Daily Times of Nigeria Newspaper- Tuesday, 23rd December, 2014

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 VOL. 1. NO.7

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Federal workers yet to get salaries

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L: Aspiring First Lady and wife of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Hajia Aishat with APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during her visit to Tinubu’s Lagos home yesterday.

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First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs. Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha and Governor Rochas Okorocha at the funeral service for Nze Mike Anyiam-Osigwe in Nkwere, Imo State recently

Okey McHycinth Abuja

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ORTY-eight hours to Christmas, federal civil servants across the country are yet to receive their

salaries, a development that stirred anger in many of them yesterday.

The development is believed to be a result of dwindling resources from oil revenue.

The drastic cut in oil resourc-

FG, new owners sign pact on NITEL, M.Tel Bomb blast

in Gombe, P11 scores killed

Monday Agu Jnr, Abuja

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HE approved transfer of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL and its mobile arm, the Mobile Telecommunications (M-Tel) to private owners entered a decisive stage yesterday as the NATCOM consortium signed a shares purchase agreement with the Federal Government in Abuja.

The Daily Times learnt authoritatively that CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

es may have prompted the Federal Government to consider full implementation of the Steve Orosanye report on the harmonization of agencies and parastatals CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

PDP accuses APC of backing Boko Haram Ï Ƒ Əƈ ƓƈƋƋ Ɔ Ɨ ƈ ƑƏ Ɔ ƅƕè ƕ R ƈ Ƅ Ɖ

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Page Three

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Editorial Rethinking strategy on Boko Haram

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n the past four years, Nigeria has been under siege from the Boko Haram, a rag tag group of fundamentalists with a mission to convert the country to an Islamic theocracy. Before now, there was the tendency to dismiss the threat as nothing but a manageable irritation.

But as the Boko Haram insurgency assumed a more alarming dimension, the authorities became panicky on how to deal with the problem. No one watching the Federal Government’s efforts to crush the rebellion would agree that its method so far is satisfactory.

For long, these religious zealots have not just been dictating the pace of the conflict, their tactics have for most part caught the authorities flat-footed. While the insurgents have been destroying and pillaging entire communities, they have also gone ahead to kidnap students and forcibly convert their hostages to Islam. Unfortunately, the military has not been able to effectively check the spate of violence perpetrated

by Boko Haram despite the state of emergency declared in the northeastern region of the country since May 2013. There is no palpable effect on the insurgent group nor has the effort to restore normalcy in the region borne fruit.

In fact, its writ in the region is being gradually established. They

have not only captured vast swathes of territory but have been able to establish their own form of administration no matter how crude. It is hard not to miss the analogy of the phrase “barbarians at the gate” for this group of religious misogynists.

Even when reliable statistics are hard to come by, there is no denying the fact that more than 13,000 Nigerians have so far been killed, with hundreds of thousands more rendered homeless. Pitifully, those charged with ending this mayhem have turned the entire episode into a propaganda exercise, claiming wild victories, while the reality of a long and protracted warfare stares the country in the face. In spite of all efforts, Boko Haram appears to be sending the message that they are unwilling to stop all violent activities unless they achieve their overriding objectives, one of which is to impose Sharia law on the country.

That is why we advocate that the government change its present strategy if ever it stands any chance of prevailing over these determined zealots. Such strategy should involve the carrot and stick approach, whereby the insurgents are allowed the opportunity to give up their arms and jihad for political amnesty and rehabilitation. But that should not abnegate the government’s responsibility to fight to keep the nation’s territorial integrity if need be.

Winner or loser, both may end up in a pot of soup this Christmas. PHOTO: GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANt SNR

Worshipping the false Messiahs of Nigeria

Analysis Emmanuel Ugwu

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resident Goodluck Jonathan must rein in Doyin Okupe and other sycophants. Chinua Achebe reminds us that those whose palm kernels were cracked by the gods must remain humble. A shoeless school boy who rose to the presidency cannot afford to have an aide misrepresenting him

as a contestant for the position of Jesus Christ.

Okupe presented President Goodluck Jonathan as Jesus Christ in the most opportune time. We were in Christmas mood and should have been most receptive to the revelation of God among us.

Okupe’s job description as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs is to appraise and praise his principal. And security on the job lies at the extreme end of hyperbole. He has to be sufficiently worshipful of the President or he gets the sack. This incentivises Okupe to work overtime,

talking Jonathan up. And sure enough, it predisposes him to sounding stupid.

But this attempt to make up the profane with the sacred shows that Okupe’s sycophancy has mutated into wanton license.

It couldn’t have been his answer to Wole Soyinka’s portrayal of Jonathan as King Nebuchadnezzar.

Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate, called a press conference just to vent and he kept his metaphor within the bounds of the secular. But Okupe, the selfacclaimed “attack dog,” went to a breakfast TV show for expediency and ran into profanities.

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Publisher

Fidelis Anosike

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Managing Editor Gabriella Osamor

Editor

Yinka Olujimi

Deputy Editor Yemi Ogunsola

Abuja Bureau Chief Bisi Abidoye

Editorial Page Editor Okay Osuji

Head of Operations Innocent Nwankwo

Deputy Head of Operations Mark-Anthony Osilaja

Head, Sales & Marketing Moses Ebong

Head Graphics King Ododoru

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

Obafemi Awolowo Tai Solarin Those of us placed in positions of leadership must be prepared to grasp the nettle... the people will follow, all too readily, in our footsteps.

Black (people) hold onto their God just as the drunken man holds on to the street lamp post—for physical support only

Ken Saro-Wiwa

The writer cannot be a mere storyteller; he cannot be a mere teacher; he cannot merely X-ray society’s weaknesses, its ills, its perils.

He or she must be actively involved in shaping its present and its future

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

5 News

Ojugbele pledges quality representation for Ado-Odo/Ota constituency

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (right) discussing with his former Bible knowledge teacher at Birch Freeman High School, Surulere, Lagos. Mrs. F.I.A Akinola (left) during her courtesy visit to the Governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Monday. Mrs. Akinola taught the young Babatunde Fashola in 1976 and it was a warm reunion when she visited him in the office on the Governor’s invitation, 38 years after.

Delta council chairmen, others to earn N4bn annually Emmanuel Addeh

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t least N4bn would, henceforth, be spent on the salaries and gratuities of selected political office holders at the local government level in Delta state annually, following an upward review of the monetary benefits accruing to the council officials.

With dwindling oil revenue and falling Federal Allocation to the states, there are indications that development at the local government level may soon be stifled, following the recent increase which was discreetly carried out.

A document titled “Revised Remuneration, Salaries, Allowances and Gratuities of Political Office Holders (Local Government Executive)’’, obtained by our correspondent in Warri, showed that with the implementation of the huge salary structure, ongoing projects in the 25 councils of the state are likely to be put on hold.

The pay rise, it was learnt, cut across the entire stratum of the leadership of local councils in the state, including the newly sworn-in Chairmen, Vice- Chairmen, Legislative Leaders, Councillors and Secretaries to the Local Government Areas in the state.

Also to benefit from the

largesse are leaders of the Council legislatures, comprising the Legislative Leader, Deputy Legislative Leader and Clerk of the Legislative House.

A Chairman in the state now gets N3,633,248 as Vehicle loan (400% of Annual Basic Salary); Vice-Chairman, N3,412,224 (400% of ABS), Supervisor, N3,237,200, Secretary, N3,237,200, Special Adviser, N3,040,304, Education Secretary to Local Education Authority, N3,040,304 and Chairman, LGEA, N480,000.

Notwithstanding the Annual Basic Salary (ABS), of N908, 312 for each of the 25 Chairmen and N853,058 for the Vice-Chairmen, they now earn N2,724,936 as Furniture

Allowance (300% of ABS); Supervisor N2,427,900, Secretary, N2,427,900, Special Adviser, N2,280,228, Education Secretary to Local Education Authority, N2,280,228 and Chairman, LGEA, N360,000.

A Supervisor is paid N809,300 as ABS, Secretary, N809,300 as ABS, Special Adviser N760,076, Education Secretary to Local Education Authority, N760,076 and Chairman, Local Government Education Authority, N120,000 as ABS. The Annual Basic Salary (ABS) of the Legislative Leader now stands at N844, 526, the Deputy Legislative Leader, N830,000; a councillor now earns N810,000 and Clerk of Legislative House, N760,076.

The leader of the legislature at the local level also gets N3,378,100 as vehicle loan (400% of ABS), DeputyLegislative Leader, N3,320,000, Councillor, N3,240,000 and Clerk of the Legislature , N3,240,000.

The Furniture Allowance of the leader of the legislature in Delta State is now N2,533,575 (300% of ABS), Deputy- Legislative Leader, N2,490,000, Councillor, N130,000 and Clerk of the Legislative House, N2,280,226.

Revenues from oil account for about 85 per cent income to the federal government, while most states and local government councils depend mainly on statutory allocation from the centre for survival.

Christmas: Police assures of adequate security nationwide

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he Nigeria Police yesterday announced that it had put in place operational strategies to enhance security provision during this year’s Christmas holidays and beyond.

The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja yesterday,

said he had since directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands to put in place extended police visibility and patrols.

He said they were to take into consideration their peculiar security situation, in order to protect the citizens as they celebrate the Christ-

mas and New Year season.

“The various striking units of the Force viz: Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit, CounterTerrorism Unit, Explosive Ordinance Department, Dog Section, Mounted Troops have also been deployed as part of the watertight security measures”, he said.

he All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency in the 2015 elections, Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele, has assured the people of Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency of his desire to offer quality representation that would enhance the socioeconomic development of the area if elected into the House of Representatives.

Hon. Ojugbele, who made this remark recently in a chat with newsmen in Ota, Ogun State, promised that he would consolidate on the gains of what he had done during his stay in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007.

He stated that his main task would be to broaden whatever he might have achieved in the National Assembly between 2003 and 2007, such as ensuring laws that would aid the socio-economic and political development of Ado-Odo/ Ota Federal Constituency in particular and Ogun state in general and the need to keep Nigeria one based on equality, justice and fair-play are made by the National Assembly.

The APC chieftain, who promised to better the lots of the people if elected, called on the peace-loving APC members in Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency in particular and Ogun state in general to remain united, in order to make their dream of a socially- and economically- developed state a reality.

He further explained that the people of Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency had suffered a lot as Federal Government amenities were not reaching them and it was time for him to contribute his little quota to the people by addressing the issue on their behalf in the National Assembly.

Speaking on the chances of the Ogun APC in the 2015 elections, Hon. Ojugbele pointed out that the Amosun government had not only done well in the Gateway state but had equally touched the common man on the street, adding that with infrastructural development spread across the state’s 20 Local Government Councils, the APC would emerge victorious in the 2015 elections.

Buhari to woo 22 aggrieved A’Ibom PDP aspirants Eno-Obong Okon, Uyo

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residential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), is set to meet with the 22 aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirants in Akwa Ibom state, who failed the primary.

An aide to one of the aspirants, who preferred to be anonymous, told our correspondent, in Uyo, on Monday, that the aggrieved aspirants, otherwise known as G22, have been under intense pressure to defect to APC. He stated that the G22 who had earlier ignored the call to decamp to the APC by the party’s governorship flag- bearer in the state, Mr. Umana Umana, have had to re-assess their stance following the manner in which the national leadership of the PDP were handling the issues concerning December 8, PDP governorship primary in the state.

According to the aide, the planned cross-over to APC is being facilitated by one of the APC governors in SouthSouth. The governor was said to have promised the aspirants of accommodating them, as well as all other politicians in the state who are opposed to the imposition agenda of the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio.

“The APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), has expressly requested to meet with the 22 aggrieved PDP aspirants from Akwa Ibom State. The move is facilitated by one of the APC governors in SouthSouth.

“The occasion of the planned special reception for the PDP big wigs by the main opposition party in the country will be crowned by the formal adoption of Gen. Buhari by a cross section of Akwa Ibom electorates as their sole presidential candidate in next year presidential election,” he said.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

PDP accuses APC of backing Boko Haram Osinbajo: Buhari will end the menace Idu Jude, Abuja, Ugochukwu Onyeocha

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday restated its belief that some leaders of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) are active supporters of the Boko Haram terrorists.

The allegation came on a day the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC, Professor Yemi Osinbajo told Nigerians to expect an end to the terror group if the Presidential candidate, Major General Muhammed Buhari wins the coming general election.

The PDP’s allegations was in reaction to a claim by the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who at the weekend accused President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling party as the sponsors of the terror group.

The PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh in a statement on Monday said the memory of Nigerians is not short on the body language and inciting utterances of APC leaders, including their Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, which have served as fuel to the raging flame of terrorism.

According to the PDP, by going to the international media recently to distance themselves from the insurgency and turning round to blame the PDP, the APC is asking Nigerians to suddenly grow forgetful of the barrage of statements by their leaders that promoted the menace in the country.

The party observed that whereas a statesmanly statement from a person of General Buhari’s age and status could have helped douse the tension in the land, the APC flag bearer chose incendiary remarks, which embold-

FG, new owners sign agreement on NITEL, M.Tel CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the agreement was signed at exactly 6pm at a forum where the private investors were led by the chairman of Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni.

This brings to a closure the guided liquidation of the moribund telecommunications firms for a sum of $252,251,000 supervised by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

The consortium had been named the preferred bidder for the firms on Wednesday last week by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP).

Ayeni was the chief promoter of Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company Limited, which about one year ago acquired the Ibadan and Yola Distribution Companies (Discos) under the power sector reform and privatisation process.

His Skye Bank Plc recently acquired Mainstreet Bank (former Afribank) from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The ratification of the sale was given at the NCP’s fourth meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Mr. Atedo Peterside, a member of the council, along with the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada; and the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki, briefed State House correspondents on the ratification.

Peterside had told reporters that following the ratification, the remaining process would be documentation and payments.

ened insurgents, apparently in keeping with the agenda of his party to achieve political control through violence.

The PDP compared the attitude of APC leaders on insurgency to the metaphor of a young man sent on a criminal mission by the father, whose boldness knows no bounds.

“Nigerians have not forgotten the spontaneous violence and mayhem on innocent citizens following inciting statements

by Buhari and other APC leaders then in the defunct CPC, upon losing the 2011 presidential election.

“The APC leaders have so far left no Nigerian in doubt of their party’s violent disposition as General Buhari in May 2012, remorselessly stated that ‘the monkey and baboon will be soaked in blood’ should he lose the 2015 presidential election.

“Attesting that penchant

for violence flows in the portal vein of the rank and file of the APC, Buhari’s Man-Friday and former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai in his capacity then as APC Deputy National

Secretary, in January 2014, told the whole world that ‘the next election is likely to be violent and many people are likely going to die. And the only alternative left to get power is to take it by force; this is

the reality on ground.’

The PDP said further: “Nigerians have also read and heard other ricocheting calls for violence and threats of parallel government from other leaders of this same party.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

l-r: Mr. Sunny Anene, Group Chief Finance Officer, UBA Capital Plc; Mr. Jude Chiemeka, Managing Director, UBA Securities Limited; Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, Former President, Association of Corporate Trustees (ACT) and CEO, UBA Capital Plc); Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo, The President, Association of Corporate Trustees(ACT) and Managing Director, Skye Trustees Limited; and Mrs. Vivien Shobo, CEO, Agusto & Co.; and Mr. Ariyo Olushekun, CEO, Capital Assets Limited, during the send-forth ceremony organised by the Association for Mrs Sanni, in Lagos at the weekend

48 hrs to Xmas, civil servants yet to receive pay CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

When Daily Times visited the federal secretariat in the Three Arms Zone and the old federal secretariat in Area One, Abuja, yesterday, civil servants were seen discussing their fate in groups.

Some of them who were approached though refused to disclose their names expressed anger that no feasible sign was in place for their salaries to be paid before Christmas.

Most of them lamented that they were going to face the yuletide period with no proper provisions for their families.

“How do I celebrate the festive period without anything for my family, I have not been paid, my wife has not been paid.

Even my sister in-law who ordinarily will come to our assistance has not been paid”, fumed one of the civil servants.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Oknojo-Iweala had attributed the delay in paying the salaries of some civil servants in some ministries to a technical glitch which she said affected IPPIS, a system through which payments are made.

Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the Federal Government will early 2015 begin the full implementation of the White Paper on the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalization of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and agencies.

The committee, headed

by Mr. Steve Oronsaye, had recommended drastic restructuring, mergers and outright scraping of some Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The recommendations of the Oronsaye commit-

tee did not go down well with a cross section of Nigerians in general and the civil service in particular.

However, competent Presidency sources say the government is set to commence full and effective implementation of the White Paper.

Okonjo-Iweala had at the budget presentation last week hinted of the partial implementation of the whitepaper.

She noted that the government had “built in savings of about N6.5 billion in the 2015 budget from the rationalization of some agencies, committees, and commissions”.

The source said that the move to implement the report was informed by government’s desire to cut administrative costs in the face of dwindling revenue occasioned by the free fall of oil prices in the international market.

Revenue accruing to the Federal Government

has come under jeopardy following the slump in oil prices as oil accounts for the larger chunk of government revenue.

To keep the machinery of government running, government is now laying strong emphasis on generating revenue from non-oil sources, a move the source said government will take a second look at its expenditure profile.

According to the source, government is determined to do away with some agencies, commissions and committees that have overlapping functions.

The source further explained that government will begin the process of repealing laws that set up some of the institutions as a prelude to scrapping them.

The minister had assured that the list of such laws will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration by the second quarter of 2015.

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Police arrest four-member armed gang in Delta Emmanuel Addeh

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he police in Delta state have arrested a four-member armed robbery gang which specialized in seizing exotic cars from their owners at gunpoint.

The three persons, Uche Otiono, Vincent Uche, Obinna Matthew and Paul

Egwom , all of Akwofu area, Asaba, according to the police, were nabbed after members of the public gave them information about the activities of the gang.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Celestina Kalu, said that three exotic cars were recovered from the suspected crimi-

nals that have been terrorising residents of the capital city.

“On December 21, 2014, operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Asaba, acting on a tip-off arrested one Uche Otiono ‘m’, Vincent Uche ‘m’, Obinna Matthew ‘m’ and Paul Egwom ‘m’, all of Akwofu area Asaba, as

suspected members of a car-snatching syndicate terrorising the Asaba axis.

“Items recovered from them include one Lexus Rx300 Jeep with registration number AAA 799 DH, one Lexus RX350 Jeep with registration number AAA 571 CY and one Toyota Camry car with registration number AKD 676 DF’’,

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Kalu said.

Kalu added that the suspects have confessed that they snatched one of the Lexus Jeeps from its owner at Bonsac area, Asaba, about two months ago.

She said that efforts were on to trace the owners of the recovered vehicles, while the suspects were undergoing investigation.’’

Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (in white) and former special adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams, at the recent inspection Tour to the Kajola Water Dam in the State of Osun

Wale Akintunde, Yola

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ver 10,000 fleeing residents of Chibok/ Damboa/ Gwoza Federal Constituency, of Borno state have been empowered with assorted goods for Charismas and New Year festivities at the Internally Displaced Persons camps in Adamawa.

The National Assembly member, representing Chibok/ Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency,Mr. Peter Biye Gumtha, donated the relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons, at Damare camp in Girei Local Government Area.

Two prominent elder statesmen from the constituency, Mr. David B Kitakwa and the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, Pa Abdulmunini Isah ,said no fewer than 10,000 persons, including women and children were displaced by the Boko Haram insurgents that attacked the constituency early this year.

The elders, who are

Former Senate Leader, Folarin, is bad news in Oyo politics –APC Ïy ƐƆ ƓƈƋƋ ƉƑƗ Ɔ 0 Ƌ Əƈ Jonathan Eze

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he Oyo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections as representative of undesirable omen in the politics of the state which, the people would always wish to shun, regardless of the manner of its presentation.

In its reactions to an interview which candidate Teslim Folarin granted and published by a national newspaper, Monday, Oyo state APC’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Ola-

Folarin wale Sadare, said that the former Senate Leader had further compounded his credibility problem in the polity by exposing himself as an unrepentant desperado and master of double speak.

“In the said interview, Folarin revealed how Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s sense of justice and fairness saved him from the brink

of life imprisonment or jaw of death, which he faced while defending a celebrated murder case prior to the latter’s assumption of office. On the other hand, the same Folarin claimed that the governor was a nonperformer.

“By implication, the APC administration, led by Ajimobi, has been able to clean the Augean stable brought into the state by PDP gladiators, while their eight-year reign lasted as the era of injustice, witch-hunting and brigandage. All that has been eroded to pave way for justice, fairness and equity without discrimination. As a matter of fact, a sincere mind would celebrate this feat alone, even if noth-

ing has been added to it,” Sadare said.

The APC said that it was time for Folarin to reap his barren eight years in the senate, which it said was unproductive and nonbeneficial to anyone in the state.

“This was the same senate leadership which Senator Olusola Saraki held in Kwara and the only known position he ever occupied which catapulted him to the zenith of acclaim and cultic following in Kwara.

Folarin occupied same and cannot point to any significant contribution he made in the lives of the people of his senatorial district nor Oyo state in general,” the APC said.

7 News Ɨ ƌ Ɠ ƒ ƍƏƆ Ɔ Ɛ MơƠƠƄ ƄƑƗ ƆƐ Ɛ ƆƌƄƋƕ Wale Akintunde -Yola

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overnor Bala James Ngilari of Adamawa state has presented N100,890,000,900 Folarin budget proposal for 2015 fiscal year christened “Budget of Consolidation and Hope”, aimed at financing capital and recurrent expenditures.

Ngillari who presented the budget at the floor of the state House of Assembly yesterday said that the budget is benchmarked on US65 dollars per barrel, 7.9 percent inflation rate and 10 percent GDP projection rate.

He explained that the sum of N57b has been earmarked as recurrent expenditure, while N42b has been set aside for capital project.

Ngillari noted that his administration would source the sum of N45 billion from statutory allocation, N15b as value added tax (VAT) and N2b as ecological funds.

He said that stringent fiscal control mechanisms were employed in the budget to ensure that all loopholes and leakages were blocked in order to ensure high performance and maximization of the budget.

The Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who presided over the sitting said the house would take its time to scrutinize the budget page by page to expunge all loopholes before approval.

Fintiri said it would work in harmony with the executive arm to ensure that the internallygenerated revenue (IGR) profile of the state was improved upon just as he urged the state government to work hard to improve the IGR of the state, so as to sustain the economy in view of the dwindling oil revenue.

Timesearch 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Effect of FG’s ban on fish importation With Sarah Odede I would be happy if the TIMESEARCH could help confirm from the appropriate authorities if it is true that the Federal Government of Nigeria imports fish into the country.

It has been strongly rumoured that fish importation into the country would soon be a thing of the past and before any further pronouncement was made, fish sellers in

the market have started sky rocketing the price of fish.

To my utmost dismay, the fish I normally buy for N500 now sells for N800 which according to my customer was still affordable until the end of March this year when fish importation by the Federal Government of this country would completely stop the importation, then the price would rise more than

what it is sold for at present.

My reason for writing this letter is to find out the authenticity of this development and what would the aftermath be for people like me who only feed on fish.

