NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 15th April 2015.
EXCHANGE RATES AS AT 14th April 2015. Currency
Buying(NGN)
Central (NGN)
GAINERS
Selling(NGN)
LOSERS
US DOLLAR
196
196.5
197
SEPLAT
404.25
19.25
4.76%
FO
204.25
-10.75
-5.26%
POUNDS STERLING
287.0224
287.7546
288.4868
7UP
170
8.00
4.71%
NB
168
-4.00
-2.38%
160.55
-2.38
-1.48%
946
-2.00
-0.21%
EURO
207.0544
207.5826
208.1108
TOTAL
180
8.00
4.44%
MOBIL
SWISS FRANC
200.1838
200.6945
201.2052
GUINNESS
162.05
7.71
4.76%
NESTLE
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THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.87
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South Africa is now hell for us – Nigerians Monday Agu Jnr
ÏÏÏSouth
Africa has turned hell on earth, where non Zulu-speaking foreigners are being lynched by mobs. The country has continued to witness xenophobic attacks on foreigners, including Nigerians,. Some traumatized Nigerians living in South Africa, who on Wednesday spoke with the Daily Times, exCONTINUED ON PAGE 4
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS Foreigners protecting themselves with machetes against attacks in Durban, South Africa... on Wednesday.
Amended constitution will shut 4 down govt – Jonathan
PHOTO: BBC
CBN Governor wants Buhari to sell off 30% in Joint Ventures
Women hold rally for Chibok girls in UK
4
ÏÏÏThe
Central Bank Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has called on the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), to consider selling off 30 percent of the Federal Government’s majority stakes in joint CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
FC PORTO 3 – 1 BAYERN PSG 1 – 3 BARCELONA
Court vacates order against Obasanjo’s book 7
World Bank okays $200m to fight polio 26
2
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Politics Page Three
3
s
Editorial Compelling rich tax defaulters to pay
D
ays ago, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States, Ambassador Michel Arrion raised a pertinent issue regarding Nigeria’s economy, which he said is skewed in favour of the rich at the expense of the poor. According to him, Nigeria is in a serious situation regard- ing its public finance and budget since it has no control over the international price of oil, which is the main revenue earner for the country. He therefore advocated a better tax and fiscal system that will make rich defaulters pay com- mensurate taxes. Arrion lamented as unfair a situation where the poor are made to bear disproportionate tax burden in relation to some rich Nigerians who evade tax. While we commend the diplomat for such candid observation and advice, many people had for long known that some rich Nigerians hardly pay tax. Even when they do, the amount is so measly that it does not reflect the true state of their incomes. Reason is that, the large chunk of the country’s economy is still sustained through political patronage rather than commercial or industrial productivity that can be easily measured. Here is a country where some of the rich lack visible sources of
income. Rather, they are known to live at the expense of government handouts due to closeness to the corridors of power. Such hidden sources of income make it diffi- cult for the authorities to tax them accordingly, while much of the wealth is stashed away in foreign banks. For long, the country has depended on the sale of crude oil to spend its way out of any shortfall emanating from low tax receipts. Even when tax payment is mandatory, much of the burden had always fallen on the few rich, including the poor and diminishing middle class. Now that the economy is facing hard times following decreasing income from oil sales, it is important for the incoming Muhammadu Buhari administration to cut expenditure by plugging all leakages while improving on its revenue sources. This it can do by taxing some of the luxury and expensive items they consume. Some of the richest in the society are virtually on tax holiday paying pittance when convenient. It is a pity that tax administration is still on those in formal employment under the PAYE Scheme, leaving out some of the rich. We insist that everyone be brought into the tax net and to make everyone pay commensurately as their fair burden of financing the state, as is done in other more organised societies.
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BringBackOurGirls protesters in front of Nigeria House in London... on Wednesday
Ridiculing the Supreme Court? Sam Nzeh
ÏÏÏA dangerous trend has
been playing out in the polity for some time now which if not checkmated, may end up throwing the nation into chaos soonest. It is the situation where politicians and political parties lampoon the judiciary whenever a verdict goes against them. This was demonstrated once again on Tuesday when the Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) reacted angrily to the ruling of the Supreme Court which upheld the judgements of both the Ekiti State Governorship Tribunal and the Court of Appeal which had
earlier affirmed Governor Ayodele Fayose’s victory. In a unanimous judgement, a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, led by Justice John Fabiyi, also held that the appeal which challenged Fayose’s election victory at the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election lacked merit. But reacting to the ruling, the APC in Ekiti State questioned the ruling of the learned justices of the Supreme Court, saying the verdict left moral questions unanswered. In a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said though it had accepted the verdict because it had no choice, there were moral issues arising from it. This is disdain, pure and simple. It questions the integ-
Words On Marble :
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rity of the learned justices of the Supreme Court. Such attitude is unbecoming of a political party which will always have reason(s) to approach the court for one issue or the other and runs counter to civilized norms. Civilised behaviour teaches that court rulings must be respected until set aside by a superior court. So, whether a court ruling is favourable or not, parties to the case must not do anything to undermine it. This unfortunately is what the APC in Ekiti State did by its reaction to the Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday on Gov. Fayose. The APC in Ekiti State must be told in no uncertain terms to retrace its steps. It is a dangerous path which all and sundry must strive to avoid.
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The opinions expressed in the articles published in this newspaper are solely those of the authors. Articles may be reproduced, provided that the original source is indicated.
Anthony T. Dadovano
Henry David Thoreau
John Kenneth Galbraith
“A good leader is not the person who does things right, but the person who finds the right things to do.”
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
“All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.”
News 4
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
‘South Africa is now hell for us’ Continued from page 1 pressed fears for their lives and pleaded for an urgent action from the Nigerian government. The attacks followed a statement credited to the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, that foreigners should return home. He was reported as saying: “We are requesting those who come from outside to please go back to their countries.” The KwaZulu-Natal government in South Africa has distanced the king from the violence. But the mob attacks have continued unabated. By yesterday, Nigerians were reported to be defending themselves with machetes and clubs. “There has been massive attack against foreigners in Durban based on what Zulu King said that all foreigners must leave South Africa,” a Nigerian told Daily Times.
About 10 Nigerians were feared to have been killed. “Financially, all foreign nationals, including Nigerians, have been affected in their businesses because shops are being looted and some were displaced from their houses,” another Nigerian said. He added: “The situation changed on Tuesday night because Nigerians at Point Street in Durban too got ready with weapons to defend themselves but till now nobody has been able to operate in Durban city centres for businesses.” The South African indigenes refused any peace talk, insisting that all foreigners must go back home. As at Wednesday, the attacks had spread to city centre in Johannesburg but it was controlled. Anybody that cannot speak Zulu language is regarded as foreigner, according to a female Nigerian undergoing postgraduate studies in
that country. “Xenophobic attack is an ongoing thing here in South Africa. Even those who are citizens born in Nigeria are regarded as foreigners. They hate foreigners with a passion,” she added. Yet another Nigerian, who sought anonymity citing security fears, said: “It is a very bad situation. Many are already going back to their countries. I am aware of a family in which the mother is a South African while the father is a Congolese. They were displaced from their residence.” A statement from a Nigerian student in that country, forwarded to the Daily Times read: “Massive xenophobic attack: group of South African students already started by killing 3 (three) Congolese students, 2 Nigerians,1 Gabonese today around 10:00 Am in Johannesburg. Avoid using public transport spe-
Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu (left) and Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) during a courtesy visit to Buhari in Daura, Katsina State… on Wednesday
cially train, taxi etc...Please share this warning with friends and foreigners, families living in South Africa specially in Johannesburg” In a manner that suggested that the attacks are premeditated, a statement had made the rounds among foreigners before the violence broke out. It read: “Pliz be warned! Wednesday 8 April 2015 has been set as the day to attack foreigners in Durban and surrounding areas, therefore, avoid speaking on fone in taxis buses trains and public spaces. Remember it’s for your own safety. Be safe. The xenophobic attack is being orchestrated by the Zulu king, Goodwill Zwelithini. He has been campaigning for deportation of all foreigners in South Africa as he said they (are) enjoying and exploiting the wealth that is supposed to be for South Africans ONLY.” Yet another statement read: “WARNING: Massive Xenophobic attack secretly planned for this coming Wednesday 08/04/2015. By different South African communities around Cape Town. Avoid using public transport specially train, taxi etc... Stay away
Why Jonathan declined assent to constitution amendment bill Henry Omunu & Augustine Aminu, Abuja
ÏÏÏPresident
Women in UK remember Chibok schoolgirls Ngozi Okafor London
ÏÏÏNigerians
in the United Kingdom, on Wednesday, marked the first year of the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls with a rally opposite the Nigerian High Commission, in London. With chants of: All we are saying, bring back our girls, all we are saying, bring back our girls, the rally, organised by the Nigerian Women in Diaspora Leadership Forum (NWDLF ), is the 11th edition to be held by the organisation, since the schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14, 2014. The rally started at 5pm, with prominent NWDLF members, including the former Mayor of
Enfield, Councillor Kate Anolue; former Speaker of Hackney Council, Councillor Susan Fajana-Thomas and NWDLF chairperson, Jenny Chika Okafor. With a small gathering of people in attendance, the protesters also chanted, What do we want? While others answered, Our girls. When do we want them? Chants of Now! followed. In a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and the incoming government of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), which the protesters delivered to a representative of the Nigerian High Commission, NWDLF, through its president, Chika Okafor, stated “It is one year since our Chibok girls were abducted by Boko Haram.
“Since their abduction, NWDLF, being a group for women of great conscience, who are passionate about the wellbeing of every Nigerian and, in particular, the rights of women, have been, tirelessly, campaigning for the safe return of the girls”, it added. The organisation noted further that: “In order to achieve our aim of keeping them in the eyes of the media and the world, we rally in front of the Nigerian High Commission in London on the 15th of every month, being the monthly anniversary of their abduction”. It noted further that:” In May, 2014, there was a ray of hope, when the Nigerian government indicated that it knew the whereContinued on page 6
from isolated areas, don’t walk around townships. Please share this warning with friends and foreigners families living in South Africa specially in Cape Town.” The KwaZulu-Natal government had recently said that while it had been difficult to trace the source of the xenophobic attacks, the king couldn’t be held responsible for the violence. A community Safety Department spokesperson Sipho Khumalo said Zwelithini was merely alarmed by the number of illegal entries into the country. Khumalo said the Zulu king was calling on government to investigate foreigners wanted for crimes in their own countries. “The king never asked anyone to attack our brothers from Africa. He was merely saying government needs to attend to this thing and sort out this problem.” Twice in the past few weeks the Zulu monarch has been quoted calling on foreigners to leave South Africa as they were causing problems in the country. The department said the call was never meant to incite violence.
Goodluck Jonathan has given reasons why he withheld assent to the Constitution Amendment Bill 2015 sent to him by the National Assembly. The president in a letter addressed to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, which the speaker read at plenary on Wednesday, noted that it was unconstitutional for him to assent to the bill owing to certain inconsistencies and lack of clarity on the passage of the bill. According to the president, Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, stipulates that any alteration to the constitution can only be effected by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives and subsequently, approved by a resolution of not less than two-thirds of all the state houses of assembly. According to him, in the letter however, there was no evidence that such requirement as contained in Section 9 (3) of the Con-
stitution was met by the National Assembly before approving the amendments to the constitution. On the alteration to Section 12, which guarantees the right to free basic education, the president said it is “too open-ended and should have been restricted to government schools,” adding that “this is because a right, unless qualified or restricted, must be observed by all.” Similarly, he said, the alteration to Section 14, which seeks to veto his powers over assenting to bills after 30 days, was against the principle of checks and balances as contained in the constitution. On the amendment that seeks to create a separate office for the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister for Justice, President Jonathan said the alteration was silent on who the nation’s chief law officer is at the federal level and the state level, asserting that “this is a serious lacuna, which may create implementation challenges.” Moreover, the president questioned the removal of the powers to appoint the attorney-general Continued on page 6
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
5 News
Prevalence of fake lawyers worries CJN Andrew Orolua Abuja
ÏÏÏ
Mamman Kotangora House, Marina, Lagos, on fire...on Wednesday
PHOTO: OLAWALE ROTIIMI
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Wednesday, said the prevalence of fake lawyers in the country was adversely eroding the integrity of the legal profession. He also said fake lawyers were casting a shadow of disrepute upon legal practitioners. Mohammed, who said this in an address he delivered at the official launch of the ‘Stamp
Jonathan to hand over to Buhari on May 28 Monday Agu Jnr
ÏÏÏ
President Goodluck Jonathan has concluded plans to hand over power to his successor, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), at a dinner ceremony on the May 28, 2015, a day before the official take-off of the new administration. Jonathan has, therefore, given April 20 deadline for ministries, departments and agencies to submit their handover notes to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim
Pius Anyim. The President gave the order during the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. The Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, disclosedthis to State House correspondents after the meeting. She said the President intended to make the May 29 transition effective, noting that a series of activities were lined up for the event. Akwashiki said Jonathan also indicated that he wanted
anything requiring his approval to be done by May 13. According to her, the council will hold its valedictory meeting on May 20, before the May 28. “The President also emphasised that he would require another briefing from all MDAs, to indicate inherited projects; how far they had been executed, and initiated projects by his administration and the level of completion, whether completed, on-going or abandoned,” she said. She added that governance would not completely grind to a
halt immediately, even though emphasis would be on handing over plans. She continued: “It is for the MDAs to submit their notes to the SGF, who will handle the total package of the handing over to the incoming administration. “It doesn’t mean that is the exact notes that would be passed on. There is a format to follow, and so it becomes easier for all the MDAs to follow the template. If they do that, it would be easier for the President to compile everything,” she explained.
Abuja
ÏÏÏ An application to modify
the partial secret trial of the alleged master-mind of Nyanya bombing, Aminu Ogwuche and others, to completely shield prosecution witnesses, on Wednesday, stalled trial. Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, Ahmed Abubakar, Mohammed
Osun election: Omisore heads for Supreme Court
Waku, Jime to withdraw suit against Benue gov-elect Andrew Orolua Abuja
ÏÏÏ Combatants in the crisis
Ishaq, Ya’u Saidu (alias Kofar Rama), Anas Isa, Adamu Yusuf and Nasir Abubakar are facing terrorism charges, and the prosecution team was to call their witnesses. At the resumed trial, a representative of the prosecution counsel told the court he had a motion dated and filed on April 9, seeking to modify the order
of the court made on March 18, 2015. Specifically, the federal government wants the court to direct the use of screens to shield the prosecution witnesses to protect them from public view, but also to allow only the lead counsel to the accused person access to view the facial identities of the prosecution witnesses.
Secondly, it wants the court to permit the prosecution witnesses protected access to the court room through a non-public route. In a five paragraphs affidavit in support of the motion, the deponent stated that failure to grant it would affect the witnesses’ willingness to sacrifice and give evidence, for fear of their lives.
that rocked the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before recent election have decided to embrace peace and work together. Indication to this effect emerged on Wednesday, following an application for an ‘out of court’ settlement in the suit challenging the emergence of the former minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, as the governor-elect on the platform of APC. In the suit, the plaintiffs, otherwise known as the G4, comprising Senator Joseph Waku, Prof. Steve Ugbah, Mr. Emmanuel Jime and Chief Mike Iordye, specifically joined Mr. Abba Yaro, Dr. George Akume (Senate Minority Leader/ State Party Leader), the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants in the suit. But during the proceedings, one of the plaintiffs, Chief Mike Iordye, opted out of the suit, after alleging that his signature was forged. His name was subsequently struck out by the court.
Sodiq Adekunle
of the All Progressives Congress (APC). After his loss, Omisore proceeded to the tribunal but lost, he went to the Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, which also re-affirmed the victory of Aregbesola. From the appeal filed before the apex court, the complaint grounds of appeal are essentially the same with that of the Court of Appeal. The two notices of appeal, which
was signed by his counsel, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN), has 14 grounds and two grounds, respectively. Omisore and PDP are expected to file their briefs of argument latest on April 24, in fulfilment of 10 days provision by the Supreme Court rules. It would be recalled that the tribunal in its judgement, delivered on February 6, dismissed the petition for ‘lacking merit’.
Omisore
Nyanya bombings: Prosecution counsel aborts Ogwuche’s trial
Andrew Orolua
for Lawyers’ by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in Abuja, said one of the major challenges in the profession has been how to differentiate between a ‘real’ and ‘fake’ legal practitioner. Justice Mohammed said: “Indeed, Judges find it difficult to identify which counsel, appearing before them, is genuine or otherwise. Of even greater concern is the fact that members of the public are often left in a quandary over who they can place their trust, property and even lives in.”
Osogbo
ÏÏÏ
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)’s governorship candidate in the August 9 gubernatorial election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has proceeded to the Supreme Court to challenge his opponent’s victory. During the election, Omisore lost to Governor Rauf Aregbesola
News 6
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
CBN wants govt to cut shares in JVs Continued from page 1 ventures with multinational oil companies. This is to shore up government finances and raise funding for infrastructure development. The suggestion is supported by two economists, Professor Sherrifdeen Tella and Dr. Bolaji Adesoye of the Department of Economic, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, The two economists, in separate interview with the Daily Times, stressed that off the government’s majority share in the joint ventures is long overdue. Emeifiele gave the advice on Wednesday in an interview with the Financial Times, adding that he had asked officials of the apex bank to evaluate how much could be raised if the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) substantially reduced its 55 per cent equity in the joint ventures with oil giants - Royal
Dutch Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Total and ENI, which pump about half of Nigeria’s 2 million barrels a day of oil production. The CBN governor said he believed that $75bn is a realistic target, and that private equity groups could be encouraged to compete with the oil companies for acquisitions to ensure the price is competitive. Some of the proceeds could be used to rebuild macroeconomic buffers, damaged by the collapse in world oil prices, but Emefiele said a greater portion should be invested in transport and energy developments that would “grow the economy and create jobs”. He said: “If you sell down a 30 per cent stake, you could raise something substantial. It is an option they need to consider as a way of raising further funding,” Emefiele added that he had commissioned the research and would present the idea to president-elect, Gen. Buhari, when he
assumes office on May 29, 2015. “It is an option now because our revenues have dropped and we don’t need to pile on more debt. The alternative is to look for ways of releasing value from some of the government’s assets,” he said, adding that petroleum profit taxes could be adjusted upwards to compensate for the state’s reduced stake in crude oil sales. Reacting, Professor Tella said that there was nothing wrong with the suggestion. He said: “The CBN governor knows our purse as nation maybe more than anyone else. If the purse is empty, then his advice is reasonable because especially for the in-coming administration, they need money to work. They have to start from somewhere. On the basis of this, there is nothing wrong with his advice. “However, it is not the best advice when you are financially okay as a nation, but when you
L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Akin Akinfemiwa; Director, Christopher Adeyemi and Company Secretary, Akinyele Olugbende at the company’s 36th Annual General Meeting in Lagos…on Wednesday. PHOTO: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE
are broke, you need to look elsewhere. As CBN governor, he probably knows there is no money in the purse”. On his part, Dr. Adesoye of the same department took a swipe at partnership arrangement initially entered into between Nigeria and multinational companies in the oil sector. Adesoye said: “There should have been a drastic approach to this issue a long time ago. The joint ventures that we entered into with these partners are not profitable to us as a nation. All
promises made to us were never fulfilled. “For example, the so-called technocrats imported into the country are often junior to our indigenous people, but they receive fat remunerations. Value added within the joint ventures are not there. There are reports that some of these foreign partners even sponsor militancy among our people against their kith and kin. This cannot happen in developed countries. The truth of the matter is that the policy framework is wrong.”
Amended constitution will shut down govt, says Jonathan Continued from page 4 from the president and transferring same to the National Judicial Council (NJC), adding that there is also no justification for providing special qualifications for the office of the Minister of Justice, which, he said, will now be like any other minister. Other reasons Jonathan gave for withholding his assent include the alteration to Section 82 of the constitution, which seeks to reduce the period when certain amount from the budget can be spent from six months to three months, maintaining that the amendment “has the potential of occasioning financial hardships and unintended shutdown of government business, particularly where, for unforeseen reasons and other exigencies in the polity, the National Assembly is unable to pass the Appropriation Act on
time.” The president also picked holes in the amendment of Section 84, which provides a new office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government, apart from the Accountant-General of the Federation, saying the amendment has not addressed the funding requirements for the establishment of the office. Jonathan added that, “In view of the foregoing and the absence of credible evidence that the Act satisfied the strict requirements of Section 9 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, it will be unconstitutional for me to assent to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Fourth Alteration) Act, 2015. “I therefore withhold my assent and accordingly remit it to the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he concluded.
Ebonyi: INEC presents certificate to Gov-elect, others Jacob Mbam Abakaliki
ÏÏÏThe Independent Electoral
Commission, Ebonyi State, has presented certificate of return to all the candidates who emerged victorious in the last Governorship and other elections held on March 28 and April 11, 2015. Presenting the certificate to the winners, National Commissioner in-charge of Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states, Mrs. Gladys Nwafor, urged the Governor and National Assembly members-elect not to forget the electorate who gave them their mandate, noting that without the voters they would not have been what they are. The INEC commissioner also
reminded the politicians of the need to ensure that their manifestoes and electoral promises were fulfilled to the letter stressing that a good turn deserves another. She also told them that in no distance future, they would again come canvassing for votes of the electorate. Mrs Nwafor reminded the politicians that they had been preparing and planning for the election for the past four years and commended the security operatives for their efforts at ensuring that the process went without rancour. Speaking on behalf of those elected, Ebonyi State Governorelect, Engr. Dave Umahi, said they were aware of the enormous
challenges they were confronted with especially in the state with regards to finances. He also said the elected officers were aware of the high expectations from the people and said they would not disappoint. As for him, Umahi assured the people that he would keep to his campaign promises and that he would not toy with the freedom of Ebonyi people. Those who were presented with certificates by INEC were the Governor-elect, Engr.Dave Umahi, Senators to represent Ebonyi North senatorial District, Dr Sam Egwu, Ebonyi south District, Senator Sunday Ogbuoji and that of the central senatorial District, Chief Obinna Ogba.
