Daily Times of Nigeria Newspaper

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 17th April 2015.

EXCHANGE RATES Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central (NGN)

GAINERS

Selling(NGN)

LOSERS

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

UNILEVER

43.43

1.90

4.37%

NESTLE

940

-6.00

-0.64%

POUNDS STERLING

292.3536

293.0994

293.8452

NB

161.29

1.68

1.04%

MOBIL

160

-3.99

-2.49%

170

-2.23

-1.31%

90

-2.00

-2.22%

EURO

210.2492

210.7856

211.3219

UACN

42.31

1.31

3.10%

GUINNESS

SWISS FRANC

203.4884

204.0075

204.5266

DANGCEM

180

0.90

0.50%

WAPCO

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MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.89

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After 48hrs US flight delay

Passengers seize Arik plane Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Aviation Correspondent

ÏÏÏHundreds

of New York-bound passengers on Arik Air flight at the weekend protested at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, over the failure of the airline to airlift them for two days.

The aggrieved passengers invaded the tarmac of the airport, stopped

Boko Haram kills 19 in Cameroun, beheads many 12

the early morning LagosAccra passengers from boarding and protested in the open.

However, the airline’s spokesman, Mr. Ola Adebanji, said the issue had been resolved while the Accra-bound aircraft trapped in the protest had departed for its destination.

One of the agencies’ workers at the terminal who spoke in confidence with Daily Times, said the

Accra-bound passengers were boarding the aircraft through one of the toilet facilities of the airport, rather than the Avio Bridge. The aircraft was parked at the open bay and not attached to the Avio Bridge.

The source said that the passengers were taken through this facility because of the non-functionCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (right) and the Emir of Kano, His Highness Muhammad Sanusi II during a visit to the emir in Kano at the weekend.

Chukwumerije dies at 75

S’Africans apologise, Zulu king speaks today

6

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

Information and later Chairman, Senate Com-

of a ÏÏÏThe sun set on Sun- Footprints legislator par day for one of Nigeria’s most cerebral legislators, Senator Uche Chukwumerije.

A former Minister of

excellence

12

mittee on Education, Chukwumerije died at the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Pesticide, not deity, caused Ondo ‘mystery’ deaths 6

2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Politics Page Three

3

s

Editorial Indonesian pledge against terrorism in Nigeria

R

ecently, the Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria, Harry Purwanto pledged his country’s willingness to collaborate with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

Speaking in Abuja, the diplomat said that as developing countries facing similar challenges, both countries have a lot to learn from each other.

Ambassador Purwanto identified terrorism as one of the major challenges facing many countries that could be better tackled through bilateral or multilateral cooperation. We cannot but agree with him that terrorism and negative religious extremism are inimical to the economic, social and political development of any country, even when they are being perpetrated by a minority group.

Before this pledge, the United States of America had earlier promised to assist Nigeria in defeating the Boko Haram insurgency, which poses the greatest danger to the continued existence of the country. Definitely, Nigeria would need every assistance it can get in order to fight and defeat terrorism on its soil. The country can no longer afford the arrogance of fighting terrorism all alone while the international community wallows in the ignorance of linking the Boko Haram terrorist campaign to mass poverty or the elite’s struggle for control of oil wealth.

There is no denying the fact that Boko Haram is part of international jihadist movements that have their tentacles in many countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The sect has also become a magnet for religious zealots from other countries who

share a common poisonous ideology.

We also know that the overall objective of Boko Haram’s terror campaign is to turn part of Northern Nigeria to a haven for Islamist terrorists.

Increasingly, Africa is becoming the new theatre in the global war against terrorism. For long, the United States had considered Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan – the major source of global terrorism in the continent. Not anymore. Today, Nigeria has become the epicentre of terrorism, with Boko Haram as the major source of destabilisation in both West and Central Africa. That is why the country urgently needs an internationally backed anti-terror strategy, which is where Indonesia and others can be of immense help.

Such assistance should be in the areas of intelligence sharing, counterinsurgency operations, detection of improvised explosive devices, forensic analysis, intelligence gathering and analysis, and the mounting of a deradicalisation programme. Incidentally, Indonesia being predominantly a Muslim dominated country has been able to leverage its experiences in tackling the threats of religious radicalism and terrorism which lessons will be invaluable and relevant for Nigeria.

Given its robust counterterrorist methods, Indonesia today is less susceptible to major terrorist attacks than many other countries its size and importance. Definitely, Nigeria needs all the lessons it can get from that country on ways of degrading the potency of terrorism, especially Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

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Poll observers: New face of neo-colonialism?

Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏFrom

the way they speak, act and conduct themselves during elections, election observer groups from the West are gradually becoming the new face of neo-colonialism confronting developing countries, many seem to wonder.

These groups swarm developing countries at elections, ostensibly to monitor the polls but in practice import their values and try to dictate how countries should elect their leaders, including results to accept or reject.

Nigeria, for example, has had its fair share of the interference of such poll observers since 1999. At every election since 1999, these monitors use the opportunity to influence the polls, including making provocative statements.

Just few days after the governorship and House of Assembly elections, one of such groups, the European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria, called for the cancellation of the poll results in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

Granted that the EU observers are entitled to their opinions, many Nigerians, however, question where the group derived such powers to call for cancel-

Words On Marble :

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lation of results and why it is fixated on the two states, while keeping mute on other states especially in the north where underage children were caught on camera voting, among other irregularities.

Clearly, the EU observers by their call overstepped their bounds, and should be called to order. Ditto other groups. These groups must refrain from acting in ways that insult the sensibilities of their hosts, including dictating poll results that should stand or not. It is the sole duty of the electoral umpire in any nation to announce poll results while the judiciary is empowered to uphold or upturn such, not poll observer groups.

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Editor, Standard, Archives and Special projects

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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.

John Maxwell

Mario Andretti

Robert Schuller

“Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential.”

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”

“What would you attempt to do if you knew you would not fail?”

4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

5

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Passengers seize Arik plane Continued from page 1 ality of the Avio Bridge, saying that several of the bridges had collapsed for some time now.

It was also gathered that the abandoned US-bound passengers, after gaining access to the tarmac, staged a protest in the nose and door of the aircraft, a situation, which led to the immediate closure of the aircraft’s door by Arik Staff while other Accra-bound passengers were still on the tarmac and unable to board the flight.

The US-bound passengers

insisted that unless they were allowed to board, they would ensure that none of the regional and international flights of Arik operated out of the airport.

One of the protesting passengers, who simply identified herself as Tolu, explained that she had hoped to travel to the US on Friday morning with the airline, but lamented that the management of Arik had kept them in the dark on why they were unable to travel as scheduled.

Tolu alleged that despite the airline.s breach of agreement, the passengers were still aban-

doned, instead of lodging, feeding and giving them access to internet facilities and phone calls to their family members as stipulated by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

She further alleged that the abandoned passengers were only given snacks and a bottle of water since Friday morning when the flight was cancelled.

She said, “Up till now, we still don’t know why we were not conveyed by Arik Air. The only thing we know is that when the time for boarding process came, there was no sign that they were

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Project Wheel Engineering, Mr. Koki Sagir; Lagos State Governor-Elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Chairman, Arewa Untied Group, APC, Lagos State, Alhaji Kabiru Abdullahi and Chairman, North Central United Group, Alh. kpatako Sharu during an evening of celebration of Ambode in Epe....at the weekend

Chukwumerije passes on at 75 Continued from page 1 Turkish hospital in Abuja. He was 75.

Family sources put the cause of his death as lung cancer.

Chukwumerije was Minister of Information in the dying days of former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida.

The death was confirmed in a statement issued last night by his son, Chidi, on behalf of the family.

The late Chukwumerije was elected a Senator in April 2003 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), representing Abia North Senatorial District of Abia State.

He however decamped from the PDP to the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) in 2006 and was re-elected to the Senate on

April 28, 2007.

Chukwumerije studied Economics at the University of Ibadan.

In its condolence message, the PDP described Senator Chukuwumerije as a patriotic Nigerian and a brilliant lawmaker who gave his all and discharged his responsibilities with unequaled forthrightness, loyalty and commitment to the service of the nation.

In a statement by its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, on behalf of its National Executive Committee, the PDP said it mourned the death of Senator Chukwumerije “who passed on this evening (yesterday).

Muazu’s statement read further:, “We are indeed deeply saddened by the loss of this great Nigerian, a highly respect-

ed statesman who has made immense contributions to the development of our dear nation.

“Senator Chukuwumerije lived a patriotic Nigerian and a brilliant lawmaker who gave his all and discharged his responsibilities with unequaled forthrightness, loyalty and commitment to the service of our dear fatherland.

“He was a democratic icon and an outstanding party-man who remained committed to the ideology of the PDP and the visions of the founding fathers.

“We will greatly miss him.

Our hearts and thoughts go out to his family as we pray God to give them the fortitude to bear this great loss”, he said.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu also described the death of Chukwumerije as shocking.

going to process us for flight. We kept asking them questions, but no one was willing to offer us any explanation.

“We’ve been in this sordid situation since yesterday, but to our surprise, the airline was busy boarding Accra passengers who just arrived this morning. Some of the passengers felt it was injustice and had to protest. In fact, some of us have spent the entire money with us on food when Arik Air did not attend to our needs. Very few went back home while a host of others slept at the terminal.”

Another passenger who declined to mention his name described the handling of the passengers by the airline as “poor.”

He vowed to sue the airline.

But Adebanji said on phone that the incident had been resolved by the management, adding that the US-bound passengers could not depart as earlier scheduled due to the malfunction of the fuel bowser.

Adebanji said that the Accrabound passengers had since departed while the US-bound aircraft was still being fuelled. He gave assurance that the passengers would depart immediately the aircraft was fuelled.

However, as at the time of filing this report, the US-bound passengers were still at the terminal. The protest lasted over two hours.

S’Africans apologise, Zulu king speaks today Ï M Md ƈ ƑƆ ƣƾ ƑƏ ultimatum to Zuma govt Idu Jude, Abuja & Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏIn apparent show of

contrition, the government and people of South Africa have begun placating their traumatized African guests, the Daily Times has learnt.

However, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the South African government a 72-hour ultimatum to end the carnage on foreigners or face dire consequences.

A Nigerian living in South Africa told the Daily Times that global outrage has forced a change of mind on South Africans who were demanding that foreigners leave their country so as to create job opportunities for them.

The Zulu King, whose speech three weeks ago was believed to have sparked the attacks, is billed to address the global community today, while key officials of the South African government have been preaching peace Continued on page 12

WHO links Ondo ‘mystery’ deaths to pesticide

Ï ^ ƈ ƆƗ Ə ƌ ƕ ƄƆ ƅƑƋƍƏƈƐè says commissioner ‘Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏThe World Health Organi-

zation (WHO) said Sunday that pesticide poisoning might be the cause of the mystery deaths of at least 18 people in Ode Irele town, Ondo State earlier this week.

The “current hypothesis is that the cause of the event is herbicides”, WHO spokesman, Gregory Hartl, said in a tweet. He however gave no details.

The victims have shown symptoms of headache, blurred vision or total blindness and loss of consciousness, followed by death.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju,

also addressing journalists on Sunday, said all victims of the ailment, both dead and alive, have been discovered to have partaken of ogogoro at a particular joint days before the outbreak.

The government, he said, has therefore begun toxicology tests on the survivors.

Adeyanju disclosed that while interacting with some of the survivors in Ode Irele on Saturday, they all confirmed that they took the local gin at a particular joint.

“There was a particular person who consumed alcohol with other four people and we found Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Taraba APC accuses Danjuma of inducing INEC with N2b Tom Garba Yola The All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Taraba State, has alleged that the former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, may have induced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with about N2billion so as not to declare its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Aishatu Jummai Alhassan, as the winner of the last governorship election in the state.

The youth mobilisation leader of the campaign organisation, Comrade Bala Abubakar Maina, speaking in Jalingo, alleged that INEC collected about N2billion to favour the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), who was also alleged to be the favourite of Danjuma.

Bala said further that “no matter the evil arrangement of PDP to rig this election, it cannot work, because the re-run election will expose them as all hands are on deck to see that the APC mandate in the state is not truncated

by PDP. “I am assuring you that even with T.Y. Danjuma’s support and the bribery money, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan will, certainly, be the next governor of the state”, Bala said.

The Secretary of Darius Yakubu Campaign Organisation, Nelson Lens, accused APC of being indifferent to the fact that “Taraba is a PDP state and it is, certain-

Osun: Three killed as police, robbers clash Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

Former Vice President and Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (left) and former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) when Babangida paid a courtesy visit to the former’s Asokoro residence in Abuja… on Sunday

ly, going to remain a PDP ‘s even after the re-run election.

Nelson exonerated Danjuma from having any hand in the affairs of the state PDP, “so there is no basis to accuse him of bribing INEC with N2 billion, “ he is a father to everybody in the state and Nigeria.

“TY is too big for these allegations, with our candidate, who is already marketable, Darius did his homework very well, he has always been good to the people of Taraba, even before his venturing into politics”, Nelson said.

According to him, it was the

APC that collaborated with INEC not to declare the PDP candidate as the winner of the governorship election, when it realised that PDP was already leading with over 50,000 votes.

He also accused the Returning Officer of working against PDP to favour the APC, “after announcing that the winner of the governorship election will be announced by 2pm that day, only to cancel some results from Donga Local Government Area, a PDP stronghold, and, at the end of the day, about six Local Government Areas were affected”.

About three persons, believed to be members of an armed robbery gang, have been killed during a gun battle with the Police.

The robbers were alleged to have been terrorising residents of Oke-Baale in Osogbo, Osun State.

Police sources disclosed that men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), led by DSP Adekunle Omoyele, received a distress call from the residents and promptly went after the robbers.

It was learnt that while the policemen were combing the bush in search of the robbers, they noticed a Lexus car, which was trying to maneuvre from behind a bus and speed off.

“It was waved down by the SARS men for a search, but the driver sped off ”, said a police source.

The SARS squad, immediately, pursued it, consequently, the robbers abandoned a gold coloured Toyota Camry car with registration number LND 847 AJ, while those in the Lexus car shot sporadically at the pursuing policemen.

Lagos PDP wants Card Reader for council poll Jonathan Eze The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has advocated the use of Card Readers for the local council election.

The tenure of the last democratically elected council chairmen in the state expired in 2014.

In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, PDP also criticised the state government for not conducting the council poll after the expiration of the tenure of the last elected council officials.

According to the party, “the composition and existence of the councils, at present, is illegal and unconstitutional.

“The administrators appointed by the state government for the councils are not recognised nor accommodated in any of our governing laws. Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, states that only a democratically elected local government council is guaranteed.

“It is, thus, unexpected that a state like Lagos, which says it is progressive and democratic, can continually, disregard this constitutional provision and allow illegal, unconstitutional councils, since October 2014, when the tenure of the last councils expired”, he said.

The PDP, however, tasked the

state government to prove, beyond doubt, that it was truly progressive and ensure that “the state Independent Electoral Commission, (LASIEC) releases the Notice of elections for a free, fair, credible poll”.

It also urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to make necessary amendments to the present LASIEC law to accommodate the use of Permanent Voter Cards and Card Reader to conduct the council poll.

“We shall mobilise our votes and protect them. We have no doubt that our soaring influence in Lagos State will cut across, at least, 35 LCDAs and 250 wards during the poll”, it added.

Gani

7 News Jonathan’s transition team trickish – Shehu Director, Media and Communication of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, (APCPCC), Garba Shehu, has described the transition committee, set up by President Goodluck Jonathan, as trickish.

The committee set up by Jonathan, who lost the March 28 presidential election, is expected to meet with that of the Presidentelect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the new administration.

But Shehu, in an opinion article, which he released on Sunday, said Jonathan’s committee was constituted by “the worst of our prejudices.”

He warned the Buhari-led incoming administration to be careful about its choice of people who would constitute its committee.

He stated, “The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has earned an incredibly high amount of goodwill, following his acceptance of the outcome of the election, which, itself, had the effect of de-escalating tension not just among Nigerians but all over the continent.

“But the President’s committee on transition and handover looks to be a trickish one. It seems to be like one drawn to ‘massage’ the numbers and ensure safety for ‘Team Jonathan’.

Nigerien leader lauds Nigeria-Niger relations The President of Niger Republic, Alhaji Muhammadou Isoufou, has extolled the cordial relations between Nigeria and his country.

He spoke through the Majority Leader of the Nigerien National Assembly, Alhaji Zakari Umar, who led a 15-man team to visit Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State on Sunday to congratulate him on the electoral victory of the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Isoufou, “the citizens of Niger Republic were happy with the peaceful conduct of the Nigerian 2015 general election. “We were all concerned before the polls on how they were going to turn out, but Nigeriens were happy with the peace and unity that had reigned in Nigeria after the elections.”

8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Politics

s

No big deal in Jonathan losing an election – Chief Richard Akinjide

El’rufai

Why APC won Kaduna

Chief Richard Akinjide, is one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A former Minister in the first and second Republics, he spoke on the party’s defeat in the last Presidential election.

Excerpts: In January in an interview with the Daily Times, when you spoke about the then forthcoming elections, you predicted victory for your party and President Goodluck Jonathan saying he would beat General Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) hands down. The election has come and gone with Buhari defeating the president. What happened?

Yes, I made that prediction, you are right. You see, when you contest an election, you either win or you lose. And from my calculation at that time, there was no doubt in my mind that President Jonathan should win. But when election came, things were different. You

– Dep Gov elect Hon Bala Barnabas Bantex is a former House of Representatives member, Local government Chairman and current Kaduna State Deputy Governor-elect. In this interview with journalists in Kaduna, the first elected All Progressive Congress (APC) Party Chairman in Kaduna State attributed the victory of his party to the formidable team they have.

He also spoke on the performance of APC in Southern Kaduna and other National issues. SUNDAY ISUWA was there. Excerpts:

Chief Richard Akinjide must know that in all elections, whether Presidential or Parliamentary, whether in Britain or America, France or Germany, China, Russia, Japan or anywhere,

you contest because you want to win. But in the process, somebody might lose. Now, we did that election and the President lost, and he accepted defeat in a very grace-

ful manner. In a manner that has been praised locally and internationally. I have no doubt that when

What is your observation about the just concluded elections?

My observation is that more people are now surer that their votes

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

WHO LEADS LAGOS 8TH ASSEMBLY?

Race for Lagos speakership hots up Alade Tasma As the tenure of Adeyemi

-

Funmi Tejuosho

Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun

Rotimi Abiru

Mudashiru Obasa

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

9 Politics

‘PDP can win again’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

we contest election again, the results will be in our favour.

What really went wrong in your calculations?

I wouldn’t say that. I have not seen details of the election for the North East, North West, or the South East or the Niger Delta or the South West. Until I see all these and analysed them carefully, I don’t want to make any prediction.

This is the first time an incumbent President is losing an election in Nigeria, would you say this is the dawn of a new era for Nigeria?

