Dtn 22 9 15

1Ƒ ƌƆ ƄƗƑƅƐ RƋƑ 0 Ƌ Ɔè ƈƒƆ Ƈ ƌƈƋƕ ƾƿ ƑƏ Ɛ ƍ ƕ MơƠƠƌ ‘Tosin Ajuwon, ƊƑƏƆ

ÎÎÎFormer Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae,

was on Monday, abducted by over 20 suspected Fulani herdsmen on his farm in Ilado, along Igbatoro road in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Falae, a chieftain of the Yoruba sociocultural group, Afenifere, was kidnapped in the presence of his workers after efforts to resist his abduction failed.

Sources told the Daily Times that the septuagenarian, who is also the National Continued on page 6 www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.195

GAINERS

N150

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NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 15th September 2015.

UNILEVER

45.8

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3.93%

WAPCO

99

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GUINNESS

162.45

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FO

227.79

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CADBURY

22.93

1.02

4.45%

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22.6

0.60

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PZ

26.65

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22.11

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ƆƐ ƗƆƅƋ Ə Ɛƈ :

Saraki makes U-turn Ï ƏƆƆ Ɛ ƍƍƆ Ə ƄƆƇ ƏƆ j Ï ô ƑƏƐ ƏƆƇƑ Ɔ Ɛ Ɛ ƍ ƏƏƆ Ɛ Ï ^ ƋƈƅƆ ƌƑ Ɛ ƍƏ ƗƑƅƆ ƈƌ Ɛ Ɨ ƕè j ƈ ƈ Ɛ Andrew Orolua ƄƑƉ

ÎÎÎEmbattled

President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Monday, made a U-turn and announced his decision to attend his trial at the Code of Conduct Tri-

bunal (CCT) today (Tuesday).

Saraki said his decision to attend the sitting of the CCT demonstrates his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve.

This is even as the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court on Monday refused to stop his arrest, arraignment and trial by the CCT for alleged falsification of asset declaration.

The two courts in separate rulings on Monday declined to grant

Saraki’s ex-parte motion. Both courts said it was not in their habit to stop the lower court from performing their duties.

Saraki had filed the ex-parte motion seeking to stop his arrest by the police following an order by the Code of Conduct Tribu-

nal which on Monday restated that the Senate President must be brought to the tribunal today (Tuesday) if he refused to appear.

Dissatisfied with the arraignment, Saraki had approached the Continued on page 6

nC j` #& 0 9`

Buhari g ACCI1 declares exhibition open today Furore over Gov. Bello’s London trip to watch Chelsea, Arsenal g 12 match

PDP: Internal crises w

PDP: g 8 Internal crises worsen Life&

Times Tuesday, September 15, 2015

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Sunkanmi

Ogunade

Jonathan

Secondus

Sunkanmi Ogunade: Runwaymodel- g L1 turnedpublisher

2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Curbing incidences of building collapse

T

he spate of building collapse all over in the country should be a source of worry to all Nigerians. Every day brings with it gory news of such incidence in one part of the country or another. Most times human lives are lost in such tragedies, including properties worth millions of naira. For long, Nigerians have watched in hapless resignation the inability of the authorities to curb this recurring nightmare.

Two weeks ago, the Abu Naima Primary and Secondary School building in Jos, Plateau State, collapsed killing 10 children who were receiving Islamic lectures. In the same week, seven people escaped death in Yaba area of Lagos State when a four-storey building under construction collapsed. In addition, another five people including a 13-year old girl were crushed to death after a twostorey building crumbled in Surulere area of Lagos State. The building, which was under construction crashed under the strain of no more than rainfall.

Experts have attributed the increasing building collapse to a variety of reasons that include the high cost of building materials and the absence of affordable alternative leading to the use of inferior materials. In addition, they posit that quacks have infiltrated the construction industry as they lack the expertise and international best practices for structural designs, among others. They also point accusing fingers at the deliberate downplay on professional advice, inappropriate planning, diversion from plan specifications, poor workmanship, lack of soil investigations, greed and desire to maximise profits. Others include illegal conversion of buildings, which often lead to structural deficiencies and flagrant flouting of town planning regulations by developers and landlords.

We are therefore calling on the authorities and other stakeholders to intensify actions in order to reduce the increasing incidence of building collapse through passing relevant ordinances to tackle the menace. For this to succeed we advise that the town planning authorities be adequately staffed and equipped with professionals to ensure

thorough supervision of buildings at all stages. Moreover, government at all levels should provide an enabling law for the training and effective control of artisans and craftsmen in the building industry.

In furtherance to this, clients should obtain approvals before they begin construction and in doing so must work with the approved drawings and specifications while any alterations must get approval before their implementations.

It is time the National Assembly enacts law for the enforcement of the Nigerian National Building Code to ensure effective regulation of the activities. Such document should represent a compulsory requirement before anyone embarks on land development especially at medium and large-scales. We also urge the government to hasten action on the establishment of Soil Research Institute of Nigeria (SRIN) with zonal branches in response to major ecosystems in the country. The institute would be charged with the responsibility of soil resources inventory, characterisation and classification to be matched to engineering, architectural, aesthetic and environmental challenges in Nigeria.

Many accusations have been leveled against town planning officials for approving building permits to non-professional builders. Such corrupt practices have made the construction industry an all comers affair. Through the Nigerian Standard Organisations (SON), government must be ready to combat the importation of sub-substandard and unwholesome building materials into the country. Reinforcing and effectively implementing its Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) can achieve this. This will not only protect Nigerian consumers from unsafe and sub-standard building materials, but also discourage the use of inferior materials for construction.

Lastly, government must be ready to tackle the complicated problem of building neglect by the populace in general. The way to tackling the problem should be through legislation, enforcement, support and assistance, publicity and public education.

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Group Managing Director

Fidelis Anosike

Noel Anosike

Group Managing Editor

Chief Operating Officer

Editor

GM Operations

Molara Wood Yinka Olujimi

Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08054934941 Konnie Agu 09033765031

Adebayo Idowu gmops@dailytimes.com.ng

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Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎFollowing

the decision of President Muhammadu Buahri and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to make public details of their assets, Nigerians expected that other public officers, particularly governors and other persons elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would follow suit.

This expectation has however failed to materialise as no APC governor till date has followed the example of Mr. President and his vice.

Even in the National Assembly, only two members, Senator Shehu Sani and

Sani Zorro, a member of the House of Representatives, are the only federal legislators known to have made public details of their assets so far.

The APC governors hinged their refusal to follow the example of Mr. President and his vice on the premise that the constitution did not make it compulsory for them to declare their assets publicly.

Though the APC governors have the constitution on their side with regards to declaration of assets, not a few see their refusal to follow the example set by Mr. President and his vice as sign that most of them do not truly believe in the change mantra of the Buhari-administration.

Fact is that many of the governors elected on the

Words On Marble :

APC platform like their counterparts in other parties cannot in clear conscience claim they are clean.

But if truly the APC governors believe in the change mantra of the APCled administration of President Buhari, then, why is it difficult for them to follow the Buhari and Osinbajo example?

Not a few Nigerians believe that public declaration of assets will serve as a yardstick to evaluate public officers, governors inclusive at the end of their tenure. Many also believe that the embracing of the Buhari and Osinbajo example by APC governors will show that they truly believe in the change the APC promised Nigerians.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

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Willie Obiano

Ndoma Egba

Chibudom Nwuche

“Those comparing monetary arithmetic and figures of the yester-years with that of today are ignorant of the ever depreciating Naira and failing economy of ours’’.

‘’You can’t go forward without interrogating the past and making people accountable for their deeds or misdeeds.’’

‘’When you say someone is guilty before you start the trial process, the person has the right to believe that he won’t have justice’’.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

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CYPRUS Cyprus, the 3rd largest Mediterranean island, is a highly attractive destination in which to invest. A full EU member since 2004, the island enjoys a strategic geographical position at the crossroads of three continents and offers beautiful scenery and a very pleasant climate. Cyprus has a modern, free-market service based economy and is a favored business destination due to its strong set of business and taxation advantages. Additionally, the island is very safe and stable making it an ideal location for families and students. Cyprus has rapidly recovered from recent economic turmoil thanks to significant activities in the shipping, tourism, financial & legal services sectors. Cyprus enjoys worldclass property rights and solid investment, trade, labor, business and financial freedom. Additionally, Cyprus is an emerging regional energy hub, following the discovery of huge hydrocarbon reserves in its Exclusive Economic zone, the direct benefits of which will be reaped in 2019.

This find has already caused a surge in foreign investment and development, a boost which is anticipated to significantly accelerate.

PAFILIA PROPERTY DEVELOPERS Pafilia House, 33 Nicodemou Mylona street, Marina Court P.O. Box 60159, 8101 Pafos, Cyprus, Tel: +357 26 848 800, Fax: +357 26 934 910, Email: info@www.pafilia.com, www.pafilia.com, www.minthishills.com NIGERIA Tel. No. Direct: 08172770374, Email: nigeria@pafilia.com

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, September 22, 2015

Bristow chopper crash: Push rod failed - Report Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe

Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) said, on Monday, that it was yet to determine the cause of crash of one the Sikorsky 76 chopper operated by Bristow Helicopter, which went down into the Lagos lagoon, on August 12, 2015, killing six passengers on board.

The commissioner of the accident bureau, Dr. Felix Abali, said investigations were on-going, but preliminary findings by accident investigators showed that the “push rod assembly of the chopper became disjointed . . .”

He said it was too early to speculate on the cause of the chopper crash as the AIB and its team of investigators were still putting together the findings of download carried out in the United Kingdom on the flight data and cockpit

voice recorders recovered from the crashed chopper.

Abali said the Abuja laboratory of the AIB could not carry out downloads of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, because it was not fitted with some technology required to carry out the download.

He said the AIB had been working with the aircraft manufacturers, and the United States Federal Aviation Administration officials to establish probable cause of the accident.

The preliminary report by AIB reads: “The cause of the accident has not been fully determined, as the investigation is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, interim safety actions have been taken by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Sikorsky by the issuing of Emergency Airworthiness Directive

(EAD) and Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) on the Main and Tail Rotor Servo Input Rod assembly. This is to ensure the continued airworthiness and security of the assemblies.”

Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Ltd. had earlier issued two Technical Directives as a safety action.

During the preliminary investigation AIB discovered that the Forward Main Servo Input Control Pushrod Assembly had failed.

The Control Pushrod tube separated from Control rod end with the bearing and the Jamnut. The Jamnut was loose and was not seating against the Control Rod. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Laboratory preliminary metallurgical examination of the Forward Main Rotor Servo Input Control Pushrod showed that the separation was a pre-im-

pact condition.

It was said the flight crew were certified and qualified to conduct the flight, in accordance with applicable Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs).

The Captain and Co-pilot had 1077:45 and 570 hours on the aircraft type respectively.

The crew and passengers life vests were not activated. The crew did not declare an emergency, according to FDR data the upset lasted for 12 seconds. There were twelve souls on onboard, including two crew members at the time of the accident. The aircraft crashed into the Lagos lagoon at the Oworonshoki area.There was no evidence of fire outbreak before and after the crash.The life rafts on the helicopter were observed deflated and floating in the lagoon but were not deployed.

Akpabio couldn’t have lost to Okorie – witness

ÏÏÏA former political adviser to

Akwa Ibom State Government, Hon. Udo Ekpenyong, has said that the election of Chief Godswill Akpabio as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-west was a reward for his sterling performance, while he served as the governor of the state.

This was as he dispelled the insinuation that votes recorded during the senatorial election were more than the accredited voters.

He maintained that this was due to the non-workability of the card reader technology, which prompted the Presiding Officers to resort to manual accreditation, so that eligible voters would not be disenfranchised.

Ekpenyong, from Ukanafun, made the assertion when he testified as a witness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Akwa Ibom State National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Inibehe Okorie had approached the tribunal to challenge the election of Chief Akpabio on the grounds that elections were not held across the Senatorial District.

He also harped on a clerical error to claim that Akpabio was not the PDP candidate for Akwa Ibom North-west Senatorial District.

Akpabio

President Muhammadu Buhari (right); with the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Ikechuku Keagborekuzi I on Sunday night at the Presidential Villa Abuja

Ex-CBN boss, Soludo sighted in Aso Rock Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏFormer Central Bank of

Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, was, on Monday evening, sighted at the Aso Rock Villa.

He was seen signing the visitors register at the entrance and headed straight to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari.

The former CBN boss who was in a cream kaftan entered the Chief of Staff's office at about 5:30 p.m.

Though his mission to the seat of power could not be ascertained, the visit came at a time that President Muhammadu Buhari was believed to be putting finishing touches to the list of ministerial nominees for onward transmis-

sion to the National Assembly.

Soludo, who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under the administrations of Olusegun Obasanjo and Umar Yar’Adua, had, on June 7, declared, in an interview with an online news platform (Premium Times), that he was not ready to work for the Buhari administration.

The professor of economics had been quite critical of the financial management of the economy by the Jonathan administration, which he had accused of supervising the leakage of about N30 trillion from the system.

He had said in the interview: “For sure, I wish the new government success and for the sake of Nigeria, everyone must contribute to assist President Buhari so that he succeeds. I will contribute in

whatever way I can.

“However, everyone can’t sit in government, in order to serve; some will be there on full time basis, while others can contribute from outside.

"For me personally and at this point in time, I am not disposed or available for full time public service. Perhaps, in the future, it could happen, but not now. For now, my hands are full with several other experiments I am involved with (especially abroad) in the private sector, charity, think-tanks, and the international community.

I am part of a major initiative in Africa’s mining and solid minerals sector, and this takes me through several African countries etc. I am having great fun exploring totally new vistas of opportunity that are central to Africa’s great leap in the 21st Century.

5 News

Death toll in Maiduguri bomb blast rises to 85 ...95 injured

ÏÏÏResidents

caught up in the multiple explosions that rocked Ajilari Railway Cross and Bintu Sugar suburbs of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Sunday, say at least 85 persons died in the blasts.

However, the Police in Maiduguri said at least 54 people died in co-ordinated attacks, with 95 injured.

The attacks killed and maimed worshippers at a mosque, bystanders and football fans watching a televised match.

The army and rescuers said the explosions were caused by homemade devices but one local and the police said a female suicide bomber also blew herself up.

"I can assure you that no fewer than 85 people died," said resident Sabo Ahmed.

"The figure given by the police is just the number of people taken to hospital. Many more died and were just taken away by their loved ones," he added.

Ahmed said 15 more bodies had been pulled from the rubble of the football match "viewing centre" and that four were his brothers aged between 19 and 24.

Alhaji Jidda, a resident of the Binta Sugar neighbourhood, said more than 35 people were killed at the mosque, which is thought to have been hit by a female suicide bomber.

Burkinabe coup, a challenge to democracy - NLC Akor Ejumene

Abuja ÏÏÏNigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned last Wednesday’s coup in Burkina Faso, which saw the arrest and detention of the Interim President and Prime Minister by a group of military officers, describing the action as a challenge to democracy not just for that country, but the African continent.

It said the action should not be accepted by well-meaning people.

As at the last count, the congress said the junta had killed about 10 persons and injured over 100 in raging anti-coup protests in the country.

More worrisome, and as an indication to scuttle the democratic process in Burkina Faso, the congress said, was the insistence by the coupists that they had installed as Head of State, General Gilbert Diendere, a longtime associate of ousted President Blaise Campaore.

2

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Saraki makes U-turn over tribunal summons Continued from page 1 Federal High Court.

However, in his ruling at the Federal High Court, the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, refused the application and ordered that the respondents be put on notice.

The judge said that in view of the fact that the respondents have joined issues with the plaintiffs, coupled with fundamental, constitutional and radical nature of the preliminary objection which bothers on the jurisdiction of the court and supervisory powers on the tribunal, “the court will

not dissipate energy and time on interlocutory matters.”

He, therefore dismissed Saraki’s application and adjourned to September 30, 2015 to hear both the preliminary objection and substantive matter together.

At the Court of Appeal, the exparte motion also filed by Saraki’s counsel was refused.

Ruling on the application, the presiding judge, Justice Moore Adumein, held that

by Section 15 of the Court of Appeal Act 2004 as amended gave the court the general power to make interim orders.

He further noted that for the court to exercise such power, the application for the interim order shall be in writing.

“It is for this reason that the court will refuse this application for interim injunction. It would better serve the interest of justice for the respondents to be put on notice.”

“Consequently, the motion is hereby refused and struck out”, the court held.

After the ruling, counsel to Saraki, Adelodun prayed the court to make a preservative order to preserve the res of the case so as to maintain status quo.

But the request was also refused as Justice Adumein stated that it is not in the interest of the court to interfere in the affairs of lower courts.

“To appear before the tribunal is not a death sentence, we can come in at any point”, he stated.

The Court of Appeal adjourned till September 29 for hearing of the motion on notice.

Earlier, on Monday, the Code of Conduct Tribunal had also renewed its order of arrest on Saraki by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and produce him at the tribunal today (Tues-

Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) (right) signing the condolence register during a visit to the family of the late HID Awolowo at their Ikenne residence in Ogun State… on Monday. With him are Amb. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu (left) and his wife, Sen. Daisy. Photo: DAVID IDOWU

day) to take his plea in the 13 count charge slammed on him by the Code of Conduct Bureau.

It would be recalled that the tribunal had last Friday ordered Saraki’s arrest by the IGP and produce him on Monday, for which, his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN) undertook to produce Saraki in Court on Monday.

However, at the resumed trial, Daudu informed the tribunal that the accused had filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal challenging the ruling of the tribunal.

He however prayed the tribunal to stay proceedings pending the determination the appeal.

Opposing the application, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) argued that Section 305 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 did allow a stay of proceeding in any criminal matter any longer.

He further informed the tribunal that because of the undertaken made by Daudu on Friday that he will produce Saraki in court, he (Jacobs) advised Federal Government not execute the arrest as a mark of honour to the senior lawyer.

He however noted that he was surprised that in spite of the undertaking by Daudu to produce Saraki, the accused person was still not in court.

Jacobs therefore prayed the tribunal to make an order that will bring the accused person.

Ruling on the submission, Justice Danladi Umar recalled that Daudu made undertaking to bring the accused to court but the accused was not in court.

“We have taken note of the observations the accused counsel on the pending matter at the Federal High Court, but it is worthy of note that the order of the Federal High Court did not suspend the sitting of the tribunal.

“We also disagree on the argument of the accused that applicability of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act did not affect this tribunal, this tribunal is duty bound to apply the new law because it affects the tribunal.

“This tribunal has to take a position that in the interest of justice and the position of the tribunal is that the accused must be compelled to appear before this tribunal tomorrow.

“In this wise, we re-affirm that the bench warrant of last Friday must be executed for the Inspector General of Police or other security agencies to arrest and produce the accused before this tribunal tomorrow (today) by 10am”, the tribunal held.

Meanwhile, a statement by his Media office on MonContinued on page 12

Gunmen abduct Olu Falae, give family 24 hours to pay N100m Ï ƇƆ ƈƇƆƏƆè Ɛ ƆƏ ƅ ƗƆƌ ƄƗƑƅƐƈ Continued from page 1 Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was attacked before he was taken away into the thick forest close to his farm.

The sources added that some workers in the farm were also attacked and matched by the suspected assailants who shot sporadically into the air to scare away rescuers.

“One of the workers was macheted in the ear while trying to rescue Chief Falae”, a source said.

The Director of Administration and Publicity of

the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State, Mr. Remi Olayiwola, confirmed the news to journalists at the residence of Chief Falae.

Olayiwola said the masked-wearing gunmen stormed the farm at about noon and shot sporadically into the air to scare away workers on the farm.

“It was confirmed that Baba went to his farm as usual in Ilado. The gunmen went to his farm and met him. They shot sporadically before taking him away”, he said.

He added that the abduc-

tors have reached out to the former SGF’s wife and demanded the sum of N100 million before his release on or before today (Tuesday).

“The abductors have contacted Chief Olu Falae’s wife and they are demanding the sum of One Hundred Million naira before they would release him”, he said.

The State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Korede Duyile, told journalists that the former presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) was still in touch with him through text message on his presence in

the farm.

“Baba still told me in a text message that he was in the farm. This ha been his usual practise on daily basis”, he said.

It was gathered the abduction of the Chief Falae nearly disrupted the welcome event for the Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, to Ilaramokin, in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state for the synod ceremony.

Falae was said to be the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the synod ceremony holding in the town.

The Ondo State Police Command had already laid a manhunt for the kidnappers in attempt to rescue the victim alive.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Wole Ogodo, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Daily Times said his men had already swung into action.

Ogodo revealed that about fifty Police detectives had been deployed in a rescue mission to free the Afenifere leader from kidnappers den.

“The Deputy Commissioner in-charge of Operation has led about fifty police officers to the bush in search of the kidnapped

victim”.

The Police spokesman also recalled that ”Baba Falae had been having running battles on issues relating to grazing on his farmland by some Fulani herdsmen for some months.

“He even came down to the police station and reported the issue while we arrested two of them and they signed undertaken never to disturb nor near the farmland any longer”, Ogodo said.

Born on September 21, 1938, Chief Olu Falae was due to mark his 77th birthday until his abduction.

Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22 , 2015

Ekiti to conduct LG poll Dec 19 Gbenga sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏThe Ekiti State Independent

Electoral Commission (SIEC), on Monday, announced that the much-awaited Local Government elections would hold on December 19.

The last election was held under the administration of Engr Segun Oni in 2008, while efforts made by his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fay-

emi to conduct same on February 4, 2011 was aborted due to the Ado Ekiti High Court judgement, which voided the composition of the then SIEC. At a parley with the stakeholders, the SIEC’s Chairman, Justice Kayode Bamisile, assured that the Commission would give all the political parties a level-playing field to participate in the election.

He said setting the date for the conduct of the elections was the statutory duty of the Commission, as conferred on it by the Electoral Act 2011 and not that of any political party.

Anambra CJ backs judiciary workers’ strike Nkiru Nwagbo Awka.

ÏÏÏThe Chief

Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, has thrown his weight behind the striking judiciary workers seeking the implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary (CONJUSS).

Umeadi expressed the support in his address at a ceremony to mark the commencement of the 2015/2016 legal year, in Awka, on Monday.

Daily Times recalled that the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had embarked upon the strike on September 7 to press home their demand.

“We have every reason to support JUSUN in their quest to achieve the long-drawn and much-debated issue of CONJUSS based emoluments. The demands of the state JUSUN is stems from agreements entered with Anambra State Government in 2011, which are legitimate, feasible and achievable.

“It is not correct to muddle issues with other interests, when the CONJUSS, which is backed by law and requisite regulations are raised,” Umeadi said.

He further urged the state Attorney-General, Head of Service and the state government to come to terms quickly with JUSUN on the issue.

Umeadi commended the state government for granting autonomy to the state judiciary and for appointing eight judges and 20 magistrates.

He gave an assurance that the judiciary arm will continue to collaborate with the executive arm for the progress of the state.

7 News

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) , Boboye Oyeyemi; Head Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem and Deputy Corps Marshal, Motor Vehicle Administration, Charles Theophillus during the inauguration of FRSC Post Service Scheme Board in Abuja... on Monday

Osinbajo counsels lawyers on rights of less privileged Fayose

Ekiti Assembly to maintain cordial relationship with Fayose Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏThe Ekiti State House of As-

sembly, on Monday, pledged that the cordial relationship that had existed between it and Governor Ayo Fayose-led executive would blossom.

The Speaker, Hon Kola Oluwawole, made the declaration in AdoEkiti, while taking stock of its activities in the last 100 days that the House had been inaugurated At a plenary, the House passed a confidence vote on the governor, hinging this on his good relationship with the masses since he assumed office

Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Vice President, Profes-

sor Yemi Osinbajo, has counselled lawyers working with government establishments, not to be on the side of their employers all the time, but be agents of change by making out time, within schedules, to ensure that voice of the less- privileged were heard.

He said that lawyers, who work with government establishments, hardly make out time to listen to the plights of the common man, but rather have their times subsumed by the directives of their employers.

Osinbajo, who was represented on the occasion by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Adeola Rahman Ipaye, said this, while speaking as the guest of honour at a seminarcum-retreat organised by the legal secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to mark the change mantra.

While addressing the lawyers on

the theme of the seminar –Translating the Change Mantra – Osinbajo said that lawyers could never make a good change agents, when they hide under the mandate of their employers without fighting for the down-trodden. “I urge you to fight for them by establishing a functional unit for the less- privileged, whose last hope depends on obtaining justice through the legal practitioners. But when you dance to the tune of your employers, your profession, as the defender of the defenseless, would have been defeated, and there won’t be any change to talk about. Changes come when the oppressed have victory; when they are given opportunities to express their opinion among the elites and such opportunities comes from you lawyers.”