Women in UK remember Chibok schoolgirls Continued from page 4 abouts of the girls. Sadly, our hopes were dashed, as we have, since then, heard no further news about the missing girls. Many of us are parents and cannot, in good conscience, sit back and do nothing.” NWDLF told the new APC government that “we are aware that they are not magicians, who can wave a magic wand and wave away all our problems. “However, given that the safety
and security of every nation remains the first priority of any government and how well leaders can deal with most national issues, depends on how much importance and priority such leaders attach to life, safety and security of citizens, we implore the incoming government to give the plight of our girls and their families the utmost attention and help us bring back our girls.” Campaigners from other nations joined in the one-hour rally before it ended after 6pm.
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Osun NUJ decries attack on journalists
Court vacates order stopping Obasanjo’s book, ‘My Watch’
Sodiq Adekunle
(FCT) High Court, sitting in Apo District, on Wednesday, vacated its earlier order restraining former President Olusegun Obasanjo from publishing or selling his book, titled: ‘My Watch’. The judge, Justice Valentine Ashie had, on December 10, granted the interim order, restraining Obasanjo from publishing his new autobiography, ‘My Watch’, following an ex-parte application
Osogbo
ÏÏÏ
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State chapter has, on Tuesday, condemned the attack on some of its members, by suspected thugs hired by the disputing leaders of the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The two factions in the congress had caused confusion and chaos at Osun State Government Secretariat, on Tuesday, over differences in opinion on a threeday warning strike. During the crisis journalists, as well as the cameraman of Channels Television, Mr. Oyegbenile Oloyede, were pounced on and attacked with weapons by the thugs brought inside a TUCbranded vehicle. Also, a female member of the National Youth Service Corps reportedly sustained several injuries during the attack. The Vice-Chairman of Osun NUJ, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji, described the attack as barbaric and destructive. On his part, Secretary of the union, Bamigbola Gbolagunte, aslo condemned the attack of his colleagues by the hoodlums.
Andrew Orolua Abuja
ÏÏÏ A Federal Capital Territory
by Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), counsel to Buruji Kashamu, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Iziyon had told the court that part of the contents of Obasanjo’s book related to the subject matter of the N20 billion libel suit instituted by Kashamu against Obasanjo. The interim order was made pending the determination of the suit. But at the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Justice Valentine Ashie stated in his ruling that the existing order dated Dec. 10, 2014, restraining the publication of the
ÏÏÏ A fire outbreak occurred
on Wednesday morning and destroyed properties worth millions of naira at Mamman Kontagora House, Marina in Lagos Island. The inferno, an eye witness said, started at about 8:30am and the shout of ‘fire, fire’, rented the air as people ran helter skelter for safety. According to the witness, Amos Aganda, who works at the nearby Eko Electricity Distribution Company: “We heard people shouting ‘fire, fire’ and running out from the building. As you can see, the building is opposite Nigeria Ports Authority Fire Service, but they could not respond on time when the fire started.” When contacted, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr
Oshiomhole
140,000 APC votes voided in Edo, says Oshiomhole Titus Akhigbe Benin
ÏÏÏ L-R: National Commissioner, (INEC), Dr, Chris Iyimoga (left), presenting certificate to the Governor-elect, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, at the state INEC office, Kaduna…on Wednesday.
Lagos IGR hits N23bn monthly
Fire razes Mamman Kontagora House
Kwasu Alhamdu and Abdulrazaq Pedro
book was obtained by the plaintiff, with the intention of concealing and suppressing vital facts. The judge also ordered that the Nigerian Customs should not charge demurrage on the seized books, currently in its custody. In the substantive suit, the plaintiff is complaining that Obasanjo’s letter to President Jonathan about him, titled: ‘Before it is Too Late’, which was published in the Daily Sun newspaper (pages 47-49) and the Leadership newspaper (pages 3 to 8) of December 12, 2013, was injurious to his person.
7 News
Razaq Idowu Fadipe, said “we got a call at about 9:30am this morning, and I immediately deployed our men and truck with 10,000 litres of water to the place and, within seven mimites, they got there. “On getting there, we discovered that the third and fourth floor were on flame, and black smoke was coming out from there as a result of the two giant generating sets and two tanks of diesel that exploded. “But with the help of other agencies like Nigeria Ports Authority, Julius Berger, Federal Fire Service, Lagos Fire Service and UBA Fire Service, we would not have been able to put out the fire.” On the cause of the fire, Fadipe said there were generators working on the third flood, and these could probably have been affected, as a result of power surge, without anybody noticing it.
Fowler
Kehinde Ayinla
ÏÏÏ Lagos State Government,
on Wednesday, said its monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased from N20 billion in 2013 to N23 billion last year. The state government, however, said that 376 organisations were prosecuted for defaulting in their tax payments. Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr. Tunde Fowler, who made the revelation at a press briefing in
Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, attributed the increase to the number of people that had come into the tax net of Lagos State. According to him: “Those who are tax compliant in Lagos State are now 4.5 million, up from 3.8 million in the previous years. “The high months of collection are usually in April, May and June. These are the months when companies declare dividends and staffs go on leave and they get their leave allowances. “In terms of our actual collection, we didn’t increase in IGR. In 2013, we had approximately N236 billion, while in 2014 it was N276 billion. So, we went from an average of N20 billion in 2013 to an average of N23 billion. And that was one of the things that have kept the state working.”
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has said that in spite of the 140,000 All Progressives Congress (APC) votes that were voided in the last presidential election, the state was the only one in the entire South South and South East geopolitical regions that gave President-elect, Maj.-Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd) over 45 percent of the votes cast. In a broadcast to thank the people of the state for voting the APC in the last general election, Oshiomhole said: “I want to formally thank you for standing by me and the government of Edo Sate during the just concluded Presidential, National Assembly and State Assembly elections. “During the presidential election, you refused to be swayed by the campaigns of hate, religious and ethnic bigotry. Consequently, it is on record that Edo State is the only state within the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, where the President-elect, Buhari, secured the highest number of 45 percent of votes cast. “It is now clear that the about 140,000 votes, out of the 150,000 voided votes, were actually APC votes. If we add 140,000 votes to the 208,000 votes declared by INEC, it is clear that General Buhari won the election in Edo State. “I am very excited by this outcome. Indeed all Nigerians, other than those blinded by religious and ethnic sentiments, are proud of the outcome. I am glad that you resisted the subversive generosity, the open monetary inducement displayed by our opponents, and you voted for CHANGE. I cannot thank you enough for doing us proud in the manner you voted,” he enthused.
8
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Politics Senator Abiola Ajimobi Governor, Oyo State
Destroying the second term jinx in Oyo politics
s
Politics Editor: Akinjide Akintola E-mail: akinjide.akintola@dailytimes.com.ng
Bolaji Omosanya, lbadan The April 11, gubernatorial election in Oyo State has gone down in history as epochal and a watershed with the breaking of the second term jinx for the first time. In this development, Senator Abiola Ajimobi who has severally, at different fora, said that no voter would ever vote out a performing governor, and has also put a lie to the assertion that Ibadan people do not serve
anybody twice, appears to have been vindicated. Before him, we have had the likes of Late Chief Bola Ige, Late Chief Kolapo lshola, Late Lamidi Adesina, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala who have all ruled for only one term. These personalities, however hard some of them tried had never succeeded in occupying the number one seat at the Agodi Government House twice. In one way or the other, all of
them had an affinity with the late strong man of Oyo State politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu But Ajimobi was able to read the signs of the times despite political shenanigans by his traducers who, if truth has to be told are really his lbadan cousins apart from Akala. He is on the better side of history because the electorate are now wiser, more politically sophisticated and are ready to give CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Opposition demystifies PDP bigwigs in Benue Freddie Adamgbe, Makurdi Politics is indeed a game of surprises, hence the saying: “no permanent enemy but permanent interest” which aptly captured the recent victory of the opposition over the “Africa’s biggest political party which can rule Nigeria for 60years”. One wouldn’t have ordinarily believed that the unification of political arch enemies like Sen. George Akume, Sen. Barnabas Gemade and Sen. JKN Waku could be potent enough to sweep the carpet off the feet of power brokers in the likes of Senate President David Mark, Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro and the out going governor, Gabriel Suswam who hitherto held sway especially in their local governments and senatorial zones. It is on record that top political leaders in Benue have arbitrarily frustrated all forms of
Ortom
Obasanjo plans food security to safeguard democracy in Africa
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed optimism that the Centre for Food Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) will be instrumental to the eradication of poverty, hunger and youth unemployment in Africa. Chief Obasanjo said the pi-
lot scheme of the Feed Africa Programme which OOPL established in Delta State of Nigeria in 2012 has proved the potency of agriculture as the pathway for food sufficiency, security and youth unemployment in the continent. “The drive to achieve good electoral procedure and peace
“In spite of their domineering influence in their territories over the years, the trio mortally lacked the miracle to stop the rampaging wind of change that blew across Benue and Nigeria as they lost woefully in their hitherto captured territories.”
opposition in the state that it took the opposition close to 40 years to boot them out and form a government which they have now done. But alas!, in spite of their domineering influence in their territories over the years, the trio mortally lacked the miracle to stop the rampaging wind of change that blew across Benue and Nigeria as they lost woefully in their hitherto captured territories. Sen. Mark who had used his exalted position of Senate President to corner most of the juicy federal appointments and patronage to the benefit of his Otukpo kinsmen was roundly rejected by same. Even the elusive promise of the creation of Apa State which he used to effectively hoodwinked the Idomas and returned to the national assembly for four terms of 16 years could CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
building in Africa”, the former President explained, has been the fulcrum of his mission in Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Nigeria so as to fulfill the vision of OOPL to be an evergreen resource for inspiring the ideals of democracy and good governance in Africa. Addressing the inaugural
meeting of the Public Relations Committee for the OOPL, Chief Obasanjo said the pace of the physical development of the Presidential Library complex including the facilities already on ground such as the ultra modern auditorium, the amphiCONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
9
Politics
OYO POLITICS:
Breaking the second term myth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
vent to their desire for change. The tide of the President elect’s triumph, whose victory came about through the political sagacity and vision of the APC National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, when even General Buhari had failed thrice to realise his presidential ambition, has become food for thought in Oyo State and nationally. An interesting recall was Tinubu’s statement to former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani at a Governors’ forum in 2002 or thereabouts that” PDP ‘s umbrella don tear.” This has not only become prophetic as Tinubu not only survived the Obasanjo onslaught while other South West
governors failed in their second term bid but has continued to be the game changer in Nigeria politics. Ajimobi as a key visionary too, saw ahead of time and with his conviction not minding the misapplication of his policies by some of his aides has been able to break the second term jinx While others who said their ambition is a divine appointment, or that they are the best of the lot have suddenly discovered they were backing the wrong horse. Ajimobi appears as the man of the moment and it remains to be seen whether his second term is going to be positively maximized for the benefit of the people of Oyo State or for ego-boosting alone.
Adesina
Ige
“This has not only become prophetic as Tinubu not only survived the Obasanjo onslaught while other South West governors failed in their second term bid but also continued to be the game changer in Nigerian politics.” Tinubu
Gowon wants single government for West Africa Former Head of State and one of the major founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), General Yakubu Gowon, has advocated the creation of a common government for West Africa States. According to him, this will work for the common good of the 15-nation Community estimated at 300 million people as building block for the United States of Africa (USA). “The objective when we founded ECOWAS (in May 1975) was of an organisation that will work for the benefit of all people in the Community and pending when the dream of a United States of Africa is realised, West Africa can show the way,” Gen. Gowon said during an interview after a meeting with the President of the ECOWAS Commission Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo at the Commission’s Abuja
headquarters. Declining to take all the credits for the formation of ECOWAS in 1975 and for chairing the Group of Eminent Personalities that revised the organization’s Treaty in 1993, Gen. Gowon, who turned 80 this year, paid tribute to all his peers, especially the late Togolese President Gnassingbe Eyadema, government ministers, diplomats and senior civil servants of Member States for their roles and contributions to the birthing of ECOWAS. He commended President Ouédraogo, who as a former ECOWAS Deputy Executive Secretary who worked with the Eminent Personalities on the revision of the ECOWAS Treaty and urged him to ensure that the organisation evolved to meet the aspirations of the founding fathers. On the motivation behind the formation of ECOWAS and the
Gowon signing of the 28 May 1975 Lagos Treaty, Gen. Gowon as then Nigerian Head of State, recalled the “diplomatic shuttles” undertaken by officials of his Government and other countries in the region after Nigeria’s civil war, and the need to streamline the various bilateral agreements among the countries into a sin-
gle document that spoke to the needs and aspirations of the Community. “Of course, there were niggling challenges (including colonial history, cultural and language differences), but thanks to the determination and political will of the political leaders at that time, virtually all the member countries were represented and signed the Lagos Treaty,” he affirmed, noting that the primary concern then was for economic and social integration. The 1993 Revised ECOWAS Treaty brought on board a number of innovations including the creation of the Community Court of Justice, the ECOWAS Parliament, the mechanism for addressing political and security issues and particularly, the Community Levy, which replaced the unreliable assessed financial contribution method. Moving forward, especially on
the lessons learnt from the unprecedented consensus around the formation of ECOWAS in spite of the teething challenges, the elder statesman prescribed “love and respect for one another; respect for different institutions and governance systems of each country, and above all, the compelling need for good governance.” He recalled that as a young military Head of State, his government in 1966 introduced the “Know Your Neighbour Policy,” which saw him visiting several Nigerian neigbours, with the purpose of cultivating good neighbourliness and therefore, keeping the country from harm. In the same vein, Gen. Gowon recommended that “All ECOWAS countries must come together” to deal with any potential or real threat to the Community, while at the same time ensuring respect for everyone no matter how high or low.
Politics 10
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
not save him this time, though he won his re-election he lost control of the zone to the opposition. At the conclusion of balloting, he was only lucky to have his cousin returned as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly while the other constituency within same Otukpo was won by the APC candidate. Sen. Mark, it was gathered from competent source, that he even regretted seeking fifth term after his party could not win majority seats at the senate to guarantee him retaining the position of Senate President. Although, he has openly declared that he will not jump political ship from the PDP to the governing APC, his supporters and hangers on are believed to be seriously contemplating their fate in the soon to become opposition PDP. Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro also could not deliver his home, Okpokwu local government area to the PDP in spite of the earlier claim that it was the block vote from Zone C that guaranteed the PDP’s victory in Benue which prompted the Minister to reject any existence of the APC in Benue. Comrade Moro, Sen. Mark’s valet and confidant, upon all the political arsenal deployed to win over APC in Idoma land could hardly make appreciable impact like before as the people of the area insisted that they genuinely vote and their votes must count for the first time as against the dark days of electoral impunity. Our search in Sankera ruling block and the political base of Governor Gabriel Suswam, confirmed that he was dumbfounded upon the discovery that the APC was coasting home to victory even as he had begged and wasted millions of naira to convince his people to vote for his godson, Terhemen Tarzoor. There were allegations that finding himself at the loosing end, Governor Suswam aggressively engage what remains of his scanty faithful in high scale snatching of election materials which resulted into resistance
Mark
Moro
Suswan
BENUE POLITICS:
Opposition rubbishes Mark, Moro, Suswam and the eventual killing of three innocent voters at Asom village in Logo local government area. The situation in Ukum local government area which is the sister local government area also indicated that there was heavy exchange of gun fire when it dawned on the PDP that the APC candidate for both the governorship and house of assembly election were coasting home to victory. Most annoying for the governor, according to his associates was that even the House of Representatives member for Sankera who is his party man,
Hon Emmanuel Udende and erstwhile Commissioner, Hon Benjamin Ashaver were bent on ensuring that the PDP lost out to the APC. In almost the entire Tiv speaking local government areas, the PDP had abysmal outing due to the lack of grass root appeal and the acceptability of the governorship candidate, Mr Terhemen Tarzoor who was perceived as more of a clannish candidate who will be pocketed by strong political godfathers for selfish ends. Some chieftains of the PDP who were heavily mobilised also
voted against their candidate. After the declaration of the result on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), the entire state went silent as all those who have for the past 16 years benefitted from the lot were ashamed to move in the public for fear of being mocked. One lesson that has dominated public discuss across the state is that those elected now show more concern to the plight of the citizenry by delivering on their mandate to avoid being booted out in the same way at the next elections.
“Most annoying for the governor, according to his associates was that even the House of Representatives member for Sankera who is his party man, Hon Emmanuel Udende and erstwhile Commissioner, Hon Benjamin Ashaver were bent on ensuring that the PDP lost out to the APC.”
OBJ: Food sufficiency necessary to guarantee democracy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
Obasanjo
theatre, the multi-purpose guest house named Green Legacy and the bamboo park as well as the zoological garden in the midst of a scenic ambience, has called
for a corporate package for public awareness. Chief Obasanjo charged members of the PR Committee to design a corporate communication synergy that would foster awareness on the essence
and value of the OOPL to the various domestic and international communities. Members of the committee drawn from various business interests have Dr Eke Agbai and Oba Olufemi Ogunleye as co-chairmen.
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
11
Politics
GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION:
Behind the scenes was among those affected by the scenario caused by the soldier. Attempts by the General to put things right were rebuffed by the recalcitrant soldier who wielded his gun menacingly. The General simply withdrew and called one of the members of the gang and introduced himself. Thankfully, that one was more reasonable and spoke to his senior colleague, whom after a little ‘sakara’ with the argument that how was he sure it was a genuine General on account of the age of the General, finally agreed and in a vicious move to create room for the General to pass, al-
Though the governorship and houses of assembly elections have come and gone, the memory still lingers. During the elections, in spite of violence and tension that prevailed in many areas across the country, there were lots of dramatic situations that added fun to the exercise. Political Editor, AKINJIDE AKINTOLA, records some: Excerpts: WHEN TINUBU BAILED OUT INEC National leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rose to the occasion as a true leader when he came to the aid of officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) as they came to their wit’s end at his polling booth at Alausa. It all happened when it was voting time and Tinubu came back to the polling unit from his late mother’s house where he had been staying after he had been accredited earlier in the morning. The house is just a stone throw from the booth and since his mother died, he had always came to vote there in memory of his mother, leaving the confines of his more cozy Bourdillion home in Ikoyi. While coming, he was surrounded by a large retinue of aides and security agents of all shades and colour- regular police, mobile police, SSS, Civil Defence, private security, Neigbourhood Watch and OPC, all trying to outdo the other in showing that they were defending their principal. Besides, there was also an army of reporters as well as battery of camera men, brandishing all forms of cameras. Everybody surrounded him, trying to get his view. But in measured steps, he ignored all and went to the booth for the business of the day. Yet, they would not let him be as they crowded him, even while on the queue at the polling unit. Indeed, the number of security men, many of them unsolicited as well as number of reporters and cameramen were more than the voters on the queue, making any work by the INEC officials impossible. On many occasions, out of mild annoyance, Tinubu could be heard shouting at the securitymen and photographers who jostled to take shots to move back so that INEC officials could begin their job. But in the heat of the situation, no one took
Jega notice of him, even the security operatives. Even the security operatives were unable to control the situation especially when the INEC officials asked the journalists to move back so that voting could take off. Several announcements made by the young INEC official were ignored. This was when Tinubu, as a true patriot and leader stood up to be counted and rose to the occasion. He stepped forward and told the young man that he would help him but only if he allowed him to be the first person to cast his vote. He added that after voting, he would help drive the numerous security operatives and journalists away. Of course, without any other alternative, the young man accepted the offer and Tinubu made his way forward in order to vote. After being given the ballot papers, he stepped into the box to thump print and later dropped them into the respective boxes. Immediately he stepped out of the unit, the numerous security men surrounded him again and he asked them to summon all journalists. Having gone a few yards towards his mother’s house, journalists left the polling units and milled around him in their scores. Consequently, the polling unit was left bare with only the voters remaining on the queues and in a very orderly manner.
CHECKPOINT DRAMA @ ORILE, MILE-TWO While the election was winding up, there was a particular check point along Orile-Mile Two Expressway under construction, manned by three soldiers stationed under the bridge who were giving hell to whoever wanted to pass. The leader of the gang, a corporal with a medium pot belly had no respect for anybody, whether you had permission to be on the road or not. Not minding the fact that the time was a few minutes to 6pm, long past the 5pm restriction of movement clamped on Nigerians by the federal government on account of the polls, he kept threatening every motorists to go back to wherever they were coming from. Some reversed dangerously to avoid any confrontation with him. Whether policemen, security operatives, journalists or even soldiers, he did not allow anyone passage, no matter the kind of explanation you give. Our branded vehicle with INEC Election Duty poster was not spared. Despite the fact that we were in INEC reflective jacket, he bluntly refused to allow us passage, threatening to shoot unless we get back. This almost landed him in trouble later. A young Brigadier General coming from Badagry where he had gone to monitor the polls
“On many occasions, out of mild annoyance, Tinubu could be heard shouting at the securitymen and photographers who jostled to take shots to move back so that INEC officials could begin their job. But in the heat of the situation, no one took notice of him, even the security operatives.”