Well, you may be right, you may be wrong. But it is not unique that a sitting President or a sitting Prime Minister should lose

an election. It has happened several times in America, it has happened several times in England, in France, in Japan. So, its normal. I don’t know why anybody should be surprised that the president lost. It has happened this time, it could happen to another President next time.

Some people have argued that the PDP was defeated as a result of indiscipline amongst its members and the culture of impunity prevalent in the party. Do you subscribe to this?

It is rubbish. I don’t accept all those nonsense that people say. I don’t want to make any judgment over the loss of the election.

Why some people say this is because some governors imposed candidates on the party while some aspirants went to

How Kaduna South people freed themselves from bondage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

kudos to Professor Jega and members of INEC. I want to give kudos to the security agencies. More importantly, I want to give kudos to the electorate who exercised a lot of restraint and have been patient and have followed the rule of law in the process with some element of trust and believe in the system.

The peaceful nature of election was encouraging. A lot of people before the election thought that it was going to be crises ridden. But it went peacefully, we thank God and pray that our dear president elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, God will give him the wisdom and

Who’ll be next Lagos Speaker?

Bala Barnabas Bantex the strength to be able to meet up with the expectations of the largely poor and traumatised Nigerians who voted massively for him. For El-rufai in Kaduna State, I also wish that the skills God has given him will be instrumental in bringing Kaduna out of the present sorry state. The state is into a massive debt profile. I pray that God will give him the wisdom to pull the state out of this serious debt proCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

join the opposition parties and teamed up with them. In some cases like Niger and Benue, the governors there lost out even in their own senatorial aspirations. How do you see this?

I don’t want to make a judgment.

Until I see details of the election, then I would be able to comment and make judgment then. But be very careful in making any advance judgment which may be right, which may be wrong. At the moment, I’m not blaming any governor, and I’m not praising any governor. But I reserve my judgment until a later date.

As a leader of the party, do you think the PDP deserved to lose that Presidential election?

No, we shouldn’t have lost, we should have won. In all my calculations, the odds favoured PDP, but we lost. And why we lost, we would know later when we have all the details.

If you look at the result, the President-elect won convincingly in the North and part of the south west while the president won mainly in the south south, south east and part of the south west. Is the voting pattern not on ethnic basis?

It happened everywhere. I mean, if you do election in United Kingdom, some people may win in England and lose in Scotland, while some people will win in Wales and lose in England. It happens all over the world. You shouldn’t be surprised at all.

Do you think that the postponement of the election by six weeks had any effect on the defeat of PDP? I’m not making any statement on that. I don’t know all the details of that, so, I can’t make comments on that.

Some people have praised the conduct of the election while some others alleged that Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) worked with the opposition to enable them victory?

Chief Richard Akinjide I don’t have the details. I cannot blame him, I cannot praise him until I receive all the details. On that, I reserve my judgment.

Since the election, a lot of people have been praising President Jonathan for conceding defeat even before the final announcement of result. It is generally believed that this moved the nation away from the precipice. Is this so?

What he did was graceful. It showed that he’s a gentleman.

And many leaders would not do like that. They would go from election petition to election petition.

What he did was more honourable. So, I praise the President for doing what he did.

The incoming government has started to say it will probe this and that. Do you think they are starting on a good note?

I will not make a judgment on that. When they get to power, leave them to do what they want to do. It is as easy as that. Then we can all make a judgment.

You were a member of the

last National Conference that charted a new course for Nigeria. This was the main reason why the South West leaders backed President Jonathan.

Would you want to counsel the new government on the report of the confab?

My advice to the incoming government is that they should implement the report. That report was done by very many good Nigerians. I moved the final vote of thanks at the conference and there is no section of Nigeria that was not represented. It is one of the best tings that President Jonathan would have done. I hope the incoming government would implement the report.

Which aspect do you think they should tackle immediately or in phases?

All aspects, all aspects, I don’t take anyone out. They should look at it objectively. The committee was set up to make recommendations and gave the report to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

get the mandate of the people at

tor Kofo Akerele Bucknor and the

the Speaker of the 8th Assembly

on the seat.

CONTINUED on PAGE 10

Ambode

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

PDP can win again – Akinjide CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

present president and I hope the incoming government would implement it.

Do you suggest that the outgoing president put this in his handover note to the President-elect?

I don’t want to read the handover note of the president. No, it is not proper for me to make the suggestion. He should make his handing over note in his own judgment, in his best judgment

and let him do what he wants to do. Let him have his own judgment.

As an elder statesman who has been in leadership position since the early 60s, what do you think should be the agenda of the new government?

No, I’ve been in government since 1959 when I was in my 20s.

I contested national election and I won. I contested twice and I won twice and on each occasion, I was a federal minister. The first one, I was Federal Minister of Educa-

tion, and later Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

With your vast experience in governance, what do you think should be the agenda of the new government?

No, I like to see their policy first before I make a comment.

Some of the things the President-elect said he would do was to probe this and fight corruption?

No, I’ve not been following him.

I’ve not read that and I’m not going to make any pronouncement

on what I don’t know.

Going to your state, Oyo, even the PDP lost woefully, coming fourth?

I’ve not received the full results of Oyo. There were too many candidates even in Ibadan alone.

When I see details of the result then I can comment.

Your advice to Nigerians as a new government is coming in?

Yes, Nigerians should be faithful, loyal and not cause any crisis so that the development could be sustained.

Race for Lagos Speakership hots up CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

were from the Cental and East The same arrangement was ad-

ernor and Speaker of the State -

the House and was voted Speaker moved and recontested from Ikeja

deputy governor, Adejoke Orelope

and whose deputy, Hon. Kolawole

seems to have put an end to the A two term member who lost out

Bala Barnabas Bantex

El’rufai

Why APC won Kaduna, by Barnabas CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

file. For me, as someone who has the singular honour and privilege at this time to work with an expert such as El-rufai. I hope that God will also give me the opportunity to contribute my little quarter to the development of Kaduna State.

Was there any security bridge?

No, there were some minor issues but in the southern part of Kaduna State, the election went well. But my friends from the Northern part of the state told me there were some few incidences but generally, it was peaceful. What the enemy wanted for Kaduna State, was to create a magnitude of crises that

will probably leads to the declaration of a state of emergency, God averted that and we are very happy.

What will you say to the people of Kaduna state especially those from the Southern part?

I want to express my happiness that some have realised the need for change. There were some cynicism about the party, about what it represents, about what her background was but it was not unusual for people who have been caged for about 16 years by a very deceitful party. I appreciate where they were coming from, and what they were doing, but I also appreciate the strategic move some of the Southern Kaduna

people made just on good time to bail themselves out. It would have been a political catastrophe. They would have become marginalised in the Nigeria Nation and the state in particular. Pulling themselves particularly out of misdirection to a proper place is a good thing. I’m proud of them because the APC is here to stay in Southern Kaduna and it will bring about things that will be truly a lot better than what the PDP have offered to the region for over 16 years. My belief is that at the end of our tenure, by God’s willing, rather than come flying the flag of religion and ethnicity, we will come up with a stewardship report as a basis for asking for support.

Were you impressed by the turnout?

Yes, I know that there was low turnout. It was quite unfortunate because the closer the government is to the people, the more concerned they will have. If you look at it, in the United States, what happens in Washington is not a concern to somebody in Texas because they are not close. Democracy is evolving and for anybody to imagine that to care less about the people but the election, is a wrong notion. But the wind of change has already decided for everybody to redirect everything and a lot of CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

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bar the next Assembly, the lawmak-

some of them to lead the House suc-

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

11 Politics

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News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Chukwumerije: Footprints of a legislator par excellence Sam Nzeh, Deputy Editor

ÏÏÏHis vision at the Senate was to “seek the welfare of the people especially the weakest and the poorest - by promoting people-oriented projects.” It was also to take parliamentary positions which would “enthrone and sustain a truly democratic and transparent polity founded on strict compliance with the constitution and be held accountable by a vigorous parliament, a vibrant press, and an independent judiciary”.

So when death came calling on Sunday, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, was on his last lap of as a member of the nation’s upper legislative chamber. Although he did not

contest in the last general election due to failure to secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the Senate, Chukwumerije, was indeed one of the nation’s finest legislators. He was until his death the Chairman, Senate Committee on Education.

He represented Abia North Senatorial District of Abia State in the Senate. He was noted for activism in legislative matters and was vocal on issues affecting the polity, particularly his ethnic group, Ndigbo. He was the voice of the voiceless in the Nigerian Senate.

Those who knew the late legislator say his hands-on approach to challenges was his definitive style over the years. Whether as Biafra

Director of Information and Propaganda during the civil war, as journalist with the Daily Times and Publisher of Afriscope magazine in the seventies; as Minister of Information in the nineties and as Senator since 2003, Chukwumerije always broke new grounds in whatever he did.

Apart from being an ardent messenger of Abia North senatorial constituency, he also distinguished himself as a representative of Ndigbo and a committed Nigerian patriot.

Among the bills the late Senator sponsored at the Senate are a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Corporate Social Responsibility Commission; a bill

for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Anti-Torture Commission; a bill for an Act for the establishment of the Environmental Pollution Tax Commission and a bill to provide for the establishment, Development, Operation, Maintenance, Management and Administration of the Nigeria Development Zones for matters connected therewith.

In one of his numerous lectures titled, 2015: Before Us lies an open grave, and delivered in October 10, 2013, the late Chukumerije concluded by saying that power shift and the emergence of a national two-party structure have triggered a process of re-alignment of political/ social interests which will anchor Nigeria’s ruling formations for the

foreseeable future. He warned that “Ndigbo must effectively key into this dialectical process now or continue to be sidelined. In the fast flowing eddy of Nigeria’s social/economic development, an indefinite sideline of a major ethnic group like Ndigbo is political death”.

An ardent advocate of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, Chukwumerije in the lecture posited that Ndigbo must produce the next Nigerian President after President Goodluck Jonathan, adding however that the loud declaration of this intent is not in itself an abracadabra and magic wand. “Ndigbo must hit the political road work now for its attainment in our multi-cultural society and in the new two-party system,” he stated.

South Africans apologise over hate attacks Continued from page 6 and threatening crackdown on anybody who attacks foreigners.

A Nigerian lady, living in Durban, South Africa, who sought anonymity, on Sunday told Daily Times: “Sincerely the Government (of South Africa) is doing its best to control the situation.”

She said further: “Steps were taken speedily by the South African government in the last Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (middle); Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (2nd right) and others during the official Commissioning of Effurun Flyover in Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State… at the weekend

Boko Haram kills 19 in Cameroun, beheads many ÏÏÏMembers of

the Boko Haram sect have continued their reign of terror, killing about 19 persons in a Camerounian village, Bia, last Thursday, according to Agence France Presse (AFP).

Most of the victims were beheaded, the report added.

“The final toll from this attack is 19 dead, with a majority of the victims decapitated,” a security source was quoted to have said Saturday on condition of anonymity.

Security sources had previously said 10 civilians were killed in the cross-border raid on the village of Bia in Cameroon’s Far North region.

The attack comes after a regional military offensive --

which includes Cameroun -- has claimed a string of successes in their fightback against the Islamist militants in Nigeria in recent weeks.

Bia, which borders Lake Chad, has been identified previously by security forces as a recruiting ground for Boko Haram militants.

The source speaking to AFP on Saturday said security forces were slow to react to the raid on Bia, located in an area with several military bases.

“We noted a late response by our forces,”, the source said.

“Many huts were burned down,” the source added.

Also during the night from Thursday to Friday, Boko Haram Islamists attacked a Cameroon

army position in Amchide, on the border with Nigeria.

“They burned houses in Amchide, but without losses on our side. The attack was repelled. We don’t know yet about casualties on the enemy side,” a security source told AFP on Friday.

The insurgency by Boko Haram has killed some 13,000 people in northeast Nigeria and sent 1.5 million fleeing their homes since 2009.

The group had in recent months widened its attacks into neighbouring nations, prompting Chad, Cameroun and Niger to launch a joint offensive with the Nigerian army, resulting in a series of rebel-held towns and villages being recaptured in Nigeria’s northeast.

few days to curb and control the situation.

“The police have been on 24 hours alert while vigilante groups with hotlines have been put in place in volatile areas.”

The source added: “The perpetrators of these evil deeds are being arrested and the sponsors will soon be arrested, according to the minister of police.”

“A press conference was held where various ministers and diplomats of different countries were apologized to.”

Pesticide, not deity, caused Ondo ‘mystery’ deaths Continued from page 6 out that their names are on the list of those who have died.

“They are actually giving us some clue that this might be some kind of ethanol poisoning but we cannot confirm that until we conclude our toxicology test.

“From the preliminary reports, most of the victims have something in common which is the consumption of large quantity of the same alcohol at a joint over the last weekend.”

He said that government was getting close to unravelling the cause of the strange deaths and dismissed rumour that the strange ailment, now being tagged #OndoX, is the dread Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The health commissioner noted that five survivors of the 23 reported cases have been referred to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan for fur-

ther treatment.

He added that 18 persons, mostly commercial motor cycle (okada) riders, and local farmers not related by blood have died of the strange ailment.

While confirming that some of the surviving victims are avoiding the hospitals in the belief that the deaths have spiritual causes, Adeyanju said the people are at liberty to give their own traditional interpretation to the issue but gave assurance that government would deploy necessary machinery to take care of those who manifest the ailment.

Speaking, the Information Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said government has been on top of the situation and would continue to provide information until the menace is contained.

Daily Times gathered that normalcy has returned to the town as people now go about their daily activities.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

13

International 14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Hundreds African migrants drown in Mediterranean sea

ÏÏÏ

Hundreds of people are feared to have drowned after a boat carrying up to 700 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian coastguard says.

A major rescue operation is under way after the vessel, thought to be just 20m (70ft) long, capsized at midnight local time in Libyan waters south of the Italian island of Lampedusa.

So far 28 people have been rescued and 24 bodies retrieved.

At least 900 other migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean this year.

The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the latest sinking could amount to the largest loss of life during a migrant crossing to Europe.

Italian naval and coastguard ships, the Maltese Navy and cargo vessels, along with three helicopters, are all involved in the rescue operation, 130 miles (210km) off the coast of Lampedusa and 17 miles (27km) from the Libyan coast.

The Italian coastguard's spokesman told the BBC the operation was still focused on search and rescue, "but in time it will be a search [for bodies] only".

The migrants reportedly fell overboard when they rushed to draw the attention of the passing Portuguese merchant ship King

ÏÏÏ

Migrants are helped as they disembark from a Coast Guard boat in the Sicilian harbor of Palermo, Italy, at the weekend

Jacob, causing their ship to capsize.

The Italian coastguard says the 28 survivors and 24 bodies are now on its vessel the Gregoretti.

Lampedusa is scrambling to react to the latest horror in the seas off its coastline. Much of the harbour has emptied. Coastguard, customs and fishing boats all left before dawn to help with the rescue.

Marta Bernardini works for the charity Mediterranean Hope, which is based on the island and works with migrants. She told the BBC: "We are very sad. It's so difficult for us who live and work in Lampedusa every day, to know that a lot of people die in this way, in the Mediterranean Sea." Lampedusa is the most southerly point of Italy - nearer Africa than the Italian mainland. Locals

say that since January - when the EU took control of patrolling Europe's maritime borders - between 9,000 and 10,000 migrants have arrived on the island.

There are currently 1,000 migrants in a detention centre on Lampedusa - an island of 5,000 people. Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said rescuers were "literally trying to find people alive among the dead floating in the water".

2.5 million suffering food insecurity in Niger Sudanese Gov ÏÏÏMore

than 2.5 million people in Niger are suffering from food insecurity because of a shortfall in the cereal harvest due to bad weather and crop pests, the agriculture minister said on Saturday.

"A survey conducted since December 2014 indicated that 15.7% of the population, or 2 588 128 people, are in a situation of food insecurity, including 410 297 in severe insecurity," Maidagi Allambeye told MPs.

ISIS shoots, beheads 30 Ethiopian Christians

Ex-Egyptian president faces death penalty in first verdict over protesters' death

The situation has been aggravated by the presence of some 200 000 refugees who had fled attacks

by Boko Haram and other militants. Food insecurity in the poor Sahel country, which is plagued by recurring food crises, is linked to a cereal deficit of more than 230 000 tons at the end of the 2014 crop year, he explained.

The government attributed the shortfall to drought, floods and caterpillar attacks.

"We cannot say that Niger is suf-

ÏÏÏ

A video purportedly made

by Islamic State and posted on social media sites on Sunday appeared to show militants shooting and beheading about 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya.

Reuters was not able to verify the authenticity of the video but the killings resemble past violence carried out by Islamic State, which has expanded its reach from strongholds in Iraq and Syria to a conflict-ridden Libya.

fering chronic insecurity but this is still very common," said Vigno Hounkanli, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme in Niamey, which has helped some 480 000 people since June.

"We are distributing food from the lean period onwards, when the granaries are empty and there is nothing to eat," he said.

The lean period between the depletion of the previous year's crops and harvesting the new lasts several months in Niger.

The video, in which militants call Christians crusaders and say they are out to kill Muslims, showed about 15 men being beheaded on a beach and another group of the same size shot in their heads in scrubland.

Both groups of men are referred to in a subtitle as "worshippers of the cross belonging to the hostile Ethiopian church".

Libyan officials were not immediately available for comment.

alleges rebels kill 136

ÏÏÏSudanese

newspapers are quoting a governor as saying that rebels killed 136 civilians in attacks during the presidential election that ended last week.

Independent daily newspaper Al-Jarida and other papers quoted the governor of South Kordofan state, Adam al-Faki, as saying that rebels targeted civilian areas in order to disrupt the vote, adding that 150 people were wounded.

Al-Faki did not respond to requests for comment. Rebels are battling government forces in South Kordofan and two other regions in fighting that has displaced tens of thousands of people in recent years. Polling centres for the election closed on Thursday and results are expected on 27 April. President Omar al-Bashir is expected to extend his 25-year rule following an opposition boycott of the vote.

Egypt's ex-president Mohammed Morsi faces being sentenced to death on Tuesday on charges of inciting the killing of protestors in the first verdict against him nearly two years after his fall from power.

He also faces the death penalty in two other trials, including one in which he is accused of spying for foreign powers, and escaping from prison during the 2011 antiMubarak revolt.

Separate verdicts in those two cases are due on 16 May. A death sentence on Tuesday against Egypt's first freely elected president cannot be ruled out, experts say, especially since judges have already passed harsh verdicts against leaders of his blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood.

Morsi was toppled by the then army chief, and now president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on 3 July 2013 after mass street protests against his year-long rule.

The new authorities then launched a sweeping crackdown on his supporters in which more than 1 400 people were killed and thousands jailed.

Hundreds have been sentenced to death after speedy mass trials which the United Nations called "unprecedented in recent history".

The authorities have also targeted secular and liberal activists who spearheaded the 2011 uprising against long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak, Morsi's predecessor.

In November, a court dropped murder charges against Mubarak in his own trial over the deaths of hundreds of protesters in 2011.

Sisi's regime is widely popular among Egyptians tired of more than four years of political turmoil, but rights groups say it is more repressive than under Mubarak.

