Dtn 17 3 15

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 16th March 2015.

EXCHANGE RATES Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN)

GAINERS

Selling(NGN)

LOSERS

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

GLAXOSMITH

42

2.00

4.76%

SEPLAT

408.5

-21.50

POUNDS STERLING

289.982

290.7218

291.4615

7UP

155

1.00

0.65%

NB

132.05

-6.95

-5.26%

140

-4.50

-3.21%

80.4

-4.15

-5.16%

EURO

207.3876

SWISS FRANC

207.9167

194.5023

194.9985

208.4457

MOBIL

151

0.80

0.53%

TOTAL

195.4947

VITAFOAM

3.7

0.06

1.62%

WAPCO

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NIGERIA

ABUJA Low 27°C High 43°C

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N150

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.67

ENUGU Low 27°C High 36°C

KANO Low 24°C High 42°C

MAIDUGURI

LAGOS Low 27°C High 36°C

-5.26%

P/HARCOURT Low 24°C High 33°C

Low 28°C High 44°C

Incite polls violence, go to jail –World Crimes court Ï ^ è ^#^ ƏƆ ƆƓ Ɠ Ə Ƈ Ɠ ƏƗ Ï 9 Ɠ ôƐ ƐƆƏƌƈ Ƌ ƋƆ ƒƆè ƕ CƆ

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

International Crimes Court (ICC) on Monday had a word of advice for those who might be encouraging violence in Nigeria as the general elections draw CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

INSIDE

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, March 17, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan dancing with Reggae musicians at a Showbiz Interactive session with him in Lagos... on Sunday

Mudiaga

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Clement Enajemo The style crafts man

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Get a career in fashion L5 P

Battle of the sex symbols: Iyanya and Burna boy

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CARL LEWIS

now free of terrorists

PASSES ON IN BENIN X2

LEWIS

X4,5 CARL

Name: Full name: Nationality: Born: Place of birth: Residence: Height: Weight: Sport: Events: College team: Club: Retired:

Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton Lewis American July 1, 1961 (age 53) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. Houston, Texas, U.S. 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) 80 kg (180 lb; 13 st) Athletics 100 metres, 200 metres, long jump, 4x100 m relay Houston Cougars Santa Monica Track Club 1997

Medal record Olympic Games Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver:

1984 Los Angeles 100 m 1984 Los Angeles 200 m 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m relay 1984 Los Angeles Long jump 1988 Seoul 100 m 1988 Seoul Long jump 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m relay 1992 Barcelona Long jump 1996 Atlanta Long jump 1988 Seoul 200 m

World Championships Gold: 1983 Helsinki Gold: 1983 Helsinki Gold: 1983 Helsinki Gold: 1987 Rome Gold: 1987 Rome Gold: 1987 Rome Gold: 1991 Tokyo Gold: 1991 Tokyo Silver: 1991 Tokyo Bronze: 1993 Stuttgart

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Pan American Games Gold: Gold: Bronze: Goodwill Games Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver: Bronze:

1987 Indianapolis 1987 Indianapolis 1979 San Juan

100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 200 m

Long jump 4×100 m relay Long jump

1986 Moscow 4×100 m relay 1990 Seattle Long jump 1994 Saint Petersburg 4×100 m relay 1990 Seattle 100 m 1986 Moscow 100 m

Olympic Boycott Games Bronze: 1980 Philadelphia

Long jump

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Military on Mon-

day announced the complete dislodging of Boko Haram terrorists from Yobe and Adamawa states,

9

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

About Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton “Carl” Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals, including nine gold, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold.

His career spanned from 1979 to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired.

Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper who topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events frequently from 1981 to the early 1990s. He set world records in the 100 m, 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m relays, while his world record in the indoor long jump has stood since 1984.

His 65 consecutive victories in the long jump achieved over a span of 10 years is one of the sport’s longest undefeated streaks. Over the course of his athletics career, Lewis broke ten seconds for the 100 metres 15 times and 20 seconds for the 200 metres 10 times.

His accomplishments have led to numerous accolades, including being voted “World Athlete of the Century” by the International Association of Athletics Federations and “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee., “Olympian of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Athlete of the Year” by Track & Field News in 1982, 1983, and 1984.

After retiring from his athletics career, Lewis became an actor and has appeared in a number of films. In 2011 he attempted to run for a seat as a Democrat in the New Jersey Senate, but was removed from the ballot due to the state’s residency requirement.

Lewis owns a marketing and branding company named C.L.E.G., which markets and brands products and services including his own.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Military: Yobe, Adamawa

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

Poster!

XT Exclusive

BAZUAYE

All the money in CBN can’t buy me – Falae 6 I am Ijaw, not Nigerian, says Dokubo-Asari

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

RONALDO EYES OLD TRAFFORD RETURN

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Poyet

dumps Sunderland X2

GUNNERS vow to down Monaco X8

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Politics Page Three

3

s

Editorial Danger of Boko Haram-ISIS alliance

I

t would amount to playing the ostrich if Nigerians pretend that the recent alliance between Boko Haram and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) poses no threat to the country’s security. To all intents and purpose, this alliance could be said to be the biggest danger facing not only Nigeria but also to the entire West African sub region. Moreover, no one would deny that the alliance is a propaganda coup for Boko Haram.

Definitely, something must be done and urgently too to checkmate the alliance. That is why we welcome the reported heightened state of alert at the country’s international airports and land borders in order to interdict and arrest the Boko Haram members rumoured to have travelled to Syria and Iraq for military training.

For long, Nigeria’s land, sea and air borders have been a source of concern due to their porosity and even lack of effective patrols by border guards.

Geographically, Nigeria has very long and fluid borders with some West African states. That is why it has been easy for Boko Haram to recruit fighters from those countries and even establish safe havens and training camps on their soil. The enduring longevity of Boko Haram in the past five years owes its explanation of this fact. So the potential of future disruption to peace in Nigeria in spite of recent military successes against the jihadist group is still there.

Reason is that Boko Haram is known to have long-standing connections to Al-Qaeda-aligned Al Shabaab in Somalia and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Now with ISIS carving out a large swathe of territory in Iraq and Syria and its military successes in spite of Western air strikes has made it even more appealing to disenchanted youths in search of martyrdom. Such youths can be found in the country’s Northeast where Boko Haram insurgency has uprooted thousands of them.

Fighting on its last leg, Boko Haram may believe that an alliance would help them draw on the technical expertise of the ISIS network in Libya, especially in the area of bomb making and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). They also see such help as a way to weather the pounding they are getting from the regional military forces currently operating against them.

All said, Boko Haram has potentially widened its appeal with the ISIS endorsement. Its videos are now subtitled in French, a clear nod to neigbouring francophone audience.

To show its endorsement, ISIS has called on those willing to fight its cause, but can’t get to the Levant to join Boko Haram instead. Such call is being heeded; especially with the recent defection of the son of a former chief justice who crossed to Syria from Turkey.

That is why the country’s security operatives must put in place all necessary machinery to stop the infiltration of ISIS into Nigeria through its local proxy, Boko Haram.

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Hell burns with human vices…

Yemi Ogunsola

ÏÏÏSOME people conceive

of Hell as some distant barbecue industry where human souls are roasted in an eternal fire — with the Devil as Chief Mai Suya and God as a possible shareholder.

Having shifted their focus to that distant place, these people fail to recognise the hells all around them.

Hell is ubiquitous. It exists to varying degrees everywhere human vices are given unrestrained expression.

But the worst hells are created by powerful men

with twisted, crooked souls.

And these human hells are found in every society. Wise societies take care to shield these twisted souls from power, or ensure that powerful men don’t get crooked.

But crooked men are in reality, moral weaklings; men lacking the strength to toe the path of integrity.

It’s easier to cheat a weaker fellow than to be fair to him, and it’s easier to execute a shoddy contract than to do a quality one…

Crooked men usually take the easier routes. That way, they give unrestrained expression to their vices which therefore continue to multiply.

Leave crooked men at the helm of affairs long enough and crookedness goes epi-

Words On Marble :

dailytimesng

demic. It permeates everywhere — families, offices, schools, churches, mosques, e.t.c.

As the Yoruba put it, Bile ba ngbe osika ti ko gbe oloto, b’o b ape titi oore a ma a suni i se.

When the system keeps favouring the wicked at the expense of the upright, with time, the upright gets dispirited and joins the bandwagon.

That way, pervasive decadence sets in. And human vices reign supreme.

That is the stuff of which hells are made. Hells actually burn with human vices.

Such a state of affairs never leads a nation to progress. Never. Rather, it leads to the precipice of self-destruction.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director

Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

Chief Commercial Officer

Deputy Editors

Noel Anosike

Doyin Awomosu

Group Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Tunji Okegbola

Yemi Ogunsola Sam Nzeh

Bureau Chief, Northern Operations Celestine Okafor

Group News Editor

Online Editor

Editorial Page Editor

Business Editor

Segun Adio Okay Osuji

Sports Editor

Andrew Ekejiuba

Head of Operations Innocent Nwankwo

Adetayo Adelaja Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

Head ICT (Shared Services) Banjo Ayorinde

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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

Albert Einstein

Maya Angelou

Desmond Tutu

Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.

My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy. That some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said ‘Let us pray.’ We closed our eyes.

When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Don’t institute lying as state policy, APC tells Presidency Augustine Aminu & Mathew Dadiya

ÏÏÏ The All Progressives Con-

gress (APC) has, again, cautioned the Presidency against peddling lies as a state policy while it frowned at the problems confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system under the Jonathan administration.

APC also called on President Goodluck Jonathan and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians based on the false claim that Mr. President spoke to the Moroccan King Mohammed VI, when no such telephone conversation took place.

Addressing journalists on

Monday, at the APC presidential campaign head office, Deputy Director General, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and Director of Media, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Jonathan’s belated admission that he never spoke with the Moroccan King at any time didn’t go far enough adding that instead of apologising to Nigerians for the diplomatic embarrassment his administration had caused Nigeria, the Presidency was blaming ‘some fall guys at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’.

They said “we, in the APC, are outraged and embarrassed beyond words, that the Jonathan government can elevate lying as a state policy. The false claim that President Jonathan

spoke with the Moroccan King Mohammed VI, when no such telephone conversation ever took place, has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the eyes of the world. It is yet another in the series of lying by the Presidency”.

“By our tradition and culture, lying is not encouraged, even among children. Why did President Jonathan have to wait until Morocco recalled its Ambassador to Nigeria before he issued a clarification on the issue?” According to Mamora, as the President, the buck stops at his desk, and it was, therefore, inappropriate for the President to dismiss a serious diplomatic gaffe with levity and blame some poor, anonymous civil servants for the row. He should just

Court sacks Ibinabo-led Actors Guild exco

Wife of the President, Patience Jonathan (middle), Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose (2nd left); Wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose (left) and Minister of State, Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye (right) during PDP Women Rally in support of the 2nd term of President Goodluck Jonathan in Ado-Ekiti… on Monday Photo: Ekiti Government House

Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏJustice James Tsoho of a Fed-

FCT minister advises Fulani herdsmen on polls Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Minister of

the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has advised leaders of the Fulani herdsmen, from the six area councils, to eschew violence during the forthcoming general election.

The Minister, who had a meeting with them on Monday in Abuja, pointed out that Fulani herdsmen were known for their peaceful co-existence with others and urged them to continue to toe

own up, apologise and stop lying, not only this, but, on several others, of which the PDP and Jonathan are culpable. A word is enough for the wise”.

Meanwhile, the APC has frowned at the problems confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system under the Jonathan administration.

The APC observed that four years after, Nigeria’s health institutions, especially, at the tertiary level had witnessed a systemic decay with doctors and other health workers’ prolonged labour disputesnever seen in history of Nigeria.

According to Mamora, salaries of most health workers at the federal level have not been paid till date.

that line to ensure minimal friction between them and the host communities before, during and after the forthcoming general election.

The Minister directed the area council chairmen to consider putting some Fulani chiefs on a monthly salary in order to give them a sense of belonging, while he used the occasion to set up a task force on crime and cattle rustling control to be chaired by the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu.

Inalegwu advised the Fulani

Mohammed

herdsmen to be cautious in providing abode for their kith and kin coming in from other parts of the country since “no one can be trusted” and gave the herdsmen a telephone hotline to be called in case of distress.

eral High Court sitting in Lagos has sacked the Ibinabo Fiberisima-led executive of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).

The court, on Monday, declared the election that brought the sacked executive into office as null and void and of no effect and that the election was conducted against a clear order of court that parties should maintain status quo.

The Judge further ordered Ibinabo Fiberisima to, henceforth, stop parading herself as the AGN President, as well as other national officers that emerged from the said election.

Besides, he ordered her and the national officers of her executive, to render full accounts of monies generated by the AGN under her, including details of income and expenditure, within 90 days of the date of delivery of the judgment.

The suit that brought about the judgment was filed by an actor, St. Maradona Mikevine, who was the National Treasurer in the election that produced another actor, Emeka Ike as AGN President. Mikevine, through his lawyer, Malcom Omirhobo, had contended that the election that brought her into office was conducted in the face of a subsisting court order restraining the conduct of AGN election.

5 News No restriction on sanitation day in Lagos - Court Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏA Federal High Court sit-

ting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has stopped the monthly environmental sanitation policy of the Lagos State Government.

Justice Mohammed Idris held that there was no law in force in Lagos State, by which any citizen could be kept indoors, compulsorily.

The court added that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, grants freedom of movement to every citizen and such freedom cannot be taken away by executive proclamation, in the absence of any law to that effect."

It found that there was no regulation in force, presently, in Lagos State, which authorised the restriction of movement of citizens, on the last Saturday of the month, for the purpose of observing the environmental sanitation exercise.

The suit, filed by human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, against the InspectorGeneral of Police and the Lagos State Government, challenged the restriction of human movement on the last Saturday of every month, for the purpose of observing the environmental sanitation exercise.

Osinbajo can’t win S’West for APC - PDP leader Michael Bamigbola

Osogbo ÏÏÏA Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Special Adviser to the President on Social Development and Special Duties, Hon. Kunle Yusuf, has declared that the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Yemi Osinbajo, cannot win the South West for the APC. Rather, Yusuf said the people would vote massively for President Goodluck Jonathan, considering the development witnessed in the region since Jonathan assumed office as President.

Yusuf, in a chat with newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State on Monday berated the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, who, he said, did not have any synergy with the people of the South West.

According to him “Buhari, from all indications, has no synergy with the people of the South West geo- political zone of the country, so also, is Osinbajo."

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

‘Fuel polls violence, go to jail’ Continued from page 1 near: Don’t.

However, the main actors in the election have continued in their war of words, with the spokespersons of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) issuing adversarial press statements against each other.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega has declared that he has no plan to embark on a terminal leave which would mean that he would not supervise the elections.

A statement by the Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, on

Monday warned of dire consequences for those who might be fuelling violence before, during and after the elections.

Benouda declared that even if such persons escape Nigerian courts, they would be prosecuted at the ICC. The statement, entitled: “I reiterate my call to refrain from violence,” read: “Following my statement of the 2nd of February 2015, and my Office’s subsequent visit to Nigeria from the 3rd to the 5th of February, I reiterate my previous message.

“At a time when abhorrent levels of violence already plague parts of the country, I recall that the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court’”) has juris-

diction over Rome Statute crimes committed on the territory of Nigeria. Any person who incites or engages in acts of violence in the context of the upcoming elections or otherwise – including by ordering, inciting, encouraging or contributing to the commission of crimes that fall within ICC’s jurisdiction – is liable to prosecution; either by Nigerian Courts or by the ICC.” The prosecutor added: “No one should doubt my Office’s resolve to prosecute individuals responsible for the commission of ICC crimes, whenever necessary.

“Violence is not a solution. The conduct and outcome of elections in Nigeria, free from violence, will not only prevent further instabili-

Kids hang on the boot of a dilapidated car on Kobape Road, Abeokuta Ogun State… on Monday

PHOTO: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

ty in the country, but will also send a clear message that electoral competition does not have to result in violence and crimes that shock the conscience of humanity.”

The verbal war by the APC and the PDP continued on Monday.

At a press conference addressed in Abuja by its Deputy Director General of the APC, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, the APC berated the PDP-led Federal Government over the continued fuel scarcity in some parts of the country, as well as what he called the collapse of the country’s health sector. He also accused President Goodluck Jonathan of lying over the recent diplomatic row between Nigeria and Morocco.

He said: “Across the country, except Lagos and Abuja where fuel scarcity has eased off, due largely to the huge presence of the media and very active Civil Society, the situation in other parts of Nigeria has been that of pains, anguish and frustration.”

Mamora continued: “These are the issues in this campaign and they are the issues that affect our people. Rather than confronting these issues, the Jonathanians in their Buhariphobia continue to engage in campaign of calumny and hate propaganda against our presidential candidate and other leading lights in our party. The APC and its Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari are poised to tackle headlong these hydra headed socio-economic problems and give Nigerians a new lease of life.”

On its part, the PDP accused the APC of engaging in dangerous Continued on page 12

I can’t be bought to support GEJ – Falae Ï 0 ƏƌƆƏ d10 disowns ‘aide’ Ï Lai Mohammed: He has our respect ÏÏÏFormer Secretary to the Fed-

eral Government (SGF) and leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae, has expressed surprise over statements credited to the All Progressives Party (APC) that his support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid was born out of financial inducement. He has also disowned a statement credited to him that he branded the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential candidate Major General Muhammadu Buhari as enemies of Nigeria.

A self-acclaimed aide of Chief Falae, Remi Olayiwola, had while addressing journalists in Akure on Sunday claimed that the former SGF described APC members as “beneficiaries of the corrupt system that do not want change in the status quo.”

In a swift reaction to the purported statement, the spokesman of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had also on Sunday told the Daily Times that Falae’s position must have been induced by the Presidency.

Reacting to the report, Chief Continued on page 12

Military flush terrorists out of Yobe, Adamawa Continued from page 1 effectively bringing to an end the reign of terrorists in the two states.

Director of Defence Information (DDI) Major-Gen. Christopher Olukolade, stated this on his twitter handle.

He wrote: “We announce the reclaiming of Goniri today (Monday). That was the last stronghold of terrorists in Yobe. Yobe is Free”.

In the same vein, after days of intense fighting, Nigerian troops also on Monday afternoon finally flushed out Boko Haram insurgents from Bama in Borno State, Defence authorities said.

In a tweet, the Defence Head-

quarters wrote: “Nigerian troops have this afternoon (Monday) routed terrorists from Bama in Borno State. Mopping up operation is ongoing”.

Bama, the second largest Local Government Area in Borno State, fell to Boko Haram insurgents on September 11, 2014.

The town was one of two most important towns held by Boko Haram insurgents for months.

The other, Gwoza, is now the only town under the control of the insurgents.

Nigerian troops had on Thursday successfully flushed the insurgents from Adamawa State, making Yobe the second state to be rid of the terrorists.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army

Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, on Monday, vowed that Nigerian Army will ‘never again’ be humiliated.

Minimah stated this in his remark at the opening ceremony of a three day COAS First quarter conference holding in Abuja to review Army operations, logistics, and general administration of troops as well as Nigerian Army preparations for upcoming 2015 general elections.

He said that the last three months particularly the past few weeks have been very eventful as the army rooted out the Boko Haram insurgents from some local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. He however, said that the Nigerian Army was

yet to reach Damas.

The COAS acknowledged the pains of the public and their concerns and expressed the Nigerian Army’s profound appreciation to all who stood by her through thick and thin particularly in the last one year.

“Despite some of the reverses we suffered in the course of our operations, the good people of this country never wavered but consistently solidarised and identified with us,” he said.

“They are understandably frustrated when we failed to perform to expectation but are always quick to show their support and appreciation for our successes”.

“The challenge that we continue to face has again brought

to fore the strength perseverance, long-suffering and resilience of the Nigerian nation and its people,” he added.

Minimah disclosed that new equipment, enhanced training and improved welfare services of personnel in the theatre of war, troop’s commitment, support of sister services, the Nigeria Police Force, security agencies and local vigilantes groups accounted for the recent successes.

He said the troops will continue to draw inspiration from Nigerians in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents and invite them to embrace “our battle cry of never again”.

Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Minister lauds Army over recaptured towns Chika Okafor Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Minister of Youth De-

velopment, Mr. Boni Haruna, has commended the Nigerian military for the recapture of Madagali and other towns in Adamawa State from the Boko Haram terrorists.

Haruna, through a press release, said that with the recovery of the territories, residents would be able to return home

and pick up the pieces of their past lives.

He called on the displaced people to return to their former towns as he assured them of government's commitment to rebuilding and securing their communities.

Haruna also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for fulfilling his promise to Nigerians on the recapture of the towns before the rescheduled elections which would ensure

peaceful and transparent polls.

He noted that the recapture of Mildo, Sabon Gari, Gulba and Madagali, was a sign of the President's commitment to the protection of the country.

Haruna also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin preparations for actual voting in the areas as “the people have strong desire to perform their civic responsibility in their communities”.

The minister urged the people to vote for Jonathan on March 28, so that he would get another opportunity to fulfill his pledge to rebuild the recaptured towns.

As part of the six-week military counter-insurgency operations by the Federal Government, the military recovered Bara, headquarters of Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State and Gulag, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

El-Rufai wants Southern Kaduna killings probed Sunday Isuwa Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (middle) with his counterparts from Republic of Niger, Lt.-Gen. Garba Seyni (left) and Chadian, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Mahamat during a meeting on the ongoing war on terror in Abuja… on Monday Photo: John Baba

Duke seeks loans for young entrepreneurs Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Minister of Culture and Tourism and the Supervising Minister of Information, Chief Edem Duke , has appealed to the over 500,000 registered cooperative societies in Nigeria to give loans to young people for small and medium enterprises in order to check unemployment.

He made the appeal when members of the National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit recently in Abuja.

The visitors, while engaging the minister on issues to help young and enterprising Nigerians to be self-employed, solicited

his assistance, through cooperative societies, to access the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMED), an initiative of (President Goodluck) Jonathan administration to strengthen young entrepreneurs through the cooperative societies.

While commending the services of cooperative societies to the nation, Duke said that the banks still provided alternative sources of finance for small and medium enterprises in alleviating poverty and providing a formidable platform for the growth of the economy.

The minister, however, assured the visitors that their plight would be addressed since

the CBN Intervention Fund was a brain child of Mr. President.

Speaking earlier, president of the association, Mr. Adebola Orolugbagbe, requested for the immediate access to the Federal Government fund that was promised to young and intending entrepreneurs.

Duke

All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has called for a thorough investigation into the frequent killings in Southern Kaduna.

El-Rufai, who was speaking to newsmen after his meeting with investigators from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), said that there was the need for an independent investigation into the killings, while calling for the prosecution of any person found culpable.

He further argued that instead of sincere condemnation and quest to contain the killings, those manipulating religion for political power were exploiting the situation.

"I have said it and will continue to say it, loud and clear. I will not tell a lie because I want votes, but, the fact remains that I will never tolerate such killings as a governor. I cannot continue to see our citizens being slaughtered in their sleep.

"That is why I made my position clear last week. For over 4,000 people to be killed without a single arrest or prosecution, shows that there is insensitivity and negligence on many sides. It is the same thing happening in the Birnin-Gwari and Giwa areas, where robberies and cattlerustling continue to claim lives and property.

7 News

JDPC, Ohaneze host Anambra South candidates Okey Chris Nnewi

ÏÏÏ As

the 2015 general election gathers momentum, the Justice, Development and Peace Commission/ Voice to the People Project targeted at (JDPC/V2P), Nnewi Diocese and the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Anambra South Senatorial Zone, have organised a political forum to enable candidates of the various political parties in the area to unveil their manifestoes.