Badeh
most fomented another crisis as he was wielding his gun at other motorists to make room for the General in order to save face. It was indeed a lucky escape. SENSITIVE CARD READER At unit 001 Ward 10 in Somolu Local government of Lagos State, it was a drama of sort when our reporter got there at about 11am. Upon enquiry, the INEC officials, the agents, security personnel and the few voters on queue said everything was going on fine. When asked about the performance of the card reader. All of them affirmed that it was working perfectly, recognising people within seconds except on a few occasions. They then asked the reporter to wait and confirm for himself. The first person that came, the card reader declined, to recognize him after several attempts during which he washed his hands with the water provided. When the second person came it was the same experience, likewise the third, the fourth, the fifth and the sixth person were rejected consecutively, despite the fact that they cleaned and even used soap to wash their hands. It was only the seventh person that was recognised almost instantly. Physically enraged, the INEC officials literally accused the reporter of being responsible saying card was working perfectly until the reporter came to the booth! Can you imagine? POLICE THREAT Elsewhere on the Lagos Island, another drama played itself out. At unit 002 Lewis/Collins junction Sandgrouse area, the PDP agent there was busy ensuring that everything was free and fair and this earned him vicious glances from voters as well as from most unexpected quarters, the security agents. Accreditation was still going on when our reporter got there. When asked whether there was any problem so far, it was only the PDP agent who answered saying there was nothing yet but he expressed fears that things might turn out differently when actual voting starts. Immediately he said this, one of the policemen there, a sergeant told him to watch his words saying after the whole exercise was over the two of them have a score to settle as he has not conducted himself appropriately as expected.
News 12
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Kogi police arrest man with explosive detonators ÏÏÏThe Kogi State Police Com-
mand has said that it arrested a suspect with eight stolen explosive detonators on the eve of the State Assembly election in the state. This was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Police Public Relations officer (PPRO), Sola Collins Adebayo, a copy of which was made available to journalists, in Lokoja, on Wednesday. He said some other
persons were arrested with locally made guns during the election. According to Adebayo, those arrested would be charged to court. He stated that, although, the election was not without hitches, the proactive measures put in place by the Commissioner of Police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, ensured peace as witnessed in the state before, during and after the election.
Adebayo said the Command was ready to perform its expected duties of ascertaining peaceful election in areas where elections were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whenever a rerun was scheduled. The police, however, commended other security agents and stakeholders in helping to ensure that the elections were peaceful in the state.
President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Vice President Namadi Sambo during the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential villa Abuja… on Wednesday
Military operations focused on location of Chibok girls – FG Mathew Dadiya Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
Federal Government, on Wednesday, disclosed that intelligence gathered indicated that the present military operation is focused on the area where the abducted Chibok schoolgirls were believed to be held by the Boko Haram terrorists. National Co-ordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, who made the revelation, while updating journalists on the search for the missing Chibok schoolgirls, in Abuja, said the military was moving into the Sambisa forest after taking Alagarno, Gwoza, Bama, Malam Fatori, Abadam, among other towns hitherto under the control of the militants. Omeri assured that the Federal Government remained resolute in
finding and returning the 219 girls to their homes, saying: “Consequently, we will continue to exert all efforts in ensuring their safe return.” He noted that the fortification of the border routes by other members of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) had also played a key role in the success achieved by the military. Omeri recalled “On April 14, 2014, the nation woke up to the tragic incident of the first Nyanya bombing and the abduction of over 200 students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, by the Boko Haram terrorists. “Yesterday marked one year of the horrific occurrences, which were a tragedy and an experience that every Nigerian painfully shares – alongside the immediate families of the victims, the people of Chibok and the interna-
tional community.” He observed that in recent months, Nigeria’s security agencies had made significant gains in their counter-insurgency efforts, with the arrest and prosecution of the suspects of the Nyanya bombings, as well as the liberation of forty communities from the control of Boko Haram. He reiterated that the government was committed to returning and resettling people from the affected communities as soon as possible, adding that it was also in the process of revamping the economies of those local communities, while guaranteeing safety and security. “Presently, the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the six north-eastern states and those displaced in neighbouring countries are being provided for by the government through the National Emergency", he added.
Alaafin leads Oyo monarchs to congratulate Ajimobi ÏÏÏProminent traditional rul-
Gov. Wada
Assembly polls: Delta APC candidate alleges fraud, seeks redress
ers from Oyo, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso and Oke Ogun areas of Oyo State, on Wednesday, joined others to congratulate senator Abiola Ajimobi on his re-election as the governor. The traditional rulers were led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who stated that the governor’s performance in his first term, won last Saturday’s election for him. Meanwhile, Ajimobi, has warned that his administration would not tolerate any form of violence from anybody or group after the last election in the state. He gave the warning, on Wednesday, in Ibadan, while briefing the press on the reported plan by some politicians to cause violence in the state.
Omon Esene Warri
ÏÏÏThe
All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Delta State House of Assembly seat in Warri South Constituency 1 in last Saturday’s election, Mr. Robinson Ariyo, on Wednesday, in Warri, alleged that the election was marred by massive irregularities. The human rights lawyer described the polls as the most fraudulent election ever conducted in the history of the state, noting that the ruling party conspired with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig him out. He alleged that a day before the election, it was reported that forms were stolen from the INEC office in Warri Local Government Area, with the aid of mobile policemen and INEC officials. He added that the stealing of the forms was intended for filling, prior to the scheduled accreditation process in anticipation of the mass rigging planned for the following day. “It was, therefore, very clear from the onset that the staff of INEC at the local government level never planned to make the card reader a tool of choice for accreditation as it, eventually, played out. In most polling units, the card readers were not used for more than 20 minutes and completely abandoned thereafter,” Ariyo alleged.
Plateau Reformed PDP chair explains party's failure Chijioke Kingsley Jos
ÏÏÏThe
Chairman of the Reformed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Plateau State, Amb. Ibrahim Kasai, has attributed the loss of the party in the presidential poll to the result of the party leadershipnot taking to advice. While reacting to the loss of PDP in the just concluded guber election in Plateau State, Kasai said the drift of the party members to support the candidature of Mr. Simon Lalong for the governorship seat was another resultant effect of imposition of candidates by the party in the state. He acknowledged further that the party needed to be restructured and abide by the principles and letters of the constitution of the party to restore it to its leading position.
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Several minors among 250 victims of Libyan shipwreck ÏÏÏ Several minors were among
A migrants, being assisted by an official, on arrival at the port in the Tunisian town of Zarzis, 50km west of the Libyan border, following their rescue by Tunisia's coastguard and navy, after their vessel overturned off Libya.
Belgian jailed for child rape in DR Congo ÏÏÏ An elderly Belgian has been sentenced to 20 years' jail for raping two girls, aged 11 and 13, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the lawyer of one of the victims said on Tuesday. Septuagenarian Jacques Francis Bellize, whose trial began in March, was sentenced on Monday "to a total of 20 years' imprisonment" and to pay damages of $15,000 to each of the victims, the lawyer, Petrous Mutamba, told AFP. Defence lawyer Patrick Mutombo said Bellize had pleaded guilty over one of the victims. Bellize "is mentally ill, but the
judges did not take into account the objections that we have raised. We asked for a psychiatrist's expertise but that has not been taken into account," Mutombo said. "We asked that he be expelled, to serve his sentence at home, but were refused," the lawyer said, adding "we will appeal to request a reduction of his sentence and deportation from the DRC". Bellize had been residing illegally in the DRC since 2011, according to the police. He is serving his sentence in Makala prison, the largest in Kinshasa, where he was held following his arrest. Mutombo said that Bellize, a retired nurse, married for a second time to a Congolese woman who is now deceased, and moved to Kinshasa in 2006. Jeannine Mabunda, presidential advisor on sexual violence who brought the trial to the attention of the media, told reporters on 9 April that Bellize was a "repeat offender."
the victims who died after their vessel capsized off the Libyan coast on Sunday, said survivors who were brought to Italy. The Italian coastguard, on Monday, said they had managed to rescue 144 of the 400 illegal migrants on the sunken vessel, while nine bodies were also recovered. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the charity 'Save the Children' said between 144 and 150 survivors arrived at Reggio Calabria, on Italy's southern tip, on Tuesday morning. "There were 400 victims in this shipwreck, which occurred 24 hours after their vessel left the Libyan coast," Save the Children said in a statement, citing survivors. "There were several young males, probably minors, among the victims" and also children among those rescued, the international NGO said. However, IOM spokesperson in Italy, Flavio Di Giacomo, told AFP that several of the survivors had told his organisation there were between 500 and 550 people on board when the ship sank. "We are continuing to investigate in order to understand how the shipwreck happened," Di Giacomo said. Initial investigations indicate the boat may have capsized after passengers started moving when they saw the Italian rescue team. The latest tragedy came as Ital-
Xenophobia violence: Malawi to evacuate citizens from S’Africa
ÏÏÏMalawi says it would repa-
triate its nationals from South Africa, following an upsurge in xenophobic violence. At least five foreigners, including a 14-year-old boy, have been killed in attacks in South Africa's coastal city of Durban since last week. Some foreign-owned shops in the main city of Johannesburg have shut, amid fears that the violence could spread. Zimbabwe has also condemned the attacks, blamed on locals who accuse foreigners of taking their jobs.
ian authorities said around 8,500 migrants had been rescued at sea between Friday and Monday, reigniting a debate in Italy about whether the country has a duty to house all new arrivals. Recent good weather in the Mediterranean has prompted a spike in the number of migrants attempting to reach Italy aboard boats. An increasingly violent and chaotic situation in Libya, a key jumping off point for migrants, has also helped prompt the hike in asylum seekers trying to make it to Europe. Italian authorities say more than 15,000 migrants have arrived so far in 2015. There were 15,000 in April alone last year and an average of 25,000 each month between June and September. Italy's interior ministry has ordered regional prefects to find emergency housing for 6,500 migrants - a move condemned by the opposition, which argues the policy of rescuing immigrants encourages others to attempt the risky sea journey. Matteo Salvini, head of the anti-immigrant Northern League, on Tuesday urged local officials not to cooperate. "I ask the League's governors, mayors, assessors and councillors to say no, with every means, to every new arrival. The League is ready to occupy every hotel, hostel, school or barracks intended for the alleged refugees," Salvini said on Facebook.
Tens of thousands of foreigners, mostly from other African states and Asia, have moved to South Africa since white-minority rule ended in 1994. At least 62 people died in xenophobic attacks that swept South Africa in 2008. The government has ordered police to step up efforts to protect foreigners. Malawi is the only country which has so far decided to repatriate its citizens. Information Minister Kondwani Nankhumwa said the first group would return at the weekend. About 420 Malawians are reportedly living in refugee camps in Durban after fleeing the violence, he said. The BBC's Raphael Tenthani reports from Blantyre that he received a call from a Malawian in Durban, who said he saw some Malawians being killed - including a close friend, who was burned alive.
13 Africa Egypt, S’Arabia plan major military drill ÏÏÏ
Egypt and Saudi Arabia have discussed holding a "major military manoeuvre" in Saudi Arabia with other Gulf states, and will form a joint military committee to look into the matter further, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. It said the topic was discussed during a meeting between Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah alSisi, and Saudi Defense Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Cairo on Tuesday. "It was agreed to form a joint military committee to discuss the implementation of a major strategic manoeuvre in the territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of a joint Arab force, which includes troops from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states," it said.
Zimbabwean teachers declare war against Mugabe over bonus
ÏÏÏ A leading teachers’ union
in Zimbabwe says President Robert Mugabe's government's decision to suspend the payment of annual bonuses to civil servants is a 'declaration of war'. Teachers make up nearly half of the 554,000 civil servants reported to be on the government payroll. Many of them count on an extra salary cheque at the end of the year to fund school fees for their own children. “To us this is nothing but an open attack and a declaration of war against the workers of Zimbabwe,” the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) said on Tuesday. “We must join forces and say NO!! Government must look for money. Even if they are to borrow it from Satan, we don’t care.” On Monday Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the decision to cancel bonuses until at least 2017 was necessary to create 'fiscal space'.
Mugabe
World 14
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
N'Korea remembers its founding leader, Kim Il Sung ÏÏÏ North Korea celebrated its
biggest holiday of the year, on Wednesday, commemorating the birth of its late founder, Kim Il Sung. The Day of the Sun celebrations make efforts to bolster Kim Jong Un's leadership by recalling the rule of his grandfather. A military parade and rally on Sunday kicked off a week of festivities marking the 103rd birthday of the late Kim Il Sung, who led North Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. According to North Korea’s state news agency, his grandson, Kim Jong Un, the current supreme leader of the country, paid homage at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, where the embalmed bodies of his grandfather and father Kim Jong Il are displayed in glass coffins. On Tuesday, Kim Yong Nam, a top-ranking official in Pyongyang, paid tribute to the late leader by recalling his experience fighting against Japanese colonial rule, founding the country after World War II and leading during the Korean War. Kim Heung-kwang, a North Korean defector and president of the North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity research group, is a critic of all three generations of
ÏÏÏ Five children drowned in a
river in the northern Philippines during a family outing, police said on Wednesday. The victims, aged 11 to 14, were on a picnic near the river in Bugallon town in Pangasinan province, 169km north of Manila, when the accident happened. The parents did not know how to swim, so when the children started shouting for help, they had to go find assistance, local police chief Dominic Tobleto said. The bodies of the children were recovered hours later, he said. The victims' parents told investigators they did not know that the river was deep, Tobleto said.
North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, gestures during a men's football match between Sonbong and Hwoebul teams for the Mangyongdae Prize Sports Games at Kim Il Sung Stadium, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency...on Tuesday.
the regime. But he concedes that most North Koreans, especially older ones, remember Kim Il Sung as a patriot who fought for independence, and they associate his rule with better economic times. The international rights group Human Rights Watch pointed out that Kim Il Sung established a ruthless, repressive, authoritar-
ian regime that used deadly force to gain power. It prohibited freedom of expression, a free press, trade unions and any independent organization. The elder Kim executed many dissenters and sentenced others, along with their entire families, to a secret system of political prisoner camps. Still, many North Koreans
Barack Obama's decision to remove the Caribbean island nation from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism. Josefina Vidal, Havana's chief diplomat for U.S. affairs, issued a statement on Tuesday, welcoming Obama's "fair decision to take Cuba off a list that it never should have been included on." Obama informed Congress of his decision earlier in the day, after a State Department review concluded that Cuba "has not provided any support for international terrorism" in the last six months and given the U.S. assurances that it does not intend to in the future. Congress has 45 days to overrule the president's decision through a joint resolution, but lawmakers cannot stop it unless both chambers approve a joint resolution, a move that is highly unlikely. Many of Obama's fellow Demo-
crats hailed his decision and some experts said it was long overdue. But U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American lawmaker from south Florida and newly announced Republican presidential candidate, denounced it as a "terrible'' decision, saying Cuba was helping North Korea evade sanctions and harboring fugitives from American justice. The fugitives include Joanne Chesimard, wanted in the slaying of a New Jersey state trooper in the early 1970s. Republican U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, another Cuban-American lawmaker from Florida, accused Obama of "capitulating to dictators.'' The United States first placed Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism in 1982, due to communist island's support for leftist separatist groups such as FARC in Colombia and the Basque armed
have fonder memories of Kim Il Sung than they do of his son Kim Jong Il, who is remembered for the large-scale famine that devastated the country in the 1990s. The loss of foreign aid after the Soviet Union's collapse was a major reason for the severe food shortages that led more than 200,000 people to die of starvation.
ISIS gains ground near Ramadi
Cuba welcomes removal from US terror list
ÏÏÏ Cuba is praising President
Five children drown in Philippines river
ÏÏÏ Islamic State fighters capObama
group ETA in Spain. But Havana is now sponsoring peace talks between FARC and the Columbian government, and has distanced itself from ETA. Cuba's removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism could help it secure new financial investments from international markets. Foreign investors in Cuba said delisting the country would prove positive for the Caribbean island's economy. Banks could legally do business with Cuba while it was on the list but the regulations proved onerous, leading 20 banks to stop doing business with the Cuban government or Cuban interests in third countries over the past 18 months, Cuba said.
tured more territory outside the capital of Iraq's Anbar province on Wednesday, residents and local officials said. In an offensive that began at dawn, the militants seized control of several villages – AlbuGhanim, Sjariyah and Soufiya – near Ramadi, The Associated Press reported. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said last week that Iraqi forces would next focus on retaking control of Anbar province after succeeding in pushing the Islamic State group out of the city of Tikrit. Abadi met with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday to ask for more help in the campaign against the militants. Obama pledged $205 million in humanitarian aid but did not publicly announce any new military assistance for Iraq.
Iran’s leader lashes at US Congress over nuclear deal
ÏÏÏ Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani says Iran is in talks to reach a final nuclear agreement with six world powers, not with U.S. lawmakers. Rouhani's remarks on Wednesday were an apparent reaction to developments, on Tuesday, in Washington, where President Barack Obama pledged to sign a bill that would subject the agreement to U.S. congressional review. In a speech to thousands of Iranians in the northern city of Rasht, Rouhani described tensions between the White House and U.S. Congress as an "internal issue." "Our partner is not the U.S. Congress or the Senate, our partner is a group called ‘5+1,’" Rouhani said, according to the Associated Press. The group includes the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia plus Germany. Rouhani also reiterated his stance that Tehran will not sign a final nuclear deal unless all sanctions are simultaneously lifted. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a measure, on Tuesday, after a bipartisan compromise that calls for a 30-day review period and for the president to certify every 90 days that Iran is living up to the deal curbing its nuclear activity. Sanctions levied by Congress immediately would be reimposed in case of a violation.
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
15 Opinion
Disappearance of a thickened political cloud
O Fr. Amobi Chukwuma
n a sunny afternoon, I was sitting in my office doing my official assignment. There was power failure and I engaged myself in manual fanning to cool the heat but all to no avail. Suddenly, semi-darkness fell all over the place. I rushed out to behold the scene. What did I see? The once sunny atmosphere has metamorphosed into a thickened cloud. In a twinkling of an eye, I saw people running helter-skelter. Our people say that a war that was publicised does not claim a lame man. By this time, I was on my clerical gown. Despite the inconveniences, I ran to lock the windows to avoid the imminent windy rainfall spilling into my room. After taking all necessary precautions, I went back to continue my job. Where am I heading? The high tension generated by the presidential election of 28 March 2015 was the first in the political history of Nigeria. There was palpable fear of outbreak of violence before, during or after the poll between President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari. Some Ni-
gerians prayed that the election should come and pass, so that the tension would be doused. Some Nigerians had already started going back to their native homes, especially the Igbo. A tree does not prick one in the eye twice. The pogrom preceding the civil war of 1967 to 1970 has taught us a lesson. Hence, to be on a safer side, it is better to go home than to die abroad. Unfortunately, some Nigerians met their premature death while en route there home because of ghastly motor accidents. A certain Igbo woman living in Jos ran home before the 14 February scheduled presidential election with her four kids. She lost two of them to a fatal accident. She is yet to regain her real self. Personally, I had an ugly experience when I travelled to Niger State few days before the 28 March 2015 presidential poll. As I was driving through a certain town there, I ran into angry APC youths who blocked the road with their motorcycles. They were armed. My breath failed me. I was alone in my car. What did I do? I thought the angry youths were members of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists. I was about to reverse my car. Before I could do so, one of the youths rushed to my car and warned me
to say “Sai Buhari”. He told me that if I fail to say so, I would be killed instantly. Immediately I made a perfect Act of Contrition and said my last prayers. I was about to fall into coma as three of the red-eyed youths blocked my further movement and unanimously threatened me saying, “Sai wane?”(Only who?) Thank God, I understand Hausa. I raised my thumb up and shouted, “Sai Buhari!” They commanded me to pass. I was driving with my right hand while my left hand was outside as I was chorusing, “Sai Buhari!” until I passed them all. I made the Sign of the Cross 10 times. As I reached Niger State, I narrated to my host the ugly experience. He thanked God for sparing my life. What would have happened if I were killed in a strange land? The Church and police would have made a publication of my image as a missing person. As I drove back to Awka the next day, I took the Abuja route that is longer. It is better to be late than the late. Some local and foreign groups and individuals have already predicted that Nigeria would break up as a result of the highly tensed presidential election. Consequently, some committed Christians and Muslims started
praying for a peaceful presidential poll. The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Patroness of Nigeria and Saint Patrick, the Patron of Nigeria, did not sleep as they were interceding for Nigeria before God for a peaceful presidential election. Blessed Cyprian Iwene Tansi interceded for Nigerians as well. Thank God, the 28 March 2015 presidential election is now history. We are not considering if any manipulation was made in the presidential race. Our joy is that it has come and gone. There was little bloodshed. Peace is reigning in the land. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner by the INEC boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega. Happily, the outgoing President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has conceded defeat and has equally congratulated Buhari. Jonathan has bequeathed peace to Nigerians, a farewell gift. What a precious gift! This show of statesmanship has never happened in Nigeria or in Africa. The name of President Jonathan will go down in history as the first Nigerian leader to concede defeat and congratulate the declared winner of a presidential election. I doff my hat for him.