Morsi

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

15 Opinion

PDP: Nurturing a culture of impunity

W Mecha Udo

ithout doubt, one of the reasons the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lost massively in the 2015 general elections is the fact that the party wittingly or unwittingly embraced, nurtured and promoted impunity as the hallmark of its conduct, even in the affairs of state. Having come to power through elections that were far from being free and fair, the party did not care about the peoples’ feelings.

For the first time in the history of democracy in Nigeria, a political party fielded candidates that did not go through intra party primaries. The authorities at various levels of the party apparatchik selected and imposed candidates.

The broad membership of the party whose responsibility it is to elect party flag bearers at party primaries was completely alienated. Well-articulated and evidenced protests by disenfranchised candidates were treated with disdain; after all, they could not afford to pay the price for a party ticket.

Even President Good luck Jonathan made history by becoming the first PDP Presidential candidate that did not face any candidate at the party primaries and

this was not because they were no interested and keen candidates, but because the party emasculated every form of opposition. The PDP candidate therefore went into the national elections untested, the ways and means of real politicking was lost on them as they understood only the processes and methods of political exclusionism and intolerance of opposition candidates. This must have formed the basis for the party’s decision to do nothing about selling its own candidate, but instead focused on ways and means of either disqualifying or eliminating the opposition candidate.

But they did not know what time of day it was; they failed to see the desperate yearning of the people for change, they refused to heed the very loud call that the system was grinding to a disastrous halt.

While the electorate were resolved to change the way things were done and not necessarily political parties, the electoral umpire worked hard to also reform the electoral processes, PDP did not care. Little wonder that when reality dawned on them, they attacked the electoral umpire and the newly introduced methods with all the venom they could muster, but that was doing too little too late.

The reform of the electoral processes where the people are now having more voice in the

choice of their leaders has however been restricted to only four geopolitical zones in the country.

The Southeast and Southsouth where the PDP still holds sway are still embroiled in all manner of electoral malpractices. They have not only rejected the new measures aimed at reforming our electoral processes and thereby create an environment of political responsibility, but they have completely destroyed just about every opportunity or avenue of having the people participate in the choice of their leaders. Instead of a reform, we now face a completely deformed and warped culture that has damaged the political psyche of the people of these zones.

Elections in these zones are now completely hijacked by armed gangs, state apparatuses are now deployed to do the unwholesome, electoral officers are heavily compromised to thwart the will of the people, even where they (the people) have defied intimidations to come out and cast their votes.

We have seen the worst of this style of brigandage in Abia state, where a sitting governor has abandoned his mandate to govern but now supervises over criminality in the name of electioneering.

It is now official that Abia state has become the core dreg of the Nigerian society, it now sits at the bottom of the ladder of every form

of development (economic, social, and human). While other states have had their elections, losers have congratulated winners and the rest of the society have since moved on with their lives, Abia is still in the throes of political death, held down by a brigand led by the outgoing governor. We must note that when one part of the country ails, the country cannot be said to be at ease. There is need for intervention from the highest levels of government in the area of security and the electoral process in Abia state. Even as a re-run of the governorship elections have been slated for the 25th of April 2015, INEC is encouraged to move its headquarters to Umuahia, to oversee the elections. In Abia, we have heard of cases where known government officials have led thugs to commit crimes including armed robbery; for that is what it is when a ballot box is snatched at gun point. Fortunately, there is no status of limitation in crime, so these acts of high crime must be necessarily recorded and dealt with at the appropriate time.

The build up to the containment and elimination of electoral fraud and violence in these zones must necessary start with the punishment of known perpetrators of today’s crimes. That is the only way that impunity will stop in our land.

Calumny against Nigerian Shippers Council

T

Dayo Akinkotu

he barrage of media attacks being unleashed on Nigerian Shippers’ Council by faceless writers masquerading as terminal operators calls to question why they do not want to embrace change.

We are worried because people who have been entrenched with corrupt tendencies are never amenable to change. To them change means an attempt to undermine their business hence all arsenal must be put in place to resist change.

As a concerned stakeholder, I wish to state that the statement, attributed to the Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) accusing the management of Nigeria Shippers’ Council of scaring away investors from Nigeria, creating division and tension in the maritime industry, among others, is not only false but also an attempt to mislead the government in a cover up over the seaport concessionaires” nefari-

ous activities since the Nigerian seaport terminals were concession to them in 2005/2006.

The seaport terminal operators (concessionaries), have operated their terminals for Eight Years without an Economic Regulator, and therefore had a field day during the period, have become used to running their terminals with wanton disregard of the Nigerian laws and even the provisions of the concession agreements that granted them the concession of the terminals and which spelt out their privileges and obligations.

Before the appointment of Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the Ports Economic Regulator (PER) last year, the concessionaires, operated unsupervised, unregulated and with reckless impunity without any respect to the Nigerian economy. Before the appointment of Nigerian Shippers’ Council as an economic regulator, the seaport terminal operators levied charges and fees without permission and thereby making the Nigerian ports to rank as the most expensive in the world.

One of the main goals of the

Government Port Reforms is to reduce cost, but the cost to shippers has remained very high. Therefore, the port terminal operators are actually scaring investors and not Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

However, I am least surprised by the latest trick of STOAN. This is their stock in trade. They hate to regulate. They have infiltrated and captured the state through their corrupt activities. They operate like a Mafia, above the law and have made Nigerian ports costly, unfriendly and that is why people prefer importing their goods through neighboring ports, thereby denying Nigeria the huge expected revenue from the Maritime Industry.

But for Nigerian Shippers” Council, these terminal operators would have been carrying out their anti- Nigerian activities unchecked. This is common knowledge, and when Nigerian Shippers’ Council attempted to check them, they resorted to court action. The court courageously decided in favour of Nigerians Shippers’ Council and the terminal operators were asked to refund

about one trillion naira (N1tr.) illegally collected charges and fees. However, of course they are “above Nigerian laws” and will not abide by the court judgment.

Now, as it is their practice, they have seen a new serious government coming in and they have become desperate. I therefore wish to caution the new government to disregard the terminal operators’ ploy and to beam the searchlight on the Maritime Industry. The government would be amazed at the wanton impunity, revenue leakages, corruption and capital flight all aided by the terminal operators. In fact, the leading terminal operator, a multinational, often referred to Nigerian Freight Forwarders as monkeys.

I wish to salute the courage of Nigerian Shippers’ Council as the only agency that has refused to compromise. That is why a campaign of calumny is launched by the powerful cartel of STOAN to intimidate them. However, we the stakeholders who know the terminal operators‘ antics and antecedents remain solidly behind Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Business Times BoI service platform upgraded to support 24/7 delivery Emmanuel Ogbonnaya In order to efficiently deliver on its mandate through available service platforms, the Bank of Industry (BoI) has re-engineered its processes and upgraded the institution’s banking application architecture.

Specifically, the bank’s core banking application (CBA) known as Equinox has been upgraded to Rubikon, a software believed to hold more benefits for the bank and its customers.

With some of the solutions the software would be providing to the financial institution, the Bank of Industry (BoI) would commence 24/7 operational services, while optimising the software for solutions like credit administration and loans, reference data, security management, integrated workflow management, integrated business intelligence, integrated delivery channel among others.

Olaoluwa, BOI MD

According to a statement from the bank, the customer-centric architecture of Rubikon offers a unified view of the bank’s customers across channels and products – providing valuable, real-time access to information relating to client activities and profile, while at the same time aiding the provision of solutions to customers based on specific needs.

“Rubicon supports customer interaction through a number of channels such as web pages, email, automated telephone or

SMS. The Bank can leverage this information to offer cross-selling opportunities, new and innovative products and services to its customers.

Customer relationship and case management is an integrated part of the Rubikon solution.

The Bank can create a customized, rich and differentiated value proposition for its customers”, the bank added.

For credit administration and loans, Rubikon is expected to be fully explored to provide a flexible framework supporting credit applications, retail and corporate lending, including loan origination, loan set-up, repayments scheduling and rescheduling, disbursement, lifecycle and penalty processing, delinquency and past due management, identifying non-performing assets, provisioning, customer and group limits monitoring, insurance and collateral management and reporting.

s

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

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has pledged to give their support to the incoming administration of Presedent-Elect, General Mohammadu Buhari on efforts to diversify the nation’s economy.

President of the Association, Mr Ken Ukaoha gave the pledge in Abuja on Thursday during a press conference on the outcome of the general elections and agenda setting for the in-coming administration.

NANT said the association was prepared to work with the incoming administration of the APC, to initiate policies that would improve the business environment in Nigeria.

The Traders said they totally support the federal government’s move to diversify the Nigerian economy by investing in other none-oil sectors in response to the dwindling oil prices.

The association further assured the President-elect that they

NCAA fingered for domestic airlines’ premature collapse Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The National President of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), Comrade Benjamin Okewu, said that the union is not comfortable with the rate at which domestic airlines in the country are dying few years after commencing operations and posited that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) can curtail the negative trend.

The matter according to him is further compounded by the sudden death of Discovery Air whose Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC )was suspended

by NCAA for safety and other breaches that contradicts provisions of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulation(NCARs).

Recalled that NCAA suspended Discovery Air AOC in late 2014 barely six months after it was issued on June 4, 2014.

The suspended airline as at the time of compiling this report would have to commence

the process of getting AOC all over again having stopped operations for several months.

Okewu, who spoke in an exclusive interview, said that though ATSSSAN is worried about the development, he however said that there nothing the group can do because airline business is a free market.

He opined that since ATSSSAN cannot stop airlines from springing up, what it has done is liaise with the regulatory body; NCAA to strictly enforce its economic regulations as it concerns airlines.

According to him, “Airline business is a free entry and free exit market. For us at the level of the union we are not comfortable with it .We cannot stop airlines from coming up. What we have tried to do of recent is to as much as possible liaise with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to enforce some of the regulatory responsibilities

bestowed on them particularly when we talk about economic regulation .If you look at NCAA Act and then you go to the economic regulatory aspect, you find out that the regulatory agency has a key responsibility in monitoring the finances of airlines”.

Okewu stated that there is the need for NCAA to frequently monitor to ensure that domestic airlines in the country is financially stable, that the funds coming to the airlines are not diverted, that even when airlines collect finances going to get one or two facilities from banks, they are not wasted or diverted for other reasons other than for airlines operations.

He lamented that airline business in Nigeria has turned to mere buying and selling, adding that NCAA has not done well in the area of ensuring that domestic airlines in the country have cash flow to effectively run their operations to prevent from cutting corners.

17

Chidoka, Aviation minister

Traders pledge to support Buhari on economic diversification would give him their full support to continue with the progressive policies and programmes started by the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, such as: growth enhancement scheme that provide inputs for small scale farmers, the auto policy that will facilitate production of vehicles in Nigeria and the local content policy among others.

NANTS however urged the President-Elect to adopt a conscious transformation of budgeting procedures which should be a clear departure from the traditional annual budget often done on incremental basis, to a more realistic multi-year budget sys-

Continued on page 20

Aviation18

Bankole

Med-View Airline acquires Boeing 737-400 Classic Med-View Airline has acquired a Boeing 737-400 Classic aircraft as part of expansion plans to boost its operations.

With the additional aircraft, Med-View fleet now grows to five Boeing aircraft. The current aircraft is configured for 150 passengers; business and economy classes.

The Managing Director of the airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole told journalists at the airlines’ office at the Murtala Mohammed Airport two, MMA2, Lagos that the aircraft had undergone the necessary inspection and certification by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority’s, NCAA, inspectors before it was flew into the country from Thailand.

Bankole said that the introduction of the aircraft was an integral part of its long term business model, adding that the aircraft would immediately be deployed to Yola route.

He explained further that another Boeing 767 aircraft would join the airline’s fleet very soon, saying that the expected aircraft would be deployed to Jeddah and Dubai, which it hoped to commence by the last week in June.

He explained further that First Bank of Nigeria Plc financed the acquisition of the aircraft for the airline, informing that out of its five aircraft, the bank had bankrolled three.

He said, “We are as usual poised to give our customers the best of service and with the introduction of our additional new baby, we will definitely expand our fleet and operations. The aircraft you are seeing today has undergone significant internal enhancements to ensure that our customers enjoy the unique and outstanding onboard experience they have come to expect from the airline. Our plan to grow our fleet is a gradual process and in the next couple of weeks, we will add another Boeing to our fleet to make it six.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Absence of master plan worries aviation stakeholders Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers NAAPE has decried the absence of commitment to implementing various aviation action plans, particularly, the Aviation Road Map. In a congratulatory letter to the President elect Muhammadu Buhari, the president of NAAPE Engineer Isaac Balami called for the bringing into fruition the plan to re-establish a national carrier.

According to Balami local carriers should be encouraged through incentives to forge mergers cum alliances encourage the

NAMA commences calibration of NAVAIDS In a bid to further enhance the safety of the Nigerian airspace, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) has commenced the calibration of its navigational aids at airports and en-route stations across the country.

The routine calibration exercise intended to determine the precision and accuracy of these navigational aids is being handled by ASECNA of Senegal in collaboration with NAMA Engineers and is expected to last for about two weeks.

The exercise would involve the calibration of the agency’s Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), Very High Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Path Approach Precision Indicators (PAPI) and Air

quick completion of at least one aircraft maintenance hangar in the country, such as the Uyo facility that was already at advanced stage but now abandoned due to high costs.

He called for the hasten of the certification process of at least the major airports adding that it will go along with the development of one, or two, hubs in the country, particular the Lagos hub.

Balami advised that the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria should be upgraded to an international institution while full and real autonomy to must be granted to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Au-

Field Lighting Systems.

Other facilities to be calibrated include the Communication Radio Coverage across the nation.

In his remarks at the commencement of the calibration in Lagos, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engr.

Ibrahim Abdulsalam, noted that the operation was “targeted at putting all the navigational aids at the nation’s airports and enroute stations in optimal capacity in line with ICAO standards to continue to generate precise and accurate signals to guarantee the safety of air navigation in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Sequel to the recent visit of the ASECNA team to Nigeria and agreements reached with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on collaboration, harmonization and standardization of CNS/ATM infrastructure between both agencies, a team of engineers from ASECNA has already arrived the country for the purpose of setting up coordination links between LagosLome, Lagos-Malabo and KanoLome.

Balami

thority (NCAA) and grow it into a world class regulatory agency in order to enable the NCAA drive the process of growth and development.

He appealed to the President elect to appoint an aviation professional as Minister of Aviation

adding that it has been their long held opinion that an experience aviation professional with the needed managerial and political clout at the helm of affairs in the aviation ministry will move the industry forward better and faster.

Emirates urges manufacturer to update A380s’ engines Emirates believes it has room to convert some of its RollsRoyce-powered Airbus A380s to a future re-engined version, but is prepared to fit all 50 with the Trent 900 if there is no sign of movement from the airframer.

Speaking at an event in London the Middle Eastern carrier’s president, Tim Clark, said that the first 25 A380s would arrive between late 2016 and the first quarter of 2018.

Delivery of the second batch of 25 is “further out”, he says, but Emirates is “trying to advance some of them” to around 2019-20.

Clark did not clarify the number which might be brought forward but a delivery date before 2020 would appear to rule out any possibility of these A380s being fitted with a completely new engine.

The switch to the Trent by the A380’s largest customer, however, puts Rolls-Royce in a strong position to consider an alternative engine for the type – particularly given that the degree of technological advancement and investment on the rival Engine Alliance

GP7200 has reached something of a “flat line”, claims Clark.

Emirates has been pressing for a re-engined version of the aircraft, with promises of large supplemental orders, but Clark says the carrier still waiting for Airbus to decide whether it has a business case to proceed.

Clark says the airline is “naturally keen” to see a re-engined version, and for Airbus to keep producing the A380. “In the absence of a [re-engined aircraft] we’d still have [A380s for replacement],” he says. “Of course, we’re interested in any improvement.”

“I don’t want to suggest the current aircraft isn’t a good machine because it is. It’s the most profitable aircraft in our fleet,” he says.

But he suggests that a combination of weight reduction, aerodynamic clean-up and a new engine could generate an economic improvement in the 10-13 per cent range.

“If they manage to do that, the performance of the aircraft will be stellar,” he says.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

19 Interview

Main headline: Companies that fled Nigeria will soon return in droves – Mikano MD Farine

In this interview with KAYODE ADELOWOKAN, the Managing Director of Mikano International Ltd., Christine Farine, discloses that his company has achieved 40 percent local content in its products, with a target of 55 percent in the next five years. He also speaks on the various diversification projects of the company and raises hopes that many manufacturing companies that Nigeria for neighbouring countries will soon return in droves.

Today I can say that Mikano is a Nigerian company, manufacturing, assembling power generators. It is the main business of the company.

We are not dealers, importing manufactured generators. We are importing the main components from abroad, mainly from UK after which we do the assembly, the manufacturing of the steel sound-proofing, steel frame, and the steel control panel. It is really a Nigerian product with UK-made, Europe-made key components; assembled and manufactured here in Ikeja.

What percentage of your generators is locally sourced?

As at today, we have local content of 40 percent. Our goal is that in the next five years to increase the local content to 50 percent or 55 percent. To manufacture the key element, which is the engine and the alternator will be difficult to build in the country, but that is the goal in the nearest future. We are also playing big in gas generator. To be environment-friendly, reduce air pollution, everybody is moving towards gas generators.

It also has efficiency. The people move from diesel engine to gas generator, especially in industrial sites. For cost efficiency, industrial users of energy are now moving from diesel generators to gas generators. Besides that, Mikano has also gone into diversification with the distribution of electrical household components, low voltage, medium voltage. Low voltage we get from ABB, we are also in partnership with Schneider Electric, sockets, circuit breaker that we use in the house, up to the ones that we use in industries,

Mikano’s Marketing Director, Tala Baadarani, who also spoke during the interview

electrical panels that we use in the distribution of energy. That we also assemble here. We also added into the portfolio last year Phillips lighting, professional lightings, for offices, hospitals, hotels, streets: professional lightings. It is a specific lighting.

We have made a big move from incandescent or halogen lighting to professional lighting. First, it ensures long life for your fittings.

It also reduces your power consumption, much less than halogen or incandescent lighting.

How is the market receiving your various products?

We have a positive approach.

In spite of the effect of the devaluation of the Naira, and the slowdown caused by the recent general election in Nigeria. We hope that in the next few months, we will do a product relaunch.

We may also get some new investors coming into Nigeria and we know they will need power as part of their projects.

Don’t you feel concerned that you may be out of business soon, if efforts at achieving uninterrupted power supply in Nigeria succeed?

I don’t think so. First, when we are speaking about increase in power generation, you must know that it is a long-term project. We know that the Olusegun Obasanjo government started the process, when he started the Independent Power Projects. But that was over 10 years ago. Yes, projects are ongoing. Money has been spent, but the country is still facing huge problems, particularly the transmission of the energy. It is true that there is some investment in power generation, but how to transmit the power from Point A across the country; not just from Point A to Point B, but across the country, to interconnect the country also called the highway of power. That is certainly the next step that the new government should take into

consideration, to analyse that and to invest in. These things are not done in one year or two years.

