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ÎÎÎThe National Economic Council (NEC) ad hoc committee probing remittances into

the Federation Account by revenue-generating agencies has indicted the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS),

among others, for alleged lack of transparency and accountability.

In a preliminary report turned in to NEC, the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led com-

mittee said that there were no checks and balances in the way the agencies remitted Continued on page 6 www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

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N150

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.193

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 15th September 2015.

UNILEVER

45.8

1.80

3.93%

WAPCO

99

1.00

1.01%

GUINNESS

162.45

-5.32

-3.27%

FO

227.79

-1.11

-0.49%

CADBURY

22.93

1.02

4.45%

FLOURMILL

22.6

0.60

2.65%

PZ

26.65

-1.34

-5.03%

STANBIC

22.11

-0.79

-3.57%

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Court summons tribunal over Saraki Ï TMG to Senate President: ƍƍƆ Ə ƄƆƇ ƏƆ Ɛ ƅƋƆ Ə ƕ ƑƏ ƌƆ Andrew Orolu & Olufemi Samuel, ƄƑƉ

INTRIGUES OF DEAD AND LIVING MONARCHS:

ÎÎÎThe

planned arraignment of Senate President, Olubukola Abubakar Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal took a new

turn on Thursday as the Federal High Court in Abuja summoned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to appear before it to explain why it

should not be stopped.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed ordered CCB and the Federal Ministry of Justice to appear on

September 21, 2015 to show cause why it should not be restrained Continued on page 6

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Times

– Orunimigha

Jonathan

Dickson

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Photo: NGOZI OKAFOR

Life and Times of

2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Streamlining Nigeria’s foreign missions

T

he recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari for review of the number and size of Nigeria’s foreign missions is indeed timely. While giving the directive, the President stressed that the country is passing through difficult times and therefore the review would determine the number of essential missions the country needs to maintain abroad for appropriate standards and quality of representation. Nigeria currently has 119 foreign missions, while the country spent N34billion to run them in 2015. Indeed, President Buhari has not only hit the nail on the head, he was apt in pointing out that Nigeria is operating missions all over the world with dilapidated facilities and demoralised staff, even when the need for some of them was questionable.

For long, Nigerians have been questioning the rationale and even the financial capacity of the country to maintain such large numbers of missions abroad with the huge retinue of staff and other accoutrements. It is fact that Nigeria is a poor country with pressing problems of underdevelopment brought about by lack of industrial infrastructure. We believe the country can escape the poverty trap if the bulk of resources for the maintenance of these foreign missions are ploughed back into development of the country. However, the imperative for Nigeria to have a robust representation on the global stage cannot be overemphasised given that it is the most populated Black Country in the world and one of Africa’s foremost economy. However, such an exercise cannot be undertaken on a shoestring budget and in the face of dwindling resources.

Even at that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been facing challenges that include the absence of a Foreign Service Commission, poor funding of foreign missions, policy inconsistencies and lack of training for diplomatic staff. We believe that Nigeria

cannot go on maintaining embassies in every country of the world just for egotistic reasons. Time is past when the establishment of foreign missions in every corner of the globe portrays the influence of a country without bringing any political, social and economic dividends in return.

This is why we are advocating that Nigeria pursues her diplomatic advocacy within three main areas of interest. First, the country is unarguably the most dominant force in the West African sub region and keeping with this role, it should maintain a robust mission size in the region. Secondly, as a key player and guarantor of political and economic growth in Africa, Nigeria should also keep the embassies in those key countries to oversee her interests on the continent. Lastly, with the large and growing Nigerian Diaspora, it is proper that the country maintains effective missions in Europe and the Americas to look after the interests of citizens abroad.

Running foreign missions is no cheap business. The evidence is writ large in the perennial lack of funds that Nigerian embassies suffer. Sometimes, it degenerates to the embarrassing level of their utilities being cut off because of huge, unpaid bills. The inherent cost of running these missions is compounded as in Nigeria’s case, by rampant wastage. Invariably, it is a delicate balancing act between maintaining a respectable presence abroad and actually running those missions efficiently. It is therefore not sufficient for career diplomats merely to be opposed to the trimming of missions, but should also suggest cost-saving measures for the Foreign Service. The era of staffing our missions abroad with all sorts of characters, some of who are beneficiaries of the rotten system of political patronage must stop.

In the light of this, the Federal Government should seek to balance its cost-cutting tactics with the enhancement of the country’s foreign policy strategies.

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Group Managing Director

Fidelis Anosike

Noel Anosike

Group Managing Editor

Chief Operating Officer

Editor

GM Operations

Molara Wood Yinka Olujimi

ÎÎÎIt

took a trip to far away France for our dear president to inform us of the real reasons for his delay in naming his cabinet.

Not a few Nigerians have expressed their frustrations at President Muhammadu Buhari’s not constituting a cabinet.

The likes of Olisa Metuh, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Publicity Secretary, an Afenifere, had voiced objections to the style of the new government especially not putting in place a cabinet which they believed would help galvanise the nation into greatness.

Words On Marble :

As far as he was concerned, the real work at ministries are carried out by the technocrats in those ministries and not the card-carrying political appointees. The President apparently sees mounting calls for constituting a cabinet as not out of love for the country, but from ethnic jingoists seeking to see their kinsmen in government.

Of course, the president had been there before and actually knows how these things work.

Of course, some ministers had helped in reshaping government policies, but many of them had not lived above board, but performed below par; they had been sheer round pegs in square holes.

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In Metuh’s view, Buhari’s delay in constituting a cabinet “has brought government business in ministries, departments and agencies to a dangerous standstill with coordination of important policies vested on ministers and the SGF now in tatters while the system drifts.”

Pa Reuben Fasoranti was once quoted as saying, “President Buhari was running a one-man show.

But the president, during an interview with France 24 TV host, François Picard, on Wednesday, voiced his opinion on the relevance, or otherwise, of ministers. He stunned the nation when he described ministers as mere noise makers.

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Kayode Fayemi

Nduese Essien

“We must start putting round pegs in round holes, and entrench meritocracy which enlists true professionals in every area of our national life.”

“Anti-corruption crusade is not supposed to hinge entirely on the past; it should also prevent those who are working with the President presently from getting involved in corrupt activities’’.

Adeseye Ogunlewe

“Buhari’s cabinet has already has been formed. Any other person that comes now is a stranger and a mere visitor to the villa”.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

5

2

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Court summons tribunal over Saraki Continued from page 1 from arraigning the Senate President over allegations of false and improper declaration of assets allegedly acquired during his tenure as Governor of Kwara State from 2003-2011.

Saraki, who approached the court via an ex parte motion, wants an order stopping the ministry, the Code of Conduct Bureau, its Tribunal and one legal practitioner, M. S Hassan from taking any further step to arraign or prefer any charge against him, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit he filed before the court.

The Senate President is praying the court to declare that the Ministry of Justice has not complied with the provision of the 3rd Schedule of Section 24(1) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act before proffering a charge against him.

Justice Mohammed, in a ruling in chamber, ordered that the respondents be served with all the court processes, including the motion of notice for the interim order or injunction, motion ex parte, and hearing notice.

The order, the Judge held was made pursuant to the provision or Order 26 Rule

10 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.

In the motion ex parte, argued by Mahmud Magaji (SAN), Saraki said, based on the provision of Section 24 of the CCB and the Tribunal Act, the planned prosecution before the tribunal ought to be initiated by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) or any officer directed by him (AGF).

President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to constitute his cabinet, whose membership would include the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

Saraki argued further: “In the absence of any sub-

sisting AGF in the time being, this court has the jurisdiction to direct parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice”.

He argued further that since there is no subsisting AGF, the charge against him by the official of the Federal Ministry of Justice before the CCT is void as the provisions of section 24 (1) of the CCB and Tribunal was not complied with.

The Senate President was to be arraigned today before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to face a 13-count charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, the Transi-

L-R: Oyo State Governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, David Babchir Lawal; Katsina State Governor, Alh. Bello Aminiu Masari; his counterparts in Plateau State, Simon Lalong; and Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the National Economic Council Meeting in Abuja… on Thursday

tion Monitoring Group (TMG) has asked the Senate President, to appear before the Tribunal if only to clear his name.

The group, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said the summons to Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau should not be subjected to any form of sentiment, adding that the Senate President should seize the opportunity of the summons to prove his innocence.

Speaking on the state of the nation addressed by its Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, the TMG said Nigerians should not join in politicizing issues raised by the Bureau, most especially as they border on war against corruption.

He said: “For us it is part of the fight against corruption, and for the very first time, the untouchable is being touched. It is when it happens to big ones out there that you will begin to hear witch-hunt and all kind of stories.”

Zikirullahi continued: “What you should also note is that if there is no witch, there will be no hunter; so there was witch before hunting. It is left for Saraki to go to court and prove his innocence. That he is charged does not mean he is guilty of those offences. I believe it is a wakeup call, for people and politicians to know that if this thing can happen

to people up there, there is no hiding place for those at state and local levels.”

He added: “We should not also support to frustrate the process if those charges are actually correct. We should do everything to support the fight, because over time we have seen that our judiciary has become cash-andcarry.”

The TMG also advised President Buhari not to include anyone with tainted record in the list of cabinet members he is considering, urging the Department of State Security DSS to screen such nominees out.

Zikirullahi said that it would be better to stop the nominees with questionable characters from becoming ministers now than fighting them for embezzling the money.

He alluded to an earlier remark by the Chairman of ICPC, Ekpo Nta that it is cheaper to prevent corruption than fighting it with huge resources, urging the President to focus on economic development.

“With the imminent appointment of his cabinet, TMG calls on President Buhari to give priority to the economy. We hope to see an economic advancement model that is not based on abstract statistics of jobless growth figures that do not reflect in any tangible way in the life of the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.

NNPC, NPA, others stink, says Economic Council panel Ï 01 ƑƄ Ǝ ƎƄ MƾƠÕƂ ƅ ƍ ƍ ƕ ƍƄƋ Ɔƍ Continued from page 1 their revenues into government treasury, thus giving room for underhand practices and corruption.

This was disclosed by Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi while briefing State House Correspondents on the outcome of Thursday’s meeting of NEC presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“It was established, among others, that there was lack of transparency and accountability in the

operation of the Federation Account, and they also noted that there were no checks and balances in the operation,” Ajimobi said.

He continued: “They also told the Council that the work of the committee is ongoing, so we still have more reports to receive from them.”

The committee also identified “issues” with regard to accruals into the federation account adding that the management of it necessitated the forensic audit.

According to the Oyo State Governor, “the engage-

ment of the audit firms is essential and the terms of reference have already been finalized.”

The ad hoc committee had appointed KPMG and PriceCooperWaterHouse as consultants to carry out the forensic audit.

Other members of the fiveman committee are Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El Rufai; (who presented the report to Council on Thursday); Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Udom and Lagos State Governor,

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

Ajumobi also disclosed that the Federal Government had paid out N13 billion to 13 states which applied for refund on federal roads rehabilitation undertaken by them.

A total of N535,5 billion is being demanded by 21 states for road repairs, according to him.

The Oyo governor, who was flanked by his counterparts from Benue, Delta, and Kano states, the said DMO reported that the13 states were those that complied with the full conditions for refund; while eight states had only complied partially.

“Another issue discussed

is on refund of expenses incurred on repair of federal roads by states. As listed here, we have 13 states that have fully complied with the re-imbursement requirements, we have eight states that have partially complied, and the total sum of claims to be reimbursed is N535.5 billion.

“Then we have N13 billion that has been disbursed to the states already as at 2013.

The challenges they face had to do with inadequate funding in the ministry,” he said.

Ajumobi said NEC was also briefed by the Accountant-General of the Federation that Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account as at Sep-

tember 15, 2015, stood at $2.25 billion.

He also disclosed that the Debt Management Office (DMO) briefed council that about N500 billion is involved in the debt rescheduling for state governments seeking financial bailout from the federal government.

Ajimobi explained that so far, 26 states applied for the debt rescheduling out of which 11 had completed the requirements; while 13 states were in the 2nd phase.

The Oyo governor said NEC also noted that fertiliser use by farmers in the country had increased by over 200 percent.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

AMORC holds symposium in Lagos Agozino Agozino

ÏÏÏAdvancing the course of national security for a better world and need for national re- orientation for sustainable development will be the major thrust of a symposium to be hosted by the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC), on September 19, 2015, at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

The event, which kicks off at 9 a.m. is a part of the activities lined up for the annual celebration of virtues and commemoration of

the building of the great pyramid of Egypt over 3,367 years ago, by the Lagos Zone of AMORC, a cultural educational and philosophical organisation. It is expected to attract eminent Nigerians, including seasoned scholars as discussants, who will address the technical sessions among whom are Professor John Idiodi, University of Benin, Prof. Douglas Anele, University of Lagos and Dr. Hussaini Abdu.

The special guest of honor will be Dr. Kenneth Idiodi, Grand Administrator and Director, Supreme Board of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, while the moderator for the August occasion will be Prof. Isaac Alaba, a renowned consultant on Culture and Languages.

Anti-corruption war: Youths march on Aso Rock Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏA

pressure group known as the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), on Thursday, marched to Aso Rock Presidential Villa, in Abuja, to express their support for the anti-corruption war being prosecuted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The youths were led by their Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chris Ibe, in a rally to be addressed by Katsina Governor, Aminu Masari, at Fountain Square before they proceeded to Aso Rock gate to deliver their register of signatories to Buhari.

“The Historic March of Nigeria

Youths to Aso Rock is to pledge support to President Buhari’s war against corruption,” Ibe said.

Abuja

ÏÏÏThe West African Examina-

tions Council (WAEC), has announced an adjustment of the dates for the on-going November/ December General Certificate Examinations for private candidates.

The Head, National Office of the council, Mr. Charles Eguridu, who made the disclosure, in Abuja, during an interactive session between the management and members of Education Correspondence Association of Nigeria (ECAN), maintained that the adjustment in the time frame was to enable Muslim candidates to celebrate the forthcoming Sallah festival He said: “We are aware of the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, and particularly the protest by Muslim students who had earlier alleged that the original date fell on Friday, which is an im-

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (middle); being decorated by the National President, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi (right) after a courtesy visit by the (IEDPU) to the Senate President at the National Assembly… on Thursday .

Ooni stool: Why we went to court, Lafogido House explains Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏMany Ife indigenes seem not

Buhari

Sallah: WAEC shifts Nov/Dec exams Augustine Okezie

7 News

portant calendar date for the Muslim worshippers. Our attention has been drawn to these concerns.

The Chairman called my attention to it and we have no choice than to shift the exam dates from September 25th to October 10th to address the concerns of Muslim candidates.”

Eguridu refuted claims that the organisation was insensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, insisting that that was reason why the Council had to release the results of the indebted states.

On several innovations introduced by the Council, in the conduct of their examinations, Mr. Eguridu boasted that the organisation had introduced several technologies in the efficient conduct of its examinations, which had ensured that there have not been exam leakages in the past seven years.

“We are the foremost exam-

to welcome the new dimension and approach that the Lafogido ruling house has brought into the selection process of a new Ooni.

Making reference to history, they explained that despite how tough it had always been selecting a new Ooni, the court had never intervened.

Among those making the complaints were youths belonging to The Ife Cradle Youths. In the interest of peace and preservation of the Ooni traditional tittle, Lafogido and Ogboru ruling houses have been urged to withdraw their law suits.

The Co-ordinator of the group, Mr. Kunle Elusayo, on Tuesday, expressed disappointment with the legal process taken by the Lafogido iners in West Africa, who have introduced some features in the management of the examination process including the response proof and scanning of fingerprint mechanism. We have also introduced an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) device that is equivalent to the card reader used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).” Earlier in her address, the federal government nominee to WAEC and Director, Basic and Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Anne Okonkwo, urged the media to continue to partner with the Council and the ministry to ensure sustained growth and development of the sector.

and Ogboru ruling houses.

According the group, the 1980 declaration was clear enough, as to promote peace and the prestige of the Ooni stool.

The Ile-Ife based group also said that the two families that headed to court were not laying good examples for the coming generations.

“We are highly disappointed by the action of our fathers in the ruling houses. It is our utmost belief that they should know better and not cause confusion in the town.

They should know that even if the declaration has some faults, as they have alleged, such cannot be corrected during an interregnum.

“Ruling houses should not ridicule the Ooni stool for any reason; going to court is an attempt to ridicule and cause embarrassment to our tradition. Going to court to distort tradition can cause crisis

among indigenes, ruling houses and even traditional rulers. We don’t want problem in our town.

They should allow Giesi to also use its turn.”

On its part, the Lafogido Ruling House has explained why it resorted to legal action.

Head of Sooko of Lafogido Ruling House, Sookoo Adeleke Adewoyin, said that the process being used by the State Government and the king-makers allowing Giesi Ruling House only to present candidate(s) to fill the vacant stool was alien to Lafogido and entire Ife. Adewoyin, who was also the former Deputy Governor in Osun State under the administration of Chief Adebisi Akande, noted that the ruling house did not expect any challenge on why the ruling house should not be next Ooni of Ife.

Dana calls for arrest of on-board thieves

Commissioner of Police Airport Command of Dana Air’s support to improve the welfare of its officers.

He said Dana Airline was committed to the safety and security of its guests and would also appreciate the continued support of the Airport Police Command, in prosecuting criminals who act like genuine passengers by ensuring full investigation and eventual prosecution “These days we have those who buy tickets just to steal from genuine passengers. We would appreciate if the Command can continue to support us in ensuring full investigation into these cases and prosecution to serve as lesson to others,’’ Mbanuzuo said.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe

management of Dana Airline has appealed to the airport Police Commissioner to help curb the alarming rate of on board theft in aircraft.

The Accountable Manager of Dana Air, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, who made this appeal, while hosting the new airport Police Commissioner, called for a full-scale investigation and prosecution of culprits to serve as a deterrent to others.

Mbanuzuo assured the new

8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Politics INEC: The review we want in Electoral Act

Æs

Amina Zakari

Problems associated with the monitoring of election campaign finances of candidates and parties in the country are part of the issues that top the review agenda of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its proposal for the Review of the Electoral Act. This is as a result of the secrecy in the deployment of resources by candidates and politicians thus making it difficult for most of the major spending to be tracked.

Besides, crises often emanat-

ing from apparent lack of internal democracy in political parties in Nigeria are also to be focused upon in the current review being pursued by the commission, it was learnt.

Already, INEC is working with the National Assembly to effect a review of the country’s Electoral Act in order to ensure improvement in the electoral system in future elections in the country.

The acting Chairman of INEC, Hajia Amina Zakari, unfolded the plans when she received some Foreign Defence

Attaches with the Defence Intelligence Agency at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Zakari said the commission had in the cause of carrying out the commission’s assignment, discovered some lacuna in the electoral act clauses which according to her needed some legal review.

She said INEC has reminded members of the National Assembly, on the need to urgently review those clauses to improve the electoral processes.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Bayelsa: It’s a shame, ex-President is backing an aspirant – Orunimigha Barely few days to the Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, to pick its flagbearer, Chief Tiwei Orunimigha, state Chairman of the party in this chat with newsmen bares his mind on issues of good governance, rate of crime in the state and the recent endorsement of Governor Seriake Dickson by former President Goodluck Jonathan. AKAM JAMES was there. Excerpts: With the entry of a leader of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva in the governorship race, a lot of aspirants appear to be jittery and not comfortable with the development because they had expected Sylva, as a leader to maintain this status. The fear is that there might not be a level playing ground in the contest. What are you doing to ensure a level field playing ground during the primaries?

For us as a party, one of our cardinal interests is internal democracy which we have displayed at the national level. It is for us to replicate that which was done at the national level in Bayelsa State which we are trying to do. I don’t think that any of our aspirants needs be jittery. There is no need to be jittery, if the leader of the party picks a form and they are jittery, does it mean that they don’t have the qualifications to be governor? So, I don’t think anybody should be jittery about it. APC will provide the enabling playing ground for every aspirant to go round the delegates and feel free to contest elections. That, we will do for them as a party.

During the declaration of Governor Seriake Dickson, the governor boasted that the APC is no match for the PDP, and we also saw some Ijaw leaders openly endorsing PDP. What is your take on this?

Jonathan

Dickson

Orunimigha

For the PDP in their own rally to be talking about the APC shows clearly, that the APC is one of the

problems they have. If we do not exist, they will not call us; if we are no match, they will not call

us. Before now, PDP in Bayelsa has never called any other party when they are running elections.

For them to remember that there is a party called APC alone signifies that there is an election coming up.

For a former president of this country coming out to endorse one candidate shows the failure of his administration in Bayelsa State.

For a leader like him, I think that the best way to play politics is for him to be a statesman, that way, he will be there to advise every Bayelsan that wants to serve this state as a governor. That is the way we are supposed to see him. There are some are speeches he made regards to the support of his candidate. He said: “If Bayelsans don’t vote for the PDP, mostly his candidate, Chief Seriake Dickson, that it will be a disgrace to himself and his wife.” That statement alone shows that he has mortgaged BayCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Gov. Lalong: Plateau looters will soon be arrested Chijioke Kingsley Jos

Gov Lalong

Plateau State, Governor Simon Bako Lalong said following the expiration of the two weeks grace given to those in the immedi-

ate past administration in the state who may have looted the state treasury, he has written to the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to investigate the commitCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Lamorde

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

9 Politics

Spate of kidnappings in Bayelsa depicts failure of PDP govt – Orunimigha CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

elsa for himself and his wife. And if you remember the acceptance speech of Dickson when he came into power, he said: “mummy and daddy, I will not fail you”. He was referring to the same former president Jonathan and his wife.

For them, Bayelsans don’t matter, what matters to him is himself and his wife which is a very greedy statement.

As far as Bayelsa State is concerned, we have gotten awareness beyond that clique. For me of the APC, that is a cabal and that is why if you remember when we came to hoist our APC flag, I made one statement, that the APC will remain the only platform for Bayelsans to galvanize themselves and actualize their dreams.

And now it has materialized and it is very obvious and very true that this is the only platform that is available. PDP will shut their doors and they have already shut their doors.

For a leader of that magnitude, a former president of this country to come to say that the whole state should vote for a candidate because of himself and his wife; how selfish would that be to Bayelsans?

Moreover, there are some things that Governor Dickson said concerning the PDP that makes the PDP to look like a regional party.

Maybe he has agreed that the PDP is now a regional party. He always says “to us Ijaw people,” which means PDP is now an Ijaw party, he has now localize the PDP to be an Ijaw party. We in the APC are all Ijaw people, and for that we want to tell Bayelsans that, that sentiment that the governor is trying to share or spread to Bayelsans will not work. APC is very mindful of the fact that so many sentiments have been spread about which is an Ijaw party and

INEC: The review we want in Electoral Act CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Jonathan all that. I think after our primaries, we still have a lot of work to do because we are prepared to take over government to salvage Bayelsa State and we are very determined. He has failed in his administration and there is a platform for Bayelsans to actualise their dreams in the APC. But do you truly believe that the APC government in Bayelsa State and at the Federal Level will be a good political decision for the region?

Yes. The time in the past we had a government of Bayelsa Indigene at the National level and at the state as a governor. That should have been the height of political achievement for Bayelsa to develop the state. If you look at the state, Bayelsa does not have a capacity to develop on its own.

How do I say so? The State does not have such economic benefits that will attract money bags.

opment, quickly realigned with the centre. He knew that without being a part of the government to be formed at the centre, Bayelsa cannot develop. That was how the State was able to produce the likes of D.S.P Alameiseigha and Goodluck Jonathan. And I believe that if you look at the political history, that is the junction we are now.

For Bayelsa to develop, whether we like it or not and if we are politicians that want to serve, we must align with the APC government at the centre. To create development and wealth for your people, you need partnership. There is no way Bayelsa will develop without having a government at the state and working with the centre.

But Bayelsa has always aligned with the centre and the development needed has not been coming. What do you

``We will continuously try to improve the electoral process through legal reviews. `Election laws are not static, they are dynamic. You have to keep on improving on them especially when something comes up, like the issue of diaspora voting, the issue of electronic voting. These are issues that require review and we will keep on recommending to the national assembly for these reviews,” Zakari said.