The event was held at the Anaedo Town Hall, on Monday, with prospective voters and delegates from the towns, unions, interest groups, among other stakeholders, and four House of Representatives candidates, two State House of Assembly contestants, and one Senatorial candidate present.

Speaking to newsmen after the event, Engr. Jimmy Asoegwu, Treasurer of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Anambra State chapter, explained that the forum was an interactive session between the electorate and candidates.

On her part, the Programme Manager of JDPC, Nnewi Diocese, Ugochi Ehiahumike, while describing the event a success, disclosed that JDPC as partnered Ohaneze on the project to make governance work for poor people.

‘Oba of Benin indisposed’ Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏThe Benin Traditional Coun-

cil has said that the Oba of Benin, Omo N'oba N'edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa is "indisposed".

Secretary to the council, Mr. Frank Irabor, in a statement, said that in palace parlance, the proper information due the general public on the disposition of the Oba is, "the Leopard is ill in the Savannah bush".

"All public engagements, including courtesy visits, hearing of complaints from individuals, families and communities, and, in particular, complaints over inheritance and land disputes, are, therefore, suspended until further notice.

"All palace chiefs and functionaries are to note that their routine traditional duties continue as usual".

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Politics

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Politics Editor: Akinjide Akintola

We need to renegotiate Nigeria – Dokubo-Asari In this interview with MATHEW DADIYA and UCHE OBI, former president of Ijaw Youth Council and founder, Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Abubachree Dokubo Asari, renews calls for the renegotiation of the Nigerian polity. Not one to pull punches, he expresses strong views about the Boko Haram, the distribution of the country’s oil wealth, as well as President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger in the coming general election, Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

Excerpts: You are different things to different people. Even your surname is a ground for debate. Are you Asari-Dokubo or Dokubo-Asari…and, for the records, could you give a brief background of yourself ?

My names are Alhaji Mujahid Abubachree Dokubo-Asari, not Asari-Dokubo. I was born on June 1, 1964, to Hon Justice Melford Goodhead and Mrs Okukuba Dokubo Goodhead. She was a school teacher. I attended Baptist Primary School, King Amachree Primary School and Township School. I also attended St Scholastica High School, Bekana; Baptist Science School, and then proceeded to the University of Calabar in 1985 to read Law. I left the university in 1988 without a degree, and went to Rivers State University of Science and Technology to continue my Law programme. I again left. After that, I have gone through a lot of certifications in different fields of studies. I have certificates in Peace and Conflict Resolution, in Small Arms Deployment, Quranic Recitation from several countries, among many others.

You own a number of schools, including a university outside Nigeria. Why did you decide to establish your businesses overseas?

I am a businessman. I run a chain of schools - The King Amachree Royal Academy that has a group of schools in Cotonou, Benin Republic. I started my business here but the government of Nigerian, under former President Umaru Yar’Adua, closed down

Dokubo-Asari my businesses, arrested all the expatriates who were working for me – about eight of them. When they could not find anything incriminating, they deported them.

They came in combined forces - Customs, Immigration, Army, Air force, Navy and the Police.

My property, worth more than $1 million, were seized in 2008, and have not been returned to me up till today. So, I decided to relocate my businesses to the Republic of Benin. My schools are doing well. They are among the best schools. We came tops in many competitions. Recently, we defeated the British International School, which is one of the most expensive schools in this part of the world, at the finals. More than 50 percent of the students in that school are on my scholarships.

Are they all from Nigeria?

No. They are from different countries. We have Congolese,

“I see Nigeria as an illegitimate state, because states are built by the will of the people. People decide to build a state; it is not imposed. Nigeria was imposed on us by the British.”

Kenyans, Guineans, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin Republic and Senegal, among others.

You made a statement earlier that your property, worth over $1 million, was seized by the Yar’Adua government.

Have you made any formal request to President Goodluck Jonathan to reclaim them?

Yes, I have made requests and every attempt to President Goodluck Jonathan to retrieve my property, but he keeps telling me…“You know, ehm, if I do am now, them go say because you be my brother na him make me give you the things or I pay you the money.” (If I do it now, they will say it is because you are my brother, and that that’s why I returned the property or give you monetary compensation).

Even the guns I returned to Obasanjo, they’ve not finished paying me for them. When I made peace with Obasanjo before he cunningly arrested me, I returned 3200-plus rifles. They were to pay N150,000 for each rifle. Each General Purpose Machine Gun, N1.2 million, and each rocket launcher N1.2 million.

In total, how much are you being owed?

The government owed me more than N1 billion at that time. Now, in the black market, one AK47 rifle costs N400,000. So, if you put the cost together, na big money bi dat (it’s a big sum).

Do you still have hope that the Federal Government will pay you this money?

One day, maybe I would be paid.

But what we are trying to say, my brother, is that Goodluck Jonathan has displeased us to please them. But, even at that, they are not happy. So, the whole thing is that people say a lot of things, and we laugh. Why should Dangote make so much money in Nigeria and Dokubo-Asari does not have the right to make it? Why should Femi Otedola make so much money? Wale Tinubu makes so CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

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Politics

‘I’m an Ijaw man, not a Nigerian’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

much money. Why should Mike Adenuga make so much money and Dokubo-Asari cannot? If Dokubo-Asari makes money, it’s a problem. Why? As a freedom fighter, having passed through many challenges, do you hold any grudge against the Federal Government?

I see Nigeria as an illegitimate state, because states are built by the will of the people. People decide to build a state; it is not imposed. Nigeria was imposed on us by the British and if the British have left, we should be free to go our separate ways. Anybody who wants to hold on to the oppressive tactics used by the Caucasian assembly in Brussels and the Berlin Conference, where they sat on the table and used pencils and rulers to apportion territories to themselves, in disregard for the territories’ cultures and traditions, as well as religious beliefs of the people, as presently constituted, is a fraud. Anybody who believes in justice will do everything possible to make sure that Nigeria is dismantled, and that is where I stand.

But as a citizen of the country, don’t you have a hope that things will change for the better?

I have not accepted being a citizen. This Nigeria was imposed on me and that is what I have said.

Why did you say that?

Because the British came here and imposed Nigeria. I am an Ijaw man…at no time have I accepted that I am a Nigerian. There is nowhere that I sat down with anybody and agreed that I am a Nigerian. People should be free to accept who they want to become.

Somebody said there is independence in Nigeria, what sort of independence? Independence to continue to perpetuate the colonial legacies of the British? No! The only first genuine attempt at discussing Nigeria is under President Jonathan, when a conference

of the people was called, but even that was not far-reaching enough.

But it is a good beginning. The people must sit down to decide where they want to be, who they want to be, and nobody has the right to force that on them. That would be slavery.

From your background, it shows that you were actually brought up from a Christian family. You attended Christian schools. How did you get converted to Islam?

I found Islam appealing to me, and Islam is agreeable to my nature. I studied all religions and found out that of all the religions in the world, it is only Islam that flows with my nature, and I accepted it. Since my 27 years of being a Muslim, I have found a spiritual satisfaction and succour as a Muslim.

What were the challenges you experienced at your initial stage of conversion?

Initially I had a lot of challenges. I was closer to my grand mom, and she did not believe in Nigeria. She did not like the North.

The first thing she said to me was “Even you! You have gone to join them?” Of all her grandchildren, including her direct children, I was the closest to her. She died at the age of 94. She was the bridge between the old and the new. I met my grandma having slaves, but my father and I liberated those slaves. She believed that Nigeria was a negation of what she made because she was born in 1900, and died in 1994. Her grandfather was the last sovereign king of Kalabari, King Abbe Princewill Amachree IV. My friends also laughed at me when I became a Muslim, but I am a strong-willed person.

A lot of people know that when I have taken a decision, there is hardly anything that can make me turn back.

I have made so many donations to people who call themselves Muslims, especially to those ‘barbarians’ who came from Funtajalo, thinking everybody is on their

Dokubo-Asari level. But I’ve put them in their right perspective from the beginning. First, they are not Muslims; they used Islam to perpetrate evil.

Somebody talked about Shekau.

What is the difference between Shekau and Uthman Dan Fodio?

They’ve committed the same genocide, destroyed the same communities and killed people because of their distorted interpretation of Islam. So, anybody who celebrates Uthman Dan Fodio should also celebrate Shekau, because he is a worthy successor of Uthman Dan Fodio. It is the same ideology they professed. Dan Fodio said the Islam of the Hausa rulers, of the people of the Zakki of Gobiri, the ruler of Kano, the Islam of the people of Zazzau and Katsina were not good enough.

That his own Islam was the best, and he started killing people, imposing his children, relations and his fellow Gambaris as rulers in all these places. And today, consciously, the Hausa people have accepted slavery, they have totally surrendered themselves spiritually and everything to the superiority of the Gambaris and expect everyone to follow suit.

So, these are the challenges when you point out to them that look, we read the Quran and the Hadith like you, and we don’t know the Islam you are talking about. This Islam you are talking about is not the Islam that the Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) brought.

So, which people practise the real Islam?

The people that follow the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), those are the people who practise the real Islam. The Islam of these people is an Islam of domination and oppression. Like the way the Dutch in South Africa did when they introduced Apartheid (superiority of races) and tried to use the Bible to justify it, or what the Israelis are doing…using the Old Testament for the oppression of Palestinians.

Do your family members practise Islam?

Yes, my children practise Islam and some members of my family also accepted Islam. Today, there is absolute harmony in my family, whether you are a Christian or Muslim. We love and care for ourselves and we live together.

There is this relationship that is absent in the fake Islam practised

by Gambaris. If you go to Yorubaland you will find that everybody lives in harmony. The Quran clearly states that there is no compulsion in religion; the Quran goes on to say ‘Lakum dinukum wa-liya dini’. Meaning: For you it’s your religion, for me, it’s my religion…! It says ‘falsehood and truth are much open; you have the right to choose. Allah gives man the freewill to choose what he wants.

How would you assess President Jonathan’s leadership style in the past six years?

President Jonathan has not been in power for the past six years. This is the falsehood they are spreading. It’s been five years.

He came to power in March 2010.

It was at that time that the doctrine of necessity came to being.

At this critical time, some of us are very angry with the way Goodluck Jonathan is going with what is happening in this country. If I am the president, if you want war, I will give you war. The northerners in the North are sabotaging the war against insurgenCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

“I’ve gone through treasonable trials. If a man takes a gun and says if Goodluck wins he is going to make trouble, what do you expect us to do, fold our arms? No! When Shagari won election, did we make trouble? When Obasanjo won election, did we make trouble? When Yar’Adua won election, did we make trouble?

In my lifetime, these are the people that I’ve seen that won elections, so when Goodluck wins again and they come to make trouble, we would crush them.”

Yar’Adua

Jonathan

Politics 10 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

cy in the country, leading to the death of soldiers from other parts of the country. They are abandoning their posts, leaving weapons for the insurgents to take. Somebody will fly a plane and he will come back without carrying out orders; he will say that he found the insurgents praying, so he couldn’t drop a bomb. You can’t drop a bomb for people who have killed your comrades? We’ve read all these stories. People are being court-martialled. The old forms of conspiracies are being played.

If he (Jonathan) is not somebody who can hold himself, by now Nigeria would have been totally destroyed.

Would you say it’s the best way to go?

If Nigeria is surviving, people should be grateful to Goodluck Jonathan because the temptation would be too much for you to restrain yourself when somebody tells you: ‘stupid, clueless, thief, we are going to go to the streets; we are going to form parallel government’. There is no political prisoner; there is no body arrested.

El-Rufai that was making noise under Goodluck’s government, ran away when Yar’Adua became president, even Ribadu ran away.

Yar’Adua didn’t do anything, he was a sleeping President and they called him ‘Go Slow’. There was nothing happening under his regime. Again, was Obasanjo talking during Yar’Adua’s government? No! Were things better under Yar’Adua? No! What value did Yar’Adua’s government add, other than bribing the Niger Delta militants?

Did you call it a bribe?

Yes, it was a bribe! He bribed the Niger Delta militants so that the oil could flow. That was the only achievement of President Yar’Adua.

So, how would you assess the Amnesty programme instituted by the Yar’Adua government?

I have nothing against the Amnesty programme other than that it’s a bribe. I have nothing against the management of the Amnesty programme; people are being trained. But why should you criminalise people? Why would a Gambari Yar’Adua see me an Ijaw man on the street and say, ‘oh I know that you are a criminal; I want to give you a pardon’. Why? Did Yar’adua said that to you, one-on-one?

No, but that is what it means.

When you give somebody a pardon; pardon for what? Or you see an Urhobo man then you say, ‘ah Urhobo man, Onome, you are a criminal. I want to give you a pardon; I will pay you N65,000….”

But it was seen as the only way out of the situation at that very point in time?

The only way to bribe people… how many people would you bribe? Hahahah….

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

‘I have been bombed yet I am still alive’

Dokubo-Asari

“The peace we are enjoying in the Niger Delta has nothing to do with the Amnesty. It is because Goodluck Jonathan is the President.”

So what would you have suggested?

There are fundamental issues demanded by the people of the Niger Delta and the issues are germane. You can’t sweep them under the carpet. Look, the peace we are enjoying in the Niger Delta has nothing to do with the Amnesty. It is because Goodluck Jonathan is the President. Whenever you want to do something, they would say: ‘Is it you that wants to spoil your brothers’ government’?

Does it mean that there is the likelihood of experiencing militancy in the Niger Delta again?

After 2019, if things do not change, even the 2019 people are already tired.

What are the kinds of change you are expecting?

We want the people to have their rights to decide whether they want to be Nigerians or not.

It’s not about resources control again?

My dear brother, you’ve never heard me talk about resource control, so don’t tell me about what others talked about. The oil belongs to our people, so it’s not about control. We agitate for resource takeover. And resource takeover means we must have the sovereign authority to do that.

You have never heard me talk about resource control anywhere.

Look at my previous interviews, there is nowhere I talked about resource control; I have never talked about that. The resource is ours and we will take it, whether anybody likes it or not.

A group of ex-militants led

by Young Piero and Peters Asuluwa, under the aegis of Niger Delta Coalition for Change, has said that the region would not be thrown into violence if President Jonathan loses the

March 28 election, contrary to an earlier threat by some other ex-militants. Do you share in this zeal?

Talking is cheap my brother.

Do you subscribe to their peace call?

No, no, no! Talk is cheap. Let them come. If they dare the people, they will be buried by the people. Do you know them? What are their names and where do they come from? They just came from the blues. They were paid by Tinubu and co. to issue that statement. Khaki get size. Goodluck will win. When he wins and they come to make trouble, we will crush them.

Why are you so confident that Goodluck is going to win?

He will win, but I won’t tell you my strategies. He will win. They said we couldn’t crush Boko Haram in three weeks. We’ve started crushing the Boko Haram. People volunteer to go and fight and they are making sacrifice. Who are the people you think are fighting Boko Haram? You think it’s the Gambari? No! They are people of different ethnic nationalities like the Tiv, Igbo, Jukun, Ijaw, Urhobo, among other good people. We’ve proven to them that they are defeatable; that they are not as strong as they think they are. And if they attempt, we would crush them.

Don’t you think you are making comments that the government may describe as treasonable?

I’ve gone through treasonable trials. If a man takes a gun and says if Goodluck wins he is going to make trouble, what do you expect us to do, fold our arms? No! When Shagari won election, did we make trouble? When Obasanjo won election, did we make trouble? When Yar’Adua won election, did we make trouble? In my lifetime, these are the people that I’ve seen that won elections, so when Goodluck wins again and they come to make trouble, we would crush them.

Let’s go back to your state, Rivers. What can you say about election there?

I don’t know what is going on in my state. We made statements that if you stoned or attacked Goodluck, we would retaliate.

We’ve been saying it. If others don’t do it, we would do it.

What about the coming governorship election there?

We will not vote for traitors.

Anybody who is in APC is a traitor. We won’t vote for them.

Why did you say that?

We’ve fought for our freedom over the years. King Jaja of Opobo, King Okia Koko of Nembe, Nana of Itsekiri, Isaac Adaka Boro, Ken Saro Wiwa and all of us who have fought for our freedom.

Anybody who wants to take us back to the time when we believed that the Gambari was second to God, that person is a traitor. He would be defeated.

What exactly do you think is the problem with the politics of Rivers State?

There is no problem. Rivers people said there is a traitor who was never voted for, who was made a governor by the seven Gambaris in the Supreme Court. He is acting the script of his masters, who put him there. After March 28, he will run to them.

But Gov Rotimi Amaechi says he is fighting a just cause for the sake of the state over the Suku oil wells that were ceded to Bayelsa State?

I am from Suku. I am not only a Suku man; I am one of the leaders of Suku. Suku oil wells did not start now; it started under the administration of his godfather, Peter Odili. When it started and they were doing this case, what was he? He was the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly.

What was the role of the Rivers State government then? It is an inter-state’s case. We are trying to resolve it, not to play politics.

Before this time, did he ever visit Suku before? He has never visited Suku. He is fighting for himself, it’s not about taking our resources to go and give Gambari people.

Now you’ve told us much about your person - a school proprietor, businessman, freedom fighter and so on. How would you like to be addressed?

Address me by my names, Alh Mujahid Abubachree DokuboAsari, I am the Edi Abali of the Kalabari Kingdom. That is an institution I inherited from my forebears. Before I conclude, I would like to say that I am not just supporting Goodluck Jonathan because of what he has done.

First and foremost, because he is of my kind; he is an Ijaw man, no apology about that. But I want to move further to say that he has outperformed all past leaders put together from 1956 to date. Tafawa Balawa to Umar Musa Yar’Adua.

In one sweep, Goodluck Jonathan established 14 universities. That had never happened. Today agriCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

culture is being revived. We did Operation Feed the Nation, Back to School Agriculture, all sorts of things…and they all failed.

Today the railways that was abandoned after the colonial masters left is back and working, with better and more comfortable trains. I have travelled all round Africa, with the exception of South Africa, our railways in Nigeria today is the best in Africa. Good couches with air conditioners, clean restaurants, good toilets, and then you pay peanuts.

I’ve never seen it before.

Have you boarded the train yourself ?

Yes I did, in Lagos, from Mainland to Ebute Meta to Ibadan.

Why did Buhari not do it when he was Head of State? He was a Head of State for more than one year. You don’t need five hundred years to make impact; you can make an impact in one day. What impact did Buhari make? He was busy flogging people, frog-jumping people; he was busy searching for people he would send to prison. He was a maximum dictator.

People tell us that Buhari is going to take care of security. A man who could not secure himself, how can he secure other people?

Three middlemen officers walked into Commander-in-Chief ’s office and arrested him, took him away and put him in prison. That was the end of his government. They were Dasuki, Abdul Mumuni and Col. Umar. They were the people who went and grabbed him. They said he fought Maitatsine and I laughed. People with cutlasses, bows and arrows with charms were the people he fought, and these Boko Haram are using rocket launchers, guns and armoured personel carriers, AK 47s. If that man comes in, in five minutes they (Boko Haram) would just shoot him and the man would just die in Aso Rock. Even the sound of the guns would kill him.

You said Goodluck Jonathan has performed. Would you say he has performed to the expectations of the Niger Deltans in accordance with their agitations?

Excuse me, Goodluck Jonathan is not the president of the Niger Delta. He is not ruling with a constitution written by Niger Delta people. As long as this constitution subsists, it would be difficult even for God to come and rule here and do justice. This constitution is injustice. Except the 1999 Constitution is put aside and a people’s constitution, which guarantees the rights of every people to the total ownership of their resources to internal sovereignty of the people, their rights to guarantee and all the basic rights that are supposed to be present in a federal republic comes into place.

Goodluck Jonthan cannot be a magician. He cannot do magic.

Goodluck Jonathan has tried within his limitations, because a

11 Politics

‘Our constitution supports injustice’

Jonathan situation where the FAAC people sit down and share the money; the constitution has laid down how they are going to share the money.

For us, what we are going to do, dey for our belle, wen the time reach, we go do am. (Our plan is a closely guarded secret. When the time is ripe, it will be carried out.)

What is it that you are going to do?

I say e de for our belle, when a woman is pregnant, no bi nine months after she go deliver? (I told you, it is top secret. When a woman gets pregnant, will she not deliver after nine months?)

So what do you think is wrong?

What is wrong is that many times our people chicken out. We are not ready to chicken out Our own is eyeball-to-eyeball. If you slap us, we slap you. So, they are now seeing a new crop of people they did not bargain for. But the people who will come after Dokubo-Asari would be worse.

But it seems you actually chickened out when Yar’Adua attacked you?

How did I chicken out? First of all, you do business in a favourable environment. Business is not

emotional, and it is not sentimental. You do business in a friendly, and not hostile environment. For instance AGIP, is there oil in Italy?

But they are here in Nigeria doing oil business because the environment is conducive for them. I am operating a bi-lingual school and I think a French environment is good for a bilingual school. For me as an individual, I believe that it is very important for Nigerians, if they want their country to survive they should tell Buhari to drop his presidential ambition and return Goodluck Jonathan for second term. Mr. Integrity did an interview here (room 803 in Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja) and said it was in London, and people are not talking about it.

Obasanjo is saying that Goodluck said he would not contest, but Mr. Integrity came before all of us on TV and said he would not contest again. Today, he is contesting and his supporters, Obasanjo and others, are keeping quiet because Goodluck is a good man. Na Tiger them de look for, no bi am? (It’s a tiger they want, right?) There is a lamb, and they are looking for a tiger. One day I might decide to come out for the Presidency, since

una no want lamb, Tiger de come (since you don’t want a lamb, a Tiger is on the way).

Our people were saying Goodluck Jonathan was a vice president, let us give his government a chance to succeed and that was really what happened. It was divine that Goodluck Jonathan became a president. If at that time we antagonized Yar’Adua’s govt, fighting this and that and did not accept what they prized for the Amnesty, God too would not have compensated our people with the Presidency. I believe in God; I believe that it is only what God gives me that I must accept. That I am alive today is God. I have been bombed, fired at, locked in an underground cell, maltreated and yet I am alive. It is the will of God. I went to eight different prisons; they could not convict me. I have suffered several arrests from Babangida to Yar’adua’s governments. Goodluck’s administration is the only government that has not arrested me. I thank God that I am alive today.

Some time ago you were reportedly arrested in Benin Republic, what exactly happened?

I was arrested. It’s the same people here. They sent the same wrong information to government of Benin Republic that I was the leader of Boko Haram.

I was arrested. They went to my schools, terrorized my children; broke into my houses, but they did not find anything incriminating against me. They then released me and apologized.

“Today the railways that was abandoned after the colonial masters left is back and working, with better and more comfortable trains.

I have travelled all round Africa, with the exception of South Africa, our railways in Nigeria today is the best in Africa.”

FG owes Lagos N51billion on roads – Ambode The All Progressives Congress (APC), gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode has said the Federal Government is owing the State N51billion used on the construction of Federal roads in Lagos State.

Ambode, who is vying for the number one position in Lagos State in the forthcoming elections disclosed this during an interactive section in Lagos.

He said the huge amount being owed will not deter the state government from continuing developing Lagos State. His words: “All the roads that Lagos State government has done, federal government is still owing us N51billion.

We would have used that money to do other things for Lagosians. But we will not relent, wherever there are bad roads we will continue to do them because it is Lagosians that are plying such roads”.

He however promised to consolidate on the development being experienced in Lagos State if elected governor in the April 11, 2015 governorship election. “The past governors have laid an irreversible foundation in the state.

Everything has been done gracefully to prepare Lagos for the next level on which l have conscripted myself with other APC members to take Lagos to that next level.

Lagos is for all of us, we must join hands together to make it work better. When Lagos is safer, then we can begin to talk about the 21 century economy.”

Ambode promised Project 202057 which he said will complement the efforts of all local governments in the state noting that the project is to give governance back to local government, “so that our inner roads in the state are activated.

