Daily Times of Nigeria

INSIDE

Life&

TIMES

Monday January 19, 2015

Tayo Sobaola

makes English movie debut PL3

Chris Brown on the road to jail L4

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P

L6

Sore throat and treatment

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Fashion L2 mistakes

Here comes NBF Boxing Classic

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INSIDE Envoy summoned as Indonesia Ï 9Ɛô ƅƐ Ƈ ƗƆ ƍƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƅƕ ƈ Ɗƈ ƍ ƏƐƕè ƕ ^ executes two Ï Ƅ Ɛƈë Rƍƍ ƈƐƈ ƈ ƄƆƈ ƍƆƐƐƕ down from N97 to N87 per litre.

Nigerian 6 Akinjide Akintola The Federal Government announced the ALO H G I ÏÏÏ From this morning, the drug convicts pump price of petrol has been cut CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ON FIRE

FG cuts fuel price to N87

CBN Gov slams JP Morgan over Naira’s value

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MASHABA

puts unbeaten record on the line

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WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

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LE ROY blasts AFCON organisers over traffic jam

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Silver -1996 Vejle (Super heavyweight)

Poster!

Low: World cup hero asks for more

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”

I prepare for my fights too well that I don’t want to give a chance to my opponent to crash my ‘glass chin’ as they say, so I’m knocking them in the way that I like.

—Wladimir Klitschko

There is no money in this world that will make us fight.” – Speaking on a potential fight between him and his brother, Vitali.

QUOTES ON

“

Wladimir Klitschko

KLITSCHKO

XT Exclusive

WLADIMIR

WBO Heavyweight Super Champion (+200 lbs)

WBO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) IBF Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBA (Super) Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) Minor World Titles: IBO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) The Ring Title: The Ring Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) Regional/International Titles: WBC International Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) EBU Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) NABF Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBO NABO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs)

President Goodluck Jonathan at the children’s section of the Aso Rock chapel in Abuja...on Sunday.

Wladimir Klitschko Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Klychko Dr. Steelhammer Heavyweight 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 206 cm (81 in) Ukraine March 25, 1976 (age 38) Semipalatinsk, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Semey, Kazakhstan) Orthodox 66 63 53 3 0 Gold -1996 Atlanta (Super heavyweight)

Ï C Ə Ƒ Ɨ Ɛ ƗƈƑƌ ƈƇ ƕ Ƒ ƏƆ ƇƈƐè ƕ ƏƑƋƈ ƍ ƏƐƕ

PDP wants me dead – Buhari MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.26

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N150

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General Muhammadu Buhari at the APC rally in Jos, Plateau State...at the weekend.

Monday, January 19, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Politics Page Three

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Editorial

President Jonathan’s visit to Borno

T

he recent visit to Borno State by President Goodluck Jonathan should be applauded by all wellmeaning Nigerians. The visit took him to camps for displaced persons and the military hospital where he saw firsthand soldiers wounded in battles while fighting Boko Haram insurgents. Following this, a lot of comments and insinuations have been made for and against the surprise visit. For all its symbolism, there is no denying the fact that such visits by the country’s leaders will go a long way in reassuring the people of their safety and wellbeing.

Even when it was long in coming, it still did not detract from the moraleboosting impact it would have on those caught in the conflicts. Four years into the Boko Haram insurgency, the North east of the country is facing a crisis of monumental proportion that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands more.

The humanitarian catastrophe has not only tasked the country’s human and material resources, it is threatening to create a chasm and cleavage along religious and ethnic lines. With less than 30 days to the general election and the insurgents still on rampage, the question is whether there will ever be election in the Northeast in February For, whatever the answers are, there is need for government to assure Nigerians on its measures and strategies to secure the peace in that geopolitical

zone. This is why the President’s visit should be a matter of importance and national interest. Shorn of any political motive, especially now that elections are fast approaching, President Jonathan’s visit is a way of restating to the citizens the duty of government to protect their lives and property in spite of all the shortcomings.

The visit could not have come at a more auspicious time, given that the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima,has been lamenting that about two-thirds of the state is under the control of Boko Haram, and with citizens of the affected areas fast losing faith in the ability of the Federal Government to protect them. It would be recalled that it was in Borno State that Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped over 260 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok.

Till date, the fate and whereabouts of those girls brutally separated from their families remains unknown.

It is our considered view that President Jonathan also pay a visit to Chibok community, if only to make emphatic the pledge of his administration to rescue those innocent girls and bring them home. The reality of the Nigerian situation is that it is a country at war. In a situation like this, it behoves the President to be a rallying point for the country in surmounting its distress.

Definitely, this is not time for the administration to keep its distance from Borno and other states in the Northeast.

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Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎSince the unfortunate

entry of the Boko Haram terror sect into Nigeria some years back, several reasons have been adduced to why it has refused to disappear from the political landscape.

Just on Saturday, the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, listed the weakness of the Nigerian state as one reason the sect has been able to overrun some areas of the north.

Recall that Sanusi whilst at the helm of affairs at the Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) linked the upsurge of the sect to poverty, unemployment and worsening economic condition of the north. Several other persons before and after him have also adduced reasons why the rank of the sect continues swell.

Not a few Nigerians see them as mere excuses and the more people continue to harp on them, they unwittingly justify the sect and its actions. This is because Nigerians in other parts of the country still contend with poverty, unemployment, marginalisation, worsening economic conditions, etc, but have refused to take to mass killings, abductions, burning

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Untenable excuses for Boko Haram madness of houses, worship places and markets amongst others to vent their anger.

So if Nigerians in other parts of the country have chosen to keep the peace in the midst of the unfavourable conditions they have found themselves, those harping on the above reasons to justify the Boko Haram sect and its activities can only be making up excuses.

The earlier we all, irrespective of our political and ethnic leanings, unite behind the government and our security forces in the fight against terror, the easier it will be to rout the sect. The time to do this is now.

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Fidelis Anosike

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

Nasir el-Rufai

Oba Rilwan Akiolu

Goodluck Jonathan

The All Progressives Congress (APC) will form a new and progressive government . . . We will not take state resources to anybody in Abuja.

Jimmy (Agabje) . . . is my personal pharmacist and a very good person, but I’ve made it abundantly clear to him that I’m not going to back him

Our youths have ben empowered, in terms of entrepreneurial agriculture . . . which has been making them millionaires, billionaires, more on the improvement on cocoa and cassava products

4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

5 News

Ondo PDP group threatens parallel presidential campaign committee Julius Alabi

ÏÏÏ

Things seem to be falling apart for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State as the old members threaten to set up a parallel campaign body for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan if the state coordinator, Mr Tokunbo Modupe is not removed immediately.

They also vowed to shun any campaign rally organised by the Modupe-led Presidential Campaign Committee in the state.

The old members made the threat at a stakeholders meeting in Akure, the state capital at the weekend, convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs and chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku.

Those at the meeting believed that it would be an insult on the old members if Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who just defected from the Labour Party, is made the South-West coordinator of the Presidential

Enugu PDP sure of Ugwuanyi’s victory Fred Ede Enugu

ÏÏÏ

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State has reaffirmed its determination to mobilise the people of the state to vote massively for its gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in the February 28 election.

It, however, said it would not underrate the opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidate, Okey Ezea is having a third attempt at the governorship, having lost in 2007 and 2011 to Governor Sullivan Chime.

Briefing newsmen on Sunday, Director General of the state PDP Campaign Organisation, Charles Egumgbe and Secretary, Rita Mbah, said the party was relying on the massive support it received in the 17 councils of the state.

While disclosing that the party’s campaign would formally kick-off in Isiuzo local government area of the state on Monday, the campaign team said the achievements of Governor Chime in the last seven years have made it easier for the party to emerge victorious at all levels in the state.

“We don’t underrate any candidate. The APC can-

didate is not a stranger to us. We’ve met before and he was defeated; this time around, it will not be different. Maybe, this time around, he’ll be defeated in his ward.

“Our message to the people is to ask them to continue to believe in us. We’ve had a partnership with the people over the years and we are very optimistic that it will continue, even after the election,” they noted.

campaign committee and another new PDP member is made the state coordinator.

Chief Olusola Oke, who read the communiqué on behalf of the group, stressed that Mimiko should removed Modupe and replace him with any old member of the party.

“It is unacceptable to the old PDP that the new PDP produces the coordinator for the Jonathan campaign for 2015. Mimiko is the coordinator of the campaign in South-West. We reject the

appointment of Modupe Tokunbo.

“We demand that one of the leaders of the old PDP should be appointed… unless that is done, the old PDP will not work under the leadership of Modupe.

We urge all our members to go back to their wards to galvanise support for the party and Jonathan.

“In case Governor Mimiko fails to do this, we shall commence our own campaign without reverting to Mimiko in the campaign for the president,” it

Lagos

ÏÏÏ

The United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) has condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC), national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s attempt to turn the crude oil theft in Nigeria into an ethnic issue by accusing President Goodluck Jonathan of being responsible for the alleged theft of 400,000 barrels of crude oil every day in Nigeria.

The group, a coalition of ethnic nationalities and

Odu, Prince John Ola Mafo, Ebenezer Alabi and others, Oke regretted the defection some members to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and vowed to redress the trend.

The communiqué read in part “that the recent movement or defection of our members is regrettable, and we will do everything to bring them back.

We have resolved that never again would any member move out of the party for any reason.”

Kayode Adelowokan

CBN Gov slams JP Morgan’s valuation of Naira

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, (3rd right), with the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed (3rd left) and the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu (2nd right) during a commiseration visit over the fire incident at Iwaya Market, Abete, Ebute Metta, Lagos ... on Sunday

Alleged crude oil theft: UNDEDSS cautions Tinubu Jonathan Eze

added.

Oke, who was the PDP candidate of the party in the October 20, 2012 governorship election in the state, explained further that they welcome the governor and members of the LP who just defected into their fold as they would add value; but warned that it would not be in the interest of the party to have all positions controlled by the newcomers.

Flanked by party leaders including Dr. Tayo Dairo, Kuku, Princess Oladunni

civil society in the Niger Delta, cautioned Tinubu to cease his persistent ethnicprofiling of the region’s people, for cheap political reasons, whilst reminding him that evidence abounds that he and others like Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, have been in the forefront of illegal oil bunkering in Nigeria for decades”, A release signed by the group’s Secretary General, Tony Uranta stated.

“Should Bola Tinubu persist in his dastardly attempt to demonise the Niger Delta and its people”, said Uranta, “UNDEDSS may be compelled to, immediately, place

Tinubu him on the active ‘No-Visit’ List that restricts enemies of the Niger Delta and its otherwise-hospitable people from setting foot within our regional space with impunity! This would effectively mark him as persona non grata and he will not be guaranteed a welcome within the region, with immediate effect and till further notice!”

ÏÏÏGovernor

of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has disregarded the JPMorgan Chase & Co’s assertion that there is a lack of liquidity in the foreign exchange market, saying that the naira is correctly valued.

Emefiele in a phone interview with an online news media said that there was no truth in the assertion by the index team that they did not see the liquidity.

The CBN Governor said that there was no reason to begin to take a look at the naira’s value after the apex bank devalued the currency in November, last year.

It would be recalled that

Nigeria was placed on Index Watch Negative for JPMorgan’s local currency emerging market indexes on Friday, after the CBN measures in December reduced foreign exchange and bond trading, making it difficult for foreign investors to replicate the gauge, the New-York based lender said in an e-mailed statement.

The regulator intervened after the naira fell to a record low soon after the announcement, according to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

PDP wants me dead – Buhari Lateef Ibrahim and Augustine Aminu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), yesterday accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of wishing him dead in the latter’s desperation to escape imminent defeat in the forthcoming general election.

Buhari’s accusation, which came in response to alleged false rumours of his poor health by the PDP, was however countered by the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PDPPCO)

which challenged the retired general to take a brisk walk or jog round a stadium to prove his fitness.

The PDPPCO insisted that if Buhari could do that, it would allay the fears of many over his health.

Buhari at a press conference at the weekend in Abuja said PDP’s desperation to pull him down at all costs led to a concocted news headline where they claimed he had flown to the United States for medical treatment.

The general noted that the report had however been proved untrue by his presence at the conference in person and not by proxy.

“I was at Nasarawa and Benue states yesterday and on Monday (Today), I am going to be in two states. The day after tomorrow, in two more states. I am doing two states per day.

“How they got the impression that I was sick, I do not know. Although I got cold, that did not stop me from going through my schedule.”

Commenting further on his alleged ill health, Buhari added: “…The issue we are telling Nigerians is that of corruption in this country.

For the last 16 years, PDP has literally destroyed this country.

“This is the issue and

what does my health have to do with that one?..”

Buhari added that more than anything, the inability of the Jonathan administration to tackle corruption and the lack of capacity to resolve the insurgency ravaging the North east particularly, were the driving force behind the desperation, asking Nigerians not to be intimidated.

On the issue of his certificate, he explained that he had contested presidential election three times under the same rules set by the INEC and that his basic educational qualification has never been an issue.

“I was allowed to contest all these elections because my certificate was in order.

There were individuals that wrote to the United States War College and the college answered them and it was published by some of your papers.

“Really, this desperation of misinformation that is being passed around will do nobody no good because our minds are being taken away from the serious issues of corruption and incompetence by the PDP.” On the State of the Nigerian economy, Buhari said: “the country is broke now and many states could not pay their workers’ salaries.

The “jogging” challenge was thrown yesterday by the PDPPCO through a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in Abuja.

The organisation insisted that it was important that Buhari cleared the air and show Nigerians that he is not mortally ill.

According to the PDPPCO, “The health status of General Muhammadu Buhari has now become a major issue and it gives us cause for concern.

“We are not impressed at the fact that his campaign organisation and his political party have tried to speak for him on this matter and we would prefer that General Buhari himself clears the air and tells the Nigerian people himself that he is not mortally ill.

“The rumour that he is suffering from prostate cancer is exceptionally worrying and it is incumbent upon each and everyone of us to pray for him if this rumour is true.”

FG cuts fuel price to N87 Continued from page 1

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola addressing a mammoth crowd, during the Oyo State APC’s continuity campaign for Senator Isiaka Ajimobi’s 2nd Term at the Mapo Hall, Ibadan Oyo State... on Saturday

Indonesia executes two Nigerians ÏÏÏThe Federal Government

has summoned the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria over the state execution of two Nigerians and four others in the Asian country over alleged drug-related offences.

The names of the Nigerians were given by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Solomon Chibuike Okafor, (alias Namaona Denils) and Daniels Enemuo, (alias Diarrassoube Mamadou).

The Nigerians and four others were killed by firing squad by Indonesian authorities at the weekend. Those killed were convicted for drug trafficking.

Also executed were four men from Brazil, Malawi, and the Netherlands, including an Indonesian woman. They

were killed simultaneously in pairs just after midnight Saturday, several kilometers from a high-security prison on Nusakambangan island.

The other, a woman from Vietnam, was executed in Boyolali, according to Attorney General Office’s spokesman Tony Spontana. Both areas are in Central Java province.

The Ministry expressed disappointment that the Indonesian authorities carried out the execution in spite of wide appeals from friendly nations.

It also noted that 12 other Nigerians are on the death row in that country and renewed its call for the transfer of prisoners back home if found guilty of capital offences.

Suicide bomber kills four in Yobe, fight rages in Adamawa Tom Garba

ÏÏÏ

Four persons were on Sunday killed and dozens others wounded as a suicide bomber struck at a bus station in Potiskum, Yobe State.

This is even as a fresh attack on Gombi town in Adamawa by Boko Haram insurgents Sunday evening heightened tension in the town as there was fierce exchange of gun fire by men of the Nigerian soldiers. “(The bomber) slowed his car twice... some distance from the bus station, and he suddenly increased speed and rammed into buses lined up waiting for

passengers,” local trader Umar Sani told reporters.

A police officer said four bodies and 48 injured people had been taken from the scene.

A nurse at the Potiskum General Hospital gave a similar death and injury toll, and said local residents had rushed to the hospital in search of their loved ones.

She described the suicide bomber as a young man.

According to Umar, a resident of Gombi, Adamawa State in a telephone interview told our correspondent that the Nigerian soldiers were repelling the attacks as at the time of filing this report.

decision on Sunday evening, directing the Petroleum Product Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to immediately effect the change “with immediate effect.”

Main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) described the decision as an action by a sinking government which is desperate to worm itself into the hearts of Nigerians after treating them with disdain for a long time.

The APC position was, however, faulted by Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati who said that the opposition party is being petty and illiterate about the running of government.

The change in price, according to the government, is in view of recent reduction in the global price of crude oil.

The Minister of Petroleum, Dieziani AlisonMadueke, spoke with State House Correspondents on the rationale for the price reduction.

APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told Daily Times that the government was desperate to hood-

wink Nigerians ahead of the forthcoming elections.

He expressed disappointment that even with that “desperate act,” the government could not go the whole hog in reducing the prices more “because they are corrupt.”

According to him, world oil prices have come down than more than 100 per cent, hence the reduction by the government ought to have been reduced by more than 50 percent and not the mere N10.00 reduction.

He described it as a gimmick and dishonest method of worming their way into the minds of long suffering Nigerians who are fed up with them Abati faulted the APC reaction, saying that the decision was a logical development in view of the sharp reduction in global fuel prices.

He told the Daily Times: “It’s a no-brainer. It is only the petty minds in the APC that will always read politics into every national issue. The Federal Government took the decision in line with the development in the global oil market. We will continue to observe the situation and react appropriately.”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

7 News

Rivers PDP, APC disagree over usage of stadium

Briefs

Godwin Onyema

Lateef Ibrahim

Port-Harcourt

ÏÏÏ

The chairmen of the Rivers State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the two leading political parties in the state, have disagreed sharply over the use of the 40,000 Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for political rallies.

The state’s APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and his PDP counterpart, Chief Felix Obuah, had a hot

exchange of words at the weekend in Port Harcourt after a meeting of political leaders called by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature.

The PDP chairman had earlier claimed that his party had applied for the use of the stadium for the party’s presidential campaign scheduled to hold in the state on January 28, but was denied by state Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, who refused to approved the application.

Obuah fumed: “The Rivers State facilities are

owned by all of us; all taxpaying people. The Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium belongs to Rivers people; Rivers State money was used to build it. It was not meant for the Buhari campaign manager; it is not his personal property. They used it for their own rally and their on celebrations.

“We applied to use the place for our rally, come January 28. But the governor, in his act of impunity, have refused us the use of that place.

We dare him because it is not his personal property.

Come January 28, we are going to use that place. We have made official reports to the police, the SSS and all the other law enforcement agencies.

“So let all the citizenry of Rivers State be aware of this; we applied for use of the state facility that they have used twice. We stand to say that please, for peace to reign, the property has to be released,” the PDP chair asserted.

In his response, the APC Chairman, Dr. Ikanya, said: “You heard that threat; that’s their character.

TAN rejects Dickson’s quit order

Governor of Niger State, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (right) presenting the Staff Of Office to the new Emir of Agaie; Alh Yusuf Nuhu, at the Emir’s palace in Agaie.

Akam James Yenagoa

ÏÏÏ

Apparently worried by the continuous attack by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, the leadership of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) in the state yesterday faulted the quit notice issued to the group by Dickson over alleged acts capable of derailing the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

The TAN, in a statement issued in Yenagoa by its Director of Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba-Ologo, said though the quit notice issued by the Governor Dickson administration is shocking and unbelievable, the governor has no constitutional right to ask any group to leave the state.

According to the statement, the TAN received the reported order tagged: ‘Pack and Go’ with shock and disbelief. “We are shocked because we find it hard to understand how an elected governor of a state would make such a statement in a democratic setting, as we have in Nigeria, as there is nowhere in the Nigerian Constitution that gives any governor such powers.

Now, that stadium is being worked on; that stadium is not completed. It is still under construction.

If anything happens to that stadium, hold PDP responsible. There are venues for rallies; they have not used that place before.

When the contractors went off during the December holidays, they didn’t apply for the place. If they had applied then, they would have been granted. But now the contractors are fully back and the governor wants to complete that stadium and hand it over.

APGA group calls for violence-free polls Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Ahead of the forthcoming general election, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Integrity Group has called for violence-free, transparent and acceptable elections, in tandem with the Abuja Peace Accord signed by Presidential candidates participating in the February polls.

The APGA Integrity Group, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Great Martin Kalu, noted that the spate of violence in the recent past is worrisome and has threatened the foundations of our nascent democracy.

The group pointed out that as a mass movement, it abhors violence in all its ramifications and urged political parties, their candidates and supporters to shun violence, threats and hate speeches that will over heat the polity.

Aggrieved APC Lagos Assembly aspirants make U-turn

‘Retired soldiers’ experience needed to defeat B’Haram’ Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏ

Chief Imam of Obafemi Awolowo University Central Mosque, Dr. Abubakar Sanusi, has urged the Federal Government to involve retired soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram.

The cleric gave this charge during a Sermon penultimate Friday, when the Association of Nigerian Legions, Ife chapter, visited the mosque.

The visitation was in commemoration with the

2015 Armed Forces Rememberance Day, for military men who sacrificed their lives for Nigeria.

He added that Nigerian Legions have to work with the military in fighting against Boko Haram insurgents.

According to him, the experience of retired soldiers would go a long way to help defeat Boko Haram.

Representative of the Chief Imam, Dr. Makinde, said: “Nigerian Legions are retired, but they are not tired. They can help our military men in fight-

ing against terrorism in this country, since they still have the ability and capacity to do so.

“You have the experience to win a war, and experience is the best teacher,” the cleric declared.

The cleric further counselled Nigerians to stop relating Islam to Boko Haram, saying that no religion promoted violence.

“No religion will preach killing of innocent souls.

Islam is a religion of peace, and it preaches that every day. It would be wrong to say that these people are

Jonathan Muslims. What I know is that the issue of insurgents has already been politicised.

“Whoever has the notion that Boko Haram sect is an Islamic organisation should desist from that wrong insinuations,” he advised.

Kayode Adelowokan

ÏÏÏ

Aggrieved members of All Progressive Congress (APC) who are aspiring to the Lagos State House of Assembly in the February 2015 election have settled their grievances with the leadership of the party and resolved to work for the general interests of the party.

The members and their groups, in a meeting with the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressed their displeasure with the ways and manners candidates of the party for Lagos House of Assembly 2015 were elected at the recently conducted party primaries.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

FG to empower youths, women - Jonathan Val Okara Owerri

...

PDP candidate for Umuahia Central State Constituency, Chinedum Orji (2nd right); the party’s candidate for Bende State Constituency, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe (left); Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly and Deputy to PDP Governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Udeh Okochukwu (2nd left); and Mr. Christian Kamalu, TC chairman, Osisioma LGA (right) at a sensitisation rally in Abia... at the weekend.

Boko Haram: Kuku challenges northern elders on solution Augustine Aminu and Idu Jude

... Special Adviser to Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan on Amnesty Programme, Dr. Kingsley Kuku, has said that the only way out of insurgency in North Eastern Nigeria is self-challenge on patriotism, exemplary leadership and love of the region.

Dr. Kingsley Kuku, said that no possible solution could be better than borrowing the idea used by the leaders of the Niger Delta

in nailing the coffin during the advent of militancy.

He said this while receiving the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in his office in Abuja last weekend during a courtesy visit.

In his words: “It is not as if the situation cannot be handled. Under Yar’adua, people made it so criminal.

What we have now is political Boko Haram, because the original Boko Haram has seen that its environment is gone. This peace effort, were scuttled by in-

terested negotiators from the North who have made it a business venture knowing that it has become a lucrative business and if the programme is not there, their business is also gone and that is why the group has strengthen from the Aiquaida. They can now mobilize from different ethnic groups because they pay them salaries. In which case they now fight no one in particular, with no agenda”.

