first tour at the helm. This time, he will have to navigate the rulemaking and log rolling compromises that is the political process.

Additionally, even within his own political party are people of unsavoury character and ineptitude as demonstrated by their public record of performance. I don’t think anyone believes that darning the cloak of APC can be expected to have a transformative power on those whose primary agenda is self-enrichment at the public expense. The major battleground for the President-elect will invariably be within members of his own party and those he surrounds himself with. Many might be coming with the expectation to enrich themselves in the pattern of those who preceded them. The President-elect and his vice must set the tone from the onset and demonstrate that there is a new Sheriff in town; that this time, the laws will be enforced for the good of all.

Health

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

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15

Health Editor: Lara Adejoro Email: omolara.adejoro@dailytimes.com.ng

Stakeholders urge Nigerians to acquire skills on sign language Nurses threaten Lara Adejoro strike over perceived ill treatment Stakeholders have called on Nigerians to acquire skills on sign language in order to bridge the communication gap between people with hearing impairment and members of the public.

They made the call at a 2-day

workshop on communication in sign language organized by the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) for selected officials of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Lagos state government with the theme: ‘Towards Achieving An Inclusive Society In Lagos.’

Speaking, the Permanent Sec-

retary, Youth, Sports and Social Development, Dr Segun Oshinyimika said, the aim of the training to provide the enabling environment for people with disabilities to be fully integrated and do what they can to the fullest of their capabilities with better communication.

“This training workshop will

produce ambassadors to propagate the need for more people to understand sign language, and they can be deployed to different places and even hospitals to help people with hearing impairment.

“It is good for everyone to take advantage of this unquan-

Continued on page 27

Regular eye checks necessary to prevent glaucoma – Dr. Morgan

Morgan

Dr. (Mrs.) Regina Morgan is a Chief Consultant Ophthalmologist at the National Hospital Abuja. In this interview with SEGUN ADIO, the eye expert reveals the inherent danger in the eye disorder called glaucoma.

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of usually inherited eye disorder characterised by damage to the optic nerve-head which is called the optic disc, and it has characteristic visual failed damage, and raised intraocular pressure may be a factor.

The intraocular pressure is like blood pressure; every human being has the intraocular pressure. It is a complex mechanism of a fluid which flows inside the eye called aqueous humor. Usually, the rate at which the aqueous humor is produced is in equilibrium with the rate at which it

goes out. If for any reason, there is an increase in the rate of production but the rate of out flow is the same, then there is a buildup of pressure, but if the rate of inflow is the same but the rate of out-flow is impeded, then there is a build-up of pressure.

That is the only factor we can actually modify in glaucoma and that is why we are laying emphasis on the intraocular pressure. It is usually inherited.

Is it infectious?

It is not an infection. Like I said, it is an optic neuropathy which is usually inherited. The cause of glaucoma is not known, but there are factors that may lead one to suspect that somebody can have glaucoma.

One of such factors is inheritance, that is, if anybody has glaucoma in the family, especially, if parents have it, the likelihood that their children will have glau-

‘‘Whatever has been damaged by glaucoma remains damaged and, unfortunately, again, blindness is sure. All we do is try as much as we can to detect it early and start treatment’’ coma is very high. Then anybody who is a black person, unfortunately, is at risk of developing glaucoma. Also, anybody who is 40 years and above is at the risk of having glaucoma. People who have refractive error, especially, those who are short-sighted are at risk of developing glaucoma. So, glaucoma is not an infection; it is not infectious.

What is the difference between Apollo and glaucoma?

Apollo could be infectious via handshake or eye contact but it is not so with glaucoma. Before anybody complains about the eyes in glaucoma, a lot of damage would have been done.

What are the forms of treatment of glaucoma?

There are many forms of treatment, but, our emphasis is on early detection because if it is not detected early, it causes a lot of damage to the sight and, unfortunately, that damage is irreversible.

So, whatever has been damaged by glaucoma remains damaged and, unfortunately, again, blindness is sure. All we do is try as much as we can to detect it early and start treatment and that is why we are campaigning that people should always test their eyes because, usually, glaucoma does not cause any problem to you.

Glaucoma is asymptomatic, that is what we call it in medicine.

Because it is asymptomatic, until much damage is done, the person does not feel anything. The person can still be seeing well but what is happening to him is that, although, he sees straight ahead, he does not see from the sight, but, many do not know that.

The truth is that until much damage is done, glaucoma does not show any symptom. So, we advise that everybody should get their eyes checked especially those who have any of these factors that I have described. Also, some people, through general or routine eye check-ups, they find out that they have glaucoma.

And once glaucoma is detected early, there are things we can do to bring to the barest minimum the rate of progression. One of

Continued on page 27

Akor Ejumene, Abuja

Federal government has been called upon to halt the development where midwives and nurses working in maternity clinics are deprived for carrying out their statutory duties and responsibilities by management of such institutions.

The National President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) Abdrafiu Alani Adeniji who made the call at the International Nurses Day in Abuja said globally, midwives have been attested to as skilled birth attendants needed by every woman during pregnancy, labour and deliveries of babies, warning the management of institutions that prevent them from exercising this duty to stop the act or face industrial action by the labour union.

He said for Nigeria to stop housing the greatest burden of newborn deaths in Africa, overturn the negative health indices and chart the part towards a better health outcome that is both care and cost effective, nurses have a crucial role as a driving force of that change.

While urging the leadership of nurses at all levels to support encourage and promote nurses value in proactive response to International Council of Nurses (ICN) on quality nursing services, the NANNM boss called for joint forces of all relevant stakeholders to fully utilize the potential to promote a health care system that is low cost, high impact patient and family-centred and evidence based.

He used the occasion to call on government to urgently direct the federal ministry of health to obey and enforce valid court judgments for the enthronement of justice, fairness and equity in the health sector; such as the National Industrial Court Judgment in the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) versus Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) case of 2012, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives versus FMOH case of unified scheme of service for nurses and midwives of 2012.

Health 16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

GSK partners ENOF on asthma control

Tender/Market Access Manager, Abass Sanni, Group Product Manager, Ijeoma Eruchalu, Communication & Engagement Manager, Bolaji Sanyaolu all of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Founder, Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation (ENOF), Lola Ilaka at the z2015 World Asthma Day Symposium sponsored by GSK in collaboration with ENOF, held in Lagos recently.

Lara Adejoro As part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Asthma Day, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Ltd, a leading research-based pharmaceutical company, recently lent its support to the Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation,

(ENOF) in raising awareness on the control of the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways.

Speaking at a symposium to mark the day, Dr. Omolabake Okunubi, Medical Science Liaison, GSK Nigeria, stated that, until recently, awareness in Nigeria about Asthma was relatively low

and, as a result, people were not aware that the disease could be controlled.

According to her, even though there is no cure for asthma, it can be effectively controlled.

In her words: “In line with our commitment at GSK to improve the quality of human life, we aim to create as much disease aware-

‘Take advantage of sign language’ Continued from page 26 tifiable opportunity. People function well when people can relate well with themselves but it will be frustrating if the people around you don’t understand you. The trainees can afterward make money with the skill acquired because many institutions need the help of sign language interpreters, even hospitals inclusive.”

In his welcome address, the General Manager of LASODA, Dr. Babatunde Awelenje said, the training will help people, particularly public officers on how they can have better communication with people with hearing impairment in the course of their official duties.

“The accessibility of the people with hearing impairment and deafness is related to communication and this help

reduce communication barrier.

The trainees can now become ambassadors after the training.

It is essential that everyone understand the sign language so we can communicate well with people who are deaf or people who have hearing impairment,” Awelenje added.

The Chairman, LASODA Governing Board, Mrs Tolulope Animashaun in her remarks said, the training is towards an inclusive society in Lagos and the workshop will break the barrier among people of the public and those with hearing impairment.

In an interview with Daily Times, the Assistant Chief State Counsel and member of LASODA, Barrister Bada Emmanuel said the Ministry of Justice in the state has been up and doing in their responsibility towards providing a level playing ground

for people with disability in the state vis-a-vis the creation of the Citizen Mediation Centre and Office of the Public Defender aside from the legal back-up given to LASODA. “The state by extension has always been a trailblazer in ensuring that people with disability are given the necessary sense of belonging in the state.”

Emmanuel said, it is essential that people know more about sign language “and every state should inculcate this in their curriculum for better communication among those with disability and members of the public.”

One of the participants at the workshop, Mrs Bukola Olusanya from the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, thanked the state government for the rare opportunity to learn the sign language.

ness as possible. We do this in partnership with health organisations, government organisations and non-government organisations such as the Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation (ENOF).

This partnership with ENOF will help us increase people’s awareness on the burden of Asthma in Nigeria and how it can be controlled.”

She added that GSK has also taken a step further to ensure that medication for the control of Asthma is easily accessible and affordable for all. “We understand the cost implication required in the treatment and control of Asthma and that is why we have rolled out medications that are affordable, so that many more patients suffering from the disease can have access to quality medication. We recommend that patients visit their physicians for appropriate assessment.”

With more than 300 million people affected by asthma around the world, health experts say awareness about the disease needs to be increased and sustained.

They also posit that with the right treatment, most of the people affected by the disease can control their Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterised by recurrent breathing problems and symptoms such as breathlessness, wheezing, chest tightness and

coughing.

Delivering a presentation titled “Asthma in School Children”, Dr Cecilia Abimbola Mabogunje, a Consultant Pediatrician with Massey Street Children Hospital stated that schools need to develop a partnership in Asthma management.

According to her, there should be a management plan tailored specifically for each child suffering from Asthma such that they are adequately catered for when there is an attack.

“Schools need to be educated and empowered to help a child with Asthma. It is not a death sentence, it can be controlled. There should be a rescue plan in place for acute episode,” she stated.

On her part, Barrister Lola Ilaka, President, ENOF, said asthma deaths are ultimate tragic evidence of uncontrolled asthma and these were mostly preventable if control measures are effectively instituted.

She said the objective of the organization is to create awareness about asthma and to touch lives, adding that ENOF has taken it upon itself to train schools on improved asthma care and create avenue for teachers and caregivers in school to learn about asthma.

World Asthma Day 2015 was marked last Tuesday, May 5, with the theme: “You Can Control Your Asthma.”

‘Millions of Nigerians are suffering from glaucoma’ Continued from page 26 such ways is medication; some they put eye drops in the eyes; some would have to put medicine by mouth. This will help to reduce the intraocular pressure which I said is a modifiable factor in glaucoma.

If medical treatment does not succeed, we can also use laser to do a procedure, not surgery per se, but a procedure which will help to increase the rate at which the fluid goes out of the eye.

If this fails, we can also do real surgery which is called Trabeculectomy. This will help to increase the rate of the flow of the fluid out of the eye. So, we can either give medicines, use laser or do surgery as treatment for glaucoma.

However, none of these is a cure for glaucoma. All we try to do is to bring to the barest minimum the rate of progression of glaucoma.

What is the statistics of

people suffering from this disease?

Worldwide, glaucoma is the second cause of blindness. Cataract is the commonest cause of blindness. Millions of Nigerians are suffering from glaucoma and most do not know, yet, it is damaging their sight gradually. Generally, most people do not know they have glaucoma and it is saddening.

What is your advice to Nigerians?

Generally, anybody who is known to wear glasses, when you go for glasses, insist on having your eyes examined by an eye care provider, preferably, an ophthalmologist. Anybody who is a black man, we Nigerians are black, and once you’re over 40 years, you should strive to have your eyes tested, at least, once in a year. And anybody who has a family trace of glaucoma should have his eyes tested as well.

Business Times

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

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Business Editor: Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Email: emmanuelogbonnaya@dailytimes.com.ng

L-R: Scott Taylor, Director, African Studies, Georgetown University, Ade Adefuye, Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Tony Elumelu, Founder Tony Elumelu Foundation and David Thomas, Dean Georgetown Business School when Elumelu delivered the lecture on Entrepreneur -led Development; A new model for Africa’ at Georgetown University in Washington DC on Tuesday.

Elumelu meets Obama, advocates entrepreneur driven model for Africa’s growth Emmanuel Ogbonnaya To further advance efforts at promoting the entrepreneurial potential abounding on the African continent, Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu has proposed a new entrepreneur-led development model for Africa at two high profile events in Washington DC. Mr. Elumelu, who is Chairman of United Bank for Africa, and Founder, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, spoke at a White House event hosted by United States President Barack Obama on May 11 to celebrate emerging entrepreneurs around the globe. The

Ado Bayero family has no interest or stake in Intels – NPA

event was a prelude to Obama’s scheduled trip to Kenya this summer for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit.

During remarks to announce the Summit and his plans to participate, President Obama thanked the global coalition of entrepreneurship organizations that collaborated with his administration to launch the Spark campaign for global entrepreneurship, a campaign in which the Tony Elumelu Foundation is a founding member. The President went on to say to the entrepreneurs present, “Entrepreneurship empowers people to no longer be subject to aid agen-

cies, but to be part of something to pursue their dreams. Entrepreneurs like you can change the world one idea at a time.”

During his comments at the White House event while participating on a panel moderated

by United States Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, Mr Elumelu championed the cause of African entrepreneurs as the primary drivers of Africa’s transformation. In closing, Mr Elumelu provided the following advice to global entrepreneurs, “Entrepreneurship is a long term journey. Great entrepreneurs are not made overnight. Dare to dream, implement your dream, and stay

focused.”

Accompanying Mr Elumelu to the White House was Shadi Sabeh, a young Nigerian entrepreneur from Sokoto State who is a mentee of Mr Elumelu and a past winner of the Tony and Awele Elumelu Prize for Economics from Usman Dan Fodiyo University.

Following on the White House event, Mr. Elumelu delivered a lecture at Georgetown University in Washington DC on May 12 on the topic ‘Entrepreneur-Led Development: A New Model for Africa’. The lecture was attended by a large audience including students, faculty, and alumni of

Georgetown, as well as members of the US and African private sector, diplomatic core, and international development sector.