Zakari also listed other challenges confronting the commission in carrying out its functions to include election violence, lack of internal democracy among political parties and difficulties in monitoring their election finances.

The acting chairman said that INEC was already working on necessary measures to mitigate the challenges by introducing modern technologies, including the Permanent Voters Cards to the electoral process. ``We have already achieved some success in those regards but we are looking forward for more. On electoral violence, we have been able to mitigate that with the deployment of our Election Risk Management Tool and with our collaboration with the Inter-Agency Committee on Election Security (IACES)”, Zakari said.

In his remark the Chief of Defence Intelligent Agency, AVM Monday Morgan, said the foreign attachés were at the commission in recognition of its roles in national

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Dickson Would they come and invest in the money in Government House.

What can attract them are the basic infrastructures and the business environment that you have been able to provide. Some other things like Brass LNG, Refineries and sea ports can make investors come. So, as a person, I thought that was the time Bayelsa had the greatest opportunity.

Let me tell you a simple story.

In 1999, during the coming of the PDP, APP and the NSM. Late Okilo, of blessed memory, came with the NSM to Bayelsa. APP came as a party from the North and PDP also a party from the North. During the Local Government elections, in which I was of the APP and if you observed what happened in Bayelsa. The NSM won some of the seats. But the likes of Okilo, that led the Party then, saw that the PDP won the centre and because he had an eye for devel-

We will prosecute those who looted our treasury – Gov. Lalong CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Gov Lalong

tee’s report that indicted many for necessary action.

Lalong stated that the EFCC will have no reason to delay the arrest and prosecution of those who were indicted by the committee set up to investigate the activities of the Jang-led administration as there were enough evidence to facilitate their arrest.

He pointed out that some of them

who were arrested in the past by EFCC were arrested without any evidence and now that the commission has enough evidence against the real looters of Plateau State treasury, there should be no delay in arresting them.

Lalong stated this in Jos when he hosted Journalists to a media parley and dinner at Government House, as part of activities to mark his 100 days in office.

Lalong had on the 7 May, 2015,

constituted a transition committee to study all aspects of the structure, organisation and operational modalities of the Jang administration.

The committee indicted the Jangled administration for allegedly mismanaging the sum of N222.3 billion.

While receiving the report, Gov. Lalong pleaded with those involved in looting the treasury to quietly CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Lamorde

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Why we back Wada - Group Ibrahim Obansa Lokoja A group in the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP), Project Wada 2015, said it is throwing its weight behind the flag bearer of the party, and incumbent governor, Capt. Idris Wada, because his emergence signifies victory for the PDP. In a statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Baba Isimi, the group described Wada as most amiable, reliable, suitable, capable and dependable.

Baba, while congratulating the governor on his victory, said his emergence at the primary was not only a pride to the group but to the PDP and the state at large, and advised him to carry everyone along.

The group thanked all delegates and PDP loyalists for their strong expression of support and confidence in the team of Wada at the primary election.

The group noted that the outcome has laid many things to rest, one of which is the confirmation that power belongs to God, and God resists the proud and exalts the humble.

They congratulated other contestants particularly for their maturity in conceding defeat but appealed for team work to make the victory of PDP in the November

Gov. Lalong: Plateau looters would soon be arrested CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Idris Wada 21st governorship election easier.

They also congratulated the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for a job well done in conducting a transparent, free and fair primary election devoid of any rancour and acrimony.

While urging all the aspirants to support the governor, the group called on members of the party at all levels to embrace and rally round Wada irrespective of their affiliation at the primary and once again deliver a resound-

ing victory for the party at the governorship elections.

“We called on members of our great party, (PDP), to support Governor Wada to win the election irrespective of their affiliation to any of the aspirants during the primary election.

“We equally call on the aspirants to throw their weights behind the candidate, Governor Idris Wada who we know and trust to run an all inclusive government” they stressed.

return what they have allegedly looted from the state coffers.

“I gave two weeks, which has expired. We have reported to the EFCC and in no distant time, don’t be surprised, because very soon action will take place. There was naked stealing in the state; for instance, two months salaries of local government workers was missing and when we traced, it was discovered in an individual’s account”, he alleged.

Lalong said that the huge debt burden left behind by the past administration is one of the major factors that has delayed the appointment of his commissioners and has equally stopped him from receiving salary since he assumed office.

The huge debt burden however could not be seen as a factor for non performance for 100 days in office as the state government has consequently approached the bank and have gotten a loan of N4.5 billion with the assurance of getting another N5 billion.

The loan has been used to pay salaries and also to continue with some abandoned projects of the immediate past administration, Lalong said.

“Even though some of the projects of the past administration are

Lalong doubtful, but because of the people, we have to complete them”, he added.

According to him, the backlog of salaries his administration inherited from the previous administration is paramount to him, hence, he has paid up to five months.

Accounting for his 100 days in office, Lalong said the loan collected will be used to address the myriad of problems his administration inherited, which is focused on a workforce whose salaries have not been paid, an educational sector that is totally grounded from the primary CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Bayelsa: It’s a shame, ex-President is not playing father to all – Orunimigha CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

think will change if the state aligned again with the centre?

The issue is about the occupant of the centre. Who was the Commander-In-Chief ? It was a Bayelsan. So, it shows a disconnect.

When the occupant does not have the will or capacity to do what he was supposed to do. The leader we have today is different. He is somebody that has the capacity and the political will. And so, the other thing to do is to key into the energy that has been demonstrated at the centre. And the laws of the country will always give you the zeal to participate. And the APC is the only platform available platform now to connect to that centre. None of these platforms are owned by the South-South. If you ask, somebody will tell you that the APC is a Northern Party.

Is the PDP a Southern Party? It is also a Northern Party. Let me tell you, it was a clear mistake of handling the PDP that made the northerners gather under another viable option.

Dickson

Orunimigha

Do you think your party has the capacity to upstage Governor Seriake Dickson during the elections?

If you tell me about the strength of the party, I don’t know what

you mean. But when you say capacity. It should be shown in the public acceptability and popularity based on the infrastructural development you put on ground.

If that is what you mean. Dickson

lacks all. In fact, Dickson is one of the most unpopular leaders we have in Bayelsa State. Sitting in office and so unpopular.

What about the strength and advantages of a sitting governor in an election?

But you remember that the President that was just voted out of office was a sitting President.

It is about what the people believe in. The people of Bayelsa believe that he has performed unacceptably. And that is the drive. And they want him to go. The people are ready to vote him out. And the APC has provided the platform.

How do you see the Ijaw sentiments being expressed by the PDP? That is what I’m saying, I don’t believe in the issue of real Ijaw men and fake Ijaw men. This is a thing of nomenclature. Bayelsa is known as Ijaw land. The dialect might differ but we are all Ijaw people. I don’t know where they are heading with the sentiments.

How will the APC manage those aspirants whose governorship ambition may not be

realised during the primaries?

For us in the APC, if you look at our manifestoes you will see the dreams of APC and what we stand for as a party, everything is futuristic. If a candidate comes from the PDP to join us and his interest and purpose is becoming governor, and he didn’t actualised it and goes back to PDP, Bayelsans will see such people as people who only have the interest of becoming governor and not to serve. We of the APC will create the enabling ground for all aspirants to contest the primaries, and whosoever emerges as winner on that day; the party will rally round that candidate and begin to get ready for the general elections. So if any of them loses the primaries and feels that they want to go back to the PDP, already what they wanted in the PDP is already not there, so I don’t know why they are going back for because, the PDP has closed their doors because they already have a candidate. So I will urge that all of CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

11 Politics

Bayelsa: Jonathan, Dickson, a cabal that must be uprooted – Orunimigha CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

us will remain in the APC which I think is not a problem to the APC because we have the mechanism that can keep the house for further elections.

How are you prepared for Asari Dokubo?

We don’t know him as a Bayelsa, he doesn’t have a vote in Bayelsa. We are not prepared for non Bayelsans, and we are preparing for Bayelsans only.

Just few hours after Governor Dickson’s declaration, his Special Adviser on Political Matters and his Personal Assistant were abducted. Already, the PDP has declared that it is politically motivated and accusing fingers seem to point at the APC, what is your reaction?

We are too busy and intelligent for such issues. For me, it’s’ point to the direction of the failure of the state government in terms of security. For a top government official to be kidnapped, what does it points to? Failure of government! Those are top functionaries that are operating the government. So if the government itself is kidnapped, who else is safe in the street of Bayelsa? For us in the APC in as much we want to show our concern and solidarity with the family of the victim, but the issue is that the state government has failed in their responsibility, that is the way we look at it.

Is it true that governorship aspirants in the APC have been compelled to sign an undertaken that they will abide by the outcome of the primaries and remain if they don’t get the party ticket?

For us as leaders of the party in the state, we have not done that and we don’t intend to do that. I am not aware if they did that at the National Secretariat of the party. We feel that everybody is obligated by the party’s Constitution and guidelines of the election.

So for us to put up a document in black and white mandating people to sign, I think such is not good for the reputation of the party.

But what do you think of the alleged acrimony between old and new members within the APC ahead of the governorship primaries?

The news have been making rounds that the APC may not have the capacity to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants.

As you know we have an history from where we are coming from.

The APC is the platform in Nigeria that has provided an avenue where you see internal democracy in action. Everyone that wants to contest is allowed to contest at the centre. And that has been the norm that we are trying to imbibe as party men. As a chairman, my job is very simple. Anybody that wants to join the governorship race, the first signal that you will send to the party is when you have

Dickson acquired the form that you want to contest, the party has guidelines and rules that will make us go into screening of such candidates. And when you pass that guidelines and rules the party has set, the next thing is to go to the field. Delegates will be made public to go and vote for whoever they want. So, the party will conduct a very free and fair contest.

Speculations that old members are against the new members is not true. Very soon, we will con-

duct the primaries. Do you know what the party has done in that regard? We have decided at our NEC meeting to sell the forms at the National Secretariat and provide the environment for every aspirant to buy the forms. People started speculating that if the party kept the form at the state secretariat here, the old members may not sell to the new members.

We agreed that the form should be sold at the National levels and the committee that screened them also came from National.

How would you react to the continued claim to a faction of the APC by Chief Richard Kpodo?

For us in the APC, we don’t know him because he has been expelled and he doesn’t make any sense to us as a person. He has been invited severally by the security agencies for impersonation which he has ran away for a long time claiming that he has not seen the invitation from the security agencies. I am very aware that he was invited by the Nigerian Police and the SSS but ran away I want to tell you that APC is not factionalized and for you of the press to even calling him factional leader, I think you are not doing well.

We don’t have a faction in APC. You have seen us organize programmes and rallies here in the presence of our national leaders.

It is very wrong for the press to be addressing him as the factional leader.

INEC: The review we want in Electoral Act CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

development, especially the promotion of democracy.

Morgan who was represented by Col. Everest Okoro, as the leader of the delegation said that the visit of the foreign attaché to INEC was necessitated by the accolades that followed the 2015 general election.

He said the attachés were at INEC basically to familiarise themselves with activities of the commission as part of its routine visits. ``We are all aware that we just concluded the last general elections which were internationally and widely acclaimed to be a huge success. So it is not surprising that there is a lot of interest to finding out what led to the successes”.

Most of the attachés are from African defence agencies and you know democracy in Africa is something that is just growing. So there are interests to understand how it is done, possibly to pick one or two things which they will take back to their countries.

The attaches were from different countries, including United States of America, France, Sudan Angola, United Kingdom and Niger among others.

Gov. Lalong: Looters to be arrested, prosecuted soon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

to the tertiary level with all the lingering challenges of unstructured governance in the sector, awards of road and other infrastructure contracts without funds to complete them.

Others are: security challenges that have threatened lives and the means of livelihood in the Northern Senatorial district.

Gov. Lalong however said that his administration will also focus on resolving the issue of the virtually empty state treasury and the deplorable condition of limited potential for revenue earning, among others.

“Hundred days would certainly not be enough to asses any political office holder but however, it is certainly a good platform to test run what a future assessment of a political office holder will look like

at the end of his tenure in office”, he added.

Coming from a new government under a new political platform, it would be expected that there would not be continuity in governance as the new political party in power will want to jettison the works of the previous government in power to chart a new course.

However, for Lalong-led government, political pundits said the situation is different as the governor has strove to complete the ongoing projects inherited from his predecessor.

One of the major projects inherited is the Plateau State House of Assembly Complex which was under construction by the immediate past government but has now been completed and commissioned within three months of assumption in office.

Gov. Lalong who said without

blowing his trumpet, the enormity of challenges he met on ground are now being resolved as his administration has been able to surmount most of them such as payment of workers salary arrears for five months as well as three months pension arrears; resumed road construction on 18 on-going metropolitan roads, almost completed the Federal Low cost Housing network of roads; commenced construction work on the Rantya Road network; Purchase and distributed 650 trucks of fertiliser on assumption of office, through a community based distribution, which involves Ward and District Heads to eliminate the sharp practices associated with middle men; resumption of intensive work on the Secretariat fly-over bridge.

Others are: reinstatement of the Vice-Chancellor of Plateau State University (PLASU), Prof. D.D.D

Sheni and the reconstitution of the Governing Council with Prof.

Attahiru Jega as Pro Chancellor and Chairman; facilitated funding of the minimum National Judicial Council (NJC) requirements for approval to have six new High Court Judges; Funded Plateau State contingents participation in the All African Games Trials in Abuja, the National Weightlifting Championship, as well as the Taekwando Championship in Lagos; funded Plateau United Club Promotion Campaign to the Premiership of the Nigeria Football League; undertook the first ever advocacy visit by a Plateau State Governor to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and National University Commission (NUC) to advocate for interventions in Plateau State Tertiary Institutions and accreditation of programmess in the University; inaugurat-

ed the first Joint Community Peace and Reconciliation Committee after several security consultative meetings on the Berom-Fulani crisis; held several stakeholders and ministerial consultation on a wide range of governance issues, among many others.

“Beyond the place of expenditure on physical public infrastructure and sundry interventions in critical arrears of education, health, environmental emergencies, government is committed to finding lasting solution to any threat to peace. This has resulted in restructuring of the operational Peace enforcement mandate of the Special Task Force to Operation Safe Heaven as it is now known. In this regards, Government will continue to pursue the outcome of several consultations on security with Mr. President”, the governor emphasised.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Rivers students in UK protest unpaid tuition fees Ngozi Okafor London

ÎÎÎStudents on the spon-

sorship of the Rivers State government in several United Kingdom universities may be deported anytime from next week, due to the cancellations of their student visas.

Reason: Their tuition fees have not been paid by the state government in the last two years.

Many of the students have already been kicked out of their private and hostel accommodations by their landlords.

They have not received their upkeep allowances since November last year.

Recounting their ordeal

on Thursday afternoon, after protesting outside the Nigerian High Commission in London where some of them slept overnight, six of the protesters told the Daily Times that they had technically become illegal since their visas had been cancelled by the universities.

The students also revealed that many of their colleagues - over 100 others in the same situation could not come to London from various parts of the UK where they are studying because of lack of transport fares.

According to the students although the manager of the Rivers State Sustainable Development

(RSSD), Patricia Dodo, had promised that the government would keep them in the universities since they were already there, “our various universities are no longer willing to wait endlessly on empty promises.”

Asked if the state government had been in touch with their universities, they said “yes,” but added that the universities see their letters as mere pieces of papers.

“There is no commitment of when payments will be made, so they don’t regard such letters again,” one of them said.

The spokesman of the protesters, 21- year-old Energy Engineering undergraduate of the Univer-

sity of Huddersfield, Kevin Nwoke, said that the hope of going into the Third Year of his studies is faint.

He added: “There are more than 100 of us in different universities that have been neglected for the same reason from my state government. So we are here to see what the Commission can do in this matter.”

Nwoke said trouble started when school authority invited them to a meeting, and they were told that their sponsors had not been paying their school fees for more than two years.

Prior to that, the students said their universities kept the situation from them, hoping that the state would

honour its commitments.

Nwoke, who said he had never been to “London, except when we newly arrived in the UK, “ added that both himself and the others had been finding things very tough.

“Even for me to pay my house rent and feed myself is almost an impossibility.

Sometimes, I receive about £400 a month, depending on if there is job. But on the average, I receive about £150 just to keep up. It has been terribly hard for us,” he said.

When asked if his parents can take over his sponsorship, he said, “they are civil servants and they don’t have the money to train me abroad.”

Embassy staff were seen making efforts to help the students through their ordeal. Just before noon,

a staff member in grey blazer and black trouser, came outside to meet them, saying the assistant minister in charge of education wanted to meet them.

After the meeting, which lasted over 30 minutes, the embassy official told the Daily Times that the Commission was doing its best and that contacts were being made to concerned authorities in Rivers State.

When the Daily Times asked he students where they would be on Thursday night, they chorused: “Sleep outside here,” except someone found them an alternative accommodation.

“We have nowhere to go,” one of them chipped in. Another showed this reporter some of their belongings outside the High Commission.

CBN allays fears over Treasury Single Account ÎÎÎCentral Bank Governor

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left) with the Thailand Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Chailert Limsomboon during a visit by the latter to the governor in Enugu State…recently

Again, herdsmen kill 20 in Plateau

ÎÎÎAt least 20 people were

killed and 30 houses razed in a fresh attack by gunmen who stormed a local community in Plateau State, residents said on Thursday.

Scores of people were also injured in the attack on Tuesday, said locals in Kadunung community, alleging that the attackers came from a nearby Barkin Ladi district of the state.

“The attack was carried out by the Berom tribe men.

They shot their guns indiscriminately at our people,” said Ariya Simon, a resident of the attacked com-

munity.

Plateau State police spokesperson Abu Emmanuel confirmed the incident to Xinhua, but declined to give actual figure of casualties.

Investigators have launched a probe into the attack, the police spokespoerson said, adding the details would be made available to the public at due time.

“We received a report that unknown gunmen invaded Kadunung village around 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) and in the process about

five people were killed and several houses burnt,” state police spokesman Emmanuel Abuh said.

Abuh said the motive for the attack on the mainlyChristian and farming village was unknown but an investigation had been launched.

“The place is now calm as our personnel have deployed to maintain law and order. No arrest has been made,” he added.

The largely agrarian Christian communities in the state maintain the Muslim Fulani herdsmen are

engaged in a prolonged battle to gobble up land from the areas of so-called indigenous people.

Fulani leaders counter their people face discrimination as “foreigners” in Plateau and are deprived of basic rights, including access to land, education and political office, despite having lived in the area for generations.

Tensions frequently boil over, with more than 10,000 people killed in the state since the turn of the century, according to groups tracking the violence

Godwin Emefiele on Thursday told Nigerians not to panic over the decision of the Federal Government to shift its bank accounts to the apex bank.

The decision, according to agency reports, drains billions of dollars from the financial system.

Emefiele also ruled out a naira devaluation, a position early declared by President Muhammadu Buhari during his recent visit to France.

In an interview with Reuters, Emefiele said he was ready to inject liquidity if needed into the interbank market, which dried up this week following a directive to government departments to move their accounts into a “Treasury Single Account” at the central bank.

The policy is part of President Buhari’s drive to fight corruption, but analysts say it could suck up as much as 10 percent of banking sector deposits - hammering banks’ liquidity ratios.

Amid confusion over implementation of the policy, overnight interbank lending rates spiked to 200 percent this week, but Emefiele denied the policy had provoked a liquidity crisis.

“There is no shortage of liquidity,” he said, pointing to an oversubscribed sale of treasury bills on Wednesday.

“A spike is a momentary action. It’s sentiment,” he said.

Emefiele said less than one trillion naira ($5 billion) would be moved into the single account but did not give details.

Emefiele was also emphatic about maintaining the naira currency - which has dived in the past year due to a collapse in oil revenues - at its current level of 197 to the dollar.

“There will not be a devaluation because right now the currency is appropriately priced,” he said.

In a series of unconventional interventions to protect the naira, the bank has blocked access to foreign currency to import items ranging from soap and toothpicks to cement and private jets.

Emefiele said the list of restricted items could be expanded to encourage local production.

He rejected claims by Nigerian firms about the difficulties of getting hold of dollars and ruled out the possibility of a default by any company with dollardenominated debt.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

RC 103022

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News14

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Navy employs Israeli surveillance system to tackle oil thieves

Segun Adio

Group News Editor The Nigerian Navy has acquired Israeli-installed mass civil surveillance system to enable it monitor and track suspected crude oil thieves and other sea criminals within the country’s territorial waters.

Known as Falcon Eye, the system would enable the force monitor the movement of vessels within the country’s territorial water and the Gulf of Guinea and enable them also to track such vessels and ultimately arrest them.

Speaking at the inaugural lecture of officers’ long course organised by the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS)

ÏÏÏ

QUORRA, former Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Francis Akpan (rtd), said the Falcon Eye would assist in monitoring, track and collate maritime activities to protect national interest.

Akpan also said that the system would analyse and share information with stakeholders to enable them have a better understanding of maritime security issues.

The former FOC, who was a guest lecturer at the ceremony said maritime security is the responsibility of major stakeholders within the maritime community, adding that, “the Falcon Eye will provide a centre

where the activities within the exclusive economic zone would be monitored and those who contravene laws would be identified and the agency that is responsible to ensure that those who act with impunity are sanctioned would be in a position to act immediately.”

He said Nigeria Navy must champion the cause of maritime safety and security because it had the institution to do so, adding that the navy must drive the process of partnering with every other member of the maritime community in other to achieve maritime security.

Earlier, the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Ad-

miral Adeniyi Oshinowo lamented the fact that perpetrators of maritime crimes such as oil theft, illicit arms, drug and human trafficking were getting bolder, adding that there was a need to fashion out a new approach that would put such perpetrators in constant check and pressure. Oshinowo said such tactics must transcend traditional method and national efforts, explaining that that was why the Nigerian Navy had continuously advocated collaboration with other maritime security agencies within Nigeria, as well as other nations in the sub-region, in a bid to evolve a comprehensive security architecture.

L-R: Human Resource Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc. Mr. Victor Famuyibo; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Idiat Oluranti Adebule; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Omodele Osunkiyesi during the commissioning of the accidental and emergency centre and rehabilitation of Agbala Paediatrics ward donated by Heineken Africa Foundation and Nigerian Breweries held at Ikorodu, Lagos… on Thursday.

Lalong vs PDP: Counsel to adopt final addresses October 2 Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏThe suit filed against

Governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress (APC), by Mr. GNS Pwajok, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the election tribunal, sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, may be rounded off soon.

The adoption of the final counsel addresses holds onOctober 2, 2015.

Counsel representing each of the parties in the petition are expected to clarify his submissions before the tribunal.

Following the numerous rulings of the tribunal in the course of prosecuting the petition, the counselswere expected to put more weight in addressing the tribunal on documents they had objected to when they were ten-

dered at the trial.

The tribunal had slated October 2, after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), opened and closed its case in the petition without calling any witness or tendering any document.

According to INEC, “We have decided not to call anywitness and we hereby close our defence”, counsel to INEC, told the tribunal.

Before getting to this stage, the PDP, had tendered a total of 2,787 documents in the course of proving its case in the petition.

Consequently, the APC opened its defence on August 20, to defend the 2,787 documents tendered against them.

Some of the documents tendered by Pwajok and the PDP included Forms EC8Cs, for Jos North, Jos East,

Bokkos, Mangu, Pankshin, Shendam and Wase, with code numbers, 05, 04, 03, 11, 13, 16 and 17, respectively.

Other documents were Forms EC8D and EC8E, being summary of Governorship results from local governments and the declaration sheet, respectively.

The PDP had earlier cried foul over the documents produced and certified to prosecute its petition against the Governorship election.

Lead counsel to the PDP and Pwajok, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), during the hearing of the petition, told the tribunal that the documents certified for the party by INEC to prosecute the petition, were “fake”. According to him, “It is unfortunate! What we discovered is that all the bundles of documents brought to us by INEC that they were duly certified were all

fake. "We were trapped. The CTCs were aimed at truncating our case. The CTCs were stamped but no physical signing on them. I do not want to believe that this was deliberate. If we have not been lucky, we would have tendered these documents and they would have been thrown away,” he said.