According to Kingsley Kuku, the only solution,

which is not far-fetched, lies with the leadership of the Northern Nigeria, more especially, those who have abandoned their primary duties of protecting its territory to safeguard its economy and common existence as a people. “It is for the Northern leaders to buy the ideas of the SouthSouth and clean the region off. The leaders who play politics with the insurgency should stop it because if the leaders fails to stop their sons therefore, no one can do it for them” he said.

UPN denies endorsing Jonathan …Says Fasehun is on his own Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

...

The national leadership of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, Sunday, declared that the party has not endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan or any other presidential candidate for the February 14 elections.

The UPN specifically declared that it would not join in the ‘come-andchop’ or ‘let’s-go and-chop’ politics that is the stock-

in-trade of the preponderance of politicians in the country presently, stressing that its own politics is that of a reformation.

The acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Manzo Abubakar made the declaration at a press conference held at the UPN National secretariat in Abuja.

Dr Abubakar pointed out that the press conference became imperative as a result of the fact that the National Executive Com-

mittee, NEC, of the party has been inundated with calls and enquiries within the country and beyond over the purported endorsement of Dr Jonathan which, he said, was clearly propelled by pecuniary and mercenary motives.

The suspended National Chairman of the UPN, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, it would be recalled, had at its convention held in Lagos on Friday, January 9, this year, purportedly endorsed President Jonathan as the party’s preferred candidate for the next month’s presidential election.

President Goodluck Jonathan last weekend stated his administration’s resolve to encourage the youths to develop their talents in order to compete favourably with their peers in other nations of the world.

Jonathan, who made the disclosure at Owerri, the Imo State capital during the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Rally at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, said Nigeria youths had excelled in different fields of endeavour such as sports, entertainment, science and technology.

The PDP Presidential Candidate accompanied by his wife, Patience, further said that women would not only be appointed to various political offices but be pro-

Niger college matriculates 2,112 students Saka BolajiMinna.

...

Students of Fati Lami Abubakar College for Legal and General Studies, Minna, Niger state have been advised to study hard and read above what they were taught in the class to ensure scoring good grade at the end of the courses at the institution.

This advice was given by the Provost of the institution, Barrister Hamza Mua-

jected outside shores of the country to show case their potentials internationally.

“We will continue to project our women internationally. They will not only be appointed as ministers Board Members, Director – Generals or restricted in the kitchen but projected outside the shores of this country to showcase their talents and compete favourably with their counterparts in other countries” Jonathan said.

Addressing the crowd, the wife of the President, Patience who spoke extensively in Igbo language observed that Jonathan’s administration has not only appointed 16 women as Ministers but assigned them to key ministries such as the nation’s Economy Coordinating Minister and Finance as well as Petroleum Minister.

zu to the 2,112 students who matriculated at the college last weekend in Minna, the state capital.

The Provost admonished the students to improve on their languages such as reading literature books, newspapers, magazine, novels and other religious books.

Barr. Hamza Muazu noted that the matriculation was about ushering in the new students so as to make them bonafied students of the collage and educate them on the rules and regulations of the institution.

He added that the students should consider themselves very luck persons because many people applied but only few were chosen.

Alao-Akala’s supporters attacked over posters Remi Oladoye Ibadan

...

Jonathan

Some members of the Labour Party including three aides of Sharafa Alli, the running mate to former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo state were nearly murdered on Saturday night in Challenge round about area of Ibadan by suspected security aides of Governor

Abiola Ajimobi.

Ajimobi’s aides were said to be in a convoy when they noticed LP supporters pasting posters, but with the aid of police officers and other men in the car, they brought out cutlasses and other weapons with which they assaulted the three men who were caught unawares by the action of the governor’s aides.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Gbadebo (left) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gubernatorial candidate for Ogun State, Mr Gboyega Nasir Isiaka during a visit to the Alake on Saturday.

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

2015: Group promises Northern votes for Jonathan Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏNorthern youths under the

auspices of Arewa Youth Integrity Forum has promised to mobilize 20 million youths across the 19 northern states for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of February, 28, 2015 polls.

The youth who described Jonathan as a statesman who is sympathetic to the plight of his followers also hailed him for the courage and bravery shown in visiting Nigerian troops in Maiduguri, the IDPs and persons affected by the inhumane activities of members of Boko Haram sect.

They also mentioned that the courage shown by the president in “travelling to Maiduguri which is seen as a hotbed for crisis is not only commendable but exemplary for all intending leaders”.

This was made known in a statement signed by its National President, Mr. Hamid Usman, which

further endorsed President Jonathan for a second term and declared their support for his candidacy. According to the statement, “Goodluck Jonathan has proven already that he has what it takes to drive Nigeria to the next level, having defeated the local content of insurgency and ready to fight the foreign elements that have joined world terrorists groups to make Nigeria ungovernable for the citizenry.”

It further said the president had proved wrong a section of northern elders who said the president cannot visit anywhere in the north, demonstrating that no section of the country has a right to deny any performing leader from aspiring to any leadership position under our constitution.

“We are confident that Mr. President will campaign anywhere in Nigeria even the north where it has been proven that he is popular against the propaganda ad-

vanced by spent horses. We are also confident that he will trump his competitors at the polls, because we are working round the clock to make sure that we mobilize 20 million votes for the President and ensure that the votes are protected up to the final collation centre in Abuja to guarantee his victory”.

PDP, APC supporters clash in Jigawa Dutse Mohammed

ÏÏÏAftermath

of the workshop on hitch free politicking and elections in Jigawa state, called at the instance of the Jigawa state Police Command, political crisis among supporters of PDP and APC has disrupted the PDP planned gubernatorial campaign rally in Gwaram town, the headquarters of Gwaram local government area.

Even though the root cause of the crisis was uncertain, it first started by smashing of vehicles of the PDP by APC members, and later burning of offices of both parties, while they were carrying dangerous weapons such as knives, daggers, cutlers, among others things, an action which prompted the attention of the police in dispersing them.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abdul

Oshiomhole accuses PDP of plans to disrupt Edo Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ

As Students of the University of Benin are expected to resume for academic activities after the Christmas break, the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State in state-wide broadcast last weekend raised alarm of plans by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use a section of students of the University of Benin to foment trouble in the state and create chaos which may lead to loss of lives of innocent people.

It would be recalled that the relationship between the management of the institution and the Edo state government were broken when the state demolished some properties earlier given to the University by the then former

Jinjiri confirmed the incidence, but assured that all is now calm as the police were on top of the situation.

During the recent workshop, the Jigawa State Police Commissioner, Umar Faruk Idris, has warned politicians in the state on the need to shun vices detrimental to the rules of law in the cause of their campaigns, and politicking now and after the forthcoming general elections.

governor of Mid-West, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, with the aim of reclaiming the said quarters occupied by staff of the ivory tower.

But, the state chairman of the PDP Dan Orbih, in a swift reaction described the governor’s allegation as wicked for dragging the party into the face-off between the government and the University adding that “It is shameful to say the least that a governor will use an auspicious moment of a state broadcast to dwell on accusations”.

In the broadcast to the people of the state, the Governor alleged that the leadership of the PDP in the state held a meeting at the house of one of the candidates of the party where they planned to recruit students and thugs and set ablaze petrol tankers in strategic parts of the state capital.

Anambra Gov spends N18b on Idemili roads Doris Nnabuenyi

Obiano

ÏÏÏAbout N18billion have been

which was awarded at the cost of N1.6billion will be completed before the end of this year.

The governor said the government would soon award the Nwazik-Johnbosco-Electrical market road and PHCN road for construction, in addition to on-going work on schools and health centres infrastructure in the area.

He explained that the area has equally received a fair share of political appointments and urged the people to give APGA total support to sustain the tempo of development in the area.

Abiodun Taiwo

Group drums support for Ogun PDP candidate

Awka

Jonathan

9 News

spent by APGA administration in Anambra State on the construction of roads in Idemili North and south local government areas.

Governor Willie Obiano, who disclosed this Sunday while inaugurating the construction of two roads at Ogidi, Idemili North, said that the two roads totalling over five kilometres are Oye OlisaOgidiani-Umuoji road and Boys secondary school Ani-Ukwu road Ogidi.

He assured that the project

Abeokuta

ÏÏÏDifferent groups from Ogun

West have continued to indicate their readiness to support governorship candidate of People’s Democratic Party in Ogun State, Alhaji Gboyega Nasir Isiaka in the next month general election.

The Chairman of one of the groups, Yewa Progressive, in Ago, Ipokia Local government area, Chief Nurudeen Afose, told journalists last weekend that for the zone to witness rapid development, the zone had to support the candidature of Gboyega Nasir Isiaka who remains the only option for them in the area.

According to him, “our roads are in the state of disrepair, no tertiary institution, and other social amenities, in fact the zone is the most backward zone among the four areas in the State.

“We need accelerated development, what I am saying might be new to you, but Gboyega Nasir Isiaka is in the known of all the problems we are facing , we believe in him , we trust him that through him all the problems will be a thing of the past “

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 19, 2015

Kuku donates bus to Ondo NUJ

Ondo State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. James Sowole (left) and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, during the donation of a bus to the union at the weekend

Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÏÏÏChairman

of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Kingsley Kuku has donated a new Toyota Hilux Bus to the Ondo State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) with a charge on the media to be balanced in their reportage.

Donating the bus on Sunday, at the NUJ Press Centre, Alagbaka in

El-Rufai shocked by Yero’s alleged incitement of supporters Augustine Aminu

ÏÏÏKaduna

State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir El-Rufai has expressed surprise at the recent utterances of incumbent governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

At the flag-off of his campaign on Monday, January 12, 2015, Yero was alleged to have urged PDP supporters to physically confront supporters of rival parties, vowing that “anyone born of a woman, who dares us, we will use all the power at our dis-

posal to crush him”.

In a statement, signed by el-Rufai’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, Yero also threatened Malam El-Rufai, saying: “I can assure you, if today I decide you must not come to Kaduna, you will not, if I decide to destroy your house, I can, if I decide to put you under house arrest, I will. But if you have any doubts, try us and you will regret it. If you dare us, we will use powers vested in us to, decisively, deal with you.”

The statement added: “It will be difficult to come across a more astonishing

articulation of irresponsible understanding of power than this. A supposedly democratically elected governor, is in the 21st Century, talking as if he can freely abuse or abridge the right of any citizen.

“We wish to remind him that the Constitution and the laws of this country do not permit him the recklessness he is arrogating to himself. Two years in office as governor seem to have deluded Yero into a mistaken belief that he has the unchecked powers of an absolute monarch or tyrant.

“We condemn this incitement to violence and the threat to the liberty and property of Malam El-Rufai. No politician is permitted to allow his desperation to retain office to lead to the outbreak of anarchy or violence in any form. We call on INEC, the security agencies, civil society organisations and the international community to take note of Yero’s incitement to violence.

The recent declaration by hunters to be part of his campaign is also contrary to the 23rd December, 2011 ban of hunting activities in the state”.

Akure, the state capital, Kuku said the gesture was a result of his ‘long lasting relationship’ with journalists.

“I was informed about how the union always joined their counterparts from other states to attend assignments outside the state. I felt it was not proper and I called a friend who helped me in bringing the vehicle to Akure for the benefit of the union”, Kuku said.

In his acceptance, State Chairman of the NUJ, Mr. James Sowole appreciated the presidential aide for the donation adding that the vehicle would enhance the job of the union with an advise on members to join hands in support.

G22 vows to stop PDP A’Ibom guber candidate ÏÏÏThe 22 aggrieved gov-

ernorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom, popularly called G22, have affirmed their resolve to prevent the party’s governorship candidate, Udom Emmanuel from winning the election.

The aspirants, who stayed in Abuja for over three weeks, meeting with stakeholders sympathetic with their effort to nullify the outcome of the December 8, 2014 governorship primary that produced Emmanuel, believed to be Governor Godswill Akpabio’s favoured candidate, returned to Uyo at the weekend with a vow to work against victory for the party’s candidate.

Although, the G22 did not disclose how it would prevent Emmanuel from becoming the next governor, there were insinuations of a possible team-up with, possibly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Umana Okon Umana.

The aspirants also denied the speculation that they were decamping to another party, stressing that they remained loyal members of the PDP. Spokesman for the G22 and former deputy governor of the state, Mr. Nsima Ekerey told newsmen in a press conference in Uyo at the weekend that the group members decided to join forces and stop Emmanuel.

Ensure Nigeria’s unity, Aliyu tells traditional rulers

Rivers non-indigenes urged to vote Buhari, Peterside

SAKA BOLAJI

Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏThe Governor of Niger

State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has urged traditional rulers to take necessary steps to dispel the growing worries over the 2015 elections.

Aliyu made the appeal at the presentation of staff of office to His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, the 23rd

Etsu of Agaie adding that the traditional institution remained the cradle of stability in Nigeria.

He said the fears were borne out of the “desperation of the political class adding that it was instructive to always put the unity of Nigeria before individual interest.

“All apprehension for violence will not be seen once

we learn to accept whatever the outcome of results. We know that God decides who wins. It is, however, our duty to tell our children to be lawabiding and stay away from acts that lead to violence.

“We, therefore, call on our traditional rulers to remind their subjects that the unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct, hence above individual interests”, Aliyu added.

Iyalla Adaye,

ÏÏÏA call has gone to non-

Aliyu

indigenes in Rivers State to collect their ‘Permanent Voter’s Card’ [PVC] from the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC].State Chairman, Non-indigenes of Nigeria, His Highness Williams Samuel Obaka, said this in an interview with the Daily Times during a ‘thank you’

rally organised by nonindigenes in Port Harcourt at the weekend.Obaka said the rally was to support the administration of Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the success of the All Progressives Congress [APC] presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari [retd] and governorship candidate, Dr Dakuku Adolphus Peterside at the polls next month.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

11 News

Orji’s ex-aide, Abia govt disagree over devt Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

...

An aide to Abia state governor, Chief Ama Nnanna Abraham, at the weekend, described as unfortunate the story credited to an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain, Chief Chris Nkwonta that development in Abia was on a slow pace.

Speaking in Umuahia, Abraham, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, said Nkwonta left the PDP for APGA simply because he lost the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for Abia South senatorial district and wondered why the sudden change of attitude against the government of Chief Theodore Orji.

Lawyer backs removal of immunity clause from constitution Julius Alabi

...

Human rights activist and constitution lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, has thrown his weight behind the recommendation by the House of Representatives over the removal of immunity clause from the constitution, saying it must be removed to save the country.

Abayomi told the Daily Times that those who had the immunity clause provided for in the 1999 Constitution had destroyed the country.

Said he: “Our presidents and governors are immuned; they cannot be ar-

He described Nkwonta as a failure and bad loser, and said that those that thought that money could buy the votes of Abians were living in a dream world, stating “Abians will reject their money and cast their votes for men and women of impeccable character presented by PDP for elections at different levels.

Instead of talking nonsense on the pages of newspapers, he should go to the field to test his acceptability which from all indications is zero.

Abraham said Orji took over power at a period when there public trust in government was low. He said that, today, the reverse was the case as the governor had done well in the provision of projects in different parts of the state. rested or prosecuted, while in office, even if they commit rape, arson or murder.

This is one issue that helps increase the breakdown of law and order.”

Abayomi said he was far from worried that he was not awarded the title of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which, in any case, he was not persuaded about it.

“The issue of SAN, I always ask the question, what really is in it? Is it an award or a promotion?

If it is an award, my understanding of award is that it is independent of the awardees. Eminent people who deserve to sit and judge over others will meet and decide that ‘for the distinction or the achievement of this person, let us confer him with this honour,’ it is totally independent of those who confer it.

Ekiti boosts economy with micro-credit loans Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

... Chief

of Staff to the Ekiti state governor, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, has reiterated the resolve of the state government to boost economic activities in the state through micro-credit

loans to small- and medium- scale entrepreneurs.

Speaking at a forum in Ado-Ekiti, Anisulowo assured that the Fayose administration would continue to impact positively on the lives of the people of the state.

L-R: Coach of Flying Eagles, Mr Samson Siasia; Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; a physically challenge pupil of FCT School for the Blind, Master Steven Adeayo and Nollywood actress, Ms Genevieve Nnaji during Campaign action 2015 eminar in Abuja at the weekend . Photo: Temitope Balogun

Imo APC in disarray as 20,000 members defect to PDP ...

Fear and anxiety have gripped the All Progressives Congress (APC) camp in Imo State, as top members of the party, particularly those of them from Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Orlu zone defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defectors, former Chairman of APC, Prince Marshal Okoroaforanyanwu and current member, House of Representatives, Chief Eddy Mbadiwe, elected under the platform of APGA, are from Ideato South, home of Governor

Okorocha. They publicly declared support for the PDP during President Goodluck Jonathan campaign rally held at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, at the weekend.

Both politicians, with their numerous supporters, pledged their backing for the PDP and assured President Jonathan that they would work for his victory on February 14. It was gathered that the APC members and Okorocha’s kitchen cabinet were worried over the development and were making a counter

Okorocha move.

Meanwhile, about 20,000 members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Orlu Senatorial

Zone, in Imo State, have dumped the party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The decamped members were mainly the supporters of late legislator of Imo House of Assembly, Hon (Mrs.) Eudora Okwesilieze Igwe, a well-known grassroots politician, who, until her shocking death, a few weeks ago, was a member representing Ideato North in the State House of Assembly and APGA senatorial candidate for Imo West (Orlu Zone) in the forthcoming general elections.

Rivers police warn politicians against violence Faith Faithful Port Harcourt

...

Following the lingering political disturbances at some local government areas during party rallies, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State Command, Mr. Dan Bature has called on party leaders to call their supporters to order.

Mr. Bature disclosed this during an interactive session with leaders of political party at the weekend, in Port Harcourt.

Bature said election was not a do-or-die affair, adding that politicians

were people of one family from the same state, who should, therefore, work together to achieve set goals.

He said the Rivers State Command was determine and capable to ensure that security was provided at every looks and cranny of the state.

He lament that there is structural damage of billboard and posters by various political party supporters which not part of the general election.

He said: “Politicians have the responsibility to educate their supporters, as it is the duty of the police to provide security for

all” “We need your support, your advice before and after the election; assist us to police the electoral process.”

The state Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Davies Ikanya, said the police should arrest those PDP members distorting posters and billboard, so as to deter to others.

He alleged that the PDP members were not acting in consonance with the law and, so, the police should investigate their activities with an eye to arresting them.

Amaechi

12

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Record six million attend Pope Francis’ Mass in Manila ÏÏÏPope Francis has celebrated

an outdoor Mass in front of unprecedented crowds in the Philippine capital of Manila with six million people attending the ceremony or lined the Papal route to Rizal Park, city officials estimate.

That would be a record for a papal event. About five million welcomed Pope John Paul II in Manila in 1995.

The Vatican said Pope Francis had dedicated the service in part

to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the country in 2013.

The Mass was the Pope’s final full day in the Philippines, where there are 80 million Catholics, concluding his six-day tour of Asia.

Millions of people have turned out to see the Pope despite the rain, as Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports The atmosphere has been elec-

trifying, despite the heavy rain.

Pope Francis’s visit has been seen here as a resounding success. There’s been enormous enthusiasm for the Pope and the themes he’s focused on - helping the poor, the importance of the family, and protecting the environment.

Those who couldn’t reach the park for the Mass stood patiently under umbrellas as close as they could, to catch glimpse of

Kurdish security forces help an elderly man from the minority Yazidi sect on the outskirts of Kirkuk, Iraq, on Saturday

Pope Francis on his way there.

A woman called Sara told us that her whole family had come in from the provinces to stay over the weekend and ensure they saw the Pope on what they see as a historic, once in a lifetime visit.

One man, Jocson, said: “We are here to bear witness also, to see the Pope personally.”

Filipino devotees hold up their “Child Jesus” statues. Braving the rain, and holding statuettes of the Child Jesus, they turned out in force to attend the Mass Pope Francis leads Mass at Quirino grandstand in Rizal Park. The colourful setting added to the festive atmosphere Dancers attend Mass at Quirino grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines. These dancers were there to celebrate Pope Francis celebrates a Mass at Rizal Park The Pope celebrated Mass in the knowledge of how popular the faith is in a country with 80 million Roman Catholics Pope Francis arrived in a “popemobile” based on the design of the local minibuses, known as jeepneys.

Crowds sang and cheered as the Pope stopped at various points to greet worshippers.

Some people had camped outside the park overnight to be the first ones admitted when the gates opened early on Sunday morning.

10 dead in Niger Charlie Hebdo protests Israel lobbies ÏÏÏAt least, 10 people have been

killed in violent protests in Niger Republic over the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo’s depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, according to President Mahamadou Issoufou who said that five deaths were reported after demonstrations in Niamey, the capital, on Saturday.

Another five people died Friday in the town of Zinder following prayer services. The victims were inside churches and bars that were set ablaze, he said.

The violence erupted after Charlie Hebdo published its first issue since the January 7 attack on its headquarters by Islamic extremists that left 12 people dead.

The magazine, which had long antagonised Muslims with its depictions of the prophet, carried a

cover cartoon depicting Muhammad holding a “Je Suis Charlie” sign.

According to mainstream Islamic tradition, any physical depiction of the Prophet Muhammad -- even a respectful one -- is considered blasphemous.

While many Muslims have expressed disgust at the deadly assault on the magazine’s Paris office, many are also deeply offended by the magazine’s cartoons lampooning Muhammad.

In Iran, the government publicly condemned both the attack on Charlie Hebdo and the magazine itself, calling the continued publishing of Muhammad caricatures “provocative” and an insult to Islam.

Iranian judicial authorities on Saturday banned a daily newspa-

per for publishing a front-page headline that allegedly indicated support for Charlie Hebdo.

Elsewhere in the Muslim world on Saturday, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani condemned Charlie Hebdo, calling the newest cover image of Prophet Muhammad a blasphemous and irresponsible act.

Niger protesters

foreign powers to cut ICC funding

ÏÏÏIsrael

is lobbying memberstates of the International Criminal Court to cut funding for the tribunal in response to its launch of an inquiry into possible war crimes in the Palestinian territories, offiials said on Sunday.

ICC prosecutors said on Friday they would examine “in full independence and impartiality” crimes that may have occurred since 13 June last year. This allows the court to delve into the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza in July-August 2014 that killed more than 2 100 Palestinians and 70 Israelis.

13 World ISIS frees 350 Yazidi captives in Iraq ÏÏÏIslamic

State freed around 350 members of Iraq’s Yazidi minority on Saturday, delivering them to safety in the country’s Kurdish north.Almost all those released were elderly, disabled, or unwell, and included several infants with serious illnesses, according to a Reuters reporter who saw them arrive in the Kurdish-controlled city of Kirkuk.

Islamic State militants attacked Yazidis in northwest Iraq last summer, killing or capturing and enslaving thousands of the minority group.

Those who could fled to the autonomous Kurdistan region, where many are living in camps along with other religious and ethnic minorities as well as Sunni Muslims displaced by the Islamist militants.

Three injured in Libya’s Algerian Embassy bombing ÏÏÏA bomb thrown near the Al-

gerian Embassy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli wounded three security guards on Saturday, Libyan security officials said.

The officials said the bomb came from a passing car and struck the guard’s station, damaging a diplomatic vehicle and three other cars.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The security officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief journalists.

The attack came as Libya remains mired in chaos since the overthrow and killing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Libya has two rival governments, each backed by an array of militias that have effectively split the nation. The internationally recognised parliament was pushed out of the capital, Tripoli, when a previous parliament backed by rival Islamist militias refused to cede power.

Algerian foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra condemned the attack on Saturday.