With Project 202057, a minimum of 20 roads by each local government must be done with 20 street lights; when we do that for every year in the 57 local governments, we would have done 1140 roads in the local governments. When we are able to accomplish that for four years, we would have done almost 5,000 roads.

“I intend to light up the whole of Lagos. If we are able to light up Lagos, that means it is safer for us to walk around, the night economy will be activated. We will deploy more efforts to the security, make Lagos comfortable for everyone.”

Ambode

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

I support Jonathan on principle – Falae Continued from page 6 Falae who disowned the aide, declared that the claim that he was financially induced was absolutely false.

He told the Daily Times: “First, the statement attributed to me in the newspaper did not come from me. The man who spoke with journalists is not my personal aide. He is an official of my party in Ondo State and could not have spoken on my behalf.

“Also, I will be surprised if Lai Mohammed, who knows me very well, can say that I must have been induced by President Goodluck Jonathan or anybody for any position that I hold.

“The Nigerian public knows

that my career is without blemish and that I have spent many years in public offices without spending public funds. I was federal Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office (now Presidency); I was Managing Director of the Nigerian Merchant Bank for five years; I was Secretary to the Federal Government for four years; I was also federal Minister of Finance and Economic Development for one year. If money was no attraction to me in all those years, how can it be now?”

Restating his decision to support the re-election of President Jonathan, Falae said: “Gen. Buhari I am sure will confirm that when my party, the Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) endorsed

him (Buhari) in 2007, we did so because he promised to restructure the country and not for any financial consideration. It is the same reason for which my new party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has now endorsed President Jonathan.

So, it should be clear that we act on principles and we are consistent. I raised money to campaign for Buhari in 2007. All the money in Central Bank of Nigeria cannot buy me.”

Reacting to the clarification from Chief Falae, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told the Daily Times that the withdrawal of support for Gen. Buhari by the former SGF was indefensible.

Mohammed said that it was wrong to conclude that Buhari

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega (left); Director of Voters Registry, Mr Emmanuel Akem while speaking during a Town Hall Meeting in Abuja… on Monday

Military: No more terrorists in Yobe, Adamawa Continued from page 6 Earlier, in his welcome remark, the Chief of Plans and Policy, Army Headquarters, Major General Ugo Buzugbe, had disclosed that the decisions reached at 2014 COAS Annual Conference in Uyo has in recent week turned the tide of operation in the North East in favour of the Nigeria state.

In a related development, Nigeria, Chad and Nigeria have established a military Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH) for effective co-ordination and liaison of the activities in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

A statement issued by Director of Defence Information (DDI), Magor-Gen. Chris Olukolade,

stated that “JOH will be activated immediately, pending any other structure being put in place at regional and international organisations’ level with regards to the counter terrorism efforts.

The arrangement is to enhance operational and tactical coordination as well as the synchronization of command, control and communication in the field and the higher headquarters.

“The three countries actively involved in the ongoing operation namely, Nigeria, Chad and Niger are expected to utilize the structure to beef up their Liaison Teams already operating in the mission area.

The decision was taken on Monday at a meeting between the

Chiefs of Defence Staff of Nigeria, Chad and Niger. The delegation led by the Chiefs of Defence staff of the three countries participating in the ongoing counter terrorism campaign also reviewed the progress so far made in the operations conducted by the countries.

Coordinated by Nigeria’s Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who set the meeting in motion declaring that the essence was to fine tune the coordination of the activities of the collaborative efforts of the operations, the meeting eventually resolved to establish a structure for joint planning to enhance the operations and consolidate on the successes so far achieved.

would not agree to the restructuring of Nigeria since the Army General has not had an opportunity to govern the country.

His words: “Did Buhari become President in 2007? Nigerians will find it difficult to believe that Chief Falae is not one of those induced because everywhere Jona-

than goes now he spends money.

“Personally, I have a lot of respect for Chief Falae. He is one of the elders in Yorubaland. We used to be in the same party before but now we do not share the same political ideology, but it is no longer a secret that the President shares money everywhere he goes now.”

‘Fuel polls violence, go to jail’ Continued from page 6 mind game, using wild allegations, in a bid to cause panic, balkanize the nation and pave the way for a reign of anarchy in the country.

The PDP advised APC leaders that rather than plunge the nation into chaos in the pursuit of their selfish interests, they should be humble enough to face reality, acknowledge their electoral inferiority to the PDP and surrender to the will of the people.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh made the accusation in a statement in Abuja.

Metuh pointed that the APC, now confronted with the reality of failure in the 2015 general elections, has intensified its frenzied deployment of false alarms aimed at throwing the polity into chaos and wreck the electoral process.

He stated: “For the APC, it has become a matter of if we can’t have it, then let’s destroy it.

“In the last couple of weeks, this opposition party and its leaders have engaged in dishing out dangerous false alarms in a bid to discredit the electoral process, heighten tension, create fear in the minds of the people and push the polity to the brinks.

“For instance, how else would one explain the false alarm by the leader of the opposition, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Thursday, March 12, 2015 alleging that there were plots to assassinate him, a phantom claim which was followed on Sunday, March 15 by the APC in a statement that there were plans to kill their Presidential flagbearer, General Muhammadu Buhari.

“Also, on the same March 15, the APC, in a yet another statement, falsely claimed that the Federal Government paid N9 billion to ethnic militias to foment trouble, before, during and after the general elections. “This was immediately followed by a release on Monday, March 16, in which the opposition, in their unrelenting effort to further discredit the process, alleged that the Federal Government has hired an Israeli expert, Gyora

Berger to sabotage card readers on election day.

“In the same vein, on March 4, 2015, the APC released a false alarm claiming that there were plots by the Federal Government to frame its leaders and sensitive INEC officials and manipulate the electoral process. This is in addition to another statement on March 9 in which it alleged of plots to harass its financiers and cripple its operations ahead of elections.

“We are aware that the APC has lined up many of such false allegations and nuisance alarms, which would be methodologically released to the public to swell the tension as the elections draw nearer.

“APC’s history of lies has become legendary. Nigerians may recall that this party in their penchant for deceit had in June 2014 alleged that a plane carrying Kano state Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to attend a rally in Ekiti to support Governor Kayode Fayemi’s re-election bid was denied landing permission in Akure, only for Kwankwaso’s Director of Press Affairs, Baba Dantiye to announce that his boss was at another event in Kano and had no plans to travel to Ekiti State.

Meanwhile, Jega declared that there was no iota of truth in the report that he was being forced to proceed on a terminal leave. He similarly dismissed insinuations that he was under pressure to resign from office before the general elections.

The INEC Chairman spoke at a Town Hall meeting in Abuja organised by Reinvent Media in conjunction Ford Foundation and Kukah Centre.

He maintained that the card reader remains the best option for the forthcoming general elections in the country, stressing that no cloned card reader would be used.

He also stated that the use of military personnel in elections is defined in the constitution where they are expected to maintain law and order.

Jega pointed out that he was not losing focus in ensuring that his job is done.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

13

International 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Putin reappears, laughs off health rumours

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev speak during their meeting in the Konstantin Palace outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Monday

ÏÏÏ

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reappeared in public following a 10-day absence, laughed off suggestions he had been forced to lie low because of poor health, saying on Monday that life would be “boring without gossip.”

Putin smiled as he sat before television cameras in the Constantine Palace near St. Petersburg in his first public appearance since March 5.

In what appeared as a carefully choreographed double-act, visiting Kyrgyz President Almazbek

Atambayev also vouched for the Russian leader's health, saying that Putin “just now drove me around the grounds, he himself sat at the wheel.”

“It would be boring without gossip,” Putin, looking relaxed if pale, told reporters.

Protests rock Brazil, president asked to quit

democracy".

The largest demonstration went ahead in Sao Paulo, a major opposition stronghold. The estimates of how many people attended the march varied widely.

Brazilian data analysts Datafolha say almost 200,000 people marched on Avenida Paulista on Sunday evening. But police estimated the number of participants at one million, based on aerial photographs of the area.

Many of the protesters waved Brazilian flags and wore the yellow shirts of the national football team. Protest in Brasilia Thousands gathered outside Brasilia's modernist Congress building to protest against corruption Anti-Rousseff protest in Belo Horizonte In Belo Horizonte the protest drew more than 20,000 peopl They shouted slogans against corruption and the Workers' Party government.Opposition parties have backed Sunday's protests but have not openly called for impeachment of the president, says the BBC's Gary Duffy in Sao Paulo.

Senator Aecio Neves, who was defeated by a narrow margin in October's presidential vote, issued a statement praising the protests.

DR Congo detains US diplomat

ÏÏÏHundreds of

thousands of Brazilians have joined demonstrations against President Dilma Rousseff, with many asking for her impeachment.

The protesters say the president must have known about a corruption scandal in the state oil firm, Petrobras. The political opposition say much of the alleged bribery took place when she was head of the company.

But Ms Rousseff had been exonerated in an investigation by the attorney general and denied involvement.

Most of the politicians accused of taking bribes in a kickback scheme come from the governing coalition. After the protests, the government promised a series of measures to combat corruption and impunity.

Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo said the government saw the rallies as an "expression of

ÏÏÏDemocratic

Republic of Congo's security forces detained a US diplomat on Sunday in a raid that also targeted journalists and regional democracy activists and accused them of posing a threat to stability, a government spokesperson said.

The diplomat "was found among a group of people that was believed to be in the process of bringing an attack against state security," Lambert Mende said.

He did not disclose the diplomat's name or position.

The US Embassy in Kinshasa did not respond to messages seeking comment. The state department did not offer additional information when contacted on Sunday night.

The detentions followed a news conference in Kinshasa organized in support of a Congolese movement known as Filimbi that aims for greater youth participation in politics.

Putin's meeting with the presidents of Kazakhstan and Belarus planned for March 12-13 in the Kazakh capital Astana was postponed, with Reuters quoting a "Kazakh governmental source" as saying it was canceled because Putin had fallen ill. The Kremlin, which vehemently denied the claim, announced Monday that Putin's meeting with the two presidents has been rescheduled for Friday, March 20.

In addition to the rumors about Putin's health, his disappearance from public view also sparked speculation that a conflict had erupted among powerful factions in the wake of the February 27 murder in Moscow of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. Five ethnic Chechens were detained in connection with the killing, including Zaur Dadayev, a former deputy commander of a Chechen Interior Ministry battalion.

According to some observers, the Nemtsov killing was connected to a power struggle involving the Federal Security Service (FSB), Russia's main security agency, and security bodies connected to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Mende did not say how many people were detained. He said the group was held for identification and investigation, and that foreign journalists had been released. He did not have information on whether the diplomat, activists or local journalists had been released.

The activists included members of Burkina Faso's Balai Citoyen and Senegal's Y'en a Marre movements. Both have led largescale protests in recent years against presidents attempting to extend their time in office.

Kabila

Wife of Burundian politician shot

ÏÏÏThe wife of prominent Bu-

rundian opposition politician, Agathon Rwasa has been shot and wounded at a hair salon in the capital, Bujumbura.

The gunman fled after opening fire on Annonciate Haberisoni as she was waiting for her hair to be done, witnesses said.

Rwasa accused the government of attempting to assassinate his wife. It has not commented on the allegation.

Tensions have been rising in Burundi ahead of elections in May and June. Mr Rwasa said at a press conference that his wife was being treated for head injuries at a local hospital, and her condition was not critical. He would not be intimidated by Sunday's shooting, he added.

Mr Rwasa accused the government of compiling a hit list of people to be targeted in the runup to parliamentary elections in May and presidential elections in June.Police said they were investigating the attack.

Witnesses were quoted in the local media as saying that Mrs Haberisoni's life was probably saved by her hair dresser who saw the gunman taking aim and pushed her out of the way.

Somali forces capture four suspected militants

ÏÏÏSomali

government forces have captured four suspected Islamist militants, a spokesman for the state security agency has said.

Qasim Ahmed Roble told reporters that the four suspected members of the terrorist group al-Shabab were shown to the media in the capital, Mogadishu.

He said the suspects opened fire on Somali security forces Friday night while officers were conducting a security operation.

Qasim said one of the suspects is in his early 60s, adding that "many people believe that most al-Shabab members are misled young boys."

Al-Shabab is fighting for an Islamic state governed by strict interpretation of the Quran.

The group has suffered setbacks in recent years, as government troops, backed by African Union forces, regained control of the capital and other territories that had been taken by al-Shabab.

But its members continue to stage sporadic attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere in Somalia.

The number of the attacks has increased in the past week.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

15 Opinion

Disclosures on Jega’s PVC contract

U

Prince Niyi Sijuade

nderstandably distracted by the high intensity of the ongoing electioneering campaigns, the public seems to have ignored an equally important issue of the moment. This has to do with the many scams trailing the PVC contract awarded by INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega. Considering the low publicity, this piece comes as a modest effort by a concerned citizen to put a spotlight on the issue, in the hope that the public will be better informed on the facts.

Below, therefore, are the verified facts and disclosures, which have been supplied by patriotic Nigerians working at INEC, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and other pertinent entities.

First, as regards the PVC, an obscure and poorly capitalised Nigerian company, ACT Technologies Limited, was awarded a N2.6 billion contract by Jega to produce them. Then, just as immediately, ACT proved its technical incompetence by sub-contracting the production of the PVCs to a Chinese firm, potentially in flagrant violation of national security laws on protection of biometric

information of Nigerians. Official records show that the contract was awarded since February 2013 in naira and was supposed to be performed within seven months, but almost immediately re-designated

by Jega in dollars to the Chinese company at US$140 million. That was more than two years ago.

Second, an itemised voucher of the payments ordered by Jega confirmed that on February 14, 2013, INEC paid N489, 937,500 to ACT Technologies, being initial payment for the production of the PVCs. The money was paid through JAIZ Islamic Bank. After the initial payment, other hurried payments totaling more than N2.6 billion was paid to the Nigerian and Chinese companies for the fast-track production of the over 68.8 million PVCs. They were again given seven months from April 13, 2013 to fully produce and supply them. Those seven months have long passed and despite full payment by Jega, the PVCs are yet to be fully supplied, just two weeks to the election set for March 28, 2015.

Third, despite ACT’s proven inability to perform, Jega authorised another quickly arranged payment of N590, 871,418 on February 19, 2015, a clear five days after the

presidential election was meant to have been held on February 14.

Still, according to highly-placed sources at INEC, a significant batch of the PVCs are yet to be produced, just few days to the presidential election set for March 28, 2015.

Fourth, what is most worrisome is the fact that Jega, on 19th February 2015, paid more than N500 million for PVCs that would not have been used for the elections. Recall that the elections would have been held and a ‘winner’ declared on 14th February, without these outstanding PVCs. The credit for preventing this infamy goes to all the patriotic Nigerians who boldly came together to stop Jega and the few that insisted on February 14th, most probably because they knew all along that this whole scheme was deliberately geared to a certain hideous objective. It is now known why some ‘favoured’ parts of the country recorded very high PVC distribution and ‘collection’ than others. Why was Jega not bordered that millions of Nigerians would have been disenfranchised to an extent that would have led to judicial annulment of the entire results?

Fifth, a check of public records showed that ACT had listed a

certain Ahmad Yahaya as its Vice President, but that information was removed since the ill-fated PVC contract award. Yahaya also maintains a LinkedIn account that listed him as former Vice President of ACT. A check of other internet records reveal that Ahmad Yahaya also has an active Facebook account as Ahmad Yahaya Jega, and listed Jega, Kebbi State as his hometown. INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega is also from Jega in Kebbi State, and like Ahmad Yahaya Jega, attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. A casual scrutiny of Ahmad Yahaya Jega’s Facebook profile picture shows a striking resemblance to the visage of INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega; so it raises the high likelihood that two are closely related by blood or kinship.

Sixth, ACT Technologies listed a paltry N10 million as its share capital, according to certified records at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It raises questions as to why Jega could have awarded such a sensitive contract of almost N3b to such an inadequately funded, technically unqualified company like ACT. There are so many better-qualified, older, financially capable and tested ICT companies owned by Nigerians.

Why Internally Displaced Persons must vote

A

Adewale Kupoluyi

s the dates for the general elections draw nearer, many issues continue to come up for discussion in a bid to ensure that nothing is left to chances in conducting successful polls in the country.

However, some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), such as those incarcerated in prisons and those relocated to other areas of the country, are often excluded from the exercise, thus denying them the right to choose who rule them. Under the democratic rule, voting at elections remains the only way through which citizens can elect their representatives.

Section 77 (2) of the 1999 Constitution specifically grants every citizen, who has attained the age of eighteen years and reside in Nigeria at the time of the voter’s registration such privilege while the Electoral Act under Section 12 (1) also stipulates other conditions that allow eligible voters to present themselves for registration and other electoral activities.

A recent and disturbing report informs that with about 3.3

million IDPs, Nigeria has the largest population of persons displaced by conflicts in Africa.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA), disclosed that no fewer than 300,000 people in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, consisting of 70 percent of children and women, had since fled their homes. In different parts of the country, communal clashes and related violence have made many people to flee their homes and abandoning their properties.

The report showed that 470,500 persons were displaced in Nigeria in 2013, placing it as the third with the highest number of displaced persons in the world, ranking behind Colombia with 5.7 million and Syria’s 6.5 million.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees also put the figure of IDPs in the Northeast at 650,000. It revealed further that there were 258, 252 babies and minors, 207, 583 women and 147, 894 men in the various camps across the federation.

However, statistics by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFMIDS), indicated that internal conflicts

had displaced about 470, 565 people, while 143,164 people were displaced because of natural disasters across the country last year. The statistics, which covered a period of January 2013 to February 2014, pointed to the fact that Borno State leads with 196, 337 persons while Nasarawa followed with 24, 947.

The commission added that 24 states already had IDPs; of which 470, 565 of the IDPs from 21 states arose from conflict situation; while a total of 143, 164 displaced persons in 14 states resulted from natureinduced disasters.

Similarly, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) indicated that between January and March 2014, more than three million Nigerians faced humanitarian problems caused by insurgency in three endemic states resulting in many deaths and displacement of about 250, 000 people.

Available statistics from the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) indicate that not all the inmates may have actually committed acts of misdemeanour. For instance, out of the 56,785 inmates currently in the 239 prisons across the country, only 18,042, representing 32 per cent are convicted prisoners, while a larger number of about 38,743

inmates, representing 68 per cent are Awaiting Trial Persons (ATP).

The truth is that many imprisoned persons are innocent of what they’re being punished for making it imperative for proper reformation, rehabilitation and integration. What it means is that these high number of inmates is quite significant to influencing the outcome of elections. Politicians should not be allowed to manipulate the voting power of IDPs to their advantage.

That is why the assurance given

by Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), is soothing when he said IDPs would be allowed, under the current dispensation, to exercise their civic rights.

The INEC boss also promised to do everything humanly possible to ensure that the affected persons were not disenfranchised. As a step forward in realising this goal, a task force was constituted by INEC and the terms of reference include examining the legal, political, security and administrative challenges in achieving IDPs voting during elections. It was also expected to review the experiences of other jurisdictions in dealing with the challenges of IDPs voting.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Technology Times Robotics is good for children - Ajayi

Last week,the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) supported First Lego League to inaugurate the Robotic league programme in Nigerian schools. The Director of Lego League, Mr Olajide Ajayi,spoke with our correspondent, Tony Nwakaegho, on the Robotics programme.

In this interview he gave an

expose of how it all began and the future of First Lego League in Nigeria. Excerpts: Let us into a brief background of yourself and the First Lego League Nigeria?

I am Olajide Ajayi, Director First Lego League (FLL) Nigeria and also the Technical Quality Manager with SAP in Ireland which is the number one Enter-

s

17

Inye Kemabonta, Editor, TECH FUTURE inye@technologylaw.com.ng

prise Software provider in the world. I am now coordinating the First Lego League Nigeria with the support of SAP and NITDA. What is Robotic programme all about?

It is called the First Lego League and it is an alliance between Lego, the educational giant CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Ajayi

Why local content guidelines in ICT must be implemented At more than half the population of all of West Africa, Nigeria is a country that no one can truly ignore even though it has remained a fledgling giant.

The country is still considered an emerging market and a regional power. That is why it is a member of the MINT countries. But the interest Nigerian may not always be for good. Most times we also inadvertently dig our own metaphorical grave. Otherwise, how can anyone explain why as a country bordered on all sides (east, west, north and south) by French speaking neighbors yet we speak no word of French? But all our neighbors make every effort to speak English.

Anyone with the most basic knowledge of security and foreign policy must be aghast that French is neither a compulsory subject in Nigerian schools nor the country’s second official language after English. Another truly inexplicable pattern is how we send our soldiers on peace keeping missions or even to intervene in neighboring countries like Liberia, have the hands and legs of our nationals chopped off by militants then return from the mission with nothing to show for it. Our business men do not accompany the soldiers to help ‘rebuild’ the countries nor do they move in when peace is restored to

‘help’ stabilize their economy.

You might be wondering how all this relate to local content in ICT. The relationship is at least on two counts but let me hasten to point out that there is absolutely no reason why Nigerian ICT solutions (hardware, software and services) should not be ‘helping’ in Liberia, Dafur, Angola, Congo, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, for instance. Call it South to South aid. You will be correct. So far, what the world knows is North to South aid (Western countries’ aid to Africa).

The truth is that wars and peacekeeping are motivated by economic interests. Our foreign policy machinery needs to recognize this. The disconnect between our private sector and government can only be attributed to naivety in foreign policy. It is true that Nigerian businesses including banks dot the west coast, but much of that have been through private efforts. None has been facilitated by any direct government policy or action. Government-backed trade mission in ICT has not taken place in living memory in the real sense of the expression.

The relevance of the local content program in ICT initiated by NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology under Omobola Johnson to the

concept of South to South aid is embedded in the role ascribed by the Guidelines to NITDA in Article 10.6. 3: NITDA shall collaborate with similar IT development agencies in neighbouring West African states in order to establish regional Information Technology tradeshows that will provide a platform to grow the local industry The import of the clause is that NITDA, as Nigeria’s IT Agency, is expected to lead ICT trade missions for the purpose of diversifying the economy and making ICT an important foreign exchange earner for the country. What the local industry needs to grow is the creation of new markets or the expansion of existing ones beyond the shores of the country Customs and Immigration issues in cross border relations will be a lot easier for Nigerian entrepreneurs if government facilitate such trade missions. Clearly, this should be a major plank in the nation’s foreign policy platform. Development Agencies like NITDA have a solemn mandate in this regard.

Now to the issue of security.

Currently, the technology world is in shock at the extent of stealing of encryption keys in SIM cards from manufacturers who also make chips for passports and

Jack

smart cards. The theft has been going on for the past four years but was only reported this year.

It potentially enables snooping on telecom infrastructure and the decoding of data on chips. While other countries are scrambling to do damage assessment, we are oblivious of the incident.

Now, given the size and status of Nigeria as the largest black nation and the largest economy in Africa, it is almost certain that the SIMs and chips in our phones, bank cards, national ID cards, INEC PVs are all compromised!

Every one of that sensitive technology is imported! None is adequately checked for breach but

our critical information infrastructure and financial system ride on them! Article 12.1.3 of the Guidelines for Nigerian Content Development in ICT states that ICT Companies shall “use only locally manufactured Smart cards for the provision of data and telephony services…”

This is a guideline which must be urgently implemented. It is not national pride. It is not just capacity building; our economy and the survival of our nation, as we know it today, may well depend on it.