Osinbajo said that what this entailed was that government must exist within the ambit of the law and by so doing must accommodate people at all level to ensure that the administration was run correctly. He said, “Your task is un-

doubtedly enormous, because this is the capital city of Nigeria, while law and other is supposed to be the order of the day.”

The Buhari administration, Osinbajo said, was interested in the development and day-to-day running of the FCTA, making legal institutions a key and important secretariat in the FCTA. "The legal secretariat, must be professionally run in order not to derail in the formulation of policies and services. You must be professional in form and content of services.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Obinna Chukwu, said that his experience with the secretariat since resumption of duties as had been one of ambivalence, and had always felt that the secretariat was one of the important service secretariat with host of lawyers, who, although had been trying, should be doing much better in terms of their professional proficiency, given the necessary impetus of continuing legal education to engender higher competence.

UNILAG rape saga: Lecturer seeks protection against media Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏThe University of

Lagos lecturer arraigned before a Lagos magistrate court for raping an 18-year-old-girl, on Monday, pleaded with the court for protection from a hostile media reportage.

A lecturer in the department of Accounting, Afeez Baruwa, 42, was alleged to have raped the teenage girl sometime in July, as she sought help to get admitted into the university.

The defendant’s lawyer, Kunle Abimbola, told the court, presided over by Tajudeen Elias, that there had been false reportage against his client and that Punch newspa-

per had engaged in a campaign of false reportage against the lecturer. “It has come to a case where we have to seek the ultimate protection of the defendant from the press. He is still presumed innocent until proven guilty,” said Abimbola, who brought along three copies of Punch newspaper.

Abimbola had also sought for bail for his client during the last hearing penultimate week, with the claim that he was “critically ill”, in detention and needed urgent medical care.

However, Ibukun Ibikunle, the rape victim’s lawyer countered the defence lawyer’s claims, saying

that she had spoken with prison officials, who said Baruwa was well.

Ibikunle, who works with the state's Office of the Public Defender, told the court that she had spoken with prison officials earlier that day and was told that the accused did not show up when they were leaving the prison.

The defence lawyer also accused Punch newspaper of “scandalising and tarnishing the image” of Baruwa. On the last adjourned date, it was stated that the defendant was ill.

According to Abimbola, “The defendant is being tried and convicted in the media which runs

against Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It still remains an allegation, the defendant is still presumed not guilty.”

Abimbola urged the magistrate to call the newspaper to order over their “false report.” The lawyer also told the magistrate that the defendant’s wife, Kafayat, had submitted a sworn affidavit to show that he was indeed ill. “I plead with My Lord to come to the aid of the defendant, so as to correct the some of the misleading public impressions. There is no conclusive evidence, yet, that the defendant committed the offence.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Politics

Æs

Good governance: Obasanjo should keep quiet – Olaosebikan Journalist turned politician, Kehinde Olaosebikan shared his deep knowledge and experience garnered over time as a former Regional Editor, North, for Vanguard Newspapers, former Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor Lam Adesina of Oyo State and a former local government Chairman with BOLAJI OMOSANYA. Excerpts: Can you introduce yourself ?

I’m Kehinde Olaosebikan. I worked with Sketch Press Limited, Broadcasting Corporation of Niger State and Vanguard Media Limited where I retired as Regional Editor, Northern Operations. I served as Chief Press

Secretary to the Governor of Oyo State from 1999 to 2003 and Chairman of Oluyole Local Government.

We are in an era of change in the political landscape. Are we really experiencing the desired change as promised by Buhari-led APC government

during his electioneering campaign?

I will say yes to your question because in all honesty we have started experiencing the change.

Fundamentally, the major problem of this country has been the CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Obasanjo

Buhari

Olaosebikan

PDP: Internal crises worsens Akinjide Akintola For the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) it is no longer at ease as the party battles to survive its new role of opposition having ruled the country for 16 years after claiming to be the biggest party in Africa.

At the moment, intrigues and general suspicion have characterised its mode of operations since its ouster from power in May, a fallout of the typical lack of internal democratic tendencies that dogged its 16 unsteady years in power.

Only recently, its plans to commence an e-registration of its members across the country ahead of the 2019 general elections in order to reposition it was frustrated by a group within the party with filled threatened that the process might be hijacked by unseen hands planning to take over the party.

The e-registration process was to take off last month with a pilot study in Edo State and was meant to take place in all the states of the federation but was scuttled at the last moment when members protested the move based on the fact that the members were not carried along as well as the cost of N1000 which was said to be on the high side.

But sources within the party said the rejection of the e-reg was sponsored by some elements who feel threatened that the process might be hijacked which might put them in a disadvantaged position in the running of the affairs of the party.

Shortly after this came another proposal for the holding of a national conference aimed at repo-

Jonathan

Secondus

Metuh

sitioning the party ahead of the forthcoming polls. But few days after this was announced,

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has put on hold, all activities pertaining to the

yet to be inaugurated committee on the proposed PDP National Conference.

Fayose According to the NWC, this deciCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

PDP took Nigerians for granted, but can still comeback – Nnanna Kalu

Nnanna Kalu

Engineer George Nnanna Kalu, is a two-time Commissioner in Abia State Oil Producing Development Commission, ASOPADEC and also twotime Commissioner in the state - Works and Agriculture. Onetime Chairman of the state Sports Council, in this interview WITH SUNDAY NWAKANMA in Umuahia, he ex-rays the present condition of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the country, in Abia State and in his Abiriba community, pointing out that PDP took the mandate given to it by Nigerians in their 16 years in the leadership position in the country for granted. He added however that there are chances of survival for it if it does the CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 right thing. Excerpts;

Adamu Muazu

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

9 Politics

PDP crumbling as crisis worsens?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

sion is to create room for further consultations and exhaustive consideration by critical stakeholders, of the report of the PDP Post Election Assessment Committee, headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, which is due for submission this month.

National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo who announced this in a statement said: “while the national leadership notes and appreciates the eagerness, commitment and dedication of our leaders and members in the rebuilding of the party, we have also noted the need to allow proper consideration of the report of the Senator Ekweremadu-led Post Election Assessment Committee accordingly, especially as that committee is headed by the highest elected PDP member in the nation.

“In that regard therefore, the NWC directs that all activities of the said committee on the proposed PDP National Conference be put on hold forthwith.

The consideration of the report of the PDP Post Election Assessment Committee will include inputs from members of PDP leadership organs, including PDP Governors’ Forum, PDP National Assembly Caucus, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC), immediately upon receipt of the report.

Finally, the NWC reassures that in the final composition of all the committees to be inaugurated by the leadership of the party in due course, all critical stakeholders will be consulted and all necessary interests accommodated.

Level of corruption nailed PDP’s coffin – Nnanna Kalu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Jonathan Sources within the party however said the putting on hold of the conference was as a result of suspicion that the conference might be used to destablised the party by forces unhappy with the way things were going within the party at the moment.

Thus, to show that all was not in order within the party, less that 48 hours after the statement by the National Secretary, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh also briefed the press on the same issue, giving more reasons why the conference

contribute to efforts to correct the mistakes of the past.

He was reacting to the crisis generated as a result of the claim by the National Working Committee of the party that it had shifted the proposed national conference of the party scheduled for October.

The proposed conference was being put together by some members of the Board of Trustees of the party, who were backed by both the board and the national caucus of the party.

PDP has lost grip at the national level. How do you see the situation now at that level and in the state?

I think Nigeria’s democracy is evolving and stabilized and we expect things to happen in this direction. That the public is now becoming more and more aware of what they expect out of the leadership and for that reason, if a party that has been in power for upwards of 16 years takes the mandate of the people in the country for granted for one reason or the other, there will be the urge to shift camp to another party and that has been done in a very peaceful setting which is what democracy is all about. I think, it beholds on PDP to go back to the drawing board, restructure the party, know what went wrong and do the correct thing to forge ahead. So politics is a game of number. PDP must have known where their strength and weaknesses lie within the geo-political zones in the country and probably retreat themselves to appeal as a party to those sections or zones where they did not do well. A lot has to do with internal democracy within the party. If PDP can eventually get it right and have internal democracy, allowing their party

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Fayose was put on hold despite wide acceptance within the party.

According to him, the national leadership of the party was working on how to reposition the party for future elections.

It therefore said because of this, there was the need for the party to have a national conference where issues bordering on how to reshape the party would be discussed.

According him, a lot of corrections needed to be made due to what he described as the many mistakes of the past adding that it was only the PDP members that could

As a Fulani, Buhari’ll keep Nigeria one, says Olaosebikan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

issue of leadership and chronic indiscipline that has eaten too deep into all facets of our nation. I have always said it that once the head is right the entire body would be fine. With his known antecedents as a disciplined and a no-nonsense man, things started changing positively from the moment he was sworn in as the President.

Though some would not want to accept that the improvement in electricity supply across the country is a direct result of the new government, explanations given by the power providers

confirmed that it was as result of new security measures put in place around the pipelines.

However, the change we really need is in the provision of right leadership at every level of government and society including homes. In whatever we do, we should all strive to do the right thing. As the President is instilling discipline and sense of order at the federal level, all of us should in our own way lead by example by being disciplined and providing inspirational and decent leadership.

In all his appointments so far, there has been a persistent outcry of lopsidedness.

Buhari

He is accused of favoring the North? How do you see that?

What I see in that is that a leader must be bold and with a strong character. Buhari has always been known to be a passionate person and that is a positive attribute of a good leader. He is a Fulani man, a Northerner first before being a Nigerian. It is only somebody that is passionate about his place of birth or origin that can be passionate about a bigger heritage. We all knew this and it would be totally wrong of us to expect him to change that at 73. My position is that Buhari is passionate about where he comes from and now that he is in

charge of the entire country he is bound to be passionate about the country. This explains why he was so determined or desperate to govern the country. He loves the country. So on appointment of personal aides or kitchen cabinet, he did what I expected of somebody of his nature. I was never surprised. The good thing about it all is that from the records of those appointed so far, they are capable and fit for the positions.

But in your tribute to the Late Alhaji Lam Adesina you actually condemned him callCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Tinubu made change possible in Nigeria – Olaosebikan ing him a tribal bigot. Has that changed now?

No! That is what I just explained indirectly. The interpretation we gave to the action of President Buhari then was as it affected us. And thank God that we had a leader too that was not only passionate but wise and tactful in the defense of his people.

We were on the receiving end.

The Fulani people that he was fighting for were very pleased with his actions.

They praised him to high heavens. You could see the correlation. Now given the whole country to govern, Buhari as a very bold and courageous ex military man would leave no stone unturned in the defense of any part of the country. That is the lesson one should learn from the Daura born General. You just have to love and be passionate about your origin and we all know that it was one of those values that gave him the Presidency. Charity, they say, begins at home.

You want to compare him with Obasanjo?

To me Obasanjo is one of the biggest issues of this country.

His attitude of always wanting to be seen as a Nigerian first is odd. It is a big disservice to the Yoruba and that is largely responsible for the terrible state of infrastructure in the South West after Obasanjo’s eight of

Tinubu governance. For eight years Obasanjo failed to give Nigeria the basic needs: Electricity and transportation were zero during Obasanjo. In terms of leadership too, Obasanjo did not fare well.

Instead of strengthening our democracy, Obasanjo worsened it with his conquering dispositions and politics of do or die.

His choice of successor was also warped. Corruption and rule of impunity thrived under his nose.

But fortunately for the man, the One above all of us loves him

Olaosebikan and still makes him relevant in the nation. Otherwise, Obasanjo should not be the one talking about good governance in Nigeria or anywhere at all.

The Federal Government has bailed out states that have financial challenges.

Oyo State reportedly got N26.6m.

Is it justified and on what should it be spent?

I think the whole episode is just a stage in the development of the country. What led to the huge debts by the states was mainly

the desperation of the states to win the elections. They spent so much on necessary and unnecessary projects including inducements of voters. The important thing here is for them and all of us too to learn the lesson that came with it. As it is now, the offices are gradually appearing unattractive. Those who do not have the right knowledge, experience and ability to govern and generate quantum resources have no business to be governors. As it is affecting the executives now,

it will soon get to the legislature where all manners of people seek to go to the National Assembly without the ability to contribute in any meaningful way. Their target has always been the fat salaries and allowances and the resultant loots and bribe money from chairing juicy committees. But when the allowances become normal and all leakages blocked, only the competent and true servants of the people will be contesting. I pray we get there soonest.

What area of the economy should be the main focus of the APC government for now?

Not only the APC governments, any serious state government now must consciously and rigorously seek alternative sources of revenue. For the South West States, the emphasis should be on agriculture and solid minerals. It is time for the states to unlock the potentials of every part and every person in their states. It requires assembling the best brains in each state for governance and administration at all levels of government with the governor on the driver’s seat with total concentration.

The governors should also focus highly on human capital development by improving the education standards in their states and enCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Restructuring PDP becomes Herculean?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

But because of the alleged fear being nursed by the NWC members that the conference would be used against them, they said the conference must not hold until December.

Metuh, however, said the NWC members were not against the proposed conference, but insisted that all stakeholders of the party would be involved in the conference.

Metuh said, “The NWC, the BoT and even the PDP Governors’ Forum are on the same page on this.

We want the national conference and it must hold because we need to know what to do to rebuild the party. If the party had done well, we wouldn’t have lost election and we need this conference to fashion out ways to rebuild it.

“A lot of corrections need to be

made due to many mistakes of the past. And it is only party members that will contribute to ensure that that happens. So we need that conference.

“So, we are confirming that that the conference must hold. But we are in need of all the organs, critical stakeholders of the party to participate and make inputs.”

Metuh said that the NWC members had replied to a letter written to it by the leader of the proposed conference, Prof. Jerry Gana, concerning the conference.

He said the former minister of information had, on Wednesday last week, written a letter on behalf of the BoT to the NWC members, informing them about the conference.

He said, “On Wednesday, the NWC received a letter from Prof.

Jerry Gana on behalf of the BoT for a proposed conference.

“The NWC however noted that the proposal had members of the committee and everything. So, the NWC now wrote back to Gana, that it will have to study it and communicate in due course.

“Because we felt if we are going to do it, all interests will be accommodated in terms of the leadership of the National Assembly; we will take interest of the PDPGF, we will take nominees from state Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.

“We will take nominees of youth leaders and all the youth forum, because we want the party to go back to the youths now because we want the youths to be involved in whatever we are doing.”

He regretted that there was a communication gap between the

NWC and the Gana committee, adding that this could be the reason why the committee proceeded with its preparations for the conference.

Metuh said that the NWC felt that the delay in the holding of the conference was necessary because the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, had been given an assignment that he had yet to turn in.

“So, without waiting for that report, and without considering the input of that report, it means that we have discarded and foreclosed the issue of the Ekweremadu Committee,” he added.

Already, the Ekweremadu-led Post-Election Review Committee of the party has said the committee’s report will be submitted on September 30.

All eyes are now on the commit-

tee on the direction the party will take in order to reposition itself for future challenges.

The committee toured all the six geo-political zones of the country seeking inputs from all the 36 states on how to reverse the dwindling fortunes of the party.

Sources said the internal crises within the party surrounded around who becomes the next national chairman of the party to succeed, its former chairman, Alhaji AdamuMuazu who resigned following the disastrous outing of the party in the last elections.

While some elements want the chairmanship to be retained by the north east zone, other elements led

by Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose wants the chairmanship to come to the South west which has never held the post.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

11 Politics

PDP took Nigerians for granted, but can still comeback – Nnanna Kalu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

members to democratically pick those who will fly their flags without any rigging or rancor, they would have done a whole lot better in the past election because in reality, the other parties are not even faring better in this internal democracy aspect. However, the major thing that Nigerians were looking at was the level of corruption in the country. They wanted a change. They were looking at so many things that happened within the leadership that had taken them for granted and they wanted a change, not necessarily that PDP as a whole was bad, but PDP somehow along the line took the Nigerian mandate for granted.

What do you mean that PDP took mandate of Nigerians for granted?

PDP really expanded the democratic sphere of Nigeria for those 16 years. People have become more politically aware. They can now express their views in a democratic setting and the prospect of people voting and their votes counting has also expanded.

There is also the process of having people speaking their minds without being pushed into one cell or the other by autocratic means. There has been a balance of power between judiciary, legislature, and executive in the way it is being mapped out in the constitution. So PDP has managed its affairs. But in the process, there are areas PDP did not do well as well, even in the eyes of the public. So within those confines, the public is looking for a change and there

Anenih were also PDP members who revolted against PDP, jumped the ship to other parties which now came together and took the power from them. So that being the case you can find out those PDP members came out of the party to jump ship to other parties. So if you start getting the answers, then you start preparing the party.

There is a tussle within the party between the north and the west on who to produce as the party leader with Governor Ayo Fayose rooting for the west; which zone do you favour?

It is even premature to be talking about that. PDP will look at the whole picture before talking about it. They will also be looking at where do they want the next president to come from so

Nnanna Kalu that when you are talking about zoning, you are looking at the complete picture of what is being zoned. But for starters, PDP is going to each geo- political zone asking themselves question, “what happened to us?” This is a process and I think probably, the committee that is doing that will have to come up with a report and that report will allow the party to take far-reaching measures in terms of restructuring the party as a whole. Now before you start talking about which zone is going to get what in terms of what is all going to be zoned and you are talking about the next three years. Now in addition to that, there is also the need for the PDP governors in the various states of this federation to deliver to their people. That is a salient point of the party. So the

issue now talking about who is going to be the National Chairman of the party alone outside every other thing should be something that they would sit down at a round table and sort out. So it is not even talking about Ayo Fayose and tribalizing all these things because it is not a tribal issue that we are talking about, we are talking about PDP from the national perspective.

So you are saying that PDP is intact and that there is a little bit of life inside the party?

I am saying that PDP still has enough life to make a comeback if they do the right thing.

In Abia State, everybody is shouting change. What is PDP doing to ensure that it is properly repositioned and restructured to win any election in

the state?

I think it is not right because election was held and won in Abia State by PDP. Now we also had a serious challenge from APGA in the last election which also challenged what was going on in the party, PDP before the main election. That is after the primaries.

A lot of those who went to APGA are also from PDP who were aggrieved. You now have to ask yourself the question, “Why were they aggrieved”? If the party could answer that question, why those members were aggrieved and jumped ship to APGA, then they would start restructuring the party to correct that thing from happening again in the party. The party had crisis in internal democracy platform, especially in the primaries that took place, unlike in even APGA. People were just cued in and they used their money and bought their ticket and there were no primaries. But I am saying that even in PDP where the primaries were done, people saw it as undemocratic process.

So if they can correct those things and make it to be clear that it was democratic, and that whoever lost, lost it through a clear democratic process, you would have less agitation of people jumping ship. Now you are asking what PDP is doing. PDP, even in Abia State is doing a gradual process of restructuring. The whole thing is not yet taking shape because there is a distraction with matters in the tribunal. That is to say that the tribunal issue is taking more pre-eminence than the issue of restructuring.

Good governance: Obasanjo should keep quiet – Olaosebikan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

courage technical and vocational education where the future lies.

The South Western part of the Nigeria seems to be losing out in political appointments.

This is not a new trend. What should Afenifere and other Yoruba socio-political groups do to correct this?

I totally disagree with you that the South West is losing out in political appointments in Nigeria.

Out of 16 years of this regime, we had the President for eight years and now the Vice President.

Rather, I would say we are doing well and I see the West doing bet-

ter in this administration even far more in appointments and development than when we had a Yoruba man as the President of this nation. If you say we are not getting our fair shares in capital projects I would agree with you, particularly during the Obasanjo era when the South West was almost completely abandoned in the provision of infrastructure.

The stories of Lagos / Ibadan Express Way, Ibadan/ Ilorin Road; Shagamu / Ore Road, Ota / Abeokuta Road are well known. This happened even at a time when quality inter and intra states roads were being constructed in the North by the best of contrac-

tors while the roads in the West were being handled by lowly rated contractors.

Regarding the tribal or cultural associations, I think the Yorubas have gone past the level of any myopic cultural groupings.

As a Yoruba man, we should all be thankful and appreciative of the uncommon wisdom and political sagacity being deployed

by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu in providing decent leadership for the Yoruba and the nation as a whole. The best of our established unifying and stabilizing tradition in the growth of this nation was potently displayed by Tinubu in the last election. It is

a platitude that we have Buhari in government today because of the hard work, vision and uncommon zeal of Asiwaju Tinubu.

That a Yoruba man attained this feat against all the odds is a rare accomplishment that all Yoruba should be proud of. Even, if he is sidelined in the government which is almost impossible, he is already a fulfilled man, having added real and substantial value to his origin and the nation as a whole. No matter what anybody wants to say, Tinubu gave Nigeria the Change we are all savoring now and to that extent one can say correctly that Tinubu is the National Leader of modern

Nigeria. With the present configuration of our nation any discerning mind would know that Tinubu and Yoruba can never be sidelined.

Tinubu has taken Yoruba out of ethnic jingoism and divisive socio cultural groupings. The next step is for all the leaders in other parts of the country to emulate him for Nigeria to have a complete change that will finally expunge all forms of suspicion, hate and greed in our association and relationships. This will eventually bail the entire nation out of politics and business of ethnicity, giving us the Nigeria of our dream.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Furore over Gov. Bello’s London trip to watch Chelsea, Arsenal match Pita Chikwem Minna

ÎÎÎMixed

reactions have continued to trail Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State’s visit to London to watch the match between Chelsea and Arsenal football clubs.

It would be recalled that Governor Bello was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s entourage to France where the president had gone on a working visit. The President returned to the country on Wednesday, September 16.

It was gathered that the

governor left France for London to watch the football match. The Daily Times gathered last night from one of Governor Bello’s aides that his principal was not yet in town. The state had since been run by Deputy Governor, Ahmed Ketso.

When the Daily Times

went to town to feel the pulse of the people of the state over the Governor’s London trip to watch the football match, the reaction was full of rage and condemnation. Many people spoken to believed that the governor’s London trip was frivolous considering the

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) discussing with the Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke (left) and others during the envoy’s courtesy visit to the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja... on Monday

Falae’s abductors demand N100m Continued from page 6 Meanwhile, the pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has condemned the abduction of Falae on his farm land in ilado.

A statement issued by its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, said security agencies in the state should try as much as possible to track down his abductors, noting that kidnapping has assumed a frightening dimension in the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

Odumakin said: “The kidnap of Chief Falae is coming on the heels of recent abductions of Vanguard columnist, Ms. Donu Kogbara and Toyin, wife of Deputy Managing Director of The Sun Newspapers, Mr. Steve Nwosu.

“As kidnappers are invading the South, Boko Haram continues the festival of bloodshed in the North.

These are clearly intolerable and the security forces must rise to the occasion by taking concrete steps to combat the mindless lawlessness going on across the country.

He added that the first responsibility of every responsible government is to secure the lives and property of citizens.

“We demand the immediate release of Chief Falae and call on the security agencies to track his abductors swiftly”, Odumakin said.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has asked the Federal Govern-

ment to do everything possible to effect the release of Chief Olu Falae from his abductors.

He said the government would be held responsible if anything happens to the former SGF. Fani-Kayode stated this in a statement he issued in Abuja on Monday.

He described the abduction as unacceptable and dangerous.

He said: “The abduction of Chief Olu Falae is not only unacceptable but it also an exceptionally dangerous development.

“I say this because he is not only an elder statesman of our country, but he is also one of the most revered leaders of Afenifere and the South-West.

“We cannot sit by idly

and watch our leaders and elders being endangered, shamed and humiliated in this way. It is the government’s job to keep us all safe and secure and they are failing in that duty.

“I call on the President and our security agencies to effect the expeditious and immediate release of Chief Olu Falae. They must rescue him from these vagabonds and vandals as soon as possible before things get out of hand. Let it be clearly understood that if anything happens to him and if he doesn’t come home hale and hearty we will hold the Federal Government responsible and there will be consequences.

“Those that are in power would do well to take what I have said very seriously.”

hopeless predicament facing the state.

A trader, Moses Akwu opined that the governor should sit back at home and proffer solutions to the myriads of problems facing the state rather than spend part of the insufficient money in the state on needless foreign trips.

Said he: “Things are hard for us in Niger State while our governor is travelling to watch matches. I heard they said he was on invitation but is it not government resources that he used to go on the trip?