However, INEC’s counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), told the tribunal that it was a simple administrative issue that could be corrected by the co-operation of the PDP and INEC staff. The APC being the 1st respondent in the petition, has also told the tribunal that the documents earlier issued to the party were also as the ones the PDP called “fake” and that they had also returned them in order for INEC to issue them with fresh CTCs of the documents.

Pita Chikwem

Minna In an effort to increase production of animal milk and prevent them from being contaminated, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, on Thursday, distributed free 250 mineral vitamin salt lick blocks to 74 identified herdsmen in four local governments in Niger State.

A director in the ministry, Alhaji Bello Salihu, disclosed this in Kontagora at the inauguration of the exercise and said each of the salt lick can last for three months and increase fast growth of the animals.

Salihu said that the min-

ÏÏÏ

Child trafficking widespread in Nigeria, says expert Lara Adejoro

ÏÏÏThe

trafficking of children for the purpose of domestic service, prostitution and other forms of exploitation labour is on the rise in Nigeria, according to a foremost scholar and researcher in rehabilitative medicine in Nigeria, Professor Adefunke Oyemade.

Oyemade made this assertion at the Faculty of Public Health National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria annual faculty day lecture with the theme: Maternal Deprivation: A social-

FG donates 250 salt lick blocks to Niger herdsmen eral vitamin salt lick blocks to 74 identified herdsmen in four local governments in state would increase production of animal milk and prevent them from attack.

He disclosed that the ministry had recommended it for the Fulani herdsmen to test run the impact of the product on their animals, saying that Magama, Mariga, Mashegu and Kontagora local governments would be the pilot scheme of the programme. cultural pathology.

Globally, child trafficking is one of the fastest growing organised crimes with estimated 1.2 million victims per year, of which 32 per cent are Africans.

According to Oyemade, Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country for child traffickers.

"Currently, external trafficking of children exists between Nigeria and Gabon, Togo, Cameroon, Niger, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Benin Republic, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Lately, children are reported to be trafficked from Nigeria to Dubai. Human trafficking is said to be the third largest illegal trade after drug trafficking and arms trade.”

29yr-old man arraigned in court over N12m truck theft Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏA

29-year-old man, Paul Johnson, has been arraigned before an EbuteMetta Magistrate Court for stealing a Howo truck worth N12 million belonging to China Railway Construction Company, Johnson, is facing a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.

Johnson, who works as a mechanic was given the truck to repair and he was supposed to pick up a mobile container at Apapa Wharf before he was said to have allegedly conspired with others at large to commit the crime.

The suspect and his accomplice were said to have changed directions towards Ibadan express way instead of Apapa.

It was discovered that the defendant sold the truck on

getting to Ibadan, where he was eventually arrested.

Part of the charge against the suspect read:"That you Paul Johnson with others now at large on the 20th day of June 2015 at China Railway Construction Company Ebute-Meta West Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire together to steal one Howo Truck with Registration number LA 265 FZE belonging to China Railway Construction and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 409 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Arase

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

15 Opinion

Case for a Paradigm Shift and Constitutional Change

I Onye Nkuzi

n my last article I focused on Nigeria’s inability to learn the most important lesson of 1982; good times do not last, commodity price fluctuations are guaranteed and failure to prepare for bad times leaves a nation at mercies of IMF (you can ask Greece). I also explained that it is almost impossible for the generation that gave us the unitary petro-state to lead a charge for the diversification of revenues in their old age. This article is for younger generations. For Nigeria to be of any use to herself (or Africa), it requires a paradigm shift in its internal political architecture, legal/regulatory framework and economic management.

Even those who have taken a cursory glance at the Nigerian Constitution cannot help but notice that it is obsessed with a very powerful centre, sharing and equal representation. Nigeria is a very large, diverse and complex country and there is a limit to which an obsession with uniformity can deal with the challenges. Our obsession with uniformity has led to a unitary state that is woefully unequipped to deal with our diversity. The tag Federal Republic is almost meaningless.

Sharing is a very socialist principle. Socialists are extremely

good at devising new formulas for sharing resources and empowering a few to direct the allocation of resources. However, a focus on sharing does not incentivise creativity or productivity. Nothing illustrates this as much as the monthly parade to Abuja by state commissioners of finance to share crude oil rents at Federation Account Allocation Committee meetings.

The burden of our obsession with sharing (or “sharing the national cake”) is borne by the Niger Delta – 50 years of non-stop environmental disaster and an unresponsive centre lacking the capacity to deal with Africa’s worst environmental disaster.

This burden will not be borne ad Infinitum by the Niger Delta and future generations will either have to Deal with the consequences or proactively diversify internally generated Revenue.

Diversity is a very interesting concept; most Nigerians think of diversity as cultural/ethnic diversity, but diversity is a lot deeper – political diversity and economic diversity are extremely important dimensions of diversity.

The United States of America is an ethnically diverse entity like Nigeria, but its constitution recognises the importance of political diversity in a way the Nigerian Constitution does not. In the United

States, states are semi-autonomous sub-national units; the US constitution provides the general overarching framework and state constitutions fill in the details. US state governors have the political autonomy to be creative, to drive the kind of change that leads to economic investment and to pioneer new modes of governance.

Political diversity and economic diversity are interlinked. If subnational units are empowered and incentivised to make/take responsibility for far reaching economic decisions (not like in Nigeria where Abuja decides whether a bridge can be built across the Lagos Lagoon or whether the Calabar Channel should be dredged) then the entire nation benefits from the increased productivity and economic growth.

This is one secret behind America’s success as a nation.

Individual states are empowered to think out of the box in the management of their economies. California was described as a laboratory for new ideas in government – and despite its present day troubles, it did provide many new ideas in governance. California’s economy is about the same size as Italy’s.

California is possible in the United States of America, but not in Nigeria with its unitary constitution.Over-dependence on crude oil rents is a major obstacle to political

and economic diversity. As long as crude oil rents are available, there will be few incentives for either genuine constitutional change or diversification of internally generated revenues. State governors will only begin to “think outside the box” to develop their state economies when their backs are against the wall.

Resource Control is an idea whose time has come.

We often misunderstand what roles each tier of government is supposed to play. Neither Abuja nor the president will diversify Nigeria’s economy/internally generated revenue; that job is for empowered sub-national units. The best Abuja can do is to empower them to do so.

The principles encapsulated in this essay must form the basis of a new Nigerian Constitution. The generation that gave us the unitary petro-state will stubbornly stick to the ideas of their youth, but these changes are not optional for younger generations.

We have to either make these changes voluntarily or have these changes forced on us in less than one or two decades; but by then it might be too late. With a combination of the Shale Revolution, a hydrocarbon supply glut and a rapidly expanding population, Nigeria’s days as a petro-state are numbered.

Who will tame Governor Tanko Al-Makura

Y

“ Jeff Okoroafor

oung girl, you are so rude. Look at how you’re dressed like a prostitute.” -Gov. Al-makura “You can take the case to wherever you wish or go to hell.” - Gov. Al-makura “Yes! That is my name. I am the governor’s ADC. You can go to any length you wish. We are equal to the task. We will handle you, rat!” -Ringim, Al-makura ADC The 10th of September 2015 was a very bad day for Lois Lorvihi, the woman that was insulted and assaulted by Governor Al-Makura of Nasarrawa State,his aides and police escort. In fact, it reminds me of an incident on August 28, 2015. It was between myself and Governor Udom Emmanual of Akwa-Ibom State at the entrance of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. On that day, members of the Bring Back Our Girls Advocacy Group which I am part of, were scheduled to have a meeting with the United Nations Secretary General, Mr.Ban Ki-Moon, at the hotel. As I made my way towards the entrance of the lobby, a very heavy hand carelessly shoved me aside, without a word and

walked past. Angry and confused, I briskly ran after him,calling out with the usual “excuse me sir” remark. Before he could fully accept the human feeling of turning around, his many bodyguards in Black had already stopped me from reaching him. From about 20 metres distance he screamed, “Yes, what’s it?” Sir, don’t I have the right of ‘way’ as you do, that you pushed me to pass? He stared in an angry manner, turned around and walked away. I was greatly upset!

What happened to me, and what happened to the Lorvihis is a routine daily torture millions of ordinary Nigerians are subjected to by their governors and police officers who according to the tenets of democracy, serve them. I don’t know if I will become a governor someday. However, I sure know I won’t do what the governors we’ve so far had in Nigeria do. They think themselvesa god before us. They do not recognise our right to exist. And they clearly don’t value us enough to be called human.

The promiscuity of Governor Al-Makura has blinded him so much that he now sees all women as “prostitutes”. If Al-Makura can

refer to Lois Iorvihi’sappearance as having the semblance of a prostitute, then he must have been promiscuous with the very sophisticated ones.

I read the disappointing and sorry statement signed by one Ahmed Tukur who claimed to be Al-Makura’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicityand how he struggled to heap the blame on Lois and her siblings,while exonerating the governor and making him look like the victim. Agreed, Special Assistants are to promote a positive image of their principals, but if that statement is all the governor had to offer as excuse for why he did what he did, then I need no professional investigative analyst to tell me they are as guilty as charged. As a matter of fact, it really doesn’t matter, anyone who lives in Nigeria knows exactly how most Nigerian leaders behave in and out of office.

How they never respect Nigerians and how they get mad when anyone looks them in the face and tell them the truth.

My concern after reading the ridiculous statement was bundled into series of questions -was it the invited police officers from the “nearby policestation” that

damaged her car? At what point was the car damaged, before or after their arrival? Did the police officers from the “nearby” stationgive the go ahead for her car to be damaged? The phones and ipads, did the invited police officers also destroyed them or gave command for them to be destroyed? As she was suspected to be either an armed robber or a terrorist, was her car searched for weapons or explosives? These questions were not answered in that cheap statement by Al-Makura’s SA and it clearly showed that they have no justification at all to treat Lois and her siblings the way they did.

This is not the first time a Nigerian is being humiliated and assaulted by a a top powered government official. In some other cases in the past, liveswere lost.

Although individuals as well as civil society groups have at some point taken up these issues with the legislators, nothing has happened, the impunity and recklessness has continued unabated Immunityhas its gains, but from all that we have so far seen in Nigeria, that clause in our constitution brings about impunity and it is time the legislators do something about it.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Art Review

17

Æs

Onobrapkeya,

others make case for Chibok Girls Agozino Agozino

Onobrapkeya

The orchestra group during the performance in London

Nwanoku’s orchestra dazzles music lovers in London

The serene atmosphere of Olambe community in Ogun State was ready and set.

Participants and guests flocked the exhibition hall looking radiant in their colourful and elegant dresses.

And the event was the first ever exhibition mounted by veteran printmaker, Bruce Onobrapkeya, who was joined by 12 other artists to make case for the abducted Chibok Girls with their art works.

Tagged: Nigerian Visual Artists and Politics, the group exhibition featured works of 12 renowned artists in different artistic skills, including: installations, painting, watercolour, textile, ceramics/ pottery, mixed-media, sculpture and photography. The show organised by the GreenHouse Art Empowerment Centre (GHAEC) also featured the formal presentation of GHAEC Art Journal.

With the works of Onobrakpeya in the lead, GHAEC’s other participants include; Sam Ovraiti; Ato Arinze; Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi; Dr Mabel Oluremi Awogbade; Stella Awoh; Kolawole Kosoko Olojo; Juliet Ezenwa Pearce; Bolaji Ogunwo; Stella Ubigho; Oke Ibem Oke and Osagie.

As if to join their voices with the founders of GHAEC and the people of Olambe on the construction of good roads, the artists advocated change in sectors. Indeed, they joined their voices with the ongoing conversations on change and national reorientation. Each of their works expressed thoughts on Nigeria’s political and artistic landscape, policy and infrastructural change, increased funding for the

arts, nature, textile and many more.

Onobrakpeya’s piece is particularly engaging. Through his installation, tagged: Sambisa Forest, guests were reminded of the plights of the over 200 secondary school girls abducted last year at Chibok. The artist, who read from his handwritten letter to the Chibok girls, who have spent over 510 days in the hands of the insurgents, urged the government to look into the plights of the girls by intensifying efforts to release them. He called for a collective and intensified campaign for their release through his letter and the installation which showed naked protesting women at the background of totems representing the girls and the armed insurgents, among other motifs.

The installation and letter, Onobrakpeya said, were meant to create awareness and rouse the feeling of people on the plights of the girls in the hands of the insurgents.

He said: “I am using both to urge the government and well-meaning people, who have the means, to do what it takes to release and get them out of their suffering. Both are an advocacy and prayer for them.

The government knows more than everyone about the situation. They should double whatever efforts they are making to release those girls from suffering.

“Imagine if they were not kidnapped, some would have furthered their education or learnt a trade. They would have moved on in life like their peers. The government should do more to get them released so they can continue to live their lives from where it stopped. They should be given the opportunity to progress in life just like any other Nigerian.”

Recently, the United Kingdom-based orchestra performer Chi-Chi Nkwankwo and her group, Chineke, serenaded classical music lovers in London.

The three days event which was graced by large population of UK –based Nigerians was memorable.

The festival which is in its 3rd year was held to explore what can be learnt and celebrated from Africa and the African diaspora.

The festival investigates the arts and culture of the African continent, examining how Africa can lead the way in its thoughts about community business technology fashion sustainability and gender.

Chineke the first black professional symphony orchestra in Europe was launched. This was the brainchild of Chi-Chi Nwanoku MBE. Tony Allen with his friend closed the three day festival.

Art Review 18

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Roaming the magical world of

Ato Arinze’s Root of Change Ato Arinze’s recent exhibition is all about change. Jordan Ray-Belonwu looks at the body works which he presented in Lagos.

The images are not conventional. And when you are close to the canvass, they are equally captivating, leaving you dazed by man’s ingenuity and creativity. In fact, if you are not in Alliance Francaise, 293 Herbert Macualy Way, Yaba Lagos, recently, then you must have missed a lot in the grand opening of The root of change, a drawing exhibition by surrealist painter Ato Arinze.

The exhibition opened with a display of 27 graphite drawings capable of holding even the most intelligent spell bound. Most of the works are about how humanity responds to changes in life. Thus, the viewer is confronted and haunted by the images that are not conventional but gives details of what the artist said, represents true change. The works equally depict what the artist said is the humanity identities and existence.

Root of Change is all about change in a way never seen before. The drawings encourage people to think out of the box to understand the root of change.

Arinze, who is also the coordinator of Lagos Art Zero group represented some of the works in symbols like snails,

ladders, genitals and flowing rivers which he said all represent the dynamics of human mystery of change and its consequences in the world.

One of the works that captured this change is Agony and Ecstasy, which he said symbolized deeper aspects of agony. It is an image of a woman with dried out skin, revealing her collar bones and rib cages. Her thinned arms and neck look as though they have been infected by a deadly HIV virus.

The Nigerian leadership question which over the years has been the bane of the nation growth is also a big concern to the artist.

Arinze represents this in The soul of 9ja politics, where a nude figure is seen elevated on a convex surface perhaps symbolizing the podium for political promises. The female has six hands each holding an item symbolic to Nigeria’s leadership. The two bottom hands hold a bag of money and a keg of petrol, the upper four holds two brooms and two umbrellas with one of the umbrellas open as though shielding from the elements. This drawing mocks Nigeria’s unenviable state of political aspirations.

Another interesting work is

Before the Seperation of Man from Woman and both from the Rest of the World.

The Roads. This drawing reveals pathways that are interwoven together, well connected towards a tenacious aim.

The Rumored Death of a Dictator is more or less a documentation of the death of the dictator, Late

Gen Sani Abacha. In the work, he is seen with his trademark cap and dark sunglasses lying flat on a tidied bed. A soldier is seen at the door post with a naked prostitute as she probably asks for money. The soldier is not after protecting the life

of the General. Could this rumour have elements of truth in it?

Arinze’s Root of Change is an eye opener. It is a work that evokes human feeling. For many at the event, it was an exhibition worth attending.

The virtues of Songs Nsikak Essien extols God’s love for humanity through lines and curves Agozino Agozino

Retire young by Essien

In a world engulfed by violent crimes and commotion, and where lives are daily lived with fear of war and calamities, one artist is holding forth an olive brush. He is propounding that “Love Song” is the antidote to the society predicament. Nsikak Essien, through his pen, ink, and palette of colours, is already chanting “eureka” the key to the society’s problems will soon be over. This was what his latest solo show which opened last Saturday, September 14, in Nike Gallery Lagos was all about. The theme of the exhibition is The Love Songs.

“Love Song” he said is the only survival word for city dwellers who think God is responsible for today’s misfortunes in creation, or humanity faced with stress, lack of adequate shelter, the general anonymity and other negative vices which have made life very unfortunate today.

The Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu trained painter and a member of the ‘Aka’ Circle of exhibiting artists argues persuasively in all his works.

Sure and definite strokes are his tools, as he

showcases why humanity should appreciate God’s love.

Many of the works are executed in mixed media. In Blooming Old Rugged Cross for instance, Essien gentle personality is evidently in the fore. The work is enchanting and compelling. The message essence in this work is irresistible.

The Homeward Bound, also in mixed media, depicts God’s love for humanity.

The rich hue in its finishing makes the work attractive. The free spirit characteristic of Essien, adds to the attractiveness of the work.

The artist master of his canvas and the love of God is elegantly projected in other works such as: Love song (duet) Expectation, Blowing in the wind, Daddy’s girl, In Him we live More, Fast lane, and Retire Young.

Significantly, however, Essien, more than anybody else in the exhibition, was the only one able to translate his mind’s preoccupation with love for God and his didactic story line. Though this is second exhibition in the same venue, the images on display were interesting as it fills the large gallery.

Essien served a collection of interesting pieces that draw serious attention to Gods love for humanity, as well as to his studio as a place to look towards for thought-provoking religious pieces. He displayed over 30 new painting that filled the large gallery comfortably. His colours are bright, warm and attractive. His texture is lavish. And his canvas is characteristically big and bold.

The artist describes the exhibition thus: “My theme is love songs. The bible says that God celebrates humanity. But man has lost his relationship with God. And it sometimes looks as if God is a punishing god. But no, our Father is a God of love. So the exhibition is all about God’s celebration of man. We are not God’s invention. We are His creation, the work of His hands.

Most of the works I have are different visual metaphors that point to that celebration. The big thing is that salvation came through the cross. God used the cross as guitar and the body of Jesus as the ultimate love song.

God’s ultimate love song is paid on the cross by salvation of Jesus Christ that gave his life for mankind.’’

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

19

Features Æ s YOUTH STREET-DANCING:

Vogue or craze of the moment?

Product manufacturers smile to the banks while Nigerian young adults dance their hearts out, in a new trend of youth exploitation, OGUNTADE ISMAILA reports.

Street dancers

It is the latest vogue in advertising.

Roadside centres, kiosks at street corners and ... even at bus terminals all over the cit-

ies. At the business hubs in Lagos, youths, and the nation’s strength of tomorrow are faced with a challenging responsibility ... to dance for

a living or delve into more dangerous terrains and end up beggarly or completely deCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

INTRIGUES OF DEAD AND LIVING MONARCHS:

The conspiracy of silence lingers In a manner akin to the demise of the Ooni of Ife, uncertainty still surrounds the true condition of the Olu of Warri, with stoic silence from the camp of the palace neither confirming nor denying the rumor of the monarch’s death. ALIMI AHMED in this report looks at the intrigues inherent in traditional kingdoms in some parts of the country.

The Olu of Warri, Godwin Edomi, Ogiame Atuwatse II is dead. He was said to have died of an undisclosed ailment in Lagos. Atuwatse became the Warri monarch in 1987.

News from the online portal, The Will, suggested the monarch might have died from a brain injury he suffered after reportedly falling from the stairs of his Warri residence in Delta State. The Will reported that Atuwatse was billed to undergo surgery at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos, where he was rushed to, before he passed on. It further said the monarch’s body had been flown back to Warri for burial.

But hardly had the news hit the airwaves when, a few days later, a respected national newspaper (not the Daily Times) countered the earlier report.

Then from the camp of the Warri Traditional Council; mum is the word. Rather, a statement by a group which goes under the aegis of Iwere Integrity Group (IIG), a group of strict adherents of the custom and tradition of Itsekiri gave indications that the Olu might not be dead but ‘unconscious.’

The group in a statement released by Barrister Robinson Ariyo stated: “As you may know, Warri Kingdom is well over 500 years old and as such; it is expected to be of interest to a huge number of people across the world.

“It is no longer news that the social and mainstream media are saturated with the news of the demise of His Royal Majesty,

Ogiame Atuwatse II. “We admit that His Majesty has some issues with his health. All we need do is pray for his quick recovery. We promise to let you know through the Warri Traditional Council should his condition improve or deteriorate.”

The statement has done nothing to douse the rumor surrounding the condition of the monarch with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Yakubu Dogara still not convinced that the monarch is alive.

This much he revealed in a statement credited to him.

“The late monarch was a father to all and a consummate lawyer whose 28 year reign brought peace and tranquility amongst his people.

“I am deeply touched by the news of the demise of Olu of Warri. I pray God to give his family, his subjects and the people of Delta the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,’’ he said.

Following suit, former Vice-President and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, also described the passing away of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, as a great loss to the nation.

A statement released by his media office, in Abuja, on Tuesday, described the late foremost traditional ruler of the Itsekiri nation as, “a peace-maker and nation-builder, who went to great lengths to ensure peace and harmony reigned in his domain, and among Nigerians.”

According to Atiku, the harmony that characterises the daily lives and activities of Ni-

Olu of Warri gerians, who live and work in Warri, to a large extent, depended on the love, tolerance and patriotism that were part of the life of the late Olu. This is coming on the heels of the case of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, whose death was shrouded in secrecy and reportedly took weeks to be confirmed by the chiefs of the Ife Palace.

The reason for the conspiracy of silence, Daily Times gathered, could be attributed to the revered positions the monarch occupied.

Investigations revealed that the immediate declaration of a traditional monarch’s passage is traditionally and customarily wrong, as a monarch does not die; rather, he ‘joins his ancestors.’ Moreover, it is also not right for such news to appear on the pages of newspapers or in

the social media.

For instance, traditionally, the passage of the Ooni of Ife, who is referred to as the second-in-command to the deities, should not be announced until the various levels and degrees of rites of passage have been completed. The Ooni is believed to be an institution and a royal stool, and not a person, and therefore he should not be treated as a person.

A source close to the Olu of Warri also revealed that even if the report was true, no Itsekiri son would confirm it until the palace does its traditional duty of announcing the Olu’s passage.

So, until the palace makes its official announcement, the question that will continue to be on the lips of many still remains, where is the Olu of Warri? Is he alive, or dead?

The answer is not blowing in the wind.

Features 20

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Youth Dancers: We are creating employment for the youths – CRO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

stroyed by drugs.

A result of broken economy in the country, some youths in our society have taken up dancing as their daily occupation. Daily Times spoke with Miss Damilola Sodipo, the customer Relations Officer (CRO) of Mizbeach Techhno Communications Company at Sango Ogun State on the alarming trend in the society.

Sodipo said dancing is a profitable skill in the entertainment industry.

“Most youths, male and female have passion for dancing them are the really talented ones. Most times, boys and girls find dancing at road shows lucrative and a better alternative to being idle.

“Many of them are mere secondary school leavers who just want to showcase their skills.

They are just freelancers in the audition of sales promotion of company products.”

Street dancers

JUST HUMAN

Sodipo stressed further that the need to attract customers and create awareness for the products as a means of advertisement also create employment opportunities for the youths. “Besides the customer’s attraction and platform for employment, it is especially an avenue to discover talents in the entertainment industry.

“Many have received invitation to dance at competitions locally and internationally to show their skills, like the Maltina dancing competition, United State of America Dancing spot Completion, etc.”

Sodipo said that the company employed matured men and ladies last year for the business and were placed on a salary range of between N50,000 to N100,000, depending on the location. She revealed that the company doesn’t recruit the dancers directly.