It takes seven years, 10 years to evolve. There is also the Nigeria niche; the country is huge, Nigeria is huge. That is why you see some people say we have 10,000 mw installed or 7,000 mw installed. It is still far away from the 20,000 mw or 25,000 mw that Nigeria needs. The population is growing in Nigeria, the middle class and high class is also growing. That means the demand is increasing. To push forward the industrialization of Nigeria, you will need more and more of power. There are so many products that you import in Nigeria. Why? You are a great people, a great nation, the population is huge. So the government should just put in a place the legal frame that will support industrialization or revive industrialisation. The industry needs power. All these take time; for me 10 years will be minimum. That means that generator business will still be there.

Even to balance a shutdown of power, you will need a back-up.

The question is: will the generator continue to be diesel-powered or gas-powered? How fast can we expand the gas sector?

Even if it takes 20 years to get Nigeria’s power sector right, the question is: will it not signal an end to your line of business?

Mikano has already started diversification. If you look at

Mikano five years ago, it was mainly for generators. Today, we manufacture diesel generators and gas generators. Now, we are diversifying into electrical components. Today we are speaking of low voltage, primary and medium voltage. We are also representatives of Hyundai equipment, that is escalators, forklifts.

You may want to ask: what are these projects doing in Mikano, a power generating manufacturing company. Well, they are all complementary. For instance, we currently have a customer, they want to build a new plant, it’s a fresh new project here in Nigeria. For that they need generator, they need forklift, they need escalators, they need transformer, they need transmission panel.

They need all our portfolio as a one-stop shop in order to activate their new policies. We are also using our facility and our equipment to produce another product.

I told you we manufacture soundproofing right here in Lagos. Specific tools like laser cutting, bending machines, to produce shelves, racks, steel chairs, lockers. All that is related to steel. We are diversifying to activities that are linked to our work, adding value to our operations.

How has your corporate social responsibility been? How have you been giving back to Nigeria?

First, when you go on the road,

Continued on page 20

Energy 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

FG okays forensic audit of NDPHC accounts

O’Keeffe

Augustine Aminu, Abuja The Board of the Niger Delta Holding Company (NDPHC) on Friday in Abuja issued a directive for the forensic audit of the company’s account documents.

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State made this known when he addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of the last meeting of the board under the current administration chaired by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

Dankwanbo said the audit report was aimed at ensuring accountability and transparency as well as achieving adequate power distribution in the country. ``With today’s approval (of the audit) 2013/2014 statement of accounts of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company would have been made up till date, for onward transmission to whoever is interested in getting to know the true financials of the company that we have managed. ``Also, the difference is that from 2005 to 2012 it was a single company that is the Delta Power Holding Company, while 2013 and 2014 will show that it has been fragmented into several

Godwin Anyebe Guinness Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Diageo Plc, has announced a change in the leadership of the company.

Under the new dispensation, Mr. John O’Keeffe, current Managing Director/CEO has been promoted President, Diageo Africa, joining the Diageo Executive Committee and reporting to Dr. Nick Blazquez, President Africa and Asia.

Mr. O’Keeffe’s new appointment will take effect from 1st July 2015.

John is expected to bring a breadth of marketing and general management experience to the Executive team, having, in addition to his Nigeria role, led Diageo’s Global Innovation, Beer and Baileys categories,

Sambo

other companies The Managing Director of the company, Mr James Olotu, who also addressed the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, said 265 out of the 296 distribution power projects initiated by President Goodluck

Jonathan’s administration had been completed.

According to him, the board has successfully completed 330/132 KV sub-station and many other power projects.

He said some of the completed projects would soon be inaugurated before May 29.

Adopt multi-year budget system, traders urge Buhari Continued from page 17 tem.

The traders also noted that many marketers across the country have become the theatre of horrendous bomb explosions which have exterminated many traders and destroyed several billions of naira worth of goods and properties.

Ukaoha said that in order to fast-track the much needed economic development in Nigeria, there was need for a conscious transformation of the budgeting procedures noting that the multiyear budgeting was becoming popular in developing nations with the sole aim of drawing up poverty reduction strategy programmes and Nigeria cannot be an exception because the it has proved to be very successful.

He noted that one of the key albatross for Nigeria is the overbloated public service which has resulted in over 78 percent of the nation’s budget being spent on re-

Ukaoha

current, thereby, leaving a paltry 20 percent for capital project.

“We want to believe that if this continues, there is no miracle and magic your administration can make to take Nigeria to the next level in terms of development.

While we understand and agree

that this is a herculean task, we however believe that it can only take stout-hearted personality and approach to radically weed out and compress the public service to a manageable proportion necessary for development, and we therefore, challenge you to this action,” the Traders said.

The Association said that the reason they advocate Gen Buhari’s strong hold on the current budgetary process was that it has of late become the conduit pipe for public servants to syphon budgetary allocations and the common wealth of citizens.

NANTS reminded Gen Buhari, saying, “Your promise to wipe out insurgency and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria has therefore provided us the succour and confidence with which we voted you into power. We hold you to your promises made during the electioneering campaigns and would be ready to monitor your progress.”

Guinness Nigeria MD elevated to President, Diageo Africa served as Managing Director for the Russia and Eastern Europe business and undertaken senior marketing roles across multiple European markets and Jamaica.

The Managing Directors of Diageo’s 4 African markets (Nigeria, South Africa, East Africa and African Regional Markets – rest of Africa), as well the Regional Finance Director, Africa, will report to John.

Mr. O’Keeffe will continue as a Non-Executive Director of Guinness Nigeria and as the Diageo executive responsible for Diageo’s African business, will continue to stay involved with the Nigerian business.

Guinness Nigeria has also announced the appointment of Mr. Soren Lauridsen as Mr. O’Keeffe’s successor.

Mikano plans 55 per cent local content in products – MD Continued from page 19 you see everywhere Mikano Police canopies. The Police is not paying for that. We are putting that in place so that the Police can get protected. We manufacture the canopies from the scratch in our factory, designed and distributed at our own expense. It gives the Police protection. It also creates awareness. We have messages on the canopies about observing speed limits, the need for seat belts and so on and for the Police on how to behave on the road.

We also involved in manufacturing activities and IT training of young people in the mechanical and electrical in our premises.

What is your assessment of the quality of manpower in Nigeria?

We have to build skilled people in Nigeria. People need training and we have to provide continuous training for the people we employ. The schools are doing well in providing basic education for mechanical engineers, electrical engineers. The training from Nigerian schools is certainly much better than most of other African countries. Of course, it can be improved, but certainly it is better than what you get in most African countries. In Europe, you

think it is better? No. In Europe, people getting out of universities, or technical colleges also come out with only basic knowledge.

After the basic, you need to build something on it. That is what companies that hire them must do. The skills a mechanical engineer producing machines is different from the skills he will need in a mechanical company producing cars, or maintenance of agricultural or household equipment. It is the duty of each company to propose a new training programme specific to its areas of operations. In any case, in any country in the world, you are a fresh graduate because you don’t have any experience and you just graduated from the university.

This is your first stepping stone.

What has doing business in Nigeria been to you?

Nigeria is a good place to do business in. Believe me, many of the countries that left Nigeria for neighbouring countries are already regretting it. They will soon start returning to Nigeria.

They market here is huge, the skilled labour is in abundance?

With a hitch-free transition of power from one party to another, the Nigerian economy will soon receive a bounce.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Today in History Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola

s

Cartoons from our Archives

1914 Militia slaughters strikers at Ludlow, Colorado Ending a bitter coal-miners’ strike, Colorado militiamen attacked a tent colony of strikers, killing dozens of men, women, and children.

The conflict had begun the previous September.

About 11,000 miners in southern Colorado went on strike against the powerful Colorado Fuel & Iron Corporation (CF&I) to protest low pay, dangerous working conditions, and the company’s autocratic dominance over the workers’ lives. The CF&I, which was owned by the Rockefeller family and Standard Oil, responded to the strike by immediately evicting the miners and their families from company-owned shacks.

With help from the United Mine Workers, the miners moved with their families to canvas tent colonies scattered around the nearby hills and continued to strike.

When the evictions failed to

end the strike, the Rockefeller interests hired private detectives that attacked the tent colonies with rifles and Gatling guns. The miners fought back, and several were killed. When the tenacity of the strikers became apparent, the Rockefellers approached the governor of Colorado, who authorized the use of the National Guard. The Rockefellers agreed to pay their wages.

At first, the strikers believed that the government had sent the National Guard to protect them.

They soon discovered, though, that the militia was cunder orders to break the strike. On this day in 1914, two companies of guardsmen attacked the largest tent colony of strikers near the town of Ludlow, home to about 1,000 men, women, and children.

The attack began in the morning with a barrage of bullets fired into the tents. The miners shot back with pistols and rifles.

Daily Times April 20, 1961

sound process for 1978 Korean Air Lines jet forced 1926 New down over Soviet Union films announced On this day in 1926, Western Electric, the manufacturing arm of the American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T), and the Warner Brothers film studio officially introduce Vita phone, a new process that will enable the addition of sound to film.

By the mid-1920s, several competing systems had been developed to add sound to motion pictures. In 1923, inventor Lee de Forest demonstrated Phonofilm, in which music was recorded on a narrow strip at the edge of the film. When De Forest tried to sell Phonofilm to the major Hollywood movie studios, however, they rejected it, dismissing “talking pictures” as a novelty that was not worth the cost. De Forest’s sound-on-film system evolved into the Movie tone sound process, introduced in 1927.

The major studios also turned away Western Electric, makers of Vita phone, in 1925. The Vita phone system logged sound on a record linked electronically to the projector, keeping sound synchronized with image. Because the precise alignment of projector and phonograph had to be set by

hand, the system was prone to human error; fitting a movie theatre for a Vita phone sound system was also extremely costly. Warner Brothers, then a minor studio, decided to act aggressively. It sank $3 million into the promotion of Vita phone, which the studio announced it would use to provide synchronized musical accompaniment for all its films.

Vita phone debuted in August 1926 with the costume drama Don Juan, starring John Barrymore and featuring an orchestral score by the New York Philharmonic.

The following year, Warner Brothers released its second Vita phone feature, The Jazz Singer, which included classical and popular music, as well as about 350 words of dialogue. The success of these two films led directly to the motionpicture industry’s conversion to sound, as the major studios quickly lobbied to gain the rights to use Vita phone as well. Warner Brothers agreed to give up its exclusive rights to the system in exchange for a share of the royalties, and by the spring of 1928 virtually every Hollywood studio had jumped on the sound bandwagon.

Soviet aircraft forced a Korean Air Lines passenger jet to land in the Soviet Union after the jet veers into Russian airspace. Two people were killed and several others injured when the jet made a rough landing on a frozen lake about 300 miles south of Murmansk.

The jet was on a flight from Paris to Seoul when the incident occurred. Soviet officials claimed that the plane, which usually flew over the northern Polar Regions to reach Seoul, suddenly veered sharply to the east and penetrated Russian airspace. Soviet jets intercepted the passenger plane and ordered it to land. Instead of going to the airfield indicated by the Soviet jets, however, the KAL flight made a very rough landing on a frozen lake south of Murmansk. Two passengers were killed and several others were injured during the landing. A short time later, the Soviet Union allowed a civilian American aircraft to retrieve the survivors.

U.S. officials were confused

about what had gone wrong with the KAL flight, and Soviet officials were not extraordinarily helpful in clearing up matters. South Korea claimed that “navigational errors” were to blame for the plane flying so far off course. Aviation experts, however, doubted that “errors” of that magnitude would occur in such a sophisticated aircraft or that navigation problems could account for the plane’s wildly inaccurate flight pattern. All that could be said for certain was that the episode once again demonstrated the Soviet Union’s strict adherence to the protection of its airspace.

Since the end of World War II a number of civilian and military aircraft had been driven away, forced to land, or shot down by the Soviet air force.

The Russian policy would have even more tragic consequences on September 1, 1983, when Soviet jets shot down KAL Flight 007 after it veered 300 miles off course and flew over the Soviet Union--nearly 270 people died in that crash.

1980 Castro announces Mariel Boatlift On April 20, 1980, the Castro regime announced that all Cubans wishing to emigrate to the U.S. are free to board boats at the port of Mariel west of Havana, launching the Mariel Boatlift.

The first of 125,000 Cuban refugees from Mariel reached Florida the next day.

The boatlift was precipitated by housing and job shortages caused by the ailing Cuban economy, leading to simmering internal tensions on the island.

On April 1, Hector Sanyustiz and four others drove a bus through a fence at the Peruvian embassy and were granted political asylum. Cuban guards on the street opened fire. One guard was killed in the crossfire.

The Cuban government demanded the five be returned for trial in the dead guard’s death.

But when the Peruvian government refused, Castro withdrew his guards from the embassy on Good Friday, April 4.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

L-R: Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Obinnia Abajue; Deputy Group Managing Director, Coscharis Group, Mr. Okey Nwuke and Executive Director, Personal Banking, Access Bank, Mr. Victor Etuokwu, at the partnership signing ceremony for Coscharis Motors auto finance scheme in Lagos… at the weekend

Niger APC challenges Aliyu on borrowed money Pita Chikwem Minna

ÏÏÏ The Niger State chap-

ter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, challenged Governor Babangida Aliyu to tell the public what he had done with the billions of naira he collected from the capital market as bond.

The party's Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, in a press statement made available to newsmen, in Minna, said Aliyu should explain the whereabouts of funds released for the tenkilometre road that had remained uncompleted.

The APC said that Aliyu had taken Niger State backward than it had ever been since its creation.

"We are, however, worried that the Ward development

Abia monarch tasks NTDB on Nigeria’s devt Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏThe

over-dependence of Nigeria on crude oil as a foreign exchange earner can be minimized if the Nigerian Tourism and Development Board (NTDC) could develop tourism potentials that abound in the country.

The traditional ruler and Ohazurumee of Dim Na Opara of Ogbodi Ukwu, in Umuahia South Local

project that the government always takes credit for, has been a fraud. We are well armed with empirical facts that since 2010 to date despite the deduction from Local Government and State Joint Account the money were never released to the wards."

In 2010, the money was not released despite the deduction from July to December, leaving a huge sum of N1, 6 44,000,000 deducted but unaccounted for, he said, adding, in 2011, payment to wards were disbursed throughout the financial year leaving a huge sum of N3, 288,000,000 deducted and not released.

The statement also read: “We have, on a good account, that, in 2012, releases were made from the month of January to March Government Area of Abia State, His Royal Highness, Eze Wisdom Ekueku, stated this in his palace on the occasion of the community’s 2015 Ekpe Traditional Festival, stating that such festivals, as the Ekpe culture, can be made to wear international face such that the country can earn foreign revenue through them.

“NTDB should do more and package such festivals for outsiders to come and cherish,” he said, stating that Nigerians and other people spend much to go to London and other European countries to watch their carnivals when Nigerians carnivals like the Ekpe festival are better.

leaving a balance of N 2, 466,000,000 and the same was experienced in 2013; releases were made from January to March leaving a balance of N2,466,000,000 deducted that was neither released nor accounted for.

"In 2014, releases were made for January and February leaving a balance of N2, 740, 000,000. In 2015, releases were made from January to March leaving some unpaid amount for the current year that was deducted and not released to the sum of N822, 000,000.

In a counter statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Aliyu, Mr. Isreal Ebije, described the allegation of financial recklessness against the administration of Aliyu by the APC over funds, set aside for Ward Development Projects

(WDP) as shallow and irresponsible.

He said the WDP funds are intact, well utilised and records of disbursements and grassroots-based projects were available for public scrutiny.

While expressing satisfaction over Niger APC conceding that bond projects were people-based, Ebijie stated that the party had gone beyond the battle of political primacy to personal attack on Aliyu.

He expressed dismay at the way and manner the APC was going about its victory at the polls. He said they had refused to be magnanimous, even in victory.

He said they must realise that they won on account of bandwagon votes against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and nothing more.

23 News

Cleric advises Buhari on pre-election promises 'Tosin Ajuwon Akure

ÏÏÏ

Governor Archbishop of Ondo Ecclesiastical Province of the Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend George Lasebikan, has advised the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to abide by promises made to people of the country and ensure his administration entrench good governance.

Lasebikan gave the advice on Sunday, at the third session of the 21st Synod of the Diocese of Ondo, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion), held at St Andrews Anglican Church Idimoge, Ondo State.

Party chieftain urges ethnic unity in Plateau Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏ

An All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain in Plateau State, Mr. Jock Alamba, who is also the National Deputy Welfare Secretary of the party, has called on the various ethnic groups in the state to unite and to do away with the quarrels, communal clashes and the disunity that had plagued the state in recent years.

Alamba stated this while

He said abiding by such promises would justify the confidence reposed in him by the people as a disciplined and incorruptible president.

The religious leader, who lamented the inability of past leadership in the country to address the problems confronting the nation, said Nigerians expected peopleoriented policies from government of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He explained that the decision by the people to have a change of leadership at the top, may have been influenced by their wish to produce a leader, who they believed would effect a change. speaking to journalists in Jos, the state capital, adding, "Let us no longer divide ourselves. This is the time for unity among all Plateau ethnic groups.”

The Berom elder who was speaking on the heels of the recent APC victory at the Plateau State guber election, called on his kinsmen to join hands with the incoming administration of Governor-elect, Mr. Simon Lalong, who is from Shendam, Plateau southern zone, so as not to miss out in the scheme of things.

Lalong

Police arrest ex-legislator for thuggery Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏ

The horror movies of the State Assembly elections that took place in Anambra State have continued to play back in the area, following the arrest of the former member representing Nnewi South Constituency, Mr. Ikenna Amaechi, for thuggery.

One of Amaechi’s victim’s, Mr. Emeka Moneme, who is also the Chairman of Vintage newspaper, in Nnewi, was battered by suspected thugs when he

attempted to avert a mob action against a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

When contacted, the police public relations officer, Mr. Uche Eze, confirmed the arrest but said that the ex-law-maker had been granted bail at the moment.

According to a petition signed by counsel to Moneme, Mr. Godwin Eneghalu, Moneme alleged that: “Facts available to us in Chamber is that our client, who was on election monitoring, as a

journalist at Nnewi South Local Government Area Collation Centre, was attacked by Ikenna Amaechi, Emmanuel Chigozie and Anaemene (Biggy), Kindsley Umezinwa, Uba Aluminium and Chidi Orjika and inflicted injuries on our client thereby causing grievous wound on his face, mouth etc. And even attempted to kill him, as instructed by Ikenna.

“Amechi, who first gave our Client a slap, followed it up with several blows on our Client’s face and body, while ordering his cohorts

to kill him.

We were further informed by our client and we verily believe him that Ikenna Amaechi and his boys attempted to kill our client by giving him several blows with fist and iron rods for daring to intervene when they descended on an INEC Returning Officer.

“We also learnt from our client that he was able to identify one of the hoodlums when he was arrested by policemen for attempted arson and intent to burn down the Nnewi South L.G.A. Secretariat, Ukpor.”

