Daily Times of Nigeria

0.65% WAPCO

84.55 -4.45

POUNDS STERLING 289.982 290.7218 291.4615 UNILEVER 35 0.95 2.71% CAP

36.29 -1.91 -5.26%

23.75 -1.25 -5.26%

139 -1.00 -0.72%

ABUJA

Low 26°C High 42°C 194.5023 194.9985

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

ENUGU

Low 27°C High 36°C

Falae

“The APC and those who are beneficiaries of the corrupt system don’t want change in the status quo. They want to change personalities at the helm of affairs without changing the system so that they would continue to corruptly enrich themselves.”

0.22 4.40%

195.4947 4.5 0.15 3.33% NB

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

NIGERIA

KANO

Low 24°C High 42°C

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

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.66

LAGOS Low 26°C High 34°C

MAIDUGURI Low 27°C High 43°C

Buhari

“As for us in the APC, we will restructure the country genuinely, but not the way they have gone about theirs... They are only dangling the carrot of confab report implementation before the Yoruba people.

They cannot do it ... Falae has collected money and he is simply working for the money he collected.”

Catholic diocese backs Ihedioha for Gov.P.5

Interview

EAGLES:

No coach is indispensable –Adepoju X6

Poster!

PETER RUFAI

X4

X4,5

D’Tigers battle Burkina Faso today

AFROBASKET:

X3

closer to safety

PETER

1.00

5

RUFAI

154

CHAMPION

Nigeria (65 caps)

7UP

IKEJAHOTEL

Stationery Stores Femo Scorpions Dragons de l’Ouémé Lokeren Beveren Go Ahead Eagles Farense Hércules Deportivo La Coruna Gil Vicente

197

208.4457

Peter Rufai Dodo Mayana August 24, 1963 (age 51) Lagos, Nigeria 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Goalkeeper

196.5 BETAGLAS

Senior career 1980–1984: 1985: 1986–1987: 1987–1991: 1991–1993: 1993–1994: 1994–1997: 1997: 1997–1999: 1999–2000:

196 207.9167

GAINERS

National team 1983–1998:

US DOLLAR

207.3876

Selling(NGN)

Full name: Nickname: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position:

SWISS FRANC Central (NGN)

About Peter Rufai

EURO Buying(NGN)

Peter Rufai (born August 24, 1963) is a Nigerian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Lagos to the family of a tribal king in the region of Idimu , Rufai started his career in Nigeria, playing with Stationery Stores F.C. and Femo Scorpions.

In 1986 he moved to Republic of Benin, with AS Dragons FC de l’Ouémé. He also competed professionally in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, in a senior career that lasted twenty years.

He spent six years in Belgium, with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen and K.S.K. Beveren, although Rufai appeared sparingly.

In the 1993–94 season he played 12 matches for Dutch neighbours Go Ahead Eagles, which finished 12th in the Eredivisie.

In 1994, Rufai started a Portuguese adventure with S.C. Farense and in his first year, he was instrumental as the Algarve side only conceded 38 goals in 34 matches, qualifying to the UEFA Cup for the first time ever. His solid performances earned him a transfer to La Liga, but he struggled to start for lowly Hércules CF during his stay, in an eventual relegation.

However, Rufai signed with established Deportivo de La Coruna the ensuing summer, backing up another African, Jacques Songo’o, for two seasons – this included keeping a clean sheet in a January 1998 home win against CD Tenerife (1–0), as the Cameroonian was suspended. He then returned to Portugal for one final year, with modest Gil Vicente FC, also being second-choice.

In 2003 Rufai returned to Spain and opened a goalkeeper’s school.

He played 65 international matches for Nigeria, and represented the nation at two FIFA World Cups, always as starter: 1994 (Nigeria’s first ever appearance, where he also acted as captain) and 1998, also helping the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

On July 24, 1993, during an AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia, Rufai scored his last goal for the Super Eagles from a penalty kick, in a 6–0 home win.

Currency

PERSONAL INFORMATION

EXCHANGE RATES AS AT 13th March 2015.

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 13th March 2015.

LOSERS -5.26%

dailytimesng

N150

P/HARCOURT Low 24°C High 33°C

Falae, APC at war over Buhari 6

Maritime can earn five times more than oil 19

–Shippers Council

Herdsmen kill 45 villagers in Benue 12

INSIDE

EXTRATIME

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

Monday, March 16, 2015

Ideye sends

WEST BROM

X7

X5

Monday, March 16, 2015

–MOURINHO

I’M BETTER THAN THE BEST

X8

2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Politics Page Three

3

s

Editorial Time for passage of PIB

T

he recent call by the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr.Benjamin Ezra Dikki for the immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is not only welcome but also timely. For long, stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have been calling for an enabling law that would encourage local and international investors and further open up the country’s economy.

There is no gainsaying that the Nigerian oil and gas sector has enormous potentials which when deregulated would instill confidence in those willing to participate in exploration, refining and other associated services. Such deregulation will not only cushion the effects of the plummeting price of crude at the international market, but also curb corruption in the industry, thus enabling the government to focus more on non-oil sources to boost revenue generation.

Definitely, the PIB is an ambitious attempt to comprehensively reform the oil industry and enhance transparency. Unfortunately, the bill, which was presented in 2008, has been languishing in the National Assembly due to sabotage and curious collusion by legislators. There are strong indications that one of the reasons International Oil Companies (IOCs) are opposing the PIB is the alleged lack of guarantees to existing investors.

For example, holders of existing joint venture and Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) licenses and leases will be required to re-apply for their respective contracts within a year

of the PIB’s passage. The bill also plans to separate oil and natural gas licensing which currently provides for combined rights for exploration and operation. By separating the contracting frameworks, the on-going development of associated fields would become more difficult, since the operator would be required to hold two licenses.

Experts say the measure is intended to re-open the natural gas licensing field, but in practice, it would likely increase bureaucratic obstacles and the cost of the licensing process. Incidentally, one of the most important aspects of the PIB is the concept of the Incorporated Joint Ventures (IJVs).

For long, most of Nigeria’s oil concessions have been held in Unincorporated Joint Ventures by Shell, Total, Mobil, Agip, Chevron, Mobil and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Industry analysts say these unincorporated JVs always had their share of problems, due to government’s inability to meet funding obligations. A popular thinking is that if these JVs are incorporated, then the funding would become much easier, as funds could be raised from the capital market. That is why capital market operators believe that a quick passage of the PIB will pave the way for an organisation like the NNPC and the IOCs to be listed on the Exchange. We are therefore calling on the National Assembly to fast-track the passage of the PIB to correct the existing anomalies in the oil and gas industry and to also hold operators, especially multinationals, to strict global best practices.

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

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Alh. Hassan Bello (3rd left); Director, Commercial Shipping Services, Mrs. Dabney Shall-Holma (2nd left); Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Ignatius Nweke (left); Editor, Daily Times of Nigeria, Mr. Yinka Olujimi and Deputy Editor (Business), Mr. Sam Nzeh (right) during a courtesy visit of the Daily Times to the council... at the weekend.

PHOTO: Bolaji Olasunkanmi

NLC finally on the march to irrelevance?

Sam Nzeh ÏÏÏMany Nigerians had ex-

pected that the rescheduled delegates’ conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which was held last Friday, would redeem the battered image of the workers’ umbrella association.

Unfortunately, however, the aftermath of the conference not only shocked many but also threw the association into deeper confusion, heightening fears that the once respected NLC is slowly but steadily marching into irrelevance.

Recall that less than 24 hours after the new NLC

leadership was announced at the end of conference on Friday with Comrade Ayuba Wabba emerging as president, 23 affiliate unions of the congress on Saturday not only rejected the result but also fixed another delegates’ conference in Lagos on March 21, 2015 at which the ‘authentic leadership’ of the workers body would emerge.

The 23 unions claimed among others that the results were not declared according to the stipulations of the NLC constitution because they were not signed by the contestants.

This turn of events, unfortunate as it is, many say, is a clear indication that the congress has been hijacked by persons whose ambitions

Words On Marble :

dailytimesng

have beclouded their sense of unity and purpose which the NLC has been known for over the years. It also shows that with such persons at the driver’s seat, the congress is unlikely to command the respect of workers in particular and Nigerians in general.

With such a scenario, it also clearly shows that the NLC can no longer speak with one voice. So, should the gladiators in the current impasse stick to their guns, it then means that the NLC will in no time become irrelevant to Nigerians.

These are reasons many who have the interest of the congress at heart must speak up and call the gladiators in the unfortunate development to order. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

Chief Commercial Officer

Deputy Editors

Noel Anosike

Doyin Awomosu

Group Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Tunji Okegbola

Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Bureau Chief, Northern Operations Celestine Okafor

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Segun Adio Okay Osuji

Sports Editor

Andrew Ekejiuba

Head of Operations Innocent Nwankwo

Adetayo Adelaja Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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.

Bob Marley

Wole Soyinka

Odumegwu-Ojukwu

Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for.

I don’t know any other way to live but to wake up every day armed with my convictions, not yielding them to the threat of danger and to the power and force of people who might despise me.

For unity to be meaningful, it has to be creative, not the unity of Jonah in the whale but the unity of holy matrimony.

The first can only lead to defecation, the second to procreation.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

www.ekopearltowers.com +234 809 933 3307 +234 803 900 4444

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

5 News

Family alleges extrajudicial killing by police Emma Obi Calabar

ÏÏÏThe family of

President Goodluck Jonathan (2nd left) leading other men at the Aso Rock Chapel, Abuja to sing a special song for mothers … on Sunday.

North richer than South, says Tambuwal Victor Jibrin Kaduna

ÏÏÏ

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has declared that the North is not only richer than the South but that it is the North that has kept the country one.

Tambuwal

Tambuwal spoke at a one-day lecture titled “The North and The Nigerian Federation: Past, Present and the Future” organised

by Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to mark the 55th anniversary of self-government in northern Nigeria, held at the weekend in Kaduna.

Claiming that revenue from the North helped carry the other half of the country, he said the North has been responsible for keeping Nigeria one.

Even though he regretted the present situation within the region, saying “these are not the best of times for the North”, he pointed at the rich and

variable cultures of the region in terms of human and natural resources and the great population as part of the reason why Nigeria is called and still remains the giant of Africa.

He noted with regret however that “it is common in some quarters to discuss how the North appears to be dragging the nation down and to reel out indices that show how the North is poorer, less educated ad less enterprising than the other part of Nigeria.

“While some of this is true, this is not all that the North is about,” he argued, pointing at the contribution of the region and declaring that “the North is

much more than the sum of its problems.”

Against any divisive tendencies, Tambuwal said “Nigeria needs every part of its component parts in order to make great progress. The idea that any part of this nation is surplus to our needs is false and myopic. Only as one indivisible entity is this country capable of achieving any greatness.”

Also at the occasion, former Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Crimes Commission (ICPC), Hon. Justice Mustapha Akanbi (Rtd), advised the North against breaking away from Nigeria.

Stanley Etim, 23, allegedly slain by the police at the weekend in Calabar is demanding justice through the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suileman Abba.

Representative of the family, Supol Arit Nyong, claims the deceased was beaten to dead by policemen attached to `D5` in Calabar.

Arit Nyong, Chief Superintendent of Prisons, Medicals, Aunty to the deceased told Daily Times in Calabar on Sunday that unless

Gemade: I won't stay in Senate beyond 2019 Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ÏÏÏThe

Senator representing Benue North East, Chief Barnabas Gemade, has reiterated his resolve to relinquish the seat to the people of Kwande Local Government Area in 2019.

Gemade stated this at the weekend while addressing a mammoth crowd of the All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters at the NKST Primary School, Ikyogen and at Kajo Comprehensive College (KCC) playing ground at Adipko, headquarters of Kwande Local Government in continuation of his sena-

Okigwe Catholic diocese backs Ihedioha for Governor

...JDPC flays APC over disruption of debate Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏ

The governorship campaign of the Imo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, got a boost at the weekend as he received the backing of the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe.

Also, the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri has condemned the violent behaviour of some

government officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the state’s governorship debate last Wednesday. The debate was organised by the JDPC. Ihedioha’s endorsement was pronounced during an interactive session with him organized by the diocese at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral, Okigwe.

Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was subjected to rigorous questions on almost all the sectors of

the state economy.

The priests and members of the audience declared that they were impressed by the well-thought-out policies and programmes of Ihedioha which, according to them, would trigger development and economic recovery of the state.

According to him, the values of education, improved local government system, healthcare and traditional institutions would be restored when he assumes office.

Responding, Rev. Fr. Ca-

killers of their son were brought to book, the officers involved in the matter would know no peace.

"I am shocked that the policemen who killed our son can still have the temerity to ask the deceased family to hands off or bail the corpse claiming the deceased was a robber… She lamented, "… What right has the killer officers to murder our son when his guilt had not yet been proved. If they feel he committed the offence, they ought to have allowed justice to prevail," she insisted insisted.

torial campaign in the zone.

He maintained that he was seeking another mandate in the red chambers of the National Assembly to enable him complete the numerous projects he had initiated for his constituents.

In a remark, APC chairman for the local government, Mr. Iorfa Zoho, described Kwande as the home of APC and assured of one hundred percent vote for the party in the forthcoming general election.

INEC rules out sabotage over razed warehouse Lateef Ibrahim

jetan Ehim, Vicar General of Okigwe Dioceses, who represented the bishop of the diocese, commended the PDP candidate for his track record of achievements and policies for the state and assured him of the total support of the diocese at the governorship

Ihedioha

elections.

Meanwhile, the JDPC has condemned the gross indiscipline displayed last Wednesday by APC supporters.

In a statement issued in Owerri at the weekend and jointly signed by its coordinator, Rev. Father Casmir Nze and Rev. Innocent Osuagwu, the JDPC expressed disappointment over the violent behaviour of the APC government officials and their overt support of the violent behaviour of their members.

Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out sabotage in the fire that razed a section of its warehouse on Airport Road in Abuja, the nation's capital.

The fire reportedly started at about 11pm and was immediately put off by the combined effort of Federal Fire Service and INEC firefighting personnel.

The fire was eventually brought under control by 2 pm on Sunday morning.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Shehu queries Sule Lamido’s support for Jonathan ÏÏÏJigawa State governor, Alhaji

Sule Lamido, turned from arch opponent to ardent supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan as a self-preservation device, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC stated this on Sunday in reaction to a radio broadcast of the governor which the party said was being aired on some radio stations.

The party noted that Lamido joined the club of Jonathan’s supporters to save the sons of the governor who are currently being tried for alleged corrupt practice.

A statement by the spokesman of the APC, Lai Mohammed, declared that Lamido’s broadcast was in agreement with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.

Faulting the broadcast, the opposition party said: “ Lamido had been pressured to do the interview because of the EFCC pressure on his sons’ corruption charges.

Lamido has never worked near or with GMB to know his leadership style. Those working closely with him in the APC know otherwise.

“When did Lamido become a spokesman for the North?

“What did he and other Jonathan apologists negotiate for the North as the SW has been doing with Jonathan in the last two weeks?”

Falae: Buhari enemy of change ‘Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏElder statesman and National

Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Samuel Oluyemisi Falae pulled no punches on Sunday while reacting to a statement credited to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari that last year’s national conference was a waste of time and money.

The statement, according to Falae, is clear proof that Buhari and the APC do not represent the change that Nigerians yearn for.

In reaction, the spokesman of the APC, Chief Lai Mohammed, fired back at Falae, saying that the position of the former Secretary

to the Federal Government was financially induced.

General Buhari had, while speaking with a group of youths at a meeting in Lagos State, declared that the Federal Government spent over N7 billion on the conference which he described as a waste.

Buhari said that the sum should have been spent in developing the country, particularly the educational sector, adding that there was no need for a national conference since the two chambers of the National Assembly could make laws for the country.

Speaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday Falae who was a delegate to the conference, said that Buhari’s statement was an indication that the APC and its

candidates have nothing to offer the country.

Falae is a leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political association, the Afenifere Committee, which not only endorsed the conference but also hinged its support for the continuation in office of President Goodluck Jonathan on the implementation of the resolutions of the talkshop.

Speaking through his media officer, Remi Olayiwola while distributing 20 bundles of Iron sheets and nails to displaced residents of Ifira Akoko whose houses were recently destroyed by thunderstorm, Falae declared that the opposition party does not truly represent the change it has been preaching.

He insisted that the implementation of the report of the National

Conference is the change Nigeria desired.

He said: “The statement of Gen. Buhari is a glaring evidence that APC is an enemy of the progress of Nigeria and Nigerians. For over 100 years, Nigeria has remained static. And for over 20 years, prominent Nigerians including the APC leadership have been clamouring for National Conference.

“Lagos State has 20 local governments areas while Kano has 44.

The two states were created same time. Don’t forget that Jigawa has been created out of Kano and the population of Lagos is higher than the two states combined together.”

Chief Falae continued: “They are looking at the monetary aspect without the effect it has on the generality of the people. This again shows them as the enemies of the people. How many of their leaders were as rich as this in 1999?

“Look at the report, it gives control over solid minerals to the states. Some will score 250 in Join Admission Matriculation Board examination, yet they will not get admission, while those who score less than 200 will get admission simply because they come from educationally disadvantaged states.

“The APC and those who are beneficiaries of the corrupt system don’t want change in the status quo. They want to change personalities at the helm of affairs without changing the system so that they would continue to corruptly enrich themselves.”

Falae added that such “reckless statement” from Buhari would affect the chances of his party in the forthcoming general elections,

Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo (middle); Governor of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (left) and Globacom Business Director,Lagos, Mr. Ayo Ogunranti, at the grand finale of 2015 Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta... on Saturday

Continued on page 12

APC, PDP disagree over alleged plot to scuttle polls ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Goodluck Jonathan administration of sponsoring ethnic militias disrupt the forthcoming general elections using ethnic militia groups, an allegation that was described as baseless by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party It alleged that the N9 billion reportedly paid to some ex-militants and ethnic militias recently is aimed at mobilising them to scuttle the polls.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the protests last week by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra

(MASSOB) seeking the sack of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, was orchestrated by the Jonathan administration as part of its continuing efforts to sabotage the elections.

Mohammed said that the next group that has been mobilised to protest against Jega and the use of card reader is the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), which is also a beneficiary of the alleged N9 billion payout ostensibly for pipeline protection, but in reality to prepare the ethnic militias for their reprehensible role in scuttling the elections.

The APC said more ethnic militias would be enlisted by the

administration to continue the protest against Jega and the card reader, to give the impression that Nigerians want Jega sacked and are also against the use of card reader.

The party expressed sadness that a President who inherited a united nation has done everything he can to divide the country along ethnic and religious lines, including patronizing ethnic militias who serve no other purpose than to champion sectional interests at the expense of national unity.

It wondered why President Jonathan would pay N9 billion to a handful of people at a time of great economic downturn and falling Naira, as well as in a situa-

tion in which many states cannot even afford to pay their workers because of dwindling allocation from the Federation Account. ”A profligate government that has been bribing people with dollars and ferrying huge funds around practically to buy votes has outdone itself by paying out all of N9 billion to a few Nigerians, with less than three weeks to the elections. Shortly after the payment, some self-serving groups started organizing protests that, for all intents and purposes, are being orchestrated to scuttle the polls. This is a shameful show by the federal government,” APC said.

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisa-

tion (PDPPCO) dismissed the allegation as false.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who reacted in Abuja, also justified the employment and compensation given to families of the victims of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) employment tragedy, saying that the APC’s criticism of the gesture was unfortunate.

He said: “Once again, Lai Mohammed has indulged in lies on behalf of his lying party, the APC. It is not true that the PDP or the Federal Government is sponsoring ethnic militias. It is also not true that N9 billion has been Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

7 News

Kwankwaso spends N300m on deputy’s new office Yakubu Salisu

ÏÏÏThe Governor of

Kano State, Engr. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, has disclosed that he spent about N303 million to build a new office for the Deputy Governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje.

Speaking at the commissioning of the new building at the weekend, he said the building would accommodate the office of the Deputy Governor and other parastatals under his supervision.

He stated that his

administration had rebuilt the fence of the Government House, which was once destroyed by hoodlums some years back, to a better one with electric cables and succeeded in turning the house into a modern one.

The Deputy Governor thanked the Governor and expressed his delight to have worked with a man who is always ready to serve his state and people anytime. He said he was happy that the governor decided to elevate his status by building a befitting office for him.

Debris of INEC Electoral Institute Warehouse in Abuja, gutted by fire on Saturday

Navy foils plan to dupe NNPC, ASOPADEC commissioner others of N20m monthly in trouble over death of house help Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏA

board member and Commissioner in the Abia State Oil Producing Development Commission, (ASOPADEC) is in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department over the death of his house help in Umuahia.

The commissioner was alleged to have raped his 11-year old help, to death on Wednesday, last week, at his house

Joe Ogbodu Warri within a popular housing estate in Umuahia.

Following the discovery that the girl was no longer breathing, with blood gushing out of her private part and from the mouth, the commissioner was said to have taken the corpse to a hospital where she was certified dead.

Confirming the incident, the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the story and that the command was investigating it.

ÏÏÏThe Nigerian Navy

has launched a manhunt for members of a syndicate, after it foiled their alleged attempt to extort a monthly levy of N20 million for security from operators of vessels plying the Delta waterways in Delta State.

The Navy Command, which is saddled with the responsibility of policing the Delta waterways, was said to have launched the manhunt for the suspects after they tried to dupe the operators of a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

Aliyu sure of PDP’s victory at polls Saka Bolaji Minna

ÏÏÏNiger State Governor, Dr.

Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has boasted that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be victorious in the forthcoming general election, despite the obstacles from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aliyu, who made the declaration at Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium, Minna, venue of the PDP Presidential Women rally, said that women were more reliable to vote and will ensure they delivered.

He called on Nigerian women and youths to vote for all PDP candidates at all levels, adding

that “We don’t want to vote for old people, we don’t want people who are too weak, who will serve themselves instead of the people, come out en masse to vote Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo for President and vote Umar Nasko for Governor.

“We will not go violent, I know the opposition will want to provoke you, because they want to, by all means, take power from the PDP. Ensure peace in the forthcoming elections. God knows who will be the next President and the next governor.

Wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo,

called on women to give Mr. President another opportunity to serve the country by voting PDP at all levels at the rescheduled elections.

She appealed to the youths not to go violent at the forthcoming elections and urged them to resist anyone who wanted to use them as thugs.