“The company only employed the Disc Jockey (D.J) for the business on contract; it is his responsibility to recruit and co-ordinate the dancing team. He is their manager, he knows them well, and he has their contact and pays them daily.”

Our correspondent learnt from Mr. Immanuel Ojeong, the Disc Jockey (D.J) for Mizbeach and Mr. Kenny of Samsung company that the youth dancers you see everywhere are Nigerians from different parts of the country. They resume duty by 10.00am and close about 4.00 p.m. every day.

Their take home pay ranges from N1,000 to N2,000 per show.

Miss Chinyere Obi, Taiwo Ogunmola and Amaka, members of the dancing team who chose to dance as their daily business told Daily Times that dancing is a business of entertainment and they have contested for several dancing competitions and won awards with the support of their team manager.

Whichever way you look at the trend, it is worrisome and a ticking time bomb. What becomes of the youths of today when they become too old to dance?

It is some food for thought for both government and parents of these youths.

1.30 pm. Ogudu Road junction, Ojota, Lagos.

Photo God’s Covenant Snr 073

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original Deed of conveyance registered in Lagos as No. 41 page 41 in volume 193 Ibadan belonging to OJUOLAPE DINA located at No. 6 Aberuagba street, Shogunle Lagos, when relocating to my current apartment, my bag containing vital documents was lost in tran-

21 Public Notice

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OGBAKOR OZUZU GENERAL ASSEMBLY OZUZU, ETCHE, RIVERS STATE

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission Under Part C of the Companies And Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990

The general public is hereby notified that the above named body 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 foundation has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Chinedu Innocent Adikwu 2. Chuka Perry Iloegbunam 3. Dr. Pamela Iloegbunam AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Skill acquisition training for youth 2. To provide portable water for the rural poor.

TRUSTEES: 1. Akinyemi Kolade Akinseye 3. Benson Adetokunbo

2. Benson Adeboye 4. Aderonke Odunewu

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provide educational support in form of financial and martials assistance.

2. To enhance the learning environment and experience of less privileged students.

3. To promote entrepreneurial and skill acquisition schemes.

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: SECRETARY

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 BY:- FEMI JAIYEOBA, ESQ SOLICITOR 08032072787

LET’S TALK HUMANITY INITIATIVE

UNITY PRESTIGE FITNESS CLUB

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 No.1 of 1990

This is to inform the general public that the above-named club has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Fatima Abdullahi Umar - Chairman 2. Ali Mijindadi Mamman - Secretary

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Chinyere C. Madumere - Chairman 3. Okonkwo Okwuchukwu John 5. Okezie George Obinna 7. Okechukwu Ebuka Joseph 9. Okechukwu Ifeanyi Justine - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote human (especially child) development affairs by assistance and dissemination of information regarding the conditions of existence and problems facing people in need including but not limited to internally displaced persons (IDP’s) people living with hiv amongst other debilitating sicknesses, disabled and people living in abject poverty.

2. To initiate, organize and promote any activity or support measure geared towards ameliorating the harsh conditions faced by people in need (especially children).

2. Felix Okechukwu Nduano 4. Okeke Berth Nchekwube 6. Ashibuogwu Emeke Ebenezer 8. Maduka Echezona Sylvester

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. Promote good fellowship and inter-racial understanding amongst members through sports and physical activities.

2. To organize, promote and co-ordinate activates of recreational, sporting and social nature for members’ health and enjoyment.

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: JIDEOFOR A. UKACHUKWU SOLICITOR (070332133650)

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

SIGNED: OKECHUKWU IFEANYI JUSTINE SECRETARY/SOLICITOR 08038781760

JESUS FLAG MISSION INTERNATIONAL

GRACE AND FAITH TABERNACLE MINISTRY

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

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

TRUSTEES: 1. Barr. Felix Nnadi Ordu - Chairman 2. Mr. Raymond Amanze Onyeche -Vice Chairman 3. Mr. Promise Nwanyanwu -Secretary-General 4. Mr. Chima Okpara - Financial Secretary 5. Mr. Sampson Amadi - Treasurer 6. Mr. Benjamin Amadi - Pro/Organizing Secretary 7. Miss Paulina Ego Nwecheform - Welfare Officer 8. Mr. Friday Ebere - Provost 9. Eze Slyvanus Chisaoku Amaefule - Grand-Patron 10. Eze Emmanuel Onuegbulem Chikezie -Patron AIM 1. To promote unity, justice and progress among the people of Ozuzu 2. To preserve and project the image and culture of Ogbakor Ozuzu general assembly, Ozuzu Etche Rivers State.

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

SIGNED: FELIX NNADI ORDU 08064322377

DIVINE HOUSE OF FREEDOM CHRISTIAN CENTER The general public is hereby notified that the above named centre has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 TRUSTEES: (1) Rev. Amos Asiriuwa - President/General Overseer (2) Pst. Mrs. Christy Asiriuwa – Secretary (3) Pst. Sunday John – Clergy- Member (4) Elder Denila Sunny - Financial Secretary (Clergy).

AIM 1. To preach the gospel of Christ all over the world.

2. To take care of the welfare of its members.

3. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

IRUECHI KINDREN ASSOCIATION

This is to inform the general public that the above-named mission has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990

This is to inform the general public that the above-named Ministry has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 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

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Pastor Innocent Ugochukwu Maduakor 2. Addine Maduakor 3. Deconess Chinenye Ekufu.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Francis Onwumere Peter.

2. Francis Deborah Oluchi.

3. Keyoumbe Nadege Fountcho

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:1. To preach the gospel of Christ all over the world.

2. To take care of the welfare of its members.

3. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Christ all over the world.

2. To take care of the welfare of its members.

3. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide.

TRUSTEES: 1. Chief Ogboo Madubueze 2. Chief Uchefune Ezinwa 3. Sir Jerry Nwakonobi 4. Mr Patrick Nwakonobi 5. Chief Sylvester Nnamdi Uchefune .

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: SECRETARY

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 BY:- SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To promote and protect the welfare and interest of members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Why Ilaje election was declared despite duress – Ondo REC of Assembly tribunal on the April 11 election in Ilaje Constituency II. He narrated how the electoral officer in Ilaje, identified as Ajala, called to inform him about the tensed atmosphere in the area.

He said the electoral officers were advised to declare the result after seeking security advise from the ex- commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke, who confirmed the tensed atmosphere.

“On the fateful day, at about 3.45 p.m., Ajala, the electoral officer, briefed me about the tensed atmosphere in the area.

“He said his life and that of the returning officer were in danger. I told him that I would call him back on the phone.

’Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏ The Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Ondo State, Mr. Segun Agbaje, on Thursday, said the Ilaje Constituency II April 11 House of Assembly election would have been declared inconclusive.

He said that but for the security report that emanated from security officers on the safety of INEC officers, the result had to be announced.

He, however, said that despite the announcement the commission was aware that the election was marred with irregularities and violence.

Agbaje said this as a witness at the on-going House

CHIEF JOHN OKORUKU ABALI DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION 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 the companies and Allied matter Act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Abali, Louis Okorie 3. Okoruku, Abali 5. Okoruku, Orji 7. Abali, John Okorie 9. Nwankwo, Agnes

2. Abali, John Jonah 4. Abali, Daniel Okorie 6. Kalu, Treasure Ifeanyi 8. Okoruku, Onyedikachi

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide scholarship to indigent and gifted children 2. To create skills acquisition programmes for physically challenged persons 3. To establish and carry out community development projects Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to registrar – General Corporate Affairs Commission. Plot 420 Tigers Crescent off Aguiya Lionsi Street. Maintama Abuja within 28 days from date of this publication.

Signed: ABAM ONYERUBI CHAMBERS

PASSION DRIVEN YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE

Nigerian Army’ll adhere to humanitarian laws-Buratai Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏ Chief of Army Staff

(COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to adhere strictly to humanitarian laws in all its operations.

General Buratai made this known on Thursday, when the Head of Operations, African Region, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Patricia Danzi, led other members of the organisation on

a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters.

The COAS said that the mandate of the Nigerian Army is to facilitate humanitarian assistance provided by the ICRC and other humanitarian agencies like NEMA, adding that he was happy with the cordial relationship existing between the Nigerian Army and the organisation.

General Buratai promised that the Nigerian Army will continue to collaborate with the ICRC, and ensure adherence to inter-

She commended the Nigerian Army’s efforts in the ongoing fight against the insurgency, while noting with satisfaction the bilateral relationship between the Nigerian Army and the ICRC. The ICRC head of operations further stated that the organisation was happy with what Nigerians are doing, and pledged to keep its commitment to the Nigerian people. She reiterated the need for a continued frank and transparent relationship between the ICRC and the Nigerian Army.

Ambode pledges to empower women Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏ

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Wednesday, pledged that his administration would pursue programmes and policies that would empower women to be self-reliant, especially through the provision of financial facilities and capacity building. He made the pledge at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Na-

tional Women Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) with the theme, ‘Relevance in Economic Turbulence’. He said the state government, in recognition of its female population of over eleven million had continued to increase budgetary provision for women through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, adding that his administra-

REHOBOTH EMPIRE DEW SUPPORT FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above Association has applied to the Corporation Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Engr. Makuachukwu Chidiebere 2. Dr. Emeka Anyanwu 3. Barr. Mrs Loretta Etoniru 4. Rev. Chukwuma Ibekwe 5. Dr. Mrs Chinyere Ezekwesiri 6. Dr. Mrs Rose Asomugha 7. Mr. Chibueze E. Ibekwe 8. Chikodili Okparaojiego

TRUSTEES: 1) Pastor Mrs. Light Michael Adole 2) Prophet Michael Sunday Adole AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To empower the orphans, vulnerable children and the less privilege.

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

Signed: Chairman

national best practices, as well as alleviate the sufferings of the vulnerable ones, particularly women and children.

Earlier, the Head of Operations, African Region, ICRC, Patricia Danzi, congratulated the COAS on his appointment. Danzi stated that the organisation will continue to identify with the Nigerian Army, noting with satisfaction that the two institutions are working together to ensure that humanitarian laws are protected.

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

SIGNED: IBEH CYRIL CHINEDU (ESQ.) FOR ALLIANCE SOLICITORS

tion would continue in this line and create more platforms for women engagement.

He said his administration would establish more skill acquisition centres to equip women to take charge of their destiny and show their relevance in the present economic turbulence.

“The creation of our new Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is to complement the achieve-

ments already made by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA),” he said.

Ambode

BAMSHAK CHARITY FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. Engr Hossana Dajan 2. Mrs. Anastasia Dafur 3. Mr. Daniel Dawuk 4. Mr. Mathias Dafur 5. Dr Thomas Odozi AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To help the less privilege in the society.

2. To empower the orphans, vulnerable children and to engage in humanitarian services.

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

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE NEW GLORY OF LORD APOSTLE CHURCH

CITY OF REFUGE & OVERCOMERS MINISTRY

THE THRONE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, LFN, 2004.

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

Trustees (1) Evang. Regina Omale (2) Pastor Daniel Dio Igbah (3) Mr. Emmanuel Omale

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) Pastor Simeon Oladele Oyewole (2) Pastor (Mrs.) Janet Olubokola Oyewale (3) Pastor Cyril Nwachukwu (4) Princess Morenike Oladunni (5) Prophetess Gift Nwabuele

to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The trustees are: 1.

Samson Olayode Ajadi

2.

Ajadi Sarah Omodele

3.

Isaac Ajadi Olasunkanmi

4.

Odunayo Ajilore Rufus

5.

Ajilore Mosunmola Elizabeth

6.

Agboola Kehinde Adeyi

7.

Oladayo Felicia Abidemi:

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Christ all over the world.

2. To take care of the welfare of its members.

3. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To propagate the gospel of lord Jesus Christ: Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

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

Signed: SECRETARY.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Christ all over the world.

2. To take care of the welfare of its members.

3. To establish local branches for the propagation of the gospel worldwide.

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: SECRETARY

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Five feared dead in Anambra building collapse Nkiru Nwagbo

Awka ÏÏÏFive persons were feared dead, on Thursday, when a threestorey building under construction collapsed, in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

An eyewitness said the building, which was near the temporary site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, collapsed probably on account of the torrential rain of the previous day.

Our source, who gave his name

as Nwafor, said that he was passing by the building, when he heard a noise and ran away before the structure collapsed.

Some have blamed the building’s collapse on the use of substandard materials and the use non-professional builders in its construction.

Nwafor said he saw five persons, who were cooking inside the building before it collapsed.

“But I cannot ascertain whether or not they escaped from the build-

ing before it collapsed, Nwafor said, adding that “another three-storey building under construction, adjacent the collapsed one, which is also being handled by the same builder, is showing cracks on its walls”.

“Touch the blocks, you will see that they are just sand. The speed with which they pursued the construction of the building was horrible".

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Okechukwu

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (right); receiving the Honorary Fellowship Award of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria from the President of the College, Prof. Rasheed Arogundade (left); while the Registrar of the College, Prof.

Oluwole Atoyebi (2nd left) looks on at the 33rd Convocation of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, in Lagos... on Thursday.

Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

Akure

ÏÏÏA

High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday, fixed September 22, for hearing a suit filed by an Akure based lawyer, Barrister Morakinyo Ogele, challenging the state government on the mandatory collection of the Residency Card, otherwise known as Card Igbeayo.

Joined in the suit with case number AK/44M/2015 as defendants were the State Government, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, and the State Attorney General, who is also the Commissioner for Justice.

Ogele is seeking a ruling declaring as unconstitutional the compulsory collection of the Residency Card by residents as mandated by the state government before access to government infrastructures and utilities.

The suit reads, “A declaration that the demand for Residency Card (Kadi Igbeayo) by the respondents from all residents in Ondo State before having access to government utilities, infrastructures and amenities to wit: primary schools, secondary

Ekiti govt spends N12b on primary education Gbenga Sodeinde Ado-Ekiti

ÏÏÏEkiti State Government has

schools, state polythecnic, state universities, hospitals and maternities, is unconstitutional, null and void, crude, unprogressive and retrogressive and that it is contrary to Section 18 (1) 42 (1) of 1999 Constitution (as amended).

"A perpetual injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd respondents from demanding residency card from residents of Ondo state before having access to public utilities and amenities and all category of hospitals maternities and schools.

“That the introduction of this card met with sundry of criticism from all residents of the state as they viewed this as oppressive, retrogressive and crude.

“That the state government further came out and announced

that unless the residents obtained this card they would be deprived of having access to government utilities infrastructure and amenities built with people’s money.

“That equally when the pupils and students resumed on September 14, they were not allowed to resume in their classes as they failed to produce residency card of their parents.”

The lawyer added that, “the card cost N2, 000, which majority of parents could not afford. The respondents are only out to oppress and place another burden on the poor masses.” He, however, argued that the residency cards had nothing to do with the population of Ondo State as census has provided for the population of each state in Nigeria.

said that over N12 billion is expended annually on an average of 176,000 pupils in 863 public primary schools in the state.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Senator Bode Ola, made this known in Ado-Ekiti, while monitoring resumption of students for a new session in public schools.

Ola explained that the bulk of the amount was spent on teachers’ emoluments, provision of school buildings and infrastructure, procurement of textbooks, renovation of dilapidated structures and construction of perimeter fence of schools, as well as training of teachers.

He added that available statistics indicated that about N70, 000 was spent on the education of each public primary school pupil annually.

Urging teachers, pupils, parents, administrators and other stakeholders in the education sector to justify the government’s huge investment in the sector, Ola stressed that teachers, as designers and moulders of the school-children, should keep themselves updated with modern techniques of teaching in schools.

Ministry inaugurates seismological station in EBSU

and other natural disasters, which have been the cause of environmental degradation in Ebonyi State, the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has inaugurated a seismological station in the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), in Abakaliki.

Inaugurating the station, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs.

Winifred Oyo-Ita, said the establishment of the station had become necessary to forestall future occurrence of natural disasters in the state.

She decried persistent reports of earth tremors and landslide in different parts of the country which she said made the ministry to articulate a joint proposal with National Emergency Man-

Residency Card: Ondo court fixes Sept 22 for hearing ’Tosin Ajuwon

said he had heard about the incident, but had not received formal report from the Divisional Police officer in charge of the area.

He said he would get back to our correspondent after he had been well briefed about the incident.

It would be recalled that the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, had, last year, banned the construction of high-rise building above two storey building in the state following cases of building collapse, especially in Onitsha.

Jacob Mbam Abakaliki

ÏÏÏAs a way to checkmate and

control earth tremors, landslide

23 News Don charges lawmakers on people-oriented laws Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏA don has charged lawmak-

ers in the country to make peopleoriented laws that would safeguard the interest of the masses and the vulnerable groups in the society.

The Head of Jurispudence/ Public International Law Department, in the Faculty of Law, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Dr. Charles Adekoya, gave the charge at the 2015 Law Student’s Parliamentary Council of the institution in Ago-Iwoye.

Adekoya in his lecture titled: “The Participatory Role of the Legislative and Judiciary Organs of Government in the Actualisation of Good Governance under a Democratic System of Government in Nigeria”, said there was a need to legislate on tax reform and re-organisation through enabling laws to reduce tax burden on the masses.

“The change matra in Nigeria needs to include tax reformation and re-organisation through enabling laws so that the poor people would be relieved of the burden of high taxation and that there was a need to develop a means of bringing in the rich into the tax net.

“Good laws are parameters for good governance and development for the welfare of all on the basis of equality, freedom and justice.” he said.

Adekoya, who decried the rate of poverty in the nation, lamented that over 100 million Nigerians lived below 1.25 dollar per day, while calling for a solution to food insecurity, high rate of unemployment and increase in children dropping out of school.

Fayose

agement Agency (NEMA) to carry out detailed seismological studies along Ifewara-Zungeru fault lines for the establishment of seismological stations that would serve as Early Warning Systems.

She added that the proposal was approved by the President in 2010 and the process of the establishment began in the same year.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

EU sets up trauma centre for Plateau's crisis victims Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏThe

European Union (EU), has set up a Trauma Healing Center in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, where victims of violent conflicts and bomb blasts will receive free medical treatment and trauma counselling.

It became imperative for such centre to be set up as most victims of crisis end up being emotionally misfit to integrate themselves back

into the society.

According to Hajiya Nafisate, a community health worker at the centre, disclosed that over 2,000 victims have received treatment since the centre was establish.

She said that the centre handles cases like Trauma Healing, Stress Management, Anger Management, Resilience Talk and Counselling, Physiotherapy, Emotional Support, as well as Training and Retraining.

The Resident doctor in charge of the centre, Maigari Yusuf, said that victims of crisis suffer emotional trauma for a long time and if nothing is done to help them come out of it, the end result is death.

Dr. Yusuf said that some of the victims do not need drugs hence, talk therapy is administered to them. "It will surprise you how many victims we have helped to come out of this situation", he said.

The EU has been in the front burner of the crisis situation in Nigeria, providing victim support programmes and proffering ways that will help the troubled states overcome its challenges.

Most of their programmes are executed by a non-governmental organisation, Apurimac Onlus, which is currently implementing the EU funded projects in Jos North, Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Mangu and Mikang Local

Government Areas of Plateau State, under the instrument contributing to Peace and Stability programme, in partnership with Bege Foundation and Centre for Peace Advancement in Nigeria.

Godwin Okoko, the country director of Apurimac Onlus, said that the organisation has spent over N800 million in Plateau state and has been operating in the state since 2008, in the areas of peace-building, human

development and social justice. In his words, "we have established four vocational skills training centres in each of the senatorial zones of the state", he said.

The vocational centres have trained over 14,000 women and youths in various skills, such as Diploma in Computer, Hairdressing, Tailoring, Knitting, GSM Repairs, Leather Works, Aluminum Works, Wielding/Fabrication, Catering and Decoration.

Septuagenarian arrested for rape of minor in Ondo 'Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏA

73 -year-old grandfather, identified as Agidi Omolola, has been nabbed by the Police in Ondo State for attempting to rape a 9year- old girl.

Pa. Omolola was arrested in Ijare town, Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

Daily Times gathered from sources in the town

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali (middle); presenting a certificate of participation to one of the Participants, Director, System Operations, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN),Engr.Musa Gumel (left) at a 2-Day workshop on Interpretation and Understanding of the Nigerian Transitional Electricity Market Rules, in Abuja… on Thursday. While Managing Director, System/Market Operations, TCN, Mrs, Ngozi Vera Osuhor looks on.

Ebonyi: Peace returns to Ezza as LG chair assumes duty Jacob Mbam Abakaliki

ÏÏÏThe

people of EzzaSouth Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have now heaved a sigh of relief following cessation in the series of communal crisis and post-election violence that rocked the area as a result of political differences by major stakeholders.

The relief came following the assumption of office of a new caretaker chairman of Ezza South Local government Area, Hon. Joseph Egede, who said that his administration will ensure that all aggrieved party members were reconciled.

Hon. Egede stated this in Amagu Community, during a party organised in honor of the newly appointed Coordinator of Ezza SouthEast Development Centre, Hon. Engr Ken Eze. The chairman acknowl-

edged the commitment of the leadership and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in ensuring that all PDP candidates emerged victorious during the just concluded general election.

Egede, who had been desirous of serving his people as council chairman for years prior to his appointment, advised politicians in the area to always imbibe the spirit of perseverance in all they do in life, adding that nothing good comes easy "Since the creation of the state, I have been putting every efforts to know if I will become the chairman of Ezza South L.G.A, and today here I am as the chairman. It is neither because of my intelligence nor because of physical strength nor because of righteousness, but because it is the appointed time. So,

I therefore urge everybody to support the administration of Engr Dave Umahi, believing that one day it will become his or her turn. ”Though my appointment today as a care taker chairman of Ezza South L.G.A is a call to serve, it is not going to be a one man affair. We will make sure that everybody is being carried along, both major and minor stakeholders" Egede said.

On whether his administration will carry the development centres' coordinators in his council area along, he said, "all the coordinators and Chairman will be seen as one family; we will always embark on joint projects to ensure prudence in the management of public funds. If coordinator A is embarking on installation of water project, my office will be clearing the ground for him.

Ikpeazu inaugurates panel on bailout fund Sunday Nwakanma

Umuahia ÏÏÏFollowing the receipt of the N14.152 billion bailout funds approved for the State by the Federal Government, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Eme Okoro, to set up a 7-memebr committee to ensure judicious payment of backlog of salaries owed workers in the State.

that the septuagenarian had invited the little girl into his room last week with the aim of defiling her.

The source, however, added that the old man was caught by the victim's elder brother who immediately shouted for help.

The incident was later reported to the Police detectives at the Ijare Divisional Police Station, while the accused was arrested and detained for interrogation.

Police Spokesman in the state, Wole Ogodo, who confirmed the incident to Daily Times, said the elder brother of the victim, Muyiwa, caught the accused in his attempt to defile the young girl.

Ogodo added that the old man, having realised his unwholesome act, rushed into the inner room and sniffed up a toxic substance before police arrived at the scene.

The 7-memebr Committee is to be made up of the representative of the Head of Service of Abia State, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (Abia State Council), Chairman, Trade Union Congress (Abia State Council), Auditor-General of the State or his nominee, Accountant-General of Abia State or his representative, the StatisticianGeneral of Abia State and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Affairs.

The committee is charged with a 4-point term of reference which includes, determining the exact amount owed Public Servants in Abia State, determining the

actual duration of backlogs owed workers in Abia State, to apply bailout funds for its original intendment and to determine any other issue incidental to salary arrears in the State.

The Committee is expected to be inaugurated by the Secretary to the Abia State Government on Monday, September 21, 2015.

Niger stops payment of severance allowance to LG scribes, councilors Pita Chikwem

Minna ÏÏÏOver 900 former Local Government Secretaries, Supervisory Councilors and Councilors in the 25 Local government areas of Niger state have not received their severance allowances from the government.

The Secretaries, supervisory councilors and councilors were those who served

between 2008-2011 and 2011 and 2014. Ironically, the chairmen of the councils in the 25 Local Government Areas of the state received their own allowances before they left government.

Daily Times, on Thursday, learnt that the total amount to be paid to these category of former political office holders at the local government level in the state was

Ikpeazu

slightly over N3bn, however Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, on assumption of office in May, this year, approved an initial sum of N1bn to be paid to them promising that the balance would be released as soon as the economy of the state improved.