“We know that any attack targeting a diplomatic post is a crime against international law and we energetically condemn all attacks on the Algerian Embassy or other Algerian diplomatic posts in Libya,” Lamamra said according to state news agency, APS.

Opinion 14 Ayo Akinyemi

I

n the immortal words of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “Success is not in never failing. But, in rising each time you fail.” To him also, “It isn’t life that matters, but the courage you bring to it.”

In the lyrics of the evergreen philosophical composition by the legend Reggae superstar, Jimmy Cliff, “You can get it if you really want, (3ce) But you must try, try and try, try and try. You will succeed at last.”

It is in the context of the above lines that I situate the aspiration of General Muhammadu Buhari for the leadership of Nigeria as a democratically-elected President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. This is his historic fourth attempt. He contested for the Presidency in the General Elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

He lost in the 2011 election, to the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. General Buhari has already made history as the first former Military Head of State to take four shots at the Presidency of Nigeria in four consecutive elections. He is now on the verge of a greater record and history that would be determined by the outcome of the Presidential Election scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2015.

General Buhari was a military Head of State from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, when he was ousted in a coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida, who was then the Chief of Army Staff.

Expectedly, since he threw his cap into the ring and subsequently got the mandate of his party as its Presidential Candidate following his victory in the primaries conducted at the National Convention of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Lagos in December 2014, he has been the target of darts of all forms from different directions, mainly from sympathizers of other political parties. Some have dubbed him a Perpetual Presidential Aspirant, Serial Presidential Candidate, and many more.

Interestingly, it is the persistence, resilience, doggedness and determination with which General Buhari had pursued the desired goal that had won him the heart of many, including yours truly. I remember my father, may God bless his soul, used to tell me – “In the pursuit of a goal, never

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

2015: Muhammadu Buhari and Abraham Lincoln

lose hope, never give up until you’ve made the last attempt, and never make the last attempt until you are successful.” I see the practical expression of this spirit in General Buhari and reminds one of the travails of Abraham Lincoln, who in spite of all odds and the vicissitudes of life, with dogged determination, rose to become the 16th President of America.

Honest Abe, was Abraham Lincolns’ nickname – depicting one of his attributes. According to Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, “he stood out wherever he was. At 6 feet 4inches (193cm), he was tall and ‘strong enough to intimidate any rival”. He had a stint in the Military Service as Captain in the Illinois Militia. In 1860, he secured the Republican Presidential nomination as a moderate from a swing state. With very little support in the slave states, he swept the North and was elected President on November 6, 1860.

As stated in the White House Biography of Abram Lincoln, “He was the First President from the Republican Party. His victory was entirely due to the strength of his support in the North and West. No ballots were cast for him in 10 of the 15 Southern Slave States and he won only 2 of 996 counties in all the Southern States. Although Lincoln won only a plurality of the popular vote, his victory in the Electoral College was decisive. Lincoln had 180 and his opponents, added together, had only 123” It is intriguing to relate the above scenario to the build-up to the nation’s February 14 Presidential Election in which President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari are in the forefront of the contest. The pendulum is in motion, swinging between A and B. No one can tell yet, the terminus of the spindle.

Naturally, the pressure is more on Buhari, the challenger of the in-

cumbent president - a herculean venture. Buhari is indeed under the heat, sweating profusely as he mounts and descends the rostrum to sway the electorate to his side.

Would the streaming sweat give him a cooling effect at the end of the day? Will Muhammadu Buhari become the Abraham Lincoln of our time?

At the moment, many questions are being raised concerning the person of General Buhari.

The opposition is calling to question, some of the actions he took while he was Head of State, some 30 years ago – dubbing him a dictator, a non-conformist, a nonrespecter of the rule of law, antidemocratic, etc. His age is also being made an issue. That at 72, he was too old to be President of Nigeria, wondering why the general, who in the countdown to the 2011 elections, had said publicly, that that would be his last outing as a presidential candidate, has swallowed his words.

There is no doubt that APC has all the trappings of a viable opposition. The party has raised the bar and the stake is now higher.

The word on the lips of many is CHANGE. Has the age of the party and that of its flag-bearer anything to do with the actualization and the realization of CHANGE? I believe, no. Dr. Nelson Mandela was 71 when he became the first president of independent SouthAfrica. Winston Churchill was 80 when he became Prime Minister in England so also was Morarji Desai of India and Siaka Stevens of Sierra Leone. Back home, Chief Adekunle Ajasin was 71 in 1979 when he became Governor of old Ondo State. He had a record of exceptional performance and won re-election for a second term in August 1983, before the termination of the second republic by the military in December I983.

The military coup of December 1983 – a development of circumstance - is one of the ‘sins’ being highlighted by the opposition against Born-Again Buhari, forgetting that time and nature have allowance for repentance and redemption. The Biblical Saul of Tarsus, the foremost persecutor of early Christians repented and re-christened Paul. He turned out to be the greatest apostle ever, as recorded in the Holy Bible. It is said; “There is no saint on the runway. We all, at one time or the other, has one stuff or the other, up our sleeves.” In every Saul, it is also said, there is a Paul.

Another opportunity is here for Nigerians to halt the cycle of accidental, reluctant, imposed and drafted leaders who are unprepared for the exalted office.

The ambition of President Shehu Shagari was to be a Senator. All that General Obasanjo wanted in 1998 was his freedom from prison.

He was even made Head of State in 1976, as he said, “against my wish”, following the assassination of General Murtala Muhammed.

Umaru Yar’Adua was set for a return to the classroom in 2007, after eight years as governor, when he was foisted on us as president.

The luckiest of all is President Goodluck Jonathan - a product of happenstance and fortuitous occurrences plated with the “doctrine of necessity”. We are again at the thresh-hold of history, at a turning point. May God help us.

(Ayo Akinyemi, veteran journalist, writes via akinyemiayo@ yahoo.com)

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Mecha Udo

Naivety, avarice in Igbo politics

G

iven the pedigree of most of the political and socio-political leaders in Igbo land, it may not be correct to classify them as naïve. These men and women who have occupied and still occupy sensitive and important positions ordinarily possess what it takes to make sound judgment but they carry on as if there is an evil spirit misdirecting them. It is regrettable to note that they have continued to lead the Igbo to political, social, and economic Golgotha. Today Igbo land is about the least developed region of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure and economic development. Igbo leaders are quick to mischievously allege that the region is being punished for its role in the civil war; this is clearly far from the truth. Those who have had the privilege of taking up Igbo slots or represented the Igbo at the national level have constantly chosen to reason with their stomachs.

Some of them that served as Governors of Igbo speaking states have acted as if they were agents of an enemy nation on a mission to annihilate Igbo land. This class of people who somehow also manage to secure contracts to build infrastructure in the region end up performing woefully to the detriment of the whole region. Meanwhile the other regions in Nigeria have continued to forge ahead in all areas. The key enemy of the Igbo has been the avaricious tendencies of its leaders.

The electoral system in Nigeria is designed to give voters the privilege of privacy and secrecy in making their choices. That is why the ballot system has been adopted. Politics is like war in the sense that strategies are not discussed on the pages of newspapers. There is need for astuteness and tact in political pursuits. Interest groups define their objectives and pursue such goals in such a deft and sometimes discreet manner that they secure some reasonable level of consideration for the general good of its stakeholders.

Afenifere is seen as the apex socio- political group in Yoruba land while the Arewa Consultative Forum is seen as the champion of the Northern cause.

Ohaneze Ndigbo describes itself as the apex Igbo socio politi-

15 Opinion

cal group; there are other Igbo groups. These are some of the key regional interest groups in the Nigerian political space.

While the Afenefere and Arewa Consultative Forum are playing their cards close to their chest as it pertains to the 2015 general elections, the Ohaneze Ndigbo is very visible, dancing naked in public and struggling to endorse one candidate or the other. In all of Ohaneze’s desperation, it is difficult to identify their motivation; it is even more difficult to see a direction neither is it any easier to pick out Igbo interest in all its moves. Igbo interests must transcend political appointments for a few but should really consist of attracting real development to the region. Even before the President indicated interest to run for office again in 2015, Ohaneze had gone ahead of itself dissuading well meaning and ambitious Igbo men and women from running for the office of President in 2015 as it had earlier in 2011, in its usual tactless manner gone ahead to declare support for a then vacillating President Jonathan.

The build up to the 2015 general elections offered the Igbo a great opportunity to carve a niche for themselves in the Nigeria political terrain.

Unfortunately, we seem to have

squandered that opportunity on the altar of personal greed and avarice. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which was largely seen as an Igbo political party failed woefully to cash in on the confusion and angst in most People’s Democratic Party (PDP) states in Igbo land.

While Victor Umeh followed Willie Obiano around, he failed to identify the opportunity in Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu states.

APGA had earlier lost Imo to the All Progressive Congress (APC), in a way that showed that that Imo APGA was more about Rochas Okorocha than the party itself. APGA has since become an auxiliary political structure available to be used by disenfranchised politicians from other political parties, who usually dump the party after they would have achieved their objectives.

Political power is never given, it must be schemed and fought for. The present dispensation where there does not seem to be an overwhelmingly popular presidential candidate created an opportunity for a dark horse to emerge and achieve something monumental. Having a strong APGA Igbo candidate fully backed by the Igbo in the present race would have been the beginning of making the Igbo very relevant in the modern

day Nigerian politics. In the very likely event of the absence of a clear winner of the presidential election, such candidate would have become the beautiful bride to be courted by the other stronger contenders. That would have given the region the opportunity of becoming a key player in the incoming government while positioning itself for a bigger role in the future. As things stand now, the Igbo who today are playing fourth fiddle will definitely struggle for space in the coming dispensation. In the event of the reemergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, then the Igbo may have to wait for up to twenty years to have a serious shot at the Presidency having so thoughtlessly conceded to Jonathan’s aspiration only for a mess of porridge for a few. In the event of the emergence of a Mohammadu Buhari, we may be lucky to have a look in, in about sixteen years, because for sure, after the next dispensation we will be told by other regions that we have had our turn, after all Dr. Goodluck is Ebele Azikiwe.

Having sold itself so cheaply to the aspirations of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, if that desire becomes reality in May 2015, that government will have absolutely no motivation to consider the Igbo region in the scheme of things. It will also take an extremely magnanimous and benevolent Mohammadu Buhari to take the Igbo seriously since we have acted like the foremost haters and enemies of the APC, only because that tendency will not favour the few who are being sustained by the status quo. It will not be surprising if the second Niger bridge remains a campaign issue in 2019 and 2023. Our people are simply too greedy and selfish to see beyond their noses. The Nigerian politicians from other regions know how much an Igbo leader is worth, and they are willing to pay that pittance.

The fact that an endorsement by Ohaneze will have little or no effect on the voting pattern of the people is a clear testimony to the fact that the hoopla is on only for the selfish interests of a few. One may ask what Jonathan has done for the Igbo that have driven these self seeking Igbo men and women to become more Ijaw than Chief Edwin Clark and Joseph Eva. Why are the Igbo being presented to the other

tribes as haters of whoever is not dancing to Jonathan’s music, even as Bayelsa state now seems to have more APC support than most Igbo states. Jonathan himself has stated that he has built twelve new Universities and nine of them are in the north, how many were sited in Igbo land? Where is our own equivalent of Alamajiri schools?

Niger Delta militants have been retrained and rehabilitated in different areas of endeavour at huge expense to the Nigerian state; what has happened to Igbo youths. Besides political appointments of individuals, what do we have to show for more than ninety five percent support for Dr. Jonathan in 2011?

This write up is not necessarily against the person of Dr. Jonathan and his legitimate quest; it instead frowns at the attempted wholesale surrender of Igbo votes and support to a candidate who is not specific on deliverables to the people and the region. It is simply the height of wickedness for any persons or group to continue to use the Igbo name to feather their nests.

Ohaneze must realize it is destroying itself in this senseless pursuit of an endorsement that will not be respected. Why push for a position that cannot be considered nor adhered to by those you claim to represent? Igbo politicians and socio political organizations must develop strategies that will cater for the region and those issues should occupy us instead.

Our home land has been invaded by cattle rearers who now live in the bushes around our villages harvesting cassava and other crops planted by our people to feed to their cows.

These herdsmen renowned for their callousness have left the sorghum, millet, guinea corn and maize in the north which are better fodder for their animals and have chosen to destroy our farm lands.

Cases of murder of those who tried to resist them have been recorded.

It is time to reappraise our political, social and cultural objectives with a view to creating and sustaining a dynamic and modern society where the interest of all is paramount and guaranteed. This is the only safeguard against the rebellion of our youths and the protection of our people from the vicissitude of a new and emerging Nigerian nation.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January19, 2015

Today in History

s

1941 British attack Italians in Africa Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola 1941 British attack Italians in Africa On this day, British forces in East Africa, acting on information obtained by breaking the Italians’ coded messages, invade Italian-occupied Eritrea-a solid step towards victory in Africa.

British Intelligence had been privy to secret Italian communiqués from Africa for the past five months; every instruction sent from one Italian military unit to another was analysed by the Brits. The Italian viceroy in Ethiopia was unwittingly receiving and transmitting every Italian military secret-and weakness.

Consequently, British forces were able to organize a strategy to advance on Italian-occupied territory, with Italian troop movements in mind.

On January 19, news of an Italian withdrawal from the town of Kassala, in Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, which the Italians had occupied since July 1940, reached British ears. The British garrison there had been slow to react initially to the Italian invasion of Sudan, preferring to wait to get a clearer picture of the Italian invasion strategy for East Africa.

The British bided their time by beefing up their forces, especially tank forces, to something closer to parity with the Italians’. The Italian withdrawal from Kassala, a proactive defensive movement, provided the perfect opportunity for Gen. William Platt and the Indian divisions to launch an as-

1966

1966 Indira Gandhi becomes Indian prime minister Following the death of Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi became head of the Congress Party and thus prime minister of India.

She was India’s first female head of government and by the time of her assassination in 1984 was one of its most controversial.

Gandhi was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of the independent Republic of India. She be-

sault on Eritrea, which bordered Sudan and Ethiopia. It was not long before Italian-occupied Ethiopia and Somaliland fell.

1967 State Burial for Fajuyi Lt.-Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, former Governor of Western Nigeria, who was killed in the army mutiny of July 1966, will be given a state burial on Saturday, January 28.

Announcing this in Ibadan, Col. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, Governor of Western Nigeria, said the day would be observed

as a public holiday throughout the region. Full military honours will be observed at the burial he said.

Also in Ibadan Yesterday, it was announced that a two man team would represent the region at the state burial of Major –General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi at Umiahia-Ibeku in Eastern Nigeria on January 20, 1967.

1915 First air raid on Britain During World War I, Britain suffers its first casualties from an air attack when two German zep-

Indira Gandhi becomes Indian prime came a national political figure in 1955, when she was elected to the executive body of the Congress Party. In 1959, she served as president of the party and in 1964 was appointed to an important post in Lal Bahadur Shastri’s ruling government. Soon after becoming prime minister, Gandhi was challenged by the right wing of the Congress Party, and in the 1967 election she won only a narrow victory and thus had to rule with a deputy prime minister.

In 1971, she won a resounding re-election victory over the op-

position and became the undisputed leader of India. That year, she ordered India’s invasion of Pakistan in support of the creation of Bangladesh, which won her greater popularity and led her New Congress Party to a landslide victory in national elections in 1972.

During the next few years, she presided over increasing civil unrest brought on by food shortages, inflation, and regional disputes. Her administration was criticized for its strong-arm tactics in dealing with these problems.

pelins drop bombs on Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn on the eastern coast of England.

The zeppelin, a motor-driven rigid airship, was developed by German inventor Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin in 1900. Although a French inventor had built a power-driven airship several decades before, the zeppelin’s rigid dirigible, with its steel framework, was by far the largest airship ever constructed. However, in the case of the zeppelin, size

1993 Fleetwood Mac reunite to play Don’t Stop at Bill Clinton’s first Inaugural gala

1993 Fleetwood Mac reunite to play “Don’t Stop” at Bill Clinton’s first Inaugural gala The band Fleetwood Mac reunited to perform at the re-

was exchanged for safety, as the heavy steel-framed airships were vulnerable to explosion because they had to be lifted by highly flammable hydrogen gas instead of non-flammable helium gas.

In January 1915, Germany employed three zeppelins, the L.3, the L.4, and the L.6, in a two-day bombing mission against Britain. The L.6 turned back after encountering mechanical problems, but the other two zeppelins succeeded in dropping their bombs on English coastal towns.

1950 Communist China recognizes North Vietnam The People’s Republic of China bestows diplomatic recognition upon the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Communist China’s official recognition of Ho Chi Minh’s communist regime resulted in much needed financial and military assistance in Ho’s battle against the French in Vietnam, and also pushed the United States to take a more intensive and active role in the conflict in Southeast Asia.

French colonialists and Ho’s revolutionary forces had been fighting for control over Vietnam since the end of World War II. Although maintaining a neutral public stance, the administration of President Harry S. Truman was actually aiding the French with monetary and material assistance. As the battle dragged on, Ho’s government issued feelers to the newly established communist regime in China concerning diplomatic recognition and military and economic assistance.

cently elected U.S. President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural gala.

Fleetwood Mac had faced much intra-band squabbling since their 1970s heyday, why they released one of the biggest albums of all time—Rumours— and a string of decade-defining hits like “Landslide,” “Rhiannon,” “Say You Love Me” and “Go Your Own Way.” And then, of course, there was “Don’t Stop” (as in “thinking about tomorrow”), which was candidate Bill Clinton’s unofficial theme song during the 1992 presidential campaign.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Politics

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Mass defection hits Nasarawa PDP

Labaran Maku

ÏRƒƆƏ ƣèƠƠƠ ƗƑƌƍ ƍ ƏƐƕ Ƈ Ə ^

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My father is still alive - Ojukwu Jnr First son of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu jnr. spoke with DORIS NNABUENYI at his country home in Umudim – Nnewi, Anambra espousing the virtues of his father, his relationship with former Governor Peter Obi and politics of Anambra State. Excerpts:

How do you feel about the list of candidates of the political parties, especially the PDP that has been enmeshed in crisis?

When you are coming out for a contest of this nature, you should know that you are coming out to battle every opponent once the party gives you the ticket as its candidate. You just prepare for the task ahead; you do not pay too much attention to who is contesting. Of course, we have political parties and candidates. We have strong parties and strong candidates. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not a party to be taken lightly.

Obviously, in the Nigerian contest, an incumbent, for instance, is taken seriously, even if he hasn’t performed well, he still remains a strong force. This is somebody who has been there for four years and he must have touched some people at some levels and, possibly, has had time to get himself ready for the next election.

The list is out now and what

17

we know in APGA is that the usual game plan of having multiple candidates will not be allowed to fly this time in PDP. We are going to insist that those on the list of INEC are those that will contest and those whose names are not in the list would not be allowed to campaign, let alone participate in the main election. As far as we are concerned, if you are not on the list, there is no reason for you to be campaigning or having any bill boards; no business putting posters up; you have no business branding private cars around or campaigning in any way or in any shape or form and the law backs this position.

Are you set for a legal battle, if that happens?

Certainly. APGA, in fact, has already set up a reaction notice a long time ago, in case there is anything like that. This is an unfair practice and it is not fair in a contest for you to have three sets of people or two campaign-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Ojukwu Junior

Gov AlMakura

Olapade Agoro

Jonathan’s failure, Obasanjo’s grave mistakes,

by Agoro Former presidential candidate of the National Action Council, (NAC), Dr. Olapade Agoro has said that the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan in governance was as a result of the grave mistakes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to him, it was Obasanjo who brought in Jonathan from Deputy Governor to be Governor and later Vice President and then President.

In a statement, Agoro said: “The outbursts of Obasanjo on noticeable failures of President Goodluck Jonathan in office so far, must be understood and accepted as a normal and expected retrospective feelings of a father correcting the mistakes he made when he also was young; doing what he ought not to have done, and or omitting to do what he ought to have done right”.

He noted that it was Obasanjo, ‘like a very violent’ hurricane “who swept Goodluck Jonathan off his feet into serial official positions, starting in 1999 as Deputy Governor until 2005 when suddenly un-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

‘I don’t know whether anyone can fit into his shoes’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

ing and getting votes. What it means to us is that you are campaigning and contesting against three people. That obviously is not something that is fair. We do not have any issue with the list as APGA has accepted it.

How have you been able to carry along your opponents that contested with you in the primaries?

Two days after the primaries, I reached out to everybody and I have spoken to all of them. I sent text messages first. I gave them two days so that people can cool down from the events of the primaries. I have spoken to all of them and some have shown interest in participating, some have become friends. There were five of them and there may be one or two that have not worked out as we had expected, but such is life. His Excellency, the governor, and the National Chairman, have also reached out to them, especially the governor. He has called them and the essence is this: we are all one party. APGA says: be your brother’s keeper, so if you contest and it did not end up in your favour you should remember that the party should is supreme and we should all join hands to ensure victory for the party. And if accommodations are needed, they may be made at the level of the candidates and also at the higher levels. The discussions and arrangements would be made.

Going by your experience as commissioner, and local gov-

ernment chairman, how do you intend to bring it to bear at the National Assembly?

All these things have challenges in their own way. I was a Special Assistant before I was made a commissioner. You learn as you go and you learn from those around you and if you are keen or interested in something, you will do your best and if you have the right experience in life, you can adapt to new situations.

If you are a people’s person and a consensus builder, or if you have the intelligence, you can usually get to do the learning which would be a lot easier. I was once a commissioner, once a sole administrator and now, by the grace of God, going to be National Assembly member. When I get there, by the grace of God, I will do better every step of the way.

How do you feel stepping into your father’s shoes, politically?

I think the idea is not trying to be like him as those are mighty shoes to fit and I don’t know if there are people that could fit well into them. But the idea is to do your best, in your own area, and as you grow, people can make comparisons. But what I know, is that I have the strength of character, I have the experience and I have the intelligence and I have the will and the stamina and I believe, given that opportunity, I will make my mark and my people will see that I am truly the right man for the job.

Your father’s grave has be-

Jonathan is transforming Nigeria -Ohimai Amaize

this is what your children have achieved and this is what your children are aspiring to, therefore, come and bless us from the other side. I think it is a wonderful thing and, in Igbo land, this is what you don’t always see.

In some other parts of Nigeria, they have a lot more reverence for their leaders or heroes than we intend to have. For a man to achieve what he did, we should have more reverence to him in Igbo land. It is something that I am very proud of.

did you feel?

It was a very emotional day for me. I tried to hold back tears and I don’t think that it would have been right for me to shed tears on national television. It was very emotional for me to sit there and I was very much aware of the implication of literally sitting in his seat. He should have been sitting there.

I was truly represented him and the condolences people paid were not to me, but to him.

I thought that in the years since the end of the war and all experiences that I had with him and those he had with some other people and truly that was his last wish.

And the other one was more of a political statement of Anambra people re-electing Peter Obi for the second term. His last wish was for the war heroes to be honoured and I was happy to be part of it. We are extremely grateful that we have Governor Willie Obiano, who is a man. Really, others would be scared and afraid to take that step and he had the audacity to take it and this is a day I will not forget. On that day, we saw the old soldiers, such as Achuzie Nwobosi, Ben Gbulie, and Emma Odeaja. It was a wonderful day.

As I said before, that wish was a political statement Obi was having issues with our campaign so he had to come up with something to make him win and it worked because of him and everybody who knows him knows that as an old soldier he would want that. There are things that go beyond politics and you would have expected that he would have been there regardless of which party that is in power.

This is an Igbo thing, then and this is a human thing, a lot of us may not have been alive if those men did not fight that war for us including myself and himself. I would have expected that this is a time they should rise to the occasion. I don’t think it is a party affair. You saw Alex Ekwueme, Aurthur Eze, and they are not members of APGA.

