EXCHANGE RATES AS AT 19th June, 2015 Currency
Buying(NGN)
Central (NGN)
NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 23th June, 2015 GAINERS
Selling(NGN)
LOSERS
US DOLLAR
195.9
196.4
196.9
SEPLAT
331.59
15.79
4.76%
DANGCEM
174.15
-1.35
-0.78%
POUNDS STERLING
310.4036
311.1958
311.9881
FO
188.65
8.90
4.72%
TOTAL
158.5
-0.60
-0.38%
150.01
-0.56
-0.37%
11.6
-0.40
-3.45%
EURO
221.4454
222.0106
222.5758
MOBIL
153.31
7.30
4.76%
NB
SWISS FRANC
211.6694
212.2096
212.7499
UPL
6.5
0.45
6.92%
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 VOL. 1. NO.133
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GEJ govt worse than Shagari regime – Buhari
g4
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Benue lawmakers exchange blows g 6
Eight APC governors ask Oyegun to resign
Senators g 4 wrestle over sharing of offices g 6
FG, states, LGAs share N409b in May g 7 Amaechi squandered N63b Rivers fund, says Wike g6
2
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
3
Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Celebrating Father’s Day
L
ast Sunday, June 21 was observed in Nigeria and some countries of the world as Father’s Day. It is a celebration honouring all fathers, grandfathers, greatgrandfathers, and father figures for their contribution and influence in society. Inaugurated in the United States of America in the early 20th century, it is meant to complement Mother’s Day in celebrating fathers and male parenting. Though only 105 years old, the event has not only gained international prominence, it has become one of the emblematic and enduring ways of showing appreciation for the roles being played by fathers in both their families and society at large. Expectedly, the roles of fathers have been changing with emergence of the modern society. Today’s father is no longer always the traditional married breadwinner and disciplinarian in the family. He can be single or married; externally employed or stay-at home; an adoptive or stepparent; and a more than capable caregiver to children facing physical or psychological challenges. Psychological research across families of all backgrounds shows that fathers’ affection and increased family involvement help promote children’s social and emotional development. In the past, fathers’ roles were primarily to serve as breadwinners and the conveyers of moral values and religious education to their children. However, with industrialisation and urbanisation and as factories emerged as major sources of employment, fathers became distanced from the household and their families. Incidentally, the changing economic role of women has greatly affected the role of fathers. With a growing population of women in the workforce, unsteady economy and stale cultural stereotypes, including increase in financial power have made paternal financial support less necessary for some families. In addition, the growing autonomy of women, related trends
such as declining fertility, increasing rates of divorce and remarriage, and childbirth outside of marriage have resulted in a transition from traditional to multiple undefined roles for many fathers. In effect, many fathers are now taking on roles vastly different from fathers of previous generations. Even at that, fatherly love helps children develop a sense of their place in the world, which helps their social, emotional and cognitive development and functioning. Moreover, children who receive more love from their fathers are less likely to struggle with behavioural or substance abuse problems. In Nigeria, fathers are finding themselves hemmed in between the world of work and spending enough time with their families. Surprisingly, many do not want to feel distanced from their families, but long office hours and lengthy daily commutes means many a substantial number of them miss out on valuable time with their children. Findings show they feel under pressure to provide for their families, but in doing so are potentially damaging their relationship with their children. However, we believe that should not deter them from playing an instrumental role in raising their children and being a valuable part of the home equation. In doing so,fathers should be cognisant of the fact that families give us many different things between just financial security. They give us a sense of moral obligation, sense of morality, sense of social unit and sense of community. Fathers are far more than just ‘second adults’ in the home. Involved fathers, especially bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring. For those who have not participated as much in raising their children, it is never too late to change behaviours. This will help them become closer to their children no matter when they increase their involvement. That is the essence of Father’s Day.
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Saraki: How long will this bickering continue? Sam Nzeh
ÎÎÎSince assuming power
as Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been sharply polarised on a wide range of issues, chief among which is the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the president of the Senate. Weeks after the electoral coup was executed, those opposed to the emergence of Saraki as Senate President have not stopped drumming it into the ears of Nigerians that they would not rest until they see his back so as to give chance for the party’s
anointed candidate to take over. The group, in addition to several statements lampooning Saraki’s emergence, at the weekend went a step further to accuse Saraki and his supporters of plotting to make President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration fail. Saraki and his supporters have also not been silent as they have used every opportunity to debunk allegations of sabotage against the APC position on who emerges as Senate President. The bickering appears not to die down as close to two weeks after the Saraki emerged, the APC has failed to put the issue behind it. Rather than re-
Words On Marble :
solve it, several chieftains of the party keep stoking crisis, making it appear that unless Saraki throws in the towel, the polity will not move forward. But how can the APC or at least its prime movers make it look like unless Saraki throws in the towel for the party’s preferred candidate to emerge, there won’t be peace? This is not only unfortunate but also a disservice to Nigerians and the nation. So, the party must do something urgent to end this bickering over Saraki’s emergence as Senate president. After all, Saraki is a member of the party and has said it on several occasions that he has no plan to dump the APC.
STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER
Alex Badeh
Chris Anyanwu
Olusegun Mimiko
“We want to tell the criminals that they should not allow us to turn our guns back to the Niger Delta. Please, do not let the Armed Force turn its arsenal on the Niger Delta.”
“If you penalise someone by asking him to pay N5,000 for raping a three-year old child, of course, before you bite your eyes, he has committed a more heinous crime ten times over.”
“God promised that there will be peace and prosperity in our palaces, what we are going through today in this country will soon pass, even the inability of state governments to pay salaries.”
News 4
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
‘Jonathan’s govt worse than Shagari’s regime’ Ï Ƒ Əƈ ƒ Ɠ Ɛ ƏƆƅ ƒƆƏ Ɛ ƋƆ ƇƑ Ɨ ÏdƐ ƍ ƈƒƈ ƆƔƅƑ Ɔ è Ƈ ƅƆ ƕ ƑƏ Ɠ ƏƊè ^#^ ƐƆƋƋ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ Egena Egena and Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
ÏÏÏPresident
Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday declared that the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan perpetuated more atrocities than the government of former President Shehu Shagari which he toppled as a military general in December 1983. But in a swift reaction, former President Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked Buhari to stop giving excuses, settle down and do his work. Buhari said this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, at the end of a meeting with state governors at the Presidential Villa Abuja. He also vowed that funds stolen by government officials who abused their offices in the recent past would be recovered and systemic leakages blocked henceforth. He said: “We will try and put the system back into the right position. What happened in the 2nd Republic has apparently happened again, and even worse, but we will restore sanity to the system”. Buhari, while speaking at the meeting, also emphasised that the days of impunity, lack of accountability, and fiscal recklessness in the management of national resources were over. “There are financial and administrative instructions in every government parastatal and agency. But all these were thrown to the dogs in the past. Honestly, our problems are great, but we will do our best to surmount them. “The next three months may be hard, but billions of dollars can be recovered, and we will do our best,” the President told the governors. The President expressed surprise that the governors had tolerated the atrocities allegedly committed with the Excess Crude Account since 2011, promising that he would tackle the issue decisively. He declared that the payment of national revenue
into any account other than the Federation Account was an abuse of the constitution, adding that what he had heard was going on in many agencies and corporations, particularly the NNPC, was clearly illegal. On the refund of monies spent on federal projects by state governments, Buhari assured the governors that the Federal Government would pay, but insisted that due process must be followed. The President promised special assistance for the three North Eastern states badly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. He also said that a comprehensive statement on the economic and financial situation inherited by his administration will be made public within the next four weeks. On an immediate lifeline for states that owe salaries running into many months, Buhari said a committee headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, would look at the Excess Crude Account and see what can be shared immediately. The governors, led by Chairman of the Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, had presented a wish list to the President that included: Obedience to extant Supreme Court ruling that all monies go into the Consolidated Federation Account; An order from the President that all revenue generating agencies must pay into the Consolidated Federation Account; Review of the Revenue Allocation Formula; Refund of the monies expended by states on federal projects; A special consideration for the three states of the North East under Boko Haram infestation; Full details of the amounts that accrued into the Excess Crude Account from 2011, and how the money miraculously shrank without official sharing. Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, however, Yari who was joined by his Abia and Bauchi states counterparts, Okezie Ikpeazu and Mohammed Abubakar, respectively, expressed the hope
that something positive would happen in the next few days. Yari, who also confirmed the setting up of the committee said the governors did not discuss the issue of a possible bailout with the president as had been reported in media but the way forward on the critical financial situation facing both the federal and state governments. According to the gover-
nors, they would rather that the federal government intervenes by way of paying off for projects executed by states on its behalf, extend the repayment period of loans owed by the states to banks and ensure prompt payment of all government earning into the designated account. Meanwhile, PDP on Tuesday described as evasive, diversionary and preemptive, the present government’s
pile up of excuses for possible failure in delivering on its campaign promises to Nigerians. The party specifically said it is unfortunate that President Mohammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, who were privy to the nation’s dwindling economy occasioned by global economic downturn and fall in international oil price, even before the start
of the campaigns, chose to deceive Nigerians with bogus promises, only to now resort to excuses after using the promises to secure power at the center. The PDP said this in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in Abuja. The party, in its press statement, noted with dismay, President Buhari’s Continued on page 6
President Muhammadu Buhari (middle); Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, and traditional rulers from the North at the Council Chambers and in a group photo after a close meeting in Abuja… on Tuesday
Eight APC governors ask Oyegun to resign Augustine Aminu Abuja
ÏÏÏ Eight governors of
the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday asked the national chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, to honourably tender his resignation over what they described as his mismanagement of the recent leadership crisis at the National Assembly. The governors, who stormed the national secretariat of the party when the meeting of its National Working Committee (NWC) was going on, suddenly demanded that it be stopped. Although the meeting was in advance stage, they asked the chairman to meet with them in his of-
fice. There, they pointedly told him to resign. A source confirmed the development to Daily Times. “The chairman is already in bad in the book of most of these governors, especially those that are loyal to one of the national leaders of APC. So, they want him to resign to pacify all the interest.” The governors, who stormed the National Secretariat included Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun). The rest are Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa). The APC governors who were angry when they
came out of the meeting, however refused to speak to the media on their mission. Odigie-Oyegun has been in the middle of a storm since he endorsed the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives against the position of the party. When contacted for comment, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Muhammad, said: “I am not privy to what the governors came to discuss with the national chairman in his office but I can assure you that they did not come to ask him to resign.” When asked to why they came, Lai Muhammad said the governors were
Oyegun
at the party secretariat to confer with the national chairman. Meanwhile, the embattled APC national chairman also met with Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume, after the meeting with the governors. Lawan and Akume were the consensus candidates of APC for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
5 News
Court's registrar denies collecting $330, 000 from Bamaiyi, Ajudua Titilope Joseph
ÏÏÏFormer
L-R: Secretary, Lifting Equipment Inspectors Association/Wider Technologies, Mr. Emmanuel Nnaji; Zonal Director (South-West), Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. (Mrs.) Ifeoma Anyanwutaku; Director Sales and Services, Saeed Marine Services Limited, Mr. Saeed Ahmad; Director (Occupational Safety and Health), FMLP, Mrs. Nofisat Arogundade and Deputy Director of Factories FMLP, Mr. Ogunmuko Babatunde during the ministries’ Mandatory Training/Revalidation and Certification Exercise for Inspection of Lifting Equipment, held in Alausa Ikeja, Lagos…on Monday. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI
ICPC to deploy risk assessors to airports Lateef Ibrahim Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
war against corrupt practices at Nigeria’s International airports got a boost on Tuesday, when members of the Project Advisory committee on the Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) in the aviation sector, were inaugurated at the office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation in Abuja. The inauguration, was a follow up to an MoU signed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA), last December in Lagos. Alhaji Ozi Salami, a mem-
ber of the ICPC and Chairman of the joint committee, noted in his opening address that the collaboration had yielded several gains and achievements. He listed some of the gains to include; public enlightenment campaigns against corruption at the airports, surveillance and intelligence gathering activities as well as a sting operation to arrest perpetrators of corruption. Salami observed that recent reports since the last sting operation, showed that there was palpable awareness of the presence of the commission at the airports and this had reduced the impunity with which people engage in corrupt practices.
One dead in Kaduna inter-cult clash Victor Jibrin
Kaduna ÏÏÏHell was let loose in Kaduna on Tuesday, as members of different groups of a dreaded gang, known as “Sara-Suka”, meaning “Dangerous Weapons Carrying Gang”, engaged themselves in a bloody clash leading to the death of one person, Shamsudeen Abdulhameed, while some vehicles were burnt. The Special Assistant to the state governor, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a press statement. Governor Nasir El-Rufai,
the statement said, condemned the gang and consequently directed immediate prosecution of those involved in the incident. According to an eyewitness account, trouble started during the third day prayers for one of the deceased members of the notorious gangs at the Aunguwan Rimi area of Kaduna metropolis. Although, the reason behind the clash was not known, the deceased, whose name was concealed was said to have been trailed to Abuja where he was murdered few days ago.
registrar to Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, Oluronke Rosolu, has denied collecting $330,000 from former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamayi (retd) and Barrister Fred Ajudua, while he (Bamaiyi) was in detention at Kirikiri Prison with Ajudua. Rosulu was dragged before the court for allegedly collecting $330,000 from Bamaiyi in conjunction with Ajudua on the ground that the money would be used to secure the services of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) for Bamaiyi.
According to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the incident happened between November 2004 and June 2005 While giving evidence before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of a Lagos High Court on Tuesday, Rosulu refuted allegations of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences levelled against her by the EFCC. While being examining by her counsel, Mr. Bamidele Ogundele, Rosulu told the court that she started working with the judiciary in 1981 and had to support her salary by catering services.
Reps fail to name principal officers, constitute ad hoc committees Henry Omunu & Augustine Aminu, Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
House of Representatives, on Tuesday, failed to announce the composition of the leadership of the House, an indication that the outcome of the election of the presiding officers of the 8th National Assembly is still generating tension. Following the resumption of plenary, after a two-week recess, expectations were high that the names of the House leader, Deputy House Leader, Chief Whip and the Deputy Whip would be announced. Also, expected to be made public, as is the custom, is
the names of the Minority House Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and the Deputy minority Whip. However, signs that the ill-feelings generated by the election of Speaker Yakubu Dogara were still strong, emerged when the Speaker called for an executive session. Daily Times gathered that the major issue discussed at the closed door meeting was the constitution of the leadership of the House, constitution of standing committees and welfare matters. The main friction ,our correspondents gathered from sources, is between
loyalists of Speaker Dogara and the camp of his opponent, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila within the All Progressives Congress (APC) House Caucus on who emerges as leader, deputy leader, chief whip and deputy whip respectively. Another issue that has remained unresolved is the appointment of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the House standing committees as well as the constitution of the committees among the three contending factions in the House, the Dogara camp, Gbajabiamila’s camp and thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP) House members, who voted for Dogara
to emerge as speaker. To ensure an amicable resolution of the impasse, sources said the Speaker, on the advice of some lawmakers, agreed to further hold consultations with all stakeholders. However, Dogara, has announced the constitution of three ad hoc House committees, viz-a-viz, the committee on media, committee on review of the House rules, and the committee on code of conduct. The ad hoc committee on media is headed by a former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Hon. Sani Zorro from Jigawa State.
Court affirms restriction on Kashamu's extradition process Titilope Joseph
ÏÏÏThe
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other law enforcement agencies, were on Tuesday, warned against disobeying a court order restraining them from commencing extradition process against Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Buruji Kashamu. While delivering judgment in a contempt appli-
cation filed by Kashamu against the AGF and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, Justice Ibrahim Buba, insisted that 'an order made by another judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang, is still subsisting and must be complied with until set aside by a superior court.' The judge, who had earlier dismissed a preliminary objection filed by the NDLEA, said from the processes before him, he
was satisfied that the defendants were properly served. In determining the merit of the contempt application, the judge held that since Justice Abang had previously ruled on a similar case, the instant suit had merely become an academic exercise and unnecessary. The judge, however, warned the AGF and the NDLEA Chairman to be of good conduct and obey the subsisting order of court. "There should be no overzealous conduct from ei-
ther of the parties. Government agencies must abide by the rule of law to avoid anarchy. “They (AGF and NDLEA Chairman) should be of good behaviour until their appeal is determined. No matter how aggrieved, they should abide by the order of court until there is a counter order from a superior court. "For the avoidance of doubt, orders of Justice Abang are still subsisting and must be complied with," Justice Buba held.
News 6
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
GEJ govt worse than Shagari’s regime –Buhari Continued from page 4 declaration on Monday that Nigerians should not expect much from his first 100 days in office on claims that he met “virtually an empty treasury and huge debts”. It noted that such statement from the President only underlines the fact that the present administration is really not equipped to face the challenges of governance. The party said: “While we restate our resolve to engage only in credible and issue based opposition, we want the President and the APC to note that their plea for patience from Nigerians does not arise, because abinitio, there has not been any indication that they are
actually serious and determined to deliver on their campaign promises upon which they rode to power. “Of course, Nigerians are willing to support and cooperate with the President, but we are worried that the pictures emerging from his presidency and his party do not in any way inspire hope in the citizenry, especially as they have continued to show that theirs is ostensibly a matter of obtaining power by false pretenses. “President Buhari and the APC must know that Nigerians did not give them the mandate to engage in frivolous excuses and pleas but to hit the ground running with solutions and quick fixes they promised during the campaigns.”
Senators wrestle as dispute over office sharing turns sour Olufemi Samuel Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday sank deeper into crisis as efforts by the Senate President to resolve the differences among his 59 colleagues in the governing party boomeranged: The Senators took to fighting rather than agreeing on issues at stake amicably. The APC Senators, who have been split into two groups – Like Minds and Unity Forum – from the start of the 8th Session of the Senate, have been engaged in a fierce battle over the sharing of Principal offices of the chamber. Efforts by the APC leaders to intervene in the crisis, with the initiative by the Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, the previous day had proved abortive as the warring parties failed to agree on common ground for resolving their differences. Hope had risen earlier in the day when Saraki had announced that APC Senators would be holding a meeting at Room 302 of the chamber. The announcement generated excitement among those at the Plenary. The meeting, which was held behind the scheduled time of 2.00 pm, broke down mid-way when the two groups disagreed on the formula for sharing the
available Senate Principal offices. One of the Senators who attended the meeting, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Kaduna North, told newsmen that the problem was sparked by attempts by the Saraki-led group to impose its candidates on the party. Hunkuyi was the first to storm out of the meeting. He then invited newsmen to witness the fight among Senators over the formula for power sharing. Tempers rose among the members when Senator Tayo Alsoadura (APC Ondo Central), a member of the Like Minds complained against the choice of Senator Sola Adeyeye (APC Osun Central) as Chief Whip. He had preferred that Senator Robert Borroffice (APC, Ondo North) be allowed to take the office, citing experience. His position seemed to have angered a Unity Forum Senator, Kabiru Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central), as he pushed Alasoadura who almost landed on the floor. Other Senators had to rush in to prevent a straight fight between the two Senators as they managed to rescue the 65-year-old Alasoadura from further assault. The meeting ended abruptly as the Senators went separate ways.
#ƈƏƆƅƐ Əè 9 ƅƋƑ ƈƒƆ 0ƏƈƆ Ɨ RƏ ƈ Ɛƈ è C Ə ƅ è 1Ə ƅƆ CƆƏƏƕ æ ƈƐƐƈ Əƈ Ɛç ƓƈƐ ƍ ƕ ƈƅ ƋƋƕ ƅ ƋƋƆ ƆƗ ƍƆƏ ƇƐƆƏ Ɔ Ɨƈ ƏƈƄƑƐƆƗ ƐƏƈéƅƕƅƋƆ Ɨ Ɠ ƆƆƋƅ ƈƏ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔƌ 9 C Č ƏƆƅƆ ƐƋƕ
Amaechi squandered N63bn Rivers’ fund, says Wike Ï#Ɔ ƈƆ ƍ ƅƐ ƓƈƐ ^ ƐƈƆ ƅƆ C Ɛ Lateef Ibrahim Abuja
ÏÏÏGOVERNOR
of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, accused the immediate past administration in the state led by Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of secretly selling off about seventy per cent of the state’s power assets. Wike alleged that the 302.4 million dollars (about N63 billion) proceeds from the said sales was completely spent before he assumed office on May 29 this year. The governor, while answering questions from journalists in Abuja, equally dismissed the claim in some quarters that he entered into a pact with the immediate past First Lady of the country, Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan, to the effect that an amount of money will be paid to her on monthly basis. He described such insinua-
tion as a unfortunate, stressing that the claim shows that we don’t have respect for leadership in this country. His words: “It is unfortunate for anybody to say I have a pact with Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan. What can I give to her? It is because we don’t have respect for leadership that they are saying that. Let me make it categorically clear that I did not enter into any pact with the former First Lady. No pact with her”. The Governor equally justified the reason for the recent setting up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the activities of the past administration in the state, stressing that it was not aimed at witch-hunting anybody. The Governor, who said that he did not get any handover note from anybody on his assumption of office, pointed out that the little findings
by his regime showed that not only were government property looted, but that he inherited huge debt profile from the Amaechi’s regime. He listed the N150 billion debt in the State Ministry of Works, the N15 billion loan from the Zenith Bank and debts owed contracts and unpaid salary arrears of Dolphin, Sharks and Rivers Angel football clubs as some of the debts he inherited from the immediate past regime in the state. The Governor denied sacking 344 lecturers of the state’s polytechnic, maintaining that it was part of the orchestrated propaganda against his government as none of the so-called lecturers completed documentation nor received any salary since their purported employment in April this year. The governor explained that because he met a government bereft of any meaningful infrastructure,
he was forced to mortgage the state’s share of the Value Added Tax (VAT) for twenty months to enable him secure loan to complete some strategic projects that were abandoned in the state. On the issue of alleged witch-hunt by his predecessor (Amaechi), the governor insisted that nothing can be further from the truth and that there was no evidence that the Tribunal or the vehicles so far recovered were parting gifts or purchased by the persons from whom such vehicles were recovered from. He stated that in spite of his efforts and demand, former Governor Amaechi refused to hand over government to him, adding that even the Permanent Secretaries denied knowledge of what transpired before he came into office and that he even had to use his personal money to buy diesel to power Government House generators.
Benue lawmakers exchange blows Freddie Adamgbe Makurdi
ÏÏÏPandemonium
broke out in the Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday following the selection of some principal officers to man key positions after the Speaker and Deputy Speakers were elected two weeks ago. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had selected Mr. Benjamin Adanyi, member represent-
ing Makurdi North as Majority Leader of the House through a letter addressed to the House and read by the Speaker Speaker, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, on Tuesday during plenary. The APC also selected Mr. Nick Eworo as the Deputy Majority Leader while Mr. Titus Uba was selected as the Chief Majority Whip. However, selection of the principal officers by APC sparked off a serious
face-off between the APC and PDP that resulted to a physical combat between Adanyi and Martin Aza, a PDP member who felt cheated. This development resulted to exchange of blows between Adanyi and Aza because the PDP members were of the view that they had 15 members in the house including Eworo that joined APC on Thursday. The new Majority Lead-
er, Mr. Eworo, alleged that he was expelled from PDP by the Obi local chapter of the party and as such, he needed a platform to enable him operate effectively in the house. He further presented his letter of expulsion to the house which was read by the speaker on Thursday last week but PDP members said that the local chapter of the party had no right to expel any elected person.