It was gathered that series of visits to the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which the governor mandated to settle these politicians, yielded no result.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday September 18, 2015

25 International

France, others kick as Burkinabe military confirms coup, names Leader ÏÏÏFormer

colonial power, France condemned a military coup in Burkina Faso on Thursday and called for the immediate release of all those arrested and the continuation of the electoral process.

Burkina Faso's military said it had stripped interim president Michel Kafando of his functions and dissolved the government, seizing power in a coup less than a month before elections meant to restore democracy in the West African country.

"The president strongly condemns the coup d’état that has taken place in Burkina Faso," French President Francois Hollande's office said in a statement.

"He calls for the immediate liberation of all those arrested, for the interim authorities to be put back in place and for the continuation of the electoral process."

Brigadier General Gilbert Diendere will lead what the military is calling the "National Council for Democracy." Diendere is a longtime ally of former president Blaise Compaore, who was ousted

in a popular uprising last year.

A soldier appearing on state television Thursday announced the government had been dissolved and said interim President Michel Kafando has been stripped of his powers.

Soldiers are still holding Kafando and the interim prime minister, who they arrested during a cabinet meeting Wednesday in the capital, Ouagadougou.

The U.N. Security Council has demanded their release, condemning the detentions in the "strongest terms." Secretary General Ban Kimoon said he was outraged and called it a "flagrant violation" of Burkina Faso's constitution.

Soldiers put up barricades around the presidential palace Wednesday. Gunfire erupted several hours later as soldiers tried to disperse protesters outside the palace. It is not clear if there were any casualties. President Compaore, who ruled Burkina Faso for 27 years, stepped down last October amid protests over his plan to amend the constitution so he could extend his stay in office.

A picture taken on December 10, 2011 shows General Gilbert Diendere in Ouagadougou

A transitional authority had scheduled presidential and parliamentary elections for October 11.

The run-up to the vote was

marked by tension between the interim government and the presidential guard loyal to Compaore, known as the RSP.

British air strikes kill 330 ISIS fighters - minister ÏÏÏBritish

air strikes in Iraq have killed around 330 Islamic State (ISIS) group fighters since they began in September 2014, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said in a statement on Thursday.

"The estimated number of ISIS fighters killed as a result of UK strikes from September 2014 to 31 August 2015 is around 330," the minister said, in response to a question from Green Party MP Caroline Lucas.

"We do not believe there have been any civilian casualties as a result of UK strike activity," he added in the reply, which was published on parliament's official

website.

Britain currently has eight Tornado GR4 fighters and several Reaper drones conducting strikes, as well as a Sentinel and an Airseeker - both surveillance craft.

Fallon confirmed in August that Britain had carried out more than 250 air strikes in Iraq.

Britain announced last month it was extending its air strikes against IS group targets in Iraq by a year to March 2017.

The announcement represents a second reprieve for the squadron of ageing Tornado GR4 fighter bombers currently based

in Cyprus which was due to be disbanded first this year and then next, and will now be kept on.

"We want to ensure we maintain this crucial operational tempo and so we will extend the lifetime of Number 12 Squadron for a further year to March 2017," Fallon told the BBC during a visit to Baghdad last year.

The Tornado jets are carrying out air strikes, reconnaissance and surveillance over Iraq as part of US-led operations.

Britain is not currently taking part in air strikes on targets in Syria, although it was announced last week that an Royal Air Force

(RAF) drone over the country had killed a British jihadist planning attacks on Britain.

In 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron's plan to join international military action in Syria was defeated by the House of Commons due to opposition from the Labour party.

Prime Minister David Cameron is now mulling a second vote to gain support for Syria strikes this year.

He hopes the new Labour chief could give him the support needed to get the move through the House of Commons, where he has a majority of only 12.

Severe flooding hits Sierra Leone’s capital

has held a security meeting to discuss the government’s response to the crisis. VOA reporter Kelvin Lewis in Freetown said the flooding is the worst he’s ever seen.

“It’s very, very bad. I have not seen this in all my life and I have lived in this town for all my life and I’m not a young man anymore.

It’s so bad that cars and houses have been swept away. In some cases people have had to access the roof to get out of flooding houses.

It’s so massive everywhere in the city; lots of people have been displaced,” he said.

Heavy flooding swept through Freetown, Sept. 17, 2015.Heavy

flooding swept through Freetown, Sept. 17, 2015.

Lewis said there are conflicting accounts in terms of the number of fatalities.

“The government has confirmed that four people have died but other sources have told me that there are seven people, and it is likely that more people could have died,” Lewis said.

He said human error may have contributed to the extent of the destruction associated with the flooding. “I think the devastation to homes has been caused by human error because people have been building houses in places

they are not supposed to build houses. They’ve been closing up the waterways, and of course, the water when it comes in large quantity like it has been in the past days it's obviously going to try to find a way to pass through so it has been clearing those houses in its path,” Lewis said.

ÏÏÏTorrential

rains in Sierra Leone have caused heavy flooding and extensive damage to homes and property in the capital, Freetown. Telephone communication has been disrupted.

The government has asked all citizens to stay at home Thursday except for essential workers and students who are taking the West Africa examination.

President Ernest Bai Koroma

Koroma

Suicide bombings kill 21 in Central Baghdad

ÏÏÏThe Islamic State group has

claimed responsibility for a series of suicide bombings in the Iraqi capital that killed at least 21 people and wounded more than 50 others.

The attacks on Thursday struck the Bab al-Sharji area and al-Wathba square, two predominantly Shi'ite neighborhoods in central Baghdad. They resembled the frequent bombings there by Sunni militants during the past decade.

Civilians and police were among the victims in the blasts.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility in an online statement.

Iraq is experiencing its worst crisis since the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops. IS militants control large swaths of the country's north and west after capturing Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, and most of the western province of Anbar last year. Iraqi troops have been backed by airstrikes from a U.S.-led coalition during the past year, but have struggled to make progress as the Islamic State maintains control of territory, including several major cities.

Zimbabwe opposition seeks Mugabe’s resignation

ÏÏÏZimbabwe's

opposition is calling for President Robert Mugabe to resign, saying he is no longer fit for office. This comes one day after the 91-year-old president read the wrong speech to parliament.

The president's office issued an apology Tuesday after delivering a speech he had already read in parliament three weeks before.

His office said the president would deliver the correct speech to lawmakers Wednesday, but Zimbabwe’s main opposition party said the mistake could not be overlooked so easily.

“With respect to our president; at the good ripe age of 91, he has seen better days," remarked Obert Gutu, spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"I think it is now clear that he is no longer fit for purpose. In fact, if Zimbabwe was a democracy, parliament was supposed to go and invoke section 96 of the constitution of Zimbabwe. He should actually be impeached. He is now clearly unable to discharge his duties as head of state," he told reporters Wednesday.

Opposition MPs are also demanding the government explain how the president came to read the wrong speech.

26

Friday, September 18, 2015

EXTRATIME

Sunshine Stars’ll fight on, vows Eduwo

MOURINHO

Moses

MOSES CAN BE EPL STAR SAYS BILIC Stories by Like Otanwa

W

est Ham manager Slaven Bilic has said Victor Moses could go on to become a top star in the English Premier League if he settles down at the London club.

Nigeria international Victor Moses is on loan to West Ham from Chelsea.

This is his third loan in as many seasons after such stints at Liverpool and Stoke City.

He shone on his West Ham debut against Newcastle United on Monday night and he is set to start at Manchester City this weekend.

An impressed Bilic has now said he hopes Moses’ West Ham arrangement could become long term for the player to establish himself in the EPL. “Victor Moses is a class player. He hasn’t had continuity at one club. He didn’t make it at Chelsea, maybe he didn’t make it at Liverpool - which is hard,” Bilic said.

FACES BIG DECISION AGAINST ARSENAL

A

fter a 4-0 victory against Maccabi Tel Aviv reminded Jose Mourinho of what it feels like to win, the Chelsea manager has an important decision to make before facing Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.

Mourinho made six changes for the Group G Champions League game on Wednesday after Chelsea lost their third league game out of five at Everton last Saturday. Regular starters John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa were on the bench.

The commanding victory could boost confidence among the Chelsea ranks but Mourinho must decide whether to return his underperforming stars to the lineup, or keep faith with players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Loic Remy, who impressed against Maccabi.

With Willian and Pedro Rodriguez expected to miss the Arsenal game through injury, Eden Hazard should keep his starting place, despite an unconfident performance against Maccabi where he missed a penalty after five minutes.

Manchester United travel to Southampton on Sunday, where Louis van Gaal will renew his rivalry with Dutch counterpart Ronald Koeman.

Their fractious relationship stems from when Koeman was manager at Ajax and Van Gaal was appointed technical director.

Last season, Van Gaal’s United battled to a scarcely deserved 2-1 victory at St. Mary’s, before Koeman avenged the defeat with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford.

United heads to the south of England in inconsistent form — an impressive 3-1 victory against fierce rival Liverpool at Old Trafford was followed by a 2-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Captain Wayne Rooney missed both games with a hamstring problem and it’s unclear whether he will be available against Southampton.

Mourinho

S Garba

GARBA

TAKES OVER GIWA FC

F

ormer Nigeria U20 coach Manu Garba has taken over Nigeria premier league side Giwa FC. The Jos club announced Manu’s appointment via their Twitter handle, disclosing the coach was introduced to the team on Wednesday evening.

Manu takes over from Aminu Musa, who quit the club on Wednesday because of family reasons.

The former Nigeria U17 and U20 handler was also in the reckoning for the top post at champions Kano Pillars and he has previously worked with his hometown club Gombe United.

Giwa are fifth on the table with 46 points from 29 matches.

They welcome relegation-threatened Sharks this Sunday in continuation of the Nigeria league.

unshine Stars striker Kingsley Eduwo has declared that the title aspiration of his team is still intact despite a recent poor form and they will fight till the last game of the season.

Sunshine Stars slipped to fourth place with 47 points, eight points adrift of leaders Enyimba.

But former 3SC striker Eduwo said Sunshine have not yet lost the battle to win the league championship.

“Our title aspiration is not over, we are going to fight back and fight till the last league match,” Eduwo said “We are still in the race, though our results in past few games have not gone our ways, sometimes it’s like that but we will surely bounce back.

“We are a good team, we have got over the loss to Heartland, our spirit is not down, we ready to battle till the last day.”

Sunshine are away to struggling Kwara United on Sunday.

Friday, September 18, 2015

EXTRATIME

Weekend fixtures Saturday 19 English Premier League Chelsea v Arsenal Swansea v Everton Stoke City v Leicester Bournemouth v Sunderland Newcastle United v Watford Aston Villa v West Brom Man City v West Ham Ligue 1 Reims Angers Guingamp Bastia Caen

v v v v v

PSG Troyes Gazélec Ajaccio Nice Montpellier

Bundesliga Wolfsburg Hamburger Werder Bremen Köln Darmstadt 98

v v v v v

Hertha BSC Eintracht Fran…

Ingolstadt Borussia M’gla…

Bayern München

Serie A Udinese Milan

v Empoli v Palermo

Eredivisie Cambuur PEC Zwolle Heracles Willem II

v v v v

Twente ADO Den Haag PSV Utrecht

Primera División Real Madrid Valencia Eibar Real Sociedad

v v v v

Granada Real Betis A. Madrid Espanyol

Sunday 20 English Premier League Tottenham v C. Palace Southampton v Man United Liverpool v Norwich City Ligue 1 Bordeaux Monaco Saint-Étienne Olympique Mars…

v v v v

Bundesliga Stuttgart Borussia D. Augsburg

v Schalke 04 v Bayer L. v Hannover 96

Serie A Chievo Atalanta Bologna Genoa Roma Torino Carpi Napoli

v v v v v v v v

Toulouse Lorient Nantes Olym. Lyonnais

Inter Hellas Verona Frosinone Juventus Sassuolo Sampdoria Fiorentina Lazio

27

Chelsea coach hails

AINA, TOMORI

O

la Aina and Fikayo Tomori were both named in the starting XI as Chelsea U19s began the defense of their UEFA Youth League title with a 3 - 0 rout of Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Chelsea U19s manager Adi Viveash was impressed with the contribution of the Anglo - Nigerian duo in the heart of defense.

Kasey Palmer bagged a brace for the Londoners, in the 20th and 47th minutes, before Tammy Abraham extended their advantage 12 minutes from time. ‘’We controlled the game for long periods but I felt Maccabi had a good shape and caused us a couple of problems,’’ Adi Viveash told Chelsea’s official website. ‘’They were well-organised but we’re really pleased to start with a clean sheet and our back four were strong.’’

Also in the UEFA Youth League, Nura Abdullahi and beanpole striker Sadiq Umar were involved in Roma’s goalless draw against 2014 winners Barcelona.

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Aaron Eyoma assisted the young Gunners beat Dinamo Zagreb 2 - 0 in their opener.

SIASIA TO OVERHAUL DREAM TEAM FOR RIO 2016 D Stories by Mike Otanwa

ream Team VI coach Samson Siasia will overhaul his team ahead of the African U23 Cup of Nations, which will serve as the Rio 2016 Olympic Games football event qualifier.

Siasia stated that he is happy that the worst has happened at the AllAfrica Games and he has learnt his mistakes.

“We will make corrections after the All-Africa Games. I plan to travel to talk to some players I have already penciled down, then hopefully, the team should

be assembling in first week of October to prepare for the Africa U23 Cup of Nations,” said the coach, who led Nigeria to the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“Certainly, some of the players I brought to Congo Brazzaville will have to give way.”

Siasia added: “I never imagined losing to Burkina Faso, but then my midfielders played so well, my defenders and attackers let me down, can you imagine my attackers not being able to convert about eight chances that came their way?

“To make matters worse, the

Siasia

defenders were asleep on a day they should have been up and doing. Who told the central defenders to keep offside trap the way they did?

“I am totally disappointed; we can’t play like this in Senegal and expect to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. No way!

“We were so bad that anytime the ball beat the defenders, even my goalkeeper could not stop any of the shots fired at him.

“Football is a team work where errors are bound to occur, but it’s the ability of fellow team mates to cover for one another that makes a team great, that I didn’t see today.”

DREAM TEAM’S AZUBUIKE SPEAKS ON EURO EXPERIENCE

D

ream Team captain Okechukwu Azubuike has been speaking about his experience as an overseas based player.

The 18-year old secured a move to Turkey from Bayelsa United during the last transfer window, and has been speaking on his experience of playing professionally in Europe.

“I think the difference is much to be

honest,” Azubuike began, “There are many differences. For example, the expectations are very high, higher than what I am used to at home in Nigeria.

“The coaches and fans expect a lot more from you as a Euro based professional. The training methods are different also, so also are the preparations for games but I am adjusting.

“In Europe we train with a lot of

equipments, preparing for games is very different from what we have in Nigeria,” the midfielder said.

Despite only moving in the summer and with the several differences between professional football in Nigeria and Europe, Azubuike remarkably walked straight into the Yeni Malatyaspor first team, starting their first three games of the season before leaving to join the Nigeria U23’s in Congo for

Azubuike

AMUNEKE DESIRE TO BUILD A STRONG EAGLETS

G

Amuneke

olden Eaglets coach Emmanuel Amuneke has spoken of his desire to build a strong unit ahead of the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

The Nigerians are defending champions of the competition, and head to the South American country as one of the tournament favorites, having won the last edition in the United Arab Emirates.

And Amuneke, who was a member of the

coaching staff of the last U17 team, says he doesn’t want his team to be based on individualism.

“We are trying to make something out of these players,” Amuneke said, “They are very talented boys but talent is never enough. There has to be extra work put in to bring out the talent.

“And this is what we are trying to do with the boys, because the road to success is never easy.

We have to work hard with them, for them to be better and stronger.

“Football has gone beyond individualism, we have to build a team; a collective unit. We do have some very talented individuals but we need to make them into a team,” Amuneke posited.

The team is expected to leave for Argentina within the next couple of weeks, where they will train before going to Chile.

They are in group A with hosts, Chile, Croatia and the United States of America.

The competition starts in the 17th of October.

28

Friday, September 18, 2015

EXTRATIME

FEATURES

I

CORLUKA:

t would not be difficult for a footballer to speak publicly about how happy he feels to live in a foreign country and not necessarily mean it from the heart. However, in the case of Lokomotiv Moscow’s Croatian defender Vedran Corluka, there is irrefutable proof to back up his words of fondness for Russia. Having recently marked three years in the host country of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Corluka decided to pay tribute to his current home in an eloquent way; he got a tattoo of a Matryoshka doll, one of Russia’s most celebrated souvenirs.

“Each of my tattoos tells a story about a particular stage in my life,” the 29-year-old international said. “And so I decided to dedicate one of them to Russia. For me, it’s a tribute to the country, to the fans and to the club that’s done so much for me.

“I spent a lot of time working out exactly what the Matryoshka should look like, but in the end I chose the one that I was offered at the tattoo salon. Now and for the rest of my life, it will be a brilliant memory of Russia.”

After having spent almost five years in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City and another 6 months with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, Corluka’s decision to join Lokomotiv Moscow in 2012 was rather unexpected – and

MY TATTOO WILL REMIND ME OF RUSSIA strongly influenced by the man he calls his “footballing father”.

“I never imagined that at some point I’d end up in Russia”, he admits. ”It all happened after EURO 2012, when I got a call from [then Lokomotiv coach] Slaven Bilic. I’d already worked a lot with him and I’d always enjoyed it, so after a couple of days thinking it over, I agreed.

Unfortunately, Bilic left the team a year later - but I’m still here. And I’m enjoying it!”

For football, for country The last few months have indeed given the Croatian several footballing reasons to enjoy his life in Russia.

Lokomotiv won last season’s Russian Cup, Corluka was named captain and he is now widely recognised as one of

the league’s top defenders.

However, his appraisal of Russia in general, and Moscow in particular, goes far beyond what happens on the pitch. In fact it goes all the way down to underground transportation.

“For me, Moscow is a city of parks, restaurants, beautiful streets and the metro,” Corluka said. “Neither the London underground nor New York’s subway can compare with the Moscow metro. You walk into a station and it’s like being in a museum. That’s one of my strongest impressions of Russia.

“Whether or not it’s for the World Cup, I think that everyone should make it to Moscow and St. Petersburg at least once in their lives. I

really like Samara, too.” Three years of journeys throughout the country have allowed Corluka to speak with such authority about different Russian cities, but also to witness and understand the country’s passion for the game.

“The thing I remember best of all was a fan in Saransk,” Corluka remembered. “At every Mordovia match, he strips to his waist and shouts some really funny stuff.

And he does it whatever the weather, be it summer or winter.

One time we were playing in December and it was minus 15, but he was still there with his top off.”

As much as Corluka feels at home in Russia, Croatia’s chase for a FIFA World Cup berth in 2018 – they’re situated in Group I of the European qualifiers, alongside

Turkey, Ukraine, Finland and Iceland – has taken an even more important meaning.

“We’ve now got a strong young team and expectations aren’t as high as in the past, so hopefully it will be easier for us,” he said. “For me it will really be a special event, because I love this country and I know that it’ll stage an unbelievable World Cup. I tell the lads in the national team about Russia, and they’ve also got a burning desire to get here.”

In case they do not trust Corluka’s words, there is another thing his team-mates can take into consideration. All they would need to do is take a look at that colourful proof of love inked on his left calf.

Ï ƑƋƋƆƗ ƇƏ ƌ 090 êƅ ƌ

Friday, September 18, 2015

EXTRATIME

29

Athletics

AAG: ZAMBIA SALUTES ‘HEROINE’

MUPOPO T

he Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) says Kabange Mupopo’s triumph at the ongoing All-Africa Games (AAG) in Congo Brazzaville is a clear testimony that the association’s refocusing strategy is bearing fruit.

Mupopo, who is African champion, ran a stunning 50.22 seconds in the 400-metre women final race to bag a gold medal after outsmarting her opponents on Tuesday.

ZAAA president Elias Mpondela

said Mupopo’s victory was a great achievement for the association that was working hard to develop athletes.

“I am proud of Mupopo. She has done extremely well, which is an indication that our planning and programming is yielding fruits. ZAAA has heavily invested in the athletes and the support of International Olympic Committee has also contributed to this success,” Mpondela said in an interview in Lusaka.

He said Mupopo was a focused

and disciplined athlete, who had what it took to reach greater heights in her sporting career.

Mpondela also appealed to the Government to increase its support to athletics, saying it took years to produce a gold medallist.

Former 400m hurdles world champion, Samuel Matete also showered praise on Mupopo, saying her future in athletics was bright.

Matete said minting a gold medal at the AAG had given Mupopo great

S Golf

McIlroy

GOLF’S STAR TRIO TO RENEW RIVALRY AT BMW TOURNEY

R

ory McIlroy knows his grip on golf’s number one world ranking is tenuous at best, and there’s just one way to keep Jordan Spieth and Jason Day at bay.

“It’s just about playing well,” McIlroy said as he prepared for Thursday’s (Friday in Manila) start of the BMW Championship, the penultimate event in the US PGA Tour’s four-tournament FedEx Cup playoffs that will end with the Tour Championship.

McIlroy goes into the tournament at Conway Farms Golf Club with a narrow lead over Spieth atop the world rankings, having regained the summit on Monday even though neither played last week.

It was the fourth straight week that he and Spieth traded the top spot.

“It’ll be like that until one of us separates ourselves a little bit,” McIlroy said.

But Day has made it a three-horse race, and the Australian said his own week off had left him rested and ready for “crunch time” on the US PGA Tour.

“I feel refreshed, I feel good to go,” said Day, who said fatigue contributed to mental errors that cost him a chance to contend at the Deutsche Bank Championship two weeks ago—where he had his first crack at world number one.

Although he said gaining the summit would be “fantastic,” Day and his rivals have plenty more to think about this week as they jockey for position going into the Tour Championship — where a $10 million bonus to the FedEx Cup series winner will be up for grabs.

“Just playing good golf and trying to win both tournaments,” Day said of his mindset going into the last two events of the US season— noting that Billy Horschel won the BMW and the Tour Championship to grab the bonus last year.

“Things like this can happen,” Day said.

While Day endured a disappointing outing at the Deutsche Bank, Spieth is seeking an even bigger bounce-back after missing his second straight cut there.

auber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn says allowing the use of one-year old engines in Formula 1 carries the risk of “distorting” the competition between teams.

Manor was allowed to use 2014spec Ferrari units this season after exploiting a loophole that required only concessionary permission to do so.

This rule was tightened, but the matter was discussed at Monday’s meeting of the Strategy Group, of which Kaltenborn is not part, and it is understood the regulation will be revised again to permit different specs.

Kaltenborn says allowing yearold engines will create a two-tier championship.

“Ideally I don’t think you should have an option like this,” Kaltenborn told reporters ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

impetus to rally for more silverware in future competitions.

“Winning a gold medal is good for Mupopo as a young athlete because it has given her confidence to achieve more going forward. She has a lot of energy and her future is bright,” Matete said in a separate interview.

Mupopo

FORMULA ONE:

Sauber

Sauber wary of yearold engines idea “We are trying to get people together and not creating an environment when you end up with A and B cars.

“It’s in a way distorting a little bit the competition or creating a competition in the competition. It’s not ideal.”

Though she conceded Formula 1 may

have to introduce the measure to enable some teams to survive, she suggested the ruling could set a precedent for other regulations.

Kaltenborn added: “Of course, if a team is struggling a lot, they will have to go this route.

‘FLOYD’S IV issue doesn’t vindicate PACQUIAO’

S

taunch Manny Pacquiao critic Paulie Malignaggi once again sided with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in relation to the controversial result of the mega fight between the two pound-for-pound kings.

This time, he dipped into the IV controversy that shaded Mayweather’s unanimous decision win over the Filipino boxer.

Malignaggi refuted Pacquiao’s claim that he was vindicated following the revelation that the American boxer has been administered medicines through intravenous injection on the eve of their May 2 bout.