Open letter to All Progressives Congress
I
Gbenga Sesan
sat on the floor of my son’s room, in tears. It was supposed to be a good day because I had invested resources in an election that meant a lot to me, and the numbers coming in meant change – electoral defeat of the incumbent President – was certain. “This is just the beginning of change,” I whispered in my soliloquy. “This new president must not mess up, we can’t afford to go through this again soon,” I heard myself say as I tried hard to keep my sobs as quiet as possible. Days later, we are seeing a similar scenario in many states across Nigeria. In fact, in one of the states the incumbent was so thrashed people were suggesting he hand over immediately. Even though we half-jokingly announced a #Trolling Window, an opportunity for those who invested heavily in change to celebrate the hard-earned victory, supporters of the former ruling party accused us of gloating. It was funny but in the midst of the 140-character euphoria, there was
the constant reminder that work is only just starting. Our preferred candidates, who have promised to work for change, have been ushered into a different era by the words of the incoming President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd): “We will not be a ruling party, but a governing party.” In states across Nigeria, and in Abuja, the Governing Party (and fast-depleting former largest party in Africa) will inherit a divided country and weak economy. The work of rebuilding Nigeria will be so tough that they’ll ask themselves from time to time: “why did I work so hard to inherit this? At the end of the day, elections happen to be a game of numbers, and thanks to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Permanent Voters’ Cards slashed what used to be padded numbers off the result sheets. What looks like further voter apathy can actually be traced to a cleaner voters register, threat of punishment for PVC-related offences and the
The Nigerian electorate is maturing and the 2019 elections will see upsets for those who win today but refuse to move a muscle towards required work fact that previous voter turnout percentages included fraudulent numbers that danced to the tune of rigging machines. INEC’s card reading machines sang a different tune in 2015. It must also be said that while citizen’s interests did not translate into voter turnout as much as was expected for 2015’s all-important elections, it shaped opinion. As eloquently described by Oby Ezekwesili, “the Office of the Citizen is now the highest office in Nigeria”. Social media, which has been praised by enthusiasts and knocked by others, was a
major battleground for Nigeria’s 2015 general elections. We sadly lost some lives, no thanks to the philosophy of “win by all means necessary” but most of the battles were fought on social media timelines, on air and, to some extent, in debates (including proxy debates). At the end of the day, the message of ‘change’ rang through and in states where the governor (or party) showed competence in the past 4 to 8 years, they have been rewarded with victory. However, while winning an election would make a politician occupy office, only performance will keep them there. The Nigerian electorate is maturing and the 2019 elections will see upsets for those who win today but refuse to move a muscle towards required work. The likes of Muhammadu Buhari and Nasir El-Rufai, who rode the wave of change and promise of competence, know they have to perform or face electoral defeat in 2019. The same goes for the likes of Akunwunmi Ambode, who benefited from the hard work put in by the outgoing governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola.
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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
www.bglgroupng.com
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Features
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Features Editor: Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr. E-mail: gbubemi.godscovenantsnr@dailytimes.com.ng
Prophet G.O Fakeye: Glorious life and times of a Seraphim JOY EKEKE reports the celebration of Life and Times of the founder of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District, Ayo Ni O, Special Apostle Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye. The life of Special Apostle Prophet Gabriel Olubunmi Fakeye can be described as Scripture-coded and Scripturefulfilled, for while some people receive visions from God, others are appointed to run with the visions. So the vision of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Surulere District, Ayo Ni O, took off from the Cherubim and Seraphim Church which was established in Nigeria in 1925 by St. Moses OrimoladeTunolase. According to records of the Church, a prophecy had foretold thatthe Cherubim & Seraphim Church would be exported out of Nigeria and be established abroadin 40 years time. Unknown to all who heard the Word of the Lord, Gabriel OlubunmiFakeye’s life became divinely ordered towards the fulfillment of that prophecy. Early steps to destiny Prophet Gabriel OlubunmiFakeye was born on Wednesday, 11th March, 1936, at Imesi-Ile, Obokun North Local Government Area of Osun State to Pa Samuel OkeFakeye and Marian Olayemi, his mother. Young Fakeye’s foundation was laid in the Methodist Church where the family worshipped and his father was ordained a senior steward. He had his primary education at the Methodist School, ImesiIle, but couldn’t continue due to financial constraints. Fakeye then moved to Ilesha and took up employed as a humble office clerk with Ajanaku Transport Services on a salary of one British Pound and ten shillings monthly. There, Fakeye rose to the position of supervisor before he moved to Oni & Sons where he was opportuned to train in advanced automobile engineering for two and half years. Armed with the knowledge,
the young man travelled to Ibadan for practical experience, but could not secure employment with the big automobile companies. Fakeye later moved to Lagos where he joined the Signal and Telegraph Department of the Nigeria Railway Corporation(NRC). Another door opened as he was posted to Zaria, Kaduna State, and Fakeyefortified his studies by attending extra-moral studies, through which he passed his G.C.E and his First Year City & Guild. He left Zaria for London in 1964 and threw himself into top professional studies at various institutions, starting with the Hackney Technical College of East London, South East Technical School,Borough Polytechnic, Northern Polytechnic and the Executive Telecommunication Training College, Oxford, England. In those five years, Fakeye obtained the full technological certificate in Electronic and Telecoms (which is the equivalent to MSc today), and a Higher Honours Diploma in Satellite Communications.He also created time in between to undertake several theological trainings while abroad; he was constantly and consistently seeking to broaden his knowledge base. Prophecy fulfilled Barely a year after arriving in London in 1964, Prophet Fakeye with a number of like-minded people, started the Cherubim & Seraphim Church, holding the first service in 1965 at the residence of Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye --- the current Spiritual Head of the Cherubim & Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, bringing to fulfillment the early prophecy some 40 years earlier. His circular career Upon his return to Nigeria, Fakeye secured employment with the Nigerian External Telecommunication(NET). He also held various offices, including Higher Technical Officer, London Telecommunications. He was appointed to serve CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Glorious life and times of a seraphim in pictures
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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
civil organisations in Nigeria and many countries in Europe and America. He became the conference Special Apostle in 1996 in Zaria and was also made a Special Adviser to the Baba AladuraShofarasin. He maintained and rightly too, that OAIC must accommodate all religious groups, and that Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Nigeria be a generic name acceptable to all members of the unification council. Without any doubt,Fekeye’s greatest contributions to Christian evangelism were his popular radio programmes tagged ‘Orin Iyin and EdidiIye.’ These programmes have been running for three decades, producing soul-lifting and spirit-reviving messages that nurtured and nourished many individuals and households. A major aspect of his evangelism was his talent for bringing about interreligious peace and harmony. Prophet Fakeyewas endowed with immense gift of vision at a young age, but his father being a Methodist, attributed this to possession by evil spirits. Fakeye also loved reading the Bible, singing hymns and praying.
Glorious life and times of a seraphim in pictures
His life was Scripturecoded, Scripture-fulfilled CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
as one of those engaged in the building of the first satellite earth station at Lanlate in Oyo State, Nigeria. In January I973, he was called to head the Telecoms Engineering arm of Henry Stephens Group and later became the Group General Manager, Electrical and Electronics. Fakeye combined both appointments until May, 1989, when he resigned to undertake full time Evangelical vocation. The Surulere Movement Fakeye was the General Leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church
(Surulere), Ayo Ni O. Acclaimed globally as ‘The Psalmist’, he was a televangelist and a Christian radio talk show host. His style of worship by prescribing verses from the Songs of David for the cure of everyday ailments and problems encountered by his followers, earned him the nickname, Ayo Ni O. Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church (Surulere), Ayo Ni O, became known globally in the early 90’s when the Church’s choir released an album titled ‘LehinJesuKoSenikan’, a song that instantly became a hit, and ‘Oba Lori Aiye’ which became a praise song among Christians far and near.
In the Lord’s vineyard In December 1989, Fakeye was made the Chairman of Central Planning Committee of the entire Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church. Upon assumption of office, Prophet Fakeye declared the determination and commitment of the Central Planning Committee to building a virile, united, strong and spiritually sound Church Organization. His committee pursued very thoughtful policies and programmes directed at establishing a new spiritual, moral and social cultural order combined with a dynamic overseas policy of evangelism
in several foreign countries. At the church’s national conference level, in 1991, Prophet Fakeye was made the coordinator of all Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Overseas. A blue-print that would usher in the glorious dawn in the Movement Church history was being approved. Fakeye arranged the visit that took the Spiritual Father, the Late Pastor J. T. Agboola to America. Under his leadership, relationship with other religious organisationsmore became cordial. Honours Fakeye was conferred with numerous honours and awards from various religious and
His affiliation with the Movement Church Fakeye became an Aladura in I957, but wasn’t a full member until he moved to Zaria. It was in Zaria that he developed the prophetic ministry. He passed through the tutelage of the late prophet Akinrele, who was a great teacher then. Speaking about her husband at his 70tth Birthday in 2006,his wife, Special Mother-in-Israel, Prophetess G.A. Fakeye, declared: “I am proud of who you are and the God you believe in. You are God’s man, in God’s place, at God’s time, and for God’s purpose. I honour you and the many wonderful qualities you are blessed with. You have led multitudes to God and you have shown many how to mend their broken fences.” Fakeye was a courageous and devoted Prophet of God, a person of manifest devotion to family and friends. A leader with profound knowledge, grasp, appreciation of immense convictions and faith in the unity and greatness of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Organization in Nigeria and the entire world. He was well-liked by his followers and respected worldwide. He will be greatly missed by the global Christian community. Until his death, he was the General Leader/District Chairman, CSMC, Surulere District; Member, Nigeria Religious Council, (NIREC); President, OAIC, and Member, National Executive Council and Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN).
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Crime
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Stories and photos by ANYIM JOY NDUDI
Banker in police net over death of husband
Late Olafare
“His family never supported our marriage and they never hid it. In fact, it was in a bid to support the family that I had to pick up a job in microfinance bank.”
Late Olafare wife, Busayo A banker accused of killing her husband alarmed neighbours at the Oworonsoki area of Lagos last Sunday. ANYIM JOY NDUDI reports that the mother of two is police net. Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation department may have a hard nut to crack as one Mrs. Busayo Olafare, a banker is alleged by her in-laws
to have a hand in the death of her 36 year old husband, Seun Olafare. The incident happened on Salami Street, in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos. Daily Times gathered that Seun, a pharmacist until his death, was married to Busayo and blessed with two children. Despite the hard times the family had faced, the couple had lived
together until that Sunday when seun was said to have ended his own life. Our correspondent learnt that Busayo and her in-laws have been at loggerheads since the beginning of their marriage. Denying any involvement in the death of her husband, she acknowledged that her marriage to the deceased had known no joy, but she would not in any wise think of taking the life of her husband as a ready solution to the situation. “Since I married Seun in 2011, I have never known peace; it has
always been one problem to the other. He has been quite unfortunate in life, but in all of it, I have remained on his side. His family never supported our marriage and they never hid it. In fact, it was in a bid to support the family that I had to pick up a job in micro-finance bank.”. “I am quite aware he is indebted to a lot of people, though I do not know the exact amount and can also not tell what he was using all the money for. However, I never anticipated him killing himself. Although in his later days I discovered he would just sit and be lost in thought. But I tried to console him that all will be well. “On the Sunday he took his own life, I was preparing the children for church service, but he was just not making any attempt to prepare for church. I asked if all was well and he said he did not just feel like going to church. I asked him why, but he said nothing. Then I told him if he would not go to church, then I and the children will also not go. I then went to the bathroom to take my bath; as I came out I saw him trying to gulp a mixture of snipper insecticide in a bottle. “I immediately rushed to collect the content from him but my strength was not enough to stop him. He over powered me and drank from the insecticide. I was confused and rushed to the kitchen to fetch red oil since that was the only thing I could think of. I gave him some to drink, then ran out of the house to call for help. “Some neighbours who were around quickly came to my rescue and we took him to Saint Daniels hospital, where he gave up the ghost. I was very confused so when I got home, I had to pack my children’s school bag and a few of their clothes, to take them to my parents house; and that was when my husband’s family saw me and read another meaning into it. “Maybe I made a mistake in packing those things, but that was the only thing that came to my mind: where to keep our children. Sincerely, I have no hand in my husband’s death.
Why would I want to kill him? For what reason? I just know God will vindicate me from my in-laws’ allegations. “With this family, it has been one trouble to the other. When I lost our first born, they came to the house to beat me up, saying I was responsible for the death of the child and now again, they are saying same thing. I know God is will vindicate me.” Father of the deceased, Mr. Sunday Olafare, who spoke on behalf of the family, wants the police to investigate the death of his son. According to him, “before now, Busayo and our family have not been on good terms. Since their marriage in February 2011, she has been responsible for the many fall outs between my son and his family. “On that fateful day, I received a call from my son’s number but I heard a different voice asking me to rush to my son’s house, that something was happening. I ignored the call and did not see it as important; but shortly, the same number called me again and told me my son is dead and that I should hurry down. “I was very surprised because I had sent him a message on Thursday to see me on Sunday after church service. I was however surprised to be getting information of his death. I immediately called one of my sons and a friend called Makinde Charles to accompany me to my son’s house which was not too far from where I live. At the entrance of the compound we meet a crowd and we saw Seun’s wife with two vehicles parking her belongings and the neighbors were trying to stop her. “Then I asked my friend and my other son to quickly rush to the Oworonshoki police station to report the incident. Shortly after, they returned with a police officer, who ordered Busayo to return all the property back in the house, and the officer locked the apartment. She is a suspect, so let the police investigate the death of my son.” The police is continuing investigation into the death while further action will be determined shortly.
Crimes
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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Man murders wife, reports self to police ANYIM JOY NDUDI reports the strange story of a man who murdered the mother of his son in Ajegunle, presented himself to the police and said ‘it was the work of the devil.’ A lawful suspect may be the right word to describe Michael David, a 31 year old indigene of Delta state who murdered the 20 year old mother of his son and subsequently reported himself to the police for arrest. Our correspondent learnt that the deceased, whose name was given as Onyinyechi Dennis, got into a fight with the said father of her child when she was stabbed to death. The incident happened about 9 a.m. in Ojoku Street, Tolu area of Olodi-Apapa in Ajegunle, Lagos. Michael, an orphan who works as a carpenter was alleged to have been spreading rumours of infidelity against Onyinye. However when Onyinye got wind of it and confronted him for explanation, it resulted into a fight. The suspect however attributed his action to the hand work of the devil, saying it was not intentional. “Oyinye is the mother of my son, although I did not marry her legally, but when she became pregnant for me, I went to her aunty and un-
cle she was living with and did a formal introduction; we then started living together. But we had a misunderstanding and she moved out of my house. “On that Tuesday, morning, when Onyinye came to my house, I thought she just came for a visit, but I later saw her mood and knew something was wrong. She demanded to know if I have been spreading rumours about her living a wayward life style and not sleeping at home, and I told her yes, that I have noticed it since she left my place. “Out of anger, she picked up a bottle, broke it and threatened to deal with me. A fight ensued; I over powered her and took the bottle from her; but she rushed to the table and picked up a knife. It must have been out of anger I seized the knife from her and mistakenly stabbed her in the stomach; shortly after, she died. “After my action, I sat for sometime, thinking, whether to run away, or report myself. My spirit convinced me and I went to the Tolu police station and reported myself. It is all the work of the devil.” Sister to the deceased, who gave her name as Chika, said the issue that led to her sister’s death may have started since the deceased who had moved in with Michael following her
Bloody murders at dawn in Ikorodu
Lateef matchetted to death.
pregnancy and subsequent introduction, moved back to the family house. “When in November last year Onyinye moved her things back to the house, I asked her what was wrong, and she said nothing; that she does not want to continue leaving with Michael anymore. “I remember that a week ago when Michael came to visit his son in the family house, Onyinye had walked out of the house. I thought they will settle whatever it was after, so I was so surprised when Michael called to inform me that Onyinye is dead, and that he was at Tolu police station. I immediately rushed down to the station only to find that it was true. “What was even more surprising is that, on that same day, possibly after the incident, Michael had called one of our neighbours to tell my other sister to bring his son, which she did, but after sometime, he returned the boy. Maybe he was thinking of running away with his son but God did not give him the courage to do so. All I just desire now is for the police to complete investigation into the matter and let the law deal with him accordingly.” Daily Times gathered that Michael will soon be charged to court.
Gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded two homes in Ikorodu and blotted out two lives. ANYIM JOY NDUDI reports the sorry tale of a man killed in the presence of his family and another dragged from his wife in bed and hacked to death. It was indeed a bloody Tuesday to remember for residents of Market Street in the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu in Lagos on the 7th of April. The gunmen, suspected to be cultists, stormed Market Street, Odogunyan, where Ayodele Adefiwaju lived, at midnight and shot him dead. Not done, they were said to have proceeded to neighbouring Olaleye Street, where they shot Lateef who was in bed with his wife several times but the bullets bounced off Lateef. In anger they dragged him outside the house and hacked him to death with machete. Daily Times gathered that the suspects who were heavily armed and wore masks on their faces stormed the area at about mid night to unleash their terror. It was also learnt
Michael at the police station.
that the suspected cultists who fled after the crime are yet to be arrested by the police. According to the wife of lateef, who gave her name simply as Mrs Ogunsanya, “At about 11 pm on Tuesday, we were about going to bed that night when we heard a hard knock on our door. My husband myself and our two children were in the room when the attackers stormed our house. We thought they were armed robbers, but we later discovered they were not. About six masked men who were carrying guns and other weapons attacked my husband. Two of them opened fire on my husband but it did not penetrate, they then dragged him out of the room to the sitting room. “I was pleading with them out of fear but they were bent on killing him. My first daughter who is about ten years old was even running after them begging them to live her dad, but they refused. They took my husband out and killed him.” she said in tears. Wife of Ayodele, whose name was given as Adeola had travelled to Ibadan at the time
of the incident. She was only informed of her husband’s death on phone. She wrote in her statement, “I am a business woman and my business is mainly based in Ibadan. So for the purpose of convenience I and our daughter spend more time in Ibadan. I am however very surprised with this incident. My husband was never a bad man the only thing I can remember is one incident that happened some months back. “While we were still leaving in the Ogijo area of Ogun state, my husband ran home on a particular day saying he was been chased by some men with guns. As a result of that incident, we moved out of that area to Odogunyan in Ikorodu. But unfortunately they still trailed him to this place. One thing I know is that my husband was not a cultist and I don’t know why they killed him.” The case which was earlier reported at the Sagamu road police station has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation.
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola
s
Cartoons from our Archives
1917 Lenin returns to Russia On April 16, 1917, Vladimir Lenin, leader of the revolutionary Bolshevik Party, returned to Petrograd after a decade of exile to take the reins of the Russian Revolution. Born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov in 1870, Lenin was drawn to the revolutionary cause after his brother was executed in 1887 for plotting to assassinate Czar Alexander II. He studied law and took up practice in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), where he moved in revolutionary Marxist circles. In 1895, he helped organize Marxist groups in the capital into the “Union for the Struggle for the Liberation of the Working Class,” which attempted to enlist workers to the Marxist cause. In December 1895, Lenin and the other leaders of the Union were arrested. Lenin was jailed for a year and then exiled to Siberia for a term of three years.
After his exile ended in 1900, Lenin went to Western Europe, where he continued his revolutionary activity. It was during this time that he adopted the pseudonym Lenin. In 1902, he published a pamphlet entitled What Is to Be Done?, which argued that only a disciplined party of professional revolutionaries could bring socialism to Russia. In 1903, he met with other Russian Marxists in London and established the Russian Social-Democratic Workers’ Party (RSDWP). However, from the start, there was a split between Lenin’s Bolsheviks (Majoritarians), who advocated militarism, and the Mensheviks (Minoritarians), who advocated a democratic movement toward socialism. These two groups increasingly opposed each other within the framework of the RSDWP, and Lenin made the split official at a 1912 conference of the Bolshevik Party.
Daily Times April 16, 1961
effects 1946 Arthur Chevrolet 1943 Hallucinogenic of LSD discovered commits suicide In Basel, Switzerland, Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist working at the Sandoz pharmaceutical research laboratory, accidentally consumed LSD-25, a synthetic drug he had created in 1938 as part of his research into the medicinal value of lysergic acid compounds. After taking the drug, formally known as lysergic acid diethylamide, Dr. Hoffman was disturbed by unusual sensations and hallucinations. In his notes, he related the experience: “Last Friday, April 16, 1943, I was forced to interrupt my work in the laboratory in the middle of the afternoon and proceed home, being affected by a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness. At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant, intoxicatedlike condition characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight to be unpleasantly
glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colours. After some two hours this condition faded away.” After intentionally taking the drug again to confirm that it had caused this strange physical and mental state, Dr. Hoffman published a report announcing his discovery, and so LSD made its entry into the world as a hallucinogenic drug. Widespread use of the so-called “mind-expanding” drug did not begin until the 1960s, when counterculture figures such as Albert M. Hubbard, Timothy Leary, and Ken Kesey publicly expounded on the benefits of using LSD as a recreational drug. The manufacture, sale, possession, and use of LSD, known to cause negative reactions in some of those who take it, were made illegal in the United States in 1965.
On this day in 1946, Arthur Chevrolet, an auto racer and the brother of Chevrolet auto namesake Louis Chevrolet, committed suicide in Slidell, Louisiana. Louis Chevrolet was born in Switzerland in 1878, while Arthur’s birth year has been listed as 1884 and 1886. By the early 1900s, Louis and Arthur, along with their younger brother Gaston, had left Europe and moved to America, where they became involved in auto racing. In 1905, Louis defeated racing legend Barney Oldfield at an event in New York. Louis Chevrolet’s racing prowess eventually caught the attention of William C. Durant, who in 1908, founded General Motors (GM). Chevrolet began competing and designing cars for GM’s Buick racing team. In 1911, Chevrolet teamed up with William Durant to produce the first Chevrolet car. The two men clashed about what type of car they wanted, with Durant arguing for a low-cost vehicle to compete with Henry Ford’s Model T
and Chevrolet pushing for something more high-end. In 1915, Chevrolet sold his interest in the company to Durant and the following year the Chevrolet Motor Company became part of General Motors. Throughout this time, Louis Chevrolet’s brothers continued racing and building cars. Arthur Chevrolet drove in the inaugural Indianapolis 500, held in 1911, although mechanical problems forced him out of the race and he failed to finish. He made another attempt at the Indy 500 in 1916, but once again dropped out due to mechanical issues. Gaston Chevrolet won the Indy 500 in 1920 in a Monroe car designed by his brothers; he died later that year in a racing accident. Despite Louis and Arthur’s talent for racing and design (in addition to building cars, they also designed aircraft engines) they had little gift for finance and often were pushed out of their endeavours before they could reap the rewards due to them.