“We did not vote him in to watch football. We voted him because we wanted him to work and bring back the lost glory of the state. Watching match is not governance; it is sheer recklessness.”

Also, Gambo Mohammed, who spoke to our correspondent, said the governor needed to get back on track and focus on governance that is result oriented.

Mohammed said though they have confidence that the governor would work better than his predecessor, it would be better if he set his priorities right.

“Sports development is not what Niger State needs now. We need job creation for our unemployed youths, boost for our economy and agriculture and good roads,” he said.

A worker in the one of the ministries in the state who craved anonymity also lampooned the governor’s trip to London to watch a football match.

The middle aged woman said: “I still wait to see how this football match he went to watch in London would bring food to my table in my house. People are being sacked because they claimed there was no money and yet our dear governor went with entourage to London to watch football match that many people watch at home.”

Saraki agrees to appear before CCT Continued from page 6 day, announcing Saraki’s decision to attend his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal today (Tuesday), reads: ‘’The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal today (Tuesday), September 22, 2015. ‘’While the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had stated and maintained that he is ready to submit himself to due process of the law on any issue concerning him, he also believes that he has an inalienable right to resort to the same judiciary for protection when he feels his fundamental rights are about to be infringed upon. ‘’The Senate President is a law abiding citizen and his absence from tribunal was based on legal advice he received from his counsel that it is not necessary for him to appear before the tribunal at this stage since

the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the process of initiating the matter are being challenged before the federal High Court Abuja.

Following the adjournment for the determination of the motion on notice and the substantive suit before the Federal High Court to 30th of September and the appeal pending before the Court of Appeal adjourned to the 29th of September 2015, the Senate President has decided, as a law abiding citizen, to appear before the Tribunal in the interim. ‘’Saraki has taken the decision to attend the Tribunal sitting to demonstrate his respect for the rule of law in spite of his personal reservation on the process of his trial and the purpose it may be intended to serve. ‘’Saraki wishes to assure Nigerians of his absolute belief in the judicial process and is therefore confident that the course of justice would be served at the end of this matter’’.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday September 22, 2015

13 International

Kenyan parents to sue govt over tuition fees ÏÏÏThe General Secretary of the

Kenyan National Parents Association says the organisation will file a suit next week to seek a court ruling that would force the government to reimburse parents for the fees they paid.

This, after the administration ordered both public and private schools to be closed beginning on Monday following an ongoing strike by teachers who are demanding a pay raise.

General Secretary Musau Ndunda also says the parents support the decision of the government to close the schools. He adds that the estimated 12 million students would be vulnerable to violence often carried out by members of the Somali-based militant group al-Shabab. “It’s quite unfortunate that the government has closed down schools in the country, but on the other hand, we feel that the moves that the government has taken is quite ok, because of the insecurity that we have in the country,” said Ndunda. “[But] the reason why we are going to court is to ensure that the fees that the parents have paid and have not been utilized there is need for them to be refunded, because by the government now closing the schools and saying that

Pope Francis meets Fidel Castro ÏÏÏPope Francis has met Cuba's

former President, Fidel Castro, after celebrating Mass in front of tens of thousands of people in Havana.

The two men discussed world affairs and religion, in what the Vatican called an "informal and friendly" encounter.

Before the meeting, Pope Francis gave a homily in which he urged Cubans to serve each other rather than ideology.

It is the first visit by the Pope to the Communist-ruled island, on a trip that will later take him to the US. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi described the meeting between Pope Francis and Fidel Castro, which took place at the former Cuban leader's home, as low-key.

They exchanged books: Pope Francis gave Mr Castro three titles, including a book of sermons

by Mr Castro's former teacher, while in return the Pope received Fidel and Religion, a collection of interviews with a Brazilian priest.

Earlier in the day, thousands streamed into Havana's Revolu-

Mediators seek amnesty for Burkinabe coupists

ÏÏÏWest

Teachers demonstrate outside Kenya's Parliament Buildings in the capital Nairobi September 7, 2011. Many Kenyan state schools remained closed on Tuesday after thousands of teachers went on strike to try to force the government to increase their numbers.

the calendar year has ended, then we have a loss of almost 12 weeks that have not been utilized.”

Striking teachers say they are not deterred by the decision of the government to close all schools.

They insist that they would only return to the classrooms only if the administration pays them the 50-60 percent pay raise as recently ordered by a court. But the gov-

tion Square to hear the Pope.

Security services were seen arresting at least three people who were shouting and attempting to distribute flyers at the edge of the square as the Mass got under way.

During his homily the Pope spoke of how "Christians are constantly called to set aside their own wishes and desires, their pursuit of power, and to look instead to those who are most vulnerable".

He also warned against ideology, saying: "Service is never ideological, for we do not serve ideas, we serve people".

From my vantage point, it was hard to gauge exactly how many people filled the enormous Revolution Square in Havana, but their enthusiasm was clear to everyone watching.

The Pope was greeted by thousands in good voice and high spirits, despite the suffocating Caribbean heat.

Pope Francis

ernment says it does not have the funds to pay the teachers.

The parents’ organization has urged both the government and the teachers to resolve the impasses over the pay dispute.

Ndunda says both parties have to ensure they do right by the parents and students to resolve their disagreement.“Whatever the teachers were given, they were giv-

Uganda's Museveni gets nod to run again ÏÏÏUganda's

veteran president Yoweri Museveni got the formal go-ahead from his party to stand again in elections next year, setting him up for a possible tough confrontation with ally-turnedadversary, former prime minister Amama Mbabazi.

Museveni, 71, has already dominated the east African nation for nearly 30 years, with a rule bolstered by economic growth, an often divided opposition and control of the security services.

But analysts say Mbabazi - the ruling party's former secretary general who is now hoping to stand as an opposition candidate - could be the president's strongest challenger yet.

Mbabazi, who was seen as a kingmaker in Museveni's government before he was sacked as prime minister in 2014, originally stood against Museveni to get the ruling National Resistance Movement's presidential nomination.

But he dropped out of that race in July, accusing officials of frustrating his bid.

Mbabazi then joined an opposition coalition, The Democratic Alliance, where he is in a tight race

en by the court and in a matter that the government should uphold the rule of law. We are saying the government should comply with what the court decided. And if the government feels they don’t have the money, then of course they can use the same court to appeal and say that as a government we are unable to raise this kind of money,” said Ndunda.

African negotiators have announced a plan to end the crisis in Burkina Faso, where a military coup overthrew the transitional civilian government last week. The proposal would restore civilian authority, but offer amnesty to the coup leaders.

Presidential and parliamentary elections set for October 11 would be held sometime before November 22. Candidates loyal to former President Blaise Compaore, who were excluded from the October polls, would now be allowed to run.

The plan will be submitted to an Africa Union summit Tuesday for approval.

General Gilbert Diendere of the presidential guard led the coup last week. He was angered that Compaore supporters were to have been kept out of the new elections. Guard members briefly held interim President Michel Kafando, his prime minister, and several other ministers hostage.

Japanese Abe's popularity drops after defense laws passed

ÏÏÏJapanese public support for with three-time presidential challenger Kizza Besigye to secure the alliance's ticket.

The government media centre said Museveni had promised to improve living standards and "eradicate corruption in the country", after securing his party's nomination on Sunday.

Museveni, a key western ally, has been credited with returning economic stability to Uganda after years of turmoil.

But his critics have accused him of failing to check runaway corruption and of using security forces to harass opposition supporters during elections.

The opposition says it suspects Museveni is grooming his son, Kainerugaba Muhoozi, to succeed him.

The president regularly denies having any such intention and dismisses the other charges against him. Presidential and parliamentary polls are scheduled between February and March next year.

Museveni

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dropped in the days since his ruling coalition rammed through legislation allowing the nation's troops to fight abroad, opinion polls showed on Monday.

Parliament in the officially pacifist nation passed the contentious security bills early on Saturday, a move that could see Japanese troops engage in combat overseas for the first time since the end of World War II. A weekend poll taken by the topselling, centre-right newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun showed that public support for the Abe government dropped four points to 41% compared with a similar survey taken in mid-August.

Its disapproval rating rose six points to 51%, the Yomiuri said.

A separate poll taken by the liberal Asahi Shimbun showed the government's approval rating down one point to 35% compared with a survey taken a week ago, while the disapproval rating rose three points to 45%.

And the Nikkei business daily's poll showed the approval rating fall six points to 40%, while disapproval rose seven points to 47%.

A majority of those polled voiced disapproval of what they said was the way the government bulldozed the legislation through Diet and complained that Abe had not offered persuasive and detailed arguments to justify the move.

14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 22, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

15 Opinion

The Eni-Njoku Phenomenon and future of Nigeria (1)

Ichie Ik Muo

O

n 1/1/14, Lord Lugard issued the following proclamation: ‘from today, all the country from the sea to near the desert in the North and from the French country in the West to the German Kameruns in the East shall be one single country under one Governor General so that there may be no jealousy or rivalry between the North and the South and all may cooperate together for the advancement of peace and prosperity. It will be my earnest endeavour to promote peace and justice for all men, to protect every man in the observance of his own religious faith and to administer equal justice alike for great and small’ The proclamation was full of good intentions. However, the hearts of men, including colonialists are ordinarily deceptive and what people avow are most often at variance with what they practice. Anyway, neither peace, nor cooperation, nor prosperity, nor advancement, nor justice alike for great and small, nor freedom to worship, has been the lot of Nigeria and Nigerians since the days of Lugard to the present day. Of course Lugard was responsible for the unfortunate outcome because the

amalgamation was not in the interest of the constituents and even at that, he had some favourite children among the potential contenders for power and influence. Consequently and unfortunately, Nigerians are, after 100 years of the Lugardian declaration, wondering what to do with the ‘mistake of 1914.’

Our history in the last 100 years has not been aweinspiring. In 1960, we became independent, ruled by an openly reluctant North. There was political crisis in the West, a coup that some people conveniently christened an Igbo-coup, the threats of Araba by the north, the coordinated and officially sanctioned mass-murder of southerners and mostly the Ndigbo, 3 years of Biafran war of Independence, a long period of military interregnum and the return of civil rule in 1999.

Between 1999 and now, during which we have had 16 years of un-interrupted civilian, our experiences are not exciting.

Corruption has become a citizen of Nigeria and through it, some individuals are now richer than Nigeria. Our political culture promotes parliamentary pugilism and disregard for the common good. The integrity of the country is being challenged by a group of demagogic fellows who have declared war on Nigeria and are attacking ferociously from the Maiduguri axis. The so-called Fulani-herds men are also on the prowl while there are other flashpoints of violence across the land. There are also millions who are not armed but who feel that they have been short-changed out of the resources of this country.

It was under these circumstances that former President Jonathan suddenly empanelled the national conference. Before the conference, there was an undeclared and un-moderated debate by Nigerians about what to do with or to Nigeria. Some feel the nation should split because we have nothing in common.

Some argue that our strength lies in our size and diversity and that we should optimise them.

Others feel we should adopt true federalism but which one is true federalism? Contingency theory teaches that federalism is only true to the environment and that is why we have different federal systems across the globe. Some argue that Nigeria is wonderful the way it is today and that landmass should be the determinant of everything.

They forget that Japan, small as it is, is the third biggest economy globally. Others want

Lugard

100% of their resources but they forget that everybody has his own resource and none of the greatest countries in the world today depends on natural resources. They depend on human capabilities: intelligence, ideas and information. Anyway, Jonathan and PDP were not successful in the 2015 elections, an apparently unprepared APC is on board, and implementing the conference resolutions is not on their agenda.

Professor Eni Njoku studied in the Universities of Manchester and London taught at the university of Ibadan and became the first VC of UNILAG in 1962(aged 45). Following the dispute between the Senate and Council over his non-reappointment in 1965 and the resultant crisis, he resigned and moved on to UNN. It is on record that one Kayode Adams was a key player in the Eni Njoku protests, (against Professor Biobaku) when the students believed that the new appointment had ethnic colouration. Thus, during the Eni-Njoku days, people lived and worked wherever they wanted; competence mattered; where you hailed from was not a key issue; students fought on principles and the senate was strong enough the resist the

council. It is instructive that the key ‘protestant’ was one Kayode and he was protesting against the appointment of a Biobaku because he believed that an Njoku was good enough. Things were not perfect but it was the golden era in Nigeria. So, how do we move forward; how do we re-create the Eni-Njoku days, when we lived in brotherhood even though tribe and tongue differed?

Various countries have adopted diverse strategies to tackle their socio-political challenges at different times in history. Some fought it out (Nigeria?); some broke up (Sudan), some broke down, (Somalia) some fought, got tired of fighting and talked (Philippines, Turkey). Ultimately, the various elements must agree that it is in everybody’s interest to be together and this understanding has to become a part of the national DNA. In the recent past there have been peace agreements between the Philippine Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (16/10/12), the Turkish Government and the Kurds(30/9/13), the Myanmar Government and the Kachin Independence Organization(11/10/13), Central Africal Republic and the Seleka

rebels (10/1/13) and Yemen and Houthi rebels (20/9/14), In Sudan, which has a lot in common with Nigeria, the center could not hold and after 30 years of civil war, and they voted to go their separate ways. In Spain, there are also separatist tensions from the wealthy northeastern region of Catalonia where they are demanding for resource control. The options considered are a velvet divorce, confrontation or a federal constitution. Of course, we are all aware of what is happening in Ukraine where Russiainspired spirit of independence is destablising a small a fragile neighbour.

Nigeria is large and diverse but cannot compare with India with a population of about 1.3bn and 815m registered voters and29 states in 2014. Well, Nigeria of about 150m people has 36 states and about 20 ‘strong cases’ for more states.

The United Kingdom, (which was the ‘Great Britain’ when it manufactured Nigeria) is made up of three consenting ‘members’, England, Scotland and Wales, with their separate parliaments. They have been together for 307 years and from all indications, the union has worked and benefited every member. However, the Scots still want total independence.

All these instances show that the world is not at peace and that countries have to look for ways of moving forward in peace as to attain some development and an acceptable standard of living for the people. It is becoming obvious that force has not achieved long-lasting solution. In Nigeria, the argument has been between those who wish that this ‘marriage of strange bedfellows’ be dissolved and those who argue that you do not go about dissolving a 100-year old marriage. Some have even seen the hand of God (no longer the hand of Lugard) in the whole affair and equated the event of 1914 to a Catholic marriage. However, it could not have been a Catholic marriage because the partners were not joined of their own accord, there was deception on the part of the initiator of the marriage and no Reverend Father was involved! These are enough to annul a marriage (though the Catholic Church does not grant divorce!)

Dr. Ik Muo is of the Department of Business Administration Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Military’ll rescue Chibok girls, COAS assures Andrew Orolua

Abuja ÏÏÏChief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Monday, gave the assurance that the Chibok school girls who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in April 2014 would be rescued.

He said this while fielding questions from news men on the sideline of the Chief of Army Staff third quarter conference held at the Army Headquarters, in Abuja.

The army chief maintained that the safe return of the abducted school girls remained a priority of the military in the on-going counter-insurgency operations in the north-east.

According to him, there were strong indications that the girls were still held within the fringes of the

Sambisa forest.

Gen. Buiratai said that though the exact location of the girls in the forest was yet to be ascertained, the military was mindful of their safety in the bid to secure their release.

Said he, “The issue of the Chibok girls is very crucial.

We are making all efforts to clear the terrorists and after clearing them we rescue the Chibok girls. I believe that the girls must be somewhere within the general area of the forest, but we are not yet sure of exactly where they are, but as soon as this is confirmed, we will attempt to see what we can do to bring them back. Their safety is very important.

"They could be somewhere else, so we are taking this issue in piecemeal, so that we are sure of where

we are and how we are going about it and we believe that we can find a solution to it very soon.

“It is not an Army issue; it is a collective issue, the Air Force is there working very hard. The Department of State Service is also working very hard on this issue.

Our main concern is to provide the ground support to ensure that we do it very well. By and large there is progress,” Buratai said.

He said the military was mindful of the order given

by President Muhammadu Buhari e to end the insurgency and, at the same time, secure the release of all the captives of the insurgents.

He described the latest audio message released by the Boko Haram leader as another desperate move by the group to find relevance.

He insisted that the group no longer had the capacity to hold any ground or plan any co-ordinated attack on strategic locations or key public facilities.

“I think the new Boko Haram leader, in the latest audio, is just trying to sound relevant, but as far as I am concerned he is irrelevant in the scheme of things. He is irrelevant to me.

“Have you seen any of them coming out apart from the suicide bombings? You can see the number of terrorists that are escaping from their camps; he is just making noise to remain relevant,” he said.

On Sunday’s bomb blast in Maiduguri, Buratai urged residents of the area to remain calm as measures were being taken to forestall a recurrence.

Andrew Orolua

Abuja ÏÏÏMilitary operations in Nigeria may soon begin to enjoy popular supports as critical stakeholders have begun to donate to the upkeep of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the north-east.

Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Dave Umahi, has offered to give bags of rice and other essential items to the IDPs and the troops in the north-east zone.

Umahi made the commitment when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Olonisakin, in

Tribunal dismisses case against Gov Ortom Freddie Adamgbe Makurdi

L-R: Chief Judge of Anambra State, Peter Umeadi; Anglican Bishop of Awka, Rt. Rev. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim; Governor Willie Obiano; Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke and Speaker Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Rita Maduagwu during a special service to mark the beginning of the 2015 Legal Year at the Cathedral Church of St Faith, Awka... on Monday.

ÏÏÏThe Benue State Gov-

ernorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Makurdi, on Monday, dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2015 election, Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor against Governor Samuel Ortom.

Delivering the judgement, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice (Mrs.) Elizabeth Karatu said that the petition lacked merit and

Val Okara

Varsity don, son die in auto crash Sodiq Adekunle

Osogbo ÏÏÏA Professor of Economics, AbdulHakeem Ishola Mobolaji, along with his son, Muhammad, has died in an auto crash on his way to Ibadan from Lagos.

His second son, AbdulHafiz and a friend, Barrister AbdulRasheed Attah survived the accident which happened on Sunday.

Mobolaji was until his death the acting Vice-Chancellor of Fountain University, Osogbo; a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ilorin and the Board Chairman of Al-Barakah Microfinance Bank.

Mobolaji earned Bachelor and Master Degree in Economics at the University of

Ibadan; Master degree in Islamic Banking, Finance and Management at the Loughborough University and Doctorate degree at University of Leicester.

In a statement release, Vice Chancellor of the Fountain University, Osogbo, Professor Bashir Raji, described the late Mobolaji as rare gem, who blended modern education with Islamic civilisation, perfectly.

He said the Management and Staff of Fountain University Fountain would sorely miss Mobolaji, who was filled with vision for the university, the Muslim Ummah and the nation at large.

The president of the MSSN Lagos, Kaamil Kalejaiye, said, “We pray that

Allah should overlook his shortcomings, forgive his sins and grant his soul paradise. May He grant the family, friends, colleagues and the entire Ummah the fortitude to bear the loss.”

A popular writer, Zafaran Adeniyi, in his condolence, recalled his experiences with the late Mobolaji, and described the late don as “One who was clearly convinced of his mission in life.

One in the midst of abundance but still indifferent to the world. One who worked with Federal Inland Revenue, National Assembly, etc. but was never tempted to be corrupt. “Somebody, who had several opportunities but never for once allow it to derail him. One who con-

sults on almost issues and populates opinion. A lively, friendly, fatherly, missionary personality.”

Also, Co-ordinator, Change Monitor, Olatunde Fasanya, faulted bad Nigeria roads for the death of Mobolaji and his son.

In a statement on behalf of members of the group, Fasanya said, “Without doubt, he has contributed his quota to the economic development of our nation, as he was a consultant to the Central Bank of Nigeria and various financial institutions in the country.

“We also use this opportunity to urge the government at all levels to take as priority the completion of roads that are under construction and those that have turned death-trap rather than safe drive route.”

Owerri ÏÏÏThe leadership of the Imo State chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) have berated Governor Rochas Okorocha over alleged uncharitable statement on the party, in which he said APGA was a regional association for Ndigbo in politics.

The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Dr. George Nkwoji, described Okorocha as an 'ungrateful person, who was in the habit of biting the fingers that fed him.'

Nkwoji expressed shock that Okorocha had continued to ridicule the party that brought him to political limelight as a governor, accusing him (Okorocha) as one of saboteurs against the survival of Ndigbo in the national political landscape.

The APGA scribe alleged that the 2015 gubernatorial election was a rigging com-

Ebonyi govt donates bags of rice to IDPs Abuja, on Monday.

He noted that for the Nigerian Armed Forces to win the war against insurgency in the north-east, it was imperative for all and sundry to give them support and encouragement.

Umahi said that in addition to individual and corporate supports, the military would also require the general public to champion the campaign of effective isolation of the terrorist elements in that corner of the country. the tribunal was not in a position to grant prayers not sought by the petitioner.

Karatu said that though the petitioner, Tarzoor, was eligible to contest the election and return of Ortom at the tribunal, as opposed to the pleas by both the 1st and 2nd Respondents, he had no locus standi.

She, however, said that though the 1st Respondent might have contested primary election under the platform of the PDP, there was no enough evidence to prove that at the time of his election as candidate of the APC he was still a member of the PDP. Ortom described the victory as a validation of positive change which has tallied with the true tenets of democracy and proper adjudication of justice.

APGA berates Okorocha over comment petition that was awarded to the highest bidder and urged him (Okorocha) to stop claiming to have won the poll under All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Nkwoji, APGA had remained a dominant political party in the South-East geo-political zone, insisting that the party was always robbed of its election victories, but asserted that APGA would reestablish its supremacy as soon as votes begin to count in Nigeria.

Okorocha

Business Times Æ s

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

17

LR- .Mr. Olatunde Oderinde, Deputy Team Leader, GEMS 4, Dr. Olajide Bashorun, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Mrs. Bukola Awosanya, Group Head, Agriculture Finance at the Lagos Rice Fair organized by GEMS4 and supported by the Bank held in Lagos.

NSIA says funds and assets intact Emmanuel Ogbonnaya, Business Editor

Given its management’s penchant for the highest standards in corporate governance, accountability and transparency, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has disclosed its readiness to provide detailed fact sheets on its invested funds and assets as all were in order.

The Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute - a global corporation analyzing public asset owners such as sovereign wealth funds and other long-term governmental investors had independently assessed the NSIA’s transparency score at 9 on the Linaburg-Maduell Transparency index, putting NSIA in the joint 2nd category overall along with other internationally respected Sovereign Wealth

Punish bad aviation fuel marketers, CASR Boss tells FG

Funds.

Daily Times reports that the NSIA is the only African Sovereign Wealth Fund to be so rated.

NSIA, an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria set up to manage funds in excess of budgeted hydrocarbon revenues operates three mandate funds: the Stabilisation Fund, the Future Generations Fund and the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund.

According to a statement by the Authority, all funds and assets managed by the NSIA are intact and fully accounted for as detailed in the Audited Financial Statement for the year ended 2014 published on March 28, 2015 available on its website (www.nsia.com.ng).

The Annual Report was subsequently issued by the NSIA in September, 2015. NSIA’s funds have been invested profitably, realizing a Net Comprehensive Income of N15.8billion in the year

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Founder and Executive Director, Centre for Aviation Safety and Research (CASR), Engr.

Shery Kyari, has called on the Federal Government fish out the oil marketers that were allegedly selling kerosene to airline operators as aviation fuel.

Kyari, who is also an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, made the call at the third Engr Zakari Haruna Memorial Lecture at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Annex, international

ended 31st December, 2014, compared with N505million recorded in the fifteen months ended December 31, 2013.

However the NSIA stated categorically to dispel insinuations of funds mismanagement from any quarter that it has never been invited by the Ad-hoc Committee on the Management of Excess Crude Account proceeds and accruals of the National Economic Council (NEC) to make a submission on its operations in the first instance.

NSIA stated further that neither did it make any presentation or submission whatsoever to the Ad-hoc Committee. “However, the Management of NSIA remains open and available to provide details on its operations and accounts to all its stakeholders.”

In addition to the Audited Annual Reports of 2013 and 2014, the NSIA has made available its quarterly audited accounts until

March 2015 on its website, www. nsia.com.ng.

The NSIA stated that its Accounts are audited quarterly and annually by PricewaterhouseCoopers, an international firm of auditors, using the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS).

A breakdown of the funds managed by the NSIA shows that a seed capital of $1billion was provided in 2012 and has been managed in three different ring-fenced funds: 20 per cent in Stabilisation Fund; 40 per cent in Future Generation Fund and 40 per cent in Nigeria Infrastructure Fund respectively and the assets invested in each fund are detailed in the Annual Report.