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè ƍƏƈƋ ƾƠè ƾƠơǀ

Eight Osun APC lawmakers absent at presentation of Certificates of Return Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏ Eight All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, were at the weekend absent at the presentation of certificates of return by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Senators and Federal House of Rep-

Adeleke

resentatives members-elect in Osun state.

The elected lawmakers, who were noticeably absent at the event include Senator Olusola Adeyeye, representing Osun Central; Senator Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East and Senator Isiaka Adeleke, representing Osun West.

Others are Mr. Ajibola Famurewa; Mr Olufemi Fakeye; Mr. Adeyinka Ajayi; Mrs. Hulayat Omidiran; and Mr. Akintayo Amere.

All efforts to reach the absentee senators proved abortive but the APC spokesperson in the state, Kunle Oyatomi, said that it was not a party decision.

While presenting the certificates to the lawmakers, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in

Osun State, Dr, Adekunle Ogunmola, stated that the presentation was to satisfy the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

He added that the event was to redefine the electoral landscape and conduct of elections to ensure transparency, fairness, freedom of choice by the electorate in a peaceful environment.

He then presented certificates of return to Prof.

Mojeed Alabi (APC), Mr. Albert Adeogun (PDP), Mr. Yusuf Lasun (APC) and Mr Busayo Oke (PDP), who all attended the programme.

All the absentees were asked to collect their certificates at the commission's headquarters in Abuja.

Some of the lawmakers after collecting their certificates commended INEC for conducting a credible

poll.

One of them, Busayo Oluwole Oke, added that Nigerians would be vigilant to see if APC would fulfill its electoral promises.

Oke, who won the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party said, “Being in opposition does not mean being an enemy of the state or being an enemy of the government.

“Our duty is to form a shadow government in line with International democratic practices and to hold the majority party to its electoral promises and to ensure that they discharge their duties constitutionally so that at the end of the day every Nigerian will benefit from the governance."

Ɔ ƐƏ Ƌ Ɗ ƠƇ Mƈ ƆƏƈ 1 ƒƆƏ Əè LƏê 1 ƗƓƈ &ƌƆƇƈƆƋƆ æƏƈ Ɛç ƊƆ Ɨ ƓƈƐ Ɛ Ɔ Ƈ ƏƌƆƏ ƈƏƌ è nd ƏƗ Ƈ 1 ƒƆƏ Ə Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ 0ƆƗƆƏ Ƌ `Ɔ ƆƏƒƆ dƕ ƐƆƌè LƏê Ɔ ƆƏ ƊƆ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ Ə Ɗƈ 9 ƐƈƐƑƐƆè ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ dƍƏƈ LƆƆƐƈ ƾƠơǀ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ z ƏƋƗ Ɗ Ɨ 9L0 ƈ z ƈ Ɛ # ê

ƈ ƍ Ɛ Ɗ ƌ Ɛ ƆƏ Ɛ ƆƈƏ ƅ ƈƋƗƏƆ Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏ The Catholic Bishop

of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has charged the mothers to spend more time with their children in order to ensure proper upbringing as well as help in reducing vices in the soci-

Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏThe

State Executive Committee and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamawa State chapter, has congratulated the Governor-elect of the state, Senator Umaru Bindow Jibrilla.

Jibrilla won the election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The congratulatory letter, which was given at the party secretariat during the party's stakeholders maiden meeting after the April polls, has the signature of the state party chairman, Chief Joel Ma-

Kehinde Akinpelu

ÏÏÏChairman,

House of Representatives Committee on Justice, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has reaffirmed that the eighth legislature will raise the standard and level of proceedings at the

Rivers APC explains boycott of rescheduled Assembly polls Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏFollowing the experience exhibited by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] during the March 28 Presidential and April 11 2015 Governorship elections in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that it has lost confidence in the ability of INEC to conduct a credible, free and fair elections.

In a statement signed by lawmakers representing Emohua State Constituency, Hon. Chidi Lioyd; Etche, Victor Amadi; Etche 1; Hon. Golden Chioma, Etche 2; Hon. Ibiso Nwuche, Ahoada East 2; Eric Apia, Ahoada East 1 and made available to Daily Times, the party said it opposed the Saturday, 18 April, 2015 elections, due to INEC officials compromise with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and therefore lacked the

integrity to conduct credible elections.

The APC House of Assembly candidates stated that INEC allegedly failed to provide security for the voters including people living around the polling units, as the security agencies refused to do their duty by protecting the people while aiding and abetting electoral violence and malpractices. According to them, many people, especially supporters and sympathisers have alleg-

edly been killed, injured or harassed by the PDP and her agents without any response from the security personnel.

The statement further added that the presence and involvement of heavily armed militants and other criminally minded, sponsored by certain politicians, will render the exercise useless as electoral materials will be allegedly snatched and high powered intimidation of the electorate and mindless

Ɨ ƌ Ɠ ^#^ ƅ ƅƆƗƆ ƗƆƇƆ Ɛè ƅ Ə ƐƑƋ ƐƆ 1 ƒéƆƋƆƅƐ daki, who described the last gubernatorial election as a rancour free despite much effort to win the election.

“We, as a party, came into the contest with every optimism that we shall be granted the opportunity to govern the state, however, God in His wisdom decided to thrust it on you.

EƓ Ə Ƌ Ɠƌ ƊƆƏ ƍƏ ƌƈ Ɔ Ɛ Ə ƈ Ɔ ƋƆƒƆƋ Ƈ ƍƏ ƅƆƆƗƈ Ilorin

Faith Faithful

ety.

Bishop Ezeokafor, who gave the charge during a holy mass to mark this year's mothering Sunday at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka, the Anambra State capital, stated that the role of mothers in family building cannot be over-emphasised, as they performed the bulk of domestic chores including the task of raising the children.

He said men were too busy most times to attend to the children but mothers should play back-up roles for their husbands, by being around for the children.

rigging will only result, thereby denying voters their sovereign right to vote.

More so, the statement added, there were no national and international observers available to monitor the elections to ensure its credibility, have withdrawn from their roles and left the state in the wake of horrible violence, bestiality and disgraceful electoral malpractices recorded on March 28 and April 11, 2015.

Kwara State House of Assembly and serve as check and balance to the executive arm of government.

Dr. Ali Ahmad, who gave the assurance, when the Ilorin branch of the Nigeria Bar Association paid him a courtesy visit in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said the level of legislation would be raised without being antagonistic and confrontational.

According to him, it was time to serve the people and raise the bar, saying that high premium will be placed on the professional bodies to assist by taking part in governance and noted that politicians should not be left alone to run the affairs of politics.

Ahmad charged the NBA, to work towards providing good leadership in fashioning out programmes that would enable the government achieve developmental goals.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

25 News

Centre urges youths to emulate FG denies Jonathan’s leadership qualities spending N2trn ���

The Director General of Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Michael Fawole, has described President Goodluck Jonathan as an inspiration to future generations and urged Nigerian youths to adopt him as their role model in leadership and civil conduct.

Fawole stated this in Abuja at the weekend while fielding questions from newsmen on the 2015 presidential election.

He said that by willingly accepting the result of the presidential election and congratulating Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of

the All Progressives Congress (APC), even before the official announcement was made, Jonathan saved Nigeria from wanton destruction of lives property.

Fawole also congratulated the President-elect, Buhari, saying his victory was a reflection of the will Nigerians.

According to him, democracy is a tradition, nurtured over a period of time by a people which eventually become their way of life, adding that Jonathan had, since 2010, when he emerged as the leader of the country, contributed immensely to the evolution of democracy

and civil rule in Nigeria. “We recall that the President had conducted national elections that were adjudged free and fair, first in 2011 and later in some isolated states; and now the 2015 election, which has become a historic event in the country.

From the Presidential, through the National Assembly and later the state elections, Jonathan allowed and encouraged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be truly independent. “The Centre recalls the tension that enveloped our dear nation,

6

$ 3

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

2

following the build-up to the 2015 general election.

This is, in addition to the various permutations and predictions of large-scale crisis and even possible disintegration of Nigeria by some local and international political analysts. “It is, therefore, to the credit of President Jonathan that the predicted doomsday was averted and Nigeria remains a united and peaceful nation after the presidential election. This singular act of the President has helped to restore the confidence of Nigerians and engendered respect for the nation�, he said.

Abia urges Jega to supervise rescheduled polls Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

Abia State Government has advised the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) Prof.

Attahiru Jega, to, person+ , $ #$

ally, supervise the April 25

- $ (

$re-run election in the state.

% ! & # )$ '

Addressing newsmen in Umuahia, Commissioner . . ( ) *

for Information and Strat $

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egy, Dr. A.C.B. Agbazuere, % !

& urged Jega to, in the alter# %

native, send senior INEC /0

1 ( ) ) officials to supervise the election, if he would not be

able to come.

He said the state no lon

ger had confidence in the !!! " state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selena Oko and the Returning Officer, Prof. Benjamin Ozum# " ba. $ % However, Agbazuere & " "' (" ) * + $,- , . made some demands, stat/" " + /. " ing that the card readers 0 1 2, ) " 3

,0 4 must be used with PDP /" agents inspecting them before and after accreditation to ensure that they have not been programmed or manipulated.

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on election

Monday Agu Jnr

Ă?Ă?Ă?

The Presidency has described as mischievous, false and embarrassing a report on the front page of a national daily (not Daily Times) on Sunday that it spent N2 trillion on the just-concluded general elections.

The report had added that President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered party bigwigs, ministers and campaign coordinators who were supposed to have used the sum for mobilization and inducement of voters to refund part of the money given to them since most of them did not deliver on the tasks given to them.

Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati described the story as the handiwork of people who want to bring President Jonathan down at all cost, saying that the entire budget for the whole country in a year is just about N4 trillion. “The President has not set up any committee as alleged in that story. It is also not true that the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party used state funds, or spent N2 trillion during the campaigns. The innuendoes are wrong-headed; the motives behind the story are suspicious.

The story alleges, for

example, that the Presidency spent N2trillion on elections and embarked on a money-sharing spree to party members, support groups and state officials.

The authors of the story and their self-appointed megaphones further insinuate that public funds were deployed in this regard. Their allegation of a theft of public funds is extremely malicious.

How much is the budget of the Federal Government of Nigeria? The annual budget of the Federal Government is a little over N4 trillion. The story is practically suggesting that half of the federal budget was spent on elections. This kind of reckless insinuation is meant to incite the public and instigate national crisis.

With FAAC having to do everything possible every month to ensure disbursements and with the Federal Government heavily committed to the war against terror in the North East, where is the alleged N2 trillion from the Federal purse? President Jonathan and the People’s Democratic Party conducted the 2015 elections in strict accordance with the rule of law. The suggestion of any unlawful conduct cannot be sustained under any circumstances,�

Abati’s statement read in party.

Xenophobia: Hold FG responsible – COSEG

Ă?Ă?Ă?The

Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups, (COSEG), has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to address the lingering problem of unemployment in the country so as to stem the tide of migrant workers leaving the country.

According to its Chairman, Ifedayo Ogunlana, the call became necessary because of the recent xenophobic attacks on some African nationals living in South Africa.

Many people have, reportedly, been killed, as some South Africans accused immigrants from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and other African countries of snatching jobs and opportunities meant for indigenes.

According to Ogunlana, “COSEG is highly alarmed by the persisting ugly development, where we learnt some Yoruba were also affected. We symphatise with the victims of circumstances.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Our heritage

s

Book reveals woes of job seekers In Grudged Employment and the Struggles of a Nation, Wilson Onose writes about the everyday experience of job seekers, especially, the young and restless.

Quite a good number of books and periodicals have appeared in the last few years, but, Grudged Employment and the Struggles of a Nation, a new book by Wilson Onose, has some peculiarities. It is interesting, perhaps because, it deals with issues most writers are not ready to confront. It took the author long time to write, yet, the long wait might have paid off through the information in the book.

The book, published by Spectrum Books Limited, Ibadan, is a creative insight into how Nigerian job seekers and workers are subjected to inhumane treatment by their employers.

Onose is just one the few authors, with the courage to investigate the rot that job seekers pass through in the hands of employers, which, according to him, is one of the embarrassing moments for Nigerian youths.

The book opens the reader’s mind to salient issues about employment. Grudged employment is the situation when the income from a job is not commensurate with the energy expended on it.

Any job in which the income is not sufficient for an employee to make ends meet, is a grudged employment. An employment in which workers are subjected to abuse and inhumane treatment and in which workers’ welfare is not treated with utmost regard, is a grudged employment.

The author, aptly, addresses all these issues and looks at today’s work environment, frustrations, corruption and poor leadership.

‘These are the problems bedevilling our dear country, Nigeria”, Onoso writes.

The book has five parts with 14 chapters. Part One discusses the Nigerian labour experience and fiscal impropriety in the country, which has given room to all-round labour and societal ills, such as exploitation, abuse and enslavement of the working class by employers of labour. It highlights the non-availability of jobs for graduates, which prompt them to take up any job to survive. The situation is so appalling that thousands of job seekers apply for very limited and unspecified job openings. Recruitment centres in the country are always like refugee camps, where thousands of young men and women gather to wait for job placements.

Although, most of these jobs do not have good welfare packages, employers still believe that if the applicants reject the offers, others will gladly take them.

Part Two brings to light the abuses and inhumane treatment that employees in private establishments suffer on daily basis.

Entrepreneurs rightly hold the view that they work hard to amass their wealth. They, however, see anyone working under them as somebody who has come to take from their wealth, hence, the abuse and inhumane treatment. The book further discusses the determination of some private organisations not to pay the minimum wage prescribed by the government. This is because

many entrepreneurs believe that they are doing their employees a favour by employing them and paying their salaries, no matter how meagre such salaries are.

Our leaders are also advised to learn a lesson from the Arab Spring. The author urges government to eradicate corruption and joblessness, and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Part Three sensitises the government on ways of creating jobs for unemployed graduates in the country. The government can create jobs through agriculture, mineral exploitation and small and medium-scale enterprises.

It condemns government’s attitude of creating inequality in the society. A comparison of the national minimum wage and the allowance of an average NigerDelta ex-militant lend credence to this. It condemns government’s attitude of robbing Peter to pay Paul, by paying Niger-Delta exmilitants handsomely, while little or no plan was made for unemployed graduates, who toiled under the sun and rain before obtaining their certificates. However, the author commends the efforts of civil society groups and NGOs at getting rid of corruption in the country, though, corruption and mismanagement persist and remain the bane of the nation. He cautions Nigerians to stop indulging in things that can plunge the country into war and secession.

Part Four highlights causes of a begrudged employment.

Factors such as acute job scarcity, economic inequality and marginal opportunities have

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

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

The Virtuous Woman: Zaynab Alkali comes with young people’s tale This novella tells a story about young people in a manner meant for young readers. While it is a minor work in terms of its brevity and focus it is also a profoundly touching morality tale that raises pertinent issues about the perceptions and social values of youth in Northern Nigeria. Zaynab Alkali writes with a didactic commitment to delivering a message that makes her work sometimes almost tract-like in its form.

However her finely balanced use of English prose, and a descriptive sensibility that is almost poetic in its intensity, overcomes this tendency. Her tale is not merely believable but also enlightening.

In the opening sections of the work she presents the territorial setting with a flavour of recollection that brings the situation that she depicts alive with immediacy.

Her character sketches of individuals who are incidental to the central focus of the tale and her dramatic characterisations of the main personalities are exquisitely drawn.

This gives resonance to what might otherwise be regarded as a somewhat episodic narrative.

An impressive example of this quality informs the depiction of the relationship between the tragically lame heroine Nana Ai and her aged grandfather Baba Sani.

27 Our heritage

Emmanuel Eni steps up the art ladder at Yusuf Grilllo Gallery Germany-based Nigerian artist, Emmanuel Eni, continues his two-month long art show with Art Merchant II, writes AGOZINO AGOZINO. Tuesday, April 28, through May 5, will be for unique art exhibition in Lagos as maverick artist and social campaigner, Emmanuel Eni, opens the second leg of his two-month long international exhibition tagged Art Merchant II. The solo exhibition, which holds at Yusuf Grillo Gallery, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), will feature a lecture and display/command performance by the painter and his German wife within the period of its public showing April 28 through May 5.

It is Eni’s second outing and continuation of the exhibition which started last month at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.

The Edo State born poet, singer and multi-media artist, who is reknowned for his maverick art engagements, said he was using the show to showcase his recent works to the Lagos art community, while also exposing his sculptures, including his new light paintings, installations and mixed media paintings, developed at his studio in Berlin, Germany, for public appraisal in Nigeria.

Hear him: “In order to project and, actually, feature art in the GDP of free market economies, the exhibition will try to explore possible means to attract more activities in the art market, Nigeria in particular.’’

Eni and German Deputy Vice Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Walter Steinmeier

Eni in one of his performance

“Light-paintings selected for the exhibition are new paintings i created which shows the inner light projects of my paintings.

I created a dual light scope that gives the works double position and reflect the themes. Some of them are illuminated painting you can see in the dark.’’

Throwing more light into the background of the show, Eni, who is known for popularising stage art performances said “At a time in history, a trader becomes a merchant, creating a chain to wholesalers, retailers, as well as consumers.

Art Merchant II is the coming out from a shell, or on a more positive way, from the rigid. Art Merchant is letting the cat out of the bag to show art works that are not known before. It is bringing art to the people in a way that collector have not seen before.’’

Hosted in Yaba College of Technology, the event will also feature an art salon, in which participating artists and art critics as well as several others will

brainstorm on critical issues affecting visual arts practice in Nigeria. The salon, holding under the theme New way of the Nigerian Art Market will draw artists, crticts, scholars and art patrons to the venue. Eni disclosed that the interactive talk will provide new flexibility in support of total commitment to the growth of visual arts in the country. Founder of Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Art Foundation (OYASAF), Prince Yemisi Shyllon, will open the exhibition and discuss section, while the special guest will be the Chairman, Visual Arts Society of Nigeria (VASON), Chief Sammy Olagbaju, as well as the Italian Ambassador in Nigeria.

Black Man in European Kitchen and Death of the Curator, two of Eni’s stage performances will be staged at the exhibition.

The artist, who regretted that most of his colleagues have not deemed it fit to use their woks to ameliorate the plight of the underprivileged, said that Art Merchant II was initiated to fill that

gap.

Eni, who has performed extensively in Europe, US, Scandinavia, Canada and other countries, said the show was aimed at raising awareness on the challenges of new ways of African art market.

The maverick artist, who is also a published poet, said the outing would showcase him exhibiting about 30 specially selected paintings and sculptures.

According to Eni “Art Merchant II exhibition is a continuation of the exhibition that I started last month at the National Museum, Lagos. In Yaba, we want to build on what we have already done in Nigeria. This new show will be remarkable because it will offer platform for art stakeholders to brainstorm on contemporary issues,’’ he said.

According to the artist, some of the works that would go on display in the Art Merchant II exhibitions are uniquely modeled works that retain their originality their true evocation.