You represented your father at the re-burial of the late ex –Biafran soldiers; how

Somebody said that your father was there spiritually?

Yes, he was there.

Late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu come a Mecca or pilgrimage centre for APGA. Does that mean that your father is still alive?

Yes, you know that in our culture, men such as my father only go away on a journey. We believe that he is still around, somewhere. And, in any case, it is a mark of respect for him.

It is something that says that we appreciate all that he did for us. Certainly, now that we look around, we see the value that he brought to us and we understand the sacrifices that he made for Ndigbo. I think that is why we give him that honour as a party and as Ndigbo. We always refer to him to say, that

Ohimai Amaize is the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the immediate past minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro. He once served as Special Adviser to former Minister of Youths and Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi. In this interview with JONATHAN EZE, he speaks on why he is working at ensuring the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

You are a supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan. Why are you so keen in this project?

I didn’t just jump into the bandwagon of Goodluck Jonathan supporters. I have spent three years working within the Jonathan government as a ministerial adviser from Youth Development to Sports, to the Defence Ministries. My perspectives on governance in Nigeria have been reshaped within these years. As an insider, I have seen a lot of the challenges from the inside and I know that a

man who attempts to sweep a house from the outside has embarked on a futile exercise.

Aside from the compelling consideration that he is the presidential candidate of my political party, the PDP, my reasons for supporting President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection bid are many. First, more than any president in the history of Nigeria, this is the first President who has articulated and is executing a transformational blueprint for youth development, youth employment and CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

19 Politics

Mass defection hits Nasarawa PDP ÏRƒƆƏ 7,000 dump party for APC Rabiu Doma It’s no longer at ease, and the center cannot hold. This is the real description of the mass movement of supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to other political parties.

The development was the aftermath of the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Less than thirty days to February general election, political parties in Nasarawa State have continued to lose grip of its members.

Erstwhile Minister of Information, Labaran Maku’s defection from the PDP to the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) did not come as a surprise following verbal confrontation with the party leadership in the state Already, mixed reactions have been trailing the defection of Maku to APGA, a party that lacks solid structure in the state. But the defection of the former minister has created a vacuum in the PDP that cannot be filled soon, especially at this electioneering period.

However, the decamping of Maku and his followers to the

Obasanjo imposed Jonathan on Nigerians, says Agoro

Labaran Maku

Tanko Al-Makura

new party, according to analysts, is an added advantage to the ruling APC in the state. The PDP has also lost a lot of its members across the state.

In Nasarawa Local Government area, the ruling party welcomed over150 who decamped from the PDP in Udeni Magaji electoral ward. They included the former chairman of PDP in Udeni, Magaji Usman Ogana who was received by the Speaker of Nasarawa Local Government, Paul Ahidjo Inalegwu and the

chairman of the party, Ayuba Garba.

In Akwanga Local Government area, the PDP lost one of its governorship aspirants, Senator John Danboyi, who later withdrew from the race. He was among the governorship aspirants before he stepped down to vie for Senate seat representing Nasarawa North but lost at the party primaries to Honorable Philip Gyunka, the current member of Nasarawa State House of Assembly representing Akwan-

ga West.

APC chairman of the area also received another 50 PDP members who decamped to the ruling party. The new members, including Haruna Yakubu were received by the elected local government chairman, Abashiya Mai Kwato and the party chairman, Mikah Magaji.

A former Minister of Labour and Productivity in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Hussaini Akwanga, has also joined the APC. This may not be

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

he had the herculean task of having to negotiate peace ‘with the terrible and deadly Niger Delta militants’.

“Unfortunately for Nigeria, but which those with undiscerning minds would possibly have seen fortunate for Goodluck Jonathan, in 2010, President Yar’Adua fell sick and became incapacitate to perform from his

hospital bed overseas.

“The National Assembly prompted by the hotly demands from the nation and in the first of its type decision since the political existence of Nigeria took matters into their hands in order to save our democracy, transferring power to Jonathan to become Acting President,” Agoro added.

der intrigue, Jonathan became the Governor of Bayelsa State after the Governor was charged for official corruption”.

According to him, in 2007, having not been given enough time to learn the ropes, Jonathan was rushed to become Vice President to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua during which period

unconnected to the nomination of a grass root mobilizer, Hon. Silas Agara, as running mate to governor Al-Makura.

Also, the campaign co-ordinator of Yusuf Agabi, Isa Muhammed, has jumped ship to the APC. In Wamba Local Government area, the APC lost its staunch member and former senator representing Nasarawa North, Senator Yusuf Musa Nagogo to the PDM. The embattled Senator had served for over 12 months before he was ousted out of the National Assembly by the sitting Senator, Solomon Ewuga in a legal battle that ended at the apex court. Nagogo decamped to the Progressive Democratic Party (PDD) after tasting the bitter pills of defeat by his opponent, Yahuza Idris at the party primaries.

In Doma Local Government area, no fewer than 3,020 PDP followers dumped the party for APC. The chairman of Doma Local Government area, Henry Omaku said 2,085 that dumped the party at the playground of RCM Trains School, Doma. Another 40 PDP supporters joined the APC in Awe. They included a former member, House of Representatives, Hon. Tanko Zubairu representing Awe, Doma, Keana Federal constituency. Tanko, aka (Tanko Man) was the former chief of staff to the ex-governor.

Also, a think-tank of the PDP, he joined the ruling party in the state alongside his supporters.

This brings the number of the defectors to 3,040 under the umbrella of APC Solidarity Forum Doma. They were welcomed by the party chairman, Abdullahi Jibrin.

In Obi Local Government area, member, Board of Trustees of the APC, Daniel Ayiwa, welcomed over 50 PDP members to the party. However, the ruling party lost its female politician, Ramoga to the PDM. The defeated House of Assembly contestant lost to Amos Agya at the party primaries. Also, no fewer than 65 Tiv community members in Jenkwe Development area joined the APC. In Lafia Local Government area, Eggon youths under the

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Obasanjo

Politics 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

There’s something wrong about a Buhari presidency - Ohimai Amaize ing new that Buhari is bringing to the table in 2015 that Jonathan did not accomplish four years ago.

Beyond party affiliation, as a Nigerian youth, there is something awfully backward about the idea of a Buhari presidency. There are some brands that packaging cannot sell, no matter the competence, creativity or innovation of the packager. This is the dilemma of the Buhari campaign.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

youth empowerment. Take a critical look at the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWIN) initiative. Before President Jonathan, who cared about young Nigerian entrepreneurs? Before President Jonathan, who thought about giving grants to young Nigerian business owners? Before President Jonathan, no President took the youth sector seriously. No President opened the door of engagement to the youths, let alone empowerment! None.

President Jonathan while flagging off his campaign in Lagos flaunted his achievements in the education sector.

As a youth, do you agree with this?

Before President Goodluck Jonathan, no President considered our young brothers and sisters, the Almajiris in northern Nigeria as deserving of any care and attention. Nobody thought about taking them off the streets and building schools for them. Realizing that a northern Nigerian problem is a Nigerian problem, President Jonathan is taking steps to build a future northern Nigeria.

It is to President Jonathan’s credit that an enabling environment has been created for the economic explosion of our creative industry from Nollywood to the music industry to fashion and style! Through the SURE-P project, thousands of Nigerian youths have glowing testimonials on how their lives are being turned around with the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) and the Community Service, Women, Youths and Empowerment, (CSWYE).

These are facts, not fiction?

I grew up in a Nigeria where I

is empowering local farmers using ICT. This is the President under which our cassava production is on a consistent increase. This is the President under whose leadership our rice self-sufficiency as a nation has grown from 50% to over 80%. It is no fluke that under President Jonathan, Nigeria overtook Egypt and South Africa and became the largest economy in Africa! One can go on and on.

But General Buhari seems to be

enjoying massive goodwill now.

What is your take on that?

Now let’s talk about the 72-year old man who was kicked out of power as a Military dictator the year I was born. If there is any reason that makes a Jonathan reelection even more imperative, it is the fact that Nigeria’s opposition party, the APC looked at Nigeria and went into the graves of our nation’s painful past to exhume their candidate. There is noth-

But old age is associated with wisdom. Don’t you think it will work to his advantage?

The law of diminishing returns is a reality promoters of Buhari must come to terms with. More than the problem of Buhari’s old age is the bigger problem of the age of his ideas. What ideas will Buhari run our new Nigeria with? We are being told to make a 72-year-old man President over a future Nigeria he will not be part of. How does that even sound? Promoters of Buhari are telling us to drop a President Jonathan who has a clear record of performance.

We have had our share of challenges. To state otherwise would mean being dishonest. Insecurity, predominantly in northern Nigeria is on the front burner. Still, our war against terrorism is best appreciated when seen within the context of a marathon and not a 100m dash. Sadly, the thing with terrorism globally is that there are no quick fixes.

In 2015, Nigerians are faced with two clear choices; advancement or retrogression. In Jonathan, we have been presented a President who is not perfect but a man who is committed to taking Nigeria to the next level. In Buhari, we have been offered a Nigeria on the threshold of oblivion colourfully illustrated as ‘change’. We must chose wisely.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

of a single member to the PDP. Hon. Muhammed Ahmed AlMakura, a two-time member of House of Representatives representing Lafia/Obi brought his teeming supporters into the APC while the ruling party lost grip of its chairmanship aspirant in the last Local Government election, Hon. Angulu, to the PDP. Also, the APC lost 1,006 of its members to the PDP. The state chairman of the PDP, Chief Yunana Iliya, said 1006 were expect-

ed join the opposition party.

“We spread our net waiting to get hold of the stronghold of the APC back to the PDP fold”, said Chief Yunana Iliya.

It was also expected that the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the ruling PDP as well as the campaign rally of the presidential flag bearer of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, would attract more defectors to their parties.

Amaize didn’t know what it looked like to travel inside a train in Nigeria. But today, it is to President Jonathan’s credit that not only are our trains back, our roads that were neglected and deformed for decades by previous administrations, military and democratic are now being fixed.

This is the President that cleaned up the rot in the fertilizer procurement and distribution process. This is the President that

Over 7,000 dump PDP in Nasarawa

auspices of Eggon Youth Progressive Forum from Nasarawa South Senatorial zone gathered at Ibrahim Abacha Youth Centre to shower encomium on the candidature of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura. Leader of the group, Ibrahim Gado affirmed that the Eggons who are having a running battle with the state are solidly behind his 2015 governorship ambition. The political gathering did not witness the defection

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ ơÖè ƾƠơǀ

Features

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s PIB: Before the National Assembly winds down Ï j Ɔ ƈ ƐƏƈ ƑƆ Ɨ Ƌ ƄƄƕƈ Č

David Mark

IN RUINS: Berlin Market, Lagos Island... On Friday

One week, two infernos, one island Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr

ÏÏÏWhile

victims are still smarting from massive losses of merchandise and cash by importers and traders last Monday to the Balogun inferno, another early morning fire has razed chains of shops at Berlin Market, hedged between AbibuOki Street and inner Broad Street, behind the Lagos office of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The incident, the second in just five days at Lagos Island, started at the early hours of Friday January 16th and completely razed no fewer than 100 close knit

shops squeezed into about two acres of land area.

The massive deployment of over five fire trucks and some 50,000 litres of water to the scene failed to salvage properties, goods and cash in the busy trading community.

We have lost everything Unlike victims of Balogun inferno some of whom fell into a coma, others speechless, Daily Times met victims of the Berlin fire busy clearing the site of what used to be their life, their work and their future which just were consumed as a dream that

One of the affected traders

ends Friday night.

Very optimistic traders, mostly young and middleaged Igbo men, women as well as Lagosians and other tribes were seen working round the clock, apparently preparing to start all over again, but something else was amiss as Daily Times tried to find out the matter they were discussing in whispers; they worked in small numbers, some would pause and discuss a moment and continue the task on hand again.

It was a difficult time to get word from the people; many had become edgy and hostile and would not entertain any question from

Tayo Adelaja

ÏÏÏNo other bill has been

our correspondent. “Just leave us alone, we don’t need anything from anybody”, a bulky Igbo fellow said as he pushed pass our correspondent and continued with his clearing.

But Daily Times eventually cornered one Eugene between rows of burnt shops and managed this discussion that revealed the reason for their apprehension, fear and hostility.

“I have been trading here for the past eleven years; this kind of a thing has never happened before. Nobody here can tell you exactly the amount of goods and cash,

more popular since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999 than the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) – maybe the Freedom of Information Bill comes near. The reason is not farfetched: anything petroleum in Nigeria generates passionate interest.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo set up a committee christened the Oil and Gas Industry Committee (OGIC), with a mandate to take a comprehensive look at Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and offer better ways of managing the industry.

The reforms were expected to form the nucleus of Nigeria’s aspiration of becoming one of the most industrialized nations in the world by the year 2020.

The committee submitted its report, and its recommendations formed the basis of the Petroleum Industry Bill in 2007. PIB was first introduced to the

Continued on page 22

Continued on page 22

Features 22

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Traders behold what used to be their shops

Continued from page 21 or personal documents and other valuables that have been lost: the truth is that we all have lost everything.”

Another fellow packing up burnt zinc roofing sheets chipped in: “We were alerted about 5 o’clock this morning and the information was that Berlin market was on fire; and when we got here the whole place was in flames. Nothing could be do anything.

“We just watched helplessly; we couldn’t find anything to salvage, not one thing.”

While he was speaking, another trader stopped by and disclosed that it was an emergency phone call that woke him up.

“We were at home; we just received panic calls that the market was burning so we rushed here

only to find that there was nothing we can save from the shop. Almost all of us lost our shops, our wares, our monies and our livelihood.”

Miss Fatima, a big-time dealer in and money in three of her shops to the fire. “It affected me badly”, she “I got a call around 6 o’clock in the morning that Market Street was burning, but before I got here all our goods, our shops have been destroyed by fire. We were told the fire started around 3: am in the morning.

“I have three shops here; before I could do anything everything have gone and I am not the only one; we are very many that lost our goods and our monies. It took me more ness; it is my life, and now all have gone.”

Traders pick up the bits and pieces

“The shops were constructed in close knit rows, too close to each other and this resulted in the quick spread of the fire before my men reached the scene. It is a human error, and it can be avoidable.

now, she shook her head: “We don’t know our fate as it is As you see everyone is just clearing up the burnt goods, zincs and all the iron as you can see but we really don’t know what is going to follow.”

What interprets as ‘shop’ in the main trading hub are empty containers, the type importers sell off after discharging their goods.

Through the ingenuity of the Nigerian spirit, the traders had repackaged and transformed the containers to flashy shops, with roofing, windows, doors and fittings, even provision for air-conditioners all fitted into the steel containers.

But now, after the inferno, the only valuables that survived the inferno were skeletons of the hard steel

It’s avoidable tragedy While addressing journalists at gos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, offered reason for the failure of the combined efforts of his team from different units to check the inferno successfully.

“The shops were constructed in close knit rows, too close to each other and this resulted in the quick spread of the fire before my men reached the scene. It is a human error, and it can be avoidable.

“Then the constant wind of this dry harmattan whether did not help matters, it aided and fueled the fire before help could arrive.”

Berlin market was built up after the

Continued on page 23

Continued from page 21

PIB: The intrigues and lobbying Tambuwal

employed Lagosian and lives on the

National Assembly in 2009. Since then it has suffered a number of setbacks. The delays have been on account of diverse interests scrutinizing its provisions.

The bill was meant to change everything from fiscal terms to overhauling the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Its comprehensive nature has caused years of disputes between federal lawmakers, oil ministry/presidency and multinational oil companies.

What is the purpose of PIB? environment for petroleum operations

ploration of petroleum resources in Nigeria for the benefit of Nigerians plies, especially for power generation and industrial development gerian petroleum industry tities downstream petroleum sector regulatory agencies Nigerian content in the oil industry

environment in petroleum operations

pointed out that the multiplier effects of PIB are, “more jobs for Nigerians – as it will become illegal to employ foreigners for certain skills that can be sourced locally.

Where such skills are sourced from abroad due to unavailability locally, a local is mandated to un“It is not only applicable to skill, but to materials sourcing. In simple language, it means more jobs for Nigerian local contractors, especially those from the

Continued on page 23

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

23 Features

IN HUSHED TONES: Traders review their fate

Continued from page 22 cleanup of trading and hustling activities at the Quay Side on Marina in the late 1970s. Stretched thin by population explosion, especially on the Lagos Island, traders and hustlers alike found succour in the open area and gradually developed it to a shanty trading community named Market Street over the last decades.

Risk is really not worth it Seeing that the first 16 days of

2015 have recorded two major fire outbreaks within one-kilometer radius on the Island alone, the Lagos State Safety Commission has stressed the need to exercise caution in handling and managing fire related matters in this volatile time of the year.

The Director-General of the Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebumi, gave hints on ways people can prevent fire disasters at home, offices, market even in public places.

“Do not leave broken or faulty electrical appliances like sockets, plugs, junction-boxes, exposed

wires, etc unattended, and make sure you patronise qualified electricians. The risk we take in these things, when it results in disasters like this, is really not worth it.”

It would be recalled that Lagos State Government embarked on a massive campaign in 2014, engaging people at home and sensitising them on the need to observe safety and precaution and save their homes from disasters such as this.

“These sudden outbreaks so early in the new year mean we have to intensify that campaign again, especially in the market areas, and

urge the traders to collaborate with the Safety Commission so we can stop this trend completely forever”, Odebumi said.

An elderly woman on Market Street known only as Iya Agba, who was at the scene of the fire, told Daily Times that people were not cautious enough, and she gave a peculiar analysis of the situation: “When the firmament releases dew and harmattan in the degree we have been witnessing since late December 2014, it is not a good omen; it is a time to be cautious. It has been so from time; farmers and

people in rural areas understand this sign, but city people are not cautious; they don’t observe the times.”

But Daily Times uncovered the why the Berlin traders were worried and edgy; Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, while speaking to the people and journalists last Friday disclosed that Lagos State Government is at this moment finalising a master plan of the Lagos Island as part of the Lagos mega city dream, and this is the factor that worries the Berlin

Continued on page 24

PIB: Before the Assembly winds down Continued from page 22 oil producing regions. Gas is still under-focused in Nigeria and the potential from this source of energy lays untapped. PIB seeks to maximize this. If well explored, this will boost power supply in Nigeria,” Usman added.

Buttressing the advantages of PIB, Gabriel Owanga, an oil worker in Port Harcout said: “Government revenue from oil industry will increase. This means more funds in the hands of government to engage in developmental activities. The downstream sector becomes fully deregulated. In other words, subsidy will fully go.

Environmental protection will be addressed to a large extent.

According to Abiodun Ariyibi, FCA, Ariyibi and Co, Lagos, “The contentious issues in the bill include the production sharing contract (PSC), a private agreement between one or more international oil companies (IOCs) and our national oil company (NNPC), which vests a license or general exclusive authorization in the NNPC, to explore for, exploit and produce hydrocarbons.

PSCs seek to protect the national economic interests of host coun-

Tambuwal

tries in the areas of technology transfer, training of local employees and preference for local suppliers. Host governments take such national obligations seriously. But the IOCs are used to taking advantage of their scientific advancement to the detriment of their host countries and would want that to continue by claiming that the bill would stall investments. PIB says no and that is the problem.”

Ariyibi noted that other contentious issues include the 10 per cent

“The result is that Nigeria will have one of the harshest fiscal regimes in the world, so harsh in fact, that not only is Nigeria uncompetitive, but the projects are actually uneconomic, meaning there is no acceptable return on investments.

Petroleum Host Communities Fund. Speaking further, he said, “another is the alleged enormous power granted the petroleum minister under the bill. Another contentious issue is the opposition of IOCs to the proposed fiscal regime which they claim is unfavorable to them.”

Lawmakers from the Northern states have consistently rejected the 10 per cent Petroleum Host Communities Fund. In his reaction to the Northern Legislators, Nwabueze Emeka of Emeka and

Jonathan

Solicitors, Lagos noted that the provision as contained in the PIB was meant to bring Nigeria’s host community relations in line with international best practice. He said, “for example, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) provides some guidance for improving community participation in the sustainable development of mineral resources in Africa. Examples include, Papua New Guinea Act of 1992, which stipulates that a minimum of 20 per cent of royalties received by the govern-

ment, should be paid to land owning communities of the mining lease area (In this case royalties are paid directly by mining companies to the agreed beneficiaries and then reconciled to central government for audit).

“Special Support Grants (also in Papua New Guinea) paid to a given provincial government, which represent about one per cent of the gross value of mineral sales of companies operating in the said province. Preferred Area Status (also in Papua New Guinea), which requires companies to provide preferential treatment in terms of employment, education and training and business development assistance to communities located in the area in which the company mines.

He asked rhetorically, “have they forgotten about the holding of mineral rights to platinum and other resources in the Merensky Reef in Northwest South Africa by the baFokeng tribe. The tribe is a shareholder in the Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd, which is the second largest producer of platinum in the Western world.

Nwabueze said, “from these

Continued on page 24

Features 24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

PIB: Before the curtain is drawn Continued from page 23 international examples, it is obvious that promoting community participation in extractive industries is centered on six pillars: preferential employment of local labour; contracting of services and procurement of goods from indigenous local companies; infrastructure provision to local communities; allocation of benefits from mining to local communities; local community allocation of national revenue; and community equity participation.

Simply put, the PIB provides for compliance with sections of the NEITI Act 2007 which emphasize management of the nation’s extractive industry wealth to the benefit of the people.

Former Regional Executive Vice President, Shell Exploration and Production, Africa, Ann Pickard disclosed that the PIB threatens to make a bad situation worse.

Pickard while delivering a paper titled: “Nigeria’s Position as a Key Player in Global Oil and Gas Markets” at the 2010 Nigeria Oil and Gas Forum, described PIB as “a cumbersome document that lacks insight into the very basics

Continued from page 23 traders. To compound their fear, the shackle of small trading community covering about one acre of land area is surrounded round and about by massive high rise corporate buildings, so that the trading area, aptly called Market Street, is an eye-sore in the high profile environment. This lends credence to the traders’ fear that their trading community may one day be scrapped for urban development.

While some worry about the money with which to start all over, some others traders told Daily Times that their fear is a possible adversarial action against them by the government.

“It is not starting all over again that is our problem; we are human

Senator Mark

of our industry”. She painted a post-PIB bleak future in the oil and gas industry. She criticized the fiscal provisions of the proposed law which she described as the “harshest in the world”.

International and local oil companies under the aegis of Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS),

which is a conglomerate of 18 international and indigenous oil companies in Nigeria at a two-day public hearing organised by the Senate Joint Committee on PIB stoutly opposed the passage of the bill.

They contended that though the PIB possessed a unique op-

beings; if bad thing happens, life must continue. We have the will to start afresh, but our main fear is what the government is going to do now.

“The most important thing is that they should allow us to build our shops back; we are ready to start afresh if they will allow us”.

Fatima told Daily Times the genesis of their worry.

“We have been hearing rumours a long time that government wants to evict us from here and we have been expecting it.” She said, adding: “We don’t believe it is an ordinary fire; we have our suspicions about what happened; some agents came to set fire into this market; we don’t know now what will happen.

We just came here this morning to clear this place, and to know what will happen. As you can see, we are

still discussing and waiting.”

A middle-aged trader who gave his name as Titus Ibe confirmed Fatima’s fear.

“We have been hearing the rumour a long time; in fact, we have been waiting to see how they will do it; but we have been begging their officials and we have been paying our rents and we are not trouble makers.

“So if this fire is a way to remove us from here, it is a very wicked way to do it. They should remember that there is God in heaven. We pay land rate and we pay our rent; we are not troublesome people.”