Inye Kemabonta is Editor TECH FUTURE

Technology Times 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

NiRA decries Govts, MDAs hosting .ng servers abroad Tony Nwakaegho

Students participating in First Lego League robotic competition in Lagos recently. Photo: TONY NWAKAEGHO

‘Robotic programme teaches kids live skills’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

and First, an organisation in the US. First was founded by Dean Karmen, an American and inventor, who made Segway , a motorized cycle which is like a bicycle that you can stand on instead of sitting.. They are used in terrains where you don’t use cars. He has a lot of patent in the US and just thought to himself, “ I can create tings why don’t I teach people how to create things” So he founded the organization called First and then partnered with Lego to form the First Lego League. So First Lego League is a program that has four elements, one is the Robot game, the Robot performance where the kids are given mission annually which they perform on the table. They build the Robo and program the robot to carry out missions on a thematic table.

We have another component called project where we give them topic to research and come up innovative ideas and they present it in front of judges. We also

have another part called the Core Values and this teaches the kids how to work as a team to be gracious in defeat or when they win.

We want the kids even though in the face of stiff competition they can still work together as a team.

That is where we coined the word “Coepetition”- It is a trade mark by the First Lego League. This is because they cooperate and work together, hence there is now an award for gracious professionalism, best behaved team, team which displayed exceptional ability to assist other teams or to work with other teams. This teaches them live skills that will help them go through life as reasonable and sensible human beings.

Who are your target audience in this First Lego League initiative?

The demography is 9 years to 16 years because it is an age bracket we feel will have the mental capability to learn the programming and the rigorous task that we

want to put them through.

Could this initiative also be extended to tertiary institutions?

In the First Lego League, First has field programs, one is the Junior FLL, which is targeted at the primary kids, then FLL which is targeted to nine to 16 years, then FTC which is First Tech Challenge targeted at the university.

So we will be bringing that as well.

Mary Uduma, President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), has decried the situation where most of Federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are currently hosting their webs and emails’ servers outside of the country.

Uduma said that the situation negate the government directive to register their websites with the country’s top level domain name .ng, stressing that it is inimical to capacity building and infrastructure development of the country.

Daily Times gathered that some of the MDAs which previously hosted their web and email servers in the country had to move to foreign countries, citing trust issues as reason.

Investigation also revealed that the MDAs whose website servers are hosted abroad include, Central Bank of Nigeria, cbn.gov.ng which is hosted in USA; Ferma. gov.ng hosted in UK; National Health Insurance Scheme, nhis. gov.ng hosted in USA; Economic and Financial Crime Commission, efcc.gov.ng hosted in USA; National University Commission, nuc.ed.ng hosted in UK; pfp. gov.ng hosted in USA; federal ministry of finance, fmf.gov.ng hosted in USA; and Nigerian Communications Commission, ncc.gov.ng hosted in USA, among others.

She lamented that hosting servers outside of the country does not make economic sense as those MDAs pay in foreign currency there by depilating the country’s foreign exchange.

“Local content in information and communications technology will not grow and we must do something to arrest this situation,” she said.

How is your partnership with NITDA in Nigeria at the moment?

NITDA has supported us with SAP. They gave us equipment to run it and the equipment they gave us will only cover Lagos, and we need to do this not only in Lagos. We want it to spread across the Federation. So one of their Board of Directors approached NITDA and they have been very supportive for the initiative. They CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Odoma

She commended the effort of the minister of Communications Technology for her campaign at promoting local content and has been making effort to ensure that they relocate their servers to the country.

In her words: If they can’t patronize commercial data center operators, Galaxy backbone has cloud services that can host servers of federal MDAs. We need proactive action in this regard such as memo to federal executive council on the need for federal MDAs to relocate their website servers to Nigeria.”

She explained that the lack of competitiveness in the local data centre business in Nigeria is a factor that may affect people planning to relocate their server to Nigeria.

Chief Executive Officer, Steineng, Engr. Sam Adeleke, Nigeria Ltd and immediate past president, Internet Service Providers Association Of Nigeria (ISPAN), noted that cost, power, security and bandwidth which contribute to high cost in Nigeria are some of the reasons why Federal MDAs and others preferred hosting their servers abroad, since it is cheaper to host abroad.

He maintained that abroad there is multiplicity of location of server, where most of the hosting companies provide multiple locations in case there is disaster in one location they will move to another location without their customers suffering downtime.

He opined that continuity of business is not certain in Nigeria because of harsh business environment. ”Suggesting Galaxy backbone as alternative is risky because in as much as it is owned by government there is no guarantee that it will not collapse one day, as government is not good business man,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

19 Technology Times

ISPON honours Communication Technology Minister

Reliance Infosystems, Microsoft dazzle customers with cloud services

Tony Nwakaegho Makwane

Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON) has presented an Award of Excellence to Minister of Communication Technology, Dr. (Mrs) Omobola Johnson, in recognition of her role in initiating policies and programmes fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the software ecosystem in Nigeria.

President of ISPON, Pius Okigbo, presented the award to the Minister at the recent institute’s sixth annual presidential dinner in Lagos, stressing that the institute was honoring the

Tony Nwakaegho

Minister because her tenure as the Minister of Communication Technology had witnessed “an accelerated and outstanding delivery of a plethora of ICT initiatives enabling the development of Nigeria’s ICT sector.”

ISPON was formed in 1999 with the aim of creating an en-

Omobola

abling environment for local content developers to thrive locally and internationally.

Membership of the associa-

tion is drawn from different categories that key into diverse range of software developers, software testers and users.

Reliance Infosystems in partnership with Microsoft Nigeria, has unveiled Microsoft Azure as a timely measure to alleviating high Information Technology (IT) capital expenditure by businesses.

In a joint statement released at a recent Customers Forum in Lagos, Reliance Infosystems’ Public Relations Director, Mr Babajide Orungbe expressed that Azure is a revolutionary platform of choice as it continues to appeal to the cost-conscious organizations by reason of its pay per use model.

He further explained that businesses of today frown at locking down cash in the name of IT asset that will quickly depreciate along technology relevance.

Microsoft Nigeria, Business Group Director Cloud and Enterprise, Oluyomi Alarape said “The beauty of Azure platform is the ability to spin up new solutions, access computer power and le-

verage enterprise ready Services quicker and faster than ever before and also allow you scale up and out as required at a great price point.

“With Microsoft Azure, your IT cost greatly reduces and allows you focus on your innovation while Microsoft takes care of your infrastructure.”

Sharing his thought on his experience with Azure platform, Cornerstone Insurance Chief Technical Officer, Olasoji Tehingbola commented thus “Just like we have witnessed in Office 365, Azure promises the much desirable agility to our business.

Being able to provision new services on-the-fly will reduce our deployment window from weeks to hours.”

On his part, GZ Industries IT Head, Yomi Zannu said: “We were able to relieve the capacity strains on our premise data center by extending it to Microsoft Cloud platform. At any point in time, we can leverage Azure for any workload.”

First Lego League encourages team work among kids- Ajayi CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

gave us resources too for Abuja and they are supporting it seriously.

Aside from NITDA, do you have other support from government?

We have nothing from the Federal Government yet. We are a Nongovernmental Organisation (NGO) and we have been running on shoe string budget and been working with people on a shoe string budget. You know that volunteering culture is not very popular in Nigeria, so everybody we have to work with we have to pay.

And we are so short on resources that is unreal, but we just decided that we will carry this through.

We will need organization like NITDA, USPF, Intel, Google, Telcos like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, Etisalat and any other organization that have the interest of kids at heart.

Has First Lego League ap-

proached these organization for assistance, sponsorship or funding?

No, we haven’t. We will approach them in due course.

Is this the first First Lego League competition in Nigeria?

This is the first First Lego League competition in Nigeria and it is an annual event. So we give the kids the challenge about July, August and they work till September through November, December. They work for eight weeks and then we will do the tournament or championship for them. This year we started late because the resources didn’t come in until much later in the year. So we started in November towards the vacation in December. That is why we are doing this at this time. Next year we will be doing the next one in December, so we can get the kids within the Regional championship in Lagos, Regional Championship in Abuja and the National champi-

NITDA has supported us with SAP. They gave us equipment to run it and the equipment they gave us will only cover Lagos, and we need to do this not only in Lagos. We want it to spread across the federation. onship. We hope to include Port Harcourt. We want to expand along the geopolitical zones. So we started in Abuja which is the North Central and Lagos which is the South West. We hope to do the South South and South East this year so that we can have the Na-

tional Championship in January.

We have the Regional in December and National championship in January.

How did you select the schools that are partaking in this competition in Lagos?

In Lagos we are working with public schools. We approached the Education District and we asked for 10 schools as a pilot, but they gave us 20 schools so we merged the 20 schools to 12 teams, so the teams will be two to 10 teams merged into 12 schools. So we are working with 20 schools merged into 12 teams.

How do you assess the ICT industry in Nigeria?

ICT is an eye opener, but the schools lack resources and the teachers lack ICT skills. So one of the things we hope to achieve with this program is to teach the teachers so that we can build an ecosystem, and have the pool of

knowledgeable teachers and an ecosystem of knowledge workers.

What is the fate of the students that were merged from different schools after this competition?

Each school will work in their own school and the ones we joined together could inter-relate and work from one school this week and another next, which will bring about cooperative learning between those schools and this, is a good thing. Actually it does not end there as the schools will continue knowing that another tournament is coming in December.

Whatever you are going to see today will be improved upon by the schools next year.

Is the Government really funding knowledge economy?

The Federal Government will be interested in knowledge economy; they only need people to CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

NUC plans to create internet portal for Ph.D holders Tony Nwakaegho Following the spate of unemployment among Ph.d holders, the National University Commission (NUC) has said that it will establish a portal for them in order to facilitate their engagement in the Nigeria university system.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, dropped the hint during an interactive dinner with newsmen in Abuja, adding that it was worrisome that Ph.D holders were unemployed when their services were needed in the universities.

He revealed that many Ph.D holders visit his office looking for job, hence the need for a portal that where their data would be uploaded for easy access to any university that may need their services. ``It is amazing seeing the number of Ph.D holders that come to my office and say they are looking for jobs.On the other hand, many universities are looking for Ph.D holders to employ; we will create a portal that will serve as a pool from which the universities can engage such people.’’

He noted that the nine newly approved private universities had been directed to institute a credible staff enrolment programme.

21 Technology Times

Concept Nova awarded NCC licence for car tracking technology

Cinder Sensing Cooker

Smart cooking device that uses satellite technology unveiled Tony Nwakaegho

Concept Nova fleet track device

Tony Nwakaegho Concept Nova, one of Nigeria’s foremost IT solutions company, has been awarded with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) licence for its Ti-kon device that is packed with the latest car tracking technology.

The Ti-kon device which is a new innovative product known as Ti-kon Vehicle Tracker came in partnership with Konga.com as the latest in tracking technology that gives one complete control of one’s asset which can be accessed all in real-time.

The Nigerian Communications Commission,(NCC) is a regulatory body that governs and monitors the performance and standard of all communication services and facilities supplied to consumers in Nigeria.

Head of Strategy and Marketing, Concept Nova, Ms. Chidimma Onyeokoro said “this comes at a great time when one of our most innovative products launch-

es with the largest online marketplace.”

An excited Onyeokoro disclosed the certification brings immense joy at a time when the Ti-konvehicle tracking device is launched on the well-known online shopping site and subsequently offline with selected franchise partners around the country.

The Ti-kon vehicle tracking solution provides effective monitoring of vehicles’ daily Performance, as well as shows employees’ driving habits, all at the touch of a button via any GSM/ GPS enabled mobile phone.

Data monitoring from the device is provided every 10 seconds, viewable from a personal computer or smartphone by selected members of the Concept Nova technical team, besides each customer’s own access.

The Ti-Kon tracking device is seen as a welcomed development at a time when car theft is one of the banes of the economy.

A smart cooking device that uses ‘satellite technology’ for precision-temperature cooking has been unveiled.

The N105, 000 Cinder Sensing Cooker looks like a sandwich toaster but is used to cook a variety foods, including steak.

An app tells you when your food is done and even stores it for up to two hours if you aren’t ready to eat just yet.

The boss of the San Franciscobased company, Eric Norman, was previously an engineer at Lockheed Martin - known for its involvement in the space industry.

Mr Norman said they “drew upon rocket science used in spacecraft to create a wholly down-toEarth cooking experience.”

For example, the materials and the structural design were selected specifically to optimise heat flow, while the device can cook food to very precise specifications.

“Like controlling the motion

of a satellite, Cinder’s predictive control system and sensor placement are carefully tuned to avoid overshoot” the company said.

Mr Norman said the product enables people to “combine the best parts of home cooking - the creative and sensory experience with the best part of fine dining, which is the perfectly cooked, delicious food.”

To cook food, Cinder has an enclosed chamber and two non-stick aluminium cooking plates.

These are equipped with highly accurate sensors that achieve and maintain the precise temperature to cook a particular food.

This can either be calculated by the machine, or selected according to the cook’s preferences.

The company said it can “prepare a perfect, medium-rare New York Strip steak, cooked evenly edge-to-edge and with a beautiful seared exterior, in 28 minutes.”

To cook food in Cinder, the user simply places the food inside and closes the lid.

‘FLL organises robotic tournament for students’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

come up with this initiative. We can’t expect the government to do everything so we need a third sector, public private to come in to fill the gap, where the government and private can fill when they know that there is enough resources. What we are doing, is that we are developing human capital and we need the Federal Government to support this. And we can only get better.

How do you source for materials for the competition?

We gave them all the materials which Lego made abroad.

Is there any hope to localize the material in accordance with the local content policy of govern-

ment?

What we do is that Lego gives us a challenge every year and the challenge for this year is going to be “how do you manage your waste”. Waste is generated everywhere across the world, so the kids in England will work on how to manage their waste looking at their environment. The kids in Nigeria will look at the Nigerian environment and see how to manage their waste. It is localized and it funnels down to the local environment. The kids in England will teach us how they want to learn. And the kids in Nigeria will teach us how they want to learn. It is an application and you apply it to your environment. It is a gestation that will determine the idea you are to throw forward.

Is Robot Technology not a new concept in Nigeria?

It is a new concept in Nigeria and we are one of the pioneers to bring it to Nigeria. Robotics is good for kids because it teaches them how to build, how to make things and relate with the mindset that we don’t really have to make much because other people will make them. This is a game changer and it will teach the kids that they can actually make something. Because we gave them robots in pieces and they built the software which you are seeing today, they are perfect and it is very good.

Where do you hope First Lego League will be in the

Students participating in First Lego League robotic competition in Lagos recently.

Photo: TONY NWAKAEGHO

next two to five years?

In the next two to five years we want First Lego League to be running across the Federation and we can now grow up horizontally within the states and we can now

have a central point where kids can now come ad partake in this program and we will take it to the rural areas, and everywhere we can take it to because this is the future of education.

22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17 , 2015

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

s

Cartoons from our Archives

1901 Van Gogh paintings shown On March 17, 1901, paintings by the late Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh were shown at the BernheimJeune gallery in Paris. The 71 paintings, which captured their subjects in bold brushstrokes and expressive colours, caused a sensation across the art world.

Eleven years before, while living in Auvers-sur-Oise outside Paris, van Gogh had committed suicide without any notion that his work was destined to win acclaim beyond his wildest dreams. In his lifetime, he had sold only one painting. One of his paintings--the Yasuda Sunflowers--sold for just under $40 million at a Christie’s auction in 1987.

Born in Zundert in the Netherlands in 1853, van Gogh worked as a salesman in an art gallery, a language teacher, a bookseller, and an evangelist among Belgium miners before settling on his true vocation as an artist. What is known

1940

as the “productive decade” began in 1880, and for the first few years he confined himself almost entirely to drawings and watercolours while acquiring technical proficiency.

He studied drawing at the Brussels Academy and in 1881 went to the Netherlands to work from nature. The most famous work from the Dutch period was the dark and earthy The Potato Eaters (1885), which showed the influence of Jean-Francois Millet, a French painter famous for his peasant subjects.

In 1886, van Gogh went to live with his brother, Theo, in Paris. There, van Gogh met the foremost French painters of the postimpressionist period, including Henri de ToulouseLautrec, Paul Gauguin, Camille Pissarro, and Georges Seurat.

He was greatly influenced by the theories of these artists and under the advice of Pissarro he adopted the kind of colourful palette for which he is famous.

Todt named Reich Minister for Weapons and Munitions

Dr. Fritz Todt, an engineer and master road builder, was appointed Minister for Weapons and Munitions, ushering in a new era in the efficient use of German industry and forced labour.

A civil engineer with a doctorate from the School for Advanced Technical Studies in Munich, Fritz Todt caught the attention of Adolf Hitler in 1932 as Todt spoke out about the importance of building new roads to jumpstart a moribund German economy.

Once Hitler came to power, Hitler placed Todt in charge of a massive road-building project that remains remarkable today: the Autobahn, Germany’s superhighway.

Todt designed the Autobahn so it would “harmonize with the German landscape.” One of the unintentional outcomes of the project was that it provided a working model of the use of slave labour within the Nazi regime.

In February 1940, realizing that mass executions in occupied

Poland were not serving the Reich efficiently, Hitler decided to create a centralized and supervised source of mass slave labour. It was Todt who was chosen to command the project.

The Todt Organization became the single largest employer of slave labour in Hitler’s empire, disseminating workers to shorthanded munitions plants.

And as Minister for Munitions and Weapons, Todt oversaw a more efficient use of raw materials in Hitler’s arms machine.

Todt’s engineering skills also proved useful in the war against France, with the design and construction of what was called the “West Wall,” a fortress line of bunkers that divided the FrancoGerman border.

On February 8, 1941, Todt, after a conference with various government ministries on German arms production and distribution, was killed in a plane crash en route to Berlin.

Daily Times March 17, 1961

1990

The former Soviet Socialist Republic of Lithuania steadfastly rejected a demand from the Soviet Union that it renounce its declaration of independence. The situation in Lithuania quickly became a sore spot in U.S.-Soviet relations.

The Soviet Union had seized the Baltic state of Lithuania in 1939. Lithuanians complained long and loud about this absorption into the Soviet empire, but to no avail.

Following World War II, Soviet forces did not withdraw and the United States made little effort to support Lithuanian independence. There matters stood until 1985 and the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev as leader of the Soviet Union. In 1989, as part of his policy of loosening political repression in the Soviet empire and improving relations with the West, Gorbachev repudiated the Brezhnev Doctrine of 1968, which

Lithuania rejects Soviet demand to renounce its independence stated that the Soviet Union was justified in using force to preserve already existing communist governments.

Lithuanian nationalists took the repudiation of the Brezhnev Doctrine as a signal that a declaration of independence might be accepted.

On March 11, 1990, Lithuania declared that it was an independent nation, the first of the Soviet republics to do so.

It had, however, overestimated Gorbachev’s intentions. The Soviet leader was willing to let communist governments in its eastern European satellites fall to democratic movements, but this policy did not apply to the republics of the Soviet Union. The Soviet government responded harshly to the Lithuanian declaration of independence and issued an ultimatum: renounce independence or face the consequences. On March 17, the Lithuanians gave their answer, rejecting the Soviet demand

and asking that “democratic nations” grant them diplomatic recognition.

The Soviets had not been bluffing. The Soviet government insisted that it still controlled Lithuania, Gorbachev issued economic sanctions against the rebellious nation, and Soviet troops occupied sections of the capital city of Vilnius.

In January 1991, the Soviets launched a larger-scale military operation against Lithuania.

Many in the United States were horrified, and the U.S. Congress acted quickly to end economic assistance to the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev was incensed by this action, but his powers in the Soviet Union were quickly eroding. In December 1991, 11 of the 12 Soviet Socialist Republics proclaimed their independence and established the Commonwealth of Independent States. Just a few days after this action, Gorbachev resigned as president and what was left of the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Niger gov urges opposition to emulate Aminu Kano Saka Bolaji Minna

ÏÏÏNiger State Governor,

Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has charged the opposition in the country to emulate the qualities the late Malam Aminu Kano, who, despite being a mainstream opposition leader, still found time to work for the development of the northern part of the country.

He said that while Malam Aminu Kano campaigned vigorously for his Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), he was generous enough to drop his political or ideological leaning, in the interest of the region’s progress.

Aliyu spoke in Minna,

on Monday, at the opening of a one-day Strategic Meeting of Executives of Non- Governmental Organisations from the northern part of the country, under the aegis of the Centre for Communication and Reproductive Health Service, with the theme: “Effective Partnership to Compliment Government’s Efforts in addressing Developmental Challenges in the Region.”

He said Malam Aminu Kano and other members of the opposition “never allowed their political differences to affect their goals for the North” – a trend that had been abandoned by the present crop of opposition politicians.

Aliyu also said that there was a need for a clear-cut difference in the ideologies of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the major opposition party the All Progressive Congress (APC), because, as of now “we don’t know the difference between the ideologies of these parties, which is creating problem in the polity.”

On the development of the northern region, Aliyu said that there a need existed for the political leadership to have a rethink about its concept of development, which should be convincingly people-oriented.

He recommended that states and local govern-

ments in the north should now look inwards to generate more money to fund their projects.

He advised Nigerians to make regular exercise and medical checkup of their health status priority.

Aliyu

A cross section of Coalition of Concerned Nigerians in a protest rally demanding the removal of INEC Chairman, Prof Jega held in Lagos... on Monday.

PHOTO: Olawale Rotimi

23 News

Jonathan to separate Nollywood from Ministry of Information Opeoluwani Akintayo

ÏÏÏPresident

Goodluck Jonathan has promised to separate the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood from the Ministry of Information, if re-elected in the forthcoming general election.

He said this during the question and answer session at the Showbiz Interactive forum held with the movie practitioners on Sunday evening, at the Convention Center of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The occasion, which brought together Nollywood, the music and movie

NGO unveils motor ambassador, preaches safety on road

Eberechi Obinagwam

ÏÏÏA

non-governmental organisation known as Miss Motors Nigeria Foundation, has unveiled its ambassador that would help preach safety on the road.

Its Co-ordinator, Evelyn Igbe, said that the body tended to use ladies to preach safety on the roads, because they were always a centre of attraction.

Emma Obi

Benue community deserted over Fulani attack

Freddie Adamgbe Makurdi

ÏÏÏ

Over 1,000 villagers have deserted Egba community of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, following Sunday attack, that killed more than 100 people, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

The recent attack is coming in spite of the cease fire agreement signed last year between the Benue State government and the leadership of the Miyyetti Allah Cattle Rearers Association.

The Sunday attack, which disrupted church activities, left families stranded as members scampered for their dear lives as they ran into the camp of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s). A catholic priest in the area, who spoke to our correspondent, on condition of anonymity, pointed out that as early as 5 am on the fateful Sunday, while he was preparing for the morning mass, he heard gun shots, preceded with loud cries, mostly from women and children, who were murdered in a most despicable manner never

witnessed in the area before.

The priest said due to the unfortunate orgy, every community member alive, had to run for their lives, as they now seek refuge in neighbouring community, for fear of further attack.

An eye witness, who escaped the attack, and took refuge with his uncle in Makurdi, Ocholi Abba, told our correspondent that the Fulani attackers crossed from Loko in Nasarawa State, to unleash terror on the innocent peace loving villagers, who were taken unaware.

''They crossed form Loko in Nasarawa State to Agatu as early as 3 am, when many villagers were asleep and opened fire on us, killing over hundred.

They killed my mother and three of my siblings. It is by the grace of God that I escaped. Dead bodies were scattered everywhere like dead fish, oh my God'' Abba said sobbing.

Asked whether the villagers had earlier provoke the herdsmen, Abbah said the Fulanis had been killing them since last year so it was not a question of being provoked or not.

Calabar

ÏÏÏCross

River State Labour Party candidate, Dominic Aqua Edem, has been kidnaped.

He is contesting to represent Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas, in the House of Representatives.

He was also a former deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Daily Times reliably gathered that at about 8.30 p.m. on Sunday, Edem was driven away from his compound, at Anantigha, in Calabar South, by five men in a Toyota vehicle.