“I was honoured to speak at these high profile events in the US,” Tony Elumelu said. “As a successful entrepreneur, I will continue to communicate to the world the need for supporting and empowering African entrepreneurs as the most impactful and sustainable approach to Africa’s development. My mission is to share this message on a global scale, and inspire more African business leaders and global investors with an interest in Africa to take action.”

Opeoluwani Akintayo

of Kano nor his estate holds any subsisting equity in Intels Nigeria Limited, as the family already disposed of the equity of the late Alhaji Ado Bayero in Intels Nigeria upon his demise.

The transaction was said to have been effected over six months before President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Lawyer Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero as managing director of

the Nigeria Ports Authority.

Stating further NPA said its present stand over the matter, can be verified from the Corporate Affairs Commission or the concerned Intels Nigeria Limited.

“Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero is committed to best practice standards in corporate governance as he guides the af-

fairs of Nigerian Ports Authority. He would not breach such standards for any reason, given his noble antecedents and experience in company administration. He is committed to leading Nigerian Ports Authority to oversee port regulation as a neutral arbiter without bias to any interest or stakeholder,” it read.

The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has disassociated itself from news making the rounds that the Ado Bayero family has a stake in the Port’s operating firm, Intels Nigeria Limited.

According to the statement signed by the Management of the NPA, neither the late Emir

Money 18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Nestle’s turnover hits N143bn, plans N4.6bn Abuja factory Stories by Adesola Akindele Nestle Nigeria Tuesday declared a turnover of N143.32 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2014, which also, represents eight per cent increase over N133.84 recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Speaking at the company Annual General Meeting in Lagos, the Chairman, Mr. David Ifesulike told shareholders that the food and beverages giant, would soon commission a N4.6 billion state-of-the-art factory in Abuja.

According to him, the facility which occupies14.13 hectares reflects more than just an investment, which could also broaden the company’s operations.

On the results, he explained that the company has delivered on its short-term commitment,

while continuing to strengthen the foundations of future growth.

The company declared a final dividend of N17.50 kobo ordinary share from the pioneer profits, in addition to the interim dividend of N10.00 per share already paid, translating to N27.50 kobo per share. This also represented an increase of eight per cent over N25.50 paid in the previous year.

Looking ahead, the Chairman assured shareholders that the company would continue to put the right actions in place to face regulatory headwinds in 2015 and more so, to deliver results in both short term and long term investments.

The National Coordinator, Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Timothy Adesiyan, having lauded the company’s

Transcorp posts N8bn pre-tax profit

Nnorom, Transcorp Group President

Unilever reviews fiscal strategy as profit slumps 49%

Unilever Nigeria on Tuesday said the company’s top line and bottom line dropped due to the devaluation of naira and collapse of crude oil prices.

The company’s profit for the year fell 48.9 per cent to N2.42 billion in the review period, from N4.72 billion posted in the corresponding period of 2013.

Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Lagos, the Chairman, Mr. Nnaemeka

performance in the last one year, expressed appreciation for the support of all shareholders and reiterated the commitment of Nestle in sustaining the leadership and dominant position on the continent.

While affirming the company’s commitment to strict adherence to the best practice in corporate governance, he expressed satisfaction with dividend policy and payout proposal in the current financial year.

The National President, Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie raised investor’s hope of subsequent increments in dividends payout and additional benefits that may be accrued to them.

“Shareholders should however expect higher dividend in future”, he said.

Ifesulike

Transnational Corporation of Nigeria has announced a profit before tax of N7.7 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2014.

A statement from the company Wednesday, said its gross profit stood at N27.6 billion for the financial year, while group operating profit also grew from N10.2 billion to N13.6 billion in 2014.

The company explained in the statement that the results has shown it is on track to deliver on its growth and expansion plans, in spite of a sizeable exchange loss on foreign currency loans in the power business, capital market volatility, and lower average occupancy in the hospitality business.

The statement quoted the Chairman of the company, Mr. Tony Elumelu, as saying that shareholders approved the annual account and the re-appointment of retiring board members.

Elumelu, who spoke in Abuja, highlighted the operational excellence that has guided the company’s turnaround from takeover in 2010, to super performer in the years following under the current leadership.

According to him, the gross earnings increased from N18.8 billion to N41.3 billion in the review period, a reflection of the first full year of earnings from the power business.

He explained that based on the result achieved in 2014 and in view of the positive business prospects for the current financial year, a dividend of six kobo per share was also approved.

Transcorp Group President, Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, stressed that the story of Transcorp is a standout among conglomerates in Nigeria and one that gets better each day.

“Our focus early on was turnaround and stabilization and this year’s results reiterate this

commitment. Now, our focus is on growth. From hospitality to power, agribusiness to energy, we are blazing a trail in the sectors in which we operate and our ability to deliver in the face of strong economic headwinds, as we witness more stability in the economy, we will be able to perform ever better.”

He pointed out that shareholders are generally long term shareholders, who might have lost money in the past.

“We have our work cut out for us to help them recover that money and our focus is on planting seeds to grow the company through re-investment of profits among other measures.

“We have achieved consistency in dividend delivery and corporate stability and now we are turning our focus to growth.

This AGM reiterates our commitment to creating sustainable value for all stakeholders,” he added.

Achebe, who is also the Obi of Onitsha, noted that business environment will be more daunting in the current financial year if the collapse of crude oil prices, high foreign exchange rate and overall political environment, are anything to go by.

But having taking significant learnings from 2014, he said, the company will be more aggressive about driving down costs and actively finding savings throughout

all facet of its value chain.

According to him, the company’s ambition is to continue to deliver value to all shareholders and positively affect its commitment by leveraging on sustainable living plan. He said, “The Company exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currencies exposures, primarily with respect to the Euro. Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions, recognised as-

sets and liabilities.

“The company managed the risk mainly by hedging foreign exchange currency contracts. At December 31, 2014, the unhedged financial assets and financial liabilities amounted to N1.2 billion, compared to N3.9 billion in the same period of 2013.”Analysis of the result showed that its revenue stood at N55.8 billion, from N60.0 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2013.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday,May 14, 2015

19 Energy

Marketers deregulate fuel price, price hits N150

Amadi

Power supply dips to 2,838.03mw Stories by Yinka Olujimi Electricity supply in the country has dropped from about 3,000 megawatts, mw to 2,838.03mw.

The Presidential Task Force on Power disclosed in its report that of the 2,913.52mw generated at May 9, this year, 2,838.03mw was supplied while the balance was used to stabilize the network.

The PTFP maintained that the megawatts supplied did not meet the estimated peak demand of about 12,000mw in the nation.

Meanwhile, consumers who spoke with Daily Times said they now spend more to procure fuel and generate power for domestic and other purposes.

One of them who preferred not to be named said, “We don’t have constant electricity for several months. We are also finding it difficult to buy petrol at exorbitant prices for our generators.”

The Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi consumer advocacy can go a long way to assist in solving problems in the sector.

He said at an interactive session with members of civil society organisations, representatives of industrial, commercial and residential electricity consumers to consider a concept note on consumer advocacy network in Abuja.

He Chairman maintained that information asymmetry was not in the interest of electricity market even as he recommends that geographical or occupational clusters of knowledgeable consumer advocates need to be galvanised to promote accessibility and reliability of service in the market.

Amadi cautioned that efforts

at establishing a virile consumer advocacy groups should be based on rational economic decisions rather than an attempt at instigating the consumers against the operators.

“There is a noticeable underrepresentation of consumer voice, with superficial and adversarial tendency that lacks impact. This is in sharp contrast to the powerful position of the service providers, who though few in number, have the fund and negotiating power to push their demands, thus, a deficit in the democracy of the electricity market.” ‘’A deficit occurs when the ordinary processes of governance of an institution creates and reinforces dis empowerment of critical stakeholders of an institution.

In this case, the system is the Nigerian electricity market and the critical stakeholder that is dis empowered is the consumer,’’ Amadi remarked.

Meanwhile, NERC has summoned stakeholders to assist in reviewing charges and tariffs for electricity generation, transmission and distribution in the nation.

The Commission said in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by section 76(6) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005 and all other powers enabling it in that behalf, NERC adopted the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) methodology for electricity pricing in Nigeria, which sets out the basis and pricing principles and procedures for effecting minor and major reviews.

“The MYTO provides 15-Year tariff path for the electricity industry, with minor reviews bi-annually in the light of changes in a limited number of parameters (specifically inflation, US Dollar

exchange rate to Naira, natural gas price, available generation capacity and collection losses) and major reviews every 5 years, when all other inputs are reviewed with stakeholders. Pursuant to Sections 7 of the three separate Tariff Orders (Generation, Transmission and Distribution), the Commission has commenced the process of bi-annual minor review of the tariff,” it maintained.

NERC maintained that, “The process involves the collection of data from National Bureau of Statistics, Central Bank of Nigeria and the System Operations Division of Transmission Company of Nigeria. The Distribution Companies are to provide evidence of the status of their respective collection losses. Gather data from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and System Operations Division of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The inflation and exchange rates data will be based on average of last six (6) months ending 30th March 2015.

Also, the System Operator is to inform the Commission on the average available generation capacity for the last six (6) months.”

“Update of the MYTO-2.1 financial model based on the data obtained from NBS, CBN and SO (TCN). Public consultation and update of the financial model: Engagement of stakeholders in a discussion on their various inputs and suggestions. Consideration by the Commission of adjusted tariff: If the changes in exchange rate, rate of inflation and generation capacity results in excess of five per cent increase or decrease in average tariff the Commission will consider and decide whether to increase or reduce applicable tariffs. Otherwise, no action is taken,” it added.

Consumers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol have continued to lament as the price of product has risen from N87 to about N150 per litre in different parts of the nation.

Investigations showed the rise in price is fuelled by many irregularities, including extortion at depots, jetties and filling stations.

It was learnt that tanker drivers who queue for weeks before they can lift petrol pay various undisclosed fees to secure early loading.

Consequently, both major and independent marketers are unwilling to sell at the official regulated price of N87 per litre.

The independent marketers, in particular, regularly shut their stations in the day and sell only at night at higher prices to desperate buyers.

Even some that open and night also close their gates to motorists as well as sell at higher prices to consumers who come with jerry cans.

The Executive Secretary of Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Mr. Femi Olawore did respond to telephone calls.

But an authoritative source remarked that the marketers have decided to keep sealed lips but intensify efforts toward compelling the Federal government to settle their outstanding subsidies.

“From what we have gathered,

Olawore

the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari would not likely pay us. That is why we must be strategic in ensuring that we get our monies from the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government.

He stated that it is a firm resolve marketers not to flood the market with adequate so as not to give impression that the problem has been resolved.

Investigations showed that the suffering of consumers have been compounded because the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR which has the responsibility to monitor and sanction erring filling stations have not yet intervened.

The Director of DPR, Mr. George Osahon whose agency has not done enough to check illegal practices could not be reached for comments.

Asset ownership key to Nigerian content development-Nwapa The former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Board, Engr. Ernest Nwapa has stressed that the possession of assets is critical to smooth operations and development of local content in the nation.

He maintained that the acquisition of key oil and gas assets and establishment of critical facilities by local and foreign investors will help guarantee the continued implementation of the Nigerian Content Act, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.

Nwapa while commissioning the facilities of Thompson and Grace Investments Limited (T&GIL), in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, assured Nigerian entrepreneurs and their foreign partners that the Nigerian Content policy is backed by law.

The former Executive Secretary noted that Nigerian investors and their partners had dem-

onstrated their resolve for the policy to continue by building immense capacity over the past five years, acquiring hi-tech industry equipment and creating employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians in their assets and facilities.

“The policy statements issued by the in-coming government had indicated that it will continue to support indigenous participation and Nigerian Content. It is very important that the international community gets that message clearly and that Nigerians who are investing continue to do so believing that government is a continuum and will always support them by continuing with good policies they have initiated.”

He commended entrepreneurs who take risk based on the support of government’s policies, pledging commitment to ensure that any investment made within Nigeria by Nigerians and foreigners will be utilised and protected.

Brands & Marketing 20

BD Consult wins Nigeria PR Young Lions competition Stories by Godwin Anyebe In preparation for this year’s Young Lions Competition, BD Consult Limited, Nigeria, talented, young and highly creative PR professionals Priscilla Adeboye and Ebun Owoyele Amusan have emerged winners of the PR Category of the award which climaxed at the PRCAN Secretariat, Maryland, Lagos.

The young winners will be representing Nigeria at the Cannes Lions Festival holding in Cannes, France, in June, 2015.

The PR team joining the competition was given 24 hours to create a PR Plan for the South Africa’s National tourism Promotion that would recover South Africa’s negative perception by promoting the country’s tourism endowment as a reason to invest in South Africa.

The idea of BD Consult Limited becoming the winner of the PR category of the Young Lions was premised on the fact that the organisation through their PR Plan demonstrating how PR can be effectively used for recovering the perception of South Africa internally and among relevant stakeholders in respect to the adverse impact that xenophobia

has on the billions of tax payers’ money spent to win investments to the country.

The highly creative entries, adjudged outstanding by the jury and regulators, attest to the fact that the Nigeria PR industry are breeding a new crop of highly creative professional minds giving hope of a future ensured for the PR and advertising industry.

In his remarks, PRCAN President and a member of the jury, Mr. John Ehiguese said that the various juries were encouraged as the quality of materials received which is a great sign that the industry is making progress.

According to him, it was a close call as all the young professionals’ demonstrated good understanding and grasp of the brief and came up with exciting ideas.

Speaking on the award won, Mr. Tola Bademosi, Managing Director, BD Consult said his team through their plan have demonstrated high level of creativity, Manner of presentation, team spirit, confidence and in-depth insight to the brief, stressing that this plan need to be applauded and adopted globally as it might be the best plan to revamp South Africa’s Tourism industry.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Skye Bank organises essay for kids with accounts As a way of promoting the savings culture among children, Skye Bank Plc has instituted the Skye Rainow Essay competition for children who own and operate the bank’s Rainbow Account specially designed for them.