ÏÏÏ Ɠ Ɔ Ƈ Ɖ Ƅ ƆƆƊƆƏ Continued from page 26 been adduced as reasons why graduates accept all manners of undesired jobs. The effects of these are disenchantment and lack of productivity on the part of an employee. Another factor is the inability of employees in private establishments to float trade unions to look after their well-being and conditions of service, which provides the basis for employers to exploit their employees. Employees are advised to be diligent and committed to their work. The author also emphasises honesty and loyalty, as

no employer is ready to employ or recruit a dishonest and disloyal employee.

Part Five refers to education as one of the best options to provide the necessary platform for a gainful employment. Education will also enable the populace to build discerning minds that will effectively and collectively demand better governance. The author recommends re-education, updating of knowledge, training and retraining for workers. He explores ways of surviving in a country like Nigeria and suggests economic options like joining a cooperative society, a local

thrift savings system or taking up an insurance policy. He further discusses the essence of using our God-given talents as option to endless job search. Employers are also enjoined to show and treat their employees with kindness and to provide better conditions of service and welfare packages. Employers should stop capitalising on the poor economic situation in the country to exploit their employees.

There is no job opportunity for millions of youths in Nigeria and corruption is rife in our society.

Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources, but, very little

gets to the masses, while corrupt people display their ill-gotten wealth. Nigerian leaders should be able to convince people that government exists to serve the people rather than prey on them.

In summary, the book seeks to dissect and proffer practical and useful tips towards surmounting the multifaceted problems and challenges in our places of work and society.

The book is a must read for unemployed youths, undergraduates in universities, workers in both private and public sectors, government officials and lovers of good books.

28

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Features

s

Features Editor: Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr. E-mail: gbubemi.godscovenantsnr@dailytimes.com.ng

Ejiro needs N4 million for hip joint surgery

Ejiro

An indigene explaining their losses to the gully

The Gully Nightmares of Anambra State:

No solution in sight Our features desk visits the living nightmare of gully sites across the state of Anambra State and cautions successive governments on the need to make hay while the sun is still shinning. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR reports.

The topography of most South-Eastern parts of the country is typified by hills and valleys. Enugu, capital of Enugu State is known for its uphill and downhill terrains. The city’s dwellers are at home with the expression, ‘mgbago’ (running up) or ‘mgbada’ (going down).

Another familiar landmark of the South-Eastern region is the densely forested regions described by geologists as a kind of rolling, hilly terrain. Lending credence to the irony that when even a disaster occurs repeatedly without a solution, the people would become used to the condition, and so it can be said of gully sites created by the unending erosion problems of the states.

In the last decade, experts have warned that the lush, green lands and the densely forest villages

could soon become a bad arid land that would be unsuitable for cultivation and dangerous for human habitation, and the warning was confirmed as gullies spread like wild fire in over a dozen locations in Anambra State alone.

A Daily Times investigation revealed that every government that comes to power claims it inherited the erosion neglect burden from the previous administration. A source at the Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics of the Ministry of Environment at the Government House, Awka, Anambra State told Daily Times that so much money have been spent on erosion control because the sites were neglected at its inception stages by past administrations.

“Besides the huge amount required to control these gullies, funds expected from the Federal Government to address erosion problems are not forthcoming,” the source said. “The biggest break on record was the N800 million received from the federal purse between 2007 and 2008 but the state committed over N900 million on erosion controls in the

same period”.

An independent sedimentologist attached to the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Bauchi, Mr. Aniefiok Mufat Udoh who have been tracking the soil and sedimentary issues around the country told our correspondent that the interconnecting systems of gullies spread across the land surface is a major issue as governments have of the past and present have not tackled it effectively.

But there are other causes of

gully erosion. According to Mufat, “Causes of gully erosion can be social in nature, and these include deforestation, farming in unsuitable sloppy locations, road construction and poorly constructed drainage systems among others.

Pathways created by foot traffic down sloppy areas can have disastrous effects; what starts out as a simple pathway through the forests can set the stage for localized erosion by run-offs.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Effectively controlled gully in Oko, Orumba North LGA, Anambra State

EDDY UGOGHIREN and MUTIAT ALLI searched out this heart-rending story of a sprite and youthful 300 level student of economics and statistics, caught in the whirlwind of fate, at the University of Benin. Their report.

The young man was struggling from the first floor, bucket in hand, to the basement of Regina Idiado Villa, when our correspondent arrived Ekosodin, a community in the outskirt of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), in Benin City. Walking was visibly painful as he hopped with caution to fetch water.

Because of his condition, Ejiro is unable to join in the usual students early morning rush to take their bath; he has to wait patiently.

Seven months on, good friends around him take turns to cook for him since he has been confined to this strange condition.

The young man, 22 years old Ejiro Diachevbe, a 300 level student of Economics and Statistics at UNIBEN is suffering from what medics diagnosed as a vascular necrosis of the right hip joint.

Narrating his fate to Daily Times at his hostel, a perplexed Ejiro recalled that he felt a sharp pain in his hip over one year ago.

“I visited the health services department here in UNIBEN and was treated, but the pains CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

29 Features

Ejiro: ‘I pray people will come to my rescue continued from page 28 returned a few days later. When I reported back to the department, I was referred to the Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology of the UNIBEN Teaching Hospital.

“The consultant I met, one Dr. A.O Ogbemudia, suggested I do an x-ray and I proceeded to the Benin Radiological Services (BRS) Uselu, Benin city where the x-ray was conducted by the resident Consultant Radiologist and Sonologist, Dr A.I Akhamacuna.”

It was when the highly technical result was explained in simple terms that Ejiro knew that the hand of fate has gone out against him. The report read in part: ‘There is some deformity, with flattening of the Right capital femoral epiphysis associated with partial fragmentation. The Iliac, Pubic and Ischial bones are intact. Findings are in keeping with a vascular necrosis of the right femoral capital epiphysis.’

“When I took the X-ray report to the consultant at UBTH, he said I have a vascular necrosis, that it would require surgery to correct, and it cost four million naira. I went online and discovered that the disease has to do with compromise of blood flow to the hip joint and can be caused by abuse of drug and alcohol.”

Ejiro was surprised at the dis-

covery, because as a boy raised in a Christian home, he neither drinks alcohol nor smokes any substance.

“The only drug I take without doctor’s prescription is anti-malaria drugs which everyone takes.

I am a Christian and do not take alcohol, so wonder how I got this disease. I pray that God will come to my rescue.”

Struggling between tears, he lamented his fate: “For the past seven months, I have had to go for checkups at the Consultant Outpatient Clinic every Thursday. Whenever I go for check-up, it is either I am told to undergo one x-ray or the other.

I returned from the clinic few hours ago and spent N10,000 on drugs and N15,000 on x-ray and laboratory tests.

“This condition has drained my parent’s savings; the money people have contributed for the surgery is what I am currently using to manage the condition. Two weeks ago, the doctor told me that the longer I wait for the surgery, the worst the situation becomes and the more expensive it will be.”

May defer admission Currently, Ejiro is at the point of deferring his admission at the university. He disclosed that the condition has made him miss too many classes since the beginning

of the semester and would be unable to write the second semester examination scheduled to begin this week Friday. “I am about to defer the admission so I can source fund to undergo the surgery and return back to school.”

Why UNIBEN cannot help “Though it is customary for students referred from UBTH to receive credit facility card, but the university denied me the opportunity because they said cost of the surgery is beyond UNIBEN to finance.”

Ejiro has appealed to NGOs and other civil organisations, but nothing much has come out from it. According to him, the doctor had not told him whether the surgery would be done in Nigeria or abroad.

Effort to get the comment of the Consultant in charge of Ejiro’s case was unsuccessful as he was said to be attending a clinical meeting when our correspondents visited the teaching hospital.

Donations towards Ejiro’s surgery can be sent to: Bank: Zenith Bank Account No : 2008495932 Account Name : Ejiro Diachavbe Phone no: 081-0258-8742

The x-ray report of Ejiro

Anambra gullies: over 500 active gullies trouble indigenes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

“Also, wear and tear on the surface land can cause rainwater to accumulate in an area, and this can cause loss of vegetation cover, localized erosion and the formation of gullies; in a matter of weeks, may be a few months, there will appear a gully tens of metres or more wide, equally deep and hundreds of meters long where there was previously no such sign.”

A possible solution, the expert suggested, is to involve the communities in volatile areas: But the expert counseled that while the phenomenon can be prevented through a combination of engineering and changes in human behavior, a less capital intensive approach can best be addressed through periodic public enlightenment campaigns, especially campaigns that should actively involve villagers in grassroots areas, farmers, herdsmen and so on, and such campaign should preferably be carried out

at the approach of rainy seasons.”

The gully erosion site in Ekulumilli has continued to threaten lives and properties of Ekwulumili and Amichi people in Nnewi South LGA as well as OnitshaOkigwe road and people of IgboUkwu town. Even with evolving political dispensation in Anambra State, not much is being said about it since there is no strong voice from the areas affected in government.

The Ekwulumili erosion site is become equally deadly and needs immediate action from the state and federal government as well as the World Bank and other donor agencies.

Daily Times investigation also revealed federal presence in the past is only noticed in times of emergency, like when a road is cut in half. It would be recalled that the environmental problems that besieged the town of Ekwulobia in the past is still fresh in the memory of citizens of the area.

Some years ago, cracks in the soil

from erosion on the outskirts of the town appeared harmless, but seasonal rains further weakened the fissures, triggering a landslide that swallowed up over 400 homes and severed a major road, isolating several communities.

It would be recalled that over 1,000 major soil erosion sites scar the South-East states, with a least 700 of them in Anambra State alone. There are no fewer than 1000 gully erosion sites scattered around the state with over 500 very active, ravaging communities.

The Nanka-Agulu canyons, Udongwu, Igboukwu, Ekwulubia, Obosi, Alor, Umuoji, Ideani, Ukpor, Umuchu, Nnewi, and Utu, among others are still nightmares to the people of the state.

The biggest gully in the state, the Udongwu gully erosion site is recorded to measure about 1000ft deep, 3,000ft wide and about 40,000ft long. The gully stretches from the border of Nanka/Agulu,

“The biggest break on record was the N800 million received from the federal purse between 2007 and 2008 but the state committed over N900 million on erosion controls in the same period” - Ministry of Environment

touching on the Nanka/Awgbu border and ends at the Ubuhu/ Enugu village border.

Ranked amongst the largest gullies also is the Isiakpuenu/ Amudo gully erosion located in Ifite/Amako village.Available statistics also show that the worst hit council areas include Aguata and Orumba with about 78 gully erosion sites, Nnewi (60), Awka North and South (30), Onitcha

(22), Njikoka and Anaocha (50), Idemili (46) among some others.

Over two million people living in these disaster prone areas live in fear all year round and it is hoped that politicians of the affected states and the federal government will not let this sleeping dog continue to lie.

A stitch in time, saves nine.

Obiano

News 30

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

Stop inciting Ekiti people to violence, APC lawmakers tell Fayose GbengaSodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏThe 19 All Progressives Con-

gress (APC) lawmakers, in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, have reacted to the Sunday broadcast by Governor Ayodele Fayose urging Ekiti people to rise against the lawmakers, whom, he alleged, were planning to resume their legislative duties on Monday.

The Speaker of the House, Adewale Omirin, said the governor had in his broadcast demonstrated that he was never committed to the peace he preached barely 24 hours before his inciting broadcast. “How do you reconcile this inciting broadcast with a plea he made for peace not quite 24 hours

earlier, which Ekiti people and, indeed, Nigerians thought was a good move by the governor to thaw the frozen relationship between him and the lawmakers?

This is a confirmation of what I said in a Sunday Punch interview that the governor can’t be trusted in any peace move.”

Omirin expressed regrets over the failure of the governor to embrace the homily by the clergyman in his thanksgiving service where he was admonished to make peace with APC law-makers by paying their entitlements and seek genuine reconciliation to move the state forward.

“It is shocking that the governor, who refused to make any remark or commitment during the

church service, could go on air, few minutes after, incite workers, traders, Okada riders and artisans to defend him with the last drop of their blood.

“As if his inciting live broadcast was not enough, Ekiti people were shocked when a public service announcement started running intermittently on the state media urging Okada riders to look out for strange faces across the state and attack them, because they are thugs that are being imported by APC lawmakers. They are also to converge on the House of Assembly, as early as 6 a.m., on Monday, to prevent the lawmakers from performing their legal duties,” a statement from Omirin’s office added.

Stressing that they were not planning any invasion of the state with thugs, the lawmakers called the attention of Nigerians to the unlawful acts of the governor, in his desperate move to ensure that the law-makers are rendered ineffective in the discharge of their lawful duties.

“We have said, on many occasions, that the governor would be given a fair hearing. He has nothing to fear. He should continue to have faith in the Nigerian Constitution. He had just won a constitutional matter at the Supreme Court. We will apply the same law that the court used to give him victory. He is an Ekiti man. We don’t hope to punish him unjustly,” the statement added.

NATCA suspends planned strike ÏÏÏ The Nigeria Air Traffic Con-

L-R: Group Company Secretary/ General Counsel United Capital Plc (UCP), Leo Okafor; Director, UCP, Emmanuel Nnorom; Chairman UCP, Chika Mordi; Group CEO, UCP, Oluwatoyin Sanni; Non-Executive Director, UCP, Yoro Mohamed Dialo and Non-Executive Director, Adim Jibunoh at the United Capital Plc Annual General Meeting in Lagos ... on Thursday

Assets declaration: Saraki urges politicians to emulate Buhari Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

Former Governor of Kwara State, and member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has urged politicians to emulate the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, by declaring their assets.

He also wanted politicians to make transparency and accountability their watchwords.

Saraki, in a statement by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, said this would help restore the confidence of the citizenry in government.

Saraki, lamented that “corruption has been one of the greatest challenges we face as a country in

the last few years.”

Saraki, who had always declared his assets since 2003, assured Nigerians that he would continue to do so. Said he: “Nigerians want public officials to be committed to zero tolerance for corruption and show leadership by example by making sure they are not found wanting,” the statement added.

trollers Association (NATCA), on Sunday, called off its planned withdrawal of service scheduled for April 20.

This was contained in a statement signed by the association’s Deputy President and National Secretary, Mr Haruna Bassi and Mr Banji Olawode, respectively, in Lagos. The statement noted that President Goodluck Jonathan had approved the harmonised rating allowances for NATCA. ``We enjoin all our members to continue to render their services in ensuring a safe and secure airspace in Nigeria. ``We shall partner with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) on the future growth of the agency,’’ the statement said.

It would be recalled that NATCA, on April 16, embarked on a six-hour temporary withdrawal of service, to press their demand.

The association, however, issued a follow-up statement to embark on a total withdrawal of service beginning from 00.00hrs on April 20.

However, in a telephone interview with Olawode by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he noted that the Presidency granted approval for their demand on April 17. He said that the Presidency has ordered the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency(NAMA) to pay the harmonised rating allowances to the air traffic controllers.

Shun religious manipulation, el-Rufai urges Kaduna Sunday Isuwa

ÏÏÏKaduna

State Governorelect, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on Sunday, thanked the people of the state for voting for the All Progressives Congress (APC), as he appealed to them to shun all manipulators of religion and ethnicity.

He said that what the state needed was good governance and genuine development, and urged the people to focus on them.

A statement from El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, quoted him as saying that he was determined to work with all residents of the state to restore its glorious past.

El-Rufai said: “Our good people of Kaduna State, we are again grateful for the mandate you gave us on April 11, 2015. I am begging you, in the name of Almighty God, to live in peace and work together for a new Kaduna State.

“Let’s all strategise for a better state where peace, unity and development would abound by sowing positive seeds in the minds of our children, create a better state for them and coming generations by building for them a stronger Kaduna State,” he pleaded.

UNHCR donates agricultural inputs to IDPs in Benue GbengaSodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏ

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has donated agricultural inputs to 10,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) residing in Benue.

This was contained in a statement issued by Mr. Hanson Tamfu, the External Relations Officer, UNHCR Nigeria, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday, in Abuja.

The inputs, which included basic agricultural items, were to enable the IDPs to resume their farming activities which was dislocated as a result of several communal clashes.

It listed the inputs and other items donated as herbicide, highyielding maize and rice seeds, household items, mosquito nets, among others.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, April 20, 2015

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Urgency of reconciliation

Yinka Odumakin

ÎÎÎ If

there is any urgency of now in Nigeria given the divisive map of the 2015 election,it is that of reconciliation and integration. Thank goodness Pastor Tunde Bakare provided the country with a charter towards that at the 2014 National Conference which was adopted unanimously.

It is one of the compelling reasons that report should never be ignored.

I reproduce the charter below: “THE NIGERIAN CHARTER FOR NATIONAL RECONCILIATION AND INTEGRATION

By Pastor Babatunde Gbolahan Bakare PREAMBLE

Features

Article 1 We hereby firmly and solemnly resolve to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God. Article 2 We shall build a land of Freedom, Peace and Justice and a home of Equity and Fair Play, where no one is oppressed and no one is discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity, gender or religion.

Article 3 We shall be a law abiding nation where the Rule of Law prevails, where Right is Might and the Law Impartial and Supreme.

Article 4 We shall be a God fearing nation emphasizing the fear of God in our private and public endeavours.

Article 5 We shall freely express our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity with tolerance within the context of our corporate existence and alongside the pursuit of our national destiny.

Article 6 We shall respect, preserve, protect and defend the rights of every Nigerian irrespective of ethnic, gender or religious differences.

Article 7

We shall not discriminate against any Nigerian on the basis of indigeneship or place of origin.

Article 8 We shall not accept, tolerate, promote or support the subjection of the Nigerian people or any person resident in Nigeria to acts of terror or discrimination on account of their religious beliefs, ethnic identities or political allegiances or for any other reason whatsoever, nor shall we accept, tolerate, promote or support acts organized in pursuit of disunity or the disintegration of our beloved nation.

Article 9 We shall uphold family values and ensure that public policy is used as a tool to promote these values so that strong families will become the units of a strong nation.

Article 10 We shall work assiduously for the development of our people and nation with zero tolerance for corruption in all spheres of life both private and public.

Article 11 We shall be a caring and compassionate nation where children have free access to qualitative education and healthcare and where the welfare of the

old, the vulnerable and the physically challenged is guaranteed.

Article 12 We shall be a nation of equal opportunity where young men and women are provided with the socioeconomic environment to maximize their potentials, to experience the dignity of labour and the triumph of enterprise and innovation, thereby earning for themselves and their families a decent standard of living while contributing to building our economy to great and enviable heights.

Article 13 We have vested upon the Nigerian state, represented by government at all levels and in all the arms, the power to guarantee the security, development and welfare of the Nigerian people and to deploy the resources of the nation solely in the service of the people and we reserve the right to change government by peaceful and constitutional means.

Article 14 We shall be a truly federal state with such powers vested exclusively on the federal government as are necessary to firmly and prosperously knit together the federating units upon which residual powers

shall be vested.

Article 15 We understand and embrace our manifest destiny to harness our diversity in providing leadership for the African continent, in engaging the international community for the defense of our interests and in promoting inter-African solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding.