1947 Bernard
Baruch coins the term “Cold War” Multimillionaire and financier Bernard Baruch, in a speech given during the unveiling of his portrait in the South Carolina House of Representatives, coined the term “Cold War” to describe relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. The phrase stuck, and for over 40 years it was a mainstay in the language of American diplomacy. Baruch had served as an advisor to presidents on economic and foreign policy issues since the days of Woodrow Wilson. In 1919, he was one of the U.S. advisers at the Paris Peace Conference that ended World War I. During the 1930s, he frequently advised Franklin D. Roosevelt and members of Congress on international finance and issues of neutrality. After World War II, he remained a trusted adviser to the new administration of Harry S. Truman. His speech in April 1947, however, was given in a completely different context.
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
23 News
C’River to explore gas, generate power – Gov-elect Emma Obi Calabar
ÏÏÏ
Cross River State Governor-elect, Prof. Ben Ayade, has pledged to engage “the right companies that will explore gas in the state and also generate power through gas turbines.” Ayade made this disclosure on Wednesday in Calabar, during a post-election media chat with journalists to thank the people of the state who, he said, voted him overwhelmingly during the
just concluded governorship election. Consequently, Ayade called on the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), to rise above party sentiments and carry everybody along in the discharge of their official duties, irrespective of party leanings. “General Buhari has a challenge. The world is watching. Let him show maturity and rise above party sentiments, so that any state government that has a business focus should be
assisted,” Ayade charged. He thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for accepting defeat at the elections. “President Jonathan has demonstrated that Africa has come of age. What he has done is rare and I hope Buhari will appreciate the president’s civility and face the issues of governance with an open heart.” Ayade, who has also proposed that Cross River State would have a shipping line during his tenure “to ship our petrol
products,” stressed that “all we need is a licence from the Federal Government, so that we can execute such projects when the time comes.” The governor-elect promised to revolutionise the state’s civil service and, as his personal sacrifice, forfeit 10 percent of his salary and earnings to the poor. He blamed the management of the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH) for not being innovative enough. “The state government gives the
university a subvention of N169 million a month. A university should engage in research projects and raise funds,” he said, He assured that he would look into the issue of the five-monthold strike by the university workers, as soon as he was sworn in, come May 28. Ayade proposed “a farm city”, so as to encourage farmers in the production of crops, based on the comparative advantages of such areas.
UNILORIN VC mourns Tamuno Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin
ÏÏÏ The Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Abdul Ganiyu Ambali, OON, has described the death of the pioneer head of the institution, Prof. Tekena Tamuno, as a big loss to the Nigerian academic community, especially the university of Ilorin. Tamuno, who was appointed the pioneer Principal of the then University College, Ilorin, between October 1975 and 1976, died last Saturday in Ibadan, at the age of 83. Reacting to the death of the renowned historian and distin-
guished university administrator, Ambali stated that Tamuno would be remembered for his vision and pioneering role in laying a solid foundation for the University of Ilorin, upon which generations of vice-chancellors after him were building. In a press statement released on his behalf by the institution’s Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, the vicechancellor stated further that Tamuno’s foresight and dedication, and those of his successors, contributed in no small way to the current pre-eminent position of the University of Ilorin in the comity of universities in Nigeria and Africa, generally.
Ebonyi APC sues for peace
Ondo: INEC presents Certificates of Return to NASS members-elect Tosin Ajuwon
(WAI) policy of his former administration. Nsan reasoned that this would help the retired general in his recent campaign against corruption in the country. In a statement, made available to journalists, in Calabar, on Wednesday,
Nsan expressed optimism that the integration of WAI would check the rot in public administration and the country’s economy. Further, Nsan applauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s courage in accepting defeat at the polls without bitterness.
ÏÏÏ The Independent National
Abakaliki
ÏÏÏ The All Progressives Con-
Ex-Health minister advocates return of WAI
Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday, issued Certificates of Return to winners of the March 28 National Assembly election in Ondo State. Prof. Akinola Salau, the National commissioner supervising Ondo, Ogun and Lagos states presented the certificates at a short ceremony in Akure, the capital city. Salau said the elected members should be magnanimous in
victory by extending hands of fellowship to losers in the election. He pledged INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible election and urged the political class to shun do-ordie politics. “The political class must change their attitude of extreme ambition of wanting to be victorious by all means,” he said. He also tasked new members to provide good governance, by tackling development challenges bedevilling their respective constituencies. He added that this would help
Akure
Jacob Mbam
gress (APC) Ebonyi State governorship candidate, Sen. Julius Ali Ucha, has said that peace was paramount for the speedy development of a young state like Ebonyi. Ucha made this remarks in Abakaliki, while addressing party supporters on the outcome of last Saturday’s election in the state. He urged them to re-
Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Bola Shodipo (2nd right); Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba (right); Director Tax Audit, LIRS, Mr. Lanre Adeniyi (2nd left), and the Director, Legal Service,LIRS, Mrs. Abosede Olukolu during the 2015 Ministerial Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos… on Wednesday
Ucha
main calm and law-abiding for peace to reign in the state. He lamented that the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state were far from peaceful, during with hoodlums, thugs and gangsters hijacked the electoral process.
Emma Obi Calabar
ÏÏÏ
Former minister of Health, Dr. Emmanuel Nsan, has called on the Presidentelect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (retd), to reactivate the War Against Indiscipline
justify the confidence reposed in them by the people in their constituencies. Daily Times correspondent reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won four House of Representatives seats, with one Senate seat, while the All Progressives Congress won five House of Representatives seats, with two Senate seats. Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, charged them to ensure adequate representation of the people, who voted them into the positions.
Buhari
News 24
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16 2015
LP to Buhari: Don't take Nigerians for granted on promises Lateef Ibrahim Abuja
ÏÏÏ
The Labour Party has advised the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), not to take Nigerians for granted, by backing down on their campaign promises, as the people are expectant of real change. The advice was contained in a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, by the National Secretary of the party, Barrister Kayode Ajulo. According to Ajulo: “It is
quite disturbing that even before constituting his transition committee that would examine the handover notes of various ministries, and recommend practical implementation strategy based on his campaign promises, Buhari has already started giving the thumb up to the naysayers. "The basis on which those Nigerians that voted for Buhari on the March 28, 2015 presidential election did, and with so much passion, was the belief that he could be an instrument of thorough and fundamental changes carried out with
the sharpness and precision of a sound officer of the Nigerian Army, though retired. "Two very important grounds on which the General presented himself to the Nigerian electorate to canvass for support are already being demolished by no other person than the retired general himself. “While in the Labour Party, we have never hidden our support for President Goodluck Jonathan in the last election. We have resolved to accept the results and key into those promises made by the winner, since these demo-
cratically approximate the quest of the Nigerian people. "It, however, amounts to taking the people for granted and being insensitive to the yearnings of the public to want to even suggest that campaign promises cannot be fulfilled by the winner at the pace desired by the people. "Only a few days ago, the president-elect said point blank that Nigerians should not expect miracles. "The question to ask Buhari and his co-travellers in APC is that, 'did they promise Nigerians miracles?' If they did, then honour de-
mands that they perform such miracles. "But if they did not promise miracles, but had promised to solve real problems, then they should not expect Nigerians to fold their arms and resign to fate. Those promises must be fulfilled significantly. "In what way does showing commitment to these promises make them magicians or miracle workers? Or were those promises mere campaign gimmicks? Were those promises part of propaganda and mere promo to run down the incumbent and promote the then candidate of APC?
TUC disowns chairman ÏÏÏ The
National Secretariat of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has dissociated itself from the latest acts of gross indiscipline perpetrated by Mr. Francis Oladele Adetunji, when he mobilised thugs, on Tuesday, to help enforce an illegal strike, called by himself, against the Government of Osun State. In a statement signed by the President and Secretary General of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Comrade Musa Lawal, respectively, Adetunji was TUC chairman in Osun, until March 6, 2014, when a new executive committee, under the chairmanship of Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji was elected. Incidentally, this was after Adetunji had unlawfully extended his tenure in office for two extra years, after the three years allowed by the Constitution of TUC. In a manner unbecoming of a labour leader, Adetunji has refused to acknowledge and accept the new executive committee, led by Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji, who also doubles as the state chairman of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), an affiliate of the congress, and has since constituted himself into a lone dissident.
L-R: Children of the late General Leader of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Prophet Gabriel Fakeye, Kemi; Yemisi; Anu and Tosin at the lyingin-State in Onikan Stadium, Lagos... on Wednesday Photo: Olawale Rotimi
Association expands service to 400 communities Umar Mohammed Gasua
ÏÏÏ
The Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) has expanded its community based distribution services to over 400 communities across Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa and Zamfara states. A statement, issued by the Expanded Social Marketing Project in Nigeria (ESMPIN) Project Manager, Aliyu Guraguri, said the community based distribution of maternal and child health products was aimed at increasing access to affordable and quality family planning, malaria and diarrhoea prevention and treatment products to the communities in nine local government areas of the affected states. The ESMPIN is a fiveyear project funded by the USAID, with Society for Family Health, BBC Media Action and Population Service International, partnering to support the project goal of improving health of women and children.
Enugu Assembly orders arrest of Accountant General Moses Oyediran Enugu
INEC fixes April 25 for re-run election in Imo Val Okara Owerri
ÏÏÏ The Independent Na-
tional Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State, has fixed Saturday, April 25, 2015, for the re-run of the inconclusive governorship election in the state. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Dr. Gabriel Ada, who announced this at a press conference on Wednesday, at the commission headquarters, Owerri, said that elections would take place in 23 local government areas, where elections were declared inconclusive in
the affected polling units. According to him, the commission would conduct elections in over 250 polling units across the 23 LGAs. He further disclosed that INEC would also conduct fresh polls in four state constituencies, where elections were marred by violence and irregularities. The affected state constituencies include Ikeduru, Isiala Mbano, Oguta, Isu and Owerri West. Ada stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 16 seats in the state House of Assembly, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched
four seats on the results so far released. The REC said that the commission would carry out fresh accreditation of voters, as no manual voting would be allowed. He further disclosed that the commission has started compiling a list of electoral officers involved in electoral frauds, with a view to prosecuting those found guilty. According to him, it would be unfair for the commission to declare the winner of the April 11 Governorship polls without conducting elections in over 250 polling units.
The state's Returning Officer, Professor Ebidayo Obe, while declaring the governorship election inconclusive on Sunday, announced that the APC governorship candidate, Chief Rochas Okorocha, polled 385,671 while the PDP candidate, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, gathered 306,142 votes.
Okorocha
ÏÏÏ The Enugu State House of Assembly made good their threat, by ordering the arrest of the state's Accountant General, Mr. Basil Okolie, for refusing to appear before it. Subsequently, the House has empowered the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, to produce him on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. Moving a motion for the arrest of the Accountant General, Hon. S.K.E. UdeOkoye, representing Awgu North, said Mr. Okolie had neglected to appear before them and as such they had to exercise their constitutional power to “compel him,” to appear. Angry Ude-Okoye had this to say: “He has continuously failed to obey our call to answer the House."
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Why Buhari cannot ignore the S’South - Uduaghan
Omon Esene Warri
Ă?Ă?Ă?Governor
of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that Nigeria's President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, cannot afford to ignore the South South region. Uduaghan, who spoke in Warri, on Wednesday, noted that the region remained important in the country “because the oil revenue
from the area is sustaining the country�. He noted that the fact that most of the states in the South South were controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not cause the Presidentelect to ignore the region and should, therefore, be included when it was time for the new administration to make federal appointments. ‘’Be that as it may, we
congratulate the Presidentelect, whom we hope that having won, should see at the whole country as his constituency and not just a section of the country or his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). ‘’It’s obvious that the South South states are controlled by the PDP, so they cannot be ignored in the scheme of things in Nigeria. ‘’He (Buhari) should
Police nab six robbery suspects, recover loot Anyim Joy Ndudi
Ă?Ă?Ă?Detectives
of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command, have arrested six suspected armed robbers, including a Lebanese national, for impersonating operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to rob bureau de change operators, especially, in Lagos and Abuja. The suspects, who were paraded by the Commissioner of Police, (CP) Kayode Aderanti, were identified as Princewill Eze, a.k.a. Senator Nwobodo, (55); Amira Abudallahi, (32), a Lebanese national; Daniel Okpara, (30); Paul Irior, (37); Bassey Williams Ekpenyong, (39); and Royal Nwabuike, (32). Aderanti told newsmen that the suspects were arrested in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja, following information received on February 25, 2015 at about 5pm about a gang of armed robbers who used EFCC uniform and handcuffs to rob bureau de change operators of foreign currencies in Abuja and La-
gos State. Following the information, the CP directed the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS) led by SP Abba Kyari, to arrest the suspected robbers. The manhunt paid off as the gang leader, one Princewill Eze a.k.a. Senator Nwobodo, was arrested at Ajah area of Lagos State on February 27, 2015 at about 4pm. His confession led to the arrest of a female member of the gang, a Lebanese national, one Amira Abudallahi and other suspects. According to Aderanti, “the suspects, who were arrested in Delta, Abuja, Ogun and Lagos State, confessed to have carried out several robberies in Lagos and Abuja. Also during further investigation, the following were recovered from them: One Bryco59 pistol, with serial No. 930945, with six rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition; single barrel pistol, cut to size with four live cartridges; a grey Toyota Highlander jeep, with registration number LSR 110 DB; another Toyota Highlander jeep, maroon colour, with registration number,
LSR 671 DK; Toyota Highlander jeep maroon colour, with registration number, KTU380 DK; Toyota Sienna 2012 model, with registration number JJ 424 CQ; Toyota four runner with registration number, KRD 449 DG; an unregistered Toyota Camry salon car; N4million cash and S13,000 cash.� One of the suspects, a dismissed Police Corporal, identified as Bassey Williams Ekpenyong, had earlier been arrested and charged to court by SARS operatives for kidnapping in 2012, while the leader of the gang, Princewill Eze, who invested his loot in the hospitality industry, said he never coerced anybody into the gang, because “everyone joined the gang of their own freewill as adults. “I was already in the hospitality business before I went into robbery. So all the proceeds from it was invested in the business. The Senator title was just an appellation, I did not hold any political position. I live in a rented apartment at Victoria Garden City (VGC)�, he added.
Oshiomhole suspends LG chair, to face panel Titus Akhigbe Benin
Ă?Ă?Ă?The
Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Agbodion, has been suspended over allegations of financial mismanagement and other administrative irregularities. Governor Adams Oshiomhole announced his
suspension, while addressing members of the Local Government Executive Council and Councillors on Wednesday at the Government House, Benin City. He said, “We have tried, in the past, to call the Chairman to have a good working relationship with his executives. We have decided to set up a committee of Inquiry to investigate
these allegations, both financial and non-financial and according to the provisions of the appropriate legislations of the Local Government law, I have decided to exercise the powers vested in me to suspend the Chairman, during this period, for the committee to investigate all the allegations and submit the report to me.
25 News
APC youths task Buhari on empowerment Augustine Aminu
make sure that the South South gets what it deserves in terms of appointments, projects and programmes, because, as at today, this is where the money in Nigeria comes from and we insist that we must have that recognition’’, the governor said. He expressed his gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for the projects he located in Delta State, stressing that the President had been ‘’good to Delta’’. ‘’ We still believe in Jonathan and we have no regrets voting for him. He did, exceedingly, well for us. Unfortunately, our votes alone could not get him elected.
Abuja
Ă?Ă?Ă? The All Progressives
Congress Youth Forum has called on the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that he empowers youths in Nigeria as promised during his campaign. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Ismaeel Ahmed, Chairman of the Forum, said in order to achieve better national development, there was the need to train, empower and generate employment for the youths. “Any nation that fails to prioritise the training and employment of its youth,
should be ready to face challenges. Where you have youths without proper support, they may end up becoming miscreants,� he said. He also advised parents and religious organisations to invest in youths, “Government should provide jobs, rehabilitate all technical schools and provide recreation centres in local government areas. “The youths depend on the collective action of individual leaders. Leaders also depend on youths, because they believe that young people are full of creative abilities, and have used their skills and expertise to actively contribute to nation building,� he added.
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26
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Health
s Brief Members of the public are hereby enjoined to disregard the EVD rumour and peacefully go about their lawful business while taking preventive measures by observing good environmental and personal hygiene, especially regular hand washing and proper waste disposal –Lagos State Government
World Bank approves US$200 million to fight polio in Nigeria The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors approved has US$200 million of International Development Association (IDA) additional financing for the final push to eradicate polio and sustain routine immunization for children under five years and women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Nigeria is making significant progress towards polio eradication, with no new cases of polio virus reported since July 2014. The disease surveillance system, even in insecure areas, continues to perform well. This additional financing will build
on the positive results of the original project approved in July 2012 and help sustain the gains achieved to date. This new financing for the Polio Eradication Support Project will assist Nigeria to increase and sustain the coverage of oral polio vaccine immunization. With five more months of zero cases of Wild Polio Virus (WPV), Nigeria will have officially interrupted transmission of polio, which is a significant milestone toward eradication. “Eradicating polio is a global public good because of its epidemic potential and devastat-
ing impact on children and adults,” said Oluwole Odutolu, Task Team Leader for the Polio Eradication Support Project. “Polio remains a lethal and crippling disease that is entirely preventable and ending it makes the world a safer place for all children.” This additional financing will also help sustain the coverage of routine immunization in the country and the prevention of vaccine preventablediseases, which is a major cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria. “Sustaining routine immunization is critical to complet-
ing polio eradication and improving the health of children and mothers in Nigeria,” said Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, Country Director of the World Bank in Nigeria. The World Bank has been a proud partner with other global agencies in efforts to eradicate polio through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and to strengthen routine immunization, with partners including Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. “With no new cases of polio CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
Ebola vaccine trial begins in Sierra Leone The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S, in partnership with the Sierra Leone College of Medicine and Allied Health Services (COMAHS) and the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), is now enrolling and vaccinating volunteers for the Sierra Leone Trial to Introduce a Vaccine against Ebola (STRIVE). This study will assess the safety and efficacy of the rVSV-
ZEBOV candidate Ebola vaccine among health and other frontline workers.” “A safe and effective vaccine would be a very important tool to stop Ebola in the future, and the frontline workers who are volunteering to participate are making a decision that could benefit health care professionals and communities wherever Ebola is a risk,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D M.P.H. “We hope this vaccine
will be proven effective but in the meantime we must continue doing everything necessary to stop this epidemic-find every case, isolate and treat, safely and respectfully bury the dead, and find every single contact.” STRIVE will enrol about 6000 health and other frontline workers. It will be conducted in Western Area Urban district, which includes Freetown, Western Area Rural district, and certain chiefdoms in Bom-
bali, Port Loko, and Tonkolili districts. “We are happy to be partnering with MoHS and CDC on this important study, which may help to prevent future cases of Ebola,” said Mohamed Samai, acting Provost of COMAHS and the study’s principal investigator. “It brings me hope and pride that my country can take from this devastating epidemic something that may benefit people around the world.”
WHO cautions on Caesarean Section operation The World Health Organisation has said that women should have Caesarean Section (CS) when vaginal delivery might pose a risk to the mother or baby – for example due to prolonged labour, foetal distress, or because the baby is presenting in an abnormal position. According to the World body, caesarean sections can cause significant complications, disability or death, particularly in settings that lack the facilities to conduct safe surgeries or treat potential complications. In a statement, the world body said, “New studies reveal that when caesarean section rates rise towards 10 per cent across a population, the number of maternal and new-born deaths decreases. But when the rate goes above 10 per cent, there is no evidence that mortality rates improve.” “These conclusions highlight the value of caesarean section in saving the lives of mothers and new-borns,” says Dr Marleen Temmerman, Director of WHO’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research. “They also illustrate how important it is to ensure a caesarean section is provided to the women in need - and to not just focus on achieving any specific rate.”
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
27 Health ‘Eradicating Polio is a global public good’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
A doctor attending to a TB infected patient.
in Africa, efforts to interrupt transmission of polio as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are looking extremely promising,” said Tim Evans, Senior Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group. “However, polio anywhere is a threat everywhere. As we reach the finish line in Nigeria, we must also focus on getting to zero new polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan.” Only two countries in the world, Afghanistan and Pakistan, reported polio cases this year. “This important contribution from the World Bank comes at a critical time to help Nigeria sustain its strong progress against polio eradication,” said Hamid Jafari, Head of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. “This investment in Nigeria and further provement, no monitoring of investment in Afghanistan and trends and there is a lack of evi- Pakistan will help galvanize dence to encourage industry to support and strengthen routine invest in developing medicines immunization of children, paror diagnostics that are more ap- ticularly building on the lessons propriate for children than those learned from polio eradication in these countries.” available today.”
Experts harp on more research on TB in children Worried by the appalling annual human toll of Tuberculosis (TB) and given the acknowledged difficulties in detecting TB in children, there is need for additional study and focus on the burden of disease in children, according to a study carried out by researchers at the University of Sheffield, Imperial College London, and TB Alliance. TB is one of the top ten killers of children around the world. Although the disease is curable, many children are not diagnosed, and as a result, not given the treatment that could save their lives. Researchers at the schools and TB Alliance have found evidence that a large gap exists between the number of TB cases in children that get notified to authorities and the true underlying incidence.