“Furthermore, the NSIA wishes to state that it has made no investment in the rail sector, even though it remains an area of interest. And, of its total commit-

ment to the Second Niger Bridge project, only $2.2million has been disbursed for project development related consultancy costs. In addition, N10.3billion was disbursed on early construction works on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Works. This has been addressed in previous press releases and briefings by the NSIA. Out of the 15 sectors of interest for the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund, the immediate areas of focus listed by the NSIA are: Motorways, Power, Agriculture, Real Estate and Healthcare. The Future Generations Fund invests in a diversified range of assets covering public and private equities, hedge funds and “other diversifiers” using the services of best-in-class investment managers and global fund custodians. The Stabilization Fund targets the preservation of capital.

wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos.

He wondered why oil marketers would go to the extent of selling kerosene to unsuspecting airlines, thereby compromising safety of the passengers and the aircraft itself.

According to him, “I wonder why oil marketers will sell kerosene to airline operators as kerosene for their operations. We want to believe that the Federal Government will react to this by fishing out the marketers who did this and deal with them decisively.”

He continued, “It is dangerous to the industry .It undermines safety as well as threaten safety.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Alpha First Aviation School, Elder Soji Amusan, who spoke on the topic, “Expanding Air Passengers Base In Aviation” stated that air transport is a very important base of the global economy.

He stated that less than 10 per cent of Nigerians travel by air, adding that to increase the number of people travelling by air in the country, Nigeria must have a coherent transport policy.

Amusan argued that if there had been coherent transport policy most of the airports in the country would had witnessed a lot expansion.

He listed some of the factor militating against the increase in air passenger traffic to include: bad manager, adding that most Nigerian airlines were prone to bad management just like the liquidated Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL).

He added that bad manager brought about short life span in the country.

Maritime 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Truck restriction will hamper port operation, fuel inflation – Haastrup

The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Princess Vicky Haastrup has called on the Lagos State Government to reconsider its implementation of the restriction order on articulated trucks within the metropolis to night time because of its negative impact on port operation and the larger economy.

Haastrup recalled that the truck movement restriction is contained in the Lagos Traffic Law signed by the former Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola on Thursday 2nd August 2012.

“While we appreciate the effort of the state government in ensur-

ing safety of lives and property within the metropolis, we must not fail to underscore the implication of the restriction order.

“Mostly due to security concerns, the truck drivers might not be willing to move at night. This means cargo will not leave the ports and if cargoes don’t leave the port, the ports will be congested and the economy will be affected.

“Terminal operators and relevant government agencies have worked very hard over the past nine years to eliminate port congestion, but the restriction order is capable of reversing the gains made so far.

“The implication of port congestion is that shipping insurance costs will rise steeply, freights will be jerked up and shipping lines will slam congestion surcharges – which had been eliminated since 2006 after port concession – on cargoes coming to our ports.

“All these costs will be passed to the consumer leading to higher costs of goods in the market and higher inflation,” Haastrup said.

She appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to give a three-year moratorium to the truck operators before implementing the law.

“The deferment of the implementation of the law for the next

three years will create the platform needed for government and stakeholders to work together on creating alternative truck routes and developing alternative modes of evacuating cargo – especially roads and rail – from the port,” she said.

The STOAN Chairman asked truck operators and drivers to stop indulging in blame game and take responsibility for the safety of their trucks on the roads.

“STOAN is also seriously concerned about the needless loss of lives that results from truck accidents. We therefore urge the Federal Road Safety Commission and other statutory government

agencies to monitor and impound rickety trucks and take them off the roads.

“The leaders of the truckers’ associations need to train their members on safe driving habits rather than trying to look for who next to blame for their involvement in accidents on the roads,” Haastrup said.

She also charged the Federal and Lagos State Governments to repair roads and provide parks for the trucks.

Haastrup recalls that Section 2 of the law restricts movement of trailers and articulated vehicles to night time, with only petrol tankers and long vehicles used in conveying passengers, allowed to travel within the metropolis during the day. Vehicles with more than one rear axle or six tyres are allowed to move only between 6am and 9pm.

“Save as may be prescribed by the Commissioner by Regulation, no trailer other than petrol tankers and long vehicles used in conveying passengers, shall enter into or travel within the metropolis of Lagos between the hours of 6.00am – 9.00pm,” Section 2(1) of the law states while Section 2(2) stipulates that “any driver who is found contravening the provisions of this Section shall have his vehicle impounded by a duly authorised officer of the Authority and shall upon conviction be liable to a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) or a term of imprisonment for 6 months or both.”

The exemptions to the restriction covers tour or passenger buses, fire service trucks, rescue and recovery trucks, patrol trucks, perishable farm products trucks, refuse collection trucks, cement mixer trucks, tractors and refrigerated trucks.

The general impression is that the movement restriction targets trucks involved in evacuating cargoes from the port.

Shipping association warns against reintroduction of CTN The Chairman, Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Val Usifoh has called on the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to reconsider its plan to reintroduce the Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) which was scrapped by the Federal Government in 2011.

The Chairman of the Port Industry Anti-Corruption Standing Committee (PIACSAC), Val Usifoh said CTN was stopped five years ago because it did not only place additional financial burden on shippers – importers and exporters – but also added to the cost of doing business at the nation’s seaports.

He said, “I hope that government will have a rethink on it.

In 2010, it was approved by the Federal Executive Council and by 2011 it was abolished because they find out that it was not value adding. All the monies collected then, where is it? Who accounted for it?

“Now, the same people have come to Nigeria to say that we can help you make your cargo secure and Nigerians are told it has no cost. If government has decided to reintroduce it, that is its decision but the position of the shipping companies is that there is a cost attached to it, “he said.

A transport logistics expert and Head of Operations Department, Lagos Business School, Dr.

Frank Ojadi had a fortnight ago, faulted claims by the NSC that CTN would not attract charges or add to port costs.

His said, “CTN was abolished almost immediately due to the high cost it imposed on shippers (importers and exporters) and the strong opposition to it.

It is very strange to hear NSC assume the full powers of the FEC to reintroduce the CTN. The reasons given by them are not convincing since the Customs have the means and ways of monitoring the risks associated with imports.

“Curiously, NSC has been silent on who bears the cost of this scheme. Economic regula-

tion of port operations does not cover issues of this nature. How would the introduction of CTN improve port efficiency? This appears to me to be another taxation which points to increasing the high cost of doing business in Nigeria.”

Usifoh also attributed the decline in volume of import into the country to government’s inconsistent and poorly thoughtout fiscal policies.

Such polices he said include the automotive policy, rice policy and the recent Central Bank of Nigeria forex restriction to importers of certain commodities.

Usifoh said activities at the roll-on-roll-off (RORO) terminals

in Lagos including the Port and Terminal Multi Services Limited (PTML) has been at the lowest ebb as a result of the automotive policy introduced in 2013, which hiked the duties on imported vehicles from 20% to 70%.

He said the policy led to the diversion of vehicles meant for the Nigerian market to Cotonou Port.

“Business should be predictable so that when you are making investment, medium or long term, you are sure of where you are going. Importation is on the low ebb, business is down for everybody and if it is down for the importer it is down for the ship owner.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

19 Labour

NLC state councils to monitor bailout funds

Wabba

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Thursday said it had directed the leadership of its state councils to be on the lookout and immediately report to its headquarters any attempt by state governors to divert their share of the N338 billion bailout funds provided for them by the federal government to offset salaries of workers.

NLC in Abuja disclosed that it would also partner the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to monitor the disbursement of the N338 billion bailout funds in the 27 affected states, to ensure that salaries owed to

workers are completely paid off.

The central labour house said in a statement that was signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, that its members in the states are now expected to serve as ‘whistle blowers’ in the disbursement process, to ensure that none of the 27 governors misappropriates the fund.

The NLC call on its members also came at a time members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) indicated their intention to go on strike in demand for payment of salary arrears owed its members in some states.

ASUP at a press briefing also raised several issues it claimed

were affecting its members and Nigeria’s polytechnics, and which it wants the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari to address in his expected reform of the country’s education sector.

Notwithstanding, the NLC in its commendation of the ICPC’s refund of about N1 billion public funds that was criminally diverted by some officials of the federal ministry of environment and the federal pay office, said that the renewed effort and commitment of the commission to recover looted public funds and other proceeds was in line with its mandate.

It however stated that such effort must be followed up with a matching commitment from the affected government ministry to properly channel the funds to undertake the activities they were meant for.

“NLC will also partner with the ICPC to monitor the disbursement and use of the N338 billion bailout funds for 27 states that are owning their workers legitimate salaries.

“The congress has directed its states, councils to serve as whistle blowers on any criminal diversion of bailout funds. We agree with ICPC that the painful days of the public running after funds after appropriation are over for the good of all Nigerians including our working members,” Wabba said in the statement.

Aregbesola

Association of Medical and Dental Officers in Osun, has threatened to embark on indefinite strike if the state government failed to pay outstanding salaries of its members on or before Sept.

27.

Dr Isiaka Adekunle, the chairman of the association, handed down the threat at a news conference in Osogbo.

He said that aside the payment of the outstanding salaries, government should also remit all outstanding cooperative and contributory deductions from the doctors’ salaries to the appropriate quarters.

“Government should pay all outstanding salaries, union and cooperative deductions; leave bonuses and remit the backlog of contributory pension’s deductions to the relevant pension funds administrators on or before 27th September, 2015.“Failure of which we will embark on an indefinite withdrawal of our services from Monday, 28th September,

Osun doctors threaten strike over unpaid salaries 2015.

“Aside from the payment of these arrears, government should put in place the machinery for immediate implementation of the revised CONMESS circular for medical and dental officers in Osun State.

“The government should clear the arrears of hospital running cost and restore the provision for same as it is not possible to run a hospital without running cost,’’ he said.Adekunle said the association was not part of the MOU signed by the state chapter of the NLC for the payment of 50 per cent of the state workers’ salaries.

“Our association is not a member of NLC; we were not invited to any negotiation with the government on the above subject matter in spite our myriad of correspondence to the government on the plight of our members.

“Therefore, we are not party to the decision of NLC and cannot be bound by the MOU they signed with the government,’’ he said.

HID Awolowo a pillar of strength— TUC The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) mourns Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, the matriarch of the Awolowo family and wife of late Obafemi Awolowo, who reportedly died on September, 19th 2015 in her sleep at her Ikenne, Ogun state home. She was 99, and had just two months to turn 100.

In a statement jointly signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary

General, Comrade (Barr.) Musa Lawal, said the woman once described as “ jewel of inestimable value” by her husband has left so much to be desired.

According to the congress, the nonagenarian until her husband’s demise on May 9, 1987 was his pillar of strength, adding that though mama was old yet “we had wished she lived more years to see the dream of her husband concerning Nigeria come to

pass.”

While we mourn Mama’s demise, we take solace in the fact that she left a worthy legacy behind. There was no doubt that she was a woman of uncommon strength and virtue. It takes a lot of gut to sustain the laudable political legacies and values of her husband, the great Chief Awolowo.

The statement further remarked: “Mama would have been

100 on November 25 this year, a milestone that would have been celebrated by the whole country.

But we cannot question our creator. This is one loss, too many.”

“Even at 99 mama never relented in uniting her family and the Yoruba race together. At national level too she was a pillar of strength’’, added the TUC. We therefore pray for the peaceful repose of her soul, and urge her family and the Yoruba race to

draw strength from the legacies the matriarch stood for while she was alive. “Mama was compassionate, loving, caring, sensitive and a great humanitarian, virtues our leaders must espouse.

Indeed Mama enjoys the enviable status of not only being a bridge between the past and the present, we can confidently say MAMA is the mother of contemporary Nigeria. Mama, E Sun re oh. We shall miss you!.”

Workers earned N730 per hour in Q2 — NBS

Nigerian workers earned N730.85 per hour for their labour in the second quarter of this year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has reported.

The report on labour productivity released by the NBS, weekend, indicated that the wages of labour in the second quarter of this year was higher than the

N669.57 per hour which workers earned at the first quarter of the year.

The increase recorded represented an improvement in standard of living. The NBS stated: “High labour productivity can be an important signal of the improvement in real incomes (wages of labour).”

The report also showed that the total hours’ workers spent on labour in the second quarter increased from 31.50 billion hours recorded in the first quarter to 31.28 billion hours.

The NBS reported that the labour force grew from 73,436,104 recorded in the first quarter of this year to 74,010,602 in the sec-

ond quarter.

“The purpose of this brief report is to review recent trends in labour force and labour productivity in Nigeria, as well as compare with other emerging economies, with a view to highlighting possible areas of interest in the analysis of labour productivity in Nigeria,” the NBS said.

Agric 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Nigeria has 180 million birds, needs no imports — NVRI

Tomato growers

Syngenta offers new solution to pest control ÏÏÏƆ Ǝƍ ƕƏƃƄ ƆƊƋƍ ƐƄƕ ƍƆƃƄ Ɛ ƍƆƄƎƆƄ Ǝ ƅ ƍƊƄƍ Isaac Agber The threat of pests to healthy growth of plants has assumed a horrendous snag, particularly to vegetable crops and low stem fruits. In Nigeria, tomato growers have experienced a staggering decline in harvest over the years. No thanks to “Tuta Absoluta,” the perceived demon that ravages plants absolutely.

To complement the government’s efforts in finding a solution to this scourge, Syngenta Nigeria Ltd, one of the leading agrochemical companies in the country, has introduced a new broad spectrum insecticide called Ampligo, specifically designed for use in forage brassica crops (vegetables).

Studies have shown that Ampligo contains new chemistry, with a new mode of action for fast-acting and long-lasting control of leaf miner, aphids, nysius and the caterpillars of white butterfly, diamondback moth (including SP/OP resistant diamondback moth) and soybean looper. This makes it highly suitable for use in forage brassica crops such as fodder radish, kale, rape, swedes and turnips.

This winning chemical mixture has two active substances, namely, Chlorantraniliprole (CTPR) and Lambda-Cyhalothrin to produce an effective and safe formula for dealing with a wide

range of various moth larvae, including Heliothis, Spodoptera, Spodoptera Exigua, Plusia, European corn borer, Cabbage moths, tobacco thrips and similar moths that cause damage to the field crops, vegetables, orchards and flowers.

Nigerian farmers will now have rest of mind as this chemical solution excels in its ability to eliminate the insect during its various developmental stages, such as eggs, larvae and adults, thus immediately stopping any further damage to the agricultural yield.

The product also has a unique microcapsule format, which enables the active materials to work only after the spray has dried on the plant in addition to having a maximum effect after rain or irrigation. Farmers will not bother spraying their farms repeatedly as the frequencies are significantly reduced with the efficacy of Ampligo alongside the cost, Syngeta’s Country Director, Nigeria, Dr. Shachi Sharma, assured.

“Ampligo works against wide varieties of sucking and biting pests in vegetables, potatoes and field crops, giving up to 21 days protection. This means that, farmers can reduce the number of times they need to spray their fields, saving them time, energy and cost –while freeing up time for them to conduct other important tasks,” he said.

According to Sharma, Tuta Absoluta is a deadly pest that if not controlled, can destroy up to 100% of the tomatoes on a field.

He said thousands of Nigerian farmers have suffered great loss due to this pest and Ampligo was provided to serve an effective solution.

Indicating its commitment fostering global food security and transforming agriculture in the country, the company also launched two new tomato hybrids; Chibli and Kilele alongside two local rice varieties; Faro 44 and Faro 52.

Sharma said the Chibli hybrid tomato variety is good for farmers who grow for both the fresh and for the tomato processing market. According to him, the variety grows well across different agro-ecological zones and has a high solid content making it suitable for tomato paste processors.

The Kilele hybrid, on the other hand, “is a high quality hybrid tomato that can be harvested over a 10-week period compared to local varieties that can only be harvested over a four week period or so. The long harvesting period extends farmers’ sales window, increasing their abilities to optimize their returns,” Sharma explained.

The improved rice varieties, according to Sharma, will save the huge sums, which the country uses to import 2.9 million tons of rice annually.

The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), has affirmed that Nigeria has 180 million birds which can meet its poultry needs, and has no need for imported poultry or poultry products.

NVRI Executive Director, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed, who made the disclosure in Vom, Plateau, in an interview with newsmen, said that 120 million of the birds were rural poultry in backyards, while 50 million birds were commercial poultry in formal poultry outfits.

“The commercial poultry are layers and broilers, while the backyard birds are usually for domestic consumption and small scale sales,” he explained.

He said that Nigeria did not need imported poultry because more Nigerians were investing in the industry, which had made the country self-sufficient in that sector.

“Aside the poultry, we have lots of livestock to complement our meat and protein needs.

From our latest records, Nigeria has 22 million cattle, 40 million ship, and 50 million goats. So, the ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products is in order and should be strictly enforced to encourage local production,” he said.

The NVRI boss challenged poultry producers to see the ban as an opportunity to promote self-sufficiency, more local wealth and employment.

“They can improve on their capacities by accessing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agricultural loans being shared to farmers by all commercial banks. The loans are very easy to access and the process is much easier for poultry farmers because the returns on poultry are faster,” he noted.

Mohammed urged State and Federal Governments to encourage home-grown poultry by helping farmers to access vaccines for NDVI 2 disease.

Poultry farm chicken

“NDVI 2 is the main disease that kills rural poultry and it is preventable. The vaccine’s major advantage is that it does not need to be preserved in a refrigerator; it is durable and can survive any situation or weather,” he said.

The NVRI Boss stated that the diseases that kill commercial poultry were also preventable and advised farmers to get the vaccines and make sure they were well administered.

“The only disease that has no vaccine is perhaps avian flu which can be avoided with biosafety. Once poultry owners maintain the right hygiene and fence off their farms against all manners of visitors, the possibility of contact is highly minimised” He said.

Mohammed advised commercial poultry farmers to avoid cluster farming to minimise the wide and wild spread of avian flu whenever it hit one farm.

He also advised farmers against buying young chicks from “just anywhere”, and recommended large farms in the South-West of Nigeria because they were usually very committed to the health of their birds.

The NVRI boss also advised poultry farmers to register their farms to ease access for possible assistance whenever there was a problem.

He said that potential farmers should also consult widely before embarking on poultry farming.

“Some people just retire from work and jump into poultry without bothering to know how it is done; this is very dangerous. It is such people that seek short cuts to reduce cost and end up bringing all manners of diseases,” he said.

Mohammed advised Nigerians against consuming poultry and poultry products smuggled into the country, stressing that such items had proved to be unhealthy and should be avoided.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, AugustNigeria 18, 2015 Daily Times Tuesday, September 22, 2015

21 21

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OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS DTN COMPLEX LATEEF JAKANDE ROAD, AGINDIGBI, IKEJA, LAGOS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 44 ADETOKNBO ADEMOLA CRESCENT WUSE 2, ABUJA

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Kwara votes N150m for entrepreneurship competition Kehinde Akinpelu ilorin

ÏÏÏA new entrepreneurial

scheme tagged “Kwara's Next Entrepreneur” has been set up by the Kwara State Government to promote entrepreneurship and competitiveness in the informal sector. The scheme allows existing and new medium scale enterprises to bid for funds to establish or expand existing businesses in the state. To this end, a sum of N150million has

Kidnappers on rampage in Imo Val Okara

Owerri ÏÏÏGunmen suspected to be kidnappers, at the weekend, went on rampage in Owerri, the Imo State capital and abducted two women in different locations.

Daily Times gathered that gunmen struck at the residence of the Deputy Governorship candidate of the United Peoples Party (UPP), in the 2015 gubernatorial election, Professor Protus Uzoma, and abducted his wife, Esther.

She was reportedly kidnapped at about 10.30 p.m., on Sunday, and her abductors had not established any contact with the family.

been earmarked and deposited at the Bank of Industry for the scheme.

Briefing newsmen at the Government House, Ilorin, the Technical Adviser to the State Governor on Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Mr. Olusegun Soewu, disclosed that a crop of successful businessmen had been engaged as managers and captains to scrutinise business plans of interested individuals.

According to her husband, the kidnappers stormed to his house in a commandolike style, armed to teeth and took his away without any resistance.

Also, abducted by gunmen was the wife of a resident doctor attached to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, Dr. Ukachukwu Egbuzie.

Confirming the incident, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FMC, Owerri chapter, Dr. Duke Onyeabor told Daily Times that Egbuzie’s wife was whisked away, while she was coming out from a salon. According to him, the families of Egbuzie were preparing for dedication of their new-born on Sunday before the kidnappers struck.

More civil servants to go, says Niger HoS Pita Chikwem

Minna ÏÏÏNiger State Head of Service has disclosed that more civil servants may soon be laid off, in order to reduce the cost of administration.

Alhaji Mohammed Maude Lapai while addressing newsmen at the state Secretariat, Minna, on Monday.

He said that the government inherited an overbloated civil service.

The downsizing of workers, according to him, was not aimed at witch-hunting any individual, but would be a thorough one devoid of sentiments, ethnic, reli-

gious and political considerations.

This is coming some days after 29 persons lost their status as Permanent Secretaries.

According to him, “It is a service; the 54 permanent secretaries we inherited is on the high side. That is why we said that 10 out of 29 were advised to go on retirement, and they were happy to do so, while the remaining with more years in service will be posted to head of certain parastatals,” Lapai said, adding that, the exercise would be on-going, but what we are saying is that the number is just too much to manage.

Buhari hosts special ECOWAS session for Burkina Faso crisis Egena egena

Abuja ÏÏÏPresident Muhammadu Buhari will today host an Extra-ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the main item on the agenda of the summit would be the current political situation in Burkina Faso.

Buhari had, last Friday, condemned last week’s detention of the Interim President, the Prime Minister and other ministers of the

transitional government of Burkina Faso in what seen as a coup d’état.

Shehu said that Nigeria, aligned with ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations, rejected the brazen contravention of the constitution and transitional charter of Burkina Faso by elements of the Presidential Guard under the leadership of General Gilbert Diendere.

“President Buhari and Nigeria urge the Defence and Security Forces of Burkina Faso to keep faith with the agreed transitional programme for the return of the country to full democratic rule after elections, which were due to be held

on October 11, in support of which Nigeria had donated 20 pick-up vans to the National Electoral Commission of Burkina Faso.

While welcoming the news that the Interim President, Mr. Michel Kafando had been freed, Buhari also demand the immediate release of Prime Minister Isaac Zida and other detained ministers.

“Nigeria will give the fullest possible support to the on-going efforts by the ECOWAS mediatory team of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to quickly restore Burkina Faso to the path of order, democracy and constitution-

alism.

“The President urges the people of Burkina Faso to remain calm and steadfast in support of the transitional order, elections and democratic governance with the full assurance that Nigeria, ECOWAS and the international community will uphold their right to peace, freedom, democracy and good governance,” Shehu said.

Buhari

President/ Vice Chancellor, Babcock University (BU), Prof. James Kayode Makinde (middle) flanked by other principal officers and senior officials of the University while cutting the cake to commemorate the 2015 Founders' Day celebration of the University, at Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State… on Monday

Steve Ayorinde, Bamigbetan, 21 others make Ambode’s commissioners list

ÏÏÏLagos State Governor,

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, presented the list of would-be members of his cabinet to the House of Assembly for screening.

The Clerk of the House, Mr. Ganiyu Abiru, read the names on the floor to members.

The Governor was requesting for the screening and approval of 36 persons with 23 as Commissioners and 13 as Special Advisers.

Among the names were six former cabinet members from the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration – including former commissioner for Agri-

culture, Gbolahan Lawal, former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, former Special Adviser, Central Business District, Folarin Coker, former Special Adviser Commerce and Industry, Seye Oladejo, former Special Adviser Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson and former Special Adviser Rural Development, Babatunde Hunpe.

Ambode had made good his promise at the inaugural address to inject new blood on merit and professionalism as the new list depicts.

Others are Mrs. Yetunde Onabolu, Fela Bank-Ole-

moh, Akinyemi Ashade, a partner in KPMG, former Managing Director, National Mirror, Steve Ayorinde, Alhaja Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, a pharmacist, Kehinde Joseph and Prof. Ademola Abass, a professor of Law, whose ages range between 39 and 47 years.