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, June 24, 2015
APC stakeholders condemn call for Lasun’s resignation Henry Omunu Abuja
ÏÏÏ A pressure group known as
Concerned All Progressives Congress (APC) Stakeholders has condemned the call by some faceless individuals calling on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yussuf Suleiman Lasun to resign. In a release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Ayegbokiki, it accused those asking the deputy speaker to resign of overheating the polity, when the outcome of the elections of the principal officers of the National Assembly had been accepted by Nigerians. Ayegbokiki said on Tuesday, in Abuja, that the election that produced Lasun was in line with the constitution of Nigeria. The group said: “We make bold to say that apart from the emergence of Hon. Lasun through a democratic, open and transparent election, the process of the election complied with Section 50 (a and b) of the 1999 Constitution.”
FG loses billions of naira daily at Lagos ports - Investigation Akeem Adetula
ÏÏÏ
The federal government may be losing billions of naira on daily basis to unscrupulous Customs Licensed Clearing Agents who are acting in close concert with some me suspected to be officials of the Nigerian Customs, the Daily Times can authoritatively report. Findings at both the Tin Can and Apapa Ports revealed that the crime of flying containers without recourse to paying accruable duties is being perpetrated by the officials at the Customs Investiga-
tions Unit (CIU) and select staff of APMT at the main gate said to be responsible for signing the Terminal Delivery Order TDO for these agents. It was gathered that recently, several containers were intercepted by some patriotic eagle-eyed Customs officers and upon interrogations, the suspects claimed they belonged to DLH even as investigations are on to unravel the authenticity of the claims. It was further learnt that this fraud is mainly carried out at night. Sources hinted further that this
daily fraud at both ports has constituted a major source of leakage in the nation’s revenue generation drive; advising the federal government to reshuffle those officers at the main gate with a view to checkmating this unpatriotic act. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a licensed agent who claimed not to be party to the crime informed that if the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was actually out to fight corruption to a standstill, it should urgently beam its searchlight on both Ports adding that there was dire need to
ÏÏThe
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG), the Kano State branch, under the aegis of lubricant dealers has frowned upon the closure of Vee Oil Resources Limited. The Chairman of the company, Comrade Ali Tahir Gama, in a chat with journalists, in Jos, expressed shock, saying the closure had greatly affected business activities of the people in the state. According to him, “over 300 employees have been rendered jobless as a result of the premature shutting down of the factory. Since then, passports of the investors have been seized, by men of the Nigerian Immigration Services. “This happened at a time when the case was before a high court. The action amounts to economic sabotage, since operatives of Immigration Service engaged in an illegal business in the country”.
put a final stop offloading ships at night. The source also opined that the federal government should revisit containers that had been flown out of the Ports via illegal fast tract in recent times saying that large sums of money could have been lost to it. The source therefore, wants the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Alhaji Muhammed Dikko to constitute a discrete investigation committee to this effect assuring that within days, the committee would have unraveled those behind these shady deals at the Ports.
FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N409.3 bn in May
Mathew Dadiya Abuja
ÏÏÏ
NUPENG wants FG probe activities of Cautions Nigeria immigration Moses Ikayaa-Gba
7 News
L-R: Chief Financial Officer, APM Terminals, Bansal Sumi; Deputy Managing Director, APM Terminals, Femi Ransome Kuti; Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hassan Bello and Director, Inland Transport Services, NSC, Suliat Adeagbo during a courtesy visit of NSC to the APM Terminals office in Apapa, Lagos… on Monday Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI
Gunmen kill Lord's Chosen Pastor in Lagos Okey Lucky Okey
ÏÏÏSome
armed robbery suspects, on Monday, have shot dead the Lagos State Pastor (Coordinator) of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement (TLCCRM), Mr. Chukwuemeka Okpokpo. Daily Times gathered the two man armed robbery suspects on Okada allegedly trailed the late pastor from a bank in Amuwo Odofin area of FESTAC, very close to the Apple Junction and shot him dead. A police source said the pastor, popularly known in the church parlance as “Lagos Co-ordinator”, was coming out from a commercial bank when the gunmen on
Okada trailed him up to a certain point before killing him. The senior police officer said the police would not narrow down its investigation on armed robbery alone, because of the manner the robbery suspects killed Okpokpo had fuelled suspicion of assassination. He added that the best option was for the police to apply both theory of assassination and armed robbery. When the Daily Times reporter visited the headquarter of the Church, at Ijesha, many people who had already heard the news wore gloomy faces, while others discussed the issue in a low tone. An attempt by our reporter to speak with the Director of Press
of the church Mr. Chidi Louis proved abortive as his were ringing without response. A staff of the office known as Timothy told the curious reporters who converged on the church that his boss was not around.
Pastor Muoka
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Tuesday shared the sum of N409.354 billion for the month of May 2015. According to the committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwokobia, the gross revenue of N324.061 billion received for the month was higher than the N282.062 billion received in the previous month by N41.999 billion The Federal Government got N151.805 billion representing 52.68% while states received N76.998 billion which represented 26.72 % and the local government councils received N59.362 billion which amounted to 20.60 % of the total allocation. Other revenues distributed include: Value Added Tax (VAT) of N56.821 billion. Of this amount, the Federal Government got N8.182 billion which represented 15%; states received N27.274 billion representing 50% while the local government councils received N19.092 billion representing 35%. She noted that delays in issuance of third quarter 2015 Export Permit led to a drop of about N160,000 bpd in April 2015, adding that shut- down and shutin of trunks and pipe lines at terminals also continueed to impact negatively on crude oil revenue. She also revealed that the Excess Crude Account has a total sum of $2.78 billion. However, she said that the NNPC has not refunded the $1.48 billion to the Federation Account because it is being considered by the relevant authorities.
8
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Politics SA’AD ABUBAKAR
Æs
How Sultan secured Dogara’s seat
Politics Editor: Akinjide Akintola E-mail: Akinjide.akintola@dailytimes.com.ng
More facts have emerged on how the battle for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives was won and lost. One of the contestants who eventually won and became the Speaker, Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara after defeating Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, the candidate sponsored by the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) revealed that the power behind his victory was the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III According to him, despite the
Change Mantra: Fears for Buhari “How will PMB convince these rapacious legislators to embrace the change mantra by shedding their excess luggage of corruption and gluttony. Only time will tell”
Tom Garba Yola
As Nigerian are increasingly relying heavily on the shoulders of President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) for the desired and long awaited change mantra, I slightly disagree with this total reliance on one man (Buhari) for the expected change. This is because of the way and manner the previous government bastardised the country’s economy which would now require the contribution of all and sundry to be improved. This is taking into cognizant the fact that there are three arms of government which are independent, but mutually interdependent. The judiciary is responsible for interpretation of laws and
dispensing justice. How can the PMB administration curb corruption when many cases of corruption sent to the judiciary are delayed for more than a decade? Today most the cases against the first generation of governors who left power eight years ago are yet to be diligently disposed of. The only cases disposed of are that of the governor of Bayelsa and Edo states. In the case of Edo, he was not jailed but was made to pay only fine of N3.5m after embezzling billions of Edo state funds. Imagine a court in Port Harcourt restraining the EEFC perpetually from arresting or investigating Dr Peter Odilli and up to now nobody dared investigate him because of that order and nobody has appealed against the order. Take the case of James Ibori
stiff opposition from his party, APC, the backing of the Sultan of Sokoto, enabled him to emerge speaker. Speaking at a thanksgiving service held in his honour at the Church of Christ in all Nations (COCIN), Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State, Dogara attributed his victory to the mercies of God, the goodwill of the Sultanate, his constituents, the entire state and other parts of the country. The speaker said: “this victory that we celebrate here today won’t have been possible without God, the Sultanate and oth-
ers across the country. “For us who are Christian minorities in the North, we should acknowledge that this victory we are celebrating here today was made possible by the intervention of the Sultan and others. We should know that there is new thinking in the North. “We owe it a duty to make sure we unite our own part of the country and other parts of the country. My emergence as Speaker is as a result of the support of all major tribes of Nige-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
BUHARI, MUHAMMADU
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria the then Governor of Delta State that had his charges dismissed for want of evidence, but was jailed in England for the same criminal pillage of Delta State resources and was even made to part with huge sums and properties to Delta State government. So far more than a dozen of governors are facing trials in various courts for almost a decade without any head way. Based on these antecedents of our courts, will these courts align itself with the anti corruption crusade of PMB? Only time will tell. The case of the legislature is legendary in terms of being an active collaborator in massive pillage of our resources either through excessive budgetary allocations to itself or conniving with MDAS to pad budgets for their pecuniary interests
or through oversight functions where they allegedly connive with Chief Executives of MDAS to deprive the nation of its scarce resources. How will PMB convince these rapacious legislators to embrace the change mantra by shedding their excess luggage of corruption and gluttony. Only time will tell. On the Executive that will come on board, unless a meticulous selection process is put in place to give appointment to transparent, honest and detribalized Nigerians, the change mantra might be dead on arrival. The most vulnerable group are the electorate who are used to being impatient, expecting largess from the politicians, being mental and physically lazy CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
9 Politics
How to win war on terror, by Gen. Akinrinade Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade has counseled the Federal Government on how to win the ongoing war against the Boko Haram insurgents in the country and neigbouring nations. According Akinrinade, a veteran of the Civil War, the military alone cannot win the war against the Boko Haram terrorists. Speaking at a seminar organised by the Gusau institute, Kaduna, he said that the war can only be won with the active support of the political class, businessmen and all citizens. He pointed out that for Nigeria to defeat the insurgents from the north east and neigbouring countries, every citizen must assist the military in one form or another through
information sharing and intelligence gathering. His submission came on the heels of the relocation of the military command to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital to combat the insurgency, headlong. Though Akinrinade did not proffer specific solution to the insurgency, he called on the management of Gusau institute to direct its expertise in security issues towards finding lasting solution to Boko Haram. Akinrinade said he has heard a lot of theories about Boko Haram from many people , but could not still fathom the causes of Boko Haram. He was also quick to add he was not aware of any military doctrine that has been put down that has addressed effectively guerrilla warfare.
Akinrinade
Hate messages: Igbo group appeals to Lagosians
OBA RILWAN AKIOLU
Oba of Lagos
Following tension being generated by hate messages sent to Igbo living in Lagos from unknown sources, an Igbo group has appealed for a ceasefire. The group, Igbo Conscience, urged all Igbo living in Lagos with the Yoruba to settle their differences amicably and move on. In a statement, the group said the call had become necessary because of the bad blood generated during the elections warning that if the bitterness was not addressed, it could lead to conflicts in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won elections in areas dominated by the Igbo indigenes while the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in areas dominated by Yoruba, an indication that tribal affiliation determined the outcome of the elections. The statement read, “The Igbo
Conscience has noted, with grave concern, the increasing negative fallout of the last general election, which, if not checked, may lead to much more unsavoury developments in the country. “Of particular concern to us is the increasing spate of hate messages that have now taken over the once cordial and fruitful relationship between Ndigbo and the Yoruba. We note that the cordial relationship between the two great races has been greatly soured by the process leading to the last general election. “We note that the events that are tragically spiraling into a dangerous exchange of hate messages have now gone to the extent of some Yoruba groups mobilising some Yoruba indigenes to mount anti-Igbo protests in Lagos. “The group noted that the rivalry even transcended the bor-
ders of Nigeria as some Igbo in Texas, United States, picketed the hospital of a Yoruba doctor, Dr. Ayo Ariyo, for defending the comments made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, who said Igbo would perish in the lagoon if they did not vote for Akinwunmi Ambode, the governorship candidate of the APC. It urged Igbo in the US to let sleeping dogs lie. The statement added: “Equally, we note the concern of these Igbo groups to the continued picketing of a Yoruba, Dr. Ayo Ariyo, in Dallas, US, by some Igbo over some comments he allegedly made for which he had been reported to have made sufficient clarification. “We condemn both actions and we see these as very dangerous and warn that no one, either Igbo or Yoruba, will gain from a degeneration of this situation”, it stressed.
“The group noted that the rivalry even transcended the borders of Nigeria as some Igbo in Texas, United States, picketed the hospital of a Yoruba doctor, Dr. Ayo Ariyo, for defending the comments made by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, who said Igbo would perish in the lagoon if they did not vote for Akinwunmi Ambode, the governorship candidate of the APC. It urged Igbo in the US to let sleeping dogs lie”
Politics 10
Saraki
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Dogara
Buhari
Justice Mohammed
Achieving the Change Mantra CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 and blindly supporting politicians for ethno religious considerations other than merit. Will they fine tune their mentality to embrace change mantra? Again, the law enforcement agencies are chronically corrupt and are prepared to derail a case for monetary and other pecuniary considerations. Will they adjust to the change in the air? There are other sundry
groups such as the press whose role is to expose graft and other vices, but they themselves are on the pay roll of some dubious politicians or are working in organizations that are geared towards promoting the interests of the owner of such media outfits. There are also nebulous civil servants that are subservient to any government in power and are prepared to bend well established government procedures to satisfy the whim and caprices of the new men in power.
The broader solutions to all these bottle necks is to embark on far reaching reforms such as: In the judiciary; the president should push for a constitutional amendment or an enactment of a law to establish courts that will deal with only corruption cases and the country shall have six of such courts in each of the six geopolitical zones. The courts shall not be presided by serving judges, but by retired judges known for their track record of competence and incorruptibility and will serve
for only five years and shall not be more than 75 years of age. It shall also be open to elderly members of the bar. The legislators are however to be handled with caution. The best way is to dialogue with the Executive and present a template to them that will require sacrifice from them and the Executive. This shall be well publicised so that the electorate and the general public will be on the neck of the legislature to do needful. The law enforcement agents
have a cancer that is malignant i.e. taking bribe; but that can be stopped from spreading if they are well equipped and well motivated. The civil service can be keyed in once the leadership is totally committed to its policies and programmes. Just like the law enforcement agencies, they require motivation and materials and equipment to discharge their onerous responsibilities. The Change Mantra is achievable.
Abubakar
Dogara
Fight of the Titans: Bauchi ex-Gov battles successor
Mohammed
Daniel Jolly Bauchi
A storm is brewing as the battle line seems to have been drawn between the former governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda and incumbent Governor Mohammed Abubakar. The for-
mer governor is determined for a showdown with the forces that united to force him to relinquish every vehicle, plots of land and state fund allegedly filtered away by his administration. Abubakar had disclosed that Yuguda, left a debt of over N125billion which included External and
Domestic debts. The Governor, had, at several fora before he was sworn-in said that he would not investigate the Yuguda administration as, according to him, it was a waste of government resources adding that the former governor left a treasury that was next to nothing of accessible funds. According to him, the Yuguda administration lived at the expense of the Bauchi State populace in the last eight years for which it will be remembered for. Abubakar said: “From the interim reports and findings, of the transition committee, the legacies that have been bequeath to us as a new government are those that require us to inject huge efforts with regards to restoration of the governance system. “The previous government literally lived at the expense of
CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Sultan secured speaker’s seat for Dogara CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 ria and all faiths in Nigeria”, he stressed. The leadership of the APC had picked Gbajabiamila for the post and Ahmed Lawan for the position of the Senate President and asked all its members at the National Assembly to back them. It was supposed to be a straight forward thing since
the party controlled the majority in both houses. But Saraki and Dogara broke rank with the party and sought the backing of the opposition members in the two chambers to emerge by defeating the candidates of their party. A lot of things have been said on what transpired leading to their emergence until Dogara himself announced the involvement of the Sultan in the whole process.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 Bauchi State’s populace for the last eight years and has today accrued liabilities for which it will be remembered. We have taken a government owing a cumulative External and Domestic debts to the tune of over N125 billion”, he added. The governor gave breakdown of the debt profile of the state said that the domestic loans were a total of N48, 743, 196, 021. 79; while foreign loans stood at N18, 915, 644, 597. 04, adding that other liabilities included contractual liabilities of N41, 556, 123, 229. 05, gratuity arrears (State Government) N7, 741, 016, 737. 19, while the gratuity arrears for the Local Government was N6, 924, 783, 007.92. The sum of N1, 670, 407, 774. 00 was for Salary arrears for January 2015. He described as quite disturbing the huge debt profile adding that “from the records available, a total of about N864 billion (excluding Ecological Fund) has accrued to Bauchi State in the last eight years. “Yet, rather that discussing consolidation upon gains, here we are, a new leadership in Bauchi State, sourcing means to commence the initial stages of basic development in the midst of huge indebtedness, poor human, capital and deteriorating environmental conditions. “Presently, the treasury of Bauchi State has next to nothing of accessible funds. This is quite disturbing”, he said. Governor Abubakar said his administration is now faced with the immediate need of sourcing and servicing unpaid workers’ salaries for April and May to the tune of N5.2 billion which recently sent them on strike. He added that his administration will have to source and pay the outstanding of over N572 million government subsidies in accommodation of pilgrims for this year’s hajj operations to be facilitated. Abubakar further added that, among other things, his government will have to also source for money to procure fertilizers for the teaming farmers in the state disclosing that the state warehouse has less than 1, 200 tons as against the requirement of 20, 000 tons for this farming season. According to him, the obvious cost of running of government including such areas as in sustaining the security operatives and arrangements require the state’s urgent financial attention. He declared that despite all these, he remains resolute in bringing the dividends of democracy to the people of the state. “We intend to commence work from this day to maximize the
11 Politics
Ex-Governor Yuguda set for showdown with Gov Abubakar “However, Yuguda has warned Abubakar not to reverse any decision he made while in office while refuting the allegation that his administration left a debt of N125b in the state” value that can be drawn from the decaying systems while we strive to introduce interim measures to improve same. However, Yuguda has warned Abubakar not to reverse any decision he made while in office while refuting the allegation that his administration left a debt of N125b in the state. Yuguda said: “ any public servant that has worked under me and I handed over any property to him and I signed and approved it, that approval is legal and Abubakar has no right to reverse that approval. Also anything that I allocated to any individual, group or associations remains legal, so Abubakar does not have any right to reverse my decision. “If Abubakar thinks he can reverse what I have done, he has made a mistake because I have the right as an Excutive Governor elected by my people to take decisions on their behalf, so any person that is aggrieved should go to court. “The governor should be called to order because he has no right to upturn my own decision and they don’t have right to change anything or harass anybody within the state,” Yuguda warned. On the N125b debt, Yuguda said all the loans he handed over to Governor Abubakar was not up to N80b including the loan he inherited from his predecessor, Adamu Muazu which included foreign loans that would be serviced for a period of 40 years. He said: “while I was in office, we paid salaries, provided water, security, education. We constructed International Airport, Specialist Hospital among others. When
Mohammed
I came into government in 2007, I did not only meet an empty treasury but I met over draft of N8b in the account which I inherited from Adamu Muazu and I did not make any noise about it; I did not complain but I started my work as a governor. “We took a bond from capital market which is N52b and we completed the Airport, specialist hospital and we also have N7b arrears of gratuity and N1.3b of contractor obligation. We inherited about N20b Foreign debt which is payable in 30 to 40 years, these are the only debt that we know of, so, if there is any debt apart from this maybe Abubakar has taken the debt. “These are the figures that I handed over to Abubakar, if you convert the debt that you are going to pay for a period of 30 to 40 years its not up to 80b . So what the governor is saying is a white lie, it’s unfortunate that somebody in his position will be talking like that , I handed over to him and he signed and collected the handing over documents. If he gave any other information outside that one, may be he has his own Government somewhere. “During my administration, we paid pension up to date, we only have the arrears of gratuity. When I came in to government in 2007, the government was paying salary of N550m monthly but I increased it to N2.6b every month for state government and N2.2b for Local governments, so where will I get the money to pay gratuity? so if they are going to take up the responsibility of the Federal
Yuguda
Government let’s see how they are going to make it, so, this month he should come out with money and pay the contractors as well as pay Civil Servants salaries. When I came in 2007, apart from increasing the over draft position, oil was selling for 38 dollars and we tried our best in running the Government. Already, both Abubakar and Yuguda are at each other’s neck with Abubakar directing that all government accounts be frozen . Similarly, all pending financial transactions and institutions and instruments from the past administration were suspended. However, MDAs that are charged with essential services may formally apply for waver from his office. He also dissolved all Local Government Caretaker Committees with immediate effect directing the administrators to hand over all affairs to their Heads of Personnel.” He rolled-out some of his plans of repositioning the state, saying that he would, in collaboration with a commercial bank, immediately swing into action on the over bloated civil service, conduct a forensic audit and biometric exercise of all personnel under the payroll of the state government towards ending indolence and ghost workers syndrome. The Governor who hinged his delay in appointing his cabinet members to careful choice in order to avoid mistake carried out by the last Administration where the state lost countless opportunities that gave her a huge debt profile, insisted that the state and its
people cannot afford to continue to allow the same people. The Task force committee set up byAbubakar has so far recovered 24 cars from three out of the four wives of the ex- governor. The current governor accused the former of carting away over 100 government vehicles. He said: “close to the handing over, the last administration prepared a memo to buy 16 cars for him and his Deputy but only gave them four. “He queried where the remaining cars are or the money for meant for them. But Yuguda refuted the insinuations that 22 SUV cars were retrieved from his wives as widely publicized in various media organizations declaring that most of the said vehicles were grounded and retrieved from the mechanics and towed to the Government House and not from the houses of his wives.. Yuguda said the that the vehicles were not officially allocated to his wives but used as utility vehicles at the pool of the Government House since he was elected as Governor in 2007 explaining that the vehicles have so been used since then. The former Governor who spoke through his media team said that there was no iota of truth in the claim by the Committee that the vehicles were retrieved from any of his wives saying, “having left on May 29, 2015, I personally directed that all the vehicles be accounted for and returned to the Government House where they belong to and that was exactly what was done”.
News 12
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Saraki clears air on fat pay for NASS Members Olufemi Samuel, Abuja
ÏÏÏ
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, said the media reports on huge allocation of wardrobe allowances for National Assembly members are fictitious and baseless. Saraki said what the media had reported about staggering amounts allocated to Senators as allowances, were far from the truth and at variance with the facts presented by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC). There has been instant public outcry against media reports that each member of the House of Representatives had been allocated the sum of N17.5 million as wardrobe allowance, while each of 109 senators will get the sum of N21.5million. Since the past two weeks when reports on the issue hit
the airwaves, the different civil society groups had been taking turn to stage protests at the premises of the National Assembly, each appealing to the management to shelve the idea of allocating huge sums for legislators Saraki said he had met with officials of RMAFC on the issue and came to a conclusion that a Committee of the Senate would be set up, to re-appraise the structure of the National Assembly, and in particular, ensure that the allowances due
to members are in tandem with the present reality on national economy and the mood of the nation. He said, however, that the outcry on the issue of legislators’ allowances was a wake-up call for Senators to be more transparent in their conduct while dedicating themselves to the task of nation building. The 8th Senate, he said, has the responsibility to minimise crises in Nigeria, while directing its energy on the task of generating more revenue for the country,
and at the same time ensuring reduction in revenue leaking points in Nigeria. Against this background, Saraki announced the composition of an 18-man Ad-hoc Committee with three members to be drawn from each of the geopolitical zones of the federation, all to draw a legislative agenda for the current Senate. The new legislative agenda, he told his colleagues, will enable the Senate to be more focused and be able to face the challenges that are already facing Nigeria.