The gap, detailed in a study published in the journal Lancet Global Health, shows that TB in children is a major public health problem worldwide. The investigators estimated the number of children with TB in the 22 countries with the highest burden of TB in the world. The study suggests that in these countries more than 650,000 children developed the disease in 2010, while 7.6 million became infected with the TB bacterium. Overall more than 53 million children were estimated to latently harbour the infection. Health economics researcher Peter Dodd, from the University of Sheffield’s School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), said: “Quantifying the burden of TB in children is important because without good numbers, there can be no targets for im-
“Diagnosing TB in children can be challenging and the disease can often be overlooked or mistaken for something else. This can lead to underreporting, distorting the true scope of the problem...”
He added: “Historically, TB in children has not received the attention that it might have done. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is now encouraging countries to report the number of TB cases they find in children, but we still have only a poor idea what proportion of cases are recorded in youngsters.” Diagnosing TB in children can be challenging and the disease can often be overlooked or mistaken for something else. This can lead to under-reporting, distorting the true scope of the problem and the real demand for Child affected with Polio paediatric TB treatment.
Keep your promise on halting water privatisation, Group urges Ambode
Ambode
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has urged the Lagos State governorelect, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to live up his electoral promises when he assumes office, particularly the immediate reversal of the planned privatisation of water in Lagos. In a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN said the emergence of Ambode is the
manifestation of the wishes of the electorate who cast their votes in the hope that the governor-elect will sustain the enviable pace of development the state has enjoyed in the last 16 years of democratic rule. ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability and Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “We join Lagos residents in congratulating Ambode for the mandate he has received to steer the affairs of
the state for the next four years. We urge him at this point to rally all critical stakeholders to implement policies that will not only alleviate the sufferings of the people but also improve the revenue base of the state.” Oluwafemi said that it was pertinent at this point to remind the governor-elect of his electoral promise while hosting critical stakeholders including workers in the water unions that he will not add
to the burden of Lagosians through water privatisation. “While we trust the governorelect to push through in halting privatisation under the failed Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, we are deeply worried that the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC), with the support of the World Bank, is still pushing very hard for privatisation of water which will disenfranchise millions of Lagos residents.”
28
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16 , 2015
Business Times
s
Business Editor: Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Email: emmanuelogbonnaya@dailytimes.com.ng
Lagos captures 300,000 new tax payers in one year The Lagos State Government has announced that it captured no fewer than 300,000 new tax payers in its tax net in the last one year. The Special Adviser to Gov. Babatunde Fashola on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Bola Shodipo, made the disclosure at the 2015 ministerial news conference. He said the development meant that the number of tax payers had grown from the 4.2million recorded in 2014 to 4.5
million presently. According to him, the new taxpayers are mainly people in the informal sector and some in the formal sector. The Special Adviser commended residents for increasingly paying taxes voluntarily, saying the practice had enabled government to discharge its development responsibilities. “We have made significant progress in recording greater tax compliance in the past few
years. “From 2.7million in 2011 to 4.5million taxpayers presently; this is a significant leap and government commends residents for voluntarily and promptly paying their taxes,” he said. Shodipo, however, said no fewer than three million taxable adults were still not paying taxes, appealing to evaders to fulfil their obligations in the interest of development. The Special Adviser said the
government would continue to pursue initiatives such as enlightenment campaigns to encourage more tax compliance. Shodipo debunked claims in some quarters that government was imposing multiple taxes on incomes and businesses. He explained that the fact that people were levied for enjoying certain government services after their incomes had been taxed did not mean they were paying multiple taxes.
Fashola
Shell to investigate Kolo Creek oil leak Tony Nwakaegho
L – R: Group Managing Director, FCMB LTD, Mr. Ladi Balogun; Executive Director, Market Operations & Technology, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Ade Bajomo and Chairman, FCMB Group PLC, Dr. Jonathan Long at the FCMB Facts Behind the Figures at the Exchange Wednesday. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI
The Management of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has assembled an investigative team to ascertain the cause of oil leakage discovered in the company’s Kolo Creek Manifold. A statement by the Spokesman of the SPDC, Mr Joseph Obari, in Yenagoa said the leak was detected on April 15. “A leak was detected today on the SPDC JV Kolo Creek Manifold. “The leak has been stopped and our Oil Spill Response team deployed to the site to contain it. ``A joint investigation visit
will be conducted tomorrow to confirm the cause of the spill,” Obari said. Security operatives deployed to guard the oil firm’s operations had blocked the EdepieOtuasagi-Imiringi road leading to the facility to vehicular movement. The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Environment, Mr Iniruo Wills, had visited the spill site with officials of the ministry and civil society organisations for on-the-spot assessment. Wills who also confirmed the incident said that the ministry of environment had concluded plans to visit the spill site.
Keystone Bank to be sold during Buhari’s tenure- AMCON Stories by Ugochukwu Onyeocha Recent findings has revealed that earlier plans to sell Keystone Bank Limited after the general elections will have to wait for the incoming administration of President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, before it can proceed, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria
(AMCON) has said. Keystone is the last of three nationalised lenders to be sold after Mainstreet Bank was purchased by Skye Bank Plc and Enterprise Bank by Heritage Banking Co. last year. It would be recalled that AMCON had previously sold Enterprise Bank for N56.1 billion to Heritage Bank while Skye Bank paid a total of N126.8 billion to purchase Mainstreet Bank last
year. Responding to an inquiry by the media, the MD/CEO of AMCON, Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi, said the corporation will need to get input from the new administration in order to carry on with the earlier plans of the body to sell the bank. “We will wait till after the transition and get input from the new administration”, Chike-Obi said.
AMCON had stated its plans to sell Keystone Bank Ltd., the biggest of three lenders nationalised after a 2009 financial crisis, in the second quarter after the general elections. Chike-Obi had pledged that the sale of the bridge bank will be transparent and AMCON will call for bids with a selection process lasting three to four months and ending this year. Keystone Bank is a full service
commercial bank wholly owned by AMCON and was granted banking licence on August 5, 2011 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The bank has met and exceeded all capital and capital adequacy requirements of the CBN and assumed the deposit liabilities, certain other liabilities and assets of former Bank PHB Plc, following the revocation of the erstwhile bank’s operating licence by the apex bank.
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
29 Brands & Marketing
Ace Roots debuts in Ibadan STORIES by Godwin Anyebe Nigerian Breweries Plc stormed the ancient city of Ibadan recently with the Trade Launch/unveiling of its new product, Ace Roots to traders, distributors, retailers, entertainment spot operators and teeming consumers in the Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomosho, Oshogbo, Ilesha/ Esa-Oke trade zone. Speaking at the launch of the new product, the company’s Zonal Business Manager – West, Opeyemi Oluwalusi, said Ace Roots is a product of painstaking research and response to consumers’ retailers and distributors’ demands and the result of Nigerian Breweries Plc’s in-depth consultations with critical stakeholders before its intervention in the herbal mix section of the beverage drink market. “At Nigerian Breweries Plc., we love to respond to consumers’ demands. You will bear me witness that your feedback from consumers and critical stakeholders have continued to play critical roles in our decision making process. When our competitor came up with her brand sometimes last year and stakeholders like you and our teeming consumers started asking when is Nigerian Breweries going to come out with her own brand of herbal mixture drink?” “We responded by appealing to you to exercise patience as we need time to carry our proper research and consultation with you (retailers, distributors), including teeming consumers and other critical stakeholders before we can make a decision. The re-
Fanta makes Easter play time for consumers
Quill Awards
Promasidor sets April 30 to close Quill Awards Entry
sult of that painstaking research and consultation is what we are launching and unveiling to you here today – Ace Roots,” he said. Speaking further in his presentation to the crowd of traders, retailers, bar operators, distributors and consumers that thronged the Ibadan Civic Centre venue of the Trade Launch in Idi-Ape area of the sprawling ancient Yoruba city; Oluwalusi stated that Ace Roots is produced with the, wellbeing and welfare of the consumer in mind. “Ace Roots takes the health, wellbeing and even the pocket of the consumer into serious consideration before it debuts. The herbal mix comes with the low-
est sugar content in the Nigerian market today. Whereas there are herbal mixtures with as much as five cubes of sugar, Ace Roots has very low sugar content of just one cube of sugar. Aside this, Ace Roots is made with actual herbal juice extract from age-long roots, leaves and herbs. “Its alcoholic content is moderated at six per cent, that’s a little higher than lager beer and slightly lower than stout beer beverages. More importantly, Ace Roots is entering the market with great value that takes the consumers’ purse into serious consideration. I can assure you that Ace Roots will not bore holes into your pockets,” he assured.
Entries for this year’s edition of the prestigious Promasidor Quill Awards; organised by Promasidor Nigeria is scheduled to close at midnight on April 30th 2015. Journalists, who are yet to submit their entries have thus been advised to complete their application process before the deadline. The call was given by the Head of Legal and Public Relations of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, makers of Cowbell, Onga, Toptea and Loya, Mr. Andrew Enahoro in an interview in his office on Monday. Enahoro advised prospective contestants for this year’s Promasidor Quill Awards to complete their applications which began in January 29th, 2015 as it will not extend the entry window of the awards. He acknowledged that Promasidor had already received many entries for the different categories of the awards; but expressed optimism that many more entries will still be uploaded before entry closes. The seven categories of the awards are: Brand Advocate of the Year; CSR Report of the Year; Best Photo Story of the Year; Best Report on Nutrition; Best Report on Children; Education Reporter
In order to continue to deliver on its brand promise, Fanta brought its world of fun to consumers during the last Easter holiday. The exciting, fruity drinks were sampled at various locations in Lagos and Ibadan, including the Dreamworld Africana, Ibeju- Lekki; Ikeja City Mall, Palms Mall, Victoria Island; Onikan City Mall, among others. The fun heightened at Dreamworld Africana with the Fanta Playzone- its signature mobile gaming centre fitted with the
latest video game consoles. Outdoor entertainment at the theme park also included Hoola hoops and a sing along competition. Speaking about the fun with Fanta at the different locations, Senior Brand Manager, Flavours, Coca-Cola, Toyin Nnodi said, “Fanta has been about shared fun for over 50 years and all over the world, the brand is associated with exciting, fun activities. ‘’ According to her, ‘’the holidays are a perfect time to have fun with friends and family and
we believe it is important for us to be at locations where the bond of love is deepened.” Fanta Apple is for everyone and it is available nationwide in both wholesale and retail outlets in three pack types and four sizes – 35cl and 50cl returnable glass bottles, 50cl glass bottle and PET bottle as well as 33cl can. She noted. The activities left participants with no option than to appreciate Fanta over the initiative. According to Ayomide,
Nicolaas Vervelde, CEO Nigerian Breweries Plc
of the Year and Future Writer of the Year. By providing the platform, Enahoro said Promasidor has judiciously done what it is supposed to do. His words: “It is now left for the target audience of the awards to realise that this is a credible platform with adequate rewards. If you feel that the work is good enough to merit an award then, you put it in. That is what it is all about – to encourage and reward excellence”. He also explained that Promasidor used the e-platform for the entry submission to take care of media men/journalists who are outside Lagos and South West. “We don’t want a situation where the scope will be limited to any specific geographical location. Our products are sold pan-Nigeria”, he stated. He stated that with the eplatform, there is an instant acknowledgement of entry. The website also has help lines and email addresses where any issues are promptly attended to. “In the unlikely event that you cannot upload your entries, you can send your entries to our PR Agency, TPT International. What we want is the word format, and a scanned copy of the published work.” He said.
a JSS 1 student playing on the electronic tennis at the Playzone, “I really love Fanta and I love the games I played today. I had loads of fun and I wish everyday was Easter with Fanta.’’ On her part, Mrs. Oyebade, who brought three of her children to the Playzone did not let her kids enjoy Fanta by themselves. “I do not believe Fanta is for kids alone because I also enjoy having Fanta myself. Whenever I buy Fanta for them, I take a bottle myself.”
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Labour 30
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
Group canvasses North-East Development Commission
Fashola
Healthcare: Incessant strikes may lead to policies failure Stories by Joy Ekeke Some stakeholders in the health sector have agreed that incessant strikes would result to inadequate healthcare delivery with government policies adversely affected. The stakeholders stated their position during a chat with newsmen in Lagos against the backdrop of the indefinite strike embarked on by doctors employed by the Lagos State Government. Dr Sa’eid Ahmad, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, said that incessant strikes had dire implications on patients, doctors and the government. ``Patients are of different grades, including those who have chronic conditions that they carry for a long period of time and need constant monitoring. ``There are those who come down with acute conditions that need urgent attention, and there are those who get involved in accident and therefore need emergencies. ``All of these patients are going to be adversely affected when there is a strike. ``Strikes will affect the doctors’ delivery of healthcare, his
or her training as a resident doctor will be affected also. ``When a government allows a strike to happen, it is seen as a failure and cannot keep its promises to deliver healthcare to its people. ``The government also has a lot to lose when its workers on strike cannot deliver services and run the hospital smoothly and it will amount to unnecessary wastage,’’ he said. The president said the way to avoid incessant strikes would require a government to be more responsible to its citizens, including healthcare providers. ``A government which has the primary responsibility of providing healthcare delivery to it citizens, also, owe an equal amount of responsibility to the healthcare providers. ``They should be more responsive to the needs of the healthcare providers they have employed. ``The government should also provide an enabling environment such that healthcare providers will be able to deliver to their optimum where they spent years training for. ``They have to provide adequate and appropriate facilities in order to provide quality healthcare to its citizens,’’ he said. Ahmad urged providers of
healthcare to try and resolve situations with their employer and make going on strike only a last resort. He also urged the public to hold the government responsible for the happenings in the health sector. ``Members of the public have to learn to hold the government responsible to live up to their expections of adequate healthcare delivery by providing the enabling environment,’’ he said. Also speaking, the Chairman, Joint Health Sector Union, Lagos Chapter, Mr Rasheed Bamishe, said that both the government and workers should ensure harmonious industrial relations in averting strikes. Bamishe said, ``Harmonious industrial relations will ensure that both parties will be able to negotiate in such a way that they both benefit from. ``There should be sincerity on the part of the employer, in this case, the government so that negotiation will be easy.’’ In his remarks, the Secretary, Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos Chapter, Dr Babajide Saheed, said that policies of government will be affected by incessant strikes. ``The policy of government toward good healthcare delivery will be affected because plans will be disrupted.
The Adamawa Youth Initiative, an NGO, has called on the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to create the North East Development Commission for rapid rehabilitation of the region, following its devastation by insurgency. The group made the call on Monday in Yola at a news briefing addressed by its President, Hamisu Medugu. “We want to call on the President-elect as a matter of priority to consider the establishment of North East Development Commission. “This commission will ensure the rapid development of the North East region which was ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents. Medugu observed that the region now have large number of orphans and widows in need of urgent support. “The region is now populated by mostly orphans, widows, the old and most vulnerable who are in need of urgent support. “Hence, the need for swift provision of the basic social amenties and safety such as reconstruction and re-integration
back into society,” Medugu said. He said that as a matter of priority Federal and State Governments should start reconstruction of all damaged bridges, schools, hospitals and houses among others. He said that by doing so, the people of the region would have a sense of belonging and relief. According to the group, the call for the establishment of the North East Development Commission is not only timely but necessary.
Buhari
South African labour leader assassinated Tensions have continued to mount since the expulsion of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa. A senior leader of South Africa’s main transport union was shot and killed on the same night that the home of the group’s president was bombed, according to union spokesman Vincent Masoga. Chris Nkosi, general secretary of the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union in Gauteng province, was shot several times on a highway in Johannesburg late on Monday in what could have been an assassination, Masoga said by phone. “His life had been under threat before and we invested in a bodyguard, but he was not with him at the time of the shooting,” Masoga said. “As a union, we are very heartsore and our members are very confused.” Several hours after Nkosi’s shooting, the home of the
union’s president, June Dube, was petrol-bombed in Vosloorus, a township located 42 kilometers (26 miles) east of Johannesburg. Dube and his family didn’t sustain any injuries and have reported the matter to the police, according to Masoga. Tensions within Satawu’s parent body, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, have increased since the federation expelled the nation’s biggest labour group, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa. Satawu is one of the 13 Cosatu affiliates that didn’t oppose the removal of Numsa, while seven other labor groups did. Two weeks ago Cosatu expelled its former general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, citing gross misconduct. “We are perplexed by the matter and don’t understand why all this is happening,” Masoga said. “We believe some of the leadership’s lives are still under threat.”
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, April 16, 2015
More trouble has come the way of Google Inc. as the European Union (EU) indicted the online search engine giants of cheating consumers and competitors by distorting Web search results to favour its own shopping service, after a five-year investigation that could see a change in the rules for business online. The EU also launched another antitrust investigation into Google’s Android mobile operating system, a key element in the U.S. tech giant’s strategy to maintain revenues from online advertising as people switch from Web browser searches to smartphone apps. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Google, which dominates Internet search engine markets worldwide, had been sent a Statement of Objections - effectively a charge sheet - to which it has 10 weeks to respond. Investigations into Google’s business practices in other areas would continue, with the shopping case potentially setting a precedent for concerns over Google’s search products for hotels, flights and other services. Vestager, a Dane who took over the politically charged case in November, announced the moves on the eve of a highprofile visit to the United States. Her findings follow nearly five years of investigation and abortive efforts by her Spanish predecessor, Joaquin Almunia, to strike deals with Google. “I am concerned that the company has given an unfair ad-
vantage to its own comparison shopping service, in breach of EU antitrust rules,” she said. Google could face fines, she warned, if the Commission proves its case that it has used its “near monopoly” in Europe to push Google Shopping ahead of rivals for the past seven years. Google rejected the accusations. In its first reaction, the Mountain View, Californiabased company said in a blog post that it strongly disagreed with the EU’s statement of objections and would make the case that its products have fostered competition and benefited consumers. “Android has been a key player in spurring this competition and choice, lowering prices and increasing choice for everyone (there are over 18,000 different devices available today),” it said of its free operating system for mobile devices. The Commission, whose control of antitrust matters across the wealthy 28-nation bloc gives it a major say in the fate of global corporations, can fine firms up to 10 percent of their annual sales, in Google’s case up to 6.2 billion euros. If it finds that companies are abusing a dominant market position, the EU regulator can also demand sweeping changes to their business practices, as it did with U.S. software giant Microsoft in 2004 and chip-maker Intel in 2009. Its record antitrust fine was 1.09 billion euros on Intel. Google now had a chance to explain itself, Vestager said, and the case might be settled by it
31 Global Business
Vestager
Google hurt consumers and competitors - EU making further commitments to change its products. She wanted a change in the “principle” underlying searches rather than a redesign of current Web pages or tweaks to algorithms by which Google ranks results. That way, any remedy would be “future-proof ” against technological change. Of the formal investigation
into Android, Vestager said: “I want to make sure the markets in this area can flourish without anticompetitive constraints imposed by any company.” The focus on the ranking of searches for shopping sites did not address all complaints lodged with the Commission. Vestager stressed her antitrust staff would continue to inves-
tigate other areas of concern, including alleged “web scraping” to copy rivals’ content, and restrictive practices on advertising. A final resolution - quite possibly involving court action if Google does not choose to settle - is likely to take many months and probably years, legal experts have said.
Protester attacks ECB president
Draghi
The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi was attacked by a protester on Wednesday during the bank’s regular briefing for journalists in Frankfurt. Just minutes into his introductory statement, a woman jumped onto his desk shouting “end ECB dictatorship!” She was dragged out of the room by security guards, but not before showering the startled Draghi with confetti. The news conference was briefly interrupted. Draghi appeared unhurt. He had just begun explaining how well the ECB’s new program of money printing was working when the attack happened. Riots erupted outside the ECB’s new $1.3 billion headquarters in March after thousands of protesters gathered to rage against an institution they
blame for ruining the lives of millions in the Eurozone. Draghi has been credited with taking bold steps to save Europe from financial disaster. First in 2012 with his famous promise to do “whatever it takes” to prevent the euro from falling apart, and again earlier this year by persuading the bank to launch a $1.3 trillion stimulus program to get growth moving again. But the ECB is also a highprofile symbol of the austerity that has caused hardship for millions across the region. Together with the International Monetary Fund and European Commission, it formed the socalled “troika” to police the bailouts that kept countries such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal afloat. The rescue loans were provided in exchange for commitments by governments in those coun-
tries to get borrowing under control -- by slashing spending and raising taxes -- and to overhaul their economies to make them more competitive. Nearly seven years on from the start of the financial crisis, economic hardship remains a reality for many in Europe. Unemployment in the Eurozone is falling, but is still around 11%. Growth is recovering but from a very low base, and the rate of joblessness among young people is much higher in Spain and Greece. Draghi has acknowledged that the central bank may have become a “focal point for those frustrated with this situation.” “This may not be a fair charge. Our action has been aimed precisely at cushioning the shocks suffered by the economy,” he said at the opening of the new Headquaters last month.