As of the time of this report, no contact had been

industry operatives, was graced by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Mr. Jimi Agbaje, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Honourable Musiliu Obanikoro.

Jonathan also promised to work hand-in-hand with the movie industry, to make sure that the sector developed more, so as to be a stronger player, than it presently is, in the international market.

He also revealed that Nollywood provides 1.5% of the national income, which makes it an industry to be reckoned with.

She also stated that the body would not just stop at educating a few people, but would carry its campaigns to schools and the rural areas. She said her reason of partnering with Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was because the body was concerned with safety.

The Assistant Corps Commander, Motor Vehicle Administration, Gloria Danfulani, thanked the organisation for the honor, adding that enlightening the public on safety was the main function of the commission.

She stated that although its campaigns may not stop traffic crashes, they would help reduce it to some appreciable minimum.

C’River LP candidate kidnapped made with him or his kidnappers.

The Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Hogan Bassey, told Daily Times that the matter had been reported to the state Command.

Similarly, in a telephone interview, the Labour Party Chairman, in Cross River State, Austin Ibok, accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state for being behind the kidnap.

Public Notice 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

DIVINE EMPOWERMENT CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS

NATION FEEDERS FARMERS, YOUTH AND WOMEN ORGANISATION

COMPREHENSIVE CHRISTIAN CENTRE

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

The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named centre has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees.

1. High Priest Jossy Yetonepo Ogunlawaja.

2. Rev. Solomon Ogunlawaja.

3. Rev. Anuwa Gabriel Ogunlawaja.

4. Rev. Joshua Star Ogunlawaja.

5. Rev. Sanmina Ogunlawaja.

Aim and objective.

1. To preach the gospel and teaching of Jesus Christ to all humanity.

2. To propagate the message of peace, love, Charity and brotherliness in accordance with the Christian faith without boundaries.

3. To organize seminars workshop crusade and other programmes aimed at inculcating the exemplary life Jesus Christ to all humanity.

4. To liaise and partner with both governmental and non - governmental organization in order to achieve the foregoing and similar objectives.

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

Signed; CHARLES EZEAGU ESQ. Charles Ezeagu $ Co. Suite 2-018 Area 1 shopping complex, Garki Abuja.

08035510701.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pst. Stephen George Chairman 2. Pst. Mrs. Chinyere George Secretary 3. Pst. Fidelis Agbo.

4. Chigozie Ibeanwusi.

5. Elder Damian Iheanacho.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: 1. Reconciling the world to God. 2. Preparing a glorious church not having sport or wrinkle.

Any Objection(s) to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication.

Signed: PST. STEPHEN GEORGE (CHAIRMAN)

ELITE FAMILY GLOBAL FOUNDATION

TRUSTEES: 1) Elder Oyedele A. John – Chairman; 3) Chief(Mrs.) Kusaanu Omolara – Treasurer; 5) Mr. Ekundayo Adenrele – PRO; 7) Mr. Matthew Awharitomah – Ibo Rep; 9) Mrs. Tolulope Fasoranti – Women Rep 2

2) Pastor Ajiboye Peter O – Secretary; 4) Mr. Olatunde Oluwagbemiga – President, Nigeria; 6) Dr. Musa Kadagana – Hausa Rep.; 8) Miss. Bukola Ayoola – Women Rep 1;

Aim and Objective: i. Feed the Nation by working with GRASS ROOT farmers (in all commodities) ii. Add value to farmers products, for the purpose of providing solutions to the challenges threatening their economic well-being iii. Provide holistic agricultural packages that facilitate modern production, storage, processing and marketing (locally and international iv. Enhance the economic health of the country by providing alternative source of foreign exchange inflow Any Objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Elder Oyedele A. John (Chairman)

INTERNATIONAL RIGHT OF WAY ASSOCIATION CHAPTER 84 NIGERIA

SPIRIT LIFE DOMINION ROYAL EMBASSY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under Part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Eno-Obong Patrick-Chairman.

2. Aniedi Ikoedem Bassey-Secretary.

3. Joseph Simon Ukpong.

4. Edeheudim Dickson Udom.

5. Ekerete Godfriey Essien.

Trustees.

1. Gershow Henshaw.

2. Charles Ebiai.

3. Kenechukwu Onuorah.

4. Olasoji Olowolafe.

5. Benson Iroha.

The trustees are: 1. Pastor Prince Adeyemi.

2. Mrs. Tonia-Wendy Prince Adeyemi.

Aims and objectives.

1. To encourage its members towards professional developnment strong ethics and improved service to employers.

2. To encourage patriotism and selfless service among its members.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To protect the interest of our members.

Any Objection(s) to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 Days of this Publication.

Signed: Eno-Obong Patrick. ( Chairman)

DISCLAIMER This is to inform the general public that Rev. (Barr) Jesse-Daniels Onuigbo of Rev. Jesse-Daniels Onuigbo & Co. No 40 Oriafite Road, Nnewi Anambra State is not the Executive Secretary/ Legal Adviser Commandclem Nigeria Limited (The Company) and does not have the legal capacity whatsoever to act, represent and/or negotiate for the company. By this disclaimer notice effective from the date thereof anyone that deals with Rev. (Barr) Jesse-Daniels Onuigbo does so at his/her peril.

Commandclem Nigeria Limited shall not be liable. For any contractual relationship or dealings whatsoever entered into with him.

FOR MANAGEMENT

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION This is to inform the General public that Mr. Ajamu Sunday Adebayo of No. 4 Ogudu Road is suspended in Commandclem Nigeria Limited (the company) and does not have the legal capacity whatsoever to act, represent and/or negotiate for the company, By this suspension notice effective from the date thereof anyone that deals with Mr. Ajamu Sunday Adedayo does so at his/her peril.

Commandclem Nigeria Limited shall not be liable for any contractual relationship or dealings whatsoever entered into with him.

FOR MANAGEMENT

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

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

Aims and objectives are 1. To preach the gospel of salvation.

2. To bring deliverance to the captive.

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

Signed: Barr ihuoma uwalaka.

SIGNED: Secretary

HUMAN RELIEF ADVOCACY PROGRAMME

SAINT RALPH ROSE AKPOTOMA FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

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

TRUSTEES ARE:1. Anthony Nwabueze Onyenweaku - President.

2. Ijoma Uchenwa Okpo - Secretary.

3. Nnamdi Donatus Uzoechi.

4. Grant Nwokoma (Esq).

5. Lilian Tony Onyenweaku (Esq)

The Trustees Are: 1) Ekpecham Ufuoma - Chairman 2) Ekpecham Uzoma - Member 3 Stella Akpotoma - Secretary 4 Pastor Ofodile Nzimiro - Member

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: To protect human rights such as the rights of women, youths, children, aged , environmental rights via legal aids, advocacy and access to justice.

Aims and Objectives are: 1. To cater for the less priviledge in the society 2. Creating charitable programmes that would enlighten and sensitize the public on the plight of disadvantage and uneducated young person 3. To promote godliness and uprightness

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

SIGNED: UZOECHI LILIAN OBUMNEKE (ESQ) COUNSEL

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

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

THE SHIELD SAFETY FOUNDATION

ANGELA NKEMDILINU NKOIDET

SHONEKAN AKOREDE OLORUNKEMI

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

I, formerly known as Angela Nkemdilim Uchedike is now known as Mrs. Angela Nkemdilinu Nkoidet; all other documents bearing the former name remains valid. First Bank of Nigeria please take note

I, formerly known as Miss Shonekan Akorede Olorunkemi is now known as Mrs. Ayodele Akorede Olorunkemi. All other documents remains valid. The general public should please take note

EGBOCHI BENITA CHISOM

UMOEBIT UDOCHUKWU VICTORIA

The Trustees Are: 1. Mr Adewuyi Aderemi.

2. Mrs Adewuyi Favour.

3. Amoo Zacheaus Olusola.

4. Morenikeji Ajibola Keji.

5. Mrs Williams Oluwatoyin.

Aims and Objectives are: To prevent accident of all kinds in Nigeria & all Africa sub-regions.

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

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

I, formerly known as Miss Obayedo Benita Chisom now wishes to be known as Mrs. Egbochi Benita Chisom; all other documents bearing the former name remains valid.

General public please take note

I, formerly known as Miss Nwakudu Udochukwu Victoria now wishes to be known as Mrs. Umoebit Udochukwu Victoria.

All other documents bearing the former name remains valid.

General public please take note.

PLACE YOUR ADVERT HERE

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Vote for me, Umeh begs Idemili North Afam Aminu Chimezie Onitsha

Ă?Ă?Ă? As the All Progres-

sives Grand Alliance (APGA) concluded its campaigns in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, the National Chairman of the party and Anambra Central Senatorial candidate in the fourthcoming election, Chief Sir Victor Umeh, has appealed to the voters there to back him. Idemili North and South have the highest number of registered voters in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone. For that, it has remained the stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial candidate, Sen. Chris Ngige, who hails from Alor community in Idemili South.

Addressing party supporters at St. Philip’s Anglican Church Field, Ogidi, on Monday, Umeh said that being one of the local government with the highest number of registered voters in the zone, APGA was relying on the electorates

to vote for all its candidates from the area.

The APGA boss disclosed that time had passed when voters cast their votes simply because one hailed from a particular area.

He, however, charged the electorates to remain steadfast with APGA during and after the elections, adding that one of his major priorities would be to champion the implementation of the recommendations of the defunct National Conference, which included the creation of additional state in the South-East.

A member of APGA Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Romeo Ezeonwuka, commended Governor Willie Obiano for his numerous achievements barely one year in office and hoped, as a result, that the electorates in Idemili North would vote for all APGA candidates.

Ezeonwuka observed that owing to the emergence of credible candidates from Idemili North, the APC was dead and buried in the area.

S’East APC berates PDP over Enugu trade fair complex Moses Oyediran Enugu

Ă?Ă?Ă?

The All Progressives Congress (APC), spokesperson in the South-East geopolitical zone, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has flayed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)led Federal Government for its failure to construct the permanent site of Enugu International Trade Fair complex, six years on.

Okechukwu who spoke on the matter in Enugu, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of treating Ndigbo with levity.

According to him: “The 26th Enugu International Trade Fair is ongoing now. Every year, the organisers of the fair keep appealing to Jonathan, to construct the permanent, site as was done in Lagos

and Kaduna. “In this country, we have three major ethnic nationalities, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. The citing of the three international trade fair complexes in Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu represents the regional structure of the country and is meant to engender even economic growth of the regions. “For the PDP-led government to have abandoned the Enugu Trade Fair in ruins is a testament to the marginalisation Ndigbo has suffered in the past 16 years.

Daily Times recalled that the federal government designated Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu as International Trade Fair complexes, while it had completed construction works in Lagos and Kaduna, not so Enugu.

25 News

Adamawa Speaker survives removal plot Wale Akintunde Yola

Ă?Ă?Ă? The attempted plot

to remove the Speaker, by some law-makers, was, however, unsuccessful, as his loyalists scuttled the move.

It would be recalled that Fintiri was the arrowhead of the process that ousted former governor, Murtala Nyako.

He had also been at loggerheads with the state Governor, Barrister Bala James Ngillari and some law-makers, who perceived him a traitor, for failing to secure a return ticket for them during the last controversial

Fintiri Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, in Abuja.

Before now there had been exchange of harsh words between the executive and the legislature, following an adver-

torial, in which Ngillari allegedly accused President Goodluck Jonathan of betraying him, while another advertorial accused Fintiri of treachery towards former vice-president, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Murtala Nyako.

The brains behind the plot to remove Fintiri were hurriedly removed from their positions, which included the Majority Leader, Hon. Salihu Kabilo, who replaced by former majority leader, Hon. Ishaku Bala, and Jerry Kundusi, the Chief Whip, who was replaced by a Finitiri ally – Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas.

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Wabba

NLC president demands review of minimum wage Akor Ejumene Abuja

Ă?Ă?Ă?

The newly-elected president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, on Monday, demanded the evaluation of the N18, 000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

Wabba, who formally assumed duty, on Monday, the Labour House, Surulere, Lagos, said the N18,000 minimum wage for workers could not take the workers home in this hash economy and had to be evaluated.

He said there was a need to look into the 18,000 minimum wage and consider its increment due to the inflation rate in the country.

Said he: “The inflation is due plummeting value of the Naira compared to the dollar, which is currently N198 to $1.

Wabba, however, called for alternative policies that would ease the effects of the inflation on workers.�

He also called for an end to fuel scarcity, in the interest of national economic development. “Every process of development revolves round fuel.

Why should we continue to import fuel when we can refine it here?’’, he asked.

He said his administration had laid down plans, which would help in seeing workers through the austerity period. “We have, in our manifesto, fleshed out some ways to cushion the effect of inflation on workers�, he said.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Law

s

Law Editor: Peter Fowoyo

Police do not have exclusive security right during elections – Emukpoeruo Robert Emukpoeruo read law at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, Osun State, and was called to the Bar almost three decades ago. In this interview with PETER FOWOYO, he spoke on a decision by the Federal High Court that frowns at lawyers disclosing their clients fund in a money-laundering case, the forthcoming general election and sundry issues.

There is a judgment of a Federal High Court, where the court said it is unprofessional for lawyers to disclose their clients fund in a money-laundering case. What is your take on it?

Well, that is a very interesting judgment. The judgment itself is a very important one in the legal jurisprudence, because my take on it is that the issues that were canvassed in the case were issues that could not necessarily be seen as substantive. For example, one of the grounds this case was decided was whether this Special Control Unit for Money Laundering (SCUML) is a juristic body. Is it a creation of law for it to seek to regulate the activities of lawyers? It is even the Ministry for Trade and Commerce that set-up this body and is operating it in conjunction with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Are they juristic bodies…do they have control over lawyers? Are they the ones that call lawyers to the Bar…are they the ones that issue them practicing certificates?

All these were issues that were considered in that case and the judge ruled that the SCUML is not a juristic body. It is not a body known to law to start issuing directive to anybody, not to talk of lawyers. So, it cannot regulate lawyers because there is already a body set up under the Legal Practitioners Act to regulate the activities of lawyers. That is why I said it is a case that focused more on the legality of SCUML and the legality of the provision itself. Is the provision legal? And the court found that the provisions were

unconstitutional and they were contrary to the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, which had made elaborate provisions to regulate lawyers in the conduct of their business. To that extent, I do not think the judgment can be faulted because, frankly, the first time I also heard this SCUML, I wondered if it was an agency created by law and given legal personality to act by itself with rights, and that is part of the decisions the court came to rightly. It is not a legal body; they don’t have any rights to be sued or sue, so it certainly cannot regulate the conducts of lawyers. It is not so much of the court trying to exempt lawyers from money laundering activity, it is the legal issues that were canvassed and resolved in favour of the Nigerian Bar Association. The APC campaign group has called on the Nigerian government to obey the Court of Appeal judgment by keeping the military out of election.

Do the armed forces have any role to play in the country’s election?

The recent judgment of the Court of Appeal from the gubernatorial election appeal from Ado-Ekiti made a pronouncement that the armed forces of Nigeria, under the provisions of the constitution and under other laws, has no statutory role to play in the conduct of the election and that the President has no power under any law to deploy them for security purposes during the conduct of the election.

Firstly that pronouncement of the Court of Appeal will appear not to have taken into consideration all of the relevant provisions of the constitution and the armed forces act that deals with the issue. The pronouncement of the Court of Appeal did not take cognizance of the fact that the president, as the commander-inchief of the armed forces, is vested with the power by the constitution to determine the operational use to which the armed forces of the federation may be put to anywhere in Nigeria. That right that is conferred on the president is a right that is conferred by the constitution to determine the operational use of the armed forces as the commander-in-chief. The power itself is not vested in the judicial arm of government to

Emukpoeruo

“The armed forces have always been actively involved in providing security and there is nothing contrary to the provisions of the constitution or the armed forces act in so doing that says the police are to be deployed for the conduct of elections.”

determine how the president is going to determine the operational use of the armed forces.

Now, under the armed forces act, there are specific provisions that now elaborates on how the president is to determine the operational use of the armed forces, and those provisions make it very clear that the president, in determining the operational use of the armed forces, may deploy them in aid of civil authorities and civil activities to maintain peace within Nigeria and, certainly, I think that should not need much of a rocket science to know that without peace and order there cannot be a free and fair election. So, there is nothing illegal or unconstitutional in the president deploying the armed forces to secure the country during the period of election.

This has always been the case right from 1999. The armed forces have always participated in securing the peace during elections. They don’t participate in conducting the elections.

Theirs is to provide security.

They did it in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 and in other election that has been conducted in between this period. The armed forces have always been actively involved in providing security and there is nothing contrary to the provisions of the constitution or the armed forces act in so doing that says the police are to be deployed for the conduct of elections. There is nothing that says so, even in the Police Act; there is nothing that says Police should be deployed for the conduct of the election, but everybody knows that police are there to maintain law and order and that function is also conferred on the armed forces in the operational use to which the president is explicitly empowered to put the army.

But under the electoral act, who is empowered to provide security during election?

The electoral act itself does not deal with who is to provide security during election; the electoral act certainly will not make such CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

27 Law

‘President can appoint ADC from armed forces’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

a provision. All that the electoral act specifically provides for is for the presence of policemen at each polling unit; they are the only security agency that are specifically allowed to receive polling units results, copies of each should be given to them. It is not as if they are specifically mandated to provide security and, most certainly, there is nothing in the electoral act that provides that it is the police that must exclusively provide security. That is part of their duty; maintaining law and order is their duty but what is given to them under the electoral act is that they will be entitled to be given copies of the polling units results at the end of the election, and the main reason for that is also to vouch safe the authenticity of the results that emanates from any polling unit.

The INEC has improved upon the voting system with the introduction of PVCs, do you think this is in line with the electoral act which prohibits e-voting?

Well, I suppose the point of views may be more than one of those issues but, once we take voting in its definition by judicial authority that voting is not limited to the actual act of casting the ballot but involves the entire electoral process mainly accreditations and everything, then it means that there may well be a problem in the introduction of the card readers by the INEC, because the electoral act expressly prohibits electronic voting in very clear terms. Now, if you take voting in its narrow sense of dropping your ballot in the box, we may say that is what the electoral act prohibits but we have regard to judicial authority that has defined voting to include the act of accreditation and that voting is a process that is not limited to merely casting your ballot.

Then it means that the introduction of the card readers may constitutes a clear infraction of the provisions of the electoral act that prohibits electronic voting.

Because the truth of the matter is that the foundation of any election is accreditation and without accreditation, you cannot have any vote because the voters need to be accredited and, when you’re talking about accreditation, it is the process of ascertaining that any person who presents himself to a presiding officer or to a poll clerk is to be registered to vote.

He has a voters’ card with which he can identify himself and his name is ticked on the voters register. That is the process of accreditation. Now if you want to take that process that is more or less a foundation of the voting process and introduce an electronic device, which is going to take over the process of accreditation because that is what is going to be used to ascertain that this person is duly a registered voter, who is entitled to be given a ballot paper to go and cast his ballot, then it is e-voting.

If you look at it from the narrow perspective that voting is limited to just dropping your ballot paper in the ballot box, we may say that it is not a violation of the electoral act but we have regard to numerous judicial authorities, unanimously saying that voting is not limited to merely casting of ballot. It is the entire process of the election starting with accreditation, then there is a problem that INEC itself is on a collision course with the provisions of the electoral act, which prohibits electronic voting. I know there are cases pending in court concerning the use of PVC, because the essential requirement for voting is that you are a duly registered voter and any person who is a duly registered voter, there should be no basis for disenfranchising that person to

“There is nothing in this provision that makes it compulsory for the president to appoint a policeman as his ADC. In fact, there is nothing in this act that makes it compulsory for the IG to appoint any superior officer as ADC but, more importantly is that the section itself starts with ‘subject to the approval of the president.”

Emukpoeruo cast his vote, which is essentially what INEC has done by bringing in the PVC and there is going to be a card reader. If you have a temporary voters’ card, you cannot vote, regardless of the fact that your name is on the register as a duly registered voter.

So, that creates a lot of problem, unless if the voters register they are going to display will now be a voters register that contains only names of those persons who have PVC. But once it is the same register that was used in 2011, because the so called temporary voters card was issued by INEC, people voted with that voters card in 2011 election, the electoral act that was used in 2011 is still in operation in 2015 elections, if the temporary voters card was valid in one election, why would it become invalid and illegal in this election without change in the law? All these are the issues that need to be looked at very, very critically. Moreso when INEC is having challenges with the distribution of the PVCs. Yes, maybe the card reader may aid in checking electoral malpractices, but it has to be ascertained

whether it can achieve that, because it has never been tested anywhere. Why do they now want to use it to disenfranchise those who are clearly registered voter under the constitution?

A right activist, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, has accused the President of breaching the law by his use of the military as his aide-de-camp, stating that this violates section 419 of the Police Act, which stipulates that the president shall have as his ADC a police officer not below the rank of superintendent. Do you think the President breached the constitution with his action?

Now section 419 of the police act that you’ve made mention of, with regards to the ADC to the president; all that that section says is ‘Subject to the approval of the president, the Inspector-General of Police may appoint a superior officer to act as ADC to the president.

There is nothing in this provision that makes it compulsory for the president to appoint a policeman as his ADC. In fact, there is nothing in this act that makes it compulsory for the IG to appoint any superior officer as ADC but, more importantly is that the section itself starts with ‘subject to the approval of the president.’ In other words, there is a power conferred on the president; the appointment of the ADC is subject to his approval. If he does not approve then certainly there can’t be appointment.

The other leg of it is that the section itself specifically talked about the IG appointing, so it is not mandatory for the IG to appoint. If the IG does not appoint then what happens? In order words there is no duty imposed by this section on the IG to appoint, it is entirely discretionary, what all these suggest is that it is not compulsory all these words

‘May’ mean that it is not mandatory that the ADC of the president must be a member of the police. There is certainly nothing in this section that says so. All it means is that if it is going to be a police officer, the appointment should be done by the IG, subject to the approval of the president, that is all it says, but that it must exclusively be a police officer.

Certainly, this section does not say so and I do not think there is any necessity for so restricting the provisions of that section, but one also have to bear in mind that the president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, under the provisions of the constitution, is vested with the constitutional power to determine the operational use of the armed forces and, in exercising that constitutional power which is certainly superior to the provisions of the police act, the president can determine that his ADC will be a member of the Air Force, Navy or the Army, as the case may be, and in the matter of the personal security of the president, I’m aware the brigade of guards is part of the security outfit that is also the power the president is exercising, pursuant to the provisions of the constitution that allows him to determine the operational use of the armed forces because he can set up a specific unit of the armed forces that will cater for his personal security and that will be constitutional.

So, to the extent that the president has such constitutional powers to determine the operational use of the armed forces is electing to appoint an army officer to be his ADC, I believe it is within his constitutional power to determine the operational use of members of the armed forces, there is nothing illegal in it, he is certainly not in contravention of the provisions of the police act.

“I know there are cases pending in court concerning the use of PVC, because the essential requirement for voting is that you are a duly registered voter and there should be no basis for disenfranchising that person to cast his vote, which is essentially what INEC has done by bringing in the PVC and there is going to be a card reader.”

28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Business Times

s

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

Nigeria has excess capacity to end sardine imports –NIOMR Charles Okonji

L-R Oral Care Consultant, Mrs. Oge MacJohnson; Profession Manager East West Africa, Cheslin Twigg; Marketing Director, Colgate Palmolive Nigeria, Mrs. Hannah Oyebanjo and Brand Manager, Mr. Gbadesola Adenre

DPR maintains status quo as deadline for defaulting marginal operators pass Tony Nwakaegho Indications has emerged that the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) may have reneged on the 15th March deadline, given for the revocation of licenses belonging to 16 unproductive Marginal field operators licensed since 2003.