“I don’t think it’s a vindication [for Pacquiao]. The fight

[with Mayweather] was laughable mainly because Manny couldn’t do anything and I don’t think that has anything to do with Mayweather hydrating,” said the Italian-American in Boxing Scene.

Malignaggi pointed out that the IV treatment did nothing but help Mayweather recover from dehydration and this, he stressed, doesn’t have anything to do about performance.

“In reality, you can play the role all you want but what did hydration really do other than hydrate him,” he said.

Malignaggi also claimed that it is highly improbably for Mayweather to use PEDs since has been randomly tested until up to a week before the Pacquiao fight.

30

Friday, September 18, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

Transfers…Transfers…Transfers…

DASSIER CHARGED IN TRANSFER PROBE F

ormer president of French giants Marseille, Jean-Claude Dassier, has been charged with various offences as part of an investigation into murky transfer dealings involving the Ligue 1 side, judicial sources said Thursday.

Dassier, 74, a former journalist who was president of Marseille between 2009 and 2011, has been charged with misuse of company assets, being part of a criminal association and forgery, according to the source, after a hearing at a court in the southern French city on Wednesday.

The investigation related to the transfers of 14 players, including Andre-Pierre Gignac and Hatem Ben Arfa as well as Cesar Azpilicueta and Loic Remy, who both now play for Premier League champions Chelsea.

On Sunday, the newspaper Journal du Dimanche

Dassier

WILSON

SCHWEINSTEIGER regrets hasty Munich exit

likely to stay at G Man United W

Wilson

ilson had been linked with a loan move but will now be staying at United.

Manchester United striker James Wilson will not be joining Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, Wolves boss Kenny Jackett has said.

Wilson, 19, had been interesting several Championship sides, with United reportedly keen to loan him out after the £36 million arrival of Anthony Martial at Old Trafford.

Wolves had asked about the England under-21 international, with Nouha Dicko having been ruled out for the season by a serious knee injury.

But Jackett told Press Association Sport he had been informed that Wilson was now needed at Old Trafford.

He said: “The information is that he’s not available. They’re keeping him there for the time being.

“There’s been a number of clubs who have enquired about him, and at one stage they’d been saying perhaps he could go.

reported that Dassier faced a hearing after the investigation revealed that Marseille might have lost 55.3 million euros ($62.6m; 40.4m) in these transfers. Prosecutors suspect that “illicit payments” were made, according to the newspaper.

An investigation into “extortion, money laundering and criminal association” was first opened in July 2011, with investigators suspecting unwarranted payments of commissions were made following major transfers.

That investigation led to club offices being raided in January 2013 and current OM president Vincent Labrune being arrested and briefly held in custody in November 2014, along with Dassier and another former president, Pape Diouf. They were all later released without charge.

ermany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger regrets the nature of his hasty exit from Bayern Munich and would still like the chance to say a proper farewell to the Bavarian giants.

Schweinsteiger signed a three-year deal with United in July to turn his back on Bayern after 14 years and a host of titles including eight Bundesliga-winners medals and the 2013 treble.

But the 31-year-old regrets the man-

ner of his Munich exit as he opted out of the pre-season presentation at the Allianz Arena on July 11, because he already knew he was off to Manchester.

“I would like to say goodbye properly,” Schweinsteiger told German weekly Die Zeit in an interview.

“There was the season’s opening ceremony at the stadium, but I didn’t want to stand there in the Bayern jersey, waving to the fans, then a few hours later say: ‘That was nice, but I’m off to England.’

Schweinsteiger

Ranieri to buy players pizza if...

L

Ranieri

eicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has offered to buy his team pizza as a reward for a clean sheet at Stoke City on Saturday.

Ranieri’s men visit the Britannia Stadium in good form and second in the Premier League after taking 11 points from a possible 15 to start the season.

One thing Leicester have not been able to do under the Italian’s stewardship is keep a clean sheet.

And Ranieri is willing to satisfy his team’s tastebuds should

Leicester record their first shutout of the campaign.

“I want to pay a pizza for a clean sheet. When we get one I pay for pizza and maybe a hot dog,” Ranieri said.

One aspect of his team that has particularly pleased Ranieri is the pace at his disposal. He added: “My team is like the RAF [Royal Air Force]....beep, beep, beep, I love it.

“When you want to build something, it’s about the club. The head of the fish. Everyone works together.

That’s the secret.”

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

31 Opinion

Buhari Means Business ÎÎÎ

President Buhari would have done a damn good job as a celebrity host of a prime time television reality show, akin to the British television series, the Dragon’s Den, hosted

by Evan Davis, in which political office seekers, those Ozumba Mbadiwe famously described as timbers and calibre, face the camera and klieg lights constantly shifting between their faces and their not-so-distant-past, searching out murk, dirt and malfeasances as they pitch their ideas and visions in order to secure ministerial appointments.

Imagine Buhari perched on the high stool of a cozy studio, his face bright in the camera and shorn of laughter, firing questions at the political office seekers: “Can you tell the nation what ‘public office is a trust’ means to you? Have you ever taken someone else’s property?”.

Imagine the political office seeker shaking in his shoes and the camera panning every fissure of the face, twitching of the eyelids, lips, muscles, fingers, hands and picking up the panorama of fear. The political office seeker stammers, then struggles to find his berth or answers.

“You are fired”, thunders Buhari as he helps him out of misery.

Buhari is not your typi-

cal politician who plays to the gallery or who, like the American impressionist, David Blaine, forges impressionist moments to wow his captive audience.

Presidential appointment is a serious business of state governance, a serious exercise of power to be contemplated far from the klieg lights of a television reality show. Buhari means business. Though Buhari had not intended a job makeover or a circus out of his ministerial appointments, it must be stated, but the methodical way he is going about his appointments sires a circus of its own. Everywhere, good names are dropping into hats, bad names are dropping off at the drop of a hat and the ugliest of names are sin binned for the most harmless misdemeanour. Come on, give it to Buhari. He has opened up the bell jar of power in our country to our collective scrutiny.

Here is the fact: those who for a long time took the bell jar of power as their place of permanent residence and enjoyed the permanence of power, privileges, pomp and spoils, while the rest of us merely looked in, now know that the bell jar can be opened, lifted or smashed and that they can no longer be shielded by power or the law.

If you have ever stolen

something in the past, Buhari certainly gives you an assurance of a place outside his government.

Hear him: “The process (of appointment) is difficult to finish. So, we would continue the screening to come up with people that deserve to hold the positions. This is because, what I see daily in terms of the damage inflicted on Nigeria in the last ten years is enormous. Only God knows its magnitude. There are people that deserve to hold the positions because of their knowledge in either financial issues or oil sector or even in governance, but you discover that one way or the other... they were dragged to such unwholesome practices. Bringing such people will be tantamount to leaving your doors open when you have gone to rest in your apartment. Putting such people in either financial, petrol

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or works Ministry would be dangerous”. Brilliant.

For the umpteenth time Buhari has declared his commitment to keeping the doors of our quarters of governance shut against thieves. No wonder politicians and their hirelings have taken to image laundromats to look good. This is one example: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state has declared Rotimi Amaechi as clean, spotless and untainted by corruption”. It’s all good!

As the laundromat drama continues to unfold, one significant contribution Buhari has made to presidential governance, and perhaps to our understanding of the exercise of power, is the promotion of integrity above other considerations in the appointment process. One must be clean, spotless and untainted by corruption before one can be allowed to

keep vigil over the dream acres of citizens’ sleep.

The era of gamekeepers turning into poachers is gone. I have also observed two other contributions Buhari has made to bureaucratic governance.

First is the depoliticization of presidential appointments. Politicization of appointments comes with its own problems, not least the conflict and tension it enthrones in the bureaucratic environment.

Professor David Lewis argues in his groundbreaking work, ‘The Politics of Presidential Appointments: Political Control and Bureaucratic Performance’, that presidents politicize appointments to secure control over government and to gain enormous political patronage.

This is not the case with Buhari, looking at the presidential appointments without Senate confirmation (PAWS) that he has

made so far. Second is his attempt at expanding the field of appointment beyond the party political turf. This itself is an unfolding narrative that one can only make sense of when Buhari finally completes his six thousand also presidential and “invisible” bureaucratic appointments.

The scholar, Peter Schraeder warns of the dangers of patronageclient relationship in his book, African Politics and Society: A Mosaic in Transformation. A system which ultimately exalts the leader, he argues, possesses the capacity of birthing the cult of personality. I am enthused by Buhari’s desire to fill his government with patriots who share his vision and dream, but I am worried by the concentration of power in a single leader and the deification that often comes with it.

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nchester he clock was ticking and Ma atenthre s City’s impeccable start wa a viat halt g din ing to come to a grin ly ear ’s gue Lea r mie brant Selhurst Park. The Pre und gro this to t visi last pace-setters lost on their surrendered their back in April as they meekly Manuel Pellegrini’s title to Chelsea, and given draw wouldn’t have history with Alan Pardew, a world. been the worst result in the idable opponents form re we ace Pal l Crysta e transfer window last term and their sensibl improve. The two m activity has only seen the in the Premier ond sec sides were first and kick-off, and a ore bef League standings just uldn’t have raised draw between them wo d destined to end in eyebrows. The game seeme d substitute Kelechi a stalemate. But 18-year-ol The Nigerian, who Iheanacho had other ideas. been on the pitch replaced Wilfried Bony, had when he stabbed s for a grand total of 54 second minute, reacting h 90t home the winner in the -style – to a ooy telr Nis quickest – Ruud van after Alex McCarthy loose ball in the Palace area spilled Samir Nasri’s shot. tion was wild, joy The young striker’s celebra face. For City, a star etched onto every inch of his was born. check who he “I had to look at his shirt to firmation of con , dew Par was,” said a perplexed before his er, nag tee The ity.

Iheanacho’s obscur unknown quantity last-minute heroics, was an have been watching to many, but to those who the last couple of his progress closely over what they all knew years, it was vindication of Iheanacho will be a – given the time to play, his words before and star. Pellegrini knew too desired effect. the had ter sending on the youngs l,” revealed goa a re sco and “I told him to go on the Chilean.

IHEANACHO

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015

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Business Times Æ s

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

B1

NSE pledges member enhancement, perseveres on MOS compliance Adesola Akindele

Onyema

In a bid to further drive global competitiveness amongst dealing members and produce diverse mix of members with easy access to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that will foster lots of participants and ultimately grow the Nigerian economy as well as support the Exchange’s strategic intentions to becoming Africa’s foremost securities exchange, the NSE has provided a process towards enhancing its brokerage industry.

Head of Broker Dealer Relations, Mr. Olufemi Shobanjo, in a press conference with capital market correspondents explained that in spite of 308 dealing members with the Nigeria stock exchange, there were still issues of under-developed broker capacity, and the need to attract global players, hence the need to meet up with the keying in of 5 broad areas within the internal structures of dealing members that would bring out a set of robust and globally competitive operators that will add value to not only the Nigerian

system but to the entire global economy.

This enhancement process entails dealing member’s compliance with a Minimum Operating Standard (MOS) of existence, under the following five (5) broad areas: Manpower and equipment; Organizational structure and governance; Effective processes; Global competitiveness and Technology.

On the Implementation process of this broad categories, Mr. Olufemi stated that “the NSE is currently undergoing the second level assessment to validate

the initial report submitted by each dealing member”.

Dealing members are required to submit reports based on their compliance status, after which will be inspected and graded. Mr. Olufemi clarifying further indicated that “a firm which has all 5 requirements is fully compliant, whereas a firm that has within 3 to 5 of the required standard has shown good faith and can advance towards a 90 day window which would allow such firms to be able to meet up with the remaining standards.

TSA: Banking

industry tipped to remain solid Tunji Andrews

As the dust settles after the deadline set for the nations MDAs, on the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), banks have begun to look forward at best practices that would see them weather this storm. The immediate reaction, owing to a mop up of an estimated N683 billion (According to CBN Data as at July 2015) in public sector funds, was a spike in overnight lending rates among banks as funds flowed out of the banking system.

Although the rates for the longer tenured lending rose marginally – overnight rate rose by about 84.29 per cent to 91 per cent, at the close of business Tuesday from the single digit which it was on Monday. Reports show that there were no bids from the financial institutions, because they were required to pay for their bids within 48-hours.

This would suck up between 12 per cent – 20 per cent of the total liquidity within the banks, as 31 per cent of the public sector funds

had already been held by the CBN as cash reserve ratio. Thus, while the one-month tenor increased to 16.28 per cent and the threemonth tenor climbed to 16.79 per cent, longer tenor papers only rose marginally, showing that the market doesn’t expect a high level of volatility, following the implementation of the TSA. It would be recalled that in 2014, public sector CRR reached a 75 per cent high and was even touted to hit 100 per cent. Banks were then, able to manage the 75 per cent hike and were prepared for life with an absolute withdrawal of federal government funds.

This is however happening in a different period, where Nigeria is battling dwindling revenue, due to falling crude oil prices and more recently JPMorgan’s decision to remove Nigeria from its GBI-EM index, triggering heavy outflows from the $2 billion of local bonds the index tracks as well as a broader stock market sell-off.

The resultant cash crunch will force banks on the short to the medium term, to ramp up deposit generating drives, as well

as cut lending even further. The option of offshore funding also looks reduced as overseas banks have been expressing deep concerns about the ability of Nigerian banks to continue to meet up with all their foreign currency denominated credit lines, especially maturing Letters of Credit, as the external reserves continued to be depleted due to falling oil revenue. The situation has been further worsened by speculations over the possible devaluation of the naira after the February elections.

It would also seem that the liquidity of banks looks to be further threatened as banks nonperforming debt profile has risen to more than N546.02billion as at March 2015, and likely to increase further following the slump in the international oil market. This increased from N286.09 billion in 2012 to N354.84 in 2014, and further to N546.02 billion as at March 2015.

Analysts suggest that though banks may experience a severe cash crunch, talk of a bail-out or even another AMCON situation

Buhari

is highly premature. Ese Osagie, a research analyst said he believed that this could only do the banking industry good on the long term as it would force banks to do “real” banking.

He said, “the funds being pulled out is just about 20% of banks total deposits, and as such should not create too much of a shaking for the banks. What we see is that banks would have to create higher yielding deposit accounts to attract more private sector deposits. They have shareholders to report to, so they must find new ways to earn money and still turn a profit.”

Razia Khan, Chief Africa Economist at Standard Chartered Bank, agreed with this say-

ing that the reform would bring longer-term benefits: “This is a reform that should have taken place ages ago and the fact that it’s finally coming into place now is very important.”

Banks however remain bullish on the fact that they would weather the storm and turn out stronger, with the consistent rhetoric being that they still held significant private sector deposits to remain competitive. On the issue of the TSA remittances, a banker who spoke off the record indicated that, the deadline for the implementation of TSA had been adhered to and though he could not confirm the exact figure, his bank was in the process of complying with the directive.

Money B2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

improved production at the refineries. Last year, CCNN spent about N7billion on fuel oil alone.

However, this welcome development will bring about improved, cost-effective production and efficient capacity utilization at Sokoto Cement which should further engender a sustainable pricing regime that will make cement more affordable in the North Western region in the medium term.”

Abdulsamad Rabiu further added that the moves of the current administration to ensure optimal operations at the Nation’s refineries will rejuvenate moribund industries. “For

instance, access to cheaper fuels associated with increased production at the refineries is already stimulating the rejuvenation of key industries including textiles and manufacturing in the North. I believe this effect will be replicated across the nation where certain industries are dependent on the refineries as their primary sources of fuel,” Rabiu said.

On the new line currently being added by BUA Group in Sokoto, Rabiu commented that at $300million, the project is currently the single largest private investment in the North West region. He said BUA Cement

was committed to ensuring the timely completion of the project in 2016 which is expected to add an additional 1.5million tonnes per annum to CCNN’s current 500,000tpa capacity as part of the group’s Cement Strategy for Nigeria. Although, the additional line will come with Coal as the primary source of fuel, LPFO will still be used as a backup fuel at the plant. “To further consolidate our position as a major player, we will continue to pursue our mid-term cement expansion strategy vigorously and are currently exploring opportunities for further expansion especially in Nigeria” added Rabiu.

Abdulsamad also spoke on BUA Group’s social responsibility initiatives especially in CCNN’s primary area of operation in Sokoto State in which the company has invested immensely in various health, education, capacity development, employment generation and water supply project for its surrounding communities. “For us at BUA group, CSR is an integral part of our business especially in areas where we operate. We are very conscious of responsible and sustainable business practices as it relates to environmental management, responsible sourcing, working conditions, education and health and, we do our best to ensure we work hand-inhand with all stakeholders within the communities.”

BUA Group is one of Nigeria’s largest Foods and Infrastructure conglomerates with significant investments in various sectors of the economy including Cement, Sugar, Steel, Flour & Pasta, Edible Oils, Housing, and Port Operations. With the completion of Sokoto Line II by 2016 and Obu Second line by 2017 as well as its 1.5million tpa BUA Cement I floating terminal, the Group’s total cement production is expected to hit over 10million tonnes per annum by 2017.

The General Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Kachikwu, has called on French oil companies to step up their act in Nigeria like their counterparts in India, China and Germany.

He said this while speaking on Tuesday, September 15 at the France-Nigeria Business Forum organized to mark the State Visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Paris, France.

According to him, Nigeria’s oil and gas industry needs to feel the presence of France more.

“There is no country in Africa that has the kind of resource base Nigeria has; So France really needs to get more bullish if they want to compete in Nigeria with

the very aggressive India, China, Germany …It’s a huge competition and I am looking forward to better days ahead,’’ he said.

Kachikwu also said that the Federal Government is set to revisit the fiscal terms of the existing Production Sharing Contracts, PSC entered into by -the Corporation with some International Oil and Gas Companies with a view to seeking favorable benefits to Nigeria based on prevailing realities in the industry In the weeks and months ahead, the Corporation will be renegotiating the contracts to extract as much benefit as possible for Nigeria.

Dr. Kachikwu noted that

though the Premises agreements are firm contracts which should be adhered to, the NNPC is allowed to make use of the window which creates space for re-negotiation.

“We intend to begin the process of the re-negotiation of the PSCs to see what value chain and improvements we can have from these contracts. Some of the contracts were negotiated over 20 years ago and they have since been overtaken by new realities in the industry,’’ the GMD said.

He however noted that in carrying out a review of the existing PSCs, care must be taken not to create an anti-investment atmosphere as that may be counterproductive to the industry.

Oil refinery in Nigeria

Abdulsamad Rabiu commends FG for local refineries’ resuscitation …as reduction in prices of LPFO impacts on industries Stories by Opeoluwani Akintayo The Federal Government has been commended on the resuscitation of local refineries and reduction in the price of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) from around N77.94 per litre to N51.38 per litre by prominent industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group.

According to Rabiu, who is also the Chairman of the publicly listed Cement Company of Northern Nigeria the ongoing resuscitation has already led to increased supply of LPFO (Low Pour Fuel Oil) to its Sokoto Cement Plant.

Daily Times reports that CCNN, the makers of Sokoto Cement, is the only operating cement plant in the whole of North-West Nigeria and the single largest employer of labour in Sokoto state. However, the company’s effort have been slowed down over the years due to infrastructural challenges including erratic supply of fuel oil to the plant.

According to Rabiu the fortunes of the company has taken a turn for the better: “With the recent appointment of the new GMD for NNPC by the Buhariled government, we are however beginning to see the impact of

Kachikwu tasks France to match competitors in Nigeria’s oil sector

Kachikwu

· Exhibitions

· International partnerships

· Seminars

· Products’ launch

· Raffle draw

· Entertainment

· Discount sales

. Meet Regulators

It’s a fast-track opportunity to grow commerce and B4 industry - Ejinkeonye P

2015 ABUJA

Chamber of Commerce & Industy International Trade Fair Digest

Friday, September 18, 2015

Enterpreneurship as panacea for economic growth 10th Abuja Trade Fair has a special focus on SMEs—Igwe, Vice president ACCI B5 P

Blast from the past: Opening ceremony of ACCI 2014 International Trade Fair B6 P

FOR ADVERT LISTINGS IN ABUJA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR DIGEST Call: 07064933209, 08054934941

B4

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, September 18, 2015

It’s a fast-track opportunity to grow commerce and industry — Ejinkeonye exhibitors only, and our 2000 local participants.“ He explained that the 2014 edition attracted more than 55 companies, including foreign firms from Egypt, Taiwan, Ghana, Senegal, Niger, Benin, Philippines, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

Ejinkeonye said that the chamber would strive

Ejinkeonye The 10th Abuja International Trade Fair has been described

by Mr. Tony Ejinkonye, President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), as a fasttrack opportunity to grow Nigerian businesses.

This year’s fair which has in attendance about 150 foreign companies opens today Friday September 18 and will close on October 2nd 2015.

Ejinkeonye, who disclosed this at a media parley in Abuja, also said the Chamber had put in place mechanism to shore up its revenue base to N2.3billion during the trade fair through business facilitation with both local and foreign investors.

He said the last year’s revenue base of all the exhibitors and the value for the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] signed was put at N1.5 billion The theme of this year’s trade fair which is “Entrepreneurship as a Panacea for Economic Growth’’, he explained, is expected to throw up proper networking of various businesses and

create an avenue for further steps such as closing up of business deals and signing of memorandum of understanding among various parties.

He said that the Chamber would be riding on the improved security situation in the country to bring businesses together in its bid to diversify the country’ revenue base and create opportunities for the youths.

He also pointed out that the Fair would target the promotion and growth of industry and concentrate on the promotion of nonoil exports.

He stated that the fair was expected to see more participants due largely to the nation’s improved security conditions in addition to the recorded feat in the nation’s fight against the dreaded Ebola virus, which he stated has affected last year’s fair.

“For this year’s exhibition, we are expected to have up to 150 foreign exhibitors because of the peaceful atmosphere we have in the country, unlike the previous year, when we have 65 foreign

ACCI International Trade Fair Digest

to ensure that the fair recorded better successes than the previous editions.

He said that the ACCI 10th trade fair would help to promote accelerated development of commerce and industry in the country.

He urged the Federal Government to provide

adequate facilities that would attract both local and foreign investors to invest in the country.

Also speaking, the First Deputy President of the Chamber, Adetokunbo Kayode, revealed that more businesses would have opportunities for proper networking as the chamber has prepared

the ground for effective collaboration targeted at business facilitation of various businesses.

He added that various Government agencies with outstanding research findings would also be exhibiting such findings for the business community to advance its commercialisation.

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, September 18, 2015

B5 Interview

10th Abuja Trade Fair has a special focus on SMEs—Igwe, Vice president ACCI New inventions and new research reports from all over the world including local products will be exhibited at the 10th Anniversary Trade Fair of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Vice President Media, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Barr Jude Igwe, told our correspondent MATHEW DADIYA that the 2015 trade exhibition coming up on 18th September to 2nd October, 2015 is a special Anniversary Exhibition that focus on the development and promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Excerpts: Your association has organised several trade fairs in the last 10 years what makes this one different?

The Chamber is fully prepared for it and this is something we are celebrating as an anniversary. 10 years of trade exhibition is not just an ordinary period that will just come and go like that.

So we are using this 10th years’ trade exhibition as an anniversary exhibition, it’s a special one for us. We knew that the 10th year was going to come and it has come.

We started in good time to make preparation, get the public sensitized to know that this time is coming and it’s a time that they have to come to Abuja Chamber of Commerce Trade Fair Complex, at Lugbe, Air Port Road and see the new inventions, the new research reports that have come out from all over the world and even local products – what our people in various places are doing to enhance and keep the economy growing.

So we want people from all nooks and crannies to come and see the new things that are going to be exhibited. And there are new people that are coming particularly from the South East– Nnewi.

‘‘Once you come in at the gate, you are handed a copy of the Daily Times of Nigeria in which we have an eight page pullout and each pullout is not going to be only in the paper that is distributed at the exhibition arena, but also wherever Daily Times is found all over the federation.’’

Igwe There are lots of products on motor spare parts, motorcycle spare parts, and the likes. From Aba we are having a lot of exhibitors coming in from shoes, fashion sectors and the rest of them so we are having a list of both foreign and local exhibition.