Ambode, Ezekwesili, identify solution to economic woes ÏÏÏ Governor of Lagos State,
Akinwunmi Ambode and the former Minister for Education, Dr Obi Ezekwesili, have both stated that the only solution to the socioeconomic problem confronting the nation, is the development of the human capital in both public and private sector. The duo, however, agreed that, that can only be driven by an efficient and effective public service at both federal and state levels. Both were speaking at the grand finale of the annual public service week of the Lagos State government, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, where Governor Ambode noted that the celebration of the public service week, as initiated by the United Nations (UN) is to appreciate the critical roles of government workforce in nation building and socio-economic development of societies. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, added that for the full implementation of policies by government at any level, the public service either at the state or federal, civil service must be strengthened to drive such policies and provide the necessary human resources towards achieving the desired results for the benefit of the people.
BRIEFS Kano govt vows to revive Triumph Newspapers Yakubu Salisu
ÏÏÏ
The Kano State government has promised to revive the Triumph Publishing Company, which was closed down by the immediate past administration of Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso. The newly appointed Commissioner for Information, Malam Mohammed Garba, gave the assurance while speaking with members of staff of the ministry on assuming duties in his office. Garba said the company was still listed in the line of media establishments owned by the state and nothing would stop the government from reactivating it. He assured staff of the ministry that he would work toward promoting their welfare, urging them to give him the necessary support and cooperation to achieve the desired objective. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Garba Musa, used the occasion to highlight some of the pressing challenges of the ministry that needed urgent attention.
Three drown in Kwara community L-R: Company Secretary FCMB Group, Mrs Funmi Adedibu; Chief Financial Officer/Executive Director First City Monument Bank Limited, Mrs. Oluyemisi Edun; Managing Partner First Almond Attorneys, Mrs. Olajumoke Bakare and Personal Assistant to Founder FCMB Group, Mrs Olubusola Adekusibe At the Cocktail Dinner in Honour of Edun on her new appointment to the Board of FCMB LTD as Executive Director held at Jade Restaurant Victoria Island Lagos… recently
Tribunal chair’s retirement stalls hearing on Oyo guber petition Remi Oladoye, Ibadan
ÏÏÏ The hearing of the petition
in the governorship election petition tribunal, sitting in Ibadan, was on Tuesday, stalled as a result of the retirement of the chairman of the tribunal, Justice F.C. Obieze. The retirement of the chairman was announced by Hon. Justice Mohammed Karaye, while briefing counsels who had come for pre hearing conference, scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord party, had filed a petition challenging the
declaration of Abiola Ajimobi by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the winner of the election in the governorship election of April 11, in Oyo State. It would be recalled that Obieze, before his retirement, had on June 18, fixed Tuesday for the commencement of the pre-hearing session. While informing the counsel, Justice Muhammed Karaye, a member of the tribunal, said that the pre-hearing session cannot commenced because of the chairman of the tribunal, who retired after reaching the retirement age of 65 years.
Karaye said that the tribunal cannot sit without the chairman. He further stated that he was informed that a new chairman of the tribunal has been appointed and would probably be in Ibadan on Friday. The Judge, however, adjourned the case to June 29 for the pre-hearing session. While addressing the newsmen, Mr Richard Ogunwole, counsel to Ladoja and Accord party, said that he was very happy that the chairman of the tribunal retired before the commencement of the hearing.
Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin
ÏÏÏ The people, of Okerimi-Oro
community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara state are still mourning the tragic death of three secondary school boys that got drowned inside well last weekend. Daily Times learnt that the three kids, whose ages are between 14 and 15 years, are students of Ayaki Secondary School, located in the area. It was gathered that one of the three kids had tried to fetch water from the well in the community to perform ablution last Friday when he incidentally fell inside the well. “Instead of alerting adults around to rescue her drowning mate, he tried to climb down the well to do the rescue, but also fell inside and likewise the third boy, thereby throwing the entire community into mourning mood since last weekend”, a member of the community said. According to him, a supernatural twist was introduced to the incident, saying the leaves thrown inside as part of rituals got dried, adding that the well later got dried after the corpses were taken out.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
13 International
US to position tanks, artillery across Europe
German Defence Minister, Ursual von der Leyen, (center) and her U.S. counterpart, Ash Carter, (left) inspect an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defence Ministry in Berlin, Germany, on Monday
ÏÏÏU.S. Defence Secretary, Ash
Carter, said Tuesday the U.S. will pre-position about 250 tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled howitzers in eastern and central Europe in a move to reassure NATO allies unnerved by threats from Russia and
UN panel to review CAR child sex abuse claims ÏÏÏ
A former Supreme Court justice of Canada will lead a review of how the United Nations handled allegations that French and African troops sexually abused children in the Central African Republic, the UN announced on Monday. Marie Deschamps will chair the independent panel that will include Hassan Jallow of Gambia, a prosecutor of the UN tribunal for Rwanda, and Yasmin Sooka, executive director of the Foundation of Human Rights in South Africa. The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, announced the creation of the panel earlier this month following a furore over allegations that French troops had sexually abused children at a camp for displaced civilians near Bangui, from December 2013 to June 2014.
terrorist groups. Carter, during a trip to Tallinn, said the Baltic states – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia – as well as Bulgaria, Romania and Poland agreed to host elements of the military equipment. Some of the equipment would also be located in Ger-
The United Nations has been badly shaken by accusations that it failed to act quickly to respond to the serious claims contained in a report by UN rights investigators that was leaked to the media in April. At least 14 French soldiers are under investigation over allegations that children were forced to perform oral sex in exchange for food. The report also provided accounts from children, aged 8 to 13, who said troops from Chad and Equatorial Guinea brutally raped boys. UN spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said the panel would have unrestricted access to all UN records, staff members and other UN personnel to assess the world body's response to the allegations. Deschamps, who served on the Supreme Court for 10 years until 2012, has recently presented a report on sexual misconduct in the Canadian armed forces. The panel will begin work next month and aim to submit a report within ten weeks. French troops were deployed to the Central African Republic in December 2013 to help African Union peacekeepers restore order after the country exploded into violence triggered by a coup.
many. The amount of equipment that would be stored in each country would be enough to supply either a company, which would be enough for about 150 soldiers, or a battalion, enough for about 750 soldiers. "We will temporarily stage one
Japan's PM heckled at World War II event ÏÏÏJapanese
Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, was heckled Tuesday as he gave a speech to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa, one of World War II's bloodiest battles. In a reflection of widespread local resentment at the U.S. military's presence on Okinawa, members of the audience shouted "go home" and "stop lying" as the prime minister took the stage. "I will stand at the forefront to move forward the development of Okinawa," said Abe, amid jeers from the crowd. "The people of Okinawa have carried the burden of concentration of the U.S. bases for the sake of national security." Many Okinawans resent the presence of the tens of thousands of U.S. troops, citing the soldiers'
armoured brigade combat team's vehicles and associated equipment in countries in central and eastern Europe," Carter said at a joint press conference with three Baltic defense ministers. He said the equipment could be moved around the region for training and military exercises. The equipment, along with the commitment of resources for NATO's high-readiness task force, would be part of a two-pronged U.S. plan meant to underscore America's commitment to helping allies counter the growing threats on Europe's eastern and southern fronts. A Russian defence ministry official said stationing tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border would be the most aggressive U.S. act since the Cold War. President Vladimir Putin announced Russia would add more than 40 intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year. Carter has condemned Russia's "loose rhetoric" involving nuclear arms. On Monday, Carter said the United States "will not rely on the Cold War playbook" in dealing with Russia, but instead will rely on a combination of military and non-military tools to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine.
behaviour, noise pollution and the dangers of an aircraft crash on the densely populated island. A plan to relocate the Futenma Air Base from its current heavily populated location to a sparsely populated coastal region is also unpopular with many locals. Okinawa Governor, Takeshi Onaga, who opposes the relocation plan, was greeted warmly as he spoke at Tuesday's commemoration at the Peace Memorial Park on the southern tip of Okinawa. "We strongly ask the Japanese government to abort the relocation of Futenma base to Henoko, and we hope it would once again rethink the plans to relocate the U.S. military base within Okinawa," said Onaga.
Abe
Mexico: 10 bodies found in Acapulco mass graves ÏÏÏAuthorities
found have 10 bodies in mass graves on the outskirts of Mexico's Pacific resort of Acapulco, a city beset by drug gang violence. The corpses of seven men and three women were exhumed from seven clandestine pits far from the tourist zone, Guerrero state chief prosecutor Miguel Angel Godinez told AFP. "There are apparently no more [bodies] and with that we concluded the exhumation," Godinez said. The graves were discovered late Sunday following an anonymous tip and the bodies were found with the help of sniffer dogs in a search that continued through Monday. Several mass graves have been found in recent years in Acapulco's periphery. Guerrero is also where prosecutors say 43 college students were abducted by local police in the city of Iguala in September and handed over to a drug gang, which killed them and incinerated their bodies.
700 dead in Pakistani heatwave ÏÏÏPakistan's
prime minister has called for emergency measures as the death toll from a heatwave in southern Sindh province reached nearly 700. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it had received orders from Nawaz Sharif to undertake immediate response measures. The army has also been deployed to set up heat stroke centres and assist the NDMA, it added. Many of the victims are elderly people from low income families. Health officials say many deaths have been in the largest city, Karachi, which has experienced temperatures as high as 45C (113F) in recent days. Sindh province Health Secretary, Saeed Mangnejo, said that 612 people had died in the city's main government-run hospitals during the past four days. Another 80 are reported to have died in private hospitals. Thousands more are being treated, and some of them are in serious condition. The demand for electricity for air conditioning has coincided with increased power needs over Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours.
News 14
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Lagos Assembly to investigate death of fire fighter Alade Tasma
ÏÏÏThe
Lagos State House of Assembly has set up a commıttee to unravel the cırcumstances that surrounded the death of a personnel of the State Fıre Servıce, Mr. Olumıde Ogunubı. Representatıve of Epe
Constıtuency II, Hon. Segun Olulade, raised the matter under motion number 4, during plenary, on Tuesday, observing that the fire fighter who was attached to Ikotun Fire Service station met his untimely death, while trying to save a plumber, who had fallen ınto a well. “If the cırcumstances are
not well investigated, it would affect the morale of fire fighters in the state and in the country, given that the offıcer died in active service. Thıs House should call on the state government to upgrade the fire service equipment and update the Fire Service Law of 1972,” he said.
Olulade explaıned that the late Olumide had responded to an emergency call and the belt he used to tie himself to the well snapped leading to his untimely death. Another lawmaker, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, ın hıs submıssıon, charged the state government and the
Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure that areas in the state had access to water to discourage diggıng of borehole by ındıvıduals to forestall recurrence. Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi commended the motion, adding that the state gov-
ernment should be proactive and do something about preventable deaths in the state. “Thıs is a wake-up call to the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to do risk assessment to know the risks their staff are exposed to”, Ogunyemı stated.
Police nab two teenagers for gay acts in Bauchi Daniel Jolly Bauchi
ÏÏÏ An 18-year-old man,
L-R: Guest Speaker, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Director, United Nations Information Centre, Lagos, Mr Ronald Kayanja; Former Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams and Executive Director, Hope for Life Initiative, Ms Kendi Aig-Imonu during the commemoration of 2015 International Widow’s Day in Lagos… on Tuesday
NANS suggests 60% pay cut for NASS members Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti
ÏÏÏIn
view of the said empty treasury met by the present Government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and the lean resources of the country, the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), has urged the leadership of the National Assembly to effect a 60 percent cut in their salaries and allowances. In a phone chat with
NANS’ Coordinator, Zone D, Sunday Asefon in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, the students’ body said it was unfathomable that the federal lawmakers could be expecting jumbo pay, at a time the country is experiencing economic hardship. He said the revelation by President Buhari that he met an empty treasury was enough reason for every political office holder to be ready to make sacrifices to prevent the econo-
my from totalcollapse. NANS urged the lawmakers to be honourable enough to understand the plight of Nigerians and behave as selfless leaders. Asefon declared: “I want the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his colleagues to show commitment to Nigerians. They should tread the path of honour and show that their elections were not meant to acquire wealth but to serve Nigerians. “As we speak now, over
Benin airport closure: Arik Air increases frequency on Warri route Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
ÏÏÏArik Air, Nigeria and
West Africa’s largest carrier, has increased flight frequency on the Lagos-Warri and Abuja-Warri route, due to the temporary closure of Benin Airport by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Arik Air started, last Monday, to increase the frequency on the Lagos-Warri
route to make three daily (Monday-Friday) flights. Weekend (Saturday/ Sunday) schedule has been increased from one to two flights. Similarly, the five weekly Abuja-Warri service has been increased with the addition of Saturday and Sunday flights. The new schedule will be operated from June 22 to July 10, when the Benin
Airport would be closed for repair works. The additional LagosWarri flight will depart Lagos daily at 11:30 am and arrive in Warri at 12:30 pm. The inbound flight leaves Warri at 1:00 pm and arrives in Lagos at 2:00 pm. This is in addition to the early morning and late afternoon flights between Lagos and Warri
20 states of the federation cannot pay salaries. Many have not paid salaries in the last six months. No developmental programmes can be attended to because of the parlous state of the economy.”
Mustapha Abdullahi, was arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command, on Tuesday, for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge of an 8-year-old boy. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Haruna Mohammed, stated this while parading the suspect, Abdullahi, before newsmen at the Command’s headquarters in Bauchi. He said that Mustapha Abdullahi, who resided at Wandi District, was arrested by detectives attached to
Dass Division, in Dass Local Government Area, Bauchi State, for committing the offence. Mohammed said the victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Dass for medical examination, saying that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded. In a related development, the Police Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad, led by Inspector Bashir Garba, while on patrol on Makama New Extension Bauchi, recovered an abandoned red Honda Hala Motor vehicle with Borno State plate no. AS 496 MAG
Female suicide bomber strikes Yobe, kills 10 ÏÏÏ
A female suicide bomber on Tuesday detonated her Improvised Explosive Device in Nannawaji village of Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, killing about 10 people and injuring 26 others. Witnesses said those injured in the suicide bomb attack had been taken to the Damaturu specialist’s hospital for treatment. The suicide bomber
struck at about 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) at a market in Gujba, a town that was reclaimed from the sect earlier in the year. “I saw the suicide bomber, a small girl of not more than 12 years. I counted over 10 people that were dead,” said Hussani Ibrahim, a driver, who added that he helped transport 23 injured to a hospital in Damaturu.
JESUS IS LORD MIRACLE PRAYER MINISTRY This is to notify the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act NO1 of 1990.
THE TRUSTEES ARE:
1. PASTOR (MRS) ESTHER IRETIOLUWA SULAIMAN 2. EVANGELIST OLADELE ABIODUN SULAIMAN 3. EVANGELIST TEMITOPE ESTHER OLASUSI 4. ELDER OLUWOLE OMOTADE 5. DEACONESS SEIDAT GIWA
Aims and Objectives:
1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420, Tigris crescent off aguiyi ironsi street, maitama Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.
Signed: Trustees.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
15 Opinion
Medal for Governor Aregbesola
G Wale Ojo
overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State deserves a medal for sufficiently blind folding the people and spreading an untrue information about his inability to pay the state’s workers’ salaries for eight months going. He had accused former President Goodluck Jonathan as being responsible for the workers’ plight. According to him, Jonathan had starved the All PE0PLES CONGRESS [APC] States of funds with which to meet their obligations, prominent amongst which is workers’ salaries. Aregbesola had painted Jonathan as the devil who did not wish the workers well. After Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had been elected president, Ogbeni Aregbesola announced gleefully to the people that Buhari would do what he claimed Jonathan had failed to do ---give the state money to pay its workers’ salaries. But thank God, President Buhari is a forthright person who would not support evil. He told the Governors who had gone to meet him in his characteristic bluntness that he would not pay or help them since they, the Governors, had collected their dues. Former finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had told the then President-elect and the nation that each state of the federation had collected their allocations as, and, when due with a warning to them to pay their workers’ salaries first before embarking on any project. She said further that non- payment of workers’ salaries in the states could be due, either to mismanagement or outright fraud.
She went further to say that the Governors should ask their commissioners of finance where they were keeping their allocations if they had not delivered. Fortunately, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for finance who served as the chairman of the Forum of States Commissioners for Finance confirmed that the Federal Government under former President Jonathan did not owe any state as at the time he handed over to President Muhammadu Buhari. When it became apparent that Governor Aregbesola was not being truthful with his accusation of President Jonathan for the Osun State Workers’ plight, he shifted the blame on the salary increase he did in the state. Having denied the workers their salaries for eight months going, they have turned destitute, with churches and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state appealing for food support for them. Thank God their appeal has started yielding results with responses coming from Senator Ben Murray Bruce and others. Now a coalition of opposition parties as well as civil liberty organisations, among others, has to show their displeasure in a demonstration at Osogbo in support of the workers and pensioners who also have not been paid for months as a result of which over 200 of them are said to have lost their lives. Rather than hide somewhere in shame, Aregbesola in a statement by his media adviser gave himself accolade as having performed well as a Governor. In a civilized society, he would have resigned his position having failed in his duty and responsibility to the
people. Where in the art of administration is it stated that money meant as salaries could be diverted to other projects? Whether he was summoned by President Buhari or he went voluntarily to the President over the issue, the good news is that after a closed-door meeting with the President in Abuja on Friday, June 12, 2015, Governor Aregbesola told State House Correspondents that the Osun State Economic situation was beyond what he could handle. Having admitted his failure and exposed the state to ridicule and its workers to embarrassment, he knows what next to do. The state, it was said, had received to date, over two hundred and four billion Naira, inclusive of the workers’ salaries. Where is the money? If I may ask where is the Governor keeping the workers’ salaries? What has he done with the workers’ and the pensioners’ money? If indeed he is as concerned as he claims to be, let him pay the workers’ salaries without further delay. He should also cough up the pensioners’ monthly stipend, now running to eight months. I am sure, President Buhari is himself shocked and embarrassed to have his party parade Governors who would not pay workers’ salaries for upward of seven, eight months running. Among the 36 states of the federation, Osun State appears to be one of the worst. And the Osun State House of Assembly is helpless in the circumstances because, all the honourable members, except one, belong to the same political party as the Governor. This situation indeed is the tragedy of a one-party legislative assembly. There is no opposition and so the state runs like a private
estate. It is not the workers and the pensioners alone that are affected in this parlous state. Market women, farmers, artisans and all are involved because there is no patronage. Where there is, it is low. If Mr. Governor cannot afford to pay the workers salaries and the pensioners’ stipend, for close to a whole year, then, he has a number of options before him. The situation of our people in Osun State is pitiable and absurd. It is absurd because, until this last month when the NLC called the workers out on strike, many, in spite of their miserable and harsh conditions did not see anything wrong with the Governor’s stolid indifference to their plight. God has a way of humbling the haughty. And the Book of Isaiah 48: 22 says: ‘There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked’. The earlier the Governor has a change of heart and pays the workers and the pensioners their due, the better. One hopes that the statement credited to Governor Aregbesola that he would pay the workers their entire salaries forthwith is not yet another of his propaganda in which he is well versed The Buhari administration has started well and will end well. Let him continue to condemn evil wherever it rears its ugly head. Sai Buhari has refused to be led by the nose to do or support evil in Osun State. Aregbesola should please pay doctors as well. He should please refrain from playing politics with the peoples’ plight. God bless him as he does so today. •Ojo is a former editor of the Sunday Tribune
Buhari’s diplomatic gaffes and national development
Yahaya Balogun
O
ne is mildly pleased with our constructive criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s diplomatic gaffes so far in his international engagements. A learning process. Most newly elected leaders in the world have made same mistakes or gaffes in one time or the other, most especially in the infancy of their administrations. Little research on diplomatic gaffes of world leaders attests to this exposition. President Obama too, one of the greatest orators and quintessential presidents of our time has not been an exception.
Recently, on a programme on CNN cable network, Obama said in his interview when responding to loads and thousands of letters he gets everyday from people, that some are very insulting, he even said, one of the letter writers said he was an idiot. He said, he laughed and sent a reply to thank the writer for his criticism; that it makes him a better person and president. However, henceforth, the handlers of the president on foreign policy need to do thorough jobs before his international engagement to avoid faux pas. The preamble and brief history, names and the essential diplomatic ingredients/recipe of his international engagement should be thoroughly researched and rehearsed before
any trips or engagement. So far, the president has ensued confidence and done well in terms of articulation of our image rebranding and international interactions with world leaders; he has done well with a good start at our inclusion now with the comity of nations. The onus of this new normal is the result and glad news we hear from the president’s international engagements and the local operational take off of the sabotaged Port Harcourt refinery; the sudden stable of the sabotaged electricity generation in the country; the general consciousness of our law enforcement agencies in the performance of their duties; the prompt command and control of the beleaguered security opera-
tions in the country. All these put together so far is restoring hope and giving us-the ardent Buharists’ sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. I am still confident that his umpire and presidential demeanour are a complete break away from the past. We are on the road to recovery, restoration of hope and belief in the greatness of our country again. Let us pray for the success of the administration in its quest to eradicate corruption and insecurity in Nigeria. We should cooperate and give the president some time in that regard and focus more carefully on the domestic issues that are germane to national cohesion, employment, security and development.
16
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
At Acorn Petroleum, we remain committed to delivering unrivaled products and services to our customers. Acorn Petroleum Plc., your new energy
Business Times Æ s
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
17
Business Editor: Emmanuel Ogbonnaya Email: emmanuelogbonnaya@dailytimes.com.ng
R-L: The Managing Director of Internet Solutions Ltd. (IS), a division of Dimension Data (ISDD), Mr. Olusola Teniola; The Managing Director of Rack Centre Ltd, Mr. Ayotunde Coker; The Group Executive Chairman of Jagal, Mr. Anwar Jarmakani; Chief Executive Officer of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Managing Director of Nigerdock Nigeria Plc, Mr. Lloyd Crisp and Head of Technology, NSE, Mrs. Yetunde Ojo during Rack Centre’s CEO Briefing forum held in partnership with The Nigerian Stock Exchange at Clear Essence, Lagos, June 19, 2015.
Senate urged to review PIB tax model, encourage FDIs Augustine Aminu, Abuja Some experts in the Nigerian oil and gas industry on Monday called on the leadership of the new National Assembly to review the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) passed by the 7th House of Representatives in a manner that will sustain the interests of foreign investors. Mr Seyi Gambo, former Public Relations Officer, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said that the bill had generated mixed reactions. Gambo said that the percep-
tion by some stakeholders in the industry was that the passage of the bill would have no effect as it did not receive the mandatory concurrence from the Senate. He said that the proposed higher taxes in the PIB would make exploration of oil and gas uneconomical for International Oil Companies (IOCs), adding that this might lead to low investment by the IOCs. Gambo said that Nigeria currently could not do without the IOCs. According to him, if the 8th Senate did not review the bill, the uncertainties surrounding it might change the IOCs views on investing in Nigeria depending
on how the PIB is implemented. The expert noted that with the current draft of the PIB, it would be highly unlikely that IOCs would invest in offshore and domestic gas projects in the country. He expressed worry over the increase in gas tax from 30 per cent to 80 per cent, royalty payment from seven per cent to 12.5 per cent for big producers and the minimal tax allowances for investment incentives on gas. Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), charged the 8th Senate to do a thorough review of the bill passed by the 7th House of Representatives.
He said that one of the major problems the bill should solve was lack of infrastructure in the gas sector. Okoronkwo said that the lack of infrastructure was the reason behind the huge amount of gas that was being flared in the country. According to him, one of the objectives of the PIB is to enhance government’s revenues through better tax codes and restructuring of joint ventures between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil majors. ``But oil majors, who are said to have benefited immensely from the profit sharing contracts of
1993, have raised concerns that the fiscal terms in the new bill could deter investment in the oil and gas industry,’’ he said. Okoronkwo said that IOCs operating in Nigeria had also expressed their opposition to certain sections of the fiscal term of the PIB over the years. He said that they had continued to raise concerns about the proposed fiscal regime in the PIB. The national president said that some companies sold some of their oil blocks and suspended new investments, especially in deep offshore areas where they had been complaints that the PIB imposed stiffer conditions on operators.