Speaking with the Daily Times on telephone on Monday 15th March, the Head, Basinal Assessment and Lease Management of DPR, Mr J.A Babalola said that no decision has been taken on these companies yet because their issues are still being reviewed, while the DPR wants to ensure that the issue is given a human face in arriving at a fair decision.

According to him, the process takes time in which case, all avenues will have to be exhausted in arriving at the right decision that will be acceptable to all.

Daily Times recalls that in its publication of 5th March, that the DPR confirmed its stance on the deadline given to 16 defaulting Marginal fields that have not been producing since they were issued licenses in 2003, where the department threatened to revoke their licenses.

Meanwhile, industry players in the oil and gas sector equally decried the delay in the renewal of expired onshore and shallowwater licenses held by International Oil Companies (IOCs) which is said to be denying the Federal Government additional revenue.

According to industry sources, the IOCs have continued to produce from the Oil Mining Licenses (OMLs), some of which expired seven years ago. While ExxonMobil’s expired licenses were renewed in 2012 and Chev-

ron’s in January this year, other oil majors, including Total, Shell and Eni are yet to get their expired licenses renewed.

Shell Petroleum Development Company holds an interest in six shallow-water offshore leases, of which five – OML 71, 72, 74, 77 and 74 – expired on November 30, 2008, but have not been renewed by the government.

The sources canvassed that core problem stems from the nonexistent provision on relinquishment, which in effect means that the Nigerian government does not have a policy in place as to what to do when licenses run their course.

The Deputy Manager, Public Affairs, Department of Petroleum Resources, Mr. George EneIta, however said the renewal of the licenses would be pending until the oil companies met the requirements prescribed by law and regulations.

Research findings by the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) has revealed that Nigeria can chose to end importation of sardine and substitute supply from the untapped 200metres of exclusive economic zone which remains unexplored.

Specifically, the fish canning industry that once boomed in Nigeria over 30 years ago can be resuscitated as Nigerian waters contain commercially sustainable quantity of Arioma Bondi and Tuna fish, stated the Executive Director of NIOMR, Gbola Akande, in Lagos.

“Nigeria has what we call 200miles exclusive economic zone, which has not been tapped.

We have tuna in our waters, tuna is enormous, and we have done research to prove that you can harvest 10,000 tons on yearly basis without adversely affecting the stock. The records are there.

“So, this fish (Arioma Bondi) I’m talking about that can replace Titus is an import substitution; and what made people to start canning in Nigeria in those days is that they depended on importation, and they all collapsed when importation went high. Morocco did not depend on importation; they depend on what is caught in their sea (the Mediterranean).

They can it and sometimes when you open it you see three pieces of fish.

“We have fishes in our waters that if you want to set up fish canning industry in Nigeria, you can conveniently do so. We have researches to show that. So, what we are looking at is what we call import substitution. Ghana today is using Tuna to get foreign exchange. When you go to the market, you see a lot of canned Tuna, and when you look properly you will see that one of those canned Tuna is Starkist and it is

a brand from Ghana.

“One of the justifications that made the government to invest in us is that the in-shore waters (50 metres) is where the over 200 trawlers we have in Nigeria operate. But the resources are not as it used to be in those days, not as abundant as it used to be, and that is why some of the fishing companies folded up. You can count the number of some of the fishing companies that are operating on your fingertips. So, we approached the government that we needed to go outside the 50metres for fishing,” he said.

Akande explained that the institute recently received a vessel by the federal government to further explore the viability of their findings.

“It is a combination research vessel which can do both fisheries and oceanographic research.

But in the area of fisheries, it is a vessel that can do both bottom, mid water and top water fishing.

If you look at the trawlers we have in Nigeria today, they can only do what we call bottom trolley. They can only operate at the bottom of the sea. Thanks to the Federal Government who gave us a vessel that was built in August 2014. We were in Poland to launch this vessel and it was actually launched by the first Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which finally arrived Nigeria in October 2014 and right now the vessel is on the sea,” he stated.

Akande said the vessel cost close to N1.5billion and it was purchased by the Federal Government to buttress the importance of putting fish protein on the table for the teeming population of Nigeria, “otherwise, they couldn’t have invested. So, it was an investment that we are also going to pay back in the form of ensuring that we have food security in Nigeria. That would be our own pay back for the investment of that magnitude.”

Akande

Research, fishing vessel

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

29 Interview

Insecurity, no threat to Turkish investors in Nigeria - ABINAT Director ‘‘The media is only trying to blow up the issue of insecurity, which I think is intentional in my view.’’

Zenheri

Mr. Yavuz Zenheri is the Director of Association of Business People and Investors of Nigeria and Turkey (ABINAT), in this interview with ONJEWU DICKSON he bares his mind on how the association is promoting business opportunities between Turkey and Nigeria. He also speaks on the perceived insecurity in the country and other wide range of issues. Excerpts What is the objective of your association (ABINET)?

The objective of ABINET is to bridge Nigeria and Turkey in terms of business and investment Can you highlight the success of the association?

We have been able to bring 20 investors to Nigeria, they came here with their families from Turkey. About three Nigerians have also successfully opened business offices in Turkey, one of them opened a factory.

What sector of the economy do the Turkish businessmen invest in?

Apart from Turkish colleges, Education and Health, there are construction companies, Furniture companies, some quarries and some small scale business.

What is the procedure for Nigerians that want to invest in Turkey?

It is very easy, if any Nigerian wants to open a company in Turkey, he needs to register a company and identify a sector or business, just like what is obtainable in Nigeria.

What role do you play in facilitating such businesses?

Like Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), when companies come from outside we can present the companies and register the companies in two days’ time.

Which one is your focus, is it Nigerians investing in Turkey or Turkish investment in Nigeria?

Ours is to completely bring businesses to Nigeria since we are registered in Nigeria. We focus on Health and Education. We are trying to do our best to bring more and more Turkish investors to Nigerians. At the moment we have 310 Nigerians as members and 50 to 60 Turkish members of our association.

Any challenges so far?

Mainly our challenges are insecurity and power failure, the rest are common problems. Power is the main concern because insecurity is only affecting part of Nigeria. If you are looking at Nigeria from outside, you will think that Boko Haram is everywhere, but there is no internal war in Nigeria, the media is only trying to blow up the issue of insecurity, which I think is intentional in my view. If you watch some channels you will think there is a war in every parts of Nigeria. But when they come here especially the Turkish people, they see Nigeria as a good democracy.

Yearly we bring up to 100 to 200 businessmen from Turkey to Nigeria and at the same time will take more than 500 businessmen yearly from Nigeria to see business opportunities in Turkey through ABINAT. How long have you been in Nigeria?

I have been here for twelve years and as association, I have been here for three years. I have been to many states like Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Yobe and Abuja How far has it been in the three years with the association?

The association was like a component of our schools in Nigeria, Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC). In 2006 we tried making it (association) as a bridge with parents, we were doing the association with parents of students, it came to a point that we said we should make it more and professional by engaging Nigerian businessmen , then in 2011 we formed the association.

What is the process to become a member of ABINAT?

The process is very easy, you pick the application form, the relevant papers and show your tax identification number, and the annual payment; which is N80, 000.

Any other thing you want to say about the association?

We also organize seminar for our members in specific subjects on how to do some exportation, we bring professionals from UK, from US, from Turkey. We also organise seminars in collaboration with NPIC, ministry of investments, and in collaboration with other bodies within Nigeria.

We have a good understanding with NACCIMA, NIPC and other chambers of commerce. Many of them have signed memoranda with us.

If I am businessmen and what to invest in Turkey what will I do?

Not only in Turkey, our main umbrella which is called TUSKON is confederation and we are in 146 countries, for example if one of our members what to do business in Germany, we get in touch with them and make things easier. We are officially in India, China, Moscow, Washington DC, Brussels, Addis Ababa and many others, we are also business partner for Africa Union (AU), we also organize programmes for AU, we are also business partner to European Union (EU), we don’t just want to focus only on Turkey.

For example if you want to go to Brussels, we have association and offices in Brussels, we can call them to make things easy for our members. Same in Ethiopia, Kenya, Gabon, Senegal and others.

What is the target for ABINAT in this 2015?

Our target for this year is to reach 1000, but the number is not important to us but the effectiveness, also on the other hand we are trying to open a skill acquisition centre in Abuja to help the unemployed, we have applied to FCT administration for the land and very soon we are going to start the construction Which areas are you looking at for the skills acquisition?

We will be looking at fourteen different courses, some of the experts that we handle the courses we come from Turkey, Nigeria and others from the NigerianTurkish centre.

Firm targets 100,000 pupils for financial literacy by Q2 Adesola Akindele To further increase the awareness on financial literacy, the global money week a yearly event, Which took place between the 9th- 17th of march 2015, has been used as a platform by Ajapa World Limited, to initiate the Ajapa World financial literacy club, geared towards rejuvenating financial values amongst Nigerian Children through fun but educative methods.

According to CEO Ajapa World, Mr. Akin Braithwaite, Ajapa World is set to roll out its financial literacy club to over 1,000 public primary schools in Lagos state.

“Our goal is to reach 100,000 children in the first phase, which we intend to actualise by the end of the year’s second quarter, after which we roll out to the whole of Nigeria in the not too distant future” he stated.

Ajapa World which has been in existence since 2003, started with the production and publication of children books and cartoons and has since diversified.

“We got involved with the financial literacy drive 2 years ago and being a children’s company we saw that this was something we really and truly had to teach children, especially children in the lower income bracket, last year we partnered with UNICEF and finally got approval from the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to roll out the Ajapa Financial Literacy Club in all states of the country” Mr. Akin stated.

In commemoration of the Global Money Week, the Ajapa World pupils have had a long rich and overwhelmingly fulfilling experience as they have been taken to Financial Institutions to show them how money is managed in different ways, shopping malls to teach them how to spend and shop wisely for themselves and their families and also the Nigerian Stock Exchange where they were exposed to the operations of the exchange house and encouraged to begin an investment plan with as little as N200.

“The whole essence of this event is to raise awareness in financial literacy and make our children productive, economic citizens. The children in the low income bracket have been left behind which is dangerous to the economy because that is where we have defiant behaviors.

Real estate 30

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Property search: Get smart, use technology Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Today, searching for a property to rent or buy in Nigeria, could be a ramble in the woods or a stroll in the park, due to the average level of tech-savviness among Nigerians, in spite of an array of new technologies available at our fingertips.

More specifically, two types of technology are becoming increasingly important in easing the stress of searching for property in the metropolis.

The first is mobile tools – Mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and other new technologies can help you access property information at anytime, anywhere, thanks to thousands of property agents (not quacks) in the country.

Another important type of technology changing the game are tools for collaboration and sharing information quickly, like enterprise software. This technology leads to faster, cleaner transactions between real estate agents and buyers.

Increased search efficiency A few years ago, the biggest gap in real

estate technology was searching for listings on pages of newspapers. Today with Web listings, search is ubiquitous, and consumers are able to access real estate listings more quickly and with expanded targeted searches than ever before.

Simply put, smartphones and mobile devices have been the catalyst for speeding up the entire real estate process. Consumers today should have no shortage of options when it comes to finding homes these days.

The Best Part? A marketplace Most agents and consumers have access to all of this technology, but they must work in unison to make the technology platform more impactful and sustainable, this will save both parties a lot of time, energy and money.

Real estate technology is making deals happen more smoothly, making customers’ lives easier and driving more business in the form of referrals.

Recently Lamudi, an online real estate marketplace operating in Nigeria, launched the first property hotline for the

Nigerian community. The Dial-4-Home hotline has been developed as an extension to Lamudi’s market-leading Internet platform to extend access to the country’s largest database of properties to mobile users without internet access.

By calling the Dial-4-Home number, house-hunters can inquire about properties for sale or rent. Users will be able to get over-the-phone access to listings from over 7,000 property agents and developers who currently list their properties on the Lamudi Nigeria website.

Many view Nigeria as a market with significant potential for Internet-based businesses, with over 60 percent of all Internet connections made from an estimated 12 million smartphone and tablet devices. However, there are more than four times as many mobile subscribers who do not have access to the Internet via their device. With the launch of Dial-4-Home, Lamudi aims to enable property-seekers without an Internet connection to access the same kind of service that users enjoy

at Lamudi.com.ng.

“Technological innovation is not only about what you can achieve on the Internet,” said Obi Ejimofo, Managing Director of Lamudi Nigeria. “We need to ensure technology remains relevant, accessible and valuable to the broadest spectrum of users. We developed Dial-4-Home to assist those property-seekers with little or no access to the Internet. Through voice calls and SMS, they can now search a wide selection properties, from affordable housing to luxury accommodation,” he said.

“Ever since our launch just over a year ago, we always had the intention to bring Dial-4-Home to the market. In 2014 we focused most of our efforts on building the broadest possible database of properties, real estate agents and property developers to ensure maximum customer choice.

Now we are extending that choice to as many Nigerians as possible,” Mr. Ejimofo added.

Staircase Ideas

Tree banister

Lace staircase

Even something as mundane as stairs can be absolutely beautiful. How often do you spend your days thinking about stairs? Probably not all that often, but stairs play a pivotal role in everyday life.

Traditionally, stairs are simple things, designed to serve one purpose: get you to higher ground. Many people step the stairs in their house up by adding wood floors, plush carpeting, or fancy banisters.

Whatever your choice is, just know that your staircase can add more posh and style to your house.

flower petal staircase.

Timber stripe staircase

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

31

marginal operators pass Protests rock Brazil, Tony Nwakaegho president Indications has emerged to quit thatasked the Department of Pe-

capture four suspected militants

in their sea (the Mediterranean).

They can it and sometimes when democracy".

Mende did not say how many you open it you see three pieces The largest demonstration people were detained. He said went ahead in Sao Paulo, a maof fish. the group was held for identificaÏÏÏhave Somali government forces jor opposition stronghold. The tion and investigation, and that“We fishes in our waters Daily recalls ron’s in January this year, other estimates of Times how many people that in its foreign journalists had been re- have captured four suspected that if you want atospokesman set up fish Islamist militants, attended the march varied widely . leased. HeTotal, did not Shell have informapublication of 5th March, that oil majors, including for theindustry state security has you Brazilian data analysts Datacanning in agency Nigeria, tion on whether the diplomat, the DPR confirmed its stance on and Eni are yet to get their exsaid. folha say almost 200,000 people activists or local journalists had can conveniently do so.

We Qasim Ahmed Roble told re-have marched on Avenida Paulista the deadline given to 16 default- pired licenses renewed. been released. porters that the four suspected researches to show that.

So, what on Sunday evening. But police ÏÏÏDemocratic Republic of The activists included meming Marginal fields that have not Shell Petroleum Development of the terrorist group estimated the number of par- Congo's security forces detained a bers of Burkina Faso's Balai we Ci- members looking at is what we call al-Shabab were shown to the mebeen atproducing since were on Sunday Company holds anand interest inY'en sixa Marre are US diplomat in a raid ticipants one million, based on they toyen Senegal's import substitution. Ghana tothat alsothe targetedshallow-water journalists and movements. aerial photographs of the have led large- dia in the capital, Mogadishu. issued licenses inarea.

2003, where offshoreBothleases, said the suspects opened Many of the protesters waved regional democracy activists and scale protests in recent years day isHe using Tuna to get foreign department threatened to revoke of which five – OML 71, 72, 74, 77 Brazilian flags and wore the yel- accused them of posing a threat against presidents attempting to fire on Somali security forces exchange.

When you gowere to the Friday night while officers to stability , a government spokesand 74 – expired on November 30, lowtheir shirts licenses. of the national football extend their time in office. conducting security operation. market, you asee a lot of canned 26 in Brasilia Thou- person said. team. Protest 2008, but have not been renewed one of the suspects industry The players diplomat "was found sandsMeanwhile, gathered outside Brasilia's Tuna,Qasim and said when you look propLaw thethat government. is in his early 60s, adding that people was modernist Congress building to samong a group ofby in the oil and gas sectorbelieved equally seebelieve that one of those "manywill people that most to be in the process of protest against corruption The sources canvassed that erly you al-Shabab members are misled an attack against state Anti-Rousseff in in Belo decried theprotest delay thebringing renewal Police do not have exclusive security core problem stems from the non- canned Tuna is Starkist and it is

DR Congo detains US diplomat

Politics

Law

News

troleum Resources (DPR) 8ÏÏÏHundreds of thousands of may have reneged thedemon15th Brazilians have on joined Politics strations against March deadline, givenPresident for theDilrema Rousseff, with many asking vocationforofherlicenses belonging to impeachment.

The protesters say the presi16 unproductive Marginal field dent must have known about a operators licensed since 2003. corruption scandal in the state oil Speaking theThe Daily Times firm, with Petrobras. political opposition say of the alleged on telephone onmuch Monday 15th bribery took place when she was March, the Head, Basinal Assess- Horizonte In Belo Horizonte the security," Lambert Mende said. head of the company. right during elections – disclose Emukpoeruo of expired onshore and He shallowexistent provision on relinquishdid not the diplomat's ment andButLease Management Ms Rousseff had been ex- protest drew more than 20,000 name or position. in anBabalola investigationsaid by peopl Theylicenses shouted slogans water held by Inter- ment, which in effect means that of DPR,onerated Mr J.A The US Embassy in Kinshasa the attorney general and denied against corruption and the WorkTUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.67 Price: N150 has been taken national Oil Companiesdid (IOCs) the Nigerian government does that no involvement. decision not respond to messages seekers' Party government.Opposistate departMost of the politicians accused tion parties have backed Sun- ing comment. The not have a policy in place as to on these companies yet because which is said to be denying the of taking bribes in a kickback day's protests but have not openly ment did not offer additional what to do when licenses run www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR their issues are still being reinformation when contacted on scheme come from the governing called for impeachment of the additional Federal Government viewed, coalition. while the wantstheto president, says the BBC's Gary Sunday night. their course.

AfterDPR the protests, revenue.

The detentions followed news government promised series of a Duffy in Sao Paulo.

The aDeputy Manager, Public ensure that the issue isa given https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts dailytimesng measures to combat corruption Senator Aecio Neves, who was conference in Kinshasa orgaAccording to industry sourcAffairs, Department of Petrohuman face in arriving at a fair nized in support of a Congolese and impunity. defeated by a narrow margin in “I see Nigeria as an es, thepresidential IOCs have known as Filimbi that leum Resources, Mr. George Enedecision. Justice Minister Jose Eduardo October's vote, continued is- movementto illegitimate state, aims for Ligreater youth participabecause states are sued Cardozoto said the government saw a statement theMining produce frompraising the Oil Ita, however said the renewal of According him, the process built by the will of the Kabila tion in politics. the rallies as an "expression of protests.

People decide censes (OMLs), some of which the licenses would be pending takes time in which case, people. all to build aavstate; it is not imposed. Nigeria until the oil companies met the enues will have to be exhausted was imposed on us by expired seven years ago. While the British.” in arriving at the right decision ExxonMobil’s expired licenses requirements prescribed by law were renewed in 2012 and Chev- and regulations. that will be acceptable to all.

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

sWe need to renegotiate We need toNigeria renegotiate P8 Nigeria – Dokubo-Asari – Dokubo-Asari Politics Editor: Akinjide Akintola

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, March 17, 2015

In this interview with MATHEW DADIYA and UCHE OBI, former president of Ijaw Youth Council and founder, Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Abubachree Dokubo Asari, renews calls for the renegotiation of the Nigerian polity. Not one to pull punches, he expresses strong views about the Boko Haram, the distribution of the country’s oil wealth, as well as President Goodluck Jonathan and his main challenger in the coming general election, Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

Excerpts: You are different things to different people. Even your surname is a ground for debate. Are you Asari-Dokubo or Dokubo-Asari…and, for the records, could you give a brief background of yourself ?

My names are Alhaji Mujahid Abubachree Dokubo-Asari, not Asari-Dokubo. I was born on June 1, 1964, to Hon Justice Melford Goodhead and Mrs Okukuba Dokubo Goodhead. She was a school teacher. I attended Baptist Primary School, King Amachree Primary School and Township School. I also attended St Scholastica High School, Bekana; Baptist Science School, and then proceeded to the University of Calabar in 1985 to read Law. I left the university in 1988 without a degree, and went to Rivers State University of Science and Technology to continue my Law programme. I again left. After that, I have gone through a lot of certifications in different fields of studies. I have certificates in Peace and Conflict Resolution, in Small Arms Deployment, Quranic Recitation from several countries, among many others.

You own a number of schools, including a university outside Nigeria. Why did you decide to establish your businesses overseas?

I am a businessman. I run a chain of schools - The King Amachree Royal Academy that has a group of schools in Cotonou, Benin Republic. I started my business here but the government of Nigerian, under former President Umaru Yar’Adua, closed down

Police do not have exclusive security right during elections P26 – Emukpoeruo

unconstitutional and they were contrary to the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, which had made elaborate provisions to regulate lawyers in the conduct of their business. To that extent, I do not think the judgment can be faulted because, frankly, the first time I also heard this SCUML, I wondered if it was an agency created by law and given legal personality to act by itself with rights, and that is part of the decisions the court came to rightly. It is not a legal body; they don’t have any rights to be sued or sue, so it certainly cannot regulate the conducts of lawyers. It is not so much of the court trying to exempt There is a judgment of a lawyers from money laundering Federal High Court, where activity, it is the legal issues that the court said it is unprofes- were canvassed and resolved in sional for lawyers to disclose favour of the Nigerian Bar Astheir clients fund in a mon- sociation. The APC campaign ey-laundering case. What is group has called on the Nigerian government to obey the Court of your take on it?

Well, that is a very interesting Appeal judgment by keeping the judgment. The judgment itself is military out of election.

Do the armed forces have a very important one in the legal jurisprudence, because my take any role to play in the counon it is that the issues that were try’s election?

The recent judgment of the canvassed in the case were issues In total, how muchofare you from the guHave you made any formal re- not necessarily Appeal that could be Court being quest to President seen Goodluck as substantive.

Forowed? example, bernatorial election appeal from one of the groundsThe thisgovernment case was Ado-Ekiti owed memade morea pronounceJonathan to reclaim them? ment armed forces of decided was whether this Special time.the Now, Yes, I have made requests than N1 billion at that that Unit for Money Launder- Nigeria, under the provisions of in the black market, one AK47 and every attempt to Control President ing (SCUML) is a juristic body. Is the constitution and under other costs So,has if no you put role to play Goodluck Jonathan to statutory it aretrieve creation of rifle law for it toN400,000. seek laws, the cost together, nathe big money my property, but he keeps tellingthe activities conduct of bi the election and to regulate of law- in that the President has no power It is even dat the (it’s Ministry a bigfor sum). me…“You know, ehm, yers? if I do am under hope any law to deploy them Trade andbe Commerce Do that youset-up still have that now, them go say because you for security purposes during the thisme body and is operating it inGovernment the Federal will my brother na him make give conjunction with the Economic conduct of the election. you the things or I pay you the pay you this money?

Firstly that pronouncement of and Financial Crimes Commis, maybethe I would money.” (If I do it now,sion they will AreOne Court be of paid.