According to a statement issued by the bank, the topic of the essay competition is “The Importance of an early savings habit”, and is organised to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day. The statement quoted the bank’s Head of Retail Banking Group, Nkoli Okoli, as saying that the bank chose to stand out from the others this year by putting a place a special programme for the children to celebrate them.

She said five winners will each receive the sum of N200,000, while other consolation prizes would also be presented.

Okoli further explained that the competition would act as a customer reward programme as well as promote savings among children very early in their lives to enable them imbibe the culture of financial discipline.

She said the competition was open to both new and existing Rainbow account holders whose age ranges between seven and twelve years. In addition, she said the length of each entry must not be more than 200 words. However, any entry which shows parental input would be disqualified.

According to the statement, the essay must show the child’s good understanding and good presentation of the topic, the child’s personal savings experience and creative ideas for savings.

Promasidor Quill Awards

17 nominated for Promasidor Quill Awards The judges for the 2015 Promasidor Quill Awards, led by its Chairman, Ambassador Patrick Dele Cole (OFR) have selected 17 nominees for the seven categories of this year’s edition of the prestigious awards.

The panel of judges which include Kadaria Ahmed, a veteran journalist and television personality; Joseph Okonmah, Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter; Reze Bonna, a trained Architect and celebrated photographer; and Ray Echebiri, a British Chevening Scholar and a seasoned financial journalist converged at Eko Hotel Lagos last Thursday, to assess and score all the entries received from journalists across the nation. The final phase of the exercise, which lasted for over 10 hours, saw the judges concluding work on and discussing the high volume of entries received for the different categories. The categories are: Brand Advocate of the Year; CSR Report of the Year; Best Photo Story of the Year; Best Report on Nutrition; Best Report on Children; Education Reporter of the Year and Future Writer of the Year.

Ambassador Cole, who chaired the session, said the exercise was challenging due to the high qual-

ity of entries assessed by the judges. He however disclosed that the judges had taken their time to attend to details contained in each of the entries as they were determined to be fair to all contestants. He commended the journalists who submitted entries for the professionalism exhibited in their entries noting that the quality of work was much higher this year than in previous editions.

Meanwhile, Mr. Andrew Enahoro, Head of Legal and Public Relations, Promasidor Nigeria Limited, said selection of the judges was hinged on their high profile bordering on their wealth of experience and integrity. He also disclosed that winners in all the categories will be announced at a ceremony slated for Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, May 22, 2015.

He also assured that Promasidor will not relent in contributing to development of journalism practice in Nigeria. His words: “Promasidor Quill Awards is committed to setting the pace in rewarding journalists based on merit for their work and not a self-seeking approach to get accolades, but a professional platform of assessment, recognition and reward for outstanding journalistic work”.

One-stop laundry service opens in Port-Harcourt Opeoluwani Akintayo

Bademosi

Residents of the City of Port Harcourt and its environs are in for a treat with the opening of a first class automated dry cleaning services by Sonul Dry Cleaners.

Sonul is offering excellent laundry and dry cleaning services such as alteration and repairs; wedding gown; industrial and home cleaning; pest control and fumigation, cleaning support services and consulting, and many more.

According to the Chief Ex-

ecutive Officer, Stephen Nwulu, Sonul Dry Cleaners is equipped with the latest automated gadgets to provide total cleaning experiences.

Speaking on why the outfit was birthed, Nwulu explained that as a result of busy schedule, many people are always worrying of what to wear, especially to occasions because they were not ironed.

“Others like myself who travel at short notice need to have clean and ready ironed clothes at all times, hence the desire of Sonul to take off that stress

from people,” he stated.

Situated at Farm Road, off Shell Location Road Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt, Nwulu maintained that Sonul is open to everybody that desire quality dry cleaning services, stressing that the company is equipped with the most modern gadgets to meet customer demand and satisfaction. “Just drop your garments with us and within minutes you pick them up, no stress, and no hassles, that’s the automation we are talking about.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

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22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

s

Cartoons from our Archives

1804 Lewis and Clark depart One year after the United States doubled its territory with the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition left St. Louis, Missouri, on a mission to explore the Northwest from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.

Even before the U.S. government concluded purchase negotiations with France, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned his private secretary Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, an army captain, to lead an expedition into what is now the U.S. Northwest. On May 14, the “Corps of Discovery”–featuring approximately 45 men (although only an approximate 33 men would make the full journey)–left St. Louis for the American interior.

The expedition traveled up the Missouri River in a 55-foot long keelboat and two smaller boats.

In November, Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian fur trader accompanied by his young Native American wife Sacagawea, joined the expedition as an in-

terpreter. The group wintered in present-day North Dakota before crossing into present-day Montana, where they first saw the Rocky Mountains. On the other side of the Continental Divide, they were met by Sacagawea’s tribe, the Shoshone Indians, who sold them horses for their journey down through the Bitterroot Mountains. After passing through the dangerous rapids of the Clearwater and Snake rivers in canoes, the explorers reached the calm of the Columbia River, which led them to the sea. On November 8, 1805, the expedition arrived at the Pacific Ocean, the first European explorers to do so by an overland route from the east. After pausing there for the winter, the explorers began their long journey back to St. Louis.

On September 23, 1806, after almost two and a half years, the expedition returned to the city, bringing back a wealth of information about the largely unexplored region, as well as valuable U.S. claims to Oregon Territory.

Daily Times May 13, 1961

2007 DaimlerChrysler sells 1954 The Warsaw Pact is formed most of Chrysler for $7.4 billion On this day in 2007, the European-American carmaker DaimlerChrysler, created in 1998 in a $36 billion merger, announced that it is selling 80.1 percent of the Chrysler group to the U.S. private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management.

Cerberus paid $7.4 billion in the deal, mostly in the form of investments in Chrysler; Daimler AG, as it was soon renamed, retained a 19.9 percent stake in the new company, known as Chrysler LLC. The sale marked the end of a troubled nine-year transatlantic relationship between Daimler-Benz, the German maker of the world-famous luxury automobile brand Mercedes-Benz, and the Chrysler Corporation, America’s third-largest car company. Though the much-buzzedabout merger, concluded in May 1998, had been touted as a pairing of equals, it was soon clear that it in fact amounted to a takeover by the German company. The end of Chrysler’s independence was a surprising twist after its near

collapse in the 1970s and stunning comeback in the 1980s under the leadership of the former Ford executive Lee Iacocca.

The savings opportunity and marketing magic predicted for the DaimlerChrysler merger failed to materialize, however.

Chrysler’s profits were up and down over the next several years, despite high expectations based on the past performance of its minivans and Jeeps. In 2006, according to The New York Times, Chrysler posted a $1.5 billion loss, despite the highly publicized release of 10 new models that year. The following February, DaimlerChrysler announced it was considering selling or restructuring the Chrysler division, including a proposed layoff of some 16 percent of its work force. Though it was reported at the time that General Motors Corp. had talked with DaimlerChrysler about acquiring the company, Cerberus was the eventual winner with its $7.4 billion bid.

The Soviet Union and seven of its European satellites signed a treaty establishing the Warsaw Pact, a mutual defense organization that put the Soviets in command of the armed forces of the member states.

The Warsaw Pact, so named because the treaty was signed in Warsaw, included the Soviet Union, Albania, Poland, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria as members. The treaty called

on the member states to come to the defence of any member attacked by an outside force and it set up a unified military command under Marshal Ivan S. Konev of the Soviet Union.

The introduction to the treaty establishing the Warsaw Pact indicated the reason for its existence. This revolved around “Western Germany, which is being remilitarized, and her inclusion in the North Atlantic bloc, which increases the

danger of a new war and creates a threat to the national security of peace-loving states.”

This passage referred to the decision by the United States and the other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on May 9, 1955 to make West Germany a member of NATO and allow that nation to remilitarize. The Soviets obviously saw this as a direct threat and responded with the Warsaw Pact.

On this day in 1991, two diesel trains carrying commuters’ crashed head-on, killing more than 40 people and injuring 400 near Shirataki, Japan. This was the worst rail disaster in Japan since a November 1963 Yokohama crash killed 160 people.

Shirataki, a town near Kyoto, is famous for its ceramics.

On May 14, the World Ceramics Festival was being held in

the town. Passengers filled a train in Kibukawa, which was to run along a 14.7-kilometer single-track rail line away from Shirataki, at just after 10 in the morning. However, workers on the Shirataki Kogen Railways (SKR) line could not get a green signal in order for the train to depart the station. The system showed that a train was approaching, but the workers, believing this to be

incorrect, overrode the system and sent the train out, 11 minutes late.

Unfortunately, the system had been correct: there was another train on the line, a JR West commuter train carrying passengers toward Shirataki for the festival. When a faultydeparture detector failed to work correctly, this other train was sent straight on a collision course with the SKR train.

1991 Two trains crash in Japan

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

23 News

C’River election tribunal cautions against adjournments Emma Obi Calabar

ÏÏÏThe Governorship Election

Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Cross River State, has cautioned parties and their counsels to be time-conscious and eschew delay in taking any step to minimise self-induced applications for adjournments.

Chairman of the tribunal, Hon. Justice Aliyu Mayaki, made these

remarks on Wednesday in Calabar, at the commencement of proceedings of the tribunal.

According to Mayaki, two petitions were filed, challenging the election and declaration of Governor- elect, Prof. Benedict Ayade, who contested the election held on April 11, 2015, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

It would be recalled that one of the petitions was filed by Ntu-

fam Fidelis Ugbo and the Labour Party, while the second was by Pastor Sylvester Nsa and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Mayaki disclosed that by virtue of section 285 (6) of the Constitution as amended, judgment in governorship election petitions must be delivered within 180 days from the date of filing of the petition.

Consequently, the judge urged “the petitioners and their respon-

dents, especially their counsels, to appreciate the fact that time is of essence in proper determination of petitions.”

The tribunal assured the parties of a friendly environment for litigations, due observance of rules, which is expected to be reciprocated, and fair judgment “without fear or favour within the time limit.”

Furthermore, Justice Mayaki called on both the petitioners and

UI VC promises improved health facilities Bolaji Omosanya

lbadan The authorities of the University of Ibadan have promised to increase their response to health emergencies, as well as improve the institution’s health facilities.

Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole revealed this at a press briefing, held at the Senate Cham-

ÏÏÏ

R-L: Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd); former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan; former Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Peter Jasper Akinola; Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, and Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, during the funeral service in honour of late Chief (Mrs.) Caroline Abosede Ademowo, at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos...on Wednesday

Delta Police arrest girl for killing own brother

Joe Ogbodu Warri

ÏÏÏThe Delta State Police Com-

mand have arrested a 21-year-old girl, who stabbed her brother to death, in Warri, on Tuesday.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu, said that the culprit was arrested after she was held, while trying to escape from the scene of the crime, adding that investigations into the case was on-going.

The incident, which had thrown the family of Ogbe in Ugbuwangue, Delta State, into

ber of the premier university, and this was coming against the backdrop of the death of a student of the institution, Mr. Mayowa Alaran, of the Department of Education, studying Human Kinetics, last week Wednesday.

The late Alaran was said to be watching the match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich before slumping and, subsequently, rushed to the Health Centre and Jaja Hospital.

However, it was insinuated that his colleagues had earlier made frantic efforts to get the hospital to send its ambulance to convey him, but when this was not forthcoming, a private arrangement was made, instead.

Eventually, the student died before he could receive medical attention, which resulted in a mass protest by the students, the following day.

Ekiti PDP sacks chairman ÏÏÏCrisis

has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, as the Chairman, Chief Idowu Faleye, was removed by the State Executive Committee at a meeting held on Tuesday, for alleged inefficiency.

Faleye, a loyalist of Governor Ayodele Fayose, was also accused of failure to convene a meeting since he assumed office last year.

He was appointed in 2014, following the elevation of the then Chairman, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe, to the position of the National Vice Chairman, Southwest of the PDP. The SEC, which was said to have sacked the chairman without notifying the governor, elected Mr. Olatunde Olatunde as the acting chairman, pending the ratifica-

tion of his appointment by the National Executive Committee of the party.

Olatunde, who disclosed this to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, said appointing Faleye as the chairman was an error, because he hailed from Ido Ekiti, in Ido/Osi Local Government Area, where the State Youth leader of the party also hailed from.

But Faleye maintained that he was still the duly elected chairman, while asking journalists to ignore his purported sack.

According to him, the issue is all about money, adding that his appointment has been ratified by the NEC because he led the state to the PDP National Convention last year and voted.

mourning, happened after Omasan, described as ‘tomboy’ directed her younger brother, a student of Yonwuren College, to do dish washing.

Sources said the deceased, Laju, the only male child of the family, insisted that he had already fetched water and was too tired to do any other chores.

“His response was said to have angered Omasan, a situation that resulted in a fight where the use of many dangerous weapons ensued.

“In the course of the fight, the boy reportedly threw his sister

to the ground and ran to the backyard, prompting his sister to run after him. She eventually ran into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, pursued him and stabbed him in the chest. ‘’He fell to the ground, started screaming and calling for help, before neighbours rushed to the house to give a helping hand.

“It was gathered that the deceased was rushed to the hospital, but had lost so much blood before he got to the Central Hospital in Warri. The doctors on duty declared him ‘Dead-onArrival’.

Nkiru Nwagbo

Obiano’s wife plans home for the elderly

Awka

ÏÏÏThe dream of wife of the gov-

Mrs Obiano

respondents to monitor and control their supporters at the tribunal to avoid rowdiness and overcrowding, while the tribunal sits.

Speaking with Daily Times, counsel for Labour Party, Busuyi Olusegun, said “the ball has been set rolling.” He, however, expressed optimism that at the end of the day, his client would come out victorious.

No date was fixed for next sitting by the tribunal.

ernor of Anambra State, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, to touch the lives of the young and old people through her pet project, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE), appears realisable, as she has acquired sizeable

hectares of land for the establishment of Old People’s Homes in the three Senatorial districts of the state.

Speaking in an interactive session with Journalists in Awka on Wednesday, Mrs. Obiano said that her passion for taking care of the aged over the years exposed her to the realisation

that what the old people in our society needed most was attention and care.