HP commended for holding 2015 ‘Technology Tour’ in Nigeria Opeoluwani Akintayo Hewlett Packard (HP), as part of its contribution to information technology development in Nigeria last week, declared open its 2015 Technology Tour, an event which has been hailed as a veritable platform for enhancing technological advancements in the country’s ICT sector. The event which held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, also held in Abuja, was a gathering of captains of industry, small and medium scale business owners and IT professionals who were fascinated as
they experienced firsthand the value the new HP products in adding to their businesses. The technology tour by HP is aimed at providing Nigerian businesses and IT professional’s the opportunity to tap into the latest technology; and improve the performance and overall profitability of businesses while also guaranteeing security of business intelligence. Declaring the Technology Tour open in Lagos, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technolgy, Lagos State, Mrs. Nike Animashaun, said busi-
nesses around the world need advanced technology as a way of reducing the cost of doing business while also churning out high scale productivity that redefines economies globally. “As a responsible government, we are aware that with information technology, business transactions have become seamless globally, reducing physical presence and creating breath-taking pace of information exchange. The Lagos State Government is happy to be part of the HP Technology Tour 2015” Animashaun declared.
Animashaun further stated that “an event of this magnitude will boost Nigeria’s ICT sector and enhance greater technological advancements through extensive brainstorming on pertinent issues within the IT industry alongside exhibition of the latest advancements in computer technology”. Growing with businesses globally, HP recognizes the potentials of Information Technology and have consistently re-innovate to ensure its customers are not left behind, especially businesses who dear to survive the very chal-
lenging global economic terrain. The HP Technology Tour, presently being conducted across the globe is another giant move by HP to bring its customers closer to the latest in information technology. With these new entrants, HP is redefining the style of doing business as a world class company. Investing over 10 per cent of its income on research and development in 2014, HP is focusing on creating values for businesses, ensuring mobility, cloud with enhanced security features that makes every HP product unique.
Labour 18
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
TUC asks Wike to recall sacked workers Stories by Joy Ekeke Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) might be tempted to believe that the new governor of the state, Barrister Nyesom Wike, is out to play politics of vendetta if reported cases of mass sack of 344 lecturers and others employed at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori since September 2014 by the state’s immediate past administration led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi and the disbandment of the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV) are anything to go by. The Congress posits that such action would not be in tandem with what the nation in general and Rivers State in particular needs at the moment. In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and Secretary General, Comrade Musa Lawal, the Congress expressed shock and disappointment at news of the sack, especially because of the grave consequences it portends for the affected workers, their dependants and the rest of society. The Congress noted that the governor’s actions are most likely fall-outs of the political acrimony that traversed the period before and during the recent elections in the state, and opined that all such considerations ought to have gone with that period. “Right now good governance should be the governor’s priority,” the statement added.
Nasarawa NUT suspends 19-day old strike The Nasarawa State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, on Sunday suspended its 19-day-old strike after signing a memorandum of understanding with the state government. Speaking with newsmen in Lafia, the Chairman of the chapel, Mr Titi Jatau, said the suspension was due to the commitment shown by the state government. The chairman called on the members of the union to re-
sume work on Monday. Jatau said the union suspended the strike after an emergency meeting in Lafia. He said that the state government made a commitment to commence the payment of April and May salaries of primary school teachers by June 25. He appealed to the state government to henceforth pay the salaries of teachers as and when due to enthrone a peaceful learning environment.
CACOL blasts Rivers govt over confiscation of ex-commissioner’s car
Kaigama
According to the Congress, “Nigerians have become increasingly interested in public affairs and impatient for good governance because of years of unfulfilled promises by their leaders. They are much wiser now and can no longer be fooled and impoverished by a minute percentage of the populace.” The labour leaders noted that many of the people whose appointments the governor terminated probably voted for him. They queried: “How will they explain to their friends, family members and associates that the
man they so much believed in and voted for has relieved them of their jobs in spite of the fact that job creation and provision of infrastructure were among his campaign promises?” On Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMARIV) whose officers the Wikeled government accused of constituting nuisance, extorting money from people, causing accidents and loss of lives of innocent persons, the Congress advised that only persons found to have indulged in such acts should be dismissed.
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has condemned the Rivers State Government for breaking into the residence of the former Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state, Ibim Semenitari. The government officials had impounded a vehicle from the residence of the former Commissioner of Information and Communications in the state, Ibim Semenitari. According to a statement by the state government signed by one Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, in its efforts to recover government property from officials of the immediate past administration in the state, securities agents and government officials took possession of government’s vehicle from the home of the former spokesperson for the Rotimi Amechi administration. In her reaction, the ex-commissioner said that 10 policemen with machine guns came to her residence without a search warrant and forced their way into her
premises to cart away the said vehicle which rightfully belonged to her in line with the monetisation policy of the government. Reacting to this on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, has described the action of the present government as official robbery, which should not be condoned in the state. “If anybody steals or lays claims to government’s property, there should be a normal process to be followed for government to take over properties and not through forceful means. Government should be more skillful in dealing with issues and should not be seen to be vindictive. If Ibim Semenitari or anybody has committed any crime, it is the court that should confiscate the proceeds of the crime; not the government engaging in brigandage. We are not holding brief for the ex-commissioner neither are we saying government should not claim what belongs to it from anyone that takes it unlawfully, but she should be properly charged.
Kaduna begins verification of workers today
el-Rufai
The Kaduna State Government on Tuesday began the verification of the workers on its pay roll to enable it to come up with an accurate and reliable database. The exercise, which is expected to last two weeks, will end on July 8. A statement signed by Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant to the State Governor on Media and Publicity and released on Sunday said that the data collected from the exercise would enable the government to determine if the billions of naira being spent monthly on staff salary were being paid to identifiable and verifiable civil servants.
According to the statement, the state government expects to make savings from an updated personnel record after the exercise. It said, ``A circular signed by the Head of Service, Mrs Alisabatu Dada Onazi, said that the biometric exercise will be conducted simultaneously in the three zones with locations in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria.`` The circular also specified the order in which workers from each ministry are expected to go for the exercise. The statement advised workers to be at the verification venue with their letters of appointment, letters of last promotion, and a
means of identification. According the circular, the means of identification should be any of the following: national identity card, driver’s license, permanent voter card or international passport. The statement said that the head of service had directed workers to appear before the verification team for screening and collection of their salary cheques for the month of June 2015. The state government last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank toward working closely to update the state civil service payroll.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
19 Money
Elemo urges youths to channel energy into job creation Charles Okonji
worth in April and the same in May. He lamented that the low turnout resulted to the initiative of the company to start the ‘Blow the whistle’ campaign. Salami added, “We are not the sole owner of electricity in the country we are only one of about seven which we are responsible for the western part of the country. In the western part of the country under the umbrella of IBEDC, Nigerian consumed N4.2billion energy worth in April so also in May. “We are unable to meet up with the target and the revenue that was been release to us in the month of May, we are only able to collect revenue of about
N1.8billion. “With all the analysis of not meeting up with the energy worth, IBEDC has come up with a campaign called ‘Blow the whistle’ for report of energy theft, bribery, extortion, vandalism, fraud, forgery and malpractice from staff.” The Business Manager, Mr. Ajijola Bewaji, urged “customer must play their role in reporting any case of vandalism to the security agencies or call the hotline of IBEDC.” The representative of the Governor of Osun State, Mr Sola Oludepo, urged the IBEDC to exercise patience with the low payment rate caused by government.
Youths have been advised to use their energies in productive ventures that can enhance the socioeconomic development of their communities instead of engaging in destructive tendencies that will bring shame to them and their communities. Dr. Gloria Elemo, DirectorGeneral, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, (FIIRO) gave the advice last week in Lagos, at a one day youth empowerment forum organised by Ubulu-Uku Youths Association (UYA), Lagos Chapter. In her remarks, Elemo stated that Nigerian youths are facing a precarious situation with a high unemployment rate, explaining that such situation should not permit them to take to undignified social vices. She noted that the government has been working hard towards the reduction of unemployment in the country, stressing that an organization such as FIIRO, is committed to boosting research and development that will create job opportunities for the youths. The special day themed “New Growth Agenda for Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation in Anioma” also featured the unveiling of the community’s website: www.udu-youth.org, which was designed to enhance the quality and availability of information to the members as well as showcasing Ubulu-Uku development initiatives in Anioma. A communique was issued at the end of the event which attracted illustrious sons and daughters of Anioma from all works of life. Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Ben Iyiegbuniwe, President, UYA, described the forum as apt, saying it will afford the youths the opportunity to engage strategically with key stakeholders from the community. . In his key note address, Dr Chris Ogbechie, a notable scholar at the Lagos Business School, identified poor quality of educa-
Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo
lication of the organisation. Its focus according to him is to present the public; the revolutionary strides of the organisation, and to enhance its brand development. The Magazine cover focuses on an insightful interview with the head of the organisation, Commissioner/CEO, Dr. Felix Abali on the achievements, challenges and its prospects under his watch. The edition also focuses on
the values, a newly constructed Wreckage Hanger that was handed over to AIB, brings to its operations. It, in addition, showcases the tested and tried Flight safety laboratory analysis centre, that was effectively used to analyse the Associated Airlines crash of last year, which put to sleep the issue of capital flight and the history behind it-which is the beginning of information dissemination on accident investigation.
L-R:Kay Dammholz, DFL Sports Enterprises GmbH; Laura Oloyede, MD/CEO, Laura & Lloyd Communications; Pang XinXing, President, StarTimes Group at the 5th African Digital TV Development Seminar in Beijing, China.
IBEDC loses N2.4bn in May, calls for whistle blowers Sodiq AdeKunle, Osogbo Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company,IBEDC has said that it received less value for energy consumed in the month of May and has subsequently flagged off a campaign of whistle-blowing to expose acts of sabotage and stem further losses. The Regional Technical Manager IBEDC, Engr. Waheed Salami said this at a community relations meeting with their customers in Osogbo. According to him, customers in South Western part of Nigeria consumed N4.2billion energy
AIB out with quarterly publication
Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), an arm of the aviation industry in Nigeria that deals with accident investigation and prevention has just launched the maiden edition of its quarterly publication, for the months of April to June, 2015. According to the Head of Public Affairs Unit of the organisation, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, ‘The Investigator’ is an in-house pub-
tion, unemployment and low level of economic empowerment as critical issues affecting the youth in Nigeria. He urged the Ubulu-Uku youths to change their value system by spending and investing time in sound education and skills acquisition, noting that it will enable them to be competitive and industrious in the Nigerian and global economy. According to the communique issued by UYA, they agreed though there are enormous potentials among them to become great leaders, stressing the need for a change of values among the youths to achieve the desired results. They recognised five sectors that Ubulu-Uku youths can harness as it provides them with interesting agenda for economic growth and development to be Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Entertainment, Sports, Hospitality, Agriculture and Agribusiness. Concentrating on the areas with great potentials, the communique stated that Ubulu-Uku is known for agricultural products such as products-palm oil, cassava, yam etc, pointing out that these potentials can be explored for entrepreneurship. “Another area that can be explored by the youths is event Management. These areas to be explored could not have come at a better time than now as the era of reshaping CVs for white-collar jobs are gradually fading away. Now is the time to think of how to create jobs.” “There exist the need to tap into the business of trade and retail, an area which has long been neglected by youths for greater entrepreneurship and development in Ubulu-Uku. More importantly, Ubulu-Uku youths should fully embrace entrepreneurship and tap into various innovative programs for empowerment. These programs include Federal Government’s SURE-P, graduate program, FIIRO investment initiatives, etc.”
Abali
Interview 20
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Agric intervention funds hijacked by unqualified persons ‘‘Most people who are not supposed to benefit from the intervention fund hijack these funds with their positions in government and those who are to benefit from the fund don’t get it.’’ not stay till next season when not used or sold immediately. Again, what is the value that you are going add to the farm produce? That is where the intervention has to come in.
Cobham
Barr Emmanuel Cobham is the Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the umbrella body of the organized private sector. In this interview with CHARLES OKONJI, he speaks on the development of the agricultural value chain, economic policies and funding challenges for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Now that NACCIMA is piloting the leadership of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), what are your plans? There is a lot of intervention and since I came on board, the first thing I did was to meet the members of the organized private sector. This is because we need to look internally to enable us strengthen the areas where there are weaknesses and we will drive the process very well because I know that Nigerians expect a lot from the OPS. What have you put in place for the agricultural group of NACCIMA to benefit from several policies of the Federal Government? Like the intervention fund policy of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the apex bank just brought N200 billion as SME intervention fund. SME is a generic term because agriculture is part
of the SME and other related areas. All you need to do is to make sure that your business plan is related to the area of the intervention fund a stakeholder is interested in. Our chamber is trying to position itself in a place where they will be able to understand all these things that have to do with SME and redirect them properly. Also we want to be the voice of business in the country and for you to be the voice of business you have to be at the point where you are visible and where they cannot ignore you as voice of business in Nigeria. These are the things we want to do as a group. We are going to intervene by meeting the agencies of government and be able to assure them, on the right place to go. Most people who are not supposed to benefit from the intervention fund hijack these funds with their positions in government and those who are to benefit from the fund don’t get it. The end result is that the farmers who are supposed to get the agriculture intervention funds which is a small amount for them to grow their produce are denied such funds, hence being unable to fund the whole of their input and when they harvest, their produce also rot away, knowing that preservation is a very big challenge in agricultural sector, and we know that farm produce can-
Recently, the fertilizer farm input suppliers complained for non-payment for the last year’s supplies, threats not to supply for this year. As a stakeholder, do you think that is good for the country? This is the problem of nonperformance of an agency or body that its responsibility is to make the payment of supplies to private companies in the agricultural sector. All we have to do is to appeal to the relevant agencies to pay the companies because we don’t know the true situation for non-payment of the supply; rather we are appealing that those people should be paid, because it will affect the progress recorded in the agricultural sector. As OPS, if we have the details of the transaction, we will look into it and write to the appropriate authority for settlement. What is your take considering the slow pace of activities of the new government? Nigerians are a little in hurry, but government is a progressive thing, policies are made not to stop but to continue. Nigerians should give the new government time and if I ask people how does the slow pace of the new government activities affect individuals in the country? It is very important to know because we cannot rush the president or the governors to do what they are not ready to do for the development of the country. If the president or governors make mistakes in their appointment, it is the same people that will complain about the leaders, if they don’t put the right person in a proper position, the system will not work and the expectations of Nigerians will not be meet.
I appeal for time for them, let them take their time; Nigerians should not push them to rush into appointing people who will not key into their visions, because political campaigning is totally different from the real government. Now, when you get into office, you will face real problem and true situations on ground that they never anticipated and that is how governance is. During the presidential campaign, President Muhammadu Buhari took some eminent Nigerians to his farm and as a stakeholder, what is your take on that? It means several things put together, it means, come and see how a private individual is doing things, and then let’s replicate this at national level. Diversifying our economy from oil is very important in this country and on our Annual General Meeting; agriculture development was our main focus. Are you satisfied with the level of funds accessed by your members from the government’s intervention funds? Intervention funds are not limited to government alone; they are so many agencies that provide intervention fund for the real sector in the country. All we need to do is to attract other agencies that can intervene in other subsector of the economy, although, the government will do its part and you can never be satisfied because two persons can say different things at the same time. They will look at it from different positions, how it affects them from sociological background and how it affects their friends. Also, how it affects their family members, maybe those who went for it were shunned or didn’t get the right responses. The aggregate that comes up, will start talking against the development and say that there is no satisfaction there, but if you
look at the people saying that they are not satisfied with the fund but not failure of the intervention funds that was made available. Also, they are saying the way or manner they are handling the funds is not good. Sometimes, there is need for redirection and new attitude from the stakeholders on the intervention funds. What is your view about Bank of Agriculture taking into consideration what Bank of Industry is doing in the real sector through financing while the agricultural sector suffers for poor funding? The Bank of Agriculture is effective like the Bank of Industry in the area of agricultural sector and critical stakeholders are benefiting from their loans. Other people should approach the bank branches close to them and find out first what is involved. What word do you have for the government as regards agricultural development? Government intervention in agriculture is to ensure that the people do not go hungry and there is abundance of food in the country. If the people are happy today, they would not disturb the government and as government is trying to intervene, some people should not hijack any good agricultural development programme of the government. This is because most times, people hijack good programmes meant for promotion and growth of the sector, for instance, the last government was able to check the fraud fertilizer distribution, which was a known factor that people do hijack fertilizer, undermining the harm it caused sector. Some people store the fertilizers in their warehouses till it expires while those that really need it would not have access to it. My advice is that there should be an easy flow of things to enable every stakeholder benefit adequately and appropriately.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Timessearch e-mail: oyin_K@yahoo.com 08055103156
Sarah ODEDE
Does fall in Naira justify hike in cargo tariff? TIMESEARCH PAGE has recently become my favorite page in the Daily Times and this has made me to understand many things I needed to in many areas of my interest. Please, I would be glad if you could use your good offices to help throw more light on the issue of Cargo operators in our airports as the raise in tariff gives a sort of concern especially to people like me whose business has to do with cargo handling. I want to know if the fall in value of the nation’s currency, Naira, has anything to do with the ground handling companies, which may force increase in cargo tariff for both in-bound and out-bound goods at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. According to the investigation I personally conducted, but it is just that I want to know more and to also know what the authority concerned is doing to arrest the situation. What is the motive behind the hike in the price in cargo tariff by the ground handling companies? I believe many Nigerians would be interested to know the rationale behind this hike, if it is called for or not. Mr. Ifeanyin Iheanacho P.O.Box 6639 Ajao Estate Lagos
Investigation in the enquiry of Mr. Iheanacho with some ground handling firms which craved anonymity told the TIMESEARCH that the decision to hike cargo tariff was hinged on the rising value of the dollar, which was exchanging for over N210 at the parallel market as at then. However, another source close to one of the firms said the resolve to increase cargo tariff was sequel to the increasing costs of operations, as the firms now spend more to procure spare parts acquire operational equipment, as well as send staff for recurrent training overseas. It was gathered that the new equipment would be bought at the new exchange rate, which was heavily
tilted against the naira. Investigation revealed further that the ground handling companies now pay more for apron passes, which was recently increased by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) It was also revealed by a top official of one of the ground handling companies who craved anonymity that concessionaires are also groaning under the yoke of exorbitant charges at the toll gates around the airport, while ground handling companies increased cargo tariff about three years ago and since then the naira had been devalued by more than 150 percent. “Since then, operators have experienced serious increment in operating costs, in some instances rising between 150 and 250 percent”, the official said. TIMESEARCH was later referred to a top official who also declined to comment on the issue on knowing it has to be published. He called in another official who had this to say, “I must let you know that in March this year, the spokesman of NAHCO Aviance made it clear that any plan to increase tariff would be done after wide consultations with all stakeholders, adding that any information about increase in tariff should be likened to mere conjectures until all stakeholders had been actively engaged in processes that would lead to price increases. As for his company, NACHOO Aviance, he said it is operating within industry approved charges, but however noted that ground handling companies are incurring rising operating costs which has become obvious in the face of the rising exchange rate. It was also known that if there were plans to increase such charges, the companies would carry out constructive industry engagement with relevant stakeholders before implementing any such plans. TIMESEARCH later contacted another top official of one of the ground handling companies who said he was not aware of any plans by ground handling companies to raise cargo tariff. Several top officials of the ground handling companies contacted refuted the allegation that they were not aware of any plan to increase cargo tariff. Investigation continues.
21 News
No slash in Ekiti lawmakers’ salaries – Fayose Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti
ÏÏÏEkiti State Governor,
Mr. Ayo Fayose, has debunked the rumour being spread by the opposition in the state that the salaries of members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly have been slashed by half, saying the rumour only exists in the figment of the imagination of the peddlers. Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, said in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, that those behind the rumour were the same set of people who had vowed before not to cause disaffection and commotion in the state. Adelusi said that salaries and allowances of the state’s legislators were not the creation of the governor, but that of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation
and Fiscal Commission (RMAFM) which only the commission could tamper with. According to him, “As long as there is no review of the salaries and other emolument of legislators by the Federal Government, I cannot violate the laid down rule. So those who are going about with such rumour are ignorant of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or they deliberately want to be mischievous,” he said. Adelusi also noted that the rumour mongers only displayed their naivety by saying that the governor had decided not to pay those legislators whose elections are being challenged at the Election Petition Tribunal, adding that the governor would never allow such issue come between him and the law-
Fayose
makers who are not only loyal to the state. He enjoined the opposition in the state to stop peddling rumours that would further confirm their hatred for the development and peace of the state. Also speaking, Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, reacted to the story on social media that an opposition group known as G9 has been formed by some members of the state Assembly purposely to attack the policies of the governor.
LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT LANDS BUREAU, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
PUBLIC NOTICE RE-RENEWAL OF LEASEHOLD INTEREST This is to inform the general public that MR. PATRICK MICHAEL CHUKWUDEBE UGOH being the Occupier/Lessee of the property located formerly at 144 Clifford Street (otherwise known as Plot 18 Block 15) YABA ESTATE (now no 264, Murtala Mohammed Way, Yaba) COVERED BY DEED OF ASSIGNMENT REGISTERED AS No 49, PAGE 49 in VOLUME 951, Lagos State, has applied to the Lagos State Lands Bureau for Renewal of Leasehold interest on the above named property. (2) In line with the policy of Renewal of Leasehold interest, members of the public who have objection/interest or any contrary information concerning this application to Renewal of Leasehold should please come forward with any relevant/useful evidence in writing, with supporting document(s) in support of such claim/objection within 21 days from the date of this publication addressed to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Block 13/14 The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja. (3) For further enquiries please contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau of the Executive Secretary, Land Use & Allocation Committee, Lands Bureau, Block 13/14, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
MR HAKEEM MURI OKUNOLA (Permanent Secretary, Lands)
22
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Today in History Æ s
Cartoon from our Archives
Compiled by ‘Tunji Okegbola
1993
Daily Times June 24, 1961
1675 King Philip’s War begins 1675 King Philip’s War begins In colonial New England, King Philip’s War began when a band of Wampanoag warriors raid the border settlement of Swansea, Massachusetts, and massacre the English colonists there. In the early 1670s, 50 years of peace between the Plymouth colony and the local Wampanoag Indians began to deteriorate when the rapidly expanding settlement forced land sales on the tribe. Reacting to increasing Native American hostility, the English met with King Philip, chief of the Wampanoag, and demanded that his forces surrender their arms. The Wampanoag did so, but in 1675 a Christian Native American who had been acting as an informer to the English was murdered, and three Wampanoag were tried and executed for the crime. King Philip responded by ordering the attack on Swansea on June 24, which set off a series of Wampanoag raids in which several settlements were destroyed and scores of colonists massacred. The colonists retaliated by destroying a number of Indian villages. The destruction of a Narragansett village by the English
brought the Narragansett into the conflict on the side of King Philip, and within a few months several other tribes and all the New England colonies were involved. In early 1676, the Narragansett were defeated and their chief killed, while the Wampanoag and their other allies were gradually subdued. King Philip’s wife and son were captured, and on August 12, 1676, after his secret headquarters in Mount Hope, Rhode Island, was discovered, Philip was assassinated by a Native American in the service of the English. The English drew and quartered Philip’s body and publicly displayed his head on a stake in Plymouth. King Philip’s War, which was extremely costly to the colonists of southern New England, ended the Native American presence in the region and inaugurated a period of unimpeded colonial expansion. 1966 Senate passes landmark auto safety bill On this day in 1966, the United States Senate voted 76-0 for the passage of what will become the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson the following September, the act created the nation’s first mandatory
federal safety standards for motor vehicles. The origins of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act can be traced directly of the efforts of a young lawyer and consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who in 1965 published the bestselling “Unsafe at Any Speed,” a sweeping critique of the American auto industry and its unsafe products. (Nader singled out the Corsair, produced by General Motors, as a particular object of scorn.) Nader’s book fuelled the growing concern of Americans regarding the ever-increasing number of traffic accidents and fatalities on the nation’s roads. On June 24, 1966, Nader was in the Senate gallery as the bill was guided to passage, less than five hours after reaching the floor. Shortly after the Senate vote, President Johnson issued a statement urging the House to pass the bill, which he called “landmark legislation.” “For the first time in our history,” Johnson declared, “we can mount a truly comprehensive attack on the rising toll of death and destruction on the nation’s highways that last year alone claimed 50,000 lives….We can no longer tolerate such anarchy on wheels.”