Is it true that the Federal Government will one day stop the importation of fish into the country, and if so, what should people like me do to substitute fish if the

price becomes unbearable for purchase?

Prince Temilade Alawoe P.O. Box 321 Falomo Lagos State

Investigation by the TIMESERCH on the enquiry of Prince Temilade revealed that the Federal Government since October last year, (2013) actually made a pronouncement

Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC. Bello Mahmud (right), receiving Certificate of Performance in Service Delivery from the President of the Coalition of Civil Society Groups, Mr. Etuk Williams. With them is the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of CAC in Abuja … yesterday. Photo: Temitope Balogun

to reduce fish importation into the country come 2015 (next year.)

However, at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, an official who was referred to as the only authentic source to comment on the issue revealed to the TIMESEARCH actually, that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina sometime last year made such pronouncement that the Federal Government planes to reduce fish importation by 2015, that is not a rumor but it does not mean that price of fish should sky rocket for now, after all, the Federal Government was yet to do that.

The official who craved anonymity added that the pronouncement was made by the Minister while distributing fishing equipment under the Artisan Growth Enhancement Support Scheme and Acqua-Culture Project at Ganaja Riverside in Lokoja in 2013.

In reply to a question, the official had this to say, “ To the best of the knowledge, the minister said the items were being given to farmers at 50 percent subsidy.”

As to the motive behind the development, the of-

ficial had this to say “ the gesture was aimed at boosting fish production to meet local consumption, the distribution of equipment will be extended to fish farmers in riverine states across the country.”

He continued, “ It is true that the Agriculture Transformation Agenda and the Growth Enhancement SUPPORT Scheme are designed to make inputs available to farmers in order to ensure food security.”

As for the objective of the scheme, the official had this to say, “ Actually, the objectives of the schemes are generation of employment, creation of wealth for farmers and improvement of the sector’s contribution to GDP. Apart from the aforementioned, the inputs would boost activities of fishermen in the state there is no doubt about that”. He smiled.

The enquirers should not be discouraged or bothered about the pronouncement, it is just to help our farmers grow and reduce the importation, not a total eradication.

There should be no cause for alarm said the spokesman of the Ministry.

PDP accuses APC of backing Boko Haram fighters CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 These are not just mere slips but incontrovertible snips from the agenda of the APC to sustain insurgency and set the stage for carnage after they lose in the 2015 general elections.

“We find it funny that the APC which has presented its flagbearer, General Buhari as a macho mascot that will bring insurgency to an end in matter of weeks using sheer force, is turning round to play the card of dialogue just to disparage the President.

“Ironically, for over a year of General Buhari’s draconian rule in the 1980s

and even now in pretended love for democracy, the General is never known to be amenable to any form of dialogue. So, where will this hyped Midas touch on dialogue come from?

“Well-meaning Nigerians appreciate the way and manner the Jonathan administration is confronting insurgency using dialogue and military option.

Also on Monday, Osinbajo, pledged that Gen. Buhari would oversee the defeat of Boko Haram, should he win next year’s election.

Osibajo stated this while answering ques-

tions on Twitter during a specially-arranged question-and-answer session.

The running mate to General Buhari said that Buhari would end the corrupt management of defence funds, which is responsible for the ill-equipment of the military.

“The current administration has politicised Boko Haram. The corruption around the defence funds has created a situation where soldiers are not well equipped/motivated,” he tweeted.

Osinbajo said further: “GMB wiped out Maitatsine, another Islamic insurgency in his own ad-

ministration, by sincerely identifying the problem as a challenge to the authority of the state to maintain law and order.

“The administration took command and funded the military transparently and that is what we need to do to end insurgency.”

He also spoke on APC’s strategy for reducing the bite of unemployment on youths, acknowledging that 80 per cent of fresh graduates are unemployed.

“The focus of APC is on jobs jobs jobs! The question we ask about every policy is: how many jobs will this produce. We have three broad approaches.

“We expect every state will be supported to create 20,000 jobs directly funded. The FG will also match the creation for every additional job created over the 20,000 mark. “Post Youth service: FG will pay a stipend to every ‘youth corper’ for a year while they are looking for employment and in that year wed will give vocational training.

“FG will undertake a massive public works programme. This is expected to have the multiplier effect of producing hundreds of thousands of jobs.

FG will give tax breaks and recognition to em-

ployers of labour who provide a certain minimum number of jobs.”

Osinbajo dismissed claims that his party and the PDP were not different in ideology.

“The APC in an ideological sense is left of centre. In other words, its focus is on policies that will impact the lives of the common man,” he said.

“We have social programmes such as social welfare (first in Africa), free education, mass employment, universal healthcare insurance and free meals programme in primary schools.

The difference is in the ticket; integrity is key.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 23, 2014

Bauchi sponsors 2, 306 Christians on pilgrimage

L-R: Deputy director Enugu State Ministry of Transport (ENSMOT), Mr. Godfrey Olinya; Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Chika Nebo and Senior Special Assistant to Enugu state governor on Transport, Mr Emeka Aroh, during operation ‘decongest Enugu vehicle traffic.’

B

auchi State Government on Monday said it had sponsored 2,306 Christians on pilgrimage to Jerusalem from 2007 till date.

Governor Isa Yuguda made the statement in Bauchi in a farewell message to the 2014 intending pilgrims from the state to Jerusalem.

Yuguda, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Sagir Saleh, said that the state government was sponsoring 417 out of the 418 intending pilgrims for the 2014 exercise. ``In spite of the current economic challenges affecting us as a state, we were still able to sponsor 417 Christians to Jerusalem this year. ``It is my hope that the people of Bauchi state, as well as all Nigerians, residing in this state will continue to support my administration by being lawabiding and contributing to the development of the state”, he said.

He said that conducive accommodation, security, feeding and other logistics had been put in place for the intending pilgrims to ensure a smooth exercise. ``I am confident that while in Israel, you will all make us proud by being good ambassadors of the state and the country at large,” Yuguda said.

He urged them to pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity and socio-economic development.

Group urges Bode George, Obanikoro to end feud Sodiq

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group, Save Lagos Group (SLG), has appealed to the immediate past Minister of State for Defence and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Lagos state, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, former PDP National Vice -Chairman (South-West), Chief Olabode George, and leader of the party in the state, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, and others to sheath their swords over the outcome of the PDP

governorship primary in the state.

It said that the current imbroglio among the leaders of the party might affect the chances of the party to win the forth-coming guber election.

The group, however, disclosed that the recent exchange of words between Obanikoro, George and Ogunlewe would not help the party’s unity ahead of 2015 general elections but it would continue to disunite the party more and more and it would not augur well for the party.

The group was reacting to the face-off between the two leaders of the Lagos state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), through a statement by its convener, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman.

He said: “We call on both camps to bury their hatchets in the interest of the party in the state and urged them to see politics as an opportunity to serve citizens of the country. We advise the national leaders of the party – including President Goodluckl Ebele Jonathan and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Ad-

amu Muazu to wade into the crisis.”

The SLG boss also urged national leadership of the party to use its wealth of experience in governance and politics to solve the rift in the party.

He added: “There is no doubt that the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Lagos state can become the ruling party in the state if it puts its house in order, since the people of the state have been looking up to them to give a reliable alternative to the Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu-All Progressives Party (APC)

and it is not to the joy of Lagosians with the crisis that engulfed the party before and after its governorship primary.

As we know Lagos state is very strategic to Nigerian politics and the leaders in this crisis should think of their followers and people of the state not their personal interest by embracing dialogue and unity of purpose for the party. They need to come together at this crucial time to protect the interest of our dear state and we should not see politics as a do-or- die affair.”

‘Police won’t be involved in Ekiti Assembly crisis’ Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

F Yuguda

9 News

ollowing fears in the camp of the embattled speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adewale Omirin, that Governor Ayo Fayose was planning to arrest him, the Ekiti state Police Command, on Monday, said it

won’t get involved in the factional crisis rocking the Assembly.

In a telephone conversation with newsmen in Ado Ekiti , the Command’s Public Relations Officer , Mr Victor Babayemi said nobody has instructed the Police to arrest Omirin and other 18 All Progressives Congress law-makers for holding a separate plenary.

Omirin had, on Friday, in

a statement disclosed that his faction held a secret plenary in an undisclosed location on Thursday, where Hon. Dele Olugbemi, the pro-Fayose Speaker was suspended and the receipt of the 2015 appropriation bill reversed.

Later, Omirin raised the alarm that Fayose was allegedly planning to order his arrest and other APC law-makers, describing the

move as unconstitutional and illogical.

But speaking with journalists, Babayemi declared that the command won’t allow itself to be dragged into the factional crisis bedevilling the Assembly.

The Police spokesman posited that the matter is purely a political issue and that the command would continue to monitor the unfolding drama closely with-

out meddling or supporting either of the factions in the interest of peace.

Maintaining that the command has been professional since the crisis started on November 20, 2014 , when Omirin was purportedly impeached by the PDP law-makers, Babayemi disclosed that his men would only step in if the law-makers infringed the laws of the land.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 23, 2014

Don’t turn Ekiti people to beggars – APC tells Fayose

Fayose

Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

A

s the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose commences the distribution of rice and chickens to the people of Ekiti State in the name of his stomach infrastructure programme, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has lambasted him, while describ-

ing his gesture as nothing but a deceit to treat the electorate like beggars.

The APC in a statement

by APC State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said the governor has turned Ekiti people to beggars by giving them handouts in form of kwashiorkorinfested chickens not bigger in size than ailing pigeons.

He said Ekiti people have now seen the deceit of a man who said he is a friend of the common man with his callous attitude to the people he claimed to love during the period the people are supposed to be happy.

His words: “Governor Fayose gave two “congos” of rice and miserable palm oil not up to 1 litre, all totaling N700 to each worker that the governor had earlier deducted N2,000 from their salary for Christmas gift.

Elechi cautions Ibeto group over invasion on NIGERCEM

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overnor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State, Monday, cautioned the Ibeto Cement Company over the invasion of the premises of NIGERCEM located at Nkalagu in Ishielu local government area of the state.

Chief Elechi, who made this known in Abakaliki while briefing newsmen through Chief Press Secretary Dr Onyekachi Eni, said the entry of Ibeto into NIGERCEM, according to him, is a gross act of provocation against the government, adding that the dispute over ownership of the factory is still in court.

He said: “We recall that the following dispute between the state government and Ibeto Group on the ownership of NI-

GERCEM, Ebonyi State Government exercised its illegal right of land ownership by revoking the Certificate of all the land upon which NIGERCEM is situate.

“We further recall that the board of Directors of NIGERCEM met at a hotel in Enugu in February 2013 during which Chief Cletus Ibeto vowed to use every possible means to vacate Ebonyi State Government’s revocation order but has so far failed to do so.

“By going into the premises of NIGERCEM without the permission of the State Government, the Ibeto Group has demonstrated an alarming desire to acquire the God-given mineral wealth of Ebonyi people for its interest”.

Governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi (right) acknowledging cheers from some widows who had come to the Government House as beneficiaries of the Ajumose Widowhood Initiative, on Monday.

Photo: OYO GOVERNMENT HOUSE

APC tasks INEC on parties’ campaign fund donors Augustine Aminu, Abuja

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eputy National Chairman of the All Progressive Party (APC), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, in Abuja, Monday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to compel Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to make public the list of donors of N21 billion to its campaign funds in accordance with the Electoral Act. Sen. Shuaibu explained that the electoral acts made it mandatory for persons donating money to campaign funds to make public

the source of such funds, adding that such funds will not come in sacks or bags, but will come in form of funds transfer, cheques or bank drafts.

He said if a governor takes money from the state account and donates same to the campaign funds, INEC has the responsibility to sanction the PDP for that and even prosecute such person.

“If the Independent National Electoral Commission is serious about enforcing the provisions of the electoral act, the first thing they will do is to ensure that every member of the PDP who pledged a do-

nation at the fund raising, the receipt is produced by the party and the individual or organization must show INEC the source of the money.

“This is the law and the electoral act is very clear about this. When a governor said he has donated N1 billion, it must not be from government coffers. INEC knows that the governor has no right to take people’s money and donate” Senator Shuaibu stressed.

The APC National leader said the party should show Nigerians the receipt issued to each donor by the party and also publish the accounts of the PDP

before and after because such money cannot come in bags and sacks, but through some instruments.

In his words: “We must know the source of that money. If it comes from government’s account, government has responsibility to sanction the PDP or prosecute the person who stole government money for political campaigns. In our own case, we intend to do fund raising which is going to be very transparent, whoever donates money, we will publish it so that the whole world will see”.

Confusion rocks Adamawa PDP Wale Akintunde, Yola

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onfusion has hit Adamawa State chapter of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as two factional chairmen of the party want to lead the campaign organisation of the standard bearer of the party, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, for 2015 gubernatorial polls.

Alhaji Jinji Rufai, the state chairman of the party backed by its national chair-

man Adamu Muazu has announced that PDP will embark on campaign tour to the 21 local government areas of the state to showcase Malam Nuhu Ribadu as it is gubernatorial candidate for 2015 general election.

He said that Ribadu has all what it takes to bring dividend of democracy to the people reason why he was elected as the party candidate in the primaries that was well contested.

Rufai in an interview

with reporters Monday said that Ribadu and party leadership will embark on campaign tour before the end of December adding that they have confidence that President Goodluck Jonathan and Nuhu Ribadu will win the state.

According to him, Adamawa is PDP state, there is no way the party will lose in a free and fair polls.

He explained that the party leader in the state, Governor Bala Nggilari who lost

the gubernatorial ticket to Ribadu, will be part of the PDP gubernatorial campaign tour.

However, a factional Chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Joel Madaki, and some stakeholders of the party have distanced themselves from the party primaries that took place in Abuja adding that the only party congress they acknowledged is the House of Assembly primaries conducted in the state.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 23, 2014

11 News

Several persons killed in Gombe bomb blast Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

S

everal people were killed on Monday in fresh explosion at Dukku Motor Park, Gombe town, Gombe State. But the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) claimed 18 persons died in the explosion.

No fewer than 21 oth-

….21 seriously injured er persons were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the blast.

Yesterday’s explosion was coming barely 12 hours after the Boko Haram sect attacked Geidam town in Geidam local government area of Yobe State.

The injured persons, the agency pointed out, are now being treated at the Gombe State Specialist Hospital.

A statement by press officer of NEMA, Mr. Ezekiel Manzo, said, “Following the explosion in Dukku motor park area of Gombe to-

day (yesterday), Monday 22nd December 2014 , the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) led rescue operations have evacuated all persons affected by the incident to the hospital while the area has been cordon off.

“Most of those evacu-

ANSU VC laments inadequate funding Okey Chris, Awka

V

ice Chancellor, Anambra State University (now Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University), Uli, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, has implored the

state government to increase its financial support to the university with a view to addressing their myriads of needs.

Prof. Okafor, who stated this in an exclusive interview with Daily Times in his office, explained that

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public of the loss of original Right of Occupancy (R of O). Original letter of Grant of Right of occupancy, Original certification acknowledgement copy and with original Allotted with MR SALAMI M O, but original copy of power of attorney in favour of Mr. LEWIS ADENIYI OGUNNAIKEDE. Of Block 8 NNPC. Quarters Area 11. Garki Abuja. With Plot No. 2741K. File no; OG11ERC location at , kuruduma Layout Abuja. Issued by Ministry for federal capital territory on the 16-05-03 got missing All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the aforementioned or the nearest police station.

SIGNED: BARR. AINA ADELEKE $ CO. LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public of the loss of original Right of Occupancy (R of O). Original letter of Grant of Right of occupancy, Original certification acknowledgement copy and with original Allotted with Barr M M Gambo but original copy of power of attorney in favour of Mr. ENGR. JOHN ADEKUNLE OGUNNAIKE. Of block 8 NNPC. Quarers Area 11. Gark Abuja.

With Plot No. 1671. File no; OG11247 locate at , kuruduma Layout Abuja. Issued by Ministry for federal capital territory on the 14-05-02 got missing All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the aforementioned or the nearest police station.

SIGNED: BARR. AINA ADELEKE $ CO. LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

the N90 million subvention accruing to the institution from the state government’s purse is a far cry from remunerating its staff scattered across its three campuses per month which amount to over N230 million excluding miscellaneous expenses like gas, fueling their fleets of cars, and so on.

As a result, the Vice Chancellor disclosed that the October salaries of the staffers of the state owned university are yet to be paid let alone that of November.

According to him, states like Imo pays N230 million naira subvention to its university despite that its indigent students enjoy free education, Ebonyi N260 million; Plateau State pays 100% subvention, while Kogi state government pays salaries of it staffers through electronic payment system.

The ANSU VC, who lamented that the university’s major source of IGR and mode of paying their emoluments were through students duration fees of

N55, 000 drawn from each N120,000 they pay per session, noted that remnants were meant for sundry levies such as Student Union Government (SUG), Laboratories, Identity Cards, etc.

This according to Prof.

Okafor, forced the university to obtain loans of N2.5 million naira last year in order to clear the debts being owed its teaching and non-teaching staff sequel to poor subvention, but the exgovernor, Chief Peter Obi later redeemed it.

In a similar vein, the Professor enjoined the visitation panel constituted some months back to look into the institution problems to intensify efforts towards finding lasting solution to the impasse, because it would enable the state governor to take prompt action.

To raise more funds for running the institution as directed by the government, Prof. Okafor hinted that they have begun diploma programme on music and in some management courses.

FORTUNE TRADERS ASSOCIATION PORTHARCOURT

FAMILY WORLD OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named association has applied to the corporate affairs commission, for under ‘part c’ of the companies and allied matter act, 1990.

Trustees; 1. CHIEF. (SIR) ALEX ANYIKWA. 2. MRS EJIRO MOMODU. 3. AMAECHI THEDDUS. 4. BONIFACE PETER. 5. EZEH COLLINS IWUCHUKWU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To establish a strong machinery for uniting all members.

2. To promote love , unity and true understanding among the members.

Any objection to this publication should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named body has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for under ‘Part C’ of the Companies and Allied Matter Act, 1990.

Trustees.

1. Pastor missionary Andrew Ajayi Agbada Ogbade.

2. LInda Osahenrumu Osahenrumwen Ajayi.

3. Efosa Ajayi Emmanuel .

Aim & Objective.

1. Propagation of good news messages of our lord & saviour Jesus Christ locally, Nationally & globally.

2. Planting & maintenance of churches & congregation.

Within Administrative Branches.

3. Ministry with global mission heartbeat that has strong conviction on the lesson of our lord & savour. Jesus Christ.

Any objection to this publication should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of publication.

SIGNED: Barrister Pelumi Adesina. 08060709499.

ated were taken to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital where they are now receiving treatment from injuries sustained in the explosion.

“The explosion occurred at about 10:56am and resulted in 18 deaths and about 21 injured.

“Meanwhile, the Na-

tional Emergency Management Agency advises the public to be vigilant and report all suspected movements to security operatives”, it said.

Members of the insurgent group, the Boko Haram are suspected to be the brain behind the explosion.

Beware of politicians’ antics, Yero tells Kaduna youths Yakubu Salisu

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o v e r n o r Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State has urged youths in the state to shun politicians who are bent on fomenting trouble as the 2015 elections approach.

The governor stated this during the flag-off of the Youths and Women Employment Development Programme, at the Shehu Yar’adua Multi-Purpose Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna.

He said there are certain group of politicians that are paining day and night to clinch the seat of power through any means particularly through violence and all sorts of trouble-making.

He urged the youths to be law-abiding citizens, shun all social vices and be respectful to elders add-

ing that doing so would guarantee a secure future.

Speaking further he said “my administration give priority to human capacity building than road construction, if we build roads and failed to build the capacity of people, who then would use the roads,” Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Yari Peter Everton, said a total of 2,550 youths and women across the 23 local government areas of the state benefited from the youths and women empowerment programme.

He said the programme was conceived to transform and improve the quality of lives of the youths and to also provide the youths the opportunity to contribute their own quota to the development in their various communities.

FRIENDS HELP AND CARE CLUB The general public is hereby notified that the above named body has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for under ‘Part C’ of the COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTER ACT, 1990.

Trustee.

1. OTOGIE PREYE. 2. KEBOR BRISBEY. 3. LADEIN OMIEBI. 4. DAFETA THURSDAY. 5. OMBU OKUBOKAKPO. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote the welfare of members.

2. To promote education by provision of scholarships to the less privileged in the society.

3. To assist the less privileged in the society.

Any objection to this publication should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of publication.

SIGNED. ALBERT J. AMADI & CO.

Africa 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

China to deploy 700 troops in S’Sudan

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hina has said 700 troops are ready to be deployed to South Sudan to bolster a UN force in the country, China’s official Xinhua news agency reports.

It will be the first peacekeeping battalion to be deployed, it says.

On Sunday, a Chinese firm said it had signed a deal with South Sudan to increase its oil production.

It fell by about a third after conflict broke out a year ago, raising concern in China as it is heavily dependent on oil from the East African state.

Internally displaced people in South Sudan Many people have been forced to depend on food aid because of the conflict.

Xinhua reported that 180 troops would fly to South Sudan next month followed by the rest of the battalion in March.

A rally was held on Monday in the city of Laiyang in Shandong Province for the battalion, which would be equipped with drones, armoured infantry carriers, anti-tank missiles, mortars and other weapons for self-defence purposes, it said.

Meanwhile, the state-

owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) said, in a statement, that it would use heavy oil recovery technologies in “stabilising and increasing crude output” following the deal signed with South Sudan’s government.

A Southern Sudanese soldier standing next to the infrastructure of an field processing facility in Unity State (file picture - 2010) Fighting between rebels and government troops has damaged some oil fields.

Oil accounts for more than 90% of South Sudan’s

foreign revenues.

Its oil-producing regions have seen some of the worst fighting since President Salva Kiiir accused his sacked deputy, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup last December.

Mr. Machar denied the allegation but then marshalled a rebel force to fight Mr Kiir’s government. International mediation efforts to end the conflict have failed.

The UN has more than 11,000 peacekeepers in South Sudan, which became independent in 2011 after breaking away from Sudan.

20 killed in fresh CAR clashes

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t least 20 people have been killed and dozens injured in the latest inter-ethnic clashes in the Central African Republic, police said on Monday.

An official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said the violence broke out on Friday when mainly Christian antibalaka militias launched an attack against rebels of the largely Muslim former Seleka alliance and Peul in the central region of Bambari.

“At least 12 people were killed in that attack,” the official said.

He said ex-Seleka rebels and armed Peul herders -also known as the Fulani -launched a reprisal attack on Saturday on the village of Kouango, 90 kilometres (55 miles) south, killing at least eight people, injuring dozens and setting several homes on fire.

“Many residents fled to the bush and others sought refuge in the capital Bangui where hundreds of people from both regions have arrived in recent months,” the official said.

Bambari, which lies near the dividing line

separating the Christian south from the northern region controlled by exSeleka rebels, has been the scene of fierce clashes that have left more than 100 people dead and at least 200 injured since June.

Last week 28 people were killed in sectarian clashes in Mbres, just days after a reconciliation ceremony organised by the UN peacekeeping mission there.The former French colony that is diamondrich but dirt poor has suffered numerous coups and bouts of instability since independence in 1960, but the March 2013 toppling of Francois Bozize’s regime by the Seleka rebel coalition triggered the worst upheaval to date.