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Personal Finance: Make a habit of reinventing yourself (2) •••
Tunde Oyedoyin
So, why should you reinvent yourself ? One reason is that you have the ability to make changes to your life and give it a makeover. This may not happen overnight, but it’s worth it. Have you ever attended a wedding ceremony? Chances are that everyone has. Remember that guests are normally whaaooed when they see the bride. You know what? It’s the same lady you used to know, all that has happened for that special day of hers was to reinvent – hire or ask friends to make changes to her looks and present herself differently. Did you know that whenever you visit the barbing or hair dresser’s , what you’re doing is to ask the barber or hairdresser to reinvent – make changes to the way you look - you? Yeah! A more important reason to make a habit of reinventing yourself is that things change in this our consumer world and if you don’t want to be bitter about those moving
with the times , you need to find a way of coming to the party. Remember this, change is the only permanent thing in life. Besides, life’s situations change , your income and position also go through changes. You may find yourself earning more than you used to, or may even be jobless for sometime. Moreover, opportunities and problems will always surface, and while it is impossible to take advantage of all or most of them, you should fancy one or two, here and there. Many former Nigerian footballers, actors and athletes couldn’t reinvent themselves and stop being spendthrifts during the peak periods of their earning power. Quite unfortunate that some have spent their last days on earth, living from hand to mouth. Super Eagles coach, Steven Keshi, is a class act. So also is Samson Siasia and a couple of others. These dudes reinvented themselves and while many of their peers dis-
appeared without trace or ran out of money, the coaching courses and other changes the likes of Keshi made prepared them for the second half of their lives and careers. Beyoncé’s rapper husband, Jay Z, was an artiste and music producer until a little over two weeks ago, when he co-founded a new music streaming service, Tidal. Smart guy, he is aware that he’s never going to be able to churn out any hits ten or even five years from now. Even if he could, he has gone one step ahead of the crowd by leveraging his stardom and that of his wife in creating another stream of income albeit a service - for both themselves and their coinvestors like Alicia Keys and Madonna. According to a page 3 report in the London Metro of April 1, he said the reason for launching this business is because: “people are not respecting the music, and devaluing what it really means.” He continued: “People
feel like music is free but will pay $6 for water. You can drink water free out of the tap, and it’s good water. But they’re okay paying for it. “ To be honest, you probably don’t have a celebrity wife like Beyoncé or an A- list set of friends, but that shouldn’t stop you reinventing yourself. A few years ago, we used to count Omotola Jalade Ekehinde among Nollywood stars, but she has reinvented herself. Desmond Elliot himself used to be on set with fellow actors, but he reinvented himself and is now heading towards the Lagos House of Assembly at Alausa. Guess what? He’s just on break from his acting career. It’s not over. As stated last week, the one thing that Bill Gates and the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr have in common with Aare Afe Babalola is that they have all reinvented themselves. Mayweather Jr doesn’t just throw punches, he is also a promoter.
Gates was probably getting bored of moving up and down the top ten list of the richest men on earth, and found something else to do. He reinvented himself and became a philanthropist. You’ll probably hear him talk of eradicating malaria these days than Microsoft. Babalola did same, using part or all of the money he made in his legal career to start a university. Why wait until clients no longer come to your chambers? IPOs Coming to the market:Part of reinventing yourself could be knowing what is happening in the stock market. If newspaper reports of Monday this week are anything to go by, some Initial Public Offerings could hit the market later this year. You don’t have to invest, but be curious. Curiosity may kill the cat, but not a potential investor. Yours truly.
Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08169118913, 08075038528
Life&
TIMES Thursday, April16, 2015
Ali Nuhu A shining star from Kano
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Your favourite Celebrities on Instagram
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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday April 16, 2015
Being an actor has been challenging - Ali Nuhu Mutiat Alli Nigerian actor, producer, director and Globacom ambassador, Ali Nuhu is one of the most ber of Hausa movies and several
about his experience in the indus-
You are a Film House cinema ambassador. What does that portray for you as an actor? It means a lot to me, a responsibility to support the growth of cinema in Kano State and other environs and to also help support the ideals of the company, Film House led by Mr. Kene Mparu, which is to build scores of cinemas all over the cities of Nigeria. It was a privilege and the cinema in Kano State has brought a new vista and we the movie makers in the north have been encouraged, exploring different opportunities. With the advent of the Film House Cinema in Kano State, what does this signify? for the movie industry in the north? Like I said, it will open up the cinema culture in the north just like other regions are experiencing now. Growing up, I used to go and watch
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couple of cinema houses across Nigeria in the 80s and early 90s. Now we hope that with companies investing in building modern day cinemas in different regions, these will open up the cinema culture everywhere. And these will in turn impact on the movie makers who will make movies for the cinemas. Kannywood before now was making movies with the
home video market in mind, the stories were there, the human capacity; actors and actresses were there, and we worked with a small budget but with government recognition and intervention, the movie industry will now grow. With the level of insecurity recorded in the north, people are of the opinion that the creation of a cinema in Kano is considered bad business, what is your take on this? As far as I am concerned, it is good business because these challenges were considered before establishing Film House Cinema in Kano State. Besides, a cinema house affords the people the opportunity to relax and engage more in social interactions. Everyone wants to leave the comfort of their homes and watch the current movies on bigger screen with other people. The feeling is always different from watching from home. The home video market afforded us this opportunity which we have engaged in, the next level is the cinemas.
caused by the recent establishment of the cinema house which has been a great deal for people to be able to visit the cinema and see latest movies. It has not been like this before. We used to have cinemas in the 80s and 90s but with the economic downturn, cinemas closed down. With Film House beothers will surely follow. Do you share the same view that Kannywood movie are the English, Igbo and Yoruba genre? It a two way thing. Yes and No. As I said, Kannywood is evolving. Other regional movie industries have taken a step higher because of the advent of cinemas. Other than that, the movies in Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa languages are all similar. They are all dramas and depend on the scripts and the ingenuity of the director to bring out the best from each character. The new Nollywood as we call it has afforded the
movie industry an opportunity to explore new frontiers. As you can see, there are good quality movies now in Nollywood, particularly the English speaking one because of the opportunities to premiere the movies in the cinemas and not just shoot the movies for the home video market alone. This is a craft and business that ought to be embrace and enhanced. In the real sense of it, Kannywood now has great movies and we are doing better with better cameras, increased technology in the production of a movie and the dialogue which expresses the culture and cultural diversity of the people in the north. It is the same in the movies in other regions, we are all trying to bring out good stories that address issues in our nation.
You are one of the few actors from Kannywood that has carried the industry in good light. How has this been for you? It has not been a leisure walk in the park to achieve this feat, and I’m just even starting. Kannywood is a growing industry and I’m glad to be part of the growth. For me, being an actor has been challenging and it has been one step after another, one point of victory and the other. Acting has been a wonderful moment for me, yet it has been challenging and nothing really comes easy. I’ve had to focus on it full time and it is yielding fruits now. What has been the high point for Kannywood? Presently Kannywood is experiencing a boost and this is partly
Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427
Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784
How did you break into the English movie sector? the English movies, the challenge I had was the perception of my people. Most people misunderstood what I was trying to do. But with time, when the movies started coming out, they became acquainted with what I was trying to do. So what should we expect from Ali Nuhu in 2015? Expect great things. I have produced 13 movies so far sand will produce a few more in 2015. Of note is a movie that will be done in Hausa and English language, it is a novel idea and this will bring both Kannywood and Nollywood actors into one project.
Ali Nuhu and family Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378
Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893
Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478
Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday April 16, 2015
Stories by: Opeoluwani Akintayo
New music alert!
Iyanya makes acting debut
Popular award winning singer, Iyanya, has set out to try something new and add to his repertoire of skills, acting.The Oreo singer is set to star in an upcoming Nollywood movie alongside former Mr Nigeria and actor, Bryan Okwara.Fans sure can’t wait to catch a glimpse of Iyanya the actor in action.Other musicians that have starred in Nollywood movies include 2Face Idibia inmake A Move, Omawumi in House of Gold, Ice Prince in House of Gold, Terry G in a movie yet to be released among several others.
BBJN –Durono FT. Teddy, J.I & A-Q Since his last effort in Omo we don Blow which featured two top rappers, Yung 6ix and A-Q, music producer/artist, BBJN who recently remade Wizkid’s Ojuelegba beat used by Sarkodie in his remix, is coming mix tape, The Perfect Blend. The new track titled Durono, is a blend of house music and afro pop. The single features his CEG label mate, Teddy, Mr. JI and ace rapper A-Q.
Iyanya
Comedian Apkororo apologises for rape joke
This is obviously not the best time for popular comedian, Akpororo who during A.Y’s Easter show, gave a joke that was considered way too expensive.Although some, including women may have laughed at the joke, it however didn’t go down well with others, especially Nigerian Info FM’s On Air Personality, Fola, who took to Twitter to lash out at the comedian. Apparently sensing the build of the tension his joke created, Akpororo took to his Instagram page to issue an open apology to the women folk. According to him, his joke
L3 Music Gist
was borne out of an intent to make his audience laugh and not to degrade the womenfolk. “Ladies and Gentlemen, my attention has been drawn to one of the jokes I did recently. I want to take this space to formally apologize to all who have been offended by the joke, especially the womenfolk. It was never my intention to put something as offensive as rape on a pedestal. I hold women in high esteem and this is drawn from the love and care I have enjoyed from my mother and sisters over the years and will never promote anything that would be detrimental
New video alert! Phyno’s new video, Oringo was released on Tuesday, April 14.
Apkororo to their wellbeing. I was only trying to crack up my audience. PLEASE FORGIVE that same Akpororo that you have helped to grow in the industry,” he wrote.
Friends throw singer, Omawunmi Megbele, surprise baby shower
Omawunmi with friends Warri born singer, Omawunmi is obviously ready to pop any time soon and for this reason, her close friends decided to throw her a surprise baby shower which held at the IntercontiBeat FM On Air Personality, GbemiOlateru-Olagbegi, singer, Lami Phillips, her closest pal and singer, Waje, designer, KunbiOyelese of April by Kunbi and writer, Latasha Ngwube.It would be recalled that Omawunmi already has a daughter with her husband, Tosin Yusuf. Last year, they held a private court wedding, after which a traditional wedding followed earlier this year.
Photo speak
Comedian Bovi and OAP Toolz messing around at a photo boot.
Movie Gists L4
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday April 16, 2015
Stories by: Mutiat Alli
Dorcas Shola Fapson returns to MTV Shuga
...As Shuga season 4 reveals Peace Hyde, Adesua Etomi, Others in new season. Popular actress, Dorcas Shola Fapson is to make a surprise return to our TV screens as Sophie in the new series of MTV Shuga, the sizzling sex and relationship drama and multimedia campaign developed by the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and MTV Base. A brand new face on the MTV Shuga horizon is South Africa actress and singer, MohauMokoatie who was chosen for a juicy new role in the prestigious TV series. Mohau will be interpreting the new role of Bongi, a 15 year old songwriter and wannabe singer from South Africa who is living in Nigeria with her family Fapson and Mokoatie join returning cast members, Emmanuel Ikubese (Femi), Sharon Ezeamaka (Princess), Nick Mutuma (Leo), Chris Attoh (Nii), TiminiEgbuson (Tobi), and OlumideOworu (Weki) in series 4 of MTV Shuga. New cast members include AdesuaEtomi (Sheila), Peace Hyde (Eniola), Zoe Favour (Mary), Jemima Osunde (Leila), Tunbosun “Tuby” Aiyedehin (Sheila’s mum), Jude Chukwuka (Sheila’s dad), Kate Adepegba (Sheila’s aunt), Paul Adams (Sheila’s uncle), Ifeanyi Dike Jr (Sheila’s brother), NajiteD-
Toyin Aimakhu plays Iya Ibadan After recording a huge success with her comic movie, Alakada, Toyin Aimakhu-Johnson is not resting on her oars as she has released snippets from her new work titled Iya Ibadan. The movie sees the actress totally transformed into an old woman with a walking stick, a far cry from roles she is well noted to reprise. Toyin who plays an old woman in the movie, share some photos.”#iyabadanloading #nollywood#nollywoodactress... Guess who this is?” - She captioned one of the photos. Toyin Aimakhu
Sotayo breaks silence on engagement tales Dorcas Shola ede (Mary’s mum) and AhideAdum (Mary’s dad). MTV Shuga season 4 will premiere on MTV Base and partner television stations later this year.
Pirates release October 1st movie
Bella cum Ilu Mi star actress, TayoSobola popularly known as Sotayo has made it clear that she is engaged and will be walking down the aisle any moment. Sotayo who was spotted with an engagement ring disclosed that she is no longer looking for any Mr. Right as she is comfortI am engaged and very happy about it because this is my last ”, she said. Sotayo
Tope Osoba to premiere single ladies Actor cum producer, KunleAfolayan had earlier raised the alarm that some Igbo pirates at Alaba International Market were threatening to release his latest movie, October 1st, into the market, a swipe that many have come to tag anti-Igbo.In the early hours of Monday, April 13th, the actor disclosed that copies of his movie had already been pirated and adviced his teaming fans to desist from buying the pirated copies as the movie was not yet due for release yet. Life &Times gathered that the actor is currently devastated since the release of the movie on the streets of Lagos. in recent times and seeing his yet unreleased movie pirated leaves him quite worried.
Funke Adesiyan loses house of rep. ticket Actress turned politician, FunkeAdesiyan has joined the league of politicians who lost their bid to represent their constituents in the just concluded general elections. Funke who contested for the House of Representative to represent Ibadan SouthEast Constituency in Oyo State, under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), lost the bid, and has since
conceded defeat. She accepted the outcome of the election via naijahottestgist.com, a notable social media platform, saying, “…I thank everyone for their support and prayers. Though we didn’t win, yet we didn’t lose. I am a better ME! We live to win another day if we refuse to lose focus and derail. FunkeAdesiyan.” Congratulating the actress for her sportsmanship, Alex Okoroji said, “Well done FunkeAdesi-
Funke Adesiyan yan, I’m very proud of you darling. Progress isn’t always about winning. It is about growing.
Nollywood actress, TemitopeOsoba has announced that her much anticipated movie, Single Ladies will be premiered come May 17th, 2015 at the Time Square event centre.Life & Times gathered that the movie premiere is expected to be graced by the crème de la crème of the industry as guests will be thrilled by performances from Pasuma Wonder, DammyKrane, AllwellAdemola, Jahbless, and Lace amongst others. Tope Osoba
Between Ronke Oshodi and 9ice has joined the league of celebrities who have veered into music. Breaking the norm, Oshodi Oke decided to feature Alapomeji crooner, Abolore Akande fondly known as 9ice in a song titled Ori Mi. According to Ronke, Ori Mi, is an inspirational song with a prayerful bent that craves for success. It was produced by music producer, ID Cabasa. Being a novice in the music industry, Ronke is being cautious on her yet-to-be-released debut album which was launched last year, and for which she also hopes to feature Pasuma, Oritsefemi and other A-list artistes.
Daily Times Nigeria
Thursday April 16, 2015
Stories by: Mutiat Alli and Okonkwo Ikechukwu Ethel
L5 Music & Movie Gists
Kemi Akindoju spotted on set of Surulere
Pop singer, Solid star releases new video
Dazzling mirage star actress, KemiLalaAkindoju has been spotted alongside The Meeting top notch, Rita Dominic on the set of yet another mind ny jointly owned by Mildred Okwo and
completion as work just commenced on
Artist impression of Solid star and Tiwa Savage Kemi Akindoju on set of Surulere
What your favourite celebrities are up to on Instagram Compiled by: Mutiat Alli
Actress an Globacom d ambassad Funke or, Akindele
wetin you carry? Yo u ping #colo r #swagg u#Jenifa diary pre mieres
Comedian and actor, Ayo Makun
r your actions @Alibabagcf neamer to lear om being a dr fr e m d ire insp ed transcity has help pa ca ip sh er Your lead
Dance hall singer, Cynthia Morgan thought I stop and buy cherry, looked yummy and I looked yummier
2014 Miss Tourism, Tamar Awobotu South Realtarmar: country, d 2n Africa my ophobic vio another xen , el u cr o to lence, this is ercy on us. m e av h d o G
Global Entertainment News L6
Daily Times Nigeria Thursday April 16, 2015
Glimpses from the 2015 MTV Movie Awards Opeoluwani Akintayo Sunday, April 12 was the day the much anticipated 2015 MTV Movie Awards took place at the Nokia Theatre In Los Angeles, California. This was the 24th installment of the award show and the second time the Nokia Theatre will serve as its venue. Talking about the biggest winners of the night, The Fault In Our Stars won top honours as Movie of the Year while
Divergent actress, Shailene Woodley took home four Golden Popcorn awards including Best Female Performance. Actor, Bradley Cooper won Best Male Performance for his portrayal of Chris Kyle in American Sniper and dedicated the award to the fallen Navy Seal. Additional big winners included Zac Efron, who took home two awards, Jennifer Lopez for Best Scared-AsS**t Performance, and Dylan O’Brien for ‘Breakthrough
See full winners list below: MOVIE OF THE YEAR The Fault in Our Stars Director: Josh Boone Producers: Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE Shailene Woodley- The Fault in Our Stars BEST MALE PERFORMANCE Bradley Cooper – American Sniper BEST SCARED-AS-S**T PERFORMANCE Jennifer Lopez – The Boy Next Door BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE Dylan O’Brien – The Maze Runner BEST SHIRTLESS PERFORMANCE ZacEfron – Neighbors BEST DUO ZacEfron and Dave Franco – Neighbors
Performance. Also earning special honours were Hollywood headliners Robert Downey Jr. and Shailene Woodley. Downey Jr. received the Generation Award, which was presented to him by his Avengers cast mates, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, and Mark Ruffalo. The moment tire cast assembled on stage in the run up to the release of
Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Shailene Woodley was the recipient of the Trailblazer Award for her brilliant young career, including The Fault in our Stars and the Divergent franchise. To entertain the audience, legendary rockers Fall Out Boy, gave an outstanding performance of their hit single Centuries before being joined on stage by white hot rapper, television appearance, Fetty
blazed through his hit, Trap Queen, joining the list of hip hop royalty who’ve collaborated with the Chicago punk Charli XCX also exploded on the stage for a performance of her hits Famous and Drop That Kitty with Tinashe and MTV Artist to Watch, Ty Dolla $ign. The performance was directed and choreographed by Diane Martel, the architect behind Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke’s epic twerkfest
at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Bella Thorne introduced the world to the trailer for the highly anticipated series Scream. All of the action for the night unfolded in front of a beautiful, twisted pop art cityscape designed by Australian-born L.A. Myla. The weird set included head and a multitude of “Easter eggs” waiting to be found by the careful viewer.
Photo of the Day
Amber Rose makes out with Amy Schumer! Host Amy Schumer, comedienne, 33, entertained the star-studded crowd at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre with endless jokes, but mixed things up in the middle of the show when she took on a sexier tone to share a kiss with Wiz Khalifa’s exwife, Amber Rose.
RED Carpet photos
BEST FIGHT Dylan O’Brien vs. Will Poulter – The Maze Runner BEST KISS AnselElgortand Shailene WoodleyThe Fault in Our Stars BEST WTF MOMENT Seth Rogenand Rose Byrne – Neighbors Meryl Streep – Into the Woods BEST MUSICAL MOMENT Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE Channing Tatum – 22 Jump Street BEST ON-SCREEN TRANSFORMATION Elizabeth Banks – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
Jenifer Lopez
Kelly Osbourne
Scarlett Johansson
Cara Delevingne
Brittany Snow
BEST HERO Dylan O’Brien– The Maze Runner Tito Ortiz and Amber Nichole
Daily Times Nigeria
Thursday April 16, 2015
L7 Music & Movie Review
Mutiat Alli and Opeoluwani Akintayo
Ellie Goulding: - Love Me Like You Do
Too much hype!
“Love Me like You Do� is a song recorded by English recording artist Ellie Goulding for the -
Producer: Mark Ronson
Kofo de first lady:
d Raising the potentials of the physically challenge
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Initial release: Running Time: Screenplay: Producer: Directors: Iyabo Ojo, Lizzy Anjorin and Saheed Balogun
Kanran and Kemi Korede
L8 Television
Daily Times Nigeria
Thursday April 16, 2015
Showing on
Showing on
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Thu, 9 Apr | 16
‘S5/E4 - Dragon Me Down’. Kim invites the Kardashian family to Miami to compete in the annual Dragon Boat Race. Kourtney realises that her sister-in-law might be pregnant.
101 M-Net
00:00 Walking With Dinosaurs 01:30 Entertainment Now! 02:00 The Legend Of Hercules 03:34 Behind The Scenes: Transformers Age... 04:00 MasterChef Australia 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Middle 06:30 NCIS: New Orleans 07:30 Chicago Fire 08:30 Jobs 10:40 Mom 11:05 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 Carte Blanche 14:00 The Blacklist 15:00 Modern Family 15:30 Two And A Half Men 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 Mike & Molly 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 The Fixer 19:30 Mob City 20:30 NCIS: New Orleans 21:30 CSI: Cyber
118 Telemundo
00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Aurora 03:00 Fearless Heart 03:50 Labour Of Love 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart 07:50 Labour Of Love 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart 12:00 Labour Of Love 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Aurora 15:20 Fearless Heart 16:10 Labour Of Love 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Aurora 19:30 Fearless Heart 20:20 Labour Of Love 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Aurora 22:50 Aurora
‘S2/E8 - Family Business’. Jamal reluctantly takes Charles as a client in a court case. Tasha goes undercover and starts a celebrity gossip blog.
120 BBC Entertainment
00:00 My Family
10:20 Deal Or No Deal
00:20 My Family
11:00 My Family
00:50 Top Gear
11:30 Hell’s Kitchen USA
01:45 The Musketeers
12:20 Top Gear
02:40 Come Dine With Me
13:15 Come Dine With Me
03:30 EastEnders
14:10 Dragons’ Den
04:05 Top Gear
15:10 The Weakest Link
05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series
16:00 EastEnders
05:25 QI
16:30 Deal Or No Deal
05:55 Would I Lie To You?
17:15 QI
06:30 EastEnders
17:50 Would I Lie To You?