According to her: “You would agree with me that the social safety-net imbued by our practice of the extended family system is not as strong as it used to be. Today, you find the older folks not getting the necessary atten-

tion they deserve because the younger ones are busy struggling to build their own life.

“Even where it exists, you find out that what the elderly desire most is the company of others. That is one cushion they will get in the proposed Old peoples’ home,” she assured.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Crisis rocks MPPP as leader petitions security agencies Joy Ekeke

ÏÏÏ

The National Chairman of Mega Progressive People’s Party (MPPP), Mr. Oludare Falade, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies in the country over possible breach of peace by disgruntled elements within the party.

Falade, who has been recognised by a court judgment as the authentic National chairman of the MPPP, made the call in a statement issued in Lagos

on Wednesday.

The statement, signed by himself, and the National Secretary of the party, Mr. Douglas Ojobo, read: “We the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee of the MPPP would like to bring to the notice of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, the Director-General of Department of State Services, Mr.

Ita Ekpeyoung, and other security agencies, the activities of one Mr. Olayinka Akanni and Alhaji Akannola Harding and their cohorts, who have been acting contrary to the MPPP constitution by carrying out actions that can breach the existing political peace being experienced in the country, after the tensionsoaked presidential poll of March 28, 2015.”

The statement explained that the Federal High Court, in the Lagos Judicial Division, had duly granted recognition to

Falade and Ojobo as National chairman and National secretary of MPPP, respectively.

“These actions taken are against the December 3, 2014, judgment of the Federal High Court in the Lagos Judicial Division, delivered by Honorable Justice R. N. Ofili Ajumogobia, that warned INEC from dealing with any other group except the recognised group headed

by Falade, as the National chairman and Ojobo as the National Secretary,” it declared.

Awardees, Assistant Superintendent Custom II, Usman Abubakkar; Area Comptroller of Custom Ogun State command, Haruna Mamudu; Deputy Comptroller Agbo A.Hyacinth and Deputy Superintendent of Customs Amusa Rabiu Ayodele during the First Awareness Awards for Excellence 2015 held in Abeokuta, Ogun State… on Wednesday.

Photo: DAVID IDOWU

Police arrest man for duping clergymen Jacob Mbam Abakaliki

ÏÏÏ

The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested one Dr. Sabestine Udeh of Ozizza Commu-

nity, in Afikpo North Local Government Area, who specialises in duping clergymen.

He is now telling the state police command how his gang had duped over four clergymen of millions of naira.

The state police image maker, Mr. Chris Anyanwu, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect, said it was made possible, following a tip-off from those who had fallen victims to his criminal acts.

ASP Anyanwu told newsmen that the suspect, who was in police custody, had made some confessions.

NECO releases exam results Pita Chikwem Minna

ÏÏÏ The National Examinations Council (NECO),

on Wednesday released the results of the 2015 National Common Entrance Examinations (NCEE).

NECO, in a press statement signed by the Head, Information Division, Azeez Sani, said candidates who sat for the said examinations were to check their results at state ministries of Education and NECO's state offices nationwide, as well as the Federal Ministry of Education.

Delta Election tribunal grants 3 guber candidates’ prayers Monday Osayande Asaba

ÏÏÏ Delta

State Election Petitions Tribunal, on Wednesday, granted three governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Chief Great Ogboru; All Progressives Congress (APC)'s O’tega Emerhor and Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)'s Paul Esamade to serve originating petition on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s Delta State's Governorelect, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and his party to appear before it.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Nasiru Gunmi, granted the prayers of the three governorship candidates who, through their counsels, Messrs Ediri Diejomaoh, J. A. Omolose and Kehind Edu, sought for substituted service on the respondents to either serve them or any of their principal officers the original

petition to enable them (respondents) appear before the tribunal to defend themselves and their parties.

All the counsels had told the tribunal separately in suits Nos. EPT/ DT/GOV/23/15, EPT/DT/ GOV/32/15 and EPT/DT/ GOV/09/15 in an exparte motion duly supported by nine- eight- and sevenparagraph affidavits, respectively, that their clients were unable to serve the respondents their petitions, despite several efforts made to do so.

Ogboru

Firm donates food items to Adamawa IDPs Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏ

Golden Penny Company has donated food items to the Adamawa State government, for onward distribution to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.

The food items, worth N7.5 million, was earmarked by the company for the state government, as part of the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR).

While receiving the items at the co-operative

stores in Jimeta, Governor Bala James Ngilari said the donation was timely.

He appreciated the gesture and explained that

Ngilari

the state government was touched by the show of concern by the company.

The relief materials included 250 bags of rice, 400 cartons of spaghetti, 400 cartons of macaroni, 350 cartons of noodles, 600 bags of semovita and 100 bags of golden vita.

Ngilari stressed that the intervention was, therefore, a big relief, especially considering the economic hardship and the Boko Haram onslaught being experienced.

He assured that he would personally supervise the

distribution of the relief materials.

Speaking earlier, the Secretary of the Golden Penny Company, Alhaji Yusuf Olalekun Saliu, said the donations had become necessary to compliment government's efforts in alleviating the plights of IDPs. He stressed that the company was involved in activities that had created employment for Nigerians, adding that the task of caring for the IDPs cannot be handled by government alone.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Lar assures Wase victims of justice, compensation Chijioke Kingsley Jos

Ă?Ă?Ă?The Chairman, House

of Representatives Committee on Human Rights, Hon. Beni Lar, has revealed that the committee would help communities allegedly attack by soldiers in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State to explore all legal means necessary, with the view to obtaining compensation and justice.

Lar said already the National Human Rights Commission will soon receive petition from the committee, so as to commence full scale investigation and bring those involved to face the full wrath of the law of the land.

She also promised that her committee would conduct full and thorough in-

vestigation into the killings of over 50 people and the destruction of properties worth millions of naira in the five Taroh communities

by Nigeria soldiers.

Lar made the disclosure on Wednesday, when her committee visited the displaced people’s camp in Kadarko village, to present relief materials worth millions of Naira to them and also to assess the level destructions of lives and properties of the citizenry.

While presenting relief materials to hundreds of the displaced families at the Kadarko primary school, she said the National Assembly had mandated the House committee on Human Rights, Defense and Army to conduct a full investigation into the killings.

Communities petition Anambra govt over land dispute Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

communities in Awkuzor and Amafor villages of Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State have petitioned the state government, following the arrests of six persons in the communities by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over land disputes.

The communities petitioned Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, the state commissioner of police and the state Boundary Commission, to come to their rescue over alleged

3 die after Rivers: APC accuses Wike consuming of evading court summons ‘Ogogoro’ in Andrew Orolua Ondo Abuja

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on Wednesday, heard at its inaugural sitting in Abuja that the state’s Governor-elect, Nyesom Wike, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been evading service of court processes of a petition challenging his election.

One of the petitioners, Dakuku Peterside of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who made the complaint through his counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) told the tribunal that the bailiff made attempts twice to serve Wike with the pro-

cesses without success, due to the uncooperative attitude of the people in his house.

In an affidavit deposed to by the bailiff and tendered by the petitioner, the tribunal was told that neither governor-elect nor his agent was ready to receive any court process from anybody.

However, Akeredolu said in fairness, he could not establish whether it was Wike that instructed his agents to bar the bailiff access to effect service. He, therefore, urged the tribunal to allow him paste the processes on the wall in the interest of justice and in order to avoid unnecessary delay of proceedings.

FG approves Nigeria’s first Maritime varsity Monday Agu, Jnr

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

Federal Government has approved the first Nigerian Maritime University.

The Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, told State House Correspondents after Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting that there was a

ratification of approval of a provisional licence for the establishment of Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State.

Akwashiki said the Council also took other decisions concerning harmonization of taxes, development of small businesses, and production of e-passport booklets among others.

25 News

Tosin Ajuwon Akure

Ă?Ă?Ă?Despite the ban on the

consumption of the local dry gin, otherwise known as ‘Ogogoro’ in Ondo State, three persons who consumed the substance at Oka Moto Park, in Ondo town, have died.

A source in the town, who wanted anonymity, told Daily Times on Wednesday that the deceased, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), a local electrician, and one other unknown worker in the motor park, were the three dead people.

The source disclosed that the trio complained bitterly of hurting stomach ache before they all became unconscious, after consuming the local dry gin. “After they have consumed the Ogogoro, they began complaining of stomach ache and were unconscious. We try to help out by giving them local antidotes but it didn’t work.

Unfortunately, they all died�, the source said.

Also, a Union member at the motor park confirmed the incident to Daily Times and expressed sadness over the unfortunate death of the victims.

harassment and invasion of their land by Oze, Nkwele Ezunaka community in Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The two Nkpor villages in the community had equally sent a letter to the state deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, who is the chairman of the state Boundary Adjustment Committee, pleading for the state government to properly demarcate their boundaries with Oze, in order to end the lingering land crisis.

Following the dispute, six persons in Nkpor had been allegedly arrested and detained for the past

three months by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), for entering into the said land.

Out of the number, three were said to have been released by the police on Wednesday at Awkuzu.

The large expanse of land, lying across the Nkisi River, was allegedly inherited by Nkpor people who were farming on it before the recent invasion by Oze people, who were also laying claim to the same land.

In a letter to the deputy governor, signed by the chairman of Akuzor committee, Chukwuma Chukwurah and that of Amafor village, Ndubuisi Izunwa

respectively, they requested for the proper placement of documents on the respective boundaries so as to put an end to the existing conflict between the communities.

Besides, they are calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase, to send a special squad to Anambra state in order to take over the matter from the SARS They are also lamenting that no young man in Nkpor sleeps in their house these days for fear of being arrested by the police, especially SARS, who they accused of being partisan in the matter.

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News 26 Okonjo-Iweala blamed over comment on unpaid salary arrears Sodiq Adekunle

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Why I challenged 2003, 2007, 2011 polls in court – Buhari

Osogbo

ÏÏÏMinister

of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been faulted for blaming governors for their inability to pay salaries ranging from two to six months.

Okonjo-Iweala had said that state governors should be blamed for the delay or non-payment of salaries in their respective states.

But the Executive Secretary, Ayedire Local Government Area, in Osun State, Mr Gbenga Ogunkanmi, while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a meeting held in Ileogbo, headquarters of the council, argued that the Federal Government should be faulted for the unpaid salaries challenge.

Ogunkanmi, who commended the perseverance of the Osun State workers on the inability of the government to pay salaries, recalled that when the state was buoyant financially, workers were collecting their salaries on the 25th day of every month.

Buhari

ÏÏÏPresident-elect,

Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, explained why he went to court to challenge results of the presidential elections he lost in

2003, 2007 and 2011.

Buhari gave the explanation when Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) visited him in Abuja.

The retired general said he took the decision because he believed Nigeria must be free.

Said he, “Going through the court is not easy, both materially and physically, and I maintained that consistency because my view about my country is that Nigeria should be truly free.”

He condoled with the delegates over the killing of some people during the last general elections.

The president-elect added, “I

understand why many of you, who were denied the opportunity to choose those you want to represent and lead you are taking the line I took in the last 12 years in line with our constitution.

“Whether you get it or not, the most important thing is that you believe in the system and you should continue to try until the system is perfect.

“I express my condolence to you for the people murdered and I assure you that my objective of remaining consistently in partisan politics is to make sure that Nigerians are given their inherent right to choose whoever they

Appeal Court judge urges NJC to prosecute corrupt judges

Ebonyi NLC, TUC to resume suspended strike

Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏA judge from the Benue State

Jacob Mbam Abakaliki

ÏÏÏThe

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) in Ebonyi State, otherwise known as Organised Labour, have stated their preparedness to resume the suspended strike they embarked upon to press home their demands for the implementation of the full Minimum Wage Salary Structure and payment of September 2011 salaries by the state government.

The factional Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, regretted that the government had reneged in the agreement over the payment of the September 2011 salaries, which was part of the agitation by the Organized Labour.

He said the government had not demonstrated strong faith in the payment of March 2015 salaries to all workers, adding that the resolve to resume the strike was in line with the agreement reached with the government when it was suspended.

want to lead them.”

The president-elect said he would never support anybody who undermined that right of Nigerians.

He added that arming unemployed youths and sending them to kill their own people was the worst thing anybody, aspiring to leadership, could do.

The leader of the delegation and the APC governorship candidate in the state, Olorogun Otega Emerhor, alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disenfranchised the people of the state and the South-South at both the presidential and governorship elections.

L-R: Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Aku; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II; Zonal Business Head, Public Sector, North West, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Sani Shuaibu Adamu, during a courtesy visit of Ecobank Nigeria management to the Emir in Kano, recently.

N12b debt: Court summons DMO’s DG, others over contempt Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏA

Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, ordered the Director-General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Mr. Abraham Nwankwo, to appear before it on Monday.

Also summoned by the court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Yunusa, is the DMO’s Officer-in-Charge of processing fuel subsidy claims by oil marketers, Mr. Umaru Abubakar.

Nwankwo and Abubakar had been cited for contempt by Ecobank Nigeria Limited, which accused them of frustrating its efforts to recover an alleged

debt of about N12 billion from an oil marketing firm, First Deepwater Discovery Limited.

Justice Yunusa made the summon order on Nwankwo and Abubakar after questioning their representation in court by a private lawyer, Mr. S.E. Omoraghon.

The judge said that for any lawyer to represent an official of a public parastatal like the DMO, the fiat of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and the minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), must first be obtained.

Consequently, he ordered that an officer from the office of the AGF must also appear in

court on Monday.

The bank, which claimed that Deepwater Discovery Limited had about N1.8 billion subsidy claims with the DMO, had asked the court to order DMO to transfer the money into Deepwater’s account with Ecobank, in order to liquidate the company’s indebtedness.

The bank, however, cited Nwankwo and Abubakar for contempt on the claim that DMO refused to comply with the court’s order to transfer N845 million which, according to the bank, was the subsidy claim ripe for payment to First Deepwater Discovery Limited

by DMO.

division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, on Wednesday, advised the National Judicial Council (NJC) to prosecute judges found to be corrupt, before their retirement.