It is goodbye to Berlin Market From all indications, Daily Times

portunity to resolve the numerous challenges confronting the oil sector, it only sets out to aggravate it and simultaneously reduce investment potential in the sector.

Apparently disgusted with the proposed fiscal terms in the PIB, the OPTS in their presentation made by its representative and Managing Director of Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), Mr. Mark Ward, stated that the bill fell short of addressing the challenges in the oil industry but increases royalties and taxes, making Nigeria the country with the harshest fiscal regimes in the world.

“The PIB presents a unique opportunity to resolve many of these challenges. However, in our view, the bill does not resolve these challenges but it will in fact reduce the much-needed investments to sustain and grow the oil and gas industry,” Ward said while comparing the fiscal terms spelt out in the PIB with those of 20 other countries.

He also argued the trend in such countries was to provide a platform for the balancing of high royalties with lower taxes and vice versa, adding the PIB failed to guarantee this because, “it significantly increases royalties and taxes and virtually eliminates all at the same time.”

“The result is that Nigeria will have one of the harshest fiscal regimes in the world, so harsh in fact, that not only is Nigeria uncompetitive, but the projects are actually uneconomic, meaning there is no acceptable return on investments.

Ward said with the low-regulated domestic gas price and the enormous expenditure required to develop gas infrastructure, the OPTS said an incentive-based approach to domestic obligations was the best way to achieve the gas development, which Nigeria so clearly needs to jumpstart the

gas revolution.

Mutiu Sunmonu, the Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria was of the opinion that the PIB before the National Assembly is lopsided and will frustrate current investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and impede on the ability to meet set targets on power generation.

Speaking in Lagos at the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, PIB Stakeholders Forum, he said: “As it stands right now, the PIB will render all deepwater projects and all dry gas projects whether for domestic or export markets nonviable.

“The opportunities I have just outlined will be lost. And the opportunity to monetise some of the world’s best gas reserves will be lost. The opportunities to kickstart the power sector, the key to economic growth using easily accessible gas will also be lost.

“If the PIB does not encourage the development of the domestic gas market, none of this will happen and the consequences are almost unthinkable,” he said.

On the fiscal provisions of the PIB, Sunmonu argued that “the PIB needs to address long term industry issues; for example, funding issues for Joint Ventures, JVs, where funding requirements have constrained production growth.”

During his speech which was tagged ‘Investors Perspective on the PIB,’ Sunmonu posited that it was not enough to desire having a strong national oil company, but one that can compete favourably.

He said: “Any national oil company has to partner positively and, again, has to compete with those elsewhere that are also seeking external investment. NNPC has got to be able to fund its share of JV costs if it is going to attract such external investment and partnership.”

investigations can reveal that the inferno of Friday 16th January 2015 may mark the end of the Island market. It is goodbye to the famous Berlin Market which many believe may never rise again.

Fears of the traders that Lagos State Government may seize this opportunity to evict them from the highbrow corporate environment were confirmed when the Director of Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe, disclosed said last Friday that Lagos State Government is indeed finalizing the master plan of the Lagos Island as part of the Lagos mega city dream, and this the crux of the matter: would Market Street, multiple rows of bare iron shops, find a place in Governor Raji Fashola’s mega city plan?

The answer is not blowing in the wind.

Dejected traders look into the future

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

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ASSOCIATION OF INTER- FAITH BISHOPS $ MINISTERS OF NIGERIA.

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The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

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25

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TrusTee. 1. commodore allen benson edema.

2. enGr. michael ndubuisi.

3. caPTain. kinG edema.

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5. PsT chukwudi Tobenna Prisca.

Aim And ObjecTive.

1. To Preach The GosPel of The lord jesus chrisT. any objecTion To forwarded To The affairs commission, aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, wiThin TwenTy-eiGhT PublicaTion.

The reGisTraTion should be reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe PloT 420, TiGris crescenT, off maiTama, P.m.b. 198, Garki, abuja (28) days from The daTe of This

rePlAcemenT Of TrusTee The above-named esTablishmenT wishes To aPPly To The corPoraTe affairs commission, abuja for The rePlacemenT of one of iTs TrusTees.

The esTablishmenT ProPoses To rePlace mr. berT ubamadu, one of iTs TrusTees, wiTh mr. alan TousiGnanT, a new TrusTee. The rePlacemenT of mr. berT ubamadu is necessiTaTed by The facT ThaT The laTTer has ceased To be a member of The reGisTered TrusTees of aisa. any objecTion To The above should be forwarded To The reGisTrar General, corPoraTe affairs commission, no. 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, abuja wiThin 28 days of This PublicaTion.

signed: bArr muOKA echezOnA.

siGned: american inTernaTional school of abuja

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

FIREBRAND APOSTOLIC MINISTRY

OJIRAMI PETESHI PROGRESSIVE YOUTHS ASSOCIATION

signed:secreTAry

.

The General Public is here by 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 1990.

The bOArd Of TrusTees Are: 1.PasTor femi odeyale 2.deaconess abiodun ibidun odeyale 3.PasTor adebiyi oluroTimi kayode-secreTary Aims And ObjecTives: 1. To ProPaGaTe The GosPel of jesus chrisT 2. To win souls for chrisT 3. To underTake missionary/evanGelic work in niGeria and in The whole world. any objecTion To This reGisTraTion should be forwarded To The reGisTrar General,corPoraTe affairs commission, PloT 420 TiGris crescenT, off aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, maiTama, abuja wiThin 28 days from The daTe of This PublicaTion. signed: secreTAry.

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is To inform The General Public ThaT The above named body has aPPlied for reGisTraTion To The corPoraTe affairs commission under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT 1990.

The TrusTees Are: 1. donGo omokojie daniel 2. maTins ojo lawrence 3. adesoji oshoname daniel 4. imah monday briGhT 5. aseGame famous 6. eberemu omokafe anThony 7. aseGame favour

TrusTees Are: 1. Gabriel akwaekwe 2. kunbi Gabriel 3. uche eleke 4. john aliche 5. Pearl nwashili 6. felicia josePh oroTi 7. anThony mike edefe

-PresidenT -secreTary General -financial secreTary -Treasurer -vice PresidenT -P.r.o.

-ProvosT

The Aims And ObjecTives 1. To fosTer uniTy amonG The youThs 2. To fosTer ProGress in The communiTy 3. To helP our elders in solvinG The Problems relaTinG To The develoPmenT of our land.

4. enliGhTenmenT, orienTaTion and educaTinG ourselves esPecially on moral issues. 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 enAmudu isAAc, esQ

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHRIST’S POWER EVANGELICAL CHURCH

MOUNT OF GOD’S SOLUTION AND POWER INT’L

This is to inform the general public that the above named Church has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for change of trustee registration Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990

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

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Joshua Oniyire 2. Mrs Comfort Titilayo Oniyire 3. Pastor Matthew Tokum 4. Mr. Babatola Taiwo 5. Mr Bayo Aniyi 6. Pastor Muyiwa Adeoye -Removed 7. Mr. Muyiwa Odusan - Removed

NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Joshua Oniyire 2. Mrs Comfort Titilayo 3. Pastor Matthew Tokun 4. Mr. Babatola Taiwo 5. Mr Bayo Niyi 6. Mrs. Eniola Aniyi - Newly added 7. Moses Temitope Oniyire -Newly added

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

Signed: Signed: Olawore Aderogba

AGENT OF WISDOM MINISTRY The General Public is hereby noTified ThaT The above named minisTry has aPPlied To The corPoraTe affairs commission for reGisTraTion under ParT “c” of The comPanies and allied maTTers acT, 2004.

Trustee 1. Prophet Pastor Oluwaseyi Solomon Adekahunsi – General Overseer 2. Pastor mrs Adenike Deborah Adekahunsi-Asst. General Overseer 3. Pastor John Jesugbamila -Member 4. Mr Rotimi Aruleba -- Member 5. Mrs Arinola Aruleba -- Member 6. Pastor Samuel Balogun - Member 7. Mr Olajide Owowa - Member 8. Pastor Mrs Nike Coker --- Member 9.bElder Gbeke Oyeniyi (JP) -Adviser 10. Oluwatobi Olaolu Oyeniyi (Mr) Secretary Aim and Objectives To Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: ELDER GBEKE OYENIYI FCNA FCTI (08023078539)

Aim And ObjecTive: 1. To Proclaim The Goodnews To The naTions. any objecTion To forwarded To The affairs commission, aGuiyi ironsi sTreeT, wiThin TwenTy-eiGhT PublicaTion.

The reGisTraTion should be reGisTrar-General, corPoraTe PloT 420, TiGris crescenT, off maiTama, P.m.b. 198, Garki, abuja (28) days from The daTe of This

signed: bArr. ureh OTAKA (sOliciTOr)

LOSS OF DOCUMENT The general public is hereby notified that the certificate of Occupancy (C of O belonging to Lami Abubakar of Supreme Court of Nigeria Abuja, issued in favor of John Anavami Ajoge in respect of Plot no. 853A now Plot no. 4150 with file no k6. 60814 covered by Certificate of Occupancy no. FCT/ABU/KW- 218 cadastral zone A, 04 Asokoro district Abuja. All effort to get it back has proved abortive.

If found, please return to the nearest police station, Abuja Geographical information systems (AGIS) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as Miss. Agu Blessing Anulika now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Chukwu Blessing Anulika. General Public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Effiong Felicia Essien. Now wish to be Known and addressed as Mrs. Ajari Felicia Oyoma. All former documents remain valid.

The general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, former Miss JEMISEYE YETUNDE YEMISI who now wishes to be known as MRS ADEBAYO YETUNDE YEMISI All former documents remain valid General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known and addressed as miss Elizabeth Emmanuel Akpata, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Elizabeth Inwangette Udo. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

WOMEN LEADERS ON PEACE AND SAFETY IN AFRICAN COMMUNITY INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of thze Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

1.

2.

3.

Chief Vincent Ighile -Chairman Princess Nikita Enibokun Eweka Mrs. Naomi Audu Bajoga

Aims and Objectives 1. To empower women in Africa for positive change.

2. To promote peace in Africa.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

CHRIST THE DIADEM OF GLORY MINISTRY. This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990 TRUSTEES: 1) Nwachukwu Chinyereze Ezra. (2) Pastor Kelechi Amselem Okere.

(3) Pastor Mrs. Chikaodi Irene Ezra Nwachukwu.

(4) Pastor Ubachi Nwakali.

(5) Pastor Casmir Chinedu Okoro.

Aims And Objectives 1. To preach the word of God worldwide 2. To win souls for Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

SIGNED:SECRETARY

SIGNED:SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

GRASSROOT INTEGRATION AND RURAL EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA.

BEEKEEPING INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT 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

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 TRUSTEES: 1. Nwakiri Nelson Benneth Esq. 2. Mrs Idongesit Benneth Nwakiri 3. Mr.Aditi Lilia Legends-Ajie 4. Mr Nwakiri Ejikeme Linus 5. Umude Eleberi Lucky.

TRUSTEES: 1. Elijah Akanni Asade -President 2. Adeyanju Yemi - Secretary 3. Michael Olusegun Babatunde 4. Fayomi Gabriel AIM AND OBJECTIVE : To promote the keeping of bee Consumption for human needs.

Aims And Objectives To enhance rural development.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General.

Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed : Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

LIFE TRANSFORMATION MISSION 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 TRUSTEES: 1. Evangelist Etim Simon 2. Pastor Mrs. Imaobong Etim Uwem 3. Bro. Bassey Isaac 4. Bro. Etinwa Effiong 5. Bro. Ekene Camenus AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To reach the world with the gospel 2. To win souls for Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE IYE NI O CHURCH OF ZION CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM 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 Trustees: 1 Eminence Zedekiah Igbekele Omoregha 2 Rev. Enikanologbon. Omoladun Augustine 3 Rev Mother Florence Bose Fagbemi 4 Sup Rev Afinjuomo Kingsley Olufemi 5 Rev Samuel Oluwole Maja 6 Snr Pastor Ojuiwari.N.Abednigo 7 Most Rev Apost, Prince Dr Ogunbanjo Olusegun Jp. Aims And Objectives: To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ worldwide.

To teach and preach all bible doctrines Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed : Secretary

FAKUNLE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL OSOGBO NINTYFIVE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 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 TRUSTEES: 1. Ilori Olusola - President 2. Oyinlola Abimbola Vice- President 3. Mosadomi Oluwakemi- Secetary 4. George Martins 5. Akanbi Abimola 6. Niniola Abiola 7. Okelola Dayo

PUBLIC NOTICE ALPHONSUS OBINWA ETERNAL FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no. 1 of 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. Obinwa Ndubuisi Peter - Chairman 2. Rev. Obinwa John James -Secretary 3. Obinwa Ekene Kenneth -Member Aims And Objectives 1. To help the less privileged.

2. To provide counselling services for people in distress.

3. To give donations for charitable purposes.

4. To create awareness and assist in eradication of poverty and illiteracy.

5. To support humanitarian aid to underprivileged children, orphans, elderly and other people in need.

6. To provide opportunities to poor scholars to be able to pursue higher education both in Nigeria and abroad.

7. To do all such other things as may be considered to be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives or any of them.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. signed: KELVIN .A. MEJULU, ESQ ASOKORO, ABUJA 08037581431.

PUBLIC NOTICE ZOE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTER 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 TRUSTEES: 1. Apst Richard Oluwatoyin Ige -President 2. Mr. Akinnagbe Michael -Secretary 3. Mr. Akinyoade Anthony 4. Arch. Bolaji Ajibike 5. Engr. Stephen Are 6. Mr. Kunle Alaka AIM AND OBJECTIVE : To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed : Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE ARIGIDI AKOKO LEADERS OF THOUGHT FOUNDATION 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 TRUSTEES: 1. Mr. Lawnson Owadokun - Chairman 2. Mr Bola Olutayo - Secretary 3. Chief Bola Komolafe 4.Chief Alabi Rotimi Francis.

Aim And Objective: To foster unity, peace and progress amongst its members

Aim And Objective: To promote unity among it’s members.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE IBADAN INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION 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. 1of 1990 The Trustees are: 1. Oyedele Isaac Temidayo - President 2. Aliyu Waheed Ayotunde- Vice President 3. Omolabi Babatunde Calleb- Secretary 4. Aremu Sogo Kola 5. Sulaiman Rahman Ayobami 6. Lekan Adepoju The Aims And Objectives 1. To promote peace and unit among members 2. To educate and enlighten drivers on safety while driving Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed : Secretary

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE INTERNATIONAL CITY OF REFUGE MINISTRY 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 Trustees 1. Mrs. Esther Ashaolu - General Overseer 2. Mr Ajibola Ashaolu - Assistant General Overseer 3. Miss Olubunmi Ashaolu - Secretary 4. Mrs Olufunke Awe 5. Mrs Adetola Ajibade 6. Miss Olubukola Ashaolu 7. Mr Olanrewaju Ashaolu The Aims And Objectives 1. To empower widows, orphans and the less privileged members of the society 2. To provide skill acquisition training for people 3. To provide scholarships for financially challenged students 4. To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street. PMB 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from The date of publication.

Signed: BARRISTER (MRS) TEMITOPE OPAYEMI

Money

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

s

27

Oil: Expect significant income migration to importing countries Tony Nwakaegho

Kim, World Bank President

The World Bank (WB) Group analysis has revealed a strong likelihood of real income shifts from OPEC countries to oil-importing countries in 2015.

The report also stated that the gains from low oil prices could be substantial for developingcountry importers if supported

by stronger global growth.

The World Bank Group analysis in the latest edition of Global Economic Prospects listed factors that led to the decline in oil prices to include several years of unexpected increases in the oil supply, surprising declines in demand, receding geopolitical risks in some areas of the world, a significant change in the poli-

cies of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the appreciation of the US dollar.

The report further stated that even though the relative strength of the forces driving the recent plunge in prices remained uncertain, supply-related factors appeared to have played a dominant role.

LCCI calls for total removal of fuel subsidy Charles Okonji The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry last Friday in Lagos called on the Federal Government to implement total removal of petroleum subsidy to help ease the pressure mounting on the federal treasury.

The call was made by Mr Remi Bello, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Chamber’s press conference on the Appropriation Bill of the Federal Government and the current economic situation.

He stated; “When the oil price was high, the argument was that landing cost was high, but now that the global oil price is low, we would no longer incur landing cost on importation of refined petroleum products, so, subsidy should be totally eradicated.”

Bello noted that the biggest burden on government treasury in the country was the appropriation of petroleum subsidy, stressing that N200billion was proposed as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy in 2015 while it was N971billion in 2014, a decrease of 80 per cent.

“We note the provision of N91billion for kerosene subsidy in 2015. We submit that provision of this sum is difficult to justify. We urge the National Assembly to take this into account in its deliberations on the 2015 Appropriation Bill. Times like this call for utmost prudence

and curbing of leakages.” Bello stated,” he said.

The LCCI president expressed concern over the growing budgetary appropriation for debt servicing, explaining that the amount has grown from N712billion in 2014 t0 N943billion in 2015.

He said; “This is even more disturbing when compared to budgetary appropriation of N93.66billion for infrastructure and N633billion for capital projects. This relatively does not reflect our development priorities and urgent need to fix huge deficit in infrastructure. This also raises concern about the growing domestic debt and the burden it imposes on the economy.”

“The trouble is that the bulk of the debts were incurred for recurrent spending and the high cost of running government business. They were not incurred for developmental purposes. This makes the servicing even more burdensome on the economy and the citizens.”

Bello advised the government to avoid relating debt to the rebased GDP in determining the nation’s borrowing threshold, stressing that a large component of the re-based GDP were not revenue generating.

“If the current trend of debt accumulation continues, it is only a matter of time for debt service provision to completely crowd-out capital expenditure in the budget,” Bello warned.

Bello

Richardson

UK backs firm on oil & gas partnerships in West Africa Ugochukwu Onyeocha Despite the slide in oil prices globally, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a section of the British High Commission in Lagos, has declared its support for Pennwell Corporation to promote partnership opportunities through the 19th Annual edition of Offshore West Africa taking place this week from January 20-22, 2015.

The press conference which was held at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos, witnessed the presence of key stakeholders in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas industry who applauded the initiative of the organisers at this time when oil prices have continued to fall globally.

Speaking at the event, Nick Richardson, the Strategic Business Partner Manager, PennWell Corporation, stated that the event which is under the auspices of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and endorsed by the Department of Petroleum Resources Nigeria (DPR), will be sponsored by TOTAL and will address key technology and development issues for the West African offshore oil and gas market, through a comprehensive educational conference program and three-day exhibition, under the theme “Managing West Africa’s Major Projects.”

In his remark, Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) Mr Ranti Omole, called for more investments into local production and consumption of petroleum products in the face of global decline in demand and falling oil prices which has affected the economy of Nigeria and many other oil producing nations.

Energy 28 Eland Oil secures $75 million RBL facility Eland Oil & Gas, a West Africa focused oil and gas production, development and Exploration Company listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Aim has secured a new reserves based lending (“RBL”) credit facility of up to US$75 million from Standard Chartered Bank.

The facility, which matures in four and a half years, is secured against OML 40’s reserves and will be repayable on a quarterly basis from September 2016 at 7.75 per cent over LIBOR. Standard Chartered, who will commit $35 million to the facility, is the lead arranger of the syndicated loan and has begun marketing the syndication of the remaining $40 million with commitments expected by the end of Q1 of 2015.

The facility will be used to continue the development of Opuama field in OML 40 and for working capital. The agreement of the facility comes after the company announced a significant upgrade in the reserves and resources of OML 40 following a new competent persons report (CPR) provided by Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc. (NSAI) in October of last year. The CPR upgraded OML 40 gross Proved Plus Probable (“2P”) reserves from 54.2 million barrels (mmb) to 81.4 mmb, with 25.3 mmb net to Eland (before royalties), and 20.2 mmb net to Eland (post royalties). Eland expects the addition of future reserves and production growth to add to the size of the available RBL.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Ministry proposes presidential committee on renewable energy and efficiency Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The Ministry of Power is considering a paradigm shift in the power sector in the country having presented a proposal to the President on development of renewable energy sources in 2015 that presidential committee on renewable energy and energy efficiency be set up with someone domiciled in the ministry of power from where all efforts in the sector will be managed for efficiency.

Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil who made this known to the press said that the ministry is seeking to blend Nigeria’s efforts in growing her renewable energy sector since “We cannot have all our people connected to the national grid and that is why exploration and development of renewable energy in rural areas should be a priority to the government but that priority must then be matched with this level of commitment and coordination.”

Basically, he noted that majority of Nigerians live within the rural areas of the country and as such may not get steady electricity from the national grid, hence, the need to encourage the use of renewable energy and offgrid energy generation.

He revealed that the international communities and development partners that are

into renewable energy have expressed their enthusiasm for such framework that seeks to coordinate activities in the power sector.

He buttressed that the proposal which was submitted to the president that seek to harmonise all these efforts under a central coordination has been given to the Economic Management Team for review and recommendations.

“In Nigeria today, you see a lot of government agencies and parastatals with renewable energy departments; if you go to the NNPC, there is one, you go the Energy Commission, there is another, and so that is how uncoordinated the sector is in the country. The proposal we have submitted to the president and we are aware has been given to the Economic Management Team for review and recommendations, will seek to harmonise all these efforts under one central coordination,” he added.

Nigeria is said to have a good comparative advantage in various renewable energy sources as extensively reported, as it lies within a high sunshine belt; the North in particular provides a more viable potential for photovoltaic use with insolation of up to 7 kWh/ m2/day and has enormous solar energy and oth-

Wakil er solar related potentials and resources.

According to a statement signed by Mrs Patricia Deworitshe, Assistant Director in charge of Press in the Ministry of Power stated that the Federal

Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three companies – Solius NGPC, Peoples Home Association and Solar Force Nigeria Ltd – for solar power across the country.

DPR conditions scare off bunkering prospectors The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) stringent terms and conditions issued after the Federal Government had approved the resuscitation of oil bunkering operations in the nation’s territorial waters is

Members of a bunkering gang

said to have alarmed potential investors to stay away from such venture.

Recall that the Federal Government had suspended bunkering operations in Nigerian territorial waters pending a

review of the policy due to illegal bunkering activities, which became rampant at a time and approved its resuscitation in January 2014.

Some stakeholders are irked that the current terms of operation governing the business appeared very stringent, and were sufficient to discourage potential investors instead of encouraging more stakeholders come on board.

Some of the conditions listed by the DPR for potential investors in the business are that applicants for bunkering licences must show evidence of technical and financial capabilities which will be verified by the

DPR; and shall have functional offices with technically efficient communication equipment/ facilities capable of supplying operational data in real time to a portal created by DPR in a format to be specified by the Department.

All bunkering companies are expected to also have a wellequipped laboratory for quality control of their products, and applicants for licences shall submit an Oil Spill Contingency Plan, as well as an Emergency Response Plan.

Ships/ vessels to be utilised for mobile bunkering operations in Nigeria must be listed in the Lloyds, Bureau-Veritas or

any of the internationally recognised classifications, and evidence of such registration shall be provided by the applicant.

Also, design of static or jetty based bunkering facility including architectural, engineering, foundation safety and all other designs that would assist the DPR in determining the suitability of the facility must be provided.

According to the Department, motorised barges to be utilised for bunkering operations, must be registered with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and evidence of such registration shall be provided by the applicant.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Businesses get 59% electricity tariff hike Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Commercial and industrial electricity consumers in the country have been grossly affected by the recent hike in electricity tariff as they are now paying N13 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) equivalent to 59 per cent more from the previous rates on average.

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) records of the reviewed Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2 obtained showed that many consumers’ categories had their bills increased by about 76 percent, or N10 kwh on average basis.