Mail bomb injures Yale professor problems, and in 1969 abruptly ended his promising career. Disillusioned with the world around him, he tried to buy land in the Canadian wilderness but in 1971 settled for a 1.4-acre plot near his brother’s home in Montana. For the next 25 years, Kaczynski lived as a hermit, occasionally working odd jobs and traveling but mostly living off his land. He developed a philosophy of radical environmentalism and militant opposition to modern technology, and tried to get academic essays on the subjects published. It was the rejection of one of his papers by two Chicago-area universities in 1978 that may have prompted him to manufacture and deliver his first mail bomb. The package was addressed to the University of Illinois from North-western University, but was returned to North-western, where a security guard was seriously wounded while opening the suspicious package. In 1979, Kaczynski struck again at North-western, injuring a student at the Technological Institute. Later that year, his third bomb exploded on an American Airlines flight, causing injuries from smoke inhalation.
1993 Mail bomb injures Yale professor On June 24, 1993, Yale University computer science professor David Gelernter was seriously injured while opening his mail when a padded envelope explodes in his hands. The attack just came two days after a University of California geneticist was injured by a similar bomb and was the latest in a string of bombings since 1978 that authorities believed to be related. In the aftermath of the attack on Gelernter, various federal departments established the UNABOM Task Force, which launched an intensive search for the so-called “Unabomber.” The bombings, along with 14 others since 1978 that killed 3 people and injured 23 others, were eventually linked to Theodore John Kaczynski, a former mathematician from Chicago. Kaczynski won a scholarship to study mathematics at Harvard University at age 16. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, he became a professor at the University of California at Berkeley. Although celebrated as a brilliant mathematician, he suffered from persistent social and emotional
1997
U.S. Air Force reports on Roswell
1997 U.S. Air Force reports on Roswell On this day in 1997, U.S. Air Force officials released a 231-page report dismissing long-standing claims of an alien spacecraft crash in Roswell, New Mexico, almost exactly 50 years earlier. Public interest in Unidentified Flying Objects, or UFOs, began to flourish in the 1940s, when developments in space travel and the dawn of the atomic age caused many Americans to turn their attention to the skies. The town of Roswell, located near the Pecos River in south-eastern New Mexico, became a magnet for UFO believers due to the strange events of early July 1947, when ranch foreman W.W. Brazel found a strange, shiny material scat-
tered over some of his land. He turned the material over to the sheriff, who passed it on to authorities at the nearby Air Force base. On July 8, Air Force officials announced they had recovered the wreckage of a “flying disk.” A local newspaper put the story on its front page, launching Roswell into the spotlight of the public’s UFO fascination. The Air Force soon took back their story, however, saying the debris had been merely a downed weather balloon. Aside from diehard UFO believers, or “ufologists,” public interest in the socalled “Roswell Incident” faded until the late 1970s, when claims surfaced that the military had invented the weather balloon story as a cover-up.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Shippers’ Council boss seeks cooperation among stakeholders Okay Osuji
ÏÏÏThe
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr. Hassan Bello, has said that there was a need for all stakeholders in the maritime industry to work together, in order to stimulate growth of the nation’s economy. Speaking during a fact finding visit to APMT at Tin Can Island Port, Bello said the maritime sector had enormous potentials and should be tapped, stressing that it had a capacity to surpass oil and gas, as the country’s foremost revenue earner. In addition, to achieve this onerous objective, all
hands, Bello said, must be on deck to actualise the new port order. Bello observed that the principles of a new port order were a function of new behaviourial tendencies, orientation, and best global practices in business approach, patriotism – including being a team player and change agent. Bello, who was at the ports to assess operations, challenges and areas of cooperation in his capacity as Ports Economic Regulator, emphasised that a cardinal principle of the new port order was for all stakeholders to imbibe the spirit of collaboration, stressing a need to follow the roadmap,
in order to make the ports not only attractive, but competitive to attract businesses from neighbouring countries. “With the dwindling oil price, all eyes are now on the maritime sector and to meet expectations, we must imbibe best practices, ensure seamless operations, understudy global best practices with a view to galvanising the growth of our economy,” he stated. He said that in spite of subsisting court actions by Seaports Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) and Terminal Operators, challenging the Council on tariff charges, the tour is a demonstration
of good faith that all can work together for the growth of the country’s economy. The Deputy Managing Director of APMT, Mr. Olufemi Ransome Kuti, thanked Bello and his team for the visit, and assured him of his willingness to co-operate and ensure that Nigeria achieved the status of the maritime hub in sub-Saharan Africa. Kuti lauded the Council for improving the fortunes of the ports as a regulator in the past one year. “We assure the regulator and all stakeholders – including the Federal Government of our determination to improve on the economic fortunes of the country”, he added.
Idu Jude Abuja
ÏÏÏ
The issuing authority for National Identity Card, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has put September 1, 2015, in which all transactions involving the identification of individuals must be done with the National Identification Number (NIN). The agency’s General Manager Co-operate Communications, Mr. Tony Okwudiafor, on Monday, called on all Nigerians to be actively involved in the National Identity Database
Joy Ekeke
ÏÏÏ Former Special Advis-
er on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, was on Wednesday inducted as a member of Harvard University’s distinguished International Economic Alliance (IEA). The induction took place on at the university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. IEA is a non-partisan, independent non-profit organisation dedicated to furthering global trade, de-
PHOTO: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE
District head, LG official docked for assault in Kaduna district head, in Katugal in the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and a senior official of the local government have been taken court for alleged defamation of character, assault and criminal intimidation. The accused were arraigned at a Nasarawa State Senior Magistrate Court, holden in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, near Abuja on June 19, 2015. The complainant Maitala M. Yohanna, alleged that the district head and coun-
NIMC announces Sept 1 deadline
and be issued a National Identification Number (NIN). NIMC had in recent times stated that the use of NIN shall become mandatory, as from September 1, 2015, for all transactions offered by applicable government institutions. These transactions, is in pursuant to Section 27 (1) and (2) of the NIMC Act, 2007, which include, application for, and issuance of an international passport, opening of individual and or group bank accounts, all consumer credits, purchase of insurance policies, the purchase, transfer and registration of land by any individual, National Health Insurance Scheme, such transactions that have social security implications, registration of voters, payment of taxes, and pensions.
Harvard University honours Kingsley Kuku
L-R: Chief Consultant, Biodun Adedipe & Associates, Dr. Abiodun Adedipe; President/CEO, Pearls Awards Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Orekoya and Managing Director/CEO, CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Badejo at the Pearls Award 20th Anniversary of rewarding Corporate Execllence in Lagos… on Tuesday
ÏÏÏA
23 News
cil official threatened to see his end in the community. As part of his evidence of complaint, deposed on his behalf by Mr. A. Orbunde Esq, who was holding brief for C.S. Ebonugwo, for the prosecution, the complainant averred that the first accused person claimed that they had engaged some persons, who were well connected in Mararaba and environs to monitor the movements of the complainant, and that, very soon, his corpse would be brought to his village in
Kagarko and that anonymous text messages would be sent out claiming that he was assassinated by his colleagues who were Abujaand Nasarawa-based armed robbers. Presiding Judge in the matter, however, granted the accused persons a bail in the sum of N100, 000 each and a surety in like sum, who must be recognised community leaders living within the jurisdiction of the court. The case has been adjourned to the 13th day of July, 2015 for hearing.
velopment, investment and advancing business relations, among nations. The organisation was conceived at Harvard University in 2004 and serves as an important source of knowledge, facilitator of relationships, and catalyst for new business opportunities around the world. Kuku presented a paper on “Global Peace Initiatives”, on the occasion, which was graced by IEA members, university faculty members, private sector leaders and civil society groups.
Edo zoological garden mgt raises the alarm over encroachment Titus Akhigbe Benin
ÏÏÏ
The management of Ogba Zoological Garden and Natural Park, in Edo State, has raised an alarm over massive encroachment by land grabbers in its host communities of Utagban and Ogbaneki. Chief Executive of the Zoo, Mr. Andy Enahire, in an open letter addressed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, also complained about the management’s challenges in carrying out its man-
date, because according to him, it was operating under constant threats from the land speculators. He noted that the encroachment problem had placed their personal safety and investments, as ecotourism developers, under “very dangerous risks.” Ehanire, who specifically recalled an incursion into the zoo on June 18, 2015, regretted how “large tracts of pristine conservation project of the state, with high international acclaim, were decimated with bulldozers,
after which the speculators put up the zoo’s land for sale to unsuspecting members of the public, with fresh survey beacons.
Oshiomhole
News 24
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Bayelsa to train 430 youths in tourism, hospitality Mathew Dadiya
Abuja ÏÏÏIn its bid to diversify the state’s economy from its present monolithic status and focus on non-oil sector, Bayelsa State government is set to train 430 youths in tourism and hospitalityrelated vocations at the newly established International Institute of Tourism & Hospitality, in Yenagoa. It is in collaboration with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Abuja. The Commissioner for Youth, Chief Collins Cocodia, said this at the five-day Professional Certificate
Course on Food Safety and Sanitation, adding that his ministry had concluded plans to send a minimum of 430 youths to the institute for training, in different tourism and hospitality-related vocations. According to him, the youth training scheme, which cuts across many vocations, was an integral part of the restoration agenda of the present administration in the state, to diversify its economy from oil to non-oil sector, saying that diversification was the only panacea to achieving economic stability in anticipation of a future with less oil revenue in the country.
L-R: Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited (TUPL) Directors, Muhammed Risqua and Peter Hertog; CEO, Adeoye Fadeyibi; Board Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu; Transcorp Plc Group President/CEO, Emmanuel N. Nnorom and TUPL Directors, Sylvester Monye and Victor Osadolor during the 2nd Annual TUPL AGM ... recently.
Edo community protests oil spill on farmlands Titus Akhigbe Benin
ÏÏÏResidents
of Orhionwon Local Government Area of Edo State, near Jesse, Delta State, have raised alarm over oil spillage in their community, which, according to them, was affecting their health. Umoghun-Nokhua Community has about 2,000 hectares of its farm land affected by the oil spillage and has rendered most of the farmers redundant because of their failing health. Leaders of the community, Chief Moses Egbon and
Pa London Emuwen, called on the federal and state governments to come to their aid. The hectares of land where the incident took place last year has been degraded. Most of the affected farmers complained that they could not grow crops or hunt animals, as a result. They also observed that since last year they had lost 14 persons, including women and children, while many others were receiving treatment. They said among ailment suffered are cough and skin rashes.
A youth leader, Micheal Eghaghe, and others protesting locals, appealed for urgent intervention by government to help salvage their lands. Meanwhile, Charles Imariagbe, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Adams Oshiomole on Environment, who visited the community to ascertain the level of impact, said appropriate action would be taken soon. An official from the Federal Ministry of Environment, said he could not tell the impact of the oil spillage, adding that the inci-
dent would be communicated to appropriate authority. The Umoghun-Nokhua community, while attributing the oil spill to Pipeline Product Marketing Company (PPMC), said that should it they fail to carry out the necessary measures to alleviate their sorry plight, they would sue the company.
Oshiomole
Okorocha vs 40 monarchs: Court fixes July 8 for hearing Val Okara Owerri
ÏÏÏAn
Owerri High Court, headed by Justice Ngozi Ukoha, on Tuesday, fixed July 8, 2015, for hearing, in a suit filed by 40 traditional rulers, against the Governor Rochas Okorocha. The aggrieved monarchs – including four already suspended by the state government in a suit no. HOW/313/2015 – approached the court to restrain Governor Okorocha, Eze Samuel Ohiri and their agents from withdrawing their certificates of recognition, staff of
office or stoppage of their monthly salaries. While ruling on the exparte application filed by the counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Ikechukwu Udeozor, Justice Ukoha ordered that the defendants should respect the pendency of the suit, because of the sensitive nature of the matter. She, therefore, granted the ex-parte application that service of summons be pasted at the gates of the headquarters of the State Council of Traditional Rulers near Concorde Hotel, Owerri. Those expected to be served with the substitut-
ed service include the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th defendants, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Chairman of the Council, Eze Samuel Ohiri, Eze Edwin Orisakwe, Eze J.C. Okwara, Eze G. Ejiogu and Eze Ben. Igwilo. The counsel to the monarchs, Mr. Udeozor, had earlier pleaded with the court to grant the ex-parte application for substituted service from the originating summons together with interlocutory motion. He prayed the court that the service be pasted at the gates of the headquarters of the council of traditional rulers, since some of the
defendants had been evading service. The counsel from the office of the State Attorney-General, Mr. Adindu did not oppose the application. It would be recalled that the State Chairman of Traditional Ruler, Eze Ohiri had earlier suspended four royal fathers --- Eze Emmanuel Njemanze of Owerre Ancient Kingdom, Eze Desmond Ogugua, Eze Edward Njoku and Eze Sunday Okoro --- while over 60 monarchs have been pencilled down to face disciplinary panel for receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan in Owerri in March.
Be change agents, FCTA charges corps members Idu Jude Abuja
ÏÏÏThe
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Obinna Chukwu, has charged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to the Federal Capital Territory to serve as agents of change in their respective areas of primary assignment. He gave the charge at the closing ceremony of the 2015 Batch ‘A’ Stream II Orientation Course on Monday in Kubwa-Abuja. His words: “I urge you to serve as agents of change by carrying out your primary assignments diligently and initiate programmes or projects that
will impact positively on your host communities”. Chukwu reminded the corps members that the hallmark of the scheme was to foster unity among the youths of this nation, which underscored the need to freely interact and maintain cordial relationship with their hosts. According to him, the corps members should serve as worthy ambassadors of the NYSC and a beacon of hope for the teeming population of the Nigerian youths wherever theyu found yourselves. He appealed to corps employers not to reject corps members deployed to any organisation, describing such action as disservice to the nation and lack of patriotism.
Ex-Ajimobi’s aide urges patience with African currency Bolaji Omosanya
lbadan
ÏÏÏThe common currency
proposal for the African continent as an economic policy should be given time to mature in the face of present economic realities. Former Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Polical Matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo, made this assertion, in lbadan, the Oyo State capital. According to him, the common currency idea is a laudable one that could
project developmental benefits for the commonwealth. Ojo was of the view that unlike developed nations, Africa has not yet achieved the required level of literacy for this. He referred to the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and peoples of other nations in Africa by South Africans recently as a ready example of a dilemma. He said that to achieve this like Europe, literacy level must be raised in the next two or three years in Africa.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
APC’ll rise above its challenges, says Plateau chieftain Chijioke Kingsley Jos
Ă?Ă?Ă?Former
Special Adviser on National Assembly matters to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Hon. Lumumba Dah Adeh, has said the current crisis rocking the legislative body is nothing that cannot be handled by the All Progressives Congress (APC). In his words, “The current crisis in the Legislature is normal in a democratic setting. The House will get it right, and I can assure you that the APC will rise above it and come out stronger because they know that Nigerians are watching, therefore, they cannot afford to let the country down�, he said. The former SA, who is also a former member of the House of Representatives, also bared his mind on the challenges confronting the newly sworn-in governor of Plateau State, Bar.
Simon Lalong. According to him, Lalong inherited huge debt profile with outstanding salaries of state civil servants, as well as uncompleted projects with prime projects like road construction, situated in Jos metropolis, which cannot be ignored. The former House of Rep member, who is also the current Chairman Transition Sub Committee On Sports & Youth Development, is also quoted to have said that the situation in Plateau State is not peculiar to the state, as most states are also facing the same challenges as a result of the dwindling allocation to states. But, he hoped that with the current demand of state intervention funds in consonance with the ongoing governors meeting with the President, Lalong will be able to intervene effectively in most of the state matters he inherited from his predecessor.
Group slams Amnesty International report on Nigerian military Ă?Ă?Ă?The
Nigerian National Summit Group (NNSG) has condemned, as biased and slanted, the Amnesty International’s (AI) report on the Nigerian Military’s resistance to the murderous terrorist onslaughts of the Boko Haram fundamental extremists who have slaughtered innocent Nigerians, and displaced thousands into neighbouring countries. NNSG Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony I. Uranta, accused AI of attempting to deploy cheap and not-so-subtle blackmail to stampede
Group inaugurates committee on emir of Borgu investiture
Ondo NSCDC parades 60-yr- Ă?Ă?Ă?The Association of old grandfather, twin children Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of for stealing goats Nigeria (ATBOWATAN), Tosin Ajuwon Akure
Ă?Ă?Ă?The Nigeria Security
and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ondo State Command, has arrested five suspected criminals for stealing and slaughtering goats that belong to residents in Akure. A statement signed and issued to journalists on Tuesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Kayode Balogun, said the suspects stole 13 goat which had already been slaughtered. Balogun said that among the suspected thieves were family of three --- a father and his twin children. He noted that 10 out of the goats were pregnant, while one of them was already in labour when the suspects were caught slaughtering them. He disclosed that the suspected thieves were arrested at No.19 Fadeyi street, Oshinle quarters, Akure, the state capital. The suspects are: Ogunmola Kayode, 60 -year-old,
Abolurin
Ogunmola Kehinde and Ogunmola Taiwo, both 20years- old, Stephen Isaac, 22 years old and Ifeanyin Okonkwo, 21-years- old. According to him, the suspects had been placed under interrogation and would be charged to court for prosecution. Some of the suspects confessed to the crime and added that it was as a result of joblessness. Balogun urged the good people of the state to furnish the command with useful and timely information about criminal activities in their domain.
25 News
has inaugurated a 10man committee of experienced professionals and technocrats in ocean economy, tourism, to drive the investiture activities and programmes of the Emir of Borgu, as life patron of private sector regulator of water transportation in Nigeria. Recently, the Emir of Borgu, Senator Haliru Dantoro (Kitoro III), had accepted the appointment as life patron of the association in a letter he personally signed and dated 26th of April, 2015. The committee members are Alhaji Nurudeen Muhammed, Tafideen Kaima (Chairman), Chika Balogun, DG, NIHOTOURS, Dr. Mubo Eniola, immediate former Permanent Secretary, Kogi State, Ministry of Tourism, Mallam Kabiru Mallan, President Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Mr. Muazu Sambo of National Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Sola Ilupeju, Mr. John Best, ATPN (Jos Branch), Mr. Richard Nta, Dredgers Association of Nigeria, and Mr. Frank Meke.
President Muhammadu Buhari into turning against his own military, so as to so stir discontent within the ranks of the Nigerian Military. According to the NNSG scribe, “The AI report is mainly a compilation of unsubstantiated allegations, accentuated by dubious visuals of highly-suspect activities that most Nigerians had long written off as likely “false flag� operations, by the very media-savvy and unscrupulous Boko Haram terrorists (who have always been linked to, and mentored by, Al Qaeda, Al Shabab, ISIS,
AQIM etc!, designed to portray the Nigeria fighting forces in bad light, and strewn with a hodge-podge of putative ‘inside stories’ which are unlikely to stand any standard verification tests! “Whilst we join the President in saying every allegation of impropriety, made against any agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, must be looked into, we strongly deplore the uncivil language and tone of AI’s report which is irritatingly devoid of any diplomatese, any civility, or any respect,
even as it seeks to dictate conclusions to Mr. President, even before his independent investigations are commenced. “This cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation worth its name, and we are sure that President Buhari, who himself is a seasoned military General and politician, will never allow any foreign government, Multilateral Agency, Multinational Corporate Organisation to command him or Nigeria to do anything just to suit their non-altruistic agenda�, Uranta said.
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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Education Times Æ s FCE Okene set to improve science education Ibrahim Obansa, Lokoja The management of Federal College of Education (FCE) Okene, Kogi State, has said it will advance and ensure the growth and development of science education. This disclosure was made on Tuesday by the Provost of the college, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, during the 4th National Conference and workshop organised by the college’s School of Sciences. According to him, sufficient scientific researches abound on how the knowledge of science has greatly facilitated further discoveries and technological breakthrough that have assisted mankind and the society at
large. He noted that the knowledge acquired through science education if appropriately channeled and shared among the prospective learners would go a long way in helping to develop a strong and healthy society where peace and sustainable development would flourish. Ajayi, who said the theme of the conference “Science Education in Nigeria, Peace Building and Sustainable Development: Issues, Strategies and procedure,” could not have come better than now, noted that the efforts of the college in science education has yielded dividends over the years. He stressed that aside the
numbers of quality graduates churned out for meaningful engagements in the society by the college, the recent modest establishment of the campus FM Radio was a direct product of the lecturers in the Physics department of the institution. According to him, in the last five and half years of his administration as the Provost of the institution, the administration had strived to provide the enabling environment for the growth and sustainability of science education in the college. In his speech, the Dean, School of Science of the institution, Dr. Sheidu Omeiza, decried the continuous diminishing interest by students in pursuing science
related careers, saying “we have seen low quality science education, limited resources devoted to science and technology development among some countries including Nigeria”. He lamented that while many governments around the world have embraced the need for science education to achieve sustainability and peace building, Nigeria still lack the vision and awareness to effect educational development for the citizenry. Omeiza pointed out that if government can address the issues of planning, proper supervision and implementation of well-designed policies, the nation can still achieve in the area of science education.
Varsities urged to undertake industry-oriented research
Former Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Peter Onwualu, has urged universities to channel their research works toward solving the needs of industries. Onwualu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja that there was the need for universities to enhance commercial value of their research. According to Onwualu, who is a visiting professor to the National Universities Commission (NUC), every research, whether thesis or otherwise, must be industryoriented. ``By so doing, industrialists will be interested in the research that is going on and the process of commercialisation will be sped up. ``Universities also lay emphasis on patent and through intellectual property offices as they relate with industries. ``There could also be open days where they will invite industry practitioners to come and see what they are doing. ``In fact, we think industries should be part of the research so that from the onset they give direction of what they need. ``This means that by the time results of the research are ready, they can easily be applied.’’ Onwualu said that the government, through TETFund, had
contributed a lot to research, adding that it was high time the private sector got involved. He, however, said that the Nigerian Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) had started equipping engineering laboratories of about six universities to become state-of-
the-art facilities. The don noted that some of other companies were also getting involved. ``It is no longer a government thing; industries should challenge researchers with the key problems they have.
``In doing so, researchers in the universities will be conducting researches that the industries need.’’ According to him, Nigerian universities will rank among the best globally in due course, if more efforts and funding are put into research.