Relentless attacks by the mainly Muslim rebels on the majority Christian population spurred the formation of vigilante groups, who in turn began exacting revenge on Muslim civilians, driving them out of most parts of the country.

Several thousand people were killed in the tit-for-tat attacks, which plunged the population of 4.8 million into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

American nabbed for money laundering in Uganda

Archbishop of Bangui Dieudonne Nzapalainga (R) walks with imam Oumar Kobine Layama (2nd R), representative of the local Muslim community, in Bangui.

Ex-minister, Essebsi wins Tunisia’s presidential poll

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unisia has elected veteran politician Beji Caid Essebsi in its first free presidential election since independence from France in 1956.

The Independent Higher Authority for Elections (ISIE) announced Monday that the 88-year-old former

minister, who heads the Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia’s Call) party, will replace incumbent President Moncef Marzouki after winning 56 percent of the vote.

Marzouki, 69, a former rights activist, had served as interim president since the so-called Arab Spring revolution began in 2011.

Later, Tunisian police fired teargas in Hamma, a southern city, to disperse hundreds of youths who burned tires and blocked streets to demonstrate against Essebsi’s victory, residents said.

Essebsi was widely seen as the favorite after last month’s first round of voting.

Sixty percent of Tunisian voters turned out for Sunday’s election.

Victory for Essebsi would enable him to consolidate power with his new secu-

lar party, Nidaa Tounes (Call for Tunisia), already controlling parliament after defeating the main Islamist party in legislative elections in October.

Critics of Essebsi see his return as a setback for the 2011 uprising that ousted autocratic leader Zine ElAbidine Ben Ali.

Essebsi

U

nited States authorities have arrested an American in Uganda for allegedly leading a large international counterfeiting ring.

Ryan Gustafson, 27, was charged with conspiracy and counterfeiting outside the US after the fake currency was used at multiple American businesses.

The US Secret Service traced the money to Kampala, where they say they found a counterfeit ring also producing euros, rupees and various African currencies.

The suspect faces 25 years in prison.

“We will hold cyber criminals accountable and bring them to justice no

matter where they reside,” US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania David Hickton wrote in a statement.

Fake US currency was discovered at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, retail stores and businesses and traced to a postal box in the area.

Federal agents determined the currency was being sent from Uganda.

A fingerprint on one of the packages led them to Mr Gustafson, a US citizen who previously resided in Texas.

A pair of fake hands found in Uganda The search in Uganda uncovered a pair of Anon Hands, used as gloves to obscure the wearer’s fingerprints

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

13 World

1.7 million Ukrainian children risk health hazards, says UNICEF

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A woman offers biscuits to honor guard soldiers before a commemoration at the Revolution Heroes Cemetery in Bucharest ,Romania, Sunday.

Pope Francis blasts Vatican bureaucracy

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ope Francis has sharply criticised the Vatican bureaucracy in a pre-Christmas address to cardinals, complaining of “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and “the terrorism of gossip”.

He said the Curia - the administrative pinnacle of the Roman Catholic Church - was suffering from 15 “ailments”, which he wanted cured in the New Year.

Pope Francis - the first Latin American pontiff -

also criticised “those who look obsessively at their own image”.

Pope Francis said some power-hungry clerics were guilty of “cold-bloodedly killing the reputation of their own colleagues and brothers”.

He compared the performance of the church’s civil servants to that of an orchestra playing out of tune because they fail to collaborate and have no team spirit, the BBC’s David Willey reports from Rome.

Before his election in March 2013, the pontiff had never worked in Rome, and he is clearly upset at the internal opposition he has encountered to some of the reforms he wants to carry out, our correspondent adds.

Pope Francis meeting cardinals, 22 Dec 14 The Pope says the Church elite must reach out to poor and vulnerable worshippers.

Since his election last year, Pope Francis has launched a clean-up of the Vatican Bank, officially

known as the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR). The IOR has long had a poor reputation, after a succession of scandals.

He has appointed a team of advisers to tackle corruption and poor administration in the Vatican.

He has also suggested that the Curia’s power - concentrated in Rome for centuries - could be diluted to some extent by giving Catholic bishops around the world a bigger say in Church doctrine.

North Korea warns US of more cyber attacks

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orth Korea is accusing the U.S. government of being behind the making of the movie “The Interview.”

And, in a dispatch on state media, the totalitarian regime warned the United States that its “citadels” will be attacked, dwarfing the hacking attack on Sony that led to

the cancellation of the film’s release.

While steadfastly denying involvement in the hack, North Korea accused U.S. President Barack Obama of calling for “symmetric counteraction.”

“The DPRK has already launched the toughest counteraction. Nothing is more serious miscalcula-

tion than guessing that just a single movie production company is the target of this counteraction. Our target is all the citadels of the U.S. imperialists who earned the bitterest grudge of all Koreans,” a report on state-run KCNA read.

“Our toughest counteraction will be boldly taken against the White House,

the Pentagon and the whole U.S. mainland, the cesspool of terrorism,” the report said, adding that “fighters for justice” including the “Guardians of Peace” -- a group that claimed responsibility for the Sony attack -- “are sharpening bayonets not only in the U.S. mainland but in all other parts of the world.”

ore than 1.7 million children in conflict-torn areas of eastern Ukraine face an “extremely serious” situation, the U.N. children’s agency has warned, with their suffering exacerbated by harsh winter weather.

Many families have been forced from their homes and lack access to safe water, sanitation and schooling.

“Children continue to bear the brunt of this conflict, with schooling disrupted and access to basic services limited,” said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF regional director for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

She called for extra resources to be provided to those in need.

“Extremely harsh winter conditions have made the impact of the crisis more acute,” she said.

Government forces and pro-Russia rebels have been battling for control of eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April, after Russia annexed Ukraine’s southeastern Crimea region the previous month.

According to a Unicef

press release Friday, 147 schools have been closed in parts of the Donetsk region where fighting is ongoing, disrupting the education of about 50,000 children since September 1. While some schools are in ruins, others are closed because of safety concerns.

In government-controlled areas, 187 educational institutions in total have been damaged or destroyed, UNICEF said.

The closures mean that besides lessons, children are missing out on the stability and routine that can be provided by school at a time of crisis, helping to alleviate their stress, the agency said.

It’s not just those still living in conflict areas who are affected. Since March, more than 1 million people have been displaced by the fighting, including nearly 530,000 within Ukraine.

Of those, at least 130,000 are children, according to UUNICEF. In many cases they are not attending a new school because their parents have not registered them, anticipating further displacement or planning to return home.

Argentine court grants ape basic rights

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court in Argentina has ruled that a shy orangutan (an ape) who spent the last 20 years in a zoo can be granted some legal rights enjoyed by humans.

Lawyers had appealed to free Sandra from the Buenos Aires zoo by arguing that although not human, she should be given legal rights.

They had argued that she was being illegally detained.

If there is no appeal, the ape will be transferred to a sanctuary in Brazil where she will enjoy greater freedom.

The singular case hung on whether the animal was a “thing” or a “person”.

In December a New York State court threw out a request to free a privately owned chimpanzee arguing that the animal was property and had no legal rights.

Lawyers for Argentina’s Association of Professional Lawyers for Animal Rights (Afada) said Sandra was “a person” in the philosophical, not biological, sense.

She was, they argued, in a situation of illegal deprivation of freedom as a “non-human person”.

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

2015: Pending tasks before INEC

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Adewale Kupoluyi

oing by the timeline of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections should commence this month,including those for state houses of Assembly.

Since the commencement of the Fourth Republic, the nation has been experiencing various challenges in building virile institutions, fighting sectarian crises and corruption in a bid to ensure that good governance is enshrined. Our electoral system too has not been spared the series of upheavals troubling us as a nation.

No doubt, the functions of INEC are contained under Section 15, Part 1 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 2 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). These laws, among other, empower the commission to organise elections into elective public offices while that of conducting local government area chairmanship elections, which were hitherto vested in states’ Independent Electoral Commission, is hopefully being transferred to INEC. Preparatory to 2015, INEC has, among others, deployed advanced software identification system (ASIS);

produced permanent voters cards (PVCs) complete with biometrics, which are readable electronically; commenced continuous voter registration (CVR); updated the electoral register and set up an Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), to address security concerns.

Despite these laudable efforts, many Nigerians, and international observers are already expressing worries over a number of issues that should be sorted out if we are to truly have free, fair and credible elections. Not a few believe that there’s a relative improvement in our electoral process in terms of computerisation, coding of ballot papers, ballot boxes and polling units. For instance, the distribution of permanent voter cards, as part of efforts towards having comprehensive and up-to-date voter register, got public criticism as the exercise recorded several irregularities. With a biometric system in place, it is expected that the system should be cleaned of fraudulent registration. Also, the PVCs are yet to be synchronised with the national identity card, to enable eligible voters participate in elections with minimal paper work.

Again, INEC still has to contend with the problem of voter apathy as this may frustrate genuine efforts to ensure hitch-free elections.

Another factor is the inability to put in place, electronic voting. This will not only make many Nigerians in Diaspora to participate, it would eliminate all shortcomings associated with manual conduct of elections. At the moment, only citizens residing in country can vote at any election, whereas in other countries, their citizens are able to discharge their civic duties due to the opportunity offered by the technology of e-voting. INEC will still need to contend with is the registration and deregistration of political parties. Many political parties seem not sure of their fate. This should be sorted out before the next elections. The insecurity pervading the North-East is another grey area that should be addressed. Despite the ongoing terrorist acts by the Boko Haram, INEC has assured that it would conduct elections in the area, affected by the insurgency.

More worrisome also is the deployment of security personnel and hardware to elections. The INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega, had backed a proposed amendment that would confer the exclusive power to assign security men during elections by limiting the role of the military at such exercises. This has sparked protests from the opposition party and those, who believe that it could serve as an avenue to perpetrate crime. This feature

of military rule is an aberration and should not have a place in any modern day governance. Electoral offenders are still not being punished because of the absence of special electoral offence tribunals constituted for that purpose. INEC should ensure that violators of the electoral law are made to promptly face the full wrath of the law.

As the people eagerly look forward to the future, the wishes of voters should be accurately reflected, a salient consideration that has been in short supply since the 1963 elections in the annals of the nation. Voters should ask aspirants cogent questions that require convincing answers on matters that border on their living. These should cover the pervading insecurity, unemployment, corruption, decadent power, education, health services and infrastructural deficit.

We should seriously be concerned on how informed the electorate is about issues of franchise and choice in terms of the level of their confidence in the existing structure.

Certainly, no government can provide purposeful leadership without having well planned, articulated and sustainable programmes. The aspirants should thoroughly be made to scrutinise intending public office holders and be able to freely determine whether they are fit to be entrusted with their mandate.

When officials are enmeshed in graft

N

Emmanuel Onwubiko

igeria is indeed an exciting country to live in particularly because of the diverse shades of characters that make up the top echelon of governments not just in the current dispensation but even in almost all previous administrations.

Ordinarily, Nigeria ought not to be a neighbour of poverty but due to crass indiscipline and unprecedented official graft made worse by greed the nation’s enormous financial resources have all but disappeared into private offshore accounts of thieving elites. The nation’s foreign reserves are been depleted with a speed of lightning even with the presence of the so-called Ivy League economic managers.

Governance in the states has become anything but good even as nepotism has been elevated to an official policy. In Plateau, the octogenarian governor has ap-

pointed his son a Commissioner and in Abia both the governor and his son gave themselves the party tickets to the national and state assemblies in the next dispensation.

In other states, outgoing governors who have served out their tenures that contributed to massive penury to the people have handpicked their successors.

Nigeria ought not to have anything to do with poverty, but the primitive acquisitiveness and evil ghost of corruption brought about by the depraved political and economic elites, have robbed many homes of the ability to have three square meals a day. Terrorists have severely threatened the territorial integrity of the country while the armed forces have fought for three years but still haven’t been able to defeat a rag tag bunch of armed Islamists. Today, due to the shaky nature of global price of crude oil, the country is now gripped with anxiety, hysteria and paralysis.

There is a general climate of fear because of the devaluation of the national currency vis-à-vis

other international currencies.

This means that inflation would rise and the cost of living will assume a frightening dimension.

There is a general atmosphere of cash crunch coupled with the fact that workers who constitute a small minority in the midst of massive unemployment haven not received their wages in most states.

Yet many of the governors are spending money as if they would soon go out of circulation.

In the midst of all these shenanigans is the recent quarrel between the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Adamu Bello and his successor, Dr Adesina Akinwunmi over who is lying about corruption in the agricultural sector. This finger pointing has rattled quiet a lot of feathers in the corridors of power especially coming at an election period when the administraton is revolutionary claims of wiping off corruption in the distribution of fertilisers to farmers.

The altercation between these

two officials has revealed that all the noise by the Minister of Agriculture of rectitude in the sector is nothing but hot air. Some of us have been hoodwinked into believing some of those accomplishments in the ministry. I must state that I have always expressed my doubts because as someone whose mother is a rural farmer, I know that I have not come across any farmer in my state that has benefitted from all the advertised credit facilities as claimed by officials of the ministry.

The former agriculture minister who unarguably served longer than his predecessors had alleged that the present minister made many bogus claims of ending the regime of corruption in the distribution of fertilisers and subsidy to farmers. He also denied that the administration has saved N80 billion from these corruption schemes. He said from 1999 to 2007, total subsidy for fertilisers stood at less than N25 billion. He dismissed the claim that N26 billion was stolen annually for 40 years.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Politics

15

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Anxiety In A\Ibom PDP, APC As internal crises threaten 2015 polls

Akpabio Ini Sunday Uyo

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head of the crucial 2015 elections, crises have continued to rock the major political parties especially the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), across the country.

Going into the election year, parties have started overhauling their internal machinery by strengthening major de-

partments through horse trading and re-alignment of forces.

In Akwa Ibom State, tension is mounting as the two major political parties – the PDP and APC, have been enmeshed in crises, following unresolved issues bothering on imposition of candidates, hijack of parties’ machinery and other electoral malpractices.

In Akwa Ibom PDP for instance, widespread allegations have trailed Governor Godswill Akpabio’s quest to install the imme-

diate past Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, as his successor.

The problem became more accentuated soon after the November 1, 2014, Ward congresses to choose some Ad-hoc delegates, that would join the statutory delegates to select candidates to vie on the PDP platform for various elective offices in 2015.

However, Akpabio was to come under criticisms as other 22 contestants, who bought forms kicked

against the outcome of the polls, alleging that the Governor, in alliance with the Electoral Committee members, manipulated the exercise to have a pre-determined outcome for the government’s candidate, Udom.

Before then, Atuekong Don Etiebet, life Board of Trustees (BoT) member of PDP, had led notable politicians and elders of the party including Senator Aloysius Etok, former House of Representatives members, former Local Government Chairmen

The stand-off between Akpabio and other 22 aggrieved aspirants was to reach a boiling point on December 8, 2014, at the Uyo International Stadium, venue of the governorship primary, where they staged a protest and walked out of the contest.

and House of Assembly members to address a press conference in Uyo, on the matter.

At the press conference attended by the political leaders of Uyo including Otuekong Sunny Jackson; former Minister, Obongawan Rita Akpan, and others, Etiebet drew the attention of the party leadership and the Presidency to disorientation of the party by Akpabio, in his desperate bid to install his man.

He noted that if urgent measures were not in place to nip the impending crisis in the bud, the party may be defeated during the general elections in the State.

Besides, he accused Akpabio of seizing all the voters’ registers from the 329 Wards before the conduct of the last Ward Congresses and the primaries, warning that if the party continue to drift, its chances at the polls remain threatened by opposition.

The stand-off between Akpabio and other 22 aggrieved aspirants was to reach a boiling point on December 8, 2014, at the Uyo International Stadium, venue of the governorship primary, where they staged a protest and walked out of the contest.

They accused Akpabio of not providing a level playing field for all contenders, disclosing the accreditation of delegates were done within the confines of the Government House and other secluded places, adding that the boycott became necessary to deny the exercise any form of credibility and legitimacy.

At the Ewet Housing CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics 16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Anxiety In A\Ibom PDP, APC trouble started on the day of the governorship primary held at the Uyo township stadium, where four aspirants including Umana, Udoedehe, Sam Ewang, etc, where scheduled to slug it out for the main candidate to emerge.

Etiebet

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

home of Mr. Nsima Ekere, former Deputy Governor and one of the protesting aspirants, the 22 met and moved to Abuja, where they impressed it on the Presidency and the NWC of PDP, to wade in.

“We reject the entire exercise because it was fraudulent and heavily stage-managed”, they declared, adding that if the anomalies were not corrected, they would move massively with their supporters to the APC – to support Umana, against Udom.

Since the current crises start-

ed, key PDP stakeholders have been leaving in droves to the opposition in protest against Akpabio’s decision to impose Udom, as his successor.

Notable among them are the former SSG, Umana; former Commissioner for Works, Dr. Udoma Ekarika; former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Uwem Udoma; Chief Inibehe Okorie, Dr. Ime Umanah, former House of Representatives member, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, and many others.

With the issues concerning the candidature of Udom, still

unresolved as the deadline for submission of names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) scheduled for next week approaches, observers say the party could be in for rough time at the polls.

And according to Chief Emmanuel Uko, a community leader in Oruk Anam, “the APC, the major opposition party in the State my cash in on the wrangling to clinch the State in 2015”.

But some stakeholders in PDP including the party Chairman in the State, Obong Paul

Ekpo, were quick to interject, assuring that “no amount of cross-carpeting will mar the ruling party’s chances at the polls.

They also point to the fact that “even the so called opposition APC is still bedevils by crises”, noting that disagreements and conflicts remain the expected issues in any political party in every election year.

Checks by our Correspondent revealed heavy discord among stakeholders of the opposition APC, as the party struggles to address various interests that has been plaguing the party since the entry of Umana.

For instance, Umana’s migration into the party has ruffled some few feathers, as his camp is up in arms against the leader of the party in the State, Senator John James Akpan Udoedehe.

The feud, it was learnt stemmed from the decision by the APC national leaders to bend the rule for Umana – to come with huge cash with which he was able to buy the

party machinery and governorship ticket.

It was gathered that trouble started on the day of the governorship primary held at the Uyo township stadium, where four aspirants including Umana, Udoedehe, Sam Ewang, etc, where scheduled to slug it out for the main candidate to emerge.

Apparently determined to stop the exercise from holding, Udoedehe, who led several of his supporters into the venue, was said to have made straight to where the ballot materials were kept. “People stood in awe, watching the Senator who carted the materials away from the venue”, Aniebiet Udoh, an APC supporter told our Correspondent.

“Immediately he (Udoedehe ) had left the stadium with the materials, members of the panel called to Abuja, seeking a way out. It was at that point that the NWC of APC instructed the Committee to conduct the exercise based on ‘Option A 4’.

“It was then that Umana stood the election with the remaining others and won overwhelmingly with over 2,000 votes”, he recalled.

Since then, the duo had been attacking each other with verbal salvos, which followers of political trends in the State ahead of the polls, believe may also rub off negatively and forced peoples’ confidence in the party to wane.

On a life phone-in interview on local radio in Uyo, Thursday, December 18, 2014, Udoedehe’s feud with Umana, degenerated to the point where the programme host, was not able to restrain the embittered former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“People should ask Umana Umana, where he got all the monies as a civil servant…In a civilized society, such wealth should be questioned because Umana has never sold even the smallest thing like salt before..”, he said.

It could be recalled that following his irreconcilable differences with Akpabio, the former Uyo Local Government Chairman, had quit the PDP for the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), where he was given the ticket to challenge Akpabio’s re-election in 2011.

He lost, and this time he was preparing challenge Akpabio’s candidate, on the platform of the APC, when Umana suddenly moved in to scuttle the dream.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

17 Politics

The Odds Against Ajimobi Its like a rematch of 2011 Remi Oladoye

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enator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State penultimate Thursday won the return ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the governorship seat of Oyo State with a determination to break the second term Jinx in the pace setter state where no governor has ever served two terms consecutively.

Going by the calculations in Oyo State politics, the 2015 in Oyo state is going to be a keen contest among the former governors as the duo of Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja of the Accord Party and Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala of Labour Party (LP) are the major contenders in the race, just like in 2011.

Senator Abiola Ajimobi just like his predecessors tried his best in infrastructural development, enviromental sanitation, economic development and others but he may not be privileged to have the second term base on some factors which include po-

litical crisis, economic issue and other factors which may punctuate his chances of breaking the jinx.

Prior to his emergence as the governor, the Ibadan born politician is of the opinion that the position of governance is purely meant for technocrats, people who are highly cerebral can take decisions that will positively affect the state, this position enhances his campaign strategy and make the elders and the elites in the state to embrace him and adopt him as their candidate with a belief that he will be a clear separation from what we have experienced in the past base on his experience in the private sector and his academic background. All these worked for him and he succeeded in defeating Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala using a lot of political gimmicks and propaganda.

Although, he inherited a lot of crisis in the state particularly the issue of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) ,Civil servants , rotation of chair-

Ajimobi manship of council of Obas, partly dirty environment among others but his administration managed to settle some of these issues and continued with his plan to take the state to a greater height through proper implementation of policies and ideas that assisted in making the state to function effectively.

His administration is remarked for continued effort

in sanitizing the environment through the introduction of several measure including declaration of every Thursday for environmental sanitation in the state, purchase of more waste bins for refuse disposal which were placed at strategic locations in the state capital in Ibadan and at the same time embarked on urban renewal project which consumed thousands of shops and means of

livelihood of many people in the state, though the evacuation of illegal shops and kiosks was done in good faith but the process was poorly implemented as people many people were caught unaware particularly traders whose goods were demolished with the shop . Most traders went bankcrupt, many could not survive the shocks.

The government of Abiola AjiCONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Politics 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Odds Against Ajimobi

Ladoja CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

mobi is also noted for dualization and expansion of major roads in some major cities and towns including Ibadan, the state capital, Oyo, Ogbomosho and Iseyin in the Oke Ogun area of the state. In Ibadan, the construction of Mokola overhead bridge, dualization of Aleshinloye- Jericho- Eleyele, New GarageOrita Challenge- Challenge and other roads in Ibadan.

The beautification of roads enhances the status of Ibadan as the state capital, while Oyo, Iseyin and Ogbomosho also enjoy a stretch each apart from the 5 killometre road project embarked upon by all the local governments in the state. The infrastructural developments in the state is laudable, but there were insinuations that the projects were highly inflated as the cost of a kilometre road is almost about 1 billion naira while the Mokola overhead bridge also was said to have been awarded at a cost which can build two of such edifice.

The Atunluse of Ibadan intention on urban renewal was grossly misunderstood by majority of the people, particularly those who do not understand the con-

Alao Akala

Though, armed robbery, car snatching and political violence including the NURTW clash were not totally eliminated but people feel more secured under his administration and that is why the governor is nicknamed Mr. Peace.

cept of making the major streets neat and beautiful, basically, it attracts investors and reduce the traffic problems in the state.

People were of the opinion that the focus should have been on the interior roads particularly new places like Apete, Amuloko, Odo Ona Elewe, Ajongbolo, and other area where there are no good motorable r o a d s .