07:00 Antiques Roadshow
18:25 Hell’s Kitchen USA
01:55 Perils Of The Sentimental Swordsman
07:55 The Weakest Link
19:15 Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond
03:20 Hole In The Wall
08:45 The Cube 09:35 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
155 AfricaMagic World
00:40 Unbeatable Banzuke 01:05 Guy Code 01:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach
03:45 Hole In The Wall 04:35 Unbeatable Banzuke 05:00 Primal Force 06:50 Video Zonkers 07:15 Hole In The Wall 07:45 Hole In The Wall
06:00 Good Morning Africa
08:15 Most Shocking
07:00 Star Gist
09:10 What Went Down
07:25 Redial
09:40 Repo Games
08:30 Living With Trisha
10:05 World’s Wildest Police Videos 00:00 Noose Of Gold
09:00 Good Morning Africa
10:00 Good Morning Africa
00:30 Good Morning Africa
10:00 So Wrong So Wright
00:07 Tinsel
11:00 Tinsel
01:44 The Dzigbordi Show
10:30 So Wrong So Wright
00:40 Living With Trisha
11:30 Star Gist
02:36 Good Morning Africa
11:00 Affections
01:28 Star Gist
12:00 Channel O Superfan
03:39 Good Morning Africa
11:30 Jara
01:55 Making Of A Mogul
12:30 Channel O: Volt
04:35 Noose Of Gold
12:00 Jara
02:23 At Home With Michelle Attoh
13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas
05:00 Good Morning Africa
12:30 Katemba Mu Kkooti
03:23 Good Morning Africa
14:00 Through The Eyes Of An African
06:00 Foot Prints
13:00 Music On Africa Magic
06:30 Foot Prints
14:00 Noose Of Gold
14:30 Star Gist
07:00 Star Gist
14:30 Noose Of Gold
15:00 Making Of A Mogul
07:30 Star Gist
15:00 Deception
15:30 Coco Bill
08:00 Lies That Bind
15:30 Foot Prints
15:45 Coco Bill
08:30 Lies That Bind
16:00 Foot Prints
05:09 Comedy Club Live In Lagos 2010
00:15 Unbeatable Banzuke
06:25 Video Zonkers
09:00 The Comedy Club Live In Lagos
04:43 Channel O: Volt
00:00 Video Zonkers
04:10 Unbeatable Banzuke
154 AfricaMagic Family
04:18 Channel O: Volt
128 SONY MAX
11:05 Video Zonkers 11:30 Video Zonkers 11:55 Most Shocking 12:50 Hole In The Wall 13:20 Hole In The Wall 13:50 What Went Down 14:20 Exposed 14:45 Exposed 15:10 Dream House 16:40 Hole In The Wall 17:10 Hole In The Wall 17:40 Video Zonkers 18:05 Video Zonkers 18:30 What Went Down
XT Exclusive
Poster!
VENUS
PULLS OUT OF US FED CUP TEAM
ALEXIS SANCHEZ
X7
X4,5 Thursday, April 16, 2015
N N A M H E L ISSUES
L I Z O E G N E L L CHA Nathan undergoes medical at
Chelsea X2
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Ennis-Hill
set for London 2012 Anniversary Games X7
X2
Thursday, April 16, 2015
EXTRATIME
Labadie banned for six months for biting
NATHAN UNDERGOES MEDICAL AT
CHELSEA B razilian wonderkid Nathan Allan de Souza is undergoing a medical at Stamford Bridge after the Premier League leaders reportedly agreed a deal worth £4.5m to beat off interest from Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. The 19-year-old youth international
broke through the ranks with Atletico Paranaense but has become embroiled in a legal battle with the Brazilian Serie A side and as a result is out of contract at the end of the month. Nathan burst on the scene in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 when he scored five goals to help Brazil reach
the quarter-finals. He has since progressed to the U-20 side and has notched up five appearances. The teenager is expected to return to Brazil before becoming the seventh Brazilian player at Chelsea full time in June.
D
agenham and Redbridge midfielder Joss Labadie has been banned for six months by the English Football Association (FA) after being found guilty of biting for a second time. The 24-year-old was charged by the FA after claims that he bit Stevenage defender Ronnie Henry in
a League Two encounter last month. Labadie was banned for 10 games after an independent regulatory commission found him guilty of violent conduct, with two Chesterfield players - Armand Gnanduillet and Ollie Banks - claiming he had bitten them while playing for Torquay United last season.
Djokovic named sportsman of the year
T
ennis star Novak Djokovic was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the second time at an awards ceremony on Wednesday. Djokovic ended 2014 as world number one, having collected his second Wimbledon title and emerged victorious at the ATP World Tour Finals for the fourth time in his career. Ethiopian athlete Genzebe Dibaba scooped the prize for World Sportswoman of the Year for her efforts in breaking three world records in different events in the
space of two weeks, while the team award went to Germany’s World Cup-winning football team. Schalk Burger’s return to rugby after recovering from meningitis earned him the Comeback of the Year gong, while Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo was recognised for his breakthrough year in Formula One. Other winners included wheelchair athlete Tatyana McFadden for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability, and retired tennis star Li Na, who claimed the Laureus Academy Exceptional Achievement Award.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
EXTRATIME
X3
NFF commiserates with Yobe FA boss
Onome Ebi (right) in action against Cameroon at the 2014 African Women Championship
T
EBI:
F A L C O N S WILL SHINE AGAIN!
CAF Confed Cup:
Salami demands big win for Wolves
Salami Warri, where they hope to spend a whole five days before the cracker which comes up at the Warri City Stadium on Saturday. There was a mild drama at the airport as Wolves refused to cater for two of them because CAF rules put it clearly that the host team can only cater for 25, but it was resolved amicably. Among the players who Warri Wolves need to focus on are captain Kabangu, Losiyo Bofumbo, Mombo Lusala and Kabangu Ndima.
Amaju Pinnick , NFF boss
Supersand Eagles trounce Egypt 4-1
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Bartholomew Ibenegbu (right) in action
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bolahan Salami has charged his Warri Wolves teammates to record a big win in a CAF Confederation Cup second round match on Saturday against MK Etancheite from DR Congo as a befitting birthday gift for him. “Wednesday is my birthday and I want my team mates to brace up for the game and use the victory as a gift. I will cherish it if we win by a wide margin,” said Salami Meanwhile, a 27-man delegation of MK Etancheite arrived Warri on Tuesday afternoon aboard Arik Airline, beaming with smiles. The team who landed at the Murtala Mohammed Airport at 11am were received by officials of Warri Wolves and air lifted immediately to
O
nome Ebi has revealed that African champions ’ Super falcons will show their class at the All Africa Games and Olympic qualifiers as well as the FIFA Wome n’s World Cup. The FK Minsk of Be larus player was part of the Falcons team thrashed Mali 8-0 in who Abuja to book a ticket to play in the women’s event of the All Africa football Games on a 9-1 aggre gate “Nigerians should exp ect nothing from us bu t great performance. God and hard work we With are surely going to ma ke our country proud Africa Games and Oly at the All mpic qualifiers. “We will as well go an d do well in the World Cup,” Ebi affirmed. The former Bayelsa Qu eens star can play as a defender, midfielder striker. and She has played in Swed en and Turkey before she moved to Belarus .
he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has commiserated with the Chairman of Yobe State Football Association, Alhaji Mohammed Garba, who lost his wife on Tuesday night. Hajiya Fatima Garba’s remains were committed to mother earth on Wednesday morning. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said the NFF and the entire Nigeria football family shared the grief and sense of loss of Mohammed Garba. “It is heartbreaking news, but God knows best. All we can do is share in the sorrow and pain of Alhaji Garba at this moment,” he said. Chairman of State FA Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau relayed the sad news and disclosed that the late Hajiya Garba is survived by six children. Garba was last month re-elected as Chairman of Yobe State Football Association.
he Supersand Eagles continued their imperious run at the 2015 African Beach Soccer Championship with a 4-1 thrashing of Egypt on Wednesday. On the beach of Roche Caiman Sports Complex in Victoria, where they sliced host nation Seychelles 10-1 on Tuesday, Audu Adamu Ejo’s wards were somewhat stretched by the North Africans, as the first period ended scoreless. Nigeria went 1-0 up in the second period and then ran riot in the third period, shooting three quick goals past the Egyptians. Egypt could only pull one back as
Seychelles M
r. Bernard Camille from the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles has been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as Referee for this weekend’s CAF Confederation Cup second round, first leg match between Warri Wolves of Nigeria and FCMK of Democratic Republic of Congo. Camille’s compatriots, Hensley Danny Petrousse, Jean Joseph Felix Ernesta and Nelson Emile Fred will
the Supersand Eagles coasted to a 4-1 win and look to today’s big match against Cote d’Ivoire with much confidence. Emeka Ogbonna, who hit a brace in the whitewashing of Seychelles on Tuesday, secured another brace, with skipper Isiaka Olawale and Abu Azeez, who also got a brace against the host nation, weighing in with one goal each. Today’s session with the Ivorians is expected to be tougher as the West African rivals possess a number of quality players just like the Nigerians. However, Nigeria boasts a greater pedigree in the game, with plenty of FIFA World Cup experience.
officials for Warri Wolves, FCMK clash
serve as 1st Assistant, 2nd Assistant and Reserve Referee respectively. The Match Commissioner is Alhaji Mukaila Adamu Hassan from Ghana. Wolves have overcome Racing Club Bobo-Dioulasso of Burkina Faso and Dedebit FC of Ethiopia to reach this stage, while FCMK famously walloped Ahly Shandy of Sudan to make the second round. Nigerian official Joshua Opeyemi Amao will be Referee for the clash between ASEC Mimosas of Cote
d’Ivoire and Onze Createurs of Mali in Abidjan, in the same competition, with fellow Nigerians Peter Edibe, Abel Baba and Abubakar Ago as 1st Assistant, 2nd Assistant and Reserve Referee respectively. Former FIFA referee Mohamed Guezzaz from Morocco will be Match Commissioner. Also in action is former NFF President, General Dominic Oneya (rtd), who is Match Commissioner for the clash between Hearts of Oak and Djoliba FC of Mali in Accra.
Alexis Sanchez Alexis Alejandro Sanchez December 19, 1988 (age 26) Tocopilla, Chile 1.69 m (5 ft 6 12 ⁄ in) Forward/Winger Arsenal 17
Cobreloa
Cobreloa Udinese Colo-Colo (loan) River Plate (loan) Barcelona Arsenal
Chile U-20 Chile
Name: Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number: Youth career 2004–2005: Senior career 2005–2006: 2006–2011: 2006–2007: 2007–2008: 2011–2014: 2014–Present: National team 2007: 2006–Present:
PERSONAL INFORMATION
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EXTRATIME
Thursday, April 16, 2015
ALEX
SAN
XIS
Thursday, April 16, 2015
EXTRATIME
NCHEZ
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Thursday, April 16, 2015
EXTRATIME
INTERVIEW
CANADA
GERMANY ARE TITLE CONTENDERS
–JONES As president of the Local Organising Committee, Steffi Jones was the face of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011, bringing her enthusiastic and open manner to the role to ensure that the finals were a huge success. The end of the tournament heralded a new chapter in Jones’s life as she was appointed director for women’s and girls’ football at the German Football Association. Capped 111 times for her country, the retired defender’s next challenge is already lined up after it was announced that she will replace Silvia Neid as national team coach in September 2016. For now, though, her focus is solely on the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. Unsurprisingly, this tournament, as well as newcomers, old acquaintances and youth development work were all on the agenda when Jones spoke exclusively to FIFA.com recently. Excerpts: How excited are you about this World Cup? Very excited, because you can now really sense the emotions and anticipation that the event is right around the corner. The fact that there will be eight more teams there this time around is just fantastic for the sport’s development. What do you believe will be the greatest differences between the last World Cup in Germany and the upcoming tournament in Canada? Having 24 teams and playing in a much larger country across great distances and several time zones are all much more significant factors. Some of these aspects have presented Canada with a real challenge. Eight teams will be making their first appearance at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. How difficult will it be for these debutants? Some of the sides, such as Switzerland, the Netherlands and Spain, have already featured at European Championships or youth World Cups, so in that respect the experience won’t be anything new. Now they’ve reached a new level at which to test themselves; going up against the best teams in the world is fantastic for the development of these countries.
It’s the fact that the sides are competing internationally and have an opportunity to play at this level. It’s crucial that they’re able to show their associations: “We need this support to get us through a World Cup.” That’s the first step to opening doors – for the youth too. You need good young players coming through the ranks to continue fielding a national team.
Apart from the usual suspects, do you think there will be a surprise package among the teams, and who do you think that might be? There will certainly be some of those. There are the favourites, and our national coach has already named nine or ten teams in that category alone. We’re top of the world rankings, so in that respect we’re among the title contenders, but I think the Netherlands, Spain and perhaps even Thailand could spring a surprise. We never can tell! How will Canada fare as a host nation? Extremely well; I have absolutely no doubts about that. They gained plenty of experience from the U-20 World Cup in 2014 and were able to learn from that, so they know what’s coming. This time they have even more teams to look after. I’m looking forward to it and I think they’ll do a great job. I also hope their team goes far; it’s always great for the organisers if the home side performs well. You mentioned that having 24 teams in the competition is important for the sport’s development. What exactly makes that so vital?
How would you rate Germany’s chances in Canada? All the teams have similar chances. They’ve got to prepare for the conditions and climate out there. We’re under a bit of pressure as we’re going to the tournament as the top-ranked side and are keen to go a very long way – that’s our aim. The team made a surprising exit from the 2011 competition at the quarterfinal stage. Does that provide the players with a special incentive to show the world that this is their year? 2011 has definitely been scrutinised
but it’s now been put to one side. We won the European Championship in 2013 and we’ve continued to develop the side since then. It’s something we don’t want to hear about anymore. We’re keen to look ahead to a fantastic World Cup against some huge sides. The men’s team led the way in Brazil in 2014 and have repeatedly said that their greatest strength was team spirit. How important is this quality on the way to the title and how can you conjure it up? That has always been our recipe for success too. We’ve always had a very good blend of young and more experienced players within the squad and a fantastic team spirit. Of course we’ve had a little bit of luck along the way too, and we’re hoping for some more of that this year. When you compare Germany with other countries, can the team learn anything from their rivals? I think that it’s always been extremely important to test yourselves against strong opponents. That began with the Algarve Cup and is now continuing with preparation games that enable teams to work on the finishing touches. It all depends on a side’s form on the day. Each World Cup tells its own story and that means everybody can beat anybody. After the 2011 Women’s World Cup and 2013 European Championship, several vastly experienced players retired, including Birgit Prinz, Inka Grings and Kerstin Garefrekes. How tough is that kind of upheaval? We never really experienced any
radical change because we have always integrated promising youngsters into the squad. It’s a fact of life that sometimes players retire, but then others break through. It’s really not that noticeable because the newer members of our squad have already played at an extremely high level thanks to the U-17 and U-20 World Cups. They face similar international competition in the Women’s Bundesliga and are used to that kind of environment, so in that respect there’s really no great upheaval at all. Would it be fair to say that Germany have so many talented footballers to choose from that as soon as one player retires, another takes their place? I wouldn’t put it quite like that. It’s worth emphasising that we take special care to ensure that our young players reach the level of the women’s national team at a relatively early stage. That’s a philosophy of ours, a common theme that begins with the U-15s and is carried through to the senior side. It’s an important part of our work and we’re extremely pleased with it. FIFA also organises youth competitions such as the U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cup. How important is it for a player to gain international experience at a young age and develop their skills at these tournaments? I think it’s incredibly important for us to have these opportunities and enable the players to test themselves on the international stage early on in their careers. It also demonstrates that many countries receive far more support because these events exist, because it’s recognised that if you’ve got a women’s team, you also need to build a foundation for it – and those competitions are superb for that.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
EXTRATIME
Tennis
X7
Cricket
Cricket legend, Benaud, laid to rest
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16 number orld Venus Williams has withdrawn from the s Fed Cup team State d Unite to face Italy on Saturday and Sunday for personal reasons. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, 34, has been replaced by Lauren Davis. Venus’s sister Serena Williams, the world number one, Alison Riske and Christina McHale complete the US team. Italy have won the last four meetings between the two nations, and the winners of this tie will move up into the World Group next year.
A
private funeral and commemoration service attended by family members and former players has been held for former Australian captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud. Former players Shane Warne and Ian Chappell attended, as did former teammate and Anglican lay-preacher Brian Booth, who led the service. Benaud died on Friday, aged 84, after complications from skin cancer. He was remembered in a private funeral attended only by his immediate family. But later at the commemoration service, Warne and Chappell were joined by former Australia captain Mark Taylor and current test skipper Michael Clarke. In the memorial booklet, Benaud’s family described him as “a special person who means so much to each of us in many different ways”.
S U N E V S U F O T U O S L L U P FED CUP TEAM
Spieth relishing future
McIlroy rivalry
M
asters champion Jordan Spieth says he is relishing a future rivalry with Rory McIlroy after winning his first major. Spieth, 21, broke several scoring records in his four-stroke victory over Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson to claim the only major McIlroy is yet to win. “He’s got four majors, something I can only dream about,” said Spieth, who finished six shots clear of McIlroy. “I look forward to getting in the heat of the moment with him a few more times in the near future.” Texan Spieth, who entered the tournament with a win and two second-place finishes from his last three PGA Tour starts, became the first man to reach 19 under at the Augusta National with a birdie on the 15th in Sunday’s final round. However, a bogey at the last meant he had to settle for equalling the record 18-under total set by Tiger Woods when he won his first Green Jacket in 1997. Spieth, now world number two, also ended the week with a record number of birdies at the event - 28 and set new low scores at the end of rounds two and three.
Ennis-Hill Athletics
set for Anniversary Games B
ritain’s Jessica Ennis-Hill will compete at the Anniversary Games Diamond League meeting in London’s Olympic Stadium on July 24-25. The 2012 Olympic heptathlon champion is returning to competition after giving birth to her son Reggie in July 2014. In May, Ennis-Hill, 29, will take part in her first heptathlon since London 2012 at the Hypo-Meeting in Austria. She is “realistic about the challenge of getting back to competitive shape” but is targeting the 2016 Rio Olympics. An Achilles tendon injury brought an early end to the Sheffield athlete’s 2013 season after a handful of single discipline events, but after giving birth she returned to training in October 2014. “My race schedule is starting to take shape and it will be good to compete,” she said. “My main goal this season is to be as competitive as possible with the long term goal being at the Rio Olympics.” Ennis-Hill, who was fourth in the 100m hurdles and eighth out of eight in the long jump at the 2013 Anniversary Games, is yet to specify which event she will compete in this year.
Cycling
Golf
Hoy tips Wiggins to break hour record
S
ix-time Olympic gold medal winner Sir Chris Hoy says Sir Bradley Wiggins has “a 99% chance” of breaking the world hour record on June 7. Tour de France winner and four-time Olympic champion Wiggins, 34, will try to beat Rohan Dennis’ mark of 52.4km (32.5m) at London’s Olympic velodrome. “If Bradley really sets his mind to it you would not bet against him breaking the world record,” said Hoy. “Everything he has set out to achieve he has.” Wiggins took part in his last road race for Team Sky at the ParisRoubaix spring classic on Sunday and will now return to the track to race the team pursuit for Great Britain at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Hoy, who has taken up motor racing since retiring from cycling, added: “Bradley’s now focusing on the track and the hour record is the perfect transition from the road back on to the track. “It’s a big challenge, a big test, but I think Bradley is definitely capable of breaking the record.” Fellow British riders Graeme Obree and Chris Boardman both held the record in the 1990s. Another of Wiggins’ compatriots, Alex Dowsett, will make an attempt on the mark on May 2 in Manchester. Hoy believes Wiggins can boost Great Britain’s team pursuit squad in Rio after the disappointment of finishing second to Australia at February’s World Championships.
X8
Thursday, April 16, 2015
EXTRATIME
EXTRATIME tters most and occasion when it ma the to e ris se rai to sis. Mesut Ozil class on a regular ba ens Lehmann wants domestic show his to l ht him to win na ug se bo Ar l e na pir rse ins “A d his game an Lehmann said: ationally. int ss. nationally and ern and European succe on championships nd Lo the g rin du goal. Ozil has impressed , That should be his should consecutive victories ht t on his own but he eig tha of do n’t run ca e b’s “H clu t en sp big er in ng difference Arsene We the one making the demonstrating why elder from Real be dfi mi tential but has y po an rm the Ge t go the big to lure games. He’s Madrid. t to show it.” pionship side s not been consisten The 26-year-old ha Arsenal face Cham tes Stadium, ira Em p semi-final Cu the at FA e during his tim Reading in an s er’ ng We for s ce Saturday and rforman though, and his pe at Wembley on . inion rites to win the side have divided op hmann are favou Le r pe ee alk go l n for the second Former Arsena a match- competitio be to y ilit ab the s ccessive season. knows Ozil ha the playmaker to su d ge en all ch s ha d winner an
J
Ozil
N N A M H E L ISSUES
L I Z O E G N E L CHAL
Barca L Alves
can cope without Alves
Lyon president handed two-match ban
L
–Enrique
uis Enrique insists Barcelona have enough quality at their disposal to cover Dani Alves. The Brazil international has been involved in a long-running transfer saga, with his contract at Camp Nou set to expire at the end of the campaign. A move to a different league appears the most likely outcome should the
former Sevilla man decide not to pen fresh terms, with the likes of Manchester United and Paris SaintGermain the seeming front-runners for his signature. “Dani Alves is a key player for us but we have a big squad and the different players we have to substitute him give me confidence,” he said.
RESULTS FC Porto 3 - 1 Bayern PSG 1 - 3 Barcelona
yon president Jean-Michel Aulas has been handed a two-match ban by the French Football Federation for comments made about a referee on Twitter. Aulas branded the performance of Clement Turpin “appalling”, following his side’s 1-1 Ligue 1 draw with PSG in February, in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic levelled with a 69th minute. The comments landed Aulas a date with the FFF’s ethics committee, who suspended him from all official duties for two matches. The ban comes into effect on Monday.