L-R: Chairman, Parents Forum, Ilupeju Senior Secondary School (ISSS), Elder Adekunle Johnson; Music Director, ISSS, Mr. Seyilayo Otegbade; Principal, ISSS, Mrs. Gloria Lawal; Special Guests, Mrs. Yetunde Adeusi-Ojo and Evang. Fowomola Matthew during the school’s choir annul cerebration and presentation of award to Lawal held in Lagos... recently. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI
Don’t be tempted into cultism, OAU students warned Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo Newly matriculated students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IIe-Ife, Osun State, have been warned against being lured into cultism while on campus. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bamitale Omole, said this during the matriculation of 6,500 students on Tuesday at the Amphi Theatre Hall of the university. Omole, who complained about the economic situation in the country, assured of proper management of the university’s facilities. He, however, called on the students to focus on their academics, noting that their major reason for being on campus was to study. He added: “No doubt, you are all aware of the dwindling economic fortunes in the nation; the University administration will however continue to make the welfare of students paramount in its plans and provide facilities and make better use of them. “Look at the university facilities and make better use of them. The University authorities frown seriously at any act of vandalism and destruction of university property. Therefore, if the need arises, channel your grievances through the appropriate channels.” While urging the students to be decent, he asked them not to be tempted into cultism for successful completion of their academic programmes. The VC noted that the university has zero tolerance for cultism, adding that any student that engaged in any illegal activities would be expelled. He said: “I will again like to congratulate you because gaining admission to OAU and standing to take the matriculation oat has not been an easy journey and indeed, it can be likened to the proverbial camel that successfully passed through the eye of the needle. “This is because out of over 30,000 candidates that chose OAU as their first choice, you are among the 14,000 that scored above 200 in UTME and among the 6,500 that were finally admitted to OAU.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
27 Education Times NECO warns SSCE candidates against online scammers
L-R: Human Resources Executive, MTN, Mrs. Aminat Oyagbola; Corporate Services Executive, MTN, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck with students of New Era Girls Secondary School, winners of the MTN quiz and Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Derisola Soname at the closing ceremony of 21 Days of Y’ello Care themed, Investing in Education for All, at MTN’s head office, Ikoyi, Lagos… recently
Don calls for resuscitation of reading culture A senior lecturer at the Osun State University, Osogbo, Dr. Goke Alabi, has called for the resuscitation of the reading culture in the country. Alabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Osogbo that Nigerians jettisoning the reading culture had contributed to the nation’s low level of development. According to him, the more a person reads; the more new things he discovers and the
more he thinks about proffering solutions to societal problems. “It is very unfortunate that the level of reading among Nigerians, irrespective of age, has drastically dropped. “The advent of the social media and cable television network has been substituted for reading among our people; only very few people are taking reading seriously again. “This trend is dangerous to the development of the nation,
as there is no way a country will develop without a thorough reading culture,’’ he said. The university teacher, therefore, called on the three tiers of government to enact a new policy on education that would promote the reading culture. Alabi also suggested the provision of more libraries in schools with necessary education materials and facilities that would always attract people to them.
Be change agents, FCTA charges Corps members ÏÏÏnƏ Ɔ area councils to welcome members Idu Jude, Abuja The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Engineer John Obinna Chukwu, has charged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to the Federal Capital Territory to serve as agents of change in their respective areas of primary assignment. The Permanent Secretary, who was represented at the occasion by the FCTA Director of Establishment & Training, Salihu Hayyat Mohammed, gave the charge at the closing ceremony
of the 2015 Batch ‘A’ Stream II Orientation Course on Monday in Kubwa-Abuja. His words: “I urge you to serve as agents of change by carrying out your primary assignments diligently and initiate programmes or projects that will impact positively on your host communities”. Chukwu reminded the Corps members that the hallmark of the scheme is to foster unity among the youths of this nation, which underscores the need to freely interact and maintain cordial relationship with people they meet during their service. According to him, the corps members should serve as worthy ambassadors of the NYSC and a beacon of hope for the teeming population of the Nigerian youths wherever they found themselves. He appealed to employers not to reject corps members deployed to their organisations, describing such action as disservice to the nation and a display
of lack of patriotism. The Permanent Secretary used the occasion to implore all corps employers in public and private sectors within the Territory to retain those posted to them, being their contribution to nation- building. Chukwu thus directed all the six Area Council chairmen, traditional rulers and security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory to embrace the corps members deployed to their areas of jurisdiction by ensuring their protection, welfare and comfort throughout their service year. Speaking earlier, the FCT NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Olanipekun Alao, appreciated the kind gesture and consistent support of the Permanent Secretary and the entire FCT Administration for the wellbeing of the corps members throughout the three weeks of the Orientation Camp, saying that the Corps members’ stay has been made easy and memorable.
The National Examination Council (NECO) has warned candidates sitting for its examinations against patronising people who post requests online, asking them to pay and get leaked answers. According to NECO’s Abuja Liaison Officer, Mr. Abdul Mustapha, such fraudsters are just out to cheat unsuspecting candidates. “They have no access to our answers; they cannot get our answers; they will pretend as if they have seen the answers but it is all lies. “Our questions appear in four types – types A to D; but what they present to unsuspecting
candidates is just manufactured answers without the type specifications. “Again, our questions stop at 50, but theirs continue from 51 to 100; that is another proof that they have not seen our answers. “In one occasion, in our biology exam, the specimen was an ear but they drew flower in their own fake answers,” he said. He said candidates are always shy from reporting to NECO when they fell prey to scammers, “knowing that they tried to cheat but ended up being cheated.” The 2015 NECO SSCE internal examination which commenced on May 21 will end on July 10.
Kaduna govt suspends plan for new university The Kaduna State Government, on Tuesday, suspended its plans to establish a new university in Kafachan. This was disclosed by Governor Nasir el-Rufai when he received officials of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Kaduna. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plan to establish a second state university was initiated by the immediate past administration of Mukhtar Yero. El-Rufai said that the project was suspended because of inadequate funds. “The state government has no money to establish a new university; the previous administration which initiated the plan, did not make any provision for it in the 2015 budget,” he said. The governor said he would rather deploy the lean resources available to his government
el-Rufai
into the upgrading of existing facilities at the Kaduna State University, in line with global standard. He noted that infrastructure and learning facilities at the university were inadequate, forcing the institution to send some of its students elsewhere to complete their studies. El-Rufa’i said the focus of his administration was to expand the institution’s academic programmes and make the university rate among the best in the country. Earlier, Prof Suleiman Bogoro, Executive Secretary of TETFUND, said the Fund had provided more than N6 billion to the state university in the last one year for various projects and services. He, however, assured the governor that the agency would continue to fund the construction of infrastructure and provision of learning facilities in tertiary institutions in the state.
Education Times 28
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
400 Nigerian trained welders bag international certification Sam Nzeh Four hundred Nigerians who participated in the welders training and certification programme organised by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) have received International Institute of Welding (IIW) certification. This is contained in a statement by Mr. Kalu Otisi, the Head Media and External Relations of PTDF on Tuesday in Abuja. The PTDF in the statement said that the certificate recognised and acknowledged the trainees’ proficiencies in welding and fabrication in the oil and gas industry and related sectors anywhere in the world. It said that these last additions brought to 1,500 the number of Nigerians it had trained at different levels of welding and fabrication processes. It said that 24 Nigerians, who earlier graduated from the scheme, were among skilled professionals engaged in stadia construction for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals hosted by Brazil. It stated that 16 other beneficiaries of the programme were gainfully employed by industrial equipment manufacturing giant, Hyundai of South Korea. The PDTF said that the gradua-
I am the future Emvesiri Akpughe
Marriam-webster defines the future as ‘’ existing or occurring at a later time’’. Going by this, everything to come, from the next seconds and to the coming millennia fall under the meaning of the word. It is very true that we live in a world where, with time, things change, people are born and people die, plants germinate and others wither, such is the ‘’ cycle of life’’. The people, inventions and achievements or the present very easily becomes things of the past to be replaced by those things that would exist in future. Such is the lot of everything that exist today, be it a book, building or even a country. The things that are here today, the people and their duties they play today may cease to exist tomorrow
Ajayi
tion of the 400 trainees took place simultaneously in different welding and fabrication authorised training centres in Minna, Bauchi, Port-Harcourt and Lagos. It said that the training marked the end of the second train of PTDF Welders Training and Certification Programme which commenced three years ago. The statement said that the graduation also commemorated the completion of the Manual Metal Arc welding training in the areas of Fillet weld, Plate weld and Pipe Weld. It quoted the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Mr. Femi Ajayi, as saying that the milestone was part of the Fund’s drive to “up-skill’’
to be replaced by me, as well as others like me. I am the future. I represent a wide range of persons, the child yet unborn, the infant depending on their mother for survival, the preschool infant, the kindergarten pupil, the nursery child, the pupil in primary school, even the young adolescent in primary school. I am everyone qualified to be called a child. More so, I am everyone who would live to do the things. I am unable to do for now, everyone who would grow into the shoes of today’s adults. I say again, I am the future. Take a look at me and you ought to see a clean state, a blank paper to be filled with knowledge, impacted with values and norms and empowered with skills. The every knowledge, norms, values and skills which you would like to exist in the world of tomorrow. In my innocent eyes lies a timely promise - I will be what you make me into the future is, therefore, what you impart in me today the future would be pleasant and unpleasant depend-
Nigerians in welding and fabrication capabilities. Ajayi, who spoke at the PortHarcourt Centre of PTDF, said the organisation had helped in stimulating the engagement of a large number of Nigerian skilled workforce in the oil and gas sector. “The existence of more than 20 internationally certified welding and fabrication centres across the six geo-political zones was made possible by PTDF capacity building intervention in welders training and certification. “Before now, only two training centres had the competence to train welders to International Institute of Welding (IIW) standards,” Ajayi said.
Akpughe
ing on how the adults of today mould me. The recipe for a brighter future lies in my education, what I am taught, what I am groomed into, but, so also, is the ingredient for a Choate disastrous future. If adults of today want a brighter future tomorrow, they must enlighten me if they want a Choate future, all they have to do is corrupt me. I will play out the ‘’music’’ recorded in me when the future comes.
UNESCO committed to encourage media, information, literacy in schools, says Official The UNESCO said it was ready to encourage educational institutions to infuse Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in the school curricular where it was absent. Mr. Benoit Sossou, UNESCO Director of Regional Office in Abuja made this known at the 2015 MIL Week in Abuja on Monday. The theme of the event is; ``Celebrating Creativity among Cultures``. Sossou was represented at the occasion by Mr Muhammad Alkali, UNESCO National Programme Officer on Education. ``Most school curricula do not take into consideration this new paradigm that influences the development of educational initiatives and teaches media consumer how to critically interpret the information they receive. ``In UNESCO, we are mindful of this challenge and we are working on encouraging educational institutions to infuse MIL in the school curricular where it is absent, `` Sossou said. According to him, the theme is chosen to promote connectivity among nations to heighten public awareness about the importance of MIL in the world. Sossou said that UNESCO would encourage the adoption and integration of the MIL training curricular into polities and strategies. He said that it would also fostering relationship with youth organisations to promote benefits
of increased MIL competence. `` it is important to have the capacity to effectively access, organise, analyse and create messages in a variety of forms because we all caught in the web of digitisation and globalisation,’’ he said. Sossou said that UNESCO had started offering free on line course on MIL in partnership with Athabasca University in cooperation with UNESCO. Athabasca University (AU) is a leading Canadian online university focused on the future of learning. AU offers a wide variety of flexible courses and programmes. Mrs. Magdalene AneneMaidoh, the Secretary- General, Nigeria National Commission for UNESCO, stated that the MIL event would go a long way to restructure Nigeria.
Sossou
The danger lies in what I am exposed to. Evils like rape, robbery, dishonesty, corruption, greed if shown to me and taught to me would be the order of the day when I come of age. I learn by imitation; show me how to smoke cigarette, and I will be a smoker. Raise me in a house of violence and I would be a brawler. Expose me to the act of stealing and I would be a thief. On the other hand, raise me in a atmosphere of kindness and I will be kind-hearted person; reach me to give arms and I would feed the poor; reach me to help the sick and I would be a good Samaritan. Teach me to slave corruption and I will desist from it. Show me peace and I would abstain from violence. The process is essay, educate me. No matter the cost, enlighten me. Mould me into the adult you want me to become; teach me to think and act in proper ways. Make me off the streets and care for me and feed me with nourishment and educate me. If you do this, the future would be skilful.
If however, you do not educate me, if you starve me of food and a sound upbringing, if you violate me , if you corrupt me instead of correcting me, if you abandon me and let me suffer, the future is bleak. I will become the evil you made me, the evil to haunt your memory, the destruction you unleash in on this world, the nightmare you set up for yourself. The future is more than a time yet to come. It represents everything that we can achieve but we have not yet achieved. Take a look at me and you are looking at an opportunity to achieve all of this. A second chance to do all that remains to be done. I am the future, the future is me. I need education. I need to be educated. I am just one of many Nigerian students who will rule this country. Give us the best and watch us transform the country tomorrow. AKPUGHE is a JSS2 Sodium student of Continental Comprehensive Secondary School (CCSS), Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
29
Inside Campus Æ s
Inside Campus Editor: Mutiat Alli mutiat.alli@dailytimes.com.ng
UNIBEN SUG honours former VC Eddy Uwoghiren, UNIBEN
Former Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma Edo State, Professor Dennis Agbonlahor, has added another feather to his cap as he was recently recognised for his outstanding contribution to student’s activities by the immediate past president of the Student Union Government (SUG) of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ifidion Ikhide. Agbonlahor got the award alongside five other persons. Presenting the award to him at his office, Lahor Medical Laboratories, Benin City, Ifidion extolled the outstanding qualities of the former VC and his outstanding research into Lassa fever. He said the former vice chancellor has set a legacy for students to emulate in the area of research and contribution to the
advancement of the society and urged him to continue in the path of contributing to students activities. Responding, Prof. Agbonlahor thanked the SUG for the award and called on them to continue in the fight against students’ oppression. He revealed that the award was the first he was getting from the UNIBEN SUG since the inception of UNIBEN in 1973. Other award recipients include Fidelity Bank Plc, Comrade Yakubu Emma, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Edo State Governor on Students Matters; Mr. Efeosa Iyamu, SSA to Edo State governor and Osarumwense Samuel of the School of Basic Medical Sciences. Highlight of the dinner were musical performances, dance and award presentation to all the faculties and some students that contributed to the success of the outgoing administration.
Nigerian girl shines in US
Jewel ( 2nd left) flanked by parents and school official
Ifidon presenting the award to Prof Agbonlahor
21-year-old Nigerian, Miss Jewel Olachi Nkwocha, has made her country proud by earning a First Class Honours (Summa Cum Laude) in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, United States. Miss Nkwocha, who hails from Imo State, also bagged a medal from the University’s Honours College as well as two awards from the School of Engineering and the Department of Biomedical Engineering; all of which were presented to her
during the university’s graduation held recently in Richmond. During her four-year programme, Jewel won the Mark Sternheimer honours scholarship twice as a reward for academic excellence. In her third year, she was given a Tutor appointment which she described as “tasking but very rewarding intellectually”, while in her final year, she was among 12 undergraduates who won the University’s Dean’s research grant for specialised project with a
doctoral candidate. In her second year, she was elected a representative in the Students Union Association (SUA), while in her third year; she won a Senate seat in the SUA. She combined these responsibilities with being a UNICEF volunteer and one of the leaders of the African Students Union. Her father, a former General Editor of Newswatch magazine, praised Jewel for making them proud, but also gave God the glory.
40 postgraduate students matriculate Hammed Olamide, RUN The Redeemer’s University (RUN) has admitted no fewer than 40 students into the School of Postgraduate Studies. The freshers matriculated at the school auditorium in Ede, Osun State. Present at the matriculation included the Registrar, Mrs. Bolatito Oloketuyi; Dean, College of Postgraduate Studies, Prof. E. Happi; Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof. E. O. Bamiro; Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. E.O. Akinnawo; Dean amongst others.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, said the event was a giant step in the realisation of the institution’s vision to widen the frontier of knowledge. The VC said adequate provisions had been made for materials for quality research. Adeyewa said the mission of the university is to create, preserve and disseminate quality knowledge, saying the school also aims to be the best institution for research. He urged the students to be role models to their undergraduate counterparts, advising them to embrace the university’s culture of excellence.
Cross-section of the students who benefitted from the free lap coat courtesy Vita Foam recently.
30
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Features
Æs
Features Editor: Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr. E-mail: gbubemi.godscovenantsnr@dailytimes.com.ng
Rotimi Ojo on hospital bed
Suspected OPC ‘boys’ wreak havoc at Alabeko Estate
Ojo, after the operation on Saturday
– Congress denies involvement of members Terror in the form of thugs and uniformed mobile security men reigned unabated on Saturday afternoon at Alabeko Estate in Ajah, Lagos. SEGUN ADIO filed in this report from the spot of the mayhem. Suspected Members of the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) thugs recruited by one Rotimi Orimisan, a land prospector on Saturday unleashed terror on the residents of Alabeko Estate in Ajah, stabbing three and destroying some houses and properties. However, an OPC leader in the area denied the involvement of OPC members, saying, “It is sheer lies.” The unprovoked attack on the residents happened about 12:30pm after the landowners (Omo onile) held a meeting with residents over the illegal encroachment into their properties by Rotimi Orimisan. During the attack, one Rotimi Ojo, former General Secretary of the estate was stabbed on the right hand with a bottle and also hit with a shovel on the head. He was immediately rushed to Doren Specialist Hospital, Ajiwe in Ajah where he was operated upon and still on admission. The surgeon at the hospital (names withheld) said it was necessary an operation was carried out on him to stitch the tendons and ligaments that were damaged.
The attack on the residents was allegedly supervised by about eight policemen from MOPOL 23, Obalende, who also attacked the residents with tear gas while the attack lasted. Some of the policemen who were mostly wearing police T-shirts had no name tags on their uniforms. Besides, some of the policemen used horse whips on the residents, mostly men and women, including the Omo oniles. However, when contacted on the crisis, Public Relations Officer of the Lagos Police Command, Kenneth Nwosu, said the command was investigating the incident. His words, “Investigations are ongoing to unravel what transpired. The command is poised to ensure that residents of Alabeko and its environs enjoy Police protection like other residents of the state.” The attackers also descended on an eight-room bungalow belonging to Alfa Isiaka Kelani,
destroying the window panes. Kelani’s wife was not spared. She was dealt several slaps by the thugs despite her visual impairment. Many others sustained various degrees of injuries. The residents were chased into the bush. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Omolabi Oviebo, whom reportedly condemned the incident said police had no business taking sides with a complainant but should rather make peace between warring factions. Orimisan has allegedly been threatening to grab a portion of land belonging to the estate and using the OPC and mobile policemen from MOPOL 23 stationed there in a make shift plank. The DPO was said to have personally visited the portion of land and told the police not to threaten residents again, but each time the DPO left, they violated his instructions and shot sporadically into the air.
“OPC leader in the area, Rotimi Orimisan when contacted although denied involvement in the matter, but he urged the reporter to go and ask police who the perpetrators were.”
Ojo’s stabbed hand
Narrating their ordeal to our reporter, the Chairman of Alabeko Estate Residents Association (AERA), Mr Uba Offorbuike, said, “We have not known peace in this estate since Rotimi Orimisan resorted to brigandage to grab a larger chunk of land from our estate. We met with the Omo onile from whom we bought our land; they told us that they didn’t sell any land to Rotimi Orimisan (the prospector). After the meeting… we were within the estate when the OPC thugs attacked us with cutlasses, broken bottles and other offensive weapons. “I was shocked when the Police who are supposed to play neutral role joined them to attack us using …tear gas on us. In the process, one of us, Mr Rotimi Ojo was stabbed with a bottle on his right hand. As we speak, we have spent over N400, 000 for medical bills because of the emergency operation he was
to have due to the seriousness of the damage to his tendon and ligament. As law-abiding citizens of this country, we are disappointed in the Nigerian Police because they have failed to defend the defenceless and harmless people,” Uba added. Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity told our reporter that “since Rotimi Orimisan brought OPC into the area, we have not known peace as they have constantly harassed residents despite a petition sent to the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti and the AIG Zone 2, AIG Joseph Mbu for protection against the vagaries and insipid attacks from the OPC and mobile policemen from MOPOL 23.” At the moment, the thugs have pencilled down about three landlords for assassination. One of the landlords, Alfa Isiaka Kelani said for the past one week, he had not slept in his house for fear of being killed. Others include one Abiodun Abbe and Wale Adebayo. It was gathered that despite several invitations by the landowners to Orimisan for a peace talk and a court summon from the Epe High Court (some of the residents having dragged him to court), he refused to honour the invitations. When contacted on phone, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, didn’t pick his phone and a text message sent to him was also not responded to as at press time. A member of the OPC, who identified himself as Sherif, denied the involvement of his organisation in the crisis, saying that the group had been employed to maintain sanity in the hitherto volatile area for many years.
Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, June 24, 2015
31 Features
Anambra NUJ scribe laid to rest The Anambra State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists early in May lost its Secretary, Princess Ifeoma Anumba, the second such loss in two years after the death of immediate Past Chairman, Tochukwu Udorji. NKIRU NWAGBO reports from Awka. The body of the late Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra State Council, Princess Ifeoma Anumba has been laid to rest in her father’s compound, Umuriam Village, Nawfia, in Njikoka Council Area of the State. The late Anumba died on May 3rd at the age of 41 after a brief illness that lasted for two days, Daily Times gathered that she had complained about weakness and had actually gone to hospital to be properly diagnosed, but nothing in her indicated to those who saw her that she was going to die. Speaking to our correspondent at the funeral, the National President of NUJ, Mr. Muhammed Garba represented
by the Vice-President (SouthSouth zone F), Comrade Seiyefa Uzaka described the death of Ifeoma as an unforgettable loss in view of the fact that the Council had lost her immediate past chairman, Tochukwu Udorji about a year ago. He noted that the deceased had always identified with the course of the union both locally and nationally, lamenting that she would greatly be missed. Also, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Emeka Ozumba, said everybody should take solace in the Lord since the Jerusalem Pilgrim lived peacefully with her professional colleagues and made useful suggestions on the subject of government and media partnership for good governance. According to Ozumba, Ifeoma’s election to the office of Secretary, NUJ Anambra State Chapter, was a testament to the goodwill she enjoyed among her professional colleagues. “I knew her personally and I
Late Anumba
recall that in one of the governor’s interactions with her team, she made useful suggestions on the subject of Government and Media Partnership for Good Governance. It is painful that we now speak of her in the past tense.” In a homily at St. Michael’s & All Angels Church Nawfia, the Dean Emeritus Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Maxwell Anikwenwa, charged the congregation to live a righteous life in order to attain salvation whenever death comes. A philanthropist and friend of the state NUJ, Chief Godwin Ezeemo urged sympathisers to learn lesson from the death of Ms Anumba, bearing in mind that human beings are sojourners on earth and may depart at any time. Responding on behalf of the family, the chief mourner, Mr. Anene Anumba, thanked NUJ Anambra State Chapter as well as Regional and National levels for standing by their daughter Ifeoma and assisting immensely in giving her a befitting burial.
JUST HUMAN
10.45 am, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: GCS 019
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As Broda Mi Segun goes home…
Yinka Olujimi
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It was a cool Saturday morning, but I was hot inside. I had paid a visit to my parents at their Abeokuta, Ogun State, home, from my base in Lagos State. Driving close to the house, I had noticed something strange about it – a permanent structure in form of a church had been erected on the undeveloped part of the house that we the children had marked for a different purpose. The construction was such that if you opened the window in that part of the house, congregants would have full view of the room! I fumed. “You told us the church wanted a temporary space to take off from after which they would purchase their own land and move into it. This is definitely not the case. They have taken over the house!” I told my father. He simply smiled and said: “Leave them. I like it like that.”