Babangida Aliyu

vessel and others.

Daily Times learnt that the suspected criminals have been threatening maritime companies and oil/gas servicing companies within Warri, the commercial nerve centre of the state to pay the money for providing security to their ships.

It was not clear if the suspects were ex-militants or pirates, but, they always send text messages to owners of companies operating along the waterways, alleging that they were responsible for the safe passage of their ships and other operations in the area, rather

than the Nigerian Navy.

Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Commodore Musa Gemu, who confirmed this development in an interview with Daily Times, said that an intelligence team was already on the trail of the suspects.

Gemu said that the waterways have been peaceful since the command intensified its clampdown on illegal refineries and piracy. “There is no more illegal oil bunkering, but, if there is any, it is in small quantity now, but, in place of illegal bunkering, they are into piracy, kidnapping and all sorts of shady deals on the waterways.

Minister congratulates Wabba, new NLC leader Akor Ejumene Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has described the emergence of Comrade Aliyu Wabba, the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as a step to further unite and build the Nigerian workforce, through social dialogue.

The Minister urged the Wabba administration to toe the line of established paradigm shift in government/Labour relations to a dialogue-based approach in re-

solving labour impasse.

Turaki added that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is pro-workers as demonstrated by its worker-friendly disposition and policies. He solicited the continuous support of the organised labour union for the Transformation Agenda which was aimed at job creation and national infrastructural development.

He stated that “Comrade Aliyu Wabba is a man I consider as a pragmatic leader in national development. I wish him success in his new position as the NLC president”. Turaki affirmed.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Politics Obasanjo

s

Cycle of broken promises comes full circle

John Akpaide The most paradoxical aspect of these weird presidential campaigns, which are much more about emotions than issues, is that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president, is blowing a lot of hot air that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has not kept his promise of holding office for only one term. When Chief Obasanjo was brought out of prison to run for the presidency of this country in 1998, he promised

the nation that he would run for only one term. Not only did he not keep that promise, and went for a second term, he, thereafter, mounted a spirited battle for the Constitution to be tinkered for him to go for a third term. A move which, thankfully, died in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly.

Chief Obasanjo has already made this Jonathan promise a campaign issue and the All Progressive Congress (APC) has sought to make some political

capital out of it. APC forgets that its presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari, also stated in clear and unambiguous terms in 2011 that he did not intend to contest for the presidency of Nigeria again. So the cycle of broken promises becomes a ripple in the country’s political waters.

Those who are trying to hold Jonathan to his words, therefore, lack the moral justification to do so. It is a promise one personCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

DILEMMA OF IDPs IN ADAMAWA:

To vote or not to vote?

Wale Akintunde, Yola Mixed feelings have envelope the camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State as they have been faced with contrasting fortunes in recent time over their continued stay in the camp and their subsequent hope of reuniting with the families.

Apart from the little children who are obvious of their present status, the elderly ones including the teenagers have been considering their continued stay at the camp.

Ahead of next week’s elections, many of them are said to be interested in going home in order to participate in the civic exercise.

But the problem is exacerbated by the non-possession of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs)

by majority of them. They are said to be worrying on how to get the cards and how to vote their favourite candidates during the polls.

Besides, the displaced persons mostly women are ruminating over the fate that befell them before their relocation to the camps. Some of the women who were rescued to the camp have tales of to tell on the circumstances surrounding their being at the camp.

Madam Talatu Asabe who recently delivered a bouncing baby girl was full of thanks to God for the mercies shown on her to have a safe delivery.

According to her, she lost three of her four children to the insurgents attack on their home in Michika.

“I’m in a dilemma now because I don’t know the whereabout of my husband since the

OYO

Akala

Posers over health status of Akala, Ajimobi

attack about six months ago, however, I still thank God that I did not lose the pregnancy to ugly incident, so I don’t know what to say now”, she said.

When our reporter visited the IDP camp located at Damare, the displaced persons were busy with various types of home chores while some women were seen washing clothes and some washing cooking utensils, the little ones were busy engaging themselves in various sporting activities.

An official of NEMA who spoke on condition of anonymity said, the welfare of the IDPs have been of paramount to government and the agency because of the trauma some of the IDPs passed through before getting there.

He said adequate security has CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Ngilari Typical of the dirty politicking in Oyo State, campaign for the forthcoming elections has become messy with allegations and counter allegations now beamed on the health status of the state governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi and former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Ajimobi is the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) while Akala is of the opposition Labour party and Ajimobi’s immediate predecessor.

In what appears a double edge sword, Ajimobi’s aides had last month called for the medical examination of all the candidates

in the forthcoming election, a call that other candidates ignored.

The call was predicated on the insinuations that both Akala and another former governor Senator Rashidi Ladoja who is the governorship candidate of CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

9 Politics

Why is Obasanjo different?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ally does not want him to keep.

Keeping such a promise would be a disservice to the South South. It would amount to redefining the zoning arrangement and creating the precedent that the South South was entitled to only one term. The sense of injustice against the South South would have been strengthened.

Decades from now when another South South man may emerge as president, it would be said, “Hey check the history books, the South South always goes for one term – not two.” Not the kind of legacy one wants to leave behind for one’s posterity.

However, if this just battle fails, and one’s great grandchildren ask one under the moonlight, “How did you do us such great injustice?” One wants to be able to look them in the eye and say, “Boy, I am sorry, but I did my best. We had traitors in our midst and enemies without. I was on your side and fought till the last moment!”

Such deprivation of a group and its telling effect on its posterity is not of any concern to Obasanjo. Obasanjo has always taken himself more highly than he ought to. Of all the former Heads of State of Nigeria none seems to think that he has a greater sense of being the lord protector of the Nigerian estate than Obasanjo. Obasanjo sees himself as both a deity and a principality in the Nigerian political landscape and as “He who must be obeyed.” No government (except the one he has

been the head of) has escaped his acerbic tongue. Here is the list, the Shagari government was an “unmitigated disaster’; the Buhari Government was “directionless”; the IBB government’s Structural Adjustment Programme did not have a human face. The Jonathan presidency is “clueless.” When he tried it with the no nonsense Abacha government, he went to jail.

Obasanjo going to jail should remind us of something IBB said recently. When Buhari visited him, he (IBB) claimed that all retired generals would support Buhari’s presidential candidacy. Generals are supposed to lead the large in defense of the nation, right? Where were they when journalists and civil liberties organizations waged a sustained battle for democracy and faced the bullets, bombs and boots of Abacha Murder Incorporated, the Strike Force? Did the retired (or is it tired) generals fight in any way for this democracy? No they did not, but they are set to reap where they never sowed. That is one of the curious aspects of this electoral campaign which is beginning to look like something right out of “Animal Farm.”

Obasanjo should understand how to run an animal farm, he is a farmer. But, sadly though, he seems to think that Nigeria is his farm. It is easy to decode Obasanjo’s twisted personality. He believes that the world revolves around him. His first book was titled, “My Command” and it was about his war

In a remark about Obasanjo’s latest book, “My Watch”, Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, pointed out, “(Obasanjo) invokes God tirelessly, without provocation, without necessity and without justification, perhaps pre-emptively.

Soyinka

Jonathan

Here is the list, the Shagari government was an “unmitigated disaster’; the Buhari Government was “directionless”; the IBB government’s Structural Adjustment Programme did not have a human face. The Jonathan presidency is “clueless.” When he tried it with the no nonsense Abacha government, he went to jail.

Buhari exploits. That others fought the war and had more exploits, or that war is a range of combat activities involving different commands which should take credit for success in meeting the goals of the war was immaterial to him. In his bloated ego, he was the greatest news during the war. Thereafter, he published another book titled, “Not My Will.” In this one he sought to explain how he became the military dictator after the death of Gen. Murtala Mohammed. Not that anyone wanted to know, but OBJ is the kind of man who cannot stop talking about himself.

Then came the next one, “The Animal Called Man.” A book about his prison experiences and how he survived in prison. The last one is “My Watch,” a book about

his presidency. He cannot think of any subject better than himself to write about. One is sure that you have bores like Obasanjo in your neighbourhood.

Asked to define the difference between a misfortune and a calamity, British statesman, Benjamin Disraeli said, “If Prime Minister Gladstone were to fall into the River Thames, that I suppose would be a misfortune, but if anyone were to bring him out, that I suppose would be a calamity.” It does not follow that OBJ going to prison was a misfortune, and his being brought out was a calamity. But he has certainly and without doubt become the greatest nuisance in the Nigerian political space.

Listen to this. He claimed that when he heard that Buhari CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Where were they when journalists and civil liberties organizations waged a sustained battle for democracy and faced the bullets, bombs and boots of Abacha Murder Incorporated, the Strike Force?

Late Abacha

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Why IDPs may not vote CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

been put in place to forestall any form of further attacks while medical services at the camps has been at utmost level with the surety of drugs and medical needs for the people.

The NEMA official did not rule out the persistent clamour of the IDPS to go back to their various homes knowing fully well that some villages have been recaptured by the military.

He’s however disclosed that the persistent requests of most of the IDPs to go back home cannot be realistic at the moment because of some pockets of attacks by the insurgents in some plans already liberated by the military.

It was also gathered that about four thousand six hundred and eleven people have been killed while properties which included houses, food items, and animals worth billions of naira were lost to insurgents activities in the North and Central Zones of Adamawa State.

However, the insurgency vic-

tims support committee recently set up by the government has undertaken an assessment of the local government areas affected by the insurgency, identify victims and estimate the extent of damages of lives and properties.

The committee was also directed to advise the government on how best the victims can be supported and to assess and also recommend short, mid- and long term support for victims by the state and the federal governments.

The committee in its report disclosed that it was only able to visit Gombi, Hong, Maiha, Mubi-North and Mubi-South Local Government Areas and it was unable to visit Michika and Madagali Local Government Areas because of the intense hold of the areas by the insurgents then.

The committee also disclosed that after analyzing submissions and practical inspection of the affected local government

areas, it gathered that about 4,611 people lost their lives, 150 kidnapped while over 2,063 are said to be missing.

About 2,377 houses and shops, 121 churches and over 40,700 bags of assorted grains were destroyed by the insurgents. Also affected were 24 health centres, 30,000 poultry and 1,750 cattle.

The committee also reported that an estimated cost of damage by the insurgents in the five local government areas to N7.5billion, while 138,828 IDPs live in various camps and houses in across the state.

It was also able to identify and register over 129,655 IDPs while noting that the figure was not the representation of the actual figures of IDPs in the state as some have fled to neighboring Cameroun republic, neighboring states while some are still up the mountains in affected local government areas while the sum of N537,352 million naira was expended on the care of the IDPs in the various camps.

Jega

Ajimobi, Akala: How healthy?

Ajimobi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

the Accord Party were not medically fit for the office of the governor.

However, aides of the governor were said to have stirred the hornet’s nest last week when rumours went round the state that Akala collapsed and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Ajimobi’s aides were accused of being behind the spread of the rumour within the state.

But an aide to former gover-

nor Akala, Oludare Ogunlana quickly refuted it and described the rumour as untrue.

Ogunlana who is the Director of Public Affairs to the Labour Party, gubernatorial candidate was reacting to an online publication which carried the ‘fabricated lies’ which he described as one of the tactics of the APCled administration to hold on to power beyond this year.

The medium had reported that Chief Alao-Akala collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday

and thus delayed the National Executive Council meeting of LP for some hours.

Saying that the website (https://crownbam.wordpress. com/), which carried the story was linked to the campaign structure of the State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi of the APC who is seeking re-election, Ogunlana said that “a death wish for Chief Alao-Akala at this point is a true character of a desperado”.

He denied insinuations that his boss was battling any “undisclosed ailment”, saying: “we deliberately kept mute and refused to make comments on the foreign medical trips which the governor has embarked upon since the last couple of weeks”.

His words: “lies and deceits are the stock in trade of the APC. More than before, the people know that the APC-led administration in this state has failed. It is when all efforts to downplay the soaring popularity of Chief Alao-Akala failed that the “drowning APC administration resorted to cheap blackmail.

“People of Oyo State know who is battling with a prostate cancer to the extent that the tax-payers money was invested on private cancer testing center under the guise of medical NGO. Whereas, the state owned government hospitals were neglected and ill equipped,” he added.

He challenged the publisher of the new medium (CrownNews) to come out openly if the news was true, adding that “why didn’t other journalists who were at the venue get the news? The Nigerian Guild of Editors should look into the issue of unregistered news media which spread lies in order to please certain political for pecuniary interest.

He advised the electorate not to be swayed by the antics of those against the aspiration of the former governor, saying that “Alao-Akala can never be compared with the incumbent one because while Akala performed and had human feelings, the incumbent has elevated the sufferings of the people”.

Is Obasanjo a Messiah?

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

was involved in some unsavory things at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), he confronted Buhari and asked him to tell him the truth before God and Buhari denied it. To the Ota deity, that settled the matter. Sounds incomprehensible, right? That is because it is actually incomprehensible. As the “god of Ota”, he does not believe anyone could say a thing before his “divine self ” and it would not be taken as a scientific fact. Take his entire communication and you begin to wonder what the political landscape would have been like if all former heads of state were as irksome and meddlesome as Obasanjo is.

Consider Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, the Head of State, who birthed our democracy. He has not arrogated to himself the answers to Nigeria’s problems.

He does not pick up his pen and write a critical open letter to any president. Did he agree CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

11 Politics

Corruption, insecurity, obstacles to national development—Peterside Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has described corruption and insecurity as impediments to national growth and development.

According to him, all these hindrances, coupled with the misrule of the last six years, have further worsened Nigeria’s crisis.

Peterside spoke at SouthSouth zonal rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The rally which featured General Mahammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the APC, his running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Chief John Oyegu, National Chairman; Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Prince Hilliard Etagbo Etta, deputy National Chairman of APC; Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State and members of the party from the entire South-South resolved to massively vote for APC to save Nigeria.

Peterside who led all the APC governorship candidates in the region to the podium, pledged the zone’s support to candidates of the APC. He described the last six years under President Goodluck Jonathan as traumatising and hellish, calling on the people of the region to reject the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and it’s candidates in the forth-coming elections.

‘It is evident that our people want a new life and a Nigeria where things will work.

We want a Nigeria that is not plagued by insecurity and corruption. General Muhammadu Buhari represents a united Nigeria where people will live in peace and harmony.

Obasanjo: What manner of Messiah?

‘Therefore we are going to make a statement with our votes come March 28 that our so-called brother does not represent our interest. We will also confirm what the whole world already knows: that we are progressives and that we are in tune with the rest of Nigeria on the great change that is coming”.

He assured chieftains of APC that the people of Rivers State are conscious of the consequences of their actions on both March 28 and 11 April, adding that their lives and existence will depend on how they cast their votes on those dates.

“As we vote for our party and General Buhari, we know we are voting for ourselves, therefore the people of South-South will mobilize massively for all the elections,” he stressed.

He described the last six years under President Goodluck Jonathan as traumatising and hellish, calling on the people of the region to reject the Peoples Democratic Party.

Peterside

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

with everything Obasanjo did as President? No! He obviously must have been appalled at OBJ’s dogged attempt at a third term, but he did not join the fray.

What of General Yakubu Gowon who fought to keep Nigeria one.

If it were not for Gowon, Nigeria would have disintegrated.

The only time Gowon intervened in an administration was when Abacha was head of state.

He started the “Nigeria Prays Project” and kept at it until Abacha died. It is not on record that he ever criticized any president. It is not on record that he has ever written an open letter to any president. Even IBB has been reticent as far as comments about serving presidents are concerned. He has always stated that he can only make comments if he were to know the informa-

tion and intelligence which informed policy decisions.

So why is Obasanjo different?

In a remark about Obasanjo’s latest book, “My Watch”, Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, pointed out, “(Obasanjo) invokes God tirelessly, without provocation, without necessity and without justification, perhaps pre-emptively, but does he really believe in such an Entity? Does

our home-bred Double-O-Seven believe in anything outside his own Omnipotence? Could he possibly have mistaken the Christian exhortation – ‘Watch and Pray’ for his private inclination to ‘Watch and Prey’?” This fairly sums up Obasanjo. The book he owes Nigeria and which he may never write is “My Confusion.”

Akpaide is a public affairs analyst.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Herdsmen kill 45 villagers in Benue ÏÏÏAt

least 45 villagers were killed in a dawn raid on Sunday by suspected herdsmen in Benue State, the Agence France Presse (AFP) quoted the Police and a legislator as saying.

“I confirm that 45 people, including women and children, were killed this morning in an attack on Egba village... of Benue state by suspected herdsmen,” state police spokesman Austin Ezeani told AFP. “Several others were injured in the gun and machete attack,” he added.

Hundreds of people have been killed in attacks and reprisal attacks between farmers and ethnic

Fulani herdsmen in the past few years in the state.

A state parliamentarian from the local area, Audu Sule, gave a death toll of about 50 from the attack.

“Around 50 people were killed in Egba village in my constituency in an early morning attack. The gunmen came in large numbers, all armed with AK47 rifles,” he told AFP. He also said women and children were among those killed.

“They opened fire on the sleepy village, killing residents, including women and children,” Sule added.

No arrest has been made yet but police are on the trail of the attack-

ers who fled into the bush after the deadly raid, Ezeani said.

“It was an unexpected attack, the reason for which we still do not know. The attack happened around 6.00am (0500 GMT). Policemen are on the trail of the assailants and we are hopeful to nab them,” he stated.

“This area has been volatile for some time following farmersherdsmen frequent clashes,” he added.

Herdsmen and farmers in the state and neighbouring states often engage in bitter dispute over grazing rights that often result in deadly clashes.

L-R: Minister-Designate, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro; former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe at a prayer session organised by the Nation-Builder Christian Ministers Network in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, held in Lagos ... at the weekend PHOTO: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

APC accuses PDP of plot to scuttle polls Continued from page 6 allocated for that purpose.

“It is rather the APC that has consistently supported and sponsored the Boko Haram both in substance and in their utterances over the last few years. This recourse to telling a lie every day by the opposition party will not in any way assist them in achieving their objectives.

“We will remain focused on the issues. We will talk about their weaknesses and we will also talk about the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan on why it is that it is important that he is re-elected back into power on March 28. That is our focus.

“We have said it before and we will say it again: these people have become prisoners of their own delusions; they have become victims of their own hallucinations and fantasies. They have become paranoid such that they are sleeping and hiding under their beds. They are running from their own shadows and what we are witnessing is simply the judgment of God on them. They have lost their peace. They are running when nobody is chasing them and that is why they are saying these things.

“It is really is a pity that it has degenerated to this point. But the fact of the matter is that no serious-minded persons will take them seriously when they talk like this.”

On the APC claim that the PDP and the Federal Government were trying to garner cheap political profit from the calamity that befell some young Nigerians

with the employment and compensations to the families of the affected victims of the NIS employment tragedy, Fani-Kayode said “It is not the PDP that feeds off the blood of other individuals; it is not the PDP that is a party of ritualists and cultists; it is not the PDP that encourages and supports terrorist organisations that have slaughtered about 35,000 people over the last three years.

“It was the APC that did that when Lai Mohammed said that it was unconstitutional and unjust for the Federal Government to proscribe Boko Haram. We do not feed off calamity; they are the ones that do that and they consistently do that and they will continue to do that and that is why we are saying they are not fit to take power in this country.

“Mr. President’s gesture concerning the victims of the calamity that took place last year when all those young people were killed was a noble gesture and was simply an acknowledgment of the fact that these people died under very, very sad circumstances.

“It was simply an attempt to alleviate the suffering and pain of the families of those that were killed and no right-thinking person will read any other meaning to that.

“It was a reflection of the compassion and the inherent goodness that reside in Mr. President’s heart and I think every patriotic and right-thinking Nigerian should commend him for that and not talk about feeding off people’s calamity. We are not cultists in the PDP. It is the APC that is filled with cultists and ritualists.”

Falae, APC at war over Buhari, confab Continued from page 6 adding that Nigeria only deserved structural change.

The SDP national chairman, who directed that the roofing sheets and nails be given to over 200 people who were affected by the rainstorm in the community, said the focus of his party was the welfare of the masses.

In reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, declared that Falae’s position was induced by the money given to the conferees by the Jonathan government.

He said: “The likes of Falae are only working for the money they have collected from the ruling party. The National Conference was a

sheer waste of time and resources and it was a time-buying mechanism on the part of the President and his party.”

The APC spokesman continued: “Every Nigerian knows that the process of amending the constitution as it is today is very cumbersome as it has to go through the two chambers of the National Assembly and all 36 states of the federation before any amendment to it could be passed.

“The APC as a party decided that we will not attend the confab because of these things since we realised that the conference alone could not bring about the desired restructuring that we have always stood for.”

Mohammed, who noted that the

APC allowed its governors to people from their states to participate in the confab, added that it was after postponing the elections that the President began to move round the country, promising to implement the report of the confab.

He said: “The question is: what has been done to this report since the confab ended? They have not done anything to the report since then.”

Mohammed continued: “The process for constitution change is very clear. Let me tell you, if the President wins this election, God forbids, that is the end of the confab report. They have not implemented one thing there since then and they cannot do it. They know that. They are only selling dum-

mies to people of the South West that they would implement the confab report.”

He said further: “I say here that their efforts to trick South West people will fail. People of South West are a proud people; they are not for sale. Bribing traditional rulers of the region will not solve the problem. Take an APCcontrolled state and compare it to a PDP-controlled state and see the difference. South West people are too sophisticated politically than to be bought over by dollar rains. Their conscience cannot be bought.

“The truth of the matter is that the President convoked the confab because of tenure elongation and that did not happen. That is why

we say that the N7 billion spent on the confab was a waste of nation’s resources.

“As for us in the APC, we will restructure the country genuinely, but not the way they have gone about theirs. Let me ask you: was any member of the confab elected by the people? No. they were all nominees. The confab was not a sovereign one. With this, it is clear that they cannot restructure the country. They are only dangling the carrot of confab report implementation before the Yoruba people. They cannot do it. The constitution does not allow it. Yoruba people are too sophisticated to be bought over. Falae has collected money and he is simply working for the money he collected.”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

13

International 14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

US, Iran in new nuclear talks ÏÏÏ

The White House wants Congress to stop interfering in the negotiations with Iran about its nuclear capabilities.