Also on the list are Dr. Akintola Benson, former Special Adviser Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Dr. Mohammed Akinkunmi, former member, House of Representatives, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, Dr. Femi Onanuga, Chief Executive Officer of

Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, former member House of Assembly, Mrs. Lola Akande, Agboola Dabiri, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, Anofi Elegushi, Rotimi Ogunleye, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, Femi Odubiyi, Alhaji Musiliu Folami, Adeniji Kazeem, Adeyemi Labinjo, Toyin Suarau, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, Deji Tinubu, Mrs. Mudirat Giwanson and former Chairman Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Kehinde Bamigbetan.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

23 News

Osinbajo, Obasanjo, others for Adegbenro memorial lecture Abiodun Taiwo Abeokuta

ÏÏÏVice

Kogi State Governor. Capt. Idris Wada (2nd right) commissioning the Ecobank- NACA Friendly Centre at Kogi State University, Anyigba.

He was being assisted by Director, Partnership Coordination, NACA, Emmanuel Alhassan; Head, Personal Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Kingsley Umadia; Vice Chancellor, Kogi State University, Prof.Hassan S. Isah...recently.

Tension in Enugu as council workers protest non-payment of salary Moses Oyediran

ÏÏÏChairman

of Nsukka Local Government Area, in Enugu State, Mr. Charles Ugwu, has said that the council did not have sufficient fund to pay workers’ salary.

He told Daily Times, on Monday, that the council was still making frantic efforts to see that all workers received their April salary.

He said this after the protest embarked upon by workers which paralysed activities at the Nsukka council headquarters, on Monday “The council is expecting to get more money to beef up what we have but till now we have not been able to get more money.

“There is nothing like marginalisation of workers form any development area but the money we have, right now, cannot pay all workers of April salary,” Ugwu said.

His comments however contradicted that of the treasurer of the council, Mr. John Ani, who assured

workers that their salary would be paid on Tuesday.

Ani had commended the workers for being peaceful in protest and promised them that the council was doing everything possible to see that they were paid their April salary like others on Tuesday.

“Take me by my words; you will be paid April salary by tomorrow.

I commend your peaceful protest and urged you to continue to remain peaceful,” he said.

The Vice-Chairman of Nigeria Union of Local government Employees (NULGE), in Nsukka, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, urged workers to believe Ani’s words.

“Yes, the council has started paying the April salary of workers from Nsukka West and Nsukka Central. I know workers in the council have been suffering because they were owed about six months’ arrears of salaries.

“But I pleaded with them to stop the protest and go home and if by

tomorrow their April salary was not paid, then they could take any action they deemed fit,” he said.

The leader of the protesters who pleaded anonymity told journalists that they decided to carry out the protest because they had not been paid their salary for the past six months and the April salary they promised since last week had been a subject of unfulfilled promises. “The council has been dribbling us since last week and the authority told us to come back today, and now there is no cheerful development. The council owes us salaries from April. Now, September is about coming to an end,” the leader said.

The workers, numbering about fifty, in a solidarity song, urged Ugwu to resign, since he could not pay workers salary and allow someone, who could manage the council’s affairs, come in.

“Pay us before our family members will die of hunger and starvation,” they chorused.

Lagos: Ojora ruling house wins rights on Badia land ÏÏÏA Lagos High Court has de-

clared that the Ojora ruling house had the statutory right of occupancy of a vast parcel of land that had been a subject of litigation, since 2012.

The ruling is in addendum to an earlier one that gave the legal right to the Ojora royal family to take possession of the entire Iganmu community, with effect from July 31, 2007.

The property includes a substantial part of the land hosting the 7up Bottling Company in Ijora.

Justice Kazeem Alogba handed down the verdict in a page judg-

ment in suit No. LD/443/2002 involving Oba Fatai Oyegbemi Aromire (Ojora of Lagos) and two others versus Chief Ogunyemi and thirty (30) other respondents.

Following the delivery of the judgement on Wednesday, September 16, the Ojora ruling family swung into action in the early hours of Thursday, September 17 taking legal possession of the their land.

The family, in company of policemen and High Court Deputy Sheriffs, pasted notice, informing occupants of Badia of the ruling of the High Court.

The notice reads: “The claim-

ant are persons entitled to possession of the parcel of land in Ijora - Badia between Orile - Iganmu, Ijora express road and container terminal to Ebute – Iganmu Ijora more particularly delineated and edged red on survey plan.”

The notice further declared the occupants, illegal trespassers and promised to deal with them if they refused to vacate the area according in keeping with the law.

“Any person who remains in illegal possession or is found on the land covered by the judgement would, henceforth, be treated as a trespasser and would be dealt with according to law.”

President Yemi Osinbajo, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are among the dignitaries expected at the 2nd annual lecture of the former premier of Western Region, the late Chief Dauda Adegbenro.

The Dauda Adegbenro Foundation announced its second annual lecture, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the death of Adegbenro.

This year’s edition of the lecture comprises a series of events, which include a visit to an orphanage and special Jumat service scheduled to hold at Abadiya

Niger court jails three for naira counterfeiting Pita Chikwem

Minna ÏÏÏA Chief Magistrate in Minna, Niger State, has sentenced three persons found with counterfeit N1000 notes worth hundreds of thousands to 84 months in prison after they were found guilty.

The three men – Sanusi Mohammed (30 years), Hussain Mohammed (20 years) and Murtala Musa (23 years) – were on arraigned in court by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCID) on a three-count charge of joint act, being in possession of counterfeit currency notes and cheating.

The Police Prosecuting Officer (PPO), Sgt. Ibrahim Gunduma ,said the three-count charge con-

Nkiru Nwagbo

Awka ÏÏÏGovernor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, on Monday, warned members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to desist from anti-party activities.

He also urged them to participate actively in the revalidation exercise with new party cards, duly signed by the new leadership.

Obiano, who gave the warning at St. John’s Church, Neni, Aniocha Local Government Area of the state, during official inauguration of the new executive of the party in the council area, also described APGA as the identity of the Igbo nation.

Represented by the State Chairman of the party, Sir Nobert Obi, Obiano urged the new leaders of the party at both ward and local government levels to remain focused and united and as well as welcome anybody, who indicated

Mosque at Moshood Abiola Way, in Abeokuta, on September 25, 2015 and a church service at Owu Baptist Church, Totoro, Abeokuta, the following Sunday. The 40th anniversary Fidau prayers will hold at the late premier’s family house, Lafenwa, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on September 28.

The foundation accompanied by members of the family and wellwishers will also pay a visit to the Olowu of Owu Kingdom and Alake of Egba land same day.

The lecture, titled, “Imperatives for industrial and technological revolution: Panacea for development in Nigeria,” will be delivered

by Dr. Gloria Elemo, Director General Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO). travened Sections 79, 322 and 438 of the penal code law.

When the charges were read to the trio through an interpreter, they all pleaded guilty and begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

Gunduma then urged the Court to try them summarily under Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Chief Magistrate Maimuna Talatu Abubakar said after listening to their plea of leniency that the court would not be doing good to the society if some punishment was not meted on them.

According to her, “you have no reasonable things doing in Niger State, only for you people to come all the way from Kano State to cheat on people with these counterfeit N1000 notes up to N250, 000 in your possession. You are hereby sentenced to a total of 84 monthimprisonment with hard labour or an option of N150, 000 each.”

Obiano urges APGA members to shun anti-party activities interest to join the party, explaining that APGA had gone beyond Igbo party.

In his remarks, Chairman, Aniocha Local Government Area, Mr. Ikeobi Ejiofor, extolled party members in the area for their doggedness and for fighting gallantly in their various wards during the last general election in the state.

Obiano

24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Law Akeem Agbaje, read law at the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, Osun state and was called to the Nigerian Bar over two decades ago. He spoke with PETER FOWOYO, on the activities of the anti graft agencies in curbing corruption, immunity clause, the judiciary and sundry other issues.

Speculation is rife that the federal government has frozen the bank account of some individuals who are close aides to the previous administration. Does the government or the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has the power to do this?

Well, as you have put it, it is still in the realm of speculation.

The anti-graft agencies in the course of their investigations are empowered by law to take all necessary steps that would aid their investigation including getting interim order on these accounts. So far it is still a speculation, we can’t begin to join issues on these speculations but they do have the power to obtain interim order of forfeiture in respect of bank accounts in the course of their investigation.

Suddenly we see these anti-graft agencies going after some of these government officials in this administration. How would you assess the performance of the ICPC, EFCC, in the fight against corruption?

Generally and up to this moment a lot of Nigerians believe they are not performing at optimal capacity in terms of curbing corruption and related activities. The general perception of the Buhari’s administration is that the body language is anticorruption and naturally the anti-graft agencies will feel a sense of duty to perform their statutory functions that they have not been performing before for one reason or the other. However, it must be borne in mind that this administration has not set out its own anti-corruption agenda.

It set up a presidential committee headed by Professor Itsejuwa Sagay SAN, to come up with a framework. Until that committee completes its assignment, it will be wrong to assume that it is this administration that has commenced its anti-corruption agenda. My believe personally, is that these organizations feel

Æs Akeem Agbaje: Buhari’s directive on treasury single account constitutional that whatever was the restraining factor that hindered their operation before is no longer there and this is a good development but they certainly can do better.

There are suggestions that the war against corruption is discriminatory, do you share this view?

Like I said earlier, I don’t think the war against corruption of this administration has started.

Also the idea of it being discriminatory has not been substantiated. It may appear that some notable personalities that have been invited for investigation or have been arraigned in court belong to a particular political party, but we must bear in mind that the position of these anticorruption agencies has always been that somebody must write a petition before they can commence any investigative activity.

We need to be ascertain if there were petitions against any other group that they have refused or declined to pursue further and until we ascertain that, we cannot say it is selective.

How do you see the federal government directive to all agencies to maintain a treasury single account. Is this constitutional?

Yes, it is constitutional. The constitution provides that all government revenues must go into the consolidated revenue account which is the single account before it is subsequently disbursed or shared. Past administrations have not complied with this constitutional provision despite very strong agitation in the past but this administration has said clearly that they would abide by the constitution both in the letters and spirit of the constitution.

How would you assess this government 100 days in office in terms of the rule of law?

It’s quite interesting that a government that has over 1,400 days to spend in office and we are marking a hundred days.

What would the new administration have done in a hun-

Agbaje

dred days. So personally, I don’t believe in the hundred days, I don’t think it gives a fair assessment of any administration. They have to put in structures that would enable them to perform, it is not as if they have been in government before, it’s a new government in over 16 years of our democracy, the military would say very few battle plans survive the start of the battle so whatever plans they had, what they have met on ground would significantly determine that there must be an adjustment period, the planning period for effective governance. I don’t think it is fair to be assessing any government be it state or federal government in hundred days.

Eminent Nigerians have described it as hundred days of solitude due to no cabinet members and as a result ultra vires to the constitution. Do you agree with that?

Well, I am not aware that the constitution has provided a certain number of days within which any administration must have constituted its cabinet.

What the constitution states is that the government must be formed, ministers must be appointed from each of the state of the federation and realistically, given the state of affairs of this country politically, economically, socially, you don’t just get in there and start bringing in people to come and be ministers.

You need to streamline the ac-

tivities of the ministries, imagine if he had appointed a minister for every ministry when he came in and he later realized that the size of the government was too large and need to reduce the number of ministries, what will he do with the ministers that he had already appointed?

It is within his constitutional right to appoint ministers at the time he deems most appropriate.

Of course, any inordinate delay would not be acceptable but not doing it within his hundred days is not a fundamental deviation from the constitutional provisions.

This administration has inCONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

ment them but what the new law has sought to do is to as much as possible overcome the spirit of implementation and try to codify this. In one of the instances is the series of unnecessary adjournments that characterize criminal trials, particularly the high profile ones and this new law has limited the number of adjournments that can be taken.

It has also limited the number of days for which the adjournment can be taken. In my view the most striking feature is that it has eliminated the situation where an accused person(s) will apply for stay of proceedings pending appeal, that has been removed, the trial will continue and the appeal will also run simultaneously.

In some cases proceeding with the trial while the appeal is ongoing can produce some form of injustice where the trial is concluded before the issue on appeal is decided and the appeal is successful like the case of Bode George where he was eventually discharged by the Supreme Court of the charges for which he was convicted. Over time I am sure we will overcome that kind of situation but, for now, this new law has some significant milestones in it, changes that are quite beneficial for the criminal justice system. One of the greatest impediments has been the length of trials, a crime that has penalty for three months, four months, sometimes the accused is kept in prison for two, three, four, five years when he could have finished his sentence and you know our prison system is totally upside down, it does not reform the criminals, it even makes them more hardened than they were when they first went in there.

formed Nigerians of its decision to cut down the number of ministers to be appointed in the cabinet and looking at the constitution that provides that every state should have a minister; will it not be going against the constitutional provision if the number is reduced?

What the president has said is not that he will cut down the number of ministers; he said he will reduce the number of ministries and if it follows that he must comply with the provision of the constitution which is appointing one minister from each state but, it is not unusual to have a minister for state and a full minister, a minister is a minister, it is their designation that might change, he can also have minister for special duty if the ministries are not enough to go round. At one time in the ministry of foreign affairs under the Jonathan administration we have at least three ministers. Once a state is represented by a minister it is the exclusive prerogative of the president to allocate functions and responsibilities to them and this can be done without flouting the provisions of the constitution.

Some government officials who allegedly stole money are returning it without the aid of the judiciary, would you term this arrangement a plea bargain and is it constitutional?

I don’t think the role of the judiciary is to help recover funds, the role of the judiciary is to provide a platform for a fair hearing for anybody accused of a wrongdoing. The investigating agencies must first of all do their work and the prosecuting agencies must also do their work by presenting it before a court of competent jurisdiction.

If anybody returns money prior to investigation, prior to arraignment that cannot be a plea bargain in the technical sense of it because a plea bargain means a charge has been read and the accused person(s) making a plea of I am guilty or I am not guilty.

Voluntarily returning illegally acquired money to avoid prosecution cannot be tantamount to a plea bargain.

However, personally, I think plea bargaining should not be encouraged in our judicial system for corruption offences. There are lot of other lesser offences that this can be conveniently adapted to but, in terms of corrupt activities, it must serve as a deterrent because there is no plea bargain that does not allow them to keep a portion of the ill-gotten wealth and this will

Agbaje

not discourage other people in future from corruptly enriching themselves while in public office or while having access to people in the public office, it is high time some high profile people are made to serve the full term of any penalty prescribed under the law.

Notwithstanding the various rules of courts in our judicial system, there is still delay in the dispensation of justice. Do you think the new Criminal Justice and administration Act will help improve our criminal justice system?

My view has always been that the fault is not in our laws, it is how we implement them and the spirit with which we imple-

Judiciary’s role is not to recover funds but fair hearing –Akeem Agbaje

What laws would you want the legislators to quickly enact and why?

Really, a lot of the laws that are needed particularly for the economic and infrastructural development of this country are already pending before the national assembly. The national assembly should focus on their primary responsibilities of making laws and oversight functions.

Given the amount of money that is expended on them, if you look at the returns in terms of laws they’ve passed is quite disheartening. It would appear the legislators at the national assembly focus more on self-serving matters rather than making laws that are beneficial to the society.

There are calls from Nigerians that the salaries and emoluments of these legislators should be reduced drastically. Do you share this view?

Interestingly, this is a very

25 Law

amusing situation. Their actual take home is not outrageous, it is the additional perks that they have allocated to themselves that is outrageous but, in terms of their salaries that we keep talking about, it is not out of place on a monthly basis as salaries, it is the additional perks that they get legally and otherwise in the course of their oversight functions that makes them exceedingly rich compared to what the reality of the society reflects. I think they should just cut all the illegal and unjustified expenses they have allocated to them but, their salaries should be left intact.

How would you assess the nation’s judiciary?

Well, there are two sides of the coin as far as I am concerned, one is the condition under which these judges work, it is quite challenging for them physically and mentally. I don’t think the judges are adequately resourced to function in terms of the number of aides they get, if you look at the volume of cases they do, most of them have to take it in long hands, they also have to do the research themselves, the resources and infrastructure made available to them is grossly inadequate and to expect optimal performance from them I think we are not being realistic.

Now, the other issue that people talked about the judiciary is corruption and corruption has many faces, there is direct corruption of financial inducement or otherwise but, we have the influences that the society brings to bear on these judges and this can be curbed by how the judge lives his or her life and reduce the kind of access that people will have to them that will expose them to temptations but, the larger percentage of the judiciary is not corrupt however, in every situation there would be exceptions.

There are calls that section 308 of the constitution which places immunity on the governor, deputy governor, president and vice president should be expunged from the constitution to enable them face corruption charges while in office. What is your take on this?

I strongly believe that the immunity clause should be retained at least until there is a penalty or consequences for a party that embarks on frivolous litigation or prosecution. Nigerians have insatiable appetite for frivolous litigations or making unfounded allegation and removing the immunity clause will bring unmitigated distraction and expense on the holder of the office.

26

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

EXTRATIME

‘Gutted’ ONYEALI Pettersen issues SAYS HEAD INJURY NOT apology NPFL:

SERIOUS

A

bia Warriors attacking midfielder, Ifeanyi Onyeali has described as not career threatening the head injury he picked against Warri Wolves.

The former Bussdor star collided midair with Wolves’ strongman, Solomon Kwambe but stayed on with bandages to score the match winner in the 2-1 win against the Seasiders in match day 30 clash in Umuahia before being replaced.

Onyeali said he is good again to go for the next match at Sunshine Stars after a thorough treatment by the side medical team.

“Yes, I sustained a head injury though I hung on to score the match winner before being substituted in the clash against Warri Wolves.

“The head injury is not career threatening or serious, I’m fine after receiving instant treatment. I will be perfectly ready for the encounter at Sunshine Stars in Akure. I just need few hours rest, the head cut is not really serious,” Onyeali concluded.

Abia Warriors are seventh on the 20team top flight on 46 points, nine points behind league leaders and city mates, Enyimba.

E

urope’s Suzann Pettersen has apologised for her controversial behaviour at the Solheim Cup on Sunday.

Pettersen said that a putt on the 17th green had not been conceded when the USA’s Alison Lee picked up her ball, meaning the Americans lost the hole.

She was widely criticised and has now posted on social media to say “sorry for not thinking about the bigger picture in the heat of the battle”.

“I’ve never felt more gutted and truly sad,” added the 34-year-old Norwegian.

Four-time major winner Laura Davies said she was “disgusted” by Pettersen’s action, while USA captain Juli Inkster thought it was “disrespectful”.

Pettersen was playing in the fourballs with Charley Hull against Lee and Brittany Lincicome when the incident took place, the European pair going on to win the match.

The Americans thought the putt on the 17th hole had been conceded as Hull walked away after Lee rolled her ball close with the previous effort.

The USA then recovered from 10-6 down to win eight and a half points from 12 singles matches to regain the trophy they last lifted in 2009.

Moses

V

ictor Moses wants more success at West Ham United after his goal scoring heroics against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the English Premier League on Saturday.

The Nigerian winger beat Joe Hart with a stunning snap shot from outside the penalty area in the sixth minute to help the Hammers record a shock 2-1 win over the Citizens.

Moses has now taken the time to assess his performance noting that he is looking to achieve more success with Slaven Bilic’s side.

“It’s not a bad way to start. Winning two games in a row is fantastic and it’s great credit to the lads. I’m delighted,” he said.

The Nigerian speedster added that the players of the club must be careful not to take their foot off the gas.

“We’re pleased with the three points, it’s a massive win and we just want to keep on winning games now.

MOSES EYES MORE SUCCESS AT WEST HAM “I was very happy to score. I should have scored against Newcastle but it wasn’t to be. I scored on Saturday and hopefully it’s the first of many for West Ham. “I saw that Joe Hart thought I was going to cross the ball, so I caught him unawares. It was a great goal.

“When it was 2-0 I thought we could

have scored more goals, but then City scored and we had to defend really well in the second half.

“Winston Reid was on fire on Saturday, everyone at the back was solid and we deserved the win.

“Man City have great players and were pushing to try to score but it wasn’t the day for them,” he concluded.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

EXTRATIME

27

COSTA

charged with violent conduct by FA

C

L – R: Chairman Organizing Committee, FC WAMCO Cup, Kenneth Omeni; skipper of Three-Crown Powder Team, Matthew Nwankwo; Managing Director WAMCO, Rahul Colaco; skipper, Friso Team, Alfred Osaibo and Corporate Affairs Director, Ore Famurewa, during the kickoff of FC WAMCO Cup Season 10 organized by Fries Land Campina WAMCO Nig. Plc at Agege Stadium. Photo Taofeek Babajide.

FC WAMCO CUP KICKS OFF IN LAGOS OREKYEH VIVIAN

T

he 10th edition of the FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s annual football tournament, FC WAMCO Cup 2015, kicked off at the weekend at the Agege Stadium Lagos.

The opening ceremony on Saturday, September 19, was witnessed by many soccer fans that thronged the stadium as Three Crowns Powder team battled Friso FC in the opener.

This year’s event is being organised in Champions League format, which will see eight teams doing battle on knockout basis till November 7, 2015 when it is expected that an eventual winner will emerge.

Managing Director of the WAMCO, Rahul Colaco, told Extra Time that the competition is a great avenue for their staff to display many values of

FrieslandCampina WAMCO with the objective of winning together.

“The field of sports is a great place to display many values of FrieslandCampina WAMCO with the objective of winning together. Asides entertainment, the contest seeks to encourage work-life balance and promote the physical and mental well-being of staff.

“These values are very important to productivity and sustainable growth of the company. Ultimately, we hope to select the best players to form the FC WAMCO Team to represent the company in the FMCG Games,” Colaco noted.

He stressed that there are much benefit in participating in the FC WAMCO CUP 2015 and further revealed that the competition will be used to select the best players to form the FC WAMCO Team to represent the company in the FMCG

GAMES. Corporate Affairs Director of the company, Ore Famurewa said: “Both men and women love football, so we are using the competition to promote our brands and increase the productivity of the company. A lot of departments of our company are competing against each other, although there will be no cash prize, but the winning team will be awarded with a trophy.”

In the tough but entertaining opening game, Friday Okoronkwo of Three Crown Powder, opened the scoring towards the end of the first half with a header, while Adedapo Babatunde made it two with a strike in the 18-yard box in the second half.

Oluseyi Adegbite pulled one back for Friso through a penalty with 15 minutes left in the game to end the final score 2-1 in favour of Three Crown Powder.

his part in helping Heartland finish the season with a flourish in the run-in to the season while he also relishes the chance of appearing in his 20th season in the Nigerian top flight.

“I’m happy to join Heartland which is a big team with rich heritage. As a striker, it presents a chance to score in my 20th season before retirement. I’ll do my best for Heartland,” he said.

Heartland general manager, Prince

Okey Ibeh, is happy with the capture of Ezeji for the rest of the season.

“We’re pleased to have him, and will bank on his experience to help the team in their remaining matches this season,” Ibeh said.

Though it will be the first time that Ezeji will play for the club after spells at Dolphins, Sharks, Enyimba and Sunshine Stars over the past 19 years, it will offer him the chance to reunite with two former

helsea striker Diego Costa has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association after his side’s 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday.

Costa, 26, put his hands in the face of Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny prior to clashing with Gunners’ defender Gabriel, who was sent off.

The FA has also charged Gabriel with improper conduct and both clubs with failing to control their players.

Arsenal are to appeal Gabriel’s dismissal and three-match ban.

Costa has until 18:00 BST today to respond to the charge, which is for the incident with Koscielny as it was missed by match officials but caught on video.

“Off the ball incidents which

are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite referees,” said an FA statement.

“Each referee panel member will review the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it a sending-off offence.

“For retrospective action to be taken, and an FA charge to follow, the decision by the panel must be unanimous.”

Referee Mike Dean booked both Costa and Gabriel for their spat, before the latter was dismissed for kicking out at the Blues forward.

Gabriel and both clubs have until 18:00 BST on Thursday, September 24, to reply to their charges.

Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla was sent off in the match for two bookable offences and has been warned about his behaviour.

Diego Costa (right) was alleged to have put his hands in the face of Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny (left) prior to clashing with Gunners’ defender Gabriel, who was sent off.

EZEJI joins Heartland N

igeria Professional Football League (NPFL) legend, Victor Ezeji, has expressed delight at completing his move to Owerri club, Heartland.

Ezeji was unveiled by Heartland on Sunday before their league game against Lobi Stars, and was almost immediately listed for the match day until a change in plan.

But the striker is now hoping to play

teammates while he joined Sharks as a teenager in 1996.

Heartland head coach, Bethel Orji and his assistant, Mbwas Mangut, were former teammates of Ezeji at Sharks and now the striker is happy to be united with them again.

He will also played alongside Bright Ejike and Fortune Omoniwari who were his teammates, also at Sharks, in 2010 and 2011.