However, the new electricity tariff varies from one distribution company (Disco) to another.

For instance the records showed that Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) which comprise Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Benue states, has the highest tariff cost for Residential 2 ( R2) consumers as it rose from N24 kwh last year to N34 kwh in 2015.

Abuja Distribution company (Disco)’s records revealed that while R2 customers paid N13.25 kwh in 2014, they will have to pay N23.32 kwh in 2015, which is an increment of 76 percent translating to a N10.07 difference in previous payments.

Consumers of Electricity in Benin, Ibadan, Kaduna, Jos and

29 Energy

Nigeria needs 31,240mw of power in 2015 to boost GDP Energy Commission of Nigeria (ENCON) recent released data shows that the national demand for power will hit 31,240 Mega Watts (MW) this year to boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, which would not be sustained by the current power generation in the country.

ENCON categorised the electricity peak projection for the country based on speculated GDP growth rate with seven per cent referred to as reference growth; 10 per cent (high growth) and 11.5 per cent (optimistic growth).

The projection also speculated that in 2015, the nation would require 28,360MW at reference growth rate; 30,210MW and 31,240MW at high and optimism growth rate respectively.

Access to electricity in the country was anticipated to grow from less than 50 per cent in 2014

to between 75-86 per cent base on the growth criterion in 2015 and peak at 90-95 per cent by 2030.

The Data further disclosed that a larger portion of the generation was linked to gas, followed by coal, hydro, solar, wind, biomass and nuclear sources, adding that renewable energy scheme is expected to generate 13 per cent of the energy in short term, 23 per cent in medium term and 36 per cent in long term.

Transmission lines

Shell gets U.S. approval to export lightly processed oil

Amadi, NERC boss Kano Discos witnessed at least N10 increase for R2 consumers, while Enugu Disco has the highest tariff increment in 2015 as it rose by N17.

The tariff which was N15 last year has risen to N32 this year with Port Harcourt Disco, the

runner up having its tariff increased from N13 to N26.

The record showed the lowest increment by Ikeja Disco with N4; while Eko and Yola Discos’ bills rose by N6 in the new domestic tariff.

Royal Dutch Shell said it has received U.S. approval to export a very light form of crude oil that has undergone minimal processing.

Shell had been working with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on how to ship lightly processed condensate overseas without violating a decades-old crude export ban, according to reports by Reuters.

The company said the approval enables Shell to move ahead with exports of condensate that qualifies as an exportable refined product as defined by BIS guidance issued on Dec. 30.

Though, U.S. crude oil prices have fallen by more than half since June, to less than $50 a barrel, and Shell said it would export processed condensate when it was sufficiently profitable.

CIMG, PCCA-Ghana partner to Oil production capacity to reach 200,000 b/d by Q4 2017 improve OMC-Station staff Nigeria’s oil production ca“At the beginning of 2014, 200,000 b/d in the fourth quarter The Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) in partnership with the Ghana Petroleum Consumer Choice Awards (PCCA Ghana) is to help improve the customer service capacity of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) service station pump attendants and supervisors/managers on annual basis.

Subsequently, CIMG and Purple Energy Ghana, the main collaborator of the PCCA Ghana had put together joint training modules for the CIMG PCCA Service Improvement Programme (CPSIP).

The CIMG PCCA Service Improvement Programme (CPSIP) is a free annual investment com-

mitment by PCCA Ghana purposely for OMC service station pump attendants, supervisors/ managers that would emerge among the PCCA top 20 best Pump Attendants and Service Station Supervisors/Managers.

The CSIP for OMC service station staff is a certification program innovated to address prevailing customer service concerns and brand issues at the service pump level of the downstream oil industry.

The three-day scheduled program is dated to take off after June 27th, the proposed date for the PCCA main awards event.

Service station staffs can look out for details from pccaghana.

pacity amid the local and international challenges facing the oil industry is expected to rise by additional 200,000 b/d by the fourth quarter 2017 when two major deepwater fields will have come on stream, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp (NNPC) report.

Jonathan Okehs, General Manager of Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS National), the investment arm of the NNPC, said in a recent message published to employees said the increased production will come from ExxonMobil’s Erha North field and Total’s Egina oil field, whose investment decisions were taken in 2014.

amidst global economic uncertainties, we set ambitious and laudable targets for ourselves.

Investment decisions for other deep-water projects like Egina and Erha North have been taken with expected production of

Oil production facility

of 2017,” Okehs said.

The Erha North field is located in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 133 with reserves estimated at 177 million barrels, while the Egina field is located in OML 130 near the Akpo field.

Capital market 30

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

No point going abroad to understudy firms of a different environment- UI VC Professor Isaac Adewole is the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, which recently established a school of business and is in partnership talks with The Nigerian Stock Exchange. In a session with Daily Times and other media correspondents, he shares his views and outlook on how this relationship profits the school, the Exchange and the Nigerian Economy. ADESOLA AKINDELE reports.

Despite having the Lagos Business School, the Establishment of business schools in Nigeria is quite uncommon. Sir what is the rationale behind the establishment of University of Ibadan’s school of business (UISB)?

The decision to establish a business school started a long time ago, in fact we started with an MBA program which has been on for the last 17 years but over the past 5 years, as part of our strategic development we thought that the entire program should be warehoused in a school of business.

So, the senate of the university decided to take that bold decision to establish a school of business, which will be cost effective, and would provide the students with an ideal setting to suit the peculiarity of Nigeria, which had the approval of council.

As an institution we have a mandate to serve the entire world but we have a focus on Nigeria, knowing full well that we have the largest economy in Africa, It would not be too difficult to appreciate how these interactions can really make waves in the respect to the Nigerian Economy.

We believe that when we start the collaboration that we

plan to do, we would save this country a lot of money, those who go abroad to study would not have to do so and many of the case studies that we put in place would be relevant to the Nigerian companies and Nigerian economy, there is no point sending someone to America to study an international company like international telecom, when the business environment in US is different from the business environment in Nigeria.

We are currently developing the curriculum, we are partnering with private sector so that

We have a mandate to serve the entire world but we have a focus on Nigeria, knowing full well that we have the largest economy in Africa

right at the stage of curriculum development we would be able to really tap on the resources that abound in the private sector we are actively developing the curriculum in agro business we are doing one in telecom and apart from the traditional MBA that we have done in banking and finance for quite a long time.

What really brought us here is to see how we can partner with the Nigerian stock exchange in order to broaden the base of our participation we believe that the

Adewole capital market is a true reflection of the economic health and well-being of any nation and a university that is expected to impact from a wellbeing of the nation, certainly needs to partner with an organization like the stock exchange in order to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of this nation. What we’ve agreed during the course of our discussion is to set up a working group to

UI boasts the largest postgraduate programme in Africa

look into areas of collaboration we want to see how some key actors in the stock exchange can become adjoined lecturers in the University of Ibadan.

We are looking at staff and student exchange, we are looking at how to work on case studies and setting up a trading centre and we also want to set up a centre for capital market studies so we believe that this partnership would do only one

NSE approves payments of 343 claims to investors Desola Akindele The Nigerian Stock Exchange has put in place measures to ensure the payment of Three Hundred and forty three (343) investors on its investor protection fund (IPF) program.

Speaking at The NSE 2014 Market Review and Outlook review held, last week, Chief

Executive Officer of NSE, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, stated that 343 claims of investors from the first and second batch of claims have been approved for payment.

He explained that these payments would be made after Identity verification has been concluded by external consultants engaged by the IPF board of

trustees with a N400, 000 maximum payout.

On reviewing the market’s performance of 2014, Onyema described it as a year where bearish sentiments prevailed with the withdrawal of foreign investors from the Nigerian capital market due to currency risk and the recovery of developed economies.

He further stated that several macroeconomic developments such as (i) fall in crude oil prices and related pressure on the Naira; (ii) the impact of CBN’s monetary policy changes introduced at various points throughout the year; (iii) Nigeria’s declining foreign reserves; (iv) festering insurgency in the nation; (v) uncertainty around the upcom-

thing, would bring development we seek for collaboration to improve the health and well-being and promote the public good for the country.

We understand that you want to set up the capital market study Centre, but then we currently have a lot of products that are fairly new to the Nigerians stock exchange e.g. the ETF’s, and a couple of other initiatives that are in place like stocks lending as well as market making etc. Now, how good are the Nigerian universities in terms of teaching students about this kind of products?

We are mindful of some of these developments in the capital market at the Nigerian Stock Exchange and what we want to do is to bridge the gap between theory and practical. Theory with respect to what is being taught in the university and practical with respect to what happens here and so when we partner we would certainly close this gap, the university is a rich pot where we have seasoned people. The University of Ibadan for example has over 400 professors we have the largest postgraduate program in Africa we produce about 300 pages every year so you are talking about the stock exchange partnering with the nations resource and heritage, we can only add value to what presently exist and we believe that this partnership enrich what we have on ground and would also improve on the quality of the graduates that we turn out of the school of business.

We are quite happy about the professionalism that has been displayed at the stock exchange, and we plan to set up a working team. We have agreed that we should be able to do case studies and particularly for companies that are doing so well in addition to this we also look at research in order to enhance the wealth of the Nigerian Worker in the economy so if we get things right as we plan to, the Nigerian economy would be the better for it.

ing 2015 elections; and (vi) weak corporate earnings also contributed to the decline in market performance for the year 2014.

The air of uncertainty that hovered over the Nigerian capital market throughout 2014 caused investors to increasingly adopt a ‘flight to quality’ strategy reflecting a 13.15% retraction of the capitalization of listed equities (24.95% in $-terms) from N13.23 trillion ($82.80 billion) to CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

31 Capital market Price rally pushes up NSE market indices

L – R : Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom, President/CEO, Transcorp Nig Plc; Mr. Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, MD, Transcorp Hotels Plc; HRH Baba Mohammed, Director, Transcorp Hotels Plc, at the listing of the company’s shares on the Daily Official List (DOL) and closing gong ceremony at the NSE recently.

NSE projects influx of domestic investors CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

N11.49 trillion ($61.72 billion).

The NSE All Share Index (ASI) also slid 16.14%, while NSE ASeM Index and NSE Oil/ Gas Index grew 26.09% and 11.84% respectively. On an average, daily turnover for equities was N5.4 billion ($29.00million), up 29.50% (11.03% in $-terms).

Notable achievements for the year 2014 were also recorded as the NSE closed the year with six (6) new equity listings – two (2) on the Main Board, one (1) on ASeM, and three (3) ETFs, while the Bond market recorded twelve (12) new listings with a slight dip in the value of new issues.

The NSE was admitted as a full member of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), and Phase 1 of the West African Capital Market Integration (WACMI) programme is well underway with the successful launch of direct market access (DMA).

The NSE made history by becoming the first African stock exchange to join the Intermarket Surveillance Group (ISG), and welcomed a new president and six (6) Council members to its National Council.

In 2014, the NSE National Council (Board) approved a revised 2019 NSE Corporate Strategic Plan detailing the Exchange’s new growth strategy for the next five (5) years, leading to 2019.

This revised strategy seeks to position the Exchange as the market for entrepreneurial growth. With key revisions to specific targets, the NSE began executing the 2019 strategy, focusing priorities on initiatives aimed at achieving the Exchange’s three (3) strategic objectives: [1] Increase the number of new listings across five (5) asset classes; [2] Increase order flow in the five (5) asset classes; and [3] Operate a fair and orderly market based on just and equitable principles.

Projections and outlook for the year 2015 The NSE has put in place strategies aimed at attracting more domestic investors. One of which is the organising of the first investor forum for Nigerian Diaspora, expected to take place on Monday, January 19, 2015 at Hilton Zurich Airport Hotel, Switzerland. It is a forum targeted at Nigerian Diaspora in Switzerland and across Europe.

However, there are indications that Nigeria’s 2015 macroeconomic performance is expected to be influenced by a number of variables, including crude oil prices, foreign exchange movements, national security, global financial markets, fiscal and monetary policies, as well as the outcome of the 2015 elections.

In anticipation of the elimination of some of the uncertainties highlighted above, negative

sentiments in the market will begin to subside, with volatility slowing in the second half of the year, strengthening potential for a market rebound.

The NSE further described current market positions of low stock prices as an opportunity for cautious long term investing as domestic investors are presented with no currency risk. Government bond yields which hovered between 11.0% and 12.5% throughout 2014, will remain an attraction for investors seeking high risk-adjusted returns. The expectations of, a successful election with no or low levels of violence, a tighter grip on the security situation in north-eastern Nigeria, and a more certain macroeconomic outlook for oil prices, interest rates and the naira, could improve the market’s attractiveness rather significantly.

On objectives and key initiatives for 2015 Onyema stated that The NSE is unwavering in its commitment to solidify its leadership position as Africa’s foremost securities exchange, and is committed to initiatives that will position the bourse as an attractive listing and investment destination. He explained the need for support of the federal government’s reforms, for the growth and development of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Market which intends to continue in the provision of a viable plat-

form to support the financing and sustainable development of the real economy.

He further stated that the Exchange will focus on delivering several initiatives in support of its revised strategy. Key amongst these initiatives are: (i) promote the Nigerian capital market as an African hub for growth companies; (ii) attract more domestic flows into the market; (iii) implement a more competitive price structure in conjunction with the Regulator and other market participants; and (iv) intensify its efforts towards developing a more sustainable market.

He stressed the fact that the world is slowly coming to terms with the reality that its fastestgrowing markets are emerging from the African continent, with Nigeria in a lead position.

With its large and disproportionately young population (approximately 70 per cent of the Nigerian population is under the age of 30) and growing middle class, supported by strong growth GDP projections, major opportunities that could translate into a powerful market for consumption has been provided.

As a result, both the foreign and domestic investment communities are optimistic that the recent economic expansion experienced in Nigeria should continue for the foreseeable future, in spite of economic challenges recently witnessed.

The market indicators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday further appreciated by 0.49 per cent as a result of price rally by major companies.

The All-Share Index rose by 223.5 points to close at 29,034.89 against the 28,811.39 posted on Thursday.

The market capitalisation, which opened at N9.613 trillion, gained N48 billion or 0.49 per cent to close at N9.671 trillion due to price gain by some blue chips.

An analysis of the price movement chart indicated that Nestle topped the price gainers’ chart, gaining N15.40 to close at N815.40 per share.

UACN garnered N2.63 to close at N30.98, while Flour Mill rose

by N1.69 to close at N35.64 per share.

Seplat increased by N1.13 to close at N311.13, while International Breweries improved by 99k to close at N21.89 per share.

Conversely, Guinness led the losers’ chart with a loss of N2 to close at N130 per share.

It was followed by PZ Cussons which lost N1.21 to close at N26 per share, while Nigerian Breweries depreciated by N1 to close at N139 per share.

Glaxosmith lost 66k to close at N40, while UAC-Prop depreciated by 41k to close at N8.10 per share.

Access Bank emerged the most traded stock, accounting for 43.66 million shares worth N221.82 million in 354 deals.

Transcorp recorded a turnover of 32.49 million shares valued at N97.48 million in 207 deals, while FCMB sold 29.83 million shares valued at N63.53 million in 133 deals.

In all, a total of 261.305 million shares worth N2.87 billion were traded by investors in 4,029 deals against the 278.190 million shares valued at N3.17 billion traded in 4,731 deals on Thursday.

Aig-Imoukhuede, NSE president

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

Money

s

27

Oil: Expect significant income migration to importing countries

Politics

Starter

Mass defection One hits Nasarawa week, two PDP P 19 infernos, Features one island 21

Tony Nwakaegho

News

VOL. 1. NO.26

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Kim, World Bank President

Price: N150

dailytimesng IN RUINS: Berlin Market, Lagos Island... On Friday

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry last Friday in Lagos called on the Federal Government to implement total removal of petroleum subsidy to help ease the pressure Ï j Ɔ ƈ ƐƏƈ ƑƆ mounting on the federal treasury . Ɨ Ƌ ƄƄƕƈ Č The call was made by Mr Remi Bello, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Chamber’s press conference on the Appropriation Bill of the Federal Government and the current economic situation.

He stated; “When the oil price was high, the argument was that landing cost was high, but now that the global oil price is low, we would no longer incur landing cost on importation of refined petroleum products, so, subsidy should be totally eradicated.”

David Mark Bello noted that the biggest burden on government treasury Tayo Adelaja in the country was the appropriation ÏÏÏ of No petroleum other bill hassubsidy, been since Nige- was stressingmore thatpopular N200billion ria’s return to democratic proposedrule asin 1999 Premium Motor than the Petroleum Industry Bill in (PIB)2015 Spirit (PMS) subsidy – maybe the Freedom of while it was N971billion in 2014, Information Bill comes a decrease of The 80 reason per cent. near. is not farfetched:the anything petro- of “We note provision leum in Nigeria generates N91billion for kerosene subsidy passionate interest. in 2015. We submit that proviFormer President Olusegun Obasanjo set up a comour correspondent. sion“Just of this sum is difficult to leave us alone, we don’t need mittee christened the Oil justify.a We urge the National and Gas Industry Commit- Asanything from anybody”, (OGIC), with a mandate bulky Igbo fellow sembly said as he totee take this into account pushed pass our correspon- to take a comprehensive in its deliberations on the 2015 dent and continued with his look at Nigeria’s oil and gas Appropriation Times sector andBill. offer better ways like clearing. managing the industry .

But Daily Times eventuthis call offor utmost prudence

One week, two infernos, one island Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr

ÏÏÏWhile victims are still smarting from massive losses of merchandise and cash by importers and traders last Monday to the Balogun inferno, another early morning fire has razed chains of shops at Berlin Market, hedged between AbibuOki Street and inner Broad Street, behind the Lagos office of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The incident, the second in just five days at Lagos Island, started at the early hours of Friday January 16th and completely razed no fewer than 100 close knit

shops squeezed into about two acres of land area.

The massive deployment of over five fire trucks and some 50,000 litres of water to the scene failed to salvage properties, goods and cash in the busy trading community.

ends Friday night.

Very optimistic traders, mostly young and middleaged Igbo men, women as well as Lagosians and other tribes were seen working round the clock, apparently preparing to start all over again, but something else was amiss as Daily Times tried to find out the matter they were discussing in whispers; they worked in small numbers, some would pause and discuss a moment and continue the task on hand again.

It was a difficult time to get word from the people; many had become edgy and hostile and would not entertain any question from

ÎÎÎAt

I was about laughing off the statement of the governor when I realized the keyboard I was typing on had beaten me to it doing muhahahaha!

the peak of the struggle between the Lagos State Government and Okada riders about four years ago, Governor Raji Fashola did say that one of the major reasons his administration banned the trade was because it was a dangerous transportation mode. I thought the Okada riders had been fully persuaded by that argument until I saw a graffiti on a banner of the Lagos APC candidate for the Lagos governorship election around the Magodo gate on Thursday which read: “Bring Back Our Okada”.

Abiodun Aremu is an established activist who fought on the side of Okada riders back then and gave the unkindest cut to Governor Fashola.

He was not convinced by the danger alarm of His Excellency and he used a personal habit of the governor to nail him when he said: “There is a warning on every pack of cigarette that smoking is danger-

ous but Governor Fashola still smokes”.

I am not in a position to confirm if the governor still smokes. If he is still in the habit, he may have to check the pack he picked from last Wednesday and ensure he does not go near that brand again as it is certainly very harmful to what he says afterwards.

The “Eko Oni baje” man climbed the podium at the Sky Power ground to campaign for his party governorship candidate for Lagos 2015 and in the process made a faux pas that would haunt him and his party in this elections cycle.

The governor searched for what he could use to put down the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),Mr Jimi Agbaje and went for a wrong one.

Fashola declared that 57-year-old Agbaje is too old to govern Lagos. His words: “Today, at 52, I am counting the number of

black hair on my head.

Akinwunmi Ambode is the man that can do it. If you put an old man there, he cannot do it. If you call him in the night, he may not pick your calls”.

I was about laughing off the statement of the governor when I realized the keyboard I was typing on had beaten me to it doing muhahahahahaha!

Here is a governor who is widely believed to have hustled to be running mate to the 72-year-old presidential candidate of his party for the February elections just a few weeks back. If Fashola had been picked as the running mate and his principal had called him Falolu instead of Fashola on the podium the way Osinbajo was called “Oshingade”, would he still come and be attacking a 57-year-old on account of age?

Even now, would Fashola hold the broom behind his Party’s 72-year-old presidential candidate when their campaign train hits Lagos chant-

Unlike victims of Balogun inferno some of whom fell into a coma, others speechless, Daily Times met victims of the Berlin fire busy clearing the site of what used to be their life, their work and their future which just were consumed as a dream that

One of the affected traders

ally cornered one Eugene between rows of burnt shops and managed this discussion that revealed the reason for their apprehension, fear and hostility.

“I have been trading here for the past eleven years; this kind of a thing has never happened before. Nobody here can tell you exactly the amount of goods and cash,

The reforms were expected to form the nucleus of Nigeria’s aspiration of becoming one of the most industrialized nations in the world by the year 2020.

The committee submitted its report, and its recommendations formed the basis of the Petroleum Industry Bill in 2007. PIB was first introduced to the

Continued on page 22

Continued on page 22

ing “change”? He would tell Nigerias that an octogenarian is the “best man for the job” while a 57-year-old is too old for Lagos? The governor should be returned unopposed if nominated for the Nobel Prize in hypocrisy!

It really does not end there. The youth leader of APC, Ibrahim Jalo is a 52-year-old man. Has governor Fashola complained to his bosses in their party that a 30-yearold should have been better to lead the youth?

Elections would be holding in two other states in the south west in February and Fashola’s party has candidates for these elections. In Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun is 56 years while Senator Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo state is 65. Would Fashola support younger men in other parties against these men?

Where was our “actualiser” when 57- year-old Rauf Aregbesola was sworn in as Osun gover-

Richardson

Ugochukwu Onyeocha

and curbing of leakages.” Bello stated,” he said.

The LCCI president expressed concern over the growing budgetary appropriation for debt servicing, explaining that the amount has grown from N712billion in 2014 t0 N943billion in 2015.

He said; “This is even more disturbing when compared to budgetary appropriation of N93.66billion for infrastructure and N633billion for capital projects. This relatively does not reflect our development priorities and urgent need to fix huge deficit in infrastructure. This also raises concern about the growing domestic debt and the burden it imposes on the economy.”

“The trouble is that the bulk of the debts were incurred for recurrent spending and the high cost of running government business. They were not incurred for developmental purposes. This makes the servicing even more burdensome on the economy and the citizens.”

Bello advised the government to avoid relating debt to the rebased GDP in determining the nation’s borrowing threshold, stressing that a large component of the re-based GDP were not revenue generating.

“If the current trend of debt accumulation continues, it is only a matter of time for debt service provision to completely crowd-out capital expenditure in the budget,” Bello warned.

What did Governor Fashola smoke?

Yinka Odumakin

We have lost everything

cies of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the appreciation of the US dollar.

The report further stated that even though the relative strength of the forces driving the recent plunge in prices remained uncertain, supply-related factors appeared to have played a dominant role.

Business

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ ơÖè ƾƠơǀ

PIB: Before the National Assembly winds down

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by stronger global growth.

The World Bank Group analysis in the latest edition of Global Economic Prospects listed factors that led to the decline in oil prices to include several years of unexpected increases in the oil supply, surprising declines in demand, receding geopolitical risks in some areas of the world, a significant change in the poli-

LCCI calls for UK backs firm 10 dead in on oil & gas in total removal of partnerships Niger Charlie West Africa fuel subsidy Hebdo ƾơ LCCI calls for total P13 sprotests P 27 removal of fuel subsidy Charles Okonji

MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2015

The World Bank (WB) Group analysis has revealed a strong likelihood of real income shifts from OPEC countries to oil-importing countries in 2015.