The case of Apete bridge and others like that stand a great deal on his way to return to the government house as most people affected may not see any good reason to vote for his return to the government house.

Insecurity is a major problem confronting the state, prior to his emergence, political violence, armed robbery and hoo-

liganism and brigandage thrive in the state, though his predecessor made efforts at combating the crime rate but little was achieved until he came with an initiative which gave birth to Operation Burst, a joint patrol of the security operatives in the state which has succeeded in reducing the crime rate. Though, armed robbery, car snatching and political violence including the NURTW clash were not totally eliminated but people feel more secured under his administration and that is why the governor is nicknamed Mr. Peace.

Politically, the irreconcilable differences between him and some party leaders is considered to be one of the major factors that may work against him in 2015 election. He is also a

beneficiary of the crack in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011 as all the anti -Akala forces in the party including Senator Teslim Folarin, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and many others threw their weight behind him to defeat Akala and shortly after his inauguration the hitherto harmonious relationship began to experience some cracks and some of those who supported him began to withdraw their support base on what some of them claim to be a betrayal on his part.

Senator Rasidi Ladoja who is now an Accord Party candidate sometimes ago accused him of not fulfilling the gentleman agreement between them while the likes of Senators Teslim Folarin and Adeojo have their

subjects withdrawn from the government.

Also, the irreconcilable differences that makes the two Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members not to follow him to join APC is another factor that may hinder his chance of returning to the government house, Senator Ayoade Adeseun of Oyo Central Senatorial district influenced the votes from his district for him while Senator Oluremi Lanlehin also played his own part in his electoral victory but today the influence of power overwhelmed them and they all disagreed on issues which eventually forced the two senators out of the party to PDP and Accord Party in the state with a pledge of using all they have to work against him during the 2015 contest. Apart from the two senators, many

other prominent members of the party who worked for him in 2011 including Akogun Sarafadeen Alli, former chairman of Oodua group of company, Hon. Yemi Aderibigbe , Hon. Kazeem Adedeji, Hon. Nurudeen Akinyo, Barrister Lowo Obisesan and many others who have left his party for Labour, Accord Party respectively and factors that cannot be totally undermined.

Senator Ajimobi’s inability to conduct local government election and involve politicians in the affairs of the government in the early stage have made his government to loose torch with the grass root as many of those he appointed in the early period of his government are technocrats who don’t have direct link with their base though later there was an adjustment but the damage done may not be totally solved as aggrieved members are waiting to pay him back, some have decamped while those that are yet to leave the party are not sure of given him their full support even with all form of compensation and reconciliation he may not get their votes because they belief things may be worst if re-elected.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Abuja File

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Angwan Baba

19 Abuja File

PLANLESS: A section of Angwan Baba

A community crying for government’s presence Augustine Aminu, Abuja

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ngwan Baba is a small settlement area in the inner part of New Nyanya, in Karu local government area of Narasarawa state. Located just few meters away from Karu local government Secretariat, one look at the deplorable entry tells anyone who

cares to dare the place what to expect.

Life in this place can best be described as living in the jungle where only the strong survives as the area lacks basic facilities like electricity, water, access road, health care and security.

The place historically derived its name from one famer who first settled in the place

Kaoje tasks Nigerians on nation building Page 28

early 2004 from Plateau State called Agubi Baba, whose age was estimated to be 80 as at the time of his settlement. It is one out of the many yields of the miracle of Abuja population overlap and causalities from demolition exercises.

The area has an estimated population of over 3,000 residents, who seems abandoned and rejected by the ruling

Nigeria must prioritise human development - NOUN VC Page 28

glass, reducing them to nothing like ordinary animal, deprived of features of a modern society in the universe.

Arriving in the place, one will wonder why such neglect given its proximity to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the seat of power. The non-existence of formal instrumentality has remained a mystery over time to anyone that finds

Water, they say, is life but in Angwan Baba, water if not for the Grace of God, we would have all died

NCPC, Fed Govt. delegation holds evaluation meeting with tour operators in Jerusalem

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Angwan Baba crying for govt’s presence

Litter, litter everywhere... at Angwan Baba.

himself there.

The road that leads to Angwan Babab can best be described as a battle field and refugee camp; most of the people who live in the settlement call the movement on the road either on motor-bike or cars as the best massage one can ever get.

Water supply is so essential because the community relies on nature’s assistance during the raining season, but it gets worse in the dry season as only a handful of boreholes powered by generators provide water to residents which makes it difficult for residents to have water all the time.

John Madaki, 48, a resident of this community who spoke to Daily Times said: “Water, they say, is life but in Angwan Baba, water if not for the

Life here is like hell, we don’t have good income to enable us stay in an area were life and property are secured

Grace of God, we would have all died. We practically rely on water vendors popularly known as mai ruwa. They don’t care about how you feel here because they know you have no choice.”

Madaki continued: “With acute scarcity of this essential commodity to mankind’s survival, life in this area can only be imagined.

All the people living in this area are all low-income earners. In fact, in the area only very few can afford to pay their bills.”

Life in this community is very much difficult because of the absence of security agents, the Police. Unscrupulous elements in the community and other neighbouring settlements are having a field day as there is no presence of the

Police to at leasst intimidate them. This also clearly depicts the feature of disorderliness associated.

“Life here is like hell, we don’t have good income to enable us stay in an area were life and property are secured. Robbers unleash terror on us without fear of arrest because no one is here to stop them. They go house to house to do whatever they want,”Laruba Istifanus a resident lamented.

As explained by some residents who spoke to Daily Times, there is noticeable prevalence of social vices likes bagsnatching, gangsterism etc. by the marginal ‘strong ones’ against the majority ‘weak ones in the area.

Daily Times also observed that at night, thick darkness covers the whole place due

to the absence of electricity, except for a few rays of bulb lights coming from generators in a couple of homes, to worsen the atmosphere with lots of unpleasant sounds from this energy source.

Interestingly, during the day, most residents leave for other places in search of their daily bread; which serves as temporal relief for them, only to return in the evening to meet the harsh reality that the place offers to them.

As a way of relaxing, most residents rely heavily on generating sets to power their electronics and home appliances to make life a little bit meaningful despite the glaring ‘jungle’ status of the place, at least for those who can afford one, in order to enjoy life obtainable in today’s world.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

21 Abuja File

PDP Crises: Group fingers lack of principles of democracy at primaries

NCPC, Fed Govt. delegation holds evaluation meeting with tour operators in Jerusalem

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Augustine Aminu

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he crises of confidence rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in almost all the states under its control have been attributed to failure by the national leadership of the party to employ the principles of democracy in the conduct of its just concluded primaries.

A nascent group, Youths Coalition For PDP Progress 2015 disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during a press briefing addressed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Sadiq Goni.

The group described as worrisome the current trend of general disaffection in PDP across the federation which it noted

has been pushing the aggrieved members into the opposition party.

The PDP youths said the alleged manipulations and poor conduct of the primaries by the PDP leaders constitute a great insult to the person of President Goodluck Jonathan who they said never deserved the turn of events in the party as PDP National Leader.

The group stated that for causing the party and its members nationwide so much pains, the National Headquarters of PDP should apologise to President Jonathan and all the aggrieved members while taking immediate steps towards redressing the wrongs it allegedly caused with the primaries, in the interest of the party.

T David Mark

About 9,000 Christian pilgrims have so far been airlifted to the Holy Land since the commencement of this year’s pilgrimage operations

he Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara, and the members of the Federal Government Delegation to Israel which includes members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of both Senate and House had an evaluation meeting with the six approved Tour Operators in Jerusalem to review this year’s pilgrimage operations.

Briefing them at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, John Kennedy Opara gave a run-down of this year’s pilgrimage operations which was flagged off in Abuja by The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark

NDLEA parades 5 suspects in Kogi Ibrahim Momohjimoh, Lokoja

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President Jonathan

n its effort to rid Kogi State of hard drugs, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday paraded five suspects, including two women, arrested in connection with the seizure of 102.5 kg of cannabis sativa (Indian hemp).

Commander of the agency in Kogi Alhaji Idris Bello, who addressed journalists at the command’s office in Lokoja said 58.1 kg of weeds in 10 bags were concealed in two big bags of vegetable leaves en-route Abuja.

The commander noted that men of the command on patrol at about 5am on Friday on Jamata bridge

intercepted a Volkswagen Sharon mini-bus marked ONDO: KAK 76 AE, over loaded with vegetable leaves including pumpkin, Ohazi and bitter leafs.

According to Bello, the driver said they were on their way to Abuja but the NDLEA officials were suspicious and decided to search the vehicle only to discover 10 bags of cannabis neatly concealed in two big bags of vegetables.

During interrogation, Bello said the driver, Musa Lawal who claimed ignorance of the content of the bags said the consignment belonged to one “Yello” in Isua who paid him N8,000 after negotiation to deliver the goods in Abuja.

An addict injecting himself

on 18th October, 2014. He disclosed that about 9,000 Christian pilgrims had so far been airlifted to the Holy Land since the commencement of this year’s pilgrimage operations.

He explained that the second edition of A Day with Jesus in Israel which the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan participated was most impactful and successful Opara further informed that the Commission made use of six international Airports across the country to airlift pilgrims to Israel this year, adding that the Commission for the first time was able to airlift Kaduna pilgrims from the Kaduna International Airport and would hopefully airlift Bauchi pilgrims from the Bauchi international Airport.

Abuja File 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Kaoje tasks Nigerians on nation building Augustine Aminu, Abuja

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Kaoje

If all Nigerians put national interest above personal interest, there is every tendency that more development will be attained.

former national treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Sports, Bala Bawa Kaoje, has charged Nigerians to always put national interest above parochial considerations for more development to be attained.

Kaoje gave the charge In Abuja in a chat with Daily Times.

He said, “If all Nigerians put national interest above personal interest, there is every tendency that more development will be attained.”

Kaoje noted that no meaningful development could be achieved in an atmosphere of rancour, hatred and acrimony. He therefore urged Nigerians regardless of religion background to see themselves as indivisible entity.

According to him, this was one of the means the nation can overcome challenges facing her.

He advised politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and shun acts capable of derailing the democratic structures.

He similarly urged Nigerian leaders to always be sincere to their followers to restore confidence in them.

Mpape residents donate to orphanage homes Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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andlords and residents of the Berger Quarry Labamba Association in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, at the weekend, visited two orphanage homes in the Bwari and Abuja Municipal area councils to donate items of different kinds.

The orphanages visited were: City of Refuge, Mpape, Bwari Area Council and Hope for Survival Orphanage, Gishiri, Abuja Municipal Area Council.

The items presented to the orphanages were food items, toiletries and money.

According to the Chairman of the Berger Quarry prayer committee, Pastor Osasu Osamwonyi the visit to the orphanages was a covenant that the Landlords entered into with God in 2012 when the

Federal Capital Territory Administration threatened to demolish their house.

Pastor Osamwonyi explained that the people had told God that since he was able to save them from demolition, they would, in turn, show appreciation yearly by having annual thanksgiving and visiting the less privilege with whatever substance to assist them.

He enjoined the handlers of the orphanages to see their works as the work of God and should therefore be rest assured that God would take care of them and whatever that concerns them.

In his remarks, the chairman of Labamba, Berger Quarry Road, Mr Johnchuks Onuanyim stated that the Landlords were at the Orphanages to give hope and to share in the challenges of the children.

Ado Tenebe

Open University is a university that develops humans; it is the University for All and the only school that democratises education. NOUN is the University that gives you education without you feeling the pains.

Nigeria must prioritise human development - NOUN VC Augustine Aminu, Abuja

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Osamwonyi

The visit to the orphanages was a covenant that the Landlords entered into with God in 2012 when the Federal Capital Territory Administration threatened to demolish their houses.

he Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Vincent Ado Tenebe, has urged other Nigerian leaders to prioritised human capital development instead of depending on Natural resources.

Tenebe said countries in the Middle East, Europe and Asia now depend on human capital development as the best resources to improve their economy.

The VC stated this at the weekend during an Award/ Dinner of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna council.

Professor Tenebe who was the chairman of the occasion said daily, the population of the world and Nigeria is growing despite natural and manmade disasters that are

claiming lives.

“The price of oil is falling. Even if it did not fall, the Nigeria oil reserve might dried up in the next 20 years. So we must develop human capital,” Tenebe said.

The VC said the Asian Tigers like Japan, China and other Middle-east countries don’t have many natural resources, but depend on human ingenuity and dedicated more to human capability building.

“Open University is a university that develop humans; it is the University for All and the only school that democratise education. NOUN is the University that gives you education without you feeling the pains.

“If we could take education to the prison, there is no place we can’t take education to. We can’t reach the people without journalists.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Features

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Kpo-fire! Crude, oily way of eking out a living Joe Ogbodu, Warri

“K

po-fire” is a slang used to describe illegal oil bunkering business thriving in the Niger Delta region.

It is coined from the explosive sound produced when fuel is poured on fire.

In several creek communities that feed the Escravos River, which opens into the Atlantic, there are illegal bunkering sites where sweaty young men and women labour underneath massive cauldrons set

across fires of wood hewn from mangrove trees to eke out a living in a crude way.

The gloomy picture decorated all crudepolluted communities visited during this report.

Along the creeks of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state, Bayelsa, sources said there is hardly any family without one or more of its members involved in the activity. Not surprisingly, most of them justify their involvement.

“It is our people’s way of getting a piece of the national cake. Look around you; what do we have to show that we produce oil that drives Nigeria economy? There is nothing to show for it. That is why we think illegal bunkering should be legalized so that when the politicians are stealing in Abuja, we will have something for ourselves here too,” Comrade Austin Ozobo, a local activist from Ayakoromor, said in a telephone chat.

From Ugborodo, an Itsekiri enclave, which is now a hub of illegal refinery

activities to Gbaramatu axis of Warri South West Local Government, around Okwuogbene and Asafama, long rows of mangrove trees lie supine, as if bowing to an invisible deity. Denuded by the absence of protective shade of the mangrove trees, the withered, empty land on which they stand shimmer with films of crude oil left behind by receding water. Everything around is black and lifeless.

Across the horizon, thick plumes of Continued on page 24

Features 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Illegal bunkering is self-destruction – Asari Dokubo

Kegs of refined crude

Continued from page 23 smoke shaded the skyline. They bellow from clusters of massive cooking spots (refineries) in the deep of the mangrove swamp, where the oily businesses are carried out.

Kpo-fire started way back when Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) held sway as a warlord in the creeks of the Niger Delta.

Asari-Dokubo had attested to the fact that any petroleum product that was not produced by NNPC within the West Africa region then was called “Asari-Oil or Fuel”.

Dokubo, who pioneered the “Kpo-fire” industry in the region now loathes the illicit trade, and had regrettably said that “Kpofire” has surpassed Shell and other oil companies 50 year plus of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region.

“Now talking about the issue of environmental degradation, I would say it is

absolutely wrong how we are lying about our environment. Shell, Chevron, Total/ Elf, Exxon Mobil and other oil companies have indeed degraded our environment in the last 50 years. But…the so-called illegal local refineries they call ‘kpofire’ is worse than what these oil companies have done in the last 50 years.

“That, with our own hands, we are destroying our environment is wicked, it is evil and it is totally satanic…..we must do everything to stop it because our environment is dying…. So when we point our fingers to the multinationals, we should also point our fingers at ourselves. We are destroying our own environment because of our insatiable urge for the things of pleasure,” Asari-Dokubo was quoted to have said in an interview.

The ground is marshy and slippery due to ankle-deep sea of spilled crude oil, but the thought of daily earnings of up to N5,000, a fall and roll on the blackened earth is bearable for the labourers. These

foot soldiers are usually the ones arrested by law agents.

Their labour fuel the affluent bosses (chairmen), who own palatial homes in Warri, Port Harcourt, Abuja and other cities, where they drive around in expensive latest cars.

Illegal bunkering sites like those described above employ about 50,000 youths in the Niger Delta. Over two million illegal refineries are believed to be operational in the area. In spite of security agents unearthing and destroying over half a million in the past three years, the ease of setup ensures that scores spring up in place of every one destroyed.

All operators need are empty metal drums, massive plastic tanks for storage, pumping machine and other paraphernalia of the illicit trade.

Huge boiling pots are constantly filled with crude oil stolen from numerous hot points drilled into pipelines of oil multinationals operating in the area. The black

liquid is siphoned into huge local canoes called cotonou boats in which they are transported to the crude ‘refineries’ where they are processed mostly into Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), which sells for higher prices of about N150 per litre in the market, and transported to the cities.

Criminal gangs in the oil-rich delta of Nigeria embraced this method of selling stolen crude around 2007 following a massive military operation by the Joint Task Force comprising men of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce and the Police.

Prior to the setting up of the taskforce, soldiers deployed to man the gateway into the area colluded with criminal gangs to steal crude oil for a handsome fee. But the renewed clampdown has left criminals with hundreds of barges filled with crude but with nowhere to go.

“What we did at that time was to device a means to empty the filled barges without Continued on page 25

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 23, 2014

25 Features

‘Task force waging war against our economy’

Fire on the water

“We thought, with the coming of the JTF, this gross environmental abuse would be reduced to the barest minimum.

However, we are surprised to see that what the task force is doing is even more grievous than the acts of the vandals.”

Local refineries: Efficient but illegal

Continued from page 24 losing the products or our investments. We moved them deeper into the creeks where the boats of the military men can’t reach and refined crude into petrol and diesel.

These are poured into drums and tanks and taken to Warri were they are sold to filling station owners,” one of the gang members, said on condition of anonymity.

This method of crude oil theft opened the ‘market’ to more players, who now form a cartel worth a whopping $6 billion (N1trillion) yearly, according to Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu.

Sunmonu said the activities are “being carried out by well-financed and highly organised criminal operations --- a parallel industry with well-developed supply chain and growing sophistication.” Illegal bunkering is a money spinner.

Beneficiaries of the crime are as diverse as Nigerians. Petrol stations patronise illegal refiners because of the comatose state of the nation’s four refineries and the greed to make huge profits.

“They buy the adulterated petrol or die-

sel as the case may be and mix them with those bought from any of the refineries.

This way they make huge profit because the ‘black oil’ is cheaper,” an industry expert said.

Even multinational oil and telecom companies power their plant and generators with illegally refined fuels. Sometime ago, it was reported that a wing of the task force in Warri, swooped on a base station owned by a GSM service provider in Warri and recovered 1,500 litres of substance suspected to be crude oil crudely refined into diesel.

Captain Mohammed Abdulahi, the Intelligence Officer of the 3 Battalion of Nigerian Army, who led the operation some time ago, said the product was stored in 15 barrels that were openly conveyed to the premises of the telecom firm.

“If a respected company like this can get involved in this criminal deal, you wonder how we can get people to stop involvement in this economic sabotage against the country,” Abdullahi lamented.

In the same vein, Chevron Nigeria Limited, a major player in the oil industry, was almost caught up in a scandal when one

of its major diesel suppliers was accused of patronising criminal gangs refining crude oil in Ugborodo, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Although the young multi-billionaire contractor could not be directly linked to the crime, the insinuation caused suspicion over the nature of the deals between the company and local warlords.

Guns, arms and ammunition bought with proceeds of these deals now pose a threat to the peace and security of the area. In one operation by military men at Arunton Escravos, dozens of weapons, including Ak-47 rifles and thousands of ammunition were recovered.

Commanding Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Captain Musa Gemu, has been on the trail of these criminals in a bid to rid the region of the scourge.

Gemu and his men have taken the war across several communities in Warri South West LGA where over a thousand sites have been destroyed.

Despite criticisms that security agencies are carrying out economic war in the Niger Delta environment, Gemu, who was recently elevated to the rank of a Com-

modore, said the navy would continue to invade and destroy any camps used by criminals for illegal refining of petroleum products as well as the vessels and all items used for the illicit business.

Gemu said that since repeated appeals to the conscience of the perpetrators of illegal bunkering, vandalism and unauthorised local refining of stolen crude had remained unheeded, the authorities of the Navy had no choice but to destroy everything associated with the illegal business.

He expressed the hope that the masterminds of the illegal refineries and the vessels used in the business would “have a rethink considering the heavy loss they suffer when, for example, their illegal refining camps and boats are destroyed.

Gemu said that about 936,000 litres of crude oil believed to have been stolen from vandalised pipelines in the creeks of Warri was few month ago destroyed in the latest of such operations by operatives of the NNS Delta.

Commodore Gemu said his men found the stolen oil in at least nine units in three Continued on page 26

Features 26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Its total war on illegal refinery – Navy Continued from page 25 camps for illegal local refining in Egbokoda creeks in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.

“You (newsmen) are all witnesses to the fact that in recent times, we had stopped going for destruction of illegal oil refineries within my area of responsibility; that is to tell you that we have destroyed all. In so many places that we went, when you put the quantity together, in my area of operation, we have destroyed up to about 870 illegal oil refineries within this short period of my tenure in office.”

He reiterated that the Navy would stop at nothing to ensure that oil theft in the region was completely eradicated in the waterways to save the country from losing further revenue worth several billions of naira to oil cartels.

Lamenting the menace of the illegal local refineries, environmental activists, Comrade Sheriff Mulade of the Centre for Environmental Peace and Justice, said the fate of birds, sea animal, insects and plants directly affected by havoc wreaked by illegal bunkering and other spills have wider impact on the overall ecosystem because of their effects on other animals that depend on them for survival.

Mulade, who is in the forefront of campaign to stop illegal bunkering in the region, said hundreds of lives have been

A destroyed refinery

lost through fire outbreak and contamination of water sources in the past years.

“Most of the backward communities rely on rivers and creeks for their water needs --- cooking, drinking and washing of food plates.”

“The criminals and innocent persons die on daily basis. There are numerous fire accidents on the sites. When they occur there are seldom survivors. You see a lot of our people with burn wounds, when you ask them, they tell you stories, but we know where they get it,” he said.

More worrisome for activists like Mulade and others is that oil firms like Shell whose facilities are vandalised by the criminals do not seem willing to partake in the remediation of polluted sites, especially those located far from their facilities.

But the Centre for Human Right/AntiCorruption Crusade (CHRACC), insists that the security agencies, particularly the JTF, are carrying out economic war against the Niger Delta region.

In a statement signed by its national president, Barr. Alaowei O. Cleric and national Secretary, Barr. Otuaro Jerry, said that the war against crude oil thief being spear-headed by the Joint Task Force, code named: Operation Pulo Shield, is causing more harm to the already degraded environment.

“Much as we condemned the illegal

bunkering activities and recommend sustained and well-coordinated action by the Federal Government to rid the region of such illicit practices, we stand to condemn the JTF’s uncivilised practices by using wrong methods to tackle the menace.

“The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta has being boasting to the world that it has destroyed boats of different sizes (loaded with items suspected to be stolen crude) on the already despoilated creeks of the region. But this is highly ridiculous.

“If those stolen crude, as alleged by the JTF, is returned to the NNPC, will it not help the nation to recover some of its lost daily outputs? We want to draw your attention to the unpalatable situation in the Niger Delta region.

“The JTF is carrying out an economic war of aggression against the Niger Delta environment, an extension of what the multinational oil companies have being doing to the region through the aid of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The Task Force on a daily basis has being destroying illegal crude oil reservoirs, refineries or boats the saboteurs use to convey stolen crude. “However, the quantity being spilled by the JTF in the environment from its unproductive fight against crude oil thief is even more than the acts of the economic saboteurs.