Ezeji

MURRAY SET TO MISS WORLD TOUR FINALS

A

Murray

ndy Murray is set to miss this year’s World Tour Finals if, as expected, Belgium decide to host the Davis Cup final against Great Britain on clay.

The Flanders Expo Arena in Ghent will stage the tie if the Davis Cup Committee gives its approval today.

The Belgian Federation has two weeks to confirm its choice of surface, but has opted for clay in four of its last six home ties and may conclude it is the

surface most likely to inconvenience Murray.

The World Tour Finals - on a hard court - finish at London’s O2 Arena on Sunday, November 22, with the Davis Cup final played over three days from the following Friday.

“The O2 would obviously be a question mark for me if we were playing on the clay,” Murray said after sealing Britain’s place in the final.

“I would go and train and prepare on

the clay to get ready for the final.

“You saw last year with Roger Federer that the matches at the O2 are extremely tough and physically demanding.

“If you reach the final and play on the Sunday you also need to take time off - you can’t just play five matches against the best players in the world and then not take any days off.”

Federer woke up with a bad back on the morning of last year’s final at

the O2 and was unable to play Novak Djokovic.

Although Switzerland went on to win the Davis Cup the following week, Federer lost his opening match to France’s Gael Monfils in straight sets.

Murray’s back surgery in 2013 was successful, but he was managing a problem throughout Britain’s semifinal victory over Australia and needs extra time to make the transition to clay.

28

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

EXTRATIME

FEATURES

BRIEFS

Mihajlovic hails ‘exemplary’ Balotelli

Mario Balotelli could be in line for his first Milan start today since returning to San Siro against Udinese after impressing Sinisa Mihajlovic with his disciplined approach. The controversial striker agreed a second spell at Milan in late August after struggling to make an impact during the previous 12 months at Liverpool.

RVP unhappy after being left out

by Fenerbahce Robin van Persie was unhappy at being left out of the Fenerbahce team despite coming off the substitutes’ bench to score the winning goal against Bursaspor on Sunday. The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker was not named in Vitor Pereira’s starting XI and was only brought on after 77 minutes with the scores level after Tomas Necid had cancelled out Nani’s opener.

‘Klopp ruled out of Monchengladbach job’ Jurgen Klopp’s agent has ruled the former Borussia Dortmund coach out of the running for the vacant post at Borussia Monchengladbach. Despite qualifying for the Champions League last term, Monchengladbach have endured a horrendous start this season and a fifth loss from as many Bundesliga matches against local rivals Cologne on Saturday persuaded coach Lucien Favre to step down.

Sarri labels Napoli title talk ‘ridiculous’ Maurizio Sarri has immediately dismissed talk of a Napoli challenge for the Serie A title despite his side’s stunning 5-0 win over Lazio on Sunday. The head coach insisted hopes of a Scudetto push were unrealistic, with the thumping victory their first win in four games of the new league season.

Braillard calls for action after Marseille-Lyon trouble French sports minister Thierry Braillard labelled the violent scenes that marred Sunday’s Ligue 1 match between Marseille and Lyon as “unacceptable”.

Mathieu Valbuena’s return to his former club with Lyon provided a fiery backdrop to the fixture and the playmaker found himself at the centre of the action as tensions reached boiling point.

Pioli laments ‘ugly’ Lazio Lazio coach Stefano Pioli has criticised his team’s “ugly” performance after they were trounced 5-0 by Napoli in an astonishing Serie A clash on Sunday.

The capital club finished third in the table last season, but have made a poor start to the new campaign after failing to progress through Champions League qualifying and losing two of their first four league games.

BLANC

CONFIDENT IBRA WILL END GOAL DROUGHT Ibrahimovic

Guardiola

GUARDIOLA

AWARE OF WOLFSBURG THREAT B

ayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola views Wolfsburg as a credible challenger to his club’s recent dominance of German football.

The two sides meet at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, with Wolfsburg having finished second behind Bayern in

the Bundesliga last year before beating the same opponents on penalties in last month’s DFL Super Cup. Dieter Hecking’s men head into the eagerly anticipated clash four points shy of Bayern, who are level on points with Borussia Dortmund at the summit on the back of five wins from their opening

five league games.

“Wolfsburg have invested a lot recently. People wanted a competitor for Bayern and not just they are there,” Guardiola told a press conference, before listing Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke alongside Wolfsburg and Dortmund as title contenders.

“We know Wolfsburg’s quality and their style of play. But, as usual, it’s all about the three points.”

Guardiola, who confirmed that striker Robert Lewandowski will be available once more after recovering from an ankle problem, is also looking forward to a reunion with Dante.

The Brazilian defender joined Wolfsburg from Bayern in August having lost his starting spot at the Allianz Arena.

TER STEGEN, ALVES APPRECIATE TOUGH LA LIGA TEST

G

oalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has urged focus from his Barcelona team-mates ahead of their trip to face high-flying Celta Vigo in La Liga.

Barca have enjoyed a perfect start to their title defence, with Sunday’s 4-1 win over Levante making it four wins out of four domestically.

Celta are only two points behind after first-half goals from Nolito and Daniel Wass inspired them to a 2-1 win at Sevilla ahead of the season’s first round of midweek league fixtures.

“On Wednesday we have a tough

L

aurent Blanc has no concerns over the form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic even though his star striker has failed to score for Paris Saint-Germain so far this season.

Ibrahimovic has been PSG’s attacking inspiration since arriving from Milan in 2012, leading the club to three successive Ligue 1 titles and scoring 106 goals in 129 appearances in all competitions before the start of this campaign.

The Sweden captain has not scored

game,” Ter Stegen, who is enjoying his first run of La Liga action for Barcelona as a result of Claudio Bravo’s calf injury said.

“Maintaining this level of play is very tough because we have games every three days and we have to be focused.”

Dani Alves returned at right-back against Levante following a groin problem and the Brazil international is wary of the threat posed by Nolito, who has scored four times in his previous three outings.

“I have to study Nolito because he’s electric,” Alves enthused. “He’s intense

and a big challenge, and in the end we play to go against the best. I know how difficult that is and I hope to be up to the challenge if the coach plays me.

“We always think about how well we’re going to play, we are always positive. We know we have to play our best if we want to continue winning.”

Luis Suarez and Andres Iniesta are poised to return to the Barcelona starting XI after they were rested against Levante, while Gerard Pique is available for La Liga action for the first time this season after completing a four-match ban.

in four games in 2015-16, though, and missed a glorious chance in PSG’s 1-1 draw with Reims on Saturday.

But, speaking on Monday, Coach Blanc said: “Ibrahimovic is not in the best possible form. He is finding it more difficult to score goals than usual this season.

“It happened last year too, but I think he will recover quickly.”

Ibrahimovic’s next opportunity to break his duck will come in today’s home

clash with Guingamp.

Blanc added: “We are disappointed with the game against Reims, unfortunately we will get matches like this again. We can’t go all season at the top level.

“We must improve our efficiency, especially in attack. We created chances but were not effective.

“We will try to put a very competitive team out against Guingamp because you have to win games like these.”

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

EXTRATIME

29

ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP

NO REGRETS LEAVING BARCA FOR ARSENAL,

SAYS BELLERIN H

Bellerin

ector Bellerin is delighted his decision to leave Barcelona and join Arsenal has paid off as he continues to enjoy a run as first-choice right back at the Emirates Stadium.

The Spain under-21 international left Camp Nou for London as a 16-year-old in 2011 and signed a new long-term contract in the close-season after making his first-team breakthrough last year.

Bellerin, 20, has been preferred to fitagain Mathieu Debuchy in defence by manager Arsene Wenger, starting five of

his team’s six Premier League games in 2015-16.

The Catalan spoke fondly of his time learning the game with Barca but is thrilled with his decision to leave the European champions and is eager to stay with Arsenal for the long haul after establishing himself in the side.

“It has paid off,” Bellerin said when asked about his move. “I am very happy with the decision I made.

“Barcelona is an academy where you are taught to play the Barcelona way, all the players can play the ball well.

“It is all the same philosophy since you are young to playing in the first team that is very important.

“It was hard to leave, but I always say the train comes just once and you either take it or you do not.

“I took it and I am very happy with the opportunity Arsenal have given me and very happy to be in the position I am in today.

“I have always said the reason I came to Arsenal is because I want to stay here and I am not thinking about going anywhere else.”

COSTA LIKES TO CHEAT A LOT

– ZOUMA D

iego Costa has been branded as a “cheat” by one of his own team-mates following a weekend where the Chelsea star found himself at the centre of on-field controversy.

The combative forward engaged in a prolonged on-field dispute with Arsenal centre-back Gabriel in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Stamford

Bridge, after putting his hands in the face fellow visiting defender Laurent Koscielny. To the amazement of many observers, Gabriel was sent off by referee Mike Dean, while Costa remained on the field to help Chelsea to a 2-0 win over their rivals.

Centre-back Kurt Zouma opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho’s team and, speaking to reporters after the match, he

No pressure on Sturridge return –Rodgers

Daniel Sturridge is under no pressure to get back to full fitness quickly according to Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers. Injury problems limited Sturridge to just 12 Premier League appearances last season, with hip surgery required at the end of the campaign. The England international completed his return after over five months on the sidelines, playing an hour in the 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Sunday.

De Bruyne: Silva will make me better!

Manchester City’s big-money recruit Kevin De Bruyne believes fellow playmaker David Silva can help him become better. De Bruyne was crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Year last season, after having a hand in 31 goals across 34 appearances in 2014-15. But the 24-year-old attacker, who scored his first goal in City’s shock 2-1 loss at home to West Ham on Saturday, feels he can take his game to another level alongside Spain international Silva.

Costa

conceded that Costa plays on the edge of the rules as a tactic to rile opponents.

“We’re not surprised because we know Diego,” Zouma said.

“Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponent out of his game.

“That happened in the game but he’s

a really nice guy.

“We’re proud to have him, like the other players, and we’re happy to win this game.”

BILIC RATES CITY WIN AHEAD OF ARSENAL, LIVERPOOL

W

est Ham manager Slaven Bilic argued Manchester City’s quality makes them the biggest scalp his team has claimed away from home this season.

Bilic started his Premier League coaching career with a shock 2-0 win away to Arsenal on the opening day of this season, while West Ham claimed their first victory at Anfield since 1963 at the end of August.

But Saturday’s 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium trumps the previous two results, according to Bilic, who described the feeling post-victory as like walking into a pub “full of girls”.

When asked why West Ham made it three straight away

wins but have lost two games at Upton Park this term, Bilic said: “Sometimes playing away makes you more organised, not losing your shape, no matter who you play away.

“Of course, if you are playing a team like City, it’s up to them, because there is so much class on the pitch.

“It’s different, with the greatest respect to Arsenal and Liverpool. They don’t miss a ball, and their passes are not square passes, their passes are here and here behind so the quality is unbelievable.”

West Ham’s win at the Premier League leaders took them to third in the standings on 12 points by the end of the weekend, just three adrift of City.

30

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

EXTRATIME

EXTRATIME

INTERVIEW

AKAS

ƈƌ Ɗ æƏƈ Ɛç in action for Super & ƋƆ ê

SETS EAGLES’ TARGET Super Eagles defender Chima Akas is a regular invitee to Eagles but he has told AfricanFootball.com he is not in the senior national team to battle Elderson Echiejile and Juwon Oshaniwa for the shirt, but to give his best to lift the national team. He also talked about his aspiration as a footballer and as a Nigerian international in this interview. Excerpts:

H

ow did your career start?

I played for grassroots teams namely Super Stars Boys Club, Sumal FC and Dynamos FC. I joined 3SC feeders in 2008 and was drafted into the main team in 2009.

Who is your role model?

That is Ashley Cole. I love him so much. I learnt a lot from his style of play.

You have been a regular invitee to the Eagles, how has the experience been?

It has been great experience for me playing for the Super Eagles and I thank God for his favour upon me because nothing can happen without Him and nothing is impossible with Him.

There are established left-backs in the Eagles like Elderson Echiejile and Juwon Oshaniwa, are you ready to battle them for the regular shirt in Eagles?

There is nothing like battle for shirt here, I just want to give my best for the team, for the coach and Nigeria whenever I am called upon.

Who encouraged you the most in your career choice?

I got the most encouragement from my youth coaches and my brother.

Coaches Ozibe Monday and Oseni Jimoh at Super Stars Boys as well as my brother, Chibuzo Akas, and Paul Chimezie always encouraged me that I can do it.

Your club Sharks are battling for survival in the top flight league, what can you say on this?

It’s the league and any team could find themselves where we are.

Nothing is impossible, all we need do is to continue working hard and I believe with the players’ commitment, we will escape relegation.

Did your parents at any point tried to stop you from playing football?

Yes they did. At a point they told me that I need to learn something but I insisted this is all I want to do.

What exactly did they want you to

“My dream is to play for the top clubs in Europe and become a football legend.

I also want to be a role model for upcoming players…I dream to play in the English Premier League, Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga. It will be great honour to play for Arsenal and Manchester United.”

do or learn?

They wanted me to learn how to repair computers.

What are your dreams as a footballer?

My dream is to play for the top clubs in Europe and become a football legend. I also want to be a role model for upcoming players.

What are your targets as an Eagles player?

I just want to win laurels for my country Nigeria.

Is there any team or league you dream to play in?

I dream to play in the English Premier League, Bundesliga and Spanish La Liga. It will be great honour to play for Arsenal and Manchester United.

Ï ƑƋƋƆƗ ƇƏ ƌ ƇƏƈƅ 0 ƐƄ ƋƋêƅ ƌ

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

31 Opinion

Letter to Kumalia: This March of folly! ÎÎÎI

Yinka Odumakin

have watched with amazement your futile attempt to deny the communique of the summit of Northern Reawakening Forum read by you at the end of your recent summit declared open by the VicePresident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

I hope the VP would be available any day he is invited to a similar summit in the South!

Your communique called on President Muhammadu Buhari to discard the report of the 2014 National Conference because former President Goodluck Jonathan, who convoked it, had a hidden agenda which you did not state. You instead asked for another conference to address the problems confronting the North East.

In your words: “The North has the highest number of people below $2.00 a day; 71.5 per cent of the population in the North-East live in poverty and more than half are malnourished.

“A 2013 World Bank Report showed that poverty in 16 out of the 19 Northern states have doubled since 1980. The North has the lowest literacy rate in the country. Lagos is at 92 per cent, Kano 49 per cent and Borno less than 15 per cent. Sixty Five per cent of Northern girls and 53 per cent of boys are not in school compared to only 20 per cent for the SouthEast.

“We call on the Federal Government to convene a National Conference for the development of the North-East to put together a short, medium and long-term vision for the development of the zone.

The last National Conference was convened by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) government. You do not expect this (All Progressives Congress (APC) government to take hook, line and sinker what was put in place by the last government.

“What are the problems in the North-East? Has anybody tried to ascertain the problems in the NorthEast? The essence of the national conference is to analyse the extent of damage done to the North East.

The working document would be used to rebuild the region. There is no resemblance between the conference we are proposing and the 2014 National Conference. Many things have been destroyed and we need people with experience to discuss how the area will be settled.”

Before I go to broader issues, let me quickly address the issues you have raised about development index in the North East by saying that all what you highlighted are the creation of the elite of the north who held power for 38 out of 55 years of Nigeria’s independence.

It is surprising that you gave data in a way suggestive that the underdevel-

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Kumalia

I was in Alhaji Bamanga Tukur hometown in 2011 and saw his sprawling edifice which was only comparable to Aso Rock villa with every other house in the town in mud and thatch and you think that social system was sustainable?

opment of Borno is a function of the development of Lagos rather than posing the edge as a challenge to your elite to modernise.

Did you miss former Governor of Kano State gloating after the last elections that Almajiri is a thing of pride for you elite in the North because he was able to mobilise them to get 2 million votes?

What conference do you need to know that it is your error that has produced the terror that has now destroyed the North East? I was in Alhaji Bamanga Tukur hometown in 2011 and saw his sprawling edifice which was only comparable to Aso Rock villa with every other house in the town in mud and thatch and you think that social system was sustainable?

How many northerners who own nearly all the oil blocks in the creeks have instituted scholarships for the children of the north?

Are the people burning down schools in the North East not your wards?

How ironic is it that you now want the APC which said the money spent to look at the problems confronting the entire country was a “waste” now in government to use national resources to set up another National Conference for North East to point out the failures of your elite to you. Haba!!!

To be concluded .

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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: 08086296714

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.195

Price: N150

U

NO REGRETS LEAVING BARCA FOR ARSENAL,

SAYS BELLERIN X29

MOSES

EYES MORE SUCCESS AT WEST HAM X26

S extradition proceedings against Jack Warner, a former vice-president of football’s world governing body FIFA, are to go ahead after being approved by Trinidad’s attorney general.

The US wants to try Warner, 72, a Trinidadian national, on corruption charges. He is accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes.

He and 13 other current or former FIFA officials were indicted in May. He denies the charges and is currently fighting the extradition attempt.

Last week, Switzerland approved the extradition of ex-FIFA Vice-President Eugenio Figueredo to the US. Figueredo, from Uruguay, was arrested in May while in Switzerland for a FIFA congress.

So far, only one arrested official former FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb, from the Cayman Islands - has agreed to be extradited.

After being extradited from Switzerland to the US, Webb pleaded not guilty to accepting bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights.

He was placed under house arrest on $10m (£6.4m) bail by a New York judge.

As the head of Caribbean and North and Central American football (CONCACAF), Warner was one the most powerful men in world football.

His support was seen as essential for any World Cup host bid. However, he has been dogged by allegations of corruption.

The US alleges that Warner has been involved in corrupt practices for over two decades.

Warner’s case has been adjourned until Friday due to a legal dispute over a technicality.

: N O I T P U R R FIFA CO

WARNER N O I T I D A R EXT S G N I D E E C PRO APPROVED

· Exhibitions

· International partnerships

· Seminars

· Products’ launch

· Raffle draw

· Entertainment

· Discount sales

. Meet Regulators

10th AITF: The need to understand Trade Fair Exhibition and its origin ACCI 2 P

2015 ABUJA

Chamber of Commerce & Industy International Trade Fair Digest

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

10th AITF to be officially declared open today New wine brands debut in Abuja trade fair ACCI 3 P

Sights from 10th abuja international trade fair ACCI 4 P

FOR ADVERT LISTINGS IN ABUJA INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR DIGEST Call: 07064933209, 08054934941

ACCI 2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

United Healthcare Int’l promotes new services at Trade Fair Olatorera Dickson-Amusa, Abuja Ajisafe Oluwakemi Rachael spoke to Daily Times about United Healthcare International, the company she is representing at the Trade Fair.

She said that the healthcare system her company is providing to some extent is new in Nigeria but it has been operational in other developed economy.

“We are proud to be one of the largest health insurance service providers in Nigeria. This is cheaper and better than any other form of healthcare services you can find in Nigeria.

It is part of the National Health Insurance Scheme but we operate like the commercial bank while the NHIS is like the CBN regulating our activities.

She said “for you to know that you can pay N18, 000 plan, as health

insurance cover and enjoy medical service from anywhere in Nigeria for a whole year is something that has never happened.

So we are bringing this service to the door steps of Nigerians, you can register with us as single or family. We are participating in this Trade Fair for a second year, we were here last year and this year, it is very remarkable because you meet people from different countries, and it has

really increased our prospect.”

“United Healthcare International has come to provide complete access to healthcare; you and your family can now receive adequate healthcare right in your neighbourhood while we pick up the bill. We are encouraging people to register with us and let us take the burden of financing for your whole family off your neck,” Rachael appealed.

10th AITF: The need to understand Trade Fair Exhibition and its Origin

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja Ongoing events at the 10th Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) has made very imperative the need to reflect on how trade fair began and its importance to the economic development of any country. A trade fair (trade show, trade exhibition or expo) is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities.

The 2015 Abuja Trade Fair, no doubt, is far from the usual fairs held over the years because this particular one is marking

the 10th Fair anniversary of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry which of course has grown from national trade exhibition to an international trade expo where companies across the globe who see the growing relevance of the Abuja Trade Fair as an avenue to showcase their inventions, products and services to the world have competed earnestly for slots.

In the past the Nigeria’s Capital City Fair according to the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry has witnessed over 10,000 participants and exhibitors on annual basis.

Findings by the Daily Times at the ongoing trade fair indicate that this year’s event may witness a very high number

ACCI International Trade Fair Digest

of participants from different continents: Africa to Europe, Asia and so on presenting complete varieties of goods with a vast attendance that could bring about a good business turnover.

The Abuja Trade Fair is one of Nigeria’s largest trade fair, preserving its traditions, and of course; this Fair is an event of international importance because it serves to project the country as a worthy global trade destination and a high potential market.

Trade Fairs Historically, trade fairs have been the primary marketing medium of exporting countries especially the emerging economies like Nigeria. The exhibits are confined to

one industry or a specialised segment of a special industry. They are more commonly known as trade fairs. Initially, trade fairs were horizontal in their organization, with various products and/or services in specified industry groupings. A vertical organization is more commonplace today with the exhibits being confined to one industry or a specialized segment of a specific industry. Buyers are usually business members of an industry and often must be pre-qualified to attend the fair.

Description of Fairs, Expositions and Exhibitions The roots of the phenomenon “Fairs, Expositions and Exhibitions” can be traced back to its language origin. “Fair” derives from Latin “feria”, meaning “holiday” as well as “market fair.” This in turn corresponds to the Latin “feriae”, which came to mean religious festival. During the 12th century the importance of trade meetings increased; fairs were held close to churches, so that the concept of religious festival and market fair was combined in the common language.

The word “exhibition” was mentioned as early as 1649. It is a derivative of the Latin word “expositio”, meaning “displaying” or “putting on a show”. Exhibitions are not just collections of interesting objects brought

together at a certain place and time. They are human activities, human enterprises, undertaken for definite reasons and in order to achieve certain specified results. They are a form of human exchange, whereby the promoters and exhibitors on the one hand communicate with the visitors on the other.

Functions of exhibitions Business function- Of all the marketing instruments trade fairs easily have the widest range of functions: they serve to develop and the cultivate customer relations; search for partners and personnel, and to position the company as a whole.

Trade fairs are test markets for new products and hence also function as market research instruments. Trade fairs also serve to increase public awareness of One´s Company, to analyze the market situation and to prepare the ground for selling products and services. For new companies in particular it is important to gain an overview of competitors, their performance and their products. Often a visit to a trade fair is all that is needed at an early stage of entering a market.

Social function- Trade fairs and congresses have always been platforms for the exchanging knowledge. Knowledge means information that is processed, refined and placed

in the right context. In today’s knowledge-based society information has become a decisive resource.

The production, selection, filtering and channelling of information has thus become one of the most important tasks of a national economy. For this reason, conferences supporting trade fairs and vice-versa are increasingly regarded and made use of as attractive forms of exchanging knowledge that also enable a rapid response.

Finally, exhibitions differed from fairs in the very way in which business was conducted.

Goods were bought and sold at fairs. At exhibitions, commercial activity or selling of the displayed goods was not usually involved. However, inherent in displaying the goods was the hope of stimulating future sales.

Today this is how most exhibitions still operate.

Among other benefits, these fairs provide the business houses and individuals a face to face meeting point, which is seen as a perfect cost effective means for achieving trade objectives. According to Gaurav Marya, President, Franchise India Holding Ltd, “The scope of exhibition becomes more important as face to face meetings with target audience provide an opportunity for businesses to meet new buyers in person and also renew their contracts with existing buyers.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

ACCI 3

Kingdom Aquarium showcases new mobile, polygon fish ponds Mathew Dadiya, Abuja New varieties of fish ponds are being displayed at the ongoing Abuja International Trade Fair ground at the Airport Road by Kingdom Aquarium and Fisheries Limited.

The Manager of the Kingdom Aquarium Fisheries Ltd at the fair ground, Mr Onwujurum Clifford said that it was time to do away with the concrete and block ponds because the new Polygon Fish Ponds has proven to be more efficient and cost ef-

fective.

Clifford said that their company has been into the business for the past seven years and has been participating at the Abuja Trade Fair annually for many years.

“Apart from the Abuja Trade Fair, we also attend other major trade fairs across the federation like the Lagos Trade fair, Kaduna Trade fair, Calabar Trade Fair, Nasarawa, Enugu and so on because it gives us the opportunity to show case our products, he stated.