White House Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough warned Congress in a letter sent late Saturday that pending legislation requiring congressional approval for any deal reached with Iran about its nuclear capabilities could have a "profoundly negative impact" on the negotiations.

White House officials have said President Barack Obama would veto the proposed legislation.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry travelled to Switzerland Sunday for another round of talks with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Jawad Zarif, in an attempt to reach an interim deal with Iran on its nuclear power program by a March 31 deadline.

Kerry, speaking Saturday at an international investor conference in Egypt, said "some progress" has been made in the talks, but "there are still gaps, important gaps, and important choices that need to be made by Iran in order to be able to move forward."

Kerry said one obstacle in the negotiations could be the open

ÏÏÏThree

British teenagers have been detained in the Turkish city of Istanbul while planning to cross the border into neighbouring Syria to join the militant Islamic State group, Turkish officials said on Sunday.

The three, who have not been named but are aged 18 and 19, were seized on Friday two separate sources told Reuters.

Turkish authorities are in touch with their British counterparts to arrange their deportation to Britain this week.

Sierra Leone's VP asks US for asylum

ÏÏÏSierra Leone's vice president Kerry, pictured with Assad in 2010, said Syria's leader previously "didn't want to negotiate".

letter that 47 Republican U.S. senators sent to Iranian leaders warning that the next U.S. president could revoke a deal at any time. He called the letter a "direct interference" that could possibly jeopardize reaching an accord

with Iran.

When asked if he would apologize for the letter when he meets with Zarif in Lausanne, Kerry said "I'm not going to apologize for an unconstitutional, un-thought out action by somebody who's

been in the United States Senate for 60-something days." He said, "That's just inappropriate."

The United States and five other major powers are attending the negotiations with Iran in Lausanne.

15 killed, 70 injured as two Lahore churches are bombed ÏÏÏAuthorities in Pakistan said

two suicide bombings outside Christian churches in the eastern city of Lahore have killed, at least, 15 people and wounded more than 70 others, and a militant gang allied to the outlawed Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility.

The bombings minutes apart targeted a Catholic and a Protestant church in a majority Christian suburb, Youhanabad, where thousands of people had gathered for Sunday services.

Hospital officials said about 30 of those wounded in the attack are in critical condition. A senior Lahore police officer, Haider Ashraf, said two gunmen wearing suicide vests tried to shoot their way into the worship places.

“The suicide bombers tried

Egypt sacks 41 judges for supporting Brotherhood

Turkey arrests three UK teens trying to join ISIS

to enter inside the buildings, but blew themselves up outside the churches because they were stopped by the concerned police people," Ashraf said.

He added that one police officer was killed and several others sustained injuries while successfully preventing the bombers from entering the prayer halls, thereby limiting the damage.

An eyewitness spoke to reporters shortly after the attack, saying she was buying things for her two sons who were inside the church when the attack occurred.

She said there were gunshots first, and then there was an explosion in front of the church gate.

She said she found one of her sons, but her other child is still missing.

ÏÏÏAn

Egyptian disciplinary court ordered 41 judges into compulsory retirement on Saturday for supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, judicial sources said, the latest move in a sweeping crackdown on political dissent.

The government has implemented a harsh crackdown on Islamists as well as secular political opponents since then army chief Abdel Fattah Sisi ousted Islamist

With nearly 1 million people, the Yuhanabad area has one of Pakistan's largest Christian communities.

Outraged by the attacks, many Christians, who make up less than 2 percent of Pakistan's population of more than 180 million, accuse the government of doing little to protect them, took to the streets in Lahore and other Pakistani cities to protest.

Witnesses said residents of Youhanabad lynched two men they suspected of involvement in the Sunday morning attacks.

Television footage showed protesters ransacking government property and torching vehicles, forcing riot police to shoot into the air to disperse the crowds.

Pope Francis told crowds at St.

President Mohamed Mursi in July 2013 following mass protests against his rule.

The Disciplinary Council headed by judge Nabil Zaki did not immediately release the reason for its decision, but the judicial sources said 31 of the judges were sent into compulsory retirement for signing a statement that condemned the removal of Mursi.

Another 10 were removed from

Pope Francis

Peter's Square in the Vatican he felt "great pain" over the bomb attacks, departing from scripted remarks in his customary address on Sunday. "These are Christian churches. Christians are persecuted, our brothers spill their blood simply because they are Christians," the pontiff said.

their posts for joining "Judges for Egypt" group which used to be supportive of the Brotherhood even before Mursi's removal, the sources added. Egyptian law prohibits judges from engaging in politics, but critics and human rights groups say the judicial disciplinary court has turned a blind eye to judges who openly support the government of Sisi, who was elected president last year.

has sought asylum in the United States saying he no longer felt safe in the country after soldiers disarmed the security team at his residence.

"I don't feel safe this morning as vice president," Samuel SamSumana told The Associated Press by phone. He said he was not at his residence and declined to disclose his whereabouts.

After hearing that soldiers were heading to his home on Saturday morning, Sam-Sumana said he tried and failed to contact President Ernest Bai Koroma. Instead, he said he reached top officials at the presidential guard who informed him his security team was being disarmed on orders from the president.

Sam-Sumana said he then called US Ambassador John Hoover and requested asylum.

"They're having a meeting and they will get back to me," the vice president said.

Brazil tour bus crash kills 49

ÏÏÏAt least 49 people have died

in southern Brazil when a tour bus plunged off a cliff, local officials said.

Authorities warned that the death toll at the crash site in Santa Catarina state, in southern Brazil, could rise.

The bus, en route from the neighbouring state of Parana, swerved off a curve and fell dozens of meters before crashing in a wooded area. Rescue crews were still trying to rescue survivors and recover the bodies of the victims late Saturday.

Several drivers stopped on the roadside to try to help victims as they waited for emergency services to arrive.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

15 Opinion

Casualties of Jonathan’s bloody politics

I Erasmus Ikhide

t is essentially disturbing that Nigerians no longer see President Goodluck Ebele “Azikiwe” Jonathan as the nation’s saviour. His deceptive preachments, “My ambition doesn’t worth the life of anyone”, like the other swaddling hogwash, have been exposed for what they are: fraud. Since his re-election campaigns began, no one is left in doubt that the nation is under the iron control of his PDP-led government. It has been “brain, as demagoguery offered by Femi Fani-Kayode of this world, and fist”, as offered by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan.

His second term bid has generated indignation amongst the people who saw in him previously puritanical statesmanship and a fitting image of a liberal democrat. All that has faded now, even though he has been revving up and clashing down potent issues to show to the world that he is not as isolated as the opposition claimed.

His government is truly a gigantic fraud. As we speak, the Senate has confirmed Musiliu Obanikoro as a federal minister, appointed by

President Goodluck Jonathan, brushing aside allegations that Obanikoro played a key role in election fraud in Ekiti State.

There is greater anxiety than ever before that put the nation on the spotlight, and has generated the fear that Jonathan’s autocratic drift has been intensified. The “political momism”, my coinage for Dame Patience Jonathan’s verbal diarrhoea deal devastating blow to whatever peace-pact reached by all the 14 political parties gunning for the presidency.

In case you forget, the President’s wife told a crowd of supporters to stone to death anyone caught mentioning, “CHANGE”.

She stated this in Calabar on March 2, 2015, while campaigning for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Anybody that come and tell you “Change”, stone that person. She continued: “What you did not do at young age, is now that old age has caught up with you, you want to come and change? she fumed.

She added a comical note: “Even though belle (pregnancy) is disturbing you, tell it baby, baby let me go and vote. Baby wait let me

go and exercise my mandate. You won’t die,” she enthused.

Sad and abhorent as the above banal statement might be from the first lady, it shows how she and her husband have sunk into the pit of desperation to be returned to power. The opposition All Progressives Party’s slogan for March 28 election is ‘Change’, so Patience Jonathan is calling on Nigerians to stone the opposition politicians to death. Patience Jonathan has previously mocked the APC’s slogan saying that the PDP does not tell Nigerians about change because they are not bus conductors.

As expected, President Jonathan has not said anything on the comments of his wife. Heeding the wife’s blackmail, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai’ (rtd), SURE-P Chairman was given the boot for a lecture he delivered in Abeokuta at the birthday ceremony of former President Olusegun Obasanjo where he declared that “change is inevitable”.

“In life, you find out that everything needs change; if that is what the community wants, what the people want, you must give it to them and, as such, it becomes

inevitable.

That President Jonathan has maintained dignified silence over his wife’s open call to anarchy, didn’t come as a surprise. Nine members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State, were killed in two separate incidents in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, a few days ago. While five of the men were killed in the D-Line area of Port Harcourt, the other four met their untimely death along the Eastern By-Pass in the Marine Base area of the state capital!

At the top of the swarming heap of carnage and bloodbath stands the son of canoe-carver-born PhD holder from Otuoke, ferried

by Providence to power. His is pathetic governance, which, at the head of so great and powerful a nation, set out to attain its end.

Six-year on, he is unable to create an enviable nation, burnish with abundant resources to the satisfaction of the electorate. Nigerians will be writing their page in the darkest of histories should Jonathan find his way back to Aso Rock in a country where second term in office don’t amount to much.

Christians and ethnic politics

W

Alex O. Akpodiete

ith the Presidential election set for March 28th and governorship and National Assembly elections on April 11 a lot of palpable anxiety is now enveloping the country. The closeness of the elections this season has resulted in various tactics to win votes.

One troubling approach is the use of religion and ethnocentrism by various candidates. Most people are not aware that 2010 Electoral Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prohibits campaign based on religion or tribe. Specifically, Section 102 states as follows: “Any candidate, person or association who engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate, is guilty of an offence under this Act and on conviction shall be liable to a maximum fine of N1, 000,000 or imprisonment for twelve months or to both.”

With that said, can a Christian vote for a Muslim? This point is probably answerable by citing the biblical mandate that a Christian should not be unevenly yoked

with unbeliever. Specifically, 2 Corinthians 6:14 states “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?

And what communion has light with darkness?” However, God has been known to use an evil king or unbeliever to teach believers a lesson and accomplish His will.

In 2012, I wrote a piece titled “Pastors and Politicians.” I put a disclaimer or caveat that “I am a Pastor and also a person very interested in the politics of Delta State and our beloved country Nigeria. I also encourage Christians to be involved in politics because of my belief in the statement attributed to Edmund Burke that “all that is necessary for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing.”

There have been a lot of controversies lately with allegations of “Men of God” (Clergy) supposedly receiving bribes to support a particular candidate. The allegation, while untrue and laughable, reminded me of the thin line that we must not cross when proselytising on the pulpit as opposed to at a political rally. Christians involved in politics must be careful. Pastor must be more careful because teachers of the Word of God face harsher judgment than their listeners/students. James the half-brother of Jesus said,

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

(James 3:1).

During the Local Government elections, I received a text from a fellow Pastor that his religious body was endorsing a particular candidate, who coincidentally was a pastor. My reply was that a church or religious organisation should never endorse a political candidate. In fact, a pastor has no business telling his congregation from the pulpit whom to vote for.

This does not preclude him from asking his congregation to vote their Christian values. In fact, in civilised climes where there is separation of state and religion, a church that endorses a political candidate will lose its tax exempt status.

Nonetheless, faith-based organisation such as Christian Coalition of America, exist to research and provide valuable information to Christians and the general public about electioneering and the values of various candidates. Our problem in Nigeria is that most political parties have no clear-cut ideology or manifesto, making it difficult to pin them down. Which political party is conservative and which one is liberal in Nigeria?

The incumbent President has visited many mega churches to

seek for prayers, which is understandable based on the current challenges facing Nigeria. A Muslim can go to the mosque, just like you can visit your native doctor if you so wish. Thank God that Nigeria allows for freedom of religion.

Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution states that “The Government of the Federation or of a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion. Section 35(1) adds, “National integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited.” Furthermore, Section 38 (1) states that “ Every person shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance.”

In the Body of Christ, there is no Yoruba, Hausa, Ibibio, Efik, Bini, Ishan, Fulani, Calabari, Anioma, Ibo, Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Isoko or Ukwanni candidate. So, I can emphatically and unequivocally state that a born-again spiritfilled Christian will not vote for a candidate based solely on ethnic reasons.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16 2015

Business Times

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

s

17

Business Editor: Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

L-r: Past President, Asiwaju Solomon Onafowokan, Deputy President, Dr. (Mrs.) Nike Akande, President, Alhaji Remi Bello, Vice President, Dr. Michael OlawaleCole and Treasurer, Mr. Sola Oyetayo, all of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the unveiling of the Chamber’s 2015 Information Communication Technology & Telecommunications EXPO held at the weekend.

Auto policy to boost tech use in manufacturing sector – NAC Funmi Coker The Director-General of the National Automotive Council, (NAC), Engr. Aminu Jalal, has stated that the National Automotive policy will bolster the use of advanced and precise technology in the manufacturing sector in the country.

Jalal made the declaration during an interactive session with journalists at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, in Lagos on Friday.

He further disclosed that the council has been receiving inquiries from leading automobile manufacturing companies from across the globe since the announcement of the new auto policy by the Federal Government with the aim of setting up plants in Nigeria.

He said: “An automotive industry will create significant good quality employment and wide range of technologically advanced manufacturing opportunities. This industrial base can then form the foundation of

other modern advanced manufacturing activities such as commercial vehicle production, which will lead to the manufacturing of agricultural, mining and railway equipment, military hardware and transport.”

The Director-General noted that data from the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development show that a total of 400,000 vehicles (300,000 used and 100,000 new) valued at N550 billion (US$3.451 billion) were imported in 2012 alone.

He argued that at full capacity, the Nigerian Automotive industry has the potential to create 70,000 skilled and semi-skilled jobs along with 210,000 indirect jobs in SMEs that will supply the assembly plants. 490,000 other jobs would also be created in the raw material supply industries, adding that currently about 2,584 persons are directly employed by the assembly plants.

The NAC boss further stated that manufacture of vehicles would enable the country to acquire the technologies of mass production, quality control, lean manufacturing, computer aided design, manufacturing and engineering which can develop other sectors of the economy and industrialisation.

Speaking on the Nigerian tyre industry, Jalal blamed radical government policies for their death through drastic reduction of tariff on imported truck tyres from 40 per cent to 10 per cent while keeping tariffs on car tyres the same which made local producers uncompetitive against imports from Asia and Europe.

To this end, he disclosed that a new development plan has introduced measures to revive the tyre industry. He also pointed out that the revival of the plants will create over 3,000 direct jobs and save Nigeria N120 billion annually which is currently being used to import tyres into the country.

Dangote identifies agriculture, manufacturing as Nigeria’s economic mainstays Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Agriculture and manufacturing has been identified as two sectors capable of emancipating Nigeria from the uncertainty of an unstable mono-revenue source economy.

The Group Executive Director of Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, addressing newsmen in Lagos, stressed that the salvation of the Nigerian economy in the future depends on massive agricultural revolution and local manufacturing.

“And these twin activities are the sectors with huge potentials for employment generation which the country is in dire need of now,” he said.

Edwin noted that the development of the nation’s vast agricultural potential was the only solution to the incessant distortion to Nigeria’s economy by market forces.

He pointed out that Nigeria has left its economic fortunes to the vagaries of the international market forces, through excessive importation and that it was high time private investors latched in on this situation and help the government out, by aggressively embarking on agriculture and manufacturing.

This, he explained, led the Dangote conglomerate to make huge investments in agriculture and manufacturing by delving

into sugar and rice cultivation, fertiliser production, oil and gas refinery as well as petrochemicals.

Edwin said: “In our sugar business, you see Savannah sugar which we have today apart from the direct employment of 4000 people, during investing and plantation, we engage almost 20,000 people and there is a small farm where we have about less than 10,000 hectares and the cultivation is going on today employing another 10,000 people and today we are talking about 200,000 hectare of land, savannah plant for sugar where almost 200,000 hectares will be producing 20 million tonnes of cane and 2million tonnes of sugar.

“The refinery will improve the petrochemical industry, the fertiliser plant will create a lot of employment and the employment to be generated in the agricultural sector is phenomenon.”

Edwin

Companies & Assets 18

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Lafarge Africa increases dividend by 9%, raise stakes in UNICEM, AshakaCem Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Lafarge Africa Plc, prominent cement and building solutions provider, has exhibited a robust positive outlook for the year 2015 by raising its stakes in UNICEM and AshakaCEM, the company’s profitability profile also took a leap in 2014, with the company approving a N3.60 dividend for its shareholders representing nine per cent improvement over prior year’s.

Lafarge Africa, posted an operational Profit after Tax of N37 billion, which is eight per cent higher than prior year, after adjusting for one-offs. Operations of United Cement Company Ltd (UNICEM) were included on an equity basis in Q4. Cash of N49 billion was generated from the operations. The Board of Directors of Lafarge Africa at its meeting of March 11th 2015, approved a dividend of N3.60 subject to shareholders approval.

Raising stakes Lafarge Africa Plc, formerly known as Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc, is a combination of all Lafarge’s Nigerian operations – (AshakaCem Plc, UNICEM, Atlas Cement Company Limited) and Lafarge South African Holdings Limited assets in order to create a stronger platform for growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, with value creating opportunities. The transaction was concluded in September 2014.

On 7 November 2014, Nigerian Cement Holdings B.V. (NCH), a 50 per cent affiliate of Lafarge Africa Plc, entered into an agreement with Flour Mills of Nigeria, defining a roadmap to purchase Flour Mills of Nigeria’s 30 per cent investment in UNICEM (the 3rd largest cement manufacturer in Nigeria). Recently the company announced the completion

Osunkeye

of the first phase of 15 per cent acquisition.

Being required in accordance with Section 131(1) (a) of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007, to make a Tender Offer to all other shareholders of AshakaCem Plc. Consequently, the Board of Lafarge Africa granted approval for a Tender Offer to be made to all Qualifying Shareholders of AshakaCem Plc. The Mandatory Tender Offer was successful and is in the final stages of regulatory approval.

Africa”) received, and accepted, 534,144,592 ordinary shares of tendered by 3,641 Shareholders.

This represents 23.85 per cent of the Company; Lafarge Africa has allotted 150,725,822 ordinary shares of its shares as consideration to the Shareholders that accepted the Offer; ation of N1,068,289,184 has also been paid to the Shareholders that accepted the Offer; the Offer, Lafarge Africa now owns 82.46 per cent of AshakaCem Plc. Lafarge Africa Plc has announced the completion of the Mandatory Tender-Offer to all other shareholders of AshakaCem Plc, following receipt of the

requisite regulatory approvals.

Under the terms of the tender offer, qualifying shareholders who accepted the offer were allotted 57 ordinary shares in Lafarge Africa for every 202 ordinary shares in AshakaCem Plc tendered. An additional cash payment of N2.00 (Two Naira) per every ordinary share of AshakaCem Plc purchased by Lafarge Africa during the acceptance period was also made to accepting shareholders.

The acceptance period for the tender offer opened on December 10, 2014 and closed on January 23, 2015 following an extension of five (5) working days to the offer period.

Commenting on the completion of the transaction, the Chairman of Lafarge Africa Plc, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, CON, OFR

Commenting on the results, Roux mentioned that ‘’our Company has shown impressive performance; our business combination plans have been well executed within set timelines. We are committed to improving operational performance by leveraging on opportunities this presents to us to deliver sustainable returns to our shareholders.”

Key Highlights for the period

in the conclusion of the consolidation process of Lafarge Africa Plc. I would like to express my appreciation to the AshakaCem shareholders whose participation in the transaction (through the tender of their shares) has made this a very successful process.’’

In addition to this, Mr. Guillaume Roux, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Af-

per cent when adjusting for oneoffs in 2013 and the UNICEM scope change. Profit After Tax was N35 billion in 2014.

Future outlook Lafarge Africa Plc has shown remarkable performance in the year and states that it remains highly committed to driving business excellence. The company expects cement demand to increase both in Nigeria and South Africa in 2015.

to have received a great response from AshakaCem Plc shareholders and will continue to work towards maximizing shareholder value.”

Performance In his statement, Osunkeye, publish the first audited results of our newly transformed Company. The good performance even in a volatile market affirms the strength of our new Company and our commitment to achieving excellence.”

flat at N206 billion when compared to 2013. The Nigerian operations showed a growth of eight per cent cushioning the short term market challenges in South Africa. at N55.3 billion in 2014 compared to N55.7 billion in 2013, with Nigeria growing by 16 per cent.

growth should be supported by increasing needs for housing and infrastructures, but could be lower than normal growth levels given the exchange rate development. This should be partly cushioned through the South African cash flow. We remain very optimistic and highly committed to delivering innovative building materials while leveraging on the operational strength and pedigree of the Lafarge Group,” the company said in a statement.

Oando Energy Resources records increased output Adesola Akindele

Qua Iboe Field

Oando Energy Resources (OER) has announced output increase from the commencement of production on Qua Iboe Field.

Oando Plc Energy Resources Inc, announced the completion of all civil and pipeline works associated with the Qua Iboe field, and associated crude delivery

and sales infrastructure, with commercial production at 2,150 boepd Gross.

Oando Energy Resources holds a 40 per cent working interest in the field. In its capacity as technical services provider, OER, together with the operator and 60% owner, Network Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (NEPN), brought the

field from conceptualization, through development, to first oil delivery.

The commercial oil production from the field’s reservoirs has now commenced at an initial rate of 2,150boepd gross to the partners. The crude processing facility was commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2014 but commercial production was de-

layed until the completion of the associated cluster crude delivery and sales infrastructure into the Qua Iboe Terminal.

The Company identified the asset in 2012 and an agreement was reached with NEPN for OER to technically lead and fund certain aspects of NEPN’s costs until first oil.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

19 Interview

Maritime sector has capacity to earn five times more than oil – NSC Executive Secretary The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Hassan Bello, during a courtesy call by management of Daily Times to his office in Apapa, Lagos, revealed that the Maritime sector has the capacity to contribute about five times the revenue being earned from oil, assuring that with strengthened regulatory capacity given to the council to oversee the sector, tremendous transformation was certain in three years’ time. Emmanuel Ogbonnaya, Business Editor, and Funmi Coker report.

What are your set targets for the Transport maritime sector?

It is imperative for us to boost this sector especially now that we have volatility in the oil prices and uncertain economic realities and I think that diversification of sources of income for Nigeria would start with maritime. We have always said that maritime can add up to five times what oil is bringing in today. We need to come back from oil and concentrate on the real issues that will drive our economy.