In what way can the present government key in to this 10th anniversary Trade Fair to support SMEs? The private sector all over the world will always remain the engine of growth of any economy and any government that wants to grow its economy must pay good attention to what the private sector is doing and particularly to what an organised group like the Chamber of Commerce is doing.

The government is going to be represented at the opening ceremony at the very highest level and that shows you the importance

the government places on the activities of the Chamber and the importance it places on growing the economy. The government definitely is going to come and a lot of stakeholders in the economy sector are going to be here, they are going to speak, the Chamber is going to speak; the government is going to listen and also tell us by virtue of what we have in place and we are doing and then by virtue of what the government wants to achieve in its economic programme, where we are going to synergise to ensure that we do not work on cross purposes.

So, whatever programme that the government do have that will impact positively on their businesses the Chamber will happily key-in to it.

We will be very happy to synergise with the government and ensure that our members play a part in the growth of the econ-

omy.

Still talking SME, do you also consider them in your provision for the exhibition especially in terms of cost of participation?

The small and medium scale enterprises in Abuja are members of the Chamber and therefore the decision to hold the exhibition is centred on how they can effectively exhibit in a general and consensus decision. Therefore, we do not have problems with our members and if for any reason, any genuine exhibitor has a problem, we have actually taken care of what will make it impossible. It’s not only in the amount of money they paid but even in terms of logistics we have gone a long way in ensuring that no obstacle would stop them as long as they have the interest to exhibit.

How effective has your partnership with the media been in publicising this 10th anniversary Trade Fair?

The entire Nigerian media space is our partner because everybody has a role to play. General mobilisation is being done through every media house we can find in Nigeria and this mobilisation is going on in terms of Jingles, adverts and all kinds of sensitization. Then, there is also properly structured partnership to ensure that it’s not just general advertising and mobilization, but also taking care of certain logistics that will also enable other media organisations that are not in partnership coming to succeed, and that is exactly what we have with Folio Media Group the publishers of Daily Times of Nigeria.

Daily Times has actually shown a lot of zeal

and interest in ensuring that our exhibition this year gets to the doorsteps of everybody that is interested in visiting. So we have a competent media partner in the Folio Media Group and they are going to achieve e a number of things which before now we thought were impossible. I must tell you that from day one, of the exhibition to the last day, Daily Times will be distributed to visitors in the arena.

Once you come in at the gate, you are handed a copy of the Daily Times of Nigeria in which we have an eight page pull-out and each pull-out is not going to be only in the paper that is distributed at the exhibition arena, but also wherever Daily Times is found all over the federation.

So it has a wide reach, also they are on the internet, you can also read our activities on the internet via Daily Times and in the cause of doing that read the pull-out and see what the Chamber is doing and how the exhibition is going. So it’s going to be dayto-day report and if you like, online and inline report of what is happening at the exhibition from day to day and we believe that a number of our exhibitors who had this information are thrilled about this development because whatever they did yesterday, today it is read all over Nigeria that they are part of the exhibition, they are exhibiting and this is how the exhibition is going.

Anyone that comes to the exhibition will be happy to tell their colleagues in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano to see them in the newspaper and read their comments and all that. So it’s going to be a good promotion for the exhibition itself, for the Chamber of Commerce and we thank Folio Group for making it possible. For Folio Media Group to do that, it only shows their interest to contributing to the business in Nigeria.

ACCI International Trade Fair Digest

Blast from the past B6 Trade fair 2014

ACCI International Trade Fair Digest

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, September 18, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

B7 Money

Real Sector Digest ‘Africa’s agric share of value-added on steady decline in last four decades’ In Africa, agriculture continues to employ over half of the continent’s population, but its share of value-added has been falling over the past four decades, dropping from 34 percent in 1965 to just over 20 percent in 2010, Africa Competitiveness Report 2015 has revealed.

It states this is the case despite the fact that past experiences in other regions have emphasized industrialization as the driving force of economic development— as seen, for example, in East and Southeast Asia since the 1960s.

The report argues, “Data for Africa tell us a different story: Rather than being replaced by an expanding manufacturing sector, as the experiences in other regions would predict, this decline has largely been offset by an expanding service sector, accounting for over 50 percent of GDP—a figure that is close to the share seen in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This shift took place largely in the market service sector—most notably in retail, distribution, and other trade services—employing 25 percent of the working-age population.

“However, labour productivity in both the agriculture sector and the trade service sector—where most agriculture employment has shifted—remains low and should be enhanced. Greater productivity in agriculture and trade services would not only boost economic growth but also support structural transformation by allowing factors of production to move away from the agricultural to the service sector.”

Agriculture in Africa

Onari Duke urges early entrepreneurial development Stories by Siaka Momoh The importance of entrepreneurship training and adoption in Nigeria came to the fore again at the launch of Entrepreneurship Handbook: a Manual for Teaching Entrepreneurship written by Professor Olajumoke Adeosun-Familoni in Lagos as the chief launcher Onari Duke argued the earlier children start to think entrepreneurship, the better for the nation.

The book launch was done at the instance of Lagos State Ministry of Education Curriculum Department and Olajumoke Adeosun-Familoni’s International Centre for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development (ICLED).

Pushing the case further, Onari

Duke who is a symbol of entrepreneurship herself if we recall her poultry projects in Cross River where she was first lady and by extension the Tinapa project midwife by her husband in the state, she said “Lagos State alone host 12,000 NYSC graduands every year. If you consider what the figure is nationally, you will find out we have unemployment problem confronting us.”

She argued it followed therefore that “we must be aggressive in encouraging our children to think entrepreneurship to increase the nation’s productivity”. “If our children are propped up early enough, they will see opportunities and would be able to support families. The more we encourage them, the more they will continue

to see opportunities.”

For Duke, the Familoni’s book provides a sound guide to teachers on principles of entrepreneurship. She explained, “Though entrepreneurship is innate in some people, it can be taught”.

Said she: “It is good for teachers to teach entrepreneurship. If they are diligent in teaching entrepreneurship, they will imbibe entrepreneurship skills which if put to use will enhance their income.”

Segun Sowunmi, former special adviser to the Ogun State governor on economic projects and media said Familoni has done a great job breaking down entrepreneurship. According to him, “She has taught us how to be an employer and how to be employed. With the book, she makes one learn and re-

learn and get inspired.”

He told the teacher present at the launching, “if you apply the book to your students, you are applying it to yourself. And this can make you earn a good income.”

Sowunmi argued, “If Nigeria has a young population unlike industrialised nations that have an aging population and government cannot pay salaries, entrepreneurship is therefore the answer.

Familoni said the book has been infused into the education curriculum of Lagos State “and it is therefore ready for all states of the federation in Nigeria to imbibe”. “The message is that we can start teaching the entrepreneurship message to youth and students at a young age. It builds confidence and self- esteem.”

African countries major among least competitive in the world The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) identifies the majority of African countries as being among the least competitive in the world and indicates that, despite 15 years of strong growth, Africa’s overall competitiveness has remained stagnant.

According to African Competitive Report 2015, in many respects, Africa’s competitiveness challenges are the same ones that this Report has been highlighting since it was first published in 1998 - weak institutions, a persistent infrastructure deficit (as explored in detail in

the 2013 Report), and low levels of health and education.

The report says despite Africa’s mobile revolution, the region as a whole is not keeping up with the rapid pace of technological advancements elsewhere, that only one-fifth of the region’s population is using the Internet, compared with 30 percent in Southeast Asia, 40 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 80 percent in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) economies.

“Even in instances where the Internet is being used, its

potential is not being fully harnessed. At the same time, however, much progress has been made and the region is showing a more solid record of macroeconomic performance than it did a decade ago. Despite prevailing governance challenges, it is more stable and better governed now than it has been at any other time since independence, and it classifies as the world’s most rapidly reforming region when it comes to its business environment,” it notes.

It adds that in spite of these positive trends, wide regional disparities in competitiveness

across the continent exist, as captured in findings such as the placement of Mauritius at 39th while Guinea, at 144th, is the lowest-ranked country out of all assessed. “The regional divergence is particularly pronounced in the areas of infrastructure and health and primary education as well as financial and macroeconomic performance.

The report further observes that non-fragile low-income economies do particularly well in the areas of financial, goods, and labour market efficiency.

Middle-income economies, while generally faring better,

face many of the same competitiveness challenges as their peers, such as an infrastructure deficit and low levels of education. The report also looks at “Africa Then and Now.” In the last decade, middle-income economies and oil-exporting economies overall register a mixed picture when it comes to improvements in competitiveness, while the majority of fragile and low-income economies register slight improvements. Among all economies, Mauritius has made the biggest strides, superseding South Africa for the first time in 2013.

Money B8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

MTN rewards loyal retailers in ‘Best 11’ promo Godwin Anyebe

L-R: Member, Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) Professor Lilian Salami, President, Dr. Ngozi Nnam and the Senior Brand Manager Maltina, Mr. Adewole Adedeji at the Nutrition Society of Nigeria Presentation of Endorsement Certificate to Maltina during the opening session of the 45th annual general meeting and scientific conference 2015 in Lagos on Wednesday.

Senator tells FG to declare state of emergency on pensions Joy Ekeke The Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Sani on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the nation’s prisons service.

Senator Sani, who made the appeal during a lecture he delivered at a Prison’s Staff College in Kaduna, stressed that if the war against corruption is meant to achieve the desired result, the prison system must be functional to accommodate convicts.

While lamenting over the sorry state of the nation’s prisons, Mr Sani said there is an urgent need for intervention from the Federal Government to rehabilitate them in order to make the anti-corruption war meaningful.

The Senator assured to sponsor a bill at the National Assembly for the reformation of the Nigerian Prisons Service.

According to him, the anticorruption war of President Buhari’s administration can only succeed with 21st century prisons.

He also advocated a special salary scale for the prison staff

like that of staff members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Federal Ministry of Transport has commenced a review of employments, placements and promotions embarked upon by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) since 2010.

The committee, which is headed by the Ministry’s Director of Human Resources, Mr. Lawal Ibrahim, is expected to determine whether employments, placement and promotions in NIMASA from 2010 to date conformed to the Civil Service pro-

cedures and were also in line with the Federal Character Principle.

Commenting on the exercise, the Acting Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro said the main objective of the exercise was to ensure proper staff placement in line with extant Federal Civil Service regulations.

According to the NIMASA helmsman, the exercise would aid the process of motivating the staff of the Agency and get the best out of them in the discharge of their onerous responsibilities.

Barrow

Accolades for Globacom over Lafta Fest

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Transport ministry reviews NIMASA employments Funmi Coker

In line with its core value of building relationships with its retail partners, MTN Nigeria has delivered on its promise by rewarding Mrs. Kafayat Shittu with the whooping sum of N15million star prize in the just concluded MTN Best 11 Retailers promo.

The promotion which is specifically targeted at the MTN retailers who sell physical and virtual airtime pan Nigeria was borne out of the need to reward its over half a million retail vendors across the country for their loyalty and support since inception of the business.

Speaking at the cheque presentation in Lagos recently, Sales and Distribution Executive, MTN Nigeria, ‘Tsola Barrow stressed the importance of rewarding loyal retailers who have been with the MTN Business through the years.

According to Barrow, “We know the importance of relationship and our retailers are as important as every other customers on our network. This informed the decision to reward them specially in the Best 11 promo. With this promo, our lucky winner has opted for N15 million which is the cash equivalent for the star prize of a home valued at N15million.”

He further added that, “MTN sees this as an avenue to continue to empower more Nigerians to live their dreams and to encourage others to pursue theirs

through hardwork and consistency. Nothing is impossible to achieve, therefore, we would continue to keep our words on rewarding our subscribers with awesome prizes. ” Mrs. Kafayat Shittu, the lucky winner who emerge in the promo was quite ecstatic on the development as she praised MTN Nigeria for keeping to their words.

“I am very happy to be the winner of this promo. Words are not enough to describe how I feel at the moment. I am very grateful to MTN Nigeria for making me a millionaire. This reward will make a big difference in my family henceforth. Thank you MTN Nigeria,” she said.

Revealing plan on how she intends to spend the largesse, Shittu stated that with the fund, she would invest more in her business and family.

“In the end, the interest of the staff will be protected as the civil service rule, which emphasises fairness and equity, will be the guiding principle of the exercise.

We are confident that staff morale will be boosted for enhanced productivity when the process is completed,” the DG said.

He commended the Federal Ministry of Transport for its commitment to staff welfare and assured that NIMASA would continue to discharge its statutory responsibilities for the development of the Nigerian maritime industry.

Nigeria’s Leading Telecommunications Operator, Globacom, has been hailed for taking its famous comedy brand, ‘Lafta Fest’ to Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

The show, a combination of stand-up comedy, music and drama was described by many observers as a veritable initiative designed to promote harmony, reduce stress and teach good citizenship in the society.

The Secretary to the Ogun State Government, (SSG), Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa and other attendees of the Glo Laffta Fest organized for residents of Abeokuta and environs at the OK Events Centre, Ibara Housing Estate on Sunday took turns to commend Globacom for introducing the programme and for taking it to Abeokuta.

Barrister Adeoluwa said Laffta Fest had added value to the programmes of the Ogun State government as evidenced from the thrusts of the various performers who taught morals and

etiquette by condemning vices in their jokes.

“Globacom is doing remarkably well in Corporate Social Responsibility programmes and we are very proud of Dr. Mike Adenuga. A gathering like this is very good as it encourages our youth to invest their time in worthwhile ventures instead of engaging in vices like cultism,” the Ogun SSG observed.

An Editor with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, OGBC, Mr. Biodun Ogundipe, in an interview also said residents of Abeokuta had long craved for a show like the Laffta Fest, especially because of the extant restrictions on movement.

Another respondent, Mr. Yinka Adelowo, said the objective of the programme was to change people’s mood by lifting their spirits from the doldrums, adding that this was the first time he was attending a show of that magnitude in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

Life &

Times Friday, September 18, 2015

Life and Times of

Adefuye Ambassador extra-ordinaire/plenipotentiary

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

The world mourns as world acclaimed AKINJIDE AKINTOLA, GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR The whole world, especially the Diplomatic Community have continued to mourn the death of Nigeria’s Ambassador and Plenipotentiary to the United States His Excellency, Professor Ade Adefuye who goes home today in a blaze of glory.

The Erudite scholar and seasoned diplomat, passed on suddenly in the United States on Thursday August 27 at the age of 67.

Since he doffed his hat to earthly creation and bowed out of time and space, bound for eternity, world leaders from across the globe have continued to pour encomiums and letters of condolences to a grieving family and nation.

Condolences have poured him from an appreciative US Embassy, US Consulate, the US Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Defence Attaché as well as President Muhammadu Buhari who was with Adefuye during his tour to the US barely three weeks earlier.

Daily Times gathered that the officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC were planning to hold a send forth ceremony in honour of late Adefuye on

September 2 before he fell sick and subsequently gave up the ghost.

More than 300 guests comprising Nigerians, Africans and members of United States’ cultural and diplomatic communities came together Thursday in Washington DC to celebrate the life and work of Adefuye and pay respect to turned out for a memorial service hosted by Nigerian Embassy staff and members of Adefuye family to celebrate the life and work of the deceased diplomat and pay respect to him.

It was one of the most crowded events ever held at the Embassy.

The large hall was filled to capacity, with about one-third of the guests having to sit under an outdoor tent or stand by on the Embassy grounds.

Although the memorial was planned to run for two hours, it exceeded the 6:00 to 8:00pm time slot as many guests arrived earlier than six and many more stayed much longer than the upper time limit.

The extra time was justified and well spent. In addition to the religious exhortations led by Pastor Ghandi Olaoye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, friends, co-workers and family members

also took turns to speak about the late Ambassador.

Many recalled the leadership style and professional skills he brought to the job, qualities that endeared him to the Nigerian Diaspora, co-workers, fellow African diplomats and colleagues from the government of his host country.

A 48-page book of tribute was specially produced for this event and an online commemorative memorial was also set up.

A tenured professor of History at University of Lagos before he joined the diplomatic service, the late Ambassador Adefuye died a few days before his five-year tenure as Nigeria’s representative to the United States was to expire.

The family, in a eulogy, said: “Ambassador Adefuye’s life and living were akin to that of the psalmist who was inspired in one of his many songs to say ‘The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage’.

“Like a man with a truly godly heritage, our late son, husband, father, brother, uncle and cousin lived his life very much as a practical Christian in constant acknowledgement of his Creator, in passionate and unstinting

service to mankind and the promotion of and support to great causes, seeking always to make the world a better place. He was an exemplar in virtues.

“And so consoled by his good works and the Grace of God upon us, we reach out, respectfully, to you to join us as we use this opportunity of his rites of passage to appreciate and celebrate God for the beautiful life he lived and to thank God for making us a part of him.”

The Christian wake keep ceremony was held at 5 p.m. yesterday (September 17) at Harbour Point, 4 Wilmot Point Road, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The funeral service holds today, Friday September 18, 2015 at 10 o’clock at Christ Church Cathedral, Marina Lagos and interment follows immediately at Ikoyi Vault and Gardens.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the USA had served his country for 25 years in conflict prevention and resolution, backed by 12 years previous experience in research and teaching.

Professor Adefuye’s expertise and experience in diplomacy and conflict resolution contributed

Life&

T E A M

In group pose with Presidents Obama and Buhari on Nigerian delegation to the US, 2015.

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Luke Utomi

immensely in strengthening the bilateral relations between United States and Nigeria, as well as in reinforcing the economic ties between both countries under the prevailing legislation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Also, Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye had assisted Governments in amending and drafting new Constitutions as well as supervising the organisation of credible elections. The major focus of his assignments had been the creation of a politically suitable climate conducive to sustainable social and economic development.

History will remember the former Professor of History as the ambassador who helped to persuade the U.S. to remove his country from the government’s ‘country of interest’ terrorism watch list. Nigeria was placed on the list following the December 25, 2009, incident when Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight headed from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Before Adefuye was appointed, the US authority had subjected Nigerian travelers to all sorts of humiliations at the major United States airports. Special checks were being conducted on Nigerian

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

diplomat goes home today travelers just because Nigeria had been blacklisted as a terrorist country.

When Adefuye resumed in the US in April 2010 as the Nigeria’s Ambassador, he engaged in high level discussions with the US government, saying that Nigeria was not a terrorist country.

As a result of his doggedness, the then Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton, announced that the United States had removed Nigeria from its list of countries of interest.

This implied that Nigeria was no longer a terrorist country while Nigerian travelers would no longer be given any ill treatment at any of the US airports. This became Adefuye’s first achievement.

Apart from that, the late ambassador used his office to ensure that Nigeria and the US government entered into a BiNational agreement which centers on Regional Security, Good Governance, Electoral Reform, Niger Delta issues and some more.

This agreement was signed in the same month of April, 2010 by the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Yayale, and former US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton at the Department of State in Washington, DC. The late Adefuye also used his office to organize trade missions, investment summits and others between officials of Nigeria and the United States. Nigerian governors, Senators, others public officials and journalists were not left behind in such events.

Under his watch, he ensured that the US donated some warships to Nigeria in support of the Regional Security aspect of the Bi-national agreement between both countries.

Describing relations between Nigeria and the United States in one of his media chats, Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye had told the New African, “Historically, we’ve had a love-hate relationship with the United States. We are of strategic importance to America; that no-one can deny. They want us to be a bastion of democracy, a peaceful nation. If we’re not, they get very angry.”

While some non-career diplomats were recalled by Dr. Jonathan after he was sworn-in for a second term in office as Nigerian president, the late Adefuye was retained as a result of his outstanding achievements.

It was reported that Adefuye revealed that he was prepared to return back to Nigeria after he had successfully ensured that Buhari was hosted by President Barrack Obama and other US officials

between the 21 and 23 July, 2015 in Washington, DC. Adefuye who said he would not want to discuss with the press or the public how he successfully convinced the US government to allow the visit, further disclosed that he was seriously grilled by the White House before the Obamaled administration could agree that the Nigerian president should come to Washington, DC for the working visit.

The White House, while agreeing that Buhari should come for the working visit, however mandated the late Adefuye to organise some bilateral meetings for the Nigerian president in order to make his visit a bogus one. This led to the president’s meetings with US vice president Joe Biden, World Bank officials, WHO officials, US Senators, US Reps, Ambassador John Campbell, Secretary John Kerry and several others. He also organised appearances for Buhari at the Corporate Council on Africa, US Institute of Peace and some others.

Born in Ijebu-Igbo, Nigeria, in 1947, Adefuye received his First Degree in History at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1969, and in 1973 earned a Ph.D. in History there, with a dissertation on ‘The Political History of the Palwo, 1400-1911.’ As a Fulbright scholar he studied at Columbia University, the University of North Florida and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Adefuye started his academic career as a Lecturer at the University of Lagos, where he rose to the position of Professor, published books and articles, and served as Head of the History Department from 1985 to 1987.

Among the books he has written are History of the Peoples of Lagos State (1987) and Culture and Foreign Policy: The Nigerian Example (1993).

He received his first diplomatic commission, as ambassador to Jamaica, with concurrent accreditation to Haiti and Belize, a job he kept from 1987 to 1991. From 1991 to 1994, he served as Deputy High Commissioner at the Nigerian Embassy in London, U.K., when he was hired by the Commonwealth (formerly the British Commonwealth of Nations) as Deputy Director of Strategic Planning. After 14 years with the Commonwealth, Adefuye had a stint with the Economic Community of West African States, where he served as an Advisor for two years, from 2008 to 2010.

Adefuye, a christian left behind a wife, Mrs Catherine Shola Adefuye, three children and some grand children.

Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye.

With President Muhammadu Buhari during PMB’s US trip.

With former Vice President Namadi Sambo and others.

L3 Interview US Chambers, others grieve Outstanding leader – US Chamber of Commerce A tribute by the Africa Business Initiative of the US Chamber of Commerce to the Charge D’Affairs, Embassy of Nigeria in Washington said: “On behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and close colleagues of His Excellency Adebowale Adefuye and to the community and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ambassador Adefuye was an outstanding leader to the people of Nigeria and dedicated his life to Nigeria’s political and economic matters of global significance.

Ambassador Adeuye was a loyal friend to the U.S. Chamber and I had the privilege of working with him to advocate on behalf of U.S. relations with Africa especially in fostering the U.S. relationship with Nigeria. In particular, Ambassador Adefuye will be remembered for his outstanding patriotism and pride for the people of Nigeria.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Adefuye family during this difficult time.

Please let me reaffirm the U.S. Chamber’s appreciation for Ambassador Adefuye’s friendship and dedication to the relationship between our two countries. As Nigeria bids farewell to the beloved Adebowale Adefuye, we join you in honoring his great commitment to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A quintessential and compassionate family man –Son, Daughter His son, Babatunde Adefuye described him as: “the greatest man I will ever know “In the last few years our relationship changed for the better; Besides being my father, you were my friend and someone I could talk to and would want to talk to at best and worst of times. The opportunity to speak to you always presented itself as a special occasion as I looked up at you in awe. I dolized you and will continue to do so for as long as I live. You gave me the strength to be kind to those we’re not so kind and the heart to smile when those around me needed a friendly face. I am the man I am because of you and each day I will work hard to be as close to your image as I can. I thank God to have had and to still have a father like you and I will continue to see you and speak to you in my dreams and prayers. I love you so much Dad. Most amazing human being –Daughter The outstanding diplomat daughter, Ms. Tolulope Adefuye described him as the most amazing man on earth saying her life would not be the same again.

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Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Being introduced to QEII by former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku.

The consummate diplomat, projecting Nigeria’s image around the world.

On his wedding day.

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“My daddy the most amazing human I know, my life will never be the same again. I will never be the same again, the world will never be the same again. Daddy you make us so proud, you are a great man,an amazing father and a wonderful husband. I feel so blessed to have you in my life and love you more than anything or anyone in this entire world!