“The illegal crude oil business which has been thriving despite the security presence has in addition to the perennial spillages by the oil companies has completely destroyed the flora and the fauna.

“We thought, with the coming of the JTF, this gross environmental abuse would be reduced to the barest minimum. However, we are surprised to see that what the task force is doing is even more grievous than the acts of the vandals.”

Task force members on the trail of oil thieves

Business

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

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CBN, banks agree on N213bn power sector intervention fund Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have agreed on modalities for the intervention funding of the power sector to the tune of N213 billion.

To that effect, two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed in Abuja yesterday by the two parties.

According to Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, the two agreements spells out terms, conditions and guidelines for the fund and also participation agreement that sets out the roles of the banks in the transaction. ``You will recall that about a month ago, the team, comprising the ministers of Petroleum; Power; the CBN as well as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), signed the formal agreement with major stakeholders in the sector. `` By stakeholders, I am talking about the gas suppliers, which comprise both the local and foreign companies; we also had the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the representative of Distribution and

Generating Companies.’’

He disclosed that the banks would serve as the disbursement channels for the funds which would be given to Discos, Gencos and gas suppliers, who were expected to sign up with NERC. He commended the Nigerian banks for taking the bold step to fund and support the growth of the power sector in the country. ``I want to thank the minister of Power, NERC, colleagues and DMBs for their commitment towards ensuring that legacy debts we have are cleared, so that the market can be seen to begin to be viable.’’

Emefiele said that two major problems of gas tariff and transportation had been identified and it was reviewed to two dollars, fifty cents and 80 cents respectively. This, he said, increased the gas tariff to three dollars, 30 cents, which the gas suppliers said was commercially viable. ``The tariff are being looked out for as well for it to be commercially viable and I am optimistic that by the time the tariff comes out, it will be according to standard of NERC,’’ he said.

27

Market rallies on bullish note, gains 3.5%

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ransactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday reopened for the week on a bullish note with some blue chips sustaining price rally.

Nestle maintained its price leadership, gaining N26.86 to close at N836 per share.

Seplat came second on the gainers’ chart with N13.25 to close at N278.27, while Total Oil rose by N7.16 to close at N150.47 per share.

Forte Oil grew by N6.65 to close at N219.9, while Guinness appreciated by N6.24 to close at N131.2 per share.

Consequently, the NSE AllShare appreciated by 1,065.42 basis points or 3.52 per cent to close at 31,371.93 against the 30,306.51 achieved on Friday.

Also, the market capitalisation, which opened at N10.005 trillion, rose by N352 billion or 3.52 per cent to close higher at N10.357 trillion.

On the other hand, 7UP topped the losers’ chart, dropping N4.4 to close at N154 per share.

Ashaka Cement followed with a loss of N2.39 to close at N22.21, while International Breweries

Emefiele

Banks have taken the bold step to fund power sector growth

dipped N1.3 to close at N24.7 per share.

CWG lost 21k to close at N4.13, while ETI lost 2k to close at

Navy nabs 12 suspected oil thieves in A’Ibom Ugochukwu Onyeocha

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he regular surveillance of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB), Ibaka, has yielded results with the arrest of 12 suspected oil thieves.

The suspects were arrested in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

The FOB’s Commanding Officer, Commodore Abdu Odumu, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday.

He said 200 drums of 250 litres

each of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) were also seized from the suspects.

Odumu said other items seized were the smugglers’ boat, four pumping machine and 20 drums of illicit gin. ``It was as a result of regular patrol that we were able to arrest these suspects,’’ he said.

Odumu noted that oil theft had drastically reduced the nation’s revenue from crude oil. ``If Nigeria continues to lose this on daily basis, it is going to have a negative impact on the

revenue of the country,’’ he said.

Odumu said the Nigerian Navy would ensure zero tolerance on oil theft and other illegalities committed at sea within Nigeria’s territorial waters.

He then handed over the suspects to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Odumu said that the arrest would serve as a deterrent to others.

In his response, Mr Pedro Ide-

ba, the NSDCDC’s Commandant in Akwa Ibom, congratulated the Nigerian Navy on its effort to clamp down oil theft in the state.

N17.2 per share.

In all, a total of 837.127 million shares valued at N5.45 billion were exchanged in 5,057 deals, representing a decrease of 12.33 per cent against a turnover of 3.99 billion shares worth N30.26 billion achieved in 5,678 deals on Friday.

Transcorp emerged the most traded stock, accounting for 412.99 million shares valued N1.33 million.

It was trailed by FBN Holdings, which sold 62.21 million shares worth N528.19 million, while FCMB accounted for 62.21 million shares valued N528.19 million.

UBA traded 43.05 million shares worth N178.08 million, while investors in UBN staked N170.71 million on 23.96 million shares.

Aviation 28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 23, 2014

NIPR honours FAAN with excellence award

L-R: Capt. Henry Omeogu, Director, Airport Operations; Engr. Saleh Dunoma, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Hajia Salamatu Umar-Eluma, Director, Human Resources during the NIPR Corporate Citizen Excellence award presentation to FAAN, recently.

Tayo Adelaja

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he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been honoured with the Corporate Citizen Excellence Award by Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) during a recent presidential dinner and award night organized by the institute.

In his presentation, National President of NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, said the event was the maiden edition of the award and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria was shortlisted among best corporate establishments based on on-going laudable transformation projects in the aviation sector, which were aimed at institu-

tionalising world-class safety and security standards at airports, stressing that these epoch-making aviation initiatives have created jobs for the teeming population.

According to him, “our airports are the gateways into the country and creates the first and lasting impression.” He commended FAAN management for its concerted

effort in ensuring a total remodelling of the airports in order to boost the nation’s image.

A staff of the Corporate Communications department, Mr. Bassey Ekpe Nta, who received the award on behalf of the Authority, thanked the National President and the board of the NIPR for the kind gesture.

‘Open Skies’ benefits waiting to be tapped 16 years after - Study Judith Frank-Edet

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espite African countries’ adoption of the Yamoussoukro Decision in 1999, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has lamented the slow International implementation of the pact reached by African nations 16 years ago.

The clearing house for 280 global airlines lamented that the implementation has been slow and the immense benefits have not been realised.

IATA’s Regional Head of Member and External Relations for Africa and Middle East - Adefunke Adeyemi, however exam-

ined the need for African countries to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities available, but remain untapped, due to poor connectivity amongst African States.

She stated that Africa is a continent of over 1 billion people with a huge geographical spread that is largely land-locked. Given the lack of robust alternative infrastructure that traverses the continent (road, rail, water), aviation is the effective way to get around Africa.

According to her, “Unfortunately, Africa is not well connected in terms of air services. In many cases, the only way to get to countries in Africa is to

travel for days or through other continents. This lack of connectivity is making Africa lose out immensely on socio-economic benefits and growth opportunities”.

She explained that in collaboration with some of its regional partners across Africa, IATA commissioned a study early this year on how Africa’s socio-economic prospects can be transformed through enhanced connectivity.

She noted that the study looked at 12 countries across Africa, just as she quantified the numerousbenefits that would accrue to those countries, their sub-regions and Africa as

a whole, if they were to fully open their skies to connect with each other.

The 12 nations in the report are Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda. The study shows that full air connectivity across those 12 countries would generate an additional $1.3bn in GDP, over 150,000 new jobs and numerous other socioeconomic benefits in just those 12 countries.

“Imagine what this could mean if all 54 countries in Africa opened up to each other. It would be a game changer”.

According to the IATA study, a potential five mil-

Airline launches customised travel package

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rik Air, has expanded its horizon in the Travel business with the launch of Arik Explorer; a ‘travel package’ product which incorporates airline seats with hotel and other ancillary options like car hire and travel insurance.

Arik Explorer, which was launched in Lagos on Friday as a subsidiary of Arik Air, offers travel package at two levels: ‘Premium’ and ‘Affordable’. The offering will be for both outbound and inbound travel from Lagos and other destinations serviced by Arik Air. Varieties of packages can be tailored to suit the needs of the airline’s guests.

According to Managing Director of Arik Explorer, Mr. Kencho Omojafor, the business strategy of the company will revolve around the need to provide quality service to various target customers with the view to fully satisfy their needs.

This will be undertaken through recruitment of a professional team and the provision of good quality custom-designed travel packages, catering to the guest’s particular needs.

“We will continuously provide enjoyable quality excursions/trips/hotels on time and on budget, develop enthusiastically sat-

isfied customers all of the time, and establish a market presence that assures short-term and long-term profitability, growth and success”.

Arik Explorer’s product will be segmented into; premium market searching for luxury and convenience, affordable weekend packages and short breaks during the week. Special interest packages including group bookings, company retreats as well as business and leisure travellers to Arik Air destinations.

“Arik Explorer will establish a reputation as a differentiated, specialty provider of city/adventure travel and excursions. We will also provide unparalleled service to our local and international tourists, to Nigeria, The West Coast and beyond”, Omojafor stressed.

Arik Explorer’s internet booking functionality will enable its hotel partners to upload rooms and vehicles on the company’s website in real time. Customers will also have the option of using the company’s mobile application software to book rooms with their mobile phones and tablets.

“We are fully committed to supporting growth and development in the tourism industry and contribute positively to the community” Omojafor added.

L-R: Senior VP, commercial, Arik Air, Ramachandran, CTO, Slim Trader, Martin Pagel, DMD, Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi, MD, Arik Explorer, Kencho Omojafor and chief software architect, Slim Trader, Chris Teizel, at the Air Explorer launch.

lion passengers a year are being denied the chance to travel between these markets because of unnecessary restrictions on air routes.

The study was launched in Johannesburg on August 18, 2014 and Adeyemi is spearheading the roll out and advocacy of the study’s results across Af-

rica.

It would be recalled that aviation already supports 6.9 million jobs and more than $80 billion in GDP across Africa. The IATA report clearly demonstrates that liberalisation will create opportunities for further significant employment growth and economic development

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

29 Maritime

Customs boss slams DCGs, ACGs over attitude to work

Fake clearing agent in court over alleged N1.3m fraud

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he Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi, has issued a memo addressed to all deputy comptroller-generals, all assistant comptroller-generals and legal adviser for not observing office ethics and protocols.

The memo, which was dated 1st August, 2014 with reference number NCS/ADM/MGT/015/ S.21/C/VOL.9, was titled: Circular no. 13/2014 channelling of correspondence to the office of the comptroller-general and attitude to work.

Abdullahi said: “It has been observed with great concern that management staff are in the habit of reporting late for duties.

This is not a good example to officers and men of the service and must therefore stop forthwith. It is expected that all management staff should be in their various offices by 0830hours and remain till 1630hours. This way, we will be models to officers and men under our watch.

“In the same vein, informal visits to the Office of the Comptroller-General is no longer encouraged. Consequently, all officers are expected to remain in their offices and attend to their duties. Henceforth, official correspondences with the office of the comptroller-general shall be through memos and all visits shall be by invitation.

“Exempted from Paragraph 2 above are ACG Headquarters, ACG Finance and Revenue, ACG ICT and Legal Adviser who by virtue of their portfolios report

directly to the Comptroller-General. Ensure compliance, please.”

The Comptroller-General of Customs is responsible for the overall management and direction of the Service.

The Customs boss is equally the accounting officer of the service, and the Vice Chairman of the NCS Board, which is chaired by the Minister of Finance.

The NCS explained that, by virtue of delegated authority, the Comptroller-General is authorised to issue guidelines and prescribe internal instructions to Customs personnel in accordance with the government rules and regulations as they affect the statutory functions of the Service.

In discharging his duties, the Comptroller-General is assisted by six deputy comptroller-generals each heading a department, including finance, administration and technical services; excise, free trade zones and industrial incentives; tariff and trade; enforcement, investigation and inspection; human resources department; and strategic research and policy.

Apart from the legal adviser, who is the lone civilian in the management team, other 17 members are all assistant comptrollergenerals, each in charge of, customs headquarters; finance and revenue; technical services; tariff and trade; information technology; investigation and inspection; enforcement and drugs; excise, free trade zone and industrial incentives; strategic research and policy; human resources management; and training and staff development respectively.

businessman, Ismail Adebayo, who allegedly defrauded a man of N1.3 million was on Friday arraigned before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Adebayo, 34, who resides at No. 65, Alimosho Road, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos is being tried for fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, said that the accused committed the offences on Sept.17 at Oshodi.

He said that the accused fraudulently obtained N1.3 million from one Gbenga Oyegunle with the pretext to clear the complainant’s consignment at Tin-Can Port.

The prosecutor said that the complainant’s brother, Femi Oyegunle, living in U.S., sent the 40 feet container to him.

The complainant’s brother sent two Toyota Camry 2001 Model car, Honda Odyssey 2006 model space bus and Isuzu Axion 2002 jeep to him in Nigeria.

“He paid the accused, who claimed to be a clearing and forwarding agent N1.3 million, which he collected at First Bank Oshodi for the clearing,” the prosecutor said.

Olatunde said the offence contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 312 prescribes 15 years jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum. The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, adjourned the case till January 13, 2015 for mention.

Dikko, Customs CG

Nigeria’s January crude oil cargoes struggle to clear

N

igerian crude cargoes for January loading are struggling to sell with almost half of the programme still available due to very weak demand with an oversupply of sweet crudes, market sources said.

Asian and European demand for Nigeria and other West African cargoes has been slow so far, exacerbated by high freight rates and the availability of cheaper sweet crudes in both regions.

Activity on Nigeria’s crude export was slow especially for key grades such as Qua Iboe, Bonny Light, Bonga and Forcados.

Some niche grades like Akpo, Usan and Agbami have sold decently but the whole Nigerian sweet crude complex was being dragged down by the weak demand.

“The market is in disaster mode,” said a trader. “There is just no demand for these Nigerian grades at the moment. There is too much oil to choose from.

Even the Azeri Light values are coming crashing down.”

Nigeria’s flagship grade Qua Iboe was assessed at Dated Brent plus $0.72 per barrel on Monday, the weakest since April 24, 2009, data showed.

Traders said there were still more than 30 Nigerian January loading cargoes unsold, and with the Nigerian February program expected later in the day, differentials were expected to fall steadily if demand did not materialize.

“The arbitrage east is almost

closed and the OSPs in Middle East are very cheap. The Brent/ Dubai spread is wide, there are plenty of alternatives for (Asian) refiners instead of WAF. And, the European refiners are spoilt for choice,” the trader added.

Sources said some offer levels for Qua Iboe, Bonga and Erha had been quite high and as a result a standoff was observed with no buying interest heard at these levels. Despite weak demand some of these offer levels had not yet come off.

Qua Iboe was still heard offered at Dated Brent plus $1.20 per barrel and sources said with the provisional February program due later in the week, values could fall sharply if these cargoes did not trade.

A second trader said: “The Angolan January program is sold out thanks to the Chinese but on Nigeria, we still have almost 40 million barrels left (including) some December barrels on storage. The market is very long, in WAF and in the Med.”

Maritime 30

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Stories by Funmi Coker

T

Akpobolokemi, NIMASA DG

NIMASA accuses wrecked ship owners of illegalities

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has accused Nigerian ship owners of frustrating the wreck removal exercise of the agency, accusing some of them of using their wrecked vessels to harbour criminals and promote illegal activities.

The agency has equally affirmed that Nigerian ship owners are not being totally honest in terms of getting their jobs back from foreigners, stressing that many Nigerian ship owners have in recent times benefited immensely from the Cabotage implementation, but have failed to come out to acknowledge it.

The agency’s Director General, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi while speaking at a press briefing in Lagos recently, however announced that the next phase of the contract for wrecks removal from Nigerian maritime domain has been awarded and work will begin very soon.

Akpobolokemi lamented that whenever the agency attempts to embark on removal of strategic wrecks inhibiting safe navigation, the ship owners usually frustrate the effort by getting court injunctions to stop NIMASA. He disclosed that NIMASA has several litigations, because of its attempts to remove wrecks on the waterways. Akpobolokemi said, “you will give marine notice twenty times for them to come and remove the wrecks, but you will not see Nigerians, but the day you want to go and remove the wrecks, you will discover that a wreck that has been abandoned for five years, suddenly you will see crew, the next day they are in court to get an injunction.”

“Somebody whose wrecks is

negative (old) in terms of money, will go to court and say the wrecks is N10billion for compensation.”

“Wrecks can cause navigation problems and stowaways where there is always resistance, some people don’t want us to remove them because the criminals are doing their bidding, we should begin to question some people that are millionaires and billionaires in this country about source the of their wealth” ”Government has awarded contracts for wrecks to be removed from our maritime domain and they have started, the first phase of the job has been awarded, the Lagos area and so on” he said.

Akpobolokemi said that NIMASA is currently working with the international oil companies to ensure that right of first refusal in local content and Cabotage law is strongly upheld in all their dealings.

“When any Nigerian buys a vessel, no matter my schedule, I personally do the commissioning and commission the vessel, I have also written to so many oil companies that they must provide jobs for such vessels and many of them have gotten jobs, but they will not come out to announce it” He promised that the agency has already tightening the noose on international oil companies to ensure that they comply with the laws and provisions of the Cabotage Act. He noted that “there has never been any time in the history of this agency that there has been rigorous enforcement of laws, the only aspect of the Cabotage that we have not met is the distribution of CVFF, but in terms of employment, the crew and he jobs, I have personally been signing the letters”

LCM trains master mariners

T

he Lagos Channel Management (LCM), a joint venture company with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has trained three new master mariners, after several years in limbo.

The master mariners, who got their Certificate of Competence (COC) last month, may become the first batch of youths, to be enrolled in a nation’s professional body, whose majority of membership range from 60 years and above.

The certification will enable the mariners to handle vessels

not above 500 gross tonnage, including tugs.

Investigation revealed that the young master mariners, Charles Babatunde Olorunkunle, Victor Enebeli and Ezekiel Dare Owope were trained and certificated in Ghana, a country which is not only on the International Maritime Organization’s White List but also enjoys higher credibility than Nigeria.

The Managing Director, Mr. Danny Fuchs said that the company started its pilot scheme with 40 Nigerian youth and sponsored them to Ghana, with special em-

phasis on discipline, commitment and good behaviour.

He said: “Our main purpose is for tugs; but now, they can also upgrade themselves to handle any ships in the world.

“We started with 40 cadets, consisting of 20 engines and 20 decks. We presently have 15 certificated, consisting of seven decks and eight engines. ” We are fulfilling our assignments now: to take people off the streets and turn them into Engineers and Master Mariners.

LCM is also leaving no stones unturned, in its bid to assist the

engineers who presently hold their COC as third engineers to further upgrade to second, so as to enable them handle higher capacity engines.

“They know from inception that they are free, on the completion of their courses to stay with us; or to go and work in any part of the world. We did not allow them to sign any papers. Only a promise to be good ambassadors of the country, wherever they go” he said.

Fuchs disclosed that the youths also had their mandatory sea-time experience in Nigeria

under Landfall strict supervision.

It would be noted that the government attempt at producing certificated seafarers through the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron has been a remarkable failure, as a result of its inability to provide the required training vessel to enable the cadets acquire the mandatory sea time experience.

The government also failed to provide an enabling policy as done in other climes that would compel foreign ship owners to do so.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 23, 2014

31 Property

Why slums keep growing in Nigeria - Expert Stories by Johnson Fagbamila

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oor management of Nigerian cities by government and its relevant agencies has been identified as being largely responsible for the continuous growth of slum in the country.

The president of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr Moses Ogunleye, made this known in Lagos recently.

A seasoned town planner and president of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr Moses Ogunleye, likened slum growth

A slum in Lagos State

to humans who he said would fall apart and become something else if they are not well maintained.

“Slums develop and grow like human beings. Slums say ‘the community is old and it has degenerated.’ Like humans, cities with human settlements also grow. If humans are not well maintained; if they don’t wear good cloths, eat good food, so that their systems can work well, then they will also become just like slums,” he stated.

According to him, slums will continue to grow in Nigeria if she does not manage her cities very well.

Ogunleye, who is also the president of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), and Principal Partner, MOA Town Planners, however gave a ray of hope, by declaring that the number of slums could be reduced only if communities were put on the path of regeneration.

He said Nigeria, being a Third World country, where the government struggles with the basic necessities of life, would record faster slum growth, adding,” countries such as Brazil also have slums, and despite

the fact that there own degree of slums degeneration is not as worse as ours, they still refer to theirs as slums, but they have upgraded their own slums to make life much more meaningful”.

To reduce slums, he insisted, the government should show more interest in ensuring that communities were revived as they were generated. “For instance, roads have their ages and duration, therefore if roads get bad, they must be repaired; if drainages get blocked they must be promptly emptied, if buildings are old, processes whereby their owners can rebuild them must be initiated.”

‘slums will continue to grow in Nigeria if she does not manage her cities very well’- Ogunleye

ASSE conference to discuss safety at development

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he American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), a society regarded as the world’s oldest professional safety society, is set to hold its annual conference tagged NIGERIA PDC (Professional Development Conference) 2015 where issues relating to safety, including safety of properties will be discussed.

The three-day professional development conference will also feature exhibitions which will be held in Lagos, from March 3-5 next year This information was contained in a statement made available by the Chief Operations Officer, Nile Support Services, Yewande Green, the or-

ganisers of the event, adding that the maiden conference was very multinational in scope and attracted speakers and attendees from Nigeria, United State of America, South Africa, United Kingdom many other countries.

The organisers further posited that ASSE’s Nigeria Chapter

was building off of its successful first professional development conference (PDC) held last year, and which they said, had attracted hundreds of occupational safety and health professionals from across Africa and the world to discuss and learn about the latest industry trends and practices.

Alufohai

Professional expertise can reduce effect of natural disasters - Alufohai

A

former national president of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mr Agele Alufohai, has indicated that professional expertise can play a major role in curtailing the effects of natural disasters especially flood, if carried along by government in all its developmental projects.

Alufohai also added that effective planning and paying attention to details, no matter how small, could prove decisive in the safety of lives and properties when natural disasters strike.

The ex-NIQS president, while noting that activities of all professionals in the built environment could prove very invaluable when natural disasters happen, insisted that virtually all professionals were planners, because their activities involved planning for the future.

He also added that if a builder wants to build a house, he is expected to put into consideration the costs of everything, including future costs.

“Since natural disasters are occurrences no one plans for, because they are futuristic, therefore, professional expertise could be useful to avert them.

This is because as professionals our job involves a great deal of planning, which if well done, could prove very useful when natural disasters occur,” Alufohai said.

He also insisted that poor infrastructural development and lack of proper planning, as observed in many communities across the country and all over the country, often increased the devastating effect of natural disasters such as flood. He therefore urged both the government as well as individuals to ensure that they desisted from activities which could undermine proper planning and development of the society.

Property 32

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 23, 2014

Five trendy ways to transform your living room corner space Johnson Fagbamila

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ecorating a corner space can be a tricky affair and often a task that leaves even the best designers perplexed. It is not so much the fact that the lonely little corner is incredibly difficult to decorate, but the complexity lies in making the right choice in relation to the rest of the room.