The report also stated that the gains from low oil prices could be substantial for developingcountry importers if supported

Bello

Despite the slide in oil prices globally, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a section of the British High Commission in Lagos, has declared its support for Pennwell Corporation to promote partnership opportunities through the 19th Annual edition of Offshore West Africa taking place this week from January 20-22, 2015.

The press conference which was held at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence in Lagos, witnessed the presence of key stakeholders in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas industry who applauded the initiative of the organisers at this time when oil prices have continued to fall globally.

Speaking at the event, Nick Richardson, the Strategic Business Partner Manager, PennWell Corporation, stated that the event which is under the auspices of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and endorsed by the Department of Petroleum Resources Nigeria (DPR), will be sponsored by TOTAL and will address key technology and development issues for the West African offshore oil and gas market, through a comprehensive educational conference program and three-day exhibition, under the theme “Managing West Africa’s Major Projects.”

In his remark, Chairman of Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) Mr Ranti Omole, called for more investments into local production and consumption of petroleum products in the face of global decline in demand and falling oil prices which has affected the economy of Nigeria and many other oil producing nations.

nor weeks back?

One Igbo proverb I love says those whose palm kernels were cracked for them by the gods should not be on the frontline among the boastful. Governor Fashola was 44 when his predecessor was looking for a cashier and not necessarily a governor to “actualise” his “plan” for Lagos and found him to be “the best man for the job”. How men quickly forget where they come from beats me hollow!

If he had to fight on his own steam to be anything in Lagos, he probably would be at the level of aspiration at 52 when he is about to complete eight years in office? Does he think he is wiser than the Leke Pitans, Tokunbo Afikuyomis, Hakeem Gbajabiamilas, Ganiyu Solomons, Tola Kasalis and numerous others who wasted quality years of their lives queuing behind Jagaban for their turn that would never come?

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

Life&

TIMES Monday January 19, 2015

Tayo Sobaola

makes English movie debut PL3

Chris Brown on the road to jail L4 P

L6

P

Sore throat and treatment Fashion L2 mistakes

P

Fashion L2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 19, 2015

Series of Eight by Eyola

Fashion crimes you should never

commit 1ne

Wearing socks with flip flops or sandals: The ultimate fashion crime.

Whoever told you it was cool verbally or visually - think famous rappers - should not be taken seriously.

2wo

head-to-toe logo-emblazoned designer clothing only tells the world that: A) You cannot afford luxury clothes B) You have no fashion style whatsoever. Also appropriate to mention at this juncture is trying to emulate the style of someone else; itthardly ever ends well. Have your own style to suit your shape and taste, that’s how your idol,hero or icon got their signature style you love so much.

less you’ve been invited to a dress up party and this is your intended costume, post-90s back-to-front cap trend will always be a no-no.

5ive

8ight

Thongs peeping out or exposed boxer shorts: This is not classy, it is inexcusable and definitely not sexy.

Please avoid at all costs. The same goes for an over exposed cleavage. White on white: Do not wear white underwear under white clothes, especially under an all-white ensemble. Contrary to popular belief, white underwear clearly shows A size too small: Squeezing into through your white outfit. Wear clothes that once fit you or that you black or skin coloured underwear hope to one day fit into just screams instead. one thing – “Look at my excess fat”.

3hree 4our

Designer Label Junkie: Wearing

6ix

Cap worn back to front: Un-

7even

Visibly dirty white socks: Need I say more?

Un-ironed shirt: Most of us are guilty of not always ironing our freshly washed laundry, but it is inexcusable not to iron your work shirt or clothes. Don’t sink your career because of your poor fashion choices. Dress smartlyy at all times making sure your office attire is always clean and well ironed. Smart dressing does a professional man/ woman make.

Opeoluwani Akintayo

o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng

Wizkid premieres ‘Sound It’ … as MTV’s “Spanking New” Releases Snippet

Star Boy CEO, Wizkid has released a spanking new video for his track, ‘Sound It’ on MTV Base Friday, Jan.16.

The video which was shot in Lagos, was directed by award winning cinematographer, Clar-

ence Peters and features exciting cameo appearances from LegenduryBeatz and Willy Bang.

The video premiered Friday, January 16th at 4PM exclusively on MTV Base #SpankingNew block on DSTV Channel 322.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 19, 2015

L3 Movie

By: Mutiat Alli

30days in Atlanta grosses N132M in cinema Comic actor Ayo Makun, a.k.a, Ay is in the news again as his award winning movie, 30 Days in Atlanta, has been announced as the highest gross movie over Hollywood flicks in the history of Nigerian cinema.

It would be recalled, that the flick in its first two weeks in cinema, gulped a whooping sum of N73M, beating the record of the much acclaimed “Figurine” by Kunle Afolayan.

In a release issued by the Silverbird team, led by Ben Bruce, noted that the film has broken records of Hollywood films with the likes of Avenger (N131M), Skyfall (N118M), Rise of an Empire (N100M), Think like a Man (N92M) and Man of Steel (N82M), leading with a whooping N132Million.

Excited AY took to his different social media platform to announce the success.

Genevieve and members of the action 2015

Genevieve Nnaji lends a voice

Nollywood star actress, Genevieve Nnaji has lent her voice as she becomes part of ONE which is part of Action 2015; a movement made up of thousands of organizations, coalitions and partnership that reflect the diversity of activist fighting injustice, inequalities, poverty, and climate change all over the world.

“Choose the world you want live in. in 2015, we have a unique chance to #demandbetter#. Join #Action 2015 and make a pledge to build a better a world,” she announced on social media.

Tonto Dike gets 7th tattoo

Tayo Sobola

shoots 1st English movie Fast rising actress cum producer and CEO Sotee Entertainment, Tayo Sobola fondly known as Sotayogaga, is not resting on her oars after the successful premiering of her latest work “Bella”.

The movie market is on the move for the shooting of her first full length English movie.

Daily Times Life & Style can authoritatively inform you that the new flick titled “The Occupant”, will commence shooting any moment. In a telephone chat with the star actress, she stated that her new work feature an array of movie stars.

“My new work is a full length English movie that will feature the likes of Yvonne Jegede, Kenneth Okolie, Aremu Afolayan and host of others,” she said.

Sultry and controversial Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike fondly known pokolee by her teaming fans, has added another massive tattoo to her collections.

The new ink which makes it a total of 7 tats, is on her arm.

The actress who is a lover of dogs decided to inscribe one of her favorites whom she often times calls “baby” on the upper region of her arm.

The tattoo design shows the face of a hairy puppy with its tongue out.

John Dumelo

takes tour to Gonja Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo has taken his foundation tourism tour to an outskirt in Ghana known as the Gonja district.

On the trip, members of his foundation donated items to the people of the community, also taking time to mingle with the people.

One of the major highlights of the trip, was when the actor visited the oldest mosque in West Africa, Larambanga mosque.

The team also showed up at other historical places in Gonja and also interacted with widows in the community.

Extra L4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 19, 2015

Chris Brown may get locked up again!

If judgement eventually goes in favour of complainants, Chris Brown may get kicked behind bars.

That’s because, according to TMZ, he’s had his probation revoked in the Rihanna case, in part because he was present at 2 separate nightclubs when people inside were shot, and officials are worried about more shootings and think Chris should serve time behind bars.

Chris showed up in court for a progress report Thursday, when the judge told him the probation report presented multiple problems. First,

the report mentioned the shooting last Sunday in San Jose when Chris was on stage and five people were injured.

The judge also said the probation report expressed concern over another shooting at 1OAK during VMA weekend last August. Again, Chris was on stage and several people were shot, including Suge Knight.

And the judge said Chris left the county for San Jose without getting the court’s permission, which is a violation of his probation.

The judge noted so far there’s

no evidence Chris was criminally involved, but the probation officer says, “There is also concern that when he performs or attends at some of his public events, people will get shot or seriously injured.”

The probation officer -- who thinks Chris is focusing too much on his career rather than community service and rehabilitation -- recommends to the judge that Chris serve time. The officer says the singer has shown “a pattern of making choices that are counterproductive.”

Kendall Jenner’s sad confession Talking about growing up too fast, we think almost all celebrities experience that feeling one way or the other.

Kendall Jenner, during a discussing on the topic of ‘youth’ with the Wall Street Journal, made a confession, saying she grew up way too fast.

In a blog post for the Wall Street Journal, the television personality-turnedfashion model also revealed that she was raised to be a “workaholic.”

Justin Beiber, Selena Gomez on a comeback?

These kids are so used to toying with our emotions over and over again!

The duo of Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were spotted having dinner together Thursday night, Jan. 15.

HollywoodLife.com, says the he on-again/off couple met up for a quiet dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif.

They also left together.

Could it be that they are about to come back for the upteenth time?

We guess sometimes, the heart just wants what it wants!

This we also agree because at just 19, Kendall already has her own apartment and a successful career.

“I feel like I grew up too fast a long time ago,” Kendall wrote in the WSJ‘s “The Columnists”.

“Having older siblings, you grow up around adults, so you mature more quickly.

I saw my sisters and parents working every day, so I was pretty much brought up to be a workaholic,” she wrote.

Jason Derulo VS Jordin Sparks: fight gets even worse!

Just how much heartache can we get from a couple who used to mean the world to eachother only to turn around and tear eachother apart?

Although Jordin Sparks and Jason Derulo broke up about 5 months ago, we still don’t know what make them break up.

According to Jordin, they had a small argument, he kissed her goodbye and never called her again.

To make matters worse, Jason then went on a media tour, telling anyone

who would listen how he bought her a car. Jordin, who clearly has her own money, turned in the keys then headed to the dealership in one swift motion.

During a chat with ‘The Breakfast Club,” Jordin revealed that she didn’t know if Jason had leased the car, or purchased in full.

Jason then felt he needed to clear his name. So, he posted a copy of the bill of sale on Instagram!

When will all these end?

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 19, 2015

L5

Health L6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 19, 2015

Treat your

sore throat

at home Lara Adejoro The cold and flu blowing over West Africa is here this season of cold-dry and dusty trade wind. And sorry, it is not friendly with anyone. It has triggered viral infections such as sore throat.

However, not all sore throats are viral or bacterial. If you’re allergic to mold, pet dander, pollen, or other irritants, exposure to these allergens can trigger post-nasal drip. This is when excess mucus accumulates in the back of your throat. This accumulation can irritate your throat and cause pain or inflammation.

If you experience difficulty in breathing, joint pain, swallowing difficulty, ear ache, rash, fever over 101 degrees F, bloody mucus, hoarseness for more than two weeks and a lump in the throat, you have a sore throat.

Sore throat is an itchy pain on the throat, making someone find it difficult for someone to swallow food and liquids, and the pain may

get worse when you try to swallow.

Throat pain is the primary symptom of a sore throat. However, other symptoms may include a dry throat, swollen glands in the neck, white patches on the tonsils, and hoarseness.

When this happens, you need to see a medical doctor or an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

Meanwhile, most sore throats do not require medical attention but you need to see a doctor if it lasts for longer than one week.

The treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. However, you can treat many sore throats at home. Home treatment options include: Gargle warm salt water: You do this by mixing ¼ teaspoon salt in 1 cup warm water. This solution soothes the throat, reliefs the burning sensation and promotes fast healing of irritated mucous membranes.

Drink plenty of warm fluids, such as teas, soup, and water:

Drinking fluids will help flush out the virus and clear out stuffy nose by producing more mucus.

Drink lots of tea, too. You can drink some herbal tea with honey and mint to soothe our throat.

Avoid allergens and irritants: Dry air, cigarette smoke and cleaning product fumes can irritate a sore throat. So, you must consciously endeavour to avoid smoke or smoking and don’t use cleaning products or perfume with a strong chemical smell.

Prevent it: Repeatedly washing your hands throughout the day kills germs and bacteria that can cause viral and bacterial infections. Additional steps that you can take to prevent a sore throat include: Ï # Ǝ ƍƄ ƕƍƆ ƈƆ glasses or utensils with others. Ï n Ƅ ƕ ƆƎƆƔƄƍ whenever soap and water are not available. Ï GƆƊƆƎ ƃ Ǝ ƃƎ ƑƆƎ commonly touched surfaces.

Ï `ƄƕƏƃƄ ƄƒƋ ƏƍƄ Ǝ Ɖlergens, such as pollen, dust, and mold. Ï Ɛ Ɔƕ ƃƆ ƍƄƎƎƄ Ɗ ƈƄê Ï EƄƄƋ ƏƊƆƕƆƅƆƄƍ Ɔ your house to eliminate dryness. Ï Ǝ Ɠ Ƒ Ɠ ƅƍ Ɗ ƆƃƄ water and too hot food. Eat and drink cool and warm food.

Remedy #2: Slippery Elm Slippery elm has a mucus-like substance in it. When mixed with water, this substance forms a slick gel that coats and soothes.

To use, pour boiling water over powdered bark, stir, and drink. You Ɗ Ɠ Ɖ ƅƆ ƕ ƉƆƋƋƄƍƓ ƄƉƊ Ɖ ƔƄ es that will help.

sore throat. Simply add some of the dried root to a cup of boiling water to make tea. Sipping the tea two to three times a day may help ease throat pain.

Remedy #5: Eat ginger and garlic Yes, ginger and garlic have properties that will chase away Herbal threatment for sore Remedy #3: Honey the pain. The reason lies in the throat Honey mixed in tea or taken garlic’s allicin, a compound that alone has been one of the best can kill the bacteria that causes remedies for sore throat. A study strep and fight the germs causing of 139 children with upper re- pain and irritation. spiratory infections, for example, Ginger is an expectorant, which found that honey was even means it helps loosen and exmore effective at taming night- pel mucus from your respiratory time coughs than common cough system (including the extra mumedications. Studies have also cus in your throat.) It does this in shown that honey is an effective part because its aroma opens up Remedy #1: Licorice Root wound healer, which means it your sinuses. It also boosts your GƆƃ ƍƆƃƄ ƍ Ǝ Ɖ ƂƄƄ may also help speed healing for circulation, increasing oxygen to used to treat sore throats, and re- sore throats. your cells, flushing out toxins, and cent research shows it is effective speeding up the healing process. when mixed with water to cre- Remedy #4: Marshmallow To top it off it acts as an antiate a gargle solution. It soothes Root inflammatory, and fights off bad patients’ throats and diminished GƆƈƄ ƉƆƋƋƄƍƓ ƄƉƊè Ɗ ƍ Ɗ ƉƉ Ƒ bacteria too. To top the top off, coughing after surgery. root contains a mucus-like sub- you can enjoy all of ginger’s benstance that coats and soothes a efits in a warm, soothing, cup of tea.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 19, 2015

L7 Food & Recipe

Foods to cure sore throat Judith Frank-Edet Hi friends, welcome to the maiden edition of life and times ‘Food and Recipe’. This is going to be your one-stop-spot for all traditional foods and recipes, new food discoveries, healthy eating alternatives, drinkables, staple foods, snacks and foods for different categories of people food trends and much more.

We are here to satisfy all your culinary desires. We will be dealing with foods that heal certain ailment/illness to tally with the health page discuss.

Today we will be looking at foods and fruit you can take to fight sore throat.

Bananas Banana, a non-acidic fruit, is a soft fruit that is gentle on your throat. It is quite easy to swallow, especially when you have a sore throat. Along with this, this low glycemic index food is also rich in vitamins, B6, potassium, and of course, vitamin C.

Chicken Soup This is an age-old remedy for fighting sore throats. A hot bowl of chicken soup beats antibiotics. Chicken soup has mild anti-inflammation properties and helps in relieving congestion by limiting the viruses that come in contact with mucus membranes. Make your chicken soup full of nutrient-rich carrots, onions, celery, turnips, sweet potatoes and garlic, all of which are known for their nutritional benefits and healing powers.

Ginger, or Honey Tea. It is good for calming an irritated and itchy throat. Make a hot cup of ginger or honey tea, sip it when inhaling the steam from the cup, and it will aid in loosening congestion and tightness of the chest.

Honey will coat the throat and will help in preventing irritation, which is the main reason behind coughing fits.

Golden Tips 1 apple dayKeeps the doctor away I cabbage a day- Keeps cancer a day 1 cup of milk a day- No bone problem 1 lemon a day- No fat

Lemon Juice and Honey Mixture.

Lime and honey mixture is a good throat relieving alternative. This mixture will also cool down your aggravated throat apart from thinning any congestion.

Boiled Carrots Carrots should be boiled or steamed before eating. This is because eating raw carrots worsens sore throat pain.

Oatmeal High in soluble fiber, oatmeal helps in lowering ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels and is high in protein content too, which keep you content and satisfied for a longer period of time. Make a hot bowl of oatmeal by adding banana or honey and you will surely get enough soothing qualities for your sore throat.

Sage It has healing properties for sore throat remedies. It contains oxygenhandling enzymes, flavonoids, and phenolic acid.

3 liters of water a dayNo disease

Whole Wheat Pasta Eating wheat pasta is an excellent way to treat a sore throat. Especially, if the pasta is hot and is made in a low-fat sauce.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday January 19, 2015

Showing on

L8 Television

Clinic Matters ‘S5/E3- Hallucination’. Follow the daily life of a busy doctor, his committed nurses and their patients, each with his/her own unusual character and attitude.

106 M

00:13 House Of Wax 02:02 The Lord Of The Rings 04:11 Welcome To Collinwood 05:40 The Forbidden Kingdom 07:35 The Double 09:15 Sniper 10:55 Cold Comes The Night 12:21 Lincoln 14:50 Warrior 17:05 Mercury Rising 19:00 Iron Man 3 21:06 Looper

112 Studio Universal

00:00 Beerfest 01:15 Jaw 3 02:55 Stone 05:00 The Program 06:50 Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami 08:25 Airplane ll: The Sequel 09:50 Hollywood on Set 10:20 Miss Congeniality 12:15 The Bucket List 13:55 And Then Came Love 15:35 Mean Machine 17:20 Cry_Wolf 19:00 The Punisher: War Zone 20:45 Vantage Point 22:20 Blood Diamond

118 BBC Entertainment

00:00 My Family 01:06 New Tricks 01:00 Come Dine With Me 02:46 The Cube 03:34 Mr. Bean 03:59 The EastEnders 04:29 The EastEnders 05:00 Fool Britania 05:26 Ql 05:57 Would I Lie To You? 06:31 EastEnders 06:59 Antiques Roadshow 07:55 The Weakest Link 08:45 The Chase 09:34 Total Wipeout UK

106 M

135 BET pix- late night 01:00 Vindicated 01:30 Vindicated 02:00 Vindicated 02:30 Vindicated 03:00 Vindicated 03:30 Reed Between The Lines 04:00 BET Now 04:30 BET Now 05:00 Late Night Heat 07:00 Soul Sessions 08:00 Soul Sessions 09:00 Reed Between The Lines 09:30 Reed Between The Lines 10:00 The Sheards

11:00 The Wendy Williams Show 12:00 Keyshia & Daniel: Family First 12:30 Keyshia & Daniel: Family First 13:00 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 13:30 Real Husbands Of Hollywood 14:00 Being 15:00 The Wendy Williams Show 16:00 Apollo Live 17:00 Conversation With Iman 17:30 Michelle Obama On A Mission 18:00 The Wendy Williams Show 19:00 Keeping Up With The Jones 19:30 Keeping Up With The Jones 20:00 The Sheards 21:00 The Message 22:00 The Wendy Williams Show

Mon, 19 Jan Family

130 MTV

10:29 The Cube 11:18 New Tricks 12:15 Top Gear 13:13 Come Dine With Me 14:09 Total Wipeout UK 15:09 The Weakest Link 16:00 EastEnders 16:31 Deal Or No Deal 17:12 The Cube 18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

19:02 MasterChef 20:07 Hell’s Kitchen USA 21:00 Ql 21:35 The Michael Mclntyre Chat 22:25 Would I Lie To You?

125 FOX

00:00 Meet The Russians 00:05 Meet The Russians 00:50 Meet The Russians 01:35 Man Up 02:20 Man Up 03:25 Cops 04:10 Cops 05:20 Hawaii Five-0 06:25 Smash Cuts 06:50 Rising Hope 07:12 Raising Hope

09:15

07:35 Grey’s Anathomy 08:20 Bones 09:25 Cops 09:50 Hawaii Five-0 10:35 Castle 11:40 The Simpsons 12:05 Raising Hope 12:27 Raising Hope 12:50 Grey’s Anathomy 13:40 Bones 14:30 Cops 14:55 Cops 15:25 Castle 16:15 Smash Cuts 16:37 Smash Cuts 17:05 Hawaii Five-0 17:50 The Simpsons 18:15 The Simpsons 18:40 Bones 19:30 Hawaii Five-0 20:20 The Walking Dead 21:10 The Walking Dead 21:55 The Simpsons 22:20 The Simpsons 22:45 Bones

00:00 The Tonight Show Starring Fallon 00:15 The Tonight Show Starring Fallon 01:00 Sunday Night Mixtape 05:05 Hate Mondays, Love Music 08:20 Pranked 08:45 Punk’d 09:30 The Tonight Show Starring Fallon 10:35 The Ex And The Why 11:05 Teen Mom 2 12:10 Awkward 12:55 Punk’d 14:35 Teen Cribs 15:25 Pimp My Ride 16:30 Awkward 17:25 Ridiculousness 17:50 The Tonight Show Starring Fallon 18:40 Jersey Shore 19:30 Arina Grand: Live 20:15 Ridiculousness 21:05 Geordie Shore 21:55 The Tonight Show Satrring Fallon 22:40 Teen Mom 2

Jimmy Jimmy

Jimmy

Jimmy

Jimmy

puts unbeaten record on the line

X3 X4,5

O L A H IG FIRE

ON

LE ROY blasts AFCON organisers over traffic jam

X3

Low: World cup hero asks for more

X6

X7

”

I prepare for my fights too well that I don’t want to give a chance to my opponent to crash my ‘glass chin’ as they say, so I’m knocking them in the way that I like.

—Wladimir Klitschko

There is no money in this world that will make us fight.” – Speaking on a potential fight between him and his brother, Vitali.

QUOTES ON

“

Wladimir Klitschko

KLITSCHKO

WBO Heavyweight Super Champion (+200 lbs)

Poster!

WLADIMIR

Special Titles:

WBO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) IBF Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBA (Super) Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) Minor World Titles: IBO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) The Ring Title: The Ring Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) Regional/International Titles: WBC International Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) EBU Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) NABF Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBO NABO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs)

Silver -1996 Vejle (Super heavyweight)

Wladimir Klitschko Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Klychko Dr. Steelhammer Heavyweight 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 206 cm (81 in) Ukraine March 25, 1976 (age 38) Semipalatinsk, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Semey, Kazakhstan) Orthodox 66 63 53 3 0 Gold -1996 Atlanta (Super heavyweight)

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO Stance: Total fights: Wins: Wins by KO: Losses: Draws: Olympic Games: European Amateur Championships: Major World Titles:

MASHABA

Boxing name: Real name: Nickname: Rated at: Height: Reach: Nationality: Date of birth: Place of birth:

XT Exclusive

Monday, January 19, 2015

Here comes NBF Boxing Classic X7

X2

Monday, January 19, 2015

EXTRATIME

Ighalo

shines again!

Fires brace in Watford’s win

N

igerian striker Odion Ighalo struck a brace for English Championship club Watford in the 5-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

Ighalo has been in sparkling form this season and his double at Vicarage Road brought his season’s goal tally to

seven in the league.

The 25-year-old was in electrifying form all afternoon and provided the assist for the Hornets’ first goal, excellently dispatched by Craig Cathcart in the 15th minute.

Ighalo continued to create problems for the opposition’s rearguard and had

what looked like a legitimate penalty appeal turned down in the 29th minute following a challenge from former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim after an incisive through ball by Juan Carlos Paredes.