The Federal Government has been deliberate, conscious, concerted and serious about the shipping industry. The government has seen what it can do in terms of contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and infrastructure.

You have to have modern transport infrastructure for you to be alive in the world economy and I think the journey has started.

The transport maritime industry is poised to give a new lease of life to the Nigerian economy.

And if Nigerian Shippers’

Council is so much empowered to supervise the sector, I have always said that in three years’ time, the transport maritime sector will be transformed for better.

What we want is a port that is more concerned with attracting ships from all over the world and the shippers would make Nigeria their preferred destination for their cargo and the ports can only do this if they are competitive; we want to be the hub, we want Nigeria to be where everything is brought and we can take feeder vessels to other ports of neighbouring countries.

This is where Nigeria should be, but this is also a function of competition. You have to have processes for evacuating your cargo in a simple and automated system, we don’t need physical presence. We need a modern port, a deep sea port that is connected not only by road, but by rail, inland waterways and other modes of transport like pipelines as well.

We have infrastructural deficit especially in the maritime sector; our role here is also to make sure that our ports are efficient and competitive, and we should never forget that we are competing with ports in other countries. We want to be the hub, the centre of activities in the sub-region so that people can bring ships to Nigeria.

You need a friendly port, a transparent port; a port that is capable of facilitating modern trade. That is what Nigerian Shippers’ Council is going to do.

Is the Shippers’ Council proposing a change in some existing laws?

The existing laws are okay, in fact, the laws are private laws,

You need a friendly port, a transparent port; a port that is capable of facilitating modern trade. That is what Nigerian Shippers’ Council is going to do. private in the sense that it is between the individual and the carrier overseas, but there are overall laws which have been sent to the National Assembly and they are reform laws. They are reforming the way we do business, we are going modern. In the inland waterways, you would see the enormous potentials they have.

And we can have that exploited and this would reduce the burden on the roads and the roads would last longer.

How far have your members benefited from the Cabotage Act because for years now, there has been complaints that foreigners are still dominating freighting of cargo within the country?

The Cabotage Act actually is to increase the capacity of Nigerians to own vessels and a lot has been achieved in that area. NIMASA is in charge of Cabotage and is reviewing it, very soon you would see many results from that reform.

Why do you think terminal operators are kicking against some regulations in the sector?

Do not get us wrong, the terminal operators have contributed

Bello

tremendously to the attitude or change in shipping in Nigeria.

You can see this in some international indicators – turnaround time of vessels for example. If vessels spend 24 days before, now they spend less than that, they just offload and leave, they have really improved our shipping processes.

The only thing missing is obedience to law. There are Nigerian Laws that must be obeyed. What the Nigerian Shippers’ Council is saying is that we can never have impunity again, we can never have arbitrariness again. We have to monitor, supervise, superintend operations – nobody is a law unto himself.

We are also working for the terminal operators. We have intervened on their behalf on so many policy issues by the Federal Government, and we have prevented the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) from raising certain bills for them. Every regulator will find challenges but the most important thing is for people to know that there must be respect and adherence with regards to law. If you don’t do that, then we are going to operate in anarchy; the capitalism we have now is not a laisse affair, it is an organised one.

Why are the inland depots not working optimally?

The inland depots are not working optimally, unfortunately, because of some legal issues. We have to be gazetted and designated as ports of origin and destination. The Minister of Transport is making efforts to see that they are designated as such and the moment they are, then I think we are in business because they are

of tremendous importance to the economy and to transport.

However, despite the legal issues, containers are still offloaded on some of these terminals.

We plan to visit the one in Kaduna on inspection.

Is 48 hours cargo clearance possible in Nigeria?

It is a possibility but can only be realised if we have the right infrastructure, if we develop the right culture for handling cargo/ ships and if we have the right equipment to handle the cargo, and if our processes and documentation are harmonised and totally integrated into a single window platform.

So going forward, for us to achieve 48 hours cargo clearance, we must have the single window in place which would remove human contact. Everything would be done electronically, you can pay and designate where your cargo should be deposited and you pick it up. So 48 hours cargo clearance is definitely a possibility.

Do you think our shipping laws contribute to people finding it more attractive to ship their cargo through neighbouring countries instead of Nigeria?

Broad laws brought by the government has made the private sector key for port operations; private sector participation in the economy is significant because it is supposed to shape the efficiency of operations because government cannot run business.

And we have had since that introduction, tremendous achievement and even now cargoes have been coming more to Nigeria.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

21 Aviation

Aviation agencies to automate airport charges Muhtar

NCAA boss sues for peace among unions The Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, Captain Usman Muhtar, has advised various unions in the aviation industry to always settle their differences amicably to achieve a harmonious working environment.

Speaking while playing host to members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association, ATSSSAN, Muhtar noted that strife among unions will not lead to growth in the aviation industry.

He assured the union that measures have been put in place

by NCAA to clear all outstanding staff claims by setting up a committee to review all outstanding claims with a view to making recommendations.

The DG explained that the target of NCAA was to ensure that staff were paid allowances before embarking on any assignment.

He apologised for the delay in in payment and assured of plans to fast-track the promotion of staff, stressing the need for training as a result of the emerging innovations necessitated by technology in the sector.

Earlier in his speech, National president of ATSSSAN, Comrade Benjamin Okewu, said the misunderstanding in the union was an in-house thing and thanked the DG for his warm reception.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, has approved the reports of the committee on Aviation Revenue Automation Project (ARAP) to automate all aviation agencies revenue collection at airports.

Chidoka made the approval when the ARAP committee presented its findings and recommendations to the minister in Lagos.

He said the ministry has thereby approved a review in the cost and charges of the automation system.

According to him, all aviation agencies were thereby given one week for the implementation of the project cost and their targets.

He noted that part of the reasons for the project was to please customers and guard against frequent delays and cancellations experienced air travellers at airports across the country.

“However, it is the aviation industry that are on trial whenever people witnessed service

failure,” he said.

Chidoka noted that any Chief Executive who fails to comply with the implementation of the project within 60 days would be sanctioned.

The minister expressed optimism that the implementation of the project would increase the efficiency of workers and stakeholders in the industry.

He added that it would enable agencies in the aviation industry to deliver higher quality services to the public. ``ARAP is aimed at automating all aviation related activities in all the airports in Nigeria to provide revenue assurance for the industry. ``This project will make the industry a world class provider of safe, secured and comfortable transport industry. ``The project is self-sustaining and pivotal to social economic growth, transforming the sector into an efficient, profitable and preferred mode of transportation,” he said.

Chidoka

Boeing’s commercial aircrafts

Boeing to ban cargo of lithium batteries on passenger flights Boeing Co. has recently announced that high-density packages of lithium batteries present fire risks and should not be carried on passenger planes until safer methods for their transport have been established.

This adds another call to the increasing clamour to stop bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries on passenger planes.

Reuters recently quoted a Boeing statement as saying that the risk is “continually increasing (and) requires action to be taken.”

Boeing is part of an industry group including other plane makers such as Bombardier Inc. and Airbus Group NV that found existing firefighting systems on airliners cannot “suppress or extinguish a fire involving significant quantities of lithium batteries” thereby posing an “unacceptable risk” for the industry.

The main firefighting chemical, Halon 1301, is unable to stop fires from rechargeable lithium ion or non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries, the two main types of cells in consumer devices, the industry group said.

Boeing also said it agrees with the recommendations in the report by the International Coor-

dinating Council of Aerospace Industry Associations and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations.

The report is due to be considered in April 2015 by a working group of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a standards setting body.

ICAO said that to take effect, the recommendations would need to be approved by its dangerous goods panel in October 2015, and then by a broader air safety council in 2016. If approved, they would be included in the 2017-2018 edition of ICAO’s technical instructions for dangerous goods transport.

The ICCAIA-IFALPA report recommends banning shipments of high-density packages of lithium-ion batteries and cells on passenger aircraft until safer transport methods are implemented; establishing appropriate packaging and shipping requirements to carry lithium ion batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft; and establishing appropriate packaging and shipping requirements to carry lithium metal and lithium ion batteries as cargo on freight aircraft.

AFRAA scribe urges Nigeria, Central Africa airlines to consolidate In view of the dwindling fortunes of airline in Africa especially airlines in West and Central Africa, the Secretary General of Africa Airline Association(AFRAA), Dr. Elijah Chingosho has advocated for the consolidation of airlines in the sub region to prevent untimely exit of airlines.

Chingosho’s comment came on the heels of calls by some stakeholders that airlines in Nigeria should either merge or go into partnership to forestall airlines

short live span.

This is just as he said that AFRAA also encourage airlines from West and Central Africa region to partner with other bigger and successful airlines from other parts of Africa.

He said this while speaking at the Aviation Executive Forum organised by the Aviation Ministry in Lagos, He stated that unless these airlines embrace either consolidation or strategic partnership, airlines from West and Central

Africa will continue to have very short life span.

According to him, “industry consolidation is critical otherwise we will continue to see more airlines going under like Air Gabon, Air Nigeria, Bellview, Cameroon Airlines, and Gambia Bird.

We also encourage strategic partnerships with other African airlines e.g. Ethiopian Airlines and ASKY, Kenya Airways and Precision Air in Tanzania”.

Chingosho however said that there are some airlines such as

Arik, Aero Contractors, ASKY, Air Cote D’Ivoire, Ceiba Intercontinental, ECAir & TACV Cape Verde trying their best to survive in a fiercely competitive environment, which according to him, is dominated by non-African megacarriers.

The AFRAA boss stated that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa with over 180 million people but lamented that in terms of aviation, it does not correspond with the size of the economy or the size of the population.

Chingosho

22

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16 , 2015

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

s

Cartoons from our Archives

1926 First liquid-fuelled rocket The first man to give hope to dreams of space travel was American Robert H. Goddard, who successfully launches the world’s first liquid-fuelled rocket at Auburn, Massachusetts, on March 16, 1926. The rocket travelled for 2.5 seconds at a speed of about 60 mph, reaching an altitude of 41 feet and landing 184 feet away. The rocket was 10 feet tall, constructed out of thin pipes, and was fuelled by liquid oxygen and gasoline.

The Chinese developed the first military rockets in the early 13th century using gunpowder and probably built firework rockets at an earlier date. Gunpowderpropelled military rockets appeared in Europe sometime in the 13th century, and in the 19th century British engineers made several important advances in early rocket science. In 1903, an obscure Russian inventor named Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky published a treatise on the

1978 One of the world’s worst super tanker disasters took places when the Amoco Cadiz wrecks off the coast of Portsall, France, on this day in 1978. Although the 68 million gallons of oil that spilled from the Cadiz has since been exceeded by other spills, this remains the largest shipwreck in history.

The Cadiz was 65 meters longer than the Titanic and capable of carrying more than 250,000 tons of crude oil. The huge super tanker was owned

by Amoco, an American company, but was registered in Liberia and helmed by a mostly Italian crew. On March 23, the Cadiz was travelling from the Persian Gulf to Le Havre, France. While negotiating a relatively crowded area of shipping lanes, the boat came across gale conditions, suffered a steering failure and drifted toward the rocky coast.

theoretical problems of using rocket engines in space, but it was not until Robert Goddard’s work in the 1920s that anyone began to build the modern, liquid-fuelled type of rocket that by the early 1960s would be launching humans into space.

Goddard, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1882, became fascinated with the idea of space travel after reading the H.G. Wells’ science fiction novel War of the Worlds in 1898. He began building gunpowder rockets in 1907 while a student at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and continued his rocket experiments as a physics doctoral student and then physics professor at Clark University. He was the first to prove that rockets can propel in an airless vacuum-like space and was also the first to explore mathematically the energy and thrust potential of various fuels, including liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.

Daily Times March 16, 1961

Super tanker wrecks off French coast After a failed attempt by a German tugboat to pull the ship from the coast, the Cadiz ran aground and broke in two pieces three miles off the coast of Portsall. Due to the isolated location, poor weather and lack of a thorough emergency plan, officials were unable to recover any of the oil from the ship and it appeared that the oil would slowly leak out and damage the coastline.

When water and wind conditions suggested that the oil would drift out to the ocean rather than toward the coastline, it was decided to use explosives to open the hull immediately, releasing the 1.6 million barrels of oil quickly. French navy helicopters dropped 16 water bombs into the Cadiz. Unfortunately, the plan was not a complete success--much of the 68 million gallons of oil drifted to the coast.

Ultimately, 240 miles of

France’s Brittany coast suffered oil damage. Although it later became a more commonplace feature of television news, this was the first time that images of oil-coated sea birds were seen by the world.

In all, millions of dead mollusks and sea urchins washed ashore because of the spill.

In addition, 20,000 birds and 9,000 tons of oysters perished.

There were also reports of fish with tumours, likely caused by the oil, caught in the months following the spill.

The best estimate is that over $250 million in damages were incurred to the fishing and tourism industries in the area of the oil spill. Today, the Cadiz remains sunk in the sea bed. The wreck is largely covered by sea weed. As some of the water bombs used to empty the ship of oil failed to detonate and remain near the ship, diving near or exploring the wreck is prohibited.

1988

Reagan orders troops into Honduras

As part of his continuing effort to put pressure on the leftist Sandinista government in Nicaragua, President Ronald Reagan ordered over 3,000 U.S. troops to Honduras, claiming that Nicaraguan soldiers had crossed its borders. As with so many of the other actions taken against Nicaragua during the Reagan years, the result was only more confusion and criticism.

Since taking office in 1981, the Reagan administration had used an assortment of means to try to remove the leftist Sandinista government of Nicaragua. President Reagan charged that the Sandinistas were pawns of the Soviet Union and were establishing a communist beachhead in the Western Hemisphere, though there was little evidence to support such an accusation. Nonetheless, Reagan’s administration used economic and diplomatic pressure attempting to destabilize the Sandinista regime. Reagan poured millions of dollars of U.S. military and economic

aid into the so-called “Contras,” anti-Sandinista rebels operating out of Honduras and Costa Rica. By 1988, however, the Contra program was coming under severe criticism from both the American people and Congress.

Many Americans came to see the Contras as nothing more than terrorist mercenaries, and Congress had acted several times to limit the amount of U.S. aid to the Contras.

In an effort to circumvent Congressional control, the Reagan administration engaged in what came to be known as the IranContra Affair, in which arms were illegally and covertly sold to Iran in order to fund the Contras. This scheme had come to light in late 1987. Indeed, on the very day that Reagan sent U.S. troops to Honduras, his former national security advisor John Poindexter and former National Security staffer Lt. Col. Oliver North were indicted by the U.S. government for fraud and theft related to Iran-Contra.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

23 News

NACOMYO sues for violence-free elections Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏA Muslim youth body,

Author, Mustapha Ogunsakin (right); Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (2nd left); Author’s wife, Tinuke (left); former Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, Mr. George Ikoli and Author’s uncle, Mr. Shola Ogunsakin, during official presentation of a book titled: "For the Love of Their Nation", held in Lagos, at the weekend.

PHOTO: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Boko Haram: Catholic bishop unites Muslim, Christian IDPs Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏ The

Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Most Rev Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, has been taking care of over 30,000 Muslims and Catholics in Catholic camp

Mamza

in the northern part of Adamawa State, since September last year.

He said that the internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in the camp were not only given food, but their health and spiritual needs were being attended to at a clinic in the camp, donated by people he did not know.

The camp runs all-day, Mamza said, adding that over fifty women were delivered of babies recently and an outbreak of measles had been contained.

Mamza was thankful to God for the peace and love amongst the IDPs, despite differences in their religious beliefs

"I thank God I can see love flowing among the Muslim and the Christian in this camp. They are living like brothers and sisters. Here we don't emphasise religion or denomination. All we do is to make sure everybody is fairly comfortable and we try to give a qualitative education to the young ones, as some volunteer teachers and computer instructors are always on around to teach them," Mamza said The Catholic camp is one of the largest camp in Yola, harbouring over 30,000 people, who are mainly from Mubi, Michika, Maiha and Madagali; towns either

over-run or attacked by the

by Boko Haram terrorist group. Mamza said that the IDPs were given generous rations of relief aids on a daily basis.

"There are so many families that are living with more than twenty IDPs; that kind of family, if not economically balance, will not find it easy to cope, so the same help should be extended to the homes of such people,” Hamza said.

While thanking donors, who had come to the aid of the IDPs, he urged other well-meaning Nigerians to help their sorry plight caused by the insurgency, in the North-East.

National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Ogun State chapter, has urged Nigerian youths to guard against any form of violence in the forthcoming general election.

In a press release issued in Abeokuta, it also urged politicians to play the games according to the rules.

Its secretary, AbdRahmon Olu Oyeneye, who signed the release, on behalf of the Leadership of the group, Alhaj Abdullahi Oyetunde, called on the youths not to

Air Traffic Controllers, NAMA resolve crisis

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏMembers of

the Nigerian Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) may have reached a compromise on Sunday as the NATCA has finally shelved its planned strike over welfare issues.

The Daily Times learnt that papers would be perfected, on Tuesday, in Abuja, for the management of the NAMA to commence with the agreement reached between the Ministry of Labour, Permanent Secretary of the aviation ministry and Salaries and Wages Commission.

NATCA had, penultimate week, issued an ultimatum

Group slams Okorocha over unprofitable projects

Tosin Ajuwon

‘Tosin Ajuwon

ÏÏÏGovernor

Akure

ÏÏÏ

The Imo Development Union (IDU) has described several projects executed by Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha as ‘cosmetic’, which could not stand the test of time.

In a statement signed by the group’s president, Mr. John Okpara, on Sunday, and made available to reporters, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the projects were said to have no direct impact on the lives and well-being of

residents of the state.

He said that Okorocha’s failure to initiate peopleoriented projects had made his second term ambition unrealistic.

Said he: “Governor Okorocha cannot be reelected by the people of the state, because he has failed woefully in his first term in office. He has failed to execute peopleoriented project.

“Most projects he executed are cosmetic ones, which were executed to loot the state’s treasury,” he alleged.

IDU, however, pledged

its loyalty to the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Rt. (Hon.) Emeka Ihedioha, whom it described as a man with great focus and unique leadership quality.

"In view of this, we think Okorocha does not deserve to be re-elected.

He has failed the people of Imo State, who are desirous of visionary leaders.

"And that is why we have decided to throw our weight behind Ihedioha, whom, we believe, has what it takes to take Imo State to the next level.

"We are very sure that

Ihedioha would transform Imo State from its present state to a cynosure of all other states,” the statement read in part.

Okorocha

be used as elements of political thuggery, vandalism and violence, before, during and after the elections.

The statement also advised the electorates to vote wisely for credible candidates of their choice and based on performance, integrity and sincerity to serve the people.

The release also "urged Nigerians who had not collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to do so, in order to perform their civic responsibilities."

"Without the PVC, there is no way we can vote for any candidate of our choice, so we urged all Nigerians to go out, en masse, and collect their voter cards."

Akure

of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has said there was a need to invest a lot of confidence in President Goodluck Jonathan, in order to make for a brighter future for the country.

He said this at the weekend after he was conferred with an “Ambassador of Peace” award in Nigeria and an investiture of patron by the Scout Association of Nigeria.

He disclosed that the people should not be deterred by the present challenges confronting the country, adding that things would

which expired last Sunday to the NAMA to address issues bordering on welfare of members, as well as poor equipment failing, upon which they planned to embark on an industrial action without further dialogue with NAMA. In their earlier statement signed by the National Secretary of NATCA, Olawole Banji, NATCA said its members would down tools by yesterday. Banji had said NATCA would not inform the management of its resolve to proceed on strike, adding that it had given the NAMA two weeks to allow for the conclusion of approved process of the proposed harmonised allowances for them as agreed upon on January 18, 2015.

Mimiko gets 'Peace Ambassador' award

soon be rosy for the economy.

Mimiko also warned against de-marketing the nation before the international community, on account of her present challenges, adding that Nigerians must celebrate the achievements recorded by governments at all levels and that the prevailing peace in Ondo State was partly the synergy between the government and the governed.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Troops uncover terrorists' bomb factory in Yobe Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏNigerian troops, oper-

ating in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, have recovered large quantities of various improvised explosive devices (IEDs) after they raided the terrorists’ bomb factory.

Director, Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said in a statement, at the week-

end, that the thorough cordon-and-search by the troops in Buni Yadi led to the discovery of the bomb factory, located inside a fertiliser company, where "a large quantity of IEDs, including those commonly used by suicide bombers were recovered from the site."

He said the troops were still evacuating the materials, including a large quantity of suicide bomber vests.

The terrorists were sacked from Buni Yadi after a military assault against them last Saturday. The troops’ advance was delayed by the series of IEDs planted on the highway leading to Buni Yadi. Four soldiers died in the course of the operation to clear terrorists from the town. It is believed that the bomb used in blowing up the bridge between Damaturu and Buni Yadi was produced in the factory.

Olukolade

L-right: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson; Ibenanaowei of Gbarain Kingdom, HRM. King Funpere Akah and Bayelsa State, Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) displaying their Permanent Voters Cards during a PVC Sensitization tour in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state… on Sunday

Adamawa PDP candidates can't win, says Senator Wale Akintunde Yola

ÏÏÏ A Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) chieftain in Adamawa State, Senator Grace Bent, has disclosed that the ‘headache’ of the party is how to sell some of its candidates to the electorate.

She was specific when she said: “I can campaign for Mr. President because he means well for the country and has what it takes to run this country, but, there are certain people you can’t campaign for such as Senator Silas Zwingina, the candidate for Adamawa South Senatorial District, where I come from. I can't campaign for Zwingina, because I will be stoned! I

don't want to waste time on people like that".

She disclosed this at the weekend, while speaking with newsmen, shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan’s reconciliatory meeting with the aggrieved stakeholders of the party at Government House, Yola, noting that the party shot itself in the foot for presenting non-marketable candidates.

She disclosed that candidates produced by the primaries held in Abuja were a political liability to the party, adding that the Abuja primaries that produced Zwingina and others were not only illegal, but, a sham, as it did not comply with the party’s constitution and electoral act.

According to her, the meeting would bring the fragmented party together to work for victory during the presidential election, but, insisted that the victory of other PDP candidates, particularly, those who emerged from the controversial primaries held in Abuja was not certain.