Article 16 In furtherance of these objectives and in pursuance of our national destiny, we shall be governed by the best, brightest and fittest from all walks of life and from every geopolitical zone elected into public office through the democratic principle of free, fair and credible elections in accordance with our Constitution and our Electoral Laws while the weak, old and vulnerable shall never be disadvantaged.

Article 17 In further pursuance of these objectives, appointments into political offices and the Civil Service at every level and in every arm shall be governed by the principles of justice, fairness and in the best interest of our nation.

Article 18 The consent to live to-

gether in unity and harmony and the principles and purpose of our national coexistence stated heretofore in this Charter shall be incorporated into our Constitution upon adoption by the Nigerian people through a referendum.

Article 19 With understanding and patriotic zeal and in all solemnity, we therefore pledge to ourselves as a people and to our country Nigeria, to serve in honour and with dignity within and outside her boundaries and henceforth conduct ourselves in such a manner as to bring no reproach and dishonour to our nation.

Article 20 For this purpose, the Nigerian government at all levels and in all arms, shall propagate this Charter and shall promote the principles stated herein.

And to this end, in utmost faith, we, the delegates to the National Conference 2014, to be recalled by subsequent generations as the Centenary Conference for National Reconciliation and Integration, on behalf of the Nigerian people, do hereby append our signatures to this document as the Basis of the Union of our Nation.

So Help Us God.”

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, April 20, 2015

Kelechi

Udegbe The upcoming act

L2

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Garlic: A wonder herb L5 P

Stand out in brocade Jacket L3

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday April 20, 2015

My level of creativity endeared me to producers - Kelechi Udegbe Isaac Oguntoye

Ojuju which Kpians

you have the opportunity?

Fast rising actor, Kelechi Udegbe is a well known face in the

-

-

How has it been as an actor?

Acting is fun especially when

You have acted in three Super Story series. What is the experience like?

What is your opinion about the growth of your industry?

Ghanaian actors invading Nollywood?

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What has acting done for you?

What was growing up like for you?

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Tell us that unique thing that makes every director or producer want to work with you?

-

-

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get that recognition?

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Have you produced any movie or television programme since you started out as an actor or are you just contented

acting?

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movies?

You must have faced some challenges while growing in the industry, what are some of those challenges and how were you able to overcome them?

-

Life&

T E A M

some time now, which actor do you wish to star alongside if

What are some of the movies you have featured in?

Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784

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Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378

Did you ever think of quitting at that time?

Where do you see yourself in

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What is your advice for upcoming actors who are yet to

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893

Photography Quadri Olowolagba q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08029745478

Graphics Austine Agbovi a.agbovi@dailytimes.com.ng 07060402397

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday April 20, 2015

L3 Men’s Trend

Stand out in a brocade jacket Nkarenyi Ukonu Brocade jackets are showing up everywhere unfortunately, not many men can pull off an extremely colourful jacket like a brocade jacket except you are extremely stylish. Worn by both sex in time past, it is considered ornate and formal. The rich feel of a brocade jacket is second to none especially if it is tailor made for you. While jackets are generally an extension of your personality, brocade jackets tie, a cocktail or even a concert. Do remember to keep everything else understated to avoid a clash of interest. Just let the jacket do all the talking. So if you want to turn heads and stand out in a crowd, the brocade jacket is your best bet

Julius Agwu

Lanre Ogunlesi

Musa Danjuma

Mai Atafo

The brooch approach Nkarenyi Ukonu More and more men now see the brooch as an indispensable accessory and are no longer also has a vast market. They are an excellent nal touch that will complete your look. As long as they are worn properly, brooch can help you increase your sense of fashion.

your brooch pin It must be worn in the button eye of a suit It should be worn on the left side when you wearing clothes with collars.

The vertical position of the brooch should be ond buttons.

Look for designs and shapes that complement Praiz

Efemena Adabamv

your clothes. Brooch is an accessory for a clothes, not the other way.

Living & Decor L4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday April 20, 2015

Keep your home, clutter free Nkarenyi Ukonu place where you relax, unwind, spend time alone, with loved ones and friends. If your house is cluttered, it can be unappealing and no one would want to spend time better time than now to get rid of all the things you do not need and get organized by making room for the important stuffs. This means clearing up the clutter and be pre-

pared to get rid of things you do not need. At the end of it, you will be left with a home that is free of unimportant items competing with space. Here are simple tips to follow to declutter your house and create and ideal living space.

Start with a room at a time Sort through items you no longer need or use. You can consider donating things you no longer need

charitable organizations. Clear out kitchen cabinets , sort through piles of magazines and paper works.

Create a storage space Hang clothes up in closets, get leave clothes on the chair in the bedroom or on the bed. It makes the room look unattractive. Get shoe racks or shoe drawers with compartments for your shoes instead of leaving your shoes all over

organisers to declutter dressers, bathroom and kitchen cabinets and desks. Group small items together.

Store seasonal items in storage bags. door racks are ideal for creating extra shelving. This helps to organise items in places like bathroom and kitchen.

Get decorative Add decorative shelves in rooms where you can display your favourite items.

You can buy storage seats They are seats for storing things especially for people who live in small apartments. Do well to get some.

Do some cleaning Clean out your refrigerator and cupboards before you go shopping.

Create a once – weekly cleaning day. Dust shelves, toss out unwanted items and put everything in its place that may have been tossed aside during your busy schedule in the week.

Storage area in living room

Bed with storage area Storage area in bathroom

Under-Kitchen-Sink Storage in kitchen pantry

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday April 20, 2015

Garlic:

L5

Nutrition

A wonder herb

Roast chicken with garlic sauce

Nkarenyi Ukonu

strengthens your immune

One of the most commonly used spices, garlic, known for its pungent smell and

Garlic is known for its anti-

sulphur bearing compound ued throughout the ages as a culinary spice, garlic is one

anti-fungal properties and has been used since a long time to treat wounds, typhus, cholera, intestinal Garlic has compounds that

has begun to sprout as this may be indications of decay and rosemary butter garlic bulb will keep fresh 4 tablespoons butter Garlic breath

chopped -

Garlic is a huge help with so eating too much can cause damage to the diGarlic is guaranteed to transform any meal into a bold, aromatic, and healthy Freshly sliced or mashed garlic generates hydrogen sulphide, which can promote blood circulation and When

consumed

well because it helps to lower the glucose in the Muscles can be toned by taking garlic which then can sustain an extra

to garlic and could experience skin rash, high tem-

Garlic helps to lower the -

Garlic is known for keep-

your immune system and

in the breadcrumbs, parsley -

stuff your bird, or cook sepa-

-

wrapped in foil for the last 30-

roast garlic, then peel away

ley Throughout time, superstition has credited garlic with

If you cannot tolerate raw garlic, you can add garlic to foods towards the end of the cooking process to retain the

to a warmed platter and rest in a warm place for 15 min-

4 heads garlic

regu-

properties of raw garlic can help ease the painful symptoms associated with

1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

and folklore claim garlic has -

tard 2 to 3 tablespoons duck fat, warmed (or pan juices from the chicken) 2/3 cup fresh white breadcrumbs

a large roasting tin, wrap the garlic bulbs for the sauce in foil and bake alongside the

so you can make the sauce

or placed at the window, the

garlic in a blender with the parsley, mustard, warm duck fat (or chicken pan juices) and breadcrumbs and blend

ing consistency and season

chicken with chopped parsthe roasting tin for the last six en after 1Âź hours by inserting a skewer into the thickest

powder, or paste form may Roast chicken with garlic sauce Ingredients (For the chicken) 1 3 1/2 pound free-range

20 minutes

should run clear; if not roast dium heat for two to three

1 hour, 30 minutes

Buzz Bytes L6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday April 20, 2015

Opeoluwani Akintayo

Basketmouth Uncensored goes to U.S Come June, ace Comedian, Basketmouth will be leading a pack of entertainers to the United States for his comedy concert, Basketmouth Uncensored. The annual show kick starts on June 18 in Houston, Texas, with Robert Powell III, Bils, Segun Pryme, Shola Iyiola and Canice on the bill to entertain guests. On June 27, the concert will move to New York where it will be brought to a close.

Dagrin resurrects in 5th memorial concert

late act would be remembered in a memorial concert that would take place on the 22nd of

to the long hour event Dagrin died at 6:00PM on Thursday, April 22, exactly eight days after he was involved event is Olamide, 9ice, Reminisce, CDQ, Seriki, Lord of Ajasa, YQ, Sossick, WondaBoy, ing them.

Basketmouth

Energy Nite for Top One Garden glass clinking on Friday April, 24, as all roads will lead to lage, Ibadan, Oyo State for Breweries Plc, formerly Nigeria Breweries Pls, IlesaOsun State. According to the show promoter, Mr. Babatunde Agboola Alubarika of TASCO Music Promotions, the night

Late Dagrin

Oshadipe Kehinde stages comeback concert

for the show include Small Doctor (AkewejeOganla), Oyinkanade Fabulous, Pizzy, Portah, KeanzoCamo,

-

Barely six months after the death of Taiwo Oshadipe, the second half of singing duo, Oshadipe Twins, Kehinde who recent-

others, while the Masters of Ceremony (MCs) are-TwenSmall

honour her late sister who passed on 3rd of October, last year, is set for a Comeback -

New single alert!

was full of thanks to her fans for their support during her moment of grief said, “This is to personally express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your condolences, love and support during the passage and burial of ipe. But for the support of people like you, it

was directed and produced by Young D. The lyrics of the song expresses nothing but the utmost beauty of love, intimacy and care.

at dealing with the demise of her sister Taiwo revealed, “I know like many people, you would have wondered if that would end the musical career of the Oshadipe Twins, well that should have been the option since it has always been the two of us. But one of for her, to keep the dreams we shared alive “You will agree with me that this is an onerous task and responsibility but I am fully committed to it. I already released a tribute Oshadipe Kehinde

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday April 20, 2015

L7 Buzz Bytes

Mutiat Alli

If tomorrow never comes for June premiere Kenyan Journalist, Joseph Mathenge at the 2014 edition of the awards

AGN introduces Actors Magazine The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), led

by Ibinabo Fiberesima, recently added another cap to its feather with the publicato; A voice for thespians. According to the

Yvonne Nelson Ghanaian actress and House of Gold star, Yvonne Nelson has disclosed that her much anticipated movie, If tomorrow never comes will premiere on June 5th, 2015 at the Accra and West Hills Mall, Gha-

Joseph Benjamin amongst others.

It would be recalled that Yvonne Nelson recently announced the who died from a cerebral malformation and whose story was the inspiration behind the movie.

ON Set Movie title: Spoilt Brat (Akebaje) Director: Kunle Ogundipe Producer: Mistura Asunramu-Alao Make-up: Cast:

bring to the notice of the general public,

Multichoice announces CNN journalist award

In commemoration of its 20th anniversary, CNN international CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards, 2015. The competition is tilted towards African nationals based on the content targeting an African audience. Tony Maddox, Executive Vice President and pride that we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards. Twenty years of encouraging excellence in journalism across the continent has made these the very best awards honouring the journalistic profession in Africa. prestige of the competition, and 2015 promises to deliver another

past 20 years, this competition has helped journalists throughout proud that our partnership with CNN has given African journalists a

interview of veteran actor, Ajibola Dabo, a feature write-up on what Nollywood expects from president elect, General Muhammad Buhari amongst others.

The competition is however opened to journalists in the following

Awards amongst others.

Movie title: Bishop Jerry Directed by: Cas Chidiebere Cast: Mary Igwe Location: Enugu

Location: Texas, Lagos, Nigeria.

Beverly Naya smoking on the set

Majid Micheal as a bishop

Mistura Asunramu and Bukky Fagbuyi

Mistura checks the picture frame alongside DOP

Some of the cast of the movie

Pregnant Beverly being assisted by Eve

Eve Esin

L8 Television

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday April 20, 2015

Showing on

Showing on

161 MZANSI MAGIC

194 E Channel

21:00

19:00

Mon, 20 Apr | 13

Mon, 20 Apr | 16VL

An action comedy starring Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction) as a down-and-out master chemist whose plans for one last huge drug deal are threatened by danger. Emily Mortimer, Robert Carlyle, Samuel L. Jackson. (2001) Ronny Yu

101 M-Net West

-

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:00 New Tricks 00:55 Come Dine With Me 01:45 Downton Abbey 02:30 Miranda 03:30 EastEnders 01:45 Vampire Academy 03:30 American Girl: Saige Paints The Sky 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 Modern Family 06:30 The Newsroom 07:30 The Fixer 08:30 Celebrity Masterchef South Africa 10:30 2 Broke Girls 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 Nashville 14:00 Arrow

16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 Mom 17:30 MasterChef Australia

04:00 EastEnders 05:00 Fool Britannia 00:35 Pootie Tang 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Aurora 07:00 Fearless Heart

10:20 Aurora 11:10 Fearless Heart

06:30 EastEnders

16:00 EastEnders

07:55 The Weakest Link

17:10 The Cube

08:45 The Chase

18:05 Who Wants To Be A Mil-

Videos 03:35 Exposed 04:00 Exposed 04:30 Exposed

10:25 The Cube

05:00 Ninja Warrior

11:15 New Tricks 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Aurora 15:20 Fearless Heart

Videos

05:25 Ninja Warrior

12:15 Top Gear

05:50 Video Zonkers

13:15 Come Dine With Me

06:15 Video Zonkers

15:10 The Weakest Link 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Aurora

155 AfricaMagic World

07:30 Most Shocking 08:20 What Went Down 08:50 Repo Games

20:30 Elementary 21:30 Carte Blanche 22:30 Mob City

22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Aurora

Videos 10:15 Video Zonkers 10:45 Video Zonkers

154 AfricaMagic Family

11:15 Most Shocking

06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Days Without Rain 08:30 Living With Trisha

10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Goal Diggerz 11:30 Star Gist

00:55 A Good Enough Reason 02:30 Coco Bill 02:45 Coco Bill 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Wager

13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas African 14:30 Glam Report 15:30 Coco Bill 15:45 Coco Bill 16:00 The African Child

13:15 What Went Down

00:30 Good Morning Africa 01:40 The Dzigbordi Show 02:30 Good Morning Africa 03:30 Good Morning Africa 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 Foot Prints 06:30 Foot Prints 07:00 Star Gist 07:30 Star Gist 08:00 Lies That Bind 08:30 Lies That Bind 10:00 So Wrong So Wright

10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Affections 11:30 Jara 12:00 Jara

13:45 Exposed 14:10 Repo Games 14:40 Repo Games Videos 16:10 1000 Ways To Die 16:40 Panic Button Canada

15:00 Deception 15:30 Foot Prints 16:00 Foot Prints 16:30 Lies That Bind 17:00 Lies That Bind 17:30 Star Gist 18:00 Star Gist 18:30 So Wrong So Wright

17:40 Video Zonkers 18:05 Video Zonkers 18:30 What Went Down

21:30 1000 Ways To Die

XT Exclusive IOC X3 President congratulates Buhari

wins third Masters of 2015

DJOKOVIC

X7 X4,5

US-based female marathoner eyes Okpekpe prize

X3

”

I learned to play football in the streets. Every day of school, everyone came and played football. The street is a good school, and you learn many things there - resiliency, how to play against older players, and how to put up with or dodge kicks.

–Sergio Aguero

“I knew Manuel Pellegrini from my time in Spain. I’d only heard good things about him, that he was someone who instilled the confidence in his players to go out and play good, attacking football.

I’m very happy at City, very happy since the day I came. I knew that the project was good, and in my head, there is nothing else but Manchester City, so how long I’m going to be at City is just never a question.

I like tricks; I like to dazzle. Dribbling and leaving your opponent on his backside is what life is for. If I achieve what I want to, then I’ll mark a distinct era in football. I’m the Che Guevara of modern soccer.

SERGIO AGUERO

Independiente

Independiente Atletico Madrid Manchester City

Argentina U-17 Argentina U-20 Argentina Olympic Argentina

Youth career 1997–2003: Senior career 2003–2006: 2006–2011: 2011–Present: National team 2004: 2005–2007: 2008: 2006–Present:

AGUERO

Poster!

SERGIO

Sergio Aguero Sergio Leonel Aguero Del Castillo June 2, 1988 (age 26) Buenos Aires, Argentina 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Striker Manchester City 16

Name: Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

“

SERGIO AGUERO QUOTES BY

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EXTRATIME

Monday, April 20, 2015

EXTRATIME

Monday, April 20, 2015

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Monday, April 20, 2015

S R E RODG

BLASTS MISFIRING LIVERPOOL

X8

X2

Monday, April 20, 2015

EXTRATIME

MILO BASKETBALL:

BOOST TO SPORT DEVELOPMENT N

urturing from the ‘cradle’ is a fitting description for the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship which has been a boost to the development of the slamand-dunk game in Nigeria for the past 17 years. Unlike the game of football which is dominated by the boys at the secondary schools level, Nestle Milo carefully chose the game of basketball to ensure both boys and girls in schools get the same experience in the game and more importantly get the right foundation for its development.

The President FIBA Africa Zone 3, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), did confirm to HT that Nigeria is already reaping the dividends of the aforementioned basketball championship in schools. He revealed that a closer look

at the line-up in our national teams, both men and women, stakeholders of basketball in the country will observe that the products are from the championship.

Ahmedu, recalled that what started 17 years ago as a mere basketball clinic has metamorphosed into a full-fledged championship which has now spread like wild fire engulfing secondary schools across the country; a development that is worthy of emulation.

Aside giving a boost to the development of basketball with this initiative, the Milo Basketball itself is a lesson to other multi-national companies who are doing business and declaring huge profits in Nigeria, but refused to honour their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by contributing to

development of sports.

As a kicker, the 2014 edition of the Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championships featured about 8,000 secondary schools from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The thrilling final matches in the boys and girls categories saw what experts tagged, ‘a change of guards’.

The dominance of some states like Bayelsa, Ogun and Edo got dismantled by Benue State which reigned supreme in both boys and girls categories.

Government Secondary School, Gboko got the top spot in the girls’ category, while Jesus College, Otukpo led the boys.

Also, aside the sole aim of contesting for the top spot in the tourney and developing the sport from the grassroots, the event tries to communicate to

the students, the great values of sport as a teacher through Determination, Discipline, Honesty and Confidence.

Nestle Milo Category Manager, Beverages, Mr. Femi Akintola, summed up the enormous gains of the basketball tourney with these words: “Sports is a great teacher and children’s participation in sports helps set the foundation for a solid future.

They learn determination to succeed, discipline to persevere and many more life values by participating in sport. We will continue to provide them this platform.”

It is worthy at this point to commend the synergy between this company and its partners like the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF) which ensures the participation of schools and

students; and the National Collegiate Sports Foundation which is the body responsible for the championship proper.

They draw, enforce the rules and regulations and appoint referees among other responsibilities.

From the foregoing, as basketball fans across the globe look forward to a hitchfree championships in the 2015 edition, HT wishes to task other companies to key into the project of sports development in Africa’s most populous black nation, Nigeria.