That was the end of the story. The new branch of the church had started worship from my father’s sitting room. As the congregation was getting larger, the church’s leadership had sought permission to erect a temporary site on the undeveloped plot while effort was being intensified to purchase a land in the neighbourhood. For twenty years, my father had lived with his family in different vicarages: from Oyo State to Osun, Kwara and Ekiti, he served his Creator. It was no big deal to my father that his retirement home had been turned into a vicarage by the highly regulated African Church. While many would fight tooth and nail to leave a family home to their children, our father felt fulfilled ceding his house to the church! My siblings and I were worried that our father had consented so meekly to losing his house. But today his message is very clear to us: Why hold onto an ephemeral property when in the long run you will release it all, at death?” I grew up calling him,
“Broda Mi Segun”, and my mum, “Iya Kola.” The reason is not farfetched: I was raised in a communal home. At Apata Ganga, Ibadan, in Oyo State, in the late 1960s and early 1970s life was largely rustic. Everybody knew everybody; the person on the street was not just a familiar face: You knew them by names, family backgrounds, professions, even sleeping habits – because quite often we slept anywhere. Everywhere was home, anyone older than you by even one day was either “Broda Mi” or “Auntie Mi”. What a pristine, beautiful time we had as kids! Of a truth, it was difficult identifying our biological parents until much later when we came of age. Being the second surviving son of the first wife, my father was older than most of my uncles and aunts, so they called him, “Broda Mi Segun.” My elder brother, the first child was named Kola, so my mum was called, “Iya Kola.” It was natural that we, the children, also called them by those names,
even into early adulthood. Brother Kola also called his mum, our mum, “Iya Kola”! Ah, Broda Mi Segun! We all thought he was doing very well at the University of Ibadan, a federal institution, where he worked and where a life of comfort for him and his family was assured. We were all, therefore, taken aback when he announced that he was enrolling at the College of Theology of the African Church. He had for years been a Lay Reader at the St. Michael’s African Church, Apata Ganga. His mind was made. The family had no choice but to move with him, from town to town, state to state. The journey was long and tortuous. Upon commissioning, he began the life of a missionary. He was first posted to IjebuJesa in Osun State, where the family spent about three years; then, Saviour’s African Church, Ekotedo, Ibadan, Oyo State, where we lived for about five years. Then, he was moved to Igbo Ora, also in Oyo State. There, he became
The late Ven. Noah Olusegun Olujimi Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). After about three years, he was deployed to rural Ile Ogbo, in Osun State; then to Ilorin in Kwara State for another three years or so. Finally, he was transferred to Aiyegbaju Ekiti, in Ekiti State, where he was retired upon attaining the mandatory age of 65. He made sure that each of the churches he served in embarked on a capital project – a befitting Mission House or a grand church building. Upon retirement, he moved to his Abeokuta, Ogun State, home. He considered it no big deal that even that house now belongs to the church mission.
More importantly for us his children is his legacy of hard work. He did not believe in half measures. He either poured himself totally into a cause or he took no part in it. He was of modest means, but he was a fulfilled man. At his passing on, on May 28, the torrents of tributes that have come from even mere acquaintances are reassuring that although death at 76 is painful, what matters is not life but your contributions to the lives of others while you are on this side of the divide. Broda Mi Segun, as your remains are interred this Friday, please be assured that you remain in our hearts. Forever.
Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. EDITOR: YINKA OLUJIMI News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotline: 08086296714
Life&
TIMES Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Fashion & Style
Wardrobe
essentials
L4,5
P
Bimbo
Balogun
Finding fulfillment through bead making
L2
P
Interview L2
Daily Times Nigeria
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
I create pieces to suit occasions and one’s personality Bimbo
Balogun In a world full of bead makers, Bimbo Balogun early on decided to set herself apart from the crowd by thinking out of the box and churning out extra ordinary pieces that many swoon to replicate. With consistency, passion and hard work, the CEO of Bimbeads Concept, can be said to be one of the most sought after bead makers. She opens up in this chat about her passion and choice of bead making.
Nkarenyi Ukonu
Life&
T E A M
How did bead making start for you? My venture into the bead making business wasn’t planned or intentional. I went for training to keep me busy pending when I will get a ‘proper’ job. As the saying goes, God’s ways are not our ways. I read Petroleum Marketing and wanted to work in the petroleum industry but fate brought me to where I am today. Why bead making and not dress making, make up or something else? You know people tend to buy what they see more. I stumbled on a bead on a television advertisement. The lady was adorned in beads; from her hair band to her belt, her necklace slippers, bangles etc. I was stunned. I instantly got interested. Maybe if other options had come up, I might have considered them. Was there anything about your growing up years that suggested that you would end up in the bead making business? Well, I’ve always been very good with my hands but that didn’t suggest that I will end up making beads. How long have you been in the business of bead making? Nine years and still counting. With so many bead makers in town, what stands your products out from the rest? First I would say my personality. Again, my products are unique because they are different. I don’t do what
every other person does. My designs are African themed that cuts across all cultures. My designs are not the regular types you find around, they are individually crafted to stand you out wherever you go. A piece of my heart goes with whatever piece I create. Where do you source your materials from and how easy is it to source for raw materials? I source some of my raw materials here but as for the gem stones, I get them from Asia. Where do you get inspiration for your designs from? To be honest, most times in my dreams and as soon as I wake up, I draw out the design and go source for materials to bring them to life. I also get inspired when I’m alone in a quiet and serene environment with good ambience. I get inspired by colours and my clients as well. What determines the kind of designs you put out? Availability of beads and colors Are there designs and raw materials that you consider outdated, and what design and raw materials are trending? As far as I’m concerned, I don’t believe there are outdated designs in jewelry designing. You can use new techniques to achieve old designs, you can also improve on old designs to suit the present day. Right now, seed beads designs are trending but I don’t go with trends, I create pieces to suit one’s occasion and personality. How can one differentiate between a well trained bead designer from a
Editor Nkarenyi Ukonu n.ukonu@dailytimes.com.ng 08029030427
Music Correspondent Akintayo Opeoluwani o.ogunjimi@dailytimes.com.ng 08126223784
quack, the tell tale signs? There are two categories of designers in the industry; the set of people who create designs themselves and think out of the box and people who copy what the former have created. You can easily tell apart from their works. How has the journey been so far? The journey has been fulfilling. Beside designing, I also train people and I find myself counseling my trainees whenever they confide in me. The journey has been awesome though challenges come along but we always win. What are some of the challenges you encountered as a bead maker and how are you able to overcome them? The major challenge for me is staff. You can’t do it all alone. I have my delivery/marketing team and production team but they tend to leave after a short while but I don’t let it get to me. I quickly move on. I got to a stage where I don’t allow things bother me anymore. I treat them well but you know the trend in Nigeria right now, everyone wants to be the boss without paying their dues. An average Nigerian fresh graduate does not have good work ethics. I published some vacant positions in a daily news paper and to my amazement, out of 50 candidate, it was just one that could fit in. Everyone of them was bent on fat salary without being able to ask the big question; ‘what can you do to improve the company?’ My heart bleeds. You mentioned that you train people who desire to learn the intricacies of bead making. How many have you
Movie Correspondent Mutiat Alli m.alli@dailytimes.com.ng 08115557378
trained till date? Yes, I train and from my heart. By the time you are through with your training program at Bimbeads, you can comfortably compete with the outside world. I’m very passionate about impacting knowledge. I treat every trainee individually. I go according to their pace of assimilation. I respect them for taking the bold step. Apart from the practical, I also do a little of soft skill. Of what use is it if you know all the designs in the world and you can’t convert them into cash or not have good work ethics or excellent customer service skills. I have trained hundreds of people and they are out there doing very well. I’m proud of my ex students. Are you afraid of competition? Of course not. Competition in business is healthy. It gives you a reason to keep improving. How do you ensure that you remain on top of your game in the business of bead making? To ensure I remain on top of my game, I try to stay focused. I am not distracted by anything. And I don’t forget the God factor. I always pray for anointing to be more creative. Do you wear only your designs? Of course I wear only my designs, that’s a major way to market and advertise my jewelry. I always get my beads bought off my neck at weddings
Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye i.ogundoye@dailytimes.com.ng 08069489893
and I love it. If you don’t wear your products then you are not proud of them. Any time you see me, I always have my products on. W h a t else do you do besides bead making? The only thing I do and that keeps me going aside my family is designing and training of bead making. Beads all the way. Before bead making, what were you into? I worked in Amo oil, Obat Petroleum and JLT Fries. I also sold clothes, laces to be precise and frozen foods at separate times before settling down for bead making. Would you consider this your greatest achievement in life? No. My greatest achievement is having a family and being in good health. Which platforms have you had the opportunity to showcase your work? I have had lots of platforms within and outside t he country to show case my works. From FADAN fashion mart, Etisalat first 200 customers show, Nigerian Television Fashion Show, City People magazine ankara day, Wedding planner exhibition, Wed expo, Ariya expo London, London Fusion fashion show, ECOWAS fashion show in Togo etc. Any awards and recognitions so far? I have two official awards; Accessory company of the year 2013 by Wed Expo and Beading school of the year 2014 by Azaria 360. On the other hand, I was favored when I was made the recipient of Goldman Sachs 10,000 women. That meant so much to me. It made me a better woman as an individual and an entrepreneur. I have also been privileged to have BBC do a documentary o n me. That was a huge one for me and I’m full of gratitude.
Photography Graphics Quadri Olowolagba Adebambo Segun q.olowolagba@dailytimes.com.ng 08082173077 08029745478
Daily Times Nigeria
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
L3 Global Fashion & Beauty News
Nkarenyi Ukonu
Nigeria’s Kola Kuddus and Adebayo Oke-Lawal, set for second South African men’s wear week
Nigerian-British actress, Ashley Madekwe is the new face of Reebok With a Nigerian/Swiss father and a British mother, Ashely had early on decided on the pathe she wanted to chart for herself. Best known for her role as a social climber (Ashley Davenport) on the ABC drama, Revenge, the 31 year old actress was recently named the new face of Reebok.
Kola Kuddus
Katy Perry announced as the new face of Moschino
Adebayo Oke-Lawal
The designer lineup for African Menswear Week Spring/Summer 15/16 collections is stronger than ever before. With almost every designer returning, a number of new and emerging men’s wear designers have been identified, and big name established designers will also be joining the lineup such as Nigeria’s Kola Kuddus and Adebayo Oke-Lawal of Orange Culture. This is the first time any Nigerian designer will be participating in South Africa’s men’s wear fashion week. The SA men’s wear week, has prided itself on a strong designer lineup, and they’ve spent the last few months talking to designers and getting them on board. It’s really the best of the best, and no padding to fill slots.
Idris Elba in collaboration with Super dry for clothing collection
Ashley Madekwe
Katy Perry
Singer, Katy Perry has just been announced as the new face of Moschino and for the campaign shoot, the 30 year old models the infamous Kris Jennerinspired hairstyle and gold bra for the Italian label .
Selena Gomez lands first beauty gig as the new face of Pantene
Idris Elba
The 42 year old British actor is teaming up with the fashion label, Superdry on a collaborative collection. Aptly titled Idris + Superdry, the 250-piece collaboration will be unveiled as part of the label’s upcoming London collections: Me, which will be available in November this year Superdry is touting the collection’s array of tailored coats, down outerwear, washed denim, and cashmere knits, among other things.
The American actress and singer has nabbed her first endorsement as the face of hair product, Pantene. The brunette beauty’s first campaign image for the hair care brand was released, in a video where she said, ‘I am thrilled and honoured to be representing the new Pantene. I can’t wait to see what we’re going to do, and we’re going to have an awesome year,’ she said. ‘It’s so fun to feel your inner girl, like, playing with your hair and just feeling beautiful,’ she adds, pointing out that she is excited to collaborate with Pantene because she has used the brand’s products her whole life.
Selena Gomez Continued on page L7
Fashion & Style L4
Daily Times Nigeria
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Never be
caught without something to wearagain!
7
...
wardrobe essentials every woman should own Nkarenyi Ukonu
room for the essential pieces that’ll make it easy to pull together an outfit, whatever the occasion. Here are the most essential pieces you should own in your closet and to help you build a sizeable wardrobe
There are days you wake up and you just don’t know what to wear, and you honestly couldn’t be bothered about your wardrobe choices but having some specific items of clothing in your closet could help dressing up on lazy days a little The classic white shirt: This is the most easier. The best way to make sense of versatile staple you can have in your closet, the stuff in your closet is to clean out the because it can go with almost anything. You unworn and ill fitting clothes and make can throw on a jacket or slip on a skirt.
The chic little black dress: Every woman knows she should have a little black dress. It is very useful for those moments when you are unsure of what to wear. but it’s important to invest in one that’s special. Look for a dress with a detail; an interesting sleeve, an embellished belt, that makes it unique. And remember that finding the right fit is important.
A tailored blazer: A tailored blazer is classic, feminine and looks great on all body types. Pair it with anything: jeans, little dresses, trousers, skirts. Make sure to find one that fits you well and accentuates your waist so you don’t look like it’s swallowing you.
Flared Jeans: This is a flattering shape for most body types. Pair them with platforms or wedges to get extra height while keeping the look casual and comfortable.” Remi in flared jeans
A pair of black pants: A pair of high-quality, flat front, black trousers are a necessity in every wardrobe. Stay away from pleats because they only accentuate an area that no one really needs accentuating. If you can buy only one pair of trousers, select a length that matches the heel height you most commonly wear. Monalisa Chinda in black pants
Knee-length black skirt: Every woman should have a knee-length black skirt that fits perfectly and gives her a slim appearance. The particular style is up to you and what looks good on your body type. It can be a pencil skirt or an A-line skirt, so that it can go from season to season.
Pants that don’t: Not feeling like something tight? Then a pair of baggy pants, mom jeans, palazzos could help for those hot days when you are feeling restless and dissatisfied.
Kiki in classic white shirt
Daily Times Nigeria
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Eunice Efole in tailored blazer
Wendy Williams in knee length black skirt
L5
Fashion & Style
karen koshoni in little black dress
Victoria in baggy pants
Accessories you
should never do without Nkarenyi Ukonu
The ballet flats: You could have it in different colours and shapes, but a pair of black flats is ideal. It is the obvious choice, but red flats provide a pop of color and work for every season.
Leopard print scarf: Even if you’re wearing a basic Tshirt and jeans, use accessories like a printed scarf as the ‘bright’ piece to complete your look.
A pair of black pumps: Black pumps go with everything, they won’t get too dirty, and they can also go from day to night. If you can afford only one pair of black pumps, go with a dressier pair. Shoes are generally easier to dress down than to dress up. When buying shoes, make sure they’re comfortable and fit right.
Black leather bag: A black leather bag is a perfect everywhere bag, a bag you can carry to work, to lunch, to dinner, and even shopping on the weekend. It goes with everything, and you’ll feel comfortable using it with whatever color or prints you may be wearing. It should be medium-sized, large enough to hold whatever you need during the day but not so large that it looks awkward if you find yourself running straight out to dinner with it
Statement necklace: I believe in having basics in your closet and playing with your accessories. The statement necklace can make a simple outfit look strong and feminine.
Diamond studs: You definitely don’t want to leave your ears bare, and diamond studs go perfectly with everything. If you are heading to work in a suit and then out at night in jeans and a blouse, studs are the perfect complement. They’re classy, and you can throw them on without worrying whether they go with what you’re wearing because diamonds go with everything! Don’t have the money for genuine diamonds studs? Don’t worry. Just keep your earrings small.
Beauty L6
Daily Times Nigeria
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
fleck
Brows Nkarenyi Ukonu
on
When people wonder how others get that perfect look even with their eyebrows, it really boils down to knowing the shape of your face and the technique for getting the perfect brows. If done right, your eye brows are the first thing people will see on your face. This is why it’s essential that you get it right so you don’t look like a scarecrow with a permanently anxious expression.
Flat brush
Concealer
Concealer brush
Perfectly groomed eyebrows balance your features and frame your eyes. To get the perfect eyebrows, you need the following: • Eyebrow definer/shadow or a shadow that suits your natural brow color or eye brow pencil • Concealer • A concealer brush • A flat top brush for blending (optional) • A spoolie or eyebrow brush • Tweezer
Eyebrow brush
Defining your eyebrow
er ez e Tw
Eyebrow definer
ow br e Ey
il nc e p
Here are steps on how to get perfectly groomed eyebrows 1 Locate your starting points: Flip your tweezer upside down
so the open end is pointing downward, and place it vertically alongside the outer edge of the bottom of your nose. The point where the vertex lands marks the beginning of your brow, which should also be about one inch above the inner corner of your eye. Using an eye pencil, draw a vertical line to demarcate the start of each brow, then check that the space above the bridge of your nose is centered between them. Remove the strays that fall in between. 2 Mark your end points: Lay the tweezer on an angle against your cheek so that the open end is at the bottom of your nose and the other end reaches the outer corner of your eye. The spot where the tweezer intersects your brow is where the hairs should end. Mark it with the eye pencil, then pluck
the hairs beyond the line.
3 Find your arch: The arch is very important because it could take
your look from pleasurable to surprised. To determine where this arch would be, place the pencil along the outer corner of the nostril; left or right and align it with the middle of your eye. Above the eye, the pencil will meet the brow bone/ eye socket; that should be the highest point of your eyebrow’s arch. The connecting points: After you have established the beginning, arch and end of the brow, connect the three points. You are to do this for both the top and bottom of the brow and the left and right side of the face. Fill in your brows: Lightly fill in your eyebrows with the eyebrow pencil, preferably the same color of your hair, until you have covered the entire eyebrow section. After this you could choose to fill it in again with an eyebrow definer or just use an eye shadow that does not have glitter. It is optional. Conceal undefined lines: Use the concealer that is one shade lighter than your actual shade, to clean around the eyebrow making sure to create a clean line, tracing from the inner eyebrow bone to the outer corner. Do this for the top and bottom of the brows and blend out the concealer with the flat top brush in opposite directions of the eyebrow until it has successfully blended into your forehead and crease. You could also use a foundation to blend it out finally for a better look.
Daily Times Nigeria
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Know your
face shape Knowing your face shape is the first step to creating a beautiful look. There are six basic face shapes:
Goal with brows Soften, balance strong pointy chin and maybe, forehead.
Type of face Oval face shape
Type of face Long face shape
Description Forehead is wider than chin Cheekbones are prominent Face tapers to a narrow oval chin
Description Forehead, cheekbones and jawline, all about the same width. Tapers to a narrow oval chin
Goal with brows To maintain the ideal oval face
Goal with brows To make face appear shorter
Type of face Round face shape Description Almost as wide as it is long Widest at the cheeks Goal with brows To make face appear longer
Type of face Heart face shape Description Similar to oval but chin tapers to a point
L7 Beauty
Type of face Square face shape Description Forehead, cheekbones and jawline, are all about the same width. Square jawline is the most prominent feature Goal with brows To soften and balance strong jawline
Type of face Diamond face shape Description Face is highly angular, forehead is short, face is widest at the temples Goal with brows Soften the whole face and make the widest portion, less wide.
Global Fashion & Beauty News Nkarenyi Ukonu Continued from L3
Papa Omisore’s fashion label, People of Colour, releases new men’s wear collection
Kene Rapu opens flagship store
Designer, Papa Omisore has unveiled his latest collection, The Aler Ego. The pieces which have a creative blend of fabrics, colours and daring designs peculiar to the brand, is a mélange of vibrant colours and urban designs with a dash of ethnicity, shaken up to create edgy but wholesome outfits. According to the designer, the collection was inspired by the exceptional painter, sculptor and printmaker, Pablo Picasso, renowned for his experimental artistry.
Kene Rapu, daughter of Pastor Tony Rapu, finally came of age when she threw open the doors to her flagship store in Lekki Phase1 to her customers, both old and new. The Eponymous label which recently collaborated with Orange Culture on a line of androgynous sandals for its Resort 2014 collection, started out with a line of comfy-chic footwear called SBK, (Slippers by Kene) and has over four years grown into the brand it is today.
...So also, Kunbi Oyelese
Papa Omisore ... A few pieces from his collection
Not too long ago, clothier to the stars, Kunbi Oyelese, hoste a number of fashion lovers, when she formally declared her flagship store opened in the Lekki area of Lagos. Kunbi, whose label, April, is regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest women’s wear labels, can boast of dressing a handful of profiled names like Genevieve Nnaji, Tiwa Savage, Uche Pedro, Mocheddah, Monalisa Chinda, Eku Edewor, Sheyi Shay, Toke Makinwa-Ayida and Beverly Naya, just to mention a few.
Daily Times Nigeria
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Showing on
Showing on
140 AMC Channel
150 Channel
02:30
09:05
Wed, 24 Jun | 16
Wed, 24 Jun | PG13
‘S1/E74 - 1/74’. Ibrahim Musa-Philips and Jonathan Pepple, patriarchs of two competing sugar-growing families and former best friends are locked in an unending feud.