"Technically speaking, Adamawa State PDP does not have candidates for the election if you go by the party guidelines and Electoral Act 2014, which made it clear that all primaries must hold at party constituencies while that of the governor holds at the state capital", she pointed out.

Bent, who was one of the aspirants that did not take part in the Abuja prima-

ries, described the outcome of Abuja primaries as a gross injustice which dealt deadly blow to the teeming members of PDP in Adamawa State, noting that the outcome had led to the four factions in the party.

Bent

1,000 youths died in 2011 elections - Group

Sunday Isuwa Abuja

ÏÏÏOver

1,000 youths, used as thugs died during the 2011 general election, according to a group, the Peace Ambassador Agency.

Speaking during its 2015 Peace Summit in Abuja, its president, Ambassador Kingsley Amafibe, said available statistics showed that those who died during the period were youths.

“We know that youths are the future and growth agents of any nation, yet many of us are used as tools for violence,” Amafibe said, while stressing the need for youths to shun violence in the 2015 general election.

He said the programme

was organised to continue its peace education campaign, train institutions and distribute writing materials to youths in various schools. “We are working with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and other organisations promoting peace in Africa and the world in general.

We can’t afford to lose 1,000 youths to election violence again, as it happened in 2011,” Amafibe added.

The Chairman of Ekcel Farms Limited, Engr. Emeka Okwuosa, explained that the company became interested in Anambra State, when it realised that the governor’s Economic Blue print was not a political gimmick, but a true blueprint for the development of the state.

Ribadu vows to rebuild damaged churches if…

Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship standard bearer in Adamawa State, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has promised to rebuild all churches destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents if elected as governor of the state.

He disclosed this at a meeting attended by traditional rulers of the Higgi and Bazza people of Michika Local Government Area at the Dantso-

Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏAbout

three women collapsed at the weekend, while waiting, under the scorching sun for several hours, for the arrival of the wife of the President, Dame Patience Jonathan, in Benin City, Edo State.

They were, however, rushed into a waiting ambulance for medical attention by men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

The First Lady was in Benin City to campaign for the re-election of her husband in the presidential election next weekend.

Meanwhile, Dame Pa-

ho Hotel in Jimeta, Yola North Local Government Area, under the auspices of Alhaji Abubakar Kari Abdulahi, an indigene of Michika and erstwhile PDP senatorial aspirant.

Ribadu extolled the qualities of Michika people for their enterprising nature of marketing commodities all over Nigeria. He promised that all churches razed in Michika, Bazza , Kamela Suhur and other places, would be rebuilt on his assumption of office as the Governor.

Three women collapse as First Lady campaigns in Benin tience Jonathan, has said that if Jonathan was voted into power for another four years, the 35 percent affirmative action for women would be increased to 45 percent to further give the Nigerian woman an opportunity to participate in nation-building. “Mr. President had also told the youth that this is their time and he believes that the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. He believes that after spending eight years, he will pave the way for a new generation of leaders.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

25

Why we want Jega removed – MASSOB

Alao-Akala calls for probe of 500 PVCs in Ogbomoso

Sunday Nwakanma

paign Organisation has called on the Nigeria Police Force and other security operatives, in Oyo State, to punish a man caught with over 500 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The Director-General of the organisation, Dr. Kola Balogun, made the call while briefing reporters, on Sunday, in Ibadan.

"It is obvious that our opponent in both the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are jittery about the coming election and that is why they are desperately looking for means of manipulating and causing mayhem in Alao Akala's stronghold'. “They knew the people of Ogbomoso will not vote for any other party, apart from the party of Alao Akala, which is Labour

Umuahia

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), at the weekend, held a rally in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, to explain its demand for the removal of the National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega, over electoral insincerity.

Speaking on the occasion, the Zonal Woman Leader of the group, Mrs. Comfort Ogbuokiri, ac-

PDP Rep candidate alleges shoddy distribution of PVCs in Edo Titus Akhigbe Benin City

Ă?Ă?Ă?

Ahead of March 28, presidential election, eligible voters in four local government areas of Edo State, who registered under Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) Continuous Voters Registration, are yet to receive their Permanent Voter Cards.

This is coming on the heels of a protest to INEC office in Benin, at the weekend by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Egor/Ikpoba/ Okha Constituency, Mr. Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma, over what he described as the shoddy distribution of PVC in the Federal Constituency.

Edo State INEC Administrative Secretary, Sir Brown Ulucha, named the affected local government areas as Owan West, Owan East, Ovia South West and Uhunmwode.

Ulucha who disclosed this while receiving Agbonayinma, said the cards were yet to arrive from Abuja.

cused Jega of being biased, going by his recent allocation of more electoral booths to the northern states than those in the southern part of the country, "We want Jega removed because he has shown openly to the world that he has a hidden agenda that would favour the people of the North. Some powerful northern people are using Jega. We want him removed,� she said.

The MASSOB members, who had converged around Michael Okpara Square, were seen carrying placards with inscrip-

tions like: “Jega your job is over�; “Jega must go�; “INEC boss must go�; among others, and using the rally to state their support for the re-election bid of Jonathan for another term in office.

Ogbuokiri said the movement still believed in its cause to bring about the sovereign State of Biafra, but was concerned over what was happening in the country.

Another top operative of MASSOB, Peter Onyema, said the group was not against the conduct of the general election, except that the organisa-

Remi Oladoye Ibadan

Ă?Ă?Ă?The Akala/Alli Cam-

Jega

tion wanted to express its position on some crucial national issues.

6

$ 3

& # # 0 % ( ( % ! 4 5 3 &&

2

Adenuga urges preservation of cultural heritage

Doris Nnabuenyi Awka

Ă?Ă?Ă?Globacom Chairman,

#$

% ! & '

( ) *

)

# %

( ) )

Party and that is why they are desperately doing everything to ensure that many people are disenfranchised by collecting the cards of the electorate through fraudulent means.

While commending the people of Ogbomoso for their courage, in exposing the culprits, Balogun also urged politicians, particularly members of Labour Party, to be vigilant and report promptly any unholy activity from the opposition that may affect the conduct of free and fair election.

The organisation also frowned at the attack on members of the Labour Party – including Hon. Olatunji Olumide Akinbiyi, a House of Assembly candidate in Afijio Local Government Area.

While warning against incessant attacks on members of the party, Balogun also called on the security operatives to fish out the attackers and let them face the wrath of law.

+ , $

- $ (

$ # )$ . . $ % !

&

/0

1

!!! "

# " $ % & " "' (" ) * + $,- , . /" " + /. " 0 1 2, ) " 3

,0 4 /"

!"

Dr. Mike Adenuga (Jr), has enjoined Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to efforts aimed at preserving and developing the country’s rich cultural heritage, to chart a road map to a glorious future.

Adenuga stated this in his goodwill message at the grand finale of the 2015 Lisabi Festival held at Ake Palace ground, Abeokuta, on Saturday.

Represented by Glo Business Director, Lagos, Mr. Ayo Ogunranti, Adenuga noted that knowledge of the past, especially the legacies bequeathed by heroes and heroines, would help shape the emergence of a just and egalitarian society, adding that Globacom was committed to all positive initiatives that would help in preserving the country’s rich cultural

heritage. “It is gratifying that the modern day Lisabi Festival is a veritable platform for the development of Egbaland in particular and Ogun State in general. No meaningful development can be achieved without unity. Hence, this year’s theme: ‘Collective Responsibility: A panacea for the socio-economic development of Egbaland’ is very apt.�

He assured that Globacom would continue to be an enabling platform for the empowerment of the generality of Nigerians.

Also speaking at the event, the Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, described the 2015 Lisabi Festival as the best, since he ascended to the throne nine years ago and the first to be attended by the Osile of Oke Ona Egba and the Agura of Gbagura. He added that this was a healthy development for the unity of Egbaland.

News 26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Anambra APC, APGA, PDP trade words over fake result sheets Doris Nnabenyi Awka

ÏÏÏThe

trio of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) are currently trading words over allegations of printing fake result sheets for the forthcoming National Assembly election in Anambra State.

Reports had it that cartons of result sheet booklets, for the election, had been printed and smuggled into the state from Asaba, Delta State, in a bid by some desperate politicians, to share it to staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It was further alleged that the original result sheets would be

exchanged for the fake sheets for the election, while the original sheet would be submitted to INEC with falsified results.

The PDP and APC are accusing the ruling party APGA of planning the electoral fraud.

According to the State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Ejike Oguebego, who spoke with reporters on Monday: “Our party is a lawabiding party that plays politics within the ambits of the law.

“Our party cannot get involved in this act of illegality. It is only the political party in the state that is about to go into extinction that is desperate to win election.

Their party had tried to play fast by adopting President Goodluck Jonathan as its Presidential candidate. Now we are hearing of

fake result sheets.

Similarly the State Chairman of APC, Barr. Emeka Ibe, described the development as not only unfortunate, but sad, adding that such antics could only come from APGA. “Last time, a chieftain of APGA in Awka South Local government area was arrested with cartons of permanent voter cards (PVCs) which he ultimately wants to use during the election. Now, with the introduction of card readers, the party’s game plan has failed and now the allegations of fake result sheets being printed have come to the centre stage. We urge the law enforcement agencies, as well as the officials of INEC, to be alive to their responsibilities.”

Michael Bamigbola

ÏÏÏOsun State chapter of

the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has re-affirmed its hope in the judiciary, saying the party would reclaim its mandate through the judiciary in no distant time and rule the state peacefully.

Therefore, the party urged all its members in the 30 local government areas of the state to remain resolute and patient until the Court of Appeal ruled on the matter currently before it.

In a statement issued by the party’s chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa, the PDP described Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) as an impostor, arguing that the PDP would soon take the helm of affairs of the state.

According to the statement:

ÏÏÏ

Group endorses Jonathan, canvasses diaspora voting

ÏÏÏA group of

Nigerians in the Diaspora, the Nigerians in Diaspora Integration (NIDI) project has thrown its weight behind the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The group’s stance on the March 28 Presidential election was made known at a press conference held by its president, Dr Caro Nwosu, in Abuja.

According to her, the group under the aegis of Global Crusaders for Growth in Africa, endorsed President Jonathan for another term because he had contributed in making Nigeria more politically stable and therefore investmentfriendly.

According to her, over $7 billion

worth of investment had come into the country in the last four years. Her words, “There had been more investment in security and improved quality of life through infrastructural development while Nigeria has emerged the largest economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing in the world, with GDP of $510billion during his tenure.”

Dr. Nwosu, who also said food prices had remained stable despite the devaluation of the naira under this administration, listed efficient and fast containment of the Ebola Virus, mobile phone increase, provision of 61,000 housing units across Nigeria, Nigeria’s achievement in sports, building of Almajiri schools, the emergence

of a strong and formidable opposition among the achievements of the Jonathan administration.

She urged Nigerians, especially politicians, to watch their utterances and also play politics by the rules and accept whatever verdict comes so that they do not set Nigeria on fire.

Dr. Nwosu also urged parents to caution their children against being used to foment trouble and that Nigerians should not lend out or sell their permanent voters cards.

She also called for voting rights for the over 20 million Nigerians of voting age in the diaspora. She continued, “Diaspora voting is overdue; let our rights be protected

“We have said, on several occasions, that we have an abiding faith in the judiciary to dispense justice. And that explains why we have gone to the Appeal Court to seek redress that the tribunal erred, when it returned Aregbesola. We didn't accuse anybody because we know that though the wheel of justice might be slow, justice will prevail at the end.”

The statement reads: “We wouldn't have bothered to join issues with Ogbeni Aregbesola whose government is fast sinking, owing to his inability to meet up with the oath of office, which he swore to, so that he won't allege that he was being distracted.”

APC’s change mantra based on frivolities, false claims, says LP scribe Remi Oladoye

Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (right); President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle (middle) and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Delta State, Rev. Gideon Oyibo, during the official commissioning of the First Baptist Church, Oginibo, Delta, built by Archbishop God-Do-Well Avwomakpa in Delta … on Saturday.

PDP’ll rule Osun again - Chair

The National Secretary of the Labour Party, Barrister Kayode Ajulo, has described the change proposed by the main political party in the opposition as a change based on frivolities and mendacious claims.

While speaking with reporters, in Ibadan, on why the Labour Party adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as the Party's presidential candidate, Ajulo said change was desired, but it would make meaning, only when it was objective in nature, and not subjective.

“The change Nigerians desire at this time is not that of personalities alone. Real change can only be based on a foundation of truth and genuine love for the people. Nigerians desire verifiable changes and not changes based on the imaginations of day dreamers."

"It is clear that these are cer-

tainly not the best of times for our country, not with our past experience, under military dictatorship, which remained untrammeled, for over three decades. Add our current experience in the hands of dastardly insurgents, six years on."

The Ondo State-born legal luminary-cum-activists said: "Those with closets full of murky pasts, and who are surrounded by fellows garbed in gory and malodorous appearance cannot be the change agents Nigerians desire. “It is a known fact that the arrowhead of the opposition, in the person of General Mohamadu Buhari, is endeared to many particularly on the ground of his much-vaunted claim to anti-corruption and war against indiscipline. What the creators of the new Buhari have failed to tell audience at their circus show is that the old Buhari was a master of impunity".

UFUK foundation explores originality among African photographers ÏÏÏA group, the UFUK Dialogue Foundation, plans to organise a photo contest from participants across the African continent, geared towards identifying best photographs that depict togetherness in the region.

The contest, with theme: ‘Colours of Harmony’ apart from availing opportunity to photographers and organisations, will also see the winner going home with N250.000, while the first and second runners up will get N200,000

and N150,000 respectively.

According to Sava Tuylu, Public Relations Officcer of the Foundation, the “Colours of Harmony’ photo contest will be a collection of photographs from different parts of Africa, which will depict the togetherness, and culture of co-existence of the present diversity.” The contest, he said, planned to bring African perspective to the fore, in areas of peaceful relationship in tribes, beliefs and thoughts .

Our heritage

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

s

Arts icon Oba Sonuga, turns 70, celebrates with book launch Moses Kadiri The drummers electrified the atmosphere with their melodious drumming while the people were jubilating, singing songs of celebration, praising God as they celebrated with Oba Gbenga Gbadebo Sonuga, Ogbodo 1, Fadesewa of Simawa, Sagamu, Ogun State as he clocked 70 years recently.

Friends, family, well-wishers besieged the Freedom Park, Lagos island, to honour the former Artistic Director of Lagos State.

For the first time, a recording of the play Salt, written and directed by the Oba, which was presented at the launching of the World Decade for Cultural Development in Nigeria (1989), featuring Dejumo Lewis (a.k.a Kabiyesi), Lizzy Hammond, Usman Pategi (a.k.a Samanja), Sunday Omobolanle (a.k.a Aluwe), James Iroha (a.k.a Gringory), Sola Fosudo, Zulu Adigwe, Tunji Oyelana, Golda John, Kunle and Moji Bamtefa, was previewed as part of the birthday celebration.

The high point of the event was the launch of an auto-photobiography, entitled Deep as the Ocean, published by Concept Publication, is a rich diary of Oba Sonuga’s life, from the cradle to royalty. In three cycles, the work chronicles the author’s life experiences. The book, meticulously, records dates, times, places and events with pictorial illustrations carefully captioned.

“The book is a work of 15 years, but it goes far beyond when I was born, and that is very instructive.

It tells a journey that started 70 years ago. My belief, which I expressed in the book, is that life is not about from A-Z, not from 1-70, rather life is a cycle,’’ he said.

The Kabiyesi added that celebrating 70 years on earth, means a lot in the life of any individual.

He thanked God for reaching that age. “I am really grateful to God to be 70 years old; there is nothing better than what l am getting today, having the opportunity to talk and see faces of the good people present to celebrate with

me. And you begin to ask what you have done wrong in the past that you have not corrected. Of course, there are so many mistakes, which, if you know, you will correct them, but there are the ones you did not know, but apart from that, what have you done differently while you are here, people want to live long and one wonders for what? You want to eat more food? You want to dance more Owanbe? What do you want when you become 70, 80, and so on?’’

Oba Sonuga, who contributed to the development of arts in the country added, “I can say, very clearly, that people determine when they want to quit, such perfect example is that of Chief Amb. Segun Olusola. His idea was that the day he could no lon-

ger move as he liked to move, let God take his soul, and that was how it went. Anyway, after 70, that is my prayer.

“I had this pledge with my Maker when I was very young that l know that l will live to be 70 years and l asked Him to grant me that wish. I had a friend, who is now late, he said ‘what made you to believe that you will live to 70 years?’

He also shared some of his memorable moments in life. “One consciously wanted to be top of the class in my primary school.

Arithmetic was my weak subject and l played a lot, but, those subjects that I was good at, l did very well, so, there had to be a way which I was pinned down to

Continued on page 28

27

Our heritage 28 E-mail Please do not hesitate to send us your feed back: agozinoagozino@yahoo.com

iREP film festival holds fifth edition The international documentary film festival, initiated to promote independent documentary features will hold its fifth edition in Lagos.

It is scheduled to hold at the Freedom Park on Broad Street, from Thursday March 19 to March 22.

This year’s edition has the theme: Reinventing documentary filmmaking in a digital space.

The festival, created in 2010 will have four days filled with activities including insightful panel discussions, over 40 documentary film screenings, trainings and workshops, a special producers’ roundtable and networking.

Guests from countries around the world including USA, Germany, South Africa, Egypt, Mali, Ghana, and Cameroun are expected to attend this year’s event.5th anniversary on Thursday March 19th at Freedom Park, Old Prison Ground, Broad Street, Lagos.

Organisers said the anniversary lecture although conceived within the traditional thematic framework of ‘Africa in Selfconversation’ this year’s focus is premised on the reality that digital media technology is expanding narrative possibilities and shaping audiences’ experiences of how realities are articulated.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

At MUSON, fresh acts take the stage Agozino Agozino For adherents of good classical music, continuity is key, thus, their belief that there is the need to hone the creative skills of the younger generation and initiate them into its nuances. It is in line with this philosophy that the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), Onikan, Lagos, runs a school where youngsters, interested in classical music as a career, are trained to realise their dreams and ensure continuity.

This year’s edition of the MUSON students’ recital, in which the students had the opportunity to display their skills in a one-day performance, in fulfillment of the requirement for the award of Diploma in Music was held recently.

The event, held in the Agip Recital Hall of MUSON Centre, Onikan, was tagged, Students’ Recital, the atmosphere was peaceful as the young students, including Oladimeji Ibukun Adelaja, Trumpet; Emmanuel Adetunji, Tenor; Temitope Gift Adepoju, Soprano Saxophone and others showcased their prowess in musical vocalisation; stage art and instrumental rendition.

The performers were recipient of MTN music scholarship programme.

The aim of the MUSON School of Music is to equip its students with creative thinking techniques and the detailed background of classical music.

The students are exposed to music appreciation, how to play different instruments, soprano performance and other aspects of music.

For the staff and students, the recital was not only a good outing, but one that lived up to expectations.

Adelaja in performance at the recital

“The essence of these presentations is because the School of Music believes that as leaders of tomorrow, our students need to be properly equipped with skills and what classical music is all about,” said Lt. Enesi Salawu (rtd.), a trumpet and percussion teacher and one of principal organisers of the recital. Salawu’s words were verified in the sterling performances rendered by the students.

First, came the performance of Mozart’s Un’aura Amorosa, J. Haydn’s Sailor Song, Franze Schubert’s Die Lerch by Oladimeji Ibukun Adelaja with Tosin Ajayi on piano, which thrilled the audience with Adelaja’s vocal and his dexterity with the trumpet.

Others pieces rendered included Dionysus Weber’s Variation in F by Temitope Gift Adepoju, with Bright Kpalap

on piano, while Emmanuel Adetunji’s tenor performances in James Rae’s Sonatina and Duke Ellington’s Take the ‘A’ Train lightened the hall. After his performance, Adelaja beheld his audience with an expression of joy.

Explaining the significance of the concert, Director, MUSON School of Music, Mrs. Marion Akpata, said the philosophy behind the event was to see how music, if properly inculcated in students, can become a veritable tool for creativity. Akpata informed that MUSON School of Music was working in this direction, because “it believes in the saying that the young shall grow. Unlike other programmes, the importance of the Diploma Recital is to give the students the opportunity to share what they have learnt with the audience. We believe that a pro-

gramme like this has the capacity of inspiring young students for the future. According to her, the programme was purposely designed to induct them with creative minds. At the MUSON School of Music, we believe that every child is a star”, she added. Akpata also noted that the school did not just embark on the programme by chance, but it was part of its commitment towards developing holistic education”.

For Emeka Nwokedi, a veteran music conductor and one of the organisers, the programme could not have come at a better time. Nwokedi, a renowned choir master and member of the Lagos Musical Society of Nigeria, (MUSON), said the programme offers youngsters the opportunity, as practising music students, to control the audience.

Art community celebrates Oba Sonuga Continued from page 27

Oyasaf entries

pay attention to those I was weak at. Not when you score 90 percent in English and score less in other subjects,” Oba Sonuga said. “The next point was when l was at the University of Ibadan, in the first year, I said I wanted to win a schol-

arship. I said that to my father and he said how would you do that, I said the board would pick the best student in each faculty, then l applied and I prayed every day and kept reminding myself what I have said and, eventually, I got it. After that, I started playing

again, travelling around, I went to Paris, in France and America, where I almost died in the stream, while my parents did not know where I was. Those were some of the things I thank the Lord for, what if I had died, I wouldn’t have realised my dreams.

The monarch also urged youths to be morally upright, adding honesty and handwork remain the greatest virtues in life.

The event was graced by dignitaries from the arts and cultural world, including captains of industry.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Features Unending woes of the Textile industry (II)

Our Features Desk probed further into the woes of the textile industry and discovered that among issues like policy inconsistencies, finance are the least of its problems. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR concludes the series.

29

s The critical state of the Textile industry in Nigeria requires a calculated, determined government to recover and restore the once bride and pride of the Nigerian economy. Master plans upon master plans in the hands of government officials without a will to deliver have stymied both intents and letters of government policies periodically flaunted in the face of the ailing industry operators since the last decade.

While the nation watch helplessly at a government that has shown little or no political will in tackling the infrastructural deficit in the country of which power is a national shame, Daily Times investigation revealed that the unbridled importation of substandard and cheap finished textile materials into the country is not without the CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Olanrewaju

Why Nigeria’s Textile industry collapsed – Odedokun

Odedokun

Retired Textile Technologist, Pa David Odedokun, foresaw the collapse of the textile industry at the Western Nigeria Textile Mill, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where he was the Maintenance Engineer in 1976. He told Daily Times the genesis of the industry’s problems among other factors. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR reports.