Delivering a lecture entitled: ‘The Role of the Bar in Exterminating the Termite of Impunity from Nigeria’, at the Alao AkaBashorun annual memorial lecture, as part of activities marking the 2015 Law Week of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Justice Oyewole said that lawyers across the country encouraged impunity in the administration of justice through filing of frivolous applications in courts.

“Impunity is a pattern of behaviour that challenges the very fabric of any organised society, done out of a consciousness that the particular society lacks the institutions, or is too weak, to prevent or punish deviance. It is a conduct without (fear of) consequence or repercussion; crime without (fear of) punishment,” he said.

He expressed sadness that electoral offenders go freely without being punished, and maintained that “we have just gone through a demanding electoral process, which questioned the very essence of our being as a nation.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Crime

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27

Stories and pictures by Anyim Joy Ndudi

Man nabbed for impersonating Senator Bola Tinubu on facebook The police in Lagos has arrested one Emmanuel Eto for allegedly impersonating the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The 19 year old suspect who is an ND 2 student of Delta State Polytechnic, Oghara was said to have created a face book account,

using the name and the picture of Senator Tinubu, and defrauded scores of people, especially job seekers.

Daily Times learnt that Emmanuel’s stock in trade was to promise his victims blue chip jobs, especially at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company.

He gave them a UBA account

number to pay in a fee of N26,850 for application form and processing fee.

The suspect who had succeeded in defrauding three persons was about to catch his fourth victim who gave his name as Gbenga Idowu Adeyemi when the long CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Eto

BLOODY LEKKI BANK ROBBERY

Police nab perpetrators in three states Four of the 22 man robbery gang responsible for the bloody First City Monument Bank (FCMB) robbery which left three policemen and two civilians dead on March 12, 2015 have been arrested by officers of the Lagos State Police Command.

The suspects identified as Duke Odogbo (38); the gang leader, Lawrence Kinsley (31), Ebi Tosan (20) and Ikeleyemo Kuete Thomas (30), were arrested in Ikorodu, Delta and Ondo States respectively.

It would be recalled that a branch of the FCMB located in Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1 was robbed by a gang who came through the water way, carting away millions of Naira among other valuables.

Items recovered from the suspects include a Honda accord 2008 model, with Registration number AAA 43B, belonging to the gang leader; a white black-

Robbery gang from left, Odogbo, Kingsley, Tosan and Ikeleyemo

Five man gang robs filling station -leaves one dead

Aliu Bello and Rafiu Rasaq were recruited to serve as security men for Mfe filling station, located along Iju Road, Ifako Agege. But barely four weeks after they resumed duty, they revealed their true identity.

Daily Times gathered that both men mobilised their other gang members from far away

Okene, Kogi State and robbed the filling station they were employed to protect.

According to the report, the gang stormed the filling station at about 8:30 pm on Sunday, May 3, and by the time fracas was over, one Daramola Yemisi, a car dealer who was still in the premises at the time, was dead.

Daily Times gathered that Late Daramola, who tried to stop the

berry Z10, i-phone five. I30 extended ammunition, and a military face cap.

Following the incident, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police had called on heads of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCI), the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SAS), Marine Police and Mobile Police, to fish out the suspects from their hiding and it indeed paid off.

“Immediately after the robbery, I gave my words that we were going to round up the perpetrators of this act, and I am happy to tell you that through determination to get to the root of this matter, we were able to round up four of the suspects.”

Giving his account, the kingpin, Lawrence Kinsley who is

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

gang, was tied up and beaten to death by the five man gang.

Information also had it that on the day of the incident, the filling station had made huge sales as it was the only filling station that sold fuel in that area.

The suspects who fled the scene after making away with a large sum of money, headed back to Okene, but dropped Aliu CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Crime 28

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Tinubu’s impersonator arrested CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

arms of the law caught up with him.

According to the Commissioner of police, CP Kayode Aderanti, who paraded the suspect in Lagos, Emmanuel was arrested in Delta State following a report from a well meaning Nigerian of the said activities of the suspect.

Aderanti said that when he got the report three weeks ago, the officer in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Bureau (SCIB), SP Ameh Akpa Veronica, was immediately ordered to investigate the matter.

Gbenga tells how he almost fell victim to the plot. “My uncle, Rtd DIG Alhaji Rahmam Akao called me that somebody created an account with the name of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He then asked me to send a friendrequest to that person, which I did and he accepted.

“We became friends and communicated regularly. He sent me a message on face book

asking me if I was a graduate or undergraduate. I told him I was a graduate of accounting. He asked me if I would love to work with NNPC, I told him yes sir. He said he was going to introduce me to one Emmanuel who, he claimed, was running the NNPC recruitment on his behalf. He then sent me Emmanuel’s phone number and asked me to call in respect of the NNPC recruitment.

“When I called Emmanuel, he asked me to send him my email address so that he can send me the recruitment form, which I did. Emmanuel also sent me an account number to pay in the sum of N26,850 for the form and processing fee; he called me severally to know why there was a delay in the payment. He pressured me to make payment as there were few slots available.

He said the only reason why he is assisting me was because I was coming through Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In order to play along with him, I told him that my card got stocked in the ATM machine while I was trying to

withdraw the money.

“Unknown to him, my uncle, the former DIG, had called the real Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to inform him of the development.

The shocked Tinubu immediately ordered us to take the case to the CP who called for immediate investigation by detectives of the SCIB.” In his defence, Emmanuel claimed it was not intentional as the health condition of his mother led him into the criminal way of life.

“I am from Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

I opened the account in February 2015 with his name with the intent of luring people for recruitment.

I did that because my father is late and my mother has been sick for a long while. She has high blood pressure and she has been in and out of the hospital. Three people have paid money into the UBA account. The victims on their own sent me friend request on face book which I accept.

“Once we start chatting, I will

ask them if they are interested in working in NNPC or any other blue chip company. Immediately they get carried away at the mention of such offer. I was introduced into fraud by one Kelvin, a HND 2 student. I found the profile of Tinubu on Kelvin’s phone when I used it to browse, so I decided to become a fraudstar.

“Now that I have been arrested,

Items recovered from the impersonator

Lekki bank robbery suspects nabbed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

married with three children, said they spent about 24 hour mapping out their strategy and that his share of the 15 million loot was only N500,000.

“I am an Ijaw person from Warri North LGA in Delta State.

I am into oil bunkering. I was called by two of my friends in the creek to go for an oil bunkery operation. I was taken to an Island in IKorodu, where I met about 50 people who were also there for the bunkery business.

But later my friends came to meet me that it is no more bunkery; that we will be going to rob a bank. Since I was desperately in need of money as a family man I just gave in. what I was after was that money should come to my hand at the end of the day.

“Eleven of us in the gang camped at Alangba, an Island in Ajah. We left for the operation at about 4 pm with two boats, but one of the boats packed up, so we had to manage one. The others went ahead of me to clear the way and I was the one who shot the front glass of the bank and went inside first before the others.”

According, he wore an army camouflage trouser with a Tshirt for the operation and on arrival; the manager had disappeared upon hearing the gun shot.

“There was just 15 million Naira in a sack in one of the strong rooms. After the robbery, we went through the back door and followed the ferry boat. It was even on our way back that I saw two of my gang members with riffles. When I asked them how they got it, they told me they collected it from the police. I told them they shouldn’t have collected police gun. We went with nine riffles. ” On how the three police officers lost their lives during the robbery, he said. “I did not kill any police officer. I even asked my gang members and they told me while they were clearing the way, there was no police officer in sight. They however said they saw a police van packed somewhere not too far from the bank. They thought police officers would be in the van and that was why they shot the van.

There were no police officers in the bank when we arrived. ” On the day of my arrest

in Warri, I was walking and I noticed a car was trailing me, I stopped in front of one compound and a man came out and that was how I was arrested. I was given N500, 000 and I invested it in oil Bunkery business.”

30 year old Ikeleyemo Thomas said he was the ferry rider. Also an Ija man, he told Daily Times he was only called to drive the gang to their destination, that he did not take part in full operation. “I am a father of two.

Before now, I was into oil bunkering in the Arepo area of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. I did make as much as fifty to eighty thousand Naira from the business. I was called by my elders to carry them for this operation. We were 22 and we went with two boats. “We killed three police men but I was not part of the people who killed them; I was waiting for them in the boat.

The police arrested me through my sister. They caught my sister who led them to me.”

The CP has also called on all the State to go about their various transactions in the bank.

According to him, “the banking system in Lagos is safe for customers to go in and transact

I feel so bad and I regret my action. I am really disappointed in myself. I want my mother to know that I loved her so much that I went into fraud to enable me take care of her medical expenses.”

The police traced Eto through his phone and arrested him in his school at Oghara in Delta State.

their businesses. People should not look back and think of what happened on the 12th of March 2015 as a barometer to measure the security in our banks.

“We want to assure through everyone through this medium that the banking halls are safe and they should feel free to walkk in to transact their business without fear of any molestation and attack. You cannot just come to Lagos and harass any of our banks or anybody whatsoever and walk away. We will go after you and you will face the full wrought of the law.”

CP Aderanti

One dies as gang robs filling station CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

and Rafiu at Ibadan where they shared their loot, then the duo returned to Lagos.

Fortunately, police investigation revealed that Aliu and Rafiu were connected to the robbery, and through the help of one Mukila, they were arrested and detained.

They have however confessed to the crime but a source at the State Criminal Investigation and Interrogation Department (SCIID) says investigation is ongoing as the other gang members are still at large.

Bello and Rasak

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Features THE COMPUTER VILLAGE SQUEEZE:

Here, we create something from nothing

ODUYOYE:

Shops don’t come cheap at the Computer Village. Daily Times visited the hard/software business hub recently and witnessed the people’s uncanny skill at managing time and space.

GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR reports.

One of the numerous reasons the average Ibo man would do anything to sell just about anything sellable anywhere came to light at the Computer Village when our

s

Features Editor: Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr. E-mail: gbubemi.godscovenantsnr@dailytimes.com.ng

correspondent talked with some deeply innovative young men in the software/hardware hub in the heart of Ikeja, Lagos.

To start with, 48 years old Joe Nwabueze, a relation of a feared native doctor from Ihunoma village, Mission, Enugu, gave Daily Times one good guess why. ‘Well, maybe the Ibo man loves the feel of cash, and he likes to make it quick’, our correspondent said, but Joe shook his head: “A lot of CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Author and language engineer who speaks nine languages

Multi-linguist speaks about meaning of life Celebrated exegete and polyglot, octogenarian Modupe Adedoyin Oduyoye, in this interview with GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR comments on some mysteries of life, including blood transfusion, death, reincarnation, etc.

A conflict between sense and reason, Oduyoye is the first to admit that his findings may be

largely debatable. He recalled the initial partition that separated his teachings from commonsense and uncommon radical sense.

“When I first began to say some things, somebody mentioned the phrase, ‘far-fetched’, I was confronted with words like, ‘are you not going too far?’ Why Yoruba and the Hebrews? Do you think there can be any connection between Yoruba land and India?

29

“That was what I faced and, therefore, needed patience in trying to answer the objections raised, but, it paid off, eventually, and it gladdens me to notice, when things became clearer, that there are people who now say, ‘I think he’s saying something important’.

I am grateful to them and those who organised the seminar that celebrated my 80th birthday.

In Physics, it is said that for

Shopcar at computer village

Oduyoye with tray of coriander leaves

every action, there is an equal reaction, although, Omniscience scholars say, there are unequal reactions to every action. As a Christian Scientist and traditional religionist, Oduyoye has his own conviction about blood transfusion.

“I don’t think there is anything wrong with it; it’s not a religious issue with me. I’ve had blood transfusion before when I had an operation. There are certain things that human beings have known, which I accept and even take for granted. And I didn’t see anything in my Scriptures which makes me study,examine or worry over it.”

On the argument between sci-

entists and theologians concerning God, creation and science: “When I read somewhere in one of the Prophets, where Jehovah was speaking: I created light and I created darkness; I was first shocked because in Genesis 1, what we read is, ‘Let there be light.’ So God created light and that was what we learnt as children. Therefore, we associate God with creation of light, and not creation of darkness.

“Then the question is, since God has the power to create light, why did He not banish darkness altogether? Why do we still have darkness today? “Now, that CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Features 30

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

Computer village: We make our living lawfully - Traders

Another shopcar at computer village

An extended shopcar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

people think that, but it’s more than that. Sit down, let me tell you the reason I came to Lagos.

“If you go inside Enugu towns, you will find some very rich families with big houses and some jeeps and Mercedes Benz cars.

The people around them know that one of their sons have given his life to become the source of that wealth, but many of the wealth don’t last. When they are making the medicine, the dibia (native doctors) don’t tell them

how long the money will last.

“After the person dies, the family will become poor again over time, but the big houses are still there. Nobody will rent it or buy it because everyone knows the history. And when the cars cannot move again, they park them in the yard as memory.”

So why did you come to Lagos?

“I had two friends from the same family who wanted to be very rich; they wanted to make big names and become big men.

There is nothing wrong with

that. In Enugu, there is an adage that says, if a rich man tells you what he did to become rich, you will prefer to remain poor for life.

So they went to a native to ‘cook’ them so they can become millionaires, so that anything they touch would become cash.”

That native doctor was Joe’s uncle. He told the boys, Oke and Ike (not their real names) he would turn them to vultures first, then after doing his magic, he would CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Side view of another shopcar

Oduyoye: There is no plain level ground in the universe CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

tells me that darkness has its own function. If darkness was not created, how would we enjoy our sleep? Before electricity and lamps, if there was no darkness, how would we know when to stop work and go in?God made other beings that move in the dark, like the nocturnal animals, so we share the same thing.

People think that it’s God that created darkness, whereas, it is the rotation of the earth which makes you think that darkness exists. The sun never sets, it never blackens out, but, when you turn towards the sun, you say it’s daylight, when the rotation changes later, you say ‘there is darkness’. I don’t want to call darkness an illusion, but our eyes cannot pick

things out like nocturnal animals.