101 M-Net West
L8 TV guide
When Sarah Hopson realises her successful New York lifestyle is devoid of meaning, she packs her bags and heads for her home town in the Scottish Borders to look for Sam, her childhood love. Valerie Gogan, Gerard Butler. (1999) Vadim Jean
120 BBC Entertainment
118 Telemundo
128 SONY MAX
00:02 Sniper: Legacy 01:36 Behind The Scenes: No Good Deed
02:00 47 Ronin 04:00 The Voice 04:45 Behind The Scenes: Step Up All In
05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Goldbergs 06:30 Mysteries Of Laura 07:30 Grey’s Anatomy 08:30 The Lego Movie 10:30 Mike & Molly 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 The Voice 13:00 Battle Creek 14:00 Elementary 15:00 Chicago PD 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Middle 17:30 The Voice 18:30 The Big Bang Theory 19:00 The Big Bang Theory 19:30 The Good Wife 20:30 Secrets & Lies 21:30 Battle Creek 22:30 American Crime
00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Labour Of Love 03:00 Part Of Me 03:50 Queen Of Hearts 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love
154 Africa Magic Family 00:00 Tinsel 00:30 Star Gist 01:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Music Block 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Back Stab 08:30 Tenant 09:20 Mashariki Mix 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 14:00 Jara 14:30 Comfort Zone
00:20 Most Shocking 01:20 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 01:45 Rude Tube 02:15 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 02:45 Upload With Shaquille O’Neal 03:15 Hip Hop Squares 00:40 The Weakest Link
11:00 My Family
03:45 Most Shocking
01:25 Scott And Bailey
11:30 Hell’s Kitchen USA
04:35 South Beach Tow
02:15 Come Dine With Me
12:20 Top Gear
05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak
03:10 EastEnders
13:15 Come Dine With Me
05:25 Exposed
03:40 QI
14:15 Hell’s Kitchen USA
05:50 Exposed
04:10 Top Gear
15:05 The Weakest Link
06:15 Video Zonkers
05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series
16:00 EastEnders
06:40 Video Zonkers
05:25 QI
16:30 Deal Or No Deal
07:05 What Went Down
06:00 Miranda
17:10 The Cube
07:35 Caught On Camera
06:30 EastEnders
18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
08:35 Hardcore Pawn: Chicago
07:00 Antiques Roadshow
19:00 Dragons’ Den
09:05 South Beach Tow
07:55 The Weakest Link
20:05 Top Gear
09:35 Most Shocking
08:45 The Cube
21:05 Hell’s Kitchen USA
10:35 Most Shocking
09:30 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
22:00 Live At The Apollo
11:35 Video Zonkers
10:20 Deal Or No Deal
22:50 QI
12:05 Video Zonkers
155 AfricaMagic World
14:35 South Beach Tow 15:05 Most Shocking 16:05 1000 Ways To Die 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Video Zonkers
06:10 Return Of The Great Messenger
07:55 Star Gist 08:30 Star Gist 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 The Dzigbordi Show 11:00 Deal Or No Deal 12:00 Deal Or No Deal 13:00 Music Block 14:00 Star Gist 14:30 Star Gist 15:00 Star Gist
13:05 Caught On Camera 14:05 Hardcore Pawn: Chicago
00:00 Music Block 01:00 Good Morning Africa 02:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 03:00 Music Block 04:00 The Dzigbordi Show 05:00 Good Morning Africa 15:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:00 Prem 16:30 Tenant 17:30 Mary Slessor 18:00 Jane And Abel 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 20:00 Airtel Touching Lives 20:30 Losers Take It All 22:00 Tyme Out With Tee-A
12:35 What Went Down
17:30 Caught On Camera 15:30 Lies That Bind 16:00 The Dzigbordi Show 17:00 So Wrong So Wright 17:30 So Wrong So Wright 18:00 The Dzigbordi Show 19:00 Through The Eyes Of An African
18:30 What Went Down 19:00 South Beach Tow 19:30 Hardcore Pawn: Chicago 20:00 Jerks With Cameras 20:30 Impractical Jokers
19:30 Through The Eyes Of An African
21:00 Rude Tube
20:00 Kawanu 21:45 Jara 22:15 Music Block
21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:30 Most Shocking
CANADA 2015
Poster!
will be my last World Cup
DAVID LUIZ
–SAWA g X8
g X4,5 Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Bolt
leads way for Supreme Ventures trials g
X7
F F N g
‘I’m tempted to return to ring’ g X7 –De La Hoya
X3
HAMMER FALLS HARD ON EYEAMA
X2
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
EXTRATIME
Rojenny:
Ezeonwuka hails Obiano, tasks athletes on facilities Andrew Ekejiuba
P
roprietor of Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Anambra State, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has expressed delight with Governor Willie Obiano on the completion of the laying of tartan tracks at the stadium and called on athletes and sports administrators to utilize the facilities for the glory of the country. Speaking to Extra Time, the highly travelled sports administrator turned business mogul said the serene nature of the Games Village remains a fertile ground to expose budding athletes to standard international sporting facilities. “I’m glad that the laying of tartan tracks at Rojenny Stadium is now completed, so our athletes can now have a place they can race on. “I want to sincerely express my gratitude to Governor Willie Obiano under whose tenure this project was completed and also thank exGovernor of the state, Mr Peter Obi who actually started the project.
“From what is on ground, we can comfortably say that we have a place Nigerian athletes can call their home, because the venue is of international standard,” Ezeonwuka said. Speaking further on why he embarked on building the Games Village which houses so many sporting facilities and his feelings following the completion of the laying of the tartan tracks through his partnership with Anambra State Government, Ezeonwuka said: “My feeling is like that of a dreamer because a dreamer dreams of not himself, but on a selfless platform. Also, a good dreamer dreams not for what will benefit him only, but what will benefit the entire human race. If one dreams only for his own selfish interest, that person is not a good dreamer, but if that dream can affect the entire people who inhabit the earth then it is on that premise that we can say that such a dreamer is on the right path. What we are doing here at Rojenny Stadium is enough to transform the entire society! “I’m happy that the dream
Ezeonwuka
of partnering Anambra State Government in this regard is already yielding positive fruits. The project commenced during Peter Obi’s administration before he handed the baton of leadership to the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano. The whole process has been a continuous experience because Governor Obiano
vowed that they will do everything possible to actualise that dream of making Rojenny Games Village the hub of sports revolution in Nigeria. Now, the tartan tracks have finally been laid, I want to beckon on sports-loving Nigerians to give the venue four years and Olympic champions will be produced from Rojenny.” Ezeonwuka further tasked athletes and sports administrators on the utilization of the facilities at the Games Village. “We at Rojenny are not interested in the resources accruing from the usage these sporting facilities, but we are interested in our athletes using these sporting facilities for training and hitting stardom. “Also, nothing stops individuals and Corporate Nigeria from coming here to sponsor agegrade competitions because these competitions are what we need now in order to discover our future Olympians at their real ages and groom them to stardom. “It might interest you to know that Rojenny Games Village is a multi-sporting arena which houses many world class sporting facilities for swimming, basketball, chess, scrabble, tennis, table tennis, handball, rugby, badminton, football and athletic events. We also have an amusement park and a mini zoo for our guests to visit. In a nutshell, Rojenny is real home away from home,” he concluded.
NSCDC
promotes Quadri, pledges support to athletes
F
or his giant stride as a serving officer, the management of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has approved a special promotion for 2014 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Star Player, Aruna Quadri. According to the Director of Sports, NSCDC, Ayodele Olusegun, Quadri’s global stride as well as his hard work and exploits earned him the special promotion sanctioned by the Commandant General, Ade Abolurin, whose support for athletes in the force has continued to grow. “I want to say that Quadri has been a good ambassador of NSCDC and his exploits in table tennis globally has put the country on world’s map. “At NSCDC, we are touched by his determination and dedication to his trade and this has given credence to the force under the leadership of sports-loving Commandant General, Ade Abolurin, to approve his special and accelerated promotion as an officer of the corps. “From a Chief Corps Assistant (CCA), he has been promoted to Inspector of Corps and we will continue to support athletes like Quadri,” Olusegun said.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
EXTRATIME
NFF
Hammer falls hard on Eyeama
Stories by Mike Otanwa
T
he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have to put their foot down as regards discipline in the various national teams by coming down hard on skipper, Vincent Enyeama, over his irresponsible conduct recently. Enyeama publicly questioned the safety of Kaduna to host the recent AFCON qualifier against Chad. NFF president Amaju Pinnick described his comments as “provocative” and “careless”. And Enyeama will then go on to dramatically tear the query issued him right before the NFF general secretary. Super Eagles players have long been pampered and the result is that the NFF have created monsters, who are now turning around to eat them up. It is now expected that he will be handed a
Pinnick
Olympic qualifier: Siasia invites Norway-based Akinyemi
N
igeria U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, has invited Norwaybased central defender Sola Akinyemi ahead of next month’s crucial CAF Championship qualifier against Congo. Siasia’s Dream Team will welcome Congo to Abuja on July 18 in a first leg qualifier for the Olympic qualifier to be staged in Senegal in November. The 22-year-old Akinyemi has previously tried out with Nigeria U-20 team, the Flying Eagles, prior to the 2013 U-20 World Cup in Turkey. He is expected to shore of the defence of the Olympic team which Siasia has admitted could be a lot better. Akinyemi is due in the team’s training camp in Abuja later this week. Siasia has embarked on a massive reorganization of his team a month to the Congo clash with the dropping of seven players and the drafting of several Flying Eagles stars led by Taiwo Awoniyi.
Siasia
3SC hands over Ikhana’s attacker to police Shooting Stars have vowed to hand over to the police the fan who attacked Enyimba coach, Kadiri Ikhana, outside the stadium after Sunday’s goalless draw in a Nigeria league Week 13 game in Ibadan. According to the club media officer, Jubril Arowolo, Shooting Stars are baffled by the attack after Enyimba were warmly welcomed into the stadium by the home fans.
X3
lengthy ban from the national team so as to serve as a deterrent to others who have for long deluded themselves into believing they are untouchable and bigger than Nigeria. The scandalous bonus rows at last year’s World Cup in Brazil and that which almost caused the country to miss out on the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup are still very fresh in our memories. Without discipline and commitment, the desire to reorganise the Super Eagles will be an exercise in futility. The NFF must therefore make it very clear who is in charge here by slamming Enyeama hard on Tuesday when he appears before the disciplinary committee. This country made Enyeama who he is today and he must now be brought down from his high horse and made to know in very clear terms he is not above the country and laid down rules.
Ighalo does not rule out Watford exit
Nigerian Watford Striker, Odion Ighalo, has not completely ruled out a departure from Watford who will play in the English Premier League next season depending on the way contract negotiations go, he has said. The 25-year-old Nigerian scored 20 goals in the Championship to help the team secure promotion to the lucrative Premiership last term. Two weeks ago he scored his first senior goal for the Super Eagles as they defeated Chad 2-0 in their opening 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game in Kaduna and is high on confidence. Swansea have been reported to be keen on securing the striker’s signature. “I have two years contract with Watford. But in football you can never say never. Things happen just in a minute,” Ighalo said. “I love the club and I love the fans too. They love me too and I am happy and the fans really helped me to settle down fast in Watford. “Although, we are still negotiating for a new contract for the Premier League because the club is still talking to my agent. “If they come to a conclusion fine, if not then we will see what happens. I know some teams are interested in me but we will see what happens at the end of the day,” he said. If he stays with the newly promoted side, Ighalo’s mission would be to help them consolidate their place at the top.
“The management of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Ibadan have confirmed the off pitch attack on Enyimba FC coach Kadiri Ikhana by a disgruntled element shortly after the pulsating week 13 goalless game (Sunday) with a promise to arrest the culprit. “This was after a thorough investigation from various quarters while efforts are on to get him arrested and handed over to the Police. “The management then wondered what would have prompted the attack on the coach outside the stadium with the friendly way the Enyimba players and officials were signaled into the stadium and applauded outside the stadium by the home fans after
Ighalo
the interesting encounter. “The club however submits that the attack was sponsored in order to put the name of the club into disrepute.”
Ocean Boys targets resurrection next season Chairman of one-time Nigeria league champions Ocean Boys, Nathaniel Ngo-Sylva, has said that his pet club will be back among
the top campaigners next season. The former Brass LGA chairman said that politics has really taken its toll on his pet club, but promised that he is back to take the club to where they rightly belong. “I must confess that politics has greatly affected the prowess of Ocean Boys FC. With everything now in place and the improved packages in the league, we will soon storm back to the top flight,” disclosed the club boss. “I must say that there has been remarkable improvement in the league compared to what we have had in the past.” Ocean Boys have produced the likes of Brown Ideye and won the Nigeria league in 2006 as well as the cup in 2008.
X4
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
EXTRATIME
DAVID
LUIZ Personal Information
David Luiz Name: Moreira Marinho z Lui id Dav Full name: April 22, 1987 (age 27) Date of birth: Diadema, Brazil h: Place of birt 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) Height: fielder Defender/Defensive mid n: itio Playing pos main Ger ntSai is Par Current team: 32 Number: Youth career Sao Paulo 1999–2001: Vitoria 2001–2005: eer Senior car Vitoria 2006–2007: Benfica (loan) 2007: Benfica 2007–2011: Chelsea : 2011–2014 Paris Saint-Germain 2014–Present: m tea National Brazil U-20 2007: Brazil : ent 2010–Pres
D
Z
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
EXTRATIME
ABOUT
DAVID LUIZ David Luiz Moreira Marinho (born April 22, 1987), known as David Luiz, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain and serves as vice-captain for the Brazil national team. Primarily a central defender, he can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder. After starting out at Vitoria, he moved to Benfica at the age of 19, remaining with the club five seasons (three complete). He joined Chelsea in January 2011, winning the Champions League and the FA Cup in the following season. In June 2014 he transferred from Chelsea to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £50 million, a world record transfer for a defender. Luiz made his full international debut in 2010 and has since earned over 40 caps. He was a member of the Brazilian teams which won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the semi-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Luiz is a devout Christian and has named Kaka as his role model. He said: “My faith gives me the belief that I can go out and perform and improve as a player. It gives me strength and inspiration.” He later added: “Everything in life belongs to God. Our purpose has already been mapped out.”
X5
X6
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
EXTRATIME
Gyan is a born leader –Jawula
D
Mourinho
Moment that made me Cry, Mourinho reveals
C
helsea boss, Jose Mourinho has revealed which sporting moment made him cry last year but it wasn’t linked to Chelsea. The Portuguese guided the Blues to the first league title in five years, but it wasn’t a football event that had him to tears. “I have to say I had a couple of tears for Andy when he won Wimbledon,” he told the Aegon Championships’ tennis podcast. “It was something that obviously meant more than anything in his career. I could imagine it was something from another world.
“I don’t think he would change the Wimbledon victory for another 10 victories in other Grand Slams. “It’s more than the game, it’s more than a tournament. He has broken the psychological wall that was there for every British person that loves the game. “I think that for sure it was the best day in his career and I shared that happiness from where I was.” Mourinho than explained the difference between tennis stars and football players, who can sometimes hide behind their teammates. “In tennis they take penalty shootouts all day,” the Chelsea boss added.
espite the fact that others still believe that leaders are made, former Ghana Football Association chairman Lepowura MND Jawula believes that they are born. This comes after he came in full force to defend Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan, who was supposed to attend a leadership workshop ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, Jawula believes that the Al Ain attacker is a great leader and has done himself justice whenever tasked to lead the national team. “I have been impressed with Asamoah Gyan’s leadership qualities. He has shown that he has what it takes to carry this team on his shoulders,” he told Starr FM. “Football is a different entity. How do you recommend a player to undergo leadership training? For what? Leadership is something that is inherent. So I wonder how that can be done.” “He’s a fantastic leader and must be supported,” Jawula added.
CHELSEA
HANGS £17.5M PRICE TAG ON SALAH
A
Gyan
Bartomeu hits back in Barca election fight
ccording to report, the English Premier League (EPL) champions, Chelsea, would be open to letting the Egyptian winger, Mohamed Salah leave the club permanently, if the right offer is made. Fiorentina have expressed their desire to keep hold of the 23-year-old for another season, but Salah has yet to decide whether he will return to the Italian outfit.
The former Basel wide-man spent the second-half of the 2014/2015 season on-loan at the Serie A side, scoring eight goals in 18 league and Italian cup appearances for Viola. “If Salah decides against returning to Florence, Chelsea would be eager to sell the Several clubs, including Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma have been tipped as possible suitors for the Pharaohs magician.
Brazil extremely dangerous without Neymar –Da Silva
J
osep Maria Bartomeu has hit back at comments from Joan Laporta as the two former Barcelona presidents settle into what looks a two-horse race in the club’s upcoming presidential election. Laporta launched his campaign on Monday by saying Bartomeu’s outgoing regime had success on the field with the team inherited from the previous regime, but had sullied its good name by agreeing sponsorship deals with Qatar and getting into legal trouble over the signing of Neymar in 2013 that has since proved controversial. The lawyer and Catalan nationalist politician, who was Blaugrana president between 2003 and 2010, also had a PR coup by naming ex-Barca player Eric Abidal as his sporting director, while saying he had such a close relationship with the current side that he and superstar Lionel Messi had a “telepathic” relationship. Replying later on Catalan radio
Salah
P Bartomeu station RAC1, in quotes reported by AS, Bartomeu first said that he had no special psychological powers, but had worked with coach Luis Enrique to ensure Messi played well and Barca were successful on the pitch. “[Messi] is a value of Barca, and
Luis Enrique has known how to get very good things out of him,” he said. “I do not have telepathy, but when I want to speak with him I call him and that’s it. We are closing a winning cycle and opening another, but in silence.”
araguay defender, Paulo da Silva, has said his team will need to put in the performance of their lives against their Copa America quarter-final opponents Brazil, insisting they are still “extremely dangerous” without their suspended captain Neymar. The Paraguayans will go up against the South American powerhouses in Concepcion on Saturday, with Selecao coach Dunga losing his captain to a fourgame suspension following their 1-0 loss to Colombia last Thursday. But veteran Da Silva, who was part of the Paraguay team that
eliminated Brazil on penalties at the same stage of the 2011 competition, still maintained that their rivals remain deadly adversaries. “Neymar is a hugely important player for Brazil,” Da Silva told a press conference in La Serena on Monday. “He showed at Barcelona last season what a great player he is, winning the treble. “But Brazil remain extremely dangerous even without Neymar. They have had phases where they haven’t played so well, but in short tournaments it’s results that count. They are very good at dead balls and very dangerous.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
EXTRATIME
ATHLETICS
S
Bolt
leads way for Supreme Ventures trials
everal of the island’s top athletes, as expected, have been entered to compete at this week’s Supreme Ventures sponsored Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Senior Championships at the National Stadium. The event, which serves as a qualifier for a number of senior international meets, such as the IAAF World Championships in Beijing this
Bolt
August, gets under way on Thursday with big names such as Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann FraserPryce, Kaliese Spencer and Novlene WilliamsMills, who all have automatic entries to the World Championships as defending champions in their events or Diamond Race winners from last year, listed to compete. Veronica Campbell-Brown, who won the sprint double in last year’s Diamond Race, is also
BOXING:
entered to compete in both events with FraserPryce, who won both sprints at the last World Championships in Moscow in 2013 trumping her wild card. Bolt has expressed concern about his flat start to the season so far with the world record holder, Olympic and world champion over 100m and 200m, admittedly worried after failing to spark in any of his four individual races so far this season.
‘I’m tempted to return to ring’ –De La Hoya McIlroy
GOLF:
Supremacy:
McIlroy told to watch out for hotshot Spieth
R
ory McIIroy could lose his place as the world’s best golfer unless his form improves, according to former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. Jordan Spieth, 21, is breathing down the World No 1’s neck after winning the US Open last weekend. And McGinley believes Spieth’s stunning year - the American has won the game’s last two majors - must force McIlroy to improve. “Jordan is putting it to Rory and that can only be good for Rory. He has to step up to the plate,” McGinley said. “As well as he played to come fourth in the Masters and ninth at the US Open, he left himself too much to make up.” Despite trailing by eight shots on the final day at Chambers Bay, McIlroy came within two of the lead at one point before dropping shots on two of the last four holes. However, the four-time major winner insists he has plenty of time to cement his place at the pinnacle of golf as he looks to defend his titles in the two remaining majors of 2015.
S
ix-weight world champion, Oscar De La Hoya, has hinted that he is tempted to come out of retirement to face either Floyd Mayweather Jr or Gennady Golovkin. De La Hoya hasn’t competed since losing to Manny Pacquiao in 2008, but the legendary American has insisted that he is seriously contemplating a return to face one of the star names in the sport. The 42-year-old is quoted saying: “I feel amazing. In my life right now, I have so much motivation. I am so hungry and so determined. I am young, I am healthy and I feel great. 42 is the new 32. “I just feel good and when I walk
the streets, everyone tells me, ‘You have to fight Floyd again, you have to fight GGG. You can do it, you can do it’. I just feel great physically. I’ve been taking care of myself. I’ve been doing the Bernard Hopkins lifestyle. You can turn the clock back to a certain time. “It’s got to be worth my while but this is very serious. I have to make sure I am fighting the very best. I don’t have to come back for financial reasons or the lights or the glamour.” De La Hoya retired with a professional record of 39 wins from 45 bouts, with one of his six defeats coming by split-decision to Mayweather in 2007.
CYCLING:
Five Africans make Qhubeka Tour de France
M
X7
TN-Qhubeka have confirmed the nine riders that will represent the team in its first ever Tour de France in July. The Professional Continental secured one of the four wild card invitation to this year’s Tour de France. The final selection process occurred at the Critérium du Dauphiné in June, and the team s management sticking will all eight riders who raced there, with Merhawi Kudus coming in to complete the final nine that will head to France. Daniel Teklehaimanot tied up his spot by clinching the polka dot jersey at the Dauphiné the team s first WorldTour jersey and will be joined by Kudus as the first Eritrean riders to take part in the Tour de France. There are three more Tour debutants from South Africa,
Teklehaimanot the African champion, Louis Meintjes, South African champion Jacques Janse van Rensburg, and his brother Reinardt Janse van Resnburg. There are high hopes that 23-year-old Meintjes in particular will show further glimpses of his potential after catching the eye with impressive displays on the Dauphiné’s mountain stages. The other four riders all have Tour de France experience, not least Edvald Boasson Hagen, who has two Tour stage wins to his name and was also part of yellow-jersey winning Sky teams in 2012 and 2013. 31-year-old Tyler Farrar also brings experience to the table, having won a stage of the Tour in 2011, and indeed a stage in all three Grand Tours.
De La Hoya
X8
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
EXTRATIME
EXTRATIME
INTERVIEW
CANADA 2015
–SAWA
will be my last World Cup
For avid fans of women’s football, Homare Sawa, needs no introduction. The Japanese attacking midfielder has been an absolute icon of the female half of the beautiful game for years, immortalising herself by winning both player of the tournament and top goalscorer as the Nadeshiko triumphed at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. She crowned this achievement a few months later by being named FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year. Four years on, the now 36-year-old is back with the Japan squad as they attempt to defend their title in Canada. It is the sixth time Sawa has taken part in a World Cup – a record for both the men’s and women’s game, albeit one she shares with Brazil’s Formiga. As their Round of 16 duel against debutants the Netherlands approaches, the Japanese legend sat down with FIFA.com to discuss her new role in the team, the tournament so far and her future. Excerpts: How would you assess Japan’s performances so far at this Women’s World Cup in Canada? Other teams are now looking at us differently after we won the title in 2011. We’re strong, but winning a World Cup is difficult. We’ve won all three of our matches so far; Brazil are the only other team to have managed that, so that’s a great confidence boost. Performance levels at this World Cup have risen sharply compared to four years ago, not just within our camp but in general. Are you satisfied with your performance? Compared to the last World Cup, I still haven’t given my best performance or scored a goal. But I’m giving my all to contribute something to the team’s success. We cannot afford to lose a game from now on. I hope I’ll be able to find the target when it’s needed most, but I also like to defend and play a full part in what’s happening on the pitch. Although I’m a little older now, I’ll still do everything to be successful. I’ve achieved almost everything a footballer can achieve and now I’m focused on securing a second World Cup title. Is Japan better than they were in Germany 2011? I don’t think you can compare
Sawa the two teams. In 2011 we had the best team at that point in time; this year we have the strongest side there is right now. This will be my last World Cup; if I still have the opportunity then I’d love to play at the Olympics. What do you know about your Round of 16 opponents? I watched the Netherlands’ group matches against New Zealand and Canada on television. The quality of their individual players is very high and they have typical European characteristics: they’re physically strong, good at dribbling and very quick as a team. They’ve also got very tall players, so we’ve got to be aware of that. Four years ago you were the big star; the captain, player of the tournament and leading goalscorer. What’s your role here in Canada?
Not like being the top scorer or player of the tournament, but I want to do the best I can to contribute to the team. Now Aya Miyama is our captain. From my experience, I know that it’s not easy to lead the team. I want to do everything to support her. Sometimes I just listen to her, sometimes she might need some advice. When we have 23 players, there are many ideas, which is good. In those cases, the captain organises the ideas to work as a team. No matter how old I am, I always want to show my attitude on the pitch and I think that is important for me. Was it difficult to take a step back and let Miyama take the lead? No, not at all. Aya now holds the responsibility of making the team better. Seamless transitions are part and parcel of Japanese football, and I think that’s a great thing.
Will Canada 2015 be your last Women’s World Cup? Yes. This will be my last World Cup, but I’ll still keep playing football as long as my mind and body allow it. Of course, if I still have the opportunity then I’d love to play at the Olympic women’s football tournament next year. What’s your plans when your playing career ends? I definitely don’t want to become a coach; it just doesn’t interest me. Apart from that I still don’t know exactly what awaits me after I hang up my boots, but I definitely want to remain in football in some capacity. I’d love to be involved with the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Finally, what is your philosophy for life? Don’t just dream your dreams – make them come true.