What the textile industry is about The textile industry is a massive labour intensive organisation. If you want to solve problems of unemployment, youth restiveness, drugs and crime, then

Some finished textile fabrics revive all the textile industries; and if you want to saturate Nigeria with job opportunities even for non-Nigerians, add more textile industries; and I will tell you why: A textile mill embodies three complete factories: the spinning, weaving and finishing; and each can stand as a corporate entity. º You can do weaving alone without spinning. You can do spinning alone and sell the threads to the factory, and the factory can just buy the fabric from the spinner and concentrate on finishing it.

Textile industry stabilises a nation by bridging the gap between

the very rich and the very poor, and this is how: The industry runs in shifts and, in one shift alone, like Afprint, for example, one shift employed 2,000 workers, and they run three shifts that continue non-stop; that is a workforce of 6,000 from one company alone. And mark you, the 6000 figure does not include management and administrative staff, not to talk of expatriate staff.

Although they were not too well paid, but trust the Nigerian citizen: once they have a job, they do it with all joy and responsibility.

Raw materials:

Cotton is the life of the textile industry, and we had lots of it in the Northern states. Though they didn’t meet textile demands 100 percent, but we imported a negligible percentage from Niger, Cameroun, and Central African Republic to make up the balance.

But our local cultivation of cotton stopped; now there is no cotton in Nigeria anymore and reason was and still is oil.

Cotton requires labour to plant, harvest and market, but since oil ushered in very quick money, people don’t want hard labour anymore. When local source stopped

feeding cotton to the industry, the effect was like a stroke that struck a mobile and thriving industry: we couldn’t get essential raw material to produce because oil money was everywhere.

So at the beginning of the oil boom, textile industries were forced to be importing 100 percent cotton, and that was a major problem.

Power: Power is the spirit of the textile industry and that is a major issue in Nigeria. When we started running the entire production line on diesel, the consumption of diesel was unfavourable.

Was there ever a solution to power problem?

There was, but government policies didn’t allow it. When factories wanted to invest on solar energy, the government policy on NEPA didn’t permit it. If companies had been allowed to obtain loan from government to invest in solar, it would have been the way out. Although the solar capital may be huge in the beginning, but immediately it is done, production is guaranteed; employment is guaranteed; market control is guaranteed and before long the companies will break even and everybody would be better for it.

Nigeria supplies electricity to Republic of Benin?

Nigeria supplies power to Republic of Benin, Niger and Togo because there is a long standing agreement. The problem with us is here, not in those countries.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Features 30

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Textile: Government must address infrastructure deficit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

involvement of associated government agencies.

And characteristic of policy makers who prefer the feel of liquid cash to pursuing structural, remedial recovery processes, the Federal Government hesitated to disburse the N100 billion Cotton, Textile and Garment Revival Fund to already dry and broken industry operatives.

At an encouraging interest rate of six per cent and a repayment period of five years, textile operators who ought to welcome the relief, proved more mature and professional than policy makers who sourced the loan through the Bank of Industry (BoI). Daily Times gathered that rather than scramble for the loan, most textile companies avoided it like plague.

According to the Director General, Nigeria Textile Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Mr. Jaiyeola Olanrewaju, only a negligible number of textile firms have so far accessed the loan. He also disclosed that very few cotton and garment firms have taken the loan, which sought to revitalise the CTG industry along the entire value chain, including textile, cotton, and garment production.

An informed source at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) told our correspondent that the fund introduced in 2010, and currently managed by Bank

of Industry (BoI) only helped some of the 20 textile companies that took the loan to refurbish their machines.

“With smuggling unchecked and power problem unresolved, the textile industry is not going to blossom, not for a long time. Then there also are the issues of cotton and other related raw materials.

How can you go disbursing loan with all the loopholes that sank the industry unchecked? It doesn’t make sense,” the source said.

Also speaking to our correspondent on the N100 billion loan at his office last week, Director General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Jide Olanrewaju, told Daily Times that textile operators who took the loan got their fingers burnt when they discovered, shortly after accessing the loan that over 80 per cent of the market has been taken over by cheap im-

ports from Asian countries.

“The influx of foreign textiles into the country made locally produced textiles less competitive, as they are often costlier than imported or smuggled ones. The result was that other companies yet to access the loan chose to avoid it.

Most of them became afraid that they may not be able to repay the loan considering the prevailing unfriendly operating environment, especially the lack of infrastructure.

As far as the textile firms are concerned, Olanrewaju said: “Government put the wrong foot forward when it failed to reduce smuggling and address the more fundamental challenge of lack of infrastructure, especially power supply before coming out with the bailout fund. Because of Nigeria’s huge infrastructure deficit, manufacturers, including textile

companies, are forced to rely on generators at huge cost, resulting in rising cost of production which collapsed the industry beside cotton and other raw materials importation.”

It would be recalled that the price of gas was increased by 15 per cent from January 2014, while price of black oil, which is an important input in factory production processes, remains high due to scarcity.

Even if improvement is made in the smuggling and power sectors which have been elusive so far, the MAN boss said the insecurity situation in the country, especially in the North East, made nonsense of the intervention fund, as most textile companies in that part of the country cannot not operate.

Also, the President, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUT-

Workers in a textile factory

GTWN), Comrade Oladele Hunsu, said in a recent interview that the textile industry is stagnated now.

“The problem goes beyond money,” he said, and revealed further: “The Federal Government had banned importation of textiles into the country before introduction of the fund, which was why operators hailed the initiative and also embraced it; but the initiative was frustrated by the same government’s policy inconsistency.

The same government pulled the rug off the feet of operators when it again unbanned the importation of textiles, thus opening the floodgate for cheaper textiles from Asia.”

Statistics at the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) show that the performance of the Nigerian textile industry remained at low ebb in the first half of 2014 and the cause is the Influx of smuggled goods, which occupy over 90 percent of the textile market. The report showed that Nigeria ‘imports’ about N300 billion worth of textiles and garments annually, most of which are illegally imported without paying any duties and taxes. The total amount of revenue loss on account of Customs duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on this volume is estimated at N75 billion. Such rampant evasion of taxes is lost to smuggling when the government is running from pillar to post, seeking for solution.

Inconsistent policies crippled the textile industry CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Lack of electricity was the major problem that killed the nylon extruding business in Nigeria. I was in that business too. All the resins were imported from Asian countries.

The refineries in Warri, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt all have petrochemical industries attached to them, but even as a by-product, they were not producing enough.

Power is the major and No. 1 reason the nylon extruding companies stopped. I have a giant generator, but I cannot use it because of the cost of diesel. I had to buy a smaller generator because, if I buy N200 fuel, it can give me almost three or four hours of light; and I cannot run it overnight, so I put it off when I am going to bed.

It is not easy. That is what government has reduced us to.

Solution?

Power is the solution. A clean,

God-fearing and honest leadership is the solution. Government sold NEPA and Nigerians are worse off. They stopped producing resins, cotton, raw materials for our factories and Nigerians are worse off.

The population of jobless youths and middle aged people in all the cities in the North, East, West and Middle Belt of this country is frightening.

So the No. 1 solution is power.

The No. 2 solution is power and No. 3 solution is also power, because if there is power, Nigerians are hardworking people; they will fend for themselves and never rely on government.

Nigerians have never relied on government and that’s why they have problems now because they cannot get power to fend for themselves.

A tailor cannot sew without power; the barbing salon that engages young school leavers and jobless graduates cannot survive

without power. The hairdresser, carpenter, business centres, eateries, even pure water factories and vendors, etc., all need power to do their businesses. Every government in Nigeria has failed in solving the power problem.

Government policies Nigerian government policies always look good on paper. When they announce it, you will be dancing, but they don’t implement it, just like policy on education, agric, child rights law, and others.

Textile industry in early times enjoyed protection from Federal Government through the ban on imported textile products, but when the same government unbanned importation, trouble started, and it is the big men in government that go to China, Indonesia, and other Asian countries and continue importing those goods into Nigeria because they make their money.

So with the influx of finished textile goods from China and Asia

which are substandard but cheaper, Nigerian Textile Mills could no longer produce and break even, even though ours were superior in quality.

Those countries use their export to Nigeria to boost their foreign exchange, but Nigerians are not interested in building up foreign exchange; everyone wants everything for their own pocket to the detriment of the national economy.

Uncommon taste for foreign goods: Then Nigerians have a culture of preferring foreign goods, so they ignore our products and buy imported ones. Because of that mentality, about 16 years ago, after the textile industries finish their products in Nigeria, they take them to Republic of Benin, then our people will go there, buy and bring them here as imported products.

That culture is still with us today. Such thinking stems from

inferiority complex and lack of patriotic spirit.

Now we have Dettol, soaps and tyres made in Ghana, and matches, made in Cotonou, etc. Even pineapple is brought from Cotonou.

Traders say if you take Cotonou pineapple, or pawpaw, you will remember the natural taste of those fruits; the ones harvested from Nigerian soil are just chemicals, genetically modified (GM) crops polluted more with fertilizers.

Nigerian women even buy palm oil from Cotonou because they say it is natural, of high quality; though expensive, but they prefer it.

Now palm oil in Nigeria is sold in sachets like powdered milk!

Everything imported into Nigeria is fake, adulterated, and junk.

Things they don’t need abroad, they ship them to Nigeria. It is the result of inconsistent policies operated by a government that is not thinking of the good of the people.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

31

Unending woes of the Textile industry (II) 8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

Politics

s

Politics

Cycle of broken promises comes full circle

John Akpaide

The most paradoxical aspect of these weird presidential campaigns, which are much more about emotions than issues, is that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president, is blowing a lot of hot air that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has not kept his promise of holding office for only one term. When Chief Obasanjo was brought out of prison to run for the presidency of this country in 1998, he promised

Features

the nation that he would run for only one term. Not only did he not keep that promise, and went for a second term, he, thereafter, mounted a spirited battle for the Constitution to be tinkered for him to go for a third term. A move which, thankfully, died in the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly.

Chief Obasanjo has already made this Jonathan promise a campaign issue and the All Progressive Congress (APC) has sought to make some political

capital out of it. APC forgets that its presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari, also stated in clear and unambiguous terms in 2011 that he did not intend to contest for the presidency of Nigeria again. So the cycle of broken promises becomes a ripple in the country’s political waters.

Those who are trying to hold Jonathan to his words, therefore, lack the moral justification to do so. It is a promise one person-

VOL. 1. NO.66

P29

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

not to vote?

Price: N150 Wale Akintunde, Yola

Mixed feelings have envelope the camps of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State as they have been faced with contrasting fortunes in recent time over their continued stay in the camp and their subsequent hope of reuniting with the families.

Apart from the little children who are obvious of their present status, the elderly ones including the teenagers have been considering their continued stay at the camp.

Ahead of next week’s elections, many of them are said to be interested in going home in order to participate in the civic exercise.

But the problem is exacerbated by the non-possession of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs)

by majority of them. They are said to be worrying on how to get the cards and how to vote their favourite candidates during the polls.

Besides, the displaced persons mostly women are ruminating over the fate that befell them before their relocation to the camps. Some of the women who were rescued to the camp have tales of to tell on the circumstances surrounding their being at the camp.

Madam Talatu Asabe who recently delivered a bouncing baby girl was full of thanks to God for the mercies shown on her to have a safe delivery.

According to her, she lost three of her four children to the insurgents attack on their home in Michika.

“I’m in a dilemma now because I don’t know the whereabout of my husband since the

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

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

dailytimesng

OYO

Akala

Posers over health status of Akala, Ajimobi

attack about six months ago, however, I still thank God that I did not lose the pregnancy to ugly incident, so I don’t know what to say now”, she said.

When our reporter visited the IDP camp located at Damare, the displaced persons were busy with various types of home chores while some women were seen washing clothes and some washing cooking utensils, the little ones were busy engaging themselves in various sporting activities.

An official of NEMA who spoke on condition of anonymity said, the welfare of the IDPs have been of paramount to government and the agency because of the trauma some of the IDPs passed through before getting there.

He said adequate security has CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Typical of the dirty politicking in Oyo State, campaign for the forthcoming elections has become messy with allegations and counter allegations now beamed on the health status of the state governor, Senator Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi and former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

While the nation watch helplessly at a government that has shown little or no political will in tackling the infrastructural deficit in the country of which power is a national shame, Daily Times investigation revealed that the unbridled importation of substandard and cheap finished textile materials into the country is not without the CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Olanrewaju

News

Odedokun

Retired Textile TechnoloNgilari gist, Pa David Odedokun, foresaw the collapse of Ajimobi is the governorship in the forthcoming election, a candidate of the ruling All call that other candidates igthe textile at the Progressives Congress, industry (APC) nored. while Akala is of the opposition The call was predicated on Labour party and Ajimobi’s im- the insinuations that both AkaWestern Nigeria Textile mediate predecessor. la and another former governor In what appears a double edge Senator Rashidi Ladoja who is Mill, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti sword, Ajimobi’s aides had last the governorship candidate of month called for the medical exState, where he was the amination of all the candidates Maintenance Engineer in 1976. He told Daily Times the genesis of the industry’s problems among other factors. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR reports.

Some finished textile fabrics

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, March 16, 2015

What the textile industry is about The textile industry is a massive labour intensive organisation. If you want to solve problems of unemployment, youth restiveness, drugs and crime, then

revive all the textile industries; and if you want to saturate Nigeria with job opportunities even for non-Nigerians, add more textile industries; and I will tell you why: A textile mill embodies three complete factories: the spinning, weaving and finishing; and each can stand as a corporate entity. º You can do weaving alone without spinning. You can do spinning alone and sell the threads to the factory, and the factory can just buy the fabric from the spinner and concentrate on finishing it.

Textile industry stabilises a nation by bridging the gap between

Auto policy to boost tech use in manufacturing sector – NAC

supporting Brotherhood

crackdown on political dissent.

The government has implemented a harsh crackdown on Islamists as well as secular political opponents since then army chief Abdel Fattah Sisi ousted Islamist

He argued that the at full capacity from across the but globe sinceand thehuman and recover bodies of the, vic-against imports from Asia and for its decision, but the judicial politics, critics indus- Europe. announcement of thesay new tims late Automotive Saturday. sources said 31 of the judges were rights groups the auto judicial the dis- Nigerian try has Several the potential to create drivers stopped on the To this end, he disclosed that sent into compulsory retirement court has turned a blind policy byciplinary the Federal Governtry to help victims asa new development plan has infor signing a statement that con-with eyethe to judges openly 70,000 roadside skilled toand semi-skilled ment aim ofwho setting upsupport they waited for emergency servic-troduced measures to revive the demned the removal of Mursi. government of Sisi, who was jobs along with 210,000 indirect plants inthe Nigeria. to arrive.

Another 10 were removed from elected last year. that will supply the tyre industry. He also pointed He said: “Anpresident automotive in- jobs inesSMEs dustry will create significant good quality employment and wide range of technologically advanced manufacturing opportunities. This industrial base can then form the foundation of

two-hour session on Nigeria’s security challenges at the Africa Centre of the Atlantic Council in Washington last Wednesday was an interesting outing after which one could not but ask: what is America’s interest in the Nigerian elections?

A million and one answers could come from different pundits but one that would defy the lowest quality logic is any insinuation about democracy, no matter how ill-defined.

The representatives of America’s core interest in the hall, ranging from parliament, to Intel, media, policy groups and others could thinly disguise that there is an

ulterior motive behind the U.S. position on issues in Nigeria in recent times with scant regard for our national interest but everything about their own agenda for our country .

Kudos must however be given to the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayodele Oke, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Rear Admiral Gbariel Okoi, for brilliantly standing up to American hypocrisy at the highly explosive session.

With graphic details, the two gentlemen showed how Nigerian troops have in the last four weeks gallantly routed the insurgents from 12 out of the 14 local governments they had hitherto held on to with a promise to clear them from all occupied territories before the March 28 elections. They however acknowledged that it might be difficult to eliminate “sleeper cells “ given the intrinsic nature of terrorism.

They came out clearly that the flushing of Boko Haram from these territories has created an atmosphere where elections can hold simultaneously in all parts of Nigeria as stipulated by the constitution that the entire country shall be a single entity for the president of Nigeria.

The uninitiated would have expected the Americans to give it to our troops for the great job they have done in these past four weeks knowing that it took them 10 years to hunt down Osama. They, rather, were sounding like officials of a you-know-political party in Nigeria when it came to question time.

They wanted to know why it took the troops so long to achieve this feat.

Admiral Okoi did not mince words in telling the Americans that they refused to sell the arms needed to Nigeria under Leahy Act but that some other friends of Nigeria eventually helped out.

He also hit the American

Intelligence for sharing whatever information they had on terror acts in Nigeria “24 hours after the deed is done”.

By far the most annoying of the session was when officials of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the National Republican Institute (NRI) condescendingly tried to create the impression that Ambassador Oke was using their reports on the shoddy preparations for February 14 elections

by INEC to shield the alleged security arm-twisting of the electoral body.

Ambassador Oke impressively and in a very diplomatic way told the folks not to think too much of themselves as Nigeria attaches nothing more to their reports than stating the facts known on the streets of Nigeria that INEC was not ready for the polls despite the vaunted claims by Jega.

He pointed out that INEC had distributed over 10 million PVCs after the shift in the polls dates and

Daily Times N Monday, March 16

feeding cotton to the industry, the Business Editor: Emmanuel Ogbonnaya effect was like a stroke that struck a mobile and thriving industry: Turkey we arrests couldn’t get essential raw material three UK teens to produce because oil money tryingwas to join ISIS ÏÏÏ The White House wants everywhere. ÏÏÏThree British teenagers Congress to stop interfering in So at the beginning have of been thedetained oil in the Turkish the negotiations with Iran about city of Istanbul while planning to its nuclear capabilities. cross thewere border into neighbourboom, textile industries White House Chief of Staff ing Syria to join the militant IsDennis McDonough warned Conforced to be importing 100 percent lamic State group, Turkish offigress in a letter sent late Saturday cials said on Sunday. that pending legislation requiring cotton, and that was a major probL-r: Past Presiden The three, who have not been congressional approval for any Solomon Onafow named but are aged 18 and 19, lem. deal reached with Iran about its were seized on Friday two sepaPresident, Dr. (Mr nuclear capabilities could have a Power: rate sources told Reuters.

President, Alhaji R "profoundly negative impact" on Turkish authorities are in the negotiations.

President, Dr. Mic Power is the spirit of touch the textile with their British counterWhite House officials have said Cole and Treasure parts to arrange industry and that is a major issuetheir deportation President Barack Obama would to Britain this week. etayo, all of the L veto the proposed legislation. in Nigeria. When we started runof Commerce and U.S. Secretary of State John unveiling of the C Kerry travelled to Switzerland Sierra ning the entire production lineLeone's on Sunday for another round of talks Information Com diesel, the consumptionVP of asks dieselUS for with his Iranian counterpart, Technology & Tel Mohammad Jawad Zarif, in an asylum was unfavourable. tions EXPO held a attempt to reach an interim deal with Iran on its nuclear power Was there ever a solution to vice president ÏÏÏ Sierra Leone's program by a March 31 deadline. has sought asylum in the United power problem?

Kerry, speaking Saturday at an States saying he no longer felt Kerry, pictured with Assad in 2010, said Syria's leader previously "didn't want to negotiate". international investor conference safe in the country after soldiers There was, but government in Egypt, said "some progress" disarmed the security team at his has been made in the talks, but letter that 47 Republican U.S. with Iran. been in thedidn’t United States Senate policies allow it. When residence. fac"there are still gaps, important senators sent to Iranian leaders When asked if he would apolo- for 60-something days." He said, don't feel safe this morning gaps, and important choices that warning that the next U.S. presi- gize for the letter when he meetstories wanted to investas"Ion solar "That's just inappropriate." vice president," Samuel Samneed to be made by Iran in order dent could revoke a deal at any with Zarif in Lausanne, Kerry The United States and five other Sumana , theare government policytoldonThe Associated to be able to move forward." time. He called the letter a "direct said "I'm not going to apologize forenergy major powers attending the Press by phone. He said he was Kerry said one obstacle in the interference" that could possibly an unconstitutional, un-thought negotiations with Iran in LausNEPA didn’t permit it. not If atcompahis residence and declined negotiations could be the open jeopardize reaching an accord out action by somebody who's anne.

Dangote identifies agriculture, manuf to disclose his whereabouts. nies had been allowed to obtain After hearing that soldiers were Nigeria’s economic mainstays heading to his loan from government tomorning, invest inhome on Saturday Sam-Sumana said he 15 killed, 70 injured as two Lahore churches are bombed solar, it would have been tried and way failed to contact Presithe into sugar and r Emmanuel Ogbonnaya dent Ernest Bai Koroma. Instead, ÏÏÏAuthorities in Pakistan said to enter inside the buildings, With nearly 1 million people,out. Although the solar fertiliser produc capital he said he reached top officials two suicide bombings outside but blew themselves up outside the Yuhanabad area has one of Agriculture and manufac- refinery as well at the presidential guard who inthe very rich and thein very poor, Cotton is were the life of largest the textile Christian churches the eastern the churches because they Pakistan's Christian com-may be huge in the beginning, but turing has been identified as two cals. formed him his security team was city of Lahore have killed, at least, stopped by the concerned police munities.

Edwin said: sectors capable of emancipating and this is15 how: industry, and we had lots of it in immediately it is done, being disarmed on orders from producpeople and wounded more than people," Ashraf said.

Outraged by the attacks, many business, you see Nigeria from the uncertainty of the president.

70 others,runs and a militant gang alone police officer Christians, who makethey up less thantion is guaranteed; employment The industry in shifts and,He added thethatNorthern states.

Though Sam-Sumana said he then an unstable mono-revenue ar which we ha lied to the outlawed Pakistani Tal- was killed and several others sus- 2 percent of Pakistan's population called US Ambassador John from the direc source economy. in one shiftiban alone, like Afprint, didn’t textile demands 100accuseis guaranteed; market Hoover has claimed responsibility . for control is tained injuries whilemeet successfully of more than 180 million, and requested asylum.