He said that the fish ponds were affordable and

durable with have five years guarantee depending on the usage. “if you are into hatching of fingerling, it is advised to use the 5x5x2ft size of the polygon pond which cost about N25,000.

But if you want to go into mass production of the fish the biggest size is 18x18x4ft at the cost of N170, 000 only,” the Manager advised.

The Manager also explained that the polygon fish pond come with powerful oxygenation Splash Aerators that give the fish oxygen and make them grow faster.

African beauty emphasized at Abuja trade fair Olatorera Dickson-Amusa, Abuja

New wine brands debut in Abuja trade fair Mathew Dadiya, Abuja For those who love taking wine, the Abuja Trade fair may definitely be the right place to go for wine shopping as many company are exhibiting their newly produced wines and offering free tasting to anyone who cares to have a taste of the new wines in town.

A particular one is the Venini Wine manufactured in Hauser, Germany and marketed by Al-kinjoh Inv, is in three varieties: Hugo, Spritzz and Berry.

The Sales Manager at the fair ground, Jessica Roland explained that the

Venini wines contained 6.9 per cent of alcohol with three different flavours.

She disclosed that the products are not yet in the market but assured that soon after exhibition at the Abuja Trade Fair, “we are pretty sure they are going to be in major stores and shops across the country.”

“The prices vary but for the trade fair we are selling them at N1, 000 each but I2m sure after the fair the price may slightly increase. This is our first time of participating at the Abuja Trade Fair and we are very impressed with happenings around,” Roland said.

Black is beautiful, isn’t it? At the Abuja International Trade Fair 2015 the beauty hits you in the eye almost everywhere you turn. Several stores all showcasing different items of interest and beauty, ranging from clothing items, to home decoration items vie for potential customers’ attention.

Moreover, nothing says African more than beads. You can never get enough of beads. And at the Abuja Trade Fair, there are dozens of stalls displaying beads, promi-

nent amongst them being Komsy Kinky Beads, a lovely stall exhibiting beads in all shapes, sizes and colors, all different and unusual in their own right. And as the manager of the stall was quick to point out, all at affordable prices.

The stall targets customers from all walks of life. Chief amongst them being tourists on the lookout for unusual African souvenirs to return with to their countries. And fortunately for them, the Trade Fair is an international one, aimed at both indigenes of the country and visitors from outside.

This just goes to show

that the Abuja Trade Fair 2015 is another avenue for promoting inter-country relations.

All around the fair ground, the wide range of indigenous products promoting Nigerian talent can be spotted. Shops advertising native wears, stalls exhibiting lovely cane chairs and many other innovative designs, all proudly Nigerian are scattered in every nook and cranny throughout the grounds.

Nigerians are very talented: the diverse stands and stalls at the Abuja international trade fair displaying their eye-catching wares are a tribute to that.

10th AITF to be officially declared open today The 2015 Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) which has evolved into a global economic event will be officially declared open today by no other than President Mohammadu Buhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy.

Already businesses and even social activities have been on at the fair since Friday 18th September

2015, with a large turnout of shoppers and sight seers as well as investors looking for new opportunities.

With a trade practice fuelled by a deep commitment to the highest standards of quality, professionalism, integrity and client care, the organisers of the fair Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) have developed an outstanding reputation for

service delivery tailored to the needs of numerous exhibitors and visitors during the annual event.

The fair has been acknowledged as an ideal platform for brand building as it brings together Captains of trade and industry, foreign emissaries, decision makers, business persons, entrepreneurs, overseas business delegations, thinkers and lot more.

Power Oil offers free BP, cholesterol level test Mathew Dadiya, Abuja In its effort to attract customers to its stands, Power Oil has been carrying out free medical test on High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol test to people at the fair ground by a team of medical Doctors the management of the vegetable oil company brought to enable people to know the danger of using oil that contain fat for meals.

Promo Supervisor of the Power Oil, Chichi Nwachukwu told Daily Times that they were selling the oil on a more discounted price adding that 3 litre x7 goes for N7,300 a caton of 75cl cost N3650 while 140ml goes for N32000.

According to Nwachukwu, Power oil is unique because it contains zero fat; it does not have cholesterol and is healthy for everyone.

“We have a team of medical doctors here who have been conducting free medical check-ups on BP and cholesterol level test for free. We are doing this just to let people know that it is very risky to consume vegetable oil that contain fat.”

ACCI International Trade Fair Digest

Sights from day 2 ACCI 4

ACCI International Trade Fair Digest

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Life&

Times Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Sunkanmi

Ogunade Runway-model-turned-publisher

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

You can’t compare Asian ladies to African beauties –Sunkanmi Ogunade Sunkanmi Ogunade has withered the storm from being a run-way model to actor and most recent, a publisher. The Olabisi Onabanjo University graduate and indigene of Ijebu Ode in Ogun State has featured in many soaps and run-ways. His love for photography led him into having passion for journalism.

From Nigeria to Malaysia, Sunkanmi is one of the Nigerians attaining landmark achievements out of the shores of the country with his recently debut magazine in Malaysia. In this exclusive chat with MUTIAT ALLI, the born actor-cum- model opens up on his world and other sundry issues.

You started as a model then an actor; how do you juggle both together?

If you look at both properly, you will know they are related. The only problem I face is I get direct jobs sometimes when I am on location and when this happens, it’s always difficult to move and decide. All this was back in Nigeria but in Asia, it is way easier to move around. You can get a train and meet up with whatever appointments you have.

It’s way easier and fun to do in Asia.

Which do you prefer, being an actor or model?

I can’t really decide because I have genuine love for both. So it’s hard to select but ordinarily, modelling is less time consuming compared to acting.

Is there any difference between the nitty-gritty of models in Nigeria and Malaysia?

Modelling is the same all over the world, but available options and the way we are been treated is what differs. In Asia, they treat you like a baby; you are cared for like anything you want to call it. They respect your hustle and pay you well. It’s a different ball game in Nigeria. Even when you get extra roles in Asia, you still get good cash and benefits. It’s the same casting protocol, same routines but with more comfortable platforms, and as a black model, getting jobs is seasonal but when they come, it’s joy all over joy. But I prefer it here to Nigeria.

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Have you had any racism experience?

Yes, I have had, but it’s bearable, you can look past it and move on with life. If you come in contact with the international

Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani

Asians, you will fall in love with time. So, due to this, anytime you meet a racist, you just ignore and continue living.

Recently, we saw some TV ad commercial; what was it all about?

It was a Panasonic brand TVC. I shot one early last year and late last year. One was for the Panasonic Econavi air conditioner and the second one was for Panasonic latest deep freezers. It was a global campaign for the first one while the second one was just for some few months but in 3 countries, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore -- its fun modelling in these countries.

Have you dropped your career on photography too?

Apart from schooling, modelling and acting, I do professional photography.

Photography for me is passion and I derive maximum joy doing it. I work in some clubs in Asia as a photographer. I do commercial photography, events photography, portraiture and abstract photography. I give meanings to weird things with my camera.

It’s so much fun playing with Photoshop and some other software.

You are one of the major casts on the popular Nigerian Tele- series 2sides of a coin; how do you go about shooting your own scenes since you are not based in Nigeria?

I always come back home anytime we have to shoot. We always discuss and agree as regards finance and thereafter, I come home to shoot. They send me my script via email, I study them well before I come into the country. I shoot mostly for a month and some days or a week and then I leave.

Recently, you launched your magazine line in Malaysia, what is all about?

Yes, I recently started my own magazine line in Malaysia. It’s called Zoom magazine, it’s a lifestyle and personality profile magazine. It also includes hot gossip about both widely known Asians and Africans amidst. I have been in the print medium line as far back I can remember. I was with Compass newspaper for a while and currently still with Acada Magazine. I just felt the time was right for me to commence my own thing.

Asians? They are just normal. You can ever compare them to African girls.

African girls are blessed and professionally endowed. How on earth will you see a well spiced up African girl and go after Chinese?

For me, it’s African any day.

Are you saying Asians don’t have good shape?

No, I am not saying they don’t have good shapes; some of them are as shaped as our African girls, most especially the Indians, Malays and Singaporeans. Singapore girls leave you wondering. Like they have been injected with the African big bum thingy.

What was growing up like for you?

Growing up for me was fun; I majorly grew up amidst my parents and siblings.

It was more of a family thing. Everything I know today was as a result of my Family and my immediate environment. My parents were my Best friends and till date, we still have a good relationship.

How is Asia for you generally?

Well, it’s a lovely place and easy to live. If you mind your own business and do what you have to do, you will not encounter problems but if you are the type that loves trouble, this is the place for that, you will enjoy the trouble to the zenith and in the end, it is welcome to Lagos Nigeria. The food, environment and infrastructure is really good. The weather is crazy. It’s as hot as Nigeria if not more but the only difference is that in Asia, there is Air condition everywhere you go, so you hardly feel it. There is racism and you just have to suck it up and manage it. Some of them are loving while some are not. It’s like that everywhere in the world though. Asia is a nice place.

How do you cope with the Asian girls?

Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Luke Utomi

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

L3 Relationship Readers’ Feedback Re: Why should he be blamed?

When relationship goes sour, who should take the blame, the husband or the wife?

I read the Relationship story ‘Why Should He Be Blamed? My advice is that the lady should not have any relationship with Damilare.

–Ben Peters, Lagos.

In the first place, why do you have to leave your previous relationship to begin another with a stranger?

You don’t deserve any advice from us. Re-trace your steps and maybe one day you will find another man.

–Oluwatosin Alade, Ekiti.

Whoa!! Am so glad Daily Times Newspaper is back and gaining ground. I really appreciate last week’s Relationship story. My advice for whoever the lady is that most times in a relationship, everybody has their part of blame to take. Being contented is the key.

–Bobolayefa Godspower, Bayelsa.

Both spouses have a fair share of blame to take here; the lady should not have walked out of her first relationship for no reason.

–Muyinat Sanni, Lagos.

My advice for you is to forget about Damilare and start a new life because Damilare would want to pay you back for what you’ve done.

–Huseenat, Ikeja, Lagos.

The good ones are gone: A bachelor’s search for companion Uya Sunday John When we were growing up, my grandpa while looking at his wife would smile and then would ask us to pray for a good life partner. We were too young to understand but we loved the smiles they shared. Nearly two decades later, we are living to understand his reasons better. I really wish I didn’t just pray but had even fasted for his suggestion then. Especially now that we seem to be in trouble even understanding what long term happiness is in a relationship. In this age, people are used, things are loved, egos are treasured and happiness is rare.

Living life as a partial or full Lagos bachelor with little enhancements (like a small crib and a car) has a way of showing people life from different angles. For one, your clique is improved and your lifestyle is merely overrated. For sure, the girls are fresher and the boys are doper. As long as you are living it up and you do not fall into the category of ‘I used to have but I don’t anymore’. It’s the city, no one cares about how happy you are after all. With all these about the city, the lives on this deceitful lane has actually opened my eyes to the confirmation of two facts that the old man told us.

Firstly, we all hope for the best but we are constrained to choose only from the available especially in relationships. No one can choose what’s not available.

According to what the old man explained, there are three type of humans in mating (the good ones, the normal ones and the abnormal ones). Let me explain that a bit The good ones are those type my grandpa took time to smile about. They treat their relationship like a treasure as if it’s a prerequisite for them making it to heaven. They nurtured it. Like our

grannies, the way they managed their relationships and marriages make us believe storybooks happy ending tales.

They solved their problems selflessly, overcame their struggles internally and maintain happy faces to the rest of the world.

Normal is like the middle point of everything. Warri no win, warri no lose, kpatakpata na draw kind of relationship people.

The abnormal is, well, just not normal.

You must permit me to leave it this way for simplicity because I lack the exact English word in exchange of what he said.

Second and most importantly, the city lane has opened my eyes to the fact that the good ones (both boys and girls) are gone and even normals are a big deal now.

Okay, that’s harsh, maybe I should say the good ones are almost gone and normals are greatly desired.

Since I’m now grown and have a deeper understanding of his sayings, I want to relate his prediction or fear to our present state and even future problems.

Most sincere seekers (I don’t mean those looking for excuses to not be committed) will tell you that the good ones you seek have been too rare for a while now that these days people fast and pray for the ‘normal’.

If we are truthful to our generation, then we know the good ones were gone from when the gentlemen could no longer win ladies with acts of gentleness because they prefer being with ruffians and being treated wrongly. Good ones were gone the moment good girls could no longer keep their men because the males’ minds are more occupied with skimpy skirts adventures than what they were being offered at home. Good ones were gone from the time parents shamelessly started

In my opinion, I think the lady in question should forget both of them and start with someone else.

–Tobilola, Ogba, Lagos.

My advice for the lady: you should look for someone better and forget about both Nifemi and Damilare because neither of them are worth living with.

–Bolanle, Ikorodu, Lagos.

to depend on daughters for monthly survival. In fact, the good were gone from the period when feelings and relationships became monetized.

If you don’t understand what it is like to seek just normal in a relationship, then let me explain better. For the singles, Normal is like pleading with nature to be at least fair with you after having the 7th ‘kolomental’ relationship you didn’t bargain for in less than 2 years. It’s that feeling of hoping not to be involved but deep inside you, craving to be, but will silently pray you don’t fall for one worst than the last. It’s hoping to settle for a person more human and not just another beast that can tear more pieces of you apart.

This is normal. Normal to the married is seeking to, at least to be liked when you give love. Normal like this doesn’t want too many luxuries but just day to day human treatment and security.

Good are rare, so we are having everybody wishing to settle for normal.

In the absence of good, we only pray for normal these days and those normal too are fast becoming an endangered specie. Our liberties that were supposed to open doors to self-enlightenment and discoveries are becoming windows to our own doom. We openly enjoy the ugly and secretly wish the good girls and boys we heard in stories can be restored after forgetting we’ve been destroying the structure to which they are supposed to be raised and maintained.

Talking about how we crave for even normal these days; the other day, I mistakenly left the TV on one of these Nigerian music channels for an aunt and left to attend to some things. When I got back, she involuntary asked why these foreign parents can’t at least tell their children to be normal and or at least

wear normal clothes. When I told her that the people on TV were Nigerians, she didn’t even wait for me to tell her the bum shorts (or pants according to her) and the trousers that won’t hang on the waist (plus tattoos that were too dark and dirty) were the new normal now before she talked herself to anger. She concluded by pointing that perhaps clothes should be given to animals since they will wear it better than humans.

Good is rare and normal is scarce.

When a friend told me she thought a certain celebrity’s marriage did well to have almost clocked two years contrary to her believe it will only survive for a year or less. Her point to me, made marriage seem like a JAMB score which is only useful in one year and thus invalid in the next admission year. Is this the norm now and should it be?

Abnormal is just terrible. We once had a neighbour with so many funny acts. They claimed their relationship was complex.

In their good times, they display all kinds of sexual profanity on the street and in their bad times, they were busy violently getting blood out of each other. Again, they will always say their love life is bad ass complex. Perhaps the bad ass complexity can be explained in how a married woman will come home super drunk in week days, not minding the fact that the children should be prepared for school early the next morning. Maybe bad ass complexity explains why the husband never had class in the type of skirts he pursued. Whatever the case, this couple like most these days, were finding more bad times than good times and when they do, the area was turned into a war zone with words and weapons.

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Fashion & Style L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Mind your table manners Eyola eyola@aol.com The Victorian era is a period in British history I find most extraordinary, so much so that it inspired my women’s wear label Eyola; eyola.com. Rules of propriety governed almost every aspect of a Victorian’s life from fashion to socializing. Strict codes were applied to dinner and ballroom parties - among the most popular forms of entertainment - and most of the dinner-table etiquette associated with this era still applies today.

As soon as you sit at a table, the napkin should be placed on your lap. Avoid elbows resting on the table, fidgeting and slouching. You may start eating when everyone at the table has been served.

Forks should sit on the left side of the place-setting, knives and spoons to the right. Work from the outside in. Begin with the outer fork and knife for the starter and then move your way in, course by course.

Dessert spoons and forks are either above the place-setting (for informal dining) or brought out after the main course has been cleared from the table. Use dessert forks for dense desserts (e.g. cakes and pastries) and teaspoons for ice cream and jelly.

Hold your knife firmly without touching the blade. When used with a knife, forks should be held in the left hand and one must never cut food with the side of a fork. When used alone, forks (and spoons) should be securely held in the right hand. When eating, the fork (or spoon) should be brought to the

mouth. Don’t lower the head down towards the plate.

Never overstretch your arm to reach for butter, salt etc. Politely ask your fellow diners to pass it along. Never talk with your mouth full and take small mouthfuls, eating at a relaxed pace. Avoid making noises with your mouth (e.g. slurping) or cutlery (e.g. scraping a plate). In between bites, quietly rest cutlery on the plate or bowl.

Canapés should be eaten in one mouthful, without overfilling your mouth. Spaghetti should be eaten with a fork. Pizza can be eaten using your hands, held at the crust on informal occasions and with a knife and fork on formal occasions, including dining at restaurants.

Pips, stones and bones (from olives, fish, chicken etc) should be discretely removed from the mouth the same way that it went in. For instance when an olive is eaten using a fork, the pip should be deposited onto the fork then placed on the side of the plate.

Anything eaten using your hands should be silently removed by covering the mouth with your left hand. Unless you›re at a barbecue, food should be eaten with a knife, fork and/ or spoon. An exception is bread rolls which should only be broken apart and buttered with a bread knife each time you›re about to eat a mouthful.

When you’ve finished eating, place your cutlery side by side facing upwards at the centre of the plate. When you leave your seat, place the unfolded napkin to the left side of the plate.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

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Teens World L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Disrespect in teenagers Tobi Dada

approach is to tell him that you want to talk, and agree on a time.

Try not to take things personally, instead you let your understand when his been disrespectful.

Even though you have more life experience than your child, lecturing her about how to behave is likely to turn her off listening.

If you want your child to listen to you, you might need to spend time actively listening to her.

Nagging isn’t likely to have much effect. It might increase your frustration, and your child will probably just switch off.

Sarcasm will almost certainly create resentment and increase the distance between you and your child.

Disrespectful or rude behaviour in teenagers is pretty common.

Although this phase will pass eventually, there are some strategies that can help parents handle disrespect from their child in the meantime. As a parent, you might feel hurt, worried and unsure about what’s happened when you had conversations with your ward. Your child used to value your interest or input, but now it seems that even the simplest conversations turn into arguments between you and your child.

Disrespect: where does it come from?

Not all teenagers will be rude or disrespectful, but some disrespect is a normal part of teenage growth and development. Your child is learning to express and test out his own independent ideas, so there will be times when you disagree. Developing independence is a key part of growing up. Also, your child’s moods can change quickly.

Because of how teenage brains develop, your child isn’t always able to quickly handle her changing feelings and reactions to everyday or unexpected things.

And this can sometimes lead to over-sensitivity.

Teenagers are starting to think in a deeper way than they did a few years earlier, and they can have thoughts and feelings they’ve never had before. Some young people seem to burst into the world with a conflicting and radical view on everything. This shift to deeper thinking is a normal part of development too.

No matter how grumpy or cross your child gets, he still values time talking and connecting with you.

You just might need to be a little more understanding if he’s shorttempered or disrespectful. It can help to remember that this phase

The good ones are gone: A bachelor’s search for companion

will pass.

Ways to handle your teen’s disrespectful behaviour Set clear rules about behaviour and communication.

For example, you could say, ‘We speak respectfully in our family.

This means we don’t call people names’. Involving your child in discussions about rules means you can later remind her that she helped make the rules, and that she agreed to them.

Focus on your child’s behaviour and how you feel about it. Avoid any comments about your child’s personality or character. Instead of saying, ‘You’re rude’, try something like, ‘I feel hurt when you speak to me like that’.

Set and use consequences, but try not to set too many.

At times, it might be appropriate to use consequences for things like rudeness, swearing or name calling.

Tips on how to communicate well with your teen Stay calm. This is important if your child reacts with ‘attitude’ to

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Abnormal is not just bad, it’s ridiculous and this is the stage most of us are, ranging from relationships to marriages.

We must accept the fact that if truly the good ones are almost gone and the normal ones will soon be threatened, we collectively caused it. We replaced human disciplines with other things, the ‘pillar heads’ of family culture abandoned their duties and now we are paying for it. The Reviewer is not giving marriage counselling but thinks we give too little and want too

a discussion. Stop, take a deep breath, and continue calmly with what you wanted to say.

Use humour. A shared laugh can break tension, bring a new perspective or lighten the tone of a conversation. Being light-hearted can also help take the heat out of a situation – but avoid mocking, ridiculing or being sarcastic to things that your child talks to you about.

Ignore your child’s shrugs, raised eyes and bored looks if he’s generally behaving the way you’d like him to.

Sometimes teenagers are disrespectful without meaning to be rude. A useful response can be something like, ‘That comment came across as pretty offensive.

Did you mean to behave rudely?’

Use descriptive praise with your teenager for positive communication. When you have a positive interaction, point this out to your child. This lets her know you’re aware of and value her opinions.

Tips for relationships between you and your ward

much. You would say I don’t understand everything about how our old folks made it work then but I sure do know that it was based on family structure that were laid as foundation for day to day operation.

“The Reviewer’s say is simple”.

If you still possess a good one in any form, you must be one of those with blessings than our generation can explain. I hope we treat the rare remaining ones well so they can produce and nurture other good ones.

If you’re with a normal, don’t worry, I have seen what perseverance can do especially

Be a role model. When you’re with your child, try to speak and act the way you want your child to speak and act towards you.

If there’s a lot of tension between you and your child, another adult you know and trust, such as an aunt, uncle or family friend, might be able to support your child through this period.

Involving someone like this can be a great way to ease the strain.

Our Talking to Teens interactive guide explores some tricky parent and teenager situations.

For example, you can see how different approaches to handling disrespectful teenage behaviour can get different results.

Things to avoid with teenage disrespect Arguing rarely works for parents or teenagers. When we get angry, we can say things we don’t mean.

A more effective approach is to give yourself some time to calm down.

If you’re angry or in the middle of an argument, it will be hard to calmly discuss what you expect of your child. A more effective

for two people who believe.

But if the world lies between you and the abnormal, well, God help you find peace As for me, I really wished I had prayed those prayer from my grandpa well because I reflect on the issue almost daily.

However, seeing the world with my bachelor eyes, my prayers have taken a funny turn. I pray that God should order my steps in such a way that on the day I am supposed to meet an abnormal one, may my clothes be stained by football from the street kids (as funny or dumb as it may sound, it’s a prayer point) . Let the car

When to be concerned about teenage disrespect You might also be worried if there are changes in your child’s attitude or mood, if he withdraws from family, friends or usual activities, or if he runs away from home or stops going to school regularly.

If you’re concerned about your child’s behaviour, you could consider seeking professional support from good people like the, school counsellors and teachers.

Discuss the issue as a family, to work out ways of supporting each other Talk to other parents and find out what they do.

How to handle disrespectful kids Disrespectful behaviour— cursing, yelling, arguing, ignoring you, refusing requests, namecalling—is a kind of wakeup call to parents. It’s telling you that you need to be in control of the situation more and set better limits. This is a process that happens over time. Once you change how you respond to your kid’s disrespectful behaviour, it doesn’t mean that their behaviour is going to change right away.

act up a little and let me change my mind out rightly about such outgoing. I don’t mind, as long as we don’t meet.

Because I’m not ready to live my life like a man under bondage daily nor do I want to spend most part of my life fasting, praying and casting for another person’s misdeeds.

If you so care, join me in this prayer or keep waiting for the unknown.

Send feedback/response to 07035429758 (SMS ONLY), or mutiat.alli@dailytimes.com.ng

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

L7

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

L8 Television Showing on

Showing on

154 Africa Magic Family

141 Eva Channel

21:30

23:00

Tue, 22 Sep | PG13

Tue, 22 Sep | PG13

‘S5/E200 - 5/200’. Stay tuned for a close-up of Nollywood’s top actors, producers and directors.

Stay tuned for movie premieres, behind-thescenes footage and the latest celebrity gossip with Helen Paul and Uti Nwachukwu.

‘S1/E76 - 1/76’. Victoria goes to the halfway house and runs into Alejandra, the girl she desperately tried to protect for years from Edmundo. This is their opportunity to clear the air and finally talk.