Decorating a living room corner space

is all about figuring out what works best for your home and the design theme that you have going. While some rooms demand an intricate and captivating corner makeover, others look stunning with simple, minimal additions. And yet there are times when a room looks balanced when the corner is left untouched and idle!

A Cozy Nook

If you do not have too much space to spare and are looking for a functional and practical decorating solution, then a simple reading nook in the corner works best in the living room. All you need is

a comfy chair, an ottoman and maybe a side table, and you have a relaxing spot where you can while away many an evening. Once again, some smart lighting is the icing on the cake that lets this corner nook shine through.

Serving Your Entertainment Needs Corner entertainment units are a lot less popular than elaborate wallmounted fixtures that take up a lot more space. But

Stylish Sectional Couch

This is probably the simplest and easiest idea that one can start off with, and since sectional sofas are specifically made for the living room corner, you really cannot go wrong here. This works

placing the television in the corner not only opens up additional space, it also ensures that electronic additions do not become the focal point of the room.

Just a simple corner stand for the flat screen TV keeps the arrangement understated and practical.

especially well if you have a small living room where every inch of space is absolutely precious. Simply add a few pendant lights or wall sconces and you can easily transform this space into a serene reading nook as well.

Bring Home Some Fire!

Both fireplaces and beautiful water features have an allure that I am immediately drawn to, and that is probably one of the reasons why we have so many amazing fireplaces, dazzling pools and a combination of both on Decoist! While it is harder to bring water features into the living room, a freestanding corner fireplace is easy to install and instantly becomes the focal point of the room.

Couple this with the right mantel decor and lighting, and you have a gorgeous corner addition.

A Cool Conversation Spot

An intimate and beautiful conversation nook in the corner is a popular addition to living rooms across the globe.

There are many different takes on this basic idea that you can adopt, and they

vary from a simple Asian-style minimal setting to a more elaborate corner conversation nook with a fireplace and wallmounted shelves. The trick here is to pick decor and accessories that complement your living room couch and seem like a natural extension of the existing space.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

33 Global business

Russian crisis stalls huge gas deal with Germany

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ne of Germany’s leading gas companies, BASF, said it had dropped plans to hand full control of its gas storage and trading business to Russia’s Gazprom in exchange for stakes in two Siberian gas fields.

State-controlled Gazprom is the leading supplier of natural gas to Western Europe and has been looking to develop its marketing and distribution activities in the region.

The chill in relations between Germany and Russia killed the asset swap deal, which covered BASF businesses with 12 billion euros ($14.6 billion) in sales.

Sanctions imposed on Russia over its behavior in Ukraine place restrictions on new energy projects and equipment, and also prevent Russian companies borrowing in Western financial markets.

The cancellation has forced the German chemi-

cals company to restate its accounts for last year, and to mark down profits in 2014, at a combined cost of 324 million euros ($395 million).

BASF and Gazprom have worked together for more than 20 years, and will continue to operate the gas trading business as a joint venture.

Other big energy deals have already fallen victim to the deterioration in relations with the West.

President Vladimir Putin announced earlier this

month that Gazprom had scrapped plans to build a new $40 billion gas pipeline to southern Europe, bypassing Ukraine.

With Russia unable to raise new finance from European and U.S. investors, Gazprom may have struggled to fund construction of the pipeline.

Some EU states were also nervous that the project would make them even more dependent on Russian gas at a time when they’re looking to diversify their energy supplies.

Al Mazrouei

Non-OPEC producers urged to cut “irresponsible “oil output

O

il producers outside of OPEC should cut their “irresponsible” output with excess supplies harming the market, the United Arab Emirates energy minister has said.

The oil market is oversupplied by two million barrels a day, Mohammed Al Sada, Qatar’s energy minister, said in an interview on the side lines of a conference in Abu Dhabi.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has produced about 30 million barrels a day since January 2013 while global output climbed more than 2 million barrels a day to 93.6 million

barrels, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“We call on all other producers to stop the increase because the increase is harming the market,” U.A.E. Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said in a separate interview at the conference. “If the increase stops, and they follow OPEC’s lead, OPEC’s decision is to fix production, if production stabilizes in 2015 things will stabilize much faster.”

Brent oil prices tumbled 45 per cent this year. OPEC decided last month to keep production unchanged at 30 million barrels, resisting calls from cashstrapped Venezuela that the group needs to stem the rout in prices.

Flipkart raises $700 million in fresh funding

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Sony Headquaters, Japan

Sony hack reveals U.S. can’t protect business from attack

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ack-channel talks between Sony Pictures Entertainment and the White House to coordinate a response to a debilitating cyber-attack didn’t prevent a public disagreement over the studio’s decision to pull its film, “The Interview.”

President Barack Obama’s rare rebuke on Friday of a company’s actions came after the

White House took care to avoid telling the Sony Corp. (6758) unit how to respond to hackers linked by the U.S. to North Korea, according to two administration officials familiar with the discussions. The North Korean government says it had nothing to do with the attack.

Sony canceled the Dec. 25 release of the comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean

leader Kim Jong Un, saying that theater chains had received threats of violence. The move prompted Obama to say the company “made a mistake” and that he wished “they’d have spoken to me first.”

The head of Sony’s studio and White House officials did talk, both sides agree -just not about whether the movie should be released.

The spat showed that the U.S. government and

businesses still can’t collaborate effectively to deter cyber-attacks, defend against them or respond to them.

It added urgency to a debate over whether and when the government should take responsibility for protecting private companies from attacks and whether and when those companies can strike back against foreign nations or groups.

ndia’s largest online retailer, Flipkart, on Saturday said it had raised funding worth $700 million, as it tries to compete with Amazon, which is rapidly scaling up operations in the country.

Flipkart, founded in 2007 by two former Amazon employees, has been in talks in recent weeks to raise up to $1 billion.

The company said it raised the $700 million from new investors including Baillie Gifford, Greenoaks Capital, Steadview Capital, T. Rowe Price Associates and Qatar Investment Authority along with existing investors including DST Global, GIC, ICONIQ Capital and Tiger Global.

Popular for selling books and electronics online,

Flipkart operates as a marketplace that allows thirdparty vendors to sell products on the site.

This year it acquired fashion portal Myntra and crossed the $1 billion mark in gross merchandise value.

The company is incorporated in Singapore and has filed with the regulator there for conversion to a public company, obligatory for companies with more than 50 shareholders, it said in the statement.

“This filing ensures we are in compliance with the laws of Singapore and is in no way indicative of any upcoming IPO or of any corporate activity that the company is engaged in either in Singapore or any other part of the world,” the statement added.

34

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

35 Society

PMAN has no structure, no building, no staff – Pretty Pretty Okafor of the famous defunct duo group, Junior and Pretty recently emerged as the interim president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN. The former singer and entertainment entrepreneur was declared interim president of the music body recently by Justice A. O. Abang of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In this interview with Isaac Oguntoye, he analysed the challenges that has been thwarting the success of the association. Excerpt...

I

n the next 18 month, PMAN is putting out new executives, are you interested in contest-

ing?

I really do not know right now because I have a lot of work in my head but, I found out that

get out.

What is the important of the court judgment to the Nigerian Music industry?

The importance of this judgment is that there is a future for the music industry. We are moving forward and artistes can actually something to go home with after dropping an album, and that after 15 to 20 years, they will still be receiving royalty.

Pretty PMAN does not have anything, no structure, no building, no staff, and no equipment to work with. I’m starting afresh and I’m

sure that by the time I’m done, I won’t be interested in doing any other stuff because I just want to put the structure in place and

Toyosi Adekunle, Stella Omuette emerge winners in U.I pageantry

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he much talked about Glo sponsored annual week of the Kuti and Queens’ has come and gone and of course, Toyosi Adekunle and Stella Omuette emerged winners.

The duo came out tops in the keenly contested pageantry which was filled with fun as contestants filed in, all struggling for the coveted crown of the Kuti and Queens.

However, as tough as the struggle was, luck shined on Adekunle and Omuette as they were crowned overall winners.

The event held at the Halls of Residence of the University of Ibadan Friday, Dec. 19, 2014.

Like you rightly talked about putting the right structure in place, how can you achieve this when the association does not have a permanent secretariat?

Right now, we are operating from my personal office and that’s why I said I’m linking it up. We are actually using my office as the main secretariat until PMAN gets its own building. And that’s why under two months I have been able to put all the consultants together. Though I’ve been putting structures, talking to people and bringing partners in before I got the news that I’ve been declared the new President but, everything started materializing after the court’s judgment.

How are you sure that your own committee will bring an

Christmas giveaways for kids Opeoluwani Akintayo

N Toyosi Adekunle and Stella Omuette after they were declared Mr Kuti Hall and Miss Queens’ Hall at the Glosponsored Annual Week of the Kuti and Queens’ Halls of Residence of the University of Ibadan last Friday

ickelodeon, Multichoice Nigeria and Silverbird Galleria are bringing stockings full of joy to kids and families this Christmas with a host of merry ho-ho-ho-holiday activities designed to bring smiles to the faces of the young and young at heart.

Festive celebrations start with Nickelodeon Gift-a-thon, a toy donation drive with UNICEF for underprivileged children. The drive will ask Lagos school children to donate gifts for children aged 5-10, with all gifts going to children at Child to Child Network and Child Lifeline; the 5 schools that donate the most gifts will get a special visit to their school from Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora

end to the crisis within the industry?

I’m sure of myself because I don’t double deal and I work strictly with the book. The book we have is the constitution. Like I mentioned; I found out from investigation that the problem that we have been having in the union is that people do not follow the constitution- once you set the constitution aside then, you are inviting problem. I will work strictly with the constitution. I will appreciate all other states’ chapter chairmen because they are also there to work.

Is this the only constitution that binds all PMAN together?

Yes. Should we say the judgment is the driving force for you?

Yes, without the court’s judgment, there would have been problem. If you do anything outside the court judgment, that’s contempt of court which means you’re liable to be arrested.

You said you met with the other factions of PMAN but you didn’t tell us the outcome?

Continued on page 36

the Explorer.

It may be warm outside, but inside the Silverbird Galleria, sleigh bells will be ringing as a host of daily activities take place in the grotto around the tree from 1114 December 2014, including appearances

by Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants. Children who donate a gift at the grotto will receive a special gift from Nickelodeon and Multichoice

Society 36

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

I’m here for peace Continued from page 35 The sincere truth about the court’s judgment is that, it has only nullified any past existing government. So what are we dragging? The only thing that I did was to bring everybody together and find out how much they’ve spent and how to move forward so that everybody will be on a good note because, the sincere truth is that, It is not really about the court’s judgment but the industry. It’s about the artistes and we are doing all this for the betterment of both the artistes and the industry.

Most people will ask the Interim President has to be you because they don’t think you’re qualified.

Yes that’s true because I was informed of how efforts were made to get some of our reputable members to come and head the Executive to no avail. Every other person was scared of getting involved for fear of being embroiled in unnecessary controversies for which the Union has been known in recent times.

I went further to investigate other groups claiming leadership of the union only to find out that they do not have any legal bases or locus standing as they call it in law and therefore, are not legitimate enough to stand against this consent judgment. The two warring groups within PMAN that eventually collapsed into one and got this consent judgment after working out the “terms of settlement upon which the court gave its seal, had been in legal battle since 2011 preceding any other subsisting case in that respect.

It now dawned on me that if no-

body can bail the cat, I should do so. After all, evil can only thrive when good men like us refuse to act hence, I accepted. Having said all that, I sincerely want to make it clear to all and sundry that this Interim Executive/ Caretaker Committee is standing on a sound legal footing, so, no shaking! As contained in the court order that established us, anybody, group or organisation in possession of any property, document, or document of title belonging to PMAN should surrender same to this Executive without delay. I want to use this opportunity to humbly appeal that if you know you are in possession of any item belonging to PMAN, please surrender it now to avoid embarrassment as we shall leave no stone unturned to recover what belongs to the Association in that regard. But if you go on appeal and reverse the order that we have, we shall obey that order accordingly because we are law abiding and peace loving people. But until such a time, we urge and invite all peace-loving and progressive PMAN members to join us to work for the Union’s revival.

What is PMAN’s anti-piracy initiative all about?

We recognize the constraints of the Nigerian system. Ordinarily, government should be in the position to fully capture the immense economic power of entertainment in its plan for Nigeria’s economic transformation.

A sound and vigorous national anti-piracy drive, complete with reliable and enforceable laws, would naturally emerge from such a disposition. ‘Heaven helps those who help themselves’ is an

axiom that PMAN has always fallen back on to confront pirates. This time around, our approach is more civil, sociological broader and technologically up-to-date. When we say our latest approach is more civil, we simply mean that it is hinged on sustained and comprehensive dialogue with all relevant operators in the business enclave, including pirates themselves.

You mention Alaba market, what is the relationship between PMAN and ALABA MARKET? The outcomes of our series of meetings with Alaba International Market based music business operators have been very, very robust and impressive! The prominent ones among them have resolved to fully cooperate with us to put the piracy problem in check. We appreciate the patience they exercised in our efforts to make them understand the importance and higher future profitability of aligning with our plan. We reckoned that the pirate replication and distribution networks can be legitimatised and used to seed the emergence of a world-class national distribution chain in Nigeria. Our latest anti-piracy agenda will be operated as Media Distribution Network (MDN). It has the following features: Definition and maintenance of systematic nation-wide product, distribution route for accountability. Standardization of product packaging in terms of size and of material. Compulsory GSI bar-coding of products for tracking purposes. National and international distributioncontrol.

Pretty

Yaw wows as ‘Ace’ is unveiled Opeoluwani Akintayo

P Yaw

opular OAP, Yaw of Wazobia FM, thrilled guests and cracked ribs as Nigerian Breweries launched its first-ever “Ready To Drink” product called “ACE- Passion Apple illed Spark”.

The launch, which held simultaneously at the Excellence Hotel in Ogba, Lagos and the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt had media partners, guests and key distributors in attendance to witness the unveil of the sparkling alcoholic drink.

The brand name, ACE symbolizes the cool and trendy lifestyle for young individuals who want to live the Ace life while living within their means, also leaving them in control while spending time with friends and family.

Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Mr Walter Drenth said, “ACE Passion Apple Spark is a cool innovation from Nigerian breweries and it is certain this Christmas will be very exciting for young consumers who like to enjoy the good life with friends and family.”

ACE is the first ever sparkling alcoholic

drink from Nigerian Breweries and ‘’Passion Apple Spark’’, the first of the ACE series. It will be introduced in 2015. ACE ‘’Passion Apple Spark’’ is brewed with natural fruit flavours and is in a unique 33cl bottle and sleek can with metallized labels.

Other guests present at the event include Regional Business Manager, Moses Ogbodo, Regional Business Manager, Non alcoholic unit, Anslem Alokha, Yaw amongst many others.

ACE ‘’Passion Apple Spark’’ will be available at select outlets across the country from December 2014.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Okorocha seeks to redefine separation of powers VAL OKARA, Owerri

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overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has called for redefinition of powers among the three arms of government with the spirit of oneness in discharge of their duties.

Governor Okorocha made the call, Monday, while swearing in the new Chief Judge (CJ) of state, Hon. Justice Paschal Nnadi, at the Government House, Owerri. Justice Nnadi is

the 10th Chief Judge of the state.

The governor further urged the Judiciary to canvass for a National Conference of the three arms in order to discuss some of the challenges that may arise from 2015 elections and work out modalities that would save the nation from acting unconstitutionally.

While congratulating the new Chief Judge for his appointment, Governor Okorocha advised him on the need to maintain rela-

tionship with his God even as he urged him to always discharge his duties without fear or favour.

Governor Okorocha appealed to politicians in the country at large to shun violence and thuggery while campaigning for leadership positions as he warned that ‘no leader is worth anybody’s life.’

Responding, Justice Nnadi described his appointment as divine, and thanked the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for

maintaining their selection strictly on character, administrative skills and respect for constituted authorities while promising to discharge his duties as expected.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Okorocha for good governance as he solicited support from other stakeholders especially the bench, not taking his position for granted, but called for cooperation and prayers of all in order to excel in discharging his duties.

37 News

Hunters association to mobilise against insurgents TITUS EGUAOJE, Benin-City

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lans are underway by the Association of Animal Hunters of Nigeria (AAHON) to mobilise its members against insurgents in the country.

This, the group said, was a way to complement their counterpart in the north east of the country to fight the terrorists.

A statement by the President of the association, Raymond Macaulay, made available to journalists in Benin City, Monday, said the hunters would organise a rally to sensitise it’s members and the public on the move.

According to the statement, “We just want to be

there, and put this nonsense behind us. As hunters, what hurts one hurts all. We are feeling what they have been feeling. And now, we are going there in our thousands to confront this nonsense. It is time for action.

“It is now time for all Nigerians to join the security agencies and stand against insurgency. There is no country that can win insurgency by the military alone. It is the people that stand to defeat terror.”

The group, in the statement, appealed to the Federal Government and other wellmeaning Nigerians to assist its members especially in the area of logistics to move to the troubled region.

BoI, 10 banks sign MoU on SME lending Emmanuel Ogbonnaya

T L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), John Kennedy Opara OFR; Receiving a Lifetime Award as the Grand and Life Patron of Women Wing of the Christian Association Of Nigeria (WOWICAN) Imo Chapter from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Chairman, South East Zone, Bishop David Eberechukwu, Behind is the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri... yesterday.

he Bank of Industry (BoI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding MoU with 10 commercial banks, aimed at providing affordable finance to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Managing Director of BoI, Rasheed Olaoluwa, noted that the MoU was geared towards the development of a virile SME sector in Nigeria and the establishment of a platform for the realisation of the economic transformation

Oyo commits N5.3b to 62 roads

T

he Oyo State Government, in conjunction with the local government councils, is currently embarking on the rehabilitation/reconstruction of a total of 62 roads across all the 33 local government areas of the state at the cost of N5.3 billion.

A statement issued in Ibadan, Monday, by Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said that the rehabilitation/ reconstruction of the affected roads had become neces-

sary in view of their bad state, owing to long years of neglect.

Adedayo also said that the roads were picked by the caretaker committee chairmen in their respective areas based on their levels of disrepair and the needs of the people.

The governor’s spokesman, who said that some of the roads were in over 50 per cent state of completion, added that the funds for the projects were drawn from the excess crude account.

He, however, said that the number of the roads to be rehabilitated per local government and the length of the roads varied from one council to the other.

Adedayo said that the Ajimobi administration decided to embark on mass reconstruction of the roads in order to improve on the road networking in the state and bring government closer to the people at the grassroots.

According to him, while a total sum of N1,667,535,398.75 is being

expended on the roads under construction in Ibadan Zone, Oyo Zone will gulp N908,774,905.50; Ogbomoso Zone N760,815,499.50; Saki Zone N1,470,368,382 and Ibarapa Zone N458,747,461.75, all totaling N5,266,261,646.75.

In Ibadan Zone, the 1.35 kilometre Apapa Ojemo Road from Underpass to Primary School, Off Ibadan/ Oyo Expressway, Ibadan is to be reconstructed for N150,353,490, while Yawiri Road, Off Akobo Ojurin and Eniosa-Onibepe, off

Olorunda Aba in Lagelu Local Government Area will be rehabilitated at the total sum of N152,356,459.

In Ona-Ara Local Government, the construction of Oritamerin-Gangansi Road and Amuloko Market-COM D Bus Stop are already ongoing at the cost of N151,642,911, while the Bodija Market-Ojo Express Road as well as AlabiyamoArigidi Road, both in Ibadan North Local Government and Omi Adio-Iddo Road in Iddo Local Government Area also be constructed.

objectives of the Federal Government.

Olaoluwa also noted that access to affordable finance has been identified as one of the major challenges inhibiting the growth and development of SME and that BOI was able to identify the fact that the main factor responsible for the current low level of financial support to SMEs by banks generally (BOI inclusive), was the fact that their loan requests were poorly packaged and their business plans were nonbankable.

His words, “BoI therefore decided on a multi-pronged approach to addressing the problem of poor loan packaging and access to finance. The first approach was the recent accreditation of 122 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) located all over the country. Another strategy was to approach SMEFriendly Commercial Banks to partner with BOI in cofinancing the SMEs,” he said.

OlaOluwa disclosed that the activities in which BoI and the SME-friendly banks will collaborate included provision of the long-term loans to qualified SMEs by BI based on its Risk Acceptance Criteria (RAC); Provision of working capital to the SMEs by the SME-Friendly Banks also based on their individual Risk Acceptance Criteria.

News 38

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Synagogue: Infrasonic radiation may have caused collapse, witness tells court Ayodele Olaitan

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Lagos State Coroner Court sitting in Ikeja, presided over by Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, was Monday informed by a 37-year-old graduate of Chemistry from the University of Maiduguri, Biedomo Iguniewei, that the collapsed guest house belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), may have been caused by a high energy infrasonic radiation.

The witness, who claimed to be an independent consultant with specific interest in explosives and weapon research, insisted that he was in a position to reach such a conclusion on the basis of his experience with the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria, where he said he had worked for six years.

Iguniewei who revealed

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

W

From Left: Supervising Minister of Information, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Mohammed Sada, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Baba Faruk, at the miniterial platform, by minister Of Mines and Steel Development , in Abuja that he is currently a post-graduate student of Explosives and Material Science with the Nigerian Defence Academy, revealed that consequent upon his background and research experience in explosives and military

weapons, he took personal interest in the collapsed guest house and had consequently visited the church with a view to carrying out a research and publishing a paper.

According to the wit-

ness: “I was worried when I heard them talking of controlled demolition.

And from the video that I watched, I started asking myself: ‘What could have led to the building crumbling in near vertical fall?’

“Iguniewei posited that after eliminating all the other possible options, he came to the conclusion that the building could have possibly been fired upon with an infrasonic radiation.

Jonathan‘ll beat Buhari hands down, says PDP Lateef Ibrahim, Idu Jude, Abuja

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DP National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo, has boasted that its major rival in the forthcoming general elections is not ready to offer an alternative to the country.

He described APC members as shadow-chasers whose only motivation is to see the back of the ruling party.

Prof. Oladipo said this while receiving a delegation of the ruling party abroad, who paid him a courtesy call in his office on Monday.

Addressing the visitors from various parts of the world, Oladipo said that the unity of the party had made its members very strong and poised to continue to governing the country.

Mark tasks security operatives, community leaders on insecurity

He said: “I know that God loves this country so much. God has decided that this country will remain indivisible.

He has decided that this country will continue to wax stronger and stronger. God has decided that this country will not go back to 1983 when we had to start doing trade-bybarter with Brazil; when we went back 500 years to start practising what our ancestors practised when there was no currency in this country. God has decided it that we will continue to pilot the affairs of this country and continue to implement the transformation agenda.”

While assuring the delegates of the commitment of the PDP to good governance, he urged them to make use of the enormous opportunities at their disposal to make sure that

Nigeria survives. He said: “You have a big role to play in ensuring that PDP continues to run a purposeful government. I assure you that the present National Working Committee accords the greatest importance to our foreign chapters”.

Describing the PDP as a party for all, he said that it had created an enabling ground for all Nigerians to excel.

“Our party doesn’t belong to any religious organization. We don’t belong to any ethnic group.