The Group Executive Director of 4000 people, The bombings minutes apart preventing the bombers from en- the government of doing little to "They're having a meeting and example, one shift employed 2,000 percent, but we imported a negliof Dangote Group, Devakumar ing and plantat targeted a Catholic and a Protes- tering the prayer halls, thereby protect them, took to the streets inguaranteed and before long the will get back to me," the vice The NAC boss further stated other they modern advanced manuFunmi Coker Edwin, addressing newsmen in almost 20,000 pe tant church a majority Chrislimitinggible the damage.

Lahore and other Pakistani citiescompanies will break even and evworkers, and they inrun three shifts percentage from Niger, Campresident said. facturing activities such as that manufacture of vehicles Lagos, stressed that the salva- is a small farm Pope Francis tian suburb, Youhanabad, where An eyewitness spoke to report- to protest. commercial vehicle production, would enable the country to ac- tion of the Nigerian economy in about less than The Director-General the better that continue non-stop; a shortly eroun, African Repubthousands of people had that gatheredis ers after the and attack,Central saying Witnesses said residents of erybody wouldof be for it. will lead tour to the manufacNational CounPeter'sAutomotive Square in the Vaticanwhich he Brazil Sunday services. she was buying things for her two Youhanabad lynched two men bus quire the technologies of mass the future depends on massive and the cultivat workforce for ofHospital 6,000 from lic to make up the balance.

Nigeria supplies of agricultural, mining production, quality control, lean agricultural revolution and lo- today employing felt "great pain" over the bombturing at- electricity cil, (NAC), Engr.

Aminu Jaofficials saidone about com30 sons who were inside the church they suspected of involvement in crash kills 49 tacks, departing from scriptedand re- railway of those wounded in the attack equipment, military manufacturing, computer aided cal manufacturing. lal, has stated that the National when the attack occurred. the Sunday morning attacks. pany alone.

And mark you,are the But our local cultivation of cotpeople and today to Republic of Benin? in hiswill customary in critical condition. A senior LaShe said there were gunshots Television footage showed pro- marks hardware transport.”

Automotive policy bolsteraddress ÏÏÏand At least 49 people have dieddesign, manufacturing and engi“And these twin activities are about 200,000 hec Sunday. "These are Christian policenot officer,include Haider Ashraf, 6000 figurehore does mannow there is no cotton first, andton then stopped; there was an explotesters ransacking government Nigeria supplies power to ReTheinDirector-General noted the use ofon advanced and precise southern Brazil when a tourneering which can develop other the sectors with huge poten- vannah plant for churches. are persesaid two gunmen wearing suicide sion in front of the church gate. property and torching vehicles, that data from theoffNigerian Au-offi-sectors of the economy and in- tials for employment genera- most 200,000 hect technology in theChristians bus plunged a cliff, local agement and staff, and reason public of manufacturBenin, and Togo cuted, our brothers spillNiger their vests administrative tried to shoot their way into She saidin sheNigeria found one ofanymore her forcing riot police to shoot tomotive Asso- dustrialisation. inginto sector in the country. cials Manufacturers said. tion which the country is in dire ducing 20 million blood simply because they are worship places. sons, but her other child is is stilloil. the air to disperse the crowds. not to talk the of“The expatriate staff. was and still (NAMA), the Nigerian warned that the Speaking on the Nigerian tyre need of now,” he said.

Jalalbecause made thethere declaration is a ciation long Authorities standing and 2million ton suicide bombers tried missing.

Pope Francis told crowds at St. Christians," the pontiff said. death at the crash site in Santaindustry, Jalal blamed radical of toll Statistics (NBS) and during an interactive session Bureau “The refinery Edwin noted that the developAlthough they were not too well Cotton requires labour to plant, agreement. The problemNations with us state, in southern on Brazil,government policies for their Conference with journalists at the Nigerian UnitedCatarina ment of the nation’s vast agri- the petrochemic could andrise.

Development show death through drastic reduc- cultural potential was the only fertiliser plant w paid, but trust the Nigerian citi- harvest and market, but since oil Shippers’ Council, in Lagos on Trade is here, not in those countries.

The bus, en route from thetion of tariff on imported truck in their posts for joining "Judgesthat for a total ÏÏÏAn Egyptian disciplinary President Mohamed Mursi of 400,000 vehicles Friday . solution to the incessant distor- of employment a zen: once they have a job, they do July 2013money following ,mass protests Egypt" group which used to be neighbouring state of Parana, ushered in very peocourt ordered 41 judges into com- quick He further disclosed that the (300,000 used and 100,000 new) tyres from 40 per cent to 10 per tion to Nigeria’s economy by ment to be gener Egypt sacks supportive of the Brotherhood swerved off a curve and fell dozpulsory retirement on Saturday against his rule. council has been receiving in- valued at N550 billion (US$3.451 cent while keeping tariffs on market forces. it with all joy and responsibility. for supporting ple don’t want labour Council anycultural sector is The Disciplinary head- even before Mursi's removal, the ens of meters before crashing in the outlawed Mus- hard billion) were imported 2012werecar tyres the same which made quiries automoON PAGE 30 a wooded area.

Rescuein crews by judge Nabil Zaki did not from sourcesleading added.CONTINUED Egyptian law proHe pointed out that Nigeria lim Brotherhood, sources 41 judges for said, Raw materials: more. judicial When localed source stopped manufacturing reason hibits judges companies from engagingalone. in still trying to rescue survivorslocal producers uncompetitive the latest move in a sweeping immediately release the bile

What is America up to in Nigeria?

Yinka Odumakin

ÎÎÎThe

Business

manufacturing Business Times sector – NAC s US, Iran in new nuclear talks

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

DILEMMA OF IDPs IN ADAMAWA:

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015

The critical state of the Textile industry in Nigeria requires a calculated, determined government to recover and restore the once bride and pride of the Nigerian economy. Master plans upon master plans in the hands of government officials without a will to deliver have stymied both intents and letters of government policies periodically flaunted in the face of the ailing industry operators since the last decade.

Why Nigeria’s US, Iran in new Auto policy to Why Nigeria’s Textile industry Textile industry boost tech nuclear talks P 17 collapsed – Odedokun collapsed P14 use in – OdedokunInternational

DILEMMA P 8 OF IDPs IN ADAMAWA: To vote or not To vote or to vote?

Obasanjo

Our Features Desk probed further into the woes of the textile industry and discovered that among issues like policy inconsistencies, finance are the least of its problems. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR concludes the series.

wondered if they would have wished all these people disenfranchised when there was no law of Nigeria violated by the adjustment .The testing of the card readers for the first time three weeks after the polls should have held was another incontrovertible evidence that INEC merely used the security as the fall guy.

He was emphatic that the Nigerian elections is about Nigerians and that nobody should pretend to love us more than ourselves.He added that there is no responsible government in the world that would compromise the security of its citizens and jokingly asked if those who were pontificating from their cosy offices in Washington would have sent their people to go and observe elections in places under Boko Haram control.

It was clear at the end of the whole session that American grouse had nothing to do with democracy in Nigeria as they

assembly plants. 490,000 other jobs would also be created in the raw material supply industries, adding that currently about 2,584 persons are directly employed by the assembly plants.

out that the revival of the plants will create over 3,000 direct jobs and save Nigeria N120 billion annually which is currently being used to import tyres into the country.

has left its economic fortunes to the vagaries of the international market forces, through excessive importation and that it was high time private investors latched in on this situation and help the government out, by aggressively embarking on agriculture and manufacturing.

This, he explained, led the Dangote conglomerate to make huge investments in agriculture and manufacturing by delving

ought to have been happier with an arrangement that allowed many more Nigerians to exercise their franchise within the time permitted by the law.

It was as if there was an agenda for Nigeria which would have been hastened by cfloppy elections.

By the way,only incorrigible fools would be taken in that these folks are about democracy.Did they show half of the indignation they are showing now over a legal shift in election dates when we had a free and fair election annulled?If they are mad with Nigeria over a shift of elections within the law why are they befriending monarchs in the Middle East who don’t conduct elections at all?Audacity of hypocrisy!

By the way,I shared with with the Nigerian Ambassador to America,Prof Adefuye that Governor Jang was lamenting a day earlier that he had yet to receive his PVC and the diplomat responded “I’m yet to get mine either”.

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

Edwin

Life&

TIMES Monday March 16, 2015

Tunde Kelani The philosophical movie man L3

P

Rock statement making heels L4

P

L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, March 16, 2015

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

Piracy

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, March 16, 2015

L3 Interview

is a major problem in the movie industry Tunde Kelani Mutiat Alli

making?

The challenge is to recoup the

ment. A cultural advocate, TK has treaded where most Nolly-

Here you are premiering your movie, Dazzling Mirage, long after you vowed never to release your movies in Nigeria anymore as a result of your, movie, Maami, being pirated barely 48 hours after its release.

What is responsible for your change of mind?

with the production of classics derbolt), Oleku, Ti Oluwa Nile,

made that comment with a lot of emotions, but the truth is that, Nigeria still remains my primary mar-

ment.

that I do not think that I would ever

Popularly known as TK, he is serious minded in Nollywood and for those who continue to

us more careful. Unfortunately, it

Nollywood will perhaps not get to

out?

I think the quality of the movies has improved enormously, and a clear evidence is when these movies get to the cinemas. The audience base is also growing, people are returning to cinemas, though there is still a conscious effort to woo potential audiences. Surpris-

ingly, there is an increase in the number of screens in the country and that is a clear indication that the industry is growing. So there is no doubt that in this digitally advanced world, Nigerians are getting access to better means of production, which has helped to improve the quality of movies churned out as they are above board.

-

Which of the new generation

spoke on his works and the curdustry.

our glories.

have met or even surpassed the standards you have set over time?

I think that Kunle Afolayan is a shining example. We were in a way saddled with the pioneer syndrome or problems, but the young genera-

Will it be right to say that you

mould. They are doing very well,

At 66, you are still very much active in the industry, what keeps you going?

First I would say God. I give all glory and adoration to him for having kept me thus far and to my family members for taking good care of me, most especially my wife. Also I eat good food and drink lots of water.

previous collections of movies than the recent productions like Arugba?

many years after their release have remained reference points

Most of your movies swing between the Yoruba speaking Nollywood and the English speaking Nollywood. Which are you most comfortable with?

Well, it all depends on the particular project the movie is tilted towards. I think a movie Nollywood or English Nollywood, that is immaterial. It depends on what the story is saying, and the relevant themes.

was pirated, I was very sad. The pirates are killing us in this industry and something must be done

of movies like Saworide, Oleku, Agogo Eewo and the earlier movfrastructural setup at that time and cy, which gave us a false sense of security. But today, piracy has impacted negatively on the industry nesses. We just manage to stay

Your movie Dazzling Mirage is currently doing well in the cinema since its release. What is the movie about?

Dazzling Mirage is an adapta-

investment base. The attack of piracy is getting worse, the attack on Arugba was worse than the attack on Maami and all the other movies that we have produced.

the same title and traces the life of someone living with sickle cell nial to focus on helping the public understand what sickle cell really means and getting the society to care more for people affected by the medical condition brought upon them through no fault of theirs. The movie is however is written by Ade Solanke, I love the piece and that is why I embarked on shooting a movie on it.

Are you implying that the industry is worse than it was, when in fact, things shoild

How would you rate the quality of new Nollywood movies these days and in what ways do you

Did you know?

That Tunde Kelani attended Oke-Ona Primary School in Ikija, Abeokuta That his grandfather was the Balogun of Ijaiye Kukudi That he kicked-off his career in 1970 as a BBC TV and Reuters Correspondent Minkailu (The Dilemma of Rev. Father Micheal) That his production company, Mainframe Production was set up in 1991 That Kelani was the assistant director on the set of a major American drama, Mister Johnson starring Pierce Brosnan, Maynard Eziashi and That Tunde Kelani has 18 movies to his credit.

That he was born on February 26, 1948.

Fashion & Style L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, March 16, 2015

Heels that

stomp

Nkarenyi Ukonu

-

Christian LouboutinRodarte spiky heels

Christian Louboutin-leather boots Toju Foyeh Christian Louboutin python wedges

Alexander Mcqueen boots

Fire inspired heel

Nkiru Anumudu

Alexander McQueen Studded Cage Pumps GUESS Anavey peep toe pumps

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, March 16, 2015

L5 Living & Decor

Cabinet

Tips on how to refresh your Open kitchen shelf and chalk board

kitchen Opeoluwani Akintayo

Tired of the same old

the hassle or price tag of an entire renovation? The kitchen is perhaps one of the most important places and the most visited part of your home. It is more pare your meals and therefore needs to look tidy at all times and refreshingly decorated If you think your kitchen needs a little spruce or a mini makeover, have that done on a small the bank.

1. Give it a new coat of paint The best way to decorate your kitchen is to begin with painting it. Painting hides old stains, and makes your kitchen look lively, and beautiful.

in one installation. Support simple planks on purchased brackets. Let wall space dictate the dimensions.

3. Add some lighting kitchen to have just one central light bulb. You can add beauty and life to your kitchen by using under-cabinet lighting because this makes performing a countertop task easier and safer or even hang a pendant light.

4. Get a grip

New hardware can update the look of your cabinet.

Choose knobs and pulls that ishes.

5. Leave a message

2. Open season shelves

This may not be Nigerian yet, but it does add fun and value to your kitchen. Chalkboard paints can make any surface such as your refrig-

These type of shelves showcase two trends – open storage and cottage style

want to stain your kitchen facilities, you can create a

special chalkboard corner

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting

shopping lists will be written.

6. Use over-thesink storage boards or racks that pots and pans can be hung. Kitchen curtain rods can also be as twice useful as any other kitchen storage. So, install extra support brackets for heavy pans.

7. Do the wrappings Most shelves and cabinets come plain. Being aesthetic in your kitchen creates a sense of belonging and attraction for you and visitors who may wish to take a peep there. Buy colouful wallpapers and line your cabinets, shelves and racks with them.

Apply trim sheets with double-stick tape to update your look periodically.

8. Add-on character Customize cabinets with furniture-style details. This tradition example features pilaster moldings and blocky

Pilister feet.

9. Think of small appliances as decorative accessories.

Wallpaper

An orange fridge might be too bold and too expensive but you can go nuts with everything else like a cobalt toaster, or a cherry red mixer. They are like jewelry for your kitchen, you can always move them around or put them away.

10. Place a rug in front of the sink.

It does double-duty by making your workstation more comfortable on your feet and adding a splash of color.

Rug in a kitchen

Shelves

Nutrition L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, March 16, 2015

Ingredients for Peppered Snails

Servings: Directions

-

Snails

Amazingly delicious, incredibly nutritious

-

Judith Frank-Edet

judithjudith463@yahoo.com

-

-

-

-

-

-

Cleaning and removing shells from snails -

Short takes on snails

-

-

Salt and garri -

-

Hot water soak

-

-

Lime, lemon or vinegar

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

With alum

Recipe for peppered snail

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, March 16, 2015

L7 Buzzbyte

Opeoluwani Akintayo

MTV VJ, Ehiz, Sharon Ezeamaka VIACOM to launch BET Africa on DSTV to host MTV Shuga Tour Viacom Africa is set to launch a brand new localised BET channel on the DStv Premium bouquet next -

host three exciting editions of On

and positive values of African and

ment offering for viewers between

for MTV Shuga to further motivate

-

international programming from a

will be marking the milestone an-

-

ment brands including General -

nel will co-exist alongside sister

hour channel will provide an uplift-

NewMusi

goals of MTV Shuga to life in the real world and allow participants a -

alert!

Zebzee– JOSI

red carpet host at the premiere of season 4 and also take free HIV testing and counseling sessions.

Couple Alert? rick and MTN ambassador and

season of the TV series will begin solid blend of Afro-pop and Afrobeat sounds. He is an artiste to watch as he drops the video for

and a host of others. Like previous

Both made quite an entrance to-

the Convention Centre of the Eko

prevention of mother-to-child trans-

in hand. Could this be a new blosTonye Garrick and Praiz

Ehiz

ON Set Mutiat Alli

Alex Ekubo shoots TV Between Mercy Johnson commercial and Don Jazzy

Movie title: Last Assignment Cast: Location: Produced by: Directed by:

Don Jazzy and Mercy Johnson

sical single soon. The Dumebi star actress who was spotted with MaAlex Ekubo

DOP on camera set of the movie

just concluded AMVCA award took to her twitter page to announce the -

set of a TV commercial for VP-

ers. The TV commercial is expected to be aired in DSTV soon.

added “Osheee Tell em“.

No further information has been cursion into music.

Rasaq Olayiwola aka Ojopagogo (Director of the movie) gesturing to Tawa Ajisefinni while the D.O.P(Left) and Script Writer(Right) watches

Femi Adebayo

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, March 16, 2015

Showing on

L8 Television

Showing on 117 Universal Channel

253 AIT

01:20

03:00

Mon, 16 Mar | 13

Mon, 16 Mar | PG13

James and Olayinka Adubi are brothers bound by blood and separated by status. Yinka eventually dies of a heart attack and this opens doors of intrigue.

101 M-Net

118 Telemundo

120 BBC Entertainment

Africa

135 BET

128 SONY MAX

124 E!

No coach is indispensable –Adepoju X6

PETER RUFAI X4,5

D’Tigers battle Burkina Faso today

AFROBASKET:

X3

closer to safety

RUFAI

Poster!

PETER

Peter Rufai (born August 24, 1963) is a Nigerian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Lagos to the family of a tribal king in the region of Idimu , Rufai started his career in Nigeria, playing with Stationery Stores F.C. and Femo Scorpions.

In 1986 he moved to Republic of Benin, with AS Dragons FC de l’Ouémé. He also competed professionally in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, in a senior career that lasted twenty years.

He spent six years in Belgium, with K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen and K.S.K. Beveren, although Rufai appeared sparingly.

In the 1993–94 season he played 12 matches for Dutch neighbours Go Ahead Eagles, which finished 12th in the Eredivisie.

In 1994, Rufai started a Portuguese adventure with S.C. Farense and in his first year, he was instrumental as the Algarve side only conceded 38 goals in 34 matches, qualifying to the UEFA Cup for the first time ever. His solid performances earned him a transfer to La Liga, but he struggled to start for lowly Hércules CF during his stay, in an eventual relegation.

However, Rufai signed with established Deportivo de La Coruna the ensuing summer, backing up another African, Jacques Songo’o, for two seasons – this included keeping a clean sheet in a January 1998 home win against CD Tenerife (1–0), as the Cameroonian was suspended. He then returned to Portugal for one final year, with modest Gil Vicente FC, also being second-choice.

In 2003 Rufai returned to Spain and opened a goalkeeper’s school.

He played 65 international matches for Nigeria, and represented the nation at two FIFA World Cups, always as starter: 1994 (Nigeria’s first ever appearance, where he also acted as captain) and 1998, also helping the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

On July 24, 1993, during an AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia, Rufai scored his last goal for the Super Eagles from a penalty kick, in a 6–0 home win.

About Peter Rufai

Nigeria (65 caps)

Stationery Stores Femo Scorpions Dragons de l’Ouémé Lokeren Beveren Go Ahead Eagles Farense Hércules Deportivo La Coruna Gil Vicente

Senior career 1980–1984: 1985: 1986–1987: 1987–1991: 1991–1993: 1993–1994: 1994–1997: 1997: 1997–1999: 1999–2000: National team 1983–1998:

Peter Rufai Dodo Mayana August 24, 1963 (age 51) Lagos, Nigeria 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Goalkeeper

Full name: Nickname: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position:

EAGLES: PERSONAL INFORMATION

Interview X4

EXTRATIME

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

Monday, March 16, 2015

X7

X5

Monday, March 16, 2015

O H N I –MOUR R E T T E B I’M T S E B E H THAN T

X8

Ideye sends

WEST BROM

S

I

W

C

X2

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

KESHI’S CONTRACT AND FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT!

F

ootball development has witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly scenes in the past decades, following the inception of organised football in Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria.

The history of the round leather game in Nigeria dates back to the early part of the 20th Century, when Baron Mulford, a Briton, introduced the game in the country and in order to facilitate its development, he organised weekly matches between European and Nigerian youths in Lagos.

HT can, authoritatively, say that from there, the popularity of football soared in Nigeria, spreading to other major cities like Ibadan, Calabar and Port Harcourt.

Having gained acceptance, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) was established in 1945, to help in the organisation of the game and

this followed, immediately, with the introduction of the Governor’s Cup, (which later became known as the FA Cup), as the major national competition.

In 1959, the NFA became affiliated to the continental body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the world football ruling body, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).

After independence, the administration of Nigerian football fell on the shoulders of Mr. Godfrey Amachree, who became the first Nigerian Chairman of the football ruling body in Nigeria.

Since then, our beautiful game has passed through various administrators, who, in simple terms, do not have the interest of developing the game that unites many Nigerians.

For example, in the area of

administration, Nigerian football is worst hit, as many occupants of the Glass House never showed interest in taking the game to the next top level. Except for some staggered unplanned victories we recorded, no solid structures were put in place to lift the game.

This fact necessitated this piece, which many football pundits, across the country, have alluded to, following the failure of the Super Eagles to defend the 2013 AFCON title, which they won in South Africa, at the just concluded Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea this year.

Aside the aforementioned, the criticisms that ensued against the Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the failure of the football ruling body to tidy up Stephen Keshi’s contract, confirms that something, definitely, should be done to save the image of our football and make it attractive to sponsors.

Stakeholders of Nigerian football are witnesses to the arguments for and against re-hiring Keshi, following

the expiration of his contract late last year; but the truth must be told in this regard.

When the issue of hiring a foreigner in the past to coach the Super Eagles came up, President Goodluck Jonathan, in his wisdom, turned his back against the daredevil move.

He, simply, advised that it would be tantamount to a waste of task payers’ money and foreign exchange, if we give out such job to a foreigner, while we have many Nigerians who can, comfortably, do same, at, even, a lesser cost.

Expectedly, President Jonathan’s advice came to fruition as Keshi led the Super Eagles to the 2013 AFCON victory, after 19 years of waiting. This singular feat was enough to shame Keshi’s critics!

However, it is worthy to note that several factors led to the Eagles’ failure to defend the trophy this year in Equatorial Guinea. Although, this may be a subject for another time, but the internal leadership wrangling in NFF was enough distraction to the team.