“Now, God is all seeing, He is the one who created those animals that can see in darkness, and He created those animals in His image, of course, to teach us that it is possible to see in the dark.

Therefore, nothing can happen in the dark which is not naked before God”.

Some of your disciplesargue that the GOD of the Bible must have also been created, that there is no infinite GOD. Is this your understanding?

“The noun for infinite is infinity. We were taught in Class One in the Secondary School that two parallel lines are lines that never meet, no matter how far you pull them at both ends. We worked at Geometry problems in Class1 to 4

with this axiom and we were able to solve some of the problems.

But in Class 5, one of our teachers was amazed that nobody got one out of the five Geometry problems we tried to solve, and this was because we were using the same axiom that two parallel lines never meet.Then he said to us, ‘Are you children so ignorant?

Don’t you know that parallel lines meet at infinity?’

It was a bombshell; we now made the lines meet, and the problem got solved.

The question now is, is there a point called infinity? Infinity is something that will always recede, so infinity is a postulation, a working hypothesis, and I believe CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Oduyoye with friends at Ibadan

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, May 14, 2015

31 Features

Oduyoye: There is nothing wrong with blood transfusion CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

eternity is the same, unreachable.”

In the past 80 years now, what would you say life has taught you?

“Many things, but I would like to single out one. About 15 or 20 years ago, I came to the realisation that life, the universe goes in a circle, likewise the earth, moon, sun, Mars, but for the big size of the earth, all living things would have been feeling dizzy.

“Then it occurred to me that, if all these things are circling, there is no plain level ground. What we have is the surface of a curve; then I realised, forward ever, backward never is impossible: you go forward and forward, you end up where you began.

“It was very illuminating for me, and it is this continuous return to the beginning that will make it endless; if it was going on a straight line, it will certainly end one day, but since it has the

ability of curving back to the beginning, it can roll endlessly.

So I told myself that it was wise for human beings to realise that that was what life is. For instance, since we were born, our life is sleeping and waking repeatedly.

If somebody says ‘I want variety, I don’t want this sleeping and waking anymore’, then such a person is not ready to live anymore, because life is defined by sleeping and waking daily.

“Life is all abouteating breakfast, lunch, supper, sleeping and waking; life is about leaving your house and returning later. Life is about planting and reaping.

In case of water: rain falls to the ground, the sun laps it up and through evaporation, the same rain forms clouds which become heavy and pour down again; life is just a circle.We must never try to get tired of repetition.

At 80 years of age, how long do you expect to be around?

If anybody says I am still hop-

ing to live longer, I ask the person, ‘to do what?’ What is it that I’ve not had the opportunity to do? I think we’re enjoying life, because there’s still something to do tomorrow.

If by tomorrow, I am supposed to wake up, have breakfast, wait for lunch and supper and repeat that routine for a week, I don’t think I will be enjoying my life anymore. So when projects end, one will, surely, say, ‘I’ve done everything I wanted to do’.

For instance, if there’s no compulsory retirement age in any employment, won’t some people stay at work till the age of 110?

For a man to continue working till the age of 110, means he would become a burden to his colleagues, because he would always be asking for their assistance in carrying out his assignments. At that point, someone should tell him , ‘now you have many assistants, sir, shall we reduce your salary?’

One of the books of Oduyoye

Computer village: Shopcar can be used as showroom and store house - Chuks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

turn them back to persons again.

The boys agreed because that was the specialty of the man; but why vulture?

“We are told that the thing works like the blood of vulture.

You know that wherever there is a corpse, vulture is drawn to it.

Money will become like a corpse; wherever there is money to be made, things will happen: he doesn’t have to work for it. Everybody will work, but they will be there at the right moment and that would be it.”

But the plot went bizarre after the witchdoctor turned Ike and Oke to vultures; left them in his shrine and went to the market to buy some essential materials, but he didn’t make it there: the old fellow was knocked dead by a speeding vehicle as he tried to cross the road a few meters to the market.

When news of his death reached the neighbourhood; the two vultures flew out in the evening and perched on top of the thatched roof. The incident was noised all over the coal city but nobody knew what had gone soar at the witchdoctor’s shrine.

“By the second day, the vultures flew to their parent’s home and perched on the roof. When it was noticed that the two boys were missing, it was thought odd for

vultures to be seen on top of a living family home, but the concern for that moment was the whereabouts of their sons.

“When someone shouted their names, ‘Oke and Ike, where are you?’ the two vultures were seen responding in body movement on the roof. Later, the truth became known. The boys died in the body of vulture after the family could not find a way to reverse their condition.

“After that vulture incident, and other daring feats young boys that we knew, some them one-on-one; some of us that don’t have the guts, or that have the guts but changed our minds to live by our sweat and labour, decided we will work out our wealth, with honesty, with fear, and with Godliness, and that is the main reason behind the unstoppable drive of most of us.

We strive to make it anywhere, anyplace but not anyhow.”

The Igbo race is diversified in their ethnicity; can that reason be generalized as the push behind the Igbo man?

“May be not generally, but the motive to make clean is general. If our people go to Kaduna, Maiduguri or Kafanchan without capital to trade, he or she can build up capital over time, by with selling handkerchief, snacks, etc until he gets enough

money to start a trade line he likes.”

Back to Computer Village, Joe said the space squeeze is what brought the idea to turn your car into both showroom and shop.

“We call it ‘shopcar’ because it serves both purposes. Every trader with a shop or whole house here were part of the beginning of the computer village success story or they inherited the shop or got it through a special arrangement.

There is no new shop or space to rent in computer village.”

Daily Times investigation revealed that some traders who were displaced from Ebute-Ero were actually the group that said ‘look, every spot is a shop. If I park my car here, I will turn it to my shop and sell my goods.

They pay land rent to the market administration which in turn honours its commitment to the Ikeja Local Government and

council officials.

Chuks Igwebuike, one of the shopcar owners showed our correspondent the contents of his car. Inside were goods he was advertising to customers while he goods on the car roof, its burnet and boots are for everyone to see and buy.”

The zeal and tenacity to ‘make it’ lawfully at the computer village underline the adage that says, necessity is the mother of invention.

JUST HUMAN

11 a.m. Isheri roundabout, Lagos

PHOTO BY GCS

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How to be smart with your money (3) Tunde Oyedoyin Financial Intelligence

ÎÎÎ In the two previous

articles, I talked about the importance of knowing how to be smart with your money and checking your bank’s monthly statements . I once went over a mini- statement I printed from an ATM and noticed an organisation had taken the money they shouldn’t take. Guess what, I called and told them about it and had my £10 back in my account.

Was that a lot? Definitely not. It’s not enough for a night out. The titanic wasn’t sunk by a big hole, you know. Watching your pennies without letting the pound slip out of hand is all in a day’s job.

In this concluding part, therefore, I’ll be discussing a very important part of the equation planning for your money.

Those who have gone on to acquire great wealth know this very important part of the jig -saw.

If you make no plans for

your money, you will soon discover that others will, irrespective of whether you earn just a little or much.

In order to plan for your money, you must first see it as a tool and as a means to an end. Your salary, or allowance or even pocket money, is a tool. It’s the means by which you actualise your dreams and move towards financial freedom. So, you must plan (budget) how you’ll spend it before the money comes in. Those who never plan for their salaries will always desperately look forward to the end of the month or next pay day. Such people never do anything with their money apart from keeping body and soul together and perhaps, just pay the bills.

Planning or budgeting for your money is very important , because you can allocate bits and pieces - or percentages, if you

like- to various aspects of your life. Remember that one of the key points mentioned in part one is that it is not the amount of money that you earn that determines whether you need to be smart with it or not. So, whether your monthly income is N50,000 or £1,000, you need to plan for it before it arrives. One reason for planning for your money is that you can see problems and opportunities ahead. That gives you a head start in knowing what to do. For instance, if you need to pay your car insurance premium every month and you realise It always leaves you with very little after all other expenses, that’s an opportunity to either find a way of getting rid of that type of car or reducing your other expenditure in other areas.

Apart from not wanting to repeat the mistakes of others , planning and al-

locating your money also saves you a lot of headaches and prevents you from embarking on guilty trips if you’re unable to meet other people’s expectations . Remember that if you do not plan for it, others will, hence the reason they will want you to meet their expectations. This is not just doing charity, though.

Others may come to you with investment plans, wanting you to be part of it. If you have never planned nor allocated what to put into such, you may be talked into doing what you will regret many months or years later. Nothing stops you from saying, “hey, I’m not ally ready to buy those shares now or it could be saying ‘no’ to flying on a business class.

Apart from meeting your daily and regular expenses, you need to plan for the medium and long term with your money. By

planning for your money, you know what to allocate for that forthcoming birthday celebration or christening, or perhaps, wedding. In addition to planning for your social commitments, you should also plan for your career development with your money. So, whether you’re near the bottom of the ladder or thereabout, even just one per cent of your salary put together towards a career plan, can do wonders in the medium term.

Never forget that it is not the amount you start with in life or earn that really matters, it is the plan you make with part of it. Whether you hope to take a summer course or go on pilgrimage next year, now is the time to get smart with your money and what better way to do it than planning how you will gradually raise the funds to make your dream come true.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotline: 08086296714

Life&

TIMES Thursday, May 14, 2015

Jesse

Abaga The enigmatic

radical

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Multichoice excites customers in may L5 P

War

of the musical divas L6 P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday May 14, 2015

Now, it’s strictly Chocolate City business It came as a surprise when news got out that you are now back with Chocolate City record label. How did it happen?

What happened to you while you were on your own?

Life&

T E A M

- Jesse Abaga

You were also into marijuana

When you left Chocolate City, it honour the agreements of your contract by way of music productions and that you were being dragged to court for it. M.I and Ice Prince also put out a few new singles including shows but you never showed up. Were things that bad?

So aside being signed to Chocolate City, what other plan do you have for the year?

Opeoluwani Akintayo & Mutiat Alli The entertainment industry was set abuzz when news broke that Jesse Jagz who left Chocolate City, over two years ago, amidst some controversies, is now back with the label. Yes, Jesse Jagz, as he is fondly called and brother to diminutive rapper, Jude Abaga (MI), is back to the label but without his dreadlocks, perhaps, a sign that we may no longer be seeing his Reggae side, but a more projected hip-hop artiste. The rapper, singer, producer and songwriter opened up to Life & Times about his return to Chocolate City record label and what he was up to while away.

You look different from the Jesse Jagz of old when you were with Chocolate City record label, before you left. Whose idea was it?

Does it mean you will no longer be singing dance hall/ reggae tunes?

Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378

So now that you are back with

What are your fans saying about going back to Chocolate City?

like?

Does it mean you will be doing more of commercial songs than the revolutionary type?

How many years contract did you sign on with your second coming?

Will it be just a Chocolate City affair because you talked about adding your own production into the songs?

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893

How do you feel whenever you are being criticized?

Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478

Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday May 14, 2015

Mutiat Alli

Bimbo Thomas opens Bimbally liquor

Curvy Nollywood actress, Bimbo Thomas last Sunday, opened her much talked about Bimbally wine & Liquor store in the heart of Ikeja. The event which was anchored by Soul Cleaver of the popular Rooftop MC musical group was the talk of the town as the actress showed readiness to put smiles on the faces of guests who had come to felicitate with her. Bimbally wine &Liquor ly opened after a prayer session presided over by Senior Apostle Adeyinka who was sunmola Thomas. According to Bimbo, the liquor store has always been on the topmost of her heart to be able to serve the general public the various arrays of wine ranging from spirits to cranberries and ancient wines. She said “When planning for the Iyabo Ojo, Bimbo Thomas, Fathia Balogun and Biodun Okeowo right occasion, no matter the size of your budget, think Bimbally store and we will be right at your door steps�.

The high point of the event was the free wine tasting session for everyone present as well as lots of food and drink. Present at the well packaged event were, Iyabo Ojo, Tope Oshodi, Fathia Balogun, Biodun Okeowo, Ireti Osayemi, Liz Da Silva, Yomi Fashlanso, Fali Werepe, Lolade Abuta, Alariwo of Africa, Funny Bone, Lilian Ama Mrs. Mosunmola Thomas and a guest Aliko etc.

L3 Movie Gists

Sola Sobowale bounces back with Nectar After missing out for so long on the movie scene, veteran actress, Sola Sobowale known acting, with a comeback in a mind blowing soap titled Nectar. From the stables of Sola Sobowale production, it stars acts like of Keppy Ekpeyoung Bassey, Ngozi Nwosu, Lara Akinsola, Sola Sobowale, Alexa Ehi, Michael Babaseun Armani Faseru, Ibuhun Ogidan, Khoemizona Olalekan Babalola, Rotimi Rafantastic actors. Nectar is an emotional story of true love, pain, rejection and revenge with a star studded cast; Actors. Directed by Tunde Olaoye, it was produced by Sola Sobowale herself.

Sola Sobowale

Chris Attoh, Rita Dominic in Royal Castle

Genevieve Nnaji expends 30M on film project Charming Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji has joined the league of actresses who have added movie production to their repertoire of skills, as she has just rounded-up production of her own debut movie.

Information available to Life &Times revealed that the movie titled Road to Yesterday was shot in Lagos and was directed by Ishaya Bako with an estimated budget of

Ishaya Bako and Genevieve Nnaji

employed the services of actors like Ghanaian actor, Majid Michel, comedienne and television presenter, Chioma Omeruah aka Chigurl, Ebele Okaro Onyiuke, Oris Ehuero, Bolanle Ninalowo and Genevieve herself.

The movie is however scheduled to be premiered and released in 2016. Investigation also revealed that the actress and her team ensured that all members of cast and crew signed contracts which barred and prevented them from speaking about the movie until the Genevieve team breaks the campaign.

Funke Akindele others party with T.W.O Comic actress, Funke Akindele was amongst some of the guests at the launch of celebrity couple, Tunde played host to other celebrities who had come to party with them in their home. The event which the couple disclosed was a way of celebrating other entertainers in the industry other than them, played host to the likes of Femi Kuti, Kate Henshaw, Dare Art Alade and DJ Jimmy Jatt, Dele Esan, Essence, Funke Kuti, Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi, Kenny Saint Brown,Labi Olayori, Ras Kimono,Yeni Kuti, Tony Okoroji, Tosyn Bucknor and Yinka Davies tions with artistes like 2face Idibia, 9ice, Dammy Krane, Segun Obe, Brace amongst others with song titles such as Wedding day, Rise up, Without your love, to mention Funke Akindele and Yinka Davies but a few.

Elvis Chucks, Florence Onuma, Rita Dominic, Chris Attoh, Vitalis and Ini Dima Okojie Tinsel actor, Chris Attoh and award winning AMVCA actress, Rita Dominic are expected to play lead roles in a new TV series titled Royal Castle directed by producer and actor, Elvis Chuks.

Ufuoma McDermott pregnant with second child Hear word McDermott is currently expecting her second child with hubby, Steve McDermott. The actress who has been absent from several movie sets is reported to

Isio McDermott, who they welcomed in October 2012. It is pertinent to note that the actress was spotted earlier last month at the baby shower of singer, Omawunmi Magbele with the singer pointing at the bellies of the actress and Ufuoma McDermott

Music Gists L4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday May 14, 2015

Opeoluwani Akintayo

D’banj’s court hearing postponed

Davido collaborates with Trey Songz, Flavour

-

-

D’banj

MTV Base organises master class session for upcoming acts

Davido

Wale Babalola dumps bouncing for music promotion

Speakers at MTV Base master class session

Wale Babalola

New single alert!

Harrysong - Ma Meh -

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday May 14, 2015

L5 Movie & Music Gists

Mutiat Alli & Opeoluwani Akintayo

DJ Humility, others for Nigerian Broadcasters’ Nite

Femi Branch plans ahead of 45th birthday Today, actor Femi Branch clocks 45 and to celplay , a two man play, on May 29th, 2015 at the Terra Kulture situated in Victoria Island to be later performed in Ghana, Kenya and Besides acting, Branch is an author of a book, From Senbora, a three in one book of comic stories. Since then, the play has had over 25 performances across Nigeria by different universities and celebrities. Though his plays have been performed live by stars like Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, the late Jaye Aboderin, Segun Arinze, Funke Akindele, Doris Simeon, Yaw of Wazobia Femi Brainard, Funky Mallam and Mercy Aigbe will be performing in his own play.

Femi Branch

Is Yvonne Nelson’s mother going blind?

Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson has disclosed that her mother is currently suffering from glaucoma, an eye condition which usually causes an increased pressure in the eyeball that can damage the optic disk, which may lead to a gradual loss of vision. The actress made this known on her social media page after a fan complained to her via an email of her eye condition due to incessant shortage in electricity supply in the situation is getting worse. Responding, Yvonne said her mother is also going through the same condition. “Sad, sad, my mother is going through same,” she wrote on her page. The actress has organized a vigil on May 16, 2015 over the power

DJ Humility After having successfully hosted a couple of editions in Ibadan, Abuja and Kaduna, the much-talked about Nigerian Broadcast-

solely designed to further celebrate broadcasters, On-Air Personalities, TV and RaAbuja and Kaduna in 2014.

However, come Saturday May 30th,

Ogechukwukanma Ogwo and Murphy Ijemba, to be celebrated at the Nigerian Broad-

The afternoon show from 12noon-4pm, The days - Fridays and Saturday Breakfast Show, 6am-12noon. For DJ Humility, born Benedict Afagwu, he hugged the spotlight when he won the Benson & Hedges DJ Championship in the mous in-house DJ has maintained a steady rise in fame and fortune. DJ Humility has not only performed in some of the biggest shows held both home and abroad, he has successfully staged personal shows i.e. the yearly DJ Classics. He has rocked clubs, parties and some of his singles has earned him more respect in the music scene. On his part, Murphy Ijemba does

Yvonne Nelson and mother, Sirkenayo

Multichoice to excite customer this May Nigeria entertainment leading company, Multichoice owners of DSTV has announced that all through May, customers will enjoy the Africa Day promotion on its various bouquets as a way to celebrate the dynamic and beautiful continent with an exciting array of local talent and vibrant, informative and entertaining homegrown programming. According to the Regional Manager, Wangi MbaUzoukwu, “The Africa Magic channels will continue to deliver original, homegrown content in entertainment, lifestyle, drama series, reality African content to highly rated shows such as: Star Gist which airs weekdays at 20:00 CAT, 53 Extra on Mondays at 19:30 CAT, Jara every Wednesday at 21:00 CAT and the high rating soaps Hotel Majestic weekdays at 21:00 CAT, and Tinsel on weekdays at 20:30 CAT”. She further divulged that viewers will be treated to these all-

Nite Club terest you to know that the dynamic duo of Ogechukwukanma Ogwo and Murphy Ijemba, emerged Most Popular Radio Sports casters at the prestigious Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) that was held in 2012 and 2013 respectively, while DJ Humility of Rhythm 93.7FM, was crowned Best In-House DJ in Nigeria during the 2011 maiden edition. Ogechukwukanma Ogwo has nothing to prove to anyone is concerned, having been on top of it for more than 12 years. She started off with Straight from the Heart on RayPower FM in April 2002 and then became a presenter anchoring the Top 10 Countdown Show and Rock Radio. Having explored the beauty of entertainment, she started yearning for a more challenging side of broadcasting. In August, 2003, she auditioned for, and got a job with Brila 98.9 FM. She currently hosts

mannerisms, attitude, beliefs, dress sense and the man who calls himself Radio Paparazzi does not conform to the norms. Creative and are visible in his presentations on radio, applied scribed as a combination of passion and energy which produces a sporting orgasm. Now that the stage is set, there is no doubt as to what to expect when these amazing OAPs emerge formance for the night, DJ Obi and DJ Debby will raise the roof with their scintillating mixes is powered by The Reality Entertainment in association with Vapors Nite Club. Red carpet is slated for 9pm with special performances from rising and shining music stars. The event will be anchored by humour merchants, De-Don and

Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu

muscle with Africa Magic Music (Weekdays at 14:00 and 23:55 CAT).

Photo speak Tonto Dike enjoys boat cruise with Mr. X Tonto Dikeh is still not ready to reveal the identity of the man in her life, who she refers to as Mr. X. She shared the picture of both of them having a fun boat cruise. As usual, he had his face covered.

Industry Issue L6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday May 14, 2015

Opeoluwani Akintayo

-

Oh Yeah

-

Chidinma, Yemi Alade and D’Ija

-

-

- Do they have what it takes to displace -

-

Tiwa Savage as new industry divas?

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-

-

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday May 14, 2015

L7 Music & Movie Review

Mutiat Alli and Opeoluwani Akintayo

Di’ja- Awww

… an impressive fresher’s birth

Awww, is already making waves on radio and TV stations across the country.

Published on Dec 16, 2014, the video already has close to 900 000 views on Youtube as at press time- quite impressive for a fresher. happy ever after feel. accessorized with statement bangles…simple yet classy. vince viewers of her innate acting skills. the same time at some point. choice of hairstyle there was also okay.

Her voice range is smooth and moderate which allows her to comfortably slide from one pitch to the other. change of costumes and hairstyles severally, is good.

if the romantic scenes lasted longer than they did as we are sure her fans would have loved that.

The song could have also done well with more choreography. ing skill yet, the little she gave, were quite impressive.

Good, clean video and lighting. bles and others, nice choice of costumes too.

I give her 7/10.

Artiste: Running time: 3: 56 sec Producer: Don Jazzy

Dazzling Mirage:

nt tie pa ell –C kle Sic of y on ag d an in pa e th g yin -ra Ex The movie Dazzling Mirage is aimed to educate and shed more light to the general public about the deadly sickle cell disease Lecturer, Olayinka Egbokhare.

Ayuba.

the movie.

Despite her condition, Funmiwo strive hard to attain greater height, investing her time to her sickle cell awareness programme -

she was actually a sickle cell carrier in real life. bution to that.

Dazzling Mirage

Kunle Afolayan & Kemi Lala Akindoju on Dazzling Mirage

A scene in the movie

L8 Television

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday May 14, 2015

Showing on

Showing on

152 African Magic Epic

104 M-Net Movie Comedy

02:25

23:35

Thu, 14 May | 16

Wed, 13 May | PG

Aka Tears Of Nene. A woman befriends a group of women

A romantic and beautifully animated family fare. After

their advice not realising their hidden motives. Nuella

Chedid. (2011) Bibo Bergeron.

101 M-Net

118 Telemundo

120 BBC Entertainment

128 SONY MAX

02:10 Labour Of Love 00:00 Bad Country 01:35 Time Of Death

03:50 Queen Of Hearts 06:10 Labour Of Love 12:20 Top Gear

07:50 Queen Of Hearts 07:30 Chicago Fire 10:20 Labour Of Love 10:30 The Goldbergs 12:00 Queen Of Hearts

16:30 Deal Or No Deal 06:00 The Thin Blue Line

13:00 Carte Blanche

16:10 Queen Of Hearts

18:30 The Fixer 19:30 Blue Bloods

19:15 Downton Abbey

10:20 Deal Or No Deal 20:20 Queen Of Hearts

155 AfricaMagic World

22:50 Labour Of Love Oliver

154 AfricaMagic Family

11:00 Tinsel

00:00 Noose Of Gold

11:00 Lies That Bind 11:30 Lies That Bind

00:00 Tinsel 15:00 Family Ties 01:30 Family Ties

06:00 Bafana Bafana 15:30 Noose Of Gold 19:00 Tinsel 16:30 Lies That Bind 17:00 Lies That Bind 20:00 The Boondocks

Ronaldo, Seedorf will never reach my level

Poster!

KEVIN -PRINCE BOATENG

–Crouch X2

X4,5 Thursday, May 14, 2015

Simon may miss out on Flying Eagles squad X3

UNITED

targets £5.75m

CAVANI CYCLING:

Rabottini handed two-year ban for doping

X7

X8

X2

Thursday, May 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

Ahmadu Bello Stadium agog for Nigeria, Chad cracker Mike Otanwa

T

he Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna will be agog for Super Eagles’ first 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Le Sao of Chad, Extra Time has learnt.

In recent years, the Eagles have played their home matches in Calabar and Abuja, and lately in Uyo, but it was learnt that the qualifier against Chad will be held in Kaduna.

The Eagles are not new to Kaduna as they have played several friendly matches in the ‘Crock City’, while the home based Eagles used Kaduna

for their qualifiers for the last CHAN tournament in South Africa.

The Ahmadu Bello Stadium is a 25, 000 capacity facility, with natural grass turf, but it remains unclear why the Nigeria Football Federation have chosen Kaduna ahead of the much bigger Abuja National Stadium (60, 000) and Uyo Stadium (30, 000), both of which also have natural grass pitches.

But the Ahmadu Bello Stadium is not new to Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, as his second game in charge of the team was played in Kaduna against Zambia in November of 2011.

Clasico would be ‘historic’ UCL final

–Pique B

Ronaldo, Seedorf will never reach my level –Crouch

S

toke City striker, Peter Crouch, has said he may be one of the tallest strikers in the Premier League but he’s never been the strongest.

Not that the experienced 34-year-old has a problem with this though, as he believes it gives him the edge over his competition.

And while many of us would have crumbled under that pressure, the former England international kept his cool, even

after being goaded by his Stoke City teammate Geoff Cameron.

Former Holland international Seedorf won four Champions Leagues, two Serie A titles and a La Liga crown during his Crouch 22 years in the game.

While Ronaldo has lifted two FIFA Balon d’Or’s, three Premier League titles and the Champions League twice.

Pique

arcelona playing a Champions League final “Clasico” against Real Madrid would be “exciting” and “historic,” Barca defender, Gerard Pique said.

Pique and his teammates qualified for their fourth Champions League final in the last decade by overcoming Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate in the semifinals, even if the Bundesliga champions did win Tuesday’s home second leg 3-2 on the night.

The Blaugrana side will now face either Madrid or Juventus in the final in Berlin on June 6.

Asked in the Allianz Arena mixed zone after Tuesday’s game if he had a preference for opponent, Pique admitted that he was attracted by the possibility of being among the first players to experience a Barca-Madrid European final.

“The truth is I am not really bothered at all, the important thing is to be there,” the Spain international said. “Then whoever we get we will set out to play the game. Although it would be very exciting to be the first to play in a Champions League final against our biggest rival. It would be something historic.”

Thursday, May 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

A K E J I R extend

Tension

contracts of Nigerian duo C roatia top division side, HNK Rijeka, have extended the contract of Nigerian duo of Odion Goodness Ajayi and Jamilu Collins.

Ajayi, the elder brother to Granada striker Isacc Success, extended his contract with the team till 2017, while Collins extended his to 2016 with the option of a further year.

Sports director of the team Srecko Jurcic said the Nigerians form an integral part of the club’s future and they are delighted to have tied them down to a new contract alongside Varteks Mate

Males.

“Mate returned after a long break, before that he was our very best midfielder and we believe that he will return to that level, while Ajayi and Collins are talented players that we believe in the future will realize their potential,” he said.

Both players arrived from Rijeka’s sister academy in Nigeria, Football Academy Abuja (FAA), and while Ajayi has being a regular with the main team in training, tours and few games Collins presently plays for the B team who are top of the third division in Croatia.

X3

grips Eagles camp as

a Garb set to name squad

Garba

Mike Otanwa

T

here is palpable tension in the camp of the Flying Eagles as coach Manu Garba is set to name the final 21-man squad for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup scheduled to begin May 30, in New Zealand.

Manu is expected to name the 21-man squad tomorrow when the list would be sent to FIFA. After the Nigerian U-20 national team impressed in a thrilling 5-2 win against Hoffenheim U-23 side on Tuesday, players of the World Cup bound team have started to take stock of what may be in the coming days.

An attacker of the team said: “If I was part of the technical crew I will find it difficult to drop any of the players that are presently in Nurnberg.”

“Nigeria is blessed with talents and that is why I think all the players here merit being in New Zealand,” a midfielder of the team said.