In preparing for the next election, which is not going to be like previous election because for the first time, the opposition has coupled together a name that is called the APC; they have passed through the motion and endorsed their perennial candidate. We have beaten

him three times, we are going to beat him once again. The next election is going to be between darkness and light”.

Oladipo said further: “It is going to be between a cosmopolitan highlyfocused PhD holder and a

semi-literate jackbooth”.

The PDP scribed stressed that the election

Buhari

Jonathan

is going to be won by a man who believes in integrating the economy of Nigeria into the world economic order.

orried by the unending bombings and killings of innocent citizens, especially in the North-eastern part of the country, Senate President, Senator David Mark, has tasked the nation’s security operatives to bring their investigative skills and intellect to bear in unearthing those behind the activities of the insurgent group, the Boko Haram.

Senator Mark, a retired Army General, declared that the activities of the insurgent group called for an extra –ordinary security measures to handle.

Mark, who spoke after decorating his Aide-DeCamp (ADC), Abel Miri with his new rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), pointed out that all Nigerians, irrespective of their status must be alert to their responsibilities.

Nigerians, he maintained, must rise as one people faced with a common problem to say ‘no’ to “these harbingers of death” According to him: “All Nigerians must see these terrorists as a threat to our existence. Nobody should sit on the fence anymore. It is a choice we have to make in chasing these terrorists away or wait to be consumed by them.

“This is not about politics, religion or ethnicity; it is about our survival as a nation”, he said.

Mark harped on the need for community leaders and all citizens generally to collaborate with security operatives in order to fish out the financiers of the Boko Haram sect.

The Senate President reasoned that collaborating with security agents by all citizens was one of the practical and result- oriented ways to end the reign of insurgency and the onslaught by members of the Boko Haram.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The Executive Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Architect Yomi Awoniyi administering the newly launched Pneumonia Vaccine in Nigeria while other health workers assisting him at the National Launch for Pneumonia Vaccine introduction in Nigeria by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency held in Lokoja Kogi State

2015: Southwest votes ’ll decide Presidency - Ogundipe Jonathan Eze, Lagos

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he South West Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Makonjuola Ogundipe on Monday said that the South West zone is key to determining who emerges as Nigeria’s President in 2015.

The PDP South West Chairman made the comment at the launch of the Goodluck Lagos Grassroots Project (GLGP) founded by the Lagos PDP Forum of Council Chairmen held in Ikeja, Lagos Ogundipe said that the south west was germane to the success of any presidential candidate.

“South West is key to the

coming election. Lagos as a state has the highest number of votes nationwide.

“We need people to support Jonathan. Jonathan has done better than any president in contemporary Nigeria “The South West is better off under Jonathan. The Lagos Ibadan expressway and Apapa roads attest to this” the Southwest Chairman said.

He said that the President had done a lot on railway and the nation’s economy was booming especially with Lagos being the economic nerve centre of the nation.

“Without Lagos, southwest will be in shambles” he said.

He urged them to gal-

Ogundipe vanise votes for PDP candidates across board in the South West.

“We must shun apathy and vote in the people to get the best for the zone” he said.

The Southwest Chairman however urged the party to visit the houses of

aggrieved members of the party who lost in its various primaries to plead with them.

“Go to the houses of those who lost in the primaries to beg them. We did so in Ekiti. No one person can win the election alone” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Chairman of the party, Chief Tunji Shelle urged the people of Lagos to vote for Jonathan as well as PDP candidates.

“Let us vote for PPD candidates for the National Assembly so that they can support the transformation agenda of Jonathan.

He said that despite the President’s calmness, Jonathan would transform Nigeria given another chance.

INEC calls for women involvement in election Idu Jude, Abuja

A

head of the 2015 general election and also to ensure women active participation in Nigeria, National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nne Gladys Nwafor, Monday called for more participation of

women in the country’s electoral process and adequate projection by the media.

Nwafor gave the charge at a one day workshop titled ‘Gender and Conflict Sensitive Reportage in the Electoral Process’ held in Abuja.

She also regretted that the womenfolk especially those in politics are not ad-

equately projected in the media.

“The media as a veritable tool for information has a critical role to play in managing and not magnify conflict and therefore in a position to promote peace and peaceful co-existence” “With the current security challenges in Nigeria, the nation look-up to the media to help mitigate con-

flict and propagate peace through their reports and broadcast”.

She however pleaded with the media to make conscious efforts to ‘mainstream gender’ in their reporting and to ensure increased reportage of women in politics noting that both men and women contribute to the political development of the country.

39 News

Osun election tribunal adjourns till January 5 Sodiq Adekunle

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he Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal has proceeded on Christmas and New Year recess and subsequently adjourned its further sitting till January 5, 2015.

The tribunal is hearing the petition of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, challenging the August 9 re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, adjourned the further hearing of the petition till next year last weekend after the APC,

the second respondents in the matter had called four witnesses for the day, who testified that nobody was harassed or intimidated during the election.

She said: “The tribunal is also taking into consideration the 180 days required by the Electoral Act within which to complete the hearing of the petition and would take care of it.”

Four witnesses were however called for the day.

They were Azeez Taofeek from Ward 2, Unit 4, Ede North local government; Ilesanmi Ademola from ward 9, Unit 4, Ilesa East local government; as well as Olusola Ademubo from Ward 4, Unit 9 and Agbaje Lekan from Ward 4 both in Osogbo local government.

Niger PDP guber primary: Court throws out suit against Nasko

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federal High Court siting in Abuja has struck out a suit filed by one of the defeated governorship candidates, Alhaji Hannafi S. Sudan, who contested the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the December 8, 2014 party primaries in Niger State.

It also turned down the request by the plaintiff (Hannafi S. Sudan) for a restraining order against submission of the name of Alhaji Umar Mohammed Nasko, winner of the primaries to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the PDP in the 2015 governorship election for Niger state.

In its ruling, the court held that, neither the plaintiff nor his agent raised objection to the electoral process as announced by the electoral panel at the time of the conduct of the election.

It said: “ That on the counter affidavit deposited

by agent to Alhaji Umar Nasko, it was clear that in the 57 votes garnered by the plaintiff (Hannafi S. Sudan), the delegates gave their ballot paper to his (plaintiff ’s) agent to write his name for them and those ballots were subsequently counted as valid and in his (Hannafi S. Sudan’s) favour.

Against this backdrop, it ruled that the prayer by the plaintiff seeking to strip Alhaji Umar Nasko of the right to contest the election as the duly elected candidate of the PDP in Niger state governorship election in 2015, is thrown out.

Nasko

Genesis of Our Time 40

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Case study No. 1 Press Law 1964

O

n Tuesday, September 8, 1974, the Daily Times carried a front page story on a new law which would tighten control of the Nigerian press.

In a front page comment on Thursday, September 10, 1964, the Daily Times opened its attack on the new law. It stated: “The Newspaper Amendment Bill (1964) we are told is designed to sustain peace. Order and good government in the state and protect the freedom and rights of the individual against newspaper recklessness. Therefore, the new law will punish proprietors, managing directors, chairmen and editors of newspapers if they publish ...‘any statement, rumour or report which is known to be false, or suspected to be false and which… (a) Discloses or affects adversely any right, reputation or freedom of a person which is entitled to protection; information, or (c) Attacks or is likely to jeopardise the authority and independence of the courts or (d) Is likely to be prejudicial to the defence of Nigeria, or to public safety, public order, public morality or public health.

This newspaper”, the Daily Times said, “does not defend recklessness in any form and newspapers cannot demand unlimited freedom at the expense of state security and individual liberty.” “Notwithstanding this, however,” it continued, “we hold most strongly that there are already adequate provisions in our statute books straint which the new law purports to seek.”

The paper cited the DefamaAct 1962 which protect both the individual and the state from adverse publications.

“In a democracy”, the paper pointed out “where the much vaunted free press is a guaranteed right, the government’s proposed law is a violation of its pledges to the people.

For, the freedom of the press is the freedom of the people. It is not a right exclusive to the few journalists who earn their

living on newspapers.”

The paper called on politicians, Trade Unions Ministers and the people to be vigilant so as to ensure a free press. “Let there be no mistaking the fact.” the paper concluded, “that if the new law is passed in its proposed form, those politicians and the Trade Unionists who have ventilated their points of view, sometimes to the irrita-

entitled Government by Surprise”.

The most disagreeable part of the proposed law according to the paper was that dealing dential matter.

It cited the case of the Preventive Detention Act which at the time the press started

no media, either to make their views known or to champion their causes.

This is the brink,” it said, “on which we are hovering the brink of helplessness.”

The day before Wednesday, September 9 the Daily Times carried a front page interview with Chief C. O. Ogunbanjo, a Lagos lawyer and chairman of “Liberty”, the Nigerian branch of the International Commission of Jurists. Chief Ogunbanjo felt that “if the bill is passed into law it could fetter the proper exercise by the press of the fundamental right of expression entrenched in our constitution.”

Another attack on the Press Law was published alongside the Daily Times front page commentary discussed earlier.

Chief G. B. A. Akinyede, a respected Lagos Constitutional lawyer described it as “a dangerous inroad.” Mr. Michael Imoudu, the veteran labour leader had this to say: “No honest and progressive government will even introduce such a bill, much more embark upon passing it into law.”

Another labour leader Alhaji Haruna Adebola was quoted as saying “Those ministers and Parliamentarians who are heavily indebted to some for-

shelved.

Under the proposed law,” said the paper “the press would not dare inform the nation about an impending obnoxious

from time to time......... THE PRESS SHOULD NOT BE GAGGED.” Mr. Adeoye Adisa, a former Western Nigeria Minister of information described the law as “the height of dictatosignal of the exit of freedom Daily Times devoted an entire inner page to such views as mentioned above. The pressure kept mounting.

On Friday, September 11, the Daily Times published another Front page comment

er end on the cliff of autocracy.

Between the deep, dark gorge is the horrible valley of dictatorship.” Even a government sponsored newspaper, The Morning Post, registered its protest when it wrote: “Let as not pretend that we like the pro-posed law. We DO NOT. “Let us admit it, that the proposed law has made it more

The press mobilized the action

will say that the matter is conThe paper warned that “if we allow this bill to go through parliament successfully, we would seal our doom.

We would give authority to government by surprise. Just in case the generally apathetic public thinks that the Press Law concerned only the newspapers alone, the Daily Times said: “There may arise the unfortunate impression in the minds of certain persons, that this law is the business of newspaper men alone. THAT WOULD BE RIDICULOUSLY UNTRUE.” “The new law,” according to the paper, “en-compasses the publication of views that may “agitate the authorities: Views of dissident politicians; views of ministers resigning from government; views of the Union and views of the common people.

Newspapers will not dare champion any causes for fear that one minor aspect of their contention may be wrong.”

Concluding the paper noted that “It is for the people to decide which way they will be ruled. But let us assure those politicians, trade unionists, all and sundry that a frightened press is the beginning of the end of Democracy.”

Peter Pan (Peter Enahoro) and ALLAH-DE (Alhaji Alade Odunewu) waded knee-deep into the press Law controversy.

In his contribution, Peter Pan warned that “our freedom is threatened.” “Democracy,” he said, “is walking a tight rope secured at one end and on the cliff of freedom and at the oth-

pen, and without fear, The public will suffer by this law ......”

ALLAH-DE had this to say.

“About two years ago, the Federal Minister of information, Chief T. 0. S. Benson, told a Journalism seminar in Lagos: ‘The freedom of self-expression, the freedom to criticize, holy freedom of the press is which we intend never to see extinguished in Nigeria.’

“It is ironical,” ALLAH-DE said, “that it was the same TOS Benson who made the above plausible contribution on this vital subject whose name adorns the retrogade Act aimed at quenching the undying sion which his government INTEND NEVER TO SEE EXTINGUISH IN NIGERIA.” As the protest over the newspaper Bill mounted, political parties began to pass the buck.

The Daily Times of Monday September 14 reported Dr. Kalu Ezera, an NCNC MP, as having said that the NCNC had no hand in the matter, but the party was a junior partner in the NPC/NCNC coalition administration.

The same issue of the paper also reported that Newspaper editors and members of the executive committee of the Nigerian Union of Journalists held they selected a committee to meet Federal Information Minister Chief TOS Benson, that day.

The Minister promised the editors that he would “look most carefully” into any representations they might wish to make — against the proposed amendment to the Newspaper Act. On page 7 of its issue of September 16, the Daily Times carried two features, “Padlocking Mouth of The Press”, and “An End to Democracy”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

41 Genesis of Our Time

Case study No. 1 Press law 1964 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

Pictures of padlocked mouths were used and in this same issue, the paper published a communiqué of the meeting between Editors, Journalists and the Minister of Information.

The communiqué provided details of the Editors ‘and journalists’ objection and amendments to the Bill.

“Under the proposed Bill,” the journalists wrote, “a Miniscial class of protected persons.

We submit that the Bill is, or likely to, convert ordinary civil libel cases into criminal libel people. Only in dictatorships do we have such protection of“But this is not the case in some parts of the country. The Penal Code of Northern Nigeria makes it an offence only to publish matters which may cause … (a) Disaffection

becomes law is now the responsibility of members who represent the people.

“It is these elected legislators of the nation—Ministers, front line members and the backbenchers to whom the “Daily Times” in the national interest, for the preservation of democracy in Africa’s leading state, addresses itself today.

“We stand in the corridor that divides darkness and light.

Exhaustive arguments have show abundantly that if the Bill is passed, the freedom of the press and therefore the freedom of the people will have been withdrawn.

It is inescapable to feel some emotion on this day. Since October 1, 1960, Nigeria has stood out as the leading spirit of Africa.

Nigerians, when they go abroad have held their heads

that in the midst of the encircling gloom which threatens (b) Excite hatred or con- to engulf Africa, our nation tempt has remained the one hope, the surviving glory and testi(c) Offend public peace mony that democracy can yet survive in this continent. Beset (d) Or cause fear or alarm; with dictatorships and plagued offences against these laws by intolerance the continent of - Africa has looked fervently to ernor-General, Governor of a Nigeria for example.

Region, or the Government of “There was a proposed Bill the Federation.” which could perish this bas“It is true,” they went on, tion, which could erase for “that the law mentions “a class ever, all that we have stood for; of persons and although we which could crush for eternity do not wish to defend the Pe- our passion and aspiration to nal Code, we would make this remain a democracy. observation — that in spite of “The tragedy of it all is that the protection which the Penal this Bill should come at the Code may afford to the Council end of a regime led by a world of Ministers or to the Executive states-man. Alhaji Abubakar body of a political party in the Tafawa Balewa, has earned guise of a class of persons, IT praise even from his political IS PROVIDED IN BLACK opponents as a level-headed, AND WHITE THAT THE tolerant leader. His name is a PUBLICATION MUST BE by-word for tempered justice ONE THAT WILL EN-DAN- and leaders of older nations GER PUBLIC PEACE. have acclaimed him a leader “On September 23, the day who can match the best of the Parliament opened to discuss world beyond. among other things the press “It will cause pain, rightBill, the Daily Times published fully, across the entire world a front page comment, the third this morning that it is Alhaji in a series. Because of the tim- Abubakar’s administration ing and its pungency, it is worth which proposes this Bill. reproducing in full: “For the politicians who may THE controversial Newspa- still be in doubt as to the extent per (Amendment) Act 1964, of the Bill and those who may reaches its climax this morning suffer by it, the “Daily Times” with its formal presentation in will once again emphasise that Parliament by the Minister of the politicians stand to lose Information. Whether the Bill most by the Bill.

“We are on the eve of vital elections. Let the politicians make no mistake about it, that if the Bill is passed into law, a great deal of their electioneering speeches and statements will end up in wastepaper baskets. Their views will be blacked out.

“Chief Theophilus Benson, who is to move the Bill, has strained to point out that the Bill is an all-party proposal.

In a sense the Minister is right.

For no Bill of such far-reaching consequences can be proposed without the blessing of the Cabinet - in which the majority of parties are now represented.

“Furthermore, the “Daily Times” holds the view that this is not an issue for party rivalry; that it is too vital to the basic tenets of our freedom for anyone to seek to score party points or prestige.

“WHAT SHOULD BE HELD FIRMLY IN THE MINDS OF ALL MPS TODAY IS THAT POWER CAN CHANGE HANDS. There is sometimes the wrong attitude among our legislators when confronted with vital Bills to act in the short-sighted interest.

“It may be true that the present Government will not misuse its power; but can we vouch for the next, and the next and the next? As Alhaji Abubakar said when the Preventive Detention Act was proposed, he as Prime Minister could give no guarantee that the law will not be misused. He was obviously looking beyond the immediate horizon.

“Representatives of the press yesterday offered concrete plans for the establishment of a Press Council. The broad outlines are published in this newspaper today. We commend it for serious and sincere deliberations to all MPS. “Government should withdraw its own Bill and give this alternative careful study.

There is time. There is the need for a little tarry. Freedom is not a matter to be dealt with in haste. Nigeria has so much to lose by hurried decision.

“As we tread the fearful brink of totalitarianism today, as we stand uncertain on the threshold that distinguishes gloom from glory; fear and intimidation from liberty and free expression, let us concede that the Nigerian Parliament

has until now borne aloft the “Each MP should count himself as having helped to as at this moment Nigeria recognises him as a torch bearer of the freedom which has made us proud.

“The burning faith of a freedom-loving people should not be swept aside at will such as today’s Bill threatens to do.

Nor should the MPs stain their own record by assenting to a spirit which they have repreIn the name of the people let the leaders pause and ponder.

Why do we need this Bill? Let them look beyond their immediate surroundings. Laws should not be enacted merely quell transient irritations and anger, or to satisfy expediencies.

“This terrible weapon which we design today could fall into the wrong hands tomorrow!

Then what happens? “Neither the people, nor their leaders can afford this Bill. The skies are heavily laden today with dark clouds, because the voice of freedom is held in a deathgrip.

“Shall the people elected to protect our freedom themselves throttle the baby they were entrusted to nurse?

“Shall all the promises, pledges and public avowals, at home and abroad, that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria, come to nought for this mere reasons: That once in a while there have been ruptures between some of the press and some of the leaders?

“May God guide those whose heavy responsibility it is to determine today whether the banner of freedom shall “OR WHETHER THE LIGHTS WILL BE SWITCHED OFF” ing of the House of Representatives, the proposed Bill was not mentioned. However, Chief T. 0. S. Benson gave a pledge that the amendments proposed by the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Guild of Newspaper Editors were receiving careful consideration by the government.

42

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Sport

s

CAF tourney

Kano Pillars Football Club line up

Pillars, Enyimba, others handed African foes

N

igeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs Kano Pillars, Enyimba, Dolphins and Warri Wolves now know their opponents in the 2015 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. NPFL champions Kano Pillars have been drawn to face South Sudan club Malakia in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, while Enyimba go up against Benin Republic side Buffles du Borgou FC. The Nigerian champions will start their campaign in Africa’s biggest

Fabregas: I’d love Messi to join Chelsea Page 46

club competition on the road to Malakia. Enyimba will play hosts to Buffles in Aba before heading to the Benin Republic for the second leg.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, 2014 Federation Cup finalists Dolphins have been handed Equatorial Guinean opponents in Leones Vegetarianos in the preliminary round.

Leones Vegetarianos will host Dolphins before the second leg is held in Port Harcourt.

Nigeria’s fourth club in the CAF interclub competitions, Warri Wolves, have the toughest draw of the NPFL

sides. They will confront former Burkina Faso champions Racing Club de Bobo-Dioulasso (RCB) in the preliminary round of the Confederation Cup. Wolves are going to have to start well on the road before they return to Warri two weeks later to seek a place in the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup. Interestingly no Nigerian club were exempted from the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup following recent poor showing in both club competitions.

Coton Sport, Esperance, CS Sfaxien, AC Leopards, Al Ahly, ES Setif and TP Mazembe are the clubs who have a bye in the CAF Champions League, while ASEC Mimosas, Zamalek, Djoliba, FUS Rabat, AS Vita, Orlando Pirates, Ahli Shendi, Club Africain and Etoile Sportive du Sahel will have byes in the Confederation Cup. The first legs in both club competitions for the preliminary round will take place on the weekend of February 13, 14 and 15. The return leg will be held on February 27 and 28 as well as March 1.

Amokachi drops injured Zango from Eagles Page 45

Ex-Green Eagles star, Otolorin, dies at 65 Page 45

Lallana:

Liverpool are back on track!

Page 47

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

43 Sport

FIFA reform process on-going –Blatter

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IFA president Sepp Blatter insists the reform process at football’s governing body is on-going, but will be a success.

Chairman of the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee Michael Garcia stood down earlier this month following a dispute over the findings of his investigation into the bidding process for the next two World Cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively.

The saga has led to calls for reform at football’s global governing body, and Blatter says changes are already being made.

“This reform process is now in the face of application, implementation towards the national associations and confederations,” he said. “It will take some time to go through, but it will be well done.

“The major problem we are facing with the national associations and with the confederations is the Ethics Committee, because I think sometimes people do not understand what

it means to have an ethics committee, but the control and the compliance committee, discipline committee, board of appeal and the statues of FIFA all that is going well.

“There is a lot of discipline and respect inside the 209 national associations and I can say at the next congress in May, I can be proud of the realisations in these reform processes.”

FIFA announced earlier this week that it would now publish Garcia’s report - a move Batter backs as he bids to regain public trust and win a fifth term in office.

“Yes, we will support the publication of the report, but in the adequate form and always and when all investigation matters are closed,” he added.

“Public opinion is important because football is the greatest game in the world, connecting people, giving emotions and passion and hope, so it’s very important for me at the home of football to restore the credibility and bring in the New Year a good attitude for the upcoming competitions.”

Sunshine Stars skipper Sunday Abe (right) is expected to be part of the squad for the trip to Spain in January

Sunshine hit Spain for second round Euro tour

S Sepp Blatter

unshine Stars players will travel to Spain for the second round of a European tour in January, the club announced.

‘The Akure Gunners’ are currently in Hungary on a training tour of Hungary with 18 players, but the trip to Spain

will be for the players who were left out of the Hungary trip.

“Our team is in Hungary now for a two-week training tour with 18 players. The second round of the tour will be to Spain in January and that will be for the players who were left out of the trip to Hungary,” a

player informed.

“As I speak to you, some of us have our passports at Spanish embassy for visa.”

Some of the players who were left out of the Hungary trip are skipper Sunday Abe, Paul Onobi, Kingsley Eduwo and Medrano.

Iorfa pained by deaths of Audu, Abeda

L

obi Stars Vice Chairman Dominic Iorfa has expressed grief over the death of their striker Seriki Audu as well as former referee Michael Abeda.

The two men passed away in the past week, and Iorfa has described their demise as huge losses for Lobi Stars.

The camp of Lobi Stars was

thrown into mourning on Saturday morning when news filtered in that Audu has passed away after an automobile accident.

Audu was driving in the company of his family, his wife and daughter, from his home town in Yobe State to Bauchi State when the accident occurred.

His wife and daughter are still in hospital.

The former Queens Park Rangers striker expressed sadness and shock over the passing away of Audu.

“I’m really in shock to hear of this very sad news. He was one player who was professional on and off the pitch and was always ready to learn. Whenever he got the chance to play for Lobi Stars, his impact was

always felt. It’s a big loss for us and also his family. I want to send my condolence to his family and pray God grant his soul rest,” said Iorfa.