Appeal will appear (EFCC). theyday juristic Buthave whatcontrol we are trying to say , myinto considersay it is because you arebodies…do my broth- they not to have taken all of Jonathe relevant provilawyers? Are they the brother, isones that ation Goodluck er, and that that’s why over I returned sionsus of to theplease constitution and the call lawyersthan to thehas Bar…are displeased the property or give youthat monetary they the ones that issue them armed forces act that deals with them. But, even at that, they are compensation). the issue. The pronouncement of practicing certificates? happy So, thethe whole is did not take Even the guns I returned Courtthing of Appeal All thesetowerenot issues that. were thatcase people of things, Obasanjo, they’ve notconsidered finishedin that cognizance of and the fact that the and say the a lot as the commander-injudgeI made ruled that SCUMLWhy is president, wethelaugh. should Dangote paying me for them. When chief ofinthe armed forces, is vesta juristic . It is not a body money make so much Nigeria peace with Obasanjo not before he body with the power to law toand startDokubo-Asari issuing di- ed does not haveby the constitucunningly arrested me,known I returned tion to determine the operational rective to anybody, not to talk of 3200-plus rifles. They were to pay the right to make it? Why should lawyers. So, it cannot regulate use to which the armed forces Femi Otedola make so much N150,000 for each rifle. lawyers Each Genbecause there is already of the federation may be put to makes so That right eral Purpose Machine aGun, anywhere in Nigeria. body N1.2 set up money? under theWale Legal Tinubu Practitioners million, and each rocket launcher Act to regulate the that is conferred on the president is a right is conferred by the activities of lawyers. That is why CONTINUED ONthat PAGE 9 N1.2 million.

I said it is a case that focused more constitution to determine the opon the legality of SCUML and the erational use of the armed forces legality of the provision itself. Is as the commander-in-chief. The the provision legal? And the court power itself is not vested in the found that the provisions were judicial arm of government to

Law Editor: Peter Fowoyo

Dokubo-Asari

my businesses, arrested all the expatriates who were working for me – about eight of them. When they could not find anything incriminating, they deported them.

They came in combined forces - Customs, Immigration, Army, Air force, Navy and the Police.

My property, worth more than $1 million, were seized in 2008, and have not been returned to me up till today. So, I decided to relocate my businesses to the Republic of Benin. My schools are doing well. They are among the best schools. We came tops in many competitions. Recently, we defeated the British International School, which is one of the most expensive schools in this part of the world, at the finals. More than 50 percent of the students in that school are on my scholarships.

Are they all from Nigeria?

No. They are from different countries. We have Congolese,

Emukpoeruo

“The armed forces have always been actively involved in providing security and there is nothing contrary to the provisions of the constitution or the armed forces act in so doing that says the police are to be deployed for the conduct of elections.”

determine how the president is going to determine the operational use of the armed forces.

Now, under the armed forces act, there are specific provisions that now elaborates on how the president is to determine the operational use of the armed forces, and those provisions make it very clear that the president, in determining the operational use of the armed forces, may deploy them in aid of civil authorities and civil activities to maintain peace within Nigeria and, certainly, I think that should not need much of a rocket science to know that without peace and order there cannot be a free and fair election. So, there is nothing illegal or unconstitutional in the president deploying the armed forces to secure the country during the period of election.

This has always been the case right from 1999. The armed forces have always participated in securing the peace during elections. They don’t participate in conducting the elections.

Theirs is to provide security.

They did it in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 and in other election that has been conducted in between this period. The armed forces have always been actively involved in providing security and there is nothing contrary to the provisions of the constitution or the armed forces act in so doing that says the police are to be deployed for the conduct of elections. There is nothing that says so, even in the Police Act; there is nothing that says Police should be deployed for the conduct of the election, but everybody knows that police are there to maintain law and order and that function is also conferred on the armed forces in the operational use to which the president is explicitly empowered to put the army.

But under the electoral act, who is empowered to provide security during election?

The electoral act itself does not deal with who is to provide security during election; the electoral act certainly will not make such

ÎÎÎLast

You either had big balls to deal with them or allowed yourself to be messed up by most of the nonentities because of the high level of illiteracy in the union.

week I visited the two warring factions of my once great Union, PMAN. It wasn’t a surprise that I still see the same neither here nor there people in circulation, hanging around.

Both the “Find me something” kinda people, or the types who can produce any kinda’ document you want. My heart goes out for the two people in question, Kevin and Pretty.

Life is never fair and human beings seem not to ever learn. To survive and thrive in a now ragtag Union as PMAN, no thanks to Dele Abiodun, we need to always be on our toes, alert and agile; no room for slackers and draggers, jooooor.

My one term Presidency taught me so much. It was fun then that my role as Charlyboy and my leadership style were juxtaposed by different adjectives in ways I could not necessarily be defined. Machiavelli style, soft yet so fierce, gentle and rough, kind and mean, a little twist in character as my journey then unveiled before me on a daily basis, bending corners, roundabouts, junctions and dead ends.

Any which way, I am

proud to say that I was on top of my game, but it came with a heavy price. I saw orishirishi.

I learnt many things on that journey, to allow a little softness, I think it’s called diplomacy, a little hardness, sometimes mistaken for gragra. Complete madness, defined as Charlyboyisim. I found myself adjusting like a chameleon to different situations that called for different solutions.

My early experience in life and ruggedness as a true nwa Biafra helped me weather the storm in 2003 as PMAN’s President. A position which I actually didn’t take interest in at first until a lot of people who believed I was what PMAN needed as at that time coerced me into wanting to serve the association as their president. PMAN was at its lowest when I became the President, her image and finance were in the gutter.

But I was ready to pull my best moves as this was an association I was a member of and if there was anything I ever wanted for the association and its members, it was a tremendous improvement from the way things were. Like

Kenyans, Guineans, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin Republic and Senegal, among others.

You made a statement earlier that your property, worth over $1 million, was seized by the Yar’Adua government.

a multi lingual Nigeria, PMAN was a mixed grill of jabgagatis, people from different backgrounds, usually dregs, illiterates, semi or night school, myopic, cliques of people whose career was to mess up anything good whether they were part of it or not.

Hmmmmm the people?

You either had big balls to deal with them or allowed yourself to be messed up by most of the nonentities because of the high level of illiteracy in the union.

King Sunny Ade, the late Sonny Okosun, Femi Lasode, the late Mustafa Amego, Bolaji Rosiji, Tee Mac, and even the very, very illegal Dele Abiodun all passed through PMAN as presidents. They might have had a game plan but their parachute never opened hence their tenor was uneventful and flat, not to be remembered.

Tony Okoroji was one good president PMAN had, his tenure brought “Glamour” and reminded Nigerians that Artistes were not just drop outs.

He had what it took to put PMAN on the consciousness of the nation. People who mattered took notice.

He surrounded himself with very creative people,

Nigeria has excess capacity to end sardine imports –NIOMR P 28

young boys."

Al-Shabab is fighting for an Islamic state governed by strict interpretation of the Quran.

The group has suffered setbacks in recent years, as government troops, backed by African Union forces, regained control of the capital and other territories that had been taken by al-Shabab.

But its members continue to stage sporadic attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere in Somalia.

The number of the attacks has increased in the past week.

Robert Emukpoeruo read law at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife, Osun State, and was called to the Bar almost three decades ago. In this interview with PETER FOWOYO, he spoke on a decision by the Federal High Court that frowns at lawyers disclosing their clients fund in a money-laundering case, the forthcoming general election and sundry issues.

Oh Our PMAN!

Charly Boy

DR Congo detains US diplomat P14

Business

Akande

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

and the First and second editions of the Nigerian music awards was born.

It was at that time, like our own Oscars. He had a plan, BUT...............

The late Christy Essien Ibokwe was another leader who made sure that artistes had a lot of playing engagements. Many had jobs during her reign.

Forget for a moment that she led Nigerian artistes to drum up support for ABACHA. Bottom line is this: to be a successful PMAN leader, one needs to have (a) creative intellectual swag, plus surrounding themselves with positive and progressive souls, (b) a mission and a conviction that’s hard to bend, (c) you must already have a thriving business (d) must command respect in government and corporate circles, (e) members must love you for the extra value you bring to their lives or FEAR you because they can’t decode your unpredictability. I had all the above and a bag of potato chips. Yesooooooo, it is much safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is

broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.

My tenure saw the vigorous and dynamic rebranding of the Union.

After that came the advocacy for better pay for the Nigerian artiste from the corporate world. We were tired of the flooding of foreign artistes on our soil, and the great disrespect some corporate bodies had for local stars. It was a tenure of FIRSTS. We fought piracy, we insured most members to the tune of one million each. We made corporate Nigeria pay the union millions for bringing in foreign artistes when our national stars were the greatest consumers of their products. We initiated the first corporate night, where we had to breakdown the multi billion Naira industry for corporate Nigeria.

We had unending conferences to get musicians to understand and fight for their damn rights. We were in bed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, banks chased us around for our accounts.

TO BE CONTINUED ON FRIDAY

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

ria whi in Octo vessel i Akan close t purcha ernmen tance o the tab tion of couldn an inve ing to p suring in Nig own pa of that

Research

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Mudiaga

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Clement Enajemo The style crafts man

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Get a career in fashion L5 P

Battle of the sex symbols: Iyanya and Burna boy

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday March 17, 2015

I was wired to be in the fashion world – Clement Mudiaga Enajemo

greatest achievement thus far. That is the level of their mentality.

What inspires some of your unique designs?

God and the kind of music I listen to. I like to listen to pure African music.

What else are you equally good at besides fashion designing?

I am also good at interior decoration. In fact I designed the entire structure of my corporate headquarters including the interior which I personally saw to. I am thinking of going fully into it in the nearest future. I would probably get someone who is good at it, an architect or an interior decorator whom I will rub minds with to get exactly what I need.

Clement Mudiaga Enajemo

Nkarenyi Ukonu Just as he is a household name in the Nigerian fashion industry, so has his fame spread all over Africa where he operates his fashion brand. Popularly known as Mudi, Clement Mudiaga Enajemo is the face behind MUDI that has successfully carved a niche in churning out exquisitely designed African clothing from his ultra modern corporate headquarters which he personally furnished with urbane and contemporary dĂŠcor pieces. He dissects in this interview, some of the virtues that has kept him on top of his game for over two decades.

You have remained in the fashion industry long after most of your contemporaries lost steam. What has kept you going in all of the 23 years you have been in this game?

Nothing but hard work, focus, discipline and constantly improving on my craft. These are a few of the things that have kept me from derailing. I work round the clock, I am a work-a-holic so to speak and I enjoy it. The body is designed to work so why should it remain in an idle state?

It has been a long tortuous journey but I am driven by the passion for what I do. There are times when I wake up with pains in my joints but the work has to continue. I would rather get to work and sleep than to remain at home and sleep.

Life&

T E A M

Was there anything about your growing up years that suggested that you would end up in the fashion world?

I want to believe that I was wired and pre destined to be in the fashion industry. First, I am endowed with

the ability to illustrate because while in school, I always came out tops as the best arts student in every class I was in. Also as a youngster, my mother made sure my siblings and I dressed well especially during the Christmas period. She would ask us to go to the best boutique in town to pick the very best of clothes and thereafter, the bill would be sent to her. We were a middle class family so I grew up with that mentality; to always look good at all times. Till date, my friends would always seek my opinion before they go shopping.

So, from an early age, my mother imbued in us, class and style. She is old now though, but in her younger days, she was among the best dressed women in town.

this?

I did get some training but even getting that had to be prompted.

After school in Delta State, I came down to Lagos and immediately got a job at Benex industries, a lighting company. During break while my colleagues would be taking naps, I preferred to sketch just for the fun of it. But during the Ibrahim Babangida regime, about ten of us were retrenched causing me to live on

two of my friends persuaded me to attend a fashion school. I ruminated over their suggestion and concluded that going to a fashion school would be a waste of time, instead, I approached an experienced tailor in Ketu area of Lagos for a nine month training programme, to learn a good Shortly after, Mudi was born.

When would you say was your turning point?

Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784

because I am yet to get to that point. through. Whatever I have achieved today is as a result of hard work and being consistent for 23 years. I mean if after 23 years of doing something

You are one designer who

is the driving force behind your expansion drive?

It is basically to push the brand.

Just because I have made a suc-

means something is wrong somewhere. Your instincts should be able

mean I should remain a local champion. Fashion is universal and has no language barrier. So the essence of pushing the brand out of Nigeria is to tell people that good things can also come out of Nigeria. I have an obli-

I started from the scratch with no capital unlike some of my contemporaries and a few of the younger ones now who had it all mapped out for them. I have never taken a dime from the bank to run my business.

After undergoing training, I began to creations and market my skills until I decided to get a shop, unfortunately, proached actor cum commissioner, Richard Mofe-Damijo whom I will forever remain grateful to, for help.

I had saved only 17,000 naira, he gave me the remaining balance. But even after paying for the shop, it took another three months before I could move in because I had to source for money to buy the essential things a fashion designer should have.

What has been the greatest challenge running the brand Mudi building this brand but I would consider my greatest challenge to be managing people. It is extremely isfy them. Another challenging thing about building the brand is the negative attitude I get from Nigerians for doing extremely well. If another national does extremely well in Nigeria, no one will raise an eyebrow but when a Nigerian does the same thing, people insinuate all kinds of

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378

even though it is capital intensive.

A grand piano at his fashion edifice can succeed without doing drugs, dirty deals or belong to a secret cult.

1am and I get to mine by 7am every day, there is no way we can both be on the same level. When people say all sorts of negative things about me, it hurts and it makes me wonder if it is an offence for a black man to be successful. After doing business successfully for these number of years, especially in a society where there is so much envy, jealousy, backbiting, wickedness and unnecessary competition, I think I deserve a pat on the back. That is one of the statement I am trying to make with my corporate headquarone can remain consistent in a trade for this long and emerge a success.

I have been called an ordinary tailor in many quarters and people wonder how an ordinary tailor can have headquarters which I consider my

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893

Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478

I am making. Everything is made in Nigeria and sold in the outlets in these countries. I always as a matter of courtesy, seek the opinion of the ambassador to any country I plan to expand into. He or she must give me their blessings, get me a lawyer to explain the nature of business there and its implications and thereafter, business starts.

While building your fashion empire, who were most of the people you looked up to?

Quite a number of people as I made progress, people like Kesse Vivid imagination, Dakova etc. Unfortunately, most of them are no longer relevant and it breaks my heart. You can imagine that the likes of Giorgio Armani who has spent decades in the fashion industry is still relevant result of distractions or the environment. Sometimes I get scared and wonder if that is how I would end up.

In less than ten years, some of them

of young male designers in the

Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday March 17, 2015

fashion industry?

Of course not. Any profession move forward. It is better when there is competition, it challenges you to do your best and be more creative.

My only worry is that some of them are into this profession for the glamour; they end up getting carried the glamour, but they should set their priorities right. Most of them are out there in your face but with no structure and substance.

One of your well known admirers is Yomi Makun of Yomi Casuals, a budding fashion designer. Do you take time out to mentor male upcoming designers?

Sometimes I call them on my own free will and offer them my advice.

We are in a country where many are talented but the problem is usually how to express the talent in a proper

way.

What corporate social responsibility are you involved in?

I want to begin to give back to society by setting up a school where I can train people in clothes making.

I get a lot of calls from people who wish to send their children and wards to me for training. I have put off the I wanted to get the structure right.

Now I think I am ready. I am looking at a situation where I can train 36 people, one from each state and give them the best training I can. Thereafter, they will go back to their individual states to replicate what they have been taught. I want it structured in such a way that their state governments will pick their bills.

You have been honoured and recognized by various

Mudi, a lover of vintage cars

organizations. What do all of these awards mean to you?

I have lost count of the number of awards that I have but I must say that the most recent award I got was from Ovation magazine as the 2012 fashion designer of the year. It is my best award ever because it came at the right time; less than a week after I completed my ultra modern happy. I know I deserve the award because I have worked so hard for it, I have paid my dues, I have contributed so much to the fashion industry in Nigeria. That and the rest of the awards mean a lot of things to me but basically, it is a further push for me to keep striving, to keep working hard and to step up my game. I am not like others who pay to receive it speak for me. I believe in what I do and expect people to believe in me likewise.

L3 Interview

What does style mean to you?

It is an expression of my inner self.

My own style is simple and classic As a work a holic, how do you keep your home front from suffering?

No doubt I have a busy schedule but I thank God for the kind of wife that I have. She is half Nigerian, half Ghanaian. We have been married for 10 years. She bowls me over with her humility and understanding as she has been able to cope perfectly

other than this. Do you know what Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal. I have to keep coming out with new designs which is quite challenging.

can you readily recall?

I remember how we used to money from her purse and dash to Warri which was an hour away from Ughelli in Delta State, to buy clothes and quickly dash back. The communal life we were used to as children in those days have long since disappeared. Those days, it was common even have sleep overs without our parents worrying, the liberty to do as we liked was there but these days, people cage their children. There is no more exposure, no communal life, no more trust among people.

How do you unwind?

By clubbing when I can or go to Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos where there is a life band. I loves live bands

What fond childhood memories

The kind of cars he drives are an expression of his style.

He is a collector of vintage cars. He has a 1957 Mercedes Benz and a 1971 Peugeot

Vox Pop

Your preferred male sex symbol - Burna boy or Iyanya?

Olufowora Oyinkansola

Abiola Raphael

Undergraduate I think Iyanya is sexier than Burna boy

Francis Ejeteh

Undergraduate They only look big and cool but noing.

-

Rose Balogun

Undergraduate Iyanya is sexier than Burna boy, I love his muscle

Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk Known by his mononym, Iyanya, is a recording artist, singer, songwriter and performer, best known for winning the 2008 well as for his song, Kukere. He is the co-owner of Made Men Music Group, a record label. He won the artist of the year award at The Headies in 2013. He is an MTN ambassador.

Damini Ogulu Better known by his stage name, Burna Boy, is a reggaedancehall singer and songwriter.

In 2012, he released a single titled Like To Party which saw his rise to prominence. The video was released later same year. He is a Globacom ambassador.

Damilola Ishola

Undergraduate Both of them are sexy. I love them both

Ifeoluwa Olowo

Undergraduate Burna boy does it for me. He is sexier than Iyanya

Shola Olabode

Undergraduate I consider Burna boy sexier

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday March 17, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday March 17, 2015

L5 Fashion & Style

Turn your passion into a career Eyola

include costume design for

eyola@aol.com Interested in a career in fashion? Here are eight fashion-related roles to turn your interest into a career opportunity.

Fashion designers can either work for a company, as a freelancer or independently on their own fashion label.

While some designers are generalists, working across a wide range of products, others focus completely on a specialist area.

Apparel designers design anything from fashion to functional clothing (lingerie, sportswear, lounge wear, ready-to-wear, maternity wear, haute couture etc.) for men, women or children.

Other areas of design can

Footwear designers create designs for shoes, boots, or more of these markets: sportswear, luxury or mass market.

Accessory designers have a broad area of specialism to choose from that includes jewellery, handbags, leather goods, eyewear, hats, gloves and scarves.

Seamstress/pattern cutter: This role requires years of training to master the art of making patterns and sewing clothes. A pattern is a template of the garment one wishes to sew, which is drawn up on paper. It is then used as a guide when cutting

pattern are made in paper

while cardboard is used for

pattern is made, it can be reproduced in different sizes a process known as grading.

Textiles manufacturers/ fabric suppliers:The prior work in textile mills creating a variety of fabrics, while the latter purchase fabrics from various manufacturers to sell to consumers (who require a few yards for individual use, for instance to commission a handmade iro and buba) and fashion companies.

Fashion model� There are different types of modrunway, swimwear, editorial, catalogue, plus size including models who specialise in particular body parts such as hands or legs. Models can fall into one or more of the

above-mentioned categories depending on their physical attributes. It is common models are generally 5 feet 9 inches or taller.

Merchandising is a broad link between fashion as an able business. Merchandisers conduct research to determine and analyse fashion and market trends relative to what their target customer wants. This role (which includes sales and marketing) requires an up-to-date knowledge of the latest industry developments as well as good numeracy, management and marketing skills.

Another discipline within merchandising is advertising, using images and text intended to communicate a

compelling and persuasive message to a targeted audience, in a bid to attract and maintain new, existing and loyal customers. Experience and a solid education are strongly advised for this role.

Public relations which bridges the gap between product and consumer. PR specialists maintain a strong public image for companies in an ongoing pursuit to create, maintain and protect their reputation. Great communications, networking and interpersonal skills and a degree in Communications, Management or Marketing are essential for a successful

In this modern digital world, a new brand of fashion journalism has emerged – fashion blogging. Some require-

in English writing or a good command of English.

Fashion stylists help seas celebrities), publications (photoshoots for editorial or advertising purposes) and for fashion brands who may require their services in preparation for look book and portfolio photo shoots or catwalk shows – assisting them to that they are cohesive, desirable and appealing. This dis-

Fashion journalists are of fashion and traditionally known to write articles for newspapers and magazines.

educate the public at large by informing and inspiring

Pattern cutting

Latasha Ngwube (fashion journalist)

Lisa Folawiyo (Fashion designer)

Runway model Ono Bello (Fashion public relation) Veronica Odeka (fashion stylist)

Isioma Onochie and Aihie Terae Onyeje (fashion merchandizers) Yetunde Alabi (Shoe designer)

Aisha Ugah Igbinovia (Accessory designer)

Fashion model

Relationship L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday March 17, 2015

Strengthening

your

marriage Ngozi Ndubisi

I once remembered my father asking why my husband and I were always cooked up with the children. I smiled then, but now the reality of his words hunt me. My husband and I are not unhappy or anything, but parenthood had more or less reduced us to a business partnership and -

power to make life for our chil-

and your husband are like we used to know you guys

JOKE OF THE DAY husband abused her. She remarried and husband number two walked out on her.

She got married again and the third husband failed her in bed. paper: “Looking for a man

ngozindubisi2013@yaho.com back when you just got mar- your marriage is applying these rules: a childhood friend and this is what my mother taught me Make-Up: Men, women are years before I married. created differently from each other with different expectations, needs, desires, and interests. The man and woman coming together, came from different backgrounds, so it is likely that the way one spouse good as its foundation: Most handles issues, might be difmarried couples are short ferent from the other. Spendchanged in so many ways in ing a lifetime together iden- tifying, understanding these differences, accommodating crucial to making a marriage easiest ways to strengthen riage is about.

Tips for strengthening your marriage

Day 6 Love Is Not Irritable He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a country.

release from your life.

blissful.

Day 8

THE DARE

-

THE DARE

Determinedly become your spouse biggest fan and reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart

burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

Day 9

-

son relationship.

py marriage.

NOTE Whether your marriage is experiencing hick-ups or not, learn to nip all problems in the bud, before a minor issue or -

determinedly make it a habit come what may.

Day 10 Love Is Unconditional toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse—something

suggestions, opinions and reactions to our articles should be emailed to ngozindubi-

THE DARE

Meet a need of your spouse today.

Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.

Day 12 Love Lets the Other Win Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of your spouse.

The Dare disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting

to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

Day 11 THE DARE

relationship between you and your pets.

your better half communicates

THE DARE

run out on you.

WOMAN: How do I know MAN: I rang the doorbell,

and backgrounds. Spending

like to greet your spouse today to

Love Is Not Jealous

-

talk less of two different indi-

The Love Dare

Day 7 Love Believes the Best

MAN: Hello, I saw your ad WOMAN: Tell me a little about yourself MAN:

willingness to compromise.

-

THE DARE

Choose today to react to tough cirinstead of with irritation. Then list any

me in bed.

The next day, her doorbell rings. There is a man with no arms and no legs.

tions: What a man wants from his marriage and spouse might be different from what the wife wants out of the marriage.

Nothing is constant in a marriage, the opinion a husband or wife had at the beginning of the marriage may change because the other spouse has sold his or her ideology to the other. What should be

you are all on the same side and you each need to work together for the success of marriage and home.

From our next publication we will be talking about parent-children relationships and seeing that in the introduction of this page, we said we will be dealing with all manner of

Love Cherishes

Join the Love Dare from week one – 10th/3/2015 Please email me the reaction(s) of your spouse on the dares.