Today, there is a huge gap between how football is being administered in Nigeria, especially, when compared to other developed football-playing nations.

HT, strongly, believes that things can still turn around for good, if free hand was given to the coaches; if the support and confidence are there for the coaches and players to tap, from the NFF. It is, morally, wrong to give a fellow Nigerian a ‘slave contract’ to append his signature, because it is not the way to get out the best from a man who has given his best in the past, as an active footballer.

From the foregoing, it is clear that there is still a way out of the woods, if the Pinnick and his NFF members are willing to humble themselves and learn. Nigerian football deserves total overhaul, beginning with the administrators.

Next week, we shall delve into the corruption that is fast eroding the confidence which Corporate Nigeria once had in our beautiful game.

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

Federation Watch

X3

With Osaretin Emuze Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Stan Okoye (right) in action for D’Tigers.

Chess players compete in Lome Zonal Tourney

T

: T E K S A B AFRO Basketball

E L T T A B S R E G D’TI O S A F A N I K BUR

Burkina Faso team rs, are set to out-dunk ige D’T m, tea l bal ket bas igeria’s male alifier in Ouagadougou. asket/All Africa Games Qu oB Afr ed dul che capital but was moved res a in today Saturday in the country’s t las d hol to ed bill lier The qualifier was ear sons. inst the the hosts, for logistics rea ay for the first leg tie aga by ay to tod st African country on Frid We the d ive arr ad squ Nigeria‘s 18-man double qualifiers. ball showpiece rests on Burkinabe in the Group E at Africa biggest basket ing out th 17 ntre); her for ing ludes Olumide Oyedeji (ce Nigeria’s hope of qualify twelve players which inc and nya n mo nso On Joh ew nla tth Ayi man (guard); Ma coaches Sani Ahmed and (forward); Abubakar Us t mu Gu y nle Sta ; rd) Ejike Ugboaja (forwa uf (guard/forward). (guard); Abdulwahab (forward) and Ibrahim Yus ard); Abdulwahab Yakubu (gu Ojo iya Ola u . The eol Ad ad are ayomi Oyeniyi (forward) Other players in the squ emola (forward) and Ab Ad le De dion ); oro ard (gu Om e rick Dik a neral, NBBF); Pat Yahaya (forward); Azuom rick Okeke (Secretary Ge Pat h, ale Kh r kta Mu delegation also has yo Ogunkunle (physio). an (team doctor) and Da ns as the players set (media); Dr. Ohida Suleim will not disappoint Nigeria m tea the t tha stic imi is opt The head coach Ahmed sole slot in the group. the g kin pic on ds min ir the

New dimension for Okpekpe race

T

he Coordinator of Annual Okpekpe race Yusuf Alli has said this year’s race will take a new dimension, as Nigerian athletes will have to go through some local races that will fine tune and help prepare them for the race that comes up in May. Alli, Technical Committee Chairman of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) told Extra Time that Nigerian athletes hoping to be part of the third edition of the annual Okpekpe Road Race will have cause to be happy, as the organisers of the 10km event have assured them of having some local races to prepare them for the competition.

The former Africa long jump champion hinted that some states have agreed to organise local races to help the Nigerian athletes.

“There is need to prepare our athletes well ahead of the competition, so that they can compete favourably with their counterparts from other parts of the world,” Alli stressed.

“Our target is to have at least a Nigerian finishing within the top five, starting from this year. And that is why we are going to be having some road races prior the competition in May.” Alli also stated that the prototype for the start and finishing line is ready.

Cycling

Athletics

TODAY N

welve Nigerian Chess players are currently in Lome, Togo, competing at the Zone 4 Individual Chess Championship holding from March 15–22 .

According to the President of the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF) Lekan Adeyemi, all the players taking part in the zonal elimination were in the professional list sent to all the Federations within the zone.

“The nine-round Swiss event pairing has international masters like Oladapo Adu, Adeyinka Adesina, and Daniel Anwuli, while John Oyeyemi Fawole, Boom Kghiiga, Ochoko Ofovughe, Abimbola Osunfuyi, Ekok Toyama and Ekpoikong Unwan are all playing in the open category,” he said.

The NCF boss revealed that the current national female champion Labake Coker, Toritsesemuwa Ofowin, Olabisi Rabiu will all play in the female category.

The nine-day tournament is holding at the Novels Star Hotel and the competition is being organised under the auspices of the African Chess Confederation (ACC) with a prize money of $3450 at stake.

In the male category, the first prize winner takes home $1000, the runner up will receive $750 and third place finisher will get $500.

The female category winner will receive $600. Second $400 and the third place finisher will go home with $200 respectively.

Adeyemi stressed that the 39 players are listed from eight countries, namely Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroun, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Senegal and hosts Togo.

Nigerian players have the opportunity to earn more ratings aside the prize money and the winner in the open session will represent Africa at the FIDE World Cup event in Baku later in the year.

ECOWAS Cycling Tour: Team Nigeria hit camp in May

T

eam Nigeria cyclists are expected to commence camping in May immediately after the National Sports Festival in Calabar, for the 3rd edition of ECOWAS Cycling Tour.

Team Nigeria’s Technical Director, Mohammed Bashiru, told Extra Time that they will go into camping in May immediately after the National Sports Festival to start preparation for the biannual ECOWAS Cycling Tour scheduled to hold in November.

He said the cyclists will be called early to camp in order to train adequately for the 5-day event that has never been won by Team Nigeria.

“We have never won the ECOWAS Cycling Tour because of inadequate training. This time around we want to win the overall race trophy as well as the different stages,” Bashiru said.

He added that the camp will also serve as preparation for the All Africa Games.

“We want to use one stone to kill two birds; the idea is that we will have the best for the two events. The All Africa Games is in September in Congo and we will return to camp immediately after the Games for the November tour,” he enthused.

Bashiru hinted that the organizers of the tour has extended this year’s edition to Senegal instead of Cote D’Ivoire where the last

two editions ended.

“This year, the tour will flag off in Lagos as usual and end in Senegal instead of Ivory Coast where the first two editions ended. All the countries in West Africa are expected to take part in the road race,” he emphasised.

Burkina Faso riders it would be recalled won the first two editions held in 2011 and 2013.

The tour was put together by ECOWAS to promote sporting relationships among the West African countries.

The race begins in Lagos and the cyclists will go through Cotonou, Lome, Accra, Abidjan and end in Dakar.

Peter Rufai (born August 24, 1963) is a Nigerian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Lagos to the family of a tribal king in the region of Idimu , Rufai started his career in Nigeria, playing with Stationery Stores F.C. and Femo Scorpions.

In 1986 he moved to Republic of Benin, with AS Dragons FC de l’Ouémé. He also competed professionally in Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, in a senior career that lasted twenty years.

He spent six years in Belgium, with K.S.C. Lokeren OostVlaanderen and K.S.K. Beveren, although Rufai appeared

About Peter Rufai

Nigeria (65 caps)

Stationery Stores Femo Scorpions Dragons de l’Ouémé Lokeren Beveren Go Ahead Eagles Farense Hércules Deportivo La Coruna Gil Vicente

Senior career 1980–1984: 1985: 1986–1987: 1987–1991: 1991–1993: 1993–1994: 1994–1997: 1997: 1997–1999: 1999–2000:

National team 1983–1998:

Peter Rufai Dodo Mayana August 24, 1963 (age 51) Lagos, Nigeria 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Goalkeeper

Full name: Nickname: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

X4 Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

RUFAI

PETER

sparingly.

In the 1993–94 season he played 12 matches for Dutch neighbours Go Ahead Eagles, which finished 12th in the Eredivisie.

In 1994, Rufai started a Portuguese adventure with S.C. Farense and in his first year, he was instrumental as the Algarve side only conceded 38 goals in 34 matches, qualifying to the UEFA Cup for the first time ever. His solid performances earned him a transfer to La Liga, but he struggled to start for lowly Hércules CF during his stay, in an eventual relegation.

However, Rufai signed with established Deportivo de La Coruna the ensuing summer, backing up another African, Jacques Songo’o, for two seasons – this included keeping a clean sheet in a January 1998 home win against CD Tenerife (1–0), as the Cameroonian was suspended. He then returned to Portugal for one final year, with modest Gil Vicente FC, also being second-choice.

In 2003 Rufai returned to Spain and opened a goalkeeper’s school.

He played 65 international matches for Nigeria, and represented the nation at two FIFA World Cups, always as starter: 1994 (Nigeria’s first ever appearance, where he also acted as captain) and 1998, also helping the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

On July 24, 1993, during an AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia, Rufai scored his last goal for the Super Eagles from a penalty kick, in a 6–0 home win.

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

X5

X6

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

INTERVIEW

: S E L G A E NO COACH IS E L B A S N E P S I D IN

U J O P E D A – to The former Super Eagles midfielder is confident that Nigeria can get back have that s problem her rightful place in the football world, despite the recent trumped the progress made when they won AFCON 2013. In this interview of with Goal.com’s Shina Oludare, Adepoju talks about the coaching job U-23s. and U-20s the Super Eagles, as well as the fine campaigns of the Excerpts:

fit in to the senior national team set up so they will have that confidence needed to excel.

Adepoju

Bolt

With the Super Eagles Africa Cup of Nations victory in 2013, many had thought that by now, our senior national team would have become a threat to top football playing nations around the globe, but that is not so.

What is the problem?

Football today is not about winning today and getting assured of another victory tomorrow. The game is evolving and lots of teams are improving on their preparations and the way they handle things especially their administration and planning. I think we have not really done that, after winning the Nations Cup in South Africa we went to sleep and that is what is affecting us now.

And have you thought of the losses of not having a substantive national team handler since last year?

Well, we have not really lost anything. Nigeria is still Nigeria and we still command respect from other teams not minding the fact that we don’t have a substantive coach who should have been preparing us for the next AFCON, and I think the NFF is aware of this and they should plan very well to ensure that everything works out very well.

A coach they say is as good as his last game. Why is Keshi still in the picture of continuing as Super Eagles head coach despite failing to qualify the country for the 2015 Africa Cup of

Nations held in Equatorial Guinea?

I don’t think anyone is indispensable and untouchable. Keshi is a Nigerian and he has done very well by winning the Africa Cup of Nations after 19 years. Though a coach is as good as his last game, but I guess he is only being considered based on his previous achievement. What baffles me is that I don’t know what is slowing things down and I hope things get back to shape very soon.

Do you think that an indigenous coach can land Nigeria the FIFA World Cup? Why not? If we talk of winning the World Cup, it may not be now because we still have a lot of work to do. Winning the World Cup is not just waking up and thinking you can win, it is achieved as a result of hard work of so many years. Germany won it as a result of efforts they have put in over the years and if we hope to join that league too, we have to start planning now.

Most of the Super Eagles reliable, like Vincent Enyeama, Osaze Odemwingie, Austin Ejide and Ikechukwu Uche are few years away from international retirement. How do we get better replacements for them?

This is a generational thing in football. As some are aging, some are coming up too, all we need to do is ensure that players coming from behind are given the enabling environment to

The Flying Eagles are making the country proud at the African Youth Championship in Senegal. What should they do to ensure they do not slip like the Golden Eaglets who started well but ended poorly?

Looking at the Nigeria U-20 team, it is a very solid side that can break down any opposition. All they need to do is continue with that team spirit, zeal and hard work they are known for.

I definitely believe they will not let the country down. They should also set their sights on doing well at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand because that will bring them to limelight.

The Dream Team VI have qualified for the next round of the All Africa Games qualifiers. Looking at the team, do you think they can win the Olympic football gold medal in Rio? I am very sure they will. Samson Siasia has a very good team and we all saw what they did in Gabon before returning home to complete the job, so if they remain focused and don’t get distracted, they can achieve it. Why not?

Headmaster, all through your playing career abroad, was there any point in time you were racially abused?

Well, I never experienced that because I think racism was taken very seriously then unlike what is obtainable today.

Do you think racism has any negative impact on the way a player plays, or do you feel it’s just mere alarm?

Football is a global thing and everybody has the right to be treated as human. Aside from this, the round leath-

er game is that which unifies the world not minding people’s religion, colour or country. The question on which race is better than the other should be kicked out of the world and sports in general because football knows no colour. So, everyone must enjoy it!

FIFA President Sepp Blatter recently said teams whose fans are found guilty of racism should have their points deducted, or relegated.

Will this solve the problem?

If that will bring racism in football to a halt, so be it. Other strategies should also be put in place to ensure it is completely wiped out totally from the beautiful game. The World Football governing body too should also take this very serious and punish erring offenders.

Coming back to our domestic football, have you thought of ways of making our local league attractive once again?

We need to do a lot. First, we need to bring our fans back to the stadium to watch these games.

T h i s

will make it more colourful. The area of security must be taken more seriously and fans must learn how to be civil at match venues because in some stadia in the country, some people don’t act well and would prefer to act as they like. All they are out to do is cause trouble and injure others and all that. Our fans must be taught to act right. For players wages, they should be given as at when due because that is the tool that will make them play. Some clubs will even go to the extent of blacklisting players who complain of unpaid dues. Everyone should be given his due. If this is done, the players will be very happy and will be willing to compete very well.

Should there be a law that would see our foreign based professionals retire in the Nigerian leagues as a way of giving it a face lift?

That will be a very good step.

For instance, an Argentine or Brazilian who goes out to Europe to play professional football definitely returns home to retire in their domestic league and that should not be different in Nigeria. This will bring fans back to the stadia and add glamour too.

Clubs too must be able to do their own bit to ensure these players return home to play for them.

Keshi

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

NIGERIA PLAYERS ABROAD

E Y E ID Ideye

SENDS

M O R B T S WOESER TO SAFETY CL B

rown Ideye was the hero once again as West Brom edged out Stoke City 1-0 to move 11 points of the English Premier League relegation zone at the Hawthorns.

Ideye headed the only goal of the game in the first half to

end a three-match winning run in the league for Mark Hughes’ men, who were second best before the break, but improved after half-time.

A flurry of injuries - to Ben Foster, Victor Moses and Jonathan Walters - disrupted the second half and Pulis’

old club failed to sufficiently trouble replacement West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.

The hosts could have extended the margin of victory, but wasted countless chances before hanging on to recover from two defeats in the space of four days to Midlands rivals

Aston Villa.

The visitors responded with better possession, but no real penetration, and West Brom took a deserved lead in the 20th minute.

Ideye evaded marking of Phil Bardsley to steer a stooping header into the far corner.

I’m faster than Walcott –Akpom Nineteen-year-old AngloNigerian’s Arsenal striker, Chuba Akpom, has claimed to be the fastest player at the Emirates, ahead of England international Theo Walcott and rightback Hector Bellerin.

Answering questions from the British press, Akpom did not think twice when quizzed about the

sprint king at Arsenal.

In the question and answer session, Akpom picked Arsenal’s record goalscorer of all time Thierry Henry ahead of another club legend Dennis Bergkamp.

He had difficulty choosing the greatest player of all time, but he finally settled for retired Brazil international Ronaldo after he initially

went for his idol, Thierry Henry.

He stated that Alexis Sanchez is the best player he’s played against at training.

On a lighter note, the teenager confessed that he has a crush on American singer Beyonce while he chose her husband, Jay-Z, as his favourite artist.

Akpom

AWONIYI’S

chase lands Kalmar in hot water

S

Awoniyi

wedish club Kalmar could face the wrath of football’s governing body, FIFA, over their illegal approach to sign Nigeria U-20 international Taiwo Awoniyi.

It was alleged that the Flying Eagles striker penned a preliminary contract under duress with the Allsvenskan side last May, and without the approval of United Academy FC of Ilorin, who own his economic and sporting rights.

Awoniyi joined United Academy FC at the age of 8, and his registration rights was never transferred to Imperial Soccer Academy Odogbolu, the nursery team Kalmar unknowingly

did business with.

Awoniyi was with Imperial Soccer Academy five months prior to the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup without the consent of Abdulrazaq Olojo, the coach of grassroots club, United Academy.

The 17-year-old was tapped-up by Imperial Soccer Academy under the guise that he was being taken to a foreign club.

The Nigeria youth international was forced to sign a contract without the knowledge of Coach Olojo.

However, the agreement between Awoniyi and Imperial Soccer Academy ran out in April 2014, meaning Kalmar’s precontract with him is invalid.

X7

Fatai,

Enache down Bucuresti

A

stra Giurgiu progressed to the next round of the League Cup in Romania, thanks to the duo of Kehinde Fatai and Gabriel Enache who scored a goal each to help Astra beat Steau Bucuresti 2-0.

Fatai opened the scoring for Astra in the 70th minute, his fourth goal from as many games since he returned from injury, to take his season’s tally to 7 goals in all competitions.

Enache killed any hope of a late fight from the home side with his side’s second goal of the game in the 90th minute of play.

Kehinde represented Nigeria at the U-20 World Cup in 2009 when the tournament was hosted in Egypt, but switched allegiance to Romania only for FIFA to stop the switch because when he played for Nigeria he wasn’t eligible for Romania.

Balogun returns with a bang!

A

fter a week of injury nightmare, Super Eagles fringe star Leon Balogun marked his return to competitive football with a goals as Darmstadt thrashed Union Berlin 5-0.

Balogun opened the scoring for his side in the 34th minute to set them on the way to a 5-0 rout that takes them to second on the table, three points behind leaders Ingolstadt.

The Nigerian is making a name for himself as a goalscoring fullback as the goal was his third of the season from 14 games.

The 26-year-old is on a season long contract at Darmstadt, the team he joined as a free agent from Fortuna Dusseldorf but with an option of a further year based on performance.

Obaje: Vietnam deal lacks charity!

F

ormer Aso Chlef forward, Joshua Obaje, has debunked reports that his agent Rukkayat Yunusa scuttled his proposed move to Vietnamese side Song Lam Nghe An. The Ex-Black Leopards of South Africa ace was supposed to be in Vietnam but has said that the deal lack clarity hence he backed out. Obaje said the shady area of the deal includes no word on how much he will be earning officially as Nicholas only told him verbally he will be paid $100,000 a year excluding performance related bonuses.

X8

Monday, March 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME the notion that the occupied about him amid pre too are ple peo s ieve ose Mourinho bel d third UEFA Champions winning an unprecedente by ted tiva mo is er nag Chelsea ma special. club, claiming he is already bid to League crown with a third 04) and Inter (2010) but his (20 to Por League titles with ms tea nt ere diff ee thr h wit Mourinho won Champions us club competition trio illus the win in to er ma Ger nag mpions Paris Saintbecome the first ma on away goals to French cha out d she cra lsea Che r continues afte on track on Wednesday. e behind Mourinho, who is an trophy is the driving forc ersial trov con the r eve how Many believe a third Europe double this season, Cup e agu -Le gue Lea . r are to complete a Premie pointing to his haul of silverw those claims on Saturday, that Portuguese boss hit back at the others, I see just a few en I compare myself with wh is all nce, of ere t diff firs e ess hug pin hap “My a cess and the others I see suc of s term in me h wit are said. e h t a huge distance,” Mourinho them, but in of all for t pec d res n of a “I have lots opean champion? Me Premier League, who is Eur is van Gaal.

Lou Manchester United boss many won the how gue Lea “In the Premier re than twice? Arsene Premier League twice or mo Wenger and myself. petition in this country?

“How many won every com , Cup, Carling Cup, FA Cup Community Shield, Capital Premier League? How many? ny won seven league titles?

“You go to Europe, how ma tti ions Leagues? Carlo Ancelo How many won two Champ . two la Pep Guardio won three. Van Gaal, two. And t, but you are too much tha h wit t ten con “I’m not worried about myself. .” is that I am above all of this “What makes me feel special

J

LVG prepares for

Mourinho

DI MARIA’S

exit

M

E V O B A I AM N O S I R A COMP

anchester United boss Louis van Gaal has said that he is prepared to let Angel di Maria leave Old Trafford if the player has become unsettled after an attempted break-in at his home.

Di Maria has failed to sparkle after a £59.7million move from Real Madrid last summer, and the attempted burglary in January has led to renewed speculation over his future.

The intruders were foiled but the incident unsettled the Argentina international to such an extent that he has moved his family into an apartment owned by the former United defender Phil Neville.

Van Gaal, when asked if he would let Di Maria leave on compassionate grounds, said: “I am always like that.

When you see my history, that’s part of my philosophy.

A player is not just a man who kicks the ball from A to B. His environment is influencing him.

O H N I R U –MO

ENRIQUE:

Rodgers

Barca in perfect form for City

L

uis Enrique insists Barcelona are in “perfect form” ahead of their Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Manchester City at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Barcelona go into the game 2-1 up after the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, and sit top of La Liga after a 2-0 win at Eibar on Saturday.

The Catalan club then face bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday having won 16 of their last 17 games in all competitions.

“We’re going into the Clasico as leaders and in perfect form,” Enrique said after the win. “But first, we have to focus on City because qualification is at stake. Then we’ll see what

happens at the weekend.

“This will be a very nice week with two games in front of our fans, but it is not the most important week.”

Lionel Messi scored either side of half-time against Eibar, but Enrique said the win was not as comfortable as it seemed.

“You must try to be dominant and effective in every match. Our opponent didn’t make it at all easy for us, and it’s essential to be effective in cases like this.

“Eibar didn’t look like a team that have just lost seven in a row.

They played good football and fully deserved their great start to the season. I don’t think they’ll have any trouble avoiding relegation.”

L

Enrique

iverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident his players are in good shape ahead of a crucial Premier League run-in.

The Reds have already played 46 matches this season due to Champions League, Capital One Cup and FA Cup campaigns in addition to league fixtures - but Rodgers is hopeful an eight-day break will have counteracted the arduous schedule.

Ahead of tonight’s trip to Swansea, he said: “Our last performance against Blackburn was at the end of a real tough period of games.

“I’ve seen all the numbers and all the statistics on it and, physically, it was the lowest we have been for this season. Now we’re re-energised and

EPL: Fatigue won’t stop us, says

Rodgers refreshed mentally and physically.

“We go into a run of games now, starting with Swansea, and we feel we can go in and push on in terms of our level of performance again. We know it will be tough.

“It’s that period of the season where you taper your training. You don’t need to be as long in your training and preparation as the players have got a real good level of fitness, so it’s more explosive and more intensive, but in shorter blocks.

“The players have been brilliant this week. They’re looking really sharp, looking really confident and we just want to continue with our sequence of performances and good results.”