Ajayi and Collins

Garba dissatisfied with victory over Hoffenheim

F

lying Eagles head coach, Manu Garba, was not wholly satisfied with 5-2 win over Hoffenheim U-23.

The Nigeria U-20 side scored five goals, while the German side netted two goals on Tuesday. Substitute Taiwo Awoniyi grabbed a hat-trick, with Godwin Saviour and Chidera Ezeh scoring a goal each to seal the win.

Eagles were flawless and took their chances against a strong Hoffenheim side.

“We started the game slowly, but we later picked up to play our normal game,” said Manu after the thrilling encounter.

“It was a good outing overall and I will score us about 70%.”

Manu said his team have some work to do if they are to reach a standard level.

“But again we need to work on our defence by taking on more defensive responsibilities and our finishing has to be better as we lost several chances.”

Simon may miss out on Flying Eagles squad Mike Otanwa

F

Simon

lying Eagles coach, Manu Garba, is undecided on whether to include Gent (Belgium) forward, Moses Simon, in his final list of 21 for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The Eagles coach has all but concluded on his team for the World Cup in New Zealand, but is yet to decide on two players.

The 19-year-old Simon is currently involved in a league play-off for his Belgian club, and is not expected to join the Nigerian U-20’s until at least May 25.

Although Garba is disposed to having former AS Trencin attacker on the team, Extra Time can reveal that he’s unsure of whether to include Simon on the final list since he hasn’t been a part of the team and as a result he’s yet to submit his list to the NFF. The deadline for the submission of final lists is midnight on Friday (tomorrow), and Garba has until Friday evening to submit his list to the NFF for onward submission to FIFA. A source understands that “Simon and one other player are giving the coach serious thoughts”.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

KEVIN-PRINCE

X4

Kevin-Prince Boateng is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who is currently playing for and serves as the vice-captain of Schalke 04.

Boateng is the older, paternal half-brother to Jerome Boateng.

He speaks Turkish, German, English, Italian, French and Arabic and primarily plays as a box-to-box midfielder or attacking midfielder or forward.

Has fifteen caps and two goals for the Ghana national team, and has received nominations for African Footballer of the Year.

Boateng signed for Hertha in July 1994, before departing in July 2007 to sign for Tottenham until August 2009. He accepted a loan to Borussia Dortmund in January 2009 and later signed for Portsmouth from August 2009 to August 2010.

Boateng signed for Genoa in August 2010 and AC Milan from August 2010 to August 2013. He is presently with Schalke 04.

He is blessed with strength, speed, killer instinct in front of goal, and an uncommon flamboyance in the attacking third.

About Boateng Full Name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Nationality: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number: Youth career 1994: 1994–2005: Senior career 2004–2007: 2005–2007: 2007–2009: 2008-2009: 2009–2010: 2010–2011: 2010–2013: 2013–Till date: National team 2010–Till date: Ghana

Hertha BSC II Hertha BSC II Tottenham Borussia Dortmund (loan) Portsmouth Genoa Milan Schalke 04

Reinickendorfer Fuchse Hertha BSC

Kevin-Prince Boateng March 6, 1987 (age 28) West Berlin, West Germany Ghanaian 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Midfielder/Forward Schalke 04 9

Personal Information

BOATENG

Thursday, May 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

X5

X6

Thursday, May 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

Solace Chukwu

W

hile Stephen Keshi has inked a new contract to helm the Super Eagles till 2017, the jury remains out on whether or not his first tenure was a success.

In a way, this is very much a subjective debate based on ideology: results vs. aesthetics. Did Keshi’s team consistently produced good performances? No. However, he was in charge for 68 games and lost under 25 per cent – they undeniably won more than they lost.

So really, it all comes down to what kind of football you prefer.

However, there is another way to look at it, which is infinitely more scientific and easier to agree upon.

That is the mandate, in terms of touchstones, given to him by the NFF when he was first appointed in 2011.

He was tasked with qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, achieving a Quarter-Final place at the World Cup, and the rather more nebulous brief of “rebuilding the team”.

To begin with, he greatly exceeded expectations on the first count, winning the Nations Cup in South Africa just a year after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the previous edition. That left him with enough credit that, even if he fell just short of his World Cup target, he can still be considered as having delivered on the first two.

It was in the third responsibility that the lines begin to blur somewhat. There can be no denying that he oversaw quite a substantial overhauling of the Super Eagles, winning the AFCON with a squad vastly populated by debutants and youngsters – though players like Efe Ambrose and Emmanuel Emenike were brought into the setup by predecessor Samson Siasia. However, if the aim was to rebuild the team, there can be no justification for the state of the Super Eagles right now.

A cursory look at the starting XI for the AFCON 2013 semi-final against Mali, easily Keshi’s most convincing display, makes for bleak reading. Of the lot, none has improved appreciably; indeed only skipper Vincent Enyeama has maintained the same level of excellence.

Tournament top-scorer Emmanuel Emenike has scored infrequently between feuding with his club fans in Turkey. The mercurial Victor Moses was only just starting to rediscover something approaching his best form on loan at Stoke before breaking down with injury. The watertight pair of Godfrey Oboabona and Kenneth Omeruo have struggled for game time in middling teams since then.

Shall I continue? We could do this all day.

There is of course very little a national team manager can do about player performance with their clubsides. But if the aphorism is true, and class is a mean that the very best players will return to following dips in form, what does that say about the team that Keshi built?

It hurts to admit it, so let us say it all together now, group therapy-style: they were not very good at all.

To borrow a construction metaphor, tasked with a rebuild, the

Big Boss went with easily obtainable raw materials rather than topquality, durable ones. The result was a building made ready in record quick time, as evidenced by that triumph in Johannesburg, but which failed to stand by the strength which its individual components supplied.

In other words, the team reverted to its mean – mediocrity – crumbling under the weight of the expectation it was made to bear. The plaster started to flake, the walls started to crack, and down came the house, pillars and all.

The question this time around then is: what kind of building will the Big Boss give us now? Naturally, one must consider the pool available to Keshi, and perhaps the basis for his return

is that it has been acknowledged he worked with what he had (whether he did enough to unearth what he needed rather than simply making do is another matter). Now, things are a lot more different. Samson Siasia has the beginnings of a good unit at U-23 level, preparing for the All Africa Games in a couple of months, while the Flying Eagles will be prime for promotion after the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand next month.

Keshi has nothing more to prove as a coach, but the paradox is that the legacy of coaches, especially with a national team, is rarely just titles.

Clemens Westerhof may have won the Nations Cup in 1994, but so did Otto Gloria fourteen years prior. The

Dutchman, however, is venerated because he created a team whose influence dwarfed all others in Nigerian football history; six years after his departure, his indelible birthmark remained on the Super Eagles.

Public opinion on Keshi remains split, but if he is to win the fans over, he must rebuild the national team with better quality than in his first spell.

Also, if Keshi is to cement his legacy, and elevate himself above Gloria and into Westerhof territory, he must demonstrate the sort of courage that has been sorely lacking since 2013, and get the materials for the rebuild right this time.

“Public opinion on Keshi remains split, but if he is to win the fans over, he must rebuild the national team with better quality than in his first spell.”

Culled from www.goal.com

: s e l g a E

Keshi’s

rebuilding process must begin now!

Recent failures proved there is a lack of quality in the Super Eagles.

Keshi

Thursday, May 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

TENNIS: FORMULA 1:

Michelin fully open to a return to F1–Couasnon

Djokovic in pain

Djokovic feeling discomfort after Rome opener

N

ovak Djokovic confirmed he is experiencing some discomfort in his right arm after he battled through three sets to defeat Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the Rome Masters second round on Tuesday.

The world No1 extended his winning streak to 18 matches as

I

tyre t has emerged that dy rea is n, heli Mic manufacturer, 1 la mu For to rn retu a to make ting exis ’s ship ion mp cha the when es to an tyre contract with Pirelli com

he searches for a fourth title in the Italian capital.

But despite his impressive record at the Foro Italico, Djokovic’s title defence got off to a rocky start as he needed two hours to outlast Almagro 6-1. 6-7 (5), 6-3 and book a third round date with Thomaz Bellucci or Roberto Bautista Agut.

Pietersen

CRICKET:

Pietersen

labels K England ‘deceitful’ CYCLING:

evin Pietersen has labelled England “deceitful” in his furious response to being told he will not be considered for international selection.

A day after hitting a career-best 355 for Surrey, Pietersen was told by new director of cricket Andrew Strauss that he will have no part to play because of a “massive trust issue”.

The batsman had previously been told by Colin Graves, who will replace

end. urer The French tyre manufact to ing opt 6, 200 in lved invo was last a r afte r yea depart at the end of that y app unh was it as five-season spell r plie sup le sing a to ve about a mo 8. from 200 manufacturer tyre Previous k up the reins too Bridgestone initially rent supplier cur to tch prior to a swi current Pirelli from 2011, with its 2016. of end contract running to the ctor, dire t por Michelin Motors that ted sta has on, asn Pascal Cou rt, spo they are ready to return to the its s nge cha but only if the sport ts to technical regulations and wan tly ren cur are t tha s tyre use 18 inch la E mu For FIA the in e in plac Championship.

Giles Clarke as ECB chairman this week, he would be in contention to make his return providing he scored enough runs.

But Pietersen was left “absolutely devastated” as his hopes of a recall were dashed, slamming English cricket in his damming column in the Daily Telegraph.

“I just find it incredibly deceitful what has happened to me and am frankly finding it difficult to understand right now,” he wrote.

Rabottini M

handed two-year ban for doping

atteo Rabottini has been given a two-year ban by the UCI after testing positive for EPO in August 2014 during an out-of-competition test.

The Italian, who rode for Neri Sottoli at the time of his ban, will serve a ban until May 6, 2016, with the UCI reducing his ban by three months for his cooperation with anti-doping authorities.

The 27-year-old, who won a stage of the Giro d’Italia and the

mountains classification in 2012, initially denied taking the substance but was subsequently suspended by his team in September and withdrawn from the Italian national squad for the world championships.

The Italian Pro Continental team, now riding under the title sponsor South-East, was also suspended from the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) after two positive tests in 2013 for Danilo di Luca and Mauro Santambrogio, in addition to Rabottini.

Rabottini

Couasnon

ta a n a k N ready for big challenge ATHLETICS:

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S-based Kenyan sprinter Carvin Nkanata hopes to strike gold at the Shanghai Diamond League on Sunday.

Nkanata, who holds the world lead in 200m, will now beat the national 400m champion Maureen Jelagat to history books as the first Kenyan sprinter to participate in the Diamond League.

Jelagat had last week confirmed making her Diamond League debut with Rome on June 4 being the first of her four events, only for Nkanata to don his spikes for Shanghai.

Nkanata broke his own national 200m record for the third consecutive time at the NTC Pure Athletics Sprint Festival in Clermont Florida on April 18, posting a world leading mark of 20.14 seconds.

Nkanata also broke his own national Kenyan Record of 20.17 seconds he set last year April in Tennessee, almost one year after setting another national record of 20.32 at the IC4A/ECAC Division I Championships in Princeton, USA.

Nkanata

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Thursday, May 14, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

MANCHESTER UNITED

Mensah

United keen on Mensah

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hanaian midfielder, Bernard Mensah, has revealed that Manchester United are trying to get a deal done for him this summer.

Schooled at Portuguese outfit Vitoria Guimaraes, the Ghanaian broke into the senior team this season and has established himself as one of the mainstays of the Rui Vitoria’s side.

A versatile operator, who can play both in an advanced and deeper role in midfield, the 20-year-old has caught the imagination of some of the top clubs across Europe with his assured performance in the Portuguese top flight this season.

Manchester United are one of the clubs who have been keenly following his progress in Portugal and have regularly sent scouts to watch him in action.

However, Mensah has claimed that Manchester United have already stepped up on their interest in him and are negotiating a deal with Vitoria Guimaraes.

Cavani

UNITED targets £5.75m

CAVANI

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anchester United are in the driving seat to sign Edinson Cavani who is demanding a salary of £5.75m a year, according to report.

Juventus were thought to be in pole position, but the Serie A champions have been put off by the player’s huge wage demands – allowing big spending Manchester United to potentially take advantage of the situation.

The Uruguay international has been tipped to take the place of Radamel Falcao or Robin van Persie at United who have struggled for goals this season from their front

men.

The Red Devils problems in front of goal have been highlighted in recent games where they failed to score a single goal during a threegame losing run prior to the win over Crystal Palace.

Cavani has been rumoured to be unsettled at PSG almost from the very moment he arrived at the club from Napoli in 2013, with him dissatisfied at frequently being pushed out wide to accommodate main man Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a central role.

He admitted recently that he could leave PSG with him unhappy at playing out wide.

Smalling’s hot tub causes fire in garden

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Smalling

irefighters were called to the home of Manchester United and England defender, Chris Smalling, after his hot tub caught fire on Tuesday night.

It was understood an electrical fault may have led to a blaze in the garden of the player’s home in Bowdon, Altrincham.

A statement from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that a crew from Altrincham Fire Station had responded after police initially reported the blaze.

The statement added that: “There was nobody in the house at the time of the incident.” Watch manager Stuart France said: “Police were in the area when they spotted smoke and reported a fire to our control centre.

When we arrived it was quite a large fire involving a jacuzzi and decking, which could have easily become

Falcao

United regret not signing Falcao

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anchester United regret not signing Radamel Falcao this summer because he will rediscover his scoring touch at Old Trafford or elsewhere next season, according to former Red Devils star Andy Cole.

Falcao has scored just six goals in 28 matches in all competitions since arriving at United on a lucrative one-year loan from Monaco last summer, failing to establish himself as a regular

starter under Louis van Gaal.

The Colombian has not looked the same since suffering the serious knee injury that ruled him out of last summer’s World Cup in Brazil and it appears highly unlikely that United will exercise their £43.5 million option to sign him permanently.

But Cole, who scored 121 goals during a six-year spell at Old Trafford, believes great goalscorers never lose their natural ability to find the net.