Ngozindubisi2013@yahoo.com

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday March 17, 2015

L7 Movie & Music Chart

Opeoluwani Akintayo and Mutiat Alli

Top 10 music chart

Nigeria

Top 10 music chart

International

Top 10 movie chart

English

Top 10 movie chart

International

ter

Kiddies Poem

Do you know

HISTORY

Heros and Heroines

-

-

-

Joke of the week

-

-

-

-

-

-

Muda: Teacher: Muda: Teacher: Muda: Teacher : Peter: Teacher: Peter: Teacher: Peter: Teacher: Peter: Teacher: Peter:

Questions, responses, contributions should be forwarded to the Life & Times editor: e-mail: n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday March 17, 2015

Showing on

L8 Television Showing on

107 M-Net Movies Romance

108 M-Net

06:55

06:00

114 Vuzu Amp Africa

Tue, 17 Mar | PG13 SL

Kat Dennings and Michael Cera make a quirky couple in this love - and the adventure of a lifetime. (2008) Peter Sollett.

101 M-Net West

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

124 E!

00:00 CSI

Series

Catching Fire

Show Miami

lionaire?

lionaire?

Story prise

Show -

Miami Show

253 AIT

20:30 Chicago Fire

Miami

128 SONY MAX Miami 00:30 Movie: 08:00 Most Shocking 03:00 Focus Nigeria ress

-

06:00 Kaakaki 09:00 Documentary 09:30 Newman Street

Shocking -

Shocking

X4

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

X5

CARL LEWIS

BAZUAYE PASSES ON IN BENIN X2

LEWIS X4,5 CARL

About Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton “Carl” Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals, including nine gold, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold.

His career spanned from 1979 to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired.

Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper who topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events frequently from 1981 to the early 1990s. He set world records in the 100 m, 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m relays, while his world record in the indoor long jump has stood since 1984.

His 65 consecutive victories in the long jump achieved over a span of 10 years is one of the sport’s longest undefeated streaks. Over the course of his athletics career, Lewis broke ten seconds for the 100 metres 15 times and 20 seconds for the 200 metres 10 times.

His accomplishments have led to numerous accolades, including being voted “World Athlete of the Century” by the International Association of Athletics Federations and “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee., “Olympian of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Athlete of the Year” by Track & Field News in 1982, 1983, and 1984.

After retiring from his athletics career, Lewis became an actor and has appeared in a number of films. In 2011 he attempted to run for a seat as a Democrat in the New Jersey Senate, but was removed from the ballot due to the state’s residency requirement.

Lewis owns a marketing and branding company named C.L.E.G., which markets and brands products and services including his own.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Poster!

XT Exclusive

Name: Full name: Nationality: Born: Place of birth: Residence: Height: Weight: Sport: Events: College team: Club: Retired:

Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton Lewis American July 1, 1961 (age 53) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. Houston, Texas, U.S. 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) 80 kg (180 lb; 13 st) Athletics 100 metres, 200 metres, long jump, 4x100 m relay Houston Cougars Santa Monica Track Club 1997

Medal record Olympic Games Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver:

1984 Los Angeles 100 m 1984 Los Angeles 200 m 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m relay 1984 Los Angeles Long jump 1988 Seoul 100 m 1988 Seoul Long jump 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m relay 1992 Barcelona Long jump 1996 Atlanta Long jump 1988 Seoul 200 m

World Championships Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver: Bronze:

1983 Helsinki 1983 Helsinki 1983 Helsinki 1987 Rome 1987 Rome 1987 Rome 1991 Tokyo 1991 Tokyo 1991 Tokyo 1993 Stuttgart

Pan American Games Gold: Gold: Bronze: Goodwill Games Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver: Bronze:

1987 Indianapolis 1987 Indianapolis 1979 San Juan

100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 200 m

Long jump 4×100 m relay Long jump

1986 Moscow 4×100 m relay 1990 Seattle Long jump 1994 Saint Petersburg 4×100 m relay 1990 Seattle 100 m 1986 Moscow 100 m

Olympic Boycott Games Bronze: 1980 Philadelphia

Long jump

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

O D L A RON D L O S E EY D R O F F A TR N R U T E R

X3

Poyet

dumps Sunderland X2

GUNNERS vow to down Monaco X8

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

AYC:

X2

FLYING EAGLES

Andrew Ekejiuba

N

igeria’s U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, on Monday, received boost, following the return of first-choice goalkeeper Joshua Enahoro, who has served out his one-match ban after his dismissal against Congo.

Also, midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew, who was rested against Cote d’Ivoire, as well as defender Izu Omego, who the coaches did not want to risk because he was already on a booking, are all fit to take on Ghana tomorrow.

Extra Time gathered that the team are now safely back at ‘Lucky’ Alafifa Hotel, after an hour’s bus ride from Mbour, on Monday.

It was from Alafifa Hotel that the Flying Eagles won their first two group games before they traveled to Mbour for their final group game against Cote d’Ivoire, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Flying Eagles trained at the Diambars Academy in Mbour on Monday morning and, after lunch, headed for Dakar.

Tomorrow’s semi-final at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium will kick-off at 5pm local time, which will be 6pm in Nigeria.

RECEIVE BOOST

N

igerian legend, Willy Bazuaye, has passed away on Monday at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City.

A very close family source revealed to supersport.com on Monday of the death of the former Golden Eaglets coach.

“Yes, Willy Bazuaye died this morning,” “It’s unfortunate. May his soul rest in peace.”

His last days before his death, according to the family source, had seen him become immobile.

Bazuaye was famed for being a part of the backroom staff as an assistant coach when the Nigerian under-23s won Olympic gold in the football event in Atlanta in 1996.

Bazuaye dies in Benin

Bazuaye

Poyet leaves Sunderland

S

Flying Eagles players celebrate after a victorious outing

underland parted company with manager Gus Poyet on Monday with the club facing a battle for Premier League survival after a crushing 4-0 home defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday.

Sunderland are 17th in the 20team league with 26 points, one place and one point above the relegation zone with only nine matches left to play. They have won only one of their last 12 league games.

The 47-year-old Poyet, who had been in charge at the Stadium of Light for 75 matches since October

Poyet 2013, saved the Black Cats from relegation last season when they won four of their last five games to escape from the bottom three and finish 14th.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

X3

Carvajal

FIXTURES TODAY’S MATCHES Atl Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen 20: 45

CLASICO: MADRID Monaco v Arsenal 20: 45

WON’T SETTLE FOR DRAW

–CARVAJAL

D

aniel Carvajal has insisted that Real Madrid will not settle for a draw against Barcelona and will do everything possible to emerge victorious in Sunday’s Clasico at Camp Nou. Carlo Ancelotti’s men beat Levante 2-0 at the weekend to return to winning ways after three games without a victory in all competitions, and Carvajal

is determined to build on Sunday’s success when they travel to Catalunya to take on their Liga title rivals.

“We knew this would be a crucial match in front of our supporters as well as for us ahead of next week’s game. We picked up three points, kept a clean sheet and now the aim is to beat Barcelona,” Carvajal said.

“We have no doubts in our minds

heading to Camp Nou. The team and the system are the same and I think we are more united now and mentally prepared for good things to happen. We have to give it 100 per cent and we are aware that we are capable of beating any side.

“This is a Clasico and there is no favourite. I wouldn’t settle for a draw, we’re going there to win.”

R

eports have emerged that Real Madrid ace Cristiano Ronaldo, is now seriously considering a move back to the Premier League, specifically to the club where he won his first Ballon d’Or title.

The man who has supposedly convinced him to look back to England is his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. It is thought that the discussion happened after Real Madrid’s humbling at the hands of Schalke in the Champions League.

The timing of the dinner meeting could not be more convenient for the Red Devils as Ronaldo was visibly

Ronaldo

displeased by his team’s performance and would thus be more likely to even consider exchanging Madrid for Man United.

The presence of Angel di Maria at Old Trafford, a player whom Ronaldo was sad to see leave Real Madrid and the constant friction between himself and Gareth Bale are certainly incentives for the Galactico to come back home.

Probably the greatest incentive for the change of environment would be the knowledge that in his time at Real Madrid he has managed to eclipse Lionel Messi as the best player both in La Liga and European football.

need big win, admits Cahill

G

ary Cahill admits Chelsea need a big, morale-boosting win to get them back on track

again.

But he insists it is not all doom and gloom at Stamford Bridge, despite their shock Champions League exit.

Chelsea suffered a hangover from their away goals defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last week when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Southampton.

And Cahill’s confession suggests the league leaders’ collective confidence has taken a significant hit after they were dumped out of Europe at the last-16 stage.

The Southampton draw meant Chelsea missed the chance to fully capitalise on title rivals Manchester City’s 1-0 defeat to Burnley 24 hours earlier, though they did go six points clear at the top of the table.

Aubameyang:

Ronaldo returns to Old Trafford

Chelsea

Dortmund ready for Juve!

B

orussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is convinced his side is fully prepared to face Juventus in the midweek Champions League tie, with the Italians leading 2-1 from the first leg.

The Bundesliga outfit have had a relatively poor season, flirting with relegation, though seem to have found some form of late which has propelled the team to mid-table safety.

“Dortmund is unique, it lives for football and we are ready,” he said.

“The sport is deep-rooted here and we have huge support.

“The secret is the special bond we have with the fans who have remained

Aubameyang loyal despite the crisis. And now we have got back on track, we are pressing well, our counter-attacks are fast and defensively we are organised.”

Interestingly, the Gabon international started out his career at AC Milan but never made a senior appearance for the Rossoneri, having spent most of his time out on loan.

X4

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

LEWI CARL

EXTRATIME

About Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton “Carl” Lewis (born July 1, 1961) is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals, including nine gold, and 10 World Championships medals, including eight gold.

His career spanned from 1979 to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and subsequently retired.

Lewis was a dominant sprinter and long jumper who topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events frequently from 1981 to the early 1990s. He set world records in the 100 m, 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m relays, while his world record in the indoor long jump has stood since 1984.

His 65 consecutive victories in the long jump achieved over a span of 10 years is one of the sport’s longest undefeated streaks. Over the course of his athletics career, Lewis broke ten seconds for the 100 metres 15 times and 20 seconds for the 200 metres 10 times.

His accomplishments have led to numerous accolades, including being voted “World Athlete of the Century” by the International Association of Athletics Federations and “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee., “Olympian of the Century” by Sports Illustrated and “Athlete of the Year” by Track & Field News in 1982, 1983, and 1984.

After retiring from his athletics career, Lewis became an actor and has appeared in a number of films. In 2011 he attempted to run for a seat as a Democrat in the New Jersey Senate, but was removed from the ballot due to the state’s residency requirement.

Lewis owns a marketing and branding company named C.L.E.G., which markets and brands products and services including his own.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

IS

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Name: Full name: Nationality: Born: Place of birth: Residence: Height: Weight: Sport: Events: College team: Club: Retired:

Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton Lewis American July 1, 1961 (age 53) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. Houston, Texas, U.S. 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) 80 kg (180 lb; 13 st) Athletics 100 metres, 200 metres, long jump, 4x100 m relay Houston Cougars Santa Monica Track Club 1997

Medal record Olympic Games Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver:

1984 Los Angeles 100 m 1984 Los Angeles 200 m 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m relay 1984 Los Angeles Long jump 1988 Seoul 100 m 1988 Seoul Long jump 1992 Barcelona 4×100 m relay 1992 Barcelona Long jump 1996 Atlanta Long jump 1988 Seoul 200 m

World Championships Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver: Bronze:

1983 Helsinki 1983 Helsinki 1983 Helsinki 1987 Rome 1987 Rome 1987 Rome 1991 Tokyo 1991 Tokyo 1991 Tokyo 1993 Stuttgart

Pan American Games Gold: Gold: Bronze: Goodwill Games Gold: Gold: Gold: Silver: Bronze:

1987 Indianapolis 1987 Indianapolis 1979 San Juan

100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 100 m 4×100 m relay Long jump 200 m

Long jump 4×100 m relay Long jump

1986 Moscow 4×100 m relay 1990 Seattle Long jump 1994 Saint Petersburg 4×100 m relay 1990 Seattle 100 m 1986 Moscow 100 m

Olympic Boycott Games Bronze: 1980 Philadelphia

Long jump

X5

X6

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

INTERVIEW

: Z E TEV MY CHILDHOOD LIFE WAS HARD!

Carlos, having lived in various cities around the world, how do you find Turin?

After spending eight years in Manchester I received a very warm welcome to Turin. The people are very easy-going, in contrast to other parts of Italy such as Rome or Naples, where passions run much higher. Life’s very good here and it’s where I’ve found it easiest to adapt. That’s also because of the language, which I understand a bit better. In England that was so hard for me.

Do you miss Argentina?

Yes, definitely. I’ve always missed friends and family, right from the start. Luckily I get plenty of visitors so I’m not always alone. Los pibes (my old mates) have always been there for me no matter where I’ve been. Imagine my pals from Fuerte Apache in England! I have countless stories. Every time we went out something funny happened, usually involving the language. It’s always good fun.

Is it difficult for someone who’s grown up in an entirely different world – in Europe, for example – to imagine what Fuerte Apache is like, and how would you describe it exactly?

It’s tough to make people understand what that life is like if they haven’t been through the same things as I or the other people from that neighbourhood have experienced.

Therefore people can make of it what they want. You simply can’t get inside

!

Carlos Tevez and Dario Coronel had a great deal in common. They were born in the same year, grew up in the same neighbourhood and, unsurprisingly, shared a passion for football. ‘Together they were dynamite’ was the consensus of those who had the good fortune to see the pair linking up and hitting one-twos in the junior teams of clubs like All Boys, Santa Clara and Villa Real. So inseparable were they that they frequently spent entire days in each other’s company. That all changed when Cabanas, as Coronel was dubbed because of his physical resemblance to then Boca Juniors player Roberto Cabanas, was selected to join the youth team of Velez Sarsfield.

With Tevez not chosen to follow him there, they spent more time apart, although it was his friend’s growing attachment to a local street gang that would eventually make their separation permanent. Jettisoning a promising career in football, Coronel went the way of armed robberies and drug dealing, before reportedly taking his own life at just 17 when surrounded by police.

Tevez managed to sidestep the temptations of crime and bad company to forge a career in professional football. Currently delighting fans of Juventus in the Italian Serie A, he frequently uses his background and goal celebrations to vindicate the lives of those who, with hard work and sacrifice, are struggling to extract themselves from difficult circumstance.

Now in this exclusive interview with FIFA, the player talks about his roots, the story that shaped his childhood and much more. Excerpts:

the heads of other people and say to them, ‘Look, I went through some rough times’. It’s impossible to explain everything the streets taught me, and that was quite a lot.

Is there one particular experience that shaped your childhood?

My whole childhood was hard, so it wasn’t a matter of any individual incident. I lived in a place where drugs and murder were part of everyday life.

Experiencing difficult things, even as a very young kid, means you grow up quickly. I think that enables everyone to choose their own path and not just accept what others have taken before you, and I went my own way. I never condoned drugs or murder, and luckily I was able to make a choice.

It is said that your childhood friend Dario Coronel was every bit as talented as you, but he wasn’t lucky enough to be able to make that choice. Is that right?

I don’t think you can say that he wasn’t lucky enough to be able to choose. As I’ve said already, everyone decides for themselves what they’re going to do. He had everything he needed to be just as successful, but he chose a different path – criminality and drugs – and that ultimately meant that he is no longer with us. I truly believe that everyone chooses their own route through life, and he – and this has nothing to do with luck – chose the easier option.

Do you think about him often?

Yes! He is, or was, my best friend.

We were together 24 hours a day, even though we later went to different clubs and things like that. But we were always together, all day long.

It seems that kids who grow up in poorer neighbourhoods everywhere tend to be stigmatised, even in the media. In Argentina you see it in places like Fuerte Apache, Ciudad Oculta

or Villa Carlos Gardel. As someone who grew up in one such area, what’s your take on that?

I don’t think that attitude is confined to the media – everyone thinks that way. If a kid with a hood passes somewhere that has just been robbed, people put the blame on him – that’s the mentality in Argentina these days.

People live in fear nowadays. Previously criminals had principles of sorts: they’d rob you but then they’d let you go. Now they’re all on drugs – you give them your belongings and they kill you anyway. Youngsters today no longer have the values I remember. In the past they would risk their necks by heading out, swiping something and then going home again – that was it.

Today the lads who go stealing are all on drugs. They’re still taking a risk but in a different way. Now they’re only thinking about their own lives and not those of other people.

But there is also another side to

those neighbourhoods, like the people who you dedicate your goal celebrations to. What can be done to help change the negative image people seem to have about places like these?

We need to show people who think like this that there are good kids in Fuerte Apache and Ciudad Oculta too, just like in every Argentinian city. Not all people are bad. I got out of there and there are others who were able to escape that situation too. It’s not easy for anyone. In fact, it’s unbelievably difficult to get out of there. But everyone’s fate is in their own hands, as I always say. You have to prove to people that we’re not all the same.

Is it true that you thought about all these things to motivate yourself on the journey to Berlin’s Olympiastadion for the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-final, while looking at the Germans out on the streets?

Yes, that’s true. We were going to the stadium, and although you’re always in a reflective mood in those moments, this time it was totally different. It had never happened to me before and it hasn’t happened in the same way since. I was suddenly full of energy and said to myself, ‘Today you’ve got to give your all out on the pitch because you come from a place it’s very tough to get out of’. I thought of how we played with balls made from rags as children and things like that. The thoughts just came to me like that. I had it all in my mind.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

X7

STARS OF YESTERYEAR

EMILIO

BUTRAGUENO THE ‘SPANISH VULTURE’

E

milio Butragueno is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a striker. Born July 22, 1963, he was best known for his spell with Real Madrid.

Nicknamed El Buitre (The Vulture), he amassed La Liga totals of 341 games and 123 goals for his main club, in 12 seasons, and represented the Spanish national team in two World Cups (being the second top scorer in the 1986 edition) and as many European Championships, scoring 26 in-

ternational goals for his country for a record that stood several years.

Club career In 1981, skillful Butragueno joined Real Madrid’s youth system, playing first for its reserve side before being given his senior debut by Alfredo Di Stefano on February 5, 1984 against Cadiz FC. Expectedly, he made an instant impact during the explosive encounter, scoring twice and assisting for the third goal in a 3–2 away

turnaround, after Real Madrid trailed by 0–2.

On December 12, 1984, he made his European competition debut, contributing with a hat-trick to a 6–1 home triumph against R.S.C. Anderlecht for the UEFA Cup third round (after a 0–3 loss in Brussels). The Merengues went on to win the competition.

At the time, Real Madrid’s form was so patchy that first team’s attendances were poorer than the reserve side ones; Butragueno contributed to the side’s transformation, and was a prominent member of the team during the 1980s, winning numerous honours.

Butagueno received the European Bronze award for best footballer in two consecutive years, and won the Pichichi Trophy in 1991, while also being instrumental in the capital club’s six La Liga trophies, two Copa del Rey and UEFA Cups.

In June 1995, having lost his influence in the Real Madrid side (only eight games and one goal, as the club

won another league), mainly due to the emergence of 17-year-old Raul, Butragueno signed for Club Celaya in Mexico and, in his first year, the team reached the final of the national championship.

After three seasons where he was known as the Gentleman of the Pitch – never received a single red card during his entire career – he finally decided to retire from the game in April 1998.

International career Butragueno played 69 international matches for Spain, and scored 26 goals. His debut came on October 17, 1984 against Wales in a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifier, although he had already been picked as an uncapped player for the UEFA Euro 1984 team as the nation finished runners-up.

Butragueno was also selected for the 1986 World Cup, where he played a major part, scoring four goals as Spain beat Denmark 5–1 in the round-of-16 match. He also played in the 1990 edition in Italy (four games, no goals).

Honours Butragueno won six La Liga titles with Real Madrid in 1985–86, 1986– 87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90 and 1994–95 seasons.

He also won two Copa del Rey

Brilliant! Emilio Butragueno celebrates after scoring during Spain’s 5-1 thumping win over Denmark in 1986.

trophies with Real in 1988–89 and 1992–93 seasons.

Still with Real, he won Copa de la Liga in 1984–85 season; Supercopa de Espana in 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1993; UEFA Cups in 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons and Copa Iberoamericana title in 1994.

He inspired the Spanish national team to the UEFA European Championship runner-up position in 1984.

Top among Butragueno’s individual awards are: Bravo Awards in 1985 and 1986; Bronze Ball in 1986 and 1987; Pichichi Trophy in 1990– 91; FIFA World Cup Silver Boot in 1986 and FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1986.

Post-retirement and other ventures Still as a player Butragueno had a computer game with his name released in 1988, for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum and MSX. On October 19, 2004 he replaced Jorge Valdano, a former Real Madrid teammate, as the club’s director of football and, until the end of the 2005–06 season, also served as the club’s vice-president. Subsequently he acted as head of Public relations for the organization.

X8

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME C MOURINHO: Arsenal still title contenders!

ARSENAL

helsea boss Jose Mourinho believes Arsenal are Premier League title contenders following their 3-0 win over West Ham at the weekend.

Mourinho had said in the build-up to Sunday’s game against Southampton that Chelsea ‘will go on to win the league’ this season, but the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw by the Saints to move six rather than eight points clear of Manchester City at the summit.

Arsenal are a point further back after a fifth straight league win, and Mourinho accepts Arsene Wenger’s

side must be considered title challengers.

“Of course, Arsenal are in contention,” he said. “Seven points behind Chelsea and one less match to play than Chelsea.

“I keep thinking whether our opposition is better than them over the run-in. I think so. Both teams are in the race.”

Chelsea exited the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek and have now dropped points in successive Premier League home games having drawn with Burnley last month.

Mourinho

R E G WETNS PLO S ’ O C A MON FALL sene Wenger rsenal manager Ar 0 win over says Saturday’s 3side up nicely West Ham sets his ns League clash with for tonight’s Champio Monaco. able to fully The Gunners were un t-half superiority at capitalise on their firs r Giroud scored just the Emirates but Olivie t them into the lead. before half-time to pu d some West Ham They then weathere

A

Ozil A

ak, before Aaron pressure after the bre Flamini wrapped up Ramsey and Mathieu nd-half goals. the victory with seco ry well in the first “I think we played ve ces but we half and created chan ances off. Their ch could not finish the them in the game. keeper (Adrian) kept al just before “We scored a great go half, coming out, half-time but second der pressure.

West Ham put us un ll organised and “We needed to be we Then, in the g. stop them from scorin on top of re we last 20 minutes, we s ay alw d ke the game and loo re like we could sco goals,” Wenger said.

Wenger

tasks Gunners on miraculous outing

rsenal-German playmaker, Mesut Ozil, has called on his team-mates to believe they have what it takes to miraculously overrun Monaco at Monte Carlo tonight.

The Gunners’ hopes of progress to the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite club competition are all but over, following a disappointing 3-1 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last month.

No team has recovered from more than a single-goal deficit going into an away leg in

the Champions League era.

Monaco beat nine-man Bastia 3-0 in Ligue 1 on Friday night to extend their formidable defensive record with only seven goals conceded from the last 22 games.

“When you believe in yourselves, a positive energy grows that you can achieve your aims.

“In football, things that may look unlikely can happen. I know that if we believe in ourselves and utilise our potential, we can still go through,” Ozil said.

Ozil

Giroud vows to make amends

O

livier Giroud is backing himself to make amends for his poor performance in Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 firstleg defeat to Monaco by inspiring a second-leg fightback tonight.

The striker was wasteful in front of goal as the Gunners slumped to a 3-1 defeat against the Ligue 1 side at the Emirates Stadium last month, but has

scored in each of the three games he has started since.

Giroud paid no attention to his critics following his misfiring display in the first leg against Monaco and is backing himself to continue his impressive form at Stade Louis II. “I take a lot of pressure on the pitch. But when I ‘miss’ a game, if I can say that, you know I try to bounce back as quick as I can,” he said.