101 M-Net West

00:30 Grassroots 02:15 Sex Tape 04:00 The Voice 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Big Bang Theory 06:30 Proof 07:30 My Story 08:30 Endless Love 10:30 The McCarthys 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 The Voice 13:00 Elementary 14:00 Revenge 15:00 Madam Secretary 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Odd Couple 17:30 The Voice 18:30 Chicago PD 19:30 American Crime 20:30 Battle Creek 21:30 Elementary 22:30 Secrets & Lies

00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Labour Of Love 03:00 Part Of Me 03:50 Queen Of Hearts 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love

154 Africa Magic Family

00:05 Tinsel 00:35 Star Gist 01:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Music Block 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Umbara Point 08:30 Tenant 09:30 The 5 Brides 10:00 Good Morning Africa

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

11:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 12:00 Music Block 13:00 Tinsel 13:30 Star Gist 14:00 Nowhere To Be Found 14:30 Comfort Zone 15:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 16:00 Tenant 17:00 The Dzigbordi Show 18:00 Mashariki Mix 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 19:55 Next Door To Happiness 21:00 Comfort Zone 21:30 Jara 22:05 Living With Trisha

00:45 The Weakest Link

11:40 Hell’s Kitchen USA

01:30 Scott And Bailey

12:25 Top Gear

02:19 Come Dine With Me

13:20 Come Dine With Me

03:09 EastEnders

14:15 Live At The Apollo

03:39 QI

15:05 The Weakest Link

04:09 Top Gear

16:00 EastEnders

05:00 Spy

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

05:25 QI

17:10 Pointless

06:00 Miranda 06:30 EastEnders

18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

19:00 Getting On

07:55 The Weakest Link

19:35 QI

08:45 Pointless

20:05 Would I Lie To You?

09:35 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

20:40 The Graham Norton Show

10:25 Deal Or No Deal

22:10 Only Fools And Horses

11:05 My Family

22:45 QI

21:35 Mrs Brown’s Boys

155 Africa Magic World

01:00 Good Morning Africa 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Edge Of Paradise 04:00 Doctors’ Quarters 05:00 Good Morning Africa

06:00 The Mastermind 07:50 Star Gist 08:20 Star Gist 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Jacob’s Cross 12:00 Jacob’s Cross 13:00 Music Block 14:00 Edge Of Paradise 15:00 Edge Of Paradise 16:00 Doctors’ Quarters 17:00 Jacob’s Cross 18:00 Jacob’s Cross 19:00 So Wrong So Wright 19:25 So Wrong So Wright 20:00 Brain Box 22:25 Music Block

128 SONY MAX

00:15 Caught On Camera 01:05 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 01:30 1000 Ways To Die 01:55 1000 Ways To Die 02:20 Body Count 03:40 Video Zonkers 04:05 Video Zonkers 04:30 South Beach Tow 05:00 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 05:50 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 06:40 Video Zonkers 07:05 Video Zonkers 07:30 What Went Down 08:00 Caught On Camera 09:00 1000 Ways To Die 09:30 South Beach Tow 10:00 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 11:00 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 12:00 Video Zonkers 12:30 Video Zonkers 13:00 What Went Down 13:30 Caught On Camera 14:30 1000 Ways To Die 15:00 Code Red: The Rubicon Conspiracy 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Video Zonkers 17:30 Caught On Camera 18:30 What Went Down 19:00 South Beach Tow 19:30 1000 Ways To Die 20:00 Upload With Shaquille O’Neal 20:30 Hip Hop Squares 21:00 The Smoking Gun Presents: World’s...

22:00 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:30 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Tech Times Æ s

TT 1

Inye Kemabonta, Editor, Tech Times inye@technologylaw.com.ng

NITDA, Stakeholders brainstorm on Standard & guidelines on websites ecosystem in Benin & Calabar

L-R: Prince Benjamin, Senior IT Officer CPN,Aderemi Helen Eyiyemi Ministry of Justice Programme Analyst 11, Barr. Lararus Ikoti, Acting Director Standard, Guidelines & Regulations NITDA, Abubukar Alhassan Muhammed, Head Technical Services NiRA,Kurokeyi Ebimoboere, NITDA PCS, Taofeek Okoya, Director Business & Strategy Kits Tech Ltd, Julius Okochi, CPN Head IT,Rev. Sunday Folayan, NiRA President, Enajite S. Orode NITDA DG Admin Assistant during the stakeholders forum on Website Security Authentication and Certification held at Protea Hotel, Benin City, recently. Photo: TONY NWAKAEGHO

Tony Nwakaegho The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and stakeholders in the Information Technology (IT) have met in Benin and brainstormed on the way forward for website security authentication and certification programme for Nigerian websites.

In his welcome address, the Director General, NITDA, Mr Peter Jacks said that in the cyberspace today the issue of security occupies most of our time because the internet is prone to hacking and other malfeasance, adding that there is the need to develop a programme for authentication and certification of Nigerian websites.

The NITDA DG who was represented by the Acting Head, Standard, Guidelines and Regulations, Barr. Lazarus Ikoti declared that under this programme all Nigerians websites are required to adopt such protocol as to make them secured, stressing that there is no particular protocol that should be followed but such standards which must be conformed with.

“I am fully aware that there are

many types of authentication depending on the type of software.

Each of these serve a particular purpose but the whole aim is to guide against unauthorized access,” the NITDA DG added.

Jack explained that since he took over as the DG/CEO of NITDA, he made Standards and Guidelines to be the cornerstone of his administration and for the Agency to take its proper place as the apex IT regulator in Nigeria.

“The thrust of the present government in Nigeria is change.

NITDA will key into the change agenda by ensuring that the country changes from analogue to digital way of carrying out government businesses. In fact, the e-government project is aimed on using IT in governance to achieve maximum result.

There are many other strategies which all this strategies are fully operational, it will leap frog Nigeria into the digital age. This is a task that we want to achieve in NITDA,” he said.

Rev. Sunday Folayan President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) and also Internet Service Provider Association of Nigeria (ISPON) said that the forum is timely because we need standard and guidelines

to get things done rightly in the country.

Folayan raised five pertinent questions that should be addressed in formulating the standard and guidelines thus: that stakeholder should know the problem and how to solve it; how it was been done before now, how will the standardization solve the problem; who are the parties involved and what resources are required to get it done “I will give you one very pertinent example; how many people have more than one GTBank account here? I have five and to use token on it, GT Bank forces me to obtain five tokens, and I keep telling the bank that it’s the same me that need to authenticate myself at GT Bank website, why do I need five tokens for one bank, obviously because there is no standard. If you go to another bank, they will issue one token.

So I carry about five tokens in my wallet when all we are doing is accessing the bank’s website, so it is website access so I am showing a typical problem statement so that we will to be able to formulate where we are going,” he explained.

According to him, “who the parties are must be clearly docu-

mented because we cannot say we want to comply bank to do something and CBN is not there ,it will fail, if you want comply the citizens to identify themselves and Identity Management Commission is not there it will fail from start off.

“NCC did SIM registration and spent billions of naira, the Telcos did the registration different from the one NCC did, but now we are doing it, the third one again. I have gone back and they said my face looks dark and they took my picture again, so I have done the third one. The point is that we need to state what resource we need so that somebody will not come out and say that it was not properly done again.

“How many organisations are securing their website and why are others not doing it. Security is holistic discipline and it includes the unseen. Whatever we are doing we must think of physical security If you say you want to secure a website, a website that is located in Nigeria is far more secured than that located in America, because an American can enter the digital centre, unplug something and plug another one and download the entire identity. So security

must begins from physical security which must form part of the document for this project.

“Next is the identity security because no matter how secure something is if you can steal the identity you can do whatever you like with it. We need transaction security to secure all transaction and avoid the man at the middle to secure transaction.

“There is need to checkmate some software that cannot be use as security software yet people are deploying them even though they have foreign exploits.”

He advocated guideline to include introducing securing the websites, adding that security begins with digital security, transaction security, software security.

If it is an initiative of NITDA and the agency feel that it can be done well by Immigration, NITDA should empower Immigration to do it and the day immigration begins to fail we will see it, we switch to another organization. We must collaborate and that is the standard that is required and the standard must accommodate everybody without tying itself to something because there will be a minimum requirement.

If you want to get a domain name in Nigeria, he said, you go to NiRA and it must end in .ng.

This ought to have been done

by NITDA but the agency had to concession it to NiRA.. Then NiRA report back to NITDA that this is what we have done.

We should stress ourselves, but rather to collaborate to get the desired results. Today you can use your ATM in any bank because there is a standard and guidelines regulating business transaction through the banking clearing house.

On his part Abubakar Mohammad, NiRA Head Technical Services affirmed that we need to educate and create awareness for online security as part of our standard in view of the fact that the internet is pervasive.

In a related development, NITDA held another 2-day stakeholders forum in Calabar where the stakeholders brainstormed CONTINUED ON PAGE TT 3

Tech Times TT 2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

NITDA plans to provide standards to ensure websites, transactions are secured— Ikoto The Acting Head, Standards, Guidelines and Regulations, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Barr. Lazarus Ikoti coordinated the business of hosting the NITDA stakeholders fora at both Benin City and Calabar where the stakeholders brainstormed on the way forward for Standards and Guidelines on website security authentication and certification programme for Nigerian websites in Benin and Standards and Guidelines for transactional websites in Calabar respectively. Barr. Ikoti spoke with Tony Nwakaegho in this exclusive interview on the rationale for such fora on the websites operation in Nigeria and other sundry issues. Excerpts: What is NITDA trying to achieve from the two stakeholders fora in Benin and Calabar where stakeholders brainstormed on the way forward for Standards and Guidelines on website security authentication and certification programme for Nigerian websites in Benin and Standards and Guidelines for transactional websites in Calabar respectively?

What we actually want to do as far as the issue of website se-

curity and authentication is concerned stemmed from the fact that there are so many websites and many people host different things on these websites. From those websites there are transactions that take place across the websites. We want to ensure that whatever transaction that emanates from one website to another one should be secured in such a way that it is only meant for the person who it is intended. And you cannot achieve this unless we put in some measures to check the security, the authenticity and to also to clarify that this particular transaction or mail from this particular material emanates from one person, from one particular website to another website.

Why did it take such a long time for NITDA to come up with this idea for the stakeholders to deliberate upon it since websites have been in existence in the country before now?

One thing with technology is that the industry is very dynamic.

It is when this problem manifest that we need to look for the solution. Sometimes we are supposed to be ahead of it, but the way technology develops makes it so difficult for us to continue to keep pace with it. But these are some current problems that are coming up and this is why we are trying to look for means to solve those

problems.

Looking at the proliferation of websites by individuals, organisations and particularly those dealing with financial transactions like CBN, Banks amongst others always seeking for their own data, will there not be conflict of interest with what NITDA has set to achieve in doing this? How do you synchronize this issue?

Actually that is one of the problem that we are facing. Nigerians are always prone to giving data in various places, for instance if you want to obtain driver’s licence they collect your data, if you want to obtain international passport they collect your data, you want to register your company they collect your data and so on. What we are trying to do in NITDA is to see to it that we have a uniform data, a data in such a way that if CONTINUED ON PAGE TT 2

Ikoto

‘‘We in NITDA are trying to see to it that we harmonise all these various processes to see that if you collect one data and that data will go round so that people will be able to use it for legal means and not for any other reason. That is why we are trying to put some things in place to ensure that every data collected is properly protected and apart from that, they can only to be used if at all the owner of the data agreed that it should be used for another thing.’’

NITDA set to lead 20 IT firms to participate in GITEX 2015

Jack

Tony Nwakaegho The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is firming up the country’s participation in the 2015 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) holding this October in Dubai with about 20 companies and organisations already selected to participate inside the

Nigerian Pavilion.

The exhibitors include public and private enterprises notably Information and Communication Technology (ICT) startups for which the NITDA is hinging its 2015 participation in the 2015 GITEX Expo and Conference.

The conference attracts over 145, 000 participants from about 120 countries each year.

Speaking at a GITEX Preparatory Forum held recently in Abuja, the Director General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack, said Nigeria would leverage on the theme of this year’s event ‘The Internet Future of Everything’, to promote some of its budding innovators who have created solutions with strong market or commercial values. According to him, the innovators cut across sectors across including the retail industry, agriculture, education, security, oil and gas, and health care.

“We want to ensure promotion of local start-ups, projection of the country’s vast and untapped Information Technology potential, organisation of Nigeria’s IT Investment Forum within the

Nigerian Pavilion as well as distribution of IT intelligence material from Nigeria to the rest of the world at GITEX,” Jack said.

Also speaking, Commercial Director at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Mr. Bilal Al Rais, said, “GITEX is not about you buying space or setting up as an exhibitor or trade visitor, the question is whether you think it’s time to take your business global.

“Business has to be both local and global, that is where GITEX can help you leverage on its global networks to build interest in your enterprise and also to endear foreign partners to your business.”

Nigeria was the Country Partner for GITEX 2014 and first debuted at the 35 years old event in

2013.

The NITDA, Nigeria’s IT clearinghouse, is facilitating the country’s participation through the DWTC partnering organisations namely, Pinnacle International Consulting LLC and Knowhow Media International (KMI).

The exhibiting companies include the NITDA, Nigerian Communication Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), a professional, non-profit, non-political umbrella organisation of all telecommunications companies of Nigeria.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

TT 3 Tech Times

EMCOAN, NBC to collaborate for successful digitization of broadcast industry Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Mrs. Debbie Odutayo, president of the Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria, (EMCOAN), has expressed her support over the willingness of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), to collaborate with her association for a successful digitization of the broadcast industry in Nigeria. she explained that though the regulatory body failed to achieve the June 2015 digital switch-over deadline that a better and deeper collaboration with major stakeholders such as her association (which is responsible for over 85% of media content in Nigeria) would largely contribute to a successful actualization of the new target date.

Odutayo stated that the NBC is now taking the bull by the horns, with the facilitation of EMCOAN’s participation in inter-

NITDA set to produce guidelines secured websites

national events such as Mipcom which holds in France in October 2015.

She said this was a good step in the right direction as there can be no effective switch-over if the content owners were not carried along in the process, stressing that digitization worldwide demonstrates that industry and political considerations prevail in the discussions concerning the planning and the implementation of the digital switchover policies.

Regulators in Nigeria, she noted, hitherto failed to recognise the inherent opportunities of using readily available expertise at its disposal just as consultation across board were not wide enough.

She decried the manner in which members of EMCOAN were left out of the entire process even with its strategic position as a body of TV and radio programme producers.

In the next 18 months as ex-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE TT 2

somebody collect data, that data collected with the approval of the person who gives that data could be used for any other processes.

For example, if you want to obtain a drivers licence, the moment you obtain that driver’s licence you can also give authority that the driver licence should be used in the process of obtaining your international passport. When you use that one you will discover that the issue of taking data every

tended by NBC, Nigeria can join the likes of Ghana, which appears to have gone ahead and readily serves as benchmark— where a simulcast service is run

by TV stations such that a set-up box could easily receive more than 20 DTT channels; as well as Tanzania which has also made significant progress in the African television industry since it migrated to digital in December 2012 and fully establishing it in April 2015.

Mrs. Odutayo restated that her association is fully prepared to work in partnership with NBC in order to achieve its digitization goals.

“EMCOAN is open to working with the NBC, if approached, to throw our heavy weight behind the regulatory body by deploying our viable platform and resources to sensitizing the generality of Nigerians on the massive change of switching from analogue to digital broadcasting,” she added.

Mrs. Debbie Odutayo

now and then will be minimized.

But the problem is that each of these organisations have their own special mandates. Incidentally, there is no doubt that there is no inter agency relationship whereby the data that is obtained by one agency can be used by another agency. We in NITDA are trying to see to it that we harmonise all these various processes to see that if you collect one data and that data will go round so that people will be able to use it for legal means and not for any other

reason. That is why we are trying to put some things in place to ensure that every data collected is properly protected and apart from that, they can only to be used if at all the owner of the data agreed that it should be used for another thing.

Looking at e payment issue that is being organised by CBN, you find out that CBN regulates the Banks and these e payment transactions. How will NITDA handle the standards and guidelines in this

regard?

NITDA is only interested in the IT function of CBN and it’s not as if they want to control or take over the mandate of CBN. What NITDA is trying to do is to complement the effort of CBN as far as the issue of e-payment transaction is concerned. You know that the e-payment like the CBN its own standard only affect the banks which is the institution that it regulates. But we have to think about the other aspects of CONTINUED ON PAGE TT 4

NITDA, Stakeholders agree on standards, guidelines for websites

Front Row Sitting: Abi Ceceila, Min of CommTech,Barr. Lazarus Ikoti , Ag. Head Standard, Guidelines & Regulations NITDA, Ms A.B Koohaeh, Min of Information, Rev. Sunday Folayan, NiRA President, Okon C. Nsuhouden, CBN Abuja, Inye Kemobonta, L-R Standing: Grace Zack, NITDA, Ogbonnama Ogeife, Min of Information, Andy Akpan, Fed. Min. of Justice Abuja. Kulani L. A, Fed. Min. of Justice Abuja, Max Unponye, Galaxy Backbone, Abuja, Abbah Sambo Usman, EFCC, Abuja, Adewolu Adene, MTN Lagos, Prince Benjamin, CPN Lagos, Fatima Usman, NITDA, Abubakar Umar, NITDA, Okochi Julius, CPN, Lagos, Latinwo Oliade Skannet Ibadan, Abubukar Alhassan Muhammed, NiRA during the stakeholders forum on standards and guidelines for transactional web site held in Calabar, recently. Photo: Tony Nwakaegho CONTINUED FROM PAGE TT 1

on standards and guidelines for transactional web site.

In his welcome address, the Director General, NITDA, Mr Peter Jacks who was represented by the Head, Standard, Guidelines

and Regulations, Barr. Lazarus Ikoti commended the enthusiasm shown by the stakeholders in the IT industry at the Benin

forum, adding that the need to also deliberate on standards and guidelines for transactional web site is very apt as the trend in the world now is e-commerce.

“Nigeria as a country in the global track system cannot afford to lag behind has gained currency. The introduction of cashless policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) has further raised the stake in e-transactions. Millions of Naira is transacted online every day. While e-transaction is good for the economy, some unscrupulous elements use it to defraud or cheat people. There is a need for critical stakeholders in the IT indus-

try to come together to stamp out the menace. Fraud should not be condone in any way. All parties to e-transaction must be protected,” the DG NITDA added.

Speaking at aside the Calabar forum, Senior IT Officer, Computer Professional Council Association of Nigeria, (CPN) Mr.Prince Benjamin stated that the stakeholder forum on standards and guidelines for transactional web site is exploring because companies and organisations that do transaction online suppose to follow guidelines and there are supposed to be laid down guidelines that they should follow in order to provide standard services.

Tech Times TT 4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, September 22, 2015

NITDA: Nigeria to get secured websites CONTINUED FROM PAGE TT 3

L-R: Dr. Bayero Agabi, publicity secretary; Temitope Fashedemi, vice president; Ms. Oyeronke M. Oyetunde, President; Dapo Adejokun, Treasurer; Fidelis Orji, Executive Secretary and Professor Caleb Adeniyi Osuntogun, NIG BOT member, during the Group’s annual general meeting held in Lagos recently.

Nigeria internet group elects Oyeronke Oyetunde as new president Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) has unanimously elected Ms. Oyeronke M. Oyetunde as President following the sole nomination at the 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of NIG, held in Lagos.

Ms Oyetunde, who doubles as the General Manager, Regulatory Affairs at MTN Nigeria will steer NIG till 2017 when another round of election is expected.

Ms Oyetunde has been with MTN Nigeria since 2004 traversing Senior Manager Regulatory Affairs, Regulatory Affairs Manager after an instinct with Aluko and Oyebode, a law firm.

As a seasoned, highly experienced telecommunications regulation manager, she is also skilled and dynamic in corporate counsel.

During the elections, Mr. Temitope Fashedemi was returned as the vice president for the sec-

ond term and Dr. Bayero Agabi as Publicity Secretary, as well as Mr. Dapo Adejokun who was returned as Treasurer.

NIG was formed in 1995 as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) to advocate for policies to guide the internet governance in Nigeria.

Also in attendance was a member of the NIG board of trustees, Professor Caleb Adeniyi Osuntogun, and executive secretary among others.

NITDA, Nihilent collaborates towards hosting e-Governance 2015 Awards, November The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with Nihilent e-Governance Awards 2015 project has commenced with a meeting by a committee made up of a representative from each of the departments and units of the agency led by Director General, Mr. Peter Jack.

Acting Head of Public Affairs at NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, said that the awards programme will be featured at the eNigeria Conference Gala Night, which is an annual event of NITDA to bring together all the indigenous Information Technology companies in Nigeria to showcase their products and services and to develop a roadmap for a way forward for the sector.

“This award cuts across Information Technology based sectors ranging from State Government, Local Government, Ministries Departments and

Agencies (MDAs), E-Governance Projects, Health, Education and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs),” Umar said in a statement.

According to Umar, “The NITDA-Nihilent Awards Committee team will work closely in the next three months to make this year’s programme bigger and more eventful. The awards programme will comprise of multiple phases, each phase building up to the final event.

“The team proposes to finalize the award categories and award criteria on the basis of which respondents will be assessed.

The expression of interest (EOI) forms will soon be made available on the official NITDA portal for access to potential respondents. The respondents will be required to submit their responses online”.

The team, she continued, also proposes to visit projects sites of identified entities to check the

ground realities and interview the concerned ICT directors and other officials - all as part of the rigorous assessment process.

The results of the assessment will be declared on the second week of November, 2015, while the winner will be announced on the 19th November during the NITDA-Nihilent e-Governance Awards ceremony, as part of the e-Nigeria conference.

Hadiza

e-payment transaction in Nigeria not only through the banks, but what of person to person, persons using telecom and other users.

These are the type of transaction that do happen not through the normal banking sector, but we have to come up with the type of standard to ensure that any of these type of transaction whether it is done through the bank or outside the bank, that this type of transaction is properly secured and fraud free so that miscreants should not cease the opportunity to use it to commit fraud or cheat because of unsecured platform, that is why we are developing this type of standard to ensure that every e-payment transaction is properly secured and it is only meant for the person who is intended to be the user or to be the beneficiary and not for any other purpose.

Granted that the stakeholders have brainstormed on these two documents that are dealing with websites in Nigeria, what are our expectations about these documents at the end of the day?

At the end of the day for example what we did today, we are trying to identify what the minimum standard that an e payment website platform should be. We agreed on certain standard, and it is this standard that will be given to the operators that please before you establish a website for the purpose of making payment, these are the things you need to do. That is what we have achieved today. After we have reviewed this document we are still going to bring it back to the forum again for stakeholders to go through it to see what we discussed, and for them to see whether it meet their expectations, expectation of the industry and expectation of Nigeria. If we agree on it then the document will become the standard so that whoever wants to make use of website must conform to this standard. Certainly, the meeting and deliberation is not exhausted for now as anybody who feels that there are things that needs to be added should write and push it to us to be able to include them. We want to develop a document that can stand the test of time. We don’t want to develop a document that today, it is up, and tomorrow it is no longer there. We want the document to be a document that will stand the test of time, at least, let it be there for people to use, can refer to and also make use of it.

What are the challenges that have trailed NITDA in putting together a stakehold-

ers’ forum like this?

There are many challenges as far as developing this type of document. In the first place, sometimes there are apathies of stakeholders, and sometimes we have the issue of movement, like cancellation of flight and other things. It means that people who have good intention to attend may not be able to attend because of flight issue. I must say that the attendant today is very overwhelming and the number of people that came today shows the areas that are very critical, the people who are actually going to manage the standard. For example Central Bank of Nigeria is here and Galaxy Backbone which is responsible for the government websites were represented and also the people involved in internet registration. It shows that the stakeholders are very enthusiastic about this project and that is why they are here. I am very grateful to them for that.

When are we expecting this document to be churned out?

Our intention is that by November this document would have gone through the necessary processes and it should be published so that Nigerians can see that these are the standards that are necessary for establishing epayment websites.

The challenges the public face in Nigeria is that when such documents are published they don’t get to the public domain for purpose of education and enlightenment. How do you react to this scenario?

We are going to adopt another strategy and the strategy is not only a matter of publishing it.

Every interest group for example like the people who were here today on any particular document that we produce we are going to give them back that document and ensure that they will be the people to implement it. One thing with this type of industry is that the industry must be self regulatory. Individuals should sit down and say that this is how we are going to do it and let us do it according to the standard. Immediately they self regulate, the work of the regulator becomes easier and cheaper. You cannot continue to police them all over the place. They ought to self regulate because we are in the global market and if you don’t meet up to the global standard your product or services will not be required.

If you meet the internationally accepted standard you will discover that you don’t need to go anywhere and people will look for you to get your product or get your service.