He did not have to wait too long to get his first goal of the day as it arrived

in the 44th minute as he tapped home Paredes’ cut back after a delightful through ball by Miguel Layun.

In the 58th minute, he completed his double via a powerful header off a precise Daniel Tozser corner which caused havoc in the Charlton box.

Saturday’s win keeps Watford in the

AFCON 2015

Aubameyang

Becker admits pressure on

targets super star status

P

ierre-Emerick Aubameyang has said he aims to be a big star like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o after he led Gabon to beat Burkina Faso 2-0 in a 2015 AFCON Group A match in Bata.

Aubameyang set Azingo National on the path to victory when he scored after 18 minutes and he was also involved in the second goal netted by Malick Evouna in the second half after he initiated the attack from which Frederic Bulot delivered a cross from the right for the WAC Casablanca of Morocco striker to head home.

Aubameyang finished second behind Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure in the 2014 CAF African Player of the Year and he also made the final five nominees for the 2013 awards.

“I try to do the maximum so as to be

a big star like Drogba and Eto’o,” said the Borussia Dortmund star moments after he inspired his country to go past one of the top teams at this tournament.

“In the warm-up (for the match), the fans cheered me. That is not pressure.

It’s expectation for me as it motivates me and pushes me to shine.

“When people expect big things from you, you try to do big things.”

Three years ago, co-hosts Gabon crashed out of the quarterfinals of the competition after a penalty shootout against Mali with Aubameyang missing the decisive penalty that would have catapulted them to the semi-finals.

He said that penalty miss made him to grow up and he hopes that should Gabon again reach the last eight and need to go through on penalties again,

playoff places as they currently sit in sixth position on the championship log with 44 points from 26 matches.

Ighalo’s seven goals in 19 matches makes him the club’s second joint top scorer in the league this season behind Troy Deeney who has netted ten times this season.

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea skipper Emilio Nsue (left) goes for goal against Congo on Saturday.

Aubameyang he will score his kick.

“That miss helped me to grow up very quickly,” he said.

“But for this competition, we are starting from the scratch. It’s a new tournament and it has begun well for me with a goal.

“I hope we reach the quarterfinal

again and if we get another penalty then, I will score it.”

He said the big difference between victory and defeat against Burkina Faso was that their final pass was good and they took their chances against a Burkina Faso side, who failed to do same.

AFCON hosts Equatorial Guinea coach Esteban Becker has admitted his team were under pressure to win their opening Group A match against Congo, but they will make do with the draw. Congo forced Nzalang Nacional to a 1-1 draw with a late equaliser on Saturday to open the 2015 Nations Cup.

Monday, January 19, 2015

EXTRATIME

AFCON 2015 Battle for No1 jersey good for Bafana –Marlin

Mashaba

Mashaba puts unbeaten record on the line Bafana’s might As Desert Warriors test Bafana

F

or Shakes Mashaba of South Africa and his team, the wait for their first appearance in this year’s Africa Cup of Nations could not come quickly enough.

Unbeaten in his third stint as Bafana Bafana coach, Mashaba has rejuvenated a sleeping giant and will hope current form counts when the team need it most.

After topping Group A of the qualification campaign and going six games without defeat, Bafana qualified for their first major tournament without the help of being the host nation for the first time in six years.

Now, Bafana’s redemption mis-

sion moves to its next big hurdle.

Standing in Mashaba’s way would undoubtedly be his biggest test of the tournament as Algeria lie in wait at Estadio de Mongomo in today’s second Group C opener.

As the continent’s top-ranked team, Algeria would want to build on their strong showing at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where the Desert Warriors were the only team to push eventual winners, Germany, all the way.

It took a late, extra-time, goal to book Germany’s spot in the next round as the world’s football experts rang out of superlatives for Algeria.

LE ROY

blasts AFCON organisers over traffic jam

C

Le Roy

South Africa would have to overcome pace and power from the freeflowing Algerians, who won five out of their six qualifiers, losing just once, in their final game of the tournament, when qualification had already been secured.

Bafana, however, have hardly put a foot wrong since Mashaba took over from Gordon Igesund last year.

The national team has performed well in their preparation for the continental showpiece.

A nervy 1-0 win over Zambia was followed by a 1-1 draw with Cameroon, before hammering Mali 3-0 in their final warm-up match last weekend.

ongo coach Claude Le Roy again criticised Africa Cup of Nations organisers on Saturday as his team spent more than an hour fighting through the crowds to reach the stadium for the tournament’s opening match.

Le Roy said the bus drive from the hotel that previously took 12 minutes this time lasted 65 minutes as they battled through the traffic heading to the match against hosts Equatorial Guinea at the Estadio de Bata.

“It was close to 40 degrees and we had no air conditioning in the bus. We were supposed to have an escort but they left us in the crowd, in a big traffic jam. The police were just smiling at our

predicament,” he said with a tinge of regret.

Le Roy, who had previously complained about hotel and training conditions, said his side arrived only 20 minutes before their warm-up period.

“Games or competitions like this are won on the small details and CAF (the Confederation of African Football) have a duty to protect teams. It is not possible that players are disrespected like that. That is why we started so badly,” he said.

Congo went behind to a 17th minute goal in a sluggish start but later took control of the match to force a late equaliser though Thievy Bifouma for a 1-1 draw.

Darren Keet seems favoured for Bafana Bafana’s No1 jersey.

F

ormer Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Calvin Marlin believes the competition for the No 1 jersey in the national team is the healthiest it has been in many years.

“I feel that the keepers have all been doing well and they deserve to be in the squad. It’s crucial to give them the experience of playing international football,” Marlin said.

Since the death of Bafana’s goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa in October, Darren Keet, Brilliant Khuzwayo and Jackson Mabokgwane have all been utilised between the posts – with all three of them looking to stake a claim in Bafana’s opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament against Algeria at the Estadio de Mongomo on Monday.

The battle for the No 1 jersey is set to hot up even further with the imminent return from a long layoff of former Bafana captain Itumeleng Khune.

Marlin backed Darren Keet to be coach Shakes Mashaba’s first choice goalkeeper at AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.

“Shakes is full of surprises so with him you never know,” Marlin said.

“I think Keet should be the man for the job, but that doesn’t take away from the good performances of the other players.”

Stability in the goalkeeping department was crucial in a highstakes tournament like AFCON, the former Mamelodi Sundowns number-one said.

“In a tournament like AFCON, it’s difficult to chop and change goalkeepers. Unless the keeper is particularly bad in the opening game, it’s unlikely that they will be changed. Coaches normally stick with the same player.”

Marlin however, said rotating the man between the sticks after the continental competition may

be a solution to appeasing each individual.

“I think each player should be given a chance to show what they are capable of after the tournament. Maybe alternating would be a good tactic.”

The return of Khune from injury would make the contest for the goalkeeper’s position more intense, he said.

“Khune is a quality keeper, but he should be treated the same as all the other players. Once he’s back to full fitness, he may be in the mix and the challenge will be for the coaches to cater for each of the deserving goalkeepers.”

AFCON RESULTS Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Congo Burkina Faso 0-2 Gabon

TODAY’S MATCHES Ghana v Senegal 17:00 Algeria v South Africa 20:00 Tuesday, January 20, 2015 Cote d’Ivoire v Guinea 17:00 Mali v Cameroun 20:00 Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Equatorial Guinea v Burkina Faso 17:00 Gabon v Congo 20:00 Thursday, January 22, 2015 Zambia v Tunisia 17:00 Cape Verde v RD Congo

20:00

Friday, January 23, 2015 Ghana v Algeria 17:00 South Africa v Senegal 20:00 Saturday, January 24, 2015 Cote d’Ivoire v Mali 17:00 Cameroun v Guinea 20:00 Sunday, January 25, 2015 Congo v Burkina Faso 19:00 Gabon v Equatorial Guinea 19:00 Monday, January 26, 2015 RD Congo v Tunisia 19:00 Cape Verde v Zambia 19:00 Tuesday, January 27, 2015 South Africa v Ghana 19:00 Senegal v Algeria 19:00 Wednesday, January 28, 2015 Cameroun v Cote d’Ivoire 19:00 Guinea v Mali 19:00

X3

Special Titles:

Stance: Total fights: Wins: Wins by KO: Losses: Draws: Olympic Games: European Amateur Championships: Major World Titles:

Boxing name: Real name: Nickname: Rated at: Height: Reach: Nationality: Date of birth: Place of birth:

WBO Heavyweight Super Champion (+200 lbs)

WBO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) IBF Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBA (Super) Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) Minor World Titles: IBO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) The Ring Title: The Ring Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) Regional/International Titles: WBC International Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) EBU Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) NABF Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs) WBO NABO Heavyweight Champion (+200 lbs)

Silver -1996 Vejle (Super heavyweight)

Wladimir Klitschko Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Klychko Dr. Steelhammer Heavyweight 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 206 cm (81 in) Ukraine March 25, 1976 (age 38) Semipalatinsk, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Semey, Kazakhstan) Orthodox 66 63 53 3 0 Gold -1996 Atlanta (Super heavyweight)

X4

EXTRATIME

Monday, January 19, 2015

“

”

I prepare for my fights too well that I don’t want to give a chance to my opponent to crash my ‘glass chin’ as they say, so I’m knocking them in the way that I like.

—Wladimir Klitschko

There is no money in this world that will make us fight.” – Speaking on a potential fight between him and his brother, Vitali.

Wladimir Klitschko

QUOTES ON

KLITSCHKO

WLADIMIR

Monday, January 19, 2015

EXTRATIME

X5

X6

Monday, January 19, 2015

EXTRATIME

Joachim Low (middle) lifts the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after leading Germany to a successful outing as coach.

Low: WINNING

WORLD CUP

BACK-TO-BACK IS TOUGH! Life could hardly get much better for Joachim Low at present. Six months on from leading Germany to their fourth FIFA World Cup title at Brazil in 2014, he was named Coach of the Year at the glamorous FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala 2014 last Monday evening. A native of the Black Forest town of Lorrach, situated in a corner of Germany close to the borders of France and Switzerland, Low is now renowned the world over as an unassuming and thoughtful man. Football fans across the globe are also well aware of how he sets his team up to play, and yet for all that is known about the 54-year-old, he retains an almost mysterious air. In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, Low gives revealing insights into his life as Germany’s national team coach, highlighting where he draws the strength from to work hard in achieving his objectives. Excerpts: Congratulations on winning the FIFA Coach of the Year Award for 2014. What does the prize mean to you?

Of course it’s a terrific award and a great honour. I’m very proud to have won it. I think the whole team, including the players, coaches, the team behind the team and the national association deserved it last year, especially after the World Cup. I’m so thankful to everyone who worked with me in helping us achieve our objective.

As you say, winning the World Cup was a collective achievement. Is there anyone else you would like to thank?

My family, my wife and everyone who has always supported me, even in difficult times! My thanks go to my closest friends, who were there when things sometimes didn’t go so well and people were disappointed. They’re with me not only in the good times, but throughout life and I’m so thankful for that.

Is the award the perfect end to a perfect year?

If you win the World Cup then of course it is perfect - you can’t get any better than that. It had been our aim for several years and was the result of a lot of hard work and of some very good decision making within the national association. It was also due to the good coaching and structures that exist in Germany and we’re delighted about that.

Is there any way to top this?

The big challenge is to stay at the top.

Winning a title is fantastic but repeating it is tough. Football is always looking to the future: people keep developing and the game keeps developing. Spain managed to do it, so we should use them as a kind of role model.

What do you think makes the FIFA Ballon d’Or Gala evening so special?

I think the way FIFA have set it up is great. It’s exciting and everyone’s waiting for the results. The biggest names in

When you win a title you’re always happy to start off with, but you can’t stay satisfied for too long because time moves on. If you define an era and win three consecutive tournaments like Spain did then that shows a great deal of quality, intelligence and ambition.

football are there. It’s a special occasion and the highlight of an interesting year of football.

How has your life changed since winning the World Cup with Germany at the Maracana Stadium?

It hasn’t actually changed that much.

Of course the amount of attention I draw wherever I go has increased, but my home environment with my family and friends has stayed the same. We’ll never forget winning the title, and the joy and emotions we felt will stay with us forever. It was fantastic. Having said that, you do need to find a way to turn your attention to the future, to see what it will bring and figure out how to maintain the same level. There are a lot of important tasks coming up and we can’t keep dwelling on the World Cup win forever.

You are said to be very meticulous, almost a perfectionist. How close did Germany come to perfection in

Brazil?

I don’t think you can ever obtain perfection. As a coach you always find little things that can be improved. Even with us you could see that our performances varied from game to game. Sometimes you have matches like the semi-final against Brazil where everything goes like clockwork and you know how it’s going to end. However, you also get games like the one against Algeria in which you need to fight: you need to go into extra time and get the better of your opponent by battling and showing your commitment. Things don’t always work out the way you’d like them to and your opponents always have something to throw at you as well. That’s why you need to look at tournaments like that as a whole. Clearly, anyone who wins the title at the end must have done a lot of things right.

New targets now have to be set on the road to UEFA EURO 2016, while the team needs to at least maintain its current level as a new crop of players come into the side. Which of these aspects will be the most difficult to implement?

All of them together! We’ve had a lot of personnel changes as some of the players who made significant contributions to our stability have now retired from the international scene.

On top of that, the heavy strain of the World Cup meant that some players were injured after the tournament, or weren’t on form, so we needed to bring in some fresh faces. It’s a process and doesn’t happen smoothly overnight. On the other hand, football is always developing and you need to have an idea of how you want to progress. How should the team be playing in two years? So even though we were close to our best, we also need to develop in terms of our playing style, tactics and personnel over the next 18 months.

Can you specify how you want the playing style to develop in that period, compared to what we saw at the World Cup? That’s a very complex topic. I believe the pace of the game will be greater than it has been recently - and it is already close to the limit. Players’ physiques will develop and technique will need to adapt a bit accordingly. Players who are technically gifted and able to play in tight spaces without much time on the ball will be even more in demand. Which players can identify spaces? And where should they go when they have space? How can the ball be played to them? Those will all be important factors because the game will get tighter overall. Teams will be increasingly compact and that will make it all the more difficult to break them down.

Can Germany win the 2016 UEFA European Championship in France and shape a new era in football?

That’s always an important aim. When you win a title you’re always happy to start off with, but you can’t stay satisfied for too long because time moves on. If you define an era and win three consecutive tournaments like Spain did then that shows a great deal of quality, intelligence and ambition. Our next task is to ask ourselves: how can we stay at the top?

Monday, January 19, 2015

EXTRATIME

X7

Federation Watch

GUMEL vows NBF Boxing to uplift volleyball

BOXING

VOLLEYBALL

Classic holds in Ibadan

President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Habu Gumel.

Stories by Osaretin Emuze

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he President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) Engineer Habu Gumel has vowed to take volleyball to greater height in 2015.

Speaking with Extra Time, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President stressed that there was an urgent need to change the face of volleyball in the country.

“There will be very many competitions this year. We are currently wooing sponsor for our competitions. By the grace of Allah, there will be competitions in both the junior and senior categories,” he said.

Gumel promised to use his many years in NVBF to develop the game.

”Very soon the players will be called to open camp in preparation for the All Africa Games because the Federation wants to win medals at the Games, and the only way to achieve this is by giving the male and female players adequate preparation,” he emphasized, The member of Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) promised to revive some competitions that gone underground in 2015 and called on corporate bodies to come to their aid.

“I am appealing to corporate bodies, banks, oil companies, and others to help raise the standard of volleyball in the country by putting in their money,” he affirmed.

Robert Stieglitz (left) throws a punch at Nigeria’s Isaac Ekpo during their WBO supermiddleweight title fight on October 19, 2013 in Leipzig, Germany.

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igeria Boxing Federation (NBF) will hold its first National Boxing Classic in Ibadan. The event holds in the last week of January to select boxers that will represent Nigeria at the World Championship, All Africa Games and also for boxers’ classification.

The Secretary of the Federation Olusola Luke told Extra Time that preparations were in top gear for the classics that will hold in Ibadan from January 31

Scrabble tourney rescheduled in Benin

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naments and gold medals in the forth coming All Africa Games. The only way to achieve this is by selecting the best for camping next month. The national camp for senior and youth comes up In Ibadan immediately after the Classic.

“There will be national workshop for coaches in Asaba, Delta State, from February 24 to 27. And our aim is to update the participants with the current techniques of boxing,” he concluded.

CYCLING

SCRABBLE

igeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has rescheduled its maiden edition of the Five Editions of Scrabble Meet billed for Benin City, the Edo State capital from January 29-31.

NSF postponed the tourney to allow members of the Federation and players attend the burial ceremony of the late brother and friend of Scrabble, Barrister Edet Aquaisua, which holds on the same weekend.

Extra Time gathered from the Federation that the three-day championship would now hold from February 6-8 at Naomi Gardens, 7 Osagie Street, Off Upper Adesuwa Road GRA, Benin City.

The players, according to the release are expected at the venue of the competition on February 6.

Those invited to the Benin Meet were the top 16 players according to the NSF ratings.

Players wishing to participate in the

to February 7.

“We want to open camp for the World Championship and the All Africa Games in February and to get the best boxers to represent the country in the two competitions, we have to organise the Classic.

The very best will be picked in the tournament,” he assured.

Luke stressed that the tourney was to sharpen the boxers’ competitive spirit.

“Our aim this year is to win major tour-

competition were also advised to indicate their willingness to participate, to the NSF Technical Director or coach of the senior team on or before January 19 or get their place replaced by the next in line player.

The top 16 rated players are: Jighere Wellington, Karo Eta , Ikekeregor Dennis, Oduwole Olatunde, Saidu Ayorinde, Oshodi Sunday, Oteheri Onota, Sanni Moshood , Ogbakpa Rex 1, Etim Nsikan , Umujose Emmanuel, Onoshevwe Noble , Peter Moses , Ojiru Onota , Ben Quickpen, and Tuoyo Mayuku.

The release further stated that the hosting club had been accorded two wild cards.

Invited players have been asked to come along with their complete set of Scrabble materials which include Scrabble Board, a pair of Racks, Protiles, pen, notebook and Timers. Players without a complete set would not be allowed to participate.

Borno set for South Africa cycling tourney T he Borno State cycling team will be representing Nigeria in the 2015 African Continental Cycling Championship in South Africa from February 6-11.

The Technical Adviser, Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF), Mohammed Bashiru told Extra Time that Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, had given the cycling team the needed support to participate in the South Africa tournament next month.

“We are currently in camp and will leave this weekend for Johannesburg for the one week tournament. We are ready to surprise other cyclists from Africa,” he enthused.

Bashiru said the competition was part of preparation for the National Sports Festival billed for Calabar in April and

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.

that the governor had approved the trip because he wants the state cycling team to win many gold medals in the cycling event of the festival.

“You know Borno cyclists are the very best in the country and have won many gold medals in past festivals,” he stressed.

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Monday, January 19, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME C

SALAH

departure unlikely, says

Mourinho

helsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed talk that Mohamed Salah is set to leave the club during the January transfer window.

Salah was signed from Basel in the corresponding window last year, but has found regular first-team opportunities hard to come by with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar often preferred by Mourinho.

In almost a year at Stamford Bridge, Salah has made just 13 Premier League appearances and Besiktas are thought to be suitors after president Fikret Orman confirmed he was in talks with Chelsea chiefs over signing another player from the London club to follow Demba Ba’s switch to Turkey.

Salah was an unused substitute for Chelsea’s 5-0 hammering of Swansea City on Saturday, and afterwards Mourinho refuted any suggestions that the Egypt international would be allowed to move on.

“He can’t leave, I have 20 players today with Didier Drogba a bit ill and Cesar Azpilicueta injured,” the manager said.

“I had all my players here today, just Nathan Ake in the stands.

“I have a very short squad, I need everybody.

For Salah to leave someone has to come, and I don’t think we are going to let Salah go on loan and then spend some money to bring somebody else in.

“So I don’t think so, unless my club comes to me and says Salah goes on loan and we are going to buy a £50million player.”

With Saturday’s thumping of Swansea cementing Chelsea’s position at the top of the Premier League, Mourinho’s focus now turns to the League Cup, and Tuesday’s semi-final first leg against Liverpool at Anfield.

Destro

tight-lipped on future

M Wenger

Wenger: Not signing a defender ‘risky’

A

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded not reinforcing his depleted defence before the close of the January transfer window would be too “risky”.

French full-back Mathieu Debuchy added to Wenger’s defensive woes during the week, ruled out for three months due to a dislocated shoulder.

Arsenal’s defensive stocks have been tested throughout the 2014-15 Premier League season, with Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal all spending time on the sidelines.

West Ham defender Winston Reid and Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels have been touted as poten-

tial signings in January.

And Wenger is aware failure to add defensive cover would be a gamble with Arsenal desperate to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

“It’s risky. It’s too risky,” said Wenger.

“If we have another injury or two we will struggle.

“We can, because we have Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker, Koscielny.

But we have now lost Debuchy, who could play centre-back, Monreal, who can play centre-back, Gibbs as well has been out.

“Of course we have made enquiries and then you have a second handicap of who wants to sell their best players, especially a central defender, in the middle of the season.

attia Destro refused to shed light on rumours linking him with a move away from Roma after helping the Serie A title hopefuls to a 1-1 draw at Palermo on Saturday.

Destro marked his first start in over a month with a goal, rescuing a point for Roma nine minutes into the second half at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

The 23-year-old’s future has been the topic of discussion amid links to Serie A rivals Milan during the January transfer window, while Inter, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham are possible destinations.

“I am a Roma player right now,” Destro said.

“My position is that I am a striker, I

Destro

want to do well, to play and to score. We didn’t win, but I am happy that I scored.”

Destro was the hero for visiting Roma after being handed a rare start by Coach Rudi Garcia.

After highly-rated Argentinean striker Paulo Dybala gave Palermo a secondminute lead, Destro slid in to restore parity for Roma in the 54th minute.

“I missed scoring goals, it was important to me and I’m happy it arrived tonight,” said Destro.

“When I get the opportunity to play I will always try to give my best. It’s a shame we didn’t get the victory.

“We played against an excellent side and drawing here is to be considered a good result. We wanted the win, but are satisfied with a point.”

BRIEFS Pulis backs Everton to avoid relegation scrap West Brom manager Tony Pulis does not believe Everton will be involved in a relegation scrap ahead of today’s Premier League fixture at The Hawthorns.

Everton have failed to rediscover the form that saw them narrowly miss out on UEFA Champions League qualification last season, with the Merseyside club just three points above the drop zone after a five-match winless streak.

Tony Pulis

Eriksen emerges as Spurs hitman Christian Eriksen is fast becoming Tottenham’s new hitman. Eriksen, a mere snip at £11.5 million when he was acquired from Ajax in 2013, is also fast becoming the decisive influence that all Arsenal fans had hoped Ozil would be when he completed his £42.5m switch from Real Madrid in the same summer. Always seen as the brightest prospect of a failed summer splurge under Andre Villas-Boas, Eriksen sparkled all too rarely in 2013-14 but is now thriving under the guidance of Pochettino. Afforded the freedom of the pitch, as Gareth Bale was in his final season at the club, he has become Tottenham’s most important player.

Pirlo steps in to rescue Brescia

Pirlo Andrea Pirlo is to step in to save his first club Brescia from falling into further financial strife. The Juventus and Italy playmaker began his career with the Lombardy club, departing for Inter after his first full season at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti. Subsequent spells at Milan and Juve have earned Pirlo five Serie A titles and two Champions League medals. However, with Brescia perilously close to bankruptcy, the 35-year-old has vowed to intervene in an attempt to rescue his home-town side from oblivion.