By so doing many of our youths will become gainfully employed even before graduating from universities and becoming useful citizens of the country.

The issue of youths going into criminal activities will be minimised as records of the 2015 Nestle Milo

Championship alone has shown that over 10,000 secondary schools across the country registered for the competition. We can imagine the number of youths that have been kept busy with just a single tourney beginning from the state preliminaries which started on March 2-8, to the state finals which were concluded on March 14.

Still not over, the stage is now set for the conference playoffs which will run back-toback from April 22 to May 20 and for sure future Olympians are expected to be discovered.

As we look forward to the National Finals in Lagos between June 1-6, government must continue to find ways of encouraging companies that support sports development in the country by giving them tax rebate!

Monday, April 20, 2015

EXTRATIME

FEDERATION WATCH

X3

WITH OSARETIN EMUZE

Easter Open Athletics Championships holds in Lagos

I

n continuation of its efforts to promote sports at grassroots level, Lagos State will host the maiden Easter Open Athletics Championship scheduled for April 2425 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Already, 42 schools and 20 clubs within and outside Lagos have confirmed their participation in the two-day competition to be contested for in junior and senior categories.

According to the organizers, Lagos State Athletics Association, the championship also serves as qualifier for the forthcoming World Athletics Championship holding later this year.

The junior category is open to all secondary schools in Lagos and they are expected to jostle for honours in 4x100metre, 4x200m, 100m, 200m,

400m, 800m as well as Swedish relays in 100m, 200m, 300m and 400metres. The top three athletes in each event will get N50, 000, N30, 000 and N20, 000 respectively.

The senior division is open to states, clubs, tertiary institutions, military, para-military organizations and foreign countries.

The events in the senior category are 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m, sprint events like 100m, 200m, 400m and 800metres. Also events like 1200m, and 1600 m will also be jostled for, while corporate relay of 4X100metres will also be competed for by members of corporate bodies.

The top three athletes in the senior cadre will receive N120, 000, N80, 000 and N50, 000 respectively.

IOC President congratulates Buhari

P

resident of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has congratulated President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) on his victory at the polls and also extended an invitation to him to visit the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In a congratulatory message sent to Buhari and copied to the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr Habu Gumel, the IOC President said that Gen. Buhari’s election demonstrates the great confidence the people of Nigeria have in him and wished him all the very best and a great success.

Buhari who is also the Grand Patron of the NOC was invited to the IOC headquarters by President Bach.

“During such a visit, we could look for ways to further strengthen the already excellent relations between Nigeria and the IOC. “You may also consider visiting The Olympic Museum, in which the great contribution of your country to the Olympic Movement is reflected,” Bach wrote in the letter he personally signed.

Aderonke Olumudi looking set to partake at the third edition of the annual Okpekpe 10km Road Race

Buhari

NAFED suspends Secretary General

T

he Board of the Nigeria Archery Federation (NAFED) has in an emergency board meeting held at the boardroom of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) at the National Stadium, Lagos, slammed an indefinite suspension on its Secretary General, Mr. Olugbenga Olatunji, for gross misconduct and anti-federation activities.

According to the Media Director of the Archery Federation, Mr. Toyin Ibitoye, the decision to suspend Olatunji, a staff of the Ogun State Sports Council, was taken by eleven board members of the federation in the presence of an NOC representative.

Olatunji will on April 29 face a fiveman panel to answer questions on his anti-federation activities.

The suspended Secretary General was accused of writing unauthorised letters to the NOC, claiming that the president of the federation Dr. Felix Okugbe and other key board members have been removed from office.

Olatunji further wrote in his letter to the NOC that, a new Archery Federation had been formed and they had concluded plans to commence full activities.

The Secretary General of the NOC, Hon. Tunde Popoola, promptly rejected Olatunji’s letter saying it lacked due process and was against the International Olympic Committee’s charter of Fair Play.

Popoola confirmed in his letter to Olatunji that, Okugbe is recognised by the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Sports and the World Archery Federation as president of the Nigeria Archery Federation and this has not changed.

The board of the Nigeria Archery Federation also in the meeting passed a vote of confidence on the president, Okugbe, for his commitment towards ensuring the development of Archery in Nigeria.

The Media Director also revealed that, the Archery Federation has fixed May 22, 2015 for the Investiture of the federation’s patrons in Lagos.

Ibitoye added that, plans have been concluded by the board of the Nigeria Archery Federation to attend this year’s World Archery Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, in July and to also ensure Nigeria participate in the World Archery Championship, same month in Denmark.

US-BASED FEMALE MARATHONER EYES OKPEKPE

PRIZE

A

US-based Nigerian long distance runner, Aderonke Olumudi, on Sunday confirmed her readiness to partake at the third edition of the annual Okpekpe 10km Road Race.

The Kogi-born athlete who has been in good form since moving to the United States of America, has vowed to give the East Africans who were winners of the last two editions a good run for the prize money. She recently won the 10km Women’s category of the third GE Irving Marathon race.

Olumudi, had earlier won women’s silver and bronze medals at the March 14 fifth Longview Marathon and the March 21 thirteenth Bearathon Marathon races both in US respectively.

“I am ready to participate at the Okpekpe 10km Road Race,” she enthused. “I was at the first edition of the competition, and I am ready to be the first Nigerian to win the race.”

The rave of the moment in the long distance race said her target for now will be to perform well at the Lake

Minneola Half Marathon billed for April 25, and hopefully take the form to Nigeria for the Okpekpe race.

The Okpekpe 10km road race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, a leader in sports marketing, sponsorship, hospitality and Rights Acquisition business in Nigeria, in conjunction with the AFN and Edo State Government.

The previous editions of the race were dominated by East Africans with Nigerian athletes yet to finish top-five of the race.

“

”

I learned to play football in the streets. Every day of school, everyone came and played football. The street is a good school, and you learn many things there - resiliency, how to play against older players, and how to put up with or dodge kicks.

–Sergio Aguero

“I knew Manuel Pellegrini from my time in Spain. I’d only heard good things about him, that he was someone who instilled the confidence in his players to go out and play good, attacking football.

I’m very happy at City, very happy since the day I came. I knew that the project was good, and in my head, there is nothing else but Manchester City, so how long I’m going to be at City is just never a question.

I like tricks; I like to dazzle. Dribbling and leaving your opponent on his backside is what life is for. If I achieve what I want to, then I’ll mark a distinct era in football. I’m the Che Guevara of modern soccer.

SERGIO AGUERO

QUOTES BY

X4

EXTRATIME

Monday, April 20, 2015

Independiente

Independiente Atletico Madrid Manchester City

Argentina U-17 Argentina U-20 Argentina Olympic Argentina

Youth career 1997–2003:

Senior career 2003–2006: 2006–2011: 2011–Present:

National team 2004: 2005–2007: 2008: 2006–Present:

AGUERO

SERGIO

Sergio Aguero Sergio Leonel Aguero Del Castillo June 2, 1988 (age 26) Buenos Aires, Argentina 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Striker Manchester City 16

Name: Full name: Date of birth: Place of birth: Height: Playing position: Current team: Number:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monday, April 20, 2015

EXTRATIME

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Monday, April 20, 2015

EXTRATIME

SPECIAL FEATURE Celebration galore! Dream Team celebrates after winning men’s Olympic soccer gold at Atlanta‘96 following Nigeria’s 3-2 win over Argentina in the final.

BUHARI:

Francis Moniedafe

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

T

he election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) as Nigeria’s next President, come May 29, is both welcome and re-assuring. Many ex-Nigerian sportsmen and women had hoped for a long awaited change, not only in the management of sports, but also in the management of the country’s affairs. Many dreamed of it, longed for it, and during the campaigns many stakeholders began to think that at last our dreams would come true.

In spite of the initial postponement from February 14 to March 28, the elections came and it became a major victory for change.

From all ramifications, the President-elect may have an agenda for change as he reiterated in his plans during the campaign weeks and months and have remained unwavering in this regard. But for clarity, the focus of this piece is on the sports sector and the need to appoint credible helmsman.

For a start, the sports sector is where Buhari’s first coming as Nigeria’s Head of State back in 1983 brought the country her first global trophy two years after. That was in August 1985 when our U-16 football team won the inaugural U-16 FIFA World Cup in China.

That win appeared as a signal of Buhari’s quality leadership. Here we are, exactly 30 years later, Buhari has arrived again to lead Nigeria and it is an

OUR DREAM

!

SPORTS

MINISTER

opportunity to signal a major change in Nigeria’s sport.

As a close follower of Nigerian sports, we are aware that the sector has floundered time after time, thus the opportunity now beckons for a desirable change in this sector.

As we are aware, our floundering is not because there are no talents in Nigerian sports industry. It is also true that Nigeria is an unending conveyor belt of talents in any sport, both in individual and team sports.

In the past, Nigerian sportsmen and women have proven intermittently that we are world beaters in any chosen sporting arena and there is no reason why we should not do so in a more consistent and sustained basis. Thus, the change we expect is a

goal to achieve sports excellence in a more consistent and sustained basis because many stakeholders of sports believe this can be done under Buhari’s regime.

However, to achieve this is to make one conscious decision. Buhari must appoint a knowledgeable and exsports person at the helm of sports in Nigeria. We cannot afford another Sports Minister who has little knowledge of sports or a person who has not played sports at the top level, has not lived it, and has not sweated it.

There are several Nigerian men and women who have played sports, are highly educated, are highly qualified, and are committed to putting Nigerian sports in the position to achieve consistently. These men and women can

be found in both Nigeria and overseas.

As an ex-Green Eagles and Bendel Insurance FC star, let me add that sport should not be considered as an afterthought as it has been construed in the past. Often, it was considered a place where political appointees who ordinarily are not fit for other portfolios may be sequestered.

Sport is a field that has been critical to our nation’s unity, development of its youth, and to national pride. There are few things that can bring Nigerians together like watching the country participate at the Olympics.

Sport is used for our national development beginning from the schools and the competitive arena is another avenue for national integration. Additionally, at international competi-

tions many Nigerians were proud to be identified as true citizens of the country especially after the Dream Team won the men’s soccer gold at the 1996 Olympics! Thus, sports is an important sector and one in which the appointment of who heads it must be well thought.

As the President-elect steps into office on May 29, he should remember to kick start a legacy that we hope will be long remembered after the expiration of his tenure. The decisions of the new President in the sports sector will go a long way in determining that legacy.

It is in that light that I have written this piece to urge our President-elect to make the change that will count in sports. We trust that he will not disappoint!

Monday, April 20, 2015

EXTRATIME

RBC Heritage: Spieth five shots behind Merritt

Djokovic

C I V O K DJOWINS THIRD Tennis

N

ovak Djokovic beat Tomas Berdych to win his second Monte Carlo title and become the first man to win the opening three Masters events of the season.

The world number one came through 7-5 4-6 6-3 on the clay to extend his winning run in 2015 to 17 matches.

Djokovic, 27, adds Monte Carlo to the Masters titles he won in Indian Wells and Miami last month.

The Serb hopes to complete the career Grand Slam with a first title at the French Open, which starts next month.

He had laid down a marker with victory over nine-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals and completed the job in Sunday’s rain-interrupted final.

Sixth seed Berdych provided a real test for Djokovic, despite a 2-18 record against the top seed, but two breaks of serve were still not

F O S R E T S A M

2015

enough for the Czech in the opening set.

In overcast conditions, and with both men complaining about the slippery court, Djokovic secured the set at the second attempt.

The Serb was still not at his best and did well to recover from 0-40 at 2-2 in the second before the rain came and forced the players off court for an hour.

Another chance for Djokovic to

X7

break slipped by on the resumption, and it was Berdych who found something closer to top form as he grabbed his chance to level at one set all.

Djokovic looked on course for his 11th love set of the year when he raced 4-0 clear in the decider but Berdych pegged him back again, and the 2013 champion required two hours and 43 minutes to wrap up a hard-fought win.

M

asters champion Jordan Spieth is five shots behind leader Troy Merritt going into the final day of the RBC Heritage.

Spieth, 21, carded a three-under-par 68 in the third round in South Carolina to reduce the gap between him and fellow American Merritt, 29, by one shot.

Merritt, on 14 under, leads by three shots from compatriots Brendon Todd, Kevin Kisner and Matt Kuchar.

England’s Luke Donald and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell are six shots off the lead, in a tie for 10th place.

McDowell, who led after carding 66 on day one, has slipped down the field after following up his second round score of 69 with a 70. That has left him level with Donald, who shot a five-under 66 on Saturday.

Englishman Ian Poulter is one shot further back on seven under, level with Scotland’s Russell Knox, after both shot rounds of 67.

Spieth had made a poor start to the tournament following his Masters win in Augusta last Sunday as he struggled to a three-over-par first-round score of 74, but moved to six under on a bogeyfree second day.

His third-round 68 was the American’s 18th sub-par round in his last 19 and he said of his prospects of victory: “There’s a low one out there and I think it’s certainly possible.”

Tournament organisers have announced players will play from two tees on Sunday and tee off between 07:30 and 09:30 local time because of a threat of bad weather.

Cycling

Kwiatkowski

wins in 50th Amstel Gold Race

W

Kwiatkowski

orld champion Michal Kwiatkowski won a sprint to the line in the 50th edition of the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday.

The Polish rider, 24, caught defending champion Philippe Gilbert, of Belgium, and Australian Michael Matthews in the first of the spring classics.

Alejandro Valverde of Spain was second and Matthews third in the Netherlands.

“Winning in the (world champion’s) rainbow jersey is such an amazing feeling,” Etixx-Quick Step rider Kwiatkowski said.

“I was really suffering on the last lap,” the 2014 UCI Road World Championships winner added.

Gilbert, seeking his fourth title in the

Dutch spring classic, crossed the line in 10th place.

He broke away on the final climb of the Cauberg - a 1200m climb with a maximum gradient of 12% - before the finish and was followed by Matthews.

But neither man could shake off the peloton and they were caught on the final sprint as Kwiatkowski powered past them to win the 258km race, which includes 34 hill climbs.

The Amstel Gold Race is the first of the three Ardennes Classics and the only exclusively Dutch race on the World Tour.

The riders return for La Fleche Wallonne, in Belgium, on Wednesday and finish with Liege-Bastogne-Liege next Sunday.

Hamilton

Motorsport

Hamilton cruises to Bahrain GP win

L

ewis Hamilton took a controlled win in the Bahrain Grand Prix as team-mate Nico Rosberg was beaten to second by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton led from the start and was always in control as he took his third victory in four races this season.

Rosberg battled the Ferraris throughout and lost second to Raikkonen with a braking problem with two laps to go.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel wrecked

his podium chances by going off track and damaging his car while racing Rosberg.

Raikkonen, who nipped past Rosberg at the start of the penultimate lap when the German ran too deep into Turn One, put in an impressive drive on an alternative tyre strategy to move up from fourth place on the grid.

But Hamilton was out of reach at the front under the lights at the Sakhir track on a windy desert night.

Mercedes had expected a challenge from Ferrari during the race but Hamilton, after converting pole position into a lead at the first corner, was always in control as he set about building a lead while also protecting his tyres.

Rosberg, meanwhile, dropped to fourth at the start from third place on the grid but set about quickly dispatching the Ferraris, passing Raikkonen on lap four and Vettel four laps later.

Hamilton was nearly six seconds clear of Rosberg and a further two ahead of Vettel when the lead Ferrari made its first pit stop on lap 13.

X8

Monday, April 20, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME Three of Philippe Coutinho’s (third from left) last five goals for Liverpool have been scored in the FA Cup.

FA CUP LOSS:

S R E G D O R L

iverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, has questioned the mental strength of his team after they lost another big game on Sunday, going down 2-1 to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final.

The Merseyside club were looking to secure a spot in the final which takes place on May 30, Steven Gerrard’s birthday, as their talismanic captain hoped to call time on his Liverpool career in fitting fashion before moving to MLS outfit LA Galaxy.

And, although they were not playing particularly well, things looked to be going according to plan when

Philippe Coutinho broke the deadlock after half an hour at Wembley.

But Villa deservedly levelled through the in-form Christian Benteke shortly after and Fabian Delph scored what turned out to be the winner early in the second half.

The defeat provided another example of Liverpool surrendering on the big stage this season and Rodgers is starting to lose patience.

“Dealing with the occasion is something we need to improve at,” he said.

“There have been other big games where we have dealt with that very

QUESTIONS S ’ L O O P R E V I L FORM well, but there are others where we haven’t.

“We need to focus on the performances and if we do that then normally we get the victories. But today

Illarramendi eager for Real stay

A

sier Illarramendi spoke of his desire to stay at Real Madrid after playing his part in Saturday’s 3-1 La Liga win over Malaga.

The midfielder has started only 11 games for the European champions this season, but replaced Luka Modric on the hour-mark at the Santiago Bernabeu after the Croatia international’s participation was cut short due to injury.

Illarramendi has endured a frustrating time since making the move from

PREMIERSHIP RESULTS Crystal Palace 0 - 2 West Brom Everton 1 - 0 Burnley Leicester City 2 - 0 Swansea City Stoke City 2 - 1 Southampton Chelsea 1 - 0 Man United

Real Sociedad, but the 25-year-old is not looking to move on at the end of the season.

He said: “I have a contract here and I am very happy. I had a bit of difficulty adapting last year. However, now I am very happy here in the city and with my team-mates. Of course, I would like to stay here.”

Gareth Bale also sustained an injury during a victory which ensured Real remain two points behind leaders Barcelona in the battle for the title.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday and Illarramendi is ready to take his chance if called upon.

ENGLISH FA CUP RESULTS

Manchester City 2 - 0 West Ham United

Reading 1 - 2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur

Aston Villa 2 - 1 Liverpool

it wasn’t at the right level.

“Now we have to strive for topfour Premier League finish - it is an obligation of this wonderful club to fight until the finish.”

Things could have turned out differently if Mario Balotelli had not seen an equaliser incorrectly disallowed for offside two minutes from time, a call that Rodgers was angered by.

Tevez

rubbishes Juve exit talk

C

Tevez

arlos Tevez has denied reports that he is ready to leave Juventus and return to Boca Juniors at the end of the season.

The Argentina striker is contracted to the Serie A champions until the end of 2015-16, but it has been claimed that he is poised to turn his back on the Turin giants and head back to his homeland.

Boca president Daniel Angelici was quoted by Argentine media claiming “the door was open” for the striker to rejoin his boyhood club later this year if he could get out of his contract with Juve.

Tevez’s agent Adrian Ruocco called for Boca to allow him to focus solely

on Juve as they close in on a fourth consecutive Scudetto, as well as chasing Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League glory.

And the former Manchester City frontman stated after scoring in a 2-0 victory over second-placed Lazio on Saturday that he has no intention of cutting short his stay with Massimiliano Allegri’s side.

He said: “All my thoughts are focused on Juventus, there’s too much talk around. I want to enjoy this extraordinary moment here. People saying I’m going isn’t right: when I decide to leave, the supporters will be the first to know.”