Please take care of yourself, we are children of God who are protected and promised many blessings. One day I will marry a man like you and he will make me as happy as you made mummy. I love my daddy!! “ Death, a deep loss and painful –Johnnetta Betsch Cole, Director, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art “The news of the passing of Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye went straight to that place in my heart where sadness is made. Death is never welcomed, and when it so suddenly takes away such an effective diplomat, brilliant scholar, wonderful teacher and special human being like Ambassador Adefuye, our sense of loss is especially deep and painful.

I met Ambassador Adefuye shortly after he assumed his position in March 2009 as The Republic of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States and Head of Mission. We quickly became colleagues and friends; no doubt in part because as teacher-scholars, we were both working outside of the Academy. However, much of his success as a diplomat was surely a reflection of the fact that Ambassador Adefuye never ceased to be a teacher and a scholar.

Prof., as I and countless others respectfully addressed him, addressed difficult issues in world affairs, and especially Nigeria’s place in the world, as if he were helping students to understand a complex historical period; or he was preparing his graduate students for a particularly tough examination; or he was working with an academic colleague to find a solution to a particular vexing intellectual problem. Like many great teachers, Prof had a quick and wonderful sense of humor that he used quite effectively, to the delight of his friends, and at times to disarm someone who was putting forth a position in opposition to the one that he firmly believed was the right one.

Brother Ambassador, another title I used to address Ade Adefuye, loved the people of Nigeria, the people of Africa, and the people of the African diaspora. He expressed his pride in himself and the people of the continent and the diaspora by the way that he often wore traditional African clothes, and he would address a gathering with these words: My

fellow Africans. Yet his love of the people of the darker hue, as the great intellectual and activist W.E.B. DuBois called folks of the Pan African world, in no way kept him from reaching out to the diverse people of our world.

Brother Ambassador Adefuye was extraordinarily generous and gracious in terms the way that he made the Nigerian Embassy available to groups and organizations. Indeed, he gave the Nigerian Embassy the reputation of being “The People’s House.” This past June, Prof. once again made it possible for the children in the Studio Africa program to have their graduation program in the Nigerian Embassy.

Studio Africa is a program sponsored by the Potomac Chapter of The Links with the support of the National Museum of African Art. When, we brought Studio Africa youngsters to the Embassy who had spent a year learning about the continent of Africa, Prof made it possible for them to enjoy a buffet lunch of traditional Nigerian food. AND, Prof. gave the children a wonderful At the S and inspiring talk.

His Excellency, Ambassador Adefuye was a highly respected and beloved member of the African diplomatic corps. I cannot remember a time when I attended a function hosted by any of the African Embassies when he was not present. And Brother Ambassador Adefuye was also present at many events in the greater Washington area that were sponsored by various African American and Caribbean organizations.

At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) we always considered Prof. to be one of our closest friends and supporters. He rarely missed an opening of one of our exhibitions, or special events. On the very morning when Prof. went to Glory, I had a conversation with some of my museum colleagues about when we could host an event at our museum to honor Ambassador Adefuye, thank him for his friendship and support, and wish him Godspeed as he brought closure on his term as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States.

He left a legacy –Dr. Babafemi Adenuga, Associate Professor, Howard University College of Medicine Uncle, your exit from this world is still like a dream. As a medical professional, I am still finding it difficult to reconcile the circumstances that led to your demise. Who are we, mere human beings to question God’s destiny for any man.

I am so glad to have met you, even though it was in the last few months of your time at the embassy. The short time we spent together feels like a lifetime. Our ride together to Philadelphia a few weeks ago was so

enlightening, never did I imagine I would be writing a tribute. You emphasized so much on our Ijebu-Igbo, Oke-Sopen connection.

Our solace remains in the legacy you have left behind. You left when your ovation was loudest. May the Lord comfort your lovely wife and beautiful children.

I loved you like my father –Rose Yakowa-Okoh You fondly called me your daughter even at official meetings and I loved you like my Father. There are no words to describe the kind of leader and Father you were to me. I had always admired your humility and patience for people, little wonder you had friends from all walks of life who adored you. You were an epitome of a great leader and I would forever be grateful to God Almighty for allowing me work under your leadership as well as being your daughter.

I believe in my scripture which says that death is better than birth because it marks the beginning of eternity with God in a better place (I know you are in a better place).

You have until your death showcased diligence, humility and selflessness to your work and country. We will miss your simplicity, humility and accessibility.

We mourn you today but most importantly we celebrate your life because you have lived your purpose in this life and touched many lives in various capacities. I will remember your smile, dance and happy moments and I would forever cherish the love you extended to me. We would continue to pray for the repose of your soul to have eternal rest. Adieu my Daddy, My Ambassador.

Worthy leader, colleague, boss – Violet Duke “Though death is a necessity, it will come when it will come but yours came too soon! I am personally shocked and pained.

Many are called but only few are chosen; you were one of those that were chosen.

Always willing to help, a de-tribalised man; a seasoned diplomat with immense experience and great reputation. Those of us who worked under you will always appreciate you sir. I am personally going to miss you. You motivated me with the saying “there is dignity in labour”.

Your humble and selfless service for our great country is immeasurable.

I will always remember you every passing moment.”

A rare gem is gone –Doris Briamah, Embassy of Nigeria “Our Great Ambassador You were an extraordinary personality. You lived an exemplary life impacting many lives in many ways.

A Patriot, a first class diplomat, disciplined gentlemen.

A man that feared God. An entrenched family man who loved his wife and children dearly.

To us here in the Mission you were not just a Boss but a “Father” which made us to always address you as “Daddy.”

A Father of inestimable qualities. You were a very simple and humble personality whose doors were opened to all. You touched so many lives in a short time.

In all these we can say Thank You Lord.

Nothing can be more fulfilling when the testimonies of your laudable achievements and good legacies are seen daily. Though days few but fulfilled.

Your Excellency Sir, Daddy, Baba.

Although we cry because we Miss you, we know God Almighty you served loves you more”.

Exemplified integrity and brilliance – Hakeem Toyin Balogun, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy Of Nigeria , Washington D.C. “My heart is full of grief, a grief that is deep and personal. God has silently closed the door of life and taken back from us our boss, our leader, our teacher and our colleague, Professor Adefuye. Since Thursday 27th August 2015, a shadow of doom has descended on this Embassy.

Ambassador Adefuye was a man who gave much to his work. His life exemplified integrity and brilliance, virtues worthy of emulation.

He was a good boss, a family man and also a good friend to us. The character of the life he lived can be summed up in a few words: sincerity and hard work.

At this time of grief, my thoughts and prayers are with the wife and children. May Almighty God grant the family the strength to bear this irreparable loss.

May the soul of Professor Adefuye rest in peace and find repose in his Lord.

The Iroko has fallen –Wale Oloko and family, Embassy of Nigeria, Washington DC “Ambassador Adebowale ADEFUYE called me on August 24th, 2015 and asked to see me the following day. He was out of the office the next day and I couldn’t see him. The sad news of the death of Ambassador Adebowale ADEFUYE on 27th August, 2015 therefore came to me as a rude shock. I say it was a rude shock because of the manner the information got to me because I was expecting to see him in the office on Thursday 27th August. The Iroko has indeed fallen.

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That our late Ambassador was hardworking, dedicated and committed in his

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

The late Prof. Ade Adefuye with his wife

The late Prof. Ade Adefuye with children.

L5 Tribute

Full of hearty laughter.

Tributes... of loss, of love representational duties in Washington DC is an understatement. He was in the real sense, the face of the government and people of Nigeria during his tenure in the United States.

He had no reservations on the key mission of projecting the image of the country in all his interactions with the diplomatic, and the business community here in the United States.

He was a strong advocate for Nigeria.

3.

My first interaction with Ambassador ADEFUYE was as a student-officer at the Foreign Service Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although, the Academy had many invited resource persons from the academia, Professor ADEFUYE towered above all and demonstrated a deep understanding of international affairs and emerging threats in the international environment. Little wonder that he was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jamaica shortly thereafter. His deep knowledge of diplomacy and statecraft ensured that he remained an influential and respected member of the Nigeria’s foreign policy establishment ever since.

4.

A deeply religious and devoted family man, Ambassador ADEFUYE would insist on concluding any weekend official activities outside Washington DC early enough to enable him return to accompany his wife to church for prayers.

A m b a s s a d o r ADEFUYE was a good husband to his wife, a good father to his children, good brother to his siblings and good in-law to his wife’s relations.

5.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children at this difficult time. I pray that God will grant them the strength to bear this loss and the fortitude to cope with the great vacuum created by his death. They should take solace in the glowing tributes that have poured in since the demise of this great Iroko.

6.

To the rest of us, Ambassador ADEFUYE was a decent man, senior colleague and boss. He was mine as well.

Let us not weep for a husband, father, inlaw, friend and colleague whose life was an inspiration to us all. Let us celebrate his life, remember the good times and rejoice in the fulfillment of his rites of passage on earth, onto the heavenly abode. Let us not talk about unfulfilled dreams. Let us not ask why now or why not later, because he lived, loved, worked and rested at the appointed time. Let us seize this occasion to dedicate our lives to common good. Let us extend our compassion to his wife and children.

I would always remember the feelings and fond memories that I shared with him, Ambassador Adebowale Ibidapo Adefuye.

I would never forget the way he called my name. The way he spoke to me and his kind hearted way of doing things for me. He was a good man and I admire his selflessness. I

wondered why this happened to him. I cannot get over my emotions, grief and sorrow knowing that you are no more around. I know you are in heaven because Life is a walking dream, death is going home.

Your brother and son, Charles Uwaje A RARE-GEM –Adeola & Babatunde Adesokan “Baba, you are a rare-gem. Suddenly you joined the company of the marching saints without a goodbye- singing before the throne of grace “Oh when the saints go marching in” (Louis Armstrong). You took a flight to the seat of mercy on a Thursday hoping to check in and check out. And since there is no bus stop or sky stop in the air it turned out to be a flight of no return. I would have insisted you shouldn’t go. All I heard was “Iya Yard won n korin nibe yen ni moba kuku duro (Pastor’s wife, they were singing and dancing there so I branched and stayed). Baba, this is too sudden and heart breaking for all of us. You are too good to be ignored. A father to the fatherless, unrepentant hard worker, diligent in all things. “Ha, ile n je niyan” Baba Adefuye, sunre o, I salute your bravery and kindness. Your memory lingers on. You served your country faithfully, and encouraged us to be patriotic, took good care of all that came in contact with you, with your open door policy. Indeed you are rare gem, with great virtues as your name stands for ADEFUYE. Ø We Admire your simplicity. Ø You are Dedicated to the Nation. Ø Your Excellency. Ø You are Friendly Ø You are hUmble. Ø You are so Young at heart, that no hatred was found in you, easy going daddy. Ø God gave you Energy for your pursuits in life.

We love Daddy but God loves you best.

Rest in peace in the bosom of your maker Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. O tun di ojo ajinde, ti a o pade lese Jesus. Be blessed sir.

A ready giver –Abdu Ado Three weeks after receiving my posting letter to Washington, DC my colleague, Mr. O. Gomba entered my office in APEDD with Ambassador Ade Adefuye. I was on telephone call but immediately dropped telling the caller that I would call back as my Ambassador was in the office. It was unimaginable that instead of me to look for my Head of Mission who arrived Abuja, he was the one looking for me up to my office. Evidence of humility and simplicity of the Late Head of Mission.

After the second time of reading my draft for

his signature, Professor Adefuye had never read my draft again before signing, always saying “I believe and trust what you have drafted and never doubted your grammar”.

When my colleague, Mrs. Okeke left for Headquarters after completing her tour, he asked me three times which Section between Economic and Trade & Investment I would prefer to head. I always insisted for Economic.

He would have directed the Section I would head rather than giving me freedom of choice.

When I combined the two Sections before the arrival of a colleague to take over the Trade and Investment Section, he would always say “I never knew you are hardworking like this”.

ONE LAST MEETING –Colonel Julius Ehioze Osifo, Embassy of Nigeria, Washington DC “I had planned to meet you last week in your office. Like all our previous meetings, l didn’t require prior notice or permission. Not just because l was a member of your staff, but l was also enviously referred to as ‘’ambassador’s first son.’’ I had unfettered access to both your office and home, a privilege l will forever cherish. You were as fond of me as l was of you. You never missed an opportunity to share with the world your fond impressions of me.

Our relationship encompassed everything; boss-staff, father-son, professional colleagues, mentor-mentoree. This left some wondering ‘’...why does Ambassador like Colonel so much ?’’.

In your passion and dedication to building a new image of Nigeria here in Washington DC, you wanted only the very best. You insisted on putting your best foot forward always. If Nigeria’s interest was the subject matter, you were not one to pull punches. You created a renewed sense of pride and commitment to motherland, amongst Nigerians in the Diaspora. Your efforts were manifest in the multitude of Nigerians and our international friends who always besieged the embassy to either celebrate our national day or honour our invites . You received several accolades for the simple, people friendly procedures you introduced for Nigerians requiring consular services. At last, Diaspora Nigerians knew they had a home at the embassy.

Undoubtedly, you were an excellent ambassador.

Very visible and well acknowledged in the Washington Circle of Diplomats. You had a great career, bagging a PhD in your early 20’s. You were a great teacher, counselor and mentor. Your students are making great strides all over the world and will forever cherish their years under your tutelage.

Your career change from the classroom to the corridors of diplomacy was a quintessential example of transforming theory to practice.

You proved that you could practice what you

teach. Your diplomatic odyssey traversed Jamaica, UK, Commonwealth,ECOWAS and five consecutive years in Washington DC. In memory of the great Rev Martin Luther King, you were honoured for your giant strides in administration and diplomacy. Inspite of these strides, you maintained a humble mien. No airs around you. You greeted everybody familiarly and always expressed an infectious affection to all and sundry. Children in particular had a place of pride with you. We all enjoyed your broad smiles, great jokes and candor. You lived a fulfilled life, had a great career and built a great name. Your family and all of us will forever cherish you.

The foregoing was the subject of my proposed meeting. I was going to say congratulations, sir on been recalled back to Nigeria. I wanted to remind you that you had attained Abraham Maslow’s self-actualization.

That very apex height where many aspire, but only few actualize. I was going to give you my family’s warm felicitations on your pending disengagement and to let you know that we treasure and respect you. Its’ an indelible pleasure and a great honour to have met you.

The cold hands of death aborted the meeting. My solace is that you knew that we held you in our highest esteem. Good night sir! May perpetual light shine upon your great soul.

I will continue to thank him –Omar A Lawal, First Secretary, Special Assistant Professor Adefuye: Youngman where have you been?

Omar: I have been around Your Excellency.

Professor Adefuye: I have sent people to look for you and you could not be found.

Omar: Sir, I have been processing my departing document. I am leaving for Kingston, Jamaica next week.

Professor Adefuye: No. nononono. You are coming with me to Washington D.C. That is where you can be challenged and improve in the art of diplomacy.

The above interaction took place in October, 2011 by the elevator at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja as I rounded up my schedule as Desk Officer USA and Jamaica and, the remaining was history. I arrived Washington DC in November 2011. Since then things have never been the same. I was enmeshed in the world of cognitive psychology.

I am a testament to the love and lessons he instilled in the people he met. I hope the real tribute will be my actions toward people I meet and how I relate with them, both in my career and in private life.

I will continue to thank him for discovering me and making me understand the practicality of game theory.

Events L6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

Ebenezer Obey, others thrill at C&S 90th Concert

Mutiat Alli

Don Jazzy, Lanre Teriba, Adegbodu Twins thrill at C&S Concert

The musical concert rounding up the week long 90th anniversary of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church was a success with surprises and great performances.

The musical show organized by the church was long overdue according to the church faithful as the church who’s one of the African indigenous churches has given platforms and trained great stars in the musical industry like Afro juju creator, Sir Shina Peters, veteran juju singer, Prince Adekunle, late I K Dairo and guess what, Don Jazzy! Not many knew that the Marvin Crew leader was a C&S member. One of the leaders, former DG of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority NCAA, Dr Harold Demurin stunned media men in a chat when he disclose that the church was at the fore front of creating musicians and inspiring many in the way of the lord via music. He has said at the red carpet that one of the mwas Don Jazzy Coming to the concert.

Don Jazzy Played Guitar At Korede’s Performance

One of the major highlights of the show was the appearance of secular music producer, Don Jazzy and Korede Bello with their aides at the gospel music concert. They arrived around 1 a.m. to the surprise of church faithful and all who were there. Don Jazzy participated in the prayers and singing before he mounted the stage with his boy, Korede Bello as he sang ‘GodWin’. The crowd sang along. In the middle of the performance, Don Jazzy grabbed thee Bass Guitar and play. One was surprised to see the master producer play the instrument. Later, a lady and member of the church reminded yours sincerely that Collins Enebeli learnt how to perform all instrument while attending the church as a youth. Don Jazzy stated that his rank in the church was that of an evangelist and was in tune with things in the church having grown up as a C&S. He was later presented an award of recognition by Harold Demuren.

Other artistes that performed are Ebenezer Obey, Adegbodu Twins, Lanre Teriba, Akpororo,Midnight Crew, Evangelist Osit Molokwu, Aurora Dance Group and The Seraph Brands from different provinces.

L-R: Head of Media, Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Elder Dere Otubu; General Secretary, Elder Napo Emuchay; Deputy Baba Aladura, Harold Olusegun Demuren; and Board Member, Elder Ndison, at the Concert of Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church 90th years Anniversary.

Evangelist Ebenzener Obey receiving plaque award

Don Jazzy handling the guitar

Lanre Teriba recieveing an honorary award

Immigration launches Alausa ‘Passport office’ signage

State Comptroller, Mrs. Justina A. Amodu officiating the offical formlation of the Alausa Passport Office.

The state Comptroller, Mrs. Justina A. Amodu and DCI, Mr. Ajisafe

Deputy Comptoller Immigration, Alausa Passport, Mr. Olushola Ajisafe and The Marketing Manager, Pomat Peter’s Nig. Ltd, Mr. Olajide Oladapo

The state Comptroller, Mrs. Justina A. Amodu delivering her speech

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

L7 Events

Billionaire businessman,

Igbinedion celebrates birthday in style The Esama of Benin and Honourary Romanian Consul to Edo and Delta States of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sir, Chief, Doctor Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion has been described as a distinguished Nigerian and an asset to the human race. Penultimate Friday in his palace, billionaire businessman, Chief Igbinedion who turned 81 recently gathered friends, family and well-wishers to celebrate the gift of life. The Esama of Benin on the occasion of his 81st birthday we gathered was full of life as the octogenarian promised to continue the birthday ceremony in South Africa. The one that took place here in Benin, Nigeria had top dignitaries from all nooks and crannies of the country in attendance.

Celebrant, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Celebrant, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Lady Cherry, Igbinedion

Celebrant, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Pastor Mrs. Obby Okeke & Celebrant, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion.

Celebrant, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion Presenting the Trophy to the winner

Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Hon. Sam Ikon

Celebrant, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Onojie of Igueben, His Royal Highness Ehizojie Eluojierior

Sir Victor Uwaifo

Pastor Mrs. Obby Okeke

Celebrant, Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion with Staffs

Celebrant, Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion

Royal Fathers at the event

Rev. Felix Omobude.

Edo State Federal House Of Rep.; Hon. Omosede Igbinedion

Celebrant, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion with son Lucky Igbinedion Photos: Quadri Olowolagba

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, September 18, 2015

L8 TV guide

Showing on

Showing on

152 Africa Magic Epic

141 Eva Channel

00:45

03:00

Fri, 18 Sep | 16

Fri, 18 Sep | PG18

A ka Nneka My Princess. A rebellious prince is forced to choose a wife hoping that this would make him settle down. However, the prince is determined to have his way regardless. Nuella Njubigbo, Charles Okocha. (2012) Ifeanyi Azodo.

101 M-Net West

03:00 Caught On Camera 04:00 The Voice 05:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 06:00 Modern Family 06:30 The Blacklist 07:30 Battle Creek 08:30 Iron Man 3 11:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 12:00 The Voice 13:00 NCIS: New Orleans 14:00 Hawaii Five-0 15:00 The Fixer 16:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 17:00 The Odd Couple 17:30 The Voice 18:30 Resurrection 19:30 Arrow 20:30 The Bag Man 22:30 The Deadly Game

154 Africa Magic Family

00:00 Tinsel 00:30 Star Gist 01:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Good Morning Africa 03:27 Secret Room 03:49 Behind The Scenes: Invasion 04:00 Music Block 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

00:30 The Weakest Link 01:20 Scott And Bailey 02:10 Come Dine With Me 03:05 EastEnders 03:35 QI 04:05 Top Gear 05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series 05:25 QI 05:55 The Thin Blue Line 06:25 EastEnders 06:55 Antiques Roadshow 07:50 The Weakest Link 08:35 The Chase 09:25 QI 09:55 Would I Lie To You? 10:25 Deal Or No Deal 11:05 My Family 11:35 Hell’s Kitchen USA 12:25 Top Gear 13:25 Come Dine With Me 14:10 Celebrity MasterChef 15:05 The Weakest Link 16:00 Casualty 17:00 The Chase 18:00 The Cube 19:00 New Tricks 20:00 The Graham Norton Show 21:00 Dragons’ Den 22:00 Live At The Apollo 22:50 QI

07:25 Paul’s Puzzle 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:25 Mashariki Mix 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 14:00 Nowhere To Be Found 14:30 Nowhere To Be Found 15:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:00 Prem 16:30 Tenant 17:30 Mary Slessor 18:00 Jane And Abel 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Goal Diggerz 19:30 Star Gist 20:00 Days Without Rain 21:30 Goge Africa 22:05 Living With Trisha

‘S1/E59 - 1/59’. A tearful Marthita confides her secret to Olvido. Regardless of his pain, Armando refuses to see a doctor. Everybody celebrates the birth of Iran’s baby girl, except Iran.

128 SONY MAX

00:25 Most Shocking 01:20 Sexy Car Wash 01:50 Rude Tube 02:20 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 02:45 The Boondocks 03:10 Rude Tube 00:20 QI

10:25 Deal Or No Deal

03:35 Most Shocking

00:50 The Weakest Link

11:05 My Family

04:30 South Beach Tow

01:35 Scott And Bailey

11:35 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak

02:20 Come Dine With Me

12:25 Top Gear

05:25 Exposed

03:10 EastEnders

13:20 Come Dine With Me

05:50 Exposed

03:40 QI

14:15 Celebrity MasterChef

06:15 Video Zonkers

04:10 Top Gear

15:05 The Weakest Link

06:40 Video Zonkers

05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series

16:00 Casualty

07:05 World’s Wildest Police Videos

05:25 QI

17:00 The Chase

05:55 Miranda

18:00 The Cube

08:05 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol

06:30 EastEnders

19:00 Silk

09:05 South Beach Tow

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

20:00 The Graham Norton Show

09:35 Most Shocking

07:50 The Weakest Link

21:00 Dragons’ Den

10:35 Most Shocking

08:35 The Chase

22:00 Live At The Apollo

11:35 Video Zonkers

09:25 QI

22:50 QI

12:05 Video Zonkers 12:35 World’s Wildest Police Videos

09:55 Would I Lie To You?

155 Africa Magic World

00:02 Music Block 01:00 Good Morning Africa 02:05 Deal Or No Deal SA 03:00 Music Block 04:00 The Dzigbordi Show 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:05 Last Angel In Hell 07:20 Star Gist 07:55 Star Gist 08:25 Star Gist

09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 The Dzigbordi Show 11:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 13:00 Music Block 14:00 Star Gist 14:30 Star Gist 15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Lies That Bind 16:00 The Dzigbordi Show 17:00 So Wrong So Wright 17:30 So Wrong So Wright 18:00 The Dzigbordi Show 19:00 Kumwesu 19:30 Kumwesu 20:00 The Bleeding Heart 21:45 Jara 22:15 Music Block

13:35 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:35 South Beach Tow 15:05 Most Shocking 16:05 1000 Ways To Die 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Video Zonkers 17:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Tattoo Nightmares 20:30 Skin Wars 21:30 Hip Hop Squares 22:00 Sexy Car Wash 22:30 1000 Ways To Die 21:30 Hip Hop Squares 22:00 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:30 1000 Ways To Die