Audu joined Lobi Stars from Yobe Stars and scored in the Federation Cup quarterfinal against Dolphins and against Bayelsa United in the NPFL last season.

Late Seriki Audu

Sport 44

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

…NNL decision is a big relief, says Maigidansanma

NFF election crisis

Igbokwe hails FIFA’s decision

Ï Urges inauguration of arbitration panel

L

eonard Igbokwe, a petitioner in the Sept. 30 Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board election, on Monday applauded FIFA’s decision to wash its hands off the matter concerning the election.

He, therefore, urged the NFF to facilitate the process of inaugurating an arbitration panel to bring to an end the ongoing NFF leadership crisis.

“In line with article 68 of the NFF statutes 2010 (the governing law of Nigerian football), I have written the NFF to set up an arbitration tribunal.

“The kind of tribunal they set up under Prof. Akin Ibidapo-

T

Embattled NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick.

Obe in 2010 to look into election matters arising from the NPL chairmanship election involving Chief Rumson Baribote and Davidson Owunmi.

“So, the arbitration tribunal is not a process that is new to Nigerian football; that process has been used to great effect and to maximum success in four football election matters.

“I have gone ahead to write the General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, to without unnecessary delay, constitute the arbitration tribunal that will be made up of strictly lawyers.

“Because the difference between an arbitration tribunal and election appeals committee

is that in election appeals committee, non-lawyers can be elected by the congress to seat over judicial matters and cause the kind of confusion we witnessed in their sitting.

“But in the arbitration tribunal, you have an all-lawyers affair,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Igbokwe had on Dec. 10 through a correspondence given FIFA a three-day ultimatum to reverse its decision upholding the NFF election or risk court action.

FIFA in a letter addressed to Igbokwe dated Dec. 18, said it does not have jurisdiction to determine the outcome of the election

and Igbokwe said justice was beginning to emerge.

“Last week, I wrote FIFA a letter regarding the petition I filed on Oct. 10 on the Warri elections.

“So, I am happy to inform Nigerians that I have a letter before me here from FIFA where they replied to the very serious issues I raised in my petition to them.

“The good thing about the FIFA letter is that once and for all it has stated clearly that FIFA does not have the jurisdiction on election matters in Nigeria.

“That a supposedly earlier letter written by FIFA on Dec. 8 claiming to have upheld the election of Amaju Pinnick and his NFF board is not true.

Abandoned game: NNL awards match to Kwara United Bans 3 players, 2 officials for one year

T

he Nigeria National League (NNL) on Monday in Abuja awarded three points and three goals to Kwara United for their abandoned week 30 match against Ranchers Bees of Kaduna.

A letter from the league secretariat to the clubs, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), indicated that three Ranchers Bees’ players and two officials were also banned for one year.

NAN reports that the decision followed the attack by Ranchers Bees’ players and officials on match officials, leading to the Dec. 19 match in Abuja being abandoned.

The match was a 28-minute affair, leading from the earlier 62 minutes played in November when the match was first abandoned at 2-2.

“We write to inform you that we have duly received the official match reports which indicate that the match was violently disrupted after the centre referee awarded a penalty kick to Kwara United FC. “It was reported that the attack on the match officials was initiated by a player, Taju Ojo, and was joined by his fellow players, Omo Attah and Mansir Adamu.

“It was further reported that the team’s reserve bench, led by the Team Manager, Ali Nayara,

and the coach, Tele Ibrahim, invaded the pitch and physically assaulted and inflicted injuries on the match officials.

“In view of the above, in line with the rules and regulations of the NNL and pending ratification by the Organising and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), three points and three goals are hereby awarded to Kwara United.

“This is in line with Article 4.3 (1) for encroachment, which caused the discontinuation of the match.

“The three players and two officials involved in the assault are hereby banned for a period of one

year, for leading the assault on match officials.

“This is in line with Article 6.0 (2) of the rules guiding the league,’’ the letter reads.

It added that Ranchers Bees were also fined the sum of N1 million in line with article 4.3 (1) and 4.3 (5).

“Ranchers Bees shall also pay the sum of N200, 000 for the assault on match officials.

“The fines must be paid to the NNL within 14 days of receipt of this letter,’’ the letter further stated.

With this development, Kwara United have now gained promotion to the NPFL for the 2014/2015 season.

he General Manager of Kwara United FC of Ilorin, Haruna Maigidansanma, says the decision of the Nigeria National League (NNL) on their Dec. 19 match is a big relief.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that NNL, in a letter to the Secretaries of Ranchers Bees FC of Kaduna and Kwara United on Monday, had conveyed its decision.

It had awarded the match played in Abuja, but which was abandoned after 22 of its 28 minutes, to the Ilorin side.

It had also banned three players and two officials of the Kaduna club for one year.

The Appeals Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had earlier ruled that the remaining 28 minutes of the NNL Group A week 30 match be played in Abuja.

The earlier match in Kaduna had ended after 62 minutes, when violence erupted and the scoreline had stood at 2-2.

On Friday in Abuja, the match’s remnant had also ended abruptly with barely six minutes to go, after irate fans invaded the pitch and attacked centre referee Charles Ozigbo from Anambra.

This was after he had awarded a penalty kick to Kwara United in the 20th minute of the game.

Maigidansanma, in his reaction to the NNL decision, told newsmen in Ilorin on Monday that the club could now forge ahead with its plans for the 2014/2015 season.

“Kwara United can now look towards beefing up the team ahead of life in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) next season,’’ he said.

Speaking also, the club’s secretary, Dele Oguntokun, commended their players for their concentration and doggedness in the rescheduled fixture.

He commended football stakeholders in the state for their support and the state government as well for giving the team the needed support.

Kwara United boss, Haruna Maigidansanma.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Ex-Green Eagles star, Otolorin, dies at 65

Daniel Amokachi (right) with Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi.

F

Amokachi drops injured Zango from Eagles S uper Eagles assistant coach Daniel Amokachi has dropped injured Kano Pillars defender Umar Zango for AFCON warm-up matches against Cote d’Ivoire and Mali next month.

Nigeria faces Cote d’Ivoire on January 9 and Mali four days later, all in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The Tunisia ’94 Nations Cup and Atlanta ’96 Olympics winner Amokachi has moved quickly to stabilise the team for the friendlies by dropping injured Kano Pillars central defence ace Zango Umar for emerging Mighty Jets of Jos

45 Sport

star defender Ahmed Idris.

He reiterated that despite the absence of head coach Stephen Keshi, the team will gather in Abuja on Sunday to commence preparations for the games.

In a similar development, members of the Super Eagles and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) headed by Melvin Amaju Pinnick have been celebrating the successful wedding of striker Fuad Gbolahan Salami in Lagos.

The talented striker got hooked finally to his heartthrob Opoloyeru Surat Ololade in an impressive event held

at the Glover Memorial Hall, Tinubu Square, Marina, with Eagles team administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, representing the national team and the NFF. Achor, said apart from the leadership of the NFF sending their goodwill message, the Super Eagles technical crew and players led by Skipper Vincent Enyeama, sent words of encouragement to the player, wishing him the best that marriage offers and Salami himself was quite appreciative of the presence of officials of the NFF and the national team.

ormer Green Eagles and defunct IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan midfielder, Moses Otolorin, on Monday died in Ilorin at the age of 65.

One of the children of the deceased, Funke Otolorin, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.

Otolorin, scorer of nine of the 15 goals his club scored to bag the 1976 African Cup Winners Cup title, died in a hospital in Ilorin after a protracted illness.

His remains have since been deposited at the Omosebi Hospital, Gaa-Akanbi in Ilorin.

As a member of the squad which won Nigeria’s first club continental laurel to Nigeria in 1976, he played alongside the likes of Samuel Ojebode, Philip Boamah and Segun Odegbami.

Other notables in the squad were Folorunso Gambari, Idowu Otubusin, Best Ogedegbe, Muda Lawal and Nathaniel Adewole.

He also featured for the then Green Eagles, the senior national

football team.

Otolorin, who was renowned for his long throw-ins, retired in 2009 as a Senior Sports Coach at the Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin.

Meanwhile, the Kwara chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has described Otolorin’s death as shocking.

In a statement jointly signed by its Chair man, Bunmi Adedoyin, and Secretary, Jimoh Bashir, Kwara SWAN said Otolorin was a great footballer and coach who made valuable contributions to Nigeria.

“We urge his family to take solace in the fact that Moses Otolorin lived a useful and purposeful life,” it said.

An Information Officer at Kwara State Polytechnic, Yinus Abdulkadir, described the death of the late midfielder as a rude shock to the entire staff and students of the institution.

“Otolorin was a hardworking man who lived a life worthy of emulation,” he said.

Otolorin

CAF Confed Cup: Dolphins in dark over Vegetarianos

D

olphins’ manager Stanley Eguma has confessed that he knows nothing about his side’s preliminary round opponents in the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup, Leones Vegetarianos Fútbol Club.

Leones Vegetarianos Fútbol Club is an Equatorial Guinean football club based in the city of Malabo.

Founded by Spaniard, Juan Manuel Rojas, a vegetarian from Granada who arrived in Equatorial Guinea in 2001, Vegetarianos currently play in the Equatorial

Guinean first division.

Eguma says officials of the club have already “started doing our homework” on their opponents.

“I heard that name (Leones Vegetarianos Fútbol Club) for the first time today (Monday).

However, we have already started doing our homework on them,” Eguma told supersport.com.

He then added that the task of becoming the first Nigerian club to win the CAF Confederation Cup will not be plain sailing.

“As I speak to you right now, I am not sure of how many of my

players will stay with us for the next football season.

“It is not a secret that we (Dolphins) faced severe financial problems last season.

“Most of the players have threatened to leave the club because they fear a repeat.

“If we lose the core of this team, it will be almost impossible to do well in the competition because continuity and bonding are important,” he said.

Should Dolphins scale the Vegetarianos hurdle, they face a two-legged battle against 12-time Tunisian champions, Club Afric-

ain.

Eguma is however refusing to look too far ahead of a potentially mouth-watering clash against the 2011 CAF Confederation Cup runners-up.

“Club Africain are a side that need no introduction as far as African football is concerned but it will be stupid of us to start thinking about them when we have not even played the first leg against Vegetarianos,” he said.

The Port Harcourt club will face Leones Vegetarianos in the first leg on the weekend of February 13-15 at the 15, 250 capac-

ity Estadio do Malabo in Malabo with the second leg in Nigeria fixed for the weekend of February 27-March 1.

Dolphins, making their fourth appearance in the competition, reached the final in their first attempt in 2005.

They were knocked out in the group stage two years later and reached the second round in 2008.

Dolphins were losing finalists in the Federation Cup in 2014 and finished in ninth place in the Glo Premier League last season.

Sport 46

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Jesus

credits Mancini for Inter revival

J

uan Jesus says Roberto Mancini’s half-time team-talk inspired Inter’s second-half comeback against Lazio on Sunday.

Inter were staring down the barrel of a sixth defeat of the Serie A season after a Felipe Anderson double put Lazio into a 2-0 half-time lead at San Siro.

But goals from Mateo Kovacic and Rodrigo Palacio after the break earned Mancini’s side a 2-2 draw.

Centre-back Juan conceded that Inter were far below the required standard in the first half and credited head coach Mancini for their turnaround.

“We approached the game in the wrong way in the first half but we turned things around after the break,” he said.

“A lot of that was down to what the coach said to us at the inter-

Fabregas: M

Juan Jesus val. We need our second half approach for the full 90 minutes in matches and to consistently do the right things.”

A point means Inter head into Serie A’s mid-season break in 11th place and six points adrift of Lazio - who occupy the third and final UEFA Champions League position.

Milan

boss Galliani targets Champions League

a e ls e h C in jo to i s s e I’d love M

C

esc Fabregas has said he “would love” to see Lionel Messi join him at Chelsea.

Messi’s future at Barcelona has come under a lot of scrutiny after he suggested last month he could leave the club in the near future.

Fabregas played alongside the Argentine in the Barca youth system and again in the first team when he returned

to Spain following his time at Arsenal.

The 27-year-old has been a key component of the Chelsea team which currently sits top of the Premier League and says he would love to team up with his former team-mate at Stamford Bridge.

When asked if he thinks Messi should join him in west London, Fabreas told reporters: “I wish! Why not? I’d love that to

happen. I’d be all for it.

“As a Barca man, I believe that Messi deserves to retire there for all that he has given the club.

“He is a legend that has changed Barca’s history. But, as his team-mate and friend, without doubt I’d love to have Leo by my side. This season Barca are Messi and 10 others. Messi has saved his team on many occasions.”

ilan Chief Executive Adriano Galliani believes the club are making progress and should target next season’s UEFA Champions League.

After a disappointing campaign under Massimiliano Allegri and then Clarence Seedorf in 2013-14, the Italian giants have shown signs of improvement with Filippo Inzaghi at the helm.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw at title challengers Roma - despite playing the final 20 minutes with 10 men after Pablo Armero was sent off - was another encouraging result, with Milan heading into the mid-season break having lost just three of their 16 Serie A matches this season.

Inzaghi’s men lie seventh in the

table, just two points from third and the final Champions League qualifying berth.

With the previous season’s eighth-place finish seeing them miss out on European qualification altogether, Galliani sees no reason why the improvements under Inzaghi should not lead to Milan challenging the top three this time around.

“The match in Rome was one in which we showed we were a team: we showed spirit, desire and determination, even with 10 men we continued to fight,” he said.”If we play like this we can compete for a Champions League place.

“It seems to me like the tide has turned. Last year we always lost against the big teams.”

No rush on contract talks, says Ramos

S

ergio Ramos is relaxed about his situation at Real Madrid and insists there is no rush to start talks on a new contract.

Reports had suggested talks on a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu for the Spain defender had stalled.

Ramos claims that is not the case, though, and the 28-year-old is in no hurry to open discussions due to him having two years remaining on his current contract.

“It is something that does not worry me at all,” he said.

“I have two years on my con-

Johansen

tract. We have had appointments to speak, but there is no hurry.”

Ramos also stated that his relationship with Real President Florentino Perez is fine, despite rumours of a falling out in the past.

“Thanks to him (Perez) I fulfilled a dream of playing for the best club in the world and I will be eternally grateful,” he added.

“Our relationship is very close and we talk often.”

The centre-back also took time to reflect on what has been an excellent year, with Real having added the Club World Cup to their

list of honours on Saturday having previously lifted the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey trophies.

And Ramos - who won the Golden Ball award for the best player at the Club World Cup after scoring Real’s opener in their 2-0 win over San Lorenzo - believes that 2014 will rank as the best year of his career.

“It has been the most important year of my life both professionally and personally,” he said. “I have become a father and we have also won four titles.”

Sergio Ramos

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Lallana:

Briefs

Liverpool are back on track!

Lallana

A

dam Lallana believes Liverpool are back on track after another encouraging performance against Arsenal on Sunday.

Martin Skrtel’s stoppagetime header salvage a 2-2 Premier League draw for the Merseyside club after substitute Fabio Borini had been sent off for a second bookable offence at Anfield.

Liverpool had launched wave after wave of attacks and Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made a string of saves before finally being beaten by Skrtel in the 97th minute.

Brendan Rodgers’ side spent last Christmas top of the table, but sit 10th 12 months on having also been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League after a testing first half of the campaign.

However, playmaker Lallana feels Liverpool - who played well in defeat at Manchester United last week before beating Championship leaders Bournemouth in the League Cup - feels they are coming good heading into the New Year.

“I’m thoroughly disappointed we didn’t take all three points against Arsenal, but there was a good feeling about the whole atmosphere and the

Flamini expects Arsenal to kick on

M

athieu Flamini is confident Arsenal will kick on when they welcome back a host of key players from injury.

Arsene Wenger was without eight players for Sunday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta were among the absentees as Martin Skrtel’s late header denied Arsenal all three points.

Arsenal are sixth in the table and have reached the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, with Monaco standing in their way of a place in the quarter-finals.

Midfielder Flamini believes the London club will need a full complement of players in order to make it a memorable season.

“It would be crazy to think we won’t improve because we lost so many key players and having them back is very important for the team.

“We definitely need them because in the championship and the last stages of the Champions League, you cannot do it with 11 players. You need 25 so it is important for us to have them back.

“The season is going to be long and we are only just arriving at Christmas

47 Sport

Flamini now. I am very confident in the team, very confident in the quality we have because we have a few top players,” he said.

Arsenal will face London rivals QPR on Friday and then face another capital club, West Ham, two days later at Upton Park.

performance - and it’s been like that for the last few games.

“We feel we’re turning a corner and getting a little bit of rhythm into our game. That goal was huge for us at the end because we would have been thoroughly disappointed with losing, but it was a point, a good performance and we move on,” he said.

Lallana failed to hit the ground running due to injuries following his big-money close-season move from Southampton, but the England midfielder has started Liverpool’s last three games in Rodgers’ new 3-4-3 formation and is relishing playing in a role supporting Raheem Sterling.

“I’m enjoying being on the pitch and playing in the system we have been playing.

“I feel it’s one of my best positions, but I am happy to play anywhere. I just feel I am becoming a bit more relaxed on the pitch now - and a relaxed Adam Lallana is probably when you’ll see the best of me.

“I’m happy with the way things are going on the field at the minute, but we just want to pick up more results,” Lallana concluded.

Lambert hails ‘outstanding’ Okore

A

ston Villa man“He is outstanding. He ager Paul Lam- has come in and his first bert has hailed game was against Souththe progress of ampton after 14 months out.

“Look at the way he defender Jores Okore folplayed that night. Him and lowing a string of impresCiaran Clark have been exsive performances.

The Denmark interna- cellent. His career could go tional moved to Villa Park far.” from Nordsjaelland at the beginning of last season, but his career in the Premier League got off to a miserable start.

Okore sustained an injury to his cruciate ligament in September last year and missed the remainder of 2013-14.

The 22-yearold returned to the side in the 1-1 draw with Southampton last month, and has played every minute since then - earning the praise of his manager.

“Jores is getting better and better. He’s only 22 years old,” Lambert said.

Okore

Chelsea can win quadruple –Hughes Mark Hughes believes Chelsea can win the quadruple this season as the club are top of the Premier League and have reached the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. The Blues also have reached the semi-final stage of the League Cup this season, as well be eyeing an FA Cup run in the New Year, with Watford their third-round opponents at Stamford Bridge next month.

Simeone applauds Griezmann’s hattrick Diego Simeone hailed Antoine Griezmann’s second half in Atletico Madrid’s 4-1 come-frombehind triumph over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Atletico had trailed hosts Bilbao 1-0 at halftime but were inspired by Griezmann after the break - the French forward dragging the visitors level in the 46th minute before going on to complete his first hat-trick for the capital club.

Mancini plays down Lennon transfer rumours

Lennon Inter manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed reports linking the Serie A side with a move for Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon. The Italian outfit are expected to be active in the January transfer window after a moderate first half of the season which has left them lying in 11th place.

Kramer pens Leverkusen extension Christoph Kramer has ended speculation on his future by signing a two-year contract extension with Bayer Leverkusen. The Germany international is currently on a two-year loan at fellow Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach - a deal which is set to expire at the end of the season.

Business

Customs boss slams DCGs, ACGs over attitude to work P 29 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014 www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

VOL. 1. NO.7

Most people had thought that the governorship ticket which eluded him in the past would be taken for granted in 2012.

It was not to be. And the man changed platform

I

knew him in 2005 when I accompanied the then Etsako Central Council boss, Pascal Ugbome, on a visit to his Asokoro District, Abuja, residence. He was then President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Special Advis-

Nigeria must prioritise human development – NOUN VC P 28

Politics

Sports

The odds NFF election against Ajimobi crisis: Igbokwe P 17 hails FIFA’s decision P 46

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Nasamu Jacobson

Price: N150

Abuja File

dailytimesng

A hamper for Julius Ihonvbere er on Project Monitoring and Evaluation. That first meeting, as brief as it was, made a lasting impression on me as he came across as very simple, humble, intelligent, accommodating and rather too friendly for a man of his stature and status. I thought it was uncommon to find such a complete gentleman as Prof. Julius Ihonvbere among the very high in our society where barely concealed arrogance of power reigns supreme.

A couple of years later, I was to become his admirer and supporter when he ventured into the murky waters of politics in the quest for the governorship of Edo State. For me, Prof. Ihonvbere was a fit and proper person to occupy the highest political office in our state judging by his antecedents. He had been invited by President Obasanjo from the Ford Foundation, New York, to join and bring new impetus to his government.

With a war-chest no other aspirant could put together, Ihonvbere pros-

ecuted his ambition with the full support and backing of the people. He was, however, to receive his ‘baptism of fire’ in the hands of the rulers when, on the eve of the 2006 gubernatorial primaries, a candidate was handpicked by his party leaders leaving him in the lurch.

Undaunted, Ihonvbere continued to win the hearts of the people through his care for both old and young, male and female, market women, youths and farmers. Most people had thought that the governorship ticket which eluded him in the past would be taken for granted in 2012. It was not to be. And the man changed platform. As it is usually said, all that is now history.

When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole appointed Ihonvbere as Secretary to the Edo State Government in November 2013, many people at home and abroad hailed the appointment.

Those who knew Ihonvbere well said he would bring to bear his vast wealth of

experience as an intellectual and leader of men.

I do not think Prof.

Ihonvbere has disappointed anyone. Up until he resigned his appointment last week, Ihonvbere proved to be a caring boss and father to his staff and all, humble and accommodating. His office door did not have a lock, something quite uncommon in bureaucracy. The issues which led Prof. Ihonvbere out of office are very well known to be recounted here. However, someone has asked me if I thought he took a good step by resigning his appointment.

I am, just like anyone else, not in a good position to say whether or not Ihonvbere did the right thing. I think that whatever a man does is in his best interest.

Recently, I came across a gift of a book which I had received from Prof. Julius Ihonvbere at our first meeting in his Abuja residence in 2005 but which I was unable to read until now. The book, titled ‘’THE BEST IS YET TO COME: Portrait of a Scholar-Ac-

tivist’’, is edited by Kayode Fayemi (former governor of Ekiti State) and Pita Agbese and contains essays in honour of Prof.

Ihonvbere. Many of the essays eulogise Ihonvbere’s scholarly achievements not only at the University of Ife and University of Port Harcourt but also at his alma mater, University of Toronto, Canada and in the USA, especially at the Ford Foundation.

Dr. Fayemi said of Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere: ‘’Julius Ihonvbere is a born leader of people. In his quest to improve the human condition, his life has been nothing but a dedication to people of all races, genders, classes, creeds and religions, and the defence of humanity and the common good.’’

But for Dr. Fayemi, not many of us who lived in Nigeria in the era of military dictatorship would have known the role Prof.

Ihonvbere and Dr. Fayemi played in the fight to get the late Gen. Sani Abacha to jettison his transmutation ambition. These two

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Ihonvbere academics, in collaboration with a few others, organised pro-democracy movements abroad, set up and ran Radio Freedom which was later renamed Radio Kudirat in the aftermath of the gruesome murder of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola.

While working at the Ford Foundation, Ihonvbere facilitated access to grants by pro-democracy groups in Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa.